Sep 03, 2026 Board of County Commissioners

[Call to Order by Chair]

[00:00:10]

>> WE WILL CALL TO ORDER THIS SPECIAL MEETING OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER THIRD AT 5:01 P.M. MADAM CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE

CALL THE ROLL? >> COMMISSIONER CLAY MURPHY.

VICE CHAIR COMMISSIONER ANN TAYLOR.

>> PRESENT. >> COMMISSIONER CHRISTIAN

WHITEHURST. >> PRESENT.

>> COMMISSIONER SARAH ARNOLD. >> PRESENT.

>> COMMISSIONER JOSEPH. >> PRESENT.

>> WE WILL NOW ALL RISE FOR THE INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. AND LIEUTENANT COLONEL UNITED STATES AIR FORCE FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

>> THANK YOU. HEAVENLY FATHER WE THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY AND AS WE COME TOWARD THE END OF THE DAY WE KNOW WE ALL WALK INTO THIS ROOM AFTER ALREADY WORKING A FULL DAY OR WORKING IN OUR HOME WITH OUR KIDS.

AS WE TAKE A FEW MOMENTS TO BEGIN THIS MEETING, JUST TAKE A DEEP BREATH TO ALLOW THE WORRIES AND TROUBLES OF THE DAY TO PASS AWAY AND FOCUS OUR ATTENTION ON THE IMPORTANT RESPONSIBILITIES IN FRONT OF US. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS INCREDIBLE COUNTY. YOU HAVE BLESSED US WITH A BEAUTIFUL, AMAZING PLACE TO LIVE.

I PRAY THAT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US WILL STEWARD THIS COUNTY INCREDIBLY WELL. I THANK YOU FOR OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO SERVE IN OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AND HERE IN OUR FIRE. I WILL PRAY THAT YOU CONTINUE TO PROTECT THEM AS THEY PROTECT US. I PRAY THAT YOU GIVE COMMISSIONERS WISDOM AS THEY MAKE DECISIONS THAT AFFECT PEOPLE'S LIVES. I PRAY THAT AS THEY LOOK OVER THE BUDGET, LOOK OVER THE NUMBERS, THAT THEY WILL USE ALL THE WISDOM THEY HAVE TO BE ABLE TO MAKE DECISIONS THAT WILL STEWARD AND GUIDE OUR COUNTY IN A VERY GOOD WAY.

WE LOVE YOU AND WE KNOW THAT WE CAN'T DO THIS WITHOUT YOU, SO WE ASK THAT YOU WOULD BE PRESENT HERE TONIGHT.

WE PRAY THIS IN YOUR NAME, A M MAN.

>> IF EVERYONE WOULD PLEASE STAND AND FACE THE FLAG OF OUR NATION AND FOLLOW ME IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

>> 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 SO MUCH. MR. DUDLEY, YOU ARE A NATIONAL TREASURE. I APPRECIATE YOU SO MUCH.

[APPLAUSE] THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN ALL CLAP

[Additions/Deletions to Special Agenda ]

I WILL GO TO COMMISSIONER ARNOLD FOR ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS TO

THE SPECIAL AGENDA. >> I HAVE NONE.

>> COMMISSIONER JOSEPH. >> I'D LIKE TO HAVE COMMISSIONER COMMENTS AT THE END OF THE MEETING.

>> COMMISSIONER COMMENTS AT THE END OF THE MEETING.

OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH COMMISSIONER

[Approval of Special Agenda]

WHITEHURST. >> I HAVE NONE, MR. CHAIRMAN.

>> THANK YOU. I HAVE NONE.

MOTION TO APPROVE THE SECOND AGENDA?

>> SO MOVED WITH AMENDMENT. >> WE HAVE A MOTION FOR THE AMENDMENT TO ADD COMMISSIONER COMMENTS AT THE END AND WE HAVE A SECOND. LET'S VOTE.

OKAY. WE HAVE A SPECIAL AGENDA

[1. Public Hearing – 5:01 p.m. Public Hearing -- St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners Adoption of Tentative Millage Rates & Budget for FY 2027. 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 3, 2026, 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 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 2027.]

FLOOR. >> GOOD EVENING, CHAIR MURPHY, COMMISSIONERS, WADE SCHROEDER, OFFICE MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET.

HERE TONIGHT FOR THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE ADOPTION OF THE TENTATIVE MILLAGE RATES AND TENTATIVE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2027. AS PART OF MY PRESENTATION I WILL HAVE A PRESENTATION ON THE BUDGET, GO OVER THE MILLAGE RATES, AND THEN THERE IS A PROCESS THAT IS PRESCRIBED STATUTORILY, SO WE WILL MOVE INTO MORE OF A PRESCRIBED PROCESS THERE. THERE AE OPENINGS FOR PUBLIC COMMENT IN THAT. SO WITH THAT I'LL MOVE INTO THE PRESENTATION. THE TENTATIVE BUDGET, FOR ANYBODY THAT'S INTERESTED, IS ONLINE.

THE WEBSITE IS UP THERE. YOU CAN GO IN AND VISIT THE BUDGET AND SEE ALL THE DIFFERENT ACCOUNTS WITHIN THE BUDGET.

YOU CAN NAVIGATE IT BY SECTION, YOU CAN CUSTOMIZE YOUR OWN AND THAT WORKBOOK WILL BE SENT TO YOU DIRECTLY BY EMAIL AS.

I WILL TELL YOU IF YOU DO WANT TO PRINT IT IT IS PRETTY

[00:05:02]

THERE'S A LOT OF FINANCIAL INFORMATION THERE.

SO JUST GOING TO THE CALENDAR, THIS BUDGET PROCESS REALLY BEGAN IN FEBRUARY WITH THE KICKOFF TO DEPARTMENTS.

WE HAD ADMINISTRATORS BUDGET SESSIONS IN MAY OF THIS YEAR.

WE RECEIVED THE PROPERTY APPRAISER CERTIFIED TAXABLE VALUES IN JULY, AND ALSO IN JULY, ON THE 21ST WE CAME TO THE BOARD AND PRESENTED A RECOMMENDED BUDGET AND THE BOARD ESTABLISHED THE TENTATIVE MILLAGE RATES.

THAT BRINGS US HERE TODAY, THE FIRST OF 2 REQUIRED PUBLIC HEARINGS. THE FIRST ONE IS TONIGHT, WITH THE SECOND ONE, WE'LL ASK YOU TO APPROVE AS PART OF THE MOTIONS ON SEPTEMBER 15TH. JUST TO KIND OF GO OVER THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS, THIS WAS PART OF THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET IN JULY. THE BUDGET DID PROPOSE A FLAT MILLAGE RATES FROM 2026 WITH AN INCREASED EMERGENCY RESPONSE RESERVE FOR THE GENERAL FUND AS WELL AS ADDING AN EMERGENCY RESPONSE RESERVE FOR BOTH THE TRANSPORTATION TRUST FUND AND THE FIRE DISTRICT FUND. THOSE ARE OUR THREE BIGGEST OPERATIONAL DEPARTMENTS. WE DO HAVE HURRICANES AND WE HAVE TO STABILIZE, THOSE ARE WHERE THE COSTS, AT LEAST INITIAL RESPONSE ARE. SO THAT RESERVE THERE IS TO HELP PROVIDE SOME RESILIENCY WHEN WE DO HAVE THESE THINGS.

WITHIN THE BUDGET, WE WILL SEE THE CONTINUATION OF SOME OF THE PARKS, LIBRARIES, FIRE STATIONS, AND ROADWAY IMPROVEMENTS.

A LOT OF THESE WERE APPROVED THROUGH A BOND FUNDING BACK IN 2025. THOSE PROJECTS ARE STILL ONGOING, YOU WILL SEE A LOT OF THAT FUNDING AS PART OF THAT CARRY FORWARD PROCESS I MENTIONED ON TUESDAY.

A LOT OF FUNDING IS NOW IN THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2027.

THERE ARE 33.25 NEW FTES WITHIN THE BUDGET ALONG WITH THE REDUCTION OF ONE FTE, THERE'S OVER 264 MILLION IN NEW CAPITAL FUNDING AS PART OF OUR CIP PROGRAM.

THAT'S NEW FUNDING INVESTED INTO INFRASTRUCTURE.

WHEN WE GET TO THE CIP, YOU WILL SEE THAT NUMBER IS A LOT BIGGER IS THAT'S BECAUSE OF THAT CARRY FORWARDS, THE REMAINING BALANCE OF CURRENT YEAR'S CAPITAL FUNDING THEN CARRIED FORWARD INTO NEXT YEAR. THE BUDGET DOES ALSO INCLUDE SOME LEVEL OF BORROWING. THERE'S ABOUT 126 MILLION IN BORROWING. THIS IS RELATED TO UTILITY SERVICES, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT, INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS.

THE BOARD DID APPROVE EARLIER THIS YEAR A MULTIYEAR UTILITY RATE ADJUSTMENT TO FUND THESE CAPITAL PROJECTS AND THE DEBT SERVICE RELATED TO THEM. AND FINALLY, AS I'LL SHOW AS WELL, THIS BUDGET IS PREPARED I WOULD SAY KIND OF PREPARING FOR THE WORST AND HOPING FOR THE BEST.

WITHIN A LITTLE MORE THAN A MONTH OF THE BEGINNING OF THE BUDGET, WE WILL HAVE AN ELECTION ON PROPOSED PROPERTY TAX REFORM AND WHAT IMPLICATIONS THAT MAY HAVE TO OUR BUDGET.

SOME CHANGES FROM THAT RECOMMENDED BUDGET.

I WENT OVER THIS AS WELL ON TUESDAY.

THE BOARD APPROVED A FIRE RESCUE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT.

THERE WERE SOME FINANCIAL INCREASES RELATED TO THAT THAT WEREN'T PART OF THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET AT TIMES, SO THOSE WERE ADDED. THE TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL PROVIDED SOME BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS AS WELL.

