Will County Forest Preserve District Finance Committee met Sept. 1.
Here are the minutes provided by the committee:
A. CALL TO ORDER
Meeting was called to order at 8:52 AM by Chair Harris
B. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Commissioner Mitchell led the Pledge of Allegiance.
C. ROLL CALL
| Attendee Name | Title | Status | Arrived |
| Kenneth E. Harris | Chair | Remote | |
| Herbert Brooks Jr. | District 8 (D - Joliet) | Remote | |
| Tom Weigel | District 12 (R - New Lenox) | Remote | |
| Annette Parker | District 9 (R - Crest Hill) | Remote | |
| Gretchen Fritz | District 5 (R - Plainfield) | Remote | |
| Tyler Marcum | Treasurer | Remote | |
| Meta Mueller | District 5 (D - Aurora) | Remote | |
| Joe VanDuyne | President | Present | |
| Rachel Ventura | Vice President | Remote | |
| Julie Berkowicz | District 11 (R - Naperville) | Remote | |
| Margaret Tyson | District 3 (D - Bolingbrook) | Remote | |
| Sherry Newquist | District 1 (D - Steger) | Remote | |
| Raquel M. Mitchell | District 3 (R - Bolingbrook) | Remote | |
| Mica Freeman | Secretary | Remote | |
| Natalie Coleman | Vice Chair | Absent | |
| Frankie Pretzel | District 12 (R - New Lenox) | Remote |
1. Schedule of Bills
| RESULT: APPROVED [11 TO 0]
MOVER: Tom Weigel, District 12 (R - New Lenox) SECONDER: Meta Mueller, District 5 (D - Aurora) AYES: Harris, Brooks Jr., Weigel, Parker, Fritz, Mueller, Berkowicz, Tyson, Newquist, Mitchell, Pretzel ABSENT: Coleman NOT VOTING: Marcum, VanDuyne, Ventura, Freeman |
1. Minutes of August 4, 2021
| RESULT: APPROVED [11 TO 0]
MOVER: Herbert Brooks Jr., District 8 (D - Joliet) SECONDER: Annette Parker, District 9 (R - Crest Hill) AYES: Harris, Brooks Jr., Weigel, Parker, Fritz, Mueller, Berkowicz, Tyson, Newquist, Mitchell, Pretzel ABSENT: Coleman NOT VOTING: Marcum, VanDuyne, Ventura, Freeman |
| RESULT: APPROVED [11 TO 0]
MOVER: Tom Weigel, District 12 (R - New Lenox) SECONDER: Herbert Brooks Jr., District 8 (D - Joliet) AYES: Harris, Brooks Jr., Weigel, Parker, Fritz, Mueller, Berkowicz, Tyson, Newquist, Mitchell, Pretzel ABSENT: Coleman NOT VOTING: Marcum, VanDuyne, Ventura, Freeman |
G. NEW BUSINESS
1. Approval of Resolution No. 21-26 Authorizing Intergovernmental Agreement No. 21- 05 Between the Forest Preserve District of Will County and the Plainfield Township Park District for the Development of a portion of the DuPage River Regional Trail in Plainfield Township.
| RESULT: APPROVED [11 TO 0]
TO: Forest Preserve District Board of Commissioners MOVER: Meta Mueller, District 5 (D - Aurora) SECONDER: Annette Parker, District 9 (R - Crest Hill) AYES: Harris, Brooks Jr., Weigel, Parker, Fritz, Mueller, Berkowicz, Tyson, Newquist, Mitchell, Pretzel ABSENT: Coleman NOT VOTING: Marcum, VanDuyne, Ventura, Freeman |
| RESULT: APPROVED [11 TO 0]
TO: Forest Preserve District Board of Commissioners MOVER: Tom Weigel, District 12 (R - New Lenox) SECONDER: Meta Mueller, District 5 (D - Aurora) AYES: Harris, Brooks Jr., Weigel, Parker, Fritz, Mueller, Berkowicz, Tyson, Newquist, Mitchell, Pretzel ABSENT: Coleman NOT VOTING: Marcum, VanDuyne, Ventura, Freeman |
| RESULT: APPROVED [11 TO 0]
MOVER: Herbert Brooks Jr., District 8 (D - Joliet) SECONDER: Sherry Newquist, District 1 (D - Steger) AYES: Harris, Brooks Jr., Weigel, Parker, Fritz, Mueller, Berkowicz, Tyson, Newquist, Mitchell, Pretzel ABSENT: Coleman NOT VOTING: Marcum, VanDuyne, Ventura, Freeman |
Director of Finance Lisa Lukasevich presented a preliminary 2022 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 2022 budget will be scheduled for further review in October and revised with a tentative budget ordinance. Final approval of the 2022 Appropriation and Budget Ordinance and 2021 levies are scheduled for November.
Highlights of the 2022 draft budget include:
➢ Total projected revenues are $18,924,646. This is an increase from 2020. Which includes a $1,000,000 of fund balance reserve drawdowns in the Corporate Fund.
➢ With respect to property taxes, it is projected that 82.92% of the District's revenues will come from real estate taxes totaling $15,691,393.
➢ 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 65.19% of the 2021 budget (well below the average of other municipalities).
➢ The total anticipated expenditure on Personnel is expected to be $12,337,000.
➢ The Infrastructure Maintenance and Replacement Program includes a $300,000 transfer from the Corporate Fund to pay for the IMRP. This is a decrease of $300,000 from 2021 Budget. 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 $375,255 in the 2022 budget. Director Lukasevich 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.
➢ Pursuant to GASB Statements No. 74 and 75, it was determined that the Annual Required Contribution into OPEB for budget year 2020 should be a minimum of $338,165. Staff has appropriated $400,000 in the 2022 Budget. Currently, the District’s retiree health insurance trust fund has over $2.6 million set aside for retiree health benefits.
The staff recommends moving forward with the Preliminary 2022 Budget as presented. The Preliminary 2022 Budget is balanced with an anticipated 4.45% decrease in the District’s overall property tax rate from previous year. There is an increase in expenditures due to a planned fund balance reserve drawdown.
Commissioner Ventura inquired if all non-bargaining employees are making $15/hour or more, Schultz answered all permanent part-time to full time employees are at or above $15 per hour but seasonal employees are not. Discussion was followed by the board members with regards to minimum wage requirements and experience. Schultz stated there is variation in wages within the different departments.
Chair Harris recommended moving the discussion to the October budget meeting, Executive Director Schultz agreed to making this discussion a separate item and to prepare a report regarding the costs to increase all seasonal positions to $15/hour.
H. EXECUTIVE SESSION
No closed session occurred on September 1, 2021
I. REPORTS
1. Next Meeting Date - Wednesday, October 6, 2021 immediately following the Operations Committee Meeting but no earlier than 8:45 AM at the Will County Office Building, 302 N. Chicago Street, Joliet, IL
J. COMMENTS BY PUBLIC
No comments were received
K. COMMENTS BY COMMISSIONERS
L. ADJOURNMENT
1. Meeting was adjourned 9:47 AM
| RESULT: APPROVED [11 TO 0]
MOVER: Meta Mueller, District 5 (D - Aurora) SECONDER: Raquel M. Mitchell, District 3 (R - Bolingbrook) AYES: Harris, Brooks Jr., Weigel, Parker, Fritz, Mueller, Berkowicz, Tyson, Newquist, Mitchell, Pretzel ABSENT: Coleman NOT VOTING: Marcum, VanDuyne, Ventura, Freeman |
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