[Call to Order by Chair ] [00:00:45] GOOD EVENING. I HEREBY CALL THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS TO ORDER. TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 3RD 2020 FOR F5: 01 P.M. CAN WE PLEASE HAVE ROLL CALL? >> THANK YOU. >> AND NOW TO LEAD US IN OUR INVOCATION CHAPLAIN KELLY -- [INAUDIBLE] >> GOOD EVENING. MATTHEW CHAPTER 6 THE BIBLE TELLS US THIS. WHICH OF YOU BY TAKING THOUGHT CAN ADD ONE CUBIC INTO HIS STATURE? WHY TAKING THOUGHT FOR ARRAIGNMENT. CONSIDER -- THE FIELD HOW THEY GROW. I SAY UNTO YOU EVEN -- AND ALL HIS GLORY WAS NOT A RATE WITH ONE OF THESE BUT WHEREFORE GOD SO CLOTHES -- TOMORROW IS CAST IN THE OVEN. SHALL HE NOT -- CLOTHE YOU. YOU OF LITTLE FAITH THEREFORE TAKE NO THOUGHT SAYING WHAT SHALL WE EAT OR WHAT SHALL WE DRINK WHAT JOE WOULD BE CLOTHED? AFTER ALL THESE THINGS TO THE GENTILE SEA. YOU HAVE NEED AND ALL THESE THINGS. BUT SEEK YE FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND ALL HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS THAT ALL THESE THINGS SHALL BE ADDED UNTO YOU. TAKE THEREFORE NO THOUGHT FOR TOMORROW FOR TOMORROW SHALL TAKE THOUGHT FOR THINGS OF ITSELF. SUFFICIENT UNTO THE DAY'S THEREOF. WHY DO WE HAVE INVOCATION? WE ARE INVITING THE ALMIGHTY -- TO SEEK HIM WHILE HE CAN BE FOUND. SEEK HIM YOU WILL FIND HIM. TONIGHT WE WOULD PRAY FOR WISDOM. AS PRAY TOGETHER. WE THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY LORD. WE THANK YOU LORD EVERYTHING WE HAVE GOT HAS PROVIDED BY YOU. WE THANK YOU FOR THIS. HELP US NOT TO STRESS NOT TO WORRY TO TRUST BUT WE TRUST YOU -- GOD WE PROVIDES. WE THANK YOU FOR THIS AND WE SEEK YOU WITH ALL OF OUR HEART THE LORD. WE SEEK YOU AND PRAY FOR WISDOM. WE PRAY GOD YOU KEEP THEM SAFE. PRAY FOR OUR FIREFIGHTERS AND POLICE AND SHERIFF. DO YOU KEEP US ALL SAFE. WE PRAY TO ADDRESS US -- AND BLESSED IN THIS COMMUNITY. WE LOVE YOU AND WE PRAISE YOU. AMEN. >>> THANK YOU CHAPLAIN. TOLEDO [Additions/Deletions to Special Agenda ] IS IN THE PLEDGE -- [INAUDIBLE] >> THANK YOU MADAM CHAIRMAN PICK IF EVERYONE WOULD FACE THE FLAG [Approval of Special Agenda] FOLLOW ME IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. >> ANY ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS TO THE SPECIAL AGENDA? [1. Public Hearing * 5:01 p.m. Public Hearing -- Adoption of Tentative Millage Rates & Budget for FY 2025. In accordance with sections 129.03 and 200.065 of the Florida Statutes, the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) is required hold public hearings to adopt its millage rates and budget for the next Fiscal Year (FY). Such hearings must be held after 5:00 PM if scheduled on a day other than Saturday. In the recently mailed Notices of Proposed Property Taxes (TRIM) by the County’s Property Appraiser, the date and time noticed for the required hearings is September 3, 2024, at 5:01 P.M. The Florida Statutes further prescribe the specific order for consideration of substantive issues to be discussed during the required public hearings. The first substantive issue of discussion must be the percentage increase in the County’s aggregate millage rate over the rolled-back rate necessary to fund the budget. The rolled-back rate is defined as the aggregate millage rate that would generate the same level of prior year tax revenues less certain defined allowances (such as new construction). During such discussion, the general public shall be allowed to speak and ask questions prior to the adoption of any measures by the BCC. The BCC shall adopt by resolution its tentative millage rates prior to adopting its tentative budget for FY 2025. Additionally, the BCC is required to establish a date, time and place to conduct public hearings on the final millage and budget adoption for FY 2025. It is recommended that the BCC establish September 17, 2024 at 5:01 PM in the County Auditorium to conduct such hearings. A copy of the FY 2025 Tentative Budget Workbook, including detail per line item, may be found on the County's webpage at http://www.sjcfl.us/OMB/] >> NO MA'AM >> I HAVE NONE. >> WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE. >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> DO WE HEAR PUBLIC COMMENT NOW OR AFTER THE PRESENTATION? >> AFTER THE PRESENTATION. >> PLEASE NOTE -- >> HENRY. >> I'M SORRY. I WILL WAKE UP. >> THAT TAKES US TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER ONE. MR. DUNN GOOD EVENING PICK >> GOOD EVENING. JESSE DONE. DIRECTOR FOR THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET'S. TONIGHT IS OUR FIRST PUBLIC HEARING TO ADOPT THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 BUDGET TENTATIVE MILLAGE RATES AND BUDGET. SO WITH THAT I'M GOING TO GET RIGHT INTO A PRESENTATION FIRST. KIND OF A CUMULATIVE KIND OF BRING BACK WHERE WE WERE IN THE PROCESS. WE'VE HAD AN ELECTION IN THE MIDDLE OF IT. WE CONTINUED THE BUDGET PROCESS. WE ARE GOING TO MOVE RIGHT INTO IT. SO, AGAIN KIND THE PUBLIC KNOW AND ANYONE WHO IS INTERESTED IN GOING BY LINE ITEM. LINE ITEM BUDGET IS ON [00:05:03] THE COUNTY'S WEBSITE. THE LINK UP THERE ON THE SCREEN. AND CERTAINLY YOU CAN CUSTOMIZE IT. LITTLE ADVERTISEMENT YOU CAN DOWNLOAD THE INFORMATION YOU ARE INTERESTED IN AND IT WILL COME TO YOU AS A PDF OR YOU CAN PRINT IT AND USE IT AS AN ELECTRONIC FILE. YOU CAN ASK QUESTIONS DIRECTLY FROM IT. JUST LETTING EVERYONE KNOW THAT. TONIGHT WE'VE SEEN THIS TIMELINE BEFORE. WE ARE IN THE YELLOW BOX. ACTUALLY IT IS SEPTEMBER 3RD 2020 FOR. IT IS THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING TO ADOPT THE BUDGET FOR 25. THIS IS A SEVEN-MONTH PROCESS. THERE IS STILL PLENTY OF TIME TO HAVE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE BUDGET. BETWEEN THIS HEARING THERE WILL BE A SECOND HEARING AND THEN THAT WOULD ULTIMATELY ADOPT THE BUDGET. THAT BEGINS OCTOBER 1ST. SO, KIND OF THE FORMAT OF WHAT WE ARE DOING TONIGHT AND I MAY RUSH THROUGH IT. YOU CAN SLOW ME DOWN AS I'M JUST BARELY USE TO WHAT IS IN THIS. IT IS FAIRLY PRESCRIBED. FIRST THING I WANT TO DISCUSS IS THE CHANGES TO THE BUDGET SINCE WE HANDED OFF AND RECOMMENDED BUDGET IN JULY. NOW WE ARE AT THE TENETS OF STAGE. THAT BUDGET HAS INCREASED FROM 1.2 BILLION TO ALMOST TO OVERT 1.7 BILLION. I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH THAT AND DISCUSS THAT. THERE IS NOT ALWAYS BUT THERE IS SOMETIMES THERE ARE CITIZENS WHO MAY NOT UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE ITEMS THAT ARE ADDED IN AT THE END. THEY ARE NOT SHIPPED IN. THEY ARE NOT HIDDEN. THEY BROUGHT IN AS PART OF THE PROCESS. AND THAT IS QUITE A PROCESS. THAT HAS TO DO WITH OUR PROJECT AND GRANT CARRYFORWARDS. I WILL TALK ABOUT THOSE AS WELL OUR WORKBOOK HAS AN ENTIRE SECTION THAT RECONCILES THAT ABOUT OVER $500 MILLION IN PROJECTS. SO WE ARE GOING TO BUILD THAT BUDGET UP TO 1.7 BILLION. I'M GOING TO DISSECT IT DOWN A LITTLE BIT. THERE IS ALWAYS A DISCUSSION OF WHAT ARE MY PROPERTY TAXES REALLY PAYING FOR? ARE WE REALLY PAYING COLLECTIVELY NUMBER 1.7 BILLION IN PROPERTY TAXES? THE ANSWER IS AN EMPHATIC NO YOU ARE NOT. I'M GOING TO BRING THAT DOWN SO WE UNDERSTAND WHEN WE GET INTO THE MILLAGE DISCUSSIONS WHAT IT IS THE PROPERTY TAXES ARE PAYING FOR. I'M GOING TO GO OVER WHAT A MILLAGE IS I HAD A PHONE CALL FROM A CITIZEN WHO ASKED WHAT IS THE MILEAGE RATE. I KEPT ASKING I'M NOT SURE WITH THE MILEAGE RATE WAS. WHEN I FIRST STARTED WORKING HERE I CALLED THE MILLAGE RATE THE MILEAGE RATE AS WELL. I REALIZE SOMETIMES SOME OF THESE TERMS ARE NOT SO OBVIOUS. TO PEOPLE. SO MY DEFINITION MAY STILL BE TECHNICAL BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SLOW DOWN SO PEOPLE UNDERSTAND A MILLAGE RATE IS RELATED TO YOUR PROPERTY TAXES. WHAT ARE MY TAXES PAYING FOR? AND THEN WHY IS THE RECOMMENDATION FOR NEXT YEAR TO BE FOR THIS UPCOMING YEAR TO BE FLAT MILLAGE? FROM THERE I THINK THAT REALLY CATCHES US UP TO WHAT KIND OF THE REASON FOR THIS EVENING. THAT IS THE PRESCRIBED TENTATIVE BUDGET HEARING PRESCRIBED AGAIN BY FLORIDA STATUTE. LET'S JUMP RIGHT INTO IT. THE TENETS OF BUDGETS. SO THE LAST TIME