Sheriff Department Budget Bungle
Contributed by: Anonymous
Well once again the Northwestern has done a lousy job of reporting ALL the fact associated with the latest story regarding the Sheriff's Dept. budget overrun AGAIN! County Executive Mark Harris is reported as saying" the budget line items for the Sheriff's wages should have raised a red flag. The error passed through the Sheriff's dept, the accountants, the county executive and the county board. It wasn't caught."
Let's just examine those comments. First, the Sheriff's Department has it's own accountant at taxpayers expense (fulltime/benefits) this is one of the only departments I am aware of that has it's own accountant preparing it's budget! Secondly, while Mr Harris may have been newly elected to the post as County Executive this last April. He was an elected member of the Winnebago County board at the time this budget "error" was missed. He was also a member of the most powerful committee on the county board a member of the P&F committee also known as the Personal and Finance which IS actually what it sounds like, THE committee that ALL budgets the like are run through first! Mr Harris' campaign treasurer Mr Stan Kline was the Chair of this P&F committee as well!
So needless to say Mr Harris MISSED this $818,000.00 dollar SHORTFALL on at least two occassions for budget review, was he too busy campaigning for the next BIGGER job? This is a man that sold himself on his great budgeting ability and law degree...what the hell happened here??
Mr Brooks, you have been asking for budget transferes FAR TOO often. You sold the taxpayers a bill of goods on this new jail. It was to save us money due to the pod design, in staff effictcies not creat 17 new postions. The overruns have also been due to your vast amounts of overtime. This is pure and simply BAD management of taxpayers resources. If you and your staff accountant aren't smart enough to get your budget right after months of preparation, and if the county committes and board MISSED $818,000.00 worth of expenditures then a money transfere...(by the way where does one pull $818,000 from ?)should not be allowed and then you should be fired!
Mr Harris you too should hang your head once again, you continue to fall far short of the picture you painted of yourself and your abilities.
Where does this type of lack luster reporting get the people of Winnebago County? It is very clear that a real story and investigation will not be forth coming, as The Northwestern can't afford to slap around their hand picked elected flunkies!!! And Flunkies they truly are!! F for failure to protect the taxpayers.
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.
Sheriff Department Budget Bungle
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, July 11 2005 @ 09:21 AM MDT
This is the second problem Mark Harris has had since being elected only a few months ago. First was losing Country USA from county-owned property; now this. He is certainly setting a lousy track record for himself in his first 90 days in office, isn't he?
Sheriff Department Budget Bungle
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, July 11 2005 @ 10:09 AM MDT
Nice non job Mark! I believe he is a CPA also......Remember the another smart CPA that was a "good" business manager.....Andrew Fastaw, the CFO for Enron!.....
I wonder what type of tax increase Mark will pass on to us??
Sheriff Department Budget Bungle
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, July 11 2005 @ 10:46 AM MDT
Only time will tell. But between the city (what with reassessments, amphitheaters and redevelopment) and the school board plans, we can't afford one more penny from Mark Harris and his county board. He better start using his CPA intellect and do some creative bookwork in order to pare down that budget.
Sheriff Department Budget Bungle
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, July 11 2005 @ 11:16 AM MDT
Harris has only been in since April. Wouldn't the previous County Exec. be responsible for this budget? The waste in county goverment is endless.
Sheriff Department Budget Bungle
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, July 11 2005 @ 11:45 AM MDT
But Harris was on the county board and should have caught things. Besides, Harris saw fit during his campaign to blame Jane Van De Hey for anything and everything that occurred on her watch, even if she was not directly responsible for it. He can expect the same kind of watchful eye during his next four years. What's good for the goose is good for the gander.
Sheriff Department Budget Bungle
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, July 11 2005 @ 12:22 PM MDT
This blogger is correct. The County government is different than city government in that it is a committe structure. There by, the committees are responsible for the various budgets and activities of there assigned departments. What is SO OUTRAGEOUS about this offense on the taxpayer, is that Mr. Harris had TWO kicks at the cat to catch this HUGE shortfall. First as a member of the powerful Personal and finance committee, then at the overall budget review as a County board supervisor.
Can someone please explain to me, why on earth we pay two accountants one that only works for the Sheriff's dept and the other that is in charge of the entire county? How much is the accountant for the Sheriff's dept getting paid, how much is Mike Brooks getting paid? How much is MArk Harris getting paid?
Then when we find out about their pay and benefits, ask yourself this, if you, made this type of OVERSIGHT on your job that cost your company $818,000. and no way to make it right but stealing it from other account...Would you still have a job? Would you still deserve to have your job?
Sheriff Department Budget Bungle
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, July 11 2005 @ 12:42 PM MDT
I guess this is why Jane always thought it was alright to have a "rainy day" fund. To cover up for this incredible incompetence!! The taxpayers deserve better.
Sheriff Department Budget Bungle
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, July 11 2005 @ 02:11 PM MDT
Actually any government entity worth its salt has a rainy day fund. In fact, every househole should have one. It's all about preparing for those unexpected emergencies. Stop blaming Jane for something that she and those before her were smart to have. Harris though, had no problem using the general fund for the city of Oshkosh (it's rainy day fund) to pay for overcharged bathrooms at the Leach Amphitheater. Can we expect more of the same at the county level? We shall soon find out.
