BUDGET COMMITTEE
June 18, 2008
** NOT APPROVED **
Committee Members Present
T. Hopkins, W. Dibble, D. Fanton, W.
Hall, T. O’Grady, C. Crandall
Others Present
K. Kruger, J. Margeson, B. Riehle,
T. Ross
Approval of Minutes
The
May 21, 2008 Budget Committee
minutes were approved on a motion by Legislator Fanton, seconded by Legislator Hall
and carried.
Sales Tax Report
County
Treasurer Terri Ross distributed copies of a Sales Tax Report reflecting
receipts through June 13, 2008, totaling $8,021,058.98 and interest totaling $9,777.14
which is up about 13.32 percent ($942,882.18) over last year’s figures.
Committee
members briefly discussed the impact the County might see in sales tax revenue
now that the Truck Stop in Belvidere
is out of gas. Legislator O’Grady stated
that many gas suppliers are requiring payment for gas within three to four
days, and it is difficult for many businesses to meet those demands. Mr. O’Grady noted that the Unimart in Andover recently closed,
and he believes another one in the County may also close. It was noted that the Truck Stop is trying to
make arrangements to get gas again.
Health Insurance
Ms. Ross
distributed copies summarizing the activity in the CSH Risk Retention Health
accounts through June 17,
2008. Overall we have spent
about 59 percent of the budget, and we are down on spending about $220,000 from
last year which is great news. The biggest decrease can be seen in drug costs
which are down about $145,000.
Administrative costs are down $63,500.
The excess insurance is up about $17,000. County
Administrator John
Margeson stated that we have to pay up to $150,000 in medical costs per
employee, and if expenses go above that, then the excess insurance picks up the
remainder. We also have an aggregate policy
that protects our total exposure, and that is roughly $6.5 million for the
entire fund. Mr. Margeson noted that
some of the superior discounts that Nova has been able to negotiate with
providers has really helped keep our expenses down.
2009 Budget Review and 2008 Budget Reports
Mr.
Margeson informed committee members that departments are supposed to submit
their 2009 budget requests to him by June 27 noting that a few larger
departments might require a little more time.
Mr. Margeson stated that he will need about three weeks to review all of
the requests and make recommendations. Committee
members agreed to hold meetings to review the 2009 budget at 9 a.m. on August 12, and at 1 p.m. on August 13, and they will
plan to schedule an additional meeting the following week if more time is
required.
Committee
members asked Clerk of the Board Brenda Rigby Riehle to contact the smaller
departments requesting that they submit their one-page financial report to Mrs.
Riehle prior to July 16 so that committee members can review those reports at
the July 16 Budget Committee
meeting. Committee members plan to
review 6-month financial reports from the Office for the Aging, Health
Department, Probation, Public Works,
Sheriff’s Office and Social Services at the regular August 20 Budget Committee meeting scheduled for 1 p.m.
Adjournment
There
being no further business to come before the committee, the meeting was
adjourned on a motion by Legislator Fanton, seconded by Legislator Dibble and
carried.
Respectfully submitted,
Brenda
Rigby Riehle, Clerk of the Board
Allegany County Board of Legislators