SOME OF THAT WAS JUST KIND OF REAPPROPRIATING FROM ONE ACCOUNT TO ANOTHER, BUT THERE WERE SOME USES OF RESERVES ALONG WITH THAT. THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE PROVIDED AN AMENDMENT BUDGET REQUEST, REALLY FOR RETAINING AND RECRUITING LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, ABOUT A $3.9 MILLION ADDITIONAL REQUEST THERE. THE COURTS ALSO AMENDED THEIR BUDGET. THEIR BUDGET WAS ACTUALLY A DECREASE OF ABOUT 300000, BUT A DECREASE NONETHELESS.

WE DID ADD BACK ONE FTE FROM THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET AS WELL AS ANY AGENDA ITEMS THAT THE BOARD APPROVED BETWEEN THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET AND NOW, WE'VE CAPTURED THAT FUNDING AS NEEDED WITHIN THE BUDGET. AS I MENTIONED BEFORE A COUPLE TIMES, CARRY FORWARDS ARE A BIG ADDITION AT THE END OF THE BUDGET PROCESS. THEY'RE NOT NEW FUNDING.

THEY ARE REALLY THE REMAINING BALANCES OF ALREADY APPROVED FUNDING FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS. PRIMARILY CAPITAL PROJECTS BUT ALSO GRANTS AS WELL. FUNDING THAT'S ALREADY BEEN

[00:10:01]

OVER $480 MILLION IN CAPITAL CARRY FORWARD FOR FISCAL YEAR 2027. HERE'S REALLY THE SIMPLE MATH OF THE BUDGET. THE 2027 RECOMMENDED BUDGET WAS $1.45 BILLION. WE ADDED IN THOSE MULTIYEAR CARRY FORWARDS AND OTHER ADJUSTMENTS, AS I MENTIONED, OF ABOUT 484 MILLION. THAT BRINGS US TO A TENTATIVE BUDGET OF 1.939 BILLION FOR FISCAL YEAR 2027.

HERE'S AN IMAGE OF THE BUDGET BY FUND.

THERE'S OVER 89 FUNDS WITHIN THE COUNTY'S BUDGET.

EACH OF THOSE, BY LAW, HAVE TO BE BALANCED.

SO WE HAVE 89 INDIVIDUAL BUDGETS THAT MAKE UP THE OVERALL COUNTY BUDGET. OF THOSE 89 FUNDS, ONLY TEN OF THEM... SO THERE'S PLENTY OF FUNDS THROUGHOUT THE BUDGET THAT IS NOT SUPPORTING SERVICES THROUGH PROPERTY TAX AND THROUGH MILLAGE RATE.

THE ONES THAT ARE MAJOR THAT ARE THROUGH MILLAGE RATES ARE YOUR GENERAL FUND, TRANSPORTATION TRUST FUND, AND FIRE DISTRICT FUND. AND JUST A NOTE AT THE BOTTOM, TRANSFERS, INTERFUND TRANSFERS, INTERNAL SERVICE FUNDS KIND OF HAVE A WAY OF DOUBLE COUNTING. AGAIN, IF I GIVE YOU $5 AND YOU SPEND $5, COLLECTIVELY, FOR MOST PEOPLE WE SPENT $5 TOGETHER.

I SPENT $5 BY GIVING IT TO YOU AND YOU SPENT $5 AS WELL, SO WE SPENT $10. SO THERE'S A DOUBLE COUNTING EFFECT OF THOSE TRANSFERS OF THOSE INTERNAL SERVICE FUNDS.

HERE IS THE OVERALL BUDGET BY REVENUE SOURCE.

THE LARGEST ONE THERE IS OTHER SOURCES OF REVENUE, AND I HAVE IT LISTED ON THE BOTTOM. THAT'S REALLY YOUR FUND BALANCE, THAT'S PRIMARILY DUE TO YOUR CAPITAL CARRY FORWARDS.

ANY OF THOSE FUNDS THAT WERE NOT SPENT LAST YEAR, THAT COMES OVER

A. >> SPEAKER-01: BALANCE AS WELL AS ANY UNSPENT RESERVE BALANCES. SO WE HAVE RESERVES THIS YEAR.

IF WE DON'T USE IT, IT GOES TOWARDS NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET AND GOES RIGHT BACK INTO RESERVE. ADDITIONALLY, THAT CATEGORY INCLUDES ANY PLANNED BORROWING. SO IT DOES INCLUDE THE BORROWING AS I MENTIONED FOR UTILITY SERVICES FOR THOSE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS. THE TAXES THERE ARE MORE THAN JUST PROPERTY TAXES. WE HAVE DEVELOPMENT TAXES AS WELL, SO THERE IS A LITTLE BIT MORE.

THE BULK OF IT IS PROPERTY TAXES BUT THERE ARE OTHER TAXES THAT WE COLLECT. INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVENUE IS PRIMARILY GRANTS WE RECEIVE FROM STATE AND FEDERAL SOURCES, AS WELL AS ANY STATE REVENUE SHARING.

PERMITS, FEES, AND SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS.

SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS IS PRIMARILY THE SOLID WASTE ASSESSMENT, THAT'S PART OF THE TAX BILL APPROVED AT TUESDAY'S MEETING, NEXT YEAR'S ASSESSMENT RULE FOR SOLID WASTE, THAT'S IN THAT CATEGORY THERE. TAKING A LOOK AT WHERE THE MONEY GOES, THAT WAS WHERE THE MONEY COMES FROM.

WHERE DOES IT GO? HERE ARE THE INDIVIDUAL CATEGORIES. PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT IS PRIMARILY SOLID WASTE AND UTILITIES.

TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC SAFETY ARE PRETTY SELF-EXPLANATORY.

CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS, IN YELLOW, THAT INCLUDES ALL OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS, INCLUDING THE SHERIFF.

GENERAL GOVERNMENT IS PRIMARILY THE LARGEST AREA, AS FACILITIES MAINTENANCE AS WELL AS IT INFRASTRUCTURE.

THERE IS DEBT SERVICE WITHIN THE BUDGET.

WE HAVE OUTSTANDING BONDS, WE ARE PAYING DEBT ON THOSE BONDS AND REALLY WHAT WE SAY EACH YEAR IS DEBT SERVICE IS REALLY THE FIRST EXPENSE THAT WE BUDGET, BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE WE ARE PAYING OUR DEBT EACH YEAR.

OTHER USES HERE, ANOTHER LARGE CATEGORY.

THAT'S THOSE TRANSFERS BETWEEN FUNDS ON THE EXPENSE SIDE AS WELL AS RESERVES. ITS OTHER USE UNTIL WE HAVE A

[00:15:01]

GOING THROUGH THE POSITION REQUESTS, OVER 55 POSITIONS WERE REQUESTED AS PART OF THE BUDGET PROCESS THIS YEAR.

ONLY 33 WERE APPROVED OR TENTATIVELY APPROVED.

IN THE DARK BLUE, YOU CAN SEE BY WHAT WAS REQUESTED, IN THE YELLOWISH COLOR, IS WHAT WAS RECOMMENDED AND TENTATIVELY PROPOSED HERE. YOU CAN SEE THE DIFFERENCE OF SOME OF THE AREAS, KIND OF THE COBBLING OF A COUPLE DIFFERENT AREAS. BUT THERE WERE OVER 16 POSITIONS THAT WERE NOT APPROVED. PRIMARILY LIBRARY SERVICES, HR, PUBLIC AFFAIRS, PUBLIC WORKS HAVE BEEN POSITIONS THAT WERE JUST NOT APPROVED AS PART OF THE BUDGET PROCESS.

GOING BACK TO THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN, THE TYPES OF PROJECTS FUNDED BY THE DIFFERENT CATEGORY.

YOU CAN SEE PHYSICAL ENVIR ENVIRONMENT, WHICH ARE PRIMARILY UTILITIES BUT SOLID WASTE AS WELL, AND TRANSPORTATION TYPES OF PROJECTS BEING FUNDED. THOSE ARE TYPICALLY LARGE MULTIYEAR HIGH DOLLAR PROJECTS AND IT KIND OF SHOWS GRAPHICALLY AS WELL. FOLLOWED BY PUBLIC SAFETY, CULTURE AND REC, AND THE OTHER AREAS AS WELL.

THOSE GRAPHS DO INCLUDE THE CAPITAL CARRY FORWARD.

SO THIS IS ALL NEW MONEY, PLUS THE REMAINING BALANCES OF THE CURRENT YEAR'S FUNDING. ON THE RIGHT HERE IS HOW WE ARE PAYING FOR THOSE CAPITAL PROJECTS, THE SOURCES OF FUNDS.

PROCEEDS IS THE LARGEST AREA THERE, THAT'S A COMBINATION OF THE NEW UTILITY BORROWING THAT'S IN THE BUDGET AS WELL AS THE REMAINING BALANCES OF THE 2025 FUNDING FOR BORROWING FOR THE LIBRARY STATION -- THE LIBRARY, SHERIFF'S STATIONS.

IN 2026 THERE WAS ADDITIONAL UTILITY BORROWING, SO THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF EXTRA UTILITY IN THERE AS WELL.

IMPACT FEES ARE PROBABLY THE OTHER LARGEST AREA.

IT NOT ONLY INCLUDES WHAT YOU TYPICALLY THINK OF AS IMPACT FEES, BUT UTILITIES AND UNIT CONNECTION FEES ARE ALSO IN THAT IMPACT FEES CATEGORY AS WELL. SO A COMBINATION OF ROADS, PARKS, BUILDINGS. FIRE IMPACT FEES AS WELL AS UTILITIES AND TAX FEES. YOU CAN ALSO SEE UTILITIES, THE GENERAL FUND AGAIN WITH CARRY FORWARD HAS ABOUT 31 MILLION IN CAPITAL PROJECT FUNDING. THE BUDGET KIND OF HAS THIS CLOUD OVER US. AMENDMENT THREE, PROPERTY TAX REFORM. THIS IS PART OF THE NOVEMBER THIRD GENERAL ELECTION. THERE'S A COUPLE DIFFERENT COMPONENTS TO IT. IT EXPANDS HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.

IF APPROVED IN 2027, HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION GOES FROM 50,000 TO 150,000. IN 2028, IT GOES FROM 150,000 TO 250,000. SO OVER TWO YEARS THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION INCREASES FIVE TIMES. IT PUTS ADDITIONAL ASSESSMENT CAPS ON NONHOMESTEADED PROPERTY. THE CURRENT CAP IS 10% PER YEAR ON NONHOMESTEADED PROPERTY. THIS PROPOSAL WOULD DECREASE IT FROM 10% TO THE 5%. AND IT PUTS RESTRICTIONS ON CATEGORIES OF WHAT TAXES CAN BE USED FOR.

