County Council - Regular Meeting

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. Well, welcome back to the budget hearings. If everybody would stand for a moment so we can recognize those who were lost yesterday, I would appreciate it, please. Thank you very much. All right, everybody knows why we're back and what hard work we have to do. Uh, I specifically asked Brad Pulk, treasurer, to come back and give us an update on a line of credit and that's where I'd like to start. So, Brad, if you would take the podium, please. Good morning.

Morning. Morning. I um

I have had um men talks right now with uh two local banks um to try to try to get just some information and have the knowledge so we can move forward if we need to. Uh, as far as either a line of credit or a tax anticipated warrant, um, the tax warrant would be on both u both banks would be a fixed rate. Um the line of credit would be a floating. They based it off of what the Fed's rate is. And so that is uh going to be a uh floating rate depending on what what the feds do. Obviously if they drop it, it's going to drop our rates. But um looking at um setting a cap on it I think would be obviously the more money we we asked to borrow or have on our line of credit it's going to be a little more costly. So we want to probably try to figure out what the max would might be. Um we do have um both of them have talked as far as having a multi-year obviously with what's heading our way might be a thing to look at. uh as well as they will need some cash flow projections um probably from the auditor's office and then um doesn't have to be a final draft of the of the budget but something that they can kind of look at the financials on that they would both like to have that before they give us actual pinpoint uh interest rates and it again as depends on how much we want to borrow or what our line of credit it is. So, um

trying to look and see on my notes with both of them. They're both um going to get me more information as we progress on this and then I will get it to obviously the council as soon as I get it. Brad, did I understand you is there a charge just to have the line of credit? There is. Yeah, there's an what they call an application fee. That's both both of the banks uh both local banks. There is a um application fee for that. I don't know that. But after you pay for the application fee, there's no ongoing charge just to

No, there's not an ongoing charge to have it open or anything like that. Um the only charge would be obviously if you we use it, the utilization of it, the interest that would be on that. And most what I'm hearing is it's more of an int, you know, waiting on the money to come in to make up that shortfall. And so that would be the only interest charge on that that money that was drawn. It's not on the the cap. So if we went say $6 million, it's not going to be interest on $6 million. It's just what we use of it. So if we only used a million, it's just going to be on the million for a month. Yeah. Pay the interest per day. I'm sorry. per day is how you pay the interest. Um, daily basis.

Yeah, they would they would just do it on a daily basis just like any other loan would be for that until it's paid in full. Bill, do you have further questions? The tax anticipation war would be a non-t taxable to them.

Would the same be true of the line of credit or is that going to be a taxable rate? Um most of those are not as well. Um now on the attacks anticipated warrant there is we would have to like you mentioned last last I think last meeting that we talked um there would be have to be some public hearings on that and have to be open that way and probably an opinion of council furnished to the bank. Mhm.

What I learned over the years that that it does not have to be a bond council from Indianapolis or Chicago. A local attorney, if they're willing, would can render a a an opinion.

Yes, you're exactly right. And then with with the two banks, with the two banks, they're both, like I said, they're both local. Um, I would probably leave it up to I'm not going to make I would not make that decision. I would probably leave it up to council um to make the choice. I mean, I think to hear both both proposals and you guys select the best of those two or at least the finance committee or make recommendations to the full council. thinking out loud, it's not something we would need to do this month or even even the rest of this calendar year,

right? Something that we could look at if needed next year and I think we should I think it's just a nice uh option for us hopefully. I don't think borrowing borrowing money is always a nice option rather not borrow. Further questions for the treasure. All right. Appreciate it, Brad. Thank you for getting us that information. Sure.

All right. Now, we'll get ready to focus more on budgets. Uh do we have an updated budget number from you all? have a lot of updated numbers. Where do you want to start?

While she's looking stuff up, I'd like to uh respond to you on the question we had to state board of accounts. Um, we inquired about the engineer and whether we could obtain a reimbursement this year for that since we would be hiring him this year or or she uh this year. And they said that yes, we would get the entire $40,000 this year as well. um they would need to wait or we would need to wait until he has he or she has the first paystep and submit the first payub and I have the blank form that would have to be filled out as well uh just pertaining to the questions they had for the engineer that one that they send annually so that we get the reimbursement um but I have that blank so it's a matter of that guy getting hired and getting paid and as soon as we have that first paystep, we can get with the commissioners and submit the information needed and then as long as it she said definitely by December, but the sooner the better. So as soon as we get that then we'd get $40,000 reimbursement this year as well for the engineer.

