[0:49] shortly.
[0:51] >>chair: would everyone please
[0:52] take their seats.
[0:53] We are going to begin now.
[0:54] Thank you.
[0:56] Going to ask my dear colleague
[0:57] commissioner gonzalez to lead
[1:00] us in prayer and commissioner
[1:02] cohen higgins to lead us in the
[1:14] pledge of allegiance.
[1:15] >>commissioner gonzalez: it
[1:17] thank you MADAM Chair. If you
[1:19] can bow your heads, thank you
[1:20] for this wonderful day you've
[1:22] given us, we pray you bless
[1:24] everybody in attendance, bless
[1:25] every commissioner up here in
[1:30] this committeeand in all the
[1:32] committees, every director in
[1:33] miami-dade county, let your
[1:35] will be done and let every
[1:36] decision we make and everything
[1:38] we do before your glory and for
[1:41] the betterment of people of
[1:42] miami-dade county, in your holy
[1:43] name we pray amen.
[1:45] >> I pledge allegiance to the
[1:47] flag of the united states of
[1:48] america and to the republic for
[1:50] which it stands, one nation
[1:52] under GOD indivisible with
[1:54] liberty and justice for all.
[1:55] >>chair: thank you.
[1:55] Ood
[1:56] morning everyone.
[1:58] So MR. Attorney, at this time
[2:00] would it be appropriate to
[2:01] extend reasonable opportunity
[2:05] for the public to be heard?
[2:07] >> thank you MADAM Chair. This
[2:09] would be appropriate time for
[2:10] the reasonable opportunity to
[2:12] be heard on any nonpublic
[2:17] hearing items.
[2:20] >>chair: I don't have any cards
[2:22] for non-public hearing items so
[2:23] is there anyone who wishes to
[2:25] address the commission for the
[2:27] non-public hearing item?
[2:28] Seeing none then we will
[2:29] entertain.
[2:32] A motion to set the agenda.
[2:33] >> MADAM Chair.
[2:35] >>chair: excuse me, my
[2:44] apologies.
[2:46] >> this is my first time here,
[2:47] not sure if I'm here but I want
[2:49] to talk on economic opportunity
[2:51] of miami-dade county for the
[2:53] residents of hialeah, is this
[2:54] the appropriate time or do I
[2:55] come back.
[2:57] >>chair: this is your card,
[2:57] hosea?
[2:59] I believe you filled out a
[3:00] public hearing card.
[3:02] Do you know the item number you
[3:11] are speaking on.
[3:13] >> the grants awarded, how it
[3:15] impacts communities like
[3:17] hialeah for economic
[3:19] opportunity, do I come back.
[3:21] >>chair: you MAY, you have two
[3:21] minutes.
[3:23] >> 7088 southpark drive, I have
[3:25] experienced with cultural
[3:35] affairs holiday award grants
[3:36] and hialeah only received
[3:38] 50,000 of that and it's
[3:40] something I stressed to the
[3:41] cultural affairs department,
[3:43] when you provide a grant your
[3:45] providing economic
[3:45] opportunities.
[3:47] The companies that get million
[3:49] dollar grants are very
[3:50] well-funded, very
[3:51] well-developed and it's not
[3:53] fair for income communities.
[3:55] e pay 28% of our taxes go to
[4:01] miami-dade county and we are
[4:03] 98% spanish-speaking and
[4:05] unfortunately a lot of our
[4:06] residents don't know the system
[4:08] but I asked for the cultural
[4:10] affairs board or even the
[4:11] grants you'll board for
[4:13] projects that they include
[4:14] putting in systems for
[4:16] communities that are
[4:17] disenfranchised, communities
[4:19] that are marginalized, low
[4:21] income, that they have to make
[4:30] an extra effort.
[4:31] I am a retired employee with
[4:33] the parks and recreation
[4:35] department for hialeah and when
[4:37] they built the underlined my
[4:39] friends working for miami-dade
[4:40] county only wanted a bicycle
[4:42] trail but it was when related
[4:44] groups got involved and wanted
[4:45] the economic impact but
[4:46] unfortunately now we are
[4:49] speaking and not heard because
[4:50] how are you going to hear me
[4:51] when you have these big
[4:52] companies.
[4:53] But the underlined went all the
[4:55] way down south, ignoring
[4:56] alapata as north hialeah even
[4:58] though we have green space so I
[5:00] hope you talk about quality and
[5:16] equity, there is no equity in
[5:18] the way you award your grants
[5:19] for cultural affairs.
[5:21] I hope you look into that and
[5:22] sometimes it's not done on
[5:24] purpose but when you make
[5:25] someone aware I hold you look
[5:27] into it and make it equitable
[5:28] we are communities like
[5:30] hialeah, we have the highest
[5:32] percentage of humans and we are
[5:35] rich in cultural affairs but we
[5:36] don't have the know-how and I
[5:38] hope you look out for us.
[5:40] >>chair: thank you josc, seeing
[5:41] no further public input we are
[5:43] ready to set the agenda,
[5:44] correct attorney?
[5:46] >> yes MADAM Chair, matters for
[5:48] consideration in today's
[5:49] meeting are on the final
[5:51] printed agenda with changes
[5:53] noted in the changes memorandum
[5:55] which included the addition of
[5:56] item 3c and 3d so without a
[5:58] motion to set the agenda is in
[5:58] order.
[6:00] >>chair: motion by commissioner
[6:02] cohen higgins, second by
[6:04] commissioner gonzalez, all in
[6:05] favor say aye.
[6:07] Any matters, just so everyone
[6:08] knows I will take up the
[6:10] discussion items at the end of
[6:12] the meeting so we will move
[6:33] towards the public hearing
[6:33] item, 1g1.
[6:35] Would it be appropriate to move
[6:37] to public hearing item 1g1 now?
[6:39] Class and ordinance related to
[6:41] the rules of procedure of the
[6:43] board of county commissioners
[6:43] amending two b
[6:44] one of the code
[6:47] of miami-dade county revising
[6:49] requirements relating to
[6:51] notification provided by the
[6:53] county mayor or designee to all
[6:54] applicable district
[6:55] commissioners of certain
[6:57] matters originating with the
[6:59] administration providing
[7:01] severability inclusion in the
[7:03] code and an effective date.
[7:04] >>chair: public hearing is open
[7:06] if anyone wishes to speak on
[7:07] item 1g1.
[7:08] Seeing none, so the public
[7:10] hearing is now closed, do I
[7:12] have a motion on 1g1 and any
[7:12] discussion?
[7:14] I have a motion by commissioner
[7:16] cohen higgins, second by
[7:18] commissioner gonzalez, MADAM
[7:20] Clerk will you call the roll.
[7:21] >>commissioner cohen higgins:
[7:21] for.
[7:24] >>commissioner gonzalez: for.
[7:24] >>chair: yes.
[7:27] >> motion passes unanimously.
[7:29] >>chair: now would you like to
[7:30] bifurcate any of the items on
[7:32] the agenda for discussion?
[7:34] So do I have a motion to
[7:36] approve the agenda?
[7:37] >>commissioner gonzalez: I
[7:38] moved the balance of the
[7:39] agenda.
[7:40] >>chair: seconded by
[7:42] commissioner cohen higgins, all
[7:43] in favor.
[7:44] So I also have a request to
[7:46] waive iiib, 3c and 3d to the
[7:47] JULY 21 bcc meeting.
[7:51] Are there any other requests to
[7:52] waive onto the meeting?
[7:55] Anything else remaining county
[7:57] attorney on the agenda.
[7:59] >> other than the discussion
[8:00] item note.
[8:02] >>chair: we will move to the
[8:03] discussion item.
[8:06] We ve a budget presentation by
[8:11] the internal compliance
[8:11] department.
[8:13] If you already, you MAY
[8:14] approach.
[8:18] >> good morning.
[8:29] >>chair: good morning chief.
[8:31] >> I like to introduce ophelia
[8:33] presenting on behalf of the
[8:35] mayor the internal compliance
[8:37] strategic objectives for the
[8:38] year.
[8:39] >>chair: thank you so much, you
[8:42] are recognized director.
[8:44] >> thank you, good morning
[8:45] gerald and lopez and members of
[8:47] the committee, I'm pleased to
[8:49] provide an overview of the
[8:50] internal compliance department,
[8:54] the results we are delivering,
[8:56] the challenges affecting our
[8:58] work and modernization
[9:00] priorities that position us to
[9:01] provide greater value.
[9:03] at its core icd is an
[9:04] operational partner.
[9:06] We hope departments strengthen
[9:08] internal controls improve
[9:18] business processes recover
[9:19] revenue, manage risk and use
[9:21] county resources more
[9:21] effectively.
[9:23] Based on the scope of
[9:24] responsibilities of the
[9:26] departments preventative focus
[9:28] consideration could be given to
[9:29] referring our role as a
[9:31] counties enterprise risk
[9:32] management function.
[9:35] Our mission is to support
[9:36] county administration and
[9:37] ultimately county residents.
[9:40] By improving operational
[9:42] performance and strengthening
[9:51] accountability across the
[9:52] organization.
[9:53] Our goal is to identify issues
[9:55] early, provide practical
[9:56] recommendations and health
[9:58] management implement
[9:59] improvements before small
[10:01] control weaknesses become
[10:02] larger problems.
[10:04] We do that by working directly
[10:06] with county departments,
[10:08] jackson health system,
[10:09] municipalities and
[10:13] constitutional offices.
[10:15] Icd brings together several
[10:17] functions that reinforce one
[10:18] another to protect county
[10:20] resources by managing risk,
[10:22] strengthening controls and
[10:24] ensuring accountability.
[10:26] Credit and collections covers
[10:28] delinquent receivables and
[10:30] helps protect revenue needed to
[10:31] support county services.
