--------- Good evening. Good evening and welcome to three days of fun in the sun. Marne, would you call the role, please? Council member Steve Freriedman, present. Council member Deb Gillis, here. Council member Anna Richards
here, Vice Mayor Don Horton here, and Mayor Sharon Mahoney here. We have a quorum. Okay. Would our wonderful sheriff please lead us in the pledge? I pledge allegiance to the flag of the
United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, liberty and justice for all. I thank you very much, Sheriff. Much appreciated. Okay, Don, do you want to speak before
public comment or would you like to let Ron do it? Oh, Don, Ron, I'm sorry. You guys, why don't you guys change your names for me? Go ahead, Ron. Thank you, Madam Mayor. Uh, and council, members of the public, I just want to make a brief statement in the record just so that we can kind of lay the
groundwork uh for what we're doing this week. Uh, this is the first of three workshops we have scheduled this week to propose to discuss the proposed villa budget. Our fiscal year starts October 1st through September 30th. So what we're talking about today will be for the fiscal year starting October 1st.
Our village budget revenues come from mainly three sources. Local, state, and federal grants, number one. Number two, intergovernmental fund transfers such as state sales taxes and fuel taxes. And number three, local property taxes. So those are the three revenue sources. The first two revenue sources are generally
considered to be positives. uh we want to make sure the village gets its fair share of grant money and shared government transfers. So that's a positive in our budget. Obviously we want to get more of those as we can because we spend them efficiently effectively. That's great benefit for the village. So grants and intergovernmental transfers are
positives. Of course the negative is property taxes. Everybody on the council, everybody in the public hates paying property taxes. We want to keep them as low as possible, but they're the necessary costs of doing government services. So but we want to make sure we're keeping them as low as possible. And so basically when you look at our
recent budgets, property taxes have only been about 19% of total revenues. So when we hear about budgets increasing, sometimes increases because we're getting stewardship funds, uh we're getting intergovernmental transfers, etc. So really, when we look at the budget, we're really kind of focusing on the property tax aspect of it. And the
past few years, that's been about 19% of our of our village budget. So keep that in mind. We're talking about budget overall numbers. We're really looking at property taxes. Property taxes are determined by a formula. Millage rate times assessed value of real estate in the village equals property taxes. The budget you have before you today, the
one that's in the packets is on our website is based on three mills. That's the millage rate that was approved tenatively by the council with the direct understanding that three mills is the starting point. We're going to do everything in our power to reduce that down to at least 2.65, which was last year's millage rate. So, keeping in mind
that what you're seeing the budget today is just the starting point. We're definitely serious about making cuts to various uh spending patterns here to get down to that level. When we look at the current tax rate for the fiscal year, it's 1 2.65.
If you multiply that millage rate times the new property tax rules, in other words, the values in the village have increased. When you multiply the current millage rate that we're operating under today times the increased values, it comes up with about a $1.7 million increase in revenues. So, that is the
good news. We're actually working with more property tax dollars this year than last year because of the increase in property values. Now, the bad news, we have some built-in expenses called non-discretionary expenses. For example, we have our fire rescue which has a a collective bargain agreement that we're
bound by and that has built-in payraises. It also has some additional expenses to that. We have the sheriff who's here today who wants to speak in just a few minutes. We have a contract with the sheriff and he has some built-in expenses, too. he has some union issues that he has to deal with as far as built-in increases, other costs
increase. Uh, so those are two things that we're bound by. And I want to say on the record, we we love our firefighters. We love our sheriff's deputies. We think they're entitled to every dollar. It's just that there's no discretion there. If we wanted to change it, we really can't. Then we have other things like insurance premiums that
everybody else has to pay increases, we have, too. My point being that whatever increase we're looking at as far as increased values are pretty much eaten up by non-discretionary expenses. So we're starting there in the current budget, meaning the one in front of you today, the 3M budget, which is the
uppermost, there are zero pay raises and there's zero cost of living adjustments for non-UN employees. So take that into consideration that the the budget with three mills, which is higher than we want to be at, already has zero pay raises and zero cola. Just I want to lay
the groundwork for today. Uh it's important that uh we we know that we're here today to get input from the council and from the public, but keep in mind that we've already incorporated some cost savings. We met with every department head after the last meeting and ask them for cost savings. They came in with some cost savings. Once again,
it's not enough to get us to 2.65 yet. So, as we move forward, keep in mind there will be some difficult decisions by the council and by staff to get to the point we want to get to, which is at least to the 2.65 65 military. And with that, I'll defer back to the mayor and if you want to recognize the sheriff.
Yes. First, let me welcome Lori from Weiss Serota. People don't know her. She's taking John's place and we appreciate you coming. So, thank you. And Mr. Ramsey, would you like to come on up, please? Thank you, Madame Mayor, Vice Mayor,
Council, Staff, citizens. I know there's some uh questions about the budget, and obviously that's why we're here, and that's a good thing. we should discuss it and bring it out there. I know there's some questions from the civilian review board for the budget as well. That was a couple weeks ago. I saw I spoke to the manager and we
tried to clarify a couple concerns we had and some discrepancies in the sheriff's office budget versus the Alamra budget uh paperwork just were not consistent. So, we tried to just clarify that. So, we do want to clarify staffing. I know there's a question about proper staffing. uh brought up I
think one of the civilian members too whether we had too many staff members from the sheriff's office. So we did bring up and I spoke to um Councilwoman Gillis about the headcount. Currently the sheriff's office has 18 allotted positions in the city of Alam Marada. In
the year 2010 to 21 we had 16. In fiscal year 21, I approached this council or the past council and I asked for two additional FTEEs because I wanted an additional officer to work at nighttime. At night time, as you suspect, is the
busiest time. Drones, domestic fights, perimeters, you know, a burglary, maybe a fight at the hog heaven where one officer is just not going to cut it. Daytime, most of the time, one officer can deal with almost anything arises. And during daytime, we talked about in the past that we have detectives, we had
admin personnel, civil officers that we have other team members to draw off of if we have a big crisis event, but those team members don't exist at nighttime. It's whatever officers are on the road, which is generally going to be a sergeant and three. That's if they're fully staffed. Someone could be on vacation. They could be on training.
They could be out on sick. They may be on workman's comp. So our staffing levels uh can go up and down slightly based on those inevitable facts that we stand for. So back in uh 21 the council did authorize additional two personnel.
I made the same request for the city of Marathon and I also put in my budget for two additional officers at nighttime in the Kudjo key patrol station and the Keargo station. All of which I felt needed an extra officer to ensure officer safety, public safety, mission
outcome. So that was approved. That's our current staffing. There's been no new FTE since then. There was a question on comparisons from the citizens board that brought up about Marathon versus Island Marada. City of Alamado we just says has 18 FTEEs for law enforcement
services. The city of Marathon has 17. I identify that the city of Marathon has one marine patrol officer full-time where Alamada has two full-time marine patrol officers. When we come up the staffing matrix for the city, we try to get the matrix as to what the city wants
and develop that based on what they tell us they're looking for. Alamrada was looking for two marine patrol officers based on volume of calls for service, boat activity. There's a lot of boat activity in Alamra as each and every one of us knows. Councilwoman Gillis talked
about Marathon versus Alamra. Alamra has about 36 miles of shorelines between the ocean and the bay where Marathon has about 40. But Marathon 14 of that is seven milei bridge which doesn't have too much calls for service and large part of that is also grassy key duck key
which has less patrol services. Most patrol services go between Cocoa Plum and the south end of Marathon. Thus a smaller geographic area needing patrol services than Alamra and Alamra does have a lot of boats. We look at that Sandbar and other sandbars. You know
Marathon's busy but not as busy as Alamra every weekend. It's amazing how much activity is out here. Nelson and the other officers out here trying to do a good job far to keep this area secure. So that's some a matrix difference there. Now the increase in our budget
request this fiscal year comes out to a total of 495. And that 495,000 is solely based on personnel services, no operational. If you look at the sheriff's office budget, you'll see that our budget is based on personnel only. And we're trying to have
a like the council or the manager says this is based on collective bargaining agreements with the sheriff's office and our police union which is the police benevolent association PBA and also collective bargaining agreements that the county board of county commission has done with their mon county
firefighters. We try to be consistent to how public safety workers are treated in the incorporated unincorporated areas to make sure that we set the tone of a value of a public safety worker that it's we're treating everyone the same. So Mon County has
determined that a first responder for fire rescue is valued at 72,305 and that's what the sheriff's office is looking to be consistent with was how the firefighters treated there. Alam Rod has determined that a first responder
for their agency fire rescue is worth 73,668. I agree. They're worth the money. But with that in mind, with our raise that we're projecting, we'll still be making $1363 less than firefighters in Alamrada,
which is again, they deserve it. But we're trying to use as a reference. If a firefighter is determined to be worth this much, we think a police officer is worth as much. We don't ask to make more but we think we should be equally contributed as a salary base. Uh sheriff's office again is comparable to
Key West PD who makes 72508. Um Key West fire is making about 70. Marathon Fire is making 70,441. So our salary range is very consistent. We're in the middle range of what police and fire are making between the county
and cities. And again, as our manager says, this is based on collective bargaining agreements that we've entered into. As you know, the sheriff's office makes no additional money on this contract. We do it to our direct cost. We assume all the risk, liability, exposure that occurs from having a
police agency, use of force, other issues, lawsuits that come in. It's just part of our job being a good partner to you. But I can't do it for less either. I'm not here to take a loss. That would have to come out of Adalorum County taxes to take any um less from there. So, we think again we're holding the
line as tight as we can. We know it's a tough budget season for the cities and counties and uh generally, you know, we're very fiscally responsible. I give back a large amount of money each and every year. I tell you and other members that we are really responsible. We treat that money like it's our own money. If we don't need to spend it, we don't
spend it. And we're proud to give back money to the counties and cities each and every year showing that we are truly fiscally responsible. If I ask for it, it's because I think I need it. To provide the proper level of services that you and your citizens demand, deserve, expect, and to make sure that officer safety is number one, they go
home to their families end of the shift to make sure that we can provide the top level service to the citizens and visitors. We have a rapid response time to get the calls for service. A reduction in manpower allocation would increase the time it takes to get an officer on scene. It would increase the
potential officer safety risk and public safety risk. We think right now the manpower allocation set is a bare minimum. We could probably justify more, but again, we're not trying to empire build. We're trying to provide top level services at the most economic
availability we can. But we've said before, police, fire, rescue are not cheap. When you want them, you want them right now. But 24-hour day service for police, fire, rescue does cost money. But it's a level of service that we have to have public safety at the top of the
list. And that's kind of where we're at. So, I'll be here for any questions. If you have any questions, I'll try to answer questions you may have. Council, anybody have anything they'd like to ask? No. No. I appreciate everything you guys do. Go ahead.
Um, last year was the budget around 400,000. Uh, 400,000. Yeah. Oh, no, it was more than that. Last year, the budget total budget last year was just over 3 million. 3,079. This year projected budget with the
$495,000 increase comes out to 3.575. Okay, 495 increase from that's the increase and that comes down to not only the salary adjustments but also with any salary you have FICA FRS all stuff that's associated with there any overtime in cost would be increased
from there and you know Florida retirement system is what we operate under there's increases when officer makes more money but there's also increases every year with Florida retirement system to keep up with their potential um needs so those are all pass through all our costs are solely a pass
through Again, we get dime zero out of this. We just take on the responsibilities to be a good uh partner with you Marathon County and Monroe for our municipal police contract at the city of uh at the airport for the um Key West. Those are all contracts that we have with the municipalities.
