10-01-1992 - Laserfiche WebLink

Comm. Minutes--October 1, 1992 926 DEPARTMENT HEADS--PLEASE POST IN A CONSPICUOUS PLACE FOR STAFF TO READ. SPECIAL MEETING OF CASS COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OCTOBER 1, 1992 MEETING TO ORDER Chairman Alon Wieland called the meeting to order at 10:00 AM with all members present as follows: Don Eckert, Steve Risher, Gene Shannon, Sharon "Pepper" Toussaint and Alon Wieland. The only item on the agenda today is the 1993 county budget, according to Mr. Wieland. AUDITOR'S SUMMARY, Current status of proposed 1993 budget County Auditor Michael Montplaisir provided copies of a letter addressed to the Board of Commissioners dated September 30, 1992, along with a summary of the changes that have been made to the 1993 budget since preliminary budget approval on September 8th. He said the preliminary budget has been reduced by about $1.2 million so far, but the projected budget increase is still 5.96 mills over last year's mill levy. This amount includes the increase of 2.7 mills for economic development· Mr. Montplaisir said department heads offered a number of budget cuts after further review of their own departments, and these are reflected in the current budget proposal. A letter was received offering some line item cuts in the Vector Control budget. Mr. Shannon asked for clarification of the vote on the budget resolution adopted at the September 21, 1992 meeting, whereby the Commission would attempt to budget in a manner that will maintain the mill levy at 62.7 mills or less. Mr. Eckert opposed the motion and Mr. Shannon asked for his reasons. Mr. Eckert said he opposed the motion because he didn't think 62.7 mills was a realistic figure that this Commission could achieve. Mr. Risher asked about the county's reserve funds, and Mr. Montplaisir said he budgeted for 8% reserves and expects about 2% from revenues for a total of 10% in reserve. Mr. Montplaisir said an additional $110,000 must be transferred from the general fund to the jail levy because the current levy doesn't pay all of the jail's operating costs· He is suggesting an increase in the jail levy for 1993 of 4% over the amount levied for 1992. EMPLOYEE SALARIES FOR 1993, Department head proposal County Engineer Keith Berndt addressed the Commission on behalf of the county department heads regarding a proposed salary plan for 1993. He referred to his memo of September 28, 1992, addressed to the Cass County Board of Commissioners in which department heads recommend the following: 1) cost of living adjustment of 2.5% on the Ernst & Young scale; 2) Ernst & Young step increases for all employees below midpoint--to be implemented on the individual employee's anniversary date; and 3) adjust salaries of elected officials by 4.6% since they were not included in the Ernst & Young study. The total estimated cost of such a plan is $233,940. Mr. Risher noted that an adjustment for elected officials doesn't include county commissioners, since their salaries are set by state law.