WEBVTT METADATA Video-Count: 1 Video-1: youtube.com/watch?v=iR_gArHz_Yo Part: 1 1 00:08:36.880 --> 00:08:53.040 2026 is now called to order. If you will all stand, we'll have the invocation and prayer led by Commissioner Thompson. >> Let us pray. Heavenly Father, we thank you, Lord, for the privilege and opportunity being here this morning, Lord. And Father, we just thank you for 2 00:08:53.040 --> 00:09:09.200 this great country and county we live in, Lord. And father, as we go into this meeting, Lord, we ask your blessings on us. Lord, give us wisdom and knowledge and understanding to make decisions that be pleasing to you and to the citizens of Bradford County. We ask these things 3 00:09:09.200 --> 00:09:23.120 in your precious name. Amen. >> Amen. Amen. To the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice 4 00:09:23.120 --> 00:09:43.680 for all. Our public hearing is is beginning now. And I will before we um take any um comments, I want to ask our county manager or um our attorney just explain 5 00:09:43.680 --> 00:10:03.360 why we are having this public hearing. Madam Chair, we we've done this because we are uh revising and editing the purchasing policy. So, we had to resend the the current ordinance or the previous ordinance in order to um edit 6 00:10:03.360 --> 00:10:18.480 and revise the purchasing policy which we'll adopt later on in the consent agenda. >> All right. At this time, we're having our public hearing. Are there any um public comments um at this time? If you have some, you may come forward to the 7 00:10:18.480 --> 00:10:44.000 podium. And if you do, please speak directly into the podium so that the um your voice can be heard and recorded. All right. Any comments for this public hearing? Hearing none, I'll do the reading of the ordinance if 8 00:10:44.000 --> 00:10:59.760 I could. An ordinance of the board of county commissioners of Bradford County, Florida, amending the purchasing policy, specifically chapter 2, administration, article 4, purchasing procedure, section 2-151 through 2-172 of the Bradford 9 00:10:59.760 --> 00:11:16.160 County Code of Ordinances and providing an effective date. And madam chairman, if we could open the public hearing one more time after I did that reading just to sort of make sure everybody got hearing that he or something. >> Okay. >> I heard something got their attention. >> Okay. You've heard the reading u from 10 00:11:16.160 --> 00:11:31.360 the attorney for the public hearing is now open for any public comments at this time if there should be any seeing none hearing none. Okay. All right. 11 00:11:31.360 --> 00:11:48.480 Okay. Any comments from the board? Okay. All right. We'll close our public hearing and um move into our regular public comments. >> We got we Madam Chair, we need a motion 12 00:11:48.480 --> 00:12:04.000 to vote. >> Okay. Offer request a motion from the board. >> Madam Chair, I'll make a motion to approve the ordinance as read by our county attorney. >> Okay. >> Second. >> Motion by Commissioner Dy, second by Commissioner Ring. Any further questions 13 00:12:04.000 --> 00:12:24.720 by the board? Not. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Let the record show that Commissioner Andrews is not here. So, it's a four vote. >> All right. Now, any general public comments at this time? I do have 14 00:12:24.720 --> 00:12:49.839 one. U Mr. Tom Jamalo. Thank you all. Tom Dano, 2870 Southeast 50th Street, Keystone Heights, Florida 32656. Probably take me longer to say that and walk up here than it is. I just have to read this announcement that I have. Um, 15 00:12:49.839 --> 00:13:05.839 I wanted to let everyone know that the Bradford County RXC Republican Executive Committee is hosting a political forum on July 25th, uh, 4 to 6:00 p.m. at the Charlie John Center. And um it's a great opportunity to come by here. All the candidates. Um 16 00:13:05.839 --> 00:13:22.720 it's open to everyone uh and probably everyone that's running will be invited and um so it' be a great opportunity like I said to come and hear uh hear what they have to say and uh there'll be additional announcements coming probably real soon in the paper and in the mail I 17 00:13:22.720 --> 00:13:38.720 believe. Thank you. >> What was the time again? >> I'm sorry. It is uh July 25th, 4 to 6 p.m. >> Mhm. And if you've ever been to one of our meetings, it's probably a little after six by the time it was. Thank you. Okay. 18 00:13:38.720 --> 00:14:04.560 >> Um that was the only public comment card I received. Um I didn't miss anybody. Thank you. And next we're going to have the presentation from James and Moore and Company. And this will be our audit report coming 19 00:14:04.560 --> 00:14:22.240 for 24 to 25. >> Good morning. Miss Lisa is going to be putting up a PowerPoint presentation, but um my name is Brenda McKitrich. I'm a partner with James Moore and Company. I've also got Nick Merkeling in the audience. He's the audit uh engagement 20 00:14:22.240 --> 00:14:39.839 uh manager on your audit. Um there are a couple documents in front of you including the financial statements as well as the PowerPoint. I recommend use if you want to follow along using the the PowerPoint presentation really summarizes the items I'm talking about today. Uh before we get into the 21 00:14:39.839 --> 00:14:55.440 presentation itself, I did want to thank the commission for the opportunity to perform the audit again this year. I also want to thank uh the clerk as well as the staff as and also the constitutional officers for all their hard work. takes a lot of effort to go through an audit and we appreciate everything that they've done and I think 22 00:14:55.440 --> 00:15:10.480 especially this year um being on time within the statutory deadline as a testament to everyone involved in the audit. So I want