Sep 16, 2025 Special Board of County Commissioners

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CLERK, WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ?

>> CHAIR COMMISSIONER JOSEPH? VICE CHAIR COMMISSIONER CLAY MURPHY? COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST ? COMMISSIONER ARNOLD? AND

COMMISSIONER ANN TAYLOR ? >> PRESENT.

>> CHRISTIAN MURPHY, ARE YOU GOING TO RUN THE MEETING, SIR?

>> YES, I WANTED TO GIVE HER A CHANCE TO SAY SOMETHING BEFORE WE START, WE JUST WANTED TO SAY WELCOME ON THE PHONE, COMMISSIONER JOSEPH, WE HAVE BEEN PRAYING FOR YOU AND WE ARE GLAD YOU ARE ABLE TO JOIN US BY PHONE AND WE JUST WANTED TO EXTEND OUR HEARTFELT FEELINGS OF GRATITUDE FOR YOU AND THE WORK YOU HAVE DONE AND THE FACT THAT YOU ARE HERE WITH US TONIGHT, I APPRECIATE THAT. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> WELL, THANK YOU, THANK YOU SO MUCH, I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU

GUYS. >> WE WILL NOW HAVE THE INDICATION OF THE SAINT AUGUSTINE, OR THE ST. JOHN'S

COUNTY SHERIFF DEPARTMENT . >> LAST WEEK WE HAD THE HONOR TO DO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DOWNTOWN AND HONOR THE LIVES OF THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR LIFE ON SEPTEMBER 11TH, 24 YEARS AGO AND THE DAY BEFORE, WHO ARE ALL HEARTBROKEN OF THE DECEASED CHARLIE KIRK.

BUT ON INSTAGRAM, BILLY GRAHAM'S GRANDDAUGHTER SAID THESE ARE THE WORDS BILLY GRAHAM READ THE DAY AFTER 9/11, GOD IS OUR REFUGE AND STRENGTH AND VERY PRESENT, THEREFORE WE DO NOT FEAR, THE WATERS THEREOF BE TROUBLED, AND THE MOUNTAINS SHAKE, AND BILLY GRAHAM IS RIGHT, HE IS OUR REFUGE AND STRENGTH EVEN IN HARD TIMES. HIS FAVORITE BIBLE VERSE WAS ROMANS 8:28, ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD TO THEM WHO LOVE GOD, TO THEM WHO ARE CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS WITNESS, LET US PRAY.

MOST GRACIOUS GOD, WE COME BEFORE YOU DEAR LORD AND WE ARE THANKFUL TODAY AS WE FROM -- REFLECT BACK ON THE MEN AND WOMEN, FIREFIGHTERS AND CIVILIANS WHO RAN INTO THE BUILDING, DEAR GOD, RAN TO THE PENTAGON, HELPED A PLANE GO DOWN SO IT WOULDN'T CRASH INTO ANOTHER GOVERNMENT BUILDING, WE ARE THANKFUL OF THOSE PEOPLE TODAY DEAR LORD AND WE HONOR THEM TODAY, DEAR LORD. WE THINK GOD FOR THE PROPHETS AND THE DISCIPLES, AND PEOPLE LIKE MARTIN LUTHER KING, ABRAHAM LINCOLN AND CHARLIE KIRK WHO WOULD SPEAK THE TRUTH DESPITE BEING KILLED FOR IT. WE JUST THANK YOU LORD FOR OUR FREEDOM, WE PRAY THAT THOSE WILL DO THE RIGHT THING AT THE RIGHT TIME FOR THE RIGHT REASON, WE PRAY TODAY THAT WE ARE THEM. WE PRAY FOR YOUR WORD , AND WE WANT THE WISDOM TO ASK FOR IT. WE PRAY THAT YOU GIVE US WISDOM, WE LOVE YOU AND PRAISE YOU, THANK YOU SO MUCH DEAR GOD, YOU DIED ON THE CROSS TO GIVE US ETERNAL LIFE AND THANK YOU FOR LIFE ON EARTH, DEAR LORD. WE LIVE TO GLORIFY YOU IN ALL THAT WE DO AND SAY AND IN JESUS CHRIST NAME, AMEN.

>> THANK YOU, PLEASE REMAIN STANDING AS WE HONOR OUR NATION WITH THE PLEDGE, JOSEPH MCDERMOTT, CAN YOU LEAD US IN

THE PLEDGE, PLEASE? >> GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS, PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE TO OUR 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. >> THANK YOU. YOU MAY BE SEATED.

OKAY, DO WE HAVE ANY ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS TO THE SPECIAL AGENDA? MISS TAYLOR? AND COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST ?

>> NUN, MR. CHAIR. >> COMMISSIONER ARNOLD AND

[Approval of Special Agenda]

COMMISSIONER JOSEPH? >> NUN, THANK YOU.

>> DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE SPECIAL AGENDA?

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>> MOTION. >> SECOND.

[1. Public Hearing * 5:01 p.m. Public Hearing -- St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners Adoption of Final Millage Rates & Budget for FY 2026. In accordance with sections 129.03 and 200.065 of the Florida Statutes, the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) is required to 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 16, 2025, 5:01 PM hearing date has 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 as the aggregate millage rate that would generate the same level of prior year tax revenues with 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 final millage rates prior to adopting its final budget for FY 2026.]

>> ALL OF THOSE IN FAVOR, SALABLE BY SAYING AYE. THAT IS ALL UNANIMOUS. WE NOW MOVE TO SPECIAL AGENDA, NUMBER ONE, PUBLIC HEARING AND MR. WADE SCHROEDER, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE

COME AND LEAD US. >> A MORNING COMMISSIONERS, WADE SCHROEDER, WE ARE HERE TONIGHT FOR THE SECOND AND FINAL PUBLIC HEARING TO ADOPT THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 MILLAGE AND BUDGET FOR ST.

JOHN'S COUNTY. JUST WANT TO GO OVER AGAIN, THE TAXING AUTHORITIES THAT ST. JOHN'S WILL BE MAKING A FINAL DECISION ON TONIGHT, THESE ARE THE ONLY AUTHORITIES THAT ARE UNDER THE ST. JOHN'S COUNTY, IT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE CITIES OR THE SCHOOL BOARD AS WELL, THESE ARE SEPARATE JURISDICTIONS THAT HAVE THEIR OWN PUBLIC HEARINGS. AND AGAIN, ALL OF THIS INFORMATION WITH CHANGES ARE ALIGNED, AND THERE IS A FINAL BUDGET WORKBOOK, PLENTY OF INFORMATION OUT THERE, YOU CAN VIEW IT BY SECTION, PRINT IT OUT BY SECTION, INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE. AND AGAIN, HERE'S THE CALENDAR OF EVENTS, WE ARE NOW AT THE CULMINATION OF WHAT HAS BEEN AN EIGHT MONTH PROCESS TO REALLY DEVELOP AND BUILD THE BUDGET AND GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE ARE TONIGHT AND JUST GO OVER THESE HIGHLIGHTS AND I SHOULD HAVE ADDED ONE ADDITIONAL HIGHLIGHT AT THE TOP BECAUSE THE BOARD AT THE LAST MEETING ACTUALLY REDUCED OVERALL MILLAGE RATES SO THERE IS AN OVERALL REDUCTION IN THE MILLAGE RATES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026. ADDITIONALLY THERE IS A RESERVE, EMERGENCY RESERVE THAT IS MOVED, IT IS A $20 MILLION RESERVE FOR EMERGENCY EVENTS AS WELL AS A $5 MILLION RESERVE RELATED TO A GRANT MATCH FOR SUMMER HAVEN. AND PROBABLY AT THE NEXT MEETING YOU WILL SEE A LITTLE BIT OF THE DRAWDOWN. THERE ARE NEW FACILITIES PLANNED IN THE BUDGET, WITH THOSE NEW FACILITIES COMES NEW POSITIONS WITH A LOT OF THOSE NEW POSITIONS COMES ADDITIONAL VEHICLES TO SUPPORT OPERATIONS.

THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 BUDGET INCLUDES OVER $159 MILLION FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS FUNDING. AGAIN, I WILL GO THROUGH THE CIP PRIORITIZATION PROCESS. ADDITIONALLY, NEW THIS YEAR AS WELL, THERE'S FUNDING WITHIN THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE, IT IS THE CITY CRA BUT WE ARE REQUIRED TO FUND IT.

THE WEST CITY CIA. FPL HAS PROPOSED AND I THINK IT HAS BEEN APPROVED FOR AN 8% INCREASE IN RATES EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1ST.

THERE IS AN INCREASE RELATED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF JUVENILE JUSTICE AND THE BUDGET AND IT WAS TALKED ABOUT THIS MORNING RELATED TO THE IMPACT FEE BUYDOWN, YOU PROVIDED DIRECTION TO DISCONTINUE THAT HOWEVER UNTIL THAT ORDINANCE GOES INTO EFFECT, THE BUYDOWN WILL CONTINUE AS IS SO WE ARE ESTIMATED AT ABOUT ANOTHER $1 MILLION FOR JUST A PORTION OF THE YEAR, AS THE CURRENT ORDINANCE IS IN EFFECT. THE FINAL BUDGET DOES INCLUDE F1 CARRYFORWARD AND OTHER ADJUSTMENTS, THIS IS AN INCREASE FROM THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET FOR A NEW TOTAL BUDGET OF $1,898,131,897 AND JUST TO GET INTO THE CARRYFORWARDS. OF THAT INCREASE RECOMMENDED, REPRESENTED ABOUT $607 MILLION, THESE ARE NOT NEW FUNDING, THESE ARE PROJECTS THAT WERE APPROVED THIS YEAR, THOSE PROJECTS AND/OR GRANTS ARE NOT COMPLETE THIS YEAR SO WE HAVE TO CARRY THAT FUNDING FORWARD INTO NEXT YEAR. AND AS A PART OF THAT, IF WE IDENTIFY PROJECTS ARE COMPLETE, WE IDENTIFY THOSE SAVINGS AT THIS TIME AND THAT HELPS MOST OF OUR RESERVES FOR NEXT YEAR. HERE IS AN OVERVIEW OF THE CARRYFORWARDS FOR FISCAL YEAR 26, THE BIGGEST AREA IS THE CIP AND WITHIN THE CIP IS THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUNDS, PRIMARILY THE NEW BOND PROJECTS, THE PARKS, LIBRARIES, PUBLIC SAFETY FACILITIES AND I WANT TO POINT OUT THE IMPACT FUNDS MENTIONED THIS MORNING, THERE IS

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PUBLIC WORKS, THOSE POSITIONS ARE RELATED TO A NEW SIDEWALK CREW AS WELL AS LATER CREW. RECREATION AND BEACH SERVICES PRIMARILY RELATED TO POSITIONS RELATED TO THE NEW CENTRAL PARK PLANNED TO OPEN IN FISCAL YEAR 27. AND ANY ADDITIONAL POSITIONS, ANIMAL CONTROL, PURCHASING HAS ONE POSITION, COURT SERVICES ONE POSITION AND HR ONE POSITION. MOVING FROM THE BUDGET INTO THE TAXABLE VALUE OR MILLAGE RATE DISCUSSION.

THERE'S TWO COMPONENTS OF YOUR TAXES, IT IS YOUR TAXABLE VALUE AND YOUR MILLAGE RATES. THE COUNTY DOES NOT SET THE TAXABLE VALUE, THAT HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED BY THE PROPERTY APPRAISER'S OFFICE AND FROM THAT TAXABLE VALUE THERE ARE CERTAIN EXEMPTIONS THAT ARE ALLOWED THROUGH THE STATE TO REDUCE THAT TAXABLE VALUE. THE COUNTY SIDE OF IT IS THE MILLAGE RATES WHICH YOU WILL BE ASKED TO ADOPT TONIGHT. FOR THE MILLAGE RATE SIDE, HERE IS THE HISTORICAL SNAPSHOT OF MILLAGE RATES FOR THE COUNTY, THIS IS ALL OF OUR TAXING DISTRICTS, IT IS REALLY THE COUNTYWIDE PLUS FIRE, THAT IS WHAT MOST PEOPLE WILL SEE ON THEIR TAX BILL. SINCE FY 2012 WHICH IS BEFORE THIS CHART, AND THROUGH FISCAL YEAR 2020, THE COUNTY MAINTAINS FLAT MILLAGE RATES FOR THE COUNTYWIDE PLUS FIRE TOTAL, AND FISCAL YEAR 21, THE COUNTY WENT TO A ROLLBACK RATE AS A RESULT TO HELP WITH THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND SINCE THAT TIME, AND UNTIL THE TENTATIVE BUDGET HEARING, THE COUNTY STILL MAINTAINS FLAT MILLAGE RATES HOWEVER AT THE TENTATIVE BUDGET HEARING, THE COUNTY APPROVED REDUCTION OF THOSE MILLAGE RATES SO YOU CAN SEE FROM THE FISCAL YEAR 26, FROM FISCAL YEAR 25. AND THE TAXABLE VALUE SIDE, HERE'S A HISTORY OF THAT. THE YELLOW ON THIS CHART REPRESENTS TAXABLE VALUES RELATED TO NEW CONSTRUCTION, THE BLUE REPRESENTS TAXABLE VALUES FOR PROPERTIES THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY ESTABLISHED AND YOU CAN SEE FOR FISCAL YEAR 26, WE HAVE AN OVERALL 9.8% INCREASE IN TAXABLE VALUE WHICH IS MADE UP OF 4.3% INCREASE DUE TO NEW CONSTRUCTION AND 5.5 INCREASE FOR ALL OTHER PROPERTIES. AND THOSE PROPERTIES WITH THE HOMESTEAD, THE HOMES PROVISION WON'T SEE 9.8, THEY WON'T SEE 5.5, THEY SHOWED CLOSER TO 3% INCREASE, HOMESTEAD PROPERTY OWNERS WITH OUR SAVE OUR HOMES PROVISION, IT IS A

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>> AT THIS TIME THE BOARD WILL HEAR PUBLIC COMMENT, WE HAVE A DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVE WHO IS GOING TO GET 10 MINUTES, SO MR. COOK, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.

