Jun 09, 2026 BCC Workshop

[CALL TO ORDER]

[00:00:12]

>> CALM TO ORDER BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S WORKSHOP JUNE 6TH, 2026. WE WILL GO RIGHT INTO PUBLIC COMMENT. IF I CAN FIND THE PAPER.

THIS PORTION OF THE AGENDA IS DESIGNED TO BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES TO THE ATTENTION OF THE BOARD.

AT THIS TIME THE BOARD WILL NOT ENGAGE IN DEBATE OR ANSWER QUESTIONS. YOU MAY E-MAIL AND STAFF WILL ADDRESS YOUR QUESTIONS OR YOU MAY E-MAIL YOUR DISTRICT COMMISSIONER. PUBLIC COMMENT CARDS ARE CONVENIENTLY PLACED AT THE ENTRANCE AND SHOULD BE SUBMITTED TO THE CLERK ON THE FAR LEFT DAIS.

YOU ARE TO LIMIT YOUR COMMENTS TO THREE MINUTES BEFORE ADDRESSING THE BOARD. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS. I WOULD LIKE TO OPEN THE FIRST PUBLIC COMMENT AT TODAY'S MEETING.

I DON'T HAVE ANY CARDS YET. ANYBODY?

[1. Legislative Wrap Up]

>> AS YOU KNOW, THE BUDGET HAS BEEN APPROVED FOR GOVERNOR'S SIGNATURE AND -- ON THE SCREEN YOU'LL SEE THE APPROPRIATIONS THAT ARE IN THE CURRENT BUDGET WAITING FOR THE GOVERNOR'S SIGNATURE. WE SECURED ABOUT $2.6 MILLION FOR THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMPLEX. 900,000 FOR QUALITY OF LIFE ITEMS SUCH AS MOCCASIN SLOUGH AND HISTORIC COURTHOUSE, 2 MILLION FOR THE EXPANSION OF COUNTY ROAD 218, TO CONTINUE THAT FOUR-LANING AND THEN A MILLION DOLLARS FOR THE SEPTIC PILOT PROGRAM. SO IN TOTAL THAT'S ABOUT $6 ½ MILLION DOLLARS OF APPROPRIATIONS THAT ARE IN THE BUDGET BILL WAITING FOR THE SIGNATURE OF THE GOVERNOR.

ANY QUESTIONS? WE'LL KEEP MOVING.

WHAT IS IT NORMALLY, FIFTEEN, SIXTEEN DAYS? I DON'T KNOW WHEN HE RECEIVED PHYSICALLY RECEIVED THE BUDGET ON HIS DESK BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN THE CLOCK STARTS.

WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THAT. ALL RIGHT.

NOTHING ELSE ON THE LEGISLATIVE WRAPUP.

WE KIND OF BROKE THIS PRESENTATION INTO TWO SECTIONS.

ONE WE'LL TALK ABOUT WHAT CAME FROM THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION ON TAX REFORM AND THE EFFECTS OF THAT, HIGH LEVEL AND THEN WE'LL TRANSITION TO MJ REALLY FOCUSING ON THIS YEAR'S BUDGET, WHICH IS REALLY THE FOCUS OF TODAY BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO GO THROUGH THE FIRST PART FIRST SO I'LL TAKE CARE OF THAT AND URN IT TO MJ. AS WE KNOW, THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL THAT'S BEEN ADOPTED BY THE HOUSE AND SENATE WAS A TWO-PHASE APPROACH, 150,000 DOLLAR EXEMPTION IN '27/'28 MOVING TO 250,000 IN '28/'29. BASED ON OUR CURRENT VALUES FOR THIS YEAR AND OUR CURRENT MILLAGE RATES, THE NET EFFECT WOULD BE ABOUT A $50 MILLION REDUCTION IN AD VALOREM.

WE BROKE IT DOWN BY EACH VERTICAL.

COUNTY SERVICES WHICH INCLUDES THE 75% FOR EMS. UNINCORPORATED SERVICES, FIRE CONTROL AND THE LAW ENFORCEMENT.

SO REALLY YOU'VE GOT A PORTION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND A PORTION-OF-FIRE CONTROL INSIDE THAT COUNTY SERVICES NUMBER.

> WHAT WERE THOSE PERCENTAGES IN COUNTY SERVICES?

>> COUNTY SERVICES, YOU HAVE 75% OF FIRE RESCUE BECAUSE THAT'S THE EMS SIDE. AND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS ABOUT 50%, 55%, LARRY DAVID, MJ -- COMES OUT OF COUNTY SERVICES.

>> THE FIRST YEAR OF THE LEGISLATION WERE TO PASS WOULD BE A $50 MILLION LOSS WHICH IS ABOUT A 29D% LOSS THE OF THE TOTAL PROPERTY TAX BUDGET, CORRECT?

>> CORRECT. BASED ON THE CALCULATIONS THAT WE RECEIVED FROM THE PROPERTY APPRAISER'S OFFICE.

AND THE PROPERTY APPRAISER IS HERE IF YOU HAVE ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT CALCULATION.

YOU TALKED ABOUT IT A FEW TIMES. ANY QUESTIONS ON YEAR ONE?

[00:05:08]

SO THEN WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP THESE IN TODAY'S DOLLARS SO, OF COURSE, IF VALUES WENT UP, THAT CHANGES THAT NUMBER, BUT TO KEEP APPLES TO APPLES, THIS IS BASED ON NOW.

>> THE SECOND YEAR, THAT'S -- YOU SAID 60 MILLION DOLLAR LOSS, WHICH THE TOTAL BUDGET WOULD BE 174 MILLION, WHICH IS 34%.

>> YES, BASED ON TODAY'S -- YES. >> OKAY.

>> MADAM CHAIR, I GOT A QUESTION FOR THE PROPERTY APPRAISER.

>> THE CHAIR: GO AHEAD. >> THE PROPERTY VALUE WENT UP -- WE ALWAYS EXPECT IT TO GO UP A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE.

AND I DON'T THINK IT MET OUR -- WHAT WE WOULD HAVE LIKED TO SEE OR WHAT WE EXPECTED THIS YEAR AND SO WHAT'S THE FORECAST, I

GUESS? >> YOU WANT ME TO ANSWER THE

QUESTION OF THIS YEAR? >> THIS YEAR FIRST, RIGHT.

>> SO IF YOU LOOK AT -- MY JOB IS TO DETERMINE THE TAXABLE VALUE BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT YOU LEVERAGE MILLAGE AGAINST.

SO FOR THIS YEAR, THE REAL ESTATE MARKET IS FLAT.

SO THE MARKET VALUE IS RELATIVELY FLAT.

YOU HAVE ROUGHLY ABOUT A 5% INCREASE IN TAXABLE VALUE.

THAT'S ABOUT A BILLION DOLLARS. IN THIS MARKET.

IN MY ESTIMATION, I DON'T KNOW WHAT WAS EXPECTED BUT A BILLION DOLLAR INCREASE IS -- THAT'S THE NUMBER.

SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT PERCENTAGE, HALF OF THAT PERCENTAGE COMES FROM NEW CONSTRUCTION.

IF YOU SAID, OKAY, IF THERE WERE NO NEW CONSTRUCTION IN THE COUNTY, WHAT IS THE PERCENTAGE OF INCREASE? IT'S HALF THAT. YOU'RE LOOKING AT ABOUT 2 ½ TO 3%. IF YOU SAY 5% IS YOUR TOTAL, HALF OF THAT IS NEW CONSTRUCTION.

THE REMAINDER IS LEFT IN THE HOMES THAT SOLD AND THE CAPRI SET AND THE VALUE INCREASE TO MARKET OR THE PROPERTIES THAT

HOMESTEAD. >> MY QUESTION WAS THE INCREASE IN VALUE, PROPERTY VALUE, IS DUE TO NEW CONSTRUCTION.

THAT WENT UP MORE THAN NORMAL OR LESS THAN NORMAL.

>> THE NEW CONSTRUCTION AMOUNT AVERAGE THAT'S 2019 SINCE 2019 HAS BEEN ABOUT 350 MILLION. A YEAR.

YOU HAD TWO GOOD YEARS. WE'RE ABOUT 170 MILLION LESS THAN LAST YEAR. SO LAST YEAR, YOU HAD MULTIPLE APARTMENT COMPLEXES BUILT. YOU HAD TWO HOTELS BUILT IN THE COUNTY. YOU HAD MORE ON THE COMMERCIAL END THAN YOU DO ON THE THIS YEAR.

THAT 170 MILLION LESS IS BECAUSE OF LESS COMMERCIAL NEW CONSTRUCTION ON THE COUNTY. THE RBL IS FAIRLY STABLE.

BUT THE COMMERCIAL IS THE DIFFERENCE.

>> THANK YOU. >> WE'LL COVER THIS, I THINK, IN SLIDE 8 COMING UP. JUST TALK ABOUT -- IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE IT'S ONLY BEEN A 4% CHANGE, 2013.

I GUESS MY QUESTION WOULD BE LIKE COMMISSIONER RANGER WAS ASKING, DO YOU FORECAST ANY MORE FROM WHAT YOU KNOW AT COS AND STUFF LIKE THAT COMING DOWN THE PIPE? DOES THAT SEEM MORE OF THE NORM THAT IT'S GOING TO BE THAT 4% OR DOES THAT REALLY JUST DEPEND ON WHAT COMES TO CLAY COUNTY?

>> I THINK SPEAKING TO MY STAFF THERE'S MORE COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT THAT WILL BE IN NEXT YEAR.

THERE'S MORE RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT THAT WILL BE IN NEXT YEAR. NEW CONSTRUCTION'S GOING TO DRIVE YOUR TAXABLE VALUE INCREASE.

BECAUSE IN OUR COUNTY, AS YOU KNOW FROM THE TAX REFORM, SO MUCH OF OUR COUNTY'S HOMESTEAD. SO --

>> YOU SAID -- WE HAD A PHONE CALL.

I THINK YOU SAID 60%, RIGHT, IS HOMESTEADED?

>> DO YOU WANT ME TO RUN THROUGH THE NUMBERS? IF YOU LOOK REALLY QUICK. PEOPLE HAVE ASKED ME, WHAT HAPPENS WITH THIS TAX REFORM? IT DEPENDS.

THAT'S THE BEST ANSWER YOU CAN COME UP WITH.

IT DEPENDS. HERE'S Y WHY.

IT DEPENDS WHEN YOU HOMESTEADED, OKAY.

IT DEPENDS ON WHAT COUNTY YOU ARE IN.

BECAUSE, FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU LOOK AT THE FOUR ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES, THEIR ESTIMATED TAX LOSS AS A PERCENTAGE OF YOUR REVENUE COLLECTED NOW, THE AVERAGE IN THE STATE IS 20%.

[00:10:03]

THEN YOU HAVE ST. LUCIE WHICH IS NUMBER ONE IN THE STATE WHICH IS ROUGHLY 33 ½. WE'RE NUMBER TWO.

WHEN YOU SAY -- I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR MONROE COUNTY BUT YOU SAY YOU'RE GOING TO LOSE 4% OF YOUR TAX LOSS VERSUS 34% TAX LOSS, THAT'S DIFFERENT MATH, RIGHT.

SO YOU GO BACK AND YOU SAY, WHEN DID YOU HOMESTEAD IN WHAT COUNTY WILL DETERMINE THE NET RESULT OF THIS GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL.

WHEN YOU SAY THAT, AND HERE'S WHY.

CLAY COUNTY, AS WE HAVE ALL KNOWN FOR YEARS AND YEARS, IS A BEDROOM COMMUNITY 75% OF THE TAX BASE IS IMPROVED RESIDENTIAL. THAT'S WHAT WE'VE GOT.

CURRENTLY 71% OF THAT TAXABLE VALUE HAS A HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION

ON IT. >> SAY THAT ONE MORE TIME.

>> 71% OF THE TAX VALUE HAS A HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.

IF THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL PASSES, 62% OF THOSE PARCELS

WILL PAY NO TAX TO THE COUNTY. >> WILL NOT PAY?

>> WILL NOT PAY. SO IF YOU LOOK AT --

>> IS THAT NEXT YEAR OR TWO YEARS?

>> THAT WILL BE AFTER THE 250,000 DOLLAR EXEMPTION, 62% OF YOUR HOMESTEAD WOULD PAY NO TAX IN THE COUNTY.

>> DO YOU KNOW OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD AFTER THE 150 WHAT THE PERCENTAGE WOULD BE? IS IT ABOUT HALF THAT?

>> THE 150 IS ABOUT 21%. 250 GOES TO ABOUT YOUR 34%.

IS YOUR LOSS. SO IF YOU LOOK AT IT AND SAY, WHERE DID THIS START? SO BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE ASKING.

THEY'RE SEEING THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL.

WHAT IS THIS GOING TO DO TO ME? ONCE AGAIN IT DEPENDS ON WHEN YOU HOMESTEADED. THAT'S A LIKELY CHANCE IF YOU'VE BEEN AN EXISTING HOMESTEAD, YOU MAY PAY MORE.

AT THE END OF THIS. IF YOU'RE A NEWER HOMESTEAD, YOU MAY PAY LESS. IT JUST DEPENDS.

IT STARTS WITH HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.

HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION, THE CAP BEGAN IN 1995.

SO JUST TO CLAY COUNTY, JUST BARE WITH ME, A WATER HOSE, YOU LAY IT OUT AND YOU CUT THE WATER ON IT JUST FLOWS FREELY.

SAVE OUR HOMES CAP IN CLAY COUNTY RESTRICTS THE REVENUE TO THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONER TO THE TUNE THIS YEAR OF 6 ½ BILLION DOLLARS. THAT'S 6 ½ BILLION DOLLARS THAT'S OF TAXABLE VALUE THAT YOU CANNOT LEVY MILLAGE AGAINST.

TREMENDOUS TAX SAVINGS TO THE HOMEOWNERS IN CLAY COUNTY.

TREMENDOUS TAX LOSS TO YOUR LOCAL TAXING AUTHORITIES.

DEPENDS ON HOW YOU WANT TO LOOK AT THAT.

SO THAT'S THE LAW THAT'S IN PLACE TODAY.

SO 6 ½ BILLION DOLLARS YOU CANNOT LEVY A MILLAGE AGAINST CURRENTLY. YOU NOW ADD 250,000 DOLLAR HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION, IT'S GOING TO COMPOUND THE TAXABLE VALUE

LOSS OR SAVINGS TO THE COUNTY. >> YOU MENTIONED EARLIER THAT SOME PEOPLE MAY END UP PAYING MORE.

GIVE US AN EXAMPLE OF IN YOUR WORDS OF HOW THAT WOULD HAPPEN.

>> I WANT TO BE CAREFUL. I'M THE ASSESSMENT GUY.

I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK TO ANYBODY'S BUDGET.

BUT THERE'S A REALITY HERE. WHEN YOUR TAX BASE -- YOU CAN SEE IT ACROSS THE STATE -- IF YOU JUST LOOK AT WHAT THE FOUR ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES, THE ESTIMATED LOSS IS, YOU'LL NOTICE THAT THESE ARE ALL COUNTIES THAT ARE HEAVILY HOMESTEADED.

I DON'T KNOW HOW COUNTIES THAT HAVE SUCH AN IMPACT CONTINUE TO FUNCTION AT THE SAME SERVICE LEVEL THAT THEY ARE NOW OR HOW THEY OVERCOME THIS TO PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES.

THE HOLE WILL BECOME SO DEEP IN CLAY COUNTY WHEN YOU LOSE BETWEEN THE SAVE OUR HOMES CAP AND YOU ADD THIS ADDITIONAL HOMESTEAD. IT'S SIGNIFICANT.

THAT MAY BE AN UNDERSTATEMENT HERE.

SO DO I BELIEVE OUT OF 33 YEARS IN DOING THIS THAT IN THIS COUNTY CAN ABSORB THAT TYPE OF FINANCIAL LOSS REVENUE LOSS? THAT'S THE NIGHTMARE YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH.

BUT I ANTICIPATE, AND I TRY TO CAUTION PEOPLE WHEN THEY ASK ME, WHAT DOES THIS LOOK LIKE? ONCE AGAIN, PEOPLE HAVE HAD HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.

THEIR TAXES ARE MUCH LOWER THAN SOMEBODY WHO'S PURCHASED IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS. SO SOMEWHERE ON THE SCALE

[00:15:05]

THERE WILL BE CONSEQUENCES WILL BE DIFFERENT ACROSS THE STATE BECAUSE OF THE COMPOSITION OF THE COUNTIES.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS TOO, AND I THINK WHEN THE INITIAL PROPOSAL CAME OUT, THE MESSAGING WAS ELIMINATION OF PROPERTY TAX.

AS IT MADE ITS WAY THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE, THROUGH THE SPECIAL SESSION, THE SCHOOL FUNCTION OF THAT WAS PUT BACK IN AND I THINK IT'S ALSO VERY IMPORTANT TO ELUDE AL LEWD THAT THIS IS HOMESTEADED ONLY. IF YOU HAVE A BUSINESS, IF YOU HAVE A NONHOMESTEADED PROPERTY, YOU'RE STILL PAYING THE PROPERTY TAX. IT'S NOT AN ELIMINATION OF PROPERTY TAX. IT'S A SHIFT ESSENTIALLY.

HOW DO YOU THINK THAT COULD AFFECT NONHOMESTEADED PARCELS?

>> YOU JUST SAID IT. I THINK THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL YOU CAN READ THAT AND PEOPLE GET EXCITED.

I MEAN, I DON'T SEE IN 33 YEARS, I HAVE YET TO MEET ANYBODY WHO LIKES PAYING TAXES. SO I THINKING THAT'S PRETTY OBVIOUS SO WHEN YOU HEAR SOMETHING EVEN MY OWN STAFF, THEY'RE EXCITED PERSONALLY BECAUSE THEY THINK I'M NOT GOING PAY ANY PROPERTY TAXES. THAT'S HOW THE GOVERNMENT FUNCTIONS. THAT'S HOW THEY PROVIDE SERVICES THROUGH THAT TAX. YOU MADE THE COMMENT ABOUT IS THIS A TAX CUT OR A TAX SHIFT? SO IF THIS WERE TO PASS AND YOU HAVE A VALUE OF 250,000 DOLLARS, YOU PAY NO SERVICES TO THIS COUNTY, SO THAT MEANS THERE'S A ZERO TAXABLE VALUE THAT A MILLAGE WOULD AN I APPLY AGAINST, YOU CAN GET NO TAX OUT OF THOSE PROPERTY OWNERS. SOMEBODY HAS TO PAY.

I WOULD ASSUME. I WOULD ASSUME TO RUN THIS COUNTY, SOMEBODY'S GOING TO HAVE TO PAY TAXES.

SO THE BURDEN WILL SHIFT POTENTIALLY TO THOSE THAT ARE ABOVE 250,000 DOLLARS. BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT WILL REMAIN WITH THE TAXABLE VALUE THAT THE MILLAGE CAN BE APPLIED AGAINST TO GENERATE REVENUE.

>> I THINK THAT THIS IS A -- IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE FIVE OF US TO CONTINUE TO SHARPEN THE RAZOR SHARP PENCIL WE ALREADY HAVE, BUT WITH THAT BEING SAID, I WOULD AGREE, I'VE HAD SOME REALLY REALLY REALLY GOOD CONVERSATION WAS RESIDENTS IN MY DISTRICT SITTING DOWN, HAVING FRANK CONVERSATIONS, AND WHAT I ASKED THEM IS AS A RESIDENT, WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO YOU IN THE COMMUNITY THAT YOU LIVE IN? AND I HEAR A LOT OF VERY CONSISTENT THEMES.

THEY WANT TO SUPPORT POLICE. THEY WANT TO SUPPORT FIRE.

THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT POTHOLES ARE FILLED.

THE CHALLENGE IS HOW THAT HAPPENS WITHOUT THE CURRENT STATE OF FUNDING. FOR ALL FIVE OF US, IT IS IMPORTANT TO BE AS FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE AS WE CAN WITHOUT BEING IRRESPONSIBLE. I THINK THE COMMUNITY WOULD NOT BE VERY HAPPY IF CERTAIN SERVICES AREN'T RENDERED.

THAT'S THE BIG CHALLENGE. >> I HAVE A COUPLE OF -- WE HAVE FIFTY STATES IN THIS UNION. DO YOU KNOW IF ALL FIFTY STATES

HAVE PROPERTY TAX? >> A VERSION OF IT, YES, SIR.

>> AND DO YOU FEEL THAT OUT OF THOSE FIFTY STATES ANYBODY REALLY ENJOYS PAYING PROPERTY TAX?

>> AND I HAVEN'T MET ONE YET. >> WE HAVE TAX WATCH THAT LOOKS AT ALL 67 COUNTIES AND WE'RE PRETTY LOW, BOTTOM 20% PER CAPITA. STATE WISE, FLORIDA VERSUS THE OTHER 49, DO YOU HAVE ANY DATA THAT SUPPORTS THAT?

>> I DON'T IN FRONT OF ME. I CAN TELL YOU COUNTYWIDE, I THINK CLAY COUNTY IS 60TH OUT OF 67 IN REVENUE AND PER CAPITA.

REVENUE PER CAPITA. >> ONCE AGAIN, AS YOU POINTED OUT, IT'S DIFFERENT FROM COUNTY TO COUNTY.

BUT JUST FOR THE VIEWING PUBLIC, CLAY COUNTY'S PRETTY DOGE-Y.

WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR A LONG TIME.

I'VE BEEN LOOKING AT IT MY WHOLE FRICKING LIFE.

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR, I GUESS; MY LAST COMMENT.

>> IF I MAY ADD REALLY QUICK, IF YOU LOOK AT JUST WHAT THE ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES PUT TOGETHER, WE'RE SECOND.

WE'RE THE SECOND MOST IMPACTED COUNTY AND THAT'S A FUNCTION OF

[00:20:01]

JOHN'S COUNTY, THEY'RE 20%. C DUVAL'S 20%. OUR NEIGHBORS ARE NOT GOING TO BE IMPACTED TO THE DEGREE THAT WE ARE.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES COME FROM THAT JUST IN YOUR WORKFORCE, RETAINING YOUR WORKFORCE, THINGS LIKE THAT. THERE'S ISSUES.

THAT I THINK WE'RE ALL GOING TO DEAL WITH.

