2017-09-28 Budget mtg - HR for 2018Budget meeting with HR
September 28, 2017
1:30 p.m.
Present: Commissioner Stamper, Commissioner Fund, Commissioner Jackson, Becky Butler, Steve
Walton, Archie Smith
Guests: Justyna Tomtas, Mitch Townsend, Matt Brock, Bill Marshall, Anthony Ahrens, Linda Williams
Recorder: Rieva Lester
2018 prelim budget
Revenue: $117,036, expenditures: $265,303; FTEs: 2
Revenue review
The bulk of revenues come from interfund rates.
Archie Smith said personnel, training, and labor relations are the three main focuses of Human
Resources.
Archie said Lewis County has 13 collective bargaining units, of which three are interest-arbitration
groups.
Archie discussed the county’s economic situation and how it affects negotiations.
He said the county just wrapped up five contracts. He said juvenile detention rejected the county’s offer
the previous day. He said the county has not maintained pace with the surrounding area because the
BOCC is trying to be fiscally conservative.
Archie discussed HR’s work with personnel.
Commissioner Stamper left at 1:40 p.m. and returned at 1:41 p.m.
Archie said his office acts as a consultant on personnel issues. He said HR takes the lead on training for
topics such as ethics, workplace violence, etc. He also talked about the county’s Leadership Academy, a
five-day management training session.
Archie said benefits are handled through the Auditor’s Office, but HR works to educate employees about
the benefits available.
Becky said there’s little in the HR budget.
Archie said an outside entity reviews and scores job descriptions for the county. He said the county also
sometimes hires occupational therapists and attorneys. He said a recruiting firm also is used
sporadically.
Archie touched on social media use for recruiting job applicants.
Archie discussed the Personnel Authorization Form (PAF), which gives the BOCC a line-item veto on a
hire. He discussed the need for a sign-off when there is an increase or decrease to the budget. Becky
said the Budget department tracks pay information for all county positions. Archie said the PAF is a two-
step process. First the office will request permission to fill the position. Then, after it selects a candidate,
the office must request permission to hire the individual.
Commissioner Fund asked what challenges the county faces. Archie said one challenge is whether there
will be a reduction in force. He said employee engagement also is a concern: How do you retain solid
employees. He said policy updates also are a concern because of state and federal mandates. He said
health benefits also is a concern.
Meeting ended at 2:03 p.m.