[This transcript was generated automatically from audio using AI and hasn't been reviewed by a person -- it can contain mistakes, including plausible-sounding sentences that were never actually said. Treat it as a starting point, not a verbatim record.]

[0:01] Ding, ding, ding, it is 530 ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the Board of County Commission meeting.
[0:09] It is Tuesday, September 22nd, and we are going to start with our called order.
[0:17] So, thank you for quieting down so quickly. It's because we all can't get out of here fast enough, I think.
[0:23] Maybe we should start all meetings at 5.30.
[0:26] We're going to start with an invocation and pledge of allegiance with Robert Bradley,
[0:30] Brett of Christian Life Church.
[0:32] Thank you so much.
[0:35] Let us pray.
[0:37] He's not about our father.
[0:38] We thank you for this opportunity and privilege to come boldly before your throne of grace,
[0:42] that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in our time of need.
[0:46] We thank you, Lord God, for all of today's efficiency of grace, mercy and strength.
[0:51] We thank you, God, for these people that have drawn here for this meeting,
[0:54] for the purpose of the betterment of the of Seminole County here in Florida.
[0:59] We ask your blessings tonight upon the proceedings of this meeting, the commissioners, and
[1:03] all that will play a part in this meeting tonight as we set forward, Lord God, the financial
[1:07] responsibilities for this county in this upcoming year.
[1:11] We understand Lord God that money answers all things according to the Scriptures, so we pray
[1:15] for your wisdom and sound discretion that it be used for the betterment of this county.
[1:20] We ask your blessings upon this meeting, the people of this county, and Jesus name we pray,
[1:24] amen. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republican
[1:32] for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.
[1:41] Thank you so much. Before we move on to the consent agenda, I'll start County Attorney,
[1:48] which, by the way, on three, we're all going to say happy birthday, Kate. Ready, one, two, three,
[1:58] to read the public participation rules.
[2:02] Thank you very, everybody.
[2:04] Board of law provides the numbers of the public.
[2:06] I'll be given a reasonable opportunity to be heard on propositions
[2:09] before the Board of County Commissioners,
[2:10] except when the Board is acting on emergency or ministerial matters
[2:14] or conducting a meeting exempt from the requirements of the sunshine law.
[2:18] Individuals shall be permitted three minutes each for public comment
[2:21] or six minutes when the individual is an official representative of a formal association or group.
[2:27] The Chairman may modify the maximum time for public comment at her sole discretion
[2:31] when appropriate.
[2:34] Thank you so much.
[2:35] All right.
[2:36] And I see that we have no public comment forms with regard to the consent agenda, County
[2:41] Manager.
[2:42] I'll turn it to you.
[2:44] Thank you.
[2:45] Madam Chair, Commissioner.
[2:46] There's no changes to the consent agenda, so we recommend approval.
[2:50] Commissioners, anything to pull?
[2:52] Nothing to pull.
[2:53] Madam Chair, may I have to make a motion?
[2:55] Please do.
[2:55] Move to approve.
[2:56] 1, 2, and 3 on the consent agenda.
[2:59] Take it.
[2:59] Move a motion in a second.
[3:01] Any further discussion?
[3:03] All those in favour?
[3:04] Aye.
[3:04] Opposed.
[3:05] Hearing none.
[3:05] It passes unanimously.
[3:08] Move on to the public hearing portion of the agenda.
[3:13] Look at their proof of publication.
[3:16] So moved?
[3:16] Second.
[3:17] All those in favour?
[3:19] Opposed. Hearing none it passes unanimously.
[3:24] Exparta Disclosure.
[3:25] I have one of two items.
[3:28] I'll be submitting you for the public record.
[3:30] Thank you.
[3:32] I have none.
[3:33] I have none.
[3:34] I submitted all.
[3:35] Okay.
[3:35] electronically.
[3:37] Thank you so much.
[3:38] We'll move on to the public hearing.
[3:40] It's Tatra Town Home Reson.
[3:42] And this will be presented by Caitlin.
[3:45] Or not.
[3:46] I think Ms. Borkert will have the request.
[3:53] Borkert Deputy County Attorney for the record.
[3:57] This is the Tetra Town Home's Resone.
