The Chippewa County Board of Commissioners met in special session on Thursday June 24, 2004 at 5:00 p.m. in the Courtroom of the Chippewa County Courthouse.

 

Present:  Commissioners:  Don Cooper, Rita Dale, Richard Timmer, Aaron Hopper, Jim Moore and Chairman Earl Kay

 

Absent:  Commissioner Ted Postula

 

Also Present:  Michael MacDonald, 91st District Court Judge, Brian Peppler, Prosecutor, Elizabeth Church, Chief Public Defender, Jim Lucas, MSU Extension, Jeff Moran, Sheriff, Sue Short, Probate Court, Scott Church, Evening News, Jeannie Goeschel, Ann McKay, Marilyn McDonald, Treasurer, Don Holt, Road Commission, Dave Jones, Barbara Fortin, Dave Carpenter, Finance Director, Wayne Fortin, Tina Ojala, Gail Shunk, Cathy Munson, Roxanne Bosley, Mary Sue Nelson, Marjorie Hank, Vicki Gage, Cindy Morley, Mary Piralli, Eric Blubaugh, Ass’t. Prosecutor, Sharon Kennedy, Register of Deeds/Equalization Director, Jeri Wolski, Tim McKee, 9-1-1/OES Director, Marcy Wilson, Thelma Bosbous, Friend of the Court, Karen Johnston, Tim Dolehanty, Controller and Diane Cork, County Clerk

 

The Chairman opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance and roll call.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

 

The Commissioners received Cumulative General Fund Budget Adjustment Schedules:  Plan “A” and Plan “B” which outlined the anticipated shortfall for the fiscal year 2004 as determined through projection analyses.

 

The Uniform Budgeting and Accounting Act (UBAA) prevents deviation from the original general appropriation act adopted in December 2003 by the County Board of Commissioners and must be amended as soon as it become apparent that a deviation from the original general appropriations act is necessary.

 

Commissioner Timmer asked Controller Tim Dolehanty what plan was more flexible.

 

Commissioner Dale stated by laying off trained employees, the County could loose them completely to other employers.

 

Controller Dolehanty outlined Plan “A” with adjusted cost centers, five (5) furlough days per employee and a reduction in accumulated sick leave upon separation from the County.

 

With Plan “A” concessions would be needed from the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, (AFSCME) Local 1552 regarding the cash value of accumulated sick time and concurrence from the Circuit Court, Probate Court and District Court Judges seeking their concurrence with the budget adjustments for their respective courts.

 

Plan “B” would necessitate adjusted cost centers and layoffs.

 

Chairman Kay read Resolution 04-13 to the audience as follows:

 

RESOLUTION TO AMEND

THE FISCAL YEAR 2004 GENERAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT

 

WHEREAS, the Uniform Budgeting and Accounting Act (UBAA) prevents deviation from       the original general appropriations act without amending the general appropriations  act (MCL 141.437); and

 

WHEREAS, it has been determined through projection analyses that revenues and expenses     for fiscal year 2004 will deviate from amounts stated in the Budget Resolution and          General Appropriations Act (Resolution 03-34); and

 

WHEREAS, the UBAA further requires that the County amend the general appropriations       act as soon a it becomes apparent that a deviation from the original general          appropriations act is necessary and the amount of the deviation can be determined; and

 

WHEREAS, an amendment to the general appropriations act must indicate each intended         alteration in the purpose of each appropriation item affected by the amendment; and

 

WHEREAS, the board of commissioners received and reviewed proposals for reducing           appropriations from the general fund for budgetary centers in a manner that would          cause the total of appropriations to not be greater than the total of revised estimated           revenues of the fund, and proposals for measures necessary to provide revenues            sufficient to meet expenditures of the fund; and

 

WHEREAS, the budget amendment recommendations recognize the requirements of state        law and the provisions of collective bargaining agreements.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Chippewa County Board of     Commissioners:

 

1.     Amends the Fiscal Year 2004 Budget Resolution and General Appropriations Act

        (Resolution 03-34) as indicated in the attached General Fund Budget Adjustment

        Schedule, which shall be incorporated into this resolution by reference, subject to the

        approval of each applicable Court and collective bargaining unit.

 

2.     Directs the County Controller to seek voluntary concessions from the American

        Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 1552

        regarding the cash value of accumulated sick time, by July 2, 2004

 

3.     Directs the County Controller to meet with the Circuit Court, Probate Court, and  

        District Court Judges for the purpose of seeking their concurrence with the budget

        adjustments for their respective court, by July 2, 2004.

 

4.     Directs the County Controller to develop an alternative budget amendment in the

        event that negotiations with the AFSCME union fail, the court reject their respective

        budget adjustments, or both, for presentation at the regular meeting of the Finance,

        Claims and Accounts Committee scheduled for July 8, 2004.

 

To view the General Fund Budget Adjustment Schedule plan "A", click on the following link:

04-13 FY Amend Appropriations Act

 

Judge Michael MacDonald, 91st District Court, stated he felt departments needed to identify short and long term objectives and goals.

 

Marilyn McDonald, County Treasurer, requested a complete copy of the budget and stated she had received a check from Blue Cross/Blue Shield in the amount of $224,000 and wanted to know what account this was going to be placed in and why this money couldn’t be used for the projected short fall.

 

Commissioner Timmer asked if the proposed Plan “A” projections would get the County thru 2004.

 

Chairman Kay suggested that employees be given the option to choose what furlough days they would take.

 

Brian Peppler, County Prosecutor, stated he had a meeting with Controller Dolehanty and had no problem with helping out, but was unsure as to what dollar figure needed to be cut from his budget.

 

Controller Dolehanty explained that the Prosecutor has three cost center and 8.05% needed to be cut from each.

 

Commissioner Timmer asked if department heads find income, can they use that money to absorb the furlough days.

 

Chairman Kay responded by saying some departments can cut nothing but personnel.

 

It was moved by Commissioner Hopper, supported by Commissioner Moore, to approve the Cumulative General Fund Budget Adjustment Schedule “Plan A” as presented by Controller Dolehanty.  On a roll call vote, Commissioner Cooper voted no; Commissioner Dale voted yes; Commissioner Timmer voted yes; Commissioner Hopper voted yes; Commissioner Moore voted yes and Chairman Kay voted yes.  The motion carried 5 to 1.

 

 

Barbara Fortin, AFSCME Local 1552 President, suggested that the County Board take an administrative role and look at the entire budget that perhaps there is substantially more information in the budget that they aren’t really in tune with.

 

Having no further business, it was moved by Commissioner Moore, supported by Commissioner Timmer to adjourn.  On a voice vote, the motion carried and the Board did adjourn at 6:00 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

Diane S. Cork, Clerk                                               Earl Kay, Chairman