VANDERBURGH COUNTY COUNCIL

BUDGET ADOPTION MEETING

SEPTEMBER 12, 2007

The Vanderburgh County Council met in session this 12th day of September, 2007 in room 301 of the Civic Center Complex. The meeting was called to order at 9:04 a.m. by County Council President Marsha Abell.

President Abell: Call to order the final budget hearing, September 12, 2007 of the Vanderburgh County Council. Roll call, please.

*Councilmember Shetler arrived shortly after roll call.

President Abell: Mr. Sutton, would you lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance?

(Pledge of Allegiance was given)

President Abell: This is the final budget hearing and the purpose is to complete the adoption of our budget and establish the salaries and all employee benefits, and also to recommend to the state what would be the proposed tax rate. Today the chair will only recognize Councilmembers until after the finance chairman has completed his duties. At this time, I am going to ask Councilman Raben, the finance chairman, to begin with the corrections, amendments and additions.

Councilmember Raben: Okay, thank you, Madam President. Good morning. First, I’d ask all Councilmembers to check the listing of reassessment budget changes, which is in front of them. These are only changes and I will move that we approve the changes and all other lines as listed in the Reassessment budgets.

Councilmember Leader: Second.

President Abell: Would everyone like a few minutes to look at those? Does anyone have any questions? Seeing none, roll call vote please.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Leader?

Councilmember Leader: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke?

Councilmember Winnecke: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Abell?

President Abell: Yes.

(Motion unanimously approved 6-0)

Councilmember Raben: Okay, next, Madam President, I’ll move that all full-time county employees receive a three percent raise for year 2008 as listed in the 2008 salary ordinance for all salaries in accordance with the county’s salary ordinance. All Airport Authority employees and Convention & Visitor Bureau employees to receive a three percent raise for 2008. All salaries and rates as listed in the 2008 ordinance and I’d like to make the salary ordinance a part of the record, too, as well. I’d also like to include all FICA & PERF to be adjusted accordingly, as well.

Councilmember Sutton: Second.

President Abell: Any discussion? Roll call vote please.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Leader?

Councilmember Leader: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke?

Councilmember Winnecke: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Abell?

President Abell: Yes.

(Motion unanimously approved 6-0)

Councilmember Raben: (Inaudible – microphone not turned on)

President Abell: Do you have an amendment, Mr. Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Okay, Madam President, did I have a second?

Councilmember Sutton: Yes, you did. I seconded it.

Councilmember Raben: I would like to amend my motion on List A, the last line needs to be zero, and that would be 4290-1960.

Councilmember Sutton: I’ll accept that amendment to my second.

President Abell: Is there any discussion about that? Does everyone understand what we’ve done? Roll call vote please.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Leader?

Councilmember Leader: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Shetler?

Councilmember Shetler: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke?

Councilmember Winnecke: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Abell?

President Abell: Yes.

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

Councilmember Raben: Okay, next, Madam President, all Councilmembers have been given a list of the additional cuts and/or additions. I move that – excuse me, let me back up. I’m going to move that we approve Exhibit A through H as listed in the 2008 Salary Ordinance. A through H are the back pages in your salary ordinance, which basically are your rates, step increases, everything that makes up our salary ordinance.

President Abell: Do we have a second on that?

Councilmember Winnecke: Second.

President Abell: Any discussion? Roll call vote.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Leader?

Councilmember Leader: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Shetler?

Councilmember Shetler: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke?

Councilmember Winnecke: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Abell?

President Abell: Yes.

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

Councilmember Raben: Okay, next I ask all Councilmembers to check the listing of salary position title changes from the budget book and move to approve List A and make it also part of the record.

Councilmember Leader: Second.

President Abell: Any discussion? This is the one from which we removed the last item on page 3. Roll call vote.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Leader?

Councilmember Leader: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Shetler?

Councilmember Shetler: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke?

Councilmember Winnecke: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Abell?

President Abell: Yes.

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

Councilmember Raben: Okay, all members have been given a list of additional cuts and/or additions, which is List B. I will move that List B be approved and made part of the record.

Councilmember Winnecke: Second.

