HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-07-07-minutes-finance-study-session
2023-07-07 MINUTES 1
KITTITAS COUNTY
FINANCE STUDY SESSION MINUTES
BOCC CONFERENCE ROOM, 205 WEST 5TH ROOM 108 - ELLENSBURG
Special Meeting
FRIDAY 1:30 PM July 7, 2023
Board members present: Laura Osiadacz, Cory Wright
Others: Bryan Elliott, Brian Calrson, Amy Cziske, Kylee Wuesthoff
1. Call to order: 1:30PM
2. Citizen Comments (1 min. time limit): None
3. Approval of Contract with Can/Am Technologies for "Teller" Software System ($141,015)
• Treasurer Cziske presented an agreement replacing CashTax for consideration and
signature, and noted that Auditor and Legal have reviewed the contract.
• Commissioner Wright requested that subject matter experts are trained in Treasurers
Office; Treasurer Cziske agreed.
• Mr. Carlson noted that this purchase is budgeted both in ARPA fund and in Treasurer’s
2023 budget, and recommended booking the expense to the former fund, thereby
reducing the 2023 budgeted general fund deficit. There were no objections.
• Commissioner Osiadacz moved to approve the contract; Commissioner Wright
seconded. No discussion. Motion carries (2-0)
4. Update re City Ellensburg Request for County Funding for Fieldhouse Project
• Mr. Carlson summarized his meeting with Ellensburg City Manager to discuss proposed
community fieldhouse, noting that the project is in the very initial phases of development
with an estimated $25 million build and a timeline to complete by the end of 2024.
Aggressive timeline is driven by need to make “substantial progress” with new facility
within two years of catastrophic loss to access full value of the insurance payout from the
ERRC fire. City of Ellensburg is requesting $6 million from the County with option to pay
over the course of several years. The City is still working on a plan for O&M but doesn’t
have any figures yet.
• Commissioner Wright asked for clarification regarding status of Federal/State funding had
been secured. Mr. Carlson stated that Federal funding of $7MM is secure, and State
funding of $2MM is pending.
• The group discussed possible additional funding sources that the city could tap into
including Lodging Tax, and REET2, and City bond issuance.
• Commissioner Osiadacz inquired about access to this facility as well as other facilities
such as the City Pool for county residents if the county were to help support this project.
2023-07-07 MINUTES 2
• Mr. Carlson will model scenarios for cash flow to support the project, and related budget
impacts. He will also continue to gather more information from the City and get a more
detailed proposal.
5. Follow-up Discussion for 2023/2024 Budget Retreat, BOCC Feedback and Direction, Next
Steps
• Mr. Carlson discussed the Intent of the Budget Retreat was to get County leadership on
the same page around a common set of high-altitude facts and assumptions, and noted
there could be a greater focus on individual department/division priorities in the future. He
also reqeusted feedback on how the Budget Retreat can be improved.
• Auditor Elliott: Agreed that a common set of facts is important and that should continue to
be a part of future retreats. There are also other models to consider such as a portion of
the retreat focused on priorities, and county wide analysis informed by high level facts,
assumptions, and projections. Then a separate portion dedicated to individual
department/division priorities. The Auditors Office will be sending out a survey to all
participants for additional feedback.
• Treasurer Cziske: Also agreed with the importance of developing a common
understanding for the whole county budget among Department Heads and Elected
Officials. Interested in ways to foster more engagement.
• Commissioner Osiadacz: Thought that the high-level understanding was good but that
there was also a lot of technical information that could have been targeted to the right
audience. Maybe this information could be presented in trainings that occur either during ,
or outside of the Budget Retreat.
• Commissioner Wright discussed the possibility of a more targeted audience for future
Budget Retreats.
6. Other Business:
• Next Finance Study Session Topics:
o Fieldhouse Update
o Year-End 2023 Forecast
o Capital Plan Budget Impacts
o ARPA Update/Planning
7. Concluded: 2:40PM
KITTITAS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Brian Carlson Cory Wright, Chairman
2023-07-07 MINUTES 3