Peoria Standard

The Peoria County Operations Committee met Nov. 28 to decrease payroll expenditures.

Here are the meeting's minutes, as provided by the committee:

Approved 1/3/2017

MINUTES County Operations Committee Budget November 28, 2016 @ 2:00 p.m.

MEMBERS

Michael Phelan, Chairman; Phillip Salzer - Vice-Chairman, Mary PRESENT:

Ardapple, Brad Harding, Stephen Morris, William Watkins, Jr. MEMBERS ABSENT:

Chairman Phelan called the meeting to order at 2:03 p.m.

Rachael Parker, Paul Rosenbohm

OTHERS PRESENT:

Scott Sorrel - County Administrator; Shauna Musselman, Mark Rothert - Assistant County Administrators; Larry Evans - State's Attorney's Office; Eric Dubrowski - Chief Financial Officer; Randy Brunner - Finance; Gretchen Pearsall - Director of Strategic Communications; Angela Loftus - Asst. Director of Human Resources; Gene Huber - Health Department; Doug Gaa, Denise Patton - Sheriff's Office; Tripp O'Connor - Treasurer; Rena' Parker, Jennifer Shadid - Courts Administration; Dan Hunt - Probation and Court Services; Amy McLaren - County Highway; Mark Little - Chief Information Officer; Daniel O'Connell- Director of Facilities; Steve Sonnemaker - County Clerk; Carol Van Winkle - Auditor

Call to Order

Budget Mr. Sorrel advised that based upon the November 17, 2016 Committee of the Whole, cuts have been recommended in General Fund offices and departments. He commented that seven of the fourteen department/funds for which this committee has oversight have changes; the remaining seven are as originally presented in the budget book.

Mr. Sorrel provided a summary of the following funds/departments:

County Administration Revenues decrease from $422,975.00 to $382,175.00 due to a reduction in the transfer in from the Keystone Fund. Expenditures targeted by the Committee of the Whole total $704,261.00. The targeted reduction in expenditures of $126,974.00, prorated to 12 month recognized contractuals and 9 months for personnel related numbers, was met by cutting $120,836.00 in personnel costs and $6,138.00 in non-personnel costs. The total reduction in expenditures to $698,198.00 exceeded the target recommended by the Committee of the Whole, a result of a significant change in the manner of delivering economic development services.

County Board Revenues remain unchanged. Committee of the Whole identified $11,780.00 in cuts, which was accomplished by zeroing out contributions and grants, and conferences and seminars.

Employee Health Fund Revenues of $8.4 million and expenditures of $9.9 million in expenditures remain unchanged from the originally recommended budget.

 FICA Revenues are proposed to decrease from $3.3 million to $3.2 million due to the proposed decrease in payroll, with a corresponding decrease in expenditures.

General County Revenues of $27.487 million and expenditures of $6.889 million remain unchanged from the originally recommended budget. He noted that the IT Transfer has been reduced by $77,000.00 due to an elimination in the IT budget of a newly created position dedicated to process improvement. There has also been a decrease in the transfer out to General Obligation Debt to reflect the proposed creation and levy of Debt Service.

IMRF Fund Based on reduction in staff, revenues and corresponding expenditures are projected to decrease from $5,457,000.00 to $5,358,000.00.

Information Technology Services Fund Due to transfer in from a variety of funds, including the General Fund, and the recommendation coming from the Committee of the Whole, revenues are projected at $4,512,000.00 and expenditures are projected to total $5,152,715.00.

Risk Management Fund Revenues and expenditures remain unchanged from the budget as originally recommended. Revenues are projected to total $2.6 million, while expenditures are projected at $2.5 million. The fund had gone negative at the start of the year due to unanticipated claims and settlements; however, a recovery of 80% of the negative balance is projected by the end of 2016, with a positive fund balance position by the end of 2017.

Capital Project Fund Revenues and expenditures remain unchanged from the budget as originally recommended. Both revenues and expenditures are $1.4 million.

Criminal Justice Information System Fund Revenues and expenditures remain unchanged from the budget as originally recommended. The fund has $1,000.00 in revenues in income earned. Expenditures total $50,000.00.

Facilities and Grounds Operations Revenues remain unchanged at $328,990.00 from the originally recommended budget; targeted cuts based upon the Committee of the Whole total $64,878.00, with $47,768 in personnel costs and $17,110.00 in non-personnel costs. The cut in personnel expenses equates to two positions.

Parking Facility Fund Both revenues and expenditures remain unchanged from the budget as originally recommended, with revenues of $318,000.00 and expenditures of $239,500.00.

Public Facilities Sales Tax Fund Both revenues and expenditures remain unchanged from the budget as originally recommended. Revenues are estimated at $4.5 million, while expenditures are slated at $4.8 million.

Veterans Memorial Capital Project Both revenues and expenditures remain unchanged from the budget as originally recommended. Revenues are slated at $25,000.00, while expenditures are estimated at $360,000.00.

The motion to approve the County Operations budget as recommended by the County Administrator was made by Mr. Salzer and seconded by Ms. Ardapple. The motion carried, with Mr. Harding voting nay.

Resolutions

Adoption of Peoria County Employee 2017 Health Plan Premium A motion to approve was made by Mr. Morris and seconded by Mr. Watkins. Ms. Musselman advised that staff is recommending an increase in health premiums of 2% in 2017. The motion carried.

Excess Health Insurance A motion to approve was made by Ms. Ardapple and seconded by Mr. Salzer. Ms. Loftus advised that Consociate Dansig requested quotes from eight carriers and received quotes back from two. She stated that Excess Risk/Ironshore submitted the low proposal with the same deductibles as the current provider, with a stop loss and retroactive coverage for 24 months. The motion carried.

Risk Management Third Party Administrator Services and Excess Insurance A motion to approve was made by Ms. Ardapple and seconded by Mr. Watkins. Ms. Loftus advised that Arthur J. Gallagher secured and submitted quotes for the 2017 insurance program. She stated that the renewal represents a 1% increase. The motion carried.

FY 2017 Capital Improvement Budget and 2017-2021 Capital Improvement Plan A motion to approve was made by Mr. Salzer and seconded by Mr. Harding. Mr. Sorrel advised that across all funds, the recommended budget has 43 projects, the majority of which are road and bridge projects, valued at $12,077,634. He stated that the five year Capital Improvement Plan includes a total 118 projects valued at $60.4 million. Mr. Dubrowski added that the major facilities projects include the Election Commission building, the County Clerk/Recorder project, projects at the Jail and JDC Central Control.

Mr. Harding asked about the fluctuation of road project amounts, and the absent of complete figures for the year 2021. Mr. Sorrel commented that the fluctuation is a partial function of the ability of the County Highway Engineer to secure non-county resources for certain projects, as well as a utilization of a "pay as you go" approach. He stated that once enough fund balance has been secured to move ahead with a project, that funding is used for the project.

Ms. McLaren advised that she is unsure as to why some 2021 figures are not included, and will further review the issue to provide clarification before the December County Board Meeting.

The motion carried, with Mr. Harding voting nay.

A motion to go into executive session to discuss Labor Relations and Personnel Matters was made by Mr. Watkins and seconded by Mr. Salzer. The motion carried.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

Regular session resumed upon a motion by Mr. Salzer and second by Ms. Ardapple.

Adjournment The meeting was adjourned by Chairman Phelan at 3:32 p.m.