Jun 10, 2025 Board of Supervisors Regular Meeting: Budget Hearings, Day 2

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GOOD MORNING. WE ARE RECONVENING AS THE SHASTA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS,

[Shasta County Board of Supervisors Budget Hearings FY 25-26 on June 10, 2025.]

MISS BURTON, I BELIEVE YOU'RE UP FIRST.

WELCOME. AT LEAST KNOWING WHEN YOU GOT UP, SINCE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT BUDGETS, EVERYONE JUST DIDN'T SIGH AND GO, OH, I APPRECIATE THAT.

YES. ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT.

HERE WE GO. SO GOOD MORNING, CHAIR CRYE.

MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. ERIN BURTON DEPUTY COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICER.

DO WE NEED TO WAIT A MINUTE? WHAT DO YOU MEAN? OVER HERE. AND THEN GO TO YOUR POWERPOINT.

LET'S TRY THAT. OKAY.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S TRY THIS AGAIN. SO GOOD MORNING, CHAIR CRYE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

AARON BURTON, DEPUTY COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICER I'M HERE TODAY TO PRESENT THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET FOR THE 2526 FISCAL YEAR.

I'D LIKE TO START BY THANKING THE DEPARTMENTS, THE ANALYSTS AND OTHER STAFF IN OUR OFFICE AND THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE FOR ALL THEIR HELP DURING THIS BUDGET PROCESS, AS IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE WITHOUT THE ENTIRE TEAM. TODAY'S PRESENTATION WILL INCLUDE A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE BUDGET PROCESS, AS WELL AS THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET, AND SOME HIGHLIGHTS OF WHAT'S PROPOSED FOR NEXT YEAR. THE DEPARTMENT HEADS WILL ONCE AGAIN EACH BE GIVING PRESENTATIONS ON THEIR DEPARTMENTS, INCLUDING ACCOMPLISHMENTS DURING THIS FISCAL YEAR AND GOALS FOR THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR. THE FORMAT INCLUDES SPECIFIC BLOCKS OF TIME WHERE DEPARTMENTS WILL PRESENT OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT THREE DAYS.

THE SCHEDULE WAS PUBLISHED WITH THE AGENDA TO ALLOW THE PUBLIC TO DETERMINE WHICH PARTS OF THE PROCESS THEY WOULD LIKE TO ATTEND.

THE BUDGET HEARINGS WILL OPEN ON DAY THREE AFTER ALL DEPARTMENTS HAVE PRESENTED AND PUBLIC COMMENT WILL BE HEARD AT THAT TIME.

THIS YEAR, TWO DEPARTMENTS HAVE APPEALED THEIR BUDGET. THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY IS APPEALING BOTH OF HER BUDGET UNITS, AND THE COUNTY CLERK REGISTRAR OF VOTERS IS APPEALING THE BUDGET FOR ELECTIONS.

THEIR APPEALS WILL BE PRESENTED AS PART OF THEIR SCHEDULED PRESENTATIONS.

THIS SLIDE INCLUDES A FEW OF THE MAJOR TIMELINES ASSOCIATED WITH THE BUDGET PROCESS, WHICH TAKES NEARLY HALF THE YEAR.

THE FISCAL YEAR 2526 BUDGET PREPARATION PROCESS STARTS FOR CERTAIN DEPARTMENTS WHO PROVIDE RATES, AS WELL AS STAFF IN THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE AND THE CEO'S OFFICE WELL BEFORE BUDGET KICKOFF.

BUDGET KICKOFF REPRESENTS THE OFFICIAL START OF THE BUDGET FOR ALL DEPARTMENTS AND IS HELD IN FEBRUARY, AFTER WHICH THEY PREPARE THE REQUIRED BUDGET DOCUMENTS TO SUBMIT BY THE DUE DATE IN MARCH. THE CEO'S OFFICE SPENDS THE MONTH OF APRIL REVIEWING THE BUDGETS, MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS AND FACILITATING THE APPEALS PROCESS AS NEEDED.

THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE WORKS TO COMPILE THE SUMMARY SCHEDULE AND STAFF IN THE CEO'S OFFICE, WORK TO EDIT NARRATIVES AND CREATE THE BUDGET BOOK, WITH THE FINAL BUDGET BOOK BEING POSTED ONLINE AND HARD COPIES BEING PROVIDED TO THE BOARD.

ON MAY 16TH. TODAY'S BUDGET HEARINGS ARE THE CULMINATION OF THIS PROCESS AND INCLUDES PRESENTATION OF THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET TO THE BOARD AND A TIME FOR INPUT FROM THE BOARD AND FROM THE PUBLIC. FOLLOWING THE COMPLETION OF THE BUDGET HEARINGS, THE FORMAL ADOPTION OF THE BUDGET IS SCHEDULED FOR JUNE 24TH.

TOTAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR 2526 ARE AT JUST OVER $685 MILLION, WHICH REPRESENTS A DECREASE OF JUST UNDER 3.5% FROM THE FISCAL YEAR 2425 ADOPTED BUDGET. OF THE TOTAL REQUESTED APPROPRIATIONS, THE MAJORITY ARE IN SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS, WHICH INCLUDE CHILD SUPPORT ROADS.

SEVERAL OF THE HOUSING BUDGET UNITS AND MOST OF THE BUDGET UNITS WITHIN THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY.

THE BUDGET IS CONSIDERED GENERAL FUND INCREASE BY JUST OVER $12 MILLION, OR AROUND 5.5%. INCLUDED HERE IS A COMPARISON BY DEPARTMENT FOR TOTAL APPROPRIATIONS BETWEEN THE FISCAL YEAR 2425 ADOPTED BUDGET IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2526.

RECOMMENDED BUDGET. BUDGETS ARE ASSIGNED TO DEPARTMENTS BASED ON THOSE THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR PREPARING. PREPARING.

NOT INCLUDED. HERE ARE THE BUDGETS FOR GENERAL RESERVES FOR THE MISCELLANEOUS CSAS.

ON THIS CHART IS SORTED BY THE HIGHEST DIFFERENCE TO THE LOWEST DIFFERENCE, WITH THE SHERIFF REPRESENTING THE LARGEST INCREASE.

THIS INCREASE IS PRIMARILY IN THE MAIN SHERIFF BUDGET AND THE JAIL BUDGET, IN ADDITION TO REGULAR INCREASES FOR SALARY AND BENEFITS.

THIS INCREASE CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO THE COST FOR BODY WORN CAMERAS IN THE FORM OF STAFF AND EQUIPMENT, AS WELL AS A VARIETY OF CAPITAL PROJECTS, INCLUDING THE EXPANSION AT LOCKHEED.

ELEVATOR REPLACEMENTS AND THE REMODEL OF DEPARTMENTS ONE AND TWO IN THE JAIL.

THE INCREASE TO THE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT BUDGET IS PRIMARILY ATTRIBUTED FOR THE PLANNED SPENDING OF IMPACT FEES.

THESE COSTS ARE ONE TIME IN NATURE AND ARE NOT FUNDED BY THE GENERAL FUND.

THE INCREASE IN SUPPORT SERVICES CAN BE ATTRIBUTED ATTRIBUTED TO INCREASES IN THE RISK MANAGEMENT BUDGET, WHICH IS BASED ON COSTS FOR INSURANCES AND SETTLEMENTS, AS WELL AS DECREASE TO COST PLAN REIMBURSEMENTS IN OTHER BUDGETS.

THE SUBSTANTIAL DECREASE IN OVERALL BUDGET CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO A BETTER PROCESS FOR

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ADOPTED BUDGET. THEY INCREASED SUBSTANTIALLY IN FISCAL YEAR 2425 AND ARE NOW BUDGETED AT A MORE CONSISTENT LEVEL.

AS DISCUSSED DURING MY MID-YEAR REPORT, FISCAL YEAR 2324 ENDED THE YEAR WELL OVER BUDGET AS A RESULT OF INCREASED SALES AND PROPERTY TAX AND INCREASED PROP 172 REVENUE.

GENERAL REVENUE IN THE CURRENT YEAR IS PERFORMING WELL AND CONSISTENT WITH MIDYEAR PROJECTIONS WILL LIKELY BE RECEIVED ABOVE BUDGETED AMOUNTS.

INCREASED REVENUES ANTICIPATED FOR FISCAL YEAR 2425 INCLUDE PROP 172, WHICH IS TRACKING ABOUT $2.2 MILLION OVER BUDGET, SOME SLIGHT INCREASES TO SALES AND PROPERTY TAX AND INTEREST BEING REALIZED AT A SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER LEVEL THAN ANTICIPATED OR IN YEARS PAST.

REVENUE HAS BEEN LEVELING OFF THIS YEAR, AND THIS TREND IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE OVER THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR. THE REVENUE BUDGETED IS A CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATE AS THE ECONOMY IS IN FLUX, WITH MANY CHANGES AT THE NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL LEVEL.

THE REVENUE WILL LIKELY COME IN BETTER THAN PROJECTED, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMAIN CAUTIOUS DURING THESE CHALLENGING AND UNPRECEDENTED TIMES.

PROP 172 REVENUE IS A HALF CENT SALES TAX THAT CAN ONLY BE USED TO FUND PUBLIC SAFETY.

PUBLIC SAFETY SAFETY REVENUE IS PERFORMING SLIGHTLY BETTER THAN BUDGETED, AND OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, THIS FUNDING STREAM HAS FLUCTUATED SIGNIFICANTLY. REVENUE IS COLLECTED AT A STATE LEVEL AND DISTRIBUTED TO COUNTIES BASED ON THEIR TOTAL PERCENTAGE OF SALES TAX COLLECTED DURING THE PANDEMIC.

SHASTA COUNTY'S PERCENTAGE OF THE TOTAL STATEWIDE SALES TAX COLLECTED INCREASED, WHICH INCREASED OUR CALCULATED PERCENTAGE FOR THE PURPOSE OF DISTRIBUTING PROP 172 REVENUE.

AS THE STATE BEGAN TO OPEN UP AFTER THE PANDEMIC, OUR PERCENTAGE DECREASED WHERE IT HAS REMAINED.

ADDITIONALLY, THE OVERALL COLLECTIONS OF SALES TAX WERE INCREASED AS A RESULT OF INFLATION, BUT THIS INCREASE HAS ALSO BEGUN TO SUBSIDE.

IN ORDER TO BETTER ALIGN BUDGETS WITH THE INCREASED REVENUE, DEPARTMENTS RECEIVING PROP 172 FUNDS WERE DIRECTED TO BUDGET THE REVENUE 15% HIGHER IN 2223, 3% HIGHER IN 2324, AND THEN HELD FLAT IN 2425.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE BUDGET AND ACTUALS HAS DECREASED, BUT THERE DOES STILL REMAIN A GAP. DEPARTMENTS WERE DIRECTED TO INCREASE THEIR BUDGET BY 5% FOR 2526, IN HOPES OF CONTINUING TO CLOSE THIS GAP.

GENERAL REVENUES ARE TRULY DISCRETIONARY FUNDS AVAILABLE TO THE COUNTY.

AS YOU CAN SEE, PUBLIC SAFETY RECEIVES WELL OVER HALF OF ALL DISCRETIONARY REVENUE AVAILABLE TO THE COUNTY.

THIS NUMBER WOULD BE EVEN HIGHER IF I WERE TO BE INCLUDED WITHIN THE PUBLIC SAFETY ON THIS DRAFT. FIRE IS SEPARATED OUT ON THIS GRAPH TO ALLOW MORE DIRECT COMPARISON TO GENERAL REVENUE GRAPHS PRESENTED IN PRIOR YEARS.

THIS CHART SHOWS THE GENERAL FUND FROM THE PREVIOUS SLIDE IN A DIFFERENT MANNER, AND COMPARES THE USE OF GENERAL PURPOSE FUNDS AS A PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR EACH AREA. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT NOT ALL BUDGET UNITS IN THE COUNTY BUDGET ARE REPRESENTED IN THIS CHART.

THE BUDGETS INCLUDED ARE ONLY THOSE THAT ACTUALLY RECEIVE GENERAL FUND.

A COUPLE OF THINGS TO NOTE IN THIS SLIDE.

PUBLIC SAFETY HAS BEEN BROKEN OUT BY DEPARTMENT, WITH THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE HAVING THE LARGEST PERCENTAGE OF THEIR BUDGET COVERED BY THE GENERAL FUND.

ALTHOUGH THE PERCENTAGE OF THEIR TOTAL BUDGET IS HIGHER THAN THE SHERIFF, THE ACTUAL AMOUNT OF FUNDS THEY RECEIVE IS MUCH LOWER, WITH THE SHERIFF RECEIVING $46.4 MILLION AND THE DE AYE 11.1. GENERAL GOVERNMENT INCLUDES SERVICES REQUIRED TO KEEP THE COUNTY RUNNING LIKE THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE, SUPPORT SERVICES, COUNTY ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE AND CLERK OF THE BOARD, AS WELL AS DEPARTMENTS THAT PROVIDE DIRECT SERVICES DIRECTLY TO THE PUBLIC LIKE THE ASSESSOR, RECORDER'S OFFICE, VETERANS SERVICES AND THE COUNTY CLERK, AS WELL AS SOME OF THE MISCELLANEOUS SMALLER BUDGET UNITS WHERE THE COUNTY DOESN'T DIRECTLY PROVIDE SERVICES, BUT THEY DO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR CERTAIN FUNCTIONS LIKE THE INTERMOUNTAIN FAIR AND THE LIBRARY.

ALTHOUGH HHS HAS BY FAR THE LARGEST OVERALL BUDGET, THE GENERAL FUND CONTRIBUTES IN A VERY MINIMAL WAY.

THE GENERAL FUND CONTRIBUTION REPRESENTS JUST UNDER 4% OF THEIR BUDGET.

WHEN FUNDING IS RESTRICTED FOR A SPECIFIC PURPOSE, WHICH CAN HAPPEN BECAUSE OF LAW ACTION BY THE BOARD OR REQUIREMENTS BY THE AGENCY FUNDING A PROJECT OR FUNCTION. THEY ARE SET ASIDE IN RESTRICTED FUND BALANCE, INCLUDING. ON THIS SLIDE ARE A FEW OF THESE FUNDS THAT I'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT. ALL OF THE INDIVIDUAL FUNDS CAN BE FOUND ON SCHEDULE FOUR IN THE BUDGET BOOK, ALONG WITH OTHER TYPES OF FUNDS.

I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT A FEW OF THESE RESTRICTED FUNDS FOR THE INFORMATION OF THE BOARD AND THE PUBLIC. JUST UNDER $34 MILLION WILL BE SET ASIDE FOR FUNDS THAT WERE COMMITTED FOR THE PURPOSE OF BUILDING A NEW JAIL. ALTHOUGH BUILDING A NEW JAIL IS NOT AFFORDABLE FOR THE COUNTY AT THIS TIME, THESE FUNDS REMAIN COMMITTED FOR THIS PURPOSE. THE BOARD HAS DISCRETION OVER SPENDING THESE FUNDS AS THEY SEE FIT.

ALTHOUGH A JAIL IS NOT IN THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE, THESE FUNDS ARE PLANNED TO BE USED FOR THE EVENTUAL DEMOLITION OF THE OLD COURTHOUSE AND POTENTIALLY TOWARDS THE ALTERNATIVE CUSTODY PROGRAM EXPANSION IN THE FUTURE.

THE BOARD COULD ALSO USE THESE FUNDS FOR OTHER PURPOSES, INCLUDING GENERAL GENERAL OPERATING COSTS. IF THEY CHOSE, GENERAL REVENUES ARE PROJECTED TO BE OVER.

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THIS IS NOT A LEGAL REQUIREMENT, BUT IT IS THE DIRECTION THE COUNTY HAS CHOSEN TO PURSUE. BASED ON THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET, THE RESERVES WILL BE AT 13.9% OF GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES. IMPACT FEES WERE CHARGED FOR ALL NEW DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE COUNTY AND ARE REQUIRED TO BE SET ASIDE AND SPENT CONSISTENT WITH THE COUNTY'S ESTABLISHED PLAN.

THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS VOTED TO DISCONTINUE THESE IMPACT FEES, SO THEY ARE NO LONGER BEING CHARGED FOR ANY NEW DEVELOPMENT.

HOWEVER, SOME BALANCES REMAIN.

SHASTA COUNTY'S PLAN INCLUDES RESTRICTED FUNDS FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES.

EACH OF THOSE AREAS HAS SPECIFIC PARAMETERS AROUND WHAT THE MONEY CAN BE SPENT ON.

THE FISCAL YEAR 2526 BUDGET ANTICIPATES SPENDING OVER HALF OF THE REMAINING BALANCES, LEAVING MINIMAL AMOUNTS IN ALL CATEGORIES EXCEPT PUBLIC HEALTH AND ROADS.

ADDITIONAL WORK TO SPEND THESE FUNDS WILL BE DONE OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT YEAR, WITH THE GOAL OF FULLY UTILIZING ALL OF THE REMAINING FUNDS AND CLOSING OUT THE IMPACT FEE FUND COMPLETELY. THE RESTRICTED FUND FOR PUBLIC SAFETY REALIGNMENT, OR AB 109, HAS A SIZABLE BALANCE CURRENTLY.

2011 REALIGNMENT IS DRIVEN BY SALES TAX AND HAS BEEN PERFORMING MUCH BETTER THAN PREVIOUS AND BETTER THAN HAD BEEN ANTICIPATED.

THIS FUNDING CAN ONLY BE USED TO PAY FOR PROJECTS OR ACTIVITIES INCLUDED IN THE PLAN APPROVED BY THE COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS PARTNERSHIP.

I'VE INCLUDED HERE THE FOUR FOUR MAIN BALANCES FOR HHS.

TO NOTE THE SUBSTANTIAL ANTICIPATED DECREASE IN THE MENTAL HEALTH, PUBLIC HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES FUNDS.

ALTHOUGH THESE FUNDS ARE EACH PROJECTED TO USE AROUND HALF OF THEIR PROJECTED FUND BALANCE, IT IS UNLIKELY THEY WILL REALIZE THE SIZE OF A DRAW.

NEW THIS YEAR IS A SEPARATE FUND FOR OPIOID SETTLEMENT DOLLARS.

THE AMOUNT SHOWN HERE ARE SUBSTANTIALLY LESS THAN WE'VE ALREADY RECEIVED.

OPIOID SETTLEMENT DOLLARS ARE RECEIVED IN TWO CATEGORIES ABATEMENT AND SUBDIVISION.

THE ABATEMENT REVENUE, WHICH REPRESENTS THE MAJORITY OF THE REVENUE RECEIVED, IS REQUIRED TO BE HELD IN AN UNEARNED REVENUE ACCOUNT AND IS NOT RECOGNIZED UNTIL IT IS ACTUALLY SPENT.

IT IS ANTICIPATED THE UNEARNED REVENUE ACCOUNT WILL HAVE ABOUT $10 MILLION BY THE END OF 2526, BRINGING THE CLOSER THE TOTAL CLOSER TO 12.9 MILLION.

INCLUDED IN THIS SLIDE IS THE BALANCE OF THE UNRESTRICTED GENERAL PURPOSE DOLLARS IN THE GENERAL FUND AS OF THE END OF FISCAL YEAR 2526.

THIS BALANCE, WHICH IS JUST UNDER $2.6 MILLION, REPRESENTS WHAT WILL BE LEFT IN THE DISCRETIONARY GENERAL FUND.

SHOULD WE REALIZE THE PROJECTED FUND BALANCE DRAW FOR 2425 AND THE RECOMMENDED FUND BALANCE DRAW FOR 2526.

THE COUNTY HAS ALWAYS REALIZED SUBSTANTIAL SAVINGS YEAR TO YEAR, AND COUNTS ON THE SAVINGS IN ORDER TO CONTINUE TO RUN SUSTAINABLE PROGRAMS WITHIN THE GENERAL FUND. THIS TREND IS SOMETHING THAT WE WATCH CLOSELY TO ENSURE WE WERE ABLE TO AFFORD OPERATING AT THE CURRENT LEVELS.

SHOULD WE START SEEING A DIFFERENT TREND IN SPENDING? THE BOARD WOULD NEED TO MAKE SOME DECISIONS ABOUT CHANGES TO FUTURE SPENDING AND BUDGETS.

INCLUDED HERE IS A COMPARISON OF POSITIONS AS ADOPTED DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS FOR PRIOR YEARS AND AS RECOMMENDED FOR FISCAL YEAR 2526.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THE GRAPH DOES NOT INCLUDE POSITION CHANGES APPROVED BY THE BOARD THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

FOR EXAMPLE, IN FISCAL YEAR 2425, 2113 POSITIONS WERE INCLUDED IN THE ADOPTED BUDGET, BUT AS OF THE END OF MAY 2094 POSITIONS WERE APPROVED BY THE BOARD.

IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT OF THOSE POSITIONS APPROVED BY THE BOARD, 306, OR 14.6%, WERE VACANT AS OF MAY 30TH.

ALTHOUGH OUR VACANCY RATE IS LOWER AT THIS TIME LAST YEAR.

THE TOTAL FILLED POSITIONS IS ACTUALLY LOWER BY 58.

TOTAL POSITIONS INCLUDED IN THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2526 IS 2083, WHICH IS A DECREASE OF 30 POSITIONS FROM THE 2425 ADOPTED BUDGET BOOK AND 11 FROM THE CURRENT APPROVED POSITIONS.

IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, DEPARTMENTS HAVE WORKED TO DETERMINE THE POSITIONS THEY ACTUALLY NEED AND HAVE BEGUN DELETING UNNEEDED POSITIONS.

OUR OFFICE IS COMMITTED TO CONTINUING TO REVIEW VACANT POSITIONS WITH DEPARTMENTS TO TO RIGHTSIZE OUR WORKFORCE.

INCLUDED HERE IS A LIST OF CAPITAL PROJECTS IN THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET.

SEVERAL OF THESE PROJECTS ARE ONGOING FROM PRIOR YEARS AND SEVERAL ARE NEW.

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF ROOFING AND HVAC REPLACEMENTS ACROSS THE COUNTY THAT ARE IN PROCESS OR ARE ANTICIPATED.

THESE PROCESSES ARE NECESSARY.

PROJECTS ARE NECESSARY. MAINTENANCE FOR COUNTY BUILDINGS. DEPARTMENTS ONE AND TWO ARE BEING REMODELED TO PROVIDE SPACE FOR PROGRAMING, TRANSPORTATION AND VIDEO ARRAIGNMENT.

THIS PROJECT IS FUNDED USING ACCUMULATED CAPITAL OUTLAY ALONG WITH ARPA FUNDS, A PROJECT TO EXPAND THE LOCKHEED CAMPUS TO INCLUDE STORAGE FOR EQUIPMENT THAT IS CURRENTLY BEING STORED AND RENTED.

STORAGE SPACE IS INCLUDED IN THIS BUDGET.

THIS PROJECT WILL SAVE THE COUNTY MONEY IN THE LONG RUN, AS WE WILL NO LONGER BE PAYING FOR LEASED SPACE.

THE CORONER'S BUDGET THE CORONER'S BUILDING IS BEING EXPANDED TO PROVIDE MORE STORAGE SPACE. THIS NEED HAS BEEN NOTED BY SEVERAL GRAND JURIES IN REPORTS IN RECENT YEARS.

ARPA REVENUE IS BEING USED TO MAKE THIS EXPANSION HAPPEN.

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GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING CHAIR.

MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. THE AUDITOR.

CONTROLLER. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK ABOUT ONE OF MY FAVORITE TOPICS TODAY, WHICH IS OUR UNFUNDED LIABILITIES FOR THE COUNTY.

SO I HAVE A COUPLE OF SLIDES THAT I WANT TO GO THROUGH. I ALWAYS LIKE TO START WITH THIS ONE, WHICH TO ME IS A GRAPHIC REPRESENTATION OF ALL THE THINGS THAT CAN AFFECT OUR UNFUNDED LIABILITY. SOME OF THEM ARE REALLY OBVIOUS.

SO WE HAVE INVESTMENT EARNINGS AT THE TOP.

WE HAVE ANY MEMBER CONTRIBUTIONS THAT ARE GOING IN AND THEN ANY EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS THAT ARE GOING IN. THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT GO INTO OUR FUND, THE THINGS THAT LEAVE OUR FUND OR ANY BENEFIT PAYMENTS THAT WE MAKE TO RETIREES, AND THEN ALSO ANY ADMINISTRATIVE KIND OF OVERHEAD EXPENSES RELATED TO THE FUND.

AND THE ONE THING THAT WE DON'T TALK ABOUT A LOT IS ACTUARIAL ASSUMPTIONS, WHICH CAN BE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT AFFECT OUR UNFUNDED LIABILITY THE MOST.

AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT MORE ON THE NEXT SLIDE AND THE PERCENTAGES THAT YOU SEE HERE.

THESE ARE SPECIFICALLY FOR OUR PERS LIABILITY FOR THIS YEAR.

AND THEN IN THE CENTER, I JUST PUT WHERE WE ARE FUNDED FOR BOTH PERS AND THEN OPEB. AND OPEB IS OTHER POST-EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS, WHICH IS BASICALLY OUR RETIREE HEALTH CARE AND DENTAL FOR ANYTHING THAT'S NOT PENSION RELATED. SO THESE ARE SOME OF THE EXAMPLES OF ACTUARIAL ASSUMPTIONS.

SO WE HAVE AN ACTUARIAL THAT PREPARES A REPORT THAT TELLS US WHAT OUR UNFUNDED LIABILITY IS OUT INTO THE FUTURE.

AND SO THEY MAKE ESTIMATIONS ON WHAT THEY THINK, LIKE INFLATION IS GOING TO BE WHAT THEY THINK OUR GROWTH IN THE WORKFORCE IS GOING TO BE, WHAT LIFE EXPECTANCY IS.

SO THERE'S A VARIETY OF THOSE.

SO BECAUSE THOSE ARE ALL BASED ON ESTIMATES AS THE ACTUAL ACTUALLY VARIES SIGNIFICANTLY FROM THOSE THINGS, THEN THOSE THINGS CAN CHANGE.

AND WE'VE SEEN THAT A LOT WITH THE INCREASE IN HEALTH CARE COSTS.

AND THEN ALSO RECENTLY WE CHANGED THE EMPLOYER EMPLOYEE SHARE OF HEALTH CARE.

SO AS THE COUNTY TOOK ON A LARGER SHARE OF THE HEALTH CARE COSTS, IT ALSO INCREASED OUR UNFUNDED LIABILITY GOING OUT INTO THE FUTURE.

AND SO A LOT OF THESE THINGS ARE OUT OF OUR CONTROL.

BUT WE, WE KEEP OUR EYES ON THEM AS WE GO FORWARD.

SO THIS IS SPECIFICALLY OUR PERS LIABILITY.

AND SO YOU CAN SEE ON THE TOP, IT SHOWS OUR FUNDING PERCENTAGES.

SO WE'RE CURRENTLY 68.8% FUNDED.

AND YOU WILL HEAR PEOPLE TALK ABOUT A $1 BILLION LIABILITY, WHICH IS A TRUE TRUE NUMBER.

IT IS A $1.1 BILLION LIABILITY.

HOWEVER, WE ARE $765 MILLION FUNDED, SO WE HAVE THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY ON HAND WITH PURSE TO FUND TOWARDS THIS LIABILITY.

AND SO WE'RE CURRENTLY 32.2% UNFUNDED.

AND THEN AT THE BOTTOM, JUST FOR YOUR REFERENCE, I BROKE IT UP BETWEEN MISCELLANEOUS AND SAFETY AS WELL.

AND THE PERCENTAGES ARE REALLY CLOSE. SO DON'T CONFUSE THOSE PERCENTAGES WITH THE FUNDED AND UNFUNDED. SO MISCELLANEOUS IS 68.7% AND SAFETY IS 31.3% OF THAT LIABILITY.

AND AS YOU RECALL, OR SOME OF YOU MAY RECALL, LAST YEAR WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONVERT OUR WE HAVE A SECTION 115 TRUST WITH PARS FOR OUR OPEB LIABILITY. AND WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPLIT THAT INTO A COMBINED TRUST.

SO NOW WE HAVE A PENSION AND OPEB TRUST.

AND SO AS THE COUNTY HAS MONEY AVAILABLE TO PUT AWAY TOWARDS OUR PENSION LIABILITY, WE CAN PUT IT IN THIS SECTION. 115 TRUST.

UP UNTIL NOW, WE HAVEN'T WANTED TO PUT ADDITIONAL FUNDS ON FILE WITH PERS BECAUSE WHEN WE GET PERS MORE MONEY, NUMBER ONE, THEIR RATE OF RETURN IS MUCH LOWER THAN HERS. AND NUMBER TWO, WE'RE STILL CO-MINGLED WITH THE COURTS AND THE PERS SYSTEM. SO IF WE PROVIDE EXTRA FUNDING, THE COURTS ARE ALSO INADVERTENTLY GOING TO GET THE BENEFIT OF ANY ADDITIONAL FUNDING THAT WE PUT IN THERE. SO UNTIL WE DO THAT SPLIT, MY RECOMMENDATION HAS BEEN TO NOT PAY ANY EXTRA TO PERS OTHER THAN WHAT WE'RE LEGALLY REQUIRED TO DO. BUT NOW WE HAVE A MECHANISM TO PUT MONEY ASIDE FOR PENSION SHOULD WE CHOOSE TO DO THAT. EVERY YEAR WE CHARGE DEPARTMENTS, WE PAY AHEAD TO PERS BASED ON AN ESTIMATE, AND THEN WE CHARGE DEPARTMENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. AND IF THERE'S ANY VARIANCE IN THAT, WE TAKE THAT MONEY AT THE END OF THE YEAR.

SO WE DID THAT LAST YEAR AND WE PUT THAT EXCESS INTO THIS 115 TRUST FOR PENSION.

SO YOU'LL SEE THE YELLOW HIGHLIGHTED LINE.

THAT IS THE AMOUNT THAT WE PUT INTO THAT SECTION 115 TRUST.

AND SO NOW THAT CAN BE USED TO OFFSET THE LIABILITY AS WELL.

AND WE'LL KEEP DOING THAT REGARDLESS OF IF WE FORMALLY DECIDE THAT WE'RE GOING TO CONTRIBUTE 1% OR 2%, IF WE HAVE ANY EXCESS IN THAT ESTIMATED FUND THAT WE DO DURING THE YEAR WILL WILL ALSO CONTRIBUTE THAT TO THE PENSION.

THIS IS A FIVE YEAR HISTORY OF KIND OF WHERE WE'VE BEEN.

AND ALTHOUGH WE CAN CONTINUE TO INCREASE WHAT OUR ANNUAL CONTRIBUTIONS ARE OUR LIABILITY CONTINUES TO GO UP AS WELL.

AND OUR, OUR FUNDING LEVEL IS A LITTLE BIT LOWER THAN WHERE IT WAS FIVE YEARS AGO.

BECAUSE THERE'S JUST BEEN INFLATION, HEALTH CARE, THERE'S BEEN INCREASES IN SALARIES AND THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF INVESTMENT KIND OF FLUCTUATIONS THROUGHOUT THE YEARS.

SO THAT HAS MADE A LOT OF DIFFERENCE.

I THINK THE CONSTANT CHANGES IN ACTUARIAL ASSUMPTIONS AND INVESTMENT RETURNS MAKE

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AND SO I WOULD JUST SAY THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON THE LONG TERM AND MAKE IT A PRIORITY TO ADDRESS THE PENSION AND OPEB LIABILITIES.

THIS IS OUR ANNUAL OBLIGATIONS.

SO THIS IS WHAT WE'RE PAYING YEARLY.

WE DID THE LAST TWO YEARS AS WELL.

SO CURRENTLY WE'RE PAYING 44 MILLION A YEAR JUST FOR PENSION, NOT FOR OPEB. AND SO THIS IS THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT'S CONTRIBUTED TO PERS AND WE PUT IN THERE THE ALSO THE EMPLOYEES CONTRIBUTION AT THE TOP, BUT THE 44 MILLION REPRESENTS THE PORTION THAT SHASTA COUNTY PAYS ON BEHALF OF EMPLOYEES. IT'S UP 2 MILLION FROM THE PRIOR YEAR.

AND WE DID ADJUST IT TO REMOVE THE EFFECTS OF THE COURT. BECAUSE WHEN WE GET THE REPORT, IT'S ALL OF US COMBINED INTO ONE.

THIS IS OUR FUNDING HISTORY.

AND I SPLIT IT OUT BETWEEN SAFETY AND MISCELLANEOUS. THAT'S THE WAY THE CHARTS COME. THIS IS FROM OUR ACTUARIAL STUDY. SO THE PUBLIC CAN FIND THAT IN THE ACTUARIAL STUDY. I THE ONE THING THAT I'D LIKE TO NOTE IS LIKE IF YOU LOOK AT THE ANNUAL COVERED PAYROLL ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE, YOU'LL SEE THAT IT JUST CONTINUALLY GOES UP, OBVIOUSLY, BECAUSE WE HAVE A LARGER WORKFORCE AND BECAUSE SALARIES KEEP INCREASING.

AND SO AS A RESULT, IF YOU LOOK AT THE COLUMN, THAT'S THE FOURTH ONE, UNFUNDED ACCRUED LIABILITY THAT ALSO CONTINUES TO INCREASE AS WE MOVE FORWARD IN TIME.

THIS IS OUR HISTORICAL CONTRIBUTIONS AS A PERCENT OF PAYROLL.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT FOR EVERY DOLLAR THAT WE PAY IN SALARIES, THIS IS THE PERCENT THAT WE PAY JUST TO PERS.

IT'S NOT FOR ANY OTHER EMPLOYEE RELATED COSTS.

SO IF YOU LOOK AT THE FAR RIGHT COLUMN AND IT'S ALWAYS KIND OF A YEAR BEHIND BECAUSE WE'RE WAITING FOR THE THE YEAR TO FINISH.

AND THEN OUR ACTUARIAL IS ALWAYS A YEAR BEHIND.

SO WHAT WE USE IN THE FINANCIAL IS OUR LATEST ACTUARIAL, WHICH IS ALWAYS A YEAR BEHIND.

AND SO FOR EVERY DOLLAR WE PAY FOR MISCELLANEOUS EMPLOYEE, WE PAY 25% PERS. AND FOR EVERY DOLLAR DOLLAR WE PAY FOR A SAFETY EMPLOYEE, WE PAY 60% TO PERS. AND IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THAT SHIFT HAS IT HAS SHIFTED A LITTLE BIT THE PERCENT THAT WE SPLIT BETWEEN THE EMPLOYEES AND THE COUNTY.

SO I THINK IN THE BEGINNING THE MISCELLANEOUS WAS ABOUT A 50/50 SPLIT IS NOW MORE ABOUT A 3466. SO THE COUNTY PICKS UP A BIGGER PORTION OF THAT AS WELL.

AND THEN FOR THE SAFETY, IT WAS ABOUT A 26% 70, 26, 74 SPLIT TEN YEARS AGO.

AND NOW IT'S A 2377. SO SLOWLY THE THE COUNTY IS PICKING UP MORE OF THAT.

AND THEN THESE ARE KIND OF CHARTS THAT WE CAN USE GOING FORWARD.

SO THEY PERS HAS RELEASED A PENSION OUTLOOK TOOL WHERE WE CAN PUT IN SOME ESTIMATES AND THEN KIND OF SEE WHERE ARE WE GOING IN THE FUTURE.

SO THESE ESTIMATES WERE BASED ON A 5.8% RETURN AND MEETING THE DISCOUNT RATE OF 6.8% AFTER THE NEXT YEAR. AND JUST TRYING TO GAUGE WHERE WE'RE AT AND, AND WHETHER WE GET 6.8 OR NOT IS, YOU KNOW, TO BE DETERMINED BECAUSE WE DON'T SEEM TO DO AS WELL WITH PERS.

AND SO WE CAN THEN PROJECT OUT INTO THE FUTURE WHAT WE THINK.

AND THIS IS THE ANNUAL OBLIGATION.

SO RIGHT NOW IN YEAR 2526 WE'RE ESTIMATING $44 MILLION WHICH HAS ALREADY BEEN PROVIDED TO US BY PURS. AND THEN YOU CAN SEE THAT KIND OF GROWS.

SO BETWEEN NOW AND 2930 WE COULD BE PAYING AN EXTRA.

CAN I DO MY MATH? WELL, YOU CAN SEE THE NUMBERS THERE.

AND THEN THIS IS AS A PERCENT OF PAYROLL.

SO WE JUST WENT OVER THE 2526 FOR EVERY DOLLAR WE SPEND, 28% IS IS MISCELLANEOUS IN FIVE YEARS.

FOR EVERY DOLLAR WE SPEND, 29% WILL BE PAID TO PERS.

AND THEN FOR SAFETY, IT WILL BE 62 IN THIS UPCOMING YEAR AND THEN 63% FIVE YEARS FROM NOW. AND THEN THIS IS FOR OPEB, WHICH IS AGAIN IS THE OTHER POST-EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS. SO THIS IS ALL THE OTHER BENEFITS WHEN SOMEBODY RETIRES THAT ARE NOT RELATED TO PENSION. AND SO THIS ONE HAS A LIABILITY OF $251 MILLION.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO TO NOTE THAT IN GENERAL THE LIABILITY ON THIS ONE DOES NOT GO UP.

WE IMPLEMENTED IN 2017 2018, WE IMPLEMENTED A FOUR ONE AYE.

SO WE CHANGED THE WAY WE PAY FOR RETIREE HEALTH CARE.

AND SO INSTEAD OF PAYING RETIREE HEALTH CARE DIRECTLY, WE IMPLEMENTED A 401 AYE FOR EMPLOYEES.

SO EMPLOYEES COULD CONTRIBUTE TO THEIR 457.

AND THE COUNTY WOULD MATCH THAT IN A 401 AYE.

AND THAT 401 AYE WAS INTENDED TO BE USED FOR RETIREE HEALTH CARE.

AT THE END OF SOMEBODY'S CAREER, THEY WOULD HAVE THIS POT OF MONEY THAT THEY COULD USE THEN TO PAY FOR RETIREE HEALTH CARE.

AND SO NORMALLY IT DOESN'T GO UP, HOWEVER, BECAUSE WE MADE THE CHANGES IN RECENT YEARS TO CHANGE THE PERCENTAGE THAT THE EMPLOYER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR.

WE DID SEE A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN OUR LIABILITY, AND WE'RE KIND OF WAITING FOR NEXT YEAR TO FLUSH OUT TO SEE THE FULL EFFECTS OF THAT.

AND YOU'LL SEE THAT IN THE NEXT SLIDE.

AS OF OUR APRIL 30TH STATEMENT, I PUT IN THE ASSETS THAT WE HAVE ON HAND AS OF OUR APRIL 30TH STATEMENT.

[00:25:02]

WE'RE ABOUT 5,842% FUNDED AND 58% UNFUNDED.

IT'S A MUCH SMALLER LIABILITY, THOUGH.

SO THE TOP ONE IS THE THE ONE WE USED THE CHART WE USED IN A PREVIOUS PRESENTATION WHERE WE. WE MADE THE.

NOTE THAT THE CURRENT LIABILITY WAS EXPECTED TO INCREASE DUE TO THE NEGOTIATED CHANGES TO THE COUNTY CONTRIBUTIONS FOR HEALTH CARE.

AND SO AT THE BOTTOM YOU CAN SEE THE CHART.

WE'RE STILL WAITING FOR ONE MORE YEAR TO FULLY FLUSH THAT OUT. BUT YOU CAN SEE BETWEEN SIX 3021. AND TODAY THERE'S BEEN AN INCREASE OF ABOUT 50 MILLION, 47 MILLION IN THE LIABILITY FOR THAT.

AND THAT'S, YOU KNOW, DIRECTLY RELATED.

IT'S NOT ONLY RELATED TO THE, THE CHANGES THAT WE MADE, BUT IT'S ALSO INVESTMENTS.

LIKE IF WE HAD ANY INVESTMENT LOSSES OR BAD YEARS, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS WOULD, WOULD ALSO CHANGE THAT UNFUNDED NUMBER.

SO THAT'S WHERE WE ARE CURRENTLY 42%.

AND ABOUT 60% OF OUR WORKFORCE CURRENTLY IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE 4141 AYE, MEANING THAT MOST OF THOSE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HIRED AFTER 2017 2018.

AND SO THE LAST THING IS JUST FOR THE OPEB, WE'RE PAYING CURRENTLY ABOUT 6.2 MILLION IN CONTRIBUTIONS ANNUALLY TOWARDS THAT UNFUNDED LIABILITY.

IT WILL DECREASE A LITTLE BIT. AND THIS YEAR WE'RE WAITING TO SEE WHERE WE COME OUT, BECAUSE PREVIOUSLY WE MADE A COMMITMENT THAT IF THERE WAS ANY SAVINGS IN THE HEALTH CARE AS A RESULT OF OUR SHARE WITH EMPLOYEES, WE WOULD CONTRIBUTE THAT SAVINGS.

BUT BECAUSE OF THE CHANGE, THERE IS NO SAVINGS, SO WE WON'T BE CONTRIBUTING THAT AMOUNT.

SO WE ARE CONTRIBUTING 5% OF PAYROLL TO OPEB CURRENTLY.

AND OUR GOALS FOR THE FUTURE ARE JUST TO SPLIT THE COUNTY AND THE COURT IN PERS.

SO WE'LL BE WORKING ON THAT ACTIVELY WITH THE COURTS, THE COURTS, TO GET THEM OUT OF OUR PERS PLAN AND MAKE THAT SPLIT HAPPEN PERMANENTLY, WHICH I THINK IS A GOOD IDEA BECAUSE THE COURTS AND THE COUNTY SEPARATED YEARS AGO.

ANY QUESTIONS? IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE WORKING WITH MELISSA ON? YEAH, WE BROUGHT IT UP WITH HER, BUT NOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WORK WITH THE NEW. SO ARE YOU HAVING TO START ALL OVER? YEAH. YEAH. THAT'S TERRIFIC.

YEAH. AND THE LAWS JUST WENT INTO EFFECT ABOUT A YEAR AGO THAT WE COULD DO IT.

AND IT'S OPTIONAL. SO WE HAVE TO GET THE COURTS TO BUY OFF ON IT.

SO IF THEY SAY NO, THERE'S REALLY NOTHING WE CAN DO UNDER THE CURRENT LAWS. BUT I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY WOULDN'T WANT TO DO THAT AND JUST MAKE THAT SPLIT.

PRELIMINARY CONVERSATIONS. DO THEY SEEM LIKE THEY'RE NEW? YES. OKAY. YES. BECAUSE MELISSA WAS ON BOARD WITH IT.

YEAH. YEAH. OKAY. SUPERVISOR, THEN.

SUPERVISOR. PLUMMER. THANK YOU.

YOU'RE WELCOME. SO A COUPLE QUESTIONS I HAVE.

YOU SAID WE'RE ABOUT 68% FUNDED LIABILITY FOR PERS, RIGHT? WHAT IS THE AVERAGE FUNDED IN PERS ITSELF ACROSS THE BOARD? DO YOU DO YOU KNOW THAT NUMBER? ARE THEY STILL IN THE 70S ACROSS COUNTIES, ACROSS ALL COUNTIES? I DON'T HAVE THAT NUMBER, BUT I CAN GET THAT NUMBER AND SEND IT TO YOU. I'M JUST CURIOUS ABOUT THAT. IT VARIES WIDELY. SO WE HAVE SOME THAT ARE YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A FEW THAT ARE FULLY FUNDED, BUT WE HAVE SOME THAT ARE LIKE DOWN IN THE 20S AND 30S.

SO WE CAN WE CAN GET YOU AN ESTIMATE OF WHAT THAT IS.

OKAY. AND THEN YOU MENTIONED THE 115 TRUST.

I'D NEVER HEARD ABOUT THAT BEFORE.

AND THE, HOW THAT INTEGRATES INTO THE PURSE AND HOW WE CAN FUND THE 115 AND NOT HAVE BECAUSE WE'RE CONNECTED WITH THE COURT'S FUND, THE THE OTHER, THE OTHER, THE PURSE PORTION.

YES. SO HOW DOES THAT INTEGRATE THEN WHEN SOMEBODY RETIRES.

DOES THAT. SO THE SECTION 115 TRUST DOESN'T INTEGRATE WITH PURSE.

IT'S AN ADDITIONAL IT'S BASICALLY A TRUST.

AND AS LONG AS WE PUT MONEY INTO TRUST, THEN FOR A SPECIFIC PURPOSE WHICH WE HAVE, THEN WE CAN USE THAT TO OFFSET OUR LIABILITIES AND OUR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

SO IT CAN BE SHOWN AS AN ASSET ADDITIONAL TO WHAT WE HAVE IN PURSE.

SO WE IT JUST STAYS IN THE ACCOUNT.

IT STAYS IN THAT TRUST PURSE UNTIL YOU PULL THAT TRIGGER.