[10:33] Risk management addresses
[10:35] claims, insurance, loss
[10:40] prevention and mitigation of
[10:41] property liability and personal
[10:41] risks.
[10:43] He purchasing card
[10:45] compliance division promotes
[10:47] secure and efficient card use
[10:48] while monitoring transactions
[10:49] for compliance.
[10:51] The process and control
[10:52] management team conducts
[10:55] targeted reviews of operations,
[10:57] contracts revenues and internal
[10:58] controls.
[10:59] These reviews are intended not
[11:01] only to identify deficiencies
[11:03] but improve processes.
[11:05] These divisions collectively
[11:06] strengthen the counties
[11:08] integrity and operational
[11:10] resilience by preventing loss,
[11:24] managing risk, ensuring
[11:26] compliance, protecting revenue
[11:28] and driving continuous
[11:29] improvement.
[11:30] While icd was currently
[11:32] supporting counties enterprise
[11:33] resource planning system, that
[11:35] responsibility is scheduled to
[11:37] be managed by the clerk of
[11:38] court as of AUGUST 3, 2026.
[11:41] Our recent accomplishments
[11:43] demonstrate the value of this
[11:44] integrated approach.
[11:45] It debt collections have
[11:47] increased by 11%.
[11:48] Not just a reflection of
[11:50] stronger collection activity
[11:51] but also effectuating
[11:53] compliance where at equitable.
[11:55] Process and control management
[11:57] completed 52 review reports in
[11:59] the prior year, identifying
[12:01] preventative improvements while
[12:03] also identifying about $402,000
[12:04] in assessments and
[12:06] approximately $613,000
[12:09] recovered from previously
[12:10] issued reports.
[12:12] Within purchasing card
[12:14] compliance process improvements
[12:16] reduced monitoring turnaround
[12:32] time improving responsiveness
[12:34] and making the process more
[12:36] seamless for cardholders and
[12:36] departments.
[12:38] We are also beginning to
[12:40] incorporate artificial
[12:42] intelligence into selected
[12:43] activities.
[12:45] Our goal is not to replace
[12:47] professional judgment, is to
[12:48] automate repetitive work
[12:50] analyzed larger amounts of
[12:51] information and allow employees
[12:53] to focus on higher value
[12:54] activities.
[12:56] At the same time several issues
[12:58] can inhibit our ability to
[13:00] expand these results.
[13:01] The first is a legacy code
[13:02] enforcement system.
[13:02] F age
[13:04] limits automation system
[13:06] integration analytics and
[13:07] reporting.
[13:09] The second issue is workforce
[13:09] capacity.
[13:10] Ecruitment,
[13:12] retention and retirements, the
[13:14] 3rs affect our ability to
[13:15] maintain and service and
[13:16] demands.
[13:18] Risk management is also a major
[13:18] priority.
[13:20] The county faces a wide range
[13:22] of exposures including employee
[13:23] injuries, vehicle accidents,
[13:25] property losses liability
[13:26] claims to be or whether an
[13:28] operational disruptions.
[13:30] A more coordinated data-driven
[13:31] risk management approach can
[13:33] help reduce both the frequency
[13:35] and financial impact of these
[13:36] events.
[13:38] Finally icd must continuously
[13:40] manage competing priorities.
[13:41] Our challenge is to remain
[13:43] responsive while keeping
[13:45] attention on the counties
[13:46] highest risk and highest value
[13:47] needs.
[13:48] Our first priority is replacing
[13:51] the legacy code enforcement
[13:51] system.
[13:52] His should be viewed
[13:54] as a business process
[14:16] modernization effort not simply
[14:18] an information technology
[14:18] replacement.
[14:20] A modern platform can improve
[14:23] case management collections
[14:25] reporting data quality and
[14:26] accountability.
[14:27] Our second priority is
[14:28] expanding the responsible use
[14:31] of artificial intelligence and
[14:32] collections and process
[14:33] reviews.
[14:36] Potential applications include
[14:38] prioritizing accounts analyzing
[14:40] documents identifying
[14:42] anomalies, evaluating trends
[14:43] and responding to routine
[14:44] customer questions.
[14:46] Our third priority is
[14:48] strengthening risk management
[14:50] processes and controls.
[14:51] We want to move from reacting
[14:53] to claims after losses occur to
[14:55] identifying causes and helping
[14:56] departments prevent future
[14:57] losses.
[14:58] These initiatives are
[14:59] connected.
[15:01] Better systems produce better
[15:02] data.
[15:03] Better data supports better
[15:04] analysis and better analysis
[15:07] allows us to direct resources
[15:07] towards the areas where they
[15:09] can produce a greater benefit.
[15:12] Looking ahead our modernization
[15:14] strategy is centered on three
[15:15] outcomes, first we will
[15:17] strengthen internal controls
[15:18] and enterprise risk management
[15:20] through risk-based planning
[15:22] workforce development and
[15:23] stronger follow-up corrective
[15:24] actions.
[15:25] Second we will
[15:29] modernize collections by
[15:31] expanding digital tools,
[15:32] improving customer outreach and
[15:34] giving collectors better
[15:36] information to prioritize
[15:36] accounts.
[15:38] Third we will continue
[15:40] optimizing the purchasing card
[15:41] program through dashboard
[15:43] analytics and more timely
[15:43] reporting.
[15:45] The broader objective is a
[15:47] coordinated effort across the
[15:48] department rather than a series
[15:50] of isolated projects.
[15:52] In closing ultimately icds
[15:54] value should be measured by
[15:55] outcomes.
[15:56] Revenue collector recovered
[15:58] increased compliance, losses
[16:00] prevented, processes improved,
[16:01] internal controls strengthened
[16:06] and risk addressed before they
[16:07] become larger problems.
[16:09] We appreciate the committees
[16:10] support as we continue
[16:12] strengthening roles as a
[16:13] high-impact operational partner
[16:15] to the county administration
[16:17] and departments and ultimately
[16:19] county residents, thank you.
[16:20] >>chair: thank you director,
[16:22] any questions of the director
[16:24] on her presentation,
[16:25] commissioner cohen higgins.
[16:27] >>commissioner cohen higgins:
[16:29] to our director I appreciate
[16:31] the presentation on the slides,
[16:32] I'm looking through my papers,
[16:34] do you have a printout so we
[16:42] MAY have a copy on the dais?
[16:44] And our previous hearings where
[16:46] I know a number of departments
[16:48] if not all have been giving
[16:50] presentations I previously
[16:52] mentioned monday I know the
[16:54] charge from the administration
[16:56] was to keep all departmental
[16:58] budgets at no greater than a 3%
[17:00] increase year-over-year.
[17:02] Does your budget reflect that
[17:03] charge and that mandate?
[17:05] and you're passing out the
[17:07] presentations I appreciate it,
[17:08] nothing further.
[17:10] >>chair: any questions, seeing
[17:12] none thank you director for
[17:13] your presentation.
[17:14] Now we will hear from the
[17:16] strategic procurement
[17:17] department.
[17:19] >> we invite namita oppal to
[17:20] present.
[17:21] >>chair: you are recognized.
[17:23] >> namita oppal, director for
[17:24] procurement.
[17:26] What I'm presenting today is a
[17:32] reflection of values and the
[17:33] principles that the board has
[17:35] always focused on.
[17:37] Strategic procurement
[17:39] department division is to be
[17:40] the leader, global leader of
[17:42] purpose driven deployments,
[17:43] purpose matters.
[17:47] Purpose, I'm sorry.
[17:49] Purpose is a reflection of the
[17:52] values the board has adopted.
[17:54] Being transparent, being fair,
[18:04] being inclusive.
[18:06] It's not a matter of just
[18:08] getting a contract done and
[18:10] getting approved, it has value.
[18:11] It delivers value to the
[18:13] residence, delivers value to
[18:14] the department and contracts
[18:16] enable departments to reach out
[18:18] to the customers and deliver
[18:34] service and the board has
[18:35] always proffered on going above
[18:36] and beyond.
[18:38] Make sure the processes are
[18:40] transparent, make sure we are
[18:42] responsive to the constituents,
[18:43] making sure we are resilient
[18:45] and adaptive to the evolving
[18:47] needs of the environment.
[18:49] We are ethical in our business
[18:50] practices, we are efficient.
[18:52] We train our people.
[18:53] We train our vendors.
[18:55] We are inclusive and yesterday
[18:57] we heard community benefits so
[18:59] that is the whole purpose, the
[19:01] word purpose includes all of
[19:01] these values.
[19:03] In our contracts, that is the
[19:05] goal, that is our vision and
[19:06] that's what we strive for.
[19:09] The major functions for my
[19:11] department of course, we bring
[19:13] you the contracts for goods and
[19:15] services, architecture
[19:17] engineering services, design
[19:19] build, public-private
[19:20] partnership.
[19:21] Last year the board approved
[19:23] the merger of small business
[19:25] services with procurement and
[19:27] with that we have all the
[19:29] certification programs we had
[19:31] miscellaneous construction
[19:34] contracts program, equitable
[19:34] distribution.
[19:36] 19 also manages the vendor
[19:38] registration through the county
[19:40] for all county vendors.
[19:41] We do run to academies,
[19:42] procurement academy for
[19:56] training programs for county
[19:56] staff.
[19:58] There are professionals in all
[20:00] county departments and ask a
[20:01] matter of fact there are a lot
[20:03] of jurisdictions cities and
[20:05] counties who have taken
[20:07] advantage of our procurement
[20:08] training.
[20:09] We are also partnering with
[20:11] international companies relying
[20:12] on us for training programs.
[20:14] We also have a vendor training
[20:16] academy that offers a lot of
[20:17] vendor training activities, how
[20:19] to do business with the county
[20:23] and those are provided online
[20:25] as well as in person.
