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(DISCUSSION/ACTION) Review of the Dept’s fiscal operations, with recap of expenditures, budget including status of contracts, overtime and workmen’s comp, trends in expenses.
M. Lui recapped the monthly financial accounting of expenses.
Comm Fetiçō asked what the elements were to professional services, and non-personal services.
He asked that these be broken out in subsequent forms.
Comm Stiglich asked about the drug testing and psych evals. They are court ordered but the Dept pays for them. There was a discussion about whether these should be paid by the courts since they are ordered by them. A similar situation existed with the deputy sheriffs stationed at YGC’s front door, per court’s needs, but paid from the Dept. This was resolved. A. Magee mentioned another situation where the Dept pays for services to the court (POs as court officers, transporting youth to and from court). She will be talking to the courts about this cost. Technically the courts are responsible for this (the current practice has never been ‘challenged’) and the approx. $250K costs for the 2 POs.
There appeared to be a “savings/surplus” from the amount budgeted for CYA placements, but M.Lui said that it would be moved to other expenses like food and clothing costs in JH.
Comm Stiglich asked if Depts’ budgets could be “linked” so that an increase in one’s staffing level automatically triggers an increase in the other.
There was a short discussion of what causes the increased costs of detention (staffing). Courts and court officers such as DAs and PDs are part of the equation
Comm Stiglich asked who the presiding judge was. Ans: Not sure.
Regarding the variance in the CBO contract payments, M.Lui said it is due to the inconsistency of CBOs submitting their invoices so that there can be a sudden pile that come in for payment, after a few months of none being received.
A Magee commented that a job announcement for the Community Programs Dir. has been submitted to DHR, with hopes of also hiring an additional 1823 (management analyst) and 9706 (employment specialist). In the meantime, she is hoping to get an 1823 loaned to the Dept to assist in the upcoming RFP process.
Comm Stiglich asked if the Dept could provide technical assistance to CBOs so that they could better respond to the demands of the RFPs, and subsequent contract paperwork. She asked what percentage of respondents typically miss deadlines or otherwise are deficient in their obligations in the process. Ans: M.Lui said maybe 10 out of 50, but he was not sure.
There was a short discussion about the deficiencies in the juvenile hall design and construction (eg. there was no hot water, missing lighting control, insecure passages between the hall and courts, no kitchen)
There was a question about the major increase in food costs for Feb (3x). M.Lui said that had to do with where they are with the bills. Sometimes the bills don’t come on a regular basis. Sometimes they get behind in paying the bills because they have other priorities like paying the CBOs. M.Lui said they pay the people they know they need to pay first. They have to prioritize things.
Quest: what equipment is being used. M.Lui said that all staff have gotten computers and there’s the need to upgrade many. He said that every year they will be buying computers. It will never end.
A Magee mentioned the need for computes to be able to connect with the California Law Enforcement Telecommunications System.
They are asking for more support to improve the working conditions in the building.
On utilities M.Lui said they over budgeted this anticipating drastic increases with the new facility, but the actual is no where near that amount.
There was a short discussion about alternative energy usage as a savings, both here and at the Ranch.
Telephones: M Lui said that DTIS projects a savings of $38K in this line item.
M.Lui reported that they have turned off about 20 cell phones and now have about 50-60 active ones.
Vehicle lease: there are no figures because Admin Services hasn’t billed the Dept yet. For each leased car, the Dept pays $2000/yr. So M.Lui is returning any where repair costs come close to that amount.
Fuel costs: M.Lui said that they are billed quarterly. These figures reflect the fleet usage (the entire dept) and there is very little driving done by the Dept.
WC: also billed quarterly. Recent quarters show higher amounts due to case settlements.
Quest: these settlements save us money in the long run? M.Lui: theoretically.
Revenue recovery: M.Lui said they expect to recover all but about $30K.
(public comment)
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