[0:09] Yeah, I mean, it's. Yeah, sure.
Sure. How are you? Well, yeah.
That's true. Is that one. What
[1:01] do you think? No, not. Not
necessarily. Yeah. So we give
them we tell them what needs to
[1:19] be. And in ten days. Right.
Okay. I agree with. You. Good
evening everyone, and thank you
[2:19] so much for being here. Welcome
to our first budget hearing for
501. Okay. We have one minute.
[2:27] This is your one minute warning.
There you go. All right. Once
again, good evening and thank
[3:01] you for attending our first
budget public hearing. We are
going to call this meeting to
[3:06] order. Please turn your cell
phones to vibrate silence or
off setting. First on our
[3:11] agenda is the Pledge of
Allegiance. Commissioner
Sternberger, if you'll lead us
[3:14] in the pledge, please. Yes,
please join me in the Pledge of
Allegiance. I pledge allegiance
[3:20] to the United States of America
and to the Republic for which
it stands. One nation under God,
[3:28] indivisible, with liberty and
justice for all. Was this
meeting properly advertised,
[3:38] madam chair? The 501 first
public hearing for
consideration of the tentative
[3:43] budget for fiscal year 2026
2027, was advertised in the
board's weekly meeting schedule
[3:49] and the Escambia Sun Press on
September 3rd, 2026, as
required by Florida Statute
[3:56] 197.363. The 5:02 p.m. public
hearing for consideration of
adopting the fiscal year 2026
[4:02] 2027. First year assessment
rolls for street lighting, pond
maintenance, Perdido Key, beach
[4:07] mouse and nuisance abatement.
Miss bus was advertised in the
Escambia Sun Press on August
[4:12] 13th, 2026. First class notices
were mailed to all property
owners in the affected
[4:19] districts. A notice of Street
Lighting Msrp adjustment was
also published in the Escambia
[4:23] Sun Press on August 13th, 2026.
Wonderful. Thank you so much.
Do we have anything to add to
[4:30] the agenda, Commissioner Kohler,
Commissioner Berry,
Commissioner. Commissioner
[4:36] Sternberger no, ma'am. Do I
have a motion to adopt the
agenda? So moved. All in favor?
[4:44] Five zero. Thank you. The first
is a public hearing for the
consideration of the tentative
[4:49] budget for fiscal year 2026
2027, and I believe you have a
presentation. Yes, madam Chair.
[4:58] Commissioners, this is the
first of two required public
hearings for the board to adopt
[5:02] the fiscal year 2627 budget.
The board, later in this
meeting will set the second
[5:07] public hearing date. The
Escambia County Board of County
Commissioners approved the 2627
[5:14] tentative millage rates for
trim notification purposes at
the BCC meeting held on July
[5:19] 23rd, 2026. The law requires
that prior to consideration of
the tentative budget and
[5:24] explanation of the rollback
rate be provided and entered
into the records, the rollback
[5:28] rate is a computed millage rate
that will generate the same
amount of ad valorem tax
[5:32] dollars as the prior fiscal
year, based on the proposed
year's tax roll. Excluding new
[5:37] construction, the millage rates
tentatively approved by the
board for trim notification are
[5:43] 6.600 for the countywide
millage rate, 0.3590 for the
library, municipal services
[5:50] taxing unit and 0.6850 for the
Sheriff's Law Enforcement
Municipal Services Taxing unit.
[5:56] The aggregate of these millage
rates proposed for fiscal year
2627 is 2.32%, above the
[6:03] rollback rate of 7.2897
certified by the property
appraiser. This represents the
[6:10] percentage increase in property
taxes tentatively adopted by
the board. For information and
[6:15] to avoid any misunderstanding
concerning the process of this
meeting. This public hearing is
[6:19] convened tonight to discuss the
county's fiscal year 2627
budget. Because of time
[6:24] constraints, we will need to
confine our discussion to this
subject. Increases in property
[6:28] assessments, remarks or
questions concerning individual
property appraisals should be
[6:32] addressed to the county
property appraiser at his
office during normal business
[6:37] hours. That is my presentation.
Now we can move to questions
and discussion from the board.
[6:45] Or do we have questions or
discussions? Commissioner
Snowberger. Yeah, I'm curious
[6:58] about the. TT. I'm sorry, the
community partners. So that
went up. $0.03. TT funding
[7:17] increased by 396,000 and the
fourth cent went up by another
343. So it's another $740,000.
[7:30] While the what was it other
community partners and theirs
went down by about $10,000 from
[7:46] 1,000,039 to 1,000,028. Is that
right? Lakeview is essentially
it's the same about 397. And
[7:57] community health is at 447. Is
that a question for Stefan?
Yeah, yes it is. So we had.
[8:17] Well, we'll just open up for
discussion. There's no motion.
There is no motion. So the
[8:22] agenda is a discussion on the
item above. The next topic on
the agenda is the community
[8:28] partners discussion. Wes does
have a spot for presentation
before that. Commissioner. Let
[8:36] me just say, you know, because
we got a budget in anticipation
that we have a budget amendment,
[8:43] I'm going to be very supportive,
you know, of whatever the
number is 2%, 5%, 10% across
[8:50] the board. However we want to
cut. And, you know, I'm
probably not the conservative
[8:55] on the board. So to me, let's
figure out how we cut. But when
we cut, let's figure out how we
[9:00] cut completely across the board
and find cost savings for all
of the citizens. And so if we
[9:05] if we figure that out, you'll
certainly have my support, how
we cut it completely across the
[9:09] board for everybody. So, I mean,
we can go line by line. I mean,
obviously this is probably not
[9:15] the meeting. The next meeting
is that. But you'll find my
support if, you know, I've said
[9:19] forever we can cut it by 10%,
20%. So figure out how much
we're going to cut and figure
[9:24] out where you're going to cut.
But we're not going to I'm not
going to support singling out
[9:29] individual organizations to cut.
So I'm not necessarily in favor
of across the board cuts. I'd
[9:37] rather be more targeted.
Instead of saying, everybody
reduce it by 10% or 5% or
[9:42] whatever the number is. And
that's where we disagree. And
it's more targeted. And
[9:46] unfortunate thing is we decide
who we're going to target, who
we're not going to target. So
[9:49] if we're all going to take a
haircut, if we all are going to
become more fiscally
[9:54] conservative, if we all are,
are going to recognize that we
need to do more with less, you
[9:58] know, everybody has to be cut.
So, I mean, you'll find my
support, but you won't find my
[10:05] support targeting organizations.
Commissioner or, or, or
departments. Thank you, Madam
[10:14] Chair. I mean, this is the this
is the this is spot for
discussion amongst board
[10:18] members. If there's not
discussion among board members,
then I would make a motion that
[10:22] the board adopt the millage
rates that were sent in the
trim notifications, so that
[10:29] that is later on the agenda.
Right now we have the
discussion for the budget
[10:36] excluding community partners,
the. So we have that. And then
we would have the community
[10:42] partner presentation from
county administrator. Then we
have public forum, and then we
[10:49] have the board action. Stefan,
what, what, what percentage of
our budget goes to outside
[10:56] agencies? A percentage do we
want to have Wes present on
outside agencies? No, no, I
[11:02] have a question for Stefan. And
then, I mean, I would
appreciate you allowing me to
[11:06] do that. What what percentage?
I apologize, commissioners, for
your general fund, your general
[11:39] fund, community partners is
0.29% of your general fund
budget. Thank you. And I'm move
[11:46] the item as you wish. But we
got less than 1% of what we're
going to argue about. And we're
[11:51] going to pass a millage rate
that represents 99% of our
budget to have a conversation
[11:57] about things that's less than
0.29 of the budget. And so if
that's what we want to argue
[12:02] about, to cut is less than 1%
of the budget just on the
record. I mean, we can do that.
[12:08] So as we pass this millage rate,
we are passing and moving
forward with 99% of what our
[12:14] budget function is. So thank
you. And I'm good. Let's move
that way. But I mean, let's not
[12:20] spend all day arguing over less
than 1% of a budget. All right,
Madam Chair, if the if the item
[12:25] to be to be discussed right now
is adopting of the of the
budget for the year, I move
[12:30] that item. Okay. Noted. Thank
you. And I second that, noting
that that's 99% of the budget.
[12:36] Well, can I make a did you guys
want to follow the agenda or is
it just a free for all because
[12:41] the board action is after
number seven. So if you
following agenda, it's a
[12:46] millage rate. That's what we're
following. You're voting on.
Are we going to accept the
[12:50] tentative millage rate. That's
what we're voting on. So this
we're that's not until later on
[12:54] the agenda. So let's let's do
the. So if we're if we're
taking all this just as. Are we
[13:03] taking all of this, Madam Chair,
as just one item. That's what
you're saying. I was the 501
[13:09] goes through goes through seven
parts. Is that I mean, it's in
the way that the agenda is
[13:14] normally adopted in the budget
hearing. But you're saying that
501 is is going to be all seven
[13:19] items, and you don't want a
motion until after that. That
is the way it's written up. I
[13:24] am a recommendation. There's
been no discussion among the
board on a. So are we moving on
[13:28] then to be. Yes. Let's. Correct.
