Just for my information, what time you have to shut it down today? >> Um, about uh 5:40 5:45. >> 5:45. Okay. All right. Very good. All right, Tracy, go ahead, please. Let's get started.
>> Good evening. I would like to call this meeting to order. >> Let's do the allegiance first. Yep. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America to the republic for which it stands. One nation under
God indivisible and justice for all. >> Okay, I I'll do roll call now. >> Y >> um and I will start with those of you on on
Zoom. Uh, Manish Sud, >> I'm here. >> Uh, Sam Herid >> here. >> Um, we've got uh David Delena on Zoom.
Um, and Peter Lamudo >> here. >> Freddy who >> here. >> And Tracy Ruffalo. >> I'm here. >> All right. and I'm Jeff Curts, uh, town attorney, reprising my role as project
coordinator for the day. Um, we have we all had a chance to to meet. I think the the individual one-on- ons um were productive. We appreciate the comments that all of you um gave us. And um with
with that, we have one item on the agenda that's the discussion on the fiscal year um 2026 budget. What I would like to to do >> a motion to approve that. >> Yes, that would be a good idea. Thank you.
>> Someone anyone since I can't >> Is there a motion to approve the Oh, I'm sorry. >> Yeah, let's approve the motion to approve the agenda of the 2026 fiscal budget. Anybody second it? >> Second. >> All those in favor?
>> Any opposed? All right. Um All right. On the at your places hopefully by email. Um you will see this document. It's uh
captioned the first page is general fund and CIP changes. That's um something that David's going to walk us through. Uh then there is there was a question um a recurring question. We thought the
easiest way to to do it is what positions are funded in the proposed 2026 budget? How many uh full-time and and part-time? So there is a document labeled that way. It shows positions in
the general fund and positions in the road and drainage fund. Um there is proposed 13 full-time positions in the general fund uh versus and three
part-time positions. Uh the recent budget amendment actually allocated 14 full-time positions. Uh there is the town attorney is included in there. Um there is an executive assistant, legal assistant
which was part of the FY2025 budget but was unfilled this year. Uh there's a financial analyst position which is um a part of a restructuring that y'all might
have known Amber. She was our HR um slash uh riskmanagement grants coordinator. Um she has left us her duties are being taken over in part by uh the town clerk um and also this
financial analyst position. Um the records research coordinator position is Enya who you have met um and her previous position title was management analyst. Um there is a proposed new
receptionist backup uh permit tech position. That is a new position. That is not one of the people that you see out there uh today. The reason for that is um we would like the permit techs to be able to focus more on permit tech work
rather than receptionist work. and we are discussing having all calls um routed through this office rather than um separate calls down at the uh public works office. Um so we think that'll uh
be a good use of that position. that position hopefully will also input some um data into our accounting system. Um on the on the road and drainage side,
um it is basically the same positions that were outlined in last year's budget. Uh you have a public works director, a public works superintendent, public works uh coordinator. Um and then you have
um a total of nine other full-time employees that work in the field and we have two part-time um people. That is up one part-time person from the 2025
uh budget. Um uh my understanding as to what they're going to try to do with the additional part-time person is um have a signs crew uh sign maintenance crew that would focus on um getting all our signs
in in shape and in and putting those in in place and keeping those maintained. So, um that's the positions that are funded in this year's budget. Um with that, uh unless you've got questions about those
positions. >> Yeah, I have a question on that. Uh you said the receptionist position is not filled yet. >> Corre. >> Is it reflected in the budget? this. Yes. These all of these positions are reflected in that uh in the bud the
overall budget numbers that we have >> including the one that hasn't been filled yet. >> Correct. Yeah. Because it's it's proposed. Okay. Um >> so are eight and 12 the same thing? >> Are eight and 12 the same thing? No. Um,
eight eight is going to be a receptionist with the possibility of training them to be a backup u permit tech. Um, the permit tech uh we have a permit tech who is trained at this point
in time. Um, but a great deal of her functionality is tied up in the receptionist position. We want her to focus on being a permit tech. Um, >> and out of all these people you have
listed, besides the new one, are they all currently filled of a filled position? Because I did notice that you guys were advertising for public works. >> Okay. >> Worker. >> Um, the executive assistant, legal uh
assistant. um that is not filled at this point in time. Uh the financial analyst position as I said that that equates in my mind to Amber's pos position but it's going to be a little different. Um and
she is no longer with us. So that's an open position to be filled. Um the deputy town clerk was the town clerk assistant. Um, but Sammy left us on August 1st, so we're trying to fill uh
that position at this time. Um, and the uh the receptionist, the number eight receptionist position is not uh uh not in the budget at this point in time.