President Abell: We’re going to have to make a change on that, too. We have to delete the benefits section of the one that we took off on Legal Aid. Look on page two, the bottom of page two, you’ll have to take off the PERF and –

Councilmember Raben: Yes, we will. I would like to amend my motion to set 4290-1960 in at zero.

Councilmember Winnecke: I’ll amend my second.

President Abell: Any discussion? Roll call vote.

Councilmember Leader: It was my second. Do you want me to amend it?

President Abell: Oh, I’m sorry. I thought it was amended.

Councilmember Leader: That’s okay.

President Abell: You – we have two seconds. One amended and one unamended. And Donna amends it, so we have two seconds amended.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Leader?

Councilmember Leader: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Shetler?

Councilmember Shetler: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke?

Councilmember Winnecke: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Abell?

President Abell: Yes.

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

Councilmember Raben: Okay, next, all Councilmembers have been given a copy of the final insurance data. I will move that the County Council approve the 2008 insurance budget as listed. These figures represent the county’s share of the three current health plans with the total employee contribution of eight percent. The figures are for full-time county employees and does not include insurance for Superior Court Magistrates. I’d like to make this insurance budget made and entered into the minutes. I’d like to make that in the form of a motion.

Councilmember Sutton: Second.

President Abell: Discussion? Roll call vote.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Leader?

Councilmember Leader: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Shetler?

Councilmember Shetler: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke?

Councilmember Winnecke: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Abell?

President Abell: Yes.

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

Councilmember Raben: Okay, next, I’d move that all 2000, 3000, and 4000 accounts for the 2008 budget be adopted as previously approved for the following – its quite a list: 911 Emergency Service, Airport Authority, Area Plan, Armstrong Assessor, Armstrong/Reassessment, County Assessor, County Assessor/Reassessment, Auditor, Auditor/Reassessment, Bond Insurance, Burdette Park, Center Assessor, Center Assessor/Reassessment, Children’s Psychiatric Residential Treatment Center, Circuit Court, Circuit Court Supplemental Adult Probation, Clerk, Clerk IV-D, Commissioners, Commissioners/CCD Fund, Computer Operations Management, Convention Centre Operating Fund, Convention & Visitors Bureau Commission, Co-Op Extension, Coroner, County Council, Cumulative Bridge, Drainage Board, Drug & Alcohol Deferral Services, Election Services, German Assessor, German/ Reassessment, Health Department, Highway, Jail, Jail Bond, Knight Assessor, Knight Assessor/Reassessment, Legal Aid, Legal Aid/United Way, Drug Free Community, Local Emergency Planning Commission, Local Roads & Streets, Perry Assessor, Perry Assessor/Reassessment, Pigeon Assessor, Pigeon/Reassessment, Property Tax Adjustment Board of Appeals/Reassessment, Prosecutor, Prosecutor IV-D, Prosecutor Drug Law Enforcement Program, Prosecutor Fees Check Recovery, Prosecutor Pre-Trial Diversion, Prosecutor Stop Domestic Violence, Prosecutor Victims/Witness Assistance Program, Public Defender Commission, Recorder, Riverboat, Sales Disclosure Fees, Scott Assessor, Scott/Reassessment, Sheriff, Sheriff Community Corrections, Sheriff/Misdemeanor Housing, Sheriff/Vanderburgh County Community Corrections, Misdemeanor Offender, Superior Court, Superior Drug Court, Superior Court Supplemental Adult Probation, Superintendent of County Buildings, Surveyor, Surveyor Corner Perpetuation Fund, Surveyor Maps, Surveyor Corner, The Centre, Tourism Capital Improvement, Treasurer, Treasurer/Reassessment, Union, Union/Reassessment, Vanderburgh County Department of Child Services and Division of Family Resources, Veterans Administration, Voters Registration, Weights & Measures, and that’s it. I make that in the form of a motion.

President Abell: Anyone want to second that?

Councilmember Sutton: Second.

President Abell: Any discussion?

Councilmember Raben: I can cover that again if anybody would like.

President Abell: I don’t think anybody is going to question whether you left anyone out. Roll call vote.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Leader?

Councilmember Leader: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Shetler?

Councilmember Shetler: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke?

Councilmember Winnecke: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Abell?

President Abell: Yes.