And just to follow up to that because I I do recall that you do give back the money that you when you don't use all of it. Do you recall about how if there was any last year? There was I think the number was um 175ish. Okay. I think it was a little less than that.
It was 10 and something. It went towards the purchase of it the new boat. That's right. We uh it went over to the new contender for the city of Almada, but it was 100 plus last year to be returned back countywide between Marathon Almrada Airport. Other contracts we turned over just over $4
million back to taxpayers. Thank you for that. Dab. I see your lights on. Yeah. I I just wanted to thank you for addressing some of the the questions that the task force had and and answering my questions. Um
uh I remember I remember us asking for the two additional officers or you asking I don't remember how that came about, but I do remember those days and it it was needed at the time. Uh the fact that we've been able to hold that and still think we're doing a good job
is uh commendable for your officers. Thank you. Thank you. These officers work really hard. They're pulled every different direction. We know there's a lot of demand on law enforcement services. The old road, the new road, the center turn lane back in neighborhoods to fill on the water, you know, special events. you
know, we continue to try to spend more time trying to figure out how to get it done with the manpower we have and spend less time complaining that we need more and more and more and more. We know more and more and more has a cost to it. And um we're just trying to be fiscally responsible with the money we have and
to return money, but also make sure our requests that we ask for that are justified and that we can look you straight in the face and say we need it. Don, sheriff, there's no question that you are probably the most fiscally responsible sheriff this county has ever
had. We appreciate you for all of your staff and all the work that you do. And I know that you're not going to ask for something unreasonable. So, thank you very much. Thank you, Councilman. Anybody else? Thank you very, very, thank you, mayor. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Um, I guess we
should open public comment up. Marne, I do not have anyone on Zoom and no one has signed up for really. Wait, I see panicked faces in the crowd. Did Can they just come on up if they want to come on up? Mr. Dalton pretty
much leaped out of his chair. Uh, thank you, councel. Uh, Dr. Larry Dalton, Isa Marada. Uh, and and thank you, Sheriff. I I've I'm a a graduate of your citizens on patrol program. It was absolutely phenomenal. I have great
respect for the the sheriff's work and all the officers within the community. But physically, financially, I have a question regarding us, which has 7,000 residents versus
Marathon, which has 10,000 residents, having essentially the same staffing. Also, when I go on your app, and I go on your app quite a bit, I see there's a lot more crime in Marathon than there is here. So, why are we staffing about the
same? And is our cost compared to Marathon greater or less? Thank you. Would you like to I I'd be okay if you want to come up. Oh, thank you, madam. You know, each city determines what they think they
need or want and calls for service. While they may vary, populations may vary. With that, visitors may vary. There's a lot of other dynamics. Geographic areas. Marathon is easier to get from one part to the other part. We can move officers pretty quickly. Island Rod is very challenging as we all know
with the traffic between the 90 and 80. Doesn't matter what goes on on a good day, you're sitting in traffic trying to get there. We can't have officers using lights and sirens to just get there faster to these calls. So we do have more of a delay to get on scene to a call or have to get from um the 82 mile
marker to the 90 mile marker for a call there as well. But again uh staffing matrix have to be based on a lot of factors needs calls for service officer safety you know ability to have an officer respond to back up another officer in Alen Rod. takes a longer time potentially to back up officers. And
that's what we kind of asked for the two additional officers years ago was because again we fall back to nighttime with drunks, domestic fights, the hog heaven, other stuff going on. You know, I can't have one officer there by himself or herself waiting for 10 minutes for an officer to get there to back them up or they're fighting three
guys who are drunk in a parking lot, which happens at times. You know, you're dealing with a impaired driver that takes you 3, four hours out of the night. Look, this is an inherently dangerous job. We know that. We saw one of our officers here, Julian, a year ago, lose his leg on the duty. We have
had officers shot, shot at, you know, hospitalized, spit, kicked on. It's a dangerous job. And when someone needs help, we want help there right away, you know, and trying to cut a couple positions isn't going to make anything a difference on the taxpayers's dollars, I don't believe. Only you're going to do is potentially increase the um safety of
the men and women out there doing a very difficult, challenging job for very little money. You know, we're trying to get up to 72 just to for a starting officer. You could be a manager of Tom Thumb probably makes $72,000 and what these men and women go through. And we know that mayor yourself especially helping to put so much together for
Julian to see what um our officers go through. And you know, this is a 24-hour day job where um it's difficult, challenging. You know, we say all the time, you know, everyone loves firefighters. I love them. You know, chief, you're great. But a lot of people don't love the police because I always
tell people it's a hard challenging job because people are never happy to see us. Like I told you in the citizen police academy when you're there if you see it's like oh crap here comes the cop. We're breaking the party up. Someone's getting a ticket. Someone's going to jail. We're giving bad news. We didn't prevent a crime. You know why are you happy to see us? It's a tough
stressful job. And these officers as you see don't have much downtime. It's call to call to call to call to call. And we have to have a proportionate amount of um manpower allocation to deal with a proportionate amount of calls that exist or may exist because we know things pick
up in Alamra during certain events or during traffic or certain times sometime it may be quieter. End of the day is you know I think the proper uh staffing does exist. I think in reality as we came here we could justify um in other parts of the county here too a little more staffing but we're not asking for more.
a cutting couple positions would be catastrophic to save a couple hundred thousand dollars. Just not worth it when it comes to public safety and officer safety and mission outcome and what we're here to do is protect and serve the public. So, I hope that answered your question. Anybody want to say anything? I I
appreciate everything and I think you guys are I would cut other stuff before I'd even look at you or Terry. So, appreciate you. Okay. Does anybody else want to make a public comment since it had some surprise looks? I do have somebody on Zoom now.
Okay. Okay, Mr. Ray, you've got three minutes. Go ahead. Great. Hi, council. Thank you for letting me speak and thank you guys for having three days of budget workshops. This is just the beginning and I just
wanted to weigh in uh Sheriff Ramsey. Um yeah, everybody, you know, wonders about why the cop is there until they have to pick up the phone and call them and then they really appreciate the responsiveness. Um I greatly appreciate
our sheriff's department and greatly appreciate the dedication and understand the dangers inherent in that job. So, thank you for being the leader you are and for the
officers that you that serve under you. Thank you very much. Mr. Ray, can you um state your full name for the record? Sure. I am Barry Ray and I am a resident of El Marada and have been for 27 years.
Anyone else? Okay, public comment is now closed. Moving on. Um, Ron, you already said your Yeah, I just want to introduce I just want to say something else. Go ahead. I just want to introduce Hattie. Uh, as you know, uh, recently our our budget our finance director, Lisa, uh, resigned
and moved to North Florida and we were kind of in the middle of the budget process. our senior staff accountant, Hattie Jenkins, agreed to serve as the interim finance director. And I wanted to compliment her. She took the ball and ran with it. And uh we have a budget before you today. And we really do have
a small finance department. We only had two people, she and Cali, working on the budget. Uh we had some outside help. We we trained up Rasco, Bishop Rasco accountants, and they've been big help with this. Also, in addition to doing the budget, we also had to complete the Doge report, which was turned in by the deadline. Uh so we are good with the
state. uh but had and the rest of the finance team did a great job and just getting a budget together and once again this is a preliminary budget. We know more needs to be done and so we just wanted today to go through all these items answer questions basically we have two more days of budget workshop but we want to make sure that Hattie and her
staff are here to and we have a lot of our department heads here too so they're available for the council and for the public's interest as far as any input. Thank you. So Hattie is the is taking it over from here and thank you very much for your service to the community. You're welcome.
So, I believe that we promise not to use the the whip or anything. I promise. You want that on screen? Yes, please. I believe you're up, right? Yeah. Thank you. Enjoy National Night Out here.
There we go. Okay. So, basically tab one is it's just to provide you with an overview of key governmental accounting principles. Um, our fund balance and net position classifications and an explanation of
the trim process. Um, tab two is also reference materials and intended forformational purposes. It includes a copy of the basic government resource manual prepared by the FGFOA, the Florida government finance officials association. Uh, this section also
contains the village's purchasing policy and a purchasing flowchart to help council better understand our procurement process. So, that's just for your review at any point in time. We don't really need to dig into that. Tab three, I'm going to send you guys
down. Uh, we missed one page, so I'm just going to pass that down. It's uh our debt service fund. All right, tab three of the first page includes our current cash balances across the vill's three main bank accounts. That's our main operating, our
PH Marina account, and then our SRF loan debt service account. Um, this information includes the year-end cash balance as of September 30th of 24 along with the most recent cash bank balance um as of 7:31, which is the last statement we received. Um, please note
that these are running balances. For example, um, I did a SRF loan payment of $2.3 million. So that SRF loan debt service payment as of 81 is now at $99,000. Um, and what we do with that is we
transfer in monthly to cover that large debt service payment. Um, I believe it's twice a year. Um, additionally in this section, it also shows the um, investment pool account that we have with uh, FL class and I just wanted to show that so you
could see the amount of interest we are acrewing in that investment account. May I ask a question? Oh, sorry. Sorry. Um, that you have two columns of interest rates. What's the difference in the two? That's just uh, the interest rate as of
93024 and then as of 73125. Oh, one's a beginning and one's an ending. Yes. Okay, that's all. Okay, sorry. I always forget about this. I should have gave it to Cali. All right, there's that. All right, the
next page is it's just a list of all of the debt service funds that we have. Um, the balances remaining. We have about $48 million remaining in all of them. A couple of them are actually going to be paid off within the next couple of years. Um, and you could see that on the
amortization schedules that are um attached in the next few pages. Do you guys have any questions about that? From there, I'm going to have you guys move to tab seven, which is our general fund revenues before we move along to
Jamie's part. Jamie's tab. I got to go over here. Bear with me. You need a new clicker. Okay. All right. Nope. Cut.