That's the new position. Um and the remainder of those positions uh from nine down to 13 and the three part-time position or the I'm sorry of the uh two of the part-time positions are filled. We have one part-time code officer. We
are looking for another part-time code officer uh to help on weekend. >> So the second co uh part-timer is open. >> Correct. >> And then is the chief building official and the community services director the same one? No, they are not the same
person. The the chief building official is a um a part-timer with us. Uh they are the um >> Oh, is that Jack? >> Yeah, it's Jack. He's got a full-time position. And uh now >> And then what about road and drainage?
>> On road and drainage. Um the public works director position is currently filled. The public works superintendent position is filled. The public works coordinator position has been um
>> it's open >> open presently. Um it is being filled filled by a part-time person. Uh I mean not a part-time but a temporary person. Um uh but it is an open position. Um on
the of the public works position of those nine physicians, I believe one of them is currently open. >> A one or two or three? Um,
I I believe it is a two, but um uh Tracy, I'll be honest, I'm not 100% sure uh whi which position is is there because I I unfortunately don't get to see those guys on a day-to-day
basis. two part- timerrs are they >> uh there is one part-timer currently um and uh uh the the second the second part-time person um I think we've got somebody in
mind uh one of our full-timers is um wanting to cut back um and uh going to I guess more semi-retirement but not complete retirement >> that person a one, two, or three.
>> Uh, that person, I believe, is a two. >> So, we could have possibly two, >> huh? >> So, we could possibly have two worker twos open. >> Yes. >> So, I I got one question. The the new position, you got two of them
identified. Is is that the same person on the number eight? And then down here on the uh totals >> um >> full and part-time three receptionist position new position. >> Yeah, I I I indicate I indicate in the
notes that receptionist position is a new position. >> So eight and that other one at the bottom is is the same person. >> Yes. Yeah. I'm >> only one new position. >> Yes. That's Yes. Well,
>> my notes were meant to to just reflect that's the only new position, >> but the other ones are open, so there's not currently people there, >> right? >> In a couple of the positions. Yeah. Um,
so, uh, with that, um, I would turn it over to to David. Um, and hopefully David, you can use the screen sharing. Um, if it doesn't work, I will uh go run
for Enya's help. >> Uh, yep. Let me go ahead and change this to the presentation. >> Definitely can hear. >> You've got you got to talk really loud, David. >> Okay. Sorry about that. Yes, >> David. Uh, before you start just quickly, this is Manish. I would request
in the interest of time if you have 30 minutes. So, if you can, if anybody has questions, you can put your light on and Tracy will coordinate. But I would request that uh we each one of the committee members get at least 10 minutes today to talk because at the end
of this meeting we need to have recommendations from every one of you that will be discussed on the Wednesday workshop. So please reserve 10 minutes to put your motions out and your recommendations out. Uh so over to you David.
>> Thank you uh Manish. Can you guys hear me? Okay. Is uh is my level good for you? I think as long as you keep it up. But you got to keep it up. >> Okay. No problem. So, you know, uh for the past I think week, but it I think
it's possibly two weeks. Uh you know, we've been meeting obviously one- on-one uh with not only uh uh this council, but also the uh the uh the commission. And uh you know uh we we got some feedback
in certain areas. And so um uh we we made some budget changes and and this is pretty brief and and pretty high level. But what we did is the very first slide that you can see here is we we got rid
of uh Jeff's old position and uh he we made him a town attorney. And so that's kind of where you see the uh plus we we we added a u I guess a a parallegal but
you can see where we where we adjusted the budget. So, what we did is we took professional fees down by $350,000 and we decided I I mean I in a in an
effort to be conservative um again there there are no I mean there in an effort to be conservative I went ahead and I said okay you know let's assume that we're going to have some type of legal expert needed that may be
outside of the general counsel that uh Jeff is fulfilling. And so I went ahead and I put I I I left us $50,000 in there just for other other legal uh the other thing too that that we changed here is uh training, travel, and
memberships. That all has to do with uh Jeff's lensure. Uh, and uh, yeah, uh, I can tell you from me being the CPA, yeah, I spend about 5,000
plus dollars a year just in uh, CPE requirements, conventions, having to go to these things. So, so we we we added we added that to the budget. >> Well, and and just I I don't want everybody to to think that the $10,000
is all travel and training. It is not. the $10,000 that we were talking about um includes uh some money for equipment. Um there's legal research um and uh operating expenses and there is there
are there are membership uh fees in there and there is some uh training in there uh to cover it, but it's it's not $10,000 to to go on a junket. So what I'm seeing here though is the fact that that number that bottom number is the exact same bottom number that you had
before. >> Yeah. So what we did is you can see where we adjusted the transfers out. >> Right. So what that means is I save about $261,000 uh uh in this budget update. And alls
I'm doing is I'm adding more money to my transfers out to uh the CIP fund. And so we'll see that we we'll see that uh in in addition because we knew we knew that
the CIP fund, you know, has u has an has an estimate of, you know, almost $2 million per se per year and and we're trying to fund it the best we can with with any surpluses that we get. But so that's what we did there and that's
where you can see there on the bottom. We we uh we change the transfers out uh any savings and expenses we but we we we drop that almost to the bottom line where we increase the transfers out.
