MINUTES OF THE INFORMAL MEETING OF THE JOHNSON COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS:

MARCH 1, 2001

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chairperson Lehman called the Johnson County Board of Supervisors to order in the Johnson County Administration Building at 9:20 a.m. Members present were: Pat Harney, Mike Lehman, Terrence Neuzil, Sally Stutsman, and Carol Thompson.

AL MONSANTO: SENIOR CENTER UPDATE

Lehman: Go into our Informal Meeting. First we have Business from Al Monsanto. The Senior Center update. Good morning, Al.

Senior Center Commission Member Al Monsanto: Morning.

Lehman: I know you’ve got some dust flying up there. A lot of activity around the building and I’m sure you have activity inside the building, too.

Monsanto: Yes. Well, first off we got accredited, which is the same as being a bonded company. In other words, we’re legal. We had a discussion on recommendations and the review of the commission bylaws. We’re trying to update those mainly because of the Council of Elders, we are going to abandon it I think and replace it with 3 committees, which will be progress, volunteer and participants. February the 24th, we went on a retreat and we worked on these committees and on the Council of Elders. We plan on making a resolution to establish in the Senior Center Commission. These are the 3 commissions I was talking about. Next meeting, we’re going to take up the 28E Agreement, which I think is of interest to the Council. We also had recommendations for the parking criteria in the new ramp. I brought this post along. In the interest of time saving I’ll pass it around, you folks can look at it and I’ll discard it. This retreat gave us a lot of good input, output I guess, too. We had a leader and he’s been there before and done a wonderful job. Outside of that there isn’t much more I can report. Any questions I can answer?

Lehman: This accreditation is that something you apply for or how long is that? A 3-year, 2-year?

Monsanto: It’s a fairly long process, Carol, it’s about 3 years isn’t it?

Thompson: We’ve finished the part where we do the self-study and we’re ready to apply now for what they call the peer review, which is the next step in getting the accreditation.

Monsanto: But, it’s something to be desired in an organization such as the commission.

Stutsman: Al, about the 28E Agreement, you’re going to take it up at the next meeting?

Monsanto: I believe we’re going to take it up at the next meeting, if I remember right.

Stutsman: OK. And make a recommendation to revisit, OK.

Monsanto: We were a little short of time at this meeting.

Thompson: A letter has arrived already asking about it.

Stutsman: OK.

Lehman: Any other questions for Al? We appreciate you coming. I know there is a lot of stuff going on and it’s hard to keep track of everything. But, you serve a great purpose up there. Thank you.

Monsanto: I’ll leave these over here.

Lehman: We do get copies of those that do circulate.

Stutsman: Yes we do.

Lehman: So, we appreciate those being available to us.

Stutsman: But thanks for pointing out some things in there. That’s helpful to know what to look for.

VETERANS AFFAIRS DIRECTOR LEO BAIER: COMMISSION OF VETERAN AFFAIRS UPDATE

Lehman: OK. Our next item is Business from Leo Baier, Director of Commissions for Veterans Affairs. Al is also a member of that Commission, so he is going to wear 2 hats this morning.

Veterans Affairs Director Leo Baier: Good morning.

Stutsman: Good morning.

Baier: How are you guys this morning?

Lehman: Good.

Baier: I’ve prepared some information for you to look at.

Stutsman: Leo, do you have an extra one of those?

Baier: Yes I do.