SHOULD THIS PASS. BUT REALLY QUICK, SO ABOUT THE COMMERCIAL. TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, IT WAS IF IT SHIFTS, ANYBODY WITH A MILLAGE RATE COULD POTENTIALLY IS GOING TO SHOULDER THE BURDEN OF WHAT REMAINS.

>> I THINK YOU ALLUDED TO IT EARLY ON IN YOUR COMMENTS BECAUSE WE ARE HEAVILY HOMESTEADED AND YOU MENTIONED THAT THE TWO YEARS WHERE WE HAD A PRETTY SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE, OF 15% AND 12% INCREASE IN PERCENT OF CHANGE, AND YOU ALLUDED TO WHY AND THAT WAS COMMERCIAL GROWTH.

AND I THINK THAT'S ANOTHER THING THAT AS A COMMISSION, WE CAN CONTINUE TO LASER FOCUS ON PRIORITIZING THAT COMMERCIAL GROWTH WHEN WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO DO REZONINGS TO COMMERCIAL AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS AND AS THE BELTWAY IS NOW FULLY -- BECOMING FULL HI OPEN THAT'S OUR OPPORTUNITY TO CAPITALIZE. WILL YOU SEE THOSE EFFECTS IMMEDIATELY? PROBABLY NOT WITH THE FIVE OF US SITTING UP HERE. BUT WE SET CLAY COUNTY UP FOR THE FUTURE. BY PRIORITIZING THAT NOW.

WOULD YOU AGREE WITH THAT? >> I WOULD.

>> I WOULD JUST ADD IF YOU LOOK AT THE ANNUAL REPORT, OUR OFFICE HAS PRODUCED AN ANNUAL REPORT FOR OVER A DECADE NOW.

AND BECAUSE OF HOMESTEAD, IF YOU LOOK AT THE TAXABLE VALUE, LIKE, WHAT CAN YOU LEVY A MILLAGE AGAINST? THAT TAXABLE VALUE, AS A PERCENTAGE OF THE MARKET, OF THE POTENTIAL, HAS PROGRESSIVELY REDUCED.

CURRENTLY YOU'RE ABLE TO TAX ON ABOUT 58 CENT ON THE DOLLAR.

THAT NUMBER BECAUSE OF HOMES AND HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION IN OUR COUNTY, IT WILL -- YOUR ABILITY -- YOUR TAXABLE VALUE WILL CONTINUE TO BE REDUCED JUST BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF THE WAY HOMESTEAD IS IN OUR COUNTY SPECIFICALLY.

>> AS IT CURRENTLY EXISTS. >> AS IT CURRENTLY EXISTS, RIGHT. RIGHT NOW, LET'S SAY YOU'RE ABLE TO LEVY A TAX ON ABOUT 60% OF THE VALUE THAT YOU COULD.

CURRENTLY. AND THAT'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO DECLINE. SO ALTERNATE SOURCES OF REVENUE IS PROBABLY NOT A BAD IDEA ANYWAY.

BESIDES THE AD VALOREM TAX. >> YOU TALKED ABOUT COMMERCIAL.

IT SHIFTS TO COMMERCIAL AND RENTERS IS ALSO ANOTHER AREA.

I HAVEN'T HEARD YOU SAY IT WOULD INCREASE, WHICH I HAVE HEARD THAT IT WOULD INCREASE THEIR PROPERTY TAX.

IS THAT TRUE? I'VE BEEN HEARING THAT.

>> FOR EXAMPLE, IF THE VALUE IS ABOVE $250,000 AND THERE'S STILL A MILLAGE RATE APPLIED TO THE VALUE, THEN, YES, THOSE ARE GOING TO PAY WHEN THE OTHERS DON'T.

>> I'M TALKING ABOUT COMMERCIAL. >> SO THE COMMERCIAL -- YOUR NONHOMESTEAD RESIDENTIAL AND YOUR COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES CURRENTLY HAVE A 10 PERCENT CAP, OKAY.

SO IF THIS WERE TO PASS AND IF YOU'RE STILL LEVYING A MILLAGE, IF YOUR MILLAGE RATE INCREASES AT ALL, IT'S ONLY GOING TO APPLY TO YOUR NONHOMESTEADED RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL

PROPERTIES. >> BE PASSED ON MORE THAN LIKELY

TO THE RENTERS. >> DIDN'T THAT CAP REDUCE TO 5%

WITH THIS? >> PROPOSED.

>> BUT TO YOUR QUESTION, IT WAS PROPOSED TO REDUCE THE CAP TO 5% WITHIN THE LAST DECADE AND IT FAILED AS A CONSTITUTIONAL

AMENDMENT. >> IN THIS PROPOSAL, YES, IT

WOULD REDUCE 10 DOWN TO 5. >> ABOUT HALF OF MY CONSTITUENCY LIVES IN MOBILE HOMES AND I KNOW THAT THEY'RE ASSESSED A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY AS FAR AS BASED ON YEAR OF THE MOBILE HOME.

CAN YOU SPEAK TO THAT A LITTLE BIT.

BECAUSE I HAVE PEOPLE WHO WILL CALL AND SAY, I PAY MORE GARBAGE FEE THAN I DO IN MY PROPERTY TAXES.

AND I KNOW THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE FUNCTION OF THE AGE OF THEIR MOBILE HOME. BUT WHAT ALL GOES INTO THAT?

>> I MEAN, TO BE -- VALUE IS VALUE.

WHEN WE EH PRAISE PROPERTY THE FLORIDA CONSTITUTION SAYS AT ITS JUST VALUE ON JANUARY 1ST OF EVERY YEAR.

SO WHETHER IT'S A VACANT LAND, A MOBILE HOME, A HOUSE, AN APARTMENT COMPLEX, ANY GOLF COURSE, IT'S ALL BASED ON

[00:25:02]

BASED ON WHAT WE THINK IT COULD SELL FOR ON THAT JANUARY 1ST.

THE DIFFERENCE IS MOST MOBILE HOMES HAVE A LOWER VALUE.

SO WHEN YOU SUBTRACT THAT 50,000 DOLLAR EXEMPTION, THE AD VALOREM

TAX WILL BE FAIRLY LOW. >> EVEN THE ONES THAT HAVE TO GO DOWNSTAIRS AND GET THE TAG FROM THE TAG OFFICE.

>> THERE'S TWO TAGS. YOU FOR THE GOT A REAL PROPERTY TAG THAT TELLS ME I CAN ASSESS IT LIKE A HOUSE OR BUY DECALS IF THE LAND AND THE MOBILE HOMEOWNER ARE DIFFERENT.

THOSE DECALS ARE PAID LIKE A VEHICLE.

>> YES. THAT'S DIFFERENT.

BECAUSE IN THAT CASE, IT'S JUST A LENGTH AND A WIDTH SCENARIO.

IF IT'S ASSESSED BY ME, I EH PRAISE IT LIKE IT WOULD BE A HOME. THERE'S A DIFFERENCE.

>> YEAH. BUT ESSENTIALLY, A LOT OF THOSE PEOPLE THEY'LL STILL PAY THE SCHOOL TAX AND THEY WON'T SEE A

COMPLETE -- >> ELIMINATION.

>> YEAH. >> ONE THING ABOUT THE PROPOSAL, CURRENTLY YOUR HOMESTEAD AS IT STANDS IS THE FIRST 25,000 AND THE THIRD 25,000 IS YOUR 50. THIS PROPOSAL WOULD ELIMINATE TAX ON THE FIRST 50 ENTIRELY. IT WOULD BE ON THE FIRST 25.

>> INTERESTING. SO THEY COULD SEE A TAX INCREASE FROM THAT AS WELL. I DIDN'T KNOW THAT.

>> ISN'T THERE A PART OF THIS PROPOSAL THAT THE 150 TO 250 ARE LAID OUT THE FIRST TWO YEARS BUT THEN IT'S EVENTUALLY TO GO TO 500,000 AS PART OF THE PILL. THE LEGISLATURE HAS TO LAY OUT

PLAN TO GET TO 500,000. >> CORRECT.

>> THIS WOULD NOT BE THE END OF THE REDUCTIONS.

THE REDUCTIONS WOULD CONTINUE TO LAY OUT TO 500,000.

>> HAVE WE DONE ANY PREDICTIONS ABOUT WHAT THAT WOULD MEAN TO

CLAY COUNTY? >> DO WE NEED TO?

>> I CAN SURMISE WHAT IT WOULD DO.

>> I'M HAPPY TO MEET WITH YOU INDIVIDUALLY OR WHATEVER I CAN

DO TO HELP. >> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU FOR FILLING MY PHONE CALLS AND QUESTIONS.

>> HE SAID HE'S BECOME POPULAR THE LAST FEW WEEKS.

>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THE SLIDE BEFORE I MOVE ON?

>> THE NEXT SLIDE BREAKS DOWN WHAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS ABOUT AD VALOREM REVENUE AND COSTS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY. THE TOP HAS BEEN WHAT YOUR BUDGET HAS BEEN WITH THE LAST TO YEARS WITH A FACTOR OF WHAT WE THINK THE BUDGETS WILL HAVE TO GO UP EACH YEAR TO STAY COMPETITIVE IN THE MARKET WITH SALARIES.

FACTORED IN AS YOU CAN SEE IN '27/'28 WHICH IS THE YEAR THE TAX ALSO GO INTO PLACE. ABOUT 204 MILLION DOLLARS OF EXPENSES. THE GREEN BOX SHOWS YOU WHAT YOUR CURRENT BUDGET IS WITH ALL AD VALOREM BROUGHT IN.

THAT MEANS YOUR GENERAL FUND AND YOUR UNINCORPORATED.

YOU'LL GENERATE IN '27/'28, IF THERE'S NO REFORM BASED ON A 5% GENERAL GROWTH, YOU'LL GENERATE 180 MILLION IN AD VALOREM.

YOU'LL SEE NO TAX REFORM WILL BE ABLE TO COVER ABOUT 90% OF THE COST FOR PUBLIC SAFETY. THE ORANGE BOX SHOWS YOU WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE REFORM. YOU WILL BRING IN ABOUT 134 MILLION, WHICH MEANS YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO COVER ABOUT 66% OF YOUR PUBLIC SAFETY NECESSITY WITH AD VALOREM.

THE QUESTION THAT WE ALWAYS HEAR IS, HOW ABOUT ALL THOSE OTHER REVENUE STREAMS YOU YOU'VE GOT A HALF CENT SALES TAX. THAT'S THE 61 MILLION DOLLARS THAT WE BRING IN FROM OTHER THINGS.

THE ONLY THING THAT'S NOT PUT IN THERE WE DIDN'T PUT STATUTORY HOLDBACKS IN THERE, DIDN'T PUT RESERVES IN THERE AND DIDN'T PUT CASH CARRY FORWARD. THOSE ARE WASHES HE HAVE EACH YEAR. IF I START SHOWING CASH CARRY FORWARD WITH IT BEING A NEGATIVE, THAT MEANS IT'S GOING TO LOOK WORSE SO WE DIDN'T FACTOR ALL THAT IN.

[00:30:10]

ROUGHLY. AND YOU WOULD NEED 204 TO COVER PUBLIC SAFETY. OTHER REVENUE STREAMS, 61 MILLION. THAT GIVES YOU A TOTAL FUND OF 196. YOU WOULD STILL BE DEFICIT IF YOU USED ALL AD VALOREM IN EVERY DOLLAR THAT WE CURRENTLY GET FROM OTHER REVENUE STREAMS THAT ARE ALLOWABLE TO BE USED.

OUR BUDGET IS MORE THAN THAT BECAUSE WE'VE GOT SOLID WASTE THAT CAN BE USED FOR SOLID WASTE AND GOING FUND THAT CAN ONLY BE USED FOR BUILDING FUND. THESE ARE UNRESTRICTED REVENUES WE'RE LOOKING AT. THEN WE FLAT LINE THE COST OF THE GENERAL FUND, PARKS, LIBRARIES, GENERAL ADMINISTRATION AT THE BOTTOM, 79 MILLION DOLLARS CURRENTLY THIS YEAR. WE FLAT LINE THAT OUT FOR THE FIVE YEARS. EVEN WITHOUT REFORM, YOU'RE PROBABLY HAVING TO LOOK AT OTHER REVENUE STREAMS TO CONTINUE BALANCING YOUR BUDGET GOING FORWARD.

>> IT'S EITHER A QUESTION FOR TROY OR TRACY.

SO INITIALLY, WHEN THEY STARTED TALKING ABOUT THE INITIATIVE, THERE WAS TALKS OF PROTECTING PUBLIC SAFETY AND I STILL THINK IN THE PUBLIC, THAT THERE'S BUZZ THAT PUBLIC SAFETY IS EXEMPT OR PROTECTED. CAN YOU GUYS TALK TO MAYBE

TRACY'S NODDING HIS HEAD. >> EITHER WAY.

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE CURRENT BILL IS THAT NONE OF THOSE RESTRICTIONS WILL WERE PUT INTO THIS CURRENT BILL THAT WAS PASSED.

THAT IT WAS -- THEY GIVE YOU A LIST OF THINGS YOU CAN SPEND AD VALOREM MONEY ON BUT THERE WAS NO FLOOR THAT SAYS YOU HAVE TO MAINTAIN THIS FLOOR. I DON'T KNOW IF TRACY OR THE SHERIFF HAVE OTHER THOUGHTS ON THAT.

>> I'LL SPEAK. THERE'S NO CARVE-OUT FOR PUBLIC SAFETY. AND THERE IS NO TRUST FUND.

IF YOU'LL REMEMBER THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL MENTIONED THE FUND THAT THE STATE OF FLORIDA, THERE WAS NO DECISION NALTED REVENUE SOURCE FOR THAT, SO THAT'S OUT THE WINDOW AS

WELL. >> WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS WE HEARD PUBLICLY THAT THE GOVERNOR SAID THE STATE WOULD HELP OFFSET ANY LOSS TO PAY FOR PUBLIC SAFETY BY WHEN THE BILL GOT TO THE FINISH LINE THAT DID NOT HAPPEN.

>> CORRECT. >> THERE IS NO STATE TRUST FUND TO GIVE BACK TO LAW ENFORCEMENT. THAT'S NOT TRUE.

>> THAT'S RIGHT. >> YOU KIND OF GLOSSED OVER THIS, BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT WE HAVE A LOT OF THE PUBLIC WATCHING TODAY'S WORKSHOP. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE HAD A NUMBER OF CONSTITUENTS REACH OUT ABOUT AND I'VE SEEN OTHER PEOPLE COMMENTING ON ON-LINE ON SOCIAL MEDIA THAT THIS IS ONLY 16% OF OUR BUDGET. SO WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO FIND THE MONEY SOMEWHERE, THAT IF THIS WERE CUT.

SO THERE'S A BELIEF THAT NONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE COUNTY LISTED ON THE SOCIAL MEDIA POST THAT WAS PUT OUT WOULD REALLY BE AT RISK OR THAT THERE COULD BE EXTRA.

LIKE, YOU KNOW, WHY CAN'T YOU FIND 16% IN YOUR BUDGET.

YOU GLOSSED OVER IT WHEN YOU TALKED ABOUT UNRESTRICTED.

I THINK IT'S WORTHWHILE TO SAY. >> YES, MA'AM.

I APPRECIATE THAT. A LOT OF OUR BUDGET IS RESTRICTED FUNDS. SO IF YOU LOOK AT THE ONE CENT SALES TAX, THAT'S THE ONE THAT EVERYBODY KEEPS KIND OF -- THAT I SEE PEOPLE GOING TO REGULARLY. THE ONE CENT SALES TAX GENERATES $4 -- $30 MILLION BUT THAT HAS TO BE USED FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT. THE VOTERS SAID THAT SALES TAX WILL BE USED FOR IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CAPITAL.

>> CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT IS.

>> ANYTHING THAT DOES CAPACITY IMPROVEMENT OR EXPANDS YOUR CAPACITY, YOU KNOW, SOME VEHICLES COULD FALL UNDER THAT.

IT'S NOT FOR YOUR NORMAL DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS.

>> YOU CAN'T PAY SALARIES. >> I CAN'T PAY SALARIES.

WE CAN'T PAY FOR REPAIRING OUR BUILDINGS OUT OF IT.

THE HALF CENT SALES TAX IS DISCRETIONARY.

YOUR SOLID WASTE FEE CAN ONLY BE USED FOR SOLID WASTE PURPOSES.

>> IMPACT FEES AND THAT'S SOME OF THE THINGS I KEEP ON HEARING, WE HAVE SO MUCH CONSTRUCTION, SO MANY HOUSES COMING IN.

PLEASE CAN YOU LET US KNOW. >> IMPACT FEES CAN ONLY BE USED FOR INCREASING CAPACITY. IF THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE OR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS A HUNDRED VEHICLES TODAY, WE CAN ONLY COULD THAT IF WE'RE BUYING THE 101ST, 103RD VEHICLE.

[00:35:04]

YOU CAN'T USE IT FOR OPERATIONS, FOR PEOPLE.

IT HAS TO BE PHYSICAL STUFF. THERE'S LIST WE CREATED WHEN WE LOOKED AT THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.

THE FEES CAN BE USED FOR EXPANDING ROADS AND IT'S ON THAT LIST, SO THAT IT'S NOT LIKE WE CAN USE IT FOR PATCHING POTHOLES OR MOWING THE GRASS. THOSE ARE OPERATIONAL EXPENSES THAT HAVE TO COME OUT OF YOUR UNRESTRICTED REVENUES.

OR OUT OF THE GAS TAX. WE HEAR THAT TOO.

WHEN MJ GETS TO THE PUTTING, YOU'LL SEE THE GAS TAX IN CLAY COUNTY IS NOT ENOUGH TO FUND THE TRANSPORTATION TRUST WHICH IS YOUR RESTRICTED FUND FOR DOING PUBLIC WORKS, MOWING AND STUFF LIKE THAT. SO WHERE DOES THAT GET SUPPLEMENTED OUT OF? OUT OF YOUR UNRESTRICTED FUNDS THAT THE COUNTY HAS. THAT 61 MILLION DOLLARS THAT COMES FROM OTHER REVENUE STREAMS.

>> OF THE 801 MILLION DOLLAR BUDGET, HOW MUCH OF IT IS NOT

RESTRICTED? >> I WOULD SAY ROUGHLY 300

MILLION. >> SO WHEN THE PUBLIC LOOKS AT IT AND THEY LOOK AT 16% OF 800 MILLION.

SOMEBODY WHO'S BETTER THAN BETSY AT MATH SHOULD DO THE -- IT'S ACTUALLY HOW MUCH PERCENTAGE OF THE 300 MILLION.

>> THAT IS ABOUT THE -- I THINK THAT IS CLOSE TO THE 18%.

WHAT'S 50 OUT OF 300? I'M NOT THE MATHEMATICIAN.

>> I WAS GOING TO ASK THE QUESTION.

SO NOBODY DID THE MATH AHEAD OF TIME.

I KNOW I CAN'T THINK THAT WAY. >> THERE'S ROUGHLY 16, 17%.

>> IT STILL IS THAT. IT'S JUST OF HAD A SMALLER NUMBER. FULLY CAREER IN THE LAST TWENTY YEARS. IT WAS VOLUNTEERS WHEN I GOT HERE. THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT IS TRYING TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF DEPUTIES TO RESPOND TO CALLS TO GET TO THAT STATE AVERAGE. STILL CALLING ABOUT THIS YEAR'S BUDGET IS WHAT LEVEL OF SERVICE DO YOU, AS THE COMMISSION, AND TO THE CITIZENS OF CLAY COUNTY, WANT IN CLAY COUNTY.

I'M GOING TO USE AN EXAMPLE. IF IT'S INSTEAD OF MOWING EVERY "X" NUMBER OF WEEKS, WE DOUBLE THAT EVERY TWICE -- HALF AS OFTEN, THAT'S A SERVICE LEVEL. IS EVERYBODY GOING TO BE HAPPY?

>> THAT'S MORE E-MAILS ON US. >> ARE YOU GOING TO CLOSE TOWN THINGS YOU HAVE OPERATIONAL TODAY THAT ARE QUALITY OF LIFE? THAT IS THE BOARD DECISION AND THAT'S LEVEL.

NOT ONLY FOR THIS YEAR'S BUDGET BUT GOING INTO THE FUTURE.

>> YOU JUST TALKED ABOUT US HOW CONSERVATIVE WE ARE AND YOU HEAR THE THINGS AND I HEARD THE OTHER DAY THAT IN THE PAST, OUR COUNTY HAS BEEN DOING SO MUCH BETTER AT NOT CONSERVING EVERYTHING, NOT KEEPING EVERYTHING SO LOW SO WE WERE ABLE TO DO MORE BUT NOW IN THE PAST TEN YEARS, WE'VE BECOME MORE CONSERVATIVE AND WE NOW WE'RE BEHIND. AND THAT'S NOT TRUE.

AS A WHOLE, OUR COUNTY HAS NOT EVER WANTED TO INCREASE TAXES.

SO WE HAVE REMAINED CONSERVATIVE AND THAT'S WHY PEOPLE LOVE TO

COME TO OUR COUNTY. >> WE'RE THE 25TH LARGEST COUNTY AND CHARGING 61 OUT OF 67 IN PER CAPITA.

>> THAT HAS NEVER BEEN -- WE HAVE NEVER BEEN HIGHER THAN

THAT. >> I WOULD DEFER TO THE COUNTY MANAGER ON WHERE WE'VE BEEN AT ON THAT.

>> IF I MAY A COUPLE OF COMMENTS ON THAT. WE'RE ABOUT 54, MAYBE FIVE YEARS AGO, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

WHEN IT CAME TO THE TAX WATCH NUMBER WHERE WE FELL OUT.

WHAT NEEDS TO BE TALKED ABOUT AND WE'VE KIND OF SKIRTED AROUND THIS, IS THAT IN THE GREAT RECESSION OF 2008, THAT IMPACT WAS SEVERE ALSO TO US. IT WASN'T UNTIL 2018 WE GOT OUT

[00:40:02]

WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO CATCH UP AND I WOULD SAY IT WAS BECAUSE OF THE ECONOMY AND THE RECESSION.

IN THAT ASPECT. OUT OF THE 300 MILLION HOW MUCH IS PUBLIC SAFETY? I ASK THAT QUESTION BECAUSE IF YOU FREEZE PUBLIC SAFETY, THEN TECHNICALLY, THE ONLY AMOUNT THAT I THINK YOU'RE DEALING WITH IS A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS.

>> LET'S GO TO THE CURRENT YEAR BUDGET.

