The Finance Committee of the DeKalb County Board, met on Wednesday, September 11, 2007 @ 7:00p.m. in the Administration Building’s Conference Room East.  Chairman Michael Haines called the meeting to order.  Members present were John Hulseberg, Roger Steimel and Ruth Anne Tobias.  Jerry Augsburger, Vince Faire and Julia Fullerton were absent.  A quorum was present.  Others present were Ray Bockman, Gary Hanson, Joan Hanson, Greg Millburg and Ken Campbell.

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES

          Moved by Ms. Tobias, seconded by Ms. Hulseberg, and it was carried unanimously to approve the minutes from September 2007.

APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

            Moved by Mr. Steimel, seconded by Ms. Tobias, and it was carried unanimously to approve the agenda.

FY2008 BUDGET DISCUSSION

Mr. Gary Hanson, DeKalb County Deputy County Administrator, said that the committee did not need to make any decisions tonight regarding the budget.  However, he did present a handout to the committee regarding budget appeals filed and budget modifications (Please see list attached to these minutes).

Mr. Haines said that one of the questions that he had deals with cost savings.  Regarding the rotating capital replacement plan, where the County departments are replacing our computer equipment on a four-year rotation.  He is wondering if we could extend that schedule and try to save some money?  What about the purchase of the cars for the Sheriff’s Department?  What would one year save us?

Mr. Hanson said that the cars would be one-seventh of the cost since they purchase seven cars at a time.  He said that they are staggered when they buy them.  There were two different years where 40% of the cars go.  Last year we bought six cars early because the Sheriff bought them at a good price and the car was the most efficient. 

Mr. Haines said that if we did it every year then it would be an annual savings and it may be less painful.

Ms. Joan Hanson, IMO Director, said that we just got rid of the last of WINDOWS 95 machines and most of the time the computer equipment purchases are software driven.  Some departments do defer their purchase to six years already.

Mr. Augsburger arrived at 7:15p.m.

Mr. Haines then asked about the telephone system and the compatibility issues. 

Mr. Hanson said that this campus should have been done a year ago.  The Outreach Building and the Rehab and Nursing Center will be done this year.  Sycamore Campus will be done next year.

Mr. Haines said that this is not an ongoing thing right?

Mr. Hanson said yes.

Mr. Hulseberg brought up Mr. Metzger, Sr.’s, request on the list handed out by Mr. Hanson this evening.  He asked if the new Maintenance II position in Facility Management Office could be divided into part-time slots to save benefit dollars?  Is this feasible?

Mr. Campbell, Facilities Management Director said that it is very difficult to hire someone with no benefits.  Our benefits are our draw to get people to apply for employment here.  He is competing with Target and Nestlé's and this position pays about $30,000.  He reminded the committee that the reported median income in DeKalb County is $48,000.

Mr. Haines asked Mr. Hanson if there would be any savings in this request?

Mr. Hanson said that the health insurance for a full-time person costs between $10,000 to $12,000 and that we might save between $2,000 to $3,000 on the IMRF.

Mr. Augsburger then asked why is the County getting involved in Spay and Neutering?

Ms. Tobias said that with Ferrell animals there is the disease factor. 

Mr. Haines said that Ms. Vary’s question asks that a Jail Savings Account be established, but that she does not want the money to come from personnel or programs.  He said then the money would come from Capital money and that this should be recurring.  Where would it come from?

Mr. Augsburger felt that the Jail Savings Account is only a symbolic thing to do. 

Mr. Steimel said that he thought that the consultant recommended the bond issue route.

Ms. Tobias said that she had spoken to a consultant that just recently took a survey of various surrounding counties and that several county board chairmen said to buy land as an asset.   She said that several people have spoken to her about bonding the jail.  Ms. Tobias asked, would we still need a jail savings account?

Mr. Hanson said that we could still have it, but redirect the savings for operating costs for the jail.  He felt that this would be easier to accomplish.

Mr. Hulseberg said that some of his constituents would like the county to do a savings account for the jail since the referendum failed last time.   He said that his constituents said that it would show them that the County did do some sort of savings account before asking for a referendum.

Mr. Haines said that what we are saying is, saving money by cutting out Capital expenses – is not a good plan.   The other side of that same coin is for the County to embark on a plan of adding to ongoing commitments knowing that we have these debts. How in good faith do we do that?   In other words, we will be making a decision to pass this budget to add an adult probation officer at $52,000 forever and growing, an Attorney Level II at $90,000 that will continue and expand in terms of costs, we will add an investigator at $70,000, a maintenance II at $52,000 and a clerk at one and a half positions at $66,000.  We are doing the very things that are committing us to having less money for the future of the jail at the very time that we telling our voters that we don’t have any money and the jail is full.

Mr. Hanson said that part of this is because we now have a fifth judge who will want staffing on that level.  This will also necessitate the hiring of

probation officers and an Assistant State’s Attorney, etc.  It is a tough trade off, he continued.

Ms. Fullerton arrived at 7:40p.m.

Mr. Haines said that we are expanding our services and doing nothing about the jail. 

Mr. Bockman, County Administrator, said is it expanding because of the demand?

Mr. Haines said that we need to have a Strategic Plan before this budget is passed.  It bothers him if we do not.  He said that he feels that we should hold back services as much as we can until the Strategic Plan outlines how we spend the money.

Mr. Augsburger said that he would like the domestic violence issue to continue. 

Mr. Steimel asked if grant monies started this program?

Mr. Hanson said yes.

Mr. Bockman said that it will not continue.

Mr. Augsburger said that he feels that jail savings account is symbolic.  Over six years saving, let’s say at $6,000,000.00, is a mere pittance of what the costs will really be at that time.  He feels that to send our prisoners to fill the empty beds in other counties is a good option for us. 

Budget Modifications:

Mr. Hanson mentioned that the budget modifications deal with the following departments: 

The Children’s Waiting Room, to increase from $18,000 to $20,000 for additional hours and capital needs, financed from special fee.

The Drug Court, to Add $20,000 for programming from fund balance/special fee. The Mental Health Department, to reduce programming $16,000 to match projected tax levy.  Mr. Haines suggested that the Spay and Neutering Program could go ahead as a Pilot Program.

          Mr. Hanson asked the committee if they wanted to amend the Budget to reflect this wording for the Spay and Neuter Program?

          The Committee consensus was yes.

RESOLUTION: TO PLACE THE BUDGET ON FILE FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION

          Mr. Hanson said that what he does need from the committee tonight it to place our FY2008 budget on file for public viewing.  It was moved by Mr. Augsburger, seconded by Mr. Steimel, and it was carried unanimously to forward this resolution to the full board for approval.

EXEMPT EMPLOYEE EVALUATIONS

          Mr. Haines said that the committee received the recommendation from Mr. Bockman regarding the exempt employee evaluations of the Deputy County Administrator, IMO Director and the Facility Management Director.  He reminded the committee that the Executive Committee sets amounts for the raises and bonuses for the exempt employees.

          The committee agreed with Mr. Bockman’s recommendation that all three department heads met their Standard Work Plans and to forward the recommendation to the Executive Committee.

ADJOURNMENT

          Moved by Ms. Tobias, seconded by Mr. Augsburger, and it was carried unanimously to adjourn the meeting.         

                                                          Respectfully submitted,

                                                          ____________________________________         

                                                 Chairman Michael Haines

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