[Call to Order by Chair]
[1. Public Hearing * 5:01 p.m. Public Hearing -- St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners Adoption of Final Millage Rates & Budget for FY 2022.]
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>> ALL RIGHT. WE ARE GOING TO RECONVENE AT THIS TIME. FOR FISCAL YEAR 2022.
CHAIRMAN BLOCKER, COMMISSIONERS JESSE DUNN DIRECTOR FOR THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGETS WE ARE AT THE SECOND AND FINAL PUBLIC HEARING TO ADOPT THE F Y '22 BUDGET.
AND THIS IS REALLY A CULMINATION OF WHAT IS A SEVEN -- REALLY CLOSER TO NINE MONTHS IN THIS OVERSAUL PROCESS.
WE START RIGHT AT THAT FIRST QUARTER IN JANUARY, AND GET RIGHT INTO IT. CERTAINLY A LOT OF THIS DISCUSSION WE HAVE HAD AT THE TENTATIVE LEVEL, THE REQUIREMENT IS TO HAVE THIS SAME DISCUSSION AT THE FINAL LEVEL.
BUT JUST TO BRING A CAP TO THE OVERALL DISCUSSION, THE F Y-22 BUDGET INCLUDES MILLAGE RATES, ASSOCIATED AND ASSOCIATED REVENUES TO APPROPRIATELY FUND OPERATIONS IN CAPITAL PROGRAMS WITHIN REALLY ALL OF OUR OPERATING FUNDS INCLUDING GENERAL FUND, TRANSPORTATION, TRUST, FIRE, DISTRICT FUND,S AND HEALTH UNIT FUND, WHICH ARE OUR MILLAGE FUNDS.
WE HAVE CONTINUED TO UPDATE THE REVENUE PROJECTIONS FOR THE MORE SIGNIFICANTLY REVENUE BEHAVIORS. GAS TAXES IMPACT FEES, AND DEVELOPMENT TAXES. AS MENTIONED THIS MORNING, SAFER GRANT WAS APPROVED FOR A FUNDING 20 FIREFIGHTER POSITIONS AND THAT WAS CERTAINLY GOOD NEWS AT THE END GAME FOR ASSISTING AND FUNDING OUR F.Y. 22 BUDGET. THE EMPLOYEE COST INDEX, WHICH IS WHAT THE COUNTY HAS BEEN UTILIZING OVER THE LAST COUPLE YEARS, IT IS AN ANNUAL INDEX. IT'S BEEN ADDED IN AND RECOMMEND ED AT 1.8%, WITH FURTHER CONSIDERATIONS FOR ANY LICENSURES, INDUSTRY MARKET WATCHES PROMOTIONS AND MERIT PAY , WHICH IS UP TO 2%. SO AT THIS POINT, THE OVERALL AVERAGE IS ABOUT A 3.8%. THE BUDGET INCLUDES ALL CAPITAL PROJECT CARRY FORWARDS, MULTI YEAR GRANT CARRY FORWARDS AND ANY REVENUE PICK UPS WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT.
THERE HAVE NOT BEEN ANY CHANGES IN ANY OF THOSE REVENUES PROJECT ED SINCE THE TENTATIVE BUDGET.
IT IS THE SAME BUDGET. WE HAVEN'T GONE AND CHANGED IT ON YOU. IT IS THE SAME RECOMMENDED BUDGET. WE CERTAINLY HAVE INCLUDED AND THEY ARE IN THE SUMMARIES AND THEY ARE IN PERSONNEL, CAPITAL JUT LOY, OUR RNR PROGRAM, AND CI P FUNDING WHERE APPROPRIATE.
CERTAINLY ONE OF OUR OVERALL GOALS IS TO PRESERVE HEALTHY RE SERVES AND MAINTAIN THE COUNTY 'S OVERALL CREDIT RATING.
AND THEN ANY ITEMS THAT WERE INCLUDED TODAY, FOR INSTANCE, I BELIEVE THERE WAS $120,000 APPROVAL TOWARDS A PARKS FOUNDATION. WE WILL INCORPORATE THOSE GO THE FINAL F. Y22 LINE ITEM BUDGET. IT WILL NOT EFFECT THE RESOLUTIONS FOR CONSIDERATION THIS EVENING BUT WE WILL MAKE THOSE ADJUSTMENTS AS WE INCORPORATE INTO THE '22 BUDGET.
THE GROWTH AND TAXABLE VALUE, WE HAVE SEEN FOR THIS YEAR IS 9.27% JUST AS A -- A LITTLE BIT OF A BREAK DOWN ON THAT.
ABOUT 4.2% -- 4.2% OF THAT WAS NEW CONSTRUCTION.
1.4 WAS THE HOMESTEAD CPI, SO THE RULE OF THEM FOR THOSE THAT ARE HOMESTEADED WOULD BE ABOUT A 1.4% INCREASE.
IN THEIR PROPERTY TAXES OVER LAST YEAR BASED ON THE PROPOSED MILLAGE RATES. AND FOR NONHOMESTEAD AS HAS BEEN DISCUSSED HERE BEFORE, THERE IS A CAP.
IT IS A 10% CAP. SO THERE IS A DIFFERENT
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CONSIDERATION THERE. >> RESULTS IN 19 MILLION, WON'T 8,597,000. $597 INCREMENT TAT PROPERTY TAX ES FOR F Y22. BECAUSE THE STATUTORY DISCUSSION THIS EVENING THIS NECESSITATES THAT WE DISCUSS THE ROLL BACK RATE. THE INCREMENTAL 9.27 VALUATION AT THE ROLL BACK RATE WOULD RESULT IN THE INCREMENTAL REVENUES THAT ARE IN THAT MIDDLE DOLL UHM THERE.
ABOUT 8.4 MILLION. OR A OVERSAUL OVERALL $6 MILLION ADDITION TO WHAT IS BEING RECOMMENDED.
I WILL DISCUSS THAT AT THE TIME LEVELS ARE TO WHY WE ARE RECOMMENDING ABOVE THE ROLL BACK RATE, BUT I WILL GIVE A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL HERE. AS I HAVE PROVIDED TO THE COMMISSION. AND SOME OF THE DISCUSSIONS THAT HAVE BEEN OUT THERE. RELATED I WILL START WITH THE FIRE DISTRICT FUND. THAT INCREMENTAL $3.6 MILLION IS FOR FIRE SERVICE OPERATIONS. CERTAINLY WE HAVE CONTINUED DEMAND FOR SERVICES. THERE IS A NEW FIRE STATION, THE ONE OFF OF 207 THAT HAS BEEN AP PROVED, THE BOARD APPROVED MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT. GOING THROUGH THE DESIGN, THERE WILL BE A CONSTRUCTION PORTION, EITHER POSSIBLILY COMING BACK THIS YEAR, AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CERTAINLY THE RECOMMENDATION TO MAINTAIN AT THE CURRENT RATE.
TO PUT THE HUMAN RESOURCE INTO THAT FIRE STATION AS WELL AS DEMAND FOR OTHER STATIONS THAT WERE OUTLINED AND COVERAGE AREAS THAT IS OUTLINED IN THE FIRE MASTER PLAN THAT WAS DISCUSSED.
