Votes at a glance: Finance & Personnel Committee approves meeting time change, personnel policy updates and multiple budget reallocations

The Richland County Finance & Personnel Committee approved several administrative and budget actions at its meeting, including a permanent meeting-time change, amendments to the county personnel classification and compensation policy, a reclassification for one Health and Human Services position, reallocation of Fund 75 balances, recall of legacy CDBG funds from the housing authority and adjustments to ARPA appropriations to support a county comprehensive plan.

The committee voted, by voice, to change its regular meeting time to 5 p.m. on the first Tuesday of each month beginning in December. The motion was moved and seconded and passed by voice vote. The committee also approved revisions to the county’s classification, compensation and staffing authorization policy; the committee recorded a motion and second with the motion carrying by voice vote. The amendments incorporate authority updates, position-category definitions (including part-time thresholds tied to benefit eligibility), and updated compensation tables reflecting a 5% wage increase tied to the adopted 2023 budget and language allowing Pine Valley and ambulance staff to receive a 7% step where specified.

The committee approved a reclassification request from Health and Human Services to move a mental health therapist position from its current grade to grade L effective Jan. 1, 2023. Committee materials state HHS has struggled to fill the position at the prior pay level; staff said the position is budgeted at the updated rate if the reclassification is approved.

On capital and facilities spending, the committee approved reappropriation of Fund 75 monies previously designated for supplemental dam projects toward courthouse repairs (siding, windows, first-floor paint), UW campus boiler work, gym boiler and water-fountain repairs, and door/ceiling work associated with ambulance space repurposing. Committee documents show remaining Fund 75 balances after these shifts.

The committee also voted to request recall of legacy Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds from the Richland County Housing Authority. Staff requested the housing authority return $74,553.63 and leave $13,000 for administrative costs; the committee voted to forward a resolution requesting recall and to dissolve the existing county CDBG committee, with rules and strategic planning to review the resolution before county board consideration.

Finally, the committee amended ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) appropriations to shift funds away from an EMS compensation study and toward a historic-roof change order and to create appropriations space to fund a county comprehensive plan (the committee discussed a range of approximately $30,000–$80,000 as seen in peer examples). The motion to reallocate ARPA funds and to make space for comprehensive planning passed by voice vote.

Several items were informational or deferred: staff asked that the financial planning decision worksheet remain an administrative tool for use in budget guidance; the committee did not adopt the spreadsheet as county policy. The ad hoc referendum review and responses from departments (Pine Valley, Simons, public safety and others) were discussed and will be returned to the ad hoc referendum committee for further questions and recommendations.

Votes recorded in the meeting transcript were by voice; no roll-call tallies with individual yes/no votes were available in the committee record provided.

Votes and formal actions taken (summary): • Change regular Finance & Personnel meeting time to 5 p.m. on first Tuesday, starting in December — Outcome: approved (voice vote) • Amend Classification, Compensation and Authorization Policy (inc. 5% wage table; Carlson Dettman referenced as consultant) — Outcome: approved (voice vote) • Reclassify HHS mental health therapist to grade L effective 01/01/2023 — Outcome: approved (voice vote) • Reappropriate Fund 75 balances (shift from dam project to courthouse, UW campus and other items listed in packet) — Outcome: approved (voice vote) • Request recall of legacy CDBG funds from Richland County Housing Authority ($74,553.63 recalled; $13,000 retained by housing authority for admin) and dissolve county CDBG committee — Outcome: approved (voice vote) • Amend ARPA appropriations to fund historic roof change order and to create an appropriation for a county comprehensive plan — Outcome: approved (voice vote)

No individual roll-call vote lists or recorded tally of named yes/no votes were provided in the meeting transcript.