All righty. Thank you for that information. Is that the 40,000 included in our form two anywhere? Not for this year. We accounted for it for next year. Okay. But we didn't for this year because we're waiting on this answer. So, as long as we hire somebody by the end of the year, we can account for that 40,000. Mhm. Well, she said she needs all of that by December. So, he needs paid by November, which should not be a problem.

Mr. Commissioner Steven Bran County Commissioner's Office. Dean Thomas' first day will be September. Dean Thomas's first day will be September 29th. So, he'll receive his first paycheck in October. Thank you.

Ready, Elizabeth? Uh, yes. Uh, I would actually like to start in prosecutor if we could. When I was balancing with Whitney, we found an issue in our calculations there. Which one of the prosecutors? Uh, 137, page 18.

Okay. [Music] All right. Uh for FICA there should be a adjustment of 1003 negative 1003 for a total of 86,168 785 line item already negative.

Yeah, we had the wrong amount. One more time. Yes.

Yes. and then PF -1,469 for a total of 100,394. Sorry, the total for that one again was 100,394. Then workers compensation was -215 for a total of 12,637. Uh the total adjustments is $35,799. And the total for the budget is 1,625,969.

Yes, ma'am. And then we can move on to Cumbridge Engineer 190. It's page 50. Well, sorry. I forgot about this one. This one actually since we raised it back up, there should be no adjustments on FICA per or workers comp. So, if you had adjustments, there should be none now.

Okay. So, the Yes. Yes. If I could permit workers comp.

Yes. Um so total adjustments will be zero and then the total for the fund is 821,76. All right. And when you're ready, we're good to move on to Cummbridge page 52 400. There should be a negative 50,138 adjustments in the salaries.

50,138.

Wait, hold on.

Wait. Oh, sorry. I wasn't accounting for the positive there. Sorry, that should be -48294. We're starting off in vision.

Can you read the total for the salary wages, please? Uh 548,394. Thank you.

I'm fast as she.

All right. In vision we have -65 for a total of 994. in dental -320 for a total of 5,774 for short-term disability -26 for a total of 3,276 on FICA -8 8,568 for a total of 51,112 on Perf -12,47 for a total of 74,831 on health insurance 13,075 5 for a total of 230,690 on life insurance 121 for a total of 1,604. Long-term disability 199 for a total of 1,733. on longevity 3,550 for a total of 21,100.

3,550 for a total of 21,100.

18,800 What number did you start with? Because there was an adjustment made prior. That's 24650 is what was there. Yes. 650.

Yes. And then Longevity prrated paygative276 for a total of 7,587. Workers compensation insurance 3,429 for a total of 18,592. Um, for your total adjustments, it's990,90 and for the budget it's 2,66,737. And then when you're done with that, we're good to move on to motor vehicle highway page 66, Department 202. 76.

This one has multiple sections. So, we're starting off in the 10,000s. Uh the salary adjustments for the 10,000s is positive 22,790. Uh that should be a total of 116,324. Right. On vision insurance, positive $44 for a total of 154 for dental insurance. positive $230 for a total of $780 for a short-term disability positive $103 for a total of 360 for FICA positive2 33083 sorry I can't read my own handwriting for a total of 9,741 for Perf positive 3,489 for a total of 14,261. Health insurance positive 8,45 for a total of 29,86 life insurance

positive $61 for a total of $197. And we also had to add long-term on here. Yeah, it should have it should have already been added last time, but that should be 204 total and and adjustments because we

Yes. And that's that'll be line 175. Sorry, I don't know how you had yours set up. So, the line number Yeah, we had to add it in like during the meeting. So, yeah. What did we add on 54?