THERE'S SEVEN DIFFERENT CATEGORIES AS IDENTIFIED IN THE BILL OF WHAT AREAS PROPERTY TAXES CAN BE USED FOR.

ON THE BOTTOM HERE ARE ESTIMATED REVENUE IMPACTS.

THESE IMPACTS COME FROM EDR, THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC AND DEMOGRAPHIC RESEARCH. THEY ARE THE RESEARCH ARM OF THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE, THE ONES THAT DO FISCAL ANALYSIS ON ALL THESE BILLS. THEIR ANALYSIS CAME OUT IN MID-JULY. THEIR IMPACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2028, WHICH WOULD BE THE FIRST YEAR OF PROPERTY TAX REFORM, THAT'S THAT INCREASE FROM 150,000 WOULD BE A REVENUE IMPACT OF 68.3 MILLION, OR ABOUT 16% OF WHAT OUR FY27 TAXES ARE

[00:20:03]

ANOTHER HUNDRED THOUSAND. THAT REVENUE INCREASES TO 136 MILLION. THESE ARE RECURRING IMPACTS.

YOU CAN SEE IN THE NEXT THREE YEARS WITH THE ASSESSMENT CAPS, WITH THE PROJECTED GROWTH, YOU CAN SEE THE INCREASE, THE REVENUE IMPACT INCREASES TO ALMOST 200 MILLION BY YEAR FIVE.

SO HOW ARE TAXES CALCULATED? TAXES ARE LEVIED THROUGH A MILLAGE RATE, DEFINED AS THE DOLLARS ASSESSED FOR EACH $1000 VALUE OF PROPERTY. THE EQUATION IS TAXABLE VALUE DIVIDED BY 1000 TIMES THAT MILLAGE RATE.

SO THERE'S TWO COMPONENTS TO IT. THERE'S TAXABLE VALUE, DETERMINED BY THE PROPERTY APPRAISER OF THE MARKET VALUE OF A PROPERTY LESS ANY ASSESSMENT LIMITATIONS.

THOSE LIMITATIONS COULD BE LIKE, SAVE OUR HOMES FOR EXAMPLE, PROPERTIES CAN ONLY INCREASE 3%. A PROPERTY'S MARKET VALUE MAY INCREASE MORE THAN 3%. BUT FROM THE PROPERTY PERSPECTIVE THEY CAN ONLY INCREASE THAT ASSESSMENT BY THAT 3%, OR IN THIS CASE FOR THIS YEAR IT'S 2.7% IS THE CPI.

SO 3% FOR THE CPI, WHICHEVER IS LOWER.

YOU TAKE THE ASSESSMENT LIMITATIONS, LESS ANY EXEMPTIONS, AND COME UP WITH TAXABLE VALUE.

THEN THE TAXING AUTHORITIES TAKE THAT TAXABLE VALUE, THEY ASSIGN THEIR MILLAGE RATES, AND THAT'S HOW YOU COME UP WITH THE TAXES.

SO THE TWO PIECES ARE TAXABLE VALUE.

HERE'S A 10-YEAR HISTORY OF TAXABLE VALUES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2027. THE INCREASE IS 6.7%, 3.7% IS FROM NEW CONSTRUCTION. THAT'S PROPERTIES THAT WERE NOT ON THE TAX ROLL AND WERE NOT IMPROVED LAST YEAR, SO THEY'RE KIND OF NEW PROPERTIES RELATED TO NEW GROWTH OR DEVELOPMENT.

ALL OTHER PROPERTIES, AND THIS IS ON AVERAGE FOR 27, ONLY INCREASE 3%. SO WE ARE KIND OF RIGHT AT THAT CPI FOR ALL OTHER PROPERTIES. ON AVERAGE IF A PROPERTY WAS HERE LAST YEAR, ITS ASSESSMENT SHOULD ONLY GO UP ABOUT 3%.

I KNOW THERE WILL BE SOME OUTLIERS BUT ON AVERAGE 3%.

IT WAS ASKED AFTER THE MEETING ON TUESDAY WHAT I THINK THE NEXT YEAR OR NEXT COUPLE YEARS MAY BE ON THIS.

MY THOUGHT IS, YOU CAN SEE THE TREND.

WE WERE IN THAT 10% RANGE, 8-10%, THEN KIND OF HAD THAT SPIKE AFTER COVID WHEN EVERYONE WAS MOVING TO THE COUNTY AND THERE WERE A LOT OF HOME SALES. YOU CAN SEE THE TRENDS SINCE THEN. I THINK AT LEAST EARLY ON, MY TREND WOULD PROBABLY BE LESS THAN WHAT IT IS THIS YEAR.

SO WE WERE AT 6.7% THIS YEAR, IT'LL PROBABLY BE IN THE 5% RANGE IF I HAD TO GUESS TODAY. THE OTHER COMPONENT BEYOND TAXABLE VALUE IS MILLAGE RATES. THIS IS WHAT THE COUNTY LEVIES EACH YEAR. THIS IS AGAIN A 10-YEAR HISTORICAL MILLAGE RATES. JUST SHOWING THE THREE COUNTY WIDE PLUS FIRE, AND YOU CAN SEE OUTSIDE OF TWO YEARS WE'VE BEEN FLAT OR PROPOSED FLAT. AND FISCAL YEAR 2021, WE WENT TO A FULL ROLLBACK ON ALL MILLAGE RATES AND YOU CAN SEE THAT REDUCTION THERE. WE WERE FLAT FROM THAT TIME THROUGH LAST YEAR WHEN THE BOARD APPROVED I WILL SAY A NET MILLAGE REDUCTION, BECAUSE THERE IS AN INCREASE TO THE FIRE DISTRICT MILLAGE RATE, BUT THERE'S AN OFFSETTING INCREASE PLUS ON THE GENERAL FUND SIDE. IN THE LAST TEN YEARS, WE'VE NOT INCREASED OUR MILLAGE RATES O ONCE, AND WE HAVE DECREASED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. FOR FISCAL YEAR 2027, WE ARE PROPOSING FLAT MILLAGE RATES FOR THE BUDGET.

HERE'S AN OVERALL PICTURE OF ALL THE MILLAGE RATES, COUNTYWIDE ARE UP TOP IN THE LIGHTER COLOR, FIRE DISTRICT, IN THE ORANGISH COLOR. THE TWO STREET LIGHTING DISTRICTS WHICH ARE JUST SMALL NEIGHBORHOOD AREAS FOR STREET LIGHTING PURPOSES ONLY, AND THE BOTTOM ONES ARE THE COASTAL MANAGEMENT PROJECTS. TOTAL PROPERTY TAXES RELATED TO

[00:25:04]

THE LARGEST AREAS ARE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND FIRE RESCUE, PUBLIC SAFETY. ALMOST 60% OF OUR PROPERTY TAXES ARE GOING TOWARD PUBLIC SAFETY. ANOTHER 13% ARE GOING TO ROADS FOR MAINTENANCE AND INFRASTRUCTURE.

SO THOSE TOP THREE AREAS ARE OVER 70% OF THEIR PROPERTY TAXES. BEYOND THAT, PARKS, RECREATION AND LIBRARIES ARE TAKING ANOTHER 7% OF PROPERTY TAXES.

AS I MENTIONED, COUNTY BUILDINGS, IT AND TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE, ALSO ANOTHER 7%. GENERAL GOVERNMENT, 5%.

CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS, BESIDES THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE ARE AN ADDITIONAL 5%. AND FINALLY, ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENT AT 2%, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AT 3%.

THIS IS WHERE YOUR PROPERTY TAXES ARE GOING TODAY.

IF WE HAVE PROPERTY TAX, IF AMENDMENT THREE PASSES, THESE ARE THE AREAS WHERE WE WILL HAVE LESS PROPERTY TAX REVENUE TO PROVIDE SERVICES. SO WITH THAT, THAT KIND OF CONCLUDES MY BUDGET PRESENTATION.

I'LL MOVE INTO THE MORE STATUTORILY PRESCRIBED PROCESS FOR THIS FIRST PUBLIC HEARING. SO THE PROCEDURES FIRST.

THE FIRST ITEM IS THE DISCUSSION OF THE PERCENTAGE INCREASE OVER THE ROLLBACK RATE. THEN WE WILL OPEN IT UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, AND THEN THERE WILL BE THREE MOTIONS FOR THE BOARD TO CONSIDER. FIRST BEING THE ADOPTION OF THE TENTATIVE MILLAGE RATE RESOLUTION, SECOND, ADOPTION OF THE TENTATIVE BUDGET RESOLUTION, AND FINALLY THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE DATE, TIME, AND PLACE OF THE FINAL BUDGET HEARING.

AND AGAIN WE ARE PROPOSING SEPTEMBER 15TH.

THIS BUILDING, 5:01 P.M. WITH THAT I WILL GET INTO ITEM ONE, DISCUSSION OF THE PERCENTAGE INCREASE OVER THE ROLLBACK RATE. THE TAXING AUTHORITY IS ST.

JOHNS COUNTY. THE AGGREGATE ROLLBACK MILLAGE RATE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2027 WOULD BE 6.6143 MILLS.

OUR TENTATIVE AGGREGATE MILLAGE RATE, WHAT WE ARE PROPOSING, IS 6.7559 MILLS. THE PERCENTAGE INCREASE OVER ROLLBACK RATE IS 2.14%. THE REASON FOR THAT 2.1% INCREASE ROLLBACK RATE IS TO CONTINUE OUR FIRE RESCUE EXPANSION, AND CONTINUE TO BE ABLE TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS AS WELL AS TO PLAN FOR POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAX REFORM. WITH THAT I WILL TURN IT OVER TO

PUBLIC COMMENT. >> THANK YOU.

ANY QUESTIONS WHILE HE'S HERE? >> THANK YOU.

PRESENTING A LOT OF INFORMATION VERY QUICKLY.