Um for the revenue projections. Um that first line, there's franchise fees, which is uh the percentage that we receive from both residential and commercial contract. Um the fees compensate for the village um for the use of public roads and are allocated to the general fund to help reduce the need
for additional advorm revenues. Um all the other revenue projections are based on historical trends and anticipated income. A few of them are actually pulled from the state um EDR website. Um so those are their projections. Um I
know there was a question uh Deb had a question about the stewardship fund act proceeds. those have been moved to their um to their allocated departments, wastewater and um canal project restoration. So they're earmarked for those capital projects. So it's been
moved over which you'll see when we go over capital projects. Any questions on revenues? I have a question about the wastewater. I thought did do did you and I have a conversation about money that was supposed to use isn't wastewater supposed to support
itself. As an enterprise fund, it should, but it's not. Gee, there's a problem. Okay, that's me. Well, I've been How long have I asked about Kargo? I would say I started April 21st. On
April 22nd, we've been talking about what to do about waste water. and I did that 2 years before that and and we've had discussions with Peter Rasco in addition to being helping us with our financial issues uh with his accounting firm. He's also the the head of the Keargo wastewater district. We've had meetings about what we can do
because we are their biggest customer. We are a customer of Keargo and what we've talked about is how we can you know get ourselves in better fiscal shape. It really is should be if not revenue neutral revenue positive but right now it's revenue negative. Uh we're running a deficit. We've been
subsidizing wastewater with funds that we could be using for canal restoration, for nearshore water quality, which are things I think are high priority. The problem is you have to pay the bills. We're not really overstaffed. I actually looked at that and looked at how many employees with Peter and he said
basically our staffing is is actually pretty good. I think the big problem answer your question is deferred maintenance where apparently when we took back over the uh the system there was maintenance that had not been done and we're paying we're playing catch-up as far as fixing things. We want to get
ahead of the game. Uh we just I asked AJ for a modeling study. It just came in. We got it to Keog Wastewater last week cuz there were some discrepancies with our our staff and their staff about what could or should be done. I think now we're on the same page as far as communications and we're going to start having more serious discussions about
what we can do to uh fix the wastewater system and that's something we'll be bringing back in this budget cycle probably in the next couple weeks. All right. Are you ready for your time? I think so. Okay. As long as you guys don't have any
questions on revenues, I'm going to move us back to tab four for personnel. Can can I hesitate just a second? I'm sorry. Um u you and I had the discussion about local tax half cent sales tax and
the the state provides that number. Um, is is there is there any um adjustment that can be made um locally to that number
uh for trends that we're seeing? Trying to think how to word this. I mean, that's a number that we pull straight from their their their state red um projections. If we wanted to project less, we could. Um, I know,
but historically, we typically use the EDR, the state projections that they provide to us. I guess that's the end of my question. Maybe maybe that's what that is. I thought the sun was out when I came
in, but maybe it's a test, Madame Mayor. Once again, these numbers are come from the state. They they they do projections by every county. So, for example, the county commission already took these numbers into account when they did their cuts recently because there is a
downward projection on sales tax collections. There's a lot of factors. We can all probably figure out one or two things we could reason for it. But you can see that with TD TDC revenues, the county revenues, etc. So, we we can't really make them up. We we're going to take them directly from the state. It could change because, you
know, something could happen, a recession, gas taxes, gasoline prices go up or down. Uh, but we have to use the actual government numbers. And so, the numbers we're getting are directly from the state. Okay. I understood that they were directly from the state. I just um I
think the state is being optimistic. Sorry. I don't want to get us in trouble. Are you good? Go ahead. Yeah, I'm good. Go ahead, Daddy. Okay. Well, we're going to move along to top four and I'm going to let Jamie take
over. Good afternoon. I'm going to let you guys ask a bunch of questions, I'm sure. But up on the screen, I've got I think I've got
the It's not doing It's not working. Hang on a second. Frank's charging. Okay, we went back and forth. The the first one, um probably the biggest one is the employee health um benefit renewal
package that we got from our broker. Um there is a 10.7 10.6% increase in the overall cost. Um we were given a $130,000
um refund, so the 6 kind of drops off. So 10% basically is what the increase in the the premium costs are. I give you two um scenarios. One is if the village absorbs the increase and that means there's no change to the employee
premium for the current percentage that the village pays for employee healthcare, medical, dental, vision, all of it. Um and then the second scenario or the second part of that sheet is if we share
the increase keeping the the percentage of what the village will pay it will increase the employees portion of the premium and I give you the dollar figures over on the right hand side. E
means employee. I know I didn't spell that out before but I did get that question. Um, so for an employee and spouse, a monthly increase in the premium would be an additional $11.95 that the employee would have to pay monthly. Um, for employee and children,
it would be $4.66 um, a month additional that they would have to pay. And then employee and family, it would be an additional $23.80 to the premium. So that's if
we share the increase that 10% increase and keep the same level of uh percentages that the village pays for healthcare. So, may I of course um So,
what you're saying is that a we'll call it a $12 increase is to keep that I believe that one was like at 97% that the village page something like that 95 97 somewhere along those
Anyway, it keeps that percent the same and raises Um that's just the additional that they would have to pay above that. The other figure raises technically it raises how much
the village is paying right instead of 97% we're actually going to pay 98% maybe it's less than that it's like a point of a point of a percent let me in order to absorb it and um it really
isn't that big of a difference um and they spread it between all of the how they do it is they basically spread that increase between all the different tiers. And how much is that total cost for the increase? I know you said it's 10%. Am I
overlooking it on here? It's it's $474,000 additional for health insurance if we absorb the cost. And if we share the cost, it's $463,000. So we're talking a difference of 10,000 $11,000.
Correct. And the difference is if you look in at the top uh actually at both of them, but I did put the number of employees that our 1.8 million last year was paid off
of or based off of was 108 employees. We actually had a little more than 108 employees that were participating in um in our benefit program. However, they take that 1.8 8 and there is a stop loss because we are um partially uh
self-insured is what they call it. So we only pay the 1.8 and then above and beyond the insurance picks up. So this new number, if you notice, is is adding additional employees, which is a better census, and they get a census prior to
renewal so that they can base the increase off of what we're actually projecting for employees that have healthcare. I know it's kind of I um had a conversation with Ron and a conversation with John Quick today about
I don't remember this ever coming in front of the council ever. And it was sort of a decision Ted made on his own and the amount of money that it is, it goes past in my brain the threshold of what Ted was allowed to do. So my
problem with this whole thing goes back to Ted making a sole decision that is now affecting this community, the taxpayers, the morale of the staff and everything. I just sort of feel like we got the short end of a stick here and it did I did not if he did pass this in
front of the council. He did it when I was asleep because I don't I don't remember. I don't So it was part of a it actually I'm I'm sorry. It was part of a budget amendment. But the one of the things that I talked about at the task force meeting was that
the census or the number of employees at the time that were participating in dependent coverage was only like five. I was told four to me now what is it 60? Well, so it's sort of to me that's
I have an issue with that. Ron, did you want to say something? No. Go ahead. Anybody? I had a question about please what you just said. That's all. Are you talking about the it was never whether it was or wasn't but what you're
describing is wasn't come that the spouse and family part of the insurance was never brought in front of council or are you talking not to my knowledge if he did or are you talking about moving it to 100% was never that's
that was Ted's doing. I'm trying to clarify between the employee versus the family and spouse. So you're you're that's the second buzzer I've gotten today. The universe is telling you something.
I think so. So, um I don't I I guess I I guess I thought that we were paying almost 100% when I was on council. I don't think so. I think it was
something Ted did and and there was discussions about raising it because of the fact of of trying to do retention. Uh I don't remember the discussions about family and spouses. I don't remember that. And again,
I know we had Okay. I I think Deb, it was I think you're right. It was I do too. It was the employee that was getting the benefits, but the family and spouses was added when that's
I might agree with and but I'm not I'm not even sure it was Ted, but a previous man was I recall the night that they did it. Yeah. And it was done on a a budget amendment and it wasn't made very plain. No. to the council and a couple of about
a month later the council realized what happened and there was some not very happy faces up here. Is that the is that the is that the December meeting that I don't know? Yes, I believe it was. Okay. Yes. Just to try to remember things.
All right. So, is this is this the place we talk about whether it should stay or not or is it later that we talk about that? We can talk about it anytime you want to. the the collective bargaining has it in their contract for the next two years
the same percentage. So that's the firefighters are exempt from this just so everybody understands. So go ahead. Thank you mayor. My my question would be and I know that right now we are under a hiring freeze.
Um but my question would be is it lawful uh is it uh is it allowed that um if if this was to stay the way it is to where we take nothing away from the current employees.
Um but whenever there is a new hire through attrition however that works that we offer a different package as we go through uh with uh you know additional employees. Is that something that's legal to do?
It's grandfather where where the old the grandfather employees keep what they got not take away from them but anybody new coming in gets something. She's chomping at the bit. Go ahead. Yeah. Um yeah, you can make that policy
uh if if you want to going forward. Um you know, when whenever you make uh new hiring decisions, you can make whatever uh decisions you want with respect to all of the benefits.
All right. Thank you. So did Jamie did you say that that of the um 117 employees that there's I thought it was said somewhere that
there's 40 people that this actually affects in the way of spousal family benefits. Yes. Excluding fire there is 40 employees that have dependent coverage. We we have I just want to make sure I say it every single time.
Say it out loud. I know. I know. Um and you need to keep reminding us of that. Yeah. Because of that. But so we're talking 40 people out of um how many does fire have? Didn't you tell me 50? There's 20 employees currently in fire
that are that have dependent coverage. I'd like to follow up with that question then. So if we if we have uh the other employees do not have dependent coverage, uh can there be a policy starting from
now on that those that do not have would not can add would not get to get. Can we do that as well? Can't add on. We can do that as well. Okay. I know you I'm in trouble now, but Tony, will you
tell him I'm okay? You can don I think one more. All right. Well, then when it's appropriate, I'd like to have that discussion. Yeah, I see what we can have different tiers. And so you can have a traditional plan. We would
just call it the traditional plan, I guess, or going forward. And I hate the word grandfather. Um, well, let's call it the old-timer plan versus the new time. Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey. Some of us fall in that category. Um, you can have a traditional plan and then you can have a
new plan and you can have different tiers and you can have different percentages for those folks going forward. Um, I'm not really sure about when you drop somebody and when you bring on a new because if somebody that is in the traditional plan has a baby, for example, I'm not sure you can do
that. But um we can check into all those options. Thank you. Mhm. Deb, did you want to say something else? Your mic's on. No. Yes. But I don't know what I want to say, so I'll wait. Okay. Anna, do you have anything? Steve,
back to you. Back to me. Unless well well I I I you know I asked if now is the time to discuss the benefits and what we actually want to do and you were leading up to that but I think part of
what we want to consider is um thank you uh that um it depends it depends on what we do with salaries um to what I want to do with benefits.
Okay. Uh so I I I I guess I would like to wait and see what our discussions lead to in in uh races. Okay. I do like what your suggestion, but you know, I mean, we have to do something. This is
it's crazy, you know. I mean, it's not there's a lot of people who live in this town who besides our staff and I want to be fair to the people that are here, but at the same time, we have I like the which the the tier level changing things
just so we don't punish the people who have been here. It's sort of like to me the the freebie thing where you go from free to char trying to charge money and everybody has a meltdown and that's what this is going to have the same effect. So, uh, I do appreciate your suggestion.
I like it. We can modify it to different things and, um, so if you want to just continue on and then we'll, um, have the discussion about again. Is that good with everybody? I' I' I'd like to. Yeah. I'd like to wait a little bit. Yeah. Okay.
Yeah. All right. Go ahead, Jamie. Anything else? No, I'm done. That's it. Okay. So, then I get Are we back to Hattie? No. No, I I I was joking. I'm sorry. Oh, I don't know. I don't know.
Uh I don't know. Forward. I don't know what's next here. I told her to take out some things. So, I think the budget compare, the personnel compare um sheets, I think, are the easiest snapshot for y'all in terms of when you look at all the
personnel sheets. There's a lot of information there. But if you just go to that personnel budget compare sheet, um I think it it outlines it pretty well. There have been questions about what the difference was for the insurance premiums last year versus this year.
Again, it's a more accurate accounting of the type or the tier that was in that department. Whereas last year what they did is they took the total cost and they divided by the number of employees regardless of what tier was happening in
that department. So there are some departments that have more for example when I say tier there's more there's some departments that have mostly single tier which is the villages paying 100% of that premium and then there's departments that have you know the
mixture of the employee and child or the employed spouse or the employee family. So that's why there's such a significant difference between the 2024 25 and the 2526. So then a question for Laura I guess. Lori, I'm sorry. Is it Lori or Laura?