Yes. And that'll be line 175 when it's added in. Uh so totals for the 10,000s are the adjustments are $40,262 and the actual total is $234,735. In the 20,000 salaries, we had an adjustment of positive 49,301. The 20,000 salaries

732 49,301. This was adding back in that truck driver that got left out originally. Uh that makes the total 1444,456. 1,444,000. Yes. Sorry. 56. The total 1,444,56. 456.

456. I'm missing a 444. Yeah. All right. For vision, positive $89 for a total of $1,635. for dental positive $693 for a total of $9,685. for short-term disability positive 234 for a total of 6,419 for FICA positive 3,871 for a total of 112,834 for PF positive 146 for a total of 139,222 for health insurance. Positive 20 26,152 for a total of 410,952. Long-term disability insurance positive 123 for a total of 3,90.

I got 39. 2967. And

uh for longevity positive300 for a total of 23,700 or life insurance positive 78 for a total of 2,934. four. Uh the total adjustments is -67,314 and your total all together

is sorry the total is 1,368,885.

Do you want me to read the totals for all of them? Yes. Okay. Okay. The totals for everything is 2,813,341. 2,813,341. That's that's the whole total is over 20,000. This this one is just you guys come up with that. million2. Is that what you got for 2000?

Could everyone make sure the microphone's on?

I was just saying I agree with the numbers. No. Are you ready for the 30,000? In the 30,000 salaries, there should be an adjustment of positive 27,348. Makes the total 347,500. on vision positive 25 for a total of 407. Dental positive 89 for a total of 234.

short-term disability positive 123 for a total of one or 1,37,178. You're right. It is 1,31. And then FICA positive 2,274 for a total of 27,496. Perf positive 3,329 for a total of 40,255. Health insurance positive 4,670 for a total of 96,22. Life insurance positive 60 for a total of 785. Long-term disability insurance positive 64 for a total of 683. Longevity 23,300 for a total of 7,400.

longevity prorated pay positive276 uh for a total of 1,766. We also have an adjustment on operating supplies fuel. This is to cover the overage uh forgative 35,236 for a total of 189,764. I'm sorry. Can you read the negative amount again? 35,236. And then uh workers compensation insurance -1,971 for a total of a 100,000.

Yes. Your total adjustments for the 30,000s are -22,249 and your total for the 30,000 fund is 1,761,043 negative 22,249 and 1,761,043. And the grand total for all of it should match advertised which is 4,89,19

4,89, 119. I don't have that. Um, but I know looking back at the thousand level My total didn't not match. Had to adjust my table to to look at it that way. Um I ended up with 2321 182 compared to your 234735 in the 10,000s. Is that what you

Yeah. want me to just go through them again for the 10,000. Yeah, just go through the adjustments. Okay. The adjustments uh for one of the salaries is 22,790. Yeah. Uh vision 44, dental 230, short-term 103. Yeah. FICA 2383. Yep. Uh 6,042. Wait, for Perf?

No, it's 400. She changed it.

I was talking about a second.

There's your difference at 253. Check open supposed to be in there. Okay. So the total adjustment for Perf is 642 to equal 16,814. Okay, now we match. Thank you. 16 and that should be all of our adjustments.

And then so what was let me go back to this for all of fund 1176.

Uh the grand totals the adjustments were 49,31 and then your total will be the 4.809 119. All right. Thank you. the right side. Do

you have more Elizabeth on on the adjustments or or No, we're good on adjustments. It takes care of all of them. Yes. Okay. Can you give us updated number on the 2026 budget request right now for all I didn't touch the pivot to be honest. I haven't really touched it. I was just refreshing it. Yes. Yes.

Okay. for the

the grand for a 2026 updated budget request number in general. It's last page. Last page. Okay. Okay. So for general your total adjustments were -3,596,627

3 million3,596,627.

The very last page has has both general and other 44 if you're wanting the middle of the book. Could I ask do those numbers include the uh raises for the planning commission? Mr. Hughes had recommended that at the last they do not

but that was that was your recommendation at the last at the Friday meeting. Am I not correct included? Yeah, that was among my recommendations and since then Eileen has set out what she would prefer in terms of modification and I would agree with her. So that's going to change that number. But I've got all my recommendations on paper. We can go over those. I'll wait for you whenever president thinks it appropriate. So the total for the 26 altogether was for general was 42,893,130. It's got to be one of the other departments from before. And we can go back and I'll work with you guys to make sure we match up. But yeah, it has to be something like that. All right. Go ahead.