Stutsman: There might be some people in the audience that would just like to look at it. Baier: If anybody wants it. Just prepared this. That letter I sent you the other day is obsolete, Mike. This is up to date here. I calculated for February a few days early and we had rent, $3,585.50. What we actually used in utilities is $166.74. I just went on to indicate last year, the last 4 months we use $8,088 for rental. Currently, we have used about 96% of our rental budget. In utilities, of course, we know what’s happened to utilities. We’ve used 88% of that and funerals we’ve used 38%. Those are the 3 main items that we use. All the rest of them are just fine as far as goals are concerned. Of course, none of us know what is coming up. We don’t have any crystal balls to work with, none of us. The 4 areas that I pointed out, I think that brought us to where we are, or the way I feel anyway. The area is still good for employment. Unemployment in this County is still under 2%, which is really good. As a result, people are moving here from out of county, out of State sometimes, for jobs. The possibility for jobs here is good. So, when that happens, naturally they are going to be coming in here for some short-term assistance, if they are veterans, if they are qualified and eligible for our program. Secondly, the VA is treating more veterans ever since Gary Wilkenson stood up on POW MIA Day, the 3rd week in September and said, effective October 1, 1998, we will be seeing and or treating all veterans. That’s opened up the door, as it should. That also means there are more veterans moving into the area. Third, we live here and we know the cost of housing here is very high. Utility costs, what can I say about that. We all experience that with these fantastic bills we just enjoyed. So, these are just 4 reasons that I feel have accounted for the position that we are at right now.

Lehman: Just in brief summary, you’re running ahead of budget and you’re going to be out of funds here shortly for the first 3 quarters.

Baier: I did a work up Mike, yesterday, or I guess it was Friday that I did this. Considering what we’re actually able to pay through February, I figure that we’re 75% for the year and of course we should be 67%. So, we’re actually just 8% total ahead of goal of where we should be. We’ve got actually $15,000 left for the remainder of the Fiscal Year, 4 months. On the next page I just prepared for your observation of July this year, the number of assists that we have given. Now, this is regarding rental only because this is our main heavily hit item. The total dollars and the maximum allowance that we gave for assistance and the minimum, so you could kind of see the difference. Then, the total equals, as I indicated on page 1, the $24,547. Now, the last page I just thought that you might want to, especially for the benefit of Terrance and Pat here that are new members, the guidelines that we use to establish benefits. The income guidelines and what the benefits are that we actually allow. These were approved back on 9-April-99. I’m open for questions. We just, I don’t know how else to say it, we’re going to need more assistance. It’s pretty obvious.

Stutsman: Leo, you’re asking to allow the County to release the rest of your funds for your budget. Jeff, for clarification, what the Board’s policy is, is that we allocate for the first 3 quarters at the beginning of the budget year. Then, the 4th quarter, we wait till when?

Horne: The beginning of the 4th quarter of the fiscal year is April 1st.

Stutsman: April 1st is when we allocate the rest of the departments’ budget. This goes for all departments in the County. You’re asking us to release the rest of your money the 1st of March.

Baier: Otherwise we’re going to have to close the doors and I don’t want to do that.

Stutsman: I don’t have any problems doing that. My question is what are you going to put in place so that you stay within budget to the end of the year?

Baier: Well, the reason I put down this question, page 2 there. I’ve been cutting back every bit that I can when I do give rental assistance. In fact, I’ll say, what would be the minimum that you would accept? So, I’ve been compromising since way back in December because I can see the handwriting on the wall. It was getting away from us. There are very few cases that you can see there. We allow $450 max for a family and $350 max for a single individual. So, I’ve been cutting back for quite some time, Sally, on assistance because it was obvious what was happening to us. We’re getting more people and we’re doing what we’re supposed to do. I don’t know what else to do unless you release more funds to us, frankly, in the long-term for the rest of the year I mean. Right now, yes, that would be great.

Stutsman: So, what you’re asking, too is for more money to be put into this budget this year.

Baier: Yes ma’am.

Stutsman: More money than what you have budgeted for.

Baier: Yes, ma’am. I think we’re going to need it, don’t you. I don’t know ever who is going to come through that door.

Stutsman: I know.

Baier: I hate to say no. I don’t want a bunch of veterans down there beating me up and I don’t want them down here beating you up either. It’s just one of those things. It’s here and I think we should assist them. That’s what our program is for.

Stutsman: But where is the limit at Leo?

Baier: Sally, I wish I knew. I don’t know.

Stutsman: That’s what concerns me. I understand the need. There are lots of needs out there.

Baier: The need is here and I think we should answer it. I don’t think we should have unlimited funds, don’t get me wrong.