Lori. Okay, Lori. Um to make these changes for the future, it would have to be done through a resolution then. Correct. Yes. And that we'd have to agree on if you have this, this, this, and this. So it
would take effect immediately and that way they're if people can choose if they don't want like the benefits here at the village then they don't take the job you know. So I just wanted to make sure if we have the how the procedure would work to move forward. Yeah that that is exactly how it should
Okay. Thank you. And we would need to do that um prior to open enrollment and open enrollment is the middle of September. So if I can put something together to bring back um for the budget workshop and I can work with
Ron that you know we can put something together so that we would have it available for open enrollment because that's when employees will make their selections. So any changes that we do I need to have something available for I'd like to almost see um some options
first before we we make it into this is what we want. I mean I I you know it is a pretty really it's a really really good insurance plan we have and I don't see how we can afford to keep doing this but not to punish the people who are here it should be something that
starting at this date this is what you're going to get and so that way people can make a choice if they want to do or not but I'm not sure of all the insurance levels like you are so maybe could you give us something we could some homework we could take home and look at it and start having some
suggestions. Maybe a part-time person is different than a full-time. Maybe part-time doesn't get benefits. Oh, really? Okay. Like I said, that's why this is full-time employees only. Okay. But if you could get us something so we could have make some decisions in front of us, I'd appreciate that. So,
I can do that. I've been working on a bunch. Thank you. Yeah. So are you looking like decisions like whether the family spouse categories are 75% paid by the village, 50% paid, 90% paid. Is that what you're
looking for for everything across the board to be fair to the residents as well as people know what they're getting into? Go ahead. No, I'm done. Okay. I'm not going to sit here and argue with you over it. Over what?
Never mind. I'm not arguing with you for for clarification. I think what we're talking about is that going forward this would apply to any new employees. Yes, we're not talking about going in at this point and changing any for existing employees. I think what the discussion
was moving forward anybody new these options would not be available to them. Yes, that's correct. So that I don't know why I thought I was arguing with you. That's that was my intention is what he said. Yeah. Well, I just didn't ever get my statement out. That's was my problem. Okay. Okay.
Okay, going moving on. Hattie, do you have any individual department questions personnel wise? I I had a question about uh one thing I'm kind of sensitive on is over time
and we've seen overtime overtime overtime. My question is why uh uh can can you kind of explain why we project this overtime and the u 2526 proposed
village manager 52,000 uh 10,000 on the clerk um almost 300,000 fire rescue um agree and uh 5,500 in in uh planning.
Can can we can we kind of go over those and explain where those where do we come up with those overtime numbers? Cuz it seems to me that most of our most of the people that have to suffer through these meetings with us are are department
heads, right? Which are exempt employees, aren't they? Um for council, yes. Um for committees, no. Okay. Uh we have recording secretaries for committees that are um hourly paid employees and not salaried. So there's a
little bit for planning for example for LPA historic preservation anytime those meetings are after 5:00 um of achievable housing. I think historic is during the day now but achievable housing and LPA mostly. So that's the staff that comes to do the
recording and that right we have a recording secretary for those and she is an hourly paid employee. So let me ask a silly question on top of that then. Can the can the committee can the committee assign a scribe for those meetings or
does it have to be a uh does it have to be one of the village employees? Uh we did not when I was a leazison when I worked for the village we didn't have a recording secretary that sat in our committee meetings. We actually had somebody that sat in the committee and
and took you know notes and then those were part of the meeting. Is that is it is it a requirement now to have any I think under LPA there is a requirement but um I would have to defer to Jennifer on the other ones like you do have a
staff leaison that's there that technically could be the person I guess. Um, but LPA is a little bit different because we run a LPA like this, like meeting. So, I think what you're going to hear from me from the next several days is I
want to eat this elephant one bite at a time. I I don't want to go in here and try to consume the whole thing. But and and and maybe to a lot of people when we look at a budget as big as ours, finding a way to save $4,000 here or $6,000
there or $12,000 here may sound like minor things, but if you keep throwing the coin in the five gallon jug, eventually that jug is going to be full. And so I think that if if that's something that we can look at and say, well, let's let's just not have that
non-exempt employee scribing for that particular meeting. Let each committee choose just like they do a chair. Somebody that can put those notes down and then every during the day next time or you could have it during the day
instead of at night. Yeah. The meeting. So exactly where I was going to move them during the day hours. Yeah. Options. Um I did want to on I think what's in your book. I do want to go to
uh public works I think is on the next slide there on this budget compare that overtime for budget sorry overtime for public works included fills. We are no longer staffing the fills on
overtime. So I did back that number out and now we are back down to around 20,000 and some change there for public works without the fills and that's really more for emergencies at the wastewater system or something like that. Wastewater is different. So public works
is um AJ's here to answer, but if there's stuff on the weekend like Ann's Beach that those bathrooms have to be cleaned anytime the bathrooms need to be cleaned on holiday weekends and things like that that I know public work they do a small amount considering how much
they cover in the village and when you take out the fills it's like $48,000 difference there without the fills. So which is a great move. I I'd also like to see if if again I know that we're not going to solve all the problems this year, but I would also
like to see if maybe we can outsource cleaning those bathrooms down there to a different company that may be able to save 60,000 or 40,000 uh instead of having our employees go down there. Going look going on. Um AJ
did bring up that they during holidays they will put um portallettes down there um and then that's actually cheaper than paying overtime for the attendants to be there. They put the portallettes there and then the company actually cleans them throughout the day. So he's already considered some of that to to alleviate
the overtime. Wonderful. Good deal. You've been trying to say something you want to say? No, I was just going to say something along those same lines. I asked several of those questions when I had the meeting with staff of where that overtime was coming and and I am also of
the belief that I don't maybe it's 4,000 at a time but all the pennies add up eventually if you throw a penny in a bucket you will get it full. Yep. Um there are there are um I suggested that
there's no overtime budgeted but can be approved because of illness, because of vacations, because of emergencies, because of And there's a a whole array. All of us who have done
business know this of why you may have overtime and and sometimes it's easier but I think all of that should be approved overtime through the manager. I agree. That's very good. I agree. You know, I'd like to see us outsource and
you you've heard my conversation with you today about outsourcing some of our things here in the village. My suggestion is I'm sorry the lawn service. I mean, we could hire a couple companies here and support locals. We
could get rid of some vehicles. We could get not have to buy a $9,000 scagg mower or get anything repaired. I think we could save a lot of money. I do. And I'd sort of like to look farther into that. I know you said you don't think there's much of a savings. I don't agree. I
think there is. I think if you if you just use the building fund as an example, you're going to see a lot of things in parenthesis. And and the reason why is because uh Sheila is outsourcing a lot of her inspections and a lot of her plan review and and that's
saving us uh on on um you know our our burden our our 40% at least burden on top of whatever. And those those those guys that are doing the people that are doing those uh inspections that are that are
from a different company um are, you know, they're they're qualified. They're they're they're just as certified as any other inspector and plan examiner as as as you could get. And there's a huge savings in the building fund. That's a
perfect example 100% of why outsourcing in many ways is going to is is going to we don't pay benefits if we don't pay insurance. I just think we need to take a deeper look into outsourcing a lot of this stuff which will save us money.
Like I said, we're probably not going to fix it all this year, but next year we're already working on it, but next year is going to be even better if we can start making these policies. Go ahead, Ron. Yeah, to clarify, we're already looking at outsourcing some things. We we've already done it with finance, for example, rather than going
and I removed the notice that we're hiring a finance director. It's no longer a vacant position. We eliminated it. We're going to contract out with uh some existing firms to take it over. Once again, especially budget time, it's an intense period of 2 or 3 months, but the rest of the year, why would you pay
an employee, a full-time employee with benefits, etc., when the real intense time is the two months we'd rather contract it out? it's working out to be more economical. So finance is a good the best example. The other ones I'm not saying we won't save money. I'm saying we don't know. We can look at the
maintenance of uh landscaping the the highways. There's some things we can litter control. Those are all things, but remember we'd have to go out for bids and the bids may come in high. So I'm not saying it won't save money. I'm just saying we don't know until we see some responses because they may say, you know, our bids this much and you're
going to have to pay us more than you want to pay. Then we won't do it. But I think we should have options to bring before the council and say, "We've gone out there. We've talked to contractors and they coming in pretty low. Let's look at this." Or they may come in and say, "We're not interested or we're going to have to charge too much because remember they have the same employee
issues we have and lately they've been losing some. I'll just say for other outside reasons or they not for example in the landscaping business, I've heard stories that they're h they're having a hard time keeping and attracting employees." Well, that's my suggestion would be to have several two or three companies. That way if
something happens with one you have the other ones. I just think you know when you start adding up uh insuranceances and overtime and all that stuff and and equipment why why are we the other thing we just did was we as you know we had a RFP process and we had
what's called a library of services where contractors already gone through our extensive review and I've already asked for example Peter's in the audience. We've already spent talking about are there landscape companies included for example, but we we need to start that process. But we're in the middle of the budget right now and some
of these things may not be able to happen before next month, but it's certainly something on on the radar. And going back to overtime in the current year budget, I already put out a written directive that no more overtime. Uh and let's just say it it was in the budget and we've had a difficult time maybe not
being clear enough going forward. It'll be very clear, no overtime without my express written approval just to make it sure that we and there there are some very good reasons to have overtime. Sometimes it actually saves you money than going out and hiring somebody else. Uh but I want to make sure that from a fiscal standpoint any overtime is being
looked at at least by me uh before it gets done. So that's definitely going to be going forward uh October 1st, no overtime without express written approval. The contracting things we're already looking at it and we'll bring it back to the council. Thank you. Anna, did you want to say something? Well, yeah. I have a question, too. Is
on parks and wreck, other salaries and wages is an increase of almost $95,000. Yeah, that's actually um I made a boo boo there. That uh that's the seasonal employees and that number should be
included with the regular salaries. It it still comes out to the 206 whatever that Yeah. 20 Yeah, it still comes out to the same number. It's just that number should be like 53,000 that
other wages and salaries and the increase in the regular salaries is um the increase is 374,000 up there in the top and that's the seasonal. So, it should be 1.3 at for
regular salaries and then 53,928 in that next line. Again, it comes out to still the same number at the bottom, but I just put it in the wrong spot. It's a formula error. We'll we'll correct it before we come back. It's a formula error.
No, it's fine. It's just it's still a big increase from it's a still a big jump no matter what, however you put it. Right. I mean, $95,000. Yeah.
Did we Did are we paying um um new contractors to do I don't know swim lessons or something? Is that is that employee only? So, we have part-time
employees and seasonal employees in that total um regular salaries bucket. We did change some of our part-time employees to um seasonal because they weren't here um as much of the years they would be
classified as part. I think what she's trying to get at is where did the $94,000 come from? Was that did we did we hire um extra?
It it may be a parks and recck department head question. not necessarily yours. Um, we did we did have a couple of employees that um got a increase um
based on um not I don't I no I'll have to go back and like dig into the number but um I don't want to just It's okay. Can I recommend that Maria, our parks rec director, is here. Rather than us kind of dancing around, maybe
she can give a direct answer. So, well, you're on the spot, Maria. I warned her. I'll do my best. Um, so basically, we're talking about our seasonal employees. So, um, our or what our seasonal employees do is pretty much they are
when we're short full-time, uh, employees, then we our seasonal employees come in to help fill that void. Most of our seasonal employees are scheduled during the summer months. That's when we have our recreation camps and um, need extra lifeguards for the
pool since the pool is so much busier. So um with the so basically the increase in that in the seasonal wages was due to needing more extra seasonal help and also um there is a special pay category
that was added this year and that's in our new um personnel personnel. So special pay uh was an addition and that means that for the 10 holidays that the park is open, our part-time and seasonal employees do
receive special pay for that and that's what increased that. So it's um the basically that's 10 holidays. Yeah. So it's three months basically. Yes. And then it's 10 holidays that the
park is open for um when we're open actually it's basically 12 holidays a year that the park is open. The 10 holidays um a year we have se seasonal staff and part-time staff that is is getting paid
special pay and that's in our new policy manual. But what's special? We can't call it holiday pay cuz they're wonderful special payers. It's just like secret sauce or something. We're just not allowed to call it holiday pay.