>> But your salaries increased. >> Yeah. your salaries increased because you're taking into consideration the the um new position, making sure that the executive assistant, legal assistant is in there, and also the town of attorney
position. So, what you have is um an the way this sheet shows it, it doesn't break down um town attorney, clerk, and all those kind of departmental budgets. It's lumping all
your employee expenses into uh all your general fund employee expenses right into that one line item. >> And because of the changes that the the county council made with respect to the structure of how they were going to deliver uh additional attorney services,
that's the the numbers that uh we have at this point. >> Yeah. Because right, he's he's no longer he's professional, but it's no longer I guess considered professional services- legal. he's uh he's still an employee, you know, uh of of the town. Um and so
that was one change we made there. And the general fund, again, any savings, $261,000 in savings, we pushed that to uh the CIP fund to to >> But you're really not because you're
just changing it over to a different position. You're still paying them the same. >> Yeah. a little bit more. But >> well, yeah. >> Yeah, but I but we lowered the legal from $400,000 to 50. >> You're still paying that in a salary
>> and you're wanting to hire a parillegal. >> No, I I understand what what you're what you're saying >> in a way. >> Um >> well, not from a not not from a budgetary standpoint. your your total
budget before any transfers went down by 261,000. So when I look at total expenditures before transfers out and again those transfers there that's to the CIP fund uh your your total
expenditures went from 4.067 million to 3.806 million. So, all alls we did is we we moved the excess that savings, we're sending it
over to the uh to the uh construction uh fund. But if that's, you know, if that's not what wants, we I mean, we could we we could drop it to to to reserves. >> Yeah. and and and there is a there's a
good chance that um most of those monies will be recommended for uh move movement into the reserves simply because um even with that level of of funding uh I'm not sure what
projects that we could accomplish, you know, whether you've got 300 or $400,000. Um, but I understand I understand your point, Tracy, because I had the I had the same same question. And
if we do a departmental breakdown, you know, with town clerk and community services and planning and all those kind of things, um, the, uh, attorney would be broken broken down in there. um and uh that
might help you understand where the the the savings are. One of the questions um that has arisen in the discussion about um the legal assistant um administrative
executive uh administrative person parillegal whatever you want to call it is would that be funded out of um the the manager's um uh in the under the manager uh or under the
the account attorney. Um, and so for purposes at this point in time when you're looking at the the high level stuff, what we've just said is these are all employees. Their salaries are all encompassed within that. You're not seeing a a per
department breakdown in in this. And that's why David said from when you look at this from a technical standpoint and you're saying we're not looking at professional services as the legal budget but a component of the legal
budget then there is a savings in comparison to what had been budgeted the last time because when we last discussed this um I don't think the movement to the in-house uh city at town attorney position had been made. So >> yeah,
>> before we move forward, I have a question on this also. Could we go back up to uh salaries and related in so far as retirement's concerned? Uh do we have an idea of how many people are actually in that line that went up
$12,600? Is that just an annual increase in the retirement number >> uh money, not number of people? Uh it's uh it's actually both. The uh the state of Florida
uh the Florida retirement system and the legislation uh they set the rates and so you can have you you you have employees in different classes. Uh but uh the state of Florida sets the rates. I I think it
went up uh 2.2% overall. Uh and uh so yeah, we're uh we're we're obviously adjusting for that. And um I think it's only eligible
uh for uh and Jeff, you might you might know this, but I think it's both eligible for uh full-time and possibly part-time um employees. uh we
>> because the numbers are about a 6% increase. >> Yeah. >> Is that what we are anticipating going forward? Is that set by the state or whatever? >> Yeah. Uh yeah. The uh well you have the you have the increase in the pension and
then you have uh a slight increase in uh in in staffing. >> Okay. And also, you know, and and also you don't you know, you we we also have, you know, uh we're also budgeting for unfunded positions. >> Okay. >> Uh I don't I don't know how long
positions stay open at the town of Lockahhatchee. Uh but uh but you know, we we still anticipate uh we we budget for them. We just may not spend for them.
