HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-07-13-minutes-2018-kittitas-county-budget-retreatBudget Retreat – July 13, 2017
Page 1
BUDGET RETREAT
July 13, 2017 – 8:30 A.M.
Kittitas County Fairgrounds-Armory
Those Present: Mandy Buchholz Jim Goeben Mike Stafford
Paul Jewell Julie Kjorsvik Kari Elkins
Brett Wachsmith Greg Zempel Robin Read
Laura Osiadacz Pat Gigstead Mike Flory
Obie O’Brien Lucas Huck Mark Cook
Jill Scheffer Judy Pless Dan Carlson
Liz Whitaker Val Barschaw Lisa Young
Gene Dana Angela Bugni Sue Higginbotham
Clayton Myers Elishia Harvill Stephanie Mifflin
Diana MacKenzie Sarah Keith Paul Sander
Jerry Pettit Heather Siebert Kasey Knutson
Todd Davis Kaitlyn Reddick Christy Garcia
Mike Hougardy Tip Hudson Barb Demory
Christine Luvera Patti Johnson Tim Egan
Scott Casey
Rep. Tom Dent Senator Judy Warnick
Chairman Jewell opened and welcomed all County Staff to the 2017 Budget Retreat, and
reviewed the Agenda.
Commissioner Jewell provided an update regarding the County’s PILT Funding allocation for
2018. He indicated that Kittitas County received more than they anticipated and reviewed how
the funds get broke down and where they get used.
Commissioner Jewell introduced Representative Tom Dent and Senator Judy Warnick.
Representative Dent & Senator Warnick provided a re-cap and highlights for them during their
most recent Legislative Session. They provided an opportunity for the County Management Team
to openly ask questions.
Lisa Young, HR Director and Commissioner Jewell provided a debriefing of the Wage Survey
Implementation.
Commissioner Osiadacz updated the Management Team on the upcoming plans for the Board to
consider following a meeting with the Freedom Foundation, after they requested the County to
consider open public Union Negotiations. She also updated the Management Team on the
Elected Officials Advisory Board being created and what their task will be as well as the
anticipated implementation timeline. She stated that this has never been done before so the
outcome she is curious to see.
Patti Johnson, Solid Waste/Maintenance Director/Project Manager and Mark Cook, Public Works
Director gave an update on Capital Projects throughout the County. Ms. Johnson reminded the
Management Team to review the e-mail she sent out with the Courthouse Needs Assessment.
She stated that the Consultant is preparing to move into the next phase of the project and need
to make any corrections. She stated that they have spent 1.3 million on the Jail this year so far
and provided an update on Shady Brook. Mark Cook, Public Works Director provided an update
on County Road projects and the Airport. He provided a Flood Control Zone Update and
discussed changes at Currier Creek.
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.
Budget Retreat – July 13, 2017
Page 3
Deputy Clerk of the Board II Paul Jewell, Chairman