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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/14/1999 FC minutesFINANCE CONMSSION Minutes of the Meeting October 14, 1999 I. Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. Those present included Chairman John Korn and Commissioners Charles Bennett, John Engle, Vince Grochocinski, Betty Launer, and Jim Morrison. Also present were Village Manager Michael Janonis, Assistant Village Manager Dave Strahl, Village Clerk Velma Lowe, MIS Coordinator Joan Middleton, Public Information Officer Maura Jandris, Finance Director Douglas Ellsworth, Human Services Coordinator Nancy Morgan, Deputy Human Services Coordinator Jan Abernethy, and Deputy Finance Director Carol Widmer. Village Trustee Irvana Wilks was also present. Commissioner George Busse arrived at 7:15 p.m. and left at 8:30 p.m. Commissioners Tom Pekras and Ann Smilanic were absent. II Approval of Minutes - Meetingof f Au ug st 26, 1999 The minutes of August 26, 1999 were approved as amended. III Review of Proposed 2000 Village Budget (Overview, Village Administration, Finance and Human Services Village Manager Mike Janonis provided an overview of the Year 2000. In his remarks he stated that the Village is fiscally comfortable due to a good economy. The proposed budget, as presented, represents a 10.1 % decrease from the 1999 amended budget and totals $62,496,087. Mr. Janonis went on to review some of the accomplishments of 1999 including the street reconstruction project and the structural and policy changes made in the Vehicle Replacement Fund that have made it fully funded. In addition, a modest "permanent" funding source for the Capital Improvement Fund has been identified and implemented from ongoing transfers of $560,000 from General Fund revenues. Mr. Janonis provided an overview of the Year 2000 Budget. Included in that spending plan are three new full-time positions and the recommendation that two existing part-time positions be moved to full- time status. Mr. Janonis also stated that no new revenue sources are contemplated in 2000. The Budget does include a 3.5 % increase in the property tax levy and a 4 % increase in the water and sewer rate. Commissioner George Busse asked for clarification as to how the revenues were projected. Mr. Ellsworth responded that a variety of sources are used depending upon the revenue type. Information is gathered from state projections, historical trends, and the current economic environment. Mr. Ellsworth reviewed the organization of the budget document and the budget process. He also provided an overview of the Capital Budget and the Debt Service Budget. Mr. Ellsworth spent some time discussing the graph on page 27 of the Year 2000 Budget, which shows the speed by which the Village's debt is being paid down. In fact, Mr. Ellsworth noted that by the year 2007 no debt would be paid from property taxes. A brief discussion ensued prompted by Chairman Korn mentioning that the Library will be borrowing money on a short-term basis from the Village due to the delay in property tax remittances by Cook County. Village Administration Assistant Village Manager David Strahl presented the significant items of the proposed budget for the Village Manager's Office. At the conclusion of the presentation, Mr. Korn asked for additional information on the proposed upgrade of the production assistant from part-time to full-time. Mr. Strahl indicated that the upgrade is based on a two-year agreement with the Library and the Park District who agreed to pay 50% of the costs associated with that position in return for program production assistance. Vince Grochocinski asked about the new function to be undertaken from the Village Clerk's Office regarding acceptance facility for obtaining passports. Velma Lowe, the Village Clerk, responded that applications and forms will be available through her office and she and the Deputy Clerk will be receiving training on the passport process within the next few weeks. The Village will receive a small fee for each application that is processed. Finance Department Mr. Ellsworth discussed the significant highlights of the Finance Department Proposed Year 2000 Budget. The proposed budget of $1,257,156 is 2.3% higher than the 1999 budget of $1,228,302. In his presentation Mr. Ellsworth discussed the proposed upgrade from part-time to full-time of a customer service clerk, the on-going computer conversion and its associated costs for maintenance of the new equipment, and the decrease in the Village's liability insurance and administrative workers' compensation payments which are accounted for in the Finance Department budget. John Engel asked if the Village had any plans for automatic debit for water bill payments. Mr. Ellsworth indicated that consideration is being given to automatic debits sometime in the next year. Commission member Ann Smilanic, who was unable to attend the meeting, sent a list of questions and comments. She asked where the money was budgeted for the moving and refurbishing of the general store. Mr. Ellsworh replied that $30,000 to be spent on the moving of the building was eligible to be funded from TIF funds and the remaining $60,000 budgeted for restoration would be paid for out of the Capital Improvement Fund. Commissioner Korn asked a question regarding the audits on restaurants regarding the food and beverage tax payments. Mr. Janonis said that the audits are not the result of a drop in the food and beverage tax payments. Audits had been a planned expense for several years but due to other demands on the Finance Department this was the first year audits were able to take place. Human Services Human Services Director Nancy Morgan and Deputy Human Services Director Jan Abernethy presented an overview of the Human Services Department. The Proposed Year 2000 Budget of 2 $633,897 represents a 2.7% increase over the 1999 Budget of $617,502. Ms. Morgan noted that 14% or $88,560 of the budget is received in fees collected from residents served. Ms. Morgan advised the members of the Finance Commission that the mentor program is now in place in five schools with the addition of Holmes Junior High and River Trails Junior High Schools. The plans to convert the current Human Services database to an Access software program in the year 2000 was also discussed. Ann Smilanic wrote that she felt the Summer Adventure Program was very successful in its first year and that she is glad it will be continued in the Year 2000. Jim Morrison asked if other communities give money to outside agencies. Ms. Morgan replied that it really depended upon the community. Vince Grochocinski asked for clarification on the amount of money the Village will receive from Northwest Community Hospital over the three-year period. Nancy Morgan responded that the Village asked for $60,000 in 1999 and received $40,000. In 2000 and 2001 we are expecting to receive $42,000 and $18,000 respectively. John Engel asked about the proposed Senior Citizen Survey. Ms. Morgan indicated that the Department is trying to assess who they are actually serving and what expectations and needs are in the community. In response to a question by Commissioner John Korn, Jan Abernethy described the Call Check Program the Department instituted and how it will be utilized over the Y2K weekend. Chuck Bennett asked about the Visions group. Ms. Morgan explained that it is an interdepartmental group that works together to resolve issues within the Village. It is a philosophy and a way to respond to issues within the apartment complexes or other family issues. The Family Fun Nites and the development of the Explore More booklets were the results of the Visions organization. IV Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 10:05 p.m. The next meeting will be Thursday, October 21, 1999 at 7:00 p.m. The meeting will be at the Public Works Building at 1700 West Central Road in the Lunch Room. CLWsm Respectfully submitted Carol L. Widmer Deputy Finance Director 3