That was 45 years. What's up? Good morning everyone and welcome to our uh budget workshop today. Um obviously it's July 8 9:00 a.m.
We'll call this meeting to order. Was this meeting uh properly advertised? Mr. Chairman, this meeting was advertised in the Pensacola News Journal on July 3rd in the board's weekly meeting schedule. Okay. Uh we'll move into overview of budget. Uh county administrator, will you start with that? Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh commissioners uh I will begin with a presentation of important points, events, personnel changes and trends that shape the development of the proposed fiscal year 202526 balance budget totaling $824 million40,150.
The fiscal year 2025/26 budget represents an increase of 25.7 million across all county funds over the prior year's total budget of 798.7 million. The 2026 budget also includes an increase in the general fund of 13.667 million over the prior year. There is no change in the mil millage rates. They are as follows. The countywide millage rate is 6.6165. The library MSTU is 3590. The
sheriff's MSTU is 6850. This budget anticipates no other significant changes in tax levies. The board has maintained the current tax levy since fiscal year 2013, 2014. The board will consider changes in the fire MSBU assessment rates at its regular board meeting held on July the 10th, 2025. The proposed change in the fire assessment rates for the mainland county properties are not included in the proposed fiscal year 202526 budget. Their current rates are as
follows. Residential at $125.33 per dwelling unit. Commercial at 0526 per square foot with a minimum assessment of $125.33. unimproved at $15.3 per parcel plus three cents per acre excluding vacant agricultural land. The proposed mainland fire assessment rates are as follows. Residential at $226.78 per dwelling unit or an increase of $1145 per dwelling unit.
commercial at 0.0985 per square foot or an increase of 00459 per square foot with a minimum assessment of 22678. Unimproved at $3947 per parcel plus 3% per acre uh or an increase of 2444 per parcel. Vacant agricultural land is no longer accessible per section 125.01 Florida statutes. There is a proposed change to the Pensacola Beach fire assessment, removing the current
fire MSBU assessment rates for the unincorporated area on Pensacola Beach and replacing this source of funding with an increase in Santa Rosa Island Authority lease fees from 50% to 75% and using those funds to reimburse Escami County for the fire protection costs associated with fire station 13 located at 901 via Duna Drive. Their current rates on Pensacola Beach are as follows. Residential at 201138 per dwelling unit, commercial at 0726 per square foot, and vacant property at $63.84 cents per parcel plus 3 cents per acre. The June 1st taxable
value certification for Averalum is 6.79% above the July 1st certification of the previous year. The law enforcement MSTU is 7.06% 06% above the July 1st certification of the previous year, resulting in about 14.9 million more money overall. The county may appropriate 95% of these revenue sources for a combined total of 14.1 million. The June 1st taxable values related to property taxes are included in the proposed fiscal year 2526 balance budget of 824 million440,150.
For fiscal year 202526, there is a general fund budgeted reserve for for contingency of 36 million reserved for operating of 3.2 million. There is no sheriff's reserve per the terms of the current three-year funding interlocal agreement approved by the board and a general reserve of 800,000 for litigation and other anticipated expenses. The fiscal year 2026 general fund total reserves are 40.08 million compared to the prior fiscal year's reserves at 41.1 million or a decrease of
1.08 million in the county's total general fund budgeted reserves. The decrease in the general fund reserve is due to no share no required sheriff's reserve allocation with board support. With board support, the approved general fund reserve has increased from 20.2 million in fiscal year 2122 to the proposed fiscal year 26 reserves total of 40.08 million representing an increase of 19.8 million or 98.3% increase in general fund budgeted reserves over a 4-year period.
There's a 3% pay increase included in the fiscal year 202526 budget for the board departments totaling 3.7 million across all funds. The fiscal year 2026 budgeted life and health employer contribution increase from the current year's amount of 10,750 to 11,000 per full-time employee due to an increase in healthcare claims cost for the board. There is currently no proposed change in the employer/mp employee cost spread across all insured categories. A handout has
been provided to the board that details all the personnel transactions between fiscal year 25 and fiscal year 26 referencing position deletions and additions. The primary fund that was analyzed for position cuts was the county's general fund. There are 13 deleted positions totaling $82.8,000 across all funds. The general fund deletions total 146.8,000. There are also 50 partially defunded positions in the general fund totaling 2.8 million. These positions are in the corrections department. Total position deletions and defunding is 63 positions.
There are a total of 49 added positions for the board totaling 4.3 million across all funds with 1.1 million in the general fund, 70,000 in the fire services fund, 138,000 in the detention commissary fund, 72,000 in the library fund, and 150,000 in the affordable housing grant fund, 58,000 in the LOST4 fund, 414,000 in the solid waste fund, and 2.2 million in the MS EMS fund. The total net changes in personnel cost is an increase of $586,000 with an overall net
increase of 36 positions for the board. 28 of the 36 new positions are in public safety. Community partners and state state mandates. The board previously directed staff to remove certain community partners from our annual partner list that our statemandated or have an interlocal agreement in place that includes $150,000 for the Gulf Coast Kids House for abused children, $43,938 for the general fund portion of legal aid court services, $45,232 for the West Florida Regional Planning Council dues, $126,350 for this Gambia Estuary Program dues.
There is an allocation of 31,250 for the Escambia County Human Relations Commission through December the 31st, 2025. This service will transition to the board's neighborhood and human services department during fiscal year 2026, excluding the uh ECRC. These funding requests are considered non-discretionary and are included in the fiscal year 2026 budget. A total of1,15,914 is available in the general fund for community partner funding request for 2526. Brace has a
funding request of $50,000 that was not initially included in the 26 proposed budget and will need to be added if the board approves the community partner funding request. General fund state mandates and fixed cost. There is 3.5 million included in the budget for the state department of juvenile justice mandate. 6.8 8 million for the state Medicaid mandate, 500,000 for indigen cremation, 400,000 for statemandated Baker Act services, 337,645 for the state health department,
and 15 million for Florida retirement system contributions. Total mandated funding is 26.6 million. Other fixed costs in the general fund total 217.8 million. These general fund costs reflect non-discretionary spending totaling 244 million or 68% and discretionary spending totaling 113 million or 32% for the board's departments. A graph and handout showing this breakdown has been provided to the board domes medical examiner. There is a there is 3,163,7769
included in the fiscal year 2526 budget for the medical examiner that includes an increase of $350,000 over the prior year. The 2026 budget includes funding for 30.75 full-time staff and a 3% pay increase. The funding for the new medical examiner facility and capital request totaling 5.1 million was approved by the board on March 21st, 2024 and an additional 78,000 toward this capital project on December the 12th, 2024. There is 9 million included for payments to the city
for the tax increment financing districts, which is an increase of 737,000 over the prior year's estimate. County CRA tiffs are maintained at the 75% increment level of funding for fiscal year 2526 resulting in an estimated 9.3 million for the county CRAAS which is an increase of 1.2 million over the prior year's estimate. There were approximately 17.5 million in operational and capital enhancement requests that were made by board departments that are not
included in this budget. The board was provided a detail of those budget requests and reductions. There are allocations of $85,000 for the BCC internship program, 20,000 per commissioner district, and five,000 for district 1. 214,000 for the BCC discretionary allocations, 50,000 per commissioner district, and 14.8,000 for district 1. District 1 requests to use some of these funds for a part-time position to assist in the district 1 office. There is a $250,000 for the blockbyb
block project and $50,000 for the low-income utility assistance program and $18,184 for 211 United Way in the general fund. Also included is an allocation of $450,000 for the summer work programs and LOST4. There are 12 months of planned LOST4 project expenditures totaling $60 million in the fiscal year 2526 proposed budget. We plan to continue to refine the LOSD4 project listing with the board's direction and any changes made by the board will be made to the LOSD4 projects plan.