YEAH. AND IT'S IRREVOCABLE.

SO IT'S PUT IN THERE SPECIFICALLY FOR, YOU KNOW, POST-EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS. SO IT CAN'T BE USED FOR ANYTHING ELSE. SO AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE WE COULD USE IT TO PAY PREMIUMS. AND, YOU KNOW, YOU TALKED ABOUT THE FUNDING PERCENT WHERE WHERE PEOPLE ARE.

MY GOAL IS KIND OF TO BE AT LIKE 85% FUNDED.

YOU NEVER WANT TO BE 100% FUNDED BECAUSE YOU DON'T THERE'S NO BENEFIT IN BEING OVERFUNDED.

AND THEN, YOU KNOW, IN SOME YEARS, WE'LL STILL HAVE INVESTMENT EARNINGS AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS THAT HAPPEN FROM THE MONEY THAT WE HAVE IN THERE. SO, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, I THINK WE'RE WE'RE GETTING THERE, BUT WE'RE STILL, YOU KNOW, A WAYS OFF.

BUT IT IS A FUTURE. IT'S A FUTURE LIABILITY.

SO, I MEAN, EVERY EMPLOYEE WOULD HAVE TO QUIT TODAY AND THE COUNTY WOULD HAVE TO FOR US TO REALIZE THAT FULL LIABILITY TODAY.

CORRECT. OKAY. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR. PLUMMER. YES.

THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.

ONE QUESTION ON THE CHARTS WHERE WE'RE PROJECTING OUT ABOUT TEN YEARS, ARE WE ASSUMING THAT OUR COUNTY WORKFORCE STAYS THE SAME AS IT IS TODAY? AND THEN WE'RE JUST KIND OF PROJECTING OUT BASED ON, YOU KNOW, RETIREE RATES? OR ARE WE PROJECTING THAT INCREASE OR DECREASE? NO, THERE'S NO ABILITY IN THE PENSION OUTLOOK TOOL.

[00:30:01]

IT DOES DO SOME PROJECTIONS.

AND AS FAR AS LIKE, YOU KNOW, AS FAR AS PROJECTING OUT WHAT THEY THINK THE LIABILITY IS. AND SO I WOULD ASSUME THAT SOME PORTION OF THAT ALSO, BECAUSE IF THEY'RE DOING TRENDING, THAT IT'S GOING TO INCLUDE THE INCREASE IN SALARIES. BUT IT DOESN'T SPECIFICALLY ASK US LIKE HOW MUCH DO WE WANT TO ADD FOR THE WORKFORCE? SO IT'S, IT'S RELATIVELY CLOSE.

OKAY. AND THEN JUST TO CLARIFY, IT SOUNDED LIKE YOU WERE SAYING THAT 85% FOR PERS WOULD BE YOUR GOAL IN TERMS OF WHERE YOU'D LIKE TO SEE THAT FUNDED, IT SEEMS LIKE THAT'S DRIVEN SIGNIFICANTLY BY INVESTMENT RETURNS IN THE SENSE THAT IT LOOKED LIKE, WAS IT 2 OR 3 YEARS AGO WHERE THE RETURNS WERE REALLY SIGNIFICANT AND WE GOT UP TO 80 SOMETHING PERCENT AND THEN IT DROPPED BACK DOWN.

SO HOW MUCH IS ACTUALLY WITHIN KIND OF OBVIOUSLY WE CAN MAKE CONTRIBUTIONS TO IT, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE A LARGE PART OF THAT IS DRIVEN BY YOUR INVEST, THE INVESTMENT RETURNS, WHICH WE DON'T HAVE ANY CONTROL OVER.

CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.

YEAH. WE HAVE NO CONTROL OVER IT. AND I WOULD TELL YOU THAT ALTHOUGH, YOU KNOW, I HAVE CONTROL OVER THE SECTION 115 TRUST AND A FUNDING LEVEL, PRCHAL IS GOING TO KEEP CHARGING US UNTIL WE'RE OUR LIABILITY IS FULLY SATISFIED AT 100%. OKAY. SO THEY, THEY GIVE US BASICALLY EVERY YEAR, THEY TELL US WHAT OUR CONTRIBUTIONS FOR THE CURRENT YEAR, THE NORMAL COSTS THAT THEY SAY, AND THEN THE UNFUNDED.

AND WE HAVE TO MAKE THOSE PAYMENTS.

SO. OKAY. AND THEN ON YOUR SLIDE WITH THE ACTUARIAL ASSUMPTIONS, YOU TALK ABOUT HEALTH CARE COSTS.

SO MY UNDERSTANDING, WE'RE A SELF-FUNDED EMPLOYER ESSENTIALLY.

SO WE'RE PAYING FOR OUR HEALTH CARE COSTS.

THAT'S FOR EXISTING EMPLOYEES. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY FOR RETIRED EMPLOYEES.

BUT THE, IF WE WERE TO COME UP WITH PROGRAMS, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT INCENTIVIZE HEALTHY BEHAVIORS AND, AND INCREASE THE HEALTH OF OUR WORKFORCE, LET'S SAY WOULD THAT HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON THIS LIABILITY OVER TIME.

I, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD HAVE TO WORK WITH THE ACTUARIAL.

BUT I THINK THAT IF IF HOW THAT WOULD COME ABOUT WOULD BE THAT YOUR HEALTH CARE COSTS WOULD GO DOWN. SO WHEN ACTUARIAL IS PREPARING THEIR STUDY, THEY'RE GOING TO SEE OVER TIME THAT THE HEALTH CARE COSTS ARE GOING DOWN. THEREFORE, YOUR LIABILITY IS GOING TO GO DOWN.

SO I THINK IT'S NOT GOING TO BE THE FACT NECESSARILY THAT WE IMPLEMENTED A PROGRAM.

IT'S GOING TO BE THE EFFECTS OF THAT PROGRAM THAT ARE GOING TO MAKE THAT THAT LIABILITY GO DOWN. BUT WE CAN DEFINITELY HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH WITH THE ACTUARIAL WHEN AND IF WE IMPLEMENT THOSE.

BUT I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO WANT TO SEE THAT THERE'S SOME DOLLARS ATTACHED TO THAT.

AND NOT JUST THAT WE IMPLEMENTED A PROGRAM.

SURE. THANK YOU. OKAY.

THANK YOU. ONE LAST QUESTION.

SURE. SUPERVISOR LONG.

THANK YOU. CHAIR. IT'S NOT CLICKING ON.

OKAY. WANT TO HELP YOU? YEAH. IT WAS. GIVE ME A SECOND.

IT'S NOT. THERE WE GO.

NOW IT STAYS. SO BASICALLY TO SUPERVISOR PLUMMER QUESTION, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE RATE OF RETURN ON THE INVESTMENTS IS ONE COMPONENT, AND THEN THE DISCOUNT RATE, WHICH IS THE ASSUMED FUTURE RATE OF RETURN, WHICH IS SITTING AT ABOUT 6.8% RIGHT NOW.

SO WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU WERE COVERING THOSE CHARTS, IT SHOWED OUR COSTS GOING UP THROUGH ABOUT 30, 20, 30, KIND OF. YES. YES.

AND THEN AND THEN IT STARTS GOING DOWN AND THEN IT STARTS GOING DOWN.

IS THAT, IS THAT GOING DOWN THEN BECAUSE WE ASSUME THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET BETTER RATES OF RETURN, OR THAT WE'RE GOING TO CHANGE OUR INTERNAL RATE OF DISCOUNT RETURN THE 6.8.

I WOULD ASSUME THAT IT'S BECAUSE WE'RE WE'RE OUR FUNDING LEVEL IS GOING TO BE GREATER.

SO THEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, LESS WE PAY INTEREST ON THE UNFUNDED PORTION AS WELL.

AND SO THE GREATER FUNDED WE ARE, THE LESS INTEREST WE PAY.

SO OUR EXPENSES ARE GOING TO GO DOWN WITH THAT PLAN.

THAT'S WITHIN THAT PENSION OUTLOOK TOOL.

I THERE'S VERY LITTLE IN THERE THAT I CAN CONTROL.

SO BUT BUT I WOULD ASSUME THAT OUR FUNDING WILL BE GREATER.

SO THEN, YOU KNOW, OUR OUR COSTS WILL GO DOWN AT THAT POINT BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY OUR SALARIES ARE NOT GOING DOWN AND OUR, YOU KNOW, OTHER THINGS.

SO OUR UNFUNDED, OUR NORMAL PORTION WOULD CONTINUE TO GO UP, BUT OUR UNFUNDED PORTION WOULD START TO GO DOWN.

RIGHT. SO IF WE CAN BUCKLE UP AND HANG TIGHT TILL ABOUT 30 BASED ON THOSE MODELS, THEN WE MIGHT START TO SEE A BREAK IN PERS REQUIREMENTS FOR CONTRIBUTIONS FOR FROM THE COUNTY, DEPENDING ON ACTUARIAL ASSUMPTIONS AND INVESTMENT EARNINGS OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. RIGHT. THEY CHANGE IT EVERY YEAR.

SO IT'S GOING TO KEEP.

OKAY. THANK YOU. IT'S A IT'S A FLUID THING.

IT'S A MOVING TARGET. ALL RIGHT.

WE GOOD? YES. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU SUPERVISOR. THANK YOU, MISS BURTON.

WELCOME BACK. THANK YOU.

WHY IS THAT? OKAY. CERTAIN DEPARTMENTS THAT WORK TO KEEP THE GENERAL BUSINESS OF THE COUNTY RUNNING AND WORK WITH DEPARTMENTS TO ASSIST THEM IN GENERAL BUSINESS FUNCTIONS, BUILD BACK THEIR COST TO DEPARTMENTS VIA COST PLAN CHARGES.

[00:35:02]

THE DEPARTMENTS THAT SERVE IN THIS WAY AND ARE BILLED THROUGH THE COST PLAN CHARGES ARE THE AUDITOR CONTROLLER, THE CIO'S OFFICE, COUNTY COUNCIL PERSONNEL PURCHASING AND A VERY SMALL PORTION OF THE TREASURER.

DEPARTMENTS WHO PROVIDE SERVICES DIRECTLY TO OTHER DEPARTMENTS BASED ON NEED ARE RUN THROUGH INTERNAL SERVICE FUNDS. INTERNAL SERVICE FUNDS WORK MORE LIKE A SEPARATE BUSINESS, AND THEY BILLED FOR SERVICES IN REAL TIME.

THEY HAVE A REQUIRED WORKING CAPITAL RESERVE FOR CASH FLOW PURPOSES, AND THEIR RATES ARE DRIVEN BY ACTUAL COSTS AND ARE ADJUSTED TO KEEP THE WORKING CAPITAL RESERVE WITHIN THE ACCEPTABLE LIMIT.

THE DEPARTMENTS THE BILL IS IN IS F, R FACILITIES, FLEET, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, THE MAILROOM AND RISK MANAGEMENT FOR BOTH THE CENTRAL SERVICE DEPARTMENTS AND THE ISF DEPARTMENTS.

ANY. INCREASED COSTS LIKE HEALTH CARE, INSURANCES AND SALARY INCREASES ARE ALSO REALIZED, WHICH IN TURN INCREASE THE AMOUNTS BILLED TO DEPARTMENTS.

THIS CHART SHOWS A COMPARISON BETWEEN THE ISF CHARGES IN ORANGE COST PLAN CHARGES IN BLUE IN COMPARISON TO THE OVERALL COUNTY BUDGET IN GREEN.

BOTH ISF AND COST PLAN CHARGES ARE MEASURED IN $5 MILLION INCREMENTS VIA THE AXIS ON THE RIGHT. THE BUDGET IS MEASURED IN $100 MILLION INCREMENTS VIA THE AXIS ON THE LEFT.

NOTICE THE COST. NOTICE THE COST PLAN CHARGES REMAIN FLAT FOR A SIGNIFICANT PERIOD OF TIME, BUT BEGIN TO INCREASE IN FISCAL YEAR 2223, WHICH HAVE BEEN WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN REFLECTIVE OF INCREASES IN FISCAL YEAR 2021.

THIS IS CONSISTENT WITH THE INCREASES REALIZED IN THE COUNTY BUDGET AS A WHOLE, AND THE ISF CHARGES IN FISCAL YEAR 2021.

ALTHOUGH THERE WERE INCREASES IN ALL OF THE SF BUDGET UNITS DURING THIS TIME, THE LARGEST DRIVER OF THE INCREASES WAS THROUGH RISK AND THE INCREASED INSURANCE RATES. THE DEMOLITION OF THE OLD COURTHOUSE IS A TOP PRIORITY.

THE COUNTY IS NOW RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL THE MAINTENANCE AND UPKEEP AS WELL AS COSTS FOR UTILITIES. THE BOARD HAS GIVEN DIRECTION TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE DEMOLITION, AND PUBLIC WORKS IS MAKING IT A FOCUS AS THE COUNTY HAS EXPERIENCED INCREASED LITIGATION IN RECENT YEARS. SO HAVE THE COSTS FOR OUTSIDE COUNSEL.

INCLUDED HERE IS A CHART SHOWING THE TREND IN RECENT YEARS.

COSTS INCLUDED FOR FISCAL YEAR 2425 DO NOT INCLUDE THE ENTIRE YEAR, BUT THEY ALREADY EXCEED ANY COSTS IN PRIOR YEARS.

I'VE BROKEN THIS CHART OUT BY CATEGORY THIS YEAR TO NOTE A COUPLE OF THINGS.

DURING FISCAL YEAR 2425, A CONTRACT FOR PUBLIC DEFENDER SERVICES WAS ISSUED TO ASSIST WHILE STAFFING WAS LOW.

THIS WAS IN ADDITION TO THE CONFLICT PUBLIC DEFENDER CONTRACT.

THE COST OF THIS CONTRACT WAS COVERED BY A REDUCTION IN SALARY AND BENEFITS.

I ALSO WANT TO NOTE THAT THE RISK MANAGEMENT ATTORNEY FEES HAVE LEVELED OFF, AND THE HOPE IS TO FURTHER DECREASE THESE COSTS.

COSTS FOR PERSONNEL INVESTIGATIONS AND OTHER COSTS, WHICH INCLUDE LITIGATION, FAR EXCEED WHAT WE'VE SEEN PREVIOUSLY.

A SIGNIFICANT AREA FOR CONCERN, AS IT HAS BEEN FOR SEVERAL YEARS, IS RISING HEALTH INSURANCE COSTS.

THIS COST IS AN INCREASE FOR BOTH THE COUNTY AND EMPLOYEES.

THE COUNTY IS SELF-INSURED AND PAYS SMALLER LIABILITY CLAIMS OUT OF THE CURRENT BUDGET.

LARGER CLAIMS ARE PAID FROM OUR EXCESS INSURANCE COMPANY.

AS WE HAVE MORE LITIGATION THAT GETS SETTLED AT HIGHER PAYOUTS, OUR EXCESS INSURANCE COSTS INCREASE.

THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET INCLUDES AN INCREASE OF OVER $1.8 MILLION FROM LAST YEAR, AND OVER $4 MILLION FROM THE YEAR PRIOR.

I EXPECT WE'LL SEE THIS TREND TO CONTINUE INTO FUTURE YEARS.

CERTAIN DEPARTMENTS, LIKE THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, GET HIT HARDER WITH EACH INCREASE BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF LAWSUITS ASSOCIATED WITH THEIR DEPARTMENTS.

THE GOVERNOR'S MAY REVISE WAS RELEASED LAST MONTH, BUT IT DIDN'T PAINT A CLEAR PICTURE OF WHAT WILL COME. EVEN THOUGH THE LEGISLATURE WILL HAVE TO PASS SOMETHING IN THE COMING DAYS, ALL SIGNS POINT TO ADDITIONAL CHANGES TO THE STATE BUDGET WELL INTO THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS ALSO IN A STATE OF FLUX WITH EVEN MORE UNKNOWNS.

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS ALSO CONCERNED, AS IT MAKES THE TRANSFER OF REVENUES FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO THE STATE AND COUNTIES UNRELIABLE.

AS WE GET MORE INFORMATION, WE'LL HAVE TO PIVOT QUICKLY IN RESPONSE.

HHS AYE IS AN AREA OF CONCERN AS THEY REPRESENT HALF THE COUNTY'S WORKFORCE.

AS DISCUSSED IN A PRIOR SLIDE, THE PROJECTED DECREASES TO FUND BALANCE ARE CONCERNING. ALTHOUGH JUST LIKE OUR GENERAL FUND USE ARE UNLIKELY TO MATERIALIZE AT THE LEVEL THEY'VE BUDGETED.

AS THE ECONOMY CONTINUES TO TAKE A DOWNTURN, MORE PARTICIPANTS SEEK RELIEF THROUGH ENTITLEMENT PROGRAMS, TAXING ALREADY SCARCE RESOURCES.

WE'VE SEEN A SIGNIFICANT UPWARD TREND IN RECENT FISCAL YEARS AND ARE ANTICIPATING TO SEE THAT CONTINUE. SOCIAL SERVICES FUND HAS TAKEN A SIGNIFICANT HIT IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, AND AS A RESULT, HHS IS REQUIRING TO TRANSFER 10% OF REALIGNMENT FOR PUBLIC HEALTH TO SOCIAL SERVICES TO ENSURE ADEQUATE FUNDING.

ALTHOUGH THIS IS STILL AN AREA FOR CONCERN, SOCIAL SERVICES HAS IMPROVED FROM LAST YEAR, WHERE THEY ANTICIPATED A TRANSFER FROM BOTH MENTAL HEALTH AND PUBLIC HEALTH.

[00:40:01]

AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO PAUSE FOR DISCUSSION BY THE BOARD PRIOR TO STARTING THE DEPARTMENT'S PRESENTATIONS.

I DON'T SEE ANY IN QUEUE, SO I THINK WE CAN.

SUPERVISOR. PLUMMER. YES.

THANK YOU AARON. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S COME UP A FEW TIMES, I KNOW WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT A LOT IS THE, THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE HAVE ESSENTIALLY IN OUR GENERAL FUND THAT'S EITHER UNRESTRICTED OR SOMEWHAT OR COMMITTED IN A SENSE, AND THAT WE BASICALLY HAVE TO BE ABLE TO CASH FLOW DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS OR USE IN THE CASE OF IF THERE WAS A DOWNTURN, COULD YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT KIND OF WHERE WE STAND ON THAT FRONT WITH RESPECT TO HOW MUCH IS IN THE GENERAL FUND? YEAH. SO WE'VE HEARD SOME COMMENTS ABOUT THERE BEING $67 MILLION IN THE UNRESTRICTED GENERAL FUND. AND WHILE THAT WAS TRUE AS OF THE BEGINNING OF FISCAL YEAR 24, 25, SO OF JULY 1ST, WE HAD 67 MILLION IN UNASSIGNED GENERAL FUND.

THE CURRENT BUDGET, AS IT STANDS, ASSIGNS 47 MILLION OF THAT, WHICH MEANS THAT IN ORDER TO FUND THE CURRENT YEAR'S BUDGET, WE'RE USING 47 MILLION OF THAT $67 MILLION.

NOW, WE DON'T EVER REALIZE ENTIRELY, YOU KNOW WHAT WE'VE BUDGETED, WHICH IS A GOOD THING, RIGHT? WE BUDGETED CONSERVATIVELY, RIGHT? WE BUDGETED OUR EXPENDITURES A LITTLE BIT HIGH, AND OUR REVENUE IS A LITTLE BIT LOW SO THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PRETTY SAFE THERE.

BUT WHEN WE LOOK AT THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET FOR THIS YEAR, SHOULD WE REALIZE WHAT WE'RE PROJECTING FOR THIS YEAR, WHICH IS FAR LESS THAN THE 27 MILLION, IT'S MORE IN THE 20 ISH MILLION RANGE, AND WHAT THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET INCLUDES, WHAT WE WOULD HAVE LEFT IN THAT UNASSIGNED AS THE END OF 2526. IS THAT $2.6 MILLION? SHOULD THAT HAPPEN, IT WOULD BE CATASTROPHIC.

IT WON'T. YOU KNOW, BASED ON WHAT WE'VE SEEN OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.

BUT WE AYE CAN NEVER TAKE OUR BUDGET BELOW THAT AMOUNT BECAUSE WE HAVE TO HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET AND WE SHOULD NEVER TAKE THAT DOLLAR AMOUNT TO ZERO.

LIKE THAT SHOULDN'T BE SOMETHING THAT WE EVER TAKE TO ZERO.

AND THEN IN ADDITION, SHOULD WE TAKE THAT TO ZERO? WE WOULD NOT HAVE ANY MONEY FOR CASH FLOW PURPOSES, EVEN JUST IN THE GENERAL FUND.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, IN THE GENERAL FUND, YOU KNOW, WE RECEIVE OUR SALES AND PROPERTY TAX, YOU KNOW, KIND OF COMES AT DIFFERENT POINTS DURING THE YEAR.

AND SO WE HAVE TO HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO ENSURE WE HAVE CASH IN OUR GENERAL FUND.

AND SO WE CAN'T EVER TAKE THAT DOLLAR AMOUNT AND SPEND IT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO ZERO.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, WHILE IT APPEARS WE HAVE MONEY TO SPEND, WE DON'T. IT'S FUNDING THIS CURRENT BUDGET AND IT'S FUNDING FUTURE BUDGETS.

AND IT'S ENSURING THAT WE HAVE CASH FLOW TO REMAIN SOLVENT.

AND FOR OUR CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, THE ONE WE'RE ENDING IN THE NEXT MONTH.

HOW MUCH DID WE PROJECT THAT WE WOULD SPEND DOWN ON THE GENERAL FUND AND HOW MUCH DO WE ESTIMATE AT THIS POINT? SO WE PROJECTED. SO RIGHT NOW WE HAVE $47 MILLION ASSIGNED FOR THAT.

THE PROJECTIONS FOR THIS FOR THIS NEXT YEAR, LIKE AROUND THE $22 MILLION RANGE.

I DON'T ANTICIPATE IT'LL EVEN BE THAT BECAUSE HISTORICALLY WE HAVE PROJECTIONS, RIGHT. AND WE COME IN LESS THAN THAT.

I DO ANTICIPATE THAT WE WILL SPEND SOME OF IT.

SO IF YOU LOOK AT SOME OF OUR IF YOU WERE TO LOOK AT THE LAST TEN YEARS, WE HAD SOME YEARS WHERE EVERY YEAR WE WERE PROJECTING TO SPEND.

AND THEN WE CONTRIBUTED TO THE GENERAL FUND.

WELL, IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS WE'VE ACTUALLY SPENT FROM THE GENERAL FUND.

AND SO THAT'S KIND OF A SIGN THAT WE'RE SORT OF GETTING TO THAT PLACE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ACTUALLY SPENDING MORE THAN WE HAVE COMING IN.

AND SO IT'S SOMETHING TO WATCH AND IT'S SOMETHING TO JUST CONTINUE TO BE VERY CAUTIOUS ABOUT SO THAT WE DON'T END UP IN A POSITION WHERE WE'RE HAVING TO PIVOT VERY QUICKLY AND REDUCE EXPENDITURES IN A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.

AND SO WE'RE ESTIMATING THAT WE AT THIS POINT, WE'RE ESTIMATING, EVEN THOUGH WE THINK OUR ESTIMATES ARE A LITTLE HIGH, THAT IT WOULD WE'D SPEND HALF OF WHAT WE THOUGHT WE WOULD SPEND AS OF LAST JULY, ROUGHLY. AND ALSO AS WE REDUCE VACANCIES AND TIGHTEN THAT UP, BECAUSE ONE OF THE BIG DIFFERENCES, MY UNDERSTANDING IS, IS THAT ONE OF THE BIG DIFFERENCES BETWEEN WHAT WE PROJECT AND THEN WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENS IS SALARY SAVINGS, WHERE WE DON'T ACTUALLY FILL POSITIONS THAT WE HAD PROJECTED THAT WE WANTED TO FILL.

IS THAT AS WE TIGHTEN THAT AND AS WE REDUCE THOSE VACANCIES, OUR BUDGET TO ACTUAL ACTUALLY BECOME CLOSER.

AND SO THERE'S MORE LIKELY THAT WE'LL REALIZE THESE BUDGETED NUMBERS OR BE CLOSER TO THEM.

IS THAT A FAIR ASSESSMENT? YEAH, I WOULD SAY THAT'S A VERY FAIR ASSESSMENT. YOU KNOW, WE DEFINITELY WANT TO WANT TO RIGHTSIZE OUR WORKFORCE.

BUT IT DOES CHANGE WHERE WE SEE SOME OF THOSE SALARY SAVINGS.

WE DO ALSO SEE A PRETTY SUBSTANTIAL SALARY SAVINGS IN SERVICES.

OUR SAVINGS IN SERVICES AND SUPPLIES OVER THE YEAR MOSTLY IN PROFESSIONAL SERVICES.

[00:45:03]

OKAY. THANK YOU. AND THEN ONE OTHER LINE OF QUESTIONS.

IF YOU COULD PULL UP THE CHART WITH THE COST PLAN CHARGES THAT OVER TIME.

SO WERE YOU SUGGESTING THAT? SO ONE, IT SOUNDS LIKE WHAT WE SEE IN THIS BUDGET FOR THIS NEXT FISCAL YEAR IS ACTUALLY THE COSTS THAT WERE INCURRED TWO YEARS AGO.

YEAH. SO WHAT WE SEE AS A AS A BASE CHARGE FOR THIS YEAR IS THE COSTS THAT WERE INCLUDED TWO YEARS AGO. SO WHATEVER COSTS WERE INCURRED TWO YEARS AGO PLUS, THEN WHAT WE SEE IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT WAS CHARGED TWO YEARS AGO AND WHAT ACTUALS WERE. SO FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU HAD A DEPARTMENT THAT THEIR SPENDING WAS $100,000 TWO YEARS AGO, AND THE COST PLAN CHARGES, WHICH WERE BASED ON TWO YEARS PRIOR TO THAT, COME IN AT 80,000, THEN THIS YEAR'S ESTIMATE IS GOING TO BE 100,000 PLUS THAT $20,000 FROM TWO YEARS AGO, BECAUSE WE HAVE TO MAKE UP THAT DIFFERENCE FOR ACTUALS FOR TWO YEARS AGO.

SO IF WE'RE SEEING IN THE BUDGET, FOR EXAMPLE, COST PLAN CHARGES GO UP CONSIDERABLY FROM LAST YEAR TO THIS YEAR.

DOES THAT MEAN THAT WHAT WE CHARGED AT THE TIME WAS LESS THAN WHAT WAS ACTUALLY INCURRED IN TERMS OF THE EXPENSES? CORRECT.

OKAY. AND IS THAT YOU KIND OF ALLUDED TO THIS, BUT THE FLATNESS OF THAT BLUE LINE FOR MANY YEARS WHILE THE TOTAL BUDGET WAS GOING UP.

DO WE HAVE A SENSE OF KIND OF BECAUSE YOU HAD I THINK IT SOUNDED LIKE YOU WERE IMPLYING THAT THOSE WOULD KIND OF TREND TOGETHER.

AND SO THE TOTAL BUDGET IS GOING UP.

YOU WOULD EXPECT THAT BLUE LINE TO GO UP KIND OF AT ROUGHLY THE SAME CURVE.

YEAH, I WOULD EXPECT IT TO GO UP TWO YEARS LATER.

SO WHEN I LOOK AT LIKE THE GREEN BUDGET, YOU SEE WHERE IT KIND OF STARTED GOING UP AND WAS REALLY KIND OF GOING UP IN 2021.

AND THEN YOU SEE THE COST PLAN CHARGES START GOING UP IN 2223.

THAT'S REFLECTIVE OF CHARGES IN 2021, NOT ONLY THE CHARGES THAT WERE ACTUALS, BUT THEN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ACTUALS AND WHAT CAME IN THROUGH THE COST PLAN REIMBURSEMENT. OKAY. SO WE'RE WE'RE PAYING THIS YEAR FOR THE INCREASES THAT WERE ESSENTIALLY INCURRED TWO YEARS AGO.

CORRECT. AND WE'RE KIND OF, IN A WAY LIKE PAYING TWICE THE INCREASE, RIGHT? BECAUSE TWO YEARS AGO, WE'RE MAKING UP FOR THE DIFFERENCE.

AND THEN THAT SETS A NEW BASE.

OKAY. THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR LONG.

AS FAR AS THE INCREASED LITIGATION COSTS, YOU SAID THEY WERE GOING UP.

I FORGET WHAT YOUR CHART SAID. LIKE SEVEN UP, JUST UNDER 7 MILLION. WAS IT? YEAH. AND THAT IS AS OF.

I MEAN, THAT'S OF WHAT HAD POSTED.

I THINK I PULLED THESE AS OF LIKE JUNE 3RD.

I JUST PULLED THESE OUT OF WHAT'S HIT THE GENERAL LEDGER, WHICH WOULD LEAVE ABOUT TWO MONTHS, PROBABLY AT A MINIMUM LEFT TO HIT FOR THE REST OF THE FISCAL YEAR.

AND CAN YOU EDUCATE THE BOARD AS TO WHAT YOUR OPINION AS TO WHY THE INCREASE IN LITIGATION COSTS? IS THAT JUST BECAUSE LITIGATION IS BECOMING MORE EXPENSIVE FOR POLICE OR SHERIFF OPERATIONS, LET'S SAY, OR IS IT BECAUSE WE'VE GOT AN INCREASED NUMBER OF LAWSUITS, OR IS IT WHAT IS WHAT'S DRIVING THIS COST? SO I'D SAY THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS.

SO KIND OF TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PUBLIC DEFENDER.

THAT'S REALLY SORT OF A ONE TIME INCREASE, RIGHT.

WE WE TOOK OUT A CONTRACT.

IN ADDITION TO OUR REGULAR CONFLICT PUBLIC DEFENDER CONTRACT SORT OF FILL THOSE GAPS WHILE SHE GETS STAFFED UP, YOU KNOW, AND REDUCE SALARY AND BENEFITS FOR THAT. SO THAT'S PART OF IT.

AND THEN REALLY, THE REMAINDER OF IT IS REALLY KIND OF THE OTHER COUNTY BUSINESS, RIGHT? SO WE'VE HAD SOME PRETTY LARGE LAWSUITS OF RECENT THAT WERE HAVE BEEN PAYING FOR. SO, I MEAN, THE HOPE WOULD BE THAT THAT WOULD DECREASE, THAT LITIGATION WOULD DECREASE.

AND THEN WE'VE DEFINITELY YOU KNOW, SEEN SOME INCREASE AS FAR AS LIKE THE RISK MANAGEMENT IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. BUT THAT SEEMS TO BE LEVELING OFF A LITTLE BIT.

AND I WOULD SAY THAT COUNTY COUNCIL HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN REALLY TAKING A LOOK AT KIND OF THE RATES THAT WE WERE CHARGING AND SHOULD BE CHARGING, AND THEY'RE WORKING TO KIND OF BRING THAT DOWN. SO THAT'S BEEN NOT LAST YEAR TO THIS YEAR, BUT IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

AND THEN WE'VE SEEN INCREASES IN PERSONNEL INVESTIGATIONS AS WELL.

AND SO I KNOW PERSONNEL HAS BEEN WORKING ON THAT AS FAR AS TRAINING SOME PEOPLE INTERNALLY TO BE ABLE TO DO SOME INVESTIGATIONS.

AND THEN POTENTIALLY, AS WE GET TO A POINT WHERE, YOU KNOW, COUNTY COUNCIL GETS FULLY STAFFED AND GOING, THEN SOME OF THOSE COULD ACTUALLY COME BACK IN-HOUSE AS WELL.

AND, YOU KNOW, HISTORICALLY, YOU CAN SEE LIKE THE PERSONNEL ONES IN 1920 WERE BASICALLY NONEXISTENT.

SO WE DID SOME OF THAT, SOME OF THAT MORE INTERNALLY AS WELL AS THERE'S JUST BEEN AN INCREASE IN THOSE INVESTIGATIONS.

SO THANK YOU. YOU SAID 1920.

YEAH. WHEN I LOOK AT 1920 ON THE CHART THERE'S NO GREEN 1920.

YEAH, I KNOW THAT'S NOT 1920.

2019, 2020, 100 YEARS AGO WE DIDN'T PAY FOR IT AT ALL.

[00:50:05]

WE HAVE A SELF-INSURED RETENTION.

AND WHAT WE HAVE IN THESE NUMBERS THAT'S SIGNIFICANT IS THE FOUNTAIN WIND PROJECT LAWSUIT AND RELATED OUTSIDE COUNSEL COSTS ARE NOT COVERED UNDER THAT SELF-INSURED RETENTION WHERE 100% RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT'S OVER A MILLION.

CORRECT. AND THAT'S A, THAT'S A LARGE PIECE OF LITIGATION.

SO THAT'S ANOTHER LARGE FACTOR IN WHY THE NUMBERS LOOK LIKE THEY DO.

ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT. SERIOUSLY.

SUPERVISOR. PLUMMER. AND THEN WE'LL GO TO LUNCH.

I'M JUST KIDDING. COULD YOU GO BACK TO THE TABLE? IT WAS LIKE THE THIRD SLIDE, THE FISCAL THIS FISCAL YEAR APPROPRIATIONS BY DEPARTMENT ROUGHLY. AND WHERE IT SHOWS THE.

YEAH. THANK YOU. SO I THINK THE THERE'S SIGNIFICANT VARIATION BY DEPARTMENT HERE IN TERMS OF INCREASES VERSUS DECREASES.

AND I IMAGINE THAT, WELL, IN OUR BUDGET PRINCIPLES, WE SAY THAT THE GOAL IS TO MAINTAIN EACH DEPARTMENT TO MAINTAIN A STATUS QUO BUDGET.

AND BUT WE SEE A LOT OF VARIATIONS HERE THAT I IMAGINE COULD BE CONCERNING TO SOME OF LIKE, OH, WELL, WHY IS SOMEONE GETTING A BIG INCREASE IN SOMEONE DECREASING OR THAT TYPE OF THING? COULD YOU HELP EXPLAIN KIND OF WHAT DRIVES THE DIFFERENCES AND LIKE WHAT IN TERMS OF HOW IT GOES THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS AND SOME END UP WITH AN INCREASE VERSUS STATUS QUO OR DECREASE? SURE.

SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT A STATUS QUO BUDGET, WE'RE REALLY TALKING ABOUT STATUS QUO IN TERMS OF GENERAL FUND CONTRIBUTION OR NET COUNTY COSTS.

SO YOU COULD HAVE APPROPRIATIONS THAT ARE INCREASED, BUT REVENUE THAT'S ALSO INCREASED TO OFFSET.

SO THAT WOULD LEAVE THE NET COUNTY COST NEUTRAL RIGHT TO KIND OF ZERO, WHICH IS REALLY WHAT WE WANT TO GET TO. HERE WHEN WE LOOK AT SOME OF THE INCREASES.

SO WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE LOOK AT BUDGETS JUST IN GENERAL, WHEN WE LOOK AT A NET ZERO CONTRIBUTION TO THE GENERAL FUND, BECAUSE THAT'S REALLY KIND OF WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT WHEN WE SAY, YOU KNOW, KEEP IT COST NEUTRAL IS THAT WE TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT DEPARTMENTS HAVE HAVE REQUESTED AND WE TAKE A LOOK, WE COMPARE TO WHAT THEIR REQUESTED GENERAL FUND IS LAST YEAR, BECAUSE REALLY, THAT'S KIND OF OUR MOST, YOU KNOW, CONCERNING THING IS HOW IS THIS GOING TO IMPACT THE GENERAL FUND? AND WE DO A COMPARISON BETWEEN THE TWO.

AND THEN FOR SOME OF THE DEPARTMENTS, WE TAKE A LOOK AT KIND OF WHAT IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING AND WHAT'S DRIVING THOSE INCREASES. BECAUSE IN SOME CASES, LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE LOOKED AT THAT, WE DON'T WANT TO TAKE THEM TO COST NEUTRAL BECAUSE BETWEEN LAST FISCAL YEAR AND THIS BUDGET, THIS RECOMMENDED AND REQUESTED BUDGET, THE BOARD APPROVED BODY WORN CAMERAS.

RIGHT. AND SO THE BOARD HAS ALREADY GIVEN VERY CLEAR DIRECTION THAT THEIR DESIRE IS TO FUND THESE BODY WORN CAMERAS. AND SO AS THE CIO'S OFFICE, WE'RE NOT GOING TO RECOMMEND WE MAKE CHANGES SOMEWHERE ELSE TO MAKE, YOU KNOW, AN ACCOMMODATION FOR THAT.

ADDITIONALLY, IN BOTH THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY AND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, A FEW YEARS AGO, THE BOARD VOTED TO FUND THE MARIJUANA ENFORCEMENT TEAM OUT OF ARPA REVENUE. AND SO THAT ARPA REVENUE, YOU KNOW, WE HAD TO HAVE IT FULLY OBLIGATED BY THE END OF DECEMBER, WHICH MEANS SPENDING FOR THOSE TEAMS STOPS BECAUSE IN ORDER TO OBLIGATE, WE'D HAVE TO DO CONTRACTS OR SOMETHING.

AND THAT'S JUST NOT FEASIBLE. AND SO THE COST FOR THE MARIJUANA ENFORCEMENT TEAM, WE ALSO MADE ADJUSTMENTS FOR THOSE DEPARTMENTS AS WELL, AND DIDN'T REQUIRE THEM TO BRING THEIR NET COSTS TO ZERO BECAUSE IT IS BOARD DIRECTION THAT WE HAVE THAT TEAM. AND SO CERTAINLY WE WOULD NEVER OVERRIDE THAT IN RELATION TO JUST STRAIGHT APPROPRIATIONS IN SOME CASES, LIKE THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE ON THIS PARTICULAR SLIDE. THEY ALSO HAVE SOME PRETTY MAJOR CAPITAL PROJECTS.

AND SO THOSE CAPITAL PROJECTS DON'T HAVE A DIRECT, LIKE THEY DON'T JUST COME FROM THE GENERAL FUND.

THEY COME SOMETIMES FROM OTHER FUNDING STREAMS AND SOMETIMES FOR THE ACCUMULATED CAPITAL OUTLAY. SO ALTHOUGH THEIR APPROPRIATIONS ARE INCREASING, THEIR NET COUNTY COST IS NOT BECAUSE WE'RE INCLUDING BOTH THE CAPITAL EXPENDITURE AND THE ASSOCIATED REVENUE WITH THAT CAPITAL EXPENDITURE.

AND SO YOU KNOW, WE REALLY LOOK AT THE NET COUNTY COST.

WE ALSO LOOK AT WHEN WE LOOK AT APPROPRIATIONS, JUST IN GENERAL, WE LOOK AT THEM TO SEE ARE THEY REASONABLE? LIKE IS THERE A REASON FOR IT? THAT CAN BE EXPLAINED AND IS SOMETHING THAT'S, YOU KNOW, SUPPORTED BY THE CEO'S OFFICE AND OR FROM PRIOR DIRECTION FROM THE BOARD.

AND SO WE DEFINITELY LOOK FOR REASONABLENESS.

EVEN IF THEY COME IN WITH A LOWER NET COUNTY COST, WE LOOK FOR REASONABLENESS BOTH IN APPROPRIATIONS AND IN REVENUE.

AND THEN SOME OF THEM, FOR EXAMPLE, THE SUPPORT SERVICES ONE WHEN

[00:55:02]

AND SO IN THIS CASE, YOU KNOW, IN ORDER TO BALANCE KIND OF THE AMOUNT OF FUNDS THAT THEY HAVE IN THEIR WORKING CAPITAL RESERVES, THEY HAD ENOUGH THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO PASS ALONG THOSE INCREASES TO DEPARTMENTS.

BUT IN YEARS PAST, WHEN THOSE INCREASES HAVE BEEN PASSED ALONG TO DEPARTMENTS, THAT'S ALSO SOMETHING THAT WE CONSIDER.

PARTICULARLY IT HITS THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE BOTH IN THE JAIL AND THEIR REGULAR BUDGET USUALLY PRETTY SIGNIFICANTLY.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE LOOK AT REASONABLENESS AS FAR AS LIKE, IS IT REASONABLE TO TELL THE SHERIFF, OKAY, YOU'VE HAD $400,000 INCREASES IN LIABILITY INSURANCE. WE'D LIKE YOU TO CUT POSITIONS BECAUSE THAT'S REALLY WHERE IT'S GOING TO COME FROM. AND SO WE REALLY TRY TO LOOK AT IT AT THE NET ZERO AS A BASELINE, AND THEN MAKE ACCOMMODATIONS FOR SPECIFIC REASONS, YOU KNOW, THAT ARE REASONABLE. AND THEN I MEAN, ADDITIONALLY, IF THE AMOUNTS ARE NOT MATERIAL.

RIGHT. SO LIKE, IF I LOOK AT LIKE THE FARM ADVISOR, LIKE THERE'S THIS LIKE $30,000 AND IT INCLUDES A FACILITIES KIND OF MAINTENANCE PLAN THAT'S GOING TO GO THERE. LIKE THEIR INCREASE IS REALLY LIKE NOT MATERIAL.

SO WE DON'T NICKEL AND DIME DEPARTMENTS TO THE TUNE OF, YOU KNOW, A COUPLE THOUSAND DOLLARS. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO AHEAD AND LET'S GO AHEAD AND MOVE TO THE CEOCOS OFFICE.

ARE YOU DOING THAT ONE? I AM, OKAY.

OKAY. AS DISCUSSED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PRESENTATION, DEPARTMENT HEADS WILL EACH BE PRESENTING ON THEIR BUDGETS AND PROGRAMS THIS YEAR.

THE. ONCE AGAIN THIS YEAR THE PRESENTATIONS HAVE BEEN SCHEDULED IN BLOCKS. IF WE COMPLETE A MORNING BLOCK PRIOR TO NOON, WE WILL STILL BREAK AND START THE NEXT BLOCK ACCORDING TO THE SCHEDULE.

IF A BLOCK IS NOT COMPLETE BY NOON, THAT BLOCK WILL CONTINUE IN THE AFTERNOON UNTIL IT'S COMPLETED FOLLOWING IMMEDIATELY BY THE AFTERNOON BLOCK.

SUPERVISORS WILL BE ABLE TO ASK QUESTIONS OF EACH DEPARTMENT HEAD DURING THEIR SCHEDULED PRESENTATION, BUT THERE WILL NOT BE TIME FOR PUBLIC COMMENT UNTIL THE PUBLIC HEARINGS ARE OPENED ON THE THIRD DAY.

I HAVE PREPARED A DOCUMENT FOR YOU THAT REFERENCES THE PAGES IN THE BUDGET BOOK FOR THE BUDGETS FOR EACH DEPARTMENT HEAD, AND THERE ARE ALSO, I WANT TO CLARIFY. THE PUBLIC COMMENT WILL START WHEN ALL PRESENTATIONS HAVE CONCLUDED.

SO IF THE PRESENTATIONS GO INTO FRIDAY, HYPOTHETICALLY QUESTIONS ARE ASKED AND THIS GOES INTO FRIDAY. PUBLIC COMMENT WILL NOT START THEN CORRECT OR UNTIL SATURDAY WHENEVER PRESENTATIONS ARE OVER. OKAY. YEAH. WE WILL NOT OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARINGS UNTIL ALL THE PRESENTATIONS ARE DONE.

AND THE SUPERVISORS HAVE ASKED ALL THE QUESTIONS THEY WANT TO ASK BEFORE.

THEN WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARINGS AT THAT TIME. I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THAT. YEAH.

THE EARLIEST WILL BE WEDNESDAY.

SORRY, THURSDAY. HOW ABOUT THAT? YES.

SO I HAVE PREPARED A DOCUMENT FOR YOU THAT REFERENCES THE PAGES IN THE BUDGET BOOK FOR THE BUDGETS OF EACH DEPARTMENT HEAD.

SO THOSE COPIES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE FOR THE PUBLIC AT THE BACK OF THE ROOM.

SO WITH THAT, WE'LL GET STARTED THIS MORNING AND I'LL START OFF WITH A PRESENTATION FOR OUR OFFICE. THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR GENERAL OVERSIGHT OF THE COUNTY OFFICES, DEPARTMENTS AND SPECIAL DISTRICTS UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. THIS INCLUDES IMPLEMENTING POLICY OR LEGISLATIVE DIRECTIVES, PREPARING THE COUNTY BUDGET, MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE BOARD AND ENSURING EFFICIENCY AND ECONOMY IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF COUNTY GOVERNMENT.

THE CLERK OF THE BOARD IS THE DIVISION OF THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE AND SUPPORTS THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. IN ADDITION TO SUPPORTING THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, THE CLERK OF THE BOARD SERVES AS CLERK FOR MANY OTHER BOARDS AND COMMITTEES, INCLUDING THE AIR POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD, ASSESSMENT APPEALS BOARD, EMPLOYEE APPEALS BOARD AND SEVERAL OTHERS.

THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS IS THE LEGAL BODY RESPONSIBLE FOR GOVERNING THE COUNTY.

THEY ARE THE LEGISLATIVE AND ADMINISTRATIVE AUTHORITY AND ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR SETTING COUNTY POLICY, PROVING AN ANNUAL BUDGET AND ADMINISTERING SELECT DEPENDENT SPECIAL DISTRICTS. THE VETERANS SERVICES OFFICE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ASSISTING VETERANS AND DEPENDENTS OF DECEASED VETERANS TO PURSUE CLAIMS FOR BENEFITS THEY ARE OWED FOR THEIR SERVICE. THERE ARE A TOTAL OF 30 POSITIONS REQUESTED IN THE BUDGET UNITS MANAGED BY OUR OFFICE. 13 OF THESE RESIDE IN THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE BUDGET.

THIS IS A NET CHANGE OF TWO POSITIONS FROM THE FISCAL YEAR 2425 ADOPTED BUDGET.

AS YOU'RE ALL AWARE, THE ASSISTANT CEO POSITION WAS DELETED AT MID-YEAR.

IN ADDITION, THE CEO'S OFFICE IS REQUESTING THE TRANSITION OF THE PRIVACY TEAM FROM HHS AYE TO OUR OFFICE. THREE POSITIONS ARE BEING REQUESTED TO STAFF THIS TEAM.

THE POSITIONS WILL BE FUNDED DIRECTLY BY HHS AND NOT THROUGH THE COST PLAN.

THIS TEAM IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING THE COUNTY, PRIMARILY HHS AYE IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH A VARIETY OF PRIVACY LAWS, INCLUDING HIPAA AND GENERAL PROTECTION, PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION, AND PERSONAL HEALTH INFORMATION.

[01:00:02]

THE WORK DONE BY THE STAFF AND THE CEO'S OFFICE AND THE CLERK OF THE BOARD IS VERY FLUID AND CHANGES DAILY BASED ON THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY, THE DEPARTMENTS AND THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

THE FUNCTION OF THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE ARE VARIED.

STAFF ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR GENERAL ADMINISTRATION OF THE COUNTY AND SUPPORT FOR ALL COUNTY DEPARTMENTS.

STAFF REVIEW CONTRACTS AND PROVIDE FEEDBACK.

THIS OFFICE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COUNTY BUDGET AND WORKING WITH DEPARTMENTS TO DEVELOP THEIR BUDGET AND MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS ON THOSE BUDGETS.

STAFF ASSISTS COUNTY DEPARTMENTS WITH A VARIETY OF ADMINISTRATIVE FUNCTIONS AND ARE A FORCE MULTIPLIER AS NEEDED.

WHEN DEPARTMENTS HAVE VACANCIES IN LEAD, FISCAL OR ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF, OR WHEN UNANTICIPATED EVENTS REQUIRE ADDITIONAL STAFFING, THIS OFFICE STEPS IN TO ASSIST COUNTY.

LEASES ARE ALSO INITIATED AND REVIEWED BY STAFF IN OUR OFFICE.

ADDITIONALLY, THE OFFICE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR A VARIETY OF BUDGET UNITS NOT ASSIGNED TO ANY OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND FOR GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES FOR THE VETERAN SERVICES OFFICE. THIS TRANSITION WAS IMPLEMENTED SEVERAL FISCAL YEARS AGO AND HAS FREED UP THE TIME OF THE VSO TO BETTER SERVE CLIENTS.

ADDITIONALLY, WHEN A PROJECT OR FUNDING STREAM AFFECTS THE ENTIRE COUNTY OR MULTIPLE AREAS OF THE COUNTY, THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE WILL COORDINATE THE EFFORTS. SOME EXAMPLES INCLUDE ARPA AND OPIOID LITIGATION.

THE OFFICE ALSO PROVIDES SUPPORT TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND A VARIETY OF OTHER AGENCIES. THIS SUPPORT INCLUDES DEVELOPING AND PREPARING AGENDAS, PREPARING LETTERS OR OTHER DOCUMENTS AS REQUESTED BY THE BOARD, PROVIDING CLERK SERVICES AT MEETINGS AND PREPARATION OF THE MINUTES, AMONG OTHER DUTIES. OUR OFFICE RECEIVES A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF PUBLIC RECORDS ACT REQUESTS FOR ACTIVITIES WITHIN AND OUTSIDE OUR OFFICE.

IT TAKES A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TIME TO PROCESS THESE REQUESTS AS REQUIRED BY LAW.

THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS SETS POLICY FOR THE COUNTY, AND THE CEO'S OFFICE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR IMPLEMENTING THAT POLICY.

THIS CAN INCLUDE PRODUCING ITEMS LIKE ORDINANCES, RESOLUTIONS, AND LETTERS TO LEGISLATORS.

LARGE SPECIAL PROJECTS GENERALLY HAVE PARTICIPATION FROM OUR OUR OFFICE AS WELL.

OUR OFFICE WAS VERY INVOLVED IN THE UPGRADE TO BOARD CHAMBERS AND IS REGULARLY INVOLVED WITH OTHER LARGE CAPITAL PROJECTS, LIKE THE REMODEL HAPPENING IN THE JAIL AND THE EXPANSION OF THE WEST RECREATION YARD AT THE JUVENILE REHABILITATION FACILITY.

THE PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER POSITION WAS ADDED IN FISCAL YEAR 2122.

METHODS AND EXPECTATIONS FOR COMMUNICATION WITH THE PUBLIC HAVE SUBSTANTIALLY CHANGED OVER THE YEARS, AND HAS SHIFTED TO A COMMUNICATION STYLE THAT IS IMMEDIATE THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA AND OTHER ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS.

THE PIO SUPPORTS SHASTA COUNTY IN MEETING THESE EXPECTATIONS.

THEY ISSUE PRESS RELEASES, MANAGE THE COUNTY SOCIAL MEDIA, COMMUNICATE WITH THE PUBLIC, INCLUDING A WEEKLY RECAP, AND COORDINATE EFFORTS OF PIOS, AS WELL AS SUPPORTS DEPARTMENTS THAT DON'T HAVE A PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER.

IN ADDITION TO PERFORMING THE NORMAL DUTIES ASSIGNED TO THE OFFICE, THERE ARE MANY ITEMS THAT WERE NOTEWORTHY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. THE BOARD HAS REQUESTED A VARIETY OF INITIATIVES, SOME OF WHICH ARE INCLUDED HERE.

EXAMPLES INCLUDE RUNNING A VERY SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE FOUNTAIN WIN PROJECT.

THIS CAMPAIGN FACILITATED FACILITATED A SIGNIFICANT OUTPOURING OF FEEDBACK TO THE CALIFORNIA ENERGY COMMISSION, ULTIMATELY RESULTING IN RECOMMENDATION TO REJECT THE PROJECT. WE'VE INCREASED OUR EFFORTS TO ENSURE THE BOARD IS INFORMED ABOUT POTENTIAL LITIGATION OR LEGISLATION AND HOW IT IMPACTS THE COUNTY.

SPECIFICALLY, DURING THIS YEAR, OVER 30 LETTERS TO STATE LEGISLATORS SUPPORTING OR OPPOSING UPCOMING LEGISLATION ADVOCATING FOR THE BEST INTERESTS OF SHASTA COUNTY AND ITS AND ITS RESIDENTS WERE WRITTEN AND DISTRIBUTED.

OPIOID LITIGATION WAS A BIG TOPIC IN THIS FISCAL YEAR, WHICH RESULTED IN A VARIETY OF PROPOSED PROJECTS, WITH THE FIRST LARGE PROJECT FOCUSING ON YOUTH PREVENTION BEGINNING THIS MONTH.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE DIFFERENCE THIS PROJECT CAN MAKE IN THE LIVES OF YOUTH AND THEIR FAMILIES. TODAY, WE ARE ENJOYING THE HARD WORK BY STAFF AND OUR OFFICE AS WELL AS PUBLIC WORKS AND IT.

THE LONG OVERDUE UPGRADE TO THE AUDIO VISUAL SYSTEM WAS A RESULT OF COUNTLESS HOURS FROM EACH OF THESE DEPARTMENTS.

SHOWN HERE IS THE TOTAL TIME SPENT IN BOARD MEETINGS BY FISCAL YEAR STARTING IN FISCAL YEAR 20 1819. AS YOU CAN SEE, THE TOTAL MEETING TIME HAS INCREASED SUBSTANTIALLY AS THE PUBLIC AND BOARD MEMBERS HAVE BECOME MORE ACTIVE AND ENGAGED.

THE TOP BAR REPRESENTS THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR THROUGH MAY 27TH, PLUS ESTIMATES OF 4.5 HOURS FOR THE MEETINGS THROUGH JUNE, WHICH IS LIKELY LOW. WE ARE ON TRACK TO COME IN CONSISTENT WITH 2223, BUT LOWER THAN LAST FISCAL YEAR.

NOT INCLUDED HERE IS ANY ELECTION COMMISSIONS, MEETINGS AND ANY TIME SPENT IN CLOSED SESSION.

SHOWN HERE IS A COUNT OF ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN INCLUDED ON BOARD AGENDAS.

FISCAL YEAR 2425 REPRESENTS ACTUALS THROUGH BUDGET HEARINGS AND AN ESTIMATE OF 28 ITEMS FOR THE REMAINING TWO MEETINGS.

THIS ESTIMATE IS BASED ON AN AVERAGE OF THE LAST TWO MEETINGS IN JUNE OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS. AS DISCUSSED EARLIER, THE ROLE OF THE PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER IS JUST A COUPLE OF YEARS OLD, ALTHOUGH THIS POSITION HAS RECENTLY BECOME VACANT. THE ROLE REMAINS AN EXTREMELY IMPORTANT ONE.

SOCIAL MEDIA IS A HUGE AREA OF FOCUS.

HAVING A STRONG SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE PROMOTES TRANSPARENCY AND FACILITATES DIRECT

[01:05:03]

IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS, THE REACH OF OUR SOCIAL MEDIA AND OTHER PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS HAS INCREASED SUBSTANTIALLY.

WE HAVE REACHED 2.6 MILLION VIA FACEBOOK AND OVER 450,000 VIA INSTAGRAM.

THIS IS A SUBSTANTIAL, SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE FROM THE PRIOR PERIOD.

THE GRAND JURY IS REQUIRED TO ADVERTISE AND POST THEIR REPORTS EVERY YEAR IN FISCAL YEAR 2324. THE COST OF THIS PUBLICATION WAS $4,500.

THIS YEAR, OUR PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER DID IT AT NO COST.

THE PIO ALSO PROVIDES ASSISTANCE TO OTHER DEPARTMENTS WHO DON'T HAVE A PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER. AN EXAMPLE FROM THIS YEAR IS THE MARKETING CAMPAIGN FOR ADU PLANS THAT RESOURCE MANAGEMENT RELEASED, WHICH WAS DEVELOPED BY THE PIO.

TAKING PHOTOS AND A VARIETY OF CAPACITIES HAS BECOME AN IMPORTANT FUNCTION OF THIS POSITION. THE PIO TAKES PHOTOS THAT WE PREVIOUSLY PAID A THIRD PARTY FOR, INCLUDING PHOTOS OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, AN EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH.

NOT ONLY HAS THIS COST BEEN REDUCED, BUT THE QUANTITY THE QUALITY IS IS SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVED.

A BANK OF PHOTOS OF LOCATIONS AROUND SHASTA COUNTY HAS BEEN DEVELOPED AND IS AVAILABLE FOR DEPARTMENTS TO USE FOR PUBLICATIONS AS THEY NEED.

SOME OF THESE PHOTOS ARE FEATURED ON OUR NEW VIDEO WALL AS SCREEN SAVERS.

THE VETERANS SERVICE OFFICE HAS BEEN VERY BUSY THIS YEAR AND HAS PROCESSED OVER 1500 CLAIMS, RESULTING IN ONGOING CLAIMS AND RETROACTIVE CLAIMS FOR VETERANS IN OUR COUNTY AMOUNTING TO OVER $5.4 MILLION.

THEY HAVE SUCCESSFULLY TRAINED AND ACCREDITED TWO STAFF ONCE AGAIN THIS YEAR AT THE REQUEST OF THE BOARD. THE VSO HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN WORKING WITH A NEWLY FORMED GROUP THAT INCLUDES INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS TO FOCUS ON HOW TO HOUSE HOMELESS VETERANS IN OUR COUNTY. THIS GROUP IS NEW AND ONGOING.

IN THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR, WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE TO IMPLEMENT A BUDGET BOOK SOFTWARE.

THIS SOFTWARE WILL STREAMLINE THE PROCESS FOR DEPARTMENTS AND PROVIDE AN ACCESSIBLE AND EASY TO READ PLATFORM FOR THE PUBLIC.

THIS PROJECT WAS INITIALLY INTENDED TO BE IMPLEMENTED FOR THIS BUDGET CYCLE, BUT WE DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSITION WOULD BE SMOOTHER IF WE PUSHED IT OUT FOR A YEAR AND ALLOWED FOR SOME OF THE ISSUES TO BE WORKED OUT OVER THE SUMMER. THIS PLAN WILL ALSO ALLOW FOR MORE HANDS ON TRAINING WITH DEPARTMENT STAFF.

WE ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH DEVELOPING A STRATEGIC PLAN IN COORDINATION WITH THE AD HOC COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD AND THE AUDITOR CONTROLLER.

AN RFP FOR PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT PROCESS IS OPEN AND WILL CLOSE THIS MONTH.

NOW THAT THE AUDIO VISUAL SYSTEM IS COMPLETED, STAFF WILL TRAIN AND IMPROVE THE SYSTEM AS THEY LEARN IT.

THE NEW SYSTEM WILL PROVIDE CONSISTENCY AND CHAMBERS AND EASIER ACCESS TO VIEWING AND PARTICIPATING IN BOARD MEETINGS FOR THE PUBLIC.

SHOWN HERE ARE THE BUDGET UNITS UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE AND THE GENERAL FUND CONTRIBUTION.

OVERALL, THE GENERAL FUND.

FUND CONTRIBUTION IS INCREASING BY JUST OVER $3.6 MILLION.

THE BULK OF THIS INCREASE IS IN THE MISCELLANEOUS GENERAL BUDGET, WHICH PAYS FOR A VARIETY OF COSTS THAT ARE NOT ABLE TO BE CHARGED TO ANOTHER BUDGET UNIT.

THIS INCREASE CAN BE PRIMARILY ATTRIBUTED TO A REDUCTION IN ARPA REVENUE.

THE ARPA REVENUE RECEIVED IN THIS BUDGET UNIT NOT ONLY COVERS COSTS AND COSTS IN THIS BUDGET UNIT, BUT ALSO ATTRIBUTED TO THE 10% ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.

ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS ALLOWED TO BE BILLED BY THIS FUNDING STREAM.

AS THESE PROJECTS WRAP UP, THIS REVENUE WILL CONTINUE TO DECLINE.

IN ADDITION, THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET INCLUDES AN INCREASE OF $1 MILLION TO THE CAL FIRE CONTRACT FOR COUNTY FIRE.

ALTHOUGH THE GENERAL FUND CONTRIBUTION HAS INCREASED FOR THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE, THIS BUDGET UNIT IS STILL CONTRIBUTING TO THE GENERAL FUND.

SO AS WE DISCUSSED, THIS COST CENTER IS PART OF THE COST PLAN IN WHICH COSTS ARE REIMBURSED TWO YEARS IN ARREARS.

THE GENERAL FUND COSTS IN THE TRIAL COURT'S BUDGET HAVE ALSO INCREASED AS WE HAVE BEGUN TO PAY FOR GENERAL MAINTENANCE FOR THE OLD COURTHOUSE AS WE ARE PREPARING FOR DEMOLITION. THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.

I'M HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME.

OTHERWISE, WE'LL MOVE ON TO COUNTY COUNSEL.

OKAY. JOSEPH, DO WE HAVE A CLICKER FOR HIM? SUPERVISOR. PLUMMER. COULD YOU SAY MORE ABOUT THAT LAST POINT THAT WITH THE MISCELLANEOUS GENERAL GOING UP, THAT IT SOUNDED LIKE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS THAT WE USED ARPA FUNDS TO FUND ONGOING PROGRAMMATIC EXPENSES THAT NOW, AS THOSE FUNDS HAVE GONE AWAY, WE HAVE TO BACKFILL WITH THE GENERAL FUND.

SO THERE IS SOME OF THAT, BUT NOT NECESSARILY IN THE MISCELLANEOUS BUDGET. SO WHAT. WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE ARPA REVENUE IS FOR ANY EXPENSES THAT WE HAVE IN ARPA, WE'RE ABLE TO CHARGE 10% OF THOSE ACTUAL CHARGES AS ADMINISTRATIVE CHARGES.

AND SO THOSE FUNDS GO TO THE GENERAL FUND VIA THE MISCELLANEOUS GENERAL BUDGET UNIT.

AND SO WE SEE REVENUES COME IN.

THERE'S A FEW PROJECTS THAT ARE IN THE MISCELLANEOUS GENERAL BUDGET THAT ARE NOT ONGOING OPERATIONAL COSTS, BUT ARE LIKE ONE TIME PROJECTS.

AND THEN IN ADDITION, ANY OF THE PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE GOING ON ELSEWHERE, UNLESS IT'S FOR A CONTRACT WHERE THEY ALREADY CHARGED THE 10% ADMINISTRATION,

[01:10:05]

AND WE DO THAT IN THE MISCELLANEOUS GENERAL BUDGET.

SO THE INCREASE TO GENERAL FUND IS REALLY RELATED TO A DECREASE IN REVENUE, PARTICULARLY FOR THAT 10% OF ADMINISTRATION.

OKAY. AND THEN ONE THING THAT I APPRECIATED, AND I KNOW WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS, BUT THE, THE PROGRAM BASED BUDGETING AND TWO OF THOSE UNITS.

AND THE ONE THING THAT I WANTED TO DRAW ATTENTION TO AND JUST CONFIRM THAT I'M UNDERSTANDING IT RIGHT, IS SO PUBLIC RECORD REQUEST, WHICH WAS ONE OF THE PROGRAMS IN THOSE DEPARTMENTS.

IT LOOKED LIKE THAT IS ESSENTIALLY IN TERMS OF SALARY AND BENEFITS, THAT THAT EQUATES TO ESSENTIALLY ONE FULL TIME PERSON OR CLOSE TO THAT.

IS THAT IS THAT KIND OF A FAIR ASSESSMENT OF THAT COUNTY COUNCIL? I'M SORRY. I'LL LET YOU ANSWER.

THE COUNTY COUNCIL IS ACTUALLY WORKING ON BRINGING THAT MORE IN HOUSE, I BELIEVE. IS THAT GOING TO BE PART OF YOURS? SO IT'S ALREADY IN HOUSE RIGHT NOW.

THE FUNCTION IS ESSENTIALLY BEING DONE IN THE CEO'S OFFICE.

MY INTENTION IS WHEN I'M FULLY STAFFED WITH A PARALEGAL THAT THAT COME INTO MY OFFICE, THERE ARE A LOT OF LEGAL IMPLICATIONS OF THAT.

SO WE WOULD LIKE TO HOUSE THAT WITH US.

OKAY. AND JUST, AND TO GIVE MAYBE THE THREE OF YOU SUPERVISOR, PLUMMER HARMON AND LONG.

WE CAN DO THIS ANY WAY YOU WANT. BUT WHAT WE'VE DONE SINCE I MOVED IN THIS DIRECTION LAST YEAR WITH SPREADING IT OUT, WE WOULD GET ALL THE PRESENTATIONS WE'D HAVE, WE'D ASK SOME QUESTIONS, AND THEN WE WOULD, IF WE WANT TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS, WHATEVER, WE WOULD DO THAT AT THE END, THEN DO IT AFTER WE'VE SEEN EVERYBODY.

BUT IF YOU GUYS WANT TO DO THAT DIFFERENTLY, I MEAN, THAT'S JUST SINCE WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT IT, WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO TALK ABOUT IT. SO YEAH, WELL, I'D, I'D ADD TO WHAT THE CHAIR HAS SAID IS THAT AS WE GO THROUGH THESE BUDGETS, IF THERE ARE CHANGES THAT YOU'D LIKE TO SEE MADE, AS YOU MENTIONED, THOSE, THEN I'M GOING TO KEEP A LIST OF THOSE, AND WE'LL GO THROUGH THAT LIST AT THE VERY END AFTER ALL THE DEPARTMENTS HAVE PRESENTED.

AND THEN ALLOW THE BOARD TO HAVE DISCUSSION AT THAT TIME OF WHETHER THEY WANT TO ACT ON ANY OF THOSE CHANGES. GREAT.

ALL RIGHT. COUNSEL LARMER.

SUPERVISOR. QUESTION. YEAH.

OKAY. SO IN THE PROGRAM BASED BUDGET YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT THE EXPENSE TO CREATE THE BUDGET, WHICH I KNOW IS A MULTI-MONTH PROCESS THAT TAKES A TON OF EFFORT.

THE. AND I THINK IT CAME TO $1.1 MILLION THERE.

THAT. AND THAT'S THAT'S JUST FOR IN THE CIO'S OFFICE.

THAT'S NOT THE TIME OF THE DEPARTMENT HEADS AND EVERYONE ELSE FOCUS ON IT.

THE QUESTION I HAD JUST TO GET KIND OF INITIAL THOUGHT ON THIS IS WOULD THAT WOULD IT BE, WOULD THERE BE SAVINGS IF WE WENT TO A TWO YEAR BUDGET PROCESS WHERE WE'RE PREDICTING THE BUDGET OUT FOR TWO YEARS VERSUS A SINGLE YEAR? SO I WOULD SAY NO. AND THE REASON I SAY THAT IS BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST THE BUDGET PROCESS THAT'S INCLUDED IN THAT.

SO IT'S BUDGET AND THEN OTHER DEPARTMENTAL ASSISTANCE AS WELL.

SO IT'S ANY SERVICES THAT WE'RE PROVIDING DIRECTLY TO DEPARTMENTS TO ASSIST THEM WITH GENERAL ADMINISTRATION.

SO FOR EXAMPLE, ANY OF THE CONTRACTS THAT COME THROUGH, WE HAVE ANALYSTS THAT REVIEW THOSE AND GIVE DEPARTMENTS FEEDBACK.

AND THEN ANY OF THE ITEMS, YOU KNOW, THAT ARE GOING THROUGH THAT ARE OTHER LIKE RESOLUTIONS OR THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.

THEN OUR ANALYSTS ALSO PROVIDE FEEDBACK.

AND THEN AS WE DO BUDGET AMENDMENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND WE, YOU KNOW, MEET WITH DEPARTMENTS TO PROVIDE ANY OF THOSE GENERAL ASSISTANCE THAT'S ALL INCLUDED IN THAT CATEGORY.

OKAY. THANKS. ALL RIGHT.

COUNTY COUNCIL. SO LIKE EVERY YEAR I HAVE TO GO AFTER AARON, WHICH REALLY DOESN'T SEEM FAIR, BUT WELL, WELL, MAYBE NEXT YEAR I'LL CONTRACT FOR HER TO PRESENT MINE.

ALL RIGHT. SO THE MAIN MISSION FOR COUNTY COUNSEL'S OFFICE IS TO PROVIDE TIMELY, RESPONSIVE, AND EFFECTIVE LEGAL SERVICES TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND ALL DEPARTMENTS, INCLUDING THE GRAND JURY.

THAT'S A MONUMENTAL TASK EACH YEAR TO ENSURE THAT OUR OFFICE PROVIDES INPUT RELATED TO CONTRACTS AND OTHER RELATED ITEMS PROVIDED BY THE DEPARTMENTS FOR US TO REVIEW.

AND STAFFING CHANGES HAVE BEEN A SIGNIFICANT ISSUE IN COUNTY COUNSEL'S OFFICE, AS YOU'RE AWARE. PRIOR TO MY ARRIVAL, WE HAD MULTIPLE ACTING AND INTERIM COUNTY COUNCILS WHERE THE FOCUS WAS TO CONTINUE TO KEEP THE OFFICE FUNCTIONING, BUT NOT NECESSARILY TO PROVIDE NEEDED BUDGETARY AND STREAMLINING OF THE OFFICE.

[01:15:02]

CURRENTLY WE HAVE TWO COUNTY COUNCIL POSITIONS OPEN THAT WE'RE RECRUITING FOR A THIRD COUNTY COUNCIL POSITION THAT WE INTEND TO UNDER FILL AT THIS TIME WITH ANOTHER LEGAL SECRETARY. DUE TO AN INCREASE IN, IN WORKFLOW FOR THE LEGAL SECRETARIES PROGRAM CHANGES DUE TO THE LOW STAFFING LEVEL, COUNTY COUNSEL'S OFFICE IS FOCUSED ON MAINTAINING ESSENTIAL SERVICES, MIGRATION TO A NEW CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND THE PROCESS IN WHICH IMPROVES EFFICIENCY.

THE CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM THAT'S EXISTING IN COUNTY COUNSEL'S OFFICE WAS OUT OF DATE.

THE SUPPORT FOR THE SYSTEM IS LIMITED AT THIS POINT, AND THE SYSTEM DOES NOT PROVIDE AN EFFECTIVE ABILITY FOR ME TO VIEW AND ASSESS WORKFLOW AND EFFICIENCY. THE NEW PROGRAM IS BEING IMPLEMENTED AND SHOULD GO LIVE BY NOVEMBER, I BELIEVE. FISCAL YEAR 2024 2025.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS. PROBABLY THE MOST SIGNIFICANT FOR ME WAS FILLING THE ASSISTANT COUNTY COUNSEL POSITION WITH TRICIA WEBER, WHO'S HERE SOMEWHERE IN THE AUDIENCE.

AND WHAT THAT HAS DONE IS PROVIDED SOME MORE LEADERSHIP IN THE OFFICE AND SOME SOMEONE THAT CAN PROVIDE DIRECTION WHEN I'M NOT IN THE OFFICE, AND GUIDE EFFICIENCY AND CHANGES IN POLICY AND PROCEDURE THAT ARE CREATING THOSE EFFICIENCIES. AND TRISH HAS BEEN GREAT IN STREAMLINING AND PRIORITIZING RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE. GOALS FOR 2025 2026.

AGAIN, THE NEW CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM THAT'S THAT'S CURRENTLY UNDERWAY, THE THE PROGRAM WILL ALLOW US TO PULL MORE REPORTS, SEE WHERE WE'RE SPENDING OUR TIME, AND ENSURE THAT THAT'S AN EFFECTIVE USE OF ATTORNEY TIME. AS I SPOKE ABOUT, WE HAVE RECENTLY HIRED A PARALEGAL.

THE PARALEGAL POSITION IS INSTRUMENTAL IN THE OFFICE FOR FOR EFFICIENCY.

AGAIN, THAT WILL ALLOW US TO BRING THE PUBLIC RECORDS ACT REQUESTS WITHIN OUR OFFICE TO TRY TO STREAMLINE THAT PROCESS AND CUT SOME OF THE EXPENSE OUT OF OUT OF THE PROGRAM.

CHESTER COUNTY AS A WHOLE, I WOULD SAY, HAS MORE INTEREST IN GOVERNMENT FUNCTIONS THAN ANY OTHER COUNTY THAT I'VE WORKED IN.

AND PUBLIC RECORDS ACT REQUESTS ARE NO EXCEPTION TO THAT.

AND WE RECEIVE A LOT. THEY'RE TIME CONSUMING.

SO WE WOULD LIKE TO STREAMLINE THAT PROCESS.

CONTINUED TRAINING WITH NEW STAFF WILL ALLOW GREATER OUTPUT OF LEGAL WORK WITHIN THE COUNTY. AGAIN, WE HAVE HAD SIGNIFICANT TURNOVER AND HAVE NEW LAWYERS WHO HAVE NOT GENERALLY BEEN WORKING IN THE COUNTY COUNSEL'S OFFICE.

AND SO THAT TAKES A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TRAINING.

I'LL SAY THAT THE ATTORNEYS IN MY OFFICE ARE DOING A GREAT JOB.

THEY'RE COMING ALONG EXTREMELY QUICKLY.

THEIR EFFICIENCY IS IMPROVING EVERY SINGLE WEEK, WEEK OVER WEEK. WE'RE GETTING MORE EFFICIENCY.

WE'RE GETTING WHERE WE NEED TO BE.

WE STILL HAVE THOSE TWO POSITIONS OUTSTANDING.

SO THE TRAINING WILL CONTINUE TO GO ON FOR A SIGNIFICANT PERIOD OF TIME UNTIL THOSE TWO POSITIONS ARE FILLED AND WHOEVER FILLS THOSE POSITIONS ARE APPROPRIATELY TRAINED.

GENERAL FUND CONTRIBUTION.

ESSENTIALLY, THE COUNTY COUNSEL'S OFFICE HAS HAD SALARY SAVINGS DUE TO THE LOW STAFFING LEVELS. SO OUR GENERAL FUND CONTRIBUTION HAS ACTUALLY DECREASED RATHER THAN INCREASED.

WE, I BELIEVE THAT WILL ESSENTIALLY BE NEUTRAL WHEN WE FILL THE POSITIONS THAT WE HAVE PROBABLY ACTUALLY UNDER, BECAUSE WE'RE UNDER FILLING A COUNTY COUNCIL POSITION AND NOT RECRUITING FOR THAT ONE FOR ANOTHER ATTORNEY.

COUNTY COUNCIL IS A GENERAL FUND OFFICE WHEREBY VERY LITTLE CAN BE DONE TO LIMIT THE GENERAL FUND NEEDS. COUNTY COUNCIL STRIVES TO PROVIDE INNOVATIVE SERVICES TO ACCOMPLISH MORE WITH THE FUNDS WE RECEIVE.

THE DUTIES OF COUNTY COUNCIL ARE MANDATORY AND TIME SENSITIVE.

SUBSTANTIAL CUTS TO STAFFING WOULD INCREASE THE USE OF OUTSIDE COUNSEL.

SO ESSENTIALLY IF IF WE'RE LOW STAFFED, WE HAVE A MORE OUTSIDE COUNSEL THAT'S THAT'S NECESSARY. THE TASKS THAT COUNTY COUNSEL'S OFFICE CARRY OUT HAVE TO BE HANDLED, WHETHER WE HAVE THE STAFFING FOR IT OR NOT.

THAT INCLUDES LITIGATION THAT INCLUDES EMPLOYMENT MATTERS, THAT INCLUDES DEPARTMENTS BEING ADVISED SITTING WITH BOARDS AND COMMITTEES.

SO WITH THAT THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE.

[01:20:01]

SHE HANDLES MY BUDGETS FOR ME.

AND SO WE'RE HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE.

I HAVE A COUPLE, I HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS.

SUPERVISOR. PLUMMER YOU WANT TO GO FIRST? I JUST SAW YOU GOING FOR THE THING.

SO HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN HERE? NOW, IS THIS JUST OVER A YEAR? JUST OVER A YEAR. WHEN YOU CAME ON HOW THICK WAS THE LITIGATION FILE? I MEAN, DO YOU REMEMBER HOW MANY CASES IT WAS? I JUST REMEMBER SEEING IT WHEN IN ONE OF YOUR FIRST MEETINGS. AND I KNOW SHASTA COUNTY HAS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF LITIGATION CURRENTLY. AND, BUT THAT THAT NUMBER HAS BEEN BEEN DROPPING.

WE'VE, WE'VE BEEN RESOLVING THOSE CASES OR GETTING THOSE CASES OFF TO TRIAL.

AND I REMEMBER IT WAS, I BELIEVE IT WAS LIKE BIGGER THAN THE BUDGET BOOK. AND NOW IT'S DOWN TO LIKE MUCH LESS BECAUSE I'D ASKED YOU ABOUT THAT.

YEAH, IT WAS FAIRLY LARGE.

I WOULD SAY THAT SHASTA COUNTY HAS LARGER NUMBERS OF CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT IN LITIGATION.

OBVIOUSLY COUNTIES TYPICALLY HAVE LITIGATION RELATED TO EMPLOYMENT MATTERS.

OBVIOUSLY THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT IS A, IS A TARGET FOR FOR LITIGATION, SPECIFICALLY THE JAIL.

BUT WHAT YOU INHERITED WAS A MASSIVE FILE.

THERE WAS A THERE THERE WAS A LARGE AMOUNT OF LITIGATION.

WE CONTINUE TO HAVE A LARGE AMOUNT OF LITIGATION, BUT WE ARE RESOLVING THOSE AND GETTING THAT NUMBER DOWN.

AND I KNOW THAT OUR. AND YOU'RE CONTINUING TO DRIVE DOWN THE.

I MEAN, BECAUSE THERE'S ONLY TWO DEPARTMENTS THAT THIS BOARD DIRECTLY OVERSEES, WHICH IS YOURS AND THE CEO'S OFFICE.

SO SOME OF MY QUESTIONS ARE MORE POINTED BECAUSE THE YOUR DEPARTMENT IS, IS LOWERING THE COST OF OUTSIDE COUNSEL IN TERMS OF THE RATES WE'RE PAYING AND THE VENDORS WE'RE USING. SO HOW IS IT THAT YOU'RE STILL NOT FULLY STAFFED YET? YOU'RE GETTING STUFF OUT AT A FASTER PACE WITH, I BELIEVE, A HIGHER QUALITY WORK PRODUCT.

WHAT WHAT DO YOU CONTRIBUTE THAT TO? I MEAN, MAYBE IT'S ALL. TRICIA, BUT SO I, I WOULD SAY, FIRST OF ALL, THAT AS FAR AS THE LITIGATION MY FUNCTION IS TO OVERSEE AN EMPLOYEE OUTSIDE COUNCIL YOU KNOW, TO HANDLE OUTSIDE LITIGATION.

WE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE A LITIGATION TEAM IN-HOUSE AND THOSE NUMBERS GENERALLY DON'T PENCIL OUT WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A TYPICAL $250,000 SRI FOR LITIGATION.

IT JUST DOESN'T WORK OUT AS FAR AS THE IN-HOUSE WORK.

I THINK, I THINK THAT PRIOR TO MY ARRIVING, THERE WAS A LOT OF TURNOVER AT THE TOP.

AND I THINK WHAT WE'VE PROVIDED FOR THE ATTORNEYS IS STRUCTURE MOVING THEM INTO ASSIGNMENTS THAT NUMBER ONE, THEY ENJOY AND NUMBER TWO, THAT THEY HAVE AN APTITUDE FOR DOING.

AND I THINK THAT THOSE CHANGES HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVED THE ENJOYMENT OF WORKING IN COUNTY COUNSEL'S OFFICE.

AND I THINK THE STAFF ARE DOING A GREAT JOB AND THEY'RE MOVING THESE THINGS THROUGH AT A FASTER PACE. I MEAN BECAUSE THE THINGS THAT I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT, OBVIOUSLY THE CULTURE YOU'RE BUILDING, BUT ALSO I'VE NOTICED WHAT, WHAT'S, WHAT'S BEEN, WHAT'S BEEN REALLY APPRECIATIVE FOR ME IS THE DEPARTMENTS THAT HAVE SAID, AND ESPECIALLY THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE HAS COMPLIMENTED HOW FAST THINGS ARE MOVING THROUGH THAT OFFICE.

AND I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN THERE A YEAR, AND I'M EXCITED TO HEAR THAT THE CRM SYSTEM OR THE CASE MANAGEMENT THING IS GOING TO BE DONE BY NOVEMBER, BECAUSE THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WHEN I LEARNED THAT THERE WASN'T A WORKFLOW MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IN COUNTY COUNSEL'S OFFICE, I WAS SHOCKED ABOUT THAT.

SO I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT'S MOVING FORWARD.

THE OTHER THING TOO IS LAST YEAR YOU CUT A POSITION AND I'M HEARING THIS YEAR YOU HAVE THREE SPOTS, BUT YOU'RE GOING TO FILL THEM WITH A ONE OF THEM WITH A LEGAL SECRETARY.

MY, MY INTENT IS TO FILL ONE OF THE POSITIONS AT THIS TIME.

SO IS THAT WAS IS THAT A MOVE TO SAVE MONEY OR IS IT JUST BECAUSE AS THE OFFICE IS STREAMLINED, DO YOU THINK THAT'S WHAT'S NEEDED? AND WE DON'T YOU DON'T NEED AN ATTORNEY. AT THIS POINT I HAVE MY STAFF IS OVERWHELMED AND WE'VE BEEN RECRUITING AND IT'S BEEN DIFFICULT. WE, WE ATTEMPTED TO HIRE EXTRA HELP.

EXTRA HELP HAS PROVEN TO BE DIFFICULT TO FIND.

SO TO STREAMLINE THAT AND WORKING WITH AARON BURTON, WHO'S GREAT. I WAS ABLE TO SPEED THIS UP RATHER THAN CREATING A POSITION AND BRINGING IT TO THE BOARD. IF I UNDERFILL THE POSITION I ALREADY HAVE.

YEAH, I APPRECIATE THAT.

SO SUPERVISOR. PLUMMER.

YES. THANK YOU. A FEW QUESTIONS.

ONE IS IN THE BUDGET DOCUMENTS, THERE'S A CHART THAT HAS TWO PERFORMANCE

[01:25:04]

PERFORMANCE MEASURE ONE AND TWO.

IT'S ON PAGE 72. ARE YOU REFERRING TO THE GENERAL LAW VERSUS CHILDREN'S? SORRY, WHAT WAS THAT? I'M SORRY.

WHICH GRAPH WERE YOU REFERRING TO? IT'S THE GRAPH ON THE TOP OF PAGE 72, AND IT HAS TWO BAR CHARTS NEXT TO EACH OTHER.

AND ONE SAYS PERFORMANCE MEASURE ONE AND THEN PERFORMANCE MEASURE TWO FOR TOTAL APPROPRIATIONS. YEAH, I DON'T I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS LABELED.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE TOTAL APPROPRIATIONS CHART.

BUT THERE'S ONE ON THE TOP OF THE NEXT PAGE THAT HAS THOSE TWO PERFORMANCE MEASURES.

I DON'T. I DON'T KNOW. MAYBE AARON CAN.

IT'S NOT A HUGE DEAL. I WAS JUST CURIOUS BECAUSE I WASN'T SURE I DIDN'T SEE A LABEL FOR THOSE TWO. I DON'T.

THINK HE'LL SAY. OH, OKAY.

TRICIA TELLS ME THAT'S DEPENDENCY APPEALS AND CASES.

OKAY. SO THAT THAT PROBABLY GETS TO MAYBE WHAT SUPERVISOR CRYE IS TALKING ABOUT IN TERMS OF NUMBER OF ACTIVE CASES THAT WE HAVE GOING ON.

AND THAT'S GOING DOWN, IS THAT THE PERFORMANCE MEASURE ONE? POSSIBLY. POSSIBLY. OKAY.

AND THEN THE THE OTHER PIECE, AND I KNOW THIS CAME UP WHEN AARON WAS UP AND I WAS KIND OF ASKING ABOUT THIS, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE THE GENERAL FUND USAGE IS GOING DOWN CONSIDERABLY, AND THE COST PLAN CHARGES ARE GOING UP CONSIDERABLY. IT LOOKS LIKE $1 MILLION INCREASE OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS.

SO DOES THAT MEAN THAT AND YOU KIND OF MADE A COMMENT ABOUT IF YOU'RE FULLY STAFFED, THEN THAT WILL GO TO NEUTRAL. SO DOES THAT MEAN THAT WE'RE ABLE TO.

PREVIOUSLY, WE WERE BASICALLY USING THE GENERAL FUND TO COVER COUNTY COUNCIL COSTS.

AND NOW WE'RE SHIFTING MORE OF THAT TO THE DEPARTMENTS SO THAT WE'RE CHARGING IT OUT VERSUS USING THE GENERAL FUND TO PAY FOR IT.

IS THAT WHAT'S HAPPENING OR. YEAH.

OUR COST APPLIED HAS INCREASED DUE TO STAFFING AND REIMBURSEMENTS AND THE OUTSIDE BILLING AND THAT SORT OF THING. SO WE'RE RECEIVING MORE MONEY IN COST APPLIED TO COVER. SO A KEY PORTION OF THAT TOO, IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE'RE MOVING TO THE NEW SYSTEM. WE'RE MOVING TRACKING IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT SO THAT WE'RE TRACKING THE TIME THAT WE'RE SPENDING ON DEPARTMENT WORK SO THAT THAT DEPARTMENT WORK CAN BE EXPENSIVE. THOSE DEPARTMENTS AND A NUMBER OF THOSE DEPARTMENTS.

THAT EXPENSE HAS NO GENERAL FUND IMPACT.

SO IF WE CAN TRANSFER IT FROM GENERAL FUND IMPACT FROM MY DEPARTMENT TO A NON-GENERAL FUND IMPACT FROM ANOTHER DEPARTMENT, THAT'S OUR GOAL.

AND THE NEW SYSTEM IS GOING TO HELP IMPROVE THAT.

OKAY. AND COUNSEL LARMER, CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO THE NEW OR THE THREE SUPERVISORS, IN CASE THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THE EXPECTATION OF COUNTY COUNCILS, BILLABLE HOURS, WHAT THE EXPECTATION IS NOW VERSUS WHAT IT WAS WHEN YOU CAME ON DAY ONE.

BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO UNDERSTAND THAT. SO I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE EXPECTATION WAS. THERE REALLY WASN'T MUCH DOCUMENTATION OF THAT.

BUT BUT ESSENTIALLY, HOW ABOUT THE UNWRITTEN RULE? SO I MEAN, I MEAN, I KNOW THIS IS PUBLIC, BUT I THINK THE PUBLIC DESERVES TO KNOW THIS KIND OF STUFF AND HOW BAD IT WAS RAN.

WELL. SO I THINK MY OPINION.

WELL, I MEAN, I'LL JUST SAY IT LIKE, I MEAN, TELL TELL THE PUBLIC. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT.

SUPERVISOR. PLUMMER. I THINK THE OTHER SUPERVISORS NEED TO KNOW, LIKE HOW YOU'RE RUNNING THE OFFICE NOW VERSUS HOW IT WAS RAN.

I DON'T I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE WAS THERE WAS MUCH TRACKING OR ATTENTION PAID TO HOW MUCH OF THE BILLABLE TIME WAS BILLED.

I HAVE AN EXPECTATION OF AT LEAST 6.5 HOURS OF BILLABLE PER DAY.

WITH THE OTHER CAN BE ADMINISTRATIVE.

AND THOSE, THOSE BILLABLES ARE THE PIECES THAT ARE COSTED OUT TO OTHER DEPARTMENTS.

SO THERE'S ALWAYS ADMINISTRATIVE TIME.

THOSE THINGS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN.

SO I'M TRYING TO SET A REASONABLE EXPECTATION THAT 6.5 HOURS OF EACH DAY SHOULD BE SOME SORT OF A BILLABLE EVENT FOR A DEPARTMENT.

AND THAT, AND THAT'S, THAT'S WHY.

SUPERVISOR. PLUMMER. WE CAN TRACK ACTUALLY THE OUTPUT AND WHY THIS COUNTY COUNSEL'S OFFICE IS GETTING THE WORK DONE. IT'S GETTING IS BECAUSE THEY'RE THEY'RE HELD TO ACCOUNT.

THERE'S, THERE'S, THERE'S TRACKABLE DATA TO SAY WHO'S DOING THE WORK.

[01:30:02]

STARTING AT 7 A.M. AND THEY USUALLY LEAVE AT 7 P.M..

NO, THE SHORTS STILL HERE, BUT MOST OF THEM ANYWAY.

AND THEN ONE LAST QUESTION.

I KNOW WE WERE TALKING ABOUT OUTSIDE LEGAL.

I DON'T SEE THAT IN YOUR BUDGET.

SO IS THAT UNDER RISK MANAGEMENT BUDGET WHEN WE SEE THAT.

YEAH. SO SO THAT IS UNDER RISK MANAGEMENT.

I THINK THAT'S MANAGED BY THE CIO'S OFFICE AND MONICA'S OFFICE.

SO THERE'S, I THINK THERE'S, THERE'S TWO SEPARATE FUNDS.

THERE'S ONE FOR SOMETHING LIKE FOUNTAIN WIND THAT WOULDN'T GO UNDER RISK MANAGEMENT.

AND THEN THERE'S RISK MANAGEMENT, WHICH IS YOUR, YOUR INSURANCE COVERED CASES.

OKAY. SO THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR.

HARMON. I MOSTLY JUST WANT TO TALK BECAUSE I KNOW IT MAKES YOU REALLY NERVOUS WHEN I START TALKING. NO. JUST KIDDING.

SO JUST A LITTLE CLARIFICATION.

UNDERSCORE THE POSITION WITH THE PARALEGAL IS THAT WAS THAT INDICATING TO UNDERSCORE, INDICATING THAT SHE WOULD TAKE ON A BUNCH OF DUTIES THAT WOULD PREVENT YOU FROM HAVING TO HIRE ANOTHER? YEAH. SO UPPER LEVEL PERSON.

