[Music] [Music] [Music] [Music]
[Music]
Heat. Heat. [Music]
[Music] [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music]
[Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] [Music]
[Music] [Music] [Music]
Heat. Heat. [Music]
If you wish to speak to any item on the agenda or during the public comment portion of the meeting, please fill out a speaker card. Each person addressing the board shall have three minutes to complete his or her comments on each agenda item for which he or she has filled out a card. The chair has the
discretion to determine or alter the time limits on any agenda item. The board of county commissioners requests that speakers appearing under the public comment section of the agenda limit their comments or presentations to matters relating to county business that are within the board's control,
authority, and jurisdiction. Good evening. Welcome to the final budget hearing for the board of county commissioners. We have a quorum. I'll call the meeting to order. Tonight we have invocation provided by Pastor Lucas Almeida with Central Baptist Church of
Melbourne. Sir, you're recognized. Let's pray. Lord, I pray unto you, the triune God of the universe, who alone has immortality, who reigns through Christ above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not
only in this age, but also in the age to come. We recognize your power and your wisdom in establishing order among men. One of the means by which you carry out your purposes on earth is through the civil magistrates. You have entrusted leaders with a solemn responsibility of
upholding justice, protecting the vulnerable, and pursuing the good of the people they serve. Father, I pray for the Brevard board of county commissioners gathered here today. I thank you for their willingness to serve
and for the sacrifices they take upon their office. I ask that you would grant them discernment as they wait complex matters, humility as they listen to one another, and courage to do what is right and just. May their may their
decision promote the well-being of every resident in this county. Lord, whether they acknowledge the lordship of Christ or not, your words declare that no authority exists apart from what you have granted. I pray that they would be
mindful of this reality that all power is entrusted never owned and all of us from the greatest to the least if we exercise any authority on earth are mere stewards of the authority that is native to you and not to ourselves.
Father we are thankful that we don't just learn about authority in your word but perfect authority is demonstrated to us in the person of your son Jesus Christ. In Christ, we see the perfect model of leadership. Not not self-seeking, but self-giving, not doineering, but
serving. Through his death, he brought life. Through his sacrifice, he bore the punishment not of his own sins, but of those who would trust in him. And through his resurrection, death is defeated so that all who come to him might live. Father, I thank you for a
faith that leads to human flourishing. I pray that this commission would reflect the same concern that they would uphold the dignity of every person, guard the sanctity of life, preserve the freedom of conscience and worship and seek the welfare of the poor, the widows and the
orphans in our midst. And Lord, I pray not only for the Bvard County, but also for our nation. In recent days, we have seen how fragile life is and how quickly division can wound us. We grieve the violence in our land and the strife that
tears us apart. We pray the government would exercise their power, the power of the sword to punish wicked wickedness without fear. Father, it is undeniable that this nation was founded upon principles drawn from your word. But we
have removed ourselves from Christian morality to a degree that our origins are often unrecognizable. Father, we know that we will not truly prosper unless we turn again to Christ. We ask that through Christ, you would heal our divisions, restore civility
among our people, and grant the righteousness rather than grant his righteousness rather than pride or power. And that this would exalt our nation. Father, let Bvard County be known as a place where the rights first endowed to us by our creator are
honored, protected, and promoted. Let it be a place where justice is done, mercy is shown, and your truth is not silenced. And may every person here come to know that there is a God in heaven who loves his creation. He's willing to
save and redeem all those who come to him through Jesus Christ. I pray these things in the name of your son. Amen. Thank you. Thank you very much, Commissioner Atinson for the pledge.
I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Okay, commissioners, we will go
immediately to item D1. Jim, thank you, Mr. Chair. Commissioners, item D1 allows for the reading of the tenative aggregate operating millage to fund the portion of the fiscal year 2025 2026 budget that is supported by property taxes. At this time, I would
ask that the budget office read into the record the tentative aggregate millage rate for the fiscal year 2025 2026. The aggregate tenative millage rate for the fiscal year 2025 2026 budget is 4.5129 mills. This represents a 5.43%
increase from the aggregate rolled back millage rate of 4.2806 mills. The tenative aggregate millage rate represents a 1.66% increase when compared to the current fiscal year 2024 2025 aggregate millage rate of 4.4390.
Commissioners, as a tenative mill have been adopted at rates required to fund the board priorities, including public safety, specifically for the fire rescue wage package, as well as higher funding requirements for constitutional officer budgets, along with an increase in the mandatory Medicaid contribution to the state and other operational
requirements. Additionally, this includes an increase in voter approved millages for the fire control MSTU and parks and recreation millages. And agenda item D2, the board will hear comments from the public and then discuss the millages and associated revenue and agenda item D3.
Okay, commissioners, there's no vote on this one. We'll go to D2. And would you got the script, sir? Uh, thank you, Mr. Chairman. Item D2 allows for public comment to comment on the county budget
for fiscal year 2025 2026. Before we begin public comment, I would ask the budget office read into the record the fiscal year 2025 2026 budget. The fiscal year 2025 2026 budget is 2 bill510,399,81. This budget represents an increase of
189,967,259 or 8.19% more than the fiscal year 2024 2025 current budget of 2 bill320,432,542. Commissioners, we are now ready to accept public comment on the budget for fiscal year 2526. Okay. I have a card for Mark Willam.