If 58,000th number well that wouldn't be the GIS employee that was called the pera. But my next question was going to be the updated estimated revenue for 2026. Yes, I provided new form twos for everybody so we can go over that too. Yes, please. Did you want the numbers for outside of general?

Currently, I would like to just stick with general for a moment. I had on where we already that included the GIS. Correct. I was just asking if I have a question. Yeah. But I think we we had kept it in there. Okay. Yeah. Okay. Correct. It should be in there.

Yes. As of right now, I think we've left that in there. All right. Um, on the form twos, your R 119, both of those for 2025 and for 2026 increased. We now have 600,000 for the rest of this year and 1,100,000 for 2026. And then our 414 increased for 2026 to three. Yes. changed to 3,413,880.

This new one is what you're reading.

Yes. Yes. I'm just ch telling you where the changers changes are. And then R2 increased in both 2025 and 2026. Uh 2025 is now 1,65,500 and then 2026 is 2,311,000. 40 for the plan and share. Yes. The the 414 does include the uh reimbursement for planning

planning. Yes. Uh just for planning, we have not added in the engineer yet for this year for next year. For next year because we when we were doing it, we still had a confirmation email yet. So

it's not in there. Okay. Are those all the changes to revenue?

Uh just for County General. There was one more change that you guys should have got an email about uh for public safety. R1 134 the amount for 2026 decreased. It's on the last page. R 134 low at public safety. Yep.

It went down to 143,776. And that that one's just the one for the prosecutor. That one doesn't affect the other ones. more than likely the um engineer money will apply to the R414 as well as far as what line it's going to go on. We haven't checked it to be 100% sure, but we're 95% sure. All right. So, in our second half of 25 revenues increased by 700,000. Put the mic on. So, our our 2025 revenues for the second half of the year increased by 700,000. and

in general or a whole total I'm just validating that that's correct right so okay well yeah and then the increase that we have in total for our revenues for 26 has increased by 49124 is that what everyone else is getting Sure.

Jessica guess what number you start? I took the numbers of the total on the form two we got at the beginning of budget August the bottom of that date is August 26 and that August 2nd that's September 2nd September 2nd which is what was provided to us on day one and then sub subtracting this number from what's provided here on this September 12th All right.

Did you say for 2026 491024? Yes. Okay. That's what you got. Yeah. you were including the lit decrease which is outside of general but that's the grand total. Okay, I'm with you. Um now if we all add in the 40,000 on both 2025 and 2026 that'll account for the the Jet engineer money that we have not accounted for yet. So if everybody wants to add that in we can all be on the same page. Yes. 740,000. Yeah.

What was the decrease in that lit again? 15,976. Let me subtract that from that 9. What number? That's to your point that is not 15 976. But we're counting General have 475,048

475, 04. And then if we add that 40 in,

are you talking about 25 26

26 40,000 even now it's giving me a 26 number for general 51548 515048 So not 600 where it was before.

Correct. That was a number. That's

Do you have an updated 2026 miscellaneous revenue? this for today? Yes. No. Would you be willing to give it to us, please? Yes. Um, for 2026, the updated revenue including the 40,000 for next year is 17 million 486, and five Tanya, has there been any adjustments for the property tax levy number yet? Part updates?

So then our updated taxes and revenue number. You have that, Elizabeth? Sorry, I did have it till we added the 40. That is 38,642,80 revenue 17,486005. This was just off which is taxes 38 to 42.0. This will be my next question. That should have something too much green, right? Just trying to redo this chart that you got right there in front of you.

Just trying to get updated numbers for everyone. No, I'm just trying.

And if you're ready, I have the new operating balance for 2026. Do you have the estimated ending balance for 2025 or Yeah, I have a I have a new one for that. Can you give us both of them, please? Yes. So, the estimated ending balance for 2025 is Oh, wow. Actually, hold on. Sorry. I forgot to add the 40 to that one, too. Sure. All right. The estimated ending balance for 2025 is 8,218,318.