>> DEVON COOK, AND I JUST WANTED TO EXTEND A THANK YOU, AS WE KNOW CHARLIE KIRK WAS ASSASSINATED AND A VIGIL WAS HELD THIS SUNDAY AT TURNING POINT BUT I WANTED TO THANK YOU COMMISSIONER FOR HELPING WITH PARKS AND RECREATION TO OVERSEE THIS EVENT. AND ALL THREE OF YOU FOR STANDING SIDE-BY-SIDE AT THE TURNING POINT FAMILY ASKED THEY HELD A VIGIL AND PRAYED AND REFLECTED ON THEIR LOSS AND IMPACT. I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND, BECAUSE THIS STARTED THURSDAY MORNING AND SUNDAY IT HAPPENED, WELL OVER 1000, MAYBE 2000 PEOPLE SHOWED UP FROM THE COMMUNITY TO SHOW THEIR SUPPORT FOR THESE KIDS AND FOR TURNING POINT AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO SHERIFF HARDWICK FOR HIS RECOGNITION THAT SOMETHING WAS GOING ON IN THE COMMUNITY, DIRECTOR MARTIN, COMMANDER ENFIELD FOR SHOWING UP AND LEADING THE OPERATIONS TO KEEP EVERYBODY PROTECTED AND SAFE AND ALSO FROM THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, THE PATROL UNIT, THE REAL-TIME INTELLIGENCE UNIT, THE BIKE UNIT, MOTOR UNIT, DIGNITARY PROTECTION TEAM TO MAKE SURE THE PEOPLE TALKING ON THE STAGE WERE PROTECTED, THE DRONE UNIT, AND OUR SNIPERS AND ONCE AGAIN, THE WELL OVER 1000 ST. JOHNS COUNTY RESIDENTS AND PEOPLE FROM OTHER COUNTIES WHO CAME TO REMEMBER A GREAT MAN, CHARLIE KIRK POURED HIS LIFE INTO BUILDING A MOVEMENT IN FAITH, FREEDOMAND LOVE OF COUNTRY, HE BELIEVED IN RAISING A GENERATION WHO WOULD NEVER SURRENDER. FOLLOWING ME IS ADDISON TUCKER AND MICHELLE KIRK FROM CREEKSIDE ELEMENTARY.

>> GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS, MY NAME IS ADDISON TUCKER AND I'M THE PRESIDENT OF OUR TURNING POINT CHAPTER, I WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND MY GRATITUDE TO THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE FOR ALLOWING OUR SPEAKERS AND COMMUNITY NUMBERS TO MAKE IT HOME SAFELY TO THEIR FAMILIES, I ALSO WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO COMMISSIONER ANN TAYLOR AND COMMISSIONER MURPHY FOR YOUR SUPPORT. CHARLIE EMPOWERED MY GENERATION TO STAND UP FOR WHAT WE BELIEVED IN, HE TAUGHT US HOW TO BE OPEN-MINDED AND RESPECTFUL AND ENGAGING IN CONVERSATIONS, HE TAUGHT US HOW TO LISTEN WITH THE INTENT TO UNDERSTAND. HE TAUGHT US TO STAND FOR WHAT WE BELIEVE IN. CHARLIE WAS DETERMINED TO CHANGE THE WORLD.

FOLLOWING SUNDAY NIGHT VIGIL, WE HAVE SEEN AN INCREASE AT TURNING POINT USA, HIGH SCHOOLS FROM ALL OVER , AND THE HOMESCHOOL CHAPTER OUT OF WILDE LAKE FLORIDA ARE IN THE PROCESS OF STARTING NEW CHAPTERS. THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE ADVANCEMENT IN ST.

JOHNS COUNTY CONSIDERING SAINT AUGUSTINE JUST OPENED LAST YEAR AND CREEKSIDE HASKELL IS THE ONLY SCHOOL THAT HAD A TURNING

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>> MY NAME IS MICHELLE KIRK, I'M THE VICE PRESIDENT OF TURNING POINT USA AT CREEKSIDE HASKELL, AND I'M SO THANKFUL FOR THE VIGIL WE WERE ABLE TO HOLD THIS PAST SUNDAY. PRAYERS ARE NEEDED NOW MORE THAN EVER, A NUMBER OF PEOPLE CAME TO PRAY FOR CHARLIE AND HIS FAMILY, IT IS TRULY INCREDIBLE. WE ARE READY FOR WHAT COMES NEXT AND WE KNOW CHARLIE WOULD WANT US TO CONTINUE THE WORK THAT HE BEGAN, TO KEEP FIGHTING FOR OUR COUNTRY AND OUR CHILDREN'S FUTURE. AS RONALD REAGAN ONCE SAID, FREEDOM IS NEVER ONE GENERATION AWAY FROM EXTINCTION, IT IS OUR JOB TO PROTECT IT. I'M DEEPLY APPRECIATED OF OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS WHO KEPT US SAFE DURING THE EVENT, I ALSO WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO COMMISSIONERS TAYLOR AND MANY OTHER REPRESENTATIVES AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO JOINED US AT THE VIGIL. YOUR PRESENCE AND PASSION HAVE INSPIRED US TO PRESS ON AND FIGHT FOR A BETTER TOMORROW. ENCOURAGED BY THE OVERWHELMING NUMBER OF PEOPLE INTERESTED IN JOINING OR STARTING A TURNING POINT USA CHAPTER. CHANGE IS HAPPENING HERE IN ST. JOHNS AND THE MOMENTUM IS GROWING. WE HAVE THE SCHOOL YEAR AHEAD OF US AND WE ARE PREPARED FOR THE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES IT WILL BRING. BUT THE WORK DOESN'T STOP HERE.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO NEED YOUR HELP. BECAUSE WE HAVE A GENERATION TO TEACH, TO GUIDE AND INSPIRE . CHARLIE LEFT US THE MICROPHONE, NOW IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO INFLUENCE OUR GENERATION AND THE ONE TO COME TO CARRY THE MESSAGE FORWARD.

THROUGH TURNING POINT CHAPTERS, THE MOMENTUM WILL CONTINUE,

THANK YOU . >> I WILL GIVE YOU THE REMAINING TIME FOR YOUR PRESENTATION ON THE BUDGET.

>> THANK YOU. >> AND THANK YOU FOR DONATING

THAT TIME TO THE STUDENTS. >> I APPRECIATE IT. HOPEFULLY I CAN GET THROUGH THIS QUICKLY, I JUST WANTED TO TALK, AS YOU KNOW, I'M THE CHAIRMAN OF THE ST. JOHNS REPUBLICAN PARTY AND THIS IS FOR OUR PRESENTATION RELATED TO THE FINAL BUDGET HEARING TONIGHT. WE ALL RECEIVED OUR NOTICES WHICH WAS ONE OF THE MAJOR REASONS I WAS REPEATEDLY COMING, THERE WAS A TRANSFER FROM THE GENERAL TO THE FIRE FUND. EARLIER THIS WAS PRESENTED, I PULLED IT RIGHT OFF YOUR SHEETS, WE HAVEN'T HAD A ROLLBACK AND I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT 2021 IN A MOMENT. I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT PROPERTY VALUES. ST. JOHNS COUNTY PROPERTY VALUES INCREASED DRAMATICALLY IN 2021, THE VALUES FOR THE COUNTY WAS 37 MILLION -- 37 BILLION. THIS YEAR, THERE IS 63 BILLION, SO JUST SAYING THE MILLAGE RATE IS FLAT IS AN COMPLETE AND VALUATION OF WHAT IS GOING ON. IT IS BUDGETING THE ACTUAL VALUE, IN 2026, USING THE SAME MATH, THAT VALUE IS NOW 61.1 MILLION DOLLARS, NEARLY DOUBLE, NOT QUITE BUT GETTING CLOSE. THE VALUES ARE DRAMATICALLY RISING, THAT MEANS THE VALUE OF ONE MILLAGE IS NEARLY DOUBLE IT. WE SAW A ROLLBACK IN 21 AND THIS IS FROM YOUR BUDGET, YOU CAN SEE THE DIFFERENCES WITH THAT ROLLBACK, FOR COVID FROM 2020 TO 2021, IN THE GENERAL FUND, WE STILL SAW AN INCREASE IN THE BUDGET, SO JUST BECAUSE YOU ROLLBACK TO YOU ARE REDUCING THE TAX BURDEN OR YOU ARE SHRINKING THE SIZE OF GOVERNMENT. LOCAL PROPERTY TAX IMPACT FROM 2020 TO 26 AND REALLY THIS IS FROM THE LAST FIVE YEARS, 21 TO 26

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AND I COULD BE A LITTLE BIT OFF. I THINK I'M PRETTY CLOSE, AND THAT IS WHAT YOU VOTED FOR AND I WANT TO THANK YOU, ALL FIVE NUMBERS AGREE THAT THIS WOULD BE THE RIGHT THING TO DO THIS YEAR.

