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All right, break a leg. So. Thank you for allowing me to leave early last week. Drake

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won his game. Good evening and welcome to the Monroe County Board of County commissioners.

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Budget hearing for September 14th if we could please stand and salute the flag, and

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Commissioner Cates, why don't you lead us off? Uh, regions of the United States of America

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and to the republic nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

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You are a little matchy, by the way. Well, we can't help it. Yeah, you did. Mm. Oh. Good

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evening. Crystal, would you like to read the any additions or deletions or corrections,

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please. Good evening. We have one add-on. Going to be on page 3 of your agenda. I H1,

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libraries. Approval to exempt the use of property policy at Harvey Government Center for

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Patrons of the Library, while the Key West Library is closed, as long as the use is

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consistent with regularly scheduled library uses that have historically occurred at

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the library and library staff will be present for such events That completes it. I would like

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to insert the Between exempt and the. Exempt from the use of property? duly noted, that's a

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big, do I have a motion to accept the agenda, so moved to a 2nd motion back, commissioner

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Rashine, seconded by Commissioner Cates all in favor motion carries. All right,

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let's get to it today, Liz. 3rd time's a charm, Madam Mayor. Here we go. Your first item is

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item B1, county administrator's fiscal year 2027, final budget presentation and discussion. Mr

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Quinn, the floor is yours. Good evening, Madam Mayor and Commissioners. Good evening. Uh

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tonight is our 2nd and final public hearing, and tonight we will adopt a final budget for

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fiscal year 2027. The budget that I have for you tonight is identical to what was presented

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to you and tentatively approved by the BOCC last Wednesday in Key Largo, uh, but with us

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being in Key West tonight, I will go through the presentation one more time

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before the board votes to approve. OK. This is our fiscal year 2027 budget process, the

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first budget-related hearing was held on July 14th in Marathon. This was our special

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budget meeting. Uh, this was an introduction to the proposed fiscal year 2027 budget and

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certification of those proposed millage rates to the property appraiser. And then as I

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mentioned last Wednesday, we met on September 9th in Key Largo. This was the first of

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our two public hearings, and this, at this meeting, the board adopted the tentative

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budget and tentative millage rates. And then finally tonight September 14th here in Key

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Largo. This is the 2nd of our two statutorily required public hearings, and tonight we will

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adopt the final budget and final military rates. Uh. Commissioners, this is your

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fiscal year 2027 budget summary The total proposed final budget is 690.2 million. The revenues

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are summarized above in the blue box and the expenditures are summarized below in gray.

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Within the blue revenue section uh, there is a white box that shows the total proposed ad

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valorum property tax levy at approximately 180.6 million of this 180.6, about $2 million

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goes directly to the Florida Department of Health as a local contribution to the Monroe

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County Health Unit. This is a summary of the budget changes that have taken place since the

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initial budget presentation back on July 14th, uh, the budget that was presented to

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the board in Marathon that day was 695.8 million. Since then, uh, staff has made budget

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changes that have totaled overall reduction of about $5.5 million. Now down to a final

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fiscal year 2027, final proposed budget of 6690.2 million. Uh, these changes are

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broken out into a few major categories. The top section there is the board of county

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commissioners operating portion of the budget. This includes staff's recommendation of the

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elimination of 6 additional, uh 3 of which are in the building department and the other 3 are

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in the emergency services department as firefighter EMT positions. A staffing analysis

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was performed and it was determined that we could eliminate those 3 EMS positions

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without making any compromises to public safety. Those 3 emergency services positions

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were able to reduce the budget by approximately 400,000, which then allowed for us to reduce

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the millage rate within the District 1 Lower Middle Keys Fire and Ambulance back We had

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a proposed millage rate for this taxing unit of 2.1895. We have now reduced that down to

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2.1538. Under our constitutional officers section of the budget. This is

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specifically the tax collector, uh, because we were able to reduce the overall property tax

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levy, the tax collector is compensated based upon 3% of the Advilorum tax levy, and so

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therefore lower tax levy we were able to reduce the tax collector's budget. In the

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capital projects section, this is specifically about timing changes and carry forwards from

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the current year, fiscal year 2026, when our project managers uh, work on preparing next

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year's budget, submitting their requests to us. They make estimates on what they believe

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they will accomplish in the current year, uh, but then by September we received some

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updated estimates, and they determined that they need some of these funds rolled forward.

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It is not an overall fiscal impact change to the county. It is merely just a timing

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difference between fiscal year to the next, um, however, with the Affordable housing line

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there, that negative $10 million. This is for the tourist development tax, DC 1,

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affordable housing project at Poincia Plaza. The funds were originally budgeted in fiscal

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year 2026, and when we were preparing the proposed budget, we were unsure if we would be

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able to utilize them in the current year, so we went ahead and budgeted them for next year

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However, we do believe we will be able to. Distribute those $10 million by the end of this

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month and therefore it is not needed in next year. And then finally under the tourist

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Development Council section. This is essentially the same situation as with the county

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capital projects. It's a timing difference between fiscal years and it is a carry forward of

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current year budget. Commissioners, this is a summary of the fiscal year 2027

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total appropriations. The Board of County commissioners operating. Budget is 228.2

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million or 33.1% of the total budget. And then our constitutional officers are at

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149.1 million or 21.6% of the total budget combined BOCC operating and constitutional

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officers operating 377.3 million or approximately 54% of the total budget. This slide

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shows the operational revenues that fund the Border county commissioners and

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constitutional officers operating budgets, uh, as you'll see there in the center,

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the total Avalorm property tax levy 178.6 million. That is a main funding source for these

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portions of the budget. Additionally, under the state shared revenues, we have our

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$0.5 sales tax, approximately 6 $16 million per year. This is a return of a portion of the 6

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cent state sales tax that is. turned back to the counties. We also have local sales taxes,

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charges for services, license and permits, fines and forfeitures, and various other

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miscellaneous revenues that total that 377.3 million. Commissioners, this is a year

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over year budget comparison between the fiscal year 2027 proposed final budget and the

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fiscal year 2026 adopted budget Uh, when comparing year over year, the total budget

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increased by approximately 18 million or 2.7%. Uh, when looking at the border of county

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commissioner's portion specifically the operating capital projects and budgeted

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transfers, the main year over year reduction there at about 17 million. due to a reduction

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in interfund transfers. This is specifically due to the retirement of the 2016 revenue

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bond as well as completion or substantial completion of passenger facility charge,

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funded capital projects at the Key West International Airport, and because of that retirement

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of the debt and the completion of projects, less money needs to be transferred in between

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county funds The other major item on this list here is down at the tourist Development

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Council. We're seeing a year over year. increase of about 29 million. This year, the tourist

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Development Council decided they would like to utilize a crude, unappropriated fund

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balance so that they could make additional community investment additional funding for capital

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projects, events, as well as additional advertising. And then naturally because these

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are not new revenues, these are accrued fund balances once they are they are, we can expect the

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budget to be reduced in future years. Hey commissioners, this is a continuation of the year

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over year summary. This is the fiscal year 2027 proposed final budget versus fiscal year 2026,

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adopted budget but specifically for the Board of County commissioners operating portion

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of the budget. Uh, and so we'll see year over year the budget did increase by about 1.2

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million, but less than 1%, about 0.6% increase year over year. And as we've mentioned

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before, this budget absorbs certain unavoidable cost increases such as the

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compensation increases for our firefighter and EMS employees per their collective bargaining

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agreement. This budget also includes some unavoidable cost increases such as CPI increases

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per the contracts. That we have with certain vendors such as our solid waste collection and

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haul out. The items here that increased year over year are notated in red, and those that

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decreased are notated in black, and so although we see quite a few that increased year over

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year. We also see a significant number of departments that were able to reduce their budgets

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year over year and help make those budget reductions that compensated for some of these

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increases and that we were able to bring in a BOCC operating budget that is less than 1%

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increase year over year. Commissioners, this budget includes cost of living

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adjustments for Border county commissioners and constitutional officer

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employees for the Board of County commissioner's regular class and Teamster employees,

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there's a 2.7% cost of living adjustment for the Monroe County Fire Rescue employees

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per their collective bargaining agreement. It comes out to 8.3%. Then moving down to our

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sheriffs, our bargaining unit, sheriff employees, 10% for their CBA and then 2.7% for

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their regular class employees and the same for our clerk of court property appraiser,

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supervisor of elections and the tax collector, and all in all, the cost of living adjustments

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for our our personnel is about $9.5 million and of that 9.5 million, 7.1% of that is or 75%

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is contractually obligated. Per those collective bargaining agreements for our public

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safety workers. Commissioners, this is the countywide taxable value history. The property

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appraiser certified a July 1, 2026, uh, certified value of $53.2 billion. This is up 6.5%

