Peoria County Finance Audit and Legislative Affairs Committee Met May 25.
Here are the minutes provided by the committee:
| COMMITTEE
MEMBERS PRESENT: | James Fennell – Chairperson; Rachel Reliford – Vice-Chairperson, Jennifer Groves Allison, Eden Blair, Brandy Bryant, Linda Daley, James Dillon, Betty Duncan, Kate Pastucha, Rob Reneau, Steve Rieker, Paul Rosenbohm, Phillip Salzer, Sharon Williams |
| MEMBERS ABSENT: | Andrew Rand |
| STAFF PRESENT: | Scott Sorrel - County Administrator; Shauna Musselman – Asst. County Administrator; Jennie Cordis Boswell - State's Attorney's Office; Randy Brunner – Chief Financial Officer; Julie Kusturin, Paul Letcher – Finance; Nicole Bjerke – Treasurer; Elizabeth Crider – Regional Office of Education; Monica Hendrickson – Health Department; Brian Asbell - Sheriff |
| VISITORS |
Chairperson Fennell called the meeting to order at 2:03 p.m.
Approval of Minutes
A motion to approve the minutes of April 27, 2021 and May 13, 2021 was made by Ms. Reliford and seconded by Ms. Williams. The motion carried unanimously (14-0; Mr. Rand absent).
Informational
⮚ Monthly Financial Report
Ms. Kusturin provided an overview of financial activity through March 31, 2021, representing 25% of the fiscal year. Highlights include:
⮚ Total General Fund revenues are up 9% ($767,000.00) as compared to March 2020. ⮚ General County, which accounts for 65% of the General Fund budget, is currently tracking favorably at 28.9%.
⮚ Some revenue activity affected by the pandemic in 2020, such as Video Gaming and Municipal Aggregation, are significantly rebounding in 2021.
⮚ March General Fund revenues in general are either meeting or exceeding budget expectations.
⮚ Total General Fund expenditures have decreased 7.6% ($770,000.00) as compared to March 2020.
⮚ In May 2021, the County received the PPRT distribution was 161% higher than May of the previous year.
⮚ Fund balance for All Funds the gap has closed $1.5 million compared to 2019. The delta is currently $267,000.00 to the negative in period 3 of 2021. In 2019 was $1.8 million and in 2019 was $2.2 million.
⮚ The Fund Balance for all Funds has seen a net positive change in fund balance of $1.5 million since 2019. The gap has been reduced from $1.8 million to the negative in 2019 to just $267,000.00 to the negative in period 3 of 2021.
⮚ Heddington Oaks Financial Report
Mr. Letcher advised that the submitted financial report provides Heddington Oaks financial activity for the month ending March, 2021. He stated that staff continues to work on $2.5 million in outstanding accounts receivables through various processes. He advised that significant progress has been made in working with RSM on Phase 1 of the Medicare Bad Debt project. He also thanked Member Dailey and her contact in working though Medicaid cases, noting that several large credits are anticipated to be reversed in the County’s favor.
⮚ Heddington Oaks 2021 Financial Plan
Ms. Musselman summarized activity for Quarter 2 of the Financial Plan.
• The RSM Phase I Medicare bad debt evaluation is approximately 75% complete, with final claims numbers still be to verified.
• Finance staff has been working in conjunction with the State’s Attorney’s Office to file legal action on several cases in an effort to collect accounts receivables. Collection goals will be further broken down to provide context between cash collections and pending and/or ongoing cases in court.
⮚ Legislative Update
Federal
Mr. Sorrel advised that Peoria County’s final allocation via the American Rescue Plan Act totals $34.8 million, to be distributed in two equal tranches. He stated that the first tranche of $17.4 million was received one week ago, and the second tranche will be available to the County no sooner than one year from now. He noted that there are six eligible uses for the funding as per interim final guidance issued by the U.S. Treasury, those being 1) support for the public health response to the virus; 2) replacement of public sector revenue losses; 3) water and sewer infrastructure; 4) addressing the economic impacts of the virus; 5) premium pay for essential workers; 6) broadband infrastructure.
State
Mr. Sorrel advised that there is an anticipation that budget implementation bills will begin to appear by early next week.
Mr. Sorrel remarked that a component of the Energy Omnibus Bill includes local zoning authority for the siting of both wind farms and solar farms. He noted that the County’s regulations are less restrictive than the proposed legislation, making the state Bill more restrictive than what is required at the local level. He advised that he will continue to work at the negotiating table for modifications, in concert with the County’s legislative consultant and lobbyist. He emphasized that the legislation does not eliminate local zoning authority, but does create more restrictive standards and regulations.
Joint Resolution
⮚ FY2021 appropriation in Peoria City/County Health Department budget to reflect FEMA Public Assistance funding (joint with County Health Committee)
A motion to approve was made by Dr. Blair and seconded by Ms. Groves Allison. Ms. Hendrickson advised that the Health Department applied for and has been approved to receive up to $500,000.00 in FEMA Public Assistance funding which will be utilized for contractual services, and specifically for COVID-19 vaccination costs. She stated that the Health Department requests a budget appropriation in the amount of $500,000.00 to increase spending authority for the additional funds.
Ms. Cordis Boswell advised that the FEMA application includes a proviso in which a contact with a service provider must be established and in place. She remarked that Advanced Medical Transport (AMT) is the area’s sole source provider for the required services, and further clarified that AMT is the underlying contract which enabled the Health Department to apply for the FEMA funding.
The motion to approve carried unanimously (14-0; Mr. Rand absent)
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned by Chairperson Fennell at 2:26 p.m.
https://www.peoriacounty.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_05252021-986
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