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>>> SEPTEMBER 17TH, 5:01 P.M. ROLL CALL. NOW WE WILL HEAR
INVOCATION FROM THE PASTOR. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. I THINK I WILL BE THE SHORTEST THING ON YOUR AGENDA TODAY. LET'S PRAY.
LORD, YOU ADMONISHED IN YOUR WORD THAT WITH PRAYERS, PETITIONS, MADE ON BEHALF OF THOSE OF AUTHORITY. WE RECOGNIZE YOU AUTHOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF GOVERNING AUTHORITIES, WHOSE ROLE IS TO UPHOLD GOOD AND HOLD YOU ACCOUNTABLE. I PRAY THESE BOARD MEMBERS OF ST. JOHN'S COUNTY WILL HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE TO DISCERN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GOOD AND . STRENGTH IN THEIR CALL TO PUBLIC SERVICE BY EMPOWERING THEM WITH YOUR SPIRITS. ASK FOR YOUR CONTINUED PROTECTION , ESPECIALLY IN THE ENVIRONMENT WE HAVE NOW. SAFETY FOR THEM, THEIR FAMILY , AND STAFF. AS WELL AS ALL THE
[1 . Public Hearing * 5:01 p.m. Public Hearing -- St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners Adoption of Final 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. The September 17, 2024, 5:01 PM hearing date ha s been advertised in the St. Augustine Record. 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 a s the aggregate millage rate that would generate the same level of prior year tax revenues less certain defined allowances (such a s 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 final millage rates prior to adopting its final budget for FY 2025.]
PROVISION NECESSARY TO ACCOMPLISH THEIR ASSIGNMENTS.WE ASK THESE THINGS IN THE NAME OF JESUS, AMEN.
>> THANK YOU, PASTOR. AND NOW TO LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE. GOOD
EVENING, SIR. >> WILL YOU PLEASE JOIN IN THE FLIGHT -- PLEDGE TO THE FLAG. 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. GOD BLESS THIS COUNTRY.
>> THAT LEADS US INTO OUR ONE AND ONLY AGENDA ITEM . GOOD
EVENING. >> IT EVENING, MADAM CHAIR.
JESSE DUNN. SECOND AND FINAL. HEARING TO -- MILLAGE RATE AND BASKET -- BUDGET FISCAL YEAR 2025. LET EVERYBODY KNOW, AGAIN, PARTIAL BRICK, THE LINE ITEM BUDGET FOR EACH OF THE DEPARTMENTS POINT ON THE COUNTY WEBSITE, SAME BUDGET. NO CHANGES. YOU SEE THIS TIMELINE THROUGHOUT THE BUDGET PROCESS FROM OUR KICKOFF IN FEBRUARY , THROUGHOUT THE ADMINISTRATIVE BUDGET SESSIONS IN MAY. SIMILARLY, A LOT OF WORK HAPPENED OVER THE SUMMER TIME. WEMBY RECOMMENDED BUDGET IN JULY. FIRST PUBLIC HEARING TWO WEEKS AGO . WE ARE HERE FOR OUR SECOND MEETING. IT'S A MAYOR -- MIRROR IMAGE. FROM THE BUDGET TO THE TENTATIVE BUDGET. WHAT'S BEING CONSIDERED TONIGHT. WE INCORPORATED -- THE RECONCILIATION MAY BE FOUND IN THE 2025 TENTATIVE BUDGET WORKBOOK. BRINGS IT UP TO -- 133 MILLION ENTERPRISE FUNDS, YOUR UTILITY. VARIOUS SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS, PRIMARILY IMPACT FEES, AND SUMP ENCAMP CAPITOL IMPROVEMENT FUNDS. ALL THE CAPITOL AND GRANT CARRY
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FORWARDS. INCORPORATED IN THE LAST MINUTE. THESE ARE PROJECTS THAT WERE ALREADY ADOPTED BY THE BUDGET THAT WE SIMPLY CARRIED FORWARD INTO THE 2025 BUDGET. JUST A COUPLE OF OTHER ITEMS THAT WERE INCORPORATED INTO THE BUDGET FOR THIS YEAR .THERE'S BEEN DISCUSSION TODAY AND THE COMMISSION PARTNERING TO BRING IN STATE OF FLORIDA APPROPRIATIONS. YOU CAN SEE UP ON THE SCREEN THERE, ABOUT 26 1/2 MILLION DOLLARS. THE BUDGET INCLUDES ABOUT 62 NEW FTP'S. WE HAVE A SAFER GRANT THAT WILL PAY FOR, I BELIEVE, THE FIRST THREE YEARS. BUYER FIRED HER SALARY. EXCELLENT WAY. THAT'S GOING TO ASSIST WITH THOSE FIREFIGHTER POSITIONS. WE HAVE UTILITY POSITIONS RELATED TO GROWTH AND INFRASTRUCTURE. GENERAL GOVERNMENT POSITIONS.