SO WITH THIS SMALL CUT, YOU ARE PROVIDING TAX RELIEF FOR OUR RESIDENTS. THE 26TH MILLAGE CHANGE TO THE ROLLBACK, IF YOUR HOME IS WORTH $100,000, WOULD HAVE BEEN 689 WITH A PARTIAL ROLLBACK TODAY, IT'LL BE BROUGHT DOWN TO THE COUNTY PORTION, $680 PER THAT IS A SAVINGS OF 51%, IF YOU HAVE A $500,000 HOME, YOU WILL SAVE $32.55. I'M ALSO HERE TO TALK ABOUT 2027 AND IT'S IMPORTANT NOT TO JUST LOOK AT NOW BUT FORWARD AND BACK. I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT HOW WE DO OUR WORK LOOKS FOR YOU COMMISSIONERS. THIS IS WHAT WE SAW IN THE BUDGET WORKBOOK FOR 26 AND AS YOU CAN SEE IN A NUMBER OF DEPARTMENTS, YOU HAVE THE ADOPTED FROM 25, THE FISCAL YEAR REQUESTED 26, THE RECOMMENDED 26 AND TENTATIVE BUDGET NUMBER. YOU ARE LOOKING AT A TENTATIVE YEAR BUDGET 25 AND FUTURE BUDGET, BUT YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU'VE COME FROM. THESE ARE THE GENERAL FUNDS, WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT BY LINE ITEM, ONCE AGAIN, FISCAL YEAR 25 ADOPTED, 26 RECOMMENDED IN THE BUDGET. IN 2024, THEY LOOKED AT FISCAL YEAR 22 ACTUAL, THE 23 ADOPTED, THE 23 REJECTED, SO YOU WERE LOOKING AT AN ACTUAL NUMBER FOR THE 2024 BUDGET AND WE NEED TO MOVE BACK TO THIS PROCESS I BELIEVE. 2022 IS THE LAST TIME THE COUNTY SAW ONE OF THESE, IF YOU HAVE BEEN HERE FOR A LONG TIME, YOU KNOW WHAT THEY ARE. IT WAS A REALLY GOOD OUTLINE FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WAS HAPPENING WITH THEIR TAXES AND IT WAS 2018 THROUGH 2022, SO YOU HAVE A LONGER LOOK AT THE TRENDS IN OUR GOVERNMENT AND WHAT THEY WERE DOING. THIS WAS FROM THE 2021 BUDGET, THE FINAL FINANCIAL PLAN, YOU CAN SEE THE COMMISSIONERS LOOK AT 17 ACTUAL, 18 ACTUAL, 19 ACTUAL AND PROJECTED 2021, IT IS A MUCH MORE BROAD LOOK AT WHAT GOVERNMENT IS DOING. NEXT YEAR WE NEED TO BE LOOKING AT THIS PERSPECTIVE, MULTIYEAR WHAT HAVE WE DONE AND WHAT ARE WE GETTING FOR OUR MONEY, NOT JUST WHAT THE BUDGET IS AND WHAT WE HOPE THE NEXT BUDGET WILL BE. I'M NOT GOING TO GET INTO THIS WRITER -- RIGHT NOW BECAUSE WE ARE OUT OF TIME, BUT IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT THAT THE PUBLIC KNOWS THAT TODAY YOU ARE VOTING TO SAVE THEM OVER $3 MILLION IN RELIEF. IT IS MORE IMPORTANT FOR THE COMMUNITY TO TAKE AWAY TODAY THAT WE HAVE A LOT MORE WORK TO DO IN ST. JOHN'S COUNTY. I WILL SAY OF THE 520 EXTRA MILLION DOLLARS IS COLLECTED IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS AND THE YEAR TO COME, $65 MILLION COULD HAVE BEEN SPENT ON A NEW JAIL, $100 MILLION ON A ROAD EXPANSION OR A NUMBER OF PROJECTS, SIX ROAD 16. WHERE DID THE MONEY GO? TO GENERAL GOVERNMENT AND IN MY VIEW, IT HAS VANISHED, THAT IS NOT TO OVER DRAMATIZE THIS BUT WE DEMAND BETTER AND WE ARE SEEING

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MUCH. >> THANK YOU MR. COOK, WOULD ANYBODY ELSE LIKE TO MAKE COMMENT ON THE PUBLIC BUDGET? PLEASE, COME TO THE MICROPHONE AND STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.

>> [INDISCERNIBLE] MY WIFE AND I MOVED HERE ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO AND WE LOVE IT HERE SO FAR, BUT WE DO HAVE SOME COMPARISONS TO MAKE WHEN IT COMES TO COUNTY SPENDING AND PROPERTY TAX, ST.

JOHN'S COUNTY HAS ONLY ABOUT 9% MORE PEOPLE THAN WILLIAMSON BUT THE DEMOGRAPHICS ARE SIMILAR, THE OVERALL COUNTY BUDGET HERE INCLUDING SCHOOLS IS MORE THAN DOUBLE THAT OF WILLIAMSON COUNTY. ST. JOHN'S PER STUDENT EXPENDITURE IS AROUND $20,000 WHILE WILLIAMSON ONLY SPENT $14,000 PER STUDENT. BOTH FIGURES ARE MORE THAN ENOUGH TO SEND THOSE KIDS TO PRIVATE SCHOOL BUT ST. JOHN'S FIGURES ABOUT 40% MORE PER STUDENT THAN WILLIAMSON COUNTY. AND WILLIAMSON COUNTY SCHOOLS ARE RANKED EVEN HIGHER , BELIEVE IT OR NOT. MY QUESTION IS, WHERE IS THE EXTRA 1.1 TO $1.5 BILLION SPENT IN ST. JOHN'S COUNTY VERSUS WILLIAMSON? THAT IS A HUGE DIFFERENCE. HOW CAN WILLIAMSON COUNTY HAVE EXCELLENT SCHOOLS, ROADS AND FACILITIES WITH LESS THAN HALF THE BUDGET OF ST. JOHN'S? IN MY OPINION, ST. JOHN'S COUNTY HAS AN OBVIOUS SPENDING PROBLEM, I STRONGLY RECOMMEND HIRING AN OUTSIDE FORENSIC ACCOUNTING FIRM TO AUDIT THE PAST FEW YEARS OF FINANCIAL RECORDS AND FIND OUT WHERE EVERY DOLLAR HAS BEEN SPENT. WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, THERE'S NO WAY FIVE PART-TIME COUNTY COMMISSIONERS CAN KNOW WHERE ALL THE MONEY IS SPENT, NOT WHEN IT IS BILLIONS OF DOLLARS. AND THERE'S ENOUGH MONEY IN THE BUDGET TO RETAIN A FORENSIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR A FEW MONTHS. ON A PERSONAL LEVEL, WITH THE PROPOSED BUDGET, MY ANNUAL PROPERTY TAXES WILL BE GOING UP TO $16,549, THAT'S ALMOST FOUR TIMES WHAT WE PAID IN TENNESSEE FOR A SIMILAR VALUE HOME. WE ARE STARTING TO FEEL LIKE RENTERS INSTEAD OF HOMEOWNERS WILLIAMSON COUNTY DOES HAVE A 2.75% SALES TAX WHERE ST. JOHN'S COUNTY ONLY HAS 0.5% SALES TAX, THAT MAKES UP FOR SOME OF THE DIFFERENCES BUT NOT NEARLY ALL OF IT. WILLIAMSON COUNTY PROPERTY TAXES ARE FRACTION OF ST. JOHN'S MAKING IT MUCH EASIER ON HOMEOWNERS, IT'S ALSO INTERESTING THAT ST. JOHN'S PUTS NEARLY ALL THE TAX BURDEN ON HOMEOWNERS RATHER THAN SPREADING IT OUT OVER ALL RESIDENTS WITH A SLIGHTLY HIGHER SALES TAX. RENTERS ARE BASICALLY GETTING A FREE RIDE. BUT AGAIN, THE REAL PROBLEM IS NOT REVENUE, IT IS SPENDING. YOU NEED HONEST HELP FROM AN OUTSIDE SOURCE. I'M NOT A FORENSIC ACCOUNTANT BUT I HAVE OWNED A BUSINESS FOR OVER 30 YEARS AND I'M AVAILABLE IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT IT MORE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR

TIME. >> ANYBODY ELSE WANT TO COMMENT ON THE BUDGET? THE MICROPHONES ARE OPEN, WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR

YOU SPEAK. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, I NAME IS JOHN, I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING THAT GENTLEMAN JUST SAID AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I MY CITY -- I MIGHT SAY TODAY MIGHT SHED SOME LIGHT ON THAT, AS WE ALL KNOW, THE 2025 NOTICE OF TAX INCREASES TELLS US THAT PUBLIC SCHOOL TAXES GOING UP ROUGHLY 50% AND UNLIKE ALL THE OTHER COSTS, THE USUAL 3% HOME EXEMPTIONS DOES NOT APPLY TO SCHOOL TAXES. SO, OUR OVERALL REAL ESTATE TAXES PRIOR TO THIS MEETING OF COURSE WERE APPARENTLY GOING UP 11%. I KNOW THAT WE ARE NOT HERE AT THIS MEETING TODAY TO TALK ABOUT SPECIFICALLY LOCAL SCHOOL TAXES BUT I WISH TO MAKE A COUPLE OF RELEVANT POINTS. AT THE LAST MEETING, COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST WAS KEEN TO POINT OUT THAT RESIDENTS HAD VOTED TO APPROVE THE LOCAL SCHOOL TAXES. THIS IS TRUE. BUT IT IS VERY CONSPICUOUS THAT THE VOTE ONLY REFERRED TO TEACHERS PAY. AND WHAT PERSON WITH ANY HEART WOULD VOTE AGAINST RAISING THE PAY OF TEACHERS OR NURSES? WE ALL LOVE CHURCH -- TEACHERS AND NURSES BUT THE REAL COST MUST BE REVEALED OR ADDRESSED, PARTICULARLY THE COST OF NEW SCHOOLS. RESIDENTS ARE TRULY ASTONISHED, WITH THE SAME COMMISSIONERS WHO APPROVE THE MASSIVE DEVELOPMENTS HAVE NO JURISDICTION WHATSOEVER OR EVEN KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT THE BUILDING OF NEW SCHOOLS IS COSTING THE COUNTY. I PERSONALLY HAVE

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MY HEART WENT OUT FOR THE TWO ELDERLY PEOPLE AT THE LAST MEETING WHO CAME HERE ON A FIXED INCOME AND THE YOUNG LADY WHO SAID THAT SHE WOULD PROBABLY HAVE TO SELL HER HOUSE BECAUSE OF THE WAY REAL ESTATE TAXES WERE GOING. PLEASE TAKE ACTION THIS EVENING TO ENSURE THAT OUR OVERALL TAXES DO NOT GO UP ALMOST 11%. MAKE THE MAXIMUM CUT YOU CAN AND MAKE THE OVERALL INCREASE AS SMALL AS POSSIBLE. THANK YOU.

>> ANYBODY ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? PLEASE COME FORWARD.

>> NICK ANDREWS, I SIT ON THE ST. JOHN'S COUNTY LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD, WE APPRECIATE THE HELP THAT YOU GUYS HAVE DONE WITH HELPING GET THE BUDGET THROUGH. I WANT TO LET YOU KNOW, IF ANYBODY IS A PART OF THE FRIENDS GROUP, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, YOU ARE THE BODIES THAT HELPED TO RUN THE LIBRARY AND IT IS GREATLY APPRECIATED, SO THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, SIR. GOOD EVENING, WELCOME.

>> GREETINGS COMMISSIONERS, I RESIDE AT 356 PRIVILEGE POINT DRIVE, SAINT AUGUSTINE, 32080 . BEFORE I BEGIN, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE THREE COMMISSIONERS WHO DID RESPOND TO MY WRITTEN CORRESPONDENCE ABOUT THE TAX INCREASE, AND I WAS VERY MUCH APPRECIATED AND IN REGARD TO TAX INCREASE, I'M ALL FOR PAYING MY FAIR SHARE FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE COMMUNITY AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. IT'S WONDERFUL. HOWEVER, THE PROPOSED BUDGET INCREASE IS UNSUSTAINABLE, FOR THE COMMON RESIDENT OF ST. JOHN'S COUNTY, THE COST OF LIVING IS ASTRONOMICAL. WE HAD PEOPLE AT THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETING LAST WEEK PAYING SEVEN DOLLARS FOR BUTTER, $15 FOR A POUND OF COFFEE. HE DOESN'T KNOW WHERE HIS NEXT MEAL IS COMING FROM. WE HAD A 47 YEAR RESIDENT, SENIOR CITIZEN, NO I.R.A., NO 401(K), SHE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT SHE'S GOING TO DO. SO IF YOU LOOK AT THE INCREASE OF 2.8% AND THE EROSION OF THAT INCREASE WITH THE MEDICARE PREMIUM AND DEDUCTIBLE, THAT IS 12%, ANOTHER 5% TO 6% ON MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION PREMIUMS, THAT IS UNSUSTAINABLE. IN MY CASE, MY TAXES HAVE GONE UP 9.8%, I JUST GOT MY BILL FOR HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE, IT WENT UP $1400 SO NOW I'M PAYING $800 PER MONTH JUST FOR HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE, I DON'T THINK THAT IS SUSTAINABLE. YES, THE VOTERS DID CHECK THE BOX FOR THE TAX INCREASE BUT A MAJORITY OF THEM ADMITTED THEY DID NOT REALLY UNDERSTAND IT AND THEY UNWILLINGLY APPROVED IT. AND SHAME ON US FOR THAT. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, HOW DID WE GET TO THIS POINT, WHAT HAS HAPPENED OVER THE LAST FIVE TO 10 YEARS WITH THE BUDGET REVIEWS? DID LEADERSHIP FALL SHORT? WAS IT FINANCIAL IRRESPONSIBILITY? OR WERE THE PROJECTIONS OF BUDGETS FOR GROWTH, WITH THE 11 SCHOOLS BUILT, IS THAT TOO MUCH, WERE THEY INACCURATE? SO I'M ASKING, WHAT CAN WE DO? CAN WE INCREASE THE IMPACT FEES PERHAPS, SHORT-TERM RENTALS? WHY NOTHING ABOUT THOSE THINGS, AND MAYBE AN AUDIT, WE NEED TO DRILL DOWN ON THESE EXPENSES THE GENTLEMAN IN THE BACK JUST SAID. WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE YOU ALL CONSIDER TAX RELIEF FOR SENIORS, THEY BUILT THIS COUNTY, WE BUILT IT ON THEIR SHOULDERS. THEY AT LEAST DESERVE A BREAK, IF THEY ARE A LONG TENURED RESIDENT, I RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT YOU CONSIDER DOING SOMETHING FOR THEM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU, SIR. YES MA'AM, GOOD EVENING, WELCOME.