[4:01] The applicant after the project was noticed for public hearing has requested a continuous
[4:07] on this item.
[4:09] I believe they are asking for a continuous to a date certain.
[4:13] I'm letting you check with Mr. Rhodes.
[4:16] Mr. Rhodes, we're checking with you.
[4:20] Now, I'm Chairman for the record.
[4:21] Mike Rhodes, Director of Development Services.
[4:23] The applicant's requested the item be continued until the October 13th hearing.
[4:29] That'd be nice. Thank you.
[4:31] All right. So with all of that for the record, do we need to vote on that?
[4:35] Yes, please.
[4:36] All right. All right. All of the information.
[4:37] Madam Chair, I'd like to make a motion to continue this to the October 13th meeting for the afternoon.
[4:43] We have motion second any further discussion?
[4:47] All those in favour?
[4:47] Chairman?
[4:48] Yes.
[4:49] Public comment on the continued with only please?
[4:52] We can take public comment on the continued with only.
[4:54] Do we have any public comments?
[4:55] No, ma'am.
[4:56] Thank you.
[4:57] Public comment taken.
[4:58] Thank you.
[4:58] We're going to close public comment now.
[5:02] All right.
[5:02] We had a motion in the second.
[5:03] All those in favour?
[5:04] All right.
[5:05] Opposed.
[5:06] Hearing not it passes unanimously.
[5:07] Thank you.
[5:09] Thank you.
[5:11] All right.
[5:12] That takes us to the legislative portion of our agenda.
[5:14] And this is the second budget public hearing on fiscal year 2026, 27 final
[5:20] millage rates and budget.
[5:23] I'll turn it over to the county manager.
[5:26] Thank you.
[5:26] Thank you Chairman and commissioners and good evening to members of the public.
[5:31] We are here for the second and final public hearing on the fiscal year 2026, 27
[5:36] budget required by Florida statute.
[5:39] Tonight, the board will consider the final adoption of the budget of the milliterates for our countywide
[5:44] millage, our fire MS-TU, and our roads MS-TU.
[5:49] This budget is result of six budget work sessions with the board this year.
[5:53] Throughout this process, our focus has remained the same, maintain essential county services,
[6:00] invest in our infrastructure, and continue to identify opportunities to operate more efficiently.
[6:07] Some of our budget highlights is the proposed budget maintains that our countywide, fire, and
[6:12] roads, millage rates at their current level.
[6:15] It also includes a net reduction of five full-time positions, primarily vacant positions in
[6:20] our public works department that will result in savings to our roads fund.
[6:25] Now this is in our second year of our seminal moments and as the board knows this is our
[6:30] efficiency initiative, it continues to challenge employees to identify new ways to reduce costs
[6:35] improve operations and deliver services more efficiently.
[6:40] These efforts have helped the county manage budget pressures associated with inflation and the rising cost of materials equipment and services.
[6:48] Our current several moments portfolio is projected to generate approximately $60 million in savings over the next five years.
[6:56] With initiatives across 12 county departments.
[6:59] These initiatives include our transition to our scout on-demand public transit system.
[7:04] It's projected to save approximately 15 million over the next five years.
[7:09] Also, with emergency response, our signal preemption, our recycling, service efficiencies, and building, and lighting improvements.
[7:19] We are also pursuing additional opportunities through technology and process automation,
[7:25] including a consolidated customer call center designed to improve how residents access.
[7:30] This county services. All of these efforts help us manage writing costs while protecting the services
[7:35] our residents and businesses rely on. Most importantly, this budget fully funds are current levels
[7:42] of service, including public safety, transportation, and infrastructure, parks and recreation
[7:48] and other county services. The budget before you tonight is balanced and continues the
[7:54] conservative financial approach that has helped keep some of the county financially
[7:58] sound. Our first three budget work sessions focused on developing the fiscal year
[8:03] 2026-27 budget, and as the board knows on the last three focused on something further
[8:08] ahead, the potential impacts of amendment 3 on future county budgets and services.
[8:15] Amendment 3 will not directly impact this budget tonight, but we begin planning now so
[8:20] Depending on the outcome of the November vote, we will be prepared to begin a more in-depth
[8:25] policy discussions with the Board starting in January of 2027.
