BOARD OF MASON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS' PROCEEDINGS 411 North 5th Street, Shelton, WA December S, 2016 Special Meeting Minutes 9:00 a.m. 1. Call to Order - The Chairperson called the special meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. 2. Pledge of Allegiance - Chair Jeffreys led the flag salute. 3. Roll Call - Present: Commissioner District 1 - Randy Neatherlin; Commissioner District 2 - Tim Sheldon; Commissioner District 3 - Terri Jeffreys. 4. 2017 Budget Hearing - Presenter: Frank Pinter, Budget Manager: Mr. Pinter presented the proposed changes to the 2017 budget. There was a discussion of using additional mental health tax to reimburse jail inmate nursing related to mental health issues. After discussing with Public Health and others, it has been determined that is an unsustainable funding source. $1 OOK from the Mental Health Fund will be transferred in for jail inmate nursing. This public hearing is required pre RCW and copies of the 2017 Preliminary Budget were made available on November 21 . The recommendation is to adopt the 2017 budget in the total amount of $102,109,705. The Current Expense is $38,545,163 and the total other funds is $63,564,542 Compared to 2016 adopted budget, the revenues are reduced by $1.5M revenue and expenditures are reduced $1.3M, excluding ending fund balance. There are no additional employees in the 2017 budget. Questions: Chief Ehrich asked what was reduced in the jail budget. Mr. Pinter answered the additional request for jail nursing was reduced. The budget allocation for jail nursing was increased $50K above the 2016 budget. There are no shellfish harvesting revenues budgeted; no timber revenues from county logging but DNR revenues are budgeted at $500K. Judge Sheldon referenced the preliminary budget posted on -line and questioned the revenues for Superior Court, Office of Public Defense and Murder Budget revenue and expenditures. Frank answered that the Superior Court revenue is budgeted at $56,200, Public Defense's total budget exceeds the anticipated revenue from OPD and the Murder Budget has been adjusted. Cmmr. Jeffreys stated we should be using the spreadsheet provided at today's hearing. Cmmr. Sheldon confirmed that the indigent defense budget assumes it will be an in-house function. In 2016, he asked how much was added to the budget using the supplemental process. Mr. Pinter answered $963,000 was added; pending is $462K for a December 13 budget hearing. There is $16,000 ending cash balance projected this year after considering 13 1 h month expenditures and allowing for a 9% reserve ($3,180,531). Testimony: Judge Sheldon has great concern for lack of funding for public defense. She stated this impacts the administration of justice. There is a constitutional right to have indigent defense and she does not believe it is appropriately funded. Judge Sheldon provided history on the indigent defense department as Superior Court managed this function for many years. The OPD revenue has to be appropriately accounted for. Judge Sheldon provided details on which budget lines she believes are underfunded. Judge Sheldon then referred to the Murder Budget which is budgeted at $50,000 and she believes that is not sufficient. There are two murder trials and one attempted murder trial scheduled to start in 2017. Dependency cases are underfunded and the BECCA grant revenue is overstated. The BECCA revenue is divided between those offices that have a role in the process. Sheriff Salisbury stated the Sheriff's budget is cut. Inmate outsourcing has been reduced and that equates to about 23 people that won't be going to jail. He believes that holding people accountable has
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BOARD OF MASON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS' PROCEEDINGS 411 North 5th Street, Shelton, WA
December S, 2016 Special Meeting Minutes 9:00 a.m.
1. Call to Order - The Chairperson called the special meeting to order at 9:00 a.m.
2. Pledge of Allegiance - Chair Jeffreys led the flag salute.
3. Roll Call - Present: Commissioner District 1 - Randy Neatherlin; Commissioner District 2 - Tim Sheldon; Commissioner District 3 - Terri Jeffreys.
