1 00:00:09,810 --> 00:01:01,728 Yeah, I mean, it's. Yeah, sure. Sure. How are you? Well, yeah. That's true. Is that one. What 2 00:01:01,728 --> 00:01:19,880 do you think? No, not. Not necessarily. Yeah. So we give them we tell them what needs to 3 00:01:19,880 --> 00:02:19,006 be. And in ten days. Right. Okay. I agree with. You. Good evening everyone, and thank you 4 00:02:19,006 --> 00:02:27,648 so much for being here. Welcome to our first budget hearing for 501. Okay. We have one minute. 5 00:02:27,648 --> 00:03:01,415 This is your one minute warning. There you go. All right. Once again, good evening and thank 6 00:03:01,415 --> 00:03:06,520 you for attending our first budget public hearing. We are going to call this meeting to 7 00:03:06,520 --> 00:03:11,224 order. Please turn your cell phones to vibrate silence or off setting. First on our 8 00:03:11,224 --> 00:03:14,461 agenda is the Pledge of Allegiance. Commissioner Sternberger, if you'll lead us 9 00:03:14,461 --> 00:03:20,567 in the pledge, please. Yes, please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance 10 00:03:20,567 --> 00:03:28,108 to the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God, 11 00:03:28,108 --> 00:03:38,919 indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Was this meeting properly advertised, 12 00:03:38,919 --> 00:03:43,623 madam chair? The 501 first public hearing for consideration of the tentative 13 00:03:43,623 --> 00:03:49,029 budget for fiscal year 2026 2027, was advertised in the board's weekly meeting schedule 14 00:03:49,029 --> 00:03:56,303 and the Escambia Sun Press on September 3rd, 2026, as required by Florida Statute 15 00:03:56,303 --> 00:04:02,776 197.363. The 5:02 p.m. public hearing for consideration of adopting the fiscal year 2026 16 00:04:02,776 --> 00:04:07,414 2027. First year assessment rolls for street lighting, pond maintenance, Perdido Key, beach 17 00:04:07,414 --> 00:04:12,886 mouse and nuisance abatement. Miss bus was advertised in the Escambia Sun Press on August 18 00:04:12,886 --> 00:04:19,226 13th, 2026. First class notices were mailed to all property owners in the affected 19 00:04:19,226 --> 00:04:23,497 districts. A notice of Street Lighting Msrp adjustment was also published in the Escambia 20 00:04:23,497 --> 00:04:30,103 Sun Press on August 13th, 2026. Wonderful. Thank you so much. Do we have anything to add to 21 00:04:30,103 --> 00:04:36,209 the agenda, Commissioner Kohler, Commissioner Berry, Commissioner. Commissioner 22 00:04:36,209 --> 00:04:44,117 Sternberger no, ma'am. Do I have a motion to adopt the agenda? So moved. All in favor? 23 00:04:44,117 --> 00:04:49,856 Five zero. Thank you. The first is a public hearing for the consideration of the tentative 24 00:04:49,856 --> 00:04:58,899 budget for fiscal year 2026 2027, and I believe you have a presentation. Yes, madam Chair. 25 00:04:58,899 --> 00:05:02,602 Commissioners, this is the first of two required public hearings for the board to adopt 26 00:05:02,602 --> 00:05:07,908 the fiscal year 2627 budget. The board, later in this meeting will set the second 27 00:05:07,908 --> 00:05:14,381 public hearing date. The Escambia County Board of County Commissioners approved the 2627 28 00:05:14,381 --> 00:05:19,486 tentative millage rates for trim notification purposes at the BCC meeting held on July 29 00:05:19,486 --> 00:05:24,391 23rd, 2026. The law requires that prior to consideration of the tentative budget and 30 00:05:24,391 --> 00:05:28,762 explanation of the rollback rate be provided and entered into the records, the rollback 31 00:05:28,762 --> 00:05:32,566 rate is a computed millage rate that will generate the same amount of ad valorem tax 32 00:05:32,566 --> 00:05:37,737 dollars as the prior fiscal year, based on the proposed year's tax roll. Excluding new 33 00:05:37,737 --> 00:05:43,543 construction, the millage rates tentatively approved by the board for trim notification are 34 00:05:43,543 --> 00:05:50,016 6.600 for the countywide millage rate, 0.3590 for the library, municipal services 35 00:05:50,016 --> 00:05:56,823 taxing unit and 0.6850 for the Sheriff's Law Enforcement Municipal Services Taxing unit. 36 00:05:56,823 --> 00:06:03,663 The aggregate of these millage rates proposed for fiscal year 2627 is 2.32%, above the 37 00:06:03,663 --> 00:06:10,804 rollback rate of 7.2897 certified by the property appraiser. This represents the 38 00:06:10,804 --> 00:06:15,609 percentage increase in property taxes tentatively adopted by the board. For information and 39 00:06:15,609 --> 00:06:19,512 to avoid any misunderstanding concerning the process of this meeting. This public hearing is 40 00:06:19,512 --> 00:06:24,584 convened tonight to discuss the county's fiscal year 2627 budget. Because of time 41 00:06:24,584 --> 00:06:28,855 constraints, we will need to confine our discussion to this subject. Increases in property 42 00:06:28,855 --> 00:06:32,826 assessments, remarks or questions concerning individual property appraisals should be 43 00:06:32,826 --> 00:06:37,130 addressed to the county property appraiser at his office during normal business 44 00:06:37,130 --> 00:06:45,372 hours. That is my presentation. Now we can move to questions and discussion from the board. 45 00:06:45,372 --> 00:06:58,785 Or do we have questions or discussions? Commissioner Snowberger. Yeah, I'm curious 46 00:06:58,785 --> 00:07:17,437 about the. TT. I'm sorry, the community partners. So that went up. $0.03. TT funding 47 00:07:17,437 --> 00:07:30,784 increased by 396,000 and the fourth cent went up by another 343. So it's another $740,000. 48 00:07:30,784 --> 00:07:46,633 While the what was it other community partners and theirs went down by about $10,000 from 49 00:07:46,633 --> 00:07:57,744 1,000,039 to 1,000,028. Is that right? Lakeview is essentially it's the same about 397. And 50 00:07:57,744 --> 00:08:17,230 community health is at 447. Is that a question for Stefan? Yeah, yes it is. So we had. 51 00:08:17,230 --> 00:08:22,969 Well, we'll just open up for discussion. There's no motion. There is no motion. So the 52 00:08:22,969 --> 00:08:28,441 agenda is a discussion on the item above. The next topic on the agenda is the community 53 00:08:28,441 --> 00:08:36,316 partners discussion. Wes does have a spot for presentation before that. Commissioner. Let 54 00:08:36,316 --> 00:08:43,456 me just say, you know, because we got a budget in anticipation that we have a budget amendment, 55 00:08:43,456 --> 00:08:50,830 I'm going to be very supportive, you know, of whatever the number is 2%, 5%, 10% across 56 00:08:50,830 --> 00:08:55,068 the board. However we want to cut. And, you know, I'm probably not the conservative 57 00:08:55,068 --> 00:09:00,507 on the board. So to me, let's figure out how we cut. But when we cut, let's figure out how we 58 00:09:00,507 --> 00:09:05,178 cut completely across the board and find cost savings for all of the citizens. And so if we 59 00:09:05,178 --> 00:09:09,816 if we figure that out, you'll certainly have my support, how we cut it completely across the 60 00:09:09,816 --> 00:09:15,355 board for everybody. So, I mean, we can go line by line. I mean, obviously this is probably not 61 00:09:15,355 --> 00:09:19,893 the meeting. The next meeting is that. But you'll find my support if, you know, I've said 62 00:09:19,893 --> 00:09:24,898 forever we can cut it by 10%, 20%. So figure out how much we're going to cut and figure 63 00:09:24,898 --> 00:09:29,569 out where you're going to cut. But we're not going to I'm not going to support singling out 64 00:09:29,569 --> 00:09:37,143 individual organizations to cut. So I'm not necessarily in favor of across the board cuts. I'd 65 00:09:37,143 --> 00:09:42,515 rather be more targeted. Instead of saying, everybody reduce it by 10% or 5% or 66 00:09:42,515 --> 00:09:46,186 whatever the number is. And that's where we disagree. And it's more targeted. And 67 00:09:46,186 --> 00:09:49,722 unfortunate thing is we decide who we're going to target, who we're not going to target. So 68 00:09:49,722 --> 00:09:54,461 if we're all going to take a haircut, if we all are going to become more fiscally 69 00:09:54,461 --> 00:09:58,865 conservative, if we all are, are going to recognize that we need to do more with less, you 70 00:09:58,865 --> 00:10:05,572 know, everybody has to be cut. So, I mean, you'll find my support, but you won't find my 71 00:10:05,572 --> 00:10:14,013 support targeting organizations. Commissioner or, or, or departments. Thank you, Madam 72 00:10:14,013 --> 00:10:18,518 Chair. I mean, this is the this is the this is spot for discussion amongst board 73 00:10:18,518 --> 00:10:22,856 members. If there's not discussion among board members, then I would make a motion that 74 00:10:22,856 --> 00:10:29,028 the board adopt the millage rates that were sent in the trim notifications, so that 75 00:10:29,028 --> 00:10:36,202 that is later on the agenda. Right now we have the discussion for the budget 76 00:10:36,202 --> 00:10:42,509 excluding community partners, the. So we have that. And then we would have the community 77 00:10:42,509 --> 00:10:49,115 partner presentation from county administrator. Then we have public forum, and then we 78 00:10:49,115 --> 00:10:56,322 have the board action. Stefan, what, what, what percentage of our budget goes to outside 79 00:10:56,322 --> 00:11:02,562 agencies? A percentage do we want to have Wes present on outside agencies? No, no, I 80 00:11:02,562 --> 00:11:06,733 have a question for Stefan. And then, I mean, I would appreciate you allowing me to 81 00:11:06,733 --> 00:11:39,199 do that. What what percentage? I apologize, commissioners, for your general fund, your general 82 00:11:39,199 --> 00:11:46,406 fund, community partners is 0.29% of your general fund budget. Thank you. And I'm move 83 00:11:46,406 --> 00:11:51,744 the item as you wish. But we got less than 1% of what we're going to argue about. And we're 84 00:11:51,744 --> 00:11:57,183 going to pass a millage rate that represents 99% of our budget to have a conversation 85 00:11:57,183 --> 00:12:02,422 about things that's less than 0.29 of the budget. And so if that's what we want to argue 86 00:12:02,422 --> 00:12:08,061 about, to cut is less than 1% of the budget just on the record. I mean, we can do that. 87 00:12:08,061 --> 00:12:14,100 So as we pass this millage rate, we are passing and moving forward with 99% of what our 88 00:12:14,100 --> 00:12:20,440 budget function is. So thank you. And I'm good. Let's move that way. But I mean, let's not 89 00:12:20,440 --> 00:12:25,912 spend all day arguing over less than 1% of a budget. All right, Madam Chair, if the if the item 90 00:12:25,912 --> 00:12:30,850 to be to be discussed right now is adopting of the of the budget for the year, I move 91 00:12:30,850 --> 00:12:36,022 that item. Okay. Noted. Thank you. And I second that, noting that that's 99% of the budget. 