[1. CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:19]
MILLAGE RATE DUE TO A PROCEDURAL ERROR WE HAD. PLEASE CALL THE
>> HERE'S. >> VICE MAYOR AYSCUE?
>> HERE'S. >> COMMISSIONER MINSHEW?
>> HERE. >> REPORTER: PLEASE STAND FOR
THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. >> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC WITH WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH
LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. >> ALL RIGHT, THAT WILL BRING US
[4.1 TRUTH IN MILLAGE STATEMENT - Synopsis: In accordance with Chapter 200.065 (4)(d), Florida Statutes, the millage rate for operating expenditures will be publicly announced prior to the adoption of the Resolution which sets the property tax millage rate.]
TO ITEM NUMBER FOUR, OUR TRUTH STATEMENT, PLEASE TAKE US AWAY.>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. WE OWE YOU AN APOLOGY. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IN MY 20 YEARS IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT BUT I EVER HAD TO DO A REHEARING ON THE BUDGET. WE OWE AN APOLOGY TO THE COMMISSION AND THE COMMUNITY. I WILL EXPLAIN WHAT HAPPENED AND SHED LIGHT ON WHY WE'RE HERE, BUT WE SHOULD NEVER BE IN THIS POSITION, AND WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT IT DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN.
LET ME EXPLAIN THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE REVIEWS OUR TRIM PROCESS EVERY YEAR, OUR TRUTH IN MILLAGE PROCESS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE COMMUNICATED PROPERLY WITH THE BUNCH -- PUBLIC ABOUT THE BUDGET PROCESS. LAST YEAR THEY FOUND AN ERROR NEXT SLIDE, JEREMIAH. YOU HAVE CONTROL, OVER THERE? OKAY. OUR PURPOSE TONIGHT IS RELATED TO ADVERTISING ERRORS. IT STARTED LAST YEAR. THERE WERE TWO ERRORS IN 2024, AND ADJACENCY ERROR AND A TYPE OF AD ERROR. THE ADJACENCY ERROR WAS THAT THE BUDGET SUMMARY SHOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE SAME PAGE AS THE PROPOSED TAX INCREASE, AND IT APPEARED ON A SUBSEQUENT PAGE IN THE NEWSPAPER. SO, THAT WAS THE FIRST PROBLEM. THE SECOND PROBLEM IS THAT WE DON'T NEED BOTH OF THESE ADS. WE EITHER HAVE A NOTICE OF BUDGET HEARING, OR A NOTICE OF PROPOSED TAX INCREASE. AS LAST YEAR THE MILLAGE WAS STAYING THE SAME, BUT ASSESSMENTS WERE GOING UP, WHAT WE NEEDED TO PUBLISH WAS THE NOTICE OF PROPOSED TAX INCREASE. THE STATE NOTIFIED US LAST YEAR OF THOSE TWO ERRORS. NEXT SLIDE. THIS IS WHAT WE DID THIS YEAR, WE FIXED THE ADJACENCY ISSUE, WE GOT THE BUDGET SUMMARY ONTO THE SAME PAGE, BUT WE AGAIN RAN THAT NOTICE OF BUDGET HEARING AT. THAT AD WAS IMPROPER, IT SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN IN THE PAPER, IT SHOULD ONLY HAVE BEEN THE NOTICE OF PROPOSED TAX INCREASE AND THE BUDGET SUMMARY. THE GOAL IS TO BE VERY CLEAR AND TRANSPARENT WITH THE PUBLIC ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH THE BUDGET PROCESS, AND THIS IS CONFUSING. WE'RE HAVING THE HEARING, BUT THE REAL NOTICE IS THE NOTICE OF PROPOSED TAX INCREASE. THREE ADVERTISE PROPERTY, AND TO RE-HOLD THIS PUBLIC HEARING, WHICH IS WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY. WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING TONIGHT, AND GIVE ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO SPEAK AN OPPORTUNITY TO, EITHER ABOUT THE MILLAGE OR THE BUDGET. YOU WILL THEN VOTE ON CONVERTING YOUR