Finance Committee

DATE: Thursday, October 30, 2008
PLACE:
Kraemer Library and Community Center
910 Main Street
Plain, WI

Members present: Tommy Lee Bychinski, Marty Krueger, William F. Wenzel, Steve Bach, Joan Fordham

Others present: Kathy Schauf, Kerry Beghin, Tim Stieve, Dan Brattset, numerous representatives of area units of governments, County Board Supervisors, members of the public

Chairperson Bychinski called the meeting to order and certification of Open Meeting compliance was given at 6:15 p.m. The agenda was approved on a motion by Bach, second by Wenzel, and a unanimous vote of the Committee.

Introductions were made of the Committee and audience members in attendance. Finance Committee Chairman Bychinski made opening remarks and described the County's wish to gather input from area governmental units. County Board Chairman Krueger welcomed everyone and invited participation in the meeting.

Various local government representatives discussed challenges they are facing in their budgets, including:

• Building of capacity to maintain services for future years in light of levy limits
• Major impacts of the floods
• Infrastructure and road maintenance
• System inequities - increase in expenses for ongoing operations outpaces levy limits from the State
• Loss and devaluation of real estate
• Loss of interest on investments
• Understanding by residents of what they are getting for their tax dollars, particularly in times of service reduction
• Borrowing for ongoing operations, which forces limited tax dollars to be spent on interest instead of services
• General economic conditions and its impact on jobs and people's ability to pay for services
• Highly escalating costs for health insurance, road salt, road maintenance materials, utilities

Kathy Schauf, Administrative Coordinator, gave a presentation outlining the proposed 2009 Sauk County budget. Strategy development occurs from the County Board level to oversight committees to department managers. Overall budget expenditures, revenues, levies and trends were discussed.

The group discussed opportunities for collaboration and partnership.

• Sharing equipment and coordination of road projects by region
• Coordinated purchasing - salt, sand, paper, office supplies (NACO contract), voting equipment, VendorNet
• Clerk networking
• Leveraging technological resources - staff expertise, web site, surplus equipment, purchase expertise, troubleshooting
• Library funding could be borne by County to lessen burden on local governments
• Economic development - Sauk County Development Corporation, fiber optics loop, land assets (master planning, HCC, community forest), rail
• Clean sweep availability and frequency countywide on an ongoing basis
• Energy efficiency assistance on Sauk County web site for Sustain Sauk

Senator Dale Schultz addressed the group regarding the relationship between the State, County and local units of government.

Tim Stieve asked the group to encourage their constituents to take advantage of long-term flood recovery and mental health services if needed.

Motion by Fordham, second by Bach to adjourn the meeting.
Motion carried.

Respectfully submitted: Steve Bach, Finance Committee Secretary