By Mary Alice Murphy

In a 19-minute meeting (Commission Chairman Brett Kasten timed it) on Tuesday, July 25, 2017, commissioners approved two financial items.

The first resolution addressed the final quarter financial report for the fiscal year ending June30, 2017.

Financial Officer Linda Vasquez highlighted the "big three—the General Fund, the Road Department and the Detention Center."

The beginning cash balance, as of July 1, 2016, for FY 2017, was $3,291,793. Revenues to date, ending June 30, 2017, totaled $13,721,491, with transfers out of the General Fund of $4,125.119 and General Fund expenditures of $9,330,790, with an adjustment of $8,698. The three-twelfths state-mandated reserve totaled $2,332,697.

In the County Road Fund, the beginning balance was $305,251. Revenues to the end of FY 17 were $707,203, with transfers in of $777,373, and expenditures of $1,645,719. The department is required to have a one-twelfth reserve, which totaled $137,499.

The Detention Fund had a beginning balance of $0, with revenues of $882,436, transfers into the fund of $1,955,892 and expenditures of $2,685,599. No reserve is required.

Commissioner Browne asked Vasquez if she could give the commissioners a sense of how available cash at the end of each year compares to the beginning balance of that year. "Our approved budget is projecting an ending balance of about $350,000 at the end of fiscal year 2018. Does it work that the number increases throughout the year?"

Vasquez replied that the majority of the county's budget increase comes in at the end of the year, including the payment-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILT), copper production and property taxes.

"Over the past five years, has it ended up from the previous year?" Browne asked.

"This year, it is higher, because of a decrease in expenses," Vasquez replied.

Browne said the reason he asked is that he doesn't want to suggest spending it, if it doesn't always happen.

County Manager Charlene Webb said the collection rate of property taxes was higher this year than usual.

Browne asked the rationale for the three-twelfths reserve for the county and the one-twelfth for the Road Department.

Webb said it was by statute. "It is available cash that we can depend on, depending on what's going on in the county. Sometimes, it's up; sometimes, it's down."

Browne said he was looking at the track record for projecting. "I'm not challenging the accuracy."

Webb said this year's ending balance is higher than the past two audits. "My intention was to make it higher to leave some cushion. If you have to get into the reserve, the state will come and monitor you."

Commissioner Alicia Edwards asked if the county has the authority to invest the reserve.

"We could, but only short-term," Webb said, "because sometimes, we have to get into the reserve short-term.

The second item, the final budget for 2018, was approved without discussion.

In commissioner comments, Edwards said: "I really appreciate the time Charlene and Linda have spent with me, as a new commissioner. It's a lot of time, and thanks to the assessor, too."

Browne said he would like for the commission in this fiscal year to revisit some staffing questions.

The meeting was adjourned.