to give them a thanks and um you know let them know that um kind of acknowledge all their hard work. Uh this slide that you see in front of 23 00:15:10.480 --> 00:15:26.880 me right now is one with uh with regards to our auto reports and one thing I like to remind the commission is that these financial statements are your financial statements. However, as auditors, we include certain reports as well. The first report being the audit report, which is where we express our opinion really over the reliability of the 24 00:15:26.880 --> 00:15:43.199 numbers that you're looking at. We do have the same opinion. We've expressed it in the previous year with which really is a qualified opinion specifically related to OPED, but otherwise unmodified. And again, from a the state's perspective, a perfectly acceptable opinion. The second uh report 25 00:15:43.199 --> 00:15:58.800 here is the single audit report. So since the county did have grant expenditures exceeding a certain threshold, there's some additional testing that we're required to perform. Um if there are any items identified as findings, we would communicate that. But as you can see on this slide, there are no findings. The third report, the 26 00:15:58.800 --> 00:16:14.639 internal control and compliance report. So as part of our process, we're required to understand internal controls with regards to financial reporting and accounting. Um this is another opportunity if we did have any issues to communicate in kind of a written form either from material weaknesses or areas of non-compliance we could communicate 27 00:16:14.639 --> 00:16:30.800 in this report but as you can see here here we had no items to communicate. The fourth report the chapter 10550 report this is a letter required by the state of Florida uh with some required communications. Um there is an some areas there too to provide other 28 00:16:30.800 --> 00:16:47.440 recommendations maybe recommendations outside of internal controls. Uh but we didn't have any modifications or to the report itself and no recommendations in that report. And then finally the examination report in the back of your financial statements just indicating you're in compliance with specific state statutes. 29 00:16:47.440 --> 00:17:03.440 Lisa, do you mind going to the next slide? Thank you. So, as I mentioned earlier, uh we do work with the constitutional officers and we do issue five other audit reports as well. Uh this is really just a summary of any written findings that we had in any of those reports. And as you 30 00:17:03.440 --> 00:17:19.600 can see here, uh we had no written comments in it in any of the reports we issued for Bradford County. Now, moving over to the numbers, um this is uh looking at the uh fund balance for your general fund. So, the general fund is your main operating fund for the 31 00:17:19.600 --> 00:17:36.320 county. This is looking at the fund balance with regards to the various categories. Lisa, if you wouldn't mind moving to the next slide. What we'll do or what we look at is the assigned and unassigned fund balance. That number compared to expenditures and transfers out as a percentage. So this year u it 32 00:17:36.320 --> 00:17:52.320 was at 49.6%. And what we compare it to is the GFOA recommends a minimum of two months or 16.7%. And think of that as a floor. So you don't want to go beneath the floor. But then they also go on to say there's other considerations 33 00:17:52.320 --> 00:18:08.559 as well. So being in the state of Florida, we do have instances of hurricanes. So there may be carry forward balance or reserves that are needed for emergency purposes as well as any capital projects you all may have on the horizon. So again, you all are above the the minimum recommended amount and 34 00:18:08.559 --> 00:18:23.679 again you know also realizing that there's other considerations included in that um fund balance carriage balance as well. some other fund highlights uh and highlights your other governmental funds approximately a fund balance of a total 35 00:18:23.679 --> 00:18:41.039 of $6.6 million and you do have a rather large liability with regards to the Florida retirement system that's recorded on your governmentwide financial statements but there's no budgetary impact to you all with regards to that calculation. the 36 00:18:41.039 --> 00:18:56.320 budgetary impact you have are the required contributions you all make every year into the Florida retirement system which it is budgeted for. And with that I will stop and answer any questions. Any questions from the course of the 37 00:18:56.320 --> 00:19:17.440 comment? >> Glad to see all the zeros only for each constitutional officer and >> thank you. And I just like to just comment to commend the work between your staff and our our staff on working 38 00:19:17.440 --> 00:19:33.840 together and achieving this. Thank you. Yeah, I can't again I just want to say there's a lot of work that goes into all this. So, um you guys get to see the nice set of financial statements, but everyone involved including the constitutional officers. There's a lot of hard work in there. So, again, I want 39 00:19:33.840 --> 00:19:48.720 to tell them thank you for all their hard work. >> Thank you, >> Madam Chair. Can I speak to them publicly? >> Um it it's just positive. I just want to thank them. They know me. I pick up the phone, I call, I have hard questions. They have been phenomenal to work with. 40 00:19:48.720 --> 00:20:05.280 They've got me straightened out on a few things which I need from time to time, but uh they answered every question because me I didn't know and if I don't know I I'm one of those kind of direct people and uh they have worked with us tremendously in our office. I just want to publicly say thank y'all what you've been able to do for us. That's a been 41 00:20:05.280 --> 00:20:20.559 going on 20 years for myself and but they got us there. It was holding my hand as y'all know the last couple years they held my hand but we got there and I just want to publicly say thank you for my staff and putting up with me with that get on call. I want to know why and uh they've been able to answer all that. So thank you. 42 00:20:20.559 --> 00:20:44.000 >> Thank you. >> All right. