[This transcript was generated automatically from audio using AI and hasn't been reviewed by a person -- it can contain mistakes, including plausible-sounding sentences that were never actually said. Treat it as a starting point, not a verbatim record.]

[0:04] Good evening. We're going to call to order this special city council meeting. This is our final public budget hearing at this time.
[0:13] If you're able, please rise for the invocation and Pledge of Allegiance led by the vice mayor.
[0:21] Dear Heavenly Father, we come to you right now with hearts that are mourning the loss of patriots and local heroes and local children in our community.
[0:32] Lord just please be close to us you say in Psalms you stay close to the broken
[0:37] hearted Lord just please be with us right now and specifically be for this
[0:40] meeting Lord just please help us honor you and everything we do please help us
[0:45] to come together cordially and come with the best decision that honors you
[0:49] and looks out for the city in its best interest or please be with those
[0:53] overseas keeping us safe please be with our first responders Lord and just be
[0:58] with everyone who works to keep this whole ship a sail and just thank you for
[1:02] the volunteers you put in our lives in this community to help keep things afloat
[1:06] Lord and have your grace and your son Jesus die on the cross for our sins or
[1:10] we're so grateful for that thank you for that eternal hope and that and comfort
[1:15] in that and Jesus name I pray amen
[1:31] with liberty and justice for all.
[1:40] At this time, we'll move into item C,
[1:43] Approval and Modifications of the agenda.
[1:45] Do I have a motion?
[1:47] Move to approve the agenda.
[1:48] I have a motion.
[1:49] Do I have a second?
[1:50] Second.
[1:50] I have a motion and a second.
[1:52] Any further discussion?
[1:53] Hearing none, all in favor say aye.
[1:55] Aye.
[1:56] Any opposed?
[1:57] Hearing none, the agenda is approved five to zero.
[2:00] At this time, we'll move into item D,
[2:02] which is the public hearing of the fiscal year 2026 budget,
[2:06] The first item being the presentation of the budget for fiscal year 2026 starting October 1, the public announcement
[2:13] Advalorum tax rate term notice Madam clerk
[2:16] The proposed Advalorum rate for the fiscal year
[2:19] 2026 was advertised to be a maximum of 6.500 mils
[2:24] This millage rate would be a 13.23 increase over the current year's rollback rate of 5.7407 mils
[2:31] After reviewing revenue projections and proposed expenditure levels for the 2026 fiscal year,
[2:37] the general fund budget is balanced at a tentative rate of 6.500 mils, which is 13.23 percent
[2:45] more than the current year's rollback rate.
[2:47] This millage rate would be a 13.23 percent increase over the current year's rollback
[2:53] rate of 5.7407.
[2:55] and this means a 6.500 mills is being levied
[2:59] to fund the fiscal year 2026 budget.
[3:02] Because the 2026 fiscal year budget has been balanced
[3:05] utilizing the Advalorim tax millage of 6.500,
[3:09] there is an increase in Advalorim tax revenue of 13.23%.
[3:18] Thank you, Madam Clerk.
[3:20] We will now move into item two,
[3:22] consideration of the fiscal year 2026 budget
[3:26] to review the budget in points of discussion.
[3:29] Madam City Manager.
[3:31] Thank you, Mayor.
[3:32] The City Manager's Budget Memo of September 3rd remains the same.
[3:36] The budget before you is balanced,
[3:38] utilizing a tentative millage of 6.5.
[3:41] This 6.5 millage allows for an estimated reserves of 2.6 million
[3:45] and roughly 480,000 allocated to a CIP
[3:50] while a 6.2 millage would allow for
[3:53] estimated $2.4 million in reserves and roughly $290,000 towards CIP. To achieve this, we
[4:01] implemented $1.5 million in budget cuts across all departments, increased the tentative
[4:07] millage from $5.9 to $6.5, approved fire assessment estimated at $2.2 million, reduced the Sheriff's
[4:15] Office contract for fiscal year 2526 by an estimated $299,000 as well as other operational
[4:23] cost control measures. In addition, our finance director is here with us tonight if she has
[4:29] any additional input.
[4:35] Any discussions or questions from council regarding
[4:42] the fiscal year 26 budget? I have a question made. Well, it's not really
[4:48] a question. Okay, so this budget was based on 6.5 and last meeting we all unanimously
[4:55] obviously agreed to a tentative 6.5, so this evening we're going to cast the vote on whether
[5:02] or not we want to keep it 6.5. So do we have a budget based on a 6.2 in
[5:12] the event that,
[5:13] you know, because I did make a motion, but then I amended it for the tentative 6.5?
[5:20] are you I mean I think I come out autumn answer that before I give I guess I mean
[5:29] my quick answer would be yes it would just be the difference in what right the
[5:33] IP dollars right would be correct is right it's my understanding so so the
[5:39] balances just want to confirm the budget is balanced even at 6.2 it's just the
[5:44] CIP is going to be less, correct?
[5:47] Correct, and the reserves, yes, will be less.
[5:52] But we also have a big decision to make this evening as well.
[5:56] Correct.
[5:58] What, when it comes to the budget,
[6:01] I would actually like to make one change.
[6:07] I would like to cut some more funding for some things.
[6:11] So I'm going to make it quick.
[6:15] In every wine item of the budget, there, and before I say this, this is, well, I'll just,
[6:24] I'll just say what I have to say and then if anyone has questions, we can, we can get to that.
[6:30] So in every subject category of our budget, there are wines for travel and per diem,
[6:36] books, publications, and training and education.
[6:47] I believe training and education of our staff
[6:50] is important. I believe that we need certain books, publications, materials to run the
[6:57] city. It is necessary for staff to travel and have per diems. However, when I examine
[7:04] in the budget compared to where we were in the past three years, a lot of those line
[7:11] items have increased in our budget, but the actual expenditures, when I'm looking at what
[7:18] staff is actually spending year after year, never even touches close to what we are budgeting
[7:27] for.
[7:27] Therefore, I say that in terms of I don't think we need to budget what we're budgeting
[7:34] for, if you add up all three of those items over the course of our budget, it's $128,000,
[7:42] $128,000 and $438,000, so it's roughly $130,000.
[7:50] So I would like to get a better handle on what departments need, what we need to send
[7:57] staff to, what we don't need to send staff to.
[7:59] And so I would like to move that Travel Per Diem books, publications, and training in education
[8:08] actually all get moved under the tab in our budget that is general government.
[8:16] At the very beginning of our budget, I believe it's tab nine.
[8:20] In this book you have, there's a general government tab.
[8:24] Under that tab, we could list these three items.
[8:27] And some of them are actually already listed there anyways.
[8:32] And we could set an exact amount for each of these three.
[8:36] And then let the city manager work with our department heads over this next fiscal year.
[8:41] There would be an approval process with the city manager for staff needing to access
[8:46] these funds for certain things in these line items.
[8:50] And I think that would give us a better overall picture moving forward of what we
[8:55] need to be spending money on in these things. I know this might seem trivial or not important,
[9:03] but I would argue that every dollar in municipality spends is important because it's a taxpayer
[9:10] dollar, and I just feel that this is a way that I don't really believe we're taking
[9:16] anything away from our staff. I believe we're just accurately shrinking these budgets
[9:23] it's to kind of what we're already spending anyway.
[9:26] So my proposal would be that if you look at travel per DM
[9:34] right now, I would recommend we kind of cut all these
[9:37] in half and see where we're at.
