Peoria Standard

The Peoria County Ways and Means Committee met Nov. 22 to discuss unchanged revenues.

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

The Ways and Means Committee considers matters concerning a) the finances and budget of Peoria County including: revenues and expenditures; purchasing and contracting policies; financial management and fiscal policies, b) it serves as the Audit Committee including: recommending a public accounting firm to serve as an external auditor; receiving internal audit reports from the County Auditor; receiving and reviewing the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report and the management letter, c) consider matters related to the conduct of elections in the County, and d) consider matters related to public education and assistance for veterans.

Approved 1/4/2017 MINUTES Ways and Means Committee November 22, 2016 @ 1:15 P.M.

MEMBERS PRESENT: Allen Mayer - Chairman; Carol Trumpe, Sharon Williams -

Committee Members; Andrew Rand - Ex Officio MEMBERS ABSENT: Brad Harding, Lynn Pearson, Paul Rosenbohm, William Watkins, Jr.

OTHERS PRESENT: Scott Sorrel - County Administrator; Shauna Musselman, Mark Rothert - Assistant County Administrator; Larry Evans - State's Attorney's Office; Eric Dubrowski - Chief Financial Officer; Randy Brunner - Finance; Angela Loftus - Assistant Director of Human Resources; Gretchen Pearsall - Director of Strategic Communications; Beth Derry, George McKenna, Jennifer Yoder - Regional Office of Education; Dan O'Connell - Facilities Director; Jason Hauer, Marsha Livers - Recorder of Deeds; Carol Van Winkle - Auditor; Steve Sonnemaker, Mike Deluhery - County Clerk; Tom Bride, David Collins, LaColis Reed - Election Commission; Mark Little - Chief Information Officer; Doug Gaa - Sheriff's Office; Nicole Demetreas - Treasurer; Dave Ryan - Supervisor of Assessments; Rick Salisbury - Board of Review; Michael Brooks - Veteran's Assistance Commission; Steve Rieker - County Board Member-Elect

Call to Order The meeting was called to order by Chairman Mayer at 1:15 p.m.

Resolution

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Extension of Recorder's Automation Fund Loan from two years to four years A motion to approve was made by Ms. Trumpe and seconded by Mr. Rand. Mr. Sonnemaker advised that the extension will ensure adequate revenues to repay the loan as well as provide the County Clerk the ability to utilize a portion of the funds on automation related costs, including personnel costs. The motion carried.

Budget A motion to approve the 2017 budget as presented by the County Administrator was made by Mr. Rand and seconded by Ms. Trumpe.

County Auditor Mr. Sorrel commented that no revenues are generated by this office. He stated that the office was asked to find a nine month prorated total of $51,750.00 in cuts; $3,000.00 in non-personnel and $48,750.00 in personnel. He advised that the County Auditor responded to the request to identify the cuts with a statement that she would not be making those cuts. As a result, the decision as to where the decreases will occur in the budget was determined by the County Administrator and the Finance Department. Ms. Van Winkle remarked that the office a previous reduction in the office has left her with only two employees, and any further reduction will impair the functionality of the office.

County Clerk Mr. Sorrel advised that revenues remain unchanged at $1,857,690.00 from the originally recommended budget; the 9 month prorated requested cuts based upon the Committee of the Whole total $88,750.00, split nearly equally between personnel and non-personnel. The County Clerk has identified the areas in which the cuts will occur.

Election Commission Mr. Sorrel advised that revenues remained unchanged at $31,155.00 from the originally recommended budget; the 9 month prorated requested cuts total $78,750.00; $30,000.00 in non- personnel costs and $48,750.00 in personnel costs. Mr. Bride has identified cuts in those exact amounts. Mr. Sorrel noted that five of the eleven positions in the budget are commissioners, which cannot be cut.

