Boone County leaders pass balanced budget - News - Rockford Register Star - Rockford, IL

By Jennifer Wheeler
Rockford Register Star

Posted Nov. 20, 2013 @ 10:02 pm

 

BELVIDERE — Boone County elected officials and staff were able to dig themselves out of a once-projected $300,000 deficit to craft a balanced budget for next fiscal year.

On Wednesday, the County Board voted 8-4 to pass the $15.2 million general fund budget, which starts Dec. 1. Members Bill Pysson, Ron Wait, Marion Thornberry and Kenny Freeman voted no.

Here are the highlights:

n Nonunion employees will be receiving a 35 cent per hour increase. This method, rather than offering percentage raises, ensures that individuals at the top of pay scale do not receive a more generous pay hike than individuals at the lower end.

n The Boone County Sheriff’s Department will not be allocated money for new squad cars. New vehicles were purchased in 2012 and 2013, and the sheriff could allot some of his nondiscretionary budget money to cars if necessary, said Paul Larson, chairman of the Finance, Taxation and Salaries Committee.

n Staffing levels will increase from 255 county employees to 256. The county added dispatcher and assistant 911 coordinator positions to the budget.

n The county will not hire an additional public defender position — for now. Larson said officials want to add this position sooner rather than later, so they will review revenue streams mid-budget year to determine if they can afford the new job.

n The Boone County Board of Health will be allocated $25,000 less than what was originally planned. County Board members said they were displeased that health board members approved $56,000 worth of salary hikes in the middle of a budget year without knowing who would be receiving the raises or at what amount. Most employees were given between 13 percent and 18 percent raises, although a single staff member was given a 55 percent pay hike.

Pysson and Freeman said they voted no Wednesday because they were concerned about the merit raises that the Public Defender’s Office received on top of its 35 cent per hour wage increase. They said the approved raises exceed what staff originally proposed.

“I don’t believe in big raises. I think it sends a wrong message to other employees who come in on time and do their job,” Freeman said.

Larson said the merit raises were given because of the discrepancy in pay between the State’s Attorney’s Office and the Public Defender’s Office.

Above is from :  Boone County leaders pass balanced budget - News - Rockford Register Star - Rockford, IL

Journal’s Coverage of the county budget and Mr. Mattison’s Letter to the Editor

The following is taken from this Friday, November 18, 2011, which is available free of cost at merchants across the county and on the web at:http://www.boonecountyjournal.com/news/2011/Boone-County-News-11-18-11.pdf#page=1

Click on the photocopy to enlarge: 

DeKalb County’s Budget

County budget shows recession still strong

By JEFF ENGELHARDT -

 

The budget being presented to the DeKalb County Board this week is roughly $11 million less than last year’s as officials try to navigate through a continuing recession.
The $79 million budget for next year comes at a cost to many county departments, but as proposed, residents should see no increase in property tax bills for county expenses.

The county has proposed using $900,000 in reserves, which would lower the balance of the reserve fund to $9.1 million by the end of fiscal year 2012. The reserve balance would be at 34 percent of expenses, which is just above the county’s outside auditor’s recommendation of 25-30 percent. Because of that, County Administrator Ray Bockman said the county would be able to use the reserves at a similar level in 2013 if needed, but would then have to make a decision.

The assessed value for the county is expected to decline by 5.7 percent and the value of an average $200,000 home is projected to plummet to $186,000…..

The MAP – sheriff’s officers union – has an arbitrated settlement that offers a 6.1 percent salary increase. The Sycamore Campus and Highway Department AFSCME Union will get 2 percent increases in January and July while the Health Department AFSCME Union will get a 3 percent increase in January and 2 percent increase in July. Non-union employees will get a 1.5 percent increase in January.

 

Click on the following for more details on this DeKalb Chronicle story: 

http://www.daily-chronicle.com/2011/09/18/county-budget-shows-recession-still-strong/as47xp5/

California Legislature to forfeit pay

State Controller John Chiang has decided to deny California lawmakers their pay for failing to produce a truly balanced spending plan, infuriating legislative leaders but pumping new life into budget negotiations just 10 days before the start of the new fiscal year.
Indignant Democratic lawmakers, having passed a budget on the June 15 deadline without input from Republicans or Gov. Jerry Brown, said the controller, who issues state paychecks, was engaged in an illegal power grab. Chiang said in his announcement Tuesday that aspects of the Democrats' budget — which Brown had swiftly vetoed — were incomplete and the plan therefore violated a new law that punishes the Legislature for late spending plans.