[00:40:04]

>> GOOD EVENING, MARGO, SAINT AUGUSTINE, 32806. I'M GOING TO BE PART OF A VERY NON-VOCAL MINORITY THAT DOESN'T THINK MY TAXES ARE ENOUGH. I APPARENTLY DON'T HAVE THE NICEST HOUSE BUT MY TAX BILL EVEN AT THE HIGHEST RATE WILL BE $2300 PER YEAR.

THAT IS PROBABLY DUE TO THE EXEMPTIONS AND WHATNOT BUT THAT IS LESS THAN $200 PER MONTH, THAT IS $200 PER MONTH FOR THE USE OF FACILITIES LIKE THIS, IT IS $200 PER MONTH FOR USE OF ALL THE LIBRARIES, $200 PER MONTH FOR FIRE AND POLICE PROTECTION , FOR USE OF ALL THE COUNTY FACILITIES, ALL THE PARKS, ACCESS TO THE BEACHES AND ALL THE SALARIES FOR ALL OF THE PEOPLE HERE AND THE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THAT WORK FOR ST. JOHN'S COUNTY. THESE ARE JUST A FEW THINGS APPARENT TO ME. I DON'T KNOW ANY OF THE INNER WORKINGS THAT THEY CAN'T BEGIN TO IMAGINE ALL THAT GOES INTO THIS BUT I KNOW THAT $200 PER MONTH IS NOT ENOUGH FOR ALL THE SERVICES THAT I RECEIVE FROM ST.

JOHN'S COUNTY. AND I WISH THAT SOME OF THOSE THAT COMPLAIN, I UNDERSTAND THE ECONOMIC HARDSHIPS OF SOME PEOPLE BUT I THINK SOME OF THEM SHOULD LOOK PAST THE ENDS OF THEIR NOSES, MAYBE SHOW A LITTLE GRATITUDE AND APPRECIATION BECAUSE YOU CERTAINLY HAVE MINE. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU MISS GEER, WOULD ANYBODY LIKE TO COME TO THE PODIUM TO SPEAK? WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU. GOOD EVENING,

WELCOME. >> ERIC BURKE, I THINK THE BIGGEST THING PEOPLE WANT TO SEE IS, I WORK IN THE FINANCIAL SERVICES INDUSTRY SO THERE'S MULTIPLE WAYS YOU CAN SEE INCOMING MONEY, SO WHAT WE ARE SEEING IS JUST MONEY FROM ST.

JOHN'S COUNTY BUT I THINK FOR FUTURE BUDGET HEARINGS, LET'S SEE HOW MUCH MONEY CAME FROM STATE APPROPRIATIONS. LET'S SEE HOW MUCH CAME FROM IMPACT FEES. IF WE CAN BRING THOSE REVENUE SOURCES TOGETHER AND REPORT IN THE FUTURE, I KNOW IS AVAILABLE ONLINE BUT IF YOU CAN BRING IT ALL TOGETHER IN ONE REPORT IT MIGHT PROVIDE FOLKS SOME REASSURANCE BECAUSE IT IS A VERY TOUGH JOB THAT YOU ALL ARE IN. IT REALLY IS. I HAVE LIVED HERE FOR 35 YEARS AND I WANT TO GIVE MY DAUGHTER THE SAME QUALITY OF LIFE THAT I HAD AND ALSO YOU HAVE TO BALANCE THE BUDGET AND I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU ALL ARE IN A TOUGH SITUATION. BUT I THINK BRINGING OTHER REVENUE SOURCES AND STATE APPROPRIATIONS, IMPACT FEES, OTHER REVENUE SOURCES, IF YOU BRING THOSE INTO THE BUDGET FOR FUTURE YEARS, THAT MIGHT PROVIDE SOME FOLKS SOME REASSURANCE FOR THEIR TAXES GOING UP AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

JUST A SMALL RECOMMENDATION AND I GREATLY APPRECIATE IT, THANKS.

>> THANK YOU, SIR. ANYBODY ELSE? GOOD EVENING, SIR, WELCOME.

>> TEETH, CYPRESS LAKES BOULEVARD, AND FIRST I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE HEARING, ALLOWING US TO HAVE AN IMPACT ON WHERE WE ARE GOING. I THINK MORE PEOPLE NEED TO GET INVOLVED BEFORE A LOT OF PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT WHAT YOU DO. IF THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO TALK TO YOU AND HAVE YOU UNDERSTAND WHERE WE ARE, WHAT RIGHT DO I HAVE TO COMPLAIN? TAXES ARE IMPORTANT.

YOU ARE IN A VERY HARD SITUATION, EVERYTHING IS GOING UP, WE ALL HAVE THAT PROBLEM. YOU'VE HEARD FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT WHAT IS GOING UP AND WHAT ISN'T GOING UP IS THEIR INCOMES. I'M ON A FIXED INCOME, UNLIKE MANY PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM, WHATEVER YOU DECIDE TODAY ISN'T GOING TO AFFECT ME, I'M 100% DISABLED VETERAN WHICH MEANS STATE SAYS I'M EXEMPT FROM YOUR TAX. IS THAT RIGHT? I CAN'T SAY YES, I CAN'T SAY NO BUT WHAT I CAN SAY IS, THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT IS LOOKING AT WHAT THEY ARE REALLY SPENDING. I KNOW DENVER SAID HE HELPED YOU TO POINT OUT SOME THINGS THAT YOU MAY BE ABLE TO LOOK AT CUTTING. WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE TAIL, YOU MIGHT SAY.

WHAT HAVE WE BEEN SPENDING YEAR OVER YEAR OVER YEAR TO IDENTIFY WHERE WE ARE GOING? WE CAN'T JUST LOOK AT WHERE WE ARE SPENDING, WHAT WE WANT TO SPEND, BECAUSE WE HAVE TO SEE WHY WE ARE SPENDING IT. NOT JUST WE WANT TO SPEND. WANTING TO SPEND IS SOMETHING EVERYONE LOVES TO DO BUT DO THEY HAVE THE INCOME

[00:45:05]

>> THANK YOU, SIR. VERY GOOD, DO WE HAVE ANYBODY ELSE? GREAT.

