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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOMM - Meeting Minutes - 147 - 12-23-1974 - COMMISSIONERMINUTE BOOK 6 q? BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA MICHAEL R. FLYNN, FRANK JONES, JR.. EDWARD M. PALUSO, COMMISSIONERS r---, L C Minute No. 147 Office of the County Commissioners Washington, Pa., December 23, 1974 The Board of County Commissioners met in a special session with the following members being present: Commissioners Jones, Paluso and Flynn. Also present being: 'Chief Clerk & County Administrator Whalen; Administrative Assistants Crouse and Fetcko; Assistant Solicitoi Gilmore; Controller Mascara; Deputy Controller Daniels; Building Superintendent Bevec; Bob Robertson of The Observer -Reporter; and Mr. Merdian of WJPA Radio. Chairman made note of a memo dated December 19, 1974, from him directed to Commis sioners Jones and Paluso notifying them of a meeting scheduled for Monday, December 23, 197� at 10:00 a. m. for the specific purpose of adopting the 1975 Budget. This meeting to be held in the Public Meeting Room. Meeting called to order by Chairman and roll call taken: Mr. Jones - Present; Mr. Paluso - Present; Mr. Flynn - Present. Chief Clerk Whalen then read the following Resolution: -]RESOLUTION- WHEREAS, the 1975 Washington County Budget in part is based on tax revenues to be derived from the assessed valuation of real estate; THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Washington County Commissioners do hereby establish and adopt the ratio of 30% of Market Value as the basis for levying of taxes for 1975 and that the assessed valuation be set at $259, 972, 840. 00 as certified to the Board of County Commissioners by Mr. Richard W. Gubanish, Chief Assessor, under date of December 3, 197� Moved by Mr. Jones , seconded by Mr. Flynn , that the Budget for the County of Washington for the fiscal year 1975 be finally adopted by the County Commissioners; said Budget having been available for Public Inspection in the Office of the Chief Clerk to the County Commissioners from December 3, 1974, to this date, in accordance with the Provision; of the Act of Assembly of July 18, 1935, as amended. The Resolution as to the Tax Levy and the appropriations of the County of Washington and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania fixing the tax rate for the year 1975 and appropriating specific sums estimated to be required for the specific purposes of the operations of County Government, hereinafter set forth, during the fiscal year. Be it resolved and enacted by the Board of Commissioners of the County of Wash- ington, Pennsylvania, that a tax be and the same is hereby levied on all property within the said County subject to taxation for County purposes for the fiscal year 1975 as follows: Tax rate for general County purposes, the sum of 17.45 mills on each dollar of assessed valuation. This rate of taxation upon valuation of properties of the County of Washington is required for 6-"0 MINUTE BOOK BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA MICHAEL R. FLYNN, FRANK .TONES, JR., EDWARD M. PALUSO, COMMISSIONERS purposes of meeting the necessary general expenses for the year 1975. The sum of 1. 55 mills on each dollar of assessed valuation for the general purpose of meeting our bonded indebtednesq. Remarks: Mr. Paluso: In my own review of the proposed 1975 Budget, I have found several areas where I am in disagreement and these areas are: I think there is an overstatement of the revenues. The actual collected tax revenues this year came out to $4, 539, 000. Adopted for last year was $4, 900, 000—These are approximate figures which leads to a discrepancy of almost $400, 000. This year we have in the proposed budget stated that the anticipated revenues to $5, 166, 000. Myself, I can't reconcile those figures. In the first place, the current real estate tax revenue lists as uncollectible 2 L%. In fact, the discount alone from last year, which is uncollectible since it is a discount, 5% discount amounts to 2. 7% of the total taxable receipts. In addition to that, if you take those two figures and divide them up, you'll find that there is an additional 7. 6% that was uncollectible which really comes out to 10% uncollectible instead of 21% as state in here. This would reduce the overall revenues by approximately $400, 000. 00. There are some other places where I think the revenue is overestimated such as our reimbursement to Child Welfare and repayments from the County Homes on the basis that we're operating them now. These three things alone make a serious out -of -balance condition if they hold true to this year, and they are based on percentages worked out by previous years and this past year 1974. Also, I think the understated expenditures, specifically in the area like the Courts, where in 1974 we spent $360, 000. 00. We know that costs for jurors and witnesses will increase either by an act of legislature or, my understanding, there will be a minimum of two extra terms of court this year, perhaps more because of the new 180-day law which would drive the cost of jurors, witnesses and so on up. Yet the allocation for 1975 is only $336, 000. 