That includes give backs that have been turned in so far. No, none of these include givebacks. That gets added in separate for when we adopt. Bless you. We're not we're not able to calculate that until after the resolution has been adopted for that. All right. The new number for the estimated ending balance for 26, please.

All right. And the estimated operating balance for 20 for 2026 is 3,927,268. 3,927,268 In tackling the revenue, what what figure did you use for the property tax impact? Same one that started with 8,593 925.

Yes. She's not working. What do you mean?

I'm just want to make sure everybody's on the same page as I am is what we have here. Current requested budget for 26 is 42,893,130.

Taxes and revenue estimated for 26 38,642,80. Estimated ending cash balance 25 is 8,218,318. estimated 26 ending cash balance is 3,927,268 if we leave a $6 million balance my calculations 65 or 67 if I just I said just 6 million

6 million we've got two $2,218,318 over that ending balance Take that off of the difference between the revenue and the estimated budget. We still have 2,ion32,000 left cut out of our budget request. And again, that's not including any of the give backs. Correct. Right. I'm sorry. What's your total you got? Which total do you want? Well, you said 2 million. What? 2 million 32,732. Well, it doesn't I got 272732. I got 2,7

including that 40,000. Okay. Um but do keep in mind this didn't uh we were discussing the fact that of the savings of the clinic that we can't really like tie in. Sure. And at the time that we recessed last time, Mr. Hughes asked us not to calculate that that in there. That's one of the topics for discussion yet. I just wanted to give council an idea of where we were at currently. Yeah, we I just wanted you to know we didn't have any way of like tying that in, you know, currently in our calcs. Sure. Does council want to go over the give back so they have a everybody has an accurate number of that?

All right. Yes. Can you have a Yep. updated list? They're going to be all over the place. So, all right. Uh page nine line 310 have a give back at 3000

I'm sorry those have changed give backs the line the line amount that you just read the the total I don't think has changed much on 310 Yeah. 3,000. Yeah, that's changed. I just went over. Cool. Okay. Well, then we need to go then we're going to have to go through all these. Okay. How about you want me to go through and you make a note and then we'll come back? I've got it in front of me if we want to start at the top. Yeah. Okay, let's do it.

Uh, coming out of 310 is $320. out of line. Hold on. Let me figure out where I want to put this nowus 310. Well, 320 320 line 310. All right. Correct. Yes. Minus what? 320. 320. Wow, that's a lot less than Don't worry, we've got we've got more here. Okay. Okay.

Well, let me You know what? Let me do this a different way than if there's a lot more in the charter or something. Uh about four more lines.

Okay. Let's just go to the this way. Let me go about this differently. That's 320. Okay. All right. Line 331. Uh 3,625. 3 625. Yes. So, do we not have a thousand anymore out of 322?

Okay. 625 Changing up my whole vibe here. All right. All right. Line 361 125. 125.

Line 391 15.

Yes. Line 393 95 said 95. Yes. And the total give back from them should be 4,180. Yeah, I'll let you guys go and if I see anything else pop up, I'll holler because I Okay. Department 137 page 19 have 10,000. Yes. Okay. Should just be line 310 for 10,000. And

on page 20, Department 138, All right. Line 138, 500. Line 310, 13,130. Line 390, 30,000. Uh, the total give backs for that department should be 43,630. And that's all we have for County General. Uh the total give back amount is 57,810. And then we also have some givebacks for health on page 55. Page 55. So out of line 107101 should be 16,482.

I have the one get back because he has new ones. Sorry. pages of 55 page 55

uh 107 101. Oh, that's just out of salary and wages. Yes, I guess that it's a bucketed. So, okay. Um 16,182

16,482 out of that line. Uh and then out of 111101 is 15,582 and the total should be 32,64. 32064. Yes. Yes, that's it. Any other updated numbers, adjustments that we need to know?

Not right now. All right, Mr. Hughes, you said you had a list. Let's start going through them, please. Yes,

that is the 1159 account of theirs, right? That's the 1159 fund, right? Yes.

