DATE: September 13 -15
PLACE:
Room 213
West Square Building, Baraboo
Members present: Marty Krueger, Joan Fordham, Tommy Lee Bychinski, Tom Kriegl, Bill Wenzel
Others present: Kerry Beghin, Carol Gasser, Kathy Schauf, Lowell Haugen, Media
Chairman Bychinski called the meeting to order at 8:15 a.m. Certification that the open meeting requirement was met.
Motion by Fordham, second by Wenzel to adopt the agenda.
Motion carried.
Presentation , discussion and consideration of budget requests commenced.
Delegates from each county represent their county at an annual convention to inform the DNR about local conservation issues. Increased emphasis on chronic wasting disease management. Other future issues include potential uses at the landfill.
Emphasis continues to be on maintenance of existing businesses, not growth at any cost. Even though Sauk County's strongest economic sector is tourism, this doesn't necessarily create the best jobs. The new outlet mall in Lake Delton will likely draw new consumers to the area, but it will also create competition for the other local retail businesses, particularly Reedsburg.
Ken Grant described the services provided at Sauk County's libraries. Bev Vaillencourt emphasized the importance to the community of public libraries.
The number of animals being handled has increased significantly. There is also the need to replace their vehicle.
Mueller Sports Medicine is in the process of purchasing the airport. Improvements to runways and land continue. They have also contracted for creation of an airport layout plan, which would be instrumental in gaining federal and state funds if the airport should become publicly owned in the future.
Increases were made to make the Chairperson's office a working office. Continued emphasis on County Board development.
Increases include about a $22,000 increase for labor costs of existing staff. There is also a request for imaging of newly created financial system records, rather than continued paper production and storage.
Joan Fordham asked for clarification about the ownership of the Sauk Prairie Airport. It was learned that the entire airport land is now owned by Mr. Mueller. The area on which the runways sit is subject to a 99 year lease (started in the 1960's) to the Town of Prairie du Sac. The Town has assigned management of this area to Sauk Prairie Airport, Inc., which is a group comprised of the users of the airport. The hangers are all privately owned and sit on land leased from Mueller to the private owners.
The majority of the programs are funded through grants; however, the public health programs are funded by tax levy. Changes to public health include expansion of the voucher program for acute care and investigation of provision of dental care for the disadvantaged. Public health departments are also becoming the conduits for distribution of influenza vaccines to hospitals and nursing homes in the county. There is also additional funding for pandemic planning. The Bioterrorism consortium is dissolving at the end of 2006, so staff are being cut and some are being reallocated. On the horizon is becoming full agents of the state for recreational licensing, possibly in 2008 with planning in 2007. The Home Care program remains strong, and they continue to work with the Continuum of Care Committee regarding the future of the Health Care Center.
Increases for labor costs of existing positions. Also an increase for some clerical help provided by Personnel staff.
Primarily a status quo budget, with increases in labor costs.
Reorganized funding to include an intern from the UW School of Arts. Reductions include not needing to fund the one-time expenses for purchase of the Attridge Building and assisting Circus World.
Reclassification of Assistant Parks Director will allow for writing of citations. There is also a loss of revenue of about $3,000 per year from Act 477 no longer allowing counties to collect payments of lieu of land dedication.
Through 2007, Emergency Management funding will likely be stable; however, the future of FEMA may impact local funding in years to come. Terrorism funding is winding down, but these are generally dollars passed through the county with no funding for administration. In Building Services, utilities costs are expected to increase ten percent, an increase of $150,000. Major outlay items include $60,000 for refurbishing the Courthouse clock, $125,000 for carpet replacement in the Courthouse and West Square, and $150,000 for a major upgrade to the phone system. The phone system project could be split into projects across multiple years. Repairs are needed at the Shelter Care building for $20,000. Implementation of wireless 911 is also an important project on the horizon. Halfway through 2007, the Alliant Energy Shared Savings loan will be repaid, saving $53,000 in 2007 and again in 2008. The Insurance Fund is expected to remain stable.
In Planning & Zoning, the final nine municipalities will soon begin their comprehensive planning. This work is done by Planning & Zoning staff. Sauk County has experienced a 15 percent decrease in new housing permits, which is a lower decrease than in most counties. Staffing is adequate for the current level of work. Although a vehicle is ready for replacement, the department can limp it along another year. There is the possibility for a new fee for septic maintenance administration, but this would be a very unpopular fee that would be difficult to collect. The Board of Adjustment has no significant changes expected. Fee increases have been targeted for every three years, so the 2008 budget would be the next year with fee increases in Planning & Zoning and Board of Adjustment. The Baraboo Range program is winding down, with the most difficult acquisitions remaining. It is expected the funds will last roughly until 2009.
Motion by Krueger, second by Wenzel to recess for lunch.
