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.