Yeah. Just to let everyone know, I plan on breaking for lunch at about 12:30. You're going to pull a Ballard move and do your presentation at the podium. These are the items I discussed our last meeting. Uh proposed pay increases in four departments. We've taken care of highways. So that's off the table. uh communications 911 $1,000 increases uh for all the communication technicians uh plus FICA plus PEF plan commission uh rather than $1,000 increase for the planners and and support staff uh I've included the recommendations from the uh executive director ctor and included in that is a a significant increase for the principal planner which is at 107101. If you recall last year, if I'm correct, that position had been vacant. So, there was going to be a new person coming in. So, that was not considered for an increase last year, I think, is how it got so far behind. Maybe Kylen can refresh my recollection, but

Kylen Swak came Plan Commission. I believe the results of the salary study, I think, played a part in that being so far off of the other three planner positions. Um, and I'm not sure why. The requirements are the same. It's it the education is the same. Um in the past all of those planner positions have been equal across the board. Um so that was one of my strong suggestions that we get that one back up there with those other positions as they are equal positions.

Thank you commissioners. Those are the five uh support staff for building maintenance, $1,000 increase each. Then EMS is $1,000 increase for each of the paramedics and EMTs. So the total of all the adjustments and doesn't include workers comp because I don't know how to figure that, but it does include VIP birth. Total of adjustments, these adjustments would be $93,643. Obviously, we've got to find be confident that we have the money to fund that. I think we're we're pretty close. Um, I don't know that we've really pressed our department heads and elected officials to uh come up with uh givebacks because I think in the past we've been able to find more than $57,000 in unspent money from the current year. So, um, between now and adoption, I think that's one avenue that ought to be pursued. We can certainly look at budgets again and see if there are any uh other items in the 2026 budget that might need adjustment that would save us some money. But we've been pretty thorough, so I'm I'm not confident that we we would find very much there. Uh and I think we've been also pretty diligent in in searching out uh other miscellaneous revenue. I don't know that there's much more to be found there, but uh where I think the possibility is that we can can find those givebacks uh and and we will be going in uh over

as I think we've we've talked about before. So, I'm going to stick with my recommendation, but obviously uh it still comes down to dollars. I'm confused. We have 2,327,000 to go. Uh, actually, after the numbers we just went over, I need this. So, we've got 2,72732 is the number I have left to go to cut. Where did you uh you said

600,000 minus the 3,972 26 gives you 2,72732 and that's that's at the $6 million operating balance operating balance. We had also talked about 550 is as a possibility. If we go down to 550, that leaves us left to cut 1,572 268 left to cut. You're talking about taking the operating balance down to 5 and a half million.

If we were to do that, that's the number. um make my comment that uh I'm not in favor of reducing the balance to fund raises because that is not sustainable over the next years as we receive budgets going forward. I mean if you're going to do that then you're constantly eating into your operating balance unless revenues are miraculously higher which they're not forecasted to be. what we're forecasting in the operating balance at the end of this year of 8,218,000. We're going to use part of that operating balance.

Correct. And we calculated that in there. The estimated balance at the end of next year, not counting your additional adjustments was less than 4 million.

I agree. And and if the that picture doesn't change, we can't afford the races. I agree. But I assume we're still a work in progress. But we're still trying to deal with the numbers in front of us and the numbers dictate that uh the balance for the end of operating balance put in next year are going to be $4 million shorter than we actually 4200 or 4,300 I'm sorry $4,300,000 shorter next year than this year. And I think that's the dilemma that we need to address now. Uh not kick the can down the road to the end of the year and then kind of see where we're at. That doesn't the logic doesn't make sense to me.

