[0:12] >> To our new setting yes.

[0:13] When I think the police

[0:15] department for allowing us to

[0:16] conduct our meetings are

[0:16] temporarily. And of course,

[0:18] want to thank city staff for

[0:22] building this beautiful dais,

[0:23] we'll remain probably a

[0:24] permanent fixture going

[0:25] forward. You after we builder

[0:30] new City Hall. Pretty nice

[0:35] right? Anyway. Let us begin

[0:36] the meeting. We're going to

[0:39] start with our our joint

[0:40] workshop with the Budget

[0:44] Advisory Board MR. Clerk,

[0:46] would you please call the Roll

[0:48] the commission Commissioner

[0:50] Herbst as commissioner,

[0:52] Glassman here, Commissioner

[0:53] Beasley here, vice mayor sort

[0:55] hear front office and the

[0:57] chair of the Budget Advisory

[0:58] Board want to call the role of

[1:13] your committee.

[1:30] We have a

[1:38] quorum break. City manager.

[1:38] >> Please proceed.

[1:39] >> Great. Thank you, mayor. So

[1:41] we're going to start with the

[1:42] presentation from staff with

[1:43] Laura Reis. And just before we

[1:45] get started, I just want to

[1:45] acknowledge the work of the

[1:48] budget advisory board and

[1:49] Chair Brown. You'll see in the

[1:50] work program in the backup.

[1:51] This team, this committee in

[1:54] particular has put Done a

[1:56] tremendous amount of work this

[1:57] year to get us to where we are

[1:58] now. And we are just grateful

[2:05] for their support.

[2:06] >> Thank Good afternoon, Mayor

[2:09] Vice mayor commissioners Laura

[2:10] Rees. Hope you enjoyed your

[2:11] summer. We're very excited to

[2:13] be back with you as you now we

[2:18] have a regular cadence. Of the

[2:18] Budget Advisory board meeting

[2:19] with the City Commission

[2:21] happens 3 times a year. This

[2:23] is that 3rd of 3 meetings that

[2:25] they have at this point. The

[2:28] city the city commission is

[2:31] set the maximum millage rates

[2:32] and the budget advisory board

[2:34] spent the summer Wayne and on

[2:36] the budget and making

[2:37] recommendations at their last

[2:38] meeting. So before we turn it

[2:41] over to the charity, get going

[2:41] and we have the tentative

[2:45] budget presentation so before

[2:48] we turn it over to the chair

[2:48] to share their presentation

[2:49] and their recommendations

[2:53] staff would like go over some.

[2:54] Summary information of changes

[2:56] that happened between when we

[2:57] met with you last time in JUNE

[3:01] at the Joint Workshop and this

[3:02] meeting because we got new

[3:02] taxable values and a few

[3:04] things changed over the

[3:05] summer. So we want to make

[3:06] sure that we're all on the

[3:07] same page. The Budget Advisory

[3:09] board has already received

[3:11] this information at their JULY

[3:12] meeting. So I'll quickly go

[3:12] through it just to make sure

[3:13] we're all aligned where we're

[3:20] starting. So today I'll be

[3:21] going over taxable value

[3:23] growth tax bill comparison of

[3:25] the operating budget by fun.

[3:26] And we'll talk about the

[3:27] general fund a little bit

[3:28] more. That's really where we

[3:30] focus our time and in JUNE

[3:32] when we had our joint meeting

[3:34] with you, we'll talk about

[3:35] where the money comes from

[3:35] where it goes. Some key

[3:36] changes since the proposed

[3:42] budget. And the General Fund

[3:43] 2027 tentative Ft. Snapshot

[3:44] will share with you the

[3:47] projected budget. And the

[3:49] capital improvement plan. Some

[3:50] strategic budgeting, balancing

[3:51] strategies that we implemented

[3:53] since we met in JUNE and which

[3:54] were part of the proposed

[3:55] budget that was shared with

[3:57] the commission at your JULY

[3:58] meeting and then some key

[4:02] takeaways for the budget. So

[4:04] the first item is the change

[4:06] that we got between JUNE and

[4:07] JULY. So our proposed budget

[4:11] was based upon that taxable

[4:12] values as of JUNE first, which

[4:15] we got from the property

[4:16] appraiser. The city is

[4:17] required to use the JULY first

[4:18] values that we've received

[4:19] from the property appraiser as

[4:20] part of the adopted budget

[4:22] that we bring forward at the 2

[4:24] public hearings in SEPTEMBER.

[4:26] So the good news is that when

[4:32] at so in JUNE we shared 67.3

[4:34] billion dollars and that has

[4:34] now and increased which will

[4:40] result in 700 and 56 $1000 in

[4:42] additional revenue to the

[4:44] general fund. One thing that's

[4:45] kind of cool to know, isn't

[4:47] that new construction increase

[4:49] this year is the highest it's

[4:52] been in. But over 5 years. So

[4:52] that's a good indicator of the

[4:56] economy in Fort Lauderdale.

[4:59] When you say this year 2025.

[5:01] So the tax bill for 2026 is

[5:03] what we use. So it's as of

[5:06] JUNE as of JANUARY. 1st. So it

[5:08] would reflect any growth that

[5:09] happened the year before

[5:11] JANUARY. 1st. And so it grew

[5:14] by 1.0, 7, 5, billion dollars.

[5:18] Okay. Thank you. Welcome. And

[5:21] so we shared with the u we

[5:23] shared with you this tax bill

[5:25] comparison for illustrative

[5:26] purposes in JUNE sharing. And

[5:28] again, that really hasn't

[5:31] changed but just as a

[5:32] reminder, tax bills will are a

[5:33] term notices will be going out

[5:35] to residents within the next

[5:37] week. And so those start

[5:38] seeing their trim notices. A

[5:39] part of that is the city's tax

[5:41] rate in the city's

[5:44] assessments. So for a $640,000

[5:49] taxable value. The amount that

[5:50] comes to the city on the tax

[5:58] bill In 2026. Was $3,493. The

[5:58] increases that are being

[6:02] proposed on the tax bill this

[6:03] year, millage rate stays the

[6:03] same. But because there's

[6:08] that. Cpi cap or the cpi

[6:10] growth said it value that will

[6:14] go up by 2.7% this year. $69

[6:15] voter approved. That goes down

[6:17] because the taxable value went

[6:17] up and that's the calculation

[6:20] of. But what it takes to make

[6:22] that payment. So that'll go

[6:25] down my for approximately $5.

[6:27] Storm water assessment is

[6:29] scheduled to increased by $75

[6:30] or 20% to support the new debt

[6:34] that will be issuing and buyer

[6:35] assessment that full cost of

[6:39] service true-up was $41 or

[6:41] 10.2% increase. So the total

[6:42] increase for the city's

[6:44] portion of the bell will be

[6:51] $180 or 5.2% So the total

[6:54] operating budget for the city,

[6:55] the tentative operating budget

[6:58] is 1.3 billion dollars. The

[7:00] general fund is the largest

[7:01] portion of that bill are of

[7:05] that budget at 561. Million

[7:09] dollars or 43%. And the second

[7:10] largest is water, sewer and

[7:11] central regional wastewater

[7:16] system at 310 million dollars.

[7:20] In the general fund.

[7:22] Approximately 50% of our

[7:23] revenue comes from property

[7:27] taxes or 47.6% And that the

[7:29] rest come from fire assessment

[7:30] fees, utility taxes and other

[7:33] revenues to support the

[7:34] general fund. Share every year

[7:36] that this is a pretty good

[7:37] place to be where we have a

[7:42] diversified revenue sources so

[7:43] we think this will position us

[7:45] well, even if property tax

[7:46] reform occurs, I'm like some

[7:48] municipalities that Even more

[7:52] reliant on property taxes. And

[7:56] police and fire drive the

[7:56] largest portion of the general

[7:59] fund budget over 60%. Followed

[8:02] by parks and recreation,

[8:06] Community services and other.

[8:07] Functions that are funded

[8:13] through the general Fund.

[8:14] There are some key changes

[8:15] that we wanted to highlight

[8:17] for. You sense. The proposed

[8:19] budget went to the city

[8:22] Commission on at the beginning

[8:24] of JULY. He revenue changes

[8:26] are the increase in ad valorem

[8:28] that we spoke about 756,000 in

[8:29] additional revenues. We are

[8:33] proposing to some costs and

[8:34] the city attorney's office,

[8:35] there are 2 positions that are

[8:38] being recommended to be funded

[8:39] in the city attorney's office

[8:42] through an offset were

[8:44] reduction and the risk

[8:45] management charges for

[8:47] external counsel. So that will

[8:47] come in as a revenue to the

[8:49] general fund for a service

[8:51] charge and will be used to

[8:56] support those and then another

[8:57] item is will manners has

[8:58] requested additional position

[8:59] to be dedicated to the fire

[9:03] rescue contract with them. So

[9:04] that's $194,000 to support one

[9:07] new ft. And so that's a class

[9:09] Nate. Both of those are cost

[9:10] neutral proposals to the

[9:13] general fund. Additional

[9:16] expenditures are increased

[9:17] transfer to the Capital

[9:20] Improvement $450,000. We

[9:22] talked about the city attorney

[9:23] and paralegal position that

[9:26] will help to offset some

[9:27] external expenses related to

[9:29] auto liability in general

[9:30] liability cases. The fire

[9:31] safety captain position for

[9:35] manners? Additional

[9:36] contractual services and

[9:37] operating expenses and parks

[9:38] and recreation to offset some

[9:39] positions that were reduced in

[9:43] that area. And increase in tax

[9:45] collector payment related to

[9:48] the true-up in the fire

[9:49] assessment and increase in

[9:50] transfer that this based upon

[9:54] those JULY first values. So

[9:55] those the changes that will

[9:56] you'll see when you vote on

[9:57] the budget in SEPTEMBER, if

[10:00] anything ounces added will add

[10:00] that to change list that we

[10:05] bring forward. East nap shot

[10:06] remains the same as what we

[10:07] shared in JULY with the

[10:08] exception of the 3 positions

[10:14] we just shared. And so then

[10:16] that increase in the general

[10:16] fund is and that 2 new

[10:22] positions. And again, 3 of

[10:24] those are fully supported

[10:25] reductions and other expenses

[10:27] or revenue from what manners?

[10:32] As part of the city auditors

[10:32] review of the budget. I

[10:33] believe he'll speak more about

[10:36] our fund balance. We've spent

[10:37] some time with them over the

[10:39] summer. So I'll leave that to

[10:41] him by our estimate. Is that

[10:44] 9.4 million dollars about our

[10:45] 25% target is available and

[10:49] the General Fund Fund balance.

[10:51] And 4 cip. This also really

[10:52] remains largely unchanged

[10:58] since or JULY. Meeting. 8.1

[11:01] million dollars and seawalls

[11:03] we have funding for sidewalks

[11:04] streets. 5 million dollars is

[11:05] kind of a key number for the

[11:08] bond parts bond. The gaps. So

[11:09] if there's shortages in the

[11:10] park's pond program, we can

[11:12] turn to those funds to help to

[11:17] fill the gaps funding repair

[11:17] maintenance for city

[11:18] facilities remains in the

[11:21] budget and traffic mobility

[11:25] and bike lane improvements. So

[11:27] when we shared this general

[11:30] fund forecast with you in

[11:32] JUNE. We share that there was

[11:35] 8.9 million dollar projected

[11:35] deficit and the general fund

[11:36] due to some new expenses that

[11:38] we're coming online, including

[11:42] the new City hall, including

[11:43] some new fire arson fire

[11:44] grants that we're going to be

[11:47] expiring. But we spent some

[11:51] time in the month of JUNE.

[11:52] Developing strategies to fill

[11:54] those gaps. And those were

[11:55] incorporated in the proposed

[11:55] budget ahead of the decision

[11:59] related to city Hall. And so

[12:00] here are some key things that

[12:02] were implemented. Revenue

[12:03] enhancements for a fire

[12:04] ambulance, transport fees,

[12:07] interest earnings. We reduced

[12:10] 6 vacant positions in the

[12:11] general fund and payroll

[12:12] attrition was budgeted in

[12:14] areas with a history of

[12:15] vacancies. All of those were

[12:16] incorporated in the

[12:19] preliminary budget. In the

[12:22] proposed budget. We added some

[12:23] additional strategies, a shift

[12:24] to internal pension bomb

[12:28] payment. 2.1 million dollars,

[12:28] 2 million dollars for

[12:30] interests in General Capital

[12:31] projects. Fund. We eliminated

[12:32] the subsidy for health. Health

[12:35] insurance, administrative

[12:36] costs, reduce fleet

[12:37] replacement charge. So we have

[12:40] to extend the life of those

[12:42] vehicles or rely upon interest

[12:45] in those funds were reducing

[12:46] the fire rescue department

[12:48] overtime budget. As we briefly

[12:50] mentioned and a reduction for

[12:52] grant writing services. So the

[12:54] total balancing strategies

[12:56] implemented. We're 10.9

[12:58] million dollars in that 2027

[12:59] budget. And that was really to

[13:03] prepare us for 2028. So the

[13:04] new model shows that we're

[13:08] balanced essentially for 2028.

[13:09] We started a neutral position

[13:10] heading into that year as

[13:15] well. And so our key takeaways

[13:17] for the 2027 tentative budget

[13:19] is it addresses the city

[13:20] commission's priorities. We

[13:20] spent a lot of time

[13:22] identifying city manager's

[13:24] message. The key ways where

[13:25] each of your priorities are

[13:28] funded. It's structurally

[13:29] balanced accelerates the

[13:30] completion of he capital

[13:32] projects. It maintains a

[13:33] healthy balance and prepares

[13:35] the city for the future. Any

[13:39] questions? Okay. Technically a

[13:42] presentation that completes my

[13:43] presentation. Okay. Is anyone

[13:44] from the Bush advisory board

[13:45] want to add to this

[13:46] presentation or comment at

[13:48] this point?

