Budget Review

BUDGET REVIEW COMMITTEE Thursday, May 4, 2023 County Board Room Call Meeting to Order: Charles (Chuck) Zenner called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. Members Present: Chuck Zenner, Lynn Rosemeyer, Greg Knight, Nicole Hager, Larry Brandl Members Absent: None Other Attendees: Rachel Ogle, Jaymi Kohn , Sarah Holtz , Art Lersch, Sheila Wundrow, Kyle Noonan, Brian Wilson; Star News. Approve Agenda: A motion was made by Knight, seconded by Zenner, to approve the agenda with ten [10] items. A unanimous vote was cast, the motion carried. Approve the minutes of the April 19, 2023, Budget Review Committee. A motion was made by Knight, seconded by Rosemeyer, to approve the minutes of the April 19, 2023, Budget Review Committee meetings. A unanimous vote was cast, the motion carried. Meet with Land Information Department Head regarding department budget . The committee decided to touch base with the Land Information Department at a later date, as the department was just established in April. No action was taken at this time. Meet with Register of Deeds Department Head regarding department budget. Jaymi Kohn, Register of Deeds, presented information to the committee on the Register of Deeds department budget. Kohn shared that they are working on replacing the server/software for land records, but don’t have the final cost s. They are looking to go to a hos ted solution, which may be more expensive, but would offer the most support and security for the records. Kohn will connect with Larry Brandl to discuss offsite indexing. Kohn shared that their main office supply costs are the valuable papers folders , certified survey map holders, and paper for official documents. They are considering charging for the valuable papers folders to help offset costs and are moving towards electronic recording of survey maps. Official document paper costs are unavoidable. Kohn explained that most fees within the office are statutory. Kohn discussed staffing and structure within the department , as they had already been discussing changes. She felt they could get by with just two [2] full-time employees and could transfer their .5 part -time employee to another area of need. She suggested moving offices around to provide better cross coverage between departments. No action was taken on this item. Meet with Treasurer regarding department budget . Sarah Holtz, treasurer, presented information on the Treasurers department budget. Holtz explained that they recently had to change their tax parcel computer system, switching from GCS to Catalis. This will be seen in the 2024 budget, as they will need to increase their budget by approximately $21,000.00. Holtz also discussed costs associated with sending out tax notices and receipts. Notices cost the department over $2,00.00 per year, however, they also help avoid a rush at the deadline and are appreciated by taxpayers. Holtz described changes to the In-Rem process established this year , in which property owners who fall four [4] years behind on taxes will be required to pay all four [4] years to avoid moving forward with the foreclosure process. Holtz explained that while it is intended to help the county collect its money, it also requires significantly more work from the department for those residents that won’t be able to pay the entire amount. Staffing has already been reduced in recent years , as last year they cut the part-time position through attrition. No action was taken on this item. Meet with UW Extension regarding department budget. Art Lersch, Area Extension Director, presented information on the UW Extension department budget. Lersch explained that 90% of UW Extension costs are personnel. The county pays $93,000.00, which is roughly half of the UW Extension annual budget. The UW pays 54% of the salaries for the 2.3 FTE educators. 2.7FTE is the average FTE for comparable counties. While he felt that all staff have the workload to meet their current FTE and provide vital services to the area , he said they are willing to discu ss a reduction of hours for the Program Assistant if the County feels it necessary. However, it would likely result in a reduction of services. Lersch described the department purchasing practices. The Program Assistant developed a spreadsheet that allowe d them to track day to day spending that has helped ensure they are spending responsibly. He also described their contracts, noting they utilize Bauernfeind Business Technologies, rather than EOJohnson, for their printer/copier needs as they found them to be the most cost-effective option. No action was taken on this item. Meet with Veterans Services Department Head regarding department budget . Sheila Wundrow, CVSO, presented information on the Veterans Services department budget. Wundrow explained that she has only been with the county three [3] weeks and doesn’t have a lot of insight to offer at this time but has been working with Brandl to learn the department budget. No action was taken at this time. Meet with Zoning Department Head regarding department budget. Kyle Noonan, Administrator, Zoning Department, presented information on the Zoning department budget. He explained that the ir operating budget is under $40,000.00 , and roughly half of that is for waste collections. For personnel they have two [2] fulltime positions at 40 hours, and one