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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 2005.07.29 - 36017CHUCK MOSS Chairperson MIKE ROGERS Vice Chairperson TIM MELTON Minority Vice Chairperson July 29, 2005 Chairperson Moss called the meeting of the Finance Committee to order at 1:02 p.m., in the Board of Commissioners' Committee Room A, Commissioners' Wing, County Service Center, Pontiac, Michigan. COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT : Chuck Moss, Mike Rogers, Tim Melton, Charles Palmer, Hugh Crawford, Greg Jamian, Christine Long, David Coulter, Helaine Zack, Dave Woodward COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT: Eric Wilson OTHERS PRESENT : EXECUTIVE OFFICE Gerald Poisson, Deputy Executive Robert Daddow, Deputy Executive Phil Bertolini, Deputy Executive / CIO FISCAL SERVICES Nancy Fournier, Chief Holly Conforti, Supervisor Joe Rozell, Analyst Monica Tinsley, Financial Analyst HUMAN RESOURCES Nancy Scarlet, Director INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Mike Wilk, Deputy Director David Veit, Manager MANAGEMENT & BUDGET Laurie Van Pelt, Director SHERIFF Michael Bouchard, Sheriff Dale Cunningham, Business Manager OLHSA Pauline Kenner, SHS Supervisor Sherry Meadows, ISC Specialist Annie Schmidt, Northeast Oakland Advisory RAINBOW CONNECTION Margaret Ronse, Executive Director BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Tom Middleton, District #4 Eileen Kowall, District #6 Marcia Gershenson, District #17 Larry Doyle, Administrative Director Harvey Wedell, Sr. Analyst Sheryl Mitchell, Sr. Analyst Helen Hanger, Sr. Committee Coordinator OAKLAND COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS 1200 N. TELEGRAPH ROAD, PONTIAC, MI 48341-0470 Telephone (248) 858 -0100 FAX (248) 858-1572 FINANCE COMMITTEE Charles Palmer Hugh D. Crawford Eric Wilson Greg Jamian Christine Long David Coulter Helaine Zack David Woodward FINANCE COMMITTEE Page 2 July 28, 2005 PUBLIC COMMENT None. 5. BUDGET HEARINGS Information Technology Mr. Bertolini responded to specific questions regarding various Information Technology (IT) line items within the County Executive's FY 2006 / FY 2007 Recommended Budget. No Budget Task for FY 2006 was given to IT because were requested from FY 2005. Licensing cost increases were offset with other reductions. For PC support, departments are billed $576 quarterly but this figure may be higher if printers, etc. are included. These quarterly billings are approved through Board resolution. Money is also moved quarterly for new projects as they are approved by the IT leadership group. (Mr. Be rtolini noted that Independent surveys show that the average cost to support a thick client PC in the business place is between $4,000 and $11,000 annually.) IT also reports master plan activity quarterly to the General Government Committee. Obsolete equipment is disposed of through the County auction. If budget reductions were necessary, IT staff would meet with customers to determine what to cut. Mr. Bertolini invited commissioners for a walk through of IT. Mr. Bertolini summarized the responsibilit ies of IT's five divisions as identified on page 502 of the Recommended Budget. The Active Directory Log is complete and IT is now proceeding with Phase 2 of Thin Client. The CLEMIS Fund includes computer -aided dispatch, fingerprint, mug shot systems, etc . CLEMIS membership has increased to 238 public service agencies in 7 different counties. Members pay a fee per sworn officer and network charges are reimbursed to the County. The County's $1 million grant match for COPS MORE has been spent as reflected by the reduction in the Contribution line item. Four COPS MORE positions were moved to CLEMIS and six positions were transferred to Fire Records to provide support. Revenue from the 911 surcharge appears under the Radio Communications Fund. Mr. Daddow explained that the wireline surcharge is .57 cents per line and generates about $5 million a year for the County and the wireless surcharge of .52 cents levied by the State on cellphones generates an additional $1.2 million. These surcharges are set to ex pire December 31, 2006, and there is movement to have that legislation extended. There is also legislation pending to extend the telecommunications act, which is a more expansive effort. System costs for operations, absent depreciation, are $2.5 million. This issue has been addressed in the Cash Flow Analysis. Chairman Moss asked if the premium paid to certain classifications is still in place. Mr. Bertolini explained that this process has continued and he believes it to be warranted based on survey information for IT professionals. Selective outsourcing is done through the competitive bid process. Bids cover 35 different skill sets and rates are requested for three -year periods. IT has a list of 72 companies that were competitively bid based on techno logy type. No services have been off shored. Sheriff Several members of the audience representing various agencies spoke in support of maintaining two Trustee Coordinator positions for the Sheriff. A letter of support to maintain the positions was dis tributed. Sheriff Bouchard explained that his office is losing money in many areas as a result of the State's actions to reduce expenditures. The Trustee program allows non -violent offenders in the Sheriff's custody to assist agencies and communities with projects. WAM participants are not in the Sheriff's custody and are only available on the weekends for specific projects. Boot Camp participants do some limited projects but their FINANCE COMMITTEE Page 3 July 28, 2005 focus is on getting their diplomas (GED) and receiving drill instructi ons in exchange for reduced sentences. The two remaining trustee supervisors are assigned full -time to the laundry program as authorized by previous Board resolution. Sheriff Bouchard indicated that he would like to continue this program if funding becom es available. However, public safety, not outreach, is the first priority. Public safety programs used throughout the County, such as aviation, arson, tactical, narcotics and fugitive apprehension, would be considered budget priorities over programs spec ific to one area. Questions regarding line item budgets were discussed. The Sheriff explained that aside from $2.4 million reimbursed through patrol contracts, overtime expenses are mostly out of the Department's control. Once a person is arraigned, they are in the Sheriff's custody and it becomes a County expense. Other line items include retroactive pay for the settlement of union contracts and Contractual Services costs for Jail Clinic physicians. The Hospitalization of Prisoners line item has decre ased somewhat now that Blue Cross no longer administers this program and the County can negotiate its own rates. The Insurance line item has also been drastically reduced as a result of this change. Outside County Prisoner Housing was budgeted for as a whole based on current expenses and to avoid quarterly adjustments. Relocation of the Sheriff's Administration to the old Community Mental Health Building should only impact the Sheriff's Internal Services Building Space allocation. The Aviation Unit (MR #00211) was established under the General Fund from savings resulting from privatizing the Sheriff's food services function (MR #00163). A loan from the Delinquent Tax Revolving Fund allowed for the purchase of two helicopters, is being repaid over 10 ye ars, and includes depreciation to cover replacement costs. Sheriff Bouchard stated that he was in support of creating a Criminal Justice Coordinating Council if all parties participate and guidelines are developed to determine who should be in the jail. The recidivism rate for the jail is 60% and the County's fixed cost to run the jail is $84 a day so removing one or two people from the jail will have no affect. OTHER BUSINESS / ADJOURNMENT There being no other business to come before the committee, the meeting was adjourned at 3:07 p.m. ________________________ _______________________________ Helen A. Hanger Lawrence M. Doyle Senior Committee Coordinator Administrative Director NOTE: The foregoing minutes are subject to Committee a pproval.