FOR TRANSPORTATION TRUST FUND, WHICH IS THE FUND THAT THE COUNTY USES FOR TRANSPORTATION ROADWAY AND DRAINAGE INFRASTRUCTURE, IN RECENT YEARS, TRY TO LOOK BACK AT THE BEGINNING OF '16, WE SAW A SHIFT OF MILLAGE FROM THE GENERAL FUND OVER TO THE TRANSPORTATION. ONE OF THE BIGGER AREAS WAS PAVE MENT MANAGEMENT BUT CERTAIN LY WE HAVE SEEN AGAIN WITH SOME OF THE RECENT STORM SITUATIONS OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENT NECESSITY.
SO MOVING BACK TO THE ROLL BACK RATE FOR US, WOULD BE CERTAINLY A REDUCTION IN THE INVESTMENT THAT THE BOARD HAS BEEN TRYING TO DO TOWARDS THOSE ROADWAY CAPITAL AND MAINTENANCE AS WELL AS DRAINAGE AT THE STRUCTURE. FOR THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT THAT'S MILLAGE IS THE COUNTY SUPPORT FOR THE FLORIDA HEALTH DIDN'T OPERATION OVERALL. AND FINALLY FOR THE GENERAL FUND , CERTAINLY $12.7 MILLION IS THE PORTION.
THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW THAT THE GENERAL FUND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT COUNTY WIDE OPERATIONS INCLUDING LAW ENFORCEMENT, OUR SHERIFFS PROGRAMMING, OUR E MS PROGRAM AND OUR PARKS AND RECREATION. GROWTH MANAGEMENT, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. THE GENERAL FUND RESERVES ARE OUR RESERVES TO GO TO FOR FUND ING DISASTER RESPONSE, WHICH IN THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS CERTAINLY WITH MATTHEW AND IRMA, I WILL SAY WITHIN THE PAST FIVE YEARS, THEY HAVE BEEN SIGNIFICANT. WE HAVE HAD TO TIP SIGNIFICANTLY INTO THOSE RESERVES. CERTAINLY WE HAVE HAD FEMA AS A PROCESS TO GO BACK TO. BUT THE COUNTY HAS CERTAINLY HAD TO PUT OUT THE ORIGINAL DOLLARS FOR THEM, AND I ALWAYS USE AGAIN KIND OF THE DEBRIS PICK UP. BECAUSE THAT KIND OF EFFECTS EVERYONE. IT EFFECTED EVERYONE DURING MATTHEW AND IRMA. WE ALL PILED IT IN THE FRONT OF OUR YARDS AND THEN WE NEEDED THAT STUFF TAKEN AWAY.
EACH ONE OF THOSE STORMS WAS ABOUT $18 MILLION TO DO THAT COUNTY WIDE. SO CERTAINLY HAVING THE RESERVES TO RESPOND, AND THAT'S JUST WAS AT A MINIMUM OF WHAT THE COUNTY DID, DURING THOSE HURRICANES. SO RESERVES BECOME A VERY IMPORTANT. CREDIT RATINGS OVERALL, AND THEN ADDITIONALLY, WE USE THOSE GENERAL FUND RESERVES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. THE COMMISSION THIS YEAR HAD
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UTILIZED ABOUT $9.5 MILLION OUT OF RESERVES.WE CERTAINLY KNOW THERE WERE SOME OF THOSE DOLLARS THAT WOULD BE REPLENISHED THROUGH CARES, NA RP, BUT CERTAINLY THOSE RE SERVES ARE THE PLACE TO GO TO. THEY ARE THE MOST UNRESTRICTED RESERVE IN RESPONSE TO PROGRAMS THAT COME UP ON EACH OF THESE AGENDAS. SO CERTAINLY, THAT'S WHY STAFF HAS RECOMMENDED THE PROPOSED OR FLAT MILK RATES FOR F Y 22.
THE RESERVES ARE CERTAINLY HEALTHY, AND AGAIN WE REPLENISH ED OUR GENERAL FUND. WE HAVE MAINTAINED OUR TARGET RE SERVE WHICH IS ARE ABOUT 33.8. THAT'S A 60 DAY OPERATION, THAT IS A BEST PRACTICE. AND CERTAINLY LOOKS AT WHEN WE ARE LOOKING AT OUR COUNTIES OVERALL CREDIT RATINGS.
TRANSPORTATION TRUST, HAS A TARGETED RESERVE OF 1.4.
AND THESE RESERVES AS THEY ALWAYS REMIND ME TO TELL EVERYONE, BECAUSE I TEND TO FORGET THIS, THERE IS ARE CUMULATIVE RESERVES. THIS IS OUR STOCK PILE.
IT IS KIND OF LIKE OUR SAVINGS ACCOUNT.
SO WE SPEND THESE DOWN ONE TIME, WE DON'T ALWAYS GET THE OPPORTUNITY LIKE WE HAVE THIS PAST YEAR WITH CARES AND POSSIBLY THROUGH ARP TO REPLENISH RESERVES.
SO THESE RESERVES ARE VERY IMPORTANT FOR US.
AND THEN SO TRANSPORTATION HAS THE $13.9 MILLION.
THEY CERTAINLY HAVE A LARGE CAPITAL PROGRAM OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. SO CERTAINLY THAT WILL CONTRIBUTE TO IT. TRANSPORTATION, TRUST FUND WE ARE ALSO CONCERNED WITH LETTING THE RECENT LEGISLATIVE CHANGE THAT RESULTS IN THE IMPACT, THE CREDITS REALLY KIND OF AS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN -- -- CAN BE TRADED AS YOU WILL.
IT CAN EFFECT OVERALL OUR ABILITY TO COLLECT ON IMPACT FEE S. AND FIRE DISTRICTS RESERVES CERTAINLY ARE ANOTHER AREA WHERE IF WE SEE OUR IMPACT FEES, DRY UP THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS THIS WILL BE WHERE WE HAVE TO TAP FOR FUTURE FIRE STATIONS. SO WE'RE BECOMING MORE RELIANT, IF YOU WILL ON WITH SOME OF THAT LEGISLATIVE CHANGE THAT HAPPENED AT THE STATE LEVEL SO GOING INTO THE FINAL BUDGET.
HEARING THIS IS A PRESCRIBED PROCESS THROUGH FLORIDA STATUTE.
WE ARE GOING TO HAVE DISCUSSION OF THE PERCENTAGISH INCREASE OVER THE ROLL BACK RATE. AND KIND OF OUTLINE THAT PRETTY QUICKLY. I AM GOING TO GIVE A SUMMARY ON THAT. AND THEN WE WILL OPEN IT UP TO ANY BASIC PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE BUDGET.
AND THEN WE ADOPT AT FIRST THE FINAL MILL EDGE RATE RESOLUTION, AND THEN THE FINAL BUDGET RESOLUTION.
SO WITH THAT I AM GOING TO MOVE FORWARD INTO THE PROCESS.
SO THE FIRST DISCUSSION IS THE DISCUSSION INCREASE OVER THE ROLL BACK RATE. THE TAXINGS AUTHORITY IS SAINT JOHN'S COUNTY. THE ROLL BACK MILLAGE RATE THAT IS THE AGGREGATE RATE IS 6.5273 MILLS.
THE AGREE GET RATE THAT'S THE COMBINED RATES IS 6.847.
AND THE REQUIREMENT IS TO NOTIFY THE PUBLIC AND THE COMMISSION.
