[1. Public Hearing * 5:01 p.m. Public Hearing -- St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners Adoption of Final Millage Rates & Budget for FY 2023.]

>> VICE CHAIR COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST.

>> COMMISSIONER SARAH ARNOLD. >> COMMISSIONER PAUL WALDRON.

>> HERE. >> COMMISSIONER JEREMIAH WALKER

ON TRAN BLOCKER. >> DO KNOW HE'S GOING TO BE ABLE

TO JOIN US. >> I'M ASSUMING HE'S GOING TO CALL IN BUT I WILL CHECK WITH HIM.

>> WE HAVE A QUORUM OF FOUR ANYWAY.

>> I'M HERE, SORRY ABOUT THAT. >> WE HAVE FIVE, OKAY.

THERE WE GO, NOW WE WILL TURN IT OVER TO THE BRAINS OF THE OPERATION IF YOU CAN LEAD US IN THE BUDGET.

>> AFTERNOON COMMISSIONERS JESSE DONE FOR THE DIRECTOR OF OFFICE MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET. WE ARE HERE AT THE SECOND AND HOPEFULLY FINAL PUBLIC HEARING TO ADOPT THE BUDGET, IT IS REALLY A VERY PRESCRIBED PROCESS.

SIMILAR TO THE FIRST HEARING IT'S GOING TO FAST TRACK US THROUGH REALLY THE ENTIRE PROCESS.

WE STARTED THE PROCESS IN FEBRUARY, AGAIN WE HAD MULTIPLE DISCUSSIONS INCLUDING A THREE DAY WORKSHOP IN MAY, THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET IN JULY AND PROPOSED MILLAGE RATES IN AU AUGUST. WE HAD OUR FIRST PUBLIC HEARING ON SEPTEMBER 6 TO MAKE SOME GOOD DISCUSSIONS AND WERE HERE THIS EVENING. SO GOING INTO THE BUDGET PROCESS WORKING TO GET THIS DOWN TO ONE SLIDE, IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE NINE MONTHS PROCESS DOWN TO A SINGLE SLIDE.

THE MILLAGE RATES ASSOCIATED, OUR INTENT TO ALWAYS ESTABLISH APPROPRIATE FUNDING FOR OUR OPERATIONS AND ARE MILLAGE FUNDS, OUR GENERAL FUND TRANSPORTATION FIRE.

HEALTH UNIT FUND. THE WORD APPROPRIATELY AFTER IS SERVING THE PROCESS OF GIVE-AND-TAKE BUT I WILL REMIND

[00:05:02]

THOSE WHO ARE LISTENING AS WELL AS ANYONE WHO IS LOOKING ON THE WORKBOOK THAT THERE ARE CERTAINLY CHALLENGES WE ARE FACING. THE BIGGEST AREA IS OR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN, FUNDING PROGRAM, I'M JUST GOING TO SITE IN THE SUMMARY, PAGES 241 IN THE WORKBOOK THROUGH PAGES 249.

AGAIN THAT IS ONLINE THERE IS OVER $638 MILLION OF CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT ARE REALLY PROGRAMMED FOR DESIRE TO BE IN THE FIVE-YEAR WINDOW FOR WHICH WE ARE STILL HAVING AN ISSUE IDENTIFYING FUNDING FOR AND HAVE NOT YET IDENTIFIED FUNDING, INCLUDING IN THE LIST, 224 MILLION IN ROADWAY INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS. IT CERTAINLY SEEMS IN LISTENING TODAY TO THE COMMISSION MEETING AND REALLY ALMOST EVERY MEETING THERE IS A DISCUSSION ON HOW WE ADDRESS OUR ROADWAY INFRASTRUCTURE. SO WHEN THE WORD APPROPRIATELY IS UP THERE I SAY THAT WITH A LITTLE BIT OF SETBACK TO SAY WE STILL HAVE SOME CERTAINLY SOME ISSUES TO RESOLVE.

THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS, WE HAVE UPDATED OUR REVENUE PROJECTIONS, REALLY WATCHING BEHAVIORS ON OUR SALES TAX, VERY IMPORTANT TO US, GAS TAXES, IMPACT FEES WHICH IS REALLY OUR PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE FOR A LOT OF OUR INFRASTRUCTURE.

