Peoria County Finance Audit and Legislative Affairs and Executive Committee met Sept. 28

By Angelica Saylo Pilo

Dec 15, 2021

Peoria County Finance Audit and Legislative Affairs and Executive Committee met Sept. 28.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

COMMITTEE

MEMBERS PRESENT:

James Fennell – Vice Chairman; Jennifer Groves Allison, Eden Blair, Linda Daley, James Dillon, Betty Duncan, Kate Pastucha (via teleconference), Rachel Reliford (via teleconference), Rob Reneau, Steven Rieker, Paul Rosenbohm, Phillip Salzer, Sharon Williams

MEMBERS ABSENT:

Andrew Rand – Chairman; Brandy Bryant

STAFF PRESENT:

Scott Sorrel - County Administrator; Shauna Musselman – Assistant County Administrator; Jennie Cordis Boswell - State's Attorney's Office; Randy Brunner – Chief Financial Officer; Julie Kusturin, Kim Hudson – Finance; Gretchen Pearsall, Jack Walton – County Administration; Rachael Parker – County Clerk; Nicole Bjerke – County Treasurer; Jessica Thomas, Margie Kowalski, Lorry Saunders – Auditor’s Office

VISITORS:

Nicholis Cole Hall, Linda Bolliger, Tim Lavelle - Citizens

Call to Order

Vice Chairman Fennell called the meeting to order at 2:01 p.m.

A motion to allow the participation of Ms. Pastucha and Ms. Reliford via teleconference was made by Mr. Rosenbohm and seconded by Ms. Groves Allison. The motion carried unanimously (11-0).

Approval of Minutes

A motion to approve the Finance, Audit, and Legislative Affairs Committee minutes of August 24, 2021 and the Executive Committee minutes of August 24, 2021 was made by Ms. Williams and seconded by Ms. Daley. The motion carried unanimously (13-0).

Budget

A motion to approve budgets under the purview of the Finance, Audit and Legislative Affairs Committee and the Executive Committee as recommended by the County Administrator was made by Mr. Salzer and seconded by Mr. Rieker.

Mr. Sorrel advised that the recommended budget for all funds for FY2022 has sources totaling $118.58 million and expenditures totaling $121.88 million. He explained the difference between revenues and expenditures is due to a planned use of fund balance. He further noted that staff intends to propose several recommended FY 2022 appropriations of built-up reserves, including the new finance software and upcoming Highway Department road and bridge projects.

Mr. Sorrel stated that the FY2022 General Fund budget has a recommended balanced budget of $47,185,810.00 in revenues and expenditures. He advised that the largest revenue source comes from intergovernmental revenues, while the largest expense is in personnel services.

Mr. Sorrel stated that the property tax levy for taxes payable in 2022 is recommended at $27,863,685.00 with a continued flat tax rate of 82.41¢ per $100.00 of Equalized Assessed Value (EAV). He advised that the Supervisor of Assessments projects a conservative 1.1% increase in EAV for taxes payable in 2022. He advised that Operations comprises 74.4% of the total levy, with the remaining 25.6% going toward pension related obligations. He called attention to the recommended increase in the FICA Fund to build reserves in order to address seasonal cash flow issues, and an increase in the Risk Management Fund reflects recommendations via the Bellwether study on the means of funding risk management services. He commented that to offset those increases, the General Fund portion of total revenue decreased by approximately the same amount as the increase in the Risk Management Fund. Additionally, he remarked that as short-term debt was paid off this year, there is no need to levy for the Debt Service Fund in FY 2022.

Mr. Sorrel advised that the Finance, Audit, and Legislative Affairs Committee has oversight of 3 budgets, totaling a recommended $5.3 million in revenues and $6.4 million in expenditures. He commented that the committee represents 5% of the revenue budget and 5% of total expenditures across all funds.

Mr. Sorrel advised that the Executive Committee has oversight of multiple budgets totaling a recommended $31.46 million in revenues and $8.57 in expenditures. He commented that the committee represents 27% of the revenue budget and 7% of total expenditures across all funds.

Mr. Sorrel advised that the Finance, Audit, and Legislative Affairs Committee has oversight of less than 1% of revenues and 1% of expenditures in the General Fund.

Mr. Sorrel advised that the Executive Committee has oversight of 2/3 of revenues and 17% of expenditures in the General Fund.

Mr. Sorrel requested an amendment to the recommended budget to reflect changes in the American Rescue Plan Fund, a new fund created to account for and track expenditures related to the American Rescue Plan Act. A motion to amend the budget per the recommendation of the County Administrator was made by Dr. Blair and seconded by Ms. Duncan. The motion to amend carried unanimously (13-0).

The motion to approve the Finance Audit and Legislative Affairs Committee/Executive Committee budget as amended carried unanimously (13-0).

Informational Items/Reports/Other Minutes/Updates

⮚ Springdale Cemetery Minutes