YOU AND YOUR TEAM HAVE DONE A WONDERFUL JOB DURING THIS BUDGET SEASON. WOULD YOU PLEASE GO BACK TO THE SLIDE OF THE TENTATIVE MILLAGE RATES? THANK YOU. YOU PRESENTED A LOT OF INFORMATION WHICH YOU ARE REQUIRED TO DO BY LAW, INCLUDING THE 40,000 BUDGET. IS IT ACCURATE THAT THE DISCRETIONARY BUDGET THAT THIS BOARD HAS, THE $426 MILLION NUMBER. IS IT ACCURATE THAT THE INCREASE FROM LAST YEAR'S BUDGET IS ROUGHLY $27 MILLION?

>> CORRECT. >> LAST YEAR'S BUDGET IS REPRESENTED BY THE $399 MILLION NUMBER.

>> YES. >> IS IT ACCURATE THAT OF THE NEARLY $27 MILLION INCREASE THAT 21.5 MILLION IS GOING IN INCREASES TO OUR SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND FIRE RESCUE

DEPARTMENT? >> YES, ROUGHLY.

>> OKAY. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE.

PUBLIC SAFETY, FOR THE RECORD, IS A GREAT INVESTMENT.

WITHOUT PUBLIC SAFETY, IT BECOMES NOT SUCH A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE. I JUST WANTED TO ESTABLISH THAT WE ARE ESSENTIALLY AN EYELASH AWAY FROM NEARLY 80% OF THIS YEAR'S BUDGET INCREASE GOING BACK INTO PUBLIC SAFETY.

I THINK THAT REFLECTS THE BOARD'S COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC

[00:30:03]

>> THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE?

>> AT THIS TIME WE WILL TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE ONLY AGENDA ITEM TONIGHT. COME ON UP.

GOOD EVENING. >> MY NAME IS DEBORAH CAMPBELL, ST. JOHNS COUNTY RESIDENT. FDOT HAS LEGALLY BANNED ALPR CAMERAS ON STATE ROADS. BECAUSE THOSE CAMERAS ARE COMING DOWN, WHERE IS THE TAXPAYER MONEY FOR THOSE SPECIFIC UNITS GOING? IS IT GOING TO BE REFUNDED DIRECTLY TO THE COUNTY GENERAL FUND, OR IS IT GOING TO GO TO THE SHERIFF OR IS HE GOING TO KEEP IT AND PAY IT TOWARDS TRACKING NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS? $2.2 MILLION IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS ON THEM. DOES THE BUDGET FUND SOFTWARE MODULES THAT USE AI TO FLAG SUSPICIOUS BEHAVIOR OR PREDICT CRIME BEFORE IT HAPPENS? ARE WE SPENDING PUBLIC TAX DOLLARS ON PREDICTIVE ANALYTICS THAT GENERATE AUTOMATED RISK SCORES FOR INNOCENT RESIDENTS GOING ABOUT THEIR DAILY ROUTINES? WE KNOW FROM PUBLIC RECORDS THAT THESE CAMERAS WERE PURCHASED, AND I QUOTE "LPR DATA CAN BE USED TO TRACK WHERE THEIR VEHICLE HAS BEEN SPOTTED.

THIS ALLOWS LAW ENFORCEMENT TO DEVELOP A PATTERN OF LIFE TO POTENTIALLY IDENTIFY HOME AND WORK LOCATIONS.

WE ARE USING PUBLIC FUNDS -- ARE WE USING PUBLIC FUNDS FOR FACIAL RECOGNITION SOFTWARE, DRONE SURVEILLANCE FOR THIRD PARTY DATA SCRAPING? HINT, WE ARE.

IF THIS BUDGET FUNDS BIOMETRIC TRACKING, WHAT OVERSIGHT EXISTS TO PREVENT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE FROM AUDITING THE DAILY MOVEMENTS OF LAW ABIDING CITIZENS WITHOUT A WARRANT? NONE. EVEN THOUGH THERE WERE CONCERNS ABOUT DATA, WE COULD HAVE HANDLED THAT.

WHY DIDN'T YOU? COMMISSIONERS, YOU CANNOT HIDE BEHIND THE EXCUSE THAT THE SHERIFF IS AN INDEPENDENTLY ELECTED OFFICIAL. YOU HOLD THE POWER OF THE PURSE.

YOU ARE BEING ASKED TONIGHT TO SIGN THE CHECK FOR THIS TECHNOLOGY. YOU CAN VOTE NO ON HIS TOTAL BLOCK BUDGET FOR TECHNOLOGY TONIGHT.

YOU HAVE THE STATUTORY AUTHORITY TO SLASH THE TOTAL FUNDING BY THE COST OF THOSE CONTRACTS. IF YOU VOTE YES ON THIS MULTIMILLION DOLLAR BUDGET LUMP SUM WITHOUT DEMANDING OVERSIGHT, YOU ARE CHOOSING TO HAND HIM A BLANK CHECK FOR MASS SURVEILLANCE. GIVE HIM THE MONEY INSTEAD TO GET THE DEPUTIES ARRAYS. UNDER FLORIDA'S HOME RULE AUTHORITY, YOU HAVE THE ABSOLUTE LEGAL POWER TO BAN AUTOMATED TRACKING EQUIPMENT FROM BEING INSTALLED ON COUNTY RIGHT OF WAYS AND COUNTY PROPERTY. FURTHERMORE, YOU HAVE THE SOLE AUTHORITY TO VOTE NO ON THE TECH VENDOR CONTRACTS FUNDING THESE OPERATIONS. DO NOT TELL US YOUR HANDS ARE TIED. COUNTY COMMISSIONERS DID THE EXACT SAME THING. YOU HAVE THE EXPLICIT LEGAL POWER TO PROTECT OUR PRIVACY AND STOP THIS TONIGHT.

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE AT THIS TIME?

>> HIGH GUYS. I'M NOT HERE YELLING TONIGHT.

MASTERS. I ACTUALLY WASN'T PLANNING ON COMING TONIGHT. I KNOW THAT I HAVE COME TO YOU GUYS ABOUT THE FLOCK CAMERAS, AND WE GO BACK AND FORTH ABOUT THAT QUITE A BIT. AND I'VE BEEN KIND OF FORCEFUL IN MY ARGUMENTS. BUT TONIGHT, SOMETHING BOTHERED ME MORE THAN THAT. OUR OFFICERS -- SORRY, I DON'T WANT TO CRY. OUR SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES ARE MAKING 15-24% LOWER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.

THEY'RE BEING PAID LESS THAN THE PEOPLE THAT I HIRE WHO ARE WORKING IN MAINTENANCE WITH ONE YEAR OF EXPERIENCE.

THEY ARE NOT MAKING THE MONEY THAT THEY NEED TO BE MAKING.

I DON'T AGREE WITH THE BUDGET INCREASE THE SHERIFF IS ASKING FOR, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK IT'S BEING SPENT APPROPRIATELY.

I WANT THE MONEY TO GO TO OUR OFFICERS.

I HAD ONE INTERACTION WITH ST. JOHNS COUNTY DEPUTIES BACK IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR. A SENSITIVE ISSUE WITH MY NIECE.

I THINK THERE WERE ABOUT FIVE OFFICERS THAT RESPONDED.

I HAVE NEVER HAD BETTER OFFICERS COME TO MY HOUSE.

THEY WERE THE MOST POLITE, PROFESSIONAL, THEY HAD THEIR BODY CAMS ON. THEY WERE THE MOST CARING PEOPLE THAT COULD HAVE SHOWN UP IN THAT MOMENT AND I WANT THEM TO BE PAID WHAT THEY'RE WORTH. I DON'T WANT OUR MONEY SPENT ON TECHNOLOGY TO CATCH CRIMINALS AND REPLACE OUR OFFICERS.

WE DON'T NEED AI TO TAKE THEIR PLACE.

[00:35:02]

IF THEY'RE NOT BEING PAID WELL, WE ARE GOING TO END UP WITH COPS LIKE IN MICHIGAN AND MINNESOTA, WHERE THERE'S ALL KINDS OF HORRIBLE STUFF HAPPENING, AND THEY DON'T CARE.

THEY'RE NOT PAID ENOUGH TO DEAL WITH RISKING THEIR LIFE.

THEY ARE PUTTING THEIR LIFE ON THE LINE EVERY SINGLE DAY AND THEY'RE NOT GETTING PAID FOR THAT.

WE ARE EXPECTING THEM TO DO THE JOB, PUTTING THEIR LIFE ON THE LINE, RISKING NOT SEEING THEIR KIDS AGAIN FOR THE PAY OF A MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN WITH ONE YEAR OF EXPERIENCE.

I PAY MORE FOR MY TECHNICIANS -- SORRY.

OUR MEDIAN INCOME IS $77,000 IN THIS COUNTY.

OUR AVERAGE COST OF LIVING FOR TWO ADULTS HERE IS $60,000.

THAT LEAVES THEM WITH NO MONEY FOR SAVINGS.

NO MONEY FOR EXTRA MEDICAL ISSUES, ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

I JUST WANT TO SEE THAT THEY ARE PAID FOR THE JOB THAT THEY ARE DOING AND THAT OUR MONEY IS MORE WISELY BUDGETED.

THAT THAT $3.5 MILLION WE SPENT ON FLOCK CAMERAS COULD HAVE GONE TO THESE GUYS. I WANT TO JUST MAKE SURE THAT OUR COUNTY IS TAKING CARE OF THE PEOPLE WHO KEEP US SAFE AND PROTECT OUR LIVES. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE?

COME ON UP. >> FOLKS COMMENT IF YOU WANT TO COMMENT PLEASE COME ON UP. WE HAVE THREE PODIUMS UP HERE.

JUST STAND IN LINE SO WE CAN GET THIS GOING.

GOOD TO SEE YOU, BY THE WAY. >> GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS.

I THINK THIS HAS A LOT TO DO WITH BUDGETING.

I'M CURIOUS TO BEGIN WITH WHETHER THIS COUNTY COMMISSION GAVE THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE PERMISSION TO PUT THE FLOCK CAMERAS ON THE COUNTY RIGHT OF WAY.

