[00:00:03] I'D LIKE TO CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER. GOOD EVENING. [CALL TO ORDER] THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR THIS SPECIAL MEETING. IT'S SEPTEMBER THE 23RD, 2026. IT IS 501. MISS HOLT, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? COMMISSIONER CROSBY? YES, MA'AM. COMMISSIONER RAPHAEL. YES, MA'AM. COMMISSIONER CARROLL. YES, MA'AM. COMMISSIONER MOORE. YES, MA'AM. CHAIRMAN. PEACE. YES, MA'AM. INVOCATION WILL BE BY ASHLEY STUCKEY AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE BY ANTHONY WERTMAN. VETERAN SERVICES. PLEASE RISE. IF YOU WOULD JOIN ME IN PRAYER. HEAVENLY FATHER, THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY HERE IN BAY COUNTY. THANK YOU FOR THE DAY THAT WE ARE ABLE TO COME TOGETHER, LORD, AND TO CONDUCT THE BUSINESS OF THE PEOPLE HERE. WE ASK FOR YOUR WISDOM. WE ASK FOR YOUR GUIDANCE AND WHAT IS DONE AND SAID HERE TODAY. AND I PRAY ALL OF THIS IN CHRIST'S NAME. AS THE WORDS SAY BEFORE ME, IN GOD WE TRUST. AMEN, AMEN. 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. NEXT ON THE AGENDA WE WOULD HAVE PRESENTATIONS, BUT WE DO NOT HAVE ANYTHING TODAY. WOULD NEXT WOULD BE PUBLIC COMMENT. THIS IS GOING TO BE OPEN TO ANY ITEM ON OUR AGENDA EXCEPT FOR PUBLIC HEARINGS. YOU WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK UP ABOUT THE BUDGET AND THE PUBLIC HEARING AT A LATER DATE. IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING OTHER THAN THAT, PLEASE COME FORWARD. STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD. YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. YES, MA'AM. I'M SARAH BURRIS, PRESIDENT OF THE FRIENDS OF THE BAY COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARIES. I LIVE IN PANAMA CITY. I'VE BEEN PAYING CLOSE ATTENTION TO FLORIDA COUNTIES AND HOW THEIR LIBRARIES WILL BE AFFECTED BY AMENDMENT THREE, THE 2027 BUDGET REDUCTIONS IN ADVANCE OF WHETHER OR NOT AMENDMENT THREE PASSES ARE VERY LARGE, LOUD WARNING ALARMS OF WHAT CUTS WILL BE MADE IF THIS PASSES. I KNOW THESE REDUCTIONS HAVE BEEN PROPOSED TO REPLENISH THE COUNTY'S RESERVE FUND. HOWEVER, I HAVE NEVER SEEN SUCH SEVERE BUDGET CUTS TO CRITICAL LIBRARY SERVICES. THESE SERVICES ARE WHAT MAKES A LIBRARY A LIBRARY. ONCE LIBRARY SERVICES ARE REDUCED OR ELIMINATED, IT'S EXTREMELY HARD TO GET THEM BACK. CAN WE PLEASE BE HONEST AND CALL AMENDMENT THREE THE IMPENDING DISASTER THAT IT WILL BE SO THAT VOTERS CAN MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION? THE LIBRARY REDUCTIONS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS ARE THE $90,000 IN BOOK FUNDS AND THE SMALLER BUDGET LINE OF UTILITY FUNDS OF 70,600. THAT WOULD REDUCE LIBRARY OPEN HOURS TO FIVE DAYS A WEEK. THESE BUDGET REDUCTIONS WILL TRANSFORM WHAT IS MOST VALUABLE ABOUT LIBRARY SERVICES, AND THAT IS ACCESS. THIS ACCESS RANGES FROM BOOKS, INFORMATION PROGRAMING, REFERENCE ASSISTANCE, COMPUTER ACCESS, WI-FI TO SIMPLY PROVIDING A SAFE SPACE. ELIMINATING A DAY OF OPEN HOURS REDUCES THE ACCESS TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO NEED IT. SIX DAYS A WEEK WITH EVENING PROVIDES MULTIPLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL WORKING INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES TO GET TO THE LIBRARY AND LEVERAGE THE MANY COST SAVINGS SERVICES THAT THE LIBRARY PROVIDES. BOOK FUNDS HAVE BEEN AT A DEFICIT FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS. THIS REDUCTION, HOWEVER, WOULD BE OVER 40% OF THE ENTIRE CURRENT BOOK FUND. THAT MEANS THAT EVERY COLLECTION WOULD BE THAT MUCH SMALLER IN NEW AND REPLACEMENT TITLES. NEW BOOK TITLES ARE RELEASED ON A WEEKLY BASIS, AND AVID READERS WANT TO READ THE NEWEST TITLE AS SOON AS IT COMES OUT. WHILE LIBRARIES ARE MORE THAN JUST BOOKS, BOOKS ARE STILL THE CORE LIBRARY SERVICE, AND THIS WOULD SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE THE TITLES AVAILABLE. THE SPACE. THIS LIBRARY IS A SPACE. YOU CAN SEE YOUR TAX DOLLARS HARD AT WORK. I HAVE A BABY AND SO TOGETHER WE BORROW AROUND $2,000 IN LIBRARY BOOKS IN ONE YEAR SPAN AND LIBRARY PROGRAMING IS FREE TO ATTEND. WHERE I'M LEARNING OTHER CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS ARE QUITE EXPENSIVE, AND THIS DOESN'T EVEN ACCOUNT FOR HOW LIBRARIES HELP THE JOB MARKET FOR FLORIDA'S ECONOMY. MANY SMALL BUSINESSES START IN THE LIBRARY, OR SIMPLY PROVIDING A HUGE RESOURCE FOR LITERACY, WHICH IS ALREADY AT A NATIONWIDE. IT'S VERY IT'S ALREADY LOW NATIONWIDE. SO IF A CHILD CANNOT READ TO THEIR GRADE LEVEL BY THIRD GRADE, THERE ARE SEVERAL TIMES MORE LIKELY TO DROP OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL. LIMITING THEIR OPTIONS FOR THE FUTURE. SO DO YOU WANT TO BE THE COMMISSIONERS THAT CUT LIBRARY ACCESS, WHICH COULD VERY WELL IMPACT CURRENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS OF OUR COMMUNITY FOR YEARS TO COME? PLEASE REASSESS THE BOOK FUND REDUCTION AS WELL AS MAINTAIN LIBRARY OPERATING HOURS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I DIDN'T. ALL RIGHT. I DIDN'T WANT TO INTERRUPT YOU, BUT ANYTHING THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE BUDGET, PLEASE. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ANOTHER TIME FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON THAT. THIS IS FOR ANYTHING OTHER THAN THE PUBLIC HEARING. SO IF YOU HAVE COMMENTS ON THE BUDGET, I JUST DIDN'T WANT TO INTERRUPT YOU BECAUSE YOU WERE GOING SO GOOD THERE. [00:05:04] SO WE APPRECIATE YOU SPEAKING. BUT IF ANYONE ELSE WANTS TO SPEAK ABOUT THE BUDGET OR THE LIBRARY, IF YOU COULD WAIT TILL THE NEXT PUBLIC COMMENT, WHICH WILL BE AFTER THE REGULAR AGENDA. SO IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO SPEAK ON OTHER THAN THAT, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE COME FORWARD. ALL RIGHT. WE WILL MOVE ON NOW. OH GO AHEAD SIR. WELL, I'M NOT 100% SURE, BUT CHARLES WALSH 6505 OAK SHORE DRIVE, PANAMA CITY. WHAT? GOOD EVENING. COMMISSIONERS AND BAY COUNTY RESIDENTS. WHO'S HERE? YOU KNOW, WE WERE MY WIFE AFTER WE LOOKED AT OUR 2027 TRIM NOTICES. SHE COMPELLED ME TO COME DOWN AND PUT IN OUR 5.3 MILLS WORTH OF COMMENT ON IT. YES, SIR. ABOUT OUR PROPERTY TAX INCREASE. AND ARE YOU GOING TO SPEAK ON THE MILLAGE IN THE BUDGET IF YOU COULD WAIT TILL. WELL I'M NOT SURE IF IT YOU KNOW, I'M NOT SURE. I MEAN I GUESS IT TIES INTO THAT THE MILLAGE. SO IT SOUNDS LIKE MAYBE IT'S GOING TO FALL INTO THAT NEXT PUBLIC COMMENT. IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND HOLDING YOUR THOUGHTS UNTIL I CAN DO THAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. IF ANYONE ELSE HAS ANY ITEM OTHER THAN THAT, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE, WE PROMISE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE PLENTY OF TIME IF WE HAVE TO STAY HERE ALL NIGHT AND HEAR EVERYONE'S THOUGHTS. SO IF YOU'LL HANG ON WITH US JUST A MINUTE AND LET US GET TO THAT POINT, WE'LL BE HAPPY TO HEAR. SO NOT SEEING ANYTHING ELSE, WE'RE GOING TO ASK PUBLIC HEARING TO BEGIN. [1 FY 2027 Budget – Final Public Hearing] MIRANDA GRIFFIN, COULD YOU HELP US WITH THAT? GOOD EVENING. WE'RE GOING TO GET INTO THIS DUCK. YOU MAY HAVE TO GET IT TO COME FIX THE CLICKER. THERE IT GOES. OKAY. FIRST WE'RE GOING TO GET INTO WHAT AMENDMENT THREE MEANS FOR BAY COUNTY. AMENDMENT THREE APPLIES TO NON-SCHOOL PROPERTY TAXES. SO IT ONLY APPLIES TO CITY AND COUNTY TAXES. THE PROJECTED COUNTY REVENUE REDUCTION IS 36 MILLION TOTAL. THAT'S 30.6 MILLION IN THE GENERAL FUND, 4.6 MILLION IN MSTU FIRE SERVICES AND OVER 800,000 MOSQUITO CONTROL AMENDMENT THREE WILL INCREASE THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION FROM 50,000 TO 150,000 IN 2027, AND TO 250,000 IN 2028. AMENDMENT THREE ALSO LOWERS THE AMOUNT WE WILL RECEIVE IN REVENUE FROM NON-HOMESTEAD PROPERTIES. RIGHT NOW, THE PROPERTY APPRAISER CAN INCREASE THE TAXABLE VALUE OF NON-HOMESTEAD PROPERTIES UP TO 10% EACH YEAR. A 5% CAP WILL BE PLACED ON THOSE PROPERTIES IF AMENDMENT THREE IS PASSED. FOR OUR CURRENT FINANCIAL POSITION. THE GRAPH BEFORE YOU SHOWS THE AMOUNT OF AD VALOREM REVENUE WE RECEIVE IN THE GENERAL FUND, AND THIS IS FY 26 NUMBERS THAT WERE ALREADY ADOPTED IN THE YEAR THAT WE ARE IN. WE RECEIVE 164 MILLION OF AD VALOREM REVENUE IN FY 26 FOR GENERAL FUND. YOU'LL SEE ON THIS GRAPH THAT THE TOP SECTION IS COMMITTED IN LEGAL OBLIGATIONS. THOSE TOTAL 141 MILLION ALMOST $142 MILLION. THE BOTTOM SECTION IS OTHER COUNTY SERVICES. THOSE ARE AROUND 22 MILLION. THIS DOES NOT THE 22 MILLION. IF WE WERE TO CUT ALL OF THAT, WE WOULD STILL NOT HAVE ENOUGH TO COVER OUR REDUCTION THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE FROM AMENDMENT THREE IN GENERAL FUND. THIS GRAPH SHOWS YOU THE AD VALOREM IN GENERAL FUND AS THE BLACK LINE. EACH BAR IS THE EXPENDITURES IN THE GENERAL FUND FOR THAT YEAR. THE LARGEST EXPENSE IS THE RED ORANGE COLOR RIGHT THERE. THAT IS PUBLIC SAFETY. IT HAS GROWN EACH YEAR. THE NEXT LARGEST EXPENSE IS THE GENERAL GOVERNMENT. THIS INCLUDES COUNTY FUNDED COURT PROGRAMS AND THE CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS. [00:10:02] AND AS YOU CAN SEE FOR FY 27, THE AD VALOREM WILL JUST BARELY COVER THOSE TWO AREAS OF OUR EXPENDITURES. IN FY 27. WE MADE AN INITIATIVE TO GO AHEAD AND MEET OUR RESERVE RATE RATES THAT WERE APPROVED IN THE RESERVE POLICY A FEW YEARS AGO. WE WERE ABLE TO DO THAT IN THE GENERAL FUND AND MOSQUITO CONTROL BY MAKING REDUCTIONS TO THE FY 27 BUDGET, THE GENERAL FUND HAD OVER $7.2 MILLION WORTH OF REDUCTIONS. THOSE INCLUDE A HIRING FREEZE FOR NON-ESSENTIAL SERVICES. EMS AND FIRE SERVICES. REDUCTION OF. AND RELOCATION INCENTIVES. REQUESTED POSITION CLASSES AND PROMOTIONS WERE TAKEN OUT OF THE BUDGET. DESIGN OF NEW AND REPAIRS TO EXISTING PROJECTS AT THE PARKS. FACILITIES WERE TAKEN OUT AND MANY. FACILITY REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE PROJECTS TO INCLUDE PAINTING, DOOR AND WINDOW REPLACEMENTS, IRRIGATION REPAIRS, PARKING LOT REPAIRS, COURTHOUSE RENOVATIONS, PARK FACILITY, LIGHTING, PARKS, RESTROOM PLAYGROUNDS, BASKETBALL COURTS, FIELD NETTING AND WALKING TRAILS WERE ALL REMOVED. PARKS HAD A REDUCTION OF $2.8 MILLION OUT OF THAT 7.2. IT ACCOUNTS FOR 39% OF THE REDUCTIONS THAT WERE MADE. THE LIBRARY FACILITY HAS $723,000 WORTH OF REDUCTIONS, OVER 400 OF WHICH WAS A UPGRADE TO THE GENERATOR TO THE BUILDING. THIS DOES NOT NEED TO BE DONE AT THIS TIME. THAT WAS AN ELECTION TO BE DONE. OTHER THAN THAT, THERE'S ABOUT $300,000 BEING REDUCED FROM THE LIBRARY. FUTURE CONSIDERATIONS. IF AMENDMENT THREE IS PASSED, THESE ARE THE ITEMS WE WILL EXPLORE GOING FORWARD IF IF NEEDED. THIS YEAR, WE'VE ALREADY LOOKED AT REDUCTION OF CAPITAL PROJECTS AND EQUIPMENT, AND WE'VE DEFERRED MAINTENANCE TO MEET THOSE RESERVE LEVELS. THE OTHER ITEMS WILL BE DISCUSSED IN THE FUTURE. I'M GOING TO GO INTO OUR MILLAGE RATES FOR THE GENERAL FUND, AND I'LL GO AHEAD AND SAY ALL THESE RATES ARE THE SAME AS THE CURRENT YEAR. THE GENERAL FUND IS 5.4362. MOSQUITO CONTROL IS 0.2000. MSTU FIRE IS 1.38. THE TOTAL MILLAGE FOR THE COUNTY FOR ALL THREE IS 7.0162. THE AGGREGATED ROLLBACK RATE IS 6.0045. THE MILLAGE RATE IS 6.1191, AND THE RATE AS A PERCENT CHANGE OF ROLLBACK IS 1.91%. WE CAN NOW OPEN A PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE MILLAGE. AFTERWARDS, I WOULD ASK THAT I CAN READ THE MILLAGE RATES AGAIN BEFORE THERE'S ANY MOTION MADE. AFTER THE MILLAGE IS FINISHED AND A MOTION IS MADE AND APPROVED, WE WILL MOVE INTO THE BUDGET SECTION