Loading...
February 25 2015 Minutes of Budget Work Session with Finance Com244 A Budget Work Session of the Frederick County Board of Supervisors and Finance I Committee was held on Wednesday, February 25, 2015 at 5:00 P.M., in the Board of Supervisors' Meeting Room, 107 North Kent Street, Winchester, Virginia. PRESENT Chairman Richard C. Shickle; Vice - Chairman Charles S. DeHaven, Jr.; Christopher E. Collins; Gene E. Fisher; Robert A. Hess; Gary A. Lofton; and Robert W. Wells. OTHERS PRESENT Finance Committee members Bill M. Ewing, Angela Rudolph, and Judith McCann - Slaughter; Roderick B. Williams, Interim - County Administrator; Kris C. Tierney, Assistant County Administrator; Jay E. Tibbs, Deputy County Administrator; Commissioner of the Revenue Ellen Murphy; Treasurer C. William Orndoff, Jr.; Assistant Finance Director Sharon Kibler; Budget Analyst Jennifer Place; Fire Chief Dennis Linaburg; Executive Director of Finance for Frederick County Public Schools Lisa Frye; Planning Director Eric Lawrence; and Human Resources Director Paula Nofsinger. CALL TO ORDER Chairman Shickle called the work session to order. Interim County Administrator Rod Williams introduced the materials in the' agenda packet. Assistant County Administrator Tierney noted that a large share of the FY2016 budget requests were public safety positions. He stated with the additional $3 million taken out of fund balance would give the General Fund approximately $1.4 million, based on the normal split between the General Fund and the schools. He went on to say that staff tried to provide a per position cost in order to give the Board an idea how that money could be spent. Chairman Shickle stated it was unclear if the Board wanted that additional $3 million to be spent on one -time costs or ongoing expenses. He stated that was a lot of money for unsustainable operating costs versus one -time costs. Supervisor Fisher questioned the sustainability of using fund balance. He went on to say he did not understand how those funds were going to be used. Budget Analyst Place advised if the funds were used for one -time costs then that would eliminate the Board's ability to fund any public safety positions. Minute Book Number 40 Board of Supervisors Budget Work Session with Finance Committee on 02/25/15 205 Vice- Chairman DeHaven stated there was a need to address the public safety deficiencies; however, it might be better to wait until July. He noted the funding of positions from fund balance was not a sustainable use of those funds. He suggested postponing any use of additional fund balance dollars until July. The Board asked how Frederick County schools might utilize their share of these dollars. Executive Director of Finance Lisa Frey responded that if the schools were allowed to use the dollars for recurring costs then they would be used as part of the salary initiative. The Board asked if the postponement of the use of the additional fund balance dollars was doable. Budge Analyst Place responded it was doable, but it made the budget process complicated. Supervisor Collins stated he thought the $3 million was based on revenue projections. If that is not the case then waiting until July is probably a good idea. Mrs. McCann - Slaughter echoed Vice - Chairman DeHaven's comments. Supervisor Hess stated we need to find a way to address the needs in public safety and as long as we have a reasonable guesstimate then he would have no problem waiting until July. Treasurer ©rndoff agreed with Vice - Chairman DeHaven's approach. He noted there was no salary initiative in the numbers for county employees, but there was one for the schools. He went on to say the public safety needs might not be able to be put off much longer. Supervisor Collins stated he had no issues with waiting until July. Supervisor Fisher stated he could go along with Vice - Chairman DeHaven. He stated something had to be done, but he questioned the sustainability of what we were trying to do. He concluded by saying that next year steps would have be taken to make it sustainable. Mrs. Rudolph stated this was a temporary solution to a permanent expense, She did not know about waiting until July, Vice- Chairman DeHaven stated public safety issues had to be addressed and they would be addressed as soon as we have a good revenue figure. Supervisor Lofton stated that he agreed with staff and he agreed with Supervisor Collins that we might be conservative in our revenue estimates. He noted the sustairiability of this approach could not be guaranteed. He concluded by saying he was struggling with waiting until July to make a decision. Minute Book Number 40 Board of Supervisors Budget Work Session with Finance Committee on 02/25/15 Supervisor Wells stated if we could come up with the revenue then this was the best way to go. Mr. Ewing stated a decision should be made now rather than wait. He stated we have to do it whether it is now or in July, Chairman Shickle stated it sounds like the budget should be prepared in such a way that it delays the $3 million of additional fund balance until July. He stated that $3 million in expenditures needed to be 'identified and those funds would not be released until July. Vice - Chairman DeHaven stated he liked conservative approach, but we have to do the public safety positions. Supervisor Mess stated that the Board should have a discussion about what is an appropriate level of fund balance. He noted we should not retain all capital, but there was a need to have some reserve. Supervisor Lofton asked for information regarding what a 1% salary increase for county employees would cost. The next budget work session will be held. on Wednesday, March 4, 2015 at 8:00 A.M. There being no further business, the work session was adjourned at 5:41 P.M. Richard C. Shickle Chairman, Board of Supervisors Roderick B. Williams Interim Clerk, Board of Supervisors Minutes Prepared By: r Jay E. i s Deputy Clerk, Board of Supervisors Minute Book Number 40 Board of supervisors Budget Work Session with Finance Committee on 02/25/15