[13:51] >> They have wait till. You

[13:51] have you have your

[13:53] presentation, ok? Very good.

[13:54] Anyone from the commission

[13:56] have any questions of war? At

[14:01] this point? Thank Az job. I

[14:05] see you. You did your made a

[14:06] very serious attempt to reduce

[14:07] our expenditures by almost

[14:09] 11 million dollars. So that's

[14:11] that's great. And I know a lot

[14:12] of work went behind all Want

[14:13] to thank you and the entire

[14:16] staff. The team that works for

[14:17] the city and in making this

[14:19] happen. So thank you so much.

[14:20] >> Thank you. Mayor and

[14:22] commission and thing said the

[14:23] manager, assistant city

[14:23] manager and the whole team. We

[14:25] appreciate it. Great. This is

[14:31] city manager.

[14:32] >> If there's no further

[14:34] questions for our staff will

[14:34] turn that over to a chair.

[14:35] Brown for the Budget Advisory

[14:47] Board.

[14:54] >> Welcome Instrumental on

[14:55] building the diocese and it

[14:56] looks fantastic. Can thank

[15:00] you. So ones will get to the

[15:04] slide deck First of all, I'd

[15:06] like to opening with the

[15:08] Budget advisory board members

[15:11] this past year. They've spent

[15:12] a tremendous amount of time

[15:15] working with key identified

[15:17] staff from omb on special

[15:20] projects, too, to look at, you

[15:24] know, like affordability

[15:24] operations in each one of us

[15:28] took a section on like revenue

[15:32] enhancement area son,

[15:33] everything. So we presented

[15:35] that at our last workshop. So

[15:38] today we're going to focus on

[15:40] the future and kind of set the

[15:43] stage to help you in JANUARY.

[15:44] When you have your next works

[15:45] for the Priority Workshop. As

[15:51] a commission. And also I'd be

[15:52] remorse of the vice chair. Let

[15:53] the commission everyone know.

[15:57] It's her birthday today. Happy

[16:00] listen. Happy birthday.

[16:06] >> What a way to spend

[16:07] >> so during our summer

[16:08] meetings, we focus a lot

[16:11] working with staff on the the

[16:12] physical year Fy 27 budget,

[16:16] which was just proposed budget

[16:18] I don't budget presented to

[16:18] you earlier and then we took a

[16:23] look at the city hall. Talked

[16:24] about property tax reform. If

[16:27] that were to pass, certainly

[16:29] met with strategic

[16:29] communications. They came and

[16:31] did their presentation on the

[16:35] public outreach of that.

[16:37] Referendum and then also the

[16:39] balancing act, which is online

[16:39] and trying to engage the

[16:47] general public. We come here

[16:49] before you as a board to

[16:52] endorse the Fy 2027 budget as

[16:53] presented by staff by

[16:53] unanimous vote from our last

[16:59] meeting. Present is real

[17:00] estate gets a responsible

[17:00] budget that meets all the

[17:04] city's current Sneads and it's

[17:05] also balanced as required to

[17:09] for 2027 with priorities for

[17:12] public safety and supporting

[17:13] the initial costs that general

[17:14] fund costs for the new city

[17:17] hall. I believe it's

[17:18] 11 million, 8 next year in

[17:21] this budget. I'm not mistaken.

[17:21] And then it includes

[17:22] reductions that was addressed

[17:27] to concerns for 2028 as staff

[17:31] presented. As I mentioned,

[17:35] we're looking as a citizens

[17:36] advisory board to help you and

[17:38] the commission to meet the

[17:39] goals and your priorities and

[17:43] what we feel. The residents

[17:46] and taxpayers. Are most

[17:47] concerned about. And we've

[17:51] identified 5 key areas that we

[17:51] feel we're all have to roll up

[17:52] her sleeves as we move forward

[17:57] for 2028. That's

[17:59] affordability. The millage

[18:00] rate in the fees. Do we keep

[18:00] continue to keep them the

[18:05] same? Same? Or will there have

[18:06] to be increases property? Tax

[18:07] reform comes in development,

[18:11] slows down. We're talk about

[18:12] development. We also are

[18:13] concerned about keeping the

[18:16] business a business friendly

[18:17] environment. Any time you

[18:18] raise business taxes or fees

[18:19] and permits. It's a double

[18:22] edged sword. What what are

[18:23] those developers? One of those

[18:26] business landlords to they

[18:30] raise the price back on their

[18:32] tenants its sort in essence is

[18:33] an increase in the rents and

[18:34] that has some effect. Same

[18:37] with affordability. When you

[18:41] have more cost involved, then

[18:42] the landlord will always raise

[18:44] the prices on their tenants

[18:45] and the big else in the room.

[18:47] This property tax reform. We

[18:48] won't know till like we said

[18:50] until NOVEMBER. How that's

[18:53] going to play out. But we do

[18:55] have concerns. So here's what

[18:59] we do know. Affordability,

[19:02] approximately somewhere It

[19:04] says 49, there are some 46

[19:10] 49%. The average income

[19:13] household income are below the

[19:14] thresholds of basic cost of

[19:16] living poverty standard here

[19:21] in Broward County. The housing

[19:25] costs and Fort Lauderdale, the

[19:26] medium, a cause for a home now

[19:27] to this was in 2025. Is

[19:31] 530,000. And the fair market

[19:33] rent for a bedroom 2025. Is

[19:39] $1900. The impacts of those

[19:41] have is is is increasingly

[19:42] challenging for young young

[19:46] people, Move in here.

[19:48] Specially first-time home

[19:51] buyers and make a living in

[19:52] Fort Lauderdale, achievable

[19:54] and affordable. Well, I know

[19:58] we have housing affordability

[20:01] board that works on citian

[20:01] certain issues. We have to

[20:03] keep in mind any impacts that

[20:05] we recommend to this

[20:05] commission will have an effect

[20:09] on affordability. Some

[20:10] businesses are having trouble

[20:12] finding the availability of

[20:14] work workers and we at and

[20:15] we'd like to keep our

[20:16] workforce here in our own city

[20:16] because are spending their tax

[20:20] dollars. In Fort Lauderdale's

[20:22] had the opportunity strengthen

[20:27] its appeal to promote Fort

[20:28] Lauderdale and it's a place to

[20:33] live in a vibrant community.

[20:34] As we now the current millage

[20:35] rates been maintained. Now,

[20:36] this budgets approved for 20

[20:40] years. And and the other

[20:43] cities have seen a substantial

[20:44] increases communities around

[20:46] cities around Fort Lauderdale

[20:47] the military have originally

[20:49] trade has increased 36% over

[20:55] that time period. And we have

[20:56] those seeing Costa fees as

[20:57] section the fire assessments

[20:58] feet of storm water, utility

[21:01] rates. And the impact. All

[21:04] this has is. You know it. It

[21:08] affects a holistic preparation

[21:10] of future budgets and

[21:10] proactive addresses,

[21:11] affordability challenges we

[21:16] must take into concern. New

[21:17] construction as we just

[21:19] discussed we had a good year

[21:22] with new growth coming online.

[21:23] We had believe this, Elaine.

[21:26] They came on the tax rolls

[21:27] this year. That was 2

[21:28] high-rise condo 30 story

[21:29] buildings down on the beach.

[21:31] And I think Flagler Village

[21:36] had a couple projects. And

[21:39] there's a couple more still.

[21:41] Well for aging. That village

[21:44] will. Yeah a is is going to be

[21:45] an intense development project

[21:48] that's going to has

[21:49] significantly to the tax rules

[21:50] tournament when when the year

[21:51] the year which to finally gets

[21:54] his co.

[21:56] >> Corrected that. And that's

[21:57] kind of leads me what we're

[21:58] concerned about because

[22:00] currently worse and a slow

[22:02] down the development market

[22:03] due to high construction costs

[22:05] in the interest rates. Just

[22:07] give you an example. I'm sure

[22:10] you're aware that planning and

[22:11] zoning typically on a good

[22:17] month. We'll have. 3 to 5.

[22:18] Zoning development projects

[22:21] come before them month of

[22:22] JUNE. They had one month of

[22:22] JULY. They had 2 on their

[22:27] agenda. Month. AUGUST 0. So

[22:28] what's that tell you? We're

[22:31] seeing a slowdown, but

[22:32] everything is sent to go. We

[22:32] understand that in the

[22:33] construction where we have to

[22:36] take that in into

[22:37] consideration as we do future

[22:40] planning for budgets. So but

[22:43] we also have to be cognizant

[22:44] when we have that downturn and

[22:47] we don't see those 7 and a

[22:47] half percent increases in

[22:50] assessed value. If if it were

[22:53] to drop below 5% in any given

[22:57] one year. Historically,

[22:59] looking at a 5% increase will

[23:03] be eaten up just in salaries

[23:05] and benefits of our workforce.

[23:09] Fort Lauderdale. That, you

[23:10] know, that's what giving

[23:11] future races and pay the

[23:12] health insurance costs and

[23:15] everything else. So that

[23:16] that's pretty staggering

[23:19] number 5%. Automatically up in

[23:24] personnel costs benefits. As I

[23:25] mentioned earlier, keeping a

[23:27] business friendly environment.

[23:29] We get increase the property

[23:32] or business tax by 5%. And

[23:36] that made it. That's within

[23:37] the Florida statute and that

[23:42] the every year can go up 5. As

[23:43] as I mentioned, has a double

[23:43] edged sword there. When you do

[23:46] that and we have to take that.

[23:48] So as we look at future

[23:48] budgets, we can't just say,

[23:51] ok, we go out here and raise.

[23:52] Start raising the permit fees

[23:58] and business taxes and things.

[23:59] Without fully taking in

[24:00] consideration. The impacts of

[24:04] those will have. And to our

[24:06] next big one property tax. We

[24:09] all know what's being proposed

[24:10] taken Homestead up from 50,000

[24:14] next year, too 150,000 with

[24:18] 2028. Going to to 50 or to

[24:19] pass 5 year residents,

[24:20] five-year residency. If you

[24:21] move here, you can't will be

[24:23] able to home set for 5 years

[24:26] after the and of the year. And

[24:27] then that non homestead

[24:29] properties will no longer be

[24:31] taxed. Maximum 10% drops to 5.

[24:35] So we know it. 2028, if this

[24:36] were to pass 17 Million. We

[24:44] know. 2029 and a production of

[24:46] 27.3 million. So is off off to

[24:47] offset all this. We have to

[24:49] come up with some strategic

[24:50] productions and or increase

[24:52] the millage rate. It's pretty

[24:53] simple. We're not advocating

[24:54] an increase in mileage rates

[24:56] to do it, but we're going to

[24:58] make tough decisions as a

[24:59] community and as a commission

[25:02] and has a visor report.

[25:05] Doesn't mean we start cutting.

[25:06] Services or does it mean we

[25:11] start the funding non for

[25:12] profits. Next year. You have

[25:17] to take a look at that. Cra.

[25:18] It was a two-year proposal,

[25:20] come back and look at it being

[25:23] funded at 50%. Maybe a choice

[25:24] has to be made. You don't fund

[25:28] it for the next 2 years. A 50

[25:28] person that 50%. Those are

[25:30] some of the things not that

[25:31] we're saying this has to be

[25:33] done, but we're going to have

[25:34] to really, really take a hard

[25:37] look at the hard dive. To

[25:38] balance a budget next year.

[25:41] Property tax reform passes.

[25:45] And that's why we're setting.

[25:46] As I mentioned stage as we

[25:47] move to the were your workshop

[25:51] in JANUARY on what the

[25:52] priorities are going to be.

[25:52] And that's going a lot of the

[25:55] party's going to be driven.

[25:58] What happens? Property tax

[25:59] reform keeping in mind public

[26:00] safety is always priority

[26:05] number And that concludes my

[26:06] presentation. Okay. Great. Any

[26:09] questions of MR. Brown, do

[26:10] have a question. Please go

[26:13] ahead us on the on moving

[26:14] forward and looking at those

[26:17] areas we MAY need to reduce.

[26:18] He says services. What

[26:20] services are you?

[26:25] >> Suggesting that we reduced?

[26:26] >> Maybe the programs at the

[26:27] parks offer might have to be

[26:33] reduced. Services that we do

[26:35] for for the special events for

[26:37] district certain The parades,

[26:39] you know, those who carry a

[26:40] big impact on services city

[26:41] services and the cost of

[26:43] those. So I'm we're not

[26:48] saying. We're cutting anything

[26:52] at this point, but we think.

[26:53] Collaboratively we have to

[26:54] also down and figure out what

[26:56] is the best model that works

[27:00] best. And we do know police

[27:01] overtime. You'll hear about

[27:04] following this presentation is

[27:06] high fires reduce theirs. But

[27:10] one of the reasons is. Police

[27:10] overtime. We're seeing more

[27:15] protest. So requires public

[27:16] safety support than we've ever

[27:18] seen in the past in our

[27:20] community. So that drives up

[27:21] overtime costs. You can't cut

[27:22] those types of services

[27:22] because those are still

[27:26] required. For for certain

[27:28] types of security measures. So

[27:30] I think at this point I know

[27:32] the the previous city manager

[27:36] presented a list some

[27:37] strategic folk thoughts her

[27:40] and the staff at the time that

[27:40] maybe if property pay tax

[27:41] where the past we'd have to

[27:42] take a look at. But I think

[27:47] overall. I don't want I don't

[27:48] want to protect to what's

[27:49] going to happen. But just

[27:52] hearing and seeing it really

[27:54] people don't understand the

[27:59] impact if really happens. And

[27:59] hopefully, you know, we're

[28:00] trying to educate strategic

[28:02] communications and a great

[28:03] job, but we just got to keep

[28:05] pushing that message out. One

[28:07] voters will decide. And I

[28:08] think that's the message

[28:11] voters are hearing great. Tax

[28:14] bills will go down. That might

[28:16] on the side. But services

[28:19] still have to be. Provided if

[28:20] they want that same level of

[28:22] service.

