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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFinance October 27 1988WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL FINANCE COMMITTEE MINUTES Budget Workshop October 27, 1988 The meeting was called to order at 2 p.m. by Committee Chairman Dan Warner, with Council members Don Hansey and Mary Vanderpol present. Council member Emily Jackson attended from 2:50 on. Also present were (1) Judge Ross, Linda Gill, District Court; (2) Larry Mount, Sheriff; Shirley Forslof, Auditor; Barbara Cory, Treasurer; Vic Battson, Assessor; Andy Norstad, Bellingham Herald; (3) Fred Thompson, Director; Charlotte Doolittle, District Court Probation; Linda Gill, District Court; Paul McBeth, Director, Community Alcohol and Substance Abuse Center; Peggy Ball, Combined Treatment Services; (4) Roger DeSpain, Director; Leslie Clark, David Martin, Park Department; (5) N.F. Jackson, Clerk of Superior Court; Superior Court Judges Marshall Forest, Byron Swedberg and David Nichols. There were five separate meetings with short recesses between. Request for a half position dedicated to collection of accounts in District Court Judge Ross and Linda Gill made this plea and say they have been sending °failure to return' accounts on traffic infractions to Trans World Collections and also to Olympia where an additional penalty of $47 is added. They do not have time to send notices to both criminal and traffic violators. This position would also keep addresses more up -to -date thus making contact easier. It is estimated that this person would increase revenue collections by $15,000- 20,000 per month. It is suggested that they share a person with Barbara Cory, Treasurer but person must physically be situated in the District Court office during her half day with them because of their State - connected computer. Request for parity of salaries between elected officials the People tL" supervise Because the classified employees get step increases as well as the 2% cost of living increase and elected officials only receive the 2 %, the salaries have become closer. In the case of several officals, the salaries of the people they supervise is more than they make (Sheriff Mount is one of these). It is felt that a consistent raise schedule would prevent this from happening. Chairman Warner said he would ask the Executive to include elected officials in the upcoming study on salaries. Request for a position to-do substance abuse in the Probation Office Charlotte Doolittle described her extremely busy job showing that it is impossible for her to do the evaluations that Peggy Ball requires because of lack of time. Fred Thompson stated that the job just can't be done properly with any follow -up because of intolerable time constraints. Ball stated that she presently pays W.A.C. $4. each per evaluation and $90 per assessment. She would prefer to pay the Probation Office for the evaluations and this could in part pay for the increased position. Ball also suggested raising the cost of an assessment from $90 to $97. Finance, 10/27/88, Page 2 Paul Mc Beth from the Community Alcohol and Substance Abuse Center agreed with Peggy Ball that there has been much more collaboration between Mental Health and Alcohol and Substance Abuse since they have merged. Roger DeSpain, Leslie Clark and David Martin thanked the Council for the recent passing of the levy. They suggested that they are more like the Roads department in that they have a large supply of physical assets that depreciate. They also mentioned that if a storm wiped out a dock at Point Roberts they do not have a contingency fund to handle such an emergency. Warner asked them to bring a written proposal to the Executive and Council. Some discussion on incorporating multiple use of senior centers and using inmates on Parks. They feel Morrow is showing that he is Morrow took the job later date. There ATTEST: an extremely hard working employee and handed out graphs the lowest paid Commissioner in the State of Washington. at a reduced salary thinking that it would be raised at a was some discussion as to the fairness of the situation. Ramona Reeves Clerk of the Council bm WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON L,( 4 /( %tom c,', r� Daniel M. Warner, Member