full time position at 35 hours. The department doesn’t have much for assets other than a pickup truck, laser level, shovels, and other small hand tools. Noonan described the sharing of resources across departments. In addition to imple menting backup personnel for land conservation, they also share their 35 -hour staff member with the Forestry and Rec department. The department also transfers unused equipment, giving their old pickup to the Highway department. They purchase fuel from the Highway department as well to reduce costs. Noonan explained that the department charges fees similar to those of comparable counties, and he doesn’t see a need to increase, nor would it generate significant revenue. Many of the programs offered by the department are state mandated, and often require that part of the f ees are paid back to the state. The committee asked Noonan his thoughts o n moving department offices. He did not know if his 35 hour per week staff would have the capacity to help cover other areas and would likely require an increase in hours to accommodate such a request. Noonan said he could see a benefit to having everythi ng in one centralized area for the general public. However, moving offices may prove to be challenging in regard to equipment and storage. No action was taken on this item. Adjournment. A motion was made by Rosemeyer, seconded by Knight, to adjourn the meeting at 11:15 a.m. A unanimous vote was cast, the motion carried. Secretary: Rachel Ogle BUDGET REVIEW COMMITTEE Wednesday, April 19, 2023 County Board Room Call Meeting to Order: Charles (Chuck) Zenner called the meeting to order at 1:00 p.m. Members Present: Chuck Zenner, Greg Knight, Nicole Hager, Larry Brandl Members Absent: Lynn Rosemeyer Other Attendees: Rachel Ogle, Melissa Lind, Brent Tessmer, Joseph Svejda, Suzanne Stanfley, Rhonda Rudolph, Brian Wilson; Star News. Approve Agenda: A motion was made by Knight, seconded by Zenner, to approve the agenda with eight [8] items. A unanimous vote was cast, the motion carried. Approve the minutes of the April 3, 2023, Budget Review Committee. A motion was made by Knight, seconded by Zenner, to approve the minutes of the April 3 , 2023, Budget Review Committee meetings. A unanimous vote was cast, the motion carried. Meet with Information Technology Department Head regarding department budget. Melissa Lind, IT Director, presented information on the IT department budget. Lind discussed their maintenance contracts on servers and explained that there is no option to negotiate or look for other options as it’s limited due to our specific systems. To go without the contract would mean a delay in service anytime there is an issue, which would have a significant impact on regular operations within the County. The committee asked about a suggestion that had been given, to review charging the Medford Police Department for IT services. Lind explained that the County IT department provides the Medford P D with their Microsoft Office account licenses, phone services, internet, and any upgrades and maintenance related to those. In a recent phone upgrade at the courthouse, Taylor County paid $975.00 for phones installed within the Medford Police Department. Lind listed the approximate prices for services/licenses provided to the Medford Police Department per year ; Phone services - $1,680.00; ten Microsoft Office accounts and email - $2,400.00; Spillman access license/maintenance - $12,100.00; internet - $1,800.00. Lind also explained that the Medford PD uses about ¾ of a terabyte of storage, as their videos take up a lot of space. Lind will work to calculate an approximate cost for the data storage space, as this is something the county pays for. Larry Brandl, Finance Director, stated the rent charged is based on physical square footage, and is set at a fair price to cover the physical needs of the space. The committee agreed the contract was established many years ago, and that the needs and services associated have evolved over time and may warrant further consideration. Lind was asked to get clarification if the Spillman system is charged on a per user basis or flat rate . The committee also agreed that the relationship between the County and the Medford Police Department is a good thing, and one that they’d like to maintain. The committee discussed the potential of creating a Broadband Coordinator position within the County and asked Lind if it would help the IT department to have another person work part - time within their department. Lind explained that she and Jenn Strama w ould be willing to absorb whatever they can from the new broadband system but would not have the capacity to assist to that level and still meet their current workload. Lind explained that the Broadband project will likely require a full -time person and will require someone who is familiar with grant writing to help maintain funding to support it, which they are not. Hager asked if there’s anything employees can do to h elp with savings? Lind said she sends out annual reminders for users to free up space. Clearing out old files and videos can help free up space. No action was taken on this item. Meet with Land Conservation Department Head regarding department budget. Brent Tessmer, County Conservationist, described the Land Conservation department budget to the committee. Tessmer said they have