The Jackson County Finance and Administration Committee met Oct. 17 to review the tentative budget.
Here is the meeting's agenda, as provided by the committee:
The committee is in charge of reviewing matters related to fiscal control of the county; health, dental/vision, property, liability, workers compensation and unemployment coverage of the county; and policies related to labor relations and laws with regard to county employees.
FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE
MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2016 4:00 PM
JACKSON COUNTY COURTHOUSE
Call to Order
Committee Members Present: Elizabeth Hunter, Keith Larkin, Dan Bost, Emily Burke, Brian Chapman and Julie Peterson
Committee Members Absent: Milton Maxwell
County Board Members Present: Andrew Erbes, John S. Rendleman and Orval Rowe
Also Present: Guthman, Miriam Link-Mullison, Susie Kilquist, Josh Barringer, Vickie Dagner, Donna Boros, Bruce Ethington and
Michelle Tweedy
Finance & Administration Chair Elizabeth Hunter called the meeting to order at 4:25 p.m.
I. 16-1816 Chairman's Report
Finance & Administration Chair Elizabeth Hunter provided an overview of the items agreed upon to date: health insurance premiums will be increased 9.5% with a health insurance contingency line item established to cover future claim short falls; non-bargaining unit staff will receive a 4% cost of living adjustment; $4,995 has been set aside in contingency as a future pay raise for the computing services manager pending a positive employee evaluation; the budget will not include funding for a board administrator, jail secretary or adjustments for gender inequalities; the Coroner's budget was trimmed in the amount of $20,000 by the Finance & Administration Chair; and cash reserves will be utilized to fund the expenditures for vehicles, software, GIS Technician, law library and court assessments. Ms. Hunter sought input on the Coroner's request for a secretarial position. The consensus of the committee was to establish the position as a contractual one at a cost not to exceed $4,000.
The October 19, 2016, meeting will be cancelled in order to prepare the 2016-2017 budget as it will be filed and to allow the review of the telephony bids. The committee will meet again on Wednesday, October 26, 2016, at 5:30 p.m. to review the property and liability proposals, to discuss the telephony bids and to review the 2016-2017 budget as it will be filed for public viewing.
Finance
II. 16-1822 2016-2017 Budget Preparation
a. Health Department Adjustment
b. Adjustment Due to Proposed Reduction to Property Tax Increase
c. Review of Tentative Budget to be filed
The committee reviewed an email correspondence from the Jackson County Health Department requesting continued support of IMRF expenses so that a 4% cost of laving adjustment may be granted for the employees of the department. The committee discussed the originally submitted budget reflecting no cost of living adjustment, no IMRF support and the potential of operating 35 hours per week. The committee discussed the ability of the IMRF Levy and its cash reserves to support the request. Motion by Larkin, seconded by D. Bost to grant the request of the Health Department and to cover the IMRF expenses up to $108,000, motion carried.
The committee reviewed the levies as agreed upon the last time they met reflecting a reduction of $32,400. The committee was informed that the reduction was reflected within the County General levy for presentation purposes at the time and could be adjusted to reflect the wishes of the committee. Mr. Larkin suggested the committee/board not get in the habit of having one levy over another take the reduction year after year and recommended half to come from County General and the remaining half from IMRF. Motion by Larkin, seconded by D. Bost to reduce the IMRF levy by $20,000 and County General by $12,400; discussion was held regarding the proposed motion and a friendly amendment was made by Jackson County Board Chair John S. Rendleman to reduce IMRF by $10,000 and County General by $22,400; Larkin moved, D.Bost seconded the friendly amendment to reduce the IMRF levy by $10,000 and the County General levy by $22,400, Roll Call Vote: Yes-Hunter, Peterson, Burke, Chapman, Larkin and D. Bost Nona, motion carried.
Accounting Coordinator Michelle Tweedy presented the committee with the County Board portion of the budget in its final format for review. The budget also contained the employee compensation report that must accompany the budget.
Computing Services
III. 16-1821 Opening of Telephony Bids {5:00 p.m.}
Finance & Administration Chair Elizabeth Hunter informed the committee that only on bid was received on the telephony system. The bid from CTS was opened by Ms. Hunter. Mr. Bruce Ethington of CTS presented two options with which the committee could consider: 1. outright purchase in the amount of $138,597 + $1,524 monthly support; 2. CTS Complete in the amount of $4,035/month utilizing refresh dollars. The consensus of the committee was to review the bid and to discuss the findings at the October 26, 2016, committee meeting.
Old Business
New Business
Adjourn
Motion by D. Bost, seconded by Chapman to adjourn, motion carried.
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