FINANCE, CLAIMS AND ACCOUNTS
COMMITTEE
MEETING MINUTES
A regular meeting of the Chippewa County Board of
Commissioners’ Finance, Claims and Accounts Committee was held on
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Rita Dale, Chairperson, Don Cooper, Ted Postula (
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT:
Earl Kay and James
Moore
MEMBERS
ABSENT:
None
OTHERS PRESENT:
Tim Dolehanty, County Controller, Hon. Lowell Ulrich, Jeff Moran, Sharon
Kennedy, Marilyn McDonald, Margie Hank, Vicky Gage, Mary Sue Nelson, Tina Ojala,
Ron Cross, Sue Short, Kathy Munson, Gail Shunk, Jeanne Goeschel, Elizabeth
Church, Dave Jones, Marcy Wilson, Debbie Sirk, and Holly
Zaborowski
Additions / Deletions to the
Agenda
Chairperson Dale called for additions or deletions to
the agenda.
It was moved by Commissioner Timmer, seconded by Commissioner Hopper, to approve the agenda as presented. On a voice vote, the motion was CARRIED.
Chairperson Dale called for public comment. No one in attendance asked to
speak.
Correspondence and Information
Items
The Committee received the monthly Treasurer’s report,
monthly travel report, and a correspondence from the Michigan Association of
Counties (MAC) concerning an early tax collection proposal and its effect on
state revenue sharing. It was noted
that MAC asked that a resolution be passed in support of the early tax
collection proposal.
It was moved
by Commissioner Hopper, seconded by Commissioner Timmer, to recommend approval
of Resolution 04-16 to support the proposal to collect county general fund taxes in July
and to continue county revenue sharing.
On a
voice vote, the motion was CARRIED, 4-1.
Agenda Items: Public Defender Contract
Chief Public Defender
Ms. Church asked about supplemental payment for the
department secretary for work associated with indigent defense in tribal court.
Controller Tim Dolehanty reminded the Committee of Ms. Church’s statement in May
that she would not seek additional payments until matters concerning the
contract were resolved. Ms. Church
said that statement applied only to payments made to her, not the
secretary.
Commissioner Cooper stated the Board previously agreed
to cancel the contract.
Commissioner Kay suggested meeting with Ms. Church in the near future to
resolve this matter.
The Committee received a request from the Prosecuting
Attorney to renew the Title IV-D Cooperative Reimbursement
Contract.
It was moved by Commissioner Cooper, seconded by Commissioner Postula, to recommend renewal of the Title IV-D Cooperative Reimbursement Contract, as presented. On a voice vote, the motion was CARRIED.
The Committee reviewed a draft resolution of support for
the establishment of an assisted living center, as recommended by the Board of
Health. Committee members agreed on
the need for more information regarding the proposal, and on the potential need
for a closed session to discuss property acquisition.
It was moved
by Commissioner Hopper, seconded by Commissioner Timmer, to schedule a meeting
with Health Department officials to discuss the assisted living center concept,
and to hold a closed session if necessary to discuss property acquisition. On a voice vote, the motion was
CARRIED.
Controller Dolehanty reviewed the most recent invoice
for expenses associated with the
It was moved by Commissioner Cooper, seconded by
Commissioner Timmer, to recommend approval of the use of funds in the Annex
Renovation cost center to pay for the
Internal Promotion Policy
Controller Dolehanty presented a situation where an employee wished to be considered for a position at a lesser pay grade, but would like to maintain an hourly wage above the maximum for that grade. The Committee agreed that the matter should be taken up by the Personnel Committee.
It was moved by Commissioner Hopper,
seconded by Commissioner Postula, to recommend that the Personnel Committee
consider the proposal regarding internal transfers to a lower pay grade. On a voice vote, the motion was
CARRIED.
HBH Funding Deferral Agreement
Controller Dolehanty presented a draft
agreement from Hiawatha Behavioral Mental Health Authority (HBH) regarding
deferral of mandatory payments. He
said HBH payments were included in the most recent budget projections for
payment in 2004, so there was no need for a deferral
agreement.
It was moved by Commissioner Timmer, seconded
by Commissioner Cooper, to recommend the mandatory payments be made to HBH and
that the draft agreement for deferred payments be rejected. On a voice vote, the motion was
CARRIED.
Chairperson Dale asked that the Michigan
Department of Community Health be made aware of the Board’s
intentions.
Establish Fund 502: State Education Tax
Reimbursement
Controller Dolehanty reviewed a memorandum
from the Finance Director about establishing fund 502. The
It was moved by Commissioner
Cooper, seconded by Commissioner Timmer, to recommend establishing fund 502 as
requested. On a voice vote, the
motion was CARRIED.
Claims and
Accounts
Controller Dolehanty reviewed the monthly claims and accounts report.
It was moved by Commissioner Cooper, seconded by Commissioner Timmer, to recommend the approval of general fund claims totaling $133,591.11, other fund claims of $163,115.43, payroll of $527,353.07 and health department claims of $396,053.11, total claims of $1,220,112.72, vouchers 36379 through 36586 and H-1 through H-152. On a voice vote, the motion was CARRIED.
Millage Request
Chairperson Dale asked
each Commissioner to comment on the millage request proposals presented at the
special Board meeting in July.
Commissioner Timmer
stated it would be necessary to inform the voters about the next round of budget
cuts. He said if voters agreed that
services should be continued at present levels, they would approve the millage
request.