UNFORTUNATELY AND THEN TOURIST OF ELEMENT TAXES, WE CONTINUE TO RECOMMEND A SALARY INCREASE OF 3% PLUS A DOLLAR 50 PER OUR WITH CONSIDERATIONS, THAT WAS REALLY FOR RECRUITMENT AND TENSION PURPOSES. A CAPITAL PROJECT CARRYFORWARD, THE MULTIYEAR WERE ADDED AT THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING WHICH INCREASE OVERALL BUDGET AND THOSE ARE A RECURRING PROCESS AND GOVERNMENTAL ACCOUNTING. WE ADDED TWO ADDITIONAL MILLAGE RATES THAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED THIS EVENING TO SEE RENATA BEACH DUDE RESTORATION PROGRESS, THIS IS REPRESENTATIVE OF THOSE PARTICULAR AREAS PARTICIPATION WITHIN BEACH NOURISHMENT PROJECTS. AGAIN REALLY AS WE DISCUSSED ALL THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS AND REALLY DUG IN AND MADE THE PERSONNEL REQUEST, THE VEHICLE REQUEST, ALL OUTLINED IN THE WORKBOOK THAT CAN BE FOUND ONLINE.

THE BIGGEST AREA OF RELUCTANCE OF RECOMMENDING WAS HER REPLACEMENT VEHICLES WHERE WE RECOMMENDED LESS THAN HALF OF THE REPLACEMENT VEHICLES REALLY DUE TO THE AUTOMOBILE MARKET RIGHT NOW. AND I'LL CONTINUE TO ADDRESS THIS TONIGHT BUT CERTAINLY PRESERVING HEALTHY RESERVES AND MAINTAINING THE COUNTY'S CREDIT RATING AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

SO THIS IS CERTAINLY NOTHING N NEW, THESE CHARTS, 17.8% TAXABLE VALUE GROWTH INCREASE FOR THIS YEAR WHICH TO EACH OF OUR RESPECTIVE FUNDS RESULTED IN OVERALL ABOUT $39.9 MILLION, THE LARGEST INCREMENTAL INCREASE, WAS 26.9 TO THE GENERAL FUND.

THAT IS REFLECTED IN THE BUDGET, WWILL BE DISCUSSING THE ROLLBACK RATE OF THE STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS, WE REFLECT UP HERE WHAT THAT REDUCTION WOULD LOOK LIKE, THE FIRST COLUMN I WILL USE THE GENERAL FUND RECOMMENDED PROPERTY TAXES AT THE 17.8% IS 26 -- AGAIN ON THE 9 MILLION, THE ROLLBACK RATE WOULD RESULT IN $6.4 MILLION IN INCREMENTAL'S.

THAT WOULD BE A REDUCTION OF ABOUT $20.5 MILLION WHICH REALLY ALMOST EQUATES TO UNRESTRICTED GENERAL FUND RESERVE RIGHT THERE OF HER TARGET BALANCE. TO RESOLVE AND GO BACK TO ROLLBACK RATE AND RESOLVE THE BUDGETARY IMPLICATIONS BY JUST GOING THROUGH RESERVES. WE BASICALLY STRIP OUT UNRESTRICTED RESERVE ABOVE OUR TARGET LEVEL DOWN TO LESS THAN $1 MILLION. YOU CAN SEE FROM EACH OF THESE, CERTAINLY FIRE DISTRICT, THE BUDGET IN THEIR REFLEX THE INCREMENTAL 7.7 MILLION IF WE WERE TO GO TO ROLLBACK RATE IT WOULD BE ONLY AN INCREMENTAL 1.8 MILLION.

WE CERTAINLY HAVE NEEDS IN THE FIRE DISTRICT AREA SOPHISTICATED

[00:10:01]

WITH PERSONNEL AND EQUIPMENT AGAIN TO RESPOND TO THE FIRE RESCUE NEEDS IN THE COMMUNITY, TRANSPORTATION OF TRUST, $4.9 MILLION, THIS IS REALLY THE ONLY OTHER AREA OUT SIDE OF THE IMPACT THAT PROVIDES US WITH SOME REVENUE SOURCE FOR OUR ROADWAY INFRASTRUCTURE. THE MORE THAT WE CAN GET THERE THE FASTER THE COUNTY CAN ADDRESS THESE INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS. $4.9 MILLION IS CERTAINLY ENOUGH TO ADDRESS WHAT I MENTIONED EARLIER $224 MILLION.