YOU'VE GOT 173 MILLION FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.

BETWEEN FIRE AND SHERIFF. KEEP IN MIND THAT NUMBER DOES NOT KEEP INTO COUNT ANY SERVICES THAT HAVE BEEN TO PROVIDED TO SUPPORT FIRE RESCUE IN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

SO THAT'S NOT TAKING INTO ACCOUNT INDIRECT COST OF THE FIVE OF YOU. THE COUNTY MANAGER, THE COUNTY ATTORNEY, LEGAL, BUDGET, PURCHASING.

WE'RE USING THE FLORIDA COUNTY CODE AND CLASSIFYING AS NOT BEING PUBLIC SAFETY. I DO THAT THAT LEAVES A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS. THE HIT IS?

>> 50. WHAT'S THE PERCENTAGE THEN.

IF YOU GO ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT YOU FREEZE PUBLIC SAFETY, OKAY, THEN YOU'RE AT A 50% LOSS OF YOUR BUDGET.

>> THAT DOESN'T FUND THE OTHER CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICES EITHER.

ONE OTHER QUESTION, MADAM CHAIR, IF I MAY, IS FOR TRACY, I HAVEN'T HEARD THIS -- I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THIS.

AND I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYONE ASK IT.

AND SO I'M JUST GOING TO ASK YOU, YOU MAY NOT KNOW.

WHAT HAPPENS TO THE .2 MILLS THAT THE VOTERS APPROVED IN '24 FOR CONSERVATION IN CLAY COUNTY? DOES THAT STILL GET ASSESSED OR -- BECAUSE IT'S AN AD VALOREM, WHAT HAPPENS WITH THAT?

>> I'M NOT THE EXPERT SO ANYTHING I SAY I'M GOING TO BE MAKING UP. I THINK THAT -- I THINK EVEN THOUGH THE VOTERS HAVE SAID THAT YOU CAN DO THIS, THAT YOU MAY HAVE SOME DISCRETION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT YOU CAN -- THAT YOU LEVY THAT MILLAGE.

>> OH. >> I THINK THAT YOU AS BOARD MAY HAVE THE OPTION WHETHER OR NOT TO LEVY THAT .2 MILLS.

>> I THINK IF I MAY TO THE CHAIR, NO MATTER WHAT, EVEN IF THE .2 IS STILL LEGAL, YOU GOT TO REMEMBER YOUR TAX VALUE JUST WENT DOWN. YOUR .2 IS BASED ON TAXABLE VALUE. EVEN IF WE CAN STILL TO THE .2, WHICH INI KNOW IS SUBJECT TO THAT LINE NUMBER 7 OR LINE NUMBER 8 ADDED, YOUR TAXABLE VALUE WILL BE LESS.

WE'RE GENERATING 4 MILLION NOW, YOU MAY ONLY GENERATE 3 OR 2 ½ SO EVEN IF IT'S STILL LEGALLY ALLOWED, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE THE MONEY COMING IN TO SUPPORT THAT CONSERVATION

PROGRAM. >> I THINK THE OTHER THING THAT HASN'T BEEN MENTIONED THAT I IS A CRAWFORD WALK IN THE DOOR IN THE BACK, OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNER, AND ONE OF THE CONVERSATIONS HE AND I HAVE HAD WITHIN THE LAST FEW WEEKS IS THAT ROOFTOPS ARE WHAT BRING BUSINESS.

LIKE, THEY DON'T -- BUSINESSES AREN'T GOING TO LOCATE WHERE THERE AREN'T PEOPLE AND I DON'T KNOW -- WHAT I DON'T KNOW -- THAT WAS MY QUESTION FOR YOU. DOES THAT CORRELATE TO TAX -- SO OBVIOUSLY WE TALKED ABOUT THAT THE COMMERCIAL AND THE NONHOMESTEADED PROPERTIES ARE THE ONES WHO ARE GOING TO STILL PAY THE FULL AMOUNT. OF WHAT'S ASSESSED.

BUT THE HOUSE -- THE ROOFTOPS ARE HERE BUT THE HOUSEHOLDS ARE HERE. DO YOU SEE THAT AFFECT

COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT OR NOT. >> THEY'LL PAY MORE.

>> IF THEY'RE GOING TO PAY MORE. BUT THAT WOULD BE STATEWIDE.

>> CORRECT. >> OKAY.

>> REALLY IT WOULDN'T AFFECT MAYBE WHERE THEY LOCATE IN

FLORIDA. >> ONE THING TO REMEMBER TOO, IN THE PROPOSAL THAT SAYS YOU'RE GOING TO REDUCE THIS CAP ON

[00:45:03]

ON THE COMMERCIAL END, THERE'S ONLY A SAVINGS IF THE MARKET IS GOING TO INCREASE CAN YOU REMEMBER MORE THAN 10 PERCENT A

YEAR. >> WHEN YOU TOLD US THAT ENGINES ISLY WE'VE BEEN FLAT IN THE LAST YEAR, THAT'S TRUE FOR COMMERCIAL PROPERTY AS WELL. THEY HAVEN'T INCREASED, SO --

>> MAYBE EVEN A LOSS ON COMMERCIAL.

>> OKAY. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE 10 PERCENT AND 5% CAP WOULD NOT HAVE AFFECTED COMMERCIAL THIS YEAR BECAUSE YOU WEREN'T GETTING TO THE 5%.

SO THIS PERCEIVED SAVINGS MAY NOT BE THERE FOR NONHOMESTEADED PROPERTY. THIS YEAR.

>> JUST FOR AN EXAMPLE, IF YOU LOOK AT THE SAVE OUR HOMES CAP, 6 ½ BILLION. THE TOTAL DIFFERENTIAL THAT YOU CAN'T LEVY IS 7 BILLION. HOW MUCH TAX SAVINGS IS THERE CURRENTLY ON THE MARKET FOR NONHOMESTEAD AND COMMERCIAL? LESS THAN A BILLION DOLLARS. OF TAXABLE VALUE.

THE BULK OF IT'S HOMESTEADS. >> THANK YOU.

>> ANY MORE QUESTIONS ON THIS SLIDE OR ANYTHING TO DO WITH TAX

REFORM IN THE FUTURE. >> IF NOT, THEN --

>> I HAVE ONE OTHER. WAS THERE ANY LANGUAGE THAT REQUIRES US -- SO WHAT HAPPENS IF -- SO TO THE COUNTY MANAGER'S POINT OF IF WE ONLY HAVE A HUNDRED MILLION LEFT, AND WE'VE LOST 50 MILLION OF THAT SO WE HAVE 50 MILLION, I DON'T REALLY KNOW THE ANSWER. I DON'T WANT MY CONSTITUTIONAL FRIENDS TO HATE ME. I JUST DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION. LIKE, IS THERE A REQUIREMENT THAT THE B.C.C LEGAL REQUIREMENT -- IS THERE A LEGAL REQUIREMENT THAT THE BCC FUND THE CONSTITUTIONALS?

WHAT IF WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY? >> CERTAINLY CONSTITUTIONALS HAVE THE RIGHT OF APPEAL TO THE STATE SO IF YOU DECIDED NOT TO FUND THEM OR TO FUND THEM LESS, THEY CAN APPEAL -- SOME OF THE BUDGETS COME STRAIGHT FROM -- YOU SAID YOUR BUDGET TO THE STATE AND IT GETS APPROVED. I'LL LET TRACY TALK TO THAT BECAUSE I KNOW THAT'S HOW YOURS WORKS.

>> TAX COLLECTOR AS WELL. >> TAX COLLECTOR'S FEE BASE SO

IT'S DIFFERENT. >> SO FOR EXAMPLE, I SUBMIT MY BUDGET WHICH IS IMPORTANT, I SUBMIT MY BUDGET TO THE DEPARTMENT REVENUE, THEY HAVE 45 DAYS TO APPROVE IT.

AND AT THAT POINT, IF THEY APPROVE, IT COMES BACK TO THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSION. YOU HAVE THIRTY DAYS TO APPEAL IT. IF THAT DATE PASSES AND THERE'S NO APPEAL, THEN YOU ARE REQUIRED TO FUND IT AT THE LEVEL OF THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE HAS APPROVED.

YOU CAN'T SAY TRACY WANTS "X," WE'RE GOING TO GIVE HIM SOMETHING LESS THAN THAT. THAT ONLY HAPPENS IF YOU'VE APPEALED

IT. >> OKAY.

>> WHICH OFFICES THAT'S YOUR OFFICE ONLY --

>> I KNOW THE BUDGET APPROVAL PROCESS THROUGH THE STATE IS THE PROPERTY TAX COLLECTOR. OUR BUDGETS ARE BOTH SUBMITTED

TO THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE. >> IT'S INTERESTING, YOU KNOW, RIGHT BEHIND YOU IS OUR SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS.

WE'RE REQUIRED TO HOLD ELECTIONS.

WE'RE REQUIRED TO HOLD THEM TO A CERTAIN STANDARD IN THE STATE.

WE HAVE LAWS AROUND OUR ELECTIONS.

UNLIKE SOME STATES. THEY HAVE LAWS, I GUESS, BUT THEY DON'T FOLLOW THEM ANYWAY. I DIGRESS.

SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU DO WITH THAT.

IF I MAY. I THINK IT MAY BE IMPORTANT FOR YOUR CONVERSATION, ONE PART OF THE PROPOSAL IS STATUTORY.

SO EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT TODAY IS A CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUE THAT WOULD GO ON THE BAL IN NOVEMBER.

THERE'S A STATUTORY ISSUE THAT THE LEGISLATURE HAS APPROVED AS IT RELATES TO HOW YOU CAN ADOPT A MILLAGE RATE.

AND THAT -- AS SOON AS -- I BELIEVE THAT THE GOVERNOR WOULD SIGN THIS AS OF JULY 1 THAT WILL IMPACT YOUR ABILITY TO LEVY A MILLAGE FOR THIS YEAR. AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT ME TO SPEAK TO THAT BRIEFLY AS TO WHAT THOSE CHANGES ARE.

CURRENTLY YOU HAVE A ROLLBACK RATE.

THAT ROLLBACK RATE AND AN INCREASING MARKET, THAT RATE IS

[00:50:01]

THAT WOULD GET YOU THE SAME REVENUE AS THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

THEN YOU ADOPT A MILLAGE RATE THE WAY YOU ALWAYS V THE WAY THIS WOULD WORK IS THAT YOU HAVE TO START WITH THE ROLLBACK RATE.

TO ADOPT THE ROLLBACK RATE YOU'LL NEED A SIMPLE MAJORITY TO KEEP THE SAME REVENUE THAT YOU HAD LAST YEAR.

IF YOU WANT TO LEVY UP TO 10 PERCENT MORE THAN THE REELBACK RATE, YOU'RE GOING TO NEED A TWO-THIRDS VOTE OF THE COMMISSION. SO FOUR OUT OF THE FIVE WOULD BE REQUIRED TO GO ABOVE THE ROLLBACK RATE.

AND TO DO MORE THAN 10 IT PERCENT ABOVE THE ROLLBACK RATE, YOU WOULD NEED A UNANIMOUS VOTE OF THE BOARD.

>> I HAVE A CLARIFYING QUESTION. WHAT WAS YOUR LAST PERCENTAGE?

YOU SAID + 10 PERCENT. >> ROLLBACK YOU NEED A SIMPLE MAJORITY TO KEEP THE REVENUE YOU HAD LAST YEAR UP TO 110 PERCENT OF THE ROLLBACK, YOU WOULD NEED A TWO-THIRDS MAJORITY, WHICH WOULD BE FOUR OUT OF THE FIVE. BECAUSE THAT'S 66.7%.

MILLAGE INCREASE GREATER THAN 110%.

YOU WOULD NEED A UNANIMOUS VOTE. I'M PRETTY CONFIDENT THAT WILL

APPLY TO THIS YEAR'S PROCESS. >> THE SIGNATURE OF WHAT

DOCUMENT? >> THIS WAS A STATUTORY AMENDMENT. SO THIS GOES BACK TO THE GOVERNOR AS OPPOSED TO THE PROPOSAL FOR TAX REFORM GOES TO THE VOTERS. THIS LEGISLATIVE CHANGE, THAT CAME OUT OF THE LEGISLATURE, THAT WOULD GO FOR HIS SIGNATURE AND IF HE SIGNS IT, IT BECOMES EFFECTIVE JULY 1ST.

>> WAS IT A BILL? >> YEAH.

WHAT WAS THE BILL? >> CSSB -- IT'S IN SPECIAL SESSION. 45.

>> IT WAS PART OF THE SAME BILL. THERE'S TWO DIFFERENT PIECES TO THAT BILL. SO JUST FOR CLARITY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ALL -- TECHNICALLY YOUR ROLLBACK RATE THIS YEAR WILL BE LESS THAN THE 8.6. BECAUSE YOU'VE HAD PROPERTY VALUE INCREASES SO TO MAINTAIN YOUR MILLAGE AT 8.601, TO GENERATE THE NUMBERS THAT WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT, WOULD NEED A FOUR OUT OF FIVE VOTE TO MAINTAIN THAT 8.6.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE OF WHAT

THAT MEANS FOR THE BOARD. >> ARE YOU GOING TO TELL US WHAT THAT IS? ARE YOU GOING TO TELL --

>> WE DON'T KNOW THE ROLLBACK RATE YET BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE

THAT UNTIL AFTER JULY. >> WHEN WE GIVE THE ESTIMATE THAT'S A JUNE 1 ESTIMATE. THAT'S A WORKING NUMBER.

WE'LL CERTIFY THE PRELIMINARY ROLE JULY 1ST.

THIS WILL BEGIN THIS PROCESS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

>> GOT IT. >> UNFORTUNATELY WE CAN'T GIVE YOU THAT NUMBER TODAY BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE IT YET.

>> I REMEMBER THAT. I JUST HAD FORGOTTEN.

>> WHAT YOU JUST SAID, I THOUGHT HE SAID IF WE WANT TO GO UP 10 PERCENT. YOU'RE SAYING --

>> FROM THE ROLLBACK RATE. WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO GENERATE THE SAME DOLLARS YOU GENERATED LAST YEAR? RIGHT NOW WE'RE AT 8.6. THAT'S OUR MILLAGE.

IT WILL GO DOWN TO 8.5 SOMETHING WITH THE ROLLBACK.

FOR YOU TO GET BACK TO THE 8.6, WE'LL TAKE A FOUR OUT OF FIVE VOTE AT THAT POINT IN TIME WHEN WE BRING THE BUDGET TO YOU GUYS IN SEPTEMBER. OR EVEN TO SET MAX MILLAGE, YOU'LL HAVE TO SET THE MAX MILLAGE TO SAY THAT'S YOUR INTENT. SO JUST SO WE ALL -- IT'S NOT A

SIMPLE MAJORITY ANYMORE. >> IF I MAY, THIS MAY BE A GOOD INJECT. SO WE HAVE ANOTHER BUDGET WORKSHOP SET PRIOR TO THE LAST BCC MEETING OF JULY SPECIFICALLY TO TALK ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND OTHERS FOR IT.

SO JULY 23RD AT NINE O'CLOCK. SO THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE

DO THAT ALSO. >> AT THIS POINT, WE FOCUSSED ON THE FUTURE TWO YEARS, THREE YEARS OUT.

AT THIS POINT, I'M GOING TO TURN OVER TO MJ AND SHE'LL WALK YOU THROUGH THIS YEAR'S CURRENT BUDGET WHICH DOESN'T DOESN'T HAVE ANY IN EFFECT OF THE TAX REFORM BUT IN GOOD CONSCIOUS TRYING TO PREPARE FOR WHAT COULD HAPPEN AND I THINK SHE'S GOING TO TAKE THROUGH THIS YEAR'S BUDGET.

>> ONE QUESTION ON THAT, THOUGH. YOU SAID IT DOESN'T HAVE ANY IMPACT ON THIS. BUT WHAT TRACY JUST PRESENTED

WOULD. >> THAT WOULD.

>> YES, THAT WOULD. IN WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT TODAY, DOES IT CONTEMPLATE THE ROLLBACK RATE OR DOES IT

[00:55:04]

CONTEMPLATE CURRENT -- >> WE KNOW CURRENTLY.

8.6. >> GOOD QUESTION, THANK YOU,

MAPLE. >> A LOT OF DISCUSSION ALREADY THIS MORNING. AS WE GO INTO KNOWING WHAT MAY COME, WE ALSO HAVE OUR CURRENT BUDGET FOR NEXT FISCAL YEAR AHEAD OF US AND THAT'S WHERE WE'RE GOING TO FOCUS AT THIS

[2. Fund Details]

SOME OF THE ASSUMPTIONS THAT WE HAVE IN THIS PRESENTATION IS FOR REVENUES WHICH GIVEN TRACY'S PRELIMINARY IS A 4% GROWTH ON AD VALOREM. 0 TO 2% GROWTH IN OTHER REVENUES. SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE NOT ROLLED INTO THIS PRESENTATION, WE HAVE NOT INCLUDED OUR GRANT REVENUE, INDIRECT COST RECOVERIES, OR WORKERS' COMPENSATION FOR THE SAKE OF THIS PRESENTATION.

THE EXPENSES THAT WE FACTORED ARE A 3% IN PERSONNEL, 10 IT PERCENT IN OUR HEALTHCARE COSTS AND ALSO ENTERED IN ALL CONSTITUTIONAL BUDGETS SO WE DO APPRECIATE ALL OF OUR CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS GETTIN IN THOSE BUDGETS SO THAT WE CAN HAVE THIS PREPARED FOR YOU TODAY.

AND OUR UNION CONTRACT. WE HAVE PUT INTO THIS PRESENTATION ALL OF THE TRANSFERS FROM THE GENERAL FUNDS SO ANYWAY DEFICIT THAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE IN THE FUND AS WE MOVE FORWARD, THOSE ARE SUPPLEMENTED BY OUR GENERAL FUND AND YOU'LL SEE THOSE IN A RED COLOR AS WE MOVE FORWARD INTO THE PRESENTATION. WE'VE SET OUR GENERAL FUND RESERVE AT A 16.7%. WE'VE MADE OUR FIRE CONTROL MSTU, OUR TRANSPORTATION TRUST, AND THE UNINCORPORATED FUND AT A 5% RESERVES. AND FUND RESERVES FOR OUR SHARE OF COUNTYWIDE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT MSTU AT A 2 ½% OF RESERVES. ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE FOR DISCUSSION FOR YOU TODAY. AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

>> I HAVE A QUESTION. >> YES, SIR.

>> WHERE DID THE PERSONAL FACTOR OF 3% COME FROM?

>> THAT IS TYPICAL OF WHAT WE'VE SEEN YEAR-OVER-YEAR FROM A PERSONNEL PERSPECTIVE. SO WE ADDED IT IN TO THIS YEAR, OF COURSE, UP FOR DISCUSSION AT THE DISCRETION OF THE BOARD.

>> I'M SEEING INFLATION AT LESS THAN 3%.

SO I WOULD LIKE TO REVIEW OF WHERE THAT 3% COMES FROM AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT A 2 ½% TO 2.6%, COST OF LIVING INCREASE, IT AMOUNTS TO .4% PAY RAISE FOR EVERYBODY IN THE ORGANIZATION.

AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A DISCUSSION ON THAT.

WHY DOES EVERYBODY DESERVE A PAY RAISE?

IN THESE FISCAL AUSTERE TIMES. >> THROUGH THE CHAIR, I THINK THAT'S PART OF THE DISCUSSION. THAT'S THE DIRECTION THAT WE'RE KIND OF LOOKING FOR TODAY FROM THE BOARD IS IT'S A GOOD EXAMPLE OF WHAT DO YOU GUYS WANT US TO BRING BACK AND LOOK AT? WE'RE MORE THAN HAPPY. I WILL SAY THAT I THINK WE LOOKED AT SOCIAL SECURITY AND IT'S GOING UP BY 3.3 -- IT'S SIGNIFICANTLY -- IT'S MORE THAN 3%.

SO IF THERE'S GUIDANCE ON WHAT WE WANT TO USE THE % REALLY CAME OUT OF THE STUDY THAT WE DID TWO YEARS AGO THAT THEY SAID THAT'S ABOUT WHERE YOU NEED TO BE TO KEEP THINGS MOVING.

AND STAY COMPETITIVE. WE'LL CERTAINLY LOOK AT IT, SIR.

>> LIKE I SAID, YOU KNOW, ABOUT AND CUSTOMARY AND WHAT WE DID IN THE PAST DOESN'T REALLY CUT WITH ME.

>> I AGREE. >> I THINK AS WE WALK THROUGH THE PRESENTATION, ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE UP FOR THAT DISCUSSION FROM THE O AND B SIDE, FROM STAFF SIDE.

CERTAINLY AT THE DIRECTION OF THE BOARD, YOU KNOW, WE CAN BRING BACK THE DIFFERENT NUMBERS THAT YOU HAVE.

>> WHEN I ASKED THIS QUESTION ONCE BEFORE, I WAS GIVEN THE ANSWER, WELL MEDICAL COSTS WENT UP.

WE HAVE MSAS. WE CAN PUT THAT MONEY INTO AN MSA WHICH WOULD ACCOMMODATE THAT NEED AND THAT DESIRE TO MAINTAIN OUR EMPLOYEES AT A CERTAIN LEVEL.

BUT WHEN WE PUT IN THE PAY IT COMPOUNDS.

IT'S AN EXPONENTIAL TYPE COMPOUND OVER THE YEARS.

3% OF 3% OF 3%, WHEN IT SHOULD BE 2 ½% OF 2 ½% IS HUGE IN THE OUT YEARS. HUGE DELTA.

>> I THINK IF IT'S A HEALTHCARE COST, A PREMIUM INCREASE, WHICH WE STILL DON'T KNOW YET, WE DON'T KNOW HEALTHCARE -- SO WE COULD CHOOSE TO NOT PASS THAT ALONG TO THE EMPLOYEES.

THAT COULD BE IN A DIFFERENT LINE.

[01:00:01]

>> PREMIUM COSTS CAN'T COME OUT OF MSA?

>> NOT FOR THE EMPLOYEE, NO. THEIR PREMIUM IS PRETAX.

OF THEIR INCOME. THEN THEIR HSA --

>> POINT I'M MAKING IS WE CAN LOOK AT ACCOMMODATIONS IF THERE IS A REAL NEED, YOU KNOW, JUSTIFIABLE NEED.

