[Town Hall on Proposed Property Tax Amendment 3 on September 29, 2026.]
[00:00:09]
>> WELL, GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU FOR COMING TO OUR VERY FIRST TOWN HALL THAT'S HOSTED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TO TALK ABOUT AMENDMENT THREE AND WHAT THAT MEANS TO ST. JOHNS COUNTY AND I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS SPENDING THE EVENING HERE TO REALLY LEARN ABOUT THIS REALLY IMPORTANT TOPIC FOR ST. JOHN'S COUNTY FOR, FOR THE WHOLE STATE OF FLORIDA.
I WISH THERE WERE MORE PEOPLE BECAUSE I THINK THE IMPACT OF THIS ISSUE IS SO MAGNIFICENT. I THINK BEFORE YOU GO ON THE 3RU NEED TO KNOW WHAT YOU ARE VOTING FOR AND HOW IT'S GOING TO IMPACT THE SERVICES YOU ARE RECEIVING TODAY.
I AM JOY ANDREWS AND WE HAVE A FEW OF OUR COMMISSIONERS.
I'M NOT GOING TO NAME THEM ALL. WE HAVE THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE MAYOR, P.R., THE STAFF, FIRE CHIEF.
I THINK THE FLOW OF TODAY'S PRESENTATION IS WE ARE GOING TO COVER WHAT THAT BALLOT LANGUAGE TELLS YOU TO DO AND HOW IT'S GOING TO IMPACT THE BUDGET AND SERVICES.
WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSION.
TODAY WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO IS WE ARE GOING TO HAVE SOMEONE COLLECT YOUR QUESTIONS AND WE HAVE COLLECTED SOME OF THE QUESTIONS AHEAD OF TIME BECAUSE WE POSTED OUR QUESTIONNAIRES ONLINE. WE RECEIVED QUITE A FEW.
WE ARE GOING TO RECEIVE SOME OF THEM IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS I'M SURE SOMEBODY IS GOING TO COME AROUND AND COLLECT THEM.
GOING TO MAKE SURE WE ARE RESPECTFUL OF EVERYBODY'S TIME SO WE ARE GOING TO COVER THOSE QUESTIONS AS THEY ARE UNIQUE TO OTHERS AND IF THEY ARE VERY SIMILAR WE ARE GOING TO COVER THEM ONCE. IF YOU SOMEHOW AFTER THIS TOWN HALL YOU SAY, MAN, I HAVE THIS QUESTION I DIDN'T THINK TO ASK, FEEL FREE TO EMAIL US. WE'LL HAVE NUMBER, EMAIL ADDRESS AT THE END OF THIS PRESENTATION SO YOU WILL NOT LOSE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO STILL HAVE THAT COMMUNICATION WITH US AFTER THE TOWN HALL MEETING. WE WON'T HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT BECAUSE THIS IS NOT A PUBLIC BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MEETING. WE WANT TO BE RESPECTFUL TO EVERYONE'S TIME AND STAY ON THE TOPIC.
WE ARE GOING TO START WITH -- AND I THINK FOR ME I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT THAT GENERAL TOPIC OF AMENDMENT THREE AND THE WEIGHT IS GOING TO BE HERE AND TAG TEAM ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. IF IT'S SPECIFIC TO THE BUDGET, EQUIPPED TO DISCUSS THAT IN RESPONSE TO YOUR QUESTIONS.
WE ARE GOING TO FOCUS ON THREE THINGS.
NUMBER ONE, AS BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONER, AS THE COUNTY OPERATION TEAM, WE ARE BY STATE LAW SO WE CANNOT ADVOCATE FOR OR ADVOCATE AGAINST THIS AMENDMENT THREE.
WE ARE NOT TAKING ANY POLITICAL POSITION TODAY.
OUR JOB TODAY HOPEFULLY IS TO GIVE YOU AS MUCH INFORMATION TONIGHT FOR YOU TO MAKE AN EDUCATED DECISION THAT IS GOOD FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY. THREE AREAS THAT WE ARE GOING TO COVER IS WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE FOR YOUR PROPERTY TAXES, HOW IT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE IF YOU AND THE STATE OF FLORIDA RESIDENTS APPROVE AMENDMENT THREE FOR ST. JOHN'S COUNTY AND SERVICES AND HOW WE AS A COUNTY TEAM IS PLANNING FOR A POTENTIAL APPROVAL OF AMENDMENT THREE. SO JUST TO REMIND EVERYBODY, WHAT YOU HAVE TODAY, YOU HAVE CAP LIMITS BEING ASSESSED IN VALUE, YOU ARE JOINING A 3% INCREASE INFLATION WHICH IS EVER LOWER. FOR NONHOMESTEAD PROPERTY, IT'S 10%. ANNUAL ASSESSMENT GROWTH CAP FOR NONSCHOOL TAXES IN THE SCHOOL TAXES CAPPED OUT WITH A HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION OF $25,000. EXCEPTION IS DIFFERENT.
IT REDUCES THE AMOUNT OF VALUE TAXED AND THEIR CURRENT MAX STANDARD OF THE NONSCHOOL HOMESTEAD EXCEPTION IS $51,411.
BUT THAT IS NOT A GROWTH CAP. AND SO IF YOU APPROVE AS FLORIDA RESIDENT AMENDMENT THREE WHAT CHANGES WERE PROPERTY OWNERS IS IN 2023 YOUR HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION WILL GO UP TO $150,000.
[00:05:04]
THE SECOND YEAR OF APPROVAL OF EXEMPTION AMENDMENT THREE IS GOING TO GO UP TO $250,000. OF COURSE, AFTER 20208 FROM 2029, INFLATION ADJUSTMENT WILL KICK IN WHICH MEANS THAT YOU'RE SAVING WILL BE ADJUSTED BY THE INFLATION RATE.THE NONHOMESTEAD EXEMPTION CAMP WILL BE REDUCED FROM 5% AND 10%.
OUR NEW RESIDENCE, IF YOU ARE NOT A FLORIDA RESIDENT ON DECEMBER 21ST 2026, YOU WILL RECEIVE AN EXISTING EXEMPTION QUALIFYING THE INCREASED EXEMPTION AGAINST FOR THE FIFTH YEAR OF THE EXEMPTION TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY THE U.S.
COMPECONSTITUTION. WHAT WILL STAY THE SAME? THE PROPERTY TAX WILL NOT BE AMENDED.
IN THE CONVERSATION LEADING TO A BABE IN THREE TO BE FINALIZED ON THE BALLOT ON NOVEMBER 3RD, THERE IS NO ELIMINATION OF PROPERTY TAX THAT'S ACTUALLY WRITTEN IN THE CURRENT LANGUAGE.
IT DOES TALK ABOUT THE STATE LEGISLATURE, HAS TO SPECIFY IF THEY WANT TO HELP THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO IMPLEMENT ANY TYPE OF ELIMINATION OF PROPERTY TAXES.
BUT CURRENTLY THERE IS NO SPECIFIED MEASURE TO ENABLE T THAT. SCHOOL TAXES WILL NOT CHANGE.
THE SCHOOL HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION REMAINS AT $25,000.
ALSO, YOU ARE SAVING HOMES AND PORTABILITY.
NOT GOING TO CHANGE. GOING TO STAY AS IT IS TODAY.
EXISTING PERSONAL EXEMPTIONS WILL NOT CHANGE.
VETERANS, SENIORS, FIRST RESPONDERS, WIDOWERS, OTHER EXISTING EXEMPTIONS IF YOU ALREADY ENJOY THEM.
SO THIS IS ACTUALLY AN EXAMPLE OF HOW THE SAVINGS ARE GOING TO LOOK LIKE FOR YOU. IT'S NOT A QUOTE FOR ANY PARTICULAR PROPERTY. IN FACT, YOUR SAVING IS NOT GOING TO BE CONTINGENT ON THE VALUE OF YOUR HOMES BECAUSE IT IS BASED ON HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION. SO IF YOU IN 2026 YOU PAY FOR 3,003 TO $21, YOUR NEW TAXES GOING TO SAVE ABOUT $700 A YEAR AND IN THE SECOND YEAR BECAUSE I GUSTED TO EACH OF $50,000 GIVEN THAT YOUR HOME VALUE IS GREATER THEN $250,000.
YOUR SAVING IS ABOUT $1400 PER PROPERTY.
SO WE KIND OF WANT TO PUT THE ENTIRE BALLOT TITLE AND SUMMARY IN LANGUAGE ON THE SCREEN. IF YOU HADN'T HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW IT. AND WE CAN GO THROUGH THIS BUT WE'LL GET INTO DIFFERENT CATEGORIES AND PARAGRAPHS OF AMENDMENT THREE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE AND WHAT THAT MEANS AND WHAT IS THE IMPACT.
ESSENTIALLY THE PARAGRAPH TALKS ABOUT 2027-28 AND ONWARD YEARS OF YOUR HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION FROM 150,000 TO 250 AND THERE IS THE LANGUAGE THAT WE TALKED ABOUT THAT REQUIRES LEGISLATURE TO PRESCRIBE A UNIFORM PROCEDURE FOR COUNTIES AND MUNICIPALITIES, FOR THEIR RESPECTIVE LEVIES. TO INCREASE THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION UP TO A FULL ASSESSED VALUE WHICH IS WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT WITH THE ELIMINATION OF PROPERTY TAX.
THERE IS LANGUAGE LEADING TOWARD A FUTURE LEGISLATION.
THERE'S NOT ANY SPECIFIED PROVISION IN THIS BALLOT.