Motion carried.
Hearings resumed at 1:00 p.m.
As watershed programs are ending and other grant funding is decreasing, the department will likely reduce staff levels after 2007. Dam study and possible mitigation will play an increasing role in the County's future. A maintenance plan for the County farm will also be developed.
It is not anticipated that there will be additional loans in the future. There are repayments on the two existing loans, but there is not yet enough accumulated to regrant.
The Housing Authority manages the rental properties on Third Avenue in Baraboo and at the Health Care Center. The revenues received cover expenses, but it is not a money-maker.
Although W2 continues to be operating well, there are dramatic increases in economic support caseloads. High cost cases have been worked on with concerted effort and their costs are decreasing. However, institutional care is increasing, in part because of the deinstitutionalization of developmentally disabled persons. Also, increasingly, clients have multiple diagnoses, many of which require significant assistance. There are increased instances of opiate use, such as pain medications. Long-term care redesign does not have a budget impact in 2007, but will after that.
Sauk County needs to continue strategic planning to answer a number of key questions: What is the definition of core services? What unfunded mandates are we funding and to what level? What other services are we providing that are not mandated? How can these programs be prioritized? Sales tax is expected to remain flat. Intergovernmental transfer program revenues are expected to decrease.
Increases are due to greatly increased salt, asphalt and fuel costs.
An unfilled, half-time relief worker position has been eliminated in the 2007 request. It is also anticipated that the Health Care Center Personnel Manager position will not be refilled; existing staff will take over those duties. The request also includes a three-quarter time intern to assist with a backlog of projects, such as policy updates and procedure development.
Creation of the 2007 budget was greatly influenced by a number of town hall meetings that were held around the County to gather input on program interest. The Commission incorporated these comments into the budget. A registered dietitian and registered nurse will be going to mealsites to do nutrition education and create active plans for the most at risk seniors. The department also plans to work closely with the Veterans Service office to coordinate transportation. Donations for home delivered meals are also increasing sharply.
No changes in programming are anticipated, just increases in the number of cases. There seem to be increases in multiple offense drunk driving and child sexual assaults. Barrett feels much of this is a related to tourism in the Wisconsin Dells area. There is basically no chance of another Assistant District Attorney, which means longer waiting time for cases to be tried.
Bailey feels further staff reductions would force delays and not allow time for scanning the backlog of historical documents. The number of documents recorded has increased in prior years, while staff levels decreased in 2004. He does not see an end to the number of recordings due to timeshares.
There are no significant changes anticipated for either budget.
A major change to the budget is complete closure of the FDD unit, which created an increase to the tax levy. In addition to staff cuts related to the FDD unit, there are already additional staff cuts of 1.3 full-time equivalents and the personnel manager contracted from the central personnel department. Therapies cannot be billed as previously anticipated due to Medicare reimbursement caps and disallowances, increasing the levy request $175,000. The results of the organizational review are also expected to create further changes that are not included in this budget request.
Motion by Krueger, second by Fordham to recess until 8:15 a.m. on September
14, 2006.
Motion carried.
Thursday, September 14, 2006. The Finance Committee reconvened budget hearings at 8:15.
The budget increase is due to an additional court security officer. Courtroom safety for staff and the public was also discussed. Although Sauk County is statistically reaching the need for a fourth judgeship, there are no plans for this at the State level.
Although Steve Pribbenow could not make the meeting, the Committee had no questions.
The committee recessed from budget deliberations at 8:45 to commence the regularly scheduled Finance Committee meeting. Budget deliberations reconvened immediately thereafter.
City sidewalk, curb and gutter, and water assessments have been major expenses recently. Upcoming expenses include electrical work in the old buildings and loan payments for their new building. State aid used for premium checks and ribbons is being eliminated in 2007.
Profitability from the new fuel system has offset increased costs of insurance, utilities and labor. Soon, the taxiway will be relocated in preparation for a new instrument approach system. Overall, the budget request is lower than in 2006.
Upcoming projects include remodeling of the chemistry and physics labs, contingent on the State's participation. If the State does not approve the project, these funds would revert to the fund being accumulated for replacement of the boiler. The campus is developing a more detailed timeline for proceeding with the Living and Learning Center.
Increased mileage costs are directly impacting this office. Coordination with the Commission on Aging to use transportation funding will assist in reducing costs while not compromising service. Purchase of a new folding machine will decrease the time and funds needed for the newsletter. Anticipates more activity as currently active service members are returning.
Increases in costs for appointed counsel, which generally mitigates court costs in other departments. Juvenile matters are increasingly being contested, which increases costs for legal representation.
There are no changes anticipated from prior years.
Congress is reducing funding for housing for low income persons from 100% to 85%. The request is for County funds to be earmarked for the Housing Authority if federal or state funds are further cut; they are not requesting an outright appropriation.