[20:26] We also reach out to your
[20:28] district offices to do training
[20:30] programs, all encompassing the
[20:31] vendor academy that we have.
[20:33] This year as part of the budget
[20:35] the mayor has proffered the
[20:36] movements of real estate
[20:45] management division from pi od
[20:48] to strategic procurement
[20:50] department and with that the
[20:51] acquisition and sale of
[20:53] properties, any development
[20:55] agreement and leases will fall
[20:57] under the strategic procurement
[20:57] department.
[21:01] Our main customers, key
[21:02] customers are obviously the
[21:04] first customers are the county
[21:06] residents that we provide
[21:06] service to.
[21:08] Vendor community, county
[21:10] departments, constitutional
[21:12] offices and municipalities.
[21:13] There are a lot of
[21:14] municipalities who piggyback on
[21:16] our contracts and use our
[21:18] training programs that we
[21:18] offer.
[21:20] Just very high level of key
[21:31] accomplishments, we actually
[21:33] were, are probably one of the
[21:35] first ones to use ai tools and
[21:37] we develop those in the house.
[21:38] One of the ai tools is the
[21:40] appointment of the selection
[21:42] committee, the other is the ai
[21:44] tool to train my staff read
[21:46] that tool is actually includes
[22:02] all of the code regulations and
[22:03] rules and processes and staff
[22:05] can actually go in the tool and
[22:07] say how to do an rfp in miami
[22:08] dade county and we share
[22:10] information that is relevant to
[22:11] miami dade county, not the
[22:13] other jurisdictions so the
[22:15] tools were recognized as one of
[22:16] the pioneer tools.
[22:18] We have, we were selected by fa
[22:19] po for excellence in
[22:20] procurement award.
[22:22] Selected by the national
[22:23] procurement institute.
[22:25] We also launched a
[22:31] certification program, that's
[22:33] probably one of its kind in the
[22:33] country.
[22:35] It's a certification of public
[22:37] procurement professionals and
[22:39] we have certified over 449
[22:40] individuals in the county and
[22:42] other jurisdictions are
[22:44] modeling our program through
[22:45] this certification.
[22:45] E reached
[22:47] out to them, we did 359 events
[22:49] for vendors reaching out to
[22:50] almost 24,000 participants.
[22:52] We bring items to the board in
[22:58] the volume that you see in
[23:00] every board and committee and
[23:01] in 2025 we brought $5.4 billion
[23:03] worth of contracts for board
[23:04] approval, 179 items and be
[23:12] thank the chair for appointing
[23:13] the task force and you will see
[23:15] the recommendations coming very
[23:16] soon.
[23:18] We analyzed 200 pieces of
[23:19] legislation and are making
[23:21] significant recommendations.
[23:37] For making the process better.
[23:39] Like any other department we do
[23:40] have key issues.
[23:41] Ome of them
[23:43] of course complicated when it
[23:44] comes to federal state and
[23:46] local regulations and we are
[23:47] hoping that through the strict
[23:49] we can it on and some of the
[23:51] local regulations so we can
[23:52] expedite the procurement
[23:53] process.
[23:54] We have multiple systems that
[23:56] don't talk to each other so we
[23:58] are trying to figure out and of
[24:00] course informs as our system of
[24:02] record but to get the job done
[24:04] there are multiple systems we
[24:06] use so we are trying to create
[24:08] platforms so staff does not
[24:09] have to rely on multiple
[24:11] systems to get from point a to
[24:12] point b. Staff retention has
[24:14] always been an issue.
[24:15] i did lose and I mentioned it
[24:17] to commissioner cohen higgins I
[24:19] lost six or seven people to
[24:21] constitutional offices in the
[24:23] past year and retention is
[24:24] always key.
[24:25] Which we are trying our best to
[24:25] retain.
[24:26] Few priority
[24:32] initiatives, streamlining,
[24:34] these are the three initiatives
[24:36] we actually came out of the
[24:38] strict and we were working on
[24:39] some of them.
[24:41] Streamlining this small
[24:43] business certification program
[24:45] and what we are proffering is
[24:47] there were 60 requirements,
[24:48] over 60 requirements for a
[24:53] vendor to get certified though
[24:55] we are reducing it down to the
[24:57] board all approval authority
[24:59] and reducing processing time to
[25:01] get certified as a small
[25:03] business by 50%.
[25:05] I know the board is always
[25:07] questioning why procurement
[25:08] takes long and one of our
[25:10] commitments to the board is to
[25:11] reduce the procurement cycle
[25:12] time.
[25:16] Our goal is for procurements
[25:17] and they are 5 million, we
[25:19] should be able to make an award
[25:21] recommendation between 90 to
[25:28] 120 days and over 5 million
[25:30] between 120 to 150 days and
[25:32] that's from the receipt of
[25:33] proposals to the mayor making
[25:36] the recommendation, that is our
[25:37] commitment and that is what we
[25:39] are working towards diligently
[25:41] and lastly creating an online
[25:43] dashboard that's key to our
[25:44] vendors, key to our
[25:45] constituents and the board if
[25:47] you can go online and see what
[25:49] the status of each procurement
[25:51] is and that is one of our key
[25:52] initiatives.
[25:53] future outlook, of course
[25:55] processing time, making sure we
[25:58] do this with speed and
[25:58] efficiency.
[25:59] 98 to 130 days after 5 million.
[26:07] We did launch a comprehensive
[26:09] small local business plan
[26:10] ensuring taxpayer dollars
[26:12] remain within the local
[26:13] economy, that's key and the
[26:17] last one is coming up with one
[26:18] single bidding system for
[26:20] capital projects.
[26:28] And those are the few key
[26:29] priorities we hope to
[26:30] accomplish very soon.
[26:33] I'm here for questions and
[26:34] commissioner cohen higgins, we
[26:38] are also at 3% and budget would
[26:43] reflect that.
[26:45] >>chair: thank you director,
[26:47] any questions of the director,
[26:48] commissioner cohen higgins you
[26:50] are recognized.
[26:52] >>commissioner cohen higgins:
[26:56] thank you MADAM Chair. To the
[26:58] director and this is for you in
[27:00] the previous director that gave
[27:02] a presentation, what was it you
[27:08] were asked to present, a budget
[27:08] presentation?
[27:10] I'm not being facetious, was
[27:12] the request a budget
[27:14] presentation, that's my
[27:16] understanding of what was to be
[27:17] presented was a budget
[27:31] presentation or maybe I'm
[27:32] wrong.
[27:33] >> the staff was asked to
[27:34] prepare summaries of the
[27:36] drivers for their budget.
[27:37] The accomplishments for the
[27:39] year so you all would have
[27:41] clarity on the assumptions that
[27:42] went into private how they
[27:44] prioritize their work for the
[27:45] upcoming year.
[27:47] At two or 2:30 today the mayor
[27:49] will be presenting our proposed
[27:49] budget.
[27:51] >>commissioner cohen higgins: I
[27:53] appreciate that but here's the
[27:54] reason I'm asking.
[27:55] On our agenda it says
[27:57] discussion item regarding the
[27:59] proposed fiscal year 26-27
[28:00] budget presentations and it
[28:02] lists the department.
[28:05] We had to presentations devoid
[28:07] of any numbers whatsoever,
[28:08] there is not a number that's
[28:10] been presented and we're
[28:11] talking about accomplishments
[28:13] but not numbers in a budget
[28:14] presentation so I'm not sure
[28:27] I'm understanding whether the
[28:29] presentations meet the request
[28:30] that has been made and I
[28:32] understand the budget will be
[28:34] printed at 2:30 today and there
[28:36] were things that will be
[28:37] revealed at that time but in
[28:46] transportation at started there appropriately
[28:48] because it is a budget
[28:49] presentation.
[28:51] I haven't heard a number from
[28:52] either department on what is
[28:53] their budget.
[28:55] >> through the chair, I'm not
[28:56] sure ophelia or namita if you
[28:58] are prepared to give your total
[28:59] numbers.
[29:01] >> our proposed budget is $53
[29:03] million including the real
[29:05] estate transition of the real
[29:06] estate.
[29:07] F which 33 million as
[29:10] personnel, 1.2 is operating in
[29:14] 7.2 is transferred to the
[29:15] department.
[29:16] >>commissioner cohen higgins:
[29:19] your department budget is $53
[29:20] million.
[29:22] >> if the adoption of the real
[29:24] estate function is adopted,
[29:25] yes.
[29:26] >>commissioner cohen higgins:
[29:28] that is within or below the 3%.
[29:29] >> yes.
[29:30] >>commissioner cohen higgins:
[29:33] from last year to this year.
[29:35] >> one of the things we did
[29:36] last year and that will be
[29:37] reflected is when small
[29:43] business function when it
[29:45] merges with procurement one of
[29:46] the charges I got was a
[29:48] reduction to 50 positions which
[29:50] we did plus this year the real
[29:52] estate function approves 3% and
[29:54] also the eliminations that we
[30:02] have contemplated.
[30:04] >>commissioner cohen higgins:
[30:05] thank you and if the director
[30:07] on the icd department can
[30:08] approach and I'm not trying to
[30:10] get into any details before the
[30:12] budget is printed but I think
[30:14] macro numbers are appropriate
[30:15] during a budget presentation so
[30:17] if you don't mind approaching I
[30:27] have a few questions.
[30:29] >> through the chair one of the
[30:31] other things that's important
[30:33] to note about both of these
[30:34] departments is they are not
[30:35] 100% general fund.
[30:37] What we were doing this year
[30:39] when you reflect or focus on
[30:40] the 3% was trying to make sure
[30:42] that we bend the cost curve
[30:44] related to the general fund
[30:46] departments so both of these
[30:47] women actually have departments
[30:51] that are revenue-generating so
[30:53] we are very intentional about
[30:55] making sure we protect the
[30:57] investments and parts of the
[30:58] organization that generate
[31:00] revenue that support the
[31:01] general fund.