Will him. Good evening. My name is Mark Wilhelm. I have been a Bvard County resident for 55 years. I live in the Coco area, but I'm a resident of the county. I would like to comment on the 4% wage increase for the higher paid county
employees. As a retired automotive technician after 45 years of service, I would seldom get a pay raise, sometimes as long as five years or more, and would have to state my case for a raise, even though I was very qualified at what I did as a master technician.
It has always bothered me that government employees get annual raises regardless of whether they earn them, and we all know that is not always the case, but they get them anyway. The employees at the lower part of the pay scale may deserve and probably need a 4%
raise. Some someone making $50,000 a year would get a $2,000 raise, while somebody at the top of the pay scale would get nearly 14,000 even though their salary is 669%
higher than the median income in Bvard County according to govsaries.com. Again, according to gov salaries.com, there are 22 county employees that make over $150,000 a year.
Business as usual and spending taxpayers money needs to be reigned in. With government, those that make the financial decisions are used to the big numbers. So, a piddly $14,000 pay raise is just a drop in the bucket. But those
drops fill up the bucket quickly, like a leaky faucet runs up your water bill. I believe that most of the commissioners, just like most politicians, are more concerned about getting reelected or moving up and not what
their constituents need or want. Voters like me are waking up to what is going on and starting to speak up. What we need are more commissioners like mine from District 1, Katie Delaney. Commissioner Delaney is willing to put
in the time and effort to support those that voted her into position as well as all other county residents. Commissioner Delaney knows where the money is going and why. Sometimes much to her chagrin. How about following her example and join
her in the fight for financial responsibility. Thank you. Thank you. Okay, commissioners. That was the only card that we have. Um Jim sir
uh commissioner since the board must adopt the millages and related budgets separately comments and motions concerning individual tax levies can also be made at the time each millich is adopted you want I'll keep going if you is there discussion at this time
is um is this where we would be talking about possible amendments to the budget or is this just milliges? Um so at this time uh the the board
would need to vote on the individual millages. Um you can have discussion on each of those individual millages. The millages must be adopted before you adopt the budget. Okay. Thank you.
Okay. So, we're going to go to D3 then. Thank you, Mr. Chair, chairman. Uh, item D3 allows for public comment, discussion, and adoption of the final millages for fiscal year 2025 2026. There are any public comments on D3. Now would be appropriate time to hear those
comments. I don't think I have a card on D3. I think the gentleman who was up here wanted to talk possibly on number four also. No, sir. Okay. Okay. Um, I don't have cards on that. I got Okay, I got a couple more
paragraphs for you, commissioners. Okay. Uh, the table included in this agenda report reflects the milit rates tentatively adopted by the board at the first public budget hearing. In accordance with Florida statutes, the Florida Department of Revenue has prescribed forms and instructions to calculate the maximum levies for counties and independent special
districts. Attachment A in the agenda provides the do prescribed requirements for simple majority, supermajority and unanimous votes. The final adoption of the milit rates must follow statutory approval thresholds as provided by do. The milit rates adopted by the board will determine the amount of revenue to
be allocated by the board within those respective uh taxing districts. So at uh at this point the budget office personnel will now read in the record the millillage and related advalorum revenue for each tax and authority following the reading of each tax levy. It is recommended the chair entertain a
motion for the approval of that millillage. If there are any changes to the mil rates under this item that will affect the aggregate milage rate uh the staff will recomputee and then announce that under D4. Okay. All right. The first millillage is the
Bvard County BCC operating millage. And the Bvard County BCC operating fiscal year 2025 2026 millillage is 2.8643 which is a 3.39% change from the rolled back millillage of 2.7703
generating 28,618,399. Okay. And we're going to do a motion on every single item. Okay. Is there a motion on the operating millillage? So moved. Have a second. Motion by Commissioner Goodson. Second
by Commissioner Alman. Clerk will call the role. Commissioner Delaney? No. Chairman Oh, sorry. Vice Chair Goodson. Yes. Commissioner Atkinson, yes. Commissioner Alman, yes. Chairman Felner,
yes. We'll show that passes 41. All right. The Bvard County Free Public Library District fiscal year 2025 2026 millillage is 0.3242 which is a 2.24% change from the rolled back millage of 0.3171
generating 23,725,382. Is there a motion for the library district? So moved. Second. Have a motion by Commissioner Atinson. Have a second by Commissioner Alman. Clerk will call the role. Commissioner Delaney, no. Vice Chair Goodson,
yes. Commissioner Atkinson, yes. Commissioner Alman, yes. Chairman Felner, yes. We'll show that passes 41. The Bvard County Mosquito Control District fiscal year 2025 2026
millillage is 0.1340, which is a 2.21% 21% change from the rolled back millillage of 0.1311 generating 9,86,296. Okay. Is there a motion? Motion for mosquito control. Motion by Commissioner Atinson. Second by
Commissioner Alman. Clerk will call the role. Commissioner Delaney? No. Vice Chair Goodson? Yes. Commissioner Atkinson? Yes. Commissioner Alman? Yes. Chairman Felner? Yes. We'll show that passes 41.
All right. The recreation district 1 fiscal year 2025 2026 millillage is 0.4173 which is a 2.81% change from the rolled back millage of 0.459 generating 3,747,916.
