HomeMy WebLinkAboutFinance November 17 1991WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL.
FINANCE AND PERSONNEL COMMITTEE
SPECIAL MEETING
November 17, 1991
The special meeting was called to order at 5 p.m., one hour later than announced,
by Committee Chairman Mary Vanderpol in the Council's small conference room, 1000 N.
Forest Street.
Also Present: Absent:
Bob Imhof None.
Marge Laidlaw
BUDGET REVIEW - WRAP -UP
Councilman Dan Warner also was present, as were Budget and Program Analyst Bob
Woods and Ramona Reeves, Clerk of the Council. The purpose of the meeting was to
discuss the overall findings of the committee during the budget review process, and to
prepare a final document for presentation to the full Council. The public, Council and
other departments would receive a preliminary report in writing first thing Nov. 18.
The Committee had the following documents before it during this review: Draft
minutes of the November 15 Committee meeting; a list of recommended budget provisos
and budget message; detail changes to the 1992 budget (draft); and a memo to the Council
from the Finance Committee (draft).
Review of Nov. 15 Minutes:
Because the minutes are likely to be widely distributed, Vanderpol said it was best
to be careful that they truly reflect the intent of the Committee. The Committee proceeded
to change the wording in several places, as follows:
Page 4: Vanderpol said that at the start of the fourth paragraph, the second sentence
should read: " Vanderpol said the Executive's recommendation for reclassification was
not done through research by the Personnel Office, is that a procedure that must be
followed ?"
Page 10: Under the Combined Treatment discussion, this sentence should be changed
as indicated: "He has since spoken to Combined Treatment Director Peggy Ball, who said
she can not emphasizes the importance of this program."
Page 1 of the Finance Recommendations:
Jury salaries: '"The committee decided not to fund this requesomw"
Adult probation: No W funding provided. The same wording change should
be made for the Public Defender request,
............................
Auditor's election reserve clerk: "This € position will not be funded." Same
for Assessor.
Finance Committee Budget Review, 11/17/91 Page 1
Combined Treatment: "No additional money is being recommended for the
+ *`:r: ? ?2::;:'wi:. :: ?; ;::i,`.:v. ; ^; . r ::.•:Y:::.•:5::..:.::ic.:i.,i.: ::: :; <:`
detoxification program; increases ;_:<::#:> >:€3t " <itt€€3t are
recommended..."
Council: " UM 40 -hour week for ..." Buildin s and Codes:
g
Okay as presented, except put a period after 117,000" and move the "miscellaneous" item
under the heading of "Equipment Rental and Revolving."
Public Works Administration: "Delete rovision for salary
increasest throughout Public Works budget..."
Last page, 3rd line, after the words "leaving $20,000; ": 'The Committee would like
to ,
include a budget proviso asking the Executive to look into the feasibility of combining the
responsibilities of _ t><e> ' '`' 'r peside into other areas..."
Pages 6 and 7 of the minutes,+ Health Department and Parks: Laidlaw was trying to
bring up concerns that had been brought up earlier in the week. She suggested that many
of the statements attributed to her wants, desires, etc. should be changed to reflect a desire
of the Committee as a whole.
Page 11, second paragraph: "Possible departments to #get
..." Vanderpol also suggested just naming those departments as Public Works,
Parks, Juvenile Probation.
The Committee also asked that the summary of the recommendations be moved to
the first few pages of the minutes, rather than being included as an attachment at the end.
There was general discussion of the minutes. Staff was complimented for its work
on all of the detailed minutes being produced for the Committee's use and for the public
record.
Detail Review:
The Committee started with the packet of papers labeled as "Finance - 1" (attached).
Woods explained the format of the paperwork. Only those sections with clarifications or
changes are reflected in the minutes.
Sheriffs Department: Woods said Terry Hinz reported that he Sheriffs Office is
seeking a supplemental budget for supplies, but that no details (regarding the purpose or
need) were available. The Committee agreed to leave the reduction in place, that
supplementals would be considered if needed.
Planning: This reflects the administration's technical corrections, not the
department's technical corrections, and this should be indicated.
Council: Computer expenses may need to be transferred next year, but capital
expenditures should be zero in the original, as should small tools and minor equipment.
Unemployment should have a change; other minor adjustments were discussed.
Corrections in General: Woods was asked to write a note to the Administration
asking them to check the Committee's figures and make corrections as needed, without
changing the totals.
Superior Court/District Court: It will be necessary in the salary resolution to put the
District Court Commissioner in as an unrepresented employee.
Elected Officials' salaries: The percentages actually changed; on page 5, the
Finance Committee Budget Review, 11/17/91 Page 2
Auditor's section, the word "assessor" should be replaced with "auditor."
Buildings and Code: Need to add a sentence explaining the reason for elimination
of two positions. These positions are eliminated pending the development of work program
and appropriate departmental placement.
Combined Treatment: Could this money become part of the operating transfer?
Also, make it clear in the provisos or cover memo that this is not part of the base budget.
Almost all other departmental funds have nice fund balances; but Combined Treatment fund
balances look like they are larger than for others, and there is no explanation of this. There
will be a breakout of where this extra money goes when the final draft of this report is
published.
The Committee suggested the possibility of a proviso to say if this money is not
earmarked for other things, or dedicated to another cause, the $25,000 or so should come
from this ending fund balance.
For the future, Woods looked at a way to have whatever ending fund balances are
left from all accounts are transferred to Current Expense, at least those which are not
earmarked or dedicated. This is not done now.
Parks: Wording should possibly be changed, to specify the $20,000 is for current
expense.
Health Department: The reduction was allocated as follows: Thirty percent to
Current Expense, and 70 percent divided among the cities.
Equipment Rental and Revolving: The deletion of the vehicles for Health and Info
Services occurred at Bennett's recommendation.
The Memo:
See attached draft, with changes indicated in red. Also the following changes:
Add "continue to wish to put emphasis on equipment and continuing education of
personnel for improvements of practices," or something like that.
The Recommended provisos:
Warner noted that some of these_ items would more appropriately be included in a
resolution the Council could pass concurrently with the budget ordinance; others should be
considered to be provisos. Please see the attached draft for some changes; provisos are
marked with a circled "P" and resolution items with a circled "R." The finished products are
attached as well (labeled "Recommended Budget Provisos /Changes to Existing Provisos,
1992 Budget Ordinance," and "Resolution setting forth budget - related recommendations
and /or policy statements to complement the 1992 budget ordinance."
Woods was asked to find out why the provision regarding the Medical Examiner was
included by the Administration in the proposed budget ordinance.
The Committee discussed reclassifications and the Parks Department.
Presentation of Committee's Recommendations:
It was agreed. that the public, press, departments and the Council would receive a full
report the next morning, including a cover memo; budget provisos; resolution; detail sheet.
The report will be formally presented to the Council Nov. 19; the hearing will be
Finance Committee Budget Review, 11/17/91 Page 3
opened and comment received; then the record will remain open for written comment, to
be submitted prior to the Finance Committee on Nov. 26.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:55 p.m.
ATTEST:
Ramona Reeves, Council Clerk
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Finance Committee Budget Review, 11/17/91 Page 4