[CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:07]
ORDER. GOOD EVENING, AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR THIS SPECIAL MEETING. IT'S SEPTEMBER 15TH, 2026. IT'S 5:01 P.M. COMMISSIONER MOORE IS UNAVAILABLE AND IS APPEARING ELECTRONICALLY. COMMISSIONER MOORE, CAN YOU HEAR US? CHRIS, DO WE NOT HAVE HIM? OKAY. FOR THE RECORD, WE CAN HEAR COMMISSIONER MOORE AND HE HAS ACCESS TO LIVE VIDEO STREAM OF THIS MEETING. COMMISSIONER MOORE IS NOT PHYSICALLY PRESENT, SO HE WILL NOT COUNT FOR THE QUORUM. BUT CAN I GET A MOTION THAT HIS ABSENCE IS DUE TO EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES, AND HE IS PERMITTED TO PARTICIPATE IN VOTE BY TELEPHONE THIS MEETING. MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. COULD YOU CALL THE ROLL COMMISSIONER, RAFAEL? YES, MA'AM. COMMISSIONER CARROLL. YES, MA'AM. COMMISSIONER CROSBY. YES, MA'AM. COMMISSIONER MOORE. YES, MA'AM. AND CHAIRMAN. PEACE. YES, MA'AM. THE INVOCATION WILL BE BY DANIEL CHERRY, JENKS AVENUE, CHURCH OF CHRIST AND OUR PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE BY ANTHONY WORKMAN. VETERANS SERVICES, IF YOU WOULD RISE. LET'S PRAY. ALMIGHTY FATHER AND CREATOR, THANK YOU FOR ALL THE BOUNTIFUL BLESSINGS THAT YOU HAVE LAVISHED ON YOUR PEOPLE AND OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU FOR THE BEAUTIFUL PLACE WE CALL HOME. THANK YOU FOR THE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO WORK HARD TO PROVIDE SERVICES, THOSE WHO ENSURE SAFETY, THOSE WHO PROMOTE PHYSICAL HEALTH. WHO EDUCATE OUR YOUNG. WHO TENDERLY CARE FOR OUR AGED AND WHO CREATE HOSPITABLE EXPERIENCES FOR OUR GUESTS. THANK YOU FOR OUR FELLOW CITIZENS WHO DEFEND THE DEFENSELESS, FIGHT FOR OUR FREEDOMS. PREACH THE TRUTH FROM YOUR WORD. GRACIOUSLY GIVE THOSE TO THOSE IN NEED WHO LISTEN TO OTHERS ANXIETIES AND COUNSEL THEM IN LIVING SOCIALLY, MENTALLY, AND SPIRITUALLY BENEFICIAL LIVES. ALMIGHTY FATHER AND CREATOR, THANK YOU FOR ALL THE BOUNTIFUL BLESSINGS YOU HAVE LAVISHED ON YOUR PEOPLE AND OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU FOR THOSE WHO BEAUTIFY OUR SPACES THROUGH ART AND MUSIC AND PERFORMANCE. THOSE WHO DESIGN BUILDINGS AND ROADS, FOR THOSE WHO KEEP OUR WATER RUNNING AND OUR LIGHTS ON. FOR THOSE WHO PUT UP WITH THE STENCH OF OUR GARBAGE TO KEEP OUR STREETS AND NEIGHBORHOODS CLEAN. THANK YOU FOR ADULTS WHO SET GOOD EXAMPLES FOR TROUBLED YOUTH, FOR COACHES WHO TRAIN HARD WORK AND TEAMWORK. THANK YOU FOR MOTHERS AND FATHERS WHO DEMONSTRATE SELFLESSNESS AND FAITHFULNESS. THANK YOU FOR THOSE WHO CLEAN UP AFTER US, WHO WORK IN DARK OFFICES AFTER EVERYONE HAS GONE HOME. THANK YOU FOR THOSE WHO KEEP US INFORMED, FOR THOSE WHO WARN US OF STORMS AND THOSE WHO PROTECT US FROM DANGER. ALMIGHTY FATHER AND CREATOR, THANK YOU FOR ALL THE BOUNTIFUL BLESSINGS YOU HAVE LAVISHED ON YOUR PEOPLE AND OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU FOR THOSE WHO ARE HERE TODAY WHO MAKE DECISIONS ON THE PROPER ALLOCATION OF FUNDS TO SUPPORT ALL OF US WHO LIVE HERE AND WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE THIS A WONDERFUL PLACE TO LIVE. GIVE THIS BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS WISDOM AND DISCERNMENT. BLESS THIS MEETING AND ALL WHO PARTICIPATE IN IT. IN THE NAME OF YOUR SON, JESUS CHRIST, I PRAY. AMEN. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE PEOPLE 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. WE DON'T HAVE ANY PRESENTATIONS TONIGHT AND PUBLIC COMMENT. THIS IS USUALLY OPEN TO ITEMS ON OUR AGENDA. WE WILL NOT HAVE ANYTHING ON OUR CONSENT AGENDA OR REGULAR AGENDA. SO EXCEPT FOR PUBLIC
[1. FY 2027 Budget – First Public Hearing]
HEARINGS AND YOU'LL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK DURING THAT TIME. SO PUBLIC HEARING.MISS MIRANDA GRIFFIN, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, IS GOING TO WALK US THROUGH. GOOD EVENING.