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over last year at 49.9 billion. Uh, however, what we'd like to note on this slide is that

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although we've seen year over year increases in the overall countywide taxable value that

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year over year increase is slowly stepping down each year. going from 15 to 13 to 10 to 8

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and 6, and so this is an item that we've been watching for the past few years, and we will

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continue to keep an eye on this especially with the proposed property tax reform. Here's the

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2026 countywide taxable values. This is the total countywide taxable values broken down by

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property types, so we have our homesteaded residential or non-homesteaded residential,

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commercial, and vacant land. And as we'll see there of, of the total value homesteaded

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properties make up about 19.64% and the remaining 80% of the total taxable value. This is

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just for clarification, is not number of units, but of the total taxable value, just under

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20% is homesteaded and the remaining 80% is made up of those non-homesteaded

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residentials, commercial, and vacant land. This is our fiscal year 2027 Ad Vorum distribution

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slide. This is how those Advalorum property tax dollars are utilized at the bottom

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there you'll see the total proposed levy of 180.6 million, and the left hand side in the

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gray box 126.2 million or 69.8% of that total levy is going directly towards funding the

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function of public safety. And then on the right hand side in the blue box we can see that

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when we include our constitutional officers' funding in addition to that

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public safety, the total amount rises to 164.2 million or 90.9% of the total tax levy, uh, and

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then down there at the bottom we can see that that leaves left over about 16.5 million or

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9.1%. The remainder of this amount is used to fund state mandated costs that the county

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is items that the county is. Required by state law to provide, which include the

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state mandated Medicaid cost share our substance abuse, mental health, Baker Act

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transportation, and then the remainder of these funds go to funding the Board of county

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commissioners' operations. This is a comparison with how Monroe County stacks up against our

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local South Florida neighboring counties in countywide millage. The total or the proposed

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millage rate countywide for fiscal year 2027 is 2.6929. This is the same millage rate

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that was adopted for fiscal year 2026, as well as for fiscal year 2025, uh, and then

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when we compare ourselves to our neighboring counties you can see that we have a

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significantly lower countywide millage rate. So what this equates to is this is $269.29

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of property tax per $100,000 of taxable value. And so we added this chart there on the right

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hand side that shows what the comparison would be against our neighboring counties on a

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property that has a taxable value of a million dollars. This is just the countywide tax

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levy portion. So in Monroe, that property owner would pay just under $2700 but then if we

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skip down to say, Palm Beach, that property owner would be about $4500 and then down at

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Broward would be as much as $5600. We are generally the Loest countywide millage rate

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in the state and we believe we will achieve that again this year. Commissioners, this is

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how the average homeowner would be affected by keeping the countywide millage rate the

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same, so what we did here is we used those average taxable values per property type that

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the property appraiser had provided to us and we had listed on one of those previous

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slides, the blue section there is for a homesteaded residential property. Uh, this

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average homeowner with a taxable value of about 665,000 with keeping the same millage

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rate the same, uh, would have a total countywide levy of about just under $1800 and would see

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a year over year increase of about $51 or $4.22 per month. Then in the gray box, this is

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the non-homesteaded residential with an average taxable value of about 1.1 million. They

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would see a year over year increase of about $270 or $22.55 per month. And then

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finally the orange box represents the average taxable value of a commercial property

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at about 1.6, 1.7 million. This property owner would see a year over year increase of about 400

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$400 or about $34 per month. This is a historical ad valorum levy comparison, so the orange

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box there shows the total, uh, adopted tax levy for fiscal year 2025, the green section

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shows the total adopted levy for fiscal year 2026, and then finally on the right in blue is

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what we are proposing for fiscal year 2027 as we can see from fiscal 25 to 26, we had an

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overall tax increase of about 12.8 million and then from fiscal year 26 to what we're

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proposing for fiscal 2027 an increase of about 11.9 million. And what we'd like to point out

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here is as we'll recall from last year when we were preparing the fiscal year 2026

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budget. The county administrator led budget roundtable meetings which

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yielded about $13.5 million in budget reductions, which did include the elimination of 38

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full-time positions. And so if it had not been for that $13.5 million of budget reductions

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that 12.8 million would have needed to be more like 26 million year over year in order

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to be able to continue to fund the operations at the same level. The next 4 slides look

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at each individual taxing unit. This first slide here is the Monroe County BOCC operating.

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This is that countywide tax levy that 2.6929 millage rate. From fiscal year 2025 to

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2020206, the total levy went up by about 11 million and then from 26 to now proposed for 27,

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about 7.8 million. Uh, this taxing unit provides funding for countywide services in

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unincorporated Monroe and the municipalities and those services include that local

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contribution to the Monroe County Health Department, uh, countywide sheriffs, law

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enforcement services, correction services, and court security funding for the BOCC

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to maintain the corrections facilities, supplementary funding for the trauma Star Air

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Ambulance Program, our constitutional officers are funded through this tax levy,

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so our clerk. Of court, supervisor of elections, property appraiser, and tax

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collector, as well as the local funding for state agencies, the public defender, 16 judicial

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administration and the state attorney and then additionally we fund our fire academy from

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this taxing unit, emergency management department, our medical examiner, Veterans

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Affairs, and libraries. The next taxing unit is the general purpose MSTU. This taxing unit

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provides funding for services in unincorporated Monroe and Key Largo, and those services

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include maintenance of county parks and beaches. Our county recreation department funding

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for the Jacobs Aquatic Center, supplementary funding for our fire marshal and our fire

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rescue administration, the planning and environmental Resources Department, as well

201
00:51:53,247 --> 00:52:00,119
as code compliance from fiscal 25 to 26, this levy increased by about 30. 91,000 and then

202
00:52:00,119 --> 00:52:08,519
from fiscal 26 to 27, it is increasing by about 280. 7000. The next taxing unit is the

203
00:52:10,797 --> 00:52:15,736
local road patrol law enforcement. This taxing unit provides funding for Monroe

204
00:52:15,736 --> 00:52:22,275
County Sheriff's Office, local road patrol services in unincorporated Monroe and Key

205
00:52:22,275 --> 00:52:29,216
Largo. The levee here from 2025 to fiscal 2026 increased by about 644,000 and then from 26

206
00:52:29,216 --> 00:52:36,356
to what we are proposing for 2027, about 666,000. This differs from the last two

207
00:52:36,356 --> 00:52:40,628
slides. On the last 2 slides, we are recommending village maintenance for those, keeping

208
00:52:40,628 --> 00:52:47,167
the millage rate the same as it was adopted by the Commission for Fiscal 26, same for 27.

209
00:52:47,167 --> 00:52:52,105
However, here, because of the compensation increases for those Monroe County Sheriff's

210
00:52:52,105 --> 00:52:56,377
Office uniformed deputies, it was necessary to increase the millage rate within this taxing

211
00:52:56,377 --> 00:53:04,777
unit. We went from 2 0.2889 in fiscal year 2026 to 0.2963 for fiscal year 2027. And then our

212
00:53:10,570 --> 00:53:14,929
final taxing unit is the District 1 Lower Middle Keys Fire and Ambulance. This taxi

213
00:53:14,929 --> 00:53:21,000
unit provides funding for fire suppression, ground ambulance, emergency medical services in

214
00:53:21,000 --> 00:53:26,139
unincorporated Monroe and Leighton, but does exclude Ocean Reef. Uh, fiscal year

215
00:53:26,139 --> 00:53:32,478
2025 to 2020206, the total tax levy went up by about 3.2 million and then from fiscal 26

216
00:53:32,478 --> 00:53:39,118
to 2027, the proposed millage rate will increase by about 3.9 million. And similar to the

217
00:53:39,118 --> 00:53:43,422
local road patrol law. enforcement taxing unit, uh, because of those compensation

218
00:53:43,422 --> 00:53:50,164
increases for our Monroe County Fire Rescue employees, we, it was necessary for us to

219
00:53:50,164 --> 00:53:56,360
increase the proposed millage rate within this taxing unit. fiscal year 2026, we're at

220
00:53:56,360 --> 00:54:04,436
1.9076, and in order to balance the budget for fiscal year 2027 it's being increased to 2.1538.

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And then the last slide before we move into our capital projects section of the

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presentation. This is our general reserves as a reminder, the board policy is a minimum

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of 4 months and a maximum of 6 months of general fund operating reserves, in addition

224
00:54:21,794 --> 00:54:26,867
to a $10 million emergency disaster reserve. Last year when we were preparing the

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00:54:26,867 --> 00:54:33,140
fiscal year 2026 budget, the board directed staff to make additional expenditure cuts to

226
00:54:33,140 --> 00:54:37,958
be able to increase the emergency disaster reserve. By an additional 2 million. So now

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00:54:37,958 --> 00:54:44,297
it is at 12 million and I will have a resolution for you later on this agenda to formally set

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00:54:44,297 --> 00:54:51,170
that fund balance level at 12 million. In addition, uh, as we've discussed at previous

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budget meetings, we are seeing the need for working capital for our large grant funded

230
00:54:55,975 --> 00:55:02,581
capital projects. It's, uh, we're very fortunate to receive such large grant awards and to

231
00:55:02,581 --> 00:55:06,919
be able to bring in outside funding to help with infrastructure projects.