I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHEN THAT APPROVAL WAS GIVEN AND WHETHER THIS BOARD WAS INFORMED OF THE LONG TERM FINANCIAL AND PRIVACY IMPLICATIONS. IF NOT, I BELIEVE THE COMMISSION NEEDS TO ASK HOW THESE CAMERAS WERE PLACED ON COUNTY PROPERTY WITHOUT ITS APPROVAL. AS LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FACE DIFFICULT BUDGET DECISIONS WE NEED TO ASK BASIC QUESTIONS.

CAN WE CONTINUE TO AFFORD THIS SYSTEM AND WHAT ARE WE GIVING UP TO PAY FOR IT? BASED ON THE FIGURES PRESENTED BY THIS COMMISSION, TAXPAYERS HAVE ALREADY PAID...

WITH ROUGHLY 4 MILLION... THESE AREN'T NECESSARILY ONE TIME PURCHASES. FLOCK OPERATES WITH A RECURRING SUBSCRIPTION MODEL WITH AT LEAST 162 CAMERAS DOCUMENTED AS OF 2025, CONTINUING COST TO TAXPAYERS IS SUBSTANTIAL.

IF THE SHERIFF'S CONSIDERS FLOCK INDISPENSABLE, TAXPAYERS DESERVE TO KNOW THE COMPLETE COST OF THE CAMERAS, SUBSCRIPTIONS, EXPANSIONS, STAFFING, MAINTENANCE AND EVERYTHING ELSE ASSOCIATED. IF FLOCK IS PROTECTED FROM BUDGET CUTS, WHAT DO WE CUT INSTEAD? THESE CAMERAS MAY HELP SOLVE PARTICULAR PROBLEMS, BUT THAT ALONE DOES NOT ANSWER WHETHER THE COST AND SCOPE ARE JUSTIFIED. GIVE THIS COMMISSION AND THE PUBLIC MEASURABLE RESULTS. HOW MUCH ARE WE SPENDING, HOW MANY SERIOUS CRIMES DID WE SEE SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE OF FLOCK? WHO CAN SEARCH THAT DATABASE AND WHAT OUTSIDE AGENCIES HAVE ACCESS TO DATA? WHAT SAFEGUARDS EXIST TO PREVENT ABUSE? THIS IS NOT ABOUT BEING ANTILAW ENFORCEMENT. IT'S ABOUT FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY, TRANSPARENCY, PRIVACY, AND GOVERNMENT POWER.

OTHER FLORIDA COUNTIES HAVE REMOVED THE FLOCK CAMERAS WITH CONCERN OVER THEIR ISSUE. TODAY I ASK THIS COURT TO TAKE THIS CONCERN SERIOUSLY AND MAKE A MOTION TO REMOVE FLOCK CAMERAS FROM THE COUNTY RIGHT OF WAYS. I THINK THE SHERIFF IS COMING IN AND I READ THE NUMBER, AND I MAY BE SLIGHTLY OFF, SOME $10.5 MILLION INCREASE IN BUDGETING.

10.5 MILLION INCREASE IS THE SAME SHERIFF THAT TOLD ME HE WAS DOING HIS BEST TO GET OFF THE FEDERAL FUNDING.

HE DID NOT WANT TO APPLY FOR FEDERAL FUNDING ANY MORE, HE WANTED TO KEEP IT IN COUNTY. HE'S HEMORRHAGING MONEY AND NOW ASKING FOR $10.5 MILLION MORE? I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO KNOW WHO'S GOT TO BE LIABLE FOR THESE FLOCK CAMERAS IF THE COUNTY COMMISSION DID NOT GIVE PERMISSION TO PUT THESE UP ON COUNTY RIGHT OF WAY IF SOMEONE HITS ONE OF THESE POLES.

I CAN'T GO OUT THERE WITHOUT PERMITTING BECAUSE THERE'S A CERTAIN LIABILITY ISSUE TIED TO THAT.

IF THIS COMMISSION DIDN'T GIVE HIM PERMISSION TO PUT THOSE UP, AND A CAR WRAPS AROUND ONE, ARE YOU RESPONSIBLE FOR ALLOWING THEM TO STAY THERE OR IS THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT RESPONSIBLE FOR PUTTING IT THERE WITHOUT THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.

THIS COULD BE A LEGAL ISSUE. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE AT THIS TIME, COME ON UP. GOOD EVENING.

>> GOOD EVENING, COMMISSIONERS. THE SHERIFF HAS DEFENDED FLOCK CAMERAS BECAUSE THEY CAN HELP SOLVE CRIMES.

[00:40:01]

THIS COMMISSION SHOULD DEMAND MEASURABLE RESULTS BEFORE COMMITTING ADDITIONAL TAXPAYER DOLLARS.

FLOCK MAY HELP REDUCE VEHICLE THEFT, BUT THERE'S NO GOOD EVIDENCE YET SHOWING THAT FLOCK REDUCED OVERALL CRIME IN ST.

JOHNS COUNTY COMPARED WITH SIMILAR COUNTIES THAT DON'T USE FLOCK. THAT'S AN IMPORTANT DISTINCTION.

SHOWING THAT A CAMERA HELPED INVESTIGATORS SOLVE AN INDIVIDUAL CASE IS NOT THE SAME AS DEMONSTRATING THAT SPENDING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON A COUNTY WIDE CITIZEN SURVEILLANCE NETWORK ACTUALLY REDUCES OVERALL CRIME.

QUESTIONING THAT, BY THE WAY, DOESN'T MAKE SOMEONE ANTI-POLICE. IS GOVERNOR DESANTIS NOW ANTIPOLICE BECAUSE HE'S QUESTIONING THIS? THIS ISN'T A PRO VERSUS ANTIPOLICE QUESTION.

IT'S A QUESTION OF FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY AND LIMITED GOVERNMENT. A MASS LICENSE PLATE DATABASE COLLECTS INFORMATION ABOUT THOUSANDS OF INNOCENT PEOPLE'S MOVEMENTS AND IDENTITIES FIRST BEFORE ANY PROBABLE CAUSE HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED. SHERIFF HARDWICK WILL NOT BE THE SHERIFF HERE FOREVER, SO DON'T ASK ONLY WHETHER YOU TRUST TODAY'S GOOD SHERIFF WITH THIS TECHNOLOGY.

ASK WHETHER YOU TRUST EVERY FUTURE SHERIFF AND EVERY GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL WHO MAY SOME DAY GAIN ACCESS TO THIS POWER.

IN THE WRONG HANDS, FLOCK OR OTHER AI CAMERAS COULD BE USED TO PROFILE LAW ABIDING CITIZENS BASED ON POLITICAL ACTIVITY OR ASSOCIATIONS, TURNING A SO-CALLED PUBLIC SAFETY TOOL INTO A TOOL FOR POLITICAL SURVEILLANCE.

IN THE MILITARY I TOOK AN OATH TO PROTECT AND DEFEND OUR CONSTITUTION. THE FOURTH AMENDMENT AND SUPREME COURT PRECEDENTS STATE THAT WE ARE TO BE SECURE INCLUDES OUR ID. THEY DEMAND A WARRANT, PROBABLE CAUSE, EXIGENT CIRCUMSTANCES, OR REASONABLE ARTICULABLE SUSPICION BEFORE RUNNING THEIR PAPERS. YET THESE LICENSE AND I.D.

SCANNERS MEET NONE OF THESE PREREQUISITES BEFORE DOING EXACTLY THAT AND VIOLATE OUR SACRED CONSTITUTION.

THIS ISN'T NORTH KOREA OR CHINA. SUPPORTING GOOD POLICE WORK, PROTECTING TAXPAYERS, PROTECTING CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS ARE ENTIRELY COMPATIBLE WITHOUT TURNING THE COUNTY INTO A COMMUNIST LIKE SURVEILLANCE STATE.

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE AT THIS TIME FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? SEEING NONE -- SORRY, COME ON UP. GOOD EVENING.

>> GOOD EVENING. CANDIDATE...

SANDRA PARK SAYS THAT THE BUDGET...

AND JOE BIDEN'S FATHER TOLD HIM WHEN HE WAS A LITTLE BOY THAT, SHOW ME YOUR BUDGET AND I WILL SHOW YOU WHERE YOUR VALUES ARE.

I'D LIKE TO PROPOSE THAT WE DO MORE IN THIS BUDGET IN TERMS OF COLD CASE INVESTIGATIONS LIKE THE MICHELLE O'CONNELL CASE.

SHE WAS KILLED 16 YEARS AGO. TWO JUDGES, ONE FEDERAL AND ONE STATE, FOUND PROBABLE CAUSE THAT IT WAS A HOMICIDE.

THE FAMILY HAD TO PAY FOR THEIR OWN AUTOPSY.

YEARS LATER. THE AUTOPSY FOUND HER JAW WAS BROKEN, IT WAS MURDER. WE NEED TO SOLVE THAT CRIME.

I DO KNOW THAT SHERIFF HARDWICK, WHEN HE WAS THE INVESTIGATOR FOR THE ATTORNEY, WANTED TO DO AN HE AND COMMANDER PARKER, HIS ASSISTANT BOTH WANTED TO DO AN AUTOPSY.

THEY NEVER STOPPED. THE INVESTIGATOR SENT HIM TO FBI, NATIONAL TRAINING ACADEMY EARLY.

THAT CRIME NEEDS TO BE SOLVED. TWO RESPECTED JUDGES,

[00:45:04]

PLEASE SET ASIDE MONEY FOR COLD CASE INVESTIGATIONS, INCLUDING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. JFK SAID HERE ON EARTH, GOD'S WORK MUST TRULY BE OUR OWN. I SPOKE TO A MEMBER OF THE FAMILY YESTERDAY. THIS NEEDS TO HAPPEN.

IT'S BEEN A BURR UNDER THE SADDLE OF THE COUNTY FOR 16 YEARS. I'D ALSO LIKE TO SUGGEST THAT MONEY BE SET ASIDE IN THE BUDGET, AND WE'LL FIGURE OUT THE CASE CODES. WE NEED TO ADD MONEY INTO THE BUDGET FOR INVESTIGATIONS, SUCH AS THE ONE THAT COMMISSIONER TAYLOR AND COMMISSIONER JOSEPH SUGGESTED.

