07-27-2023 Budget Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

Commission Minutes—July 27, 2023 5756 Desi Fleming, City of Fargo Director of Public Health (FCPH) was present to review the 2024 budget request. The request for FCPH Operations budget is $1,051,976, up from $993,115 or 5.93% in 2023. Ms. Flemming said the 2024 budget increase is due to salary increases and there are no changes in services. Mrs. Scherling asked what cost of living adjustment (COLA) the FCPH staff will receive. Ms. Flemming said the budget includes a 3% COLA, however, the adjustment has not yet been approved by the Fargo City Commission. Mr. Breitling said the 2024 budget summary includes an item for a 10,000 credit to Cass County, he asked what the credit is for. Ms. Fleming said the credit is for environmental fees FCPH collects. Mr. Grindberg said he compared projected budget figures that were presented at the last FCPH Board meeting to the actual budget presented today. He asked why there are differences in state aid. Ms. Fleming said the state aid has been updated since the 2023 legislative session and additional grant information. Mr. Grindberg said the City of Fargo is projected to have revenue of 8.4 million; he asked what if the budget is not approved. Ms. Fleming said this is an ongoing conversation as the request includes a Harm Reduction position. She said if the request is not approved, harm reduction services would have to be cut. She said the position is already staffed and performs existing services; it is now being considered as a formal budget request. MOTION, passed Mr. Grindberg moved and Mr. Breitling seconded to approve the 2024 preliminary budget for Fargo Cass Public Health Operations as presented. On roll call vote, the motion carried unanimously. FCPH Jail Nurse The request for FCPH Jail Nurse budget 2024 request is for $742,453, an increase from 664,602 in 2023 or 11.1% increase. Ms. Fleming said the increase is due to the 10% increase in Jail nurse salaries the Commission approved in late 2022 as well as normal COLA and step increases. She said FCPH is looking to transfer nursing services from FCPH to the County in 2025 as previously discussed. Mr. Wilson said County staff have been working internally to figure out the steps needed for the County to take over Jail nursing services. MOTION, passed Mr. Breitling moved and Mr. Kapitan seconded to approve the 2024 preliminary budget for Fargo Cass Public Health Jail Nurse as presented. On roll call vote, the motion carried unanimously. 9. BREAK The Commission took a break at 10:24 AM and reconvened at 10:36 AM. 10. RURAL AMBULANCE AND RESCUE ASSOCIATION Jim Jager, President of the Cass County Rural Ambulance and Rescue Association was present to review the 2024 budget. The request is $306,000, up from $255,000 in 2023. Mr. Jager said Rural Ambulance has seen an increase in calls and a decrease in volunteers. He said another challenge is during the 2023 legislative session, House Bill 1365 was passed which requires all rural ambulance services with populations under 6,500 to form taxing districts by June 20, 2025. He said the taxing authority boards will then work with their ambulance district to determine whether a mill levy will be presented to the voters of their district at upcoming elections. Mr. Jager said this will be a difficult process for all the rural ambulance districts to go through. He said the rural ambulance also has a quick response team and it is unclear if the quick response team will fall under the taxing district. Mrs. Scherling asked where Sanford Ambulance's service area is. Mr. Jager said Sanford ambulance cuts off near Mapleton. He said if there is a serious trauma, Sanford Ambulance may meet rural ambulance near Mapleton for assistance. Mrs. Scherling asked how many people rural ambulances service who are not from Cass County. Mark Moser, Vice President of Rural Cass