South Central Reporter

Macoupin County Board Finance Committee met May 28.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

Budget Hearing

I. CALL TO ORDER

PRESENT: Payne, Adden, Dragovich, Heuer, Kiel, Stayton, Duncan, Ross, Kahl, McGartland, Bresenan, Clough, Garrison

ABSENT: Armour

II. BUDGET HEARING

1. Lee Ross - Circuit Clerk

Lee Ross discussed her budget request. The only increase in the General Fund was for 2 employees who are receiving step increases in the next fiscal year. However, 1 employee will be leaving county employment on 5/31/24 and another employee will be leaving the county's employment on in either July or August. There is the potential for another employee to leave employment as well though that is less definite.

Overall her Circuit Clerk budget was increasing from $507,424 to $520,611 of 0.63% due to longevity raises. Jury Commission was remaining flat at $4,376.

Her special funds were all flat budget requests.

2. Shawn Kahl - Sheriff

Shawn Kahl discussed the Sheriff's budget request. His General Fund budgets were increasing from $4,352,527 to $4,844,479 or a 11.3% increase. He was also asking for an increase from no budget to $2,100 from the Sheriff Drug Fund.

His department budgets in the General Fund had the following increases: Courthouse, All Buildings and Grounds increased from $384,432 to $398,053 which is an increase of 3.54%.

Purchase of New Vehicles was a flat request at $92,000.

Court Security is increasing from $135,968 to $196,700 which is an increase of 44.67%

Jail Medical is increasing from $176,000 to $185,000 which is an increase of 5.11%

Sheriff is increasing from $2,535,393 to $2,814,255 which is an increase of 11%

Jail is increasing from $1,028,732 to $1,158,500 which is an increase of 12.61%

There was a question about if there was a new employee included. Kahl said there wasn't. Heuer said that the increases in salaries seem to only add up with a new employee. Kahl said he would check with Dugan.

There was a question about the vehicle expense line item and purchase of new vehicles. Kahl said the vehicle expense line item paid for repairs and maintenance. In terms of purchase of new vehicles he tries to buy used cars when he can and get as many as he can but he hasn't been able to get as many as he would like.

There was a question about the federal prisoner program. Kahl said he calculated that it costs about $100,000 and they are getting $400,000.

3. Amber McGartland - Treasurer

Amber McGartland discussed her budget request for the Treasurer's office. The Treasurer's office and Tax Assessment & Collection general fund budgets were both flat at $142,210 and $86,215 respectively.

Her special funds were all flat requests. Treasurer's Automation Fund was flat at $34,500, Tax Sale Indemnity Fees was flat at $15,000, and Tax Sale Error Interest Fund was flat at $30,000.

4. John Bresnan - Supervisor of Assessments

John Bresnan discussed the Supervisor of Assessments was increased from $184,036 to $186,887 or about 1.55%. This covered him getting a 4% raise based off the Sheriff's union contract.

The GIS Fund budget was decreased from $484,553 to $441,728 or a 15.2% decrease. Bresnan did mention that the balance of the fund has gotten low and there is the final payment on the pictometery flight for the GIS which was about $50,000. There is not enough in the fund currently to cover that bill.

5. Anne Clough - Public Defender

Anne Clough discussed the Public Defender budget request. Her request was an increase from $332,628 to $375,869, or about a 13% increase. This represented a 4% increase for her assistant PD and secretary. There was also an increase from $3,200 to $11,700 in office supplies and from $4,203 to $13,200 in Computer Maintenance Agreements since she had switched from the current vendor to a new vendor. She also was increasing psych evaluation & testing was added back into the budget at $7,500.

6. Jordan Garrison - State's Attorney

Jordan Garrison discussed his budget request. His request was increasing from $472,345 to $488,195 or about 3.3% increase. It was entirely salary increases including his state mandated salary as well as 4% raises for his office staff. He passed out a chart showing his office's budget compared to other counties with a similar population. He believes his office needs more funding to keep pace with the work.

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