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Thank you. Next, we have the approval for our consent agenda. Um, do you have a motion for approval of the consent agenda? 43 00:20:44.000 --> 00:21:02.200 >> Yes, I make a motion that we approve the consent agenda. >> Thank you. >> Motion by Commissioner Reick and second by Commissioner U Thompson. Any further questions? All in favor by the sign I. Any opposed? 40. 44 00:21:04.960 --> 00:21:24.640 It's time to receive our clerk report. I just want to um one thing I do want to say is that Dana was a big part or the whole part most part of this audit getting done on time this year. And she even put in extra hours the sheriff's office to make sure we could mend 45 00:21:24.640 --> 00:21:39.520 everything together and have a complete finished budget. So, thank you for everything you've done. >> Thank you. >> All right. Um, >> Madam Chair, if I may, uh, just want to comment. >> Sure. 46 00:21:39.520 --> 00:21:55.440 >> Um, I know Miss Roden sent out a email with their clerks. I forgot the little acronym what it stood for, but uh, >> I just want to commend y'all on that. That was that was really good. Very transparent. And, um, I'm sure anybody that has any questions that could go to 47 00:21:55.440 --> 00:22:12.440 the website and be able to see that. Very well put together. Thank y'all. Appreciate that. >> Thank you. >> And if I may, that was that was very very good. Very good. Yes. >> All right. That was awesome. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> All right. Shar 48 00:22:13.280 --> 00:22:29.280 again after the audit was done and and got white knuckled a few times and a crap couple crazy questions. Special thanks to the clerk. But Dana, we couldn't have done it without you. She uh has been there long enough. and Lisa Hall that we we've put in that position. Those two work tremendously to to iron 49 00:22:29.280 --> 00:22:45.360 out a lot of the things that we had things that were going on. Uh you know, we transferred to a new software system. Uh Commissioner Dollar has been in my ear. Hey, tighten up. We're we're sticking with you, but you got to get, you know, and we've done that. And we got down, we locked down some positions, 50 00:22:45.360 --> 00:23:00.080 locked down some spending, some things that we didn't do. Um and we didn't know where we was going to be. We was at that transfer of systems to get accountability, y'all. the last couple years sticking with us has been tough. Uh, Commissioner Gers, every time we go to a lot of the same circles, hey, 51 00:23:00.080 --> 00:23:16.080 tighten up. Hey, tighten up. You know, friendship conversations, but also uh serious note, and we took that serious. So, today I come back at the end of our audit from 2025 and we got to remit some funds back to you that didn't get spent. And that was hard work, not of me, but 52 00:23:16.080 --> 00:23:34.240 of my staff. Miss Dana, uh, thank you for all that you've done. But at this time, we'd like to rebent back to the county from 2025 $968,521. And I'll give this check to the clerk, but you don't want to pass it down. That's make sure it gets to the clerk's office 53 00:23:34.240 --> 00:23:50.159 to know where that goes. So, that goes to show you we don't spend what we don't need. We'll spend whatever it takes. But we had to we had to do without. I mean, it was locking down positions we didn't fill. Uh Jm set aside funds we didn't spend because we didn't know if we needed. Um, we had some medical stuff, but that that got covered on our our uh 54 00:23:50.159 --> 00:24:06.799 catastrophic, thank goodness. Uh, some serious medical issues that, uh, Major McKinley took care of years ago in case we get somebody on the high end of medical that it picks up after the $40,000 catch there. Just some smart decisions, smart moves on our behalf. 55 00:24:06.799 --> 00:24:21.760 But again, Dana, can't thank you enough publicly for the hours you spent with us to make sure that we got here. We couldn't have done it without you. It's the best audit that we received. And I did. I called the auditors. You'all know I can be a hor's bat toque sometimes, but uh they was able to stand firm and 56 00:24:21.760 --> 00:24:39.679 uh got us in the right direction. So, thank you. And it's honored to give that back to the commission. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> All right. >> Thank you. Um >> he mentioned my name, not yours. Well, 57 00:24:39.679 --> 00:24:54.240 >> he he was >> he never missed an opportunity to make sure he got shared, but it was friendly, but it was also on a professional level. We're just happy to be neighbors and and go in the same circle. >> And I'd like to comment. I appreciate the um the work between all of the 58 00:24:54.240 --> 00:25:09.919 groups because we don't have we didn't have to worry this year about it not getting done on time. It got done on time and I really appreciate um everybody working together from the sheriff department to our our clerk's uh office. And this year we're asking for 59 00:25:09.919 --> 00:25:27.760 those very very detailed um budget matters from all all departments, not just the county, but from our constitutionals. And so this year we're going to be looking critically at everything. And so that's why the detailed budgets are are requested and 60 00:25:27.760 --> 00:25:46.240 we will appreciate everybody continuing to work together so that we can make the best decisions for our county. And again, thank you. And let's see. And next we'll hear from our county 61 00:25:46.240 --> 00:26:00.960 manager. >> All right. Thank you, Madam Chair. A couple of things we need to discuss this morning. First of all, I know a few of us have had conversations uh in the recent past regarding a workshop surrounding the uh the impact of 62 00:26:00.960 --> 00:26:17.120 amendment three or tax reform. Uh before we get into that, I would like to show a video um that was produced by the Florida Association of Counties that puts into perspective. >> This November, a property tax amendment will appear. >> Sorry. Sorry. 