Will County Board Finance Committee met Sept. 13.
Here are the minutes provided by the committee:
I. CALL TO ORDER
II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG
Mrs. Howard led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
III. ROLL CALL
Chair Jacqueline Traynere called the meeting to order at 2:00 PM
| Attendee Name | Title | Status | Arrived |
| Jacqueline Traynere | Chair | Present | |
| Margaret Tyson | Vice Chair | Present | |
| Mike Fricilone | Member | Present | |
| Saud Gazanfer | Member | Present | |
| Tyler Marcum | Member | Absent | |
| Jim Moustis | Member | Absent | |
| Judy Ogalla | Member | Present | |
| Frankie Pretzel | Member | Present | |
| Rachel Ventura | Member | Present |
Also Present at the Meeting: N. Palmer, M. Mueller, B. Adams
Present from the State's Attorney's Office: D. McGrath
IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
V. OLD BUSINESS
1. Discussion of FY2023 Budget
(Discussion)
Mrs. Howard stated today’s discussion will be on our corporate revenues. You should have in your package the budget memo as well as the corporate revenue summary. Revenue starts on page 1 and goes through page 7. We begin projecting and estimating revenue as early as July to project revenue for the upcoming budget year, so we start early based on the information that we have. Based on the 1st chart the revenue by category the following chart graphs the revenue sources, and the corporate fund total revenue is projected at $246.5 million. Major revenue sources make up 84% or $205.6 million of total corporate revenue and they are listed here in the chart, and they are:
• Property taxes
• License and permits
• Intergovernmental revenue
• Charges for services
• Fines and forfeitures
• Interest
• Rental income
• Miscellaneous revenue and other finances sources
Mrs. Traynere asked when you adjust this doesn’t really change in our books but will change in our final book.
Mrs. Howard replied yes. Any adjustments to the proposed budget will go in the final book. To make things flow we’ll go through each category, and I’ll highlight each category. Property taxes are the Counties most stable revenue source. It makes up about 42% of total revenue and the estimated EAV increased 6.9% from the previous year. This resulted in an increase of $9.4 million which includes CPI and new property. Also, in this payment category sales tax is estimated based on actual receipts 9.5% in this category.
Mr. Fricilone asked we’re taking the max that we are allowed without black boxing in the last years. We did take the CPI but we’re at 104, and 2.1 year before that. I need to know from you are you going to stick with taking the max. My caucus is not in favor or that and I need to know where your plans and if you have the votes and if that’s what you’re going to take, then so be it. We’re not inclined to take the max.
Mrs. Traynere replied I guess at the caucus tonight people will let us know how they feel.
Ms. Ventura asked if we’re not in favor of taking the max and some of us might not be. We need to know where we’re going to cut. Because that’s a big difference. What I would like to hear at this meeting and in future workshops are where people feel we can cut. I think that would lead the discussion on where we can decrease the budget. The other question is why was the requested amount 90.8, but the recommended amount was higher?
Mrs. Traynere asked the delinquent tax sales. That’s a really large number $2.5 million in revenue, yet this year-to-date we only collected $29,000.00.
Mrs. Howard replied the tax sale happens at the end of the year. That amount will increase.
Mr. Brophy commented it usually only happens once a year but last year because of the 4 coupons we held the tax sale in January, so it’s this budget year. You have 2 tax sales this year. It happened in this year, but we already corrected it.
Mr. Fricilone asked while this book is dated 8/11 our year-to-date numbers are based on?
Mrs. Howard replied the year-to-date numbers were updated as of 9/8.
Mr. Fricilone commented basically these numbers here you’re looking at ¾ of the year. Every number should be out of whack to some extent.
Ms. Ventura stated I understand when you don’t take the full CPI when inflation is high you set yourself back a future year. If we cut things out of the budget but then take the full CPI it just lowers everyone’s individual tax burden or property level. Explain how that works; the relationship between those.