I don't know if if between now and budget adoption date whether we'll have any more information on our health insurance, the change in the clinic that we we've discussed. We've included, correct me if I'm wrong, but that's included. No, because there's no They don't know where to put it. They don't know where to put it. They don't I took it out negotiations. It's like going to be some of it, but I don't we can't count any of this right now. Some of because we had an $850,000 number there. Yeah. Correct. And we have not included that in your tech calculation today. Not the new one because they have nowhere to put it. Y

and if we don't have anywhere to put it, we can't count it. and council didn't give them the guidance when we recessed last time to account for it. No, but we can calculate it. Drop it in. Sure. But and I would agree that we should at least a large percentage of it. I agree. I just I think they just need we need

I think the percentage should actually be long larger because I think we should be cutting our premium costs as part of our budget plan to force commissioners to adjust the percentage to the employees which another kicking the can down the road discussion that's happening because if it's not this year it's going to be next year and it's going to be next year worse than it is this year. So that's probably a discussion we'd have collectively I guess. But so even with that number I I do have a suggest suggestion on how we could account for it. Uh we do a resolution for the give backs line by line. We could do that from the commissioners like whatever amount they want to say we will be saving at the same time. We just can't put it in our gateway system. There's not a spot for it there.

Understood. Okay. Unless we reduce the health insurance lines but or the liability in the 2025 which would be a part of that resolution for a give back of sorts. Is that what you're saying? No. No. I think she was just saying have them put it in writing that we're going to save that much and then calculate for it on the appropriate line within the commissioner's budget or whatever we need to do because we can't really put it into gateway unless we reduce those lines, you know, whatever lines those are going to be.

Tanya, can I ask regarding the operating balance? How far does the county run that down over the course of a general? We're maintaining a $6 million rate balance that go a million bucks or go to 500,000 or just a guess. No, on a regular monthly basis I would say it's from what you see at on a monthly basis on the financials that she prints off. I would say it pretty much stays near the six, don't you? Um, without looking at a report, this my thing's not pulling up. I do know it gets pretty low right before

settlement, like the four. Yeah, like we talked about before, it's those two times a year, but as far as on a monthly basis, I think it stays more like around 55 65, maybe more. Settlement time. How long? Well, right before settlement, Matt had the paperwork. Yeah. He went over all of that and there was months that he saw it as low as two. This year it's been less. It's 1.89 was in April. The end statement was 1.8 lowest carrying balance the county thus far this year.

And I know a couple years ago that's when I stated that um we were kind of in dire straits of doing the advanced draw because we were like literally going to be in the negative. But then that's when we brought up the fact of having them move that big premium insurance payment to after June. So that will help us because that's a large payment that was being paid out at the beginning of the year prior to that advanced draw of like a half a million dollars or whatever. So therefore moving that will also help keep that higher hopefully prior to the advanced draw. 24 was about 2.2 million in April.

Okay. just again cash position end of the month. Now we don't have cash flow analysis. We don't have other typical business reports to see how the up and flow is even within the month. I know commissioner Brands had to step up for a meeting and we probably need to pick this up after that. We we've requested I know the auditor's office doesn't like the idea, but ultimately if the state would allow us to get some of those draws more than twice a year, we could level cash flow as well. You know, um not forcing us to sit at a $6 million number, which is really just a $6 million number primarily. Well, one, it gains us interest, so there is a positive to it, but ultimately, you know, to me that's you know from a taxpayer perspective not how we want to be doing it. So I think it's but that's that's here nor there because ultimately that would be a state level change and that's not happening anytime soon. So it doesn't really matter but ultimately that's why we got to do it. So that's that's the challenge here. And again, back to the line of credit discussion, if in April we got to close to a negative or we need to pay the payroll or something crazy, then you know, you could draw from that if in an emergency, but that's again last last resort in my opinion. So, you know, we've had multiple discussions about that operating balance. Um, I obviously have been for two plus years now complaining about it. um that you know it's too high just based on our what we spend and where we end up at the end of the year to your point you know we're we're at eight last year I think we end it was like 10 or nine or 10 or something so I mean

it's a it's a guesstimate basically you know um and so you know sometimes we have more money than we are using it you know or needing to use it potentially so not a perfect science at the same time, we're going to get harder and ultimately our department heads as department heads are going to have to manage their business more effectively than they do today. And that's the bottom line of the next two years that that that it sits. You're going to have to find ways to cut. You're going to have to find ways to attrition people in order for us to be prepared for 2028. I mean, that's just the bottom line. Um, and so to uh Councilman's ML's point, the more band-aid we pull off now, maybe the better off we're going to be. So I think we have to seriously discuss um attrition, hiring freeze, um you know, things of that nature, health insurance premiums, uh other minor things, you know, uh which we don't see in the budget, but you know, uh Jim brought up previously around transferring money within u departments. I think we probably need to lock some of these things down or back down. I agree with him when, you know, right now within a 1,000 line or 2,000 line, department heads are free to, you know, move money around however they see fit, but we need to look at all of our spending. So, that too is probably something we need to consider. We've got a salary ordinance that we probably need to look at, too. um overtime, um you know, how many staff in certain departments, there's a horde of things that we probably need to need to consider with