Mr. Bride commented that the County Election Commission has seen a 25% reduction in staff since its formation in May 2015. He noted that there has been a reduction in election costs when comparing the presidential election years of 2012 and 2016, while at the same time seeing an increase in vote by mail and the requirement of election day registration. He stated that the budget as recommended expends less on personnel than was budgeted in 2013 (as a comparison to cyclical elections) by both the County Clerk and the City of Peoria. He stated that the recommended budget will result in a reduction in services, including significant reduction in polling places and a reduction in early voting hours and locations. He advised that the Commission considers this budget going against the intent of the Intergovernmental Agreement in regard to staffing and the adequacy of funding to run elections for the County.

Regional Office of Education Mr. Sorrel advised that revenues remain unchanged at $11,500.00 from the originally recommended budget; the 9 month prorated requested cuts total $51,750.00; $$48,750.00 in personnel costs and $3,000.00 in non-personnel costs. The revised recommended budget is a reflection of both the County Administrator/Finance Department and the Regional Superintendent. The reductions in personnel costs assume a potential loss of 1.3 FTE's, dependent on any future policy decision on voluntary separation.

Supervisor of Assessments Mr. Sorrel advised that revenues remain unchanged at $55,800.00; the 9 month prorated requested cuts, excluding Board of Review, total $50,653.00, with $44,779.00 in personnel costs and $4,874.00 in non-personnel costs. The Supervisor of Assessments has identified cuts in those exact amounts. The reduction in personnel costs equate to 1 to 1.5 positions. Mr. Ryan commented although the office will retain the ability to provide state mandated services, the reduction personnel will increase the difficulty of providing other services at their current level.

Board of Review Mr. Sorrel advised that the 9 month prorated requested cuts total $53,750.00; with $48,750.00 in personnel costs and $5,000.00 in non-personnel costs. The Supervisor of Assessments supplied figures that met the requested reduction.

Mr. Evans advised that under Illinois statute related to Illinois Pension Code, as the Board of Review annual salaries are fixed by the County Board, there is a question as to whether those salaries can be revised mid-term. Mr. Mayer advised that the recommended budget for the Board of Review removes approximately $15,000.00 from salaries, and due to the uncertainty of the statute, he suggested restoring the salaries in the budget until such time as a definitive answer is available. He noted that IMRF and health benefits can be eliminated. Mr. Sorrel advised that staff could backstop a portion of the issue with non-personnel savings that the Coroner-elect has identified in the Coroner's budget and still meet the overall total in cuts in the General Fund.

A motion to restore the salaries of the members of the Board of Review and offset by identifying non-personnel savings in the Coroner's budget was made by Mr. Rand and seconded by Ms. Williams. The motion to amend carried.

Treasurer Mr. Sorrel advised that revenues of $1,052,890.00 remain unchanged from the originally recommended budget; the 9 month prorated requested cuts total $41,000.00, with $39,000.00 of that in personnel costs and $2,000.00 in non-personnel costs. He advised that the Treasurer requested additional time to review and stated that a budget would be submitted next week. Mr. Sorrel advised that the County Administrator and the Finance Department have developed the figures presented at this committee meeting, which assumes the reduction of at least one staff position. He stated that the Chief Deputy Treasurer, at the Treasurer's request, has identified a potential combination of non-personnel cuts and revenue increases totaling $41,000.00.

Veteran's Assistance Mr. Sorrel advised that there have been both revenue and expenditure changes in the VAC budget. The revenue change is reflected in the property tax line, and is the result of the Advisory Property Tax Referendum. He stated that revenues increased from $285,340.00 to $458,040.00. On the expenditure side, that same differential is applied to multiple accounts, with the total appropriation increasing from $280,445.00 to $453,145.00. He advised that the new property tax revenues will be applied to consultant services related to the move to a more permanent facility and an increase in staffing levels. He indicated that the VAC Administrator is considering a staggered implementation of additional staff.

A motion to approve the budget as amended carried.

Adjournment The meeting was adjourned by Chairman Mayer at 1:48 p.m.