TENTATIVE MILLAGE TO THE FINAL MILLAGE. WE WILL THEN HAVE THE ADOPTION OF THE BUDGET EVEN THOUGH THE FISCAL YEAR BEGAN A FEW WEEKS AGO ON OCTOBER 1ST. SO WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO FOR THE PUBLIC THAT WAS NOT HERE DURING EITHER OF THE FIRST TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS IS TO DO A RECAP ON THE BUDGET INCLUDES, ALL OF THE FUNDS THERE WERE 30, 32 FUNDS THAT THE CITY HAS TOTALS $240 MILLION. THOSE FUNDS ARE BALANCED, AND WE OFFERED A SURPLUS OF ABOUT $600,000 IN THE GENERAL FUND. WE REDUCED THE NUMBER OF HEADCOUNTS, THE FULL-TIME EQUIVALENTS IN THE CITY, ONE THROUGH ATTRITION, AND THE REMAINDER THROUGH VACANT POSITIONS THAT WE'RE LEAVING UNFILLED. WE ARE CONTINUING AND AGGRESSIVE CAPITAL PROGRAM, $28 MILLION WORTH OF CAPITAL PURCHASES AND CONSTRUCTION. THE GENERAL FUND IS WHAT MOST OF THE GOVERNMENTAL ACTIVITIES TAKES PLACE IN IS BUDGETED AT $44 MILLION WHICH IS UP ABOUT 6 1/2% FROM LAST YEAR. ALL OF THE PROGRAMS THAT THE CITY OFFERS OUR CONTINUED FUNDING FOR THIS YEAR, AND WE MEET OUR RESERVE REQUIREMENT OF 20% CASH RESERVE IN OUR OPERATING BUDGET. WHEN WE LOOK AT THE TYPE OF ACCOUNTS THAT WE HAVE IN THE CITY, WE HAVE 59% OF THE EXPENDITURES GOES TOWARD RESERVES. THE BULK
[00:05:01]
OF THAT IS THE TRUST FUNDS FOR THE PENSION PLANS. AND YOU CAN SEE THOSE SMALLER QUANTITIES FOR PERSONNEL, OPERATING, DEBT, AND RESERVES. WHEN WE LOOK AT ALL THOSE DIFFERENT 30 FUNDS BY CATEGORY, WE CAN START TO GET A SENSE FOR HOW THE MONEY IS STRUCTURED IN THE CITY. THE GENERAL FUND, AGAIN, I MENTIONED IS ABOUT 44 MILLION. THE SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS ARE 12 MILLION.DEBT FUNDS ARE 2 MILLION, CAPITAL CONSTRUCTION IS 20 MILLION. THE ENTERPRISE FUNDS, THOSE ARE OUR BUSINESS -TYPE ACTIVITIES. THOSE ARE 43 MILLION. OUR INTERNAL SERVICE FUNDS, THEY SERVE OTHER AREAS OF THE CITY. 3.1 MILLION. THOSE PENSION PLANS THAT I MENTIONED ARE AT 105 MILLION. THE PENSION PLANS ARE DIVIDED INTO TWO, GENERAL EMPLOYEES AND POLICE AND FIRE. THEY SPEND VERY LITTLE OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR, MOST OF THE FUNDS ARE HELD IN RESERVE, 46 MILLION HELD IN RESERVE FOR THE GENERAL EMPLOYEES PLAN, 54 MILLION HELD IN RESERVE FOR THE POLICE AND FIRE PENSION PLAN. THE DIFFERENCE THERE IS THE EXPENDITURES THAT ARE PAID OUT IN BENEFITS OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR TO CURRENT RETIREES AND THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN ITSELF. ENTERPRISE FUNDS, THESE ARE OUR BUSINESS TYPE ACTIVITIES, SEGREGATED FROM THE REST OF THE CITY FUNDS. THE REVENUE THAT COMES INTO THAT FUND SHOULD COVER ITS EXPENDITURES, WE KEEP THEM SEGREGATED. GOLF, AIRPORT, SANITATION, WASTEWATER, STORM WATER, AND MARINA. YOU CAN SEE THAT THE GENERAL FUND IS GOING TO CONTRIBUTE TO TWO OF THOSE FUNDS THIS YEAR, GOLF AT ABOUT 400,000, AND THE MARINA AT ABOUT 675,000. IN THE CAPITAL FUNDS, WE HAVE A VARIETY OF CAPITAL, WE HAVE THE CAPITAL FUND, THE CAPITAL EXPANSION FUND WHICH IS YOUR IMPACT FEES. WE HAVE THE REMAINDER OF THE ARPA FUNDS WHICH IS GOING TO GO TOWARD STORMWATER PROJECTS THIS YEAR AND THE WASTEWATER IMPROVEMENT CAPITAL FUND. SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE SPENDING MONEY ON THIS YEAR, WE HAVE THE $6 MILLION BUDGETED TOWARD A COUPLE OF PORTIONS OF THE SEAWALL. THOSE WERE STATE-FUNDED GRANTS THROUGH THE RESILIENT FLORIDA PROGRAM.