232
00:55:06,919 --> 00:55:12,258
However, this does require significant upfront capital in order to be able to pay our

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contractors and be able to complete the work before we can submit for subsequent

234
00:55:16,996 --> 00:55:21,133
reimbursement and payment from the grantors, and so we are recommending the establishment

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00:55:21,133 --> 00:55:28,800
of a general fund working capital grant funded projects, reserved specifically for that.

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That purpose. And now we move into the fiscal year 2027 capital plan. Uh, the county is

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00:55:36,816 --> 00:55:42,220
working on many different capital projects, uh, so I won't touch on every single one

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00:55:42,220 --> 00:55:48,950
but I'll just go section by section, so the first up there is the physical environment,

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00:55:48,950 --> 00:55:52,310
most notable are the projects going on at our transfer stations for solid waste. We

240
00:55:52,310 --> 00:55:57,904
have transfer station buildings tipping floors, and waste sheds our general government section

241
00:55:57,904 --> 00:56:03,576
here are mainly our government buildings. We have projects here that benefit our

242
00:56:03,576 --> 00:56:08,114
constitutional officers such as the Ellis Building renovation for. Our property appraiser, as

243
00:56:08,114 --> 00:56:12,918
well as the supervisor of elections based your manner renovations. Then moving down

244
00:56:12,918 --> 00:56:18,858
to our culture and recreation section, the most notable item in here is going to be that Key

245
00:56:18,858 --> 00:56:26,800
West library roof replacement. Then moving on to our economic environment section, these are

246
00:56:26,800 --> 00:56:32,539
those uh surplus tourist development tax dollars that will be used for private sector

247
00:56:32,539 --> 00:56:38,770
affordable housing projects. We are carrying forward the balances of these funds to be

248
00:56:38,770 --> 00:56:43,883
made available for projects in the upcoming fiscal year. Then in our public safety section we

249
00:56:43,883 --> 00:56:49,155
have quite a few projects over at the Monroe County Detention Center, which include roof,

250
00:56:49,155 --> 00:56:55,429
window, door replacements, sprawling kitchen, uh, fire exhaust, uh, electrical, and as

251
00:56:55,429 --> 00:57:00,366
well as a vehicle vehicle system for Monroe County Fire Rescue, and ambulance remount,

252
00:57:00,366 --> 00:57:08,707
and then the generator platform at the Monroe County Detention Center. Then in our

253
00:57:08,707 --> 00:57:13,313
transportation section we have various road and bridge type projects, uh, as well as

254
00:57:13,313 --> 00:57:18,119
projects going on at Card Sound Road. We have the Tubby's Creek Bridge and the Mosquito Creek

255
00:57:18,119 --> 00:57:23,560
Bridge, and we want to note that these items are not, do not utilize any Avalorm

256
00:57:23,560 --> 00:57:28,931
property taxes. They also do not utilize any one set infrastructure sales tax, the

257
00:57:28,931 --> 00:57:34,690
Cart Sound Road bridge replacement projects use Cart Sound Road toll revenue as a

258
00:57:34,690 --> 00:57:39,800
grant match for the outside grand final. funding that we're receiving and then below that

259
00:57:39,800 --> 00:57:44,747
we have our marathon Airport, Key West Airport, grant match funding for the upcoming fiscal

260
00:57:44,747 --> 00:57:49,419
year and the Key West Airport rental car facility and then remaining work to be completed

261
00:57:49,419 --> 00:57:56,425
regarding Concourse A. Then under our administrative and miscellaneous section, the most

262
00:57:56,425 --> 00:58:01,296
notable item here would be the old 7 Mile Bridge maintenance payment. This is an annual

263
00:58:01,296 --> 00:58:05,300
payment to Florida Department of Transportation for maintenance as well as a

264
00:58:05,300 --> 00:58:10,105
sinking fund contribution, the tourist Development Council has agreed for the 2nd year in a

265
00:58:10,105 --> 00:58:16,445
row to fund this county contribution, and so therefore we have excluded it from this

266
00:58:16,445 --> 00:58:21,717
portion of the capital plan for fiscal 27. However, we've kept it in for future years, and

267
00:58:21,717 --> 00:58:27,457
we'll reevaluate next year. As we do. Next year's budget. And then finally we have our debt

268
00:58:27,457 --> 00:58:33,130
service section for a total capital and debt service final proposed budget of $139.5

269
00:58:33,130 --> 00:58:41,530
million. And commissioners, these are our summer study items we discussed these at the

270
00:58:41,870 --> 00:58:46,742
July 14th budget meeting and these were items that county staff would work on in between

271
00:58:46,742 --> 00:58:52,348
that initial introduction to the budget and then the adoption in September. The

272
00:58:52,348 --> 00:58:56,619
first item was to continue to evaluate positions in departments with revenue

273
00:58:56,619 --> 00:59:01,957
shortfalls and anticipated impacts from potential tax reform for fiscal year 2028, we

274
00:59:01,957 --> 00:59:06,496
would evaluate each vacant position to determine whether to freeze or eliminate, uh, as

275
00:59:06,496 --> 00:59:13,350
I mentioned, Previously, we have included the elimination of 6 FTEs in this final budget,

276
00:59:13,350 --> 00:59:17,773
3 within the emergency services department, and 3 within the building department. The next

277
00:59:17,773 --> 00:59:23,579
item was the Parks and recreation camp analysis to determine whether new fees

278
00:59:23,579 --> 00:59:28,583
covered expenditures as was announced last week by the Parks and Recreation director

279
00:59:28,583 --> 00:59:33,456
John Allen, the summer camp broke even for fiscal year 2026 Um, however, the parks will be

280
00:59:33,456 --> 00:59:38,327
proposing additional fee adjustments. Facilities and park recreation elimination of

281
00:59:38,327 --> 00:59:43,866
fee waivers for use of property This item is pending the tax reform results, so we will

282
00:59:43,866 --> 00:59:50,500
revisit this after the November election. The planning department evaluation of

283
00:59:50,500 --> 00:59:54,342
development approval fees to cover operational costs. The board adopted new fees for this

284
00:59:54,342 --> 00:59:59,810
department, which will significantly address revenue shortfalls, which are currently

285
00:59:59,810 --> 01:00:03,286
being supplemented with a $0.5 sales tax revenue. The building department fire marshal,

286
01:00:03,286 --> 01:00:09,425
planning and environmental Resources Department fee study to cover operational costs and

287
01:00:09,425 --> 01:00:15,764
meet new Florida statute requirements. The board will be asked to enter into a contract

288
01:00:15,764 --> 01:00:21,183
to restructure fees for. Determining on the September 14th agenda. Fire marshal

289
01:00:21,183 --> 01:00:27,590
operation to evaluate fees and allocation of expenses used for safety inspections in order to

290
01:00:27,590 --> 01:00:32,462
cover operational costs. After studying the fees and the fee collection, staff will not

291
01:00:32,462 --> 01:00:37,134
recommend a fee increase, but however, we'll instead work towards a better collection

292
01:00:37,134 --> 01:00:43,338
rate. The trauma Star Building, uh, Trauma Star billing rates and collections, our emergency

293
01:00:43,338 --> 01:00:48,345
services are recommending a retention of a consultant to provide an operational

294
01:00:48,345 --> 01:00:52,748
assessment and make recommendations to approve efficiencies and increased

295
01:00:52,748 --> 01:00:57,553
collections. Uh, and then finally to continue to analyze expenditures which could be

296
01:00:57,553 --> 01:01:01,490
eligible for tourist development tax funds, uh, staff will be recommending a

297
01:01:01,490 --> 01:01:08,900
legislative priority to adjust statutory language related to eligible expenditures using

298
01:01:08,970 --> 01:01:15,237
tourist development tax funds. And then here are our fiscal year 2027, uh, proposed budget

299
01:01:15,237 --> 01:01:22,512
key points, so the total fiscal year 2027 proposed final budget of 690.2 million. This reflects

300
01:01:22,512 --> 01:01:30,319
a year over year increase of about 18.1 million from the fiscal year 2026 adopted budget

301
01:01:30,319 --> 01:01:35,657
of 672 million this year over year increases primarily due to the tourist Development

302
01:01:35,657 --> 01:01:39,996
council's utilization of accrued fund balance for additional community investment

303
01:01:39,996 --> 01:01:45,000
capital projects, events, and ads. Advertising, we have maintained the countywide

304
01:01:45,000 --> 01:01:50,807
millage rate for fiscal year 2027 at 2.6929, as I mentioned, is likely to be the lowest

305
01:01:50,807 --> 01:01:58,607
millage rate in Florida again, $269.29 per $100,000 of taxable value, we did increase the

306
01:01:59,750 --> 01:02:06,950
fiscal year 2027, aggregate millage rate to 3.3975, which is 1.2% above the fiscal year

307
01:02:08,757 --> 01:02:16,320
2026 aggregate rate of 3.3. 567 However, we were able to lower the aggregate millage rate

308
01:02:16,320 --> 01:02:24,432
since initially introduced in July from 3.4054 down to 3.3975 uh, and as a reminder, the

309
01:02:24,907 --> 01:02:30,913
aggregate millage rate increase was needed in order to accommodate the fire rescue and

310
01:02:30,913 --> 01:02:35,984
unincorporated local road patrol salary increases, which we had always projected would

311
01:02:35,984 --> 01:02:41,323
require a millage increase. And for informational purposes to reduce the aggregate millage

312
01:02:41,323 --> 01:02:47,530
rate to match fiscal year 2026, it would require about $2.1 million in additional cuts.