[9:39] We are gonna have a CIP, we're gonna have excess funds.
[9:43] Should there be something we get halfway through the year
[9:45] and we need to allocate funding,
[9:48] we likely will also have that flexibility.
[9:52] So, like I said, I mean, to a degree, I do want to keep this short.
[9:55] I would recommend that we set travel per geom.
[9:58] If you add up all those costs right now, it's roughly $21,000.
[10:02] I'd recommend we set it at 10, training and education.
[10:06] And there's some important things in there right now.
[10:09] Obviously, we have a big discussion tonight that affects two of these,
[10:12] but we do have reimbursement in there for paramedic training
[10:16] and certain fire training.
[10:17] but we also have some dollars in there for CDL drivers which is essential to our public
[10:24] works department and making sure that we can run as a city and folks can use our equipment
[10:30] properly. So right now that training and education across the city is roughly $91,000.
[10:38] I would recommend we put it at $55,000. And then the last one is the books and
[10:46] publications, et cetera, right now. That's roughly at 15,000. I'd recommend we set that
[10:54] at 7,000. So if someone else can do some quick – I mean, it saves roughly about $50,000
[11:07] or so. And I think more importantly, continues to establish our budget in future years
[11:15] and make accountable what we're truly spending dollars on.
[11:20] So I've talked a lot.
[11:23] I know that was maybe a little bit hard to follow.
[11:28] Welcome your comments, feedback.
[11:29] If that's not something you all want to do at this time, that's fine as well.
[11:34] I'm not going to make a big fuss about it.
[11:35] It was just a way where I saw we could save some.
[11:41] Mayor.
[11:42] I'm going to concur with you.
[11:44] Okay.
[11:44] And thank you for doing that because it came to my attention, you know, about travel.
[11:50] And so I thought, you know what, we need to address that.
[11:52] So, yeah, I concur with you.
[11:55] Yeah, we have so much access to stuff at our fingertips nowadays with technology.
[12:00] These are definitely outdated systems.
[12:02] Like, yes, they're great for networking.
[12:03] If you're going to go take a job somewhere else or something like that.
[12:06] But there's plenty of information.
[12:09] And we can get people here to come speak to the, without sending them on the road.
[12:12] and just going around the country on the taxpayer's dollars.
[12:17] I agree.
[12:22] Great.
[12:30] Any further discussion or we will open it to public input?
[12:36] Are we ready for public input on the budget?
[12:40] Okay, great.
[12:40] Item three on this agenda is public input.
[12:43] The public's opportunity to speak or ask questions
[12:45] regarding the fiscal year 2026 Mollage Rate
[12:48] and our proposed budget.
[12:50] At this time, we'll open it up to public input.
[12:53] Anyone wishing to speak?
[12:55] We'll just start right here on my right-hand side.
[12:56] Yes, sir.
[13:12] Hello.
[13:13] My name is Chris Kingsley.
[13:15] Our state is operating at a surplus,
[13:17] and yet you as leaders of a town of about 10,000
[13:20] want to bleed your constituents.
[13:22] Constituents who already are the most highly taxed people
[13:25] in Hernando County.
[13:27] If you live in the city, you pay the tax.
[13:31] The most highly taxed.
[13:34] Growth is supposed to pay for itself,
[13:35] and I believe most of us believe there is growing,
[13:38] even if it's just by default, it's growing.
[13:41] Yet the majority of you council people want to have current residents pay for the growth.
[13:46] That makes no sense.
[13:47] We have done our part.
[13:48] We've paid our taxes, supported efforts that have apparently failed by the council
[13:52] to provide some sort of fiscal responsibility as flight.
[13:56] 13% increase.
[13:57] I mean, I don't ever remember getting a pay raise of 13% in my lifetime,
[14:01] whether when I was a union guy or not.
[14:04] And you want to try to spend your way out of the business.
[14:06] It's like the old saying, you're spending good money
[14:08] to chase bad money, bad spending, bad decisions.
[14:12] This growth that you seem to anticipate
[14:13] and want to taxes for should pay for itself.
[14:16] What about low income residents
[14:18] for these taxes you're proposing?
[14:20] They're gonna be hit the hardest
[14:21] and possibly with the worst consequences.
[14:23] You'll be making them decide between food,
[14:26] medicine, taxes.
[14:28] One of you is quoted as saying,
[14:29] I just believe that we need to keep the rate
[14:32] at 6.5 mils.
[14:33] Well, I believe it should be four or less.
[14:35] but that's not going to happen. I believe as a young blood song suggests everybody get
[14:40] together and try to love one another right now, I don't think that's going to happen
[14:43] either. A belief or a feeling in my heart is not the criteria you should be using to
[14:49] decide how much tax you want to charge us. TAP is about 6.2, Clearwater is about 5.9,
[14:55] and St. Pete is about 6.4, all less than 6.5, more to
[15:00] You offer less growth and anticipated. Pinellas is built out. They offer everything a municipality
[15:04] should offer, yet realize that you all, that property tax rates should decline, not be raised,
[15:12] when housing and taxable values are soaring like ours are. Also, you should consider consolidating
[15:18] the fire department with the county fire department and save not just hundreds of thousands but
[15:22] millions. I know this is premature. You have taken two million out of the general
[15:26] budget. And as far as I know, I'm not sure. That used to be used for the Fire Department
[15:31] and transferred that particular cost to a fee. Did you reduce the general fund by 2 million?
[15:37] Not that I'm aware of. You just found a new way to spend it, plus raise our taxes.
[15:42] So that means our actual millage rate is actually higher than what you're trying
[15:46] to tell us. Again, this tax hits the elderly and low-income people the worst. ALS calls
[15:52] back to the fire department or the predominant calls for service by fire departments. The
[15:56] county already provides that. It would provide personnel who if they were consolidated with
[16:02] greater opportunities for advancement and responsibility wise as well as financially.
[16:07] If I were a Brooksville firefighter I'd be sort of upset too that I have the same certifications,
[16:12] do the same work, get paid less and have less opportunity. I believe the attrition
[16:16] about 13 more seconds. I said that once before. We already pay for the county so
[16:21] but why pay twice? Why pay more for less service? Personally, I want full service. It makes
[16:28] no sense.
[16:28] If you can't think of a better way of paying the bills and providing better service than
[16:32] you currently are, i.e., you're raising the taxes by 13%, do something that's considered
[16:40] by the Florida statute and consider the rollback rate. It's required that you consider.
[16:44] It was mentioned early on, and I'm assuming, and I know what happens when you assume
[16:48] crap is that that was your first step is throwing looking at the rollback right and saying well
[16:56] this doesn't pay for the bills but I never heard that anybody did that before the effort
[17:02] to bring it up to 6.5. Thank you for your time.
[17:07] Anyone else on this side wishing to speak?
[17:11] Seeing none, we'll move to this side.
[17:13] Anyone wishing to speak on the left hand side of the room? Yes, sir.
[17:19] Good
[17:27] evening, Bob Morgan. I am an unincorporated Hernando County, full disclosure, not a Brooksville resident.
[17:35] But it seems like I spend most of my weeks in town at different events or different businesses.
[17:43] I have a couple of comments just to throw out. One was during the last budget meeting,
[17:49] or maybe it was a prior one, there was discussion about sanitation department
[17:53] and potentially looking at a Hernando County option
[17:58] versus driving all the way out to Sumter County.