FIRST, WE'RE GOING TO GO INTO WHAT AMENDMENT THREE MEANS FOR BAY COUNTY AND SOME OF WHAT WE'VE DONE THIS BUDGET YEAR. LOOKING FORWARD. SO AMENDMENT THREE APPLIES TO ALL NON-SCHOOL PROPERTY TAXES. AND THE COUNTY IS LOOKING AT A $36 MILLION REDUCTION IN PROPERTY TAX REVENUE IN 2027. THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION, IF APPROVED, WILL MOVE UP FROM 50,000 TO 150,000.
AND IN 2028, IT WILL GO TO 250,000. ALSO, IN ADDITION TO THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION INCREASING, ALL NON HOMESTEADED HOMES OR IN PROPERTIES WILL MOVE FROM A CAP INCREASE OF 10%
[00:05:05]
TO 5%. SO THE REVENUE WE SEE ON THOSE PROPERTIES WILL ALSO BE REDUCED. THIS IS NOT JUST A HOMESTEAD REDUCTION OF TAX. IT IS A NON HOMESTEAD. OUR CURRENT FINANCIAL POSITION THERE IS THIS GRAPH BEFORE YOU. IT SHOWS 86.5% OF OUR AD VALOREM IN THE GENERAL FUND GOES TO COMMITTED AND LEGAL OBLIGATIONS. WE RECEIVE 164 MILLION FROM THE THE PROPERTY TAX FOR THE GENERAL FUND, AND 86.5 OF THAT IS ALREADY COMMITTED AND LEGAL OBLIGATIONS. THOSE INCLUDE PUBLIC SAFETY, THE CRAS CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS, EMERGENCY RESERVES AND MEDICAID.THEN BELOW THAT, YOU'LL SEE THERE'S 22.3 MILLION. THOSE ARE OTHER COUNTY SERVICES, AND THAT IS OUR LIBRARY, OUR PARKS AND REC VETERAN SERVICES, EXTENSION OFFICES AND OTHER SERVICES WE PROVIDE. THIS GRAPH SHOWS A HISTORICAL LOOK AT OUR GENERAL FUND AD VALOREM REVENUE AND OUR EXPENDITURES IN THE GENERAL FUND. THAT BLACK LINE IS THE REVENUE WE RECEIVE FROM PROPERTY TAX, OUR AD VALOREM REVENUE. AND THEN EACH YEAR THE BAR SHOWS OUR EXPENDITURES FOR THE GENERAL FUND. AS YOU CAN SEE, THE LARGEST EXPENDITURE THERE IS THAT RED COLOR AND IT IS PUBLIC SAFETY. THE NEXT LARGEST IS OUR GENERAL GOVERNMENT. AND IN THAT IS OUR COUNTY FUNDED COURT PROGRAMS, CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICES, AND OUR GENERAL GOVERNMENT. THIS YEAR, WE MADE SIGNIFICANT CUTS TO THE FY 27 REQUESTED BUDGET GENERAL FUND, HAD $7.2 MILLION OF REDUCTIONS MADE TO THE REQUESTED. BUDGET FROM THE DEPARTMENTS IN THAT WE HAVE A HIRING FREEZE IN PLACE OF NON-ESSENTIAL SERVICES, FIRE AND EMS RECRUITMENT AND RELOCATION INCENTIVES WERE REMOVED. THE REQUESTED OR SEVERAL REQUESTED POSITION RE CLASSES AND PROMOTIONS WERE NOT GIVEN. DESIGN OF NEW AND EXISTING PARK REPAIRS AND FACILITY MAINTENANCE WAS REMOVED FOR THE FROM THE BUDGET. THOSE INCLUDE PAINTING DOOR REPLACEMENTS, WINDOW REPLACEMENTS, PARKING LOT REPAIRS, PARK FACILITY, LIGHTING PARK, RESTROOMS, PLAYGROUNDS, BASKETBALL COURTS AND NETTING FOR BALLFIELDS. THE PROJECTED OUTLOOK GOING FORWARD FOR AMENDMENT THREE, WE HAVE A COUPLE OF OPTIONS IN FY 27.
WE'VE ALREADY STARTED IMPLEMENTING THOSE. THEY WERE THOSE THAT WERE DONE IN FY 27 WERE DONE TO HELP US MEET OUR RESERVES. WE WERE ABLE TO FULLY FUND OUR RESERVES IN MOSQUITO CONTROL AND GENERAL FUND. IN FY 27. AND WE WERE ABLE TO GET AHEAD OF SCHEDULE FOR OUR RESERVES AND FIRE SERVICES. AND THAT WAS DONE BY DEFERRING MAINTENANCE AND DELAYING AND CANCELING CAPITAL PROJECTS. THE OTHER ITEMS ON YOUR SCREEN ARE POSSIBLE FUTURE OPTIONS. DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT PORTION OF THE MEETING BEFORE WE MOVE INTO OUR REQUIREMENTS? WE WILL MOVE RIGHT ALONG. THIS YEAR, WE ARE PROPOSING TO STAY AT THE CURRENT MILLAGE RATE.
THE GENERAL FUND IS 5.4362, MOSQUITO CONTROL .20 00MSTU. FIRE 1.3800. AGAIN, THESE ARE THE SAME RATES THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE. THE AGGREGATED ROLLBACK RATE IS 6.0045. THE AGGREGATE MILLAGE RATE IS 6.1191. AND THAT PERCENT OF INCREASE OF ROLLBACK IS 1.91%.
