PUTNAM COUNTY BOARD FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING

MONDAY, MAY 6, 2019

9:00 A.M.

A meeting of the Putnam County Board’s Finance Committee was called to order at 9:00 A.M. on May 6, 2019, in the Board Room at the Putnam County Courthouse in Hennepin, Illinois by Putnam County Board Chairman Steven Malavolti. 

Roll call was taken by the Clerk of the County Board with Sheila Haage, Steven Malavolti, Luke Holly, Charles Lenkaitis, and Brad Popurella answering.  Also present for the meeting was Putnam County Treasurer Kevin Kunkel, Office Holders / Department Heads, and members of the news media.  

This meeting of the Putnam County Board’s Finance Committee was called to review and discuss the current General Fund Account balances for the current Fiscal Year (December 1, 2018, thru November 30, 2019) and discuss recommendations for amending the 2019 Annual Budget and Appropriation Ordinance. 

County Treasurer Kevin Kunkel gave an update of the county’s current financial situation.  Mr. Kunkel informed the committee that in order to meet the current expenses, the board will need to approve the borrowing of additional money from the County Bridge Fund.  Of the previously approved inter-fund loan of up to $330,000 from the Federal Air Matching Fund, Mr. Kunkel informed the committee that there was $150,000 remaining and that the county has already borrowed $125,000 from that fund.  Mr. Kunkel stated that as of today, the General Fund has a balance of $26,000 with payroll expenses of approximately $50,000.  

The committee then discussed the county’s two (2) major expenses; employee health insurance and personnel.  The new health insurance premium rates will take effect on June 1, 2019, with an expected increase of 8.8 percent.  That figures out to approximately $500,000 for the next contract year.  The committee discussed providing stipends to employees for health insurance which would reduce the costs.  The committee discussed three (3) stipend plans that the employees could choose from.  The committee agreed that the county can no longer provide 80% of employee health insurance premiums.  The committee also discussed personnel and potential cuts and/or lay-offs for staff members.  The committee agreed to move forward with amending the current Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Budget and Appropriation Ordinance.  A Special Meeting of the Putnam County Board will need to be scheduled to approve an amended budget by the end of May 2019.  The committee also agreed to schedule another Finance Committee meeting on Monday, May 13, 2019, at 9:00 A.M. 

At 10:25 A.M., board member Sheila Haage moved that the meeting be adjourned.  Board member Luke Holly seconded the motion and motion were carried on a roll call board vote of 4ayes, 0 nays, and 0 absent.  The meeting was adjourned.  The next Regular Meeting of the Putnam County Board is scheduled for Monday, May 13, 2019, at 5:30 P.M.  

Respectfully submitted,  

DANIEL S. KUHN
Clerk of the Putnam County Board