Minutes - 20050614 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

Rod Visser said that this is part of an interlocal agreement with the Town of Hillsborough, so it was treated as an operating expense. Commissioner Jacobs said that it might be easier to track in the CIP. Commissioner Jacobs asked about the school collaboration consultant and asked if this was costing $12,000 a year. Rod Visser said that for the last year, the County has been paying bills for this. They will raise this issue at the next collaboration meeting. Commissioner Halkiotis asked about rewarding County employees that come up with ideas that save the County money. He asked if anyone had come up with any ideas lately, and if they have been rewarded. John Link said that they have rewarded employees andlor teams of employees with good practices. They have not rewarded anyone with cash. Commissioner Halkiotis said that a reward system is very important and it works in the private sector. He thinks this would stimulate people into thinking of ways to save money. John Link said that they talked about this at the last efficiency process. The question is the amount. Section 4: Commissioner Jacobs referred to page 4-13, Tax Assessor, and asked how the County costs went up $135,000. Donna Dean said that several long-term employees have retired this year, which is reflected in the 12-month estimate being lower than the original budget. A position was also moved from the Tax Assessor's Office to the Tax Collector's Office. Commissioner Halkiotis made reference to the increase in the Information Technology budget for next year. He asked what this would include and the replacement cycle. Rad Visser said that before Information Technology Director Todd Jones came to the County, there was athree-year desktop replacement cycle. This was then slowed down to a four-year replacement cycle. At this time, it is about five or six years. Todd Janes said that they have skipped two years of the four-year cycle, so half of the fleet is five or six years old. Regarding areas of increase, the two largest items are the telephone charges and the equipment repair. They are trying to move the ongoing charges into the operating budget and out of capital. Regarding equipment repair, there has been an increase in annual maintenance charges far software. The bulk of it is the MUNIS system, which is $66,000 annually. There are also increases in charges for new packages in the Sheriff's system and land records. As new technologies are acquired, there is a resulting increase in annual maintenance fees. Commissioner Halkiotis made reference to page 4-5 that there are 750 network PC's and there are 796 County employees. He thinks that the lowest paid employees probably do not have the PC's. Todd Jones said that they are close to having one-to-one equity of computers to employees. Commissioner Halkiotis asked about the total phone charges and Todd Jones said $179,000. Commissioner Halkiotis asked if they were looking at a new phone system for the County. Todd Jones said that he and Pam Jones have held discussions, but they are preliminary. Chair Carey asked why Building and Grounds was going from $2.7 million to $3.1 million and why the recommended amount was less. Public Works Director Wilbert McAdoo said that the additional cuts are reflected in utilities and part of it was that the Manager took some of the money out for reserve for utilities. Rod Visser said that the total request came in at a $500,000 increase over last year. They cut another $100,000 off.