YEAH. THE PARALEGAL POSITION WAS BEING, IN MY OPINION, UNDERUTILIZED. AND I THINK THAT WE CAN HAVE THE PARALEGAL NUMBER ONE, PROVIDE A LOT OF SUPPORT TO THE ATTORNEYS AND NUMBER TWO, OVERSEE THE ENTIRE PUBLIC RECORDS ACT PROGRAMING TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE, THOSE ARE COMING IN AND GOING OUT IN A TIMELY MANNER.

THOSE, ALL OF THOSE WILL BE REVIEWED PRIOR TO GOING OUT BY AN ATTORNEY.

BUT THE LEG WORK THAT IT TAKES TO GET THOSE PREPARED TO GO OUT REDACTION OF THE DOCUMENTS COLLECTING ALL OF THE DOCUMENTS CAN BE HANDLED AT THAT LEVEL.

AND, ULTIMATELY A, YOU KNOW, A PARALEGAL BEING UTILIZED AT A HIGH LEVEL CAN WOULD PREVENT THE NEED FOR ANOTHER ATTORNEY.

WE HAVE THIS NEW SYSTEM.

STEPHANIE, IS THERE ANY WAY YOU CAN TURN HIS VOLUME UP WHEN HE'S TALKING? I'VE LEARNED WHEN WE GO TO CLOSED SESSION TO NOT EAT LOUD FOOD BECAUSE WE TRY TO EAT LUNCH WHILE HE'S TALKING. HE'S BUT BUT HE IS THE DEFINITION OF SPEAK SOFTLY, CARRY A BIG STICK. HE CARRIES A BIG STICK AND I.

AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK BECAUSE HE HE DOES.

HE DOES MAKE ME COMFORTABLE.

ALL RIGHT. SUPERVISOR LONG THANK YOU, CHAIR.

THANK YOU. CHAIR. I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU.

PROCEDURAL QUESTION. AND I WONDER IF THIS WOULD SAVE MONEY WHEN I WHEN I WAS WORKING FOR THE CITY, WE WOULD HAVE QUESTIONS THAT WOULD HAVE A LEGAL NATURE TO THEM.

AND WE WERE NOT. WE WERE TOLD NOT TO CONTACT THE CITY ATTORNEY AT YOU KNOW, UNLESS IT WAS APPROVED BY A SUPERVISOR, A SUPERIOR OR THAT SUPERIOR WENT DIRECTLY TO LEGAL TO CON TO KIND OF CONTROL THE ACCESS.

IS THAT DO WE DO THAT HERE WITH DEPARTMENTS IN THE COUNTY THAT WHERE THEY DON'T JUST ANY, ANY EMPLOYEE DOESN'T JUST CALL YOU UP OUT OF THE BLUE AND INCREASE YOUR BILLABLES AND TO THAT DEPARTMENT AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS. YEAH, I WOULD SAY THAT THAT HASN'T BEEN A CONCERN SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE. THE DEPARTMENTS ARE PRETTY GOOD, AND I THINK MOST OF MY ATTORNEYS ARE DEALING WITH THE TOP LEVEL OF STAFF.

WE, WE'RE NOT HAVING LINE STAFF WHO'S, WHO'S CALLING AND MAKING THOSE REQUESTS.

AND A PIECE OF THE NEW PROGRAM THAT WE'RE GOING TO IMPLEMENT IS ACTUALLY GOING TO HAVE AN INTAKE FEATURE WHERE MY GUESS WILL BE ONLY CERTAIN PEOPLE IN THE DEPARTMENT WILL HAVE ACCESS TO THAT FORM TO SUBMIT THEIR REQUESTS, WHETHER IT'S TO REVIEW A CONTRACT, A SPECIFIC LEGAL QUESTION SOME SORT OF A CONCERN RELATED TO EMPLOYMENT.

THOSE SORT OF THINGS. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. IS THAT THE LAST QUESTION? ALL RIGHT. LOOK AT THAT, TRICIA.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. MISS BLANKENSHIP, I HAD A QUESTION I ASKED, AND I KNOW RIGHT NOW I BELIEVE MISS LESLIE MORGAN IS UP RIGHT AT 1:00, AND I HAD ASKED. I'D ASKED YOU SINCE SHE IS HERE, AND I DON'T SEE DO WE HAVE TO GO TO ONE OR CAN WE CAN WE WORK AHEAD OR.

SO CHAIRMAN AND THAT WOULD BE, THAT WOULD BE COMPLETELY UP TO MY ADVICE TO YOU, BECAUSE WE PUBLISHED THE SCHEDULE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PUBLIC KNEW WHAT DEPARTMENTS WERE PRESENTING AT ONE TIME, THAT WE STICK TO THAT SCHEDULE, EVEN IF WE'RE DONE FOR THE MORNING SESSION A BIT EARLY.

I WOULD CERTAINLY DEFER TO COUNCIL IF THERE WAS A LEGAL REQUIREMENT TO THAT, BUT THAT WOULD BE MY RECOMMENDATION. I TOTALLY I TOTALLY GET THAT.

I WAS JUST I WAS JUST CURIOUS.

YEAH, I WOULD SUPPORT WHAT STEPHANIE'S RECOMMENDATION IS BECAUSE THE PUBLIC HAS BEEN PROVIDED WITH A TIME WHEN WE CAN GO LATER THAN THAT,

[01:35:01]

AND I JUST APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT SOME WERE HERE A LITTLE BIT EARLIER. SUPERVISOR PLUMMER. I DID HAVE A FEW OTHER QUESTIONS FOR THE CAO OFFICE AREAS.

OKAY. SINCE WE HAVE TIME.

DANG IT. WELL, NO. AND YEAH, AND I DON'T AND I, THAT'S TOTALLY FINE. ABSOLUTELY.

SO JUST SOME OF THE OTHERS, WE'RE NOT GOING TO WORK AHEAD.

SO STAY IF YOU WANT OR NO, NO NO PROBLEM.

SUPERVISOR. PLUMMER. SO I HAD A QUESTION UNDER THE GENERAL REVENUE AND TRANSFERS BUDGET UNIT, AND THERE I WAS CURIOUS AROUND THE TRANSFER OUT TO THE ROADS THAT TWO YEARS AGO WE TRANSFERRED OUT 1.1 MILLION.

AND THEN IN THE. THIS KIND OF CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, WE HAD EXPECTED WE HAD BUDGETED TO TRANSFER OUT ALMOST A MILLION.

AND THEN. BUT WE ONLY ACTUALLY TRANSFERRED OUT 100 AND 121,000.

AND THEN WE'RE DECREASING THAT.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN KIND OF WHY WE DIDN'T END UP TRANSFERRING OUT THE AMOUNT THAT WE HAD BUDGETED? SO TYPICALLY WE DON'T TRANSFER GENERAL REVENUE TO TO THE ROADS FUND.

BUT A FEW YEARS AGO, WE GOT A DOG FIRE SETTLEMENT AND PART OF THAT SETTLEMENT WAS FROM PGE WAS SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO SOME OF THE DAMAGE THAT WAS DONE TO THE ROADS IN THAT AREA. AND SO BASED ON THAT, WE SET ASIDE, I BELIEVE IT WAS 1.5 MILLION SPECIFICALLY TO REPAIR THOSE ROADS.

SO THAT PROJECT HAS BEEN CONTINUING OVER A PERIOD OF TIME.

AND SO EVERY YEAR WE'VE ESSENTIALLY BUDGETED THE REMAINDER OF THAT AMOUNT.

AND THEN THEY SPEND AS THEY ARE WORKING ON THAT PROJECT.

AND THEN IN NEXT YEAR, WE'VE BUDGETED THE REMAINDER OF THAT AMOUNT.

SO SHOULD THEY FINISH THE PROJECT NEXT YEAR.

THE FOLLOWING YEAR, THERE WON'T BE ANY TRANSFER TO THEM.

OKAY. THANK YOU. AND THEN UNDER THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS BUDGET UNIT, THE TWO THINGS I WAS CURIOUS ABOUT WAS IN TERMS OF IT LOOKED LIKE UNDER PROFESSIONAL AND SPECIAL SERVICES AND OVERALL IN SERVICES AND SUPPLIES, THAT THAT'S GONE UP QUITE A BIT OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS. AND I WAS CURIOUS KIND OF WHAT WHAT'S DRIVING THAT? SO THE INCREASE TO PROFESSIONAL AND SPECIAL SERVICES IS SPECIFIC TO SECURITY AT THE BOARD MEETINGS.

AND SO IN PRIOR YEARS, QUITE A FEW YEARS AGO, WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY SECURITY AT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETINGS.

AND A LOT OF THAT IS RELATED TO JUST SORT OF THE GENERAL FEELING IN THE ROOM FOR THE BOARD MEETINGS. AND SO AS WE ADDED, WE SPECIFICALLY ADDED SECURITY FOR THE CHAMBERS IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS AND THEN HAVE ADJUSTED AND SWITCHED IN THIS YEAR AND INTO NEXT YEAR TO SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES.

AND SO THAT'S THE COST THAT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE WILL BILL FOR THOSE SERVICES.

OKAY. THANK YOU. I GRABBED THE GAVEL AND JUST SLAM IT NOW.

OKAY. WELL, I BELIEVE WITH THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE AT RECESS.

WE'LL BE BACK HERE AT 1 P.M.

SHARP. CORRECT. ALL RIGHT.

THAT'S A LONG BREAK. RETURNING FROM RECESS, NOT CLOSED SESSION. MISS BURTON, CAN I JUST BRING HIM UP, OR ARE YOU GOOD WITH THAT? OKAY. WELL, ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT OUR FIRST ELECTED OFFICIAL NON PUBLIC SAFETY.

THAT'S OUR ASSESSOR RECORDER LESLIE MORGAN.

WELCOME. HEY. GOOD AFTERNOON CHAIR.

CRYE AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, I'M LESLIE MORGAN, SHASTA COUNTY ASSESSOR RECORDER.

I THINK I'VE MET MOST OF YOU, AT LEAST IN PASSING OR JUST BEING HERE SINCE MY BIRTH. SO AS FAR AS THE RECORDER'S MISSION AND, AND I READ THROUGH MY NOTES DIFFERENTLY THAN WHAT'S UP THERE.

SO BY ALL MEANS, WE'LL PUT IT ALL TOGETHER BY THE TIME WE'RE DONE.

AND NOW THAT I'M OLDER, I NEED READERS.

SO. SO THE RECORDER ARCHIVES DOCUMENTS AND VITAL RECORDS INTO PERPETUITY.

SO WE HAVE TO NOT ONLY HAVE THE RECORDS AVAILABLE, BUT WE HAVE TO ALSO HAVE BACKUP STORAGE SYSTEMS SO THAT WE CAN ALWAYS EITHER RECREATE THOSE RECORDS FOR ANYBODY WHO NEEDS THEM.

THE RECORDINGS ALONE DON'T ESTABLISH LEGAL OWNERSHIP.

HOWEVER, THE PUBLICLY RECORDED DOCUMENTS ARE USED WHEN ESTABLISHING A CHAIN OF TITLE SO THAT THE HISTORY OF OWNERSHIP ON PROPERTY CAN BE VERIFIED.

VITAL RECORDS ARE SAFELY MAINTAINED FOR REPLACEMENT AND USED TO ESTABLISH IDENTITY AND CONFIRM WHO YOU ARE.

DOCUMENTING YOUR BIRTH, YOUR DEATH, OR YOUR MARRIAGE.

THE ASSESSOR ENROLLS TAXABLE VALUES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONSTITUTION AND THE APPLICABLE LAWS. EVERYTHING IS TAXABLE UNLESS EXEMPT.

SO MOST OF OUR THE LARGEST PORTION OF OUR ASSESSMENT ROLL IS HOMES.

[01:40:01]

WE EXAMINE THE DOCUMENTS THAT ARE RECORDED TO DETERMINE OWNERSHIP FOR ASSESSMENT PURPOSES.

AND WE HAVE A SERIES OF DISCOVERY PRACTICES TO LOCATE AND ENROLL THE ASSESSABLE VALUE EACH YEAR AS OF LIEN DATE.

THE LIEN DATE IS SPECIFICALLY 12:01 A.M.

JANUARY 1ST. WHEN IT COMES TO STAFFING, WE'VE BEEN MANAGING STRUGGLES OF FINDING QUALIFIED AUDITORS FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS NOW.

WE CURRENTLY HAVE THOSE FILLED.

HOWEVER, WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS THAT AN INCREASING DEMAND.

OUR NUMBERS HAVE GONE FROM THE 8000 RANGES TO THE 12,000 RANGES OF ANNUAL ASSESSMENTS.

SO WE'RE LOOKING AT AT THAT BURDEN THAT IT KEEPS ON THE OFFICE AND AND OTHER WAYS IN WHICH WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO MANAGE THAT PROCESSING DURING THIS LAST YEAR.

WE'VE ALSO JUGGLED STAFF FROM OUR RECORDER SIDE TO THE ASSESSOR SIDE TO PREVENT LAYOFFS DURING THE DECLINING RECORDING NUMBERS.

HAVING THAT STAFF AVAILABLE TO QUICKLY RETURN TO THE RECORDER SIDE HAS ALLOWED US TO KEEP UP WITH THE WORKLOAD, EVEN WITH THE REDUCED STAFF.

ANOTHER POSITION THAT HAS BEEN DIFFICULT TO RECRUIT HAS BEEN THE MAPPING POSITION IN THE ASSESSOR'S OFFICE. IT IS UNIQUE IN THAT IT HAS BOTH THE MAPPING REQUIREMENTS WITH IT, AND WE CURRENTLY MAP WITHIN GIS, BUT ALSO THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP LAWS. SO THAT CREATES A UNIQUE NUANCE TO THE POSITION.

AFTER A REVIEW OF THE POSITIONS IN THE DEPARTMENT, THE ASSESSOR'S OFFICE IS PREPARING A PERSONNEL AMENDMENT FOR A COUNTY WIDE AMENDMENT PROCESS. THAT'S THE OCTOBER PROCESS.

I'M HOPING TO SAVE MONEY AND BETTER STAFF THE DEPARTMENT TO MEET SOME OF THESE ASSESSMENT NEEDS. ARROW. IS THAT THE RIGHT ONE? YES. SO OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS GENERALLY REVOLVE AROUND EFFICIENCIES TO KEEP UP WITH THE WORK, UTILIZING TECHNOLOGY AS APPROPRIATE TO ENSURE THAT THE TAX DOLLARS ARE MANAGED PROPERLY.

THE RECORDER MUST ENSURE THAT DTT IS COLLECTED AND DISTRIBUTED CORRECTLY.

WE COLLECT FUNDS SUCH AS THE DA FRAUD FEE THAT'S USED TO SUPPORT THE DA EFFORTS AND THE CAPACITY TO INVESTIGATE REAL ESTATE FRAUD, AS WELL AS SB TWO FUNDS, WHICH ARE DISTRIBUTED TO THE STATE FOR LOW INCOME HOUSING.

AND A PORTION OF THOSE FUNDS ARE ALLOWED TO COME BACK TO THE COUNTY LEVEL.

THE ASSESSOR'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS ARE ALWAYS FOCUSED ON WAYS TO ENSURE FAIR AND ACCURATE ASSESSMENTS, LOOKING FOR EXEMPTIONS AND EXCLUSIONS THAT MAY APPLY TO A PROPERTY OWNER, AND REACHING OUT TO GATHER INFORMATION, ALLOWING US TO APPLY THOSE EXEMPTIONS OR EXCLUSIONS.

IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE THE RIGHT BALANCE, WHICH ALLOWS OUR APPRAISERS TO MAINTAIN AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE APPRAISAL AREAS AND THE TRENDS IN THE MARKET FLUCTUATIONS. BUT PAST UPGRADES WE'VE USED FOR THE PROPERTIES INCLUDE OUR MOBILE HOME ASSESSMENTS, OUR POSSESSORY INTEREST ASSESSMENTS, AND THOSE ALL HELP KEEP US WITHIN OUR BUDGET GOALS WITHOUT ADDING STAFF.

CURRENTLY, WE ARE WORKING TO UTILIZE A DIRECT ENROLLMENT MODULE OR FOR OUR SIMPLE HOMOGENEOUS AREAS, WHICH WILL ALLOW AN APPRAISER MORE TIME TO ANALYZE THE MORE COMPLEX APPRAISALS IN THEIR AREA.

PROPERTY TAXES ARE THE MAIN PORTION OF TAXES AVAILABLE TO THE COUNTY FOR DISCRETIONARY USE. HOWEVER, THE TAX DOLLARS ARE NOT OUR FOCUS IN OUR OFFICE.

WE STRICTLY FOCUS ON THE VALUES AND THE PRACTICES IN PLACE TO GET THE JOB DONE WITH THE MOST EFFICIENT MANNER, SO THAT THE TAXPAYERS AND THE CAO CAN FEEL ASSURED THAT THE REAL VALUES ARE ACCURATE.

I DO HAVE THE NUMBERS UP THERE IN TERMS OF SOME OF THE LITTLE KEY ELEMENTS, BUT I FIGURE YOU GUYS CAN READ THOSE AND ASK ME QUESTIONS AS WE GO ALONG.

AS FAR AS OUR GENERAL FUND CONTRIBUTION WE HAVE CREATED OUR, OUR YEAR TO YEAR WITH A, AS YOU SAW EARLIER, THERE'S 11000.14 OF A PERCENT.

SO WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO MANAGE OUR BUDGETS BY STRIPPING MOST OF ANYTHING OVER THE YEARS THAT ANY ROOM WE'VE HAD FOR ANY INCIDENTALS OR STUFF LIKE THAT, WE'VE REALLY STRIPPED OUT TO, TO THE BARE MINIMUMS. BECAUSE MOST OF OUR COSTS ARE IN IT FACILITIES, MAIL SERVICES, THOSE COSTS THAT WE REALLY DON'T CONTROL.

HOWEVER, IN TERMS OF SOME OF OUR GRANT FUNDING OR OTHER OUTSIDE FUNDING, BECAUSE NONE OF THESE ARE GRANTS IN 2022, THE CALIFORNIA COUNTY ASSESSOR'S INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AUTHORITY WAS CREATED.

THAT'S WHERE THE ASSESSOR'S MANAGE A $30 MILLION GRANT TO ASSESSOR'S ON A STATEWIDE BASIS. THE FUNDING WAS DISTRIBUTED OVER THREE YEARS TO PERMIT THE MEMBER AGENCIES TO JOINTLY DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS TO ASSIST IN THE STANDARDIZATION OF STATEWIDE ASSESSMENT PRACTICES.

[01:45:01]

THAT RFP IS ACTUALLY OUT RIGHT NOW, AND SHASTA COUNTY STAFF HAS ASSISTED IN THE PROOF OF CONCEPT PROGRAMING REVIEW.

AS FAR AS THE RECORDER SIDE, THE RECORDERS FOCUS ON A STATEWIDE BASIS HAS BEEN THE RECORDING FEES, BECAUSE RECORDING FEES ARE ALMOST ENTIRELY ESTABLISHED BY CODE, WITH ONLY A COUPLE FEES THAT HAVE BEEN APPROVED BY THE BOARD.

YOU KNOW, LIKE IF THE BOARD APPROVES THIS, YOU CAN CHARGE A DOLLAR FOR THAT TYPE OF THING. BUT MOST OF THEM ARE VERY SET IN CODE.

THE BOARD ONLY APPROVES THE COLLECTION OR THE COST STUDY ASSOCIATED WITH THEM, EXCEPT FOR LIKE COPY FEES.

THE MAIN RECORDING FEES WERE INCREASED IN 2010, SPECIFICALLY BY GOVERNMENT CODE 27361, WHICH CAPPED THE RECORDING FEE AT THAT TIME AT $10. BASED UPON THE FEE STUDY.

AT THAT TIME, WE HAD OUR FEE STUDY APPROVED BY THE BOARD, AND THAT SHOWED A COST OF 1191 PER DOCUMENT.

SO YOU CAN SEE THAT WE WERE STARTING ALREADY A LITTLE BIT BEHIND.

THAT'S ESSENTIALLY THE PORTION OF THAT WHY THE RECORDER HAS NEEDED GENERAL FUND SUPPORT OVER THE YEARS. EXAMINING DOCUMENTS FOR RECORDING REQUIREMENTS CANNOT BE AUTOMATED DUE TO THE EXTENSIVE LIST OF RECORDING REQUIREMENTS NEEDED FOR EACH TYPE AND ADDITION. IN ADDITION, CHANGES TO DOCUMENTS AND REQUIREMENTS HAS INCREASED THE ANALYSIS NEEDED FOR DOCUMENT REVIEW.

THIS IS AN ISSUE FOR THE ENTIRE STATE, AND THE COUNTY.

RECORDERS ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA HAS SPENT THE LAST TWO YEARS WORKING WITH STAKEHOLDERS AND LEGISLATORS TO UPDATE THE RECORDING FEES.

AB 1430 IS CURRENTLY IN AND GOING THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS, AND AS A RESULT OF THOSE EFFORTS, AND CONTINUES TO BE A FOCUS OF CRACK AS WE LISTEN TO ADDITIONAL INPUT AND REVIEW ANY AMENDMENTS TO THE BILL.

THE BILL HAS RECEIVED THE SUPPORT OF OUR C R, C, U, C C AND C, SAC, SO THAT IS MY THREE SLIDES, AND I'M OPEN FOR QUESTIONS FROM ANYBODY.

SUPERVISOR. KELSTROM. AND THANK YOU FOR THAT.

YES. THANK YOU. SO THE SECOND LINE, THE TERMINATION SPECIAL PAY IS ON YOUR IN YOUR BUDGET. THERE'S A WENT TO LIKE 66,000.

ARE YOU EXPECTING THE LONG TERM EMPLOYEE THAT'S LEAVING OR THAT GUY.

YEAH. YOU'RE THE DAVID AND I STARTED A COUPLE MONTHS APART, AND DAVID IS RETIRING.

CONGRATULATIONS, DAVID. YEAH, THAT'S.

YEAH. CONGRATULATIONS, DAVID.

I MEAN, THERE'S A SIMPLE ANSWER TO THAT. YEAH. AND THEN THE CHANGE IN THE FACILITY MANAGEMENT PROFESSIONAL SERVICES THAT WENT UP QUITE A BIT.

IS THERE ARE YOU DOING A NEW WAS THAT ON THE RECORDER SIDE? WELL IT'S ON, ON THE FACILITIES ON THE RECORDER SIDE.

WE'RE FINALLY GETTING THE CARPET DONE. THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE BUDGETED A COUPLE YEARS PREVIOUSLY, AND WE KEPT PULLING IT OUT OF THE BUDGET.

SO WE DO HAVE THAT BACK IN THE BUDGET THIS YEAR.

AND THEN MY ONLY OTHER QUESTION IS I KNOW THERE'S A LUXURY TAX ON BOATS AND AIRPLANES AND WE HAVE ONE ON TRACTORS ALSO.

DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY COUNTIES TAX THE TRACTORS? BECAUSE I KNOW I TALKED TO SOME PEOPLE IN SOME IN GLENN COUNTY AND HARMON COUNTY AND THEY DON'T HAVE THE TRACTOR TAX.

WELL, FIRST LET ME START BY CLARIFYING IT'S NOT A LUXURY TAX.

IT IS ALL THE SAME TAX THAT FALLS UNDER THE THE CALIFORNIA CONSTITUTION, ARTICLE 13 A THAT SAYS EVERYTHING IS TAXABLE UNLESS SPECIFICALLY EXEMPTED.

THERE ARE A SERIES OF EXEMPTIONS, STARTING WITH A GOING THROUGH LIKE IN.

AND THERE ARE NO EXEMPTIONS FOR THEM.

SO THAT'S WHY, LIKE IF YOU ASSESS A BOAT WHEN YOU REGISTER IT FOR DMV, YOU'RE JUST PAYING AN ANNUAL REGISTRATION FEE.

YOU'RE NOT ACTUALLY PAYING WHAT FOR A VEHICLE IS A VEHICLE LICENSE FEE EQUIVALENT.

YOU'RE NOT PAYING THAT PORTION TO DMV.

SO WE CHARGE IT DIRECTLY HERE.

SO TRACTORS ARE ONE OF THE UNIQUE THINGS THAT FALL UNDER THERE BECAUSE THERE'S NO THERE ARE PERSONAL HOUSEHOLD FURNISHINGS EXEMPTIONS.

SO THAT'S WHY WE DON'T GO INTO THE HOME ANYMORE.

THEY THEY USED TO HAVE TO INCLUDE PERSONAL FURNISHINGS.

THEY USED TO HAVE TO ASSESS FOR INVENTORY OF BUSINESSES.

THAT'S WHY YOU WOULD SEE INVENTORY REDUCTION SALES.

BUT TRACTORS ESSENTIALLY FALL WITHIN THAT.

EVERYTHING'S TAXABLE UNLESS EXEMPTED.

SO ONCE WE'RE AWARE OF A OF A TRACTOR IN ANY WAY.

AND WE HAVE MULTIPLE SOURCES FOR HOW WE CAN GET THAT INFORMATION.

YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S AN APPRAISER IN THE FIELD, A UCC FILING YOU KNOW, WHATEVER IT IS IN TERMS OF HOW WE FIND OUT ABOUT IT, ALL ASSESSORS THROUGHOUT THE STATE SHOULD BE ASSESSING TRACTORS.

THERE ARE NO EXEMPTIONS.

I KNOW THAT A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO I HAD A, AN ASSESSOR WHO HAD REPLIED TO ONE OF OUR TAXPAYERS, AND I ACTUALLY HAD TO REPLY BACK BECAUSE HE GOT A LITTLE CONFUSED ON IT, AND I REPLIED BACK WITH ALL OF THE STATUTORY CODES,

[01:50:03]

SO TRACTORS ARE JUST A UNIQUE ITEM THAT FALLS WITHIN EVERYTHING'S TAXABLE UNLESS EXEMPTED.

AND THERE ARE NO EXEMPTIONS FOR TRACTORS.

AND THOSE EXEMPTION EXEMPTIONS, CAN THEY BE MADE AT A COUNTY LEVEL OR DO THEY HAVE TO BE MADE AT STATE LEVEL. THEY'RE AT A STATE LEVEL. SO STATE LEGISLATORS.

SO THE OTHER COUNTIES THAT AREN'T CHARGING FOR TRACTORS JUST AREN'T DOING.

MY ASSUMPTION WOULD BE IS THEY DON'T KNOW ABOUT THEM.

IF THEY KNOW ABOUT THEM, THEY WOULD BE CHARGING OR SHOULD BE CHARGING.

OKAY. YES. ALL RIGHT. BUT IF SOMEBODY DON'T SAY OUT LOUD WHO.

YEAH. WELL, I MEAN, WELL AND THAT'S ACTUALLY I MEAN, THAT'S MY THOUGHTS IS WE YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SOME TRACTOR DEALERSHIPS IN THE AREA.

AND, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, IF I WERE IN THE, YOU KNOW, TO LOOKING TO BUY A TRACTOR, I WOULD PROBABLY DRIVE TO OREGON AND NOT HAVE TO PAY THE SALES TAX AND NOT LET ANYBODY KNOW ABOUT IT BECAUSE I WOULDN'T WANT TO GET CHARGED THAT. AND THE SALES TAX IS ANOTHER UNIQUE THING, BECAUSE IF WE'RE AWARE, YOU BUY IT, LIKE SAY, FROM A PRIVATE PARTY FOR $10,000, WE'RE REQUIRED TO ADD WHAT THE EQUIVALENT OF SALES TAX IS, BECAUSE THAT'S THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN EQUALIZE THE ASSESSMENT BETWEEN TAXPAYERS. OKAY. THANK YOU.

SUPERVISOR. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.

I'M LOOKING AT THE REVENUES FOR THE ASSESSOR AND THE SALARIES ARE THAT THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE ASSESSOR AND THE SALARIES AND BENEFITS WENT UP BY 12%.

AND I'M TRYING TO FIGURE THAT OUT.

BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T ADD NEW STAFF, BUT YET IT LOOKS LIKE, LIKE HEALTH INSURANCE REALLY JUMPED.

IT WOULD BE INSURANCE.

AND THEN IT WOULD, IT MIGHT ALSO BE SOMETIMES WE'LL PLAN ON HOLDING A VACANT A VACANCY FOR A PORTION OF A YEAR. BUT YES, THERE WERE SALARY EXPENSES, YOU KNOW, OUTSIDE OF OUR CONTROLS, SUCH AS THE HEALTH INSURANCE, ETC., THAT IMPACT IT. BUT SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, WE'LL, IF WE KNOW WE'RE GOING INTO A YEAR AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO FILL A POSITION UNTIL CLOSER TO ROLL PROCESSING OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

WE, WE MAKE ADJUSTMENTS LIKE THAT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A COUPLE POSITIONS THAT WE'VE FUNDED, BUT WE'RE THOSE FUNDING OF THEM.

WE ALSO HAVE THE CONSIDERATION OF THAT OCTOBER PERSONNEL AMENDMENT THAT WE'RE PLANNING ON DOING. AND SO WE'RE HOPING TO EXPERIENCE THE SAVINGS WHEN WE DO THAT.

BUT WE DO HAVE THEM FULLY BUDGETED BECAUSE WE'RE LOOKING AT THOSE POSITIONS AS TO IF THAT'S REALLY WHAT WE SHOULD BE FILLING OR IF WE SHOULD BE HANDLING IT DIFFERENTLY.

OKAY. AND IS IT SAFE TO SAY THEN THAT MOST OF THESE INCREASE IN SALARY COSTS, SALARY BENEFITS IS KIND OF OUTSIDE YOUR CONTROL? IT ESSENTIALLY IS OUTSIDE MY CONTROL FOR THE INCREASES.

THE ONLY THING WE WOULD HAVE CONTROL OF IS, LIKE I SAY, IF THERE'S A VACANCY IF WHEN WE REPLACE DAVID, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A SALARY SAVINGS THERE TYPE OF THING, PERIOD OF TIME. YEAH, YEAH.

SO NEXT YEAR, YOU KNOW, WE SEE DIFFERENCES LIKE THAT TOO.

SO SOMETIMES YOU JUST SEE THOSE FLUCTUATIONS DUE TO THE WAY STAFFING OCCURS.

BUT THE INCREASES USUALLY ARE ONLY DUE TO THE NEGOTIATED INCREASES.

AND THE HEALTH INSURANCE IS.

YES. WE HAVEN'T WE HAVEN'T ADDED ANY ADDITIONAL POSITIONS, BUT WE COULD HAVE POTENTIALLY BUDGETED ONE MORE FULLY THIS YEAR.

THAT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN.

IT WAS ONLY A PARTIAL YEAR IN A PRIOR YEAR IS KIND OF WHAT I'M SAYING.

GOT IT, GOT IT. AND THEN I WAS LOOKING AT THE, THE BOTTOM LINE OVER AND UNDER REVENUE AND IT LOOKS LIKE YOUR ADJUSTED BUDGET WAS, YOU KNOW, FIVE ONE AND IT, YOU CAME IN AT FOUR THREE, SO IT WAS ABOUT 7738 UNDER THE BUDGET.

IS THAT SALARY SAVINGS OR WHAT? WHAT LED TO THAT? YOU MEAN BETWEEN WHAT OUR ADJUSTED BUDGET WAS AND WHERE WE ARE CURRENTLY, WHERE YOU. YEAH.

WHERE YOU WOULD BE FOR A FISCAL YEAR END THIS TIME? IS THAT YEAH. A LOT OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH SALARY SAVINGS WHEN WE, BECAUSE WE'VE HAD AN APPRAISER LEAVE, FOR EXAMPLE.

AND THAT'S ONE OF THE POSITIONS, YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHEN TO FILL THAT POSITION.

LIKELY GOING TO BE IN ABOUT AUGUST OF NEXT YEAR.

BUT YEAH, USUALLY IT'S JUST FOR VACANCIES THAT WE EXPERIENCE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

GREAT. THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR.

PLUMMER. HI. I WAS LOOKING AT THE ON THE ASSESSOR BUDGET UNIT, THE APPRAISER WORKLOAD CHART.

AND CURIOUS KIND OF WHAT DRIVES THAT.

IT LOOKS LIKE IT WAS, YOU KNOW, CONSIDERABLY LESS IN 20 1920.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S MACROECONOMIC CONDITIONS AND COVID, BUT THEN. YEAH. SO THERE'S ALL SORTS OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WILL DRIVE THAT.

ONE IS GOING TO BE THE CHANGES OF OWNERSHIP THAT TAKE PLACE. SO THOSE RECORDED DOCUMENTS, AS THOSE RECORDED DOCUMENTS GO DOWN, TYPICALLY WE SEE LESS CHANGES OF OWNERSHIP SPARKED FROM THAT. THE PERMITTING PROCESS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY AND AND AGENCIES ARE

[01:55:06]

THERE ARE SOME COMPONENTS THAT THAT AREN'T ALWAYS INCLUDED AS WELL AS THEY COULD BE.

AND THAT HAS TO DO WITH LIKE PROP EIGHT.

REASSESSMENTS. SO PEOPLE ARE ENTITLED TO THE LESSER OF CURRENT MARKET VALUE OR.

THEIR BASE YEAR VALUE. THAT'S BEEN APPRECIATED BY NO MORE THAN 2% PER YEAR.

SO THOSE WORKLOAD NUMBERS AREN'T IN THERE.

THERE'S ALSO SOME WORKLOAD THAT'S FOR.

LIKE OUR PROP 19 TRANSFERS, WHERE IF SOMEBODY TRANSFERS FROM ANOTHER COUNTY TO HERE, WE HAVE TO DO.

REAPPRAISALS. WE HAVE WORKLOADS FOR HOW WE'RE ASSESSING AND TRANSFERRING THOSE NUMBERS.

FOR INTERGENERATIONAL TRANSFERS.

SO THERE YES, IN THE BIG SENSE, ALL OF THOSE ITEMS ARE, ARE. WHAT DRIVES THE NUMBERS DOWN, BUT THERE ARE OTHER WORKLOAD AREAS.

AND THEN THE OTHER THING WE TRY TO DO.

IN TERMS OF LIKE RIGHT NOW WE'RE HAVING OUR APPRAISERS WORK TOWARDS GETTING OUR RECORDS SCANNED AND PURGED. THERE ARE COUNTIES WHO HAVE INVESTED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS INTO THAT. SO ONE OF THE THINGS WE DO IS SAY, WELL, WHILE IT'S SLOW.

SO WE'VE GOT 15,000 OF OUR RECORDS THAT HAVE BEEN REVIEWED IN THAT PROCESS AS WELL.

SO THAT DOESN'T GO INTO WORKLOAD IN THE SAME WAY.

THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR.

HARMON. HI, LESLIE. HI.

HAVE WE MET? I DON'T THINK SO.

I WELL. TROY TANNER IS MY COUSIN, AND I THINK YOU AND TROY KNOW EACH OTHER.

AND I GREW UP AROUND HERE.

I DON'T KNOW, I FEEL LIKE WE'VE MET, BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS THROUGH HIM.

I FEEL LIKE WE'VE MET, TOO, BECAUSE I GET LETTERS FROM YOU ALL THE TIME. YEAH, WELL, MY LETTERS ARE NICER THAN LORI'S.

NO, I WAS LOOKING FOR THE.

I WAS LOOKING FOR THE VALUE REDUCTION LINE, BUT I CAN'T SEE IT.

THE VALUE REDUCTION? YEAH.

VALUE ASSESSOR REDUCTION, YOU KNOW.

NEVER MIND. NO, I JUST WANT TO SAY NICE TO MEET YOU.

NICE TO MEET YOU. THANKS FOR SENDING ME ALL THE LETTERS.

AND ANYTIME. I'LL SEND YOU A COUPLE MORE NEXT WEEK.

YEAH, I KNOW YOU. THANK YOU.

I THINK WE'RE GOOD. GOOD.

THANK YOU. ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? NOPE. I'M SURPRISED. I'M SURPRISED YOU DIDN'T WANT THE JACKET OFF MY BACK BECAUSE YOU GOT.

YOU PROBABLY THOUGHT I ONLY HAVE ONE JACKET, RIGHT? AND JUST TO HELP STAFF AS WELL, WHAT WE'LL DO IS I THINK WHAT WE DID, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY LAST YEAR, STEPHANIE, IF AT THE VERY END OF ALL THE PRESENTATIONS WE LISTED OUT WHO WE'D LIKE TO PROBABLY COME BACK ON THAT THIRD DAY.

SO WE'LL DO THAT AGAIN THIS YEAR.

SO AT THE END OF ALL THE PRESENTATIONS, WE'LL LET ALL DEPARTMENT HEADS KNOW.

EACH OF US WILL GO THROUGH, HEY, HERE'S SOME ITEMS I'M GOING TO PERSONALLY BRING UP. AND THEN SO SOME OF YOU MAY NOT HEAR YOUR NAME AND WOULDN'T HAVE TO COME BACK. SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE I ADDED THAT.

MISS SHORT, WELCOME. THANK YOU.

GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR CRYE. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

THE SHORT AUDITOR CONTROLLER, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE AND OUR BUDGET. SO THIS FIRST SLIDE HERE HAS A LOT OF THIS CAN BE FOUND ON THE WEBSITE.

I PUT A LITTLE MORE INFORMATION IN THERE JUST FOR THE PUBLIC, BUT I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK OF US AS JUST AUDITING A FEW TRANSACTIONS.

AND WE HAVE A WIDE RANGE OF RESPONSIBILITIES.

SO THAT STARTS WITH AUDITING FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS.

FOR ANYTHING GOING IN AND OUT OF THE COUNTY TREASURY, WE PROCESS COUNTYWIDE PAYROLL FOR OVER 2000 COUNTY EMPLOYEES.

WE HAVE A ROLE IN PROPERTY TAXES.

WE SET THE TAX RATES AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PROCESS.

AND THEN WE ALSO ALLOCATE MONIES THAT ARE COLLECTED BY THE THE TAX COLLECTOR OUT TO THE AGENCIES THAT THAT MONEY BELONGS TO.

WE HAVE A PROCESS IN THE BUDGET, A PART IN THE BUDGET WHERE WE COMPILE THE BUDGET, BUT WE'RE ALSO INVOLVED ALL THROUGH THE YEAR WITH BUDGET AMENDMENT AND FUND BALANCE CALCULATIONS AND OTHER ITEMS RELATED TO BUDGET.

WE PREPARE THE COUNTY WIDE COST ALLOCATION PLAN AND SUBMIT THAT TO THE STATE COMPTROLLER FOR APPROVAL. WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COUNTY WIDE FINANCIAL SYSTEM.

THAT INCLUDES THE SECURITY FOR THAT SYSTEM AND MAKING SURE PEOPLE HAVE PROPER ACCESS TO VARIOUS FINANCIAL REPORTS, INCLUDING THE AQUIFER FOR THE COUNTY.

WE DO INTERNAL AUDITS, AND THEN WE MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE KEEPING UP WITH EDUCATIONAL AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES, AND NOT JUST FOR OUR OFFICE, BUT FOR ALL ACCOUNTANTS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. SO STAFFING CHANGES.

WE BASICALLY HAVE THE SAME NUMBER OF STAFF THIS YEAR THAT WE'VE HAD FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. BUT THIS YEAR THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY IN, WE DID RESTRUCTURE TWO POSITIONS THAT RESULTED IN COST SAVINGS.

SO AS WE'VE BEEN HAVING RETIREMENTS, WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT THOSE POSITIONS TO SEE IF THEY COULD APPROPRIATELY BE FILLED WITH LESSER POSITIONS AND STILL HAVE THE SAME BENEFIT. AND SO WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT WITH TWO POSITIONS.

AND THEN NEXT YEAR OR THE FOLLOWING BUDGET YEAR,

[02:00:03]

SO WE CURRENTLY HAVE 26 FULL TIME STAFF, NO EXTRA HELP.

AND ALTHOUGH AT THE TIME I WROTE THIS, WE HAD NO VACANCIES.

I SHOULD HAVE KNOCKED ON WOOD BECAUSE WE HAD A VERY BRIGHT PERSON THAT PROBABLY WOULD HAVE HAD A LONG FUTURE WITH US. BUT HER HUSBAND TOOK A JOB AND SO SHE MOVED TO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. AND SO WE'RE CURRENTLY RECRUITING FOR THAT.

WE WILL NOT LEAVE IT VACANT FOR VERY LONG, JUST BECAUSE WE CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE VACANCIES AND STILL GET ALL OF OUR WORK DONE.

PROGRAM CHANGES. SO THE ONE NOTABLE CHANGE IS THIS NEXT YEAR WE WILL BE MAKING AN UPGRADE TO THE COUNTY WIDE FINANCE SYSTEM IN OCTOBER.

CURRENTLY SCHEDULED FOR OCTOBER 10TH.

THAT INCLUDES IMPLEMENTATION, TESTING AND TRAINING.

ALTHOUGH OUR TABLES ON THE BACK END ARE GOING TO STAY THE SAME, WHICH WILL BE NICE. SO WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF DATA CONVERSION.

WE, THE FRONT END IS GOING TO LOOK CONSIDERABLY DIFFERENT.

SO IT'S GOING TO THROW SOME PEOPLE FOR A LOOP. SO WE WILL BE DOING TRAINING WITH DEPARTMENTS AND WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THAT SMOOTH TRANSITION.

ALL OF OUR TERMINOLOGY SHOULD BE THE SAME.

SO IF WE USE THE WORD INVOICE, IT SHOULD SAY INVOICE COST CENTER WILL BE COST CENTER. SO NONE OF THAT IS CHANGING, BUT IT'S OVERDUE.

IT'S LONG OVERDUE. WE SHOULD HAVE DONE IT A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, BUT THERE WERE SOME MAJOR KIND OF HURDLES IN THE IMPLEMENTATION THAT WE'RE LIKE, WE'RE NOT GOING TO SUBJECT COUNTY DEPARTMENTS TO THAT UNTIL THEY FIX IT. AND SO WE HELD OFF AND WE'RE DOING THAT NOW.

AND THEN WE HAVE NO CAPITAL ASSETS IN THIS YEAR OR NEXT YEAR.

SO SOME OF OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS THIS YEAR, WE MADE ADDITIONAL ENHANCEMENTS TO THE PCARD MODULE, WHICH IS THE, THE MODULE THAT WE USE TO PROCESS PROCUREMENT CARD TRANSACTIONS. AND SO THAT'S ALLOWED US TO SPREAD THAT WORKLOAD OUT, ALLOW DEPARTMENTS TO SPREAD THE WORKLOAD OUT. AND INSTEAD OF THEM COMING THROUGH IN BATCH MODE, THEY'RE COMING THROUGH ONE AT A TIME. SO IT WAS CAUSING US SOME PROBLEMS WITH STUFF COMING THROUGH IN BATCH MODE, BECAUSE IF ONE WAS WRONG, YOU'D SEND THEM ALL BACK OR THEY WOULD ALL BE HELD UP.

SO NOW WE CAN PROCESS THE ONES THAT ARE CORRECT, KEEP IT MOVING, AND YOU CAN KIND OF SPREAD IT OUT TO DIFFERENT APPROVERS.

WE'RE WORKING WITH THE CAO STAFF TO AUTOMATE THE BUDGET BOOK WE'RE DOING, WORKING ON THAT FINANCIAL SYSTEM UPGRADE.

AND ALTHOUGH IT WON'T GO INTO PLACE UNTIL NEXT YEAR, WE'RE WE'RE HEAVY INTO TESTING AND AND IMPLEMENTATION RIGHT NOW.

WE'RE WORKING TO INCREASE OUR INTERNAL INTERNAL AUDIT PRESENCE.

SO THIS IS SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO DO OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

SO WE STARTED WITH FEE AUDITS.

WE DID SOME CONTRACT COMPLIANCE AUDITS FOR HRSA, ALTHOUGH WE HAVEN'T FORMALLY IMPLEMENTED OUR OWN PROGRAM FOR THAT.

AND WE'RE LOOKING TO IMPLEMENT SOME ADDITIONAL AUDITS FOR CAL CARDS, ESPECIALLY AFTER ATTENDING A CONFERENCE THAT WE WENT TO LAST YEAR WHERE SOME COUNTIES WERE HAVING SOME FRAUD ISSUES WITH CAL CARD.

AND SO WE'RE LOOKING TO IMPLEMENT ADDITIONAL CONTROLS THERE.

AND SO WE'LL BE DOING THAT IN THE NEXT YEAR AS STAFFING IS AVAILABLE.

WE'LL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND WE'RE REALLY FOCUSED ON WASTE AND ENSURING THAT WE HAVE CONTINUED PROGRESS WITH THAT COUNTYWIDE.

WE DO WANT TO CREATE A MANDATORY WASTE, FRAUD AND ABUSE TRAINING.

I THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR ALL FISCAL STAFF.

SO IF THEY'RE SPENDING COUNTY DOLLARS ARE INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS WHERE THEY'RE SPENDING COUNTY DOLLARS, THEY SHOULD HAVE THIS TRAINING THAT KIND OF HELPS THEM IDENTIFY WHAT DO WE CONSIDER AS FRAUD, WASTE OR ABUSE. I THINK FRAUD IS PRETTY OBVIOUS.

PEOPLE KNOW WHAT THAT IS. BUT WHAT DOES WASTE MEAN AND WHAT DOES ABUSE MEAN? AND KIND OF GET OUT AHEAD OF THAT AND LET YOU KNOW THE FISCAL STAFF KNOW WHAT THEY SHOULD BE LOOKING FOR. AND I THINK IT WILL SERVE THE COUNTY WELL.

WE'RE IMPLEMENTING PAYEE POSITIVE PAY, WHICH ALLOWS US TO CHECK THE NAME WHEN WE'RE SENDING THOSE CHECKS TO THE BANK. WE CURRENTLY HAVE POSITIVE PAY, BUT WE DON'T TRANSMIT THE NAME OVER THERE.

WE TRANSMIT THE DOLLAR AMOUNT, THE CHECK NUMBER AND THE DATE. AND IF ANY OF THOSE DIFFER, WE IT GETS KICKED BACK TO US SO WE CAN REVIEW IT.

WE'RE GOING TO ADD THE PAYEE NAME TO THAT PROCESS AS WELL.

THERE'S BEEN SOME DIFFICULTIES WITH IT HAS TO BE IN A SPECIFIC FORMAT, ALL UPPERCASE. AND WE'RE GETTING FILES FROM THE SCHOOLS AND THE COLLEGE.

SO WE'RE TRYING TO WORK WITH THEM AND THEIR SYSTEMS. WE'RE WORKING TO CLOSE THE LAST REMAINING OUTSIDE CHECKING ACCOUNT. WE HAVE OUTSIDE CHECKING ACCOUNTS. IT'S ALWAYS A RISK TO THE COUNTY AND THE TAXPAYERS.

AND SO WE'RE WORKING ON THAT.

AND THEN AS A PIPE DREAM, WE WOULD STILL LIKE TO ESTABLISH AN ONLINE PAYMENT SYSTEM FOR RETIREE HEALTH BENEFITS.

SO WE HAVE SOME RETIREES THAT HAVE A SHARE OF COST.

THEY'RE PAYING IT TO US.

AND SO THERE ARE SOME OF THOSE THAT ARE NOT TAKING ADVANTAGE.

THEY DON'T THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH IN RETIREMENT TO PAY FOR THOSE HEALTH COSTS. SO THEY'RE CUTTING CHECKS TO US AND SENDING THOSE IN.

IT'D BE NICE FOR THEM TO HAVE A WAY THAT THEY CAN GO IN AND PAY, OR THEY COULD PAY A YEAR OR PAY SIX MONTHS AT A TIME AND DO THAT ONLINE.

BUT THAT IS A FUTURE AFTER EVERYTHING ELSE.

SO IN TERMS OF OUR BUDGET AND GENERAL FUND IMPACT, SO THE SLIDE YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU.

SO WE'RE ACROSS WE'RE WE'RE A COST PLAN DEPARTMENT.

SO OUR BUDGET IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT, DIFFICULT TO LOOK AT.

SO TO LOOK AT WHAT OUR ACTUAL APPROPRIATIONS ARE AND WHAT WE'RE DOING FROM YEAR TO YEAR, YOU FIRST HAVE TO REMOVE OUR COST PLAN RECOVERY.

AND THE LARGEST PART OF OUR COST PLAN RECOVERY GETS POSTED TO THAT COST APPLIED ACCOUNT THAT YOU SEE ON THERE.

AND SO IF WE'RE IN THE ZERO EIGHT ACCOUNT SERIES.

IF YOU REMOVE THAT, THEN YOU CAN SEE WHAT ARE OUR TRUE COSTS BEFORE WE'RE CHARGING ANYTHING

[02:05:02]

THIS YEAR IT'S 5.7 MILLION.

SO IT HAS AN INCREASE IN EXPENSES OF 117,000.

AND I SPLIT THIS INTO TWO SECTIONS.

SO I HEARD EARLIER SOMEBODY SAID WHAT PORTION OF YOUR BUDGET CAN YOU CONTROL.

SO I SPLIT IT OUT. SO THE TOP HALF IS WHAT I VIEW THAT I CAN CONTROL IN MY BUDGET, WHICH IS ABOUT $300,000 OF MY BUDGET.

AND THE REST OF IT IS EITHER SALARIES AND BENEFITS, WHICH COME THROUGH, YOU KNOW, NEGOTIATED BENEFITS FROM THE BOARD.

WE HAVE INCREASES IN INSURANCE.

WE HAVE INCREASE IN IT COSTS, FACILITIES AND FLEET.

AND I WOULD TELL YOU THAT WE'RE NOT INCREASING OUR SERVICES WITH ANY OF THOSE DEPARTMENTS. WE HAVE NO SPECIAL PROJECTS WE HAVEN'T ASKED FOR.

YOU KNOW, WE MIGHT HAVE A LITTLE BIT WITH IT FOR OUR OUR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FINANCE SYSTEM, BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO BE THAT SIGNIFICANT. SO THESE ARE ONGOING RECURRING COSTS THAT WE REALLY HAVE NO CONTROL OVER.

SO WE DID GO THROUGH OUR BUDGET. THIS IS OUR SECOND YEAR IN A ROW. WE DID IT LAST YEAR AS WELL AND LOOKED AT WHAT DO WE REALLY NEED? WHERE CAN WE CUT? I MEAN, WE'VE DONE THINGS EVEN CUTTING DOWN, YOU KNOW, ON THE KIND OF PAPER WE'RE BUYING AND OTHER THINGS AND JUST REALLY BEING MINDFUL OF THAT. AND SO THIS YEAR, WITH THE TWO POSITIONS THAT WE REPLACED WITH LOWER POSITIONS, WHICH YOU CAN'T SEE THAT AMOUNT BECAUSE IT'S IN THE SALARIES AND BENEFITS. AND SO IT'S KIND OF BUILT INTO THAT. BUT I INCLUDED THAT HERE WHERE WE'RE LOOKING AT 93,000 IN SAVINGS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO AFFECT THIS YEAR IN OUR BUDGET.

AND SO THIS, THIS SLIDE WILL SHOW YOU THE, THE SAME NUMBERS, BUT WITH COST RECOVERY.

AND SO THE COST PLAN RECOVERY, YOU CAN SEE THOSE NUMBERS BENEATH THAT.

WE TALKED ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT EARLIER WITH AARON.

AND THE ONE DIFFICULTY WITH COST PLAN RECOVERY IS THAT IT KIND OF COMES TWO YEARS IN ARREARS. AND SO WHAT WE'RE, WHAT WE'RE CHARGING EACH YEAR TO DEPARTMENTS FOR COST RECOVERY AS WE'RE CHARGING A TRUE UP OR ROLL FORWARD FROM A PREVIOUS YEAR THAT WE UNDERCHARGED ON. AND THEN WE'RE ALSO CHARGING AN ESTIMATE FOR THE NEXT YEAR.

SO FOR 2526, WHAT I CAN TELL YOU ABOUT THAT ESTIMATE IS, IS UNDERFUNDED. SO WE ALREADY KNOW BECAUSE WHAT IT DOES IS IT ALLOWS US TO USE FISCAL YEAR 2324 AS AN ESTIMATE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2526.

AND THAT'S THE ONLY THING YOU CAN DO. THE STATE CONTROLLER DICTATES THAT. AND WE KNOW WE'VE HAD HOW MANY SALARY INCREASES BETWEEN NOW AND THEN.

WE'VE HAD INFLATION BETWEEN NOW AND THEN.

WE'VE HAD CHANGES IN OUR SERVICE LEVELS BETWEEN NOW AND THEN, BUT WE CAN'T RECOVER ANY OF THAT UNTIL WE'RE DONE WITH 2526.

SO THE ONLY THING THAT WE CAN DO TO KIND OF PRE CHARGE FOR 25, 26 IS CHARGE THIS ESTIMATE THAT'S BASED ON NUMBERS THAT ARE TWO YEARS OLD ALREADY.

AND SO WE'RE ALWAYS GOING TO BE BEHIND THE EIGHT BALL WHEN WE'RE DOING THIS. AND SO I PUT THOSE NUMBERS UP THERE SO YOU COULD SEE THOSE.

SO THAT'S OUR COST RECOVERY.

SO OUR REVENUE KIND OF GOES UP AND DOWN BASED ON THIS THIS CYCLE THAT WE HAVE WITH THE COST PLAN. AND SO IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE DO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF REVENUE RECOVERY THAT COMES BACK FROM REBATES ON INSURANCE.

FORFEITED 401 AYE AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.

AND THEN ALSO OUR CREDIT CARD PROGRAM, WE HAVE A REBATE ON THE CREDIT CARD PROGRAM THAT WE ADMINISTER. AND SO THAT REBATES COMING BACK THERE AS WELL.

WE ALSO DO HAVE SOME TOT, WE DO TOT AUDITS FOR THE TREASURER.

AND SO THEY'VE CONTRACTED WITH US TO PERFORM THOSE AUDITS FOR THEM.

BUT YOU WILL NOT SEE THAT REVENUE IN OUR BUDGET, THAT REVENUE WILL COME BACK IN, YOU KNOW, TOT RETURNS, WHICH IS GOING TO COME BACK THROUGH THE 1000 COST CENTER.

SO THOSE WILL NEVER BE REFLECTED HERE.

OKAY. MAKE SURE I DIDN'T MISS ANYTHING.

YOU'LL NOTICE ON HERE THAT THERE AS FAR AS THE ANTICIPATED COST RECOVERY, THAT $2 MILLION SHORTAGE THAT WE HAVE THIS YEAR, WHICH WILL BE COVERED BY THE GENERAL FUND UNTIL THE TRUE UP IN 2728, BECAUSE WE WON'T GET REIMBURSED UNTIL THEN FOR THE REST OF IT.

SO A PORTION OF THAT IS GENERAL FUND VERSUS NON GENERAL FUND.

SO THE NON GENERAL FUND WOULD OBVIOUSLY BE YOUR HHS, A SOCIAL SERVICES, ANY STATE AND FEDERALLY FUNDED PROGRAM THAT WILL COME BACK TO US.

THE OTHER THREE THEY'RE ALL LABELED AS GENERAL FUND.

AND THAT'S BECAUSE SPECIAL DISTRICTS AND SCHOOLS WE CANNOT CHARGE.

SO SCHOOLS BY LAW WE CAN'T CHARGE.

AS A COUNTY WE'RE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE ACCOUNTING SERVICES TO THEM, AND WE CANNOT CHARGE THEM IN STATE LAW SCHOOL SPECIAL DISTRICTS.

THE INDEPENDENT SPECIAL DISTRICTS WOULD BE ALL YOUR FIRE DISTRICTS, YOUR CEMETERIES, YOUR, YOU KNOW, MOSQUITO DISTRICTS, THOSE DISTRICTS, PREVIOUS BOARDS HAVE DECIDED THAT THAT'S A CONTRIBUTION THAT THE COUNTY MAKES TOWARDS THOSE AGENCIES AND THAT WE WILL NOT CHARGE THEM FOR OUR SERVICES EITHER.

SO IF THEY KEEP THEIR MONEY IN THE COUNTY TREASURY, WE DO THEIR ACCOUNTING, WE PAY THEIR CHECKS, WE DON'T CHARGE THEM.

SO THOSE ARE ALSO GENERAL FUND COSTS.

SO TO SUMMARIZE IT, WE PROACTIVELY CUT 93,000.

WE HAVE NO NEW STAFF, NO ADDITIONAL ASSETS, AND WE WILL HAVE MINOR ADDITIONAL SERVICES BETWEEN 20 AND 30 000 FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FINANCE SYSTEM UPGRADE AND INFLATION AND BARGAINING CHANGES CONTINUE TO DRIVE OUR COSTS UP.

[02:10:05]

WE DO TRACK OUR TIME. WE NEED THAT TO BILL OUT THROUGH THE COST PLAN.

AND SO THIS IS OUR BASED ON OUR TIME ACCOUNTING TO EACH OF THE FUNCTIONAL AREAS.

WE'VE ALSO SPLIT OUR COST.

THAT COLUMN SHOULD SAY FISCAL YEAR 2526.

APOLOGIZE FOR THE TYPO.

AND SO YOU CAN SEE WHAT PERCENTAGE OF OUR BUDGET WE'RE PLANNING TO SPEND IN EACH OF THE AREAS BASED ON TIME STUDIES FROM THIS YEAR OR LAST YEAR.

AND THERE ARE A FEW NOTES ON THIS.

ANYTHING THAT WE DO FOR THE BOARD OR IN PREPARATION FOR BOARD MEETING IS A GENERAL FUND COST AND IS NOT ALLOWED TO BE RECOVERED FROM OTHER DEPARTMENTS.

SO WE CAN'T CHARGE IT OUT TO OTHER AGENCIES.

WE CANNOT RECOVER COSTS FROM THE SCHOOLS OR THE SPECIAL DISTRICTS, WHICH MAKES IT ALWAYS A GENERAL FUND COST.

AND WE'RE WORKING REALLY HARD TO KEEP OUR ADMIN PERCENT LOW BY ENSURING THAT WE HAVE WORKING MANAGERS WHO CHARGE OUT THEIR TIME APPROPRIATELY TO THE ACTUAL ACTIVITIES THAT THEY'RE WORKING ON. THESE ARE THE TWO POSITIONS THAT BECAME VACANT WITH RETIREMENTS LAST YEAR THAT WE WERE ABLE TO RECLASS FROM AGENCY STAFF, SERVICES ANALYST TO AUDITOR, ACCOUNTANT TECHNICIANS, AND THEN WE WILL HAVE ONE MORE THIS NEXT YEAR.

AND I WON'T TALK ABOUT THAT A LOT BECAUSE IT HASN'T OFFICIALLY BEEN ANNOUNCED YET.

BUT SO OUR COMMITMENT WE'LL CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR WAYS TO IMPROVE EFFICIENCIES AND DO MORE WITH LESS. WE'LL LOOK CRITICALLY AT SPENDING AND ENSURE WE USE THE MOST COST EFFECTIVE OPTIONS. WE WILL REVIEW THAT POSITION WE DISCUSSED.

WE'LL LIMIT OUR FOOTPRINT WITH SPECIAL DISTRICTS AND SCHOOLS TO ENSURE THAT WE MINIMIZE COSTS THAT THE COUNTY IS NOT REIMBURSED FOR.

SO WE'RE TRYING NOT TO DO MORE THAN WE NEED TO DO AND JUST KIND OF DOING WHAT WE'RE LEGALLY REQUIRED TO DO.

WE'LL EVALUATE OUR TRAVEL AND TRAINING POLICIES FOR EFFICIENCIES WHEN TRAVELING.

WE'VE ALREADY STARTED DOING SOME OF THAT WHERE WE COULD HAVE SENT A COUPLE OF PEOPLE.

NOW WE'LL SEND TWO, WE'LL LIMIT IT TO TWO, AND THOSE PEOPLE CAN BRING BACK THE INFORMATION AND SHARE IT. AND WE'RE NOT SENDING MORE THAN TWO. ALL MANAGERS WILL SERVE AS WORKING MANAGERS IN AN EFFORT TO KEEP THE ADMIN RATE LOW.

AND OUR CONCERNS OBVIOUSLY IS STAFFING.

SO WE'RE ALREADY OUR STAFF ARE PRETTY BUSY.

MOST OF OUR STAFF WORK WELL OVER THEIR EIGHT HOURS THAT ARE REQUIRED, ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE A MANAGER.

AND YET WE SEEM TO HAVE MORE OF AN INTERNAL AUDIT FUNCTION, WHICH I THINK IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

I HAVEN'T ASKED FOR MORE STAFF AND I'M NOT GOING TO DO THAT NOW, BECAUSE I'M WAITING TO KIND OF SEE HOW THINGS FLESH OUT, BECAUSE I DO THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'LL, YOU KNOW, THERE'LL BE A LOT OF WORKLOAD INITIALLY AND THEN THINGS WILL GET BETTER AND THEN WE WON'T NEED AS MUCH OF THAT AS WE GO FORWARD.

SO I'M STILL KIND OF KEEPING MY EYE ON THAT AND WATCHING WHERE WE END UP WITH THAT.

AND WE HAVE BEEN SLOWLY TRIMMING OUR BUDGET THE PAST FEW YEARS.

IF WE ARE MANDATED TO CUT.

WE HAVE NO PLACE TO CUT FROM.

AND SO WE HAVE VERY LITTLE CONTROL OVER MOST ITEMS IN OUR BUDGET.

AND WE HAVE SEVERAL FUNCTIONS THAT ARE LEGALLY MANDATED MUST HAPPEN ACCORDING TO CODE. AND UNFORTUNATELY, THE INTERNAL AUDIT FUNCTION IS THE ONE THING THAT IS NOT MANDATED. SO THAT WOULD BE THE FIRST THING THAT WE WOULD CUT IF WE HAD TO CUT. SO THAT IS WHAT I HAVE FOR YOU.

I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

SUPERVISOR. KELSTROM. THANK YOU FOR THAT.

YEAH, I DON'T HAVE A QUESTION. I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU. AND THIS COUNTY IS VERY LUCKY THAT WE HAVE YOU. AND I APPRECIATE YOU MORE THAN YOU'LL EVER KNOW.

SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND I WENT THROUGH YOUR ENTIRE BUDGET AND I DON'T HAVE A SINGLE HIGHLIGHTED ITEM. SO OKAY.

AS USUAL. SO THANK YOU.

NOLA. SUPERVISOR. PLUMMER.

THANKS, NOLA. AND THE TWO QUESTIONS I HAD, ONE WAS RELATED TO THE COST PLAN CHARGES.

AND IT LOOKS LIKE IN SOME FOR SOME BUDGET UNITS, THE COST PLAN CHARGES ARE BUDGETED HIGHER THAN THEY WERE IN THE LAST FISCAL YEAR.

AND THEN SOME ARE GOING DOWN.

WHAT WOULD BE THE DRIVER IF THEY'RE BASED OFF OF 2324 THEN? DOES THAT MEAN THAT, YOU KNOW, AT THAT TIME THERE WAS JUST, YOU KNOW, BY DEPARTMENT OR BY BUDGET UNIT THAT THERE WERE DIFFERENCES IN TERMS OF THE EXPENDITURES THEN THAT ROLL FORWARD OR HOW SHOULD WE THINK ABOUT THAT? YEAH. SO WE DO HAVE THE COST PLAN.

IT HAS ALL THE DETAIL, INCLUDING ALL THE COST DRIVERS FOR THAT.

AND SO WHERE YOU MIGHT SEE A DEPARTMENT THAT WHERE THEIR BUDGET GOES DOWN AND MAYBE, AND IN SOME CASES, SOME DEPARTMENTS WILL BE OVERCHARGED BECAUSE IT'S BASED ON THIS ESTIMATE FROM TWO YEARS AGO.

SO IF TWO YEARS AGO, I HAD A CASE WITH COUNTY COUNCIL AND THIS YEAR I DON'T HAVE ANY, I'M STILL GOING TO PAY BASED ON THE ESTIMATE FROM TWO YEARS AGO, I'M GOING TO OVERPAY COUNTY COUNCIL, AND THEN TWO YEARS AFTER THAT I'M GOING TO GET A REFUND FROM THEM FOR THAT.

AND SO WE WOULD HAVE TO LOOK AT WHICH DEPARTMENTS THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT AND, AND WHAT THOSE ARE. BUT IT'S A VARIETY OF, OF THINGS FROM THE NUMBER OF TRANSACTIONS THAT THEY HAVE. IT'S THE NUMBER OF POSITIONS THAT THEY HAVE.

I MEAN, THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION IN THE COST. AND LIKE OUR DEPARTMENT ALONE HAS LIKE TEN DIFFERENT. I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY DIFFERENT.

I'VE NEVER COUNTED THEM LIKE TEN DIFFERENT COST CENTERS.

AND THEN WE'RE CHARGING IT OUT BASED ON DRIVERS FOR EACH OF THOSE. BUT WE HAVE THAT DETAIL FOR EVERY DEPARTMENT, FOR EACH ONE OF THE SIX CENTRAL SERVICE DEPARTMENTS. SO WE HAVE THAT FOR ALSO FOR PERSONNEL AND WE HAVE THAT FOR COUNTY

[02:15:03]

AND THEN YOU'LL GET IT BACK IN TWO YEARS. SO YOU SEE, YOU GET THESE WEIRD SWINGS AND SO BUDGETED IN THIS YEAR, THERE SHOULD BE ANY KIND OF KIND OF SURPLUS THAT WAS NOT, YOU KNOW, CHARGED OR NOT ACCRUED ESSENTIALLY IN TWO YEARS AGO THAT WOULD FLOW THROUGH.

YES. AND IT IS REQUIRED.

WE HAVE SCHEDULE B AND THE COST PLAN SHOWS THE ROLL FORWARD.

AND SO IF A DEPARTMENT OVERPAID, THEY'LL HAVE A POSITIVE ROLE FOR IT.

AND IF THEY UNDERPAID THEY'LL HAVE A NEGATIVE ROLL FORWARD. AND THAT WILL GET ADDED THEN TO THE ESTIMATE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE CHARGED FOR, WHICH IS ALSO BASED ON 2020 324.

AND SO IT'LL GET ADDED. THE TWO WILL GET ADDED TOGETHER, AND THAT WILL BECOME THE DEPARTMENT'S CHARGE IN THE NEXT YEAR.

OKAY. SO YEAH. AND YOU KNOW, I MEAN, THEY'RE THEY DEPARTMENTS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO RECORD ANYTHING IN THEIR BUDGET OTHER THAN WHAT'S IN THE COST PLAN.

SO THE CAO STAFF ARE REALLY GOOD ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT WHAT THEY BUDGETED IS WHAT WE HAVE.

THAT'S IN THE APPROVED COST PLAN THAT'S SENT TO THE STATE CONTROLLER AND WAS APPROVED. AND DO WE HAVE A SENSE, BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE IF YOU LOOK BACK TWO YEARS, THAT THE MOST OF THAT WAS COVERED BY THE MOST OF THE EXPENSE WAS COVERED BY THE COST PLAN CHARGES, AND NOW IT'S SHIFTING MORE TOWARDS THE GENERAL FUND. DO WE THINK IF WE LOOK OUT OVER THE NEXT 2 TO 3 YEARS, THAT THAT WILL CONTINUE TO TREND IN THE DIRECTION OF MORE OF THAT BEING COVERED BY THE GENERAL FUND, OR THAT IT WILL BOUNCE BACK TO KIND OF WHERE IT WAS TWO YEARS AGO.

OR IS IT HARD TO SAY? WELL, FOR THE FOR THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE, I'M HOPING THAT MORE OF IT IS GOING TO BOUNCE BACK TO NON GENERAL FUND DEPARTMENTS.

WE WE WELL, SOME OF IT IS PAID FOR BY THE GENERAL FUND ANYWAYS.

BUT WE DID FIND SOME KIND OF WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE THE P CARD MODULE.

NOW THAT WE'RE DOING ONE TRANSACTION AT A TIME GOING THROUGH THE SYSTEM WE DID FIND SOME INEQUITIES, LIKE WITH SPECIAL DISTRICTS WHO WERE SUBMITTING P CARDS.

THEY WERE DOING IT AS LIKE ONE WHERE WE'RE DOING IT AS 1 TO 1.

SO WE MADE SOME CHANGES TO THAT.

SO P CARDS ARE COUNTED AS 1 TO 1.

IT DOESN'T MATTER IF IT COMES FROM A SPECIAL DISTRICT OR COMES FROM US.

AND THEN THERE WAS SOME SCHOOL TRANSACTIONS THAT SEEMED TO BE BEING PAID FOR BY SOME OF THE OTHER AGENCIES, ALTHOUGH, YOU KNOW, SCHOOLS AND SPECIAL DISTRICTS ARE THEN PAID FOR BY THE GENERAL FUND.

AND SO BECAUSE WE CAN'T RECOVER THOSE.

SO WE DID MAKE SOME SHIFTS.

WE SHOULD SEE A LITTLE BIT OF A SHIFT. BUT I THINK THAT BECAUSE OF THE SCHOOLS AND SPECIAL DISTRICTS, I DON'T I DON'T KNOW THAT OUR GENERAL FUND IS GOING TO GO DOWN CONSIDERABLY. OKAY. AND THEN IT SOUNDED LIKE, AND I MISSED THE EXACT DETAILS ON IT, BUT IT SOUNDED LIKE YOU WERE SAYING THERE WAS SOME BASICALLY AGENCIES THAT YOU'RE SUPPORTING THAT THE BOARD HAS CHOSEN NOT TO CHARGE THEM A FEE FOR. COULD YOU THOSE ARE THOSE INDEPENDENT SPECIAL DISTRICTS.

AND SO THOSE WOULD BE LIKE ALL OF YOUR FIRE DISTRICTS.

THE BURNING FIRE. COTTONWOOD FIRE, ANDERSON.

FIRE YOUR CEMETERY DISTRICTS.

EVEN GET FALL RIVER FIRE UP THE HILL.

CASTELO. FIRE. CEMETERIES.

MOSQUITO DISTRICTS. THOSE ARE MOST OF THEM.

THAT'S ALL OF THEM. YEAH.

SO THERE'S QUITE A FEW OF THOSE. AND WE PROVIDE THEIR ACCOUNTING SERVICES. SO THEY'RE DOING, THEY'RE, THEY'RE SENDING THEIR INVOICES IN JUST LIKE A DEPARTMENT DOES. AND WE'RE AUDITING THOSE. WE'RE CUTTING CHECKS FOR THEM. THEY'RE MAKING THEIR DEPOSITS THROUGH US. AND SO THOSE ARE WHAT WE CALL OPERATING.

THOSE ARE OUR OPERATING DISTRICTS BECAUSE THEY OPERATE THROUGH US. THERE ARE A SERIES OF INDEPENDENT SPECIAL DISTRICTS THAT DON'T DO THEIR OPERATION THROUGH US.

AND SO THOSE I MEAN, THE CHARGE IS VERY SMALL FOR THOSE.

DO YOU HAVE A SENSE OF IF WE WERE TO CHARGE THEM? LIKE, IS IT A PERCENT OF THEIR TOTAL AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT'S FLOWING THROUGH? OR LIKE, HOW WOULD YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT REVENUE WOULD BE RELATED TO THOSE CHARGES? SO THE COST FOR SPECIAL DISTRICTS WAS 262,000 291.

AND IT'S COME UP A FEW TIMES IN THE PAST AND COME BEFORE THE BOARD.

AND WE SEEM TO END UP IN THE SAME THE SAME SPOT.

BUT OKAY. THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR.

HARMON. SIMPLE QUESTION.

HOW MUCH FRAUD HAVE YOU RAN INTO OUTSIDE? OUTSIDE? I ASKED THIS QUESTION BECAUSE WE JUST RECENTLY DOING A PUBLIC WORKS PROJECT AND WE WERE ON IS IT ACH HOW THEY PAY ONLINE? AND WE GOT SENT AN EMAIL THAT LOOKED LIKE IT CAME FROM THE BANK OR THE, OR THE CITY THAT WE WERE WORKING FOR.

THAT SAID, WE WERE SUPPOSED TO CHANGE THE DEPOSIT INFORMATION.

IT WAS LIKE, I MEAN, IT WAS, BUT IT PROBABLY WORKED SOMEWHERE.

BUT I JUST WONDERED, WHILE I'M LISTENING TO ALL THIS, HOW MUCH WE'VE RAN INTO THAT KIND OF THING.

WE RUN INTO THAT A LOT.

SO WE GET EMAILS. I'VE GOTTEN AN EMAIL FROM THE CIO ASKING ME TO IMMEDIATELY WIRE MONEY ON BEHALF OF SOMETHING ELSE.

WE'VE GOTTEN STUFF WHERE PEOPLE HAVE TRIED TO CHANGE PAYROLL BANKING INFORMATION, BUT OUR CONTROLS ARE REALLY TIGHT AND WE DON'T CHANGE ANY OF THAT.

AND WE'LL REACH OUT BEFORE WE PROCESS ANY OF THOSE THINGS.

AND IT NEEDS TO COME THROUGH OUR NORMAL PROCESSES.

[02:20:03]

IT NEEDS TO COME THROUGH THE NORMAL PROCESS. IT NEEDS TO HAVE THE APPROPRIATE APPROVALS.

SO WE HAVE BEEN WE HAVE FALLEN VICTIM TO NO FRAUD IN THAT RESPECT.

BUT WE'VE GOTTEN A LOT OF EMAILS AND AND A FEW ATTEMPTS.

THAT WAS MY NEXT QUESTION WAS HAVE WE GOT BURNED? BUT APPARENTLY NOT. YEAH, YEAH, WE DID HAVE ONE FROM THE HOUSING.

WE HAD ONE FROM HOUSING.

AND WE'RE YOU KNOW, WE'RE SUSPECTING THAT SOMEBODY AT THAT AGENCY WAS INVOLVED IN IT, BUT THEY SENT IN SOMETHING TO REQUEST TO HAVE THEIR BANKING INFORMATION CHANGED, WHICH WE DID CHANGE. AND WE HAVE THE APPROPRIATE DOCUMENTATION HAD PERSON'S SIGNATURE ON IT. AND SO, BUT, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE, THEY'RE BASICALLY OUT THAT MONEY. WE'RE NOT OUT THAT MONEY, BUT, YOU KNOW, THEY NEED TO HAVE MORE CONTROLS WITH THAT AGENCY. YEAH.

THAT'S WHAT I WAS SUSPICIOUS OF SOMEBODY ON THE INSIDE AT THAT CITY BECAUSE THEY HAD ALL THE INFORMATION. YEAH.

I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY DO IT, BUT ANYWAY, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR. HARMON. SUPERVISOR LONG THANK YOU CHAIR.

THANK YOU FOR THE EXCELLENT REPORT.

AND WOULD YOU TAKE JUST A MINUTE AND TALK ABOUT THE TWO AWARDS FOR TEN YEARS AND 25 YEARS THAT YOUR DEPARTMENT HAS RECEIVED JUST FOR EVERYBODY TO HEAR THAT, BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S IMPRESSIVE. WHEN I READ YOUR REPORT, I THOUGHT THAT WAS VERY IMPRESSIVE. YEAH. WE HAVE SO WE GET ONE FROM THE STATE CONTROLLER FOR EXCELLENCE IN FINANCIAL REPORTING. AND SO WE'VE GOTTEN THAT EVERY YEAR THAT I'VE BEEN HERE SO FAR.

THAT'S BASED ON THE ACPA.

YOU'RE SUBMITTING THE ACFR AND THEY GO THROUGH AND THEY REVIEW IT. ARE YOU TIMELY? AND THEN THEY HAVE A PEER REVIEW PROCESS THAT THEY GO THROUGH. AND SO WE'VE GOTTEN THAT EVERY YEAR. AND THEN MORE RECENTLY, WE, THE GFOA HAS AN AWARD PROGRAM THAT THEY'RE DOING AS WELL.

AND SO THEY GO THROUGH AND THEY'RE PROCESS IS MUCH MORE STRINGENT AND THEY'RE, THEY'RE NOT JUST LOOKING AT YOUR NUMBERS AND WHAT YOU SUBMITTED, BUT THEY'RE LOOKING AT FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY, THE VALUE TO THE PUBLIC.

AND SO THEY'RE TAKING IT ONE STEP FURTHER THAN JUST PREPARING SOME NUMBERS AND SENDING IN A FINANCIAL REPORT.

AND SO WE'VE BEEN GETTING THAT AWARD AS WELL FOR THE LAST 1010 YEARS.

AND SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THAT.

GOOD WORK. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

JUST ONE QUICK THING. I KNOW THAT THE THE INTERNAL AUDIT, I KNOW IN YOUR CONCERNS, IF YOU WERE EVER ASKED TO TRIM YOUR BUDGET, THAT WOULD PROBABLY BE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WOULD HAVE TO GO.

WOULD YOU? AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS A LITTLE BIT, BUT WHAT WOULD YOU SEE AS A BEST CASE SCENARIO FOR THE TAXPAYERS AND FOR JUST THE PEOPLE? BECAUSE WE'RE LOOKING AT FOR FEES A YEAR, RIGHT? CORRECT. LIKE WE VOTED LAST YEAR TO LOOK AT FOR A YEAR.

YEAH. WE'RE LOOKING AT FIVE A YEAR FOR, FOR THE, FOR THE FEES. AND THEN THE CONTRACT COMPLIANCE AUDIT IS AN AREA THAT WE, WE STARTED ON WITH HHS.

THAT WAS LAURA BURCH ACTUALLY BROUGHT SEVERAL CONTRACTS TO US AND ASKED US TO LOOK AT THEM.

AND WE DID. AND THAT WAS A PRETTY HEAVY LIFT IN THAT YEAR.

BUT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT BROUGHT AWARENESS THAT WE PROBABLY NEED TO BE LOOKING AT MORE OF THOSE TYPES OF CONTRACTS OURSELF INDEPENDENTLY.

SO WE'D LIKE TO IMPLEMENT THAT. AND THEN THE P CARD IS JUST BEING ABLE TO WORK WITH, YOU KNOW, GOING OUT AND WE WOULD GET INFORMATION FROM THE P CARD VENDORS OR FROM THE, THE VENDORS THAT ACTUALLY HAVE RECEIPTS AND MAKE SURE THAT THOSE RECEIPTS ARE THE SAME RECEIPTS THAT WERE SUBMITTED TO US.

AND JUST KIND OF DOING THAT LAST PIECE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S ALWAYS THIS BALANCING ACT FOR ME. LIKE I THINK JUST BEING OUT THERE AND HAVING A PRESENCE SENDS A STATEMENT TO PEOPLE, BUT YOU DON'T WANT TO SPEND A TON OF GOVERNMENT DOLLARS AND NOT HAVE A BIG RETURN ON IT.

AND I THINK IN SHASTA COUNTY, WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE A HUGE RETURN.

SO I THINK IF WE COULD JUST GET OUT THERE A LITTLE BIT AND MAKE OURSELVES KNOWN AND WE CAN DO THIS WASTE TRAINING, I THINK IN SMALL WAYS, MEETING WITH THE STAFF AND JUST HAVING THAT CONVERSATION, THEY'LL KNOW THAT WE'RE LOOKING. AND I THINK THAT A LOT OF TIMES THAT'S A DETERRENT IN AND OF ITSELF. YEAH. SO I DON'T WANT TO SPEND A TON OF MONEY THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET A BIG RETURN ON. CORRECT.

BUT AND THAT'S THE BALANCING ACT, RIGHT? OF LIKE, WHAT'S WHAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE IS WHAT IT SHOULD BE, BUT IT COSTS YOUR OFFICE A LOT TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

SO I JUST WAS CURIOUS BECAUSE YOU'RE FINDING, I MEAN, DO YOU HAVE A PERCENTAGE ON I MEAN, YOU'RE WELL OVER 10%.

YOU'RE LIKE CLOSER TO 20 TO 30%, AREN'T YOU? OF THE FEES THAT YOU'VE LOOKED AT THAT HAVE BEEN, OR IS IT HOW HIGH IS IT? SO THE FEES THAT WE LOOKED AT FOR LAST YEAR, 100% HAVE ERRORS.

YEAH. NO FRAUD. SO I MEAN, IT'S A IT'S A WORTHY PROCESS, BUT I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE AND WE'VE ALREADY STARTED A LIST OF THINGS THAT WE NEED TO EDUCATE DEPARTMENTS ON. WE NEED TO EDUCATE DEPARTMENTS ON WHAT IT MEANS TO TIME STUDY.

WE NEED TO EDUCATE DEPARTMENTS ON WHAT IT MEANS TO CALCULATE AN OVERHEAD RATE AND HOW YOU DO THAT. WE'RE NOTICING SOME COMMON ERRORS.

NONE OF IT IS FRAUD OR ANY INTENTIONAL WRONGDOING THAT WE'VE SEEN BY ANY OF THE STAFF. AND IT'S GOING BOTH DIRECTIONS. ONE ONE WE'RE LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW IS UNDERCHARGED BY $10. AND SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S GOING BOTH DIRECTIONS.

IT'S NOT NOT. YEAH. AND I DON'T THINK WHEN THE ROVE'S OFFICE LAST YEAR WAS CLOSE TO 40 SOME PERCENT OVER CHARGING PEOPLE, WE HAD, WHAT DID WE HAVE TO RETURN?

[02:25:03]

BUT I WAS LIKE 18 OR THAT'S OLD NEWS.

IT'S LIKE, YEAH, BUT BUT BUT WHEN THAT CAME UP, I DON'T THINK IT WAS. I DON'T THINK IT'S FRAUDULENT.

NO, BUT, BUT BUT IT WAS SIGNIFICANT TO THE BUT WHEN YOU'RE BUT WHEN YOU'RE REFUNDING THAT KIND OF MONEY FOR A NOTARY, LIKE I THINK THAT MATTERS.

SO I WILL JUST TELL YOU NOW, LIKE I WILL, BECAUSE THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS I'M LOOKING AT IS HOW DO WE LIKE HELP YOUR DEPARTMENT? WHO'S ALREADY DOING MORE WITH LESS THAN PROBABLY ALMOST ANY DEPARTMENT, BUT MAYBE ONE OTHER. AND I'M JUST VERY INTERESTED IN HOW WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO HELP YOUR EFFORTS IN THAT AND CONTINUE TO HELP THE STAFF.

WELL, WE'LL COME BACK WHEN WE'RE AT THAT POINT WHERE WE NEED HELP.

OKAY. THANK YOU. OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. MOVING ON TO MR. CURTIS. COME ON UP. HOW'S EVERYBODY TODAY? NOT TOO BAD. CLICK ME ON.

OH, I HAVE TO DO IT. OH.

OH, OKAY. WELL THAT'S EASY.

OKAY. BASICALLY, I'M THE NEW ROV COUNTY CLERK, AND I'M HERE TO DO THE BUDGET.

THE COUNTY CLERK PROVIDES SERVICES FOR MANDATED FUNCTIONS SUCH AS MARRIAGE LICENSES, CIVIL MARRIAGES, FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAMES, ACCEPTING PASSPORT APPLICATIONS, AND OTHER FILINGS. REGISTRAR OF VOTERS MAINTAINS AND UPDATES OUR VOTER REGISTRATION RECORDS. WE INVESTIGATE OUR VOTER ROLLS TO HELP REDUCE THEM.

WE CHECK PETITIONS. WE PROVIDE ELECTION RELATED INFORMATION.

WE CONDUCT PRIMARY, GENERAL SCHOOL AND SPECIAL ELECTIONS, AND WE PREPARE BALLOTS, PROCESS THE EQUIPMENT THAT'S NECESSARY TO USE THE POLLING PLACES, AND WE COUNT THE VOTES.

STAFFING CHANGES. WELL, THERE'S ME AND THEN THERE'S THE ASSISTANT ROV. SO WE HAVE CHANGED THOSE TWO POSITIONS.

DUE TO MANY FACTORS. THE PAST FISCAL YEAR, THE ELECTION DEPARTMENT HAD A REORGANIZATION.

ESSENTIALLY WHAT IT BOILED DOWN TO IS THEY RECLASSIFIED TO STAFF SERVICE ANALYSTS TO MANAGE THEIR POSITIONS SO WE COULD SPREAD THE TASK APART BETTER.

I DIDN'T REQUIRE THAT.

I DIDN'T REQUEST IT. I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT IT. BUT IT SEEMS TO BE WORKING, SO IT'S ACCEPTABLE. PROGRAM CHANGES AND GOALS.

WE NEED A NEW BUILDING THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY SET UP, WHERE THE PUBLIC HAS COMPLETE VISIBILITY OF THE ENTIRE PROCESS.

WE HOPE TO ACQUIRE THAT REALLY QUICKLY AND GET THAT IN PLACE AND HOPE TO DO SO.

ALSO WITH BASICALLY THE SAME AMOUNT WE'RE ALREADY SPENDING FOR THE BUILDINGS THAT WE PRESENTLY HAVE, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WE'RE SEPARATED, WE HAVE SOME OVER AT MARKET, AND THEN WE HAVE SOME AT ADMIN.

SO WE'RE ALWAYS HAVING PEOPLE RUN BACK AND FORTH, WHICH IS PRETTY INEFFICIENT, AND IT'S ALL CROWDED, AND IT'S A HORRIBLE WAY TO TRY AND RUN AN ELECTION.

IF YOU WANT PEOPLE TO BELIEVE IT'S A VALID ELECTION.

WE WILL BE CHANGING THINGS.

WE'LL BE DOING FULL RECONCILIATION AT EACH PRECINCT BEFORE THE BALLOTS EVER LEAVE THE PRECINCT. ONCE THEY'RE RETURNED TO CENTRAL, WE WILL DO THE TABULATIONS AT CENTRAL, BUT WE'LL DO A RECONCILIATION BEFORE IT GETS IN THE MACHINE.

AND AFTER IT GETS IN THE MACHINE, ALL MAIL IN BALLOTS WILL NOT BE OPENED AND LOOKED AT EARLY, WILL NOT BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT PEOPLE BEING THERE.

WE WILL ACTUALLY HAVE THOSE BALLOTS ONLY OPENED AT THE PRECINCT AND EVERYTHING WILL BE COUNTED AT ONE TIME. SO NOBODY KNOWS ANYTHING EARLY AND EVERYTHING'S ON CAMERA.

OF COURSE, WHEN YOU OPEN THE BALLOTS, IT CAN'T BE ON CAMERA BECAUSE YOU CAN'T TIE THE SIGNATURE TOGETHER. BUT THAT WILL BE SEPARATE. AND THEN WE'LL HAVE, YOU KNOW, TRUSTED PARTIES THERE FROM BOTH THE DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICAN LIBERTARIAN PARTIES WANT TO STAND THERE AND WATCH TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY KNOW THAT'S RIGHT. AND THEN WE'LL APPEAR ON CAMERA AND EVERYTHING WILL BE NICE AND CLEAN.

LET'S SEE. ON ELECTION NIGHT.

NOW, YOU DID HAVE A I GUESS WE GET THAT LATER.

YOU DID HAVE AN APPEAL PENDING WHERE THERE WAS A REQUEST FROM THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION THAT WANTED TABULATORS IN EVERY PRECINCT.

WE ARE NOT GOING TO DO THAT.

THAT'S A VERY BAD IDEA.

FIRST OF ALL, YOU NEED A LOT MORE STAFF.

AND SECONDLY, IF YOU TABULATE AT THE PRECINCT, YOU LOSE CONTROL OF THE BATCHES.

SO YOU CAN NEVER RECONCILE THEM.

THEY JUST GO IN A BIG BIN AND YOU HAVE NO WAY OF PUTTING THEM BACK TOGETHER.

AND THAT'S THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT WE WANT.

SO IN ORDER TO COMPLETE THE COUNT ON ELECTION NIGHT, SINCE WE'RE BRINGING IN ALL OF THE MAIL INS TOO, WE'RE NOT DOING ANY PRE COUNTS.

WE NEED 20 ADDITIONAL TABULATORS.

WE'LL GET THAT INFORMATION TO YOU LATER.

BUT BASICALLY THAT WILL ALLOW US TO DO WITHIN TWO HOURS 144 BALLOTS.

SO EVEN IF 25% OF THE MACHINES CRASH, YOU'LL STILL BE ABLE TO 108,000 BALLOTS

[02:30:01]

SO LET'S ASSUME 25 OF THEM BREAK.

YOU CAN STILL DO THE WHOLE ELECTION IN TWO HOURS.

SO INSTEAD OF BEING THE LAST COUNTY TO REPORT WILL BE THE FIRST, WHICH WOULD BE KIND OF NICE. EVERY PROCESS WILL BE ON CAMERA AND LIVE STREAMED.

THAT WILL BE VERY CHEAP.

WE'LL GO THROUGH THAT LATER, BUT THAT WON'T COST THAT MUCH.

WHAT HAPPENED LAST CYCLE? I WASN'T HERE. BEEN HERE THREE WEEKS, BUT THEY CONDUCTED A PRESIDENTIAL GENERAL ELECTION, AND THEY CONDUCTED A CLERK FEE STUDY TO MAKE SURE THEIR FEES ARE APPROPRIATE. GENERAL FUND CLERK.

WE HAD AN INCREASE FROM 2425 OF THE ADOPTED BUDGET ELECTIONS.

WE HAD 4,409,732, WHICH WAS A $514,000 INCREASE.

AND REVENUES. OUR REVENUES WERE ACTUALLY ALMOST $600,000 OVER BUDGET, WHICH IS NICE AND THAT'S DUE TO PAYMENTS IN THE GENERAL ELECTION, AS WELL AS THE TWO HALF GRANTS THAT WE RECEIVED.

