╨╧рб▒с>■  ?A■   >                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                ье┴Y ┐ 8bjbjєWєW "JС=С= 4      ]┌┌┌┌┌┌┌ZZZZZ f$Z?╢ЦЦЦЦЦЦЦЦ$їЇщЮ*┌ЦЦЦЦЦ*к┌┌ЦЦЦкккЦ ┌Ц┌Ц╠8ю6$6┌┌┌┌Цк"к╠┌┌╠ЦК Аz╩╓°В├ZZа ╠SPECIAL FULTON COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING Informational Meeting September 16, 2003, 4:30 p.m., E.S.T., in the Assembly Room of the Fulton County Office Building. Meeting Called To Order: Members at this meeting were Judy DeVries, Earl Gaerte, Christopher Sailors, David Helt, Harry Richter, James Widman and Gary Sriver; also, Denise J. Bonnell, Auditor. Also present, State Senator, Thomas W. Weatherwax, Melissa Hensen from the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance and Linda Lessaris. President, Chris Sailors presiding called this Fulton County Council Informational Meeting to order. Chris called on Ms. Hensen to speak. Melissa Hensen said she had been asked by Senator Weatherwax to come, that the Council had Budgetary Questions, and expressing concerns about the lack of revenue/levy. Chris stated they had questions; also, seeking guidance from the State. Melissa Hensen had with her, Linda Lessaris, Northern Supervisor for the Budget Division and Fulton County is included in that; also, she stated that they had brought with them the УTax RatesФ for Fulton County, with the exception of Aubbeenaubbee Township. Harry stated that within the Budget, in the County General Fund from which the EMS/ambulance Service is paid, that it is a sizable amount, and asked if this could come from another source, as opposed to County General? Ms. Hensen replied yes & no; and she explained, she stated that it would still fall within the County Maximum Levy limitation; so, there is nothing that can be done to start an accumulative EMS Fund that would be outside the General Fund Levy. The question was asked if there were any items that can be moved out of County General that would allow the addition of one-half/cent to the general tax levy to pay. Ms. Hensen replied the only thing would be Mental Health/Mental Retardation; if the County has those, they are currently pulling them from the Levy. She explained. The Cum Bridge Fund could be reduced and diverted to the General Fund. This was discussed. There needs to be at least $107,000.00 in Cum Bridge and she explained. Gary explained the fact that each year the County is asked to do more, by the State & Federal Governments, but to do more, it requires more technology and not receiving more money, in fact less, so we actually do more and more in the County with less and less money. Gary asked what could be done to raise the levy. He continued to explain, stating the County budget is to where there is no more to cut. She stated to increase the levy; first to increase the levy the Statue has to authorize it to be done in some way. This she detailed. You have to qualify for the appeal. She stated Fulton County is a CAGIT County there is an appeal, called Reallocation of Property Tax Replacement. She explained this. There is also an operation of a new court. There is a three-year growth factor appeal. She stated the list of appeals is available in June/July and there are different types. She explained, stating any appeals now would have to be for 2005 and she explained. She stated it would have to come from other options within the funds the County has at this time. Now, she said that as she and Linda reviewed Fulton County Budget prior to their coming and would like to ask the Council some questions regarding money they saw setting in certain funds. What is being done with that money and why is it there and the possibility of shifting that to the General Fund? It will not solve the long-term problem that Fulton County has, but it would give them more cash now. However, when itТs gone, itТs gone, itТs not the answer for the future. Linda Lessaris taking over this discussion stated, what they noticed on the Annual Report was the Special CAGIT Fund with over six hundred thousand dollars, what is being done with that money? It was noted that an Ordinance had been established where this could be used for everything except wages and personal services, to make a savings account until needed. This Ordinance was revised just this year to include wages and personal services, which will be used for the raises given for next year and the two new jailers and their benefits. Linda asked how would they sustain paying the higher salary in the future when all the salary amounts will be coming from County General? This was discussed thoroughly. The situation as far as overcrowding, medical and what needed to be done was discussed. Ms. Lessaris said they are not here to advocate tax increases. She stated there was a new appeal passed that allows a County/City/Town that opens a new jail or new juvenile detention center to file an accepted levy appeal for a permanent increase in levy for the operating cost of that jail. She said this is information, to cover the cost of that. She explained all that would be covered to operate the jail. She stated if there are County Funds and there are some that have not been used for a year or more, the Council could declare them Dormant Funds and move the cash in that fund to the General Fund. She suggested that all funds should be evaluated. She illustrated. She further stated they did not find any funds to declare dormant, but were just looking for funds with no activity. In the 2002 Annual Report, they noted a Jury Pay Fund, Atlas Collection but its up to the Council to say whether or not they are dormant. They noticed the County Economic Development Income Tax Special Revenue Fund $739,000.00, asking what that is for? This money is set aside for FEDCO and projects that they promote for the future. Part of the CEDIT tax is deposited into the Fund for the Courthouse/Annex lease payments. This was discussed. Linda said she believes the CEDIT law permits it to be used for jail expenses, but they should consult the Council Attorney to be sure. Gary asked if that was one of the few ways that money could be used and she answered, yes. Linda questioned the Reassessment Fund, if there were sufficient funds to pay for this reassessment costs and the auditor answered, yes. Linda asks if there is a possibility of reducing the Reassessment Fund Rate and Levy; as any reduction made in that would increase your General Funds Levy and Rate. Linda spoke of $468,000.00 in the Reassessment Fund. Auditor, Denise said that would be pretty much depleted, as there will be approximately $130,000.00 for the Mapping Program, the salary of the Reassessment person, KimТs wages