VANDERBURGH COUNTY COUNCIL

FINAL BUDGET HEARING

SEPTEMBER 28, 2011

The Vanderburgh County Council met in session this 28^th day of September, 2011 in room 301 of the Civic Center Complex. The meeting was called to order at 10:05 a.m. by County Council President Joe Kiefer with all members present.

President Kiefer: I would like to ask Mike Duckworth to lead us in the Pledge.

(The Pledge of Allegiance was given)

President Kiefer: That’s like déjà vu all over again today. Okay, this is the final budget hearing and the purpose is to complete the adoption of our budget and to establish the salaries and employee benefits, and also recommend to the state what would be the proposed tax rate. Today the Chair will only recognize Council-members 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. Councilman Raben.

Councilmember Raben: Okay, thank you, Mr. President. First I move that all salaries and rates as listed in the 2012 Salary Ordinance be approved, make the Salary Ordinance part of the record and all FICA and PERF be adjusted accordingly. I make that in the form of a motion.

Councilmember Lloyd: Second.

President Kiefer: Okay, we have first and a second. Any discussion? Roll call please.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Terry?

Councilmember Terry: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Bassemier?

Councilmember Bassemier: 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 Lloyd?

Councilmember Lloyd: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Kiefer?

President Kiefer: Yes. Seven-zero approved.

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

Councilmember Raben: Okay, next I move that Exhibit A through H in the back of your Salary Ordinance be approved as listed for the 2012 Salary Ordinance.

President Kiefer: Is there a second?

Councilmember Shetler: Second.

President Kiefer: Second by Councilman Shetler. Discussion?

Councilmember Lloyd: Just a point of order, all these are corrections from the prior published budget, mainly salaries.

President Kiefer: Thank you. Roll call please.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Terry?

Councilmember Terry: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Bassemier?

Councilmember Bassemier: 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 Lloyd?

Councilmember Lloyd: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Kiefer?

President Kiefer: Yes. Seven-zero approved.

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

Councilmember Raben: Okay, next I would like to ask all Councilmen to check the listing of salary and position title changes from the budget book and move to approve list A and also make it part of the record, and everyone was given a three page listing of list A. I make that in the form of a motion.

Councilmember Shetler: Second.

President Kiefer: Second by Councilman Shetler. Discussion? Roll call please.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Terry?

Councilmember Terry: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Bassemier?

Councilmember Bassemier: 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 Lloyd?

Councilmember Lloyd: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Kiefer?

President Kiefer: Yes. Seven-zero approved.

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

Councilmember Raben: Thank you. Next, and this is list B, all Councilmembers have been given a list of additional cuts and/or additions. I’ll move that List B be approved as listed and made part of the record as well.

President Kiefer: Is there a second?

Councilmember Lloyd: Second.

President Kiefer: Second Councilman Lloyd. Discussion?

Councilmember Lloyd: Mainly due to insurance changes, we also have Contractual Computer, apparently $120,000 too much cut last budget, so that brings it back to $1,400,000.

Councilmember Raben: And on that one, you know, they’ll probably have some encumbrances and what have you from their budgets. That one might even be a little short, but at the end of the day we can make those adjustments in ‘12 if need be.

President Kiefer: So, for example, these are all insurance so when Council-members – we’re taking additional cuts because he gets insurance from another–

Councilmember Raben: No, no, no, no, no, no, no.

President Kiefer: --is that what you are saying?

Councilmember Raben: That’s the three budgets. What you’re seeing there are the three budgets outside of the General Fund. These are just correcting their...that’s Cum Bridge’s total we’re setting it in at.

President Kiefer: Okay.

Councilmember Raben: That’s County Highway’s total. That’s Health Department’s total.

President Kiefer: Okay.

Councilmember Raben: That’s not an individual, that’s the lump sum of all those.

President Kiefer: Oh, okay. Alrighty then, further discussion? Roll call.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Terry?

Councilmember Terry: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Bassemier?

Councilmember Bassemier: 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 Lloyd?

Councilmember Lloyd: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Kiefer?

President Kiefer: Yes. Seven-zero.

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

Councilmember Raben: Okay, next all Councilmembers have been given a final draft or final copy of the 2012 insurance. I move that along with that the County Council approve the 2012 insurance budget as listed. These figures represent the county’s share of the current health plans with a total employee contribution of eight percent. These figures are for full-time employees and do not include insurance for Superior Court magistrates. I would like to also make this a part of the record and make that in the form of a motion.

Councilmember Lloyd: Second.

President Kiefer: Okay, second by Councilman Lloyd. Discussion? Roll call please.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Terry?

Councilmember Terry: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Bassemier?

Councilmember Bassemier: 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 Lloyd?

Councilmember Lloyd: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Kiefer?

President Kiefer: Yes. Seven-zero.

