Will County Democratic Caucus met September 30.
Here is the minutes provided by the committee:
I. Call To Order / Roll Call
Minority Leader Herbert Brooks Jr. called the meeting to order at 6:03 pm
Attendee Name; Title; Status; Arrived:
Herbert Brooks Jr. Minority Leader Present
Lauren Staley-Ferry Minority Whip Present
Mark Ferry Member Late
Kenneth E. Harris Member Late
Tyler Marcum Member Present
Donald A. Moran Member Absent
Beth Rice Member Present
Laurie Summers Member Absent
Jacqueline Traynere Member Present
Denise E. Winfrey Member Present
Present from State's Attorney's Office: K. Meyers.
II. Pledge Of Allegiance To The Flag
Mrs. Rice led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
III. Approval Of Minutes
IV. Old Business
V. New Business
1. Discussion Re: FY2019 Budget
(Discussion)
Mr. Brooks asked Ms. ReShawn Howard to review the summary of the tax levy by fund. Can you explain how going to the max will help balance the budget?
Ms. Howard stated Leadership and the County Executive met to give direction on the levy and the direction was new construction and CPI. The process to determine CPI and new property was given. The total CPI is $2.5 million and new property is $1.7 million.
Mr. Ferry arrived at this juncture.
Ms. Howard explained in detail the budget process from when the guidelines are sent to departments until the County Executive presents the budget. The requests exceed our revenue. Revenue is always calculated on a conservative basis and the expenses have to match in order to have a balanced budget. When the FY2018 budget was created not enough overtime was budgeted since the contracts were not finalized they were not included in the FY2018 budget. The FY2019 budget accounts for the bargaining unit contracts. We tried to adequately fund overtime and keep departments where they were for FY2018.
Mr. Brooks asked were there cuts in the Sunny Hill Nursing Home budget?
Ms. Howard responded to my knowledge there was no recommended cut, but I have heard talk about right sizing Sunny Hill. After the informational session, Ms. Halverson provided a staffing report. In the Republican Caucus meeting, the Chairman spoke of reducing or bringing Sunny Hill in line.
Mr. Harris arrived at this juncture.
Mr. Palmer stated it is not as simple as saying we have less residents now. At Sunny Hill and the ADF, you have to staff to certain levels to stay legal. Last year before the budget went to the full Board there were proposed changes no one saw until the Committee meeting. If major changes are made, I would hope the departments could respond to the proposed cuts and determine which line items can be cut. When they don’t have the opportunity, it is harder for them to make it work. Sunny Hill has been staffing to the numbers and there might be lack of understanding. I would be worth having a detailed conversation with everyone in the room, before we get to November.
Ms. Howard stated Ms. Halverson provided information to show they had been reducing and adjusting their staffing levels.
Mr. Brooks asked when we vote on the budget has the levy been determined?
Ms. Howard replied on Tuesday the Finance Chair will ask the Committee to review the recommendation and determine how to move the Levy Resolution forward. The Resolution in the packet is for CPI and new property. A review of the levy rates from FY2018 and FY2019 took place. Mrs. Traynere asked can we collect more than the CPI and still lower the rate?
Ms. Howard answered you can collect more than the CPI, but would have to publish the black box. I am not sure if the rate will be lower.
Mr. Palmer stated historically we did black boxes, but the reality is we probably will not get more.
Ms. Staley-Ferry asked has the Finance Chair indicated a different recommendation?
Mr. Palmer replied we have not heard anything differently, we met and there was an agreement on the number. People have said the Executive has proposed tax increases, but the rate has dropped in the last several budgets. Because you lower the rate, does not mean the taxes go down. When the EAV goes up the rate goes down. Most years we have taken additional money. We have done CPI and new property; other time new property. If you don’t take new property, some people get a break while those who have been here do not get a break. Taking new property spreads it among all the taxpayers. The new property number is driven by new development in the County. When we have big projects come in, they generate new tax dollars and revenue to all the taxing bodies.
Mr. Brooks asked are there any questions about the levy, CPI, new property or the budget?
Mr. Palmer stated the levy is important, it is the first step.
Ms. Howard added the levy decision will drive the rest of the budget.
