Finance Committee


DATE: April 11, 2006

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

Others present: Kerry Beghin, Kathy Schauf, Carol Gasser, Pat Carignan, Tim Stieve, Lowell Haugen, Todd Liebman

Chairman Dippel called the meeting to order at 8:15 a.m. Certification that the open meeting requirement was met. Motion by Wenzel, second by Bychinski to adopt the amended 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

Treasurer's Report

Carignan updated the Committee on departmental activities, including preparing to take tax deeds on delinquent properties. Motion by Bychinski, second by Fordham, to approve the payment of the Treasurer's invoices in the amount of $8,616.99.
Motion carried.

Beghin and Carignan discussed elimination of many of the thirteen petty cash accounts throughout the County and creation of one central account in the Treasurer's office. Motion by Wenzel, second by Fordham to work with departments to eliminate all unnecessary petty cash accounts and create a central petty cash administered by the Treasurer.
Motion carried.

Consideration of a resolution rescinding 149-05, and allowing multiple options for supervisory pay.

Supervisor Haugen has drafted a resolution rescinding the mandate that County Board and Committee pay be made by direct deposit. The Executive & Legislative Committee voted on April 4 to not forward this resolution to the County Board. The E&L Committee felt there could be bad precedent set for one or a group of Supervisors who disagree with a resolution that was adopted by a majority of the County Board to bring forward contradictory resolutions. Supervisor Haugen felt this mandate invaded his privacy, and he does not like mandates. Corporation Counsel Liebman stated that the forms are not illegal. It was the consensus of the Committee to not forward Supervisor Haugen's resolution by the County Board at this time.

Consider reallocation of Building Services 2006 outlay for 911 equipment.

Equipment to handle 911 calls in the dispatch center is aging significantly and in need of replacement. There are not enough funds budgeted in 2006 to complete the dispatch center upgrades, but the shortfall can be reallocated from boiler system upgrades that were less expensive than anticipated. Motion by Fordham, second by Wenzel to approve reallocation of $12,000 from the boiler project to dispatch center upgrades.
Motion carried.

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

Liebman noted that he did not have a legal objection to proposed revisions; however, he did question the minimum level of working capital. The Committee discussed other county, private entity, and best practice working capital levels. Motion by Fordham, second by Wenzel to set Sauk County's working capital level at 20%. Motion carried. Motion by Wenzel, second by Fordham to approve the amended policy for report to the County Board in April.
Motion carried.

Discuss possible financial policy detailing procedures for expenditures anticipated to exceed a given threshold - referred from the Executive & Legislative Committee.

The Executive & Legislative Committee asked that the Finance Committee consider a financial policy regarding the decision process for projects and/or issues with major policy, social or financial impacts. Schauf and Beghin will query other counties to see if others have policies or procedures in place to address this and report back.

Consider issuance of new credit card to Veteran's Service Officer.

Motion by Fordham, second by Bychinski to approve the credit card for the Veteran's Service Officer.

Consider resolution Designating Unreserved Funds as of December 31, 2005.

Motion by Wenzel, second by Fordham, to approve the resolution designating unreserved funds as of December 31, 2005 and forward to the County Board for approval.
Motion carried.

Discussion of 2007 budget and timeline.

There was discussion of the timeline and deadlines. Staff will make sure preliminary budget numbers are presented to the County Board at their September meeting.

Accounting Department Report

Beghin updated the Committee on activities of the department for the past month, including upcoming projects and issues. Audit will begin April 17. Motion by Fordham, second by Kriegl to approve the payment of Accounting invoices in the amount of $3,047.10, county invoices in the amount of $3,168,785.16, and the annual report.
Motion carried.

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

The next regular Finance Committee meetings will be April 18 and May 9.

Respectfully Submitted: Joan Fordham, Secretary