2005 Budget (Sept 14, 15, 16)
Members Present: W. Wenzel, A. Dippel, T. Bychinski, J. Fordham, T. Kriegl
Others Present: K. Beghin, K. Schauf, G. Wiegand, L. Haugen, Budget Presenters
Dippel called the meeting to order at 9:15 a.m. and compliance with the open meeting law was verified. Motion by Bychinski, second by Fordham to approve the agenda. Motion carried.
Request (1): $18,210
Finance Recommended Amount: $18,210
L. Volz appeared to present the budget for Wisconsin River Rail Transit. They are looking at making this an annual request to even out budget requests versus requests for large amounts in one year.
Request (1): $234,471
Finance Recommended Amount: $234,471
T. Stieve. Has remained unchanged. Salaries are the only change.
Request (1): $2,025,299
Finance Recommended Amount: $2,025,299
T. Stieve. Telephone system management has been rolled into communications and communications infrastructure. Each tower site is tracked by project numbers as they are put online. Utility costs will continue to rise and comprise a large portion of the budget.
Request (1): $145,000
Finance Recommended Amount: $145,000
T. Stieve. Property and Insurance sets the amount of this fund.
Request (1): $187,524
Finance Recommended Amount: $187,524
T. Brenson. Increases are in wages and benefits.
Request (1): $183,019
Finance Recommended Amount: $183,019
T. Brenson. The largest expense is for the 2005 aerial digital orthophotography flight. This will be done through a consortium to acquire significant savings. $349,000 will be spent in the next two years, while anticipating revenues of $300,000. The remainder will come from previously accumulated revenues.
Request (1): $86,889
Finance Recommended Amount: $86,889
M. Filus. Special funds were used in previous years to complete mapping of the county. Three thousand section corners within the County need to be updated and maintained. Woodland and Winfield will receive maintenance within the next year.
Request (1): $248,340
Finance Recommended Amount: $248,340
B. Mielke. Discussion of election procedures, costs and technical details. Only certain of one election in 2005, compared to four in 2004. Outlay for copier is the major budgetary change.
Request (1): $32,013
Finance Recommended Amount: $32,013
B. Mielke. Dog licensing is mandatory, it is the job of the municipal treasurer. Cat licensing is not mandatory. Dog license receipts net of expenses are paid to the Humane Society for operation of the Animal Pound.
Request (1): $743,872
Finance Recommended Amount: $743,872
K. Johnson. Increased costs due to labor. Service fees are increased due to outside costs. Should receive 100% of incentive funds for services provided.
Request (1): $75,000
Finance Recommended Amount: $75,000
M. Brophy presented a budget similar in content and the request amount from previous years. This includes monies for capital projects.
Request (1): $3,500
Finance Recommended Amount: $3,500
J. Kazmierczak. Issues surrounding airport were discussed. Costs will help finance legal fees. Publicly-used, privately-owned facility. Offers a service to various users (civil air patrol etc.).
Request (1): $52,000
Finance Recommended Amount: $52,000
K. Schauf, P. Shrake. Presented survey of past endeavors and plans for future.
Request (1): $126,408
Finance Recommended Amount: $126,408
K. Beghin. Some line items up by a small amount.
Request (1): $408,704
Finance Recommended Amount: $408,704
K. Beghin. Wages and salaries up. Discussion over status of direct deposit.
Request (1): $140,879
Finance Recommended Amount: $140,879
No changes other than increase to wages and benefits.
Revenues $8,154,264 excluding use of fund balance
Expenses $3,718,668
Discussion of sales tax and ITP funds. ITP will decrease in amount until it no longer is available. Fund balance is funding the contingency fund of $350,000 and $650,000 for the vacancy and turnover factor.
Request (1): $1,169,301
Finance Recommended Amount: $1,169,301
L. Gurney. Discussion in regard to changes in fee structure to a flat rate for building permits. There is also an increase to the permit fees for nonmetallic mining so that fees better cover the costs for processing. Update on projects and project costs. Levy would decrease if there were no capital outlay for a replacement vehicle.
