Commissioner Special Meeting  Notes – June 26, 2023. 2-3 pm.  This post at Brown County Matters

o. Contract Support – Budget Preparation. Commissioners approved a tentative contract with Melissa Stinson to help them put together the 2024 commissioner budget to include health insurance-related budgeting. Melissa was the commissioner’s admin assistant/HR Director for about 8 years and took a new job last year outside the county. The cost is $25.00 an hour and it is expected that up to 20-30 hours may be needed. Baker-Tilly has routinely worked with Ms. Stinson in budget preparation.

o. Contracts. The limit before a contract has to be competitively bid is 50K for services and 150K for capital improvements. The New Coroner’s office (adjacent to the EMS building) was just under 150K.

Note the annual budget preparation process and execution is an area that could be improved. This past year, Baker-Tilly was used to address budget challenges in health insurance costs and funding the new courthouse additions. Neither the commissioners nor the council include an update on the budget as an agenda item at their meetings during the year. At least a quarterly review (status of planned vs actual costs) on a quarterly basis would provide citizens assurance of the financial condition of the county. I volunteered my time to help improve and standardize the process.

o. Other – Post meeting. Indian Hill RR Crossing. The Indiana Rail Road Company (INRD) has identified its objections to the re-opening. No big surprise.  Counters to these objections are expected.