>> AND ONE WHERE YOU CAN DO THAT IS TO NOT HAVE IT COMPOUND IN

THE INCOME LINE PER EMPLOYEE. >> THAT'S RIGHT.

THAT'S MY EXACT POINT. >> I DID HEAR THIS MORNING THAT THE GOVERNOR -- THE LEGISLATURE PUT IN 4% INCREASE FOR FIRE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AT THE STATE LEVEL ONLY.

HE DID NOT -- THE GOVERNOR, I GUESS, THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET OR THE LEGISLATURE'S REGARDLESS ONE OF THE TWO BUDGETS BUT THEY ADOPTED WHATEVER THEY ADOPTED AS A 4% FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND FIRE BUT NOT FOR ANY OTHER EMPLOYEES.

>> I THOUGHT THEIR PAY RAISE WAS FROZEN.

>> THROUGH THE CHAIR. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT, FIRE, DEPARTMENT, FIREFIGHTERS AND SELECT PEOPLE WERE GETTING A 4% PAY RAISE. FOR THE SECOND, THIRD -- FOR SO MANY YEARS NOW, THEY'VE FROZEN THE HEALTHCARE PREMIUMS OF STATE EMPLOYEES. SO THAT WAS KIND OF THEIR TRADEOFF. SAVINGS AND HEALTHCARE PREMIUMS. I THINK THERE ARE DIFFERENT WAYS YOU CAN APPROACH THIS AND THAT'S WHAT WE JUST NEED TO KNOW IS FROM THE BOARD'S DIRECTION, WHAT ALL DO YOU WANT US TO LOOK AT? I THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF LEVERS WE HAVE TO PULL TO GET THIS IN LINE.

WE JUST NEED TO KNOW WHAT'S IN BOUNDS AND WHAT'S NOT.

>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION ON THE BASIS OF THE BUDGET? OKAY.

SO THE NEXT SLIDE IS YOUR TAXABLE VALUE YEAR OVER YEAR.

SO WE'RE SHOWING BACK FROM EARLY 2007 BUT WE'VE GOT A 4% CHANGE THIS YEAR AND WE'RE REALLY HAVEN'T SEEN A NUMBER LIKE THAT SINCE ABOUT YEAR 2014 RANGE. OUR RESERVES, SO WE GET OUR

[3. Reserves]

SO WHILE OUR OTHER FUNDS ARE FROM 2 ½ TO ABOUT 10%, IF THERE'S ANY OVERRUN IN THOSE OTHER FUNDS, WE ARE PULLING FROM THE GENERAL FUND TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE EXPENSES ARE COVERED.

>> WHAT'S THAT OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD THE DOLLAR AMOUNT OF 16.7? DO YOU KNOW?

>> IT'S ABOUT 23 MILLION. >> THANK YOU.

>> OUR FIRST IS OUR CONSTITUTIONAL BUDGETS MINUS OUR SHERIFF. WE HAVE OUR PROPERTY APPRAISER, SUPERVISOR ELECTIONS, AND THEN THE TOTAL CLERK FUNCTION SO THERE'S A LOT OF FUNCTIONS THAT OUR CLERK AND COMPTROLLER.

ANY QUESTIONS? >> JUST FOR THE SAKE OF DISCUSSION THE INCREASE TO YOUR BUDGET'S PRETTY MINIMUM -- IT'S FAIRLY SMALL. IS THAT JUST -- WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE? FROM 4.5 TO 4.8.

>> YES, SIR, IT'S COST OF LIVING.

I THINK MY PERSONAL SERVICE WAS UP 2.8%.

AND CONTRACTS. YOU KNOW, OUR SOFTWARE VENDORS, THEY GO UP EVERY YEAR. SO JUST LIKE EVERYBODY, WE'VE TRIED TO SHARPEN OUR PENCILS AND LIVE WITH WHAT WE'VE GOT.

THE BULK OF MINE, 85% OF MY BUDGET IS PERSONAL.

R MINE IS SALARIES, YOU KNOW, COUPLE PROMOTIONS.

THAT'S WHAT'S BUILT INTO THE BUDGET.

>> GOT IT. >> I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THE BUDGETS THAT OUR CONSTITUTIONALS DO SUBMIT, THEY DO NOT SUBMIT WHAT THAT HEALTHCARE COST IS SO WE DO PUT THAT 10 PERCENT ON THERE AS WELL. SO SOME OF THE NUMBERS THAT YOU

[01:05:01]

THAT WE FACTOR IN THERE. >> SAME THING?

>> CERTAINLY. ONE OF THE BIGGEST COST THAT IS WE HAVE THIS YEAR IS END OF LIFE EQUIPMENT WE'RE HAVING TO REPLACE, THE BENEFIT OF THE BLOT ON DEMAND PRINTERS IS WE DON'T HAVE TO PRINT BLOTS IN ADVANCE BUT ONLY WHEN A VOTER IS AUTHENTICATE AND HAD READY TO VOTE.

IT'S A COST SAVINGS TO DO THE BALLOT ON DEMAND.

ANOTHER THING WE'RE SEEING IN THE INDUSTRY WITH REGARDS TO CONTRACTS IS SOFTWARE LICENSING IS GOING AWAY FROM PERPETUAL LICENSING TO SUBSCRIPTION LICENSING.

AND IT'S ROUGHLY TRAVELLING AT ABOUT 25% GROWTH.

THERE'S NO WAY TO NEGOTIATE WITH THAT.

I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL WHEN THEY PULL UP TO THE RACETRACK AND SAY, THAT $4 A GALLON FUEL IS PRETTY EXPENSIVE.

I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO GET THE $ 2 A GALLON OR I WISH MY MILK WAS $1 A GALLON. THOSE ARE THE SAME INCREASES WE FEEL AT HOME AND IT'S NO DIFFERENT FROM GOVERNMENT.

IT'S THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS. IF YOU LOOK AT IT, WHEN WE WERE TALKING EARLIER ABOUT THE FUNDING OF CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS AND SPECIFICALLY, I'M NOT FEE BASED.

YOU KNOW, SINCE 1941, WE DID AWAY WITH THE PULL TAX HERE IN FLORIDA. WE HAVE A QUALITY OF LIFE OF EXPECTATIONS. THE STATUTES REQUIRE ME TO HAVE ONE EARLY VOTING SITE. CLAY COUNTY IS VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE SEVEN EARLY VOTING SITES. YOU KNOW, WE HEARD A LOT OF PUSHBACK GOING BACK AS FAR TO THE 2000 ELECTION AND OTHERS TO WHERE WE SAW PICTURES IN MANY FLORIDA COUNTIES OF INDIVIDUALS WAITING FOR HOURS IN LINE TO VOTE TO MAKE PART IN THAT PROCESS AND WE, AS A TEAM, ALL OF US, HAVE KEPT IN MIND THE DESIRE TO BRING THAT QUALITY OF LIFE IN ALL AREAS TO OUR RESIDENTS ESPECIALLY OUR VOTERS. SO WHILE I'M REQUIRED BY STATUTE TO HAVE ONE SITE, WE HAVE SEVEN. WHILE I'M REQUIRED TO HAVE EARLY VOTING FOR EIGHT HOURS A DAY, MANY TIMES IT'S TWELVE HOURS A DAY. I'M REQUIRED TO HAVE EARLY VOTING FOR SEVEN DAYS. OFTENTIMES WE HAVE EARLY VOTING AS TEN. WHY? 77% OF THE VOTE HAPPENS PRIOR TO ELECTION DAY.

AND SO AGAIN IT'S THESE -- IT'S THIS CHOICE THAT WE HAVE.

WE HAVE A LEVEL OF INCOME, SOURCE OF MONEY, AND THEN WE HAVE COSTS THAT GO WITH THAT AND YOU HAVE TO MAKE THE DECISION OF WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO SPEND YOUR DOLLARS.

FOR ME IT'S REALLY JUST AS MUCH ABOUT QUALITY OF LIFE HERE IN CLAY COUNTY ESPECIALLY WHEN WE'RE THE SECOND HIGHEST IMPACTED IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA DUE TO THIS BILL AND YET WE'RE THE 60TH OUT OF 67 COUNTIES WITH REGARDS TO FUNDING THROUGH AD VALOREM TAXES. SO I THINK THAT IT'S REASONABLE.

WE HAVE A LOT OF TOUGH CHOICES. IT DEPENDS.

DO YOU WANT -- I KNOW THAT HOWARD AND THE REST OF YOU HAVE SEEN THE NEED TO USE MULTIPURPOSE FACILITIES IN ANY FIRE STATION THAT YOU BUILT OR ANY COUNTY BUILDING THAT YOU BUILT. IT'S THAT SMART THINKING THAT GOES IN LINE TO HELP OVERALL TO REDUCE THE COST OF GOVERNMENT.

THAT'S ALL I GOT TO SAY. >> GOOD POINTS.

QUESTION ABOUT THE SOFTWARE LICENSING.

IS ALL OF THAT SPECIFIC TO VOTING OR IS THAT ALSO SOME GENERAL GOVERNMENT PURPOSE -- YOU KNOW, MICROSOFT, THOSE TYPES

OF THINGS, FOR YOU? >> IT'S ALL OF THE ABOVE.

IT'S A NATIONAL TREND. WE'VE HAD ACQUISITION FOR A VIRTUAL MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE FOR OUR VIRTUAL SERVERS AND THEY SAY THIS YEAR, IT WAS 60,000 DOLLARS.

NEXT YEAR IT'S GOING TO BE 80,000.

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO? YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PAY IT.

LAST I CHECKED WE NEED THESE SYSTEM TO CONDUCT OUR BUSINESS AND TO GET IT DONE QUICKLY I MIGHT ADD.

>> NOT TWO WEEKS LATER. >> NO.

>> NOT IN FLORIDA. >> IF I MAY, I WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT YOURS BECAUSE THE BULK OF YOUR INCREASE IS IN THE CLERK OF

[01:10:02]

RIGHT? >> SO A PORTION OF MY BUDGET IS PAID THROUGH THE STATE COURT SYSTEM THROUGH FINES AND FEES AND WE ARE HELD WHOLE TO WHATEVER WE BRING IN AND APPROPRIATE BACK OUT TO THE 67 COUNTIES.

WHAT YOU HAVE LISTED HERE ARE SEVEN DIFFERENT BUDGETS AND FIVE OF WHICH COME OUT OF GR. TWO ARE SELF-FUNDED.

ALTHOUGH WE ARE SEEING A REDUCTION IN THAT.

AND JUST TO CLARIFY, OVERALL, FOR ALL THE GI FUNDED BUDGETS THAT WE SUBMITTED, YEAR OVER YEAR, WE ARE AT 2% INCREASE THIS YEAR. AND IT'S THE SAME THING.

IT'S SOFTWARE COSTS, PERSONNEL COSTS, JUST THE COST OF DOING

BUSINESS. >> AND THEN FROM THOSE FINES AND

FEES, THAT IS SET BY THE STATE. >> WELL, THE WAY IT WORKS IS EACH YEAR THE REC COMES TOGETHER AND THEY DO ESTIMATES AS TO WHAT THEY THINK OUR OFFICES WILL BRING IN THROUGH FINES AND FEES.

YOUR CIVIL FILINGS, CRIMINAL PAYMENTS, TRAFFIC CITATIONS BEING A LARGE PART OF THAT. THAT EXPECTS DEPENDS ON WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE ECONOMY, IF WE'VE HAD A NATURAL DISASTER, IT AFFECTS THOSE REVENUE TRAUMAS. THEY -- REVENUE STREAMS IS.

501 MILLION, IF YOU WILL, TO GO ACROSS ALL 67 COUNTIES TO FUND THE STATE COURT SYSTEM MUCH WHAT WE DO.

THE CLERK OF COURT FUNCTION. WE ARE VERY TIED TO WHAT WE CAN SPEND THAT MONEY ON, VERY, VERY SPECIFIC.

ONLY INDIVIDUALS WHO SUPPORT THE COURT SYSTEM.

THAT'S IT. SO I CANNOT USE THOSE.

IF I WAS TO GET APPROPRIATED MONEY MORE THAN WHAT I NEEDED FOR A BUDGET THAT I PUT OUT THERE FOR STATE, FOR THE STATE COURTS, I CANNOT USE THAT EXTRA REVENUE, WHICH ISN'T THERE, BUT IF IT WAS, I CANNOT USE THAT TO OFFSET LOCAL RESPONSIBILITY WHICH IS WHAT YOU SEE ON THIS BUDGET.

>> OKAY. AND THEN FROM THE COMPTROLLER'S SIDE, THE COMPTROLLER DUTIES WERE GIVEN TO YOU BY A

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT. >> CORRECT.

>> FROM THE VOTERS IN 2018. >> IT WAS EFFECTIVE 2020.

>> IS THERE ANY STATE FUNDING THAT COMES TO SUPPORT THAT?

>> NO. >> OKAY.

NONE AT ALL. >> CLERK, THE ADDITIONAL COUNTY

JUDGE IS IN THIS BUDGET? >> THE COUNTY JUDGES ARE NOT.

THIS YEAR -- LAST YEAR, BY THE GRACE OF THE BOARD, WE GOT FUNDED FOR THE TWO CLERKS TO SUPPORT THE NEW COUNTY JUDGES COMING IN. WE, THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, WORKED TO FIGURE OUT HOW BECOME ABSORB THOSE COST SO WE DIDN'T HAVE TO COME BACK AND ASK FOR THAT FUNDING AGAIN WHICH WE DID NOT.

IT WAS A ONE-TIME FUNDING TO GET US THROUGH THE FIRST YEARMENT BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH THE LEGISLATURE AND THE SUPREME COURT CERTIFIED ALL THESE NEW JUDGES, THEY DID NOT PROVIDE FUNDING TO THE CLERK'S OFFICES, THE STATE ATTORNEYS, THE PDS, ALL OF THE SUPPORT FUNCTIONS THAT SUPPORT THOSE JUDGES WITH

THOSE CASE FILINGS. >> IF I MAY, THROUGH THE CHAIR, THAT'S ALSO INCREASING THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE SIDE BECAUSE FOR EVERY SPECIAL MAGISTRATE, EVERY JUDGE YOU ADD, THEY HAVE A DEPUTY RESPONSIBILITY IN THAT COURT SO YES, IT WAS FUNDED BY THE JUDGE, THE PERSON, THE SUPPORT PERSON, FOR THAT JUDGE, WAS FUNDED. HER SUPPORT STAFF AND THE SHERIFF'S SUPPORT STAFF WERE NOT FUNDED AND THAT'S COMING OUT OF

YOUR GENERAL FUND. >> ANY TIME THERE'S AN INCREASE IN JUDICIARY, WE DO NOT GET FUNDED LOCALLY.

>> I THINK THAT THAT IS ONE EXAMPLE OF SOME OF THE STATE MANDATES THAT WERE REQUIRED TO PAY FOR THAT THE PUBLIC WOULD

HAVE NO WAY TO KNOW. >> YOU'RE RIGHT.

>> I THINK THOSE MAY BE KIND OF THE THINGS THAT WHEN THEY HAD TALKED ABOUT THE TRUST FUND, THAT THEY WERE THINKING THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO SUPPORT MAYBE. I DON'T KNOW.

IT DIDN'T HAPPEN. SO --

>> THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN. >> IF I COULD CLARIFY ON CLERK TECHNOLOGY, THAT'S NOT TECHNOLOGY FOR THE CLERK.

THAT'S ACTUALLY A $2 FUND THAT WE ARE A PROCUREMENT OFFICER BASICALLY. AND $2 FROM A CERTAIN FILING COMES IN AND WE PROCURE SERVICES FOR THE STATE ATTORNEY, THE PD, THE LINE AND THE COURTS. SO JUST TO CLARIFY THAT'S NOT SUPPORTING THE CLERK'S OFFICE TECHNOLOGY.

>> OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?

[01:15:01]

DIESEL. >> SO WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR YEAR-OVER-YEAR FOR THE PAST TWO

YEARS. >> OR THEIR BUDGET FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS AND THEIR PROPOSED BUDGET FOR THIS UPCOMING YEAR.

IF FUNDING AT THE LEVEL OF ASK HERE, YOUR TRANSFER FROM THE GENERAL FUND IS THE 6.9 NUMBER. WE HAVE A 5%.

RESERVES.

>>. >> AND THE RESURFACING BUDGET COME OUT OF THIS? NO?

IT COMES OUT OF CAPITAL? >> IT COMES OUT OF CFB.

>> STREET RESURFACING. IT'S REALLY CALLED ROAD IMPROVEMENTS NOW. THAT'S YOUR RESURFACING, YOUR ROAD PAVING AND YOUR ROAD REJUVENATION.

ROUGHLY 10, $11 MILLION. CIP.

THAT GOES TO SALES TAX AND IS OTHER GAS TAXES.

>> OKAY. DOES ANYBODY KNOW IF THE LEGISLATURE'S TAKEN UP ANY MEASURE TO RESOLVE THE VEHICLES NT ROAD THAT PAY NO FUEL TAXES? G TOWN

>> THANK YOU. SOUNDS LIKE A LEGISLATIVE

PRIORITY. >> STAY IN YOUR LANE.

YOU'VE GOT PLENTY TO DO. >> OKAY.

OUR NEXT FUND IS OUR UNINCORPORATED MSTU.

THIS IS ACCOUNTS FOR YOUR PLANNING, ZONING, ENGINEERING AND YOUR CODE ENFORCEMENT SERVICES PROVIDED FOR THE COUNTY. SO AT THIS POINT THIS FUND IS SELF-FUNDED THROUGH FEES THAT IS COLLECTED.

SO AS IT STANDS TODAY, IT IS A SELF-FUNDED FUND.

THERE'S NO TRANSFERS FROM THE FEDERAL FUND THAT COMES TO THIS FOR THEIR ASK IN THE BUDGET. NEXT IS OUR FIRE CONTROL MSTU.

IT ACCOUNTS FOR THE 25% PROVISIONS FOR UNINCORPORATED POR PORTIONS OF THE COUNTY.

THE OTHER 75% IS PROVIDED FROM THE GENERAL FUND SO THIS PORTION IS THE FULL 25% IS NOT COLLECTED THROUGH THE MSTU.

YOU HAVE ABOUT 6.9 IF THIS FUND THAT'S SUPPLEMENTED FROM THE GENERAL FUND TO COVER THAT ENTIRE 25% PORTION.

UNINCORPORATED MSTU SLIDE, WHEN WE DID OUR BUDGET WORKSHOP EARLIER THIS YEAR, AND THE FUN LITTLE EXERCISE WITH THE CHIPS, AS I RECALL, THIS WAS THE ONLY BUDGET THAT WAS SELF-SUSTAINING.

>> THAT'S RIGHT. >> SO EVERYTHING ELSE WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT IS GOING TO HAVE A GENERAL FUND TRANSFER.

>> THAT'S RIGHT. YES, MA'AM.

>> JUST FOR CLARITY, OUT OF YOUR AD VALOREM SUPPORTED ONES, YOUR BUILDING FUND IS SELF-SUPPORTED. OUT OF THINGS THAT WE PUT AD VALOREM MONEY INTO, THIS IS THE ONLY ONE THAT'S NOT SELF-SUPPORTED. I JUST WANT TO MAKE THAT

SKIFRNGS. >> THANK YOU.

>> SO YOUR FIRE CONTROL MSTU ALSO DOES ACCOUNT FOR 5%

RESERVES. >> MADAM CHAIR.

THE 7 MILLION FOR THIS ONE, IS THAT BECAUSE OF THE NEW STATIONS? OR WHAT'S THE REASONING, I

GUESS. >> THE 7 MILLION?

>> THE REASONING FOR THE 7 MILLION TRANSFER.

>> THE "D" YOU SEE A TRANSFER, I MEAN, YEAR CAN OVER YEAR, YOU KNOW, FOR THIS. AS YOU CAN SEE.

THIS CURRENT YEAR, WE HAD ABOUT A $5 MILLION TRANSFER AND THAT'S FOR SERVICES THAT ARE RENDERED FROM FIRE CONTROL.

I DON'T KNOW IF OUR -- FOR -- >> MEAN, REALLY, IT'S THE REVENUE COMING IN, THAT MSTU IS TAXING EVERYBODY IN THE

[01:20:01]

AGAIN IT'S BACK TO THE TAXABLE VALUE ISSUE.

YOU WOULD HAVE EXPENSES THAT ARE GREATER THAN WHAT YOU CAN TAX ON THE 25%. IT'S A $7 MILLION DEFICIT AND LAST YEAR WAS 5.3. THE AMENDED BUDGET RIGHT NOW IS 5.3. IT'S NOT THAT IT'S -- IT'S ALWAYS BEEN TRENDING THAT WAY THAT THE MSTU CAN WANT FULLY

SUPPORT ITSELF. >> THAT'S WHERE IT'S DIFFERENT

THAN A FIRE FEE. >> MSTU IS BASED ON PROPERTY VALUES IN THAT DISTRICT BASE TSDZ ON THE MILLAGE RATE THAT

YOU SAID. >> WITH THAT DISCUSSION I TAKE THE ABSENCE OF NUMBER IN '24/'25 IT WAS SELF-SUSTAINING?

>> I DON'T BELIEVE SO. I THINK IF WE WENT BACK AND LOOKED, THERE WAS A TRANSFER IN THAT YEAR TOO.

I WOULD HAVE TO GO BACK AND LOOK.

>> WHAT I WAS TRYING TO DO IN MY BRAIN IS CREATE A TREND.

>> IT'S LINEAR. >> IT'S NOT A GOOD TREND.

>> YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT TAXABLE VALUE YEAR OVER YEAR.

THIS YEAR WE'RE AT THAT 4%. SO WE'RE TAKING INTO ACCOUNT 4% YEAR OVER-YEAR INSTEAD OF 8% THAT WE'VE SEEN OVER THE LAST

DECADE. >> PART OF THIS IS YOU'RE STAYING COMPETITIVE IN THE MARKET WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

AND BRINGING ON AGAIN YOU'RE AT "X" NUMBER OF FIREFIGHTERS PER THOUSAND RESIDENTS FIVE YEARS AGO.

THIS BOARD COLLECTIVELY, MADE A DECISION TO SUPPORT FIRE RESCUE AND THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT IN YOUR AD VALOREM INCREASE THAT YOU DID FIVE YEARS AGO. SO THAT WAS TO TRY TO INCREASE IT. THE VALUES HAVE NOT INCREASED ENOUGH TO KEEP THAT PACE. IT'S JUST THAT'S THE

MATHEMATICS. >> IF I MAY, CAN YOU SPEAK TO THE DIFFERENCE IN THE 3 ½ MILLION DOLLARS THAT WE ADOPTED OUR '25/'26 BUDGET AND WE AMENDED IT TO.