Mr. Palmer stated if the Board decided to not take CPI or new property, a lot of cuts would be necessary in the budget.
Ms. Howard asked is there are reason the levy always been set in October?
Mr. Meyers stated it may have something to do with the Truth in Taxation law.
Mr. Palmer stated it makes sense to set the levy first, because you are locked in.
Ms. Howard stated it would be helpful to set the levy before the budget presentation, because we would know the revenue sources and the amount. I receive the numbers from the Supervisor of Assessments in August, so the levy could be set in August.
Mr. Palmer stated even when the Executive presents his budget, there are variables. Mr. Fricilone asked how much the State is taking; last year they took $2.4 million.
Mr. Brooks asked when will we know that?
Ms. Howard recapped the numbers for the LD funds and administrative fees.
Mr. Harris asked are departments asked why they need overtime?
Ms. Howard answered departments do provide reasons for requesting overtime.
Most of it comes from the 24/7 operations; Sunny Hill and the ADF. The Circuit Clerk asks for overtime to cover holiday and weekend court.
Mr. Harris asked are we giving them enough overtime to avoid the year end cleanup?
Ms. Howard responded we cannot eliminate the year end cleanup totally, this year we are managing the budget and cleaning up throughout the year. Last month we did a mid-year cleanup.
Mrs. Staley-Ferry asked do you meet with the department heads as part of the budgeting process?
Ms. Howard reviewed the budget process.
Mrs. Staley-Ferry asked do they typically get what they requests?
Ms. Howard replied no. In the summary you can see the departments requested; the recommended amount from the Executive’s Office and recommended changes approved by the County Board.
Mrs. Traynere asked have we budgeted for the negotiated raises this year?
Mr. Palmer stated the budget does not include payment for all the contracts. You have heard many times we will approve the contracts but we are not putting money in to pay for the increases. Departments are told to live within your budget. Years ago money was set aside in a line item for union contracts and non- union people. We got away from that and many of our non-union are not getting increases, because there is no money. Departments have delayed filling positions to pay for the union increases we are mandated by the contractual agreements. We are not funding all these increases, instead we are shrinking departments. At Land Use there were 60 or 70 people; now we are streamlining, using technology and asking employees to do more with significantly less staff.
A question was asked by the public how the Supreme Court case of Janis v AFSCME would affect the budget.
Mr. Palmer briefly described steps the county was taking regarding collecting dues.
Mrs. Traynere explained the union dues process at the federal level. At the county level, can we agree to dues deductions even if Janis says we don’t have to do it?
Mr. Meyers stated the effect of Janis and any other Supreme Court decision are hard to codify to one simple answer.
Mr. Palmer stated our labor legal counsel has advised us on this matter.
Bring budget book with you. Extra copies will not be available.
2. Discussion of County Board Assignments
Mr. Brooks briefly reviewed the Executive Committee agenda.
Mrs. Traynere asked why Leopardo contract is being amended for the Health Department.
Mr. Palmer stated Mr. Tkac serves as the county rep and works closely with the CMs on the projects. The CMs have a team of people working on the projects.
Mrs. Traynere asked for information regarding the purchase of an apartment for the drug court.
Mr. Palmer replied it is for a halfway house.
Mrs. Traynere stated there were concerns with their funding, because of changes in the law. Is this the best time to buy something?
Mrs. Traynere asked for an explanation of the item listed under State’s Attorney’s Opinion on the Executive Agenda.
Mr. Meyers responded it has to do with procedural aspects of when cases are pending.
Mrs. Traynere read the opinion attached to the agenda.
VI. Committee Reports
Land Use & Development
Finance
Public Works & Transportation
Judicial
Public Health & Safety
Legislative & Policy
Capital Improvements
Executive
VII. Other New Business
VIII. Chairman's Report/Announcements
IX. Public Comment
X. Executive Session
XI. Adjournment
1. Motion to Adjourn at 6:44 pm
Result: Approved [Unanimous]
Mover: Mark Ferry, Member
Seconder: Denise E. Winfrey, Member
Ayes: Brooks Jr., Staley-Ferry, Ferry, Harris, Marcum, Rice, Traynere, Winfrey
Absent: Moran, Summers
https://willcountyil.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=15&ID=3086&Inline=True
Alerts Sign-up