WE HAVE THE $2 MILLION CONSTRUCTION GRANT AND THE $4 MILLION CONSTRUCTION GRANT. WE'VE GOT 1.1 MILLION IN STREET SERVICING AND SIDEWALKS THAT KICKED OFF THIS WEEK WITH ABOUT HALF OF THE STREET RESURFACING UNDERWAY NOW. $200,000 BUDGETED FOR MLK IMPROVEMENTS, ONE BEACH WALK OVER , $1.3 MILLION IN VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT, YOU HAVE SEEN THAT LIST EARLIER, DIRECTING US TO PROCEED WITH THOSE PURCHASES. ABOUT $2 MILLION IN SEWER IN FUTURE IMPROVEMENTS AND THE AREA SIX DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS THAT I MENTIONED. SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS ARE UNIQUE CREATURES, THEY GET THEIR OWN FUND, THEY HAVE TO BE SEGREGATED FROM THE GENERAL FUND. THAT INCLUDES OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT TRUST FUNDS, THE FORFEITURE FUND, OUR TREE FUND, THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT, IMPACT FEES, THE CEMETERY, AND I POINT OUT HERE THAT THE CEMETERY DOES CARRY $1.5 MILLION IN RESTRICTED RESERVES. THAT'S THE PERPETUAL CARE AND MAINTENANCE FUND.
INTERNAL SERVICE FUNDS, THEY EXIST ONLY TO SERVE OTHER DEPARTMENTS OF THE CITY. SO, OUR FLEET DEPARTMENT, OUR UTILITY DEPARTMENT, OUR UTILITY ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT ARE FUNDED BY OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS. AND FLEET IS THE ONLY ONE THAT WILL BE TRANSFERRING SOME GENERAL FUND REVENUE IN THE AMOUNT OF $300,000. GENERAL FUND. THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT, VITAL PIECE OF THE CITY'S BUDGET. THIS IS THE ONE THAT GETS THE MOST ATTENTION. THIS IS WHERE BASIC GOVERNMENTAL SERVICES ARE FUNDED, THIS IS WHERE PROPERTY TAX REVENUE IS RECEIVED. ALONG WITH OTHER MISCELLANEOUS REVENUES THAT WE HAVE, PROPERTY TAX REVENUES ARE ABOUT 50% OF OUR GENERAL FUND REVENUE. BUT, OUR GENERAL FUND REVENUE WILL BE $44 MILLION. AND WE INCLUDED THE 6.8 MILLION OF REQUIRED RESERVES, AND BELOW THAT ARE THE FOUR FUNDS THAT THE GENERAL FUND WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS YEAR. THE TRANSFER OF 2.5 MILLION TO THE CAPITAL FUND WHICH IS APPROPRIATE, WE USE OUR SALES TAX MONEY TO PAY FOR STREET RESURFACING, EQUIPMENT PURCHASES, THINGS OF THAT NATURE. AND THE THREE THAT I MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY, GOLF, MARINA, AND FLEET. WHEN YOU BREAK APART THE GENERAL FUND, YOU GET A SENSE OF WHERE THE MONEY GOES. BY AND LARGE ITS PUBLIC SAFETY, PUBLIC SAFETY, POLICE, FIRE, IS A HUGE PORTION OF OUR GENERAL FUND. YOU CAN SEE
[00:10:04]