even just a even if it's just a million or a million and a half to go. Um it's to me, we got to start making smart choices. To me the easy choice this year is to dip into our operating balance. U then we can all leave and everybody can leave happy this year. To me the compound effect of of that will be next year. We don't address it. We don't address any part of it this year. So now we have kind of the double jeopardy going on for next year and then first thing you know we're dipping into more of it next year and then 2028 comes along and uh it really hits the fan that year and I just yes I can agree to the point that we have uh what could be considered in excess this year. To me, part of that is going to be an emergency fund that uh granted we may not need it for 2026, but it looks to me based on conversations that we have all had that in 2027 it's going to get worse and in 2028 it's going to get a lot worse. And that to me is where if we're going to need to be looking at uh reducing our operating balance, that's where the money should be considered taking part of our operating balance at that particular point in time. If then we can even afford to do it. That's when we should look at doing it. Not this year, not next year. Um I'm afraid taking the easy way out this year is just going to really lead to more problems. And I just think we really need to reconsider that. I don't disagree.

The other side the other side of a hiring freeze would be we ought to look at a retirement incentive. Mhm.

We did that in 2020. Well, in addition to that, you know, from a nutrition standpoint, the the hourly, you know, 32 and a half hour weeks, if you've got 10 employees and you um eliminate one or two and put everybody else at 40 and pay them appropriately, then like we've eliminated, you know, benefits and PEF and other things, we're you're going to end up saving money. So, you know, again, nobody wants to hear that, and I don't even like to say it, but ultimately that's those are the choices that we're going to come down to.

I do want to say that I would personally feel like I don't want to reduce the operating balance. That makes me very very nervous. But I would be willing to consider the 500,000 with the assumption of the liability insurance payment moving right so we don't get in that pickle that spend before the tax draw. I would have a little more comfort there. But to Jim's point, we are just kicking the can. So that's kind of where I stand at this very moment. All right. A lot of good comments there. None of them help us get to our final uh budget number in my opinion.

They don't. Uh back to Mr. Hugh's adjustments that he would like to see. Right now, I don't see the revenue there to be able to fund them. I'm not supportive of them as we uh sit right now. I am supportive of correcting anything that's broken, which in the planning commission's case is at least one position, the 35, the 107 101. If that in fact is basically a miss or or some sort of problem, then we should be correcting that. I would agree with that one. I agree as well.

31. While you're working on that, I would remind you of the information that Kylen gave us as far as the reimbursements that they receive for all of their salaries and they're pretty significant. I have page available to you. Yeah, I I certainly support the uh commission uh across the board. Bill, was there a total of just plan commission on here?

9 9,000. And just to clarify, that would be taking it up to 445 with everybody else.

$9,790 plus the purpose and the Yes. Correct. Okay. I guess before we try to make adjustments of salary increases, where do you feel like I'm at a number of about 2 million we still need to cut. What number are you all familiar or comfortable with to get down to? Because we need to discuss just exactly the number on the health insurance savings potential with premiums in the clinic. Right now, I have based off Mr. Hughes's comments last time we met, I didn't count any savings in there.

What is your opinion on the health insurance? Yes. I I defer to to Matt. He's the committee that's met and had those discussions. Well, I wasn't I wasn't on the talking about the health insurance committee that they put together. I was not there for that actually. Okay. We should visit that with Commissioner BR when he gets back. Talk to Commissioner Brand. And I know he had some ideas that he's shared with us that I'd like to talk to him further about, too. So maybe we should go on to recess for lunch now until he returns with a lot more information for us all perhaps. You all comfortable with that? Yeah.

All right. We're in recess for lunch. We'll take about an hour. How's that? See, see.