IF THERE'S A PERCENTAGE INCREASE , OVER THAT, THAT PERCENTAGE INCREASE THAT IS 6.8147 IS A 4.4% INCREASE OVER THE ROLL BACK. AND THE REQUIREMENT IS THAT WHAT IS THE SPECIFIC PURPOSE. AND AS EACH OF THOSE SPECIFIC FUNDS THEY ARE SPECIFIC NEEDS. AND I AM GOING TO READ HER KIND OF A GENERAL SUMMARY OF THAT. THE SPECIFIC PURPOSE FOR THE IN CREASE OVER THE ROLL BACK RATE IS TO FUND OPERATIONS.
INCLUDING CAPITAL OUTLAY DEFERRED MAINTENANCE.
IN FISCAL YEAR 20/22. IT WAS ADOPTED AT THE TENTATIVE LEVEL, AND WITH THAT I AM GOING TO MOVE TO THE SECOND PORTION OF THIS WHICH IS PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE COUNTY'S F Y22 BUDGET.
>> MAY I ASK A QUESTION FIRST. >> YES.
>> BEFORE WE GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
I HAVE TWO QUESTIONED IF YOU DON'T MIND.
>> NOTATE ALL. >> NUMB NUMBER ONE WHERE IS THE
SOLID WASTE RESERVE? >> THE SOLID WASTE RESERVE IS
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ITS OWN FUND. >> I THOUGHT THAT'S WHERE WE PULLED A LOT OF OUR STORM DEBRIS OUT OF WAS OUT OF THAT.
>> INITIALLY, WE DID. NOW WE PULLED ABOUT 1 MILLION OUT. SO YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT HURRICANE MATTHEW. YEAH, WE WERE A LITTLE -- WE TOOK A MILLION OUT OF ABOUT AN $18 MILLION PROGRAM OUT OF THAT SOLID WASTE. WE WERE UNFAMILIAR WHEN MATTHEW -- IT WAS A WELL INTEND ED, I SUPPOSE.
WE WEREN'T FAMILIAR WITH THE FEMA PROCESS.
AND SO WE INITIALLY TOOK THAT FUNDING OUT OF SOLID WASTE.
IN FACT, WE HAVEN'T COMPLETING THE FULL CLOSE OUT ON HURRICANE MATTHEW WHICH TELLS YOU WHAT KIND OF PROCESS THE FEMA PROCESS IS. WHEN WE COMPLETE THAT PROCESS, WE WILL REIMBURSE SOLID WASTE FROM THE GENERAL FUND.
OR RECOMMEND TO THE BOARD THAT. THE SOLID WASTE AGAIN KIND OF GIVE YOU A OVERALL, ABOUT $1 MILLION OVER -- ONE ON THE 18 MILLION THAT WE HAVE SPENT ON THAT HURRICANE MATTHEW.
INITIALLY. >> THAT CREATES ANOTHER QUESTION I DID NOT INTEND TO ASK YOU WHAT IS THE AMOUNT WHAT IS THAT HOW
MUCH MONEY IS IN THE SOLID WASTE >> IN RESERVE, SURE.
HOLD ON FOR ONE SECOND. I AM JUST MAKING SURE I --
>> OKAY. I AM PAGE 7-17 COMMISSIONER.
SO THERE ARE ONE, TWO -- THERE ARE FOUR DIFFERENT RESERVES THERE. THERE ARE A SPECIAL CONTINGENCY RESERVE, THAT IS A RECEIVABLE ON THE INTERFUND LOAN RELATED TO THE TRAINING FACILITY. THE SHERIFF'S TRAINING FACILITY.
SO AT THIS POINT IT ISN'T A FULL CASH RESERVE.
THAT'S THE BALLENS THAT'S KIND OF A ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE.
THE 8.1 IS UNRESTRICTED RESERVES THE CON GENERAL CONTINGENCY IS THE AMOUNT OF THE TARGET RESERVE THEY HAVE AN $8.1 MILLION ABOVE
THAT TARGET PRESERVE. >> IS THAT -- I DIDN'T REMEMBER WHERE IT WAS IN THE BOOK. BECAUSE IT WASN'T SHOWN ON THE SCREEN, AND IT TOOK -- THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WAS SITTING THERE THAT I WAS JUST CURIOUS.
>> YES, SIR. >> MY NEXT QUESTION IS THIS, WILL A VOTE TO ADOPT A ROLL BACK RATE ADVERSELY EFFECT OR COMPROMISE OUR AA PLUS RATING IF WE UTILIZE RESERVES?
>> SO -- YOU HAD ASKED ME THAT QUESTION, AND SO -- I LOOKED UP THAT QUESTION. OVERALL, NO, IT IS NOT GOING TO -- GOING TO THE ROLL BACK RATE WILL NOT -- IF WE MAIN TIN THE BUDGET THE WAY IT IS, WILL NOT RESULT IN ANY IMPACT TO OUR CREDIT RATING. HOWEVER, WE WILL GO INTO THE ROLL BACK RATE. WE WOULD HAVE A STRUCTURAL DEFICIT, WHICH IF WE DON'T RESOLVE THAT I WILL SAY LOCK TEMPLE WITHIN A YEAR OR SO, THAT WILL EFFECT OUR THAT CAN I SHOULDN'T SAY WILL, THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE OF CONCERN TO CREDIT RATING AGENC IES.
>> ALL RIGHT, YOU HAVE SAID THAT BEFORE, THANK YOU, THAT'S ALL I
THANK YOU, JESSE, SO WE WILL GO AHEAD TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
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ON THE BUDGET. >> [INAUDIBLE] PROPOSED BUDGET.
THE PROPOSED BUDGET, FINAL BUDGET.
PUBLIC COMMENT? RIGHT, AND THIS WOULD BE ON THE PROPOSED MILL EDGE MILLAGE AND BUDGET.
PUBLIC COMMENT? >> B.J. WEST CITY OF ST.
AUGUSTINE. I GUESS I AM THE ONLY PUBLIC LEFT. EVERYBODY ELSE WORKS FOR THE COUNTY. I APPRECIATE THE QUESTION BY COMMISSIONER SMITH. AND I APPRECIATE THE ANSWER BY MR. DUN. REMEMBER HOPE YOU CAN HEAR ME.
REMEMBER THIS BOARD WROTE OFF A T D C $2 MILLION DEBT.
SO WITH THE INCREASE IN POPULATION, ANDOVER IS COMING HERE, WE KEEP SAYING THAT, WHICH BRINGS IN MORE PROFIT TAXES THE 6.5273 ROLL BACK RATE SHOULD BE USED.
6.5273 ROLL BACK RATE SHOULD BE USED.
S BECAUSE IS IT A $1 BILLION BUDGET THAT WE'VE GOT GOING ON HERE IN ST. JOHN'S COUNTY NOW? AND IT IS SO GOOD TO ALLOW THE PUBLIC TO SPEAK. I THINK SOMETIMES WE FORGET WHO IS PAYING WHOSE SALARY. THANK YOU.
>> FURTHER PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE SETTING OF THE MILLAGE RATE? FURTHER PUBLIC COMMENT? SEEING NONE.
