[Call to Order by Chair]
[00:00:45]
>> GOOD LATE AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.
IT'S COMABLG 5:01 WHICH HE NOTICED THIS BUDGE HEARING FOR.
THIS IS OUR TENTATIVE BUDGET HEARING.
WE'RE GOING TO START WITH AN INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, AND I BELIEVE EARL IS BACK.
I THOUGHT HE WAS. WHO IS GIVING THE INVOCATION? WE NEED TO DO A ROLL CALL BEFORE WE DO THE INVOCATION? DO WE NEED TO DO A ROLL CALL? JUST TO BE SAFE, I'D HATE TO ADOPT A BUDGET AND HAVE IT RULE INVALID BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE A QUORUM BECAUSE WE DIDN'T DO THAL ROLL CALL.
THAT WOULD BE SORT OF EMBARRASSING.
WOULD YOU CALL THE ROLL. >> CHAIR COMMISSIONER HENRY
>> VICE CHAIR COMMISSIONER CHRISTIAN WHITEHURST.
>> HERE. >> COMMISSIONER SARAH ARNOLD.
>> HERE. >> COMMISSIONER PAUL WALDRON.
>> HERE. >> COMMISSIONER JEREMIAH
>> WE NOW HAVE A OFFICIALLY QUORUM.
ALL RIGHT. NOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE EARL, THE PASTOR IS GOING TO LEAD US IN ANY INNOVATION AND THEN IS ROY JONES BACK? ISLE FIND OUT LATER.
>> GOOD EVENING. 1 JOHN CHAPTER 3 VERSE 1 SAYS, "SEE WHAT KIND OF LOVE THE FATHER HAS GIVEN TO US THAT WE SHOULD BE CALLED CHILDREN OF GOD.
AND SO WE ARE." LET'S BRAIP GOD, WE THANK YOU FOR TODAY, THIS SPECIAL MEETING AND WE ASK THAT YOU WOULD BLESS IT AND YOU WOULD KEEP IT AND THAT YOU WOULD GIVE OUR LEADERS WISDOM, LORD,' AS THEY MOVE FORWARD.
>> THANK YOU. I HAVE ROY JONES AGAIN TODAY WAS HERE THIS MORNING BUT IF NOT I'M GOING TO ASK CHRISTIAN TO LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE IF YOU WOULD. I'M SORRY? OH, OKAY ROY JONES, IT'S NOT MY FAULT.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS.
THANK YOU FOR THIS HONOR. WOULD YOU PLEASE JOIN NEE IN THE PLEDGE TO OUR FLAG AND OF OUR COUNTRY I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
WE ARE NOW READY I THINK TO CALL ON -- WELL, WE HAVE TO DO IF ADDITIONS TO DELETIONS TO OUR SPECIAL AGENDA SO WE'LL RUN THROUGH THAT. LET ME START WITH COMMISSIONER ARNIL. ANY ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS?
>> NONE, MR. CHAIRMAN. >> I HAVE NONE, MR. CHAIR.
>> ANY DELETIONS, DELETIONS, PAUL?
I GUESS WE NEED TO VOTE ON THIS, TOO, NOW DAVE? MOTION. IS THERE A MOTION?
>> MOVE TO APPROVE THE AGENDA. >> SECOND.
>> OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
AGAIN BECAUSE WHEN WE HAVE ONE OR MORE COMMISSIONERS CALLING IN BY PHONE, WE ARE DOING A VOICE VOTE RATHER THAN THE SCREEN VOTE, SO THAT'S HOW TBEAL HANDLE THIS EVENING'S VOTES.
[1. Public Hearing * 5:01 p.m. Public Hearing -- Adoption of Tentative Millage Rates & Budget for FY 2023.]
SO SARAH, PLEASE VOTE. >> YES.
>> ALL RIGHT. THAT'S FIVE VOTES IN FAVOR.
SO WE'RE GOING TO MOVE AHEAD WITH OUR -- WELL, IT SAYS APPROVAL OF SPECIAL AGENDA. DO WE NEED TO APPROVE?
>> THAT'S WHAT WE JUST DID, SIR. >> SO WE DID THE ADDITIONS, DELETIONS, AND THEN NOW WE DON'T HAVE TO DO ANOTHER -- OKAY.
SO THE AGENDA IS APPROVED. ALL RIGHT.
VERY GOOD. WELL, AT THIS POINT I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO THE BRAINS OF THE OPERATION, MR. DUNN.
>> GOOD EVENING, CHAIRMAN DEAN, COMMISSIONERS, JESSE DUNN, DIRECTOR FOR THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET AND WE ARE HERE THIS EVENING FOR THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING TO ADOPT THE FISCAL YEAR 2023 BUDGET. SO LARGELY THIS PROCESS WILL BE PRESCRIBED BY FLORIDA STATUTE, BUT IN THE INTERESTS OF KIND OF
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REVIEWING THE OVERALL PROCESS AND LISTENING TO ME TALK A LITTLE BIT, I'M GOING TO BRING US BACK TO FERBER AND JUST KIND OF REVIEW -- FERBER AND JUST KIND OF RE-- FEBRUARY AND REVIEW THE TIMELINE. WE BROUGHT THE BUDGET GUIDELINES BACK IN FERBER, THE BOARD PROVIDED FEEDBACK TO THAT AS TO WHAT THEY WANTED TO SEE MOVING FORWARD.AND OUR FIRST REAL LOOK AT THE BUDGET WAS IN MAY, AND WE LITERALLY WENT THROUGH OVER THREE DAYS THE ENTIRE LINE ITEM BUDGET, AGAIN LINE ITEM BY LINE ITEM, HAD EACH DEPARTMENT COME IN, AND WE DISCUSSED WHAT THEIR BUDGET WAS LOOKING LIKE FOR '23.
WE RECEIVED FEEDBACK AGAIN FROM THE COMMISSION ON WHAT THEY WOULD CONTINUE TO SEE AS WE PROGRESSED THROUGH THE PROCESS.
IN JUNE WE RECEIVED OUR FIRST GLIMPSE OF WHAT THE PROPERTY APPRAISER'S CERTIFIED VALUES LOOK LIKE, WHICH CERTAINLY HELPS US MOVE TO THE RECOMMENDED BUG WHEN E. WHICH WE PROVIDED TO THE COMMISSION IN JULY IN LINE WITH THE PROPERTY APPRAISER'S CERTIFIED VALUES FOR JULY 1ST. AT THAT POINT IN THE PROCESS THE COMMISSION SET THE PROPOSED MILLAGE RATES THAT WERE PUT ON THEIM TRIM NOTICE, WHICH WAS SENT OUT IN AUGUST, AND WE ARE UP TO REALLY THE LAST TWO BUBBLES ON THIS CHART, AND THAT IS THIS IS FIRST PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER BOTH THE MIJTSES AS WELL AS THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR '23, AND THEN FROM HERE WE WILL HAVE A SECOND PUBLIC HEARING.
SO GETTING MOO THE BUDGET PROCESS, WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF THESE BULLETS AT THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET, WHICH IS REALLY THE LAST TIME WE VISITED KIND OF THE OVERALL BOOK, IF YOU WILL, THE WORKBOOK, AND I'LL -- LET ME, IF I CAN STOP HERE FOR A SECOND, THERE IS A TENTATIVE BUDGET WORKBOOK THAT IS ONLINE, ON THE COUNTY'S WEBSITE UNDER THE OMB PAGE IF ANYONE CAN'T SLEEP AT NIGHT. THERE IS OVER 500 PAGES LINE ITEM DETAIL. 2, WHAT IS IN THE 2023 BUDGET AND I WELCOME ANYONE TO CERTAINLY LOOK IN THERE.
AS WELL WITH THE COMMISSION A WORKBOOK AS WELL.
A LOT OF THIS STUFF IS REVIEW. WE HAD A SALARY RECOMMENDATION OF 3% PLUS $1.50 FOR CONSIDERATIONS WE'RE SEEING WITH RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION. WE'VE BEEN THROUGH WITH A COUPLE OF AGENDA ITEMS, THE HEALTH INSURANCE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS, WHICH IS A RECURRING AND VERY TYPICAL PROCESS WE HAVE EACH YEAR, AND WE KEEP IT OUT IN THE OPEN AND IT IS PART OF OUR AGENDAD ITEMS. RETIREMENT RATES WERE MANDATED BY THE STATE, AND WE ARE COOPERATING WITH THOSE RETIREMENT RATES. WE ARE MAINTAINING THE EXISTING WORKERS' COMP RATES. WE DID NOT, AND WE ALWAYS LIKE TO EMPHASIZE THERE ARE NO AUTOMATIC INCREASES IN OPERATING EXPENDITURES. WE LOOK AT THOSE IN GREAT DETAIL AND REALLY JUST WHAT WE LOOK AT IS WHAT THE DEPARTMENT NEEDS FOR NEXT YEAR. CERTAINLY WE HAD TO MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENTS THIS YEAR GOING INTO THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET FOR FUEL AND FUEL-RELATED ITEMS. WE CONTINUED TO FUN OUR CAPITAL REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT PROGRAM, OUR COMPUTER REPLACEMENT PROGRAM, AND WE HAVE EQUIPMENT, AND THOSE ITEMS ARE REFLECTED IN OUR SUMMARY INFORMATION. YOU CAN SEE REALLY THE LINE ITEM, ALL THE DETAIL TO PER REALLY OPERATING AREA AS TO COMPUTER REQUESTS, VEHICLE REQUESTS, PERSONNEL REQUESTS, MAINTENANCE REQUESTS, AS WELL AS OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN, WHICH WE INCORPORATE INTO THE BUDGET WHERE FUNDING IS AVAILABLE. THERE IS A SOLID WASTE ASSESSMENT INCREASE FOR RESIDENTIAL RECYCLING AND COLLECTION. THERE IS A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE REQUEST THAT WE REDUCED OVER 50%, REALLY DUE TO WHAT WE WERE SEEING IN THE MARKET THAT'S THE APPLIESING PRICING REALLY WASN'T ADVANTAGEOUS FOR US.
SO WE'VE ASKED DEPARTMENTS TO DEFER THOSE REQUESTS CERTAINLY AS LONG AS THEY CAN UNTIL SUCH TIME WE SEE THE INDUSTRY KIND OF COME BACK AGAIN AND SEE THE INVENTORIES COMING BACK.
AT THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET WE STILL NEEDED TO UPDATE OUR INDIRECT COST RECOVERY RATES, WHICH WE HAVE AT THE TENTATIVE BUDGET. AS WELL WE HAD TWO ADDITIONAL MILLAGE RATES AT THE TENTATIVELY LEVEL, ONE IS FOR THE SOUTH PONTE VEDRA UPON AS WELL AS SER MEDIA A BEACH.
THESE ARE TWO BEACH AND DUNE RESTORATION PROJECTS WHICH BOTH
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OF THOSE AREAS ARE PARTICIPATING IN THE FINANCING OR THE FUNDING OF A SAND PROJECT ON THAT BEACH. AND THEN AS WELL CERTAINLY I GO TO SLEEP AT NIGHT KNOWING THAT WE MAINTAIN HEALTHY RESERVES AS WELL AS OUR CREDIT RATINGS. SO GETTING INTO THE TENTATIVE BUDGET, WE DID UPDATE OUR INDIRECT COST RECOVERY RATES.WE UPDATED A REFINANCING THAT WE ACHIEVED OVER THIS PAST SUMMER.
WE WORKED ON AND CONTINUE THE PROPERTY AND LIABILITY VEHICLE INSURANCE APPROPRIATIONS. THERE WERE CHANGES IN THE MEDICAL EXAMINER OPERATING BUDGET SINCE THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET. A COUPLE OF ITEMS WERE APPROVED SINCE THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET THAT WE'VE CAPTURED IN HERE, INCLUDING SOME GRANTS AND RESERVE TRANSFERS.
THOSE ARE NOW CAPTURED FROM BOARD APPROVAL INTO THE FY 23 BUDGET. WE HAVE UPDATED STATE REMITTED REVENUE PROJECTIONS FOR HALF CENT SALES TAX, WHICH WENT DOWN ABOUT $300,000 OVERALL AND OUR REVENUE SHARING WENT UP ABOUT $1 MILLION BASED ON KIND OF THE ANNUAL WHERE WE'RE SEEING THEM.
SO WE CONTINUE TO LOOK A REVENUES THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS TO UNDERSTAND THE BEHAVIOR THAT'S OUT THERE.
AND THEN REALLY AT THE TENTATIVE BUDGET IS WHERE WE DO OUR CARRY-FORWARD PROCESS, AND THAT IS ON OUR CAPITAL PROJECTS AND GRANTS, AND IT'S PART OF REALLY ONE OF -- PROBABLY THE BIGGEST COMPLEXITY, IF YOU WILL, TO GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTING IS WHAT IS CALLED A CARRY-FORWARD, SO THE IDEA BEING IF YOU HAVE A $10 MILLION PROJECT THIS YEAR AND IT CROSSES MULTIPLE FISCAL YEARS, WE'RE GOING TO CARRY FORWARD THOSE APPROPRIATIONS.