WE'RE GOING TO USE THAT MONEY TO OFFSET THE INCREASED EXPENDITURES EXPECTED IN 26 FOR THE CLERK AND THE ELECTIONS BUDGET.

UNLESS YOU TAKE IT AWAY FROM US BECAUSE YOU CAN EFFORTS TO REDUCE GENERAL FUND.

WE'RE GOING TO LIMIT EXPENDITURES AND AVOID UNNECESSARY EXPENSES BY PROVIDING FOR VOLUNTEERS THAT WILL GREATLY SUPPLEMENT THE STAFFING COSTS.

SO THEY'LL BE ABLE TO DO A LOT OF THE RECONCILIATIONS ON CAMERA, WHICH THE STAFF HAS TO DO.

NOW WE'RE GOING TO ELIMINATE A LOT OF THE THE EXTERNAL BOXES, THE DROP BOXES, WHICH WILL LIMIT THE STAFF HAVING TO RUN ALL OVER CREATION TO PICK THEM UP ALREADY IN CONTACT WITH THE, WITH THE POST OFFICE.

AND THEY GUARANTEE THAT EVERYTHING THAT COMES IN WITHIN THE LAST THREE DAYS BEFORE THE ELECTION, THEY WILL SORT AND DELIVER DIRECTLY TO US AND IT WILL NOT GO TO SACRAMENTO.

IT WILL NOT BE SLOWED DOWN.

IT WILL BE JUST AS FAST AS IF WE WENT AND GOT IT.

AND THEN YOU DON'T ALSO HAVE THAT OTHER PROBLEM.

AND A LOT OF THOSE DROP BOXES WERE I MEAN, THE ONE IN BERNIE WAS WHEN I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE MOST, BECAUSE IT'S THE FARTHEST AWAY. IT SITS NEXT TO THE POST OFFICE BOX.

THEY ALMOST TOUCH. SO I THINK THEY CAN MOVE THAT.

SO WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO ELIMINATE THAT. LONG TERM SPENDING GOALS.

WE'RE GOING TO TRY AND DO EVERYTHING IN HOUSE. WE'RE GOING TO ELIMINATE ALL THOSE EXTRA COSTS FROM HANDING EVERYTHING OUT.

AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE CONTROL OF IT. WE CAN HAVE IT ON CAMERA, AND IT SHOULD SAVE THE COUNTY ABOUT $250,000 A YEAR BESIDES, WHICH IS KIND OF A NICE THING, AND EVERYONE CAN SEE IT.

WE'RE GOING TO ADVOCATE FOR STATE FUNDING, THE FEDERAL FUNDING. SB 90 GRANTS.

I AM TOLD THAT THEY DID DO SOME SB 90 ON RECOVERY OF POSTAL FOR RETURN POSTAGE.

SO I HAVEN'T CHECKED INTO IT, BUT I'M TOLD THAT IS CORRECT. AND YOU CAN ALSO GET SB 90 FUNDS REGARDING PURGING OF YOUR VOTER ROLLS.

SO WE CAN ACTUALLY BE A LITTLE MORE AGGRESSIVE WITHOUT HAVING TO SPEND OUR MONEY BECAUSE IT'S MANDATED BY THE STATE AND IT'S PART OF SB 90 FUNDING.

WE'RE GOING TO GO FOR GRANT FUNDING AND WE ARE WORKING ON LEGISLATION FOR MANDATING FOR BOTH DEPARTMENTS. LET'S SEE, GRANT FUNDING APPLICATIONS HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED HAVA FEDERAL FUNDS THROUGH THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE.

THERE'S THREE OF THOSE. AND THERE'S A 2000 POLLING PLACE.

ACCESSIBILITY. ADA THAT'S NOT REALLY MUCH WE CAN USE.

ALL OF OUR POLLING PLACES ARE ALREADY ADA.

SO, YOU KNOW, IT'LL BE LITTLE STUFF.

135 ELECTION TECHNOLOGY AND MAKE ELECTION SECURITY IMPROVEMENTS THAT WILL BE USEFUL.

15,000 ENHANCING ELECTION TECHNOLOGY AND MAKE ELECTION SECURITY IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE JUNE AND THE FOR JUNE 1ST THROUGH JUNE 30TH.

BUDGET APPEAL. AS OUR BUDGET APPEAL, WE WERE REQUESTING TABULATORS.

THAT IS ACTUALLY A VERY BAD IDEA.

YOU REALLY DON'T WANT THOSE ANYWAY.

SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO THAT.

SO INSTEAD WE'RE GOING TO TRY AND DO AN APPEAL BASED ON THE NEW TABULATORS AT CENTRAL AND NOT IN THE POLLING PLACES BECAUSE YOU LOSE TRACK AND YOU CAN'T EVER GET ANYTHING BACK. YOU CAN'T ACTUALLY WATCH IT. IT'S ALL HIDDEN. SO THERE ARE ABOUT $200,000.

THERE WAS 552,000. SO IT SHOULD SAVE A COUPLE OF BUCKS AND ACTUALLY BE MUCH EASIER TO DO.

AND THE THROUGHPUT IS MUCH BETTER AS WELL, BECAUSE ESSENTIALLY WHAT WE HAVE IS WE HAVE YOU DO 50 BALLOTS PER MINUTE ON A TABULATOR.

SO YOU DO YOUR RECONCILIATION, IT GOES TO TABULATOR, GOES TO RECONCILIATION BOX TAGGED DONE.

THE WHOLE THING IS THE SAME MINUTE.

SO YOU CAN DO BASICALLY 50 PER MINUTE ON EACH TABULATOR.

IF YOU'RE A MATH GUY, I'D LIKE TO DO THAT SORT OF THING. AND THAT'S

[02:35:03]

OH. I'M SORRY. I'M SORRY.

I'LL GO. OKAY. THE. I DIDN'T SEE ANYBODY IN QUEUE, SO I'LL ALWAYS GO AFTER YOU GUYS.

THE THE TABULATORS. SO THESE ARE ALL GOING TO BE AT THE LIKE H OR NOT HQ, BUT HEADQUARTERS OR THE OFFICE DOWNTOWN AT CENTRAL.

AT CENTRAL. OKAY. AND RIGHT NOW, THAT WOULD BE IN OUR, IN OUR DOWNTOWN ON MARKET.

DOWNTOWN ON MARKET, YOU HAVE FOUR.

YEAH. SO TO PURCHASE THESE, WE WOULD HAVE TO BE IN A DIFFERENT BUILDING ALMOST. IT WOULD BE SILLY NOT TO BECAUSE THEN YOU COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING BECAUSE THAT THING'S ALL CUT UP WITH LITTLE ROOMS. EVEN THE FOUR THEY HAVE, IT'S ALL SPREAD OUT.

JUST. IT'S JUST A HORRIBLE MESS.

SO EVEN WITH THE BEST CAMERAS, IT'LL BE VERY CONFUSING FOR PEOPLE.

AND THAT'S ABSOLUTELY WHAT YOU DON'T WANT. YOU WANT PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT IT AND GO, OKAY, I'M GOOD. I HAVE A QUESTION FOR SUPERVISOR KELSTROM IN 2022 AND JUNE OF 2022.

REMEMBER THE THREE OF THE ROVE'S OFFICE? TWO HAD, YOU KNOW, TWO HAD TWO WERE VERY SIMILAR AND ONE WAS OFF THE CHARTS.

YEAH. SO WAS THAT THE TABULATOR OR WAS THAT THE WERE THOSE TABULATORS.

YEAH. THAT WAS THE TABULATOR. YEAH.

OKAY. SAME LOCATION, SAME DAY.

TWO. TWO OF THEM HAD VERY MATCHING NUMBERS AND ONE WAS JUST COMPLETELY OFF THE CHARTS.

DIDN'T DIDN'T EVEN COME CLOSE.

OKAY. AND SO YOU WANT TO KNOW, SO ARE THOSE DO YOU, ARE WE LOOKING AT HEART TABULATORS? WE'RE LOOKING AT HEART TABULATORS. OKAY, WE'LL JUST KEEP THEM ALL THE SAME.

I MEAN, I, I'VE DEALT WITH ALL THE COMPANIES AND WELL, I'M NOT A BIG FAN OF MACHINES. EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT HEARTS ARE ONE OF THE BETTER ONES.

SO OKAY, SO WELL, AND IT WON'T MATTER BECAUSE WHEN YOU DO YOUR RECONCILIATION, YOU CAN HAVE THE BEST OR THE WORST.

YOU SEE EVERYTHING BEFORE IT EVER HITS THE MACHINE. OKAY.

WE WON'T, I WON'T GET INTO THAT BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO SAVE THIS FOR AFTER ALL THE PRESENTATIONS, I'LL JUST SAVE SOME OF MY BUDGETARY STUFF FOR THEN.

AS FAR AS THE PRESENTATION GOES, THANK YOU.

AND ALL RIGHT. SUPERVISOR.

PLUMMER. THANK YOU, MR. CURTIS. A COUPLE QUESTIONS.

IS THE YOU MENTIONED A NEW BUILDING.

IS THAT IN THE BUDGET CURRENTLY, OR IS THAT PART OF YOUR APPEAL A COST TO ACQUIRE THAT, TO RENOVATE THAT? WELL, WE'RE ACTUALLY LOOKING TO ACQUIRE THAT BUILDING WITH THE MONEY WE'RE ALREADY SPENDING ON LEASING. SO THERE REALLY IS NO MOVEMENT AS FAR AS THE THE BUILDING.

SO THE BUILDING SHOULD COME IN AT ABOUT THE SAME PRICE AS WHAT WE'RE ALREADY LEASING.

IF IT DOESN'T, WE'LL HAVE TO COME AND MAKE AN APPEAL. BUT WE DON'T WANT TO SPEND A LOT MORE THAN WE'RE ALREADY HERE.

OKAY, SO THE CURRENT LEASE WOULD SATISFY BOTH ACQUIRING THE BUILDING AND THEN ANY RENOVATION AND REMODELS IS THE HOPE THAT IS.

YES. OKAY. AND THEN I KNOW IN THE CURRENT APPEAL, THERE WAS AN INTEREST IN SENDING POSTCARDS TO EVERY VOTER.

IS THAT STILL PART OF YOUR APPEAL OR IS THAT BEING REMOVED? WELL, WE'RE REQUIRED TO DO THAT, TO SEND THEM OUT TO DO THE TO DO THE PURGING, TO ACTUALLY GET RID OF PEOPLE ON THE THING THAT ISN'T THERE.

THOSE ARE ACTUALLY CAN BE PAID FOR BY THE STATE BECAUSE THEY REQUIRE IT.

SO IF YOU SEND OUT YOUR POSTCARDS RELATIVE TO CLEANING YOUR VOTER ROLLS, THAT CAN BE A MANDATED COST THAT CAN BE CHARGED TO THE STATE.

SO WE DON'T HAVE TO PAY THAT HERE.

ARE YOU REFERRING TO SB $90 BECAUSE, WELL, THE STATE OWES US LIKE A MILLION BUCKS TO ADDICTIONS RIGHT NOW.

SO THEY'RE JUST GOING TO SAY THE CHECK'S IN THE MAIL.

YOU SHOULD SUE THEM. GO AHEAD.

SORRY. YEAH. I MEAN, BECAUSE IT LOOKED LIKE THAT WE'VE DONE HISTORICALLY THERE IS A BUDGET FOR THE POSTCARDS GOING BACK.

BUT THIS YEAR THE, THE, THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION HAD REQUESTED A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE TO BE ABLE TO SEND THAT, I THINK BEYOND KIND OF THE MANDATED AMOUNT.

AND SO I WASN'T SURE IF YOU WERE GOING TO GO BACK TO JUST KIND OF THE MINIMUM MANDATED AMOUNT, OR IF YOU WERE INTENDING TO GO AT THIS ELEVATED LEVEL OF SENDING THOSE WE WILL PROBABLY GO WITH JUST SENDING THE MINIMUM INITIALLY AND DOING BOOTS ON THE GROUND TO ACTUALLY CHECK THINGS THAT DON'T COME BACK CORRECTLY. SO WE CAN DO THAT WITH VOLUNTEERS, OR WE CAN DO IT WITH, YOU KNOW, TEMPORARY STAFF.

OKAY. AND BOTH CAN BE SB $90.

I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'LL PAY YOU, BUT THEY CAN BE CHARGED TO IT.

AND THEN IT LOOKS LIKE IN THE CURRENT BUDGET REQUEST, THERE'S 133,000 FOR A BALLOT DUPLICATION SOFTWARE.

IS THAT PART OF THE PLAN TO SPEND THOSE FUNDS OR IS THAT IS THAT GOING TO BE REMOVED AS WELL? YES, WE ACTUALLY WANT TO DO PRINTING IN HOUSE, SO WE WANT TO DO THAT IN HOUSE DEPENDING ON WHAT THAT BALLOT DUPLICATION SOFTWARE DOES.

I'M NOT SURE WHAT IT DOES BECAUSE I DIDN'T WRITE THAT BUDGET, BUT THERE IS BALLOT DUPLICATION SOFTWARE THAT WE WILL USE IN THE PRINTING.

[02:40:03]

WE'LL HAVE TO PRESENT THAT TO YOU. ONCE I GET THE COSTS FROM HARD ON WHAT THOSE PRINTERS WILL BE. AND YOU KNOW, I'M ASSUMING WE'RE GOING TO NEED LIKE FOUR OF THEM BECAUSE RIGHT NOW ALL THEY HAVE IS THE PRINT ON DEMAND BALLOTS.

AND THOSE ARE MUCH SLOWER AND KIND OF AN EXPENSIVE WAY TO GO BECAUSE IT, YOU KNOW, IT'S A LOW SPEED PRINTER SO THAT THE PRINTING IS MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE THAN THE OTHER. SO IT'S BETTER TO GO WITH THE HIGH SPEED STUFF AND KNOCK IT OUT BY A BY PRECINCT AND BALLOT STYLE. OKAY, SO IT SOUNDS LIKE THAT WILL BE REEVALUATED.

YES. BECAUSE I BELIEVE THE THE SYSTEM THAT'S BEING PROPOSED IN THE CURRENT BUDGET IS FROM RUMBEK. SO BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE IF YOU'RE GOING AWAY FROM RUMBEK, YOU PROBABLY WOULDN'T BE USING THEIR BALLOT DUPLICATION SYSTEM.

RIGHT. WE WON'T BE GOING WITH RUNBECK.

OKAY. SO AND TO THAT POINT IS THE COST OF THE PRINTERS.

IS THAT SOMEWHERE IN EITHER YOUR APPEAL OR THAT WILL BE AN APPEAL ONCE I HAVE THE ACTUAL INFORMATION, BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO PLACE THAT AGAINST THE OTHER, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WE SPEND LIKE $350,000 OR SO WITH RUNBECK DOING BASICALLY EVERYTHING, YOU KNOW, THE PRINTING, THE DELIVERING THE ENVELOPES, EVERYTHING. AND SO WE'RE GOING TO JUST OPPOSE THAT AGAINST DOING IT IN HOUSE WITH HARD STUFF, BECAUSE HART WILL GUARANTEE THAT THEIR PRINTER AND THEIR PAPER WILL RUN ON THEIR MACHINES. SO YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE ANY MORE OF THIS OVERSPRAY ISSUE.

HART DOESN'T GUARANTEE RUN BACK. RUN BACK DOESN'T GUARANTEE HART.

BUT THEY WILL GUARANTEE THEY WILL MAKE IT RIGHT.

AND WE'LL CHECK IT AHEAD OF TIME. SO WE ONLY HAVE THESE ERRORS ANYWAY. BUT YOU KNOW, WE'LL PRINT IT IN HOUSE ON THE HART STUFF USING ON ALL HARD EQUIPMENT AND EVERYTHING SHOULD BE NICE AND CLEAN AND A LOT CHEAPER.

ABOUT $250,000 CHEAPER.

AND THEN THE COST OF THE CAMERA SYSTEM THAT YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT.

DO YOU HAVE ESTIMATES FOR THAT OR IS THAT I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT'S CURRENTLY CAPTURED IN THE. I DO NOT HAVE THAT YET BECAUSE UNTIL WE HAVE A BUILDING, WE CAN'T REALLY GET A PROPOSAL BECAUSE IT IS GOING TO HAVE TO DO SOME OF IT.

MOST OF THE INITIAL IS ACTUALLY VERY, VERY CHEAP.

BUT AS FAR AS GETTING IT OUT AND DOING THE LIVE STREAM, THAT'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT IS ANOTHER MATTER. SO, YOU KNOW, WE'LL HAVE TO GET THAT WHEN WE ACTUALLY HAVE A BUILDING SO THAT PEOPLE CAN SIT DOWN AND ACTUALLY DRAW IT OUT AND TELL YOU WHAT THE PRICE IS. OKAY.

THANK YOU. AND THIS MIGHT BE A QUESTION FOR CEO RICKERT, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE THE BUDGET BEING PROPOSED IS DIFFERENT THAN THE ONE ON PAPER.

AND SO AS WE GET TO THURSDAY, I'M KIND OF WONDERING WHAT WE WOULD BE APPROVING FOR THIS DEPARTMENT.

IS IT WHAT'S ON PAPER? IS IT PART OF THE APPEAL OR, OR DO WE AS THE BOARD HAVE TO KIND OF SPECIFY THAT AND, AND RESPOND TO SOME OF THE REQUESTS THAT ARE GIVEN VERBALLY HERE.

SUPERVISOR. PLUMMER. THE YOU HAVE A RECOMMENDED BUDGET FROM THE CEO'S OFFICE.

ANY ADDITIONS TO THAT OR REQUESTS BY MR. CURTIS WOULD HAVE TO BE VOTED ON AND APPROVED BY THE BOARD.

OKAY. THANKS. THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR LONG.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION AND ALL MY QUESTIONS HAVE PRETTY MUCH BEEN ANSWERED.

THE LAST QUESTION I HAD, AND I THINK WE JUST CLARIFIED THAT THERE A LITTLE BIT WAS THE 200,000 THAT YOU'RE ASKING FOR WITH THE TABULATORS THAT WOULD BE AT CENTRAL. THAT THAT'S THAT 200,000.

THAT IS SOMETHING UNDER YOUR APPEAL THAT YOU'RE LOOKING TO HAVE APPROVED BY THIS BOARD AT THIS TIME, OR IS THAT SOMETHING IT SOUNDED LIKE YOU WERE SAYING, YOU'LL COME BACK TO US FOR THE TABULATORS AT A LATER TIME WITH MORE RESEARCH? I THINK IT'S BETTER IF I COME BACK TO YOU SO THAT I CAN GIVE YOU THE FULL INFORMATION, SO YOU CAN ACTUALLY LOOK AT IT THIS WAY, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW YOU'RE GUESSING AT LIKE, I'M GUESSING. SO IT'S BETTER TO COME BACK TO YOU WITH THAT AND GIVE YOU THE FULL INFORMATION, THE ACTUAL EVERYTHING.

THAT'S WHAT I HEARD YOU SAY. AND SO, SO IN ANSWER TO OUR RESPONSE TO SUPERVISOR PLUMMER QUESTION TO THE CEO RICKERT IT SOUNDS LIKE WE'RE, WE'RE BEING ASKED TO APPROVE THE CAO RECOMMENDED BUDGET AS IS AS IF THERE WAS NO APPEAL. YES. OKAY. THANK YOU.

SEEING NO OTHER QUESTIONS? WELL, MAYBE JUST TO CLARIFY, IT DOES SOUND LIKE YOU'RE ASKING FOR 20 TABULATORS, WHICH IS? THERE WAS ZERO TABULATORS IN THE CEO'S RECOMMENDED BUDGET, SO I'M GUESSING THAT THAT WOULD BE PART OF THE REQUEST FOR THIS BUDGETARY PROCESS.

SOUNDS LIKE HE'S SAYING THAT HE'LL COME BACK AT A LATER TIME FOR AN AMENDED BUDGET.

RIGHT. BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ACTUAL DATA YET.

SO YOU'LL YOU'LL BE GUESSING. WE'LL BE GUESSING. AND SO ONCE EVERYTHING'S DONE, YOU KNOW, IT'S ONLY FOR THREE WEEKS, THEN A LOT OF TIME TO PLAY WITH IT YET. AND I SENT OUT FOR THEM. DON'T HAVE THEM. IT'S BETTER TO GIVE YOU THE FULL INFORMATION SO YOU CAN MAKE A, YOU KNOW, LOGICAL VOTE ON WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR.

WHEN WOULD YOU ANTICIPATE THAT YOU WOULD BE COMING BACK FOR AN AMENDED BUDGET TO INCLUDE TABULATOR 30 DAYS, 30 DAYS? OKAY, JUST JUST SO I'M CLEAR, CEO RICKERT, BECAUSE TOM TOLLER BROUGHT UP

[02:45:05]

WE GOT SOME TABULATORS, BUT HE WALKED HE WANTED 75.

AND THEN YOU DIDN'T APPROVE THAT. THAT WAS THAT.

WHAT ORIGINALLY TRIGGERED THE APPEAL? I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR BECAUSE AFTER ALL THESE QUESTIONS, I'M STARTING TO MAKE SURE I'M NOT GETTING CONFUSED.

AND THEY'RE GREAT QUESTIONS. I JUST I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M UNDERSTANDING THAT NOTHING'S CHANGED. THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN CRYE.

YES. THE ORIGINAL REQUEST FROM MR. TOLLER WAS THE 75, BASED ON THE FACT THAT HE WANTED TO HAVE TABULATION AT THE PRECINCT LEVEL, BECAUSE WE WERE IN THE PROCESS OF SELECTING A NEW ROV.

NOT THAT I DIDN'T FIND MERIT IN ANY OF HIS BUDGET REQUESTS, BUT I ASKED THAT THEY'D ALL BE DELAYED AND THE BOARD CONSIDER THE REQUEST OF THE ROV WITH WITH THESE ISSUES.

OKAY. I WOULD PROBABLY SUGGEST NOT ONLY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BOARD, BUT FOR CLARITY OF THE AUDIENCE THAT MISS BURTON EXPLAINED THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A BUDGET AMENDMENT AND A LATER BUDGET INCREASE AND WHAT'S INVOLVED WITH BOTH OF THOSE PROCESSES. HELLO AGAIN, DEPUTY COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICER.

SO THERE'S TWO DIFFERENT PROCESSES RIGHT NOW.

WE'RE IN THE BUDGET IN THE BUDGET PROCESS.

AND SO THE BOARD CAN VOTE TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE BUDGET, EITHER BASED ON APPEALS OR BASED ON OTHER CHANGES THAT THE BOARD WANTS TO SEE.

AND THEY CAN DO IT BY WAY OF A 3/5 VOTE ONCE THE BUDGET HEARINGS HAVE CLOSED, ANY AMENDMENTS TO THE BUDGET HAVE TO BE MADE BY WAY OF A 4/5 VOTE AT A FUTURE MEETING.

AND IN THIS CASE, IT WOULDN'T HAPPEN UNTIL AFTER JULY, BECAUSE IT WOULD BE AMENDING THE BUDGET THAT STARTS JULY 1ST.

WE HAVE TO ADOPT IT BEFORE WE CAN AMEND IT.

CORRECT. YES. OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

GOOD STUFF. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MR. CURTIS.

NO OTHER QUESTIONS. WE'RE GOOD.

OKAY. MOVING ON TO RECENTLY NEW EMPLOYEE LAURIE SCOTT.

NO. JUST KIDDING. HOW YOU DOING? I'M DOING GREAT. DOING GREAT.

DOING GREAT. WELCOME BACK.

THIS SOUNDS WEIRD, BUT I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS ONE. I MEAN, JUST BECAUSE THE STUFF I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN WORKING ON AND. OKAY, THE TREASURER TAX COLLECTOR'S OFFICE.

I'LL READ A LITTLE BIT AND THEN I'LL JUST GIVE YOU SOME INFORMATION.

THE MISSION OF THE TREASURER TAX COLLECTOR'S OFFICE IS TO PROVIDE SERVICES IN PERFORMING THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE WHICH, INCLUDING RECEIVING SAFEGUARDING THE MONEY BELONGING TO THE COUNTY AND OTHER AGENCIES IN THE TREASURY TO COLLECT ALL SECURED, UNSECURED AND SUPPLEMENTAL TAXES IN THE TREASURY.

WE HAVE THE COUNTY'S MONEY, THE SCHOOLS MONEY AND THE SPECIAL DISTRICTS MONEY THAT ARE IN THE TREASURY.

THE TREASURY TAX COLLECTOR ANTICIPATES BEING FULLY STAFFED AS BUDGETED.

WE WENT THROUGH INTERVIEWS LAST WEEK AND WE'VE NOW CHOSEN SOMEONE, SO WE'VE GOT TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS TO BRING THAT PERSON IN.

IT'S VERY HARD TO KEEP PEOPLE BECAUSE THE LINE STAFF WERE PAID JUST A LITTLE OVER $18 AN HOUR. SO IT'S HARD TO KEEP PEOPLE THERE BECAUSE THEY FIND OTHER JOBS AND MOVE UP OR EVEN GO OUTSIDE OF THE COUNTY FOR THAT.

AND ALL OF EVERYTHING THAT WE DO IN THE TREASURY TAX COLLECTOR'S OFFICE IS MANDATED BY REVENUE AND TAXATION OR STREETS AND HIGHWAYS CODES.

EVERYTHING'S MANDATED.

WHAT WE DO, THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS, THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR THE 2425 WE ARE, WE PURCHASED A NEW PRINTING MACHINE BECAUSE FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, WE HAD PROBLEMS PRINTING OUR TAX BILLS.

THE SECURED TAX BILLS WERE DOING 87,800 TAX BILLS.

WHEN WE GET READY TO SEND THOSE OUT AND WE WERE NOT BEING ABLE TO PRINT THEM, THE THE PERSON OR THE COMPANY HERE IN REDDING WOULD ACTUALLY BRING IN OLD ONES MACHINES SO WE COULD KEEP THEM GOING BECAUSE WE WERE HAVING PROBLEMS. SO THAT'S WHY WE WENT AND PURCHASED A NEW PRINTING MACHINE.

THE NEW ONE WILL PRINT 5000 BILLS AN HOUR WHERE THE OLD ONES, WHEN THEY WORK COMPLETELY.

WE PRINTED 2000 BILLS AN HOUR.

THIS WILL ALLOW US TO MAIL OUT THE BILLS EARLIER SO THAT OUR TAXPAYERS HAVE LONGER TIME TO, TO MANAGE THEIR CASH FLOW AND GET THEIR PAYMENTS INTO US.

THAT WE WILL NOT HAVE TO USE AS MUCH EXTRA HELP BECAUSE WE TRY TO GET THEM OUT.

WE'RE MANDATED TO GET THOSE BILLS OUT BY THE END OF OCTOBER.

SO THIS WILL HOPEFULLY ALLOW US TO GET THEM OUT IN SEPTEMBER SO WE CAN GET THE CASH FLOW, BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE WANT TO GET IT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND GET THEIR PAYMENTS IN, SO THAT WAY THEY CAN FORGET ABOUT IT FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR.

OTHER THINGS THAT WE DID IS THROUGH CSAC, THEY HAD A PROGRAM CALLED EASY SMART PAY.

AND SO WE TALKED TO THEM.

[02:50:02]

WE HAVE 400 COUNTY TAXPAYERS THAT HAVE GONE IN THROUGH EASY SMART PAY.

WHAT THIS ALLOWS THEM TO DO IS MAKE MONTHLY PAYMENTS ON THEIR TAXES.

SO THAT WAY WHEN THE TAXES COME DUE, THEY WILL RECONCILE IT.

IF A LITTLE BIT MORE MONEY NEEDS TO BE TAKEN OUT, THEN THEY'LL TAKE THAT OUT AND THEN SEND IT TO US DIRECTLY.

SO THAT WAY OUR SENIORS OR ANYBODY DOES NOT HAVE TO COME UP WITH ALL OF THE TAX MONEY AT ONCE. SO THAT'S HELPING OUR TAXPAYERS QUITE A BIT.

EVERY YEAR THAT BECOMES A LITTLE BIT LARGER.

AND THEN WE HAVE ANOTHER PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE.

THIS LAST YEAR WAS CALLED A F, C, S.

AND WHAT THAT ALLOWS IS FOR UNSECURED.

IT'S A COLLECTION AGENCY BECAUSE I ONLY HAVE 15 STAFF.

I'LL HAVE 16 WHEN WE GET THE NEW PERSON IN.

AND THAT'S COVERING THREE OFFICES, 16 PEOPLE COVERING THREE OFFICES, INCLUDING MYSELF. AND SO WHAT WE'VE DONE IS WE'VE SENT THE ONES THAT WE WEREN'T ABLE TO COLLECT OUT FOR COLLECTION.

AND SO THEY'RE OUT THERE TRYING TO SEARCH FOR THE PEOPLE TO BRING IN MORE UNSECURED MONEY.

AND WE'LL DO THAT EVEN AFTER WE COME TO YOU AND DO A RELIEVING OF ACCOUNTABILITY, WHICH WILL HAPPEN WITHIN THE NEXT MONTH, IS IF WE ARE ABLE TO COLLECT ON THAT, THEN WE'LL ASK THE AUDITOR TO BRING IT BACK ON THE TAX ROLL AND THEN PROCESS THE PAYMENT.

SO THAT'LL BRING A LITTLE BIT MORE MONEY INTO FOR EVERYBODY.

WE HAVE RIGHT NOW OUT TO THAT PROGRAM, THE A FCS WE HAVE 1130.

WE CALL THEM TAX YEARS BECAUSE MAYBE YOU WERE DELINQUENT FOR FIVE YEARS OR SOMETHING ON THE UNSECURED. SO IT'S 1130 TAX YEARS FOR THAT.

AND THEN 1111 THAT HAVE TO DEAL WITH MOBILE HOMES.

SO AND A LOT OF THOSE MOBILE HOMES AS PEOPLE AREN'T CHANGING THE OWNERSHIP.

IT'S LIKE WE PAY IT FOR IT UNDER THE COUNTER AND NEVER GO THROUGH AND CHANGE IT BY THE NAME. THE OTHER THING THAT WE'VE DONE IS THIS YEAR.

THIS HAPPENS BEFORE THE 15 DAYS BEFORE THE DUE DATE WHEN SOMEBODY MAILS IN THEIR CHECK AND IT'S A DUPLICATE PAYMENT WHERE MAYBE YOU FORGOT THAT YOU PAID YOUR FIRST INSTALLMENT AND YOU GO AND TRY TO PAY IT AGAIN INSTEAD OF DEPOSITING THAT CHECK INTO THE TREASURY.

WE THEN HAVE IT IN A RECORD.

WE RECORD IT AND WE'RE SENDING OUR TAXPAYERS THEIR MONEY BACK.

BECAUSE WHY SHOULD YOU HAVE MONEY COMING OUT OF YOUR ACCOUNT TWICE? A LOT OF US CAN'T HAVE THAT.

AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING. WE SEND THEM A LETTER SAYING, YOU ALREADY PAID THIS.

THIS IS A DUPLICATE PAYMENT.

THE SAME THING. IF IT WAS SHORT, WE'D SEND IT BACK TO THEM BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES WE SEND LETTERS TO THEM SAYING, YOU OWE US X AMOUNT OF DOLLARS ADDITIONALLY.

AND THEY NEVER RESPOND.

SO THERE AGAIN, WE'RE DEPOSITING IT, WHICH COSTS THE COUNTY TAX COLLECTORS AND THE COUNTY BANKING FEES. AND THEN THEY MAY NOT RESPOND TO OUR DUE NOTICES.

THEN WE HAVE TO THEN RUN IT THROUGH THE SYSTEM.

THEN WE HAVE TO HAVE THE AUDITOR ISSUE A CHECK, WHICH COSTS MONEY TO SEND THE MONEY BACK BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T PAY THE FULL AMOUNT.

WE CANNOT TAKE PARTIAL PAYMENTS ON SECURED TAXES, SO WE'RE SAVING TAXPAYERS MONEY ON THAT.

AND IT'S SAVING STAFF TIME TOO.

AND THE COUNTY MONEY BECAUSE WE AREN'T PAYING THE BANKING FEES.

OTHER THINGS WE'RE DOING IS THIS IS SOMETHING WE JUST STARTED DOING THIS.

MY ONE OF MY STAFF WHO SENDS OUT CERTIFIED MAIL, WHICH WE HAVE TO SEND OUT A LOT OF CERTIFIED MAIL REQUIRED BY LAW.

THERE'S A NEW PROGRAM AND WE HAVE ALREADY USED THIS.

IT'S CALLED ELECTRONIC RETURN RECEIPTS, WHICH SAVES US $2 FOR EVERY CERTIFIED LETTER THAT WE ARE REQUIRED BY LAW TO SEND OUT.

DOING IT THIS PROCESS, AND IT ACTUALLY COMES UP ON A SYSTEM ON OUR COMPUTERS SHOWING WHAT.

WHERE'S THE CERTIFIED LETTER NOW? HAVE THEY ATTEMPTED TO TO RECEIVE IT OR WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH IT? PLUS IT SAVES US $2 ON EVERYTHING ON THAT.

THE OTHER THING IS, IS THE SAME PERSON THAT CAME UP WITH THE ELECTRONIC RETURN RECEIPT DECIDED AT A FIVE YEAR DEFAULT.

WE HAVE TO SEND EVERYTHING WE HAVE TO PUBLISH IN THE NEWSPAPER, WHICH IS VERY EXPENSIVE BECAUSE WE ONLY HAVE ONE NEWSPAPER HERE IN SHASTA COUNTY THAT COVERS THE WHOLE COUNTY, AND WE HAVE TO SEND OUT CERTIFIED LETTERS OR NOTICES. SO WHAT SHE DID IS SHE TOOK ALL OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE FIVE YEAR DEFAULT WHEN OUR SALE WILL BE IN FEBRUARY.

AND SHE SENT A PERSONAL LETTER OUT TO THEM SAYING, THIS IS WHAT'S COMING UP.

GIVE US A CALL. LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU CAN DO.

AND IT WAS MORE IT WAS FRIENDLIER TO THEM.

AND WE'VE HAD 60 PEOPLE RESPOND TO THOSE LETTERS.

THEY'VE EITHER STARTED AN INSTALLMENT PLAN OR THEY'VE PAID DELINQUENT TAX OFF.

SO THAT MEANS THAT 60 PEOPLE THAT WE DO NOT HAVE TO PUT IN THE NEWSPAPER AND 60 CERTIFIED

[02:55:04]

SO THAT'S SAVING THE COUNTY MONEY.

SO THESE ARE LITTLE THINGS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO DO THIS LAST YEAR TO SAVE MONEY.

WHAT OUR GOALS FOR NEXT YEAR.

WHAT WE'RE HOPING NEXT YEAR IS BEING ABLE TO DO ELECTRONIC TAX BILLS.

THIS IS SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

THERE'S TWO COUNTIES IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA THAT USE MEGABYTE THAT ARE TESTING THIS. THEY USED THEM LAST YEAR.

AND SO THEY'RE MAKING SURE TO GET TO WORK OUT ALL THE BUGS ON IT.

AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN OFFER THIS TO OUR TAXPAYERS THIS NEXT YEAR.

AND WHAT THIS WILL DO IS THEY'LL GET THEIR TAX BILLS EARLIER.

THEY WILL BE ABLE TO SET UP REMINDER NOTICES SO THEY CAN BE REMINDED TO PAY THEIR TAX BILLS ON TIME. SO THAT WAY THEY DON'T HAVE TO PAY THE PENALTIES.

SO THIS MAY CAUSE THEY HAVEN'T GIVEN US A DOLLAR AMOUNT ON THIS YET, BUT I THINK THAT IT WILL SAVE US MONEY AND YOU KNOW, FOR THE RETURN. AND IT'LL BE GOOD FOR OUR TAXPAYERS BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES WE ALL GET BUSY WITH OUR LIVES AND WE FORGET, EVEN THOUGH IT'S ON THE RADIO, ON THE NEWS AND IN THE NEWSPAPERS.

THE OTHER THING IS WE'RE GOING TO GET A NEW POSTAGE MACHINE.

WE HAVE OUR NEW PRINTER AND THIS WILL BE ALMOST LIKE A U SHAPE.

WE'LL HAVE THE INSERT WILL HAVE THE PRINTER HERE, THE INSERTER, AND IT WILL COME AROUND AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO PUT THE POSTAGE ON IT.

AND THESE WILL HAVE BARCODES ON THIS.

SO THAT WAY IT WILL BE CHEAPER FOR US AND FASTER FOR US TO GET THE TAX BILLS TO OUR TAXPAYERS. SO WE'RE HOPING THAT AND THE OTHER THING ON THIS IS WE HAVE A LOCAL VENDOR, OUR VENDOR FOR OUR POSTAGE MACHINE.

NOW, IF IT GOES DOWN THERE IN SACRAMENTO, SO IT TAKES THEM A COUPLE DAYS TO FIGURE OUT TO GET UP HERE TO FIX IT.

AND THEN IF THEY HAVE TO GET PARTS, IT'S GOING TO TAKE LONGER.

AND THEN WE'RE NO LONGER SENDING ANYTHING OUT UNLESS WE TAKE IT DOWN TO THE OPPORTUNITY CENTER. AND SOMETIMES WE HAVE A LOT OF MAIL.

WE HAD LIKE FOUR TRAYS OF MAIL COMING IN JUST THE OTHER DAY.

THE OTHER THING IS EASY SMART PAY.

WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE DOING THAT AND ENCOURAGING THE, YOU KNOW, TAXPAYERS TO GET INVOLVED IN THAT.

SO THAT WAY YOU DON'T HAVE TO COME UP WITH THAT.

IT'S A LOT EASIER. THEY'LL MAKE ARRANGEMENTS WITH YOU. IT CAN COME OUT OF YOUR CREDIT CARD. IT CAN COME OUT OF YOUR BANK ACCOUNT, COME OUT OF YOUR SAVINGS, WHATEVER YOU CHOOSE TO DO IT, AND ARRANGE FOR HOW MUCH YOU CAN AFFORD TO HAVE IT COME OUT, KNOWING THAT IT HAS TO COME ALL OUT ON YOUR DECEMBER 10TH AND YOUR APRIL 10TH DATE.

WE'RE COUNTY COUNCIL DOESN'T KNOW IT, BUT I'M GOING TO USE HIM AGAIN.

THEY'VE BEEN VERY GOOD TO US AND EVERYTHING.

THROUGH OUR TOT RIGHT NOW WE HAVE 327 TRANSIENT OCCUPANCY CLIENTS THAT ARE CURRENT.

WHAT WE'D LIKE TO SEE. AND WE'VE BEEN TOLD THAT THERE'S A LOT MORE PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT WHO ARE RENTING WEEKENDS OUT TO PEOPLE AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO WE'D LIKE TO GO AND TALK TO, AND WE CAN GET SAMPLES OF THIS FROM A LOT OF DIFFERENT COUNTIES. IS A VOLUNTARY COLLECTION AGENCY OR AGREEMENT WITH VRBO AND AIRBNB.

SO THAT SHOULD BE SOMETHING THAT ONLY IS GOING TO BE COUNTY COUNCIL'S TIME AND OUR TIME TO GET THAT DONE.

AND THEN BRINGING IT TO THE BOARD TO ACCEPT IT SO WE CAN HAVE MORE.

BRING IN MORE TOT MONEY JUST FOR AN IDEA HOW MUCH MONEY, A TRANSIENT OCCUPANCY THAT WE JUST TOOK IN.

I TALKED TO MY STAFF. THEY BROUGHT THIS FROM APRIL 24TH TO MARCH OR EXCUSE ME, APRIL OF 2024 TO MARCH OF 2025.

WE BROUGHT IN $1,542,876.

SO IF WE CAN BRING IN EVEN ANOTHER, YOU KNOW, 10%, 20% OF THAT, IT WOULD BE GREAT BECAUSE THAT'S MONEY THAT YOU GUYS CAN CHOOSE TO DO WHATEVER YOU LIKE WITH IT.

AND IT COMES COUNTY. THAT'S COUNTY.

OKAY. OKAY. AND THAT'S FOUR QUARTERS.

YEAH. THIS IS WHAT I'M KIND OF PROUD OF.

I MEAN, THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DOES NOT HAVE ANYTHING REALLY ACCURATE.

THIS IS THE MOST ACCURATE THING THAT THEY HAVE.

THE STATE AVERAGE FOR SECURED COLLECTIONS IS 98.5%.

SHASTA COUNTY IS AT 98.5%.

AND THAT'S THROUGH COMPARED TO ALL THE COUNTIES FOR THE WHOLE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.

SO WE'RE RIGHT THERE IN THE MEDIAN FOR UNSECURED.

YOU CAN SEE THE STATE PERCENTAGE IS 94.8%.

SHASTA COUNTY IS 98.8%.

NOT TOO BAD. AND THAT IS WHAT WE LOOK AT RIGHT NOW.

WE'VE SENT OUT OVER 1000 LETTERS, COLLECTION LETTERS TO ALL THE DIFFERENT BANKS AND EVERYTHING TO TRY TO COLLECT.

AND MONEY IS STARTING TO COME IN ON PEOPLE THAT WE'VE SENT NOTICES TO.

TIME AFTER TIME, WE EVEN SAID, YOU'VE GOT X AMOUNT OF TIME TO PAY THESE, OR WE'RE GOING TO SEIZE YOUR BANK ACCOUNT.

[03:00:01]

AND SO WE'VE NOW REACHED IN AND SEIZED BANK ACCOUNTS.

SO YOU HAVE. WHEN YOU GET SOMETHING WITH MY NAME.

LESLIE. WE GIVE YOU CHANCES.

RESPOND. THAT'S ALL WE ASK.

IT'S JUST RESPOND TO US AND WE CAN GIVE YOU OTHER IDEAS.

IF YOU PROMISE TO MAKE MONTHLY PAYMENTS ON IT, WE WON'T SEIZE. ALL WE ASK IS FOR YOU TO TO, YOU KNOW, TALK TO US THE NEXT ONE.

THIS MIGHT BE HARD FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE BACK TO SEE.

THIS TELLS YOU THIS COMES RIGHT OFF OUR COMPUTER SYSTEM.

I WAS CHARGED AS OF JUNE 1ST, 278,522,795 AND $0.35 FOR COLLECTIONS ON CURRENT SECURED, WE COLLECTED 272,162 83742.

WE COLLECTED 98.27% OF THE CURRENT SECURED TAXES.

REMEMBER THAT THE. THE COUNTY ONLY GETS 12 POINT.

I HAVE THE STAT HERE. THIS CAME FROM NOLDUS AND IT'S UNDER 13%.

THE REST GOES TO MAJORLY FOR THE SCHOOLS AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

WHEN I GET TO THAT I'LL.

HERE IT IS. THE COUNTY GETS 12.31%.

THE SCHOOLS. THE LARGEST PORTION OF THE SCHOOLS WHICH.

THAT'S OUR FUTURE. WE GET 46.4% GOING TO SCHOOLS AND EDUCATIONAL REVENUE IS 14.79%.

BUT THIS IS HOW MUCH WE COLLECTED, AND WE'RE STILL COLLECTING UNTIL JUNE 30TH.

ON THE CURRENT ROLE. ON THE NEXT ONE, THIS IS UNSECURED.

OH DID IT NOT GO IN. WELL I'LL CONTINUE ON UNSECURED BECAUSE IT SEEMED LIKE IT PASSED IT. WE ON UNSECURED THE ROLE IS.

14,649,109. 35. WE COLLECTED ALREADY 95.6% ON LAST YEAR'S UNSECURED.

AND THAT WAS 13,000,008.

13. SEVEN. 47. 79. AND SO A LOT OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE DELINQUENT ON THIS, THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT WE SENT OUT TO THE COLLECTION AGENCY TO BRING THIS IN.

NOW WE'LL GO TO THIS ONE. YOU CAN SEE THAT OUR NET COUNTY COST INCREASED 75000 FOR 12.

AND A MAJORITY OF THAT IS, AGAIN, LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE HAS BEEN SAYING, HEALTH AND SALARIES ON THAT.

WE'VE DONE THINGS TO REDUCE.

WE'RE REDUCING TWO COMPUTERS AND ONE PRINTER.

WE'RE TRYING TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO PAY ONLINE BECAUSE BEFORE WE WOULD HAVE 20 BIG TRAYS FULL OF MAIL THAT WE HADN'T PROCESSED BECAUSE THERE JUST WASN'T ENOUGH HOURS IN THE DAY. NOW WE HAVE A LOT LESS COMING IN BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS PROCESSED IN A TIMELY MANNER.

WE'RE STILL DOING OUR TAX AUCTIONS ONLINE, WHICH SAVES MY STAFF A LOT OF TIME.