FIRE THE ACCOUNTANT - BROOKS SHOULD RESIGN
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, July 11 2005 @ 03:38 PM MDT
FIRE THE ACCOUNTANT - BROOKS SHOULD RESIGN
We cant fire the elected Sheriff so the Sheriff's Dept Accountant
should be "downsized" and the Sheriff should resign his position due to
gross negligence.
If in the private sector, both executives would be summarily fired.
SOMEONE NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.....HEADS SHOULD
ROLL!!
Sheriff Department Budget Bungle
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, July 11 2005 @ 12:12 PM MDT
With pending state budget cuts and levy freezes in the works, the Great Mr. Harris will undoubtly resort to tax increases! He is also very well known for increasing fees for services. This is a person that has spoken out of both sides of his mouth while a member of the city council, why would a zebra stop being a zebra just because you promoted him for being a zebra?
I too wonder what other "pay back for campaign support pork barrel" projects we taxpayers are going to have to support? More hangers for the rich and infamous at the airport? A performing art complex for his friend Joe Maehl? Will Eileen Connelly-Kessler's husband be the new Airport director because Mr harris has been busy grooming all State and Local Democrats for his next big campaign. (why would making Ms Kessler's husband accomplish that you ask?) You see Ms. Kessler has the ear and support of the now Governor of the State of Wisconsin (thus her appointment to the board of regents for UWO) therefore making the well connected folks in Oshkosh happy and that translates into favors and further political back scratching for Mr Harris in the future.
Of course this only works IF Governor Doyle makes it through the next election. And even if he doesn't Mr Harris has ensured a sense of loyality with the lady that current holds and pulls all the big money purse strings in the Fox Valley. You want a project done, you will need to talk to her, not your elected officals, you fools! What a screwed up community and it's citizens that blindly allowed this to escalate to this level.
Sheriff Department Budget Bungle
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, July 11 2005 @ 02:14 PM MDT
Yes, Eileen Connelly Keesler is one of the many puppeteers this community has. She runs things from behind the curtains and you can betch your ass that in years to come whatever she and her Oshkosh Community Foundation don't control presently, she will then.
Sheriff Department Budget Bungle
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, July 11 2005 @ 04:14 PM MDT
Check out the foundation's expenses in relation to the amount of assets they control. Their efficiency rivals that of most government entities.
Sheriff Department Budget Bungle
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, July 11 2005 @ 08:09 PM MDT
When they have to operate under the same rules as any government entity then and only then will that comparison be a valid one. When they must by law provide services that are mandated without proper funding for said mandates let me know. When they operate in the open and not behind the veil of secrecy and we know who is in real control of this so called organization let me know.
I find it interesting that all you would prefer an individual controlling your money rather than an elected, and hopefully accountable city official. Why would that be, does it then weed out the so called rift raft of Oshkosh from having a say or a real stake in what happens in their community? Is it your position that them who has the gold really does rule?
These are just questions you may want to ask yourself. But I will ask one to please when making comparisions, make them as apples to apples.
Sheriff Department Budget Bungle
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, July 11 2005 @ 08:21 PM MDT
What exactly is your point and whose side are you really on here? It is hard to figure out from your comments.
Sheriff Department Budget Bungle
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, July 11 2005 @ 09:37 PM MDT
My point was that the foundation is not a very efficiently run organization. Similar to most government.
True, this was not an apples-to-apples comparison.
I too, am a bit concerned about the power of the foundation and other interests. It's very distressing to see that the city, the foundation, and CR Meyer are in discussions regarding potential projects.
Sheriff Department Budget Bungle
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, July 11 2005 @ 05:48 PM MDT
He is an accountant no less. What was wrong with Harris that he couldn't catch this problem? Apparenrly when he helped approve the county budget as a county board supervisor he didn't bother looking more closely at the "red flag" line item that he now mentions when talking to a newspaper reporter. This guy is unbelievable. The county is unfortunately going to get screwed by his incompetence. This is only the tip of the iceburg.
Sheriff Department Budget Bungle
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, July 11 2005 @ 08:02 PM MDT
And the other 30 something board members get a pass? Put your hate for Harris aside for one minute and look at the situation clearly. The error was by the people who work directly with that part of the budget. Brooks and his accountant. Do you honestly expect every board member to be accountable for every line in the budget for every dept. That is why we hire accountants and have dept. heads who submit budgets. To make sure the books balance. To blame one board member is a joke.
Sheriff Department Budget Bungle
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, July 11 2005 @ 08:19 PM MDT
I was not the one who was trying to pass the buck here. If you read the article as written. It was Mr Harris that has started pointing fingers already. I do not hate, but I do have great contempt for any person that lies and misrepresents themselves to a trusting public, all for the stake of WINNING an election.
My issue, $818,000.00 dollars this is no small chunk of change and DEMANDS a swift and decisive move. Who will be the one to do it, and who will be the scap goat for all of these people that dropped the ball. Finally, do I think every board supervisor should be accountable of every line in every budget..YOU BET YOUR SWEET BACKSIDE I DO. If you voted to support expeditures, you had damn well better be able to defend them, explain them and maintain them. If not do not run for office making promises to the contrary. END of story and end to lame excuses!
