Finance Committee Meeting
Regular MeetingAugusta, GA · January 29, 2019
Minutes
Finance Committee Meeting Commission Chamber - 1/29/2019
ATTENDANCE:
Present: Hons. Hardie Davis, Jr., Mayor; D. Williams, Vice Chairman;
M. Williams and Frantom, members.
Absent: Hon. Fennoy, Chairman.
FINANCE
1. Update on 1998 Pension Plan. (Requested by Commissioner Sammie Sias) Item
Action:
Approved
Motions
Motion Motion
Motion Text Made By Seconded By
Type Result
Motion to approve
receiving this item as Commisioner Commissioner
Approve Passes
information. Sean Frantom Marion Williams
Motion Passes 3-0.
2. Approve Excess Worker's Compensation Insurance with Safety National Item
Casualty with statutory limits and a $750,000 Self Insured Retention (SIR - Action:
otherwise known as the deductible) to cover all positions for a premium of Approved
$369,994.
Motions
Motion Motion
Motion Text Made By Seconded By
Type Result
Motion to
approve. Commisioner Commissioner
Approve Passes
Motion Passes Sean Frantom Dennis Williams
3-0.
3.
Motion to approve the minutes of the Finance Committee held on January 8, Item
2019. Action:
Approved
Motions
Motion Motion
Motion Text Made By Seconded By
Type Result
Motion to
approve. Commisioner Commissioner
Approve Passes
Motion Passes Sean Frantom Dennis Williams
3-0.
4. Motion to approve 2 additional positions for the District Attorney's office and Item
to approve funding for the full year. Action:
Approved
Motions
Motion Motion
Motion Text Made By Seconded By
Type Result
Motion to
approve. Commisioner Commissioner
Approve Passes
Motion Passes Sean Frantom Dennis Williams
3-0.
5. Motion to approve continued agreement with Brinson Askew Berry LLP for Item
collection of hotel tax under Rome Class Hotel Incremental Tax Fund. Action:
Approved
Motions
Motion Motion
Motion Text Made By Seconded By
Type Result
Motion to
approve. Commisioner Commissioner
Approve Passes
Motion Passes Sean Frantom Marion Williams
3-0.
www.augustaga.gov
Finance Committee Meeting
1/29/2019 1:20 PM
Attendance 1/29/19
Department:
Presenter:
Caption:
Background:
Analysis:
Financial Impact:
Alternatives:
Recommendation:
Funds are
Available in the
Following
Accounts:
REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY:
Lena Bonner
From: Commissioner Sammie Sias
Sent: Wednesday, January 23,2OLg L0:59 AM
To: Lena Bonner
Cc: Janice Allen Jackson; Donna wiiliams; Timothy Schroer;
Nancy Morawski
Subject: Retirement Plan 1998
Ms Bonner,
Please add the following agenda item to the Finance Committee
agenda for 29Jan 2019
staff: Please provide a complete update on the 199g pension ptan.
Please include as a minimum:
Plan start date;
Plan end date for new membership;
How the members were brief to transition out of the plan or to stay with the plan;
How many participants remains;
A comparison of benefit reference the current GMEBS plan;
Required payment amounts into the plan;
Buy in options to the current GMEBS ptan
Buy in options to any other plans (city or private);
Any other information you consider retevance;
Thanking everyone in advance for you assistance in this matter.