92 00:12:36,022 --> 00:12:41,527 Well, can I make a did you guys want to follow the agenda or is it just a free for all because 93 00:12:41,527 --> 00:12:46,366 the board action is after number seven. So if you following agenda, it's a 94 00:12:46,366 --> 00:12:50,136 millage rate. That's what we're following. You're voting on. Are we going to accept the 95 00:12:50,136 --> 00:12:54,040 tentative millage rate. That's what we're voting on. So this we're that's not until later on 96 00:12:54,040 --> 00:13:03,549 the agenda. So let's let's do the. So if we're if we're taking all this just as. Are we 97 00:13:03,549 --> 00:13:09,522 taking all of this, Madam Chair, as just one item. That's what you're saying. I was the 501 98 00:13:09,522 --> 00:13:14,193 goes through goes through seven parts. Is that I mean, it's in the way that the agenda is 99 00:13:14,193 --> 00:13:19,399 normally adopted in the budget hearing. But you're saying that 501 is is going to be all seven 100 00:13:19,399 --> 00:13:24,203 items, and you don't want a motion until after that. That is the way it's written up. I 101 00:13:24,203 --> 00:13:28,241 am a recommendation. There's been no discussion among the board on a. So are we moving on 102 00:13:28,241 --> 00:13:38,918 then to be. Yes. Let's. Correct. Madam Chair commissioners, we're requesting that the board 103 00:13:38,918 --> 00:13:42,021 make a final determination tonight regarding the funding amount to be allocated to each 104 00:13:42,021 --> 00:13:46,159 of our community partners. The funding determination is necessary to prepare the fiscal 105 00:13:46,159 --> 00:13:51,230 year 2627 community partner funding agreements and to issue the associated purchase orders 106 00:13:51,230 --> 00:13:54,801 in a timely fashion. These purchase orders will come before the board for formal 107 00:13:54,801 --> 00:14:00,840 approval in October of 26. I will say that most of your community partners were cut by 108 00:14:00,840 --> 00:14:07,113 10% of what they were allocated last year, with the exception of the hospitals. Thank you. 109 00:14:07,113 --> 00:14:13,853 And we do have public forum at this time. Is there anyone signed up for public forum? We 110 00:14:13,853 --> 00:14:20,326 have no public forum. Now we do move into the board action portion. The first one is for 111 00:14:20,326 --> 00:14:29,302 the millage rate. So do we want to have a conversation around that or does someone want to 112 00:14:29,302 --> 00:14:33,639 make a motion? Yeah, I essentially want to have the same conversation. We've 113 00:14:33,639 --> 00:14:39,612 already had me and you and Stefan about that millage rate. And I asked you if you could 114 00:14:39,612 --> 00:14:51,324 give me the millage rate for. Roughly either 1.5, the 1.75. Million in reduction. And I 115 00:14:51,324 --> 00:15:02,402 think you said it was for the one, was it, Commissioner? 1.7 is roughly 6.549 mills. That 116 00:15:02,402 --> 00:15:12,145 was for about a million, right. No, that's for 1.7 a million. Yeah. 6.4549 right. 6.571 would 117 00:15:12,145 --> 00:15:20,052 decrease a million. Now for the 1.7 it was about 6.549 I think is what it was. Stefan. Right. 118 00:15:20,052 --> 00:15:27,326 Yes sir. That is correct. Steve. I think we can get to a $2 million reduction without the 119 00:15:27,326 --> 00:15:40,606 reduction of the. Well, with $2 million be for 2 million, the millage rate would be 6.542. 120 00:15:40,606 --> 00:15:44,977 Stefan, can't we can't we get to the reduction without reducing the millage rate and 121 00:15:44,977 --> 00:15:52,552 locking ourselves in? Excuse me, Commissioner Koehler. In anticipation. We don't know 122 00:15:52,552 --> 00:15:58,257 what's going to happen with the amendment three. I mean, so I mean, obviously we're in the 123 00:15:58,257 --> 00:16:03,663 last meeting with my colleague and suddenly we want to to meet him as close as we can. And I 124 00:16:03,663 --> 00:16:07,467 mean, can we get to those reductions without reducing the millage rate, or is the only 125 00:16:07,467 --> 00:16:11,504 way that we can get these reductions without millage rate? I mean, can we cut can we 126 00:16:11,504 --> 00:16:16,576 eliminate can we find other items in which we can, you know, at least get to 1 or $2 million 127 00:16:16,576 --> 00:16:22,415 of reductions without reducing the millage rate? Commissioner. What I would what I would say I 128 00:16:22,415 --> 00:16:29,589 would certainly caution the board to do a $2 million reduction. What I can tell you 129 00:16:29,589 --> 00:16:36,429 is myself and the county administrator worked very hard with our general fund 130 00:16:36,429 --> 00:16:43,002 departments this year to to decrease many of those budgets. Certainly there are going to be 131 00:16:43,002 --> 00:16:47,406 certain things that, again, you are required to do, and those things are going to increase 132 00:16:47,406 --> 00:16:54,080 every year. You have little to no control over that. So within within what we could control, 133 00:16:54,080 --> 00:17:04,524 we did reduce our departmental budgets. Now, certainly we do not know how the referendum is 134 00:17:04,524 --> 00:17:10,296 going to go in November. So again, I would certainly caution the board. However, I 135 00:17:10,296 --> 00:17:15,735 know we have had quite a few discussions, you know, around maybe $1 million reduction. I 136 00:17:15,735 --> 00:17:23,576 do think that we can absorb $1 million reduction and reduce the millage to, again, give 137 00:17:23,576 --> 00:17:28,648 additional property tax relief, similar to what we did last year. But ultimately, this is 138 00:17:28,648 --> 00:17:38,257 the board's decision. Commissioner Sternberger, I think without if we're if we're 139 00:17:38,257 --> 00:17:44,830 going to save, if we're talking about reducing the budget, then it's meaningless if we don't 140 00:17:44,830 --> 00:17:53,439 also reduce the millage rate. I think they go hand in hand for taxpayers. Commissioner, 141 00:17:53,439 --> 00:17:59,178 Commissioner patiently waiting. You could I mean, you could reduce expenses without 142 00:17:59,178 --> 00:18:02,615 reducing the millage rate because once you reduce the millage rate, you get locked 143 00:18:02,615 --> 00:18:06,752 into the millage rate and you don't know what the tax is going to be. I know, I 144 00:18:06,752 --> 00:18:09,989 understand, I totally understand you being fiscally responsible and conservative 145 00:18:09,989 --> 00:18:15,461 and, and I could support, you know, figuring out, you know, and it may not be in this 146 00:18:15,461 --> 00:18:20,266 meeting, it may be in the next meeting. And trust me, I've gone through these books and 147 00:18:20,266 --> 00:18:25,438 can figure out some ways in which we can reduce finding those numbers because we don't 148 00:18:25,438 --> 00:18:29,809 know what's going to happen. I mean, it may pass, it may not pass, but reducing the millage 149 00:18:29,809 --> 00:18:36,882 rate could have long term effect. You're the one who suggested 2 million. Well, well, 150 00:18:36,882 --> 00:18:41,087 we think we can take it out without reducing the millage rate though. Yeah. I mean, it's 151 00:18:41,087 --> 00:18:46,025 just like taking your time and combing through it. I mean, I don't see why you can't find $2 152 00:18:46,025 --> 00:18:50,029 million in, you know, almost $800 million budget without reducing millage rate. So just 153 00:18:50,029 --> 00:18:59,739 my opinion, Commissioner, but I do I do support your. Okay. No one's actually put a proposal 154 00:18:59,739 --> 00:19:07,380 up that says what you want to take out of district one or district four. District two you 155 00:19:07,380 --> 00:19:12,818 say $1 million. That's about 15 FTEs. You want less FTEs in your district for code, you 156 00:19:12,818 --> 00:19:16,956 want to give up a park, you want to cut your library services. What do you want to 157 00:19:16,956 --> 00:19:24,563 put on the table? Anything? Or are we just talking fuzzy talk? Here's the problem. If no, I 158 00:19:24,563 --> 00:19:29,568 literally I went through all the other constitutional budgets. Again, all of them 159 00:19:29,568 --> 00:19:34,607 have been bloated. Stefan. We sat down and talked about every single one of them. We're not 160 00:19:34,607 --> 00:19:38,944 the not one constitutional is going to look bad about this budget. We are. We're going to 161 00:19:38,944 --> 00:19:44,316 be crooks. We didn't cut enough. Every single thing I can go through, every single one of 162 00:19:44,316 --> 00:19:48,587 them and show you cuts that that they should be cutting. And you want to say, let's just 163 00:19:48,587 --> 00:19:53,726 cut $2 million out of the budget. If any of you were attending some of the stuff at 164 00:19:53,726 --> 00:19:57,730 Florida Association of Counties, you'd know what the talking guidance is right now with 165 00:19:57,730 --> 00:20:02,001 ballot three. But I'm the only one that does that. So you don't know because we don't 166 00:20:02,001 --> 00:20:07,773 know what's going to happen. You would cut $2 million. That would be $43 million up on next 167 00:20:07,773 --> 00:20:14,880 year. So then you'd have $45 million and you'd cut about 30 personnel. Tell me where you 168 00:20:14,880 --> 00:20:19,919 want to cut them. Do you want to cut your staff? Because if I'm going to come to the table, 169 00:20:19,919 --> 00:20:25,124 I'm going to put my skin in the game. I'm not just going to go to Wes or to Stefan or Director 170 00:20:25,124 --> 00:20:30,096 and say, go cut it. No, I'm going to put my skin in the game and say which park, which 171 00:20:30,096 --> 00:20:35,167 library, which personnel, which road isn't going to get resurfaced. And that's not what 172 00:20:35,167 --> 00:20:41,640 we're talking about here. So I think we need to be honest with ourselves. And Commissioner, 173 00:20:41,640 --> 00:20:47,913 listen, I and I concur throughout listen, I'm not interested in cutting just the 174 00:20:47,913 --> 00:20:51,851 board of county commissioners because, as you said, the headlines will be on the board 175 00:20:51,851 --> 00:20:55,654 of county commissioners tomorrow. If we can't find $2 million across all 176 00:20:55,654 --> 00:21:00,126 Constitutionals. I mean, we got to do more with less. We got an affordability crisis going on 177 00:21:00,126 --> 00:21:04,463 in this state, in this country. We don't know who's going to be in the governor's mansion. We 178 00:21:04,463 --> 00:21:08,334 don't know anything. So you know what, across the board. I mean, it's not coming and 179 00:21:08,334 --> 00:21:12,338 cutting. I mean, I'm not going to play games about cutting, you know, $50,000 out of 180 00:21:12,338 --> 00:21:17,209 discretion and all those things. If we want to have a serious conversation about looking at a 181 00:21:17,209 --> 00:21:22,715 budget and giving direction to them to cut $2 million, do it with parity and do it across 182 00:21:22,715 --> 00:21:28,387 the board throughout all of the constitutionals. And then then that's fair because we can do 183 00:21:28,387 --> 00:21:33,159 it. I mean, so there's a there's yeah, there can always be ways. And I, and I can 184 00:21:33,159 --> 00:21:37,997 support it. I don't think I can support reducing the millage rate because I tell you what we, 185 00:21:37,997 --> 00:21:42,034 we have not increased since Commissioner Berry and I've been on this board. We have not 186 00:21:42,034 --> 00:21:45,337 increased the millage rate. Matter of fact, it's been rolled back. Commissioner 187 00:21:45,337 --> 00:21:50,509 Whitehead, Commissioner Robinson all rolled it back. We have not increased the millage 188 00:21:50,509 --> 00:21:57,216 rate at all. It's since before Commissioner Berry. We have not increased the millage rate, but 189 00:21:57,216 --> 00:22:05,024 the cost of goods, the cost of services continue to go up. The cost of minimum wage, the cost 190 00:22:05,024 --> 00:22:10,396 of in your employees, the cost of insurance has gone up. And so I mean, we can't reduce I 191 00:22:10,396 --> 00:22:13,699 mean, it's politically conservative. Whatever y'all want to say, it's fine. But if 192 00:22:13,699 --> 00:22:19,205 we can't find $2 million, then shame on us. We we can give a directive without telling 193 00:22:19,205 --> 00:22:24,977 someone to cut the millage rate. Because the unknown is the unpredictable. Because many of 194 00:22:24,977 --> 00:22:28,881 your friends have ran Tallahassee for the last 33 years, and we see how that 195 00:22:28,881 --> 00:22:35,754 affordability is working. We can cut $2 million across the board. Commissioner Cole, in my 196 00:22:35,754 --> 00:22:41,260 opinion, without directly affecting services because taxes pay for services. And so 197 00:22:41,260 --> 00:22:46,398 that's what citizens need. So, you know, Commissioner Berger, you know, I can be I'm not 198 00:22:46,398 --> 00:22:49,602 going to be supportive of cutting millage rate. I'll be supportive of cutting $2 199 00:22:49,602 --> 00:22:53,606 million out of the budget and finding finding that money in the budget, but across the 200 00:22:53,606 --> 00:22:57,643 board. But I'm not going to be supportive of cutting the millage rate. Okay, so 201 00:22:57,643 --> 00:23:03,449 Pensacola Sports Association asked for 1.6 million and we're giving them 1.8. Why are we 202 00:23:03,449 --> 00:23:12,124 doing that? Why it's another 204,000. What's that? Why is that accounted for Commissioner. 203 00:23:12,124 --> 00:23:18,597 So this is your TDC Tourist Development Council recommended budget amounts for the tourist. 