MINUTES OF THE METRO COUNCIL BUDGET WORK SESSION

Wednesday, February10, 1999

Council Annex

Presiding Officer Monroe called the meeting to order at 2:00 PM.

1.  METRO BUDGET AND FINANCE 101

Jennifer Sims, chief financial officer, gave a detailed presentation entitled, “An Introduction to Metro’s Budget and Budget Process.” In this presentation, she described Metro’s organizational structure and the make-up of the Financial Planning Division. She outlined basic financial facts and trends as they pertain to Metro. Ms. Sims described the budget cycle, calendar, and local budget law. She described the various components of Metro’s funding sources and expenditures, and provided an overview of the historical levels of funding as they compare with expenditures. She then answered questions by the committee. Ms. Sims’ remarks were summarized in a Power Point presentation, and copies were distributed to councilors, and a copy has been retained for the meeting record.

Presiding Officer Monroe described the Council’s budget process. He and Deputy Presiding Officer McLain will review the budget by department with Council staff and Executive/Finance staff prior to its presentation at work session. At each work session, councilors will have information on the current budget, and two previous years actual expenditures. They will also have the executive’s recommended budget and justification, and the presiding officer’s and deputy presiding officer’s recommendation and justification. In response to a question by Councilor Bragdon, Presiding Officer Monroe said the RACC budget request will be considered as a General Fund special appropriation, which will be considered with other miscellaneous funds on April 14. Presiding Officer Monroe reiterated that budget decisions will be made by the Council as a whole, not by committee.

John Houser, senior council analyst, and Michael Morrissey, senior council analyst, described their role in the budget process. They will review each budget, focusing on elements such as new programs, significant changes in existing programs, and any anomalies in particular line items. Based on this review, they will prepare a memo that outlines a number of questions. These questions will be submitted to the appropriate department. After the departments have had the opportunity to review the document, the Council analysts will meet with department staff to review their answers. The analysts then will bring a series of recommendations and proposals to Presiding Officer Monroe and Deputy Presiding Officer McLain for their review. Mr. Houser said the analysts are available at any time to prepare specific amendments, or to undertake review of specific programs at the request of councilors. Mr. Morrissey said much of the analysts review entails looking at new or implied policy changes. He said the analysts receive detailed budget manuals that may outline these policy changes, however, they may not be readily evident. Analysts will work to raise the level of awareness of these changes. Jeff Stone, Council chief of staff, and Lindsey Ray, senior council assistant, remarked briefly on their role in assisting the Council.

There being no further business before the committee, Presiding Officer Monroe adjourned the meeting at 3:35 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Lindsey Ray

Senior Council Assistant

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