Well, I and that I believe around 50 $55,000. Yeah, probably. Probably. So I yeah I think what the the real question is is we're we're showing for the new year that it would be a hundred
or I'm sorry 200 rounding $250,000 more in salaries whether you call them seasonal regular part-time full-time holiday it's it's it's 250,000 is a sizable
increase. It is if it was something that we transferred out of one department into another and are now showing it in parks and wreck. No, it wasn't that. I'm trying to give you an excuse.
I'll um give you details later. Yeah. Thank you. I need to look dig. I need to dig. Marie, anybody have anything for Maria before she goes away? No. Okay. Thank you.
All right. Moving on. Moving on. Jamie, anything else? Oh, god. No. No. I'm sorry. Um, what? Whatever you guys would like to Anything else on personal questions?
Steve and we can come back for more obviously. Yeah, we will. Trust me. Oh, I did want to point out that there is um some unfunded positions and those are our vacancies. So, we did zero out the funding on a few of those already. So,
that is included in the personnel sheets. You'll see the it'll have the position title and then in parenthesis it'll say vacant. And then if you look across there's some that are going to be unfunded or proposed to be unfunded, which means we're not planning on
filling them. just people don't really want to lose the position um but keeping the position and keeping it unfunded. So you'll see the position it's vacant but there's no dollars associated. So you're saying like down the road
maybe it will be why what's the purpose of keeping it there as you say unfunded? It's it's harder to come back and ask for a body. Let me give an example. uh our our our planning director, Jennifer, has a has had a position open for months. And so
my recommendation was if you haven't had that person because nobody's applied that we could hire, why keep it in the budget? I was just going to eliminate it. And she requested that we leave it in the budget even though it's not funded because if and when we we the revenues improve, for example, and there's money there and somebody does
apply the budget, it's in the budget, although it's not funded yet. So I I think we said but hold up for 6 months or something. That's for the senior. We um budget. Yeah. The senior planner we did like eight months worth of budget instead of a full year. But the junior
planner we just took the money out. So some we just eliminated. But if a department head said we'd like to keep it in the budget even it's not funded if and when we could do a budget amendment for example down the road. But we wanted to give them flexibility. But I didn't want to just keep positions on the books that have not been filled for months.
and it makes it look like we're still hiring when we're not going to be hiring at least for the next few months until we know where we are financially. Makes sense. I have another question. Um you you said earlier that you've already decided that we're going to go out for finance to a
um firm or multiple firms, however that works out. Um, and do we know yet if that is more cost effective of how they're going to build? We don't know yet, right?
Well, we we we're not sure yet what services we want to contract out for. That's we want to get through this budget process, which is obvious because you that's specifically the the one we definitely want to do that with because it's worked out. We wanted to kind of do on a trial basis. Last year, I believe I
wasn't here obviously, but last year I think we paid an outside firm 12,000 a month uh to help us the budget. Uh so far, I think we're in for maybe 6,000. So, they spent 24,000 last year to get to the point where we've spent maybe 6,000. So, we've already saved a lot of money from last year. And that's with a
full staff last year. That's when we had a finance director and everybody else, they still brought in a firm. Uh I think that, you know, we want to look at contracting as much particular when it comes to the budget. Once again, the budget is a very timeintensive but short timeframe situation and I I I don't like
paying somebody full-time for a year to do 3 months worth of work. So, that specifically I'm looking at. There may be other things we we need to do if we don't fill for example example Hadtie's current position of senior staff accountant and but we need to have somebody fill in for some finance director things that she may not want to
do. We maybe do a combination. So there's there's different ways of looking at it, but since we had a short time frame to get this budget done, we're just saying that's on the agenda, but we haven't really figured out what we what we need or want for finance. The public works stuff, that's a little bit longer range because we have to go out
and look at different companies and what services provided. Uh but we want to keep that's definitely on the agenda of where can we outsource if it saves us money. Well, and that would be my end objective is sometimes outsourcing doesn't necessarily mean you're going to save
money. It has to be compared. Um, it sounds like it should, but until you actually figure it out, uh, you you won't know. What do you guys want to move on to? You wanted to do public works.
Um, uh, the next item we have is just to look at the projections, but it's it's up to you. We have most of our staff is here, so we can we can move along to wherever you'd like to move. Anybody have a suggestion? Would you like to do? I'm just not sure how to fit it all in.
And maybe that's why we have a three-day. Yeah. This thing because I've got Well, we have 45 minutes left. These are these are all of the things that I want to hit on and I don't know when when I should hit on. You tell me. and I'm going for it. Well,
and we only have 45 minutes. So, we have to end at 5:00. So, we have a 5:30 called meeting for the assessment of the second readings. And so, but here for two more days. And so, but you can get as much you can before five. Just recognize at 5:00 we're going to have to shift over to the special call meeting.
Have you guys done everything you want to do? And we can have discussion up here or what do you um I've asked Marne if she's okay with starting with hers because she will handle the council budget and the clerk budget and those are kind of smaller items that won't take as long as for
example public works. So if Marne would like to move along I'll get to your tab for you. All right. Well doing that. I will pull up my uh papers here. Um, so our council budget has a number of professional
services. Um, right now we have both of the lobby firms. Um, so I don't know if we want to look at that, but um, they are What tab are you on? Thank you. We're going to tab eight. Thank you. Yeah, this is for village council. I was scramble.
I could Yeah, I could dig hard enough. I could Good boy. And I have a request. Next year or if you reprint these, can you use a little darker color red? It's very hard to
Sorry, we had an issue with our printer and didn't realize it till it was all printed and it's okay. Cut from the budget budget. That's that ink that you know office supplies ink that that's ink. All right. Sorry.
Okay. So, moving on. Um you'll see for travel and pdeium, we have a proposed budget of $20,000. Um that kind of varies depending on where who and where um council members want to go. I mean,
some of the things that we um routinely budget for are the Florida League of Cities, uh Florida Keys Day. Um now we're starting to put um some into the budget for the inter institute for elected municipal officials through the FLC because it's a good learning
experience. Um so those are where the travel and pdeium costs come from. I mean if you wanted to have a conversation about what you will and won't attend and how many people you'll send um there's possibility of reducing
that. We kind of set it at $4,000 per person. So, um, you know, think about how much you're planning to travel and we can take that number from there. I'd like to go to Europe. Go ahead.
Okay. So, for PR advertising, uh, you'll see the holiday light skates are the, um, holiday decor is down to the $59,000 that was quoted and, um, decided on earlier in the year. Um, we do have $15,000
uh budgeted for fireworks. Uh, newspaper advertisements, we have $3,000. Those are things like um agendas being posted on online and other
council based um things we want to uh get in the paper. Yes. Actually, newspaper actually newspaper ad newspaper advertising. Yeah. Let me just leave it at that. And um okay, so uh charitable donations
have been removed. So that's 16 $67,000 um not there from last year. As well as a settlement you'll see for 18,772 that was a one-time thing. So that is no longer on the budget. Um miscellaneous,
you know, that could be odds and ends in anything. Uh we have budgeted $8,000. Um but you know you could well adjust that if if desired. Um in your other expenses we also have
uh the other part of that settlement for 61228. Um office supplies uh we have 3500 um you know we do furnish office supplies for council throughout the
year. Um so that's what that is based on. We have dues and subscriptions. Um, Florida League of Cities, that is something that we probably don't want to um not fund. Uh, it's a good uh organization for the village to be part
of and, uh, it's fairly nominal, um, subscription fee. Uh, below that, we have $400 for the Florida League of Mayors. Um, League of Mayors is a division of the League of Cities and our prior mayor wanted to be a part of that.
So, we left the money in the budget. Um, no left. It can absolutely that can absolutely be removed. And we do just have the the one-year terms for mayor. So, you know, it it may be beneficial to take those nickels and dimes out of
there. Yep. And um the Microsoft Office costs. uh that's events thing and other and miscellaneous under dues and subscriptions are just those things that you know show up out of the blue that
we're not really expecting. Are there any questions about the council budget? So just by changing the holidays and getting rid of the giving money to charities, we have decreased it by almost $200,000.
That's that's wonderful. It really is. I think it sends the message. I think it does too. So, I appreciate the effort. Go ahead, Don. So, I um is is I know that we hired um a
an attorney um an ethics attorney. Uh is that under the uh miscellaneous portion of the perceptional services? That is probably exactly what and that accounts for Mr. Heron on that. That's right. Is that enough for him? Yes,
it is. Okay. Yeah. And that would also maybe count if there were other um legal expenses we need to reimburse uh council members for. Yeah. To have that, you know, have that buffer to be able to do that. And that would be where
um that's still I believe under um you know what I would say under I don't see that. And I have a projection that we're probably going to be looking at 20,000 15 $20,000 for frivolous complaint. So, uh that's going to hit us next month, I
think. Hopefully that could fall into this year as opposed to next year. That'll be on next this year. Yeah. Yeah, that'll be on this year. To clarify the what what you're referring to is the state attorney's investigation has been formally closed. Once again, it's been in the newspaper. Uh but under our ordinances, we can
reimburse uh once it's been closed. has now been formally closed. We've been getting the invoices in. I would estimate it's going to be about $20,000. Uh cuz it's not just the council members, it's a former council member and also our legal council. Weissto had to go out and hire outside counsel. But
that one once again, assuming we can get it done, it'll be on the September uh village meeting and if you approve it, we can pay in this current year. So that's why it's not going to be in the budget going forward. It'll be in this current year budget. Uh the other thing about the the ethics that is Mark Heron
and that just assists you with the required disclosure forms. So I don't anticipate any big increases there and hopefully we'll have no further issues with the investigations and so we won't budget it. I'll I'll try to handle it internally if we can.
That' be a smart idea. Thank you. We kind of alluded to this League of Mayors. Um those meetings take place at a different time than the League of Cities. Um, if none of us are planning on going, well, if if any of us were
mayor and planning on going, um, it's only $400, but it's $400 if we want to scratch it. You know, I don't think anybody really did it before Buddy to tell you the truth that I know of. Yeah, we have one council member that was very interested in that over the
years. Correct. Eye doctor. Yes, sir. Ken Phillips. That's right. No, not um you can you can attend the meeting. I don't I think you have to be a mayor to attend the meeting, but you you don't have to participate in being an officer and that's what Buddy always wanted to
do, but uh you don't have to go to that. But it is a I believe maybe not maybe it overlaps league of cities. It could overlap, but they do actually meet during the league of cities conference. Um okay. and they
also meet during the uh legislative FLC legislative conference earlier in the year to save time. We'll eliminate it. Thank you. Consider gone. Okay. Any other question? Any questions for Marty? Anybody got anything else?
Okay. So, moving on to the clerk budget. Uh so, um you have $10,000 overtime. Um I don't anticipate us using that much. Um that would be in case something happened to me and Stephanie had to stay
late and start doing council meetings. Um you know so that's the kind of thing that would be overtime. Um unless we adjusted her hours and I don't think she'd appreciate that. Um so for professional services you'll see we have MUN code of ordinance uh services and
it's $4,700 but we also have under dues and subscriptions um a similar fee. So, um I'm having Vince check into uh our Civic Plus budget because at this co point um MUN code is part of Civic
Plus and uh they if you're not familiar with MUN code, it's the cotification um and hosting for our uh code of ordinances and charter. So, um that may be adjusted, that figure may come down.