[18:02] And I was just curious how that discussion,
[18:05] if there was any final decision on that,
[18:07] because I think that was saving potentially $50,000
[18:10] if I remember right.
[18:13] Also, I would be supportive of defunding
[18:18] Brooksville Main Street.
[18:20] That's a mature organization that has survived off of county dollars.
[18:27] And I will have the same recommendation to the county.
[18:30] And it's also survived off city dollars.
[18:33] And as a mature organization, they should be able to work with local companies,
[18:39] local supporters to self-fund themselves in that respect.
[18:45] And I am a supporter of consolidation of the Bureau of Fire Department.
[18:49] and financially it makes good sense from a opportunistic perspective I think the
[18:56] firefighters while today it may look a little doom and gloom for them I think
[19:01] they will have enhanced opportunities career opportunities enhanced training
[19:06] specialties that they can take advantage of at that time when with the
[19:10] county they all are been guaranteed jobs if I understand the chief
[19:14] correctly from the county so hopefully if that is the direction that they all
[19:20] land on their feet. Thank you. Thank you. Yes ma'am.
[19:33] My name is Lee Johnson. I'm a
[19:35] city resident. I own three properties in Brooksville and a business in
[19:38] Brooksville, city of Brooksville. In regards to the millage rate you know I
[19:44] did a little research over the decades what our millage rate had been and you
[19:49] you know, back in 1979, our millage rate was over nine.
[19:54] Then it was in the 80s, in the eights.
[19:58] Politically, we did some rollbacks
[19:59] when we got to like 2017, 2018 to like 5.9.
[20:05] And we've been struggling since.
[20:08] Now we look at other cities like Inverness and Dade City
[20:12] and we say, wow, they've got so many things going on.
[20:15] Well, their millage rates are seven, eight and nine.
[20:19] And we're fighting, you know, we've been at 5.9 for years now, which is absurdly low.
[20:26] And I'm not talking about something that doesn't impact me personally.
[20:29] It personally impacts me.
[20:31] But I also care about the city and the city doing well, and us being able to take care
[20:36] of things like potholes.
[20:39] In regard to that gentleman's comment about the fire department, you know, I live through
[20:44] the defunding and consolidation of the police department with the sheriff's department.
[20:49] And I'm not going to fault the sheriffs themselves because they're good fellows, but that has
[20:54] been an abysmal failure in my eyes.
[20:59] Our police department needed some work, and what we should have done was focused on doing
[21:04] the work that it needed and bringing it in line so that we could control our police
[21:08] department.
[21:09] And back then, we had six to eight police officers patrolling at all times.
[21:14] Now I think we have two sheriffs, and they try and tell us to feel good about the fact
[21:19] that sheriffs come in and out as they're going other places.
[21:23] Yeah, they come in and they go out.
[21:25] They don't stop.
[21:27] They come in and they go out.
[21:29] And I'm not interested in doing the same thing with the fire department.
[21:32] I think we need to learn how to fix our problems, stop, you know, pandering to
[21:38] the public with these absurdly low millage rates to get elected and then turn around
[21:44] and then blame everybody else for the things that are going wrong in the city that we can't
[21:49] fix.
[21:50] If we would just be realistic about what was going on, balance the budget.
[21:54] The budget is balanced at 6.5.
[21:56] I'm all for it.
[21:58] Let's move ahead.
[21:59] We probably needed to be 7.5, but 6.5 is certainly a good start.
[22:03] Let's fix our Brooksville Fire Department.
[22:05] And as for that other gentleman who is in a city residence comment about Brooksville Main Street,
[22:11] what I will say about Brooksville Main Street as a volunteer board member who spends many, many, many hours every month volunteering for Brooksville Main Street,
[22:22] the whole nature of Brooksville Main Street is not that it be independent.
[22:27] It is a private, public partnership.
[22:30] It is the city and the nonprofit working together.
[22:36] That is how it's structured.
[22:38] It isn't a scenario of, oh, it's grown up now and it shouldn't need anything.
[22:44] The whole idea of the program, the Main Street program nationally,
[22:48] is that it is a public-private partnership and it benefits the citizens.
[22:53] You know, maybe we should start talking about what goes away if Brooksville Main Street goes away.
[22:58] Maybe everybody should think about that for a second because I don't think they
[23:01] realize what exactly Brooksville Main Street does. Thank you.
[23:07] Yes ma'am.
[23:11] Donna
[23:11] Moran, city resident. About Brooksville Main Street, if I could get some
[23:17] clarification maybe from Lee if we can get an honest answer and all about this.
[23:21] Volunteers, I remember the past director stating that the Brooksville
[23:27] Main Street gets funding of $25 an hour for every one of the volunteers when they have
[23:35] a function. I remember her clearly saying that. And they get their money from, they
[23:40] turn it in, their volunteer list every month, and then they get reimbursed from Tallahassee.
[23:46] There was a lady that came here from Tallahassee, and she also said that they get $25 an hour
[23:52] toward Brooksville Main Street, so maybe I can get some clarification, you know,
[23:56] because that is, you know, money coming in as well for them and how do they spend it.
[24:01] I'm just curious, it may not be happening anymore, but I just want some clarification,
[24:05] that's all, because I, she came here, the lady from Tallahassee, and gave a
[24:09] wonderful presentation for Main Street programs. It was fantastic, and maybe
[24:14] they don't anymore, but if they do, I think people need to know. Thank you.
[24:20] anyone else wishing to speak yes sir
[24:34] Richard Ross I am a resident of Brooksville
[24:38] two quick things one is people keep bringing up the police department that was
[24:45] disbanded emerged into the county I would suspect if you go back look at what the
[24:52] police department was costing I think it's 2018 when it was disband what it
[24:58] cost the city to have that police department and then just stretch those numbers into today's
[25:05] numbers our budget would probably be at a millage rate of around nine and a half to
[25:11] ten to pay for that and the fire department has just flat said that they need two more
[25:19] fire stations, more engines, more personnel to man those fire stations.
[25:25] So their $2 million budget ain't going to stay $2 million.
[25:33] It's going to grow and grow and grow.
[25:35] And right now the county has two new fire stations on their CIP,
[25:43] and they're $12 million each by the time you equip them and put people in them.
[25:50] So, you know, got to spend $31,000 right now to fix a truck that was allowed to fall into
[25:58] the ground, evidently.
[26:00] While we spend $31,000 in a chunk when there's a gazillion things wrong with it, why weren't
[26:07] things fixed when they went wrong to begin with?
[26:09] When there would have been $50 or $100 or $200 and now we got to send it to a fire
[26:14] truck specialist's place because not only is there mechanical problems, there's problems
[26:19] with the fire equipment. That makes sense. So, that's it. I'm not going to run close
[26:26] to the two minutes, but those are my comments. Thank you.
[26:30] Thank you. Anyone else wishing to speak? Either side of the room?
[26:36] Okay.
[26:42] Dr. Coney, Executive Director for Brooksville Main Street. I guess I'm going to respond
[26:47] back if that's okay, about the $25. In the past, I can't answer for what I have.
[26:53] I do know that going through the books and the financials since I've been on board as executive director
[26:57] We were never given $25 an hour per volunteer volunteers are volunteers. They are unpaid
[27:05] As you all know several of you participated in beautify Brooksville on this path or a lot weekend before and our volunteers
[27:12] They had over 60 volunteers. They were unpaid now. There are corporate programs
[27:19] coals, Walmart, that they entice their volunteers, their staff to volunteer and they do donate
[27:27] as the corporation, as Walmart Corporation on behalf of each hour of each volunteer.