63 00:26:17.120 --> 00:26:43.520 >> Okay. that uh puts into perspective what uh what all 67 counties in the state of Florida be up against should this ballot initially pass this November. A property tax amendment will appear on the ballot. The politicians wrote a slick sales pitch 64 00:26:43.520 --> 00:27:00.799 like stickers on a windshield. Politically, it's a sports car. Mathematically, it's a mess. Just pop the hood. This amendment doesn't shrink government. It just stops paying for it. Florida's counties spend over $16 billion on public safety every year. 65 00:27:00.799 --> 00:27:16.960 That's equivalent to roughly 86% of all property tax revenue, and it's the single largest expense in almost every county. So, this amendment leaves two doors. Door number one, cut. Anyway, everything from fewer firefighters and 66 00:27:16.960 --> 00:27:33.840 deputies to slower 911 response times, not to mention fewer roads, bridges, storm water systems, and other critical infrastructure. Then there's door number two. Raise taxes on everything else. Higher sales taxes, millage rates, 67 00:27:33.840 --> 00:27:51.440 impact fees, higher costs passed to consumers, renters, small businesses, and firsttime home buyers. The list goes on. to replace property tax revenue. We'd need a sales tax above 15%. And there is no door number three. So 68 00:27:51.440 --> 00:28:05.840 when you read this amendment, remember what's under the hood. Promises from politicians don't pay for public safety. Slogans from salesmen don't put out fires. And without an engine under the hood, the only place this car is headed 69 00:28:05.840 --> 00:28:24.960 is downhill fast. Get the facts at keep Floridariving.com. Nobody. >> So once again, that was uh uh provided by the Florida Association of Counties last week and I wanted to share it with the group today before we consider 70 00:28:24.960 --> 00:28:41.120 moving forward with a workshop that uh as I mentioned uh there's been some interest in in doing that sort of thing. So, what I'd like is for the board to discuss uh discuss that option and if if you would like to move forward with it, we need to set a date uh and get that 71 00:28:41.120 --> 00:28:57.760 done sooner rather than later. And then also uh I need to know what you would like to accomplish at the workshop. We need a u an agenda that we can put forth um showing what we plan to do at the workshop and what we hope to accomplish. Madam Chair, 72 00:28:57.760 --> 00:29:13.840 >> yes. Um Mr. going to get I I think it is important to share the information. We share what we know. We share the facts. We don't tell people how to vote and in that regard, but sharing them what we know, what that impact will potentially 73 00:29:13.840 --> 00:29:29.840 have upon our budget if it is passed and what what areas it would impact. So sharing the facts is the important part for us. letting the community know everything that we know and that information was shared with us through 74 00:29:29.840 --> 00:29:46.640 the Florida Association of Counties. Um many people don't necessarily um listen online to our meetings. They don't necessarily read the newspaper. So, as much as we can communicate uh the 75 00:29:46.640 --> 00:30:03.279 facts to our community, um it will be very very important um to do so. and um and perhaps we could have it at like the um the convention center where we could entertain a large group. We're not there 76 00:30:03.279 --> 00:30:25.159 to say what is going to happen. We can only share what we know. My opinion hear from the rest of the board what their thoughts are. >> What we know we need to share with our >> and any information. 77 00:30:26.720 --> 00:30:49.120 >> Any thoughts? >> I have thoughts on sharing. >> Okay. >> Um, Commissioner Commissioner Dart, he he serves on our floor association of counties um group and um do you have any 78 00:30:49.120 --> 00:31:05.760 thoughts and I think that pretty much says it all. Okay. You know, it uh you know, I was friends with a lot of commissioners across the state and you know, I see a lot of different Facebook posts and things like that. You know, I think a lot of people just have it in their mind 79 00:31:05.760 --> 00:31:24.000 that you know u and I think we'll all agree. I mean, nobody wants to pay taxes, but I think the impacts on the smaller rural counties are bigger than they are in some of the other areas. I think some of the findings in in other audits um in some of the larger counties 80 00:31:24.000 --> 00:31:39.760 there is a lot of you know fraud waste and abuse and I just don't see that in our county. Um certainly um you know and we talk about it just like uh you know detailed budgets. We ask for detailed budgets every year and you know and I think we get them every year but uh you 81 00:31:39.760 --> 00:31:56.399 know it's just a matter of going back and anytime we talked about any kind of cuts um we we've discussed it over and over again. We just had a recent discussion with Chief Carter about you know cutting and just seeing the impact that it has on on public safety alone. 