* AMENDED Finance Committee

Members present:        Tom Dorner, Lynn Eberl, Mike Flint, Marty Krueger and Tim McCumberOthers present:             Mike Albrecht, Kerry Beghin, Susan Blodgett, Dan Brattset, Dave Bretl, Jim Daniels, Sandy Deich, Theresa Dietz, Rick Erickson, Kelly Finup, Pat Gavinski, Leo Grill, Bryant Hazard, Marc Higgs, Kasey Hodges, Lynn Horkan, Jeff Hoffman, Jeff Jelinek, Tom Kriegl, Lewis Lange, Jessica Machovec, Sheriff Richard Meister, Amy Merwin, Rob Nelson, Yvonne Neumann, Adrienne Olson, Stephanie Rehr, Judge Michael Screnock, Jeff Spencer, Tony Tyczynski, Jennifer Vosen, Cathy Warwick, Carrie Wastlick, and Lisa Wilson

 

The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Krueger at 10:12 AM.  Certification of open meeting compliance was given.  Motion by Flint, second by Eberl to adopt the agenda.  Motion carried. 

 

Public Comment:  Kriegl commented on the budget. 

 

Discussion and consideration of the 2021 County Budget.

 

Highway:  Gavinski reviewed the department vision, mission and goals.  He reviewed road maintenance, bridge projects, equipment and revenues.  He commented on new shop design and noted the ad hoc committee that has been formed. 

 

Health & Human Services (HHS) departments:

Aging & Disability Resource Center (ADRC):  Blodgett reviewed collaboration with other Health & Human Service (HHS) departments.  She reviewed mission, staffing and focus of service population, highlighted how COVID pandemic has changed service provision.  She highlighted additional levy request resulting from reduced revenues and increased staff costs due to more time spent in home delivered meal program with congregate sites closed during the pandemic.  She reviewed the use of the Department of Transportation (DOT) Trust funds for vehicle maintenance and bus purchase.  She reviewed the changes in the Greater Wisconsin Agency on Aging Resources, Inc. (GWAAR) services and claims.  The ADRC region and membership were discussed.  Bretl commented on sustainability and the increasing levy over in the department over the last years. Discussed the need to review the direction and funding and consideration for the services provided by the county. 

 

Health Care Center (HCC):  Vosen reviewed partnership with the HHS departments.  She reviewed planning and changes resulting from the COVID pandemic.  She highlighted facility services, staffing and citation-free surveys.  Due to COVID revenues and census are down but managing expenses, streamlining and analyzing trends and right sizing staff.  She cited a few new revenue sources and talked about the HCC fund balance.  Revenues were not reduced for 2021, remain optimistic and have possible use of HCC fund balance if census remains low.  She reviewed the medical assistance funding and certified public expenditure (CPE) dollars received.  CPE will be used for capital improvements and equipment.  She commented on shortage of health care workers across the nation and reviewed the budgeted vacancy factor.  Bretl commented on challenges of heath care staffing shortage and use fund balance.  Committee discussed the health and safety of residents and the HCC five-star rating. 

 

Health Department-Environmental Health (EH):  Warwick commented on staffing and recruitment and challenges of dealing with COVID.  No significant changes in the EH budget.  Only mandated program is the human health hazard.  On the horizon is a new state mandated software program.  Merwin commented on tracking licenses and fees. 

 

Health Department-Justice, Diversion, & Support (JDS):  Warwick reviewed the programs, the grant funding and status.  She reviewed changes made during pandemic.  Commented on the need to fill the JDS manager position.

 

Health Department-Public Health (PH):  Warwick highlighted reclassification request and new administrative specialist position.  She commented on the staffing challenges for tracking the grants and the additional staff on-boarded this year.  Department is always looking for grants to fund and start programs.  Warwick commented the budget eliminates the foot clinic.  Bretl commented on new position requests.  Warwick noted the position will be grant funded ongoing into the future.  Committee discussed the complexity of grant funded positions.  Discussed risk of heavy grant funding. 

 

Health Department-Women Infant & Children (WIC):  Federally funded long standing program.  Program does not use tax levy.  Budget is built on anticipated caseload and funding.

 

Human Services (HS):  Rescheduled to Monday, October 5, Finance Committee meeting. 

 

Recess at 12:00 PM motion until 1:00 PM.

Resume meeting at 1:06 PM. 

 

Arts, Humanities & Historic Preservation (AHHP):  

Hazard reviewed the arts programs/grants.  Bretl commented on his recommended budget reduction. 