[27:33] Now if there was a state program giving each employee or each volunteer $25 an hour, we
[27:40] did not receive that.
[27:41] And I can tell you by going through the books from the last five years since Brooksville
[27:45] Main Street became an independent entity of the Brookville Vision Foundation, that is
[27:50] not true.
[27:51] And again, I just will reiterate that we are a public-private partnership and that is
[27:58] part of our Main Street accreditation and our Florida Main Street accreditation.
[28:03] So I do thank you.
[28:07] Anyone else wishing to speak?
[28:12] Okay.
[28:12] Seeing none, we will now move into item four, which is the consideration of Resolution 2523.
[28:22] Madam Clerk.
[28:25] Resolution 2523, a resolution of the City Council and the City of Brooksville, Florida, setting a
[28:30] millage rate for the budget for the fiscal year 26 taxing year pursuant to section 200.065,
[28:37] Florida statutes and providing an effective date.
[28:42] Mayor, may I ask a question for clarification?
[28:46] Sure.
[28:46] We were speaking about the travel impredient and the three line items.
[28:52] You weren't including enterprise funds, were you?
[28:56] I do not believe so, no.
[28:59] But if you have different numbers than I do, no.
[29:02] I was only looking at the general fund.
[29:05] Yes, ma'am.
[29:05] Just wanted to clarify.
[29:06] Yeah.
[29:07] And those would only relate to the general fund.
[29:11] Enterprise obviously is separate.
[29:13] It is separate, but I wanted to make sure when you added up your numbers you didn't add up all departments
[29:17] You only added up general. I only added a general fund. Yes, ma'am. Thank you. Yes. Thank you for that clarification as well
[29:25] Okay counsel it is time for us to set our
[29:31] Militrate
[29:34] Can I
[29:36] Can't read something first. Is that possible? Yeah, the four is
[29:41] Thank you.
[29:45] I put a lot of thought and energy into the numbers that we came up with for this
[29:52] millage rate. And honestly, after hearing Mr. Kingsley speak,
[30:00] You're right, 13.23%. But you've got to remember this. The city for the last four years has been
[30:09] underpaying. They have been taking out of their reserves. That number should have been higher.
[30:14] It never got bumped back up after I think it was the 2018-2019 year. So, therefore,
[30:21] the city's been running at not a deficit, but it's been pulling out of reserves to balance
[30:27] that budget. So what seems like an enormous jump is not. It's previous councils were not
[30:36] doing, I believe, their due diligence in balancing the budget year to year. If I came up with
[30:44] a number, I would wait till the next year and go, okay, well, that didn't work out
[30:50] real well for us. We had to take out of reserves. Let's bump it back up a little
[30:55] a little bit.
[30:56] Doesn't have to go all the way back, and let's see where that number rides out at.
[30:59] But it didn't happen, and it continued on to the point where we are at right now.
[31:05] And you're right, I don't know who it was, it was Lee.
[31:10] Other cities have been running at seven and a half or higher, and it was commented
[31:15] just last meeting that the reason they are is they have, they have done it properly
[31:22] over the years at a slow process.
[31:24] We have, and it sounds like I'm just a layman, my first term on this board, but I've dealt
[31:31] with numbers all my life.
[31:33] And I can tell you this, you're not going to, our reserve fund is at $2.5 million, which
[31:41] sounds like an enormous amount of money.
[31:44] It's not for a city.
[31:46] The city of Inverness has $30 million in their reserve fund.
[31:53] They didn't get it overnight, but they surely have been working on it year after year.
[31:59] And that is why their situation is a lot different than ours.
[32:04] And responding to the, again, the 13.23, if they had been charging the correct amount
[32:15] of money for the fire assessment fees for the last four years, which they hadn't been.
[32:21] They were at almost 50% of what they should have been charging.
[32:27] Take that money over four years and we wouldn't even be talking about our fire department
[32:34] right now.
[32:35] But that's in the past and there's nothing I can do to change it.
[32:40] But moving forward, I sat down today and I wrote this and I apologize.
[32:46] as I usually like to speak eye to eye, but I didn't want to leave anything out, so please
[32:52] forgive me for that. The City Council is committed to ensuring the long-term financial stability
[32:58] and sustainability of our community. After careful review of the city's financial position,
[33:04] we're proposing an adjustment to the millage rate from 5.9 to 6.5. This increase is necessary
[33:11] for two critical reasons. One, rebuilding our reserves. In recent years, the city has had to draw
[33:17] from its reserves multiple times in order to balance the budget. This was due in part to
[33:24] decisions by past councils that did not adequately prepare for long-term financial challenges,
[33:31] as well as a false sense of security created by the temporary COVID-19 relief funds.
[33:37] funds. And personally, I think that's where most of all of this started. While those funds
[33:43] provided short-term relief, they did not address the city's underlying financial needs to protect
[33:48] against future economic downturns or unexpected costs. It is essential that we restore our
[33:55] reserves to a healthy and responsible level. And number two, something this city does
[34:01] not have at this time, and when I got on this board I was appalled, we do not have a capital
[34:08] improvement fund. I have never in my life seen a city that did not have that. We have zero
[34:15] in the bank for capital improvement funds. You cannot operate like that.
[34:21] It's because we had $800,000 a year from ARPA funds. That goes to my point.
[34:27] We did what we had to do at the time, we can correct it now, but don't act like we were
[34:33] just being frivolous.
[34:35] First off, Thomas, I'm speaking, okay?
[34:38] And second of all, I address that, that I do believe it was short-term relief funds
[34:44] right there, okay?
[34:47] Now if I can finish, our city's infrastructure, roads, facilities, utilities, our essential
[34:53] services requiring ongoing investment. Without a structured and adequately funded
[34:59] capital improvement plan, the city risks falling behind on critical projects that
[35:05] affect the quality of life, public safety and economic growth. By modestly increasing
[35:10] the millage rate, we can establish a dedicated and sustainable path forward to invest in
[35:16] these necessary improvements. We recognize that any increase in taxes must be carefully
[35:21] considered and this decision has not been taken lightly. However, if Brooksville is to
[35:27] learn from its past and properly plan for the future, we must take steps today to protect
[35:33] our financial health and avoid future depletion of our reserves and ensure that the city
[35:39] is positioned to meet the needs of both the current and future residents.
[35:44] And let me just finish with this. It's easy to give you guys the popular and possibly
[35:51] lead the politically correct answer that you want to hear, that I want to lower taxes.
[35:57] And I'd love to stand up here and tell you, Chris, that we want to lower it to 4 percent.
[36:01] But it can't happen.
[36:04] You've got to run a city as a business, and this is the way it has to be.
[36:09] We have to make hard choices, and that hard choice is doing the right thing for this
[36:14] city, and nothing less than I believe 6.5 is going to reach that goal.
[36:20] Not to say that it has to stay there forever, but it has to be a starting point to be reevaluated year-to-year. Thank you.
[36:34] Any further?
[36:35] Oh, I'm going to. I got something to say as well, but I didn't prepare a speech.
[36:39] First of all, I want to address everyone that spoke. Thank you, Chris, for coming up to the podium speaking. I agree with you.
[36:48] Lee? No, I don't support the fire department. And as far as the police
[36:51] department, we had to do what we had to do back then, because Richard is correct.
