Finance Committee

Members present: Al Dippel, Joan Fordham, Tommy Lee Bychinski, Tom Kriegl, Bill Wenzel

Others present: Kerry Beghin, Kathy Schauf, Carol Gasser, Darin Carignan, Pat Carignan, Bonnie Konkel

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 Fordham, second by Wenzel to approve the minutes from previous meetings.
Motion carried.

Public Comment

None.

Communications

None.

Business Items

Discussion of 2005 Highway Department possible budget overruns.

Darin Carignan, Highway Department Office Manager, reported that they expect to overrun their 2005 budget by about $400,000, which is available in their retained earnings. The overrun is caused by expansion of the CTH PF road reconstruction project by an additional 5.6 miles. The project scope was expanded due to favorable bid pricing and access to additional state funding. This additional 5.6 miles was originally planned for 2006. Depending on how the 2006 bids are submitted, the Department could defer a 2006 reconstruction project to replenish their retained earnings.

Consider resolution accepting donation from St. Clare Foundation to Public Health.

Bonnie Konkel from Public Health requested approval of a resolution to accept a $5,988.05 donation from the St. Clare Foundation to help fund acute health care needs for Sauk County's uninsured or under insured. Motion by Bychinski, second by Fordham to approve this resolution accepting the donation and amending the Public Health budget to appropriate these funds.
Motion carried.

Discussion of revision to financial policy 5-94, Fund Balance/Retained Earnings.

A draft revised policy was discussed, with particular attention to language stating appropriate and inappropriate uses of fund balances. The revisions also discuss the use of contingency funds. Comments will be gathered over the next month for further Committee review.

Review draft financial policy 1-05, Revenues and Accounts Receivable.

Supervisor Kriegl expressed concern that the draft policy still did not address the Health Care Center's bad debts that were written off a year ago. The remainder of the Committee felt that the policy provides for reporting of receivable balances and writeoffs monthly to oversight committees, quarterly to the Finance Committee and annually to the County Board, and as such is adequate. Other issues surrounding the Health Care Center's bad debts have already been addressed. It was the consensus of the remainder of the Committee that the policy should proceed along the approval process.

Presentation of annual donations reports.

Land Conservation and Health Care Center donations were reviewed.

Discussion of sales tax report from Department of Revenue.

Beghin and Carignan updated the Committee on the December 2005 Department of Revenue (DOR) report stating that Sauk County tentatively owes sales taxes back to the State of $140,061. The DOR is expecting to take this back over a 36 month period, but the exact amount and takeback details have not been finalized. It was the consensus of the Committee to not pursue a resolution asking the State for an audit of the sales tax program since the State is already aware of the problem and making attempts at correcting the situation.

Treasurer's Report

Carignan updated the Committee on departmental activities. Investments were reviewed, including consideration of early withdrawal of low interest CD's with penalty to reinvest in higher rates. Motion by Fordham, second by Wenzel, to approve the payment of the Treasurer's invoices in the amount of $601.67.
Motion carried.

Accounting Department Report

Beghin updated the Committee on activities of the department for the past month, including upcoming projects and issues. Motion by Wenzel, second by Fordham, to approve the payment of Accounting invoices in the amount of $21,105.93 and the county invoices in the amount of $3,139,979.26 Motion carried.

Motion by Bychinski, second by Dippel to adjourn.
Motion carried.

Next meeting is January 17, 2006 at 5:50 p.m. to approve the county bills. Next regularly scheduled Finance Committee meeting is February 7, 2006 at 8:30 a.m.

Respectfully Submitted: Joan Fordham, Secretary