three [3] staff, which have 6 2% of their salaries paid by the state, with the County responsible for $89,497.00. Tessmer explained that they have many programs, such as invasive speci es and phosphorus sampling, that receive grants, and that money comes in and goes back out to benefit the landowners and those programs. Hager asked how their well water testing program differs from the program offered through the Health Department and city program. Tessmer explained that while one of their tests is similar to that program, they also have tests that look for heavy metals and other contaminants, which the other tests do not do. Tessmer explained that their annual tree and shrub sale generates around $3,500.00 in profits, which goes into a carryover account that they use to apply to larger equipment purchases or fi ll gaps within their budget, but that it could go towards the general fund. He explained that this, and funds gathered from char ging engineering fees for non -cost sharing construction projects allows them to better function within their de partment budget a nd purchase things like GPS service equipment. By generating their own funds, they don’t have to put items like that against the levy. He stated they haven’t updated costs for those services since 2015, so they could look at updating. Tessmer also descri bed how they utilize equipment sharing with the surveyor and highway departments as much as they can , and that any duplicates that they have are only because the individual department needs are too high to rely on sharing. No action was taken on this item. Meet with Maintenance, Buildings, and Grounds Department Head regarding department budget. Joe Svejda, Maintenance Director, described the Maintenance, Buildings, and Grounds department budget to the committee. Svejda explained that th ey have a department of eight [8]; four [4] custodians, three [3] mechanics, and a manager. They also have seasonal worker s that cover the Winter Sports Area tubing hill in the winter, and seasonal summer workers in the parks. They also have one casual employee, through a partnership with BRI, who does confidential shredding for the County. Svejda explained that the departmen t is responsible for overseeing all county structures and buildings, the county fairgrounds, and the ten [10] parks and campgrounds within Taylor County. Svejda told the committee about the various contracts, such as their mechanical contractor who monitors chillers, furnaces, and camera systems , and contracts for things such as snow removal in parking lots. He explained that he monitors these contracts, and maintains open communication regarding any issues, to ensure we’re getting the best services for our money. He also noted that they utilize various vendors within the department to ensure they’re getting the best prices for goods. He described that their department also must pay for many annual inspections including tow ropes, fire extinguishers, elevators, and generators. They’re also responsible for utilities like heat, water, and electricity. No action was taken on this item. Meet with Human Services Department Head regarding department budget . Suzanne Stanfley, Human Services Director, and Rhonda Rudolph, Business Manager, presented information on the Human Services department budget. As the Human Services department has many programs and services that are mandated by the state, there are many costs that are outside of their co ntrol. State and federal funding has been fairly stagnant since about 2006, which leaves the county responsible for filling in the gaps. Stanfley and Rudolph spoke about purchasing practices, explaining how they review contracts to watch for cost savings. Contracts that they hold with providers have little leniency, as they need to maintain the contract to have providers available as needed. Taylor County is the lead coun ty for the Northern Comprehensive Community Services (CCS) region and must hold all those contracts. Stanfley spoke to the personnel structure within the Human Services department . As many positions are mandated, and some in clude unscheduled or crisis work, the department utilizes flex time as much as possible to reduce overtime within the department. The committee asked about asset management. Stanfley clarified that the Human Services department does have County owned vehicles. She liked the idea of looking into trade-in values for vehicles, as the government can purchase vehicles at a lower rate and could benefit from the resale value. Stanfley explained that now that she has had time to acclimate, the department is looking to increase and share grants whenever possible. They were recently awarded a grant from the Fulcrum Foundation and an opioid supplemental grant. They have recently co nnected with the Health department to collaborate and plan to work closely with other departments as well. The Human Services department has also worked to enhance revenue by reviewing billing practices and collection services. They’re working to improve productivity billing practices to recoup as much of the costs as possibl e. They are working on redoing their general ledger program to better track expenses and to improve their reporting in order to better capture costs. No action was taken on this item. Adjournment. A motion was made by Rosemeyer, seconded by Knight, to