[31:03] >>commissioner cohen higgins:
[31:05] thank you for clarifying, what
[31:18] is your budget?
[31:20] >> my budget will technically
[31:22] change drastically because the
[31:23] enterprise resource team which
[31:25] is comprised of two different
[31:27] divisions is going to be
[31:27] transferred.
[31:29] that portion represents a large
[31:31] portion of this budget right
[31:31] now.
[31:33] What's remaining will be
[31:34] administration credit
[31:36] collections which is self
[31:37] funded through the collections
[31:38] they do.
[31:40] The process and control reports
[31:41] produced are also not
[31:43] completely general fund.
[31:44] And our risk management is
[31:45] actually self funded through
[31:46] the insurance.
[31:48] Right now as we have proposed
[31:50] through the budget it's about
[31:52] 72 million but again a large
[31:54] portion, half or more is that
[31:56] technology divisions that are
[31:57] going.
[31:59] >>commissioner cohen higgins:
[31:59] going where?
[32:01] >> to the clerk of the court
[32:07] and comptroller.
[32:08] >>commissioner cohen higgins:
[32:10] on your debt collections page
[32:12] of your presentation you have
[32:14] 11%, sorry if you went over
[32:16] that previously but what is the
[32:22] 11%.
[32:24] >> we have a budget to collect
[32:26] $24 million in a year, gross
[32:26] collections.
[32:28] Right now to date we have
[32:29] collected $21 million and this
[32:31] is what goes back to the
[32:34] departments and to jackson as
[32:34] collections.
[32:36] We are like their last line of
[32:38] collections as you very well
[32:39] know.
[32:40] So our team has been above and
[32:41] beyond in making these
[32:43] collections record than
[32:45] budgeted so that's why we are
[32:46] over our budget number in
[32:51] collections which is a good
[32:52] thing.
[32:54] >>commissioner cohen higgins: I
[32:56] appreciate the explanation but
[32:58] i still don't understand, what
[32:59] is the 11% represent?
[33:01] >> over the budget amount.
[33:03] >>commissioner cohen higgins:
[33:05] so you collected 24 million,
[33:06] you've collected 11% above
[33:07] that, I understand.
[33:08] Hank you
[33:09] for clarifying that.
[33:11] >> any other questions.
[33:14] >>chair: commissioner gonzales
[33:17] you are recognized.
[33:18] >>commissioner gonzalez: thank
[33:20] you MADAM Chair. I guess we'll
[33:21] start with you.
[33:23] You mentioned there is a 3%
[33:24] reduction, is that correct.
[33:26] >> we maintain no more increase
[33:27] spending 3%.
[33:29] >> can you explain what 3% is
[33:36] attributed to.
[33:37] >> through the chair
[33:38] commissioner I want to make
[33:40] sure you understand the 3%
[33:42] number that keeps floating
[33:42] around.
[33:44] The departments were asked to
[33:54] reduce by it's almost 5%
[33:56] because the natural inflation
[33:57] was between eight and 9%.
[33:59] We asked them to reduce so that
[34:01] the growth in their department
[34:02] was no more than three.
[34:04] So if you remember the growth
[34:07] the county experienced was only
[34:07] 4.2.
[34:09] We couldn't afford to maintain,
[34:10] if you recall the proposed 7%
[34:17] growth rate, so each of the
[34:19] general fund departments was
[34:20] asked to see if they could
[34:22] reduce their growth rate down
[34:22] to 3%.
[34:27] That was the assignment.
[34:29] >>commissioner mcghee: it would
[34:30] be 4% so what is that for
[34:32] present that you're not
[34:34] counting on, what specifically
[34:35] are, what specifically is the
[34:45] department cutting to avoid
[34:47] that excessive 4% growth?
[34:49] >> great question, we wanted
[34:49] our personnel.
[34:51] We have right sized the
[34:52] personnel so if we have
[34:54] vacancies we didn't need took
[34:55] advantage of that.
[34:56] We've also looked at the
[34:58] operational costs and
[35:04] streamline that as well.
[35:06] If we had consulting costs we
[35:07] also looked at that and saw if
[35:09] our team could do it could save
[35:11] money there as well so we have
[35:13] given back.
[35:15] >>commissioner gonzalez: as the
[35:16] chief stated you are growing by
[35:17] 3% instead of 7%.
[35:18] Iq.
[35:21] And namita, if you could
[35:23] come up because you mentioned
[35:25] that you folks were able to
[35:28] eliminate 50 positions and then
[35:36] so what is the, I guess the 4%
[35:37] savings that you folks, what is
[35:39] that attributed to?
[35:55] >> 50 was because we merged
[35:57] with small businesses in
[35:59] procurement and were able to
[36:01] identify synergies between the
[36:02] operations.
[36:03] On top of that we have
[36:05] proffered elimination of more
[36:06] positions.
[36:07] Plus freezing some of the
[36:09] positions we think we don't
[36:10] need right now but maybe in the
[36:13] future but and also eliminating
[36:14] any other operational costs we
[36:16] could cut down to.
[36:18] >>commissioner gonzalez: so
[36:19] your growth will only be by 3%
[36:20] as well.
[36:21] >> yes.
[36:23] >>commissioner gonzalez: no
[36:24] further questions.
[36:26] >>chair: vice CHAIRWOMAN You
[36:26] are recognized.
[36:28] >> my question is for ophelia,
[36:30] what is the size of your
[36:33] department.
[36:34] >> I have with risk management
[36:36] so risk management division in
[36:38] the new budget year is coming
[36:44] over it's about 311 total but
[36:46] please keep in mind as of
[36:48] AUGUST 3 I will lose the oes
[36:49] division which has 36 oes
[36:51] division which has 36 positions
[36:53] and that ets division which has
[36:55] about 46 positions.
[36:56] >>commissioner cohen higgins:
[36:59] so the 311 makes up for the 72
[36:59] million budget.
[37:01] >> but then that signified
[37:12] portion of that.
[37:13] >>commissioner cohen higgins:
[37:15] you were touching that but I
[37:17] don't know if you gave us the
[37:18] number and as you're looking
[37:20] for that number what is the
[37:22] breakdown between your
[37:24] operating and personnel costs?
[37:25] >> I will get you that right
[37:26] now.
[37:27] >> through the chair, some of
[37:29] the changes ophelia is speaking
[37:31] of MAY not be reflected in the
[37:32] budget published today, they
[37:34] MAY be in the change memo.
[37:34] E
[37:36] are working with the clerk and
[37:38] comptroller's office to ensure
[37:40] that we transition the right
[37:42] number of employees with the
[37:43] right amount of funding to
[37:51] support this effort so I don't
[37:52] want anyone to have the
[37:54] expectation they will see that
[37:55] this afternoon.
[37:56] Some changes will not be
[37:58] reflected until we are able to
[38:01] finish that project.
[38:03] >>commissioner cohen higgins:
[38:04] what is the anticipated time
[38:07] you will figure out the change.
[38:08] >> we are very close, AUGUST 3
[38:10] is the date we are hoping to
[38:13] have the transition completed.
[38:14] >>commissioner cohen higgins:
[38:16] we should see those numbers
[38:18] reflected in the budget.
[38:20] >> 2627 budget you will opine
[38:29] on in DECEMBER.
[38:31] >> employee wise it's over 50%
[38:32] county employees.
[38:34] Some operational costs are
[38:35] driven by the consulting
[38:37] services as well and mainly for
[38:39] the system.
[38:40] >>commissioner cohen higgins:
[38:42] what do you mean for the
[38:42] system?
[38:44] >> the enterprise resource
[38:45] planning system.
[38:46] >>commissioner cohen higgins:
[38:53] so you are 50-50.
[38:54] 50% is personnel costs, okay
[38:56] and do you know how much of
[38:58] that you will offload once it
[38:59] moves over to the clerk's
[38:59] office?
[39:08] Or estimate.
[39:10] >> through the chair, ophelia I
[39:12] prefer we not give an estimate.
[39:13] We are very close MADAM Chair
[39:19] and commissioner milian orbis
[39:21] and I can even give you a
[39:22] head's up as soon as we get
[39:25] that completed over the next
[39:26] week.
[39:28] >>commissioner cohen higgins:
[39:28] okay, thank you.
[39:31] I think this presentation would
[39:38] be helpful to have a breakdown
[39:40] of what you are anticipating is
[39:42] going to be shifted away from
[39:44] your department, it would be
[39:45] helpful to see what we are
[39:47] looking at as we look into the
[39:49] budget that's going to be
[39:49] presented.
[39:51] I think that information was
[39:53] helpful and it would have been
[39:55] good to have it so if we could
[39:56] have that updated in this
[39:58] presentation you gave us it
[40:00] would be good to note the shift
[40:02] and how it will look after that
[40:03] transition is done.
[40:11] hank you.
[40:13] >> I have questions.
[40:14] >> we will provide that.
[40:16] >>chair: namita, you can come
[40:18] up as well, I have questions
[40:20] for both so we will start with
[40:22] vacancies which has always been
[40:23] a pet peeve of mine in
[40:23] budgeting.
[40:25] Both of you said you were
[40:27] reducing personnel, do you have
[40:28] a schedule of the remaining
[40:30] vacancies you have an aging for
[40:32] those vacancies, you don't have
[40:33] to have them now but do you
[40:34] have it?
[40:35] I'd like to see those, I'm
[40:37] collecting them for all the
[40:38] departments making budget
[40:40] presentations and it's
[40:41] important to see that aging
[40:43] because you MAY have gotten rid
[40:45] of some of the vacancies but I
[40:48] will need to know how you
[40:50] justify keeping any vacancy in
[40:52] your budget that is greater
[40:53] than 90 days.