THE BOARD HAS ALREADY APPROVED THEM AS PART OF ONE YEAR'S BUDGET. THEY DON'T NECESSARILY NEED TO RE-REVIEW THEM UNTIL THE END OF THE PROCESS, SO WE BRING IN CARRY-FORWARD'S AT THE END OF THE BUDGET PROCESS BECAUSE THEY'VE ALREADY BEEN APPROVED BY THE COMMISSION AS PART OF CURRENT YEAR'S BUDGET. SO THOSE ARE NOW REFLECT IN THERE. GETTING INTO TAXABLE VALUES, THE VALUATION DETERMINATION, AND THAT REALLY SHOULD READ CERTIFIED VALUATION, IS 17.8% OVER FISCAL YEAR '22, FOR FISCAL YEAR '23. THAT EQUATES TO, AND I'M SORRY THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF NUMBERS UP HERE BUT I'LL GET RIGHT TO THE -- IT THE INCREMENTAL, IT'S THAT MIDDLE COLUMN THERE, SO IN TOTAL IT IS ABOUT $39.9 MILLION AND IT REALLY, THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS IN TERMS OF THE DIFFERENT MANILA MILLAGE FUNDS SO WE SEE THE GENERAL FUND AT $26.8 MILLION INCREMENTAL. THERE'S TIF RELAYED TO TAX INCREMENT FINANCING RELATED TO THE CA-RAS WHICH HAVE SEEN AN INCREMENTAL INCREASE. OUR FIRE DISTRICT FUND AS WELL ALMOST A $7.7 MILLION INCREASE. TRANSPORTATION TRUST AT ABOUT $5 MILLION. THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT FUND A LITTLE LESS THAN $100,000. PART OF THIS EVENING'S REQUIREMENTS IS TO DISCUSS THE ROLLBACK RATE, AND THE ROLLBACK RATE IS PROVIDED IN THE MIDDLE COLUMN THERE, SO THE RECOMMEND PROPERTY TAXES ARE IN THAT FIRST COLUMN.
WHAT THE EFFECT OF THE ROLLBACK RATE IS IN THAT SECOND COLUMN THERE OF NUMBERS WITH THE REDUCTION REFLECTED IN THE FINAL COLUMN. JUST USING AN EXAMPLE, THE FIRE DISTRICT FUND, IF YOU WILL, THE THIRD ONE DOWN THERE, WE HAD -- THE RECOMMENDED MILLAGE RATE IS AT -- WOULD ACHIEVE PROPERTY TAXES OF AN INCREMENTAL $7.7 MILLION FOR FY 23.
TO GO TO THE ROLLBACK RATE WOULD BRING IT DOWN TO $1.8 MILLION.
THERE WOULD BE ALMOST A $5.9 MILLION REDUCTION IN PROPERTY TAXES. AND WE WILL GO THROUGH THE NEXT COUPLE OF MINUTES WHY THE RECOMMENDATIONS WERE MADE THAT WAY BECAUSE PART OF THE DISCUSSION ISN'T WHETHER WE NEED TO GO TO ROLLBACK RATE. IT IS PART OF JUST THE STATUTORY REQUIREMENT TO DISCUSS WHY WE'RE NOT -- WHY WE'RE NOT AT THAT ROLLBACK RATE. SO WE'LL CON ON WITH THAT DISCUSSION AS WE GET INTO THIS, THE REQUIREMENTS THIS EVENING EVENINGN==. WHEN I SAY EARLIER THAT WE'RE SEEING 17.8%, I WANT TO CIEFNL HIGHLIGHT.
BECAUSE OF CAN BE KIND OF HIGHLIGHT.
BECAUSE OF SAVE OUR HOMS PROVISION, HOMESTEADED PROPERTIES ARE NOT EXPERIENCING A 17.8% INCREASE IN PROPOSED TAXES. AND I HAVE ADDED A COUPLE OF LINES HERE. THE STATE OF FLORIDA PROVIDE
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THIS SAVE OUR HOMES EXEMPTION, AND IT'S PRIMARILY RESIDENTIAL HOMES, AND THAT SHELTERS THE PROPERTY FROM THE FULL INCREASE IN THE PROPERTY APPRAISER'S ASSESSMENT BY NO MORE THAN LESSER OF THE CHANGE IN CPI OR 3% THIS YEAR.IN THIS CASE THIS YEAR IT'S 3%, SO DESPITE THIS 17.8%, I'VE ADDRESSED MANY CONCERNS ABOUT THAT, AND THE FIRST QUESTION I ASK PEOPLE WHO CALL IS, IS YOUR HOME -- DOES IT HAVE A HOMESTEAD, HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION, A SAVE OUR HOMES PROVISION IN THERE, AND I WOULD SAY NINE OUT OF TEN PEOPLE HAVE SAID, YES, I HAVE SAVE OUR HOMES. SO THEN IT BECOMES A DIFFERENT DISCUSSION. IT IS NOT A 17.8% INCREASE IN YOUR PROPOSED TAXES. IT IS CLOSER TO A 3% BECAUSE THAT PROPERTY WITH THAT SAVE OUR HOMES EXEMPTION, EVEN WITH THE PROPERTY APPRAISER'S ASSESSMENT, IS AT A MAXIMUM INCREASE OF 3%.
SO EVEN AT WHAT ARE CALLED THE PROPOSED FLAT MILLAGE RATES, AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE UNDERSTAND THAT, THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET -- I'M SORRY -- THE RECOMMENDED MILLAGE RATES FOR MANY OF THE TAXING AREAS ARE FLAT.
SOME OF THEM ARE ACTUALLY LOWER FOR NEXT YEAR.
THEY WILL SEE A PROPERTY TAX INCREASE AT OR ABOUT 3% FOR THE COUNTY COMMISSIONS FOR WHAT THE TAXES ARE RELATED TO THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. AN INCREASE OVERALL, AND THERE WAS A COMMISSION -- COMMISSIONER IT WHITEHURST HAD ASKED A QUESTION, WELL, HOW MANY PEOPLE OR HOW MANY PARCELS ARE WE TALKING ABOUT THAT ARE COVERED BY SAVE OUR HOMES.
AND OF THE RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES OVERALL, WE'D SAY THAT ALMOST 60% OF THEM ARE PROTECTED BY SAVE OUR HOMES.
ON THE OVERALL PARCELS, INCLUDING NON-RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL, IT'S ABOUT 54% OVERALL.
SO CERTAINLY A GOOD PORTION OF THEM THAT ARE AND THERE IS CERTAINLY OPPORTUNITY. AGAIN, I REMIND PEOPLE IF IT IS A PRIMARY RESIDENTIAL HOME, THAT YOU SHOULD CERTAINLY ACQUIRE THAT SAVE OUR HOMES EXEMPTION ON YOUR PROPERTY.
AN ASSESSED VALUE THIS YEAR OF ABOUT $200,000, JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA, AND THAT'S NOT YOUR MARKET VALUE, THAT'S YOUR ASSESSED VALUE, SO I THINK REALLY IT REQUIRES.
>>> TO LOOK AT WHAT THEIR -- EVERYONE TO LOOK AT WHAT THEIR ASSESSED VALUE IS ON THEIR TRIM NOTICE WOULD RESULT IN ABOUT A $41 INCREMENTAL INCREASE IN TAXES.
A HOUSE OR AN ASSESSED PROPERTY AT ABOUT $500,000 WOULD RESULT IN AN INCREMENTAL INCREASE OF ABOUT $103 OVERALL.
SO MOVING INTO -- FROM THE RECOMMENDED TO THE TENTATIVE BUDGET, AGAIN, THE BUDGET DOES GO UP LARGELY DUE TO THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET UP THERE WAS AT $1,265,000,000 AND IT HAS INCREASED AT THE TENTATIVE LEVEL TO $1,550,000,000.
THAT $284.5 MILLION INCREASE IS REFLECTED IN THIS GROUPING BELOW. $260 MILLION ARE RELATED TO MULTI-YEAR, AGAIN, PROJECTS AND GRANT APPROPRIATIONS.
ONE OF THE LARGEST GRANT APPROPRIATIONS WE HAVE IS THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN. THAT APPROPRIATION WAS PROVIDED TO US AT $52 MILLION. WE FULLY HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT AND CARRY THOSE DOLLARS FORWARD FROM YEAR TO YEAR UNTIL THAT IS SPENT DOWN. THAT PROGRAM, WE'RE GOING TO SEE CONTINUE THROUGH, WITH EVEN THOUGH IT'S BEEN APPROPRIATED, IT'S THE SPENDDOWN THAT WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO BUDGET FOR.
THAT PROGRAM CONTINUES THROUGH DECEMBER OF 2026, SO WE'RE GOING TO SEE THOSE APPROPRIATIONS CARRY FORWARD FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS. SO AGAIN, A GOOD PORTION OF THAT CHANGE IS CARRY-FORWARDS. THERE WAS SOME REVENUE PICKUPS OF ABOUT $3.4 MILLION AND THERE WAS A COUPLE OF BCC AGENDA ITEMS SINCE THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET. ONE OF THEM BEING THE DEEP WATER ACCESS PROPERTY PROPERTY THE ADDITIONAL BUDGET INTO THAT AT ABOUT $21 MILLION. SO OVERALL OUR COUNTY BUDGET GOING INTO THE TENTATIVE IS 1, AGAIN, $1,550,000,000.
OUR RESERVES AND WE ALWAYS TEND TO REFLECT ON OUR MILLAGE FUND RESERVES, REMAIN HEALTHY AND WITHIN OUR BCC POLICY, SO I HAVE PROVIDED SOME OF THE OR. MAIN MILLAGE FUNDS HEREIN AND
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YOU CAN SEE THE RESTRICTED RESERVES COLUMN FOR THE GENERAL FUND THROUGH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENTS.THERE ARE TARGETED RESERVES FOR THE GENERAL FUND.
IT IS A TWO MONTH OR 60 DAYS OF OPERATINGS COSTS THERE.
AND THEN WE CONTINUE TO HAVE AN UNRESTRICT RESERVE THE IN GENERAL FUND THAT WE MAIDEN, THAT THE BOARD CERTAINLY CAN CONSIDER UTILIZING THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AS WELL AS OUR EMERGENCY RESPONSE THAT AGAIN, AS I'VE MENTIONED IN PREVIOUS DISCUSSIONS, THAT WE HAVE FOUND OURSELVES DURING HURRICANE MATTHEW AND IRMA CERTAINLY DRAWING DOWN A GOOD PORTION OF RESERVES TO REALLY RESPOND. WE SPENT CLOSE TO $30 MILLION IN JUST DEBRIS REMOVAL DURING MATTHEW AND IRMA.
THANKFULLY WE WERE REIMBURSED THROUGH FEMA A GOOD PORTION OF THAT MONEY TO PRESERVE OUR RESERVES, BUT THOSE RESERVES CERTAINLY ARE IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY THIS TIME OF YEAR WHEN STORMS CERTAINLY CREEP UP OUR OUR COAST LOON. GOING MOO THE TENTATIVE BUDGET THIS EEP, AND THIS IS THE PRESCRIBED PROCESS OF IT, IS WE'RE GOING TO -- THESE ARE THE REQUIREMENT THROUGH FLORIDA STATUTES, AND WE ARE GOING TO DISCUSS THE PERCENTAGE INCREASE OVER THE ROLLBACK RATE, FOLLOWED BY PUBLIC COMMENT, AND WE'RE GOING TO -- THE BOARD IS GOING TO CONSIDER ADOPTING THE TENTATIVE MILLAGE RATE RESOLUTION, FOLLOWED BY ADOPTING THE TENTATIVE BUDGET RESOLUTION, AND THEN FINALLY THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A DATE, TIME AND PLACE OF THE FINAL HEARING WHICH WE ARE RECOMMENDING FOR SEPTEMBER 20TH.
SO THE FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS IS THE DISCUSSION OF THE PERCENTAGE INCREASE OVER THE ROLLBACK RATE.
THE ROLLBACK RATE, MILLAGE RATE IS 6.0642 MILLS, AND THE ROLLBACK RATE, AS DEFINITION, IS THE MANLA RATE NEEDED TO BE LEVIED, MILLAGE RATE, IN THE FISCAL YEAR TO GENERATE THE SAME TAX DOLLARS AS ADOPTED IN THE PREVIOUS FISCAL YEAR WITH CONSIDERATION FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION.
SO THE ROLLBACK RATE IS AT THAT 6.0, 6.42, AND THAT IS AN AGGREGATE, AND THE TENTATIVE AGGREGATE MILLAGE RATE IS 6.8266. AND AGAIN, MORE OF A STATUTORY REQUIREMENT THAN ANYTHING THAT PARTICULARLY TELLS US ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE ON THE INDIVIDUAL MILLAGE RATES.