Stutsman: Well, that’s what I hear you saying, what you’re asking for is unlimited funds. I don’t know, maybe the Board’s feeling is unlimited funds.

Baier: Who does know. All we know is what we’ve done in the past.

Thompson: It seems to me that we have to fund whatever our guidelines say we will give. So, my question to you would be has your commission talked about changing the guidelines back to the old guidelines.

Baier: You don’t go back. You never go back.

Thompson: Sometimes you do.

Baier: I disagree with that. I don’t think you do. I think you can compromise and maybe reduce but I don’t think you go back.

Thompson: Have you talked about reducing?

Baier: Yes, we talk about this each month. We’ve discussed this about cutbacks (inaudible).

Thompson: No, I mean about changing the guidelines.

Baier: Now, why would you want to reduce because the cost… In fact, interesting you should mention that because back in October, this was in the paper, the fair market value of rent in Iowa City is $452 for a one-bedroom apartment, $582 for a 2-bedroom. So, the cost of housing has increased. Why would you want to decrease and go back to what you were before? The need is there for a little bit more increase.

Thompson: Well, your guidelines though are significantly higher than say for General Assistance, which is the program.

Baier: That’s a different program than ours.

Thompson: I know.

Veterans Affairs Commission Member Al Monsanto: Sally, or Carol, excuse me, you’ve got to remember one thing, too. This energy cost rising has affected every area that we cover.

Baier: Yes it has.

Monsanto: In other words, food, transportation, everything. It’s affected it and made it rise. This is why we’re having this shortage.

Baier: I’ve been reducing these benefits for some time that we pay out to everybody that comes in my door. Of course, I have the record of what we paid them last time or if they are brand new what the cost is on the application. Of course, we don’t do late charges. We don’t do deposits. We don’t do anything like that anyway. We never have. But, if the rent is say, $450, I will say to them, well, would you settle for less. Usually they will stumble and stammer around, well I don’t know. I try to arrive at a happy medium, a compromise is what I try to do.

Thompson: Have you had a significant increase in the number of people?

Baier: Yes.

Thompson: Do you know what the number was last year?

Baier: That’s why I pointed this out to you that we are getting more people in.

Thompson: Well, you told us what the number was this year but you didn’t tell us what it was last year.

Baier: I could get you that real quickly. I’ve gotten everything else here that I think you would… On that quarterly report that I submitted, I indicated in there what the increase was of the last 3 months of last year. That quarterly report that you guys receive in there indicates what the increase was over last year.

Thompson: I couldn’t find that on there but maybe I just looked in the wrong place.

Baier: It’s here because I always file it before the end of the 3 months is up.

Thompson: No, I saw the report but I couldn’t find that information on there.

Baier: What information?

Thompson: How many more people you saw this year than last year.

Baier: I can get you that information real quickly because I have a ledger I keep every month.

Stutsman: Leo, I just don’t know how to make my concerns understood. I’m looking at your current year’s budget and you’re talking about it going over. That you don’t know what the need is and I look what you have put in for next year. I just am concerned that this is going to mushroom and that we just don’t seem to have any handle on this budget. Every department comes in and makes estimates of what their needs are. Unfortunately, it’s 18 months out, but that’s the way the budget cycle works.

Baier: That’s the problem.

Stutsman: So, we all make our best estimate of what the budget will be and that’s what we certify and that’s what we tell the taxpayers that the budgets will be. If we have every department coming in here at the end of the year saying, I’m way short. I need more money. That would just be chaos for the budgeting system. I just don’t hear from you that you are doing anything to try to keep this under budget. There are lots of needs.

Baier: What is it you expect?

Stutsman: I don’t know. I expect you to stay within budget. That you have presented a budget to us and that we want you to maintain your budget and make adjustments in your budget so that you can stay within budget. If at the end of the year you find that there are lots of unmet needs, then you come to the Board and say, in my next budget, I need this many more dollars.

Baier: Well, I’ve always tried to be very fair and only ask what I thought that we would need. Some of these counties that I network with tell me that they always ask for way more than they ever need. I don’t understand that.

Stutsman: I certainly support you on that. I agree with that.