>> YOU SEE WHAT I'M SAYING. >> TRANSFERS.

>> NO. IN THE TRANSFERS LINE.

>> IN THE TRANSFERS FOR THE CASH CARRY FORWARD.

>> WE ADOPTED A MUCH LOWER BUDGET.

>> WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT YOUR CASH CARRY FORWARD NUMBER FROM THE ADOPTED THAT CASH CARRY FORWARD NUMBER, YOU KNOW, WHEN IT WAS CALCULATED WAS NOT -- ONCE WE GOT INTO THE NEW FISCAL YEAR IN OUR FINANCIAL AUDITED, IT WAS ACTUALLY AT A ZERO NUMBER. WE WERE PLANNING ON NOT SPENDING

THAT MONEY. >> YOU HAVE TO AMEND THE BUDGET.

IT WAS ALREADY ADOPTED AT THAT TIME.

>> WE PART OF IT GOES BACK TO THE COLLECTION RATES.

WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT 97%, 98 PECS% COLLECTION RATE.

YOU'RE AT 95%. RIGHT NOW TODAY YOU HAVE NOT COLLECTED 95% OF YOUR AD VALOREM.

YOU'RE AT 94%. >> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> EVEN THE 5% HOLDBACK THAT WE TALK ABOUT EVERY YEAR, WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO BE THAT BUFFER FOR COLLECTIONS, AND WE FACTOR IN WE THINK WE'RE GOING TO COLLECT 96, 97 BY THE END OF THE YEAR, THAT'S HOW WE FACTOR THAT. ALL THOSE THINGS COME INTO PLAY.

>> MY CONCERN IS THAT WHILE WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ABSORB THOSE THINGS THAT WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO HAVE THE LUXURY OF ABSORBING, SO BUDGETING RIGHT UP TO OR INCLUDING ANY CASH CARRYFORWARD IS RISKY. GOING FORWARD.

>> THE BUDGET OFFICE IS KEEPING AN EYE ON THOSE NUMBERS NOT JUST IN THIS BUDGET PROCESS BUT SEPTEMBER, THE BEGINNING OF OCTOBER AND MAKING SURE THAT THOSE NUMBERS ARE CONTINUING TO

MATCH WHAT WAS ADOPTED. >> IF I'M CORRECT, AD VALOREM WAS DUE APRIL 1ST. IS THAT CORRECT? A DISCOUNT PRIOR TO THAT A BUT APRIL 1ST.

THEY'RE IN ARREARS. WE GOT A GREATER PROPORTION IN ARREARS TODAY THAN WE DID IN THE PAST.

>> YES. >> I DO SEE AN AD VALOREM COLLECTION COMING IN THROUGH ABOUT JUNE, SO THERE SHOULD BE SOME MORE THAT COMES IN IF IT TRENDS AS IT HAS IN PREVIOUS YEARS. BUT AFTER THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'LL BE SITTING ON WHAT THAT NUMBER DOES LOOK LIKE, LIKE TROY SAID, TODAY WE'RE SITTING AT 94% OF WHAT WAS PROJECTED.

>> MAYBE THAT'S A REFLECTION OF THE TIMES.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE -- THE GOVERNMENT DIDN'T JUST COME

[01:25:02]

TO PAY THEIR BILLS. AND SO IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT CAN -- IF THEY HAVE A MORTGAGE, THEIR TAXES MAY BE ESCROWED IN THEIR MORTGAGE. IF THEY DON'T, YOU KNOW, I GET

IT. >> YES, WE HAVE TO SET A BUDGET.

I UNDERSTAND IF WE'RE STARTING TO SEE PEOPLE NOT PAY THEIR -- MORE NOT PAY THEIR PROPERTY TAX BILLS IN THE PAST, THAT IS

INDICATIVE, I WOULD THINK. >> THAT'S THE DATA POINT.

>> YES. >> SO AS WE CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD WE MOVE TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

THIS IS A COMBINED OF OUR SHERIFFS COUNTYWIDE AND THE LAW ENFORCEMENT MSTU SO THIS IS ALL ENCOMPASSING OF WHAT THE SHERIFF'S BUDGET WAS REQUESTED. I WILL SAY AT THE BOTTOM OF THE NUMBER, THE 126 MILLION, THE SHERIFF DOES SUBMIT THEIR REQUESTS LESS THAN RESERVE. SO THAT 2 ½% IS IN THERE AS YOUR RESERVE PORTION AS WELL. SO THE SAME PROCESS AS OUR PREVIOUS FUNDS GOING DOWN OF HOW WE'VE CALCULATED TO GET TO THIS NUMBER. OUR NEXT SLIDE AND MOVING ON, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO OUR SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

>> GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU THIS MORNING. A LOT OF TOUGH CONVERSATIONS AND TOUGH DECISIONS AHEAD AND I HAVE A GREAT APPRECIATION FOR WHAT YOU ALL ARE GOING THROUGH BECAUSE IT AFFECTS ALL OF US HERE IN CLAY COUNTY. SO THANK YOU FOR THE TOUGH CONVERSATIONS AND THE TOUGH DECISIONS YOU HAVE TO MAKE.

OUR BUDGET IS AMONG THE BIGGEST. IT IS THE BIGGEST CONSTITUTIONAL BUDGET. AND I WANTED TO TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REITERATE NOT ONLY TO YOU BUT TO THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE ABOUT HOW WE DO BUDGETING AND WHERE WE'RE AT AND WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO. AS HAS BEEN STATE ADD COUPLE OF TIMES, CLAY COUNTY IS THE 25TH LARGEST COUNTY IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. WE SERVE A POPULATION OVER 240,000. THERE ARE TWO SMALL POLICE DEPARTMENTS THAT HANDLE CALLS FOR SERVICE BUT WE ALSO HANDLE CALLS FOR SERVICE IN THEIR AREAS AS WELL.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE COVER 644 SQUARE MILES.

WE AVERAGED OVER 740 CALLS A DAY LAST YEAR.

THAT'S ONE CALL FOR POLICE SERVICE EVERY TWO MINUTES IN THE COUNTY. WHEN I FIRST CAME INTO OFFICE IN 2020, WE WERE WELL OVER A HUNDRED DEPUTIES SHORT, BUT WITH YOUR COMMITMENT TO A SAFE COMMUNITY, WE'VE BEEN SLOWLY CHIPPING AWAY AT GETTING TO WHERE WE NEED TO BE.

TODAY WE STILL STAND AT 53 DEPUTIES SHORT OF WHAT WE CALL THE STATE AVERAGE. THAT'S JUST AN AVERAGE OF WHERE WE NEED TO BE AS FAR AS DEPUTIES PER 1,000.

I WOULD ARGUE THAT WE PROBABLY NEED TO BE SLIGHTLY ABOVE STATE AVERAGE JUST BECAUSE WE'RE SUCH A GEOGRAPHICALLY LARGE COUNTY.

SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO MENTION IS THAT EVERY SINGLE DAY IN THE CLAY COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE IS DOGE DAY. WE CONTINUALLY LOOK AT WAYS TO SAVE MONEY, WHETHER IT'S THROUGH CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS, BRINGING CARVE BUILDOUTS IN HOUSE, SUNSETTING DATABASES OR SUBSCRIPTION THAT IS WE CAN GET OUT OF THE CONTRACT BECAUSE THEY'RE NO LONGER USEFUL. EVERY SINGLE DAY WE DO THAT.

WE ARE FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE. WE DO ZERO-BASED BUDGETING AND ABOUT 81% OF MY BUDGET IS PEOPLE.

SO WE ARE IN THE PEOPLE INDUSTRY.

SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED OVER THE PAST YEARS THAT'S IMPORTANT TO TALK ABOUT WE HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED BY TH STATE IS ONE OF THE BEST MEDICAL COST CONTROL AGENCIES. WHEN I SAY MEDICAL COST CONTROL, INMATES. WE DEAL ON AVERAGE WITH OVER 400 INMATES DAILY. THESE ARE VULNERABLE PEOPLE WHO COME IN USUALLY VERY SICK, BAD DENTAL HYGIENE.

ALL OF THE ABOVE. BUT BECAUSE OF THE CREATIVITY AND HARD WORK BY OUR DETENTION LEADERSHIP, WE'VE BEEN RECENTLY RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF THE LEADING AGENCIES IN SAVING TAXPAYER DOLLARS BY HOW WE ASK FOR MEDICAL REIMBURSEMENT AND HOW WE HANDLE INSURANCE CLAIMS WHEN IT COMES TO INMATES.

[01:30:04]

WE JUST HAD TO MOVE SOME PEOPLE OUT OF OUR MAIN ADMINISTRATION BUILDING. DOWN TO FLEMING ISLAND BECAUSE OUR PROPERTY ROOM AND OUR RECORDS ROOMS ARE ABOVE CAPACITY. BEYOND CAPACITY.

AND SO WE NEED TO HAVE THEM EXPAND.

GOING BACK TO SOME OF THE CONVERSATIONS HELD EARLIER ABOUT UNFUNDED MANDATES AND STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS.

IF WE HAVE A PIECE OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE FROM A CRIME SCENE AND MOST HAVE MULTIPLE, WE HAVE LAWS THAT DICTATE HOW LONG WE HAVE TO RETAIN THAT PIECE OF PROPERTY.

WE CAN'T JUST-- EVEN AFTER THE SUSPECT HAS BEEN CONVICTED.

WE STILL HAVE TO MAINTAIN THAT PROPERTY.

SO AS THE COUNTY CONTINUES TO GROW AND WE CONTINUE TO ADD CALLS FOR SERVICE AND CRIMES CONTINUE, WE HAVE MORE PROPERTY AND THAT'S JUST AN EXAMPLE. SO WE DO OPERATE 32 DIFFERENT FACILITIES RIGHT NOW. YOU GUYS AS A COMMISSION AS A WHOLE HAVE BEEN FAN TAFT INCOME WORKING WITH US ON GETTING TO THE STATE AVERAGE ON PERSONNEL. I KNOW THE LAST COUPLE YEARS OUT OF A CONSCIOUS EFFORT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE MONEY IMPACT NEW PEOPLE A YEAR TO GET US THE STATE AVERAGE.

TO HAVE THAT AND THIS YEAR WE ONLY ASKED FOR FIVE.

INSTEAD OF THE 25. AND THAT'S AN ATTEMPT TO BE A GOOD PARTNER. THE FIVE PEOPLE THAT WE ASKED FOR ARE PHYSICALLY NEEDED. WE HAVE AN UNFUNDED MANDATE.

WE HAVE THE STAFFING THAT NEWS MORE PEOPLE TO HELP DO THAT AND THAT WAS AN EXAMPLE OF ONE OF THE REQUESTS.

PERSONNEL COSTS 80% OF OUR TITLE BUDGET.

WE DID RECENTLY RECEIVE AN AWARD FOR HOW WE HANDLE CRASHES. VEHICLE CRASHES.

VEHICLE TRAINING. WE WERE RECOGNIZED BECAUSE OF POLICIES AND TRAININGS THAT ARE CONSIDERED ONE OF THE BEST AND USED AS A MODEL POLICY FOR THE FLORIDA SHERIFF'S RISK MANAGEMENT FUND. WE DO USE THE ZERO BASED BUDGETING PHILOSOPHY. I DON'T COME IN AND JUST SAY HAND ME THIS MUCH MORE FOR NEXT YEAR.

WE GO TO 0. WE CALCULATE WHAT DO WE NEED? AND THEN WE START ADDING IT UP. A COUPLE OF THINGS TO THINK ABOUT AND THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS CHAMBER HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD. LICENSING SUBSCRIPTIONS.

ARE JUST KILLING US. THEY ARE VERY EXPENSIVE AND YOU'VE SIGNED CONTRACT AND YOU CAN'T GET OUT OF IT.

SO THAT IS ONE THING IMPACTING THE BUDGET.

WE ALSO HAVE FLORIDA MODEL JAIL STANDARDS THAT WE HAVE TO ADHERE TO. SO ALL OF THE CYBER SECURITY AND IT DOESN'T GET CHEAPER EVERY YEAR.

THEY KEEP KNOCKIN' US ON THE HEAD AND TAKING MORE MONEY.

I DID BUILD A 3% RAISE FOR MY PEOPLE AND I WANT TO TELL YOU WHY. THE AGENCIES AROUND US SPECIFICALLY THE TWO THAT WE LOSE PEOPLE TO ARE GOING TO INCREASE THEIR STARTING PAY. JACKSO JACKSONVILLE POLICE OFFICER STARTING PAY IS $73,000 NEXT FISCAL YEAR. IF YOU HAVE EXPERIENCE THEY WILL PAY FOR THAT. I CAN TAKE A 3 YEAR DEPUTY HERE. THEY'LL WALK OVER TO JACKSONVILLE AND MAKE $22,000 A YEAR MORE.

THAT'S IF WE INCREASE THE STARTING PAY TO 54,800.

ST. JOHN'S COUNTY ALSO LOOKING FOR AN INCREASE IN STARTING PAY. THEY ARE GOING TO JUST OVER 66,000. AND WE'RE ASKING IT TO GO TO 54,8. AND I MENTION THIS BECAUSE THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS EVER HAPPENED.

NASSAU COUNTY WHICH IS IN OUR JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IS GOING TO 61,000. SO WE WOULD BE BEHIND NASSAU COUNTY AS WELL. THAT IS THE-- BULK OF OUR INCREASE IN BUDGET IS GOING TO BE THE PERSONNEL COSTS.

IN ADDITION TO THE CALLOUT WE HAVE INCREASE IN INSURANCE.

INCREASE IN FRS. THE HEALTH.

ALL OF THE COLLATERAL THAT COMES WITH THAT.

AS WELL AS THE INCREASE IN SUBSCRIPTIONS, INMATE COSTS, ALL OF THAT IS GOING UP. IT IS MY GOAL TO GET TO THE STATE AVERAGE OF DEPUTIES OR JUST SLIGHTLY ABOVE IT.

ONCE WE DO THAT, THAT'LL HELP RESPONSE TIME.

[01:35:02]

WHAT IS THE QUALITY OF LIFE? IF PEOPLE ARE OKAY WITH A 20-MINUTE RESPONSE TIME. THAN YOU KNOW, LET US KNOW.

RIGHT NOW RESPONSE TIME IS OVER NINE MINUTES AND I'D LIKE TO GET THAT DOWN TO UNDER SEVEN. ANYTHING I'M MISSING? ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME? YES, SIR.

>> YOU ENDED ON A VERY SUBJECT I WANT TO ADDRESS.

YOU MENTIONED YOU'RE GOING TO HIRE FIVE NEW DEPUTIES AND THERE'S $11.5 MILLION INCREASE IN PERSONNEL COSTS.

AND YOU MENTIONED 3% PAY RAISE. AND YOU MENTIONED STARTING SALARY. WHAT ELSE IS IN THAT $11.5

MILLION? >> I DON'T HAVE MY GLASSES ON,

LARRY DOES. >> YEAH, SO THAT NUMBER INCLUDES ALL COSTS. OBVIOUSLY THAT-- IF THAT ALL WENT TO THE EMPLOYEES, WE'D BE ABLE TO FILL THAT GAP.

AND EVEN WITH THE RAISE, THE PAY DIFFERENCES THAT THE SHERIFF MENTIONS, WE'RE NOT CLOSING THAT GAP.

IT JUST KEEPS GETTING LARGER EACH YEAR.

BUT THE OTHER THINGS INCLUDED IN THAT NUMBER IS 5.7 THE ATTEMPT TO MAKE SURE THAT GAP DOESN'T GET ANYMORE.

SO THAT'S ACTUALLY THE RAISES. >> I'M CONFUSED GAP IN WHAT?

>> BETWEEN OUR STARTING SALARY AND THE OTHER AGENCIES.

SO THE PAY GAP. >> SO OF THE $11 MILLION.

ALMOST $6 MILLION OF THAT IS TO ADDRESS THAT.

>> STARTING SALARY. >> AND THE 3% FOR ALL

EMPLOYEES. >> SO THERE'S ANOTHER $6

MILLION IN THERE. >> YES.

AND WE HAVE THAT LIST RIGHT HERE.

>> AND AGAIN, THAT PAY GAP DOESN'T DECREASE.

THAT'S THE GAP FOR THE STARTING SALARY.

THEY ALL GO UP EVERY YEAR. MOST OF THOSE OTHER AGENCIES HAVE SET PLANS. SO WE'RE NOT GAINING ANYTHING IN EACH OF THOSE ADDITIONAL YEARS.

YEAR TWO YEAR THREE. THAT GAP USUALLY CONTINUES TO

GET EVEN MORE. >> SO WE'RE GOING TO ADDRESS

THAT IN THIS BUDGET YEAR? >> WELL TAKE A BITE OUT OF IT.

SMALL BITE. YOU KNOW, HERE'S THE REALITY, AND AGAIN FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT HAVE BEEN AROUND SINCE I CAME INTO OFFICE IN 2020, IN LATE 2018, LATE 2019 AND EARLY 2020, 163 PEOPLE WALKED OUT OF THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

1 163.

THAT WAS A THIRD OF THE WORK FORCE WALKED OUT.

AND TO LOSE THOSE PEOPLE THEN GO OUT AND RECRUIT, HIRE, TRAIN AND EQUIP THOSE PEOPLE, THE COST WAS $12 MILLION.

SO IF WE HAVE A STREAM OF PEOPLE THAT START LEAVING LET'S SAY TO GO TO JACKSONVILLE THEY WANT TO MAKE $22,000 A YEAR MORE, WE'RE GOING TO-- THAT'S A LOSING PROPOSITION.

BECAUSE IT COST US MORE NOW TO GO OUT TO RECRUIT, HIRE AND TR TRAIN.

WHEN YOU GET HIRED AS A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA, THERE IS A LOT OF COST TO HIRING.

WE HAVE TO DO PSYCHOLOGICAL EXAMS. PHYSICAL EXAMS. MENTAL HEALTH EXAMS. A WHOLE SLOUGH OF THING WES CAN'T NOT DO, IT'S LEGALLY REQUIRED. I KNOW TWO THINGS THAT I STICK TO IN LAW ENFORCEMENT. COMPETITIVE PAY AND GOOD WORK CULTURE. WE HAVE A GREAT WORK CULTURE.

WE DON'T HAVE PEOPLE LEAVING, YET.

FOR PAY. BUT IF WE DON'T ADVOCATE FOR OUR PERCENT UNTIL AND TELL THEM THAT WE ARE WILLING TO PAY THEM AND WILLING TO TAKE A SMALL BITE OF THAT APPLE, THEN MY CONCERN IS THEY WALK OUT THE DOOR.

EVERYBODY IN MY AGENCY KNOWS THAT WE WILL NEVER BE PAID AS MUCH AS ST. JOHN'S COUNTY OR DUVAL COUNTY.

WE KNOW THAT. WE'RE NOT TRYING TO GET TO THAT. BUT WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO SHOW THEM THAT WE BELIEVE IN THE WORK THEY DO AND & WE APPRECIATE THEM AND WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A SMALL BITE OF THAT APPLE AS WE CAN. OF THE $11 MILLION.

5.7 OF THAT IS THE PAY.

3.2 IS THE FRS EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTIONS INCREASE.

YOU WANT TO CONTINUE? >> IF I MAY REAL QUICK.

RATES GO UP EVERY YEAR. BUT IN THE VERY END OF THE SESSION OR ONE OF THE SPECIAL SESSIONS, THEY DID A BILL RETROACTIVELY INCREASE FRS TO SUPPORT THE COLASS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY. SO WE HAVE THAT PLANNED AND THEN THAT HAPPENED AT THE VERY END.

THEY ADDED ANOTHER 1.5 OR 2% THAT WOULD COST US.

>> AND ON THE FRS THING FOR THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE BOARD.

[01:40:03]

THAT WAS ALWAYS A BARRIER FOR PEOPLE LEAVING.

THEY DIDN'T WANT TO CHANGE RETIREMENT.

WELL NOW THEY DON'T HAVE TO CHANGE RETIREMENT.

THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO GO TO JACKSONVILLE AND KEEP ON MOVING THROUGH FRS. SO THAT'S GOING TO HAVE AN

IMPACT ON US ALSO. >> I KNOW YOU RUN AN EXTREMELY LEAN OPERATION. DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA OF THE PERCENTAGE OF EMPLOYMENT. LIKE FOR THE PUBLIC'S KNOWLEDGE TO SAY YOU'RE NOT HEAVILY ADMINISTRATIVE.

AND I KNOW THAT YOU'RE NOT. I JUST DON'T KNOW THE NUMBER AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW IT.

>> AROUND 400 SWORN. BUT SO OUR TOTAL EMPLOYEE COUNT IS 930. TAKE OUT 52 54 BECAUSE OF THE SCORE. SO SLIGHTLY LESS THAN HALF OF OUR PERSONNEL ARE SWORN. THE OTHER PORTION OF THAT ARE ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT PERSONS. WE HAVE TO HAVE PEOPLE DO PUBLIC RECORDS AND DISPATCHERS. WE HAVE TO HAVE PEOPLE WORK IN PROPERTY AND EVIDENCE ROOM TO PROCESS CRIME SCENES AND HOLD THE PROPERTY. WE ALSO HAVE OTHER UNFUNDED STATE MANDATED STAFFING REQUIREMENTS THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE. WE HAVE TO HAVE BY LAW, VICTIMS ADVOCATES AND COURTHOUSE SECURITY AND CROSSING GUARDS.

I HAVE TO STATUETORIAL PROVIDE FOR CROSSING GUARD SERVICES.

SO THE SHORT ANSWER IS SLIGHTLY UNDER HALF.

THE OTHERS ARE SUPPORT AND STATUETORIAL REQUIRED POSITIONS

WE HAVE TO HAVE. >> AND I WOULD ARGUE YOU'RE PROBABLY ONE OF THE LEANEST IN THE STATE AS FAR AS SHERIFF'S OFFICES GO. I'M NOT TRYING TO PIT YOU AGAINST YOUR PEERS. I JUST THINK YOU RUN A REALLY LEAN OPERATION. AND I WANTED YOU TO BE ABLE TO SAY THAT. AND I WANTED THE OTHERS TO HEAR THE THINGS YOU'RE REQUIRED TO HAVE TO SUPPORT LAW ENFORCEMENT. KIND OF LIKE THE ANIMAL SERVICES RIGHT? IN SOME KIENTS IT'S PART OF THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. OUR COUNTY HAS JUST NOT CHOSEN TO DO THAT. BUT THEN THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE-- IT'S BUT IT'S THE KIND OF CONCEPT, RIGHT? YOU CAN'T JUST STOP DOING PROPERTY EVIDENCE.