This is the first year of a new three-year funding agreement with the sheriff that is included in the fiscal year 2526 budget reflecting a total increase in the sheriff's budget of 5.37 million over the prior year. The sheriff's fiscal year 2526 total general fund request is $96 million that maintains the sheriff's current level of service in adding eight new deputies serving the community. There is no budgeted sheriff's reserve for fiscal year 2026 per the terms of the analocal funding agreement. The sheriff's new three-year and local funding agreement was approved by the
board at the April the 3rd, 2025 board meeting. Other constit constitutional officers budgets increased approximately $2 million over the prior fiscal year. The total increase included in the fiscal year 2026 budget for all constitutional officer budgets is 7.4 million. However, there are some additional amendments to those respective budgets. The tax collector's preliminary budget is submitted around July the 3 annually. The difference between the anticipated fiscal year 2026 budget of 8 million and the submitted tax collector's budget of 7.6 million is a decrease
of roughly $48,000. Back to the board. Please note the following additional amendments. The property appraisers estimated general fund request included in the budget is 8.1 million. However, the department of revenue approved budget submitted is 8 million for a decrease of $114,000 back to the board. And commissioners, this concludes my introduction to the budget. Thank you, Commissioner Mino. There's a lot in that brief. Um, I'd like to open up to the board if there's any comments or questions. Is before we do the constitutionals. Is there any commissioner
on the board that has any comments or questions? Commissioner May. Um, thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, there's a there was a decrease in funding in the CRA for street lighting. Stephan, is that did we decrease utilities for street lighting in the CRAAS or what? Claire, did I misread that? Clara, it would probably be best to speak to that, but yes, I do believe there was a slight decrease in that. I also believe there was an increase in sidewalk installations within CRA. So,
um there could be just an offset between those two items. Yeah. I just I just like to address it before the next hearing. I mean, lighting is critical in these poor neighborhoods and so Yes, sir. So, what I would um uh Amen. mentioned to the board that um the capacity to continue that is still available within our CRAAS. Um uh as you as the board is aware, you know, we do bring our fund balances forward and add those to reserves. So, I don't think we're going to have any issue with street lighting within our CRAAS. Okay, sounds good. And probably the other thing is
I mean I know we were working out um fireworks and those things through the 4th of July and Junth and I know that it was taken out. I would love to see that added back in. Um although it wasn't expended this year. Yes, Commissioner. So um the TDC um uh does make recommendations to the board. Um so certainly we can add that 50,000 uh back in as a placeholder um into the 2026 budget. We did not spend the 50,000 in 2025. Um well a as as we did not because we were still trying to work out all
the technicalities and we certainly plan on doing that. Uh so I just would like to see it added back in. Yes sir. I can add that back into the 2026 budget. And and the only other thing I have Mr. Chairman Stephan I I think that you know um you've done a great job particularly uh I was advocating to raise our custodial workers, our warehouse workers, uh fire cadets and community center and librarians. I really appreciate that. Uh the only thing I would love to see, Mr. Chairman, is uh our intern budget has been at 20,000 for the last 10 years. I would certainly think that,
you know, they're worthy of a a an increase as we've done with our other positions. So, I would like to see if we could add something to our intern budget. Commissioner May, if we get the interlocal from the trust fund, wouldn't that help with that? I guess I I don't know. I mean I Well, I think we'll we'll have that discussion on Thursday, but I'm I'm all for it. But I'm just saying I think if we get the interlocal that funding would come from there, wouldn't it Stephan? So, chairman, so what uh Commissioner May is mentioning within the
boards essentially the the discretionary cost centers. So, um contract services for interns within each of the commissioner's office. So, that is what Commissioner May is talking about. And Commissioner, you're I think it's been at 20 m for for 10 15 Blue Arbor. I thought two different things. Now I'm track going. Correct. And commissioner, just to clarify, you're asking for an additional 5,000 per for commissioner's office. Yeah. I mean, that would probably be less than 2% over and we've given 3%. I'm in favor of that, but that I was going to have a question. I know this is Commissioner Stroberger, but you're asking for an additional
FTE besides the increase for your staff. Is that correct? Out of discretionary funds. Did Wes, is that what I heard you say? We worked out a part-time position for the district one office and it's coming out of his discretionary. Okay, I'm fine with that. I just didn't want an additional 10 hours. I think I just want to know where it was funded. So, okay, I can live with that. Is there any other comments? I have a few things I would like to highlight. No, thank you, Mr. Chairman. So, um anyone else before I mention a few things? You anything? Okay, Wes. First thing
I want to say is I really appreciate um you know I looked at what you had on the increase and the 36 FTs that we had 28 with public safety. I think that puts us around 50% of our budget now which is pretty good. And that does that include the eight that we're adding to the sheriff's department Stefon? Yes sir. That is correct. It does. Okay. So that's good. And then the other thing that I wanted to highlight which was in there, Wes, you'd highlighted the city CRA tiffs and I think this is important because we're having several discussions on the tiffs. We went up $700,000 with what we
gave to the city and their CRAAS this year. Is that correct? And we get 5% back out of that. Is that correct? Whereas in the county it's 7525. That's right, Stefan. Correct. retains 5% of that 95% per statute is uh contributed to the city. Okay. That's that's 20% more than what we do in the county. So the city's doing very well on their CRA. You should be council Barry. You should be very happy. Mr. Chairman, so is that determined by us Stephan or is that determined by the city of what do they take out of the CRA? I mean determine it. They could include another area.
They could bring North Hill and I see Charles here. They could decide what they want to get out of the TF or do we make that decision? Um the city controls the city tiffs completely. The board has zero discretion as to um whatever changes the city were to make within those tiffs. So this is one of the reasons the state legislature last session was looking at overhauling CRAAS which I think everyone knows on the board I'm very um supportive of CRAAS for uh communities below the
medium income because they need help. But when you look at the downtown CRA that gets $7 million out of uh the county budget, I'm not sure that most people would think the downtown is in the median income any longer compared to the county. So, um good discussion. Mike, I mean, Mr. Chairman, I agree with you. I mean, it's just that I don't know if we have any control of what the city does with those TIFFs and those CRAAS. I mean, I think it's just a good point of discussion to know that we're not getting that money in the county. No, no. I I concur. I mean, I I think I think you
make very valid points, but I I just wouldn't want, you know, any voter to think that we have control of that. No, we don't. We we really don't have control. I mean, with And even if we annexed uh other portions of the county to the city and they created a CRA and a TIFF, we still couldn't control that money. Sure. Yeah. It's uh it probably needs to be changed to the same ratio in my opinion across the state if it's 7525 5050. But 955 is not a reasonable request that the
city gets back 5%. I just don't think it is. But that's just me, right? No, no, I agree. I mean, but if they're requesting, we're we're not doing 95 as a county. I mean, the city is doing 95 as a correct as city council. And I I don't know if this is the point to bring it up. Our community partners, our nonprofits, I know every year that we talk about reviewing that. Maybe later on down we should consider what if that's the right amount what we're doing. I know people want more. Some of them I definitely think we need. I know Okaloosa County basically slaughtered
everything on theirs this last year. Don't have any, which was interesting. thing I told I talked to Commissioner Mixon about that but something we need to look at in the future. All right. I don't have any other few future comments if you want to move into constitutionals. Is there any additional thing? Okay. Um Bubba, would you like to brief anything as as a property appraiser? Thank you commissioners, administrator, madam clerk. Um good morning. Uh before you I have my budget for the property appraisers office. A couple highlights. I know that the increase is 2.6
6% uh that does include a 3% merit-based um increase possibility for our employees. Uh you will see that number in our contingency um according to the department revenue uh until it's approved by the department revenue uh it will be in our contingency. Uh so that's what that um large number is. Um we have submitted the budget in front of you to the department of revenue as of um July or June 1. And also I wanted to make a note that uh from June one estimates Stefan to
our July one estimates the increase was I believe 7% uh we're looking at closer to around 8% on the adalorum side. Uh as well as the city uh from around six to about 7.2%. So just a few highlights if you have any questions be glad to answer them. Um otherwise thank you very much. Hey can Bubba can I just ask you a question? So this is more for my knowledge and the communities because you know we we always say we don't raise the taxes and we haven't raised the millage rate but you raised it 2.6%. But if we have a down year and it's negative 2% we actually lose money and have to go in the
reserves. Correct. So the 2.6% is for my budget increase. The 7% that I had mentioned is the actual increase of the tax role. Um that includes new construction things that nature. So the actual tax role went up 7% but actually it ended up being closer to eight. Um so the way that it works is if if property values go down uh the market goes down that's of course what we base our values on uh that's supported by the market. They are not arbitrary values. Um if the market goes
down then um the ball would be in the uh taxing authorities court to decide on what services they um you know wanted to provide or uh what they might need to cut or if they needed to adjust the tax rate. Again the property appraiser strictly appraises property. Um the tax rate of course is set by the taxing authorities. Sure. And I I appreciate that. So, right now we've been in a pretty good time, but you know, do you project that we could be going the other direction anytime soon? From an overall market standpoint, um the I think we're actually referred to as a unicorn
um for our area. Um if you've looked and seen what's going on in Orlando, Tampa, Miami, uh we've seen some major decreases in those markets, uh especially those metro markets. Um we've been insulated because of course we have a a very large military uh installation here. Uh so we don't see the influx of people moving in and out. Um of course as Brack changes you will see those changes. Uh we've also done a great job of of bringing in um larger employers uh such
as Navy Federal and and other employers where um they're basing their headquarters here. So a lot more stability. Um, so as far as the the groans of of losing population, I think our population, the reason why it was referred to as a unicorn, I think our population increased by around half a percent. I think our neighbors was uh a little over one or 2%. So we didn't see the population decrease. Um, we have seen um sales, permits, things of that nature decrease. Um, we've seen
