[1. CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:09]
>> GOOD EVENING, FOLKS AND WELL KILOMETER TO OUR AUGUST 4TH
CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP. >> MAYOR ANTUN? VICE MAYOR AYSCUE? COMMISSIONER TUTEN?
>> PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
[4.1 PROPOSED ANNUAL BUDGET - Fiscal Year 2026/2027]
>> OUR TOPIC OF THE EVENING IS OUR ANNUAL BUDGET.
MS. SARAH CAMPBELL WILL BE LEADING OUR PRESENTATION FOLLOWED BY QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMISSION.
TAKE US AWAY. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS.
I AM SO PLEASED TO PRESENT OUR BUDGET TO YOU TONIGHT.
THIS IS KIND OF A BROAD OVERVIEW OF ALL OF THE FUNDS AND THEN WE WILL GET INTO SOME SPECIFICS OF THE GENERAL FUND AS WELL.
BUT I WANTED TO POINT OUT SOME HIGHLIGHTS, JUST TO CONSIDER THE WHOLE PICTURE HERE, 30 DIFFERENT FUNDS THAT WE HAVE TO WORK ON THIS YEAR. ALL 30 OF THOSE FUNDS ARE BALANCED. WE DO MAINTAIN OUR 10% GENERAL FUND RESERVE. I THINK THE HEADLINES OF THIS YEAR'S BUDGET PROCESS ARE REALLY ABOUT TWO OF OUR KEY THINGS, THAT GULF AND MARINA ARE SELF-SUPPORTING THIS YEAR.
THEY DO NOT REQUIRE ANY CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE GENERAL FUND FOR PERSONNEL, OPERATIONS OR CAPITAL.
THERE IS A CAVEAT ON MARINA RELATED TO THE WATERFRONT PROJECT. WE ARE PRESENTING TO YOU LATER TONIGHT THE MAJOR EXPANSION OF THE STORMWATER PROGRAM AND WE'VE ALSO HAD A PRETTY DRAMATIC INCREASE IN OUR CAPITAL PROJECT
PROGRAM. >> SO STARTING OUT, I WANTED TO SHOW YOU THE FUNDS BY TYPE FIRST.
THOSE ARE THE BIG CLUSTERS OF FUNDS THAT WE REFER TO.
THE GENERAL FUND IS AT $49 MILLION, UP ABOUT 9%.
THE SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS ARE AT 13 MILLION.
THEY'RE UP ABOUT 23%. WE HAVE A DEBT FUND THAT'S AT 3.2 MILLION, UP ABOUT 26%. CAPITAL FUNDS AT 32 MILLION, WHICH LOOKS FLAT BUT THERE'S ACTUALLY A GOOD INCREASE IN THERE IN THE 300 BOND. THE ENTER PRICE FUNDS ARE AT 55 MILLION, A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN ENTERPRISE FUNDS THERE AT 69%. OUR INTERNAL SERVICE FUNDS THAT TAKE CARE OF THINGS WITHIN THE CITY AT 3.4 MILLION, UP 8%.
AND THEN OUR IF HE DID FEUD OR T FUNDS, THOSE ARE DOWN PRIMARILY DUE TO INVESTMENT DECLINES. SO COMPARED TO LAST YEAR WE WERE AT 240 MILLION FOR ALL FUNDS, SO THIS YEAR WE'RE AT 226 MILLION, SO WE'RE DOWN 14. PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF THOSE FIDUCIARY FUNDS BUT ALSO THE COMPLETION OF THE ASH STREET PROJECT, THAT WAS THE ARPA FUND AND SPENDING DOWN OF THAT ARPA FUND REALLY GETS THAT OFF OF OUR BOOKS FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE COVID. THE GLIMPSE OF THE GENERAL FUND, REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES ARE BALANCED THERE AT 49 MILLION AND WE DO SHOW THAT RESERVE OF $7 MILLION OR 20% IS INCLUDED IN OUR FUND THERE. LOOKING AT THE SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS, THESE ARE THE ONES THAT HAVE SPECIAL RULES ASSOCIATED WITH THEM, ON HOW THE MONEY CAN BE SPENT.
THEY ARE SORT OF LIKE ENTERPRISE FUNDS BUT THEY HAVE MORE RULES ASSOCIATED WITH THEM. THEY'RE WIDE-RANGING.
THE SMALLEST ONE THERE IS OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT TRUST FUND AT 14,000. ALL OF THAT IS HELD IN RESERVE.
IT'S PRETTY LIMITED WHAT WE COULD SPEND THAT ON.
BUT THAT FUND HAS BEEN GROWING YEAR TO YEAR.
UP TO OUR LARGEST ONE OF OUR UTILITY TAX FUND AT 4.3 MILLION, WHICH IS UP ABOUT 32%. I THINK THE ONLY OTHER THING I WOULD -- I HAD WANTED TO POINT OUT TWO THINGS ON THIS SLIDE.
THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF SURPLUS IN THE GENERAL FUND ABOUT $7900, I ASKED FINANCE TO TRANSFER THAT INTO THE CONSERVATION LAND ACQUISITION FUND, SO YOU'LL SEE THAT TRANSFER FROM THE GENERAL FUND THERE.
AND THEN I ALWAYS LIKE TO POINT OUT THE CEMETERY FUND, 170, THERE IS A LARGE PORTION OF THAT FUND HAS THE RESTRICTED RESERVE.
THAT'S THE PERPETUAL CARE AND MAINTENANCE FUND.
SO THAT IS SET ASIDE IN A SPECIAL RESERVE.
ONE DEBT SERVICE FUND, THAT'S OUR UTILITY DEBT SERVICE FUND, THAT'S AT $3.2 MILLION, UP 26% AND IT DOES HAVE A RESERVE AS
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WELL, 800,000. THREE CAPITAL FUNDS.ONE I MENTIONED, THE ARPA FUND ROLLED OFF THIS YEAR, SO WE'RE JUST TALKING ABOUT CAPITAL. CAPITAL EXPANSION AND WASTEWATER IMPROVEMENT ACCOUNTS. YOU CAN SEE THE DRAMATIC INCREASE THAT WE ARE SPENDING IN THE 300 FUND THIS YEAR, UP 38%, $16 MILLION IN CAPITAL EXPENDITURES THIS YEAR.