NOT FLORIDA RESIDENTS, THIS IS THE REQUIREMENT OF YOUR RESIDENT CD. IF YOU ARE NOT BY THE END OF 2026, YOU WAIT FOR FIVE YEARS TO ENJOY THIS IF IT IS APPROVED.
AND THEN IT TALKS ABOUT THE ANNUAL CAP OF NONHOMESTEAD EXEMPTION PROPERTIES SO IT GOES FROM 10% TO 5%.
AND THEN IT ACTUALLY GIVES YOU SEVEN CATEGORIES OF STATUTORY LIMITATION ON WHAT YOU CAN SPEND PROPERTY TAXES ON THEM.
AND WE TALK ABOUT THIS IN A LITTLE BIT.
BASICALLY THERE'S ONLY SEVEN CATEGORIES THAT YOU ARE ALLOWED IF IT IS APPROVED TO SPEND PROPERTY TAX ON.
SO COMING TO ST. JOHN'S COUNTY, HOW IT'S GOING TO FINANCIALLY IMPACT ST. JOHN'S COUNTY. THE EVIDENCE ESTIMATED GRAVITY EFFECTS. IN 2027 OUR BOARD ADOPTED OUR 2037 BUDGET. THE ADOPTED REVENUE JUST FROM PROPERTY TAXES IN THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THREE TAX CATEGORIES WHICH IS GENERAL FUND WHICH LARGELY SUPPORT YOUR GENERAL SERVICES, FIRE DISTRICT, AND TRANSPORTATION TRUST FUND.
[00:10:04]
THOSE THREE CATEGORIES COLLECT AT ROUGHLY $36 MILLION.AND WHEN THE FIRST OF $150,000 OF HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION TAKES EFFECT, THE REJECTION FROM 2027 ADOPTIVE BUDGET IS ABOUT $68 MILLION. EMBED WHAT YOU GO TO $250,000 HOMESTEAD EXCEPTION, IT'S A GREATER SAVING FOR EACH HOMEOWNER, WE ARE LOOKING AT $136 MILLION.
SO IT IS REALLY YEAR ONE WE ARE REDUCING OUR REVENUE BY 16% OF WHAT WE CURRENTLY COLLECT AND ONTO YEAR TWO WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A REDUCTION OF 32% OF OUR TOTAL PROPERTY TAX COLLECTION.
AND I KIND OF WANTED TO INCLUDE THIS FLIGHT FOR THE CONTEXT OF THIS DISCUSSION. ST. JOHN'S COUNTY IS VERY UNIQUE. WE HAVE EXPERIENCED EXPONENTIAL GROWTH IN THE PAST 25 YEARS, IT REALLY COME UP FROM 2000.
ALMOST LOOKING AT TRIPLE FROM 2000.
FROM 13 FELT LIKE TELLING 2025 NUMBER IS ALMOST 350,000 POPULATION.
WE ALSO WANTED TO TALK ABOUT IN GENERAL AND IN TOTALITY HOW MUCH BUDGETS ARE WE REALLY OPERATING LOG? IT IS $1.9 BILLION IN ADOPTING THE 2027 BUDGET.
THE ONLY 976 MILLION OF THE 1.9'S ACTUAL REVENUE.
THE DIFFERENCE IS YOUR BOND PROGRAM, YOUR RESERVE, AND THERE IS ALSO INTERGOVERNMENTAL FUNDS TRANSFERRED.
1.9 INCLUDES MANY, MANY THINGS BUT 426 OF THE 1.9 IS YOUR PROPERTY TAXES. REALLY IT'S ONLY 22% OF THE TOTAL BUDGET THAT'S BEEN ADOPTED IN OUR BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS RESPONSIBLE FOR. I WANT TO THROW THIS SLIDE SO YOU CAN SEE HOW OVER PAST A FEW YEARS OUR BUDGET HAS PROGRESSED AND I THINK THAT BECAUSE OF OUR VERY CONSERVATIVE FINANCIAL POLICIES AND OUR STRATEGIES, OUR GROWTH HAS BEEN VERY MODEST COMPARED TO INFLATIONARY FACTORS AND CONSTRUCTION COST INCREASES IN OPERATIONAL COST INCREASES FROM 2026 TO 2027 YOU CAN SEE THE INCREASES ARE INCREDIBLY MODEST.
AND 2026 IS WORTH MENTIONING THAT WE HAVE ONE OF THE FIRST REDUCTIONS IN QUITE A FEW YEARS IN ST. JOHN'S COUNTY DESPITE THE GROWTH AND THE COSTS OF LIVING AND THE COST OF OPERATIONS HAVING INCREASED TREMENDOUSLY. THIS ORDER TO GIVE AN OVERVIEW OF ST. JOHN'S COUNTY OPERATIONS AND HOW IT'S FUNDED VIA PROPERTY TAXES AND THE PERCENTAGE OF EACH CATEGORY OF SERVICES.
$426 MILLION. 31% OF THAT GOES TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. 27% GOES TO FIRE RESCUE EMERGENCY SERVICES. SO WHILE OVER 50% GOES TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY AND 13% GOES TO ROAD IMPROVEMENT AND TRANSPORTATION AND I DO WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE ROAD IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS AND HOW EACH SCALE LOOKS LIKE COMPARED TO THE PROPERTY TAXES SUPPORT AS ONE OF THE REVENUE SOURCE.
13% IS ROAD AND TRANSPORTATION. SEVER SAID IS PARKS, RECREATION, LIBRARY. AND THE BUILDINGS, TECHNOLOGY, 5% OF THE $426 MILLION GOES TO GENERAL GOVERNMENT SUPPORT.
THAT WOULD INCLUDE YOUR LEGAL, BUDGET, PROCUREMENT.
FACILITY MANAGEMENT, AND DAILY OPERATION AS CENTRALIZED SERVICES FOR THESE PUBLIC SERVICES.
AND 5% GOES TO SUPPORT OUR CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS.
YOU HAVE YOUR CLERKS OFFICE. YOUR SUPERVISOR OF ELECTION.
YOUR PROPERTY APPRAISER, TAX COLLECTOR OFFICE.
AND 2% GOES TOWARD ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, HOUSING PROGRAMS, VETERANS SERVICES. THE OTHER 3% GOES TO HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES WHICH WOULD INCLUDE YOUR FAMILY INTEGRITY PROGRAM, A PORTION OF THAT LARGELY IS FUNDED BY THE STATE GRANT. BUT YOU ALSO HAVE SOCIAL SERVICES AND IN GENERAL KIND OF A SAFETY NET SERVICE FOR OUR COUNTY RESIDENTS. JUST GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF PRACTICAL INFORMATION ON HOW THOSE SERVICES LOOK LIKE AND WHAT YOUR TAX DOLLARS ARE GOING TOWARD.
[00:15:01]
IN 2025, SHERIFF'S OFFICE, 2025% OF ALLOCATION FIGURE TOTAL PROPERTY TAXES GO TOWARDS THE $289,038 COST FOR SERVICES.I'M OF 12,000 GOES TO THE BIBLEWOULD CE RESCUE AND RESCUE AND EMS AND 201 VERIFIERS. ON THE ROAD WITH TRANSPORTATION AND OUR COMMUNITY FACILITIES, WHAT WE SAY WE SPEND 30% OF OUR PROPERTY TAX IT GOES TO THE TRANSPORTATION WE USE THOSE FUNDS TO ESSENTIALLY PAY OUR ROADS.
WE HAVE A BUDGET OF $13 MILLION ON THE PAVEMENT MANAGEMENT PROGRAM. SO 1,151 MILES OF A ROAD HAS BEEN WORKED ON ON USING THE 13% OF YOUR PROPERTY TAXES AND 621 MILES OF SIDEWALKS AND 173 TRAFFIC SIGNALS AND THAT REALLY IS KIND OF THE HIGHLIGHTED STATS AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT SPECIFIC PROJECTS AND HOW THOSE ARE REALLY MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN QUALITY OF LIFE OF OUR RESIDENTS.
7% OF PARKS GO TO PARKS, RECREATION, LIBRARIES.
WE HAVE 106 PARKS, SIX LIBRARIES, AND A BOOKMOBILE OPERATION AND WE HAVE OVER CLOSE TO 2 MILLION LIBRARY CHECKOUTS ANNUALLY. SO LET'S TALK ABOUT THE CONSTITUTIONAL LIMITATIONS ON HOW YOU CAN SPEND YOUR PROPERTY TAXES. IT IS LIMITED TO SEVEN CATEGORIES IF IT IS APPROVED AND IS REALLY ESSENTIALLY WE ARE ONLY ALLOWED TO USE PROPERTY TAXES TO PAY PUBLIC SAFETY, EDUCATIONS IN THE SCHOOL, INFRASTRUCTURE, NATURAL RESOURCES, BOND DEBT SERVICE, EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT OPERATION, AND ADMINISTRATION. OTHER SERVICES POTENTIALLY CAN BE ALLOWED IF IT IS APPROVED BY THE COUNTY OFFICERS OR COUNTY MUNICIPAL GOVERNING BODIES UNLESS IT IS PROHIBITED BY GENERAL LAW. REMEMBER, YOUR LIMITATION NOT ONLY IS CATEGORY BASED BUT ALSO IS LIMITED BY THEIR SHARED NUMBER THE COLLECTION. IT IS WORTH MENTIONING.