adjourn the meeting at 3:35 p.m. A unanimous vote was cast, the motion carried. Secretary: Rachel Ogle BUDGET REVIEW COMMITTEE Monday, April 3, 2023 County Board Room Call Meeting to Order: Charles (Chuck) Zenner called the meeting to order at 1:00 p.m. Members Present: Chuck Zenner, Lynn Rosemeyer, Greg Knight, Nicole Hager, Larry Brandl Members Absent: None Other Attendees: Rachel Ogle, Jake Walcisak, Michelle Cahoon, Ben Stanfley, Brian Wilson; Star News, Approve Agenda : A motion was made by Knight, seconded by Rosemeyer, to approve the agenda with ten [10] items. Approve the minutes of the March 20, 2023, Budget Review Committee. A motion was made by Knight, seconded by Rosemeyer, to approve the minutes of the March 20 , 2023, Budget Review Committee meetings. Meet with Finance Department Head regarding department budget. Larry Brandl, Finance Director, presented information on the Finance department budget. Brandl explained that the finance department provides financial information to departments, boards, and outside agencies. The Finance Director and Accountant provide a number of financial services to all departments, while the other finance department members in the organizational chart provide program specific work. Brandl went on to explain that their assets and equipment are limited to office supplies, and contracts that they have with consultants are multi -year but evaluated at every renewal. The committee discussed the finance positions within the Highway department, and the work they do for tracking timekeeping. They als o discussed broadband as revenue, to which Brandl explained they don’t expect it to be a budgetable revenue item until 2025. Brandl further explained that the department, the Finance department provides services, but is not revenue generating, and is already lean and consolidated. No action was taken on this item. Meet with Forestry Department Head regarding department budget. Jake Walcisak, County Forest Administrator, provided documented information on the Forestry department budget. Walcisak and the committee reviewed the documents, while Walcisak provided key points and information. Walcisak explained how their expenses had decreased over recent years , and how they have utilized equipment usage projects to increase revenue. He described how cut s to the department could affect their ability to complete revenue generating projects and offset potential savings. Grants for the department have increased from around $100,000.00 to $450,000.00 annually. The committee discussed vehicle replacement and fleet management, and if that would work within the Forestry department’s needs. Walcisak explained that vehicles purchased by the Forestry department stay with the County, generally moving to Buildings and Grounds and Highway, until they are no longer useable. Walcisak described how the department utilizes two main companies for fue l, choosing whichever has the best pric e. He also explained how the department plans to maximize grants for the existing workload and utilize reimbursements to put towards upcoming projects. The committee asked about asset management; Walcisak shared that they track anything over $1,000.00 in the annual workplan , and fixed assets, $5,000.00 and above , are tracked . The Forestry department also shares a lot of equipment and tool s with Buildings and Grounds, and while they haven’t had other requests, would be willing to share with others within the County. They have at times borrowed a trailer from the Sheriff’s Office and rented equipment from the Highway department as needed. No action was taken on this item. Meet with Health Department Head regarding department budget. Michelle Cahoon, Public Health Director, presented information on the Health department budget. Cahoon explained that the Health department has numerous funding sources, but the majority is grant funded . As a rule, they limit their purchases and projects to what is needed, and always look for grants first. Cahoon discussed the one contract that the Health department holds, which is with a Health Inspector. With the potential for retirement in the next year, Cahoon described how the Health department is looking into their options and to determine what will be the best way to move forward for the County. The committee asked that they make a comparison to see if the County would lose revenue if the program was given back to the State. Cahoon described how the county has recently cut costs, including outsourcing water testing to the City, while still selling the kits in the department so that the Health department can still offer the service while reducing their workload and expenses. They also found a dental health clinic to take over the dental programs at the school, which will provide the children with more specialized care and reduce the workload of the department. The committee discussed vehicles and the Health Department’s purchas e of a vehicle from the Sheriff’s Office. Cahoon explained that they do not expect to need additional funds in their budget to cover the costs associated with maintenance and future replacement. Cahoon described the staffing structure within the Health D epartment. The Public Health Director and Accounting Specialist/Admin Support positions are funded by the County, but the other positions are grant and revenue funded. Cahoon