THE ONLY EXPERTISE THAT COMES TO THIS AUDITORIUM TOO OFTEN IS PAID FOR TEST THE LAWYERS. OUR COUNTY STAFF IS BASICALLY SITTING ON THEIR BEHINDS, NOT DOING THE KIND OF EVIDENTIARY DEVELOPMENT THAT YOU NEED TO DECIDE.

UNLESS SOMEONE BRINGS FORWARD AS AN EXPERT WITNESS FOR A CORPORATION IN A ZONING CASE INFORMATION, SOMETHING IS GOING TO GET MISSED. LIKE ON THIS PENDING APPLI APPLICATION. THERE'S MORE TO SAY AND THERE'S MORE TO LEARN, BUT THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO.

THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO COMES HERE, AND WE HOPE WE GET THE ANSWERS. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE, COME ON UP.

GOOD EVENING. >> GOOD EVENING.

I DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING AS PREPARED AS ANYONE ELSE.

TO THE LADY WHO SAID THAT WE COULD -- I'M MIKE GILL, NICE TO MEET YOU. FOR THE LADY THAT SAID WE COULD SAVE A BUNCH OF MONEY OR THAT WE NEEDED TO PAY THE SHERIFFS MORE, WE CUT THEIR TECHNOLOGY BUDGET BY 10 MILLION.

THE GUY WHO JUST STOOD UP THERE AND SAID ALL THESE COLD CASES NEED TO BE SOLVED. CUT THE TECHNOLOGY BUDGET AND GIVE THEM THE INFORMATION FOR COLD CASES.

FLOCK CAMERAS, ALP READERS, THEY ARE ALL OF OUR, YOURS TOO, DETRIMENT. IF YOU REALLY CONSIDER FEDERAL LAW IS NOW GOING TO MAKE ITSELF, YOU CAN PUT A KILL SWITCH IN CARS. THERE WERE NO CAMERAS AUTOMATICALLY READING AI IMAGERY AND DATABASING FIVE YEARS AGO.

THE SHERIFFS DID A GREAT JOB FIVE YEARS AGO.

BUT HERE WE ARE. THIS TECHNOLOGY EXISTS NOW.

SHERIFF HARDWICK IS GONE. WE HAVE A NEW ADMINISTRATION, BUT NOW WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO TURN OFF PEOPLE'S CARS WHILE THEY'RE DRIVING, TURN THEM OFF BECAUSE OF THEIR POLITICAL AFFILIATION. THE FUTURE IS VERY BLEAK WITH THE AMOUNT OF TECHNOLOGICAL CONTROL.

RON DESANTIS SAID HE WANTED TO STOP IT FOR A YEAR TO EVALUATE.

THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY IN THIS BUDGET MEETING TO STOP THIS BUDGET, STOP FUNDING THIS STUFF AND GIVE YOURSELF TIME TO REEVALUATE WHAT THE REAL FUTURE FOR ST. JOHNS COUNTY LOOKS LIKE.

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WITH PUBLIC COMMENT AT THIS TIME? SEEING NONE WE WILL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.

>> BACK TO THE BOARD TO ADOPT A TENTATIVE MILLAGE RATE RESOLUTION. THE RATE RESOLUTION MUST BE ADOPTED FIRST, AM I CORRECT? AND I THINK WE'VE ALREADY COVERED THIS. BUT THE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED THE ROLLBACK RATE IS 6.6143 MILLS. PERCENTAGE INCREASE FROM THE ROLLBACK IS 2.14 AND THE AVERAGE IS 6.759.

>> YES. THANK YOU MR. CHAIR.

I HAVE GOT SOME QUESTIONS FOR SHERIFF HARDWICK IF HE CAN COME TO THE PODIUM, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT.

GOOD EVENING, SHERIFF. >> GOOD TO SEE YOU TONIGHT.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE ABLE TO ADDRESS THE ADDITIONAL THREE AND A HALF MILLION DOLLAR INCREASE IN YOUR BUDGET REQUEST.

ABOUT THREE AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS WAS PRIMARILY TO ADDRESS THE NEED TO KEEP UP WITH THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE'S PAY INCREASES. COULD YOU PLEASE TALK ABOUT

THAT? >> YES, SIR.

[00:50:01]

OUR DEPUTY SHERIFF PAY NOW IS COMPARABLE TO AGENCIES IN THE AREA WITH PUTNAM COUNTY, CLAY COUNTY.

BUT AS YOU ALL KNOW, THE JACKSONVILLE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS GOING TO THE FAS WHICH IS MAKING US NERVOUS, IT'S A MASSIVE MACHINE UP THERE. MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN UNIFORM WILL SAY IT ALWAYS PAID MORE MONEY, HOWEVER THE UNSTABLE COURSE WAS THE RETIREMENT SYSTEM.

THIS YEAR THEY HAVE APPROVED... SO SOME FLIERS WERE STUCK UNDER THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE CARS AND THE JACKSONVILLE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. THAT WAS NOT APPROVED BY THE SHERIFF, A CLOSE FRIEND OF MINE. BASICALLY TRYING TO RECRUIT OUR PEOPLE TO GO UP THERE. AND AS THIS YOUNG LADY SAID, I DON'T BLAME THEM FOR LEAVING IF THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE HERE.

WE DID A PAY ANALYSI HERE AND I JUST FELT LIKE OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS, OUR DEPUTY SHERIFF'S ARE BETTER.

THIS IS NOT AN US AGAINST THEM THING.

THE WAY WE PROVIDE BETTER SERVICES WE RECRUIT AND RETAIN THE DEPUTY SHERIFFS THAT ARE CURRENTLY HERE.

WE'VE TAKEN A ROBUST APPROACH TO KEEP OUR HOME GROWN PEOPLE HERE.

WE HAVE A PSYCHIATRIST ON STAFF, WE HAVE A WELLNESS PROGRAM ON STAFF. WE'VE DONE ALL THAT GOOD STUFF.

THAT ADDITIONAL $3.9 MILLION, I WILL GIVE THE ADDITIONAL PAY WHICH PUTS US STILL BEHIND THE JACKSONVILLE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, BUT ON THE HEELS AND I BELIEVE PEOPLE WANT POLICE HERE BETTER.

IF THIS IS WHAT WE ARE DEALING WITH TOGETHER, I'LL TAKE THIS ALL DAY LONG OVER GANGS TAKING OVER THE STREETS AND HOMICIDES NOT BEING SOLVED. SO THAT'S GOING STRICTLY TOWARDS PAY INCREASES FOR DEPUTY SHERIFFS.

ALL 580, EVERYBODY BELOW THE RANK OF SERGEANT.

SO IT'S BELOW THE RANK OF SERGEANT WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY

420 DEPUTY CHAIRS. >> THANK YOU.

BUDGET HEARINGS WERE ENCOURAGED, SO THIS IS WHY I'M WALKING WITH THESE QUESTIONS. YOU SENT A TEXT I THINK TO EVERY COMMISSIONER TALKING ABOUT THE COST OF THE FLOCK CAMERA SYSTEM.

IT'S A LITTLE OVER $900,000, OVER 489,000 COMES FROM THE BUDGET THAT WE HAVE DISCRETION OVER.

THE STATE OF FLORIDA DEMANDED THAT ALL THE FLOCK CAMERAS BE TAKEN DOWN OFF THE RIGHT OF WAYS.

HOW MUCH OF A SAVINGS DOES THAT REPRESENT?

>> I BASICALLY SAID OUT THERE, IT WAS IN MAINTENANCE UPDATES AND SCANS, AND WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE HAD A GRANT THAT ACTUALLY COVERED ALL OF THAT EXCEPT FOR $489,000.

THIS YEAR IN THE BUDGET, AS IT CURRENTLY SITS TODAY.

I THINK YOU ALL KNOW AND PEOPLE KNOW IN THE AUDIENCE AS WELL, I HAVE A VERY GREAT RELATIONSHIP A REASON WHY HE PUT 30 DAYS ON THIS. HE COULD EASILY HAVE SAID FIVE DAYS OR THREE DAYS. HE GAVE US THE ABILITY TO GO AHEAD AND NOT EDUCATE THE CRIMINALS THAT WERE SHUTTING DOWN, IT'S NOT ADVERTISED, THE CRIMINALS ON THE BUSIEST STOLEN CAR WEEKEND IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA FROM THE NORTH PART OF THE... WAS GO AHEAD AND SHUT THIS DOWN, PUT IT OUT TO THE MEDIA. OF COURSE SHUTTING DOWN IN ACCORDANCE WITH WHAT THE GOVERNOR IS ACTUALLY ASKING, WHICH IS THAT OF COURSE IT'S IN THAT 30 DAYS WHEN THAT INITIAL... AND I THINK PEOPLE KNOW ME WELL ENOUGH HERE. WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET EVERYTHING TO CRIMINALS. I'D LOVE TO ADVERTISE WHAT WE ARE DOING THIS WEEK. I THINK I'LL PUT THOSE NUMBERS OUT MONDAY WHEN YOU SEE THE PRESS CONFERENCE.

WE ALREADY HAD THINGS IN MOTION. BUT WE ARE GOING TO COMPILE, LIKE I'VE SAID, MEET WITH YOU INDIVIDUALLY TO DISCUSS THIS EXACT ISSUE AS WE SPEAK TODAY. WE DO HAVE $500,000 IN THE CURRENT BUDGET OF $151 MILLION BUDGET.

$500,000 IS IN THERE FOR SOFTWARE UPDATING, TECHNOLOGY.

AND THE MAINTENANCE OF COURSE OF THOSE LICENSE PLATE READERS.

SO WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU TAKE THE LICENSE PLATE READERS DOWN AND WE DECIDE TO TAKE THEM DOWN IN THIS NEXT APPROXIMATELY 30 DAYS? LAST YEAR, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M USING IT FOR, WE HAVE ABOUT A $1.5 MILLION LEFT OVER THIS YEAR EXPECTED.

WE HAVE LEASES AND LOANS FOR CARS.

WE PLAN ON USING THAT MONEY OF COURSE WORKING WITH THE DIRECTOR OF OMB AND WORKING AT THE COUNTY MINISTER.

SO WHAT DO WE DO WITH THAT $500,000.

THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS WE COULD DO.