AND WE CAN OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING NOW AND AFTER THE PUBLIC HEARING CLOSES. I WOULD
[00:10:01]
LIKE TO READ THESE MILLAGE RATES AGAIN, JUST TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THEM ON RECORD BEFORE ANY MOTION IS MADE. OKAY. THANK YOU FOR THE INFORMATION. JOEL SCHUBERT, DID YOU HAVE A FEW COMMENTS TO MAKE ON THE YES, MIRANDA PUBLIC COMMENT? MIRANDA COVERED IT WELL. I JUST WANTED TO STATE THAT ALL THE INFORMATION MIRANDA HAS PRESENTED AND A RELATIVELY BRIEF PERIOD IS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE. WE AS STAFF HAVE ALREADY DONE SEVERAL PRESENTATIONS, AND I ANTICIPATE STAFF WILL DO EVEN MORE OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS. AND WE ARE MORE THAN HAPPY TO DO THAT. I WILL SAY, AND WE'VE SAID IT MANY TIMES BEFORE, THAT EVEN AS STAFF, WHILE WE SUPPORT RESPONSIBLE PROPERTY TAX RELIEF, WHEN WE MAKE OUR PRESENTATIONS IN THE PUBLIC, IT'S INCUMBENT UPON US. TO NOT TAKE A SIDE. AND WE HAVEN'T ARE WHAT OUR ROLE AS STAFF IS TO PRESENT. WHAT IMPACT, JUST AS MIRANDA DID, WHAT IMPACT THIS HAS ON BAY COUNTY SPECIFICALLY, THAT IMPACT IS QUITE DIFFERENT THAN THE 12 COUNTIES IN CENTRAL AND SOUTH FLORIDA THAT COMPRISE 70% OF THE VALUE. IN FLORIDA. WE ARE A MID-SIZED COUNTY. THAT IMPACT IS QUITE DIFFERENT THAN THE 29 FISCALLY CONSTRAINED COUNTIES THAT HAVE DIFFERENT ISSUES. BAY COUNTY IS VERY UNIQUE. WE HAVE SITUATIONS WHERE WE'RE AHEAD OF THE GAME, AND WE HAVE SITUATIONS WHERE I THINK THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT TO THAT END, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THIS AMENDMENT THREE PASSES OR NOT, WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH OUR LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION AS AS YOU FIVE HAVE AS WELL. WE DO THINK AS AS I SAID, AS STAFF, WE CERTAINLY SUPPORT RESPONSIBLE PROPERTY TAX RELIEF, AND IT'S UP TO THE VOTERS TO DECIDE WHETHER THIS IS THAT OR NOT. WE DO BELIEVE THERE ARE WAYS TO PROVIDE THAT RELIEF, PARTICULARLY UNIQUE TO BAY COUNTY, AND THAT'S WHY WE'LL BE HAVING MORE CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION. BUT I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK IT'S BEEN A VERY LONG WHILE. MIRANDA PRESENTED THIS IN A RELATIVELY SHORT TIME, TEN MINUTES. THIS HAS BEEN SEVERAL MONTHS, AND WE APPRECIATE THE COMMISSION'S LEADERSHIP AS FAR AS POLICY AND ALL THE MEETINGS WE HAVE. AND I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE MIRANDA AND HER STAFF EFFORTS, AND I APPRECIATE ALL THE STAFF EFFORTS IN RECOGNIZING THAT THIS IS NOT NEW FOR US. FAFO. DOGE. THOSE ARE NEW MONIKERS FOR THINGS THAT A FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE COUNTY HAS DONE FOR DECADES. SO, I MEAN, IT'S NOT NEW TO US. WE PROFESS TO BE A COUNTY OF CONTINUAL PROCESS IMPROVEMENT, BUT WE RECOGNIZE THERE'S ALWAYS ROOM FOR MORE IMPROVEMENT, AND WE'RE CONSTANTLY STRIVE TO GET THERE.SO WE WILL CONTINUE WORKING ON THE BUDGET. BY NO MEANS IS IT STATIC, BUT WE BELIEVE WE HAVE PRESENTED THE BEST BUDGET TO YOU POSSIBLE AND WE WILL REMAIN NIMBLE. WE WILL MONITOR WHAT GOES ON WITH LEGISLATION. AND AGAIN, I THINK OUR CONTACT AND COMMUNICATION WITH THE LEGISLATURE AS FAR AS HOW THIS IMPACTS OUR MIDSIZE COUNTY, I THINK IS GOING TO BE VERY IMPORTANT IN COMING WEEKS AND MONTHS, REGARDLESS OF WHAT HAPPENS IN NOVEMBER. AND WE WILL CONTINUE THOSE CONVERSATIONS. AND THAT'S ALL THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. WE'VE CERTAINLY ALL HAD A CHANCE TO GO THROUGH THIS BUDGET MULTIPLE TIMES WITH EVERYONE. BUT IF YOU GUYS HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR MIRANDA BEFORE WE GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
[PUBLIC COMMENT]
OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO OPEN UP THE FLOOR FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. PLEASE COME FORWARD, STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, AND YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK. HEY, MY NAME IS JENNIFER IVEY. I HAVE TO GIVE MY FULL ADDRESS. PANAMA. I'M IN PANAMA CITY. I'VE GOT LOTS OF QUESTIONS. LET'S SEE. YOU SAID THAT IT THAT THEY'RE MAKING YOU'RE MAKING ALL THESE CUTS BECAUSE TO BUILD UP THE RESERVES IS THAT IS BUILDING UP THE RESERVES IS THE PURPOSE OF BUILDING THEM UP IN CASE AMENDMENT THREE PASSES. WE'RE REALLY NOT. OH, YOU CAN'T ANSWER QUESTIONS ON QUESTIONS. BUT IF YOU WANT TO ASK IF YOU'LL ASK YOUR QUESTIONS, THEN MAYBE WHEN WE WERE DISCUSSING IT AGAIN, WE CAN, YOU KNOW, IF WE CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT IS THERE AN APPROPRIATE PLACE TO ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO ASK YOU QUESTIONS OR HOW DOES THAT WORK? OR CAN YOU NOT ANSWER THAT QUESTION? EITHER ALL YOUR QUESTIONS OR YOUR COMMENTARY, THEN WE WILL DO OUR BEST TO ADDRESS THOSE AFTER YOU'RE ALL DONE AND EVERYONE IN THE PUBLIC IS DONE, THAT WE'RE NOT HAVING A DIALOG BACK AND FORTH. RIGHT? I GET THAT, BUT I JUST WANT TO FIGURE OUT HOW THAT'S GOING TO WORK. IF YOU JUST GO AHEAD AND ASK YOUR QUESTIONS, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE SOME NOTES HERE. OKAY? AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO ANSWER THEM. OKAY. I WANT TO KNOW SPECIFICALLY ON THE LIBRARY, ARE YOU I SAW IN THE BUDGET YOU'RE CLOSING IT TO IS[00:15:05]
GOING GOING TO BE OPEN FIVE DAYS A WEEK INSTEAD TO MAKE UP FOR THE COST OF UTILITIES? SO I WANT TO KNOW IF THAT'S CORRECT. I'D ALSO LIKE TO KNOW HOW MUCH OF THE GENERAL FUND IS GOING TO GO TOWARDS. BOOKS NEXT YEAR, BEING ABLE TO PUT BOOKS INTO THE LIBRARY BECAUSE IT IS A LIBRARY. WE LIKE BOOKS THERE. THE LIBRARY, PEOPLE LIKE TO CHECK THEM OUT. I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT DEPARTMENTS EXACTLY. IT DOES THE HIRING FREEZE APPLY TO? AND IF AMENDMENT THREE DOES NOT PASS, IS THERE SOMETHING BUILT INTO THIS BUDGET WHERE. WE CAN NOW TAKE SOME MONEY BACK AND PAY FOR THINGS? AND I'D LIKE TO KNOW IF ANY OF Y'ALL HAVE AN OPINION ON AMENDMENT THREE. I DON'T KNOW WHY NO ONE'S TALKING ABOUT IT. I FIND THAT REAL ANNOYING. LET'S SEE.I THINK THAT'S ABOUT IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. YES, SIR. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK? HOW ARE YOU ALL DOING TODAY? YES, SIR. KENNETH CRAIG, I LIVE RIGHT HERE IN SAINT ANDREWS. I JUST WANTED TO BRING UP THE ISSUE WITH THE LIBRARY AGAIN. CUTTING THE HOURS, I THINK, AFFECTS A LOT MORE THAN PEOPLE MAY REALIZE BECAUSE I WORK ALL THE TIME. MY DAUGHTER, SHE'S SIX. WE READ ALL THE TIME, BUT I CAN'T GET THERE TILL LATE IN THE AFTERNOONS OR THE WEEKENDS. SO THAT WILL LIMIT ACCESS FOR ME AND MY DAUGHTER, WHICH THAT'S NOT THE END OF THE WORLD, BUT THERE'S A LOT MORE LIBRARY DOES AS FAR AS BEING A SHELTER FOR CHILDREN, ELDERLY, EVEN EVEN THE HOMELESS DURING THE HOT AND COLD PARTS OF THE YEAR. AND I'M REALLY OPPOSED TO LIMITING THOSE HOURS BECAUSE THE LIBRARY DOES SO MUCH MORE, INCLUDING AFTER HOURS PROGRAMS. BECAUSE AGAIN, I TAKE MY DAUGHTER TO THE STARGAZING AND ALL THE OTHER FACILITIES AND STUFF THAT THEY DO OUT OF THE LIBRARY. SO I JUST WANTED TO PUT THAT OUT THERE THAT, YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND THAT THE AMENDMENT THREE DID A LOT. I'M NOT A BIG FAN OF THAT BECAUSE OF THESE. I MEAN, JUST CUTTING THE BUDGET DOESN'T HELP ANY OF US. I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT PRETTY MUCH I JUST WANTED TO SHED THAT LIGHT THAT I FEEL THAT REALLY CUTTING THE BUDGET FOR THE LIBRARY IS A HARD HIT FOR THEM AND FOR THE COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE TALK ABOUT CHILDREN BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE ALL WANT CHILDREN TO HAVE A SAFE PLACE TO BE AND TO READ AND PLAY. THAT'S IT FOR ME. THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU SIR. OKAY. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK? ALL RIGHT. WE WILL CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING. WE WILL HAVE
[COMMISSIONER COMMENTS]