Um all point is uh there are shred people. So, occasionally throughout the year, um, staff will have paper records that need to be destroyed. So, we kind of hold off until it's worth calling the truck for, but it's usually 400ish
uh per um per shred. So, you know, we basing that on doing it two times a year. Um, global relay is for public record request. Uh, that's for data extractions. um we have to pay to get our data back from um Global Relay. They
are uh email archiving company. We've had them for a very long time. Um they yeah they they won't pull anything until we pay them. So uh so that's there but that could change as well. So you know we only have
the 350. Sometimes we use it, sometimes we don't. um if we have those kind of uh uh email extraction requests for public records requests that we pass along to the requester. So they'll have to pay pay that upfront before we ask for a
data extraction. Um then we've got our Civic Plus agenda management software that I love so much for $11,000. Uh currently we have $3,500 in the travel and PDM account. Um, so generally
I go to uh Florida Association of City Clerks winter uh conference and Stephanie goes to the summer conference as she is working on uh obtaining her certified municipal clerk status or stat certification I should say. And you know
that she's close but she's not quite there yet. So it may take another year or two and I would be more than happy to let her go to the conference I generally go to because I do have the master municipal clerk certification so I don't
necessarily need to go. So um that is all to say that uh you know that number could be adjusted. Um I think that's pretty realistic though for two conferences um for two, you know, for one person to go each.
Um communications, that's also a Vince thing. Uh freight and postage, we often don't really have anything, but um say we have a resolution that needs to be um FedEx to John Quick so that we can get
his uh wet signature on it. That's the kind of things that we use for freight and postage. And um it's a minimal cost. So we just uh have that kind of in the kind of in the hopper in case we need it. Um public uh rec public relations
and advertising. So, um this we have at $3,000 and it's bumped up from this year because part of what will be uh required to um advertise next year in the paper is election uh
election notifications. So, and the um supervisor of elections is looking at putting the onus more on the communities to do their election advertising. A lot of them haven't had to. So, uh, so that is why we wanted to make sure that we
had enough to cover that. So, I see it looks to me like it's down from the previous year. We were at four and now we're at three. Well, we had it budgeted at four. Um, and we used 26. You used 26. And again, that's one of
those things. How many uh ordinances are we going to have to advertise? how many, you know, but with the election stuff, is 400 enough to cover that? We'll assume everything else stays equal. Uh, well, we have it set at 3,000.
So, that's 400 over what we've spent so far, at least. Is 400 enough to do the I I don't want to raise the figure. I really don't. But I want to be realistic about the figure. I think it's a realistic starting point.
Okay. Um other expenses, those are, you know, other other things that come up that we need that aren't don't really fall into any other category. Um office supplies
and expenses. uh those are um that is high because we are I realized over this past year that we're being charged by our copier company for every copy that we
produce. So with us making the council books and all the other printing that we do um that that price is raised has gone up quite a bit. That's why you'll see the 6176 for this current year and you know that will increase. Why don't we have our own printer?
Pardon? Why are you paying a dollar a page? Would you have I don't know if we're paying a dollar a page. We're paying the Yeah, we're paying the printer company who are leasing us the machines. Wouldn't it be cheaper if we I do a lot of my printing for my tournaments myself
to save money. I would I know it's a horrible job to stand there books. Some of it's a maintenance agreement with that incl It includes your toner and everything else. Oh, it everything. Yeah, complete care of it. But maybe maybe it's negotiable.
Yeah. Uh well, we can certainly look into it and you know that would also include we buy a lot of paper so for those things. Um then under our sorry
so you are I know that you can't charge I mean obviously you've got these books that you do and all of that but certainly when you are allowed by Florida statute to charge when somebody's asking for you to make copies of certain things. Right. Yeah. That happens very rarely and if if
they do because they want it electronically now or Yeah. Yeah. So it it is it is rare that anybody wants anything on paper anymore, but if they did, yes, they would be charged for that. Okay, sorry about that. And uh then moving on to dues and subscription. If nobody else
has any questions, um, our professional memberships, um, we have $700. That is for, uh, Stephanie and I to be members of the International Institute of Municipal Clerks, Florida Association of City Clerks, and Monroe
County Municipal Clerks Association. So, that's what those go for. Um, the GoDaddy and Microsoft Office. Uh, GoDaddy has nothing. Microsoft Office, that's a Vince thing. Um, so we're down to the 4,700 that I referenced earlier from MUN code and that may well be
adjusted once uh Vince and I have a chance to really take a mistake really go down is a mistake. So that's doubled up on your budget. Okay. So there's 4600 plus agenda management should be website
for wrong. So that's mislabel too. We'll fix that. Okay. Well, there we go. So that's a mistake and we'll be coming off. Um that's 4600 or 4,700. Um yeah and then Vince just mentioned Civic Plus uh our just FOYA subscription
we have moved to um electronic uh FOYA management or public records request management. So people submit their um request online, we answer online. Um it has been a real benefit for us being
able to um for one thing keep track of how much we are charging. Like if someone has a request that is over 30 minutes you know if it it comes up to an hour then we would charge them for the 30 minutes. So
it's to say that now I'm realizing exactly how much we're bringing in for for public records requests. So, you know, I think that's offsetting the um software somewhat. We I think we've done about $8,000 since we started it in late 2024.
So, I would like to keep that if possible. And then the other is just miscellaneous. Um training, those would be like the registration fees for Stephanie and I to go to uh conferences. So, that that's where um the training
budget comes from. So you have you have um civic plus under prof professional services and it's also under d and is that actually the duplicate also?
Yes. I mean it's 11,000 in one place and 10 that's that's something we have to fix. One of them is for civic plus and our streaming service when we're doing the meetings. The other one is for our website and all that other stuff. So there is two there's two separate ones, but the the
Munich code is a that's doubled up and we probably need to move the website to professional services, too. We'll take care of that. Okay, no problem. Is there any other questions? No. Anybody have anything? I'm good with it. I'm throwing It's gone
down. I have a question. I do have a question. Uh we talked about the overtime. Will the overtime not show? Will we take this out? How are we handling that, Ron? You talking specifically with the clerks? Yeah.
It's the first one we've touched. You talking about the 10,000s in the proposed budget? Yes. Yeah. I I don't anticipate it being that because we're going to take tighter control over over time. That that's just they put that number in there. But we're going to come back with a revised budget. This is the once again to be
clear this is the 3M budget that we have gotten direction individually from each of you that you don't want it to be at 3 mills you want it less. So we're going to come back with more reductions. There were some reductions built into this budget. We have to come back with more uh we've talked about perhaps reducing
uh some some partic I won't go into detail tonight but there's some fund balances that we can reduce for example it's in the proposed budget uh that can apply towards the shortfalls. So this was the starting budget with the recognition that it will be less next time we bring it before you.
So my my question was this $10,000 that we see on this paper, will it disappear the next time we see this piece of paper or be reduced? I'll leave that to the clerk. This was her recommendation. I don't want to speak for it at this point. I have the ultimate authority. Let's just say we'll
be reviewing it, but if she wants to talk about it now, I'll be happy to have it be public. Well, didn't didn't you say this is in case Stephanie needs to come in if she gets sick or something is to cover her cost to bring Stephanie here. So, we're going to see overtime on the books. You're going to see it in your budget.
It might not actually happen. That's not what I heard you saying that you wanted. So, well, we've but we've but we have lessened it, right? I mean, the projected was 19 projected now is 10. Uh they've only
spent they've spent 83, right? No, last year was Yeah. Okay. 83. Yeah. They're projecting this year though those been 19. They're projecting those been 19. Yeah. So, that will definitely be going down. I just wanted I just wanted to know how
we're planning on handling this control of overtime. Whether it's going to show up as it a budget adjustment later cuz we're going to take it out of the budget or whether we're going to show it because we all know we all know that we have sick time, we have vacation time,
we have whatever the office floods, whatever. We all know that. It's just how are we going to book it? I think I think you have to show some. Okay. I think showing zero is just it's just fine. Okay. You just can't do that. Yeah. Mhm.
Well, you just can't do that. There's you have to pay it. And even if it's 15 minutes, you know, it's still going to show up somewhere. But I mean, but it would it would show up as a bud budget adjustment if we had it as zero,
right? Yeah. And I mean I'm I'm if you want to if you want to book it on here so everybody's happy. I just know we said we don't want overtime and that he was going to control it. I'm asking how are we going to book it? If
you want it on here, I don't have a problem. I think what we asked the department has to do is be realistic and say absolutely how much do you think you're going to have to have? Having said that, I still want to have the authority to say no. If they can't justify it to me, then they're going to get turned down. But as
as as Jamie said, we can't put zero if they are expecting overtime because it's federal law. It's requiring us to pay it. So we can't do zero, which again, if we put zero, we'd have a budget amendment. I don't want to do that. I'm just saying these are hopefully realistic numbers, but that doesn't mean we're to spend it because I've had the
discussion with some of our current department heads. They went ahead and did overtime because it was in the budget. We're not going to have that issue anymore. That's that's why I'm asking what you're asking. If you put it on this p piece of paper, people say, "Oh, it's in the budget. I can spend it. I know you're
saying that you're going to control it. I trust that you're going to control it. I just want to make sure that we know how we're going to do that. And in response, the answer is going to be the buck stops here literally. And for overtime, if you can't justify to me, you're not getting it.
But you're looking you're also looking at a two people department. And so one is going to be out, one is going to have to work. And Marne may be exempt, but at the same time, Stephanie's not. So, and that goes for all the department. I think it's a realistic number that we put in there so that we can look at it.
If if they think a realistic number is 20,000, I'm okay with it. I just was asking how we were going to do it because we sat here and said no overtime. Understood. Next. Okay, I'm done.
Are we done, Marne? Yes, that's the council and clerk budget. Unless you have any other questions. No. Anyone have anything for Marne? No, thank you very much. We can do one more tab if you want to do the managers because there are some things we want to explain there. We once
again we have to be done by five. So I think it would get it done then. So where's the manager now? Page long list on that one. It's page page three. And I'll let them present. But one thing I want to make sure that cuz I said why
is mine so much is we transferred a position uh from planning I believe it was under manager. We didn't add any people. It's just a it's a budget transfer. So I was going to explain why that budget looks inflated under um regular salaries. It's because we
transferred a person over two I who Jamie two two people. Well, I'll defer to Jamie as far as really I'd be more willing to just go through and have you ask questions because I don't think we need to go line item by line item unless you have a
specific question. I have a suggestion for village manager. In the past, we uh allow a housing allowance of $4,000. I would like to give the village more control over when we have a manager and
he has a a lease where he's going to live. It's should be changed to up to $4,000. In other words, if you're by yourself and you're living in a apartment or something and it's $1,900,
what happens to the other $2,100? It should be the lease amount and the village should write the check to the landlord. That would be my suggestion and change that to up to 4,000 because if you're single person, you're not going to want a three-bedroom house. But
when we have a manager, whatever, who has kids, they're going to have a bigger house. So, I'd like to make that change in the manager's uh agreement. So, in the contract, so you'd like to amend the contract when it comes time. Yeah. if that's agreeable with everybody
to leave that up to 4,000 instead of 4,000 actually whenever that was appropriate uh with the contract um future managers because you'll be here forever but
uh I also would like to see that that money up to is a good phrase and paid direct to the bank the the landlord the landlord who whatever the case if they're buying the house, it goes to the bank mortgage
just so we have control and it's transparency, that favorite word. So yes, that's the only that's a change I'd like to see happen. So just put it out there. Uh once again, can you explain $52,000 in overtime in this department? I'm sure
I if I'm sure I asked this and I don't remember. It's other pay slashovertime. Okay. What's the other pay? $48,000 for housing. Oh, right. You even told me that. I even put that note down. I'm sorry. So, that'll change.