THE JAIL COULD USE IT TOMORROW FOR THE GUARDIAN PROGRAM.

THERE'S ANOTHER PROGRAM OUT THERE, WE COULD PROVIDE

[00:55:03]

>> ONE MORE QUESTION. YOUR COLLEAGUE TO THE SOUTHWEST SAID, AND I'M QUOTING HERE, LEGITIMATE QUESTIONS HAVE EMERGED REGARDING PRIVACY, DATA SHARING, GOVERNMENTAL OVERSIGHT, AND FUTURE REGULATION OF THIS TECHNOLOGY, AS A RESULT OF THOSE CONCERNS THAT HE HAD PULLED THE SYSTEM.

BRADFORD COUNTY DID THE SAME. AND I COULD GO ON AND ON.

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY. JUST AS SHE HAD A PRESS RELEASE, I WOULD NEVER ASK YOU TO TAKE PUBLIC SAFETY ADVICE FROM THE COUNTY COMMISSIONER. THAT'S NOT MY JOB OR AREA OF EXPERTISE. BUT THOSE MEN CARE ABOUT THEIR RESIDENTS, THEY'RE EXPERTS IN PUBLIC SAFETY.

THEY HAVE DECIDED THIS IS THE BEST TIME TO STEP BACK.

I'M ASKING PUBLICLY SO YOU HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ANSWER PUBLICLY. WHAT IS YOUR THOUGHT PROCESS, WHAT ARE THOSE SHERIFFS SEEING THAT YOU'RE NOT AND VICE VERSA?

>> LICENSE PLATE READER TECHNOLOGY HAS BEEN IN THE COUNTY SINCE 2017. HE PUT OUT YESTERDAY IN A PRESS RELEASE DOWN THERE. MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN THE SURROUNDING AREAS THERE WERE ALL PHYSICALLY SPEAKING ON THE PHONE. BUT AGAIN, WE TRY TO TELL EACH OTHER, WE HAVE 30 DAYS. EVEN IF YOU TAKE IT DOWN TO THE SAME DAY, YOU DON'T NEED TO ADVERTISE.

YOU'RE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE LAW.

THANK YOU WATERS WAS ENDORSED BY THE FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE, THAT TECHNOLOGY HAS INCREASED SOLVABILITY IN DOWNTOWN JACKSONVILLE ALONE. SO I SIMPLY SAID TO MY STAFF, THESE PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE TODAY, THEY'RE ALL CORDIAL, THEY'RE ALL SPEAKING. THEY WANT RELATIONSHIPS WITH US.

I THINK THE BIGGEST CONCERN IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN ROB HARDWICK LEAVES. I KNOW I'M GOING TO SAY SOMETHING WHERE IT SAYS TRUST IN THE LEGISLATURE, WE ARE DOING THAT. I'VE HAD PHONE CALLS, I'VE TALKED TO THE SENATOR, REP KENDALL, I'VE TALKED TO REP JUDSON. I'M SPEAKING WITH THE GOVERNOR'S STAFF. WE'RE ALL JUST TRYING TO SAY, LET'S NOT ADVERTISE, BUT ALSO I STAND ON MY OWN TWO FEET IN ST.

JOHNS COUNTY. I ANSWER TO YOU AND TO THE PEOPLE AS WELL. I REACHED OUT TO A YOUNG MAN BY THE NAME OF RILEY WILLIS, I BELIEVE.

I CALLED AND TEXTED, SENT AN EMAIL THIS MORNING.

HE HAD ON HIS SIGNATURE THAT HE WAS A FOUNDER.

SO WE'RE GOING TO MEET AND TALK, BUT AGAIN, THIS LADY ABOUT MADE ME CRY TOO. BUT 95% OF THE BUDGET I'M PRESENTING TO YOU, THE INCREASE, IS TAKEN CARE OF MY EMPLOYEES IN THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY SHERIFF S OFFICE.

MY DISPATCHERS WERE MAKING LESS THAN $30,000 A YEAR.

YOU CAN SEE THEM BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T AFFORD TO PAY THEIR BILLS. YOU HAVE ALLOWED ME TO INCREASE THEIR PAY TO ALMOST $55,000. I WAS 26 DISPATCHERS SHORT, WE WERE AT FULL STAFF FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY.

WHEN I TOOK OVER THIS AGENCY YOUR DEPUTY SHERIFFS WERE MAKING $40,000 A YEAR. WE WERE ASKING THIS YEAR WITH THESE PAY INCREASES TO GET THEM TO JUST BELOW $70,000.

UNFORTUNATELY WE WORK 12-HOUR SHIFTS, SO IT'S AN 84 HOUR PAY PERIOD. SO YOU'D BE JUST ABOVE $70,000.

YOU HAVE ALLOWED US TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN.

WE ADDED FIVE DEPUTY SHERIFFS THIS YEAR IN THE BUDGET, ALL GOING TO TWO NEW SCHOOLS OPENED BY THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT. WE PAY 69% OF SALARY ON BENEFITS FROM THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY OFFICE.

THIS YEAR WE TOOK A LEAP OF FAITH AND ASKED FOR FIVE ADDITIONAL DEPUTY SHERIFFS. WHY? BECAUSE WE FELT THE HIGH SCHOOL WITH 2900 CHILDREN TODAY DOES NOT DESERVE ONE DEPUTY SHERIFF, IT DESERVES TWO.

THE OTHER THING IS WELL, WHEN WE WENT FROM VIGILANT LAWYERS OVER TO THE FLOCK READERS, WE PHYSICALLY TOOK THOSE LICENSE PLATE READERS, HONING IN ON WHAT WAS GOING ON IN AMERICA.

YOU REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED. 17 PEOPLE WOUNDED, 17 KILLED IN FEBRUARY 2018. BECAUSE OF THAT, WE TOOK OUR TECHNOLOGY, HONED IN ON NOW 46 SCHOOLS IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY WITH THE GOAL OF OUR CHILDREN OUR FIRST.

THE FIRST AGENCY TO DROP LICENSE PLATE READER TECHNOLOGY ON INTERSTATE 95. WE GOT PERMISSION FROM THE WHITE HOUSE, I'M VERY CLOSE WITH SUSIE WILDES IN WASHINGTON D.C.

THE MOST STOLEN CARS TRAVELED THROUGH ST. JOHNS COUNTY DON'T EVEN STOP HERE. BUT IF YOU TRAVEL IN A STOLEN CAR, 95% COMMIT ANOTHER CRIME IN A STOLEN CAR.

I JUST BELIEVE WE'RE GOING DOWN THIS ROAD TOGETHER, WHERE WE'RE LISTENING, AND WHEN I SAY THEM, US.

I'M NOT ARGUING WITH ANYONE. WE'RE JUST TAKING A STANCE GOING, I CAN BRING YOU IN AND SHOW YOU CASES, YOU MIGHT NOT BE INTERESTED. BUT YOU LISTEN TO SOME OF THOSE FAMILIES, HOLDING THESE PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE.

[01:00:02]

I'M KIND OF GETTING OFF TOPIC AND I APOLOGIZE.

BUT EVERYONE KNOWS I AM PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS.

I'M TAKING CARE OF MY MEN AND WOMEN, YOU'RE ALLOWING ME TO DO IT. AND OUR JAIL RIGHT NOW, WHEN I TOOK IT OVER IT SMELLED, IT WAS DIRTY, MORALE WAS LOW.

THE CAMERAS WERE NOT RECORDING. YOU GO IN THERE NOW, IT'S CLEAN AND QUIET AS A MOUSE. MY STAFF TAKES PRIDE, IT HELPS ME TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN. WE HAVE A POPULATION OF 4.7, ROUGHLY, OF AFRICAN AMERICANS IN SAINT JOHNS COUNTY.

I HAVE JUST UNDER 10% AND I DON'T RECRUIT BASED ON THE COLOR OF YOUR SKIN. I RECRUIT BASED ON WHO WANTS TO COME WORK FOR ME. I THINK WE'RE GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. AND I'LL LEAVE YOU WITH THIS.

YOU'VE ALLOWED ME TO INVEST A LOT OF THINGS IN ST.

JOHNS COUNTY. NOT JUST TECHNOLOGY BASED POLICING, BUT THAT JAIL AS WELL. WE'VE REDUCED RECIDIVISM BY 10%.

SO I STAND HERE TODAY AGAIN WITH MY COMMUNITY.

I'M EMBARRASSED TO TELL YOU, I PUT A LICENSE PLATE READER OUT BECAUSE PEOPLE THAT WERE SOVEREIGN CITIZENS WERE FILMING ME AND MY FAMILY AND THREATENING TO KILL MY FAMILY, MY GRANDBABIES. I DON'T TAKE THAT STUFF LIGHTLY.

SO IF SOMEONE SAID PUT A LICENSE PLATE READER IN FRONT OF YOUR HOUSE, I'VE GOT NOTHING TO HIDE. I DON'T SMOKE, DRINK, I BELIEVE IN GOD AND I LOVE MY WIFE. WE'VE BEEN MARRIED 35 YEARS.

CRIME IN THIS COUNTY IS HELD ACCOUNTABLE BASED ON ANY ACTIONS I TAKE. WE USE TECHNOLOGY TO DO IT AS WELL. THIS LADY RIGHT HERE IS PHENOMENAL. I WISH EVERYONE WOULD GET HERE AND SAY, PAY OUR DEPUTY SHERIFFS MORE MONEY.

THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO. >> THANKS, SHERIFF.

>> YOU DON'T NEED TO GO ANYWHERE, STICK AROUND.

YOU MENTIONED SOMETHING ABOUT GOING TO FRS.

A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT MEANS.

COULD YOU EDUCATE US ABOUT WHAT THAT MEANS AND HOW IT APPLIES TO

RECRUITING? >> I APOLOGIZE.

THE FRS, MOST STATE AGENCIES, ALL 66 OUT OF 67 SHERIFF'S OFFICES ACTUALLY HAVE WHAT THEY CALL PHOTO...