COMMISSIONER COMMENTS. NOW, COMMISSIONER MOORE, CAN YOU HEAR US? WE'LL BRING YOU UP FIRST. YES, MA'AM. ALL RIGHT, GO AHEAD. JUST WOULD LIKE TO THANK MIRANDA AND STAFF FOR ALL THEIR WORK ON GETTING THIS BUDGET PUT TOGETHER. AND WE'VE HAD A LOT OF MEETINGS AND GOING THROUGH A LOT OF DIFFERENT VARIATIONS. AND THEY ANSWERED A LOT OF QUESTIONS THAT WE HAD, AND JUST VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THE TIME THAT THEY'VE TAKEN TO GET ALL THOSE ANSWERS BACK TO US. AND BASED ON THE ENVIRONMENT, JUST, YOU KNOW, IT, IT HAS BEEN A VERY BIG CHALLENGE LOOKING AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT ALL IS BEST FOR THE COUNTY, BOTH IN THE NEAR AND THE LONG TERM, AND JUST THANKFUL FOR THEIR TIME AND EFFORTS AND LEAVE IT AT THAT.GREAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH, COMMISSIONER CARROLL. SURE. IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THIS IS MY 10TH BUDGET HEARING SITTING UP HERE. MOST OF Y'ALL ARE NOT UP HERE. WHERE HAVE YOU ALL BEEN? I'M KIDDING. EVERY ONE OF THESE ARE TOUGH. AND EVERY ONE OF THEM, WE HAVE TO TREAT IT LIKE START FROM SCRATCH. PURPOSE OF RESERVES. THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. WE HAVE TO HAVE RESERVES BECAUSE WE HAD HURRICANE MICHAEL. THAT'S ONE OF THOSE THAT WE'RE STILL PAYING THAT DEBT AND CONTINUE TO PAY THAT DEBT. SO IN ORDER FOR US TO GET PAY FOR THINGS IN ADVANCE, WE HAVE TO HAVE THOSE RESERVES. I THINK MIRANDA WILL EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.
ALL OF THESE ARE TOUGH. EVERY YEAR. I KNOW ALL OF US. LOOK AT ALL RIGHT, WHAT CAN WE CUT?
[00:20:02]
WHAT DO WE NEED? WHAT DO WE DON'T NEED? WHAT ROADS CAN WE WAIT ONE MORE YEAR JUST TO TRY TO HELP KEEP THIS BUDGET IN LINE? OUT OF THE TEN YEAR SITTING UP HERE, WE HAVE RAISED IT ONCE, LOWERED IT ONCE THE OTHER EIGHT. WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO STAY FLAT AND WORK WITHIN THOSE MEANS. AND THAT IS BECAUSE THE HARD WORK OF ALL OF OUR STAFF, ALL OF OUR DEPARTMENTS, ALL THE CONSTITUTIONALS, EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE, EVERY ONE OF THEM WOULD LIKE TO HAVE NEW EQUIPMENT OR NEW TRUCKS. WE GET THOSE WHEN WE CAN'T AFFORD THOSE, JUST LIKE YOU DO IN YOUR OWN HOUSEHOLD. SO YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR A LOT OF THANK YOUS TONIGHT, BECAUSE IT TAKES A LOT OF WORK AND A LOT OF EFFORT TO GO INTO THIS. I WAS COMPARING TODAY MY BOOK FROM THE JUNE BOOK. SO BASICALLY THIS BOOK THAT WE STARTED OUT WITH, JUNE IS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT BOOK. WE ENDED IT WITH TODAY. AND AS OF TEN MINUTES BEFORE WE GOT IN HERE, I STILL WAS ASKING QUESTIONS. SO I APPRECIATE YOUR PATIENCE AND BUT WE'LL GET THROUGH THIS. IF IF A MEMBER THREE PASSES, IT PASSES. THAT'S THAT'S FOR THE VOTERS TO DECIDE HOW THEY WANT TO VOTE ON THAT. IT DOES NOT GET IMPLEMENTED FOR ANOTHER YEAR. SO WHAT THIS BUDGET, IT DOES NOT IMPACT THAT. WE ALL HAVE AN OPINION ON AMENDMENT THREE, WHETHER IT'S GOOD OR BAD. THERE ARE GREAT THINGS EVERYBODY WANTS TO SAVE, SAVE MONEY, BUT WE ALL HAVE TO LOOK AT REALITY. CERTAIN THINGS THAT ARE MANDATED BY THE STATE WE HAVE TO PAY FOR, AND WE'RE GOING TO FIGURE OUT A WAY. HOW DO WE PAY FOR THOSE SERVICES, WHETHER WE DON'T PAVE ROADS OR NO ONE WANTS TO SAY, THE SKY IS FALLING, IT'S NOT FALLING. WE ARE GOING TO BE JUST FINE NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS. WE SAT HERE AFTER HURRICANE MICHAEL FOR $300 MILLION. LIKE, HOW ARE WE GOING TO PAY THE LIGHT BILL? BUT WE DID IT. WE SURVIVED IT. WE'VE DONE GREAT. COUNTY CONTINUES TO GROW. WE CAN ALL PROUDLY SAY WE'RE OVER 200,000 PEOPLE IN BAY COUNTY NOW, PROUD OF WHERE WE ARE AND PROUD OF WHERE WE'RE GOING AND WHATEVER, WHATEVER'S DECIDED BY THE VOTERS, WE WILL TAKE THAT. AND WE'RE GOING TO KEEP ROCKING JUST LIKE WE DO. SO WITH THAT, I'LL SAVE MY COMMENTS TO THE END IF I HAVE ANYTHING ELSE. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH, COMMISSIONER CROSBIE. I WANT TO THANK ALL THE DEPARTMENT HEADS. I KNOW THAT JOE AND AND KEITH AND ALL THE STAFF HAVE WORKED HARD TO GET EACH DEPARTMENT TO BRING FORTH THE CUTS THAT THEY THOUGHT THEY COULD DO, WHAT THEY COULD LIVE WITH TO STILL GET THE SERVICES, YOU KNOW, DELIVERED TO THE PEOPLE. SO I THINK FOR EACH OF THE DEPARTMENT HEADS FOR BRINGING UP ONE OF THE THINGS ON THE HIRING FREEZE THAT YOU BROUGHT UP WAS THAT THOSE NONESSENTIAL.IN OTHER WORDS, I THINK A GOOD WAY TO EXPLAIN THAT AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG IS EMS FIRE.
