MINUTES OF THE METRO COUNCIL BUDGET & FINANCE COMMITTEE

Wednesday, January 23, 2002

Council Chamber

Members Present:  Rex Burkholder, Chair, David Bragdon, Vice Chair, , Susan McLain, Rod Monroe

Members Absent:  Bill Atherton (Councilor Bragdon arrived at 1:48 p.m.)

Chair Burkholder called the meeting to order at 1:38 p.m.

1.  Consideration of the Minutes

Motion:  The minutes of the December 12, 2001, Budget and Finance Committee meeting were moved for approval by Councilor McLain.

Vote:  Councilors Burkholder and McLain voted aye. Councilor Monroe abstained. Councilor Bragdon was absent for the vote. The vote was 2 aye/0 nay/1 abstain.

2.  Report from the Chief Financial Officer

Jennifer Sims, Chief Financial Officer, indicated she had no report.

3.  Committee Organization/Structure

Committee members discussed the committee organization and structure for the upcoming year. Chair Burkholder envisioned the committee structure divided into two parts, the first half of the year to focus on the budget and the second half on financial issues.

4.  Committee Draft Work Plan

The Committee reviewed the draft work plan, a copy of which is attached to the meeting record. Because the budget would come to the Council late this year, the Budget and Finance Committee would have only a month and a half to review the executive budget. Therefore, extra committee meetings will be scheduled in case they are needed.

Chair Burkholder asked committee members if they had any global or specific program concerns that they would like to see addressed during the budget discussions. The two councilors who are not on the Budget and Finance Committee – Councilors Park and Hosticka – would also be asked for their global issues. In addition, he requested input from committee members on how the committee could direct and focus the budget discussion by setting criteria for the level of budget information needed by the Council.

His goal was to spend time on key issues that required decisions by committee members, rather than on areas of the budget where there was no disagreement.

Councilor McLain expressed concern about some issues that were not covered by budget development up to this point. She listed examples of programs that involve large amounts of money but do not have good reporting mechanisms in place. One of her global issues would be to track Metro’s programs that give grants or provide financial assistance and look at accountability, equity and effectiveness.

Councilor Monroe was especially interested in parts of the budget dealing with transportation funding. He would also like the committee to start thinking more seriously about savings resulting from the staff merger that will occur a year from now. What would be a reasonable amount of savings to budget for?

Chair Burkholder added that the committee would also need to consider one-time costs due to the transition.

Councilor Bragdon pointed out that the Transition Task Force would give some guidance on the potential costs and savings resulting from the transition.

Chair Burkholder read the list of items identified by Jennifer Sims, a copy of which is attached to the meeting record, which might make a budget matter more significant. In addition to this list, Chair Burkholder said that the committee needs to be aware of what is happening to Metro’s other operations (Zoo, MERC) in light of the current economy.

Councilor McLain said that when the committee looks at specific programs, it should ask if there are performance measure indicators and look at how well the money is performing for Metro.

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Chair Burkholder mentioned that tests for effectiveness might be covered by an item in the work plan: development of agency financial policies.

Jennifer Sims added two items to her list of budget matters warranting discussion: anything related to transition costs or having to do with elected officials’ budgets.

Councilor Bragdon requested that the committee consider the cost implications of in-house versus outside lobbying relative to the transition.

5.  Councilor Communications

There being no further business before the committee, Chair Burkholder adjourned the meeting at 2:02 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Claudia Wilton

Council Assistant

ATTACHMENTS TO THE PUBLIC RECORD FOR THE MEETING OF JANUARY 23, 2002

1/23/02      Draft 2002 Budget and Finance Committee Work Plan    012302bdg-01

1/23/02      Random Thoughts on Budget Consideration      012302bdg-02