HomeMy WebLinkAbout871049.tiff RESOLUTION
RE: AUTHORIZE SIGNING LETTER TO JEFF SCHUTT, STATE DEPARTMENT OF
SOCIAL SERVICES
WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners of Weld County,
Colorado, pursuant to Colorado statute and the Weld County Home
Rule Charter, is vested with the authority of administering the
affairs of Weld County, Colorado, and
WHEREAS, on August 5, 1987, the Board considered a letter to
Jeff Schutt, of the Colorado Department of Social Services, said
letter concerning the decision of the Board to convert those
salaries under the State Merit system to a system as comparable to
Weld County' s as possible, and
WHEREAS, the reasons for said conversion are as stated in
said letter, a copy of which is attached hereto and incorporated
herein by reference.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of County
Commissioners of Weld County, Colorado, that the Board be, and
hereby is, authorized to sign the letter to Jeff Schutt, said
letter concerning the conversion of those salaries under the State
Merit system to a system comparable to Weld County' s.
The above and foregoing Resolution was , on motion duly made
and seconded, adopted by the following vote on the 5th day of
August, A.D. , 1987 .
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
ATTEST:; r�1l�i�(,Q WELD COU TY COLO O
Weld County Clerk and Recorder r�d3t9gh k
and Clerk to the Bo d Go y. La y, irman
C.W. Kirby, Pr Tem
eputy County erk
EXCUSED
APPROVED AS TO FORM: Gene R. Brantner
Ja que e Jo o
County Attorney
Frank ama uchi
30000 +1,0 871049
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1 a OFFICE OF BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
PHONE(303)356-4000. ENT. 4":,0
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August 5, 1987
Jeff Schutt
Colorado Department of Social Services
717 Seventeenth Street
Denver, CO 80218-0899
Dear Jeff:
This is to formally advise you of the options that the Weld County
Commissioners have exercised regarding the September 1, 1987 salary
increases for State Merit System employees and to seek your approval. As
indicated on the attached documents the Weld County Commissioners desire to
apply a 5% offset for the September 1, 1987 pay increases.
The key policy issues faced by the Board due to our financial situation were
ones of equity, comparability, fiscal responsibility and accountability to
all of its employees and the tax paying public. With the Board of County
Commissioners having some local discretion to establish a pay system and set
salaries under the state Merit System, the Board felt an obligation to make
the County system and Social Services system as comparable as possible. For
thin reason the Board has made the decision that the Social Services pay
system be converted to a system as comparable to Weld County's as possible,
including the bonus and pay-for-performance aspects as soon as permissible
under the rules and regulations set forth by the state Merit System.
The exercise of the requested option requires that the offset provision
"must be based on legitimate, documented financial circumstances". In order
to document our financial circumstances we offer you the following
information. As you are aware, Weld County has operated since 1976 under
the most fiscally restrictive home rule charter of any local government in
the State of Colorado with our 5% property tax limitation. The voters on
two occasions have declined to amend the restriction, twice in elections
overwhelmingly turned down County sales tax issues, and voted down bonded
indebtedness. Clearly the wish of the voters and taxpayers is to keep Weld
County government's expenses with the 57 limitation. Since 1976, property
tax revenue amounts have increased as follows:
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1976 1988 Increase
Social Services $ 982,328 $ 2,370,535 141%
Total County $9,792,942 $18,905,587 93%
The Social Services percentage of property tax requirement has exceeded the
County's total percentage of property tax by 52% which, under the 5%
property tax limitation, takes from other County prcgrams.
This situation has been aggravated by the loss of Revenue Sharing totalling
$1.4 million last year. Plus, the following State actions will adversely
impact Weld County's 1988 budget as follows:
REDUCTIONS:
Juvenile Diversion Funds $ 38,200
Noble Funds - Highway Users Trust Fund 617,509
Health Grants 5,522
Emergency Management 2,000
Highway Safety - DUI Prosecutor 34,125
ADDED COSTS:
HB 1375 Workers Comp 12,000
Social Services Increases 98,701
Failure to fund cost of added State prisoners
in County jail (30/day at $16 per day) 175,200
State Reappraisal -- State manpower study 102,076
State Total $1,085,333
FEDERAL MANDATE
FICA Rate Change (7. 15 to 7.51%) 53,316
GRAND TOTAL $1,138,649
The 5% property tax limitation under the Weld County Home Rule Charter
permits a property tax increase of $900,266 in 1988, with above items
totalling $1, 138,649 adversely impacting the budget the result is a net loss
of resources of $238,383. This is without any consideration of inflation or
cost-of-living factor for employee salaries.