The impact on legislators' wallets could be severe. Until they approve a budget that Chiang deems balanced, rank-and-file lawmakers, who are paid at the end of each month, will be docked about $400 a day. That sum is the daily portion of their $95,291 salary plus a $142 per diem allowance.

Click on the following for the complete LA Times story:  http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-lawmakers-pay-20110622,0,5154346.story

Rep Paul Ryan and his in-laws

The following is taken from:  http://www.wallstcheatsheet.com/stocks/take-a-look-at-paul-ryans-personal-payday.html/

according to the congressman’s mandatory financial disclosure report to Congress, Ryan and his wife own stakes in four family companies that lease land in Texas and Oklahoma to energy companies that benefit from the tax subsidies Ryan advocated.

Ryan’s father-in-law runs the companies that are currently leasing land for mining and drilling to Chesapeake Energy (NYSE:CHK), Devon (NYSE:DVN), XTO Energy, and a subsidiary of ExxonMobil (NYSE:XOM). Ryan’s stake in these companies immediately poses a conflict of interest, especially when Ryan is lining his pockets with big oil money while expecting senior citizens, children, and the disabled to endure cuts to already underfunded programs.

Of course, Ryan’s office says he hadn’t even considered his own interests when drawing up the budget plan, overlooking the $117,000 the properties earned him and his wife just last year, as well as the $60,000 from the year before that. According to Ryan’s financial disclosure, he has assets worth somewhere between $590,000 and $2.5 million, and he owns minority stakes in four of his wife’s family companies, including Ava O Limited Company, which holds mining and mineral rights, and Little Land Company, which is an oil and gas corporation. While Ryan only has a 0.8% stake in Little Land Company, it is still one of his most valuable assets, generating nearly $50,000 last year.

Stateline Bridges in Disrepair

Is it reassuring that the Boone County Board lowered the bridge tax levy for FY 2011 and sent the money to the general fund?

total 94 bridges were deemed "structurally deficient" in the five county area by using a scale of 10 to judge three main components. At the top of the list?

In Winnebago County it was Montague Road over Mill Creek. In Stephenson, Old Illinois 26 over Richland Creek. Poplar Grove Road over the Kishwaukee River in Boone. Ogle County's West Grove Road over Elkhorn Creek. And in Lee Illinois Route 26 over a drainage ditch.

Click on the following for more details: Stateline Bridges in Disrepair

Elgin police approve no-raise contract offer - Courier News

 

just one year and that it calls for no pay raise in 2011. In return, the city would guarantee no union members would be laid off this year. The city also would allow officers hired before a policy change made about five years ago to qualify for promotions even though they don’t have a four-year college degree.

Elgin police approve no-raise contract offer - Courier News

Boone County sheriff expects cuts after losing contract

Boone County Sheriff Duane Wirth anticipates he’ll propose additional budget cuts in the months ahead after Poplar Grove leaders decided Monday to cancel the village’s contract with his department.

 

The public safety contract[from Poplar Grove] provides the Sheriff’s Department with $60,000 a year in revenue.
[Sheriff Wirth] “I have to talk to (Poplar Grove officials), and I’ll have to see if I need to lay off a deputy with no money there,” Wirth said. “I’m a little taken aback. I had no discussion with the village or been able to communicate with them — we were always told if anything was going to happen we’d get communication.”

Click on the following to read all of the Rockford Register Star article:  Boone County sheriff expects cuts after losing contract - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

Boone County may offer free health benefits or a lump sum to new retirees

The county is in the mist of gathering information and employee interest  regarding a possible incentive program to spur employees with 25 years of service to retire.  This is probably a one time opportunity and has not been approved by the county board.  Neither the costs nor would be benefits will be available until the survey is completed by the interested employees.  At that time a vote of the county board will be required to authorize the program.  Click on the photocopies below to see the two possible options that maybe available.