204 00:23:18,597 --> 00:23:25,070 The tourism portion of the community partners. And you are correct. It is additional 205 00:23:25,070 --> 00:23:34,380 dollars over last year. So the tourist tax budget is about $740,000 more than your 26 206 00:23:34,380 --> 00:23:41,220 tourism budget. But again, this is what was recommended to the BCC by the Tourist Development 207 00:23:41,220 --> 00:23:47,393 Council. Yeah, but they're only asking for 1.6. Why are we giving them another 204,000? I 208 00:23:47,393 --> 00:23:56,402 don't get it. Why don't we give them what they asked for? Mr. Schoenberger, why does the the 209 00:23:56,402 --> 00:24:03,242 tax collector have 1.8 or the clerk have 1.1 or 1.7 million over budget? And you're not 210 00:24:03,242 --> 00:24:07,613 asking her to give back a million? I'm not asking anybody to give any money back. I'm 211 00:24:07,613 --> 00:24:12,584 asking you just ask. I'm saying let's give them what they asked for. If I'm remembering the 212 00:24:12,584 --> 00:24:16,855 meeting correctly, if I'm remembering the meeting correctly, there was their 213 00:24:16,855 --> 00:24:22,528 initial budget, and then there was some additional advertising that went into that for some 214 00:24:22,528 --> 00:24:27,433 big sports package. And so I think those are a combination of the initial budget. There's 215 00:24:27,433 --> 00:24:31,570 a reason I'm okay with it. I just need to know what the reason is. That's a valid 216 00:24:31,570 --> 00:24:35,574 question. It's a valid question. But I mean, here's the real conversation. I mean, you can 217 00:24:35,574 --> 00:24:39,745 have that. It has nothing to do with the millage rate. Those are tourist development tax 218 00:24:39,745 --> 00:24:45,351 dollars. That has nothing to do with the military. And I get it. If we if we if we are going to 219 00:24:45,351 --> 00:24:49,421 make a cut across the board, maybe people that get tourist development tax need to cut, I 220 00:24:49,421 --> 00:24:54,326 can concur with that. But that has nothing to do with the agenda item at hand, which is 221 00:24:54,326 --> 00:24:58,831 simply the millage rate. Commissioner. So he just asked me, he said, what are you going 222 00:24:58,831 --> 00:25:04,370 to start cutting? So why don't we stop giving more than what the request for is? I think 223 00:25:04,370 --> 00:25:08,507 millage rate, like you're still who decided to give them more? You're still decided to give 224 00:25:08,507 --> 00:25:13,412 more than they asked for. Stefan, who decided that? I'm sorry. So to answer 225 00:25:13,412 --> 00:25:19,151 Commissioner Berger's question, so the difference in the 1.6 million versus the 1.8 million 226 00:25:19,151 --> 00:25:27,126 is we have a previously approved SESEC championship. Advertisement. That's a multi 227 00:25:27,126 --> 00:25:33,532 year, which adds an additional 204,000 to your Pensacola Sports Association budget. The 228 00:25:33,532 --> 00:25:38,237 board has already approved that. The TDC has already approved that. So that is why that one 229 00:25:38,237 --> 00:25:43,042 is a little more than you see as as directly requested as part of the unified budget. 230 00:25:43,042 --> 00:25:47,980 This is an additional advertising and promotion item. Again, the board has already 231 00:25:47,980 --> 00:25:52,584 approved this and the TDC has already approved that. It's I believe it's a five year 232 00:25:52,584 --> 00:26:04,897 agreement with the SEC Championships. Okay. So nobody is in favor of millage rate 233 00:26:04,897 --> 00:26:10,302 rollback at all. I am I absolutely am speaking of rollback what is just so it's 234 00:26:10,302 --> 00:26:21,847 on the record. What is the rollback rate for the county portion. And I think the best 235 00:26:21,847 --> 00:26:26,952 way to get to the rollback rate is to have a actual discussion about what needs to be cut, not 236 00:26:26,952 --> 00:26:31,490 just putting less money in reserves. That's not how I would run my household budget. 237 00:26:31,490 --> 00:26:36,428 That's not how I run my business. When we need to make cuts, we look at how we can be 238 00:26:36,428 --> 00:26:41,233 more efficient. We don't look at saving less. So, Madam Chair, what's the impact of rollback, 239 00:26:41,233 --> 00:26:48,140 Commissioner? What is the impact? I mean and so you have you have to talk to directors 240 00:26:48,140 --> 00:26:53,479 administration. So if you were to do the rollback, I mean what would be the impact to services. 241 00:26:53,479 --> 00:26:58,517 And are we going to do it across the board? I mean we've already made commitments. I so 242 00:26:58,517 --> 00:27:07,159 the rollback rate is 6.3807. So that would reduce roughly $7.5 million to the budget. 243 00:27:07,159 --> 00:27:13,265 Conversely, you would have no recurring or very little recurring revenue in your 244 00:27:13,265 --> 00:27:18,237 general fund to cover recurring expenditures. Your recurring expenditures in the general 245 00:27:18,237 --> 00:27:23,342 fund are just under 12 million. So you would be using one time money to cover those 246 00:27:23,342 --> 00:27:29,848 expenditures, which you can do that for maybe a year. But then after that, you will have a 247 00:27:29,848 --> 00:27:36,021 financial issue. Okay. And I understand that seven and a half might be extremely 248 00:27:36,021 --> 00:27:41,527 difficult to get to, if not impossible. But I do think that we can get closer than $1 249 00:27:41,527 --> 00:27:45,797 million. And I agree with Commissioner Schoenberger when he says reducing the budget but 250 00:27:45,797 --> 00:27:51,470 not reducing the millage rate, that's not the relief that the people are asking for. And so 251 00:27:51,470 --> 00:27:56,875 what would be the difference? I mean, I mean, we're because we have unknowns. We're going to 252 00:27:56,875 --> 00:28:01,914 reduce the budget. What the I, I agree with you. The citizens are asking for good stewardship 253 00:28:01,914 --> 00:28:07,286 there. And we're going to reduce the budget. I mean, in a economic crisis and 254 00:28:07,286 --> 00:28:14,793 affordability crisis without reducing the millage, locking ourselves into the unknown. So 255 00:28:14,793 --> 00:28:21,300 I can be very supportive of reducing it. I mean, I want to be fiscally conservative on the 256 00:28:21,300 --> 00:28:27,806 dollars that we spend. So I can be this year. I mean, I don't know why we would there's 257 00:28:27,806 --> 00:28:32,477 probably no I mean, I know what they did in Santa Rosa. There's probably no other county in all 258 00:28:32,477 --> 00:28:36,481 the 67 counties that would reduce their millage, not knowing what the amendment is 259 00:28:36,481 --> 00:28:40,385 going to do. So if we want to reduce dollars and show taxpayers that we are being 260 00:28:40,385 --> 00:28:45,791 good stewards, I'm supportive of reducing the amount. I'm not supportive of reducing and 261 00:28:45,791 --> 00:28:52,898 locking myself in to a fixed revenue stream, that I don't know what the expenses are 262 00:28:52,898 --> 00:28:57,936 going to be or what's going to be cut out, because if we look at the bottom line number and 263 00:28:57,936 --> 00:29:02,941 the reason I can support Steve, I mean, 7 million to me is just way too much, but I can 264 00:29:02,941 --> 00:29:07,045 compromise on 2 million. But if we lock ourselves into a millage rate and then we reduce 265 00:29:07,045 --> 00:29:11,116 and get rid of homestead and property taxes, that 7 million could be 15 million. It could 266 00:29:11,116 --> 00:29:17,055 be 30 million. And so that's I mean, that's my conversation. So listen, I, I can be 267 00:29:17,055 --> 00:29:22,961 supportive, Steve, of cutting, I mean, reducing the millage rate is, is going to be a tough 268 00:29:22,961 --> 00:29:27,699 hill to climb for me. I'm sorry, Commissioner Berry, I guess I interrupted you. Yeah that's 269 00:29:27,699 --> 00:29:31,837 fine. So Steve, what do you what are you saying? What are you asking, buddy? What do you 270 00:29:31,837 --> 00:29:36,808 want to do? You don't want. Yeah. What? What are you asking? I was asking for a millage rate 271 00:29:36,808 --> 00:29:44,483 back to 6.549, which was going to be about 1.7. Okay. What? What else can you live with? I 272 00:29:44,483 --> 00:29:48,420 didn't hear that. Would you say? What else can you live with? What? What else can you what 273 00:29:48,420 --> 00:29:53,892 what can you live with? That's not that I don't have to decide this by myself. I'm just 274 00:29:53,892 --> 00:29:57,763 telling you, that's what we what we're asking. If you're asking for 2 million in 275 00:29:57,763 --> 00:30:01,800 reduction. I don't see the point. And I'm trying to see the budget. I'm not asking for 276 00:30:01,800 --> 00:30:06,738 anything. I want to meet you as a colleague. I'm trying to meet you where you are. Less than 2 277 00:30:06,738 --> 00:30:10,742 million. I'm just telling you, it doesn't make any sense. We're still asking the public 278 00:30:10,742 --> 00:30:14,646 to absorb the taxes. Still, they're still going to they're going to have an increased tax 279 00:30:14,646 --> 00:30:18,684 this year, right? They're not going to be $7.5 million more than last name. They're not 280 00:30:18,684 --> 00:30:24,256 going to have an increased tax rate, Steve. Okay. It's not. So no, it's not a rate increase, 281 00:30:24,256 --> 00:30:30,996 but it is an increase because. Yes. Right. Steve. Steve, just interact with me for a minute, 282 00:30:30,996 --> 00:30:36,735 if you will. Okay. So what, what did we do last year? We reduced it and we got by half 283 00:30:36,735 --> 00:30:42,441 $1 million last year. 600. It was commissioner. It was half a million last year. Okay. So 284 00:30:42,441 --> 00:30:46,778 that's that's still a success. I mean, other counties in the state are not reducing millage. 285 00:30:46,778 --> 00:30:51,249 But that's I mean, that's fine. That's we're only we're only working with our county. But I 286 00:30:51,249 --> 00:30:54,453 do believe Commissioner I do believe commissioner is right. That's not what's happening 287 00:30:54,453 --> 00:30:58,990 throughout the state. But. Okay. And you know, Madam Chair, we've not had a clamoring for 288 00:30:58,990 --> 00:31:04,062 property tax reduction that's not been that's never filled these chambers in 15 budgets. 289 00:31:04,062 --> 00:31:08,700 That's not been what's happened here. This is something that's been pushed by the legislature 290 00:31:08,700 --> 00:31:13,772 that's been pushed as a top down approach, not a bottoms up approach. But, you know, that 291 00:31:13,772 --> 00:31:19,544 doesn't matter either. What we've got to do is somehow we got to cobble together four 292 00:31:19,544 --> 00:31:25,617 votes. So Steve, what I'm what I'm asking you is we did a half $1 million last year if you 293 00:31:25,617 --> 00:31:31,423 want, you know, and that's, that's a success. If you want to say, look, I can't live with 294 00:31:31,423 --> 00:31:41,400 less than $1 million. That's what numbers that 6.61, 6.0, 6.571, 6.571 would be $1 295 00:31:41,400 --> 00:31:48,707 million reduction. So that's $1 million in in millage rate decrease in. That's twice as 296 00:31:48,707 --> 00:31:54,546 much as you did last year. You kind of led the charge last year. That's fine. I'm we got 297 00:31:54,546 --> 00:31:58,650 we got to cobble together four votes. I mean, that's what that's what we're that's what 298 00:31:58,650 --> 00:32:02,521 we're working towards. Commissioner. I don't mean to cut you off, but that's. I knew 299 00:32:02,521 --> 00:32:06,658 that he was looking for a million. And I've met Steve, not seven. I met at 2 million. 