PROGRAMS BRING IT BACK TO 1.1 FOR US IN MAKING THE RECOMMENDATION WAS COUNTERINTUITIVE TO THE NEED THAT IS OUT THERE. EVEN WITH 17.8% INCREASE IN OVERALL EVALUATION DOES NOT, I WANT TO MAKE SURE CERTAINLY THERE ARE INDIVIDUAL CIRCUMSTANCES BUT OVERALL, SORRY HOMESTEADER PROPERTIES ARE NOT EXPERIENCING 17.8% INCREASE OF THOSE TAXES. AGAIN I MENTIONED THE LAST HEARING THE STATE OF FLORIDA PROVIDES A SAFER HOME EXEMPTION THAT SHELTERS THE PROPERTY FROM THE FULL INCREASE IF YOU ARE HOMESTEADED. AN INCREASE IN THE PROPERTY APPRAISED OR ASSESSED NO MORE THAN THE CHANGE OF THE CPI OR 3%. THIS PARTICULAR YEAR THAT IS 3%.

A PROPERTY WITH OUR SAVER HOMES EXEMPTION THAT THE PROPERTY APPRAISER ASSESSES AT THE MAXIMUM INCREASE OF 3% EVEN WITH THE PROPOSED FLAT MILLAGE RATES, AS I MENTIONED THE COMMISSION IS PROPOSING AN INCREASE EVEN THE PROPOSED FLAT MILLAGE RATES AGAIN A HOMEOWNER WITH OUR SAVER HOMES EXEMPTION WOULD SEE A PROPERTY TAX INCREASE THAT WERE AROUND 3%.

FOR NON- HOMESTEADED THE CAP ESTABLISHED BY THE STATE OF FLORIDA IS CLOSER TO 10% AND COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST HAD ASKED ME FOR THE LAST MEETING, WHAT PERCENTAGE OF RESIDENTIAL HOMES ARE HOMESTEADED AND INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH IT'S A LITTLE LESS THAN 60%. THERE STILL 40% OF RESIDENTIAL, DEEMED RESIDENTIAL PARCELS I SHOULD SAY THAT ARE STILL DO NOT HAVE THE HOMESTEAD EVALUATION EITHER THEY HAVEN'T SUBMITTED FOR IT, APPLY FOR IT CERTAINLY VACANT LAND COULD BE CONSIDERED, IT COULD BE AN OUT-OF-STATE OWNER WITH A SECOND OR COULD BE AN INVESTMENT PROPERTY BUT 41% AGAIN OF THE RESIDENTIAL PARCELS ARE NOT HOMESTEADED. THEY DO NOT RECEIVE THE 3%.

>> A LOT OF THOSE COULD BE LONG-TERM OR SHORT-TERM RENTALS.

A LOT OF RENTAL PROPERTIES AND THOSE ARE NOT HOMESTEADED LIKE

THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE. >> ABSOLUTELY THAT IS ACCURATE.

OVERALL I THINK THE MESSAGING HERE IF YOU ARE HOMESTEADED, AT SOME LEVEL YOU ARE AT 3% A LITTLE OVER 3% IN YOUR OVERALL PROPERTY TAXES. I HAVE WRITTEN DOWN JUST FOR INTEREST SAKE I LOOKED AT THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, I CERTAINLY CANNOT SPEAK FOR THE MILLAGE RATES OF OTHER TAXING LEVEES BUT FOR ST. JOHNS COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS THIS IS LOOKING AT ASSESSED VALUE, YOU CAN HAVE A HOME THAT HAS A MARKET VALUE RIGHT NOW AT 500,000 BUT YOUR ASSESSED VALUE CAN BE A WHOLE LOT LOWER IF YOU BEEN HOMESTEADED.