313
01:02:47,530 --> 01:02:53,536
This budget absorbs certain unavoidable cost increases in operations such as

314
01:02:53,536 --> 01:02:58,807
contractually obligated CPI increases for vendors as well as those compensation increases

315
01:02:58,807 --> 01:03:03,212
for our collective bargaining unit public safety employees. Um, however, additional

316
01:03:03,212 --> 01:03:07,817
department cuts were made to compensate against these increases and help reduce the

317
01:03:07,817 --> 01:03:14,920
overall year over year budget increase. And then finally there's a continued investment

318
01:03:14,920 --> 01:03:19,298
in public safety, compensation increases for fire, EMS, and law enforcement personnel so

319
01:03:19,298 --> 01:03:23,436
that we can attract and retain a qualified workforce. We've included in this budget

320
01:03:23,436 --> 01:03:29,907
replacement of fire apparatus, ambulance remounts, as well as various EMS operational

321
01:03:29,907 --> 01:03:32,978
equipment purchases, and then finally there are various maintenance and improvement

322
01:03:32,978 --> 01:03:37,248
projects to our Monroe County Detention Center on Stock Island, which includes Spawing

323
01:03:37,248 --> 01:03:43,848
window, kitchen, and plumbing repairs. And commissioners, this concludes my presentation.

324
01:03:44,456 --> 01:03:51,630
I'm here if you have any questions for me. Very good job Mr. Quinn, Commissioners, any

325
01:03:51,630 --> 01:03:56,000
comments from up here before I open it up to the public. Hearing none, um, we'll open it

326
01:03:56,000 --> 01:04:01,474
to the public. Do we have anyone signed up, Liz, to speak on this? I have no one signed

327
01:04:01,474 --> 01:04:06,610
up in the public. Do you have anybody online? See no raised hands, however, you're calling

328
01:04:06,610 --> 01:04:13,150
in via telephone, please dial 9 There are no race hands. If you're in the public and you

329
01:04:13,150 --> 01:04:20,559
wish to make a comment, you need to fill out a blue card so that we can call your name so

330
01:04:20,559 --> 01:04:26,970
because we're not that busy right now, why don't you run on up here and tell us your name

331
01:04:26,970 --> 01:04:33,505
and then Liz will have you fill out the card afterwards and you can. When you get up here, just

332
01:04:33,505 --> 01:04:37,975
please state your name and Who you're with, no, right here by the microphone so we can have

333
01:04:37,975 --> 01:04:42,379
you on a podium. So Madam Mayor I just have a couple of comments later when we get to

334
01:04:42,379 --> 01:04:47,318
it. Do you want to do yours now or after we hear public comment ? OK, thank you. I apologize.

335
01:04:47,318 --> 01:04:53,458
It's my first meeting. Uh, my name is Jackie Curl, and I am the current CEO of the domestic

336
01:04:53,458 --> 01:04:58,863
abuse shelter for Monroe County You're the new I'm new in the position. Congratul chain of

337
01:04:58,863 --> 01:05:02,868
command. Oh, thank you and congratulations to you all on your recent election. Um, I'm

338
01:05:02,868 --> 01:05:12,868
just here to represent the domestic abuse shelter and just share the impact of the loss of

339
01:05:13,744 --> 01:05:20,951
funding 2 years ago we had 2 positions, one in Key Largo and one in Key West for outreach

340
01:05:20,951 --> 01:05:26,825
for domestic violence. Um, when we lost the 50% funding last year, we had to eliminate one

341
01:05:26,825 --> 01:05:32,430
of those positions, which was the Key West position, and our shelter advocates in Key West

342
01:05:32,430 --> 01:05:38,703
were trying to do outreach as well as Working at the shelter and advocating with the

343
01:05:38,703 --> 01:05:47,979
domestic abuse clients. Um, this year with the loss of funding or the, you know, no

344
01:05:47,979 --> 01:05:56,979
funding yet and the um Health Services Advisory Board being um sunset, um, we are

345
01:05:57,121 --> 01:06:03,461
anticipating the loss of our Key Largo um outreach advocate at the end of this month. So

346
01:06:03,461 --> 01:06:10,130
these are really significant impacts to our already really small um organization. This

347
01:06:10,130 --> 01:06:17,221
organization has been, it's 45 years old this year, so it's a longstanding. organization in

348
01:06:17,221 --> 01:06:22,159
Monroe County. They worked very hard. Everyone who works there, to meet the needs of the people

349
01:06:22,159 --> 01:06:28,310
in this community who are victims of either intimate partner violence or domestic

350
01:06:28,310 --> 01:06:33,904
violence, and I know that this meeting is not to discuss the funding for these health

351
01:06:33,904 --> 01:06:42,446
services, but I just wanted to say that I understand that the The, from what I've read that

352
01:06:42,446 --> 01:06:50,587
the idea to um sunset, the, the Health Services Advisory board and kind of streamline funding

353
01:06:50,587 --> 01:06:56,927
was to decrease any duplicate services and to really focus on the core services in this

354
01:06:56,927 --> 01:07:02,266
community, and I'm just here to say that this organization is a core service for Monroe County,

355
01:07:02,266 --> 01:07:08,605
so I hope that that is taken into consideration when the decisions are made about

356
01:07:08,605 --> 01:07:13,878
funding. We would love to be. able to go back to our full funding that we had 2 years ago

357
01:07:13,878 --> 01:07:20,284
so that we can have outreach in Key West as well as outreach in Key Largo. So thank you for

358
01:07:20,284 --> 01:07:24,555
taking my comments. I appreciate it. Yeah, Madam Mayor, I actually have a couple

359
01:07:24,555 --> 01:07:29,694
of comments and questions and welcome. Thank you. Yes, thank you for the wonderful work that

360
01:07:29,694 --> 01:07:33,897
you do, and I know that you're new and your organization has gone through some struggles

361
01:07:33,897 --> 01:07:40,170
over the years. I actually was on the board, I think, under Vanita Garvin Valdez. Yeah,

362
01:07:40,170 --> 01:07:45,508
dates me and um and so if there's opportunities to either work through the sheriff's

363
01:07:45,508 --> 01:07:51,448
office or the county and our new revamped community services where there can actually be

364
01:07:51,448 --> 01:07:56,787
tangible contract where you can provide. in writing what you know, the taxpayer resources

365
01:07:56,787 --> 01:08:02,526
that we're going to provide you in that contract process would deliver because I believe

366
01:08:02,526 --> 01:08:06,996
domestic abuse was in one of the buckets. I can't remember how we broke them down, but I

367
01:08:06,996 --> 01:08:12,202
feel like it would fall and electricity. So when the new shelters open for sure. Yeah, I

368
01:08:12,202 --> 01:08:17,208
feel like there's a bucket that we can work within while we don't have the HSAB anymore.

369
01:08:17,208 --> 01:08:21,277
There are still other opportunities to provide these core services whether it's in

370
01:08:21,277 --> 01:08:25,617
Key West, Key Largo, or Marathon. We would welcome that I welcome that. You're drinking

371
01:08:25,617 --> 01:08:31,889
through a fire hose right now, I'm sure, and I know that you guys have been successful every

372
01:08:31,889 --> 01:08:36,560
now and then when the governor doesn't veto things at obtaining state funding. I know

373
01:08:36,560 --> 01:08:41,365
that's probably for the building and not necessarily your services, but I would like

374
01:08:41,365 --> 01:08:48,172
to talk about that with our with our community services division and and see what other

375
01:08:48,172 --> 01:08:52,909
formal contracts that we can enter in that aren't just again these random grants. we hand

376
01:08:52,909 --> 01:08:57,517
out that we actually can see on paper what services they're delivering. Thank you so much.

