BUDGET COMMITTEE
June 17, 2009
** NOT APPROVED **
Committee Members Present
T. Hopkins, D. Fanton, W. Dibble, W.
Hall, T. O’Grady, C. Crandall
L. Ballengee, R. Hartwick, J.
Margeson, T. Parker, B. Riehle, T. Ross, W. Tompkins
Approval of Minutes
The
May 20, 2009
Sales Tax Report
County
Treasurer Terri Ross distributed copies of a Sales Tax Report reflecting
receipts through June 8, 2009, totaling $6,950,720.86 and interest totaling
$1,161.44 which is down about 10.7 percent ($835,967) over last year’s
figures. Chairman Crandall remarked that
if you factor out the additional $500,000 we received in January 2008, we would
only be about $335,967 behind last year.
The Treasurer’s report indicated that if the current trend of sales tax
revenue continues, the projected sales tax revenue collections for 2009 could
be about $2.2 million under budget at the end of the year.
FIRST QUARTER DEPARTMENTAL
FINANCIAL REPORTS:
Sheriff/Jail
Sheriff
William Tompkins distributed copies of his first quarter financial report to
committee members. Sheriff Tompkins indicated that they are projecting that the
revenues will be over budget by about $186,000, and appropriations are
projected to be under budget by approximately $78,000.
Account
A3150.4 covers the cost of prescriptions for inmates and is projected to be over
budget because several inmates have significant medical issues, and we are
spending more than anticipated on medicines every month. Sheriff’s Office Accountant Randy Hartwick
stated that we spend $20,000 to $25,000 per month on prescriptions for inmates. Sheriff Tompkins indicated that there may be
opportunities in the future to join a program where prescriptions are purchased
in bulk and the savings are passed on to the participants. Sheriff Tompkins noted that one attempted
suicide in the jail ended up costing the County approximately $75,000. On a positive note, even with the extra
costs, overall the Sheriff’s budget is still expected to come in under
budget. Repairing inmate clothing that
has been damaged has saved quite a bit.
The
Sheriff reported on the inmate population, noting that we have a high County
population right now which is averaging about 65 inmates per month. Sheriff Tompkins stated that we could
possibly get a variance for double bunking.
District Attorney Terrence Parker addressed the increase in County
inmate population. Attorney Parker stated
that the economy is part of it, and the drug problem is back with a vengeance. The funding for the Drug Task Force was cut,
and they are getting rid of the Rockefeller Law which will put more people in
county jails instead of state prisons.
Sheriff Tompkins stated that the rise in the drug problem also tends to
increase the County’s medical expenses for inmates especially if withdrawal
symptoms need to be treated.
Proposed Timetable for 2010 Budget
County
Administrator/Budget Officer John Margeson distributed copies of a proposed
procedures and timetable outline for the 2010 budget. Mr. Margeson stated that he met with
Departmental Financial Reports
Committee
members would like to review the six-month financial reports from the smaller
departments and requested Brenda Rigby Riehle to notify the departments.
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