and benefits. This was discussed and the question, as to how much the reassessment fund could possibly be reduced. Linda said not know the cost of the reassessment, she could not answer that question. She suggested that Denise look at the expenditures from 96 pay 97 through now out of the reassessment fund you could get an average of what has been spent and estimate from that the levy needed. Linda said, go back and look at dormant funds, a lot could be small amounts, but when looking for money anything helps. County General is not a dormant fund. Dormant Funds are the funds reported on the Annual Report for the County as a whole; grants, construction fund, fees, etc., and the purpose for which that fund was established no longer exists but the cash is still sitting there. Linda was asked about the Hazardous Substance Fund because of the Four County Landfill on the other side of Leiters Ford. Chris said there is a good balance there; from that about $50,000.00 will be taken to pay for Well Testing. Dave said there was a Hazardous Committee setup and they use about $50,000.00 a year to test wells. Dave said the director died; and they had to hunt the records, which they now have, and are testing wells again. Linda said whether or not that money could be used for operating the County would depend on what it was originally established for and you would need to read the Statue on that. As for the interest, Linda said any interest from that fund could be used for the County if the County invests the interest with all the other County Funds; but, a Resolution would need to be passed by the County Council designating that any interest from that fund goes to the County General Fund. She went ahead to explain the use of interest from the other funds; by going back on the records, if there were Resolutions/Ordinances, they could be amended, if none, then they could be established; but check with the Attorney. Linda explained with the Hazardous Substance if the Treasurer has invested the interest from that in a CD all by itself then the interest stays with the Hazardous Substance Account. However if it is not, and is invested as a whole then it can be put in County General Fund. Treasurer Judy Reed said it is invested in a separate CD. Harry asks Ms. Hensen about the money from the bridge fund? If the Council wanted to make a transfer from the bridge fund account, at the present time, just saying, transfer a $100,000.00 to the County General for Operating Expenses, is that permissible, for the 2004? She replied, just to move cash it would be considered a Уtemporary loanФ, as you cannot move cash in that way from a tax supported fund to a tax supported fund unless you plan on repaying it. You can do a temporary loan between funds, but that is what it is Уtemporary loanФ. The Dormant Fund Statue allows you to move money without paying it back, because that is other funds not needed. This was discussed. M. Hensen said the restriction is in the amount of maximum levy growth that the county has from one year to the next. The Council again referred to the mandates from the State that there is no money for. This was discussed. The question was asked of her, having given up the Inventory Tax, is there anything from which funds can be gotten to replace that, without increasing property taxes. She spoke of increasing the CEDIT Tax, which the county has already done. The statue was also amended this last year to value in the case of Accumulative Funds when they work those funds for Т03 pay Т04 they will have adjust them to allow the Cum Fund rates to be raised to capture the lost dollars lost by giving up the Inventory Tax. They will be doing that adjustment for Cum Fund, but it will cause a rate increase as well. This was discussed. She asked about the CountyТs Insurance Premiums, employee deductibles, and the family plan, is the County paying those? She said that is another item that could be looked at. The deductible or the percentage paid by the employees versus the County. This was discussed. She stated as far as Capital Outlay there was not many in the General Fund, $46,000.00 this year, but you might consider in the future moving those to CCD Funds, unless it was written for a very specific purpose. She went ahead to explain. She said they saw no way for more levy, so, the only thing they could do was try and give suggestions to make more money in the General Fund or save more money in the General Fund. One thing that could help is to not replace employee positions when they become open to save money, if you can survive. She continued to quote dollars spent verse money earned. She suggested to look at what they call new money, look at the revenues estimated for this year, look at the property taxes allowed this year add them together and keep the budget within means. Ms. Hensen pointed out that Fulton County has spent more money each year than it has taken in for the last nine years. They have used all of their reserve money now, and are feeling the crunch of overspending. The point of a budget is to live within that budgeted amount of money, and not come back for Additional Appropriations. She stated again the Levy is where it is allowed to be by law. Again she referred to the Appeals that are sent out every summer to the auditor, those can be evaluated. She said, it was admirable that Fulton County was looking at their situation so hard before there is a serious problem. Linda stated one of her suggestions would be if the County is looking at something major, such as the medical contract for the jail, she suggested to check with several counties that are using it, touch base with more than one county and make sure and get price quotes from other providers for that same service. The Council thanked Melissa Hensen, Linda Lessaris and Tom Weatherwax for their time and all the information, as well as, delivery the Tax Rates in person. This concluded the discussion for which this special meeting was called. Gary Sriver made a motion to recess this meeting until 6:00 p.m. Earl Gaerte seconded this motion. Motion passed 7-0. Meeting closed at 5:45 p.m. FULTON COUNTY COUNCIL _________________________________ Christopher Sailors, President _________________________________ David Helt, Vice-President _________________________________ Gary Sriver, Member _________________________________ Harry Richter, Member _________________________________ James Widman, Member _________________________________ Earl Gaerte, Member _________________________________ Judy DeVries, Member Attest: __________________________________ Denise J. 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