Sangamon Sun

Logan County Finance Committee met Aug. 26.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

Present: Mr. Jenness, Mr. Blankenship, Mrs. Davenport, Mrs. Estill, Mr. Leesman

Absent: Dr. Hepler

Guests: Kelly Elias, Penny Thomas, Angela Reiners, Brad Hauge, Katherine Yaple, Theresa Moore, Jim Wessbecher, Annette Welch, Bob Sanders, Sheriff Landers, Gene Rohlfs, Adair Van Hook, Kate Wright, Tim Timoney, Bret Aukamp, Will D’Andrea, Dale Nelson, Kati Newman

Mr. Jenness called the meeting to order at 5:32pm.

New Business:

1. FY 21/22 Budget- Mr. Jenness thanked everyone for attending the Special Finance Meeting and explained to the committee and the guests that his plan for the meeting is to go over the entire budget line by line and if there were any questions by anyone in the committee or from the guests present, they would stop and go over the line in question. Mr. Jenness started in the budget with the General Fund for non-departmental revenues and explained to the committee what each revenue line was for, with assistance from Logan County Treasurer Mrs. Thomas, and explained to the committee which page listed the total revenue for the FY 21/22 Budget and the total expenditures for the FY 21/22 Budget, and Mr. Jenness explained after review by the committee that currently the FY 21/22 Budget is at a deficit of almost $1.5M dollars. Mr. Jenness then went through every revenue line item with the committee and those present and explained each one, noted which revenue line items had increased and decreased, and added that there may be additional revenues in the future that could potentially added to the FY 21/22 budget. Mr. Nelson asked for clarification on tow line items in revenue and Mrs. Thomas explained them to Mr. Nelson and the rest of the committee. Mr. Jenness then went through the non-departmental expenditures line by line for the committee and those in attendance. When coming upon the contingency fund line item, Mr. Jenness stated that he would like to increase the contingency fund line item to be utilized by the different departments in cases when a copy machine or a computer needs to be replaced then the department head could come to the Board and ask to utilize the funds and it would help keep the overall budget neater and as a way to control costs. No questions or discussion were had for the Treasurer’s budget. Mrs. Davenport asked Logan County Clerk Mrs. Moore about the document storage line item and Mr. Nelson asked Mrs. Moore if any of the budget could be reduced due to ARPA funding, Mr. Thomas explained that the ARPA funding is not included in the budget and the items requested from ARPA was mainly for preparing for another pandemic and possibly having employees work from home. Further in-depth conversation was had with Mr. Nelson and Mrs. Elias regarding ARPA funds. When the Assessor budget was brought up, Mrs. Davenport stated that the salary will need to be changed from $65,500 to $72,000 per year. No discussion was had for the Dispatch budget. With the County Board budget Mrs. Davenport stated that the line items for both secretaries need to be combined into one line item for both. For Insurance, Bonds, Professional Fees budget Mrs. Thomas gave her recommendation to the committee regarding changes that should be made. Mr. Nelson asked for clarification on the Regional Planning Commission budget, Mr. D’Andrea explained the budget and salary line item to Mr. Nelson. No discussion was had for the Coroner Budget. Sheriff Landers explained to the committee that the contingency fund line item that has $42,000 listed will be used for the merger with New World Merger with Sangamon County that had been previously approved by the Board. Mrs. Thomas also informed the committee that the $25,000 received for economic development had not been received yet so she did not include that revenue or expense in the budget. No discussion was had for the Circuit Clerk of the Court Budget. Mr. Hauge stated that he had provided to the committee the reasons why he is asking for what he is asking for. Mr. Nelson mentioned the Major Criminal Case Fund and a potential major criminal case in 2022 and the committee should also look into putting money back in that fund, Mr. Hauge agreed and mentioned that the fund is not part of his budget but still good to have, Mrs. Thomas explained that it was a separate fund and does have funds in it. No discussion was had for the Probation budget. There was much in-depth conversation regarding the Public Defender budget, a part time budget and a full-time budget was submitted by Mr. Timoney as well as a raise for the public defender’s position. No discussion was had for the Circuit Judge, Jury Commission, or the Legal Costs budgets. One line item was in question for the Public Safety budget, Mrs. Newman also explained to the committee that there had been a software issue when she was trying to upload the spreadsheets that was causing the software to not accept the changes. Mrs. Newman explained that she and Mrs. Hammons went through the spreadsheets that were received and went line by line through the entire budget. Mrs. Elias offered the committee potential areas in the budget that could be reduced. In-depth conversation was had with the committee regarding the Building & Grounds budget and potential ARPA funds being used to cover some of the costs. No discussion was had for the Elections budget. Mrs. Welch questioned Mr. Hauge if the Juvenile Support