Goals set at first Cache County Council meeting of 2015 impact the final meeting of the year

At the beginning of the year, Cache County Council Chairman Kathy Robison asked each of the council members and the county executive to set goals for the coming year. Three of the

council members set goals relevant to the current budgeting process: 

— Robison wanted to review job responsibilities and salaries of county officials before the first council meeting in August.

— Greg Merrill wanted each council member to be given an opportunity to work with major departments and to meet with department heads three or four times a year, in order to help with the budgetary process. 

— David Erickson wanted to visit with each department head in order to learn the functions of their departments. 

As the year draws to a close and the budget gets finalized, many of those goals were accomplished. According to county attorney James Swink, “This is the most active council that I have seen since I was elected and it shows in the work that they have accomplished this year.” 

Robison’s goal to analyze salaries and job responsibilities came full circle during Tuesday night’s meeting, when the council discussed whether or not to raise elected official salaries. 

“We know every one of our elected officials deserves a raise, we just need to make sure we can afford it,” Robison said. “They are all extremely hard working and have done their jobs really well this year.” 

Merrill’s goal to give each council member an opportunity to work with the departments and department heads has positively impacted the manner in which budget discussions have progressed at the end of the year. 

Starting Nov. 17, budget workshops were held so that each department head had a chance to meet with the council and the public to discuss their revenue and proposed budget for the year. Having had the opportunity to meet with council members during the year, the process of discussing discrepancies in the budget was made easier for both the department heads and the council members. 

“The council has been nothing but helpful this year,” said Chad Jensen, the county sheriff. “It is much easier to make proposals to a council that is up-to-date with what we have been doing this year and who will work with us to make next year even better.”

Erikson’s goals to learn the functions of each department has also eased the budgetary process for the council. 

“I have met with each of the council members throughout the year and had a chance to get to know them,” Swink said. "When they understand what we do, it becomes much easier to discuss issues with them.” 

The final council meeting of the year will be held Dec. 8 to announce the finalized 2016 budget and to act on any outstanding legislative proposals. Council meetings will start again at the beginning of January, at which time the council will begin planning the 2017 budget.