[40:54] That's just giving you full
[40:55] warning on that.
[40:57] Namita, you talked about the
[40:59] constitutional officers in your
[41:00] presentation.
[41:02] And I am a little confused.
[41:08] So how much, because we've
[41:10] heard from the constitutional
[41:11] officers on monday.
[41:12] 'll much
[41:13] of what you're doing, I'm
[41:25] trying to understand what part
[41:26] you are doing for them that
[41:28] they are not doing for
[41:28] themselves.
[41:30] I have the impression they are
[41:32] doing their own procurement but
[41:33] I see you are doing
[41:34] procurement, can you explain
[41:36] that in greater detail?
[41:37] >> MADAM Chair, for the
[41:39] sheriff's office we are doing
[41:41] all they are procurements now.
[41:43] clerk and comptroller is doing
[41:45] I would say most of they are
[41:46] procurements but they used
[41:53] county contract.
[41:55] My presentation what I said was
[41:57] I lost seven key professionals
[42:00] to the clerk because they chose
[42:01] to accept positions with the
[42:01] clerk.
[42:03] >>commissioner cohen higgins:
[42:04] I'm referring to your
[42:06] customers, which constitutional
[42:18] officers would be helpful.
[42:20] >> we are doing all
[42:21] procurements for sheriff's
[42:22] office.
[42:23] Elections we do the
[42:25] procurements for them for the
[42:26] ones where we are obligated by
[42:28] the florida statute for
[42:33] example, be buying the system
[42:35] and things like that so we do
[42:36] procurements for them.
[42:38] Property appraiser we do not do
[42:40] any procurements for them.
[42:41] Clark and the comptroller they
[42:43] have established their own
[42:46] procurement team to do their
[42:46] own procurement.
[42:47] >>chair: it will be helpful
[42:49] when you can give us the
[42:51] numbers as to what the value of
[42:52] that service you are giving
[42:54] them because then I will ask
[42:55] what are they doing on their
[42:56] end as well.
[42:58] I also wanted to talk with you
[42:59] about the strip committee.
[43:01] Their recommendations, when
[43:03] will those be presented to us?
[43:04] Do you know.
[43:05] >> I am thinking next week I
[43:23] believe, I don't know the
[43:23] answer.
[43:25] >> it's been a question I've
[43:27] been asking since you been
[43:28] doing your work and it's the
[43:30] one place I love to drill down
[43:31] on which is procurement.
[43:33] As we've seen some of the
[43:35] procurement processes be
[43:36] questioned, I've had concerns
[43:38] about how we procure things.
[43:40] It's important for me to
[43:43] understand the work of the
[43:44] committee.
[43:45] It's recommendations and
[43:47] whether or not there were any
[43:49] savings as a result of their
[43:51] recommendations because I'm
[43:52] hopeful not only were we
[43:55] increasing efficiency by having
[43:56] created a committee of people
[43:58] who have used the system and
[44:07] can tell us you know, their
[44:09] experiences and then come forth
[44:11] with recommendations that would
[44:13] make the system more efficient,
[44:15] I'm interested do did they
[44:17] identify any savings and their
[44:18] efficiency studies they were
[44:20] doing with procurements, do you
[44:22] know since you were there.
[44:23] >> I don't know if they were
[44:25] able to quantify but we did
[44:27] identify the savings in the
[44:28] number of days and moving
[44:30] things faster.
[44:32] How do you equate that to
[44:33] dollar savings, I don't think
[44:35] that was the exercise the
[44:36] committee did but definitely
[44:38] the time savings were
[44:40] significant that you will see.
[44:41] >>chair: hopefully someone will
[44:43] tell me when I'm going to see
[44:45] those recommendations, that's
[44:46] one question.
[44:50] The other, you mentioned namita
[44:51] when you were evaluating
[44:53] systems you mentioned that many
[44:54] don't each other.
[44:55] I would like a listing.
[44:57] I was a member of the house it
[45:01] committee when we did this work
[45:03] and I thought it was a useful
[45:05] exercise to understand where
[45:15] are the deficits in our it
[45:16] systems or in any system that
[45:17] doesn't each other.
[45:19] i'd like a list of all the
[45:21] systems not speaking to each
[45:22] other and if they are speaking
[45:24] to a system which ones?
[45:25] It would be helpful for this
[45:27] committee to understand whether
[45:33] or not, because I see a lot of
[45:35] items that come before us that
[45:36] have to do with extending
[45:38] contracts or legacy, I love
[45:45] that word, the legacy systems.
[45:46] I don't know that that's the
[45:48] best use of our funds or
[45:49] whether it's efficient in
[45:51] achieving outcomes which we are
[45:52] purchasing systems for.
[45:56] I'd like to see an analysis by
[45:57] department which systems when
[45:59] they were bought, if they were
[46:01] replaced or if they had to be
[46:03] replaced by something else
[46:05] because it didn't work in those
[46:07] systems not working with each
[46:08] other creating inefficiencies
[46:09] in government.
[46:11] >> MAY I ask for clarification,
[46:13] you one of the list of the
[46:15] systems book procurement team
[46:15] uses.
[46:17] >>chair: just belongs you were
[46:28] referring to because I find it
[46:30] curious we know they don't each
[46:32] other so is a known fact we are
[46:33] inefficient and that's costing
[46:35] us money so I would like to
[46:37] know which ones those are and
[46:38] in addition you mentioned in
[46:40] your proposal priority, under
[46:41] your priority initiatives you
[47:00] had budgetary impact.
[47:02] And I see there's no budget
[47:02] impact.
[47:03] Where do I see savings?
[47:05] I don't hear savings.
[47:06] Et me
[47:07] tell you why I ask this
[47:07] question.
[47:09] When the governor's budget
[47:10] would come to my committee I
[47:13] said thank you and then I would
[47:14] meet with every department and
[47:15] I wouldn't say you get to
[47:17] decrease your growth to 3%, I
[47:18] said go back and reduce your
[47:19] budgets by 3%.
[47:21] So I'm curious, is there any
[47:23] budgetary savings anywhere in
[47:25] your budget anywhere?
[47:25] You can answer it.
[47:27] >> item curious how you define
[47:28] that.
[47:30] >>chair: let's assume I was
[47:31] spending $100 million last
[47:32] year.
[47:33] Is there anywhere you can tell
[47:35] me in that hundred million
[47:37] dollars budget you were able to
[47:38] achieve some savings?
[47:40] >> commissioner, by the mere
[47:42] fact we were able to eliminate
[47:44] 50 positions and some of those
[47:46] were filled that's $5 million
[47:50] right there because we were
[47:52] able to combine the functions
[47:54] and synergies between
[47:55] procurement and small business.
[47:57] That was straightaway $5
[47:58] million.
[48:01] >>chair: it already did, were
[48:02] those filled decisions?
[48:04] Have they been terminated or
[48:13] did you move them to another
[48:13] department.
[48:15] >> some of them had rights, I
[48:23] see where the positions work.
[48:24] >>commissioner lopez: that
[48:26] makes zero sense to me to tell
[48:28] me you eliminated 50 positions
[48:30] but then I find out those 50
[48:32] people are somewhere else in
[48:32] the budget.
[48:34] >> one of the great things
[48:36] about the county is it is a
[48:46] fairly large institution.
[48:48] So when positions are
[48:49] eliminated based on the
[48:51] classification of the employee
[48:53] they have particular employment
[48:55] rights so we worked hard, this
[48:56] board directed us to make sure
[48:58] the hundred 50 people laid off
[49:02] had jobs so the positions
[49:03] eliminated we work and I love
[49:05] to give credit to virginia
[49:06] washington our ahead of people
[49:08] who tried to make sure every
[49:15] human being found a position
[49:17] they were qualified for so they
[49:19] did not necessarily have to
[49:20] leave the county.
[49:21] So the elimination of the
[49:23] positions funded or unfunded
[49:25] did result in savings because
[49:27] those individuals some left the
[49:28] county, others went into
[49:35] positions that had great need.
[49:37] One of our great stories and
[49:38] they are loves to tell is about
[49:40] those who worked in parks as
[49:42] lifeguards and were able to get
[49:43] vacant positions in the fire
[49:45] department as lifeguards that
[49:51] were difficult to fill.
[49:52] So namita, ofelia, anyone of
[49:55] the departments that had to be
[49:56] eliminated or positions that
[49:58] were filled that had to be
[49:59] eliminated.
[50:00] We actually take pride in
[50:02] trying to make sure the
[50:04] individuals, that humans are
[50:05] not displaced to the extent
[50:06] that's possible.
[50:30] It doesn't undermine the
[50:31] savings.
[50:32] >>commissioner lopez: I
[50:34] appreciate that vary much but
[50:35] you know me, truth in
[50:35] budgeting.
[50:37] You will hear me say this until
[50:38] we are done.
[50:40] The public deserves to know
[50:41] that's what you did.
[50:43] The public deserves to know
[50:44] that you eliminated vacancies
[50:46] if there were vacancies, 2 if
[50:48] you had to terminate people how
[50:49] many left the county and how
[50:51] many did you place in another
[50:53] position within the county
[50:54] because in fact I don't know
[50:56] that that's called a savings.
[50:58] That's called a transfer in my
[50:58] book.
[51:00] In my accounting book.
[51:01] So you have to be clear when
[51:03] you're talking about savings
[51:05] because I'm going to be
[51:07] watching very carefully all of
[51:07] it.
[51:09] And if you had to move a person
[51:10] because they had employment
[51:12] rights, that's understandable
[51:14] but that's not a savings.
[51:16] That became a transfer to
[51:17] another position within the
[51:19] county and that is what I am
[51:20] trying to get at, that we have
[51:22] to be honest about what we are
[51:23] doing.