THAT MONEY TYPICALLY FOR THE MOST PART COMES AS A TRANSFER FROM THE GENERAL FUND, SO YOU CAN SEE THAT TRANSFER OF 5.2 MILLION FROM THE GENERAL FUND TO THE CAPITAL.
CAPITAL EXPANSION, THOSE ARE WHAT WE OFTEN REFER TO AS THE IMPACT FEE FUNDS. THERE'S FOUR OF THEM: POLICE, FIRE, GENERAL ADMINISTRATION AND PARKS.
WE SPENT DOWN QUITE A BIT THIS YEAR.
WE SPENT DOWN THE $2 MILLION TO PURCHASE 115 SOUTH 2ND STREET, SO WE'RE GOING TO HOLD ABOUT 2.2 MILLION IN RESERVE BETWEEN THOSE FOUR ACCOUNTS. AND THEN WASTEWATER IMPROVEMENTS, IT'S DOWN ABOUT 20% BUT AGAIN WE'RE HOLDING THE BULK OF THAT IN RESERVE FOR FUTURE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS TO THE WASTEWATER SYSTEM. LOOKING AT OUR ENTERPRISE FUNDS... LOTS OF ACTIVITY HERE. SO YOU CAN SEE THAT GULF IS UP 7% THIS YEAR. THERE IS NO RESERVE BUT THERE'S ALSO NO TRANSFER IN. SO WE GOT IT TO BREAK EVEN.
WE DIDN'T GET TO START BUILDING THAT RESERVE FUND YET BUT ONE OF THE FIRST STEPS WAS JUST GETTING IT TO BREAK EVEN, AND REVENUES ARE UP IN ALL SECTORS IN GULF, WHICH IS A GREAT SIGN THERE.
AIRPORT WE'RE DOWN ABOUT 13%. AGAIN HOLDING ABOUT 700,000 IN RESERVE FOR FUTURE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS.
SANITATION IS DOING WELL, UP 6%, STRONG RESERVES FOR THE FUTURE PURCHASE OF CAPITAL EQUIPMENT THERE.
WASTEWATER, WATER, HOLDING STEADY, AGAIN LARGE RESERVES FOR FUTURE IMPROVEMENTS. STORMWATER: DRAMATIC INCREASE.
BASICALLY, WE'RE GOING FROM JUST A LITTLE OVER A MILLION DOLLAR FUND TO A 6 MILLION-DOLLAR FUND. SOME OF THAT IS RELATED TO THE PROPOSED RATE INCREASE THAT WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT TONIGHT.
THE OTHER PIECE OF THAT IS BORROWING.
SO THERE'S A PIECE OF BORROWED MONEY IN THERE THAT WOULD GIVE US THE ABILITY TO START MAKING SOME OF THOSE CAPITAL PURCHASES.
BUT AGAIN, WE ARE KEEPING SOME RESERVE THERE TO START FUNDING SOME CAPITAL EQUIPMENT PURCHASES IN STORMWATER.
AND THEN MARINA, UP -- IT'S AT 13 MILLION, A LARGE PART OF THE MARINA WATERFRONT REDEVELOPMENT IS IN THE MARINA BUDGET, SO THAT'S WHY THAT ONE LOOKS SO BIG.
NO RESERVE HELD MARINA. AND WHEN WE MET LAST WEEK TO SET THE PROPOSED MILLAGE RATE AND YOU RECOMMENDED INCREASING THAT MILLAGE RATE TO COVER 1.5 MILLION IN CASE PAID PARKING GOES AWAY, THIS IS WHERE WE PUT IT.
SO PRIOR TO LAST WEEK, THERE WAS NO TRANSFER IN FROM THE GENERAL FUND, BUT AFTER WE INCREASED THAT MILLAGE, WE NEEDED A PLACE TO PUT THAT 1.5 MILLION, SO THIS IS HERE IN THE MARINA FUND WHERE YOU'LL SEE THAT MONEY COMING IN, SPECIFICALLY FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT. INTERNAL SERVICE FUNDS, THESE ARE THE THREE FUNDS THAT JUST SERVICE INTERNAL DEPARTMENTS OF THE CITY. ALL THREE FUNDS ARE BALANCED THIS YEAR. THEY'RE APPROPRIATELY CHARGING INTERNAL ACCOUNTS FOR THE SERVICES THEY PROVIDE.
LAST YEAR A COUPLE OF THESE WERE UPSIDE DOWN AND THE GENERAL FUND WAS SUPPORTING THEM. BUT WE HAVE RIGHT-SIZED ALL OF THEIR BACKBILLING TO THE DEPARTMENTS.
SO THEY'RE ALL IN A STRONG POSITION THIS YEAR AS WELL.
AND LASTLY, THOSE TWO PENSION PLANS, BOTH DOWN OVER 30%, MAJOR DECLINES IN INVESTMENTS. BUT WE CONTINUE TO HOLD THE MAJORITY OF THESE FUNDS IN RESERVE FOR FUTURE BENEFIT PAYMENTS SO I SHOWED YOU EACH OF THESE SECTIONS ALL BROKEN OUT INTO THEIR INDIVIDUAL PIECES. THIS IS WHAT ALL 30 ACCOUNTS LOOK LIKE WHEN WE PUT IT ALL TOGETHER.
YOU CAN SEE THAT THEY ALL TOTAL $226 MILLION.
