Information from former Algonquin Township Trustee Larry Emery:
Larry Emery
Thank you all who were involved again for your patience, help and work over the last 4 years. It helped me greatly in the understanding of the process, information, and requirements as I executed my responsibility as a trustee/citizen.
The overall perspective of financial review is favorable based on control of expenses, early payoff of long term debt, and flat or reduced Budgets over all four years from 2014-2018 and 2013-17 for Levy.
This is based on the boards approval cycles establish because of May start of each new board.
Note on audit service.
Updates were made yearly as board requested for additional info and changes made as updates by state were required each year.
All imbalances of line items were balanced by administration within adjustments from other lines and approved by board each year.
The areas of continued focus for the 2017-2021 board includes the following basic topics of:
Transparency, Current and future Shared Expenses Rules, Four Year Planning of Capital Outlays (and expenses that overlap years),
Recommendations, and a recap of the last four years of the Budget, Levy, and Expenses.
The elected official’s wages approved effective May 2017-2021:
- Trustee, Clerk and Assessor flat all 4 years.
- The Road Commissioner reduced 5% yr 1, then flat yr 2-4.
- The Supervisor was reduced 20% yr 1, then flat yr 2-4.
The 2013-2017 wages approved by previous board all at: Yr 1-0%, Yr 2-0%, Yr 3: +1.5%+, Yr 4: +1.5%.
A. Ten-Point Transparency Checklist and framework of establishing standard for township (using model from www.illinoispolicy.org/spotlight) Info is available if FOIA. Need to be all on website (www.algonquintownship.com).
- Elected & Administrative Officials: Contact Information: Done
- Meeting Information: Calendar (Future) Minutes & Board Packets (Past): Need packets, Info Ok
- Public records: FOIA submission & FOIA Officer Contact Information: Done
- Budgets: General Fund and Special Projects: Done
- Financial Audits: Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports: Needed to be added
- Expenditures: Checkbook Register and Credit Card Receipts: Needed to be added
- Salary & Benefits: Wages, Salary, Overtime, Health, Dental, Life, Pension, etc.: Needed to be added
- Contracts: Employees, Unions, Private Contractors, Vendors: Needed to be added
- Lobbying: Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying Associations: Needed to be added
- Taxes & Fees: Sales, Property, Income, and Miscellaneous Taxes, Fees: Needed to be added
B. There should be discussion on the following possible Shared Expenses Rules between all offices.
- Accounting/Legal/printing
- Telecommunications/software/support
- Cleaning/Supplies
- Special Levies-reserve vs. trend need, quote for service (SS, Retirement, Insurance, and Audit)
C. Town, Road, Assessor, and clerk should provide a Four Year Planning of Capital Outlays for the board. Discussion and understanding of the need with estimated cost/benefit should be included so these major expenses are not a surprise and a consensus can be made before the commitment to purchase.
- Equipment/Construction
- Grants
- Building
D. Here are a few additional recommendations for board to pursue.
- Based on current legislation being presented at the Illinois state level, discussion and planning should be made to consolidate the Road and Bridge with the Town [Fund].
- Budget/Forecast/Expense Tool to analyze the last four years of expense for trend and potential future needs, realignment, and/or elimination. Should use the “Open the Books” logic to compare similar units.
- Workshop Session for board and other elected officials for team building, goal setting, and analytical measurement review of key indicators.
- A cash flow analysis for cash reserve for all Fund Balances should be created by Road Commissioner and Supervisor and reviewed by board monthly or quarterly (Dollar amount and Months of Reserve)
- Continued work on intergovernmental agreements on similar expenses that make since to improve overall service and/or reduce expenses. Example-Senior Transportation with County and municipalities.
6. Possible forensic audit (every 4 years or so) to get into details to confirm legality and planned expensesto results anticipated.
E. Four Year Budget, Levy, Expense Recap
- Key Overall Township Key Notes 2017 vs. 2013
- Budget: -8.4%
- Levy: -7.0%
- Expenses: -3.0% (Adjusted less loan payoff and one time pension accounting charge-$1,000,074). The town, R&B, E&B all had flat or reductions in all categories every year except, 2016-17 E&B for boards four year term.
Budget and Levy Recaps for Algonquin Township for the years 2013-2017.