[28:24] >> And that was the reason I

[28:26] was asking me, say service.

[28:26] That's broad statement. So

[28:28] that's why I asked what where

[28:29] are you saying the services

[28:32] that would be? Suggested maybe

[28:34] or what we need to look at

[28:36] specifically. All right. That

[28:37] was the reason for my

[28:38] question, right? And at this

[28:41] point, we we really don't.

[28:41] >> Have a looked at particular

[28:46] yet. And hopefully once we

[28:49] have clear guidance from your

[28:51] workshop in JANUARY, what the

[28:52] priorities will be. I think

[28:53] we're going to clear guidance

[28:58] NOVEMBER. We put that. But

[28:59] then you're the priorities

[29:02] will have to be built around

[29:02] that budget and that resource,

[29:03] right? You know, it will set

[29:06] meetings and and try to

[29:07] determine what the priorities

[29:11] of the community are and and

[29:12] then make decisions going

[29:12] forward. So whether it be

[29:14] services, whether it be

[29:14] staffing.

[29:18] >> Whatever it MAY be, you

[29:19] know, commission would have to

[29:20] make a decision about the

[29:20] millage rate and any other

[29:23] fees that we charge. You know,

[29:25] these you know, have to be

[29:26] answered some point. You're

[29:28] right. We agree with you. But

[29:32] you it's gonna have an impact.

[29:33] You know, my my windstorm

[29:35] insurance in swat up about

[29:35] $3,000. So there goes my

[29:44] savings.

[29:45] >> OCTOBER, OCTOBER NOVEMBER,

[29:48] the historically we are this

[29:50] year, too. The board is not me

[29:50] because we've met so much

[29:51] throughout the year were one

[29:54] of the boards that have

[29:56] probably one of the most

[29:57] meetings throughout the year.

[30:00] And so we we give gifts. Staff

[30:02] a chance not only to take a

[30:05] take a rest from having too

[30:07] work closely with the board.

[30:09] But then they all sort of the

[30:10] process of doing every year in

[30:10] close out for the previous

[30:12] physical for that physical

[30:15] year were coming off of so.

[30:17] But then possibly come back in

[30:20] DECEMBER. If we see a need to

[30:21] and then the course in JANUARY

[30:24] and will fit, we'll hit the

[30:25] ground running again, mayor,

[30:26] as you said, will definitely

[30:29] know by NOVEMBER. And I think

[30:30] once we know that the number

[30:34] will probably need DECEMBER.

[30:35] >> Very good at any of

[30:36] question. If I MAY. I just

[30:38] also want to echo everyone

[30:38] sentiments. Thank you so much

[30:39] to you and your entire board

[30:41] for the work that you do

[30:43] enough throughout the whole

[30:45] year. I mean, it really is

[30:45] amazing to track what you guys

[30:46] do, how it all starts the

[30:49] process. And I really hope the

[30:50] public understands the

[30:51] commitment that you guys all

[30:51] make and the work that you all

[30:55] put into it. It's very night.

[30:57] I you know, I I'm really happy

[30:58] that it's chiming with the

[31:00] tentative budget that was

[31:00] proposed by Laura want to

[31:03] reiterate. So you aboard is

[31:05] firmly and support of the

[31:06] tentative budget as proposed.

[31:09] Yes, asleep. Okay. Excellent.

[31:10] And I do look forward to the

[31:11] work. We are going to have to

[31:11] roll up our sleeves,

[31:13] especially if this passes. But

[31:16] I think we'll get there. I

[31:17] what I really feel sorry for

[31:20] all the small communities in

[31:21] our state that so much rely on

[31:24] ad valorem tax that that that

[31:27] homestead attacks that they

[31:30] collect, which really is their

[31:31] entire budget. We are

[31:32] fortunate that we are a

[31:32] diverse economy. We are

[31:35] diverse revenue sources for

[31:36] taxes. It's going to be very

[31:39] interesting to see if this

[31:40] passes. What happens to those

[31:41] smaller communities, towns and

[31:43] counties in our state? I

[31:45] really don't know how they

[31:46] survive, actually, but well,

[31:47] one of those cities might be

[31:50] something like Parkland, which

[31:56] has 75 to 80% of their tax

[31:57] base center properties site it

[31:57] become they become

[31:58] unincorporated. Today emerged

[31:59] with another town and Broward

[32:01] County. I mean, what happened?

[32:02] So, you know, we'll Luckily

[32:04] for us, we're not in that

[32:08] position, but I I do hope that

[32:09] everyone understands the

[32:12] ramifications for the entire

[32:13] entire state and what can

[32:13] happen. And it's interesting,

[32:15] man that you mention the

[32:16] increase in your wind storm.

[32:19] We we seem to not think of

[32:20] those The state doesn't think

[32:22] of those things that it's

[32:23] easier just to say. Let's cut

[32:25] your property taxes. And in

[32:26] the meantime, the other issues

[32:28] that affect us so greatly like

[32:31] property insurance. As you

[32:31] mentioned, windstorm, those

[32:34] all get no attention so that

[32:35] this almost becomes like the

[32:39] out for the state without.

[32:39] Basically focusing on a lot of

[32:42] issues that effect day today

[32:45] as citizens of the state. So

[32:45] it's an interesting concept.

[32:47] We'll see how it plays out.

[32:50] But again, I want say thank

[32:51] thrilled that you 100% behind

[32:54] the budget as proposed again.

[32:55] Thank you for your You'll have

[32:56] a few months off now. We'll

[32:58] see you in DECEMBER. Thank

[33:00] you. And just closing, I can't

[33:03] emphasize enough. Per the

[33:06] staff and omb. I mean there

[33:09] and then not not to a to any

[33:12] other department, but we have

[33:13] energy contact directly

[33:16] contact with that staff. They

[33:18] are tremendous. I know even a

[33:19] former board member mentioned

[33:21] came from the private sector.

[33:24] >> Was always so amazed at how

[33:25] and be and how they were

[33:28] always on top of things and

[33:31] the kudos and I think they

[33:37] deserve a round of applause.

[33:38] >> And I ask to stand up

[33:50] tomorrow.

[33:51] >> Mayor had couple built

[33:53] before you sit down just

[33:55] couple questions. One, thank

[33:57] you again for working n

[34:00] especially in partnership with

[34:01] on be how is that house and

[34:02] process been going? Because

[34:04] you all day deep into

[34:06] department spending so forth

[34:08] is the is how are

[34:09] collaborating and working

[34:11] together and working with

[34:12] staff is icon. Well, is there

[34:13] anything we can do from a

[34:14] commission standpoint staff

[34:17] point sampling to do better. I

[34:18] think it's working well of

[34:20] everything we've asked for. Up

[34:25] members have been supplied.

[34:26] Yeah, great. What I think. I

[34:31] think as we move forward.

[34:31] What's the health and in the

[34:32] room, Essex rights on the

[34:34] property tax. That's one when

[34:35] things are really going to

[34:38] get. Figuring it all out,

[34:40] right? Yeah. And that's that's

[34:41] one of the questions I get

[34:46] from neighbors regularly is is

[34:47] there other savings now that

[34:50] we could be putting in place

[34:51] and not waiting until

[34:52] NOVEMBER? And so you all of

[34:56] obviously diggin and so forth

[34:57] will be your response to that.

[35:01] Sure a couple of the savings

[35:02] possibilities feeling. And,

[35:04] you know, it's always been

[35:07] commissioners, the

[35:08] not-for-profits. Yeah, we've

[35:10] always had concerns. There's

[35:11] not been a really good vetting

[35:15] system for those. Some of the

[35:18] non for profits feel like it's

[35:21] an entitlement program. You

[35:22] know where you guys come up

[35:24] with 11 million dollars of

[35:25] Yeah. So that's a right? Yeah.

[35:29] a good a good start.

[35:29] >> Yeah, I'm either those

[35:30] vacant positions. Those those

[35:31] funds were always carried on

[35:34] the books. So in essence, when

[35:36] you eliminate 6 vacant

[35:36] positions off the books have

[35:40] freeze up that money that all

[35:41] ultimately would at the end of

[35:44] every year go back into the

[35:45] general fund to be used for

[35:46] other things throughout the

[35:50] year that explained properly

[35:51] yet. Yeah. So so like like you

[35:52] said, mayor, that was a big

[35:54] savings right there. Yeah, not

[35:55] re absorb basically, right?

[35:58] Yeah. So those some of the

[36:02] things and it's, you as I

[36:06] mentioned, non for profits and

[36:08] cra, you know, if the cra has

[36:08] a lot of money in that

[36:12] account. We can maybe hold off

[36:15] another 2 years, especially

[36:17] with development, not moving

[36:19] right now. Maybe that might be

[36:20] a time to take a pause. I

[36:20] mean, that's that's a

[36:24] strategic. Decision this

[36:24] commission to make a discuss.

[36:28] We have a meeting after this

[36:29] it's issue that I would like

[36:33] address also because I

[36:35] understand was a 6 million

[36:38] dollars a that we generate

[36:39] approximately 6 billion a

[36:40] year. And that's just city

[36:44] funds, you know, doesn't

[36:45] include the funds were used

[36:45] take advantage of when we had

[36:48] the full complement of of

[36:49] taxing authorities that were

[36:52] contributing to this. So

[36:55] something we think about. Look

[36:57] at the schedule of

[36:57] opportunities that we have in

[36:58] the cra's. What our

[37:00] expectations are. What are

[37:01] what the opportunities are and

[37:05] what we can afford. And and

[37:06] maybe that would be another

[37:09] source of So you see, great,

[37:11] but I think we all have to

[37:13] agree that we have to keep in

[37:14] mind set as we move forward is

[37:17] everything should be on the

[37:18] table, excluding the key

[37:21] elements public safety,

[37:21] providing good quality water,

[37:23] sewer.

[37:27] >> Storm water. Protect this

[37:27] community for the

[37:29] infrastructure needs at those

[37:31] that are required in the

[37:32] interest life safety and

[37:36] sustainability. After that, we

[37:37] should be able look at

[37:40] everything on the table get.

[37:41] Thank you. Thank you. Thank

[37:43] you. Appreciate. Thank you Any

[37:46] other yes, a lot of us. The

[37:47] Brown we can or come Laura

[37:48] JULY coming back up for

[37:51] second.

[37:53] >> Thank again. Thank you to

[37:53] everyone and all the input to

[37:56] reports in that time that has

[37:58] been shared and added to

[38:01] opportunity this afternoon.

[38:02] But I want us to roll back a

[38:05] little bit and I want us to

[38:07] really for the record and for

[38:07] the room. Let's dive a little

[38:11] deeper around and really say

[38:12] the sources of new 11 million

[38:15] dollars has identified. We

[38:17] could say what, but it's

[38:20] exactly how much money is

[38:22] coming from these Are they in

[38:26] a sense convert on comber?

[38:27] What what is this money?

[38:30] Because I want to know, you

[38:33] know exactly where it's coming

[38:34] from. And then how else MAY

[38:35] need to look at using it going

[38:39] forward, thinking about

[38:45] property tax referendum. Thank

[38:46] you, commissioner. Just

[38:48] reiterate some answering the

[38:48] cracks questions. So in the

[38:52] proposed budget, there are

[38:53] 10.9 million dollars in

[38:55] strategic productions that are

[38:58] incorporated. Are you asking

[39:00] for me that talk about those?

[39:00] Yes, Absolutely. The first

[39:05] item on the list is revenue

[39:06] enhancements. And so we've

[39:07] been partnering throughout the

[39:08] year with departments and with

[39:10] the Budget Advisory Board

[39:11] bringing forward then to the

[39:12] commission's certain revenues

[39:15] and fee increases. One of the

[39:16] main ones that was

[39:17] incorporated was fire

[39:19] ambulance, transport fees that

[39:21] were increased and that was

[39:23] already implemented. And then

[39:24] by rescues really spend some

[39:25] time trying to enhance

[39:26] collection efforts in that

[39:30] area. So with the revenue

[39:32] enhancements, which included

[39:33] interest earnings and new

[39:34] program that finance put

[39:35] together to enhance interest,

[39:40] earning program business tax

[39:42] fee increases and fire

[39:43] ambulance fees for like the 3

[39:45] major ones. That was 3.2

[39:46] million dollars in revenue

[39:50] enhancements. The second item

[39:51] that we pointed to in this was

[39:53] incorporated in the

[39:54] preliminary budget was a

[39:57] reduction of 6 vacant

[39:59] positions. So many of them had

[40:01] been vacant for over a year

[40:04] example, we pointed to was

[40:06] parks and recreation had

[40:07] recruiting for plumber

[40:09] position. Some of those

[40:10] technical positions. So we did

[40:13] add some contractual services

[40:16] later, but we did reduce

[40:19] positions to the tune $767,000

[40:23] for 6 positions and that

[40:24] reduces the ongoing increase

[40:25] in growth wages for those

[40:26] positions in our modeling as

[40:30] well. The next item is chair

[40:31] Brown was talking about, which

[40:34] was the attrition we

[40:35] previously used a budget for

[40:37] positions at the full amount,

[40:37] even though we realized there

[40:38] was vacant positions

[40:41] throughout the year. So now we

[40:43] factored in an attrition

[40:44] factor for departments that

[40:47] vacancies from year to year

[40:48] that allowed us to budget for

[40:51] $550,000 in General fund for

[40:53] attrition. And so that reduces

[40:55] our expenses, meaning we don't

[40:56] have to actually cut

[40:56] positions. But we're just

[40:59] budgeting for less salaries.

