HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 2008.09.18 - 9644REPORT U1.R. #08126 September 18, 2008
BY: Finance Committee, Mike Rogers, Chairperson
IN RE: BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS - TRANSIT COMMUTER BENEFIT PROGRAM FOR
OAKLAND COUNTY EMPLOYEES
TO THE OAKLAND COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen:
The Finance Committee, having reviewed the above referenced
resolution on September 2G08, reports with the recommendation
that the resolution be amended to insert the following language
as the third BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that if the Administration in their
research does not find this program to be cost effective, they shall
report back to the Finance Committee.
Chairperson, on behalf of the Finance Committee, I move the
acceptance of the foregoing report.
FINANCE COMMITTEE
FINANCE COMMITTEE:
Ayes: Potter, Coulter, Woodward, Greimel, Zack, Douglas,
Rogers
Nays; Crawford, Long
Absent: Kowall, Middleton
September 4, 2008
REPORT MR # 0E1126
BY: Personnel Committee, Thomas F. Middleton Chairperson
RE: Board of Commissioners — Transit Commuter Benefit Program for Oakland
County Employees
TO: Oakland County Board of Commissioners
Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen:
The Personnel Committee having reviewed MR #08126 on August 27, 2008 Reports
with the reuorruntridation the resolution be amended and adopted as follows:
Change the title to read: Board of Commissioners — Pilot Transit Commuter
Benefit Program for Oakland County Employees
The NOW THEREFORE paragraph be amended to read: NOW THEREFORE
BE IT RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners authorizes the
County Executive through the Human Resources Department to implement a voluntary
Pilot Transit Commuter Benefit Program for all county employees.
The second BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED paragraph to read: that the Oakland
County Board of Commissioners are updated on the status of Oakland County's
enrollment within 30 days of adoption of this resolution and for one year after
implementation. If interest is not demonstrated in that period the program will be
dissolved.
Chairperson, on behalf of the Personnel Committee, I move the acceptance of the
foregoing report.
PERSONNEL COMMITTEE
Personnel Committee Vote
Motion carried on a roll call vote.
Douglas, Gosselin, Zack. Hatchett and Spector — yes
Middleton, Jacobsen and Scott — no
Rogers and Coleman - absent
Miscellaneous Resolution #08126
BY: Commissioner David Woodward, District #18
RE: Board of Commissioners — Transit Commuter Benefit Program for Oakland County
Employees
TO: Oakland County Board of Commissioners
WHEREAS the soaring cost of gas continues to put increasing financial pressure on the budgets
of governments, businesses and Oakland County workers and families; and
WHEREAS the relentless global demand for scarce oil resources makes it unlikely that a
significant reduction in the cost of gasoline, diesel fuel or biofuels will occur in the next several
years; and
WHEREAS financial incentives have a significant impact on commute decisions; and
WHEREAS the federal tax code provides a variety of financial incentives related to commuter
. benefits for employers and employers; and
WHEREAS mass transit is a viable alternative that can reduce the cost of transportation for
Oakland County worker and their families; and
WHEREAS Federal law lets private employers, non-profit organizations, and public agencies to
implement a Transit Commuter Benefit Program so that workers receive up to S115 a month in
employer-paid tax-free transit costs, or take up to $115 a month in tax-sheltered payroll
deductions in transit costs; and
WHEREAS "transit benefits" are defined as passes, vouchers, or similar fare media provided to
employees to cover their transit or qualified vanpool commuting costs; and
WHEREAS the Transit Commuter Benefit Program saves the employer money by eliminating
payroll taxes on the value of the benefit, and saves employees money by eliminating their share
of payroll taxes, and local, state, federal taxes on the value of transit benefit.
WHEREAS Suburban Mobile Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART), the largest
transit authority in Oakland County and all of Michigan, offers a Transit Commuter Benefit
Program called the SMART TransitChek Program.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners
authorizes the County Executive through the Human Resources Department to implement a
voluntary Transit Commuter Benefit Program for all county employees.
13E IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners authorizes the
County Executive through the Human Resources Department to enroll in the SMART
TansitChek Program.
BE If t.LJKIHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners are updated
on the status of Oakland County's enrollment within 30 days of adoption of this resolution.
ommOsioner David Woodward
Distrid #18
Commissioner
Dislrict # f
Conu
Chairperson, e move the adoption of the foregoing Resolution.
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Commissioner
District y
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District #
Cornmissioner
District #Z3
Commissioner
District # //
CoMmissioner
District #2
Commissioner
District #
Commissioner
District #
Conu-nissioner
District #
Commissioner
District #
Commissioner
District #
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners encourages
Oakland County's cities, villages, and townships, businesses and nonprofits also to enroll into
the SMART TransitChek Program.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this adopted resolution be forwarded by the
Oakland County Clerk to the Oakland County Business Roundtable, and all Oakland County's
cities, villages, and townships.