TWO FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS. ONE PURCHASING, ONE TEAM COMPARTMENT, ONE FOR INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS. BY BEEN ACCORDED RELATED TO THE ERP PROGRAM AND SO ON AND SO FORTH. THAT GRAPHIC THERE. OUR CAPITOL IMPROVEMENT PLAN, THIS IS BEFORE THE BOARD APPROVED THE BONDING ISSUANCE. THIS MORNING ABOUT 140 MILLION FOR '25. WHERE THOSE PROJECTS ARE FUNDED FROM. PRIMARILY TRANSLATION -- TRANSPORTATION RELATED. FEES, TRUST, AS WELL AS UTILITIES AND SOLID WASTE MAKE UP, I WOULD SAY, OVER 80% OF FUNDING FOR '25. THIS WAS A DISCUSSION WE HAVE LESS TIME. GETTING RIGHT INTO IT. 13.2% IN TOXIC BOWL -- TAXABLE VALUE. THAT'S NOT TO IMPLY PEOPLE WILL SEE AN INCREASE IN TAXES . THAT WAS A POINT WE MADE A COUPLE WEEKS AGO. WE WANTED TO CONTINUE TO MAKE THAT. THAT IS DUE TO SAVE OUR HOMES PROVISION THAT PROTECTS HOMESTEAD PROPERTIES. THE ASSESSED VALUE IS CAPPED AT A MAXIMUM INCREASE OF 3% . WHICHEVER IS LESS THIS YEAR. 3%. THERE IS AN EXEMPTION OF BRINGING THEIR TAXABLE VALUE DOWN . MINIMUM $50,000. NOT HOMESTEAD PROPERTIES DON'T HAVE AN EXEMPTION, THEY DO HAVE A CAP ON THE ASSESSMENT, WHICH IS A 10%. TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THE FLAT MILLAGE RATE, WHAT I WANTED TO COMBINE IS WHAT A TAXPAYER WOULD SEE. THIS IS JUST ON THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONER MILLING RATES. IF YOU'RE HOMESTEAD IS SET AT 100,000, BASED ON FLAT MILLAGE RATE FOR FY '25 YOU WILL SEE AN INCREASE. JUMPING DOWN. HE HAD A HOMESTEAD ASSESSED VALUE.
THIS IS A MARKET VALUE. THESE ARE ASSESSED VALUES. I RECOMMEND LOOKING AT THE TRIM NOTICE, MARKET AND ASSESSED VALUES CAN BE DIFFERENT. IF YOU ARE A 400,000 ASSESSED VALUE, TAXPAYER WOULD SEE ABOUT AN $82 INCREASE IN THEIR TAXES OVER LAST YEAR. THIS IS AN EXAMPLE. I PROVIDED MY FROM MY TRIM NOTICE. I HAD A $54 INCREASE OVER LAST YEAR. WE WENT THROUGH THAT LAST TIME. IN TERMS OF ROLLBACK RATE VERSUS FLAT MILLAGE RATES, WE RECOMMEND THE BUDGET WAS PREDICATED ON THE FLAT MILLAGE RATES. THIS IS THE INCREMENTAL TAXES. WE DO NEED TO DISCUSS ROLLBACK RATES. I AM QUALIFYING WITH THOSE LOOK LIKE FOR THE GENERAL FUND. 10 1/2 MILLION DOLLARS. FLAT MILLAGE RATES IT IS $27 MILLION. THE CHANGE WOULD BE ABOUT $16.8 MILLION. GO THROUGH EACH OF THOSE MILLAGE FUNDS, THE COUNTYWIDE MILLAGE FUNDS PRESENTED THERE. OVERALL, HAD THE BUDGET BE ADOPTED AT THE ROLLBACK RATE IT WOULD BE 15.7
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MILLION IN PROPERTY TAXES. THE RECOMMENDATION IS THE FLAT REALLY -- MILLAGE RATE, AGAIN 40 1 MILLION. GO BACK ROLLBACK RATE , $25.2 MILLION. REALLY, EXPENDITURE REDUCTION IN ORDER TO MEET THAT REDUCTION IN TAXES. AS PART OF THE RECOMMENDATION, I REALLY THINK THE STORY LINE OF THE SUMMER , THE ENTIRE BUDGET PROCESS HAS BEEN THAT WE BUILT A BUDGET THAT WAS AT THE FLAT MILLAGE RATE TO ADDRESS THE CONVERSATIONS WE'VE HAD , AGAIN, OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS , TO ADDRESS DEMAND OF SERVICES AND A GROSS COMMUNITY, INCLUDING CERTAINLY ROADWAY AND DRAINAGE. LAW ENFORCEMENT AND FIRE RESCUE IMPROVEMENT AND RETAINAGE. PUBLIC SAFETY PARKS AND LIBRARY STRUCTURE. AGAIN, A DISCUSSION THIS MORNING THAT RESULTED IN A BOND ISSUANCE RELATED TO INFRASTRUCTURE. THE MAIN FOUR-MILLAGE FUND, TRANSPORTATION COST -- TRUST, COVER THOSE AREAS TALKED ABOUT THROUGHOUT