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

Councilmember Raben: Okay, next I move that all other 2000, 3000, 4000 accounts for the 2012 budget be adopted as previously approved and I am going to read all those, so this motion includes 911 Emergency Services, Area Plan Commission, Auditor, Auditor Reassessment, Burdette, Circuit Court, Circuit Court Supplemental Adult Probation, Commissioners, Commissioners CCD, Convention Center Operating Fund, Convention & Visitors Bureau, Co-op Extension, Coroner, County Assessor, County Assessor Reassessment, County Clerk, County Clerk IV-D, County Council, Cum Bridge, Drainage Board, Drug & Alcohol Deferral Services, Election Office, Health Department, Highway, Jail, Jail Bond, Legal Aid, Legal Aid United Way, Local Drug Free Community, Local Emergency Planning Commission, Local Roads & Streets, Property Tax Assessment Board of Appeals Reassessment, Prosecutor, Prosecutor IV-D, Prosecutor Check Fee Recovery, Prosecutor Pre-Trial Diversion, Public Defender, Recorder, Riverboat, Sales Disclosure, Sheriff, Sheriff Community Corrections, Sheriff Misdemeanor Housing, Sheriff Misdemeanor Offender, Superintendent of County Buildings, Superior Court, Superior Court Supplemental Adult Probation, Surveyor, Surveyor Corner Perpetuation, Surveyor Maps, The Centre, Tourism Capital Improvement, Treasurer, Veterans Admin-istration, Voters Registration and Weights & Measures. Again, I make that in the form of a motion.

President Kiefer: Is there a second?

Councilmember Lloyd: Second.

President Kiefer: Second, Councilman Lloyd. Discussion? That was a mouth full. Roll call please.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Terry?

Councilmember Terry: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Bassemier?

Councilmember Bassemier: 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 Lloyd?

Councilmember Lloyd: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Kiefer?

President Kiefer: Yes. Approved seven-zero

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

Councilmember Raben: Okay, next I move that the Council set the county tax rate as deemed appropriate by the Indiana State Tax Commissioners following review of our final budget. I need to make that in the form of a motion.

Councilmember Lloyd: Second.

President Kiefer: Okay, we have a first and a second by Councilman Lloyd. Discussion? Roll call please. Thank you, Teri.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Terry?

Councilmember Terry: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Bassemier?

Councilmember Bassemier: 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 Lloyd?

Councilmember Lloyd: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Kiefer?

President Kiefer: Yes. Seven-zero approved.

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

Councilmember Raben: Last, Mr. President, I’ll move that we set the Cum Bridge tax rate in at three cents per $100 assessed valuation. I make that in the form of a motion.

Councilmember Shetler: Second.

President Kiefer: Second by Councilman Shetler. Discussion? Roll call please.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Terry?

Councilmember Terry: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Bassemier?

Councilmember Bassemier: 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 Lloyd?

Councilmember Lloyd: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Kiefer?

President Kiefer: Yes. Seven-zero approved.

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

Councilmember Raben: Just one brief statement before closing, Mr. President. I would like to thank all seven...or all other six Councilmembers for all their help and guidance through this entire process. It was a difficult year and it was a difficult budget process and I think that it is going to make for even a difficult year next year. We’re all aware that it’s probably going to come down to possibly spending down some of our cash balances in our funds that we’ve protected over the last several years, but it’s a measure that may need to be taken. We’ll see after we get our certified budget back which is usually in March, but again, thanks to everybody for all their input and help and job well done.

President Kiefer: Mr. Chairman, were you going to–

Councilmember Raben: No.

President Kiefer: --no, okay, not today? Okay. Alrighty, if that’s all. Any other comments from Councilmembers? Councilman Bassemier.

Councilmember Bassemier: I would just like to thank Sandie and Sarah for all their hard work. They put a lot of work in and I know we all appreciate it.

Councilmember Raben: Exactly. I’m glad you mentioned that. Along with that, Joe and his staff.

Councilmember Bassemier: Yes, exactly.

President Kiefer: Just some other closing remarks from me, as the President: additionally, I would like to thank the employees of the county. I know each of the employees is enduring a lot. They’re taking on more work, more duties. I know we’re not replacing employees as often or as quickly as some of the elected officeholders or department heads wish we would and I know the employees are doing a lot of work and helping us carry on services to citizens of this county. It’s going to be a tough year. I mean, with no pay raises, but I do appreciate the work of all the employees of the county and appreciate the cooperation from all Councilmembers working on this very difficult budget. Hopefully, the economy improves, revenues increase and life will get better for everyone involved in local government. With that, I would like to have a motion that we adjourn.

Councilmember Shetler: So moved.

Councilmember Lloyd: Second.

President Kiefer: With a first and a second, all in favor? Aye, we are adjourned.

(There being no further business to come before the Council, the meeting was adjourned at 10:20 a.m.)

VANDERBURGH COUNTY COUNCIL