Sheriff Department Budget Bungle
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, July 11 2005 @ 09:21 PM MDT
When the people from that dept. and the accountant from that dept do not catch the error how do you expect a board member to catch it. The board members are not full time county employees like Brooks and his accountant are. I doublt any of them have the time to go over every line of every department. We have accountants for that. If you are so blind as to not see Brooks and his accountant are the fault here, you really do not have a clue. But you do have a personal vendetta.
Sheriff Department Budget Bungle
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, July 11 2005 @ 09:41 PM MDT
I never said Sheriff Brooks and his accountant were not at fault to a degree. That much goes without saying but to suggest that county board embmers are not responsible is the most out of touch, asinine remark you could make. They are the ones who have the ultimate say in budgetary matters and they are elected to be the watchdogs and good stewards of our money. If you do not understand that, YOU are clearly the one who has not clue. As for personal vendetaas, nope you're wrong. I just expect these people who want to run things to be responsible when they run them in the ground. I am speaking somewhat metaphorically, of course, yet with some seriousness in my comments at the same time.
Sheriff Department Budget Bungle
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, July 11 2005 @ 08:25 PM MDT
No the other 37 board members do not get a pass BUT Mark Harris knew when the budget was passd that he would undoubtedly be running for the county exec position. He also takes every opportunity to mention his law degree and the fact that he has his accounting degree as well. Many of the other county board members do not have such extensive education. The point here is while that does not excuse them, it makes Harris a little more liable. His eyes are trained to pick up on things like this, especially an oversight so large. Perhaps he couldn't see it because his eyes were so glazed over from trying to forsee his political future.
Sheriff Department Budget Bungle
Authored by: Mark L. Harris on Tuesday, July 12 2005 @ 05:42 AM MDT
The original error occurred about a year ago when a payroll estimate was prepared based on a snapshot of the payroll listing all active employees and their compensation on a given date. Part of the process requires an adjustment for positions that are vacant on the date of the snapshot. This is the missed step that went all the way through the budget process without detection.
The P&F committee does not develop or review the budget however the entire board does hold hearings on the budget once it has been completed. To catch this error a board member would have to notice that the total wages for the sheriff department were budgeted to increase by a smaller percentage than many other departments. This could have been found with a little computation about 190 pages into a 460 page budget.
Since discovery of the error the Sheriff has been working to make difficult cuts in spending to reduce the size of any transfer required to cover the error.
The taxpayers are paying a little less this year because this expense was left out of the levy but reserves will likely have to be used to cover the portion not offset by the Sheriffs belt tightening.
Proceedures have been added to ensure that payroll computations for all departments are reviewed in finance before they are incorporated in the 2006 budget. This process is well underway with most departments having allready submitted their 2006 payroll estimates.
I hope this adds some perspective.
Sheriff Department Budget Bungle
Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, July 12 2005 @ 07:57 AM MDT
I'm just wondering Mark, if Jane would have been in office when this happened, would it have been understandable that she missed $818,000 in her budget?
During the last election you blamed her for everything that "went wrong" which was a slimy tactic; isn't it now ok for people to start blaming YOU when things go wrong?!
People who live in glass houses.............
Sheriff Department Budget Bungle
Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, July 12 2005 @ 08:50 AM MDT
Some people just refuse to see the facts. Please take your hate elsewhere.
Sheriff Department Budget Bungle
Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, July 12 2005 @ 09:10 AM MDT
Fact; $818,000.00 dollars needed to pay staff was not budgeted for, missed as it were.
Fact; Sheriff's dept, has it's own departmental accountant who missed this so-called snap shot again missed
Fact; Reserve funds will have to be used for this oversight by two accountants, and a full board of 38 County Supervisors. missed
Fact; Mr. Harris condemned the practice of misusing reserve funds to off set bad budget decsions, or indecisions in his campaign, and vowed his administration would not adhere to such practices. Missed!
Those people are the facts, no sweeping them under the rug, no excuses, just plain and simple incompetence. You can try as you might to spin that to shift responsibility Mr Harris, but you are driving the bus now and you must hold staff and boardmembers accountable. Do you have the spine to do so. Do you have the will to help make the deep cuts in Mr Brooks dept. to minimize the amount you will need to steal from the reserve fund?
I seriously doubt it. I hope this gives you some real perspective on how some of us taxpayers feel about this type of nonsense.
Sheriff Department Budget Bungle
Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, July 12 2005 @ 02:16 PM MDT
Fact: $818,000 was missed!
Fact: This is inexcusable!
Fact: Heads should role!
Sheriff Department Budget Bungle
Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, July 12 2005 @ 02:19 PM MDT
Wow...Clarity Care, the missed $1Million for the nursing home deal, and now $800+K because of an oversight! Come on!
Sheriff Department Budget Bungle
Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, July 12 2005 @ 08:08 PM MDT
Jane Van De Hey was in office when this happened. The error was in her budget!
Sheriff Department Budget Bungle
Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, July 12 2005 @ 08:53 PM MDT
Those who hate Mark Harris do not want to hear that. Just another in a long list of blunders by Jane's administration.