SO IF THERE'S ANY CHANGE IN OUR DEPARTMENT FUNDING PROGRAM OR SERVICE IS, IT'S GOING TO BE DECIDED THROUGH A BUDGETING PROCESS LIKE WE ALWAYS HAVE. THIS IS SORT OF A FIVE YEAR CHART TO SHOW YOU HOW THE REVENUE REDUCTION IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE. I MENTIONED EARLIER $68 MILLION, UNDER $150,000 HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION AND YEAR TWO WILL HAVE $250,000 EXEMPTION AND YEAR THREE WE'LL HAVE TO FACTOR INFLATION FACTORS CONSIDERED IN HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.
IT GOES FROM 136 BILLION TO ONE TO 52 MILLION TO 171 MILLION, AND 191 MILLION WITH A CUBE OF THE LIVE OF OVER $700 MILLION IN FIVE YEARS FOR PROPERTY TAX REVENUE REDUCTION.
SO WE CAN KIND OF LOOK AT HOW PERCENTAGE WISE THAT IS GOING TO AFFECT OUR ABILITY TO FUND SOME OF THE SERVICES.
THERE ARE SOME COMPANION LEGISLATION THAT GOES WITH AMENDMENT THREE. SENATE BILL FOUR APP HAS ARTIE PASSED. IT'S REALLY DICTATING THE NUMBER OF VOTES THAT YOU HAVE TO PASS. SO VOTING REQUIREMENT IS THAT IT REQUIRES A SIMPLE MAJORITY. IF WE HAVE FIVE BOARD MEMBERS TO VOTE FOR A ROLLBACK RATE WHICH MEANS IT'S RATE THAT WILL PRODUCE THE SAME AMOUNT OF REVENUE THAT WE COLLECTED THE YEAR PRIOR, WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY A BILLET REDUCTION.
IT REQUIRES A SUPER MAJORITY, FOUR OUT OF THE FIVE TO VOTE FOR A RATE THAT WILL GENERATE UP TO 110% OF THE ROLLBACK RATE WHICH MEANS GENERALLY UP TO 110% OF THE REVENUE THAT YOU'VE COLLECTED THE YEAR BEFORE BASED ON THE GROWTH.
IN WHICH ESSENTIALLY IT'S OUR BUDGET FOR 2027.
WE HAVE PROPOSED A RATE THAT THE BOARD HAS ADOPTED.
IT WILL PRODUCE LESS THAN 110% OF THE REVENUE COMPARED TO 2026.
AND IT WILL REQUIRE UNANIMOUS VOTE FOR ANYTHING THAT IS COLLECTED ABOVE WHAT IS YOUR 10% OF YOUR ROLLBACK RATES.
HOUSE BILL 1329 HASN'T TAKEN EFFECT YET BUT IT WILL TAKE EFFECT IN JANUARY '26 -- '27, EXCUSE ME.
[00:20:05]
IT'S DESCRIBING A PROCESS THAT WILL GUARANTEE THE TRANSPARENCY OF THOSE MEASURES ARE ALREADY IN PLACE.ONLINE BUDGET, YOUR STAFFING LEVEL, RESERVE INFORMATION TEST AT PUBLIC FOR DECADES FOR ST. JOHNS COUNTY.
ONE THING THAT IS NEW TO OUR PROCESS IS THAT UNDER THIS HOUSE BILL WE WILL BE REQUIRED TO EXERCISE A 2%, 3% BUDGET REDUCTION. EXERCISE IS A NEED AND BOARD WILL ADOPT A 10% REDUCTION BUT WE'LL HAVE TO GO THROUGH AN EXERCISE AND DO A SCENARIO BUDGETING TO SEE WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. THAT'LL TAKE EFFECT JANUARY 1ST 2027. ESSENTIALLY WE WILL GO THROUGH THAT EXERCISE FOR THE 2028 ADOPTION BUDGET PROCESS.
THAT WAS A LOT AND WE HAVE AS A COUNTY TEAM STARTED OUR POPULATION I WOULD SAY APRIL OF THIS YEAR.
TO UNDERSTAND THE FINANCIAL IMPACT ON THE COUNTY, WE KNOW HOW MUCH OUR RESIDENTS VALUE QUALITY OF LIFE THAT THEY GET TO ENJOY TODAY. MANY OF YOU GUYS MOVED HERE BECAUSE OF THAT AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IF SOMEHOW GIVEN THREE PASSES, WE HAVE A SOLID TRANSITION RATHER THAN AN ABRUPT ONE AND WE ALSO ADOPTED INTERNALLY OPERATIONALLY A COUPLE PRINCIPLES THAT WE VIEW THAT'S VERY VALUABLE.
NUMBER ONE IS THAT WE ARE GOING TO PRESERVE THE SERVICES AND ASSETS THAT RESIDENTS ALREADY RECEIVED VERSUS THE SERVICES OF PROGRAM EXTENSION THAT WE HEAR MANY OF OUR RESIDENTS ARE ASKING FOR. VERY IMPORTANT FOR US AS I COUNTY TEAM IS TO SUPPORT EMPLOYEES THAT WE DO HAVE TODAY.
THOSE TWO PRINCIPLES REALLY REQUIRES US TO DO A FEW THINGS AND WE HAVE TO BE VERY PRUDENT ABOUT LOOKING AT OUR NEW LONG-TERM OBLIGATIONS MOVING FORWARD SO WE HAVE TO DO OUR BEST TO PAUSE OR AVOID A NEW LONG-TERM COMMITTED BEFORE WE UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT THE REVENUE IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE AFTER NOVEMBER 2027 BALLOT INITIATIVE AND HOW WE CAN SUSTAIN IF IT PASSES THOSE NEW PROGRAMS COULD BUY CONTRACTS, HOW WE ARE GOING TO FUND THEM. ESSENTIALLY ANYTHING THAT WOULD CREATE RECURRING COSTS FOR OUR OPERATION IS SOMETHING THAT WILL HAVE TO BE SCRUTINIZED VERY CLOSELY BY US SO THAT WE AREN'T CREATING OBLIGATION THAT WE CAN'T AFFORD AFTER NOVEMBER.
SO THREE THINGS WE ARE DOING. WE ARE DOING A SERVICE REVIEW WHICH WE HAVE GONE THROUGH HUNDREDS OF PROGRAMS AND SERVICES. WE INVENTORY THEM, CATEGORIZE THEM. WE UNDERSTAND WHAT THOSE SERVICES ARE AND WHAT LEVEL THEY ARE FUNDED AND WE ARE EXERCISING SPENDING DISCIPLINE SO WE ARE REVIEWING HIRINGS, OPEN POSITIONS, VACANCIES, THE TIMING OF OUR IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS AND FOR REFERENCE WE ARE GOING AT ABOUT $800 MILLION OF CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT A FEW SLIDES WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE FOR A PAUSING OF THE PROGRAM.
WE ARE DOING A LOT OF SCENARIO PLANNING TO.
WADE AND HIS TEAM HAVE BEEN PREPARING FOR MULTIPLE OUTCOMES AND AS WE GO THROUGH THIS BUDGET PROCESS, WE ARE APPLYING FOR DIFFERENT RATES BUT THE BIGGEST ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM IS HOW WE ARE GOING TO SCENARIO PLANNING FOR A BUDGET GOING TO SUSTAIN MORE THAN 20% REDUCTION ON YEAR ONE AND YEAR TO POTENTIALLY, OVER 33%. THE ACTION TAKEN PUT THAT IN NUMBERS SO THAT CAN HELP YOU TO UNDERSTAND THE SCALE OF THE PREPARATION WE ARE DOING. CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS WE HAVE, THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE WE HAVE ESTABLISHED.
ALL THREE OF OUR COMMITTEE CHAIRS AND COCHAIRS OF THE BACK.
IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS WITH THE SAFEGUARDS OF ALL OF OUR PROJECTS, THAT'S WHAT WE ARE RUNNING IN THE COUNTY.
BUT COLLECTIVELY WE HAVE DECIDED TO PAUSE ABOUT $100 MILLION OF CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS AND WE HAVE A SET CRITERIA TO DECIDE WHICH PROJECTS THAT WE WILL PAUSE.
WE'LL LOOK AT IF THERE IS PUBLIC SAFETY, A REQUIREMENT BY LAW AND IF THEY POTENTIALLY WILL CREATE A RECURRING OPERATING COST THAT WE HAVE NO WAY TO RECOUP. IF YOU HAVE A PARK SPACE POTENTIALLY IF YOU HAVE A REFERENDUM PASS, YOU CAN POTENTIALLY GENERATE REVENUE BY HAVING A PRIVATE PUBLIC PARTNERSHIP OR RENTING THEM OUT. THAT PROJECT WILL SCORE HIGHER
[00:25:04]
THAN A PROJECT POTENTIALLY THERE IS NO WAY THAT YOU CAN RECOUP.FOR EXAMPLE, AND I HATE TYPICALLY LIBRARY, BUT LIBRARY IS ONE OF THOSE PROJECTS THAT'S A WONDERFUL SERVICE OUR COMMITTEE WANTS BUT IT'S ONE OF THOSE PROJECTS THAT HAS A VERY LITTLE ALTERNATIVE FUNDING SOURCE TO SUPPORT AND ALSO HAS A VERY HEAVY HUMAN COST TO IT. YOU HAVE YOUR LIBRARIANS TO STAFF THE NEW LIBRARIES BUT THAT'S THE KIND OF CRITERIA WE LOOK AT IN TERMS OF HOW WE DECIDE THAT WE CAN PUT A HOLD ON THE PROJECT UNTIL NOVEMBER OR NOT.