00 which is less than last year. I don't think it's possible to operate the Courts on that amount with these added expenditures. For that reason, I can't accept the budget as posted in addition to some others. Mr. Flynn: Mr. Crouse, I'm sure you're in a position to answer the genthman when he refers to the 22% uncollectible for the current year. If my memory serves me right, at the top of my head, either in September or October, according to the Controller's Report, the Treasurer w charged with collecting four million some hundred thousand dollars in taxes. If I'm not mis - taken, at that time, either September or October, all the taxes were collected, real property, with the exception of about one hundred and some odd thousand dollars. Is that correct? Am I in the ballpark some place there? Mr. Crouse: Yes, those were based on the actual figures. Mr. Flynn: That were submitted to us by the Controller's Office, right? Mr. Crouse: But there's another thing I would like to elaborate here under jurors fee reim- bursement and so forth. The figure that is in that budget represents an expenditure of $9. 00 MINUTE BOOK BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA _ MICHAEL R. FLYNN, FRANK JONES, JR., EDWARD M. PALUSO, COMMISSIONERS 1 per day per juror. Now if the jury fee bill passes at these $10 per day, we will be reimbursed by the Commonwealth so which you in essence have a double budget entry. You have an income adjustment and an expenditure adjustment. But in addition to that, you'll notice an increase in jury fees from $115, 000 last year to $125, 000 which was based on actuals. Now the final crowning point is this. Is that the day we had the meeting down here, since the posting of the budget and so forth, with Judge Hanna and Judge Simmons, Judge Hanna was going back to take a look at the entire jury utilization system because he assured that it could be more efficient, more operative system. He is quite sure that we can reduce costs and that's the justification for that figure there. Mr. Flynn: Not only that, Mr. Paluso, in my opinion, we don't adopt a budget assuming - base on the assumption that legislation is going to be passed. It was stated down here by the Court Administrator during one of our many conferences on the budget that the legislation had passed, and I took exception to it because I knew better. And the President Judge left the conference room here and went out and made a call to the legislative reference bureau in Harrisburg and he found that for once he had to concur with me that it had not passed, and it's a dead issue right now. And so we don't base a budget assuming what's going to take place; we have to base a budget based upon experience - on past experience and anticipate what's going to take place in the next fiscal year. Mr. Paluso: That's correct. If what you say is correct you're basing on experience, last year the expenditure for this specific area was $360, 000. Now we know there's going to be at least two more terms of courti.this year; we're told that by the Court themselves and by the District Attorney. But there was $360, 000 expended in 1974 and budgeted for 1975 is $336, 000. I can't reconcile those figures. Mr. Crouse: You mean total Courts overall. I believe perhaps in that figure are some of the Yablonski trials expenses. Mr. Paluso: That is listed separately on the budget under....... I'm talking about 160...... . Mr. Crouse: Well, we went over the budget in depth with the Courts. There is sufficient monies in there to pay the salaries with corresponding union increases for all their personnel, jury fee 3. Reimbursement was based on actual figures as were the others. Of course, through the proces of trimming the budget in areas where there are voluntary controls on items of expenditures, such as materials & supplies, other services and so forth, there were reductions made over and above what the Court had requested; but these reductions were made throughout the entire operating budget. Mr. Flynn: I think the instructions in the budget book itself as approved by legislature is very important, and I quote the purpose of a good budget: "The general importance of good b practice to conserve resources, to further better planning and work programming, to better �`A MINUTE BOOK BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA MICHAEL R. FLYNN, FRANK JONES. JR., EDWARD M. PALUSO, COMMISSIONERS inform the governing bodies and the public, and to help in getting more service for each dollar spent is being increasingly recognized. The growth of government should be orderly and con- trolled. The budget is an effective means to assure this if it is properly used. It is the desire of the Department of Community Affairs to better serve the local governments of the Common- wealth. The County Forms Committee was activated to review the Annual Budget............' Now, Mr. Paluso, I want to say this for the record. Of course, naturally, you as an individual are entitled to your opinions; but I am at a lost to understand why in my experience here it seems at the last moment, there's always objections which have never been