1 00:00:12,320 --> 00:00:17,799 call this meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. 2 00:00:18,880 --> 00:00:26,480 » Um, I don't have any speakers signed for that open forum today. 3 00:00:24,080 --> 00:00:32,239 » Public hearing items. Public hearing. Open public hearing at 4 00:00:29,199 --> 00:00:38,640 public hearing of on proposed fiscal year 2026 2027 city of Breen Ridge tax 5 00:00:36,000 --> 00:00:43,680 rate. Do we have any speakers? >> We do have one speaker, mayor. Um Dr. 6 00:00:41,200 --> 00:00:47,120 Daniel Newell, you would like to come up to the podium. You have three minutes. 7 00:00:45,600 --> 00:00:51,760 » Okay. Try to get most of this into three 8 00:00:48,559 --> 00:00:56,239 minutes. Uh first of all, Mr. Mayor and ladies and gentlemen, I'm Daniel, Dr. 9 00:00:54,239 --> 00:01:00,320 Daniel Newell. My wife and I moved to Breenidge from the Pacific Northwest 10 00:00:58,239 --> 00:01:06,000 three years ago. Found this nice little town, nice people. I think we enjoy it 11 00:01:02,480 --> 00:01:12,560 here quite a bit. Bit of background among other things, I spent 30 plus 30 12 00:01:09,520 --> 00:01:17,200 plus years salary career as a senior financial analyst, a budget director and 13 00:01:15,280 --> 00:01:22,400 government compliance specialist as such. I was also involved in regional 14 00:01:20,000 --> 00:01:26,720 expansion and marketing for three major regional and national insurance 15 00:01:23,920 --> 00:01:32,320 companies with budgets between 3006 $600 million a year for 500,000 or 50,000 16 00:01:30,640 --> 00:01:38,079 customers each and hundreds of employees. I know a thing or two about 17 00:01:35,360 --> 00:01:43,600 budgets, taxation, staff and development funding, staff development planning. I 18 00:01:40,960 --> 00:01:48,720 want to stress I am retired and committed to that. I also did not plan 19 00:01:45,920 --> 00:01:54,079 to run for any public office. Uh, one thing I wanted to 20 00:01:52,159 --> 00:01:57,680 uh realize, I joined the citizens academy this year at the start. I'd 21 00:01:55,520 --> 00:02:01,840 recommend that to every citizen. It's a wonderful experience. 22 00:01:59,759 --> 00:02:06,000 So, as I get started with my comments, one thing I want to clarify, part of the 23 00:02:04,000 --> 00:02:12,959 role of our city manager and department heads is to dream of what could be. If 24 00:02:10,000 --> 00:02:17,040 we only had enough resources and to share those with you, it's your 25 00:02:15,360 --> 00:02:21,120 role to review those dreams as I understand it and request to ascertain 26 00:02:18,879 --> 00:02:25,040 what is possible and what is not. If we can't generate the funds ourselves, then 27 00:02:23,360 --> 00:02:29,680 we need to pursue help from the state and others that might be willing to help 28 00:02:26,879 --> 00:02:34,800 us. Some of this is being done now. That's very good. 29 00:02:31,760 --> 00:02:39,200 In reviewing our city tax agent history, and I brought a print out copy of last 30 00:02:36,959 --> 00:02:43,680 year's rates, most people notice that our city rating has been about twice 31 00:02:41,040 --> 00:02:47,360 that of surrounding counties. And they have a lot of concern because it just 32 00:02:45,680 --> 00:02:50,319 raises serious questions. There might be something to it or not. But I brought 33 00:02:48,879 --> 00:02:53,840 you a print out just makes it a whole lot easier to look up to than looking at 34 00:02:51,920 --> 00:02:58,000 the little fine print on the spreadsheets provided by the state. 35 00:02:56,480 --> 00:03:02,640 Also, I keep hearing that we have a population of just over 5,000 people. 36 00:03:00,480 --> 00:03:09,360 That needs to be put in context. Of that, there's only about maybe 26 or 37 00:03:04,640 --> 00:03:15,680 2,700 that are adults, taxpaying ages. And further, we only have maybe 1,250 38 00:03:12,000 --> 00:03:21,680 to,700 actual homes that are represented by those individuals. So, the tax burden 39 00:03:18,400 --> 00:03:24,720 is being spread over that small group. 30 seconds. 40 00:03:22,800 --> 00:03:27,680 » Now, as far as >> you can go ahead. 41 00:03:25,920 --> 00:03:31,680 » As far as budgeting goes, there's no shame in having to go back and forth 42 00:03:29,120 --> 00:03:36,799 numerous times, you know, between ideas, you know, people share share what's 43 00:03:33,519 --> 00:03:41,760 going on. But I I I stress that no one should be offended or being asked to 44 00:03:39,040 --> 00:03:46,239 slow down or rework things. As a city council, you alone are the ones making 45 00:03:43,519 --> 00:03:51,360 the final decision. And we've had problems in the community with this. As 46 00:03:48,159 --> 00:03:55,519 an example, the Breenriidge ISD recently presented their dream for a new 47 00:03:53,360 --> 00:04:01,120 elementary school to the public to be built somewhere somehow by someone at 48 00:03:58,720 --> 00:04:07,599 some time according to some plans that still aren't set for only $40 million. 49 00:04:04,560 --> 00:04:11,840 Figured just smoked out of the air and somehow it passed. 50 00:04:09,519 --> 00:04:15,200 » Okay, sorry. >> That's okay. I will leave these comments 51 00:04:13,840 --> 00:04:18,639 before it gets to where I'm basically recommending you go with the slow down 52 00:04:16,799 --> 00:04:21,919 and do the no new revenue for this year to give us all time to breathe. 53 00:04:21,280 --> 00:04:25,360 » Great job. >> Copy this to 54 00:04:24,720 --> 00:04:29,520 Thank you so much. >> And again, I put under my name, address, 55 00:04:27,280 --> 00:04:34,400 phone number. You want some more >> info or conversation? Glad to get it. 56 00:04:32,639 --> 00:04:37,400 » I'm not competition. I'm not running for office. 57 00:04:39,759 --> 00:04:50,440 » There's no more speakers. At this time, we'll go ahead and close 58 00:04:44,000 --> 00:04:50,440 the meeting at 5:34 p.m. We'll drink.