THEY ARE ALL BALANCED. YOU CAN SEE ALL OF THE RESERVE ACCOUNTS THERE, ABOUT 92 MILLION IS HELD IN RESERVE THROUGH THE VARIOUS ACCOUNTS. AND THEN THE HANDFUL OF TRANSFERS THAT I MENTIONED, ABOUT $8,000 TO CONSERVATION, 5200 TO CAPITAL AND 1.5 MILLION TO THE MARINA.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PERSONNEL AS A WHOLE, I WANT TO MENTION A FEW CHANGES THAT HAPPENED THIS YEAR. FIRST OF ALL MID-YEAR WE BROUGHT THE MARINA IN HOUSE, SO THAT ADDED THREE FULL-TIME AND SEVEN PART-IME EMPLOYEES TO OUR ROSTER.
THE PROPOSED STORMWATER PROGRAM ENHANCES THE LEVEL OF
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MAINTENANCE, SO WE'VE ADDED THREE FULL-TIME POSITIONS IN STORMWATER. AND AT YOUR STRATEGIC PLANNING SESSION, YOU RECOMMENDED THE ADDITION OF A CHIEF RESILIENCY OFFICER THAT HAS BEEN PLACED IN UTILITY ADMINISTRATION, WHICH IS SPLIT BILLED TO WATER, SEWER AND STORMWATER, EQUALLY.SO ANY OF THE POSITION INCREASES THAT WE HAD THIS YEAR WERE ALL IN ENTERPRISE FUNDS. WE DID CONTINUE TO REDUCE SOME UNFILLED POSITIONS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
AND MOSTLY IN PARKS AND A LITTLE BIT IN GOLF.
THERE WERE SOME VACANT POSITIONS THAT HAVE BEEN HELD OPEN FOR QUITE A WHILE SO WE ELIMINATED THOSE.
THERE WERE ALSO A COUPLE OF INTERNAL TRANSFERS WHERE APPROPRIATE, WHERE MAYBE SOMEBODY'S POSITION WAS FUNDED IN MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS AND IT MADE SENSE TO REALIGN THEM TO ONE DEPARTMENT OR ANOTHER. SO WE TURNED THOSE UP.
THE NET INCREASE IN POSITIONS IS 5 TO THE CITY, BUT AGAIN, WE ADDED QUITE A FEW. BUN WE ALSO ELIMINATED SOME AS WELL. THE WAGES ACROSS ALL DIVISIONS IS AN AVERAGE INCREASE OF 6%. DIGGING INTO THE GENERAL FUND A LITTLE BIT... HERE IS THE BREAKDOWN OF OUR GENERAL FUND REVENUES. 40% OF OUR -- 47%, EXCUSE ME, OF OUR GENERAL FUND REVENUES COME FROM PROPERTY TAXES.
THE NEXT LARGEST CHUNK IS CASH BALANCE FORWARD, MONEY THAT'S UNSPENT OR OUR RESERVE THAT ROLLS FORWARD TO NEXT YEAR.
7.5% IN TRANSFERS IN FROM OTHER FUNDS.
WE'LL TALK ABOUT THOSE IN A MOMENT.
A LITTLE OVER 6.5% IN SALES AND FUEL TAX.
AND THEN A HANDFUL OF SMALLER ONES.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT THAT PERMITS, CHARGES FOR SERVICES, RECREATIONAL CHARGES AND INTEREST ARE ALL 2% OR LESS EACH. SO THEY ARE NOT BIG PARTS OF THE GENERAL FUND REVENUE SOURCE. YOU CAN SEE THEM IDENTIFIED THERE AND THE AMOUNT AND THE CHANGE FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
PROPERTY TAX UP 11%. A NUMBER OF THESE ARE RELATIVELY FLAT. WE DID REMOVE THE PILOT PAYMENT FROM OPA, NOT KNOWING IF THAT IS GOING TO CONTINUE.
I THINK THEY HAVE LITIGATION THAT'S IN APPEAL RIGHT NOW.
SO WE JUST TOOK IT OUT TO BE ON THE SAFE SIDE.
CHARGES FOR SERVICES ARE UP 2.8%.
RECREATIONAL CHARGES ARE UP 8%. FINES AND FORFEITURES HAVE BEEN DECLINING SO WE PROJECTED THAT DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY.
INTEREST EARNINGS ARE UP. THAT'S NICE TO SEE.
WE'VE GOT A 13% INCREASE IN OUR INTEREST EARNINGS.
REIMBURSEMENTS FROM OTHER FUNDS IS SIGNIFICANT.
SO OUR ENTERPRISE FUNDS, AIRPORT, GOLF, MARINA, WATER, WASTEWATER AND STORMWATER, ALL UTILIZE GENERAL FUND SERVICES LIKE HR OR IT OR LEGAL AND THEY'RE NOT ALWAYS APPROPRIATELY BEING BILLED FOR THOSE SERVICES. IN OTHER WORDS, IF THEY WERE A TRUE BUSINESS STANDING ON THEIR OWN, THEY WOULD HAVE TO PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES. SO WE HAVE STARTED TO TRUE THOSE UP AND, WHERE APPROPRIATE, MARINA IS ABLE TO MAKE A CONTRIBUTION TO THE GENERAL FUND FOR THE FIRST TIME.
SO THAT HAS INCREASED THOSE TRANSFERS INTO THE GENERAL FUND.
AND THEN OUR CASH BALANCE FORWARD IS UP JUST SLIGHTLY, A LITTLE OVER 1.5%. ONE OTHER -- WE HAVE A UTILITY TAX FUND. WE WERE ABLE TO INCREASE OUR TRANSFER OUT OF THE UTILITY TAX FUND BY ABOUT A MILLION DOLLARS.
THAT'S THE FUND WHERE WE COLLECT ELECTRICITY TAXES, NATURAL GAS TAXES, TAXES ON THE SALE OF UTILITIES OR PHONE SERVICES AND THEN IT ROLLS INTO THE GENERAL FUND.
THAT FUND HAS BEEN GROWING SO WE WERE ABLE TO INCREASE THAT TRANSFER THIS YEAR BY ABOUT A MILLION DOLLARS.