Sammie L. Sias
Commissioner,
Augusta Richmond County
"Foilure is not an Option"
This e-mail contains confidential information and is intended only for the individual
named. lf you are not the named addressee, you should not disseminate,
distribute or copy this e-mail Please notify the sender immediatety by e-mait it you
The city of Augusta accepts no liability for the content of this e-miil or for the i.,
nive receiv-ed this e-mail by mistake and delete this e-maii your.y"t"..
of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided, unless
"bni"qr"n"""
that information is subsequenlly confirmed in writing. Any views or opinions pr"."nGi in rhis e-mail are soteiy tnose of the author and do not necessarily represent
those of the city of Augusta' E-mail transmissions Cannot be guaranieed to Le
secure or error-free as information could be intercepted, corrupted, lost, destroyed,
arrive late or incomplete, or contain viruses. The sender therelore does not ,a""piiirtitity
ror any errors or ornl"ai*" in the content of this message which arise as
Finance Committee Meeting
1/29/2019 1:20 PM
1998 Pension Plan.
Department:
Presenter: Commissioner Sammie Sias
Caption: Update on 1998 Pension Plan. (Requested by Commissioner
Sammie Sias)
Background:
Analysis:
Financial Impact:
Alternatives:
Recommendation:
Funds are
Available in the
Following
Accounts:
REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY:
Finance Committee Meeting
1/29/2019 1:20 PM
2019 Renewal of Excess Worker's Compensation Insurance
Department: Finance/Risk Managment
Presenter: Judy Blackstone, Joe Crozier
Caption: Approve Excess Worker's Compensation Insurance with Safety
National Casualty with statutory limits and a $750,000 Self
Insured Retention (SIR - otherwise known as the deductible) to
cover all positions for a premium of $369,994.
Background: Excess Workers Compensation coverage (a per occurrence
policy) has been purchased in the past as a measure to cap any
potential catastrophic loss against Augusta-Richmond County.
Augusta’s current SIR is $750,000. Stated simply, Augusta is
self-insured on each claim up to $750,000 before the excess
coverage policy takes effect.
Analysis: Past claim experience, current claim exposure, and potential
future cost were considered. It was determined that an SIR of
$750,000 is appropriate for our level of risk. Corvel, our
Workers’ Compensation Third Party Administrator, was
requested to obtain quotes from A or A+ companies. Corvel
received the following quotes from the following companies:
Safety National Casualty XL Insurance ACE/Chubb Prosight
Specialty Insurance The following companies declined to
provide an offer: Midwest Employers Casualty Company Sompo
Japan Insurance Company of America
Financial Impact: Maintaining the SIR of $750,000 offers the greatest value to
Augusta-Richmond County government.
Alternatives: 1) Drop coverage accepting full exposure/cost for any
catastrophic job related injury. 2) Accept proposal from
company with higher premium quotes which also have a higher
deductible
Recommendation:
Approve coverage with Safety National Casualty (lowest
premium quote) with SIR of $750,000 for all positions with
Statutory Limit for a deposit premium of $369,994 which is a
decrease of $13,249 from the prior year premium amount.
Funds are
Available in the
621 01 5233 55.21110 WC/Risk Management
Following
Accounts:
REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY:
Finance.
Law.
Administrator.
Clerk of Commission
Finance committee Meeting commission chamber - llglz0lg
ATTENDANCE:
Present: Hons. D. williams, vice chairman; M. williams and Frantom,
members.
Absent: Hons. Hardie Davis, Jr., Mayor; Fennoy, Chairman.
FINANCE
1. Motion to approve the minutes of the Finance Committee held on December Item
l l, 2018. Action:
Approved
Motions
Motion Motion
Motion Text Made By Seconded By
Type Result
Motion to
Approve
approve. Commisioner Commissioner
Motion Passes Sean Frantom Dennis Williams Passes
3-0.
www.augustaga.qov
Finance Committee Meeting
1/29/2019 1:20 PM
Minutes
Department:
Presenter:
Caption: Motion to approve the minutes of the Finance Committee held
on January 8, 2019.
