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April 2, 1998
Hagerstown, Maryland
A Special Meeting of the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County,
Maryland, was called to order at 9:00 a.m. by the Vice President John S.
Shank with the following members present: Commissioners Ronald L. Bowers,
R. Lee Downey and James R. Wade
MEETING WITH WATER & SEWER ADVISORY COMMISSION
The Commissioners met with Water & Sewer Advisory Commission members
Clarence Scheer, Mike Armel, Bonnie Parks, Gordon Crabb, Christopher Diehl,
and Glenn Fishack, to discuss water and sewer rates and the pre-treatment
facility.
Mr. Scheer recommended that the Commissioners extend the Marketing
Coordinator position for pre-treatment for next fiscal year and that it be
funded through the pre-treatment budget. He also recommended that no
further consideration be given to closing down the facility. Mr. Scheer
stated that the Advisory Commission is studying a number of options to
recommend to the Commissioners including the appointment of a separate
authority for the pre-treatment plant which would be set up as a business.
He stated that the Advisory Commission feels that the Commissioners should
ask the appropriate parties to review these options.
The Commissioners then reviewed the water and sewer fund rate options and
cash projections presented by the Advisory Commission regarding water and
sewer rates for fiscal years 1999 through 2008. Mr. Scheer stated that the
Advisory Commission is recommending Option 1 which includes a general fund
contribution of $2.7 million, and maintaining the 25% operations and
maintenance reserve. He asked that the $300,000 savings plus $1.2 million
from surplus funds be transferred to the Water & Sewer Department in Fiscal
Year 1999. Mr. Scheer indicated that these funds could be placed in reserve
in case matching grant funds are obtained from the State to construct the
Holiday Acres and Beaverbrook projects. The Commissioners discussed the
recommendations. Commissioner Downey stated that the Commissioners may have
to reduce the general fund contribution to water and sewer because of budget
constraints. The Commissioners discussed the amount of the contribution and
whether it should be reduced. The Commissioners then reviewed each of the
seven options.
BUDGET WORKSHOP - FY 1999
The Commissioners, along with Rodney Shoop, County Administrator; Debra
Bastian, Director of Finance; and Kim Edlund, Assistant Director of Finance,
held a budget workshop session to review the Fiscal Year 1999 budget
requests and make reductions to balance the budget. The Commissioners
discussed the States revenue projects for property tax, income tax, and
recordation tax. The Office of Budget and Finance recommended budgeting
property tax revenues at $60,289,155, income tax revenues at $32,937,000,
and recordation tax at $3,000,000 for Fiscal Year 1999. After discussion,
the Commissioners decided to increase the budgeted projection for property
tax to $61,000,000, income tax to $34,000,000, and recordation tax to
$3,300,000. It was the consensus of the Commissioners to provide $415,159
to the Board of Education to fund one-time costs for the completion of the
wide area network out of the FY 1998 surplus. Ms. Bastian explained that
this will show in the FY 1999 budget as Fund Balance.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Wade, to adjourn at 11:50
a.m. Unanimously approved.
County Administrator
County Attorney
, Clerk