WE MET, MAYBE NOT THE LAST TIME BUT THE LAST TIME IN JULY WHEN WE RECOMMENDED THE BUDGET IT WAS 1,215,000,000 AND THAT FIRST CIRCLE THERE. AND SINCE THEN AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT MY OFFICE WORKS WITH THE DEPARTMENTS EACH YEAR ON. WE ADDRESS CAPITAL CARRYFORWARDS. AND THIS YEAR THERE WERE 530 -- PRIMARILY CARRYFORWARDS $535 MILLION TO THAT. OUR ENTIRE BUDGET FOR 25 IS 1.7 BILLION. LAST YEAR IT WAS ABOUT 1.6 BILLION. I'LL CARRYFORWARDS WERE IN THE 4 HUNDRED 79 MILLION. LITTLE HIGHER THAN LAST YEAR BUT WE'VE ALSO HAD MANY PROJECTS GOING ON IN THE COMMUNITY. WE'VE RECEIVED WE CONTINUE TO RECEIVE SUCCESSFUL GRANT APPROPRIATIONS. AND STATE LEGISLATIVE APPROPRIATIONS AT THIS COMMISSION IS ACTIVELY GAINED FOR. SO THOSE DOLLARS ARE NOT SPENT IN A SINGLE YEAR. THOSE DOLLARS NECESSITATE MULTIPLE YEARS TO SPEND THOSE DOLLARS. IN THE BOOK AGAIN ON PAGE 281 BEGINS AN ENTIRE RECONCILIATION OF THOSE PROJECTS. SO YOU CAN SEE WHAT THOSE PROJECTS ARE. BIG OLD UGLY KIND OF TABLE RIGHT HERE. THE $535 MILLION IS REFLECTED IN THAT LAST COLUMN. THAT IS THE VARIANCE. I'VE HIGHLIGHTED Ú4 AREAS. TRANSPORTATION TRUST $133 MILLION. CERTAINLY NO [00:10:10] SECRET TO IT WE HAVE PLENTY OF ROADWAY AND DRAINAGE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS THAT ARE OUT THERE. ENTERPRISE FUNDS WHICH IS REALLY FOR OUR TIME IS REALLY OUT UTILITY SERVICES BUT A LOT OF WATER AND SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS INCLUDING THE 207 WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT THAT IS PROBABLY 123 MILLION OF THAT. WE HAVE SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS THAT HAVE 137 MILLION THAT IS OUR IMPACT FEES FOR PRIMARILY. AS WELL AS SOME GRANTS THAT THE COUNTY HAS RECEIVED AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN HAS BALANCES. THERE IS AN ARRAY OF DIFFERENT GRANT PROGRAMS AGAIN THAT RECONCILIATION THERE. THEN WE HAVE WHAT ARE CALLED CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUNDS. THAT ARE FOR GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTING. WE PUT MANY OF OUR PROJECTS IN THERE SO WE HAVE A FULL ACCOUNTING ON THOSE CAPITAL PROJECTS. THERE ARE NONUTILITY PROJECTS. AND WE MANAGE THEM IN THERE AND FROM EACH YEAR NATURALLY WE CARRY FORWARD THOSE APPROPRIATIONS FROM YEAR TO YEAR UNTIL THOSE PROJECTS ARE COMPLETE. JUST TO PUT A FACE TO SOME OF THESE PROJECTS, OF THAT $535 MILLION, 521 OF THEM ARE CAPITAL AND GRANT CARRYFORWARDS. I NOTED SOME OF THEM HERE. THE 207 WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY IS $127 MILLION. THE RIVER TO SEE LOOP WHICH IT SHOULD BE SCA LOOP IS 26 MILLION. CERTAINLY WE'VE HEARD ABOUT THESE ROADWAY PROJECTS CR 210 GREENBRIER CR 2209 CENTRAL SEGMENT FOR 19 MILLION. OLD ROAD IMPROVEMENTS. KING'S ESTATE. THE LIST GOES ON. WE HAVE PUNTED TO REACH HER CORE DOOR IMPROVEMENTS. SUMMER HAVEN. WE HAVE FACILITIES MANAGEMENT MAINTENANCE PROJECTS. IF YOU DROVE IN THIS MORNING THERE WERE SOME A COUPLE OF DETOURS TO GET INTO THIS FACILITY. THEY WERE DOING SOME PAINTING AND SOME REPAIRS OUTSIDE THIS FACILITY. AGAIN ONGOING PROJECTS THAT THIS COUNTY TAKES ON. SO NOW THAT WE ARE AT NUMBER 1.7 BILLION DOLLARS WHICH IS HERE. I'M GOING TO TAKE IT DOWN. AGAIN TONIGHT WE ARE TALKING MILLAGE WHICH IS PROPERTY TAXES. AND THE BUDGET. AND I HEAR THIS AND AGAIN THE QUESTIONS THAT COME UP ARE WHAT ARE WE DOING FOR NUMBER $1.7 BILLION IN PROPERTY TAXES? CERTAINLY MY PROJECT CAN GET I DON'T SEE MY PROJECT IN THERE. CERTAINLY I CAN GET IT IN THERE. PART OF THIS IS WITH GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTING IT IS RESTRICTED TO VERY SPECIFIC CATEGORIES. WE DON'T MAKE THEM UP. THEY ARE ESTABLISHED BY GATSBY AND FLORIDA STATUTE. SO WE MAINTAIN IN THE BUDGET OFFICE THESE FUNDS IN SEPARATE ACCOUNTINGS PER REQUIREMENTS BY BOTH STATE AND NATIONAL GATSBY GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTING STANDARDS FOR REQUIREMENTS. OF THE 1,000,007 I'M GOING TO BRING THIS DOWN QUICKLY. KIND OF STARTING FROM THE BOTTOM WE'RE GOING TO TAKE OUT THAT SERVICE. THAT HAS NOTHING THAT IS NOT RELATED TO PROPERTY TAXES. THAT IS YOUR GAS TAX REVENUES. SALES TAX. THERE IS SOME TAX INCREMENT FINANCING REVENUE. AS WE TAKE THIS DOWN INTERNAL SERVICE AND FIDUCIARY FUNDS IT IS JUST AN ACCOUNTING OF EMPLOYEE BENEFITS. IT IS ALMOST A DUPLICATION OF ACCOUNTING. CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUNDS ARE JUST ACCOUNTING FOR ANY NONUTILITY CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS. WE ARE DOWN TO 1.6 BILLION. SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS. WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS THE COMMISSION WAS TALKING ABOUT THIS EARLIER TODAY. THERE WAS SOME CONFUSION WITH TOURIST DEVELOPMENT TAXES. IT IS THAT PROPERTY TAXES. WHAT IS THAT TAX? WHEN YOU GET INTO SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS WE ARE TALKING USER FEES IN MANY OF THOSE CASES. IF YOU DRIVE ON THE BEACH YOU ARE PAYING A FEE FOR THAT. IF YOU GO TO THE GOLF COURSE YOU'RE GOING TO PAY FOR A ROUND OF GOLF. IF YOU'RE GOING TO PUT A POOL AT YOUR HOUSE YOU ARE GOING TO PAY PERMITS AND ANY REQUIREMENTS. THERE IS NO TAXATION IN THIS. THESE ARE USER FEES. PRIMARILY. AND THAT SPECIAL REVENUE FUND. THERE ARE TOURISM DOLLARS THAT IS -- IF YOU COME FROM OUT OF TOWN YOU GET A HOTEL ROOM YOU WILL PAY ADDITIONAL TAX FOR TOURISM. THERE ARE IMPACT FEES. THOSE ARE FEES PAID BY DEVELOPMENT THAT ARE A PART OF WHAT WE USE REALLY ONE OF OUR PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCES FOR FUNDING INFRASTRUCTURE. FOR ROADWAYS. FOR OUR PUBLIC SAFETY. FOR OUR PARKS. THAT IS REALLY OUR PRIMARY RIGHT NOW. WE DO HAVE SOME CRA FUNDS. IN SOME COURT RELATED FUNDS. WE HAVE MILLIONS IN COURT RELATED FUNDS THAT WE WOULD LOVE TO RESOLVE SOME OF THE PROJECTS AND CHALLENGES THAT WE'VE HAD. THEY ARE SIMPLY RESTRICTED TO CERTAIN TYPES OF EXPENSES. IF YOU GO THROUGH THE BOOK THERE [00:15:01] IS A DEFINITION FOR EACH ONE OF THEM AND YOU CAN SEE HERE IS THE COURT FACILITIES TRUST FUND. IN THOSE DOLLARS ARE SPECIFIC TO COURT FACILITIES. THE DORE SLOSBERG DRIVERS EDUCATION FUND. THESE ARE DOLLARS FOR THAT ARE FIND IF YOU ARE SPEEDING. THOSE DOLLARS ARE REINVESTED BACK INTO DRIVERS EDUCATION PROGRAMS. YOU CAN SEE IN THE BOOK THERE IS A LIST OF THOSE. WHEN YOU PULLED THE SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS DOWN 1.2 BILLION. THE ENTERPRISE FUNDS THOSE ARE ARE ALSO IF YOU WILL USER FEES. THAT IS YOUR WATER AND SEWER BILL. AND YOUR GARBAGE AND RECYCLING PICKUP. ONCE YOU PULL THOSE OUT YOU'VE GONE FROM 1.7 BILLION TO ABOUT 700 MILLION. OF COURSE I HAVE TO RECONCILE CONTINUE TO RECONCILE THESE THINGS DOWN. I PULLED THE CARRYFORWARDS OUT. I'M AT ABOUT $600 MILLION OF SERVICES THAT ARE REALLY FUNDED AND NOT FULLY FUNDED I MIGHT ADD BUT FUNDED BY PROPERTY TAXES. IN THIS PARTICULAR BUDGET IS GOT 348 MILLION DOLLARS. IN PROPERTY TAXES TO FUND SERVICES TOTALING ABOUT $614 MILLION. NOT EIGHT $1.7 BILLION PROPERTY TAX. IT IS CERTAINLY NOTHING TO THAT IS NOT A LOW NUMBER $348 MILLION IS A LOT. BUT THEY ARE FUNDING MANY SERVICES THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY. I'M GOING TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THESE AND YOU WILL SEE THIS SLIDE A COUPLE TIMES TONIGHT. ACROSS THE TOP GOING DOWN VERTICALLY, ARE THE FOUR FUNDS. THE FOUR BASIC MILLAGE FUNDS. THE GENERAL THE FIRE DISTRICT TRANSPORTATION TRUST AND THE COUNTY HEALTH FUND. EACH WITH ITS OWN MILLAGE. THE ITEMS THAT KIND OF GO HORIZONTALLY ARE THE SERVICES. WE WILL TALK ABOUT THE SERVICES AGAIN. THESE WERE SERVICES THAT HAVE BEEN DISCUSSED OVER THIS BUDGET CYCLE. GENERALLY THE LAST COUPLE BUDGET CYCLES. PUBLIC SAFETY, HOW DO WE ADDRESS ADDITIONAL FIRE NOT ONLY FIRE STATIONS BUT HOW DO WE ADDRESS RECRUITMENT AND RETAIN NICHE OF OUR FIREFIGHTERS? HOW DO WE ADDRESS AND MAINTAIN DEPUTIES IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT WE DON'T TRAIN THEM GET THEM READY AND ANOTHER COMMUNITY PULLS THEM AWAY SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY HAVE ADDITIONAL FUNDING? HOW