Sheriff Department Budget Bungle
Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, July 12 2005 @ 08:59 PM MDT
And an even bigger blunder by the stewards of our money who missed it: the county board of which now county exec Mark Harris was a member. Van De Hey didn't get to vote on the budgets; Mark Harris and his fellow boards member did. Too bad, so sad. Mark is partially responsible no matter how you Harris lovers want to look at it. This has nothing to do with not liking Mark Harris. It has ro do with not liking shoddy business practices; and politics and business as usual.
Sheriff Department Budget Bungle
Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, July 13 2005 @ 08:07 AM MDT
Never trust a "politician" who never has a hair out of place, doesn't own a pair of jeans, and gets manicures......This situation and response makes me think of when Bill Clinton blamed Republicans for his transgressions in the oral office........
Sheriff Department Budget Bungle
Authored by: Anonymous on Saturday, July 16 2005 @ 04:25 PM MDT
County Executive Mark Harris did not lose Country Usa that was done because Country Usa wanted to own all thier parking areas and not lease land from others.
Current County Executive did find out that Country USA was looking at moving until the Monday after he was elected.
That way Country USA can make all the money from the parking of cars.
Also the Sheriff increased his staff since the County was goign to get more state inmates, but that state wants to end that process of having County jails house state inmates.
The Sheriff has committed not fill 5 vacancies he has on staff. Also the Personnel and Finance is not he "power " committee that someone claims it is on the site. Nor does it ok every departments budget.
Before one comments it should dig futher to get the correct facts.
Someone shoulld contatc the Sheriff himself to explain- maybe appear on the Eye on Oshkosh show itself.
Sheriff Department Budget Bungle
Authored by: Anonymous on Sunday, July 17 2005 @ 09:16 AM MDT
Well Mr Norton, if the committe structure doesn't work,as proof of the budget bungle and the 38 county board members can't be counted on; proof again by this budget bungle. What IS the benefit of having another bloated bureacracacy? Lets just do away with the Sherriff's dept. let do away with County government. Let's truly stream line the layers that have proven themselves to time and again be ineffective.
Sheriff Department Budget Bungle
Authored by: Anonymous on Sunday, July 17 2005 @ 01:46 PM MDT
I wish Mr./ or Ms. Anonymous would identify him or herself. Also take the time and understand county government or nay government for that matter. Its is easy to cbe a nay sayer.
Do away with the Sheriff's department - is this person actually proposing this ? I take this perosn must live in the city and does not care for what goes on in the rest of the county.
It is County government that must deliver many of the functions mandated by the state.
Sheriff Department Budget Bungle
Authored by: Anonymous on Sunday, July 17 2005 @ 04:15 PM MDT
You are an idiot.
Sheriff Department Budget Bungle
Authored by: Anonymous on Sunday, July 17 2005 @ 09:32 PM MDT
I wish you reveal your self ?
Sheriff Department Budget Bungle
Authored by: Anonymous on Sunday, July 17 2005 @ 09:30 PM MDT
And for the record I voted against the budget becuase the way the budget is handled by the County Board.
Have you expressed your concerns to your County Board Supervisor ?
Sheriff Department Budget Bungle
Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, July 19 2005 @ 10:57 AM MDT
First off, I understand Sheriff Brooks will be on a future show. Second off, Mark Harris contributed to the loss of Country USA as he said himself in the Northwestern that he was negotiating with them. Not very well, as it now appears. But here's the thing: He blamed Jane Van De Hey for everything that happened under her watch whether she was directly involved or not; the same is now going to happen to Mark Harris. If he or people like you don't like it: too bad. Thems politics!
Sheriff Department Budget Bungle
Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, July 19 2005 @ 01:49 PM MDT
Lets compare apples to apples here. What did Harris blame Jane for that was the fault of the County Exec before her?
Sheriff Department Budget Bungle
Authored by: Anonymous on Sunday, July 17 2005 @ 01:57 PM MDT
I would hope that the group formed to create a water park would consider placing the park at the Winnebago County Park.
There is plenty of room to expand an easily accessible for all around to get to.
One knock on the County Park is that it’s too far for children to get there by bikes. But that argument could be used for any proposed site, for if built at the old pool site how could someone living across town or the highway be able to get to the water park by use of a bike.
A bus route could be altered to have children and adults alike dropped off right at the door of the water park. And by building it at the County Park families and individuals could be involved in many activities besides swimming while at the County Park.
The water park will need professional staff to maintain it; the County parks staff has that expertise. And with the school district possibly providing the lifeguards the whole area could be part of this project.
By utilizing the County Park the need to find and possibly purchase land for such a facility would not be needed.
I ask you to get behind this idea and contact your county board supervisor and city councilor to get there support, and support private efforts to get the funding to make a water park a reality in the Oshkosh area.
Sheriff Department Budget Bungle
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, July 18 2005 @ 07:48 AM MDT
Please do not place the park in a county facility. You only need to look as far as the Park View debacle and the sheriffs budget to realize we do not want to be tied to them in any way. The park belongs in the inner city.
Sheriff Department Budget Bungle
Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, July 20 2005 @ 02:18 PM MDT
Amen. Keep the County government as far away as possible.