300 00:32:06,658 --> 00:32:11,496 So I've gone to 2 million. And Steve, I'm willing to support you in cutting $2 million. We 301 00:32:11,496 --> 00:32:17,469 can't. I don't think we got to get four votes. Well, the millage I'm not going to 302 00:32:17,469 --> 00:32:21,506 support cutting the mill. I'm not going to support cutting the millage rates to. I mean, 303 00:32:21,506 --> 00:32:25,577 we can just we can stay here all night. I'm not going to support cutting the mill, 304 00:32:25,577 --> 00:32:30,415 cutting the millage rate, $2 million impact. I will Steve, if you can live with it, I will 305 00:32:30,415 --> 00:32:33,618 support cutting the millage rate where it produces $1 million decrease going down to 306 00:32:33,618 --> 00:32:41,593 6.571. And then anything that y'all can come up with, specifically internal to cut, 307 00:32:41,593 --> 00:32:48,066 to cut other functions, to cut, you know, to cut jobs, to cut whatever services you don't 308 00:32:48,066 --> 00:32:53,505 want. If you want to arrive, try to arrive at another million through through 309 00:32:53,505 --> 00:32:57,409 reductions in services, which is what that that's what the second million is going to be. 310 00:32:57,409 --> 00:33:01,546 They can, in my opinion, based on conversations with staff and they can absorb $1 million into 311 00:33:01,546 --> 00:33:06,751 the budget through the millage rate decrease. And if you're if you can live with that, I can 312 00:33:06,751 --> 00:33:11,623 live with that. And then if what you're saying is you want to bring you've got ideas about 313 00:33:11,623 --> 00:33:15,727 how to cut another million. Okay. That's I mean, that's, that's a different discussion. 314 00:33:15,727 --> 00:33:19,731 I don't, but I'm not going to support cutting the, the millage rate that produces 2 315 00:33:19,731 --> 00:33:23,735 million. I will support cutting the millage rate that produces a million. You did have that 316 00:33:23,735 --> 00:33:29,140 last year. It's twice as much as you did last year. That's a pretty big success. We're still 317 00:33:29,140 --> 00:33:42,053 I mean, it's all it's it's all just a very. Small issue. If amendment three passes and you 318 00:33:42,053 --> 00:33:45,123 start to get over. In my opinion, based on my discussions with Stefan and 319 00:33:45,123 --> 00:33:50,729 with Wes, you start to get over $1 million. And, you know, the constitutions have been 320 00:33:50,729 --> 00:33:54,666 mentioned, but the biggest constitutional is the sheriff. You get over $1 million, you're 321 00:33:54,666 --> 00:33:59,638 going to start affecting the sheriff's budget. And I don't know that that's I don't know 322 00:33:59,638 --> 00:34:04,509 that that's the appetite that this that this board has nor nor myself. So if what you're 323 00:34:04,509 --> 00:34:09,314 saying is a million, I can live with that as a millage rate. We got to cobble together four 324 00:34:09,314 --> 00:34:15,253 votes. If Commissioner. And listen, there's probably never a you know, probably 90% of the 325 00:34:15,253 --> 00:34:21,693 time, Commissioner Berry and I and I respect his ability to decipher budgets and and I 326 00:34:21,693 --> 00:34:27,365 always lean to him, but I'm not going to support reducing the millage rate. I'll support 327 00:34:27,365 --> 00:34:32,170 funding cuts 2 million, you know, 3 million, whatever you want to find to direct staff. 328 00:34:32,170 --> 00:34:36,942 But to cut the millage rate to me would not be good stewardship for me. We have not 329 00:34:36,942 --> 00:34:43,248 increased the millage rate since 2006. We've reduced it. And so that's listen, I mean, 330 00:34:43,248 --> 00:34:47,953 politically, whatever side of the aisle you're on, you can do it. It doesn't make sense. I 331 00:34:47,953 --> 00:34:52,257 mean, the price of eggs, the price of goods, the price of everything has gone up. I mean, 332 00:34:52,257 --> 00:34:57,295 reducing the millage rate, not knowing what's going to happen to me is not good stewardship. 333 00:34:57,295 --> 00:35:02,000 Steve, I do. You are the most conservative guy on this board and I respect that. I can 334 00:35:02,000 --> 00:35:06,972 support you cutting and I can support directing people to cut. I'm not going to support the 335 00:35:06,972 --> 00:35:10,942 millage rate and that's. I respect Commissioner Berry and and that's his position. I will 336 00:35:10,942 --> 00:35:15,914 tell you, I will support I will not vote for a budget that doesn't cut. Find $2 million, 337 00:35:15,914 --> 00:35:20,652 but I'm not going to find it. By reducing the millage rate. We have to find it in other 338 00:35:20,652 --> 00:35:24,789 cost saving measures for me. So I mean, we can go everybody vote how they want to vote. 339 00:35:24,789 --> 00:35:30,695 That's fine with me. But that's my position. So I'm going to throw my where I stand on this. 340 00:35:30,695 --> 00:35:36,067 If we could cut it by 1.2 million and that other 200,000 come from discretionary funds 341 00:35:36,067 --> 00:35:41,773 being eliminated, I would support this budget. Madam Chair. I knew that was going to 342 00:35:41,773 --> 00:35:46,745 come up, so I'm going to help out. If you feel compelled to do this. This is a team sport. 343 00:35:46,745 --> 00:35:51,549 I'll be more than happy to cut yours and Steve's. I also am willing to cut the clerk's 100 344 00:35:51,549 --> 00:35:55,987 000 legal slush fund and the one that Bubba has, because I don't think they have two 345 00:35:55,987 --> 00:35:59,991 lawyers. That's that's extra money that could come back to the county. But I have no 346 00:35:59,991 --> 00:36:04,462 problem. I voted for Steve to have a special contract and then the rest to have of that, 347 00:36:04,462 --> 00:36:09,901 I let him do it. But if we're going to start cutting independently, let's do it. So, 348 00:36:09,901 --> 00:36:16,007 I mean, I'm not going to give up my right. When the sheriff gets $500,000 in law 349 00:36:16,007 --> 00:36:20,812 enforcement trust funds, and not one person on this board voted against it, and not one 350 00:36:20,812 --> 00:36:27,886 is asked to write the attorney general or the CFO. So it's kind of a little bit ridiculous. 351 00:36:27,886 --> 00:36:32,057 We're talking about discretionary funds, but if you want me to put a motion to get 352 00:36:32,057 --> 00:36:37,128 rid of your tooth, I will do that for you. I would just like to know where I stand. But but 353 00:36:37,128 --> 00:36:41,066 but but but but point of clarification, there's no such thing because by statute we 354 00:36:41,066 --> 00:36:45,003 voted. There's no such thing as discretionary funds. So I don't know why. Because it's 355 00:36:45,003 --> 00:36:48,006 politically correct to say discretionary funds. It doesn't exist. It's community impact 356 00:36:48,006 --> 00:36:52,077 funds for feeding people and helping people. So, I mean, I wish people would stop 200,000. 357 00:36:52,077 --> 00:36:56,247 We just cut 100,000 from the clerk and all vote for it. But there's no such thing as 358 00:36:56,247 --> 00:37:00,185 discretionary funds. People like to say that because it's a buzz word, and maybe some 359 00:37:00,185 --> 00:37:03,254 reporter will report it. There's no such thing as discretionary funds that was 360 00:37:03,254 --> 00:37:08,126 gotten rid of. When did we get rid of that, Mr. Attorney? When we change it to community 361 00:37:08,126 --> 00:37:12,697 impact funds from discretionary. How long ago was that? I believe it was March last March. 362 00:37:12,697 --> 00:37:16,334 So I don't know why we keep bringing up discretionary. There's no such thing. And and 363 00:37:16,334 --> 00:37:21,239 we're in litigation. I mean, I'll tell you, there's a lot of ways that we can cut. So you 364 00:37:21,239 --> 00:37:25,376 know what I mean? I like my fiscal conservative friends who are not willing to take a cut 365 00:37:25,376 --> 00:37:30,381 and look at the budget, cut the fireworks show on the beach. Why do we pay for two? Let's 366 00:37:30,381 --> 00:37:35,220 cut it off. Yeah. I'm willing to cut the fireworks show on the beach. I'm willing to cut 367 00:37:35,220 --> 00:37:39,290 Mardi Gras. I'm ready to cut. I'm really ready to cut. If you want to talk about 368 00:37:39,290 --> 00:37:43,261 discretionary funds, I am really ready to show you cut. But you're not really ready to 369 00:37:43,261 --> 00:37:47,432 do that. No, I'm ready for political. Very happy. And I'm sick of it. Because for the 1.2 370 00:37:47,432 --> 00:37:52,203 is a game. Don't nobody really want to cut. I don't care if you're talking. I'm responding 371 00:37:52,203 --> 00:37:56,474 to him. But 1.2 is a game. But they're doing tourism tax cut. Make a motion. I actually made 372 00:37:56,474 --> 00:38:00,445 a recommendation to the TDC board that we only pay those after they're able to prove 373 00:38:00,445 --> 00:38:05,450 that they actually put heads in beds. So I'm all for that. And I also made a motion to have 374 00:38:05,450 --> 00:38:11,189 wine on the wall. I'm happy to bring that to this board. I do think we give away too much in 375 00:38:11,189 --> 00:38:15,260 tourism tax dollars, and I think they should have to prove that they put those heads in 376 00:38:15,260 --> 00:38:20,265 beds. I presented it to the TDC board and it did not go over well. If there's an appetite on 377 00:38:20,265 --> 00:38:25,236 this board to take that up, I would love to do that. It's what Orlando does and it's what 378 00:38:25,236 --> 00:38:29,874 several other municipalities do. Orlando does what Mickey Mouse tell them to do. And so I mean, 379 00:38:29,874 --> 00:38:37,182 so while we confusing Avalon tax dollars with TDC dollars that are coming in by bed tax, 380 00:38:37,182 --> 00:38:41,386 that has nothing to do with property tax dollars in our general fund. It has nothing to 381 00:38:41,386 --> 00:38:45,490 do with our general fund. So we're mixing it because there's sound bites. And so but if we 382 00:38:45,490 --> 00:38:53,731 sit here all night and have sound bites, I'm willing. Look, I just think this mean girl 383 00:38:53,731 --> 00:38:59,070 that you're doing, Mike, is not it's not working well with me. Okay? I don't care. Me girl. 384 00:38:59,070 --> 00:39:03,074 I'm not a mean girl. That's what you're doing. I mean, you're bringing up garbage is 385 00:39:03,074 --> 00:39:07,979 what you're doing. Mike. Really? Yes you are. You don't know about these legal funds. Maybe 386 00:39:07,979 --> 00:39:11,983 you ought to read the budget. I'm not talking about that. I'm talking about furniture. I'm 387 00:39:11,983 --> 00:39:16,855 talking about ten hours for another person in my office that no one else has it. No one 388 00:39:16,855 --> 00:39:21,793 else. Steve, when you come to the table and you want to be tough on the budget, the same 389 00:39:21,793 --> 00:39:26,698 thing I learned in the Navy, you come with a solution. What you're going to cut, you don't 390 00:39:26,698 --> 00:39:31,836 throw it out and say, hey, I want to keep all of my stuff, but you guys go do all the hard 391 00:39:31,836 --> 00:39:36,674 work. These are real people, man. I don't want to, I don't I don't want to keep the 392 00:39:36,674 --> 00:39:40,678 discretionary funds. If we got rid of the discretionary funds and I'd be losing ten hours, 393 00:39:40,678 --> 00:39:44,716 that's what I would do. That's where it's coming from. But Steve, stop playing letting him 394 00:39:44,716 --> 00:39:49,153 play games on this damn discretionary funds. It's a game, you know. I mean, we're 395 00:39:49,153 --> 00:39:55,260 in litigation. It's less than it might sound like. We can cut mileage. Look, I wasn't the 396 00:39:55,260 --> 00:39:59,430 only one we can cut leave time. At least three people who wanted to get rid of it once 397 00:39:59,430 --> 00:40:04,135 upon a time. And then it's turned into this contest is what it's turned into. Cut 398 00:40:04,135 --> 00:40:08,973 feeding people after our board meetings. I mean, it's way more waste than that. So, you know, 399 00:40:08,973 --> 00:40:13,645 listen, if we want to cut waste and if we're serious, my dear conservative Republican friends, 400 00:40:13,645 --> 00:40:18,449 let's really cut it. Nobody really wants to do that. Oh, we going to cut 1.2. You ain't 401 00:40:18,449 --> 00:40:22,620 gonna cut nothing. Cut it. Let's go through it and take a whole look at the budget and 402 00:40:22,620 --> 00:40:27,425 really cut things. Y'all. Y'all know y'all don't really want to cut. I just said 2 million. You 403 00:40:27,425 --> 00:40:31,429 said 1.20. Then we're gonna cut the millage rate because it sounds good. Because it's a 404 00:40:31,429 --> 00:40:35,533 sound bite. Commissioner Berry hit it on the head. You're going to get to the point where 405 00:40:35,533 --> 00:40:39,404 you have to cut the Constitutionals. You ready to cut budget by a million? She's 406 00:40:39,404 --> 00:40:43,574 over budgeted by a million. You ready to do it? That's one. There's one. There's 1 million. 