THAT PERCENTAGE INCREASE ON THE AGGREGATE FROM THE ROLLBACK RATE IS 12.57%. AND IT IS REQUIRED THAT WE PUBLICALLY ANNOUNCE THAT INCREASE OVER THE ROLLBACK RATE, AND THE SPECIFIC PURPOSE FOR THAT INCREASE, WHICH I HAVE OUTLINE HERE. FOR EACH OF THOSE BCC TAXING UNITS, AND I'LL DISCUSS THEMVILLE, IT IS TO ADDRESS REALLY DEMAND FOR SERVICES IN THIS GROWTH COMMUNITY, INCLUDING ROADWAY INFRASTRUCTURE, DEFERRED MAINTENANCE AND PUBLIC SAFETY, BOTH OUR FIRE, EMS, AS WELL AS OUR SHERIFFS OPERATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023. SO WITH THAT, AT THIS POINT IN THE PROCESS, I'M GOING TO -- THE REQUIREMENT IS FOR PUBLIC
WE'LL NOW HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT. >> ALL RIGHT.
AT THIS TIME THE BOARD WILL HEAR PUBLIC COMMENT TENTATIVE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023. IF YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT, PLEASE COME UP TO EITHER ONE OF THE TWO PODE AUTONOMOUS PODIUM. WE'LL NEED ARE WHY NAME AND ADDRESS AND GIVE YOU THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.
>> FROM THE BOARD, TO REMIND THE BOARD UNDER THE BUDGET STATUTE, THE PUBLIC IS ALLOWED ON ASK QUESTIONS AS PART OF THEIR PUBLIC COMMENT, WHICH IS NOT THE CASE DURING OUR GENERAL MEETINGS, SO THERE MAY BE QUESTIONS POSED AND THEN STAFF OR THE BOARD SHOULD MAKE A GOOD FAITH EFFORT TO RESPOND TO THOSE QUESTIONS DURING THE PROCESS. THANK YOU.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR RESTORING HONOR
AND THANK YOU TO THE BCC. >> MR. SLAVEN.
>>ED SLAIP BOX 3084. THE GOOD EVENING.
EDDISAIFN SLAVEN.COM P AND ALSO UNDERSTAND THE STATUTE THERE'S NO LIMITATION ON THE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR QUESTIONS.
HOW MUCH MONEY IS IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR BODY-WORN CAMERAS AND FOR DASHBOARD CAMERAS TO OUR POLICE OFFICERS?
>> IF YOU'LL DON'T KNOW, WE HAVE A CONTINGENT.
SHERIFF, DO YOU WANT TO ANSWER THAT OR DO YOU KNOW? SOMEONE FROM YOUR STAFF, ADMINISTRATION.
THE QUESTION IS HOW MUCH MONEY IS IN YOUR BUDGET FOR BODY
CAMERAS I GUESS IS THE QUESTION. >> ABSOLUTELY.
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SO THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION IS THERE IS ZERO MONEY IN THE CURRENT BUDGET FOR TO BODY-WORN CAMERAS, HOWEVER, WE DO HAVE MONEY ALLOTTED FOR TECHNOLOGY UPDATES SO THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE AS WE SPEAK TODAY ARE RESEARCHING AND IMPLEMENTING BODY-WORN CAMERAS AND WE WILL LET YOU KNOW BY HAVING THEM ON OUR BODIES WHEN THEY ACTUALLY COME.AGAIN, TWHRAIS TIME WHEN BODY-WORN CAMERAS WOULD COST MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, AND WE LOOKED LIKE THE MOST GENIUS SHERIFF'S OFFICE EVER JUST SIMPLY WAITING, BUT IT WAS REALLY TECHNOLOGY-BASED WAITING BECAUSE WE WENT TO A NEW TASER WHICH IS MADE BY AXON. AS YOU KNOW BODY-WORN CAMERAS IS MADE BY AXON. MINUTE AMOUNT OF MONEY TO ACTUALLY LEASE AND PURCHASE WOID BORN CAMERAS.
AFTER WE GET OUR BUDGET APPROVED BY YOU, WE'LL MOVE FORWARD WITH
BODY-WORN -CAMERAS. >> THANK YOU, SIR.
THAT IS DELIGHTFUL NEWS. I'M SO GLAD TO HEAR THAT.
HOW MUCH MONEY IS IN THE BUDGET FOR A CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE TO HELP THE BCC WORK THROUGH THE ISSUE AS TO WHETHER WE SHOULD
HAVE A COUNTY CHARTER? >> MY GUESS IS NONE.
>> I WOULD SUGGEST THAT WE ADD IT, PLEASE.
HOW MUCH IS IN THE BUDGET FOR AN OMBUDSMAN TO SPEAK OUT FOR
CITIZEN AND EMPLOYEES? >> NONE.
>> PLEASE ADD IT. HOW MUCH MONEY IS IN THE BUDGET FOR THE INSPECTOR GENERAL WITH THE CLERK OF COURTS?
>> I ASSUME THERE'S A BUDGET ITEM FOR THE CLERK OF COURT BASS HE HAS AN INSPECTOR GENERAL, SO WHATEVER THE SALARY AND BENEFITS, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANY OVERHEAD ABOVE THAT.
>> YES. WE WOULD -- WE CAN CERTAINLY MAKE THAT REQUEST OF THE CLERK OF COURT, THAT THE BUDGET THAT IS PRESENTED DOES NOT HAVE THAT BREAKDOWN, SO WE CAN PROVIDE
THE PROBLEM IS WE HAVE ONE FULL-TIME EQUIVALENT PERSON, THE INSPECTOR GENERAL HERSELF, AND NO STAFF.
WE NEED TO BEEF UP THAT, PLEASE. HOW MUCH MONEY IS IN THE BUDGET FOR AN IMPACT FEE STUDY TO MAKE DEVELOPERS PAY THE TRUE COST OF
DEVELOPMENT? >> WE REVIEW THAT EVERY FIFE YEARS BY STATUTE, AND THAT MAY BE COMING UP IN THE NEXT YEAR OR
THAT APPROPRIATION IS IN FOR THE FY 23 BUDGET.
>> I WILL -- I'LL GET THAT FOR. >> YOU THANK YOU, SIR.
HOW MUCH MONEY IS IN THE BUDGET FOR ETHICS TRAINING?
>> THERE'S SOME BECAUSE WEAH TAKE ETHICS COURSES, BUT WE'LL GET THAT TO YOU. WE DON'T HAVE IT OFF THE TOP OF OUR HEAD. WE'LL GET.
>> IT THANK YOU. AND HOW MUCH MONEY IS IN THE BUDGET FOR WHISTLE BLOWER EM EMPOWERMENT TO HELP EMPLOYEES RAISE CONCERNS AND PROTECT THEM WHEN THEY'RE HARASSED?
>> ANY MONEY IN THE BUDGET FOR WHISTLE BLOWING? ANYBODY KNOW? WE'LL GET THAT TO YOU.
WE'VE HAD TO TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF YOUR TIME SO I'M GOING TO
GIVE YOU ANOTHER MINUTE OR SO. >> OKAY.
ACTUALLY, FORMER U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR CHIEF LIT WHO RETIRED TOLD ME BASED UPON HIS REVIEW OF THE STATUTE, THERE IS NO LIMIT IN A TRIM HEARING AND I SENT MR. NO RESPONSE.
MY PRONS IS THERE SHOULD BE NO LIMIT ON THE TIME.
>> I FIND THAT COMPLETELY UNREASONABLE BECAUSE WE COULD GO THREE DAYS AND YOU COULD SAY, WELL, THERE'S NO LIMIT.
YOU COULD LITERALLY FILIBUSTER. I'M IS ON THE SUGGESTING YOU ARE
>> WE'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE A DAY AND A HALF OF TESTIMONY BECAUSE THERE'S NO LIMIT. I'M GOING TO TAKE A CHANCE AS CHAIRMAN AND MAKE A DECISION AND THE LAW MAY UPHOLD MY DECISION.
I'M TRYING TO BE NICE. I'M GIVING YOU EXTRA TIME, BUT DON'T ASK FOR UNLIMITED TIME BECAUSE THEN EVERYONE ELSE WHO MAY WANT TO SPEAK, I'D HAVE TO SAY, UNLIMITED TIME, AND I THINK YOU CAN WORK IT IN IN THE NEXT MINUTE.
>> THAT WOULD BE FINE WITH ME. TOM MANUAL GAVE ME TBFL MINUTES WHEN WE WERE JUSTING THE CHAWRT IN 2008 1K3 HE ACTUALLY SAID, YOU HAVE EXTRA TIME BECAUSE I THINK PEOPLE NEED TOOB EMPOWERED TO SPEAK MORE THAN THREE MINUTES AND I'D LIKE ON SEE THE BCC AMEND ITS RULES AND I'D BE HAPPY TO WORK WOULD YOU AN ADVISORY
RULE. >> I'LL BE HAPPY TO WORK WITH I'M GIVING A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO GO UNLIMITED. THAT'S JUST MY CHAIRMAN'S
>> LIED LIKE TO THANK Y'ALL FOR YOUR TECHNOLOGIES TO THE BUDGET.
I THINK THE BUDGET PROCESS NEEDS TO BE REFORMED.
I THINK OUR MAY MEETINGS WE'VE HAD IN THE PAST CHAIRED BY THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR WERE MAL ADROIT AND WE DIDN'T GET TO ASK ANY QUESTIONS, AND I WAS ACTUALLY ELT H. TOLD LAST YEAR BY THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, "I DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS." THAT'S UN-AMERICAN, AND IT'S A VIOLATION OF THE FIRST AMENDMENT.
THANK YOU, MR. SCHAIRM EXPWAIRKS DELIGHTED TO HEAR FROM OUR SHERIFF THAT WE ARE GETTING BODY CAMERAS.
AND DASHBOARD CAMERAS. THAT IS EXCITING NEWS AND I AM SO PROUD. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, ED. >> WOULD ANYBODY ELSE LIKE TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT? I WOULD ASK THAT YOU PLEASE GIVE
YOUR NAILDZ FOR THE RECORD, SIR. >> PETER CO-OP LEFT HAND 322,
[00:30:07]
SAINT A. I'M LOOKING AT THE INFLATION THAT WE'VE BEEN INCURRING IN THE COUNTRY IN THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF OR SO AND WE'RE UP ABOUT 15.5%.I JUST LOOKED AT THE TRIM NOTICE I GOT IN THE MAIL AND I'M NEW TO THE COUNTY SO I'M NOT REALLY UP TO SPEED ON ALL THE TECHNICALITIES OF HOW YOU GUYS PUT TAXES TOGETHER, AND I APPRECIATE THAT YOU DO, BUT MY TAXES ARE UP 36%, JUST THE COUNTY TAX, JUST FOR COUNTIES MEETING IS UP ABOUT 36%, AND WE HAVE THREE OR FOUR MORE TAX MEETINGS TO GO ON DIFFERENT VARIANTS OF THE SCHOOL AND OTHER ENTITIES THAT I'M NOT TOTALLY FAMILIAR WITH AT THIS POINT. SO I WOULD CERTAINLY APPRECIATE IF YOU WOULD RP SHAEN YOUR PENCILS AND SEE YOU CAN IF YOU CAN GET THAT DOWN BECAUSE MY OTHER QUESTION WOULD BE WHO IN THIS ROOM GOT A 36% RAISE THIS YEAR.
CERTAINLY I DID NOT. AND THAT WILL IMPACT EVERYBODY AT THIS MEETING. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. WOULD ANYBODY ELSE LIKE TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT? HI THERE.
WELCOME THIS. NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD,
PLEASE. >> MY NAME IS TRACY GRAY AND I DON'T NEED A MICROPHONE. I'D BETTER STAND BACK.
I'M VERY GLAD TO SEE THEM PEOPLE HERE AT OUR MEETING.
THIS MANY PEOPLE. I BOUGHT MY HOUSE ON 10 10 ARZ STREET IN 2014. DOES ANYBODY REMEMBER WHAT WE WERE DOING IN 2014? IT WAS IEFNED KIND AN OFF YEAR AND I BOUGHT MY HOUSE FROM THE BANK.
I DON'T HAVE A MORTGAGE. SO THAT PUTS ME IN A DIFFERENT POSITION. DURING COVID IN 2020 I RETIRED.
I DON'T HAVE A MORTGAGE. I DON'T HAVE TO HAVE PROPERTY INSURANCE. BUT MY HOUSE IS LITERALLY E REASON IS BECAUSE OF OUR VERY HEARTFELT MITIGATION ATTEMPTS TO SAVE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. WHAT WE'VE DONE OVER THE YEARS, AND OUR NEIGHBORHOOD IS -- MY HOUSE WAS BUILT IN 1962, SO IT'S 60 YEARS OLD. IT KIND OF LOOKS LIKE ME.
IT'S KIND OF PRETTY BUT KIND OF FALLING APART AT THE SAME TIME.
