08-09-1999 - Laserfiche WebLink

Commission Minutes--August 9, 1999 2015 DEPARTMENT HEADS--PLEASE POST IN A CONSPICUOUS PLACE FOR STAFF TO READ SPECIAL MEETING OF CASS COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING IN BUDGET SESSION AUGUST 9, 1999 MEETING TO ORDER Chairperson Robbie Quick called the budget meeting to order at 9:00 AM on August 9, 1999, in the Commission Room, Cass County Courthouse, with four members present as follows: Paul Koenig, Alon Wieland, Donna Schneider and Robbie Quick. Commissioner John Meyer was absent. Also present were County Auditor Michael Montplaisir, County Coordinator Bonnie Johnson and Senior Accountant Deb Ness. BUDGET OVERVIEW, Requests reviewed with various departments Mr. Montplaisir provided a letter dated today explaining some of the larger increases in the 2000 preliminary budget. He used a taxable valuation of $225,000,000, which is about 6% more than last year, or an additional $900,000 based upon the 1999 levy of 69.26 mills. Commission Mrs. Johnson gave an overview of the Commission budget, and discussion was held on salaries, laptop computers, increased security needs, and cellular telephones to use while conducting county business. For the first time in about nine years, the State legislature eliminated the maximum annual salary of $10,000 for county commissioners, and this item will be discussed at a future budget session. The laptop computers have been considered before as a means of reducing the volume of paperwork for commissioners and staff, however, Commissioners Wieland and Koenig do not support the idea at this time. No decision was made since Mr. Meyer was absent. Coordinator/Buildings and Grounds Mrs. Johnson highlighted changes in her budget. Also, she included seminar registration for the personnel secretary to attend the HTE seminar to assist in her work with the county payroll system. The PC software line item was removed because it is already included in the Information Services budget. Mrs. Johnson outlined several buildings and grounds projects which are taking place this year, as well as next year's proposed projects. One of the large increases in this budget is special assessments in the amount of approximately $60,000 for the Tenth Street reconstruction project along the Courthouse and Annex properties. Commissioners will discuss dividing that into two or possibly three payments rather than paying it all in one year. Auditor Mr. Montplaisir talked about increases in the education and travel line items in his budget, software for updating the county's fixed assets system, a new laser printer, and increasing a half-time position to full time. He also talked about elections and possibly combining some rural precincts and splitting some City of Fargo precincts, due to voter turn-out at the respective polls.