Finance Committee

DATE: Tuesday, October 10, 2006
PLACE:
Room 213
West Square Building
Baraboo

Members present: Marty Krueger, Joan Fordham, Tommy Lee Bychinski, Tom Kriegl, Bill Wenzel

Others present: Kerry Beghin, Kathy Schauf, Carol Thompson, Pat Carignan, Michael Hafemann, Bill Steinhorst, Beverly Mielke, Michelle Koehler, Jeanne Leeck, media

Chairman Bychinski called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m. Certification of the open meeting requirement was met. Motion by Fordham, second by Wenzel to adopt the agenda. Motion carried. Motion by Fordham, second by Wenzel to approve the minutes from previous meetings with corrections and additions. Motion carried.

Public Comment

None.

Communications

Review of Chapter 13, Non Represented Employee Grievance procedure.

Krueger and Schauf reviewed the existing procedure for non-represented employees to address issues about which they feel they have been agrieved. Kriegl felt that an employee should have the ability to directly address a committee without relying on senior management staff to facilitate the presentation for the final step of the process.

Discussion of Board Development policy documents.

Schauf reviewed the definitions of major, significant and routine issues that trigger varying levels of reporting to the County Board. She also reviewed a reporting framework to assist in guiding the information presented.

Business Items

Consideration of 2007 budget recommendation to the County Board.

Beghin updated the Committee on new information received since the Committee last met regarding the 2007 budget. Largest among this information was health insurance rate increases being held to a lower level. Kriegl expressed considerable concern over the Health Care Center's use of tax levy. Motion by Krueger, second by Fordham to delicense 24 beds, reducing to 110 beds, saving $21,600, further recommending that the Health Care Center Committee strongly consider this. Motion carried. Motion by Krueger, second by Fordham to forward the budget as amended with unassigned dollars added to contingency.
Motion carried, with Kriegl opposed.

Consideration of resolution creating one social worker position effective January 1, 2007.

Motion by Fordham, second by Wenzel to approve this resolution.
Motion carried.

Consideration of resolution creating one psychotherapist position effective January 1, 2007.

Motion by Fordham, second by Wenzel to approve this resolution.
Motion carried.

Consideration of resolution creating one deputy county clerk position effective January 1, 2007.

Motion by Krueger, second by Fordham to approve this resolution.
Motion carried.

Consideration of resolution creating one deputy sheriff-court security position effective January 1, 2007.

Kriegl noted that this position is funded purely by tax levy and he cannot support this position. Fordham and Krueger agreed with the concern for the tax levy, but felt there was a higher duty to the safety of the citizens and staff. Motion by Krueger, second by Wenzel to approve this resolution. Motion carried, with Kriegl opposed.

Discussion of expansion of the sales tax - referred from the Chairperson's Advisory Committee.

Members of the Chairperson's Advisory Committee had expressed the wish that Sauk County go on record as opposing many of the exemptions to sales tax. Krueger was concerned that approving a resolution to this effect would serve no benefit. He would prefer working with the Wisconsin Counties Association (WCA) and coordinating this as part of their overall agenda. It was the consensus of the Committee that Krueger work with the WCA on this issue.

Discussion of requesting a homestead tax credit program - referred from the Chairperson's Advisory Committee.

Expansion of the homestead credit would allow the elderly to stay in their homes longer by preserving their funds. It was again the consensus of the Committee to work with WCA on this issue.

Update on financial performance of the Health Care Center.

Thompson updated the Committee on ongoing financial operations. Implementation of Medicare Advantage has created additional challenges. There have been two days of training on the computer system and processes. The vast majority of billings and collections continue to be made on a timely basis.

Treasurer's Report

Carignan updated the Committee on departmental activities. Motion by Fordham, second by Kriegl, to approve the payment of the Treasurer's invoices in the amount of $1,547.80.
Motion carried.

Accounting Department Report

Beghin updated the Committee on activities of the department for the past month. A summary of rental properties was discussed. Motion by Fordham, second by Kriegl to approve the payment of Accounting invoices in the amount of $775.08 and county invoices in the amount of $3,484,712.42.
Motion carried.

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

The next meeting will be just prior to the County Board session on October 17 to approve payments, and the next regular Finance Committee meeting will be November 7, 2006.

Respectfully Submitted: William F. Wenzel, Secretary