DATE: November 8, 2005
Members present: Al Dippel, Joan Fordham, Tommy Lee Bychinski, Tom Kriegl, Bill Wenzel
Others present: Kerry Beghin, Michelle Koehler, Kathy Schauf, Jeanne Leeck, Lisa Buttonow, Steve Pate, Sheriff Randy Stammen, Captain Richard Meister, Karyle Johnson, Pat Carignan
Al Dippel called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m. Certification that the open meeting requirement was met. Motion by Bychinski, second by Fordham to adopt the agenda. Motion carried. Motion by Bychinski, second by Kriegl to approve the minutes from previous meetings with some corrections. Motion carried.
Public Comment None.
Communications
Discussions at City of Reedsburg of creating their own municipal court. Update on trend towards the increase in municipal courts, pros and cons. Municipalities are hoping to increase revenue streams. Losses in revenue to the County are estimated at $29,000 per year. Municipal courts handle uncontested cases, so the County loses revenue while not losing much workload.
Business Items
Update on Health Care Center software evaluation.
S. Pate discussed the progress of this project. The business office is able to utilize the current system and resolve issues for now, and the team will continue to evaluate the effectiveness of the software and County processes. At this point, the cost and time needed to replace the software are not worth the benefits.
Consideration of resolution authorizing purchase of a 2006 Ford Crown Victoria Replacement Squad Car. R. Stammen, and R. Meister discussed the need for a replacement squad subsequent to an accident. Motion by Bychinski, second by Fordham, to authorize purchase of a 2006 Ford Crown Victoria Replacement Squad Car. Motion carried.
Discussion and consideration of refinancing debt.
K. Beghin updated the committee on the current economic environment. It is unlikely interest rates will fall in the near future. The window of opportunity to save money is not indefinite. Beghin requested that Finance set a target for savings so that if conditions are favorable we can proceed. Target of 2.5% minimum was set for the continued exploration of this option in a motion by Fordham, second by Wenzel. Motion carried. Bids will be obtained from the two financial advisors the County has worked with in the past, and the most advantageous will be enlisted to coordinate development of an official statement and paperwork for the refinancing.
Update on funding cuts to Child Support.
K. Johnson appeared to discuss federal funding reductions in Child Support. It is being proposed at the federal level to cut reimbursements from 66 percent to 50 percent, which would have a negative impact to Sauk County of about $112,000.
Consider resolution Approving Mandatory Direct Deposit for County Board and Committee Members.
Discussion ensued over the various viewpoints that Board members have regarding direct deposit. Motion by Bychinski, second by Fordham, to Approve Mandatory Direct Deposit for County Board and Committee Members. Motion carried.
Review draft financial policy 1-05, Revenues and Accounts Receivable.
The draft was reviewed and discussed in detail. Research regarding best practices, individual departmental needs and appropriateness for overall county usage was considered. The draft will be distributed to all departments for comment, with a report back to the Finance Committee in December.
Discussion of distribution of revenue from various County fines - referred from Executive and Legislative Committee.
This item was discussed as part of the discussion regarding revenues and accounts receivable. The revenue generated from citations issued by the Sheriff's Department is recorded in the Clerk of Courts office to avoid the appearance that Sheriff's deputies issue citations just to earn revenue. It is also so that the department responsible for collections has more incentive to pursue those collections.
Discussion of 2006 budget related to fuel costs.
The committee discussed that $111,209 plus the traditional $350,000 is in the contingency fund to cover possible fuel and utilities increases in excess of amounts already in departments' 2006 budgets. If departments' 2006 budgets are exceeded because of fuel and utility costs, a transfer from contingency can be approved via request to Oversight and Finance Committees.
Consider ordinance Establishing Taxes to be Levied in Sauk County for the Year 2006.
Motion by Fordham, second by Bychinski to approve the ordinance as presented. Motion carried.
Kriegl requested that summary reports in alphabetical, expense usage and tax levy usage order be included, as well as full-time equivalents updates, and updates for the Sheriff's department budget.
Treasurer's Report
Carignan updated the Committee on departmental activities. Increased costs for equipment additions that were purchased for additional efficiencies. Investments were reviewed. Motion by Fordham, second by Bychinski, to approve the payment of the Treasurer's invoices in the amount of $10,429.43. Motion carried.
Accounting Department Report
Beghin updated the Committee on activities of the department for the past month, including upcoming projects and issues. Beghin presented the departmental update in a sample format that would be presented uniformly to oversight committees. This format includes restatement of the department's mission; current year goals, outputs and outcomes and the progress toward those; prior month activities; upcoming activities and issues on the horizon; and a summary of current year budget to actual. Motion by Bychinski, second by Fordham, to approve the payment of Accounting invoices in the amount of $6,866.70. Motion carried. Motion by Bychinski, second by Fordham, to approve the payment of the county invoices in the amount of $2,262,936.58. Motion carried.
Wenzel excused himself from the meeting during the Accounting Department Report.
Motion by Fordham, second by Bychinski, to adjourn. Next meeting is November 15, 2005 at 5:50 p.m. to approve the county bills. Next regularly scheduled Finance Committee meeting is December 13, 2005 at 8:30 a.m. Motion carried.
Respectfully Submitted: Joan Fordham, Secretary