Baier: That’s crazy. We should just ask for what we need. That’s what I’ve always tried to do here since I’ve been here.

Stutsman: I know it’s hard to estimate what the need will be but this is a pattern Leo. This the 3rd year that you’ve…

Baier: Is that bad?

Stutsman: Yes.

Baier: Why, we’re helping veterans Sally. That’s the purpose of this program.

Stutsman: I’m not denying that. But, I’m saying that it seems like we need to have a limit on these budgets. Not just your budget, but every budget.

Baier: That makes sense.

Monsanto: What are you going to do for inflation if you have a limit on that budget request?

Stutsman: It should’ve been entered into the budget when the budget was put together. This is not good budgeting to get 3 quarters through the year and say, I’m out of money. Now, I need the Board to put in more money. That’s not the way I like to run County budgets.

Lehman: I think what Sally is saying is, there are other departments that have explained they have a crisis, too. We’ve asked them to change line items. I realize you don’t have a large budget. You don’t have a lot of things you move around. But, we’re responsible to taxpayers. Do they want us to sit down and favor a certain segment of the population that they are helping fund?

Baier: I understand.

Lehman: That’s our responsibility up here to feel is that what they want.

Baier: I understand, Mike.

Lehman: We’re going to have to pass that buck on. That’s the decision we have to make is, if we start making exceptions for one segment of the population, we have another segment that is going to be coming in saying we’re just like that.

Neuzil: Leo, if we allow the release of the money early, do you feel like you are going to come back before July 1st?

Baier: Very likely. You mean for a minimal increase? It’s probably likely, because like I say, we’ve got $15,000 for the rest of the year and that’s not a lot to work with. $15,014 is exactly what we have to work with the rest of the year. I would be hypocritical if I thought that… I’d try to live with it but I don’t know how close I can come. Already I’ve got some backup. People I’ve got to call that want assistance. I told them I can’t do anything until after today. I haven’t granted any assistance all week because I couldn’t. Money hasn’t even got his compensation, I haven’t even gotten paid. I think that’s kind of ridiculous.

Stutsman: That’s not certainly what we’re asking. People need to get paid.

Baier: No, I put 2 veterans’ checks ahead of my own because these veterans, they need it or they wouldn’t be here. I think that’s crazy to have to do that but I did it.

Neuzil: I think we’re coming up with a bigger question and that is, again, what is the role of County government with this program. We’ve got to determine, what is that role so that we can try to figure out and help you with that budget. Otherwise, we’re going to continue to see this kind of rotation. If we think that there is going to be more people next year then we need to budget for more people next year. Do you feel like the budget that you have given us for the coming year will meet that need?

Baier: I don’t know. That’s what my projection was. In other words, you see the $29,000 next year for rent. We used $26,571 last year you see if you’ve got your budget in front of you. I was hoping that $29,000 would do for next year. I really don’t know. I doubt if it does.

Stutsman: What is your projection for the end of the year?

Baier: We re-estimated $27,000 for budget, Sally. We’ve used $24,000 this year. With the total overall budget we may be able to live within that. I really don’t know. If you give us a re-estimate amount but I haven’t seen it. I don’t know whether you’ve granted us that or not.

Thompson: That would have to come in the next budget amendment, which will happen sometime in March, probably.

Baier: OK, if you’re certified, you mean, at the 15th?

Thompson: What we’re certifying is the budget for next year, but there will be an amendment to this year’s budget that yours wouldn’t have to be included.

Baier: This year we’ve got $25,445 as you know. That’s what we’re working with right now.

Thompson: So, you are asking for an amendment of $3,000, plus to get this 4th quarter early?

Baier: That might work.

Monsanto: You’ve got to realize too, you are coming into a tremendous amount of veterans that are just getting to the age when they can really get in a jam financially. You’re getting your Vietnam War Veterans, your getting some of your Korean War Veterans. World War II, mostly are set or they are never going to be set.

Baier: That’s right.

Monsanto: We get very few of those. But, the Vietnam War Veterans are really coming into it now. This is why we’re getting this increase in numbers.