AND WE USE VERY SIMILAR CRITERIA TO LOOK AT OUR FTE WHICH IS FULL TIME EMPLOYEE EQUIVALENT. ED SO WE LOOK AT OUR NEW POSITIONS, ARE VACANT POSITIONS. AND WE REALLY JUST SCRUTINIZE EVERY ONE OF THEM. OUR HR TEAM AND DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS ABOUT A LOOK THROUGH THIS EXERCISE TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE NOT HIRING ANYBODY WE CAN'T AFFORD TO KEEP AFTER NOVEMBER BECAUSE, AGAIN, WE REMIND YOU OUR GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN MAINTAIN AS MANY EMPLOYEES AS WE CAN AS WE GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS. AT THIS TIME TEMPORARILY $8.6 MILLION WORTH OF HIRING A HAS-BEEN PAUSED.
IT'S NOT NECESSARILY A FREEZE. IT'S JUST PUT ON HOLD UNTIL WE KNOW WHAT WE ARE GOING TO BE WORKING WITH AFTER NOVEMBER.
RESERVE IS A REAL BIG THING FOR US.
WE HAVE WORKED VERY DILIGENTLY ON PUTTING AWAY FUNDS, SORT OF BANKING THIS TRANSITION IF WE HAVE TO OVER A COUPLE OF YEARS.
WE STARTED WITH AN EMERGENCY RESPONSE RESERVE AND TWO YEARS AGO WITH OUR BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS HAVE HAD A LOT OF VISION IN TERMS OF HOW WE ARE GOING TO RESPOND TO THOSE RECURRING, HOW WE REMOVE OUR DEBRIS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE SO PEOPLE CAN GET BACK TO THEIR LIFE AND SELL UP TO 2027 BUDGET, WE WERE ABLE TO HARNESS $21 BILLION OF OUR EMERGENCY RESPONSE RESERVE. WHAT'S DIFFERENT THIS YEAR IS THAT WE ARE ABLE TO PUT AWAY $30 MILLION FOR WHAT WE INTERNALLY CALL A FINANCIAL RESILIENCY RESERVE.
BUT REMEMBER, THEY ARE ONE TIME. MAY SOUND LIKE THERE'S A LOT OF MONEY. ONE TIME FUNDING, THEY ARE NOT RECURRING. ONCE WE SPEND 30 MILLION OR 61 BILLION BUT THEY DO NOT HAVE A CHANCE TO REGENERATE THEIR SELF. IT'S REALLY WHAT WE HAVE TO HAVE A SOFT LANDING IF WE HAVE TO GET THERE.
SO LET'S TALK ABOUT HOW OUR FUTURE BUDGET DECISION WILL BE MADE. WE HAVE A LOT OF DECISIONS TO BE MADE IT. I THINK IF THE REFERENDUM PASSES, WE THEN WILL HAVE TO AS A COMMUNITY TOGETHER THROUGH OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS WITH THE PUBLIC'S INPUT TO COME OUT WHAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR RESIDENTS.
HOW DO WE REPRIORITIZE OUR SERVICES.
LIKE I SAID EARLIER WE GO THROUGH OUR SERVICE INVENTORY WITH HUNDREDS OF SERVICES AND PROGRAMS, WE CATEGORIZE THEM BASICALLY BY WHETHER OR NOT THEY ARE REQUIRED BY LAW.
ONE IS A MEDICAL EXAMINER'S OFFICE.
YOU HAVE TO PROVIDE MEDICAL EXAMINERS SPONSORS OFFICE TO DO WHAT THEY DO. THAT IS A STATE REQUIRED SERVICE. IS THAT A CORE SERVICE.
I WOULD SAY THAT CORE SERVICE ESSENTIALLY ARE ESSENTIAL SERVICES. PUTTING OUT THE FIRES, GO RESCUE, YOUR RESIDENTS, OUR SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
THOSE ARE CORE SERVICES. WE TALK ABOUT ENHANCEMENT.
DO WE WANT TO HAVE THEY ARE NOT CORE SERVICE BUT THEY ARE ENHANCEMENT, QUALITY OF LIFE THAT ARE RESIDENTS ARE ACCUSTOMED TO.
MANY WILL HAVE A SPECIALIZED SERVICES.
ARE THESE SERVICES BENEFITING A SPECIALIZED GROUP OF PEOPLE? OR NOT? I THINK THE DIFFERENTIATION OF THESE CATEGORIES IS VERY IMPORTANT TO WHEN IT COMES TO RE-PRIORITIZATION. ALSO IMPORTANT TO THINK ABOUT WHAT ARE THE ALTERNATE FUNDING SOURCES TO SUPPORT THOSE SERVICES. FOR EXAMPLE, SPECIALIZED SERVICES POTENTIALLY THE MOST RECEPTIVE CATEGORY OF SERVICES WE COULD LOOK AT FEES COUPLE WE CAN LOOK AT ASSESSMENT.
BECAUSE THEY ARE PAID BY UTILIZATION.
SO THE ONES WHO DO NOT ENJOY THOSE SERVICES HAVE OPTIONS TO NOT PAY FOR THAT. WHEN IT'S PROPERTY TAXED, THESE ARE THE RESTRICTIVE BUGS YOU COULD PAY FOR SERVICES THAT POTENTIALLY EVERYBODY ENJOYS OR NEEDS.
ALSO GOING TO EVALUATE OUR DELIVERY OF HER FUNDING EFFICIENCY AND I THINK PRIVATE PUBLIC PARTNERSHIP IS GOING TO BE ONE OF THOSE MECHANISMS THAT WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT HEAVILY
[00:30:02]
BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF FUNDING FROM OUR PROPERTY TAXES.OF COURSE, FEES, WE'RE GOING TO RIGHT SIZE FEES.
I THINK WHERE THE CAVITY, THIS IS PROBABLY THE 20 TO SEVEN BUDGET, THE FIRST TIME WE STARTED INDEXING OF OUR COSTS TO FACTOR INTO OUR FEE SCHEDULE. WE HAVE A VERY LOW FEE SCHEDULE.
IT HAS BEEN THAT WAY AND I THINK THE COMMUNITY ENJOYS THAT AND WE WERE ABLE TO DO IT BUT ONCE WE HAVE THE FUNDING SOURCE THAT WE HAVE RELIED ON TO SUPPORT OUR SERVICES, THE ALTERNATIVE WOULD BE HOW MUCH ARE YOU GOING TO PAY FOR USING YOUR RECREATIONAL SPACE? HOW MUCH ARE YOU GOING TO PAY FOR YOUR BEACH PASS, YOUR PARKING? THAT'S WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT PROACTIVELY TO MAKE SURE WE ARE GOING TO BE READY IF THE COMMITTEE DECIDES THOSE ARE IMPORTANT SERVICES WE DO WANT TO KEEP TO HAVE A MECHANISM TO SUPPORT THAT. ANOTHER GOOD, GREAT EXAMPLE FOR ALTERNATE FUNDING SOURCES ARE ASSESSMENTS.
SOMETIMES CALLED THE DISABILITY SERVICE BENEFIT UNIT OR ASSESSMENT OR MUNICIPALITY TOXIC ASSESSMENT.
IT REALLY A MORE LOCALIZED SERVICES THAT ARE ONLY PAID FOR BY A LOCALIZED GROUP OF PEOPLE. IF YOU HAVE A SUBDIVISION, IT'S AFFECTED TO THE BIKE BY FLOODING AND HAVE A TRAINING ISSUE.
CURRENTLY WE HAVE A COUNTYWIDE TRADING PROGRAM AND WE CAN EXPAND THAT BUT ONCE WE GET INTO SITUATION WHERE YOUR TT F, TRANSPORTATION TRUST FUND, IS GOING TO BE INCREDIBLY LIMITED.
YOU STILL HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO PREVENT FLOODING FOR YOUR COMMUNITY. ONE MECHANISM OF A FEW IS THAT WE WILL HAVE A COLLECTIVE ASSESSMENT FOR JUST THE RESIDENTS IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD AND SO THOSE ARE THE KIND OF MECHANISMS THAT MAY WORK TO STILL CONTINUE TO OFFER SERVICES FOR LOCALIZED AREAS. OTHER COUNTYWIDE PUBLIC SOURCES INCLUDE GLATT DOLL THAT GAS AND SALES TAX.
THOSE ARE TOOLS THAT WE HAVE TOOLS IN OUR TOOLBOX WE ARE EVALUATING EVERY ONE OF THEM. AGAIN WE HAVE BEEN PRIDING OURSELVES TO HAVE A CHANCE. PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT PROCESS WHEN IT COMES TO PREPARATORY STATION, WHEN IT COMES TO HOW DO WE APPROPRIATE OUR RESOURCE TO SUPPORT SERVICES WE COLLECTIVELY AS A COMMUNITY ONCE. THE DIALOGUE WILL BE MORE INTENSIFIED BECAUSE ARE WE GOING TO HAVE FUN THIS PICKLEBALL COURT? FIND A LOW COST BEACH PASS? THESE ARE THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE CAN ANTICIPATE TO HAVE IT AMENDED THREE PASSES. A FEW KEY DATES.
ONE OF THEM HAS A READY PASSED. SEPTEMBER 2026 IS ADOPTION OF THE BUDGET AND THE MEMBER THIRD IS THE DATE YOU GET TO VOTE TO SAY YES OR NO TO AMENDED THREE, JANUARY 1ST 2027 IS WHEN A BABY PASSES, THE EXEMPTION AND 5% NONHOMESTEAD CAP WILL TAKE EFFECT. JANUARY 1ST 238 YOUR $250,000 HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION WILL TAKE EFFECT.