[8:31] Finally I'd like to thank Mr. Jackson, our Director of Management and Budget and his entire
[8:36] budget team, as well as all of our directors and their teams for their tremendous amount
[8:41] of work that has gone into developing this budget and guiding us through our last six
[8:46] budget work sessions and two public hearings, and with that Chairman, I would like to turn
[8:50] it over to Mr. Jax to walk through the final millage rates in budget.
[8:54] Mr. Jax, before you begin, I would like to remind the Board of County Commissioners
[8:59] does not have control over the tax levies or budgets of the school board. The Water Management
[9:05] District, the property appraiser, the tax collector, or any of our seven cities. Any questions
[9:11] regarding your property valuations need to be directed to the Seminole County property
[9:16] Fraser's office, and they will answer them as quickly as humanly possible.
[9:20] With that, I would like to turn it over to Mr. Jackson.
[9:23] And before that, I will say a big thank you to the Constitutional Officers as well for
[9:27] the budgeting process this year was very smooth.
[9:31] Mr. Jackson.
[9:32] Thank you, Chairman.
[9:33] I'm Timothy Jackson, with the Office of Management and Budget.
[9:35] We're here for our final public hearing to adopt the fiscal year 2027, millage-raised-in-budget.
[9:41] The final budget is balanced, with revenues and expenditures totaling $1.27 billion.
[9:45] This budget includes $13.4 million in reduction adjustments that were approved at the first public hearing.
[9:52] There are no additional budget adjustments from the tentative budget.
[9:57] I will now present the final Billage Rates.
[10:01] The first column shows the current FY26 adopted rates.
[10:05] The second column shows the rollback rate, which would generate the same amount of ad-war
[10:09] and tax revenues as the current year excluding new construction.
[10:12] The next column shows the fiscal year 27 final millage rates and the last column shows the percentage of the final millage over the rollback rate.
[10:21] The FY27 final rates are the same as the FY26 current rates for all districts.
[10:27] The increase over the rollback rate will be used to meet state-mandated obligations, maintain public safety services, and offset cost increases for transportation.
[10:35] The general county wide millage of 5.3751 mills is 4.18% above the rollback rate of 5.1595 mills.
[10:46] The fire rescue MSTU millage of 2.7649 mills is 4.06% above the rollback rate of 2.6569 mills.
[10:57] The unincorporated road MSTU millage of 0.1107 mills is 4.24% above the rollback rate of 0.1062 mills.
[11:10] The final aggregate millage rate for all BCC taxing districts is 7.3620 mills, which is 4.01% over the current aggregate rollback rate of 7.071 mills.
[11:24] That concludes my presentation.
[11:27] Thank you.
[11:27] We'll go to public comment.
[11:32] Joe Humphreys, Nancy Harmon, and George Salary.
[11:49] Even chair Owen and commissioners.
[11:54] I think Joe Humphreys 83, going to point go.
[12:00] I understand this is very complicated process.
[12:03] And I appreciate the effort that staff and all of you have put into this trying to get this right.
[12:08] Unfortunately, we don't work in a vacuum and as we all know, there's a really 800-pound gorilla coming at us.
[12:18] I've had a lot of conversations with people about what's happening.
[12:23] And unfortunately, as you know, most people in the county, most people in the state,
[12:27] most people in the country don't pay that much attention to the details.
[12:31] They look at headlines.
[12:32] And I hear from people that I'm talking to is increasing, increasing, increasing, increasing, increasing, increasing, increasing.
[12:39] And anything that's an increase is automatically bad.
[12:42] And that's what I'm hearing from people across this county.
[12:45] And that's troubling.
[12:47] I'm reminded of a commercial from the 1970s that Jake and probably relate to.
[12:53] So for him, oil filter, a commercial about him and now for a pay me later, but you're going to pay me.
[12:59] And unfortunately, when I pay you later, it's usually more.
[13:02] And I think that's where we're headed.
[13:05] So we've pushed this state since 1968 for Home Rule.
[13:10] Everyone of this commission has done what they could
[13:13] to push back against Alahasif trying
[13:16] to take that home rule away from us.
[13:18] And that's unfortunate because that's
[13:21] where why we are, where we are.