377
01:08:57,517 --> 01:09:03,523
I would love to be a part of that if you need my input, we would definitely welcome uh and

378
01:09:03,523 --> 01:09:09,996
in fact, many of the funding sources, we don't have that many, but the ones that we do

379
01:09:09,996 --> 01:09:15,268
have, they're very structured, so that's kind of why we're not able to move money around and

380
01:09:15,268 --> 01:09:21,475
support the Key Largo outreach or the Key West outreach because the funding that we do

381
01:09:21,475 --> 01:09:26,212
receive is very structured for, for the purposes that it is given to the organization so

382
01:09:26,212 --> 01:09:30,816
that's something that we're used to doing and we'd be, we'd be happy to do it. We'd be

383
01:09:30,816 --> 01:09:35,870
happy to receive the funds and be able to provide this core service to the community,

384
01:09:35,870 --> 01:09:39,826
Monroe County. And thank you, thank you and welcome aboard. Thank you so much. I'm glad to

385
01:09:39,826 --> 01:09:46,632
be here, Madam Mayor. There was a gentleman here before the meeting started who was asking

386
01:09:46,632 --> 01:09:51,370
about speaking and we gave him instructions and he is inexplicably left. Yes, he

387
01:09:51,370 --> 01:09:57,443
wished to speak and he also wanted to make it to the Key West meeting which started at

388
01:09:57,443 --> 01:10:03,984
5:30, which virtually made it impossible can't be in two places at one time yet, so he

389
01:10:03,984 --> 01:10:08,921
did come up and we all assured him that if he wishes to reach out to us individually, he can,

390
01:10:08,921 --> 01:10:15,260
and that he can watch this video at his leisure tomorrow and then give us any input that

391
01:10:15,260 --> 01:10:20,000
he might have. All right, thank you. You're welcome. Madam Mayer, just a follow up, uh,

392
01:10:20,000 --> 01:10:25,204
Christine, could you maybe direct, um, would it be Jen? I know maybe not Kathy right now,

393
01:10:25,204 --> 01:10:31,879
but Jen, to reach out to the domestic abuse shelters so that we can talk about options. So

394
01:10:31,879 --> 01:10:40,219
we're going to be issuing a request for funding, probably around January. That's our plan

395
01:10:40,219 --> 01:10:47,160
um, and I think what we will do Tina can reach out to her and let her. Find the meeting where

396
01:10:47,160 --> 01:10:52,698
we presented how it's going to work. And watch it on our online um portal, that way she

397
01:10:52,698 --> 01:10:56,635
could get familiar with, you know, the new program and how we're gonna roll that out.

398
01:10:56,635 --> 01:11:01,107
Excellent. I knew there was a plan in place, but I don't want to just sit there, we were

399
01:11:01,107 --> 01:11:07,450
waiting until January till after we saw what happened with the referendum and what type of

400
01:11:07,450 --> 01:11:13,920
funding we might have and might not have. Right now there is 602,000 budgeted. Thank you.

401
01:11:13,920 --> 01:11:18,925
Thank you. And if there's any opportunity for any interim emergency funding to keep this

402
01:11:18,925 --> 01:11:25,931
outreach position in Key Largo, I would be welcome to show up and talk about that. Thank you

403
01:11:25,931 --> 01:11:30,736
so much. Thank you. Thank you, commissioners, any other comments on Mr. Quinn's

404
01:11:30,736 --> 01:11:36,743
presentation. And well done. Yes, Commissioner Rosine, did you wish to do. I just have a

405
01:11:36,743 --> 01:11:43,820
couple of things that I wanted to rattle off because I know that Mr. Quinn. Have you been

406
01:11:43,820 --> 01:11:46,152
dreaming about this presentation you've given it so eloquently so many times to all

407
01:11:46,152 --> 01:11:52,773
of us and and you're probably so excited to never see it again, but I know you'll break

408
01:11:52,773 --> 01:11:57,110
it out from us from time to time. Um, I know Kristen's not here tonight, Christine, but

409
01:11:57,110 --> 01:12:04,651
Madam Mayor, if we could maybe uh reduce this down to a digestible version so that when

410
01:12:04,651 --> 01:12:09,255
we read the headline tomorrow in the weekly and it says county's raising your taxes,

411
01:12:09,255 --> 01:12:15,328
that is it actually tells our Our constituents and our property owners why and our

412
01:12:15,328 --> 01:12:20,670
business owners why, and I'm not willing to skimp on the possibilities of lives being

413
01:12:20,670 --> 01:12:26,740
lost because we haven't properly funded public safety, and that is the crux of it,

414
01:12:26,740 --> 01:12:32,679
right? We are making sure that we are paying our men and women in law enforcement and fire

415
01:12:32,679 --> 01:12:35,882
rescue properly so that we can keep them here and so I just thought it would be a good idea

416
01:12:35,882 --> 01:12:43,957
that we have again easily digestible version on, on our socials or In a press release

417
01:12:43,957 --> 01:12:49,229
so that people understand it's, this is an amazing county. We are providing the highest level

418
01:12:49,229 --> 01:12:55,636
of public safety and we're going to ensure that, that, you know, one of my favorite

419
01:12:55,636 --> 01:13:00,707
sayings is the juice is where's the squeeze on this item, so maybe just something to share.

420
01:13:00,707 --> 01:13:05,512
It's easy to understand, not that your presentation isn't, but I've heard it 5 times. But

421
01:13:05,512 --> 01:13:11,718
for the public, you know, sharing this good information. Absolutely. Commissioner

422
01:13:11,718 --> 01:13:17,590
Raschein, it was similar to what Commissioner Kate said at our last budget hearing where

423
01:13:17,590 --> 01:13:23,131
we have prioritized our public safety, and we won't skimp on it, so to all the um newspapers

424
01:13:23,131 --> 01:13:31,471
out there, why, why can't you make the headline BOCC prioritizes public safety. Amen

425
01:13:31,471 --> 01:13:38,145
Mhm. Good job. Thank you, Mayor Thank you, Commissioners, any other comments? OK, well, with

426
01:13:38,145 --> 01:13:45,552
that, we will move on then I will adjourn the county commission meeting so that we

427
01:13:45,552 --> 01:13:52,493
can reopen the fire and ambulance District 1 Board of Governors. So, You're not on

428
01:13:52,493 --> 01:13:58,698
the fire and ambulance. You can go in the back, but there are no breakfast doughnuts. Yeah,

429
01:13:58,698 --> 01:14:08,698
not that I checked no power rings and no pizzas. No. Hand you the gavel. Thank you, Mayor

430
01:14:14,381 --> 01:14:21,388
Thank you, Chair. Would you please conduct Raoul. You got it, Mayor Lincoln. Here,

431
01:14:21,388 --> 01:14:25,992
Commissioner Rasha, here, Commissioner Rice, here, Councilman Lewis here and Mayor

432
01:14:25,992 --> 01:14:32,866
Halley here. Hi John, we have 2 items. We do to approve. Yes, item C1, District 1 Board of

433
01:14:32,866 --> 01:14:40,600
Governors, resolution adopting the final millage rate for fiscal year 2027, and I'll go

434
01:14:40,600 --> 01:14:44,214
ahead and read that information for you. This is the taxing authority District 1, Lower and

435
01:14:44,214 --> 01:14:52,823
Middle Keys Fire and Ambulance. He rolled back village rate is 1.8091, the final millage rate

436
01:14:52,823 --> 01:14:59,764
is 2.1538. The final millage rate is 19.05% above the rollback rate. Thank you. Do I

437
01:14:59,764 --> 01:15:07,105
have a motion to approve? So moved. 2nd, we have a motion in a second. Hearing no objection,

438
01:15:07,105 --> 01:15:13,644
we're approved. John, the 2nd item, please. Yes, item C2, District 1 Board of Governors

439
01:15:13,644 --> 01:15:21,444
resolution adopting the final budget for fiscal year 2027. And that final budget number.

440
01:15:22,453 --> 01:15:32,453
is $27,403,0728. Thank you. Do I have a motion to approve? You do. Second, we have a motion in

441
01:15:32,929 --> 01:15:39,736
the 2nd hearing, no objection. We are approved. Do I have a motion to adjourn? So moved.

