08-15-2012 Budget - Laserfiche WebLink

Commission Minutes—August 15, 2012 4042 SPECIAL MEETING OF CASS COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING IN BUDGET SESSION AUGUST 15, 2012 1. MEETING CALLED TO ORDER Chairman Scott Wagner called the meeting to order at 8:00 AM on Wednesday, August 15, 2012, with all members present as follows: Vern Bennett, Ken Pawluk, Robyn Sorum, Darrell Vanyo, and Scott Wagner. Also present were County Auditor Michael Montplaisir, County Administrator Keith Berndt, and Accountants Mary Matheson and Alicia Hildebrand. 2. BUDGET OVERVIEW, 2013 budget summary Mr. Montplaisir gave an overview of the 2013 preliminary budget prepared with the General Fund mill levy rate at 63.60 mills compared to the 2012 rate of 65.75 mills. One reason the mill levy is able to be lowered is due to strong valuation increases seen over the years. Employee Salaries and Benefits Mr. Montplaisir said employee compensation is one of the largest areas of the county budget. The 2013 budget includes a 2.4% cost of living adjustment (COLA) and normal step increases for employees. Mr. Montplaisir said increases in retirement costs are due to legislation to help with funding issues for the North Dakota Public Employees Retirement System (NDPERS). The proposal was to increase the percentage by 2% each year over the next four years. The legislature approved the request for two years and will look at the remainder in the next legislative session. The 2013 budget includes 1% of the cost to be paid by the county and 1% by employees. Health and Dental Coverage Mr. Montplaisir said estimates were received from Blue Cross Blue Shield for insurance rates. He said the budget was figured using a 17.5% increase in health insurance premiums. He said health care continues to increase and there will need to be some changes to preserve the health care reserve fund. An employee wellness committee was formed about a year ago, however; they are at a standstill with no funding for programs. He said it will be necessary to spend dollars to ultimately save dollars on health care. Mr. Berndt said it is time to make a serious investment in getting employees to lead healthier lifestyles. Mr. Montplaisir said there are many options that can be pursued to reach the employees and some changes in the health care plan may be needed. New Employees Mr. Montplaisir said the 2013 budget includes: a new position in Information Technology; a new position in Maintenance; a promotion at the Jail; and six new employees in Social Services.