407 00:40:43,574 --> 00:40:47,712 Don't worry, I got some more. I got more than a lot more than discretionary funds, buddy, I 408 00:40:47,712 --> 00:40:53,217 came prepared and that's the cut. I'm willing to do enough of the political. Let's do the 409 00:40:53,217 --> 00:40:58,323 cuts. That's a million. You found a million. And now we can find another million. Let's go. 410 00:40:58,323 --> 00:41:02,293 Now that's 2 million. Now the taxpayers are happy. I'm ready. Make the motion, Mike. All 411 00:41:02,293 --> 00:41:07,265 right, Steve, back to back to what I was talking about. We've got buddy. We've got to cobble 412 00:41:07,265 --> 00:41:13,538 together four votes this evening. And it's not I mean it's not an opportunity to put 413 00:41:13,538 --> 00:41:20,244 it off to the next budget hearing. We've we've got to leave tonight. Steve you look 414 00:41:20,244 --> 00:41:25,984 you look engage with me. Okay. All right. I'm just I'm just making sure that you noticed I 415 00:41:25,984 --> 00:41:32,156 was talking to you, but but we've got to leave tonight with a with a millage rate and we've 416 00:41:32,156 --> 00:41:35,526 got to we got to cobble together four votes and leave tonight with the millage rate. 417 00:41:35,526 --> 00:41:41,165 So I mean I, I you know, I'm you know, the interactions you know that's unfortunate on the 418 00:41:41,165 --> 00:41:46,471 dice. But but we've got to we've we've got to leave with a with a adopted millage rate. 419 00:41:46,471 --> 00:41:56,614 All right, then I'll make a motion that we reduce the millage rate to 6.571. I second 420 00:41:56,614 --> 00:42:03,354 that and just and I'm sure all the board knows this, but you know, we've you know, we've got 421 00:42:03,354 --> 00:42:09,560 to cobble together four votes tonight or we end up potentially at the rollback 422 00:42:09,560 --> 00:42:15,333 rate or having, you know, getting some getting some advice from Tallahassee about 423 00:42:15,333 --> 00:42:22,473 how to run, how to run our about how to run our budget. And Stefan, that's not a miss. 424 00:42:22,473 --> 00:42:29,013 That's not a miscommunication. So that's a 1.2. Steve. That's one, that's one. That's one. So 425 00:42:29,013 --> 00:42:33,684 1 million cut across the board or it's just a reduction in millage rate. It's not changing 426 00:42:33,684 --> 00:42:37,955 anybody's department. Stefan can absorb the. Stefan can absorb this million into the 427 00:42:37,955 --> 00:42:42,860 current budget that we have. The board at any point in time, has the opportunity to come in 428 00:42:42,860 --> 00:42:47,031 and cut a department, cut, you know, cut budgeted positions that are unfilled. I mean, 429 00:42:47,031 --> 00:42:51,069 there's there's there are things that we can do, but we've but we have to leave 430 00:42:51,069 --> 00:42:55,673 tonight with a millage rate. And in my opinion, we can't leave with the rollback rate. 431 00:42:55,673 --> 00:43:01,712 We've got to figure out what for folks can for folks can live with. Okay. Jose is also 432 00:43:01,712 --> 00:43:07,819 telling me that the motion will need to include the millage rate for the library and the 433 00:43:07,819 --> 00:43:12,723 sheriff's department, as well as part of the motion. So just to make that clear, I think 434 00:43:12,723 --> 00:43:18,296 there was a motion on the floor. If you can amend that motion to include those millage rates. So, 435 00:43:18,296 --> 00:43:24,368 Steve, that was .359 for the libraries and .685 for the sheriff. That was your that was 436 00:43:24,368 --> 00:43:30,441 the motion. Everybody's been reduced. Those those those two are millage rates are the same. 437 00:43:30,441 --> 00:43:37,415 Was that your motion. Are you you asking for the the rollback rate for the miss MSTU and for 438 00:43:37,415 --> 00:43:42,453 law enforcement. You're not asking for that. Okay. All right, I got it. We just needed 439 00:43:42,453 --> 00:43:46,557 to include those in the motion. And I thought that's what your motion said. I was just making 440 00:43:46,557 --> 00:43:53,397 sure that's what I seconded. Yeah, it was 6.571 for the countywide library is 359. And 441 00:43:53,397 --> 00:43:59,337 law enforcement 685. And my second stood for that. So there's a motion, Madam Chair, 442 00:43:59,337 --> 00:44:06,611 for discussion. So Commissioner Cole, I like your idea better, candidly. So we're rolling back 443 00:44:06,611 --> 00:44:11,616 the millage rate. And I guess, Commissioner Schoenberger, your intent is to look at where we 444 00:44:11,616 --> 00:44:16,587 cut later once we roll back the millage rate. I mean, what how I think there can always be 445 00:44:16,587 --> 00:44:20,658 some cuts. There definitely can be. I don't have to make those decisions. Nobody gets any cuts. 446 00:44:20,658 --> 00:44:24,562 So you're just rolling back the military. We're rolling back the military. We're just $1 447 00:44:24,562 --> 00:44:27,798 million. So we're not putting as much in reserves is that's what's going on here, 448 00:44:27,798 --> 00:44:32,537 Commissioner. Yes. So what will happen is it just means that those dollars will not go into 449 00:44:32,537 --> 00:44:36,774 our budgeted reserve, but it is going to directly affect taxpayers when they receive 450 00:44:36,774 --> 00:44:41,846 their actual their actual tax bill notice in November. It is going to reduce every every one 451 00:44:41,846 --> 00:44:47,218 of those is going to be reduced, you know, by that by that margin, Steve. And that's, you 452 00:44:47,218 --> 00:44:52,190 know, what? You end up in these positions. I mean, you know, you might have and this might 453 00:44:52,190 --> 00:44:58,429 not be my idea, but, you know, my my overwhelming idea is that we've got to leave with a 454 00:44:58,429 --> 00:45:02,133 millage rate tonight. That's not the rollback rate. So that's, that's, that's really 455 00:45:02,133 --> 00:45:07,004 all I'm trying to get to. I mean, this is not, you know, to speak to my friend Commissioner 456 00:45:07,004 --> 00:45:14,278 Mays point. I would rather not as well. But I can, you know, often you count to three. I 457 00:45:14,278 --> 00:45:19,650 gotta count four. So we gotta count four and I can I can be supportive of that because it's 458 00:45:19,650 --> 00:45:24,322 it, it accomplishes twice what you were able to do last year, Steve. It doubles what the 459 00:45:24,322 --> 00:45:31,562 reduction was last year. We can, you know, seemingly, you know, reasonably absorb it and wait 460 00:45:31,562 --> 00:45:36,901 and see what happens with the ballot initiative. And, you know, and, and, you know, this 461 00:45:36,901 --> 00:45:40,671 doesn't have to do with the motion, but the thought that anyone is going to escape a 462 00:45:40,671 --> 00:45:46,611 huge impact if that passes. Anyone being all of our constitutionals, you know, is, 463 00:45:46,611 --> 00:45:51,115 is very, very naive to think that's not going to affect tremendously every, every 464 00:45:51,115 --> 00:45:57,955 person in this county Commissioner. And I respect, genuinely respect you. If we're 465 00:45:57,955 --> 00:46:01,659 just taking off $1 million, Commissioner Koehler made a recommendation that we can cut 466 00:46:01,659 --> 00:46:05,696 the clerk $1 million right now without rolling back the millage rate. I mean, that 467 00:46:05,696 --> 00:46:10,434 that's simple. That doesn't really impact, you know, direct services to the citizens and 468 00:46:10,434 --> 00:46:16,140 roads and bridges. And so to me, we could figure out how to cut that. Rolling back the millage 469 00:46:16,140 --> 00:46:22,947 rate for me, knowing the critical needs that I have in our district and where I am, I 470 00:46:22,947 --> 00:46:27,718 mean, that's probably, you know, if there's four votes, that's great. I'm I said it and I've 471 00:46:27,718 --> 00:46:32,390 told too many people, I'm not going to vote to roll back the millage rate. I'm not going to 472 00:46:32,390 --> 00:46:37,428 vote to roll back the rate. You know, we can get 1 million, we can get 2 million. But for me 473 00:46:37,428 --> 00:46:42,466 to vote to roll back the millage rate, when we have ways in which we can pull $1 million, 474 00:46:42,466 --> 00:46:47,438 as Commissioner, Koehler said, it's just not what I'm going to do. So, I mean, you can call 475 00:46:47,438 --> 00:46:53,177 the vote as far as I'm concerned. Okay. We do have a motion from Commissioner 476 00:46:53,177 --> 00:47:00,051 Sternberger and then a second from Commissioner Berry. Is is that all still standing? You're 477 00:47:00,051 --> 00:47:06,924 saying you're not going to support this? Well, then, I mean, then don't then don't 478 00:47:06,924 --> 00:47:12,697 call the question. We've I mean, we have to come out of here with a millage rate that you 479 00:47:12,697 --> 00:47:16,967 may have for. I'm just not I don't think we have four. We gotta come. We gotta come out 480 00:47:16,967 --> 00:47:22,907 of here with the millage rate that we have, or we end up at a. Or we end up at a $7 million 481 00:47:22,907 --> 00:47:26,977 decrease. So, I mean, I'm willing to vote for the million dollars, but I will tell you, 482 00:47:26,977 --> 00:47:32,683 like it or not like it, we got to get four votes. You got to vote no. I'll vote for it. 483 00:47:32,683 --> 00:47:36,821 Steve. But here's the thing. We we got to come to the next meeting next year and be 484 00:47:36,821 --> 00:47:40,925 serious about what we're going to cut. But no, because here's here's the thing. We're going 485 00:47:40,925 --> 00:47:46,864 to take heat from this. Like I said before, we have not raised the millage since 2006. On this 486 00:47:46,864 --> 00:47:52,470 board, the school board has raised it. The A fuel costs more. We had to change order 487 00:47:52,470 --> 00:47:56,507 last meeting on it. It's like we don't do anything. We're not raising the millage. Now. I 488 00:47:56,507 --> 00:48:00,678 know we're not we're not raising what I'm saying. But we still have to pay for. People 489 00:48:00,678 --> 00:48:05,483 still want pay raises. People do want people to want to work in the county. I don't know 490 00:48:05,483 --> 00:48:12,356 that Nikki told us the mean salary was like $52,000. So we got targeted people who make 491 00:48:12,356 --> 00:48:16,494 money and target people who don't make money. So we're going to be the one that looked 492 00:48:16,494 --> 00:48:20,664 bad. But I'll tell you, if this bout three comes heads up, constitutionals, because I'm 493 00:48:20,664 --> 00:48:24,702 going through everything through a fine tooth comb, everyone's going to put in some 494 00:48:24,702 --> 00:48:29,273 flesh, but I'll do the million. I'll do the million because Steve wants to do it and no 495 00:48:29,273 --> 00:48:34,078 one's recommend this. We haven't raised the millage since 2006. But no, no, I know, 496 00:48:34,078 --> 00:48:38,315 but that's like 15 FTEs. So that's do whatever you play, whatever game y'all want to 497 00:48:38,315 --> 00:48:42,052 play in this political season. We're not really giving any impact to the citizens. 498 00:48:42,052 --> 00:48:45,756 Whatever game y'all want to play, that's fine. I'm not voting. You know what you tell 499 00:48:45,756 --> 00:48:50,661 everybody else to cut back, cut back. And I'm I'm the Democrat on the board. So it's great. 