[41:00] So those are the ones that

[41:02] were incorporated in

[41:03] preliminary. And we talked to

[41:06] about those in But since then,

[41:07] we added some enhancements and

[41:11] for proposed budget. The first

[41:12] one, really what we're trying

[41:14] to do, our strategy was to

[41:16] impact services in the least.

[41:20] Lisa Mount possible by looking

[41:21] to the resources that we are

[41:23] ready have one of the things

[41:24] we identified in concert with

[41:28] finance was that are we issued

[41:29] pension obligation, bonds and

[41:31] they have a limited life. I

[41:34] believe 7 years, 7 around 7

[41:36] years left and we had a fund

[41:39] balance that was reserved for

[41:40] payment purposes. We that one

[41:42] 12th every month for cash

[41:44] flow, our cash flows really

[41:46] strong in the city right now.

[41:46] So we can do are transfers

[41:49] from the various funds into

[41:52] that fund on OCTOBER. 1st. And

[41:53] that phrase at the fund

[41:54] balance we had in that fund

[41:55] and we can spend it down over

[41:58] the last 7 years of the bond

[42:00] and that freed up 2.1 million

[42:02] dollars a year. So that was

[42:03] financing strategy using our

[42:05] own money to reduce tax pence

[42:09] question just is that

[42:12] considered operational?

[42:16] >> Or is that falling under a

[42:17] different My it's yeah. So

[42:19] we're repaying debt. Okay.

[42:21] >> And so we have a separate

[42:23] fund set up for debt and let's

[42:23] say the police department's

[42:26] portion of that debt to

[42:27] support the unfunded

[42:31] liability. Let's say it was

[42:32] million dollars. We would have

[42:32] spread or 1.2 million dollars.

[42:35] We would it. But $100,000

[42:36] every month into the account

[42:39] to make the payment. Now we're

[42:39] going to pay it all at the

[42:42] beginning of the year so that

[42:43] we don't have to have. It's

[42:45] kind of like a nascar for your

[42:46] mortgage. We don't need ask

[42:47] for any more. We can spend

[42:50] that down take advantage of

[42:52] funding that we have in place

[42:53] by pain for at the beginning

[42:56] of the year. And so that was

[42:58] 2.1 million dollars over the

[43:01] next 7 years. We were able

[43:04] realize the next item is

[43:05] budgeting for interest in

[43:08] capital projects. Account. So

[43:09] previously, we didn't include

[43:11] a budget for interest, but are

[43:14] capital projects balances have

[43:18] grown over the years and our

[43:20] interest program is better. So

[43:21] we're earning pretty

[43:22] consistently 2 million dollars

[43:23] a year. We're going to start

[43:25] budgeting for that to offset

[43:26] how much we need to actually

[43:28] cash contribute to fund our

[43:30] capital. So if we have

[43:32] 10 million dollars projects,

[43:33] we only need to budget for

[43:34] 8 million because the fund

[43:35] itself is generating 2 of the

[43:37] million. So that was one of

[43:39] our strategies that got us and

[43:43] additional 2 million dollars.

[43:44] The next item is related to

[43:45] our health fund where

[43:48] self-insured for health. But

[43:50] previously, the city also paid

[43:52] for the administrative costs

[43:55] related to the health fund.

[43:55] The health funds now and a

[43:58] healthy enough position where

[43:59] we don't need to do that. So

[44:00] the general fund portion that

[44:05] we won't have to pay is

[44:05] $850,000 with no increases to

[44:09] employees, premiums. So that

[44:13] solution with 850,000 the next

[44:19] item is $882,000. And it it's

[44:21] similar to the other funding

[44:22] that we talked about. It's

[44:23] reducing the fleet replacement

[44:27] charge. So. Our city has an

[44:28] internal service fund that set

[44:33] up to replace our full fleet.

[44:35] So if I just general fund

[44:36] position like somebody in code

[44:37] if we purchase a vehicle for,

[44:41] oh, let's say $20,000 we put

[44:43] money aside every year so that

[44:45] when that vehicle it needs to

[44:46] be replaced, that we have

[44:46] money saved to replace the

[44:50] vehicle. What we were doing

[44:52] before as we're funding and

[44:53] 95%. And that took into

[44:56] account that we could sell the

[44:58] vehicle for 5% of its costs to

[45:00] offset it. We're seeing that

[45:01] we're getting higher prices at

[45:02] auction and we're learning

[45:05] interest in that fund. So

[45:06] we're able to reduce the

[45:08] amount that we put aside for

[45:10] placement by 5% to 90%. So

[45:15] again, that was. Change in

[45:20] mechanism would be $882,000 in

[45:23] savings. 2 more to with

[45:24] $350,000 reduction in Fire

[45:28] Rescue over time by rescues

[45:29] implemented some release

[45:30] strategic approaches to how

[45:33] they filled their vacancies.

[45:37] They're experiencing ongoing

[45:38] So the city manager

[45:40] recommended $350,000 reduction

[45:41] to their overtime, which is an

[45:44] ongoing savings. And then the

[45:46] last one was a pot of funds.

[45:47] We used to budget for grant

[45:48] writing services. The city

[45:49] always wants to be prepared to

[45:51] leverage grant funds. We had

[45:54] $250,000 set aside for that.

[45:55] What we've seen is really only

[45:59] around 50,000 was So we're

[46:00] reducing the amount. And if we

[46:03] have a higher out, we'll have

[46:04] to come to you to ask for

[46:04] permission through a budget

[46:09] amendment. Where I'm going

[46:09] with him trying to ok, bottom

[46:15] line. Where's this money?

[46:16] Capital Operation Operating,

[46:17] ok? All right. So we're

[46:18] looking at operational, right?

[46:19] This is where the majority of

[46:21] this fund is coming from.

[46:22] >> We're looking at the

[46:24] NOVEMBER tax property tax

[46:27] referendum. If that goes into

[46:29] effect, how is this going

[46:35] affect Operation?

[46:38] >> So these strategic

[46:39] redactions prepare us for

[46:43] before property tax reform. If

[46:46] in we see an additional

[46:47] 17 million dollar reduction in

[46:48] revenues. We'll have to

[46:49] implement additional

[46:52] strategies. We'll try to look

[46:56] to something similar to this

[46:59] you know, we'll try to impact

[47:00] services and the least way

[47:00] possible. You know, it'll be

[47:03] collaborative will have to

[47:04] bring ideas with departments.

[47:05] We work really closely with

[47:06] all of our operating

[47:06] departments to come up with

[47:09] ideas. But I am. But we will

[47:11] have to bring additional

[47:13] ideas. This only gets us to

[47:15] 2028. And what are we gonna

[47:16] use this 11 Million? What are

[47:18] we as of this is already

[47:22] incorporated into the budget

[47:23] to into the proposed budget.

[47:26] So it's, you identify, So the

[47:27] primary thing we are able to

[47:29] do was to enhance or capital

[47:30] contributions because we don't

[47:32] want to add to ongoing

[47:34] operating expenses. So one of

[47:35] the things I point to as

[47:36] 5 million dollars for park's

[47:41] pond place holder and items

[47:43] like that. So we didn't

[47:45] operating programs based on

[47:46] these reductions because we're

[47:48] specifically trying to.

[47:57] Balance for 2020. It further

[47:59] questions. Yet this time the

[48:00] formal the question passes

[48:02] formalizing. These are

[48:04] recurring savings. Just one

[48:05] time saying, is a recurring

[48:08] every year. Yes. Yeah.

[48:09] >> Yeah. So the structural

[48:12] balance budget means ongoing

[48:12] revenues tied ongoing

[48:15] expenses. We do so find a

[48:16] >> large amount of capital

[48:18] which is one time cost. We

[48:19] have the opportunity to reduce

[48:32] that as well.

[48:33] >> And I ask that you can ask.

[48:34] Well, yeah, because something

[48:35] that's one of direction I want

[48:41] to go in. Cause is this board

[48:42] they've really done amazing

[48:44] job with precinct in the

[48:46] presentation. And I'm hoping

[48:48] I've talked to some of you and

[48:51] you all have had some great

[48:51] input and Mares is an

[48:54] opportunity now that we allow

[48:55] some of the board to share as

[48:58] well. I would I would love to

[49:01] hear from all over if they

[49:02] have, if they something, they

[49:09] want Ionescu was all over. I

[49:10] don't know if he has something

[49:12] to say but would to more is up

[49:12] it can I just yes, Thank you

[49:14] so much to Laura. I just want

[49:16] to talk about the grant

[49:17] writing services because I

[49:21] don't want to cut off our nose

[49:23] to spite our face. If we are

[49:23] facing some really heavy

[49:27] decisions next year.

[49:27] >> What what are the

[49:28] opportunities? I want to make

[49:29] sure that we're still going to

[49:31] be able to fund, but we need

[49:32] because I'm thinking that we

[49:33] need to go after as many

[49:36] grants as possible even maybe

[49:36] accelerate what we've done in

[49:40] the past. I don't know right

[49:41] now what the temperature is

[49:44] out there world of grants. But

[49:45] it seems to me that that's

[49:46] something we're going to have

[49:50] to be really aggressive about

[49:51] and making sure that we don't

[49:51] leave any, you know, any grant

[49:53] out there that we don't go

[49:56] after. Obviously, especially

[49:57] if we're going to be facing,

[49:59] you know, some cuts. So we so

[50:01] prepared to be as aggressive

[50:03] as possible grant writing,

[50:05] even though we are looking at,

[50:07] you know, that reduction of

[50:08] $200,000 yet. Commissioner, I

[50:10] think this so.

[50:11] >> You know, we are and you

[50:13] need to be aggressive in a

[50:14] grant program. There are a lot

[50:15] of grants out there that we

[50:17] don't need that grant reading

[50:19] assistance force think sea

[50:20] grants, for example, are

[50:22] usually completed by staff or

[50:24] we don't need that acts. That

[50:26] external are basing this

[50:27] reduction on our historic

[50:28] transfer. We've actually

[50:30] needed the assistance for in

[50:31] these cases. And we think that

[50:32] that will be adequate going

[50:34] forward. Now, if we see new

[50:37] grants come out if the federal

[50:37] or state governments start to

[50:38] create new programs and we

[50:41] need to get more assistance is

[50:41] Laura said we can come back

[50:42] with a budget amendment to

[50:43] seek those funds. If we see

[50:46] uptick and what we need.

[50:47] >> Okay, great. Thank you. I

[50:48] again, I just want to make

[50:49] sure that we're as aggressive

[50:51] as possible, especially, you

[50:52] know, facing the climate that

[50:55] we going face. Thank Even even

[50:57] with that aggressiveness.

[51:00] >> Awareness what is actually

[51:05] where possibly pay thing of

[51:06] sitting here because really in

[51:07] a personal moment.

[51:10] >> remembering him a calling,

[51:11] just just being a homeowner

[51:13] being the person. Well, I am a

[51:16] resident in the city and just

[51:18] living from day to day what

[51:24] I'm facing, what I base in the

[51:25] remembering a time when I had

[51:27] to look hard at my personal

[51:29] budget making true decisions

[51:32] and being real with myself I

[51:33] need to do some things

[51:38] differently. And being humbled

[51:40] enough say this is not the

[51:40] time, but what I'm I'm hoping

[51:48] to do. So having a out of body

[51:50] experience. If you want to say

[51:53] really, really taking this and

[51:54] because,

[51:54] >> you know, you all gave us 6

[51:58] weeks off so what we did with

[51:59] that time, some of us MAY not

[52:00] admit it, but lot of it. I'm

[52:02] reading here, but with that

[52:06] being said, I'm with the fact

[52:08] that we definitely lead to be

[52:09] aggressive. But what we're

[52:11] doing. But at the same time

[52:16] with that aggressiveness

[52:18] possible with our what we're

[52:19] moving forward and not acting

[52:21] like NOVEMBER isn't something

[52:22] that more than likely is not

[52:23] going to be. What we consider

[52:31] to be. I'm gonna get up so box

[52:32] right now. Couple of things in

[52:35] a since I haven't had a chance

[52:36] yet. I want just a statement.

[52:38] This is not a question but a

[52:39] response MR. Brown's

[52:41] statement.

[52:42] >> So one of the things that I

[52:47] haven't heard yet and this in

[52:48] line with with your statement,

[52:49] but it's also in line with

[52:52] everything that I've read, all

[52:53] the editorials that I've read,

[52:54] all the speeches that I've

[52:55] made by my elected colleagues

[52:56] here locally and throughout

[53:00] the state. Never once never

[53:02] once have. I heard anybody

[53:04] ever mention the word we're

[53:07] going to be more efficient.

[53:07] All I've heard is we're going

[53:11] to raise fees. We're going to

[53:13] raise taxes. We're going to

[53:13] cut services. We're going to

[53:16] cut police and fire. And never

[53:18] once have I ever heard anybody

[53:19] mention that we're going to

[53:20] get more efficient. And I

[53:23] think that's just a travesty.

[53:24] And this is a global issue. Is

[53:27] not just with us here. Again,

[53:28] I spent a lot of time

[53:29] consulting in the private

[53:30] sector. I have a lot of

[53:32] clients. I work with. And when

[53:35] our revenue drops. The first

[53:36] thing we do is we look at ways

[53:38] that we can do things more

[53:39] efficiently. Look at ways that

[53:41] we can do more with less. I

[53:47] don't start thinking about.