THE BREAKDOWN THERE FOR ALL OF THE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES IN THE GENERAL FUND. THE NEXT STEPS FOR THIS EVENING, I'LL HAVE ATTORNEY PRINTS READ THE TRUTH IN MILLAGE STATEMENT. WE'LL HAVE THE MAYOR OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING, THE PUBLIC HEARING STAYS OPEN FOR THE DURATION OF THE DISCUSSION, WE'LL HAVE THE MILLAGE DISCUSSION AND THE ADOPTION OF THE FINAL MILLAGE, WE'LL HAVE THE BUDGET DISCUSSION AND THE ADOPTION OF THE FINAL BUDGET AND THEN WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AT THE END OF IT. THAT'S ALL I HAVE IN MY PRESENTATION. THERE IS SOME GOOD NEWS, SILVER LINING IN ALL OF THIS, IF YOU WILL, IS THAT TODAY WE RECEIVED WORD FROM THE STATE GOVERNMENT FINANCE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION, THAT WE RECEIVED OUR ACHIEVEMENT FOR EXCELLENCE IN FINANCIAL REPORTING FOR OUR REPORT THAT WE SUBMITTED THIS YEAR. CONGRATULATIONS TO MISS CARLOS AND THE FINANCE TEAM ON ACHIEVING THAT AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE THIS YEAR IN REPORTING. HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE. AS WE MOVE THROUGH THIS PROCESS.>> ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMISSION FOR MS. CAMPBELL
OR STAFF? VICE MAYOR? >> FOR THE PUBLIC'S GENERAL KNOWLEDGE, HERE, I EXPECT IT TO HOLD TRUE, THE COMMISSION HAD A FLAT MILLAGE, CORRECT? WHY WOULD WE HAVE TO ADVERTISE THAT IT'S
A TAX INCREASE? >> BECAUSE PROPERTY VALUES WENT UP, EVEN THOUGH THE MILLAGE RATE STAYED THE SAME, THE TAXPAYER IS PROBABLY , DEPENDING ON THEIR PROPERTY VALUATION, GOING TO PAY MORE IN TAXES THIS YEAR BECAUSE THERE'S TWO FACTORS THAT GO INTO YOUR TAX BILL. HOW MUCH IS YOUR PROPERTY WORTH, HOW MUCH IS THE GOVERNMENT CHARGING YOU FOR THAT? EVEN THOUGH WE STAYED THE SAME, THE ASSESSED VALUES WENT UP, THEREFORE THERE IS A NET
INCREASE TO THE TAXPAYER. >> SO WE ARE GOING TO SEE A TAX
>> AND WE'RE REQUIRED BY LAW TO ADVERTISE, THAT'S --
>> THAT'S WHY IT NEEDS TO SAY NOTICE OF PROPOSED TAX INCREASE.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM THE
COMMISSION? >> I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY, TOO, FOR THE PUBLIC THAT WE DID ADVERTISE THE PROPOSED TAX INCREASE. IT WAS THE TWO ADVERTISEMENT THAT WAS AN OVER ADVERTISEMENT THAT REQUIRED THE CORRECTION. IT PROPERLY IDENTIFIED THAT THERE WOULD BE A PROPOSED TAX INCREASE AS EXPLAINED, DUE TO
THE RECORD. >> THANK YOU. SEEING NO OTHER QUESTIONS, I BELIEVE THAT WILL TAKE US TO OPEN OUR PUBLIC HEARING. PUBLIC HEARING IS OPEN. AND WE'LL MOVE ALONG TO ITEM SIX. I DO HAVE ONE SPEAKER FOR AFTER. 4.1, I APOLOGIZE.
