SULLIVAN'S SALVOS
December 9, 2016
Sullivan’s
Salvos 12/13/16
In this edition:
*County Budget Process
*Some History of the County Budget Process
*Did You Know?
*County Budget Process
The
County is hard at work on the FY17 budget. In case you had ever wondered about
the process: Supervisors hold meetings with every Elected Official and
Department Head, discussing and debating their budget requests. New requests
get added to a “Decisions Pending” list.
Assessment
and tax data comes in around Christmas. That data is loaded into the
spreadsheets, and we see how much is available. We then return to the Decisions
Pending list and determine what things will be a part of the budget and which things
will be axed.
Numbers
are checked and double checked, and a budget is produced. That budget is
published; after publication, a budget can be lowered but not raised. A public
hearing is set; the Board considers this public input before a final vote
occurs. The vote happens – the budget is approved – and said budget is sent to
the State of Iowa for their blessing.
*Some History of the County Budget
Process
The March 11, 2008 meeting of the Johnson County Board of
Supervisors did not appear to be controversial. The Board was meeting on a
Tuesday morning rather than our usual Thursday due to the Iowa State Association
of Counties (ISAC) meeting in Des Moines later that week. Otherwise, things
seemed quiet.
The
big item on the agenda was the approval of the County Budget for FY09. While
the approval of the budget is indeed a very big deal, we had held a Public
Hearing the previous Thursday evening. While there were some people in
attendance at the Public Hearing, no one from the public even chose to speak.
The budget seemed noncontroversial.
I
was the Board Chair then as now. Supervisor Terrence Neuzil moved the budget;
Supervisor Larry Meyers seconded the motion. I asked if there was any
discussion on the motion; there was none. I called for a roll call… Neuzil?
Aye. Harney? Nay. Stutsman? Nay.
Only
six words had been spoken, and my heart was in my throat. Our FY09 budget was
in jeopardy of failing. This would be unprecedented. The time slowed down, as
it does when you are in car wreck.
I
flashed back three years. Curious by nature, I had asked then-County Attorney
Pat White a question: “What happens if the budget vote fails?” His reply was
quick and firm. I am paraphrasing a bit, but I know the first sentence of his
statement is a direct quote: “It would be a catastrophe. Building and road
projects stop. Contracts are broken. The Bond Rating would plummet. There is no
money for raises or new staff. You do not want to go there.”
Pat
White’s words rang in my head as I turned to my left. Larry Meyers was one of
the most unlikely Supervisors you would ever find. KCJJ jokingly referred to
him as an “urban woodsman”. While Larry did not look or act the part of a
Supervisor, he was a very kind, fair, funny, and smart man. We had grown to be
good friends in his 14 months on the Board.
That said, I was worried. No one had expressed more concerns over
that year’s budget than Larry. Johnson County was in the middle of an
unprecedented building boom: the Health and Human Services Building and SEATS
Building were both under construction, we had a new Conservation Operations
Center, and we were planning the Joint Emergency Communications Center (JECC). Larry
had expressed his reservations over the amount of construction we were
undertaking.
I looked at Larry, and he stared back at me. I thought about
nodding my head – mouthing “aye” – trying somehow to send a message. But I did
nothing. I just stared.
It felt like an hour. Larry turned toward Casie Parkins, the minute
taker from the Auditor’s Office. “Meyers?” She asked. “Aye,” he replied.
My sigh was audible. I voted “aye” before Casie had even completed
pronouncing the word “Sullivan.” The FY09 budget had been approved. Our
projects would continue. Our bills would be paid. Tragedy had been averted.
I have never forgotten the way I felt at that meeting. And I went
about ensuring that it never happened again. We instituted a few changes in the
budgeting process that remain with us today.
I had a pointed conversation with Supervisor Harney at our next
work session. I noted that he had been supportive of all of the individual
components of the budget, but had voted against the sum total. He claimed that
he had opposed several items. That seemed disingenuous to me. I knew it was
false. But there was nothing on record. So Supervisor Neuzil and I created a
Budget Decision form.
We now record a vote on each decision that costs new money.
$25,000 for a new Sheriff’s vehicle? Every Supervisor must vote. $40,000 for a
new Clerk? Every Supervisor must vote. Supervisor Harney has attempted to get
out of several votes since, noting, “There are already three yes votes.” We
don’t care. Every Supervisor must vote. This process has served us well. It is
now very clear how each Supervisor feels about each issue.
We
also began a process of asking at every budget meeting from late January on,
“Is there anything in here that is a deal breaker? Please speak now.” That way,
Supervisors would be obligated to express their concerns before it was too
late. This process, too, has served us well. It has brought a necessary level
of transparency to each Supervisor’s decision-making process.
A
budget is the sum of literally thousands of smaller decisions. Every budget
cycle there are a few things I wanted but did not get. Every budget cycle there
are things I voted against that end up in the final document. That is simply
how it works with 5 people making decisions – you win some, you lose some.
At
least I know that our current process allows me a voice. I may get outvoted,
but I have had the opportunity to convince two colleagues that my idea is
worthy.
The
FY09 Budget vote was stressful, but it led to many improvements in our
budgeting process. As we move through the FY17 budget, I am certainly glad
those protections are in place!
*DID YOU KNOW?
Your property tax bill is a combination of three factors: 1.) The value
of your property; 2.) The rollback (if applicable); 3.) The tax rates of the
applicable taxing authorities.
Anyone
interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the
County website-
"Sullivan’s
Salvos" is sent once per week to any interested party. It will give a
brief update on issues of interest to Johnson County residents.
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come solely from Rod Sullivan, and neither represents the viewpoints of the
whole Board of Supervisors nor those of groups or individuals otherwise
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As always,
feel free to contact me at 354-7199 or rodsullivan@mchsi.com. I look forward to
serving you!
---Rod
posted by Rod Sullivan @ 8:30 AM
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