442
01:15:39,736 --> 01:15:45,800
2nd, we have a motion to 2nd. We adjourn. Thank you. Thank you, gents, for making it all

443
01:15:45,800 --> 01:15:55,800
the way down, it's important. I know it is. Thank you. Thank you. Well that was And with

444
01:15:55,553 --> 01:16:03,428
that, I will reconvene the county budget hearing moving on to the budget resolutions and

445
01:16:03,428 --> 01:16:07,980
announcements. You got it. That's your item D1 on page 2 of your agenda, your

446
01:16:07,980 --> 01:16:12,435
announcement of final millage rates. All right, hey, Mr. Quinn, the floor is yours. OK,

447
01:16:12,435 --> 01:16:18,410
you got it. Mayor and commissioners. This is the reading of the rollback rate,

448
01:16:18,410 --> 01:16:23,247
the final millage rate, and the percentage above or below the rollback rate for the taxing

449
01:16:23,247 --> 01:16:29,653
authority, Monroe County Board of County Commissioners, you're rolled back millage rate is

450
01:16:29,653 --> 01:16:36,853
2.5427, your final millage rate is 2.6929. Your final millage rate is 5.91% above the

451
01:16:38,995 --> 01:16:43,533
rollback rate for the taxing authority general purpose municipal service taxing unit,

452
01:16:43,533 --> 01:16:51,333
your rolled back millage rate is 0.1645. Your final millage rate is 0.1756, your final

453
01:16:53,276 --> 01:17:00,617
millage rate is 6.75% above the rollback rate. For the taxing authority, local road patrol,

454
01:17:00,617 --> 01:17:08,920
law enforcement district, your rolled back millilage rate is 0.2706. Your final millage rate

455
01:17:08,920 --> 01:17:15,892
is 0.2963. Your final mileage rate is 9.50% above the rollback rate for the taxing

456
01:17:16,834 --> 01:17:23,774
authority lower and Middle Keys fire and ambulance, you rolled back mileage rate is 1.8091.

457
01:17:23,774 --> 01:17:31,574
Your final millage rate is 2.1538. Your final millage rate is 19.05% above the rollback

458
01:17:32,849 --> 01:17:41,141
rate. And then finally for the aggregate, the aggregate rolled back millage rate is 3.1618.

459
01:17:41,141 --> 01:17:48,941
The aggregate final millage rate is 3.3975 and the aggregate final millage rate is

460
01:17:48,947 --> 01:17:57,622
7.45% above the rollback rate. Thank you. At this point, do we need a motion? Yes, Mayor. May

461
01:17:57,622 --> 01:18:04,296
I have a motion? That the same as B2? Oh, I'm sorry, no, we will need to move on to D2

462
01:18:04,296 --> 01:18:11,770
first. OK, that's item D2 on page 2 of your agenda. Approval of county commission resolution

463
01:18:11,770 --> 01:18:20,112
adopting the final millage rates for fiscal year 2027. So moved 2, I have a motion by

464
01:18:20,112 --> 01:18:24,316
Commissioner Rashine seconded by Commissioner Shull Carl Rowe please. You got it,

465
01:18:24,316 --> 01:18:29,716
Commissioner Cates. Yes, Commissioner Raschein, yes. Commissioner Rice, yes.

466
01:18:31,323 --> 01:18:38,397
Commissioner Shoal, yes. And Mayor Lincoln, yes. Motion carries millage rate has been

467
01:18:38,397 --> 01:18:44,470
set. Next item, please. OK, that's your item D3 also on page 2 of your agenda. Approval

468
01:18:44,470 --> 01:18:49,941
of the county commission resolution adopting the final budget for fiscal year 2027. So

469
01:18:49,941 --> 01:18:56,281
moved. 2nd, I have a motion by Commissioner Rashine, seconded by Commissionerho. Call Roe,

470
01:18:56,281 --> 01:19:01,220
please. You got it, Commissioner Gates. Yes, Commissioner Rosine, yes.

471
01:19:01,220 --> 01:19:09,200
Commissioner Rice, yeah, yeah, yeah, Commissioner Shull, yes, and Mayor Lincoln, yes, we've

472
01:19:11,897 --> 01:19:20,772
got proof. Nothing. Thank you, and we are going to go out of order now and do land authority

473
01:19:20,772 --> 01:19:28,246
so I will adjourn the county commission meeting and I will hand the gavel to Mayor Pro Tem

474
01:19:28,246 --> 01:19:33,520
Rice so that he can open up our land authority meeting. You usually don't give it to me

475
01:19:33,520 --> 01:19:38,725
that easily. Well, you know, I'm in a good mood today. Don't let it be like me and Kate's in

476
01:19:38,725 --> 01:19:48,325
that picture, jeez, I know. Yeah. Yeah, you ready for roll call? Yes. All right, Chairman

477
01:19:48,467 --> 01:19:55,730
Rice, yes, vice chair is Shane. Here, Commissioner Gates here, Commissioner Lincoln, here,

478
01:19:55,730 --> 01:19:59,745
Commissioner Schul, here. We only have one agenda item for you, a public hearing and

479
01:19:59,745 --> 01:20:05,750
approval of a resolution of the Monroe County Comprehensive Plan Land Authority adoption of

480
01:20:05,750 --> 01:20:10,889
a final budget for fiscal year 2027. There's been no changes to the budget since I presented

481
01:20:10,889 --> 01:20:16,562
it last week, so I just need a motion, a second, and a roll call vote. Do we have a motion

482
01:20:16,562 --> 01:20:24,369
so moved. I'll second. We have a motion on the 2nd caller roll please. Chairman Rice, yes.

483
01:20:24,369 --> 01:20:28,978
Vice Chair shine, yes, Commissioner Cates, yes, Lincoln, yes, Commissioner

484
01:20:28,978 --> 01:20:37,654
Scholl, yes. Thank you very much. Thank you. We are adjourned and we can go back to

485
01:20:37,654 --> 01:20:44,527
the commission meeting. OK, I reconvene the county commission meeting. OK, let's go on to

486
01:20:44,527 --> 01:20:51,135
item E1, also on page 2 of your agenda, approval of resolution, adopting fiscal year 2027,

487
01:20:51,135 --> 01:20:54,400
Monroe County organizational chart as the official organizational structure of

488
01:20:54,400 --> 01:21:00,400
Monroe County government, effective October 1st, 2026. The resolution also, also

489
01:21:00,144 --> 01:21:04,415
authorizes the county administrator to make routine administrative revisions and

490
01:21:04,415 --> 01:21:07,284
the incorporation of the organizational chart into the County A administrative code

491
01:21:07,284 --> 01:21:15,158
upon creation. So moved. Second Do we need to ask if there's anyone signed up for these

492
01:21:15,158 --> 01:21:20,362
individual items, Mr. Attorney, or are we? We're good here. I'm sorry, what was the question we

493
01:21:20,362 --> 01:21:26,169
were multitasking. That's quite all right. Do we need to ask if anyone has signed up for any of

494
01:21:26,169 --> 01:21:31,174
these additional items on the agenda, or is this just a homework for us right now. You

495
01:21:31,174 --> 01:21:37,447
can ask right now. Has anybody signed up I would like to demote some people, just

496
01:21:37,447 --> 01:21:44,721
kidding. Move them down. Has anybody online? Yeah. There are no great chance hands. Is

497
01:21:44,721 --> 01:21:49,392
anybody raising hands as we've been talking about it right now thinking that they're gonna get

498
01:21:49,392 --> 01:21:53,463
cut off later on. I don't think so, but Mr. Attorney, my question is, do you wish for me

499
01:21:53,463 --> 01:21:58,000
to ask this for each of these items or are these now I think this is routine in nature. No,

500
01:21:58,000 --> 01:22:03,473
they, they are substantive matters that can be voted on, that that people have a right

501
01:22:03,473 --> 01:22:11,815
to speak on. So, but you can have a call for speakers. At the beginning That's OK. Let's

502
01:22:11,815 --> 01:22:16,952
do that. If anyone is signed up to speak on any of the county administrator E. Adams. And

503
01:22:16,952 --> 01:22:25,280
would you like to enco consider them in a bulk commotion. If we could do that, I most

504
01:22:25,280 --> 01:22:29,832
definitely would. Madame Clerk, is that something that we can just have to read them all,

505
01:22:29,832 --> 01:22:36,706
right? Yes, would you like me to read them all? You can read the comment on one. Yes, read

506
01:22:36,706 --> 01:22:43,779
them. You said you wanted to comment on. After she reads them, OK, I mean, traditionally

507
01:22:43,779 --> 01:22:49,986
with our bulk, we don't read the entire item out, we read the item number as part. I just

508
01:22:49,986 --> 01:22:55,325
wanted to compliment the staff for adding $2 million to our reserves. That was it. OK, that

509
01:22:55,325 --> 01:23:03,333
was very good. So you just want to thank you for adding the $2 million to the reserves. So you

510
01:23:03,333 --> 01:23:12,209
could entertain a motion to do items E 123456, and 7 if someone wanted to. Make that

511
01:23:12,209 --> 01:23:17,296
motion. Is that sufficiently clear to the clerk? That is, what about 8? Is there an 8?