So, it's 4,000. No. Well, well, I will in the future. It'll bring it down. So, if someone is there, is there a way of line listing that separate or should we? Does anybody else want that? Yeah, we can put it under Henry's idea.
It'll come. I think I'm about to correct it. Correct me if I'm wrong. He had I mean, if we're going to put it out there, we're if we pay for it directly, it'll come out of operating expenses and it will not come out of personnel expenses. So,
you'll see that if we change how we pay that, it won't be in the personnel section. It will be in operating expenses. Okay? So, so this figure would go direct or wherever Hattie says it goes. Yeah. Right.
But it won't be going to the employee in other words, right? Okay. So, if we pay it direct, does it still get uh because it is part of the salary? Um is it still subject to taxing? If you don't pay it, if you pay it
direct to the actual landlord, whoever, it is not going to go on the employees paycheck. So, no, it will not be taxed. It won't be any of that. It'll be separate completely. Okay. I'd like forewarned.
Okay. Forewarned. Heads up. Duly noted. Um I I highlighted something. Once again, it's a silly red. Sorry, it's my eyes. Oh, never mind. I got that one answered. I won't even bring it up.
Ron, do you want to continue on? justifying this. Any questions if you have? So, what employees did you transfer in? What jobs? We transferred uh resiliency and uh sustainability. Alyssa used to be under
the planning department and she's now under Peter Fresa is now going well he has been for the last four to six months. Um been her direct manager. Um, so we're moving her out of the planning
department. You'll see a negative under planning in terms of salary, and that's just really moving her into the manager cuz Peter is under the manager budget. And then the um part-time cultural arts coordinator
um is moving from parks and wreck is where we had it budgeted. And so that you'll that position is moving into village manager. So it's one and a half people and you're under the village manager in has been
you have been or you are the HR person has been. Yeah. the the repair and maintenance on this I was just going to say canals is is that grant money is that I mean it's an expense but is it grant money the the the 81,000 I was just going to say that
I don't think I think that's the canals and so it is the canals it's not grant money is that the matching funds that we have to come up with or what is that Peter yes yeah that's not grant funded work
okay and there's no match to that That's that that lot 81,000. Yeah. Yeah. That's the canal monitoring we do. The villagewide canal monitoring of all 64 canals that guides our canal restoration program.
So all 81,000 is the monitoring is that's our monitoring program. There's no D money for that anywhere. Not it's t not for monitoring. Um there's money for projects,
implementation projects, but just for straight up monitoring. I don't know of any. Uh and this is also a requirement. One of the main reasons we do this, it's a requirement within our work plan from through um Department of Commerce through our work plan for the Florida Keys area of critical state concern.
We're required to have a monitoring plan for our So it's an unfunded mandate. Yes. Exactly. I mean there are D funds for the projects but for monitoring they don't offer money. Um there's an EPA grant that's somewhat it falls under
we've applied for it but never received it because they fund more researchoriented projects than straight up monitoring. Is there a special taxing opportunity for that differently than this? That I mean the people that are
the people that are living on all the dry lots are are paying for people that are beyond canals. Is that I mean I I just Is that a company that does testing uh quarterly, yearly, monthly? How is
this monitoring done? Yeah. So, we use a firm that is in our engineers and architects library. That's WSPUSA. They've been doing the monitoring for us for since the program started 12 years ago. They also do the counties and marathons monitoring. Um,
sure. Another way to do it, we could set up a special taxing district, but we tried to do that. Um, yeah, I know, right? Okay. So, that's that's another option, but that's challenging as you know. And how often do they monitor? Every other month. So, it's bimonthly
monitoring. Okay. So, six times a year. Okay. Correct. Thank you, team. Sure. I can do the math tonight. All right. Anybody have any other questions, comments? Anna, Steve,
we're we're on I mean, as we go through here, of course, you've got gas on here. all of the other departments that drive cars and and um have gas on there. Is it is there um do we actually have a fleet
manager? If not, technically, I've asked public works AJ to take it over and we're talking with his administrative assistant. We're going to put GPS units in the trucks. We're also talked to you about maybe doing a few our own fuel. uh also be able to monitor the gasoline
because there's been instances not in the village but other cases where it may have been abused where they can be filling up cans or fill up other people's cars. So, there's some potential uh issues that we want to look at, but we're going to get a better control over the gasoline. Do you think we could partner with the
sheriff on on his bulk fuel and and and utilize his bulk fuel arrangement that he has and and and be able to you you know fill up there? Well, we're looking at several things. One is the maintenance. For example, we want to team up with the sheriff on on the just the maintenance of the cars, on
the gasoline situations. Why reinvent the wheel if uh if they've already got a good program, as you mentioned before, he is very fiscally conservative. And so, whatever the sheriff's doing, we'd love to be able to piggy back. Well, I think if we're talking about a couple of things here then, so we're talking about
uh the possibility of of of going to some bulk fuel and getting an an estimate or a bid and seeing if we can get cheaper than I mean, what do we do now? Do we AJ, do your guys just go and fill up at uh mobile uh at at one of our local gas stations
when they need fuel? So, we have uh many I'll wait. Yeah. It's not raining. That's That's when I ask the wrong question that goes off. Three times. Three times it's done. All right. So, we have uh many locations
that we actually get fuel from. So, the marina themselves have uh off-road diesel and wreck 90. Um as far as public works, we do get uh WEC 90 for there and sometimes off-road diesel for our equipment. Um same thing you can buy from the marina. Yeah. And does the marina get a better
price than if you were to go to one of our local gas stations? It's pretty equivalent as far as delivered price. Um, off-road diesel is cheaper than on-road diesel because it doesn't have the road tax, right? Um, Fire Rescue does have uh fueling stations for their diesel uh for their
on-road diesel for their trucks. Um, but for the regular vehicles, yeah, we get it at the local gas stations. So, how much is it cheaper if we buy it at the marina? if we're buying it. Uh I it's not much. It's I mean we can look at actual numbers on it. I don't
have the those exact numbers, but I know we have a uh a fuel trailer we use uh for off-road diesel and we order in bulk for that to fill up some of our our backup uh pump at the transfer station and then our generators and things like that and equipment. And then when you have a piece of
equipment that needs to get I know we're going to run out of time. Um I do. Okay. So, um, when you have a piece of equipment that needs to be maintained or needs to be fixed, something breaks down. Okay. How how many trucks do you have? Off the top of my head, I don't have
that that number. Will you bring that back tomorrow, please? Yeah, absolutely. And then uh when something breaks down, h how uh what do you just you run to one of our local mechanics? Do you have So, it depends on what it is. So like uh some of our our larger equipment, Bobcats, get skid steers, things like
that, get taken to uh the manufacturer for uh maintenance. Uh they also have a mobile mechanic that comes and works on those as well. Uh every once in a while, some of the older equipment, we do have some local guys that will come, mobile mechanics, and work on that. Our fleet vehicles that we have, um just regular
trucks and vehicles, uh go to local mechanics. So, so have you do we have a set price with them and it is just whatever I mean have we gone out to bid on those and said look we you're going to be our
preferred vendor we'd like to come to you what are you going to do to discount us. I don't believe they give us a discount but they do take care of us right away. Um there's no wait time or anything of that and we got a couple local ones that we use, but uh if I call them day of, hey, I got an issue, they just drop the
truck off, it's taken care of, and it'll be done that day. So, we're not out of service with that vehicle. Would it save your budget if we had somebody in a let's say a library that said, "Look, I charge everybody else 120 bucks an hour, but because you're going to bring all of your stuff to me, I'll
charge you 100 bucks an hour." Have we tried that? Um I don't believe we have. Why don't we do that? That's a good question. Um, and and how many bobcats and skid steers and stuff do you have? I have two skid steers. Uh, we have a a
man lift. We have a couple tractors between the parks and us. Uh, we have lawnmowers. Um, golf. During the budget, are we going to see a a list of all of your equipment that we are requesting that you have? Are you asking for more?
There are replacement. Yeah, of course. In capital. Yeah, we have to get to be able to get a full handle on a budget. We should be able to see what exposure is out there and then of course someday before this is over list is going to be
for new equipment. But I' I'd like to see that. Yeah, I can give you a list of our equipment. That'd be great. Absolutely. Okay. Thank you, A. Okay. Want to continue on this one? Just here to answer questions. Anybody have anything? No. Deb, nothing else?
Okay. Uh, once again, uh, we're we're adjourning this and we'll be back at 5:30 for a special call meeting and then the next next budget workshop is tomorrow at 3:00, same time, same place. Okay. Okay. I move to adjourn.
All right. Thank you very much. Yep. Part: 2
He can't even do it without laughing. Okay, guys. We're back. Say that. We're back. Okay, Marne, you want to call the role? Yes, ma'am. Council member Steve Freriedman still present. Council member Deb Gillis here. Council
member Anna Richards here. Vice Mayor Don Horton here. And Mayor Sharon Mahoney here. We have a quorum. Gonna do the pledge of allegiance again. Ready? Put your hand on your chest. Ready?
I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Okay. And I want to mention that it's
national night out for the highway patrol, our sheriffs, uh, anyone, I guess, in the safety industry for us here in the Keys. Correct. And so if you're want to come down, have uh something to eat and mingle with the uh our safety people,
we'd love to have you. So, okay. Any uh requests for deletions, additions? Don, I just want to mention one thing on the mayor council communication. So that's all. Okay, Deb. Nope. Anna, no. Steve.
Okay, then I guess we're going to move to mayor council communication. Don, I I just wanted to mention we we don't mention this enough and I wanted to mention that month every month we get a report uh from Susan McLaclin on uh um
on comments that come back from uh people that uh come in contact with our employees in the village. And I wanted to just say that uh out of u out of the seven comments that came back last month, five of them were excellent and
two of them were satisfactory. So, I think that we need to give congratulations to the marina staff, the building staff, code enforcement staff, which is unusual to get a yay out of code enforcement uh and uh fire for excellent ratings on their comments uh
out of last month's company uh customer survey. So, I think it's important that uh that that we recognize the great work that our staff does, and I really appreciate that. So, thank y'all. Thank you, Don. Deb, I'll just tag on to that. Yeah, he's
right. Susan sends that across every month and repeatedly every month it's anything from 8 to 12 replies and most of the time all of them are are excellent.
There's rarely anything less than an excellent. So, I thank our staff for doing that. Okay. Anything else? Nope. Um, Ron, village attorney, village manager, communication. Anything from you all?
This is going to be quick. I hope so. Public comment. Marne, let me double check Zoom. I don't have anyone signed up in the audience. Correct. No one signed up. Okay.
No, we're good. All right, then. I guess we're going to move on to the first tab. which has Haddie. Would you like to take that? Sure. Um this is just a continuation from the previous meeting um to adhere to the statutory requirements for advertisements
um for all the storm water wastewater assessments. Um so the first one we have is our storm water. Oh, that's right, Lori. You should. Thank you, Deb. Yes. Yeah, I'll read it. Um a resolution of the village council of island Marada
village of Isles Florida relating to the provision of storm water management services reimposing storm water ser service assessments against certain real property within Marada village of Isles for the fiscal year beginning October 1st 2025
approving the storm water assessments providing for collection of the storm water services se assessments and providing an effective date. Okay. Haddie, do you have anything else to add now that I reversed your time? I'm sorry. I do not.