Well once again the Northwestern has done a lousy job of reporting ALL the fact associated with the latest story regarding the Sheriff's Dept. budget overrun AGAIN! County Executive Mark Harris is reported as saying" the budget line items for the Sheriff's wages should have raised a red flag. The error passed through the Sheriff's dept, the accountants, the county executive and the county board. It wasn't caught."
Let's just examine those comments. First, the Sheriff's Department has it's own accountant at taxpayers expense (fulltime/benefits) this is one of the only departments I am aware of that has it's own accountant preparing it's budget! Secondly, while Mr Harris may have been newly elected to the post as County Executive this last April. He was an elected member of the Winnebago County board at the time this budget "error" was missed. He was also a member of the most powerful committee on the county board a member of the P&F committee also known as the Personal and Finance which IS actually what it sounds like, THE committee that ALL budgets the like are run through first! Mr Harris' campaign treasurer Mr Stan Kline was the Chair of this P&F committee as well!
So needless to say Mr Harris MISSED this $818,000.00 dollar SHORTFALL on at least two occassions for budget review, was he too busy campaigning for the next BIGGER job? This is a man that sold himself on his great budgeting ability and law degree...what the hell happened here??
Mr Brooks, you have been asking for budget transferes FAR TOO often. You sold the taxpayers a bill of goods on this new jail. It was to save us money due to the pod design, in staff effictcies not creat 17 new postions. The overruns have also been due to your vast amounts of overtime. This is pure and simply BAD management of taxpayers resources. If you and your staff accountant aren't smart enough to get your budget right after months of preparation, and if the county committes and board MISSED $818,000.00 worth of expenditures then a money transfere...(by the way where does one pull $818,000 from ?)should not be allowed and then you should be fired!
Mr Harris you too should hang your head once again, you continue to fall far short of the picture you painted of yourself and your abilities.
Where does this type of lack luster reporting get the people of Winnebago County? It is very clear that a real story and investigation will not be forth coming, as The Northwestern can't afford to slap around their hand picked elected flunkies!!! And Flunkies they truly are!! F for failure to protect the taxpayers.
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.
Sheriff Department Budget Bungle
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, July 11 2005 @ 09:21 AM MDT
This is the second problem Mark Harris has had since being elected only a few months ago. First was losing Country USA from county-owned property; now this. He is certainly setting a lousy track record for himself in his first 90 days in office, isn't he?
Sheriff Department Budget Bungle
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, July 11 2005 @ 10:09 AM MDT
Nice non job Mark! I believe he is a CPA also......Remember the another smart CPA that was a "good" business manager.....Andrew Fastaw, the CFO for Enron!.....
I wonder what type of tax increase Mark will pass on to us??
Sheriff Department Budget Bungle
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, July 11 2005 @ 10:46 AM MDT
Only time will tell. But between the city (what with reassessments, amphitheaters and redevelopment) and the school board plans, we can't afford one more penny from Mark Harris and his county board. He better start using his CPA intellect and do some creative bookwork in order to pare down that budget.
Sheriff Department Budget Bungle
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, July 11 2005 @ 11:16 AM MDT
Harris has only been in since April. Wouldn't the previous County Exec. be responsible for this budget? The waste in county goverment is endless.
Sheriff Department Budget Bungle
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, July 11 2005 @ 11:45 AM MDT
But Harris was on the county board and should have caught things. Besides, Harris saw fit during his campaign to blame Jane Van De Hey for anything and everything that occurred on her watch, even if she was not directly responsible for it. He can expect the same kind of watchful eye during his next four years. What's good for the goose is good for the gander.
Sheriff Department Budget Bungle
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, July 11 2005 @ 12:22 PM MDT
This blogger is correct. The County government is different than city government in that it is a committe structure. There by, the committees are responsible for the various budgets and activities of there assigned departments. What is SO OUTRAGEOUS about this offense on the taxpayer, is that Mr. Harris had TWO kicks at the cat to catch this HUGE shortfall. First as a member of the powerful Personal and finance committee, then at the overall budget review as a County board supervisor.
Can someone please explain to me, why on earth we pay two accountants one that only works for the Sheriff's dept and the other that is in charge of the entire county? How much is the accountant for the Sheriff's dept getting paid, how much is Mike Brooks getting paid? How much is MArk Harris getting paid?
Then when we find out about their pay and benefits, ask yourself this, if you, made this type of OVERSIGHT on your job that cost your company $818,000. and no way to make it right but stealing it from other account...Would you still have a job? Would you still deserve to have your job?
Sheriff Department Budget Bungle
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, July 11 2005 @ 12:42 PM MDT
I guess this is why Jane always thought it was alright to have a "rainy day" fund. To cover up for this incredible incompetence!! The taxpayers deserve better.
Sheriff Department Budget Bungle
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, July 11 2005 @ 02:11 PM MDT
Actually any government entity worth its salt has a rainy day fund. In fact, every househole should have one. It's all about preparing for those unexpected emergencies. Stop blaming Jane for something that she and those before her were smart to have. Harris though, had no problem using the general fund for the city of Oshkosh (it's rainy day fund) to pay for overcharged bathrooms at the Leach Amphitheater. Can we expect more of the same at the county level? We shall soon find out.