[13:24] That's Commissioner Concenting knows.
[13:26] Allow the stuff that you guys get forced
[13:28] having to fund and deal with, you didn't decide.
[13:31] It's decided in Tallahassee.
[13:33] And that's the unfortunate part of it.
[13:35] We've constantly pushed for a home rule in the state,
[13:39] going back to when the Democrats actually
[13:41] controlled the legislature.
[13:43] But here we are with a Republican legislature
[13:46] about to do what I consider to be the most preeminent
[13:51] taking of home rules that you could possibly do.
[13:54] And you all are the ones that are going to have to scramble to try to figure out how to fix that problem.
[14:01] So I'm continue to push people.
[14:04] I'm sorry.
[14:05] Amendment 3.
[14:06] You all want to pay less taxes.
[14:08] But there's a better way to do it.
[14:09] And this is not it.
[14:11] So again, I wish all of you the best of luck in this.
[14:15] I continue to push against this.
[14:17] And I would urge everybody to try to continue to educate.
[14:21] because that's part of the problem, again, I hear from people.
[14:26] Well, where's the money going? What are we doing?
[14:29] Why are we keeping adding this up?
[14:32] And where's the game?
[14:33] And we don't see that, unfortunately, because, like I said,
[14:36] most people don't see what you guys are doing on a daily basis.
[14:40] So, again, home rule is important to all of us.
[14:43] I know it is to you, and let's hope that we continue to maintain that.
[14:48] We've got to stop sending people into our hassy that are going exactly against us.
[14:52] Thank you.
[14:53] Thank you.
[14:54] Thank you Mr. Home Priest.
[14:56] Mr. Sellerie?
[14:58] Thank you.
[14:58] Thank you.
[14:59] Nancy Harmen?
[15:02] Nancy Harman, seven-factor, pioneer wage, Geneva, Florida. You know what kind of follow-up with what Joe just said? Is, you know,
[15:18] Last year, we had gas, tax go up, utility tax go up, water tax go up, because we could, we had to pay for things, right?
[15:29] And we also had the millage go up.
[15:34] It concerns me, are we managing our budget,
[15:37] or are we just following money?
[15:39] Because now, as you see,
[15:43] these, you know what happened.
[15:45] I don't need to show you.
[15:46] Right now, we're talking about,
[15:51] okay, thank you.
[15:52] Right now, we're talking about about
[15:56] $20 million increase here, right?
[16:00] Why?
[16:01] And I know you keep saying, I got to pay this, I got to pay that.
[16:04] My question to you is are we following the money that's coming from the tax collector's
[16:09] appraisal with our millage, with that rate, to then give us $38 million in the offer, 9 million
[16:20] of that's going to go to the sheriff's department, some of that's going to go to pay everybody's
[16:25] retirement bills that have to be paid. My question is, is it there something in
[16:31] not amount of money that you cannot do and give us some money back? So we don't
[16:37] have amendment 3 approved. Is I going to assure you, the only reason why people want
[16:42] to get amendment 3 approved is because they're just tired of being taxed. And I
[16:49] I've been here before, and I was here last week, I know you guys are fiscally conservative
[16:56] in a lot of ways, okay?
[16:58] But I can tell you what, when I feel like I stop at Fox Tale, and I get a coffee for five
[17:02] bucks.
[17:04] Does the county have things in their budget that they say, you know what?
[17:08] I really like the feel of having that, like a conference or a book or something.
[17:14] It is much as I love parks. I'm even saying, do we really have to go in and do what we're
[17:20] doing there? Because it's general fun. I'm focusing on general fun because that's what is
[17:25] going to happen here. And all I'm asking, truly asking, is to give us a little bit something
[17:31] back to make us feel good about what we're getting stuck with. Because my checking account
[17:37] in my savings account is not getting 11 million dollars, which is what yours is going to end up
[17:42] in the revenue, a reserve,
[17:47] just asking,
[17:50] Mr. Salad.
[17:52] Oh, I'm this one other thing.
[17:54] And it's just, this is a public service announcement.
[17:58] It really for people in Geneva and everywhere.
[18:01] I know you guys have talked about publicly
[18:05] notifying us of things happening.