BOTH THE BUDGET SESSIONS AND MEETINGS. PUBLIC SAFETY, INFRASTRUCTURE, MANAGING GROWTH, CERTAINLY IN RECENT YEARS, OVER TRANSPARENCY. SHOOTING ALL THE WAY TO THE BOTTOM, CONSERVATION. THAT IS WHY WE BUILT THE BUDGET THROUGH THIS BUDGET PROCESS AT THE FLAT MILLAGE RATES. GOING INTO THIS, THIS IS REALLY A CONDENSED VERSION. THE EXACT SAME PROCESS WE HAD ON SEPTEMBER 3RD THE PROCESS WILL BE A DISCUSSION OF THE PERCENTAGE INCREASE OVER THE ROLLBACK RATES. WE WILL OPEN UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS. THEN THERE ARE TWO MOTIONS FOR CONSIDERATION FOR ADOPTION. FINAL MILLAGE RATES RESOLUTION AND THE FINAL BUDGET RESOLUTION. JUMPING RIGHT INTO IT, THE DISCUSSION OF THE PERCENTAGE INCREASE OVER THE ROLLBACK RATE FOR ST. JOHNS COUNTY, BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, THE AGORA BUT -- AGGREGATE ROLLBACK RATE CALCULATION IS 6.3766 MILLS. THE FINAL AGGREGATE MILLAGE RATE IS 6.8263 MILLS. THAT PERCENTAGE INCREASE OVER THE ROLLBACK RATE , THE FLAT MILLAGE RATES, 7.05% . THE REQUIREMENT IS TO REFERENCE A SPECIFIC PER TEST. INCREASE OVER THE ROLLBACK, OVER THE ROLLBACK RATES. THAT IS PROVIDED HERE . IT IS TO ADDRESS THE DEMAND FOR SERVICES -- INCLUDING ROADWAY AND INFRASTRUCTURE. LAW ENFORCEMENT. FIRE RESCUE. RECRUITMENT AND RETAINAGE.PUBLIC SAFETY , PARKS, AND LIBRARY INFRASTRUCTURE. MOVING ON TO THIS BUDGET HEARING REQUIREMENTS , WE ARE SET FOR
PUBLIC COMMENT. >> THANK YOU MR. DUNN.
>> WE WILL OPEN UP FOR PUBLIC AGENDA -- PLEASE COME FORWARD, STATE YOUR NAME, ADDRESS. YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.
>> MICHAEL. WHILE WE ARE ON THE BUDGET I WOULD LIKE TO REITERATE THE PREVIOUS STATEMENT I MADE ABOUT TRYING TO IDENTIFY WHAT THE MAINTENANCE PLAN IS ON $120 MILLION OF NEW BUILDING, NEW PARKS AND REC . I WOULD BE CURIOUS TO KNOW WHAT THAT NUMBER WOULD POTENTIALLY BE.
EVEN IN 10 YEARS, HOW DO YOU -- I'M CURIOUS OF THERE'S A DEPARTMENT THAT PROJECTS THE BUDGET TO DECREASE THE DEFERRED MAINTENANCE. THIS BUILDING IS GETTING PAINTED RIGHT NOW. HOW FAR AHEAD YOU PLAN AND ESTABLISHING THOSE BUDGETS LIKE HOAS DO? 10% AWAY A YEAR ? DO YOU DO THIS, DO YOU DO THAT? I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW WHAT DEPARTMENT DOES THAT. IF SO, SOMEONE COULD ENLIGHTEN ME. I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW WHO IS DOING THAT. WHO'S DOING THE PROJECTED COST ANALYSIS FOR OUR PROPERTIES? AT THIS POINT WE HAVE TO HAVE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF ASSETS LAYING AROUND. I WOULD BE CURIOUS OF WHAT THE MAINTENANCE BUDGET ON THAT IS. I WOULD HOPE THERE IS SOMEONE DEFERRING -- BREAKING THE COST DOWN TO KNOW WE PAY FOR THIS, WE PAY THIS FOR THAT. I SAW A HEAD NOD. I KNOW IT HAS TO BE PAID BY THE PROPERTY TAX GENERAL FUND. YOU
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CANNOT MAINTAIN CERTAIN PROPERTIES THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH DIFFERENT PROCESS. THAT'S WHY I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO THE PERSON WHO DOES THAT BUDGETING. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THAT SITUATION EXISTS. IN MY OPINION, IT SEEMS, LIKE, SOMETHING TO CONSIDER. THAT'S ALL I WANT TO KNOW. IF SOMEONE COULD ENLIGHTEN ME ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT THAT DOES THE PROJECTED BUDGET COSTS .SOMEONE TO SPEAK WITH ABOUT THAT .