days on the market increase, which generally will start showing that equilibrium. uh starting to adjust on sale prices. So I would certainly caution you um for the 2627 role as you're starting to look out and projecting projects. Uh I would certainly cautious you um or caution you um to be as conservative as possible when it comes to long-term projects um because um we are going to feel the effects of market changes um but we have been somewhat insulated to those. I do not see um
another six five six 7% increase uh moving forward for our 2025 sales which will be reflected in our 2026 assessments. Um so that would be I guess that was a very robust answer to a to a simple question but I did want to make sure that all the caveats were put in. No, I appreciate I think it helps with us listening and learning and thinking about how we make decisions in the future. So appreciate that. Thank you very much. Any questions for the um property or property appraiser? Anyone? Yeah. Okay, we're good. Thank you. Thank you very much. Is there anyone here from the tax collector's
office? I'm looking around. Wes, do you know if we have someone here today? Okay. Uh Sonia SOE, please come up. When are we going to loop back to the community partners? Is that going to be at the end? We can do it at the end. Okay, perfect. It wasn't on this, but you can add it at the end. Okay. Good morning, Sonia Daniel from the Supervisor of Elections Office. I know Mr. vendor visited many of you before he went out of town. Um, so I'm here just to answer questions if there's anything specific you want to talk about. Well, I think the only question I had I
think he went up three FTs from last year, right? Can you tell us what that was needed for? So, after having been through an election cycle, Mr. Bender is looking at doing some restructuring within the office. Um, he's identified some needs where we had some staffing weaknesses last year. Uh so we're looking to add a position in the area of finance uh an area in the area of IT and one in our voter services side of the house. Okay. And then I know that this and I don't know Sonia if this is the right time but I know that I I'm going to ahead and bring it up. I know that
there's been some discussion about moving some of your services to um other places. Have you guys thought about adding an FTE to do it within house? Have you had that conversation with Mr. Bender? So, we were adding a full-time position uh for the finance side of things. Uh we were just looking at a coste effective way to piggyback off of a system that was already in place. Um and that's where we were leaning at this point. Uh but any further discussion on that, I'd really like to wait till Mr. Fender's available. I don't want to put you on too much on spot. The last question I have,
and I think it's just for the record, how soon are you going to run out of space over on the Navy Boulevard? You know, I know we had this discussion, but it's a I I it's a serious discussion because I'm dealing with Mr. Onsford on this. I I mean, what are you all thinking on that? Um, not to put words in Mr. Bender's mouth, uh, but certainly we have used all of the space that we currently have on Navy Boulevard. Uh, there is nowhere else within that building for us to expand other than to either add on to the existing structure or to put an additional structure on the property there on Navy Boulevard. Uh but with as polling places grow, as the population increases,
the need for more election equipment, which means we're going to need more space. And that request hasn't been put in your budget. No. So, how soon do you anticipate having to add those resources to SOE? Uh Mr. Bender and I have not had that conversation, so I'm not sure how quickly that would happen. Okay. All right. Well, thank you for any questions for SOE. All right. Thank you so much. Thank you. I'll tell Robert you did a great job. U Madame Clerk. Sure. On
our U budget, let's start with personnel. Our personnel at this time, all positions are filled. It appears that we've gone and added a position. I have not added a position. However, we look at all the projects we'll do in the coming year. I have four budgets. A federal budget, a state budget, a county budget, a feebased budget. So I have to allocate individuals based on projects. So it is an increase of a 0.8 75 staff member that tends to be more of the IT because we are doing three
software implementations on our county side. So no positions added. However, um it does appear we added a position due to the percentage split. So, I wanted to explain that all positions as of today are filled. Our increase in personnel services are mainly I have some high-end individuals that are ready to enter or drop. We will end up paying out some drop dollars in the next fiscal year budget.
There are also the usual increases with FRS and um health insurance or what have you. So drop is the most I did put in a merit. I do a sliding scale merit 5% 3% 2% as you go up in um in salary range. However, I do not do across the board merits. Any money that is set aside for merits and approved in this budget if not used it is returned to the county because I do not do across the board
merits. Also in our capital and operating our operating expenses went up mainly because of the IT maintenance. This type of cost increased every year because of the software systems that we have we have jointly with the county and there are pass through cost from county IT to us. All of that is something that's um delineated in our budget with Stephen. He can talk to you about that. The biggest thing we are doing is the uh EIN upgrade. They now call it finance enterprise. We made that
selection with that vendor after a lot of on-site visits. We thought that would be the best system to go for um with the use for your staff. If we go to a completely different kind of system, it makes it harder on your staff to know the financial workings, reports, etc. So, this will be a a good system for all of us. We've done site visits. We've done demos. We've included county staff where where I could include it made sense. Um we have budgeted an additional 200,000 onto
that projects that's in this budget. Um feebased budget that is increased. We see passports going up. We see code enforcement fees going up as well as recordings going up. So in the feebased budget, revenues are going up. That means there's more to offset the budget we have requested. Thank you, Madam Clerk. And I know every year you give money back. I actually looked I I saw the 500,000 and then I asked Stefan it was for the drop. Okay. And then I have just a personal. Are you the only
uh constitutional officer that does merit based pay raises? I don't know. I've heard uh conversation through the years. I think some do it. Constitutionals have changed in the last couple of years. So I don't know. I am a proponent because what happens to me like you I have servicebased um positions and those positions it's kind of like a bank teller bank teller let's say bank teller position is at 40,000 just because you keep doing that $40,000 job and you sit in
that seat for 15 years doesn't mean it should be a $65,000 job when the market didn't increase. That's why I do a merit system. No, I understand it. Do you know what percentage of your staff, just out of curiosity, get a merit? What percentage? What was that? And what percentage of your staff get a merit-based whatever it is? One or five? Let's see. 5% usually go to new hires within two years because it's a training. We hire pretty low-end. I would say 50%. Okay. I just
I like I like both. I just was kind of curious. Yeah. It's usually not 100%. Okay. Usually over two years I can see there's been increase but there's also turnover. Yeah, our turnover rate has gone down. Hopefully the county is seeing that too. We are seeing um better applicants and we are seeing a demand for higher services, higher salaries in the professional services. Okay. Thank you clerk. Any any questions? Mr. Chairman, I do have a question. Mr. chairman or or council,
what would and I like that idea, Pam, uh that you're doing merit. What would prohibit us from doing a merit-based I mean as a county or making an overall system? That's a question for Wes, isn't it? Yeah. Some of our challenges are the unions and having to negotiate with the unions. We have had a merit system years ago in the past uh where you could get up to 5% or 4% or 3% depending on what it was how your valuation played out. Uh part of but again part of our challenge is is with
our four unions that we have to negotiate with. So basically we just do across the board right cost of living and and adjustments and we don't address any merit. Yeah. Correct. You know, Wes, I've seen it a way where you can give a partial cola minus one and you use the 1% or whatever the number is is decided for merit for some employees. And that that actually has been a tool I've seen uh that has been used very good for high performers. I don't know if we could do something like that, but I think it's worth looking into, but I don't know. Commissioner Barry. No, I mean,
and that's fine. I mean, I just probably looking I mean, if you look at our salaries, I mean, maybe a correction officer that's a lieutenant that makes six figures and it may be somebody that makes make half of that and and it's all just based on longevity and not necessarily uh performance. So, I mean, I do like the idea of at least looking to some type of performance. I mean, because there is a huge disparity in terms of people who may be doing the same job uh and making a lot more money. I mean you can look whether you look at fire, whether you look at corrections or
wherever you look. I mean which I do value uh longevity but performance and efficiency is is critical. And I and I do appreciate Stephan what you've done in these positions because you know I've been advocate Mr. Chairman on this board uh that the people who are making less than $40,000 or $50,000 that can't even do a infield house that works for their county. I mean, they need a little more of a bump than somebody that's making six figures uh to get them to a livable wage and a and a wage where they won't be standing uh in line to get, you know, utility
assistance from our human services. Thank you. I mean, and maybe that's more discussion before we vote on the final budget, but that's just a perspective. Thank you very much, Commissioner May. Commissioner Barry. Yeah, Mr. Chairman. I was just going to say just anecdotally over the years um you know with previous boards and and things I think the across the board raises have been utilized by our side more so than the other constitutionals because they have one person that makes a decision that handles their offices and I think uh that policy was instituted as much to
protect the board as anything uh as anything else because you know there's I mean it's human nature And uh you know we do receive even though we don't make you know personnel decisions you know we do have relationships with employees and and you know I I think that policy is is in place to be used as much to protect us from being in the weeds of personnel weighing back and you know I didn't
I you know I got a 1% raise and Johnny got a 3% raise and I do a lot more work than he does and and you know you're my commissioner and you know, yada yada yada. So, just I think those are some those are some thoughts. Yeah, that was a good point. Yeah. And good point. I don't question that, Commissioner B. I I simply was just asking for a little more point of a clarification. You know, if it's not broke, don't fix it. But certainly um recognize that there are little disparities in in in terms of a wage distribution uh here at the county. Commissioner Stroberger,
you have a comment. would anything prevent us from doing a merit-based bonus? And we can still do the the raises, but uh madam attorney, you look like you want to say something. We are not allowed by state statute to do bonuses or that which resembles a bonus for work already performed. That is not legitimate for public employees under state law. Now, merit-based raises are certainly legal under state law. the practical implications of implementing it. We could talk through if it's
really a board direction, but please no bonuses. Bad news. Well, I I heard what both Commissioner May and Commissioner Barry said. I think it he has some good points protecting the board. I would I would want a hybrid model either way where it was, you know, you'd have everyone would get a raise, but then the top performers would you'd split up that difference and having a what we used to call a a merit or awards board and that would be decided based on um the number of