[53:51] How I'm going to, you know,

[53:52] look for ways to, you know,

[53:54] keep my staff employed while

[53:55] my revenue plummets. You know,

[53:57] i'm thinking about how am I

[54:01] going to do more with less? I

[54:01] don't say I'm going to cut

[54:04] services. I'm going to cut

[54:04] product offerings. I look at

[54:06] how many going to continue to

[54:09] deliver on the expectations of

[54:11] my customers. Well, I have

[54:12] less revenue coming up because

[54:12] that's how you grow your way

[54:14] out of a problem. You know,

[54:15] grow your way out by by

[54:18] saying, you know, we're just

[54:20] going to cut of our We're

[54:22] going to put our clients at at

[54:22] risk because, you know, the

[54:26] residents, our clients. And so

[54:27] we can't say we're going to

[54:27] cut our services for clients

[54:30] that that's not the answer.

[54:31] And we can't simply say we're

[54:32] going charge of our clients

[54:33] work. That's not the answer.

[54:36] The answer has got to be that

[54:37] we're going to do better and

[54:38] we're going to do more with

[54:39] less. And never seems to be

[54:41] the answer government

[54:43] government has this unique

[54:43] monopoly where we just say

[54:44] great, we're going to charge

[54:46] you more. And I just think

[54:47] that that's a shame. And I

[54:48] think we need to be thinking

[54:51] more about again, how we drive

[54:54] efficiency and how we can

[54:55] implement again. The thing I'm

[54:58] doing right now is I've

[55:00] incorporated ai and everything

[55:01] that I do. My work is 50% more

[55:03] efficient than it was a year

[55:04] ago. I've increased my

[55:05] productivity, my output, the

[55:08] quality of what I do because

[55:10] I'm using chat music. Lord,

[55:11] I'm using grok every single

[55:12] day. Multiple times a day and

[55:14] every single thing that I do

[55:17] and again, I I encourage our

[55:18] our city staff here to do that

[55:20] and they're doing it. I know

[55:20] they're doing training classes

[55:21] on copilot. And I thank you

[55:23] all for for embracing that.

[55:27] Over time. Our workforce is

[55:29] going to decline naturally

[55:33] through attrition. And also

[55:35] it's going to have to be

[55:36] through strategic Lagos, where

[55:36] we're just going to simply

[55:37] find that we don't need as

[55:39] many people to do the job that

[55:41] we're doing today. And we only

[55:45] have remember. That government

[55:46] is not an employment agency.

[55:48] We don't exist to employ

[55:50] people. We exist to provide

[55:50] services to our residents at

[55:53] the lowest cost possible. And

[55:56] we lose that. We lose that

[55:56] concept all the time. I'd

[55:57] never hear people say that.

[55:59] That's our role. But I always

[56:03] hear people say we can't lay

[56:04] off staff. We can't cut staff.

[56:04] We can't do this. We can't do

[56:06] that. I never hear people say

[56:09] here's what we can do. And so

[56:10] I just want encourage us all

[56:11] to have a different mindset.

[56:13] When we're looking at this

[56:19] scarcity. Drives improvement.

[56:21] Nothing focuses the mind like

[56:23] scarcity. I learned a long

[56:25] time ago when I was working

[56:28] for a company that was

[56:29] experiencing financial

[56:30] distress. And I will tell you

[56:30] nothing focuses your attention

[56:34] like bankruptcy. You know, I

[56:36] would encourage us all to look

[56:37] at this, not as as a crisis,

[56:38] but as an opportunity for us

[56:42] to get better and to be more

[56:43] focused. It's a challenge to

[56:45] us to get better. What we do

[56:47] so and I would love to hear

[56:48] from Olivia, so live If you

[56:49] would care to share your

[57:03] thoughts. Can you hear Thanks

[57:03] for gt. Commissioner vice

[57:07] mayor and commissioners.

[57:09] >> When the CHAIRMAN Brown

[57:10] described the unanimous vote

[57:14] on this budget. I want to

[57:16] mention that that was not able

[57:17] to vote because I was stuck in

[57:23] the Italian rose and I can.

[57:24] But just a few messiah at That

[57:26] said, if it out play out

[57:29] reason I was there a before I

[57:30] would have been able to do and

[57:32] I was thinking, oh, so grab

[57:32] these.

[57:38] >> Mayor Trent Dallas, courage

[57:38] to everybody to question to

[57:42] uncover the true Self

[57:43] knowledge. I still always

[57:47] logic in politics and I think.

[57:51] It reminded me of the fact and

[57:51] I've tried to champion this

[57:55] approach for the past 2 years.

[57:55] We some degree of success

[57:58] among my peers and talking to

[58:02] some of you at the commission

[58:03] is to try to bring ideas. The

[58:10] dock on Crete and anchored in

[58:11] the reality of numbers and

[58:11] putting into perspective what

[58:13] we have done for the past 3 or

[58:14] 4 years. And I put a lot now

[58:15] that takes on the table shed

[58:21] was my colleagues to see the

[58:21] trends and and folks, Alice,

[58:23] and I just we can't blame

[58:24] staff for a new government for

[58:28] doing that. But to a cool

[58:35] comments bless you. There's a

[58:36] there's tendency to cut the

[58:37] pace from one unit to another.

[58:40] And generally we see of the

[58:44] general fund and lot more on

[58:46] charges, fees, cetera, et

[58:48] cetera. And we have incurred a

[58:49] lot of burden on our

[58:50] residents. And I was

[58:55] advocating all this year some

[58:57] desk assignment from everybody

[59:00] to gather ideas in

[59:02] anticipation of the loss of

[59:05] revenue, how to stimulate our

[59:06] revenues. And there is a lot

[59:07] of ideas, fund staff as well.

[59:11] We can do better in positive

[59:13] and then spent of revenue. Now

[59:14] the other side of the equation

[59:17] is how do we save money? And I

[59:20] say Inc, we need to get better

[59:22] for you to make the

[59:25] arbitration that you have to

[59:26] make and anticipate that

[59:29] before. Next year old before

[59:31] 2029, when we have 15 million

[59:32] deficit, we start from pretty

[59:34] and city whole because we had

[59:38] at City Hall the very

[59:41] difficult time. And we have to

[59:42] it was this is the worst

[59:43] timing to actually commit to

[59:44] city Hall, which is funny, not

[59:47] the same amount on the load on

[59:52] the budget year as as the the

[59:56] property impact. So.

[59:58] Basically, I don't think the

[59:59] budget this year I would have

[1:00:01] voted to approve it because I

[1:00:03] think we didn't anticipate

[1:00:05] enough structural reform that

[1:00:10] we could have done. And I sing

[1:00:11] waiting for next year when we

[1:00:12] will be in more difficult

[1:00:16] position and the year after is

[1:00:18] going to be a little late, I

[1:00:18] think we had a poor tee tee to

[1:00:21] green solutions year. I'm

[1:00:22] hoping that as we start a new

[1:00:28] cycle will do go deeper as a

[1:00:29] group into a pushing stuff to

[1:00:32] get better ideas and and more

[1:00:35] announcements and we can't

[1:00:36] create miracles. I think we

[1:00:39] need to cut some budgets. I

[1:00:40] don't think that's going to

[1:00:42] off the table. Maybe some

[1:00:45] service level changed in

[1:00:47] General City whole seems to

[1:00:52] be. The wrong decision of the

[1:00:55] wrong time. We adding a lot of

[1:00:56] weight to 270 million dollar

[1:00:59] baseline. And we still very

[1:01:02] expensive per square footage.

[1:01:06] Commissioner Glassman, you

[1:01:07] last commission meeting. You

[1:01:09] mention sunrise, you mentioned

[1:01:12] the as the cities around us

[1:01:12] and I looked at the numbers

[1:01:14] and the price per square foot

[1:01:18] is still much less what are we

[1:01:18] going pay. And we all know

[1:01:20] that like building, if we

[1:01:24] budget 100 million dollars, it

[1:01:26] might land at 150. So what

[1:01:27] about the 217, especially when

[1:01:31] the design is not finalized,

[1:01:32] this trainees is moving a

[1:01:35] family, but I think this was

[1:01:35] the the worst idea for the

[1:01:40] worse time. My concern for the

[1:01:42] budget next is that we should

[1:01:46] put a foot of 18 other gimmick

[1:01:47] or word, but really at the

[1:01:48] center of our budget process

[1:01:51] and we stuff. I think we

[1:01:52] should help residents to get

[1:01:53] some some sort of relief and

[1:01:58] find ways to not increase. You

[1:01:59] know, beyond if cars sent 4,

[1:02:03] 1, 1, 9, 3, manager, 8, which

[1:02:04] provides more revenue as we

[1:02:07] expand a tax value. We have

[1:02:10] taxed out residents. We spire

[1:02:12] assessment. We storm water.

[1:02:15] Those increases are, you know,

[1:02:16] Jack Antic. I made a

[1:02:17] calculation on the budget

[1:02:22] based upon a 640 j Home State

[1:02:23] House. And it's staggering,

[1:02:26] you know, per year. It's not

[1:02:28] the numbers that I've seen a

[1:02:31] previously. So I think we

[1:02:31] missed opportunities this year

[1:02:34] to go further in structural

[1:02:37] reforms and there's positive

[1:02:38] revenue announcement positive,

[1:02:41] the use of ai. I'm tired of

[1:02:41] hearing about ai and we're

[1:02:44] training and we learning I'd

[1:02:45] like to show me the money. How

[1:02:48] much are we going to save? We

[1:02:50] say aye rather than cutting

[1:02:51] some jobs, but eventually I'm

[1:02:52] Fred, that if this commission

[1:02:54] doesn't do it, the next mayor

[1:02:58] with the next commission is

[1:03:01] going do that dirty job of

[1:03:02] cutting a cutting jobs

[1:03:06] employment. Remember, we are

[1:03:07] he would well funded and we

[1:03:08] have a lot of the employees.

[1:03:11] They cost a lot of money every

[1:03:12] year. The cost of those

[1:03:13] employees is increasing.

[1:03:15] Structurally out even

[1:03:18] increasing the budget. So I

[1:03:20] think we need to really go

[1:03:22] deep. And I'm calling this out

[1:03:24] of buddy a sentiment

[1:03:27] commission to be sleepy Mena

[1:03:28] had is that we need to be more

[1:03:32] concrete as Bob and pushing

[1:03:34] stuff to what's more tangible

[1:03:36] solutions positive. And also

[1:03:39] sometimes part solutions.

[1:03:40] That's all I want say. Thank

[1:03:42] you so much. I do have one

[1:03:43] question now. When bad meets

[1:03:45] will the departments? I think

[1:03:46] because you've mentioned that

[1:03:49] you think need to go So have

[1:03:50] you had those discussions with

[1:03:53] staff or have you look at the

[1:03:53] departments?

[1:03:55] >> Where do you see the bloat?

[1:03:56] Where do you see the need to

[1:03:59] cut a departments staff?

[1:04:01] >> When you see the need to

[1:04:02] cut positions, have you have

[1:04:06] you been able to have those

[1:04:07] discussions? Yeah, another

[1:04:08] takes at the beginning of the

[1:04:08] year that I shared my

[1:04:11] colleagues and staff of the

[1:04:12] U.S. Lee.

[1:04:13] >> About the ratio you know,

[1:04:15] per capita in terms of

[1:04:17] employees, budget looking at

[1:04:19] other cities in Florida across

[1:04:20] the nation of do the same

[1:04:23] thing we see deal cost square

[1:04:24] footage. What we saved a

[1:04:26] little money. We went down on

[1:04:30] the proposal of city all, but

[1:04:31] we're still the we still

[1:04:32] better innovation across the

[1:04:34] nation. I'm talking about

[1:04:36] staff about I don't care about

[1:04:36] I'm asking you about staff and

[1:04:40] we are have you dug in.

[1:04:43] >> To say this department is

[1:04:44] over These these positions are

[1:04:45] too many for this department.

[1:04:48] This is where we need to cut.

[1:04:49] >> This is where we have some

[1:04:51] below. Have you done that?

[1:04:51] Yes, I have done Commissioner,

[1:04:55] you see that. And I so that

[1:04:58] the city manager's office city

[1:05:00] manages I've seen Those

[1:05:01] developments have grown a lot

[1:05:02] in the past 3 or 4 years

[1:05:04] budget.

[1:05:05] >> Even if you look at and I

[1:05:05] don't want to put the public

[1:05:09] safety on the spot, but the

[1:05:10] office of the chief of police

[1:05:12] has grown a lot. There might

[1:05:12] be some good reason and I will

[1:05:14] hear more about tomorrow

[1:05:14] because we're meeting with

[1:05:17] chief of police on not and to

[1:05:19] keep eyes and the performance

[1:05:20] of the the police department

[1:05:23] compared to the the

[1:05:25] well-funded budget that keeps

[1:05:26] growing. But I have identified

[1:05:28] and share my colleagues. I

[1:05:29] think what we need to do

[1:05:33] better as as as a board is to

[1:05:36] take Zoe's and it takes and

[1:05:38] hard numbers and renew some

[1:05:40] you know, Inc in inside a

[1:05:43] solution. And we need to get

[1:05:45] better. That challenging staff

[1:05:47] and heads of department how

[1:05:49] you can do better. We less I

[1:05:52] think it's not a private

[1:05:53] sector versus public sector. I

[1:05:54] think we should get on board.

[1:05:58] By the way, Miami-Dade, Rowan

[1:05:59] County, the school board all

[1:06:01] have done some saying too,

[1:06:04] better less money, cut jobs

[1:06:05] and the even provide some

[1:06:10] degree of relief for residents

[1:06:13] in terms of And while the

[1:06:15] school board has seen drastic

[1:06:16] reductions of students to

[1:06:19] service as opposed to our city

[1:06:19] where we've seen increase in

[1:06:21] population increase growth.

