Carbondale Reporter

The Jackson County Finance and Administration Committee met Sept. 26 for budget preparation.

Here is the meeting's agenda, as provided by the committee:

FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2016 5:00 PM

JACKSON COUNTY COURTHOUSE

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Call to Order

Committee Members Present: Elizabeth Hunter, Keith Larkin, Julie Peterson, Brain Chapman, Emily Burke and Dan Bost

Committee Member Absent: Milton Maxwell

County Board Members Present: John S. Rendleman and Orval Rowe

Also Present: Miriam Link-Mullison, Donna Boros, Josh Barringer, Sheriff Robert Burns, Derke Misener and Michelle Tweedy

Finance & Administration Chair Elizabeth Hunter called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m.

I. 16-0750 Chairman's Report

Finance & Administration Chair Elizabeth Hunter thanked all for their diligent work toward

budget preparation, reminded all that the budget is slated to be filed on October 27, 2016, and

the same rules would apply for this meeting as outlined in past meetings.

II. 16-0751 2016-2017 Budget Preparation

a. Budget Submission Overview

The committee reviewed the following updated spreadsheets: levies, PTELL, budget request

summary, state mandated taxes and operating request comparatives.

Mr. Bost expressed his wishes to set the levies where there would not be an increase in the

overall taxing rate in the hopes that other taxing bodies would follow suit, therefore, making

strides toward reducing property taxes in Jackson County.

Mr. Chapman requested to see the budget reflect the county's current contractual obligations,

funding the health insurance at its true cost and distributing the remaining revenue growth, it

any.

Mr. Larkin agreed that the committee needed to budget the true cost of the current health

insurance plan at approximately $3.5 million countywide.

Ms. Hunter informed the committee that revised budgets had been received from the First

Judicial Circuit, Jackson County Coroner and Ambulance Service and that those requested

revision had been included within the spreadsheets the committee was currently reviewing.

Ms. Hunter requested the committee to draw its attention to the budgets comprising County

General and to consider reducing the projected $1.4 million deficit by possibly eliminating the

following requests: Courthouse Steps; Telephony Equipment, BSA Software-to be funded from

Rehab & Care Center proceeds, two Sheriff's Department Vehicles; Jail Secretarial position;

and State's Attorney adjustments for prevailing salaries and gender inequalities.

The committee discussed the manner in which to obtain a budget honoring its obligations. The

committee requested to view the budget reflecting the contractual obligations met, the true

cost of health insurance, the levies set where the overall rate did not increase, and any

suggestions in distributing any remaining revenue. The committee also requested to the

historical data on the Levies Set & EAV, plus comparatives on Revenues & Expenditures

beginning in 2014.

Old Business

DRAFT

FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2016 5:00 PM

JACKSON COUNTY COURTHOUSE

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Ms. Tweedy inquired when the committee would like to have the property & liability proposals to review. The consensus of the

committee was to have the proposals available for its October 12, 2016, meeting.

New Business

III. 16-0752 Meeting Dates

Ms. Hunter reminded the committee that the deadline to file the budget was approaching

quickly and that there were only two budget working committee meetings scheduled. The

meeting scheduled for Monday, October 17, 2016, would have to be held in order to open the

IP Telephony RFP's but would have to be a relatively short meeting due to the candidate forum

to be held later that day. The consensus of the committee was to meet at 4 p.m. on Monday,

October 17, 2016, and again at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, October 19, 2016. The regularly

scheduled October meeting will be held on Wednesday, October 12, 2016, at 5:30 p.m.

Adjourn

Motion by Larkin, seconded by Dan Bost to adjourn at 7:00 p.m.