82 00:31:56.399 --> 00:32:12.880 Um, you know, in the end it's it's it's the voters's decision and u but you know I just would say just as I have before that uh you know what is it that that you can do without and u I think that's the important question because you know 83 00:32:12.880 --> 00:32:30.320 I have made the comment before you know I have a safe full of guns and uh I'm not going to call the sheriff at 3:00 in the morning somebody comes beating on my door u you know I do have a swimming pool in my backyard and I have a pump. And you know, Chief 84 00:32:30.320 --> 00:32:46.320 Carter, I'd probably make a bigger mess than you all would make, but uh you know, at that point, you know, I start looking at all the different things. There's a paved road in front of my house. I'm not calling for anybody to gra my own ditch in the front of my it's it's it's it's 85 00:32:46.320 --> 00:33:01.360 county right away. Um I pick up the trash along the road. um you know so I say you know I can get by with a lot of this stuff you know without but you know my question is can you and um I think that's really the the the question that 86 00:33:01.360 --> 00:33:16.799 needs to be answered. Um, but again, you know, I I also say that people made the right decision and and voted me into office and so they'll make the right decision on this. And so, you know, you leave that up to the voters and but um I think there's a lot of things that uh 87 00:33:16.799 --> 00:33:32.399 the clerk mentioned uh you know, even the $15 an hour, you know, it it it sounded like a really good idea and certainly, you know, we need to get wages up, but you know, there was an impact from that. uh there was a huge impact and it impacted not only those that were under the 15 an hour but the 88 00:33:32.399 --> 00:33:47.840 compression rate of those that you know felt like well if they're going to get a seven or $8 an hour raise that and I need an $8 an hour raise and so anyway just a lot of stuff to think about and u you know like I said I'm I'm not you 89 00:33:47.840 --> 00:34:03.840 know trying to say anything in any way just as most of the commissioners across the state you know it's not a a scare tactic it's just educating people and saying hey you know here's what we're faced will and u I I I think if the legislators would have been more clear about you know how we can fill these 90 00:34:03.840 --> 00:34:19.280 holes then you know certainly it'd be a lot easier conversation to have but u anyway um when I say that I mean a workshop I think you get a lot of people that will come in and say just like I read online you know uh you're just trying to 91 00:34:19.280 --> 00:34:35.760 protect your job I'm not trying to protect my job I have a job I have a day job and it's a really good job so you At the end of the day, uh it's about just educating people and letting them know what the impacts will be. So, but uh you know, I've mentioned the free ice cream 92 00:34:35.760 --> 00:34:50.800 before. You know, there's no such thing. No such thing. Everybody likes ice cream and everybody wants free ice cream, but it's never free. So, anyway, that's really all I have to say, but I'm right in the middle on it. And um again, like I said, I'm not trying to say one way or 93 00:34:50.800 --> 00:35:08.160 another. I'm just asking people to inform themselves and do your homework. >> Okay. And in the in the packet of information given to us by um by fact um and kind of outlining for us what we 94 00:35:08.160 --> 00:35:25.040 should do. It said we should determine the impact of property taxes on our county. So the amount that we take in and if um it passes what would be the impact um of that that change for us and 95 00:35:25.040 --> 00:35:41.680 in other words we will be estimating that impact based on the percentage that we receive from the property taxes for our county. And so I think is as long as we share those facts with our um constituents, letting the people know 96 00:35:41.680 --> 00:35:59.839 what we know. Uh and everybody has to make an informed decision for themselves. Okay. And so I do think it's important um that we do set up um some town halls meeting for our community. And I think I'm hearing 97 00:35:59.839 --> 00:36:17.520 that consensus from the from the group. Okay. So, if you recall, we put together a presentation uh back in April, March, April, I believe it was, >> that uh that showed the we took the we 98 00:36:17.520 --> 00:36:34.240 took the amount that we would be losing in a tax and then we demonstrated what that would mean for each department or what the how we would get to that amount uh by closing various services or reducing services. So essentially, you would like to see that again at 99 00:36:34.240 --> 00:36:51.280 >> Yes, we we would like to see that again. And they gave us sort of an outline of the revenue impact um with the increase in homestead exemption, what what that increase would be or decrease would be uh should it pass, what would that 100 00:36:51.280 --> 00:37:08.560 amount of dollars so? And as as we know, it's a it's a 2-year phased um proposition. In year one, it Bradford County would stand to lose uh approximately $4.6 million. >> In year two, which would be 2829, 101 00:37:08.560 --> 00:37:25.839 uh Bradford County would lose 5.4 million. >> Okay. And then and with that, how that could potentially impact our various services as you had shared um a couple of months ago. So sharing that information and all of the the facts that we know uh with 102 00:37:25.839 --> 00:37:41.359 them. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Okay. >> Just make another comment if I may. One of the senators in the Senate uh committee meeting had mentioned something about uh he I think he was the actual um uh the author of the bill was 103 00:37:41.359 --> 00:37:57.280 it not Perez? Do you recall who it was? Senator >> um from Miami. Um >> yeah. Well, he wasn't the I mean, he was the presenter of the bill, but I think that the bill came from the governor and then it was amended during the process 104 00:37:57.280 --> 00:38:12.720 to remove schools >> as we went through last meeting, right? Um, Avala was is and and and you know, one of the comments that he made was, uh, you know, your your counties can still assess fees 105 00:38:12.720 --> 00:38:30.400 and and, you know, find other ways. And so um >> and that that puts us in a bad position because you know if they're the ones that are saying or the governor saying that this is what I want and then it puts us in position to find their own 106 00:38:30.400 --> 00:38:47.040 ways to fill those holes then we suddenly look like the bad guys and girls here you know so um because you know if your solid waste assessment fee has to go up if your fire assessment has to go up if there's a roadway assessment if there's a storm water assessment and 107 00:38:47.040 --> 00:39:03.680 all these things that you know at the end of the day it uh you know just like they were talking about there possibility of 15% sales tax um I like the sales tax because everybody pays it um but in these other cases you know still it it ends up where there's only a 108 00:39:03.680 --> 00:39:19.839 few that are paying it and um again I just don't want the fingerpointing come back coming back to us um because you know you there's other fees that would have to be put in place just to be able to fill those holes just to be able to provide the services. So, I just say 109 00:39:19.839 --> 00:39:34.000 that because I thought it was interesting that that he mentioned that and and kind of put the onus back on, you know, the county commissioners and uh so in the end they can say, "Hey, you know, we got rid of your property taxes. 110 00:39:34.000 --> 00:39:51.200 This is on them." So anyway, just uh another another another comment, another thing to think about as far as you know those fees because I I certainly don't want to be in that position. But um it's just again something to consider. >> And Madam Chairman, if if I could to 111 00:39:51.200 --> 00:40:08.560 expand on Commissioner Dohert's comment in in Bradford County, we're very limited, very restricted on on ways that we could raise additional revenue. Uh obviously we can't raise the adorum tax. We're statutoily capped at 10 mills 112 00:40:08.560 --> 00:40:25.440 already which ties into the fact that we would be unable to create an MSTU, a municipal services taxing unit because that is a tax that's tied to the mill rate. Um, one of the few things we could do is establish an MSBU, municip 113 00:40:25.440 --> 00:40:43.200 municipal services benefit unit that would assess for certain services that are provided by the county. Um, however, as the senator can tell you, that's a that's a process. Um, probably not quite as uh extensive and laborious as the 114 00:40:43.200 --> 00:40:58.079 fire assessment, but certainly similar. Um, and then of course the fire assessment is another thing that could be increased. We could go from 50% to 100%. Uh but there again, that would only raise roughly 1.5 million. Bear in 115 00:40:58.079 --> 00:41:14.640 mind, we've got 5.4 million to make up. So the the few things that we are allowed to to and solid waste is another example. We um we currently assess at $125 a year, which which uh raises 116 00:41:14.640 --> 00:41:29.680 approximately 75% of what we actually spent. So, we're funding our solid waste operation out of the general fund. We are not even breaking even um at the current level of assessment. So, those those things I just mentioned are pretty 117 00:41:29.680 --> 00:41:47.040 much it when it comes to alternative re revenue sources. Now, what I did not mention was franchise fees from the the utility companies, Florida Power Light and Clay Electric. But once again, if you do that, you're only looking at right at a million dollars in additional 118 00:41:47.040 --> 00:42:04.160 revenue. So now all of a sudden, you're you're up to 2.4 million. You still got 3 million to go. Uh we can't we can't we cannot assess or tax or create fees to solve this problem. The only way this 119 00:42:04.160 --> 00:42:20.240 problem gets solved is by cutting services. So, it's a matter of what, as Commissioner Dohy said, what what can you do without? What do you what do you want to get rid of? And those are the those are the questions that will have 120 00:42:20.240 --> 00:42:36.240 to be answered if um if this initiative is successful in November. >> Okay. Yes, we'll have to um assess all avenues, all areas of our budget to see what we can do and what we can do 121 00:42:36.240 --> 00:42:54.000 without. Okay. So, if Mr. Gardier, if you could uh >> Okay. So, the next thing we need to talk about is the date. uh because this will have to be advertised and uh it'll be a public meeting and we'll have to if you if you desire to have it at the Charlie John's which 122 00:42:54.000 --> 00:43:08.720 we certainly can um we'll have to make arrangements for that as well. So if anyone has a date proposed um we are looking my my recommendation staff's recommendation is that we do it sooner 123 00:43:08.720 --> 00:43:26.160 rather than later. Um, this coming Tuesday, the 14th, would certainly be an option. Uh, I would not go past the following week if we could avoid it. Um, but that's entirely up to you. >> Um, 124 00:43:26.160 --> 00:43:52.000 are you all available on the 14th? >> Okay. Let's proceed with the 14th. >> All right. Well, um 5:30 5:05. >> How about 6? Give everybody time to get 125 00:43:52.000 --> 00:44:07.200 off work. >> Will that give us plenty of time to advertise because this is Tuesday and are you planning to advertise because um by noon is when the telegraph will need advertisements. Unless you want to advertise it right after this meeting. 