[18:08] If you look at your webpage, where at the top is public notice,
[18:13] On times like this when we're talking budget and things that are important, isn't there
[18:17] some way where we could put it down here, where people when they pulled the page open,
[18:21] they see it, so that perhaps they could just get a better view of where they could find a public
[18:28] notice if they needed to.
[18:29] And somebody said, okay, they could call it a 10.
[18:31] It's a wrap it up.
[18:32] Yeah, they could call it 10.
[18:33] I said, I know 10 because I've had conversation with 10, but most people don't do it.
[18:37] Thank you, Nancy.
[18:38] Thank you, Nancy.
[18:40] All right, Mr. Sellerie.
[18:43] We need all of your materials.
[18:52] Short salary, 52 31 shoreline circle.
[18:55] I'd like 10 minutes because I'm representing 300,000 people.
[18:58] I just wanted to see your expression.
[19:00] So hard.
[19:00] And give you a little humor.
[19:01] I'll give you a little new jersey.
[19:04] Anyway, let me put this up.
[19:07] First of all, I've been doing budgets.
[19:09] Y'all know from way back.
[19:11] I am adamantly opposed to two things.
[19:13] I'm them at three.
[19:15] I can come here.
[19:16] took me 15 minutes to drive down here to see you.
[19:19] It's a lot longer drive to go to Tallahassee to complain.
[19:23] So I want to have local control because, again,
[19:27] per the issue you guys got to realize,
[19:30] and I have the same issue.
[19:31] And I work for Charlotte Fesslinger.
[19:33] We've got to address this stuff, County Manager.
[19:36] We can't write like bureaucrats on this.
[19:38] We got to write a five page easy to read,
[19:41] message from you to the residents of Seminal County.
[19:44] If you look at next store, it's all over the place and that's what you've got a direct
[19:48] gemessaging tube to get to those kind of folks about local control.
[19:54] What I'm bringing to your attention is, and this is from your stats, rollback rate, which
[19:59] I also adamantly disagree with.
[20:01] Always have always will.
[20:03] It just starts you off, and you just basically have a little bit of money from new
[20:07] construction and reassess properties and stuff, but anyway.
[20:11] So that brings in $3 million, $3.4.
[20:15] According to this, this was from the budget work sessions.
[20:18] The figures may have changed a little, but not much, probably.
[20:21] The current rate brings in $15 million.
[20:24] Okay, and it's kind of like, okay, we'll just take that.
[20:27] All I'm asking is, is that you guys look at building towards that.
[20:31] Start it, roll back like foolish.
[20:32] And then Bill, say I got to add $8 million for the sheriff.
[20:35] I've got to add $4 million for this.
[20:37] Build up and show everybody.
[20:39] That's all.
[20:40] I know you guys can do that.
[20:41] You can show those figures easily.
[20:46] Right now, we're at 4.18% or 4.19 according to what Tim Jex said.
[20:53] Right now, they're projecting cost-deliving and social security next year, at 3.5%.
[20:59] Between 3.4 and 3.6, and they're all same 3.5.
[21:03] What I'm saying is, is, can you look at this budget a little bit and possibly bring it
[21:08] down to show a faith to folks like, hey, we do listen at the local level, you don't have
[21:14] to go to Tallahassee where they want listen to you, you can come here and we'll listen a
[21:18] little bit because I do think you would. This is the next slide and this is where I'm
[21:26] saying you can do it. Easily, you've increased, I don't know if you can zoom in, but
[21:33] You've increased and I get it, you've increased reserves, you're going from $69 million.
[21:39] This is in your second public hearing presentation, from $69 to $80, $11 million.
[21:45] I know there's ads and subtracts and all that, but that's a new record high compared to
[21:51] hurricanes, everything, FEMA issues, everything we've had.
[21:54] What I'm saying is, is why don't you do a $5 million reduction or something, just to bring
[22:00] down to show people that you do listen and you do feel the affordability issues that we do.
[22:06] That's all.
[22:07] Thank you very much.
[22:09] And I appreciate your time.
[22:11] I appreciate you being here.
[22:13] Next speaker?
[22:14] Leslie Gruble.
[22:14] Be the final speaker.