[1:06:22] >> So I can't see how we can

[1:06:24] compare ourselves to the

[1:06:25] school board. Plus, the school

[1:06:26] board is exempt from the

[1:06:28] property tax reform. Lucky

[1:06:30] them and also the school board

[1:06:32] has another ballot initiative

[1:06:33] on NOVEMBER, even raise more

[1:06:34] money. In addition to the

[1:06:37] millage rate money that they

[1:06:37] raise. Is true? He was one of

[1:06:40] the example I cited. We revert

[1:06:43] to Miami-Dade and County. I

[1:06:46] think there's an effort to

[1:06:47] made.

[1:06:48] >> In terms of heart measures,

[1:06:49] you should also all of the

[1:06:50] bill. Now you might have to

[1:06:51] have surgery later. So I think

[1:06:54] we need to and I say did 6

[1:06:57] months ago in front you, we

[1:06:58] need to go on a diet. We get

[1:07:01] into a of your diet about can

[1:07:04] help you find some solutions.

[1:07:05] You have to direct staff to be

[1:07:06] serious about it. Whatever the

[1:07:09] city manager in charge

[1:07:12] previous and current. I think

[1:07:13] this is a hot job hawk feel

[1:07:15] that we need to swell week now

[1:07:16] because in the next 2 years

[1:07:18] we're going to be in a

[1:07:20] difficult situation and we

[1:07:21] can't accept the c#

[1:07:21] #

[1:07:21] see, I

[1:07:22] don't want to be an alarmist,

[1:07:24] but I think we need to to do

[1:07:26] better and I hope we can start

[1:07:30] the next budget process my

[1:07:31] colleagues to actually be more

[1:07:35] of what we should be, which is

[1:07:35] a sort of the consultant that

[1:07:39] help beyond city stuff. Penn,

[1:07:40] some will question and ideas.

[1:07:43] We want to be more proactive.

[1:07:43] We want to push staff. I see

[1:07:46] that should be our role. And

[1:07:47] also residents of the center

[1:07:49] of out process affordability

[1:07:53] should be not as nice where on

[1:07:54] the slide, it we should

[1:07:57] actually do something about

[1:07:57] And if we can't, if we don't

[1:08:02] raise the millage rate, don't

[1:08:03] cheat. The residents wellness

[1:08:04] to paid by seeing if iss month

[1:08:07] on citation a fee all they

[1:08:10] want fewer. It goes so so much

[1:08:12] higher than 2 years of those

[1:08:14] numbers as well to share with

[1:08:15] you later. She okay. Great.

[1:08:16] Thank you so much. Thank you.

[1:08:19] I look forward to that work.

[1:08:19] Actually. I why I'm really

[1:08:21] curious to see those numbers

[1:08:22] and that that that outlook

[1:08:24] from you because I

[1:08:25] >> you know, just mentioning

[1:08:26] the city manager's office or

[1:08:27] extract com, those those are

[1:08:28] in significant numbers in

[1:08:30] terms of our overall budget.

[1:08:30] So we need to see definitely a

[1:08:33] lot more than that. But I

[1:08:34] definitely look forward to

[1:08:35] that work. I think it's

[1:08:37] important. But I think staff

[1:08:39] would be very happy to, you

[1:08:40] know, basically work along

[1:08:41] those We're all going to be in

[1:08:43] a position where we need to

[1:08:45] dig deeper. I don't doubt

[1:08:46] that. I just saying that our

[1:08:50] role as Bob is not to

[1:08:53] >> do come by all and it we

[1:08:55] questions. And that's part of

[1:08:57] our role sent to residents. We

[1:08:58] are a budget advisory board.

[1:09:01] So let's visor job. It

[1:09:03] requires lot. So a lot of work

[1:09:04] and research, but I think we

[1:09:05] have bright minds on these

[1:09:07] courts. It's not leadership

[1:09:08] and and really pushing hot. So

[1:09:11] I think we need to get you

[1:09:13] that we'll meet. We lightly

[1:09:14] was chosen not to take that. I

[1:09:17] presented to colleagues to 6

[1:09:18] months ago. Excellent. I look

[1:09:19] forward to that. And by the

[1:09:20] way, can buy has not

[1:09:21] necessarily a bad thing. If

[1:09:21] you actually agree with what

[1:09:22] the staff is doing.

[1:09:24] >> You can be come by. I any

[1:09:29] us do. It's great. And I think

[1:09:30] I worked well. We staff we

[1:09:35] meet. We taught it doesn't

[1:09:36] mean that we can't challenge

[1:09:37] it is to have a different

[1:09:38] perspective from the city

[1:09:39] stuff and it's okay. We can.

[1:09:41] We can disagree. We can have a

[1:09:43] different reading of the

[1:09:44] numbers. I think the problem

[1:09:47] so often is that.

[1:09:50] >> We go one year next year

[1:09:51] and we don't take the time to

[1:09:52] take perspectives to takes,

[1:09:58] you know, some. Some longtime

[1:09:59] perspective. And I think we

[1:09:59] need to do that. And I think

[1:10:01] Biden has an apology to those

[1:10:03] that more. No. And I

[1:10:03] understand, although the

[1:10:04] projections that we see do go

[1:10:06] out into the future so we can

[1:10:06] continue the discussion. I

[1:10:07] look forward to it. We're all

[1:10:08] gonna have to roll up our

[1:10:09] sleeves and work really hard.

[1:10:13] >> When this next cycle comes

[1:10:14] commissioner the projection

[1:10:16] from Saint take steal a show

[1:10:19] negatives in 2008 to 28 29,

[1:10:20] right. So get it. Love it will

[1:10:21] get to that. Let's just let's

[1:10:23] just focus on what we're doing

[1:10:25] today. And I and we appreciate

[1:10:25] you your your perspective.

[1:10:27] Yes, bill, last word. Going to

[1:10:33] conclude this meeting? Very

[1:10:37] quickly. The question about

[1:10:38] department heads and

[1:10:40] efficiency this past year.

[1:10:41] They've been more efficient

[1:10:42] than I've seen a long time.

[1:10:45] Accountability and government.

[1:10:46] >> What are the things

[1:10:48] previous city manager did and

[1:10:49] I make this suggesting not

[1:10:52] coming from the bad but

[1:10:53] because we've not taken a

[1:10:54] position. But I think the

[1:10:56] previous city manager didn't

[1:10:57] exercise. What if it ever

[1:10:59] would had if you had to cut

[1:11:02] 5%? I don't know if that was

[1:11:03] shared with his diocese or was

[1:11:04] it ever share with the board?

[1:11:04] We can't direct staff or

[1:11:06] something we can as but that

[1:11:08] doesn't mean I think it who've

[1:11:11] us all to take a look at that.

[1:11:12] It has because this has become

[1:11:15] a nation, too 5% off of

[1:11:19] police, 5% off every

[1:11:20] department. I yet. How was the

[1:11:22] exercise can? All right. Let's

[1:11:25] not go there. All But it would

[1:11:26] be interesting, actually. What

[1:11:27] think? That's a great idea.

[1:11:28] I'd love to see that. I'd love

[1:11:30] to actually see whatever was

[1:11:31] put together. If if staff is

[1:11:32] already done that exercise.

[1:11:34] Please share that with me.

[1:11:35] Thank you.

[1:11:36] >> Yeah, we have not seen. All

[1:11:37] right. That because that's

[1:11:38] going to that could help the

[1:11:39] foundation moving forward for

[1:11:41] dental care. Thank you. Very

[1:11:44] good. All right. City manager.

[1:11:46] Yes, you have one more item on

[1:11:47] agenda, which is the auditors

[1:11:50] for you of the budget. But

[1:11:51] >> for this again, want to

[1:11:53] thank the bad chair, Brown and

[1:11:55] the entire team for their work

[1:11:56] this year. It was really great

[1:11:56] to participate with you and

[1:11:57] thank you for bringing us

[1:12:15] recommendation today. MR.

[1:12:21] Good

[1:12:24] afternoon, mayor and

[1:12:24] Commissioners.

[1:12:26] >> City auditors all office

[1:12:27] has performed review of fiscal

[1:12:31] year 2026. 2027. Proposed

[1:12:32] budget. The budget is compact

[1:12:34] compiled by the city manager

[1:12:36] pursuant to Section 4.0 9 of

[1:12:41] the city charter. We had

[1:12:41] several objectives for our

[1:12:44] review of the fiscal year

[1:12:45] proposed budget, the primary

[1:12:46] focus of our review was to

[1:12:47] ensure that the budget is

[1:12:48] balance, revenue and

[1:12:51] expenditures. Estimates are

[1:12:54] reasonable. And truly correct.

[1:12:56] And that the priority

[1:12:57] established by the City

[1:12:58] Commission's priorities. Also

[1:12:59] funding allocations in the

[1:13:00] coming year and that the

[1:13:02] propose millage rate is in

[1:13:04] compliance with Florida

[1:13:06] statutes, the scope and

[1:13:08] methodology of our review

[1:13:08] consisted of the following.

[1:13:10] The city auditor's office

[1:13:11] perform various analytical

[1:13:14] procedures, reviewed budget

[1:13:15] support, worksheets invading

[1:13:19] course to omb as needed.

[1:13:20] Additionally, the co compared

[1:13:22] the line item detail from the

[1:13:23] proposed budget to the

[1:13:24] projections, actual

[1:13:25] expenditures through

[1:13:29] SEPTEMBER. 2026. Furthermore,

[1:13:33] the city and allies trends in

[1:13:35] variances of the 3 prior

[1:13:37] fiscal years. Budget versus

[1:13:39] actual to gain a historical

[1:13:40] perspective to identify

[1:13:45] opportunities. 2. To look to

[1:13:46] see that the accuracy and

[1:13:48] revenue of 6 of the

[1:13:50] expenditure estimates. The

[1:13:51] documents reviewed also

[1:13:53] included the executive

[1:13:54] summary. We review of reports

[1:13:58] that were provided through the

[1:14:03] software system and it reports

[1:14:04] that we were able to request

[1:14:11] from omb. The. Again, finally

[1:14:14] as part of our audit work, Co

[1:14:14] all budget meetings and

[1:14:15] relevant meetings as a related

[1:14:17] to the development of the new

[1:14:22] budget. This participation.

[1:14:22] Further, give us further

[1:14:25] insight as to the conditions

[1:14:26] and of recommendations of that

[1:14:27] were being prepared for this

[1:14:31] year's budget. As I mentioned

[1:14:32] prior years, the city budget

[1:14:35] review. Feels pleasure.

[1:14:39] Reviews perform each year. The

[1:14:40] committee, the communication

[1:14:41] between Management Bat Cao and

[1:14:43] the city's commission, our

[1:14:44] frequent throughout the year

[1:14:49] and the budget office has

[1:14:51] continuity of senior staff

[1:14:51] within the department and in

[1:14:52] prior years, no material

[1:14:54] errors were noted on previous

[1:14:59] reviews. The SEALs conclusion

[1:15:03] is that the fiscal year 2026?

[1:15:04] 2027 proposed budget of the

[1:15:05] city of Fort Lauderdale is

[1:15:07] considered a balanced budget

[1:15:09] as presented. In addition, the

[1:15:10] priorities established in the

[1:15:12] city's commission priorities

[1:15:13] also show funding allocations

[1:15:17] in the coming year and the

[1:15:18] proposed millage rate is in

[1:15:18] compliance with Florida

[1:15:22] statutes. The areas of concern

[1:15:23] Section noted in our memo

[1:15:24] which is not not all

[1:15:25] inclusive, but currently

[1:15:28] represents areas. The ceo

[1:15:29] deemed important enough to be

[1:15:30] brought to the city's

[1:15:31] commission. 2 brought to the

[1:15:35] city's attention. These

[1:15:36] concerns are related to

[1:15:39] ongoing events and mate. MAY

[1:15:40] impact the budget in the city

[1:15:44] resources going forward. Areas

[1:15:45] of concern over time trying to

[1:15:49] take we are parties. No more

[1:15:51] for the JULY. No more Great

[1:15:52] American Beach When you see if

[1:15:54] that's what evening.

[1:16:01] >> I'm You know, depending you

[1:16:02] know, think things that we MAY

[1:16:03] in the future. My there's some

[1:16:03] that were I don't believe

[1:16:05] we're ever going

[1:16:07] >> cut out. But there's some

[1:16:16] want to or not. It's I'm open

[1:16:17] any because it show bill on

[1:16:21] this. You know, rethink this.

[1:16:22] Yeah, I know. You know, thing

[1:16:24] is we're hearing a lot of very

[1:16:25] nice sounding things. But when

[1:16:26] it comes down nitty-gritty,

[1:16:27] what are we talking about?

[1:16:27] Versus fission season

[1:16:29] departments. That means.

[1:16:31] >> That telling people to work

[1:16:31] longer hours are doing better

[1:16:33] at their job or were laying

[1:16:35] off people. Those are the

[1:16:36] realities. So, you know, and

[1:16:37] we can dance around those

[1:16:41] those those topics. But those

[1:16:42] are the realities and people

[1:16:43] that want to say it or they're

[1:16:44] here. But that's ultimately

[1:16:45] what it comes down to. If we

[1:16:48] have x amount of dollars and

[1:16:50] we're going to have x

[1:16:52] 17 million right? Will Dean's

[1:16:53] we got to cut somewhere is

[1:16:55] going to be staffing is going

[1:16:57] to be events is going to be

[1:16:58] contributions. It's going to

[1:17:00] be all that all those And

[1:17:01] that's why we have to reach

[1:17:02] out to the community to decide

[1:17:05] what are the choices and those

[1:17:05] the priorities that that the

[1:17:06] commission would have to

[1:17:09] follow. I'm sorry. Go ahead.