 

(UW) Extension Education:

Hoffman reviewed the Extension budget.  He commented on department highlights and changes.  He reviewed the shift of the horticulture position to the Extension state contract.  Hoffman reviewed the extension history, services and value to the county.

 

Justice departments:

Circuit Courts:  Screnock noted the other justice department partners.  He noted most variances are due to labor costs with staffing levels remaining the same.  He commented on jury trials and other court expenses and what trials look like during and after COVID.  A potential future fourth judge was discussed; Screnock noted this would be not be anytime soon.

 

Clerk of Courts:  Wastlick noted there are not many changes, most expenses are court ordered or statutory and these can vary year to year.  She commented on the benefits of technology. 

 

Court Commissioner / Family Court Counseling Services: 

Grill commented on the budget, he noted he will retire the end of May and help with the transition to the new commissioner.  He reviewed the revenues. 

 

Register in Probate:  Daniels reviewed the statutory mandates for the office.  He reviewed the budget and noted 2020 saw a few settled estates resulting in increased revenues. 

 

Law Enforcement & Safety departments:

Emergency Management:   Jelinek noted grants are going to stay consistent.  He highlighted carryforward for flood study partnered with University of Wisconsin.  There are dollars for personal protective equipment (PPE) in the budget. 

 

Coroner:  Hahn commented on the budget.  Only small changes, increase in per diem and field supplies due to increased number of cases.  He commented on vehicle expenses and cremation permits. 

 

Drug Seizures:  Machovec noted this account can only be used for drug fighting expenses, no changes for 2021. 

 

Jail Assessment:  Machovec noted all fines and forfeiture dollars go to pay debt service through 2021.  Once jail is paid off these dollars need to continue to go towards jail capital and programs. 

 

Sheriff:  Meister noted the 2021 changes are largely wage and benefit cost increases as approved through the bargaining unit and projected non-represented employees.  The department noted that they could try keeping a vacant clerk position vacant for 2021, saving $63,959.  They would like to not completely eliminate the clerk, but would reevaluate the need as the new computer system becomes fully implemented.  Prisoner programs are scaled back as fewer outside entities are allowed into the jail due to COVID-19.  Crime prevention can be scaled back by $2,000.  Bretl commented on the animal shelter recommended decrease.  Spencer noted the animal control services provided are very good and necessary services.  The status of the 2021 request from the animal shelter is unknown. 

 

Child Support:  Olson reviewed the mandated child support program.  Budget is decreased due to previous year long time employee retirements in the 2020.  She reviewed the 66% revenue reimbursement and the contracted services with Court Commissioner, Clerk of Courts, Accounting and Corporation Counsel. 

 

District Attorney (DA) / Victim Witness:  Albrecht highlighted the major changes to the budget request reflects $77,000 increase due to a few revenue decreases, labor increases and the requested $45,000 for 6 month’s cost of a full time prosecutor.  He reminded the committee of the need for the number of attorney positions and the state not adequately funding the office.  The committee discussed the justice role and consequences of prioritizing cases.  Albrecht noted there is precedent in the state for the county funded DA and for the possibility that the State would supplant the county funding.  Bretl commented on county funded DA positions. 

 

Veterans Service:   Tyczynski noted besides the new position request there is an additional $15,000 for veterans relief in the budget as requested by the veteran commissioners.  Deich commented on the homeless veteran population.  Tyczynski reviewed a conference call with the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) around the needs in Sauk County’s concerning the mental health gap.  The Veterans Outreach Program (VORP) and the WDVA conference call was a good step to get the conversation going about the lack of support and services.  Committee discussed sorting through the options as the budget is further refined. 

 

 

Tri-County Airport:  Higgs reviewed the airport budget.  Jet fuel revenues expected to remain low in 2021 due to the pandemic and discontinued travel.  Small aircraft traffic has increased.  Currently, corporate jet traffic has been greatly replaced by technology due to COVID pandemic.  Noted Iowa County will be pulling out of the Tri-County agreement.  There is a difference in calculation for the split of the Iowa County share between Sauk and Richland Counties.  The taxiway project and reconstruction of the runway were discussed.  The federal funding for the project would not be lost and would make sense to do the taxiway at the same time as a future runway project.  In the event of flooding there is a detour that works fine even for the big jets.

 

Monday, Sauk County Development Corporation (SCDC), Human Services, Corporation Counsel, and Outside Agencies are on the agenda, meeting time change to 8:30 AM. 

 

Beghin reviewed a communication from the Boys & Girls Club.

 

Motion by Flint, second by Dorner to adjourn the meeting.  Motion carried.

 

Respectfully submitted,  

Lynn Eberl

Finance Committee Secretary