Neuzil: This comes back to the question again, as we start to think about next year’s budget or maybe the budget in the year after that. We’ve got to determine what is the role of this kind of assistance and probably take another look at the general policies and make sure that we are meeting the needs of the right people.

Monsanto: I think for the needs that are met, this is really a bargain in budgets, what you’re doing and you’re getting result.

Thompson: I think when the Board approved the new guidelines that we intended to fund the budget at whatever was necessary to fund those guidelines. But, I go back to Sally’s point, which is that your budget has been inaccurate for a number of years now in a pattern. We need you to tell us how much it’s really going to cost.

Baier: We’ve been pretty close. Last year we were 93%. The year before we used 99%. I’ve tried to use what we need and not abuse it. I think you should give us credit for doing that. If you check back, we’ve been really close to what you estimated, more than I bet most departments have.

Thompson: But, you’ve been telling us that you’re going to be short for a couple of years.

Baier: We did in this one area, yes, rental, yes. We use other parts of the budget, Carol, but overall we used 93% of our whole budget last year. Is that bad?

Thompson: No. That’s good.

Baier: I (inaudible) like that.

Lehman: We look budgets in the same light as Mental Health/Developmental Disabilities. It’s a capped budget by State. Only so many dollars can be spent. We can’t make any changes there. They get more demands they go on a waiting list. I see maybe that you need to operate on that same way. I realize you don’t want to tell people no, that your funds are gone. But, that’s the thing you are going to have to start looking at is, you can only do so much for people. I think the taxpayers are telling us they only want to afford to pay so much to help people. They need their own help, too. But, to pick out a certain segment, they expect the department heads to be responsible, live within their means. If they have to tell people the cookie jar is empty, so be it. We have a responsibility also, but we have to represent the taxpayers. How far do they want us to go?

Baier: I understand.

Stutsman: Leo, I was looking through your policies and things and I know that you have 4 assists a year. Has the Commission thought about making limits as far as maybe one rental assistance a year, one food assist a year, one utility assist? I think we have talked about this, that people being human nature, are going to come in and get the most.

Baier: Sally, the majority of the people want rental assistance.

Stutsman: Sure, because the rental assistance is $350 and $450.

Baier: That’s where the need is.

Stutsman: Yes.

Baier: That’s where the need is.

Stutsman: But, if your budget is running out of money, you might have to make some adjustments like that, saying that there are limits. We can help you with food this month. We can’t help you with rent.

Baier: Well, the food is no problem because a lot of these agencies around here provide. Food is no problem. I’m not worried at all about that.

Stutsman: All right.

Baier: I am concerned about the 2 main items. Of course, the utilities are brand new this year. We’ve all been saddled with that. The rental is really our big-ticket item.

Stutsman: Leo, just to clarify the first thing you said. There are good job opportunities.

Baier: Yes.

Stutsman: So, I guess I am confused why we are assisting people if they are working.

Baier: OK. I can explain that to you. Somebody comes in and if they are not working and they are able too, immediately I network with job service Work Force Center. Get an appointment with them. They get a job. They’re not going to get paid for at least 2 weeks, maybe a month. If they are fortunate enough to get on at the University, it’ll be a month before they’re paid. So, they are going to need a rental assist or 2. That’s why.

Stutsman: OK. So, you pay their rent until they get a paycheck.

Baier: Yes, when their income reaches this point then we’re off the case. So, we’re doing what we are supposed to do. Rendering temporary assistance to these Veterans.

Stutsman: I think, too, it talks about indigent, too. Indigent to me means, no income. So, I just wanted to clarify that.

Baier: They need a boost and a lot of these are just in that category. Sometimes they’ve moved here and are using the VA Medical Center and they need a place to stay while receiving treatment. Some of those people are on SSI. Well, that is pretty low. That’s only $530 a month. So, there again they need some assistance from us.

Stutsman: I want to clarify too, that the Board has increased your budget every year.

Baier: Yes you have and we appreciate that.