Madam Chair commissioners,
we're requesting that the board
[13:38] make a final determination
tonight regarding the funding
amount to be allocated to each
[13:42] of our community partners. The
funding determination is
necessary to prepare the fiscal
[13:46] year 2627 community partner
funding agreements and to issue
the associated purchase orders
[13:51] in a timely fashion. These
purchase orders will come
before the board for formal
[13:54] approval in October of 26. I
will say that most of your
community partners were cut by
[14:00] 10% of what they were allocated
last year, with the exception
of the hospitals. Thank you.
[14:07] And we do have public forum at
this time. Is there anyone
signed up for public forum? We
[14:13] have no public forum. Now we do
move into the board action
portion. The first one is for
[14:20] the millage rate. So do we want
to have a conversation around
that or does someone want to
[14:29] make a motion? Yeah, I
essentially want to have the
same conversation. We've
[14:33] already had me and you and
Stefan about that millage rate.
And I asked you if you could
[14:39] give me the millage rate for.
Roughly either 1.5, the 1.75.
Million in reduction. And I
[14:51] think you said it was for the
one, was it, Commissioner? 1.7
is roughly 6.549 mills. That
[15:02] was for about a million, right.
No, that's for 1.7 a million.
Yeah. 6.4549 right. 6.571 would
[15:12] decrease a million. Now for the
1.7 it was about 6.549 I think
is what it was. Stefan. Right.
[15:20] Yes sir. That is correct. Steve.
I think we can get to a $2
million reduction without the
[15:27] reduction of the. Well, with $2
million be for 2 million, the
millage rate would be 6.542.
[15:40] Stefan, can't we can't we get
to the reduction without
reducing the millage rate and
[15:44] locking ourselves in? Excuse me,
Commissioner Koehler. In
anticipation. We don't know
[15:52] what's going to happen with the
amendment three. I mean, so I
mean, obviously we're in the
[15:58] last meeting with my colleague
and suddenly we want to to meet
him as close as we can. And I
[16:03] mean, can we get to those
reductions without reducing the
millage rate, or is the only
[16:07] way that we can get these
reductions without millage rate?
I mean, can we cut can we
[16:11] eliminate can we find other
items in which we can, you know,
at least get to 1 or $2 million
[16:16] of reductions without reducing
the millage rate? Commissioner.
What I would what I would say I
[16:22] would certainly caution the
board to do a $2 million
reduction. What I can tell you
[16:29] is myself and the county
administrator worked very hard
with our general fund
[16:36] departments this year to to
decrease many of those budgets.
Certainly there are going to be
[16:43] certain things that, again, you
are required to do, and those
things are going to increase
[16:47] every year. You have little to
no control over that. So within
within what we could control,
[16:54] we did reduce our departmental
budgets. Now, certainly we do
not know how the referendum is
[17:04] going to go in November. So
again, I would certainly
caution the board. However, I
[17:10] know we have had quite a few
discussions, you know, around
maybe $1 million reduction. I
[17:15] do think that we can absorb $1
million reduction and reduce
the millage to, again, give
[17:23] additional property tax relief,
similar to what we did last
year. But ultimately, this is
[17:28] the board's decision.
Commissioner Sternberger, I
think without if we're if we're
[17:38] going to save, if we're talking
about reducing the budget, then
it's meaningless if we don't
[17:44] also reduce the millage rate. I
think they go hand in hand for
taxpayers. Commissioner,
[17:53] Commissioner patiently waiting.
You could I mean, you could
reduce expenses without
[17:59] reducing the millage rate
because once you reduce the
millage rate, you get locked
[18:02] into the millage rate and you
don't know what the tax is
going to be. I know, I
[18:06] understand, I totally
understand you being fiscally
responsible and conservative
[18:09] and, and I could support, you
know, figuring out, you know,
and it may not be in this
[18:15] meeting, it may be in the next
meeting. And trust me, I've
gone through these books and
[18:20] can figure out some ways in
which we can reduce finding
those numbers because we don't
[18:25] know what's going to happen. I
mean, it may pass, it may not
pass, but reducing the millage
[18:29] rate could have long term
effect. You're the one who
suggested 2 million. Well, well,
[18:36] we think we can take it out
without reducing the millage
rate though. Yeah. I mean, it's
[18:41] just like taking your time and
combing through it. I mean, I
don't see why you can't find $2
[18:46] million in, you know, almost
$800 million budget without
reducing millage rate. So just
[18:50] my opinion, Commissioner, but I
do I do support your. Okay. No
one's actually put a proposal
[18:59] up that says what you want to
take out of district one or
district four. District two you
[19:07] say $1 million. That's about 15
FTEs. You want less FTEs in
your district for code, you
[19:12] want to give up a park, you
want to cut your library
services. What do you want to
[19:16] put on the table? Anything? Or
are we just talking fuzzy talk?
Here's the problem. If no, I
[19:24] literally I went through all
the other constitutional
budgets. Again, all of them
[19:29] have been bloated. Stefan. We
sat down and talked about every
single one of them. We're not
[19:34] the not one constitutional is
going to look bad about this
budget. We are. We're going to
[19:38] be crooks. We didn't cut enough.
Every single thing I can go
through, every single one of
[19:44] them and show you cuts that
that they should be cutting.
And you want to say, let's just
[19:48] cut $2 million out of the
budget. If any of you were
attending some of the stuff at
[19:53] Florida Association of Counties,
you'd know what the talking
guidance is right now with
[19:57] ballot three. But I'm the only
one that does that. So you
don't know because we don't
[20:02] know what's going to happen.
You would cut $2 million. That
would be $43 million up on next
[20:07] year. So then you'd have $45
million and you'd cut about 30
personnel. Tell me where you
[20:14] want to cut them. Do you want
to cut your staff? Because if
I'm going to come to the table,
[20:19] I'm going to put my skin in the
game. I'm not just going to go
to Wes or to Stefan or Director
[20:25] and say, go cut it. No, I'm
going to put my skin in the
game and say which park, which
[20:30] library, which personnel, which
road isn't going to get
resurfaced. And that's not what
[20:35] we're talking about here. So I
think we need to be honest with
ourselves. And Commissioner,
[20:41] listen, I and I concur
throughout listen, I'm not
interested in cutting just the
[20:47] board of county commissioners
because, as you said, the
headlines will be on the board
[20:51] of county commissioners
tomorrow. If we can't find $2
million across all
[20:55] Constitutionals. I mean, we got
to do more with less. We got an
affordability crisis going on
[21:00] in this state, in this country.
We don't know who's going to be
in the governor's mansion. We
[21:04] don't know anything. So you
know what, across the board. I
mean, it's not coming and
[21:08] cutting. I mean, I'm not going
to play games about cutting,
you know, $50,000 out of
[21:12] discretion and all those things.
If we want to have a serious
conversation about looking at a
[21:17] budget and giving direction to
them to cut $2 million, do it
with parity and do it across
[21:22] the board throughout all of the
constitutionals. And then then
that's fair because we can do
[21:28] it. I mean, so there's a
there's yeah, there can always
be ways. And I, and I can
[21:33] support it. I don't think I can
support reducing the millage
rate because I tell you what we,
[21:37] we have not increased since
Commissioner Berry and I've
been on this board. We have not
[21:42] increased the millage rate.
Matter of fact, it's been
rolled back. Commissioner
[21:45] Whitehead, Commissioner
Robinson all rolled it back. We
have not increased the millage
[21:50] rate at all. It's since before
Commissioner Berry. We have not
increased the millage rate, but
[21:57] the cost of goods, the cost of
services continue to go up. The
cost of minimum wage, the cost
[22:05] of in your employees, the cost
of insurance has gone up. And
so I mean, we can't reduce I
[22:10] mean, it's politically
conservative. Whatever y'all
want to say, it's fine. But if
[22:13] we can't find $2 million, then
shame on us. We we can give a
directive without telling
[22:19] someone to cut the millage rate.
Because the unknown is the
unpredictable. Because many of
[22:24] your friends have ran
Tallahassee for the last 33
years, and we see how that
[22:28] affordability is working. We
can cut $2 million across the
board. Commissioner Cole, in my
[22:35] opinion, without directly
affecting services because
taxes pay for services. And so
[22:41] that's what citizens need. So,
you know, Commissioner Berger,
you know, I can be I'm not
[22:46] going to be supportive of
cutting millage rate. I'll be
supportive of cutting $2
[22:49] million out of the budget and
finding finding that money in
the budget, but across the
[22:53] board. But I'm not going to be
supportive of cutting the
millage rate. Okay, so
[22:57] Pensacola Sports Association
asked for 1.6 million and we're
giving them 1.8. Why are we
[23:03] doing that? Why it's another
204,000. What's that? Why is
that accounted for Commissioner.
[23:12] So this is your TDC Tourist
Development Council recommended
budget amounts for the tourist.