FIRE THE ACCOUNTANT - BROOKS SHOULD RESIGN
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, July 11 2005 @ 03:38 PM MDT
FIRE THE ACCOUNTANT - BROOKS SHOULD RESIGN
We cant fire the elected Sheriff so the Sheriff's Dept Accountant
should be "downsized" and the Sheriff should resign his position due to
gross negligence.
If in the private sector, both executives would be summarily fired.
SOMEONE NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.....HEADS SHOULD
ROLL!!
Sheriff Department Budget Bungle
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, July 11 2005 @ 12:12 PM MDT
With pending state budget cuts and levy freezes in the works, the Great Mr. Harris will undoubtly resort to tax increases! He is also very well known for increasing fees for services. This is a person that has spoken out of both sides of his mouth while a member of the city council, why would a zebra stop being a zebra just because you promoted him for being a zebra?
I too wonder what other "pay back for campaign support pork barrel" projects we taxpayers are going to have to support? More hangers for the rich and infamous at the airport? A performing art complex for his friend Joe Maehl? Will Eileen Connelly-Kessler's husband be the new Airport director because Mr harris has been busy grooming all State and Local Democrats for his next big campaign. (why would making Ms Kessler's husband accomplish that you ask?) You see Ms. Kessler has the ear and support of the now Governor of the State of Wisconsin (thus her appointment to the board of regents for UWO) therefore making the well connected folks in Oshkosh happy and that translates into favors and further political back scratching for Mr Harris in the future.
Of course this only works IF Governor Doyle makes it through the next election. And even if he doesn't Mr Harris has ensured a sense of loyality with the lady that current holds and pulls all the big money purse strings in the Fox Valley. You want a project done, you will need to talk to her, not your elected officals, you fools! What a screwed up community and it's citizens that blindly allowed this to escalate to this level.
Sheriff Department Budget Bungle
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, July 11 2005 @ 02:14 PM MDT
Yes, Eileen Connelly Keesler is one of the many puppeteers this community has. She runs things from behind the curtains and you can betch your ass that in years to come whatever she and her Oshkosh Community Foundation don't control presently, she will then.
Sheriff Department Budget Bungle
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, July 11 2005 @ 04:14 PM MDT
Check out the foundation's expenses in relation to the amount of assets they control. Their efficiency rivals that of most government entities.
Sheriff Department Budget Bungle
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, July 11 2005 @ 08:09 PM MDT
When they have to operate under the same rules as any government entity then and only then will that comparison be a valid one. When they must by law provide services that are mandated without proper funding for said mandates let me know. When they operate in the open and not behind the veil of secrecy and we know who is in real control of this so called organization let me know.
I find it interesting that all you would prefer an individual controlling your money rather than an elected, and hopefully accountable city official. Why would that be, does it then weed out the so called rift raft of Oshkosh from having a say or a real stake in what happens in their community? Is it your position that them who has the gold really does rule?
These are just questions you may want to ask yourself. But I will ask one to please when making comparisions, make them as apples to apples.
Sheriff Department Budget Bungle
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, July 11 2005 @ 08:21 PM MDT
What exactly is your point and whose side are you really on here? It is hard to figure out from your comments.
Sheriff Department Budget Bungle
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, July 11 2005 @ 09:37 PM MDT
My point was that the foundation is not a very efficiently run organization. Similar to most government.
True, this was not an apples-to-apples comparison.
I too, am a bit concerned about the power of the foundation and other interests. It's very distressing to see that the city, the foundation, and CR Meyer are in discussions regarding potential projects.
Sheriff Department Budget Bungle
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, July 11 2005 @ 05:48 PM MDT
He is an accountant no less. What was wrong with Harris that he couldn't catch this problem? Apparenrly when he helped approve the county budget as a county board supervisor he didn't bother looking more closely at the "red flag" line item that he now mentions when talking to a newspaper reporter. This guy is unbelievable. The county is unfortunately going to get screwed by his incompetence. This is only the tip of the iceburg.
Sheriff Department Budget Bungle
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, July 11 2005 @ 08:02 PM MDT
And the other 30 something board members get a pass? Put your hate for Harris aside for one minute and look at the situation clearly. The error was by the people who work directly with that part of the budget. Brooks and his accountant. Do you honestly expect every board member to be accountable for every line in the budget for every dept. That is why we hire accountants and have dept. heads who submit budgets. To make sure the books balance. To blame one board member is a joke.
Sheriff Department Budget Bungle
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, July 11 2005 @ 08:19 PM MDT
I was not the one who was trying to pass the buck here. If you read the article as written. It was Mr Harris that has started pointing fingers already. I do not hate, but I do have great contempt for any person that lies and misrepresents themselves to a trusting public, all for the stake of WINNING an election.
My issue, $818,000.00 dollars this is no small chunk of change and DEMANDS a swift and decisive move. Who will be the one to do it, and who will be the scap goat for all of these people that dropped the ball. Finally, do I think every board supervisor should be accountable of every line in every budget..YOU BET YOUR SWEET BACKSIDE I DO. If you voted to support expeditures, you had damn well better be able to defend them, explain them and maintain them. If not do not run for office making promises to the contrary. END of story and end to lame excuses!