Commissioner Kay said
asking for one mill for two years was the astute thing to do. He expressed reservations about the
potential for approval of the request.
Commissioner Cooper said
he would oppose additional millage until the Board could prove it was a good
steward of tax dollars. He added
that a millage request for a specific purpose was another
matter.
Commissioner Postula
stated the additional dollars would be helpful, but doubted a millage request
would pass. He added that the Board
needs to decide what will be cut from the budget.
Commissioner Hopper
stated the voters should be provided an opportunity to vote the request up or
down. He also noted that cuts would
be severe if the millage request fails.
Commissioner Moore
agreed with those who expressed doubt about the success of a millage
request.
Chairperson Dale said
approval of a millage request would allow the County to restore programs already
cut. She stated that one mill would
barely cover costs, but would prevent layoffs.
The Committee discussed
the impact of the millage request on the budget. The Controller was asked to prepare
statistical data for further consideration at the Board
meeting.
Collective Bargaining Strategies
It was moved by Commissioner
Timmer, seconded by Commissioner Hopper, to enter into a closed session to discuss collective
bargaining strategies associated with the negotiation of a contract with
Teamsters Local 328, pursuant to Section 8(c) of the Open Meetings Act, Act 267,
P.A. 1976, as amended, being MCL 15.268(c). A roll call vote was taken as
follows: Cooper - Yes; Timmer –
Yes; Hopper – Yes; Postula – Yes; Dale - Yes. Motion CARRIED.
It was moved by Commissioner Cooper, seconded by
Commissioner Hopper, to resume the open session meeting of the Finance,
Claims and Accounts Committee. A
roll call vote was taken as follows: Timmer– Yes; Hopper – Yes; Postula – Yes;
Cooper - Yes; Dale - Yes. Motion
CARRIED.
Committee Comments
There were no additional committee
comments.
Chairperson Dale offered no additional
comments.
Adjourn
It was moved
by Commissioner Cooper, seconded by Commissioner Hopper, to adjourn the
meeting. On a voice vote, the
motion was CARRIED.
Chairperson Dale declared the meeting adjourned at
__________________________________
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Timothy J. Dolehanty, AICP, Recorder
Rita Dale, Committee Chairperson
RESOLUTION TO SUPPORT THE
PROPOSAL TO COLLECT
COUNTY GENERAL FUND TAXES IN JULY
AND
WHEREAS, Governor Granholm, in her proposed FY 2004/2005 budget for
the state of Michigan, completely eliminated $183.5 million in revenue sharing
payments to counties, and proposed that the county general fund millage be
collected in July instead of December, with the funds collected twice within the
counties’ fiscal year to be reserved so that counties may withdraw down an
amount each ensuing year equal to the eliminated revenue sharing payment plus
inflation, and
WHEREAS, many counties and legislators voiced opposition to the July
tax collection due to concern about the effect it would have on taxpayer’s
escrow accounts, and many counties were skeptical that the state would actually
restore revenue sharing when the reserve accounts were depleted, and
WHEREAS, counties worked closely with the Michigan Department of
Treasury to modify the proposal to have the summer tax collection phased in over
a three year period, thereby lessening the impact upon taxpayers,
and
WHEREAS, the elimination of county revenue sharing without any
method of replacement would create a shortfall of $1.1 million in the county’s
2004 Budget and $1.7 million in the 2005 Budget, and would be financially
devastating to county programs and services, and
WHEREAS, if the amount eliminated from the state budget was spread
equally among local units that receive statutory revenue sharing, Chippewa
County would receive a 17% reduction, and if that amount was spread among local
units according to the revenue sharing formula, Chippewa County would receive a
35.6% reduction, and
WHEREAS, any one of these other alternatives would threaten Chippewa
County’s ability to provide many of its current non-mandated services to the
residents, and the revised proposal establishes a revenue sharing reserve fund
that will replace the loss of state revenue sharing dollars until approximately
2011 for Chippewa County, and
WHEREAS, the revised proposal to move the collection date of the
county general fund millage to July would result in no annual tax increase for
residents, other than that which occurs through inflation, but would require
that residents pay one-third of the county general fund millage amount in July
over a three year period, which would result in the early payment of $84 on
$100,000 home with a taxable value of $50,000, and
WHEREAS, farmers and senior citizens are allowed to defer paying
summer taxes until the
normal December tax collection
because of existing provisions in current law, and
WHEREAS, the Governor’s office has
made assurances that counties will continue to be included in the statutory
revenue sharing formula and the appropriation for county revenue sharing will
continue to be included in the general appropriations act, with the
understanding that the payment will not be made to a county until the funds in
its reserve account are depleted.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED,
as follows:
1.
That the Chippewa County
Board of Commissioners hereby supports the revised proposal for a summer tax
collection of county general fund millages, which is to be phased-in over a
period of three years beginning in July, 2005, and will allow counties to
withdraw amounts equal to the suspended state revenue sharing payments from a
Revenue Sharing Reserve Fund beginning in December, 2004.
2.
That this support is given
contingent upon the inclusion of counties in the revenue sharing formula and the
inclusion of an unreduced appropriation for county revenue sharing in the
general appropriations act, with the understanding that it will not be paid to a
county until the funds in its reserve account are depleted.
3.
That a copy of this
resolution be forwarded to Governor Jennifer Granholm, Senator Jason Allen,
Representative Scott Shackleton, and the Michigan Association of Counties.