I'm Disappointed...

... in the vote to send this resolution back to committee.

The OshNW covered the story here. I commented here.

As I stated in the meeting. A supervisor that does not support truthful reporting of budget liabilities is doing it so they can raid the fund 'guilt free' in the future.

(And by guilt free, I mean they know what they are doing, but they are trying to pull one on citizens)

This is simple truth in reporting to Winnebago County Citizens. I hope the committee sends it back for us to pass.

Take Back Medication Program in Winnebago County

The Northwestern covers this program today:

Household pharmaceuticals accepted during the drop-off include human and animal prescriptions and over the counter medications such as pills, capsules, ointments, liquids, sprays, drops, creams, inhalers, and vials.

Traditional ways of managing unwanted household medications is to flush them down the toilet or throw them in the trash, neither of which is advisable, said Jennifer Semrau, recycling specialist for Winnebago County.

“People have a misconception that the wastewater treatment plant will take care of it when they flush medications down the toilet. Flushing is not safe,” Semrau said.

Water quality is adversely affected by flushing medications and treatment plants don’t process them. It is better to take old meds to events such as Operation Take Back Medications, she said.
...
More information is available by contacting Mary Kohrell in Calumet County at (920) 849-1450; Sue Gau in Outagamie County at (920) 968-5721; Debbie Krogwold in Waupaca County at (715) 258-6240; and Semrau in Winnebago County at (920) 232-1850.
...
May 29 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Oshkosh Senior Center Annex, 234 N. Campbell Road, Oshkosh

I Agree With Exec Harris - We need to be responsible in budgeting.

Read the full story in the OshNW here.

Funding sick time payouts, county moves to designate reserve funds
By Bethany K. Warner of The Northwestern

A change in government accounting practices is prompting a move by Winnebago County to bank funds to cover the cost of sick time payouts for retirees.

County Executive Mark Harris is asking the county board to designate $3.5 million of the county's $10 million reserve fund as an earmarked fund to cover the sick-time payouts.
...
Harris said creating a specific fund to cover workers' retirement payouts would make it harder for the board to raid reserves to cover holes in the budget, a practice they have followed in the past several years.

"It would serve as a reminder to them that if they wanted to dip into them, they are designated for an already incurred expense. It's making it clear to the board that there is a liability. It protects part of our reserves," Harris said.

If a Supervisor votes against this, it will be because they want to again use the accounting gimmics and tricks we have seen in the last few budgets.

This is money that is has been spent, even though it sits in our accounts. We need to be more responsible and make sure we are collecting the money we plan to spend.