Will County Forest Preserve District Finance Committee met Sept. 2.
Here is the minutes provided by the committee:
A. CALL TO ORDER
Meeting was called to order by Chair Herb Brooks at 9:42 AM.
B. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Commissioner Parker led the Pledge of Allegiance.
C. ROLL CALL
| Attendee Name | Title | Status | Arrived |
| Kenneth E. Harris | President | Remote | |
| Donald Gould | District 6 (R - Shorewood) | Remote | |
| Herbert Brooks Jr. | Chair | Remote | |
| Mark Ferry | District 13 (D - Plainfield) | Remote | |
| Beth Rice | District 3 (D - Bolingbrook) | Remote | |
| Annette Parker | District 9 (R - Crest Hill) | Remote | |
| Gretchen Fritz | District 5 (R - Plainfield) | Remote | |
| Ray Tuminello | District 12 (R - New Lenox) | Remote | |
| Tim Kraulidis | District 13 (R - Joliet) | Absent | |
| Tyler Marcum | Treasurer | Remote | |
| Amanda Koch | Vice President | Remote | |
| Meta Mueller | Vice Chair | Remote | |
| Julie Berkowicz | District 11 (R - Naperville) | Remote | |
| Mimi Cowan | Secretary | Present | |
| Sherry Newquist | District 1 (D - Steger) | Remote | |
| Edna Brass | District 8 (D - Joliet) | Remote | |
| Ralph Schultz | Chief Operating Officer | Present | |
| Matthew Pehle | Chief Financial Officer | Present | |
| George Mahoney | Attorney | Present |
1. Schedule of Bills - August 31, 2020
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Sherry Newquist, District 1 (D - Steger)
SECONDER: Edna Brass, District 8 (D - Joliet)
AYES: Harris, Gould, Brooks Jr., Ferry, Rice, Parker, Fritz, Tuminello, Marcum, Koch, Mueller, Berkowicz, Cowan, Newquist, Brass
ABSENT: Kraulidis
E. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
1. Minutes August 5, 2020
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Mark Ferry, District 13 (D - Plainfield)
SECONDER: Donald Gould, District 6 (R - Shorewood)
AYES: Harris, Gould, Brooks Jr., Ferry, Rice, Parker, Fritz, Tuminello, Marcum, Koch, Mueller, Berkowicz, Cowan, Newquist, Brass
ABSENT: Kraulidis
F. OLD BUSINESS - NONE
G. NEW BUSINESS
1. Provide Direction on The District's 2021 Budget as Deemed Appropriate
Chief Finance Officer Pehle presented a preliminary 2021 Budget for the Corporate Fund, the Construction and Development Fund, Debt Service Fund, and Other Funds. Based on the Committee's direction and future estimates of the County's EAV and new construction, the 2021 budget will be scheduled for further review in October and revised with a tentative budget ordinance. Final approval of the 2021 Appropriation and Budget Ordinance and 2020 levies are scheduled for November.
Highlights of the 2021 draft budget include:
➢ Total projected revenues are $17,976,681. This is an increase from 2019.
➢ With respect to property taxes, it is projected that 85.36% of the District's revenues will come from real estate taxes totaling $15,345,373.
➢ The Capital Projects Fund 33 is used to account for major capital projects to the District’s facilities and preserves with respect to those projects not funded using previously issued bond proceeds. Projects that receive any type of federal or state funding are also accounted for in Fund 33.
➢ With respect to proposed expenditures, the Personnel category accounts for 66.70% of the 2021 budget (well below the average of other municipalities).
➢ The total anticipated expenditure on Personnel is expected to be $11,991,485.
➢ The Infrastructure Maintenance and Replacement Program includes a $600,000 transfer from the Corporate Fund to pay for the IMRP. This additional transfer is for repaving a portion of the OPRT. The District will draw upon its fund balance by $300,000 to cover costs associated with this transfer. The IMRP was previously amended and adopted by the Board in June 2014.
➢ The District is fully funding its Vehicle Replacement Fund (VRF). Staff has appropriated $398,460 in the 2020 budget. Chief Financial Officer Pehle stated that continuing to fully fund this program will ensure that future budgets are not negatively impacted by an aging and inefficient vehicle fleet.
➢ The District has appropriated $75,000 to be transferred into the Computer Replacement Fund, which is consistent with last year’s contribution. Staff is planning to improve its backup system, various infrastructure upgrades and continue to the Microsoft Office 365 upgrade.
➢ Pursuant to GASB Statements No. 74 and 75, it was determined that the Annual Required Contribution into OPEB for budget year 2019 should be a minimum of $341,119. Staff has appropriated $400,000 in the 2021 Budget. Currently, the District’s health insurance trust fund has over $2.0 million set aside for retiree health benefits.
The staff recommends moving forward with the Preliminary 2021 Budget as presented. The Preliminary 2021 Budget is balanced with an anticipated 2.5% decrease in the District’s overall property tax rate from previous year.
2. Approval of Ordinance No. 582 Authorizing Drainage License No. 20-07 to the Village of Homer Glen at Messenger Marsh.
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
TO: Forest Preserve District Board of Commissioners
MOVER: Meta Mueller, Vice Chair
SECONDER: Donald Gould, District 6 (R - Shorewood)
AYES: Harris, Gould, Brooks Jr., Ferry, Rice, Parker, Fritz, Tuminello, Marcum, Koch, Mueller, Berkowicz, Cowan, Newquist, Brass
ABSENT: Kraulidis
H. EXECUTIVE SESSION
No closed session occurred on September 2, 2020.
I. REPORTS
1. Next Meeting Date - Wednesday, September 30, 2020 immediately following the Operations Committee Meeting but no earlier than 8:45 AM at the Sugar Creek Administration Center, 17540 W. Laraway Road, Joliet, IL
J. COMMENTS BY PUBLIC
No comments were received.
K. COMMENTS BY COMMISSIONERS
L. ADJOURNMENT
1. Meeting was adjourned at 10:19 AM
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