WITHIN ASSESSED VALUE OF $200,000 YOUR INCREMENTAL PROPERTY TAXES FOR NEXT YEAR IS ABOUT $41 FROM LAST YEAR'S.

IN ASSESSED VALUE AT $300,000 A HOMESTEADED PROPERTY WITH THE $50000 EXEMPTION IS ABOUT $62 AND I'LL DISCONTINUE UP ASSESSD AT 400,000 YOUR INCREMENTAL PROPERTY TAXES IS $83.

AT 500,000 YOUR INCREMENTAL PROPERTY TAXES IS $103, THAT IS AN ANNUAL AMOUNT THAT IS NOT A MONTHLY AMOUNT THAT IS AN ANNUAL ASSESSED PROPERTY AT 600,000 YOU WOULD HAVE $124 INCREASE OVERALL IN TAXES OVER LAST YEAR. I KNOW THERE ARE CERTAINLY SOME CIRCUMSTANCES THAT PEOPLE HAVE BROUGHT UP IN THE PROPOSED TAX NOTICE AND THERE IS SOME CONFUSION RELATED TO THAT NOTICE BECAUSE THERE ARE STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS TO REFLECT AT THE

[00:15:04]

ROLLBACK RATE BUT I'M TO PUT OUT A LITTLE ADVERTISEMENT IF SOMEBODY HAS A SPECIFIC QUESTION ABOUT THEIR PROPERTY NOTICE THEY CAN CONTACT MY OFFICE AND I CAN CERTAINLY RUN THEM THROUGH AND HOW TO INTERPRET THAT FORM, I KNOW THAT FORM IS CONFUSING I'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR SOME TIME NOW AND I STILL LOOK AT THAT FORM WITH CONFUSION AND HAVE TO REALLY SIT DOWN TO UNDERSTAND HOW THAT WORKS EXACTLY. SO LOOKING AT HER MILLAGE FUND RESERVES IN THESE AGAIN ARE OUR MILLAGE FUNDS COUNTY WISE PLUS FIRE. I'LL SPEAK TO THE GENERAL FUND, RESTRICTED RESERVES IN THEIR, THERE MAY BE SOME RECEIVABLES OUT THERE, OUTSTANDING LOANS, THERE MAY BE DEVELOPMENT CONTRIBUTIONS TOWARDS HOUSING INITIATIVES IN A RESTRICTED RESERVES 11.2 MILLION, ARE TARGETED RESERVE IN THE GENERAL FUND ARE 38.2 WHICH REFLECTS OUR 60 DAY RESERVE THAT IS IN LINE WITH REALLY ARE NATIONAL STANDARD OF WHAT TYPE OF RESERVE YOU WANT TO HAVE IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY OR SOME ISSUE THAT ARISES IN CERTAINLY CONSIDER IF WE GO TO THE MARKET OR GO TO BOND DEALER FINANCING THE ABILITY TO HAVE LIQUID CASH IN THE ABILITY TO RESPOND. AS I MENTIONED BEFORE AFTER HURRICANE IRMA WE FOUND OURSELVES BACK TO BACK, HURRICANE MATTHEW THEN IRMA WE HAD BACK TO BACK DEBRIS REMOVAL, I BELIEVE EACH ONE OF THOSE WAS ABOUT $18 MILLION, WE DREW DOWN OUR GENERAL FUND RESERVES SIGNIFICANTLY, LUCKILY JOE G'S% GROUP IN OUR DISASTER RECOVERY GROUP WAS SUCCESSFUL IN BRINGING THOSE DOLLARS BACK BUT THAT INITIATIVE TAKES A COUPLE OF YEARS AND THEY WERE ABLE TO HELP US REPLENISH THOSE RESERVES.

