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 Guests were Logan County Treasurer Vicki Dugan, Circuit Clerk
Mary Kelly, Coroner Robert Thomas, and veterans Joe Schaler and
Terry Sloan. Committee members present were Finance Chairman Chuck
Ruben, Rick Aylesworth, David Blankenship, and Gene Rohlfs; and
Board Chairman David Hepler. Committeeman Bob Farmer was absent.
Committee discusses funding for the Veteran's Assistance
Commission
In the March primary, voters approved a tax levy for the Veteran's
Assistance Commission. Ruben said the VAC has a funding line through
the property tax, but it will not come in until June and September
2017. The Board and Veteran's Assistance Commission need to figure
out how to fund the VAC until that money comes in.
Joe Schaler said that has been his main question. Schaler said he
would like to know how soon it would be feasible the VAC could look
into opening an office. He said they could open in May or June, but
need to figure out where money will come from. Knowing when money is
available will help with plans.
 Ruben said his understanding is once a Commission is formed, the
county is liable for funding it. Hepler asked if the board could
advance the commission the money against the levy.
Ruben said reasonable payments will be made. He said when other
agencies were formed, the county started paying their bills. These
agencies kept track of it until their funding source came in, and
then they slowly paid the advances back to the county.
Ruben said the county has to pay some of the bills, but it would
help the budget if the board knew they would get at least partially
repaid by the commission.
Ruben said if the commission takes the "full levy" approved by
voters, they will "have a little extra money" to pay the county
back. He said after operating for a year or two, those in the VAC
will get a feel for how much money it will take to run.
Hepler asked whether the Finance Committee needs to create a special
line item to help pay these bills.
Ruben said a budget amendment will be needed to pay the commission
and they need to figure out where the money will come from in the
interim. He said major criminal cases has a $200,000 budget the
county could "tap into" if they "knew it was getting replaced."
Dugan said to keep track, the committee could create a line item for
the expenses the county turns in. She said when the veteran's levy
begins coming in, the commission could start paying it back.
Ruben said there could be a separate fund and the levy amount
could be put into next year's budget. By August, they should have
some budget figures.
Schaler said some expenses may initially be a guess. Dugan said she
can help him create some expense line items.
Schaler said the biggest challenge of funding is knowing the exact
needs. Schaler said hiring a trained Veteran's Service Officer part
time would solve one problem since that individual would help run
the Commission. He is putting together a want ad and needs to figure
out qualifications.
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Schaler said they are also looking at locations for their office. There is a
possible location in the Courthouse, but Schaler said there is no phone in that
space and the air conditioning unit would need to be replaced. Schaler said
putting in a new landline and air conditioning unit may be close to $4,000.
Schaler said guidelines say their office should be either in the courthouse or a
central location. He asked whether the VAC or county pays for an office in a
central location. Schaler said he talked to two different superintendents about
this issue. In one case, the Commission pays the rent out of their levy. In the
other case, the county pays the rent.
Mary Kelly asked if the John A. Logan Building might be used for office space.
Schaler said most of that building is used by the assessor's office. He was told
they could use the reception area, but said that area would not be very private.
Schaler said he is looking at other available spaces, but needs to find out how
much rent would be in those locations.
Ruben said the room in the courthouse may be the best option, since "getting
that room into shape would be a one time expense. " He said there may also be a
different room they could use in the Logan Building.
Hepler made a motion to set up a fund for the Veteran's Assistance Commission
and amend the budget to fund the commission with $30,000 from major criminal
cases.
Dugan would write up more specific language for the amendment before Thursday's
workshop.
Other updates
Ruben said he is continuing to work on guidelines for Finance Committee
procedures. There are a few changes. As part of the budget process, worksheets
will now be distributed to the Finance Committee by June so members can look
them over in July and August. The budget now only has to be on display for 15
days instead of 30 days due to a new law. The committee approved these changes.
Ruben said the audit has been completed and no changes are needed. Board members
received packets with the audit results. Ruben said everyone (departments) came
in right at the budget or under the budget.
The next Finance Committee meeting will be Tuesday, May 10, 2016 at 5:30 p.m.
[Angela Reiners] |