employees in a director and then they would only get so much and that director would have to decide who that was. But you know, we were a long way to go from there. It's just good discussion. So, any other comments? All right. All right. Uh, that hits all the constitutional Oh, sheriff's department. I'm sorry, Enrique. Sheriff's pretty much run everything. So, good morning, Mr. Chairman and commissioners. I'm here representing Sheriff Simmons. I'm
Enrique Diaz. I'm the chief financial officer. I'll be able to answer any questions you all might have. I don't have any questions. I think you guys should be pretty happy, aren't you? You got your budget. You're getting more staff. Everyone's happy. The sheriff, I saw him last night. He seemed happy. So, I I don't have any question. Commissioner May, you have anything? If y'all don't spend it, do y'all return your leftovers back to the county? I'm sorry. Do y'all return any leftover revenue back to the county if y'all don't spend it? All we can have Well, that is true, Commissioner May. Out of all the constitutionals,
the sheriff's department gives us back the least amount every year. I don't know why, but All right. I don't have any questions. Thank you, sir. Thank you for coming up. We appreciate everything y'all do. All right. Anyone from the medical exam? Hey, Dan. Come on up, Dan. Morning, chairman. Good morning. I was just here to answer questions. I sent Stephan a couple slides um of the project site just to say thank you for the medical examiner facilities going up. It's going great. um we'll be out of the ground vertical in about
two months. The slab is being poured in the next two weeks on half of the building. And you know, it's a a remarkable accomplishment. The first district, the first multi-county medical examiner district in the state to do a project like this. So the votes that you all took, I appreciate the support and the unanimous support across the the district. But any questions you had on the budget, I'm here to answer specifics. You're on budget, right? We're on budget. Okay. And on time right now. Yeah. to say that was pretty uh complicated. Um when's the completion date? July 2nd next year.
Okay. Should be final completion date. All right. And then at that point two hurricane seasons pending. Remind me what you're are you doing a Are you going to have a hybrid at Sacred End there or what are you all doing? Everything will be there. Everything will be at the off of Avalon. Yes, sir. Okay. So, you won't have to pay anything that you're paying now at Sacred. Our lease expires next September. So, the project being done on how much how much will you save on that? How much are you paying now for that? For the for the lease of the two facilities that we're occupying now, it's about $150,000. Okay. Okay. All right. That's good to know. All right. I don't have
any other questions, Dan. Thank you. I appreciate you coming. Any questions for the board? Thank you. All right. All right. We'll move into departmental review. Wes, do you want to run this or how do you want to do the departmental review with all the departments? Well, Commissioner, we've met with each department, went line by line, and I think we've shared that information with all the commissioners and our feedback. So, I don't All our departments are budgeted to to run efficiently and they're doing a great job. Uh we've have seen some increases there in public safety, some efficiencies. We've added some positions in
public safety, uh paramedic positions, ET positions. Uh we bought more fire apparatus we've ever bought and same thing with ambulances. Uh we have a challenge right now. It's in public works as far as vacancies, but we are continuing to work with that. And we are contract using some contract work to accomplish holding pond mowing if you will. And so uh I think as an organization we're doing just fine. We're doing great. I I have just a couple commissioner Barry. Mr. Chairman,
I was just going to say rather than go department of by department, why don't we just open it up for if by default board members have questions then we can address some or Wes and Stephan can address them and then move and then kind of move move on. Okay, I like that. Uh do do you have anything to start or I'll start with some? Okay, I have first one I want to start with is animal welfare. I know do we have a plan? I know that's outgrowing itself. Where are we headed on that Wes? So, we have a concept right now and we've met with John, we've met with his staff, we've met with facility
staff, and we're putting our funding estimates together to come bring to the board. Uh, and then to move from the funding estimates into actual procurement of a new facility. We do believe we have a location that we can utilize. They're off palifox, not far from where we exist now. And, um, it's more of a I would say state-of-the-art. It's kind of a cliche, but uh best practices, if you will, best specifications for animal welfare and and and those sorts of things. So, that is moving forward. So, will that I guess when's the timeline on that? Because I didn't I
don't you'll probably see something in front of the board within the four to six months. Okay, that's all. And then on corrections, I noticed they had next to public works the uh the biggest gap in FTS related to what their what I would call the author's manning document. Do we have a plan to uh try to fix this? I don't know if Chief Palace here. I know he's doing great work, but you have a lot of gaps. Yeah, we do have some vacancies there. We have defunded a few of them to help balance the budget. We're continuing to recruit. We're continuing to send send uh officers
through the academy getting their certifications. Then once they come through the academy, they go through the internal uh training process and field field officer training. And so, you know, some of them come in and it's not exactly what they thought it was going to be, but we have increased pay there. You can be fresh out of high school, keep your nose clean. We'll send you to the academy and then when you come out, we'll pay you $45,000 a year. You get high-risisk retirement plus all the other benefits. So, we feel like our benefits package is good there. We feel like our
pay is good there. And we just need to continue to keep plugging away over there. Okay. And then mass transit. Um, I know we going to flex transit. I shared with you what the director shared with me. We got a I know we subsidize mass transit and the base center. What else do we subsidize? So, we have that on the record or those only two main ones. Those are our two main ones, I believe. Okay. So, with flex transit, we are we going to meet the gap that's out there? A pretty large gap.
We're actually uh going to purchase a few more flex transit vehicles and expand that program with a goal of being able to a couple things. One, reduce the overtime there at Mass Transit. And two, uh to be able to pull some of the big buses off the road, reduce the fuel usage, reduce maintenance issues, tires, all of those things that come along with the big buses. So, we are in the process of doing that. Okay. And thus far, Flex Transit has been very popular. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. No, I I downloaded the app. I'm going to try it. Um, Commissioner May. Yeah,
I'm going to ride it over to the Blue Show for two $2.50. So, I'm scheduling my ride. Make sure I can get over there. Um, Wes, are are we looking to after the grant to look at the cost effectiveness of this microtransit? Is that basically we're going to do the trial period for a year before we start purchasing a lot of buses and adding on to see how it's really working? cuz I know that there are some hiccups. Well, I don't know how many hiccups there has been. It's it's been functioning pretty well. Um people seem to be able to really like scheduling their rides. They go straight to
your house or your location and pick you up. Well, when I say hiccups, I mean, it's a it's a trial period. I mean, there hadn't been enough time to evaluate the effectiveness of it. We're constantly running numbers every month, how many rides were given, the impact to the community. uh we're we're in constant mode of evaluation and assessment and and and Wes I mean just for clarification and I spoke briefly with Stephan yesterday and I know I've talked to some of the union people and and there's a lot of uh talk about the overtime. The overtime is not because we
have a shortage of employees. It's because people are calling in uh and taking off work. Correct. I mean that's why there's all this overtime. Not because we're not filling FTEEs. It's because of correct people taking time off. I mean can you clarify that that that that particular workforce over there 80% is on intermittent FMLA which means they can call out once a week twice a week they have a doctor's excuse and so in order to make up those routes we've had to cancel routes at
some time some days and that the intermittent FMLA is no control uh that we can do county I mean we don't have any control of that not as long they have bring the doctors documentation, everything they're supposed to bring. Uh, so we have 80% of the people who have taken FMLA. It's a large team over there. Do we have a personal training program over there? I mean, you know, so they can work out. I mean I mean 80% of people not coming to work. That's a lot. No doubt. It's it's egregious quite honestly if you ask me. But yeah, but that's federal law. I've dealt with FMLA before. They can
take up to 12 weeks. And so, and uh I think that's one of the reasons because the flex transit is um enticing is because you don't have to have the CDL where you have to, right? But I mean having a CDL has nothing to do with people taking off work, taking advantage of FMLA, you know. No, but you just have more people that have a regular driver's license than than have a CDL license. So, you can actually support the workforce, right? Well, no. No, but we don't have a shortage of the workforce. We just have Yeah. They won't get it. Yeah. I mean, it's not a shortage of the workforce,
but we don't have qualified personnel. We have people who are taking FMLA and who are taken off work. I mean, and we don't have the ability to judge that. I mean, once they get a doctor notice from a medical provider, I mean, there's just not a lot that we can do about that. I mean, but that overtime, you know, is challenging. I mean I know for our staff and so absolutely I hear what you're saying Mike but I mean it doesn't matter whe they have I mean I don't know the number of people Wes that are taking FMLA who have uh CDLs versus people who have non CDLs. I don't I don't know if
there's a correlation Mike with that. Okay. Thank you. I don't know either but Wes I think most of them have to have CDLs unless they're doing the the bus operators have to have CDL. I'll tell you your flex transit drivers or some of you they show up. They show up and they're asking for more hours. We don't have a problem in that regard. Well, that's good to hear. Commissioner uh Hopper, thank you. Um my godmother actually uses it and the feedback from her has been really good. She says it's a lot easier. They're more responsive and then the gap between when she schedules and
they arrive is a shorter gap. So, she says it's easier to get to her doctor's appointments. So, positive feedback. Um, so it looks like we have 349 open positions in the county and I know we've been paying a lot in overtime. Should we look at adding a full-time recruiting person to Nikki's department to lower some of that and budgeting for that? I don't know if that was proposed or considered. We haven't looked at hiring a position strictly for that. I do know we do have we have been putting on a lot of recruitment type events at some of the different community centers and
um and also advertising everywhere we can indeed and some other places but it's certainly something we can always look at. That's a go ahead. I'm sorry. I I know I would love to use a Ferry Pass Community Center and you have some new community centers going up and maybe us partnering with the person in that position to push county job openings. And honestly, I didn't know they got some of the benefits they did until I was reading the agenda this week. We even offered tuition reimbursement, which is huge. So, I I would be a proponent for adding that position to the HR department. Commissioner May, and and actually, I think our human resource does a great