OF THE PRESENTATION. OKAY. SO WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING NOW. CHAIRMAN, COULD I JUST MAKE A FEW COMMENTS TO. SURE. ONE, I'D JUST LIKE TO THANK MIRANDA AND HER STAFF FOR THE WORK THEY'VE DONE ON THE BUDGET. AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO EXTEND THAT THANKS TO THE ENTIRE COUNTY STAFF, THIS IS NOT A BUDGET. THAT IS THAT IS COMPRISED OF A COUPLE OF WEEKS OF WORK. IT IS A YEAR LONG ONGOING PROCESS. WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR MONTHS. WE RELY ON STAFF TO FLOAT IDEAS TO US THAT WE RELY ON THE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS, THOSE FOLKS THAT ARE CLOSEST TO THE BUSINESS PROCESSES WE DELIVER TO FILTER UP SOLUTIONS. WE ARE CONSTANTLY TRYING TO DELIVER SERVICES AT THE SAME LEVEL OR BETTER IN THE MOST FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE WAY POSSIBLE. WE HAVE A STRATEGIC PLAN THAT IS ONLINE. IT'S A FIVE YEAR LOOK INTO EXACTLY BY DIVISION DEPARTMENT WHERE WE'RE GOING. WE PUBLISH AN ANNUAL REPORT EACH YEAR. THAT IS A REPORT CARD OF HOW WE DID. AND WE ALSO TIE OUR BUDGET INTO EACH DIVISION AS WELL. BUT TWO OF OUR ENDURING GOALS, THE TWO TOP ONES. [00:15:01] THE FIRST ONE IS TO ENSURE A SAFE COUNTY, FOLLOWED CLOSELY BY TO DELIVER THOSE SERVICES THAT OUR CITIZENS NEED AND ARE WILLING TO SUPPORT. SO WE'VE MADE SOME VERY TOUGH DECISIONS. IT'S NOT ENTIRELY BASED ON WHETHER AMENDMENT THREE PASSES OR NOT. FAFO DOGE ARE NEWER ACRONYMS, BUT THEY'RE NOT NEW TO THE COUNTY. WE TAKE THE FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY OF BEING GOOD STEWARDS OF TAXPAYER MONEY AS SERIOUS AS WE DO SAFETY. SO I WANTED TO MAKE THOSE COMMENTS, AND I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT, CAN YOU ROLL BACK TO THE CHART REAL QUICK? I THINK WE THINK THE MOST TELLING, AND I WOULD LIKE TO EMPHASIZE TOO, THAT EVERYTHING MIRANDA WENT OVER IS ONLINE. WE HAVE A WEBSITE. WHEN YOU TAKE A LOOK AT ANY LEGISLATION THAT COMES THROUGH, TALLAHASSEE OBVIOUSLY IMPACTS ALL 67 COUNTIES. THERE'S A GROUP OF SMALLER COUNTIES, MIDSIZED COUNTIES, WHICH WHICH WE ARE, AND THEN LARGER COUNTIES. I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT A LOT OF THIS IS GEARED TOWARDS LARGER COUNTIES DOWN IN CENTRAL AND SOUTH FLORIDA. 12 OF THOSE COUNTIES COMPRISE 70% OF THE VALUE IN THE STATE. AS THOSE 12 COUNTIES GO, PRETTY MUCH THE TAX RULE. THE STATE OF FLORIDA GOES 70% AND 12 COUNTIES, THEY HAVE ENTIRELY DIFFERENT PROBLEMS. THEY HAVE ENTIRELY DIFFERENT BUDGETS. BUT LEGISLATION IS ONE SIZE FITS ALL, AND THEY DO THE BEST WE CAN. I THINK OUR LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION DOES A GREAT JOB OF IT, BUT THE SMALLER COUNTIES ARE THERE ARE 29 FISCALLY CONSTRAINED COUNTIES THAT THAT HAVE A LARGER PORTION THAT THEY RELY ON FOR PROPERTY TAX, THEY HAVE AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT PROBLEM AND SITUATION THAT THEY'RE DEALING WITH. BUT AS FAR AS BAY COUNTY BEING A MIDSIZE COUNTY, I BELIEVE THIS CHART IS THE BEST WAY TO COMMUNICATE HOW THIS IMPACTS BAY COUNTY. AS STAFF, WE DO NOT TAKE A POSITION EXCEPT FOR THE FACT THAT WE CERTAINLY SUPPORT RESPONSIBLE TAX RELIEF. WHETHER THIS IS RESPONSIBLE TAX RELIEF, THAT'S WHAT'S BEING PROPOSED IS ENTIRELY UP TO THE VOTERS, NOT UP TO US. IT'S INCUMBENT UPON US TO DESCRIBE IN DETAIL HOW THIS MAY AFFECT SERVICES IN BAY COUNTY. AND IT'S CERTAINLY YOUR RIGHT TO VOTE ON WHETHER YOU THINK IT'S RESPONSIBLE OR NOT. BUT I BELIEVE WE BELIEVE THIS CHART EXPLAINS IN DETAIL HOW THIS WILL SPECIFICALLY AFFECT BAY COUNTY. MIRANDA MENTIONED $36 MILLION WHEN IT'S FULLY IMPLEMENTED. THAT'S $36 MILLION ISN'T APPLIED TO A $734 MILLION BUDGET, WHICH IS WHAT OUR ENTIRE BUDGET IS. IT'S A $164 MILLION BUDGET. SO YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT LESS THAN A QUARTER OF THE REVENUE THAT COMES IN. AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS CHART, 87% OF THE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE ARE EITHER FIRST RESPONDERS, THEIR CRAS OR THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICES, OR THEY ARE WE ARE REQUIRED BY LAW TO MAKE THOSE PAYMENTS. SO 87% OF THAT $164 MILLION THAT COMES THROUGH OUR DOORS IS GONE. IT'S SPOKEN FOR. THE CHECKS ARE WRITTEN. THAT'S $142 MILLION APPROXIMATELY. WHICH LEAVES US WITH AS MIRANDA POINTED OUT 22 MILLION WHICH ARE STILL CORE SERVICES. BUT ARGUABLY WE MAKE THEIR DISCRETIONARY. BUT WHEN YOU START LOOKING AT THESE IT'S THE LIBRARY. IT'S TRANSIT. IT'S PARTS OF PUBLIC WORKS. IT'S PARKS. I BELIEVE A LOT OF FOLKS BELIEVE THOSE ARE CORE SERVICES AND THOSE ARE CORE SERVICES THAT ARE BOTH NEEDED AND FOLKS ARE WILLING TO SUPPORT. WHAT THAT SUPPORT IS, IS CERTAINLY WE WELCOME THE FEEDBACK. THIS IS THE MOST FOLKS WE'VE EVER HAD IN A BUDGET MEETING IN THE LAST TEN YEARS. I BELIEVE, AND I BELIEVE ALL OF US ARE VERY HAPPY TO SEE YOU HERE. I KNOW THE LIBRARY IS AN ISSUE. TONIGHT WOULD NOT BE THE VENUE TO MAKE A DECISION ON THIS BUDGET AS CONCERNED BY THE LIBRARY. THE BUDGET CAN ALWAYS BE AMENDED IF YOU FOLLOW OUR MEETINGS. WE HAVE BUDGET AMENDMENTS FREQUENTLY RECENTLY. AS FAR AS THE LIBRARY IS CONCERNED, STAFF PROVIDED AN ALTERNATE STAFFING PLAN THAT THAT STAFF LEADERSHIP HAS TAKEN UNDER ADVISEMENT. THAT'S A DECISION THAT WILL BE MADE AFTER TONIGHT, OR AT LEAST THAT'S WHAT I PROPOSE. THE BEST WAY TO HANDLE THAT WOULD BE TO ANALYZE THAT, GET A STAFF RECOMMENDATION, AND BRING IT BACK TO THE COMMISSION. TONIGHT WOULD NOT BE THE NIGHT TO CHANGE THE BUDGET. BUT ANYWAY, WE WOULD CERTAINLY LIKE TO SEE THIS ROOM FILLED WITH EVERYBODY THAT SUPPORTS THIS COUNTY AND HAS SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT THE LEVEL OF SERVICE THAT THEY'RE WILLING TO SUPPORT. SO, I MEAN, FROM STAFF, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. BUT HAVING SAID ALL THAT, THE FINAL POINT I'D MAKE IS THERE'S $22 MILLION LEFT THAT ARE, QUOTE UNQUOTE, DISCRETIONARY CORE SERVICES, AND WE'RE TAKING A 30 SOMETHING MILLION DOLLAR HIT. [00:20:01] SO WE'RE AT LEAST 8 TO $10 MILLION INTO THE BLUE, IF YOU CAN SEE THAT. AND THAT INCLUDES FIRST RESPONDERS. SO THAT IS HOW IT AFFECTS BAY COUNTY IN PARTICULAR. AGAIN, IT AFFECTS DIFFERENT COUNTIES DIFFERENT WAYS. WE ARE STILL, WELL, WE'RE NOT STILL WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH OUR LEGISLATIVE LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION. AND WE ARE ALREADY HAVING TALKS WITH WHETHER THIS PASSES OR NOT. WE BELIEVE THERE ARE BETTER WAYS. THERE ARE OTHER WAYS TO PROVIDE TAX RELIEF. MORE OF A CONSUMPTIVE TAX A CONSUMPTION TAX. IT'S WORKED WELL IN THIS COUNTY FOR OTHER REASONS. SO ANYWAY THERE'S ONGOING CONVERSATIONS. THOSE CONVERSATIONS WILL CONTINUE. WHETHER AMENDMENT THREE PASSES OR NOT. BUT I ASSURE YOU THIS STAFF IS WORKING VERY HARD TO PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES THAT CITIZENS NEED AND ARE WILLING TO SUPPORT. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. WALSH. THANK YOU FOR HOLDING YOUR COMMENTS. THAT'S FINE. NO, IT WAS VERY INFORMATIVE. AND HE WAS SAYING A LOT OF WHAT I WAS REALLY THINKING AND WHAT I EVEN WROTE DOWN IN MY NOTES, BECAUSE, I MEAN, ONLY 25% OF THE GENERAL REVENUE COMES FROM AD VALOREM TAXES. THE REST COMES FROM GAS TAX, WHATEVER. SO, SO, AND, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T KNOW IF AMENDMENT THREE IS GOING TO PASS OR NOT. SO, BUT BUT I JUST MADE A COUPLE THINGS HERE THAT I WAS GOING TO BRING OUT. HE COVERED A LOT OF THEM, BUT I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY THAT DESPITE THE NEWS HERALD, ZILLOW, REDFIN AND TV SEVEN, SAYING PROPERTY VALUES HAVE DECLINED TO BAY COUNTY IN THE PAST YEAR. THEY STILL RAISE THE ASSESSMENT ON ALL THE AD VALOREM TAXES ON ALL THE PROPERTIES BY, I GUESS, THE MAXIMUM 10%. THEY WENT UP AT LEAST 9%, MAYBE 10%. AND AND OF COURSE, THE BUDGET'S BEEN INCREASED BY 50 MILLION THIS YEAR, I DO BELIEVE. RIGHT. ISN'T THAT I THINK THAT'S WHAT IT WAS. BUT SO, SO EVEN THOUGH YOU ALL ARE KEEPING THE MILLAGE AT 5.3 BECAUSE THE ASSESSMENT WENT UP, EVERYBODY'S PROPERTY TAXES ARE GOING UP ANYWAY. SO AND WITH EVERYBODY TAKING A CUT, WELL, THAT'S REALLY COMING OUT OF THE 50 MILLION INCREASE IN THE BUDGET, I GUESS. SO REALLY THE BUDGET'S NOT GOING DOWN CERTAINLY. BUT AND THE VOTE OF AMENDMENT THREE IS COMING UP IN SIX WEEKS. THE GOVERNOR THE PRESIDENT ARE TALKING OF ELIMINATING PROPERTY TAXES IN GENERAL. WE WOULD LIKE TO WE WOULD LIKE THE COMMISSION TO CONSIDER REVERTING BACK TO THE TRADITIONAL MILLAGE RATE THAT WAS IN EFFECT FOR MORE THAN A DECADE OF 4.4 MILLS BEFORE 2023. WELL, I GUESS WE NEEDED THE MONEY AFTER THE COVID TO RECOVER OR WHATEVER. BUT, YOU KNOW, FOR OVER A DECADE, IT WAS 4.4 MILLS AND THEY JUST RAISED IT IN 2023. AND THAT, YOU KNOW, OR JUST IF THEY COULD KEEP THE TAXES WHERE THEY ARE NOW, I THINK HE WOULD LOOK MORE FAVORABLY ON MAYBE NOT VOTING IN FAVOR OF AMENDMENT THREE IF THEY'RE NOT GETTING ANOTHER TAX INCREASE, BECAUSE WE PRETTY MUCH GET THEM EVERY YEAR. I MEAN, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, MY TAXES HAVE GONE UP OVER 100% SINCE HURRICANE MICHAEL. SO AND, YOU KNOW, THAT WOULD PROVIDE RELIEF FOR WORKING FAMILIES AND SENIORS, YOU KNOW, WITH ALL THE HIGH ENERGY FOOD AND FUEL COSTS THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW, ESPECIALLY THEY'RE BAD RIGHT NOW. YOU KNOW, THAT WOULD GIVE SOME RELIEF TO PEOPLE IF THEIR PROPERTY TAXES DIDN'T GO UP THIS YEAR AND MAYBE MAKE THEM LOOK MORE FAVORABLY ON THE. AND AS HE WAS SAYING, MAYBE FIND A MORE EQUITABLE WAY IN THE FUTURE, CONSIDER RAISING A TAX SOMEWHERE. GAS TAX, WHATEVER, I DON'T KNOW. THAT'S UP TO YOU ALL TO FIGURE OUT. BUT BUT YOU KNOW, TO COVER THE COST BECAUSE IT WOULD BE MORE EQUITABLE IF NOT JUST PROPERTY OWNERS ARE PAYING ALL THAT, YOU KNOW, THE AD VALOREM TAX AND FUNDING 25% OF THE TOTAL BUDGET, JUST PROPERTY OWNERS, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY SHOULD HAVE A LITTLE PIECE, YOU KNOW, LET THE TOURISTS PAY FOR SOME OF IT. HECK, THEY GET SERVICES HERE TOO, RIGHT? THEY GET ALL KINDS OF THEM OUT OF THE COUNTY PIER AND ALL AND SEE. AND WHAT ELSE AM I MISSING HERE? YOU KNOW, WE JUST HATE TO SEE PEOPLE LOSING THEIR HOMES OVER PROPERTY TAXES THAT KEEP GOING UP. BUT MY TIME IS UP. THANKS FOR HEARING ME SO MUCH. I'D LIKE TO INVITE THE LADY THAT WENT FIRST. IF YOU WANTED TO COME BACK AND PUT, YOU KNOW, SAY, SAY WHAT YOU HAD TO SAY AGAIN, YOU'RE WELCOME TO COME BACK NOW. IT'S IT'S FALLING UNDER THIS. IF YOU'D LIKE TO, IF YOU'D LIKE TO. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT OFFER BECAUSE WE'RE, WE'RE KIND OF ON YOUR SUBJECT NOW, AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU WERE ABLE TO GET ALL YOUR THOUGHTS OUT BEFORE. BEFORE. I THINK I DID MOST OF MY NOTES, BUT SINCE I HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING OTHER COUNTIES. WE'RE REALLY KIND OF WRAPPING THINGS UP BEFORE THE ELECTION. I KNOW A LOT OF IT IS GOING INTO THE RESERVES. BUT THE RESERVES WERE VOTED ON IN 2024 AND THIS IS 2026. SO WE'VE KIND OF JUMP STARTED GETTING THOSE RESERVES TO WHERE YOU GUYS WANT IT, LIKE THE 25 TO 30%. OTHER COUNTIES ARE KIND OF WAITING TO MAKE THESE CUTS A LITTLE BIT AFTER THE ELECTION, SEE WHERE THINGS GO. [00:25:01] THANK YOU. SOMEONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK. TO THAT. I THINK I'M OUT OF THE GROUP. I'M NOT HERE FOR THE LIBRARY. YOU'RE FINE. YOU COULD GIVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD. I'LL JUST GET MY STUFF READY HERE. SO MY NAME IS JIMMY DODSON. I LIVE, MY ADDRESS IS 21522 CLARKS ROAD, FOUNTAIN, FLORIDA. AS MANY OF YOU ALREADY KNOW, I SPENT MANY YEARS IN THE FIRE SERVICE, BOTH IN THE MILITARY AND CIVILIAN COMMUNITIES. AND SO I UNDERSTAND THE DEMANDS OF EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND THE IMPORTANCE OF ADEQUATE STAFFING. FIRST, I WANT TO EXPRESS MY SINCERE CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF THE FOUR PEOPLE WHO LOST THEIR LIVES IN THE TRAGIC FIRE LAST WEEK ON GREENBRIAR DRIVE. I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE FIREFIGHTERS, ESPECIALLY THE DEPUTY EMS PERSONNEL, NEIGHBORING AGENCIES WHO RESPONDED TO AN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT SITUATION. I'VE BEEN IN THOSE SITUATIONS. IT IS NOT A GOOD PLACE TO BE AND IT WON'T BE FOR THE NEXT 20 YEARS FOR THEM. I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE THIS COMMISSION FOR MAKING PUBLIC SAFETY A PRIORITY. I BELIEVE THEY'RE BRINGING UP CHIEF PUGH AND CHEAP. GRIFFIN IN REPRESENTS AN IMPORTANT NEW CHAPTER FOR BAY COUNTY EMERGENCY SERVICES, AND WE APPRECIATE THEIR LEADERSHIP AND THE COMMISSION'S INVESTMENT IN STRENGTHENING FIRE RESCUE IN THIS AREA. BUT TONIGHT, I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT WHAT INVESTMENT MEANS FOR RURAL BAY COUNTY. ACCORDING TO FIRE RESCUE WAS DISPATCHED TO GREENBRIAR DRIVE AT APPROXIMATELY 443 IN THE MORNING WITH A REPORT THAT THERE WERE PEOPLE TRAPPED INSIDE. DEPUTIES ARRIVED AT 448 AND ATTEMPTED TO ENTER. FIRST BAY COUNTY FIRE ENGINE ARRIVED AT 459, 16 MINUTES FROM THE TIME OF DISPATCH TO THE ARRIVAL OF THE FIRST ENGINE. I'M NOT SUGGESTING THAT A DIFFERENT RESPONSE TIME OR ADDITIONAL FIREFIGHTERS WOULD HAVE CHANGED THE OUTCOME OF THIS FIRE INVESTIGATION STILL UNDERWAY, AND WE'LL FIND OUT. BUT 16 MINUTE RESPONSE TIMES SHOULD MAKE ALL OF US THINK SERIOUSLY ABOUT EMERGENCY COVERAGE IN NORTH BAY COUNTY. THE COUNTY IS INVESTING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN A NEW FOUNTAIN COMMUNITY COMPLEX. THE COUNTY'S OWN DESCRIPTION SAYS THE FIRE STATION CAN HAS UP TO EIGHT PERSONNEL, ALONG WITH AN ENGINE, A TANKER, A BRUSH TRUCK AND AN EMS VEHICLE. IN NO PLACE DOES THAT DESCRIPTION SAY IT WILL HAVE EIGHT PEOPLE IN IT. IT JUST SAID IT CAN HOUSE THEM. WE APPRECIATE THE INVESTMENT. WE REALLY DO. BUT A FIRE STATION TO PROTECT DOESN'T PROTECT ANYBODY SIMPLY BY BEING THERE. IT'S GOT TO BE STAFFED. THE FISCAL YEAR 2027 BUDGET BEFORE YOU TONIGHT IDENTIFIES THREE NEW EMPTY POSITIONS AND EIGHT NEW PARAMEDIC POSITIONS. WE APPRECIATE THAT INVESTMENT AS WELL. MY QUESTION FOR YOU IS, WHERE WILL THOSE 11 PEOPLE BE ASSIGNED THAT ARE IN THE BUDGET? WILL ANY OF THEM PROVIDE SERVICES? ADDITIONAL COVERAGE FOR FOUNTAIN, YOUNGSTOWN AND SAND HILLS WHEN THE NEW FIRE STATION OPENS? WILL IT BE STAFFED 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK? WHAT WILL BE THE MINIMUM STAFFING? MOST IMPORTANTLY, WHAT WILL FOUNTAIN RECEIVE ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL OR WILL WE SIMPLY BE MORE FIREFIGHTERS AND EQUIPMENT FROM YOUNGSTOWN SAND HILLS OR SOMEWHERE ELSE? FOUR OF OUR NEIGHBORS DIED LAST WEEK. WE DON'T KNOW WHETHER ANYTHING COULD HAVE CHANGED THAT OUTCOME. AND I WON'T PRETEND TO KNOW. BUT THERE'S STILL THERE STILL WILL BE ANOTHER FIRE TRUCK. THERE WILL BE ANOTHER HEART ATTACK. THERE'LL BE ANOTHER WRECK. AND SOMEWHERE IN BAY COUNTY, SOMEBODY WILL CALL 911. YOU'VE INVESTED IN A NEW LEADERSHIP AND NEW PERSONNEL. YES, SIR, I KNOW. NOW, PLEASE MAKE SURE WE HAVE ENOUGH FIREFIGHTERS AND PARAMEDICS IN THIS BUDGET. THANK YOU. I'LL STICK AROUND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. I HAVE THE LIBRARY, MA'AM. I AM THE LIBRARY CREW. FOR THE RECORD, NATASHA MITCHELL, 3822 WHITEHEAD BOULEVARD, PANAMA CITY, FLORIDA, BUT ALSO KNOWN AS TINA S JACKSON IN THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS, FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK IN FRONT OF YOU BECAUSE I'M NOT IN YOUR POSITION. I USE MY IMAGINATION TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND THE HEAVINESS OF HAVING TO MAKE THE DECISIONS FOR THE RESIDENTS OF THIS AREA, AND I KNOW FIRSTHAND THE EXHAUSTION OF DECISION FATIGUE. SO I HOPE THAT MY PEERS AND I CAN HELP YOU. IN YOUR DECISION MAKING REGARDING THE BAY COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY. MAKE IT EASIER FOR YOU. LIKE MANY MEMBERS OF THIS COMMUNITY, I'VE HAD A FOND LOVE FOR THIS LIBRARY SINCE I WAS A KID. WHEN IT WAS DOWNTOWN OFF HARRISON AVENUE. AND AS AN ADULT, I'VE GROWN TO APPRECIATE THE COMMUNITY CULTURE WITHIN THE LIBRARY. THE ADULT SOCIAL HOURS THAT ALLOW STRANGERS TO GET TO KNOW ONE ANOTHER. BECAUSE MAKING FRIENDS CAN BE HARD TO DO. THE SATURDAY STORYTIME, READING TO THE KIDS, THE WRITING WORKSHOPS, THE DIGITAL LIBRARY SPACE THAT ALLOWS US TO LEARN HOW TO USE EDITING SOFTWARE. IN AN ERA WHERE SOCIAL MEDIA IS THE MOST CONSUMED FORM OF MEDIA, THE TEEN DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS CAMPAIGNS THAT PROVIDE A SAFE SPACE FOR KIDS TO JUST BE KIDS [00:30:05] AND USE THEIR IMAGINATION. THE QUIET STILLNESS WHILE READING. BECAUSE COFFEE SHOPS ARE TOO BUSY, THE AFTER WORK ACCESS TO COMPUTER LABS SO THAT YOU CAN APPLY FOR A BETTER JOB IN ORDER TO PROVIDE FOR YOUR FAMILY AND THE KIDS WHO COME SAY HELLO TO THE FISH RIGHT BEFORE GOING INTO THEIR SECTIONS. ALL OF THIS FOR FREE. THANKS TO THE GENEROSITY OF THE ALLOCATED FUNDS FROM THE TAX DOLLARS. AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, I CAN'T FORGET ABOUT THE LIBRARIANS WHO FOSTER A SAFE SPACE, WHO ARE QUICK YET GENTLE TO HELP US WITH TECHNOLOGY OR PROVIDE A GREAT RECOMMENDATION FOR WHEN WE NEED TO EXPLORE A NEW GENRE. YOU SEE, THE LIBRARY ISN'T JUST A SOURCE OF INFORMATION, IT IS A SOURCE OF COMMUNITY. AND IF THIS THING DOES PASS AMENDMENT THREE, PLEASE CONSIDER REALLOCATING THE FUNDS AND MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN OBTAIN AND UPHOLD THIS PLACE OF COMMUNITY, NOT JUST FOR ME, BUT FOR THE HOMESCHOOLING PARENTS THAT IS CHALLENGING THEIR CHILD TO READ THE BOOKS THAT HAVE BEEN BANNED FOR THE RETIRED JOURNALISTS WHO CAN SHOW OFF HER ARCHIVED ARTICLES OF THE NEWS HERALD FROM BEING A FIREFIGHTER FOR THE DAY, AND FOR THOSE OF US WHO STILL NEED GUIDES AND HOW TO BOOKS AND COOK BOOKS THAT AREN'T WRITTEN WITH PERSONAL INFORMATION AND AD WRITTEN AND AD WEBSITES. SO WE ASK AS A COMMUNITY TO PLEASE DO NOT CUT INTO THE LIBRARY BECAUSE IT IS MORE THAN JUST BOOKS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. AND WITH MY REMAINING TIME AS A RECIPIENT OF THE SAINT ANDREWS MEDICAL INSTITUTE, IT HAS PROVIDED ME SO MUCH PEACE OF MIND. WHEN I HAD A HEALTH SCARE AND FINDING A LUMP IN MY CHEST LAST YEAR, AND I'M SO GLAD THAT IT'S HERE FOR THE COMMUNITY AS WELL AS OTHER THINGS. AND I JUST APPRECIATE WHAT WE CAN DO. AND I HOPE THAT YOU SEE ALL OF US. I KNOW THAT YOU ALL CARE ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY, AND JUST TO HELP US IN ANY WAY WE CAN. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. HELLO AGAIN. JENNIFER IVY, PANAMA CITY, FLORIDA. FIRST, I WANT TO MAKE I WANT EVERYONE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS YEAR'S BUDGET. THE FY 27 BUDGET THAT'S BEING PROPOSED REALLY DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH AMENDMENT THREE. THAT'S OUR FIRST OF ALL, IT HASN'T PASSED. SO LET'S QUIT TALKING ABOUT IT LIKE IT HAS. BECAUSE I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO PASS BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO FIGHT IT. SECOND OF ALL, THE CUTS THAT WERE MADE IN THIS BUDGET APPARENTLY WERE TO FILL THE RESERVES. SO I THINK THAT SHOULD KIND OF BE THE FOCUS IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHAT WE'VE LOST IN THIS BUDGET SPECIFICALLY. THE LIBRARY WILL BE CLOSED ONE. THE LIBRARY RIGHT NOW IS OPEN FOR SIX DAYS A WEEK, MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY. UNDER THIS CURRENT BUDGET, IT'S GOING TO BE CLOSED AND BE FIVE DAYS. WHICH MAY NOT SEEM LIKE A BIG DEAL TO YOU GUYS, BUT IT IS A HUGE DEAL ON SO MANY LEVELS. AND IT'S GOING TO SAVE A WHOPPING $17,000 FOR THE WHOLE YEAR. THAT'S WHAT'S, THAT'S WHAT'S IN THE DOCUMENT. DOESN'T SEEM LIKE ANYONE DID A COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS THAT CONSIDERED THE, THE USE OF THE LIBRARY. I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE WENT OVER THERE LOOKED AROUND, TALKED TO PEOPLE, TALKED TO STAFF KIND OF LOOKED THROUGH ALL THE PROGRAMING THERE IS BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT IT'S REAL BUSY OVER THERE EVERY SINGLE DAY. I JUST $17,000. I MEAN, IT'S IT'S GOING TO TURN THE I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW HOW TO MAKE THIS CLEAR, BUT JUST, JUST, JUST HAVING THAT DAY REMOVED, WHETHER IT'S MONDAY, WHETHER IT'S SATURDAY JUST TURNS EVERYTHING ON ITS HEAD BECAUSE YOU HAVE JUST CHANGED THE WHOLE OPERATION OF THE LIBRARY. RIGHT? SO WE HAVE PROGRAMING OUT FOR MONTHS. WE HAVE RESERVATIONS. WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT DEPEND ON THAT LIBRARY EVERY SINGLE DAY. AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU REALIZE THAT THE LAW LIBRARY IS IN THE PUBLIC LIBRARY. SO CLOSING THE LAW LIBRARY ONE DAY A WEEK IS ALSO A LITTLE BIT OF A PROBLEM BECAUSE PEOPLE COME IN THERE TO USE WESTLAW. [00:35:05] YOU HAVE SOLO PRACTITIONERS COMING IN THERE. THEY DEPEND ON THAT TO USE WESTLAW. YOU HAVE PATRONS COMING IN TO TALK TO THE LAW LIBRARIAN. AND THEY WILL NOW HAVE LESS ACCESS TO THAT AS WELL. SO I SAY, GIVE US OUR DATE BACK. THANK YOU. YES, MA'AM. I'M PART OF THE LIBRARY CREW. HELLO. MY NAME IS KRISTEN MATTHEWS. FOR THE RECORD, 7006 BENTON DRIVE. THE LIBRARY IS ONE OF THE FEW PLACES IN THIS CITY AND MOST CITIES IN AMERICA WHERE ANYONE CAN WALK IN, SIT DOWN, STAY AS LONG AS THEY NEED TO, AND THEY ARE NEVER ASKED OR EXPECTED TO SPEND A DIME. IT SHOULD NOT BE SEEN AS A LUXURY. IT IS TRULY A NECESSARY SERVICE AND A BEACON OF COMMUNITY BUILDING. WHETHER IT'S FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN COMING FOR VARIOUS ACTIVITIES AND ALSO BEING A PLACE FOR ARE REGULAR RESIDENTS, WHETHER IT'S JOB HUNTING, WHETHER IT'S DIGITAL LITERACY CLASSES, WHETHER IT'S THE CREATIVE SERVICES THAT MOST MODERN DAY LIBRARIES, INCLUDING OUR OWN OFFER. I THINK THAT THE PROPOSED CUTS ARE GOING TO DO MUCH MORE HARM. QUANTIFIABLE. QUANTIFIABLE COMPARED TO THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WOULD BE SAVED. MY BACKGROUND IS IN PUBLIC HEALTH, AND MANY RESEARCH HAS ALREADY SHOWN THAT THE IMPACTS THAT COME FROM A LIBRARY IN THE CONNECTIONS THAT CAN BE MADE, WHETHER IT'S INTERNET ACCESS, LITERACY AND SUPPORT SERVICES, ARE DIRECTLY TIED TO A COMMUNITY'S HEALTH AND ECONOMIC STABILITY. SPEAKING FOR MYSELF, BEING ON THE CONSERVATIVE SIDE, IF YOU SAY THE AVERAGE BOOK IS $20 A POP SO FAR THIS YEAR, OUR LIBRARY HAS SAVED ME $1,000. I CAN DO A LOT WITH $1,000 RIGHT NOW IN THIS ECONOMY. BUT BEYOND THAT, IN 2023, I ACTUALLY HAD THE HONOR OF HOSTING A SOCIAL MEDIA AND SMALL BUSINESS WORKSHOP AT THE LIBRARY. BECAUSE IT WAS AT THE LIBRARY, I WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE MY SERVICES FOR FREE SERVICES THAT I TYPICALLY CHARGE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS A MONTH FOR. AND I WANT TO BE ABLE TO GIVE BACK IN SOME WAY. AND THE LIBRARY IS THE PERFECT PLACE FOR THAT. PEOPLE CAN COME, PEOPLE CAN LEARN, AND THEY'RE NOT EXPECTED TO PAY ME A DIME. THE NUMBERS THAT ARE PROPOSED ON THE VARIOUS SLIDES