500 00:48:50,661 --> 00:48:55,533 You know what? Nobody wants to cut go right, Madam Chair, so we can still make cuts. I don't 501 00:48:55,533 --> 00:48:59,537 care if you don't make cuts. Don't confuse everyone with the. We haven't raised the millage 502 00:48:59,537 --> 00:49:03,574 rate. That's not a confusion. We have not raised the millage rates. It's still a tax. We 503 00:49:03,574 --> 00:49:08,546 have not raised the millage rate. It's still a tax increase. I made a motion. We got a you 504 00:49:08,546 --> 00:49:12,683 got a second vote on it Madam Chair. Withdraw my second. We can't we can't bring this to a 505 00:49:12,683 --> 00:49:16,654 vote. Understood? Yes, sir. Let's keep discussing. So the motion falls flat based on the 506 00:49:16,654 --> 00:49:21,559 second withdrawal. Well, I'll make a motion. I'll make a motion because the clerk has 507 00:49:21,559 --> 00:49:26,297 routinely had over $1 million to cut hers by million this year. So here's my motion. Cut 508 00:49:26,297 --> 00:49:33,704 the clerk's budget by 1 million. Five a second. Second. Okay, there is a motion and there is 509 00:49:33,704 --> 00:49:39,510 a second. So I will call for a vote. All in favor of Commissioner Koehler's motion, 510 00:49:39,510 --> 00:49:44,915 please raise your hand. That would be three. All who are not in favor, please raise your 511 00:49:44,915 --> 00:49:53,891 hand. That would be two. I'll make a second motion. I want to make a motion that the clerk's 512 00:49:53,891 --> 00:50:04,034 legal funds and or personal service for $100,000 no longer exists. Second. Counsel, can we 513 00:50:04,034 --> 00:50:11,909 legally do this? I think that I think the board has great flexibility to go through the 514 00:50:11,909 --> 00:50:17,748 budget and to make these types of decisions. At this point, of course, this is an open 515 00:50:17,748 --> 00:50:22,152 conversation, and this board has to, we would hope, come out of this meeting with some kind 516 00:50:22,152 --> 00:50:27,625 of an arrangement. I think the board is aware that by pushing this into the next meeting on 517 00:50:27,625 --> 00:50:33,030 the 24th, that that puts enormous strain on staff and management. So if it's possible 518 00:50:33,030 --> 00:50:37,935 to have something come out, I think that probably is in the best interest of the board. Yes, 519 00:50:37,935 --> 00:50:42,239 we can vote for it. Okay. Thank you. Commissioner Koehler, could you please repeat? Yeah, 520 00:50:42,239 --> 00:50:47,278 we have a lot of lawyers. The clerk has two. I want to decrease our personal service 521 00:50:47,278 --> 00:50:53,350 legal slush fund. That's $100,000. That's my motion for legal. For legal, I second it. 522 00:50:53,350 --> 00:51:01,225 Okay. All in favor? That would be four. I am not voting for that. So that would be four one. 523 00:51:01,225 --> 00:51:08,799 May I have the floor, Madam Chair? Indeed. I hear your animosity, Commissioner Kohler. 524 00:51:08,799 --> 00:51:16,373 It is apparent you are the one that contacted the two not for profits. You are the one that 525 00:51:16,373 --> 00:51:25,416 lobbied them to file a lawsuit. You are the one that told them to go to Alexandra as their 526 00:51:25,416 --> 00:51:33,257 counsel. I understand your animosity. It is noted. And when you personally talk about 527 00:51:33,257 --> 00:51:41,966 going after me personally for 1.5 million, two weeks before Alexandra even sent a demand 528 00:51:41,966 --> 00:51:49,139 letter, it is you, Commissioner Kohler, and maybe we need to look towards personal liability 529 00:51:49,139 --> 00:51:56,680 of commissioners because your behavior is abhorrent and I have the right to defend myself. 530 00:51:56,680 --> 00:52:04,221 And I do have two attorneys. My other attorney is not paid for by the commission. It is a 531 00:52:04,221 --> 00:52:11,495 court side attorney. My one attorney is Cody Lee that handles every lawsuit for the 532 00:52:11,495 --> 00:52:17,901 clerk's office, because we get a lot of them because of tax deed sales and what have you. 533 00:52:17,901 --> 00:52:25,442 So I hear your animosity. It is noted. And if this governor was not leaving, we would be having 534 00:52:25,442 --> 00:52:33,050 a conversation. But I will certainly have one with Donalds if he is elected or with jolly. 535 00:52:33,050 --> 00:52:46,930 Thank you. We still don't have a millage rate, so we probably need to have a conversation 536 00:52:46,930 --> 00:52:57,074 about that. Well, I can make the same motion again. That's what I do. I don't think we're 537 00:52:57,074 --> 00:53:01,578 going to get any further than that with that millage rate. Steve. I don't I would just say 538 00:53:01,578 --> 00:53:07,651 just there's not a I mean, if, you know, if we're if we're going by proper decorum, if you 539 00:53:07,651 --> 00:53:12,289 make a motion and it fails, it's more difficult to bring it back. So just. Well, what I'm 540 00:53:12,289 --> 00:53:18,429 saying is let's just try to see if we can get to some chart. If we see if we can get to some 541 00:53:18,429 --> 00:53:23,133 commonality before we before we try to make another motion. I don't know if it's possible or 542 00:53:23,133 --> 00:53:27,504 not, but I I'm willing to vote for the 1 million. So if you make the motion against Steve, 543 00:53:27,504 --> 00:53:33,143 I'll second it. If Commissioner Berry won't. Mike, it's got to have four votes. That's my 544 00:53:33,143 --> 00:53:37,815 point. It's got to have four votes. And if it fails without four votes, then it's more 545 00:53:37,815 --> 00:53:43,587 difficult to then then I mean, if we know it's not Commissioner May, I would just 546 00:53:43,587 --> 00:53:48,025 I don't know where the chair's going to vote, but I would plead with you to do the 1 547 00:53:48,025 --> 00:53:51,628 million if that's where Steve. Steve, Commissioner Berger will land. There's 2.1 million that 548 00:53:51,628 --> 00:54:00,871 we've cut. Steve. I mean, Mike, here's the deal. I've never told citizens that I'm going to 549 00:54:00,871 --> 00:54:05,008 vote one way and vote in another way. That's just not what I'm going to do. I'm not 550 00:54:05,008 --> 00:54:09,947 going to play games with this millage rate. I'm you know, in playing if we want to make cuts, 551 00:54:09,947 --> 00:54:18,522 just make cuts. I mean, you know listen you go I mean, I probably I may be for a higher 552 00:54:18,522 --> 00:54:22,626 reduction. I believe that you know my seat and and Commissioner Berry has done a 553 00:54:22,626 --> 00:54:26,663 great job. I've probably been the most fiscally conservative guy on this board. But I'm not 554 00:54:26,663 --> 00:54:30,167 going to let people paint someone into, you know, trying to cut social programs, trying 555 00:54:30,167 --> 00:54:34,805 to not feed the hungry, trying not to feed the poor, and then play games about taking money 556 00:54:34,805 --> 00:54:39,076 out of reserves and cutting the millage rate, that really has no real impact on citizens. I 557 00:54:39,076 --> 00:54:43,881 mean, you know, that's great. I mean, people can see the smoke screen and so cut that millage 558 00:54:43,881 --> 00:54:49,253 rate for a million. That's fine. If that's where you want to go, go go go, go and do it. But I'm 559 00:54:49,253 --> 00:54:55,259 telling you, Commissioner, if if why don't we look, we we should be looking at everything. 560 00:54:55,259 --> 00:55:00,397 We beat people up on these TDC dollars. They want to do 7 million. I got what I'll cut, 561 00:55:00,397 --> 00:55:05,369 but I'll recommend. But Commissioner Berger, I mean, it's a no animosity, I really 562 00:55:05,369 --> 00:55:11,008 did. I sit down and went through all these and the. Can you live with a million coming 563 00:55:11,008 --> 00:55:15,746 out of the general fund? If we could get four votes there. Can you live with that, 564 00:55:15,746 --> 00:55:19,049 Commissioner Sternberger? Yeah, that's what we're doing. No, he doesn't want to do the millage, 565 00:55:19,049 --> 00:55:23,887 but it'd be a million that you would cut out of the general. I'll tell you what. I'll tell 566 00:55:23,887 --> 00:55:28,725 you what. Here's here's how I'm going to leave this county. And certainly I think most of you 567 00:55:28,725 --> 00:55:32,763 will will be here long after I'm gone. And Commissioner Berry and I both have left it. 568 00:55:32,763 --> 00:55:36,767 I'll support your reduction, and I'm not going to support taking it out of reserves. So 569 00:55:36,767 --> 00:55:41,839 if you want to make a motion to not take it out of reserves and then put elbow grease to the 570 00:55:41,839 --> 00:55:46,710 ground, then I'll support it. But no taking it out of reserve. That's the easy thing to do. 571 00:55:46,710 --> 00:55:50,848 The hard thing in leadership is, you know, reduce your millage rate, take it out of general 572 00:55:50,848 --> 00:55:53,951 fund, keep our reserves strong because everyone needs the savings, because the citizens 573 00:55:53,951 --> 00:55:57,754 of Escambia County don't even have a savings. They're living from paycheck to paycheck to 574 00:55:57,754 --> 00:56:02,793 payday to payday. And so, you know, take it out of that and then cut it and, you know, hold 575 00:56:02,793 --> 00:56:06,964 on, Mike. And the only thing I'm not going to support, I'm not going to support giving 576 00:56:06,964 --> 00:56:10,868 across the board raises to people who make six figures. When we got people that make 577 00:56:10,868 --> 00:56:14,972 $32,000, you know what? I'll vote. Do whatever you want to do. We have people who are 578 00:56:14,972 --> 00:56:19,843 making $32,000, $28,000 in our district. They can't eat. They're running out of gas at 579 00:56:19,843 --> 00:56:24,548 Brownsville to get food. But then we say across the board, because it's fair, because 580 00:56:24,548 --> 00:56:28,952 somebody makes 150, $200,000, we're going to give them the same thing that we give 581 00:56:28,952 --> 00:56:34,057 somebody that makes $25,000. That's unfair, that's wrong. And so we should be looking at 582 00:56:34,057 --> 00:56:39,062 the budget in that perspective. So listen, you can cut it, keep it, we can increase it, but 583 00:56:39,062 --> 00:56:43,634 take care of our citizens, take care of the people that actually go into your washroom 584 00:56:43,634 --> 00:56:48,005 and grabbing quarters of things to pay to wash their clothes, because that's all they got. 585 00:56:48,005 --> 00:56:52,943 And so, I mean, we say, oh, let's just do it. Let's do a broad sweep for all the 586 00:56:52,943 --> 00:56:58,548 citizens. That's unfair. Let's do what's right by the citizens, the least of them. That's what 587 00:56:58,548 --> 00:57:03,453 we were elected to do, Mike. We were elected to take care of the least of them. And so we 588 00:57:03,453 --> 00:57:07,991 should be doing that. Our budget conversation should be about the lady that's sitting 589 00:57:07,991 --> 00:57:12,663 out there underneath the awning right now that can't buy her kids toys for Christmas because 590 00:57:12,663 --> 00:57:18,101 she's saving right now. Fine. Figure out a way to take care of the least of them, stabilize 591 00:57:18,101 --> 00:57:22,406 those. I'm not saying people shouldn't make six figures, shouldn't make 70, 80, $90,000. 592 00:57:22,406 --> 00:57:27,811 But we are unfair and we worry about our morale and we worry about people. Don't answer the 593 00:57:27,811 --> 00:57:31,848 phone. I mean, because they're making, you know, $20,000 to answer the phone when their 594 00:57:31,848 --> 00:57:36,520 boss is taking Three hour breaks and making six figures. I'm fine Mike. I could be 595 00:57:36,520 --> 00:57:40,457 supportive. The point is, it has to be a real conversation about the budget. Mr. Berry 596 00:57:40,457 --> 00:57:45,329 said if I don't have it tonight, I'll never have it. So I'm good. We can do whatever millage rate 597 00:57:45,329 --> 00:57:53,103 you want. What if we give 6% to everybody that makes less than $50,000? I'm all on board. 