I THINK THAT REALLY CONCLUDES OUR PRESENTATION FOR INFOR INFORMATION. WE HAVE COLLECTED SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THROUGH ONLINE INQUIRY.
WE CAN GO OVER THEM AND IF YOU HAVE A READY THOSE QUESTIONS SIMILAR TO THOSE THEN THIS IS WHERE WE CAN ADDRESS THEM.
IF YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS, WE'LL COLLECT THEM AS WELL. COULD THE COUNTY INCREASE ITS RATES? YES.
BUT THE DECISION REMAINS SUBJECT TO THE NEW LAW.
IF YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT A FLAT RATE THAT POTENTIALLY GENERATES UP TO 110% OF YOUR COLLECTION, THAT REQUIRES A SUPER MAJORITY WHICH IS FOR VOTES. AND IF YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT A RATE THAT WILL EXCEED 100% OF YOUR COLLECTION THAT WILL REQUIRE EVERYONE TO VOTE YES. SO WE DO HAVE MORE STRINGENT REQUIREMENTS FOR THE VOTING BUT THERE IS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR AN INCREASE IN MILLAGE. WILL SENIOR HOMESTEADS BE LOST? WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THE EXISTING EXEMPTIONS.
YOU STILL GET TO ENJOY THE SAME EXEMPTION IF YOU QUALIFY UNDER CERTAIN CATEGORIES. WE ALSO GOT QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CDC ASSESSMENT AND HOW IT'S GOING TO AFFECT, PAY YOUR CDC IF YOU HAPPEN TO LIVE IN A NEIGHBORHOOD IN THIS ABATEMENT
[00:35:02]
DOES NOT HAVE ANY EFFECT ON CD AND HOW THEY ASSESS THE FEED YOUR COMMUNITY. IT IS A NONOUTBOARD ASSESSMENT SO EACH C CD CDD BOARD WILL CHANGE THEIR ASSESSMENT.HOW ARE WE GOING TO ADDRESS REVENUE SHORTFALLS.
I THINK WE ARE A LITTLE BACKWARDS ON THE SLIDE BUT THIS IS ALSO A GOOD SLIDE. I THINK I ALREADY TALKED ABOUT THIS, HOW WE ARE GOING TO AN ALTERNATE FUNDING SOURCE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO HAVE THE ABILITY OR DIFFERENT TOOLS FOR THE VALUE. SERVICES AND COSTS, WE REVIEW STAFFING, EQUIPMENT. METHODS ARE IN PARTNERSHIP AND FUNDING OPTIONS WE HAD TALKED ABOUT THE FEES, THEY ASSESS BIDS, DIFFERENT TYPE OF ASSESSMENT AND TAXES.
SALES TAX, GAS TAX CAN BE ON THE TABLE AND ST. JOHN'S COUNTY WILL HAVE THE LOWEST GAS TAX. WE HAVE SIX PENNIES THROWN ON THE TABLE TO BE LEVIED AND DROP POLICY DECISION THE BOARD WILL HAVE TO MAKE IT AT SOME POINT AND THE RESERVE AND TIMING CONSIDERED PROJECT TIMING, HOW MUCH ARE WE GOING TO PUT AWAY AND WHAT'S THE TRANSITIONAL NEEDS WITH THE ADJUSTMENT IN REVENUE. WE CAN ADDRESS SOME OF THE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS IF WE HAVE ANY.
THAT WAY WE CAN TAG TEAM ON ANSWERING SOME OF THOSE QUESTIONS AND WE ALSO HAVE SOME STAFF MEMBERS HERE AND AVAILABLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AS WELL AND IF YOU HAVEN'T HEARD IT YET FEEL FREE TO PUT THEM IN AND WE COULD TRY TO ADDRESS THEM AS BEST AS WE CAN. SPEAK ALL RIGHT.
THERE'S A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS AWED HERE.
I'LL GO THROUGH THEM. FIRST ONE IS DID I UNDERSTAND THAT IF THE AMENDED PASSES THAT COUNTY VOTE TO INCREASE THE MILLAGE TO INCREASE THE LOST REVENUE? THAT PROCESS IS GOING TO PLAY OUT DURING THE PROCESS AND THE COUNTY CERTAINLY HAS THE ABILITY TO INCREASE THE MILLAGE RATE.
HOWEVER THERE ARE CAPS PUT IN PLACE, CONSTITUTIONAL CAPS OF THE MILITARY. OUR CURRENT AGGREGATE IS 6.7.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL CAP FOR A COUNTY IS TEN BILL THERE IS ALSO A LIMIT ON THIS. SO SURLY THAT IS AN OPTION.
ONE OF THE OPTIONS ON THE TABLE. BUT WE ARE NOT TO DECISION MAKERS. THE BOARD IS AND IT CERTAINLY NO GUARANTEES OF WHICH WAY IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
AND THE SECOND QUESTION IS TALK ABOUT WHAT REVENUE YOU ARE GETTING, NOT THE LOSS OF REVENUE DUE TO THE AMENDMENT.
YOU STILL HAVE BILLIONS IN THE BUDGET IN NEW HOMES AND COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES WHICH WILL INCREASE INCOME.
IF I CAN GO BACK. SO RIGHT HERE.
ABOUT 426 BILLION PROPERTY TAXES.
CERTAINLY ON THE FACE OF IT ONE OF THE MOST COMMON QUESTIONS THAT WE GET. THERE'S PLENTY OF OTHER MONEY IN THE BUDGET TO ABSORB ANY LOSS IN PROPERTY TAXES.
THAT 1.94 BILLION INCLUDES A LOT OF REVENUES AND A LOT OF FUNDING THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY PROPERTY TAX RELATED AT ALL.
ABOUT 800 MILLION OF IT IS FUND BALANCE.
THAT'S THE LEFTOVER MONEY FROM PRIOR YEARS, NOT NEW REVENUE AS JOY MENTIONED. NOT RECURRING EITHER.
ONCE THE FUND BALANCE IS SPENT, IT'S NOT NEW REVENUE.
FOR THE MOST PART THAT REVENUE OR THE FUND BALANCE IS OBLIGATED TOWARDS EXISTING CAPITAL PROJECTS OR EXISTING GRANT PROGRAMS. A LOT OF IT IS THE REMAINING BALANCES TOWARDS THE CAPITAL PROJECTS.
ADDITIONALLY UTILITIES IS PART OF OUR BUDGET, PART OF THE 1.94 BILLION. UTILITIES IS NOT FUNDED THROUGH PROPERTY TAXES AND LIKEWISE UTILITY REVENUES, SERVICE CHARGES ARE NOT UTILIZED FOR ANYTHING BUT UTILITY SERVICES.
THOSE REVENUES CANNOT GO INTO PARKS, TRANSPORTATION, FIRE
[00:40:04]
SERVICES. THEY ARE RESTRICTED ONLY TOWARD UTILITY SERVICES. YES, PART OF OUR BUDGET.BUT IT'S NOT PART OF THE BUDGET THAT WE HAVE FLEXIBILITY ON WHAT WE CAN DO WITH IT. IT IS RESTRICTED REVENUE AND IT ENDS UP BEING SPENT FOR UTILITY SERVICES.
SOLID WASTE AS WELL. ENJOY A ASSESSMENTS ON YOUR PROPERTY TAX BILL. YOU'LL SEE SOLID WASTE ASSESSMENTS THERE. THOSE ARE REVIEWS AGAIN RESTRICTED FOR THE SOLID WASTE SERVICES.
THOSE REVENUES DO NOT GO INTO THE PROPERTY TAX, ANY OF THE AREAS WHERE PROPERTY TAXES ALLOCATED.
PROPERTY TAXES ARE NOT GOING INTO SOLID WASTE, INTO SOLID WASTE SERVICES. CERTAINLY A LOT OF OTHER FUNDING SOURCES WITHIN THE ENTIRE COUNTY BUDGET.
YOU HAVE THE BEACH, THE PEER, THE GOLF COURSE.
NONE OF THOSE ARE PROPERTY TAX RELATED.
IF YOU TOOK SOME OF THOSE REVENUES TO SUPPORT OTHER OPERATIONS YOU HAVE TO REDUCE THOSE OPERATIONS AND IF YOU REDUCE THE GOLF COURSE OR CLOSE THE GOLF COURSE YOU AREN'T GOING TO GET THE REVENUE. THOSE ARE SELF SUPPORTING OPERATIONS NOT RELATED TO PROPERTY, CERTAINLY PART OF OUR BUDGET. THE REVENUE IS NOT REALLY AVAILABLE TO BE USED TOWARDS A TYPE OF PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT WE ARE USING PROPERTY TAXES FOR.
>> IF I MAY JUST ADD IN TERMS OF SORT OF THE INTERRELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DIFFERENT FUNDS. CERTAINLY SAYING THAT WE HAVE IN A PRIZE FUND, SPECIAL REVENUE FUND THAT WE COLLECT, YOUR SOLID WASTE ASSESSMENT, IS RESTRICTED TO USE ONLY TO SUPPORT YOUR SOLID WASTE SERVICES. WE CANNOT MOVE THEM AROUND.
BUT I ALSO WANTED TO BRING UP A GOOD EXAMPLE OF A REVENUE THAT IS LESS RESTRICTIVE BUT STILL SOMEWHAT RESTRICTIVE THAT IS, ONE OF THE QUESTIONS COME AN EXCELLENT QUESTION RELATED TO THE CITY, AND ITS TOURISM DEVELOPMENT TAXES.