DO WE ADDRESS PUBLIC SAFETY. HOW DO WE ADDRESS INFRASTRUCTURE ? WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE A COUPLE YEARS. WE ARE PRIMARILY A PAY AS YOU GO FOR OUR INFRASTRUCTURE. AND SO WE HAVE SOME ESPECIALLY IN THE TRANSPORTATION TRUST FUND WE USE TRANSPORTATION TRUST. WE USE IMPACT FEES BUT BEYOND THAT DOLLARS UNLESS WE GO OUT AND FINANCE SOMETHING. A COUPLE YEARS BACK COMMISSIONER DEAN LED AND WE CERTAINLY KNOW A SALES TAX INITIATIVE. IT DID NOT PASS. THAT WAS ANOTHER MEANS OF FUNDING INFRASTRUCTURE. SO THESE FUNDS PROVIDE US WITH THE ABILITY AND THE POWER IF YOU WILL TO FUND INFRASTRUCTURE. WE ARE MANAGING THERE IS A LEVEL OF MANAGING GROWTH IN THE GENERAL FUND. WE HAVE BEEN UTILIZING A PORTION OF THE GENERAL FUNDS TO OFFSET COMMERCIAL IMPACT FEES. THAT RECOMMENDATION HAS BEEN TO CEASE THAT MOVING FORWARD. WE WILL GO THROUGH THE REMAINDER OPEN GOVERNANCE WE TALKED ABOUT ERP PROGRAMS. FINANCIAL STEWARDSHIP CERTAINLY WANT TO MAINTAIN RESERVES. CERTAINLY WANT TO MAINTAIN POSITIVE CREDIT. WE ALSO WANT TO UTILIZE THOSE DOLLARS PER NO REASON TO HOARD THOSE DOLLARS FOR ANYTHING. COMMUNITY SERVICES ARE FUNDED IN THE GENERAL FUND. QUALITY OF LIFE PARKS AND RECREATION ARE LIBRARIES. A LOT OF OUR PROGRAMS ARE AQUATICS PROGRAMS FUNDED TO THE GENERAL FUND. AND CONSERVATION PART OF A RECOMMENDATION FOR THIS YEAR WAS TO INCREASE THE LAMP FUNDING. FROM $500,000-$2 MILLION IN THE 25 BUDGET TO ADDRESS AGAIN CONVERSATIONS ABOUT CONSERVATION. SO THOSE FOUR FUNDS BASICALLY COVER MANY OF THE SERVICES THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT. NOT TO DIMINISH THE NEED FOR UTILITIES OR ANY OF THE OTHER SERVICES BUT PROPERTY TAXES CERTAINLY ARE A LARGE COMPONENT OF WHAT WE THINK OF ONLY THINK OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY GOVERNMENT. >> AGAIN WHAT IS MILLAGE? MILLAGE IS A TAX RATE. IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT IT IS A PERCENT IS 1/100. MILLAGE IS 1/1000. IT IS A TAX RATE TO FIND DOLLARS ASSESSED FOR EACH THOUSAND DOLLARS OF VALUE. QUICKEST WAY TO DO THAT IS TO FIGURE OUT WHAT YOUR TAXES ARE IS TO KNOW WHAT YOUR MILLAGE RATE IS. TAKE YOUR TAXABLE VALUE AND DIVIDED BY 1000. MULTIPLY IT BY THE MILLAGE RATE. I HAVE A SMALL EXAMPLE IN HERE. THAT IS YOUR PROPERTY TAXES. BUT YOU YOUR [00:20:05] ABILITY AS A COMMISSION IS TO LEVY MILLAGE RATES. THAT IS HOW WE FUND COLLECTIVELY IF YOU WILL SERVICES IN THIS COMMUNITY. THE PROPERTY APPRAISER ASSESSES YOUR PROPERTY'S VALUE. FOR EACH OF OUR PROPERTY VALUE. THERE HAS BEEN CONFUSION THIS YEAR WHEN WE'VE HEARD PROPERTY VALUES WENT UP 12.3%. THAT THERE WAS SOME ASSUMPTION ALL TAXES WERE GOING TO GO UP BY 12.3%. THAT IS NOT THE CASE BUT THE ASSESSMENT OF ONE PORTION OF THIS THE STATE PROVIDES EXEMPTIONS AS WELL. FOR SAVE OUR HOMES IF IT IS A PRIMARY RESIDENCE. IF YOU HAVE IF YOU ARE LEGALLY BLIND THEIR OTHER EXEMPTIONS. IF YOU HAVE CERTAIN VETERAN REQUIREMENTS YOU HAVE OTHER EXEMPTIONS. SO THERE ARE EXEMPTIONS. THIS COMMISSION LEVIES THE MILLAGE RATES TO ESTABLISH THE AGAIN PROPERTY TAXES. SO, THE DISCUSSION AT THE LAST COUPLE I GUESS THE LAST COUPLE MONTHS IS WHEN DO WE BRING MILLAGE RATES DOWN? COMMISSIONER JOSEPH YOU ASKED THAT QUESTION. WE'VE DONE IT TWICE THAT I CAN RECALL. IN MY 20 YEARS IT HAS GONE DOWN TWICE. ONE WAS MANDATED IN ONE WAS COVID. YOU CAN SEE ACTUALLY I HAVE FROM 16 BUT IF YOU GO BACK I WENT BACK TO 2012 UP THROUGH 2020 OUR MILLAGE RATES HAVE REMAINED FLAT. THE POWER OF THE COMMISSION WE CAN SHIFT YOU CAN SHIFT THEM. YOU CAN SHIFT THEM FROM YEAR TO YEAR. YOU CAN SEE AN EXAMPLE WHERE TRANSPORTATION TRUST IN FISCAL YEAR 20 WENT FROM .75 TWO .9. THAT WAS TO ADD AN INVESTMENT BACK IN FOR ROADWAY INFRASTRUCTURE. THAT WAS THE TOP PRIORITY. IT REALLY IS AGAIN REMAINS ONE OF THE TOP PRIORITIES. THE MILLAGE OVER ALL WE THINK OF THE TOP FOUR MILLAGE RATES HAS REMAINED FLAT UP UNTIL 2020 AND THEN DURING COVID AND FY 21 IT WAS ROLLED BACK. FROM 7.33 ROUGHLY TO ABOUT 6.89. AND HAS REMAINED FLAT SINCE THAT TIME AND THE RECOMMENDATION FOR THIS YEAR WAS TO MAINTAIN AGAIN THOSE FLAT MILLAGE RATES THE BUDGET HAS BEEN BUILT ON FLAT MILLAGE RATES. BECAUSE THE DISCUSSION HAS BEEN PUBLIC SAFETY, FIRE SHERIFF INFRASTRUCTURE. AND SO WE HAVE BUILT A BUDGET DURING THIS DISCUSSION TO REALLY ADDRESS THOSE ITEMS. >> SO AGAIN A COUPLE TIMES I'VE HEARD THIS YEAR 13.2% INCREASE. THAT IS GOING TO RESULT IN A 13.2% INCREASE IN TAXES. AGAIN NOT THE CASE. THE OVERALL TAXABLE VALUE DID GO UP BY 13.2%. BUT IF -- THE STATE OF FLORIDA DOES PROVIDE SOME PROTECTIONS UNDER HOMESTEADED PROPERTIES. THAT IS NOT EVERY PROPERTY CERTAINLY. BUT IF YOU IF A PROPERTY OWNER MAKES A PROPERTY HIS OR HER PERMANENT RESIDENCE, THE STATE OF FLORIDA SAVE OUR HOMES PROVISION PROTECTS HOMESTEADED PROPERTIES. IT ASSESSED VALUE IS CAPPED EACH YEAR AT 3% FOR CPI. WE LOOKED AT THE LAST COUPLE YEARS AND ACTUALLY THIS YEAR AND LAST TWO YEARS THE CPI HAS BEEN ABOVE 3%. THAT IS CAPPED AT 3%. THERE IS A PROTECTION ON YOUR ASSESSMENT. THEN AGAIN IF YOU'RE HOMESTEADED YOU CAN FILE FOR SAVE OUR HOMES EXEMPTIONS. THAT IS AT MINIMUM A $50,000 EXEMPTION THAT REDUCES YOUR ASSESSED VALUE DOWN TO A TAXABLE VALUE ON THE PROPERTY. A LOT GOING ON HERE I KNOW. AND SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE SAVINGS. SO WHEN TAXABLE VALUES I'M SORRY WHEN MARKET VALUES AND ASSESSED VALUES GO UP, SURE ENOUGH IF YOU ARE HOMESTEADED YOUR PROPERTIES ARE PROTECTED. AND YOUR TAXES ARE NOT NECESSARILY GOING TO GO UP. THAT IS A STATE THAT IS PART OF THE STATE STRUCTURE. IF YOU ARE NON-HOMESTEADED AND THAT IS A PROPERTY NOT DEEMED A PERMANENT RESIDENCE, THERE ARE NOT ANY EXEMPTIONS. BUT THERE IS A CAP. THAT IS A NON-HOMESTEADED PROPERTY. IS LIMITED TO A MAXIMUM OF A 10% ANNUAL INCREASE. SO IT IS IT DOES CERTAINLY PLACE THE BURDEN ON A BUSINESS TYPE A BUSINESS OR INVESTMENT PROPERTY. BUT THERE IS A CAP PRIOR TO 2008 THERE WAS NO CAP. THE STATE HAS MOVED IN THE DIRECTION OF PROTECTION. FOR NON-HOMESTEADED PROPERTIES. I JUST MENTIONED THE -- EACH YEAR I GET CALLS FROM PEOPLE MY TAXES APPEAR TO HAVE GONE UP MORE THAN 3%. I GO THAT IS NOT REALLY HOW THIS WORKS. LOOK AT YOUR ASSESSED VALUE. IF YOU'RE [00:25:05] HOMESTEADED PROPERTY HAS INCREASED MORE THAN 3% I RECOMMEND AND I THINK THE BEST REALLY YOUR BEST CASE IS TO DISCUSS THAT WITH THE PROPERTY APPRAISER'S OFFICE. THEY HAVE THE ANSWER. IF YOU HAVE ADDED A POOL IS SCREENED IN PORCH, A SECOND GARAGE A MOTHER-IN-LAW SUITE YOUR VALUATION ON YOUR PROPERTY MAY CHANGE. BUT OVERALL IF YOU ARE A HOMESTEADED PROPERTY AND YOU ARE NOT CHANGING THE BASIC FOOTPRINT OF THE PROPERTY, YOUR PROPERTY IS AGAIN AT THAT ASSESSED VALUE CAPPED AT 3%. KIND OF LOOKED AT THE FLAT MILLAGE RATES FOR THIS YEAR. WITH THAT THIS IS SAVE OUR HOMES WITH 50,000 MINIMUM HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION. WHICH IS KIND OF WHAT WE ALL HAVE WE ARE HOMESTEADED HERE WOULD BE THE TAXPAYER INCREASE. BASED ON THEIR HOMESTEADED ASSESSED VALUE. LET'S SAY OF LAST YEAR. IF YOU ARE HOMESTEADED IN YOUR ASSESSED VALUE IS $100,000 AT THE FLAT MILLAGE RATES YOU WOULD SEE $20.69 INCREASE ON THE BCC TAX YOUR TAX BILL. 200,000 ABOUT $41 INCREASE OVER LAST YEAR. $300,062 PER I JUST WENT UP TO 700,000 ABOUT LITTLE LESS THAN 145 DOLLAR DIFFERENCE. YOUR BCC TAX BILL FROM THE PRIOR YEAR. I DOUBLE CHECKED IT. I THREW MINE UP THERE. THERE IS MY A PORTION OF MY TRIM NOTICE. I LOOKED AT MY ASSESSED VALUE FROM 23. WHICH WAS 263 MILLION. THIS YEAR ASSESSED VALUE IS $271 MILLION. THE PROPERTY APPRAISED THAT FITS RIGHT IN THERE IS MY 3% INCREASE IN MY ASSESSED VALUE. I AM BROUGHT DOWN TO A TAXABLE VALUE OF $221 AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE LAST BLUE COLUMN. BECAUSE I HAVE THE SAVE OUR HOMES EXEMPTIONS OF 50,000. I'M TAKING 50,000 ALL THAT $271,000 ASSESSED VALUE. THERE IS MY TAXABLE VALUE. IF I LOOK AT AND THIS IS NOT THE GREATEST POINTER. BUT LAST YEAR'S TAXES, ARE ABOUT LITTLE OVER $1400. THIS WAS ON THE TRIM NOTICE. IN COMPARISON TO WHAT IS PROPOSED WITH THE SAME FLAT MILLAGE RATES OF $1500, I DETERMINED MY VALUE MY