Mrs. Howard replied the way the formula works is it’s calculated based on the previous tax extension times the multiplier is the CPI and we’re only allowed to take even though it was higher this year we’re only allowed to take 105%. Based on that calculation and other variables that go into the factors into calculating the overall levy the formula works with calculating CPI new property and all of that. When you take out certain things the rate is already lower based on the growth and they increase and the EAP when you start piecing or taking out certain things the rate will continue to go down, however, it doesn’t impact the overall dollar amount to an individual taxpayer because that’s based on the assessed value of their home. When you are estimating the actual levy or deciding that next month because the dollar amount is based on the assessed value that tax rate is multiplied by the assessed value. So, an individual’s property tax could increase or decrease.
Ms. Ventura stated I guess what I’m asking is instead of $100 million we wouldn’t want to pass up a budget of $95 million. We could do $95 million still with a 5% CPI or are you saying, no.
Mrs. Howard replied no. That would change.
Ms. Ventura commented that’s the thing that drops the $5 million in the revenue.
Mrs. Howard replied yes. Moving on down to the next category Licenses and permits you can see the actual 2 years of the year-to-date and what is projected. The last two columns are the variance between dollar amount and the percentage.
Mrs. Traynere stated the attachment has the updated figures that’s what Mr. Fricilone was asking about. The attachment that she sent with your agenda has the figures from September 8, included in it, were your budget book is probably right as of Aug 1. Those last 2 columns that she talked about the difference between last year and this year. Everything went down in the licensing 16% on tobacco, 10% on raffle permits and 2.94% more for marriage licenses and 7.5% less for civil union licenses. I noticed that special use permit went up 10%. Was there a reason we thought they were going to be so much more.
Mrs. Howard replied look at the actual over the last couple of years.
Mrs. Traynere stated these are revenues that’s why they try to be very conservative that’s the part you need to understand revenue.
Mrs. Howard stated keep in mind that this was originally estimated so, the year to-date problem was updated as of 9/8, to show what the actual year-to-date as of now. And we still have time for any of these revenue line items to be adjusted before the budget is approved in November. Intergovernmental revenue you can see here under shared revenue where most of our sales tax were and state income tax and the other key thing is the estimate for the personal property tax replacement it wasn’t available when the proposed budget was finalized, however, it’s estimated to be $8.9 million, and this will be added to the final budget.
Mr. Fricilone asked on a line item like that we do need to adjust that revenue up because what will happen is a lot of these when we adjust them up, we’re not going to be at $9.4 million, we’re going to be even higher. If we don’t lower the levy at that point, it’s going to be even higher.
Mrs. Howard stated moving on to Salaries Reimbursements for several departments or elected officials. These are estimates directly from the departments. That’s up $1 million and you can see the largest out of this category is probation and juvenile detention. They received salary reimbursement from the AOIC.
Mrs. Traynere asked we did get a large salary reimbursement for the Sheriff out of the Safe-T Act, is that it right there $50,000.00?
Mrs. Howard replied that is that increase of $50,000.00. I’ll look into this and readjust it.
Mrs. Traynere stated they were going to pay him more, but they were going to give us a huge chunk of money to do that with and I think it was like at $30,000.00 raise for the Sheriff.
Ms. Ventura stated $41,000.00 for his increase but then they were going to take more of the share of the pay, so we were going to end up paying less.
Mrs. Traynere stated I really think that needs to come up quite a bit.
Mrs. Howard stated other reimbursements includes Sunny Hill Nursing Home that’s up $1.8 million that’s the largest in this category. Other reimbursements are for election judges and housing of prisoners and these numbers come directly from the department.
Mrs. Traynere asked election judges went down. Why, because I know we got some new precincts.
Mrs. Ogalla stated they also went down on how many people they needed to do the process.
Mrs. Howard replied I can check on these numbers because they come directly from the departments.
Mr. Pretzel asked what’s the $526,000.00 reimbursement of housing of prisoners?
Mrs. Howard replied that was a 1-time reimbursement the Sheriff’s office received.
Mr. Fricilone asked COVID relief?
Mrs. Howard replied I believe so. I thought it was going to be ongoing, but I was told that was a 1-time payment they received. It was a huge reimbursement. This is all the Sheriff’s Office. I’ll have to see what the expense side is.
Mrs. Traynere stated if you can find out what we did with that $526,000.00 and remind us.
Mrs. Howard replied if they have not appropriated these funds or submitted a budget amendment this goes right into our corporate funds. The next is Intergovernmental Agreement (see handout for breakdown) and the next is Federal Grants.