[23:18] The tourism portion of the
community partners. And you are
correct. It is additional
[23:25] dollars over last year. So the
tourist tax budget is about
$740,000 more than your 26
[23:34] tourism budget. But again, this
is what was recommended to the
BCC by the Tourist Development
[23:41] Council. Yeah, but they're only
asking for 1.6. Why are we
giving them another 204,000? I
[23:47] don't get it. Why don't we give
them what they asked for? Mr.
Schoenberger, why does the the
[23:56] tax collector have 1.8 or the
clerk have 1.1 or 1.7 million
over budget? And you're not
[24:03] asking her to give back a
million? I'm not asking anybody
to give any money back. I'm
[24:07] asking you just ask. I'm saying
let's give them what they asked
for. If I'm remembering the
[24:12] meeting correctly, if I'm
remembering the meeting
correctly, there was their
[24:16] initial budget, and then there
was some additional advertising
that went into that for some
[24:22] big sports package. And so I
think those are a combination
of the initial budget. There's
[24:27] a reason I'm okay with it. I
just need to know what the
reason is. That's a valid
[24:31] question. It's a valid question.
But I mean, here's the real
conversation. I mean, you can
[24:35] have that. It has nothing to do
with the millage rate. Those
are tourist development tax
[24:39] dollars. That has nothing to do
with the military. And I get it.
If we if we if we are going to
[24:45] make a cut across the board,
maybe people that get tourist
development tax need to cut, I
[24:49] can concur with that. But that
has nothing to do with the
agenda item at hand, which is
[24:54] simply the millage rate.
Commissioner. So he just asked
me, he said, what are you going
[24:58] to start cutting? So why don't
we stop giving more than what
the request for is? I think
[25:04] millage rate, like you're still
who decided to give them more?
You're still decided to give
[25:08] more than they asked for.
Stefan, who decided that? I'm
sorry. So to answer
[25:13] Commissioner Berger's question,
so the difference in the 1.6
million versus the 1.8 million
[25:19] is we have a previously
approved SESEC championship.
Advertisement. That's a multi
[25:27] year, which adds an additional
204,000 to your Pensacola
Sports Association budget. The
[25:33] board has already approved that.
The TDC has already approved
that. So that is why that one
[25:38] is a little more than you see
as as directly requested as
part of the unified budget.
[25:43] This is an additional
advertising and promotion item.
Again, the board has already
[25:47] approved this and the TDC has
already approved that. It's I
believe it's a five year
[25:52] agreement with the SEC
Championships. Okay. So nobody
is in favor of millage rate
[26:04] rollback at all. I am I
absolutely am speaking of
rollback what is just so it's
[26:10] on the record. What is the
rollback rate for the county
portion. And I think the best
[26:21] way to get to the rollback rate
is to have a actual discussion
about what needs to be cut, not
[26:26] just putting less money in
reserves. That's not how I
would run my household budget.
[26:31] That's not how I run my
business. When we need to make
cuts, we look at how we can be
[26:36] more efficient. We don't look
at saving less. So, Madam Chair,
what's the impact of rollback,
[26:41] Commissioner? What is the
impact? I mean and so you have
you have to talk to directors
[26:48] administration. So if you were
to do the rollback, I mean what
would be the impact to services.
[26:53] And are we going to do it
across the board? I mean we've
already made commitments. I so
[26:58] the rollback rate is 6.3807. So
that would reduce roughly $7.5
million to the budget.
[27:07] Conversely, you would have no
recurring or very little
recurring revenue in your
[27:13] general fund to cover recurring
expenditures. Your recurring
expenditures in the general
[27:18] fund are just under 12 million.
So you would be using one time
money to cover those
[27:23] expenditures, which you can do
that for maybe a year. But then
after that, you will have a
[27:29] financial issue. Okay. And I
understand that seven and a
half might be extremely
[27:36] difficult to get to, if not
impossible. But I do think that
we can get closer than $1
[27:41] million. And I agree with
Commissioner Schoenberger when
he says reducing the budget but
[27:45] not reducing the millage rate,
that's not the relief that the
people are asking for. And so
[27:51] what would be the difference? I
mean, I mean, we're because we
have unknowns. We're going to
[27:56] reduce the budget. What the I,
I agree with you. The citizens
are asking for good stewardship
[28:01] there. And we're going to
reduce the budget. I mean, in a
economic crisis and
[28:07] affordability crisis without
reducing the millage, locking
ourselves into the unknown. So
[28:14] I can be very supportive of
reducing it. I mean, I want to
be fiscally conservative on the
[28:21] dollars that we spend. So I can
be this year. I mean, I don't
know why we would there's
[28:27] probably no I mean, I know what
they did in Santa Rosa. There's
probably no other county in all
[28:32] the 67 counties that would
reduce their millage, not
knowing what the amendment is
[28:36] going to do. So if we want to
reduce dollars and show
taxpayers that we are being
[28:40] good stewards, I'm supportive
of reducing the amount. I'm not
supportive of reducing and
[28:45] locking myself in to a fixed
revenue stream, that I don't
know what the expenses are
[28:52] going to be or what's going to
be cut out, because if we look
at the bottom line number and
[28:57] the reason I can support Steve,
I mean, 7 million to me is just
way too much, but I can
[29:02] compromise on 2 million. But if
we lock ourselves into a
millage rate and then we reduce
[29:07] and get rid of homestead and
property taxes, that 7 million
could be 15 million. It could
[29:11] be 30 million. And so that's I
mean, that's my conversation.
So listen, I, I can be
[29:17] supportive, Steve, of cutting,
I mean, reducing the millage
rate is, is going to be a tough
[29:22] hill to climb for me. I'm sorry,
Commissioner Berry, I guess I
interrupted you. Yeah that's
[29:27] fine. So Steve, what do you
what are you saying? What are
you asking, buddy? What do you
[29:31] want to do? You don't want.
Yeah. What? What are you asking?
I was asking for a millage rate
[29:36] back to 6.549, which was going
to be about 1.7. Okay. What?
What else can you live with? I
[29:44] didn't hear that. Would you say?
What else can you live with?
What? What else can you what
[29:48] what can you live with? That's
not that I don't have to decide
this by myself. I'm just
[29:53] telling you, that's what we
what we're asking. If you're
asking for 2 million in
[29:57] reduction. I don't see the
point. And I'm trying to see
the budget. I'm not asking for
[30:01] anything. I want to meet you as
a colleague. I'm trying to meet
you where you are. Less than 2
[30:06] million. I'm just telling you,
it doesn't make any sense.
We're still asking the public
[30:10] to absorb the taxes. Still,
they're still going to they're
going to have an increased tax
[30:14] this year, right? They're not
going to be $7.5 million more
than last name. They're not
[30:18] going to have an increased tax
rate, Steve. Okay. It's not. So
no, it's not a rate increase,
[30:24] but it is an increase because.
Yes. Right. Steve. Steve, just
interact with me for a minute,
[30:30] if you will. Okay. So what,
what did we do last year? We
reduced it and we got by half
[30:36] $1 million last year. 600. It
was commissioner. It was half a
million last year. Okay. So
[30:42] that's that's still a success.
I mean, other counties in the
state are not reducing millage.
[30:46] But that's I mean, that's fine.
That's we're only we're only
working with our county. But I
[30:51] do believe Commissioner I do
believe commissioner is right.
That's not what's happening
[30:54] throughout the state. But. Okay.
And you know, Madam Chair,
we've not had a clamoring for
[30:58] property tax reduction that's
not been that's never filled
these chambers in 15 budgets.
[31:04] That's not been what's happened
here. This is something that's
been pushed by the legislature
[31:08] that's been pushed as a top
down approach, not a bottoms up
approach. But, you know, that
[31:13] doesn't matter either. What
we've got to do is somehow we
got to cobble together four
[31:19] votes. So Steve, what I'm what
I'm asking you is we did a half
$1 million last year if you
[31:25] want, you know, and that's,
that's a success. If you want
to say, look, I can't live with
[31:31] less than $1 million. That's
what numbers that 6.61, 6.0,
6.571, 6.571 would be $1
[31:41] million reduction. So that's $1
million in in millage rate
decrease in. That's twice as
[31:48] much as you did last year. You
kind of led the charge last
year. That's fine. I'm we got
[31:54] we got to cobble together four
votes. I mean, that's what
that's what we're that's what
[31:58] we're working towards.
Commissioner. I don't mean to
cut you off, but that's. I knew
[32:02] that he was looking for a
million. And I've met Steve,
not seven. I met at 2 million.
[32:06] So I've gone to 2 million. And
Steve, I'm willing to support
you in cutting $2 million. We
[32:11] can't. I don't think we got to
get four votes. Well, the
millage I'm not going to
[32:17] support cutting the mill. I'm
not going to support cutting
the millage rates to. I mean,
[32:21] we can just we can stay here
all night. I'm not going to
support cutting the mill,
[32:25] cutting the millage rate, $2
million impact. I will Steve,
if you can live with it, I will
[32:30] support cutting the millage
rate where it produces $1
million decrease going down to
[32:33] 6.571. And then anything that
y'all can come up with,
specifically internal to cut,
[32:41] to cut other functions, to cut,
you know, to cut jobs, to cut
whatever services you don't
[32:48] want. If you want to arrive,
try to arrive at another
million through through
[32:53] reductions in services, which
is what that that's what the
second million is going to be.