Background:
Analysis:
Financial Impact:
Alternatives:
Recommendation:
Funds are
Available in the
Following
Accounts:
REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY:
Department Effective
Department Org Key Quantity Job Title Grade Salary Benefits Total 1-Jul-19
DA Investigator - to provide each judge team own Investigator due to increase in
District Attorney 101-02-1310 1 20 48,500 15,563 64,063 32,031
cases
Assistant District Attorney - to provide each judge team with 3 ADAs due to increase
101-02-1310 1 22 54,800 16,444 71,244 35,622 Adopted
in cases
2 District Attorney 135,307 67,653
Department
Department Org Key Quantity Job Title Grade Salary Benefits Total
(2) DA Investigator @ 48,500 - to provide each judge team own Investigator due to
District Attorney 101-02-1310 2 20 97,000 31,125 128,125 Provide Request
increase in cases
Assistant District Attorney - to provide each judge team with 3 ADA's due to
101-02-1310 1 22 54,800 16,444 71,244 for full year
increase in cases
101-02-1310 1 Secretary - to assist DA staff due to increase in cases and court appearances 13 33,684 13,491 47,175
4 District Attorney 246,544
Cost to Fund Request for Full Year
DA Current Adopted Budget w/ New Personnel of $67,650 2,996,220
additional increase to fund request for full year 178,890
3,175,110
Funding Source
Burke Co Portion 8% 254,009
Columbia Co Portion 40% 1,270,044
Richmond Co Portion at no change 1,563,290
VOCA Grant - personnel expense reclass to 220 88,120
3,175,463
Funding Excess/(Deficit) 353
Finance Committee Meeting
1/29/2019 1:20 PM
Motion to approve 2 additional positions for the District Attorney's office and to approve funding for
the full year
Department: Finance and District Attorney
Presenter:
Caption: Motion to approve 2 additional positions for the District
Attorney's office and to approve funding for the full year.
Background: During the 2019 budget process, the District Attorney requested
4 new positions (2 DA Investigators, 1 Assistant District
Attorney, and 1 Secretary). Two positions were approved (1 DA
Investigator and 1 Assistant District Attorney) and were funded
on July 1, 2019 as were all other new positions in the general
fund.
Analysis: After adoption of the budget, the District Attorney requested
reconsideration of her request for all four positions with funding
for the entire year. Discussions with Columbia and Burke
counties which contribute funding toward the operations of the
office offered possible funding.
Financial Impact: The additional cost of the two requested positions for the full
years as well as an additional 6 months funding for the two
positions already approved in the budget will be covered without
any additional cost to Richmond County. Columbia County's
share will increase from 35.66% to 40% and Burke's will
increase from 6.7% to 8%. Additionally there are costs eligible
for reimbursement under the VOCA grant.
Alternatives: make no adjustments, funding only 2 positions effective July 1
Recommendation: approve new positions and allocate funding for full year using
identified funding sources.
Funds are no additional cost to Augusta
Available in the
Following
Accounts:
REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY:
Finance.
Law.
Administrator.
Clerk of Commission
Finance Committee Meeting
1/29/2019 1:20 PM
Motion to approve continued agreement with Brinson Askew Berry for collection of hotel tax under
Rome Class Hotel Incremental Tax Fund
Department: Finance
Presenter: Donna Williams
Caption: Motion to approve continued agreement with Brinson Askew
Berry LLP for collection of hotel tax under Rome Class Hotel
Incremental Tax Fund.
Background: In January of 2013 Augusta began receiving collections from
online travel companies (Expedia, Orbitz, Priceline, Travelocity
and their affiliates) through the collection process of Brinson
Askew Berry, LLP as a result of a class action suit by the City of
Rome. The entire collection process is done by this firm and
proceeds are remitted quarterly to 183 cities and counties.
Augusta's proceeds from this process are then combined with
local hotel motel tax collections which are remitted directly to
the License department and distributed per agreements with the
Coliseum Authority and the Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Analysis: The administration agreement which designated Brinson,
Askew, Berry LLP as the agent to collect and distribute the
Class funds from these companies to cities and counties will
expire December 2020. Each recipient can execute an agreement
to continue the existing process.
Financial Impact: There is no financial impact to Augusta since 100% of Hotel
Motel tax collections are forwarded to the Coliseum Authority
and the Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Alternatives: Augusta could choose to set up its own collection process which
would involve obtaining data from each online travel company,
reviewing their bookings, comparing the rates and collections
for each, and monitoring payments.