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

Councilmember Raben: Okay, next, Madam President, I’ll move that the County Council set the county tax rate as deemed appropriate by the Indiana State Tax Commissions following review of our budget.

President Abell: Do I have a second?

Councilmember Winnecke: Second.

President Abell: Any discussion? Roll call vote.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Leader?

Councilmember Leader: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Shetler?

Councilmember Shetler: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke?

Councilmember Winnecke: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Abell?

President Abell: Yes.

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

Councilmember Raben: Next, I move that we set the Cum Bridge tax rate in at three cents per $100 assessed valuation.

Councilmember Leader: Second.

President Abell: Discussion? Roll call vote.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Leader?

Councilmember Leader: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Shetler?

Councilmember Shetler: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke?

Councilmember Winnecke: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Abell?

President Abell: Yes.

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

Councilmember Raben: And last, Madam President, I move that we set one million dollars of COIT into Local Roads and Streets.

President Abell: Second on that?

Councilmember Leader: Second.

President Abell: Discussion? Roll call vote.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Leader?

Councilmember Leader: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Shetler?

Councilmember Shetler: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke?

Councilmember Winnecke: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Abell?

President Abell: Yes.

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

Councilmember Raben: Okay, and that concludes the business that we had before us for finalizing our year 2008 budget. Madam President, the cuts that we have set and finalized today represent about seven million dollars in cuts, which should allow for fully funded budgets within all county offices and departments, as well as a healthy general fund operating balance for next year. So I’d like to thank everybody and that concludes this budget session.

President Abell: Any comments or questions from any Councilmen?

Councilmember Sutton: I think we did make mention of it at our last meeting, but again, I want to congratulate our finance head, Councilman Raben, fantastic job you did on paring and organizing and meeting and so many other things that he does to help make this process really go extremely well. Its been a very good budget, I mean, just been able to get through this and hopefully everyone has had their questions responded to. I think we’ve opened it up to make that happen and then also to make it efficient as well, and the staff that’s been involved with this, Sandie and Sarah, and the great job that you guys do in helping to make this thing work well. Your efforts, we don’t want those to go unnoticed. You did a great job for us.

President Abell: Thank you, Councilman Sutton. Anyone else?

Councilmember Raben: Very kind words. Thank you.

Councilmember Goebel: I’ll second that.

President Abell: I just have one thing I wanted to point out. I noticed in the newspaper this morning, there was an article in the finance section regarding the substantial increase in healthcare across the country. I think it even indicated it was about eight percent, if anyone read that article. And we here spend a lot of taxpayer money providing health insurance to our employees. And we consider that to be one of the reasons we’re able to keep such good employees who might not make the same kind of salary that they would make on the open market, but they do realize the benefits and that this is one business that’s not going to close their doors next week and move to Mexico. So we want to indicate to all of our employees that we work very hard to make sure that you have good working conditions and a good salary and we hope that you’re as happy with this budget as the rest of us are. Is there anyone else who would like to make a comment? Mr. Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes, I’d like to take one second to thank Auditor Fluty and his assistant, Joe Gries for providing us with a pie chart that gives the Vanderburgh County tax breakdown for 2007 and he’s also provided on the easel, a large section so people can, I think just for our own personal education and just a general statement as to where the funds go, are allocated for Vanderburgh County, for 2007. And I think this group has done a great job as far as holding the line as far as increases, and I’m proud to be a member of this Council. And thank everyone for their work. Thank you.

President Abell: Anyone else? I know we have a County Council meeting scheduled at 10:30. Do we have to wait till 10:30, Mr. Ahlers?

Jeff Ahlers: (Inaudible – microphone not turned on)

President Abell: We have to wait till 10:30. Well then, this meeting will adjourn and we will have our Council meeting at 10:30.

(There being no further business to come before the Council, the meeting was adjourned at 9:21 a.m.)

VANDERBURGH COUNTY COUNCIL

        President Marsha Abell               Vice President Lloyd Winnecke

       Councilmember Jim Raben           Councilmember Mike Goebel

        Councilmember Tom Shetler         Councilmember Royce Sutton

        Councilmember Donna Leader

Recorded and transcribed by Teri Lukeman.