ensured the committee that employees in grant funded positions are aware that their positions contingent on the County’s receipt of those grants. The department also utilizes flextime to cut back on overtime and comp time. Cahoon has asked staff about their willingness to cut back to 35 hours per week, which they would consider only if guaranteed benefits at a full-time rate. Cahoon and the committee discussed the current excess of grant monies within the department. Cahoon explained how some are extremely specific and limiting for use. One in particular, can only be used for contact tracing purposes, which the County is no longer required to do and will likely end if the pandemic is considered closed in May, as is rumored. The committee suggested Cahoon work with HR or other departments, to see if there are any monies that could be used elsewhere within the County while still fitting within the requirements. Cahoon described how the Health depa rtment shares their staff and resources, describing their collaboration with Emergency Management to set up an EOC team . Cahoon and Dan Gellert, Emergency Management Director, also received certification as BLS instructors and will be able to provide training to employees moving forward. No action was taken on this item. Meet with Highway Department Head regarding department budget . Ben Stanfley, Highway Commissioner, presented information on the Highway department budget. The Highway department has been heavily impacted by inflation, seeing a 29% increase in asphalt since 2019. This has reduced their ability to pave 7.5 miles to 5.5 miles per year . The lifespan of asphalt roads in Taylor County has increased from 32 to 42 years, well above the suggested 20 - 24 years, leaving some roads in poor condition. Stanfley described the staffing structure within the highway and explained that they have delayed hiring an open position due to their decrease in production abilities. He also described how they implemented a comp time policy , which has allowed them to co nvert roughly 22% of department overtime back to straight time last year, saving about $25,000.00. Stanfley explained that the Highway department implemented an asset management and tracking system, Maintenance Pro Web by Innovative Maintenance Systems , two years ago to help track inventory and maintenance needs within the department . He also described Highway’s equipment sharing process, as well as plans to utilize plow equipment in the summer to get the most use out of their current equipment. The committee asked about a suggestion regarding cuts from the equipment fund. Stanfley explained that the equipment fund is a self -generating account, and that cuts to the fund won’t affect the budget. However, they would make it more challenging to ensure eq uipment is replaced when necessary and could potentially cost the County more in the end, due to constant repairs and replacement parts. Stanfley also described the Highway department processes for fleet management and noted that they have seen a 43% increase in cost for patrol trucks. Brandl noted another suggestion submitted to the committee regarding the sale of the old Rib Lake shop. Stanfley explained that the new shop was nearly complete, and they had already begun moving items over. They were waiting for winter to be done so they can transfer the salt . He also stated that they are currently working on the sale process with corporate counsel, and it will be discussed at the next Highway committee meeting. The committee asked about joining the Airpor t department with the Highway department. Stanfley stated that with being down a person as it is, they wouldn’t have the staff to assist overseeing the airport. If they did, it wouldn’t be cost effective, as they would be paid at a much higher pay rate than what casual staff would be paid. He also stated he didn’t feel tha t there would be any benefit, as they already have their own equipment and share as necessary , and that joining the two would make additional work for the Highway department without adding any financial savings. No action was taken on this item. Meet wi th Human Resources Department Head regarding department budget. Nicole Hager presented information on the Human Resources department budget. Hager told the committee about contracts held by the HR department, noting that they are currently reviewing options for the $36,000.00 insurance broker contract with The Horton Group. She also spoke about a contract with REALiving, which provides EAP services for employees . Hager described the breakdown of their corporate counsel contracts and billing . When comparing the cost to services provided, it calculates to about $190.00 per hour , with some departments as low as $120.00 per hour. Child Support received a 66% reimbursement from the state, which helps to offset those costs. Outside legal counsel used for labor issues averages about $275.00 per hour and is used for labor union negotiations and occasional personnel issues. HR is not bound by contract to use a specific firm. Hager described the staffing and structure within H uman Resources. They have authorizations for two full-time employees and an additional .5FTE, although the .5FTE has not been included in the ongoing budget. HR does not have any inventory or assets other than office supplies and is not a revenue