[5.1 ADOPTION OF FINAL OPERATING MILLAGE RATE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025/2026 - RESOLUTION 2025-211 - AMENDING RESOLUTION 2025-158 ADOPTING THE FINAL LEVY OF AD VALOREM TAXES FOR OPERATING EXPENSES FOR THE CITY OF FERNANDINA BEACH, NASSAU COUNTY FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025/2026; AUTHORIZING ADMINISTRATIVE CORRECTION OF SCRIVENER'S ERRORS; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Synopsis: Adopts the final operating millage rate of 4.6849 mills for the Fiscal Year 2025/2026 Budget by remedying the incorrect Truth in Millage (“TRIM”) advertisement in compliance with Section 200.065(3)(a) and (3)(l), Florida Statutes and Rule 12D-17.005(2)(c)20]
>> TRUTH IN MILLAGE STATEMENT, FISCAL YEAR 2025, 2026. PRIOR TO ADOPTION OF THE RESOLUTION THAT SETS THE PROPERTY TAX MILLAGE RATE FOR OPERATING EXPENDITURES, CHAPTER 200.6 054D FLORIDA STATUTES REQUIRES THAT THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT BE PUBLICLY ANNOUNCED. THE TAXING AUTHORITY LEVYING THIS PROPERTY TAX IS THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF FERNANDINA BEACH, THE ROLLBACK RATE IS 4.362 MILS PER 1000 OF ASSESSED VALUE. THE PERCENTAGE INCREASE IS 7.37% OVER THE ROLLBACK MILLAGE RATE . THE OPERATING MILLAGE RATE TO BE LEVIED IS 4.6849 MILS PER 1000
OF ASSESSED VALUE. >> THANK YOU, MISPRINTS. NOW, PER POINT OF ORDER, WE MOVE ALONG THROUGH ITEM FIVE?
>> MOVED TO ITEM FIVE. >> SO WE'LL OPEN OUR PUBLIC HEARING AS DONE RECENTLY, AND ITEM 5.1 IS OUR ADOPTION OF OUR FINAL OPERATING MILLAGE RATE FOR FISCAL YEAR 25, 26. MS.
CAMPBELL? >> I DON'T THINK I HAVE ANYTHING NECESSARILY TO ADD FOR THIS ONE. THIS WOULD JUST BE THE CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION 2025-211, WHICH WOULD ADOPT THE MILLAGE RATE OF 4.6849 FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 25, 26, WHICH IS THE
SAME MILLAGE RATE AS LAST YEAR. >> THANK YOU, MISS CAMPBELL, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMISSION? SEEING NONE, WE WILL MOVE ALONG TO ITEM SIX. OUR FINAL BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING.
>> MAYOR? IF YOU COULD, WE NEED A RESOLUTION TO BE APPROVED, SO
[00:15:01]
WE NEED A MOTION AT A SECOND. >> MY APOLOGIES, I WILL TAKE EMOTION FROM THE COMMISSION. EMIGH I MOVED TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2025-211 , ADOPTING A FINAL LEVY OF AD VALOREM TAXES PROPERTY EXPENSES FOR THE CITY OF FERNANDINA BEACH.
>> I HAVE A MOTION, DO I HAVE A SECOND?
>> SECOND. >> ANY ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION? PLEASE START THE VOTE. AND THAT MOTION PASSES, 4-1, WHICH BRINGS
[6.1 ADOPTION OF FINAL FISCAL YEAR 2025/2026 BUDGET - RESOLUTION 2025-212 - AMENDING RESOLUTION 2025-159 ADOPTING THE FINAL BUDGET FOR THE 2025/2026 FISCAL YEAR, INCLUDING THE FIVE-YEAR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN; AUTHORIZING ADMINISTRATIVE CORRECTION OF SCRIVENER'S ERRORS; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY, AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Synopsis: Adopts the final budget for Fiscal Year 2025/2026.]