512
01:23:17,296 --> 01:23:26,238
Yes, yes, there is an 8. So moved 2nd. So we have a motion to bulk E1 through 8 and by

513
01:23:26,238 --> 01:23:32,838
Commissioner Rashine and seconded by Commissioner Scholl any opposition? Seeing none,

514
01:23:33,311 --> 01:23:41,787
the motion carries. OK, that was very efficient. And just to clarify for the record, I

515
01:23:41,787 --> 01:23:44,524
didn't have anybody signed up for either of those. Dean, did you have anybody for any of the

516
01:23:44,524 --> 01:23:51,797
E items? There were no raisings for any of the E items. Perfect Thank you. Sounded like a For

517
01:23:51,797 --> 01:23:57,936
in the Dale song E I E I O. OK, so your next item will be item F1, also on page 3 of your

518
01:23:57,936 --> 01:24:01,741
agenda, building department summer study presentation regarding proposed building

519
01:24:01,741 --> 01:24:06,745
permit fee study and update of building permit fee schedule necessary to comply with the

520
01:24:06,745 --> 01:24:11,150
new statutory requirements for building permit fees, House Bill 803, and to balanceBu

521
01:24:11,150 --> 01:24:15,421
building department revenue and expenses, including approval for the county administrator to

522
01:24:15,421 --> 01:24:20,227
execute an agreement for building and permit fee schedule study with JRD and

523
01:24:20,227 --> 01:24:28,270
Associates Inc. once finalized. with the total cost not to exceed $78,527. Good evening.

524
01:24:29,340 --> 01:24:34,573
As you know, the building department budget is funded through a separate segregated

525
01:24:34,573 --> 01:24:42,581
fund, Fund 180, so all revenue that comes in for permitting inspections, things to enforce

526
01:24:42,581 --> 01:24:49,722
the Florida Building Code is used then to pay for those services as well. Uh, the.

527
01:24:49,722 --> 01:24:54,726
Current Fee schedule for the building department for building permits was the

528
01:24:54,726 --> 01:25:00,332
structure of that was adopted back in 2014, and it was a value-based structure. I put it

529
01:25:00,332 --> 01:25:05,670
into a tiered system where depending on the value of the work being done, you pay a

530
01:25:05,670 --> 01:25:10,100
certain amount. That's been updated over the years for things like CPIU and other

531
01:25:10,100 --> 01:25:14,281
small changes, but that is still the current structure of our building permit fee

532
01:25:14,281 --> 01:25:21,481
schedule. In this year's legislative session, House Bill 803 was passed with many

533
01:25:21,821 --> 01:25:26,159
provisions related to the, to building permits and and the Florida Building code, but one

534
01:25:26,159 --> 01:25:33,980
of those provisions changed how you can and cannot charge fees, and I'll get to more detail on

535
01:25:33,980 --> 01:25:38,905
that later, um, but in part because of that and in part because of development of the

536
01:25:38,905 --> 01:25:43,842
fiscal year 27 budget, we have been looking at the trends of permitting and whether the

537
01:25:43,842 --> 01:25:48,513
building department is covering its costs. And how to address that. So I have a few slides

538
01:25:48,513 --> 01:25:53,252
that just show you some of the trends. This is starting in fiscal year 21. This this is

539
01:25:53,252 --> 01:25:59,325
the total number of building permits being issued by a fiscal year. So this slide, the

540
01:25:59,325 --> 01:26:04,796
fiscal year to date is through August, but the next slide here we have a sort of an estimate

541
01:26:04,796 --> 01:26:10,541
of what we think it will be at the end of this month, September, this estimate is a

542
01:26:10,541 --> 01:26:13,611
couple of months old, but it's probably about right. So you'll see it it has been trending

543
01:26:13,611 --> 01:26:23,611
down for the number of overall number of permits issued. B fiscal year. This shows you the

544
01:26:23,821 --> 01:26:29,160
number of plan reviews by fiscal year, and you will see fiscal year 23, you see this

545
01:26:29,160 --> 01:26:35,366
jump up. That is when we implemented the online permitting system and because

546
01:26:35,366 --> 01:26:42,440
of the new system and the limited number of permit types that we could have. We did have

547
01:26:42,440 --> 01:26:45,776
to increase the number of reviewers on some building permits that previously we

548
01:26:45,776 --> 01:26:52,116
could say, oh no, the environmental resources doesn't have to review that, but since

549
01:26:52,116 --> 01:26:58,560
Those permits were now lumped into a common permit type. We had to put the reviewers back

550
01:26:58,560 --> 01:27:03,861
on. We have now over the last few years tried to parse some of that out, combine some

551
01:27:03,861 --> 01:27:11,661
reviews, eliminate some reviews so that the customers are not seeing. Unnecessary permit

552
01:27:12,690 --> 01:27:16,608
reviews, uh, but it has been a good system overall. The whole point of that online system was

553
01:27:16,608 --> 01:27:21,110
to do concurrent permit review with multiple reviewers reviewing at once. So that

554
01:27:21,110 --> 01:27:25,751
still has been good in terms of timing, but the overall number of plan reviews, it jumped up,

555
01:27:25,751 --> 01:27:32,356
but now you can see it's trending downwards again. And then this slide shows you the

556
01:27:32,356 --> 01:27:37,561
number of completed inspections by fiscal year. Those have been trending downward and at the

557
01:27:37,561 --> 01:27:44,350
bottom of the slide is uh very important information. Private provider inspections have gone

558
01:27:44,350 --> 01:27:52,977
up quite a bit. So in fiscal year 23, 29% of all inspections were private provider, and that

559
01:27:52,977 --> 01:27:59,784
now in fiscal year 26 is up to 34%. So we do anticipate that to continue. Lots of private

560
01:27:59,784 --> 01:28:06,570
provider inspection. It's mostly inspections, not plan reviews, but that has made a

561
01:28:06,570 --> 01:28:08,792
difference in the revenue taken in because we have to give a discount, of course, when

562
01:28:08,792 --> 01:28:17,192
they're using private providers for inspections. Here you see the comparison of revenue to

563
01:28:17,601 --> 01:28:22,606
expenditures since fiscal year 15, the green bars on the left for each fiscal year are

564
01:28:22,606 --> 01:28:29,790
revenue, and you can see that the building department pretty well kept up or exceeded just a

565
01:28:29,790 --> 01:28:35,753
bit the expenditures over the years the last several years, however, we did know that the

566
01:28:35,753 --> 01:28:40,825
permitting trends were going downward, but we had several very large projects, things

567
01:28:40,825 --> 01:28:46,964
like the airports, for example, where one permit. or one set of permits brought in a lot of

568
01:28:46,964 --> 01:28:52,302
revenue to the building department, so that helped us balance the budget for those

569
01:28:52,302 --> 01:28:58,909
years. This year, fiscal, fiscal year twenty26. In June when we reviewed the 1st 3

570
01:28:58,909 --> 01:29:06,535
quarters or end of June, beginning of July, uh, what we found was that the revenue was

571
01:29:06,535 --> 01:29:12,473
about 14.5% less than last year fiscal year 25, so the estimated shortfall in that

572
01:29:12,473 --> 01:29:20,273
moment in the summer was $961,000. What we did was we eliminated several positions

573
01:29:20,482 --> 01:29:25,488
that became vacant, and now in the proposed budget, there are several more positions being

574
01:29:25,488 --> 01:29:31,760
eliminated. That did become vacant, so we were able to avoid having to do any layoffs

575
01:29:31,760 --> 01:29:38,233
of actual current employees, but we've eliminated some vacant positions, and we are

576
01:29:38,233 --> 01:29:42,637
reevaluating other vacancies that come up. I will be honest, staff feels that they are,

577
01:29:42,637 --> 01:29:45,974
they're kind of at their limit at the moment. They're, they're feeling it. They're definitely

578
01:29:45,974 --> 01:29:53,314
feeling it, um, but even with those eliminated FTEs, the expected shortfall for the, for

579
01:29:53,314 --> 01:29:58,520
this fiscal year that we're currently in is still a little A little over $200,000 and the

580
01:29:58,520 --> 01:30:06,595
projected shortfall for next fiscal year is $570,000. So, back to that House bill, which

581
01:30:06,595 --> 01:30:13,469
requires us to look at our fee schedule, the House Bill 803. is now the statute is now

582
01:30:13,469 --> 01:30:19,875
stating that inspection fees based on the total cost of a project and may not exceed the

583
01:30:19,875 --> 01:30:26,140
actual inspection costs incurred by the local enforcement agency. So the

584
01:30:26,140 --> 01:30:30,352
immediate need is to redo our fee structure so that inspections are not based on