job in and particularly in my district going to community centers. Uh, and I know, you know, in the past, we've had sign on bonuses for $2,000, Wes. I don't know if that still exists, Stephanie, that we cut that out. I mean, postco, I think we did have signing bonuses for $2,000. Uh, the reality for recruitment, I I think that our human resources has the ability and they have a great outreach in what they're doing. At the end of the day, the reason I've advocated for pay increases for those positions because it's pay, you know, I mean, all day long. I mean, you know, that's it's
exposure and outreach, but at the end of the day, you know, we got to be very competitive in our pay, which Wes has done a great job, but I think we could do a little better, you know, and so I could support your position, but I could probably advocate supporting more or distributing that money uh to utilize it to increase the salary so it'll be a more desirable position. Wes only other thing and this has come up before and this is just a suggestion open conversation because I think the staff does a really good job but grant writers you know the city has to I know
several our directors have that responsibility in their in their job description. Have we thought about getting thinking about grant writers or do you think we're at a level that we're good? Well, we have we've had that discussion before. My I guess maybe my take on it and maybe Chips's takes on it as well. You have grant writers, but you don't have subject matter experts. True. Your subject matter experts have to provide all the information to go into the grant and go on the
grant. The data, the facts, the scope of the scope of work you're trying to accomplish. Does it meet all of the nuances of FD or HUD or whatever it is? You have to have those subject subject matter experts and they have to the directors are going to have to participate. Staff is going to have to participate in those grant writings or just doesn't work. I mean we bring we bring in well over hund00 million a year in grants. I mean, probably close to 150 by the time
you can run the gamut from natural resources to HUD to engineering and all the FDP and FD dot and all the acronyms that are out there. We bring in a large amount of grant money every year. We've been very successful. My my comment was and I I value what the directors do. I just want their life easier. But if they don't think it would help then Mike Mike I I think listen I think there's not a better grant writer than Chip Kersianfield and as Wes said we brought in hundreds of millions of dollars but I think if there was one position that I would vote to support you on would be a grant
writer because that person you talk about merit that person is going to be based on performance. uh Chip is probably nearing the end of his cycle like many of us uh in his service and he goes beyond it but beyond going for ARPA dollars or FDOT dollars or transportation dollars all those dollars we have human service dollars I mean I can just tell you we probably should had a grant writer that should have went after trust dollars you know the city secured 1.4 4 million I mean but I can't expect as what she said the subject matter experts are day-to-day working they don't have
time to research collect data write narratives do outcomes do measurements I mean you to me we should have a person it's almost like a lobbyist if a lobbyist doesn't perform and bring in dollars in we should get rid of them we should have a grants person and if that person's not performing then they no longer work whether it's through uh public safety emermergency management I mean when we look at what's coming down with Medicaid the cut of dollars and federal dollars. I mean, it's going to be just as important coming up in the next cycle to have a lobbyist as it to have a grant writer that that's their job and that's what they're responsible for because when you
put that onus on a director, you know, they got to manage day-to-day. They got to do operations, they got to do budget. That's not their main focus. I mean, they're scatterrained in terms of trying to perform. So Mike, I mean, if you the position that I would support if you brought back and looking at the position you came back is a grant writer because I think it's critical. And if you look at most counties, they do have them. But and I and I agree with Wes, you would have to a grant is the grant writer is just the coach. It's a team of subject matter experts, consultants, and the person that's putting the grant together. But I mean, we're going to have to get to the point where we're going to have to be more aggressive and going on alternative funding if
we're going to keep the level of services that we want to provide to our citizens. Yeah. I I'm just looking ahead like that's why I asked you Wes. I I just want to help the directors not impede them or take over their there they are the subject matter experts but I do agree they can be the facilitator coach to help commissioner you have a comment. Yeah. So um in district 4 I actually took the money that's allocated for the intern and hired a grant writer specifically for district 4. Um and he's already applied for $7 million in grants just for district 4 since November. Um so I would
definitely advocate for that. There's also grants out there available from private entities as well, not just the government. So, he's really been focusing on working with those. And commissioners, if I could actually please share, I mean, that's pretty creative that you know that many millions of dollars because I mean, Mike, you have a lot of needs in your district. Oh, yeah. No, I I mean could go for it. Yeah, we got options, but I like you're killing it, you know. So, but there's always opportunity. There's things that get missed just because like you said, people are busy and they got the minutiae every day. That's not their primary job all the time. So if it's
someone's primary job, they're they're going to have their head on the swivel all the time on it hopefully. If I could get a grant writer from UWF, Alex Smith, he did all that securing dollars for the city. He'll probably come work for the county if we wanted to hire him. Stephan, commissioners, yes, I would like to add to that conversation. So the county has invested in the ecus grants software that all of our county departments have access to to look up those grants. So we have been doing that for probably the last year um at least. So I did want to make the board aware that we do have a software that has all these available grants where our departments
uh we have certain people within our departments that do go and look at those and they do go into that system and apply and research. So I did want to track the board. I've never seen that data. Do you know how many people have applied for them and what which departments have applied and what's been the success rate by chance? Steph, so I don't have that information. Um, but I can tell you our departments are using it. We can provide that information. Okay. Well, something just to consider, Wes, I think, you know, maybe talk to your director, see if it'd be useful, and I I'm definitely supportive of it. I think it would help out the county, but I I want
to make sure everyone's on board. Stephan, thanks. I mean, because I I I certainly will. I want to get with Claire and her department and see I mean how many youth grants have we applied for RCR or housing. I mean that's that's kind of critical and if we have that tool I'd like to know how utilized is that tool if we've already invested dollars in it and if it's not being used why don't we use it but then I come back to this thing this Mike you almost have to have a dedicated person that's going to dedicate themselves to doing it. So thanks Stephan. All right. That go uh
Commissioner Hoffberger, you wanted to talk about the community partners for a second. Is that correct? Yeah. Yes. Absolutely. So, my stance on community partners and charity in general is we should only spend taxpayer dollars on charity if it's something that the government would have to step in and do anyway. So, I I think the list that was put together kind of encompasses that. So, thank you Stephan. We appreciate that. Um my one thing that I did want to talk about is the brace allocation, the B Ready Alliance. Um, I know that they requested $100,000. It looks like we're
proposing to give them $50,000. I also know that they do a lot for us during hurricane season. So, I would like to open the conversation up for funding them at the full request for the $100,000. And I see that their directors here. So, can can I call people up? Yeah. Can you come up and just explain what you do for us in the event we get hit by a hurricane? I know it's been since Sally since we've experienced that, but we have natural disasters across the country and I just want to make sure we're as prepared as we can be. Absolutely. And the biggest thing is to not panic. Uh you know, obviously that's Will you please state your name and so everyone knows
on for the record? Sure. Sure. Nick Jackson, um the CEO of Brace and uh we were founded in 2006 uh after Hurricane Ivan to to run the Scambia long-term recovery group. uh we've actually ran that group this entire time. Uh every hurricane sub subsequent to Ivan uh we have ran that uh task and and managed it very very well and so much so that the county then approached us and asked us to take over the community emergency response teams for the county. Uh so at the county's request we took over the community emergency response teams. We actually have about 227 active volunteers
uh that are trained that are ready to to deploy. Uh in fact we've done that during every hurricane since um we actually also heard uh we deploy to hurricane Helen um Milton you know we we actually go out uh at the state's requests as well and then we run the emergency service function uh 15 for the county as well for volunteers and donations. So anything that comes in uh requiring people to to come out and serve we actually manage those. We make we manage
the VTECs, the uh the virtual reception centers and make sure that our volunteers are coordinated where they need to go and that they're actually u meeting the needs of the county at those times. Is that it? Okay. Thank you, Nick. Thank you. So, is that your proposal, Commissioner Hoffberger? You're asking to increase brace? Yes, I'd like to increase it to the full $100,000, please. Stefan, is that going to be an issue? I don't think it should, but you'd let me know. Sorry, Commissioner. So, if that's the board's direction, we can certainly accommodate this
year. Um, however, next year will be a different conversation. Commissioner Barry, Mr. Chairman, what why don't we just have these comments pencled? I mean, these are these are just workshops. I mean, we'll have our two budget hearings in September. I mean, I I you know, before we just slot uh, you know, slot more money for them, we I know the nonprofits I kind of Commissioner Barry, I think you're on to something because I think we're going to have a pretty healthy discussion later on on that. And so are you okay with hold I I'm not saying I just wanted to bring it up for conversation and at least get it out and obviously I can't walk down the hallway
and ask you guys. So I just wanted to get it out there and make it known what they do and then our stance on funding charities. So absolutely. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. You know, and I agree with Commissioner Bran penciling this. I mean, I can just tell you I do support, you know, caring hearts, you know, at least giving level funding and what they got last year, but, you know, there are deadlines on which people have to apply, but there there'll be other outside agencies that will show up doing the budget hearing and, you know, even some that I'm going to support. So, I mean, I don't think that this list is, you know, final as far as I'm concerned
until we vote because I mean, there there gonna be other people that are going to come forward. All right. We'll we'll uh obviously we'll have that further discussion in I think September. All right. I if unless there's anything else that goes through the today's agenda. The only thing I would say obviously y'all know we have the joint Mr. Chairman I do have one um Pensacola Pensacon TDC just didn't recommend them being funded. Is that why we zero them out? Yes sir. That is correct. What's going on Pensacon? What are we ask what are they asking for Stefan?