[51:24] It's okay to stand there and
[51:26] tell me we got rid of 50
[51:27] positions, it's not true.
[51:29] If 20 people were transferred
[51:30] to another place because they
[51:32] had employment rights.
[51:33] That's the level of detail I
[51:35] will be looking for during this
[51:37] budget process and let me keep
[51:38] going, I found it interesting.
[51:40] The transfer of positions to
[51:43] the clerk and comptroller's
[51:43] office.
[51:45] He just presented his budget.
[51:47] Did it have, is going to come
[51:49] to us for a budget, here we go
[51:49] again.
[51:50] Listen carefully.
[51:52] I look at a budget from a
[51:53] global perspective.
[51:53] Look at
[51:55] everyone asking us for money.
[51:57] The clerk came with his budget
[51:59] asking us for money so if we
[52:00] are moving, from icd and I
[52:02] don't remember how many people
[52:04] but you said quite a few that
[52:11] showed them that you have a
[52:11] savings.
[52:13] It is the clerk going to come
[52:15] and tell me now when you finish
[52:16] this agreement that needs money
[52:19] for those or did his budget you
[52:20] presented here on monday
[52:26] contemplate that?
[52:28] >> through the CHAIRWOMAN, the
[52:29] budget the clerk presented to
[52:31] us which was due several months
[52:33] ago, weeks ago did not
[52:35] contemplate this particular
[52:37] move.
[52:38] So it will be for all intents
[52:40] and purposes you look at the
[52:42] general fund it will be a
[52:44] transition of people and money
[52:46] from one area to another area.
[52:47] >>commissioner lopez: so it's
[53:01] not a savings.
[53:02] When you present your budget
[53:04] that's what I wanted to hear.
[53:06] I should not have to ask this
[53:07] question is what I'm saying,
[53:09] you should be clear we are
[53:11] moving people to the clerk and
[53:12] the clerk will need that money
[53:14] in my budget that's now going
[53:16] to his budget so it's not a
[53:16] savings.
[53:18] You see where I'm going?
[53:19] This is why the public, listen,
[53:23] I am distressed that we are not
[53:25] transparent with every one of
[53:25] these details.
[53:27] Because that's what the public
[53:29] is requiring and they deserve.
[53:31] And certainly my colleagues and
[53:32] myself in order to make a
[53:34] decision, to tell the public
[53:37] what's happening, I am only
[53:39] getting the information because
[53:41] I'm asking the right questions.
[53:42] And I should not have to do
[53:43] that.
[53:44] It should be totally
[53:46] transparent to this committee
[53:47] and to the full board when we
[53:49] make those decisions and to the
[53:51] points lie colleagues have made
[53:53] here today, the budget will be
[53:55] rolled out this afternoon but
[53:56] actually none of these
[53:58] presentations are what this
[53:59] committee needed, not at all.
[54:03] I think it's wonderful.
[54:05] But without dollars attached to
[54:14] each one of these assumptions.
[54:16] It's difficult for me to say I
[54:17] know what's going on.
[54:19] I don't think my colleagues do
[54:20] either as you've heard today.
[54:23] And honestly, I am somewhat
[54:24] befuddled that we haven't been
[54:27] able to cut our budgets.
[54:54] When you think about the $150
[54:56] billion a budget the state has,
[54:58] every department, every
[54:59] department was required to do
[55:01] at least 3% budget savings.
[55:03] So it's really hard for me to
[55:04] understand how we are not
[55:06] capable of finding a savings
[55:08] and as I like to say and it is
[55:10] not an indictment to any
[55:11] department or person but
[55:14] there's always waste in
[55:15] government, always.
[55:15] 've found
[55:17] it at the state, I'm certain if
[55:19] I did my job here which I
[55:20] intend to do next budget cycle
[55:21] I will find savings.
[55:23] I know how to do it.
[55:24] We certainly have budget chairs
[55:27] and budget staff that knew how
[55:28] to do it at the state.
[55:30] I'm going to pledge to the
[55:32] taxpayers listening here today,
[55:34] this committee will in fact do
[55:35] its job.
[55:36] We MAY not have had enough time
[55:38] to do it this session but we
[55:43] will do it next year and you
[55:45] will see drilling down like
[55:46] you've never seen before
[55:48] because there is ways in which
[55:50] to save money and unfortunately
[55:51] we just haven't had the
[55:53] opportunity to work closely
[55:54] with the administration to find
[55:55] those savings.
[55:57] those are just several of my
[55:58] questions, I'm sure as we move
[56:00] into the budget cycle,
[56:02] commissioner gonzalez and cohen
[56:04] higgins, you are recognized.
[56:05] >>commissioner gonzalez: thank
[56:08] you MADAM Chair. If I could get
[56:09] the directors to come up for
[56:11] one second I think the chair
[56:12] makes a great point.
[56:14] So that's kind of the reason
[56:17] why I started off by asking the
[56:18] difference between that 3% and
[56:20] 7%, I thought it was 6%.
[56:22] That's why I asked for the
[56:26] reduction because in reality,
[56:27] we are not really reducing, we
[56:30] are still growing by 3%.
[56:38] To echo the sentiments of the
[56:39] chair, comparing it to the
[56:41] state and this is one of the
[56:42] reasons I've always been a fan
[56:44] of vicki lopez.
[56:48] The governor for the entire
[56:51] time he's been governor and
[56:54] specifically state under
[57:01] speaker chris sprawls, speaker
[57:03] paul renner, speaker danny
[57:05] perez with the governor have
[57:08] lowered every department and
[57:13] the state budget by 3%.
[57:15] So that's not like they could
[57:16] have grown but they didn't
[57:16] grow.
[57:18] It's more like they did it at a
[57:20] cheaper rate.
[57:22] So this is a conversation that
[57:27] I wanted to and my team is
[57:29] working on scheduling meetings
[57:31] with directors but now I'm
[57:32] listening to this conversation
[57:35] and hearing the chair and also
[57:37] hearing the sentiments of my
[57:41] colleague danielle cohen
[57:42] higgins and natalie milian
[57:52] orbis is there a world off the
[57:53] top of your head and we're not
[57:55] going to hold you this right
[57:56] now but is there a world where
[57:58] you could see your departments
[58:00] having no growth, 0% growth
[58:02] which would mean that what you
[58:03] had last year you could use
[58:04] this year?
[58:13] Do you think that is possible?
[58:16] >> commissioner I think it's an
[58:17] excellent question.
[58:17] Ne of the
[58:19] things I want to make sure it
[58:20] is clear I think you all
[58:22] understand which is the budget
[58:23] we are working with had a 4%
[58:40] cola so that was already
[58:40] pre-negotiated.
[58:42] We also have what are called
[58:44] step increases that are in our
[58:46] collective bargaining
[58:47] agreements than average 5%.
[58:49] So I have 4+5 is nine.
[58:51] Those are two things that we
[58:52] cannot take away out of the
[58:54] budget so those are natural
[58:56] drivers for the increase of the
[58:56] budget.
[58:58] Then you would add on top of
[58:59] that the natural inflation,
[59:01] toilet paper, gas, all the
[59:10] different things we have to pay
[59:11] for in order to run the county.
[59:13] So when you just go baseline,
[59:15] no enhancements, no new
[59:17] programs, no new services, no
[59:18] new employees are at about 89%
[59:20] on average because it's an
[59:22] average, increase
[59:23] year-over-year.
[59:32] The omb projected that we could
[59:33] come in as a 7%.
[59:35] So we started off saying to the
[59:36] departments even though your
[59:38] natural growth is nine, can you
[59:39] cut so that we get down to
[59:40] seven?
[59:44] The things that you can and the
[59:45] first place to go because much
[59:47] of our budget is people is to
[59:49] look at the money that's
[59:50] budgeted for positions.
[59:52] So departments cut and reduced
[59:53] the vacant positions and we
[59:55] tried our best because it's a
[59:58] values statement not to cut
[1:00:05] filled positions unless we were
[1:00:06] eliminating a program or
[1:00:08] service that was commiserate
[1:00:09] with that.
[1:00:11] Once we finally got the tax
[1:00:12] role in and the average
[1:00:16] reflected for the fund was 2%
[1:00:17] growth, we knew we couldn't
[1:00:33] grow by seven.
[1:00:35] We need to be consistent with
[1:00:36] what our revenues would reflect
[1:00:38] so that apartments were then
[1:00:40] asked to go back and cut more
[1:00:41] to get it down to no more than
[1:00:42] 3% growth.
[1:00:44] Remember the natural growth
[1:00:45] looks much higher than that so
[1:00:47] I appreciate that we are saying
[1:00:49] we didn't save any money but
[1:00:51] the departments didn't have to
[1:00:53] do the heavy lifting of saying
[1:00:55] what are we not going to do
[1:00:56] anymore because the revenue is
[1:00:58] not matching the natural growth
[1:01:00] that was incorporated into the
[1:01:02] budget without adding any
[1:01:04] enhancements despite all the
[1:01:05] enhancements that have been
[1:01:07] requested over the course of
[1:01:08] the year.
[1:01:10] So I actually really appreciate
[1:01:12] CHAIRWOMAN Lopez challenge and
[1:01:13] I am thrilled to have a
[1:01:14] strategic partner not just with
[1:01:16] the CHAIRWOMAN With this
[1:01:18] committee on what we are going
[1:01:19] to do to continue bending the
[1:01:21] cost curve next year and to
[1:01:23] actually look for the things we
[1:01:26] need to eliminate or reduce so
[1:01:28] that we are on a positive
[1:01:30] trajectory given the fact that
[1:01:31] revenues are down and inflation
[1:01:32] is up.
