[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] #
[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] #
[1:22:27] #
[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