IT SAVES ME FROM HAVING TO HIRE THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO COME IN HERE AND WATCH OVER, BECAUSE EVERYBODY WOULD COME IN WITH THEIR LITTLE SATCHELS AND THEIR ICE CHESTS FULL OF CASH BECAUSE IT WAS A CASH SALE.

SO THEY OR, YOU KNOW, OR THEY WOULD BRING IN CASHIER'S CHECKS.

BUT THIS IS ALLOWING MORE PEOPLE ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES, ALL OVER THE WORLD TO ACTUALLY PARTICIPATE IN OUR AUCTIONS.

SO WE MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN SELL A LOT MORE PARCELS OF LAND THAT MOST OF US PROBABLY WOULDN'T NORMALLY BUY BECAUSE THEY WERE, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF TRASH AND STUFF GOING ON ON THOSE PIECES OF PROPERTY, BUT WE SELL A LOT OF THEM.

I'M GOING TO GO ON TO THE PUBLIC ADMINISTRATOR'S OFFICE.

ACTUALLY, BEFORE I GO ON TO THAT, I THINK WHAT I'M GOING TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT BECAUSE ALL THIS TAX MONEY IS COMING INTO OUR TREASURY.

AND SO I WANTED TO GO OVER WHEN THE MONEY COMES INTO THE TREASURY, WE DO AN ANALYSIS ON WHERE OF CASH FLOW ON THIS AND THERE ISN'T A SCREEN FOR IT.

AND SO I WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT HOW MUCH INTEREST IS COMING IN THAT WE BUY SECURITIES.

WE HAVE ANTICIPATED FOR THE LAST WE'VE GOT THREE QUARTERS WORTH OF MONEY ALREADY APPORTIONED AND EVERYTHING. THIS NEXT ONE, WE'RE EXPECTING OVER $5,182,000 THAT WE ANTICIPATE COMING IN IN THIS NEXT QUARTER THAT WE WILL BE APPORTIONING.

WE JUST DID AN ESTIMATE ON THE GENERAL FUND ON HOW MUCH OF THAT THEY WILL RECEIVE OR YOU WILL RECEIVE. AND WE'RE LOOKING AT PROBABLY 01,000,607 INTEREST COMING IN ON THIS NEXT APPORTIONMENT. AND IT'S BELIEVED PROBABLY WHAT ABOUT THE 15TH?

[03:05:05]

SO I WANTED TO BRING THAT UP.

SO YOU KNOW WHAT'S SITTING OUT THERE.

A LOT OF THE SECURITIES WHEN WE BOUGHT CALLABLES, THEY'RE NOW BEING CALLED BECAUSE THEY'RE ANTICIPATING THE INTEREST RATES TO START DROPPING. OKAY. WE'LL GO TO PUBLIC ADMINISTRATOR.

PUBLIC ADMINISTRATOR. THE MISSION IS TO PROVIDE QUALITY SERVICE IN PERFORMING THE DUTIES OF ADMINISTRATING.

THE ESTATES OF THE DECEDENTS OF THE PUBLIC.

ADMINISTRATOR MUST PROTECT THE DECEDENT'S PROPERTY FROM WASTE LOSS OR THEFT, MAKING APPROPRIATE BURIAL ARRANGEMENTS, CONDUCT, CONDUCT, CONDUCT THROUGH INVESTIGATING TO DISCOVERY ASSETS, PAYING THE DECEDENT'S BILLS TAXES, ENSURING THE ESTATE IS ADMINISTERED ACCORDINGLY TO THE DECEDENT'S WISHES, AND LOCATING AND DISTRIBUTING TO THE PERSONS ENTITLED TO INHERIT FROM THE ESTATE.

YOU ALL GOT A LETTER FROM ME GIVING YOU BECAUSE VERY FEW PEOPLE KNOW WHO WE ARE.

WE EVEN TALKED TO LAW ENFORCEMENT LAST WEEK AND THEY DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHO WE WERE.

AND THE MORTUARIES. SO WE'RE TRYING TO REACH OUT AND LET PEOPLE KNOW WHO WE ARE.

WE ARE FULLY STAFFED. WE HAVE THREE FULL TIME PEOPLE.

AND THEN MY MANAGER IS A MANAGER OF THE OR ASSISTANT IS FOR HALF HER TIME, IS A PUBLIC ADMINISTRATOR AND HALF HER TIME IN THE TREASURY SIDE.

OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR THE 2425.

WE HAVE HAD AN INCREASE OF COMPLICATED CASES IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

WE'RE TRYING TO DO THE BEST THAT WE CAN WITH WHAT WE CAN.

WE ARE THANKFUL THAT WE HAVE A GREAT COUNTY COUNCIL THAT WORKS WITH US AND WORK THROUGH A LOT OF THESE PROBLEMS, SOME OF THE PROBLEMS WE'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE.

AND SO SOME OF THEM ARE JUST THE SAME OLD, SAME OLD.

LORETTA AND I, LAST FRIDAY WE AT 430 IN THE AFTERNOON, WE'D ALREADY EVICTED THESE PEOPLE UP IN YOUR AREA.

YEAH. ALL DAY. AND THIS IS WHERE ALL OF YOU PROBABLY GOT THE LETTER AND THE VIDEO AND EVERYTHING FROM THE PLACE BEFORE WE WENT IN AND DID THE EVICTIONS OF THE GENTLEMAN WAS THREATENING THE LADY NEXT DOOR AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO LORETTA AND I, AT 430 FRIDAY AFTERNOON, JUMPED IN MY CAR AND HEADED UP THERE BECAUSE WE WERE GOING TO MEET TWO DEPUTIES THERE.

THEY WERE WONDERFUL DEPUTIES.

THEY WERE SO KIND AND SO GENTLE TO THESE PEOPLE, BUT STILL MAKING THEM DO WHAT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO DO TO GET THEM OUT THERE.

YES. AND SO YESTERDAY MY STAFF WAS UP THERE AND THEY WERE TELLING THEM BECAUSE WE GAVE THEM 15 MINUTES TO GET WHAT THEY WANTED THAT NIGHT, AND THEN THEY WENT OUT YESTERDAY TO TRY TO GET THEM TO MOVE ON.

THEY TRIED MOVING DOWN TWO DOORS DOWN TO ANOTHER TAXPAYERS PROPERTY.

THEY CUT THE FENCE AND MOVED ON TO THERE.

AND THE DEPUTIES WENT UP AND MY STAFF WENT UP AND THE PEOPLE, THE TRANSIENTS OR THE SQUATTERS ON THIS PROPERTY WERE MORE FIGHTING AMONGST THEMSELVES THAN ANYTHING ELSE.

BUT NOW WE'VE MOVED THEM ON TO ANOTHER PIECE OF PROPERTY.

SO I THINK YOU WON'T GET ANY MORE LETTERS FROM THEM, EXCEPT MAYBE THANK YOU LETTERS, BECAUSE MOVING THEM TOWARDS TAMA COUNTY. I'M TRYING. OR LASSEN EITHER ONE.

YES. SO OUR GOAL FOR THIS NEXT YEAR IS TO CONTINUE USING THE ARPA MONEY AND TRY TO USE THAT UP FIRST ON A LOT OF THESE PIECES OF PROPERTY.

YOU'RE GOING TO SEE SOME PICTURES. WE WERE TRYING TO GET ONE FROM EACH OF YOUR DISTRICTS, BUT IT WAS HARD TO DO.

SO WE JUST USED A COUPLE OF THEM.

AND WHAT THIS IS DOING IS WE INTEND TO CLEAN UP AS MANY PROPERTIES AS POSSIBLE, WHICH WILL ELIMINATE THE NEIGHBORHOOD BLIGHT.

IT WILL INCREASE PROPERTY VALUES AND THE COMMUNITY WILL BE SAFE BECAUSE UP THERE IN YOUR AREA, THEY WERE SCARED.

THEY THE ONE LADY ON. WHEN YOU'RE GOING DOWN THE ROAD ON THE LEFT SIDE, SHE HARDLY COMES OUT OF HER HOUSE BECAUSE SHE'S AFRAID OF THOSE PEOPLE. AND SHE'S LIVED THERE A LONG TIME. YES, SHE HAS A LONG TIME.

AND IT IS A MESS. I, I JUST LOOKED AT THE PICTURES BECAUSE I DIDN'T GO DOWN INTO IT BECAUSE PUT IT THIS WAY, ONE OF THE GUYS JUST STOOD IN THE ROAD AND GLARED AT ME FOR, I DON'T KNOW, 15 MINUTES.

AND SO I JUST WATCHED HIM AND LOOKED BACK. YOU KNOW, I GOT DEPUTIES THERE. SO BUT THERE WAS THERE IS SO MANY PROPANE TANKS AT THIS LOCATION THAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE WHEN WE GO TO CLEAN IT UP.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO ACCUMULATE THEM IN ONE PLACE AND FIGURE OUT A WAY OF DISPOSAL, BECAUSE THEY MUST HAVE BEEN DOING SOMETHING ELSE THERE.

THEY USE ALL THESE PROPANE TANKS BARBECUING.

YEAH, THEY FIXED THE STOVE AND MADE IT INTO SOMETHING ELSE.

[03:10:03]

SO ANYWAY WE ARE FULLY GENERAL FUND BUDGET, THE COST INCREASE OF 108,607 OR APPROXIMATELY 26.2%. PART OF THAT IS BECAUSE OF THE NEW EMPLOYEE, BECAUSE WE HAD TO KEEP MOVING, BECAUSE TWO PEOPLE GO OUT TO THESE CASES JOINTLY FOR THEIR SAFETY AND MAKE SURE THAT NOBODY CAN PERCEIVE LIKE SOMETHING WAS GOING TO BE STOLEN OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

SO THERE'S ALWAYS TWO PEOPLE OUT.

ALL PROGRAMS IN THE UNITS ARE MANDATED BY THE PROBATE CODE, AND THE JOB OF THE PUBLIC ADMINISTRATOR IS MANDATED BY THE STATE TO SERVE THE PUBLIC, AND THERE ARE NO GRANTS ON THIS.

WE HAVE A LOT OF CASES GOING ON.

SO AND MR. CRYE AND I HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT OTHER IDEAS AFTER ARPA MONEY IS GONE ON THIS.

OKAY, HERE'S CASTLE CRAGS.

THIS WAS A. THERE WAS THREE BUILDINGS ON THIS PIECE OF PROPERTY.

IT WAS WHAT THEY CALLED A FLOP HOUSE.

IT WAS HEAVILY DRUG USE ACTIVITIES.

THEY EVEN MADE OF US THIS 70S, 80S OR WHATEVER GENERATION.

THE CRIBS UP IN THE ATTIC.

SO WHEN SOMEBODY WENT THERE FOR WHATEVER THEY WANTED TO DO, AND THEY WOULD GO UP INTO THE CRIBS THERE, WHEN WE HAD TO CLEAN THIS UP, WE ACTUALLY HAD TO HAVE THE GENTLEMAN THAT CLEANED IT UP FOR US SCRAPE THE GROUND, BECAUSE THERE WAS SO MUCH DRUG PARAPHERNALIA ON THIS.

THIS WE HAD GOTTEN THIS CASE BEFORE WHEN HE FIRST PASSED AWAY, AND WE COULD NOT TAKE IT BECAUSE IT COST MORE MONEY FOR US TO PROBATE IT THAN IT DID TO JUST LET IT GO. NOBODY.

A LOT OF THESE PLACES, I CANNOT SELL THEM AS THE TAX COLLECTOR FOR DEFAULTED TAXES. WOULD YOU BUY THIS? PROBABLY NOT THE WAY IT STANDS NOW.

SO WE THEN WITH ARPA, WITH THE BLESSING OF THE BOARD AND THE CEO COMING UP WITH THE IDEA, WE WERE ABLE TO THEN REVISIT THIS AND CLEAN IT UP. HERE'S WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE NOW.

AND WE PUT IT UP FOR SALE.

THE CLEANUP COST WAS $80,000 BECAUSE IT WAS SO BAD.

THERE WAS YOU WENT FROM ONE ROOM TO THE OTHER. YOU ACTUALLY HAD TO OPEN UP THE REFRIGERATOR DOOR TO WALK THROUGH THE REFRIGERATOR TO GET INTO THE NEXT ROOM.

SO STRANGE THINGS IT CREEPED.

IT CREEPED STAFF OUT BECAUSE WHEN THEY WERE TRYING TO CLEAN IT UP, ALL OF A SUDDEN THE LITTLE MONKEY STARTED CLANGING HIS THING BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON AND CHRISTMAS LIGHTS COMING ON.

WE DID SELL THAT PIECE OF PROPERTY.

WE ALWAYS PUT IT ON. MULTIPLE LISTINGS WERE REQUIRED BY LAW TO PUT IT ON MULTIPLE LISTINGS. WE DID SELL IT.

AND THE PEOPLE THAT WE SOLD IT TO, THEY HAD THE HIGHEST BID WAS THE NEXT DOOR NEIGHBORS. THEY WENT AND JOINTLY BOUGHT PARTS, BOUGHT THE PROPERTY, AND WILL SPLIT IT EVENTUALLY.

SO THEY WON'T HAVE ANY MORE PEOPLE THAT ARE SQUATTING ON THIS AND MAKING A MESS ON IT.

THERE WAS STUFF LEACHING INTO THE WATER SYSTEM THERE TOO AT THAT POINT WHEN WE CLEANED IT UP. HERE'S OUR NEXT ONE, PLACER ROAD I GO.

ANOTHER LOVELY PLACE. IT COST US A LITTLE OVER $11,000 TO CLEAN THIS UP, AND IT IS CURRENTLY LISTED FOR SALE.

WHAT I HEARD, I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS IN ONE OF THE BOARD MEETINGS OR SOMETHING, THAT THE COUNTY IS TAKING ALL THESE PEOPLE'S HOUSES.

NO, THE COUNTY IS PROBATING THESE HOUSES OR PIECES OF PROPERTY.

JUST BECAUSE YOU PASS AWAY DOES NOT MEAN THAT YOUR EXPENSES OR YOUR BILLS GO AWAY.

YOU HAVE TO PAY BACK MEDICARE ON CERTAIN PORTIONS OF THAT.

YOU HAVE TO PAY THE TAXES ON IT.

MAYBE YOU HAD IRS LIENS ON IT.

ALL OF THIS, WE DO A LOT OF NEGOTIATIONS AS MUCH AS WE CAN BECAUSE WE SAY, THIS IS ALL IT IS. YOU'RE MORE THAN WELCOME TO TAKE OVER THIS PROBATE YOURSELF.

NOBODY WANTS TO DO THAT.

YOU'VE SEEN IT. IT'S A LOT MORE WORK THAN ANYBODY REALIZES.

AND WE MAKE VERY LITTLE MONEY ON THIS.

ON $100,000 VALUE, WE MAKE $4,000.

THE COURTS, WE'VE ASKED FOR EXTRAORDINARY FEES ON SOME COURTS.

OUR JUDGE WILL NOT GIVE US A COURT.

EXTRAORDINARY FEES ON IT.

WE'VE ASKED MULTIPLE TIMES.

SHE SAYS, THAT'S PART OF YOUR JOB.

SO WE WE DO THIS TO CLEAN UP THE AREA AND TO PROBATE IT, TAKE CARE OF THE PERSON'S FINANCIAL AFFAIRS IS WHAT WE'RE STEPPING IN AND DOING IT.

WE WE FIND FAMILY. FAMILY WILL NOT TAKE CARE OF THIS OR THEY WON'T.

THEY'RE AFRAID. OR WE FIND FAMILY THAT ARE IN OTHER STATES.

[03:15:03]

THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE NOW.

IT'S ALL CLEANED UP. THIS IS CURRENTLY LISTED ON THE MULTIPLE LISTINGS.

THE NEXT ONE, RED MILL ROAD.

A LOVELY PLACE. YOU CAN SEE ON THE LEFT SIDE IS WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE WHEN WE GOT THERE.

YOU'RE SCOWLING THERE AND I WASN'T AWARE OF THIS ONE.

YES. WELL, ONE OF THE DEPUTIES THAT WE SAW LAST FRIDAY? HE'S. I MEAN, HE WAS GOING.

HOW MANY MORE OF THESE PLACES DO YOU HAVE? HE SAYS, IT'S INCREDIBLE.

I DON'T HAVE TO GO UP THERE ANYMORE BECAUSE THEY WERE CONSTANTLY GOING UP THERE.

IT LOOKS A LOT DIFFERENT.

THIS ONE WAS SOLD ONCE IT WAS CLEANED UP.

WE SOLD THIS FOR $140,000 TO HELP TAKE AND PAY FOR EVERYTHING ON THIS ESTATE.

OUR HOPES IS THAT WE CAN SELL THIS AND DISTRIBUTE IT.

ANYTHING TO THE FAMILIES.

THAT'S OUR GOAL, IS CLEAN IT UP AS REASONABLE AS WE CAN, AND THEN BE ABLE TO DISTRIBUTE ANY KIND OF MONEY LEFT OVER TO THE FAMILIES, TO THE ONES WHO SHOULD INHERIT THIS.

BUT YOU CAN SEE A LOT OF THEM JUST WALK AWAY.

IT'S JUST TOO MUCH. IT'S TOO MUCH FOR US, BUT WE DO IT.

WE GOT A CHILD SUPPORT.

IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS? I JUST YEAH, I JUST I'LL GO LAST.

BUT I JUST APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION.

ALWAYS REALLY THOROUGH AND SUPERVISOR. KELSTROM. YEAH. NO, I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SO YEAH, I WAS GETTING SOME, SOME TEXTS ON THE WAY.

SO RICH MILL ROAD, THAT'S THE FIRST I'VE SEEN OF THAT.

I HAVE NOT HEARD OF THAT ONE. SO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO.

I GREATLY APPRECIATE IT.

THERE'S SOME MORE UP THERE THAT WE HAVE TO PROBATE IT. IT'S JUST THERE'S ONLY, LIKE I SAID, THREE REGULAR STAFF AND A HALF TIME, AND IT TAKES US A MONTH JUST TO GET A COURT DATE.

YEAH, JUST TO START A PROBATE.

AND I'M SURE WE ALL GET THOSE CALLS ALL THE TIME.

BUT I GET THOSE CALLS QUITE REGULARLY OF, YOU KNOW, A PLACE ON GAS POINT ROAD OR A PLACE OUT IN HAPPY VALLEY.

AND IT'S KIND OF LIKE THERE'S 2000 PROBLEM PROPERTIES IN SHASTA COUNTY, AND THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH STAFF AND, YOU KNOW, THEY DO A FANTASTIC JOB.

BUT AGAIN, THERE'S 2000 PROBLEM PROPERTIES.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. YES.

AND WE HAVE GREAT BACKUP WITH COUNTY COUNSEL WITH THE SHERIFF.

I MEAN, AS SOON AS WE CALL THE SHERIFFS, THEY SEND, WE WERE SITTING THERE WAITING LAST FRIDAY, WAITING, GOING. WE HOPE THEY SEND TWO DEPUTIES.

WE WERE WAITING UP THERE AND NEXT THING YOU KNOW, HERE THEY COME FLYING IN AND WE GOT WE WENT RIGHT BEHIND THEM.

AND THEN WE BACKED OFF BECAUSE WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.

BUT I MEAN, THEY HANDLED IT SO WELL.

YOU SHOULD BE VERY PROUD OF YOUR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES.

COUNTY COUNCIL CODE ENFORCEMENT WILL WORK VERY CLOSE AND GOOD WITH ALL OF THOSE AGENCIES. SO YOU HAVE GREAT COUNTY EMPLOYEES AND DEPARTMENTS.

SUPERVISOR LONG. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.

AND YOU JUST KIND OF KEYED INTO WHAT I WAS GOING TO ASK ABOUT.

SO OUT IN THE KESWICK AREA WE HAVE A PROPERTY THAT WAS CLEANED UP THROUGH ABATEMENT AND PART OF THE TRASH HAD BEEN THEN DUMPED ONTO THE NEIGHBOR'S PROPERTY WHO WAS NOW DECEASED.

SO I'M NOT SURE IF YOU'RE, IF YOU'RE INVOLVED WITH THAT BECAUSE IT'S PROBABLY BEING PROBATED AND CODE ENFORCEMENT COULD NOT GO ON TO THE OTHER PROPERTY.

AND BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T LOCATE NEXT OF KIN OR SOMEBODY THAT WAS LEGALLY RESPONSIBLE, NOW THAT THIS WAS A PROPERTY WHERE THE OWNER HAD DIED AND SO THE TRASH WAS LEFT BLIGHTING THAT NEIGHBORHOOD. SO I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A WAY TO EXPEDITE THAT TO BECAUSE CODE ENFORCEMENT WAS THERE READY TO GO.

AND THEY SAID IT WOULD HAVE JUST BEEN CROSS OVER THE PROPERTY LINE.

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN AN EASY SWEEP TO CLEAN UP THE REST OF IT WHILE WE WERE THERE.

BUT WE CAN'T DO THAT BECAUSE THE PROPERTY LINE CROSSED.

THEY WOULD HAVE HAD TO CROSS THE PROPERTY LINE WITHOUT PERMISSION FROM THE DECEDENT. SO I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A WAY TO STREAMLINE THAT, BUT THERE IS ONE THAT WE'RE WORKING UP THERE.

LORETTA, WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME SPEAK? SHE IS MY PUBLIC ADMINISTRATOR.

SHE DOES WONDERS. IN AFTER HOURS IT'S SHE AND I, IF THERE'S A STOLEN VEHICLE AND THEY FIND IT, SHE CALLS ME AND WE HEAD OUT THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT.

EXCELLENT. BUT THIS PROPERTY IN PARTICULAR, THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE THAT ARE FINDING US AGAINST THIS, TAKING THIS ADMINISTRATION.

SO IT'S IN COURT RIGHT NOW.

IT'S BEEN TIED UP FOR MONTHS.

WE ARE DOING OUR VERY BEST TO GET THIS STARTED.

BUT UNTIL WE GET IT COMPLETED, WE CAN'T GO OUT THERE AND DO ANYTHING.

SO I DO UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE DOING THE BEST WE CAN WITH COUNTY COUNSEL TO GET THAT STARTED. EXCELLENT. THANK YOU.

THERE IS RAW SEWAGE ON THAT ONE.

ISN'T THAT ONE? NO, THAT'S A DIFFERENT ONE. THERE'S ANOTHER ONE OUT THERE THAT THERE'S RAW SEWAGE I THINK. I THINK IS THAT THE ONE OVER ON ROCK CREEK? NO, THAT'S ON WONDERLAND.

[03:20:01]

I HAVEN'T HEARD THE ROCK CREEK ONE YET.

YEAH. I'LL FILL YOU IN ON THAT LATER.

OKAY. YEAH, LET US KNOW.

OKAY. WELL, THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND YEAH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT.

AND LORI, I HAD A QUESTION FOR YOU.

IT SHOWS ON YOUR CHART THAT THE GENERAL FUND USE IS STEADILY INCREASING.

SO FROM THE 21, 22 UP TO 2526.

CAN YOU, CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT? WHY ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE TAX COLLECTOR SIDE? YEAH. A LOT OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH OUR REVENUE.

OUR REVENUE IS AND WE DO AN AVERAGE ON OUR REVENUE.

ONE OF THEM WE DO A TEN YEAR AVERAGE.

ANOTHER ONE WE DO A FIVE YEAR AVERAGE BECAUSE WE HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THAT.

IT'S HOW MANY PEOPLE PAY THEIR TAXES.

AND SO WE WHAT WE DO IS WE BUDGET LOW ON OUR REVENUE AND TRY TO HIT WHAT OUR EXPENSES ARE.

BY THE END OF THE YEAR, YOU GET MORE MONEY BACK FROM US BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO GO AHEAD AND AND, YOU KNOW, BUDGET 200,000 ON REVENUE, WE DO 90,000. SO THAT'S PROBABLY WHAT THAT'S ALL ABOUT.

OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

SUPERVISOR. LONG. SUPERVISOR. PLUMMER. THANK YOU, LORI, FOR THE PRESENTATION.

A FEW QUICK QUESTIONS.

ONE WAS AROUND INVESTMENT SERVICES.

IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE DOUBLED THE AMOUNT WE'RE SPENDING ON THAT IN THE TREASURER TAX COLLECTOR BUDGET UNIT.

I DIDN'T LAST YEAR. IT LOOKS LIKE THAT WAS FOR THE FIRST TIME.

I WAS CURIOUS IF WE CHANGED SOMETHING IN TERMS OF HOW WE WERE HANDLING THAT OR WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WE ARE DOING WHAT WE CALL A SWEEP ACCOUNT IN OUR BANK ACCOUNT.

SO ANYTHING, IF SOMEBODY FORGETS TO TELL US THAT THEY'RE MAKING A DEPOSIT FOR $1 MILLION OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THAT THEN THE BANK SWEEPS THE ACCOUNT AND ANYTHING OVER WHAT WE'VE ESTABLISHED TO COVER ANY CHECKS THAT ARE GOING TO CLEAR THAT DAY, BECAUSE WE DO A LOT OF CASH FLOW ON THIS, THEN THAT WE EARN INTEREST OFF OF THAT.

AND SO WE GET SOFT DOLLARS WHEN IT COMES TO BANKING.

THEN, BECAUSE WE'RE LEAVING X AMOUNT OF DOLLARS TO COVER AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE IN THE BANKING FEES. SO THAT AFFECTS OUR INVESTMENT SERVICES.

ALL THE EXPENSES ON BANKING ARE EXPENSES, BUT THEN THEY FLOW INTO REVENUE ON THE INVESTMENT SIDE BECAUSE THE LAW ALLOWS US TO CHARGE OR TAKE THAT OFF ALL THE MONEY THAT WE RECEIVE ON OUR INVESTMENTS.

OKAY. OKAY. AND THEN THIS MIGHT BE WHAT SUPERVISOR WHAT YOU WERE IN YOUR ANSWER TO HIM WERE ADDRESSING. BUT I WAS LOOKING AT THE TAX COLLECTION FEES, AND THOSE HAVE GONE DOWN OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS.

IS THAT WHAT YOU WERE REFERRING TO THERE IN TERMS OF, OKAY, SO YOU BUDGET KIND OF CONSERVATIVELY.

WE DO VERY CONSERVATIVELY. I'M A VERY CONSERVATIVE PERSON.

YEAH. AND YOU HAVE ASKED TO GO UP ON ONE OF OUR JOURNEYS TO THE PUBLIC ADMINISTRATOR, AND WE'RE WORKING ON THAT WITH CODE ENFORCEMENT. THERE'S LIKE FOUR PEOPLE SQUATTING ON THE PROPERTY UP THERE.

SO WE'RE WORKING ON THAT TOO.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S SAFE FOR EVERYBODY BEFORE WE GO UP THERE.

GREAT. THANK YOU. OKAY.

ONE LAST QUESTION. I SAW ONE LINE ITEM FOR A FISCAL AGENT FEE FOR SHASTA LAKE CITY FOR 50.

IT'S A VERY SMALL AMOUNT, BUT I WAS KIND OF CURIOUS, LIKE, WHAT SERVICE ARE WE PROVIDING TO THE CITY OF SHASTA LAKE IN THAT? AND BECAUSE I'VE BEEN HERE FOREVER, WHAT? THAT WAS WHEN THE CITY OF SHASTA LAKE BECAME A CITY INCORPORATED.

THE STATE WOULD NOT ALLOW THEM TO PUT MONEY IN THE ACCOUNT WITHOUT SOMEBODY OVERSEEING IT. AND SO THEY SAID, WOULD THE TREASURER FOR SHASTA COUNTY QUALIFY FOR THAT. AND THEY SAID YES.

SO I WAS A SIGNING AGENT FOR THAT.

AND WE'VE JUST DONE IT OVER THE YEARS AND WE RUN IT THROUGH THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE.

THE MONEY IS DEPOSITED IN IT AND THEN WE SWEEP IT OVER TO THEM EVERY YEAR.

SO WE JUST CHARGE THE $2,000.

THAT'S WHAT THEY DID. I DON'T KNOW, 20 OR 30 YEARS AGO WHENEVER IT BECAME A CITY.

OKAY. THANK YOU. CEO RICKERT.

THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN CRYE. AS A FORMER COUNTY TREASURER, I CAN SAY LORI AND HER STAFF DO AN EXCELLENT JOB. AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE SERVICES THEY PERFORM FOR SHASTA COUNTY.

THANK YOU. WELL SO WE'LL WAIT TILL THE END OF ALL THE PRESENTATIONS, BECAUSE I DO WANT TO TALK MORE ABOUT THE ADMINISTRATOR PORTION THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IS THAT ARPA MONEY RUNS OUT.

HOW GOOD? THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT IS, YOU KNOW, THE FEES THAT WE WERE AUDITED.

I WILL TELL YOU THAT WE FINISHED THAT UP LAST FRIDAY.

WE SENT OUT 1355 CHECKS OUT TO PEOPLE IN THE TOTAL TOTAL DOLLAR AMOUNT WAS $16,830.

I SENT THE LAST ONES, LIKE I SAID ON FRIDAY OVER TO THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE TO ISSUE CHECKS.

GREAT. THANK YOU FOR THAT. YEAH.

AND I KNOW, I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF WORK IN THAT, BUT I THINK THE CHECKS AND BALANCES FOR THE PUBLIC IS REALLY IMPORTANT,

[03:25:03]

YEAH. SO I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THOSE ARE FINISHED. I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.

THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? AND IT'S NOT MANY PEOPLE THAT WOULD ACTUALLY VOLUNTEER THAT. SO. NO I'M SERIOUS.

THANK YOU. I MEAN YOU'RE YOU DO PHENOMENAL WORK.

THANK YOU. AND I'M EXCITED FOR THE NEXT 50 YEARS OF YOU BEING HERE.

LET'S SEE. IT'LL BE 49 IN SEPTEMBER.

OH, THAT'S. THAT'S AWESOME.

YEAH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

OKAY. MOVING TO OUR NEXT, I BELIEVE IS CHILD SUPPORT.

I GUESS I COULD HAVE JUST LOOKED AT THE SCREEN SINCE THEY'RE TABBING FORWARD.

WELCOME. OKAY. IF YOU WANT TO RAISE THAT UP.

HEY, STEPHANIE. I DIDN'T EVEN. DOES THAT STILL WORK? IT DOES. SO IT STILL RAISES UP.

THERE WE GO. NICE. OKAY.

GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR CRYE.

MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. JENNA RICHARDSON, DIRECTOR OF CHILD SUPPORT SERVICES.

SO OUR MISSION IS TO EMPOWER FAMILIES BY DISCOVERING THEIR NEEDS, PROVIDING EDUCATION AND COLLABORATING WITH PARTNERS TO BRIDGE THE GAP TO AVAILABLE RESOURCES FOR THE WELL-BEING OF CHILDREN.

OUR PURPOSE IS THAT CHILD SUPPORT SERVICES ESTABLISHES PATERNITY.

WE OBTAIN CHILD SUPPORT ORDERS AND THE PROGRAM KEEPS RECORDS OF ALL CHILD SUPPORT PAYMENTS. WE SERVE AS A NEUTRAL ENTITY BETWEEN PARENTS.

WE HELP PARENTS AVOID COURT, AND WE ASSIST WITH NAVIGATING THE CHILD SUPPORT SYSTEM. AS FAR AS STAFFING THIS YEAR.

WE DID NOT BUDGET FOR STAFFING CHANGES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2526.

SUPPORT SERVICES HAS BEEN REALLY HELPFUL IN OUR RECRUITMENT, AND WE'RE JUST ONE AWAY FROM ONE POSITION, AWAY FROM BEING FULLY STAFFED.

AND SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

WE CONTINUE TO HAVE PROGRAM CHANGES BASED ON NEW LEGISLATION IN BOTH THE FEDERAL AND STATE LEVELS. THE FLEXIBILITY, EFFICIENCY, AND MODERNIZATION OF THE CHILD SUPPORT PROGRAM OR THE FIM FINAL RULE.

THIS IS A FEDERAL CHANGE, WHICH INCLUDES SETTING MORE ACCURATE CHILD SUPPORT ORDERS. AND SO IT'S BASED ON THE PARENTS ABILITY TO PAY.

ALONG WITH THAT. PART OF IT IS SENATE BILL 343, WHICH IS A CALIFORNIA BILL, AND THAT IS IMPLEMENTING ADDITIONAL CHANGES TO INVESTIGATE 14 FACTOR FACTORS ABOUT AN OBLIGOR THAT COULD IMPACT THEIR EARNING ABILITY. ADDITIONALLY, WHEN AN OBLIGORS EARNINGS ARE UNKNOWN, THERE MUST BE A COURT HEARING TO SET THE CHILD SUPPORT OBLIGATION IN PLACE OF A DEFAULT JUDGMENT. SO THOSE ARE THE CHANGES WE'RE WORKING ON RIGHT NOW.

SO AS FAR AS OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2425, WE IMPLEMENTED THE FIRST PHASE OF THE FIM FINAL RULE, WHICH REALLY CHANGED A LOT OF THE GUIDELINE CALCULATOR.

SO THIS CHANGE IN LAW WAS THE FIRST MAJOR UPDATE TO THE FUNDAMENTAL LAW GOVERNING CHILD SUPPORT SINCE THE CREATION OF THE CALCULATOR IN THE 90S.

DESPITE THIS MAJOR CHANGE, OUR DEPARTMENT EXPERIENCED MINIMAL INTERRUPTIONS IN OUR PROCESS.

SHOP STAFF ENSURED THAT THERE WERE NO DELAYS IN SERVICES TO OUR CUSTOMERS, AND WE ESTABLISHED EFFECTIVE COORDINATION WITH THE COURT STAFF AND OUR COMMISSIONER AND PROVIDE A USEFUL EDUCATION TO ALL OF OUR PARTICIPANTS.

SO OUT OF THE 58 COUNTY SHASTA COUNTY DCS RANKED NUMBER EIGHT IN CALIFORNIA IN OUR FEDERAL PERFORMANCE MEASURE FOR COLLECTION OF CURRENT SUPPORT DURING FISCAL YEAR 2425, WE COLLECTED $11,733,510 IN CURRENT SUPPORT.

DURING THAT YEAR, OUR DEPARTMENT ALSO ACHIEVED 100% COMPLIANCE IN OUR CASE OPENING PROCESS. FOR THE FISCAL YEAR, WE'RE 241 CASES WERE OPENED WITHIN THE 20 DAY COMPLIANCE TIME FRAME, AND ONE OF OUR GOALS FOR 2425 WAS TO IMPROVE IN ALL FIVE OF OUR PERFORMANCE MEASURES.

AND SO DATA FROM THE LAST 12 MONTHS SHOWS THAT WE HAVE MET THIS GOAL IN FOUR OUT OF THE FIVE AREAS. SO AS YOU CAN SEE IN THIS SLIDE, WE INCREASED IN PATERNITY AND PARENTAGE ESTABLISHMENT BY A LITTLE BIT.

AND WE ALSO INCREASED IN THE PERCENT OF CASES WITH SUPPORT ORDERS, WE INCREASED IN THE PERCENT OF CURRENT SUPPORT COLLECTIONS.

AND THEN WE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF A DECREASE IN THE PERCENT OF CASES WITH ARREARS COLLECTIONS. BUT AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, WE ARE ALMOST FULLY STAFFED.

SO THE CASELOAD SIZES ARE STARTING TO GO DOWN SO STAFF HAVE MORE TIME TO WORK THESE.

WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF STAFF.

I THINK WE HAVE EIGHT NEW STAFF MEMBERS THAT ARE STILL KIND OF LEARNING THE PROCESS.

BUT AS SOON AS THEY GET GOING AND UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS,

[03:30:03]

WE ALSO HAD A SLIGHT INCREASE OF AROUND 4%.

SO OUR GOALS FOR THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR OF 2526, WE'RE STILL LOOKING TO OBTAIN A NEW BUILDING SPACE.

WE'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR BUILDING SPACE SINCE JANUARY OF 23.

THE REASONS FOR THIS ARE TO REDUCE OUR LEASE COSTS AND OBTAIN A SPACE WHICH IS MORE EFFICIENT FOR THE NEEDS OF OUR DEPARTMENT.

OUR INCENTIVE FUNDING IS TIED TO OUR FEDERAL PERFORMANCE MEASURES.

SO IF WE DID BETTER IN COST EFFECTIVENESS, WE WERE SPENDING OUR OUR MONEY BETTER.

OUR OUR FUNDING INCENTIVE FUNDING WOULD INCREASE.

THE MINIMUM FEDERAL LEVEL FOR COST EFFECTIVENESS IS $2.

OUR OVERALL COST EFFECTIVENESS FOR THE LAST 12 MONTHS IS $2.62, $0.62. DURING THE PRIOR 12 MONTHS, IT WAS A LITTLE BIT LOWER AT $2.51.

AND SO WE'VE BEEN MAKING EFFORTS TO INCREASE AND MAKING SLIGHT IMPROVEMENTS IN THIS AREA.

THE SECOND REASON THAT WE NEED A NEW SPACE IS REGARDING NEW REQUIREMENTS OUTLINED IN IRS PUBLICATION 1075. SO THE CHANGES ARE RELATED TO THE GUIDELINES FOR SHARED SPACE AND NECESSARY BARRIERS FOR SECURED INFORMATION.

WHEN WE OBTAIN A NEW SPACE, THE STATE HAS CONFIRMED THAT THEY HAVE A SPECIFIC ALLOCATION RELATED TO FUNDING THESE TYPES OF CAPITAL PROJECTS.

AND THEN ALSO HHS AYE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THE SPACE THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY IN RIGHT NOW.

AND SO WHEN WE GET A NEW SPACE, IT WILL BE AN EASY PROCESS.

IN ADDITION TO THE GOAL FOR OBTAINING A NEW SPACE, WE PLAN TO IMPROVE IN ALL OUR CHILD SUPPORT FEDERAL PERFORMANCE MEASURES.

SO AS MENTIONED BEFORE, OUR INCENTIVE FUNDING IS TIED TO OUR SUCCESS IN THESE MEASURES, INCREASING IN THESE AREAS WILL ALLOW FAMILIES TO RECEIVE THE SUPPORT NEEDED AND TO ENSURE THE WELL-BEING OF CHILDREN.

SO LASTLY, CHILD SUPPORT DOES NOT UTILIZE ANY GENERAL FUND IN OUR BUDGET.

AND THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

SUPERVISOR. KELSTROM. YEAH, JUST A COUPLE COUPLE QUICK QUESTIONS IN YOUR BUDGET, THE OFFICE EXPENSE THAT THAT NUMBER REALLY JUMPS AROUND AT TWO YEARS AGO, IT WAS LIKE 19,000, THEN IT WAS 300,000 AND NOW IT'S 2 OR 175,000.

YEAH. SO BASICALLY WE'VE BEEN REALLY WANTING TO MOVE TO A DIFFERENT SPACE.

AND SO WHEN WE HAVE FUNDING TO DO THAT, WE'VE BEEN HOPEFUL.

WE'VE TRIED TO GET INTO CONTRACT WITH, I THINK THREE DIFFERENT SPACES.

VERY HOPEFUL THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO MOVE, WOULD BE ABLE TO USE SOME OF OUR FUNDING FOR THAT. AND WE WEREN'T ABLE TO.

SO IN THE UPCOMING BUDGET AMENDMENT ON THE I THINK 17TH WE PLAN ON MOVING MONEY BACK OUT.

OKAY. AND THEN THE PROFESSIONAL AND SPECIAL SERVICES, I MEAN, TWO YEARS AGO WAS LIKE 8400 BUCKS AND THEN IT JUMPED TO 210,000 AND NOW IT'S 108,000. THIRD ITEM FROM THE BOTTOM.

I AM NOT SURE ABOUT THAT ONE. OH, THAT'S ALSO THE MOVE.

SORRY. OKAY. IT'S ALSO THE MOVE.

THAT WAS IT. THAT WAS THE ONLY THING I HAD HIGHLIGHTED. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE GOING TO GET FIRST IN QUEUE, YOU HAVE TO THANK HER FOR THE PRESENTATION.

BUT I DIDN'T DO IT BECAUSE I FIGURED YOU WERE GOING TO DO IT.

I DIDN'T WANT TO TAKE IT. SO GREAT PRESENTATION.

THANK YOU. GO TO OUR NEXT SPEAKER, SUPERVISOR. PLUMMER. JUST ONE QUESTION ABOUT THE IN THE BUDGET NARRATIVE, NOT SO MUCH RELATED TO THE BUDGET, BUT IT SAID THAT THE CASELOAD IS APPROXIMATELY 8100.

IS THAT BECAUSE MY. I THINK THAT THE NUMBER OF K THROUGH 12 KIDS WE HAVE IN SHASTA COUNTY IS SOMEWHERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF LIKE 28,000 30,000.

SO IS IT. IF I'M THINKING ABOUT IT CORRECTLY, WOULD YOU SAY, OKAY, SO LET'S SAY IT'S 40,000 OR SO KIDS, 0 TO 18 IN SHASTA COUNTY.

MAYBE IT'S 30,000. IS THAT 8100 OF THAT NUMBER? IS THAT THE RIGHT WAY TO THINK ABOUT IT? LIKE THAT WOULD BE A PERCENTAGE OF THAT TOTAL 30 TO 40,000 KIDS. NO. NOT NECESSARILY.

SO WITH THE 8100 CASES, IT WOULD INCLUDE CASES WHERE THE FAMILY, THE CHILD HAD BEEN IN BOTH HOUSES, SO IT WOULD FLIP FLOP.

SO ONE PARENT HAD A MAIN AND FULL CUSTODY OF THE CHILD, AND ONE PARENT WAS ASKED TO PAY SUPPORT.

AND THEN IT'S A TOTALLY SEPARATE CASE WHEN THE OTHER PARENT OBTAINS CUSTODY OF THE CHILD

[03:35:02]

IT IS TWO SEPARATE CASES.

ALSO, WITH OUR FOSTER CARE CASES IN THE PAST, WE DON'T RECEIVE AS MANY REFERRALS FOR FOSTER CASES NOW, BUT WE STILL FOSTER CASES.

THERE WOULD BE A SEPARATE CASE FOR EACH CUSTODIAL PARTY.

AND SO IN FOSTER CARE CASES, YOU CAN HAVE A FATHER, A MOTHER, YOU COULD HAVE A GRANDPARENT OR AN AUNT.

AND ALL OF THOSE WOULD BE IN SEPARATE CASES WITHIN THE SYSTEM.

OKAY. THAT'S HELPFUL. OKAY.

STEPHANIE, CAN YOU GO TO THAT FIRST SLIDE? COULD YOU WHERE SHASTA COUNTY WAS RANKED EIGHTH IN THE STATE, DO YOU HAVE THAT LIST OF WHERE ALL THE COUNTIES RANKED? I DO. I CAN GET THAT FOR YOU.

COULD YOU GET THAT FOR ME, PLEASE? SURE. BECAUSE YOUR WHOLE BUDGET IS.

DID WE BEAT GLENN COUNTY? NO, I'M JUST KIDDING. NO, BUT I'M JUST. THAT'S GREAT.

YOU DO GREAT WORK, AND I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU DO, BUT IF YOU COULD GET THAT TO ME, I'D REALLY APPRECIATE IT. SURE. DEFINITELY. OKAY.

OKAY. THANK YOU. OTHER QUESTIONS? I THINK WE'RE GOOD? THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. MR. SCHREIBER PHONE CASE AND ALL.

YOU LIKE THAT? YEAH. THAT'S RIGHT. WELCOME.

THANKS. YOUR STAFF'S LAUGHING, MAN.

I KNOW. GOOD SENSE OF HUMOR, RIGHT? OKAY, HERE'S ANOTHER ONE.

SHOW MY AGE HERE. ALL RIGHT.

GOOD AFTERNOON. CHAIR. CRYE. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. TOM SCHREIBER, CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER.

THERE WE GO. THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT IS AN INTERNAL SERVICE FUND, ISF, PROVIDING CENTRALIZED IT SERVICES TO ALL COUNTY DEPARTMENTS AS WELL AS OUTSIDE AGENCIES. OUR MISSION IS TO PROVIDE TO PROVIDE COMPLETE RANGE OF HIGH QUALITY, COST EFFECTIVE SOLUTIONS, EITHER INTERNALLY OR THROUGH PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS THAT ENABLE OR ENHANCE COUNTY DEPARTMENTS ABILITY TO EFFECTIVELY SERVICE THE PUBLIC. WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PLANNING, MANAGEMENT, COORDINATION, COORDINATION, OVERSIGHT AND SECURITY OF CORE TECHNOLOGY, DATA AND COMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE.

WE PROVIDE DESKTOP EQUIPMENT AND SERVICES, NETWORK AND INFRASTRUCTURE THROUGHOUT COUNTY LOCATIONS, GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS, MAPPING AND TECHNICAL SYSTEMS PLANNING, DEVELOPMENT, INSTALLATION, AND ONGOING SUPPORT.