Mrs. Traynere stated I got an error on the homeland security on the percentage change and that was another one that I asked Mrs. Hamann about. It was like we didn’t get any money in 2020, 2021 and then in 2022 we got $28,000.00 so far.
Mrs. Howard replied all these numbers are based on grant awards. If there was nothing budgeted or percentage that means, it’s the first time in the budget. These are actual awards. If you recall also in 2021 some departments received grant monies due to COVID and going into 2023 some of those programs those funds were expended 2021, 2022, & 2023.
Ms. Ventura asked so we’re expecting the grants are even going to be available to apply for.
Mrs. Howard replied yes.
Mrs. Traynere commented but we do have potential $20,000.00 in homeland, a potential $32,500.00 in justice and then the transportation has gone up quite a bit or at least what we think we’re going to get.
Mrs. Howard replied right. That’s our transportation program in which we received the RTA grant. That program was sent in by our mobility manager.
Ms. Ventura asked for the transportation one they have that new federal infrastructure bill that they are passing and we didn’t identify any funds that we would be going after or hopefully getting? It’s 0 right now, so I would hope that we get more than 0.
Mrs. Howard replied the Federal Pass Through Grants that was the department the DOT grant that we have that grant ended and to my knowledge we didn’t apply for any refunds.
Ms. Ventura asked for the 2023 we’re only going to ask for $570,000.00 and that’s out of that new bill?
Mrs. Traynere replied that’s what the department asked for what they’re going to get into their budget is the $248,000.00.
Ms. Ventura asked is Mr. Ronaldson going to apply for the $270,000.00?
Mrs. Howard replied this is not related to Mr. Ronaldson’s grant. This is more related to Ms. Garlich, Pace, & the RTA program.
Ms. Ventura asked so where would the IJA Infrastructure bill that the federal government passed that has all these different buckets of money for bridges, highways, and all that. What line item would that be?
Mrs. Howard replied that wouldn’t be in the corporate fund that would be in the special fund. If Mr. Ronaldson applied for those funds.
Ms. Ventura stated he would have to apply for those funds.
Mrs. Howard stated these are monies coming through whether they are federal dollars or federal pass-through grants coming from the State department receives an actual award they would be given these funds I the budget for the year.
Mrs. Traynere asked what is township grants and awards?
Mrs. Howard replied those are dollars awarded directly by townships that the department could receive. In 2022, they’re anticipating some dollars; they received $15,000.00 of it so far. This could not necessarily for roads, a small grant that was awarded to a department and it could have been a one-time grant because we haven’t budgeted for it going forward. 2022 was the first year that we’re receiving any grant dollars for that. We haven’t received any dollars for that in the previous 2 years.
Mrs. Traynere asked local match?
Mrs. Howards replied the local match program is where the township of the Will Ride Program. The local match is where the township matches the cost for the shared rights.
Mrs. Traynere asked miscellaneous?
Mrs. Howard replied that’s any grants or awards that would fall in that category. Our bottomline for intergovernmental revenue is up about $4.2 million or 6.1% from previous. Charges for services account for 12% of our total revenue. This represents fees for services rendered by varies County departments. Overall revenue is slightly increased 0.3% in the projected increases in the Sunny Hill Nursing Home, Land Use, County Clerk, Recorder Fees. You can see in these categories based on the previous actual and current levels of receipts the categories that are projected to decline slightly are judicial, Sheriff, and other charges for services. So, for the first category Landfill fees which is one of our largest revenue sources in this category. We have our landfill that we generate revenue for.
Mrs. Traynere stated it seems a little low.
Mr. Fricilone stated it could partially be lower because we changed when we did the new agreement, we changed our fee schedule with them. They were going to raise the input and so we should be making the same or more, not less.
Mrs. Howard replied we looked at the revenue and previous but also what we currently actually received and the time that revenue was estimated.
Mrs. Traynere stated you might want to look at that once again based on your numbers as of today because I really don’t think it’s going to be higher than 8.2%.
Mrs. Tyson asked for line-item Sunny Hill lunch money they requested $2,500.00 and it’s recommended that they only get $500.00?