AND THERE YOU CAN SEE HOW OUR GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES ARE MADE UP. 37% OF OUR GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES ARE ON PUBLIC SAFETY.
16% ARE ON GENERAL GOVERNMENT. I SHOULD HAVE JOTTED DOWN ALL THESE NUMBERS BECAUSE THE COLORS DON'T -- RESERVES ARE ABOUT 14%.
PARKS AND RECREATION LOOKS LIKE 10%.
AND THEN YOU CAN SEE THE PERCENT CHANGE YEAR OVER YEAR FROM CURRENT YEAR BUDGETED TO NEXT YEAR'S PROPOSED CHANGES.
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GENERAL GOVERNMENT, WHICH IS OUR TYPICAL ADMINISTRATIVE DEPARTMENTS, IS UP ABOUT 4.5%. ALL OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY DIVISIONS ARE UP ABOUT 4.8%. TRANSPORTATION, WHICH IS OUR STREETS DEPARTMENT, IS UP 7%. ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT, THIS IS OUR DOWNTOWN DEPARTMENT, IS UP 9%.WE HAD INCREASED EXPENDITURES HERE RELATED TO THE NEW WATERFRONT PARK COMING ONLINE AND ENHANCED MAINTENANCE DOWNTOWN. OUR CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS ARE FLAT AT 142,000. LIBRARY IS DOWN A LITTLE BIT.
WE ONLY TAKE CARE OF CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS AT THE LIBRARY SO THIS SOMEWHAT DEPENDS ON WHAT'S IN OUR SCHEDULE OF IMPROVEMENTS AND REPAIRS FOR THAT FACILITY. PARKS AND RECREATION IS UP 2.5% TO 5.2 MILLION. TRANSFERS, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, THOSE ARE UP 66% AND OUR CONTINGENCY, I HAVE IT IN AT 500,000, WHICH IS EQUIVALENT TO ABOUT 1% OF GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES, SO THAT'S DOWN FROM THE CURRENT YEAR.
AND THEN HOLDING STEADY ON RESERVES AT 7 MILLION.
SO THE GENERAL FUND TOTAL THERE YOU SEE IS.
ON CHARITABLE WE HAVE HAD TWO REQUESTS COME IN SINCE WE COMPILED THE BUDGET AND REQUESTED THOSE APPLICATIONS, IF YOU WILL. WE HAVE A REQUEST FOR $8,000 FROM CONSERVE NASA FOR AIR QUALITY MONITORING.
AND WE HAVE AN ADDITIONAL REQUEST FROM THE COUNCIL ON AGING RELATED TO THE PEPPERTREE APARTMENTS TRANSITION, TO HELP, AMONG OTHER ENTITIES, FUND A HOUSING TRANSITION COORDINATION AND SOME DOWN PAYMENT SINCE FOR PEOPLE WHO MAY BE DISRUPTED IN THAT CHANGE AT THE PEPPERTREE APARTMENTS.
SO THOSE HAVE NOT BEEN INCLUDED BUT WANTED YOU TO KNOW ABOUT THOSE. AND WE HAVE ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST ON BOTH OF THOSE ITEMS. SO AT THIS TIME, I GUESS I WANT TO THANK ALL OF THE DIRECTORS AND OUR DEPUTY CITY MANAGERS AND MISS CARLIS AND MISBROWN FOR HELPING COMPILE THE BUDGET AND THEY'VE BEEN REALLY ADAPTABLE CONSIDERING WE IMPLEMENTED NEW SOFTWARE THIS YEAR, WHEN I WAS AN EXTRA CHALLENGE ON TOP OF COMPILING EVERYBODY'S NUMBERS. BUT AT THIS POINT WE'RE HAPPY TO DISCUSS IT, ANSWER QUESTIONS AND THEN REALLY GET DIRECTION FROM YOU AS TO WHAT YOU WANT TO SEE MOVING FORWARD FORWARD.
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU.
I WOULD PERMANENTLY LIKE TO START WITH A COMPLIMENT BECAUSE WHEN I FIRST BECAME A COMMISSIONER BEING I BELIEVE THE GOLF COURSE WAS RECEIVING UPWARDS OF 800 TO $900,000 OF SUBSIDY AND THE ARENA AS WELL SO WANT TO GIVE ALL THE DIRECTORS A REAL KUDOS THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO PUT 1.5-ISH MILLION BACK INTO THE GENERAL FUND THAT'S NOT BEING SUBSIDIZED, AND THAT'S WONDERFUL. IF ANY OF MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS HAVE QUESTIONS, I'LL TAKE EITHER LIGHTS OR JUST STAY YOUR PIECE. COMMISSIONER TUTEN? THING -- I KNOW I TALKED TO YOU ABOUT IT BUT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PUBLIC HEARS IT AND THAT WE POTENTIALLY DISCUSS THIS, IN PARKS AND REC ON PAGE 37, THAT MONSTER 4,000% INCREASE IN [INDISCERNIBLE] LEASE, $355,000 IN CASE WE NEED TO PAY THE AIRPORT -- 350,000 IN AS A PAYMENT TO AIRPORT TO LEASE PROPERTY AT [INDISCERNIBLE]. WE DON'T KNOW THAT IT WILL COME TO THAT. IT COULD GO AWAY COMPLETELY, IF WE DECIDE TO MAKE A PURCHASE THAT COULD BE APPLIED TOWARDS A PURCHASE OR A DOWN PAYMENT, BUT WE WANTED TO HAVE A PLACEHOLDER IN JUST THE FAA SAYS IT'S TIME TO START MAKING PAYMENT ON THIS
LAND. >> OKAY AND THEN I HAVE A PLEA FOR SOME MORE MORE THAN $7,999 FOR LAND CONSERVATION.
IN FACT COULD YOU PUT UP THAT ONE SLIDE THAT I GAVE YOU.