budget was necessary, Mr. Hauge stated that it is good to have it in the budget and explained the cost of housing juveniles. Mr. Nelson questioned the Community Development budget, and it was explained by Mr. D’Andrea, Mr. Nelson stated he would like to speak Mr. D’Andrea more. Mrs. Thomas also reminded the committee about moving the economic development line item from the Farm account to the community development budget, more in-depth discussion about the Community Development budget was had amongst the committee. Mrs. Thomas explained that the Major Criminal Case fund listed in the budget was incorrect, the actual fund number is 113. The committee had in-depth conversation with Mrs. Thomas and Sheriff Landers explaining the EMA budget. Mr. Wessbecher and Mr. Rohlfs addressed the committee regarding the County Farm, County Airport and Capital Improvements budgets since at request of the committee no changes had been made for the farm, airport, or capital improvements budgets to the current budget draft provided by Mrs. Newman. After more discussion Mrs. Davenport asked Mr. Rohlfs and Mr. Wessbecher if the budgets could be discussed more at the Airport & Farm committee meeting to save time, Mr. Wessbecher and Mr. Rohlfs agreed. More discussion was had with Sheriff Landers about a MOU that has been previously discussed with the committee then with Mrs. Elias regarding her budgets as well as questions Mrs. Elias had about Bellwether and ARPA funds. Mr. Aukamp discussed his budgets with the committee and what changes had been made to them as well as Mr. D’Andrea discussing some GIS work with the assessor’s office, Mrs. Davenport stated that the new assessor may be reaching out to Mr. D’Andrea and that the Board Office has purchased a projector for Mr. D’Andrea to use for presentations to the Board. Ms. Yaple from the Health Department addressed the committee regarding the Health Department Budget and had questions for the committee. The committee asked if the budget submitted in the packets had been updated since the August Finance Meeting and the committee asked Mrs. Newman to resend budget spreadsheets to the departments heads that had added a raise to salary line items, Mrs. Newman stated that herself and Mrs. Hammons of the Logan County Board Office had resent out the spreadsheets again which ones were sent back. Mrs. Newman also explained to the committee that there had been a software issue when she was trying to upload the spreadsheets that was causing the software to not accept the changes. Mrs. Newman explained that she and Mrs. Hammons went through the spreadsheets that were received and went line by line through the entire budget but also reminded the committee that there are some line items that have not been updated due to the budget spreadsheets not being submitted or not having the corrected numbers in time before the Special Finance Meeting, the committee thanked Mrs. Newman for the updates. Mr. Blankenship discussed the Courthouse Restoration budget with the rest of the committee as well as how much has been invested and future expenses for the restoration. No discussion was had for the Ambulance Service Fund. Mr. Jenness stated that more discussion will have to be had with Mrs. Thomas on the Liability Insurance Fund. The committee stated that the salary for the Animal Control Warden should increase to $36,000 per year as well as discussion about future building repairs that will need funding. There was no discussion about the TB Sanitarium Fund, Senior Citizens Fund, State Attorney Automation, and Veterans Assistance Commission. The committee stated that they will need to discuss the IMRF Fund with Mrs. Thomas as well as further discussion regarding condensing and removing line items and the MOU presented by Sheriff Landers. Mr. Jenness also spoke to the committee about the one-time premium payment to employees with ARPA funds, he stated he would like to be able to do $3000 - $4000 per full time employee and explained to the committee how he feels that would be equivalent to a raise, Mrs. Davenport agreed and stated that she would like it to be $4000 per full time employee. Mr. Jenness stated that the committee could even go higher and then in 2023 to reinitiate raises. Mr. Blankenship stated that he would like to set up raises to coincide with continuing education, additional training, etc. Mr. Blankenship stated that he has received input from many constituents on the matter, Mr. Blankenship stated he is not opposed to salary increases but he would like to see more initiative from employees as apposed to a raise for not leaving the County. Mr. Wessbecher stated that with the work environment the country is in it is difficult to find any kind of help, the committee agreed. Mr. Jenness stated that he will work to have some figures to present to the committee for the September Finance committee meeting, Mrs. Davenport stated that a poll from the employees would be beneficial in regard to the premium payment and also mentioned potentially people working form home during the Courthouse Restoration, the committee agreed and discussed the premium payments to employees more in regard to waiting or getting it done as soon as possible.

Review Expenses: None.

Review Revenues: None.

Communications: None.

Public Comments: None.

A motion was made by Mr. Blankenship, seconded by Mrs. Estill, to adjourn the meeting at 8:42pm. Motion carried.

https://logancountyil.gov/images/Finance_082621.pdf