Okay. Is there a motion for the recreation district? So moved. Second. I have a motion by Commissioner Goodson. I have a second by Commissioner Atinson. Clerk will call the RO. Commissioner Delaney, no. Vice Chair Goodson, yes.
Commissioner Atkinson, yes. Commissioner Alman, yes. Chairman Felner, yes. We'll show that passes 41. The Recreation Special District Operations and Maintenance District 4 fiscal year 2025 2026 millage is 0.4948,
4948, which is a 0.98% change from the rolled back millillage of 0.49, generating 3,685,794. Okay. Is there a motion for the recreation special district, operations, and maintenance?
I'll I'll make the motion. It's fine. Second. Okay. Motion by the chair, second by Commissioner Atinson. Clerk will call the role. Commissioner Delaney. No. Vice Chair Goodson, yes. Commissioner Atkinson, yes. Commissioner Alman, yes.
Chairman Felner, yes. We'll show that passes 41. All right. The Titusville Cocoa Airport Authority fiscal year 2025 2026 mill is zero, which is no change from the roll back millage of zero generating 0.
Do we need a motion on that? Yeah. Okay. Uh is there got a motion by Commissioner Atinson? I have a second by Commissioner Delaney. Clerk will call the role. Commissioner Delaney, yes. Vice Chair Goodson, yes. Commissioner Atkinson,
yes. Commissioner Alman, yes. Chairman Felner, yes. We'll show that passes 50. The law enforcement fiscal year 2025 2026 millillage is 0.8531, which is a 1.96% change from the rolled back millage of
0.8367 8367 generating 27,155,020. Is there a motion for the law enforcement? Have a motion by Commissioner Goodson. Is there a second? Second. Second by Commissioner Alman. Clerk will call the role. Commissioner Delaney. Yes.
Vice Chair Goodson. Yes. Commissioner Atkinson. Yes. Commissioner Alman. Yes. Chairman Felner. Yes. We'll show that passes 5-0. All right. The road bridge maintenance D1 MSTU fiscal year 2025 2026 millillage
is 0.4863 which is a 2.83% change from the rolled back millillage of 0.4729 generating 2,791,249. So moved. Second. I have a motion by Commissioner Delaney.
I have a second by Commissioner Alman. Clerk will call the role. Commissioner Delaney, yes. Vice Chair Goodson, yes. Commissioner Atkinson, yes. Commissioner Alman, yes. Chairman Felner, yes. We'll show that passes 5-0.
The road and bridge maintenance district 2 MSTU fiscal year 2025 2026 millillage is 0.1648 which is a negative0.54% change from the rolled back millillage of 0.1657
generating 1,286,638. Okay. Is there a motion for the D2 road and bridge maintenance? So move, Mr. Chair. I have a motion by Commissioner Alman. Second. A second by Commissioner Atinson. Clerk will call the role. Commissioner Delaney.
Yes. Vice Chair Goodson. Yes. Commissioner Atkinson. Yes. Commissioner Alman. Yes. Chairman Felner. Yes. And we'll show that passes. 50. All right. All right. The road bridge
maintenance D3 MSTU's fiscal year 2025 2026 millillage is 0.1855 which is a 2.66% change from the rolled back millillage of 0.1807 generating 623,688.
Okay. Is there a motion for the D3 road and bridge maintenance? So moved. A motion by Commissioner Atinson. I have a second by Commissioner Alman. Clerk will call the RO. Commissioner Delaney. Yes. Vice Chair Goodson. Yes. Commissioner Atkinson. Yes. Commissioner Alman.
Yes. Chairman Felner. Yes. We'll show that passes 5. The road and bridge maintenance district 4 MSTU fiscal year 2025 2026 millillage is 0.2176 which is a 2.5% change from the rolled
back millillage of 0.2123 generating $2,145,624. Okay, I'll make a motion for this one. Commissioners, is there a second? Second. Motion by the chair, second by Commissioner Atinson. Clerk will call the role. Commissioner Delaney? Yes.
Vice Chair Goodson? Yes. Commissioner Atkinson? Yes. Commissioner Alman? Yes. Chairman Felner? Yes. And we'll show that passes 50. The road and bridge maintenance D5 MSTU fiscal year 2025 2026 millage is 0.2887,
2887 which is a 2.70% change from the roll back millillage of 0.2811 generating 726,700. So move have a motion by Commissioner Altman. Second. Have a second by Commissioner Atinson.
Clerk will call the role. Commissioner Delaney. Yes. Vice Chair Goodson. Yes. Commissioner Atkinson. Yes. Commissioner Alman. Yes. Chairman Feldman. Yes. And we'll show that passes 5-0. The road and bridge district 4 north
beach's MSTU fiscal year 2025 2026 millillage is 0.1842 which is a 2.79% change from the rolled back millillage of 0.1792 generating $186,848. Is there a motion for the North Beaches
MSTU? So moved. Motion by Commissioner Atinson, second by Commissioner Altman. Clerk will call the role. Commissioner Delaney, yes. Vice Chair Goodson, yes. Commissioner Atkinson, yes. Commissioner Alman, yes. Chairman Felner,
yes. We'll show that passes 50. The road and bridge maintenance D4 Merit Island South MSTU fiscal year 2025 2026 millillage is 0.0964, which is a 2.88% change from the rolled
back millillage of 0.0937, 0937 generating 20 $27,253. I'll make a motion for this one. Commissioners, is there a second? Second. Okay. Motion by the chair. Have a second by Commissioner Atinson. Clerk will call the role.