Request (1): $69,023
Finance Recommended Amount: $69,023
L. Gurney.
Request (1): $1,082,452
Finance Recommended Amount: $1,082,452
L. Gurney. Accumulated State funds should continue to fund wages and benefits for the near future.
Request (1): $11,363,013
Finance Recommended Amount: $11,363,013
R. Stammen, J. Prantner, M. Hafemann, C. Meister, B. Manning, C. Montgomery. Increases in salary and benefits and computer upgrades are anticipated. Discussion centered around staffing and jail needs.
Request (1): $151,000
Finance Recommended Amount: $151,000
Money that comes from courts. Operating costs were moved to Sheriff's Department budget. Unusual, unexpected expenses will be funded if needed throught Contingency. Jail Assessment will be used for Debt Service.
Request (1): $6,000
Finance Recommended Amount: $6,000
Excused: Tommy Lee Bychinski
Dippel called the meeting to order at 8:00 a.m. and compliance with the open meeting law was verified.
Request (1): $1,000
Finance Recommended Amount: $1,000
S. Pribbenow.
Request (1): $13,750
Finance Recommended Amount: $13,750
S. Cassity, Dick Bailey.
Request (1): $7,500
Finance Recommended Amount: $7,500
F. Hebert. Presented information on activities within counties. Weatherization is important program.
Request (1): $74,960
Finance Recommended Amount: $74,960
J. Johnson, P. Mertz. Increased costs for utilities. Protective placements are an added service.
Request (1): $435,954
Finance Recommended Amount: $435,954
P. Barrett, R. Steinhorst. Number of staff attorneys are down, making it difficult to keep up with case loads.
Request (1): $58,787
Finance Recommended Amount: $58,787
J. Bowers, K. Hanna. Reviewed speaking points of budget.
Request (1): $170,756
Finance Recommended Amount: $170,756
L. Grill. Reclassification of positions has resulted in increases.
Request (1): $19,956
Finance Recommended Amount: $19,956
L. Grill.
Request (1): $16,892
Finance Recommended Amount: $16,892
M. Higgs. Holding the line on infrastructure costs. Increase in fuel sales. Anticipate grant funds in future years to fund projects.
Request (1): $3,500
Finance Recommended Amount: $3,500
D. Waffle. Request that funding be returned to previous levels.
Request (1): $263,057
Finance Recommended Amount: $263,057
S. Koenig. Increases are due to capital outlay requests. Wages, benefits, and utilities are increasing. Revenues are up slightly.
Request (1): $10,000
Finance Recommended Amount: $10,000
S. Koenig. Harvesting has accumulated revenue, which will be used for tree planting. Working with DNR to identify annosum resistant varieties.
Request (1): $0
Finance Recommended Amount: $0
S. Koenig. No expenditures anticipated in 2005 as parkland dedication fees are collected for future years' expenses.
Request (1): $477,861
Finance Recommended Amount: $477,861
Todd Liebman. Cost savings with TPR, CHIPS program.
Request (1): $3,500
Finance Recommended Amount: $3,500
B. Hoptman. Reviewed project details.
Request (1): $984,664
Finance Recommended Amount: $984,664
J. VanBerkel. 85% of departmental costs are attributable to labor and benefits. Continued increases in requests for services. New grant funding is continually sought, but this budget includes a cut of 1.5 positions.
Request (1): $3,735,000
Finance Recommended Amount: $3,735,000
K. Beghin, G. Wiegand. Financing for major capital projects. Moving Probate Office, expanding Clerk of Courts and creating a document center, $60,000. $80,000 for courthouse remodeling. $3,595,000 for the Communications Infrastructure.
Request (1): $262,834
Finance Recommended Amount: $262,834
P. Dietmann. Outlay is the only significant difference.
Request (1): $500
Finance Recommended Amount: $500
P. Dietmann.
Request (1): $8,204,612
Finance Recommended Amount: $8,204,612
D. Carignan, S. Muchow. Planning is based on previous years levels. Cuts were due to reductions in staff.
Request (1): $603,316
Finance Recommended Amount: $603,316
B. Muhlenbeck, B. Konkel. There are two programs within Public Health which are levy funded. The rest are self sustaining, funded through grants. No dollars have been allocated for restaurant and hotel inspections, hearings are ongoing.