THOSE ARE ESSENTIALS. IF WE LOSE SOMEONE THERE, WE'RE GOING TO REPLACE THOSE POSITIONS. BUT BUT INTERNALLY, AS FAR AS OTHER POSITIONS, NONESSENTIAL AS YOU CAN CONSIDER THAT. BUT THE ONES THAT ARE ON THE HIRING FREEZE NOW, IS THAT CORRECT, JOE? THAT A GOOD WAY TO SAY IT? YES, SIR.
WE CERTAINLY PRIORITIZE THE FIRST RESPONDERS AS WELL. I WILL SAY THAT WE HAVE A ACTUALLY A NET OF NEGATIVE TWO POSITIONS BEING ADDED FOR THIS THREE NET OF NEGATIVE THREE POSITIONS BEING ADDED. BUT WE STILL HAVE PRIORITIZED FIRST RESPONDERS THAT BE EMS AND FIRE.
OKAY. SO THAT'S JUST ONE OTHER QUESTIONS YOU HAD ON THERE THAT I THOUGHT I COULD ADDRESS. BUT WE'RE JUST REAL. WE'RE PROUD OF THE STAFF, AS ALWAYS. THEY DO SUCH A GOOD JOB AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE. CHAIRMAN. MR. LESLIE MIRANDA, I WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS. YOU'VE WORKED INCREDIBLY HARD, AND THIS IS MY SECOND BUDGET. AND THIS ONE WAS UNLIKE THE FIRST ONE BY FAR. THIS WAS THE FIRST BUDGET THAT I DIDN'T FIGHT WITH ANYBODY THAT I DIDN'T SAY WE WE CAN'T CUT. WE DON'T NEED TO CUT THIS ONE. WE REALLY, REALLY HAD TO GET IN THE THICK OF IT. AND IT WAS TOUGH. IT WAS TOUGH. AND A LOT OF PEOPLE, YOU DON'T SEE THESE NUMBERS LIKE WE SEE THEM EVERY DAY. AND I UNDERSTAND BECAUSE I WAS IN YOUR CHAIR THE YEAR BEFORE LAST, AND I GET IT.
WE'RE WE'RE TAKING $164 MILLION IS ROUGHLY OUR BUDGET, AND WE'RE CUTTING IT DOWN BY 141.7.
THAT 141, ALMOST 142, $142 MILLION IS COMMITTED STATUTORILY. IT HAS TO GO SOMEWHERE. WE DON'T GET TO JUST SPREAD THAT OUT ON THE BREAD. OUR BREAD'S GOTTEN SMALLER. AND IF THAT'S WHAT THE TAX THE VOTERS VOTE IN, THEN THAT'S WHAT WE'LL HAVE TO WORK WITH.
AND LIKE COMMISSIONER CARROLL SAID, WE'LL GET THROUGH IT. WE MIGHT HAVE TO GET SKINNY.
THAT'S OKAY TOO. I'VE BEEN SKINNY BEFORE. WE CAN. WE CAN DO IT. BUT IT'S BEEN A TOUGH, TOUGH BUDGET. BUT OUR JOB HERE IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS COMMUNITY GETS THE SERVICES THEY DESERVE. AND WE HAVE TO KEEP ENSURING THAT THAT YOU THAT YOU HAVE FIRE, THAT YOU HAVE EMS, THAT YOU HAVE POLICEMEN, THAT YOU HAVE A SHERIFF'S OFFICE. SO THAT IS OUR JOB. AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR THAT. AND WE'LL HAVE TO WORK WITHIN THE PARAMETERS THAT WE'RE GIVEN. THANK YOU. I WAS WONDERING IF I COULD GET MIRANDA TO DO A LITTLE BIT MORE WORK. IF YOU HAVE YOUR SPREADSHEETS, I DO. COULD YOU SPEAK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE RESERVE CATEGORIES AND, AND HOW WE CAME TO. WE HAVE FUNDED THOSE. SO WE ARE CAN YOU CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT? SO MAYBE I CAN, I CAN I'LL ACTUALLY TAKE US BACK A FEW YEARS TO START THIS. WHEN HURRICANE MICHAEL HIT, WE HAD RESERVES. THEY WERE NOT AT A
[00:25:07]
LEVEL THAT THEY PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE BEEN. THEY WERE NOT ENOUGH TO SUSTAIN US DURING THE DISASTER. WE DID HAVE TO GO OUT AND GET LARGE AMOUNTS OF LOANS. AS YOU ALL KNOW, THE YEARS AFTER HURRICANE MICHAEL, WE DEPLETED WHAT RESERVES WE HAD. THAT WAS IN AN EFFORT TO NOT RAISE THE PROPERTY TAX FOR CITIZENS THAT WERE TRYING TO REPAIR THEIR HOMES. WE TRIED TO ABSORB THAT, AND WE ENDED UP DEPLETING OUR RESERVES. A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, WE CAME TO YOU WITH A RESERVE POLICY TO BRING THOSE RESERVES BACK. YOU GAVE US FIVE YEARS TO PUT THE GENERAL FUND IN MOSQUITO CONTROL RESERVES, WHERE THEY SHOULD BE BASED ON A RISK ANALYSIS. AND THAT RISK ANALYSIS HAS TO DO WITH NATURAL DISASTERS, TERRORISM, CYBER TERRORISM, ALL ALL OF THOSE FACTORS THAT COULD PLAY INTO A LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN OUR AREA.SO WE SET THOSE RESERVES FOR THE AT THE RISK LEVELS ASSOCIATED WITH A RISK ANALYSIS.