WE CAN MOVE AROUND BETWEEN PROBATION, PAROLES, I THINK THERE'S JUST UNDER 100 MUNICIPALITIES THAT HAVE THESE SYSTEMS. ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES WITH THE

BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. >> AND WHEN YOU SAY TAKE IT WITH

THEM? >> IF I'M A DEPUTY SHERIFF IN SAINT JOHNS COUNTY AND TODAY YOU TELL THE SHERIFF TO LEAVE, I CAN GO GET A JOB SOMEWHERE ELSE AS A PAROLE OFFICER WHICH IS A STATE JOB IN MY FRS OR FLORIDA RETIREMENT SYSTEM CONTINUES TO BUILD UP. ALL POLICE OFFICERS, WE GET 3%

PER YEAR. >> OKAY.

SO THE POINT OF GOING TO JACKSONVILLE IN THE PAST WAS THAT IF YOU WENT TO JACKSONVILLE, THEY WERE NOT ON THE FRS SYSTEM, SO YOU WOULD LOSE THE PERCENTAGES THAT YOU BUILT SOMEWHERE ELSE. SO THERE WAS AN INCENTIVE NOT TO GO THERE. THAT'S CHANGED NOW.

>> THAT'S CORRECT. THEY HAVE APPROVED THE CONDITION UP THERE. I THINK YOU HAVE THOSE...

SO ALL OF THEIR LAW ENFORCEMENT, I BELIEVE FIRE WILL GO TO OUR RETIREMENT SYSTEM. THEIR CORRECTIONAL DEPUTY SHERIFFS STAY ON CITY RETIREMENT.

I FEEL LIKE WE'RE GOING TO BE PRETTY STABLE HERE.

I THINK WE'VE ALREADY LOST FOUR OFFICERS SO FAR, KNOWING THAT IF YOU'RE A THREE YEAR VETERAN YOU START AT $76,000.

>> SO THOS PERCENTAGES THAT YOU EARN EVERY YEAR ACTUALLY COUNT, THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THEY MAKE VERSUS THE PERCENTAGES THEY GET.

THE MORE THEY MAKE THE MORE THEY GET IN THEIR RETIREMENT SYSTEM.

SO IT'S AN ADVANTAGE FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO TAKE THEIR RETIREMENT SOMEWHERE THAT PAYS MORE MONEY. THANK YOU, THAT'S ALL I NEEDED TO KNOW. JUST FOR THE RECORD, I'D LOVE FOR YOU TO PUT ONE OF THOSE CAMERAS IN MY FRONT YARD.

THAT WOULD BE WONDERFUL. 39 YEAR VETERAN AND LAW ENFORCEMENT, I THOUGHT TAG READERS WAS THE MOST AMAZING PART OF TECHNOLOGY. I REALIZED THAT THERE'S A CHALLENGE WITH THE DATA AND I THINK YOU'VE TAKEN STEPS TO PROTECT THE DATA FROM THE PEOPLE THAT YOU SERVE, AND I APPRECIATE THAT SO MUCH. BUT I AS A RETIRED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER SUPPORT THAT TYPE OF TECHNOLOGY BECAUSE

APPRECIATE YOUR JOB. >> WE SHARE DATA WITH NOBODY OURSELVES. OUR DATA IS MAINTAINED BY US

ONLY. >> DO YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO

WALK IN THERE AND LOOK AT TAGS? >> I DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO THAT.

>> WHEN YOU SAY LOGIN AND PASSWORD WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

>> IT'S PROTECTED SERVICES. THERE'S ONLY CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS, MOSTLY DETECTIVES, OUR DISPATCHERS, PEOPLE THAT I. -- THAT HAVE CLEARANCE AND SPECIALIZED TRAINING.

[01:05:03]

WHAT CAN WE DO BETTER. THAT'S WHAT LEGISLATURE OF COURSE AND GOVERNOR SANTOS BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION.

WE SAT DOWN AND CLEANED OURSELVES UP A BIT AS WELL.

I ORDERED A 100% AUDIT, WHICH IS PHYSICALLY GOING THROUGH EXCEL SPREADSHEETS, SO WE ARE GOING THROUGH THAT AS WE SPEAK.

BUT MY FINGERS ARE CROSSED THAT WE HAVE ZERO.

IT'S VERY SIMILAR TO DAVID. THAT'S OUR DRIVER'S LICENSE DATA AND WE RUN YOUR TAGS AND REGISTRATION.

IF YOU DRIVE THROUGH A PARKING LOT, MY DEPUTY SHERIFF RUNS ALL YOUR TAGS, HAS TO BE NCIC AND FCIC CERTIFIED.

THEY AUDIT US AT THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL AND INTERNALLY.

>> THE REASON I WANTED TO TOUCH ON THIS IS WE ARE TALKING ABOUT TECHNOLOGY. DAVID IS AN ACRONYM FOR DRIVER'S LICENSE DATABASE, BASICALLY. SO A DEPUTY COULD POTENTIALLY RUN A TAG NUMBER AND GET A DRIVER'S LICENSE PICTURE OF THE OWNER. HOW LONG HAS THAT TECHNOLOGY

BEEN USED IN LAW ENFORCEMENT? >> I'VE BEEN IN LAW ENFORCEMENT SINCE 1993, AND I'VE USED IT SINCE I'VE BEEN A POLICE OFFICER. SO I KNOW IT'S BEEN WAY BEFORE THAT. OF COURSE THE SYSTEM NOW IS SO QUICK, YOU AND I THE DAY WE STARTED DIDN'T HAVE COMPUTERS IN THE CAR. THAT'S WHY THE OLD FIX IT TICKET DAYS WERE USED SAY, THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN.

>> DID WE HAVE HORSE AND BUGGY BACK THEN?

>> NOT TOO FAR FROM THAT. >> AND THEY GET A DRIVER'S LICENSE PICTURE FROM THAT INFORMATION.

AND IT ACTUALLY SHOWS A PICTURE. >> YES, SIR,.

>> SO EVERY PICTURE THEY'VE EVER HAD.

AND THAT'S BEEN IN EXISTENCE OVER 30 YEARS.

>> I'VE USED IT SINCE I'VE BEEN A COP, MY ENTIRE LIFE.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. I'LL TURN YOU LOOSE NOW.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> ANYTHING ELSE? WE NEED TO FIND A TENTATIVE MILLAGE RATE RESOLUTION.

>> WE NEED TO ADOPT A TENTATIVE MILLAGE RATE.

DO YOU WANT ME TO GO AHEAD AND START THAT CONVERSATION WITH THE STAFF? I MEAN WITH THE COMMISSION?

>> CERTAINLY. I JUST WANT TO REMIND YOU, THIS IS THE TENTATIVE MILLAGE RATE. THERE'S ANOTHER MEETING FOR FINAL ADOPTION. ANY MILLAGE RATE YOU LEVY OR TENTATIVELY APPROVED TODAY BECOMES THE CEILING FOR WHAT YOU

COULD APPROVE. >> SO WE'VE DONE THAT BEFORE, AND TENTATIVELY PUT OUR CEILING AT A FLAT RATE, IS THAT CORRECT?

>> CORRECT. DO WE HAVE ANY DISCUSSION FROM THE BOARD ABOUT CHANGING THAT RATE? OKAY. I DON'T SEE ANY CONVERSATION.

I'M GOING TO SAY THAT I'M OKAY WITH -- I WOULD GIVE CONSENSUS FOR THE CEILING TO BE THE FLAT RATE AS LONG AS WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT A LOWER RATE AT THE NEXT MEETING.

>> CERTAINLY. WHATEVER RATE IS TENTATIVELY APPROVED TONIGHT CAN BE LOWERED FROM THIS POINT BUT IT CANNOT BE INCREASED. SO YOU HAVE ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY.

>> SO TO ADOPT THE TENTATIVE BUDGET RESOLUTION FOR, WE WOULD

SAY -- >> I'M PREPARED TO MAKE THE

MOTION IF YOU LIKE. >> WOULD YOU PLEASE?

>> MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2026-294, THE 2 2027 TENTATIVE MILLAGE RATES FOR ALL PROPERTY OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY FLORIDA AS

OF JANUARY 1ST, 2027. >> I'LL SECOND.

>> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION FROM THE BOARD? LET'S VOTE. THAT PASSES 55 AND ZERO.

SO YOU NOW HAVE YOUR TENTATIVE BUDGET RESOLUTION.

>> ANOTHER MOTION, MR. CHAIR. MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2026-295 APPROVING THE FISCAL YEAR 2027 TENTATIVE BUDGET OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF ST.

JOHNS COUNTY FLORIDA USING THE CERTIFIED TAXABLE VALUE OF $63,056,698,242, GENERATING AN ESTIMATED $426 MILLION IN TAXES

[01:10:02]

>> I'LL SECOND THAT. >> YOU PRACTICED THAT, DIDN'T

YOU? >> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. LET'S VOTE.

>> I THINK WE HAVE ONE MORE. >> MOTION TO SET A PUBLIC HEARING ON SEPTEMBER 15TH, 2026 AT 5:01 P.M. IN THE COUNTY AUDITORIUM TO CONSIDER THE ADOPTION OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2027 MILLAGE RATE AND BUDGET FOR THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF

ST. JOHNS COUNTY FLORIDA. >> I'LL SECOND.

>> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

LET'S VOTE. THAT PASSES 5-0.

THANK YOU. YOU HAVE YOUR RESOLUTIONS.

>> THANK YOU. >> ESTABLISHED THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE OF THE HEARING WILL BE SEPTEMBER 15TH, 2026 AT 5:01 P.M. IN THE COUNTY AUDITORIUM.

[Additional Item]

>> I HAVE NONE. >> COMMISSIONER JOSEPH.

>> I'D LIKE TO DIRECT STAFF TO PUT THE...

AND I'D LIKE TO MAKE SURE OCA GIVES PROPER NOTICE.

>> OCA TO GIVE PROPER NOTICE. WE HAVE A SUGGESTION.

DO WE NEED A MOTION OR CAN WE JUST DO GENERAL CONSENSUS?

>> I CAN JUST DO THAT AS A COMMISSIONER BECAUSE IT HASN'T

BEEN APPROVED OR DENIED. >> THANK YOU.

>> WE WILL ADD THAT TO THE AGENDA FOR SEPTEMBER 15TH.

ANYTHING ELSE? >> THAT'S IT, THANK YOU.

>> COMMISSIONER TAYLOR. >>

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.