598 00:57:53,103 --> 00:57:57,708 Whatever millage rate you want, give every. And you can cut everybody else if you want to. 599 00:57:57,708 --> 00:58:03,547 Anybody in this county that's making less than $50,000 to get a house at Malcolm Young where 600 00:58:03,547 --> 00:58:09,252 they told the house. It's 120% above the median income, meaning that to get a habitat 601 00:58:09,252 --> 00:58:15,792 house on public land at Malcolm Young, you can make $87,000. Look at what our citizens make 602 00:58:15,792 --> 00:58:21,465 that work for us. All of them make less than $87,000. They can't afford a house. Let's. 603 00:58:21,465 --> 00:58:25,602 It's chopping time. Do something like that. You got me. I don't care what the millage 604 00:58:25,602 --> 00:58:29,606 rate is. Let's just give an increase to these citizens who are around here. Cleaning our 605 00:58:29,606 --> 00:58:34,044 building, cutting our grass, driving our trucks, and they're going home, having to work 2 or 606 00:58:34,044 --> 00:58:38,415 3 jobs in there. Hungry? Now. That's right. Now, if that's included in the motion that 607 00:58:38,415 --> 00:58:43,053 we're going to give these people 6%, you can cut the rest of them out. I will vote for 608 00:58:43,053 --> 00:58:47,424 whatever millage rate you want, Commissioner. Commissioner. Stephan, can you can you just 609 00:58:47,424 --> 00:58:51,828 pencil what that impact is like? What the what the impact of that would be? We're not 610 00:58:51,828 --> 00:58:54,865 talking bargaining employees. We're talking about board direct, direct board employees 611 00:58:54,865 --> 00:59:02,172 that are under 50,000, you know, under under 50,000. Yeah. I mean, I mean, we're already 612 00:59:02,172 --> 00:59:09,513 budget. We already budgeted 2%. Stefan. Right. So it's a four. It's a 4% delta for employees 613 00:59:09,513 --> 00:59:18,688 under 50,000 that are direct board employees not bargained. So it's probably not. It's 614 00:59:18,688 --> 00:59:24,127 probably not that big of an impact. No it's not. And I can I think that's great. You know 615 00:59:24,127 --> 00:59:29,533 I think that's a I think that's a good idea. I can I can be on board with that as well. Thank 616 00:59:29,533 --> 00:59:33,503 you, Mr. Mayor. And I'll be happy to support your motion, because we're taking care of 617 00:59:33,503 --> 00:59:37,441 the least of them. And Commissioner Berry, if that's what we're going to do, you'll 618 00:59:37,441 --> 00:59:41,445 find my full support. So what we're. And it's something we've. So it's something that we've 619 00:59:41,445 --> 00:59:45,449 talked about before and we've, you know, it's may have been before y'all were elected, but 620 00:59:45,449 --> 00:59:48,952 there's been different times where we've asked, you know, Wes or previous administrators 621 00:59:48,952 --> 00:59:55,792 to, you know, for employees. Well, just really trying to I, I think one of the discussions 622 00:59:55,792 --> 01:00:00,363 might have been even employees, this is years ago, but that made 35,000 or less that we 623 01:00:00,363 --> 01:00:04,601 tried to increase more. I think it might have been with Jack Brown was administrator. But, 624 01:00:04,601 --> 01:00:08,772 you know, we tried to increase the lower end. You know, the the, the lower tiered employees, 625 01:00:08,772 --> 01:00:14,411 which, you know, which I know Jack did, I guess I don't know that we've done this with since 626 01:00:14,411 --> 01:00:19,249 you've been administrator, but it's, you know, the premise is to is to try to, you know, to 627 01:00:19,249 --> 01:00:23,820 try to get, you know, everybody's getting 2%. Okay. But if they can get an 628 01:00:23,820 --> 01:00:29,226 additional four. I don't think the impact of that is tremendous. Well, and I, I 629 01:00:29,226 --> 01:00:33,497 don't know what that number is. I guess you got to tell Stefan, but I'll tell you the other 630 01:00:33,497 --> 01:00:38,768 thing is gas. Was it you or did you bring this up before? Was it Stefan that we talked about 631 01:00:38,768 --> 01:00:43,340 the disparity and certain people getting gas? Everyone has to drive to work here, man. 632 01:00:43,340 --> 01:00:47,477 Dude, all we gotta do is go across the board and give everybody $200 for gas welding, 633 01:00:47,477 --> 01:00:51,548 4 or $500. That would satisfy all the people that are less than $50,000. It's a real 634 01:00:51,548 --> 01:00:55,585 mathematical, easy equation. I have a problem with it. Just because the people on the lower 635 01:00:55,585 --> 01:00:59,589 spectrum of the pay scale still have to come to work, and they're not getting a gas 636 01:00:59,589 --> 01:01:03,860 supplement. And we got people that get gas that don't leave their office. And so, I mean, 637 01:01:03,860 --> 01:01:07,864 these people are catching the bus, they're catching flex. You can move those numbers. There 638 01:01:07,864 --> 01:01:12,802 is an opportunity to help guys. And that's what I'm saying. If we want let me just tell you, 639 01:01:12,802 --> 01:01:16,873 quite frankly, if you want to talk about amendment three, the people that are going to vote, 640 01:01:16,873 --> 01:01:20,744 it ain't the people that's making six figures. It's the average everyday citizen that's 641 01:01:20,744 --> 01:01:24,748 going to say, what is your government doing for them? That's the vote. So if we want 642 01:01:24,748 --> 01:01:29,719 to talk about how people are going to vote, we got to take care of the people. It's a lot 643 01:01:29,719 --> 01:01:33,690 more people making less than $50,000 than people making more than a hundred thousand. At 644 01:01:33,690 --> 01:01:38,662 some point, we got to let those people know that we care about them, and we can work those 645 01:01:38,662 --> 01:01:42,766 numbers out. Like Steve said, it's not that much money, Mike. I mean, it is whatever it is. 646 01:01:42,766 --> 01:01:48,205 But we should not say that we we are this bold city and we have citizens, man, you know, 647 01:01:48,205 --> 01:01:53,577 that can't afford. And they gotta decide, you know, whether they're going to buy eggs or 648 01:01:53,577 --> 01:01:57,647 whether they're going to pay for their kids, you know, sports or whether they're going 649 01:01:57,647 --> 01:02:03,286 to come to work. I mean, it's a real economic crisis. I mean, the affordability is real for 650 01:02:03,286 --> 01:02:07,490 people that we represent. I mean, Steve represents them in the rural county. I mean, we 651 01:02:07,490 --> 01:02:12,562 got people that can't get on a bus in the north end of the county. I was in century. Today, 652 01:02:12,562 --> 01:02:16,967 people are hurting and we have our citizens that can't. I have people who can't afford to live 653 01:02:16,967 --> 01:02:23,807 in district three anymore. And they're making $40,000. They're making $28,000. You know, I and 654 01:02:23,807 --> 01:02:28,945 so let's help them a little bit. I mean, giving them 6% is not going to drastically change 655 01:02:28,945 --> 01:02:34,217 their life. But you know what it may be where they don't have to, you know, beg for their 656 01:02:34,217 --> 01:02:38,588 kids, you know, to get, you know, a free book bag in the summer that we can't even pay 657 01:02:38,588 --> 01:02:45,762 for, which is ridiculous. Commissioner Berry, I believe it's, it's around $1 million 658 01:02:45,762 --> 01:02:54,070 for the general fund, certainly to do the 6% that Commissioner May is proposing. It is a 659 01:02:54,070 --> 01:02:59,709 little more complicated than that Union. Certain unions are also included with some some of 660 01:02:59,709 --> 01:03:05,915 the folks that may be unionized. Well, correct. But again, so it is a little more complicated 661 01:03:05,915 --> 01:03:10,654 than that. But for general fund purposes. So we're only going to give raises to the people 662 01:03:10,654 --> 01:03:17,060 who are non-unionized making under 50,000. And if they're unionized, it's just SOL. So I 663 01:03:17,060 --> 01:03:22,499 did not say that, Commissioner. Well, no, I'm asking. Commissioner, may I. I would 664 01:03:22,499 --> 01:03:26,736 certainly support giving people who are unionized, but I know that there's bargaining that 665 01:03:26,736 --> 01:03:34,744 has to happen between. We just can't bargain for those who are represented in bargaining. So I 666 01:03:34,744 --> 01:03:41,184 would support that, Madam Chair, if we could do that. You cannot unilaterally give pay raises to 667 01:03:41,184 --> 01:03:45,955 unions without bargaining it. So that's my point. You could budget it, but you have to 668 01:03:45,955 --> 01:03:50,226 bargain it. And then they could come back to the table and ask for it their next go round. 669 01:03:50,226 --> 01:03:54,464 Correct. Okay. Yeah. Sorry. I just wanted to. So no, Madam Chair, just for point of 670 01:03:54,464 --> 01:03:59,102 clarification, in no way was I saying that we would not want to take care of people because 671 01:03:59,102 --> 01:04:03,206 they're in a union. I actually support unions and believe in unions, but I know that legally 672 01:04:03,206 --> 01:04:08,011 we can't bargain with them. And but I mean, I would tell you, if they came, I would be 673 01:04:08,011 --> 01:04:12,115 disappointed in any union that would come back and not want to bring their employee to allow 674 01:04:12,115 --> 01:04:16,252 for their employees to get a raise. And I'm not saying raise everybody to 50,000, I'm just 675 01:04:16,252 --> 01:04:23,059 saying give them a 6% pay increase instead of the four. I mean, I mean, instead of the 676 01:04:23,059 --> 01:04:29,733 two, it's a 4% delta. That's what we're I'm willing to go for. Steve. I just don't think 677 01:04:29,733 --> 01:04:33,937 that it's fair, Steve, to to have more. Yeah. I mean, I'm with you to give people that 678 01:04:33,937 --> 01:04:38,742 make six figures. I mean, yeah, the people that people that are making, you know, 150,000, 679 01:04:38,742 --> 01:04:43,079 100,000, 90,000, they're not hurting like people that are making 28,000. So, I mean, I'm 680 01:04:43,079 --> 01:04:47,117 willing to compromise it and say, we've had this and we've done this before. So, I mean, 681 01:04:47,117 --> 01:04:51,921 this is nothing new to the position that I had. And so this is not the poor man 682 01:04:51,921 --> 01:04:56,059 crusade, but it is the advocacy of people who don't have a voice, because those people who 683 01:04:56,059 --> 01:05:00,130 are making that money, they're not in the end, and they don't have anybody advocating for 684 01:05:00,130 --> 01:05:04,067 them. And most times they don't have direct relationships with people who are giving them, you 685 01:05:04,067 --> 01:05:10,373 know, mirrored raises and opportunity. And so for me, I appreciate the people that 686 01:05:10,373 --> 01:05:14,043 cleaned the bathroom in my office. I appreciate the people that pressure wash this 687 01:05:14,043 --> 01:05:19,082 business, this building. I appreciate those people who are around here, who are starting, 688 01:05:19,082 --> 01:05:23,820 who are working the midnight shift from 11 to to 11:00 at night, cleaning our building. 689 01:05:23,820 --> 01:05:28,825 And I don't think that they should live in poverty if they want to walk out of here and go 690 01:05:28,825 --> 01:05:33,863 buy a cold Coke and a cold beer, they should be able to afford it. Well, I mean, you look and 691 01:05:33,863 --> 01:05:37,967 you look at the job that gets done now that their employees are not contracted out like 692 01:05:37,967 --> 01:05:42,172 they were years ago. You know, the service that we had when when things were contracted out 693 01:05:42,172 --> 01:05:47,043 was, was, you know, a much, much lower level than it is now. You know, I mean, that's been 694 01:05:47,043 --> 01:05:51,881 that's been a several years ago. But so, Stefan, you can we can figure that out. I'm trying to 695 01:05:51,881 --> 01:05:56,085 figure out tonight, Steve. I mean, I just mean, we can't if we. We can, Commissioner. We 696 01:05:56,085 --> 01:06:00,023 can certainly figure that out. If if that's what the board is supporting. Stefan. That's what 697 01:06:00,023 --> 01:06:04,093 I'm supporting. And this is no offense to the people who are making the decision to bring 698 01:06:04,093 --> 01:06:08,898 recommendations. They all make six figures and I love them all. I love them, love them all them. 699 01:06:08,898 --> 01:06:13,002 So they will have a higher voice. It's up to us to advocate for those people that 700 01:06:13,002 --> 01:06:17,907 don't have a voice. And so, you know, I'm going to advocate for those people at the same time, 701 01:06:17,907 --> 01:06:21,878 appreciating those people who are doing a great job. But it's it's tough time. It's an 702 01:06:21,878 --> 01:06:26,850 affordability crisis. I think if you talk to people, I mean, I bet you if you talk to Stefan 703 01:06:26,850 --> 01:06:30,987 or have you talked to Allison, have you talked to people? They say, you know what? I'd much 704 01:06:30,987 --> 01:06:35,925 rather see a young lady with two kids be able to take her kids to school and go rather 705 01:06:35,925 --> 01:06:39,929 than me to get, you know, another increase. Because I know all of our six figure 706 01:06:39,929 --> 01:06:44,834 people like Claire Joy, I know Wes, I know that their heart of service wants to help the least 707 01:06:44,834 --> 