AND YOU GAVE US FIVE YEARS FOR THOSE TWO FOR FIRE SERVICES. YOU GAVE US TEN YEARS TO MEET THAT RESERVE LEVEL IN FY 27. IN THIS BUDGET, THE CUTS THAT WE MADE, WE WERE ABLE TO GO AHEAD AND FULLY FUND GENERAL FUND AND MOSQUITO AND GET THEM TO THE RESERVE LEVEL THAT THEY NEEDED TO BE. FIRE. WE ARE AHEAD OF SCHEDULE BY ABOUT TWO YEARS, WHICH IS GOOD, BUT WE'RE STILL NOT FULLY THERE FOR FIRE. AND THESE CUTS LET US GET TO THE RESERVES. BUT TO ADDRESS THE THE QUESTION OF AMENDMENT THREE. IF AMENDMENT THREE DOES NOT PASS, THE BUDGET IS WHAT IT IS.
BECAUSE WE HAVE FULLY FUNDED THE RESERVES. IN ORDER TO PUT ANYTHING BACK IN THE BUDGET, WE WILL HAVE TO MOVE MONEY OUT OF THOSE RESERVES THAT WE'RE. WE'RE BUILDING TO THEIR ADEQUATE LEVELS. THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTIONS AND GIVES A BACKGROUND. I KNOW THAT WHEN I FIRST GOT HERE, IT WAS MY FIRST MY FIRST COMMENT TO YOU, I THINK WHEN WE WENT THROUGH THE VERY FIRST BUDGET WAS GETTING THE RESERVES WHERE THEY NEEDED TO BE. AND WE TALK ABOUT THE HURRICANE, AND WE'VE NEVER EXPERIENCED ANYTHING LIKE THAT BEFORE. AND THE COUNTY HAS NEVER BEEN DRAINED OF THEIR THEIR MONEY LIKE, LIKE THAT, LIKE THAT CAUSED. CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT? AND IT MAY BE SIMPLER FOR US TO GIVE YOU A BROKEN DOWN LINE BY LINE OF THE LIBRARY SO YOU CAN SORT OF SEE WHERE THE BOOKS, WHERE THE MONEY FOR THE BOOKS COME FROM.
AND I'M HAPPY TO GRAB YOUR NAME AND NUMBER BEFORE WE LEAVE. AND WE CAN SEND YOU A, JUST A GENERAL BREAKDOWN OF EVERY CATEGORY THAT IT TAKES TO OPERATE THE LIBRARY. CAN WE TALK ABOUT THE HIRING FREEZE A LITTLE BIT? WE HAVE WE HAVE SPREAD THAT OUT, THAT LOVE HAS BEEN SPREAD TO EVERY DEPARTMENT. YES. WE ASK EVERY DEPARTMENT, INCLUDING THE CLERK'S OFFICE, EVERYONE FROM DAY ONE, TELL US WHAT YOU CAN, WHAT YOU CAN LIVE WITHOUT. CORRECT. WE WE HAVE APPROACHED OUR OTHER CONSTITUTIONAL AGENCIES AND ASKED THEM TO TRY TO IDENTIFY AREAS THAT THEY COULD CUT FOR OUR HIRING FREEZE. AS JOEL AND COMMISSIONER. COMMISSIONER CROSBY SAID, WE ARE FOCUSING ON NON-ESSENTIAL. FOR THOSE NON REPLACEMENTS OF EMPLOYEES. SO ONE, WE FROZE ALL VACANT POSITIONS AND TWO, AS SOMEONE LEAVES, WE ARE TRYING TO EVALUATE WHETHER THAT POSITION IS ESSENTIAL OR NON-ESSENTIAL. IF IT IS NON ESSENTIAL, THEN WE MAY NOT FILL THAT. WE ARE. WE ARE TRYING TO PROVIDE THE SAME LEVEL OF SERVICE, BUT ALSO REDUCE THE EXPENDITURE ASSOCIATED WITH ALL OF OUR SERVICES. FIRE EMS ARE TAKING PRIORITY. THERE ARE ALREADY LIKE ENGINEERING IS SHORT STAFFED. IF AN ENGINEER LEAVES, IT WILL PROBABLY BE REPLACED. IT'S NOT GOING TO BE FROZEN. THERE ARE THOSE POSITIONS THAT ARE HARD TO FILL AND WE. WE DO NEED THEM AND THEY WILL BE EVALUATED AS THEY COME UP. BUT AS OF RIGHT NOW, I THINK I'M CORRECT IN SAYING THIS, NOT HR, BUT MOST OF THOSE THAT ARE BEING FILLED ARE FIRE AND EMS. I HOPE THAT WAS ANSWERING SOME OF YOUR QUESTIONS, AND WE WILL GET YOU THE BREAKDOWN ON THE LIBRARY FOR SURE. SO. WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? ARE YOU READY TO I WOULD LIKE TO READ THE MILLAGE RATES ONE MORE TIME SINCE THERE'S BEEN SOME DISCUSSION. AND THEN YOU CAN MAKE SOMEBODY CAN MAKE A MOTION FOR THESE OR WHATEVER YOUR MOTION IS GOING TO BE. ALL RIGHT. CHAIRMAN, COULD I JUST ADD ONE LAST THING. YES, SIR.