Pensacon was not recommended to be funded by the TDC and that's why they're zeroed out. But there are some other agency. There's some other items that was not recommended by TDC. I mean, one would be the jazz festival. I I I think um and you know, those are going to be items that, you know, we're going to have to I know there's going to be some for me that we're going to have to recommend. I mean, but I would like to take time and you know, look at the data, see the outcomes, and see exactly what happened. And I know some of it was because people didn't turn in their paperwork to the TDC and that is correct. So if I can if I can assist the board with that. So
um I have had a conversation with the TDC chairman. So uh there will be another TDC meeting in August which will be before our September meetings where uh there's an opportunity for the um the applicants that were denied funding uh with from the tourist development tax will have an opportunity to respond to the TD the council's uh decisions that were that were made at the last meeting. So, um, so there is still an opportunity for those to get added back in,
um, or or recommended by council. So, I did want to share that with the board. Okay. Mr. Barry, oh, I'm sorry, Stephan, will will you communicate to those folks that, you know, if they're if if they can statutoily be funded by TDC, which I I don't understand how why Pensacon would not be able to. So, and Jazzfest and those things that they need to they need to reapply there too before they come before they come to us in September, you know, that that they need to go through that process again. Even if it didn't for whatever reason it didn't work earlier, they need to be reapplying
in August rather than just be upset about it and then come to us in September. That's not the that that I don't want that to be the fail safe even if it will be. Yes, sir. I absolutely understand and we have communicated with the the partners that were denied and they have started providing uh the backup and answering the council's questions. So, as we receive that, we are providing that and that will be on the next TDC meeting to your point. Okay. All right. And Mr. chairman. The only before we before we break today, the only other thing I was going to say, I think that um you know,
I know we've all seen what's uh you know, what's going on in Texas and I think that uh our our dear friend at Channel 3 is having some discussions with their internal folks at W today about what may be an effort to uh uh to to put some resources together here as a as a community. Um, and that may be so that may be something. You know, I know we're together a lot on Thursday. So, you know, I suspect channel I suspect Sue and Channel 3 will have some idea what they're going to try to do and that may no may be a discussion for us to have on Thursday sometime when we're here. Yeah. No,
that was this is heart-wrenching. Thank you, Commissioner Barry. Commissioner go down the line. So, do you have anything else, Commissioner Barry? Well, I was just going to say as as we've, you know, been fortunate enough to have our daughter up at Camp of the Pines earlier this year and I take her again on th on take her again on Sunday. You know, those are it's a the thought of that stuff is just heartbreaking. Yeah, thank you for that comment, Commissioner May. Yeah, and thank you, Commissioner Barry, for saying that. I mean, that that is sad. And I mean, you know, we've been through, you know, our friends in Louisiana through Katrina,
Ivan and Sally. And so I mean, you know, we know it's not a matter if a disaster happens, it's just when. And you know, even with the cuts in FEMA, Mr. Chairman, I mean, and thank you, Commissioner um Ashley Halberger for talking about uh what we can do uh with Brace and our partners, but I mean, we have to be prepared uh as a county uh even if they're going to be cuts. I mean, how are we responding? What are we doing? And to make sure that we not only have that plan, but citizens recognize that we have a plan. think we have like one of the best response programs in
the state of Florida. But, you know, hurricanes are just going to hit, flooding is going to come. I mean, it's just that we if there's going to be cuts and citizens are going to be res relying whether it's getting their roofs fixed or whether it's mitigation, uh, if the federal government or the state government doesn't come through, we're the closest to the people. Uh, and they're going to come knocking on our door. And so, I think we need a plan on how we're going to react to hurricanes if FEMA's going to be cut. I mean, and learn from the mistakes of of what what just happened in Texas. And then final, Mr. Chairman, because you know, I'm not really talked to the
administrator and we've all been moving. Uh I see the agenda for Thursday. Uh I would hope that you would take consideration um to continue the discussion have on the agenda uh to look at the Baptist Hospital project. It's one of those things for me uh like outlin out outline field 8 that we need to vote it up, need to vote it down uh and be done with it. And I would, you know, just want to say it here publicly because if not, I would ask, you know, at that meeting, Commissioner May, I'll comment on that because I've talked to both Baptist and the city and after the last meeting,
the deal was we'd go back and they'd go back and look for other money. No one else has done that but the county. So, I told the city administrator that um and I brought up several different COAs to get to yes, and no one's taken anything. So, I would prefer pushing it to August because I talked to Tim and Casey about that already and I will do that if you're okay with that. I mean, you're the chairman. I mean, I would prefer to have it on, but if you want to bring it in August, well, I've already told both of them there because they didn't come back with anything. So, you know,
and and that's fine, Mr. Chairman. I mean, I mean, I I have people saying that, you know, we committed to putting on the the agenda to vote it up or down. you know, candidate, we're in a I I've spoken with the mayor on yesterday who asked me to bring it up to to have it on the agenda, but I will respect your position uh as the chairman. Well, I would just say this record I would say both I met with Baptists and the city. The agreement was that we would all go back and look at funding all different ways and the only folks that did that was the county. No, and I'm
not saying that you didn't and I'm obviously we're not privileged to each other's conversation. Uh, and so, you know, I think they meet with us individually is the reason I like to have these meetings because it's, you know, all indication from Baptist to me is we want this on the agenda. It's unfortunate if they're telling you something different. Um, but if that's what you want, uh, I mean, I I I think we still have time for the I guess the memorandum of understanding. Uh, if you want to push it there, but for me, I'm ready to call the question, make the vote, and make a decision. For me, I would like to give them a little more time to get to Yes. I mean,
it's not just about the county. I'm asking you as a fellow commissioner. I'm I'm Mr. Chairman, I'm going to yield. I mean, you know, I don't set the agenda and you probably never heard me put anything on the agenda since you've been chairman. So, I don't think No, I know, but I really am trying to get to a solution on this and I and I've sat down with all of them. I don't you know, I think it that's a pretty deep conversation and Thursday, we got a lot on the a lot on the agenda. I don't know. We may pull an all nighter if you want to do that. Um, oh, we say past 7:30, I'm good all night. I mean, it don't really matter. But I I will say,
Mr. Chairman, you know, just as outline field 8 was very important to Commissioner Stroberger and to Commissioner Barry, Commissioner Hullberger and I both represent the city of Pensacola, and this is a major project in the city of Pensacola. And so I'm willing to yield under your leadership, but it's critical for me and us and uh Ashley and our working relationship with the city to get this on the agenda to have the discussion. So August is fine. Uh but I just wanted to at least I promise it'll be on the August agenda. No, no, certainly respect everything that you're doing, Mr. Chairman. I see the city councilman there right now, so I'm sure they would love for us to,
you know, get it off of the plate. Thank you very much. Thank you, Mr. No, no, thank you, Commissioner Stroberger. Yeah, I want to piggyback on what uh Commissioner Barry said about Texas. Um when we have natural disasters, and we're going to get one. We're going to get another one. We get a lot of help from a lot of agencies including Brace and other outside agencies, too. And I'm curious why the Red Cross is not a community partner. I think the comm they should be a community partner,
too. They help. They're helping in Texas and they're going to help us here. We have a local chapter here and I would like to add them as a community partner I think um sometime soon because if I I don't know how we can expect to get help when we don't we're not helping ourselves, you know. So um or and we can't even give help if we're not. So I I I I think it's important that we support the Red Cross and we make them a community partner. We'll talk about it later. Thank you,
Commissioner. Commissioner Hubber. Uh, yes, Stephan. I just wanted to circle back to the Tourism Development Council meeting that you mentioned. I know that there were a couple groups that applied for funding and they got partial funding. Are they also going to be allowed to amend their submission and ask for full funding? So, any community partner um can certainly reapply. So, really, no one was defunded per se. So, we did get a 100% of whatever the council approved. Um, so that was a good thing. However, those that have been denied, we have reached out
to them. They uh I provided an a link to the video so they could see go back and review what the council had to say. Some of our uh partners were not there. Some were there that were within that denied group if you if you will. So, um we have got started getting those responses. Um, I am going to reach back out today to to verify just for myself who's responded and who has not so we can ensure that everybody has that opportunity to respond to the statements, questions, um, and and ultimately the decision that was made at the last TDC meeting. Uh, does that answer your
question? It does. Thank you. And I also want to take this time to think, Wes, I know we're working on a portal to make this automated next year and make sure that it's a little bit more organized. For those of you who don't know, we had 1300 pages to go through. Um, so next year hopefully it'll be segmented by file type and it'll be all automated and if you don't submit your file, you do not get to press enter. You do not get to press go. So hopefully that will help all of us and I just want to thank you for heading that up. Stefan, I like those big books. She's younger than us old people.