[32:57] They can, in my opinion, based
on conversations with staff and
they can absorb $1 million into
[33:01] the budget through the millage
rate decrease. And if you're if
you can live with that, I can
[33:06] live with that. And then if
what you're saying is you want
to bring you've got ideas about
[33:11] how to cut another million.
Okay. That's I mean, that's,
that's a different discussion.
[33:15] I don't, but I'm not going to
support cutting the, the
millage rate that produces 2
[33:19] million. I will support cutting
the millage rate that produces
a million. You did have that
[33:23] last year. It's twice as much
as you did last year. That's a
pretty big success. We're still
[33:29] I mean, it's all it's it's all
just a very. Small issue. If
amendment three passes and you
[33:42] start to get over. In my
opinion, based on my
discussions with Stefan and
[33:45] with Wes, you start to get over
$1 million. And, you know, the
constitutions have been
[33:50] mentioned, but the biggest
constitutional is the sheriff.
You get over $1 million, you're
[33:54] going to start affecting the
sheriff's budget. And I don't
know that that's I don't know
[33:59] that that's the appetite that
this that this board has nor
nor myself. So if what you're
[34:04] saying is a million, I can live
with that as a millage rate. We
got to cobble together four
[34:09] votes. If Commissioner. And
listen, there's probably never
a you know, probably 90% of the
[34:15] time, Commissioner Berry and I
and I respect his ability to
decipher budgets and and I
[34:21] always lean to him, but I'm not
going to support reducing the
millage rate. I'll support
[34:27] funding cuts 2 million, you
know, 3 million, whatever you
want to find to direct staff.
[34:32] But to cut the millage rate to
me would not be good
stewardship for me. We have not
[34:36] increased the millage rate
since 2006. We've reduced it.
And so that's listen, I mean,
[34:43] politically, whatever side of
the aisle you're on, you can do
it. It doesn't make sense. I
[34:47] mean, the price of eggs, the
price of goods, the price of
everything has gone up. I mean,
[34:52] reducing the millage rate, not
knowing what's going to happen
to me is not good stewardship.
[34:57] Steve, I do. You are the most
conservative guy on this board
and I respect that. I can
[35:02] support you cutting and I can
support directing people to cut.
I'm not going to support the
[35:06] millage rate and that's. I
respect Commissioner Berry and
and that's his position. I will
[35:10] tell you, I will support I will
not vote for a budget that
doesn't cut. Find $2 million,
[35:15] but I'm not going to find it.
By reducing the millage rate.
We have to find it in other
[35:20] cost saving measures for me. So
I mean, we can go everybody
vote how they want to vote.
[35:24] That's fine with me. But that's
my position. So I'm going to
throw my where I stand on this.
[35:30] If we could cut it by 1.2
million and that other 200,000
come from discretionary funds
[35:36] being eliminated, I would
support this budget. Madam
Chair. I knew that was going to
[35:41] come up, so I'm going to help
out. If you feel compelled to
do this. This is a team sport.
[35:46] I'll be more than happy to cut
yours and Steve's. I also am
willing to cut the clerk's 100
[35:51] 000 legal slush fund and the
one that Bubba has, because I
don't think they have two
[35:55] lawyers. That's that's extra
money that could come back to
the county. But I have no
[35:59] problem. I voted for Steve to
have a special contract and
then the rest to have of that,
[36:04] I let him do it. But if we're
going to start cutting
independently, let's do it. So,
[36:09] I mean, I'm not going to give
up my right. When the sheriff
gets $500,000 in law
[36:16] enforcement trust funds, and
not one person on this board
voted against it, and not one
[36:20] is asked to write the attorney
general or the CFO. So it's
kind of a little bit ridiculous.
[36:27] We're talking about
discretionary funds, but if you
want me to put a motion to get
[36:32] rid of your tooth, I will do
that for you. I would just like
to know where I stand. But but
[36:37] but but but but point of
clarification, there's no such
thing because by statute we
[36:41] voted. There's no such thing as
discretionary funds. So I don't
know why. Because it's
[36:45] politically correct to say
discretionary funds. It doesn't
exist. It's community impact
[36:48] funds for feeding people and
helping people. So, I mean, I
wish people would stop 200,000.
[36:52] We just cut 100,000 from the
clerk and all vote for it. But
there's no such thing as
[36:56] discretionary funds. People
like to say that because it's a
buzz word, and maybe some
[37:00] reporter will report it.
There's no such thing as
discretionary funds that was
[37:03] gotten rid of. When did we get
rid of that, Mr. Attorney? When
we change it to community
[37:08] impact funds from discretionary.
How long ago was that? I
believe it was March last March.
[37:12] So I don't know why we keep
bringing up discretionary.
There's no such thing. And and
[37:16] we're in litigation. I mean,
I'll tell you, there's a lot of
ways that we can cut. So you
[37:21] know what I mean? I like my
fiscal conservative friends who
are not willing to take a cut
[37:25] and look at the budget, cut the
fireworks show on the beach.
Why do we pay for two? Let's
[37:30] cut it off. Yeah. I'm willing
to cut the fireworks show on
the beach. I'm willing to cut
[37:35] Mardi Gras. I'm ready to cut.
I'm really ready to cut. If you
want to talk about
[37:39] discretionary funds, I am
really ready to show you cut.
But you're not really ready to
[37:43] do that. No, I'm ready for
political. Very happy. And I'm
sick of it. Because for the 1.2
[37:47] is a game. Don't nobody really
want to cut. I don't care if
you're talking. I'm responding
[37:52] to him. But 1.2 is a game. But
they're doing tourism tax cut.
Make a motion. I actually made
[37:56] a recommendation to the TDC
board that we only pay those
after they're able to prove
[38:00] that they actually put heads in
beds. So I'm all for that. And
I also made a motion to have
[38:05] wine on the wall. I'm happy to
bring that to this board. I do
think we give away too much in
[38:11] tourism tax dollars, and I
think they should have to prove
that they put those heads in
[38:15] beds. I presented it to the TDC
board and it did not go over
well. If there's an appetite on
[38:20] this board to take that up, I
would love to do that. It's
what Orlando does and it's what
[38:25] several other municipalities do.
Orlando does what Mickey Mouse
tell them to do. And so I mean,
[38:29] so while we confusing Avalon
tax dollars with TDC dollars
that are coming in by bed tax,
[38:37] that has nothing to do with
property tax dollars in our
general fund. It has nothing to
[38:41] do with our general fund. So
we're mixing it because there's
sound bites. And so but if we
[38:45] sit here all night and have
sound bites, I'm willing. Look,
I just think this mean girl
[38:53] that you're doing, Mike, is not
it's not working well with me.
Okay? I don't care. Me girl.
[38:59] I'm not a mean girl. That's
what you're doing. I mean,
you're bringing up garbage is
[39:03] what you're doing. Mike. Really?
Yes you are. You don't know
about these legal funds. Maybe
[39:07] you ought to read the budget.
I'm not talking about that. I'm
talking about furniture. I'm
[39:11] talking about ten hours for
another person in my office
that no one else has it. No one
[39:16] else. Steve, when you come to
the table and you want to be
tough on the budget, the same
[39:21] thing I learned in the Navy,
you come with a solution. What
you're going to cut, you don't
[39:26] throw it out and say, hey, I
want to keep all of my stuff,
but you guys go do all the hard
[39:31] work. These are real people,
man. I don't want to, I don't I
don't want to keep the
[39:36] discretionary funds. If we got
rid of the discretionary funds
and I'd be losing ten hours,
[39:40] that's what I would do. That's
where it's coming from. But
Steve, stop playing letting him
[39:44] play games on this damn
discretionary funds. It's a
game, you know. I mean, we're
[39:49] in litigation. It's less than
it might sound like. We can cut
mileage. Look, I wasn't the
[39:55] only one we can cut leave time.
At least three people who
wanted to get rid of it once
[39:59] upon a time. And then it's
turned into this contest is
what it's turned into. Cut
[40:04] feeding people after our board
meetings. I mean, it's way more
waste than that. So, you know,
[40:08] listen, if we want to cut waste
and if we're serious, my dear
conservative Republican friends,
[40:13] let's really cut it. Nobody
really wants to do that. Oh, we
going to cut 1.2. You ain't
[40:18] gonna cut nothing. Cut it.
Let's go through it and take a
whole look at the budget and
[40:22] really cut things. Y'all. Y'all
know y'all don't really want to
cut. I just said 2 million. You
[40:27] said 1.20. Then we're gonna cut
the millage rate because it
sounds good. Because it's a
[40:31] sound bite. Commissioner Berry
hit it on the head. You're
going to get to the point where
[40:35] you have to cut the
Constitutionals. You ready to
cut budget by a million? She's
[40:39] over budgeted by a million. You
ready to do it? That's one.
There's one. There's 1 million.
[40:43] Don't worry, I got some more. I
got more than a lot more than
discretionary funds, buddy, I
[40:47] came prepared and that's the
cut. I'm willing to do enough
of the political. Let's do the
[40:53] cuts. That's a million. You
found a million. And now we can
find another million. Let's go.