Boone County budget to be presented for public opinion

 

"This is a major success story – it may not be perfect, but it is good…” Chairman Walberg

Board Member Pat Mattison remarked that the draft budget includes an increase in the General Fund from an estimated fiscal year 2010 amount of about $12.9 million, to a fiscal year 2011 budget amount of $13.3 million, and said this amounts to a 3 percent spending increase, not a cut.

Later, toward the end of the meeting, Johnson asked for a few minutes to make a comment to the board. In his remarks, Johnson acknowledged that the board is a body with "differing opinions," and that it is a good thing. However, Johnson went on to say that when certain members "take shots" at other board members "under the guise of keeping residents informed, I personally take offense."

Click on the following for more details:  County budget to be presented for public opinion

To see the proposed budget go to:  http://www.boonecountyil.org/sites/default/files/FY11Budget.pdf

Remember 11-18-2009: Vote on Boone budget was done correctly

Will Boone County have any of this drama when the county budget is voted next month?

Their decision to lay those objections to rest means that the $13.4 million budget will stand as approved

Previous shortfall
In recent months, the proposed 2010 budget contained a shortfall that measured — by some estimates — $285,000.
Instead of making painful spending cuts, the board erased the shortfall by infusing the 2010 spending plan with additional property tax penalties — fees that property owners pay when they make late tax payments. Doing so would add up to $133,500 in revenue to the 2010 budget

Click on the following for more details:  Courier: Vote on Boone budget was done correctly - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

11 state pension funds that may run of out money: Tech Ticker,

 

Illinois is just 8 years away from exhausting its pension fund and creating a yearly $14 billion hole, according to data from Joshua Ruah an associate professor of finance at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

That's a projected 32 percent of the state's revenue going to fill a pension hole. Every year.

Click on the following for more details:  11 state pension funds that may run of out money: Tech Ticker, Yahoo! Finance

What gives: Step Increases granted to Boone County Circuit Clerk employees?

It appears that six of the fifteen members of Circuit Clerk, Nora Ohlsen’s clerical staff will be receiving raises this year.  The Boone County Board is attempting to reduce expenses across all departments by 3%.  For the non-union employees the board has proposed a return of the 3% raise granted for FY 2010.  For union employees, a 3 % concession in wages was being requested in contract negotiations.  However such concessions may be in question if the Circuit Clerk’s Office is giving step increases. The present “balanced county budget” (in the process of being laid over for public view) is based upon such 3% decreases in most all departments.

Through an apparent oversight,  Ms. Ohlsen  did not provide a written request to reopen negotiations.  The contract automatically rolled over for one year and the six employees in the shaded area on the photocopy (shown below) will be receiving step increases.  The six employees and the cost of the increase is showed in the first photocopy.     The total additional cost is approximately $5,600 however this could be jeopardizing  other labor negotiations and the budget itself.  Because of their size, the most important negotiations  are with the Sheriff’s Deputies and with Correction both are currently negotiating with the county board.

This worksheet was prepared by Ms. Ohlsen and was part of her presentation to the Finance committee of the County Board back in September.

Click on the photocopy to enlarge:

Shown below is the section of UAW contract with the Circuit Clerk employees which states the the contract automatically rolls over.

Based upon conversations with  county board members and with the County Administrator,  it appears that county employees represented by another UAW union may receive step raises due to the county failing to provide a written request to reopen the contract.  That information is being requested through the Freedom of Information Act.

Illinois GOP: First audit, then cut

November 2—the date the audit began? 

Conservative businessman Adam Andrzejewski, who was among a large field of contenders for the Republican gubernatorial nomination, promoted the idea, saying a so-called “forensic audit” could save Illinois an estimated $3 billion to $5 billion. He based those numbers on what he says were savings gleaned through similar exercises in Texas and Kansas.

In a recent interview with the Decatur Herald & Review editorial board, Republican Adam Brown said a “forensic audit” is key to reining in state spending. But he wasn’t sure how long the exercise would take or how much it would cost….Brown, Brady and other Republicans say an audit is a starting point

Click on the following for more details:  Illinois GOP: First audit, then cut

How bad, will county budgets be this year?