[36:57] If the police department still existed, we'd be looking at a five, six million
[37:00] dollar fire, or police department, which we can't afford. Now we're looking
[37:04] at a three million dollar fire department. We cannot afford. So we're
[37:08] looking at the same thing we were looking at in 2018. So the city
[37:12] saved money. And as far as the past counsel, I was part of that past counsel. I was proud
[37:20] of what I accomplished on that counsel. We had tough decisions to make. But let me remind
[37:25] you, when it came to fire fees, the same gentleman that comes before us and gave us
[37:29] the presentation of the fire fees was the same gentleman that was coming in the past
[37:35] making recommendations. And what does the counsel usually do? We listen to staff,
[37:40] We listen to recommendations and what do we do? We do what the staff recommends and that's what this council
[37:47] I'm speaking. Let me please finish. I didn't
[37:50] Okay, so
[37:53] As far as mr. Morgan, I wholeheartedly agree with what he said, you know what?
[37:58] We have been funding Brooksville Main Street since 2016 and they have received a lot of money over the years
[38:04] They get grants they get sponsors
[38:06] They get volunteers and all the events they put on the city put on and we've did great events way back then and we can go back to that
[38:14] But I feel like you know what more cuts need to be made
[38:19] More I mean we need to revisit the organizational chart and we are top management heavy than we ever been
[38:27] If you look at 2022 and compare it to the current budget a lot of spending going on
[38:33] So, there needs to be more cuts, I don't think we did enough cuts.
[38:38] I also agree, like I said with Mr. Morgan, we need to defund Brooksville Main Street,
[38:42] which we had no discussion over.
[38:46] And I do believe tough times, 6.2, is fair.
[38:54] We can look at all the other cities and what they're doing, that's great.
[38:58] But this is Brooksville.
[38:58] We need to focus on what's for our residents that are struggling.
[39:03] And if you think it's bad now, the governor is looking at eliminating property taxes.
[39:08] How do you think we're going to manage without property taxes?
[39:12] So there are a lot of things that the state's working on that's going to affect our city
[39:18] as well.
[39:19] So I'm looking at today, the present moment, 6.2 is realistic, especially when we have
[39:25] to make a big decision this evening.
[39:27] I just feel like we need more cuts, and I don't feel there has been enough cuts.
[39:32] So that's just where I support 6.2.
[39:37] So if I may add my input into this, I think I made it pretty apparent in the last meeting
[39:42] after looking at the numbers of surrounding cities.
[39:47] That is what people, again, compare us to.
[39:50] They compare Brooksville to the surrounding cities.
[39:53] And I'll first start off with what the gentleman said about 13% increase into that.
[40:02] If I was at my employer and for the last four years I got no increase to my pay for the
[40:08] last four years, I would be pretty upset.
[40:12] You know, there are things that, yes, you can put it in terms of if my employer were
[40:16] to raise that or if there was an issue about that 13%, all of a sudden, it's not all
[40:22] of a sudden we've been looking at this over the last four years. And again, we had the
[40:27] ARPA funds. We had the funds to be able to invest into capital improvement through those
[40:33] funds. But those funds are no longer here for us. We no longer have the ability to
[40:37] access funds like that. We have to set ourselves down the right direction for the future.
[40:44] And not just looking at today. Yes, today we are making a big decision. Yes, today
[40:48] day is a hard thing that we have to look at. But at the same time, we need to be looking
[40:53] at the future as to not setting up future councils for the same issue that we're running into
[40:59] right now. The same issue is going to happen in five years from now if we keep being behind
[41:05] the ball on making decisions, if we keep letting other people make decisions for us,
[41:10] if we keep letting other people come in and bail us out of previous decisions that were
[41:15] made because that's what's happening. We're now in dire straits and we're thinking about
[41:19] getting rid of one of the most crucial pieces to a municipality, which is your fire department.
[41:24] We're thinking about getting rid of that because we've already had to be in the situation
[41:28] where we've had to get rid of our police department. And yes, every year, yes, the budget might
[41:33] go up for the fire department, but so does the budget in general. Our budget in general
[41:38] goes up just because of cost of everything going up. It's not just an isolated incident.
[41:43] And at Brooksville is not an isolated situation.
[41:46] We are not an entity that is having these struggles.
[41:50] There are other municipalities, other cities,
[41:53] and I'm sure even other counties around the U.S.
[41:55] that are having these issues where, yes, there were good times,
[41:58] things were coming in, things were happening,
[42:00] but they weren't looking at what happens in the future.
[42:03] And that is what I think we really need to be doing.
[42:06] And I understand.
[42:07] And again, we sit up here,
[42:09] and as Council Member Halau mentioned,
[42:12] I'm in my first year.
[42:14] I'm, what, seven, eight months into sitting up on this council, and boy, what a hard decision
[42:20] that it's had to be for me, looking every day at what's going on and what's happening,
[42:25] seeing what people are posting about, and I think it's become absolutely crazy that
[42:29] there's been all of this infighting that it doesn't need to happen where if we
[42:35] can actually make a decision as a city instead of letting other people make decisions
[42:39] for us because that's what's happening right now. We look at this and we're like, oh, we're
[42:43] in such a dire strait with our fire department. We look at the fire department and we say,
[42:47] well, why don't we just cut the fire department to save us some cash? That's a crucial, crucial
[42:53] important piece of what the city represents is our fire department and having control
[42:58] over what happens with that. So at the end of the day, if we get rid of our fire
[43:02] department, we're getting rid of a very crucial part that our city functions with
[43:08] just because of dollars at the end of the day where we have now balanced our budget.
[43:13] We are now adding to it with either the 6.2 or the 6.5.
[43:17] But it's going to happen in next year's budget where we're going to say, okay, things
[43:21] have increased.
[43:22] Now, not just the ladder truck has gone out to where we have to buy it.
[43:25] We can't plan for what the future is going to look like if we're not making decisions.
[43:30] And sometimes there are aggressive decisions.
[43:32] And I hate to be the guy that sits up here and say, we need to make an aggressive
[43:35] of decision to raising it to 6.5%. But honestly, at the end of the day, we should have been
[43:41] raising it a point. Even just a point every single year to keep up with rising costs of
[43:48] not only crucial infrastructure like asphalt costs or repaving a road. I don't know the
[43:56] number off the top of my head, but I'm guessing if you looked at what it cost to repave
[43:59] a road in 2019 compared to 2025, it's a pretty significant increase in that cost.
[44:04] So if we're not moving with that cost, then we're just going to, at the end of the day,
[44:10] we're just going to end up bankrupting the city and then we're going to have to get rid
[44:13] of everything at the end of the day.
[44:15] So in my opinion, I think having it at the 6.5% is very crucial for the city's future
[44:21] health.
[44:23] I don't want to stifle conversation here, but I just want to clarify, and I don't,
[44:29] no one has made a motion at this point.
[44:32] I don't want to if you were about to say something by all means vice mayor. I will you know, I'll give you
[44:38] the opportunity but
[44:42] We have a whole nother meeting after this so I'll just I
[44:52] I get it and
[44:53] In the past we're we're operating with an extra eight hundred thousand dollars a year and should we have read?
[45:00] We're trying to raise the millage and say some of that. Maybe, maybe not, but we're trying
[45:03] to do right by the people. We're telling our citizens to figure it out with inflation, but
[45:08] we're not telling our city council to figure it out. That's what we were doing. We were
[45:12] figuring it out. Now that those funds are gone, I do agree we need to raise this millage
[45:16] up to get an extra $700,000 because last year, Richard, we could say we have $700,000
[45:23] in ARPA dollars. Use that for roads and infrastructure. And we don't have that anymore.