IT'S THE VERY FIRST ONE. SO I KNOW WE WENT TO THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE MILLAGE RATE BECAUSE WE'RE NOT SURE WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO PAID PARKING, BUT IF WE WERE TO DROP BACK TO ONE OF
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THESE, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THESE TWO, THE CURRENT MILLAGE -- MAINTAINING THE CURRENT MILLAGE RATE OR GOING TO THE MODIFIED RATE, WHERE SARAH BUILT THE BUDGET, IT'S A .14 DIFFERENCE WHICH IS ABOUT $700,000.SO MY QUESTION IS WHEN WE COME TO KEPT, WHEN DO WE MAKE THIS DECISION, IN SEPTEMBER WE MAKE OUR FINAL DECISION --
>> YES, SO WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING ON WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 3RD WHICH IS YOUR FIRST PUBLIC HEARING.
AND ANYONE YOUR YOUR FINAL PUBLS ON SEPTEMBER 15TH.
SO MY GRANDMOTHER WOULD SAY I WOULD LIKE TO PUT THIS BEE IN YOUR BONNET THAT WHEN WE CHOOSE A RATE IN SEPTEMBER THAT WE THOUGHT WE WOULD CHOOSE TO PUT SOME MONEY INTO -- I THINK IT WOULD BE HARD TO FIND A SINGLE RESIDENT IN THE CITY WHO WOULD NOT WANT US TO BUY AND PRESERVE MORE LAND AND MORE TREES.
AND I PUT UP ALL THOSE ASSESSED VALUES BECAUSE THAT'S HOW MUCH MORE YOU WOULD HAVE TO PAY IF WE PUT IN $700,000 -- SO IT WOULD BE A 94-DOLLAR DIFFERENCE FOR HER.
FOR THE VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE, IT WOULD BE PENNIES A DAY.
>> AND I WILL TELL YOU THE SAME THING I TOLD YOU LAST YEAR WHEN WE HAD THIS CONVERSATION... IS THAT WHEN I SEE A LIST OF PROPOSED PROPERTIES AND THEIR VALUE AND WHY WE WOULD WANT TO BUY THEM, I WOULD CONSIDER IT, BUT TO JUST BLINDLY SET MONEY ASIDE WITHOUT HAVING A CLEAR PLAN, TO ME JUST DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. AND I HAVE HAD THIS CONVERSATION WITH THE FEE STAFF. I BELIEVE THEY ARE WORK ON SOMETHING. BUT WE REALLY NEED TO SEE A CONVERSATION PLAN NOT JUST FOR FUTURE PROPERTIES BUT TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE TAKING CARE OF OUR CURRENT PROPERTIES AND THEN I'M HAPPY TO TALK ABOUT HOW WE COULD INCREASE THE CONSERVATION FUND.
>> CAN I GO BACK -- AND THAT'S TOTALLY FAIR.
I COMPLETELY GET IT. BUT LET'S SAY THE NEW QUALIFICATION MANAGER, SHE HAS BEEN TASKED WITH PUTTING TOGETHER A PLAN. LET'S SAY SHE HAS PUT TOGETHER A PLAN THIS YEAR. SHE HAS NO MONEY, SHE HAS TO WAIT FOR US FOR NEXT YEAR OR -- WHAT IS THERE, 200,000 IN THERE
>> IF WE GIVE HER SOME MORE AND NEXT YEAR --
>> IT'S NOT A PLAN. WE'RE NOT -- WITHOUT A CLEAR PLAN, JOYCE AND A CLEAR PATH FORWARD TO SAY THESE ARE THE NEXT FIVE PROPERTIES WE WANT AND WHY AND THEN WHAT ARE WE DOING?
>> I COMPLETELY AGREE. >> IT'S NOT LIKE WE JUST GOT --
>> WELL, NOT COMPLETELY. >> WELL, IT'S NOT LIKE WE JUST LAST WEEK GOT A CONSERVATION MANAGER.
WE'VE HAD A CONSERVATION MANAGER FOR A WHILE AND I ASKED FOR THIS LAST YEAR AND WE STILL DON'T HAVE IT.
SO LET'S GET OUR ACT TOGETHER AND THEN IT MAKES MORE SENSE TO TALK ABOUT HOW MUCH MONEY WE NEED TO GO FIND.
>> BUT I -- I'LL DISAGREE WITH THE LOGIC.
I THINK THERE ARE SO MANY PROPERTIES ALONG SCAM BIA SLOUGH THAT FLOODS, ALONG EGEN'S CREEK THAT FLOODS --
>> I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO A LIST THAT SAYS WHY -- THAT TELLS ME
THE STORY AS TO WHY -- >> YOU GUYS ARE KILLING ME.
YOU GUYS ARE KILLING ME. I'LL COME BACK IN SEPTEMBER WITH A BETTER ARGUMENT.
>> ANY QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? >> NO, GO AHEAD.
>> ANY OF THE COMMISSIONERS HAVE QUESTIONS FOR MS. CAMPBELL OR
OUR STAFF DIRECTORS? >> CAN I TALK ABOUT PERSONNEL A LITTLE? SO OF THE 5 HEAD COUNT THAT WE'RE ADDING TO THE BUDGET THIS YEAR, HOW MANY OF THOSE ARE IN ENTERPRISE FUNDS VERSUS HOW MANY WILL BE COMING OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND? BECAUSE I'M MORE CONCERNED ABOUT JEOPARDIZE FUND HEAD COUNT GENERAL FUND HEAD COUNT THAN I AM ABOUT ENTERPRISE HEAD COUNT, BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO TAKE CARE
OF THEIR OWN. >> I THINK -- THIS IS VERY
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CONFUSING FOR ME TO LOOK AT. PARKS IS DOWN ONE, TWO, THREE AND A HALF. POLICE IS DOWN A HALF, THAT'S 4.PLANNING IS DOWN A HALF, THAT'S 4.5.
YEAH I THINK GENERAL FUND IS DOWN 4.5.
>> YOU SAID DOWN? >> YES, SIR.