brought to the forefront prior to the posting or during the posting of the budget or prior to the final adoption. Now the record shows that we began hearings on the 1975 Budget on November 6, 1974, at 1:00 p.m. We concluded the hearings on November 15, 1974, in the morning. We had a meeting of the Commissioners and staff - our staff - on November 15, 1974, in the afternoon; and the purpose of that meeting was for final budget requests summation so we could totalize it and go over it. Present at that meeting, Mr. Paluso, were Mr. Flynn, Mr. Jones, Mr. Whalen, Mr. Crouse, Mr. Fetcko and Reporter Bob Robertson. We also scheduled a budget meeting on November 29, 1974, at 10:00 a. m. Present were Mr. Flynn, Mr. Jones, Mr. Whalen, Mr. Crouse and Mr. Fetcko. We also had a budget meeting with all the elected officials on November 29, 1974, at 1:30 p. m. , each individual being notified by letter. All those present included all of the elected officials of the Executive Branch of government with the exception of Commissioner Paluso. The Judicial Branch of government was represented by Judges Simmons and Hanna. Now today is the day that we advertised to adopt this budget. Certainly you are entitled to your opinion certainly you can; but I think it is incumbent upon you as a member of this Board of County Com to missioners that you should at least made your objections known/the majority members of this Board; and if there was anything wrong, then we should have certainly corrected it. However, why you wait until the last minute to notify us is beyond my comprehension. Any further com- ments? Mr. Jones: You have some comments. Do you have a proposed budget of your own? Mr. Paluso: No, I don't have a staff to make up a proposed budget of my own. Mr. Jones: It seems to me that even whenihey wrote the Constitution, somebody there could... But you have no proposed budget. You have had time like we had to prepare it. If you would have had a proposed budget and you would have asked for some staff help, we would have given you staff help. We've spent hours on this budget going over it and over it and over and trying to put it together - all of us. Mr. Paluso: Let me remind you that the last thirteen parts of this budget were not posted to my knowledge until last ---was it Wednesday - what day did you give me the rest of the budget, Mr. Crouse. It was Thursday afternoon approximately 3:30 p.m., and I marked it right on it. There was no way for me to analyze that part of it. It took a month to get that ready, and it MINUTE B❑❑K 4��5"3 BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA MICHAEL R. FLYNN, FRANK JONES, JR., EDWARD M. PALUSO, COMMISSIONERS u was my feeling that was supposed to be posted with the rest of the budget. I don't see how that little maneuver could be made either. Without that part, without knowing what you propose in all the other thirteen parts of that budget, there's no way for anybody to analyze anything else, Mr. Flynn: Mr. Paluso, you are a,County Commissioner; at least you have the title. The question is this, sir. When you post a budget, it doesn't mean we have to be explicit and pre- cise in every item. The idea of posting a budget is so that it can be altered and changed. Mr. Paluso: But the rest of it wasn't posted. Mr. Flynn: Well, just a minute please. Mr. Paluso: At least I didn't receive a copy. Mr. Flynn: Mr. Paluso, I listen to you. Would you be so kind enough to listen to me. Mr. Crouse or Mr. Fetcko or Mr. Whalen, has the Minority Commissioner any time made inquiries as to the budget - as to the posting. I'm asking for an answer. Has he made any inquiries as the rest of this budget knowing from experience that when you prepare a budget, we have a ro draft of every account that we have and because, Mr. Paluso, that we, under general fund operf- tions, posted it; that's the requests coming in from the offices. It doesn't say that we don't have a rough; draft that we try to compile all the data and statistics to see if we are correct in the final posting of this now. That's budgeted, sir. You have never made any inquiries; and in a rough draft, we have all the information; we have all the documentation and materials you need. Mr. Crouse: Just one word here about these other accounts. Everything that's posted in the general fund budget has to do with the millage rate, taxes and so forth. As a matter of fact, in the latter portion of the general fund budget, we have our Sinking Fund obligations spelled out it the resolution. However, all the other accounts are pretty well governed by the bond ordinance which was adopted last June as far as monies available for expenditure. Any of the other moniE involved is merely reimbursement from either the state orfederal government for, you know, various accounts - the balance of these monies earmarked in the bond ordinance for expendi- tures in certain categories. Mr. Paluso: Doesn't it state in the instructions that that part of the budget is posted at the sam time ? Mr. Flynn: Mr. Crouse, I think I can answer it for him. If the man is playing on words, he's trying to - he's being very picayunish; the material was available. He, as a County