ࡱ> 9;87 *bjbjUU &:7|7|&l4444444 ,4 $  4 44  4 4 {8 f{44{ l, {{04{ X{HJ64444FULTON COUNTY COUNCIL 2005 BUDGET HEARING August 16, 2005, 8:05 A.M., E.S.T., in the Assembly Room of the Fulton County Office Building. Hearing Called To Order: President Chris Sailors Opened the Hearing. Members present were Earl Gaerte, Christopher Sailors, David Helt, Mike Gearhart, James Widman, Judy DeVries and Gary Sriver; also, Denise J. Bonnell, County Auditor and Penny Bramble, 1st Deputy. Auditor Denise Bonnell prepared the workbooks with the information needed to work up the 2005 Budget; also, spreadsheets, handouts, etc. County Auditor: Auditor Denise Bonnell asked to have an additional employee in the Auditors office due to all of the requirements being shifted down from the State. She also explained her reasoning in other employees increase in pay. She said that she tried to keep their wages comparable to neighboring counties and private sector pay. E911 and Communications Board: E911 Director Steve Reese introduced Ron Riggle for the Communications Board. Steve explained that he increased his part-time and over-time budgets by a total of $20,000.00 to prevent the necessity of asking for additional appropriations during the year. He noted that the increase would come directly from the 911 fund. Steve also discussed the cost to train a new employee. Ron Riggle offered the support of the communications board for the proposed budget. County Treasurer: Treasurer Judy Reed told the Council that the only change in her budget other than salary increases is that she is transferring from printing to legal fees due to bankruptcies for which she needs legal aid. Rochester Township Assessor: Assessor Carol Loebig asked for additional money for part-time help. In 2005 she asked for and was granted an additional appropriation for part-time help. She also requested an increase in the continued education, office supplies and postage line items. Five-minute recess. Sheriff: Sheriff Roy Calvert told the Council his budget proposed a 3% salary increase for his employees. In the jail budget Sheriff Calvert requested an additional jail officer due to the population. He noted that some of the money requested for part-time help could be moved to the new jail officer, if approved. He asked for increased money for jail supply to accommodate the larger population. The Sheriff, Jennifer Berlasty and the Council discussed other changes to the budget for the sheriffs department. EMA and LEPC: Director Susan Griffith discussed the increase in insurance, utilities and gasoline in the EMA budget being due to increased costs. Susan told the Council that she would be resigning after completing ten years, March 1, 2006. Richland Twp Assessor: Assessor Judy Talbott reported that she has added 126 people to the tax roles since taking office to the 166 that were previously. Five-minute recess. Highway Department: Superintendent Scott Tilden presented the proposed budgets for the Highway Department, MVH and Cum/Bridge. He requested three percent raises across the board for Highway Department employees, except for the clerk who he bumped up to be more competitive with Carroll and Pulaski counties pay. Scott planned to encumber any overage from 2005 to 2006 to help pay for Mount Zion expenses. He reported that Congressman Chocola and Mark Stoudard are co-sponsoring a bill for Fulton County regarding energy and water to also help with Mount Zion. County Extension Office: Mark Kepler explained that printing costs for the summary guide has increased, so he split it out of office supplies. He said he continues to look for less expensive alternatives to producing the summary guide. Capital outlays increased for the costs of a color printer and a video camera to allow his department to attend meetings by video conferencing. He also said Purdue increased the contract by two percent. County Assessor: Susan Carr said she added a line item for trending. There was discussion regarding the computer system and township assessors. Recess for lunch at 12:00 p.m. Reconvene at 1:00 p.m. Office of Children Services: Christine Ackerman presented a summary of the proposed budget. She explained there is an increase in the proposed budget, but the department continues to seek funding through State funding and child support. She described programs in place within the department that encourage and help promote family reunification. She noted a proposed increase in therapeutic foster homes due to the need for more. Park and Recreation Board: Mark Kepler introduced park board members: Parke Baxter, Billie Rakestraw, Dave Herbst and Ernie Hiatt. Mark Kepler discussed the proposed budget including increases due to insurance, land improvement and consulting fees. Superior Court: Judge Wayne Steele reported that witness fees increased due to the increased need for interpreter