Recommendation:
Execute the agreement with Brinson, Askew, Berry LLP to
continue their administration of these funds for Augusta.
Funds are
Available in the
none needed.
Following
Accounts:
REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY:
Finance.
Law.
Administrator.
Clerk of Commission
Agenda
Finance Committee Meeting Commission Chamber- 1/29/2019- 1:20 PM
FINANCE
1. Update on 1998 Pension Plan. (Requested by Commissioner
Sammie Sias) Attachments
2. Approve Excess Worker's Compensation Insurance with Safety
National Casualty with statutory limits and a $750,000 Self Attachments
Insured Retention (SIR - otherwise known as the deductible) to
cover all positions for a premium of $369,994.
3. Motion to approve the minutes of the Finance Committee held on
January 8, 2019. Attachments
4. Motion to approve 2 additional positions for the District
Attorney's office and to approve funding for the full year. Attachments
5. Motion to approve continued agreement with Brinson Askew
Berry LLP for collection of hotel tax under Rome Class Hotel Attachments
Incremental Tax Fund.
www.augustaga.gov
Finance Committee Meeting
1/29/2019 1:20 PM
1998 Pension Plan.
Department:
Presenter: Commissioner Sammie Sias
Caption: Update on 1998 Pension Plan. (Requested by Commissioner
Sammie Sias)
Background:
Analysis:
Financial Impact:
Alternatives:
Recommendation:
Funds are
Available in the
Following
Accounts:
REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY:
Cover Memo
Item # 1
Attachment number 1 \nPage 1
Lena Bonner
From: Commissioner Sammie Sias
Sent: Wednesday, January 23,2OLg L0:59 AM
To: Lena Bonner
Cc: Janice Allen Jackson; Donna wiiliams; Timothy Schroer;
Nancy Morawski
Subject: Retirement Plan 1998
Ms Bonner,
Please add the following agenda item to the Finance Committee
agenda for 29Jan 2019
staff: Please provide a complete update on the 199g pension ptan.
Please include as a minimum:
Plan start date;
Plan end date for new membership;
How the members were brief to transition out of the plan or to stay with the plan;
How many participants remains;
A comparison of benefit reference the current GMEBS plan;
Required payment amounts into the plan;
Buy in options to the current GMEBS ptan
Buy in options to any other plans (city or private);
Any other information you consider retevance;
Thanking everyone in advance for you assistance in this matter.
Sammie L. Sias
Commissioner,
Augusta Richmond County
"Foilure is not an Option"
This e-mail contains confidential information and is intended only for the individual
named. lf you are not the named addressee, you should not disseminate,
distribute or copy this e-mail Please notify the sender immediatety by e-mait it you
The city of Augusta accepts no liability for the content of this e-miil or for the i.,
nive receiv-ed this e-mail by mistake and delete this e-maii your.y"t"..
of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided, unless
"bni"qr"n"""
that information is subsequenlly confirmed in writing. Any views or opinions pr"."nGi in rhis e-mail are soteiy tnose of the author and do not necessarily represent
those of the city of Augusta' E-mail transmissions Cannot be guaranieed to Le
secure or error-free as information could be intercepted, corrupted, lost, destroyed,
arrive late or incomplete, or contain viruses. The sender therelore does not ,a""piiirtitity
ror any errors or ornl"ai*" in the content of this message which arise as
Item # 1
Finance Committee Meeting
1/29/2019 1:20 PM
2019 Renewal of Excess Worker's Compensation Insurance
Department: Finance/Risk Managment
Presenter: Judy Blackstone, Joe Crozier
Caption: Approve Excess Worker's Compensation Insurance with Safety
National Casualty with statutory limits and a $750,000 Self
Insured Retention (SIR - otherwise known as the deductible) to
cover all positions for a premium of $369,994.