THAT WE HAVE SEEN, THEY KIND OF SOUND REALLY SMALL OR, YOU KNOW, IMPACTFUL IN A COUNTY BUDGET. BUT LIKE I'VE SAID BEFORE, THE HARM TO THE RESIDENTS IN THE COMMUNITY IS MUCH MORE THAN WHATEVER NUMBER THAT YOU HAVE ON SAID SPREADSHEET. I UNDERSTAND THE BUDGET PRESSURES THAT YOU ALL ARE FACING, BUT I'M ASKING YOU TO PROTECT THE LIBRARY'S FUNDING AND FIND THIS SMALL SAVINGS ELSEWHERE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. HELLO, MY NAME IS BRITTANY RIVAS. I'M AT 1206 FERRY AVENUE, PANAMA CITY. I DON'T REALLY HAVE ANYTHING WRITTEN DOWN, SO I'M JUST GOING TO GO FROM MY HEART. FIRST, THANKS FOR HAVING US HERE. I'M GLAD WE OVERWHELMED YOU WITH OUR PRESENCE. WE OBVIOUSLY LOVE TO READ. WE LOVE TO HAVE KIDS EDUCATED AND EDUCATE OURSELVES BECAUSE A GROWING BRAIN IS OBVIOUSLY A HEALTHY ONE. I'M LOOKING UP THERE AND I SEE HOW YOU HAVE PUBLIC SAFETY, CRA PAYMENTS, CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICES, EMERGENCY RESERVES, AND MEDICAID. I THINK THAT YOU HAVE TO READ TO BE QUALIFIED FOR ANY OF THOSE BUILDINGS OR ANY OF THOSE RESOURCES. AND READING IS LIKE ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL THINGS THAT YOU COULD SHARE WITH SOMEBODY. YOU CAN GET OUT OF YOUR REALM. YOU CAN LEARN SOMETHING NEW. AND I THINK THE LIBRARY PROVIDES SUCH A BEAUTIFUL SPACE FOR EVERYBODY TO NOT ONLY FEEL SAFE, BUT LIKE SHE SAID, COMMUNITY OR LIKE WE'VE SAID, MY GRANDMA IS BLIND. SHE GOES TO THE LIBRARY AND SHE HOLDS HER OWN MEETINGS THERE AND SHE DOESN'T DO SOCIAL MEDIA. SHE CALLS ME OFTEN TO HELP HER WITH HER ZOOM BECAUSE I HELP HER SET UP THE ZOOM. ACTUALLY, CHEYENNE FROM THE LIBRARY HELPS MY GRANDMA OUT WHEN I'M NOT AVAILABLE BECAUSE I HOMESCHOOL. SO THE LIBRARY AGAIN, IS A HUGE RESOURCE FOR MY FAMILY AND I. MY KIDS HAVE GONE TO ALL OF THE CLASSES, FROM THE BABIES TO THE TODDLERS TO THE TEEN PROGRAMS. WE UTILIZE ALL OF THOSE RESOURCES. I THINK IT'S AMAZING THAT I COULD EVEN RENT A PRINTER OR NOT A PRINTER, A SEWING MACHINE TO TEACH MY KID HOW TO SEW HER OWN CLOTHES. THAT'S BEAUTIFUL. BUT I THINK THAT WE'LL PROBABLY LOSE A LOT OF THOSE RESOURCES IF, YOU KNOW, THINGS HAPPEN LIKE THAT. SO I FEEL STRONGLY THAT IT WON'T BE THAT WAY, BUT I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU GUYS KNOW THAT EVEN SPEAKING TO SOMEBODY IN THEIR 50S TODAY, I SAID, HEY, I CAN'T BE AT THAT MEETING TODAY BECAUSE I WANT TO BE AT THIS MEETING BECAUSE I FEEL SO STRONGLY FOR THE LIBRARY. AND HE SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT? I GET IT. THE SAFE PLACE FOR ME AS A KID WAS THE LIBRARY. [00:40:02] AND NOW HE'S A MUSIC PRODUCER. SO WHAT IF HE JUST DIDN'T HAVE THAT PLACE? WHAT IF HE WENT DOWN A DARK, DARK HOLE AND NOW HE DOESN'T DO WHAT HE LOVES? MAYBE THAT WAS HIS SOMEBODY. SOMEBODY ENCOURAGED HIM. WE GET A LOT OF ENCOURAGEMENT FROM THOSE PLACES. YEAH, I JUST I JUST WOULD HATE TO SEE SOMETHING LIKE SAD HAPPEN OVER THERE BECAUSE IT'S ONE OF MY HAPPY PLACES. NOT JUST FOR ME, BUT FOR MY KIDS. WHEN YOU, LIKE SOMEBODY MENTIONED, WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE A LOT OF MONEY, YOU CAN GO THERE AND YOUR KIDS DON'T KNOW, YOU DON'T HAVE MONEY BECAUSE YOU WALK OUT WITH 20 BOOKS AND THEY FEEL FRICKIN RICH. THEY GET A DVD BECAUSE YOU CAN'T AFFORD NETFLIX. YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST, IT'S JUST THAT EXTRA PUSH. IT'S JUST THAT LITTLE GLAZE ON THE DONUT THAT JUST MAKES LIFE A LITTLE BIT BETTER. SO YEAH, READING IS SUPER IMPORTANT. SO PLEASE HELP US KEEP THAT AROUND. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. HI. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. MY NAME IS EMMA SIMS AND I LIVE ON 3990 ARBITRAGE DRIVE OF LYNN HAVEN, FLORIDA. AND I'D LIKE TO SPEAK ABOUT A COUPLE OF THINGS SPECIFICALLY TODAY. FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME. WE DO REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU GUYS DO FOR OUR COUNTY. AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT EACH OF YOUR JOBS IS VERY DIFFICULT AND ENCOMPASSES A LOT OF DIFFERENT YOU ENCOUNTER A LOT OF THINGS EVERY DAY AND YOU WEAR A LOT OF HATS. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THE LIBRARY COMING AS A YOUNG ADULT WHO DOESN'T DRINK, DOESN'T CLUB, YOU KNOW, THERE IS NO SAFER PLACE TO BUILD COMMUNITY IN THIS COUNTY OR REALLY IN THE STATE THAN THERE IS AT A LIBRARY. FOR EXAMPLE, TOMORROW THERE ARE ON FRIDAY THERE IS A CRAFTERNOON FOR YOUNG ADULTS TO COME AND JOIN TOGETHER. THAT DOESN'T REVOLVE AROUND ALCOHOL OR ANY OTHER, YOU KNOW, SPECIFIC ACTIVITY LIKE THAT. IT IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY FLORIDA IS ONE OF THE, IF NOT THE EASIEST STATE TO HOMESCHOOL IN. HOMESCHOOLING IS A VERY, VERY VALUABLE PART OF OUR COMMUNITY THAT YOU GUYS HAVE MADE DECISIONS TO HELP. AND OUR STATE HAS AS WELL. HOMESCHOOLING IS. IT IS VITAL FOR HOMESCHOOLING COMMUNITY TO HAVE A LIBRARY BECAUSE HAVING ACCESS TO SO MANY DIFFERENT BOOKS, SO MANY DIFFERENT COMPUTERS, AND THE LOVING PEOPLE THAT ARE THERE TO HELP EDUCATE US AS WELL. AND HAVING JUST TIME AWAY WHERE AGAIN, YOU'RE NOT EXPECTED TO PAY. MY HUSBAND, FOR EXAMPLE, TEACHES MULTIPLE BIBLE STUDIES AND THE WORLD HISTORY AND RELIGIOUS TEXTS THAT ARE THERE AS WELL ARE INCREDIBLY HELPFUL. MY SISTER IS A COSMETOLOGIST AND SHE HAS USED SO MANY OF THOSE OF THE BOOKS AND THE RESOURCES AT THE LIBRARY TO HELP HER AND HER JOB AS WELL. SO WHENEVER YOU'RE CUTTING FUNDING TO THE LIBRARY, YOU'RE NOT ONLY CUTTING FUNDING TO ACCESS TO BOOKS, YOU'RE CUTTING FUNDING TO ACCESS TO EDUCATION FOR PEOPLE THAT BENEFIT OUR ECONOMY. SO IT'S NOT JUST ONE AREA. ALTHOUGH IT SEEMS LIKE ONE AREA, IT REALLY ENCOMPASSES MANY, MANY MORE. AND A LOT OF CHILDREN, YOUNG ADULTS, SENIOR ADULTS AS WELL WILL ALL BE IMPACTED BY THIS. SO I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING. KIRSTEN JONES LYNN HAVEN, FLORIDA. I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 2027 BUDGET CHANGE THAT WOULD IMPACT THE BAY COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY FROM ITS CURRENT LEVEL OF OPERATION OF SIX DAYS A WEEK AND REDUCE IT TO FIVE DAYS A WEEK OF OPERATION. I UNDERSTAND THAT DIFFICULT BUDGET DECISIONS HAVE TO BE MADE, AND I'M NOT ASKING THAT THE LIBRARY REMAIN UNCHANGED IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2027 BUDGET, BUT I AM ASKING YOU TO SERIOUSLY CONSIDER AN ALTERNATIVE OPTION OTHER THAN FIVE DAYS A WEEK OF OPERATION. THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN FIVE DAYS AND SIX DAYS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE THE LIBRARY IS ONE OF THE FEW PUBLIC SPACES IN OUR COMMUNITY DESIGNED TO BE ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE, REGARDLESS OF AGE, INCOME, EDUCATION, BACKGROUND, OR CIRCUMSTANCE. WHEN EVALUATING THE 2027 BUDGET PLAN, I ASK YOU TO NOT ONLY LOOK AT THE FINANCIAL SAVINGS, BUT ALSO HOW THE LIBRARY IS USED. CONSIDER THE PARENTS BRINGING YOUNG CHILDREN TO EARLY LITERACY PROGRAMS IN FINDING COMMUNITY DURING AN IMPORTANT STAGE OF CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT. CONSIDER RESIDENTS WHO RELY ON COMPUTERS, PRINTERS, INTERNET ACCESS AND PRIVATE STUDY ROOMS TO COMPLETE JOB APPLICATIONS, PREPARE RESUMES, PARTICIPATE IN VIRTUAL INTERVIEWS OR FURTHER THEIR EDUCATION. [00:45:04] CONSIDER RESIDENTS WHO ARE LEARNING ENGLISH OR NAVIGATING UNFAMILIAR SYSTEMS, AND DEPEND ON BOTH LIBRARY MATERIALS AND KNOWLEDGEABLE STAFF. CONSIDER OUR RETIREES AND SEASONAL RESIDENTS WHO RELY HEAVILY ON PHYSICAL BOOKS AND OTHER TRADITIONAL RESOURCES, AND CONSIDER THE STUDENTS, FAMILIES, COMMUNITY GROUPS, AND INDIVIDUALS WHO USE LIBRARY MEETING ROOMS AND PUBLIC SPACES SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY NEED A SAFE, NEUTRAL, AND ACCESSIBLE PLACE TO LEARN, MEET, WORK OR CONNECT. FOR ALL THESE PEOPLE, ACCESSIBILITY IS NOT ONLY ABOUT WHETHER THE LIBRARY EXISTS, IT IS ALSO ABOUT WHETHER THE LIBRARY IS OPEN ON A DAY THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO USE IT. I RECOGNIZE THAT REDUCTIONS ARE NECESSARY. MY REQUEST IS THAT WE MAKE THOSE REDUCTIONS IN A WAY THAT PRESERVES AS MUCH PUBLIC ACCESS AS POSSIBLE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. MY NAME IS CARRIE. I LIVE AT 7104 RIVERBROOK STREET, PANAMA CITY, FLORIDA, AND I HOPE YOU SEE HOW MUCH PEOPLE CARE ABOUT THE LIBRARY, THAT IT'S NOT JUST THIS PLACE. I AM A HOMESCHOOL MOM TO SEVEN CHILDREN. THAT IS A LIFELINE TO ME, NOT ONLY FOR MY CHILDREN TO LOVE BOOKS, BUT FOR ME AS WELL. IT'S A PLACE THAT I LEARN, MY CHILDREN LEARN, AND AS A HOMESCHOOLER, I'M IN A REALLY UNIQUE POSITION BECAUSE I FEEL STRONGLY FOR THOSE PUBLIC SCHOOL CHILDREN AS WELL. MY CHILDREN GET THE BENEFIT OF ME EVERY DAY. THOSE CHILDREN NEED OTHER PEOPLE CARING ABOUT THEM THE WAY THE LIBRARIANS DO. THEY NEED ACCESS TO THESE BOOKS. WE'RE IN A LITERACY CRISIS RIGHT NOW. WE HAVE OVER 59% OF STUDENTS HERE IN THIRD GRADE THAT CAN READ. THAT'S IT. THAT'S A STAGGERING STATISTIC TO SEE. IT SHOULD BE SCARY FOR EVERYBODY. WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO READ, TO LOOK UP AND SEE THAT YOU GUYS ARE WORKING SO HARD TO CREATE THIS BUDGET, BUT IF YOU CAN'T READ THAT, THAT MEANS NOTHING TO THEM. I FEEL SO STRONGLY ABOUT THE LIBRARY, NOT JUST BECAUSE IT'S A PLACE TO LEARN HOW TO READ, BUT LIKE YOU'VE HEARD SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE SAY, IT PROVIDES SERVICES SO MUCH GREATER THAN JUST A BOOK. MY CHILDREN HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO NASA EXPERTS. WE HAVE PEOPLE FROM THE BIRDING SOCIETY THAT COME. WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING AND GIVING OF THEIR TIME THE SYMPHONY, THE NUTCRACKER, ALL OF THESE THINGS THAT CHILDREN DON'T GET ACCESS TO ON THE REGULAR BASIS. BUT WE'VE DEEMED THESE THINGS TO BE LOVELY, GOOD, BEAUTIFUL THINGS. AND THEY DON'T GET TO DO THAT WITHOUT PLACES LIKE THE LIBRARY. AND WHILE I UNDERSTAND THAT BUDGETS ARE NECESSARY, I HAVE SEVEN CHILDREN. WE NEED A BUDGET. I JUST WANT YOU TO SEE THAT IT'S MORE THAN JUST THE BUDGET. THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO BE AFFECTED BY THIS, AND I DEEPLY RESPECT WHAT YOU ARE DOING AND I KNOW YOU ARE IN A HARD PLACE, BUT I HOPE THAT YOU SEE HOW MUCH THIS PLACE IS LOVED. IT'S NOT JUST A PLACE IN THIS COMMUNITY THAT PEOPLE USE FLIPPANTLY. IT'S A PLACE WHERE YOU FEEL KNOWN AND SECURE AND LOVED AND SAFE. WE HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE IN THAT LIBRARY THAT CARE AND DO SO MUCH MORE THAN JUST CHECK OUT BOOKS OR HELP YOU ON A COMPUTER. THEY EXUDE KINDNESS AND COMPASSION IN A WORLD THAT IS NOT. AND I THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. HELLO, MY NAME IS ASHLEY HARE. MY ZIP CODE IS 32405, AND I AM PROPOSING AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE LIBRARY BUDGET CUTS. IF MY RESEARCH IS CORRECT, COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MAKE $92,378 A YEAR WHILE THEY ARE CUTTING SERVICES. THE COMMISSIONER BUDGET THIS YEAR IS THE HIGHEST IT HAS EVER BEEN. $859,926, AS COMPARED TO LAST YEAR'S TOTAL OF 796 $498, AS FOUND IN THE SALARIES OF ELECTED COUNTY CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS AND SCHOOL DISTRICT OFFICIALS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR OF 2020 526. PAGE 11. LINE SIX. ELECTED COUNTY CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS AND THEIR SCHOOL DISTRICT OFFICIALS MAY VOLUNTARILY REDUCE THEIR SALARY RATE. ARGUMENTS MAY BE MADE THAT THEIR SALARY IS SET BY THE STATE AND UNABLE TO