585
01:30:30,352 --> 01:30:37,692
the job value which our entire fee schedule currently is, but with the added problem that

586
01:30:37,692 --> 01:30:42,697
we're not balancing our budget anymore. We're going to look at the entire Or we would like to

587
01:30:42,697 --> 01:30:50,706
if you approve, look at the entire fee schedule, go over. Everything from staffing

588
01:30:50,706 --> 01:30:58,113
workload, permitting trends. We do also have to include the fees for planning,

589
01:30:58,113 --> 01:31:04,987
environmental, and fire marshal those fees do not go into fund 180. They, but they pay for the

590
01:31:04,987 --> 01:31:09,524
the plan reviews for the building permits, so it has to be incorporated into the same

591
01:31:09,524 --> 01:31:14,529
fee schedule, even though it's not part of that fund 180. It, it, it's charged at the same

592
01:31:14,529 --> 01:31:22,871
time but then gets separated into the different funds. Um, so we We have sent proposals to

593
01:31:22,871 --> 01:31:28,100
For professional services out for a scope of work that's in your backup. It does include

594
01:31:28,100 --> 01:31:31,814
restructuring the building permit fee schedule and it includes analysis of all the

595
01:31:31,814 --> 01:31:38,420
costs, staffing, workload, permit volumes. It's for the building department overall and

596
01:31:38,420 --> 01:31:43,250
then for planning, environmental, and fire marshal just for their work on actual

597
01:31:43,250 --> 01:31:49,764
permits and inspections for those permits. We did receive bids from 2 companies. Staff is

598
01:31:49,764 --> 01:31:56,911
recommending a contract with JRD and Associates. They are doing the fee schedules for uh

599
01:31:56,911 --> 01:32:03,118
uh Miami Beach, I believe, Miami-Dade County. They have several others. They have

600
01:32:03,118 --> 01:32:07,522
actually now I know in my backup I said that they had not signed the contract yet, so

601
01:32:07,522 --> 01:32:12,600
we're requesting approval for the county administrator to execute the agreement once it's

602
01:32:12,600 --> 01:32:17,332
finalized. They did late Friday send back the signed contract on their end. So what is in

603
01:32:17,332 --> 01:32:27,332
your backup is the version that they have signed. The total is 78,527. They are able to Get

604
01:32:27,742 --> 01:32:34,749
the work done about 1 to 2 months quicker than the other company, so they're, their fee

605
01:32:34,749 --> 01:32:39,220
is actually higher, but we're requesting to go with this company because it will be done

606
01:32:39,220 --> 01:32:44,360
sooner, and technically the deadline for the inspection fee change was July 1. I would have

607
01:32:44,360 --> 01:32:50,366
to say what we heard this summer was that no county or municipality in Florida who

608
01:32:50,366 --> 01:32:55,360
have this issue was meeting that deadline, so we're on the same path as everyone else.

609
01:32:55,360 --> 01:33:01,444
We're doing what we can as quickly as we can to To fix the issue. So that is our request

610
01:33:01,444 --> 01:33:08,651
for approval for Christine to sign the Agreement once everything is finalized, I

611
01:33:08,651 --> 01:33:13,187
think we're waiting on one insurance certificate. Thank you for that report,

612
01:33:13,187 --> 01:33:19,528
Commissioner. Any questions? None. Anyone signed up in the audience? I don't have

613
01:33:19,528 --> 01:33:24,199
questions, comments, OK. I have no one signed up here. Dean, do you have anybody online for

614
01:33:24,199 --> 01:33:32,941
item F1? See no raised hands for item F1 Commissioner Raine, the, the floor is yours for

615
01:33:32,941 --> 01:33:35,877
comments. Thank you, Madam Mayor, and I just want to make sure that we're being sensitive

616
01:33:35,877 --> 01:33:41,883
to the fact that, you know, whatever the increase will be, will be kind of ripping the

617
01:33:41,883 --> 01:33:45,354
band-aid off if we're not going to plan to do a glide path so that can be a little painful to

618
01:33:45,354 --> 01:33:49,757
people who are hoping to develop and things like that, especially this just single

619
01:33:49,757 --> 01:33:56,970
family homes and things like that, big developers, I'm not super worried about that, and

620
01:33:56,970 --> 01:34:02,504
have we Do you feel like 78,000 is a fair price because of the accelerated. Work rate, I, I

621
01:34:02,504 --> 01:34:09,244
believe so. OK, I just want to make sure we built that in and then um have we run this by the

622
01:34:09,244 --> 01:34:13,715
contractor's board, the licensing board, so I, I gave them almost the same

623
01:34:13,715 --> 01:34:18,720
presentation a couple of months ago to let them know what was going on, that we would be

624
01:34:18,720 --> 01:34:22,857
pursuing a fee study and that it is likely that fees could go up. We don't know for sure, but

625
01:34:22,857 --> 01:34:30,265
it's, you know, highly likely, um. I, we also have worked into the contract that they, the

626
01:34:30,265 --> 01:34:36,738
consultant will present to the CEB one time and to the Border county commissioners twice. So

627
01:34:36,738 --> 01:34:42,877
they will see it where the timeline, the they're supposed to finish the work by the end

628
01:34:42,877 --> 01:34:47,434
of December. But we all know with commission meetings, CEB meetings with the timing of

629
01:34:47,434 --> 01:34:52,704
that, we may have to adjust the schedule a bit, but um they will see it probably before it

630
01:34:52,704 --> 01:34:58,511
even comes to the board for the fir your first time. I'm interested in their feedback

631
01:34:58,511 --> 01:35:05,718
and then, um, Madam Mayor, one more time, follow up. I just had a point. Um. Yeah, OK,

632
01:35:05,718 --> 01:35:10,455
excited about that. Obviously we don't want to be running out of deficit, so. Yeah. Thank you

633
01:35:10,455 --> 01:35:15,394
Commissioner Cates. The floor is yours. Thank you, Madam Mayor. Uh, obviously the fees

634
01:35:15,394 --> 01:35:22,468
are going to have to go up because you're gonna have $200,000 you're projecting in

635
01:35:22,468 --> 01:35:31,900
uh and continue with. The directory of amount of permits going down, my concern is the

636
01:35:31,900 --> 01:35:39,218
small permits. If they increased A large amount that a lot of people will start doing

637
01:35:39,218 --> 01:35:44,222
more work without permits, and so there's a double-edged sword here. We got to be very careful

638
01:35:44,222 --> 01:35:51,231
but I know that everything that you set the stage there can't help but go up. So I think we

639
01:35:51,231 --> 01:35:58,304
need to look close at our expenses at the same time, OK? Understood. Thank you. Oh,

640
01:35:58,304 --> 01:36:02,641
Madame Mayor, I thought of it what I meant to say is I wouldn't be, sorry, half-timers

641
01:36:02,641 --> 01:36:08,914
right? Um, I, I wouldn't be, I wouldn't be worried about the July 1. It's probably effective

642
01:36:08,914 --> 01:36:15,387
date of the law and things like that, so we're. Very timely. Thank you, Emily. And with that

643
01:36:15,387 --> 01:36:22,728
um, we do need a motion for this. Second. We have a motion by Mayor Pro Tem Rice and a

644
01:36:22,728 --> 01:36:30,528
second by Commissioner Cates. Any objections? Hearing none, motion carries. Thank you. And

645
01:36:32,300 --> 01:36:38,879
that takes us to our add-ons. Our item H1, also on page 3 of your agenda. Approval to exempt

646
01:36:38,879 --> 01:36:43,482
from the use of property policy at Harvey Government Center for Patrons of the library, while

647
01:36:43,482 --> 01:36:49,210
the Key West Library is closed, as long as the use is consistent with the regular,

648
01:36:49,210 --> 01:36:51,958
regularly scheduled library uses that have historically occurred at the library and

649
01:36:51,958 --> 01:36:56,496
library staff will be present for such events. I have no one signed up in the public toha,

650
01:36:56,496 --> 01:37:05,772
do you have anybody sign up for item H1? No raisins for item H1 So moved. So, I have a motion

651
01:37:05,772 --> 01:37:13,572
by Commissioner Rashaine seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Rice. Seeing no objections, the

652
01:37:13,780 --> 01:37:23,780
motion carries. And that my friends is the end of our budget season and I'm just very

653
01:37:24,991 --> 01:37:32,640
appreciative of our staff, as always. You all are so thorough and conscientious in in

654
01:37:32,640 --> 01:37:36,937
presenting our budget this spring and then doing the summer studies and really

655
01:37:36,937 --> 01:37:43,681
listening to the needs of the community and acknowledging from us the prioritizing of our

656
01:37:43,681 --> 01:37:52,681
safety safety and um Really appreciate you all, so thank you. With that. Meeting is