Okay. Uh, council, I'll make a motion to approve, but we need public comment. Yeah. Open. I already carry. Sorry. Or let me see any public comment out there. None on Zoom either. Okay. Public comment is now closed.
Okay. I made the motion to approve. Second. Okay. Marty, would you call the role, please? Council member Doug Gillis, yes. Council member Anna Richard, yes. Council member Steve Freriedman, no. Council member or excuse me, Vice Mayor Don Horton, yes.
And Mayor Sharon Mahoney, yes. Motion passes 4 to one. Okay, moving on to tab two. I guess I would ask Lori to please Yep. Uh this is a resolution of the village council of Islam Marada village of Isles Florida relating to the
collection and disposal of solid waste in Isa Marada village of Isles Florida reimposing solid waste services assessments against the assessed property located within Marada village of Islands Florida for the fiscal year beginning October 1st 2025 approving the
rate of assessment approving the assessment role and providing an effective Thank you. Haddie, do you have anything on this one? I do not. Okay. Public comment. There's none. Public comment is closed. All right.
Council, I have a question on this. Oh. Um, so this rate uh this represents a a little over a 4% increase from the prior year. Is that going to make uh Is that
going to make this this solvent? Are we going to be staying even? It it is not it's not going to cover um the amount that it costs to So, we'll have to come out of the general fund to make up the difference. Yes. Can Can we explain how much that's going
to be in dollars? I would have to look it up. Put you on the spot. Just roughly. I think it was a 20 uh we're currently charging $490. It would go up to I think 510 520 510 510. So it was it's a $20 per year, not
per month. A $20 per year increase. I believe we have the authority to go up to 550. There was discussion back with the previous finance director about making it whole by going to the entire 550 and the decision was to not hit it all at one time because the impact on
the but is running a deficit. uh because of cost of living increases are factored into our contractor, but we're not raising the rates. And so we we our expenses are going up because the cost of living, it's in the contract, but yet our revenues are flat.
Is this a contract we inherited? It was rely on disposal was I inherited. I'm not sure who inherited on this council an island disposal. I don't recall doing that. And the reason apparently the history of it was that we had waste management and apparently their their proposal was even higher because of fees with the county
etc. So waste management came in too high. Island disposal was a lower bid even though it may have been more expensive than the previous it was still less than waste management's proposal was my understanding. Yes. But this is the at this point this is since it's been advertised this is this
is all we can do at this moment. Yes. One of the council people have asked me if we could maybe increase today, but because of the timing, I don't think it's realistic to try to do it. So, and plus once again, I think if if the rate payers would probably prefer to have it maybe graduated, I suppose it impacted all one time. I do think if
you're going to go over 550, it's my understanding you'd have to go to the voters. You'd have to get a referendum and that's at least a year away. I um I verified that and it doesn't have to go to referendum, but it does have to be advertised and and noticed different to
raise that maximum rate. Okay. Okay. Um I would also add that this proposal is only for the residential. Um it does not control the commercial. Uh the
commercial is a separate contract. Um and um is Well, it's noticed through the village. I I was going to say it's not controlled by the village, but it's it's noticed through the village. So, anybody else have anything they want to
say? Anna, Steve? No. Okay. I'll make a motion to approve. I have a second. Second. Morning. Would you call the role, please? I'm sorry. I was looking down. Who motioned? Okay. Dean.
All right. And council member De Gills. Yes. Council member Anna Richards. Yes. Council member Steve Freriedman. No. Uh, Vice Mayor Don Horton. Yes. And Mayor Sharon Mahoney. Yes. Motion passes 4 to one. Okay. Uh, Lori, tab three, please.
Yeah. Uh, resolution of the village council of Isa Marada village of Isles, Florida, relating to the construction and funding of wastewater collection and treatment facilities within the north plantation key assessment area. reimposing special assessments for the
fiscal year beginning October 1st, 2025. Approving the assessment role, providing for collection of the assessments, and providing an effective date. Okay, Hattie, do you have anything you want to add? Just checking. Public comment.
We have none. Okay. All right. Council, any questions? Is this another fund that the general fund is going to be uh filling in the blank? That's what I was going to ask. Don't you know that? Yes. Is this a is and is there any way to
raise this to where general fund does not have to Well, here comes AJ. You may have an answer. So, these next um these next that you hear for the wastewater are purely the reimbursement that the property owners So, when we built the wastewater system,
the cost of it, there's a cost per home and if you could either pay it in full or you can put it on your assessment. So, these are the homeowners that put it on their assessment, and it's just an annual reimbursement to pay back that loan. So, are we almost close to paying that loan off? Uh, a lot a lot of these loans we have
paid off. Some of those loans are 20-year loans, but there's a few of them. Um, and these assessments were done in phases as they did the project. Um, so the one you're talking about now is, I believe, MPK, so it's the north end of that that project. Um, but I
think there's five of them total. Um and it's just for the repayment of those loans that the village took on behalf to do the project. So um there's no so in the 10 years we got left on this right because I think
it matures at 2035 will will the village have been made whole on these correct. So the these were low interest rate loans whatever they may have been the loans that we took out um if you did put it on a tax roll. So just so given a
number if it was $7,000 if you paid cash all at once there was an additional for the interest of that loan and it's just basically your payment plan u to pay it off. So there's no like the taxpayers are not having to fund this. This is just we're
paying off a loan through all of the people that borrowed it at the very beginning. Correct. And and the trend currently is when homes are being bought and sold right now, if you do buy a new buy a home, if there was anything left on that, they're incorporating in that. So
we get those those funds instead of for the next 10 years or whatever it may be that they had to continue paying on it, we get it all at once. So we are no longer collecting on that home. So what in in short, it's not a burden on the taxpayers in any way what we're doing now. Correct. Yeah. The rate has never
changed. It's been a set rate from the very beginning and it makes us whole at the end of it when the when they've paid off um their assessment for that. Then I then I'd move to approve. Well, does anybody else have a question or anything before Yeah, I saw that.
No, I I would say the same thing is that these these were designed over to recover the costs that the homeowners did not want to pay upfront. Correct. Um, when we put the sewers in, we had a huge bill. We took out a low
interest loan through FR. No, there's there's a couple of them. Yeah. Whatever. We took it out through somewhere. And this just spread it out for the the homeowners and or the businesses. Correct. Uh so that they didn't have to come up with a lump sum. I can I can tell you
that mine upfront on the sunset, which I don't own anymore, was $80,000 to come up to pay it off up front. And that's a tough bill to do. So over the tax bill, it makes it much easier. I agree. Good deal.
So you you I made a motion. I'll second it. I was Oh, I thought we do that. I'm sorry. We have public comment. We have no one second. Okay, it's closed. Uh, council, do you have anything else to say? No. All right. He first. I second.
Okay. Call the role, please. Vice Mayor Don Horton, yes. Council member Deb Gillis, yes. Council member Steve Freriedman, no. Council member Anna Richards, yes. And Mayor Sharon Mahoney. Yes. The motion passes. Four to one. Okay. Moving on to tab four. Lori.
Yep. Uh, resolution of the village council of Isa Marada village of Isles. Um, Florida relating to the collection of wastewater fees and administrative costs within the uh Woods Corner Assessment Area, reimposing special assessments for the fiscal year
beginning October 1st, 2025, approving the assessment role, providing for collection of the assessments, and providing for an effective date. Okay. Anything you want to say, Hattie, AJ? Okay. Public comment. There's none. Okay. Council,
this is same thing, right? We're just paying off a loan. Everything's the same. The taxpayers are not doing it. Then I move to a It's the Woods Corner one. This is This is only Woods Corner. Woods Corner. Yeah. Okay. Um I'd like to ask a question. Steve,
can you give me maybe shed some light or why you're voting? No. Am I missing something or you just don't feel it's right? I'm confused here. Just out of for my own I don't understand. I'm just not really familiar with this enough to to vote confidently on it. I'm I have some hesitancy on the
formulas and and and how we came to these. Thank you. Appreciate that reason. I was just curious anybody anything else from anybody? It's a good question. I Good question. Um do I have a motion? I'd move to approve. Okay. Second. Morning.
Vice Mayor Don Horton. Yes. Council member Anna Richard. Yes. Council member Steve Freriedman. No. Council member Deb Gillis. Yes. And Mayor Sharon Nahoney. Yes. Motion passes. For one. Moving on to tab five. Miss Lori. Yes. Uh a resolution of the village
council of Mar Village of Islands, Florida, relating to the construction and funding of the wastewater collection and treatment facilities within the North Plantation Key Supplemental Assessment Area. Re-imposing the special assessments for fiscal year beginning
October 1st, 2025. approving the assessment role, providing for collection of the assessments, and providing an effective date. Okay. Um Patty or AJ have anything to say before I open public? Same situation, public comment seat back there.
There is none. Okay. Council, any discussion? I just wanted to thank staff for taking the time to explain this to me ahead of time and and to be able to come in and talk to them before these meetings and so that I fully understood that. And the reason why the only reason why I'm
asking the questions that I'm asking is so that the general public understands as well that these are just paying off a loan. These are commitments that were made a long time ago and we need to pay off these loans and the folks that are buying the houses or the folks that
already hooked up to the sewer are helping by paying off this loan that we took for them in order to pay it off. So with that, I'd move to approve. And I'll second. Okay. Morning. Vice Mayor Don Horton. Yes.
Council member Deb Gillis. Yes. Council member Steve Freriedman. No. Council member Anna Richards. Yes. And I'm sure Mayor Sharon Mahoney. Yes. Motion passes four to one. Okay. Tab six. uh resolution of the
village council of Isa Marada village of islands, Florida relating to the construction of wastewater collection and treatment facilities for the wastewater assessment area within the village excluding the North Plantation
Key, Woods Corner and North Plantation Key supplemental assessment areas. Reimposing special assessments for the fiscal year beginning October 1st, 2025. Approving the assessment role. providing for collection of the assessments and providing an effective date.
Okay. Anything from you guys? No, we're good. Okay. Public comment. That's surprising. I'll just make one comment. So, so there's many of them because as the sewers were put in each section,
uh we passed assessment roles to help fund for what we were doing going forward. So because each area because well yeah but we tried to balance it but um we didn't we didn't want to wait
um until the end to for the people who were already online. So we tried to balance it out by uh making different sections of it but they're all the same. Anybody else have anything?
Motion to approve. I'll second. Barney. Council member Doug Gillis. Yes. Vice Mayor Don Horton. Yes. Council member Steve Freriedman. No. Council member Anna Richards. Yes. And Mayor Sharon Mahoney. Yes. That motion passes 4 to one.
Okay. Moving to the final tab seven. A resolution of the village council of island Marada village of Isles Islands uh Florida relating to the construction and funding of the wastewater collection and treatment facilities for phase two of the wastewater assessment area within
the village but excluding the north plantation key north plantation key supplemental and woods corner assessment areas reimposing the special assessments for fiscal year beginning October 1st 2025. Five, approving the assessment
role, providing for collection of the assessments, and providing for effective date. Okay. Anything public comment? Motion to approve. No, ma'am. Any discussion with councel?
Did you move? I should give you a chance. You want it? Go ahead. I'll second. All right. Go ahead and call the role. Council member Anna Richards. Yes. Vice Mayor Don Horton. Yes. Council member Steve Freriedman. No. Council member Deb Gillis. Yes. And Mayor Sharon Mahoney.
Yes. Motion passes 4 to one. Okay. Anything else for anybody or can we adjourn this meeting? Move to adjourn. Move to adjourn. Thank you.