GOOD EVENING. >> DAN GREEN, JUST BRIEFLY, MY CONCERN IS THE ASSESSED VALUES, WHEN I LOOK AT 2024, BASED ON HOW YOU ARRIVE AT HOME VALUES AND WHAT THE MARKET LOOKS LIKE, WE CAN GO BY ESTIMATES OR ACTUAL TRANSACTION DATA, IT LOOKS LIKE IN 2024 FOR ST. JOHN'S COUNTY, HOME VALUES AT BEST WERE FLAT, AT WORST MAYBE DOWN A COUPLE PERCENTAGE POINTS. YET I LOOK AT THE ASSESSMENTS HERE, QUITE DIFFERENT THAN THE ACTUAL REALITY ON THE GROUND. I DON'T SEE WHERE THE DISCONNECT IS, IT ALSO GIVES THE APPEARANCE THAT THE BUDGET IS ARRIVED AT AND BACKED INTO THE VALUES, I'M NOT ACCUSING YOU OF DOING THAT, IT JUST SEEMS LIKE QUITE A DISCONNECT BETWEEN THE ACTUAL EVALUATIONS I HAVE SEEN IN THE PAST FEW YEARS WHERE YOU RUN UP QUITE A BIT, BUT WE HAVE BEEN FLAT TO EVEN NEGATIVE IN SOME INSTANCES. IT IS NOT REFLECTED IN THE ASSESSMENT. THANK YOU.

>> GOOD EVENING, MA'AM, HOW ARE YOU?

>> GLAD TO SEE SO MANY PEOPLE HERE, I WISH THEY WOULD COME MORE OFTEN. AND THIS IS ALSO FOR A PUBLIC COMMENT, THEY TOLD ME THIS IS THE ONLY TIME TO TALK. THE PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA WAS ELIMINATED EARLIER TODAY, I SPOKE WITH MISS LADY AND SHE TOLD ME IT WOULD BE A PART OF THIS. LACK OF SUPPORT FROM COMMISSIONERS CREATE HOSTILITY, AFTER THE MEETING TODAY I WENT TO THE SHERIFFS OFFICE BUILDING TO INQUIRE ABOUT DAILY BOOKING LISTS. IT WAS A SHOCK TO FIND THE BUILDING WALKED, A SIGN STATED PUBLIC ACCESS NOT ALLOWED. IF RECORDS OR ASSISTANCE WAS NECESSARY, THE PUBLIC WOULD HAVE TO CALL AND THURSDAY WAS THE ONLY DAY THE PUBLIC TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO PICK UP RECORDS. NO ACCESS TO THE SHERIFFS BUILDING. THE SHERIFF IS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL PAID BY TAXPAYERS, INDIVIDUALS WITH WELL-KNOWN NAMES IN ST. JOHN'S COUNTY WHO ARE ARRESTED ARE MORE OF A PRIORITY TO THE SHERIFF THAN THE SAFETY OF THE TAXPAYING PUBLIC. AND TO LISTEN TO EVERYBODY AND HAVING BEEN TO THESE MEETINGS QUITE A BIT, MY QUESTION IS, DOES ANYBODY IN THE PUBLIC KNOW THIS, ARE ALL EMPLOYEES IN THE COUNTY RECEIVING A 7% RAISE? ALL EMPLOYEES. AND I QUESTION ALSO THE ELECTED PEOPLE AND I JUST WANT TO SAY, I'M GLAD THIS WAS MENTIONED AT THE VERY BEGINNING, CHAIR KRISTA JOSEPH, THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN. AGAIN, CHAIR KRISTA JOSEPH, THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN. AND WITH THE LAST COUPLE OF SECONDS, I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE THAT CAME TODAY, SOMEHOW TO WORK IT OUT THAT YOU CAN COME TO BCC BECAUSE A LOT OF QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN DISCUSSED,

[00:50:07]

THIS ONE TIME, THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, WOULD ANYBODY ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK THIS EVENING WE ARE GOING TO CLOSE PUBLIC

COMMENT ON OUR BUDGET WORKSHOP. >> BACK TO THE BOARD, ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE WE START OUR DISCUSSION? COMMISSIONER

WHITEHURST ? >> THANK YOU COMMISSIONER MURPHY, I DON'T KNOW IF I HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. SCHROEDER, I JUST WANTED TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE PUBLIC COMMENT AND BY THE WAY, I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY COMING OUT AND TAKING THE TIME TO ENGAGE IN CONVERSATION. IT IS WORTH NOTING, WE DO HAVE THE LOWEST MILLAGE RATE IN NORTHEAST FLORIDA AND WE ARE GOING TO CUT THAT TONIGHT SO IT'LL BE EVEN LOWER THAN WAS ALREADY THE LOWEST MILLAGE RATE. WE HAVE NO OPTION SALES TAX, TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM TENNESSEE THAT SPOKE, WE HAVE A HALF PERCENT SALES TAX THAT GOES EXCLUSIVELY TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. WE HAVE NO JURISDICTION, NO AUTHORITY, THERE BUDGET IS COMPLETELY SEPARATE FROM WHAT WE OVERSEE HERE. IT'S ALSO WORTH NOTING THAT WE HAVE NO LOCAL OPTION GAS TAX, SO WE ARE CHARGING THE LOWEST WE ARE ALLOWED TO CHARGE AND WE DO HAVE THE LOWEST MILLAGE RATE IN NORTHEAST FLORIDA. I WANT EVERYBODY TO KNOW WHO'S INTERESTED, THAT OUR BUDGET WORKSHOP WHICH IS HELD IN MAY IS NOW ON DEMAND ON OUR GOVERNMENT TV LINK SO IF YOU REALLY WANT TO SEE HOW THE SAUSAGE IS MADE, WE HAVE NEVER BEEN MORE TRANSPARENT WITH WHERE YOUR DOLLARS ARE GOING THAN WE ARE TODAY AND THAT WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY JOY ANDREWS, SHE LIVE STREAMS THE BUDGET WORKSHOP, EVERY SINGLE DEPARTMENT HAS TO COME UP AND THEY HAVE TO JUSTIFY EVERY SINGLE DOLLAR THAT SHE RECOMMENDS IN HER BUDGET AND THE FINAL APPROVAL COMES TO US BUT IF YOU ARE WONDERING WHERE EACH PENNYGOES, THAT IS ON DEMAND, YOU CAN SIT AT HOME AND EAT POTATO CHIPS AND WATCH LIKE NETFLIX, IT IS AS EXCITING AS WATCHING PAINT DRY, BUT THAT IS WHERE THE HARD WORK IS DONE, GOING LINE BY LINE AND DEPARTMENT BY DEPARTMENT AND JUSTIFYING EACH PENNY. SOMETHING ELSE THAT HAS BEEN MENTIONED IS THE SIZE AND AMOUNT OF THE BUDGET AND I WANT TO ADDRESS THAT, THERE ARE ENTERPRISE FUNDS THAT YOU SEE IN THE 1.898 BILLION DOLLAR BUDGET THAT WE HAVE NO DISCUSSION OVER SO WHILE IT IS OUR BUDGET, THE CARRYFORWARDS, ENTERPRISE FUNDS THAT MAKE UP THIS SEEMINGLY LARGE BUDGET, WE HAVE DISCRETION OVER ABOUT $400 MILLION WHICH IS WHAT THE GENERAL FUND AND OTHER FUNDS COMPRISE. THAT IS WHAT WE ARE HERE TODAY TO DECIDE. THAT IS ALL I'VE GOT AND ONCE AGAIN, I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY COMING

OUT, THANK YOU. >> ANYONE ELSE? COMMISSIONER

TAYLOR? >> I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY WHO CAME OUT TO SPOKE AND I'M PLEASED TO SEE SUCH A GOOD TURNOUT AND I KNOW THAT DOING ROLLBACK WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME FOR A LONG TIME AND I APPRECIATE THAT WE ALMOST GOT THERE AND I APPRECIATE WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO DO, BUT JUST KNOW, I DO HEAR YOU, I COULDN'T AGREE WITH YOU MORE AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING OUT AND FOR SPEAKING.