BUT WE'LL KEEP HER, KEEP HER IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO WHAT WE'VE DEAN DOING IS DIGGING DITCHES TO RETAIN THE FLOODING WATERS, AND AS THE DITCHES ARE DUG DEEPER AND WIRED, WHAT OBVIOUSLY HAPPENS IS THAT DIRT IS REPLACED WITH DIRT FROM ALL OF OUR YARDS. WHAT WE PROPOSE WITH THIS ADDITIONAL MONEY FOR PUBLIC SAFETY AND FOR ROADS IS TO PERFORM A DIFFERENT CONCEPT. PUT THE PIPES AND THEN THE DIRT OVER THE PIPES. THAT WAY WHEN I GO TO GET MY MAIL IN THE AFTERNOON, AND WAVE TO MY NEIGHBORS WE BECOME GREAT FRIENDS BECAUSE OF COVID. MORE PEOPLE STARTED WALKING THEIR DOGS THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD, WALKING STROLLERS.
I BUILT UP MY GARDEN. AND NOW PEOPLE THAT DRIVE BY
JUST WAVE. >> MA'AM, I'M GOING TO STOP YOUR TIME JUST BECAUSE I WANT YOU TO SPEAK INTO IF MICROPHONE SO WE
CAN CAPTURE IT FOR THE RECORD. >> CERTAINLY.
I JUST HATE MY BACK TOWARD MY AUDIENCE.
>> I KNOW IT'S AN AWKWARD POSITION IF YOU HAVE NEVER DONE IT BEFORE. IF WE DON'T HEAR YOU IN THE MICROPHONE, IT'S GOING TO BE -- I'M GOING TO STAWRT BACK AGAIN
WHENEVER YOU'D LIKE. >> EXACTLY.
WHAT I FOUND IN THE EIGHT YEARS THAT I'VE OWNED MY HOME IS OUR NEIGHBORHOOD IS A NEIGHBORHOOD, AND WHAT WE PAID TAXES FOR IS TO KEEP OUR NEIGHBORHOODS TOGETHER. I'VE WORKED DOWNTOWN IN ST. AUGUSTINE FOR 17 YEARS. I TOLD STORIES ABOUT ST. AUGUSTINE, OUR HISTORY, THE FORT, ALL SORTS OF GHOST STORIES, AND THINGS THAT PEOPLE ENJOY.
AND WHAT I WOULD ENJOY TO DO IS WHEN I GO TO GET MY MAIL FROM MY MAILBOX, THE ONLY ALTERNATIVE TO GET OUT OF MY WAY FROM A UPS TRUCK OR FEDEX IS TO LITERALLY JUMP THE IN DITCH.
CAN WE THINK ABOUT THAT? THAT'S THE ONLY WAY TO GET OUT OF THE WAY. IF A TRUCK COMES, THE BERM IS NON-EXISTENT. YOU CAN STEP ONE FOOT, YOU'RE IN THE DITCH. SO WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS, PLEASE PUT PIPES, DIRT, IT WILL ALLEVIATE THE FLOODING. IT WILL PROVIDE TO PUBLIC SAFETY. AND IT WILL MAKE US A VERY HAPPY NEIGHBORHOOD. THANK YOU.
>> MA'AM, MA'AM. I'M GOING TO ASK YOU IF YOU WANT TO, I WANT YOU TO GO TO THE BACK OF THE ROOM.
THIS ISN'T A PUNISHMENT. THIS IS GOING TO HELP UP.
I WANT YOU TO GO TO BACK OF TE ROOM AND SEE THAT GUY WAVING HIS HAND? HE'S THE DIRECTOR PUBLIC WORKS.
AND I WANT HIM TO GET YOUR INFORMATION AND LOOK AT THIS PROPOSAL AND MAYBE COME BACK TO THE COMMISSION WITH A RECOMMENDATION, SO DO YOU MIND GETTING WITH GREG.
>> IT WILL BE MY ULTIMATE PLEASURE.
[00:35:01]
>> WOULD ANYBODY ELSE LIKE TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT? HI THERE. WELCOME.
>> HI, BOARD. MY NAME IS MELODY ZIEGLER I LIVE AT 400 HILL STREET. I BASICALLY LIVE IN THE SANTA ROSA AREA, A COUPLE STREETS AWAY FROM TRACY, AND THE DITCHES ARE A REAL BIG PROBLEM, HUGE PROBLEM.
AND, YOU KNOW, NOT ONLY THE DITCHES THAT ARE HOLDING THE WATER, AND WE PAY TAXES FOR MOSQUITO CONTROL BUT WE CAN'T GO OUTSIDE OUR HOUSE FOR MORE THAN FIVE MINUTES WITHOUT GETTING ATTACKED BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY TIMES I HAVE CALL THE COUNTY, I'M ON A FIRST-NAME BASIS WITH SEAN, AND THERE'S BRANCHES, THERE'S TRASH, AND IT'S ALL BECAUSE OF THE DITCHES.
THE PROBLEMS JUST SOMERSAULT WITH THE WHOLE DITCH PROBLEM.
AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S AN OLDER NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT HAS MATURE TREES. AND NOW NOT ONLY ARE WE GOING TN FIGHTING THE DITCHES FOR DECADES.
I BUILT MY HOUSE IN 2005. I'VE BEEN THERE 17 YEARS.
I HAVE LOST OVER 2 FEET OF PROPERTY TO THE DITCHES, AND THE REASON WHY I KNOW THAT IS WHEN THEY PUT THE SMART WATER METER ON MY PROPERTY, IT WAS 2 FEET AWAY FROM THE DITCHES.
NOW IT'S AT THE DITCH. AND NOT ONLY THAT, THE ROADS ARE CORRODING ALL THE TIME INTO THE DITCH.
AND HILL STREET, THE STREET THAT I LIVE ON, IS VERY NARROW.
THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY TRUCKS THAT FALL INTO THE DITCHES, AND IT IS LIKE PRETTY RIDICULOUS. AND NOW WHAT WE'RE FACING IS THE RAVENSWOOD DEVELOPMENT THAT THE COMMISSIONERS HAVE APPROVED IN BACK OF RAVENS WOOD SCHOOL, THOSE 250 HOMES, I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT NUMBER OF HOMES, AND THERE ARE SOME MULTI-UNIT APARTMENTS THAT ARE BEING BUILT, ALL THAT TRAFFIC IS GOING TO TO GO OUT EITHER ON CERVANTES OR VAR ELA.
GUESS WHAT? THEY'RE GOING TO BE CUTTING THROUGH THE OTHER SMALL STREETS LIKE MINE BECAUSE THERE'S NO INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT THAT.
AND I'M JUST CURIOUS, NOT ONLY IS THERE NO INFRASTRUCTURE, IN MY OPINION. WHAT ABOUT THE CITY, THE COUNTY WATER AND SEWAGE PROBLEM? BECAUSE WE ALREADY HAVE THAT.
AND, YOU KNOW, TRACY CAN ATTEST TO THAT TOO.
IT'S LIKE A CONTINUAL PROBLEM THE THAT DITCHES HAVE CAUSED.
THE ROADS ARE TOO NARROW. THERE'S GOING TO BE MORE CONGESTION COMING OUT ON STATE ROAD 16 AND ELSE THAT A BIG PROBLEM THERE. YOU KNOW, BUT I GUESS I'M JUST LIKE WITH TRACY ON THIS, SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE.
WE'RE PAYING TAXES. WE'RE PAYING MOSQUITO CONTROL.
WE HAVE NO PLAYGROUNDS FOR THE CHILDREN.
WE HAVE NO SIDEWALKS. ALL WE HAVE ARE DITCHES THAT
PEOPLE FALL INTO. >> CAN YOU ALSO -- DO YOU MIND GETTING WITH GREG CALDWELL? HE'S BACK.
>> THANK YOU. >> BECAUSE I'D LIKE HIM TO LOOK SPECIFICALLY INTO YOUR ISSUES ALSO AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO.
>> THANK YOU, MA'AM. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
WOULD ANYBODY ELSE LIKE TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT?
>> CHUCK LABANOWKSI 1780 NORTH CAPPERO.
I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FAIR MARKET VALUE IS WHAT WE'RE GETTING TAXED ON.
THE QUESTION I HAVE, HOW MUCH IS THAT FAIR MARKET VALUE INCREASED
THIS PAST YEAR? >> WE'RE ACTUALLY GETTING TAXED ON THE ASSESSED VALUE, NOT THE FAIR MARKET VALUE.
>> BUT IT'S BASED ON FAIR MARKET VALUE, CORRECT?
>> NO. OUR PROPERTY APPRAISER IS REQUIRED UNDER STATE LAW TO MAKE AN ASSESSED VALUE REGARDLESS OF WHAT IT SAYS ON ZILLO OR ANY OTHER FAIR MARKET VALUE ESTIMATE, SO YOU MAY WANT TO SIT DOWN WITH BETTY KRAMER AND HAVE HIM EXPLAIN HOW HE -- HIS STAFF OF APPRAISERS ARRIVE AT ASSESSED VALUE. MY CERTAINLY EXPERIENCE IS IT'S PROBABLY SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 10, 15, EVEN 20 PERCENT BELOW WHAT YOU MIGHT CONSIDER FAIR MARKET VALUE.
THAT'S THE ASSESSED VALUATION THAT JESSE JUST EXPLAINED.
>> WELL, THAT'S WHAT I WAS USING IS OFF THE TAX ASSESSOR'S WEBSITE AS USING THOSE VALUES IT.
DOESN'T STAY CONSTANT. I'VE NOTICE THAT.
INTEREST CREASES. AND IT'S BASED OFF THE OF FAIR MARKET VALUE. THEY HAVE GOT TO USE A PERCENTAGE. THEY DON'T JUST PICK IT OUT OF THE SKY. BUT I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED WITH THE ECONOMY THE WAY IT IS RIGHT NOW, WE'RE LOOKING AT INCREASING THE MILLAGE RATE. YOU'RE ALSO LOOKING AT INCREASING THE SALES TAX IN NOVEMBER.
IT'S GOT TO STOP FOR THE HOMEOWNERS.
IT'S A LITTLE CONCERNING THAT WE KEEP INCREASING WHEN OTHER
[00:40:02]
THINGS SHOULD BE INCREASED OR THE IMPACT FEE IS COLLECTED 100 PERCENT. THE IMPACT FEES MAKE A DIFFERENCE. I KNOW RIGHT NOW THAT IGP AND 95, BUC-EE'S WAS ADD IN THERE 120 PUMPS.HOW MUCH ARE WE GETTING OFF THAT ONE GAS STATION? I KNOW WE ONLY GET A PIECE OF IT BECAUSE SOME OF IT GOES TO THE STATE. ON TOP OF THAT, THEY'VE ADDED ANOTHER TWO GAS STATIONS TO THAT IN INTERSECTION.
SO THEY KEEP DOING THIS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY, WE KEEP GETTING MONEY FOR THE STREETS BECAUSE THAT MONEY IS TO BE USED FOR ROADS. WHERE IS THAT MONEY GOING TO? IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE IT'S BEING USED WHERE IT SHOULD BE USED.
WE NEED TO SLOW DOWN JUST A BELOIT TAXING THE HOMEOWNER AND LET'S START HITTING WITH THE IMPACTS AND COLLECTING WHAT WE
NEED TO. >> WELL, NUMBER ONE, WE'RE NOT RAISING THE MILLAGE, THE TENTATIVE MILLAGE RATE IS THE SAME AS IT WAS LAST YEAR. NUMBER TWO, WE ARE NOT INCREASING THE SALES TAX. YOU, THE VOTER, ARE GOING TO VOTE ON WHETHER TO INCREASE IT OR NOT ON NOVEMBER 8TH.
YOU INDICATED THAT WE ARE INCREASING THE SALES TAX.
>> I STATED THAT IT WAS IN NOVEMBER.
>> I'M HAPPY TO LISTEN. ONE MORE POINT.
WE, IN 2018, WE AS A COMMISSION RAISED IMPACT FEES ON RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT TO THE HIGHEST LEVEL ALLOWED BY STATE LAW. WHAT'S THE HIGHEST LEVEL ALLOWED BY STATE LAW? STATE LAW REQUIRES THAT WE DO AN ECONOMIC ANALYSIS AND SHOW THAT THE AMOUNT, THE DOLLAR AMOUNT OF THE IMPACTS OF THAT DEVELOPMENT IS THE HIGHEST WE CAN CHARGE.
WE CAN'T GO BACK AND CAPTURE PREVIOUS DEVELOPERS WHO MAY NOT HAVE PAID AS MUCH AS THEY SHOULD BACK IN THE 2014 BECAUSE THEY GOT CLOSE TO THE DRI CAP WHERE THEY WERE GOING TO HAVE TO PUT IN ANOTHER COUPLE MILLION IN ROADS AND THEN STOP, SO THEY DIDN'T TRIGGER THAT CAP. WE'VE DONE EVERYTHING WE CAN, I THINK, SINCE 2018 TO ADJUST THE IMPACT FEES.
THE DRI LAW WAS REPEALED ABOUT TEN YEARS AGO.