Stutsman: In Fiscal Year 99 it was $29,000 and now we’re up to $46,000. So, I don’t want to leave the impression that we’re not certainly recognizing the additional need for Veterans.

Baier: You’re right. There has got to be an endpoint. I don’t know where it is. I wish I knew. It’s kind of scary, really, to be honest with you.

Harney: Leo, I see some variations quite a bit in there probably out of your control. Like January, you had 5 assists and now February 16 assists.

Baier: It varies month to month. This is just for rental alone. January was pretty low for assistance requests for rental. Of course, a lot of them come in the last part of the month and the assists aren’t paid until the next month you see. It’s always a week behind. That’s why February was much heavier than January, as far as assistance, that you guys actually paid.

Harney: You had mentioned that there seems to be more Veterans coming into the area and living here. Are you seeing that as a rule?

Baier: It’s because the VA, like I said earlier Pat, the VA has opened up the doors to treating more, as they should have all along. They’ve been cutting back for years. They’ve finally opened the doors and are treating more Veterans, as they should have all along. As a result, some of these have come into this category where they need some temporary assistance from us while they are receiving treatment.

Stutsman: Are they relocating here? Moving here?

Baier: Oh yes. The number one thing is, the employment possibilities, Sally, are good here in this County as opposed to all neighboring counties. Sometimes they even move… I had a guy the other day move from Illinois, a guy the other day from Black Hawk County. Just all kinds of variations that we’re getting here and those are things that I cannot control.

Lehman: Can I ask for a clarification? Hypothetically, if a Veteran came to you and got 2 assists and you were out of funds after that, could they go to the Department of Human Services and qualify for some type of funding?

Baier: Mike, if we have given them 3 assists, let’s say use your example of 2 assists, and we can’t give them anymore, they could give up to 2 more assists.

Lehman: From the Department of Human Services? So, we’re not leaving them completely.

Baier: From GA, General Assistance.

Lehman: So, we wouldn’t be leaving them high and dry. So, there is a source for them.

Baier: Yes, we work together. We work together.

Lehman: My feeling is, I know it’s important to Sally, we need to set a precedence of advancing this money early. I (inaudible) this thing real hard if I am going to expend more money here in the 4th quarter on this. I would ask you to start catering to those people and have them visit with the Department of Human Services if you are going to be out of funds. They are going to have to have something that’s going to be the other source is what my feeling is.

Baier: Not everybody gets 4 assists, either, Mike.

Lehman: Right.

Baier: Not everybody…maybe they only need a couple.

Lehman: Right. But I’m saying, if you’re out of funds, you’re going to have start prepping those people that, here’s a form, here’s a name, here’s a phone number, here’s another source. I don’t know how long I can help you, how much money is there.

Baier: I network all the time, with all these different agencies. This county is full of agencies, full of helpful people. And that’s great.

Lehman: Well, that’s what I’m saying. I think you’ve done it in the past, but I think you’re going to have to be real aware, that you’re going to have to farm these people out, so to speak. You’re not going to leave them high and dry, there is other sources, like you say, and I think you’re going to have to make them aware of that.

Baier: Well, we do what we can, when we can.

Lehman: Bob Welsh, do you have some input?

Welsh: Just a suggestion that you go back and look at the minutes when you adjusted the guidelines. I think there was, and I could be wrong, I think you were told when you adjusted the guidelines that you could do that within budget. I think that was the understanding, so I think that, like what Terrance was saying about looking at the (inaudible), and what Carol is saying about looking at the guidelines, those were recently increased, and those guidelines are much more generous than the General Assistance guidelines. So there’s that balancing (inaudible), but I think it would be helpful to you if you went back and looked at those minutes and what you actually agreed to at that time, and within what context.

Lehman: OK. Thank you for that point.

Neuzil: And those particular guidelines, is that through, some of those through the state, in Chapter 35?

Stutsman: Each county sets their own guidelines.

Neuzil: Each county sets their own guidelines, but as far as the requirements, is that through the state code?

