• Fiscal Year 2006 Health and Human Services Service Area Budget

  • Public Health (04)

  • Department of Human Services and General Assistance (45)

  • Veteran Affairs (50)

  • SEATS (12)

  • Human Service Block Grants (20)

• Fiscal Year 2006 County Budget

Chairperson Stutsman called the Johnson County Board of Supervisors to order in the Johnson County Administration Building at 9:01 a.m. Members present were: Pat Harney, Mike Lehman, Terrence Neuzil, Sally Stutsman, and Rod Sullivan.

Budget Coordinator Jeff Horne said that there is no new programming from Public Health this year. Adjustments were made for grants and mandated services. Most policy comes from the State Health Department or the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services in the form of grants to work on specific programs. The Department did request two replacement vehicles, one of which is in the proposed budget. Horne said that this will still allow them to carry out the goals and objectives set forth by the Board of Health.

Horne explained that the Department 45 contains the mandatory local administration budget for DHS, the General Assistance Budget, and Johnson County Social Services (JCSS). Funding is continuing for daycare and the community centers in Hills, Coralville, and North Liberty through JCSS. There is also funding for clients housed at Chatham Oaks. The General Assistance Budget has been sufficient to meet demands and the administrative budget covers the cost of DHS functions in Johnson County. This department generally comes in under budget mainly due to left over funding from General Assistance. Horne said that the main budgetary change this year for Department 45 is the addition of Family Resource Center funding for Coralville. The Board discussed the reorganization of the Department of Human Services at length. They agreed that they need to find $40,000 in the budget to reorganize the department.

There was little change in the Veteran’s Affairs budget for FY 2006 except for $2,000 of additional funding for funeral expenses, food assistance, and utility assistance. R. Sullivan expressed concern that there is only one employee in the Veteran Affairs department. Stutsman agreed and said that the ultimate desire is to merge General Assistance and Veteran Affairs. Harney said that he won’t be surprised if Veteran Affairs needs a budget amendment later in the year due to the Gulf War.

Horne explained that SEATS major budgetary item this year involves vehicle replacement. SEATS Director Tom Brase would like to use $50,000 in FY 2006. There will be savings in maintenance costs. Revenues are up just over 4% due to adjustments in the contracts with the cities and agencies such as Pathways. Per the strategic planning, revenues and expenditures have been steady. This ties in to the Board goal of limiting tax increases. Investment in the vehicles ties into the Board’s goal of promoting and enhancing the quality of life for all citizens.

Horne said that the Human Services block grant budget is frozen for FY 2006 at $1,055,567. Horne will continue to monitor grants and tie them to strategic planning and outcomes. This will continue to be discussed in relation to the re-organization of County community service functions. The County continues sizeable investments in chemical dependency and youth services. R. Sullivan said that he doesn’t want to give block grants across the board percentage increases. Horne asked if there are any block grants that they want to increase. Horne said that Jail and any prevention items are strategic plan priorities. Horne said that he did increase the block grant to the Fair Board. R. Sullivan and Harney agreed to work together as a subcommittee to study the Human Services Block Grant budget. The Board agreed that a Human Services Director would be able to help the Board prioritize block grant funding.

Horne spoke with Ambulance Director Steve Spenler who explained that Ambulance employees need physicals with TB tests to comply with OSHA regulation 29-CFR-1910.134. The Ambulance Department currently has two people in Iraq, with one in basic training. They are down 3 FTE’s, which is impacting the use of overtime. One person may return by July 2005. There was already $26,000 designated for cardiac monitors in the capital expenditures fund, so he will only need $54,000, not the $80,000 originally thought.

Horne said that in the General Fund $270,000 has been expended through December for fuel, which can be expected due to the high fuel costs.

Horne presented a graph showing paying employees’ mileage versus the cost of renting cars. Horne said that for an overnight trip to Des Moines paying an employee’s mileage is more cost effective. If it is a day trip to Des Moines it is more cost effective to rent a car.

Adjourned at 10:38 a.m.

Attest: Tom Slockett, Auditor

By Sarah Rutledge, Recording Secretary