4. 2017 Budget Hearing - Presenter: Frank Pinter, Budget Manager: Mr. Pinter presented the proposed changes to the 2017 budget. There was a discussion of using additional mental health tax to reimburse jail inmate nursing related to mental health issues. After discussing with Public Health and others, it has been determined that is an unsustainable funding source. $1 OOK from the Mental Health Fund will be transferred in for jail inmate nursing. This public hearing is required pre RCW and copies of the 2017 Preliminary Budget were made available on November 21 . The recommendation is to adopt the 2017 budget in the total amount of $102,109,705. The Current Expense is $38,545,163 and the total other funds is $63,564,542
Compared to 2016 adopted budget, the revenues are reduced by $1.5M revenue and expenditures are reduced $1.3M, excluding ending fund balance. There are no additional employees in the 2017 budget.
Questions: Chief Ehrich asked what was reduced in the jail budget. Mr. Pinter answered the additional request for jail nursing was reduced. The budget allocation for jail nursing was increased $50K above the 2016 budget.
There are no shellfish harvesting revenues budgeted; no timber revenues from county logging but DNR revenues are budgeted at $500K.
Judge Sheldon referenced the preliminary budget posted on-line and questioned the revenues for Superior Court, Office of Public Defense and Murder Budget revenue and expenditures. Frank answered that the Superior Court revenue is budgeted at $56,200, Public Defense's total budget exceeds the anticipated revenue from OPD and the Murder Budget has been adjusted. Cmmr. Jeffreys stated we should be using the spreadsheet provided at today's hearing.
Cmmr. Sheldon confirmed that the indigent defense budget assumes it will be an in-house function. In 2016, he asked how much was added to the budget using the supplemental process. Mr. Pinter answered $963,000 was added; pending is $462K for a December 13 budget hearing. There is $16,000 ending cash balance projected this year after considering 131
h month expenditures and allowing for a 9% reserve ($3,180,531).
Testimony: Judge Sheldon has great concern for lack of funding for public defense. She stated this impacts the administration of justice. There is a constitutional right to have indigent defense and she does not believe it is appropriately funded . Judge Sheldon provided history on the indigent defense department as Superior Court managed this function for many years. The OPD revenue has to be appropriately accounted for. Judge Sheldon provided details on which budget lines she believes are underfunded . Judge Sheldon then referred to the Murder Budget which is budgeted at $50,000 and she believes that is not sufficient. There are two murder trials and one attempted murder trial scheduled to start in 2017. Dependency cases are underfunded and the BECCA grant revenue is overstated. The BECCA revenue is divided between those offices that have a role in the process.
Sheriff Salisbury stated the Sheriff's budget is cut. Inmate outsourcing has been reduced and that equates to about 23 people that won't be going to jail. He believes that holding people accountable has
BOARD OF MASON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS' PROCEEDINGS December S, 2016 {Special Meeting) - PAGE 2
reduced the crime rates. He will have to place a cap on the jail population and reduce marine patrol. Their new vehicle request has also been cut. Often times, their office is called upon to provide court security and his office may not be able to provide that coverage.
The Sheriff's proposed 2017 budget is $320,000 more than the 2016 adopted budget.
Cmmr. Jeffreys clarified there were no staffing cuts in the Sheriff's office and she questioned why court security would not be provided. The inmate outsourcing budget was not reduced, the budget amount requested was $300K and that was retained.
Cmmr. Sheldon noted the courthouse security budget was reduced.
There are 54 commissioned officers including command staff. The overtime request for patrol is $350K; jail overtime request is $200K.
Chief Ehrich stated they submitted a $14.9M 2017 budget request that did not include all CBA increases that amount to $700,000 and they had to cut $1 .2M in operating to meet the CBA obl igations. $13.8M is the 2017 proposed budget.
Public testimony was closed .
Cmmr. Jeffreys asked about Judge Sheldon's comments. Mr. Pinter responded the 2017 Public Defense budget is basically the same as 2016 and some of the budget lines may need to be adjusted.
The budget includes a 2.88% salary increase for non-represented employees.
Cmmr. Jeffreys stated the original budget requests were $7.9M more than revenues; although budget instructions stated no new staff, many submitted requests for additional staff.