Commissioner Delaney. Yes. Vice Chair Goodson. Yes. Commissioner Atkinson, yes. Commissioner Alman, yes. Chairman Felner, yes. We'll show that passes. 5-0. The environmentally endangered lands
2024 fiscal year 2025 2026 millillage is 0.0458 which is a 2.23% change from the rolled back millillage of 0.0448 generating 3,351,74. Is there a motion for the eels? So move second.
Have a motion by Commissioner Altman, a second by Commissioner Delaney. Clerk will call the role. Commissioner Delaney. Yes. Vice Chair Goodson. Yes. Commissioner Atkinson. Yes. Commissioner Alman. Yes. Chairman Felner. Yes. We'll show that passes 5-0.
Okay. And these are for the debt service millages. The first one is the North Bard Recreation Special Special District voted debt fiscal year 2025 2026 millillage is 0.0808 generating $476,917.
Okay. Is there a motion for North Bard Special District voted debt? So moved. I have a motion by Commissioner Goodson. Second. I have a second by Commissioner Alman. Clerk will call the role. Commissioner Delaney? No.
Vice Chair Goodson? Yes. Commissioner Atkinson? Yes. Commissioner Alman? Yes. Chairman Felner? Yes. We'll show that passes 41. The Merit Island Recreation voted debt
fiscal year 2025 2026 millillage is zero generating zero dollars. Is there a motion for the Merit Island? So moved. Voted debt. Motion by Commissioner Goodson. I have a second by Commissioner Alman. Clerk will call the role. Commissioner Delaney.
Yes. Vice Chair Goodson. Yes. Commissioner Atkinson. Yes. Commissioner Alman. Yes. Chairman Felner. Yes. And show that passes 5-0. The South Bard Recreation Special Special District voted that fiscal year
2025 2026 millillage is $0 gener or zero generating $0. Is there have a motion by Commissioner Atinson? Second. I have a second by Commissioner Alman. Clerk will call the role. Commissioner Delaney.
Yes. Vice Chair Goodson. Yes. Commissioner Atkinson, yes. Commissioner Alman, yes. Chairman Felner. Yes. And show that passes 5-0. Okay. These are for voter approved millages as tenatively uh tenatively
adopted. The following two millages require a majority approval to adopt the rates tenatively set at the first public hearing. And we'll get into the first one. The environmentally endangered lands voted debt 2024 fiscal year 2025 2026 millillage is 0.0275
generating $2,14,042. Is there a motion for the eels voted debt? So moved. Second. Motion by Commissioner Alman. I have a second by Commissioner Delaney. Clerk will call the role. Commissioner Delaney? Yes. Vice Chair Goodson? Yes. Commissioner Atkinson?
Yes. Commissioner Alman? Yes. Chairman Felner? Yes. Show that passes 5. The fire control MSTU fiscal year 2025 2026 millillage is 0.6431 6431 which is a 35.39%
change from the rolled back millillage of 0.4750 generating 22,364,632. So moved. Have a motion by have a motion by Commissioner Delaney. Have a second by Commissioner Alman. Clerk will call the role.
Commissioner Delaney. Yes. Vice Chair Goodson. Yes. Commissioner Atkinson. Yes. Commissioner Alman. Yes. Chairman Felman. Yes. We'll show that passes 5-0. The following millillage requires a supermajority to adopt the rate tenatively set at the first public
hearing. Uh this is the South Bard Special Recreation District in the fiscal year 2025 2026 mill000 which is a 44.09% change from the roll back millillage of 0.2082 generating $13,75,35.
Is there a motion for the South Bard Special Recreation District? So moved. Second. I have a motion by Commissioner Atinson. I have a second by Commissioner Alman. Clerk will call the role. Commissioner Delaney, no. Vice Chair Goodson, yes.
Commissioner Atkinson, yes. Commissioner Alman, yes. Chairman Felton, yes. We'll show that passes 41. All right. The following three millages require unanimous votes to adopt the rates tenatively set at the first public hearing. Uh the first one is going to be for the Merit Island Recreation MSTU.
The fiscal year 2025 2026 millillage is 0.400 which is a 74.06% change from the rolled back millage of 0.2298 generating 2,49,689. Okay. Is there I have a motion by
Commissioner Goodson. I have a second by Commissioner Alman. Clerk will call the role. Commissioner Delaney, no. Vice Chair Goodson, yes. Commissioner Atkinson, yes. Commissioner Alman, yes. Chairman Felner,
yes. And that's 401 commissioners, we need a unanimous vote or so. Is there I understand that fails. Is there an alternative? uh millillage and commissioners. Uh for a super
majority approval, the highest mill you could go for the Merit Island Recreation MSTU is 0.3508. That would generate um sorry, hold on one second.
Generate 2 million uh 1113,298. Commissioner Goodson, you have uh thoughts on that issue? Yes, sir. Motion for approval on that reduced. Second it. Okay. On the millillage that he just
read off. Yep. I have a motion by Commissioner Goodson. I have a second by Commissioner Alman. Clerk will call the role. Commissioner Delaney? No. Vice Chair Goodson? Yes. Commissioner Atkinson? Yes. Commissioner Altman? Yes. Chairman Felner?