US TO ITEM SIX, ADOPTION OF OUR FISCAL YEAR 25, 26 FINAL BUDGETPUBLIC HEARING. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR, THIS WOULD BE CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION 2025 -- 212 AMENDING 159 WHICH ADOPTED OUR FINAL BUDGET AS IDENTIFIED IN THE SLIDES
PREVIOUSLY. >> THANK YOU, MISS CAMPBELL, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMISSION? SEEING NONE, DO I
HAVE A MOTION? >> I WOULD MOVE TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 2025-212 AMENDING RESOLUTION 2025-159 ADOPTING THE FINAL BUDGET FOR THE 25, 26 FISCAL YEAR INCLUDING THE FIVE-YEAR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN.
>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER, DO I HAVE A SECOND?
>> SECOND. >> ANY COMMISSION OR DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, PLEASE START THE VOTE. THAT MOTION PASSES 5-0. WE
[7. PUBLIC COMMENT]
WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND I DO HAVE TWO REQUESTS TO SPEAK FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. FIRST IS MS. JOAN COREY. MS. COREY?WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK? >> SURE. GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.
>> OKAY. I DON'T HAVE MUCH TO SAY, EXCEPT, I WAS LOOKING AT , THE BUDGET THIS AFTERNOON, AND I WAS CONCERNED --
>> CAN YOU GIVE US YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE?
>> JOAN COREY, 408 BEECH STREET. OKAY. I'M CONCERNED THAT THERE WASN'T VERY MUCH FOR PUBLIC SAFETY. IN THE TERMS OF PEOPLE PUBLIC SAFETY. FOR EXAMPLE, I LIVE ON BEACH STREET, THERE IS NO SIDEWALK THAT GOES EAST AND WEST ON THAT STREET. THEN THERE ARE PEOPLE WITH DOGS, PEOPLE WITH FAMILIES, WITH LITTLE CHILDREN , WALKING ALONG THAT STREET ALL THE TIME. AND THEN, WHEN IT'S THE SPECIAL EVENT DOWNTOWN, OF COURSE, WE HAVE CARS PARKING ON BOTH SIDES. AND ONCE AGAIN, IT'S A LOT OF FAMILIES WITH LITTLE CHILDREN USE THAT STREET. THEN, DURING THE DAY, WE HAVE CURRENTLY GOTTEN MORE AND MORE SEMITRUCK RIGS COMING DOWN THAT STREET. AND BUSES TO GET DOWN TO THE RIVERFRONT. TOURIST BUSES. AND, THE OTHER THINGS IS, THEY GET, IN THE EVENING, THE CARS GET VERY FAST. AND THEY REALLY ZIPPED DOWN THAT STREET. BECAUSE WE HAVE A STOP LIGHT, IF WE DIDN'T HAVE A STOPLIGHT ON BEACH, WE WOULDN'T BE GETTING ALL THIS TRAFFIC. SO I'M CONCERNED THAT WE NEED SIDEWALKS GOING FROM MAIN STREET DOWN TO ELM, OR EVEN GUM, MAYBE. BECAUSE YOU SHOULD SEE THESE PEOPLE WALKING ALONG ON A SPECIAL EVENT NIGHT. AND FATS, THAT'S THE BASIC THING. OH, NO, THERE'S ONE OTHER THING. WE DO NEED SOME TRAFFIC SIGNS, THERE. IT WOULD BE GOOD, I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY HAS YET, BUT, WE NEED SOMEBODY TO WATCH, COME DOWN AND STUDY THAT STREET ON A BUSY DAY.
AND COUNT THE NUMBER OF CARS, COUNT THE NUMBER OF SEMI'S, ET CETERA, ET CETERA, UNTIL WE GET A LITTLE PLAN THAT IS SAFE FOR ALL THE PEOPLE. WE'RE STILL GETTING PEOPLE BUYING HOMES ON THAT STREET. SO, WE NEED, AT THIS POINT IN TIME, I THINK, WE NEED STOP SIGNS IN CERTAIN STREETS. BUT I HAVE NOTICED
[00:20:05]
PEOPLE , A LOT OF TRAFFIC COMING OUT OF. SO, WE NEED A LITTLE STUDY ON THAT STREET. AND IF WE GET A LITTLE MORE SIDEWALKS, IT'S GOING TO COST A LITTLE MORE MONEY IN OUR BUDGET, SO, THAT'S MY COMMENT ON THE BUDGET. RIGHT NOW. THANK YOUVERY MUCH. NEXT -- >> NEXT I HAVE PAT GAST.