Cmmr. Sheldon stated his budget proposal was to decide how much revenue there would be to allocate, then ask departments to prepare their budgets accordingly and prioritize the needs. Criminal justice is the priority. The MUNIS budget notes were not transmitted to the Commissioners and he stated the other two Commissioners micromanaged the budget.
Cmmr. Neatherlin stated they asked for Cmmr. Sheldon's input when the 2017 budget guidelines were written .
Cmmr. Neatherlin/Cmmr. Jeffreys moved and seconded to adopt the 2017 budget in the total amount of $102,109,705. The Current Expense is $38,545,163 and the total other funds is $63,564,542. Motion carried. N-aye; S-nay; J-aye. Resolution No. 91-16 (Exhibit A)
Cmmr. Sheldon believes the budget has not had adequate public review and there is the option to consider the budget tomorrow.
Cmmr. Neatherlin stated a lot of hours have been invested in the budget process at public budget briefings and there was a lot of work done by all the departments.
Cmmr. Jeffreys stated there is an increase in the traffic diversion to the Sheriff's office and that increases criminal justice and public safety. She appreciates the creative thinking from the jail chief and the prosecutor's willingness to delay the hiring of a position in his office. Some costs have increases such as retirement and labor and industry. Despite that, there were $1.4M in operating cuts. It has always been the jobs of elected officials and department heads to manage within their budgets and she pointed out there is not a healthy ending fund balance to consider for supplemental requests next year.
BOARD OF MASON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS' PROCEEDINGS December S, 2016 (Special Meeting) - PAGE 3
Cmmr. Neatherlin noted the Current Expense ending cash balance is $3,196,819 and 9% is budgeted for reserves.
Cmmr. Sheldon pointed out that people are the biggest expense; the County continues to upgrade technology and we have to maintain a lower labor force. He stated the County has to take advantage of technology and become more efficient.
Cmmr. Neatherlin stated part of the increase in staff was to address State Auditor findings, indigent defense case load limits, increase to improve customer service upstairs in Building 1, added code enforcement and increased the number of deputies. He believes these were absolute needs and/or requirements.
5. Adjournment - The meeting adjourned at 10:32 a.m.
ATIEST:
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MASON COUNTY, WASHINGTON
rbeys,JH Tim Sheldon, Commissioner
Exhibit A
RESOLUTION NO. g I-'it? ADOPTION OF 2017 BUDGET
WHEREAS, the Board of Mason County Commissioners did meet in special session in the Commission Chambers on the first Monday in December 2017 at the hour of 9:00 AM, pursuant to public notice and as required by law for the purpose of adopting the budget for the year 2017; and
WHEREAS, said budget was compiled on 2016 property valuation as assessed by the Mason County Assessor; and
WHEREAS; the Road Fund Budget was prepared as required by RCW 36.82.160 and the County Road Administration Board;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT 2017 budgetary salary and benefit expenditure line items shall not be utilized to meet obligations authorized by other portions of the budget; and salary and benefit expenditure line items shall not be increased by other portions of the budget; and no additions of staff ( either part or full time) or changes in salary and/or classification are permitted without approval of the Board of Commissioners.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT that the Mason County Budget for 2017 is hereby adopted according to RCW 36.40.080 at the department level with two separate totals for salary/benefits expenditures and operating expenditures in the Current Expense Fund and at the fund level for all other funds (Attachment A which is hereby incorporated as part of this resolution).
Copies of the 2017 Budget will be available by January 31, 2017.
h~ Adopted this ~=1~--- day of December 2016.
ATTEST:
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
C _;7 ~ ~ Tim Whiiehe°ad, ChiefDPA
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MASON COUNTY, WASHINGTON
192 Skokomish Flood Zone 586,655 586,655 586,655 194 Mason Lake Mngmt Dist #2 107,000 107,000 107,000 199 Island Lake Mngmt Dist #1 11,880 11,880 11,880 205 Public Works Facility Bond '07 914,000 914,000 914,000
210 M Co Rural Devel L TGO Bd '02 298,472 298,472 298,472
215 Mason County L TGO 2013 Bond 289,937 289,937 289,937
250 Mason County L TGO 2008 Bond 280,512 280,512 280,512