AND WE ARE AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL WE CAN SET BY STATE LAW OF IMPACT FEES, AND YOU CAN LOOK AT A CHART AND SEE THAT IN THE EARLY 2011, '11, '12, '13 IT WAS ABOUT $1.3 MILLION IN IMPACT FEES. WITH THE IMPROVED ECONOMY IT'S GONE UP TO 14, 15 MILLION AND THIS YEAR I THINK IT'S 20 MILLION. I WANT PEOPLE TO COME TO ME AND TELL ME WHAT THEIR ISSUES ARE BUT I DEAL IN FACTS, NOT OPINION, AND I'VE TRIED TO POINT OUT THE FACTS HERE, AND I'M NOT -- I'M NOT TRYING TO BE SOME SORT OF -- YOU KNOW, GET INTO A DEBATE. I JUST WANT THE FACTS TO BE KNOWN AND THEN LET PEOPLE VOTE ON THE REFERENDUM.
>> THAT I UNDERSTAND. WHY ARE WE CONTINUALLY BEING TOLD WE CAN'T CHANGE THE IMPACT FEES UNTIL 2023, WE HAVE TO USE THE 2018. YOU'RE JUST SITTING THERE TELLING US THA IT'S BEEN INCREASING EVERY YEAR SINCE
THEN, IS THAT CORRECT? >> THE IMPACT FEE REVENUE HAS
INCREASED SINCE 2018. >> THE REVENUE.
>> BASED ON OUR IMPACT FEES THAT WE INCREASE THE IMPACT FEES
BASED ON THAT ECONOMIC ANALYSIS. >> SINCE 2018 WE'VE INCREASED
>> NOT THE ACTUAL INCOME BUT THE ACTUAL NUMBER.
>> WELL, NO. THE ACTUAL REVENUE HAS INCREASED BETWEEN OUR INCREASE IN IMPACT FEES AND THE INCREASE IN DEVELOPMENT THAT HAS TAKEN PLACE.
THE REVENUE HAS GONE UP DRAMATICALLY FOR IMPACT FEES.
>> MY CONCERN IS BEING TOLD, AND I ASKED A NUMBER OF TIME THROUGHOUT THE AGENCY, BUT IMPACT FEES.
I'M BEING TOLD IT'S 2018 NUMBERS.
WE CAN'T CHANGE IT UNTIL 2023. SO SOMEWHERE THERE'S A
DISCONNECT. >> STATE LAW SAYS WE REVIEW THE IMPACT FEES EVERY FIVE YEARS, NOTE EVERY SICKS MONTHS, SO WE'RE STUCK WITH THAT. IN 2023 IT WILL BE FIVE YEARS, AND THAT'S WHEN WE CAN DO ANOTHER ECONOMIC ANALYSIS AND RAISE IMPACT FEES IF THE ECONOMIC ANALYSIS SUPPORTS THAT.
>> OKAY. I'M HOPING THAT THERE IS A
FACTOR IN THERE FOR INFLATION. >> YES, SIR.
THANK YOU. >> ANYBODY ELSE LIKE TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE TENTATIVE BUDGET THAT IS BEING PROPOSED FOR FISCAL YEAR '23? YES, SIR.
NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD AND YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS ED CEERS.
I REVIDE A 356 FIDLER'S POINT DRIVE, AND I'M NEW TO THE COMMUNITY AS WELL. I CALL MYSELF A NIEWBY.
AND I REALLY LIKE LIVING HERE BUT I, TOO, HAVE EXPERIENCED A 36% INCREASE IN MY PROPERTY TAXES BECAUSE MY REBATE JUST STARTED JANUARY 1 OF THIS YEAR, SO IT WAS UNFORTUNATE THING BUT
[00:45:03]
I JUST AGAIN WOULD LIKE TO HOPE THAT THE BOARD WILL CONSIDER THAT AND SHARPEN THEIR PENCILS IN SOME WAY.BUT I APPRECIATE THE WORK YOU ALL DO.
AND MY OTHER QUESTION WOULD BE ABOUT THE PGA LEAVING THE STATE OF FLORIDA GOING TO NORTH CAROLINA.
ARE YOU OPTIMISTIC ABOUT WHAT COULD BE DONE WITH THAT
PROPERTY? >> LET ME -- THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION. LET ME SPEAK TO THAT.
I GOT SEVERAL CALLS LAST MONTH FROM REPORTERS ASKING MY THOUGHTS AND MY OPINION, AND THEY SAID I ASSUME YOU'RE SAD, COMMISSIONER DEAN, AND I SAID, WELL, I'M DISAPPOINTED THAT THE BUT, I SAID, I AM VERY, VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE REVISIONING WE CAN DO. WE'RE GOING TO BE A MAJOR PLAYER BECAUSE WE OWN ABOUT 31 ACRES WITHIN THAT CIRCLE CALLED GOLF VILLAGE, AND I THINK WE CAN DO A MAJOR REVISIONING AND A MAJOR REVITALIZATION OF THAT ENTIRE COMPLEX WE CALL WORLD GOLF VILLAGE, BUT WE DON'T HAVE ANY FIRM PLANS.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF STAKEHOLDERS INVOLVED.
FIRST OF ALL AND PARAMOUNT ARE THE THOUSANDS OF HOMEOWNERS WHO HAVE MOVED INTO THAT AREA SINCE WORLD GOLF VILLAGE WAS CREATED IN THE MID-'90S, SO WE HAVE THOUSANDS HOMEOWNERS THAT NEED TO HAVE A VOICE IN WHAT IS GOING TO BE BUILT THERE, SO I PLAN ON HAVING SEVERAL TOWN HALL MEETINGS, AND I MAY HAVE BEEN ROTATED OUT OF THAT PICTURE BY THE REDISTRICTING, BUT I'M CONFIDENT SARAH WILL DO THE SAME.
SO WE WANT TO HAVE A REVITALIZATION WITH CITIZEN INPUT. I'M TALKING ABOUT RESTAURANTS, SHOPS, JUST A NICE OPEN AREA PROBABLY FOR LIKE A VILLAGE GREEN, SO THAT'S WHERE WE ARE. BUT WE'RE IN THE EARLY STAGE.
THAT HELPS ME A LOT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR
WE ARE STILL TAKING PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE TENTATIVE BUDGET
FOR FISCAL YEAR '23. >> MY NAME IS JIM MOWS AND I LIVE AT 4708 STATE ROAD 13. I'VE GOT A MILITARY-RELATED HEARING DISABILITY SO I ASKED MY WIFE TO JOIN ME JUST IN CASE I GET A QUESTION THAT I CAN'T HEAR.
WHEN I GOT MY TAX STATEMENT, IT JUST SEEMED UNUSUAL TO ME THAT THE MILLAGE RATE IS PLANNING ON STAYING THE SAME FOR THE LAST YE YEARS. FROM A HIGH LEVEL, AND WHAT I KNOW ABOUT FLORIDA AND ST. JOHNS COUNTY, I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT THERE ARE EFFICIENCIES OF SCALE THAT ECONOMIES OF SCALE THAT COULD BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT BECAUSE, AS A SAID, TO HAVE IT STAY THE SAME WITH A $300 MILLION BUDGET SEEMS A LITTLE UNUSUAL TO ME. SO I WENT BACK AND LOOKED AT MY LAST FIVE STATEMENTS, AND IN FACT IN 2019 TO 2020, THERE ACTUALLY WAS A 6% REDUCTION IN MILLAGE RATE.
SO DID I A LITTLE MORE RESEARCH IN THE POPULATION INCREASE IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY FROM 2010 TO 2020 HAS GONE UP 44%.
AND THEN I WENT AND LOOKED AT WHAT IS MEDIAN PRICE OF A NEW -- OF HOUSING SALES, AND YOUR DIRECTOR OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET SAID IT WAS AS YOU LITTLE NORTH 17%.
WITH THE MEDIAN SALES PRICE OF $510,000.
AND THEN I THINK THE LAST THING, WHEN I LOOKED -- THE STATEMENT IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFICULT TO READ BECAUSE IT TALKS ABOUT IF NO BUDGET CHANGE IS MADE VERSUS A BUDGET CHANGE BEING MADE AS OPPOSED TO SOME NEW TERMS THAT I JUST LEARNED ABOUT TONIGHT, A ROLLBACK RATE, BUT IF WE LOOK AT THE ROLLBACK RATE, WHICH I THINK IS CORRECT, AND WHAT THE PROPOSED BUDGET IS, THAT'S NORTH OF 12.5%, WHICH GIVEN OUR UNPRECEDENTED INFLATION NOW OF SOME 8.5% SEEMS TO ME TO BE EXCESSIVE, UNFORTUNATELY.
SO WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, I WOULD ASK THAT YOU CHALLENGE THE STAFF TO LOOK FOR WAYS TO REDUCE THE MILLAGE RATE.
WHAT I HAVE HEARD FROM YOUR DIRECTOR MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET WAS GREAT INFORMATION, BUT I DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING ABOUT LOOKING FOR WAYS TO ACHIEVE EFFICIENCIES.
I HEARD OF THINGS THAT ARE NECESSARY BUT NOT LOOKING FOR
[00:50:01]
WAYS TO REDUCE THE OVERALL MILLAGE RATE.APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS. >> CAN I COMMENT ON THAT? AS I'M HEARING THESE COMMENTS, OBVIOUSLY PROPERTY VALUES ARE UP AND THEREFORE THE PROPERTY APPRAISER, THOSE ASSESSMENTS ARE UP, TOO, BUT THE COST OF GOODS, THE COST OF MATERIALS IS UP, SO WE HAVE A HALF MILE STRETCH COUNTY ROAD 210 WHICH IS 260% OVER CAPACITY AND IT NEEDS TO BE WIDENED, AND IT COSTS $11 MILLION TO WIDEN A HALF MILE SECTION OF ROAD.
SO WHICH WIDENING PROJECT DON'T WE DO IF WE IMPLEMENT THE ROLLBACK RATE? WE CUT OUT $20 MILLION OUT OF THE BUDGET, A BUDGET THAT HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO PAY FOR THESE ROAD-WIDE ENG PROJECTS AS IT STANDS.
DO WE NOT GIVE OUR SHERIFFS DEPUTIES WHO ARE OUT ON THE STREET RISKING THEIR LIVES EVERY NIGHT RAISES? THEY'RE EXPERIENCING INFLATION TOO.
SO THE COST OF RETAINING STAFF, THE LOSS OF WIDENING ROADS INTO FRANKLY OUR RESIDENTS DEMAND WE WIDEN P AND THE DRAINAGE I AND THE DITCHES AND THE CLEANING, SO PROPERTY VALUES ARE UP BUT THE TAX RATE, WHAT WE CONTROL AS THE TAX RATE, THAT'S REMAINED THE SAME. WE HAVEN'T RAISED THE TAX.
THE VALUE OF YOUR PROPERTIES HAS GONE UP.
AND I KNOW THAT CAN BE FRUSTRATING, BUT THE TREND THAT I'M SEEING NOW IS THAT PROPERTY VALUES ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AND MAYBE IT'S EVEN STARTING HERE IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY IS GOING DOWN.
SO IF THE TAX ASSESSMENTS ARE DOWN NEXT YEAR, WE'LL HAVE LESS MONEY TO DEAL WITH ALL THE MANY SNRAWCH INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS THAT OUR RESIDENTS ARE DEMANDING THAT WE ADDRESS WITH THE LIMITED FUNDS THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE. SO I JUST WANTED TO ADDRESS THAT BECAUSE I'VE HEARD IT NOW THREE OR FOUR TIMES TO IMPLEMENT THE ROLLBACK RATE WITH ALL THE INFLATION THAT'S GOING ON.
WE JUST WANT TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THE DEMANDS OF THIS COMMUNITY, AND I THINK THAT WHEN WE'VE SPOKEN WITH OMB, WHEN WE SPEAK WITH OUR STAFF, THEY'RE TELLING US, WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY. WE'RE CONSTANTLY DEMANDING OF THEM TO WIDEN THE ROAD, TO FIX THIS, THE COMMUNITY IS UPSET ABOUT THIS INFRASTRUCTURE NEED, AND THEY SAY, WE SIMPLY DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO ADDRESS IT. SO I THINK JUST IF THAT SHEDS ANY LIGHT AS TO WHY PERHAPS THEY'RE NO RECOMMENDING THE ROLLBACK RATE AND MAYBE WHY WE'RE NOT GOING TO VOTE TO USE THE ROLLBACK RATE AT THIS TIME. JUST WANTED TO CLEAR UP THAT.
>> AND I'LL TRY TO MAKE THIS REAL SHORT, BUT THIS WHOLE ISSUE OF MILLAGE RATE AND AD VALOREM TAXES IN FLORIDA UNDER STATE LAW GETS A LITTLE BIT LIKE THREE-DIMENSIONAL CHECK TORRES SORT OF GET MY -- CHECK TORRES SORT OF GET MY HEAD AROUND.
BUT IF YOU'RE A RESIDENT WHO HAS LIVED IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY AND OWN YOUR HOME, WHETHER IT HAS A MORTGAGE OR NOT, AND YOU'VE BEEN ABLE TO FILE FOR A HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION, WE PASSED A LAW ABOUT 30 YEARS AGO WHICH WAS CALLED SAVE OUR HOMES, AND WHEN THAT LAW PASSED, IF YOU HAD A HOUSE WITH A HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION AND IT WAS YOUR PRIMARY RESIDENCE, THEN REGARDLESS OF THE ASSESSED VALUE, YOUR TAX COULD NOT GO UP MORE THAN 3%.