Background: Excess Workers Compensation coverage (a per occurrence
policy) has been purchased in the past as a measure to cap any
potential catastrophic loss against Augusta-Richmond County.
Augusta’s current SIR is $750,000. Stated simply, Augusta is
self-insured on each claim up to $750,000 before the excess
coverage policy takes effect.
Analysis: Past claim experience, current claim exposure, and potential
future cost were considered. It was determined that an SIR of
$750,000 is appropriate for our level of risk. Corvel, our
Workers’ Compensation Third Party Administrator, was
requested to obtain quotes from A or A+ companies. Corvel
received the following quotes from the following companies:
Safety National Casualty XL Insurance ACE/Chubb Prosight
Specialty Insurance The following companies declined to
provide an offer: Midwest Employers Casualty Company Sompo
Japan Insurance Company of America
Financial Impact: Maintaining the SIR of $750,000 offers the greatest value to
Augusta-Richmond County government.
Alternatives: 1) Drop coverage accepting full exposure/cost for any
catastrophic job related injury. 2) Accept proposal from
company with higher premium quotes which also have a higher
deductible
Cover Memo
Recommendation: Item # 2
Approve coverage with Safety National Casualty (lowest
premium quote) with SIR of $750,000 for all positions with
Statutory Limit for a deposit premium of $369,994 which is a
decrease of $13,249 from the prior year premium amount.
Funds are
Available in the
621 01 5233 55.21110 WC/Risk Management
Following
Accounts:
REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY:
Finance.
Law.
Administrator.
Clerk of Commission
Cover Memo
Item # 2
Attachment number 1 \nPage 1
Item # 2
Attachment number 1 \nPage 2
Item # 2
Attachment number 1 \nPage 3
Item # 2
Attachment number 1 \nPage 4
Item # 2
Attachment number 1 \nPage 5
Item # 2
Attachment number 1 \nPage 6
Item # 2
Finance Committee Meeting
1/29/2019 1:20 PM
Minutes
Department:
Presenter:
Caption: Motion to approve the minutes of the Finance Committee held
on January 8, 2019.
Background:
Analysis:
Financial Impact:
Alternatives:
Recommendation:
Funds are
Available in the
Following
Accounts:
REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY:
Cover Memo
Item # 3
Attachment number 1 \nPage 1
Finance committee Meeting commission chamber - llglz0lg
ATTENDANCE:
Present: Hons. D. williams, vice chairman; M. williams and Frantom,
members.
Absent: Hons. Hardie Davis, Jr., Mayor; Fennoy, Chairman.
FINANCE
1. Motion to approve the minutes of the Finance Committee held on December Item
l l, 2018. Action:
Approved
Motions
Motion Motion
Motion Text Made By Seconded By
Type Result
Motion to
Approve
approve. Commisioner Commissioner
Motion Passes Sean Frantom Dennis Williams Passes
3-0.
www.augustaga.qov
Item # 3
Finance Committee Meeting
1/29/2019 1:20 PM
Motion to approve 2 additional positions for the District Attorney's office and to approve funding for
the full year
Department: Finance and District Attorney
Presenter:
Caption: Motion to approve 2 additional positions for the District
Attorney's office and to approve funding for the full year.
Background: During the 2019 budget process, the District Attorney requested
4 new positions (2 DA Investigators, 1 Assistant District
Attorney, and 1 Secretary). Two positions were approved (1 DA
Investigator and 1 Assistant District Attorney) and were funded
on July 1, 2019 as were all other new positions in the general
fund.
Analysis: After adoption of the budget, the District Attorney requested
reconsideration of her request for all four positions with funding
for the entire year. Discussions with Columbia and Burke
counties which contribute funding toward the operations of the
office offered possible funding.
Financial Impact: The additional cost of the two requested positions for the full
years as well as an additional 6 months funding for the two
positions already approved in the budget will be covered without
any additional cost to Richmond County. Columbia County's
share will increase from 35.66% to 40% and Burke's will
increase from 6.7% to 8%. Additionally there are costs eligible
for reimbursement under the VOCA grant.