01:06:49,005 of them. And so for me, you know, I'm going to continue to advocate for this. And that's 708 01:06:49,005 --> 01:06:53,977 the, you know, like you said, we got to get to four. I'll never be a part if we don't 709 01:06:53,977 --> 01:06:58,047 take care of those people. Because I get it. Those people, you know, rent from me, you 710 01:06:58,047 --> 01:07:02,118 know, they get the clothes washed with, with with Ashley. You know, maybe one day they'll 711 01:07:02,118 --> 01:07:07,056 make enough to invest with you. I mean, but we see them each and every day and it breaks my 712 01:07:07,056 --> 01:07:11,928 heart. It breaks my heart when I see somebody walking down the street and said, I'd love to go 713 01:07:11,928 --> 01:07:16,032 get a sandwich at O'Reilly's commissioner, but I just can't afford it. And they have on the 714 01:07:16,032 --> 01:07:20,837 Escambia County badge that breaks my heart. They deserve to be able to go eat at the 715 01:07:20,837 --> 01:07:25,008 same places that I go eat, you know? And because they work hard. And here's the good thing 716 01:07:25,008 --> 01:07:29,012 about it, those people that are making less than $50,000, they work eight hours a day. They 717 01:07:29,012 --> 01:07:32,949 can't leave early. They can't leave on Fridays. They can't have extended holidays because 718 01:07:32,949 --> 01:07:36,986 someone's always watching them. The people that are that are salary, that's making the money, 719 01:07:36,986 --> 01:07:41,124 you know, they may work five hours, they may work six hours, they may do whatever. And 720 01:07:41,124 --> 01:07:45,228 there's nobody that's scrutinizing them. We deserve to take care of them. And if we 721 01:07:45,228 --> 01:07:51,668 don't take care of them, then Steve LOST tax reform. These people provide these essential 722 01:07:51,668 --> 01:07:57,140 services that the citizens see every day. Those of us that are not doing direct contact with 723 01:07:57,140 --> 01:08:02,312 citizens, although, you know, we make policies and there's value, there's a lot of value 724 01:08:02,312 --> 01:08:09,285 in those people who are the first point of contact for our county. So that's enough of my 725 01:08:09,285 --> 01:08:14,791 position. Steve. I made this position every budget. So I mean, it's nothing different. I 726 01:08:14,791 --> 01:08:22,999 mean, I think it's a good outcome. Steve. Steve, you can live with that. Steve. Yeah, I 727 01:08:22,999 --> 01:08:32,775 guess. No, I'm good with that. Y'all do. What do you think Steve you can live with it. 728 01:08:32,775 --> 01:08:39,248 Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Okay, so I'm clear. I just want to make sure that I have my pots of money 729 01:08:39,248 --> 01:08:46,456 correct. We're voting to reduce the millage to 6.571, which is going to drop the collections 730 01:08:46,456 --> 01:08:52,261 by $1 million. We're going to subsidize that by putting $1 million less in reserve. And 731 01:08:52,261 --> 01:08:59,702 then we are planning to provide additional pay raises at the cost of $1 million. So no, no, 732 01:08:59,702 --> 01:09:06,843 no, the item, if conversationally, the board, I think as a whole can give or as 733 01:09:06,843 --> 01:09:10,913 a majority can give that feedback to the administrator and to the to our chief budget 734 01:09:10,913 --> 01:09:14,784 officer. But I mean, I think Commissioner Berger's motion for the millage needs to stand 735 01:09:14,784 --> 01:09:19,222 by itself. Okay. If he and Steve, if you'd remake the motion you made earlier, then I 736 01:09:19,222 --> 01:09:22,959 will second it again. And hopefully we can. Commissioner beer, if you're trying to get 737 01:09:22,959 --> 01:09:27,897 to four is what I would say. Steve, if you're looking for Commissioner Cola made some 738 01:09:27,897 --> 01:09:32,568 good recommendations. Commissioner Berry, I would just ask if we direct Steven 739 01:09:32,568 --> 01:09:36,839 and Wes to figure out how we find that million without going into our reserves. I mean, 740 01:09:36,839 --> 01:09:41,444 because one thing I think you and I both can go home with being proud is how we've 741 01:09:41,444 --> 01:09:45,548 increased the reserves. So no matter what they will say about us, the reserves is a lot more 742 01:09:45,548 --> 01:09:50,553 healthier than it was when we got here. And I think that we just we tasked staff with going 743 01:09:50,553 --> 01:09:55,558 and figuring it out. I mean, whether it's gas allowance, whether it's leave time, 744 01:09:55,558 --> 01:09:59,996 whatever it is. I think Steven brings that back without touching the reserve. And if we 745 01:09:59,996 --> 01:10:12,175 do that, then you got my support. Okay. All right. I'll make a motion. Motion is to for 746 01:10:12,175 --> 01:10:22,218 the countywide millage rate to be reduced to 6.571, the library Mstu remains at 0.359. 747 01:10:22,218 --> 01:10:30,126 Law enforcement Mstu at 6850. Second, just a friendly amendment, Commissioner that 748 01:10:30,126 --> 01:10:37,333 the. When they find those savings, they won't come out of reserve. It's a friendly 749 01:10:37,333 --> 01:10:41,738 amendment to you. If you would accept that amendment that he will. Stefan will bring 750 01:10:41,738 --> 01:10:45,775 something back. And if he brings it back and he can't find it, we'll go out of 751 01:10:45,775 --> 01:10:49,712 reserves. But right now that he'd be directed to find those funds without going into 752 01:10:49,712 --> 01:10:53,916 reserves. So if we couldn't find him to cut them, how are we finding them? If he's never 753 01:10:53,916 --> 01:10:58,721 been directed to go find them? I know, but we said earlier that cutting it by 2 million 754 01:10:58,721 --> 01:11:03,292 would be detrimental. But essentially, we're still we're spending an extra million and 755 01:11:03,292 --> 01:11:07,363 cutting a million. So we're still at that 2 million mark. And earlier he said it would 756 01:11:07,363 --> 01:11:11,601 come out of reserve. So I you know, I earlier said I wasn't going to support my reserves 757 01:11:11,601 --> 01:11:16,472 unless he comes back at the next budget hearing and said, I just can't find it in reserves. 758 01:11:16,472 --> 01:11:20,276 I think I think Commissioner Reserve, it wouldn't go into reserve. It wouldn't go into 759 01:11:20,276 --> 01:11:24,814 reserves. No, it would have to come out of reserves. So typically the way that OMB 760 01:11:24,814 --> 01:11:29,452 handles the the financial the financial transaction. So you have any number of plus ups, 761 01:11:29,452 --> 01:11:33,823 you have any number of subtractions. So typically we add to our reserve and we take 762 01:11:33,823 --> 01:11:40,830 from our reserve as we move through changes that happen after July, such as certain 763 01:11:40,830 --> 01:11:45,001 state mandates and things like Medicaid and Department of Juvenile Justice, various other 764 01:11:45,001 --> 01:11:49,739 things that we get information or revenue sharing or half cent sales tax. Those types of 765 01:11:49,739 --> 01:11:54,744 things typically happen after the fact. So reserves are adjusted to accommodate for 766 01:11:54,744 --> 01:12:03,719 that. So if if this board is directing $1 million reduction. So I would typically again, it 767 01:12:03,719 --> 01:12:08,391 flows through the reserve allocation, whether it's a plus or a minus. If we are going to 768 01:12:08,391 --> 01:12:13,763 spend roughly $1 million on additional pay raises. So that will come out of reserves as 769 01:12:13,763 --> 01:12:21,037 well. So that that is typically how, how those things are handled between July and your 770 01:12:21,037 --> 01:12:26,008 final budget. Okay. But that's not the motion. This is a standalone motion, the millage 771 01:12:26,008 --> 01:12:32,648 rate. So I ask for a friendly amendment. I think if you want to get my support and and maybe 772 01:12:32,648 --> 01:12:37,620 I'll have four votes, but I simply, you know, fiscal management, good stewardship to 773 01:12:37,620 --> 01:12:42,358 simply allow for them to go back and figure out if there's other ways in which we cut 774 01:12:42,358 --> 01:12:46,529 without taking out of our savings account. And that's simply a friendly amendment, 775 01:12:46,529 --> 01:12:52,001 Commissioner. Well, what is and we always have and here's the great thing we have the ability. 776 01:12:52,001 --> 01:12:56,272 If you can't find it, even if we pass the budget, we have the ability to always take money 777 01:12:56,272 --> 01:13:01,210 out of reserves if we need it to. We have that ability every day and we take money out of 778 01:13:01,210 --> 01:13:06,382 reserve every day. So we have the ability to take it out of reserves if we want. So. Well, 779 01:13:06,382 --> 01:13:10,686 what all can we put in this motion legally? Because I know the budget meeting is very 780 01:13:10,686 --> 01:13:16,759 scripted. So can we add that amendment in or. No. I would recommend that we have the 781 01:13:16,759 --> 01:13:21,097 cleanest that we can have, which would be to set the military aid and to note the 782 01:13:21,097 --> 01:13:26,135 percentages. I think that this is a structured process, and if we deviate too far from that 783 01:13:26,135 --> 01:13:30,139 process, that may create some problems, then take up a second motion that only needs three 784 01:13:30,139 --> 01:13:35,011 votes to have to have the intent for the reduction be thank you be found in another 785 01:13:35,011 --> 01:13:38,781 way other than just cutting reserves, if that's what. If that's what count. I thank 786 01:13:38,781 --> 01:13:43,886 Commissioner Berry. I'm good with that. Okay, so we had Commissioner Sternberger made 787 01:13:43,886 --> 01:13:50,660 the motion, who second, Commissioner Berry second. All in favor? Okay. Four. Oh. All 788 01:13:50,660 --> 01:13:56,766 opposed? I'm not voting for that. So it passes. Four one and then I believe there was a 789 01:13:56,766 --> 01:14:03,639 second motion you wanted to make, Madam Chair, and recognizing the reduction of 790 01:14:03,639 --> 01:14:08,611 the millage rate. And there's going to have to be some savings. I make a motion that 791 01:14:08,611 --> 01:14:13,549 our first option would be to not take the money out of reserves and find other cost 792 01:14:13,549 --> 01:14:20,156 saving measures. Okay. All in favor. Okay. That is five. Oh thank you. Oh, I got five. 793 01:14:20,156 --> 01:14:28,130 Wonderful like that. Danny, we also need a motion to adopt the tentative budget resolution for 794 01:14:28,130 --> 01:14:34,937 2026 2027. So at this time, I would like to ask somebody to make a motion to do so. So move 795 01:14:34,937 --> 01:14:45,548 second. All in favor. Okay. Five. Oh thank you. Okay. And then we have a public hearing 796 01:14:45,548 --> 01:14:51,053 for the consideration of adopting the non ad valorem special assessment role. Do we 797 01:14:51,053 --> 01:15:10,172 have any public speakers? Okay. Was the presentation of that please. The non ad valorem 798 01:15:10,172 --> 01:15:19,949 special assessment role. I think it's like street lights and things like that. 799 01:15:19,949 --> 01:15:24,253 Commissioners. There is a list of all non ad valorem districts and rates provided in your 800 01:15:24,253 --> 01:15:31,861 agenda back up. We do have a public forum. I don't believe we have any speakers. 801 01:15:31,861 --> 01:15:38,067 Commissioner. Commissioner did did you set the date and time of the second budget public 802 01:15:38,067 --> 01:15:48,044 hearing, which is item three? No we haven't. I would ask that the board set the second public 803 01:15:48,044 --> 01:15:57,820 hearing for September 24th, 2026 at 501 in the board chambers, so moved second. Okay. 804 01:15:57,820 --> 01:16:10,366 All in favor for oh with Commissioner May off the dais. Thank you. Stefan. Do we need 805 01:16:10,366 --> 01:16:17,840 to make a motion to we do that the board adopt the fiscal year 2026 2027 non ad valorem 806 01:16:17,840 --> 01:16:22,945 special assessment roll. So moved. Second. All in favor for oh with Commissioner May off 807 01:16:22,945 --> 01:16:32,121 the dais. Okay. And that is all. Is there anything else to be discussed hearing? Nothing. 808 01:16:32,121 --> 01:16:47,121 Meeting adjourned. Thank you