AND VICTIM ADVOCATES AND STUFF LIKE THAT JUST BECAUSE.

>> RIGHT, THANK YOU FOR THOSE KIND WORDS.

WE DO ZERO BASED BUDGETING. I TAKE IT SO SERIOUSLY THAT EVERY MONTH WE MEET WITH THE DIRECTOR PS P WHAT ARE YOU SPENDING? WHAT ARE YOU SPENDING ON? NO WE'RE NOT SPENDING MONEY ON THAT.

AND I'M JUST GOING TO USE THIS AS AN EXAMPLE.

AND NOT THROWING MY COUNTERPARTS UNDER THE BUS AT ALL. DIFFERENT LEVELS HAVE DIFFERENT EXPECTATION. PUBLIC SAFETY FIRE AND POLICE ARE ONE OF THE LOWEST FUNDED OF THE 67 COUNTIES.

THAT'S WHAT OUR COUNTIES FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE.

OKAY. SO THAT MEANS I'M NOT PLASTERING SHERIFF MICHELLE COOK.

OR BUILDINGS WITH BIG SIGNS THAT HAVE MY NAME ON IT.

YOU CAN GO TO OTHER SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENTS AND EVERYWHERE YOU LOOK THERE'S SIGNS THAT SAY WELCOME TO SHERIFF SO AND SO'S BUILDING. WE DON'T DO THAT.

WE'VE GONE SO FAR AS CURRENTLY RENEGOTIATING A CONTRACT TO PUT DECALS ON THE SIDE OF A CAR USING A LOCAL BUSINESS AND PAYING $250 LESS BECAUSE THE PERSON THAT DOES IT NOW WANTS TO CHARGE US $250 MORE. I MEAN $250 AND WE'RE RE-NEGOTIATING A CONTRACT. THAT'S HOW SERIOUS I AM ABOUT LEAN OPERATION AND LEAN BUDGETING.

THE MAJORITY OF OUR INCREASE IS DUE TO PERSONNEL COST.

THE SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES AND THEN YOU HAVE THINGS LIKE INMATE FOOD AND MEDICAL AND COURT SERVICES THAT WERE LEGALLY REQUIRED. I ASKED THE TEAM TO TAKE A LOOK AT-- OF OUR 100 AND $20 MILLION DUH BET, HOW MUCH OF THAT COULD WE SAY IS EXTRA? AND IT CAME OUT TO LESS THAN A MILLION OF $120 MILLION. AND WHEN I SAY EXTRA, IT'S NOT FUN MONEY. BUT WE GOT ENHANCED LIGHT OPTICS WITH THE RIFLES. WHEN YOU'RE SHOOTING SOMEONE WITH THE RIFLE I WANT THE BEST OPTICS POSSIBLE BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO ACCOUNT WHERE THE BULLET GOES.

LESS THAN 1%. BUT THAT GOES BACK TO WORK CULTURE. AND SHOWING EMPLOYEES WE CARE ABOUT THEM. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAD NEVER BEEN DONE IS I PAY FOR THEIR BOOTS.

[01:45:03]

WE SHOULD OFFSET THE COST. WE DON'T PAY FOR IT COMPLETELY.

BUT WE HELP PAY FOR IT A LITTLE BIT.

AND SO THOSE ARE THE KIND OF WORK CULTURE THINGS.

BUT IT'S-- YOU KNOW-- LESS THAN 1% OF OUR TOTAL BUDGET.

IS EXTRA STUFF. NOT EVEN EXTRA.

IT GOES BACK TO WORK CULTURE. >> YOU SEGREGATED SWORN OFFICERS AND SROS. AREN'T THEY SWORN?

>> THEY ARE SWORN BUT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT PAYS 100% OF THAT. NONE OF IT COMES OUT WITH BCC.

THAT'S ALL YOU ALL. UNFUNDED MANDATE.

>> BUT THEY ARE SWORN. >> YES, SIR.

IT CAN BE A COMBINATION IN THE COURTHOUSE.

IT CAN BE A COMBINATION OF SWORN.

AND DETENTION DEPUTIES. THAT'S ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF OUR DETENTION DEPUTIES IN THE JAIL. WE HAVE MINIMUM STAFFING STANDARDS AND WE CANNOT GO BELOW.

>> FOLLOW UP ON THE COMMISSIONER'S QUESTION THOUGH.

SO IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, THE SCHOOL DEPUTIES ARE PAID OUT OF THE EXTRA MILL THE SCHOOL BOARD ASSESSES?

>> CORRECT. >> AND I KNOW THAT'S UP FOR RE-ELECTION THIS YEAR. AND IS THAT-- TRACY I'M ALWAYS ASKING YOU, I DON'T KNOW, BUT WOULD THAT BE AFFECTED IF THIS PASSED? LIKE COULD THAT PASS HERE?

BUT THEN GO AWAY? >> I DON'T THINK SO.

BECAUSE THE SCHOOLS WERE CARVED OUT ENTIRELY AND WHOLY.

AND THEY ARE INDEPENDENT TAXING AUTHORITY.

SO I WOULD ARGUE THAT AS LONG AS THE COMMUNITY PASSES THAT BILL, THAT THAT WOULD BE FINE. NOW THE QUESTION IS THAT THE COMMUNITY VOTES THAT DOWN, WHAT'S THE-- YOU KNOW, THEN-- WE ESPECIALLY IF THE CURRENT TAX PROPOSAL GOES THROUGH.

I CAN'T AFFORD TO ABSORB 54 PEOPLE WITH MY BUDGET.

>> SURE. >> JUST A NOTE.

THAT REFERENDUM INCLUDED TEACHER PAY TOO.

SO I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THAT CAUSES THE SECURITY PORTION TO

BE AT RISK OF THAT ONE. >> I DON'T THINK SO.

WE-- DO ZERO-BASED BUDGETING WITH THE SCHOOLS.

THE REMAINING PORTION WOULD BE USED FOR TEACHER PAY.

>> ONE OTHER QUESTION. YOU MENTIONED ABSORBED.

YOU CAN'T AFFORD. WHAT HAPPENED? WE HAVE MUNICIPALITIES AT RISK AND TWO POLICE DEPARTMENTS I THINK THAT ARE AT RISK. AND THE COMMENT IS WELL THE COUNTYS CAN PICK THAT UP. CAN THEY?

>> THEY WOULD BE REQUIRED TO. >> BUT CAN YOU AFFORD TO DO IT?

>> WE WOULD BE REQUIRED TO. YOU KNOW-- I'VE BEEN IN LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR 36 YEARS NOW. AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU CAN COUNT ON YOUR POLICEMEN AND FIREMEN TO DO THE RIGHT THING.

YOU CAN. WHEN CRISIS HITS.

WHEN BAD THINGS HAPPEN, IT'S THE POLICEMEN AND FIREMEN THAT STEP FORWARD TO MAKE IT RIGHT. AND I THINK AS A COMMUNITY AND AS A COMMISSION, INVESTING IN YOUR POLICEMEN AND FIREMEN IS-- IT'S BOND SAFETY. IT'S FOUNDATIONAL.

AND PUBLIC SAFETY IS THE FOUNDATION OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

>> BUT IT MIGHT TAKE THEM LONGER TO GET THERE.

>> ABSOLUTELY IT WILL. IF I HAVE TO CUT PERSONNEL BECAUSE THERE WAS NO CARVE OUT FO LAW ENFORCEMENT, THE MONEY IS NOT THERE. THE MONEY IS NOT THERE.

YOU CAN'T-- CAN'T SQUEEZE BLOOD OUT OF A TURNIP, RIGHT? SO IF WE END UP HAVING TO CUT LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL, WHICH IS A POTENTIAL. I'M NOT A KICH CHICKEN LITTLE PERSON. I'M A PREPARE FOR THE WORST AND PRAY FOR THE BEST PERSON. BUT IF WE END UP NOT BEING ABLE TO HIRE PEOPLE TO CONTINUE TO KEEP UP WITH THE GROWTH OR NOT FILLING VACANCIES AS PEOPLE LEAVE.

THE CITY CAN RESPECT LONGER RESPONSE TIME.

SO THE QUESTION TO THE CITIZENS IS WHAT LEVEL IS ACCEPTABLE TO YOU? I'LL WORK WITH WHAT I HAVE.

BUT DO YOU WANT A 20 MINUTE RESPONSE TIME TO YOUR 911 CALL OR 8-MINUTE RESPONSE TIME TO YOUR 911 CALL.

>> THE UNFORTUNATE THING FOR YOU SHERIFF IS THIS IS STATEWIDE. SO YOU-- IT'S NOT EVERY COUNTY'S VOTERS PASSING THIS ON THEMSELVES.

WHICH IS WHAT THE SCHOOL SAFETY AND SECURITY MILL IS.

SO THIS IS THE EXAMPLE OF WHERE CLAY COUNTY BEING THE SECOND MOST PERCENTAGE AFFECTED COUNTY IN THE STATE IS-- I WAS HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH CLERK GREEN YESTERDAY AND UNFORTUNATELY IF THIS PASSES IN MY OPINION, DESPITE EVERYTHING THE BCC WOULD DO, IT'S NOT A REFLECTION OF WHAT WE WANT TO DO.

[01:50:02]

>> IF YOU'RE PART OF THE COUNTY, YOU'RE GOING TO LOSE.

>> YEAH. BUT I'M SAYING AS FAR AS PERCENTAGE WISE. BECAUSE CLAY IS SO LOW ON THAT TAXING AND BECAUSE WE STAND TO BE-- ONE OF THE LARGEST PERCENTAGES, WE WON'T BE ABLE TO KEEP DOING WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING. AND THAT'S UNFORTUNATE.

IN MY OPINION. >> YEAH, I MEAN I THINK WE ALL WOULD AGREE AND TRACY HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD.

NONE OF US LIKE TAXES. NONE OF US LIKE PROPERTY TAXES.

I DON'T LIKE PROPERTY TAXES. DO I THINK THAT THERE SHOULD BE PROPERTY TAX REFORM? ABSOLUTELY.

WHAT CONCERNS ME RIGHT NOW IS-- OTHER PEOPLE AROUND THE STATE ARE GOING TO VOTE ON WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN CLAY COUNTY.

>> THAT'S MY POINT. >> AND YOU KNOW-- MY JOB IS TO EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE YOU KNOW-- TWO YEARS FROM NOW WHEN SOMEBODY CALLS 911 AND IT TAKES 20 MINUTES FOR A DEPUTY TO GET THERE, I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT THAT'S A POSSIBILITY.

AND AGAIN I'M NOT A CHICKEN LITTLE PERSON.

I DON'T THINK YOU'VE EVER HEARD ME COME UP AND HERE SAY OH MY GOD IT'S SO TERRIBLE. THAT'S NOT HOW I OPERATE.

I'M PRETTY LEVEL IN MY RESPONSES TO THINGS.

BUT THIS POTENTIALLY IS GOING TO BE CATASTROPHIC TO OUR COUNTY. IN SO MANY WAYS.

AND ALL I WOULD SAY IS I ENCOURAGE PEOPLE.

PEOPLE ON SOCIAL MEDIA ARE NOT TAX EXPERTS.

SO WHAT I WOULD ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO DO IS REACH OUT TO TRACY DRAKE. SORRY TRACY.

CAN I GET YOUR PHONE NUMBER? YEAH.

LISTEN TO THE EXPERTS ON THE IMPACT.

AND THEN MAKE A CONSCIOUS DECISION WHICH WAY YOU WANT TO MOVE FORWARD AS AN INDIVIDUAL AND AS A COMMUNITY.

THAT'S WHAT MAKES OUR COUNTRY SO GREAT.

AT LEAST WE GET TO CHOOSE. >> THANK YOU SHERIFF.

>> THANK YOU. >> ALL RIGHT, SO NOW THAT WE'VE COVERED EACH OF OUR FUNDS THAT ARE AFFECTED-- EACH OF THESE IS HOW THEY WILL BE AFFECTED. SO FINAL FUND.

LOOKING AT $35 MILLION AND A HALF DOLLARS.

SO AS WE MOVE ON TO OUR GENERAL FUND, WE SHOW OUR 16.7 IN RESERVES. WE SHOW OUR TRANSFER OUT TO OTHER FUNDS. WHICH GIVES US AN ESTIMATED DEFICIT AT THIS POINT IN OUR BUDGET PROCESS OF ABOUT $44.5 MILLION. AND SO REALLY WHAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT ALL DAY WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT NUMBER 60.

1 OUT OF 67. IT'S NOT MEANT TO BE EASY TO BALANCE OUR BUDGET. I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING WE CAN BE PROUD OF. TO SAY AT THIS POINT.

IT'S NOT MEANT TO BE EASY. BUT THAT IS WORK THAT'S BEFORE US TODAY. AND THROUGHOUT THIS SUMMER.

IS TO GET TO THAT BALANCED BUDGET BY LAW.

SO THAT'S WHERE WE REALLY LEAN ON THE DIRECTION OF THE BOARD TO SAY-- WHAT IS YOUR DIRECTION FOR US TO LOOK AT WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS $44.5 MILLION DEFICIT TO LOOK AT WHERE WE

TRIM UP. >> SO I KNOW YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE ROLLBACK WOULD COME IN, BUT IF WE HAVE AN ESTIMATED $44.5 MILLION DEFICIT, IF WE HAD TO GO TO ROLLBACK, BASED ON PAST YEARS, HOW MUCH MORE WOULD THAT BE?

ABOUT $6 MILLION? >> IT WOULD BE BASICALLY THE INCREASE. SO-- 4 TO 6 YOU THINK TRACY? YEAH. SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

>> SO WE'RE ABOUT $50 MILLION IN A DEFICIT FOR JUST NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET WITH NO PROPERTY TAX REFORM OR ADDITIONAL REVENUE STREAMS. AND WHEN WE'VE HEARD FROM THE CONSTITUTIONALS AND KNOW I'VE ASKED THIS QUESTION INTERNALLY

[01:55:02]

I ASSUME PEOPLE HAVE GIVEN BUDGET REQUESTS.

I GUESS THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM IS WHAT IS REQUIRED TO HAVE AND WHAT IS NICE TO HAVE? SXHI HEAR THE SHERIFF ON QUALITY OF LIFE EMPLOYEES AND WORK FORCE AND RETENTION.

HERE WE ARE. WE DON'T HAVE $50 MILLION AND WE'RE LOOKING AT A POTENTIAL CUT OF ANOTHER 50.

SO WE WANT JUST GO ALONG AND SAY WE'LL DOE WHAT WE'VE ALWAYS DONE. BECAUSE WE CAN'T.

AND FIVE YEARS AGO, THE MILLAGE WAS RAISED.

BUT WE CAN'T DO THAT AGAIN. WELL I GUESS WE COULD.

BUT YOU TOLD US IT WOULD TAKE 5 OF 5 AND I DON'T KNOW THERE'S A 5 OF 5 AND I DON'T HAVE AN APPETITE TO RAISE THE MILLAGE.

I'M NOT INTERESTED IN THAT. ARE WOE STARTING HIGH TO NEGOTIATE DOWN? WHAT WE HAVE DONE IN MY 5 ½ YEARS AS A COMMISSIONER IS GO LINE BY LINE.

WE'VE NEVER LOOKED AT EVERY SINGLE DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET.

SO I DON'T FEEL LIKE I HAVE A GRASP OF WHERE EXACTLY SEVER SINGLE DEPARTMENT SPENDING THE MONEY? & THAT'S A LOT OF WORK AND TIME AND WE HAVE FIVE COMMISSIONERS WHO HAVE OTHER JOBS AND I GET THAT.

BUT IN MY OPINION WHEN WE HAVE A DEFICIT OF $50 MILLION THAT WE CAN'T DO FOR THIS YEAR. NOT LOOKING AT ANY OTHER TAX REFORM. NOT PLANNING FOR ANYTHING ELSE, WE CANNOT MEET ABOUT $50 MILLION OF WHAT IS BEING ASKED OF US THIS YEAR. WE HAVE TO FIND $50 MILLION AND I'M NOT SUGGESTING GOING LINE BY LINE YOU CAN FIND IT.

BUT ARE THERE CHANGES THAT WE COULD MAKE TODAY THAT COULD SOFTEN THAT? AND NOT HAVE ENTIRE DEPARTMENTS BE CUT? BECAUSE THAT'S KIND OF WHERE WE ARE. AND I HEAR THAT MOST EVERYONE MOST EVERY DEPARTMENT IS MOST COST OR IN PERSONNEL.

BUT YOU CAN'T RAISE FEES ENOUGH TO MAKE UP $50 MILLION.

SO THE INTEREST IS GOING TO BE IN CUTS EITHER IDENTIFIED BY NEXT YEAR GOING FORWARD. EVEN IF THERE'S AN APPETITE FOR A FUTURE BOARD TO RAISE TAXES. MOSTLY I THINK IT'S TIME WE THE FIVE OF US LOOK CLOSELY AT EVERY EXPENDITURE AND IS IT REALLY NECESSARY? ONE OF THE THINGS YOU'VE SEEN AND YOU'VE TOLD US SOME FUNDS ARE SELF-SUSTAINING BUT NOT ALL. BY IN LARGE NOT MANY OF THEM.

>> I'LL GIVE YOU-- SOME OTHER EXAMPLES.

AND I KNOW THIS ONE'S SENSITIVE SO I APOLOGIZE.

BUT THE BLUE JAY MSTU MSBU OUT THERE.

THAT ONE EVERY YEAR. ERIC HAS TO START SCALING BACK SERVICES. THAT DISTRICT THAT TAXING UNIT DOESN'T GENERATE ENOUGH REVENUE.

AND I THINK PART OF THIS LEADS INTO WHAT THE NEXT COUPLE SLIDES. BUT BEFORE WE GET TO THE NEXT COUPLE SLIDES, I DO THINK MJ AND THE COUNTY MANAGER AND MYSELF MET YESTERDAY EVEN OF HEY WE GOT SOME VEHICLES ON ORDER. DO WE START TO YOUR POINT? DO WE STOP ORDERING CERTAIN VEHICLES? DO WE CANCEL THOSE ORDERS NOW AND SAVE A COUPLE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS? I KNOW IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE A LOT IN $45 MILLION. BUT IT'S A START.

THE COUNTY MANAGER HAS MADE SOME PERSONNEL DECISIONS BUT I'LL LET HIM TALK TO THOSE. HOW WE'RE FILLING POSITIONS RIGHT NOW. AGAIN THOSE ARE SAVINGS TODAY THAT CAN LEAD TO-- A LOT OF TIME TO CARRY FORWARD WHICH WILL HELP THAT. REFER TO YOU, SIR.

>> MADAM CHAIR, IF I MAY. LAST TIME WE HAD THE BUDGET WORKSHOP BACK IN FEBRUARY WE'RE HOLDING 16 POSITIONS.

NOW I'M HOLDING UP TO 35 POSITIONS OF WHICH WE HAVE NOT FULFILLED. THAT'S PUTTING A STRAIN ON THE ENTIRE ORGANIZATION. I CAN TELL THAW.

AND THE ONLY WAY WE WOULD MOVE FORWARD FROM ABOUT A COUPLE DAYS AGO OR LAST WEEK WOULD BE YOU HAVE TO REALLY JUSTIFY WHAT THAT POSITION IS TO FILL IT. SO I'M DOING THAT IN ORDER TO LESSEN THIS IMPACT AS WE GO INTO THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR.

[02:00:05]

BUT WE WILL DEFINITELY COME BACK.

WE USUALLY PROVIDE THE POCOS WHEN WE COME BACK.

WE WILL GO LINE BY LINE. AND EXPLAIN EACH DEPARTMENT

THAT WAY. >> AND WE HAVE THE POCOS THAT YOU SEE ARE A ROLLED UP VERSION.

WE DO HAVE A LINE ITEM VERSION THAT WE'RE MORE THAN HAPPY TO PROVIDE OUT OF THE BUDGET OFFICE.

OR IF IT'S AFTER JULY IF YOU WANT.

THAT JULY WORKSHOP. IT'S THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD BUT I THINK THE JULY WORKSHOP BASED ON WHAT THE CONVERSATIONS TODAY ARE. MJ AND I HAVE A FEW THINGS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TO DO AND H HOPEFULLY SOME EXPENSES FOR CAPITAL INTO THE CAPITAL EXPENSES. I KNOW WE TRY TO HOLD CIP FOR BUILDING THE STUFF. BUT YOU CAN-- THE ADMINISTRATION OF THOSE BUILDINGS CAN BE PAID OUT OF CIP. WE DON'T DO THAT CURRENTLY BUT THE ADMINISTRATION OF BUILDING THE BUILDING.

THERE'S THINGS LIKE THAT WE CAN DO.

NOT BIG DOLLAR CHANGES BUT TO YOUR POINT WE'RE AT THE POINT

OF EVERY DOLLAR MATTERS. >> YEAH JUST-- WITH THE BUDGET DEFICIT LIKE THIS. UNLESS YOU HAVE AN AMPUTATION YOU NEED A THOUSAND DIFFERENT CUTS IS WHAT YOU NEED.

IT'S YOUR JOB. OUR JOB IN THE AREAS.

PAY INCREASES I'VE LOOK AT. WE HAVE A PLAN TO ECONOMIZE THERE. BUT IT'S THE CAN'S BEING KICKED DOWN THE ROAD. AND I NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHY WE CAN'T DO THAT. FOUR DIFFERENT PIECES WITH DUPLICATION OF EFFORTS. AND WE KNOW IT AND WE JUST AREN'T ACTING ON IT. SO MAYBE NOW IS THE TIME TO GET THAT CAN IN FRONT OF US AND KICK IT OUT OF THE PARK TYPE THING. AND THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT OTHER LITTLE THINGS. EVERYBODY IS WHAT WE NEED TO DO. AND YOU HAVE AN AMPUTATION OF SOME SORT. THE OTHER THING WE'RE AT HERE.

WE HAVE TO ASSESS. WE NEED TO HAVE-- DO WE NEED TO H HAVE.

YOU KNOW WE NEED TO LOOK AT ALL OF THAT.