Yes. and we'll show that passes 41. All right, the next one is the North Bard Recreation Special District in the fiscal year 2025 2026 millillage is 0.3138 which is a 99.62% change from the rolled back millillage
of 0.1572 generating 1,852,185. I um to save us some time I just wanted to mention I'm not going to be supporting these. So, if whoever makes the motion um wants to use a different number, I just
figured I'd mention that. Do you have alternative numbers then, Commissioner? Um well, I have the the sheet in our agenda that says what they could be, but um I don't really want to pick a number.
Okay. On page 12. I mean, I I think we have to have a number. Um, can I make a motion? Um, correct me if I'm doing this incorrectly. Um, for the Port St. John, Canaveral Groves
Recreation District of 0.3138. That's my motion. Well, okay. Say that one more I think uh for for that one the super majority max I think for the Port St. John is the 0.3572
rather than the uh 0.3138. Am I looking at the wrong one? He says correct. Can you tell me which one that was again? Uh 3.3572. I apologize. I misread the line too. 3 point. It's not 3 point 3572.
3572. Let's just read that one again from from scratch with that. Okay. Okay. Just uh so we'll just uh for the Port St. John Canaveral Groves recreation fiscal year 2025 2026 millillage is 0.3572
which is a 40.74% change from the rolled back millillage of 0.2538 generating $856,710. So moved. Second. I have a motion by Commissioner Atkinson. Have a second by Commissioner Alman. Clerk will call the role.
Commissioner Delaney, no. Vice Chair Goodson, yes. Commissioner Atkinson, yes. Commissioner Alman, yes. Chairman Felner, yes. We'll show that passes 401. Now, was there one in there? Yeah, there's one more. Okay. Um, and
I'm going to read the super uh super majority one for the North Bard Recreation Special District. The fiscal year 2025 2026 millage is 0.3138 which is a 99.62% change from the rollback millage of 0.1572
generating1,852,185. Um and that is the we need five votes for that number. That's four. Oh, that's the Okay, that's the four. Okay. Um okay. Is there a motion on that millillage. I move
have a motion by Commissioner Alman. Is there a second? Second. Second by Commissioner Atinson. Clerk will call the role. Commissioner Delaney? No. Vice Chair Goodson? Yes. Commissioner Atkinson? Yes. Commissioner Alman?
Yes. Chairman Felner? Yes. We'll show that passes 41. Okay. So let me get sure. Uh commissioners, the budget office will announce the recmputed aggregate mileage and the change represented by the recmputed
millage from the aggregate roll back military roll back millage. We'd ask for a short break to make sure that we have our math correct. Read that out. What What do we need to do that? You need guys need 10 minutes. Yeah, if possible. Five. We should be pretty quick. Shouldn't be 10 minutes. Should be five. Take five minutes. All
right, let's take five minute breaks. Thanks. [Music] [Music]
[Music]
Hallelujah. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music]
[Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] [Music] [Music]
Hey. Hey. Hey. [Music] [Music]
[Music] Heat. Heat.
[Music]
[Music] Heat. Heat. [Music]
[Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] You are. [Music]
Heat. Heat. [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] Okay, commissioners, I think uh budget
office has got revised number for us. Go ahead, Keith. So for the revisions that happened earlier, the aggregate millage rate for the fiscal year 2025 2026 budget is 4.5053 mills. This represents a 5.25% change
from the aggregate rolled back rate of 4.2806. Okay. Do we need do we need to vote? I um was wondering if I could just talk about um salaries. Um, I talked about it a bit at the last
meeting and um, the last budget hearing and I'm having trouble with the the rate of our salaries growing and growing and growing and when will be the the um,
where's the ceiling or are we just going to perpetually grow our our high-end salaries at 4% every from now until whenever. Um, for the employees that are making
120,000 and above, we've got about 46. Um, and they're at 4%. We're talking a $4,800 to a just under $14,000 raise. Um, it's just difficult for me to to be okay
with this. And I I didn't mean to leave this to the last second, but I just kept being told, "Oh, now's not the time to talk about it. Now's not the time to talk about it." And here we are now passing a budget. And um I didn't know if
there was some room here to you know from 200 what I would like to see personally is from 120,000 to 250 a 2% raise and then 250 and above a pay freeze.
Um, and that being said, it, you know, I I don't think that it's um wrong to ask somebody making 250,000 or above to not expect a yearly raise, especially when they work for the government.
Um, we have a lot of people in this county that don't even make half that. and um you know the the money has to come from somewhere. We're raising taxes you know quite a bit and you know
obviously we have other needs in the community um to where this money uh could be spent or our taxpayers wouldn't have to have such a a increase in their taxes. Um, so I'd like to make a motion to
amend the uh salaries for 120,000 to 250,000 to get a uh 2% raise and then 250,000 and above
to get a 0% raise. Uh, hold on. Did you want to say something? I have a question. Okay. Uh, hold on, sir. Commissioner Atinson, for a question. Commissioner Delaney, I'm wondering how how did you decide that 120? Sorry. How did you decide that 120 was the number
you were going to start at and not 100 or 95 or 120 encompassed most of our director level and above? So, the people with the most responsibility. Well, right. But they're not It's not that they're not getting any kind of
raise. They're still getting a pretty sizable raise. 20 $2400 for a raise is a pretty good um bump. I mean, I know uh people who work out at the space center building rockets who get less of a raise than that per year.