PROPERTY TAX BILL FOR THE BCC MILLAGE RATES. THIS COMMISSION DOES NOT HAVE CONTROL OVER ANY OF THE OTHER LEVY MILLAGE RATES. THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AS AN EXAMPLE. BUT OVER ALL MY INCREASE RIGHT NOW IS 54 DOLLARS 44. OVER THE LAST YEAR. SO ABOUT A 3.7% INCREASE. AS IRONICALLY AS YOUR ASSESSED VALUE MOVES UP THE PERCENTAGE INCREASE ACTUALLY DROPS OFF. AND KIND OF HITS FOREVER HITS TOWARDS THAT 3%. DON'T SEE ANYTHING OVER 3% AGAIN AS YOU GO UP. AND VALUATION. SO, A LOT GOING ON HERE. JUST WANTED TO I DEFINITELY WANTED TO GET THAT MESSAGE OUT ABOUT WHAT FLAT MILLAGE RATES MEAN TO TAXES. KIND OF GOING INTO NOW THE COLLECTIVE TAXES. WE'VE GONE FROM THE INDIVIDUAL ME IN PARTICULAR WHAT MY TAX BILL MIGHT LOOK LIKE TO WHAT THE COLLECTIVE DOLLARS WILL FOR THOSE FOUR VILLAGES. GENERAL FUND FIRE DISTRICT TRANSPORTATION AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT. THERE IS A REQUIREMENT TO ROLL OUT THE CRA THE TAX INCREMENT FINANCING. I KEEP THE MATH GOING UP THERE. I 13.2% INCREASE IN TAXABLE VALUES, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IN THAT LAST COLUMN ABOUT A $40 MILLION INCREMENTAL INCREASE IN PROPERTY TAXES FOR 25. SPECIFICALLY 27 MILLION FOR THE GENERAL FUND AND AGAIN GOING DOWN TO TOTAL TO 40. IN COMPARISON AND ROLLBACK MILLAGE RATES THE LAST COLUMN, SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT MILLAGE RATE. INCREMENTAL TAXES IS $15 MILLION. 10 TO 10 1/2 TO THE GENERAL FUND. AGAIN THE DISCUSSION WE'VE HAD THIS SUMMER GOING THROUGH THIS PROCESS AND LAST MAY, REALLY LAST SPRING HAS BEEN DISCUSSION ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE AND HOW DO WE RESPOND TO PUBLIC SAFETY. SO OUR BUDGET HAS BEEN PREDICATED ON A FLAT MILLAGE RATE. YOU CAN SEE THE DIFFERENCE HERE AND READ ARE THE TAXES THE INCREMENTAL TAXES. AT THE ROLLBACK RATES. IN THE GREEN ARE THE INCREMENTAL TAXES AT FLAT MILLAGE RATES. YOU CAN SEE THE DIFFERENCE THE REDUCTION THAT WOULD BE NECESSARY TO OUR BUDGET SHOULD THE COMMISSION DECIDE TO GO TO ROLLBACK RATES. [00:30:01] IN THAT LAST COLUMN THERE WE WOULD BE LOOKING AT A REDUCTION OF ABOUT $16.8 MILLION TO THE GENERAL FUND. ABOUT 4 $.9 MILLION TO FIRE DISTRICT 3.2 TO TRANSPORTATION TRUST. $61,000 IN CHANGE TO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT FUND. A TOTAL OF $25 MILLION REDUCTION. KIND OF BRINGING BACK THE DISCUSSION FROM THIS SUMMER AND I PULLED THESE OUT THIS WAS THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATORS BUDGET ADDRESS. EARLY IN JULY. THESE WERE THE THINGS THAT WERE HIGHLIGHTED. I CAN LIVE IN THE NUMBERS AND EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE AFTER POP MY HEAD OUT AND REMEMBER WHAT HAS BEEN PROGRAMMATICALLY DISCUSSED. IN TERMS OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND COASTAL MANAGEMENT, WE TALKED ABOUT THE FUNDING OF NEW FIRE STATIONS. INCREASING STARTING SALARY WITHIN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. THAT DISCUSSION CAME UP IN JULY. EXCUSE ME. THE BUDGET THE DISCUSSION FROM THE COMMISSION WAS TO SEE WHAT $57,000 FOR A STARTING DEPUTY WOULD LOOK LIKE. THAT IS ACTUALLY REFLECTED IN THE BUDGET RIGHT NOW. BECAUSE OF PRESSURES OF SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES AND THE ABILITY TO AFFORD THIS COMMUNITY. IN FACT THERE WAS A DISCUSSION EARLIER TODAY. INFRASTRUCTURE, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT WE'VE BEEN TALKING FOR YEARS ABOUT CATCHING UP OUR COUNTIES INFRASTRUCTURE. WE CONTINUE TO WORK ON ROADS. WE HAVE BRIDGE MAINTENANCE WE HAVE NEW CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS. TALKED ABOUT MANAGING GROWTH AND THE RECOMMENDATION TO REDUCE THAT COMMERCIAL IMPACT FEE BUYDOWN PROGRAM WHICH WILL COME FORWARD WITH AN IMPACT FEE STUDY IN THE NEXT HOPEFULLY THE NEXT MONTH. WE TALKED ABOUT THE ERP. AND THE NEED TO INVEST IN AN ACCOUNTING SYSTEM THAT HAS BEEN OVER 20 YEARS OLD. AND ON A ANTIQUATED PLATFORM. IT IS TIME AND THE BOARD HAS APPROVED MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT PROGRAM. THAT IS A LESS INTERESTING FOR THE ACCOUNTING PEOPLE AND THE HR PEOPLE IN THE PROCUREMENT PEOPLE. BUT AS WELL IN TERMS OF OPEN GOVERNANCE AND TRANSPARENCY, THIS YEAR THE COUNTY CREATED A CITIZENS ACADEMY PROGRAM. IT CONTINUED TO IMPLEMENTATION ON HIS SJC CONNECT MOBILE APP. CERTAINLY AGAIN DESCRIBNG IN THE DISCUSSION ABOUT OPEN GOVERNANCE AND TRANSPARENCY THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS. MOVING FORWARD WE TALKED ABOUT FINANCIAL STEWARDSHIP. IN THIS CASE WE TALKED ABOUT LEVERAGNG IMPACT FEES AND SOME STATE REMITTED REVENUES BECAUSE PAY-AS-YOU-GO HAS CERTAINLY WORKED FOR US. BUT WE STILL HAVE INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS. WE'VE TALKED ABOUT LEVERAGING STATE REMITTED REVENUES TO PAY FOR POTENTIALLY PARTS OF LIBRARY INFRASTRUCTURE. THAT DISCUSSION WILL LIKELY FOLLOW IN THE NEXT COUPLE WEEKS. OR MONTH. BUT WE CONTINUE TO SECURE IN TERMS OF FINANCIAL STEWARDSHIP A STATE AND FEDERAL APPROPRIATIONS WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT IS A NEW INITIATIVE THAT THREE YEARS AGO WAS NOT THE WAY WE ADDRESSED IT. WE WAITED TO SEE HOW MUCH IMPACT FEES. I WOULD SAY JOY ANDREWS IN A PREVIOUS ROLE WHEN SHE WAS A DEPUTY COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR SECURED TWO FTES SIMPLY BY FINDING SAVINGS AND OTHER FTES TO BUILD A GOVERNMENT AND INTERGOVERNMENTA L DEPARTMENT. TO GO OUT AND ASSIST THIS COMMISSION WITH PURSUING STATE AND FEDERAL APPROPRIATIONS WHICH HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL. AND REALLY UNHEARD OF A COUPLE YEARS AGO. CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THAT FINANCIAL STEWARDSHIP. WE CONTINUE TO ADDRESS AND FUND SOCIAL SERVICES FOR OUR RESIDENT CLIENTS. AND WE'VE CONTINUED TO TALK ABOUT AND AGAIN I'M REPEATING A LITTLE BIT CONTINUED TO INVEST IN OUR PARKS AND RECREATION FACILITIES. WE TALKED ABOUT NEW LIBRARIES. LIBRARY HUBS AND ALL OF THIS IS BUILT INTO THIS BUDGET. WE'VE TALKED ABOUT CONSERVATION. AND FUNDING POTENTIALLY ADDITIONAL LAMP FUNDING FOR THE NEW YEAR. AGAIN, KIND OF THAT SAME NOW WE'VE GOT THE TOPICS THEY ARE. IT IS ALL COMING FROM THE SAME FOUR FUNDS THE GENERAL FUND BEING REALLY THE MOST ROBUST PICK BECAUSE IT IS THAT FUND THAT HAS THE LEASE RESTRICTIONS. WE ARE EXHAUSTING OUR FIRE DISTRICT FUND BASED ON THE MILLAGE. AND WE ARE PRETTY TIGHT IN THAT OPERATION. AND WE HAVE SOME CHALLENGES MOVING FORWARD. IF WE NEED TO ADD IF THE BOARD PLANS TO ADD ADDITIONAL FIRE STATIONS WE HAVE CHALLENGES WITH RETAINING AND RECRUITING ADDITIONAL FIREFIGHTERS OR EVEN OUR CURRENT FIREFIGHTER FORCE. IF WE SEE NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES RAISING THE BAR A BIT. WE UNDERSTAND THAT JACKSONVILLE HAS RAISED FOR FIREFIGHTERS THERE STARTING PAY. AND WE ARE [00:35:04] CONTINUING OUR CONVERSATION WITH OUR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT. THAT IS THE NEGOTIATION STILL GOING ON. BUT WE HAVE LIMITATIONS IN OUR FUNDS. SAME THING WE'VE TALKED ABOUT ADDRESSING DEPUTY NEEDS IN OUR COMMUNITY. TRANSPORTATION TRUST ALSO WE ARE LIMITED TO OUR MILLAGE AND IMPACT FEES. SO GOING TO ROLLBACK RATE AND I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT BECAUSE PART OF THE STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS IS TO DISCUSS WHY WE ARE NOT RECOMMENDING OR WHY THE RECOMMENDATION TO THIS POINT HAS BEEN TO NOT GO TO THE ROLLBACK RATES. AS PART OF THIS BUDGET PROCESS. I'M TALKING ABOUT THOSE THREE BASIC THREE BASIC FUNDS. FIRST TRANSPORTATION FIRE AND HEALTH. TRANSPORTATION TRUST LIKE I MENTIONED EARLIER IN 2020 WE INCREASED MILLAGE. WE INCREASED MILLAGE BECAUSE WE NEEDED ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR OUR PAYMENT MANAGEMENT PROGRAM AND FOR ANY OF OUR ROAD AND DRAINAGE INFRASTRUCTURE. TO GO TO ROLLBACK RATE THIS YEAR WOULD REDUCE THEIR BUDGET AND THESE ARE RECURRING DOLLARS. REDUCE OUR ABILITY TO INVEST IN OUR ROADWAYS AND OUR INFRASTRUCTURE DRAINAGE INFRASTRUCTURE BY ABOUT $3.2 MILLION A YEAR. IT INCREASES BECAUSE IT BECOMES A BASE. EACH YEAR IT BUILDS ON THAT