HomeMy WebLinkAboutFinance October 26 1988WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
FINANCE COMMITTEE MINUTES
Budget Workshop
October 26, 1988
The meeting was called to order at 2:42 p.m. by Committee Chairman Dan
Warner, with Council members Don Hansey and Mary Vanderpol present.
Also present were Larry Mount, Sherrif; Doug Gill, Undersherrif;
Marvetta Gwinner of the Sheriff's office; and Shirley Forslof, Auditor.
It was noted that 3 additional officers had been allocated in the budget but
Mount would like a minimum of 5 and preferably 7 additional officers. There
was some discussion as to whether extra officers would cut down on overtime
currently being paid; it was decided that initially it would not. There is so
much training required. Many do not have adequate first aid training or
updated police training.
There is very tittle traffic control or issuance of tickets at this time. If
they were allotted 7 officers they feel 2 could be delegated to road duty thus
increasing the revenue producing capabilities of the department with perhaps
$40,000 generated from each of those 2 road deputies per year. This would
mean better coverage to help reduce our accident and tort liabilities.
Mount says he would be able to keep one officer almost full -time in the
schools if he were to get seven.
Each new deputy would require an additional car.
The $6,000 that was allotted is being used to install cellular phones in
vehicles. This is absolutely necessary as many places have no accessible pay
phones and in the case of accidents or hostage- taking, it is essential to call
for aid.
The average daily population of the jails is 15% below maximum - houses many
federal pre -trial prisoner Some discussion about boats on Lake Whatcom and
Lake Samish - awaiting worLfrom Hawley's.
It was noted that if the City annexed the areas currently being considered in
North Bellingham the area covered by our Sherrif's office would be reduced by
9.5 %.
Mount also made an urgent plea for additional clerical help in their office.
They need at least one but would prefer two additional people.
It was requested that Mount provide the Council with data showing exactly what
the benefits would be with extra deputies, particularly in the revenue -
generating area.
Finance Minutes, 10/26/88, Page 2
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Shirley Forslof concurs with the presentation by the Executive office
regarding the need for an election management system but would rather have a
PC and printer that would use different paper sizes. Pierce County has shared
a program with her department that could be used on a PC.
Forslof is updating the method of billing and believes that with the
depreciation on new equipment allowance and higher billing rate this would
generate a large part of its initial cost.
Forslof would also like additional positions allocated and feels an extra
position could be paid for in the amount of charges that would be saved by
paying bills while the percentage off is in effect.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:02 p.m.
ATTEST:
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Ramona Reeves,
Clerk of the Council
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
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Daniel M. Warner, Member