>> OKAY, REQUIRED UNDER THE LAW, PUBLIC COMMENT CONCLUDED WE WILL
VERY GOOD. THE NEXT STEP IS FOR THE BOARD TO CONSIDER THE FINAL MILLAGE RATE RESOLUTION AS PRESENTED HERE ON THE SCREEN. PATRIK, IF NECESSARY, I CAN READ THOSE RATES INTO THE RECORD. RIGHT.
I DON'T THINK THAT IS REQUIRED. IT IS THE RESOLUTION -- IT IS THE SAME NUMBERS AS PRESENTED IN THE AGENDA PACKAGE.
AND THEY ARE THE SAME NUMBERS AS ARE DISPLAYED IN THE SCREEN.
YOU CAN ADOPT BASICALLY AS PRESENTED.
JESSE, I THINK YOU PROBABLY SHOULD GIVE THE AT LEAST THE
AGGREGATE MILLAGE RATE. >> OKAY, SO THE AGREE TWIT MILLAGE RATE RECOMMEND. THE ROLL BACK RATES IS SINCE .5273. OKAY.
>> I'D LIKE TO MOVE TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2021.
>> 412. >> APPROVING FISCAL YEAR FINAL MILLAGE RATES AS SET BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY FLORIDA. FOR ALL PROPERTY AS OF JANUARY 1ST, 2021. AS SHOWN ON THE SCREEN.
>> SECOND. >> CAN WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER DEAN, AND A SECOND. MR. SMITH?
>> I'LL JUST STATE THIS, I AM IN FAVOR OF THE ROLL BACK RATE, AND I WILL VOTE AGAINST THIS. I DIDN'T FIGURE OUT THE VOTE, SO I WILL KEEP IT AT THAT. I JUST WANT TO GIVE A FEW REASON S AND I THINK I OWE IT TO THE PUBLIC FOR IT.
I JUST -- WORKING IN FRONT OF A GROSS INFLATION, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS UNDISCIPLINED IN SPENDING.
WE FACING HISTORYIC LEVELS OF NATIONAL DEBT, I CHOOSE TO SUPPORT A ROLL BACK RATE, AND OUR PROPERTY OWNERS NOT HOMESTEADED PROPERTY OWNERS, I JUST CAN'T VOTE TO INCREASE TAX ES ON OUR PROPERTY OWNERS TONIGHT.
THANK YOU. >> ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION FROM
>> WE HEARD A PROJECT IN MY DISTRICT, THAT HAD $80 MILLION IN DEFICIENT ROADS. ALL YEAR LONG WE HAVE BEEN
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ADDRESSED WITH CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS.AND WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO ADDRESS THEM, AND SO FOR THAT REASON I WAS PROUD TO SECOND THE MILLAGE RATE, SO WE CAN BEGIN TO
CHIP AWAY AT THAT CIP LIST. >> ANY FURTHER COMMENT TO THE BOARD? SEEING NONE, PLEASE VOTE.
>> THAT PASSES 3-2. MOVING TO THE FINAL CONSIDERATION THIS EVENING. IS THE CONSIDERATION TO ADOPT
THE FINAL BUDGET RESOLUTION. >> I WILL MOVE TO ADOPT
>> APPROVING THE TENTATIVE FISCAL YEAR 2022 BUDGET FOR THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY FLORIDA, USING THE TAXABLE VALUE OF 34,613,000,000.
GENERATING AN ESTIMATED 235,884,708-DOLLARS IN TAXES AND RESULTS IN A TOTAL BUDGET OF 1,298,036,008 HUB AND $20.
>> AND THE MAKE OF THE MOTION RECOGNIZES THAT ALL OF THE SUB FIGURES ARE THE SAME AS IN THE PROPOSED RESOLUTION IN YOUR
>> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION FROM THE BOARD? OKAY, SEEING NONE, PLEASE VOTE.
THAT PASSES, 4-1. >> WITH THAT THAT CONCLUDES THE BUSINESS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS BUDGET HEARING.
BEFORE WE GO FURTHER WE WILL GO TO COMMISSIONER DEAN.
>> AS PART OF THE BUDGET PROCESS , I HAVE BEEN GIVING A LOT OF THOUGHT TO HOW WE ARE GOING TO GO FORWARD OTHER THE NEXT TWO OR THREE YEARS WITH THE BEACH NOURISHMENT.
AND I WANT TO ASK JESSE TO CLARIFY SOMETHING FOR ME.
IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT IN THE TOURIST DEVELOPMENT BUDGET, TOURIST DEVELOPMENT TAX REVENUE, WE HAVE $1.7 MILLIONS IN GENRE
SERVES AND CATEGORY 5. >> THAT'S CORRECT.
YES. >> WELL, I AM GOING TO ASK FOR A VOTE TODAY, AND I AM GOING TO TELL YOU WHY.
WE WILL BE SHORT OF MONEY TO DO BEACH REFLOURISHMENT AS WE GO FORWARD WITH THE BEACH PROJECT. AND WE A LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION MEETING. AND I FEEL STRONGLY THAT WE NEED A GOOD FAITH SHOWING OF A COMMIT MENT TO THE LEGISLATURE SO THAT THEY WILL BE VIED ADDITION AL FUNDING, STATE FUND ING, SO WE CAN GO FORWARD WITH PHASE TWO.
REMEMBER PHASE TWO IS A NON FEDERAL PROJECT.
WE AREN'T TALKING ABOUT THE FEASIBILITY STUDY.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE ONE TIME PHASE TWO.
AND THAT WILL TAKE STATE AND LOCAL MONEY.
LOCAL MONEY COMING FROM NOT ONLY THE MSTU, BUT FROM OUR FUND AND THE TAX TOURIST DEVELOPMENT TAX. AND IN ORDER TO DO THAT PROJECT, I AM CONVINCED, I KNOW FOR A FACT, THAT WE ARE GOING TO NEED THAT MUST BE. SO I AM GOING TO ASK FOR A VOTE TO EARMARK AND APPROPRIATE THAT $1.7 MILLIONS IN RESERVES IN CATEGORY FIVE TO THE BEACH PROJECT.
BECAUSE WE ARE ABOUT JUST OVER TWO WEEKS AWAY FROM CELEBRATING THE ANNIVERSARY, THE FIVE YEAR ANNIVERSARY, OF MATTHEW.
FOR THOSE THAT WON'T HERE FOLLOW ING HURRICANE MATTHEW, IT WAS ALL HANDS ON DECK. AND IT WAS CRAZY.
AND THEN OF COURSE, 11 MONTHS LATER WE HAD HURRICANE IRMA.
SO I THINK THAT WE -- IN ORDER TO PROTECT OUR BEACHES, PROTECT OUR ECONOMIC INTERESTS IN THE AREA, WE NEED TO GO FORWARD WITH EARMARKING THAT $1.7 MILLIONS IN RESERVES AND EARMARK IT TO THE BEACH RESTORATION PROJECT. AND THAT IS MY MOTION, MR.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. I THINK COMMISSIONER WALTER HAD
-- >> I KIND OF HAD A QUESTION FOR PATRIK. IS THAT -- DIDN'T WE JUST PASS A NEW RULE POLICY THAT WE CAN'T VOTE ON ANYTHING OVER $5,000 WITHOUT [INAUDIBLE]. WITHOUT HAVING A PRESENTATION?