[40:58] Now that's 2 million. Now the
taxpayers are happy. I'm ready.
Make the motion, Mike. All
[41:02] right, Steve, back to back to
what I was talking about. We've
got buddy. We've got to cobble
[41:07] together four votes this
evening. And it's not I mean
it's not an opportunity to put
[41:13] it off to the next budget
hearing. We've we've got to
leave tonight. Steve you look
[41:20] you look engage with me. Okay.
All right. I'm just I'm just
making sure that you noticed I
[41:25] was talking to you, but but
we've got to leave tonight with
a with a millage rate and we've
[41:32] got to we got to cobble
together four votes and leave
tonight with the millage rate.
[41:35] So I mean I, I you know, I'm
you know, the interactions you
know that's unfortunate on the
[41:41] dice. But but we've got to
we've we've got to leave with a
with a adopted millage rate.
[41:46] All right, then I'll make a
motion that we reduce the
millage rate to 6.571. I second
[41:56] that and just and I'm sure all
the board knows this, but you
know, we've you know, we've got
[42:03] to cobble together four votes
tonight or we end up
potentially at the rollback
[42:09] rate or having, you know,
getting some getting some
advice from Tallahassee about
[42:15] how to run, how to run our
about how to run our budget.
And Stefan, that's not a miss.
[42:22] That's not a miscommunication.
So that's a 1.2. Steve. That's
one, that's one. That's one. So
[42:29] 1 million cut across the board
or it's just a reduction in
millage rate. It's not changing
[42:33] anybody's department. Stefan
can absorb the. Stefan can
absorb this million into the
[42:37] current budget that we have.
The board at any point in time,
has the opportunity to come in
[42:42] and cut a department, cut, you
know, cut budgeted positions
that are unfilled. I mean,
[42:47] there's there's there are
things that we can do, but
we've but we have to leave
[42:51] tonight with a millage rate.
And in my opinion, we can't
leave with the rollback rate.
[42:55] We've got to figure out what
for folks can for folks can
live with. Okay. Jose is also
[43:01] telling me that the motion will
need to include the millage
rate for the library and the
[43:07] sheriff's department, as well
as part of the motion. So just
to make that clear, I think
[43:12] there was a motion on the floor.
If you can amend that motion to
include those millage rates. So,
[43:18] Steve, that was .359 for the
libraries and .685 for the
sheriff. That was your that was
[43:24] the motion. Everybody's been
reduced. Those those those two
are millage rates are the same.
[43:30] Was that your motion. Are you
you asking for the the rollback
rate for the miss MSTU and for
[43:37] law enforcement. You're not
asking for that. Okay. All
right, I got it. We just needed
[43:42] to include those in the motion.
And I thought that's what your
motion said. I was just making
[43:46] sure that's what I seconded.
Yeah, it was 6.571 for the
countywide library is 359. And
[43:53] law enforcement 685. And my
second stood for that. So
there's a motion, Madam Chair,
[43:59] for discussion. So Commissioner
Cole, I like your idea better,
candidly. So we're rolling back
[44:06] the millage rate. And I guess,
Commissioner Schoenberger, your
intent is to look at where we
[44:11] cut later once we roll back the
millage rate. I mean, what how
I think there can always be
[44:16] some cuts. There definitely can
be. I don't have to make those
decisions. Nobody gets any cuts.
[44:20] So you're just rolling back the
military. We're rolling back
the military. We're just $1
[44:24] million. So we're not putting
as much in reserves is that's
what's going on here,
[44:27] Commissioner. Yes. So what will
happen is it just means that
those dollars will not go into
[44:32] our budgeted reserve, but it is
going to directly affect
taxpayers when they receive
[44:36] their actual their actual tax
bill notice in November. It is
going to reduce every every one
[44:41] of those is going to be reduced,
you know, by that by that
margin, Steve. And that's, you
[44:47] know, what? You end up in these
positions. I mean, you know,
you might have and this might
[44:52] not be my idea, but, you know,
my my overwhelming idea is that
we've got to leave with a
[44:58] millage rate tonight. That's
not the rollback rate. So
that's, that's, that's really
[45:02] all I'm trying to get to. I
mean, this is not, you know, to
speak to my friend Commissioner
[45:07] Mays point. I would rather not
as well. But I can, you know,
often you count to three. I
[45:14] gotta count four. So we gotta
count four and I can I can be
supportive of that because it's
[45:19] it, it accomplishes twice what
you were able to do last year,
Steve. It doubles what the
[45:24] reduction was last year. We can,
you know, seemingly, you know,
reasonably absorb it and wait
[45:31] and see what happens with the
ballot initiative. And, you
know, and, and, you know, this
[45:36] doesn't have to do with the
motion, but the thought that
anyone is going to escape a
[45:40] huge impact if that passes.
Anyone being all of our
constitutionals, you know, is,
[45:46] is very, very naive to think
that's not going to affect
tremendously every, every
[45:51] person in this county
Commissioner. And I respect,
genuinely respect you. If we're
[45:57] just taking off $1 million,
Commissioner Koehler made a
recommendation that we can cut
[46:01] the clerk $1 million right now
without rolling back the
millage rate. I mean, that
[46:05] that's simple. That doesn't
really impact, you know, direct
services to the citizens and
[46:10] roads and bridges. And so to me,
we could figure out how to cut
that. Rolling back the millage
[46:16] rate for me, knowing the
critical needs that I have in
our district and where I am, I
[46:22] mean, that's probably, you know,
if there's four votes, that's
great. I'm I said it and I've
[46:27] told too many people, I'm not
going to vote to roll back the
millage rate. I'm not going to
[46:32] vote to roll back the rate. You
know, we can get 1 million, we
can get 2 million. But for me
[46:37] to vote to roll back the
millage rate, when we have ways
in which we can pull $1 million,
[46:42] as Commissioner, Koehler said,
it's just not what I'm going to
do. So, I mean, you can call
[46:47] the vote as far as I'm
concerned. Okay. We do have a
motion from Commissioner
[46:53] Sternberger and then a second
from Commissioner Berry. Is is
that all still standing? You're
[47:00] saying you're not going to
support this? Well, then, I
mean, then don't then don't
[47:06] call the question. We've I mean,
we have to come out of here
with a millage rate that you
[47:12] may have for. I'm just not I
don't think we have four. We
gotta come. We gotta come out
[47:16] of here with the millage rate
that we have, or we end up at a.
Or we end up at a $7 million
[47:22] decrease. So, I mean, I'm
willing to vote for the million
dollars, but I will tell you,
[47:26] like it or not like it, we got
to get four votes. You got to
vote no. I'll vote for it.
[47:32] Steve. But here's the thing. We
we got to come to the next
meeting next year and be
[47:36] serious about what we're going
to cut. But no, because here's
here's the thing. We're going
[47:40] to take heat from this. Like I
said before, we have not raised
the millage since 2006. On this
[47:46] board, the school board has
raised it. The A fuel costs
more. We had to change order
[47:52] last meeting on it. It's like
we don't do anything. We're not
raising the millage. Now. I
[47:56] know we're not we're not
raising what I'm saying. But we
still have to pay for. People
[48:00] still want pay raises. People
do want people to want to work
in the county. I don't know
[48:05] that Nikki told us the mean
salary was like $52,000. So we
got targeted people who make
[48:12] money and target people who
don't make money. So we're
going to be the one that looked
[48:16] bad. But I'll tell you, if this
bout three comes heads up,
constitutionals, because I'm
[48:20] going through everything
through a fine tooth comb,
everyone's going to put in some
[48:24] flesh, but I'll do the million.
I'll do the million because
Steve wants to do it and no
[48:29] one's recommend this. We
haven't raised the millage
since 2006. But no, no, I know,
[48:34] but that's like 15 FTEs. So
that's do whatever you play,
whatever game y'all want to
[48:38] play in this political season.
We're not really giving any
impact to the citizens.
[48:42] Whatever game y'all want to
play, that's fine. I'm not
voting. You know what you tell
[48:45] everybody else to cut back, cut
back. And I'm I'm the Democrat
on the board. So it's great.
[48:50] You know what? Nobody wants to
cut go right, Madam Chair, so
we can still make cuts. I don't
[48:55] care if you don't make cuts.
Don't confuse everyone with the.
We haven't raised the millage
[48:59] rate. That's not a confusion.
We have not raised the millage
rates. It's still a tax. We
[49:03] have not raised the millage
rate. It's still a tax increase.
I made a motion. We got a you
[49:08] got a second vote on it Madam
Chair. Withdraw my second. We
can't we can't bring this to a
[49:12] vote. Understood? Yes, sir.
Let's keep discussing. So the
motion falls flat based on the
[49:16] second withdrawal. Well, I'll
make a motion. I'll make a
motion because the clerk has
[49:21] routinely had over $1 million
to cut hers by million this
year. So here's my motion. Cut
[49:26] the clerk's budget by 1 million.