Commissioner Goodson, sir, for a question. Um you spoke about raising taxes and if I'm not mistaken, you have originally wanted 73% increase in the fire assessment fee. No, sir. I'm sorry. You didn't What I What I said was that I wanted the
public input. I wanted to put out there to the to the county as high as we could so that we could get the public input to see where that percentage would would fall. Well, forgive me. Then you proposed the
gasoline tax, correct? So, it sounds like you're the only one wanting to raise taxes. The rest of her are sitting here saying, "Make it a referendum. You got a this, you 37%." Uh, the gas tax would be separate. It would be I know it's totally separate, man.
Let's Let's go. That's a user fee. It's not a tax. It's, you know, it's You tell that to somebody on fixed income. Well, sir, in your business, did you give people a 4% raise every employee in your company? Yeah. Every year?
I don't know. I can't recall. I don't do raises. Okay. Any other any other question or comment on that item? Okay. I don't hear a second on that. What was was there something still that
we need to do on this item? I just I want to I want to make sure that I'm not missing something here. Okay. Yeah. Um, commissioners, the budget office will read into the record the resolution establishing the county's final millages for fiscal year 2025 2026. Following the
reading of the resolution is recommended that the chair chairman entertain a motion for the approval of the resolution. A resolution to adopt final millages pursuant to chapter 200 Florida statutes authorizing the board of county commissioners to adopt final millages
for fiscal year 2025 2026 and providing an effective date. Board of County Commissioners, Bvard County, Florida, as taxing authority for taxing entities identified in exhibit A, which is attached here too and made a part here of by this reference, does hereby levy the millages specified in exhibit A, and
does hereby state the percent by which the aggregate millillage to be levied is a change from the rolled back aggregate mill. Okay. Is there a motion to approve the resolution? So, Mr. Mhm. I have a motion by Commissioner Alman.
Is there a second? Second. I think I have a second by Commissioner Goodson. Clerk will call the role. Commissioner Delaney? No. Vice Chair Goodson? Yes. Commissioner Atkinson? Yes. Commissioner Alman?
Yes. Chairman Felner? Yes. Make sure that passes 41. Okay. Now we're going to D4. Right. Mr. Chairman, commissioners, for I agenda item D4, the budget office will
read into the record the resolution adopting the county's total budget for FY 20252026. Finally, a reading of the resolution is recommended the chairman entertain a motion for approval of the resolution. A resolution to adopt a final budget
pursuant to chapter 200 Florida statutes authorizing the board of county commissioners to adopt the final operating and capital budget for fiscal year 2025 2026 and providing for an effective date. The board of county commissioners, Bvard County, Florida, as taxing and governing authority does hereby adopt an operating and capital
budget for the fiscal year beginning October 1st, 2025 and ending September 30th, 2026 in the amount of 2 bill59,876,55. And that's what the change that we did. Okay. Okay. Is there a motion on
the resolution? Motion to approve the resolution. Have a motion by Commissioner Atinson. Have a second by Commissioner Alman. Clerk will call the role. Commissioner Delaney. No. Vice Chair Goodson. Yes. Commissioner Atkinson. Yes. Commissioner Alman. Yes.
Chairman Felton. Yes. We'll show that passes 41. I'm going to D5. Mr. Chairman, commissioners, item D5 requests that the board adopt the attached resolutions establishing final millages for fiscal year 2025 2026 for
those depart dependent special taxing districts for which the county levies a millillage and authorizes the chair to sign the resolutions. Florida statute 2000.065 065 allows the board to adopt tax levies for all dependent special taxing districts by a single vote unless
separate votes are requested by a member of the public or a commissioner. Okay. And we can now we can vote on this as one item. That is correct, Mr. Chairman. Okay. All right. Is there a motion for
the uh dependent special taxing districts? So moved. Second. I have a motion by Commissioner Gooden. I have a second by Commissioner Alman. Clerk will call the role. Commissioner Delaney. No. Vice Chair Goodson. Yes. Commissioner Atkinson. Yes.
Commissioner Alman. Yes. Chairman Felman. Yes. We'll show that one. 41. Go to D6. Mr. Chairman, commissioners. Item D6 requests that the board adopt the attached resolutions adopting the final
budgets for fiscal year 2025 2026 for the county's dependent special districts and authorize the chairman to sign the resolutions. Florida statute 2000.065 065 allows the board to adopt the budget for all dependent special taxing districts by a single vote unless
separate votes are requested by a member of the public or a commissioner. Okay, we can vote on this as one item, right? Yes, that is correct. Mr. Commissioners, is there a motion on the item? Some move, Mr. Chairman.
Okay. I have a motion by Commissioner Alman. Second. I have a second by Commissioner Atkinson. Clerk will call the RO. Commissioner Delaney, yes. Vice Chair Goodson, yes. Commissioner Atkinson, yes. Commissioner Alman, yes. Chairman Felman,
yes. And we'll show that passes 50. We'll go to D7. Mr. Chairman, Commissioners, item D7. Sorry. Mr. Chairman, Commissioners, item D7 requests that the chair entertain a motion to authorize the county manager or designate to execute all letters and
exhibits necessary to establish the that Bvard County has complied with Florida uh sections 200065 and 218.63 Florida statutes the truth and millillage law. Okay, commissioners. Um is there a
motion for the trim compliance forms? So moved. Have a motion by Commissioner Atinson. Have a second by Commissioner Alman. Clerk will call the role. Commissioner Delaney. Yes. Vice Chair Goodson. Yes. Commissioner Atkinson. Yes. Commissioner Alman. Yes.