>> All right. I just have a a followup. Jeff, um, when you started off telling us about really a lot of movement in the people, a lot of, uh, who's taking another job, who's leaving, who's hiring
in all of that movement, do we have any people who have become vested in our retirement and then being rehired as another position? the the retirement the retirement that the um
town offers is the Florida retirement system. Um and people vest in FRS um depending on their years of service um and depending on the type of plan um
they move into. Um so I think vesting right now um in the F FRS I think you vest after 8 years. >> Yes. >> The but it's not eight years with the town of Loxahhatchee Groves. It's eight
years with any F FRS entity. Yeah. >> So to your knowledge, do we know if anybody is moving from position to position taking another retirement program? >> The vernacular of the street would be double dip. >> Um
>> no, you you you don't have a you don't have a double dip um situation. What you what you can do in the Florida retirement system is you can um move into what they call the drop
program um and you start getting your retirement benefits paid into a separate fund while you're continuing to work at your at your job. you are ne not able to access
those uh payments until you officially retire. Um uh but say for example somebody um has 35 years in the 30 35 years in 30 let's
call it 30 30 years in the system um and they say I'm going to move into the drop program at that point in time your benefit would be frozen um the benefits would go into this drop
account um you would not be able to access the dropup account at that point in time, but you continue to get paid your your salary. Your employer has to pay a reduced rate, but not an elimination of
the rate into the retirement system. Um, but you don't get any um of that uh of that benefit until you actually retire and sever your employment. Um and then you will get a you would have access to a lump sum
>> because eight years is a relatively short period of time to vest in any pension program. >> The F FRS plan is a is a good plan. Um now what is it Dave? There is a point in time I think you have to be is it out a
year at least there are people that can retire and come back and work but they're no longer subject to the FRS program. But I uh I'm not David. Is that correct? >> Yeah, I mean uh yeah, I mean it's uh the
town of Lockahhatchee uh can only pay the one employee one uh one one classification. So, for example, uh let's say Jeff is now the attorney,
but he was, you know, he acts in another role or whatever. Uh the Florida, it's it's governed by the state of Florida and uh he can only be in there once under the uh you know, the town of
Lockahhatche. >> Yeah. >> But yeah, >> that how does that work since you've changed roles? >> What's that? going from being the project coordinator to now the town attorney because you're still part of the FRS. >> Yes. >> Yes.
>> Yeah. I'm not, you know, I'm not collecting anything from FRS at this moment in time. >> Yeah. But, you know, you have, you know, >> is there an age requirement for that collection? In other words, you have to be 55, 60, 65, 40.
Um you you you can become you can become eligible dependent on >> many years >> uh some years of service and some age depending on what classifications that you are in. Um, for example, if you were a firefighter or a police officer, they
have, you know, >> the only reason I bring this point up, and I'm sure you appreciate what I'm about to say, is um, actuarily this could blow up way out in the future if people start doing >> that. And what you what you have is it's
not going to blow up because of anything that Lockxahhatche Groves does or anybody that works for Lockxahhatche Groves does because this is a statewide system. Um it is a huge pension plan. Um we are the flea. So we can't have any
substantial impact on on this system, >> right? Um, and it happens to be one of, if not the best funded state program in the country. >> Well, if it's coming from the state,
it's other people's money, as they say. >> Well, no, it's it's not it's not coming from the state. There are it's all all levels of government >> in Florida um participate in this. It's a it's a very it's a very big
well-funded um program. >> Right. When you said the eight-year vesting, it just rang a bell and I said, you know, if you work 35 years, I mean 8 16, you know, 24 32, you could really All right, enough. Thank you.
>> In answer to your question, Peter, there are regrets on my part that I did not join in such a program. >> Understood. you know, when I first uh when I first started, um I'm in uh I'm
more interested in the uh I I probably will never invest in the program. I'm a uh uh I'm a cont I'm a contribution type of person. I will I will get a I will get a 401k kind of contribution.