Commis- sioner, has the right to make inquiries; and I want the record to show this, Mr. Paluso, you have not attended a meeting as relates to this budget since the morning of November 15th. He me out please. You have not come forth to make any inquiries until now - December 23rd. Mr. Paluso: No, I made inquiries before this. Mr. Flynn: From whom? 66-1-/ MINUTE BOOK BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA MICHAEL R. FLYNN, FRANK JONES, JR., EDWARD M. PALUSO, COMMISSIONERS Mr. Paluso: And that's how I got my figures - from inquiries. I don't have all..... . Mr. Flynn: From whom did you make inquiries? Mr. Paluso: From the Controller's Office to get these. In fact, from his audit reports lists those expenditures projected through January - December 31st. There was one in November; there was one in September; there was one in December. That's what I used for my actual ex- penditures and projected. That's what I used, and these were all sent to us. I assumed' all the County Commissioners to use for the budget. That is what I used. Lets go back to these meet ings you talk about. The meeting on the 15th, as I remember, was simply a totalization of all the requests by all the departments. Well, I could add that up myself; and I happened to have another appointment that same day. But that's strictly an addition process that meeting. The wasn't anything discussed or decided on the budget at that meeting as you well know. The other meeting was to ask department heads and everyone else to tighten their belts and to stick to budget as much as possible. That didn't have any bearing on how the budget was made up be- cause it was already made up. Those meetings you refer to were window dressing, Mr. Flynn; lets face it. Mr. Flynn: Mr. Paluso, you can term it whatever you care to term. Mr. Paluso, I am saying that you are a County Commissioner. Mr. Paluso: And I'm saying you are right. Mr. Flynn: And as such, you have a responsibility also. Mr. Paluso: You are right... Mr. Flynn: On the day we are adopting the budget, you come forward. Mr. Paluso: Mr. Flynn, did you ever discuss any of the figures that ended up in this budget with me? Mr. Flynn: Mr. Paluso.... Mr. Paluso: The only figures ever discussed were at budget hearings when they were requests from departments, none of which coincide with what's in this budget. Mr. Flynn: Look, Mr. Paluso, if I have to go around looking for you in this Courthouse, yod have another thought coming. I am telling you you have not attended a meeting since Novem- ber 15th until now. Mr. Paluso: I didn't attend two window dressing meetings, you are correct. One was a matter of addition and the other was a matter of publicity. Mr. Flynn: Well, when you're dealing with the general public and the tax and the money that is going to be derived from the taxpayer, I don't think it is window dressing. I think it's very im- portant that you be present; and certainly if you have something to contribute now, then I would assume that you would have had something to contribute at those meetings. Any further remark ? MINUTE BOOK (a6�� BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WASHINGTON COUNTY, PEN NSYLVANIA MICHAEL R. FLYNN, FRANK JONES, JR., EDWARD M. PALUSO, COMMISSIONERS 11 1 1 Roll call vote taken: Mr. Jones - Yes; Mr. Paluso - No; Mr. Flynn - Yes. Motion carried. (Personal Property) Moved by Mr. Jones, seconded by Mr. Flynn, that in accordance with the provisions of the Act of Assembly, dated June 17, 1913, P. L. 507, as amended, that a four (4) mills tax be levied upon all taxable items authorized in said Act for General County purposes for the fiscal year 1975. Remarks: Mr. Paluso: Once again, this is another part of your estimated receipts. The actual receipts from the property tax is $138, 625. 00. Your anticipated receipts for this year $185, 500. 00 which is almost the same as last year, and we came within almost $40, 000-$50, 000 less than that. I don't see how - how can that increase $50, 000 this year. I don't know. That is based market valuation of holdings and so on, and we all know how depressed they are. That figure can't possibly reach $185, 000. Mr. Flynn: Well, you know, in February of 1974 - or March - there was a- projection made based on current spending at that time on a two -month or three-month period that the County would end up in the black and that our budget was way off. Well, just counting the fact that we received $ 410, 000 from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as relates to the Yablonski case, we still end up in the black; and we think we're sound. We have proven ourselves in the past. We think we are sound in our anticipated revenue and we're sound in the overall picture - re- ceipts and expenditures - and they are not inflative; they are very conservative. Any further remarks ? Roll call vote taken: Mr. Jones - Yes; Mr. Paluso - No; Mr. Flynn - Yes. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned. THE FOREGOING MINUTE READ AND APPROVED: December 23 ATTEST". CHIEF CLERK , 1974 MINUTE BOOK BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA MICHAEL R. FLYNN, FRANK JONES, JR., EDWARD M. PALUSO, COMMISSIONERS C E p