>> THAT'S RIGHT. WE WERE JUST LOOKING AT -- UP FOR THAT RULE. THE BOARD ADDED TO ITS BOARD RULES AND POLICY AS RULE THAT UNLESS IT IS A PUBLISHED AGENDA
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ITEM, A REQUEST FOR FUNDING IS LIMITED TO $5,000.HOWEVER, THE BOARD RULES MAY BE SUSPENDED BY A SUPER MAJORITY OF FOUR OUT OF FIVE COMMISSIONERS. BOTH.
SO THERE YOU ARE. >> COMMISSIONER.
>> WELL, I MEAN, WE JUST SPENT HALF AN HOUR DISCUSSING THE BUDGET. THAT'S THE AGENDA ITEM WE JUST SPENT HALF AN HOUR DISCUSSING. I AM MAKING A MOTION ADDRESSING THE VERY BUDGET WE JUST VOTED ON I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY IT'S NOT
CONSIDER PART OF THE BUDGET. >> OKAY, SO YOU ARE ASKING -- THAT'S PART OF THE BUDGET AGENDA ITEM?
I WOULD HAVE MADE IT EARLIER, BUT I WAS ADVISED THAT WE PROBABLY NEEDED TO NOT GET THAT MOTION WRAPPED UP IN THE PROCESS THAT WE HAD TO FOLLOW SETTING THE RATE AND THE TENTATIVE MILLAGE RATE. BUT THERE ARE CERTAIN D.O.R.
REQUIREMENTS THAT WE HAVE TO FOLLOW.
BUT I MEAN -- IF YOU'RE ADVISING THIS BOARD THAT MY MOTION IS NOT PROCEDURE CORRECT OR OUT OF ORDER, THEN I WOULD ASK IF THERE ARE ANY BOARD MEMBERS HERE WHO WOULD SUPPORT ME AS WE GO TO OUR LEGISLATIVE MEETING OCTOBER 1ST, SO WE CAN AT LEAST REPRESENT WHAT OUR POSITION IS. WE CAN'T TALK TO EACH OTHER UN LESS WE ARE SITTING HERE AT THE CHAOS.
>> YES. >> I FEEL COMPELLED -- EVERYONE HERE KNOWED I FEEL STRONGLY ABOUT BEACH REFLOURISHMENT, AND ALL THE THINGS THAT THAT BRINGS TO THAT TABLE, THE GOOD THINGS IT BRINGED TO THIS COUNTY. SO I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW BEFORE WE ADJOURNED TONIGHT, WHO IS WITH ME AND WHO IS NOT WITH ME, SO WE CAN GO TO THE OCTOBER 1ST LEGISLATIVE MEETING WITH A
AND JUST SO WE'RE CLARIFYING, UNDER FLORIDA STATUTE 200.065.
THEREFORE CLEAR PROCEDURES THAT WE HAVE TO FOLLOW.
ONE IS A DISCUSSION THAT IS REQUIRED BY LAW, A DISCUSSION THE PERCENTAGE INCREASE OF THE ROLL BACK RATE IS REQUIRED UNDER THE LAW TO HAVE A PUBLIC COMMENT ON THESE PROCEDURES AND RATHER ON THIS. AND THERE'S AN ADOPT FINAL MILLAGE RATE RESOLUTION, AND THERE'S AN ADOPT THE FINAL BUDGET RESOLUTION. SO MY UNDERSTANDING WOULD BE THAT HE CAN BRING THIS UP, KIND OF AT THE END, THAT THAT'S --
THOSE ARE MY THOUGHTS. >> YEAH.
IF I MAY, MR. CHAIR, AGAIN, WE WERE THINKING THE SAME THING I THINK COMMISSIONER WAS THINKING. WE WERE DIGGING AROUND FOR THE EXACT LANGUAGE OF THE RULE. HE ME READ THAT.
>> JUST TO CLARIFY WHAT RULE ARE YOU READING?
>> RIGHT. THIS IS THE NEW LANGUAGE FROM THAT LANGUAGE. SO REQUEST FOR FUNDING LIMITATIONS, THIS IS RULE 4.3.04 REQUEST FOR BOARD APPROVAL OF FUNDING FOR ANY PARTICULAR MATTER SHALL BE PLACED ON THE PUBLISHED REGULAR AGENDA OR CONSENT.
ANY FUNDING REQUEST THAT IS NOT SO PUBLISHED SHALL BE LIMITED TO $5,000 OR LESS. NOW, LAST SENTENCE.
NOTHING HEREN SHOOT LIMIT THE BOARD FROM REVISING AND APPROVING A PUBLISHED REQUEST FOR FUNDING AFTER THE BOARD CONSIDERATION AND PUBLIC COMMENT SO IS THAT -- IS THAT SORT OF THE MECHANISM THAT IS BEING DONE REVISING AND APPROVING OF PUBLISHED REQUEST? THE PUBLISHED AGENDA?
>> SO COMMISSIONER DEAN, ARE YOU ASKING THE BOARD TO -- I GUESS OPEN UP FOR -- WE CAN AMEND THESE RULES AS WOE GO HERE.
>> LET ME TRY IT AGAIN. I AM NOT ASKING FOR ANY FUNDING.
I AM NOT HERE ASKING FOR A NICKEL.
ALL I AM SAYING IS I AM RECOMMENDING THAT WE TRANSFER $1.7 MILLION THAT WE ALREADY HAVE, IT IS NOT A NEW FUNDING, TRANSFER REQUESTING IT BE TRANSFERRED FROM CATEGORY 5 GENRE SERVES TO THE BEACH REFLOURISHMENT PROJECT.
>> IT IS ANT REQUEST FOR NEW FUNDING.
IT IS REQUEST EXISTING FUNDS. >> THAT'S MY DISTRICT, SO I FULLY SUPPORT THAT. BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE
DOING IT WITHIN THE -- >> I WANT TO FOLLOW ALL THE RULE
AND SO LET'S GO TO COMMISSIONER SMITH FIRST, BECAUSE HE IS SIGNALED. I HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS.
IT'S INCUSTOMERRERRING THEM FOR FUTURE USE.
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MY QUESTION IS THIS, WHAT ARE THE PARAMETERS FOR USE FOR THAT? WHAT OTHER KIND OF USE CANS BE DONE WITH THAT $1.7 MILLION? DEFRAY SOME OF THE FIRE COSTS WE MENTIONED TODAY?>> GOOD AFTERNOON. SO THE FUNDS THAT ARE BEING DISCUSSED ARE CURRENTLY IN CATEGORY FIVE WITH THE CHORES DEVELOPMENT FUND. THAT CATEGORY IS CALLED BEACH ASSETS. THAT'S A DEFINITION ASSOCIATED WITH THOSE, WHICH I AM HAPPY TO READS IF YOU LIKE.
BUT ESSENTIALLY THE SUMMATION IS IT HAS TO BE USED FOR BEACH RELATED SERVICES THAT HAVE A TOURISM BASE.
SO AN ULTIMATE UNDERLYING TOUR ISM FUNCTION.
>> THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO HEAR. THANK YOU.
>> OKAY, SO PATRICK,. >> RIGHT.
>> COMMISSIONER IS MAKING A MOTION.
WE NEED SOME FINALITY TO THIS. >> RIGHT.
I THINK IF COMMISSIONER DEAN IS ASKING -- LET'S SEE.