Sheriff Department Budget Bungle
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, July 11 2005 @ 09:21 PM MDT
When the people from that dept. and the accountant from that dept do not catch the error how do you expect a board member to catch it. The board members are not full time county employees like Brooks and his accountant are. I doublt any of them have the time to go over every line of every department. We have accountants for that. If you are so blind as to not see Brooks and his accountant are the fault here, you really do not have a clue. But you do have a personal vendetta.
Sheriff Department Budget Bungle
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, July 11 2005 @ 09:41 PM MDT
I never said Sheriff Brooks and his accountant were not at fault to a degree. That much goes without saying but to suggest that county board embmers are not responsible is the most out of touch, asinine remark you could make. They are the ones who have the ultimate say in budgetary matters and they are elected to be the watchdogs and good stewards of our money. If you do not understand that, YOU are clearly the one who has not clue. As for personal vendetaas, nope you're wrong. I just expect these people who want to run things to be responsible when they run them in the ground. I am speaking somewhat metaphorically, of course, yet with some seriousness in my comments at the same time.
Sheriff Department Budget Bungle
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, July 11 2005 @ 08:25 PM MDT
No the other 37 board members do not get a pass BUT Mark Harris knew when the budget was passd that he would undoubtedly be running for the county exec position. He also takes every opportunity to mention his law degree and the fact that he has his accounting degree as well. Many of the other county board members do not have such extensive education. The point here is while that does not excuse them, it makes Harris a little more liable. His eyes are trained to pick up on things like this, especially an oversight so large. Perhaps he couldn't see it because his eyes were so glazed over from trying to forsee his political future.
Sheriff Department Budget Bungle
Authored by: Mark L. Harris on Tuesday, July 12 2005 @ 05:42 AM MDT
The original error occurred about a year ago when a payroll estimate was prepared based on a snapshot of the payroll listing all active employees and their compensation on a given date. Part of the process requires an adjustment for positions that are vacant on the date of the snapshot. This is the missed step that went all the way through the budget process without detection.
The P&F committee does not develop or review the budget however the entire board does hold hearings on the budget once it has been completed. To catch this error a board member would have to notice that the total wages for the sheriff department were budgeted to increase by a smaller percentage than many other departments. This could have been found with a little computation about 190 pages into a 460 page budget.
Since discovery of the error the Sheriff has been working to make difficult cuts in spending to reduce the size of any transfer required to cover the error.
The taxpayers are paying a little less this year because this expense was left out of the levy but reserves will likely have to be used to cover the portion not offset by the Sheriffs belt tightening.
Proceedures have been added to ensure that payroll computations for all departments are reviewed in finance before they are incorporated in the 2006 budget. This process is well underway with most departments having allready submitted their 2006 payroll estimates.
I hope this adds some perspective.
Sheriff Department Budget Bungle
Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, July 12 2005 @ 07:57 AM MDT
I'm just wondering Mark, if Jane would have been in office when this happened, would it have been understandable that she missed $818,000 in her budget?
During the last election you blamed her for everything that "went wrong" which was a slimy tactic; isn't it now ok for people to start blaming YOU when things go wrong?!
People who live in glass houses.............
Sheriff Department Budget Bungle
Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, July 12 2005 @ 08:50 AM MDT
Some people just refuse to see the facts. Please take your hate elsewhere.
Sheriff Department Budget Bungle
Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, July 12 2005 @ 09:10 AM MDT
Fact; $818,000.00 dollars needed to pay staff was not budgeted for, missed as it were.
Fact; Sheriff's dept, has it's own departmental accountant who missed this so-called snap shot again missed
Fact; Reserve funds will have to be used for this oversight by two accountants, and a full board of 38 County Supervisors. missed
Fact; Mr. Harris condemned the practice of misusing reserve funds to off set bad budget decsions, or indecisions in his campaign, and vowed his administration would not adhere to such practices. Missed!
Those people are the facts, no sweeping them under the rug, no excuses, just plain and simple incompetence. You can try as you might to spin that to shift responsibility Mr Harris, but you are driving the bus now and you must hold staff and boardmembers accountable. Do you have the spine to do so. Do you have the will to help make the deep cuts in Mr Brooks dept. to minimize the amount you will need to steal from the reserve fund?
I seriously doubt it. I hope this gives you some real perspective on how some of us taxpayers feel about this type of nonsense.
Sheriff Department Budget Bungle
Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, July 12 2005 @ 02:16 PM MDT
Fact: $818,000 was missed!
Fact: This is inexcusable!
Fact: Heads should role!
Sheriff Department Budget Bungle
Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, July 12 2005 @ 02:19 PM MDT
Wow...Clarity Care, the missed $1Million for the nursing home deal, and now $800+K because of an oversight! Come on!
Sheriff Department Budget Bungle
Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, July 12 2005 @ 08:08 PM MDT
Jane Van De Hey was in office when this happened. The error was in her budget!
Sheriff Department Budget Bungle
Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, July 12 2005 @ 08:53 PM MDT
Those who hate Mark Harris do not want to hear that. Just another in a long list of blunders by Jane's administration.
