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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFinance October 30 1990WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL FINANCE COMMITTEE October 30, 1990 The meeting was called to order at 2:05 p.m. in the Council Conference Room by Committee Chairman Dan Warner. Also Present Absent Mary Vanderpol Marge Laidlaw BUDGET WORK SESSION Executive Office Tom Sutberry, Budget Director, handed out an overview and history of the Whatcom County budget that Terry Hinz, Financial Analyst, put together. This overview shows where funding policy priorities have been in previous years; the emphasis has been on law and justice, with the Public Defender's Office showing the largest increase in funding. The jail has also seen a large increase, mostly due to the building of the new jail. Warner pointed out that the total current expense fund has only increased 70.30 percent, which is not an extreme jump over nine years. The revenue comparative chart shows there has been a very large increase in revenue from 1989 to 1990, and a further increase is expected in 1991. Warner asked Sutberry to discuss the projected $4 million end balance. Sutberry explained the four million comes from two sources; lapsed appropriation authority and unexpected revenue. Sutberry said the money should be used for one -time only expenses, since it can not be counted on to be there in 1992 or any other year. The Executive, in the 1991 Budget Message, listed the areas where she believes the $4 million should. be allocated (pg 17): Courthouse expansion building fund - $1.5 million; solid waste - $35 million; tort reserves - $200,000; machinery and equipment - $273,000; computer hardware and software - $546,000; moving and relocation - $250,000; 2.7 percent reserves - $660,000 (approximate dollar amounts). There was a discussion of the clean air act and the impact it will have on Whatcom County revenue. There was a discussion of revenue from sales taxes (page 6 - Budget Message). Sutberry pointed out the county cannot continue to expect such high revenues from construction taxes. Sutberry said it is important the County does not increase its spending base. Sutberry discussed the Executive Office budget. He said that the level of activity in the county has increased, and the Executive Office can not handle that increase as it is now organized. Sutberry explained the reorganization of positions (new positions, reclassification) and discussed the salary increases budgeted for the Executive staff. Finance Minutes, 10/30/90, Page 1 Sutberry discussed the budget for the Health Department and explained the goals the Executive has for that department. There was discussion on the need for increased staffing in the Auditor's Office and the Treasurer's Office, and why the Executive did not go along with their requests. Sutberry pointed out that although the Auditor and Treasurer have been on the low side of funding increases (14 and 15 percent), and though they have had an great increase in work load, there are many inefficiencies in both offices that need to be remedied before staff increases should be considered. Warner pointed out that increase in automation has also taken in a lot of the work load in both of these offices. There was discussion of the need for a staff member to audit departments to find these type inefficiencies and help correct them, possibly based in the Council Office. There was general discussion on various items: Community Development Fund; low income housing loans; Block Grant monies; Senior Services vs. programs for children; grants administrator staff position; Council Budget Director (salary range mid $40,000). Laidlaw asked Sutberry to provide the Finance Committee with the October actuals (expenditures, revenues). There was discussion of funds provided to the current expense fund from road funds. There was discussion of the ambulance /medical fund. The Executive said she feels the current ambulance system is working well, especially with the new service in Ferndale. Sutberry discussed what is involved in putting together the budget each year. Laidlaw pointed out that a different type of information, more geared toward narratives, would be more helpful for the Finance Committee and the Council. There was a discussion of Information Services and its budget. Warner called a break in the meeting at 3:40 p.m. Warner called the meeting to order again at 4:07 p.m. Whatcom County Park and Recreation Department /Senior Services Roger DeSpain of the Parks Department, Leslie Clark of the Park Board, Bill Sebring of the Park Board, Carl Benson of the Council on Aging, Chuck Olson of the Council on Aging, Glen Hallmon of the Council on Aging, Gary Wilson of the Park Board, and Cheryl Bottner of the Park Board were present for the Park /Recreation /Senior Services presentation. The Parks Department /Senior Services line item in the proposed budget is $1,734,868. They are requesting an additional $312,035 for additional services and $37,300 for equipment for a total request of $349,335. DeSpain pointed out that most of the staff positions they are asking for are not new, but positions that have been taken away from them in past years. He pointed out that the Parks Department is greatly effected by the growth in Whatcom County (see graphs in handout). He said although the revenue from the Parks Department has gone up, increasing the contribution to the fund, their share of Current Expense funds has gone down. He said they believe that their requests are justified, and reminded the Committee that Park /Recreation /Senior Services are voter - mandated services. (Handouts: Narrative to Executive, written presentation to Finance Committee, 1991 Parks /Senior Services Budget Fact Sheet for the County Council Finance Committee, various newspaper, magazine, articles). Finance Minutes, 10/30/90, Page 2 Developmental Disabilities Rich Perry, Dave Charleston, and Carl Allen were present to represent Developmental Disabilities. Allen pointed out that only $11,200 of their funds for 1991 (in the proposed 1991 budget) are to come from the Current Expense Fund, the rest of their funding comes from State and Federal funding. Developmental Disabilities is requesting an additional $90,237 from Current Expense. The funding would be used to place 18 people in support employment programs, five people in specialized industries programs, and four people in community integration programs. Allen pointed out that many of their problems come from the fact that there is a large increase of people coming from institutions and nursing homes back into the community, and also that this is such a labor intensive area. Allen brought up the possibility of developmentally disabled people being hired by the County. Superior Court - Judge Moynihan Moynihan pointed out he is basically happy with the proposed budget. There are a few things they wanted and did not get, but they were low on the priority list. He pointed out the Commissioners are being paid based on the overall salary of David McEachran (Prosecuting Attorney), and Moynihan said he felt they should be paid based on either a Superior Court Judge or a District Court Judge. They (Commissioners) have many responsibilities and duties, work hard, and are doing a good job. Moynihan is not pushing this point because the Commissioners received a large raise recently, and although it only brings them to approximately 85 percent of what Moynihan says he believes they are worth, it was nonetheless a large raise, and he is willing to let it alone for now. There was discussion of Whatcom County Commissioner salaries compared to Commissioners in other counties. Moynihan spoke of the good morale in this department. There was discussion of new line item for interpreters, the law now mandates certified interpreters. Discussion of new half time position in Assigned Council, the doubling of the Guardian Ad Litem line item, the jump in criminal conflict contracts funding, and the line item for arbitrators. Finance Committee asked Moynihan to gather information on these subjects and get back to them. There was discussion of Superior Court's space in the new addition and a discussion of the backlog of cases in Superior Court. Meeting adjourned at 5:15 p.m. ATTEST: Sharma McWhorter, Asst. Clerk WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON /. i / :. Finance Minutes, 10/30/90, Page 3