[45:28] So I think with either one of these millage rates, whatever we come up to, having that
[45:33] money for capital improvement will just get us to where we were with those ARPA dollars.
[45:39] And I'm not saying we need to, I'm not necessarily for $30 million in reserves, that's kind of
[45:45] a crime in my opinion, but I mean, I'm also having to take that for a rainy day.
[45:52] And we're a business, but we're not a business here to make a profit, we're a business
[45:56] is here to figure it out and sacrifice for the sake of the taxpayers.
[46:01] So that's kind of where my mind's at with things.
[46:04] If 6-5 is what the majority of the council is wanting, but we dang sure about figuring
[46:10] out a way to lower it in the future and a way to create revenue through the city,
[46:14] because we can't go up to 6-5 and expect the taxpayers to just be okay with that
[46:22] without us working hard, working extra hard
[46:25] to make sure that we can lower it in the future
[46:27] or at least keep the same,
[46:28] so we don't have to go up 0.1 every year.
[46:30] I mean, that's a cheap way out,
[46:32] just raising the millage rate every time we need more money.
[46:36] We gotta get creative.
[46:38] And we got some plans, once we get through this,
[46:40] we'll figure it out.
[46:44] Okay.
[46:46] Well, seems like everyone has said their piece,
[46:50] So, I might as well join the, the last meeting I, what's before us is the millage.
[47:01] At 5.9, at keeping the millage rate at 5.9, that puts our reserves at exactly where they
[47:07] need to be to meet the state standard.
[47:10] It gives us approximately only $15,000 to put towards anything else that is not
[47:17] already outlined in our budget.
[47:18] That's called a capital improvement plan.
[47:21] So at 6.5, we could put more money in our reserves.
[47:28] Right now, it's around where we would have 2.6 million versus almost a 2.2 at a 5.9.
[47:36] And it would roughly give us $480,000 in capital improvement plans to invest into
[47:43] things, believe it or not, that the city does need.
[47:46] because this budget, unfortunately, at what it is doesn't cover it.
[47:53] Sure, that's a sad statement. I think we could all agree things cost money.
[47:59] If the last budget workshop are first, we always have two of these.
[48:04] State mandated, that's how every municipality works.
[48:07] I tasked council with figuring out what they thought the city needed in our CIPs.
[48:15] What do you think we need to spend money on?
[48:20] What do we need?
[48:22] What are you hearing from Department Heads
[48:24] or the city manager who you're talking to?
[48:26] I took it upon myself to ask the city manager
[48:29] to call a meeting with every single department head
[48:32] here at the city.
[48:33] That meeting took place last week.
[48:35] I was here for two and a half hours meeting
[48:38] with the department heads and the city managers
[48:40] for them to tell me, folks,
[48:43] books. I don't have time to sit here every day. That's not the role of this government.
[48:47] Just, you know, we rely on our staff. That is how this city is chartered. That is, but
[48:53] so I rely on our department heads. I rely on our city manager. And we have some really
[48:59] good people in place for the first time in a long time. And I'm very proud of that.
[49:03] And that's a testament to this Council sitting up here. And I applaud this Council
[49:08] for that. But I had that meeting and that meeting ended up with a sheet, multiple sheets
[49:16] like this of every department. Some of these things you could say certainly are wants.
[49:23] Some of these are absolute needs in the future, absolute. Things like if we choose to keep
[49:30] the fire department, we absolutely have to invest there. Everyone knows that I am
[49:33] I'm not saying anything new.
[49:36] Things in DPW, we have to invest there.
[49:39] Cleaning of certain drain fields in our city
[49:43] and of those degrees.
[49:44] I mean, those things are things we need to identify.
[49:48] Making sure our parks are safe for kids,
[49:50] continuing to invest in our parks.
[49:52] If you look at this, I mean,
[49:53] we are looking at millions of dollars in the future
[49:57] that is not funded.
[49:58] Now every city, most cities have one of these.
[50:01] We haven't had one in a while.
[50:02] Apparently, we had one years ago, we're bringing it back.
[50:09] I don't really care about what happened back then.
[50:12] That's a real negative place to get into.
[50:16] I've sat on this council for two years,
[50:21] and I am not a perfect person.
[50:22] I am sure.
[50:24] I always ask God to bring me the wisdom
[50:26] and to bring me the courage to make the right decisions.
[50:28] But, look, sometimes that doesn't happen, you know, we're not perfect people.
[50:36] And so with that, we have to invest in our city.
[50:42] I don't think, from what I'm hearing, that's necessarily the argument that's taking place
[50:48] here.
[50:48] I think that everybody believes at a certain point we have to make an investment because
[50:54] nobody is saying that we need to keep the mill enjoyed at what it's at.
[50:57] but I think the question is, is where do we put it?
[51:02] And based on what I see here,
[51:05] I unfortunately think that the millage has to be 6.5.
[51:09] But...
[51:13] Mayor, I'm going to make a motion to levy the general fund
[51:17] ad valorem millage rate of 6.5%.
[51:20] I have a motion. Do I have a second?
[51:23] Second.
[51:24] I have a motion and a second. Any further discussion?
[51:29] Any public input?
[51:33] Any public input on this motion? Yes, sir.
[51:53] My name is Chris Kingsley, and I was listening to the discussions, and it started to surprise
[51:58] me at some of the things that were said. Brooksville is not some other city. It is
[52:04] Brooksville. People don't expect us to run a city like Inverness or Dade City or something
[52:10] like that. And everybody seems to be intent on saying, well, we figure it out how much
[52:16] money we can spend at 16.5, and dang it, we're going to spend it, or 6.5. I'm sorry, 16 would
[52:22] be, but so instead, I didn't hear anything about other than Krista, Mrs. Tanner, Mayor
[52:29] or whatever, was talking about the travel, which is kind of refreshing to hear, but
[52:35] But at the same time, it's like, well, and Mr. Halal talked about people in the past.
[52:43] So what I said earlier, you're throwing good money after bad instead of just throwing money
[52:49] at everything and saying, it's okay, our stuff goes up in value.
[52:54] So just because you want to raise our millage rate, as each year's go, the value of my
[53:03] house goes up and whatever the rate is goes up. I pay more every year without having my
[53:10] millage rate increased. That money comes here. It would be in my opinion responsible to figure
[53:17] out what that is and then spend it instead of saying, well, let's make it as high as
[53:22] we can to make it for bad things in the past if there were bad things in the past
[53:26] and figure out how to spend it. I don't think that's your job to figure out how
[53:30] How to spend is how not to spend and as Mr. Bronson said also you're not a bank, you're
[53:36] not here to see how much money you can put in your savings account, you're here to have
[53:40] and I think Mrs. Tanner said it correctly when she said what the state requires is what
[53:48] probably is the right amount to have in reserve.
[53:50] So I mean you had a good discussion but I think most people who are having to pay
[53:55] the taxes would disagree with it.
[53:59] any further public input on this motion okay
[54:07] we will bring it back to council
[54:12] real
[54:16] call customer hallow hi customer mckayton hi customer erhard nay
[54:21] vice mayor bronson no mayor tanner I oh
[54:29] it does not pass past it's it's 3 2
[54:41] you
[54:42] tell me what I rely on legal counsel for autumn
[54:52] do we need a supermajority or do
[54:54] we need a majority do we need four or three we just need a majority vote isn't
[55:01] three to two majority three two is a majority but you're saying we need a
[55:08] supermajority I'd have to go get my trim information to see I'm not I don't
[55:15] think it says supermajority but I can have to go get it to find out and
[55:27] you
[55:27] you want to go on to the next item and then circle back or?