>> GOOD EVENING, PAT GAST, 801 WHITE STREET. I HAVE MUCH TO SAY ABOUT THE BUDGET, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO SAY IT. I DON'T REALLY LIKE BEING UP HERE. I WAS LOOKING AT THE PAPER, AT THE BUDGET, AND WONDERED, WHY IT WAS IT LOOKS SO PECULIAR TO ME.
FINALLY, I FIGURED OUT, IS THAT AT THE END OF THIS YEAR AND I'M JUST LOOKING AT ONE COLUMN, GO TO THE BIG COLUMN AT THE END.
JUST A GENERAL FUND, AT THE END OF THE YEAR WE WILL HAVE 7 MILLION, 500 , $7,500,919 LEFT OVER. UNDER RESERVES. AND AT THE BEGINNING OF THE NEXT YEAR, THAT'S HOW MUCH WE PERCEIVED TO HAVE LEFT OVER. THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE 11,000,195 $879. BALANCE FORWARD. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING WHEN YOU'RE WORKING WITH GOVERNMENT, YOU DON'T HAVE MONEY LEFT OVER AND MONEY BALANCE FORWARD, YOU PUT THAT IN A RESERVE, AND A RESERVE IS RESERVED. THAT'S YOUR RAINY DAY FUND. THAT'S WHAT YOU DO IF THE BRIDGE FALLS DOWN. IF THE HURRICANE SHOULD COME. IF ALL BREAKS LOOSE, THAT'S WHERE YOU GET YOUR MONEY. THIS BUDGET, YOU HAVE SPENT EVERY PENNY THAT MAY COME HERE. EVERY PENNY YOU HOPE TO GET . SO, IF YOU LEAVE THE BALANCE FORWARD OUT, AND YOU LEAVE THE RESERVE OUT, THEN YOU PLAN ON SPENDING, AND WE'LL JUST ROUND IT OFF, $37 MILLION.
YOU PLAN ON RECEIVING $34 MILLION. THAT'S A $3 MILLION DIFFERENCE. SO, THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME SHAVING GOING ON. NOW, THIS, WHAT I'M GOING TO SAY, IS ALMOST SACRILEGE, BUT I'M GOING TO SAY IT. UNDER HUMAN SERVICES, THIS CITY IS GOING TO SPEND $142,500. HUMAN SERVICES IS GIVING MONEY TO NONPROFITS.
WHICH, OF COURSE, EVERYBODY THINKS IS A WONDERFUL THING TO DO AND EVEN MONEY TO NONPROFIT IS A WONDERFUL THING TO DO, AND I DO GIVE MONEY TO NONPROFITS. WHAT I DON'T THINK IS A WONDERFUL THING TO DO IS FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO DECIDE THAT I NEED TO DO IT, AND I PAY MY TAXES, AND YOU TAKE MY TAX MONEY, AND GIVE IT AWAY. LET ME DECIDE WHO I'LL GIVE MY MONEY TO. I'M REALLY GOOD AT IT. AND IF YOU TOOK THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY WE'RE GIVING AWAY, DIVIDED IT BY THE 800 HOUSEHOLDS THAT LIVE HERE IN
THE CITY, >> I'M KEEPING THE TIME ON MY PHONE, JUST TO GIVE YOU A HEADS UP.
>> IF YOU TOOK THE 800 PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE, AND DIVIDED IT BY 52 WEEKS OUT OF THE YEAR, EVERY HOUSEHOLD COULD GIVE $343 A WEEK. AND COME UP WITH THAT AMOUNT.
>> THANK YOU, MISCAST. >> YOU'RE WELCOME. THE REST OF THE DEPARTMENTS, SHAVE IT OFF BY 10% AND YOU COME OUT
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.