Commissioner Commissioner
District # District #
Resolution #08126 July 8, 2008
The Chairperson referred the resolution to the Personnel Committee. There were no objections.
Resolution #08128 September 4, 2008
The Chairperson referred the resolution to the Finance Committee. There were no objections.
FISCAL NOTE (MISC. #08126) September 18, 2008
BY: Finance Committee, Mike Rogers, Chairperson
IN RE: BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS - TRANSIT COMMUTER BENEFIT PROGRAM FOR OAKLAND
COUNTY EMPLOYEES
To the Oakland County Board of Commissioners
Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen:
Pursuant to Rule XII-C of this Board, the Finance Committee has reviewed the
above referenced resolution and finds:
1. The Oakland County Board of Commissioners authorizes the County
Executive through the Human Resources Department to implement a
voluntary Transit Commuter Benefit Program for all county employees.
2. Federal law allows private and public agencies to implement a Transit
Commuter Benefit Program so that workers receive up to $115 a month in
employer-paid tax-free transit costs, or take IT to $115 a month in
tax-sheltered payroll deductions in transit costs.
3. Transit benefits are defined as passes, vouchers or similar fare media
provided to employees to cover their transit or qualified vanpool
commuting costs.
4. The cost of the program is estimated at $20,409 per year. These costs
consist of an initial set-up fee of $4,000, the cost of a minimum of 25
employees at $4 per month per year of $1,200 and the cost of an
Emergency Salary Office Assistant II position at $15,209 to process and
track enrollments, ensure the information is provided to Payroll and
the vendor, handle distribution of marketng materials and provide
reports to the Board.
5. This benefit wouLd be paid out of the Non-Departmental Contingency
account. The budget would be amended as follows:
General Fund (#10100) 2009 FY 2010
ExpendiVares
9090101-196030-730359 Non-Dept Contingency ($20,409) ($20,409)
9090101-196030-740058 Emergency Salaries Reserve
i5,209 15,209
9010101-196030-740178 Transit Commuter Benefit Frog 3,200 5,200
Total Expenditures -0- -0-
6. The Oakland County Board of Commissioners will be updated on the status
of Oakland County's enrollment within 3C days of the adoption of the
resolution. A budget amendment is recommended for FY 2309 and FY 2010.
FINANCE COMMITTEE
FINANCE COMMITTEE:
Ayes: Coulter, Woodward, Greime1, Zack, Potter, Rogers
Nays: Douglas, Crawford, Long
Absent: Kowall, MLddleton
Resolution #08126 September 18, 2008
Moved by Middleton supported by Woodward the resolution (with fiscal note attached) be adopted.
Moved by Middleton supported by Clark the resolution be referred back to the Personnei Committee.
Discussion followed.
Commissioner Middleton withdrew his motion and Commissioner Clark withdrew his support.
Moved by Middleton supported by Woodward the Finance Committee Report and the Personnel
Committee Report be accepted.
A sufficient majority having voted in favor, the reports were accepted.
Moved by Middleton supported by Woodward the resolution be amended to coincide with the
recommendations in the Finance Committee Report and the Personnel Committee Report,
A sufficient majority having voted in favor, the amendments carried.
Discussion followed,
Moved by Douglas supported by Gingell the resolution be amended to delete the last BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED paragraph,
Vote on amendment
AYES: Crawford, Douglas, Gershenson, Gingelf, Gosselin, Gregory, Greimel, Hatchett.
Jacobsen, KowaII, Long, Middleton, Potts, Rogers, Scott Spector, Woodward, Zack, Bullard,
Burns, Clark, Coleman, Coulter. (23)
NAYS: Nash, Potter. (2)
A sufficient majority having voted in favor, the amendment carried.
Vote on resolution, as amended:
AYES: Douglas, Gershenson, Gingell, Gosselin, Gregory, Greimel, Hatchett, KowaII, Nash,
Potter, Potts, Rogers, Scott, Spector, Woodward, Zack. Burns, Coleman, Coulter. (19)
NAYS: Jacobsen, Long, Middleton, Bullard, Clark, Crawford. (6)
A sufficient majority having voted in favor, the resolution (with fiscal note attached), as amended, was
adopted.
#11•n
I " FOREGOING RESOLUTION 7
STATE OF MICHIGAN)
COUNTY OF OAKLAND) f/2-27703/
I, Ruth Johnson, Clerk of the County of Oakland, do hereby certify th • the foregoing resolution is a true
and accurate copy of a resolution adopted by the Oakland Cr nty Board of Commissioners on
September 18, 2008, with the original record thereof now remaining in my office.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the County of Oakland at
Pontiac, Michigan this 18th day of September, 2008.
Ruth Johnson, County Clerk