Chairman Felner. Yes. We'll show that one. Passes. 50. We'll go on to new business. Right. Ewan. Okay. Comm. Mr. Chair, if I can jump in. This is just a so we can beat Joe coming
up here. They were asking approval to authorize the chairman to sign the state of Florida annual certified budget for the anthropod control. You've seen it a couple times. Now that you've adopted the budget, we have to resubmit the forms. I see Joe in the box, sir.
Yep. Good evening. Um so, uh Mosquito Control's final uh budget was just approved in item D6. So we request here in this item uh that the board authorize the chairman to approve and sign the same budget uh but on the state form uh
so that we can submit it to the Florida Department of Agriculture. This is required by Florida statute to maintain our status as a um certified mosquito control district. Okay. Any questions for Joe? No, I don't have any cards on this.
Commissioners, any discussion on this item? No. Is there a motion? So move, Mr. Okay. Have a chair by commission. Have a motion by Commissioner Alman. Is there a second? Second. I have a second by Commissioner
Atkinson. Clerk will call the role. Commissioner Delaney? Yes. Vice Chair Goodson? Yes. Commissioner Atkinson? Yes. Commissioner Alman? Yes. Chairman Felner? Yes. We'll show that one passes. 50.
Okay. Commissioners, we'll go to board reports. Mr. County Manager. Boy, I want to, but no, no board report. Okay, Mr. County Attorney,
no report, Mr. Sher. Okay. Commissioner Delane, I just um wanted to have a a short discussion about um the way that we did the budget this year. And I'm I'm hoping that next year when we when we do this
um I kind of felt like it was very uh that there wasn't a lot of collaboration between the board. And honestly, I don't know what your guys's priorities are for
your districts. And if we have a budget workshop next year, which I'm hoping we do, I I'm hoping we can kind of make more of the discussion be amongst us and what our visions are for our districts,
what what our vision is for the community as a whole. Um because I felt like this year it was just very much um here's what it is and just we go forward from there. And uh
you know I just kind of feel like us as a board, our people elected us to deliberate with each other and and whatnot. And I would just really love to see uh a little bit more of that and to work with y'all. Yield me a minute.
I'm sorry. You'll yield me a minute. Sure. Uh I thought the budget workshops were very good. I don't I I had no I thought the staff did an amazing job. I've said that many times, so I I'll say that again. Um and uh Joe already left the box, but
um very informative. I think we we all felt that. Um we learned a lot about mosquito control um when he was there. Uh I think we had four separate budget workshops. Uh it's my recollection and um certainly we
could have given staff um some direction as at the end of the workshop. So I think probably a lesson learned um from that is to leave us a little more time at the end of each each of those
workshops. And also I think we uh came to understand now this is this is no fault of anyone just it's a lot of information. Um you know there there were quite lengthy presentations. I mean I think uh public works is a whole day
by itself. Sorry commander but uh I I think you I think you need a whole day by yourself. Um I think parks probably could use half a day. Um I think um natural resources could probably have the other half of the day. So I think probably two budget
workshops just for those three departments. Do you see that the same way? Oh yeah, definitely. So uh given all of that, um I think if we take all that into consideration when planning for the the next year and leave ourselves some time at the end for
discussion, um I I would go there with you. So I think I think that's good point. Thanks. I appreciate it. All right. Um, do you have anything else in board report? No. Okay. Uh, Commissioner Goodson, sir. In board report?
No, sir. No. Commissioner Atinson, no report? No. Okay. Uh, Commissioner Alman. Um, just a little comment in relation to our deliberation on the budget. Uh, this is my ninth budget. I think we spent
probably more time on the budget document than any of the other eight. How many days of budget workshops did we have? We had four. Was it four days? Seems like more than four. Um, four pretty much big part of the day. And I
think what I pulled from that and so we kind of sense where I I I'm coming from. I was extremely impressed with the staff's work and their level of knowledge and their handle on the needs of Boulevard County uh programs and
funding and priorities. And you know uh we're only as good as our staff and our staff has done a great job. So my my thought was the staff has done a good job in prepping us with a a a really good budget and my my desire was to
support them and encourage them to continue to that's why we hire them. They live, eat, sleep, drink their job. That's all they do full-time, very specialized in their area. And so I I felt very very good about the workshops and the information that we have had in
the direction we've gone. So, it's been a phenomenal budget process. Probably one of the smoother ones that I've been a part of, believe it or not. Um, and also I think the the fire issue took a lot of air out of the room, took a lot of our energy. We probably would have
had more dialogue on some of the other issues, but that was such a mammoth task that we had to overcome. I know it took a lot of my personal energy and I think and we achieved it and um and so I
incredibly successful budget year and I'm I'm happy with what we've done and very proud of this board taking some very uh statesmanlike positions in what I think is in the best interest of the people of Ro Boulevard and our economic well-being as well as
our quality of life. So, kados to this board and this staff and a successful budget year. This is not an easy process and um very honored to be a part of it. Appreciate that, Commissioner. Um I'll
just say as we we wrap this up, I appreciate all the staff. We've had lots of meetings, a lot of information. Um we couldn't get through this without you. So, I appreciate every one of you very much. I appreciate you letting me showing up in your office, too. Um,
everybody's very gracious about that and and taking phone calls and all all the rest of it. Um, chair, if I could. Sure. I forgot um one thing. Um, I uh have had a lot of people reach out to me about um possibly
the county writing a letter to the FAA about uh the starship and the impacts that it'll have on North Bard. And if the board isn't willing to do that, then um I said that I would do it on my own,
but I figured I would um see if if the county uh would like to partner on that. Um now, how timely is this? Because our next regular meeting, is it the 15th or the 14th?
