2017-07-13-minutes-2018-kittitas-county-budget-retreat

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Budget Retreat – July 13, 2017 Page 2 Commissioner Jewell reviewed the Rainy Day Fund and stated that the County will continue to contribute to it, as they will finally met their goal set in 2004. Commissioner Jewell noted that the BoCC Staff had previously e-mailed a letter of key policies for County departments to use when drafting their budget proposals. He outlined the Boards priorities and asked that departments prepare their budgets to address the following priorities:  Improving the customer experience.  Professional development and training, especially cross-training for key functions and personnel to create appropriate inter and intra-departmental redundancies.  Investing in capital facilities.  Investing in economic development.  Providing appropriate levels of service for essential public services. He reviewed the following policies that were created for budget discussions and subsequent development of the 2017 budget: 1. Your 2017 department operational budget after implementation of the wage survey (inclusive of wage and benefit increases as well as all compensating expense reductions and revenue increases) will be considered your 2018 starting point. Please make certain any commitments your department made as offsets for the wage survey implementation are reflected in your budget. Requests for increases for any line item must be justified in your budget narrative in order to be considered. 2. Increases in FTE’s may not be considered without funding. 3. Vacancy savings may not be spent elsewhere within a department budget without approval from the Board of County Commissioners. 4. The Rainy Day Fund contribution will be included in the 2018 budget and existing fund balance will not be utilized. Judy Pless, Budget and Finance Manager reviewed handouts regarding Kittitas County’s General Fund Operating Reserve and Rainy Day Fund; 2016 Actual Fund Balance Classifications and the 2017 Budget Fund Balance, as well as the 2018 preliminary Budget Calendar. She stated all Budgets will be done in Laserfische and Department’s shall have their Budgets submitted by 8/25/2017. Lisa Young, HR Director provided handouts for medical cost comparison from 2002 to present, as well as a copy of the Wage Survey Report and what Departments committed to in order to get the Wage Survey Implemented. She stated that she hopes to have an update from Aliant who is producing the County’s portfolio with Insurance recommendations/suggestions. She reminded the Management Team to thank the Commissioners for allowing this to be done as it is a huge undertaking that would not be possible if it was solely on her. Brett Wachsmith gave an update on County investments. Gene Dana, Sheriff explained how the population growth have impacted the Sheriff’s Office and their calls are up. Meeting was adjourned at 11:50 a.m.