MYSELF, KEITH BRYANT MIRANDA STAFF ARE AVAILABLE FOR ANY CITIZEN TO COME IN. WE'VE DONE THIS BEFORE. WE CAN GO LINE BY LINE. WE CAN SPEND AN HOUR OR TWO OR WE CAN SPEND TEN MINUTES.
[00:30:03]
BUT I WOULD LIKE TO PUBLICLY EXTEND THAT OFFER TO ANYBODY THAT WANTS TO SIT DOWN WITH US.AND WE'RE CERTAINLY ANY OF US. AND WE HAVE ANSWERED MANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS BUDGET PRIOR TO TONIGHT. SO WE WE ARE HAPPY TO GO OVER IT WITH ANYBODY ELSE, ANY OF US. ALL RIGHT. MIRANDA. OKAY. THE AGGREGATE ROLL BACK MILLAGE FOR FY 27 IS 6.0046 MILLS. THE LOW THE TOTAL AGGREGATE MILLAGE IS 6.1191 MILLS. AN INCREASE OVER THE ROLLBACK MILLAGE OF 1.91%.
THE GENERAL FUND MILLAGE RATE IS 5.4362. THE MOSQUITO CONTROL MILLAGE RATE IS 0.2 000, MSTU IS 1.3800. THANK YOU. I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION. MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND MOTION AND A SECOND. COULD YOU CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE, MA'AM? COMMISSIONER. RAFAEL. YES, MA'AM.
COMMISSIONER CARROLL. YES, MA'AM. COMMISSIONER CROSBY. YES, MA'AM. COMMISSIONER MOORE. YES, MA'AM. CHAIRMAN. PEACE. YES, MA'AM. THIS IS A REMINDER TO JOIN US FOR OUR NEXT. I'M SORRY.
GO AHEAD. THAT'S RIGHT, I APOLOGIZE. THAT'S OKAY. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE INTO OUR BUDGET PORTION. THIS IS THAT WAS THE MILLAGE RATE HEARING. I'M GOING TO BRIEFLY PRESENT A LITTLE BIT OF THE BUDGET NUMBERS. AND THEN WE'LL GO INTO THE APPROVAL FOR THE THE BUDGET. THIS IS OUR SUMMARY OF THE FY 27 BUDGET. JUST WANTED TO MAKE ONE LITTLE NOTE HERE. THE TDC FUNDS HAD A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE DUE TO CARRYFORWARDS FROM THE PRIOR YEAR. IF YOU REMOVE THE TDC FUNDS FROM ALL OF OUR OTHER LISTING HERE, THE OVERALL COUNTY INCREASE IS 3.4%. THE CAPITAL EQUIPMENT REQUEST ARE AS SHOWN HERE. THEY TOTAL 10.8 MILLION FOR THE COUNTY. CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS. SO CIP PROJECTS A LOT OF THE SURTAX PROJECTS THAT YOU'LL SEE THOSE IN THAT 18.1 MILLION. THAT IS THE MOST SIGNIFICANT PORTION HERE THAN WE HAVE ENTERPRISE FUNDS. THAT WOULD BE YOUR YOUR WATER FUNDS. AND THAT'S IMPROVEMENTS THAT THEY'RE THEY'RE PLANNING. THE AUTHORIZED POSITIONS FOR THE FY 27 BUDGET. WE ARE ACTUALLY DECREASING COUNTY WIDE BY THREE.
OUR OVERALL NUMBER WILL BE 832 POSITIONS. AND YOU CAN OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND HAVE ANY DISCUSSION. AND THEN WE ASK THAT YOU APPROVE THIS BUDGET AND AUTHORIZE US TO SCHEDULE THE FINAL HEARING, WHICH WILL BE NEXT WEEK. OPEN PUBLIC HEARING. WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THE BUDGET? JUST. ALL RIGHT. SEEING NONE, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND. VOTE ON THIS. MAKE A MOTION. MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND. MOTION. AND SECOND, IF YOU COULD CALL. ROLL.
COMMISSIONER CROSBY. YES, MA'AM. COMMISSIONER CARROLL. YES, MA'AM. COMMISSIONER. RAFFIELD.
YES, MA'AM. COMMISSIONER MOORE. YES, MA'AM. CHAIRMAN. PEACE. YES, MA'AM. SO OUR NEXT SCHEDULED MEETING AT 501 WILL BE WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23RD HERE IN THE CHAMBERS. PLEASE JOIN US FOR THE SECOND BUDGET HEARING ON THAT DATE.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.