126 00:44:07.200 --> 00:44:24.079 >> Yeah, we'll do it this afternoon >> and it'll go into the Thursday paper. >> Yes, ma'am. >> And then the meeting will take place Tuesday. >> Correct. >> So, less than a week's notice is okay, though. >> Okay. So, >> or we can we can if everybody's more 127 00:44:24.079 --> 00:44:51.839 comfortable, we can push it out. I'm okay with pushing it out to the following week. I'm just I just don't want to go into August. Um if we can avoid it. >> What about Tuesday of the following week? >> So that would be Tuesday the 21st. 128 00:44:51.839 --> 00:45:08.520 Um I don't see a problem. Do you >> Yes, >> Rachel. Okay. >> Okay. I was trying to um 21st at 6. >> Tuesday, July 21st, 6 p.m. at the Charlie John Center. >> Yes. 129 00:45:09.760 --> 00:45:25.359 >> All right. That's uh that's what we'll do. >> Anything else on amendment three? All right. The other thing I that we need to talk about is um the 301 Commerce Center. As you know, it has 130 00:45:25.359 --> 00:45:43.119 been um advertised, been listed uh both nationally and internationally and we have had some interest in uh not only releasing the facility but also for the sale of the facility. So before we get into the RFP process, which is 131 00:45:43.119 --> 00:46:00.400 coming next, I just need a consensus from the board as to whether or not we would entertain the sale and the lease and or the lease of the property or is it the board's desire to lease only? 132 00:46:00.400 --> 00:46:19.839 My opinion to to lease it so that we can gain some income from it. I don't know. That's a lot of potential for um commercial business. >> Mr. Will, >> I'd go with either, but uh we could sell 133 00:46:19.839 --> 00:46:35.280 it, not have to maintain it at all. I'd be good with that. Certainly, uh you know, if the amendment three passes, then you know, the idea of getting it back on the tax roles is not really going to be that big of an impact. But 134 00:46:35.280 --> 00:46:51.520 uh either way, like I said, >> well, >> I'd right if you it doesn't lock you into anything. All all we need to know is if we want to if we want to put language in the RFP that would allow for the sale. 135 00:46:51.520 --> 00:47:06.880 >> Yeah. >> Yeah. That'd be for either of them. Yeah. >> Yeah. I would have preference. >> Yeah. I'd be either one, but but at the same time, I would prefer to lease it cuz then that's for that's from now on 136 00:47:06.880 --> 00:47:22.560 money coming in. Otherwise, if you get a lump sum, then it's over. But if we lease it 30 years from now or 10 years from now, it'll pay for what you're going to sell it for, and you'll always have income coming in. 137 00:47:22.560 --> 00:47:36.160 Okay. >> All right, then. Thank you very much. That's all I have, Madam Chair. >> Okay. Thank you. Um, Mr. Bradley. >> Um, thank you, Madam Chair. The the 138 00:47:36.160 --> 00:47:54.160 other um thing that I think um is worthy of the community to discuss is um when you're dealing with the we're talking about county impacts, but on the taxpayer impact side of things. 139 00:47:54.160 --> 00:48:10.880 If you're um a homestead property owner, um you now enjoy the benefit of a of a homestead exemption. Obviously, that would be increased if this were to pass. Um as we saw in our 140 00:48:10.880 --> 00:48:27.359 discussion about fire assessment with the community, um there's no such exemptions for property when your property is assessed. In other words, you it is what it is and you don't get a break on, 141 00:48:27.359 --> 00:48:45.520 you know, on on um something. So, um if you're a homestead owner and this passes, um keep in mind that um you know, look closely about what you're paying right now. Um because if that's replaced with 142 00:48:45.520 --> 00:49:01.920 an assessment, you won't get your the assessment is going to be full freight without um taking off uh a percentage of your uh of your monies for um exemptions. 143 00:49:01.920 --> 00:49:19.599 So um don't don't assume that if you're homestead you're going to pay less in taxes if it they're replaced by an assessment, for instance, which is full price freight. um depending and you don't get homestead protections on assessments. You see what 144 00:49:19.599 --> 00:49:35.040 I'm saying? So um obviously um there are limit I I say that from a taxpayer point of view. This is not necessarily going to be some boon for you if you're a homestead owner if if all that happens is you end up 145 00:49:35.040 --> 00:49:53.760 getting a bunch of assessments. I'm not saying it's going to happen. I don't know what's going to happen. I'm just saying that that let's be sophisticated as homeowners when we look at this thing. Um let's say you take your fire assessment for instance and you say you go to 100%. Okay. Well, 146 00:49:53.760 --> 00:50:08.720 let's say that you you take that 100% and make it higher because you have to collect more now to pay for your fire, which is something you'd have to do probably, right? Well, that's going to go on everybody's property owner's bill 147 00:50:08.720 --> 00:50:25.359 and they aren't going to have exemptions for homestead on that assessment. It's going to be whatever the amount is with no um with no percentage savings because you happen to be a homesteader. 