BE TOUCHED. YOU MAY SAY THAT WE'RE ALL IN THE SAME BOAT WITH LOSING FUNDING, BUT THAT'S JUST SIMPLY NOT TRUE. THE COMMUNITY IS SET TO LOSE CRITICAL FUNDING THAT ENRICHES EACH AND EVERY ONE OF OUR LIVES, WHETHER WE REALIZE IT OR NOT. AND DO NOT MISUNDERSTAND MY PREVIOUS STATEMENT TO MEAN I THINK THE COMMISSIONERS ARE UNDESERVING OF THEIR SALARIES. ON THE CONTRARY, MY ARGUMENT IS THAT WHEN YOU ARE IN AN ELECTED PUBLIC SERVICE POSITION, SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO MAKE SACRIFICES FOR YOUR COMMUNITY. IF ONE TRULY CARES FOR THEIR COMMUNITY AND WANTS TO SEE IT FLOURISH, THEY WOULD TRY THEIR HARDEST TO ENSURE THAT SUCH A VALUABLE RESOURCE LIKE THE LIBRARY DOES NOT TAKE SUBSTANTIAL BUDGET CUTS. IN ADDITION TO BEING A PROUD LIBRARY CARD HOLDER, I READ SO MUCH, [00:50:01] WHICH, DUH, I'M A PART OF THE LIBRARY GROUP HERE. I'M SURE THAT COMES AS NO SURPRISE. I HAVE SAVED THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS JUST GETTING BOOKS FOR MYSELF, AND I BRING MY YOUNGER FAMILY MEMBERS TO GET MATERIALS AS WELL, SAVING THEM THOUSANDS AS WELL. THE BAY COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY'S BUDGET REDUCTION IS A SLAP IN THE FACE FOR ANYBODY WHO CARES ABOUT THIS COMMUNITY. THE BUDGET FOR THE LIBRARY IN 2025 WAS $3,297,750. IN 2026, IT WAS 3,068,445. THE BUDGET FOR 2027 IS $3,051,195. MANY MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY, MYSELF INCLUDED, ARE FEELING THE EFFECTS OF RISING GROCERY AND GAS PRICES, PRICES THAT WILL LIKELY NEVER COME DOWN. THE LIBRARY OFFERS THINGS LIKE BOOKS, DVDS, ESL COURSES, JOB SEARCH. HELP. RESUME. ASSISTANCE. LAW. LIBRARY. SERVICES. WE JUST AS A COMMUNITY CANNOT GO WITHOUT THAT. AND RESPECTFULLY. COMPLETELY. RESPECTFULLY. THESE COMMISSIONERS HAVE JOBS OUTSIDE OF THESE POSITIONS. THEY OWN BUSINESSES, MANAGE RESTAURANTS, SELL HOUSES. THEY ARE DEEPLY INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY. AND I WOULD GO OUT ON A LIMB AND SAY, THESE PEOPLE THAT THESE CUTS ARE AFFECTING RELY ON THAT LIBRARY LIKE NOBODY HAS BEFORE. IF THE COUNTY CAN AFFORD TO PAY THE SALARIES OF THESE COMMISSIONERS, THEY CAN CERTAINLY AFFORD TO ALTER SOME OF THOSE SALARIES AND FUNDS TO ENSURE THAT THOSE WHO ELECTED THE OFFICIALS ARE SEEING THEIR INVESTMENT RETURN. TO WRAP THIS UP. MY QUESTION IS NOT OF THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS WORTHINESS OF THEIR PAY. MY QUESTION IS, WHY ARE WE, THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS, LOSING SUCH VALUABLE RESOURCES? WHILE THE BUDGET FOR THE COMMISSIONERS IS HIGHER THAN IT HAS EVER BEEN? IF YOU ARE TRULY ELECTED TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY AND ARE TRULY PASSIONATE ABOUT PUBLIC SERVICE, THE SACRIFICE WOULD BE WORTH IT. NURTURING YOUR COMMUNITY. I'M ALMOST DONE. NURTURING YOUR COMMUNITY AND SEEING IT FLOURISH BECAUSE OF YOUR DECISIONS IS MUCH MORE REWARDING THAN A PAYCHECK AT THE END OF THE DAY. YOUR LEGACY WILL OUTLIVE YOU, NOT YOUR PAY GRADE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION AND PATIENCE. NEXT SPEAKER. HI, I'M SARAH BAILEY. I'M 430 SOUTH PALO ALTO AVENUE, PANAMA CITY, FLORIDA. THAT SOUNDS LIKE A GREAT PLAN. I GOT TO SAY, I LOVE THAT IDEA. THANK YOU FOR THAT. BUT I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT ONE THING THAT I THINK MIGHT BE GETTING OVERLOOKED. AND THAT'S THE RESEARCH IS OUT THERE. HAVING ACCESS TO PUBLIC LIBRARIES DIRECTLY AFFECTS PUBLIC SAFETY. SO THERE'S A HUGE CORRELATION TO THAT. SO I WOULD PREDICT THAT IF THESE CUTS HAPPEN ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THAT WE WILL SEE A DECREASE IN PUBLIC SAFETY JUST FROM THAT ACT ALONE. THE OTHER THING THAT I DON'T THINK IS BEING CONSIDERED THAT JUST WHY DON'T WE GO THE OTHER DAY IF IT ENDS UP BEING CLOSED MONDAY, FOR INSTANCE, WE CAN JUST GO ANOTHER DAY. I THINK THAT'S A PRIVILEGED APPROACH TO LOOK AT THE USE OF THE LIBRARY, BECAUSE ONE THING THAT I'VE NOTICED EVERY TIME I'M THERE IS THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT ARE ESCAPING INCLEMENT WEATHER NOT JUST UNHOUSED PEOPLE, BUT THEY ALSO BENEFIT FROM THIS SPACE EVERY DAY THAT THEY HAVE ACCESS TO IT AND THEY DESERVE THAT. ALSO, PEOPLE WHO MIGHT NOT HAVE THAT COMFORT AT THEIR OWN HOMES, THEY GO THERE. IT IS USED FOR THIS REASON. AND THE NUMBER ONE THING THAT'S SPEAKING TO MY HEART IS ALL OF THE KIDS WHO ARE THERE AFTER SCHOOL. SO INSTEAD OF BEING HOME UNSUPERVISED OR DOING OTHER THINGS IN THE COMMUNITY, THEY'RE AT THE LIBRARY, THEY'RE HANGING OUT, THEY'RE DOING THEIR HOMEWORK, THEY'RE USING THE COMPUTERS AND THEY'RE SAFE. THEY'RE LOOKED AFTER. SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. THANK YOU. HELLO, I'M ANGIE GENTRY FROM PANAMA CITY. THANK YOU FOR GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO YOU TODAY. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THROUGH MY RESEARCH AND READING IS, YOU KNOW, I REALLY LEARNED A LOT ABOUT ANDREW CARNEGIE, A PHILANTHROPIST, WHICH I KNOW WE ALL WISH WE HAD A PHILANTHROPIST RIGHT NOW WILLING TO INVEST IN THESE HARD DECISIONS THAT YOU'RE HAVING TO MAKE. BUT HE REALIZED THE IMPORTANCE OF LITERACY. HE BUILT LOTS OF LIBRARIES, AND HE FELT THAT THOSE WERE PALACES FOR THE PEOPLE THAT NO MATTER WHAT THEIR SOCIOECONOMIC BACKGROUND WAS, THEY WERE THEY HAD ACCESS, YOU KNOW, ALL THESE THINGS. YOU'VE HEARD SO MANY PEOPLE COMMENT ON ALL THE RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO JUST THE COMMON, EVERYDAY PERSON. AND I FEEL LIKE YOUR RETURN ON INVESTMENT IN THE LIBRARY IS PRETTY STRONG. YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE THAT GO IN THERE. IT'S A SAFE THIRD SPACE, JUST LIKE WITH YOUR PARKS AND REC. I MEAN, WE COULD GET STARTED ON THAT, TOO. BUT I'M HERE MOSTLY JUST TO TALK ABOUT THE LIBRARY. AND I FEEL LIKE YOUR RETURN ON INVESTMENT IS, YOU KNOW, TREMENDOUS WITH THE LIBRARY. I FEEL LIKE IT. THEY BENEFIT SO MANY DIFFERENT PEOPLE AND THEY TRULY ARE THE PALACES FOR THE PEOPLE, PEOPLE THAT ESPECIALLY WITH THE WAY THE ECONOMIC SITUATION IS RIGHT NOW AND IT'S JUST GETTING TOUGHER. [00:55:06] SO THEY MIGHT NOT HAVE INTERNET AT HOME, WHERE ARE THEY GOING TO GO TO APPLY FOR A JOB? OR A STUDENT MAY HAVE TO DO HOMEWORK? AND WHERE, WHERE ARE THEY GOING TO GO TO DO THEIR HOMEWORK, TO LOOK UP THAT THING THAT THEY NEED FOR CLASS? OR ARE THEY GOING TO DO THAT IF THEY DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THE LIBRARY? SO I FEEL LIKE LIBRARIES, DEFINITELY. I MEAN, YOU LOOK AT THAT AND I MEAN, IT'S VERY DAUNTING. AND YOU'VE HAD A VERY DIFFICULT TASK AND I CAN APPRECIATE THAT. BUT THE LIBRARY IS TRULY NEEDED. AND I JUST, YOU KNOW, IF THERE ARE OTHER OTHER CONSIDERATIONS THAT YOU CAN, YOU, YOU KNOW, ALLUDED TO THE FACT THAT SOME OTHER THINGS WERE ON THE TABLE. AND I FEEL LIKE ACCESS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO, YOU KNOW, BE ABLE TO KEEP THAT SIXTH DAY. AND JUST IF THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT YOU COULD CONSIDER RATHER THAN, YOU KNOW, HAVING US CLOSE THAT DAY. YOU KNOW, I FEEL LIKE THAT WOULD BE A GOOD CONSIDERATION. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. I'M KIRA INMAN 32401. EVERY SINGLE TIME I GO INTO THE LIBRARY, THERE ARE FULL OF PEOPLE AND CHILDREN. THEY'RE ALWAYS BUSY AND BEING UTILIZED. AND THIS IS WHAT I'VE SEEN WITH MY OWN EYES AND MY OWN EXPERIENCE AS A YOUNG SINGLE MOTHER. I'VE UTILIZED THE LIBRARY EXTREMELY OFTEN SINCE I BECAME ONE. THE LIBRARY OFFERS A WIDE VARIETY OF DIGITAL, PHYSICAL, AND COMMUNITY SERVICE FAR BEYOND TRADITIONAL BOOK LENDING. FOR EXAMPLE, AUDIOBOOKS, DVDS, INTERLOAN LIBRARY, FREE EBOOKS AND MAGAZINES, INTERNET USAGE, ACCESS TO COPYING, PRINTING, SCANNING AND FAX MACHINES, EARLY LEARNING PROGRAMS, SEED BANKS FOR GARDENERS, COMMUNITY CLUBS FOR EVERY AGE GROUP AND THING THAT YOU CAN THINK OF. FOR EXAMPLE, BABIES AND TODDLER TIME LEGO BUILDING, BOOK CLUBS, SEWING CLUBS AND EVENTS CLASSES YOU CAN ATTEND TO LEARN NEW THINGS OR GUEST SPEAKERS. IT SERVES AS A MEANINGFUL PLACE. THEY DO MONTHLY MEETING PLACE. THEY DO MONTHLY MUSEUM AND ART EXHIBITS THAT HIGHLIGHT OUR LOCAL HISTORY AND ARTISTS. AND IT'S A WONDERFUL PLACE THAT OFFERS WAY TO IMPORT IMPORTANT TO RESEARCH IMPORTANT THINGS LIKE GENEALOGY. LIBRARIES ALSO HAVE A WIDE RANGE OF SPECIALIZED SERVICES, ACCESSIBLE COLLECTIONS, AND ACCOMMODATIONS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN AN ERA OF AI. WHY WOULD WE WANT TO FURTHER LIMIT ACCESS TO THE FUNDAMENTAL THINGS THAT MAKE THAT HUMANITY HAS ALWAYS DEPENDED ON ON TO PROGRESS AND EVOLVE LIKE THE WRITTEN LANGUAGE AND LIKE THE SACRED INSTITUTES THAT HOUSE AND PRESERVE NOT ONLY OUR NATION'S HISTORY, BUT THE WORLD'S HISTORY FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. EACH WRITTEN BOOK IS A TESTAMENT TO OUR HISTORY AND COLLECTIVE INFORMATION AND HUMAN EXPERIENCE. IN A WORLD WHERE OUR STUDENTS ARE USING CHATGPT TO DO SCHOOL ASSIGNMENTS, HAVING ACCESS TO THESE INSTITUTIONS AND THE WONDERFUL PEOPLE THAT RUN THEM IS IMPERATIVE TO COMBATING THIS TREND AMONG OUR CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS. READING AND WRITING ARE FUNDAMENTAL SKILLS THAT ARE NECESSARY TO BE AN ACCESSIBLE, A SUCCESSFUL AS AN ADULT, ESPECIALLY IN A SOCIETY WHERE AI APPS ARE FACTUALLY INCORRECT. MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, ANYWHERE FROM 45 TO 60% TO BE EXACT. IF THE LIBRARIES ARE DEFUNDED, NOT ONLY WILL THAT TAKE AWAY FROM VALUABLE RESOURCES EXTENDED TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT SINGLE MOTHERS, CHILDREN, DISABLED PEOPLE, AND POOR PEOPLE DEPEND ON, BUT YOU WILL ALSO BE TAKING VALUABLE EMPLOYMENT AWAY FROM LOCAL PEOPLE THAT DEPEND ON IT TO PAY THEIR BILLS. AND THESE ARE PUBLIC SERVANTS THAT YOU WILL BE TAKING JOBS FROM LOCAL PEOPLE THAT ARE INVALUABLE TO THE COMMUNITY. HISTORICALLY, LIBRARIANS HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY IMPORTANT NOT ONLY TO OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY, BUT TO THE NATION AS A WHOLE AS WELL. TAKE, FOR INSTANCE, THE PACK HORSE LIBRARY PROJECT IN 1935. I'LL HAVE YOU KNOW THAT WRITING AN ESSAY AND MAKING THAT MAKES LOGICAL SENSE AND GETS MY POINT ACROSS WITHOUT, I MIGHT ADD. ALL WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY COOKING BREAKFAST AND CHASING AFTER A ONE YEAR OLD TODDLER IS NO EASY FEAT, BUT I ACQUIRED THE SKILLS TO BE ABLE TO DO SO, THOUGH THROUGH ENGLISH TEACHERS AND THE WONDERFUL PEOPLE THAT ARE EMPLOYED AT LIBRARIES THAT MAKE REAL LIFE HUMAN AVAILABILITY AND ACCESSIBLE TO THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT NOT MIGHT HAVE THE PHYSICAL ABILITY, THE HELP LIKE ME OR THE MONEY TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD THEM. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION IN THIS MATTER TODAY. THANK YOU. [01:00:05] HI, MY NAME IS KIERNAN BAUCUS AND I LIVE IN 3808 EAST FOURTH COURT 3241. I'M JUST HERE TO BE A VOICE AMONG MANY. I DON'T HAVE LIKE FACTS OR DATES. BUT I DO WANT TO SAY THAT THE LIBRARY CAN'T BE THE PLACE THAT WE CUT FROM BECAUSE OF HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO THE COMMUNITY. I'M A MOM OF TWO AND I TAKE COLLEGE CLASSES. I CAN'T AFFORD A COMPUTER AT HOME. SO THE LIBRARY IS WHERE I DO ALL OF MY ASSIGNMENTS. AND IF SOMETHING IS DUE AND THE LIBRARY IS CLOSED, I GET A ZERO. MY DAUGHTER IS A PART OF A LOT OF THE COMMUNITY PROGRAMS THERE. SHE HAS TROUBLE FITTING IN AT SCHOOL BECAUSE OF HER ADHD AND AUTISM. AND THE LIBRARY IS ONE OF THE ONLY PLACES THAT SHE'S BEEN ABLE TO MAKE FRIENDS AND FEEL INCLUDED. AND I JUST, I JUST WANTED TO ASK IF WE CAN JUST RECONSIDER. THERE'S GOT TO BE ANOTHER WAY. THERE ARE CHILDREN WHO REALLY DEPEND ON THIS AND ADULTS AS WELL. BUT JUST TO BE, AGAIN, A VOICE AMONG ALL THAT YOU'VE HEARD TONIGHT, TO SAY THAT THERE HAS GOT TO BE OTHER PLACES IN THE BUDGET, THAT $17,000 CAN COME FROM THAT ONE DAY A WEEK, THAT CUTTING AN HOUR OR TWO SHORT, IT. IT REALLY DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN MY WHOLE DEGREE AND MY DAUGHTER'S COMMUNITY LIFE. SHE WOULDN'T HAVE FRIENDS IF SHE DIDN'T HAVE THOSE PROGRAMS. AND IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT KIDS GROWING UP. SO I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ASK YOU ALL AS PUBLIC SERVANTS, TO REALLY THINK ABOUT THE PUBLIC THAT YOU'RE SERVING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SHE'S ALSO A SCHOOL NURSE. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK? YES. PLEASE DO. I'M DOCTOR JOHN HALEY AT 601 CACTUS AVENUE. I HAD NO PLANS TO SAY ANYTHING, BUT I'M GOING TO COME DOWN AND SAY SOMETHING ANYWAY. I'M A PUBLIC EDUCATOR AND I'M A RETIRED HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SCHOOLS. I'M RUNNING FOR SCHOOL BOARD, AND I SHOULD BE ADVOCATING SOLELY FOR THE K-12 STUDENTS WHO ARE INVOLVED IN EDUCATION. BUT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THESE STUDENTS HERE WHO ARE HOME SCHOOLED IN 2022. WE HAVE 459 HOME SCHOOL STUDENTS. FAST FORWARD TO 2026. WE HAVE OVER 2000 HOME SCHOOL STUDENTS. SO THE POPULATION OF THOSE STUDENTS WHO ARE BEING HOME SCHOOLED IS INCREASING. I THINK IT'S A BAD IDEA TO DECREASE THE SERVICES THAT THOSE STUDENTS WOULD NEED. MY CHILD WHEN HE WAS GROWING UP. OF COURSE, HE'S A PRODUCT OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND ON SATURDAY, I WOULD ALWAYS BRING HIM TO THE PUBLIC LIBRARY AND I WOULD ALWAYS TELL MY CHILDREN WHEN I WAS PRINCIPAL AT ARNOLD HIGH SCHOOL, IF YOU READ, YOU WILL SUCCEED. I MADE THAT ANNOUNCEMENT EVERY SINGLE MORNING ON THE PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT. IF YOU READ, YOU WILL SUCCEED. SO I TOOK MY SON OFTENTIMES ON SATURDAYS TO THE PUBLIC LIBRARY. MY SON NOW IS THE CHIEF LEGISLATIVE OFFICER FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. AND NOT ONLY THAT, HE IS THE CHIEF OF A LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA FOR FOR DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. I'M GOING TO SHARE WITH YOU, AND I THINK THAT IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT WE UNDERSTAND THAT IS A VERY, VERY IMPORTANT RESOURCE. AND I THINK WHY THE POPULATION WHO DESPERATELY NEEDS THAT IS INCREASING. I THINK IT'S A DISSERVICE TO DECREASE WHAT IS AVAILABLE IN THOSE KIDS CAN HAVE OVER THERE. THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. GOD BLESS. THANK YOU. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK? MY NAME IS HANNAH KENYA. MY ZIP CODE IS 32401. I WORK IN THE LOCAL HISTORY ROOM IN THE LIBRARY. SO OBVIOUSLY HISTORY IS VERY IMPORTANT. BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT. I KNOW CERTAINLY ALL OF YOU AND EVERYBODY BEHIND ME IS INFURIATED EVERY TIME YOU'RE TRYING TO DO RESEARCH AND YOU GET A PAYWALL FOR YOUR OVERWHELMED BY ADS EVERYWHERE. [01:05:04] EVERYONE'S TRYING TO SELL YOU SOMETHING. THE LIBRARY IS NOT AND IT NEVER WILL. IT NEVER HAS. SO TO CUT THE FUNDING FOR SOMETHING THAT'S FREE TO THE COMMUNITY, LIKE ONE OF THE ONLY FREE SERVICES FOR INFORMATION IT'S A LITTLE ABSURD TO ME. BUT I JUST WANT TO READ FROM THIS. IT'S THE PANAMA CITY PILOT FROM NOVEMBER 20TH, 1913. WHEN THEY WERE TRYING TO START A LIBRARY, THIS WAS BEFORE WE EVER HAD ONE IN BAY COUNTY. AND THIS IS WHAT THE COMMUNITY HAD TO SAY ABOUT LIBRARIES AND THEIR BENEFITS. SO A COMMUNITY WHICH DOES NOT MAINTAIN A PUBLIC LIBRARY LACKS ONE OF THE NECESSARY ELEMENTS OF A COMPLETE MODERN EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM. A WELL EQUIPPED PUBLIC LIBRARY FURNISHES MEANS WHEREBY THOSE WHO HAVE LEFT THE SCHOOL BEFORE FINISHING THE. THE COURSE MAY CONTINUE AND STUDY. SOCIETY IS REQUIRED TO EDUCATE THE MAN OF 40 JUST AS MUCH AS THE BOY OF FIVE. THE PUBLIC LIBRARY IS AN ADULT SCHOOL. IT IS A PERPETUAL AND LIFELONG CONTINUATION CLASS. IT IS THE GREATEST EDUCATIONAL FACTOR THAT WE HAVE. THERE IS NO WAY IN WHICH A COMMUNITY CAN MORE BENEFIT ITSELF THAN IN THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A LIBRARY WHICH SHALL BE FREE TO ALL CITIZENS. THE LIBRARIES HELP WORKERS TO DO THEIR WORK. THE LIBRARY FURNISHES REST, RELIEF AND RECREATION FOR TIRED WORKERS. IT HELPS MAKE INTELLIGENT CITIZENS. THE LIBRARY IS MORE DEMOCRATIC THAN ANY OTHER INSTITUTION IN THE CITY. BY ITS COOPERATIVE PRINCIPLE, THE LIBRARY MAKES $1 DO THE WORK OF MANY. SO I GUESS GIVE US ENOUGH DOLLARS TO DO THE WORK OF MANY DOLLARS. THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. THANK YOU. DO NOT FOLLOW DIRECTIONS. SORRY. SO MY NAME IS KELSEY RANTANEN. I LIVE AT 1915 HICKORY AVENUE IN PANAMA CITY, FLORIDA. I'M SURE YOU GUYS HAVE HEARD ALL ABOUT THE LIBRARY. I CAN SAY, AS THE MOTHER OF A VERY, VERY ACTIVE SIX YEAR OLD, WE GO TO THE LIBRARY A LOT, ESPECIALLY DURING THIS VERY HOT SUMMER. I'D ALSO LIKE TO SPEAK OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT. I AM CONCERNED BY THE AMOUNT OF CUTS OR DELAYS, AND HOPEFULLY JUST DELAYS IN REPAIRS AND ALL OF THE PROJECTS THAT ARE DONE AT THESE PARKS. I TAKE MY DAUGHTER TO MANY OF THEM SO THAT SHE CAN RUN OFF ALL OF THAT SIX YEAR OLD ENERGY, AND SO THAT SHE'S NOT RUNNING IN THE STREETS DRIVING Y'ALL CRAZY. I ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT HOW IMPORTANT I THINK THE VETERANS SERVICES DEPARTMENT IS. MY HUSBAND HAS SERVED IN THE MILITARY AND HE HAS ALSO BEEN A DEFENSE CONTRACTOR. WE HAVE MANY FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS WHO HAVE SERVED IN THESE ROLES, AND WE REALIZE HOW CRITICAL AND IMPORTANT IT IS TO HAVE THE VETERANS SERVICES DEPARTMENT HELP NAVIGATE THE BUREAUCRACY OF THE FEDERAL VETERANS DEPARTMENT OR VETERANS AFFAIRS. I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT I LOVE OUR IFAS AND EXTENSION OFFICE. WE ARE A MIDSIZE CITY OR MIDSIZE COUNTY, BUT WE ALSO HAVE A LOT OF RURAL AREAS. FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HOMESTEAD UP IN THE SANDHILLS AND FOUNTAIN AREA. AND I THINK THAT THE MASTER GARDENERS, ALL OF THE AGRICULTURAL CLASSES THAT ARE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE EXTENSION OFFICE ALSO GENERATE A LOT OF ASSISTANCE. AS SOMEONE WHO'S TAKEN THE I CAN'T REMEMBER THE NAME OF THE COURSE. I'D LIKE TO BUY A HOUSE SOON, EVENTUALLY WITH MY HUSBAND AND WE TOOK ONE OF THE CLASSES THAT IS OFFERED THROUGH THE IFAS EXTENSION OFFICE AND WE DID IT IN PERSON AND IT WAS VERY HELPFUL. THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY BECAUSE I'M RUNNING OUT OF THOUGHTS AND I'M A LITTLE EMBARRASSED NOW. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO. I DO HOPE IN THE FUTURE AMENDMENT THREE WILL NOT PASS AND I HOPE THAT YOU GUYS ARE ABLE TO OFFER AN ALTERNATIVE BUDGET PLAN THAT WILL TAKE INTO ACCOUNT ALL OF THE PROPOSED CHANGES THAT YOU HAVE. THANK YOU AND HAVE A GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? I DIDN'T COME HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE LIBRARY, BUT I FEEL LIKE I NEED YOU. SIR, YOU'VE ALREADY SPOKEN ONCE, SO I CAN'T TALK ABOUT THE LIBRARY. NO, SIR. IT'S. [01:10:02] WE HAD A CHANCE TO SPEAK FOR THIS. OH, OKAY. WELL, I APPRECIATE IT, BUT WE WILL SPEAK WITH YOU AFTER AFTER THE MEETING, IF YOU'D LIKE TO GET YOUR THOUGHTS. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? ALL RIGHT. SEEING NONE, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO THE REGULAR AGENDA. MIRANDA. YES. I WOULD LIKE TO READ THESE MILLAGE RATES ONE MORE TIME, AND THEN YOU CAN HAVE ANY DISCUSSION YOU NEED. MAKE A MOTION. AND THEN AFTER THAT WE WILL MOVE INTO THE BUDGET PORTION OF THE PRESENTATION. THE PROPOSED AGGREGATE MILLAGE RATE IS ABOVE THE AGGREGATE ROLLBACK RATE BY 1.91%. GENERAL FUND IS 5.4362 MILLS. MOSQUITO CONTROL IS 0.2000. MILLS. MSTU FIRE SERVICES IS 1.3800 MILLS. THE TOTAL MILLAGE RATE FOR THE COUNTY IS 7.0162. THE TOTAL AGGREGATE MILLAGE RATE IS 6.1191, AND THE AGGREGATE ROLLBACK RATE IS 6.0046. AND AS I SAID, THESE ARE THE MILLAGE RATES. AND PLEASE HAVE ANY DISCUSSION NEEDED AND MAKE A MOTION FOR ANY MILLAGE RATES YOU PLAN TO APPROVE. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION FROM THE BOARD? THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED, RIGHT? YES. OKAY. I GUESS I'LL GO. FIRST OF ALL. THANK YOU. I HAVE SAT UP HERE THE LONGEST OUT OF ALL OF US FOR AND BEEN FORTUNATE TO SIT UP HERE. AND THIS CROWD TONIGHT IS PROBABLY THE OVER THOSE TEN YEARS, IF YOU ADDED UP ALL THOSE PEOPLE, YOU ALL HAVE MORE HERE TONIGHT THAN IN ALL THOSE YEARS ADDED TOGETHER. SO NO ONE COMES TO THESE HEARINGS. SO WE ARE GRATEFUL TO SEE ALL THESE SMILING FACES. WE CAN ALL TELL THAT YOU GO TO THE LIBRARY BECAUSE YOU'RE ALL ELEGANT SPEAKERS. IT'S ALMOST INTIMIDATING FOR OUR PART BECAUSE YOU ALL ARE VERY, WELL, COMMUNICATIVE. IT'S A. IT'S REFRESHING TO SEE. THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING. WE UNDERSTAND THE PASSION. WE KNOW THE PASSION. I'M SPEAKING JUST MY THOUGHTS, MY MIND. EVERYONE ELSE WILL HAVE THE SAME OPPORTUNITY. NOBODY WANTS TO SEE THE LIBRARY CLOSED. THAT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR. NO ONE IS TRYING TO TAKE AWAY PROGRAMS. MY WIFE AND I, WE ARE. WE'RE STILL RAISING TWO DAUGHTERS. ONE OF THEM IS A SENIOR AT MOSELY. SHE, MATTER OF FACT, IS IN A RESEARCH CLASS, SO HER ONE CLASS IS NOTHING BUT RESEARCH. SO SHE, SHE CHOSE THAT CLASS. AND SO THEREFORE SHE USED THE LIBRARY QUITE A BIT. ONE OF THE PROGRAMS THAT WE USED TO COME ALL THE TIME, BOTH OF MY GIRLS WENT THROUGH TOOK PIANO LESSONS FROM MISS TANYA AND ALL THE RECITALS WERE IN THE LIBRARY. SO WE'VE SPENT MANY HOURS IN THE LIBRARY. WE LOVE THE LIBRARY. AS FAR AS, AS YOU SEE FROM OUR BUDGET, I BROUGHT BOTH OF MY BUDGET HEARINGS. I LOVE NUMBERS AND LOVE BUDGETS, BUT WE STARTED THIS PROCESS. OUR FIRST BOOKS WERE GIVEN TO US IN JUNE. THAT'S WHERE WE START. AND THAT'S THE BIG WISH LIST. THAT'S WHERE WE START FROM HERE. NOW I'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO WHITTLE IT AWAY. YOU KNOW, YOU'RE GETTING READY TO GO ON YOUR VACATION. YOU'RE GOING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO GO EAT WHAT YOU CAN DO BECAUSE YOU ONLY HAVE SO MUCH MONEY. SO THIS WE HAVE TO TAKE OUR BUDGET. WHAT CAN WE AFFORD? WHAT CAN WE DO? AS YOU HEARD, PARKS AND REC THERE'S A COUPLE OF MILLION DOLLARS CUT OUT OF THAT. UNFORTUNATELY. I'M A BIG SPORTS GUY. I LOVE MY SPORTS COMPLEXES, BUT THERE ARE CUTS THAT WE HAVE TO, TO MAKE THAT WE'RE DOING THE LIBRARY, WE JUST, IT WOULD HAVE SAVED. I'M GLAD YOU ALL SPOKE, BUT EARLIER THIS WEEK, WE FOUND OUT THAT THERE'S A POTENTIAL ORGANIZATION, NOT ORGANIZATION, BUT I GUESS SOME, SOME STAFFING AND THROUGH ATTRITION AND THROUGH SOME, SOME VACANT POSITIONS BEING UNFILLED, WE CAN USE THOSE NUMBERS TO KEEP THE LIBRARY OPEN THE SAME AMOUNT OF DAYS. SO I DON'T, I DON'T THINK IN MY OPINION, THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE AN ISSUE AT ALL. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN COME BACK AT NEXT MEETING, TWO MEETINGS. HOWEVER, WE GO THROUGH ALL THAT, IF WE AGREE TO IT, THAT WE CAN ADJUST THOSE NUMBERS, WE CAN JUST DO A BUDGET AMENDMENT. WE DO THOSE ALL THE TIME. IF WE SIT HERE AND AND CRUNCH ALL THESE NUMBERS AND ALL THAT, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE TWO MORE PUBLIC HEARINGS. YOU ALL HAVE TO COME BACK FOR TWO MORE WEDNESDAYS OR TUESDAYS AND COME JOIN US. SO BUT I DON'T THINK ANYONE WANTS TO SEE THE LIBRARY CLOSED, BUT WITH THAT NEW INFORMATION, WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT IN JUNE OR JULY OR AUGUST OR SEPTEMBER. WELL, WE GOT IT NOW, BUT I THINK THERE IS THAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT. AMENDMENT THREE, IF IT GOT PASSED, IT WOULDN'T TAKE EFFECT UNTIL NEXT YEAR. IT'S NOT A SCARE TACTIC. THESE ARE JUST THE REALITY. I MEAN, EVERYONE HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH. AND I KNOW YOU'RE ALL GOING TO DO YOUR RESEARCH. I'VE PROVEN IT HERE TONIGHT. AND GRATEFUL FOR THAT. BUT I THINK THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR, FOR THE HOURS THAT THAT'S NOT IMPACTED BASED ON THE NEW INFORMATION THAT WE HEARD THIS WEEK BASED ON THE [01:15:01] SO ANYWAY, I APPRECIATE THE PASSION. I APPRECIATE ALL Y'ALL BEING HERE TONIGHT. THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS FOR NOW. AND I'M SORRY I WAS THE ONE TO JUMP OUT FIRST. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? YEAH, I AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER CARROLL. WE CAN ALWAYS DO A BUDGET AMENDMENT. I HAVE A 13 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER. I HAD A STAY AT HOME WIFE WHO'S IN THIS CROWD, WHO HOME SCHOOLED FOR A LONG TIME OR STAYED HOME WITH OUR DAUGHTER FOR TEN YEARS. SO WE UTILIZE THE LIBRARY A LOT. STILL DO STUDY FOR MY REAL ESTATE LICENSE IN THAT LIBRARY. ALMOST GOT INTO AN ALTERCATION ONE TIME WITH THE GENTLEMAN TEARING PAGES OUT OF A BOOK. I KNOW THE YOUNG LADY BACK HERE IN THE ORANGE. ME AND HER, WE'VE HAD SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS. THEY DO GOOD WORK, AND NO ONE WANTS TO GET RID OF YOUR LIBRARY. IT'S OUR LIBRARY, TOO. AND SO THERE CAN ALWAYS BE AN AMENDMENT DONE IN THE FUTURE. BUT THESE ARE REAL, REAL DECISIONS COMING AT YOU AND US. AND IT'S NOTHING WE CAN RUN FROM IF WE DON'T PREPARE FOR THIS. IT'S NO DIFFERENT THAN NOT PREPARING FOR A HURRICANE. THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE COME AND LOOK AT. IT'S A HURRICANE. AND IF WE DON'T GET READY FOR THIS, GUYS, WE HAVE TO LOOK AT SOME HARD CHOICES HERE AND THESE CHOICES IN FRONT OF YOU. MIRANDA, IF YOU'LL PULL THAT BACK UP ON THIS SCREEN, YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE FIRST PORTION. I'LL BE GETTING EVERYTHING YOU SEE IN DARK. WE ARE OBLIGATED TO PAY THIS. THERE IS NO CHOICE. THIS COMES DIRECTLY OUT OF THAT, $164 MILLION IS 141.7. AND WE'RE LEFT WITH 22 MILLION BUCKS. THAT'S WHAT WE'VE GOT. AND TO FUND ALL THE PROGRAMS THAT WE ALL UTILIZE LIBRARIES, PARKS, REC, BRIDGES, ENGINEERING, YOUR ROADS, PAVING TRANSIT, VETERAN SERVICES, EDA CONTRIBUTIONS, AND THE EXTENSION OFFICE, WHO I LOVE GOING TO. I LIKE GARDENING, SO I ENJOY THOSE SERVICES. BUT THESE ARE ALL REAL CONVERSATIONS. AND THIS ISN'T FLUFF. THIS ISN'T A SCARE TACTIC. THIS IS REALITY. AND IT'S SOMETHING THIS STAFF HAS WORKED ON COUNTLESS HOURS. I CAN TELL YOU MIRANDA AND STACEY AND JOEL AND KEITH AND EVERYONE HERE HAVE WORKED THEIR HIND ENDS OFF AND TRYING TO FIX THIS AND GET THIS WHERE WE CAN. BUT THIS IS A REALITY. SO THAT BEING SAID, I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF CUTTING THE LIBRARY. I THINK THERE'S ANOTHER DISCUSSION. BUT TONIGHT WE WILL GO FORWARD AND WE'LL HAVE TO COME BACK IF WE DO. IF THIS BOARD DECIDES TO DO AN AMENDMENT, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT CAN BE DONE. BUT I DON'T WANT TO SEE YOUR LIBRARY GO AWAY. I LOVE YOUR LIBRARY, I ENJOY IT, MY DAUGHTER ENJOYS IT. AND I APPRECIATE YOU ALL BEING HERE. TO COMMISSIONERS CAROL'S POINT, WE'VE NEVER SEEN THIS MANY PEOPLE HERE, AND IT'S ALWAYS REFRESHING TO HAVE YOU COME TO THESE MEETINGS AND PARTAKE IN YOUR GOVERNMENT. SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. SO I HAVE THANK YOU. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO EVERYONE HERE. ALSO IT'S REFRESHING TO SEE PEOPLE GET INVOLVED, TO CARE, ESPECIALLY ABOUT SOMETHING SO PASSIONATELY AS YOU, AS YOU ALL DO. AND I'M IN AGREEMENT WITH THE TWO COMMISSIONERS THAT HAVE ALREADY SPOKEN. NO ONE HERE WANTS TO SEE THE LIBRARY CLOSED, AND I'M HAPPY TO SEE THAT THERE IS A POTENTIAL SOLUTION TO THAT SIXTH DAY TO KEEPING THAT IN THERE. AND I BELIEVE THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. BUT THANK YOU FOR COMING OUT. THANK YOU FOR BEING A PART OF THIS PROCESS. AND I AND AS COMMISSIONER RAPHAEL JUST SAID, WE WENT TO EVERY DEPARTMENT IN THE COUNTY AND SAID, TAKE A HARD LOOK AT YOUR BUDGET. WE'VE GOT WE'VE GOT TO TRIM SOME OFF. WE'VE GOT TO GET READY. WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR COUNTY IS POISED FOR WHAT'S COMING OR MAY NOT BE COMING. AND IF IT'S NOT COMING, ALL THE BETTER FOR IT. WE JUST HAVE TO BE READY. SO JUST WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME, WE APPRECIATE YOUR PASSION, AND WE'RE GLAD THAT YOU CAME OUT TONIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THIS IS MY SIXTH AND MY FINAL BUDGET PROCESS. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE LEANED INTO, ONE GENTLEMAN TALKED ABOUT RAISING THE MILS A COUPLE YEARS BACK. ONE OF THE REASONS WHY THE MILLS WAS RAISED WAS ACTUALLY SOMETHING THAT MISTER JONES SPOKE ABOUT, WHICH WAS PUBLIC SAFETY. WE ARE A GROWING COMMUNITY. WE'RE NOW OVER 200,000 CITIZENS IN THE COUNTY. AFTER HURRICANE MICHAEL, WE WERE AT A AROUND 170,000. SO WE'VE GROWN DRAMATICALLY. AND FROM A PUBLIC SAFETY STANDPOINT, IT'S BEEN ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I HAVE PRESSED ON FOR THE ENTIRE SIX YEARS I'VE BEEN UP HERE ON THIS, LOOKING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'VE GOT THE STAFFING, WE'VE GOT THE EQUIPMENT AND BEING ABLE TO DO THOSE THINGS. ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS I FOCUSED ON IS WHAT'S UP IN FOUNTAIN AND THE COMPLEX THAT'S BEING BUILT, BOTH THE STATION AS WELL AS THAT, THE COMPLEX THERE. AND THEN THE SPORTS PARK IN SOUTHPORT. ONE OF THE THINGS INSIDE OF THIS THAT I KNOW YOU'RE HEARING US ALL TALK AND WE'RE SAYING WE APPRECIATE Y'ALL COMING AND ENGAGING AND Y'ALL ARE THEN WONDERING, OKAY, BUT WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO? [01:20:01] ONE OF THE THINGS I HOPE THAT YOU HEARD EVERYBODY SAY IS. THIS PROCESS BEGAN IN JUNE WITH INFORMATION AND DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WE HAVE. THERE ARE HARD CONVERSATIONS THAT HAVE TO COME THROUGH ALL OF THESE THINGS, AND THERE IS LIMITED RESOURCES. YOU ALL TALK ABOUT HOW COSTS HAVE INCREASED FOR Y'ALL. PLEASE UNDERSTAND THOSE SAME COSTS HAVE INCREASED FOR US. FOR US TO BE ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLES ON THE ROAD, TO BE ABLE TO SERVICE AND DO THE THINGS WE GOT TO DO. WE HAVE THOSE SAME COSTS. WE HAVE TO PAY HEALTH INSURANCE FOR OUR OWN EMPLOYEES AND DIFFERENT THINGS ALONG THOSE ENDS. IT'S NOT ALWAYS EASY. AND AS WE TALKED ABOUT GOING THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS, WE TALK ABOUT WE ARE LEANING UPON OUR STAFF TO GIVE US THE INFORMATION TO GO FORWARD AND BE ABLE TO DO THOSE THINGS. WE ARE AT THE LAST MEETING, AND OUR BUDGET BEGINS IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS ON, IN THE BEGINNING OF OCTOBER. THAT'S THAT'S WHEN OUR NEW SEASON STARTS, FOR LACK OF A BETTER WAY OF SAYING IT. AND SO FROM THAT, APPRECIATE WHAT YOU ALL HAVE SHARED. PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT NONE OF US HAVE TAKEN WHAT YOU ALL HAVE SHARED LIGHTLY. I'VE GOT MY NOTES UP HERE FROM WHAT EACH ONE OF Y'ALL HAVE SAID, WHAT MY TAKEAWAYS ARE, WHAT I'M GOING TO BE DISCUSSING WITH STAFF AFTERWARDS. ONE OF THE THINGS INSIDE OF THAT IS WE HAVE TO MOVE IN A CERTAIN WAY BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE SUNSHINE LAW WORKS AND THE WAY THAT WE HAVE TO BUDGET THINGS. Y'ALL PROBABLY AREN'T GOING TO LIKE THE WAY THE NEXT COUPLE OF THINGS ARE GOING TO FLOW. I ASK THAT Y'ALL JUST PAY ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT Y'ALL SPOKE. AND I KNOW THIS IS A STRETCH BECAUSE IT DOESN'T REALLY EXIST TO ME MUCH ANYMORE. AND IT'S PART OF THE REASON WHY I'M NOT I DIDN'T RUN FOR REELECTION IS THERE'S NO TRUST ANYMORE. I REALLY FEEL AND I APPRECIATE THE GENEROSITY WITH WHICH Y'ALL SPOKE TO US. AND NORMALLY THAT COMES WITH A LOT MORE HEAT TOWARDS US AND AN AUTOMATIC ASSUMPTION THAT WE ARE EVIL AND WE ARE. I'M JUST GOING TO GO AHEAD AND SAY IT. I'M NOT RUNNING FOR REELECTION FOR ANYTHING EVER AGAIN. WE GET TREATED LIKE WE'RE THE DEVIL, AND WE DO. EVERYBODY COMES AT US WITH A LOT OF VENOM, AND FROM THAT, FORGET THAT WE HAVE TAKEN FROM OUR FAMILY AND OTHERS TO TRY TO SERVE THIS COMMUNITY IN ANOTHER WAY AND TRY TO DO WHAT WE THINK BEST. ONE OF THE REASONS WHY IRAN WAS Y'ALL, Y'ALL TALK ABOUT THE RESERVE POLICY. THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS IMPORTANT TO ME. WE DID NOT HAVE GOOD RESERVES AT THE COUNTY. IF ANOTHER HURRICANE HAD HIT, WE WOULD BE SUBSTANTIALLY IN TROUBLE. AND SO THAT'S ONE OF THE FOCUSES. AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT Y'ALL TALK ABOUT WITH THE RESERVE IS THAT, WELL, THE RESERVE IS ALSO IF WE GET HIT BY ANOTHER MICHAEL, ARE WE GOING TO HAVE THE FUNDS TO BE ABLE TO PAY IT? WHAT Y'ALL DON'T SEE IN HERE AND WHAT Y'ALL MIGHT NOT HAVE PAID ATTENTION TO. JOEL, WHAT IS IT? WE STILL HAVE 100 MILLION OUTSTANDING IN LOANS FROM HURRICANE MICHAEL. YES, WE'VE GOT 100 MILLION. WE'VE GOT TO PAY INTEREST ON THAT 100 MILLION. THAT'S ANOTHER THING WE'RE CARRYING BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN ALL OF OUR REIMBURSEMENTS BACK FROM THE GOVERNMENT AND EVERYTHING. SO THERE ARE MULTIPLE LAYERS TO WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH HERE. AND HEAR ME WHEN I SAY THAT I'M NOT TRYING TO MAKE LIGHT IN ANY WAY OF WHAT Y'ALL SAY. PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS LAYER UPON LAYER INSIDE OF THIS BUDGET AND WHAT YOU SEE HERE AND WHERE THESE DIFFERENT THINGS ARE. AND PLEASE, PLEASE TAKE THIS AWAY. YOU HAVE BEEN HEARD. YOU ARE NOT BEING DISMISSED BY WHAT'S ABOUT TO HAPPEN. AND PLEASE DON'T TAKE IT THAT WAY. AND THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT CAN, BUT THAT IS NOT WHAT IS HAPPENING. THAT, AGAIN, AS JOEL SHARED TO BEGIN WITH, IS WHAT ROBERT SHARED IS HE WAS THE FIRST TO SPEAK. THERE IS STAFFING WAYS AND OTHER THINGS THAT CAN BE DONE THAT WILL ADDRESS THE HOURS OF OPERATION IF THINGS CAN BE DONE. THERE ARE THINGS THAT HAVE BE LOOKED AT ON THE BOOKS. I AM A VORACIOUS READER BECAUSE OF HOW BUSY I AM. I CAN'T SIT DOWN WITH A BOOK ANYMORE. I READ ON AVERAGE ABOUT 100 BOOKS A YEAR, WHETHER ITS PHYSICAL OR ITS AUDIO. I AM A PARTICIPANT IN THAT. SO THIS. PLEASE UNDERSTAND THESE THINGS AREN'T TAKEN LIGHTLY BY THE FIVE OF US UP HERE. BUT WE DO APPRECIATE YOU ALL COMING AND SPEAKING TO US. AND I WILL SAY, ENGAGING US WITH RESPECT. IT IS. IT IS APPRECIATED FROM THE STANDPOINT THAT YOU ALL HAD A CONVERSATION WITH US AND IT WASN'T ACCUSATORY. AND I THANK YOU FOR THAT FROM ME PERSONALLY. AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE, MADAM CHAIR. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. I JUST ROBERT HELD HIS HIS BOOKS UP AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN SEE ALL MY TABS ON HERE, BUT THEY GET, I'M SURE, SERIOUS HEARTBURN EVERY TIME I WALK IN WITH MY BUDGET BOOK BECAUSE I HAVE GONE THROUGH EVERY, EVERY SINGLE LINE ITEM AS, AS I THINK MOST EVERYONE UP HERE DOES TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT THE BEST WAY WE CAN SPEND YOUR MONEY. I TOO WAS A SINGLE MOTHER, AS YOU GET THE ONES OF YOU THAT SPOKE. [01:25:01] YOU KNOW, IT'S A TOUGH JOB, REALLY TOUGH JOB. AND MY SON AND I USE THE LIBRARY FOR MANY YEARS. BUT I HAVE LEARNED THAT THE LIBRARY, JUST LIKE EVERY, EVERY BUSINESS, IT'S JUST LIKE ANY OTHER BUSINESS AND IT HAS A BUDGET AND YOU HAVE TO STAY WITHIN THE BUDGET AND SOMETIMES IT HAS TO BE CUT SOME. AND I WISH THAT WHEN WHEN WE SAT DOWN TO GO THROUGH THE BUDGET, MAYBE WE HAD SOME NEW IDEAS TO COME UP WITH FOR THE LIBRARY BECAUSE CUTS HAVE WERE ASKED TO BE MADE IN EVERY DEPARTMENT, NOT JUST THE LIBRARY, BUT EVERY SINGLE DEPARTMENT WE SENT EVEN DOWN TO THE CLERK'S OFFICE. SO IT'S NOT THAT WE'RE NOT LOOKING AT OUR, AT OUR OWN BUDGET WITHIN EVERY SINGLE CATEGORY THAT THERE IS IN THIS COUNTY WITHOUT THE RESERVES BEING FUNDED. WE HAVE ANOTHER MICHAEL WE ARE GOING TO BE IN SOME VERY SERIOUS, SERIOUS TROUBLE. WE WERE LUCKY TO BE ABLE TO GET THIS MONEY, BUT RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A $100 MILLION LOAN THAT WE ARE PAYING INTEREST ONLY ON, WHICH IS THE MOST SIGNIFICANT THING THAT I BELIEVE I CAN SAY TONIGHT. I DON'T EVEN KNOW. MAYBE MIRANDA CAN TELL US ABOUT WHAT THAT COSTS. A MONTH. 4 MILLION. FOUR. 4 MILLION A YEAR. THAT'S INTEREST ONLY. SO WE ARE GETTING READY TO HAVE TO START PAYING PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST. SO THAT IS GOING TO CHANGE THE AMOUNT SIGNIFICANTLY. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE THAT NUMBER ON THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD. I DON'T HAVE THAT NUMBER. IT'S A BIG ONE. OKAY. IF THE INTEREST ONLY IS 4 MILLION, THE INTEREST AND THE PRINCIPAL IS IS HUGE. SO AGAIN, WE SPOKE WITH EVERY EVERY DEPARTMENT. I, I AM HAPPY TO SEE ALL OF YOU HERE, TRULY. AND WE. WE NEEDED TO HEAR FROM YOU. WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU. WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU EVERY TIME, EVEN WHEN IT'S NOT BUDGET TIME. WE'D LOVE FOR YOU TO COME UP AND TALK ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN YOUR, IN YOUR WORLD AT THE LIBRARY OR, OR ANYWHERE ELSE THAT YOU, YOU'RE INTERESTED IN THAT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THIS COUNTY. I AM HAPPY TO SEE YOU ALL. I HAVE ASKED MANY TIMES THAT WE HAVE VOLUNTEERS. IT LOOKS LIKE ALL OF YOU ARE IN LOVE WITH THE LIBRARY, AND MAYBE WOULD BE IN LOVE WITH THE IDEA OF VOLUNTEERING AT THE LIBRARY. WE ALSO I HAVE DISCUSSED WITH EVERYBODY UP HERE FIRE DEPARTMENT VOLUNTEERS, ANIMAL SHELTER VOLUNTEERS. SO IT'S NOT ANYBODY PICKING ON ONE THING. I THINK IT IT MAY BE SOMETHING A LOT OF YOU, FROM JUST LISTENING TO YOU TONIGHT, WOULD BE INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING IN. AND WHEN YOU DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT, IT CHANGES ALL THE NUMBERS AND, AND IT COULD CHANGE THE LIBRARY NUMBERS, EVEN IF WE'RE ABLE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET THE ONE DAY BACK, WHICH, YOU KNOW, IT SOUNDS LIKE SOME THINGS HAVE HAPPENED SINCE THIS BUDGET WENT ON. WE STILL WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME VOLUNTEERS IF YOU'D LIKE TO DO IT. AND MAYBE, YOU KNOW, YOU GET MORE BOOKS, YOU GET BETTER BOOKS, YOU GET SOMETHING DIFFERENT IN THE LIBRARY. WHEN THE NUMBERS CHANGE, IT ALWAYS CHANGES THE MATH IN THE END. I THINK THAT'S REALLY ALL I HAVE TO SAY. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND WE WILL, IF WE HAVE A MOTION. WE'RE INTERESTED IN GETTING ON WITH THE VOTING NOW. MOTION TO APPROVE. I'LL SECOND IT. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. COMMISSIONER REDFIELD. YES, MA'AM. COMMISSIONER CROSBY. YES, MA'AM. COMMISSIONER CARROLL. YES, MA'AM. COMMISSIONER MOORE. YES, MA'AM. CHAIRMAN. PEACE. YES, MA'AM. WE WILL GO INTO MIRANDA AGAIN. REGULAR AGENDA. WE'LL MOVE INTO THE BUDGET PORTION OF OUR PRESENTATION BEFORE YOU, YOU HAVE THE SUMMARY OF FUNDS FOR THE COUNTY. YOU'LL NOTICE THAT THERE IS A 9% INCREASE DOWN THERE IN THE LOWER RIGHT CORNER. THAT INCLUDES TDC FUNDS THAT HAD A LARGE CARRYFORWARD FROM PRIOR YEAR. IF YOU TAKE THE TDC CARRYFORWARDS OUT, THE INCREASE OF THE OVERALL COUNTY IS 3.4%. FOR OUR CAPITAL EQUIPMENT. THE NUMBERS BEFORE YOU ARE FOR EACH TYPE OF FUND. YOU DO HAVE DETAILED LIST IN YOUR BOOKS. AND LIKEWISE FOR THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS. THOSE ARE THE CIP, THE THE IMPACT FEE AND THE REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE PROJECTS FOR EACH OF THE TYPE OF FUNDS. THE AUTHORIZED POSITIONS FOR THE COUNTY WILL BE DECREASING BY THREE POSITIONS IN FY 27. [01:30:02] WE ARE ADDING POSITIONS, BUT THE OVERALL NET IS A DECREASE OF THREE. AND NOW IF YOU WOULD OPEN A PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE BUDGET PORTION OF THE PRESENTATION AND AFTERWARDS HAVE ANY DISCUSSION NEEDED AND ADOPT MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE BUDGET. WE WILL CONCLUDE THIS PORTION OF THE MEETING. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. WE'LL NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING. AND YOU ARE YOU CAN COME BACK AND SPEAK WITH US AGAIN ON THE BUDGET PART OF THIS MEETING. WOULD ANYONE. THERE WE GO. DO I NEED TO RESTATE MYSELF FOR THE RECORD? IT WOULD BE GOOD. OKAY. IF YOU DON'T MIND. AGAIN, MY NAME IS KELSEY RANTANEN. I LIVE IN PANAMA CITY, FLORIDA, 1915 HICKORY AVENUE. I DO WANT TO ASK IF IMPACT FEES WILL BE INCREASED IN THE. ARE THEY EXPECTED TO INCREASE THIS YEAR OR WILL THEY BE WAIVED? I THINK THEY'VE BEEN WAIVED IN YEARS PRIOR, THOUGH. I THINK IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE IT'S HAPPENED. I COULD BE CONFLATING DIFFERENT THINGS AS WELL. WE DON'T REALLY ANSWER THE QUESTIONS FROM HERE, BUT IF YOU WANT TO WAIT AFTER THE MEETING, WE CAN GET WITH MIRANDA AND FIND OUT WHERE WE STAND ON IMPACT FEES. OKAY. THANK YOU. JUST HANG AROUND. JUST HANG AROUND AFTER THE MEETING. THANK YOU. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THE BUDGET PORTION. ALL RIGHT. WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. AND WE ARE OPEN FOR DISCUSSION HERE. ANYONE WHO WANTS TO TALK ON THE BOARD. MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION. AND SECOND, COULD YOU CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE? COMMISSIONER CROSBY? YES, MA'AM. COMMISSIONER CARROLL. YES, MA'AM. COMMISSIONER. RAFAEL. YES, MA'AM. COMMISSIONER MOORE. YES, MA'AM. CHAIRMAN. PEACE. YES, MA'AM. ALL RIGHT. COMMISSIONER. COMMENTS. I'M SORRY, CHAIRMAN, WE HAVE ONE MORE ITEM. OH. YOU'RE RIGHT, I'M SORRY. GO AHEAD. UNDER THE REGULAR AGENDA, WE HAVE THE FY 27 MANDATORY COUNTY FUNDING AND [ FY 2027 Mandatory County Funding & Public Health Services Contracts] PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES CONTRACTS. YOU THEY WERE LISTED ON THE MEMO AND THOSE ARE READY TO BE APPROVED FOR THE FY 27 YEAR. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'M AVAILABLE TO ANSWER THEM. ANY QUESTIONS FOR MIRANDA? NO, MA'AM. MA'AM. IF THIS ISN'T A PUBLIC HEARING SO WE CAN HAVE A MOTION. MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND. MOTION AND A SECOND. COULD YOU CALL ROLL, PLEASE? COMMISSIONER. RAPHAEL. YES, MA'AM. COMMISSIONER CARROLL. YES, MA'AM. COMMISSIONER CROSBY. YES, MA'AM. COMMISSIONER MOORE. YES, MA'AM. CHAIRMAN. PIECE. YES, MA'AM. ALL RIGHT. NOW WE WILL MOVE TO COMMISSIONER COMMENTS. WE'LL START WITH COMMISSIONER MOORE. [COMMISSIONER COMMENTS] YES, MA'AM. PRETTY MUCH SAID IT ALL EARLIER, BUT THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR COMING OUT. APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME. AND AGAIN TO MIRANDA JOEL STAFF. DEPARTMENT HEADS AND EVERYBODY ELSE THAT WAS INVOLVED IN THIS. THANK YOU ALL FOR THE TIME YOU ALL TOOK AND WORKING ON THIS. IT WAS MUCH APPRECIATED. AND THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL. ALL RIGHT. COMMISSIONER CARROLL. YES, MA'AM. AGAIN. THANK YOU ALL. THIS IS GREAT TO HEAR THIS FEEDBACK. I'D LOVE TO SEE THE PASSION. I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO JOEL, FOR THE INFORMATION THAT WE JUST RECENTLY GOT REGARDING THE ATTRITION, VACANT POSITIONS TO LOOK AT THE STAFFING PLAN AND SEE HOW THAT CAN BECAUSE WE'RE NOT MAKING ANY PLANS RIGHT NOW TO CLOSE THE LIBRARY. SO IF WE CAN LOOK AT THOSE NUMBERS AND MAKE SURE THAT ALL THAT STAFFING PLAN WORKS AND ALL THAT CAN BE IMPLEMENTED. SURE. I WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST THAT THE COMMISSION'S PLEASURE THAT WE SCHEDULE THAT FOR THE OCTOBER 20TH MEETING, THE OCTOBER 6TH MEETING, THE AGENDA HAS ALREADY BEEN SET. SO WE COULD BRING YOU THAT INFORMATION AS AN AGENDA ITEM FOR OCTOBER 20TH. THAT'S OKAY. AND WHILE I'VE GOT THE MIC FOR JUST A SECOND, I'D LIKE TO APOLOGIZE. I'VE GOTTEN SEVERAL TEXT MESSAGES THAT THE SOUND IS NOT CONVEYING. SO WE WILL CORRECT THAT AND GET THAT OUT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. AS FAR AS THE SOUND FOR THIS MEETING, THANK YOU. I JUST WANTED AUDIO TO HEAR THAT WE ARE NOW NOW STAFF HAS BEEN DIRECTED FOR US TO LOOK AT THAT THE EVALUATIONS OF THE HOURS. SO THAT WAY COMMISSIONER MOORE SAYS THAT WE WE ARE LETTING YOU KNOW THAT THAT IS BEING DONE. [01:35:04] SO ANYWAY, JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE NOT LEAVING HERE TONIGHT WITH WITHOUT A BUDGET AMENDMENT TONIGHT, BUT IT IS FORTHCOMING FOR ALL THAT TO BE EVALUATED. SO WITH THAT, I THANK YOU ALL. AND THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT AND WELCOME YOU TO COME BACK ANYTIME. COMMISSIONER CROSBY, I HAVE NOTHING ADDITIONAL, MR. CHAIRMAN. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER RAFAEL, DO I NEED TO LEAN INTO THE MIC? MAYBE I'LL DO THIS THING. FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR COMING. IT MEANS MORE TO US THAN, YOU KNOW, SEEING YOU HERE IN THIS MEETING. BECAUSE WE NEED YOUR PARTICIPATION. IF NOVEMBER HAPPENS, YOU WILL NEED TO BE HERE TO TELL US WHAT TO DO. WE WILL NEED YOUR GUIDANCE, SO WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO COME BACK, WATCH OUR MEETINGS, PAY ATTENTION. WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO SO. IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, WE'RE HERE. STAFF IS HERE TO STAFF. I THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO. YOU WORK RELENTLESSLY DOING THIS BUDGET. YOU GO THROUGH THIS IN SUCH DETAIL. JOEL, THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO. AND COMMISSIONER CARROLL HAD ME COVERED ON THE OTHER END. YOU KNOW, COMING BACK TO STAFF AND REVIEWING POSITIONS WITH THE LIBRARY AND WHAT WE CAN DO TO MAKE THIS FIT. ALTHOUGH YOU DIDN'T GET WHAT YOU WANTED TONIGHT. IT'S IT'S IT'S GOING TO BE OKAY. WE LOVE YOUR LIBRARY. WE WANT TO WORK WITH YOU. WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO HAVE A LIBRARY. WHO DOESN'T LIKE DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS? I'VE NEVER PLAYED, BUT I'VE WATCHED THEM PLAY ON HARRISON AVENUE. IT LOOKS LIKE A COOL GAME. BUT THAT BEING SAID, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR COMING. I REALLY APPRECIATE AND LOVE YOUR PASSION FOR YOUR COUNTY AND YOUR LIBRARY. THAT'S AWESOME. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, WITH THAT, WE'RE ADJOURNED. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.