FOR THE BUDGET THAT YOU HAVED JUST ADOPTED, WHICH HAS A PRO VISION FOR T D C, I MIGHT NEED A LITTLE HELP ON THAT.
BUT ESSENTIALLY REQUESTING THERE MAY BE AN AMENDMENT.
I THINK NOT TO THE RESOLUTION, WAS AGAIN THERE WOULD BE A SUGG
SUB CATEGORY, IS THAT CORRECT? >> THE TWO RESOLUTIONS HAVE BEEN ADOPTED. THIS ACTION WOULD NOT CHANGE
ANYTHING IN THOSE RESOLUTIONS. >> AND SPECIFICALLY THE BUDGET
WELL, I WILL TELL YOU WHAT, WHILE YOU FIGURE THIS OUT, COMMISSIONER DEAN HAS MADE A MOTION, DO WE HAVE A SECOND?
>> SECOND. >> OKAY, SO WE HAVE A SECOND.
SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND , WE WILL OPEN IT UP TO DISCUSSION. WELL, IT IS ON THE BUDGET.
UPDATE? >> I KIND OF FEEL BAD.
SORT OF MAKING A RULING ON THIS PER SE.
BUT COMMISSIONER SMITH, THIS NEW RULE ITSELF, I THINK WAS KIND OF
YOUR IDEA TO COME IN WITH. >> IT WAS MY FAULT, AND I WILL TAKE THE BLAME FOR IT. ALL RIGHT.
LET'S MOVE FORWARD. >> PATRIK, WHAT I AM LOOKING FOR IS JUST ADVISE US WE WILL MAKE A POLICY DECISION.
JUST GIVE US YOUR ADVICE. >> ALL RIGHT.
THERE WAS A SO CALLED SAVINGS CLAUSE AT THE END.
AND I AM JUST SAY AS YOUR COUNSEL, AND PROBABLY DO BETTER THAN ME HERE IN THE NEAR FUTURE, BUT MY SENSE OF THE SPIRIT OF THIS LAW IS THAT I THINK COMMISSIONER SMITH, I THINK HAD BROUGHT IT FORWARD. AS IF THERE WAS SOMETHING THAT
[00:40:02]
CAME OUT OF THE BLUE, THAT WASN'T RELATED TO AN ITEM THAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT. THAT THERE SHOULD BE A LIMITATION ON THAT. BUT THERE WAS A SAVING CLAUSE PUT IN HERE. AND I WILL JUST READ IT ONE MORE TIME. NOTHING HEREIN SHALL LIMIT THE BOARD FROM REVISING AND APPROVING A PUBLISHED REQUEST FOR FUNDING AFTER THE BOARD CONSIDERATION AND PUBLIC COMMENT SO THE BOARD DID GO OVER THE BUDGET TONIGHT.AND I THINK EVEN SIMILAR TO WHEN THE TENTATIVE BUDGET WAS DONE, IT WAS SORT OF A REVISION. AND AGAIN, IT WASN'T IN THE BUDGET RESOLUTION, BUT IT WAS IM PLIED THAT THIS BUDGET RESOLUTION WAS KIND OF REFLECT ING SORT OF THE SUB LINE ITEMS THAT WERE IN THE GENERAL BOARD'S BUDGET, WHICH I THINK IS WHAT COMMISSIONER DEAN'S REQUEST IS GOING FOR.
SO LET ME SAY THIS AS DIPLOMATICALLY AS I CAN.
I WOULD NOT SEE THAT AS A CLEAR NONCOMPLIANCE WITH YOUR NEW RULE
BECAUSE THAT'S. >> THAT'S THE BEST I CAN DO.
>> I WILL SECOND YOUR MOTION. >> SO WE HAVE A MOTION, AND A SECOND. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? IS THERE PUB POLITIC COMMENT ON THIS?
>> WELL THAT'S PART OF WHAT WE ARE ASKING YOU, WE HAD PUBLIC
COMMENT ON THE -- >> I THINK THIS IS SORT OF A NEW -- IN OTHER WORDS, IT IS A NEW PROPOSAL AT LEAST.
IT IS A MODIFICATION. >> LET'S GO AHEAD AND OPEN IT UP
FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. >> WE WILL HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE MOTION THAT I JUST MADE. WHICH WOULD BASICALLY TRANSFER 1.7 FROM CATEGORY FIVE RESERVES TO THE BEACH PROJECT.
THAT WOULD BE MY MOTION AND SECONDED.
PUBLIC COMMENT. >> WEST CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE.
5:28 UNTIL 5:41 TO GET TO THE SAVINGS CLAUSE, AND NOBODY KNOWS ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I'D LIKE TO ASK THE QUESTION, AS I WAS STANDING BACK SINCE I HAVE BEEN HERE SINCE 9:00 A.M., SEEMS LIKE RULES DON'T MATTER, BUT THE CLAUSE HAS COVERED EVERYBODY.
AND MR. DEAN, I'D LIKE THIS ANSWER.
WHO ADVISED YOU TO WAIT UNTIL AFTER THE VOTE WAS TAKEN? YOU DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION, BUT I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN WHO YOU HAVE BEEN TALKING TO THAT SAID THAT YOU SHOULD JUST ADVISE YOU TO WAIT INSTEAD OF DOING IT WHILE WE WERE TALKING WHENEVER WE WERE ALLOWED TO TALK AT THE OTHER TIME FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. THANK YOU.
>> FURTHER PUBLIC COMMENT? NAME AND ADDRESS, PLEASE?
>> LAURIE MOFFAT 917 POSSIBILITY BOULEVARD.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION OF PUTTING THE $1.7 MILLION THAT IS SITTING IN BEACH RESERVES SPECIFICALLY FOR THE UPCOMING REFLOURISHMENT PROJECT. THE REASON THAT WE NEED IT ALLOCATED FROM GENERAL BEACH RE SERVES IS SO THAT THE STATE WILL RECOGNIZE THE VOTE THAT YOU ARE ABOUT TO TAKE, AND MATCH THOSE FUNDS. THAT'S IT.
IF IT IS JUST SITTING IN A GENRE SERVE, WE CANNOT GET THE MONEY MATCHED. THAT'S ALL.
WE WOULD LIKE THE STATE TO PUT ANOTHER $1.7 MILLION IN.
THEY HAVE ALREADY PUT $3.5 MILLION IN.
WE WOULD LIKE ANOTHER $1.7 MILLION.
SO WE WOULD LIKE TO GET THE STATE CONTRIBUTING JUST LIKE THEY DID IN SOUTH, WHICH IS $10 MILLION AFTER MATTHEW.
EVEN OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT? SEEING NONE, THAT COMPLETES THE
PUBLIC COMMENT. >> THANK YOU, WILL VICE CHAIR.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, PLEASE VOTE. OKAY, THAT PASSES 5-0.
NOW, BEFORE WE CLOSE OUT, I ALSO HAVE SOMETHING I WANT TO BRING OUT. RIGHT NOW THE COST OF LIVING FOR COUNTY EMPLOYEES EQUATES TO I THINK APPROXIMATELY 4%, IS THAT
>> 3.8%. I WOULD LIKE ASK THE BOARD TO LOOK AT MOVING THAT TO THE RATE OF INFLATION WHICH WOULD BE ABOUT A FIVE PEST RATE 5% RATE. IT IS HARD TO DO THIS THROUGHOUT THE DISCUSSION. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO RAISE THAT, DO WE NEED TO PUT IT IN A MOTION THIS IS OUR FIRST TIME TO DISCUSS THAT. THAT SAID ABOUT 3.8, WHICH IS
IS THAT -- IS THAT SOMETHING WE CAN DO?