BASE THAT THAT RECURRING DOLLARS ONLY INCREASE. THE FIRE DISTRICT FUND. THE ROLLBACK RATE AFFECTS IF YOU WILL ARE FIRE RESCUE OPERATIONS. WE ARE AGAIN A TIGHT IN THAT MILLAGE FUND. WE WENT TO ROLLBACK RATE THERE. DURING COVID. THAT WAS THE BOARD'S DECISION. BUT THAT MILLAGE IS NOT HAS NOT BEEN IS GOING TO BE A CHALLENGE AGAIN MOVING FORWARD IF WE ARE GOING TO BE COMPETITIVE WITH SALARIES AND WE ARE GOING TO ADD ADDITIONAL FIREFIGHTERS. A ROLLBACK WOULD NECESSITATE A REDUCTION THIS YEAR OF ALMOST 4 $.9 MILLION. THE HEALTH FUND WE FUND A VERY SMALL PORTION OF THE COUNTY'S HEALTH DEPARTMENT BUDGET. THE REMAINING DOLLARS ARE DERIVEDFROM THE STATE OF FLORIDA. AND THEY USE THIS AS PART OF A LEVERAGING THAT THERE IS A PARTICIPATION. ROLLBACK WOULD NECESSITATE A REDUCTION OF ABOUT $61,000. THE GENERAL FUND IS A WHOLE LOT MORE COMPLEX IN HERE. I CERTAINLY DON'T WANT TO THROW EVERYTHING OUT THERE. BUT I DID ANYWAY. AT THE ROLLBACK RATES WE WOULD NEED TO REDUCE CONSIDER REDUCING SERVICES BY ALMOST $16.8 MILLION. AT THE FLAT MILLAGE RATES WE ARE CONTINUING TO INVEST IN LAW ENFORCEMENT INFRASTRUCTURE. PART OF OUR FIRE RESCUE OUR EMS TEAM IS IN THERE IN OUR COMMUNICATION DEPARTMENT. AND OUR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENTS. ARE OTHER CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICES IN OUR BCC OPERATIONS AND ERP. HERE IS AN EASIER KIND OF AN EASIER LOOK AT ALREADY INCREMENTAL DOLLARS FOR THIS YEAR. WITHIN THE BUDGET TO REDUCE THE BUDGET BY $16.8 MILLION AND LET'S SAY BECAUSE THE CONVERSATION HAS BEEN NOT TO PUNCH PUBLIC SAFETY. WE WILL BE LOOKING AT SOMEHOW REDUCING THE ERP. REDUCING BCC OPERATIONS. BY ANOTHER THREE. REDUCE THE LAMP FUNDING BY 1,000,005. WE HAVE TWO RESERVES THE BOARD WISHES TO FINANCE THE INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDED FOR PUBLIC SAFETY WE WOULD HAVE ANOTHER FOR MILLION DOLLARS. REALLY THE ONLY DOLLARS WE HAVE RIGHT NOW FOR ONGOING OPERATIONS IF WE DECIDE TO FUND PARKS FIRE STATIONS THE SHERIFF'S -- ANY OF THE ADDITIONAL AIR-CONDITIONING HVAC WE HAVE NUMBER ONE POINT FOR HER. BETWEEN THOSE THAT IS -- WE ARE ABOUT 12 MILLION OF THAT WE'VE CUT REALLY WE'VE CUT BACK A LOT OF THE DISCUSSIONS FOR THIS YEAR. WITHOUT TOUCHING AGAIN THE CONSTITUTIONAL OUR PUBLIC AND OR OUR PUBLIC SAFETY. NOT THE BUDGET THAT WE BUILDS. NOT THE BUDGET THAT WAS DISCUSSED AGAIN THROUGHOUT THE BUDGET PROCESS. AGAIN KIND OF BRINGING BACK ALL THOSE AREAS FALL INTO THOSE BASIC FOUR FUNDS. AND REALLY WHAT WE GET INTO DURING THE PRESCRIBED PROCESS IS I PUT THE LANGUAGE UP THERE. BECAUSE THE QUESTION WILL BE WHY ARE WE NOT WHY IS THE RECOMMENDATION UP UNTIL NOW NOT TO GO TO THE ROLLBACK RATE? IT ASKED FOR A SPECIFIC PURPOSE. THAT PURPOSE IS UP HERE. THE PURPOSE COULD BE INCREASED OVER THE ROLLBACK RATE. FOR EACH OF THE BCC TAXING UNITS. THE GENERAL FUND FIRE DISTRICT TRANSPORTATION AND COUNTY HEALTH FUND. IS TO ADDRESS DEMAND FOR SERVICES AND [00:40:03] A GROWTH COMMUNITY. WE ARE A GROWTH COMMUNITY. INCLUDING ROADWAY AND DRAINAGE INFRASTRUCTURE WHICH IS PRIMARILY OUR TRANSPORTATION TRUST. OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND FIRE RESCUE RECRUITMENT AND RETAINAGE BETWEEN THE GENERAL FUND AND FIRE. AND PUBLIC SAFETY PARKS AND LIBRARY INFRASTRUCTURE FOR WHICH WE WOULD UTILIZE THAT GENERAL FUND TO ASSIST IN FUNDING BILLS. SO, IT IS KIND OF A CULMINATION OF OUR DISCUSSION THIS SUMMER. KIND OF TRY TO ROLL IT INTO THE BEST I KNOW HOW AND TO PROPERTY TAXES. AND ROLLBACK RATES IN MILLAGE RATE DISCUSSIONS. REALLY THAT IS ALL JUST IF YOU WILL ME TALKING. THE REAL PURPOSE OF THE PUBLIC HEARING TONIGHT IS A PRESCRIBED PROCESS. THAT WE ARE GOING TO BEGIN AT THIS POINT. IN THIS PRESCRIBED PROCESS AGAIN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A DISCUSSION OF THE PERCENTAGE INCREASE OVER THE ROLLBACK RATE WHICH I JUST READ AND I WILL READ IT AGAIN. WE WILL HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT. AND CERTAINLY ANY AND ALL RESIDENCE CITIZENS CAN TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET PROCESS AND THIS BUDGET HEARING. THEN THERE ARE THREE REQUIRED MOTIONS. THE FIRST IS TO ADOPT THE TENTATIVE MILLAGE RATE RESOLUTION. THE SECOND IS TO ADOPT THE TENTATIVE BUDGET RESOLUTION. AND IN THE FINAL ITEM IS TO ESTABLISH THE DATE TIME AND PLACE FOR OUR FINAL BUDGET HEARING. IN WHICH WE WILL AGAIN CONSIDER THE ADOPTION OF BOTH THE MILLAGE RATE AND BUDGET RESOLUTION AND I WILL TALK LESS DURING THAT PROCESS. SO WITH THE FIRST ITEM AND AGAIN KIND OF BRINGING BACK AGAIN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT THE ROLLBACK RATE INCREMENTAL DOLLARS ARE AND WHAT THE FLAT MILLAGE RATES ARE THAT IS ABOUT 25 MILLION ACROSS THOSE FOUR BASIC MILLAGE FUNDS. SO THE DISCUSSION IS AS FOLLOW. THIS IS THE TAXING AUTHORITY OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY. THE ROLLBACK MILLAGE RATE IS 6.3766. THAT IS THE AGGREGATE MILLAGE RATE OF THOSE MILLAGE RATES. THE TENTATIVE AGGREGATE MILLAGE RATE IS 6.8 263. THE PERCENTAGE INCREASE OF THAT AGGREGATE MILLAGE RATE OVER THE ROLLBACK RATE IS 7.05%. I DON'T MAKE THIS STUFF UP. THIS IS THE REQUIREMENT OF THE STATUTE. IT ASKED FOR A SPECIFIC PURPOSE AND I WILL READ IT AGAIN. THE SPECIFIC PURPOSE IS TO ADDRESS THE DEMAND FOR SERVICES INCLUDING ROADWAY AND DRAINAGE INFRASTRUCTURE. LAW ENFORCEMENT AND FIRE RESCUE RECRUITMENT AND RETAINAGE AND PUBLIC SAFETY PARKS AND LIBRARY INFRASTRUCTURE. AND SO WITH THAT, AS PART OF THIS PROCESS IF YOU WILL OPEN IT UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. >> THANK YOU. >> WE WILL OPEN IT UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK COME FORWARD AND STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD. YOU WILL BE GIVEN THREE MINUTES. >> I'M DAVID WILLIAMS. 10 FOR 60 TURPIN AVENUE. FLAGLER ESTATES. HASTINGS. THE REASON WHY I'M HERE IS THE CONCERN I'VE CONTINUED TO HAVE. I WAS ON THE CRA BOARD FOR 14 YEARS. I THOUGHT I WOULD TAKE A BREAK. I CAN'T LET THIS GO. MY CONCERN HAS ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT HOW IMPACT FEES ARE DISTRIBUTED. THAT CONTINUES TO BE A CONCERN. FLAGLER STATE IS A SPECIAL DISTRICT. IT IS ALSO A CRA. OVERLAID. ONE IN THE SAME BUT THEY HAVE DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS. NOW MY CONCERN IS THAT NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES I'VE BROUGHT THIS UP AND TALKED ABOUT IT AND WENT TO MEETINGS AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT IT SEEMS LIKE WHEN IT COMES TO HOW YOU USE FEES OR YOUR ROAD ASSESSMENTS THAT YOU GET THROUGH THE IMPACT FEES. THEY DON'T DO NOT ENTAIL OR APPLY TO FLAGLER ESTATES. BECAUSE THE COUNTY DOES NOT PUT REAL CONSTRUCTION INROADS IN FLAGLER ESTATES. WE OWN OUR OWN WORLDS. AND SO, WE HAVE TO DO IT ALL OURSELVES. NOW, I'VE MET IN A LOT OF MEETINGS WITH JESSE. I KNOW THESE NUMBERS ALMOST AS GOOD AS YOU DO. BECAUSE WHEN I SAY 1,090,000. [00:45:03] HIT THIS THIS YEAR IN APRIL. IT IS 1,099,000 OF WHAT DESMOND TRUST FUND THIS YEAR'S BUDGET. SO, THE QUESTION IS, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO WITH IT? THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT COULD BE DONE. I RECOMMENDED THAT SOME ROAD WORK BE DONE. WE WERE STARTING TO ACCUMULATE FUNDS. WE WENT FROM 220 MILLION DOLLARS IN ASSESSMENT. TO 300 IN ONE YEAR. WE'VE BEEN GOING UP 30% A YEAR FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS. WHAT YOU SOMEWHAT AGREE? A LOT. THAT IS A LOT. WE ARE BRINGING IN A LOT OF MONEY. WHICH MEANS WE ARE BRINGING IN A LOT OF TAXES. AND A LOT OF IMPACT FEES. THAT IS WHAT I'M GETTING AT. WE ARE GENERATING GENTOO. BUT WHEN IT COMES TO OUR ROADS. YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO RAISE YOUR OWN SPECIAL TAX FUND IN ORDER TO PUT THE REST OF THE ROADS IN PLACE. 30 TO 40% -- >> SIR THANK YOU. WE APPRECIATE. >> WE SHOULD NOT BE LIMITING PEOPLE. HE TOLD ME YEARS AGO THAT THERE IS NO TIME LIMIT ON QUESTIONS AND A TRIM MEETING. YOU ALL KEEP DOING THAT. YOU'VE BEEN DOING IT SINCE 2016. IT IS WRONG AND IT IS IMMORAL. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE AN OPINION FROM COUNSEL. DON'T WE HAVE A RIGHT TO ASK AS MANY QUESTIONS AS WE WANT THROUGH THE CHAIR? >> MR. SLAVEN YOU WILL ABIDE BY OUR RULES. >> DON'T WE HAVE A RIGHT TO ASK QUESTIONS? >> YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. YOU CAN ASK A QUESTION. >> I OBJECT. OUR FORMER COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR HUNTER SINCLAIR CONRAD ACTUALLY SAID TO ME TWICE TWO YEARS IN A ROW HE SAID I DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS. I WORK FOR THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS BUT THAT IS A BAD ATTITUDE. WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE IS AND I SUGGESTED SOMEBODY MAKE A MOTION TO PLEASE ADOPT THE ROLLBACK RATE OF 6.3766. JUDGE TOLD ME YEARS AGO EXPERIENCE -- CHIEF JUDGE OF THE LABOR DEPARTMENT. HE SAID YOU CAN CUT ANY GOVERNMENT BUDGET BY 10%. YOU ALL DON'T EVEN TRY. LET'S ADOPT THE ROLLBACK RATE. I ASKED MR. DUNN ON MAY 24TH FOR A LIST OF THE COUNTY'S INTERNAL CONTROLS. STILL HAVE NOT GOTTEN IT. HOW CAN WE HAVE AN INFORMED DISCUSSION WITHOUT A LIST OF INTERNAL CONTROLS. WHEN WE HAD 786,000. $785 OF EMBEZZLEMENT FROM THE INSURANCE DEPARTMENT OVER FIVE YEARS UNDER DAVID SCHOLZ. HOW MUCH ARE WE SPENDING ON CONSULTING CONTRACTS? I ASKED 104 QUESTIONS LAST YEAR ON THE BUDGET. ON SEPTEMBER 5TH. SEPTEMBER 19TH. NO ANSWERS YET. YOU ALL DON'T WANT TO ANSWER QUESTIONS. YOU HAVE NO RESPECT FOR THE PROCESS. THIS IS A --. >> THAT IS VERY DISRESPECTFUL AND RUDE. I WOULD REQUEST YOU ADOPT A ROLLBACK RATE. I WOULD REQUEST YOU ALSO PROVIDE FOR A BUDGET COMMITTEE. AS OTHER COUNTIES HAVE. THROUGHOUT THE NATION. MORE THAN 3000 COUNTIES IN THE U.S. DON'T A LOT OF COUNTIES HAVE A BUDGET COMMITTEE AND COULD WE DO A BETTER JOB AND COULD YOU CUT OUR BUDGET BY 10% IF YOU WOULD AT LEAST TAKE THE CARE OTHER THAN THESE TWO MEETINGS A YEAR? F5: 01 P.M. YOU REALLY DON'T GET INTO THE DETAILS YOU REPAIRED -- ONE-PARTY RULE. ONE-PARTY RULE. YOU MAKE YOUR DEALS. YOU DON'T EVEN COME IN HERE SHOW THE DECENT RESPECT TO HAVE HARD COPIES OF THE BUDGET AVAILABLE. YOU DON'T ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. 100 AND FOR QUESTIONS BUT I ASKED LAST YEAR AND YOU ANSWERED NONE OF THEM. YOUR ATTITUDE IS CONDESCENDING OVERBEARING AND I THINK YOU SHOULD BE REPLACED. >> ANYONE ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE BUDGET? >> SUZANNE 109 WOODWAY UNIT 102 [00:50:06] 3206. I LOOK AT IT THIS WAY, I LOOK AT IT WHAT IS GOING TO COME OUT OF MY POCKET? FOR ME PERSONALLY I DON'T HAVE THE PROBLEM WITH ABOUT $60 A MONTH. $60 A YEAR. COMING OUT OF MY POCKET. THAT IS WHAT MY TRIM NOTE SAID IF YOU RODE IT BACK. I SAVE $60. FIVE DOLLARS A MONTH. I CAN DO THAT. NOW I HAVE BEEN HOMESTEADED IN FLORIDA FOR 25 YEARS. SO I CARRY A HOME FROM 25 YEARS. I'VE GOT TWO KIDS THAT LIVE IN THE COUNTY. THEY BOTH LIVE IN THEIR OWN HOMES. ONE HAS BEEN HOMESTEADED FOR 15 YEARS. THE OTHER ONE HAS BEEN HOMESTEADED FOR 10 YEARS. THEIR HOMES ARE WORTH A LITTLE MORE THAN MINE. AND THEY DON'T HAVE TO SAVE OUR HOMES FOR QUITE AS LONG. THEY ARE LOOKING AT -- ABOUT 130 FOR ONE FOR THE YEAR. YOU CALL THAT $10 A MONTH. AND THE OTHER ONE SHE TOLD ME THAT HERS WAS ABOUT $60. THAT IS ABOUT LIKE MINE. I THINK WE HAVE REALLY GOOD SERVICES IN THIS COUNTY. INFLATION HAS GONE UP. THE PRICE OF EVERYTHING HAS GONE UP. LOOKING OVER WHAT IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE CUT IF WE GO BACK TO THE ROLLBACK, I'M NOT WILLING TO DO THAT. WE'VE HAD A TREMENDOUS INCREASE IN OUR POPULATION. AND THE CARS ON THE ROAD WE TALKED ABOUT THIS OVER AND OVER AGAIN. OUR PUBLIC SAFETY AND OUR FIREMEN HERE IN THIS COUNTY ARE NOT EARNING WHAT THEY DESERVE. THEY ARE LEAVING THIS COUNTY TO GO TO OTHER COUNTIES TO WORK FOR MORE. THEY ARE PUTTING OUT RECRUITMENT POSTERS EVERYWHERE TRYING TO GET SOMEONE. WE CAN'T EVEN PROVIDE THEM A PLACE TO LIVE IN THE COUNTY. THEY ARE HAVING TO DRIVE IN AND DRIVE OUT. THE COST OF CHILDCARE IS THROUGHTHE ROOF. I CAN'T BELIEVE WHAT PEOPLE TELL ME THEY ARE PAYING FOR CHILD CARE. WE ARE SCREAMING ABOUT ROADS NEEDING IMPROVEMENT. PLEASE DON'T ROLL IT BACK. PLEASE. >> GOOD EVENING AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. I'VE LIVED HERE SINCE MY NAME IS MARK DESMOND I LIVE AT CLIFTON BAY LOOP. WE MOVED HERE IN 21. I WORKED ANNUALLY TO COME TO GRIPS WITH THE TO UNDERSTAND THE TRAM. I THINK I FINALLY HAVE EXCEPT ONE POINT. CAN YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND IF I UNDERSTAND THE MARKET VALUE THAT GOES TO THE ASSESSED VALUE AND THE TAXABLE VALUE. ARE YOU INCLUDING IN THE BUDGET REVENUE FROM HOMES THAT HAVE COME ONLINE? IN THE PROPERTY TAX ROLLS AFTER JANUARY THE FIRST THIS YEAR? BUT THEY WILL BE TAXED. >> ARE YOU TAKING COLLECTING TAXES FROM THEM THIS YEAR? SO THAT NONE OF THOSE HOMES THAT IS RIGHT. THERE IS SOME PROPERTY THERE IS SOME TAX ON THE LAND IS THERE NOT? BEFORE THE HOUSE IS BUILT. SO THERE IS AT LEAST SOME REVENUE BEING COLLECTED FROM THE LAND. THAT REVENUE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE REVENUE THAT IS GOING TO PAY THESE BILLS. BUT NOT THE HOME. BECAUSE THE HOME WAS NOT ASSESSED. ON JANUARY 1ST. OKAY. TANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> NOW IT IS A FULLY UNDERSTOOD TRAM. I APPRECIATE IT. >> GOOD EVENING CHARLIE HUNT MILL CREEK ESTATES. PEOPLE I TALK [00:55:08] WITH AND I TRIED TO KEEP THEM UP-TO-DATE IF THEY DON'T KNOW. ABOUT HOW IT WENT FROM 1.2 BILLION TO 1.7 BILLION IN ABOUT 45 DAYS. AND LOOKING OVER THE PAMPHLET WITH ALL THE NUMBERS AND IT, IT IS MIND BLOWING. MIND BLOWING FOR A COUNTY LIKE THIS. I DON'T THINK EVEN JACKSONVILLE'S BUDGET IS CLOSE TO THIS. BUT ONE THING I WOULD LIKE TO ASK, AS YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT THE PROPERTY TAXES. AND SHOWING THE NICE EXAMPLE OF A RELATIVELY DECENT HOME PROPERTY TAX -- COLLECTED. IS THIS ONLY FOR -- ONLY OFF OF RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES THAT THE TAXES ARE COLLECTED? OR IS IT COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES THAT PROPERTY TAXES ARE COLLECTED? BECAUSE IF SO WHEN YOU ROLLED UP THE TAXES, THEIR TAXES INCREASE. AM I CORRECT? AND WHEN A COMPANY HAS FIVE OR $6 MILLION PROPERTY OR THE BUILDING PROPERTY TAXES, THEIR TAXES INCREASE. AND THAT IS WHEN THE TRICKLE EFFECT HAPPENS. YES. ONCE BIG COMPANIES PAY MORE TAXES, THEY WILL START NICKEL AND DIMING THE CUSTOMER. MORE TAXES FOR THEM MEANS MORE MONEY FROM THE CUSTOMER. THAT IS A GOOD DESCRIPTION OF IT. I MEAN, THAT IS HOW I SEE IT. MAYBE I'M BEING TOO MUCH OF A COMMONER. AT THIS LEVEL OF BUREAUCRACY THAT IS GOING ON. THAT IS HOW I SEE IT. THE MORE THE COMMERCIAL TAXES GO UP THE MORE THEY COME DOWN TO THE PEOPLE. GRANTED AS WE SPOKE BEFORE EARLIER OR LAST WEEK ABOUT WHEN THE SCHOOL BOARD CAME IN FOR THEIR EMERGENCY MEETING, THAT WILL ENTAIL IF IT PASSES IT WILL INCREASE OUR TAXES. ON THEIR SIDE. BUT THIS IS A GOOD WAY OF COMING AT A TWO-PRONGED ATTACK FROM LEFT AND RIGHT TO INCREASE THE TAXES AND IF YOU SIT THERE AND YOU THINK I DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IT. WHY DON'T YOU PAY SOMEBODY ELSE TAXES FOR THEM? THAT WILL MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD. >> MAY I SAY ONE THING? >> OF COURSE >> FOR THOSE WHO MAY NOT KNOW HE REFERENCED THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY VERSUS DUFAULT COUNTY OR JACKSONVILLE. ONE OF THE KEY DIFFERENCES IT IS A $233 MILLION DIFFERENCE. WE ST. JOHNS COUNTY WE HAVE OUR OWN UTILITY DEPARTMENT. IT IS FUNDED BY THE RATE PAYERS AND NOT THE HOMEOWNERS TAXES. JACKSONVILLE HAS A COMPLETELY SEPARATE AND INDEPENDENT AGENCY CALLED JE A WHICH BASICALLY CHARGES FOR THEIR SERVICE AREA OUTSIDE OF THE CITY BUDGET. JACKSONVILLE CITY BUDGET. SO WE HAVE JUST IT IS A DIFFERENT ANIMAL. IT IS A DIFFERENCE OF 233 MILLION AND OUR BUDGET IT WOULD NOT APPEAR IN THE CITY BUDGET OF JACKSONVILLE. AND THEN SECONDLY WE HAVE ABOUT 500 MILLION IN CARRYOVER. CARRYOVER IS NOT NEW TAXES BUT THAT IS WHAT OUR PROJECTS THAT WERE FUNDED THAT ARE UNDER MULTIYEAR CONSTRUCTION. SO, IF THEY ARE NOT DONE YET LIKE MANY OF OUR CONSTRUCTION OUR ROAD CONSTRUCTIONS ARE NOT DONE YET. THEY ARE IN MIDSTREAM IF YOU WILL. THAT IS CARRYOVER MONEY. THAT IS THE 500 MILLION. THAT REALLY ADDRESSES NOT QUITE HAVE BUT ALMOST HALF OF OUR ENTIRE BUDGET. 