Request (1): $637,653
Finance Recommended Amount: $637,653
B. Muhlenbeck. Budget is somewhat tenuous, but is expected to remain in the black for at least another year.
Request (1): $153,881
Finance Recommended Amount: $153,881
B. Muhlenbeck.
Request (1): $154,998
Finance Recommended Amount: $154,998
B. Muhlenbeck. Has some tax levy revenue. Five county consortium.
Request (1): $286,007
Finance Recommended Amount: $286,007
B. Muhlenbeck.
Request (1): $211,757
Finance Recommended Amount: $211,757
Les Armbrust. Discussion of imaging process. Newsletter will return to three times per year.
Request (1): $431,217
Finance Recommended Amount: $431,217
M. Koehler. Bids for health insurance have come in slightly under 15 percent, but further reductions are still being sought.
Request (1): $3,785,520
Finance Recommended Amount: $3,785,520
K. Beghin, G. Wiegand. Long term debt payments. Additional bonding may be needed to complete the communications project and funding for the Health Care Center. Increased flexibility in debt structure will become available 2008. Made reference to the $500,000 in HCC fund balance set aside by the capital improvements team for contingencies at the HCC on major infrastructure repairs.
Request (1): $1,665,792
Finance Recommended Amount: $1,665,792
S. Pate. Levy is up due to changes in replacement cycle. Will be replacing e-mail server. Large server replacement in Sheriff's Department.
Dippel called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m. and compliance with the open meeting law was verified.
Request (1): $462,676
Finance Recommended Amount: $462,676
J. Lennon, J. Evenson. Video arraignment is working well between Law Enforcement Center and the Courts. Alternative court reporting is a digital audio recording if a court reporter is not available. Court support payment is not expected to be reduced.
Request (1): $117,644
Finance Recommended Amount: $117,644
J. Daniels. $60,000 is in the Building Projects Fund for moving the Register in Probate offices to the current law library. The Clerk of Courts filing will move into the vacated Probate space. Discussed rate of juvenile cases and effectiveness of probation.
Request (1): $1,000
Finance Recommended Amount: $1,000
K. Vertien. The requested funds reimburse the Conservation Congress delegates for miscellaneous expenses such as mileage and motels.
Request (1): $889,583
Finance Recommended Amount: $889,583
C. Jeffers. Members of the Commission on Aging. Discussed trends toward more clients. Sauk County has an older population than the state average. Replacement of 1995 van using accumulated Department of Transportation revenues. Serve clients age 60 and over. Looking to e-mail newsletter and ask for donations.
Request (1): $17,000
Finance Recommended Amount: $17,000
B. Simonds. Presented statistics regarding Sauk County clients served. Discussed Wisconsin Act 225 that would allow a fee charged on marriage licenses for use with domestic abuse programs.
Request (1): $18,850,632
Finance Recommended Amount: $18,850,632
B. Orth, L. Horkan, D. Brattset. Expecting 2004 to end with a favorable variance of about $200,000. Reduction in juvenile alternate care, MIS, and inpatient costs. Developmentally disabled supportive apartments are very expensive, and there was discussion about the most humane yet cost effective way to assist these people. The State's definition of how these folks should live has changed from least restrictive to most integrated. Very interested in participating in planning of the future of the Health Care Center. Focusing on providing integrated services to assist an entire family and prevent the need for out-of-home placements. The need for shelter care for children has reduced over the past few years so the Lutheran Social Services project is on hold. The current Shelter Care facility managed by Lutheran Social Services and owned by the County will continue to be used and upgraded.
Request (1): $680,461
Finance Recommended Amount: $680,461
B. Vaillancourt. Various library representatives. Originally requested 100% reimbursement ($743,761), but really hoping for 90% reimbursement ($680,461) of rural usage costs. Libraries have become total community resources, not just a place to get books. Actively pursuing reimbursement from other counties for cross-border usage.
Request (1): $124,289
Finance Recommended Amount: $124,289
B. Hinze. Increase to budget for autopsies and for purchase of a vehicle to replace a 1999 Expedition. 2003 had 517 calls, of which Coroner Hinze answered 412.