Mrs. Howard replied that should be $2,500.00. That was an error. It is fixed. It was a clerical error.
Mr. Pretzel asked do we view street value of drugs as an asset? Is that counted as revenue?
Mrs. Howard replied that’s under judicial. Yes, that is revenue.
Ms. Ventura stated I think it was last year or this year we saw the impact that they changed the fee structure. If you were poor under a certain percentage of the poverty line your fees were, your court fees were adjusted. In what section we would see that?
Mrs. Howard replied yes this is the section we would see any judicial fees that are collected. In this category as you can see here, we have circuit court fees that are collected, court, probation, majority of the fees are collected here at the circuit clerk. The first 2 the circuit clerk fees, and earnings and the percent fees were 2 budget lines that the Clerk’s Office collected in, however, those 2 lines were replaced by the Public Act. You will notice that there’s a reduction in the budget for those 2 in the projection for those 2 lines, however, the line for Public Act increased based on the actual activity.
Mrs. Traynere commented I increased by 22.39% but that’s the one that the reduced fees are coming into that line item.
Mrs. Howard replied no, the Public Act changed so, that is $443,340.
Ms. Ventura commented the concern when we started going through these, we weren’t sure what the impact was going to be so, what we’re looking at is in 2021 when we 217 and 297, come in and we dropped that down to 100, then 70. In 2021 on that bottom line item of Public Act that one is $8.2 million but you still have a $8.2.
Mrs. Howard replied which is based on the previous 2020 and 2021, and the year to-date.
Ms. Ventura asked so we’re expected to bring in less fees all together?
Mrs. Howard replied no. What we’re looking at is when we’re projecting revenue, we’re looking at the actual trend and year-to-date, so what was budgeted previously was the $6.7, so the $8.2 is in line with what we collected in 2021.
Ms. Ventura stated I get that what I’m asking though you had said the line items above that end in 90 and 100, they move to the Public Act so, if that was the case I would expect, yes, we can take those averages but now there would be an increase for the Public Act that number would be more than $8.2.
Mrs. Howard replied they’re still collecting; you can see small amounts here in those 2-line items so, we already bumped up and we’re projecting for just these items. They are still collecting fees and those line items anything prior to when the Public Act went into effect.
Mrs. Traynere commented I see the nursing homes fees; I see we’ve got several line items down in there.
Mrs. Howard replied these are actual projections from Sunny Hill Nursing Home based on their current census. Land Use/Subdivision Engineering Fees increased overall about 4.8% or $15,000.00. County Clerk Fees these are all of the fees generated by the County Clerk’s Office. Increased 16.16% or $56,000.00. This is based on actual activity. Recorder Fees for property that’s recorded as well as revenue stamps. Treasurer Fees small fees. Supervisor of Assessment Fees this was a fee for a service that the assessor was providing I think for the township in which this revenue was generated, however, 2022 would be the last year for this that’s why I’m not going to use that. Sheriff Fees down $329,000.00 and this is based on actual previous year and current receipts.
Mr. Pretzel asked Sheriff’s failure to appear. Is that when they post bond? If we’re not doing that anymore is that going to go away all together.
Mrs. Howard replied if there are any significant changes to be made then adjustments will be made accordingly.
Ms. Ventura stated I do think on this line item we should clarify with the Sheriff because my understanding right now when you get pulled over for a DUI and you have to pay $1,000.00, as an incentive to show up to court and when you do you get you money back and if you don’t then you don’t and a warrant for your arrest is put out. If they are not collecting anything at all then this revenue line item would go away. We need to verify this.
Mrs. Mueller commented I think that all of us need to have an understanding what part of this revenue is going to be affected by that to reconcile the conversations we’re all having about this. I’m hearing millions of dollars and I’m not seeing that as revenue. For clarity sake we need to know exactly.
Mrs. Traynere stated let’s just stay on the budget, but I would think it would be good to have them in as a committee overall and I guess I’ll make that request to you and to Mr. Fricilone because we can’t make these decisions at the Finance Committee. Where are we still using microfilm?
Mrs. Howard replied that would be our records management department. You can see in this category increased 0.3% or $96,000.00 basically remained quiet.