>> WHEN -- INAUDIBLE ] I ASKED 104 QUESTIONS DURING THE 2023 BUDGET YEAR. 104 QUESTIONS, IN WRITING. YOU KNOW MANY ANSWERS GOT? ZERO. THAT IS CONTEMPT FOR THE PEOPLE OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY.
I ASKED JESSE EARLY THIS YEAR FOR A LIST OF CONTER -- INTERNAL CONTROLS, WHICH WERE ISSUED IN THE $786,785 INVESTMENT IN THE SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT WHICH TOOK PLACE OVER FIVE YEARS . DON'T HAVE A LIST OF THEIR INCOME INTERNAL -- INTERNAL CONTROLS. SCOFFLAWS. AT LEAST THEY GIVE YOU A LIST OF INTERNAL CONTROLS. WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO HIDE? WHY ARE YOU DOING THAT? DO I UNDERSTAND CORRECTLY THE PR DEPARTMENT BECAUSE WE ARE DOING GOOD STUFF FOR YOU ARE ASHAMED OF WHAT WE ARE DOING? PEOPLE ARE RAISING CONCERNS OF OVERDEVELOPMENT AND WHAT DEVELOPERS ARE DOING TO OUR KENNEDY -- COUNTY AND THE FLOODING AND THE POLITICAL PATRONAGE, AND THE POLLUTIONS OF ADEQUACY THAT COME FROM THIS BUILDING. CLERK OF COURTS AND COMPTROLLER ARE NOT DOING THEIR JOB. TREY ALEXANDER WENT TO THE INSPECTOR GENERAL, THE CLERK OF COURTS AND COMPTROLLER FIRED THE INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR DOING HER JOB. YOU DON'T TREAT YOUR EMPLOYEES WILL. YOU DON'T TREAT YOUR CITIZENS WELL. I DON'T CONSIDER EYE ROLLING DURING PUBLIC COMMENT TO BE AN APPROPRIATE RESPONSE. WORDS OF THE GREAT , LATE -- ] I'M SURE GLAD COUPLE NEW COMMISSIONER SCOTT ELECTED. I WISH HENRY GOT RE-ELECTED. HE DOES A GOOD JOB. HE WORKS HARD.
HE GOT AN EMAIL THIS MORNING AND WAS ASKING QUESTIONS ABOUT IN YOUR MEETING. YOU CAN DO A BETTER JOB. I KNOW THERE WILL BE REINFORCEMENTS . HEALTH IS ON THE WAY. ONE PARTY WILL IS WRONG, SO IS GERRYMANDERING, AND EYE ROLLING, MR. CHAIR.
>> ANYONE ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE BUDGET? SEEING NONE, WE WILL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> WE ARE BACK TO THE BOARD. >> GOING TO THE NEXT STEP , FIRST CONSIDERATION IS ADOPTION OF THE FINAL MILLAGE RATE RESOLUTION. THE MOTION IS PROVIDED ON SCREEN , AS WELL.
>> COMMISSIONER BEST BUY. >> HAPPY TO MOVE, SHE WOULD LIKE TO DO IT YOURSELF. MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2024 --
>> 394. FISCAL YEAR '25 FINAL MILLAGE RATE SET BY THE BOARD AND COUNTY COMMISSIONERS FOR ALL PROPERTY IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY AS OF JANUARY 1ST 2024.
>> SECOND. >> MOTION AND A SECOND. THAT
PASSES 4-1. >> MADAM CHAIR? JANUARY 1ST,
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QUALIFIED BY THE PROPERTY EVALUATOR.>> MADAM CHAIR, WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO MOVE THE NEXT ITEM? MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2024---
>> 395. >> APPROVING THE FINAL BUDGET OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY, USING THE CERTIFIED TAXABLE VALUE , GENERATING AN ESTIMATED 367,893,000 IN TAXES. RESULTING IN A TOTAL BUDGET OF
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.