Five a second. Second. Okay,
there is a motion and there is
[49:33] a second. So I will call for a
vote. All in favor of
Commissioner Koehler's motion,
[49:39] please raise your hand. That
would be three. All who are not
in favor, please raise your
[49:44] hand. That would be two. I'll
make a second motion. I want to
make a motion that the clerk's
[49:53] legal funds and or personal
service for $100,000 no longer
exists. Second. Counsel, can we
[50:04] legally do this? I think that I
think the board has great
flexibility to go through the
[50:11] budget and to make these types
of decisions. At this point, of
course, this is an open
[50:17] conversation, and this board
has to, we would hope, come out
of this meeting with some kind
[50:22] of an arrangement. I think the
board is aware that by pushing
this into the next meeting on
[50:27] the 24th, that that puts
enormous strain on staff and
management. So if it's possible
[50:33] to have something come out, I
think that probably is in the
best interest of the board. Yes,
[50:37] we can vote for it. Okay. Thank
you. Commissioner Koehler,
could you please repeat? Yeah,
[50:42] we have a lot of lawyers. The
clerk has two. I want to
decrease our personal service
[50:47] legal slush fund. That's
$100,000. That's my motion for
legal. For legal, I second it.
[50:53] Okay. All in favor? That would
be four. I am not voting for
that. So that would be four one.
[51:01] May I have the floor, Madam
Chair? Indeed. I hear your
animosity, Commissioner Kohler.
[51:08] It is apparent you are the one
that contacted the two not for
profits. You are the one that
[51:16] lobbied them to file a lawsuit.
You are the one that told them
to go to Alexandra as their
[51:25] counsel. I understand your
animosity. It is noted. And
when you personally talk about
[51:33] going after me personally for
1.5 million, two weeks before
Alexandra even sent a demand
[51:41] letter, it is you, Commissioner
Kohler, and maybe we need to
look towards personal liability
[51:49] of commissioners because your
behavior is abhorrent and I
have the right to defend myself.
[51:56] And I do have two attorneys. My
other attorney is not paid for
by the commission. It is a
[52:04] court side attorney. My one
attorney is Cody Lee that
handles every lawsuit for the
[52:11] clerk's office, because we get
a lot of them because of tax
deed sales and what have you.
[52:17] So I hear your animosity. It is
noted. And if this governor was
not leaving, we would be having
[52:25] a conversation. But I will
certainly have one with Donalds
if he is elected or with jolly.
[52:33] Thank you. We still don't have
a millage rate, so we probably
need to have a conversation
[52:46] about that. Well, I can make
the same motion again. That's
what I do. I don't think we're
[52:57] going to get any further than
that with that millage rate.
Steve. I don't I would just say
[53:01] just there's not a I mean, if,
you know, if we're if we're
going by proper decorum, if you
[53:07] make a motion and it fails,
it's more difficult to bring it
back. So just. Well, what I'm
[53:12] saying is let's just try to see
if we can get to some chart. If
we see if we can get to some
[53:18] commonality before we before we
try to make another motion. I
don't know if it's possible or
[53:23] not, but I I'm willing to vote
for the 1 million. So if you
make the motion against Steve,
[53:27] I'll second it. If Commissioner
Berry won't. Mike, it's got to
have four votes. That's my
[53:33] point. It's got to have four
votes. And if it fails without
four votes, then it's more
[53:37] difficult to then then I mean,
if we know it's not
Commissioner May, I would just
[53:43] I don't know where the chair's
going to vote, but I would
plead with you to do the 1
[53:48] million if that's where Steve.
Steve, Commissioner Berger will
land. There's 2.1 million that
[53:51] we've cut. Steve. I mean, Mike,
here's the deal. I've never
told citizens that I'm going to
[54:00] vote one way and vote in
another way. That's just not
what I'm going to do. I'm not
[54:05] going to play games with this
millage rate. I'm you know, in
playing if we want to make cuts,
[54:09] just make cuts. I mean, you
know listen you go I mean, I
probably I may be for a higher
[54:18] reduction. I believe that you
know my seat and and
Commissioner Berry has done a
[54:22] great job. I've probably been
the most fiscally conservative
guy on this board. But I'm not
[54:26] going to let people paint
someone into, you know, trying
to cut social programs, trying
[54:30] to not feed the hungry, trying
not to feed the poor, and then
play games about taking money
[54:34] out of reserves and cutting the
millage rate, that really has
no real impact on citizens. I
[54:39] mean, you know, that's great. I
mean, people can see the smoke
screen and so cut that millage
[54:43] 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
[54:49] telling you, Commissioner, if
if why don't we look, we we
should be looking at everything.
[54:55] We beat people up on these TDC
dollars. They want to do 7
million. I got what I'll cut,
[55:00] but I'll recommend. But
Commissioner Berger, I mean,
it's a no animosity, I really
[55:05] did. I sit down and went
through all these and the. Can
you live with a million coming
[55:11] out of the general fund? If we
could get four votes there. Can
you live with that,
[55:15] Commissioner Sternberger? Yeah,
that's what we're doing. No, he
doesn't want to do the millage,
[55:19] but it'd be a million that you
would cut out of the general.
I'll tell you what. I'll tell
[55:23] you what. Here's here's how I'm
going to leave this county. And
certainly I think most of you
[55:28] will will be here long after
I'm gone. And Commissioner
Berry and I both have left it.
[55:32] I'll support your reduction,
and I'm not going to support
taking it out of reserves. So
[55:36] if you want to make a motion to
not take it out of reserves and
then put elbow grease to the
[55:41] ground, then I'll support it.
But no taking it out of reserve.
That's the easy thing to do.
[55:46] The hard thing in leadership is,
you know, reduce your millage
rate, take it out of general
[55:50] fund, keep our reserves strong
because everyone needs the
savings, because the citizens
[55:53] of Escambia County don't even
have a savings. They're living
from paycheck to paycheck to
[55:57] payday to payday. And so, you
know, take it out of that and
then cut it and, you know, hold
[56:02] on, Mike. And the only thing
I'm not going to support, I'm
not going to support giving
[56:06] across the board raises to
people who make six figures.
When we got people that make
[56:10] $32,000, you know what? I'll
vote. Do whatever you want to
do. We have people who are
[56:14] making $32,000, $28,000 in our
district. They can't eat.
They're running out of gas at
[56:19] Brownsville to get food. But
then we say across the board,
because it's fair, because
[56:24] somebody makes 150, $200,000,
we're going to give them the
same thing that we give
[56:28] somebody that makes $25,000.
That's unfair, that's wrong.
And so we should be looking at
[56:34] the budget in that perspective.
So listen, you can cut it, keep
it, we can increase it, but
[56:39] take care of our citizens, take
care of the people that
actually go into your washroom
[56:43] and grabbing quarters of things
to pay to wash their clothes,
because that's all they got.
[56:48] And so, I mean, we say, oh,
let's just do it. Let's do a
broad sweep for all the
[56:52] citizens. That's unfair. Let's
do what's right by the citizens,
the least of them. That's what
[56:58] we were elected to do, Mike. We
were elected to take care of
the least of them. And so we
[57:03] should be doing that. Our
budget conversation should be
about the lady that's sitting
[57:07] out there underneath the awning
right now that can't buy her
kids toys for Christmas because
[57:12] she's saving right now. Fine.
Figure out a way to take care
of the least of them, stabilize
[57:18] those. I'm not saying people
shouldn't make six figures,
shouldn't make 70, 80, $90,000.
[57:22] But we are unfair and we worry
about our morale and we worry
about people. Don't answer the
[57:27] phone. I mean, because they're
making, you know, $20,000 to
answer the phone when their
[57:31] boss is taking Three hour
breaks and making six figures.
I'm fine Mike. I could be
[57:36] supportive. The point is, it
has to be a real conversation
about the budget. Mr. Berry
[57:40] said if I don't have it tonight,
I'll never have it. So I'm good.
We can do whatever millage rate
[57:45] you want. What if we give 6% to
everybody that makes less than
$50,000? I'm all on board.
[57:53] Whatever millage rate you want,
give every. And you can cut
everybody else if you want to.
[57:57] Anybody in this county that's
making less than $50,000 to get
a house at Malcolm Young where
[58:03] they told the house. It's 120%
above the median income,
meaning that to get a habitat
[58:09] house on public land at Malcolm
Young, you can make $87,000.
Look at what our citizens make
[58:15] that work for us. All of them
make less than $87,000. They
can't afford a house. Let's.
[58:21] It's chopping time. Do
something like that. You got me.
I don't care what the millage
[58:25] rate is. Let's just give an
increase to these citizens who
are around here. Cleaning our
[58:29] building, cutting our grass,
driving our trucks, and they're
going home, having to work 2 or
[58:34] 3 jobs in there. Hungry? Now.
That's right. Now, if that's
included in the motion that
[58:38] we're going to give these
people 6%, you can cut the rest
of them out. I will vote for
[58:43] whatever millage rate you want,
Commissioner. Commissioner.
Stephan, can you can you just
[58:47] pencil what that impact is like?
What the what the impact of
that would be? We're not
[58:51] talking bargaining employees.