[1:17:12] >> All First concern that we

[1:17:13] had was was over time. The ceo

[1:17:13] continues to note a

[1:17:14] significant amount of city

[1:17:17] funds allocated to overtime

[1:17:18] based on current operating

[1:17:21] practices, actual overtime

[1:17:22] expenses consistently exceed

[1:17:23] the amounts included in the

[1:17:25] proposed budget. Police

[1:17:26] department over time remains a

[1:17:28] primary contributor that to

[1:17:31] the projected budget which are

[1:17:32] the largest apartment. It

[1:17:33] would make sense that they

[1:17:37] would have the most but during

[1:17:42] the the fiscal year 2026, the

[1:17:43] projected. This is the final

[1:17:43] year of the fiscal year. 2

[1:17:47] it's projected that over time

[1:17:47] for the for the police will be

[1:17:49] 30 million dollars and it is

[1:17:51] underfunded by approximately

[1:17:55] 1.9 million dollars currently.

[1:17:56] Current operating practices.

[1:17:57] The total talking about all

[1:18:00] the different departments, the

[1:18:03] fiscal year 2027 overtime

[1:18:05] costs, including Associated

[1:18:06] 6.5 in 5 because of projected

[1:18:07] to be approximately 26 million

[1:18:10] dollars. Accordingly. The

[1:18:11] overtime amounts included in

[1:18:12] the fiscal year 2020, proposed

[1:18:16] budget do not appear to

[1:18:16] reflect anticipate expenditure

[1:18:19] that MAY require reliance on

[1:18:21] salary savings from funded

[1:18:23] vacancies or other available

[1:18:23] appropriations to cover

[1:18:27] overtime costs. Next item was

[1:18:28] the capital Improvement. Plan

[1:18:31] Garcia. Sorry, City. Are you

[1:18:34] just pause or what mayor, if

[1:18:35] its ok, I'd like take these

[1:18:36] kind of in terms the city

[1:18:37] manager responded to your

[1:18:37] concern about overtime, which

[1:18:40] I think it's a valid concern.

[1:18:40] >> just want to hear a little

[1:18:41] bit from the city manager

[1:18:44] Mary. That's right. Sure. So,

[1:18:45] Chris, you know, given this

[1:18:47] concern, if you could just

[1:18:48] share with everyone especially

[1:18:49] folks who maybe haven't read

[1:18:52] your response. On overtime.

[1:18:54] What's how we're addressing

[1:18:56] that? Yeah, thank you, Vice

[1:18:56] mayor. So I will say start off

[1:18:59] with we largely agree with the

[1:19:00] areas of concern that MR.

[1:19:00] Reilly and his team identified

[1:19:05] and that response you'll see.

[1:19:05] >> Alignment as well as things

[1:19:06] that we've done to address

[1:19:10] these areas as well. So saw in

[1:19:12] our reductions for next year's

[1:19:13] budget looking at the fire

[1:19:14] department over time where

[1:19:15] they were able to find more

[1:19:16] efficiencies in their service

[1:19:17] and scheduling. We've proposed

[1:19:20] reduction to that budget next

[1:19:22] year. Police and fire. We

[1:19:23] continue to work on site,

[1:19:25] please. They continue to work

[1:19:26] with our police department. I

[1:19:27] worked with the chief. We

[1:19:28] review those overtime

[1:19:31] statistics monthly. We go over

[1:19:33] the causes and the needs that

[1:19:33] that department MAY have to

[1:19:35] overcome those overtime

[1:19:37] challenges. I will say we're

[1:19:37] also looking for ways to

[1:19:38] recover those costs. You'll

[1:19:39] see later tonight on the

[1:19:41] agenda. Agreement with the

[1:19:42] fifa host committee to

[1:19:45] recover. Now 1.7 million

[1:19:46] dollars overtime expended by

[1:19:50] the police department. So this

[1:19:51] is ongoing. It's something

[1:19:52] we're very aware of. And we've

[1:19:53] been working internally to try

[1:19:55] to alleviate and find ways to

[1:19:56] adjust that we can have less

[1:19:58] overtime occurrences, although

[1:19:59] we know, you know, public

[1:20:00] safety, especially we're going

[1:20:01] to see a need for overtime

[1:20:02] from time to time. Yeah, thank

[1:20:06] you. And what, Chris, patterns

[1:20:08] are you seeing in overtime? In

[1:20:11] other words, is it event

[1:20:12] driven? Is it gaps for shift

[1:20:13] work where we're down a person

[1:20:16] or to what's sand?

[1:20:17] >> Yeah, I would say in the

[1:20:18] police department particular

[1:20:20] it's it's a combination of

[1:20:21] some vacancies and those

[1:20:23] vacancies kind of go up and

[1:20:24] down depending on what we have

[1:20:25] classes graduate, we can fill

[1:20:27] those vacancies right now are

[1:20:28] probably in the 20 vacant

[1:20:29] position ranges. But we're

[1:20:30] waiting for that class to

[1:20:31] graduate. If they haven't

[1:20:31] already to be able to recruit

[1:20:34] and fill those positions,

[1:20:35] you've got everything from

[1:20:37] that family leave its large

[1:20:38] departments that can affect

[1:20:39] scheduling as well. And just

[1:20:40] stay cations absences and

[1:20:43] things like that with the

[1:20:44] events. We usually recover the

[1:20:46] costs. So if we expend over

[1:20:47] time for a special event

[1:20:47] that's approved and that we

[1:20:49] have awareness of, you know,

[1:20:52] we're able to cost recover

[1:20:53] when we have situations where

[1:20:54] there's an unforeseen thing,

[1:20:56] if you know protest pops up

[1:20:57] for their some unrest or

[1:20:58] something that the police has

[1:20:59] to deal with. You know, that's

[1:21:00] something we would have to

[1:21:01] cover those are the things we

[1:21:01] budget for.

[1:21:06] >> And how do we if you are

[1:21:08] kind of rack and stack versus

[1:21:09] city our size police force of

[1:21:09] our size in terms of overtime

[1:21:14] a week kind of similar to

[1:21:18] other cities similar size.

[1:21:19] Yeah. So I haven't looked the

[1:21:21] data compared to other cities.

[1:21:21] You know, we are unique. We do

[1:21:23] experience a lot of different

[1:21:25] factors. Other cities don't

[1:21:25] side with the scene where a

[1:21:26] bit ahead of the curve in

[1:21:28] terms of the overtime We have

[1:21:30] a spring break season. We have

[1:21:31] some other season require some

[1:21:34] overtime staffing. So

[1:21:35] >> I would assume I don't like

[1:21:36] to assume, but I would assume

[1:21:38] that because we have some of

[1:21:38] those factors of their

[1:21:40] communities. Don't have that.

[1:21:41] We do expand a little bit

[1:21:42] overtime than your average

[1:21:46] community. Thanks. That based

[1:21:47] on that as want to get your

[1:21:47] feedback, the response,

[1:21:50] >> Comfortable.

[1:21:55] >> I mean, I managers made

[1:21:56] some points or there's other

[1:21:57] different factors to consider,

[1:21:58] too. Not scheduled that we

[1:22:01] prepared. You can see over the

[1:22:03] last several years just over

[1:22:05] time. This exponentially

[1:22:06] increasing. So there certain

[1:22:10] things to that. Are in, you

[1:22:10] know, certain contracts win

[1:22:15] over time, kicks in before 40

[1:22:17] hours of work has completed.

[1:22:18] But, you know, you could

[1:22:21] include Days Inn vacation days

[1:22:24] as part of your 44 kicks in.

[1:22:24] And there's there's certain

[1:22:25] things like that. Regarding

[1:22:27] when when the overtime kick

[1:22:27] some b#

[1:22:27] #

[1:22:31] , I I understand

[1:22:32] that, you know, police

[1:22:33] department definitely in fire

[1:22:34] will have more over time. They

[1:22:37] have more emergencies and MR.

[1:22:38] Brown mentioned, you know,

[1:22:39] sometimes jurors was a lot

[1:22:44] more, you know. And the

[1:22:46] committee that was unexpected

[1:22:48] relating to a protester and

[1:22:48] things like that. So they have

[1:22:51] to be out there regardless o.

[1:22:51] But, you know, I think there

[1:22:52] are some things that could be

[1:22:55] done. Sounds like going

[1:22:58] through the collective

[1:22:59] bargaining. Something process

[1:22:59] is what you're suggesting it.

[1:23:03] You know, Great that. That's

[1:23:05] good for that one. Yet

[1:23:10] question coming I'd just also

[1:23:11] talk about that a little bit.

[1:23:12] So either patter city manager.

[1:23:13] So when we talk about overtime

[1:23:17] and police, first of all,

[1:23:18] >> we adequately you know,

[1:23:19] operational needs and the

[1:23:25] police department. So as the

[1:23:25] chief to come up an answer

[1:23:28] from his perspective, I know

[1:23:29] we.

[1:23:30] >> We discuss this and, you

[1:23:31] experience that they can a few

[1:23:33] years ago that were driver

[1:23:33] over time. But I think for an

[1:23:40] hour. For more staff.

[1:23:41] >> chief thank you for being

[1:23:42] here and thank you for hosting

[1:23:43] us today as well and into the

[1:23:47] future. What I'm what I'm

[1:23:49] concerned about is when we

[1:23:50] talk about over time. I got

[1:23:52] all that money was spent on

[1:23:53] overtime. First, I want to

[1:23:56] know if maybe we should be a

[1:23:57] larger department to meet

[1:23:58] growth of our city. The growth

[1:23:59] in the number of people that

[1:24:02] visiting our city, the growth

[1:24:03] and events, the growth. And

[1:24:04] that was mentioned earlier

[1:24:05] when we have to go out and we

[1:24:06] have to help with, you know,

[1:24:07] if there's a state or a

[1:24:08] national protest, whatever it

[1:24:09] is, because I think when we

[1:24:13] look at over time, correct me

[1:24:14] if I'm wrong. But the rate

[1:24:15] that we pay for overtime is

[1:24:18] less than if we were actually

[1:24:20] hiring more people. Correct.

[1:24:22] So while it sounds like an

[1:24:23] exorbitant number, actually,

[1:24:25] it is less than if we went out

[1:24:26] increased staffing. Correct me

[1:24:29] if I'm That is correct. Good

[1:24:30] afternoon. Mayor Vice Mayor

[1:24:34] Commission Schulz chief,

[1:24:35] please several things that you

[1:24:37] brought up. That is correct.

[1:24:37] Over time is less expensive

[1:24:40] than a full-time employee

[1:24:42] overall. Currently we have

[1:24:43] about 31 sworn vacancies

[1:24:46] within the department and then

[1:24:47] you add on to as the city

[1:24:50] manager mentioned, fmla at any

[1:24:53] given time in our department

[1:24:53] alone. And I'm sure the other

[1:24:55] departments have similar

[1:24:59] concerns. We have 20 to 30

[1:25:00] individuals morning.

[1:25:00] Vegetables who are not able to

[1:25:04] report to regular duty. So you

[1:25:05] add that to the 30 or so

[1:25:06] vacancies we currently have.

[1:25:07] That's a good chunk of

[1:25:10] officers that are there. Now

[1:25:11] to answer your question, how

[1:25:12] do we compare with the full

[1:25:15] time employees full-time staff

[1:25:17] of officers? We are currently

[1:25:17] beginning a process where

[1:25:19] we're going to an updated

[1:25:19] comparison to cities of our

[1:25:22] size. As you mentioned, Vice

[1:25:23] mayor to include various

[1:25:24] issues. We're looking to see

[1:25:26] if we can get those our time.

[1:25:29] Statistics. We also see where

[1:25:30] they are with their sworn

[1:25:31] staff. I've conversations with

[1:25:32] my colleagues, the other

[1:25:36] chiefs around the state and it

[1:25:36] appears that cities that are

[1:25:38] similar or comparable to our

[1:25:41] size do have parsed warrant

[1:25:42] officers. So that's where I

[1:25:45] want to really compare and

[1:25:47] contrast what levels of

[1:25:49] staffing are compared to what

[1:25:49] our levels are people are to

[1:25:51] make a recommendation on that.

[1:25:53] That's very helpful. That's

[1:25:54] what my next question is going

[1:25:55] to be, because I think it's

[1:25:56] really important. I think

[1:25:59] people understand that the

[1:26:00] number of swat officers that

[1:26:01] were working with now, what is

[1:26:02] that number right now? We're

[1:26:08] at 5.71, 5, 7, Yes, I Right

[1:26:09] now we have 30 31 vacancies.

[1:26:12] We are in the process of

[1:26:13] processing certified officers

[1:26:16] who apply. But I have yet to

[1:26:17] hire any of those as those

[1:26:20] miles are just about will have

[1:26:21] about 8, but I'll be able to

[1:26:23] sign in the near future. I

[1:26:25] think when you look at all of

[1:26:26] those other cities that you've

[1:26:27] mentioned, you're going to

[1:26:28] find that we probably are

[1:26:30] understaffed. I would not be

[1:26:31] surprised if we're

[1:26:32] understaffed by even maybe

[1:26:34] 100. And I just think it's

[1:26:35] important as we go forward and

[1:26:36] we consider everything else

[1:26:37] that we have to consider

[1:26:39] public safety being what it

[1:26:41] is. We have to be cognizant of

[1:26:42] that. But I just want to make

[1:26:43] sure that we're putting the

[1:26:45] overtime into perspective

[1:26:47] because, again, it was

[1:26:49] spending less right now on

[1:26:50] overtime. And we would if we

[1:26:50] were paying for those

[1:26:51] full-time positions, that's

[1:26:55] all that is correct. Then what

[1:26:55] I'm going to look at as I look

[1:26:56] at this, I want to make sure

[1:26:58] we are doing apples apples

[1:27:00] here we are a beach community

[1:27:01] with a lot of interest. A lot

[1:27:06] of special events, potential

[1:27:07] for severe weather impacts. So

[1:27:08] I want to compare us to those

[1:27:09] same cities. Size percent

[1:27:11] France. It I know for off the

[1:27:12] top of my head, they have over

[1:27:15] 600 sworn and Saint Pete. So

[1:27:16] that's what we'll be looking

[1:27:16] at. And I'll be happy to

[1:27:18] report back to says that's not

[1:27:20] I look forward to that. And I

[1:27:21] do want to just thank you for

[1:27:22] your service and the entire

[1:27:23] department because I think for

[1:27:24] the numbers that we're talking

[1:27:27] about in our department, you

[1:27:28] guys do an incredible job.

