Kelso cuts budget Supervisors Harold Kaye (left) and Guy Zima watch a computer presentation of Brown County Executive Carol Kelso's proposed budget during the county board meeting Wednesday (photo by H. Marc Larson). The county executive cites a 'return to core services" for 2004 in reducing the levy by 1.4 percent By Ray Barrington News-Chronicle Six months to the day after she took office, Brown County Executive Carol Kelso introduced a 2004 Brown County budget that reflects an attempt "to concentrate on our core services." The budget features several cost-cutting initiatives, notably the deletion of several programs that are not mandated by the state. Kelso said she believed the programs - including a teen pregnancy prevention program - were vital, but that they were not mandated by state government, and funds had to be tied to those requests. She also said she had goals of studying consolidation and shared services that may come to fruition in the future. The result: a budget that posts the lowest tax rate in 10 years ($4.85 per $1,000 of equalized value.) The total levy is $66,651,266, down from $67,585,187 for 2003, a 1.4 percent cut. The budget will go to committees and will be voted on by the County Board on Nov. 12. Among key principles established by Kelso: - Ending the use of reserves to fund ongoing expenses - Absorbing state and federal cuts, not passing them on to taxpayers - Working on chargebacks from other governments when they are contracted for service - Addressing inequities in providing service to out-of-county residents against county taxpayers One controversial move may be the removal of the bookmobile from the budget. Kelso said, however, funding for the Southwest Library was in her plans, although the Library Board will have to decide if that is what it wants. In personnel, the budget cuts roughly 200,000 hours, for $6.293 million. HUMAN SERVICES When it came to the largest segment of the budget, Human Services, Kelso proposed relocation of the Adolescent Psychiatric Unit (Unit 1) at the Mental Health Center, which would be placed near the Adult Psychiatric Unit (Unit 7) to save about $500,000 by combining staff. Kelso also proposed a rate hike to $670 per day for a patient, up from charges of $510 to $575 per day. She said it would reflect true costs to provide services and be competitive with state-run hospitals. The price increase will generate another $500,000 in revenue, she said. She announced a proposed phasedown of units 3 and 4 at the facility. Kelso said she wants to incorporate staff training and follow up on "creative proposals" by the department to capture additional federal revenue. She did propose a caregiver outreach program for senior services. In the Health Department, recommended for axing are the adult chronic disease screening program, the containers provision of the sharp objects disposal program and contributions to the AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin. The county plans to drop mediation services for the courts, increase medical assistance revenue, reduce some matching funding for ASPIRO, reduce funds for the Healthy Families program and eliminate general relief, sending those necessary to other programs. ASPIRO is the organization for mentally challenged residents. Also out are United Way program outcome training, the YWCA Teen Parent program and the Parent Education program. GOVERNMENT Kelso proposed the creation of a task force to review "the role and responsibility of county departments," with an eye toward consolidation and streamlining of operations. She proposed a county "cooperation council" to work with other governments on ways to cooperate. She suggested the move of Risk Management to the administration department. "We have 32 departments; I hope next year we have fewer departments and more consolidation," Kelso said. Also proposed is a $500,000 waterfront development fund. Facility management is expected to lose 2.5 full-time equivalent employees. And the treasurer's office may switch to laser printing of payroll checks. The Planning Department plans to cut funding to Advance, the economic development arm of the Chamber of Commerce. The surveyor's position would be deleted, with managers taking over the duties. This has drawn fire, with Ashwaubenon having passed a resolution expressing its support for keeping the office. Insurance costs will rise for many employees, in keeping with national trends. And one fee that touches many individuals may be going up - a marriage license could go from $80 to $90. PUBLIC SAFETY There are cuts of at least three sworn officers in the sheriff's office and several behind-the-scenes personnel, but Kelso said she was hoping other cuts would cancel those out. She had hoped to use more electronic monitoring and find alternative food services for the county jail, but was unable to meet with Sheriff Dennis Kocken because of Kocken's attendance at the FBI Academy in Virginia. "We've got some numbers I think are very impressive," she said. Meanwhile, an expansion plan is being put into place for the FoxComm multicounty communications system. The Volunteers in Probation program, Teen Court program and Arson Task Force are to be cut as nonmandated programs. PARKS/HIGHWAYS Kelso said she wants to look at combining the two departments, who have alternate busy seasons: summer for parks, winter for highways. She also wants the county to look at a motor pool to cut the number of county-owned vehicles. Among proposals for new fees are fees for disc golf at Pamperin Park and an increase in the zoo passes.