We're talking about board
direct, direct board employees
[58:54] that are under 50,000, you know,
under under 50,000. Yeah. I
mean, I mean, we're already
[59:02] budget. We already budgeted 2%.
Stefan. Right. So it's a four.
It's a 4% delta for employees
[59:09] under 50,000 that are direct
board employees not bargained.
So it's probably not. It's
[59:18] probably not that big of an
impact. No it's not. And I can
I think that's great. You know
[59:24] I think that's a I think that's
a good idea. I can I can be on
board with that as well. Thank
[59:29] you, Mr. Mayor. And I'll be
happy to support your motion,
because we're taking care of
[59:33] the least of them. And
Commissioner Berry, if that's
what we're going to do, you'll
[59:37] find my full support. So what
we're. And it's something we've.
So it's something that we've
[59:41] talked about before and we've,
you know, it's may have been
before y'all were elected, but
[59:45] there's been different times
where we've asked, you know,
Wes or previous administrators
[59:48] to, you know, for employees.
Well, just really trying to I,
I think one of the discussions
[59:55] might have been even employees,
this is years ago, but that
made 35,000 or less that we
[1:00:00] tried to increase more. I think
it might have been with Jack
Brown was administrator. But,
[1:00:04] you know, we tried to increase
the lower end. You know, the
the, the lower tiered employees,
[1:00:08] which, you know, which I know
Jack did, I guess I don't know
that we've done this with since
[1:00:14] you've been administrator, but
it's, you know, the premise is
to is to try to, you know, to
[1:00:19] try to get, you know,
everybody's getting 2%. Okay.
But if they can get an
[1:00:23] additional four. I don't think
the impact of that is
tremendous. Well, and I, I
[1:00:29] don't know what that number is.
I guess you got to tell Stefan,
but I'll tell you the other
[1:00:33] thing is gas. Was it you or did
you bring this up before? Was
it Stefan that we talked about
[1:00:38] the disparity and certain
people getting gas? Everyone
has to drive to work here, man.
[1:00:43] Dude, all we gotta do is go
across the board and give
everybody $200 for gas welding,
[1:00:47] 4 or $500. That would satisfy
all the people that are less
than $50,000. It's a real
[1:00:51] mathematical, easy equation. I
have a problem with it. Just
because the people on the lower
[1:00:55] spectrum of the pay scale still
have to come to work, and
they're not getting a gas
[1:00:59] supplement. And we got people
that get gas that don't leave
their office. And so, I mean,
[1:01:03] these people are catching the
bus, they're catching flex. You
can move those numbers. There
[1:01:07] is an opportunity to help guys.
And that's what I'm saying. If
we want let me just tell you,
[1:01:12] quite frankly, if you want to
talk about amendment three, the
people that are going to vote,
[1:01:16] it ain't the people that's
making six figures. It's the
average everyday citizen that's
[1:01:20] going to say, what is your
government doing for them?
That's the vote. So if we want
[1:01:24] to talk about how people are
going to vote, we got to take
care of the people. It's a lot
[1:01:29] more people making less than
$50,000 than people making more
than a hundred thousand. At
[1:01:33] some point, we got to let those
people know that we care about
them, and we can work those
[1:01:38] numbers out. Like Steve said,
it's not that much money, Mike.
I mean, it is whatever it is.
[1:01:42] But we should not say that we
we are this bold city and we
have citizens, man, you know,
[1:01:48] that can't afford. And they
gotta decide, you know, whether
they're going to buy eggs or
[1:01:53] whether they're going to pay
for their kids, you know,
sports or whether they're going
[1:01:57] to come to work. I mean, it's a
real economic crisis. I mean,
the affordability is real for
[1:02:03] people that we represent. I
mean, Steve represents them in
the rural county. I mean, we
[1:02:07] got people that can't get on a
bus in the north end of the
county. I was in century. Today,
[1:02:12] people are hurting and we have
our citizens that can't. I have
people who can't afford to live
[1:02:16] in district three anymore. And
they're making $40,000. They're
making $28,000. You know, I and
[1:02:23] so let's help them a little bit.
I mean, giving them 6% is not
going to drastically change
[1:02:28] their life. But you know what
it may be where they don't have
to, you know, beg for their
[1:02:34] kids, you know, to get, you
know, a free book bag in the
summer that we can't even pay
[1:02:38] for, which is ridiculous.
Commissioner Berry, I believe
it's, it's around $1 million
[1:02:45] for the general fund, certainly
to do the 6% that Commissioner
May is proposing. It is a
[1:02:54] little more complicated than
that Union. Certain unions are
also included with some some of
[1:02:59] the folks that may be unionized.
Well, correct. But again, so it
is a little more complicated
[1:03:05] than that. But for general fund
purposes. So we're only going
to give raises to the people
[1:03:10] who are non-unionized making
under 50,000. And if they're
unionized, it's just SOL. So I
[1:03:17] did not say that, Commissioner.
Well, no, I'm asking.
Commissioner, may I. I would
[1:03:22] certainly support giving people
who are unionized, but I know
that there's bargaining that
[1:03:26] has to happen between. We just
can't bargain for those who are
represented in bargaining. So I
[1:03:34] would support that, Madam Chair,
if we could do that. You cannot
unilaterally give pay raises to
[1:03:41] unions without bargaining it.
So that's my point. You could
budget it, but you have to
[1:03:45] bargain it. And then they could
come back to the table and ask
for it their next go round.
[1:03:50] Correct. Okay. Yeah. Sorry. I
just wanted to. So no, Madam
Chair, just for point of
[1:03:54] clarification, in no way was I
saying that we would not want
to take care of people because
[1:03:59] they're in a union. I actually
support unions and believe in
unions, but I know that legally
[1:04:03] we can't bargain with them. And
but I mean, I would tell you,
if they came, I would be
[1:04:08] disappointed in any union that
would come back and not want to
bring their employee to allow
[1:04:12] for their employees to get a
raise. And I'm not saying raise
everybody to 50,000, I'm just
[1:04:16] saying give them a 6% pay
increase instead of the four. I
mean, I mean, instead of the
[1:04:23] two, it's a 4% delta. That's
what we're I'm willing to go
for. Steve. I just don't think
[1:04:29] that it's fair, Steve, to to
have more. Yeah. I mean, I'm
with you to give people that
[1:04:33] make six figures. I mean, yeah,
the people that people that are
making, you know, 150,000,
[1:04:38] 100,000, 90,000, they're not
hurting like people that are
making 28,000. So, I mean, I'm
[1:04:43] willing to compromise it and
say, we've had this and we've
done this before. So, I mean,
[1:04:47] this is nothing new to the
position that I had. And so
this is not the poor man
[1:04:51] crusade, but it is the advocacy
of people who don't have a
voice, because those people who
[1:04:56] are making that money, they're
not in the end, and they don't
have anybody advocating for
[1:05:00] them. And most times they don't
have direct relationships with
people who are giving them, you
[1:05:04] know, mirrored raises and
opportunity. And so for me, I
appreciate the people that
[1:05:10] cleaned the bathroom in my
office. I appreciate the people
that pressure wash this
[1:05:14] business, this building. I
appreciate those people who are
around here, who are starting,
[1:05:19] who are working the midnight
shift from 11 to to 11:00 at
night, cleaning our building.
[1:05:23] And I don't think that they
should live in poverty if they
want to walk out of here and go
[1:05:28] buy a cold Coke and a cold beer,
they should be able to afford
it. Well, I mean, you look and
[1:05:33] you look at the job that gets
done now that their employees
are not contracted out like
[1:05:37] they were years ago. You know,
the service that we had when
when things were contracted out
[1:05:42] was, was, you know, a much,
much lower level than it is now.
You know, I mean, that's been
[1:05:47] that's been a several years ago.
But so, Stefan, you can we can
figure that out. I'm trying to
[1:05:51] figure out tonight, Steve. I
mean, I just mean, we can't if
we. We can, Commissioner. We
[1:05:56] can certainly figure that out.
If if that's what the board is
supporting. Stefan. That's what
[1:06:00] I'm supporting. And this is no
offense to the people who are
making the decision to bring
[1:06:04] recommendations. They all make
six figures and I love them all.
I love them, love them all them.
[1:06:08] So they will have a higher
voice. It's up to us to
advocate for those people that
[1:06:13] don't have a voice. And so, you
know, I'm going to advocate for
those people at the same time,
[1:06:17] appreciating those people who
are doing a great job. But it's
it's tough time. It's an
[1:06:21] affordability crisis. I think
if you talk to people, I mean,
I bet you if you talk to Stefan
[1:06:26] or have you talked to Allison,
have you talked to people? They
say, you know what? I'd much
[1:06:30] rather see a young lady with
two kids be able to take her
kids to school and go rather
[1:06:35] than me to get, you know,
another increase. Because I
know all of our six figure
[1:06:39] people like Claire Joy, I know
Wes, I know that their heart of
service wants to help the least
[1:06:44] of them. And so for me, you
know, I'm going to continue to
advocate for this. And that's
[1:06:49] the, you know, like you said,
we got to get to four. I'll
never be a part if we don't
[1:06:53] take care of those people.