ABOVE AND BEYOND IS UNRESTRICTED RESERVES WHO NOT CERTAINLY HEALTHY PLACE $21.1 MILLION. THESE ARE CUMULATIVE THESE ARE NOT WHAT WE SEE BEING ADDED EACH YEAR, WE ACCUMULATED IT BACK TO 21.1 MILLION IN THE GENERAL FUND RESERVE IS REALLY THE RESERVE THAT THE BOARD FINDS THEMSELVES GOING TO THROUGHOUT THE YEAR THERE MAY BE INITIATIVES THAT COME UP, PROJECT THAT MAY COME UP THAT NEEDS ADDITIONAL FUNDING AND THROUGHOUT THE COMMISSION AGENDA MEETING BOTH ON REGULAR AND CONSENT ON THE MEETING WE DO SEE RESERVES USED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, THIS YEAR I WENT BACK AND LOOKED AT 22 WAS A LITTLE LESS THAN 5 MILLION THAT'S AN AVERAGE OF 5 MILLION OF THAT RESERVE DRAWN DOWN ON REGULAR ITEMS THAT REAR THEIR HEAD AND LAST YEAR WE HAD A LARGER PROGRAM THERE, AND EXCESS OF 10 MILLION PULLED OUT OF THAT RESERVE, THOSE RESERVES ARE CERTAINLY IMPORTANT, TRANSPORTATION TRUST RESERVES, WE HAVE ABOUT $12 MILLION UNRESTRICTED RESERVES THAT ARE IN THEIR. AGAIN I MENTIONED 224 MILLION-DOLLAR PROGRAM, AT SOME LEVEL DOES UNRESTRICTED RESERVES ARE DELIVERED THEY ARE THERE TO ACCUMULATE TOWARD PROJECTS. THOSE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE UTILIZED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND ACCUMULATED TOWARDS FUTURE PROJECTS. IN THE FIRE DISTRICT RESERVES OUR TARGET RESERVE, 8.4 WITH A UNRESTRICTED RESERVE OF A LITTLE LESS THAN THREE $3 MILLION. SO GOING INTO THE FINAL BUDGET HEARING THIS PROCEDURE IS PRESCRIBED BY FLORIDA STATUTE, FIRST ITEM WILL BE THE DISCUSSION OF THE PERCENTAGE INCREASE OF HER MILLAGE RATES OVER THE ROLLBACK RATES FOLLOWED BY PUBLIC COMMENTS AND THEN THE BOARD WILL CONSIDER TWO RESERVATIONS WANT TO ADOPT THEM FINAL MILLAGE RATES AND WANT TO ADOPT THE FINAL BUDGET. WITH THAT I'M GOING TO GO RIGHT INTO STEP ONE A DISCUSSION OF THE PERCENTAGE INCREASE OVER THE ROLLBACK RATE THIS AS PER STATUE.

THE TAXING AUTHORITY OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY, THE AGGREGATE ROLLBACK MILLAGE RATE IS 6.0642, THE FINAL AGGREGATE MILLAGE RATE IS 6.8266 IN THE PERCENTAGE INCREASE FROM THE ROLLBACK RATE IS 12.57%. AGAIN THIS IS A STATUTORY REQUIREMENT TO PRESENT THIS SPECIFIC PURPOSE.

THE REASON THE MILLAGE RATES ARE RECOMMENDED AT THE LEVELS THEY

[00:20:04]

ARE AND NOT AT THE ROLLBACK RATE FOR MANY OF THEM WERE FOR ALL OF THEM IS FOR HB CC TAXING UNIT T% ADDRESS THE DEMAND FOR SERVICES REALLY IN A GROWTH COMMUNITY AND CERTAINLY ST. JOHNS COUNTY IS A GROWTH COMMUNITY. CERTAINLY NOT ALL COUNTIES IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA ARE ADDRESSING OR DEALING WITH GROWTH LIKE WE ARE WE CERTAINLY SEE COUNTIES THAT ARE AT A MORE MATURE LEVEL BUT ST. JOHN COUNTIES HAVE A DEMAND FOR ROADWAY INFRASTRUCTURE TO PRESERVE EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE SO WE HAVE A PRETTY SOLID DEFERRED MAINTENANCE PROGRAM WHICH IS CERTAINLY COME UP OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS WE NEED TO ADDRESS HER PUBLIC SAFETY NEEDS THAT ARE OUT THERE INCLUDING BOTH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, LARGELY UNDER FIRE RESCUE INCLUDING STATIONS AND HUMAN RESOURCES.

THAT IS THE REASON WHY THE PERCENTAGE INCREASES 12.57%.

SO AT THIS POINT WE OPENED IT UP STATUTORILY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT% BEFORE WE CONSIDER THE RESOLUTIONS.