[22:16] I'm just...
[22:17] Miss Gruble.
[22:18] I'll hand over your stuff, George.
[22:20] Thank you.
[22:26] Yes, I am also opposed to amendments.
[22:30] That gentleman. Oh, Leslie Grable, 1841, Mr. Mornplace Longwood, Florida. Thank you.
[22:38] And particularly, because there is a map that's out there that shows the counties throughout the entire state.
[22:46] And the percentages in each general county as to how much just value of homes are. There are 29 counties in this state
[22:56] who will be in financial jeopardy because of the fact that they are rural, they have high
[23:02] homestead rates, and a lot of those homesteads are valued at less than $250,000.
[23:09] This is very difficult for us.
[23:12] This is tragic for them.
[23:15] And again, this is about the state overreaching and not looking at the bigger picture involved
[23:21] at the state level and the counties.
[23:23] The other thing, in terms of looking at some of the budgetary issues, we were looking
[23:30] the other day at the cost of seminal county and the fire trucks in the cost of the towers,
[23:40] the rescues, the woodstruck fuel, the CPI increase from 2019 to 2026 was 29%, but the
[23:53] increase in our fire trucks is 74%. The increase in the towers is 138%. So looking at what
[24:05] is inflation is doing to the budget and how this has to be measured into what people
[24:11] see as unnecessary increases. And also, I'm also mentioning that I'm looking at the various
[24:21] reports of all the departments and the things that they're going to have to look at cutting.
[24:27] It's scary.
[24:28] I'm looking at what Sheriff Leam said at the last meeting.
[24:32] A 20% reduction for him would be $40 million every year.
[24:37] And his comment is that there's a myth out there that public safety is protected by an amendment 3.
[24:44] And that is not the case.
[24:46] You would have to reduce staff even speaking of 300 people.
[24:52] Please, hiring to lay a replacement of vehicles and equipment.
[24:58] You would have to cut training for professional development.
[25:02] It would become one of those situations where we are working on,
[25:07] working on policing, not prevention, we said.
[25:11] We're not able to support those agencies that help to prevent human and drug trafficking,
[25:17] preventing drug drivers.
[25:19] When is that we protect seniors that they take care of them?
[25:23] When the other issue was with the fire department, besides the fact that the increase rates,
[25:28] they're cost of their equipment and they're supplies.
[25:33] They're concerned that it would be minus 33.8 million dollars.
[25:38] That's 23% reduction.
[25:39] So we have to look at not only what the increases are, but what impact it's having on each individual department.
[25:47] And that's very clear in your agenda packages.
[25:51] Thank you.
[25:52] Thank you very much.
[25:53] Mr. Gregory, do we have any further public comments?
[25:55] No, ma'am.
[25:56] All right, hearing no other further public comments.
[25:59] I will close public comment section of the meeting.
[26:04] Madam Chair, move to adopt the fiscal year 2627 Countywide Milage.
[26:09] as presented at 5.3751.
[26:14] Second.
[26:15] We have a motion in a second.
[26:17] Any further discussion?
[26:18] All those in favor?
[26:20] Opposed hearing none passes unanimously.
[26:25] Ms. Chair, move to approve the fiscal year of 2026-2027-FIRE-MSTU.
[26:31] I would rate as presented here tonight.
[26:34] Second.
[26:34] I have a motion in a second. Any further discussion? All those in favor?
[26:39] Aye.
[26:40] Opposed. Hearing none passes unanimously.
[26:49] I'm sure I move a motion to adopt the fiscal year 2627 Roads.
[26:52] MSTU Milijrate has presented.
[26:54] Second.
[26:56] First in a second, any further discussion? All those in favor?
[27:02] Opposed. Hearing none, it passes unanimously.
[27:06] Madam Chair, I make a motion move to adopt the fiscal year
[27:08] 2627, final budget as presented.
[27:15] Motion in a second.
[27:16] Any further discussion?
[27:18] All those in favor?
[27:19] Aye.
[27:19] Opposed hearing none passes unanimously.
[27:23] That brings our meeting to a conclusion.
[27:25] I will adjourn the public hearing.
[27:29] Thank you.
[27:29] I do appreciate all of the public comments.