[1:01:35] And so I want to make sure
[1:01:37] everyone's clear that the
[1:01:39] department directors were asked
[1:01:43] not to get ahead of the mayor
[1:01:58] and omb as we are literally
[1:02:00] dotting the I's and crossing
[1:02:02] the t's on her budget and we
[1:02:03] are happy to come to you about
[1:02:05] any department budgets you have
[1:02:07] concerns where you see
[1:02:08] opportunity that we MAY have
[1:02:09] missed.
[1:02:10] This is why we are proposing
[1:02:12] and we look forward to the
[1:02:18] county commission saying did
[1:02:20] you think about this, did you
[1:02:21] consider this, I see something
[1:02:23] you all MAY not have considered
[1:02:25] or missed.
[1:02:26] >>commissioner gonzalez: thank
[1:02:29] you chief and I appreciate that
[1:02:31] explanation and want to point
[1:02:38] out I did meet with you and MR.
[1:02:39] Baker and the mayor and I know
[1:02:41] you guys have been working hard
[1:02:43] and I recognize you been
[1:02:44] working very hard.
[1:02:45] But I guess I think the
[1:02:47] hesitation that we are seeing
[1:02:49] from the board members up here,
[1:02:51] this committee in particular
[1:03:00] and other board members as well
[1:03:01] is projection has always been
[1:03:03] for growth and thank you for
[1:03:05] explaining it so eloquently, I
[1:03:06] understand where you're coming
[1:03:08] from but the projection is
[1:03:10] always growth rather than a
[1:03:11] projection to save.
[1:03:12] 've heard
[1:03:13] commissioner cohen higgins and
[1:03:15] lopez say this many times and
[1:03:17] because commissioner lopez
[1:03:19] comes from the state perhaps it
[1:03:20] would behoove this committee to
[1:03:23] as the chief has stated after
[1:03:25] the budget has been presented
[1:03:27] perhaps it would behoove this
[1:03:29] committee to have departments
[1:03:30] come up and perhaps we could
[1:03:32] take a look to help.
[1:03:36] I want to recognize that from
[1:03:38] the conversations we had not
[1:03:40] only with the chief but with
[1:03:41] mr. Baker that they have been
[1:03:51] you know, working very hard.
[1:03:53] But I think it would be a great
[1:03:58] idea as I've heard commissioner
[1:04:00] cohen higgins and lopez have in
[1:04:02] the past for us to take a shot
[1:04:03] at it too.
[1:04:04] And bring whatever cost can be
[1:04:05] brought down down.
[1:04:07] So that perhaps this commission
[1:04:09] and this mayor can deliver for
[1:04:15] the first time ever a reduction
[1:04:20] in taxpayer savings for certain
[1:04:22] departments and there are
[1:04:24] departments that can have
[1:04:24] reductions.
[1:04:28] But maybe there are departments
[1:04:30] that can grow by 1% instead of
[1:04:35] 3%, maybe some departments that
[1:04:37] can lower some departments that
[1:04:38] need the 4% or some that might
[1:04:42] need the 7%.
[1:04:45] Perhaps there is a world where
[1:04:48] government doesn't continue to
[1:04:49] grow and rather it shrinks
[1:04:53] every year because if we just
[1:05:00] keep projecting for growth and
[1:05:01] sometimes that's necessary and
[1:05:03] I understand that but if we
[1:05:05] keep projecting for growth and
[1:05:07] we are telling ourselves it's
[1:05:13] impossible to ever shrink when
[1:05:14] perhaps we just roll up our
[1:05:16] sleeves and get down to it.
[1:05:21] Think this committee is ready
[1:05:22] willing and able to do it,
[1:05:34] thank you MADAM Chair.
[1:05:36] >>chair: I will say before I
[1:05:38] recognize commissioner cohen
[1:05:39] higgins that not only were we
[1:05:41] able to save money at the
[1:05:42] state, we were able to put
[1:05:44] money in reserve which is
[1:05:46] critically important and
[1:05:47] currently as we face what could
[1:05:49] be a severe reduction of
[1:05:50] revenue at the property tax
[1:05:52] reform amendment we should
[1:05:53] still be thinking about saving
[1:05:55] for that rainy day because it
[1:05:57] is here, you're absolutely
[1:05:58] right, commissioner gonzalez,
[1:06:00] it's raining and it's going to
[1:06:02] start storming and we need to
[1:06:04] be fiscally responsible and I
[1:06:06] know that I speak for all the
[1:06:07] members of this committee, we
[1:06:08] are ready and willing to roll
[1:06:10] up our sleeves and do the work
[1:06:12] as soon as the budget has been
[1:06:14] published, you are recognized.
[1:06:16] >>commissioner cohen higgins:
[1:06:17] thank you MADAM Chair. And this
[1:06:22] is an important conversation we
[1:06:24] are having at this committee
[1:06:26] and frankly won the german
[1:06:28] intended us for us to have at
[1:06:29] the committee level and I think
[1:06:31] that there needs to be a
[1:06:32] recognition that things might
[1:06:37] need to be done differently in
[1:06:38] miami-dade county as a result
[1:06:40] of the fiscal climate we are
[1:06:42] forced to face as a reality.
[1:06:44] We are accustomed absent 2008
[1:06:46] and 2009 that real estate clash
[1:06:47] are accustomed to being flush
[1:06:52] with cash until those days are
[1:06:52] over.
[1:07:00] I frankly strongly believe that
[1:07:02] I don't know this is a
[1:07:04] philosophical conversation but
[1:07:06] conversations where we are
[1:07:07] asking questions that
[1:07:09] essentially boil down to is it
[1:07:10] responsible for us to keep
[1:07:12] doing things the way we always
[1:07:12] have?
[1:07:14] I think the answer to that is
[1:07:27] clearly no and the budget
[1:07:28] dashboard which was presented
[1:07:30] to this committee a few months
[1:07:32] ago is my understanding it is
[1:07:34] ready, I plan to use that as a
[1:07:35] tool not only for this budget
[1:07:37] cycle but future budget cycles
[1:07:39] so when we have presentations
[1:07:41] we will have an electronic
[1:07:42] reflection in front of us in
[1:07:44] addition to whatever is placed
[1:07:46] in front of us on a powerpoint
[1:07:48] presentation with actual
[1:07:49] numbers that are, that the
[1:07:51] departments are working with us
[1:07:52] as opposed to stagnant
[1:07:53] snapshots in time by way of
[1:07:55] memos but I wanted to add to
[1:08:07] our chief, I think that we and
[1:08:09] I look forward to working with
[1:08:11] my colleagues because the
[1:08:12] sentiment is the same and I
[1:08:14] don't think the request is an
[1:08:15] unreasonable one and we will
[1:08:17] see what happens come NOVEMBER
[1:08:19] and what the voters ultimately
[1:08:21] decide to do and on monday when
[1:08:23] we have a budget presentation
[1:08:24] from our budget chief I asked
[1:08:26] him and I said is there
[1:08:28] anything in this budget that
[1:08:30] anticipates or contemplates a
[1:08:31] potential yes vote on that
[1:08:33] referendum and the answer was
[1:08:33] no.
[1:08:34] So I get that were going to
[1:08:36] work to try and get through
[1:08:44] this year's budget.
[1:08:46] My concern is beyond.
[1:08:48] My concern is as my colleagues
[1:08:49] said are we planning for a
[1:08:51] rainy day that we believe is
[1:08:52] likely to come that's a few
[1:08:54] months down the road and the
[1:08:55] answer is no and what does that
[1:08:57] mean for us financially?
[1:08:59] I also think it is important
[1:09:00] chief carla denise when we talk
[1:09:02] about the natural growth in our
[1:09:04] budget at 9%, I don't know that
[1:09:06] that's necessarily fair to call
[1:09:08] natural growth only because
[1:09:10] frankly it's contracted growth.
[1:09:12] It's growth we have implemented
[1:09:13] through policies we passed
[1:09:21] saying we agreed 2: at three,
[1:09:23] for which we are contracted to
[1:09:26] do but I don't know if that's
[1:09:27] considered natural growth and I
[1:09:28] don't know if we will reconcile
[1:09:30] that now as we plan the budget
[1:09:32] so to those paying attention I
[1:09:33] think that the chickens are
[1:09:34] coming home to roost.
[1:09:36] I think the way we budget in
[1:09:41] this county needs to be studied
[1:09:43] greatly and I think savings is
[1:09:44] not an unrealistic ask
[1:09:47] considering the size of our
[1:09:49] budget in miami dade county,
[1:09:50] considering the amount of
[1:09:54] dollars that we move.
[1:09:56] So I would like for us to work
[1:09:57] towards that end and as you
[1:10:03] know chief I worked in the
[1:10:04] legislation in the past to
[1:10:06] bring in outside consultants
[1:10:07] and that couldn't come to
[1:10:10] fruition for a number of
[1:10:10] reasons so here we sit tackling
[1:10:12] a difficult budget year we
[1:10:14] anticipate will continue to get
[1:10:15] more difficult, all that to say
[1:10:20] in the end when the budget
[1:10:21] passes everybody has
[1:10:23] conversations about whose
[1:10:25] budget is it, is it the mayor's
[1:10:26] budget or our budget, whose
[1:10:30] budget is it?
[1:10:32] If we decide it's our budget or
[1:10:33] all our budgets we have to put
[1:10:35] in the work along with you the
[1:10:37] administration to do these deep
[1:10:39] dives and I am saying and I
[1:10:41] believe my colleagues has made
[1:10:42] it clear we all willing to do
[1:10:43] that.
[1:10:45] Think we have to do
[1:10:46] that in the time for that is
[1:10:47] now.
[1:10:48] So whether it's special
[1:10:50] committee hearings, whether it
[1:10:52] is special sessions, I don't
[1:11:03] necessarily want 2 budget
[1:11:04] hearings that go 12 hours.
[1:11:07] I don't want that, my colleague
[1:11:08] commissioner gonzalez was
[1:11:10] active a couple budget cycles
[1:11:10] ago.