Can't remember off top of my head. October 14th. They just extended the deadline for comments too, right? Do you know off top of your head, John? Yeah. Yeah. I was trying to look an email. I just saw an email earlier today. So, so what's the timeliness on on that
or or who is it to? Do you um FA? Oh, okay. You said the FA. I'm sorry. Um, is that now is that to get ahead of some rule making or regulation that's that's coming or improving their um the the launch the
amount of launches for SpaceX for the Starship? Okay. Um, is that something that I mean is that timely that we have it on for the next board second? Can can we do that at a
zoning meeting? I don't see why we couldn't I on on the board has to vote by supermajority to place it on that meeting because it's a non-zoning item. And and the deadline September they extended the deadline for comments to September 29th.
September 20th. Yeah. 29th. 29th. Scott saved me. Yes. Okay. Commissioner, I don't know how we get that be before the board. Um right. I Well, I have a question, Mr. Chairman.
Sir, you're the space expert. Maybe you can help us out here. Yeah, I the more more rockets launched and the bigger the better. I I I fully support what SpaceX was trying to do and I hope I would I tend the public
hearing. It was interesting. It was a lot different than our public hearings, though. Wasn't you weren't even allowed to talk. And it it was interesting. I think they had like spe individuals that you could talk to privately or it was interesting.
Nevertheless, um I I have a strong feeling that we were created as a as a community to launch large rockets. You know, von Braun had the vision of three VABs and bigger rockets than the Saturn 5. And what makes us unique is the
ability to launch large rockets. You know, a lot of people are launching rockets. They launch them in Virginia, then Texas and New Mexico and Quadrulan and all over. Um and um but what they have a hard time doing is launching big
rockets because we're so uniquely uh located for that with our infrastructure with our geographic location. So if we if we're going to survive as a space coast, I think I think we need to support this effort to
to launch large rockets. And um I know I spoke with the SpaceX rep at one of the hearings and they were very optimistic that as the the Starship launches and becomes more and more reliable that these clear zones will shrink, they'll
get smaller. Uh hopefully there won't be the closures the beach that closures that we had. And gosh, I remember when last time I was on the commission a long time ago, Chimman, you may have been born. I don't know. That's not true, sir. I appreciate
it. But anyway, I have grandchildren. We we uh we lobbyed Congress to build a new road because the shuttle was going to close Playland Linda Beach and we were able to get a new road built. That road's going to help limit the closures and I noticed the closures were only
going to be for a few hours. And so anyway, it's good for us to have discussion. I know we may have different opinions. We all could write individual letters, but that's kind of where I how I feel about it. And that's okay with me. I don't mind um
you know, writing on on behalf of my district. And um you know, for me, it's while I of course I support, you know, the space industry, I I just really feel like there should be some balance between you know, the quality of life and supporting um you know, this this
industry that's so important to our community. Um so it's the letter that I was, you know, thinking about was more so can we come to the table? Can we can we find a happy medium? That that type of um that type of tone. Um
and uh so I don't I don't mind, you know, writing writing that on on my own behalf. And uh I did just want to say what I was what I was talking about with the um with the budget workshops. It wasn't meant to be a knock-on staff. staff did an
incredible job and had some of the most informative um presentations I think I've ever seen out of the county. And so that was not meant for that. With but with all due respect, we are, you know, here to
speak on behalf of our constituents and the the people outside this building are supposed to be the ones that are, you know, um that we're here to represent. And so while we want to work with staff and you know collaborate, I think that
it's important to have all of those voices um involved in this in the process. Yeah, I didn't I didn't take it as anything other than uh than that. Comm uh Commissioner I I think the some of the morals taken from the four workshops
that we did. It was a lot of information over over four separate meetings and uh to leave us some time at the end in the future. Uh I think if we just had an agenda that just just says for the last 45 minutes or something, we have sort of
a a wrap up commission discussion. I think it's as easy as that. I don't think it's any any harder than that. Okay, I think we're done. Thank you everybody very much. Be safe. Thank you. The opinions expressed by any member of
the public during any period of public comment do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the board of county commissioners of Bvard County, Florida, Space Coast Government Television, or the program sponsor and are solely those of the presenter. The board of county commissioners of Bvard County, Florida, Space Coast Government Television, and
the program sponsor hereby expressly disclaim any and all responsibility or liability for any defamatory or slanderous statements expressed by any member of the public during any such period. [Music] [Music]
bad. [Music] [Music] baby. Hey [Music]