Mrs. Traynere asked what’s indemnity fees? Do you have a clue? Mrs. Howard replied I’ll let the Treasurer answer that.
Mr. Brophy replied I don’t know the answer to that. I’ll have to get you an answer.
Mrs. Howard stated now Fines and Forfeitures adjudication is down, and this is based on the number of adjudications we have, and you’ll see a list of the different adjudication hearings that we had: hearing fees, mail-in fees, Land Use, Sheriff, false alarm.
Mrs. Traynere asked what is false alarm?
Mrs. Howard replied that would be when your alarm goes off and it goes to the Sheriff’s Office, and you’re charged for that. Fines are up 14% or $26,000.00, so the largest category here is our Circuit Court Criminal Fines. They increased $35,000.00 based on the previous year’s activity as well as the current year-to
date. They haven’t given any indication that these fees would decrease. Traffic fines that are collected by the Circuit Clerk and Sheriff’s fines and these are projected based on actual and current year-to-date. Foreclosures has declined over the past couple of years, and you can see the projection. Here is online with the previous actual year-to-date. Forfeitures as anticipated based on the previous year’s activity and where we currently are year-to-date. Based on discussions from and I’m not sure if this a budget line that will be affected by the Safe-T Act, so this is one that probably will circle back with Sheriff’s office to find out what the impact will be on this. Overall fines and forfeitures down 2% or $32,000.00. Interest was projected based on previous years actual and current year-to-date. This is just for the corporate fund.
Mrs. Traynere asked how can we be at a negative number for interest? We have a -$107,190.00 for this year.
Mr. Brophy replied my guess is that you can have investments that are bought at a discount and all the earnings, the yields come at the end of the term. So, in each amount of time those things will show a negative and when they mature and take it and some of the investments we have, we’re not pulling the interest back into corporate into operating; we leave it compound. We reinvest. It could be an anomaly of that.
Mrs. Howard replied to add to that it’s happening right now, and numbers can fluctuate.
Mr. Brophy stated if you follow interest rates so much like borrowing rates remember they went so low. Well, there was very little interest rate for savings, especially liquid money and we keep a lot of our money liquid.
Ms. Ventura commented in the past we did look at a lot more money and we budgeted for it so, we got $2.5 million in 2020.
Mrs. Traynere stated that 2022 budget has us way up on a cloud but we’re not there.
Mrs. Howard stated looking at 2022, we would have had 2019 and 2020.
Ms. Ventura asked so we’re setting this lower because we’re assuming we’re not selling, or maturity isn’t coming due in this year?
Mrs. Howard replied correct.
Mr. Brophy replied well to give you an idea in December of last year we earned a total of $7,100.00 interest in our local money market accounts. In July we earned $14,957.00, so 110% increase, so rates have moved that much. So, we should see if we guess that they stay around where they are in 2023, we can earn a lot more than we budgeted because we budgeted based on last year interest in reserve. These are primarily corporate reserves.
Ms. Ventura commented we don’t expect that. You just said the rates have gone up so we’re expecting to see some increase, but the budget doesn’t reflect that.
Mr. Brophy replied that was conservatively based on last year’s and if you like to you may say based on the comments made you want to up that a little bit.
Ms. Ventura stated yes. Money coming in from interest that’s less taxes we have to pay.
Mr. Brophy replied I think the pertinent number will be more of 300.
Mrs. Howard stated that’s what my next comment was going to be is that based on the estimate early on the numbers can be adjusted. Rental Income is for buildings and cell towers.
Ms. Ventura asked who are we renting our buildings to or which building are we renting for the $60,000.00?
Mrs. Howard stated Misc. Revenues Related to Fixed Assets this fluctuates and this is proceeds from our Capital Assets.
Mr. Fricilone asked is this surplus?
Mrs. Howard replied yes this is surplus. Moving on to Other Miscellaneous Revenue was a one time, so we’re not projecting to receive any further revenue. The other miscellaneous revenue is just another category for miscellaneous revenue. Miscellaneous revenue decreased because the $200,000.00 was only a one-time contribution decrease based on that.
Ms. Ventura asked what was it for?
Mrs. Howard replied I’ll have to look that up.