[55:30] Yes, is that?
[55:31] Becky's OK with that.
[55:33] Can I ask what the question is?
[55:35] I'm not like, we didn't hear you down there.
[55:36] So she's, do we need a majority or a supermajority?
[55:40] A supermajority would be one, would be four or five.
[55:44] The majority is three, two,
[55:49] based on a five.
[55:57] And should it be the supermajority then?
[56:01] Then it would take six.
[56:03] I mean it would take, I'm sorry.
[56:05] it would take four out of the five correct but I'm saying okay so say we
[56:12] don't get the four out of the five then what's the next step here the next
[56:18] sales that would be another motion as a council we still would not have a set
[56:23] millage yeah the millage is set right now or it's not set is what you're
[56:28] saying yes we just need to figure out if we need we need to set it tonight
[56:33] right and I mean so good I I believe if it goes over the rollback but be under a
[56:43] hundred ten percent it's the rollback plus the percentage from the state and
[56:48] she would have that and that sets a level at which you need to have for and then
[56:55] if you're a hundred and ten percent over that which I know we're not then you
[57:01] need to have it be unanimous.
[57:06] OK.
[57:07] Look, we've got a lot to cover tonight.
[57:08] Well, hold on.
[57:09] We do.
[57:10] But we have to set this tonight legally.
[57:12] So I'm trying to help with that.
[57:13] So I'll change my opinion.
[57:15] If we are going to work hard to lower it next year,
[57:19] we need to get through this.
[57:20] Hold on.
[57:21] We are out of order here.
[57:22] Hold on.
[57:22] Hold on.
[57:23] Vice Mayor, I appreciate you.
[57:24] I hear you.
[57:25] Thank you for that.
[57:26] One second.
[57:27] What?
[57:29] This says majority vote of governing body.
[57:30] majority vote of governing body so
[57:36] we're good so it is it is I know it's
[57:39] under the hundred and ten percent maximum
[57:46] military is equal to the majority
[57:48] vote maximum rate what it says right
[57:55] what is the majority vote maximum what
[58:00] is that percent
[58:05] okay we're gonna we're gonna take a five minute recess and
[58:13] and let staff and legal counsel figure this out
[58:15] and we will come back.
[58:26] Good evening.
[58:27] We're going to re-adjourn our special meeting
[58:33] which is the final public budget hearing.
[58:35] I know some people came in from outside
[58:37] just so you're aware we are still in our special meeting.
[58:42] We do have a scheduled city council meeting
[58:45] after this that will start promptly
[58:48] when we have wrapped up this meeting
[58:50] but there was a question about the vote needed in terms of a majority or a supermajority
[58:57] to set the millage rate, depending on what it's set at.
[59:00] And I'm going to turn over to the attorney to give counsel her legal opinion on how we
[59:04] should move forward.
[59:05] Okay.
[59:06] All right.
[59:07] Well, when I spoke with Autumn, who is a very good finance administrator, we had
[59:15] a little bit of a difference of opinion.
[59:18] It would be much safer to take another vote on this, and I suggest that we have a vote
[59:28] to see if there are four out of the five, which would be the safest thing to do.
[59:36] Okay.
[59:37] So in terms of Robert's rule of orders, then aren't we saying that the first vote
[59:44] does not set the millage rate?
[59:46] Someone who is on the essentially walk us through how we do this properly.
[59:57] Someone who voted in favor of.
[1:00:00] This would need to ask for a re-vote and then there would be a second and to withdraw that
[1:00:10] that vote. So it would have to be someone who voted in favor of it to do that.
[1:00:17] So I'll request a re-vote on my previous motion.
[1:00:21] Okay. Is there a second for that?
[1:00:23] Second.
[1:00:24] Okay. I have a motion and a second for a re-vote.
[1:00:30] public comment again?
[1:00:32] Sure.
[1:00:33] A brother.
[1:00:34] Public comment.
[1:00:41] Okay.
[1:00:45] On a mourn city, uh, city resident, you all took a vote.
[1:00:49] It's 3-2.
[1:00:50] That passes it.
[1:00:51] I've been coming to these meetings for 15 years.
[1:00:54] I'm either watching them for the last three years,
[1:00:57] and now I'm here back here because I'm healthy.
[1:01:01] So you all voted 3-2 for no 6.5.
[1:01:06] That's a majority of vote. That's how you vote.
[1:01:10] Now you're going to take another vote,
[1:01:11] and you're hoping somebody's going to change their mind to vote for 6.5,
[1:01:16] and that's not okay. We've never had a super vote.
[1:01:20] I mean, that's everybody has to vote the same way,
[1:01:24] and that's not going to happen.
[1:01:26] So to take another vote, this is not okay.
[1:01:30] You're cheating the taxpayers out.
[1:01:33] You vote. It failed. 3-2. Thank you, too. Mr. Bronson, thank you. Thank you. It's wonderful.
[1:01:43] And Ms. Krista, wonderful. Ms. Erhardt, wonderful.
[1:01:47] It was three in favor and two against.
[1:01:49] Of the 6-5?
[1:01:50] Yes.
[1:01:50] Oh.
[1:01:51] It was three in favor. It was three in favor and two against.
[1:01:55] So three were in favor because I didn't hear Krista vote.
[1:01:58] So it passed a 6.5.
[1:02:00] So then why are we taking another vote?
[1:02:03] Because it is honestly belt and suspenders.
[1:02:06] We just want to make sure that there is not a trim issue.
[1:02:11] Well, we've never had a super vote before ever.
[1:02:14] We've never had that.
[1:02:16] And I don't understand why we need to do another vote.
[1:02:19] If it passed 6.5, then that's it, it passed.
[1:02:23] Just saying, it's really weird how this meeting is being
[1:02:27] run, because it's not fair. Because now you're going to take another vote, hoping somebody
[1:02:33] changes their vote. Well, they voted the way they voted. They don't take another vote.
[1:02:39] Well, they changed their mind and it's hung up again. The past, the past. Yay. I've just
[1:02:46] never seen this before, ever. You all voted. And a super vote, never heard of it. So
[1:02:54] thank you.
[1:02:55] Thank you.
[1:02:57] Thank you.
[1:02:57] I'm not too prideful to change my opinion and not agree with what the consensus is.
[1:03:04] Obviously 3-2, it's going to pass.
[1:03:06] I'm going to make sure we cross our T's and dot our I's right now.
[1:03:09] I want to, I just want to make sure that we work hard to lower it in the future.
[1:03:15] Okay.
[1:03:16] We're in the middle of public input, Mr. Morgan.
[1:03:21] Bob Morgan.
[1:03:21] Again, I don't think the question of a re-vote is necessary.
[1:03:26] It's a matter of what statute and the city ordinances and regulations state.
[1:03:35] And honestly, our attorney should know that, and it shouldn't be forced to a new vote.
[1:03:39] I honestly think it's an invalid vote to do it again a second time.
[1:03:43] And by the way, 6.5 divided by 5.9 is 1.1016 percent, so it exceeds 110 percent.
[1:03:55] Thank you.
[1:03:56] I probably should address that.