>> THAT CHANGES THE BUDGET. >> YEAH, I AM GOING TO -- I AM
[00:45:07]
GOING TO SAY IT IS VERY SIMILAR TO THE LAST ITEM.IT WOULD BE ALLOCATING -- IF THE BOARD WERE TO APPROVE THAT, IT WOULD BE FROM A PULLING OUT OF EACH RESPECTIVE RESERVE INTO THE SPECIFIC LINE ITEM. SO OVERALL IT WOULD NOT EFFECT THE OVERALL BUDGET. THE OVERALL RESOLUTION ADOPTED
IN THE BUDGET. >> IT WOULD CHANGE YOUR RESERVES
>> IT WILL CHANGE THE RESERVES. >> SO YOU HAVE TO TAKE IT OUT OF
GENERAL FUND RESERVES. >> OR EACH -- THAT'S RIGHT.
EACH RESPECTIVE. >> SO IT DOES CHANGE THE BUDGET.
>> IT CHANGES THE LINE ITEM BUDGET.
NO DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WAS JUST APPROVED WITH THE TOURIST DEVELOPMENT. WE TOOK SOMETHING THAT WAS IN A RESERVE AND MOVED IT TO A NONRE SERVE.
WE APPROPRIATED IT. THIS WOULD BE VERY SIMILAR IF THE BOARD APPROVED THIS WE WOULD SIMPLY TAKE IT OUT OF -- MAKE THE CALCULATION, AND TAKE IT OUT OF THE RESERVES.
EACH RESPECTIVE RESERVE AND ALLOCATE IT WITHIN THAT RESERVE.
THEREFORE THE RESERVE AGGREGATE DOES NOT CHANGE.
>> I AM JUST -- IS THIS OUR OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT THIS.
WE HAVE HAD STAFF THAT REALLY FAST THE PAST 18 MONTHS HAVE BEEN WORKING INCREDIBLY HARD TO DEAL WITH COVID.
IF WE ARE GOING TO RETAIN GOOD STAFF, I THINK THE RATE OF INFLATION IS IMPORTANT. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS COMING AT THE END. I SPENT A LOT OF TIME OVER THE WEEKEND TO THINK ABOUT THIS. THIS IS OUR ONLY OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT IT. IF IT IS NOT SOMETHING WE CAN DO , I UNDERSTAND. BUT I FEEL IT IS IMPORTANT TO BRICK IT UP. I AM TALKING ACROSS THE BOARD, INCLUDING FIRE RESCUE AS WELL. WE ARE LOOKING ABOUT 3.8%, WITH MERIT RAISES, I THINK QUESTION WITH HANDLE MOVING INTO 5%.
SO I WILL BRING IT UP AND GO FROM THERE.
>> WELL, I WOULD STRONGLY SUPPORT THAT.
AND IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING AND MY THOUGHT THAT THIS DOESN'T CHANGE THE BUDGET. IT'S IDENTICAL TO THE LAST ITEM WE MOVED. WE TRANSFER FUNDS FROM GENRE SERVES NOW ALMOST EVERY OTHER MEETING.
THE BUDGET IS. >> THAT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING.
>> $1.228000 BILLION OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
THAT DOESN'T CHANGE. WHAT CHANGES IS WE WILL TAKE X AMOUNT OF MONEY FROM THE GENERAL FUND RESERVES, AND TRANSFER IT
FOR BASICALLY PERSONNEL THINGS. >> THAT'S CORRECT.
>> THAT'S WHAT YOU ARE ASKING. >> YES.
>> SO IT ISN'T CHANGING THE BUDGET.
SO ANYWAY, A, THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING.
AND B, I SUPPORT YOUR IDEA. >> HOW DO I FORM THIS?
AND ONE MORE TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO CONFIRM WITH MR. DUN.
MR. DUN, THE BOARD BY ITSELF SECOND RESOLUTION IN THIS SPECIAL MEETING ADOPTED THE BUDGET.
THE BUDGET HAS -- BASICALLY, THE OVERALL AGGREGATE DOLLAR AMOUNT OF THE BUDGET. BUT THEN IT HAS A JEB FUND, SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS, ALL OF THOSE ARE SORT OF LISTED OUT.
DOLLAR FIGURE BY DOLLAR FIGURE. WOULD THE MOTION THAT I BELIEVE THE CHAIR IS GOING TO PROPOSE, WOULD THAT HAVE AN EFFECT IN
CHANGING ANY OF THESE? >> NO, SIR.
SO WHEN THEY ADOPT THAT RESOLUTION, EACH OF THOSE RESPECTIVE FUNDS, INCLUDE WHAT'S BOTH APPROPRIATED TO LINE ITEM EXPENSES, AS WELL AS THE RESERVE SO I WILL JUST -- IF YOU WILL, THERE WAS A $100 FUND AND 80 OF IT WAS EXPANSIVE.
20 WAS RESERVE. IT IS A $100 RESERVE, A FUND THAT WE ADOPTED. IF WE NEEDED TO MOVE CERTAIN PORTIONS OF THOSE DOLLARS UP, BY THEIR -- BY THE COMMISSIONERS APPROVAL, WE WOULD SIMPLY MOVE THE APPROPRIATION FROM RESERVE UP TO THE EXPENSE LINE. THE OVERALL AGGREGATE AMOUNT IS STILL THE SAME. IT IS STILL THE OVERALL FUND, AGGREGATE FUND WILL NOT CHANGE. IT IS MIRRORING EXACTLY WHAT WE JUST -- THE SAME PROCESS AS WE JUST SAW WITH THE T TEXAS DOLLARS. WE ARE TAKING IT FROM A RESERVE AND PUTTING IT INTO A NONRESERVE LINE.
IT DOES NOT EFFECT THE OVERALL FUND.
>> RIGHT. AND IF I MAY ASK ONE MORE QUESTION THROUGH THE CHAIR AND I AM NOT ADVOCATING FOR HAVING THIS DECISION ON ANOTHER NIGHT. BUT THIS IS JUST SORT OF TO CLARIFY THE CONCEPT. IF COMMISSIONER DEAN'S REQUEST, AND NOW COMMISSIONER BLOCKER'S SEPARATE REQUEST, IF THAT WERE DONE AT ANOTHER BCC MEETING SAY ING THE OCTOBER 5TH, RIGHT,
[00:50:02]
THAT COULD BE DONE -- THAT COULD BE DONE ADJUSTING THE BUDGET.AND THAT -- IN OTHER WORDS, THAT'S ALMOST -- I DON'T WANT TO SAY ROUTINE, BUT THAT TYPE OF THING HAS HAPPENED?