WE HAVE YOUR TOURISTS THAT COME HERE AND THEY STAY IN A HOTEL AND THEY PAY FOR THAT TAX AND WE COLLECT ABOUT 23-$24 BILLION A YEAR IN TAXES AND THEY ARE SPENT ACCORDING TO THE DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE. WE HAVE FIVE CATEGORIES OF OUR BAD TAXES. I WANT TO MENTION BECAUSE IT WAS ILLUMINATING IN TERMS OF HOW THIS AMENDMENT MAY AFFECT HOW WE OPERATE EVEN IF THE FUNDS ARE RESTRICTED, EVEN IF THE FUNDS ARE NOT PROPERTY TAXES. THINK ABOUT FIVE CATEGORY OF TAXES. YOU HAVE MARKETING, CULTURAL, HISTORY PRESERVATION, RECR RECREATION.
YOU HAVE COASTAL PROTECTION. ONE OF THE QUESTIONS WAS HOW IS THAT GOING TO AFFECT OUR ABILITY TO SUPPORT KNIGHTS OF LIFE? ON THE SURFACE IT DOESN'T BUT WHEN YOU GET IN THE DETAILS OF HOW WE SPEND THOSE FUNDS AND WHAT'S THE STATUTORY LIMITATION, TAXES CANNOT PAY FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.
YOU HAVE AN ISSUE WITH AND CERTAINLY IT'S A BIG OPERATION COST WHEN IT COMES TO OPERATE KNIGHTS OF LIFE.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE OUR TOURISTS ARE SAFE.
BUT YOUR TAX CANNOT PAY FOR THAT.
WE ARE LOOKING AT HOW WE ARE SUPPORTING THAT OPERATION WITH OUR TAXES. IT'S LIMITED.
OUR PUBLIC SAFETY SIDE OF KNIGHTS OF LIGHTS IS GOING TO BE LIMITED. ANOTHER SIDE OF POTENTIAL IMPACT IS COASTAL PROTECTION. YOU HAVE, I DO NOT KNOW, THE BALANCE OF CATEGORY FIVE IN TAXES IS PROBABLY $700 BILLION OR SOMETHING VOLATILE. SANDRA PUBLISHED A PROGRAM IN TERMS OF STYLE, WE JUST DID AT NORTH PONTEVEDRA PROGRAM COST OF 37: $38 BILLION. WE ARE LOOKING AT SOUTH PART OF REGIONAL COASTAL MANAGEMENT PROJECT AND IS POTENTIALLY GOING TO COST 40-$50 MILLION. LARGELY FUNDED THROUGH A COLLABORATION WITH ARMY CORPS, WITH LOCAL FUNDING SUPPORT.
WHEN YOU DO NOT HAVE FUNDING SOURCES TO SUPPORT THOSE KIND OF IMPORTANT PROJECTS AND INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION.
THEN NATURALLY IT BLEEDS INTO OTHER FUNDING THAT POTENTIALLY HAS THAT COMPONENT. SO THE DISCUSSION BECOMES, THEN A POLICY DECISION BECOMES DO WE WANT TO APPROPRIATE MORE FUNDS TO PROTECT OUR BEACH OR DO YOU WANT TO SUPPORT THE DIETS OF LIFE? BOTH SOUND REALLY IMPORTANT BUT THEY WERE TO COMPETING WITH EACH OTHER UNTIL THE FUNDING BECAME VERY LIMITED. I WANTED TO BREAK THAT UP, BRING
[00:45:01]
THIS DYNAMIC THAT A POTENTIALLY HAPPEN IN THE POLICY DECISION WORLD. SPEAK ALL RIGHT.SO THE NEXT QUESTION WE RECEIVED.
SO THE BUDGET IS REFLECTED AT 95% OF REVENUE.
WHAT HAPPENS TO THE OTHER 5%? AND YES, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. THE BUDGET IS AT 95% OF REVENUE.
FOR MOST REVENUE. THE ALL REVENUE.
BUT MOST ARE AT 95%. THAT'S A STATUTORY REQUIREMENT AND A BUILT IN QUESTION BY THE STATE IN CASE THERE IS AN ECONOMIC DOWNTURN AND WE DO NOT RECEIVE THOSE REVENUE.
EVEN PROPERTY TAXES. WHEN YOU GET YOUR PROPERTY TAX BILL, YOU'LL NOTICE THAT IF YOU PAY IT EARLY, YOU'LL PAY IT IN NOVEMBER AND GET A DISCOUNT IF YOU PAY IT EARLY.
EVEN THOUGH WE BUDGET $426 MILLION IN PROPERTY TAX REVENUE, WE DO MAY NOT RECEIVE 426 BECAUSE IF THERE ARE EARLY PAYMENTS, THERE IS THAT DISCOUNT THERE.
CERTAIN OTHER REVENUES, THE GAS TAX.
THE STATE OF GEORGIA IMPLEMENTED A GAS TAX HOLIDAY.
IF THE STATE OF FLORIDA DOES THE SAME THERE'S A CHANCE WE MAY NOT RECEIVE THE FULL LEVEL OF GAS TAXES WE WERE BUDGETING.
YES. THERE IS A 5% REDUCTION BILL IN QUESTION BUT THERE ARE CERTAINLY TIMES WHEN WE DO NOT RECEIVE THAT FOR 100%. WE DO RECEIVE SOMETHING LESS.
IF WE DO RECEIVE MORE THAN THE 95% OF THOSE FUNDS BUILT INTO NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET, THAT'S PART OF THE FUND BALANCE AND IT CAN GO TOWARDS THE NEXT YEAR'S OPERATIONS.
BUT WE TYPICALLY LOOK AT THE FUNDING, THOSE BALANCES AS ONE TME. YOU AREN'T GOING TO BE LOOKING EVERY YEAR TO HAVE ADDITIONAL COLLECTION ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT YOU BUDGETED. THOSE ARE KIND OF ONE-TIME BALANCES AND TYPICALLY PUT THEM TOWARDS THE ONE PART ONE-TIME PROJECTS OR CAPITAL PROJECTS OR ONE TOPIC BUDGET HERS.
IN CASES REVENUES ARE NOT REALIZED IN FUTURE YEARS.
A GREAT QUESTION. YES, 5% REVENUE REDUCTION BUT NOT ALWAYS REALIZED IT WOULD WE DO REALIZE IT IT'S TYPICALLY GOING TOWARDS ONE-TIME EXPENSES. HAVE THE LAST QUESTION I BELIEVE WE RECEIVED, HOW DOES THE COUNTY PROJECT NEW HOMES AND COMMERCIAL DRAWINGS THAT WILL ADD PROPERTY TAX REVENUE TO THIS EQUATION? SO YES. WE PROJECT THAT GROWTH RATE, WE DO GET ASSISTANCE FROM THE PROPERTY APPRAISER EARLY ON TO SEE WHAT THEY ARE SEEING WITH ADDITIONAL GROWTH AND ADDITIONAL VALUES RELATED TO THAT GROWTH. THE BUDGET PRESENTATION, THERE IS A SLIDE, SHOWING THE HISTORICAL TREND FOR FISCAL YEAR 2027. THE TAXABLE VALUE INCREASE RELATED TO PARTIALLY TO GROWTH IN THE INCREASED ASSESSMENT AND CURRENT PROPERTIES WITH A 6.7% INCREASE.
IF YOU SEE THE TREND ON THAT, THE TREND IS GOING DOWNWARDS.
WE PROJECT ON WHAT WE SEE MORE RECENTLY AND WHAT KIND OF INPUT WE GET FROM THE PROPERTY APPRAISER ON WHAT WE SEE IN BUILDING PERMITS AND OTHER BUILDING ACTIVITY.
I WILL SAY, YOU KNOW, WITH NEW HOMES CERTAINLY COMES YOU POPULATION. JOY HAVE A SLIDE EARLY ON IN THE GROWTH IN POPULATION. I'VE LIVED IN THIS COUNTY FOR MY ENTIRE LIFE. I WILL SAY FOR PROBABLY THE LAST 30 YEARS WE'VE BEEN ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING COUNTIES CERTAINLY WITHIN THE STATE IF NOT WITHIN THE COUNTRY WITH GROWTH COMES ADDITIONAL DEMANDS FOR SERVICES.
IT MAY NOT BE NEW SERVICES BUT IF YOU HAVE MORE PEOPLE MAY BE YOUR PARKS OR LIBRARIES ARE GETTING FILLED AND YOU HAVE TO BUILD YOU. OR IF YOU HAVE MORE PEOPLE ATTENDING YOUR PROGRAMS YOU NEED TO INCREASE RESOURCES TOWARDS THESE PROGRAMS. CERTAINLY THERE IS NEW REVENUE OR ADDITIONAL REVENUE WITH NEW CONSTRUCTION.
BUT WITH THAT ADDITIONAL REVENUE COMES ADDITIONAL EXPENSES OR ADDITIONAL REQUESTS FOR EXP EXPENSES.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I THINK THIS IS THE LAST ONE
WE HAVE -- WE MAY HAVE TO HAVE A MIC.
WE WERE GOING TO DO THIS BUT SURE, WE HAVE SOME TIME.
SO IF YOU COULD CHECK OUT YOUR QUESTION.
[00:50:07]
WE CAN ONLY SPEAK FOR OURSELVES. YES, IT'S APPLICABLE TO EVERY
SINGLE COUNTY AND CITY. >> SO ANOTHER COUNTY MIGHT NOT
PASS IT? >> COLLECTIVELY THE STATE OF FLORIDA REQUIRES 60% OF VOTERS TO APPROVE THIS.