AND WE NEED SIX? DO WE NEED?

MADAM CHAIR? >> COMMISSIONER CONDON YOUR COMMENTS MADE ME THINK OF LOOKING AT THIS IN A DIFFERENT LIGHT. WHICH IS KIND OF MAKING A LITTLE BIT MORE SENSE OF WHEN I LOOK AT IT THROUGH THIS LENS.

SO-- INSTEAD OF LOOKING AT IT AS CUTTING FORWARD.

THE MILLIONS IN ASKS. WHEN I THOUGHT OF AS LOOKING AT THE 26 AMENDED BUDGET WHICH WAS $19 MILLION.

THAT GETS YOU-- GIVES YOU 6 F$.7 MILLION.

SO IT'S ALMOST LIKE I THINK FOR ME.

IT'S ALMOST LIKE INSTEAD OF LOOKING AT THIS WHOLE LAUNDRY LIST OF POTENTIAL ADDS, LOOK AT IT AS THE INVERSE OF YOU ONLY HAVE 4% TO WORK WITH. SO WHERE DO WE WANT TO SPEND THAT 4%? ON TOP OF WHAT WE ALREADY FUNDED THIS PAST YEAR? WHICH I DID THAT'S $45 MILLION' WORTH OF DIFFERENCE. I THINK WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT THAT WAY YOU'RE NOT TRYING TO AMPUTATE THINGS.

YOU'RE ONLY TRYING TO SUPPLEMENT WHAT YOU ALREADY HAVE. IF THAT MAKES SENSE.

>> AND IN OTHER YEAR, I WOULD AGREE WITH THAT.

IN OTHER YEARS YOU'VE HAD PROJECTS TO YOUR POINT THAT WE'VE ADDED ONTO THE BUDGET. THERE ARE NO ADD-ON PROJECTS THIS YEAR. SO WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT-- AND USE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. PLEASE-- YOU KNOW-- WHEN YOU HAVE A CONTRACTED NEGOTIATED CONTRACT WITH A 5% OR 6% SALARY INCREASE AND YOU'RE ONLY GETTING 4%.

THAT MEANS WHEN IT GOES UP 6% AND IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA COMES ON AND ADDS ON ANOTHER PERCENTAGE AND THEN HEALTH CARE ADDS ANOTHER PERCENTAGE, YOU ARE HERE AND I GET YOUR POINT ABOUT THE 4% BUT YOU'VE STARTED NEGATIVE WITHOUT ADDING PROJECTS. SO MOST YEARS WHEN YOU COME WITH A LIST OF PROJECTS AND WE SAY NO NO NO.

CURRENTLY THERE'S NOT THAT LIST.

>> SURE AND I AGREE WITH THAT. LOOKING AT THE INVERSE.

THE OTHER STUFF IS SUPERLOUS. IT'S A PIPE DREAM.

[02:05:05]

OF ONLY 4 %. >> YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT.

JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THERE'S NO MISCONCEPTION THAT IN THIS BUDGET THERE ARE A BUNCH OF VEHICLES OR OTHER THINGS THAT IN YEARS PAST, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO SAY EASILY-- OH YEAH LET'S REDUCE $2.5 MILLION OF COUNTY VEHICLES.

I CAN PRETTY MUCH ASSURE YOU AND MJ I'LL ASK YOU, THE VEHICLES ADDED TO THIS BUDGET CORRECT?

>> THAT'S CORRECT. >> OTHER THAN CAPITAL PUBLIC SAFETY RELATED VEHICLES. BUT-- THERE'S NO REPLACING A VEHICLE IN THIS BUDGET RIGHT NOW THE WAY IT SITS.

SO--. >> ANYONE ELSE?

OKAY. >> SO-- OMB PRIORITIES.

SO AS WE SIT THE LEVEL OF SERVICE THAT WE GIVE TODAY, OUR PRIORITIES ARE-- YOU KNOW JUST LOOKING AT ALTERNATE REVENUE STREAMS. WE CONTINUE TO LOOK AT COST REDUCTION EFFORTS WITH OUR COUNTY DEPARTMENT.

SO TO YOUR POINT, WE'RE LOOKING AT EACH LINE BY LINE ITEMS AS THOSE ARE COMING IN. AND OUR-- THE ANALYST DATA ARE IN THE OMB DEPARTMENT ARE DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB OF REALLY QUESTIONING EACH OF THOSE LINE ITEMS. AS THEY ARE COMING IN. TODAY BEFORE THEY ARE EVEN COMING UP TO OUR COUNTY MANAGER.

WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT REMOVING THE FROZEN POSITIONS FROM THE BUDGET. THAT WE HAVE TODAY SO THOSE ARE WHEN YOU FREEZE A POSITION IT'S NOT THE ELIMB NATION OF A POSITION. IT'S JUST FROZEN.

YOU STILL PUT THAT INTO THE BUDGET.

AND MAINTAINING STRONG RESERVE LEVELS.

SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO ME OR YOUR DEPARTMENT IS TO MAINTAIN STRONG RESERVE LEVELS.

ESPECIALLY AS WE LOOK ON THE HORIZON OF WHAT COULD COME.

>> YES? >> YES, MA'AM.

>> REMOVING THE PRESENT BUDGET IS THE NUMBER THERE THEN TO

TAKE OFF? >> I WOULD DEFER THIS.

>> I MEAN MADAM CHAIR THE STANDARD HAS BEEN A HUNDRED THOUSAND PER EMPLOYEE. SO THE 5 POSITIONS 3.5 MILLION.

AND-- THAT IS VERY ROUND NUMBERS.

LIKE I DON'T HAVE THAT EXACT NUMBER.

>> TO TAKE OFF THE 45? >> YES, MA'AM.

THAT BASICALLY THE BOTTOM LINE THAT.

>> AND THEN MAKE A HUNDRED THOUSAND.

THAT'S THE TOTAL COST. >> CORRECT.

YES, MA'AM. TO CLARIFY PUBLICALLY YES.

THERE ARE ADDED COSTS WITH REGARDS TO HEALTH CARE BENEFITS AND THINGS LIKE THAT THAT APPLY TO EACH POSITION.

AND I'VE VERY MUCH STREAMLINED WHAT I'M TELLING YOU.

AGAIN WE'LL COME BACK IN JULY AND WE'LL GIVE THAW EXACT NUMBER. WE'LL BE ABLE TO TELL YOU WHAT THAT IS. AND THEN BECAUSE WE'RE DOING THIS AND THESE ARE BEST PRACTICES AND HABITS FOR SUCCESS, WE SHOULD HAVE SOME OTHER MONEY.

IT'S NOT GOING TO BE TENSE OF MILLIONS OF DOLLAR, BUT IT WILL BE SOME OTHER MONEY THAT WE'VE SAVED BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T FILLED IT FOR X NUMBER OF MONTHS DURING THIS CURRENT YEAR.

SO WE'LL COME BACK WITH ALL THOSE NUMBERS AND EXPLAIN THAT

ON THE PERSONNEL SIDE. >> TO OUR KNOWLEDGE, IS ANY FUTURE LEGISLATION GOING TO TIE OUR HANDS ABOUT ALTERNATE

REVENUE STREAMS? >> I DON'T THINK WE'VE SEEN ANYTHING TO THIS POINT. BUT THIS MAY BE A GOOD POINT MADAM CHAIR IF I MAY. SO-- RIGHT NOW THERE IS NOT.

HOWEVER, THERE'LL BE THE NEXT SESSION WILL COME.

WHAT WE'VE BEEN TOLD AT THE COUNTY MANAGER LEVEL AT THE LAST PHONE CALL, WAS IF THE VOTE DOES GO THROUGH IN NOVEMBER, THEN THERE'LL BE ANOTHER SPECIAL SESSION BETWEEN NOVEMBER IN THE END OF THE YEAR TO IDENTIFY THE PHASE-IN OF WHAT THE ELECTOR T HAS VOTED ON.

IF THAT MAKES SENSE. SO IT'S WHAT'S CALLED A PHASE TWO OF WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS.

WE HAVE NO IDEA. BUT IT COULD-- COMMISSIONER-- TIE OUR HANDS IN SOME WAY. WHEN IT COMES TO PARTICULAR

REQUIRED FUNDINGS. >> SO NEXT WE REALLY LOOK AT BUDGET DIRECTION. FROM THE BOARD.

SO WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO HAVE HEALTHY AND GOOD DISCUSSIONS AND GOOD WORKSHOPS. AND SO THAT REALLY COMES FROM THE DIRECTION OF THE BOARD. AND WHAT YOU WOULD HAVE YOUR STAFF DO. AND SO WHAT-- YOU KNOW I WOULD PROPOSE IS HERE ON THE SLIDE THIS DOESN'T MEAN THESE ARE THE ONLY TYPES OF RECOMMENDATIONS. OR DIRECTIONS WE CAN TAKE.

IT'S JUST A STARTING FROINT TODAY.

BUT IS IT REALLY MAINTAINING THE CURRENT LEVEL OF SERVICE THAT WE HAVE TODAY? SO WHEN WE ARE LOOKING AT THE DEFICIT OF THE $45.5 MILLION IF IT'S TRYING TO MAINTAIN THE LEVEL OF SERVICE WE HAVE TODAY, THAT'S WHERE WE GO INTO MODE OF AGGRESSIVELY LOOKING AT ALTERNATE REVENUE STREAMS. SO THAT WE CAN MAINTAIN THAT LEVEL OF SERVICE.

[02:10:02]

THEN WE START LOOKING AT WHAT ARE THE SERVICES THAT YOU WANT US TO LOOK AT? THAT LIST? WE CAN SAY HERE THE SERVICES THAT THE COUNTY PROVIDES TODAY.

HERE IS THAT VALUE AND THAT NUMBER THAT IS THE BUDGET.

AND THEN YOU AS THE BOARD CAN TAKE A LOOK AT THOSE THINGS.

AND THAT GIVES US THAT HEALTHY CONVERSATION TO SAY THIS IS THE LIST WE'RE GOING TO BRING NEW JULY OR IF WE NEED A DIFFERENT WORKSHOP FROM THAT POINT. AND THEN OF COURSE IS IT-- YOU KNOW MAINTAINING THOSE STRONG RESERVE LEVELS? SO DO WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHERE OUR RESERVES ARE HITTING TODAY? SHOULD THEY BE HIGHER? SHOULD THEY BE LOWER? ARE THEY WHERE THE BOARD FEELS COMFORTABLE SETTING THAT RESERVE LEVEL? BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS IS YOUR BUDGET.

THAT YOU'RE ADOPTING AND VOTING IN.

SO THAT'S THE DIRECTION THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR TODAY AS STAFF. IS WHEN WE COME BACK IN JULY, LET'S CONTINUE TO HAVE THESE HEALTHY DISCUSSIONS AND WORKSHOPS. THERE'S REALLY GOING TO DEPEND ON THAT DIRECTION OF WHAT WE BRING TO YOU AT THAT TIME.

FROM THERE, JUST SOME ONB INITIATIVES THAT WE'RE WORKING FORWARD IN OUR DEPARTMENT. IS WE'RE GOING TO WORK TOWARDS SOME FIVE-YEAR BUDGETING. SO INSTEAD OF THIS ONE-YEAR YEAR OVER YEAR LOOKING AT A FIVE-YEAR HORIZON IN BUDGETING, KNOWING THAT THOSE WILL CHANGE. BUT AT LEAST WE CAN HAVE THAT OUTLOOK MOVING FORWARD. WE'RE LOOKING AT OUR ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT.

THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT. OUR 911 FUND AND THE CHALLENGE FOR MST USE. SO THOSE ARE ALL THINGS THAT YOU'LL SEE COMING BEFORE YOU IN THE FUTURE AS WE CONTINUE TO DO

SOME ANALYSIS. >> WHAT CONCERNING CHALLENGE TO

YOU? >> IN ALL OF THESE, YOU KNOW IT'S-- ALL OF THESE ARE SELF-FUNDED FUNDS.

WE CAN'T LOOK AT EVERY ONE IN ONE YEAR, BUT IN TALKING TO MJ AND WITH HER BEING A FRESH LOOK AT THIS, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO PROJECT OUT WHAT DOES THIS LOOK LIKE TO GIVE YOU AS THE BOARD THE BEST INFORMATION POSSIBLE? THROUGH MJ'S LEADERSHIP WE JUST COMPLETED ONE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES. WE'VE WORKED WITH ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES TEAM. THE COMMISSION AUDITOR.

WE'VE REVIEWED THIS TO SAY HEY WHAT IS ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES LOOK LIKE FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS? AND WE'LL BRING THAT TO THE BOARD IN THE NEAR FEATURE.

TO YOU COLLECTING THREE MILLS RIGHT NOW.

THE-- EVERYTHING A CHALLENGER HAS BEEN PAID OFF EXCEPT FOR HOW MUCH MONEY DO YOU WANT TO HOLD BACK IN CASE WE HAD TO PAY THAT GRANT BACK? WHAT'S THE PLAN FOR THE MONEY GENERATING TAX REVENUE IN CHALLENGER.

WE NEED TO PROVIDE YOU WITH AN ESTIMATE OF WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? WE NEED TO TALK TO ERIC ABOUT WHAT DO REPAIRS LOOK LIKE ON CHALLENGER.

IT'S THE COUNTY ROAD. OR ATLANTIS DRIVE.

BUT THAT MST IS SUPPOSED TO FUND EXPANDING IT.

SO THEN WE TALKED TO RICHARD ABOUT WHAT IS ENGINEERING LOOK LIKE. SO WE CAN BUILD A PLAN TO THE BOARD SO YOU GUYS CAN SAY YEP, THIS IS THE PLAN OR NO IT'S NOT THE PLAN AND HOW DO YOU WANT TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENTLY?

>> TO YOU AS A TIME CERTAIN END DATE?

>> I DON'T KNOW. NO THEY ARE NOT.

I DON'T THINK SO. I THINK IT'S-- WE'LL LOOK AT IT. BUT--.

>> I THOUGHT WE HAD A LIMIT TO PAY THE LOAN BACK?

>> OH YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT-- IT'S NOT A LOAN.

SO IT'S THE GRANT. IT'S THE TEN-YEAR MARK FOR THE GRANT. NOW THE QUESTION IF WE DON'T GET THE JOB NUMBERS IS THE STATE GOING TO ASK FOR US TO PAY THAT BACK AND IF SO WHAT'S YOUR COMFORT LEVEL OF HAVING ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY THAT BACK? FIVE MORE YEARS FROM NOW ROUGHLY? ON YEAR THREE.

>> DO WE KNOW HOW MANY WE'RE SHORT?

>> A LOT. >> LIKE THE ENTIRE THING.

>> YEAH. >> MINUS THE TWO PEOPLE THAT

WORK AT THE APARTMENT COMPLEX. >> YEAH I MEAN IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE 700 AND SOMETHING JOBS AND NIAGARA'S GENERATING 100 AND SOMETHING. SO YEAH YOU'RE SIGNIFICANTLY SHORT. SO-- BUT TO HAVE A PLAN, RIGHT NOW WE'RE DOING IT YEAR BY YEAR.

SAME THING THE 911 FUND. YOU ALLUDED TO IT EARLIER.

THE PSAPS. WE NEED TO LOOK HOW THEY ARE FUNDED AND DO WE NEED FOUR PSAPS.

THAT'S PART OF THE 911 FUND AND THE HEALTHINESS OF IT AS AN EXAMPLE. AND THERE'S MORE BUT THESE ARE THE FOUR THAT WE PICKED OUT THE START WITH.

>> OKAY. >> FURTHER KNOWLEDGE OF THE PUBLIC, I WROTE DOWN A NOTE. BUT SHALL DEFINE POCO AND PSAP

FOR THE PUBLIC. >> PUBLIC SERVICE ANSWERING POINT. PSAP IT'S WHERE THE 911 CALLS ARE TAKEN. CURRENTLY WE HAVE ONE IN SHERIFF, FIRE, ONE IN THE GREEN COACH SPRINGS AND ONE IN ORANGE PARK. YES, MA'AM.

I WROTE THE SAME THING DOWN. THEN POCO IS YOUR BUDGET SHEET

[02:15:02]

IT'S YOUR EXPENSES. YES, MA'AM SORRY ABOUT THAT.

[COMMISSIONERS' COMMENTS]

>> YEP, AND THEN FROM HERE, WE'RE JUST AT FUTURE WORKSHOPS.

AND DISCUSSONS. SO THE NEXT FUTURE WORKSHOP THAT WE HAVE IS JULY 23RD AT 9 A.M. HERE IN THE BOARDROOM.

AND SO PENDING ANY DISCUSSION DIRECTION FROM HERE.

THAT IS ALL THAT I HAVE TO BRING YOU TODAY.

>> I ALLUDED TO IT EARLIER BUT TRACY, WE HAVE FOUR-- MUNICIPALITIES. WE ARE CYCLING THROUGH THE IMPACT. WHAT CONVERSATIONS HAVE YOU HAD WITH THE OTHER FOUR MUNICIPALITIES.

MY ANSWERING IS THEY ARE PART OF CLAY COUNTY.

AND IF THEY CAN'T STAND ON THEIR OWN TWO LEGS WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PROP THEM UP WITH A THIRD LEG.

>> I'VE HAD IN CONVERSATION WITH THEM.

>> THAT'S WHAT I WAS AFRAID YOU WERE GOING TO SAY.

>> I KNOW THE NUMBER ONE MUNICIPALITY AFFECTED THE ENTIRE STATE OF FLORIDA IS THE CITY OF KEYSTONE HEIGHTS.

>> I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT PENNY FARMS.

NO? >> IT'S NOT EVEN IN THE TOP

FIVE. >> HOW MUCH OF PENNY FARMS VERSUS COMMERCIAL OR NOT RESIDENTIAL?

>> IT'S A PRCI IS 95% OF IT. MAYBE 96--%.

>> SO THE KEYSTONE HEIGHTS IS 52%-- WOULD BE 52% OF THEIR BUDGET WOULD BE CUT. AND THEY HAD A-- THEIR CITY COUNCIL MEETING LAST MONDAY NIGHT.

AND THEIR CITY MANAGER SAID BASICALLY IF IT'S FUN, WE CAN'T DO IT. SO 4TH OF JULY.

AND THAT'S A BIG DEAL IN A LITTLE CITY.

IS 4TH OF JULY. THE CHRISTMAS PARADE.

THEY MAINTAIN THE CEMETERY. AND THEY MAINTAIN SOME PARKS

AND SOME ROADS. >> I THINK THAT'S THE SURFACE

OF THEIR PROBLEMS. >> HERE'S THE SAD THING TOO.

IS I'M-- I AGREE WITH THE SHERIFF, I'M FOR PROPERTY TAX REFORM. I PAY A TON TOO.

SO-- I'LL KEEP MY PERSONAL VIEWS OUT OF THIS.

BUT THE INTERESTING THING IS THAT THE CITY MANAGER TOLD ME HE HAS CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES FROM 1925.

NOW WAS IT-- LIKE THERE'S BEEN-- IT'S EVOLVED, RIGHT.

SO THERE USED TO BE A TIME WHEN THE CITY OF KEYSTONE HEIGHTS HAD THEIR OWN POLICE FORCE. AND THEY DON'T NOW.

SO WE ALL EVOLVE AND YOU KNOW, WE ALSO DON'T WANT ANARCHY.

OUR FELLOW COMMISSIONER COMPERE HAS FAMILY THAT KNOW AND LIVE WHERE ANARCHY EXISTS AND THAT'S NOT A GOOD PLACE TO LIVE EITHER. SO THERE IS A ROLE FOR GOVERNMENT. AND SO IT'S JUST A VERY INTERESTING CONCEPT. BUT IT IS INTERESTING TO ME THE

MUNICIPALITY CONVERSATION. >> SO, STANDBY, WE NEED TO GAIN THAT TOO FOR FUTURE BUDGETS. BECAUSE-- WE'LL BE THE FUNDING SOURCE FOR THAT PROBLEM UNTIL IT GETS RESOLVED IN A BIGGER SEGMENT OF THE LEGISLATION. I DON'T KNOW.

PREDICT-- I CAN'T PREDICT HOW IT'S GOING TO END UP.

>> ALL RIGHT. >> I GOT A TRACY QUESTION.

FOR THE PARCEL. >> SORRY TRACY.

>> NO, LISTEN FIRST OFF I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TRACY FOR BEING HERE TODAY. AND STEPPING UP TO THE MIC.

BECAUSE YOU'VE BEEN A TREMENDOUS HELP THROUGH THIS PROCESS. FOR INCORPORATED AREAS, IF THE LEGISLATION WERE TO PASS, DOES-- ARE THEY CURRENTLY ASSESSED WITH NON-INCORPORATED AD VALOREM? DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? OR ARE THEY ONLY ASSESSED THEIR INCORPORATED PIECES? OR BOTH?

>> LIKE CITY OF GREEN COAT. THEY HAVE AD VALOREM TO THEIR PROPERTY VALUES THEN NON-AD VALOREM FEES LIKE THEY HAVE STORM WATER IN THE CITY THERE. JUST LIKE COUNTY HAS SOLID WASTE AS A FEE. SO THEY HAVE FEES IN THE

MUNICIPALITIES AS WELL. >> BUT I GUESS MY QUESTION IS THE ASSUMPTION IS, IF THE LEGISLATION WERE TO PASS, DOES IT KNOCK OUT BOTH? I GUESS?

DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? >> NO.

IF IT PASSES, YOU'RE ONLY-- AN EXEMPTION IS ONLY AFFECTS THE

AD VALOREM TAX. >> CORRECT.

>> SO THE FEES. ARE FEES.

>> RIGHT. >> IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE VALUE OF YOUR PROPERTY. SO TO-- IF I'M ANSWERING YOUR QUESTION, YEAH THE FEE JUST IS A MECHANISM OF THAT TAXING AUTHORITY. AND THE LOGIC HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE PROPERTY VALUE OR AD VALOREM TAX.

>> AND THAT'S WHAT I WAS TRYING TO GET AT AS COMMISSIONER WAS SAYING. ORANGE PARKER COVE IF THEY DISBAND, THOSE FEES WOULD GO AWAY.

BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT AN ENTITY ANYMORE.

[02:20:02]

>> YEAH, THEY WOULD NO LONGER ISSUE A TAX BILL.

>> RIGHT. >> SO THOSE FEES ARE ON THE TAX

BILL. >> AND THE KEY IS.