The following is taken from the August 9, 2010 minutes (Page 3) of the Finance and Procurement Committee of Stephenson County (Freeport): http://www.co.stephenson.il.us/board/Minutes/2010/Finance/08-09-2010.pdf--

 

The County Administrator distributed the proposed budget calendar and instructions, discussed last month, for developing the 2011 budget. Chairman Blum reviewed the process the County has used in the past, to develop the annual budget. The County’s budget problems have traditionally been associated with the General Fund, rather than other funds, like the several highway funds. He explained that the budget needs to be
built from “scratch” or “zero”. Chairman Blum reviewed the discussion that took place with the department heads, earlier today. The department heads are looking for a “fair and equitable” budget. The budget worksheets will come to the Finance Committee with the usual request from the department, but now with an alternative amount from the County Administrator. Chairman Blum asked that the General Fund
expenditures for 2011 be limited to $8,000,000, including the maximum 5% contingency. He recommended using 1994 to 1999 as the base years, for allocating
funds to the various departments.

Chairman Blum noted that the County Board has the authority, under PTELL to reallocate the levy among the various County funds. Not only does this involve County departments, but includes the service organizations, under the County levy,
such as Extension Education and Veterans Assistance. On a motion by Ms. S. Hooper, seconded by Mr. Koch, the Finance Committee recommended that the County Board
suspend the codified budget process for developing the 2011 fiscal year budget. On a motion by Ms. S. Hooper, seconded by Mr. Détente, the Finance Committee established $8,000,000 as the General Fund limit on expenditures, with department
head identifying all expenditures above the zero base.

Will Boone County Government be cutting anything in its 2011 budget

I have attended the budget hearings this Monday and this Thursday at the Locust Street Center.  The County Board is faced with a large revenue shortfall and asked for proposed budgets that will reflect  smaller budgets. A 12% cut is the proposed target so the budget expenses will match revenue projections. Yet it seems few of the  departments are following the request.  What is the problem —the county board not requiring the departments to comply or the department (many of whom are elected officials) choosing not to comply?

First off,  As shown in capital letters in photocopy #1, “DEADLINE FOR ALL BUDGETS FRIDAY, AUGUST 27, 2010, 12 PM.  The Sheriff’s budgets for the Public Safety Building, jail and sheriff’s patrol were not submitted as of August 30 and according to a statement from the Sheriff at the Public Safety Committee Meeting on August 30--they will be submitted after “month’s end”.  The Sheriff’s budgets are the largest  based upon payroll. Either the committee is asking too much or the Sheriff can do what he wishes.  At the Thursday meeting the County Administrator indicated that the Sheriff’s budgets were received however they would not be released to the board until the county administrator had an opportunity to review the budgets.  Needless to say, the report will not be available to the public until after that.

The budget request from Growth Dimensions also was not received and a “zero” was used on some finance committee documents however it is anticipated that Growth Dimensions will be making a budget request.

I will be posting the budgets from both the Monday and Thursday meetings—HOWEVER—the big news for Thursday is that the committee is changing their procedures.   The finance committee and the full county board will determine what the county’s revenue “should be”, what reserves they will spend and then begin to work out the numbers with the department heads.  See this story at:  http://boonecountywatchdog.blogspot.com/2010/09/revised-boone-county-budget-process-for.html

 

Click on the photocopy to enlarge:

#1-- Schedule   #2—Sched   #3—Sched

STATES ATTORNEY

Nearly the entire cut is in Grant Wages—a cut in students  working in the SA office.  These wages are actually paid from grants and are effectively a pass through with no net effect on budget. These attorneys cannot be used on felony cases.

The budget is shown on photocopy #4.  a written statement concern the effects of a 12% cut is on photo #5.  Photocopy 6 shows the department employees and their wage costs.

Click on the photocopy to enlarge:

#4—St At Budget       #5 St. At     #6 St At Wages

COUNTY CLERK

Expenses are nearly identical to last year’s budget.  See photocopy #7.  The reader should exclude the Revenue Stamp Expense.  The stamps can only be purchased form the state in bulk and basically are sold at nearly twice face to persons registering their property.  It really is not a controllable expense.  Photocopy #8 is a written comment on the effect of a 12% cut in budget.  One interesting item from the committee hearing regards closing the  office during lunch.  Such would  be necessary if there is a cut in personnel.  Apparently the county board would have to pass a change in ordinance to allow the office to close for lunch.  Photocopy #9 for the employee list and wages.