[1:03:59] The 110 percent relates to the rollback rate raised by the CPI, which is determined by the state.
[1:04:12] You add those two together and then in order to require a
[1:04:17] unanimous vote it has to be a hundred and ten percent over that and I know that that's not the case
[1:04:26] Any further public input?
[1:04:32] seeing none
[1:04:34] We have a motion in a second for a revoked
[1:04:37] Madame clerk
[1:04:40] customer mckayton hi, that's my hello. Hi customer erhard
[1:04:45] Vice Mayor Bronson.
[1:04:46] Aye.
[1:04:47] Mayor Tanner.
[1:04:47] Aye.
[1:04:49] The millage is adopted at 6.5.
[1:04:51] No, no, we need to have a motion for a, a re-vote.
[1:04:57] Oh, there has been a motion for a re-vote.
[1:04:59] We need to take the vote.
[1:05:00] Correct.
[1:05:01] Okay.
[1:05:01] So somebody else needs to make a motion for 6.5.
[1:05:05] We need a second.
[1:05:07] What in the motion?
[1:05:07] And then we take, we take a vote.
[1:05:10] Okay.
[1:05:12] Okay, I take back what I said. It has not been said. I have a motion that we up the
[1:05:21] village rate to 6.5. Second. I have a motion and a second.
[1:05:32] Any further discussion from
[1:05:33] this council?
[1:05:36] Any public input on this motion? I think don't I have to call for public input
[1:05:42] every time I don't want to legally be told I didn't call for it they can they
[1:05:47] can under the statute it says that at some point in the process the public
[1:05:52] opinion okay great I'm rescinding public input madam clerk
[1:05:59] Council Member Earhart.
[1:06:02] Nay.
[1:06:03] Council Member Hallow.
[1:06:04] Aye.
[1:06:05] Council Member McKeithen.
[1:06:06] Aye.
[1:06:06] Council Member Bronson.
[1:06:07] Aye.
[1:06:07] Mayor Tanner.
[1:06:08] Aye.
[1:06:10] The millage is set.
[1:06:11] Correct.
[1:06:14] Okay.
[1:06:15] We will now move into Item 5.
[1:06:17] Consideration of Second and Final Reading of the Budget.
[1:06:20] Ordinance number 1003.
[1:06:22] Madam Clerk.
[1:06:23] Ordinance 1003.
[1:06:25] Inordinance appropriating certain monies for the general operations of the City of
[1:06:31] period beginning October 1st, 2025 and ending September 30th, 2026. This was advertised in
[1:06:38] the Hernandez Sun and the Tampa Bay Times.
[1:06:43] Thank you, Madam Court.
[1:06:47] I have a motion from
[1:06:49] council. So if we approve this, would we have to make a motion with your added suggestion
[1:06:56] if we agreed with your added suggestion? Yes, she would. Okay. Then I make a motion
[1:07:01] to approve the budget with the added adjustments to bringing the travel and
[1:07:12] per diem to 10,000, the training and education to 55,000, and the books and
[1:07:20] publication etc. to 7,000 and move that into the general but or the general
[1:07:25] government part of the budget. I have a motion. Do I have a second?
[1:07:30] I have a motion and a second any further discussion from Council any public input
[1:07:39] Seeing none
[1:07:41] Madam clerk roll call vote
[1:07:44] Councilor McKee-thin I that's my air hard
[1:07:46] nay
[1:07:47] customer. Hello
[1:07:49] Hi, that's my Bronson mayor Tanner
[1:07:52] The budget is adopted
[1:07:56] At this time we are going to adjourn as the City Council and convene as the CRA.
[1:08:16] This is called to order to the CRA.
[1:08:21] Approval modification of the agenda.
[1:08:25] Motion to approve.
[1:08:26] Second.
[1:08:27] Motion passes.
[1:08:29] No, you have to say on favor.
[1:08:31] On favor.
[1:08:32] Aye.
[1:08:35] Item C, CRA agendas.
[1:08:37] of one approval of February 3rd, 2025 CRA meeting minutes.
[1:08:42] Move to approve.
[1:08:44] Second.
[1:08:45] All in favor?
[1:08:46] Aye.
[1:08:48] C2, CRA budget resolution number 2025-01
[1:08:54] for CRA established in 1999 presented by the clerk.
[1:08:58] I'll go ahead and read it by head note.
[1:08:59] Resolution 2025-01, a resolution adopting
[1:09:02] the annual budget for the City of Brooksville
[1:09:04] Community Redevelopment Agency
[1:09:05] for fiscal year 2025 beginning October 1st 2025 and ending September 30th 2026
[1:09:11] for the original CRA area providing for severability and providing an effective
[1:09:15] date.
[1:09:21] Do we have a motion or
[1:09:25] do I need public comment on this or can we just get
[1:09:27] a motion to approve and then you'll need public second motion second all
[1:09:35] All in favor?
[1:09:36] Aye.
[1:09:36] All right.
[1:09:37] Public input.
[1:09:37] Oh, public input.
[1:09:38] Sorry about that, guys.
[1:09:40] Public input.
[1:09:41] Anyone on my right?
[1:09:42] Anyone on my left?
[1:09:43] Good.
[1:09:45] It's a roll call vote.
[1:09:46] Roll call vote.
[1:09:47] Thank you.
[1:09:47] All right.
[1:09:48] So your voting is Board Members.
[1:09:49] Board Member Earhart?
[1:09:50] Aye.
[1:09:51] McKethan?
[1:09:51] Aye.
[1:09:52] Hallell?
[1:09:52] Aye.
[1:09:54] Tanner?
[1:09:55] Aye.
[1:09:55] Chair Bronson?
[1:09:56] Aye.
[1:09:59] Motion passes.
[1:10:01] C3, CRA Budget Resolution 2025-02 for Sierra Expanded
[1:10:06] boundaries established in 2023. Presentation. I'll go ahead and read it by head in the twenty
[1:10:12] five oh two resolution adopting the annual budget for the city of Brooksville Community
[1:10:16] Redevelopment Agency for fiscal year twenty twenty five beginning for beginning October
[1:10:21] first twenty twenty five and ending September thirtieth twenty twenty six for the expanded
[1:10:25] Sierra area providing for severability and providing an effective date to approve
[1:10:32] second all in favor public input oh public input sorry seeing none roll call
[1:10:42] the so you're putting it again as board members board member McKeith and I
[1:10:46] you're hard I howl I Tanner and Bronson I
[1:10:53] motion passes citizens input limited to
[1:10:59] three minutes per speaker seeing
[1:11:03] none response by city manager staff and
[1:11:05] CRA members seeing
[1:11:09] none items by attorney nothing thank you items by the
[1:11:13] city manager nothing thank you
[1:11:19] we already said items by CRA board members
[1:11:22] but it's there in age items by the CRA board members again motion adjourn all
[1:11:30] in favor okay
[1:11:38] we're now reconvening as the city council we are still in our
[1:11:41] special budget hearing we're now moving into citizens input of that special
[1:11:48] budget hearing anyone on my right hand side wishing to speak
[1:11:52] Seeing none anyone on my left hand side wishing to speak
[1:11:57] Seeing none response by city manager staffer council
[1:12:02] Hearing none items by city attorney
[1:12:06] Items by city manager
[1:12:09] Items by council we
[1:12:14] are going to adjourn our special meeting at
[1:12:19] 730 we will reconvene for our regular scheduled city council meeting
[1:12:23] Thank you.