>> Do you have a question? >> Does this budget include all raises and cola? Yes. >> David said yes. >> Yes. I'm sorry. Yes. Also, you know, also I mean listen, the
the most one of the most expensive things is labor, you know, uh with, you know, with uh without a doubt uh I don't know. And you know, Lockxah Hatchee is in a pretty competitive market there and
being in Southwest Florida. Uh uh and um yeah, it's >> maybe why don't we go on to the next page because Manish should ask oh sorry >> thing to say too. >> When half of our budget is towards salaries that's troublesome. So half of
our whole budget is salaries that that something for us to think about. >> Go ahead, David. Sorry. >> Sorry. Uh so the next change we did was to road drainage. Uh
>> turn the page. >> I'm sorry. Yeah. Can you guys see my screen? I'm also sharing it on the screen. Um >> where where are we now? I didn't hear. We're on the We're on the You just flipped the page over to the road and drainage. >> All right, fine. >> So, same idea. Road and drainage here.
Uh here we we brought we we saw that one employee was actually not on the uh health insurance plan. Um and so we we took that off. And the other change was
to rentals and leases. Uh there what we realized is uh it's more of an accounting treatment. Uh rentals and leases are really part of what they call debt service. And so we noticed that it was actually in two places. And so what
we did is we reduced down rentals and leases because those rentals and leases uh were really represented in debt service. Uh and so there we were able to save 136,500. Uh and at the end of the day we were
able to drop this budget down from $2.7 million to 2.5. Uh and how we balanced that budget out there is uh it was just a reduction from a transfer from from the general fund
that needed to be which obviously helps your general fund uh with their reserves which is always a good thing. Um you know we we still obviously were estimating how much of our engineering
we're really going to need right now. you know, we we kept the the $200,000 in there. Uh it doesn't mean it's all spent. It's just it just means that's what we're kind of budgeting this year. And with with most of all these numbers
here, uh we're hoping to come in uh you know uh a little a little uh a little less. Um but that was the changes that we made in in the in in the road and drainage fund. Uh
the the next page here, the next page here, you can see where, you know, this right here shows you that, you know, we bumped up the amount of money that we're sending to the CIP fund. Uh and
>> I think it's I think it's fair to say when you talk about sending to that would be available. >> Uh yes. Yes. Not >> not that we're recommending um that expenditure at this point.
>> Yeah. Right. Exactly. And and and so I also wanted to show you these right here are the the transfers, you know, from uh the these right here are just all the transfers uh in and out. And again, typically how transfers work is if the
general fund or the transportation or local option sales tax fund, if they have anticipated surpluses from a budget standpoint, then what we do is we try to balance the budget by sending it over to uh the CIP
fund or restoring reserves. And that's what's on the the the next page is try to give you an idea of uh what we think our reserves will be
this time next year. And so um and so that's that's kind of what what you're seeing here. Keep in mind with the capital improvement fund, we're still waiting on FEMA reimbursement
and uh and uh uh other grant hopefully potentially other grant dollar reimbursements into this fund. But uh but you know, that's one of those things we'll we'll wait and see. uh
the the the the second to the last page. This right here is just an overall summary, right? This is your updated updated sources of funds. Uh this is where all the the dollars come from. And >> are you all following on which page it
is? I just it's kind of hard to see the screen. So, >> sorry. And then uh and then the last page is uh you know what the uh yeah what the uh what the uh you know what the uses of the funds are going to be.
Uh yeah I mean I can uh I don't know if it's out of character to have salaries and related to be a third of all the funds budgets. Uh it it seems like a
nice balance. Uh I don't know with with what our budget size is. I I don't know if you'll fill those positions. Uh to to be honest with you. Um >> yes, we will.
>> Okay. Uh well, >> I can I can tell you that if if granted the the opportunity, we will fill them. Um because there is work to be done and without those positions uh we are feeling the impacts. Trust me.
>> Why did your miscellaneous go up? >> Your miscellaneous revenues why did they go up? >> Oh uh miscellaneous revenues went up because I first took out some uh Are you talking on road and drainage?
>> Correct. >> Okay. I I took out uh some assessments, other assessments that we are supposed to be billing for and Jeff reminded me that no, we need to bill for those assessments.
Uh it's uh it those assessments are not run through uh the tax collector. That's Sod Farm and um the uh the dog um >> big big >> Yeah, that was it.
>> Big dog and uh the >> Did you get money from both of those? >> Yes. and the um and the school >> you get a payment in LI.