generating department. No action was taken on this item. Adjournment. A motion was made by Rosemeyer, seconded by Knight, to adjourn the meeting at 3:35 p.m. A unanimous vote was cast, the motion carried. Secretary: Rachel Ogle BUDGET REVIEW COMMITTEE Monday, March 20, 2023 County Board Room Call Meeting to Order: Charles (Chuck) Zenner called the meeting to order at 1:00 p.m. Members Present: Chuck Zenner, Lynn Rosemeyer, Greg Knight, Nicole Hager, Larry Brandl Members Absent: None Other Attendees: Rachel Ogle, Brian Wilson; Star News, Approve Agenda : A motion was made by Knight, seconded by Rosemeyer, to approve the agenda with ten [10] items. Approve the minutes of the February 14, 2023, and March 6, 2023, Budget Review Committee. A motion was made by Knight, seconded by Rosemeyer, to approve the minutes of the February 14, 2023, and March 6, 2023, Budget Review Committee meetings. Meet with Commission on Aging regarding department budget. Jenn Viergutz, Nutrition and Aging Director , presented information on the Commission on Aging budget. Viergutz explained their current staffing and structure. The department is working to improve their recording/reporting in hopes that they will be eligible for increased grants in 2025. The Nutrition Advisory Council meets again in June, when they will discuss other possibilities, such as increasing meal costs . Much of the dining costs are covered by Greater Wisconsin Agency on Aging Resources (GWAAR), and the majority of county funding covers sal aries. COA has begun inventory of appliances and supplies , to help track and avoid unnecessary replacement costs. The Gilman site has a van used for taking people to the site and delivering meals that will soon need replacing. T hey are hoping to purchase the current Taylor County van when it gets replaced, to save on costs. No action was taken on this item. Meet with County Clerk regarding department budget . Andria Farrand, County Clerk, presented information on the County Clerk department budget. Farrand explained that her largest expense is elections, and that it is already trimmed down to minimal costs while ensuring they have the necessary supplies. Much of the remaining work within the department goes to support other areas and departments and aren’t areas where the County Clerk has autonomy over budgeting. Farrand exp lained staffing, and that they are currently working with Human Resources to cross -train and address the overlap of benefits and payroll, which falls under County Clerk, and regular Human Resources functions. Another Deputy County Clerk is being cross trained for County Board supportive services. Farrand stated she will reach out to other counties to see if there are any grants or monies available. She also shared the option to charge for cutting permits, as some other counties do. Farrand went on to describe how the County Clerk department oversees the county vehicles. The committee discussed opportunities for fleet management across all county departments. No action was taken on this item. Meet with District Attorney regarding department budget. Kristi Tlusty , District Attorney, presented information on the District Attorney department budget. Tlusty explained the department has limited operation expenses to be cut. The department already reduced costs by utilizing digital/electronic filing. Tlusty explained that the state provides IT services and support. The department already charges for reimbursements whenever applicable. Tlusty described her staffing structure, explaining that VOCA and TAD grants cover a portion of some staff salaries. They are currently working on cross -training employees, which will help reduce the need for overlap when they have turnover, although turnover is relatively low. No action was taken on this item. Meet with Emergency Management regarding department budget. Dan Gellert, Emergency Management Director, presented information on the Emergency Management department budget. Gellert explained that his position’s salary is partially funded by a grant. This grant cycle covers about 45% of his salary, but it fluctuates, staying consistently around 50%. Gellert discussed the option of reducing to part time, stating that the limited hours would not allow him to meet the requirements of the grant, and would likely result in a redu ction of grant monies and reimbursements; potentially offsetting the savings of reduced hours. Gellert stated he would look into the possibilities of billing for hazmat calls and Emergency Management support charges. No action was taken on this item. Meet with Sheriff’s Office regarding department budget . Larry Woebbeking, Sheriff, presented information on the Sheriff’s Office department budget. Woebbeking describe d how he had recently cut about $22,000.00 from his budget by filling a vacant sergeant position with a deputy sheriff. Woebbeking noted that there are opportunities to offset costs within the rent the city police department pays the county. Woebbeking shared that the police department has also benefited from updated phone services, IT support, county dispatching, and other soft services that Taylor County provides , and suggested looking into reimbursement or compensation for some of those additional services. No action was taken on this item. Review Suggestions Document and Tracking . Rachel Ogle, Confidential