HomeMy WebLinkAboutFinance November 20 1989WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
FINANCE COMMITTEE
November 20, 1989
The meeting was called to order at 3 p.m. in the Council Conference Room by
Committee Chairman Dan Warner. Mary Vanderpol was present; Emily Jackson was
absent.
The only agenda item was the final discussion of budget revisions.
Visitor's and Convention Bureau
Warner said Finance already had recommended a $2,500 to the Executive's
provision for the Visitor and Convention Bureau, providing them with a total grant of
$12,500 (they had asked for a total of $23,000). He asked Executive Shirley Van Zanten
to explain how much extra money was in the budget that could be used for this purpose.
Van Zanten and Budget Director Tom Sutberry said $119,000 is in the ending fund
balance. However, the Council had resolved in the past that about 50 to 60 percent of
revenues would be reserved for an account that would fund large, one -time projects (such
as the purchase of the Mount Baker Theater, special brochures and the Alaska ferry lure,
all projects funded in recent years). There was discussion.
VANDERPOL MOVED THAT IN ADDITION TO THE $2,500 ALREADY
ADDED TO THE VISITOR AND CONVENTION CENTER BUDGET, THE
COUNCIL ADD $2,500 TO THE MISCELLANEOUS ACCOUNT, BRINGING THE
AMOUNT AVAILABLE TO VARIOUS AGENCIES FOR LARGE PROJECTS FROM
$79500 TO $10,000.
Motion carried.
Forest Patrol DeDu
Warner said the Committee will not take action on this matter until the Sheriff
negotiates with industry and gets specific contributions for this purpose, and a
commitment to that funding for more than one year. There was some discussion.
Resident Deputy, Maple Falls
A petition from Maple Falls area residents is on file. Warner said this sounds
like a good idea, but an expensive one. Vanderpol said he understood that a forest
patrol deputy would help this situation to some degree. There was discussion. Warner
said the Council had suggested that Larry Mount encourage better service to the foothills
area.
Public Works
Lake Whatcom: Having received a number of calls from residents along Lake
Whatcom Boulevard, Warner asked if the County had budgeted any money for
construction of the Lake Whatcom Connector, upgrades to Lake Whatcom Boulevard, or
other such projects. Van Zanten said no, but that $120,000 is in the one -year road
program for preliminary engineering, studying, and acquisition of right -of -way for the
Connector project. No money is budgeted for construction, and this study and review
would tell the County which route would be best and whether traffic counts merit such
expansion.
Solid Waste: Warner said Jackson wanted to know how much money was
budgeted for landfill siting or scoping next year. Van Zanten said $362,500 is in the
solid waste budget and is the amount projected to be spent on the environmental impact
statement for all three sites next year.
Probation Services
Van Zanten said there was no money in the budget for probation services to small
cities that operate their own municipal courts. Ferndale and Blaine do their own
servicing, and other small cities wanted to possibly do their own or join together, rather
than use county services. After the budget deadline they decided seek County services
for Everson, Nooksack, Sumas and Lynden, for a total of $13,900. This would change
a half -time probation officer to full -time.
She requested that the Council incorporate that position, change the numbers as
appropriate for the increase in salaries and benefits, and add $13,900 to revenues.
Vanderpol and Warner agreed.
Ending Fund Balance
Van Zanten said the projected ending fund balance -- after Finance Committee
recommendations are calculated -- comes to $50,000 and would not be adequate. She
distributed calculations of past ending fund balances, supplemental budgets, and revenue
projections (on file: BUDGET). The bottom line was she didn't think the County was
adequately prepared to handle extra expenses in 1990, such as supplemental budgets and
union contract settlements.
Options she outlined for the committee included reducing expenditures, holding
some expenditures until a more accurate revenue projection is available, or eliminate the
budget revisions made by the Finance Committee to date.
There was some discussion. Van Zanten said she probably should have mentioned
her concerns sooner. There was more discussion. Van Zanten said it was safe to
assume that there would be supplemental budget requests next year, that two departments
already have approached her about them.
Sutberry said King County has a policy that it reserve six to eight percent of its
revenues for an undesignated ending fund balance for cash flow purposes, etc.
WARNER ASKED THE ADMINISTRATION, AT ITS CONVENIENCE, TO
DEVELOP A POLICY TO ASSIST THE EXECUTIVE, GIVING GUIDELINES
ALONG THOSE LINES.
Vanderpol suggested one to two percent; Van Zanten said six to eight percent was
a bit high.
VANDERPOL SUGGESTED THE FOLLOWING BE PROVIDED FOR IN THE
BUDGET, WITH THE PROVISO THAT THESE WILL BE PAID FOR OR
FINANCED SHOULD THE REVENUES WARRANT IT:
- ADDITIONAL SHERIFF'S DEPUTY;
- TREASURER'S STAFF TO EIGHT -HOUR DAYS;
- STRAND ROAD PROJECT (PARKS);
- $100,000 CONTRIBUTION TO CAPITAL FUND; AND
- $100,000 CONTRIBUTION TO TORT FUND.
Vanderpol clarified that these expenditures would be held at least until February,
when revenue projections would be more helpful. The above items should be funded,
as revenue is available, in the following priority order, he said:
1. Sheriffs Deputy
2. Treasurer's staff to eight -hour days
3. Tort fund contribution
4. Capital fund contribution
5. Strand Road project
Warner said he concurred with Vanderpol's suggestions. Sutberry explained that
this savings would not actually show in the ending fund balance. Warner said it probably
brought the ending fund balance total to about $350 to $450,000, less the $25,000 needed
for Medic One (discussed at an earlier meeting).
Warner reminded Sutberry that a proviso should be written than prohibits Parks
from purchasing the Mount Baker Highway building, instead planning on an eventual
move to the Nor -Bell facility.
There was more discussion.
The meeting adjourned at 4:10 p.m.
ATTEST:
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Ramona Reeves, Council Clerk
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Daniel M. Warner, Mem er