Commissioner Strober, you have anything else? Yeah, I appreciate you saying no one's been defunded. No one's being defunded, but I know that Navy Days, we had a meeting yesterday. I know they want to reattack on funding. Maybe you know that. I I was not aware of that, Commissioner. Now, they did voluntarily uh they're planning on coming to the board to talk about the success of Navy Days and talk about the uh you know all the things that happened and you know the funding that we did receive and
how it was spent and uh that's coming at a later date but it's coming. Okay. All right. Okay. Um and coming for funding or just what are they coming for Steve? Well, I want them to come for funding too. I think it's important. Yeah. But why should I agree with they should go through TDC? I mean they should Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Right. But they're but they're coming to the board to tell us about about Navy Days too. And I would make sure I know you're on that Commissioner Strober that they apply on the August meeting, though. Yeah. So, and Commissioner again, they did they did apply and then they rescended, you know, the the the grant request
um to the TDC. So, just again making the board aware. Do we know why? But Stephan, we I think there were some issues. Um, and again, I can't I can't necessarily speak for them, but they they made a decision to resend the grant request. TD Navy Days. Okay. All right. Commissioner May, Stephan, we're approving I mean, this is a workshop, but we're TDC is not approving Fufu budget or they're approving visit and fufu's budget. Yes, sir. So, so fufu
and visit goes through TDC and do the evaluation along with these. Correct. Every every TDT dollar um is is required to go through the TDC and that's actually within our policy and uh we are following policy per Florida statute. Okay. And we just approve it or not approve it once they send it to us. Got it. Um and commissioners, I do need some direction from the board if if I could do that now regarding our community partner application. Well, what do y'all think? I mean,
I don't have an I mean, I don't have an issue. Well, it's all right. So, I'm going to this is clarify the question I would like to like to get from the board. Um, then I did mention this uh with Commissioner Hoffberger since she sits on the the tourist development council. Um, so we have some eligibility criterion in our application that was set back I believe in 2021 2022 some somewhere back in that time frame. Um so what I would like to do I would like to create three separate applications because we have three vastly different activities that that we are now doing
um within our community partner process. So we have our general fund and our solid waste fund um which would be one type of criterion our tourist development tax um post auditor general post uh process and policy. So there are now a lot of changes to the tourist development tax application the the answers that they need to provide the tourism metrics that need to be provided so that which is vastly different than what you're going to see on the general fund piece. Additionally,
we have our economic development piece with very specific questions regarding economic development and what the county gets for that investment um to again grow grow jobs, grow our community. So, so my my ask today is um and with the support of the board, I'm going to create those three separate applications. Within within those applications, again, there will be very specific things that each partner will need to answer. um some of the eligibility criterion which I would
request that this maintains is maintained on the general fund and the solid waste that they demonstrate funding received from other sources other than local government at least equal to the amount requested by the county. So basically that's roughly a 50% that they need to generate through other activities, other other revenue generating activities if the if the board still supports that. Is that that's a normal ratio that we've had all along? Correct. Or at least it's been established for several years. Yes. Okay. That's for outside agencies that you want them to
have the 50% match. Correct. And we've not really had an issue with our established partners. So, so it's not a problem because I know that's typically a pretty high match for a grant if I correct. So, to your point, Commissioner, so if it's a tourist development tax situation, so that is all geared to get people to come and stay here, spend their spend their dollars, grow our economy. So, I would say that particular criterion should not apply to the tourist development tax. So those are the diff that's one of the differentiations that I would like to So we were looking at our
economic development partners whether it be the minority chamber or whether it be Florida West. I mean they state the outcomes at the beginning of the year, right? And then I mean they're reporting on their measurements how many jobs they create. I mean do we get that every quarter or how do we get that? I mean I would have to wait till the end and say y'all promised to do 200 jobs and Sure. Those metrics are provided to the board quarterly um on on what what each partner has done for us, how many people's been helped, how many jobs were created, how much outreach was done,
um and if it's a tourism, you know, heads and beds, um how many how many people came and stayed, how many people visited, how many were locals, how many were out of town, you know, those types of things. And you already have that. You're just kind of you're kind of defining it in a written ordinance or document. Correct. So, I'm wanting to do what I'm requesting from the board of support to do some cleanup on this criterion. So, additionally, uh, you know, we have our 501c3. So, I would like to work with the county attorney's office to get our nonprofit,
not for-profit or for-profit cleaned up and compliant with policy. So, I plan on doing that. So, another criterion is that our partners need to be located in and serve the residents of Escambia County, not adjacent counties um or somewhere else. So, do we have a lot of lot of them that are serving multiple counties? We do not. Uh however, sometimes we do get a request. Okay. Yeah, that seems pretty obvious. So, so that that's one certainly we everybody drops from Santa Ros
and spends a scammy's money, Mike. I mean, that's kind of normal. So the the next criterion we ask for three full years of financials or financial statements, tax returns. Um my request is for two years of information. And I I say that because all of our community partners are well established. They've been our partners for any number of years. I think two years is sufficient. Does would the board agree with me on that? That's a moxy if they're well established, but I don't like
going to two years if everyone else. But they've already they're already providing it right seven I mean I mean we get their 990s we get their salaries we get correct the information that you're saying we get that from Florida west we get it from correct visit we get it from is it just because you have to go through more paperwork is that the rationale certainly there is a lot more paperwork and each commissioner's been provided the the books with all of this information um two years again from staff perspective is sufficient three years is just more okay so I don't does anyone have an issue going to two Okay, we're good. Go push on. Um, so another one of the
other established criterion was that if a partner receive funding for more than three fiscal years um unless it serves a government function um that ultimately those would be reduced at a rate of 5% per year. I am requesting to eliminate that. So the board historically always makes the funding determination. Um and some of our partners do very valuable things within our community. So those dollars um you know mills on wheels uh keeps folks you know old older older citizens
can stay at home hot meals uh food banks um medical care. So those I I would request to eliminate that criterion because we're not really doing that. How much have we decreased that budget by the 5% last year? So, it's probably minimal, I imagine. So, Commissioner, uh, the board did not support reducing Oh, so we haven't. Have we ever? Okay. But Mike, I will say this and Steve, you're better at numbers than I am. I I know we've reduced outside agency funding by 20 or 30% since
we've been on this board at least. It may be even 50%. It has that we've reduced. When I when I was elected, it was 2.4 2.5 something. Steve. Yeah. We reduced about 50%. It's around 800,000 now, right? Yeah. Yeah, it it was huge. There there were a couple years where there were So, Commissioner, on your screen, you'll see that it's it's roughly a million dollars is what I have plugged in. So, the requests were about 1.2. So, it's half of what it used to be. Okay. Yeah. Well, we've reduced it and I give Commissioner Barry that credit. I mean, for his fiscal management,
I mean, we've cut that in half. Uh, and just I thought you were the most fiscal conservative commissioner, but maybe it's Commissioner Barry. One day y'all will recognize Democrats are u just wait till Yeah. But it but it has been cut 50%. Uh since we were elected, I think I mean you can verify that but it's been cut substantially been reduced. Correct. And some of some of our the larger dollars you'll see highlighted in blue on the screen. So um Lake View, so they actually participate in the Medicaid draw down program. So uh so that's actually a benefit to
our community. Um, additionally, community health, they also participate in the board's uh Medicaid drawdown program, intergovernmental transfer that that assists and and grows these dollars, which ultimately benefits u folks that that may have no insurance, underinsured. Stephanie, explain that to me because Florida didn't participate in the Medicaid program as a state and so is this