Human Resources Assistant, presented a tracking document to be used to record cost-saving suggestions presented to the committee. No action was taken on this item. Adjournment. A motion was made by Rosemeyer, seconded by Knight, to adjourn the meeting at 2:40 p.m. A unanimous vote was cast, the motion carried. Secretary: Rachel Ogle BUDGET REVIEW COMMITTEE Wednesday, March 6, 2023 County Board Room Call Meeting to Order: Charles (Chuck) Zenner called the meeting to order at 1:00 p.m. Members Present: Chuck Zenner, Lynn Rosemeyer, Greg Knight, Nicole Hager, Larry Brandl Members Absent: None Other Attendees: Rachel Ogle, Brian Wilson; Star News, Fred Ebert, Michelle Kurth , Jill Scheithauer. Approve Agenda : A motion was made by Knight, seconded by Rosemeyer, to approve the agenda with six [6] items. A unanimous vote was cast, the motion carried. Meet with Airport Department Head . Fred Ebert, Airport Coordinator, spoke on behalf of the Taylor County Airport and answered questions from the committee. Ebert suggested the Airport be moved under the Highway department, as it had been in the past. He suggested that upon his retirement, airport staffing could transition to three [3] part time workers, supplemented with staff from the Highway department. The airport would not have someone manning the terminal at all times, but Ebert did not believe that would be an issue, and the loss of income from jet fuel would still be manageable. No action was taken on this item. Meet with Child Support Department Head . Michelle Kurth, Child Support Administrator, presented her thoughts and financial information regarding the Child Support department. Kurth explained that Child Support receives 66% reimbursement from the state, so FTE reductions result in minimal savings , and that t hey have very limited supplies and contracts. They use a language line for interpreter services and a genetic testing lab, but there are only two options for labs and the cost is the same. Hager mentioned that Taylor Co unty uses numerous language lines, and they could look at standardizing for a lower rate. No action was taken on this item. Meet with Clerk of Courts Department Head . Jill Scheithauer, Clerk of Court, presented information about the Clerk of Courts depart ment. They currently have three [3] full time staff members, working 35 hours per week. They generally do not accrue overtime or comp time. Most of the fees the department collects are defined by statute, however, they could look at charging a credit card fee. The committee asked if it was possible to operate with two [2] full- time employees working 40 hours per week , and one [1] part -time employee . Scheithauer explained that at times, they have to be present in both courtrooms at the same time, and the third person is needed to be available at the window and oversee the office . Since the court schedules vary, it would be challenging to ensure they had proper coverage when needed. No action was taken on this item. Time was provided for members to discuss items not on the agenda. Zenner suggested reviewing some of the suggestions that had been submitted regarding board member payments. The committee discussed options for salaried boards and committees, as well as reducing the number of committees. No action was taken. Adjournment. A motion was made by Rosemeyer, seconded by Knight, to adjourn the meeting at 2:00 p.m. A unanimous vote was cast, the motion carried. Secretary: Rachel Ogle BUDGET REVIEW COMMITTEE Wednesday, February 14, 2023 County Board Room Call Meeting to Order: Charles (Chuck) Zenner called the meeting to order at 1:00 p.m. Members Present: Chuck Zenner, Lynn Rosemeyer, Nicole Hager, Larry Brandl Members Absent: None Other Attendees: Rachel Ogle, Brian Wilson; Star News, Nikki Sherman, Jake Walcisak, Sue Swiantek, Jessica Mudgett, Jake Walcisak, Steven Fischer, Bill Vach. Approve Agenda : A motion was made by Rosemeyer, seconded by Zenner, to approve the agenda with eight [8] items. Establish committee chairperson . Rosemeyer nominated Chuck Zenner for Budget Review Committee Chairperson. A motion was made by Rosemeyer , seconded by Hager, to close nominations and hearing no other nominations, elect Chuck Zenner as chairperson of the Budget Review Committee. A unanimous vote cast, the motion carried. Review Taylor County department organizational charts. Nicole Hager, Human Resources Manager, provided organizational charts as an overview of department structures within Taylor County, for informational purposes. No action was taken on this item. Review 2023 Taylor County department budgets. Larry Brandl, Finance Manager, provided the 2023 budget summary, for informational purposes. No action was taken on this item. Establish review guidelines . The committee discussed the process and guidelines to be followed for future meetings. No action was taken on this item. Review cost savings initiatives submitted to committee . The committee reviewed suggestions that had been submitted to the committee. Additional suggestions will be reviewed when the committee meets with the pertinent department. No action was taken on this item. Larry Brandl left the meeting at 1:40 p.m. Adjournment. A motion was made by Rosemeyer, seconded by Zenner, to adjourn the meeting at 1:49 p.m. A unanimous vote was cast, the motion carried. Secretary: Rachel Ogle