OKAY. STAFFING CHANGES FOR NEXT YEAR.

WHAT WE'RE REQUESTING IS A DELETION OF ONE IT TECHNICIAN POSITION AND ADD ONE SUPERVISOR POSITION TO HELP WITH THE SECURITY MANAGEMENT INITIATIVES THAT WE HAVE PLANNED FOR NEXT FISCAL YEAR. PROGRAM CHANGES.

IT DOESN'T TECHNICALLY HAVE PROGRAMS LIKE DEPARTMENTS DO, BUT BASICALLY WE PROVIDE SERVICES TO DEPARTMENTS PROVIDED BASED ON DEPARTMENTS WANTS AND NEEDS THAT HAVE BEEN APPROVED BY THE BOARD OR THE CIO'S OFFICE TO HELP THEM SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE THOSE ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR. THERE'S A BUNCH OF I'M NOT GOING TO READ ALL OF THESE.

I'M JUST GOING TO POINT OUT A FEW OF THEM. PROCESSED ABOUT 380 SECURITY PATCHES TO ALL 3000 MACHINES ACROSS THE ENVIRONMENT AND IDENTIFIED AND MITIGATED 42 SEPARATE CYBERSECURITY INCIDENTS IDENTIFIED AND MITIGATED 67 SPEAR PHISHING CAMPAIGNS TOWARDS THE COUNTY. PROCESSED OVER 2800 TROUBLE.

TICKET REQUESTS TO THE CALL CENTER DEPLOYED ABOUT 343 REPLACEMENT WORKSTATIONS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. UPDATED ABOUT 82 VENDOR SOFTWARE APPLICATIONS AND HOST TO MAINTAIN OVER 1000 DIFFERENT GEOGRAPHICAL DATA SETS FROM COUNTY DEPARTMENTS AND CITY, STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES.

GOALS FOR NEXT YEAR. A LOT OF THE CONTINUATION OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE DONE CONTINUE TO DEVELOP LOW CODE SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS TO HELP DEPARTMENTS MIGRATE OFF OF LEGACY CUSTOM APPLICATIONS, CONTINUE TO MIGRATE WORKSTATIONS TO WINDOWS 11, IMPLEMENT ADDITIONAL SECURITY MEASURES WITH THE ADDITION OF A SECURITY INFORMATION EVENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM TO HELP MONITOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE.

IMPLEMENT AN IDENTITY MANAGEMENT SOLUTION TO HELP MANAGE WHO HAS ACCESS TO WHAT SYSTEMS AND DATA. INSTALLING ADDITIONAL FIREWALLS AT COUNTY SITES FOR ADDITIONAL SECURITY HELP DEPARTMENTS MANAGE AND IMPLEMENT 49 REGISTERED PROJECTS WITH IT COMPONENTS.

GENERAL FUND CONTRIBUTION.

WE DON'T GET GENERAL FUND DIRECTLY.

WE GET ANY GENERAL FUND WOULD COME THROUGH A DEPARTMENT THROUGH OUR RATE STRUCTURE FOR SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE.

WE PROVIDE FUNCTIONS OFF OF THE BOARD APPROVED PROJECTS, BUDGET REQUESTS AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS FOR PROGRAMS AND SERVICES FOR THOSE BUDGETS.

GRANT FUNDING. THERE'S NOT TERRIBLY A LOT OF GRANT FUNDS FOR AN ISF.

[03:40:01]

CYBERSECURITY IS ONE EXCEPTION.

DEPENDING ON WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE STATE AND THE FEDS, WE PLAN ON APPLYING FOR THAT CYBERSECURITY GRANT LATER THIS YEAR.

AND THAT'S WHAT I HAVE.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

ANYBODY SUPERVISOR PLUMMER WHO DOESN'T WANT HIS EMAIL TO WORK TOMORROW? I'M JUST KIDDING. THANKS FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

THE ONE THING AND WE HEARD ABOUT THIS A LITTLE BIT EARLIER WAS THE WORKING CAPITAL RESERVE LIMITS. AND LOOKING AT THE CHART THERE, IT LOOKED LIKE IT SHOT UP IN 2021 AND THEN HAS GONE DOWN.

SO I GUESS TWO QUESTIONS. ONE IS WHAT WAS WHAT'S DRIVING THAT SIGNIFICANT VARIATION? AND THEN RIGHT NOW IT LOOKS LIKE THE WORKING CAPITAL RESERVE LIMITS ARE NEGATIVE. AND SO IN THE SENSE THAT YOU COULD HAVE A NEGATIVE WORKING CAPITAL AND THAT WOULD BE OKAY IN TERMS OF FLOATING THE DEPARTMENT.

SO HOW HOW WOULD THAT WORK IN TERMS OF HAVING BEING OKAY TO HAVE A NEGATIVE WORKING CAPITAL? YEAH. AS LONG AS IT'S SUBSTANTIALLY NOT BELOW A CERTAIN POINT.

RIGHT. WE CAN HAVE A NEGATIVE. TYPICALLY, OUR WORKING CAPITAL RESERVE IS BASED ON A LOT OF CALCULATIONS BASED ON CAPITAL ASSETS AND VARIOUS OTHER THINGS THAT GO INTO IT.

AND THE AUDITOR, WHEN THEY CALCULATE THAT IT'S LOOKING AT THOSE PARTICULAR FACTORS.

AND IF WE HAVE REVENUE HIGH REVENUE LOW IN THAT YEAR, THAT WILL CHANGE. I KNOW GRETCHEN, YOU WANT TO COME HELP EXPLAIN, PROBABLY DO A BETTER JOB EXPLAINING THAT THAN I WOULD. ON OUR WORKING CAPITAL RESERVE.

HELLO EVERYONE. MY NAME IS GRETCHEN ALLEN, DEPUTY DIRECTOR HERE OF SHASTA COUNTY.

IT. SO THE WORKING CAPITAL RESERVE IS BASICALLY KIND OF LIKE OUR, OUR RESERVE FUND FOR IF WE YOU KNOW, HAVE EXPENDITURES OVER OUR ALLOWED BUT THERE IS A LIMIT TO IT. SO THIS GRAPH ACTUALLY SHOWS THAT IF WE'RE OVER OUR LIMIT OR UNDER OUR LIMIT, BUT GENERALLY WE TRY TO BE FULLY FUNDED IN OUR WORKING CAPITAL RESERVE.

OKAY. AND THEN ONE OTHER QUESTION WAS A SPECIFIC LINE ITEM AROUND PROFESSIONAL AND SPECIAL SERVICES. IT LOOKS LIKE FROM TWO YEARS AGO TO LAST YEAR, IT WENT SIGNIFICANTLY UP, BUT WE DIDN'T OR WE'RE NOT ESTIMATED TO SPEND MUCH OF IT, BUT WE'VE RETAINED THAT AT A ELEVATED LEVEL, KIND OF WHERE WE WERE LAST YEAR.

IS THAT BECAUSE WE'RE EXPECTING TO REQUIRE SOME OUTSIDE SUPPORT THAT WE MAY OR MAY NOT USE OR. YEAH, WE'RE EXPECTING SOME OUTSIDE SUPPORT.

WE HAVE OUR MAIN BUSINESS APPLICATION.

OUR I T SERVICES MANAGEMENT APPLICATION IS END OF LIFE.

SO WE PLAN ON USING SOME PROFESSIONAL SERVICES OUTSIDE TO HELP US DO A MIGRATION TO A NEW PRODUCT AND DO A SETUP OF THAT NEW PRODUCT.

SO PART OF THAT IS IN THERE. SO WE RETAIN THAT GOING INTO THERE TO KEEP THAT.

THANK YOU. WHEN WAS THAT THAT MICROSOFT CRASH.

YOU REMEMBER WHAT MONTH THAT WAS. MAY I BELIEVE IN MAY.

THAT WAS MAY. HAS IT? THERE HASN'T BEEN ANYTHING.

I KNOW YOU DIDN'T YOU YOU PUT SOME THINGS IN BECAUSE WE HAD THE, THE THE BUDGET, STUFF LIKE RIGHT AFTER THAT.

RIGHT. I REMEMBER YOU WERE. SO WHAT, WHAT HAS TRANSPIRED SINCE THEN TO THIS BUDGET? HAS THERE BEEN ANY DIFFERENCES THAT OR ANY ALLOCATIONS OR ANY DIFFERENCES? AS FAR AS, I MEAN, BECAUSE THE NUMBERS ARE VERY SIMILAR, BUT, YOU KNOW, GETTING GRANULAR, LIKE, I DON'T KNOW. SO YEAH, SO WHAT WE HAD IN YOU KNOW, LAST MAY, WE HAD PLANNED TO IMPLEMENT AN.

I'LL GET YOU THE RIGHT TERM HERE. IT'S OKAY.

YOU CAN MAKE IT UP. I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO CALL YOU OUT ON IT. THE MDR, WHICH IS THE MANAGED DETECTION AND RESPONSE PRODUCT.

IT GOES ALONG WITH THE OTHER PRODUCT HERE WITH THE SECURITY INFORMATION EVENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. SO IT'S AN OUTSIDE SIM PRODUCT WATCHING OUR ENVIRONMENT.

WE HAD PLANNED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT LAST YEAR. AFTER THAT EVENT WE DID NOT.

OKAY. RIGHT. SO WE KIND OF KEPT THAT AND WE PUT THAT IN TO GO INTO THIS NEXT YEAR.

OKAY. RIGHT. SO THAT'LL DO THE ADDITIONAL SECURITY INITIATIVES THAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT. I MEAN, I KNOW THIS IS JUST ABOUT BUDGET, BUT I JUST REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR DEPARTMENT'S RESPONSE TEAM.

ALL THE TIME. YOU GUYS DO A GREAT JOB.

THANK YOU. I REMEMBER WHEN I SAW YOU AT THE COFFEE PLACE AT LIKE 730.

I WAS GETTING MY COFFEE. SO THIS IS MY FOURTH CUP ALREADY BECAUSE YOU'VE BEEN GOING SINCE 2 A.M. OR WHATEVER IT WAS. SO THAT WAS A LONG NIGHT.

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR WORK. ANY OTHER.

YEAH, I JUST WANT TO KEEP MY EMAIL ON.

NO. IT'S FINE. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. MOVING ON. MONICA FUGITT AND I BELIEVE THIS IS THE LAST FOR THE DAY UNTIL WE RECESS UNTIL TOMORROW MORNING.

SO YOU HAVE 2.5 HOURS.

[03:45:02]

NO, NO. THANK YOU. BOARD MEMBERS.

MONICA FUGITT, DIRECTOR OF SUPPORT SERVICES.

THE DEPARTMENT OF SUPPORT SERVICES CONSISTS OF FOUR MAIN DEPARTMENTS OR UNITS PERSONNEL PURCHASING, RISK MANAGEMENT AND MAIL SERVICES.

OUR LARGEST UNIT, CONSISTING OF 24 FULL TIME POSITIONS IS THE PERSONNEL UNIT.

THE FORMAL MISSION OF THE PERSONNEL UNIT IS TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN COMPETENT AND COMMITTED STAFF, AND TO PROVIDE PERSONNEL SUPPORT TO ALL DEPARTMENTS.

TO BREAK THAT DOWN A LITTLE FURTHER, THE PERSONNEL UNIT ALSO INCLUDES OUR TALENT ACQUISITION TEAM, WHO PERFORMS RECRUITMENT FUNCTIONS AND EMPLOYEE ONBOARDING.

THE OUTREACH TEAM WHO IDENTIFIES AND ENGAGES WITH POTENTIAL APPLICANTS AND ATTENDS VARIOUS EVENTS. OUR CLAIMS TEAM WHO ASSISTS WITH PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT, DISCIPLINE AND LEAVES, AND THE ANALYST TEAM WHO MANAGES THE PERSONNEL DATABASE, PROCESSES, CLASSIFICATION AND COMPENSATION STUDIES, COORDINATES, TRAININGS, AND MORE. THE PURCHASING DIVISION IS A SMALL BUT MIGHTY TEAM OF THREE FULL TIME POSITIONS, AND THEIR MISSION IS TO PROCURE BEST VALUE PRODUCTS AND SERVICES FOR THE COUNTY THROUGH FAIR AND OPEN COMPETITIVE PROCUREMENT PRACTICES IN COMPLIANCE WITH POLICIES, PROCEDURES, LAWS AND ETHICAL STANDARDS.

IN SO DOING, PURCHASING WORKS CLOSELY WITH VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS TO IDENTIFY THEIR NEEDS AND DRAFT FORMAL PROCUREMENTS SUCH AS BIDS, REQUEST FOR BIDS, REQUEST FOR QUOTES AND REQUESTS FOR PROPOSALS, AND PROVIDES ASSISTANCE AND GUIDANCE REGARDING INFORMAL PROCUREMENTS AND PURCHASING BEST PRACTICES.

THEY ALSO MANAGE OUR SURPLUS DISPOSAL PROCESSES, PROCESS PURCHASE ORDERS AND ADMINISTER COUNTY WIDE AGREEMENTS.

THE RISK MANAGEMENT DIVISION CONSISTS OF EIGHT FULL TIME POSITIONS, WHOSE MISSION IS TO SAFEGUARD THE ASSETS AND HUMAN RESOURCES OF THE COUNTY IN AN EQUITABLE, AFFORDABLE, COMPASSIONATE AND RESPONSIVE MANNER TO THE EMPLOYEES AND THE PUBLIC.

THE DIVISION CONSISTS OF TWO SUBUNITS THE LOSS PREVENTION AND LIABILITY UNIT AND WORKERS COMPENSATION. OUR LOSS PREVENTION AND LIABILITY UNIT IS DEDICATED TO MITIGATING RISKS IN MATTERS OF EMPLOYEE SAFETY AND THROUGH COUNTY CONTRACTS AND INSURANCE.

THIS TEAM MANAGES PARTICIPATION IN VARIOUS RISK COVERAGES INSURANCE PROGRAMS, WORKS WITH COUNTY DEPARTMENTS IN RESPONSE TO SAFETY INCIDENTS AND REPORTED HAZARDS, ASSIST WITH TRAINING AND INSTRUCTION, AND PROVIDES ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE IN MITIGATING LOSSES AND MAINTAINING COMPLIANCE WITH SAFETY REGULATIONS.

WORKERS COMPENSATION ADMINISTERS WORKER'S COMPENSATION CLAIMS FOR THE COUNTY.

OUR MAIL SERVICES UNIT IS DEDICATED TO TRANSPORTING AND DELIVERING INTER-DEPARTMENTAL MAIL, OUTGOING METERED MAIL, AND FACILITATING THE SHIPMENT OF ITEMS THROUGH VARIOUS CARRIERS.

STAFFING CHANGES IN THE UPCOMING BUDGET YEAR INCLUDE THE DELETION OF ONE VACANT MAIL CLERK SERVICES POSITION IN THE MAIL SERVICES BUDGET.

SINCE TAKING OVER THE MAIL ROOM IN THE 2020 324 BUDGET YEAR, WE'VE BEEN CONTINUING TO EVALUATE THE NEEDS OF THAT UNIT AND WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE SUPERVISOR IN THAT UNIT, HAVE SOUGHT TO STREAMLINE THE MAIL ROUTES AND HAVE, IN THE PRIOR YEAR, DELETED ONE POSITION AND THIS YEAR PROPOSING TO DELETE ONE ADDITIONAL POSITION. I HAVE SEVERAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS I'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT FROM THE 2024 2025 YEAR STARTING WITH OUR PURCHASING TEAM WHO WORKED WITH VARIOUS COUNTY DEPARTMENTS AND IDENTIFIED A VENDOR TO REPLACE THE SHREDDING SERVICES PREVIOUSLY PROVIDED BY FACILITIES TO COUNTY DEPARTMENTS.

VERY MUCH A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT, BUT RESULTED IN AN APPROXIMATE SAVINGS OF $196,000 THROUGH A COMPETITIVE PROCUREMENT.

ADDITIONALLY, PURCHASING SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED AUCTIONS AND DIRECT SALES OF COUNTY EQUIPMENT, WHICH WAS NO LONGER NEEDED AND RETURNED $98,018 TO TO THE COUNTY AND REPURPOSED 508 ITEMS AS OF MARCH 2025.

IN OUR PERSONNEL UNIT, ALL FOUR MEMBERS FOUR EXCUSE ME, FOUR OF FIVE MEMBERS OF OUR PERSONNEL CLAIMS TEAM COMPLETED RIGOROUS TRAINING ON WORKPLACE INVESTIGATIONS THROUGH THE WIDELY REPUTABLE ASSOCIATION OF WORKPLACE INVESTIGATORS AND COMPLETED AND PASSED TESTING REQUIRED TO BECOME CERTIFICATE HOLDERS, MYSELF INCLUDED. THIS IS A STEP TOWARDS ENSURING STAFF HAVE THE SKILLS NECESSARY TO CONDUCT AND AID IN ENSURING FAIR AND THOROUGH INVESTIGATIONS.

I DISCUSSED THIS AT LENGTH YESTERDAY, BUT OUR OUTREACH TEAM HAS BEEN WORKING HARD TO IMPLEMENT AND LEVERAGE TOOLS AVAILABLE THROUGH THE NEW NEO GOV ATTRACT MODULE TO BETTER TARGET AND RECRUIT QUALIFIED JOB APPLICANTS AND PROVIDE STRONGER RECRUITMENT ANALYTICS IN OUR TALENT ACQUISITION TEAM.

OVER THE PAST YEAR, WE'VE TRANSITIONED AND BUILT RESOURCES AND PROCESSES TO SUPPORT THE TRANSITION TO IN-HOUSE SCREENING FOR RECRUITMENT.

THIS HAS DEFINITELY BEEN A PROCESS THAT'S REQUIRED CONTINUAL IMPROVEMENT, AND WE HAVE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH STAFF AND WITH DEPARTMENTS TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE WELL TRAINED AND COMMUNICATING WITH THEIR DEPARTMENTS TO MAKE SURE WE ARE BRINGING IN

[03:50:05]

IN RISK MANAGEMENT, THE GENERAL LIABILITY UNIT WENT THROUGH A PRISM CLAIMS AUDIT CONDUCTED IN FEBRUARY 2025, WHICH CONCLUDED WITH ZERO EXCEPTIONS.

A RARE OUTCOME WHICH FOUND THAT THEY DEMONSTRATED TECHNICAL EXPERTISE AND SOPHISTICATION NECESSARY TO PROCESS AND HANDLE LIABILITY EXPOSURES FACING THE COUNTY.

OUR WORKERS COMPENSATION TEAM SIMILARLY RECEIVED AND EXCEEDS EXPECTATION.

OUTCOME WITH AN ASSIGNED SCORE OF 99.56% ON THE EXCESS CLAIMS AUDIT.

AND LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, OUR MAIL SERVICES UNIT FOCUSED THEIR EFFORTS ON OPTIMIZING COST AND OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCIES THROUGH THE REDESIGN OF ROUTES AND PICKUP SCHEDULES, WHICH HAS ALLOWED FOR AN ADDITIONAL STAFFING REDUCTION FOR THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR.

OUR GOALS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 AND 26 INCLUDE OUR PERSONNEL DIVISION, ENGAGING IN LABOR NEGOTIATIONS WITH SEVERAL BARGAINING UNITS THROUGH THE END OF THIS CALENDAR YEAR. AS ALL CONTRACTS EXPIRE BY DECEMBER 31ST, 2025, WE WILL CONTINUE OUTREACH EFFORTS AND RECRUITMENT EFFORTS WITH THE GOAL OF CONTINUING TO MAKE EFFORTS TO DECREASE VACANCY RATES AND INCREASE APPLICANT COUNTS.

WITH THE SPECIALIZED TRAINING RECEIVED BY OUR CLAIMS STAFF, WE LOOK TO TRANSITION MORE WORKPLACE INVESTIGATIONS IN-HOUSE, WHICH SHOULD RESULT IN COST SAVINGS TO DEPARTMENTS. ADDITIONALLY, WE'RE WORKING TO ENHANCE COUNTY WIDE TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES BASED UPON FEEDBACK RECEIVED BY DEPARTMENTS REGARDING THEIR NEEDS.

OUR PURCHASING TEAM WILL BE WORKING WITH THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE, COUNTY COUNCIL AND OTHER COUNTY DEPARTMENTS IN THE COMING YEAR TO ASSIST WITH IMPLEMENTATION OF A COUNTY WIDE CONTRACTS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, WHICH WILL CREATE EFFICIENCIES IN THE CONTRACT PROCESS THROUGH AN AUTOMATED WORKFLOW AND STREAMLINE TRACKING AND COLLABORATION. WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH DEPARTMENTS ALSO TO ENSURE WE ARE LEVERAGING COUNTY WIDE AGREEMENTS, WHERE POSSIBLE, FOR ECONOMIES OF SCALE AND EFFICIENCIES. WITH STAFF TIME IN RISK MANAGEMENT.

EARLIER IN THE CALENDAR YEAR, THE TEAM WORKED TO DEVELOP ANALYTICS TO PROVIDE DEPARTMENTS REGARDING THEIR LOSS HISTORY AND ASSIST IN THEIR UNDERSTANDING AND AWARENESS OF THOSE TRENDS, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON THAT IN THE YEAR AHEAD AND REFINE THE REPORTING TO IDENTIFY THOSE TRENDS AND HELP THEM TARGET AREAS WHERE THEY CAN MITIGATE THEIR LOSSES IN MAIL SERVICES.

WE HAVE CONTINUOUSLY REFINED OUR BILLING METHODOLOGIES, AND OUR GOAL OVER THE YEAR AHEAD IS TO JUST MAKE PROGRESS ON REPAYMENT OF THE GENERAL FUND, LOAN AND ESTABLISHMENT OF A 60 DAY WORKING CAPITAL RESERVE.

SIMILAR TO IT, SUPPORT SERVICES RECEIVES NO GENERAL FUND CONTRIBUTIONS.

HOWEVER, OUR BUDGET DOES HAVE AN INDIRECT IMPACT ON THE GENERAL FUND AS WE PROVIDE SERVICES TO GENERAL FUND DEPARTMENTS WHO PAY FOR THE SERVICES THROUGH THE ISF OR THROUGH RATES. SO TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE CHANGES FROM PRIOR YEAR AND THE REQUESTED BUDGET PURCHASING SPJUTE INCREASED BY $178,085, PRIMARILY DUE TO A DECREASE IN THE COST APPLIED COST PLAN RECOVERY.

LOOKING AT EXPENDITURES, THOUGH, IF YOU TAKE THAT OUT OF THE EQUATION AND JUST LOOK AT THE REMAINING EXPENDITURES OUTSIDE OF THE COST PLAN RECOVERY THE INCREASE IS $59,187, AND THAT'S PRIMARILY DRIVEN BY INCREASES TO SALARIES AND BENEFITS AND SERVICES AND SUPPLIES, PRIMARILY LOOKING AT THOSE INTERNAL SERVICE DEPARTMENT CHARGES AS WELL.

PERSONNEL INCREASE 700,000 AND $700 ALSO DUE TO A DECREASE IN COST PLAN RECOVERY.

IF YOU TAKE THAT AGAIN OUT OF THE EQUATION AND JUST LOOK AT THE REMAINING EXPENDITURES, THE INCREASE IS 155,244, AGAIN PRIMARILY DUE TO INCREASES IN SALARIES AND BENEFITS AS WELL AS INTERNAL SERVICE CHARGES.

ONE ADDITIONAL FACTOR IS THE NEW ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION FOR NEOGOV ATTRACT MAIL SERVICES EXPENDITURES INCREASED BY 52,996.

THIS MAY CATCH SOME ATTENTION BECAUSE WE DID DECREASE BY ONE FULL TIME POSITION, BUT THERE WAS A ROLL FORWARD FROM 23, 24 AND 2425 RELATED TO COST PLAN CHARGES THAT WERE NOT PREVIOUSLY INCURRED.

SO WE SHOULD SEE THAT YOU KNOW, NOT BE AS MUCH OF AN IMPACT IN THE FUTURE.

AND ONE ADDITIONAL NOTABLE ITEM IS THE INCREASE IN POSTAGE COSTS.

THEIR RISK MANAGEMENT DECREASED BY $450,819.

THIS IS LARGELY DUE TO AN INDEMNITY SETTLEMENT PAYMENT THAT WAS MADE IN THE PRIOR YEAR THAT WASN'T BUDGETED IN THE UPCOMING YEAR.

IF YOU TAKE THAT OUT OF THE EQUATION, THOUGH, THE EXPENDITURES INCREASED BY APPROXIMATELY $2 MILLION, PRIMARILY DUE TO INSURANCE PREMIUMS, SALARY, BENEFITS, AND SERVICES AND SUPPLIES.

[03:55:02]

SO WHAT YOU MAY NOTE IS THAT THE CHARGES TO SERVICES FOR DEPARTMENTS HAS GONE DOWN FOR WORKER'S COMPENSATION AND GENERAL LIABILITY.

LOOKING AT OUR, WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WORKING CAPITAL RESERVE, THE WORKING CAPITAL RESERVE. WHEN WE LOOKED AT IT IN THE FALL, WE WERE A LITTLE BIT UNDER WHERE WE SHOULD BE FOR THE WORKING CAPITAL RESERVE. BUT IT'S A CONSTANT EVALUATION, AND WE'RE PROJECTING WHERE WE'RE GOING TO BE AT THE END OF THIS CURRENT YEAR BASED UPON OUR CURRENT RATES. AND WE'RE EXPECTING TO BE OVERFUNDED NOW IN THAT WORKING CAPITAL RESERVE. SO WE'RE ACCOUNTING FOR THAT AND REDUCING THE RATES.

IT'S A VERY DIFFICULT THING FOR RISK MANAGEMENT TO REALLY TARGET AND ANTICIPATE WHAT THOSE LOSSES ARE GOING TO BE AND WHAT THOSE PREMIUMS ARE GOING TO BE. SO THIS IS ONE WHERE YOU'LL OFTEN SEE SOME SWINGS IN THE RATES TO THE DEPARTMENTS FOR WORKER'S COMP AND GENERAL LIABILITY.

AND THEN LAST, THE AS FAR AS EFFORTS TO REDUCE GENERAL FUND IMPACT IN 2425, THAT INCLUDES THE DELETION OF THE ONE FULL TIME MAIL SERVICES POSITION AND THE EFFORTS TO TRANSITION MORE INVESTIGATIONS IN-HOUSE.

I'M HAPPY TO DISCUSS ANY OTHER SPECIFIC LINE ITEMS THAT YOU MAY HAVE INTEREST IN LOOKING AT AT THIS TIME. AND THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.

SUPERVISOR. KELSTROM. YES.

THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. I'LL MAKE SURE I GET THAT OUT THERE.

SO YEAH, THE ONLY QUESTION I HAD IS I NOTICED IN MOST OF THE BUDGETS, THE WORKERS COMP WENT DOWN ACROSS THE BOARD AND ALMOST EVERYBODY'S AND THE SUPPORT SERVICES, THE WORKER'S COMP EXPERIENCE WENT FROM $7,000 LAST YEAR TO $77,000 THIS YEAR.

IS THERE A REASON FOR THAT ONE? WE DID HAVE A WORKER'S COMP CLAIM WITHIN OUR DEPARTMENT THAT RESULTS IN.

WE TYPICALLY DON'T HAVE MANY CLAIMS. WE DON'T HAVE VERY MANY DEPARTMENTS, BUT OR EXCUSE ME, EMPLOYEES. BUT AS SOON AS WE HAVE ONE CLAIM WITH A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF COST ASSOCIATED WITH THAT, THAT'S GOING TO AFFECT OUR EXPERIENCE. OKAY. SO THAT'S A REFLECTION OF THAT. I KNEW IT WAS A SIMPLE ANSWER, SO I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YOU BET. SUPERVISOR. PLUMMER.

YES. THANK YOU. MONICA.

ONE QUESTION IN PURCHASING WITH THE CHART THAT'S THERE UNDER THE INFOGRAPHIC SECTION WHERE IT'S SHOWING THE CONTRACTS AND AMENDMENTS, AND THAT GOES WAY UP IN THIS PAST FISCAL YEAR.

I WAS CURIOUS THE REASONING BEHIND THAT.

SO WE'VE DEFINITELY SHIFTED TOWARDS HANDLING MORE COUNTY WIDE CONTRACTS.

AND WE ALSO HAVE OUR OWN INTERNAL DEPARTMENTAL CONTRACTS THAT WE WORK TO TO EXECUTE. SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY A NUMERICAL RECORDING AS FAR AS THE NUMBER OF CONTRACTS AND, AND AMENDMENTS THAT WE'VE EXECUTED, BUT IT'S NOT NECESSARILY A GREAT REFLECTION THAT, HEY, WE'RE ENGAGING THAT MANY MORE SERVICES.

IT'S LIKELY, YOU KNOW, WITHOUT SEEING, YOU KNOW, KIND OF THE BREAKDOWN OF HAVING THAT BREAKDOWN IN FRONT OF ME. WHAT I WOULD ASSUME IS THAT IT'S LARGELY IN PART DUE TO THOSE COUNTY WIDE AGREEMENTS AND TRYING TO KIND OF BRING MORE OF THOSE IN VERSUS DEPARTMENTS THAN THEN HAVING TO DO THREE DIFFERENT CONTRACTS. WE DO ONE FOR ALL OF THOSE DEPARTMENTS.

OKAY. THANK YOU. AND THEN WITH SUPPORT SUPPORT SERVICES, IT LOOKS LIKE THE SO THE GENERAL FUND BASICALLY NET COUNTY COSTS, I SHOULD SAY IS GOING UP BY OVER $6 MILLION.

AND IT LOOKS LIKE IF I'M UNDERSTANDING IT CORRECTLY, THAT THERE'S AND LET ME THERE THAT FROM EXPENSES STANDPOINT, THAT'S NOT CHANGING DRAMATICALLY.

IT'S ACTUALLY ON THE REVENUE SIDE.

AND THERE WAS, IT'S THE, IT CHARGES FOR SERVICES, REGULAR EMPLOYEES WAS LIKE MUCH HIGHER AROUND OVER 17 MILLION LAST YEAR.

AND THEN IT'S DROPPING DOWN TO 13.

WHAT, WHAT IS THAT? AND THEN CAN YOU EXPLAIN KIND OF GOING FORWARD, SHOULD WE EXPECT TO BE WHERE WE ARE TODAY OR MORE LIKE THIS CURRENT FISCAL YEAR IN TERMS OF THAT, THAT PARTICULAR LINE ITEM RELATES TO HOW WE'RE CHARGING THE RISK RATES OUT TO THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS. SO KIND OF LIKE I MENTIONED BEFORE WITH THE WORKING CAPITAL RESERVE, BECAUSE WE EXPECT THAT AT THE END OF THIS CURRENT FISCAL YEAR 2425, THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AN EXCESS OF WORKING CAPITAL RESERVE.

WE TAKE THAT INTO ACCOUNT IN THE RATES THAT WE SET FOR 2526 THAT DEPARTMENTS, YOU KNOW, TOOK INTO ACCOUNT IN THEIR BUDGETS.

AND WE SHOULD SEE THAT NUMBER COME DOWN AS A RESULT.

YOU KNOW, THE HOPE IS WE CAN GET IT A LITTLE BIT CLOSER TO EVEN SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE THESE MASSIVE SWINGS. BUT I'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW IN RISK, AND IT JUST SEEMS LIKE IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF THE CYCLE.

YOU GO UP, THEN YOU GO DOWN AND THEN YOU GO BACK UP AGAIN.

SO TO THE EXTENT WE CAN PROJECT WHAT THOSE LOSSES ARE AND WHAT THOSE PREMIUMS ARE GOING TO BE, WE DO THAT AND WE TRY TO TAKE THAT INTO ACCOUNT.

[04:00:03]

AND SO THAT SUGGESTS THAT BASICALLY OVER TIME, WE'LL LIKE IN ANOTHER YEAR OR TWO, THERE'S A POTENTIAL THAT WE'LL CHARGE MORE OUT TO THE DEPARTMENTS, RECOVER MORE OF THOSE COSTS VERSUS PULLING ON THE GENERAL FUND. AND THEN IT WILL KIND OF ALTERNATE BACK TO YOU, AT LEAST IN THE WAY IT'S BUDGETED, PULLING FROM THE GENERAL FUND.

I'M NOT SURE IF I'M UNDERSTANDING WHAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO ABOUT THE GENERAL FUND. RISK MANAGEMENT IS ITS OWN SEPARATE FUND.

SO YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO MAINTAIN A CERTAIN AMOUNT IN THE RISK MANAGEMENT FUND AND WE WOULD INCREASE AND DECREASE THOSE CHARGES TO SERVICES TO ENSURE WE'RE MAINTAINING THAT WORKING CAPITAL RESERVE. SO YEAH, YOU MAY SEE IT GO UP A LITTLE BIT AND THEN COME BACK DOWN AND GO UP.

YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY WE DON'T SEE HUGE SWINGS.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THE REALITY IS IF IT'S IF WE'RE WE ARE GOING TO HAVE AN EXCESS OF WORKING CAPITAL RESERVE, THEN THAT MEANS WE'RE OVERCHARGING THE DEPARTMENTS, RIGHT? SO WE NEED TO BRING THAT DOWN.

AND WHAT WE'VE DONE TO TRY AND MITIGATE THAT IS ALSO LOOK AT IT WITH MID-YEAR.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE WE ASSESSED WITH THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE, WITH THE CEO'S OFFICE IN MID-YEAR, DO WE NEED TO DO A RATE ADJUSTMENT NOW OR DO WE WAIT UNTIL BUDGET? AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE MAY START TO DO THAT MORE OFTEN RATHER THAN JUST WAITING FOR THE BUDGET CYCLE TO OCCUR THAT WAY, THAT, YOU KNOW, IF WE END UP IN A SITUATION WHERE DEPARTMENTS ARE BEING OVERCHARGED, WE CAN ACCOUNT FOR THAT EARLY.

OKAY. THANK YOU. YOU BET.

THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR. PLUMMER. SUPERVISOR HARMON. I WAS JUST LOOKING AT INSURANCE PREMIUMS. $2 MILLION A YEAR, APPROXIMATELY APPROXIMATELY IN THE LAST TWO YEARS. WELL, IN THE AND THEN IN THE FUTURE BUT THAT'S JUST THAT'S REALLY NOT REFLECTIVE.

THAT'S REFLECTIVE OF THE INDUSTRY.

IS THAT NOT CORRECT? WELL, I THINK IT'S A LOT MORE THAN $2 MILLION.

SO, YOU KNOW, I HAVE SEEN THAT IF YOU LOOK AT JUST THE TREND OF THE RISK MANAGEMENT BUDGET OVERALL, IT WENT FROM, YOU KNOW, 9,000,000 IN 21 TO IT'S ALMOST 20 MILLION TODAY. RIGHT. SO THERE'S OBVIOUSLY BEEN A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THOSE PREMIUMS. AND YOU KNOW, WE DO WHAT WE CAN TO, YOU KNOW, WORK WITH THE DEPARTMENTS AND WORK WITH OUR EXCESS INSURER TO KEEP THOSE COSTS DOWN. AND THEN OBVIOUSLY COUNTY COUNCIL IS A BIG PART OF THAT AS WELL THROUGH THE LITIGATION MANAGEMENT.

BUT THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH WE CAN DO.

YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU SEE WE'RE ALSO IN A POOL WITHIN THE JPA WITH PRISM.

AND SO IF THE LOSS EXPERIENCE OF THE POOL AS A WHOLE, WHICH INCLUDES OTHER COUNTIES GOES UP, THEN OUR PREMIUMS MAY GO UP EVEN IF OUR LOSSES DID NOT. SO. RIGHT.

SO MY POINT IS I MISS I WAS ONLY ON I WAS ON THE I WASN'T ON THE BOTTOM LINE.

I WAS UP IN THE MIDDLE THERE, BUT I WAS NOTICING THAT THE LINE I WAS ON WAS GOING UP $2 MILLION A YEAR.

BUT I'VE NOTICED ACROSS THE BOARD, I DON'T CARE WHO YOU TALK TO, THE INSURANCE PREMIUMS ARE JUST SKYROCKETING.

YEAH. YOU KNOW, ABSOLUTELY BUY 100%, 200% YEAR OVER YEAR.

I MEAN, I'M NOT SEEING, YOU KNOW, 100% INCREASES NECESSARILY IN SOME PARTICULAR LINES OF COVERAGE.

WE MAY BE SEEING THAT LIKE WE'VE SEEN CYBER INSURANCE SKYROCKET IN THE LAST FEW YEARS, BUT IN SOME OF THE OTHERS THAT HAVE BEEN LONG STANDING, LARGER COVERAGE LIKE GENERAL LIABILITY AND WORKERS COMPENSATION, WE'RE DEFINITELY SEEING INCREASES, BUT MAYBE NOT QUITE TO THAT LEVEL.

THANK YOU. YOU BET. THANK YOU.

SUPERVISOR HARMON SUPERVISOR LONG. YES.

THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION, MONICA.

GOING TO PERSONNEL. I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND ONE PART OF THIS SUPPOSED TO SPEAK DIRECTLY INTO THIS. SO ON PAGE 79 IT TALKS ABOUT INTRA FUND TRANSFERS, COST PLAN CHARGES, AND IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE NEGATIVE AMOUNTS.

AND YOU HAD REQUESTED A LARGER AMOUNT AND WERE APPROVED FOR A LOWER.

WHAT IS THAT ABOUT? SO THIS HAD TO DO WITH A.

IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, AND PERHAPS NOLDE IS HERE, SHE COULD PROBABLY ASSIST ME WITH THIS. BUT THERE WAS A COST PLAN CHARGE CALCULATION THAT WAS MADE, AND THEN IT HAD TO BE ADJUSTED AFTER THE FACT.

SO IT WAS IT WAS JUST A CORRECTION.

AND AND THAT IS A TRUE.

THE RECOMMENDED IS A TRUE REFLECTION OF WHAT THOSE CHARGES SHOULD HAVE BEEN.

OH. SO IT WAS A CORRECTION NOT A CHANGE NECESSARILY.

IT WAS JUST SOMETHING THAT WAS YEAH.

WE WERE NOTIFIED AND INFORMED.

IS THAT ACCURATE? YES.

CORRECT. OKAY. GOT IT.

THANK YOU. YEAH. SUPERVISOR.

HARMON. ALL RIGHT. GREAT JOB.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. YES.

THANK YOU, MISS BLANKENSHIP.

THAT, I BELIEVE, CONCLUDES OUR PRESCHEDULED ONES FOR TODAY.

CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT, CHAIR. OKAY.

MISS BURTON, ARE YOU COMING UP FOR.

[04:05:02]

YOU HAD MADE MENTION OF THAT.

THE SUPERVISORS WERE EACH GOING TO MENTION DEPARTMENTS THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE FURTHER QUESTIONS FOR AT THE END OF THE PRESENTATIONS AND PRIOR TO THE BUDGET HEARINGS. NOT NOT SO MUCH QUESTIONS, BUT WHAT WE DID LAST YEAR, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, WAS AT LEAST I THOUGHT WE DID AN OPEN SESSION, BUT WE GAVE SOME OF THE DEPARTMENT HEADS A HEADS UP THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT SOME OF THEIR.

SO IF THEY WANTED TO BE HERE, THEY COULD, BUT WE WOULD BE DISCUSSING THAT AFTER THE PUBLIC HEARING. SO YES, I, I DON'T REMEMBER EXACTLY, ALTHOUGH YOU'RE NODDING. YES. IS THAT TRUE? OH YOU'RE TALKING.

OKAY. I'M SORRY. SO I DON'T REMEMBER IF WE DID THAT, IF I DID THAT IN PUBLIC OR IF IT WAS JUST TOLD A FEW OF THEM IF THEY WANTED TO COME BACK JUST IN CASE. BUT YEAH, I MEAN, I THINK IN THE, IN THE INTEREST, IF ANY OF THE BOARD MEMBERS KNOW SPECIFIC BUDGETS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE QUESTIONS OR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR, IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO KNOW THAT MAYBE AT THE END OF EACH LIKE DAY, RIGHT.

SO TODAY AND THEN TOMORROW.

SO THE DEPARTMENT HEADS KNOW SHOULD THEY SHOULD SHOW UP AT LIKE RIGHT BEFORE PUBLIC HEARINGS. WHAT I'LL PROBABLY WELL, WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IS I'M GOING TO GO BACK AND I MADE SOME NOTES. THERE'S SOME THINGS I'M GOING TO CHECK, BECAUSE I'M NOT GOING TO ARBITRARILY TELL A DEPARTMENT THAT I'M GOING TO MAYBE CHANGE SOMETHING UNLESS I GO BACK, ASK THEM SOME QUESTIONS, BECAUSE I CAN EMAIL THEM BETWEEN NOW AND TOMORROW. SO I DON'T I DON'T WANT STAFF COMING BACK IN HERE UNLESS THEY NEED TO BE.

OKAY. THAT'S WHAT I THAT'S WHAT I LOVE. I MEAN, I LOOK, THERE'S A FEW STAFF HERE AND IN THE PAST, YOU KNOW, THREE YEARS AGO IT WAS THERE WAS 40 STAFF OR WHATEVER.

AND IT'S A WASTE OF COUNTY RESOURCES.

SO I LOVE THE FACT THAT THE STAFF THAT'S HERE IS JUST I LIKE THIS, IT'S STREAMLINED, IT'S GOOD GOVERNMENT. I WOULD COMPLETELY AGREE WITH THAT.

AND IT IS VERY NICE FOR THE DEPARTMENTS TO KNOW WHAT PARTS OF THE PUBLIC, YOU KNOW, WHAT PARTS OF THESE BUDGET HEARINGS THEY NEED TO BE HERE FOR. SO IF SUPERVISORS ARE GOING TO REACH OUT TO DEPARTMENTS SPECIFICALLY AND LET THEM KNOW IF THEY SHOULD BE HERE AT THE END, THAT'S FINE AS WELL.

I MEAN, BUT YOU GUYS, WE'RE AN OPEN SESSION, SO WE CAN'T TALK ABOUT THIS AFTER.

SO DO YOU GUYS HAVE ANY THOUGHTS OR SUPERVISOR PLUMMER THERE? THERE ARE TWO THINGS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO.

ONE IN PARTICULAR THAT I'D LIKE TO COME BACK ON THURSDAY FOR BOARD DISCUSSION.

SO. AND I AND MY UNDERSTANDING WAS WE CAN MENTION THOSE NOW.

AND YOU COULD KIND OF NOTE THOSE.

AND THEN SO ONE OF THOSE WAS WITHIN THE ELECTIONS OFFICE AND I KNOW THAT THERE WAS THE, THE SOFTWARE COST FOR THE BALLOT DUPLICATOR.

AND IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE OUR CURRENT ROV IS INTERESTED IN THAT.

AND AS A RESULT, I WOULD REMOVE THAT FROM THE BUDGET OR PROPOSE THAT WE DISCUSS THAT ON THURSDAY. AND THEN THE OTHER THING THAT ISN'T NECESSARILY A CHANGE IN THE BUDGET PER SE, BUT WHEN SEEING THE BREAKOUT FOR THE COUNTY CLERK AND THE CEO'S OFFICE IN TERMS OF THE AMOUNT SPENT ON THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETINGS, I THINK AND WE CAN SEE IF THIS MAKES MORE SENSE FOR OF AN ADDITIONAL CONVERSATION.

BUT GOING INTO THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR, IF THERE'S WAYS TO REDUCE THAT BY REDUCING THE NUMBER OF TOTAL MEETINGS, I THINK THAT WOULD BE A WAY TO BE FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE ON OUR FRONT.

FROM THE LEADERSHIP HERE. SO THOSE WERE THE TWO THINGS I WANTED TO FLAG. YOU TALKED ABOUT HAVING LESS MEETINGS. YES.

WELL, WE'RE GETTING A LOT MORE DONE FOR ONE AND TWO STAFF.

IF WE SPREAD THESE OUT IT KEEPS US FROM HAVING A 14 HOUR MEETING.

WELL, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DISCUSS. IT'S A DISCUSSION. ABSOLUTELY. YEAH. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE? SUPERVISOR.

HARMON. THOSE ARE MY TWO KELSTROM LONG.

WELL, I'M GOING TO DO.

OKAY. I'LL DO IT. YOU GOT IT.

OKAY. THANKS. I'M GOING TO HAVE SOME DISCUSSION, BUT WE CAN WAIT UNTIL DE AYE IS HERE BECAUSE I'M GOING TO.

FOR TODAY. IT'S JUST ABOUT.

THERE'S NOTHING THAT. THIS IS JUST FOR TODAY. SO WE CAN WE CAN COME UP WITH THAT WHEN SHE'S HERE ON THURSDAY. YEAH.

WELL, YEAH. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. WITH THAT WE ARE ADJOURNED TILL TO WE ARE AT RECESS UNTIL 9 A.M. TOMORROW.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.