700 MILLION WHEN OUR BUDGET IS 1,700,000,000. I JUST WANT THE PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND THAT. >> WE ARE BACK TO THE BOARD. SO ANY QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONER JOSEPH? >> OKAY. BE PATIENT WITH ME. BUT THESE ARE THINGS PEOPLE ASK ME ALL THE TIME, AS WELL AS [01:00:02] I'M, I'M CURIOUS ABOUT THEM. I KNOW IT'S ONLY $100 TO ME, OR TO MS. GOUDREAU, OR, YOU KNOW. IT'S, IT'S $100 ON YOUR HOUSE, IT'S $100 ON THE SCHOOL BOARD, IT'S $100 ON YOUR DINNER, IT'S $100 ON YOUR GROCERIES. IT JUST ALL STARTS ADDING UP, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU CAN'T LIVE HERE ANYMORE, WHICH IS ALREADY AN ISSUE FOR OUR PEOPLE. SO I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR, CAN YOU ROLLBACK LESS? NOT A FULL ROLLBACK? >> YES, THE COMMISSION CAN, CAN ADJUST MILITARY ASSISTANCE. IT IS NOT FLAT MILLAGE RATES OR ROLLBACK RATE. THEY CAN, THEY CAN ADJUST MILLAGE RATES, THEY CAN, THEY CAN ADDRESS THEM LESS THAN THE ROLLBACK RATES. >> OKAY. THAT'S ONE QUESTION. THE NEXT QUESTION IS, WHEN YOU SAID YOU DON'T LIKE TO BOARD FUNDS, WHEN YOU'RE TALKING. SO WHAT ARE OUR UNASSIGNED FUNDS? IN RESERVES? BECAUSE I REMEMBER ON AUGUST 6, JOEL NOT SAID SOMETHING ABOUT WE HAVE 12% RESERVE IN OTHER COUNTIES, ONLY HAVE 5%. AND WE HAVE MORE THAN WHAT MOST OTHER COUNTIES. >> SURE, HOLD ON ONE SECOND. LET ME FIND -- >> EXCUSE ME FOR ONE SECOND. >> OKAY. >> SURE. SO OUR UNASSIGNED REVENUES ARE PRIMARILY, REALLY, HOUR, OUR GENERAL FUND. >> RESERVES? >> OUR GENERAL FUND RESERVES. >> WHAT PERCENTAGE IS THAT? LIKE, WHEN THE GUY COME UP WHEN HE SAID THAT WE HAVE 12% RESERVES, 5% OTHER COUNTIES -- >> YEAH, I, I, I COULDN'T SPEAK TO HIS SPECIFIC. I COULD TELL YOU WHAT WE DO IN TERMS OF POLICY HERE. NOW, HE IS LOOKING AT IT FROM A, A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE THEN, THAN WHAT I WOULD BE LOOKING AT. BUT IN TERMS OF WHAT WE LOOK AT AS UNASSIGNED RESERVES, WE'RE TALKING GENERAL FUND. AND, AND I, I DID OMIT A SLIGHT IN THIS. I GENERALLY PRESENT EACH YEAR AS PART OF THIS. OUR GENERAL FUND RESERVES ARE THE COUNTYWIDE RESERVES THAT WE USE. IT'S REALLY FOR TWO ITEMS. ONE IS EMERGENCY RESPONSE. >> I WAS JUST CURIOUS WHAT THAT PERCENTAGE IS. >> ABSOLUTELY. SO OUR TARGET RESERVE, AND THIS IS A NATIONAL STANDARD, IS 60 DAYS. AND THAT NATIONAL STANDARD IS FOR THE GENERAL FUND, AND THAT IS TO REALLY KIND OF RESPOND TO ANY EMERGENCY SITUATIONS. WHEN WE HAD MATTHEW AND IRMA BACK TO BACK, WE HAD THOSE DOLLARS ENCUMBERED PLUS. I HAD JUST BECOME DIRECTOR, I'LL TELL YOU, AS AN EXAMPLE, AND HAD TO PUT A MEMO OUT TO SAY, HEY, DON'T PULL ANY MONEY OUT OF GENERAL FUND RESERVES, BECAUSE YOU GUYS, WE ARE LEVERAGING THE LEVEL OF RESERVES BECAUSE OF HURRICANE RESPONSE. WE WERE OUT THERE DOING EMERGENCY -- THE, THE, THE GARBAGE PICKUP, THE DEBRIS PICKUP, AND THE EMERGENCY ACTIVATION. WE HAD, YOU KNOW, WE WERE IN A DIFFERENT SCENARIO BACK THEN. BUT WE HAD MAINTAINED, DURING THAT, A 60 DAY RESERVE. THAT SIXTY-DAY RESERVE IS ALMOST $51 MILLION. WE HAVE TWO RESTRICTED THAT ARE CONSIDERED UNASSIGNED IN THERE THAT ARE ABOUT $12 MILLION, THAT ARE THEIR RESTRICTED. THEY ARE RESTRICTED FOR ITEMS. THAT COULD BE A, FOR HOUSING, THERE, THERE ARE SOME SMALLER -- >> I JUST GOT OUT WITH THE UNASSIGNED FUNDS FROM BRANDON PATTIES COUNTY EXPENSES AND RESERVES. >> OKAY. >> SO IT'S SHOWING A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF, LIKE, I THINK IT GOES UP TO ABOUT $75 MILLION UNASSIGNED FOR 2023. SO I DIDN'T KNOW. AND THEN JOY SAID IN THE JACK'S NEWS ARTICLE THAT, SHE SAID HER BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS WILL ALSO YIELD AN ADDITIONAL 15% OF THE COUNTY'S RESERVE FUND TO BE ADEQUATELY PREPARED FOR AN [01:05:01] ACTIVE HURRICANE SEASON. SO MY QUESTION IS, DOES IT HAVE TO BE THAT MUCH, AND CAN WE JUST GIVE A LITTLE BACK TO THE PUBLIC? >> SO YOU DO UTILIZE FUNDS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. I MEAN, I'D SAY ON AVERAGE, THE COMMISSION PROBABLY PULLS $5 MILLION OR $6 MILLION OUTBID IF WE HAVE A STORM EVENT, WE PULL MORE OUTBID SO YOU HAVE THE ABILITY, ON ANY BCC MEETING DAY, IT HAS TO BE DONE IN PUBLIC, RIGHT? EITHER THROUGH CONSENT AGENDA, REGULAR AGENDA, AND YOU DO. YOU PULL RESERVES OUT. >> BUT TO ADD 15%, THAT'S OFF OF THE -- >> SO WE ADDED, WE ADDED ADDITIONAL FUNDING. AND SO IN TOTAL, WE HAD A, KIND OF, TO SORT OF GET BACK OF THAT NUMBER. THAT'S, SO THE AUTHOR IS TELLING YOU, THERE'S A LITTLE MISTAKE ON THE OFFER. THE CALF OR DOESN'T TELL YOU WHERE YOUR MONEY IS GOING. IT'LL TELL YOU WHERE YOUR MONEY WENT THE PRIOR YEAR. SO THAT WAS LAST YEAR'S FUNDING, AND LAST YEARS. THIS IS YOUR BUDGET FOR THIS YEAR. YOU HAVE $50 MILLION AND YOU MAINTAINED 60 DAYS MINIMUM. THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT ANYBODY, THAT'S WHAT ANY GROUP, IF WE'RE GOING TO BORROW, ANY CREDIT RATINGS, ANY RESPONSE EFFORTS, WE'RE PUTTING, AT MINIMUM, 60 DAYS. ON TOP OF THAT, WE HAVE ABOUT $31 MILLION IN OUR RESERVES. IT IS NOT PART OF WHAT PEOPLE ARE PAYING IN TERMS OF PROPERTY TAXES, BECAUSE YOUR PROPERTY TAXES ARE REALLY RECURRING REVENUES FOR RECURRING EXPENSES. THESE ARE CUMULATIVE DOLLARS. THIS IS YOUR SAVINGS ACCOUNT THAT YOU HAVE BEEN SAVING, YOU KNOW, THE CULMINATION. >> I, I GET THAT -- >> SO THOSE TWO TOGETHER ARE ABOUT $81 MILLION. LAST YEAR, WHAT WAS THE NUMBER, IN THE 70 -- BUT OH, YOU DECIDE LIKE $75 MILLION. >> SO NOW YOU'RE UP TO ABOUT $81 MILLION IN THAT. >> SO WHAT'S IT MEAN A YIELD OF AN ADDITIONAL 15%? >> BECAUSE WE HAD ADDITIONAL, WE HAD ADDITIONAL GROWTH IN THERE AS WE ADDED, WE WANTED TO ADD ADDITIONAL PERCENTAGE BACK INTO RESERVES. AGAIN, WE'RE, WE'RE ALWAYS, A HURRICANE OR TWO BACK TO BACK AWAY FROM A PRETTY SERIOUS RESPONSE. AS WELL, COMMISSIONER, YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO TAKE DOLLARS OUT OF THOSE RESERVES. IT'S, IT'S, IT'S THE COMMISSION'S YOU KNOW ABILITY TO LEVY THOSE RESERVES. THEY'RE UTILIZED. THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE UTILIZED TO THAT LEVEL, AND WE WOULD CERTAINLY CAUTION YOU NOT TO DRAW DOWN $60 MILLION OR $70 MILLION, BECAUSE YOU DON'T GET THAT BACK EACH YEAR. THAT'S, AGAIN, A CUMULATIVE BALANCE. >> THE LAST TWO COMMENTS. YOU SAID THE DEMAND FOR SERVICES IN A GROWTH COMMUNITY. >> YES. >> THAT'S IMPORTANT, BECAUSE AS NEW HOMES COME ON THE MARKET, YOU GET MORE MONEY, AND A GENTLEMAN STARTED TO TALK ABOUT THAT EARLIER. SO ARE WE PLANNING FOR THAT INCOME AND OF THIS BUDGET? >> YES, ABSOLUTELY. SO LET ME JUST PLACE THIS DOWN FOR A SECOND. >> AND ARE WE EVER GOING TO RAISE IMPACT FEES? THAT'S THE LAST QUESTION, AND I'M DONE. >> WELL, VERY SIMILAR. THE COMMISSION MAKES THAT DECISION. THE IMPACT FEES WILL BE BROUGHT BACK. THEY ARE CONSIDERED EVERY FIVE YEARS. AND WE ARE IN THIS STUDY RIGHT NOW, PART OF THAT STUDY DISCUSSION WAS TO LOOK AT CONSERVATION RIGHT AND SORT OF CONFIRMATION IMPACT FEES AS WELL. AND WE WOULD ESTIMATE THAT IMPACT FEE STUDY DISCUSSION WILL BE BACK, YOU KNOW, OCTOBER, LATEST. REALLY. I'M SORRY, WHAT WAS YOUR, YOUR EARLIER -- OH YES, IN TERMS OF THE GROWTH. SO I LOOKED AT THE PROPERTY TAXES, THIS YEAR, AND THEN THIS YEAR'S THE OVERALL 13.2% INCREASE IN TAXABLE VALUE. 