Amended 3/16/05

FINANCE

March 3, 2005

Minutes

Members Present:         Lisa Dedden, Chris Swope, Curtis Hertel, Andy Schor, Marc Thomas, Steve Dougan and Board Chairperson Grebner

Members Absent:         None

Others Present:             Jerry Ambrose and Bob Moore

The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Dedden at 6:02 p.m. in the Personnel Conference Room of the Human Services Building, 5303 S. Cedar, Lansing.

Approval of the February 16, 2005 and February 2, 2005 Executive Session Minutes

MOVED BY COMM. THOMAS, SUPPORTED BY COMM. SWOPE, TO APPROVE THE FEBRUARY 2 MINUTES AS AMENDED; AND TO APPROVE THE FEBRUARY 2 EXECUTIVE SESSION MINUTES AS SUBMITTED.  MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

Additions to the Agenda

6b.       Resolution failed in the County Services Committee meeting.

6c.       Additional information

Limited Public Comment:          None

MOVED BY COMM. DOUGAN, SUPPORTED BY COMM. SWOPE, TO APPROVE A CONSENT AGENDA FOR THE FOLLOWING ITEMS:

1.         Clerk’s Office – Resolution to Accept an Optical Scan voting system and Related Election Management Software (EMS) from the Michigan Secretary of State

5.         Parks Board – Resolution Authorizing the Transfer of Funds from the ADA Playground Construction Line Item to the ADA Boardwalk Construction Line Item

6a.       Controller’s Office – Resolution Establishing the 2006 Budget Calendar

MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

MOVED BY COMM. DOUGAN, SUPPORTED BY COMM. SWOPE, TO APPROVE THE ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.  MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

2.         Sheriff’s Office – Resolution to Authorize the Ingham County Sheriff’s Office to Accept a $1,000 Donation from the Wal-Mart Foundation

MOVED BY COMM. DOUGAN, SUPPORTED BY COMM. SCHOR, TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION TO AUTHORIZE THE INGHAM COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE TO ACCEPT A $1,000 DONATION FROM THE WAL-MART FOUNDATION.

Comm. Hertel stated he would approve the donation; however, he opposes the labor practices of Wal-Mart.  Comm. Thomas agreed with Comm. Hertel’s position.  He further stated he was informed that the County accepted a donation from Wal-Mart in the past.  Chairperson Grebner explained the donations may not actually be from Wal-Mart, but from monies donated by the public or Wal-Mart’s employees. 

Comm. Swope also concurred with Comm. Hertel’s position.  He further stated corporate foundations do contribute to their own corporations.  This may be the case with a portion of the current donation from Wal-Mart. 

MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

3.         911 Advisory Committee – 911 Expenditure – Request for the Cost Associated with Obtaining the Necessary Frequency’s for the Ingham County Radio Communications System Project

MOVED BY COMM. SWOPE, SUPPORTED BY COMM. HERTEL, TO APPROVE THE REQUEST FOR THE COST ASSOCIATED WITH OBTAINING THE NECESSARY FREQUENCY’S FOR THE INGHAM COUNTY RADIO COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM PROJECT.

Comm. Schor asked why there is an over-run on this project.  Mr. Ambrose explained new licenses have to be obtained from the FCC as well as additional frequencies.  The additional costs are well within the project’s contingency fund.  Large projects usually have contingency funds to cover unexpected costs.  The goal is to not spend the entire amount of the contingency fund.  Chairperson Grebner stated he was not surprised by these unforeseen expenses.

MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

4.         Housing Commission – Resolution Accepting 2004 Community Development Block Grant Funding from the Michigan Sate Housing Development Authority in the Amount of $300,000

MOVED BY COMM. SWOPE, SUPPORTED BY COMM. DOUGAN, TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION ACCEPTING 2004 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT FUNDING FROM THE MICHIGAN STATE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY IN THE AMOUNT OF $300,000.

Comm. Dougan stated he had a copy of a list of where this type of work has been done previously.  He received this information from Mr. Johnston and offered to share it with the Committee.  Mr. Ambrose stated he also spoke with Mr. Johnston regarding the CDBG issue.

MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

6.         Controller’s Office

            b.         Resolution Approving a Tax Sharing Agreement with the City of Mason

MOVED BY COMM. SWOPE, SUPPORTED BY COMM. THOMAS, TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION APPROVING A TAX SHARING AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF MASON.

Comm. Schor explained the County Services Committee considered this item last evening.  Four Commissioners were present at that meeting.  Comm. Copedge did not support the resolution because he did not have sufficient information to make an informed decision.  Two Commissioners felt this item would be approved by this Committee and the Board. 

Comm. Schor explained his continuing concern that the County should not let other municipalities capture County tax dollars due to the County’s current financial situation.  He stated he understands the County’s policy regarding tax sharing agreements.  He just cannot support such an agreement at this time. 

Comm. Thomas stated he was appalled with the Lansing Township DDA’s tax sharing agreement process.  The Township dodged calls from the County regarding their tax sharing request.  County tax dollars are being used for a shopping mall.  However, if the County can approve a tax sharing agreement for a large sum of money, he doesn’t have a problem with the current small request. 

Mr. Ambrose explained the City of Mason wishes to expand its DDA boundaries.  County tax dollars will be captured on the new property within the boundaries.  Comm. Swope expressed his concern that the Agreement does not specify where the tax dollars would be spent.  Mr. Ambrose explained the Agreement focuses on infrastructure improvements. 

The Committee continued this discussion.  Mr. Ambrose stated he will provide a map of the area involved with the Agreement at the next Board meeting.  This Agreement was approved by the EDC.  Mr. Ambrose stated the County’s current policy can be changed for future tax sharing requests if that is the Board’s wish.  Comm. Thomas stated he shares a lot of Comm. Schor’s concerns.  The Committee could visit the policy to determine if any changes are warranted. 

Mr. Ambrose stated the EDC plans to review this policy this year.  Chairperson Dedden stated it may be useful to the EDC for the Board to forward any concerns regarding the policy to them for consideration during their upcoming review. 

Comm. Dougan expressed his concern that the City of Mason is expanding its district which will cause the County to lose tax dollars.  He then stated he is comfortable that the Agreement meets the County’s requirements.

MOTION CARRIED with Comm. Schor voting NO.

            c.         Financing Areas of Priority Emphasis:

· Proving Appropriate Sanctions – Providing Additional Appropriate Amount of Beds at the Ingham County Jail and Probation Residential Services

· Long Term Financing for Areas of Priority Emphasis – Promoting Environmental Protection, 2005-2010

· Summary of all Areas of Priority

Mr. Ambrose stated the memorandum from staff regarding the Long Term Financing for Areas of Priority Emphasis – Promoting Environmental Protection has been revised.  This memorandum is contained in the blue information packet. 

The issues of Providing Additional Appropriate Amount of Beds at the Ingham County Jail and Probation Residential Services were discussed at length by the Judiciary Committee last week.  That Committee gave no indication that the size of the Jail should be increased.  Judiciary did indicate it would support the efforts of the JUCC and would continue to encourage the use of services from the CCAB.

All the liaison committees have seen the Priority information as it applies to each individual committee.  Mr. Ambrose reviewed the revised information in staff’s memorandum dated February 28, 2005.  The Committee held a discussion regarding funding options for some of the 2006 budget requests. 

Mr. Ambrose reviewed the following information:  Focus on County Services and Funding Priorities; Identifying Priority Long Term Objectives, 2006-2010; Revenue – Expense Comparison; and Projection of Costs for Current Services Supporting Areas of Priority.  He explained this information is preliminary data which will be reviewed by staff further during this budget process. 

Mr. Ambrose informed the Commissioners that the liaison Committees need to set targets for their priorities.  Dates regarding this process are contained in the 2006 Budget Calendar which was approved by this Committee in agenda item 6a.

Announcements:           None

Public Comment:          None

The meeting adjourned at 7:07 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Debra Neff