and and maybe Lake View or or community health could explain it, but I mean what's the draw down? I mean with this Medicaid, it is different every year. Um ultimately they apply and then they they'll get whatever they're going to get. I I can't really explain it further than that. But what I will tell you, the board at the last board meeting did approve a change to our hospital group which includes Baptist, Sacred Heart, and some others um West Florida for instance and Compass as well. Correct. So where they could maximize the Medicaid draw down. So any changes in the federal
government in theory will not impact the dollars that they are receiving through the Medicaid program. But Stephanie, that's a big that was like around $50 million that should come back into the community if I remember the number right. Correct. Uh they've been generating roughly an additional $50 million coming into the community on an annual annual basis. Yeah. And it doesn't affect us, Mike. Honestly, I mean No, I'm all for it. Yeah. Because the state I mean we did we didn't participate. I mean, I think under Rick Rick Scott or D Santis, we didn't even participate in the state Medicaid program and so we hadn't been getting drawowns from the state. It's come
from the federal government. So, great. So, I appreciate the board's direction. And lastly, um the board the board does retain the right to wave any of the eligibility criterion and I'm okay with that. Ultimately, this is the board's decision with whatever we fund on an annual basis. I'm good. Thanks, Stephan. Anyone have any issues with those recommendations? All right, looks like you got unanimous support from the board. Thank you, Commissioner. Um, if there's any other comments,
I just have a couple announcements. As you guys know, we have the joint meeting on Thursday, 0900. It'll be at the base center. Um, basically, we're going to be discussing the way ahead on the on the bay center. And then, so is that the full discussion, Mike? Are we What all are we discussing with the city council on Jose put the agenda out? We're going to have Michael Caps who I see you back there. He's going to set your Everything's good with you, Mike. You can just give me a thumbs up. He's going to set things up. Give a little bit of brief on ASM. Uh well, it was about two months ago. I went over there with Wes and Stefan. We had a briefing. I know TDC did. I
don't know who else y'all briefed over there. But you're going to present some of that. Can you just give me a thumbs up if that's correct? Yeah. And then the city has a brief. I can't even G Smith or something like that. I don't know what's what's included in that, but they're going to do that. And then it'll be basically um council members, the mayor, and as well as us uh discussing what we would like to see in the Bay Center. I don't think it should be longer than an hour and a half. And we're not going to in time to discuss this committee and appointments and all that. That's not what now the appointments and setting people the resol the the issue of the the committee is
on the agenda. It's one of three items on the agenda. the whether or not the the Oh, you mean to put a committee together for between the us and the city. It's on the agenda. You guys asked to have it on the agenda. So, it's on the agenda. The presentation by the city regarding their master plan of that area, the the issue of the joint, if we're going to do one, a committee, it is on the agenda, and then the operations of the Bay Center. Those are the three items.
Stephan, are you going to be there? I think it'd be useful for you to pull the data that we've subsidized the Bay Center over the last few years so we can have that as a discussion item and then also the sense that go forward to the Bay Center because obviously I I know we're in a swag on how much we could use um since we we funded the the turf fields I think and then what we do at ASM. But I think all that'll be useful to have as a discussion item. Um and that'll be good, Mr. Chairman. I mean we we've had I mean crossroads cross whatever we've had multiple studies and and I guess if that's one of three items in which they're going to be talking about
consultants Mr. Caps is here but I don't think in any way uh their group is ready to present their findings at this point. No that the the results be on September Mike is that correct if I'm so I mean it's almost premature. I kind of agree with you on that. I think this should be more of an information consultants. Yeah, informationational brief between the city and the and the county at this point till we get those results because I it'd be kind of premature to move forward before we even have a recommendation. But I I don't want to jump in, but just so you're aware,
the mayor has specifically asked that the board look at this presentation for his city master plan consultant because he wants this board to chime in on the front end of that master plan as opposed to the back end. That is his item on the agenda. But madam attorney, none of us have seen it yet. So we're gonna we're gonna go in and get surprised, right? I mean, I haven't seen it. It's not in the backup. So I mean, that's okay. No, I'm all good when representing mad madam counsel, but I mean, you know, I'm not going to give input to a an outside consultant versus the consultant
that we've hired and it becomes to be conflicting information. Uh, and then we got to try to find another happy medium or or resolution. I mean so I think it's my understanding is that our report in which Mr. Caps is leading is that uh the mayor's consultant is to enhance supplement and you know take a look at what we produce. I don't want to make a comment. I haven't seen it. Well and but I mean what what what I would not be prepared to do is to be prepared to create a committee and vote
on a committee in this joint meeting. I mean, if it's information, that's fine, but I'm and I don't want to have people anticipating that, you know, there's going to be a motion to select a committee at this meeting. I, you know, I think I agree with that. I think it's premature. I'm I'm not saying down the road I would be opposed to that, but I think it's premature at this meeting. Yeah. Well, that's right. We can't take action. We'd have to come back here. Yeah. So, it's it's it's more of a discussion point. So, so I mean Charles is saying Charles wants to say something. No. Do you want
to say something? I like Come on up. Councilman. Oh boy. Be careful. What you got on your mind? Uh Charles Bear. I'm city councilman. I live in uh the reserve in uh Mr. Haller's district. We haven't seen what you're going to see either as a council member. Okay. So, it's new to us as well. We'll look forward to seeing what the city brings in the meeting. I I want to be optimistic. I think it's good we're having the joint meeting. I know the mayor wanted it. So, well, hopefully we I I
actually got uh cornered on this last night by a a reporter saying if I'd seen it because he was wanting to get and he's going to put in a public records request today. Mr. Chairman, I I strongly support this meeting. I' I've asked for the joint city council meeting with the commission. I just wanted to manage expectations and not put any pressure on our partners. uh in the work that uh Mr. Caps is doing. I mean, because you know, I've had a conversation with Mike over the weekend and the report is just not final yet. Okay. I agree. I have no problem.
I look forward to the meeting council member and the other I I know Mrs. Patton wants to talk, but well, I want Stephan there to answer some of the subsidation, the how much we could fund, just the basic uh information pieces that we could use out of TDC so that it's out on the table. And then obviously I expect Mike that you could answer questions that you've already I know that I've been in four briefs with you over the last eight months, but I know the rest of the board has only had I think the one that you did here. And I think it'd be useful that we have some of
that conversation. And Mike, the only thing I'm saying beneficial, whether it's a P3, whether it's a private, whether it's a public, I mean, we can talk about convention centers, sports arenas, all that. If we're not talking about lodging, hotel, and parking, I mean, none of that's going to work. I mean, and so, I mean, the big elephant is a big building across the street. I mean, there has to be a conversation with our private partners as well of what we're going to do. I mean because you know we can't invest hundreds of millions of dollars uh in something then we can't park people and we can't lodge people. I mean that would well I think that'll come up what you just
said about lodging if depending on what route we went. That's a big factor that they presented to uh Stfan West and I a couple months ago. I was not in that meeting but I Yeah. But you're right. You're dead right. So yeah. All right. So I look forward to that. And then of course that evening we got a full schedule. There's a lot on there uh to discuss. So, I plan on, you know, get get your Red Bull on board. Then I just have one more more thing before we adjourn. Um, there's one guy that really really likes cupcakes and cake and his name's Commissioner Stroberger and it's
his birthday today. So, I just want to say happy birthday. I know it was a day, but happy birthday, Commissioner Stroberger. Do you want to tell us what your favorite cupcake is? You know, when uh when when Wes said happy birthday last month, I thought he was um kind of adhering to my policy with my daughters and my granddaughters. It's a birthday month where my sons only get a day. So, I thought I was getting a month. So, thank you. Happy birthday, Mr. Off, Wes. All right. This
meeting is a journ. Thank you. Had I known I would have brought you a Obama t-shirt.