Baier: No, it’s up to each… It’s home rule prevails, Terry. Each county has their own set, because of naturally extenuating circumstances, different county situations. For example, cost of living here, as you would know, is much higher than it is in Linn County, and all counties that surround us. The cost of living is higher here. So as a result we need to pay more, and we are.

Thompson: Well, I think Mike makes a good point here. If people, I was originally looking at this as the safety net, but if people still have the general assistance safety net, if we can’t meet our obligation for their 2nd and 3rd and 4th assist…

Stutsman: But the problems is that the guidelines are so different, who’s eligible under Veteran’s Affairs is not eligible under GA, because the guidelines are almost half what…

Baier: That’s right. For the benefit of Pat and Terry, we only assist honorably discharged, wartime-serve veterans that are residents. So the first thing I have to determine when somebody comes in to see me, are you a resident of Johnson County, number 1, number 2 are you a veteran and when did you serve? They have to have served during wartime, not peacetime. If they served during peacetime, then I refer them to GA, General Assistance. But if they meet the other criteria, and their income is low, then we assist them here, in our commission. Some counties serve all veterans. We don’t, so you see we’ve eliminated that possibility right there. Some counties serve all veterans, which I think is what we should do, because a veteran should be a veteran no matter when he or she served. But then, it’s broken down, wartime, and so a lot of your counties do that.

Neuzil: What I would suggest, at least at some point, is that a couple of us get together with Leo and the Commission and really kind of go back and make sure that we understand what the needs are. Try to forecast about what kind of, as far as what kind of clientele in the future, and that can be done, and try to make, I think, a better prediction for, not this year’s budget coming up, but the following one, so that we’re prepared for them. I know we can work with Jeff and try to, as a County, do our best to meet the needs of veterans, but at the same time understand that there isn’t all the money in the world, either. I think that we can come up with a nice compromise in regards to those kinds of guidelines and those kinds of, meeting those needs.

Baier: Well, we’ve got the pattern. We’ve got the history right here. You’ve got it available to you. You know what’s going on.

Stutsman: Yes, when I look at the numbers that you put together for next year, Leo, they’re not near what you need. And I think you need to bring in a budget that’s going to accurately reflect what the need is, so that we’re not doing this every year. This is just not good budgeting.

Baier: Well, if I would have predicted more, you would have probably jumped up and down, said why are you doing this?

Stutsman: I don’t know. I don’t know.

Baier: I don’t know.

Stutsman: I don’t know, Leo.

Baier: I don’t know, either, but I’m skeptical. And, too, I always like to have these things during the regular budget process, so that we can see all the County’s needs at one time, and not take individual departments out of sequence, because that doesn’t give an accurate picture of the whole County’s budget. That’s what I want to get at, a budget that reflects what your need is, so the Board knows up front what we’re going to pay for, so that we don’t have these situations of you coming in at the end of the year saying you’re over budget.

Baier: But the problem, Sally, you never know who is going to come through the door. I have no knowledge.

Stutsman: Well, I think there’s other departments that could say the same things, and you make your best estimate. And I think, too, given your best estimate, the Board has to be firm, not only with your department but with every department, saying this is what your budget is, you’re going to have to work within your budget.

Baier: Sure.

Stutsman: But I guess I do feel I don’t think you’ve got enough money in there. I think that that’s part of what our problem is. But I agree with what Terrence says. I think we just need to sit down, and…

Baier: Well, you’re welcome any time.

Stutsman: …and sit and find out what…

Neuzil: I’m curious of what other counties, particularly ones that have medical centers, how they’re dealing with it, if there could be the potential for some state or federal assistance, as well.

Baier: There isn’t. I can tell you that right now. They’re all short of funds, Terry, unfortunately. I know everybody in the County, in the State that does this.

Neuzil: I know you do.

Baier: And they’re all facing the same thing, having little problems with some of these budget items.

Neuzil: If we can come up with some creativity, you never know.

Baier: Well, that, I’m not opposed to that. I’m always willing to listen.

Neuzil: Excellent.

Lehman: Well, I think Leo’s immediate request here is that by next week, we put a resolution to advance him his 4th-quarter funds.

Baier: It’d be appreciated.

