VANDERBURGH COUNTY COUNCIL

BUDGET ADOPTION MEETING

SEPTEMBER 10, 2008

The Vanderburgh County Council met in session this 10th day of September, 2008 in room 301 of the Civic Center Complex. The meeting was called to order at 9:00 a.m. by County Council President Marsha Abell.

President Abell: I’d like to call to order the final budget hearing of the 2009 budget. Roll call, please.

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

(Pledge of Allegiance was given)

President Abell: Good morning. 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’m going to ask Councilman Raben, the Finance Chairman, to begin the salary ordinance corrections, amendments and additions.

Councilmember Raben: Okay, good morning. Thank you, Madam President. First, I’d like to move that all full-time county employees receive a two and a half percent raise for year 2009 as listed in the 2009 salary ordinance for all salaries in accordance with the county’s salary ordinance. All Airport Non-Union employees and Convention & Visitor Bureau employees receive a two and a half percent raise for 2009. All salaries are listed in the 2009 salary ordinance and I would move that that be made part of the record and entered into the minutes.

Councilmember Sutton: Second.

Councilmember Raben: I also need to include all FICA and PERF to be adjusted accordingly as well.

Councilmember Sutton: Include that in my 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, Madam President, I move that Exhibits A through H be approved as listed in the 2009 Salary Ordinance. A through H is, I think, your last tab for those that...

President Abell: Do I hear a second?

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: Next, I’ll ask all Councilmembers to check the listing of salary and position title changes from the budget book and move to approve List A and make it part of the record, which everyone has been given a copy of List A.

President Abell: Does everybody have this?

Councilmember Sutton: Second.

President Abell: Discussion? 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, all Councilmen have been given a list of additional cuts and/or additions, which is List B, which you also have in front of you. I move that List B be approved and also be made part of the record.

Councilmember Leader: Second.

Councilmember 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, all Councilmembers have been given a copy of the final insurance data, which is in front of you. I move that the County Council approve the 2009 insurance budget as listed. These figures represent the County’s share of the current three health plans, with the total employee contribution of eight percent. The figures are for full-time employees and do not include insurance for Superior Court Magistrates. I move that we also make the insurance exhibit part of the minutes and move for approval.

President Abell: Do I hear a second?

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, I move that all other 2, 3, and 4000 accounts for the 2009 budget be adopted as previously approved for the following, and it’s a rather lengthy list: 911 Emergency Service, Airport Authority, Area Plan Commission, Area Plan Commission/Reassessment, Assessor, Assessor/Reassessment, Auditor, Auditor/Reassessment, Bond Issue, Burdette Park, Center Assessor, Center/Reassessment, Circuit Court, Circuit Court Supplemental Adult Probation, Clerk, Clerk IV-D, Commissioners, Commissioners/CCD fund, Convention Center Operating fund, Convention & Visitors Bureau Commission, Co-Op Extension, the Coroner, County Council, Cum Bridge, Drainage Board, Drug & Alcohol Deferral Services, Election Office, Health Department, Highway, Jail, Jail Bond, Knight Assessor, Knight Assessor/Reassessment, Legal Aid, Legal Aid/United Way, Local Drug Free Community, Local Emergency Planning Commission, Local Roads & Streets, Pigeon Assessor, Pigeon Assessor/Reassessment, Property Tax Board of Appeals/Reassessment, Prosecutor, Prosecutor IV-D, Prosecutor Drug Law Enforcement Program, Prosecutor Fees - Check Recovery, Prosecutor Forfeiture fund, Prosecutor Pre-Trial Diversion, Prosecutor Stop Domestic Violence, Prosecutor Victims/Witness Assistance Program, Public Defender Commission, Recorder, Riverboat, Sales Disclosure Fees, 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, Surveyor Maps, The Centre, Tourism Capital Improvement, Treasurer, Treasurer/Reassessment, Veterans Administration, Voter Registration, and Weights & Measures, and I make that in the form of a motion.

President Abell: Do I hear a second?

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, next, Madam President, I would move that the County Council set a tax rate as deemed appropriate by the Indiana State Tax Commissioners following a review of our final budget.

Councilmember Winnecke: Second.

President Abell: Discussion? What can you say? 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 move that we set the Cum Bridge rate in at $.03 per $100 of assessed valuation.

Councilmember Winnecke: Second.

President Abell: Discussion?

Councilmember Raben: It’s three cents.

President Abell: It’s three cents, it’s .03%, I guess.

Councilmember Raben: Three tenths.

President Abell: Okay, 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’m going to move that we set in a million dollars of COIT into the Local Roads & Streets fund.

President Abell: Do I hear a second?

Councilmember Winnecke: 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 last, I move that we set in a half million dollars, five hundred thousand dollars COIT into the County Highway Department fund.

President Abell: Do I hear a second?

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, Madam President, that concludes what we had before us today for finalizing our 2009 budget.

President Abell: Thank you, Mr. Raben. Before we close the budget hearing, I’d like to thank all the Councilmen for all your hours that you put in working on this. I’d also like to thank all the elected officeholders and department heads who also spent a lot of time preparing their budget to present to us. We know that some of our cuts were hard and difficult for you to have to handle. We hope that with what we’ve done, we’ve left the county with enough of a cushion in the event we have to have an appropriation for something this year, we will be able to continue county government as we all know it. We also have the hope that next year the blow won’t be any worse than it was this year, we’re hoping to be able to get through a tougher year next year by making it a little bit tougher this year. I appreciate all the cooperation, all the responses to my emails from all the elected officeholders. Mr. Raben, did you have any final words you wanted to say?

Councilmember Raben: Well, you said a mouthful right there. That says a lot. But for everyone’s information, these cuts represent nearly 2.3 million dollars. And just to echo a few comments made by Council President Abell, not everybody – you know, when there’s only so much money to go around, not everybody gets exactly what they want just like we live our own lives. I mean, you make sacrifices, but at the end of the day this budget does fully fund every county department. You know, there should be enough funds to do exactly what they need to do throughout the year next year. So I’m happy with it and I echo, again, all your comments. And thanks and praises to all seven councilmembers for their input and help and along with that, the officeholders, too, and department heads.

President Abell: Does anyone else have any comments? Mrs. Leader?

Councilmember Leader: I’d just like to commend, also, the county department heads and those in their departments that helped us cut our budget so dramatically. And also commend my County Council men and women because having attended a number of state educational seminars, we learned that the other counties in Indiana are not as healthy as we are, have not been as fiscally responsible as we are, are not as timely as we are in communicating with our citizens, and I think that’s due in part to this organization, and I want to commend all of you for that.

President Abell: And you’re a part of that. Any other comments? We will adjourn the budget hearings and we’ll – does anybody want to take a break?

(Inaudible)

President Abell: I thought we advertised that it would start immediately following this one? No, did we say 9:30? Then we’re going to have to wait until 9:30. I thought it said immediately following the budget. We will go into our County Council meeting at exactly 9:30. Everyone please be here so we can get started on time.

(There being no further business to come before the Council, the meeting was adjourned at 9:17 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.