SO THE PROBLEM ARISES A LOT, AND I THINK IT MAY HAVE -- I THINK I'VE HEARD A COUPLE EXAMPLES TONIGHT.
I HAD A LADY CALL ME ABOUT A WEEK AGO AND SHE HAD PURCHASED A HOME THIS YEAR ON ATLANTIC VIEW, ON ANSWERRIST TAISH YEAH ISLAND AND IT WAS HAVING INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH SOME DRAINAGE PROBLEMS BUT ALSO SHE SAID THAT WHEN SHE GOT HER TAX BILL YEAR AFTER YEAR FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR FROM THE PREVIOUS OWNER WHO HAD IT HOMESTEADED AT 3%, IT WAS REASSESSED -- OKAY? -- THE PROPERTY APPRAISER REASSESSED IT, AND WITHOUT THE HOMESTEAD AND THIS YEAR HER NEW HOME WHICH SHE THOUGHT THE TAXES WERE $14,000 A YEAR, GUESS WHAT? HER TAXES ARE $30,000 A YEAR.
AND THAT'S FLORIDA LAW. THAT'S NOTHING WE CAN DO ABOUT IT AS COMMISSIONERS AS FAR AS DEALING WITH THE ASSESSED VALUE AND HOW A HOUSE WITH A HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION THAT'S A PRIMARY RESIDENCE CAN BE CAPPED AT 3%, BUT IF YOU'RE NEW TO THE STATE, NEW TO ST. JOHNS COUNTY AND BUY A NEW HOME, BE APPRISED THAT THE TAXES ARE GOING TO PROBABLY GO UP AND FRANKLY SUBSTANTIALLY BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT PROTECTED UNDER THAT SAVE OUR HOME LAW.
JESSE, HAVE I SUMMARIZED THAT FAIRLY ACCURATELY? I JUST WANT TO KIND OF WORK THROUGH THAT.
>> ALL RIGHT. SO WE ARE STILL HEARING PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE FISCAL YEAR 23TH TENTATIVE BUDGET.
PLEASE COME FORWARD IF YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT.
I SEE SOMEBODY PERHAPS MAKING PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS MIKE GOODMAN 225 WHITLEY DRIVE, SHEAR WATER COMMUNITY.
THE WEST END OF CROORD 210. DID COUNTY ROAD 210.
IT USED TO BE DISTRICT 1 AND YOU'RE THE COMMISSIONERS.
IS THAT STILL CORRECT? WAS THERE SOME REDISTRICTING?
[00:55:03]
>> NO, SIR. DISTRICT 2 IS THE SOUTH HALF OF 210, DISTRICT 1 IS THE NORTH HALF OF 210.
COMMISSIONER ARNOLD AND I SHARE THAT DISTRICT, SHARE COUNTY RADIOED 210. IT'S A BLESSING AND A BURDEN.
>> I THINK IT'S VERY SAFE TO SAY EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM IS CONCERNED ABOUT PERSONAL SAFETY. SO MY QUESTION, JUST AS A SIDE NOTE, THIS PAST TUESDAY A REPRESENTATIVE FROM SHERIFF HARDWICK'S OFFICE CAME OUT TO SHEAR WAWR AND DID AN EXCELLENT -- SHEARWATER AND DID AN EXCELLENT PRESENTATION ON THE NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH PROGRAM. IT WAS THE MOST WELL-ATTENDED MEETING IN THE NEARLY TWO YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN AT SHEARWATER.
AND THE DEPUTY DID A VERY PROFESSIONAL JOB, BUT HE IMPARTED A LOT OF SCARY INFORMATION TO US, AND A LOT OF THE RESIDENTS -- ABOUT THE LEVEL CRIME IN THIS COUNTY.
SO MY SIMPLE QUESTION IS ARE YOU, THE COMMISSIONERS, THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS AND SHERIFF HARDWICK AND YOUR TEAM SATISFIED WITH THE AMOUNT OF MONEY GIVEN TO THE SHERIFF TO PROVIDE PERSONAL SAFETY TO THIS COUNTY COMS THE FASTEST GROWING COUNTY IN FLORIDA -- CORRECT? ANY ARGUMENT? AND SOME SAY IT'S IN THE TOP TEN IN THE COUNTRY.
SO WE'RE EXPANDING ALL OVER, AND SO IS CRIME.
QUESTION. >> MY ANSWER TO THAT WOULD BE I WOULD LOVE, AS ONE COMMISSIONER, TO GIVE THE SHERIFF A BIGGER BUDGET. I WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT. IF YOU HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO READ THROUGH THE DOCUMENT, YOU WILL SEE THAT WE HAVE LIMITED FUNDS TO ADDRESS A GREAT MANY NEEDS, SO WHEN THE SHERIFF CAME FORWARD WITH HIS BUDGET PROPOSAL THIS YEAR, HE SAT DOWN WITH ME AND HE WENT OVER WHAT SHE THOUGHT WERE THE NEEDS.
THERE ARE PROBABLY MORE THINGS THAT HE WANTED, WHICH INCLUDED, I'M JUST AGAINST HERE. THIS IS NOT WHAT THE SHERIFF SAID BUT I'M AGAINST THAT THE SHERIFF WOULD LIKE TO PAY HIS DEPUTIES MORE MONEY. HE GOT A RAISE IN THERE FOR HIM WHICH I'M PROUD TO SUPPORT, ABOUT IT GUESS HE WOULD PROBABLY WANT TO PAY THEM EVEN MORE GIVEN THE INFLATIONARY TIMES WE'RE LIVING IN. THERE'S PROBABLY SOME EQUIPMENT.
THERE'S PROBABLY SOME VEHICLES. THERE'S PROBABLY MORE DEPUTIES PER CAPITA THAT HE'D LIKE TO HAVE ON THE ROAD.
THAT'S JUST MY GUESS. WOULD I LOVE THE SUPPORT THE SHERIFF IN THAT BUDGET. I JUST THINK WE HAVE A LIMITED AMOUNT OF FUNDS TO ADDRESS ALL THE MANY NEEDS, AND I'M SURE THE FIRE CHIEF COULD GET UP HERE AND TALK FOR AN HOUR ABOUT THE MANY N TRYING DEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE.
YES, I WOULD LIKE TO SUPPORT MORE MONEY FOR THE SHERIFF AT THIS TIME. WE'VE APPROVED THE BUDGET THAT
HE'S ASKED FOR. >> I APPRECIATE THAT INSIGHT, BUT I ALSO JUST AS A PARTY COMMENT PRIORITIES.
IF WE'RE NOT SAFE, IF WE'RE NOT ALIVE, NOTHING ELSE MATTERS.
>> SHERIFF, WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE ITEMS THAT ARE IN YOUR BUDGET AS IT RELATES TO THE SAFETY IN A GROWING
AND I APPRECIATE THIS GENTLEMAN STANDING UP HERE TONIGHT.
BUT I DO WANT TO SAY THAT WE HAVE BEEN ADVERTISING IN THE COUNTY THAT WE DO HAVE AN INCREASE IN CRIME, AND THAT CRIME IS THEFT. THEFT IS OUR HIGHEST RISING CRIME RIGHT NOW ALONG WITH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND DRUG ABUSE, DRUG USE. WITH THAT BEING SAID WE HAVE HAD SINCE JANUARY 1ST TO AUGUST 1ST OF THIS YEAR, WE HAVE HAD STOLEN IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY.
I'M EMBARRASSED A AS YOUR SHERIFF TO TELL YOU THAT.
WE HAD 48 CAR BURGLARIES IN THE SAME EXACT ALLOTTED TIME AND FORGIVE 45 OF THOSE CARS ONE LOCKED.
SO WE'VE GONE BACK TO THE EDUCATION PEACE.
I'M SURETY SHEARWATER WE WERE SHARING THE SAME IDEAS, AND I POM JIEDZ I WAS OUT OF THE'S IN THE ANOTHER MEETING WITH THE SHERIFFS, BECAUSE LIKE TO SPEAK MYSELF ON SOME OF THIS STUFF.
WE HAVE DONE A ROBUST JOB WITH OUR INTEGRATION OF MODERN TECHNOLOGY AND THE REALTIME CRIME CENTER.
IT'S NOT JUST A CHECK IN BOX LIKE COMMUNITY POLICING.
BUT OUR REALTIME CRIME CENTER COSTS MONEY AND PERSONNEL.
THAT BEING SAID, WE ARE ON THE PLUS SIDE OF SIDE OF RECRUITING AND RETENTION IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY BECAUSE US I A COMMISSION CONTINUE TO ALLOW US TO FREET OUR EMPLOYEES WITH GOOD BENEFITS, WITH OUR WORKING RECESSION WITH THE COUNTY AND OUR PAY IS GOING UP, TOO, AS WELL AND WE DO A VERY GOOD JOB WITH RECRUITING AND RETENTION HOWEVER IT COSTS 220,000 DOLLARS TO ADD ONE DEPARTMENT TO THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE. YOU'RE GOING IS SAY, HOW IS THAT ONLY POSSIBLE? JUICE SIMPLE MATH A $45,000 SHERIFF DEPUTY A YEAR WITH BENEFITS IS ABOUT A 75,000 AIDS YEAR EMPLOYEE. YOU ADD THE CAR.
YOU ADD THE RADIO. YOU ADD THE WEAPONS.
YOU ADD THE RANGE TRAINING. YOU ADD THE PERSON THEY'LL TRAINED THAT DEPUTY SHERIFF. WE DID THIS MATH, MY DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS GENERAL SERVICES DID THE MATH AND IT'S $202,000.
SO THAT BEING SAID WE'RE ASKING FOR THAT COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP, COMMUNITY BUY-IN. MR. GOLDMAN MENTIONED THE OLD COMMUNITY WATCH PROGRAM, CRIME WATCH PROGRAM.
[01:00:01]
WE'RE TRYING TO INITIATE THAT AGAIN WITH THE INCREASE OF THESE COMMUNITIES GROWING SO QUICK. HOWEVER, WE CANNOT KEEP UP WITH GROWTH IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY. AND HERE'S ANOTHER FACTOR WE'RE GOING DEAL WITH, AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I DIDN'T PLAN ON TALKING ABOUT TONIGHT, BUT THAT JAIL IS BUSTING THEY SEAMS. THE DIRECTOR OF JAIL, TARA WILES, SHE'S BEEN DOING THIS FOR 40 YEARS. E. THEY'RE BUSING AT THE SEAMS UP THERE. OUR COCAINE, METH, HEROIN, OVERDOSES. WE'RE SEEING AN INCREASE IN EXRIEM IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY, YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.BUT I WILL SA SURE YOU WE ARE AT NO SEEING A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN VIOLENT CRIME. WE'RE NOT SEEING THAT.
ONE SEXUAL DAT BAT RAY, HOMICIDE WILL PRAIRPT BOOR 30%.
WE'RE PREPARED TO HANDLE THE VALENTINE IMRIEMENT OUR CITIZENS AND OUR COMMUNITY, ME INCLUDED BECAUSE LIF HERE, HAVE SOME CHECKS AND BALANCES AND ACCOUNTABILITY ON OURSELVES.
WE'VE GOT TO LOCK OUR DOORS AND TAKE THE FIRE ALARM AND PUT IT INSIDE. EV CRIMINAL KNOWS WE'RE A SOFT TARGET. WE LEAVE OR CARS UNLOCKED AND GARAGE DOORS OPEN AND LEAVE OUR SENSITIVE ITEMS, DISPIERMS COMPUTERS AND PURSES IN THE FRONT SEATS OF OUR CARS.
WE ARE WORKING WITH THESE COMMUNITIES ONE BY ONE.
I APPRECIATE HIM RIDING OUR DEPUTY SPEAKERS, BUT WE WILL DO EVERYTHING WE CAN IN COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP.
AGAIN WE ASK FOR THE RESPONSIBILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY FROM OUR RESIDENTS TO HELP OUTS.
AND WE APPRECIATE YOU WORKING OUR BUDGETS AND SITTING DOWN WITH US, BUT I CAN'T THANK DIRECT DUNN AND HIS STAFF AND OUR COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR. YES, SIR, I COULD ASK FOR MORE, I SURE COULD, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT'S FAIR TO THE REST OF THE COUNTY. I DON'T ANY IT'S FAIR TO FIRE WE ALL NEED TO SHARE WHAT'S COMING IN AND NOTE BE TOO AGREED GREEDY AND WE ARE DOING THE GUESS WE CAN.
>> I'M SORRY, MR. CHAIR. >> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE PRIORITIES ARE AND HOW HE'S ADDRESSING THEM WITH THE LIMITED FUNDS THAT HE HAS, BUT I'LL SAY I'M EXTREMELY CONFIDENT OF THE JOB THE SHERIFF AND ALL OF HIS STAFF DO FOR OUR COUNTY. I THINK IT'S PRETTY OUTSTANDING.