>> AT THIS TIME THE BOARD WILL HEAR PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE FINAL BUDGET, ANYBODY WISHING TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT, PLEASE COME

FORWARD. >> MR. CHAIR.

>> CHAIR AND COMMISSIONERS, WHILE THEY ARE COMING FORWARD, JUST A REMINDER LIKE THE LAST BUDGET HEARING UNDER THE LAW AT THIS MEETING THE PUBLIC DOES HAVE A RIGHT TO ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT THE BUDGET, THEY ARE STILL LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES TIME

FOR PROCEDURES. >> NOT REALLY WE DID THAT LAST

TIME. >> [INAUDIBLE] FIRST I WANT TO COMMEND THE SHERIFF AND THE COMMISSION FOR THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT WAS MADE IN THE LAST MEETING THAT WE ARE GETTING BODY CAMERAS AND DASHBOARD CAMERAS FROM THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.

AND I SALUTE YOU SIR, THAT WAS GOOD NEWS, UNREPORTED BY SAINT AUGUSTINE RECORD SAINT AUGUSTINE HAS NOT READ PORTED THIS BACK TO THIS DAY THE COUNTY HAS NOT DONE A PRESS RELEASE, THE SHERIFF HAS NOT DONE A PRESS RELEASE, WE NEED TO GET THE WORD OUT WHEN THE GOVERNMENT DOES SOMETHING GOOD WE NEED TO PRAISE THEM, IT'S LIKE PRAISING A KID OR A DOG, LET ME ASK YOU JOE BIDEN DAD SAID TO HIM MANY YEARS AGO, SHOW ME YOUR BUDGET AND I'LL TELL YOU WHAT YOUR VALUES ARE, SANDRA PARK SAYS A BUDGET IS A MORAL DOCUMENT, HOW MUCH IS IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR COLD CASE INVESTIGATIONS FOR THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT?

>> CAN I SAY YOU NEED TO BE PREPARED TO ANSWER THIS BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW THE SPECIFIC LINE ITEMS, INVESTIGATION OF COLD

CASES? >> I DON'T HAVE THAT, THAT WILL BE IN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE SUB LEDGER BUT I CAN PROVIDE THE

INFORMATION TO YOU. >> THANK YOU, SIR THE REASON I RAISE THAT ISSUE, 12 YEARS AND 18 DAYS AGO MICHELLE O'CONNELL WAS MURDERED THAT IS 4401 DAYS AGO AND WE THE PEOPLE EXPECT THAT CRIME TO BE INVESTGATED AND SOLVED.

AND WHEN SHERIFF HARDWICK WAS POLICE CHIEF AT SAINT AUGUSTINE BEACH I HAD AN OCCASION TO DISCUSS THIS WITH HIM ON LINCOLN'S BIRTHDAY 2019 AND I SAID TO HIM, WHEN YOU'RE SHERIFF, I KNOW YOU'RE GETTING TAKEN TO THE GRAND JURY AND AT FIRST HE SAID HE DIDN'T WANT TO BE SHERIFF AND I SAID WHEN YOU'RE SHERIFF I KNOW YOU CAN TAKE JEREMY BANKS TO THE GRAND JURY AND HE SAID I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO IT.

>> LET ME KNOW SHERIFF HOW WE CAN HELP IT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

>> B WRITTEN TO BE DONE. >> THE COMMISSIONERS NEED INDIVIDUAL STAFF MEMBERS, TWO FTE TO HELP THEM WITH CASEWORK AND CORRESPONDENCE AND OVERSIGHT, OTHER COUNTIES HAVE THAT CAN WE PLEASE ADD A LINE ITEM TO THAT EFFECT.