>> I WOULD ECHO WHAT MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS SAID, THIS IS THE LARGEST CROWD I HAVE SEEN SO I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY TAKING THE TIME TO COME OUT HERE AND WE HAVE ROLLED IT BACK TO A CERTAIN DEGREE, TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY. THE STAFF HAS BEEN AMAZING IN TERMS OF TRANSPARENCY AND GETTING US TO WHERE WE CAN CUT BACK TO WHERE WE CAN STILL LIVE AND EVERYBODY CAN STILL BE PROVIDED WITH ESSENTIAL SERVICES. AGAIN, THANK YOU

EVERYBODY. >> JUST A COUPLE OF COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS AND MAYBE YOU CAN HELP ME WITH THIS. TALKING ABOUT CARRYFORWARDS, YOU SAID THERE WAS A $6.7 MILLION CARRYFORWARD FROM LAST YEAR, CANNOT ALSO INCLUDE MULTIPLE YOUR PROJECTS THAT HAVEN'T BEEN COMPLETELY EXPENDED?

>> THAT IS CORRECT, PRIMARILY IT IS THE CAPITAL PROJECT COMPONENT OF THOSE MULTIYEAR PROJECTS THAT ARE NOT YET COMPLETED.

>> IS THERE AN EXAMPLE YOU CAN GIVE ME THAT WE ARE STILL CARRYING ON THE BOOKS THAT WILL NOT REALLY BE ON THE BOOKS?

>> LESS THAN A MONTH AGO YOU HAD A GROUNDBREAKING FOR STATE ROUTE 16 IMPROVEMENTS, PRIOR TO THAT YOU AWARDED THE CONTRACT FOR

[00:55:01]

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. JUST ONE OTHER THING, WHEN TALKING ABOUT THE MILLAGE RATE DECREASE, IT CUTS THE BUDGET BY ABOUT $3.9 MILLION. I JUST WANT TO REMIND EVERYBODY THAT WE ALSO HAD TO FIND A SHORTFALL IN THE FIRE BUDGET TO THE TUNE OF $6 MILLION. SO WE ARE LOOKING AT A $10 MILLION CUT TO OUR BUDGET, NOT JUST $3.9 MILLION BUT WE WERE STILL ABLE TO FIND WAYS TO REDUCE THE BUDGET, OR TO REDUCE THE MILLAGE RATE IF YOU WILL.

KUDOS TO THE STAFF FOR THEIR HARD WORK. DO I HAVE TO PIGGYBACK WITH COMMISSIONER TAYLOR ON THIS, CAN WE FIND MORE? I THINK WE CAN. I'M GOING TO EMPLOY THE HELP OF A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM TODAY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T NEED DOGE, THAT WE DOGE OURSELVES, AND I'M PROUD OF THE FACT, DAN, RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU ARE STILL HERE. THANK YOU, BUT JUST THE IMPLICATION OF AUTOMATION WHEN IT COMES TO LIGHTS AND AC SAVINGS, THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS, THERE ARE SOME MEETINGS WE ARE DOING, THE PRESENTATION TODAY BY SARAH TAYLOR ABOUT THE NEW INFORMATION SYSTEM THAT IS GOING TO INCREASE EFFICIENCY AND ALLOW US TO SAVE MONEY OTHERWISE. I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT. THERE WAS A LOT OF WORK DONE AND I KNOW WE HAVE A LOT MORE WORK TO DO SO I WILL CONCLUDE MY COMMENTS BY SAYING I'M PROUD OF THE FACT WE WERE ABLE TO GET TO A REDUCTION IN THE MILLAGE RATE THIS YEAR BUT I ALSO FEEL WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO. GOING FORWARD I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION 2025. I APOLOGIZE, COMMISSIONER JOSEPH, I KNOW YOU ARE ONLINE, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A STATEMENT, PLEASE, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. SEEING NONE, WE WILL CLOSE THE COMMENTS. AND I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION, APPROVING THE 2025 MILLAGE RATES, FOR ST. JOHNS COUNTY AND ALL PROPERTY .

>> I WILL SECOND. >> CALL FOR THE VOTE.

>> YOU WILL HAVE TO DO THAT BY A VOICE VOTE IF COMMISSIONER

JOSEPH IS STILL ON THE LINE. >> ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. ANY OPPOSED? SEEING NONE, WE WILL PASS THIS UNANIMOUSLY. DO I NEED TO DO THE SECOND ONE NOW? I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION FOR THE FINAL BUDGET OF THE BOARD, TO USE CERTIFIED TAXABLE VALUE OF $59 BILLION GENERATING AN ESTIMATED $399 MILLION AND RESULTING IN A TOTAL BUDGET OF 1.89 8,000,000,130 198 --

>> I WILL SECOND. >> PLEASE NOTE, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE . THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THIS ALSO HAS, ON

[Commissioners’ Reports]

[01:00:05]

OKAY. >> YES, THANK YOU, FIRST OFF I WANT TO SEND CONTINUED PRAYERS TO COMMISSIONER JOSEPH, LOTS AND LOTS OF PRAYERS FOR YOU AND ALSO I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO ADDISON AND MICHELLE SO VERY MUCH, WONDERFUL JOB, I CANNOT TELL YOU JUST HOW MUCH FAITH I HAVE. I KNOW LAST WEEK WAS VERY DEAR TO MY HEART, MY SON IS AWAY AT COLLEGE AND HE GOT EXTREMELY UPSET AND TURNING POINT , CHARLIE KIRK WAS GOING TO BE VISITING HIS CALL NEXT MONTH IN OCTOBER AND HE WAS PLANNING TO GO WITH HIS FRIENDS. SO IT HIT HIM VERY HARD AS WELL AS MY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT THAT CAME HOME, THAT WAS THE FIRST THING HE SAID WHEN HE WALKED IN THE DOOR. SO KUDOS TO BOTH OF YOU FOR STEPPING UP AND BEING LEADERS, YOU GIVE ME SO MUCH HOPE, I'M SO PROUD OF YOU AND I'M SURE YOUR PARENTS ARE PROUD OF YOU, TOO.

THERE ARE NO WORDS TO EXPRESS WHAT AN AMAZING EVENT SUNDAY EVENING WAS FOR THE VIGIL, JUST AMAZING. ANYWAY, JUST AMAZING TO HAVE EVERYBODY COME TOGETHER, HUGE KUDOS TO THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT FOR MAKING US FEEL SO SAFE AND IT WAS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. WE'VE GOT A LOT OF FRIENDS AND FAMILY THAT WILL BE AT ARIZONA CARDINAL STADIUM ON SUNDAY AND I DO WISH THAT I COULD JOIN THEM BUT I WILL BE THERE IN SPIRIT. ANYWAY, THANK

YOU. >> ANYONE ELSE?

>> COMMISSIONER MURPHY, COMMISSIONER JOSEPH JUST TEXTED AND SHE SAID SOMEHOW SHE WAS TALKING BUT NOBODY COULD HEAR HER AND SHE AGREED WITH THE VOTING AND WOULD LIKE FOR ME TO LET EVERYONE KNOW THAT SHE APPRECIATED EVERYONE BEING HERE AND EXPRESSING THEIR OWN IDEAS AND OPINIONS AND WE LOVE FREEDOM OF SPEECH, THANK YOU.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.