>> IT IS ACCURATE. >> SO IN ORDER, IN OTHER WORDS, YOU HAVE ADOPTED THE BUDGET, THIS IS THE REVISION TYPE OF THING. WHICH YOU CAN DO AT THIS MEETING WAS ADVERTISED. THE BOARD CAN TAKE ACTION ON ANY OTHER BUSINESS THAT LAWFULLY MAY COME BEFORE IT DURING THE SPECIAL MEETING. IN OTHER WORDS, IN A SENSE, THIS MEETING IS ALMOST LIKE AN OTHER MEETING.
IN THAT REGARD. HAVE YOU CAN DO BUSINESS.
THIS LANGUAGE FOR NOTHING HERE IN SHALL LIMIT THE BOARD FROM REVISING THE APPROVAL OF PUBLIC REQUEST.
LISTEN, I WILL MAKE THE MOTION, AND WE WILL SEE IF THERE'S A SECOND, AND WE WILL GO FROM THERE.
SO BEFORE WE DO THAT, COMMISSION ER?
>> I KNOW YOU ARE ON A ROLL. FORGIVE ME, I FEEL THE NEED TO SHARE MY THOUGHTS HERE. I FEEL VERY STRONGLY THAT IT IS APPROPRIATE TO GIVE OUR COUNTY THAT SAID, I AM A LITTLE BLIND SIDED BY THIS. I WOULD HAVE LIKED THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THE FACTS, BUT WE ARE AT A 30 YEAR HIGH INFLATION. NOBODY IS FEELING THAT MORE THAN COUNTY EMPLOYEES. I HAD GUYED AT THE HIGH SCHOOL CALL ME UP AND EXPRESS THAT TO ME.
WILL SAME I AM A LITTLE BLIND SIDED BY IT.
>> AGAIN, I APPRECIATE THAT. BUT WE DON'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK. SO I APPRECIATE THAT, IF YOU ARE 100% RIGHT. BUT YEAH, THIS IS OUR CHANCE TO TALK ABOUT IT. I DON'T DO THIS LIGHTLY.
SO WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE AS WORK INFLATION.
WE HAVE BEEN ASKING OUR STAFF TO DO AN INCREDIBLE JOB.
I THINK IT IS WORTH THE DISCUSSION, SO I APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS. I WISH THAT WE COULD SIT HERE AND HAVE THIS CONVERSATION, BUT THIS IS THE FINAL BUDGET.
I THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT. I GAVE IT THOUGHT OVER THE WEEKEND, BUT I WILL MAKE THE MOTION, AND WE WILL SEE IF THERE'S A SECOND AND GO FROM THERE.
ANYTHING FURTHER -- SO I WILL MAKE A MOTION TO GIVE AND CROSS THE BOARD INCREASE OF 5% TO OUR COUNTY STAFF THAT INCLUDES MERIT RAISES, COST OF LIVING INFLATION , AND THAT WOULD INCLUDE OUR FIRE RESCUE SERVICES AS WELL.
>> LET'S OPEN UP TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> PUBLIC COMMENT ON COMMISSION ERS MOTION TO PROVIDE A 5% INCREASE FOR COUNTY EMPLOYEES.
RECOGNIZING THE INFLATION. >> WITH CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE.
DIDN'T GET THE QUESTION ABOUT WHO ADVISED MR. DEAN ON THE OTHER ONE. SO LET'S SEE WHAT WE CAN DO WITH THIS ONE. THAT'S WHY ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO PAY ATTENTION, BUT THEY HAVE TO GO HOME AND TAKE CARE OF THEIR FAMILIES AND DO OTHER THINGS.
SO YOU GET SURPRISES AT THE END OF THESE MEETING BECAUSE YOU CAN'T TALK TO EACH OTHER. YOU CAN TALK TO EVERYBODY ELSE, AND THE STAFF, AND YOU POP IT ON US.
SO AM I CLEAR ON THIS, SO IF ANYONE IS LISTENING TO THIS LATER ON, 5% IS IT. THEY CAN'T GET MERIT, OR ANY OTHER THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON. FOR YOUR SALARY.
SO YOU ONLY GET 5%, YOUR MERIT DOESN'T COUNT, IT IS ALL INCLUDED IN THIS? IF I AM UNDERSTANDING WHAT YOU ARE SAYING. AND SO WE ARE GOING TO TAKE IT FROM THE GENERAL FUND, WHICH IS FINE.
AND I AM NOT FAULTING THE STAFF GETTING A RAISE.
MY CONCERN IS WE ARE TAKING IT FROM THE GENERAL FUND, LIKE WE DID FOR THAT SAND. WE WILL KEEP PUTTING THAT SAND OUT THERE. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE AS TAKE IT FROM THE GENERAL FUND, AND USE IT FOR THE PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE DISCUSSED SINCE 9:00 A.M. ROADS, TRAFFIC, AND FLOODING.
PROPERTY OWNERS -- >> INFLATION YOU LOOK AT GAS.
IT IS NOT JUST COUNTY -- FEDERAL STATE EMPLOYEES THAT ARE HURTING AND WHENEVER THESE THINGS ARE BROUGHT UP AT THE END, BLIND SIDED. IT KIND OF MAKES YOU WONDER.
[00:55:03]
WHO ARE WE TAKING CARE OF. WE HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF THE STAFF, OF COURSE. BUT YOU KNOW, IT IS THE PUBLIC.AND I JUST DON'T SEE THAT BEING DONE.
AND I AM GRATEFUL THAT THERE IS A LAW THAT I CAN SPEAK, THANK YOU. NOW THE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM, PUBLIC COMMENT? THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> PUBLIC COMMENT NOW CONCLUDED ON THIS AGENDA ITEM.
FURTHER DISCUSSION FROM THE BOARD?
>> CAN I SAY ONE THING, WILL CHAIRMAN.
I AM IN SUPPORT OF 5% FOR EMPLOYEES.
DO WISH WE HAD HAD IT AHEAD OF TIME.
I WILL SAY THIS, WHEN YOU CHANGE FOUR LINE ITEMS AND EVERY DIDN'T I CONSIDER THAT CHANGING WHAT I VOTED FOR.
WE CAN DISAGREE, BUT WHEN I READ A LINE ITEM IT IS WHAT I VOTED ON IN THIS BOOK, MIGHT AS WELL TAKE THE BOOK NOW AND JUST COMPLETELY CHAINED. BUT THAT'S FINE.
I SUPPORT THE 5%. BUT I WISH WE HAD IT AHEAD OF TIME. THANK YOU.
>> COMMISSIONER SMITH. >> WHAT IS THE BOTTOM LINE? WHAT WILL WILL IT COST US? FICCA, PENSION, EVERYTHING ELSE.
GIVE ME A ROUND NUMBER. IT IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE GROSS LY ROUNDED BUT THAT'S A BIG NUMBER.
>> SURE. ALSO TO ADDRESS THE PUBLIC COMMENT ON IT. THIS WOULD NOT COME OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND COMPLETELY. IT IS ABOUT A $1.1 MILLION OVER ALL IN COLLECTIVE TO ALL PERSPECTIVE FUNDS, THE GENERAL FUND WOULD BE ABOUT A LITTLE OVER $400,000 I AM GOING TO GUESS OF THAT. THE OTHERS WOULD BE TRANSPORTATION, FIRE, YOUR RESPECTIVE ENTERPRISE FUNDS, SOLID WASTE UTILITIES. EACH OF THOSE.
SO OVERALL THAT 1.1 I WOULD GUESS.
>> ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION?
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.