The committee recessed for lunch, hearings resumed at 1:00 p.m.
With reduction of federal funding, a drug detective has been eliminated as of the end of 2005. Revenues from housing prisoners in the Sauk County jail are increased due to more prisoners at a higher rate from Rock County. There is the possibility of increasing the fee charged to Huber inmates from $15 to $16 per day. The Sheriff noted that they trade inmates with other counties to better use available beds in both entities' jails. Recently, there have been fewer inmates eligible for electronic monitoring, which reduces revenues and increases costs. Kriegl asked that income from existing unit B be increased, after which a $70,000 increase was made. Inmate programs are not expected to suffer due to budget cuts in this budget. Other major revenue sources were also described. The Department is working to make vehicles last longer while also leveling the annual cost for vehicle replacement. The budget anticipates elimination of the LaValle precinct since it is near Reedsburg. Overall, precinct placement and operation is under consideration.
No major changes expected for this budget.
Agent contracts are funded 60% by the State and 40% by the County. The county maps are in need of reprinting in 2007, costing about $5,500, which should generate a supply of maps lasting two to three years.
The Committee discussed possible changes to the overall budget request.
Motion by Krueger, second by Fordham to recess until 8:15 a.m. on September
15, 2006.
Motion carried.
Friday, September 15, 2006. The Finance Committee reconvened budget hearings at 8:15.
This would be the second year of an annual request being made of all the member counties. This appropriation would help connect Sauk County to the major metropolitan areas via rail, while helping preserve the highways.
The previously reported loss of federal/state revenues will not impact the County's budget as negatively in 2007 because of the timing of computer charges. The budget was developed anticipating a lower presort postage rate, but there is some question of reliability of the service. If the presort postage cannot be remedied, the Department may return mid-2007 to ask for additional funds.
Hebert described the programs provided, and noted that their budget request is the same as in prior years.
The Airport is owned by the Cities of Baraboo and Wisconsin Dells, Village of Lake Delton, and Town of Delton. A project planned for 2007 is demolition of the stone building on Highway 12. The biggest future plan is extension of the runway to 5,000 feet and precision ILS, which would greatly improve the ability to land jet planes and serve industry.
Expansion of the runway has paved the way for construction of additional hangers, which generate revenue for the Airport.
Office space has been purchased, rather than leased, saving funds in the long-run. They have participated in a peer review which has brought in new ideas. Sauk County's contribution most directly provides assistance to the shelter. Sauk and Columbia Counties are the primary service area, but services are provided in five counties. Two of these counties provide no support, and Hope House is being forced to reduce the services provided there.
The only increases in the County Clerk budget relate to statewide voter registration and creation of a new position requested for 2007. A portion of these additional costs can be charged back to the municipalities with whom the County has memorandums of understanding. There are two elections scheduled for 2007. Mielke feels that the new position being half-time instead of full-time would require more overtime, therefore not saving any money.
With closure of the solid waste site in 2005, the two previous accounting funds have been combined. The Environmental Resources Committee (ERC) wishes to continue offering a clean sweep program; however, no state grant funds will be available if it is held in Sauk County since we no longer have a full-time operation. The Solid Waste Manager position has been reduced to half-time. Appliances, tires, waste oil, and consumer electronics are anticipated to still be accepted at the solid waste site. There are still significant dollars budgeted for groundwater monitoring and leachate removal. With the programming currently anticipated by the ERC, it is projected that the revenues collected will exceed costs, so long as interest rates remain strong.
A one dollar increase to Huber and electronic monitoring would likely not negatively impact usage. They anticipate increasing Huber fees would generate $20,075 more, and increasing electronic monitoring fees would generate $4,745 more. The group discussed the ability to generate additional revenues from housing prisoners from other jurisdictions. The Sheriff felt quite comfortable adding $75,000 of additional revenue. The Sheriff also felt the additional court security officer at half-time would be very difficult to administer.
Pate described how the centralized and department-specific purchases impact the tax levy. He further emphasized that implementing greater security of our computer systems is vital. There are only minor line item changes in Mapping. The Land Records budget includes two interns to do GIS work in Planning & Zoning.
The Committee reviewed in detail the possible reductions to the tax levy
request. There was significant discussion of the libraries' request. Motion
by Wenzel, second by Fordham to fund the libraries' full request, but forward
a letter to them emphasizing that future budget years are likely to be
much more difficult.
Motion carried.
Motion by Krueger, second by Wenzel to fund the Fair Board's full request.
.
Motion carried.
It was the consensus of the Committee that the minor amount of reductions to the levy from original requests be adjusted to the contingency fund.
Motion by Krueger, second by Fordham to adjourn.
Motion carried.
Respectfully Submitted: William F. Wenzel, Secretary