Request (1): $948,511
Finance Recommended Amount: $948,511
D. Mueller, T. Radke. In 2003, the courts stopped issuing warrants for failure to pay without there being another hearing, reducing revenues. Early in 2004, Sauk-Prairie started their own municipal court, resulting in a loss of about $15,000 in revenues. The need for interpreters is becoming more and more of an issue, particularly with the wide variety of people in the Wisconsin Dells area. Guardian ad litem reimbursements are expected to decrease, but there is little recourse for the County to enforce these payments. The department has worked harder on pursuing collections, including tax intercept, reminder notices, and credit card receipts.
Request (1): $380,409
Finance Recommended Amount: $380,409
J. Crowley. The budget includes funds for a fax machine and a copier.
Request (1): $229,806
Finance Recommended Amount: $229,806
B. Bailey. 2002 and 2003 have been historically busy years due to the low interest rates; the low interest rate environment is not likely to continue. Transfer tax fees have been high due to large condominium and time-share sales in the past few years. The person in the department's part-time position retired in 2004, and that position has not been refilled. Will be "selling" a yearly subscription of $2,500 or monthly subscription of $350 for on-line viewing and printing of documents recorded from 1987 to present. Hoping for eight to ten subscribers. Documents from prior to 1987 must be reproduced in the Register of Deeds office for a fee of $2.00 for the first page and $1.00 for every additional page.
Request (1): $10,351,330
Finance Recommended Amount: $10,351,330
J. Leeck, L. Buttonow. Budget built on status quo in the absence of a decision about the future of the facility. Capital outlay has been minimized for the same reason. Parking lot and sidewalk repairs have been included because these have been safety issues. Intergovernmental transfer program revenues are increasing over the amount budgeted in 2004 by $420,000. Bychinski asked that the management of the rental houses and farmland be transferred elsewhere. These duties detract from the business of running the Health Care Center.
Request (1): $7,475
Finance Recommended Amount: $7,475
J. Leeck, L. Buttonow.
Request (1): $652,398
Finance Recommended Amount: $652,398
J. Carroll. Budget assumes the landfill will reach full capacity by the end of 2004. Final closure and capping will be in 2006. The scale clerk position is excluded, as is the clean sweep. The funds held by the DNR will not be released until after the cap is complete in 2007. Original submission had assumed the facility would continue to handle difficult to manage wastes, such as construction and demolition debris, recyclables or yard waste. Leachate production will continue for many years, and perhaps indefinitely. Fund balance would last about five years if other wastes still managed; fund balance would last about ten years if all additional operations were not pursued. After fund balance is exhausted, programs would have to be ended or tax levy started to subsidize operations. Conservation and forest management plans are recommended; and $15,000 is included for this. Wiegand questioned the continued need for the Environmental Resources Committee after closure. This could best be addressed with the 2006 revisions to the Rules of the Board.
Request (1): $24,750
Finance Recommended Amount: $24,750
J. Carroll. This budget includes groundwater monitoring and legal costs to delist the old landfill from the Federal priority list.
Discussed funding of the libraries.
The discussion proceeded with Wiegand posing the question, "What is the committee trying to do with this budget?". The overarching budgetary goals were discussed, and the budget as a whole was reviewed. From this discussion the following statement of purpose was devised. To work within its resources to provide basic services and programs to protect the life, safety, health, and economic security of its residents and the environment in which they live.
Discussed possible impact of TABOR. Wiegand opposed adding unplanned money into the budget just to keep the levy from dropping too much.
Motion by Bychinski, second by Wenzel, to approve the budget with expenditures and addition to fund balance ( of $3,000 for Parkland Development) of $78,686,773, tax levy of $23,123,509, and a levy rate of $4.70. Motion to amend by Kriegl to reduce Sheriff's budget by $671,173. Motion died for lack of a second. Original motion passed, with Kriegl opposed.
Motion by Bychinski, second by Wenzel to adjourn. Motion carried.
Respectfully Submitted: Joan Fordham, Finance Committee Secretary