HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012/11/15 - Briefing BOARD OF MASON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
BUDGET WORKSHOP MINUTES
Monday,November 15,2012
Commission Chambers
411 North Fifth Street,Shelton WA 98584
The 2013 budget workshop commenced at 10:00 a.m. Commissioners Sheldon, and Bloomfield were in
attendance. Cmmr. Ring Erickson participated via telephone at approximately 10:20 a.m.
Cmmr. Sheldon asked Pat LeMay to talk about the Teamsters labor settlement. which will impact the
budget's bottom line.
Pat LeMay stated the Teamsters have requested the court ordered settlement and the union is legally
entitled to it. The lump sum payout is a total of just under$2 million.The Current Expense portion is about
$968,000 and Public Works and other funds are about$1.2 million. There was discussion of how it can be
paid out with the goal being to pay it out in the next few weeks.
Tom Davis asked about interest and any negotiation of terms.
Mr. LeMay stated the interest is 12%compounded yearly,the union wouldn't go along with reducing that
or other payment options that were proposed by the county. Mason County had no leverage.
Vicki Kirkpatrick asked about successor contracts and the impact to the 2013 budgets.
Mr. LeMay will move forward on successor agreements as soon as possible.
They are working on paying the lump sum settlement through accounts payable and Pat is working with
PERC to make sure this is ok.
The contract will be in place until a successor contract is negotiated.
Commissioners Sheldon and Bloomfield stated the payout will come fi•om the ending fund balance for
Current Expense.
Pat stated he did tell the unions that this will have a fiscal impact and could lead to lay offs and/or reduced
services.
Cmmr. Ring Erickson called in at 10:20 a.m.
Discussion on ending fund balance. Many variables including what departments spend between now and
end of year. It is anticipated to be$6.9 million.
Discussion of process to balance budget. A lot of posting needs to be completed. A budget document
needs to be available to the public by Monday,November 19 and the Board agreed to include a summary of
the changes agreed upon today.
Karen Herr stated that across-the-board cuts would result in staffing reductions for most offices.
Cmmr. Sheldon reviewed a proposal for reductions that Cmmr. Ring Erickson worked on with the Auditor
Karen Herr, Theresia Ehrich,Frank Pinter and Diane Zoren. The proposal is as follows: $35,000 reduction
to Sheriff s Office to the Jail nursing contract budget line;$19,612 reduction to the Sheriffs Office to the
911 Dispatch budget line; $11,000 Sheriffs Office/Courtroom Security to overtime budget lines;$30,238
reduction to Commissioner's budget;$9,600 WACO dues eliminated; $10,000 WSAC&NACO dues
eliminated; $10,000 reduction in the Clerk's budget;$5,000 reduction to Probation Services and Human
Resources, reduce all budgets by the amount budgeted for travel, and eliminate all ER&R charges for
telephones, computers and vehicles.
Board of Mason County Commissioners'2013 Budget Workshop
November 15,2012
The proposal for the across-the-board budget reduction is gone. Cmmr. Sheldon stated he doesn't agree
with elimination of Commissioner health care benefits.
Cmmr. Ring Erickson commented that Commissioners'salaries have had 3%increases and she has given
back her increases and benefits. The Commissioners could have reduced the Commissioner salaries to the
2008 level and offered benefits to the new Commissioners. That didn't happen and she doesn't agree with
forcing other departments to live by a standard that the Commissioners have not.
Cmmr.Bloomfield agreed with Cmmr.Ring Erickson in that the Commissioner salaries could have been
reduced.
There was discuss of the WACO and WSAC dues. The elected officials spoke in favor of keeping these
memberships. The WSAC dues are paid fi-on Public Works,
Cmmr. Ring Erickson spoke in favor of eliminating the travel budgets. She noted she has paid for her own
travel, if a department has the capacity in their bottom line to pay for travel,they can do that. If there is
required travel and the department needs additional funding, they would have to request a budget
amendment from the Commissioners.
The reductions to the Clerk,Probation and Human Resources were reviewed.
Ginger Brooks stated she can reduce the budget line for her chief deputy position because the person is at a
lower range than what is budgeted.
Harris Haertei stated that food costs in detention are increasing by up to$8,000 and they are absorbing that
which amounts to a total $13,000 reduction and could result in a reduction to administrative staff.
Dawn Twiddy explained the$5,000 would impact the Human Resources Director benefits.
Dave Loser spoke to the issue of no ER&R rates in 2013. For Current Expense, vehicles are at$507,000;
phones are$71,000; computers are$1 19,000. This would mean a reduction of about $700,000 in
expenditures. ER&R would have to use their reserves.
Mike Dorcy asked about the travel budget reduction.
Karen Herr stated staff can still travel,but the cost nnust be absorbed in the department's bottom line or ask
the Commissioners for travel money.
Susan Sergojan mentioned she is using webinars for mandatory training that cuts down on costs.
There was discussion of how to cut the travel budgeted amounts. The conclusion is that all budgets must
be reduced by the amount budgeted for travel. It can be the travel line or other budget lines, as long as the
budget is reduced.
Diane Zoren noted that the Sheriffs Office had asked if they could do some reorganizing within existing
budget numbers,to create a Records Clerk and additional Evidence staff person. The Commissioners
stated they would consider this and need to see a proposal.
Diane Zoren summarized the agreed upon budget changes: $35,000 reduction to MCSO for Jail nursing;
$19,612 reduction to MSCO for 911 Dispatch;$11,000 reduction to MCSO for Courtroom Security
overtime; $10,000 reduction to Clerk; $5,000 reduction to Human Resources;eliminate all ER&R charges
for phones, computers and vehicles;reduce budgets by amount budgeted for travel. The anticipated
revenue does include a 1%increase for Current Expense.
Each department will submit the necessary paperwork for the reductions to the Commissioners'office by
Tuesday, morning,November 20 so they can be posted.
Board of Mason County Commissioners'2013 Budget Workshop
November 15,2012
The budget workshop adjourned at 11:10 a.m.
Respectfully submitted.
Diane Zoren,Assistant to County Cormmissioners
BOARD OF MASON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
43ynd�aRing E i kson Tim Sheldon Terri R
Chair Commissioner Commissioner