AGAIN HARKENING BACK TO MARCH 15 THE SAME DAY THAT YOU VOTED TO PUT THE SALES TAX ON THE BALLOT, COMMISSIONER WALDRON AND ASANTE, I PRESENTED AN E-MAIL WITH 25 IDEAS FOR GOVERNMENT, HOW MUCH IS IN THE BUDGET TO EXPLORE GOVERNMENT REFORM TO INCLUDE A

CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION? >> THERE ARE NO DOLLARS IN THE

BUDGET FOR THAT. >> PLEASE, ADAM WE NEED TO PURSUE GOVERNMENT I THINK COMMISSIONER BLOCKER SAID THE FORMER GOVERNMENT IS FLAWED, PLEASE ADD SOME MONEY INTO THE BUDGET FOR THAT IF NOT NOW [INAUDIBLE]

>> WOULD ANYBODY ELSE LIKE TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE

BUDGET HEARING? >> AFTERNOON I AM DAVID WILLIAMS

[00:25:05]

I LIVE AT ONE 04 SIX TURPIN AVENUE.

IN FLAGLER ESTATES. I WANT TO THANK THE WAY THE BUDGET HAS BEEN PRODUCED. I HAVE WATCHED THE CALENDAR AND I THOUGHT IT WAS A GREAT PROCESS, THE WORKSHOPS AND THE INPUT THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE WITH REGARDS TO THAT.

I HAVE TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AS WELL BECAUSE I APPRECIATE THE RESOURCES THAT THEY HAVE PUT FORWARD ON THE PART OF FLAGLER ESTATES.

WE HAVE A STOP STATION NOW IN THEM GLAD YOU ALL COULD COME OUT FOR OUR OPENING THIS PAST WEEKEND.

LET ME JUST POINT OUT, RIGHT NOW THE APPRAISED VALUE OF FLAGLER ESTATES HAS GONE UP 139% SINCE LAST YEAR.

WHAT THAT SPEAKS TO IS THE FACT THAT WE'RE VERY QUICKLY DEVELOPING. IT TOOK A LONG TIME, 50 YEARS OR SO TO GET GOING BUT WE REALLY ARE GOING.

I MADE THE ISSUE ON FRIDAY AND I'LL MAKE IT AGAIN THAT WE NEED A GOOD COLLECTOR ROAD TO SERVE THE FOLKS OUT THERE.

THERE IS A LOT OF WORKER BEES OUT THERE AND I TRAVEL THAT ROAD EVERY MORNING WITH EVERYBODY ELSE AND IT'S NOT GETTING ANY EASIER OR ANY SAFER AND I WOULD APPRECIATE WHATEVER CONSIDERATION THIS BUDGET AND ANY FUTURE BUDGETS COULD RENDER

ALONG THAT SCORE. >> THANK YOU WALL.

>> THANK YOU, SIR. >> WOULD ANYBODY ELSE LIKE TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT, PLEASE COME FORWARD.

>> GOOD EVENING SIR, YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.

>> ERIC 28 OCEANSIDE CIRCLE. >> THANK YOU.

>> I'M HERE TO SPEAK TO THE PEOPLE THAT AREN'T HERE AND USUALLY DON'T COME TO THINGS LIKE THIS, LOWER INCOME FOLKS, I'M LUCKY TO BE RETIRED MILITARY GUY, OUT OF PENSION, LIFE IS GOOD FOR ME SO MY WIFE AND I TRY TO GET BACK CAN WE DO THAT BY BUYING RENTAL PROPERTIES, THIS IS PART OF THE DISCUSSION OF THE 41% MARK COVERED THESE ARE THE ONES WE HAPPEN TO HAVE RIGHT NOW, A SINGLE DAD LIVING WITH HIS SON IN A SMALL TOWNHOUSE, MY TAX INCREASES THIS YEAR 10%, A YOUNG COUPLE WITH A NEWBORN BABY HE WORKS AT A PIECE OF PLACE, THE INCREASE ON HIS HOUSES 11.5%, I JUST BODICE WAS ABOVE THE 10.

I HAVE FOUR COLLEGE KIDS ON FLAGLER AND INCREASE FOR THEM IS 10% AND HERE'S ANOTHER PURCHASE WE HAVE A SINGLE MOM, HASN'T PAID RENT THIS MONTH, SHE DECIDE CANCER TREATMENT, OR INCREASE IS 34%. YOU THINK ABOUT IT AND YOU SAY IT'S ONLY 12.7%, IT'S ONLY 10% ON A LIMITATION WHICH BY THE WAY THEY TELL ME THE TAX OFFICE IS GOING TO SUNSET IN 2025 SO THEY'LL BE ABLE TO REASON BETWEEN PERCENT.