Mrs. Traynere stated under other miscellaneous revenue I just have a question about the inmate resident phone charges. I’ve certainly read lots of stories in the news over the years where jails will charge $15.00 a minute to use the pay phone. Do we do that?
Mrs. Howard replied not to my knowledge. I think that revenue amount would be more if we were charging that.
Ms. Ventura stated I think this is a question that we should ask the Sheriff because they get 3 phone calls now. When they come in under the new law and so, I’m assuming this is like people serving their sentence and we should just double check.
Mrs. Howard stated Anticipated New Revenue is basically a place holder. This is a mechanism that once the budget has been approved and appropriated, we cannot increase the budget, so if any new grants or new revenue comes in, we put a place holder here and we would reduce the anticipated new revenue line and increase whatever revenue line it would go in. It’s basically a wash and we’re done increasing our budget.
Mr. Fricilone stated doesn’t it seem small though.
Mrs. Howard replied this is only for the Corporate Fund. It has an anticipated revenue and expense also. Next category is Funds on Hand you’ll notice there’s $10 million budgeted. The list is basically the Board Resolution authorizing the temporary loan for the RNG Plant for the completion of the project and the startup of the operation cost. The Resolution was not to exceed $16.4 million, so it’s going to overlap the two budget years. There was $10 million that was budgeted for 2023. It’s going to overlap 2 years and the Resolution says, not to exceed $16.4 million that was the authorized amount.
Ms. Ventura commented it doesn’t show anywhere on here.
Mrs. Howard replied no because it’s for the RNG Plant and it would be for the 2022 budget. For the revenue side we need to put it in because we’re using cash reserves, so that would be our funds on hand and the other side to that is you’ll see when we get to the expense the other side to that would be a transfer out of the corporate fund on the expense side into the RNG.
Ms. Ventura commented what I am saying is why is the year-to-date 2022 showing the $6 million.
Mrs. Howard replied because they haven’t done it yet.
Mrs. Traynere commented so by the end of the year this will show whatever the number is.
Mrs. Howard replied whatever the number. It’s not to exceed $16.4 million and then taking the loan on an as needed basis.
Mrs. Traynere asked if we only budgeted $1.2 million how do we spend $6 million?
Mrs. Howard replied that was previous year. We only budgeted $1.2 million because that was the need at the time.
Mrs. Traynere asked so how do we then spend $6 million, if we only budgeted for $1.2 million?
Mrs. Howard replied the resolution already authorizes the budget amendment. It comes from corporate reserves. The last category is Other Finances Sources and basically these are interfund transfers. We have our largest 2; FICA and IMRF which comes from the special fund into the Corporate Fund, and they match the expense side in the Corporate Fund. Bottomline total budget estimated revenue is $246.5 million which is a decrease of $1.8 million or $4.7 million for previous year, according to this. However, if you back out the anticipated revenue previous year 2022 budget was $231.2 million, the projected 2023 is $245 million, so that’s an increase of $14.2 million or 6.1%.
Mr. Ventura asked so you’re taking out $16 million?
Mrs. Howard replied I’m taking out the anticipated revenue that’s just a placeholder. If you take out the anticipated revenue that’s $20 million for 2022, and $1 million for 2023. If you take out the $20 million per 2022, that gives you the actual numbers. When you have the anticipated that placeholder in there is used.
Mrs. Tyson asked you’re showing only $112 thousand.
Mrs. Howard replied correct some departments for instance our Recorder of Deeds. IT services is provided to them, so that’s kind of a shared cost and it comes interfund transfer that comes into the corporate fund. That concludes the Corporate Revenue Summary.
Mrs. Traynere stated Mrs. Howard is going to make some adjustments and you will get another memo.
Mrs. Howard stated the details here we went over revenue and there are some numbers that could be adjusted and as we continue to before November approaches, if there’s any other numbers within revenue or any other anticipated grants that may come in, they will be on the recommended for Board Approve vote change list before we finalize the budget in November.
Mrs. Traynere asked you’re going to look into all those questions we had today. Mrs. Howard replied I will send those follow-up answers.
Mrs. Traynere asked we’ll get updated sheets just like we got today right? Mrs. Howard replied no, this is it. This is it for revenue.
Ms. Ventura asked will we get an updated one like this?