>> LESS THAN LAST YEAR. >> AND THEN ENTERPRISE -- I KNOW WE'RE ADDING 3 TO STORMWATER AND THE CHIEF RESILIENCY OFFICER SO
AND THE MARINA POSITIONS -- >> THREE IN THE MARINA.
>> SO THE GENERAL FUND IS DOWN 4.5 BUT WE'VE BROUGHT IN 3 PLUS
POINTS UP IN -- >> 7 PLUS 3.5 PART-TIME, 10.5
FTES. >> SO WE GREW BY 10 AND A HALF HALFFTES SO THAT STILL MAKES US POSITIVE SIX.
>> BUT NOT IN THE GENERAL. IN THE GENERAL WE'RE DOWN.
>> THE GENERAL FUND IS DOWN. SOME OF THESE MIGHT BE JUST
SHIFTS -- >> BUT THE MARINA FOLKS ARE ENTERPRISE FUND, RIGHT. SO I KIND OF DON'T CARE ABOUT
THEM, YOU KNOW. >> STORMWATER IS ENTERPRISE
>> AND CHIEF RESILIENCE OFFICER IS ENTERPRISE FUND.
>> SO WE'RE DOWN 4 IN THE GENERAL FUND.
>> SO YOU SAID WE HAD 5 HEAD COUNT INCREASES SO RESAYING THAT ALL 5 OF THOSE ARE IN ENTERPRISE FUNDS?
>> NO. WELL -- ALL INCREASES WERE IN ENTERPRISE FUNDS. THE OFFSETS WERE IN THE GENERAL FUND. THE DECREASES WERE IN THE GENERAL FUND. THE INCREASES WERE IN ENTERPRISE
FUNDS. >> SO ARE WE REALLY SAYING THAT
THE GENERAL FUND IS DOWN 4.5? >> I BELIEVE SO.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ONE OF THOSE ISN'T A TRANSFER.
BUT I COUNT -- >> BECAUSE YOU KNOW, THE ENTERPRISE FUND HAS TO FUND THEIR OWN HEAD COUNT.
SO TO ME THAT'S ALMOST LIKE -- THAT'S ONE WHOLE LIKE SEPARATE
CONVERSATION, RIGHT? >> I COUNT DOWN 4.5 IN GENERAL
SO OUR GENERAL FUND HEAD COUNT IS ACTUALLY DOWN 4.5 FROM LAST
>> OKAY. AND ALL THE INCREASES ARE IN
ENTERPRISE FUND DEPARTMENT? >> THAT'S CORRECT, YES.
>> PERFECT, THANK YOU. >> IS THAT ALL, COMMISSIONER?
>> WELL, KIND OF. I MEAN, I KNOW WE GOT A SOFT COPY OF THIS OVER THE WEEKEND, BUT I REALLY LIKE PAPER SO DERBY HAVEN'T GIVEN -- I HAVEN'T GIVEN IT THE SAME LEVEL OF SCRUTINY THAT I NORMALLY WOULD.
SO AT THE MOMENT, THIS IS -- MY BIGGEST CONCERN HAS BEEN ABOUT PERSONNEL NUMBERS AND WHERE ARE WE UP, WHERE ARE WE DOWN AND WHO IS PAYING FOR WHAT. SO THIS IS HELPFUL, THANK YOU.
>> VERY GOOD. ANY OTHER REQUESTS, QUESTIONS FOR MS. CAMPBELL? VICE MAYOR?
>> I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN PULL THE BUDGET UP HERE, BUT COMMISSIONERS, IF YOU'LL LOOK IN THE PENSION FUNDS -- AND I'VE GOT TO GIVE TOM FROM COASTAL PIZZA A GOOD HEADS-UP ON THIS ONE BECAUSE HE BROUGHT THIS TO MY ATTENTION.
YOU'LL LOOK AT THE CONSULTING -- I DON'T KNOW WHETHER IT'S CALLE-
>> CONTRACTUAL. >> CONTRACTUAL.
THAT NUMBER HAS GONE FROM LIKE 36,000 TO 150.
IN ONE OF THEM. AND THEN BY 100,000 TO LIKE 250,000 OR SOMETHING. YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT CONTRACTUAL NUMBER AND THOSE FUNDS, AND IT'S JUST A WILD NUMBER OF AN INCREASE. NOW, I WANT TO EXPLAIN TO THE PUBLIC THERE'S NOTHING THAT WE CAN NECESSARILY DO AS A COMMISSION THAT IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO CHANGE THAT, BECAUSE THOSE BOARDS OPERATE BY AND LARGE INDEPENDENTLY FROM THE COMMISSION ITSELF. SO THERE'S NOTHING THAT WE CAN DO OTHER THAN IF THIS COMMISSION WOULD BE WILLING TO KIND OF GIVE A LITTLE NUDGE OR A MESSAGE TO OUR APPOINTEES ON THAT BOARD THAT MAYBE WE NEED TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE CAREFUL WITH HOW WE'RE JUST OPERATING UNDER THOSE KIND OF CONDITIONS.
IT'S A RATHER LARGE ERIN DID [INDISCERNIBLE] OF MONEY.
MAYBE IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS WE WOULD LIKE TO SAY HEY, PAY A LITTLE CLOSER ATTENTION TO WHAT MONEY YOU'RE SPENDING EVEN
[00:30:02]
THOUGH IT'S NOT NECESSARILY COMING OUT OF TAXPAYER FUNDS, IT KIND OF IS. IF THERE'S A LARGE INCREASE LIKE THAT, THE CITY WILL HAVE TO OFFSET ITS CONTRIBUTION.SO I JUST WANTED TO BRING THAT TO THE COMMISSION'S ATTENTION.
