BUDGET COMMITTEE
January 16, 2008

** NOT APPROVED **

Committee Members Present

T. Hopkins, D. Fanton, W. Dibble, W. Hall, T. O’Grady, C. Crandall

 

Others Present

L. Ballengee, W. Goetschius, K. Kruger, J. Margeson, B. Riehle, T. Ross, W. Tompkins

 

Approval of Minutes

            The December 19, 2007 Budget Committee minutes were approved on a motion by Fanton, seconded by Hall and carried.

 

Sales Tax Report

            County Treasurer Terri Ross distributed copies of a Sales Tax Report reflecting receipts through January 14, 2008.  For 2007 we received $17,214,041.59 in sales tax revenue and $30,349.27 in interest.  The sales tax revenue exceeded the $17.1 million budgeted for 2007 by $114,041.59, and everyone was very pleased.  Our first payment in 2008 was $1,197,992.34. Ms. Ross indicated that other counties also reported much higher than normal sales tax revenue receipts, and they are trying to determine why. 

 

Overtime Report

            Ms. Ross also distributed copies of an Overtime Report through the end of 2007.  Total overtime hours worked for 2007 (26 pay periods) were 59,138.49 resulting in $1,737,038.97 in overtime costs.  Of the overtime hours worked, 40,527.70 hours were paid, and 25,084.65 were banked.  Committee members were able to compare overtime figures for the last four payroll periods of 2006 with the last four payroll periods of 2007 and noted that the overtime hours for those pay periods were much higher in 2007.  Both the Health Department and Sheriff’s Office appear to have considerable increases.  Sheriff William Tompkins indicated that most recent overtime expenses have been generated by the federal inmates, and those expenses are reimbursable.  It was noted that we have recouped about $8,500 from transportation costs.  The Sheriff also suggested that some of the increased expense might represent a buy out of compensation time at the end of the year.  Legislator Fanton suggested adding a column to the overtime report where expense reimbursements can be listed so that committee members can better see the actual net cost. 

 

Sheriff’s Budget

            Legislator Theodore Hopkins, Chairman of the Budget Committee, stated that they believe that the 2008 budget approved for the Sheriff’s accounts are accurate and that the Sheriff should be able to operate within the budget set.  Legislator Hopkins noted that if more prisoners are added, there may be some costs not included in the budget, and he requested that the Sheriff let the Budget Committee know immediately if an account is going to be over budget.

 

            Sheriff Tompkins reported that everything is going well, and they currently have 121 inmates.  The Sheriff distributed copies of his financial report for 2007.

 

GASB 45

            County Treasurer Ross provided an update on the status of meeting the GASB 45 requirements.  Ms. Ross along with our Human Resources Office has been working with our actuarial firm, Harbridge, in completing the data.  The final report should be here by the end of January, and we will be on target for satisfying the required reporting for year end 2007.

 

Transfer of .1’s to Contingency

            Legislator Hopkins suggested that if we abolish any positions or leave them open for a year, we should take the .1 money and transfer it to Contingency to help build our fund balance.   In the past, that money has been transferred and used, and we should create a savings for it.  Committee members were in favor of Legislator Hopkins’ suggestion.

 

Adjournment

There being no further business to come before the committee, the meeting was adjourned on a motion by Fanton, seconded by Dibble and carried.

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

Brenda Rigby Riehle, Clerk of the Board

Allegany County Board of Legislators