Mrs. Howard replied yes. When the budget is finalized in November it will have the current year-to-date numbers as of whatever the last November date would be, so you will see that in the final budget book.
Mrs. Traynere asked but what we’re going to pass and how are we going to pass if we don’t have paper?
Mrs. Howard replied this right here is the draft book there will be a final book.
Mrs. Traynere stated I want to make sure everyone understands when the changes will come to them.
Mrs. Howard replied that will be in the final book. Changes will come at the last Finance Committee meeting in November.
Mrs. Adams stated Oct 4 is your regular meeting going over the levy and expenses and then Oct 18, is a 9:00 a.m. special meeting to continue to review the expenses. Then Nov 1, will be your regular meeting and wrap up the expense.
Mr. Fricilone asked what about special funds.
Mrs. Howard replied if there are any special funds that you want to highlight, yes.
Mr. Fricilone stated we need to know where all the ARPA money is at. We need to look at that.
Mrs. Howard replied we will be talking about that on the expense side.
Ms. Ventura stated Mrs. Hamann had prepared a list of suggestions of some of these topics and it would be helpful if page numbers, and sections would be very helpful before the final print. We were given this very thick Capital Plan in here it’s a little different. Is this being talked about in Capital or is this something we’re going to talk about in budgeting?
Mrs. Traynere replied I think our caucus will talk about it tonight, but I can’t speak for Mr. Fricilone and his caucus, but I think I can speak for Mrs. Mueller. I believe most people in our caucus did not want to include the Capital Improvement Plan in the budget at all, as an official plan. Not that we’re not going to spend things on Capital we don’t have projects but maybe I’m just speaking.
Ms. Ventura asked why we don’t take it out of the budget book and people can make that amendment, but it should still be discussed. My question is will this be a financial discussion or capital discussion?
Mr. Palmer replied that has yet to be determined but I think we are going to have to have conversations in Executive about the ARPA money which is the big dollar amount that we can spend. I think in the next month we will have very detailed discussions. That’s what Speaker Cowan had said at the Executive meeting about ARPA and prepare for a long meeting because we’re going to prioritize the list. The process we followed before has worked well and I think we’ll follow that. This is more on the corporate budget which is the annualize budget and the ARPA money is unique and kind of complimentary to this, although it does have implications because if we fund these 10 projects out of ARPA money, we don’t have to fund them in the corporate budget. I think early October we’re going to talk about projects from Capital.
Mr. Fricilone commented Mrs. Mueller I don’t think you were here when we started when I mentioned that this revenue is based on the property tax based on the 5% increase and the CPI that we’re anticipating taking here starting new construction. I would ask that you talk to your caucus today if you’re dead set on the number or if there’s any movement on coming down on that 5%. Our caucus would like to see that number come down. We’re good with new construction but we like to see that number come down. Secondly, what I like you to discuss too you know that all of the things that we’ve increased in this budget there’s only 1 area that we didn’t increase, the Health Department. Their levy stands at the same $10 million dollars it did last year and if we are increasing the spending especially at 5%; the Health Department should get more. I know there’s a lot of extra money out there, but the extra money is only good while its extra and when that’s gone then we’re left with what do we do with all the people that we hired or programs we started. If there’s a way of increasing the Health Department levy 5%, 10%, $500,000.00 a million, or a $1 million, then that gives them more things to do things that they’re talking about which is going to get started under ARPA but won’t be able to continue under ARPA. If we’re going to be increasing all types of things, we need to increase the Health Department.
Mrs. Berkowicz asked where are the ARPA funds held?
Mrs. Howard replied ARPA funds are held in a special fund.
Mrs. Berkowicz stated I mean the actual dollars where are they?
Mr. Palmer replied Mr. Brophy has a spreadsheet that we can share. Some of them have been invested in different banks and earning interest. To Mr. Fricilone’s point they weren’t invested aggressively early on because he didn’t get direction and didn’t ask for direction on how soon we needed them, so we’ve had some discussion about that, but I think that is something the Board may want to consider giving formal direction on how much we expect to spend next year. The Board needs to give direction on how to invest that too so we’re maximizing interest on all these funds. We will move as quickly as we can but it’s too late to put anything on the agenda for Thursday.