MY WIFE AND I TRY TO DO THESE 2T VALUE WHICH MEANS WERE NOT MAKING YEARS MUCH AS WE COULD, WE FEEL LIKE IT'S A RIGHT THING TO DO. THE DRAWBACK AS YOU KNOW WHEN YOU OWN A PROPERTY OF CARRYING COSTS, WILL HAPPEN TO MY ELON, THREE AND HALF PERCENT, NOT SIX AND HALF PERCENT, DRY RAISE THE RENT? I'D LIKE NOT TO, WHAT HAPPENS TO MY INSURANCE, IS GENERALLY DOUBLED IN THE LAST SEVEN OR EIGHT YEARS, NOT YOUR FAULT BUT THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE THESE ARE LOW-INCOME I DON'T WANT TO RAISE THE RENT BUT MY COST OF GHANA, YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED HERE TO COMMIT AND COMPLAIN IN THE SHOVEL SIX. LUCIA FROM ST. GEORGE UTAH A LITTLE TINY TOWN IN THE SOUTHWEST PART FASTEST GROWING COUNTY IN AMERICA OR IN THE TOP FIVE, THIS IS 20 YEARS AGO WHEN I MOVED HERE. YOU LOOK AT AND SEE WHAT IT THEY DO, TOURIST PLACE LITTERED WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE SHOWING UP THE SEAWARD FOLDER B&BS WERE TIRED OF HOTEL PEOPLE WE WANT TO HAVE LONG-TERM RENTERS. IF YOU SHOWED UP IN YET A ONE-YEAR LEASE AND SHOW UP AT THE PROPERTY TAX ANY OF THE SAME DISCOUNT ON YOUR HOUSE, 45% TAX BECAUSE YOU'RE RENTING TO A LONG-TERM GROUP OF PEOPLE THESE ARE LOW-INCOME PEOPLE THAT LOWER LUNGS, REFER HOUSES AND THEY CANNOT AFFORD THE 15% INCREASE FOR 12.7% INCREASE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO PUT UP.

I JUST WANT TO SPEAK FOR THEM AND CONSIDER THAT THINK OF OTHER

[00:30:02]

WAYS TO DO BUSINESS. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, SIR. >> WOULD ANYBODY ELSE LIKE TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT, NOW IS THE TIME.

>> MR. CHAIRMAN AC NUMBER PUBLIC COMMENTS, WE WILL CLOSE PUBLIC

COMMENT. >> THANK YOU. JESSE?

>> NEXT STEP IS A CONSIDERATION TO ADOPT THE FINAL MILLAGE RATE RESOLUTION. I'VE HIGHLIGHTED THAT ON THE

SLIDE HERE. >> IS THERE MOTION?

>> ALL MOVE THIS ALL MOVED TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2022.

>> JOSH 357 ESTABLISHING THE FISCAL YEAR 2023 FINAL MILLAGE RATES SET BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF ST. JOHN'S

COUNTY. >> SECOND.

>> ALL RIGHT REVOLUTION TO THE SECOND BY A VOICE VOTE,

COMMISSIONER ARNOLD SPIN. >> I VOTE YES, THAT PASSES 4

- ONE. >> THE FINAL MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 20222 APPROVE THE FISCAL YEAR 2023 FINAL BUDGET OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF ST. JOHN'S COUNTY FLORIDA UTILIZING THE CERTIFIED TAXABLE VALUE OF $40,840,142,494 GENERATED AN ESTIMATED $278,000,797.359 AND TAXING RESULTING IN $1,550,104,053.

>> SO MOVED. >> THANK YOU.

>> IF YOU WANT TO PROVIDE THE RESOLUTION NUMBER.

>> 358. >> SECOND.

>> ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE A MOTION IN A

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.

1. Public Hearing * 5:01 p.m. Public Hearing -- St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners Adoption of Final Millage Rates & Budget for FY 2023.

Sep 20, 2022 Special Board of County Commissioners

1. Public Hearing * 5:01 p.m. Public Hearing -- St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners Adoption of Final Millage Rates & Budget for FY 2023.

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