SO IT'S NOT A COUNTY INITIATIVE. IT STATEWIDE.
>> STATEWIDE REFERENDUM. SO IF IT'S UP TO 60% OR MORE OF THE ENTIRE STATE, NOT JUST ST. JOHNS COUNTY VOTING FOR THIS BUT YES, THE AMENDMENT TAKES IT REGARDLESS OF HOW VOTERS WITHIN ST. JOHNS COUNTY. SO IT IS A STATEWIDE OF
LIMITATION >> GOOD QUESTION. >> MY QUESTION IS WHO UP PROPOSED THIS COMMITMENT THREE TO GET IT ON THE BALLOT BEFORE YOU GET ALL THAT ANSWER THAT, THANK YOU FOR DOING THIS.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION. WE DON'T REALLY HAVE A GOOD ANSWER FOR THAT. I THINK IT IS A VERY CONVOLUTED ANSWER. WE ARE NOT EQUIPPED TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION. IT'S A VERY POLITICAL PROCESS.
OUR UNDERSTANDING IS THAT AT LEAST WE UNDERSTAND WHAT WE ARE TRACKING THE LANGUAGE CHANGE IT HAS EVOLVED THROUGH THE HOUSE, THROUGH THE SENATE, THROUGH THE GOVERNOR.
THERE ARE MANY LEGISLATORS WHO WERE INVOLVED TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FINAL LANGUAGE. AND ALSO THE COURTS.
CLEARLY. SO SORRY THAT I CANNOT ANSWER
THAT QUESTION. >> AT THE RISK OF RECEIVING MISINFORMED, AND I'M APOLOGIZING IF I'M NOT.
HAVEN'T DONE MUCH HOMEWORK FOR THIS MEETING BUT WHAT DOES THE CONVERSATION LOOK LIKE OR WHAT'S THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE DEVELOPERS IN THE COUNTY WITH RESPECT TO WHAT THEY MIGHT PAY FOR THEIR FAIR SHARE OF INFRASTRUCTURE? SOME OF THESE BASIC NEEDS AS WE DO GROW OUR COUNTY.
THANK YOU. >> FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. YOU ARE GOING TO BE WAY MORE INFORMED THAN THOSE WHO ARE NOT SITTING NEXT TO YOU.
SO THANK YOU. IN TERMS OF DEVELOPERS, DEVELOPMENT'S RESPONSIBILITY TO PAY FOR INFRASTRUCTURE, THAT'S A REALLY GOOD QUESTION. I THINK THERE'S SOME SENTIMENT IN TERMS OF HOW MUCH MORE WE CAN ASK OUR DEVELOPER TO PAY FOR LACK OF SERVICES OR LACK OF INFRASTRUCTURE.
A BASELINE UNDERSTANDING OF HOW THE MECHANISM WORKS.
ST. JOHNS COUNTY HAS AN IMPACT THE ORDINANCE WHICH IS A SET SCHEDULE TO THE HOLD THE DEVELOPER A ACCOUNTABLE.
YOU HAVE CATEGORIES OF MITIGATING WROTE IMPACT.
YOU ARE MITIGATING REQUIREMENT FOR SCHOOLS, PARKS, PUBLIC BUILDINGS, LAW ENFORCEMENT. ST. JOHNS COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS JUST ADOPTED A NEW STUDY WHICH WAS REQUIRED BY LAW EVERY SO OFTEN. EVERY SEVEN YEARS.
WE ADOPTED A NEW SCHEDULE WHICH IS THE MAXIMUM ABOUT THAT THE STATE LAW WILL ALLOW YOU TO CHARGE A DEVELOPER.
THERE IS ALSO ECONOMICS AND IT TOO BECAUSE THERE IS A FLIP SIDE IN EVERY PUBLIC POLICY. EVEN THOUGH WE HAVEN'T CHARGE THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF IMPACT FEE WHICH IS OUR ABILITY TO ASK A DEVELOPER TO MITIGATE THE IMPACT, NONETHELESS IT INEVITABLY IS GOING TO PASS DOWN THE HOMEOWNERS AT SOME POINT WHICH ESSENTIALLY DRIVES THE ECONOMY OF YOUR HOME PRICES DOWN THAT, PRICES GO UP. WHICH IS BECOMING ANOTHER POLICY CHALLENGE WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO ALSO MITIGATE AS WELL.
BUT FROM THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THESE MECHANISMS, I WOULD SAY KUDOS TO OUR BOARD. THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOU PAY A CERTAIN AMOUNT, THAT'S THE FAIR SHARE OF THE CONCURRENCY, PROP SHARE. LET'S JUST SAY THAT YOU HAVE HOMES IN YOUR RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING $10 MILLION TO IMPROVE THIS ROAD BY ADDING A TURN LANE OR ADDING ALAIN PERIOD'S ON THE ROAD HISTORICALLY AND THIS IS REALLY NOT TO SPEAK NEGATIVE OR POSITIVELY ABOUT ANY POLICYMAKERS OTHER THAN THERE ARE DIFFERENT TIMES FOR DIFFERENT REASONS FOR A WAY OF ENCOURAGING CERTAIN DEVELOPMENT. SO FOR EXAMPLE 2007, WE HAD A RECESSION. THE BOARD ADOPTED A FEE WAIVER FOR CERTAIN COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT WITH THE HOPE TO
[00:55:04]
IMPROVE OUR ECONOMY. THAT CAN POTENTIALLY REDUCE YOUR ABILITY TO COLLECT FROM YOU. ON THE RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT SIDE OF IT, IN THE PAST THE EXERCISE HAVE BEEN IN SOME CASES WE ALLOW THE DEVELOPER TO FACE THEIR DEVELOPMENT AND ALSO FACE THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO THE MITIGATION WHICH CREATES A CERTAIN PROBLEM BECAUSE MUDDY CHANGES WITH A TIME.VALUE CHANGES WITH THE TIME. AND SO YOUR COST OF CONSTRUCTION PLAYS INTO YOUR ABILITY TO REALLY MAKE THOSE INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS HAPPEN. WITH THE CURRENT DYNAMIC ABOUT A COST INCREASE, HOW QUICKLY THEY CAN CHANGE, WE GO FROM $5 MILLION PER MILE TO NOW TALKING ABOUT $2,025,000,000,000 PER MILE $25 MILLION PER MILE. $20 MILLION UPFRONT CONTRIBUTION THAT HELPS WITH THE COMPLETION OF THE WORLD FAIR QUICKLY.
>> THERE IS A SECTION FOR SERVICE REVIEW WHERE YOU HAVE A PROGRAM BY PROGRAM REVIEW IN M MAY.
THE PROGRAMS THAT ARE BEING REVIEWED, IS THAT PUBLIC RECORD AND SOMETHING THAT CAN BE REVIEWED BY THE PUBLIC.
>> ABSOLUTELY. >> HOW CAN THAT BE FILED?
>> WE SOLICITED THOSE BACK IN MAY.
WE HAD ASKED EACH DIRECTORATE TO TAKE A LOOK AT THOSE WITH OUR STAFF AND SO WE BUILT OUT THESE FIELDS, THESE COLUMNS.
WHAT DO YOU THINK THIS IS CATEGORIZED ASK AND SO THEY'LL SUBMIT THEIR RESPONSE AND WILL LOOK AT THE GAPS.
HERE THEY ARE NOT COMPLETE BUT THEY ARE WORKING DOCUMENT BUT STILL A SUBJECT FOR THE SUNSHINE.
IF YOU WANT TO SEND US A REQUEST TO PROVIDE WHAT WE HAVE TODAY.
>> I'M GOING BACK TO THE FACT -- YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT THE GAS TAX. WHAT HAPPENED WITH THAT.
IN OUR YOU THROWING THAT IN THE BUDGET SOMEWHERE OR DID YOU SUPPORT IT WITHOUT SO MANY IN THE BUDGET?
>> HOPEFULLY I UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION.
HOW DO WE REFLECT A 5% REDUCTION IN THE BUDGET? SO YES. WITHIN EACH FUND, THERE IS A SEPARATE REVENUE LINE FOR STATUTORY REDUCTION.
AND YOU'LL SEE ON THE REVENUE SIDE OF EACH FUND.
WHAT WE DO IS WE BUDGET THE REVENUE ON THE ACCOUNT LINE AT 100% AND THERE IS A CALCULATION OF THAT 5% REDUCTION OF ALL THE REVENUES THAT THE 5% REDUCTION GETS APPLIED TO WITHIN THAT FUND. YOU'LL SEE AN OFFSETTING OR A NEGATIVE REVENUE WITH THE FUND. ONES IF YOU ARE LOOKING AT IT BY THE ACCOUNT STRUCTURE. YOU'LL SEE A NEGATIVE REVENUE AND THE NEGATIVE REVENUE IS REFLECTIVE OF THAT CALCULATION.
>> PREVIOUSLY YOU SOMETHING ABOUT THE SIXTH SENSE GAS TAX THAT COULD BE COLLECTED. HAVE YOU ESTIMATED WHAT THE
INCOME WOULD BE FROM THAT? >> YES.
I BELIEVE THE MOST RECENT ESTIMATES ARE ABOUT $9 MILLION OF ADDITIONAL REVENUE THAT COULD BE REALIZED IF THE COUNTY LEVIED THE FULL 12 FOR GAS TAXES. EACH COUNTY HAS UP TO $0.12 THEY COULD LEVY. WE CURRENTLY LEVY SIX OF THE 12.
IF WE DID, THAT COULD BE AN ADDITIONAL 9 BILLION PER YEAR.