IT IS A RATHER LARGE NUMBER AND IS KEEPS INCREASING SO -- THAT'S
IT. >> AND VICE MAYOR, I AGREE WITH YOU 100% ON THIS. IT'S SOMETHING I'VE BEEN LOOKING AT AS WELL. I'VE ALSO BEEN LOOKING AT THE ORDINANCE THAT DEFINES WHAT THE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES ARE OF THESE FUNDS. AND ONE OF THE THINGS IT TALKS ABOUT IS EVERY SO MANY YEARS OR WHATEVER, THEY NEED TO COME GIVE A REPORT TO THE COMMISSION, I'M NOT SURE THAT'S HAPPENED RECENTLY. SO I THINK THERE ARE SOME OVERSIGHT THINGS THAT WE CAN PERHAPS INFLUENCE THROUGH OUR APPOINTEES TO HAVE THEM BE A LITTLE MORE FISCALLY CONCERNED.
BUT I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT IT TOO.
AND HAVE WE HAD ANY CONVERSATIONS -- I MEAN, WHAT IS THE BOARD'S -- DO YES KNOW WHAT THE POTENTIAL BOARD STRATEGY IS TO RESOLVE THIS SIGNIFICANT SHORTFALL THEY HAD THIS YEAR? I KNOW -- I DIDN'T HAVE THAT KIND OF A REDUCTION IN MY
RETIREMENT FUND. >> THEIR NEXT MEETING IS COMING UP HERE IN A FEW DAYS SO [INDISCERNIBLE] LEARN MORE ABOUT
>> I DO HAVE COMMISSIONER TUTEN. >> JUST FOR SOMEONE -- TO
SOMEONE SHOW ME WHERE, WHERE -- >> PAGES 102 AND 103 ON BOTH PLANS UNDER OPERATING COSTS, THE FIRST LINE IS CONTRACTUAL.
AND YOU CAN SEE THE GROWTH FROM 2024 TO PRESENT DAY.
>> OKAY, OKAY, 2024, NOT FROM LAST YEAR, OKAY, OKAY.
>> RIGHT, BUT IT'S -- >> INCREMENTALLY HAS GONE UP SIGNIFICANTLY. THANK YOU, OKAY.
>> IS THAT BASICALLY JUST THE COMMISSIONS [INDISCERNIBLE]
TAKING ON MANAGING THIS MONEY? >> SO THE PENSION BOARDS THEMSELVES DON'T GET ANY PAYMENT, BUT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF CONTRACTORS THAT WORK ON THE PLANS.
THERE'S THE ACTUARIAL ADVISOR, THE FINANCIAL ADVISOR, THE
ATTORNEY -- >> SO THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE
CHARGING -- >> THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE CONTRACTS AND I HAVE A LENGTH I EXCHANGE WITH MR. DE MARIO AS WELL AND ACTUALLY SENT IT TO MS. PRINCE TO RESEARCH AND HER RESPONSE WAS, YOUR INTERPRETATION AS WELL, THAT I DO NOT HAVE ANY OVERSIGHT ON THEIR SPENDING AND NEITHER DO YOU. THEY ACT PRETTY INDEPENDENTLY AS THE DECISIONMAKING BODY FOR THESE FUNDS.
>> THAT'S THE NEXT MEETING. I DON'T FEEL THAT GOOD.
TO SPEAK. UNLESS THERE'S STILL
QUESTIONS -- >> I JUST HAVE ONE -- CAN YOU PUT UP THAT SECOND SHEET THAT I PUT UP, SORRY.
I WAS CRUNCHING A LOT OF NUMBERS THIS WEEKEND.
IS IT THE FIRST PAGE OR THE SECOND PAGE? YEAH, YEAH, THIS PAGE. I THOUGHT THIS WAS A SUPER INTERESTING LOOK AT THE BUDGET, THAT ACROSS THOSE -- WHAT IS THAT, EIGHT CATEGORIES, JUST FROM LAST YEAR WE HAD A $2.8 MILLION INCREASE IN -- I'LL CALL IT INFLATION.
AND IF MS. BESS, IF YOU SCROLL DOWN -- YEAH, THAT'S CPI -- SO THEN I WANTED TO LOOK AT WHAT DOES THAT MEAN BY RATE, BY THE MILLAGE WE CHOOSE? SO IF WE CHOOSE TO STAY FLAT AND KEEP THIS YEAR'S MILLAGE, WE ARE SHORT $314,000.
AGAINST THOSE EIGHT CATEGORIES OF INFLATION.
IF WE CHOOSE TO MODIFY WE'RE SHORT ALMOST A HALF A MILLION.
IF WE CHOOSE THE ROLLBACK RATE, WE'RE SHORT 1.5 MILLION.
SO SARAH -- MS. CAMPBELL CHOOSING THE MODIFIED ROLLBACK RATE SOMEHOW MANAGED TO PAY FOR ALL THAT INFLATION AND MAKE UP THAT HALF MILLION -- ALMOST HALF MILLION DOLLARS IN SHORTFALL IN OTHER PIECES OF THE BUDGET. SO I'M JUST PUTTING THIS INFORMATION OUT THERE, BECAUSE THE BUDGET IS CUT.
IT IS CUT $450,000, IF WE STAY WITH THE MODIFIED ROLLBACK RATE,
[00:35:09]
BECAUSE -- JUST TO KEEP UP WITH THE INFLATION OF THOSE EIGHT CATEGORIES AND I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT LIKE HOW MUCH DOES PAPER COST AND HOW MUCH DO PARTS FOR OUR MACHINES COST, WHATEVER.WE ALL FEEL IT AT THE GROCERY STORE, THIS CITY FEELS IT TOO.
THAT'S ALL. I JUST WANTED TO THROW THOSE NUMBERS OUT THERE. THAT'S IT.
>> COMMISSIONER? >> I HAVE NO OTHER REQUESTS TO SPEAK FROM THE COMMISSION. SO SOMEWHAT ANTICLIMACTIC ENEMIES THERE'S ANY SPECIFIC DIRECTION YOU'RE LOOKING FORTE
MOMENT, MS. CAMPBELL? >> I GUESS THE QUESTION IS WE HAD SLATED WORKSHOPS FOR THE NEXT TWO DAYS.