Because I get it. Those people,
you know, rent from me, you
[1:06:58] know, they get the clothes
washed with, with with Ashley.
You know, maybe one day they'll
[1:07:02] make enough to invest with you.
I mean, but we see them each
and every day and it breaks my
[1:07:07] heart. It breaks my heart when
I see somebody walking down the
street and said, I'd love to go
[1:07:11] get a sandwich at O'Reilly's
commissioner, but I just can't
afford it. And they have on the
[1:07:16] Escambia County badge that
breaks my heart. They deserve
to be able to go eat at the
[1:07:20] same places that I go eat, you
know? And because they work
hard. And here's the good thing
[1:07:25] about it, those people that are
making less than $50,000, they
work eight hours a day. They
[1:07:29] can't leave early. They can't
leave on Fridays. They can't
have extended holidays because
[1:07:32] someone's always watching them.
The people that are that are
salary, that's making the money,
[1:07:36] you know, they may work five
hours, they may work six hours,
they may do whatever. And
[1:07:41] there's nobody that's
scrutinizing them. We deserve
to take care of them. And if we
[1:07:45] don't take care of them, then
Steve LOST tax reform. These
people provide these essential
[1:07:51] services that the citizens see
every day. Those of us that are
not doing direct contact with
[1:07:57] citizens, although, you know,
we make policies and there's
value, there's a lot of value
[1:08:02] in those people who are the
first point of contact for our
county. So that's enough of my
[1:08:09] position. Steve. I made this
position every budget. So I
mean, it's nothing different. I
[1:08:14] mean, I think it's a good
outcome. Steve. Steve, you can
live with that. Steve. Yeah, I
[1:08:22] guess. No, I'm good with that.
Y'all do. What do you think
Steve you can live with it.
[1:08:32] Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Okay, so I'm
clear. I just want to make sure
that I have my pots of money
[1:08:39] correct. We're voting to reduce
the millage to 6.571, which is
going to drop the collections
[1:08:46] by $1 million. We're going to
subsidize that by putting $1
million less in reserve. And
[1:08:52] then we are planning to provide
additional pay raises at the
cost of $1 million. So no, no,
[1:08:59] no, the item, if
conversationally, the board, I
think as a whole can give or as
[1:09:06] a majority can give that
feedback to the administrator
and to the to our chief budget
[1:09:10] officer. But I mean, I think
Commissioner Berger's motion
for the millage needs to stand
[1:09:14] by itself. Okay. If he and
Steve, if you'd remake the
motion you made earlier, then I
[1:09:19] will second it again. And
hopefully we can. Commissioner
beer, if you're trying to get
[1:09:22] to four is what I would say.
Steve, if you're looking for
Commissioner Cola made some
[1:09:27] good recommendations.
Commissioner Berry, I would
just ask if we direct Steven
[1:09:32] and Wes to figure out how we
find that million without going
into our reserves. I mean,
[1:09:36] because one thing I think you
and I both can go home with
being proud is how we've
[1:09:41] increased the reserves. So no
matter what they will say about
us, the reserves is a lot more
[1:09:45] healthier than it was when we
got here. And I think that we
just we tasked staff with going
[1:09:50] and figuring it out. I mean,
whether it's gas allowance,
whether it's leave time,
[1:09:55] whatever it is. I think Steven
brings that back without
touching the reserve. And if we
[1:09:59] do that, then you got my
support. Okay. All right. I'll
make a motion. Motion is to for
[1:10:12] the countywide millage rate to
be reduced to 6.571, the
library Mstu remains at 0.359.
[1:10:22] Law enforcement Mstu at 6850.
Second, just a friendly
amendment, Commissioner that
[1:10:30] the. When they find those
savings, they won't come out of
reserve. It's a friendly
[1:10:37] amendment to you. If you would
accept that amendment that he
will. Stefan will bring
[1:10:41] something back. And if he
brings it back and he can't
find it, we'll go out of
[1:10:45] reserves. But right now that
he'd be directed to find those
funds without going into
[1:10:49] reserves. So if we couldn't
find him to cut them, how are
we finding them? If he's never
[1:10:53] been directed to go find them?
I know, but we said earlier
that cutting it by 2 million
[1:10:58] would be detrimental. But
essentially, we're still we're
spending an extra million and
[1:11:03] cutting a million. So we're
still at that 2 million mark.
And earlier he said it would
[1:11:07] come out of reserve. So I you
know, I earlier said I wasn't
going to support my reserves
[1:11:11] unless he comes back at the
next budget hearing and said, I
just can't find it in reserves.
[1:11:16] I think I think Commissioner
Reserve, it wouldn't go into
reserve. It wouldn't go into
[1:11:20] reserves. No, it would have to
come out of reserves. So
typically the way that OMB
[1:11:24] handles the the financial the
financial transaction. So you
have any number of plus ups,
[1:11:29] you have any number of
subtractions. So typically we
add to our reserve and we take
[1:11:33] from our reserve as we move
through changes that happen
after July, such as certain
[1:11:40] state mandates and things like
Medicaid and Department of
Juvenile Justice, various other
[1:11:45] things that we get information
or revenue sharing or half cent
sales tax. Those types of
[1:11:49] things typically happen after
the fact. So reserves are
adjusted to accommodate for
[1:11:54] that. So if if this board is
directing $1 million reduction.
So I would typically again, it
[1:12:03] flows through the reserve
allocation, whether it's a plus
or a minus. If we are going to
[1:12:08] spend roughly $1 million on
additional pay raises. So that
will come out of reserves as
[1:12:13] well. So that that is typically
how, how those things are
handled between July and your
[1:12:21] final budget. Okay. But that's
not the motion. This is a
standalone motion, the millage
[1:12:26] rate. So I ask for a friendly
amendment. I think if you want
to get my support and and maybe
[1:12:32] I'll have four votes, but I
simply, you know, fiscal
management, good stewardship to
[1:12:37] simply allow for them to go
back and figure out if there's
other ways in which we cut
[1:12:42] without taking out of our
savings account. And that's
simply a friendly amendment,
[1:12:46] Commissioner. Well, what is and
we always have and here's the
great thing we have the ability.
[1:12:52] If you can't find it, even if
we pass the budget, we have the
ability to always take money
[1:12:56] out of reserves if we need it
to. We have that ability every
day and we take money out of
[1:13:01] reserve every day. So we have
the ability to take it out of
reserves if we want. So. Well,
[1:13:06] what all can we put in this
motion legally? Because I know
the budget meeting is very
[1:13:10] scripted. So can we add that
amendment in or. No. I would
recommend that we have the
[1:13:16] cleanest that we can have,
which would be to set the
military aid and to note the
[1:13:21] percentages. I think that this
is a structured process, and if
we deviate too far from that
[1:13:26] process, that may create some
problems, then take up a second
motion that only needs three
[1:13:30] votes to have to have the
intent for the reduction be
thank you be found in another
[1:13:35] way other than just cutting
reserves, if that's what. If
that's what count. I thank
[1:13:38] Commissioner Berry. I'm good
with that. Okay, so we had
Commissioner Sternberger made
[1:13:43] the motion, who second,
Commissioner Berry second. All
in favor? Okay. Four. Oh. All
[1:13:50] opposed? I'm not voting for
that. So it passes. Four one
and then I believe there was a
[1:13:56] second motion you wanted to
make, Madam Chair, and
recognizing the reduction of
[1:14:03] the millage rate. And there's
going to have to be some
savings. I make a motion that
[1:14:08] our first option would be to
not take the money out of
reserves and find other cost
[1:14:13] saving measures. Okay. All in
favor. Okay. That is five. Oh
thank you. Oh, I got five.
[1:14:20] Wonderful like that. Danny, we
also need a motion to adopt the
tentative budget resolution for
[1:14:28] 2026 2027. So at this time, I
would like to ask somebody to
make a motion to do so. So move
[1:14:34] second. All in favor. Okay.
Five. Oh thank you. Okay. And
then we have a public hearing
[1:14:45] for the consideration of
adopting the non ad valorem
special assessment role. Do we
[1:14:51] have any public speakers? Okay.
Was the presentation of that
please. The non ad valorem
[1:15:10] special assessment role. I
think it's like street lights
and things like that.
[1:15:19] Commissioners. There is a list
of all non ad valorem districts
and rates provided in your
[1:15:24] agenda back up. We do have a
public forum. I don't believe
we have any speakers.
[1:15:31] Commissioner. Commissioner did
did you set the date and time
of the second budget public
[1:15:38] hearing, which is item three?
No we haven't. I would ask that
the board set the second public
[1:15:48] hearing for September 24th,
2026 at 501 in the board
chambers, so moved second. Okay.
[1:15:57] All in favor for oh with
Commissioner May off the dais.
Thank you. Stefan. Do we need
[1:16:10] to make a motion to we do that
the board adopt the fiscal year
2026 2027 non ad valorem
[1:16:17] special assessment roll. So
moved. Second. All in favor for
oh with Commissioner May off
[1:16:22] the dais. Okay. And that is all.
Is there anything else to be
discussed hearing? Nothing.
[1:16:32] Meeting adjourned. Thank you