Click on the photocopy to enlarge:

 

#7--Co Clk  Budget       #8—Co Clk    #9 Co Clk Wages

CLERK TO THE CIRCUIT CLERK

Expense are up 1.5% due to unionized wage increases, a $,2251 increase in the Circuit Clerk’s salary approved by the county board in 2009 and a reclassification of a  non-union employee. The union contract expires on November 30, 2010.  A $5,596 in unionized wages due to step raises are not shown on the budget expenses.  See #10 for more details concerning the budget. 

A lengthy two page explanation of the effect of a 12.5% budget reduction is shown on page #11 &12.  According to the present union contract 3 persons would have to be laid off to reach the 12.5% reduction.  Ms. Ohlsen states:  “My office cannot sustain this reduction in staff”.  On Page 11,  Direct Result, item 2, there is a statement that “Dispositional work…would quickly be impossible to complete within 9-12 months.”  In discussion with the committee it was told that such work is currently backlogged to May 2010 (3 months).  Ms. Ohlsen was requested to check with counties of similar size (Stephenson and Ogle Counties) and report back on these counties’ backlog.

Pages 13&14 shows the wage bill for FY 2011.

Click on the photocopy to enlarge:

#10 Circ Clk Budget    #11-Circ Clk   #12—Circ Clk

#13 Circ Clk—Union     #14 Cir Clk—non-union

DeKalb County Finance committee sends FY2011 budget to county board

Boone County’s Finance Committee is two months from sending the budget to the county board. 

property taxes for the average homeowner will increase by 2.4 percent. Property tax levies were reduced by 5 percent, but the reduction goes to the general fund

bad news translates into is layoffs or downsizing,” Hanson said. For the 2011 budget, county departments were asked to cut expenses by 5 percent of the past year’s budget.

 

sheriff’s office will lose two patrol deputies, one detective and one communications officer

state’s attorney’s office asked for a 2.5 percent reduction instead of 5 percent

Several other departments will cut hours or transfer employees to other cost centers.

 

Bockman proposed cutting the number of county board and committee meetings to save money. The number of monthly meetings each year would be reduced from 12 to 10.

Click on the following for more details:  Finance committee sends FY2011 budget to county board | Daily Chronicle

Proposal wipes out Winnebago County's projected shortfall

proposed county property tax rate would also increase to 84 cents per $100 of equalized assessed valuation, resulting in a $280 bill for the owner of a $100,000 home, assuming no tax exemptions. If that rate holds true, it will mark the first time since 1992 that the county’s tax rate was higher than 80 cents. In 1991, the county tax rate was 91.6 cents.

Click on the following for more details:  Proposal wipes out Winnebago County's projected shortfall - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

Stephenson Board tries new approach - Freeport, IL - The Journal-Standard

Once[the county administrator] and the department heads agree on a budget that fits the county’s spending limitations, the documents will be forwarded to the appropriate oversight committees and then to the Finance Committee. In the past, department heads would bring their budgets directly to the oversight committees and not meet separately with [the administrator] Mulnix first.

Click on the following for more details:  Board tries new approach - Freeport, IL - The Journal-Standard

Kane County cuts jail costs, overcrowding ::

Here are some cost comparisons for our Boone County Jail.  Will the Boone County Board use any such comparisons in their upcoming budget meetings?

[this year] That figure includes the $60 per day it [Kane County] pays to Kendall County to hold its inmates and the costs to transport those inmates to and from court appearances.

since July 2, about 25 inmates have been released from the jail on lower bonds or electronic home monitoring, according to the state's attorney's office. Those released inmates freed up valuable bed space and possibly saved the department money. For example, the 29 days that Pierre Harris spent in jail cost the county about $2,088 -- about $72 a day.

Click on the following for more of the story:  Kane County cuts jail costs, overcrowding :: The Courier News :: Local News