services. He also explained that the department needs $3,000 for computer equipment due to the age of the current equipment and lightening strikes. He said they are using borrowed equipment from other departments and from home. The Council suggested not using monies from the county general fund, but requesting an additional appropriation request for the cost of the necessary computer equipment now, not including it in the 2006 budget. CASA: Bob Weaver, the president of the Board of Directors of CASA, introduced CASAs executive director Tura Thompson. She told the Council that new mandates now require every CHINS case to have a CASA assigned to it. She said that due to Fulton Countys having this program in place, we are far closer to most counties to being able to comply. Aviation: Airport Manager Jim Ewen reported that his budget request is less than last year by $6,000.00. He reported that the FAA wouldnt purchase one acre of the field purchased near the runway. He plans to purchase that in 2006 for $3,000.00. He also reported the need for a new mower. He said a 15-foot mower and tractor would cost approximately $15,000.00. The FAA want to extend the runway to put a displaced threshold on the west end in 2007. Clerk: Fulton County Clerk Karen Miller presented herself for any questions regarding her proposed budget. She allowed for a three percent raise in salaries. She said that the new required DRE polling machines are paid for through the State. She proposed some election cost increases for the 2006 election. There was lengthy discussion regarding the 2006 budget. The Council recessed at 4:50 p.m. and reconvened at 7:45 p.m. Lengthy budget discussion continued. The August 16, 2005, Budget hearing session recessed at 8:40 p.m. Reconvened at 8:05 a.m. on August 17, 2005. Veterans Services: Richard Bair reported the van has exceeded 200,000 miles. He said a new van is expected in the spring. He noted that the County pays for the van initially, but Federal funds maintain it. He also reported the copier is obsolete, and he needs a new one. Public Defender: Karin Fowler said there is an increase in the budget for the Chief Public Defender, which is effected due to the raises for the judge and prosecutor. The State allows for partial compliance in 2006 with complete compliance in 2007. A third part-time public defender is required to handle all of the cases and keep the public defenders at part-time status. He also reported increases in office supplies and postage, along with the increased caseload. Prosecutor: Richard Brown, Chief Prosecutor, pointed out that the only real increases in the budget are increases in continuing education, costs for deposition transcription, and an internet program that allows the prosecutors office and sheriffs department to search for people. This will be paid out of user fees. Probation Department: Andy Holland reported the need for an additional probation officer. He told the Council that department raises will come from users fees and not from the County General Fund. Commissioners: The Council discussed with Roger Rose and Richard Powell taking all capital outlays out of the rainy day fund or another fund that would allow for it. They also discussed taking the funds for the EMS contract out of the Commissioners budget and paying for with host fees in 2006. Realizing this would probably be a temporary fix, the Council discussed other possible methods of funding the EMS contract. They discussed the increased cost in 2005 for animal control and other items in the Commissioners budget, as well as the entire County budget. The Council decided to study each additional employee request to determine the need. It was decided the Auditor needed another employee, so that was granted and the Auditors part-time help was cut by $6,000.00. The Council felt the new jailer could wait until the following year and keep the part-time funds the new jailer would have eliminated. The Rochester Township Assessors additional employee funds were not approved in full. A portion, $4,500.00, was approved. The increased pay for the 911 dispatchers was approved as requested. Gary Sriver excused himself at 11:45 a.m. The additional employee in probation was approved, as it would be paid from user fees. Judy DeVries moved to recess at 12:00 p.m. Earl Gaerte seconded the motion. Motion carried 6-0. FULTON COUNTY COUNCIL _______________________________ Christopher Sailors, President _______________________________ David Helt, Vice-President _______________________________ Gary Sriver, Member _______________________________ Mike Gearhart, Member _______________________________ James Widman, Member _______________________________ Earl Gaerte, Member _____________________________ Judy DeVries, Member Attest: __________________________________ Denise J. 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