THIS GAS TAXES WELCOME TO THE REVENUES FROM IT ARE DEPENDENT SOMEWHAT ON THE ECONOMY WITH THE PRICE OF GAS.
AS IT INCREASED. PEOPLE CERTAINLY MAKE DECISIONS WITHIN THEIR OWN HOUSE OF OVER WHETHER THEY TRAVEL OR NOT.
YES, THE PRICE OF GAS MAY GO OFF.
OUR TAXES MAY GO DOWN BECAUSE PEOPLE OR MAY BE LESS FUEL.
[01:00:03]
SO AS WELL, AN ADDITIONAL 9 MILLION OR SO FROM GAS TAX.ON THE ONE SIDE WE HEAR DEL MIKE HAD THE YEAR ONE INCREASING FROM 50,250,000 OF HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.
68 MILLION REDUCTION. YES, WE CAN IMPLEMENT THE ADDITIONAL GAS TAX, 9 MILLION TOWARDS YEAR ONE, $68 BILLION AND YEAR TO 130 PLUS BILLION DOLLAR HOLE, AND INCREASE.
MANY OF OUR SURROUNDING COUNTIES HAVE THOSE ADDITIONAL GAS TAXES.
WE CAN PROVIDE A COMPARISON OF OTHER COUNTIES AS WELL.
>> SO SORRY TO HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION.
IT LOOKS LIKE 48% OF OUR REVENUE STREAM PAYS FOR OUR FIREFIGHTERS
AND OUR POLICE, LAW ENFORCEMENT. >> 58.
>> HAVE WE DONE AND HE SORT OF TANGIBLE LOOK AT WHAT THAT REALLY LOOKS LIKE IF WE HAVE SEVERE BUDGET CUTBACKS? WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR POLICE AND FIRE? WHAT DOES THAT MEAN AS A HOMEOWNER?
WHAT AM I GOING TO SEE? >> I DO NOT THINK IT IS...
I DO NOT THINK IT'S HARD TO SAY THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE SERVICED REDUCTION IN ALL THOSE CATEGORIES.
EARLIER GENTLEMEN ASKED WHO CAME UP WITH THIS PROPOSAL COUPLED WITH THE PROPOSALS THAT DID NOT COME UP ON THE BALLOT IS HOLD A PUBLIC SAFETY TO A CERTAIN LEVEL IN 2025 OR 2026.
ESSENTIALLY HOLDING THEM HARMLESS TO A CERTAIN LEVEL BUT CAPTIVE GROWTH, SO YOU GET THE SAME FUNDING BUT DISREGARD THE POPULATION INCREASE FOR THE C COST.
THAT HAS BEEN REMOVED BECAUSE IT DOES NOT WORK.
YOU HAVE ESSENTIALLY ALLOWABLE UNDER THE NEW SEVEN CATEGORIES BUT YOUR FUNDING REDUCTION IS GOING TO BE AFFECTING ALL
CATEGORIES. >> IF IT WERE TO PASS AND TOOK EFFECT ACROSS THE STATE, COULD IT BE REVIEWED?
>> I DO NOT KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT.
THAT'S A LEGAL QUESTION. BUT THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
>> IT WOULDN'T BE A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.
I WOULDN'T KNOW WHAT THAT PROCESS WOULD BE.
SO YEAH. >> ANY CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT IS GOING TO REQUIRE A REFE REFERENDUM.
I THINK THE BEST SCENARIO IS DEVOTED TO
NOVOTE OR DECIDE AGAIN. >> CAN YOU SHARE WHAT THE AVERAGE HOMESTEAD SAVINGS WILL BE IF THIS WERE TO PASS?
>> THE AVERAGE, I DO NOT KNOW THE AVERAGE.
BUT THE SCENARIO WE USED IS THAT ANYONE WHO HAS A HOME, WHO HAS A BAD, YOU AT LEAST HAVE $2,050,000 AND THAT IS A MAX AMOUNT OF SAVINGS. YOU HAVE A $10 MILLION HOME OR $5 MILLION HOME, YOUR HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION SAVING IS THE SAME BECAUSE IT'S BASED IN EXEMPTION. ABOUT 700.
THE SECOND IS ABOUT 1400. AND I DO NOT THINK WE HAVE THIS LIGHT IN BUT WE TALK ABOUT THE COST PER CAPITA FOR YOU TO PAY FOR PUBLIC SERVICE PER HOUSEHOLD IS TODAY $1500.
ESSENTIALLY WE ARE ELIMINATING AND SAVING THE SAME AMOUNT THE REVENUE SOURCE FOR PUBLIC SERVICE.
YOU HAVE WATER AND SOLID WASTE. AND YOU PAY YOUR WATER RATES.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION. WE ARE AT A PRESENTATION LAST WEEK AND THE SHERIFF WAS TALKING ABOUT POSSIBLY SOME OF THE SHERIFF DEPARTMENTS HAVING TO GO INTO THE POORER COUNTIES BECAUSE OF THEIR LOSS OF REVENUE FROM THIS.
AND IF THAT DOES HAPPEN, HOW IS ST. JOHNS COUNTY GOING TO FUND OUR SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT GOING INTO ANOTHER COUNTY?
>> WE MAY BE AT THE SAME EVENT. I THINK I HEARD THE SAME THING.
I THINK BASED ON THE ROUGH ESTIMATION OF MUNICIPALITIES AND COUNTIES, I THINK THEY BASICALLY SAY THERE ARE 20 PLUS, AT LEAST
[01:05:05]
FROM THE COUNTY'S HIGH RISK IN TERMS OF WHETHER OR NOT THEY CAN STAY FINANCIALLY SOLVENT. SO WE COMMITTED ST. JOHNS COUNTY HAD EXPERIENCED OR HAS EXPERIENCED THE MUNICIPALITY THAT ESSENTIALLY WENT BANKRUPT. AND THE STATE PROCESS AT THE TIME IS WHEN YOU HAVE A TOWNSHIP OR CITY OR INCORPORATED AREA THAT BECOMES DISSOLVED, THE STATE LAWS WILL REQUIRE YOU TO ABSORB THEM. AND IN WITH THE STRUCTURE, WHATEVER THAT STRUCTURE IS. WHEN IT COMES TO NEIGHBORING COUNTIES OR EQUIVALENT CITIES, I DO NOT KNOW IF THERE IS AN ESTABLISHED PROCESS TO THAT. BUT CERTAINLY I THINK FROM A PRACTICAL SIDE OF IT, IT'S GOING TO REQUIRE A LOT OF ORIGINAL APPROACH. IT'S GOING TO REQUIRE A LOT OF SHARED SERVICES BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO DO.YOU DON'T HAVE ANOTHER WAY OF PROVIDING THE SAME SERVICES.
BUT HOW THAT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE? I DO NOT KNOW. COMMON SENSE SAYS YOU HAVE LESS TO GO AROUND AND YOU HAVE MORE PEOPLE TO TAKE CARE OF AND
EVERYBODY NEEDS THE SAME THING. >> GOOD EVENING.
I'D LIKE TO ASK ABOUT THE -- WE ARE TALKING ABOUT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF AMENDMENT THREE PASSES.
HOW MUCH IT'S GOING TO BE REANALYZED.
BUT ALSO ON THE BALLOT. THE COUNTY WANTS TO TAKE OUT ONE OR $20,000,000.20 YEAR BOND WANT TOTAKE OUT A $120 MILLION R BOND.
HAVE WE LOOKED AT THE ASPECT IF THIS PASSES AND OF TAXES ARE CUT AND WE HAVE A $100 MILLION BOND AT 20 YEARS MAYBE, .15 MILL INCREASE ON TOP OF THAT. MAYBE 16 MILLION A YEAR, HAS THAT BEEN LOOKED AT. HAS THAT BEEN LOOKED AT, THE
ASPECT OF AMENDMENT THREE. >> DEPENDS ON WHAT BOND YOU ARE
TALKING ABOUT. >> IT'S ON THE BALLOT.
>> THE CONSERVATION OF LAND? OKAY.
>> THAT BALLOT MEASURE HAS ITS OWN FUNDING SOURCE FOR THAT.
IF THAT AMENDMENT -- OUTCOME OF THE AMENDED IS APPROVED, THERE IS A MILLAGE ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.
THE MILLAGE IS BUILT IN WITH A LITTLE BIT OF A CUSHION IF IN THE MID-THREE PASSES AND TAXABLE VALUE GOES DOWN.
BUT IF THAT AMENDMENT IS NOT SUFFICIENT TO LEVY OR TO GENERATE REVENUES TO SUPPORT $100 MILLION IN BORROWING FOR CONSERVATION, WE SIMPLY WOULD NOT BE ABLE -- WE WOULDN'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO GET THE FULL 100 MILLION.
IT MAY BE SOMETHING LESS. ADDITIONALLY EVEN IF IT IS, AS LAND COMES FORWARD FOR A POTENTIAL PURCHASE AS PART OF OUR REVIEW, ARE THERE ARE ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS AS PART OF THAT PROPERTY. YES.
YOU MAY BUY LAND FOR CONSERVATION BUT THERE ARE OPERATING EXPENSES RELATED TO THAT.
IF THOSE EXPENSES ARE SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH THE RECOMMENDATION MAY NOT BE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH SOME OF THAT.
>> ALL RIGHT. WELL, THAT CONCLUDES OUR TOWN HALL. I REALLY APPRECIATE ANYBODY PER DISSIPATING TONIGHT. THAT MEANS A LOT TO US.
THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.