DO YOU WANT TO HAVE THEM? AND IF SO, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE
US TO COVER ON THOSE DAYS? >> CAN I SPEAK?
>> CERTAINLY. >> I DON'T NEED ONE.
I'M GOOD. I JUST HAVE TO COME BACK IN SEPTEMBER TO BEG THESE FOLKS FOR [INDISCERNIBLE] LAND MONEY BUT
OTHERWISE I'M GOOD. >> YEAH, I DON'T NEED ANYTHING.
>> WELL, I THINK IT SEEMS THERE'S NO ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS,
SO NO NEED -- >> LET ME SPEAK ON THE CONSERVATION THING. I AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER MENSHUW, IF YOU TOOK HOW THEY OPERATE THE PLAN, HOW THEY HAVE THE PARTICULAR PROPERTIES THAT ARE THERE, THAT THEY'VE IDENTIFIED AND THEN THEY PUT THAT OUT TO A VOTE AND IT WASN'T VERY DIFFICULT TO PASS. IT PASSED.
THEY SAID THESE ARE PROPERTIES THAT WE WANT TO BUY, THIS IS THE LAND CONSERVATION THAT WE WANT TO DO.
THEN THEY PUT IT OUT TO THE VOTE, VOTERS HAD A REFERENDUM, PASSED PRETTY EASILY. THAT'S THE PATHWAY FORWARD, YOU KNOW. YOU CAN HAVE ONE TIME ASSESSMENTS, YOU CAN SAY WE'RE GOING TO DO IT THIS AMOUNT FOR FIVE YEARS, THIS AMOUNT OF MILLAGE FOR TEN YEARS, WHATEVER IT IS, THEN YOU CAN SHOW THE PEOPLE THAT THIS IS WHAT YOU WANT TO DO. IT'S AN EASY YES FOR MOST PEOPLE. IT REALLY TRULY IS.
WE DON'T HAVE TO SIT HERE AND TRY TO CONTINUALLY RAISE THE MILLAGE RATE TO TRY TO CAPTURE THOSE FUNDS.
THE CITIZENS ARE MORE THAN LIKELY GOING TO DO IT FOR US IF YOU COME TO THEM WITH A PLAN. AND YOU'RE PROBABLY GOING TO GET MORE MONEY OUT OF IT THAN YOU ARE TRYING TO NICKEL AND DIME MILLAGE RATE INCREASES. YOU WILL MORE THAN LIKELY BE ABLE TO SELL IT TO THE PEOPLE IN A BIGGER BITE AT THE APPLE THAN NICKEL AND DIMING $200,000 HERE OR $300,000 THERE.
AND YOU CAN DO IT OVER A PERIOD OF TIME.
SO I THINK THAT THAT'S THE BEST WAY FORWARD.
YOU'LL SEE HOW WELL IT WILL WORK OUT, EXACTLY WHAT THE COUNTY DID, HOW THEY CAME ACROSS, HOW THEY CAME OUT WITH IT AND IT PASSED WITH FLYING COLORS. THAT'S JUST MY SUGGESTION ON IT.
I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH GOING TO THE VOTERS AT ALL FOR CONSERVATION, BECAUSE THEY NORMALLY GENUINELY -- THEY WILL ALMOST ALWAYS VOTE FOR CONSERVATION.
AND I AGREE WITH YOU ON THAT PART, THAT THAT'S THE PATH
FORWARD. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER
I AGREE WITH THAT. AND I AGREE THAT WE MAYBE COULD GET MORE MONEY. AND YOU MENTIONED THE CONSERVATION LAND ACQUISITION PLAN FROM THE COUNTY, THAT PLAN INCLUDES A LOT OF PROPERTY WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS.
>> YEAH, I KNOW. >> MEANING MAYBE WE COULD BE PART OF THEIR PLAN AND COULD BUY SOME OF THAT PROPERTY.
>> THEY WOULD BE MORE THAN WILLING TO 50/50 BUY SOME OF THAT. I'VE TALKED TO PLENTY OF PEOPLE THAT ARE EITHER ON THE PLAN CLAR HELP OPERATE CLAM OR HELP OPERATE IT AND THEY WOULD WANT TO CHIP IN AND THAT WAY WE WOULD GET EVEN MORE CONSERVATION.
>> THAT'S MY NEW PROPOSAL, THAT WE PUT SOME AMOUNT OF MONEY IN THIS YEAR AND ACQUIRE SOMETHING, AT THE VERY TOP OF THE CLAM LIST, THAT'S WITHIN CITY LIMITS AND THEN WE TASK STAFF WITH CAN WE GET A VOTER REFERENDUM WHENEVER THE NEXT TIME WE CAN GET ON THE BALLOT TO ASK THE CITIZENS FOR A LAND CONSERVATION. MY SISTER, THEIR VOTER REFERENDUM WAS FOR A PERMANENT .1 MILL FOR LAND CONSERVATION.
SHE HAS $800,000 EVERY SINGLE3 YEAR TO BUY -- I WAS -- I WAS HOME IN MY HOMETOWN AND I'M DRIVING PAST SOMEWHERE AND I'M LIKE, WHERE DID THAT FUNKY OLD BUILDING GO, AND SHE'S LIKE OH, WE TORE IT DOWN AND ACQUIRED THE LAND FOR OPEN SPACE.
[00:40:02]
THEY HAVE SO MUCH OPEN SPACE MONEY.AND LAND CONSERVATION MONEY. >> WELL, THERE ARE LOTS OF WAYS TO DO IT. BESIDES NICKEL AND DIMING --
>> I'LL BE BACK IN SEPTEMBER WITH A PLAN.
THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS.
I DO BELIEVE WE HAVE ADDRESSED THE QUESTION.
WE DO NOT SEE A NEED FOR ADDITIONAL BUDGET MEETINGS UNTIL SEPTEMBER. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. >> WITH THAT, WE WILL ADJOURN UNTIL 6 P.M.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.