5.2% OF THAT, WHICH IS $2.5 BILLION IN TAXABLE VALUE, COMES FROM NEW CONSTRUCTION, NEW TAXABLE VALUE. WITH THAT COMING ON, THEY ARE ABSOLUTELY ADDING TO THE BASELINE OF PROPERTY TAXES THAT'S COMING ON. BUT WITH THE ADDITION OF PROPERTY TAXES COMES THE, AS YOU KNOW, THE ADDITIONAL DEMAND FOR SERVICES. >> THROUGH CHAIR, MAY I, COMMISSIONER JOSEPH, CAN I JUST ADD ON TO WHAT JESSE HAS EXPLAINED, AND TO KIND OF CLARIFY THE TWO POINTS THAT YOU WERE ASKING ABOUT, WHEN IS THE 15%? IT REALLY TRULY WAS, ARE THERE CONCERTS THIS ISN'T TO MAKE THE RECOMMENDATION TO INCLUDE A 13.2 TO 15% INCREASE IN OUR DISCRETION WILL RESERVE, BECAUSE OF THE INFLATION. THE COST TO RESPOND TO EMERGENCY IS GONE, HAS GONE UP. LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE. EMERGENCY VEHICLE, THE PRICE OF THE SAND, THE DEBRIS REMOVAL LABOR, ALL OF THAT IS GOING TO BE AFFECTED BY INFLATION. SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE, AT LEAST FROM OUR RECOMMENDATION, THAT IS GOING TO HAVE ENOUGH TO RESPOND A HIGHER PRICE EMERGENCY IF WE SOMEHOW GOT INTO ONE. AND NUMBER TWO, I WANT TO AT LEAST ADD THIS TO YOUR QUESTION ABOUT IMPACT FEE. SO THE IMPACT FEE WERE AT 100%, AND THE BOARD HAS [01:10:02] DIRECTED FOR US TO GO THROUGH A RESTUDY OF IMPACT FEE AS REQUIRED BY LAW. THE IMPACT FEE IS INDEXED, SO WE'RE AT 100%. SO IN THIS 2025 BUDGET RECOMMENDATION, WE ACTUALLY, THAT ONE LAST NAME TO RAISING TAXI, WHICH IS TO REMOVE THE 60% DISCOUNT FOR COMMERCIAL IMPACT. SO AT THIS POINT I THINK ALL RECOMMENDATION HAS BEEN AT 100%. OF ALL IMPACT FEE THAT WE ARE ALLOWED TO LEVY. AND IF THERE IS AN INCREASE, IT'S GOING TO BE A RECOMMENDATION FROM A CONSULTANT, BASED ON AN ALGORITHM THEY USED TO SHOW HOW MUCH MORE, NOW WE CAN LEVY. I JUST WANT TO MAKE THAT TWO CLARIFICATIONS. THANK YOU. >> AND I GUESS, I GUESS IN THE FUTURE, MAYBE NEXT YEAR, TO DO, TRY TO KEEP PLANNING TOWARDS, NOT KEEP GOING UP, TO ROLL IT BACK A LITTLE BIT, WOULD BE TO LOOK AT PROGRAMS AND TO LOOK AT CONSULTANTS AND SEE IF WE CAN, YOU KNOW, START, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO CUT THOSE BILLS. >> ABSOLUTELY, AND THIS IS REALLY A CONSTANT PROCESS THAT WE GO THROUGH TO MAKE SURE. AND ONE EXAMPLE, THE BOND PROGRAM, THE, THE PUBLIC SAFETY AND THE PARKS PROGRAM, THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY SUPPORTED A COUPLE MONTHS AGO STAFF HAS WORKED REALLY DILIGENTLY ON LOOKING FOR A STATING FROM THE NEGOTIATING WITH THE COST, WITH THE COST, WITH THE, THE DESIGN FIRM AND THE CONSTRUCTION FIRM. SO THE STAFF WAS REALLY WORKING HARD. INFRASTRUCTURE DELIVERY TEAM THAT YOURS IS WORKING POTENTIALLY ACHIEVE $40 MILLION SAVINGS ON THIS PROGRAMMING. BUT ABSOLUTELY WILL CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR SAVINGS. >> OKAY. COMMISSIONER DEAN? >> WELL, THIS PROBABLY HAS NOT GOING TO SURPRISE ANY OF YOU, BUT AT THIS POINT, I WAS GLAD WE HAD THE INTRODUCTORY DISCUSSION ABOUT OUR GENERAL FUND RESERVES. BECAUSE WHAT I WANTED TO RECOMMEND -- MAKE A MOTION, THIS DOES NOT INCREASE THE BUDGET. IT WOULD BE A TRANSFER. I, I WOULD WANT TO MOVE -- TRANSFER $1 MILLION FROM THE GENERAL FUND RESERVES FOR THE -- FUND. WE PROBABLY DON'T NEED A LOT OF DISCUSSION. I THINK WE'VE DISCUSSED THIS OFF AND ON TWO OR THREE TIMES OVER THE COURSE OF THE -- WE BROUGHT IT UP. SO JESSE, IS IT, IS IT TIMELY? IS THIS, IS THIS TIMELY TO MAKE A MOTION AT THIS TIME? >> THE BOARD CAN MAKE THAT MOTION. IT WON'T AFFECT THE OVERALL, THE OVERALL BUDGETS. IF THE, IF THE BOARD CHOOSES TO DO A RESERVE TRANSFER -- >> -- IN GENERAL RESERVES, GENERAL FUND RESERVES ARE -- IT WON'T AFFECT, YOU WON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH AND CHANGE ALL THE -- NUMBERS. >> NOT, NOT SOMETHING WE COULDN'T HANDLE, OVERALL. YEAH. THAT'S CERTAINLY THE BOARD CAN MAKE A DECISION LIKE THAT THIS EVENING. >> I'LL MOVE THAT. >> CAN I MAKE A COMMENT? WE HAVE A MOTION, WE NEED A SECOND. WITH NO SECOND, THAT MOTION MIGHT ESCAPE GOING TO FAIL. COMMISSIONER JOSEPH? >> I'M FINE, THANK YOU. >> OKAY. I TRIED. >> OKAY. COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST? >> THANKS, THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I THINK IT'S WORTH NOTING, AS WE HAVE THIS CONVERSATION, I ASKED JESSE DUNN FOR THE UNFUNDED CAPITAL APPROVAL PLAN FOR, FOR THINGS THAT THE STAFF HAS DETERMINED THAT WE NEED OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS THAT WE DO NOT HAVE FUNDING FOR, AND THAT NUMBER STANDS RIGHT NOW AT $633 MILLION OF UNFUNDED CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT NEEDS. $267.2 MILLION OF WHICH ARE TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS. $136.9 MILLION OF WHICH ARE PROJECTS FOR OUR CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS, WHICH ARE -- THE TERRACE, CLERK, TAX COLLECTOR, THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS, AND THE PROPERTY -- AND OBVIOUSLY I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE BREAKDOWN IS -- I AM JUST TRYING TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW THAT WE HAVE MAJOR PROJECTS THAT WOULD IMPACT, I THINK, IN A POSITIVE WAY, THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF THE RESIDENTS WHO LIVE HERE IN ST. JOHN'S COUNTY, WERE WE ONLY ABLE TO FIND THE FUNDING OF THE $267.2 MILLION IN TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS THAT NEED TO BE FUNDED. THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE WHAT WE'RE ATTEMPTING TO DO TO GET OUR SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT UP TO SPEED WITH PAY INCREASES. DOES NOT INCLUDE WHAT WE'RE ATTENDED TO DO WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. I MEAN, I THINK IT'S WORTH, IF YOU'RE ANY MEMBER OF THIS COMMITTEE, ESPECIALLY THE COMMISSIONER SITTING THERE WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TALKING ABOUT WHAT THE KELLY DAY IS, SOMETHING I'M LEARNING ABOUT, AND WHY KELLY DAYS ARE [01:15:02] IMPORTANT FOR A FIRE DEPARTMENT TO HAVE, AND HOW THAT HELPS WITH RECRUITING AND RETENTION, AND COULD POTENTIALLY IMPACT THE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES THAT WE'RE SEEING HAPPEN WITH OUR FIRST RESPONDERS. THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT BILL DUDLEY'S BEEN WORKING ON FOR DECADES, AND TRYING TO GET HOUSING FOR VETERANS, SERVICES TO OUR VETERANS. EVERYBODY, AND I BELIEVE THIS, EVERYBODY GENUINELY SUPPORTS OUR FIRST RESPONDERS UP HERE. EVERYBODY GENUINELY SUPPORTS OUR VETERANS. BUT WE GOT TO WALK THAT TALK. WE, WE CANNOT, IN MY OPINION, AFFORD TO CUT PROPERTY TAXES WHEN WE HAVE $633 MILLION OF UNFUNDED CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT NEEDS. WE'VE GOT TO TAKE CARE OF OUR FIRST RESPONDERS -- EVERY COMMISSIONER UP HERE WANTS TO TAKE CARE OF, AND OUR VETERANS, WHICH, WHICH ARE, THEY ARE ALL ASKING FOR VERY LEGITIMATE CAPITAL PROJECTS AND, AND SERVICES AND PAY INCREASES. SO I'M GOING TO VOTE FOR THE FLAT MILLAGE RATE FOR THOSE REASONS, AND, AGAIN, I DON'T THINK THAT'S CONTROVERSIAL. I THINK IT'S IN LINE WITH WHAT, WHAT OUR VALUES ARE, AND WHAT THE VALUES OF THIS COUNTY ARE. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST. I TOO WILL BE VOTING TO KEEP IT FLAT. THIS IS A GROWING COMMUNITY WITH GROWING NEEDS, AND I AM NOT COMFORTABLE AT THIS TIME CUTTING ANY OF OUR PUBLIC SAFETY. EVEN TODAY, IT WAS -- IT WAS THE PEER THAT WE PROJECTED FIVE YEARS OUT FROM NOW. NOW IT'S POTENTIALLY A HAZARD, A SAFETY HAZARD. SO I, I, I, QUITE FRIENDLY, WE JUST CAN'T AFFORD IT, IN MY OPINION. SO NOT AT THIS TIME. >> MADAM CHAIR, I'LL JUST ECHOING YOUR COMMENTS FOR KEEPING THE RATE FLAT AS WELL. PUBLIC SAFETY'S GOT TO BE A PRIORITY. WE ARE A GROWING COMMUNITY, SO WE -- ] FLAT. >> OKAY. WITH THAT BEING SAID, I'M REPAIRED TO MOVE. MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2024-370 ESTABLISHING THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 MILLAGE RATES AS SET BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. PLEASE VOTE. AND THAT PASSES 5-0. MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2024--- >> 371. >> APPROVING THE THEFT OF YOUR 2025 TENTATIVE BUDGET OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY, FLORIDA, USING THE CERTIFIED TAXABLE VALUE OF 53,983,800 -- SORRY. 53 BILLION. SORRY. MY EYES ARE GOING, IT'S BEEN TOO LONG. 53 BILLION. NO. 53 MILLION -- GOT TOO MANY COMMAS IN THERE, JESSE. >> I DO. YOU KNOW WHAT, I WILL READ THAT. 53,893,811,532. OH IT'S, IT'S MORE OF A COMMA, GENERATING AN ESTIMATED $367,893,353 IN TAXES. I'LL FINISH. OF 1,000,700 50 MILLION $868,000,966. >> I'LL SECOND THAT. >> IT'S BEEN A LONG DAY. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. PLEASE VOTE. AND THAT PASSES 5-0. MOTION TO SET A PUBLIC * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.