Lehman: Well…

Harney: I guess I have a question. If the 4th-quarter funds aren’t going to meet the needs, I think we need to look at making an adjustment, then working with him on the next year’s budget, how we’re going to work through that and control that all the way through. We certainly can’t turn our backs on the people that have given us the lifestyles we can live here in the United States, and I think we deserve to, or they deserve some assistance. I think we need to work with him on that. Just releasing the funds, obviously, isn’t going to meet his needs for the rest of the year, and I think we need to look at making an adjustment to take care of that this year. Then Jeff, next budget, can work in some parameters to stay with that.

Lehman: Jeff, you want to address that as far as the amendment?

Budget Coordinator Jeff Horne: Releasing the rest of his funds now, we would consider the normal budget (inaudible) starting at the end of March and into April, so releasing the funds now would at least carry over for the short term. If you decide to amend later, it will be covered.

Lehman: The word of caution is that we advance this money, if that’s the course we decide to take next week, doesn’t guarantee more funds for the fourth quarter. This may be all they are allotted for the full fiscal year, so that’s just a heads up.

Baier: I’ll keep cutting back all I can, Mike.

Lehman: OK.

Baier: You can cut back so much but I’ll keep doing it. I have been doing it as you can see here.

Lehman: Well I appreciate the dilemma you’re in, in your Commission. You can’t predict how many people are going to walk in your door but a lot of departments are that way, whether it’s Mental Health or…

Baier: That’s true.

Lehman: It’s just one of those things whether it’s for your funerals or, who knows?

Baier: That’s a good point you just brought up. We only allow $3,200, well World War II veterans are dying at the rate of 1,500 a day in this country. Like Monte says, the Korean guys and the Vietnam guys are coming in. We’re getting…

Lehman: You may get a spike in a different area of your budget.

Baier: We could have paid 6 funerals already and we only had 2 all last year. We’ve only paid 2, because the other 3 were not wartime. So that’s something that…certainly I can’t control that either. So we have to be ready for these things.

Lehman: Well that’s our responsibility, as all departments have different wrinkles to their budgets that they have to help address.

Baier: Exactly. I understand.

Lehman: Do I have consensus to put this on for action/further discussion next week?

Stutsman: That’s to appropriate the 3rd quarter, or the rest of the budget for…

Lehman: Fourth quarter funds early.

Baier: That will be immediate, Mike? The release of the money for the…

Lehman: It will be, we’ll have to have a resolution next Thursday.

Baier: OK.

Lehman: Right after that, as soon as…if the motion carries.

Stutsman: Jeff do you have…

Baier: We’ll get paid then, you mean?

Horne: I have a standard resolution that the Auditor’s Office will have that will be on the formal agenda next week.

Stutsman: I wanted to know how long it is before the money will be shown in their budget.

Horne: As soon as you pass the resolution.

Lehman: OK, this make good on his IOU for his payroll? Well I appreciate your sacrifices too, Leo and Al. It’s a tough situation to be in.

Baier: I just wish I had a crystal ball, Mike. I’m sure you do as well.

Lehman: Yes, a big one.

Baier: It would be great, wouldn’t it?

Lehman: OK.

Baier: Anything else?

Lehman: I don’t believe so. If you have any more information you’d like us to see before next Thursday, we’d appreciate it.

Baier: I appreciate your willingness to listen to us.

Neuzil: I’ll give you a call later today and we’ll set up a meeting.

Baier: That would be great, any time, any of you are certainly welcome.

Stutsman: I think that needs to be a Board decision, who’s going to work with Leo and maybe we could put that on for next week to see who will sit down and work with him.

Baier: You’re welcome any time, any of you.

Stutsman: OK.

Baier: As you know.

Stutsman: Were you talking about sitting down and working out….

Neuzil: I’d have to sit down and learn a little bit more about his budget.

Stutsman: Oh, OK, great. I thought maybe you were talking about who’s going to work on a committee to deal with this.

Neuzil: No.

Baier: Thank you very much.

Stutsman: OK.

(Continued in Part 2)