VI. OTHER OLD BUSINESS
VII. NEW BUSINESS
VIII. PUBLIC COMMENT
Mrs. Olenek stated I appreciate Mr. Fricilones sentiment regarding additional dollars for the health department. As our budget stands right now, we are balancing our budget for fiscal 2023, with a $1.7 million something cash on hand, so in other words we’re going to have to use the way the budget is drafted we can possibly use about $1.7 million of our funds on hand to balance our budget. Fortunately, we do have a healthy fund balance to do that, however, that’s not going to last forever. We are having extreme difficulties hiring mental health counselors, CD investigators, and CMA’s. Those 3 specific titles we’re having a lot of trouble with. We cannot compete with the health care system, DuPage County, Cook County’s salaries and it’s really starting to affect us. You have to understand that our CD investigators are core programs, in order for us to be a certified local health department CD investigation is a core function. If I don’t have 2 CD investigators and I’ve had 2 CD investigators resign and move to other counties.
Mrs. Mueller asked what is a CD investigator?
Mrs. Olenek replied communicable disease investigators. Those are the people who do the contact tracing. We’ve had 2 resign and go to the State Health Department and the other to DuPage County because they’re going to do the same thing and they received great training from us then they go and make about $8,000.00 to $10,000.00 more, so I’m worried about that. That is a core function we have to have CD investigators. We've had at least 10/12 CMA (certified medical assistant) vacancies at our health department and these we are competing with the health care field, and they will come in for the interview, but we can’t compete with the salaries that are being offered elsewhere. This has been a problem for a long time, but it’s never been to this extent, never this serious. We are losing our candidates to other counties that are able to hire them at $10,000.00 more starting salaries. I’m not saying that we will be able to do all that and meet all of these salaries, I want to be realistic but we’re going to be finishing the county’s executive contract soon in bargaining and we’re going to be going to our contract at the health department bargaining soon and I am sure as I’m sitting here that AFSME is going to want to talk about increases for staff and I have to think about that and anticipate that and be realistic. If we can’t compete in the work force with these individuals, we are not going to have programs anymore. Any additional dollars that the health department can receive, and they would have to be ongoing and not just a flood of money and we don’t get it next year. It has to be sustainable. Those are 2 specific positions that we have to have.
Mrs. Traynere commented we have a labor shortage everywhere right now in every conceivable job.
Mrs. Olenek replied this isn’t a labor shortage; we’re getting candidates. They come to interview, and they want to work for us, they love the site, they love building, but we can’t pay them. We’re not seeing shortage of candidates we’re just not able to hire them because we don’t have the money in our budget. That’s a different thing. Money in the budget would solve the issue. These are higher education, certified, skilled professionals that I have to have on site. We’re trying to find out what to do. These are all bargaining union positions.
Mrs. Traynere stated this would have to be fixed across the board for everyone and not just those 3 positions. Are these places that they are hiring are they paying a 1-time bonus too?
Mrs. Olenek replied some are; like Lake County Health Department and DuPage Health Department are providing retention bonuses for their behavioral health staff and they’re also providing sign on bonuses. With the environment that we are in we don’t have that luxury, we have to go through a process.
Mrs. Traynere asked did you ask for more money in this year’s budget?
Mrs. Olenek replied no. I didn’t know at the time that the County would be seeing $9.4 additional million dollars when we started our budget but now that I know that I’m at the table.
Mrs. Howard commented just to be clarify that would be part of revenue because the health department receives a levy.
Mrs. Ogalla you mentioned these other places that are able to hire these people at higher wages do you know why they can.
Mrs. Olenek replied they are not union.
Mrs. Ogalla stated there you go.
IX. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT / ANNOUNCEMENTS
X. EXECUTIVE SESSION
XI. ADJOURNMENT
1. Motion to adjourn meeting @ 3:50 p.m.
| RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Margaret Tyson, Vice Chair SECONDER: Judy Ogalla, Member AYES: Traynere, Tyson, Gazanfer, Ogalla, Ventura ABSENT: Marcum, Moustis LEFT MEETING: Fricilone, Pretzel |
https://willcountyil.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=12&ID=4396&Inline=True
Alerts Sign-up