The local economic circumstances are such that April 1, 1987, Weld County
statistically qualified for designation as a redevelopment area under
Section 401(a) (8) of the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965.
This qualification resulted from the County's having experienced
unemployment which was both substantial and above the national average for
the most recent 24 months for which statistics were available.
Two of Weld County's primary industries, agriculture and the energy
industry, are both extremely depressed. The two combine to account for over
45% of Weld County assessed valuation.
8/1049
The Board believes that the above data satisfies the necessary documentation
of the financial circumstances in Weld County. If not please do not
hesitate to advise us and we will be happy to provide ycu with any
additional documentation that's needed.
The Board appreciates your assistance and support in this matter. We
appreciate that the change is a difficult transition for the Social Services
employees, but the Board finds this action necessary. The reaction by the
Social Services employees is much like the other Weld County employees four
years ago when they transferred to the same system. We're confident the
change has long-term advantages to both the employees and the tax paying
public that we all serve.
Very truly yours,
THE BOARD OF WELD COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
QE,,.
acy, irman
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C.W. Kirby, Pro-Te J cque ne J son
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Gene R. Brantner Frank Yamagu 0.i
BCC/lag
871049
(2) ADJUSTING MINIMUM STEP LEVELS
All occupational groups should be reviewed to insure that no incumbent
is paid below the approved minimum step as a result of salary adjustment
offsetting. Please indicate on the chart below minimum steps for all
occupational groups. This should be done even if you change the minimum
step only for one group.
ENTRY YeP64 1c Nor)
OCCUPATIONAL GROUP STEP $±f�P
i) Professional Administrative 3 — 7
2) Data Processing Professional 3 —
3) Professional Social Services Et Ancillary ✓7 — 7
4) Technical/Paralegal/Investigative 3 7
5) Clerical/Data Processing/Paraprofessional 3 7
6) Data Entry Operators 3
This option was not offered for 1/1/87_as_,it only,_applies, when_salary„adjust.-_
ments are required. You will be offered all other county options again in
December for January. 1., 1988_ympleWeAta i&n.
If you have any questions, please call your Merit System Division analyst.
The target date for responses to be received is August 1, 1987. If we do not
receive your reply by that date, your positions will be adjusted to coincide
with the 1987 Salary Plan and your minimum step levels will remain unchanged.
c/ / /
�G re rfrc 6srst PROM 7- ON si�P
Co 3 0-111/47. s,
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8'71049
(1) OFFSETTING 1937 SALARY GRADE ADJUSTMENTS
The attached chart is provided should this oatn _,wbese�lgc�,t c�,,. Fill in
all blank cofurinde s signaed90" OFFSET io
". Your narrative substantiation
can begin on this page or you may wish to attach a separate sheet.
Remember that this option should be based on financial circumstances.
For example, counties may wish to save the pay of Programmers/Systems
Analysts by adjusting their pay one step upward to offset the 2.50
decrease which will result from the required one grade downward
adjustment. When a county offsets a downward adjustment and an employee
is at the maximum step, save pay may be granted, but at no more than 100
above the maximum. Or, a county with a large Technician/Paralega'
/Investigative employee population may wish to phase in the 7.5%
increase by offsetting some portion of the increase by back stepping.
These are not guidelines but rather examples. Your reasons are to be
your own, and should be fully documented.
This option requires the approval of the Executive Director and should
be submitted to the Merit System Supervisor no later than July 17, 1987.
SEE 7/30/87 LETTER ATTACHED TO JEFF SCHUTT FOR JUSTIFICATION
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(3) REQUIRED SIONKfURES 1987
County Name 6U' L D County Number 6 L
C e,,,,,,,,,,,---Le---/ 7/Z //
Colin' Social Servi es Director Date
/87
Chairper y omm sinners Da e
Send original to Merit System; retain copy of questionnaire and all
attachments for your records.
Received by Merit System
Date
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