>> THANK YOU, SHERIFF. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.
>> SO WE ARE STILL OPEN FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> HI, I'M TIZZ HIZ DREN SHERIDAN 20 IEN KINGSTON DRIVE I JUST OF A FEW QUESTIONS FOR MY OWN CLARITY.
STARTS IMPACTS BEING REVISITED IN 2023, IS THAT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR OR WHAT TIME FRAME CAN THEY START TO ECLECTICKY H. COLLECT AT A HIGHER RATE ONCE IT'S APPROVED?
>> THE FIRST THING WE HAVE TO DO UNDER STATE LAW IS DO AN ECONOMIC ANALYSIS, AND THAT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME TO DO THAT, AND THEN IT HAS TO BE APPROVED BY STATE, THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET, IF I REMEMBER, AND THEN IT COMES BACK WITH A CHECK MARK, YES, YOU'RE GOOD TO GO, AND THEN WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH AN ORDINANCE-MAKE PROCESS, SO REALISTICALLY PROBABLY I WOULD SAY AT LEAST A YEAR OR TO ACCOMPLISH THAT GOAL, SO WE'RE PROBABLY LOOKING AT A POSSIBLE, BECAUSE NO DECISION HAS BEEN MADE YET, BUT A POSSIBLE INCREASE IN IMPACT FEES IN '24 WOULD BE MY QUESTIONS. JESSE, DOES THAT SOUND LIKE I'M
[INAUDIBLE] >> WITH THE EXCEPTION OF WE HAVE IT IN THE BUDGET FOR '23, YES THAT'S RIGHT.
SO IT WILL BE IN PLACE FOR '24. WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO START THE PLANNING ON THAT. THE APPROPRIATION IS IN PLACE.
IF THE BOARD APPROVES THAT, WE WILL START THAT PROCESS BEGINNING IN OCTOBER. WE'LL GO INTO THE ENTIRE PROCESS WITH THE HOPES OF HAVING THAT IMPLEMENTED EXACTLY FOR 2024.
>> BECAUSE 210 WE ALL AGREE IT'S VERY, VERY DIFFICULT.
I FEEL HORRIBLE FOR THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE UP THERE, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THAT PROJECT GOT OUT OF HAND SO FAST THAT THE ROAD SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE PRIOR THE TO DEVELOPMENT MOVING FORWARD.
CAN THAT BE DONE, THE INFRASTRUCTURE ALREADY BE SET FOR THOSE AREAS? INSTEAD OF KIND OF BACK PEDALING TO WIDEN ROODZ TO ACCOMMODATED ALL THE HOUSING.
>> THE ONLY WAY, IN MY OPINION -- THIS IS JUST MY OPINION -- THE ONLY WAY WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT FOR A LOT OF CAPITAL PROJECTS IN THE ENTIRE UKRAINE, ROADS BEING NUMBER YOU -- COUNTY, ROADS BEING NUMBER ONE, IS IF THE VOTERS BE YOU AND THE OTHER VOTERS CHRISTMAS TO ADOPT ON NOVEMBER 8 THE 1 CENT INCREASE IN SALES TAX BECAUSE WE ARE SO FAR BEHIND BASED ON ALL THE PROBLEMS THAT WERE CREATED DURING THE GREAT RECESSION IN RO '8 THE AND THE REACTION FROM THE STATE AND COUNTY, LOWER IMPACT FEES, LOWER AD VALOREM RATE, LAID OFF 800 EMPLOYEES AND CREATED A HUGE BACKLOG.
I'LL USE THIS AS MY OPPORTUNITY TO SAY IF THE VOTERS DON'T PASSES THE REFERENDUM TO INCREASE THE SALES TAX, WE'RE GOING TO BE TAKING BACKWARD STEPS INSTEAD OF FORWARD STEPS TO KEEP THIS COUNTIES A BEAUTIFUL AND SAFE AND WONDERFUL
[01:05:01]
THAT HAS BROUGHT NOW 300,000 PEOPLE HERE.20 YEARS AGO WE ONLY HAD 100,000 PEOPLE AND IT WAS PRETTY MANAGEABLE. THAT'S MY POSITION, AND I'M TRYING TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION ABOUT WHAT CAN WE DO.
I REFUSE TO RAISE MILLAGE RATES ON HOMEOWNERS.
I NEVER VOTED FOR A MILLAGE RATE INCREASE AND I NEVER WILL.
OR WE CAN EITHER RAISE THE SALES TAX A PENNY OR WE CAN DO NOTHING AND NONE OF THESE INFRASTRUCTURES THAT WE'RE SO FAR BEHIND ON, ROADS, THREE FIRE STATIONS.
>> I'M THINKING THE FIRE STATIONS MAKE ME MORE SERVICES
NERVOUS. >> AND A NUMBER OF OTHER THINGS.
I DON'T MEAN TO RAMBLE BUT I'M TRYING TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, BUT TELL THE COMMUNITY HOW WE CAN ACHIEVE WHAT WE NEED TO DO, AND IT'S THE ONLY VIABLE SOLUTION.
>> OKAY. BECAUSE IT WILL JUST SEEMS IF WE'RE BUILDING ALL THESE HOUSES, WE SHOULD BE PULLING IN THESE PROPERTY TAXES. THEY'RE NOT EVEN HOMESTEADED YET, AT A HIGHER RATE. HOPEFULLY WE CAN CATCH UP A
LITTLE BIT. >> IF YOU KNOW YOUR HISTORY, THAT IN 2010 EXPHIERKTS HAVE DONE THE SAME THING AS A COUNTY COMMISSIONER, WE ELIMINATED IMPACT FEES ON RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT AFTER THE GREAT RECESSION TO ENCOURAGE AND SPUR NEW DEVELOPMENT, SO FOR FIVE OR SIX YEARS WE ONLY GOT IN VERY LIMITED REVENUE FOR IMPACT FEES, NOT TO MENTION THE FACT THAT AD VALOREM REVENUE WENT DOWN 30% WHEN THE PROPERTY APPRAISER ASSESSED THE HOMES AND FOUND OUT THE ASSESSED VALUE HAD ACTUALLY GONE DOWN AFTER THE GREAT RECESSION, NOWPT OBVIOUSLY.
>> BUT NOW THE IMPACT FEES ARE BACK IN PLACE FOR RESIDENTIAL.
>> THE IMPACT FEES, I SAID EARLIER, WE RAISED THOSE TO THE MAXIMUM AMOUNTS LOUD BY LAW IN 2018.
SO IF YOU LOOK AT A CHART, AND JERKS HAS ONE, YOU'LL SEE SINCE '18 IMPACT FEES HAVE GONE UP LIKE THAT, REVENUE.
>> THEN MY LAST QUESTION IS ON THE BEACH RENOURISHMENT.
THEY'VE DONE IT ONCE. THEY'RE GOING TO BE DOING IT AGAIN. IT DID NOT HOLD.
MORE THAN TEN MONTHS AND WE DIDN'T EVEN HAVE A HURRICANE.
DO THE RESIDENTS OVER THERE HAVE A SAY ON HOW FAR THAT SAND IS GETTING PUSHED ONTO THE SEAWALLS? THEY COVERED THE SEAWALLS. E. THE SAND WASHED AWAY.
THE STRESS OF THE ADDED WEIGHT HAS CAUSED SOME OF THOSE WALLS TO BOW AND HAS CREATED WEAKNESSES.
WHEN THEY COME BACK AND RESEND THE SAND UP, CAN THEY STOP, PRIOR TO THOSE WALLS SO THEY CAN SAVE THE WALL.
>> TO BE CLEAR, ARE YOU TALK ABOUT THE FEDERAL PROJECT IN
>> I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN ANSWER.
>> VILANO TO THE SER NADA BEACH CLUB.
OUR COASTAL ENGINEERS AND CORPS OF ENGINEERS THINK THAT THAT -- A LOT OF THAT SAND IS SITTING JUST OFFSHORE AND WILL PROBABLY COME DIRECTLY BACK AND REESTABLISH ITSELF IN PRIMARY DUNE, BUT EQUALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE THAT'S A FEDERAL PROJECT, FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW WE DISCUSSED THIS A WHILE BACK, THAT AFTER WE HAD THE NOR'EASTERS LAST NOVEMBER, THE DAMAGE WAS SO GREAT THAT BECAUSE IT'S A FEDERAL PROJECT, THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS HAD THE ABILITY AND CHOSE TO GO BACK AT THEIR FULL EXPENSE, NOT THE COUNTY'S OR THE STATE'S BUT AT THE FULL EXPENSE OF THE ARMY CORPS ENGINEERS AND REBUILD THOSE DUNES FOR THAT 3-MILE SECTION AT THEIR OWN EX WENS BACK TO PRE-STORM CONDITIONS, AND WE HAVE AERIALS AND INFORMATION TO SHOW WHAT THE PRE-STORM, PRE-NOVEMBER CONDITION WAS, SO THEY'RE GOING TO BE STARTING THIS COMING SPRING PUTTING THE -- THAT SECTION BACK TO ITS PRE-STORM
CONDITION ON THEIR OWN EXPENSE. >> OKAY.
SO WITH THAT WE'RE RECOVERING UP THE SEAWALL THE AND STEPS DOWN WHICH TAKES AWAY ACCESS FROM ALL THE RESIDENTS.
>> YES, MA'AM. >> BECAUSE ALL THE STEPS HAD TO BE REPLACED AT THE RESIDENTS' COST.
IT WASN'T AT THEIRS. >> WELL, AS FAR AS THE BEACH RENOURISHMENT PROJECT THAT WAS DONE A YEAR AGO, MAYBE TWO YEARS, IT'S GOING TO BE -- THE CORPS IS REBUILDING IT TO THE PRE-STORM CONDITION STARTING THIS SPRING.
>> OKAY. WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. I APPRECIATE IT.
>> KRISTA JOSEPH 121 LAG GOON. CHAIRMAN, AND I DON'T MEAN TO BE RUDE, BUT I REALLY FEEL WE SHOULD NOT RAISE TAXES BECAUSE I DO THINK THAT IN THE BUDGET THERE'S ENOUGH PLACES TO FIND THE EXTRA MONEY. I ALSO BELIEVE THAT IF WE STOP APPROVING MORE DEVELOPMENTS UNTIL WECH KOPPE ON THE ROADS -- WE CATCH UP ON THE ROADS AND GET THE IMPACT FEE SET IN THE RIGHT SPOT, I THINK IT WILL DO BETTER. THANK YOU.
WOULD ANYBODY ELSE LIKE TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT? ALL RIGHT. I'M SEEING NOBODY ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT.
I'M SEEING NO MORE PUBLIC COMMENT.
SO WE'RE GOING TO CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> ALL RIGHT, JESSE, BACK TO YOU.
>> VERY GOOD. IF WE CAN BRING THAT
[01:10:01]
PRESENTATION BACK UP. >> JESSE, WHILE YOU'RE LOOKING, LET ME POSE A QUESTION. I HAVE ONE ITEM THAT I WANT TO DISCUSS TONIGHT INVOLVING FUNDING, MORE FUNDING FOR PONTE VEDRA BEACH, BEACH RENOURISHMENT AND DISCUSS THAT BRIEFLY WITH THE BOARD. WHEN WOULD BE THE APPROPRIATE
TIME TO BRING THAT UP? >> WE CAN DO THAT AT THE -- WE CAN ADD THAT TO THE END OF THIS, AT THE END OF THE MOTIONS.
SO AFTER PUBLIC COMMENT, FIRST CONSIDERATION IS TO ADOPT THE TENTATIVE MILLAGE RATE RESOLUTION, AND THE MILLAGE RATES ON THE RESOLUTION ARE REFLECTED HERE AS WELL, AND AGAIN, JUST TO GIVE AN OVERVIEW, THESE ARE NOT THE ROLLBACK RATES. THESE ARE THE MILLAGE -- THESE ARE FLAT MILLAGE RATES TO THE CURRENT YEAR, AND I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH AS TO WHY THE RECOMMENDATION FOR THE GENERAL FUND, AND AGAIN I'LL KIND OF TALK ABOUT THE SERVICE AREAS THEMSELVES AND THE DEMAND ON THEM.
AND CERTAINLY A LOT OF THIS DISCUSSION CAME UP DURING PUBLIC COMMENT. THIS WAS A VERY GOOD PUBLIC COMMENT TONIGHT. SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS FUNDED FROM WITHIN THAT GENERAL FUND, AS IS EMS, OUR PARKS AND RECREATION PROGRAM, OUR LIBRARIES, AS WELL AS FOR THE MILLAGE RATE FOR THE GENERAL FUND, THE CRAS ARE ALSO ATTACHED TO THE GENERAL FUND. SO THE WEST AUGUSTINE, FLAGLER ANDVILLE ANNO CRASS ARE ALSO TIED TO THAT.
CERTAINLY AGAIN OUR CREDIT RATING, OUR DISASTER RECOVERY, OUR ABILITY IF WE ARE SEEING ON SOME OF THESE PROJECTS WHERE THE MARKET IS, WHERE OUR BIRDS COMING IN HIGHER.
