Finance Committee


DATE: Friday, August 8, 2003

Members Present: T. Bychinski, L. Burri, L. Haugen, T. Kriegl, A. Dippel

Members Absent: None

Others Present: K. Beghin, P. Holcomb, J. Crowley, G. Wiegand, Press

Chairman Dippel called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. and compliance with the open meeting law was verified. Motion by Haugen, second by Bychinski to approve the agenda. Motion carried. Motion by Burri, second by Haugen to approve the minutes from the prior meetings. Motion carried.

Communications:

Rainy Day Fund Article was discussed. No action.

Business Items:

Recommendation from Capital Improvements.

Team Discussion on items in the Capital Improvements plan and how it is incorporated into the County Budget. T. Kriegl requested the information on the tower study be presented to County Board at a later date. L. Haugen discussed the use of Bioterrorism dollars (no tax levy dollars - grant monies) to purchase a vehicle.

Discuss draft resolution regarding County Board per diem.

L. Burri feels budget cuts need to come from leadership, so per diems should be cut drastically. Discussion followed on possibly freezing the per diem and/or limiting the number of meetings held. By state statute a per diem must be paid. No action taken. Resolution will be brought back to committee in the near future.

Treasurer's Update

J. Crowley updated the Committee on activities within the department. The Treasurer discussed the state budget and the passage of the option for Counties to sell its tax certificates. The pool interest rate is 1.03%. Motion by Bychinski, second by Kriegl, to approve the payment of the Treasurer's invoices in the amount of $573.92. Motion carried unanimously.

Accounting Update

K. Beghin updated the Committee on activities within the department regarding budget preparation and the 2002 audit. The committee received a budget meeting timeline and discussion followed on what additional information the committee would like in their budget packets. The 2002 audit was completed and reports have been received. Reports will be distributed once the management letter is received. K. Beghin presented the County's GFOA Distinguished Budget Award to the committee. The committee was informed that the Teamsters union membership have voted to become a local of the WPPA. The credit card issue was discussed and will be tabled until a later date. Motion by Bychinski, second by Haugen, to approve the payment of Accounting's invoices in the amount of $4,152.77. Motion carried unanimously. Motion by Burri, second by Kriegl, to approve the payment of the County invoices in the amount of $3,122,348.05. Motion carried unanimously.

Next meeting is August 19, 2003, at 5:50 p.m. for the approval of bills. Next regular Finance Committee meeting is on September 11, 2003, at 11:00 a.m (approximate time following budget hearings). Motion by Burri, second by Kriegl to adjourn. Motion carried.

Respectfully Submitted: Tommy Lee Bychinski, Finance Committee Secretary