This post at Brown County Matters.
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- Agenda: Digital billing system, pay grade changes, additional appropriations (briefed two times previously), Salaray ordinance, and contract with a new financial advisor.
- Audio – link below). I encourage you to listen to the Audio of the meeting and just take a few notes to capture your questions and concerns. This will be a good meeting to review in a year to assess our progress in making the needed systemic changes within the council and commissioner’s office relative to finance and budgeting.
- Council Leadership. Councilman Kemp has a financial background and began his service with the council in 2023. He has spent the time needed digging into the numbers, working to understand the system, and sharing what he has been learning. A way ahead includes focusing on goals that involve maintaining $2.5 million in the rain day fund and $1 million in the health insurance reserve fund, keeping expenses at least 15% under projected revenues, and providing quarterly and annual budget updates.
- Commissioners Office. The commissioner’s office can develop the needed management reports and internal controls to increase the visibility of risks associated with contracts, leases, and capital improvements. The status can be included on meeting agendas. The goal would be to improve financial sustainability and prevent financial surprises. Consultants have identified it may take us 10 years to work our way out of the financial mess. We should have a better idea of the depth of the challenge within a year to 18 months.
- As a new commissioner, I plan on continuing to share what I am learning on social media to include “Matters” that may be incorporated into E-books. In a self-governing Constitutional Republic, “We the People” can hold our elected officials accountable, but we retain the responsibility for results. Better outcomes are achieved through improvement in processes, systems, and citizen participation. The improvement concepts and methods included within the Brown County Leader Network can be re-introduced to encourage more citizens to help improve quality within our government and community.
- Challenges. I am not underestimating the challenges. Making the needed improvements to the status quo is typically resisted by those with a personal or political interest in maintaining that status quo. Transparency and communication can help address this challenge. It is a proven fact that successfully improving quality results in outcomes where everyone benefits or at least, is not any worse off in the long term. Everyone wins with optimization.
County Council special meeting set Monday
Budget Guidance Salary Changes – Salary changes must be submitted prior to June 15
Meeting Clarification – Three Types: (Requires 48 hours (business days) public notification
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- Regular Meeting – provides the most flexibility for decision-making
- Special Meeting (working session). Any actions resulting in a decision must be advertised in advance
- Executive Session. Agenda items dictated by statute
2025 Budget. The County Council failed to vote to review and approve. Estimated budget deficit is around 600K.
The Council failed to approve salary ordinance changes in 2024. Council to approve The 2025 Salary Ordinance will be approved in Jan.
Salary, pay scales, staffing. Waggoner, Irwin, Scheele (WIS) & Associates were contracted to re-structure and standardize salary schedules. In the interim, Departments (Health Department, Prosecutor, Clerk, Treasurer) are/have been receiving approval for salaries and staffing changes.
Financial Advisor. Council has the responsibility to contract for a financial advisor and plan on contracting with Reedy Financial Services – Government Finance Specialists at $175.00 per billable hour.
Digital Billing System. Was rejected – does not interface with the current accounting system.
Deficits. In 2024, the county was projecting about a 1.4 million deficit. Fortunately, about 2.3 million were found. County ended up 10K in the black.
Deficits. In 2025, estimated at around 600K.
End of year Transfers. Commissioner’s office identified the need to transfer approximately 700k to pay the required bills. This was briefed to the council on two prior occasions. Without a transfer, the county will show account deficits in 2025. Council voted to approve with one member voting No. A second reading (vote to approve) will be on Jan 9.
Independent Voters of Brown County IN 