[1:11:12] He was the only voice covering
[1:11:13] with questions.
[1:11:15] I'm not sure, I think we should
[1:11:17] do it in either special
[1:11:19] meetings or special committees,
[1:11:20] whatever the proper forum is
[1:11:23] what I along with my colleagues
[1:11:24] believe there is opportunity
[1:11:26] for us to do better with the
[1:11:28] numbers in our budget without
[1:11:29] necessarily laying off
[1:11:31] thousands of people and getting
[1:11:33] any kind of dramatic sweeping
[1:11:34] consequential changes.
[1:11:36] There is so much in our budget
[1:11:38] in miami-dade county that I
[1:11:40] believe if we were to dive down
[1:11:42] we could accomplish a budget
[1:11:43] where where we were yielding
[1:11:45] reserves and say yes, we are
[1:11:53] saving for a rainy day we had
[1:11:55] our budget is extremely healthy
[1:11:57] even though we are in
[1:11:59] challenging economic times and
[1:12:00] I look forward to working with
[1:12:02] my colleagues and I don't want
[1:12:04] this to be accepted as words on
[1:12:06] a microphone or going to go
[1:12:08] along our very way no one will
[1:12:10] remember the conversation.
[1:12:11] Let's do that work.
[1:12:12] Hank you
[1:12:13] MADAM Chair.
[1:12:15] >> asked the chair to give us
[1:12:17] the authority to call a special
[1:12:18] meeting to drill down on each
[1:12:20] and every one of the
[1:12:22] departments budgets, vice
[1:12:33] CHAIRMAN Your recognized.
[1:12:35] >> I wanted to put further
[1:12:37] questions and statements on the
[1:12:38] record, let me preface by
[1:12:40] saying I love our county
[1:12:42] employees, I've been a county
[1:12:44] employee for 20 years there
[1:12:45] probably no one here and
[1:12:47] understand better what it is to
[1:12:49] be a county employee and how
[1:12:51] they are the heartbeat of our
[1:12:57] community yet I would like a
[1:12:58] breakdown as we entered the
[1:13:00] budget process of what
[1:13:02] percentage of our employees are
[1:13:02] unionized.
[1:13:04] And not specifically airport
[1:13:06] seaport, jackson, I'm talking
[1:13:08] about the ones that impact our
[1:13:09] general fund the most.
[1:13:11] I think it's important to see
[1:13:11] that.
[1:13:13] I understand this year we are
[1:13:16] not opening our bargaining
[1:13:17] contracts and I think did you
[1:13:19] want to say something?
[1:13:20] , I think it's a mistake.
[1:13:22] Sometimes we need to do hard
[1:13:23] things and letting this moment
[1:13:25] pass by agreeing with what they
[1:13:27] have MAY not be the best
[1:13:27] decision.
[1:13:29] >> want to clarify what we are
[1:13:31] doing with the union contracts.
[1:13:33] >> we've met with other
[1:13:35] bargaining units and all the
[1:13:39] unions agree to zero this year,
[1:13:42] all the contracts are signed
[1:13:44] and we did it in anticipation
[1:13:45] of the election in NOVEMBER and
[1:13:46] they have a reopening in
[1:13:48] JANUARY so we will have to make
[1:13:55] hard decisions in JANUARY.
[1:13:56] >>chair: one about demerits.
[1:13:58] >> demerits are baked into the
[1:14:00] contract when negotiations are
[1:14:03] reopened we will look at all
[1:14:03] those.
[1:14:04] >>chair: I would hate for
[1:14:05] employees to be impacted in the
[1:14:07] end because we don't want to
[1:14:09] make a tough decision today
[1:14:11] that that's what I want to
[1:14:13] avoid and I've asked you in our
[1:14:14] meetings we had prior to this
[1:14:16] for the budget specifically
[1:14:17] about the unions.
[1:14:20] I think it's important to get
[1:14:22] that straightened out before we
[1:14:24] have to impact them in the end.
[1:14:26] What was the cola last year, it
[1:14:28] was approved through our
[1:14:28] employees.
[1:14:30] >> the: that went into effect
[1:14:32] was a 4% increase.
[1:14:34] >>chair: and with the: this
[1:14:36] year.
[1:14:38] >> we did not budget a cola for
[1:14:45] APRIL 27 so that such chief
[1:14:45] palmer.
[1:14:47] >> that means you are flat.
[1:14:47] O
[1:14:48] you left it at four you have
[1:14:51] the option of doing 01234.
[1:14:54] >> through the chair what we
[1:14:56] did was we closed the contract
[1:14:58] with no financial increases or
[1:15:00] impact and we agreed to do a
[1:15:02] real dinner after the election
[1:15:03] in NOVEMBER because we were not
[1:15:07] wanting to commit to flat.
[1:15:09] There is a scenario where we
[1:15:11] MAY need to decrease the
[1:15:12] compensation.
[1:15:26] So I say 001 we are committing
[1:15:28] to something that right now we
[1:15:29] don't have confidence that we
[1:15:31] would be able to sustain.
[1:15:33] If the property tax proposal
[1:15:34] goes into effect.
[1:15:36] >>chair: I need for
[1:15:37] nonunionized employees, what
[1:15:48] was the cola, were you speaking
[1:15:49] about nonunionized?
[1:15:51] >> both, we applied the same
[1:15:53] cost-of-living increase to all
[1:15:54] employees.
[1:15:55] We don't distinguish for
[1:15:57] nonbargaining versus
[1:15:57] bargaining.
[1:15:59] >>chair: just like my colleague
[1:16:04] commissioner cohen higgins said
[1:16:05] we need to look at natural
[1:16:07] growth is and contemplate if
[1:16:08] it's necessary.
[1:16:17] >>.
[1:16:19] >> natural implies there was no
[1:16:19] control.
[1:16:21] The commissioner said it
[1:16:23] eloquently, those were
[1:16:25] decisions made three years ago.
[1:16:26] So if I have the math right we
[1:16:28] did a three 34, that was put
[1:16:30] into place three years ago.
[1:16:33] So again, the policy decision
[1:16:35] was made prior to us
[1:16:37] understanding and appreciating
[1:16:55] today's circumstances.
[1:16:56] >>chair: don't want to harp on
[1:16:58] this, we've all said it but we
[1:17:00] need to contemplate the passage
[1:17:02] of expanded homestead
[1:17:02] exemptions.
[1:17:04] We need to start doing that
[1:17:04] now.
[1:17:06] We shouldn't wait until next
[1:17:08] budget season to plug in those
[1:17:10] reductions that are more than
[1:17:11] likely coming our way.
[1:17:13] It's a reality and we need to
[1:17:14] take that into consideration.
[1:17:16] So thank you.
[1:17:18] >>chair: commissioner gonzalez
[1:17:20] you are recognized.
[1:17:22] >>chair: to piggyback off of
[1:17:24] what commissioner organist said
[1:17:26] because even in NOVEMBER the
[1:17:27] homestead exemption expansion
[1:17:31] doesn't happen, most of the
[1:17:34] candidates for governor,
[1:17:37] especially the front runner are
[1:17:41] already contemplating
[1:17:43] regardless reduction in
[1:17:46] homestead exemptions but even
[1:17:47] if a homestead exemption
[1:17:49] reduction didn't happen, we
[1:17:53] have a chance to make history.
[1:17:58] And actually reduce government
[1:18:00] in miami-dade county because if
[1:18:04] we keep projecting growth it's
[1:18:07] almost like your budgeting for
[1:18:12] next year expecting that you're
[1:18:14] going to win the lottery.
[1:18:19] Or expecting you're going to
[1:18:20] get that promotion.
[1:18:25] But then you don't.
[1:18:27] And you probably shouldn't have
[1:18:28] gone to europe.
[1:18:35] And by the way I say this not
[1:18:37] in criticism, I know you folks
[1:18:39] have been doing a tremendous
[1:18:44] job at trying to match the
[1:18:44] circumstances.
[1:18:46] but there again is the
[1:18:48] suggestion especially with the
[1:18:52] tone of this committee and of
[1:18:57] the chair that we can
[1:18:59] definitely help.
[1:19:01] We can definitely help and I
[1:19:09] look forward to the coming
[1:19:10] weeks and even into AUGUST I
[1:19:12] look forward to working on this
[1:19:14] with the administration and
[1:19:15] figuring out a way how maybe we
[1:19:26] can make history this year.
[1:19:28] >>chair: thank you for that
[1:19:30] comment commissioner gonzalez,
[1:19:32] for all almost we are on the
[1:19:33] ground talking to our
[1:19:35] constituents and their
[1:19:37] tightening their belts and
[1:19:40] there is no reason they should
[1:19:41] be alone, we should be leading
[1:19:43] the charge and I truly believe
[1:19:45] and I'm grateful we can work
[1:19:48] with the administration.
[1:19:49] There should be a very close
[1:19:51] relationship with us trying to
[1:19:52] figure out where could we
[1:19:54] suggest and recommend other
[1:19:55] savings and I think the work of
[1:19:57] this committee will absolutely
[1:19:59] help us do just that.
[1:20:00] Just like we do in the state we
[1:20:02] dig deeply into the details of
[1:20:03] every department's budget.
[1:20:06] We can do it here especially
[1:20:07] since I know I have the
[1:20:09] commitment of my colleagues on
[1:20:09] this committee.
[1:20:12] So I'm looking forward to a
[1:20:13] vibrant discussion on all of
[1:20:15] this looking forward to being
[1:20:25] able to tell the taxpayers of
[1:20:26] miami dade county that we did
[1:20:28] our job ended did it will and
[1:20:30] the outcome was positive so if
[1:20:32] there is no other items I would
[1:20:33] entertain a motion to adjourn.