Alternatives: make no adjustments, funding only 2 positions effective July 1
Recommendation: approve new positions and allocate funding for full year using
identified funding sources.
Cover Memo
Funds are no additional cost to Augusta Item # 4
Available in the
Following
Accounts:
REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY:
Finance.
Law.
Administrator.
Clerk of Commission
Cover Memo
Item # 4
Department Effective
Department Org Key Quantity Job Title Grade Salary Benefits Total 1-Jul-19
DA Investigator - to provide each judge team own Investigator due to increase in
District Attorney 101-02-1310 1 20 48,500 15,563 64,063 32,031
cases
Assistant District Attorney - to provide each judge team with 3 ADAs due to increase
101-02-1310 1 22 54,800 16,444 71,244 35,622 Adopted
in cases
2 District Attorney 135,307 67,653
Department
Department Org Key Quantity Job Title Grade Salary Benefits Total
(2) DA Investigator @ 48,500 - to provide each judge team own Investigator due to
District Attorney 101-02-1310 2 20 97,000 31,125 128,125 Provide Request
increase in cases
Assistant District Attorney - to provide each judge team with 3 ADA's due to
101-02-1310 1 22 54,800 16,444 71,244 for full year
increase in cases
101-02-1310 1 Secretary - to assist DA staff due to increase in cases and court appearances 13 33,684 13,491 47,175
4 District Attorney 246,544
Cost to Fund Request for Full Year
DA Current Adopted Budget w/ New Personnel of $67,650 2,996,220
additional increase to fund request for full year 178,890
3,175,110
Funding Source
Burke Co Portion 8% 254,009
Columbia Co Portion 40% 1,270,044
Richmond Co Portion at no change 1,563,290
VOCA Grant - personnel expense reclass to 220 88,120
3,175,463
Funding Excess/(Deficit) 353
Item # 4
Finance Committee Meeting
1/29/2019 1:20 PM
Motion to approve continued agreement with Brinson Askew Berry for collection of hotel tax under
Rome Class Hotel Incremental Tax Fund
Department: Finance
Presenter: Donna Williams
Caption: Motion to approve continued agreement with Brinson Askew
Berry LLP for collection of hotel tax under Rome Class Hotel
Incremental Tax Fund.
Background: In January of 2013 Augusta began receiving collections from
online travel companies (Expedia, Orbitz, Priceline, Travelocity
and their affiliates) through the collection process of Brinson
Askew Berry, LLP as a result of a class action suit by the City of
Rome. The entire collection process is done by this firm and
proceeds are remitted quarterly to 183 cities and counties.
Augusta's proceeds from this process are then combined with
local hotel motel tax collections which are remitted directly to
the License department and distributed per agreements with the
Coliseum Authority and the Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Analysis: The administration agreement which designated Brinson,
Askew, Berry LLP as the agent to collect and distribute the
Class funds from these companies to cities and counties will
expire December 2020. Each recipient can execute an agreement
to continue the existing process.
Financial Impact: There is no financial impact to Augusta since 100% of Hotel
Motel tax collections are forwarded to the Coliseum Authority
and the Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Alternatives: Augusta could choose to set up its own collection process which
would involve obtaining data from each online travel company,
reviewing their bookings, comparing the rates and collections
for each, and monitoring payments.
Cover Memo
Recommendation: Item # 5
Execute the agreement with Brinson, Askew, Berry LLP to
continue their administration of these funds for Augusta.
Funds are
Available in the
none needed.
Following
Accounts:
REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY:
Finance.
Law.
Administrator.
Clerk of Commission
Cover Memo
Item # 5
Attachment number 1 \nPage 1
Item # 5
Attachment number 1 \nPage 2
Item # 5
Attachment number 2 \nPage 1
Item # 5
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