[1:27:29] Just want to say thank you.

[1:27:31] Thank you, sir. And also to

[1:27:35] add to this conversation. Yes,

[1:27:35] thank you for the great

[1:27:38] service that is given to the

[1:27:38] city.

[1:27:41] >> a little on sure about

[1:27:42] what's being said about that

[1:27:49] over time in it Less than the

[1:27:50] hire full-time employee

[1:27:52] thinking about those employees

[1:27:53] who have seniority. This at a

[1:27:55] high of a raid, then some that

[1:28:00] way below or so. Is that

[1:28:01] hapless apples? When we say

[1:28:03] that we are paying less?

[1:28:06] >> For the over time.

[1:28:09] >> Then it is to actually hire

[1:28:10] someone that we can utilize in

[1:28:12] that space. She wears that

[1:28:13] balance is that was a

[1:28:14] generalization. And let me

[1:28:17] clarify if we had more sworn

[1:28:20] officers, we would have more

[1:28:21] officers available to cover

[1:28:23] her, say the vacancies and the

[1:28:24] that regular duty that we

[1:28:25] currently see. So that's where

[1:28:29] that would come in to it. Come

[1:28:30] into play. When we were

[1:28:30] talking about what the status

[1:28:34] is right now. That was the

[1:28:36] comparison of the overtime

[1:28:37] versus the full-time employee.

[1:28:38] But if you have more full-time

[1:28:39] employees that gives us the

[1:28:42] ability to have that at

[1:28:43] backfill. So to speak, right?

[1:28:45] Ok, thank And welcome. Could

[1:28:47] could also chime in on that,

[1:28:49] too, because, you know, we're

[1:28:50] vacancy rate has fluctuated.

[1:28:51] So and, you know, last 2

[1:28:51] decades, I know when I first

[1:28:53] got here, no 6, we are under

[1:28:55] Chief Roberts were running a

[1:28:57] very high vacancy rate back

[1:28:57] then. But out of that had to

[1:28:58] do with the fact that we are

[1:29:00] in the middle of the war.

[1:29:02] >> And a lot of the people who

[1:29:03] would otherwise have been

[1:29:05] interested in becoming police

[1:29:07] officers were over fighting in

[1:29:08] Iraq it they weren't. They

[1:29:09] weren't signing up to become

[1:29:10] police officers. And so it was

[1:29:11] very difficult for us to

[1:29:13] recruit at that point in time.

[1:29:14] Not too long ago. I think

[1:29:15] within the last couple of

[1:29:17] years we were at like 0

[1:29:18] vacancies. So I'm actually

[1:29:19] surprised to hear we're back

[1:29:20] up at 31. I mean, obviously we

[1:29:21] have retirement. We've got

[1:29:23] people in dropping so, but I

[1:29:25] know I know statistically

[1:29:27] speaking, it has been my

[1:29:29] experience over last several

[1:29:29] decades in various cities that

[1:29:31] intends to run about 68%. Has

[1:29:34] to be about that number,

[1:29:36] right? So that's not unusual

[1:29:37] to be to be roughly 6%, which

[1:29:39] is where you are just in terms

[1:29:40] of the pure vacancy number,

[1:29:43] not county fmla. All right.

[1:29:44] You know the the issue that

[1:29:46] Commissioner Glassman brought

[1:29:50] up, there's there's there's

[1:29:50] some truth to it, but not

[1:29:52] entirely right. So we see this

[1:29:54] a lot in the manufacturing

[1:29:57] sector where, for example, on

[1:29:58] the manufacturing line, your

[1:29:58] Ford Motors and demand

[1:29:59] increases and we want to

[1:30:00] increase productivity,

[1:30:04] production opportunity it's

[1:30:05] cheaper to pay overtime on a

[1:30:08] production line to increase

[1:30:10] output that is to hire new

[1:30:10] employees. But that's within

[1:30:12] what we refer to as a relevant

[1:30:13] range at a certain point that

[1:30:14] no longer works for 2 reasons.

[1:30:16] One, you spent too much on

[1:30:18] overtime and to you burnt out

[1:30:20] your employees, right? So

[1:30:22] there's a significant decrease

[1:30:24] and performance amongst your

[1:30:26] staff when you start having

[1:30:27] them work. Double shifts on

[1:30:28] regular basis. So falls apart

[1:30:31] at a certain point and also to

[1:30:34] Commissioner Beasley pigments

[1:30:36] point. If you have, you know,

[1:30:37] sergeants and lieutenants out

[1:30:41] there working overtime that

[1:30:43] six-figure plus as opposed to,

[1:30:44] you your your new recruit out

[1:30:46] there running and going on the

[1:30:48] street. The numbers change

[1:30:50] dramatically. So it's it's

[1:30:53] it's a much more nuanced

[1:30:54] question then simply overtime

[1:30:54] to cheaper people. So I think

[1:30:56] we need I think we need a much

[1:30:58] more robust analysis on this

[1:30:58] to to really have an answer to

[1:31:06] that question. A great. Any of

[1:31:09] the questions of the chief.

[1:31:10] Thank you, chief. You're

[1:31:13] welcome. And I will take this

[1:31:14] opportunity, please thank and

[1:31:16] commend my officers. They have

[1:31:17] been working diligently,

[1:31:19] especially over the 5 to 6

[1:31:22] weeks of fifa World Cup I

[1:31:23] unfortunately to cancel their

[1:31:25] days off. Hopefully they are

[1:31:28] given a buy now. But I do

[1:31:29] enough or I didn't want to let

[1:31:30] that parties their Exactly.

[1:31:32] Okay. All right. Thank you,

[1:31:33] chief on that on that point

[1:31:37] about World Cup matches from

[1:31:39] what I saw heard an

[1:31:40] experience. You all did a

[1:31:41] fantastic job. There So I just

[1:31:41] want to give you thank you.

[1:31:47] >> They did. Because there are

[1:31:48] there are several instances in

[1:31:51] my understanding where we have

[1:31:52] large crowds gathered in

[1:31:53] anticipate the size and scope.

[1:31:56] And so just amazing job

[1:31:57] officers that to handle so

[1:32:00] well. So too, got some

[1:32:02] feedback. Some my my friends

[1:32:03] with the fbi. And they said

[1:32:05] that the coordination and

[1:32:07] collaboration was just

[1:32:08] outstanding. So to all your

[1:32:10] guys and good ladies against

[1:32:10] thank you, Commissioner. Thank

[1:32:13] you, Jus. Thank you, Jacob.

[1:32:13] >> MR. All you want to proceed

[1:32:17] with Yuri presentation? We

[1:32:17] have to wrap this up soon. We

[1:32:18] have 2 other meetings related

[1:32:26] thank you. The next. The next

[1:32:27] item is couple improvement

[1:32:28] plan. You know, again this

[1:32:28] this is something I've

[1:32:33] mentioned past, but regarding

[1:32:33] projects starting projects in

[1:32:35] completing projects in.

[1:32:42] >> Additional.

[1:32:43] >> Change orders and delays

[1:32:46] having big significant effect

[1:32:47] on the amount that's added to

[1:32:48] the cost of these these

[1:32:49] projects. And I think, you

[1:32:54] know, we've made some. Strikes

[1:32:55] this year because we've broken

[1:32:56] out that department, there's a

[1:32:59] lot more activity gone. Money

[1:33:00] is transferred to cip to move

[1:33:02] some of older projects to get

[1:33:03] those because, you know, the

[1:33:04] longer you wait, it's going to

[1:33:06] cost more. So, you know, so

[1:33:09] some of the some of the

[1:33:10] examples that we we saw listed

[1:33:12] it in my in my memo. But, you

[1:33:13] know, we have some, you know,

[1:33:17] significant change orders

[1:33:19] related to the water and sewer

[1:33:20] projects that we had to

[1:33:21] increase and some couple

[1:33:22] things that the water

[1:33:23] treatment plant. We have some

[1:33:27] things with parks and bond

[1:33:28] projects. As you know, we've

[1:33:29] definitely of understated what

[1:33:30] we really needed for that been

[1:33:31] a lot of it is because it was

[1:33:34] long delay and designed in

[1:33:35] getting things getting things

[1:33:37] rolling getting in the

[1:33:38] construction. So that's kind

[1:33:39] of general comments on cip

[1:33:44] area. Next item Reserves.

[1:33:45] General fund unrestricted fund

[1:33:48] balance again. We talk about

[1:33:50] this often the reserve balance

[1:33:51] for municipality. As for the

[1:33:53] government Finance Officers

[1:33:55] Association having

[1:33:56] expenditures of approximately

[1:34:00] 16.7 percent of your revenues

[1:34:01] expenditures. The city has

[1:34:03] established a reserve balance

[1:34:07] of 25% of the expenditures as

[1:34:07] 2 months trying to get 2

[1:34:11] months of reserve and and keep

[1:34:12] it the restricted balance,

[1:34:14] unrestricted at a reasonable

[1:34:17] rate during that review of the

[1:34:17] budget to see it was able to

[1:34:18] confirm that the current

[1:34:20] balance of the of bounce for

[1:34:22] the city or the monetary

[1:34:24] difference. It's an excess of

[1:34:26] the 25% that we've established

[1:34:28] by 2%. And that represents

[1:34:34] approximately 9.7 million

[1:34:35] dollars in additional funds

[1:34:37] that they could be used for.

[1:34:37] You know, various things is

[1:34:40] pay down debt, possibly paying

[1:34:45] down the. Cola increase that

[1:34:46] we had last year for the

[1:34:47] General employees, retirement

[1:34:48] system, pension plan. And

[1:34:50] there's other things mention

[1:34:52] even the allocating some of it

[1:34:56] to a new fire station, which

[1:34:57] had somewhat to do with that.

[1:34:59] You know that we have to pay

[1:35:00] for the assessments of fire

[1:35:01] assessments. We've added fire

[1:35:06] stations in there. So that

[1:35:06] could reduce future of fire

[1:35:13] assessment fees. Then no, it

[1:35:15] the last thing I just wanted

[1:35:16] to go versus the union

[1:35:17] negotiations know as you need

[1:35:18] to go since are currently

[1:35:22] underway. You know, we feel

[1:35:23] that at this point interesting

[1:35:26] because at this point time

[1:35:28] even there's only one really

[1:35:29] union left to go and

[1:35:33] successfully got those 2 of

[1:35:38] them completed before expired.

[1:35:40] Richard in our standing as

[1:35:43] this state, the fire is is

[1:35:44] coming forward with a

[1:35:45] tentative agreement today. So

[1:35:47] it's really mainly with the

[1:35:51] police departments.

[1:35:52] Negotiations. And, you know,

[1:35:53] we had a mention with meetings

[1:35:57] with budget and city manager,

[1:35:57] some ideas while that's still

[1:36:00] open, that could be a.

[1:36:04] Considered there. We're just,

[1:36:05] you know, hoping that, you

[1:36:06] know, we can get that one done

[1:36:10] before SEPTEMBER. 30th 2026.

[1:36:11] But, you know, not sure if

[1:36:15] that's still possible, but,

[1:36:16] you know, one of the things

[1:36:17] that we have mentioned in the

[1:36:21] passes that the idea of and

[1:36:21] I've seen others, other

[1:36:22] cities, some other cities do

[1:36:23] of some of the city. Stone is

[1:36:27] have a point in time where you

[1:36:29] won't be ready to actively

[1:36:35] paying the changes to to the.

[1:36:36] Increases are showers and

[1:36:37] that. This year we're trying

[1:36:38] to encourage to get everything

[1:36:42] in by the, you know, maturity

[1:36:44] of the existing contract. But

[1:36:45] that's something that MAY be

[1:36:46] kind of look at what we're

[1:36:47] still negotiating to see if we

[1:36:50] can speed that ups because

[1:36:51] believe the last time it went

[1:36:52] 3 years before we finalize

[1:36:56] the. The contract and it was

[1:36:58] retroactive for 3 years. So

[1:36:59] those are the kind of the many

[1:37:01] things that just last they

[1:37:04] like the recognize the office

[1:37:05] of Management Budget. The that

[1:37:09] Matthews recent their staff

[1:37:12] helping us go through process

[1:37:15] of reviewing the budget. And I

[1:37:17] also have our staff City

[1:37:19] staff, that they're a great

[1:37:20] job in putting that all

[1:37:22] together. And I guess I think

[1:37:22] Joey's for giving us a

[1:37:24] courtside seats over I the

[1:37:26] thing with everybody, though.

[1:37:35] So. At this address any

[1:37:38] questions you MAY have anyone

[1:37:39] else have any additional

[1:37:42] questions of MR. Brown.

[1:37:43] >> They're being none. Thank

[1:37:44] you. Thank you so much for

[1:37:45] your great working for the

[1:37:47] team that you work with. We

[1:37:47] appreciate. Is that that

[1:37:48] Matthew's here? I don't see it

[1:37:51] they went back. Okay. All

[1:37:51] right. Great. Thank you, Pat.

[1:37:56] Thank you so much. This is

[1:37:57] city manager. Does that

[1:37:57] conclude our presentation and

Joint Workshop with Budget Advisory Board on 2026-08-18 11:30 AM

Agenda

Transcript