Sheriff Department Budget Bungle
Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, July 12 2005 @ 08:59 PM MDT
And an even bigger blunder by the stewards of our money who missed it: the county board of which now county exec Mark Harris was a member. Van De Hey didn't get to vote on the budgets; Mark Harris and his fellow boards member did. Too bad, so sad. Mark is partially responsible no matter how you Harris lovers want to look at it. This has nothing to do with not liking Mark Harris. It has ro do with not liking shoddy business practices; and politics and business as usual.
Sheriff Department Budget Bungle
Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, July 13 2005 @ 08:07 AM MDT
Never trust a "politician" who never has a hair out of place, doesn't own a pair of jeans, and gets manicures......This situation and response makes me think of when Bill Clinton blamed Republicans for his transgressions in the oral office........
Sheriff Department Budget Bungle
Authored by: Anonymous on Saturday, July 16 2005 @ 04:25 PM MDT
County Executive Mark Harris did not lose Country Usa that was done because Country Usa wanted to own all thier parking areas and not lease land from others.
Current County Executive did find out that Country USA was looking at moving until the Monday after he was elected.
That way Country USA can make all the money from the parking of cars.
Also the Sheriff increased his staff since the County was goign to get more state inmates, but that state wants to end that process of having County jails house state inmates.
The Sheriff has committed not fill 5 vacancies he has on staff. Also the Personnel and Finance is not he "power " committee that someone claims it is on the site. Nor does it ok every departments budget.
Before one comments it should dig futher to get the correct facts.
Someone shoulld contatc the Sheriff himself to explain- maybe appear on the Eye on Oshkosh show itself.
Sheriff Department Budget Bungle
Authored by: Anonymous on Sunday, July 17 2005 @ 09:16 AM MDT
Well Mr Norton, if the committe structure doesn't work,as proof of the budget bungle and the 38 county board members can't be counted on; proof again by this budget bungle. What IS the benefit of having another bloated bureacracacy? Lets just do away with the Sherriff's dept. let do away with County government. Let's truly stream line the layers that have proven themselves to time and again be ineffective.
Sheriff Department Budget Bungle
Authored by: Anonymous on Sunday, July 17 2005 @ 01:46 PM MDT
I wish Mr./ or Ms. Anonymous would identify him or herself. Also take the time and understand county government or nay government for that matter. Its is easy to cbe a nay sayer.
Do away with the Sheriff's department - is this person actually proposing this ? I take this perosn must live in the city and does not care for what goes on in the rest of the county.
It is County government that must deliver many of the functions mandated by the state.
Sheriff Department Budget Bungle
Authored by: Anonymous on Sunday, July 17 2005 @ 04:15 PM MDT
You are an idiot.
Sheriff Department Budget Bungle
Authored by: Anonymous on Sunday, July 17 2005 @ 09:32 PM MDT
I wish you reveal your self ?
Sheriff Department Budget Bungle
Authored by: Anonymous on Sunday, July 17 2005 @ 09:30 PM MDT
And for the record I voted against the budget becuase the way the budget is handled by the County Board.
Have you expressed your concerns to your County Board Supervisor ?
Sheriff Department Budget Bungle
Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, July 19 2005 @ 10:57 AM MDT
First off, I understand Sheriff Brooks will be on a future show. Second off, Mark Harris contributed to the loss of Country USA as he said himself in the Northwestern that he was negotiating with them. Not very well, as it now appears. But here's the thing: He blamed Jane Van De Hey for everything that happened under her watch whether she was directly involved or not; the same is now going to happen to Mark Harris. If he or people like you don't like it: too bad. Thems politics!
Sheriff Department Budget Bungle
Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, July 19 2005 @ 01:49 PM MDT
Lets compare apples to apples here. What did Harris blame Jane for that was the fault of the County Exec before her?
Sheriff Department Budget Bungle
Authored by: Anonymous on Sunday, July 17 2005 @ 01:57 PM MDT
I would hope that the group formed to create a water park would consider placing the park at the Winnebago County Park.
There is plenty of room to expand an easily accessible for all around to get to.
One knock on the County Park is that it’s too far for children to get there by bikes. But that argument could be used for any proposed site, for if built at the old pool site how could someone living across town or the highway be able to get to the water park by use of a bike.
A bus route could be altered to have children and adults alike dropped off right at the door of the water park. And by building it at the County Park families and individuals could be involved in many activities besides swimming while at the County Park.
The water park will need professional staff to maintain it; the County parks staff has that expertise. And with the school district possibly providing the lifeguards the whole area could be part of this project.
By utilizing the County Park the need to find and possibly purchase land for such a facility would not be needed.
I ask you to get behind this idea and contact your county board supervisor and city councilor to get there support, and support private efforts to get the funding to make a water park a reality in the Oshkosh area.
Sheriff Department Budget Bungle
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, July 18 2005 @ 07:48 AM MDT
Please do not place the park in a county facility. You only need to look as far as the Park View debacle and the sheriffs budget to realize we do not want to be tied to them in any way. The park belongs in the inner city.
Sheriff Department Budget Bungle
Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, July 20 2005 @ 02:18 PM MDT
Amen. Keep the County government as far away as possible.
posted by Cheryl Hentz at 9:01 AM
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