>> WHAT THOSE FEES WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED BY OUR COMPARABLE FEES. LIKE FOR TRASH PICK-UP.

THEIR FEE IS DIFFERENT THAN OURS.

IF THEY COME IN THE UNINCORPORATED CLAY COUNTY REGIME, THEN WE'D HAVE TO ASSESS THOSE COUNTY FEES TO

THAT. >> RIGHT.

AND THEN THE MISNOMER IS PUT THAT TO THE SLIDE JUST TO ILLUSTRATE IT. THE MISNOMER IS THEY WOULD PAY A FULL 8.. WITH ALREADY PAYING THAT AD VALOREM NOW. SO REALLY THE AD VALOREM THAT YOU PICK UP IS THE .4 OR .5 OR 2.4 IF I'M CORRECT TRACY.

BECAUSE THEY ARE GOING TO PICK UP FOR THOSE AD VALOREM SERVICES THAT THEY DON'T ALREADY PAY FOR.

THEY ALREADY PAID THE COUNTY SERVICE.

SO IT'S NOT LIKE YOU GET A WHOLE 8.6 MILLS ON THEM.

>> CORRECT. YEAH.

OKAY. >> ALL RIGHT.

THEIR HOMESTEAD. EXCEPT THEIR GARBAGE FEE.

>> WE JUST PICK UP A BIGGER REQUIREMENT WITH NO FUNDING.

THE COUNTY WOULD. >> SURE.

>> IS THERE ANY GOOD NEWS YOU HAVE?

>> NO. DOOM AND GLOOM.

>> ON SLIDE ONE. WE GOT $6.5 MILLION POTENTIALLY COMING FROM THE STATE FOR IMPROVED--.

>> UNBELIEVABLE. >> ALL RIGHT ANY OTHER DISCUSSION QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT.

COMMISSIONER COMMENTS? START?

>> YEAH, I CAN START. I'VE SAID MOST-- BUT WE NEED TO LOOK AT EVERYTHING. EVERYTHING NEEDS TO MAKE SENSE OR ELSE IT'S NONSENSE. SO WE NEED TO LOOK AT EVERY LITTLE PIECE. WHETHER IT BE-- AND REQUIREMENTS. WHAT ARE THE ACTUAL REQUIREMENTS? BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CUT SOME OF THE NICE TO DO THINGS.

YOU KNOW-- YOU LOOK AT GUN RANGES.

YOU LOOK AT PARKS. YOU LOOK AT-- JUST THINGS LIKE THAT. MAYBE ON THE CUTTING BLOCK.

LIBRARIES. IT'S A MONUMENTAL TASK.

NOT ENJOYABLE EITHER. >> JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO OUR CONSTITUTIONALS FOR COMING AND I KNOW SHERIFF WAS HERE JUST A MOMENT AGO. AND CLERK GREEN BEHIND, YEAH.

I SEE YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

AND SHEDDING INSIGHT ON THESE CHALLENGES THAT WE'RE GOING TO FACE. THANK YOU TO COUNTY STAFF.

THIS TAKES A LOT OF WORK, WE KNOW THAT, BUT I APPRECIATE YOUR WILLINGNESS TO REALLY GET INTO THE WEEDS.

THANK YOU. SO THE LONG AND SHORT OF IT FOR ME, IS I THINK THAT THE SHERIFF HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD.

IN THAT WE ARE A REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT.

THAT'S HOW THIS WORKS. AND SO WHEN WE HEAR ABOUT THE CONVERSATIONS. I THINK IT WAS COMMISSIONER CONDON WHO BROUGHT UP A LOT OF THE CONVERSATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN HAD IN THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THIS, I THINK THAT THAT HELPS ME SET THE COURSE IN MANY WAYS OF HOW TO MOVE FORWARD.

AND SO MY APPROACH-- I HEARD THE SHERIFF SAY ZERO-BASED BUDGETING. I HEARD COMMISSIONER RENNINGER TALK ABOUT AMPUTATION THAN A THOUSAND CUTS.

SO WHOLESALE AGREE WITH THE LINE BY LINE REVIEW OF THE BUDGET BEING APPROPRIATE. AND I WOULD LIKE A COPY OF THE WHOLE BUDGET. EVERY DEPARTMENT.

I'D LIKE TO SEE HOW EVERY DOLLAR IS ALLOCATED.

AND I KNOW TO YOUR POINT, THIS IS ROLLING UP OUR SLEEVES AND I'VE GOT A LOT GOING ON IN MY OWN LIFE.

I HAVE A FARM TO RUN AND EMPLOYEES AND ALL THE THINGS.

AND A FAMILY AND A MINISTRY. MY LIST IS LONG, BUT THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. AND SO I AM COMMITTED TO DOING THAT LEVEL OF REVIEW. IT'S-- I THINK WE'RE AT A JUNCTURE IN TIME WHERE IT'S NECESSARY.

AND SO THEN AS FAR AS COURSE OF DIRECTION.

MY APPROACH WILL BE A RE-EVALUATION OF THE LEVEL OF SERVICE. AGAIN, THANK YOU TEAM FOR ALL IT TAKES TO GET TO THIS POINT. AND IT'S GOING TO BE AN

INTERESTING RIDE. >> THANKS MADAM CHAIR.

COUPLE THINGS. I'D LIKE TO SEE THE NUMBERS OF

[02:25:06]

AND THEN ALSO THE NUMBERS OF WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE AT THE RATE OF INFLATION. I'D LIKE TO SEE THOSE TWO DIFFERENCES. ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK WE REALLY GOT TO CONSIDER-- BECAUSE EVERY SINGLE CONSTITUTIONAL STOOD UP AND SAID THIS TODAY.

WE'VE GOT TO LOOK AT SOFTWARE LICENSING.

AND I'VE TALKED ABOUT-- TO YOU ABOUT THIS WHEN WE'VE HAD BUDGET BRIEFS AND TALKS. JUST BECAUSE YOU'VE DONE IT ONE WAY FOR A LONG TIME, DOESN'T MEAN YOU'RE GOING TO DO IT THAT WAY FOREVER. IN TERMS OF-- IF EVERY CONSTITUTIONAL OR EVERY DEPARTMENT IN THE COUNTY HAS AN I.T. DIRECTOR, THAT'S NOT NECES NECESSARILY-- MAYBE WE PUT THAT UNDER ONE ROOF AND THAT ONE TEAM CAN DELVE THOSE THINGS OUT.

I DO KNOW THAT THERE'S SOME LEGAL THINGS WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE THEY HAVE TO HAVE PROTECTED SYSTEMS AND ALL THAT.

COULD SAVE A LOT OF MONEY. I THINK A LOT OF OTHER THING.

COMMISSIONERS TALKING ABOUT THE NICE TO HAVES.

THE JTA BUS SERVICE. I DO BACK TO THAT TOO FOR $1 MILLION AND YOU START LOOKING AT THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT RIDE THE BUS. IT IS MINUSCULE WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT A POPULATION OF 240,000 PEOPLE.

IT'S VERY, VERY SMALL. AND THAT'S NOT PICKING ON THOSE PEOPLE. BUT WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO DECIDE-- ESSENTIALS. AND THAT TO ME IS-- SOMETHING WE CAN LOOK AT. SO THOSE ECONOMIES OF SCALE WITH SOFTWARE. ANOTHER THING THAT I WANT TO DISCUSS IS FUNDING CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT THEN INCUR RECURRING COSTS. SO IF WE HAVE CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT WE BUILD SOMETHING AND THEN IT'S GOING TO IN TURN COST US MORE MONEY, I'M NOT IN FAVOUR OF THAT ANYMORE.

WE CAN'T. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A REALLY HARD TIME TO DO THAT. SO LOOKING AT WHAT'S ON THE CAPITAL LIST, THAT WOULD THEN HAVE A RECURRING COST INSTEAD OF A CAPITAL PROJECT, THAT IS INFRASTRUCTURE THAT HAS NO IMMEDIATE RECURRING COST. IS SOMETHING I WANT TO LOOK AT.

AND THE LAST THING I WANT TO SAY IS-- YOU KNOW-- SHERIFF COOK AND TRACY AND CHRIS AND TARA AND YOUR TEAMS AND YOU KNOW FIRECHIEF. WE'RE IN THIS TOGETHER.

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? WE ARE ONE COMMUNITY.

AND I THINK EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS THE GRAVITY OF SOME OF THE DECISIONS WE HAVE TO MAKE.

AND I WOULD ARGUE NOT EVEN WITH-- TAKE THE PROPERTY TAX REFORM OFF THE TABLE. WITH THE CURRENT BUDGET, THERE'S SOME PRETTY LARGE DECISIONS WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE. AND I-- YOU KNOW SECOND WHAT THE SHERIFF SAID ABOUT PROPERTY TAX.

I 100% FUNDAMENTALLY FROM A CONSERVATIVE HEART, FUNDAMENTALLY DISAGREE WITH SOMEONE WHO OWNS A LARGER HOME PAYING MORE MONEY FOR POLICE, FIRE, ET CETERA, THAN SOMEONE WHO OWNS A SMALLER HOME. BECAUSE THEY GET THE SAME LEVEL OF SERVICE. SO I UNDERSTAND THE FUNDAMENTAL ARGUMENT OF PROPERTY TAX, THE KEY IN THIS ROLE THAT WE ALL WERE ELECTED TO DO IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PROVIDING LEVELS OF SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY THAT THEY HAVE ENTRUSTED US. AND I SAY ENTRUSTED US TO PROVIDE. SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE ALL REALLY GOING TO HAVE TO REMEMBER AS WE GO THROUGH THESE MATHEMATICAL AEROBICS. IS REMEMBER WHAT YOUR CONSTITUENCY EXPECTS OF YOU IN EDUCATION IS IMPORTANT.

AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A VERY METICULOUS PROCESS TO GET TO AN END RESULT THAT EVERYONE'S GOING TO BE HAPPY WITH. BUT WE HAVE A DUTY.

I FEEL A HEAVY BURDEN ON MY BACK FOR MY FOLKS IN CLAY COUNTY TO ENSURE THAT WE KEEP THE TRAIN ROLLING.

HOWEVER THAT LOOKS. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IS VERY SERIOUS FOR ME. AND LAST THING I'LL SAY IS THE POCOS TOO. IF YOU GET ME A COPY OF THAT AS WELL, I'D LIKE TO JUST TAKE A LOOK AND START FROM THERE.

BUT THANKS FOR EVERYBODY'S ROBUST DISCUSSION TODAY.

>> SO I THINK A COUPLE OF THINGS REALLY STAND OUT TO ME.

I REMEMBER LAST YEAR HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH TROY AND THE COUNTY MANAGER. TAKED ABOUT DOGE ON THE BOARD FLOOR. I ASK ABOUT LOOKING AT SPECIFIC THINGS LIKE SOFTWARE CONTRACTS.

OTHER CONTRACTS. OFFICE SUPPLIES.

YOU KNOW WE HAVE SIX DIFFERENT HR DEPARTMENTS WITHIN THE COUNTY SERVICES OVERALL. WE HAVE THE SAME LEVEL FOR SOFTWARE THINGS. WE ALL BUY OFFICE SUPPLIES, BUT WE DON'T BUY UNDER ONE BIG CONGLOMERATE BUYING AGREEMENT.

COULD WE GET SOMEWHERE ON THAT? I ASKED FOR THAT MORE THAN A

[02:30:03]

NO WORK TO MY KNOWLEDGE WAS DONE ON IT.

AND TO ME, THAT'S A SHORTFALL. THAT'S WHAT THE PUBLIC WAS ASKING FOR ON DOGE. THE COUNTY MANAGER AND TROY AND I HAD A CONVERSATION LAST YEAR AND I SAID I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE'S AN UNDERSTANDING FROM OUR EMPLOYEES THAT THINGS ARE DIRE. BECAUSE THE PUBLIC DOESN'T THINK IT'S DIRE. RIGHT, THE PUBLIC LOOKS AT A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT HOMES BEING DEVELOPED AND BUILT IN CLAY COUNTY AND CERTAINLY THEY ARE COMING ONLINE.

BUT THE PROPERTY APPRAISER TOLD US THE REAL ESTATE MARKET HAS ESSENTIALLY BEEN FLAT. IF YOU TALK TO ANY OF THE LOCAL BUILDERS OR I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH DANIEL VAILLANCOURT WHO DOES LAND PREP FOR A LOT OF THE LARGE SUBDIVISIONS AND HE SAID HE HAS SEEN THE SLOW DOWN.

YET THEY CAN'T HIRE ENOUGH EMPLOYEES TO DO THE WORK THAT THEY HAVE. HE HAS A REAL-- LIKE WE HAVE THIS WHOLE SOCIETAL. WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH EMPLOYEES TO DO THE WORK WE HAVE. BUT THE WORK-- THAT WORK IS GOING TO FUND OUR ECONOMY. AND THEN THOSE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BUY HOMES. AND THAT'S HOW ECONOMIC SERVICES GO. AND I SAY THE COUNTY MANAGER AND TROY, THEY ASK ME-- TO NOT BE ALARMIST TO OUR EMPLOYEES.

AND WE DIDN'T WANT TO SOUND LIKE-- HE DIDN'T WANT TO MASS EXODUS OF THE EMPLOYEES. WHICH I GET.

BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT REALLY THE GRAVITY OF WHERE WE WERE TODAY, NOT TAX REFORM. THIS IS NOT WHAT'S ON THE BALLOT. BUT THE GRAVITY OF WHERE WE ARE TODAY OF A $50 MILLION DEFICIT GOING INTO NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET, I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT WAS FELT BY REALLY ANYONE EXCEPT TROY AND MJ PROBABLY UNTIL THEY WALKED INTO THE ROOM TODAY.

AND I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE STAND.

SO WE HAVE TO FIND-- IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN EVERYTHING WHERE IT IS TODAY IN THE COUNTY, MOVING FORWARD WITH THE CONTRACTUAL RAISES THAT WE'VE HAD, WE'RE $50 MILLION SHORT.

AND THAT'S A PROBLEM. AND SO I AGREE, IT'S THE THOUSAND CUTS. I AGREE THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT DOING THINGS THE WAY DIFFERENTLY THAN WE'VE DONE THEM BEFORE. THAT'S HOW WE DON'T HAVE MASK PEOPLE LOSING THEIR JOBS. MASS.

THAT'S NOT WHAT WE WANT. TOPPED WITH FORMER COMMISSIONER STEWART ABOUT IN 2008 WHEN THE ONLY TIME THE BCC EVER HAD TO DO A REDUCTION IN FORCE AND HOW AWFUL IT WAS TO BE AN ELECTED OFFICIAL AND LOOK PEOPLE IN THE EYE AND TELL THEM THEY WERE GOING TO LOSE THEIR JOB. AND YET-- WE DON'T HAVE $50 MILLION. $50 MILLION.

SO WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT EVERY SINGLE EXPENDITURE IN YOUR BUDGET, I JUST ASK THAT EVERY ONE OF YOU CONSIDER THAT.

AND I ALSO WOULD ASK-- THAT THEY ARE NOT B.A.

WELL IT'S IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET SO I'LL GO AHEAD AND SPEND IT.

BECAUSE WE CAN USE THAT CASH CARRY FORWARD.

FOR NEXT YEAR. SO DON'T JUST GO BY.

A NEW OFFS CHAIR BECAUSE IT WAS ON THE LIST.

OAR DON'T JUST STOCK UP THE SUPPLY CABINET BECAUSE THERE'S MONEY TO BE SPENT AND IT'S ALMOST JULY AND WE'RE THREE-QUARTERS OF THE WAY THROUGH THE YEAR.

I THINK EVERY SINGLE EXPENDITURE-- BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT OUR CITIZENS ARE DOING. YOU KNOW WHEN YOU HEAR PEOPLE SAY, THAT'S WHAT I DO AT HOME. YOU KNOW-- WE DON'T EAT OUT AS MUCH. WE DON'T-- PERSONALLY, I SPENT A TON ON GAS TO DO MY JOB AS A COMMISSIONER.

BECAUSE I HAPPEN TO LIVE AT THE FAR END OF THE COUNTY AND I SERVE THE LARGEST DISTRICT IN GREEN COVE IS MORE THAN 45 MILES FROM MY HOUSE. I SPEND A TON OF MONEY ON GAS.

SO I BROUGHT MY LUNCH TODAY BECAUSE WE HAVE A FULL DAY OF WORK. I THINK THAT'S WHAT OUR CITIZENS ARE EXPECTING US TO DO AT THE COUNTY LEVEL.

AND THAT'S NOT FUN. IT'S NOT.

AND IT DOESN'T MAKE US POPULAR. BUT THAT'S NOT WHY TO YOUR POINT COMMISSIONER SGROMOLO WE WERE ELECTED.

SO I THINK TO THE POINT PUBLIC WANTING TO SEE WHAT WE WERE TO TALK ABOUT FOR POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAX REFORM.

I DON'T KNOW THAT ANY OF THEM RECOGNIZE THAT WE ARE FACING A BUDGET DEFICIT BEFORE WE EVER GO TO PROPERTY TAX REFORM.

SO-- THAT'S-- MORE OF MY DARK CLOUD.

BUT I DO APPRECIATE ALL THE STAFF WORK.

NOT JUST YOU BUT YOUR STAFF. I KNOW THERE'S SEVERAL-- A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE. THE CONSTITUTIONALS FOR BEING HERE WITH US TODAY. AND I APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT.

I'VE GOTTEN CALLS FROM A NUMBER OF YOU.

AND GOOD CONVERSATIONS WITH A NUMBER OF YOU AND I APPRECIATE THAT. AND I WILL LEAVE IT AT THAT.

OKAY. >> I THINK IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT AS A CITIZEN TO ACTUALLY SEE WHAT THE EFFECTS

[02:35:02]

WE KNOW PEOPLE ARE LISTENING. BUT NOT A WHOLE BUNCH OF PEOPLE. SO I DO THINK THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO DEFINITELY EDUCATE AND REALLY BE OUT THERE HOWEVER WHICH WAY WE CAN TO LET THEM KNOW THAT WHAT'S COMING.

AND WHAT THE POTENTIAL EFFECTS ARE.

THERE'S SO MUCH THAT WE TAKE FOR GRANTED.

AND I KNOW CHRIS WAS TALKING ABOUT THINGS WE DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT. EARLY VOTING SITES.

NOT HAVING TO WAIT IN LONG LINES TO VOTE ON THE REGULAR VOTING DAY. MYSELF, I NEVER WOULD HAVE EVEN THOUGHT ABOUT THAT AND I'M SURE THAT MOST CITIZENS WOULD SAY THAT, THAT WE JUST HAVE GROWN ACCUSTOMED TO IT.

WE'RE SO USED TO THAT CONVENIENCE.

AND SO WHEN DWLOOIRING ABOUT IT, THINGS LIKE THAT.

THAT'S OUR LIFE AND WHY IT'S SO SPECIAL TO LIVE HERE IN A WONDERFUL COUNTY AND OF COURSE WE DON'T WANT ANY OF THAT TO GO AWAY. BUT WE ARE DEFINITELY FACED WITH THAT. TALKING ABOUT SOFTWARE LICENSING. I HAVE THAT IN MY OFFICE.

AND BEEN ON TO SEE IN THE LAST 25 YEARS WITH MY BUSINESS ALL THOSE CHANGES. YEAH WE GO AND ANALYZE COST AND COMPARE REGULARLY. UNFORTUNATELY USUALLY WHAT WE HAVE FOUND IS TO TAKE IT TO GO AND CHANGE TO A DIFFERENT ONE, THE COST TO DO THAT IS SO EXTREME THAT WE HAVE TO SAY OKAY WE'RE STUCK WITH WHAT WE HAVE.

AND SO AND OF COURSE THEY GO UP REGULARLY EVERY YEAR ON THE COST. AND WE HAVE TO HAVE IT.

WE CAN'T-- I DON'T HAVE I.T. DEPARTMENT.

I HAVE TO TOTALLY DEPEND ON THEM TO MAKE SURE MY OFFICE IS FUNCTIONING AND THAT WE'RE DOING THE RIGHT THINGS THERE.

TOUGH PILL TO SWALLOW TO ME TO KNOW THAT THE STATE IS GOING TO-- THE VOTERS IN THE STATE ARE GOING TO MAKE THE DECISION THAT'S GOING TO AFFECT OUR COUNTY IN SUCH A BIG WAY.

THAT THOSE OTHER COUNTIES. THERE'S SO MANY COUNTIES THAT IT'S NOT GOING TO AFFECT BUT YET THEY GET TO MAKE THAT VOTE.

AND THAT'S VERY SCARY THING TO ME TO THINK ABOUT.

WE HAVE TO BE SAFE. THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE CANNOT SKIMP ON. $22,000 A YEAR MORE TO GO TO WORK IN DUVAL COUNTY FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

I MEAN THAT IS-- $10,000 TO GO TO NASSAU.

YOU KNOW-- WE CAN'T ALLOW THAT. WE CAN'T ALLOW THE 163 TO LEAVE AGAIN. I MEAN-- SO THAT'S JUST MAKES ME WANT TO CRY RIGHT HERE. IT'S OUR JOB TO EDUCATE THE CITIZENS AND SO I'M GOING TO BE DOING MY PART.

I THINK AS A WHOLE I CAN SAY AS OUR COMMISSION, WE'RE GOING TO BE TRYING TO DO THE RIGHT THING.

THAT'S WHAT I TRY TO SAY IN MY LIFE DO THE RIGHT THING AND I FEEL LIKE WE DO TRY TO DO THAT HERE.

I DO PROMISE THAT WE ARE A TEAM.

WE ARE-- WE HAVE ALL SAID AS A TEAM WE'RE GOING TO DO WHATEVER WE POSSIBLY CAN. SO I THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR BEING HERE AND EVERYTHING YOU'VE ALREADY DONE TO CONTRIBUTE. BECAUSE WE ARE AN AMAZING TEAM.

AN AMAZING COUNTY TO LIVE IN AND I JUST HOPE AND PRAY THAT WE CAN DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO MAKE IT STAY THAT WAY.

AND SO I CAN GUARANTEE I WILL BE DOING MY WORK AND IT SOUND LIKE EVERYONE ELSE IS SAYING THE SAME THING.

WE'LL JUST DO THE BEST WE CAN. AND THAT'S ALL WE CAN DO.

IN ANYTHING IN LIFE. SO IF THERE'S NOTHING ELSE FOR THE ORDER. WE WILL ADJOURN.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.