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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFinance November 25 1991WHATCOM COUNTY FINANCE AND PERSONNEL NOVEMBER 25, 1991 The meeting was called to order at 12:00 p.-M. in the Council Chambers, 2nd floor, 1000 N. Forest Street, by Committee Chairperson- -Mary Vanderpol. Also Present Absent Marge Laidlaw None Bob Imhof The Committee and Council Budget and Program Analyst discussed the following: 1. Revenue sections of the 1992 Budget, reviewing two particular sets of line items; State Grant Revenue, and Entitlements. 2. Memos sent to Woods from Financial Systems Manager Terry Hinz regarding additional corrections to the proposed Budget. These corrections included: A. Building and Codes Revenue. There was $50,000 anticipated in revenues as a result of the Hydrologist and Geologist positions, neither of these positions were recommended for inclusion in the Budget at this time. There was discussion of whether or not the revenue account should be reduced by $50,000. It was concluded that this would not be necessary at this time. B. Combined Treatment. The Committee had asked about the proposed $25,000 to be taken out of the ending fund balance. Woods stated that there would be sufficient funds at years end for this to take place. By doing this, the $25,000 would be taken out of the ending fund balance rather than the general fund. Vanderpol requested additional information. C. Sheriffs Department. An employee who was scheduled to retire in 1991 has put it off for a few months. The Sheriffs Department has requested that the money be re- budgeted next year to cover the cost of cashing out this employee. These funds would come out of the ending fund balance. D. Building Maintenance. A request for a personal computer at $4,000 was written into the Executive budget narrative, but was not written in the line item. The Minutes, 11/25/91, page 1 Building Maintenance budget would need to be increased by $4,000; taking the funds for the Building Maintenance ending fund balance. E. Budget transfers. The Committee and Woods discussed transfer corrections for various Departments. F. Correct funding for computers. Woods will discuss this item with Terry Hinz. G. Budget restrictions. Clarification needed on the Committee's intentions in budgeting funds for the following: The Womencare Shelter and Combined Treatment Services (the Committee is recommending additional fundsbe budgeted, however, these funds are one time money and should be not be considered as part of the base in future years); Juvenile Probation (funding of a new position which is to be covered by Sate reimbursement - if the position is not covered by reimbursement from the State in 1992, it will be phases out and will not become part of the base in 1993); Health Department (recalculation of figures); Public Works Administration (with the exception of the River Improvement Fund and the Ferry, the corrections here consist mostly of moving numbers into the correct categories); contractual agreement with the Public Utilities District for the County's share of the coordinated water system plan. 3. Various requests and suggestions made by Council Member Don Hansey (see memos dated November 20 and November 22 for further information). LAIDLAW MOVED TO RECOMMEND THAT $25,000 BE TRANSFERRED FROM THE VISITOR AND CONVENTION CENTER FUND TO THE PARKS FUND TO HELP FINANCE THE NATURAL HERITAGE PLAN. Motion carried unanimously. 4. Funds allocated to the Soil and Conservation District. 5. Letter dated November 22 from Mike Brennan of the Whatcom County Chamber of Commerce requesting that the Committee reinstate funding for the Hydrologist and Geologist positions. The Committee explained that they plan make the recommendation to Council that they set aside the funding for these two positions (to be funded mid- year), but will stipulate that a plan of action must be presented before they will allow the money to be spent. Minutes, 11/25/91, page 2 Council Member elect Larry Harris and Ray Weden of Weden Engineering both addressed their support for the funding of these positions. Woods stated that he would work on the language in this line item to better clarify the Committee's intentions. 6. The Committee discussed the Real Estate Excise Tax fund; the money is used for to support development related infrastructures. Woods stated that much of the money to be collected from this tax in 1991 has already been spent. LAIDLAW MOVED TO PROVIDE $25,000 IN THE EXECUTIVES BUDGET TO BE USED AS MATCH FUNDS FOR IMPLEMENTATION IN THE NATURAL HERITAGE TASK FORCE PLAN. Motion carried unanimously. 7. Budget comments from Juvenile Probation. S. Budget comments from the Humane Society. They are currently requesting $67,000; as an alternative they would appreciate keeping %100 of the. license fees collected. Laidlaw suggested that in the future, the Humane Society be supplied with guidelines defining what the Council will be looking for when allocating funds. 9. Budget comments from the County Executive. The Committee discussed the contents of a memo sent to the them by the Executive, dated November 22 (see memo for further information). Imhof recommended that the Committee request clarification from the Executive on the contents of the November 22 memo, to be supplied before the November 26 Council meeting. Vanderpol suggested that he, as Chair of the Finance Committee, address a memo to the Executive requesting this information. The meeting was adjourned. ATTEST: PER�.i 6 . FINANCE AND PERSONNEL COMNffI TEE: i Mary Alanderpol, Member Minutes, 11/25/91, page 3