THIS IS -- BIDS ARE COMING IN HIGH PER THIS IS ONE OF OF THOSE RESERVES WE MAY HAVE TO GO TO. SO WE RECOMMENDED A FLAT MILLAGE FOR THE GENERAL FUND FOR '23. FOR TRANSPORTATION TRUST, THIS IS YOUR ROADWAY INFRASTRUCTURE. THERE'S BEEN SOME DISCUSSIONS ABOUT ROADWAY INFRASTRUCTURE AS WELL AS DRAINAGE INFRASTRUCTURE THIS EVENING. SO CERTAINLY WE DID NOT RECOMMEND IN OUR BUDGET DISCUSSIONS ANY SORT OF REDUCTION OR -- OF THE MILLAGE AT ALL BECAUSE OF THE ONGOING DEMAND FOR, AGAIN, TRANSPORTATION AND ROADWAY INFRASTRUCTURE. THE COUNTY HEALTH UNIT TRUST FUND REMAINED FLAT AT THAT .0160, AND THAT IS THE COUNTY'S LOCAL PARTICIPATION IN THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY -- I'M SORRY -- THE FLORIDA HEALTH DEPARTMENT FUNDING.
FIRE DISTRICT REMAINED FLAT AT 1.3813 MILLS, AND THIS IS FOR REALLY TWO AREAS, THE RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF FIREFIGHTERS AS WELL AS, AND WE JUST TALKED ABOUT THREE FIRE STATIONS, AND WE ARE SEEING ON SOME OF OUR INITIAL BIDS THAT OUR STATIONS ARE COMING IN HIGHER DUE TO CONSTRUCTION COST INCREASES. SO IN THE PROCESS WE DID NOT RECOMMEND ANY REDUCTION TO THE FIRE DISTRICT MILLAGE.
WE DID RECOMMEND FOR THE TWO LIGHTING DISTRICTS THERE THAT BOTH THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY SOUTH STREET LIGHTING DISTRICT AND VILANO STREET LIGHTING DISTRICT, THOSE DO COME IN LOREN THE ROLLBACK RATE FOR THOSE PARTICULAR AREAS BECAUSE THOSE PARTICULAR MILLAGES UNDER THE ASSESSED VALUE GENERATES SUFFICIENT REVENUE FOR THOSE OPERATIONS.
THE SUMMER HAVEN MSTU AND COASTAL HIGHWAY MSTU REMAIN FLAT, AND AGAIN THOSE ARE PARTICIPATION FOR REALLY EROSION CONTROL ON OUR -- AS WELL WE HAVE TWO NEW MILLAGE RATES THIS YEAR, THE SOUTH PONTE VEDRA DUNE AND BEACH RESTORATION, AS WELL AS THE SERENATA BEACH RESTORATION MSTUS, AND AGAIN, PARTICIPATION FOR THEIR BEACH OH EROSION PROMOTION.
THE OVERA AGGREGATE MILLAGE RATE RECOMMENDED AT THE TENTATIVE IS 6.8266 AND THE AGGREGATE ROLLED BACK RA IS 6.0 EFFECTS 42.
THE MOKES IS UP ABOVE AND I HAVE READ THE MILLAGE RATES, SO WITH THAT THE MOTION IS THERE. 6.0642.
>> WITHOUT PUBLIC COMMENT, IS THERE A PLOSION ON THIS ITEM 3?
>> I'LL MOVE TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2022-
>> 334. >> ESTABLISHING THE FISCAL YEAR 2023 TENTATIVE MILLAGE RATES AS SET BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY.
>> IS THERE A SECOND? >> SECOND.
>> IF I DIDN'T SAY IT EARLIER, BECAUSE WE HAVE TWO OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS CALLING IN, WE HAVE TO TAKE A VOICE VOTE.
SO NOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A VOICE VOTE.
>> COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST. >> YES.
>> COMMISSIONER BLOCKER. >> YES, SIR.
>> COMMISSIONER WALDRON. >> NO.
>> AND I VOTE YES. SO THAT PASSES 4-1.
[01:15:01]
>> MR. CHAIRMAN, IF I WITH A MAKE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US LOWERING THE GENERAL FUND MILLAGE RATE OR ROLLING IT BACK WITH THE RESERVES WE PRENLTD HAVE, NOT CHANGING THE PUTTING ANY BUT ROLLING THAT BACK AND COVERING IT THROUGH RESERVES. I WOULD LIKE THE BOARD TO CONSIDER THAT. THAT'S WHY I VOTED NO ON IT.
NOTHING TO DO WITH THE BUDGET AND WHAT'S ASKED FOR, BUT THE MILLAGE RATE I'D LIKE TO SEE IT ROLLED BACK JUST THE IN GENERAL FUND. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT YOU HAD WISHED TO COMMENT.
I SHOULD HAVE CALLED ON YOU BEFORE WE TOOK THAT VOTE, SO I APOLOGIZE. I THINK EVERYONE HEARD YOUR CONCERNS AND YOUR OPINION, SO I THINK THAT YOU HAD A CHANCE TO SPEAK ANYWAY LATE. MY FAULT.
>> YES. I HAVE ONE MORE CHANCE.
>> THE NEXT MOTION IS THE MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION AS STATED HERE WHICH APPROVES THE TENTATIVE BUDGET, THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY, FLORIDA USING THE CERTIFIED TAXABLE VALUE OF $40,840,143,494.
GENERATING AN ESTIMATED 278,797,359TH IN TAXES AND RESULTING IN A TOTAL BUDGET OF $1,550,104,053.
THE RESOLUTION BREAKS IT DOWN BY EACH OF THE $1.5 BILLION BUDGET BY EACH OF THE RESPECTIVE FUNDS. AND THE MOTION IS THERE.
>> IS THERE A MOTION? >> SO MOVED.
>> IS THERE A SECOND? >> SECOND.
>> OKAY. PAUL, DID YOU WANT TO MAKE ANY
COMMENTS ON THIS MOTION? >> NO, SIR.
I'LL VOTE NO JUST BASED ON THE GENERAL FUND RESERVES.
VOICE VOTE. COMMISSIONER ARNOLD.
>> YES. >> COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST.
>> YES. >> COMMISSIONER WALDRON.
>> NO. >> COMMISSIONER BLOCKER.
[01:26:11]
>> COMMISSIONER BLOCKER?> MR. CHAIRMAN APPRECIATE YOU
[01:26:14]
BRINGING THIS OUT. A BREACH IS ONE OF OUR MOST CRITICAL TREASURES OF SAINT JOHNS COUNTY.WE WORKED HARD TO ADDRESS IT. I THINK YOUR PROPOSAL IS REASONABLE AND I SUPPORT IT. THANK YOU.
YOU'VE GOT DIRECTION OF PROBABLY.
>> I HAVE THE DIRECTION AND I BLIP TO THE COUNTY ATTORNEY ON WHETHER WE NEED A MOTION FOR THIS.
>> I WOULD RECOMMEND A MOTION FOR CONTEMPLATING.
>> I WILL MAKE A MOTION TO BASICALLY ALLOCATE $3 MILLION IN THE CURRENT CATEGORY 5. TO THE POND OF PETER BREACH PROJECT THAT WE BEEN PLANNING FOR 3 YEARS WITH THE STATE AND THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS. $3 MILLION IN CATEGORY 5 EARMARKED FOR PONDER THE GIANT BEACH.
>> COMMISSIONER BALDWIN? >> YES.
>> COMMISSIONER BLOCKER? >> YES SIR.
>> YES ON THAT PASS ACT. THINK THAT'S 5 ? 0.
>> I'M SORRY WE NEED PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> I WAS WONDERING IF WE NEEDED PUBLIC COMMENT.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE DO THIS FOLLOWING ALL OF THE PROCEDURAL RULES CORRECTLY. I'M GONNA SORT OF SAY WE ARE GONNA PUT THAT BOAT ASIDE AND HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT.
THEN VOTE ON IT AND MAKE SURE THAT IS THE PROCESS.
>> THE BOARD CAN HEAR PUBLIC COMMENT ON 3 MILLION TOURIST TAX DOLLARS. FOR PONDER EVITA BEACH.
>> I SUPPORTED, SEE AUGUST GREEN.COM P THANK YOU CHAIRMAN
I SUPPORTED. >> THANK YOU MR. SLAVEN.
NYONE ELSE LIKE TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT? SIR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
>> ? ? SAINT AUGUSTINE. I WAS WONDERING ON THAT MOST OF THAT PART OF THE E BEACH IS PRIVATE HOMES IN FRONT OF T OF IT. HOW MUCH OF THE CONSTITUENTS IS IT REALLY SERVING? I KNOW THERE'S LANDINGS PARKING ON THAT AREA THERE. FOR THE MOST PART IS GOING NORTH AND SERVING THOSE HOMES FOR THE NORTH? OR IS IT GOING INTO GONNA FURTHER SOUTH?
>> LET ME SAY THIS. IN FLORIDA WE HAVE WHAT'S CALLED THE CUSTOMER USE OF DOCTRINE.
YOU AND I AS BEACHGOERS WE CAN WALK, WE CAN PARK OUR CAR AT MECKLER'S LANDING PARKING LOT AND WALK OVER THE RAMP DOWN ONTO THE BEACH AND WALKED AS FAR NORTH AS WE WANT TO AND AS FAR SOUTH AND PLACE OUR TILE, OUR UMBRELLA AND WHATNOT EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE HOUSES IMMEDIATELY IN BACK OF US.
UNDER THE CUSTOMARY USE DOCTRINE YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO BE THERE AND SON BATHE, SURF AND FISH AND WHATEVER.
>> OKAY. I DON'T KNOW IF I AGREE WITH THAT. I THINK COMMISSIONER WALTER INSANE HAVE THE FUNDS USED FOR MORE LIFEGUARDS AT OTHER TIMES OF THE BEACH. I GO TO THE BEACH AND LOOK AT THE BEACH. I NOTICE THIS WEEK AND NO LIFEGUARD INSTEAD OF DRIVING PATROLS AT BUSY TIMES AT THE BEACH. I'D RATHER SEE THE MONIES USED
FOR THAT RESOURCE. >> THANK YOU.
>> MR. CHAIR AT THE QUESTION. MR. DUNCOMBE USE TAX DOLLARS TO
[01:30:01]
GIVE TO FIREFIGHTERS? FOR LIFEGUARDS?>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION. THE TD T FUNDS MAY NOT BE USED FOR PUBLIC SAFETY. IT CAN BE USED FOR OTHER PORTIONS OF BEACH OPERATIONS BUT, NOT FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.
>> OKAY, IT'S JUST A QUESTION. THANK YOU.
>> BETH ANGELO, 1283 PONDER EVITA BOULEVARD.
I JUST WANT TO SAY IT FOR 5 YEARS WE WORK DILIGENTLY WITH THIS BOARD AND I WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THE SUPPORT YOU'VE GIVEN BECAUSE 5 YEARS AGO WE WERE IN A MUCH DIFFERENT POSITION. WEBER GOT HIT BY 2 HURRICANES AND THEN ALMOST 3RD. WILLIS GOT HIT BY 3.
TREMENDOUS DAMAGE TO OUR BEACH. WITH THIS BERM THAT WAS PUT IN PLACE RECENTLY IT'S MADE A HUGE IMPACT.
I KNOW THE LAST STEP IN THIS WHOLE PROCESS IS THE FULL BEACH NOURISHMENT. WE HAD A NEED WITH THE ACHILLES' HEEL OF THE COUNTY IN PONDER THE FUTURE AT LEAST.
WE'VE HAD STUDIES, PERMITS FINALLY IN HAND.T TOOK 5 YEARS TO GET THE PERMITS. WE ARE CLOSE TO THE FINISH LINE. AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION IS WORTH A POUND OF CURE. WHAT YOU'RE DOING NOW COULD SAVE OUR COUNTIES LIKE $1 BILLION BECAUSE IT WILL KEEP THE COUNTY'S MOST TREASURED ASSET WHICH IS OUR BEAUTIFUL 42 MILES OF COASTLINE WHICH ARE WORKING PIECE BY PIECE TO SAVE.
INTACT. I'M SO THANKFUL FOR ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND IT REALLY IS THE LEGACY OF OUR COUNTY.
>> THANK YOU MISS ANGELO. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT? I'M SEEING NONE.
WE WILL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT. >> OKAY, NOW, WE ARE GOING TO VOTE, OKAY? IS THERE A MOTION TO ALLOCATE $3 MILLION TO THE PONDER VDOT BEACHIE CREEK.
>> THERE'S ARDEA MOTION ON THE TABLE?
>> I'M SORRY? >> THERE'S ALREADY A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THE TABLE. WE JUST NEEDED A PUBLIC
COMMENT. >> I WILL CALL COMMISSIONER
>> COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST? >> YES.
>> COMMISSIONER WALDEN? >> COMMISSIONER WALDEN?
>> YES, SIR I'M
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.