148 00:50:25.359 --> 00:50:42.640 All right. So, um I I'm just saying that this isn't necessarily some boom for a home for a homestead owner. um if this passes, this isn't necessarily some absolute 149 00:50:42.640 --> 00:50:59.839 great um thing for them to save money. Um depending on what happens with the assessments on the other side. That's my only point. And I think that that needs to be part of the discussion too um as we move forward because we got to 150 00:50:59.839 --> 00:51:15.520 I mean I agree get it all out there. let's be honest about what's happened that I'm talking about the door number two that was described in that in that um in that uh video and um you know that's not even getting into 151 00:51:15.520 --> 00:51:32.400 the commercial and the and the rent payers and stuff like that versus the property owners and they impact on them if this were to pass. I'm talking about people who own their property, the homesteaders in their house. Anyway, 152 00:51:32.400 --> 00:51:52.240 >> thank you. Um, any report from the commissioners? >> Nothing. Nothing from >> Sure. Um, I I hope everybody had a fantastic Fourth of July. Uh, 250 years. I mean, I'll tell you what, I thought 153 00:51:52.240 --> 00:52:07.520 about it all weekend. how, excuse me, how special that was. And um, you know, I'll be honest, Fourth of July is probably one of my up there with one of my favorite holidays. Uh, Christmas naturally is the most important. That's 154 00:52:07.520 --> 00:52:23.920 the birth of our savior and Easter. That's when we celebrate the uh death, burial, and resurre resurrection of our savior Jesus Christ. But um but Fourth of July, you know, we celebrate our freedom, but it's it's you know, I I 155 00:52:23.920 --> 00:52:39.680 just hope people realize it's it wasn't free. There was a lot of people that that paved with their life for us to have the Fourth of July holiday. And um but it was just like I said, it was just very very special. Um, I just hope that 156 00:52:39.680 --> 00:52:54.960 um for our 275 that we still are a free nation cuz I I'll be honest, there's there's several things that I've seen that's struggling. Um, you know, the socialists, the communists coming on. Some of the things 157 00:52:54.960 --> 00:53:09.359 I've um that I've seen in America, I never thought I would see. Um, and just to run something by you, do you realize that Islam is the number one fastest growing religion in the United States of 158 00:53:09.359 --> 00:53:27.599 America? Islam. Muslim blows my mind. And uh, like I said, as much as I love America, the 4th of July, we just we we need to wake up America. We need to be careful. We need to put Jesus Christ first. 159 00:53:27.599 --> 00:53:43.520 That's what America was founded on. That's the only reason America is here is because of godly values. And um you know, and I'll just close with this, something to think about. I I can't remember exactly what he said, but Ronald Reagan said, "When we cease to 160 00:53:43.520 --> 00:53:59.680 become one nation under God, we will be a nation gone under." And um you know, think about that. You know, we in our pledge, we're one nation under God. But as soon as we take God out of that, we 161 00:53:59.680 --> 00:54:15.520 will be a nation gone under. And I just hope and pray that it doesn't happen in the next 25 years or even the next hundred years, 50 years. But uh it's something that, you know, I got grandkids. For myself, it's not gonna 162 00:54:15.520 --> 00:54:32.319 bother me, but for my grandkids, for your grandkids, you know, I hope America is as free as it is 50 or 75 years from now as it is now. Something we need to think about. So, that's all I got to say. 163 00:54:32.319 --> 00:54:47.839 >> Thank you, Commissioner. Mr. Splitter, I just want to congratulate you on being nominated for our district 6 for Florida Association of Counties, which covers Klay County, Elatchua County, Bradford, Gil, Cruz, Hamilton, 164 00:54:47.839 --> 00:55:07.599 there was a couple others, but uh by her peers, she was nominated to represent District 6 through the Florida Association of County. So again, CONGRATULATIONS. >> It's my pleasure and honor. I love my community. Um, and also, um, I commend 165 00:55:07.599 --> 00:55:22.880 Commissioner Dory. He's he's our chairperson and he's done an excellent job in facilitating the meetings there and helping to keep us informed. But I also want to just commend our our county, all of our departments working 166 00:55:22.880 --> 00:55:39.920 together. Um, um, the sheriff said, I would bother him too. it it but this year uh everything got done on time. We had a positive audit. Uh we didn't have to bug anybody, you know, about that. 167 00:55:39.920 --> 00:55:55.839 And so I just think that was just wonderful and we really appreciate that. And I just wanted to commend our um our emergency management uh services um and our fire rescue and the sheriff department working together. We've had a 168 00:55:55.839 --> 00:56:10.079 lot of fires, a lot of emergencies, and they're a jolly on the spot taking care of all of those things. Um, and so I I'm I'm thankful for that. And this um weekend we had a wonderful um 250th 169 00:56:10.079 --> 00:56:26.079 anniversary um celebration celebrating the 4th of July. But I wanted to to personally commend Mr. heater and the Kuanas groups and the city and everybody and all of the county entities working together, the fire department, the kids 170 00:56:26.079 --> 00:56:43.119 had a wonderful time. The community bed, they make sure the el the elderly, the people in the assisted living facilities and our nursing homes had a chance to see the parade. Um, and just remember too that uh it's still summer and keeping our kids safe 171 00:56:43.119 --> 00:56:59.119 and and having to look out for them. Um and I do hope uh that we can expand um our really our plight for our commerce 301 172 00:56:59.119 --> 00:57:15.440 commerce um building so that we can have a longlasting source of income for our community. So, I'm hoping that we will be able to get that building um leased um to bring in revenue for our community. 173 00:57:15.440 --> 00:57:25.799 And with that, um I want to thank everybody for being here and no further business. This meeting is adjourned.