>> So your other decreased besides theund uh you said you you have un 191 under general you got rid of the 108 under your road and drainage on other because you put it towards assessments. >> Yes.
>> Okay. And and Tracy, I promise in the future I will get rid of other >> I uh promise that to you. I promise that to you. I there just wasn't enough time in the weekend to uh to adjust everything >> and then your transfers in is less.
>> Yeah. Right. >> We to balance, you know. >> Hey guys, just for the record, this is Manisha. I'm here in person. Thank Oh, hey Manish. >> Are you done David with your presentation? >> Yeah, you know it was just high level. I mean we we you know uh yeah uh
absolutely Mr. Manish I you're still on the screen here. I don't know if you shut off the the laptop but I still see you on there but just FY I don't know if it's going to cause interference but >> All right. Thank you everyone. Um I would request each of my members to have
10 minutes. They they can use this time for Q&A. they can ask this time to um recommend motions which we will support so we can then present a combined fact recommendation to the upcoming meeting on Wednesday. So maybe who would like to go first?
>> You can. >> I can. All right. >> You know what? I I think I have a I have um somebody on the Zoom still on the Zoom. I think we have a member, right? >> Sam is on the Zoom. >> Sam is on the Zoom. >> Sam, maybe we give you that curtsy. want
to go first 10 minutes. >> Uh I mean I don't think I have 10 minutes of uh >> Yeah, go take your time. Time starts now. >> Yeah, I I mean the summary to me on the details here is the budget is balanced
based on the revenue. I think we need to confirm this is balanced based on uh what millage rate and whether what we need to approve given that >> it is >> and yeah >> yeah go ahead
>> it it I'm sorry it is this budget is balanced at three mills and a $300 um per acre assessment >> um and $450 assessment for the solid waste.
>> What happens if it doesn't get accepted? >> Um, you mean if >> if if if there's more money offered and we go to 3.5 mills. >> Well, you know, well, you know what that does is that just puts more money back
into the reserves. So, that's not a bad thing. But but the but the the point there I think from Tracy is that >> the if if if we do nothing we end up at 2.8. Is that right on the mills?
>> I think it's 2 >> well the that the 2.8 would have have to be approved. It's just that the three requires five and the 2.8 something is um uh uh would only require a 3 to2 vote. >> What's the fallback?
>> Huh? the roll back rate. >> Yeah. Um it is 2.8 in change. Um >> and that comes out of the the that's just the property tax piece. >> Yes, >> that's the property tax piece. Yeah. Um
>> and so the the the two key pieces here from my perspective, most of the positions are were already in 2025 that we've had some turnover. That happens. Uh the updates here, we've moved a couple things around. I think
Jeeoff, the question for you was your position now versus the outside legal that's rolled up into salaries, but it was already part of the budget because I didn't see that change. >> There w there is there is some change um
associated with with that. Um the total amount of uh salary increase on the update is $63,000. that is not all mine but that that is a portion of it. Um and
uh so it is there and yes rather than giving you a departmental budget at this point in time um David showed you the the overall numbers for fund. >> Okay that makes sense. And then so
if we the the to Tracy's point the fall back is we have to vote on something right we have to get a 32 on something and that gets us to the three mills. Um well the the way the millillage
uh works is the roll back rate requires a 3 to2 vote. Um and that roll back rate that would be a reduction of um about uh 0.15 um5
mills I um uh and um I think David the number the number that's generated off of three ms is what? >> Well the the gross number the gross and again we can only >> yeah let's stick to the gross so that we
can do math easier. So at three mills based on a taxable value of $659 million at three mills that generates $1,978,0001 million. So call it $2 million for giggles.
>> Um and uh you're looking at about a 120th reduction. Um so if you went to if you went to roll back It would be about $150,000. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yep.
>> Um, so that >> and then the Okay, that that makes sense. And then on the on the 3.5, is that an ask from from somewhere or where? I know we've heard that number out there, but >> what happened with the on the 3.5? Um, that is the that is the millage rate
that will be shown on everybody's um proposed tax bill. Um and it was it was put out there. That was what that was the preliminary trim rate that was approved by the council. Sometimes the
thought is that there there's a school of thought that says millage an increase in millillage rate is better and fairer than um an increase in your assessment rate. People can also
make the reverse argument. Um, one of the things that an increase in millillage rate will generally do is it will have a greater effect on commercial properties than the than an increase in
assessment rate will be. And it will also have a greater effect on um new purchases of property and properties that are residential properties that are not homesteaded. Um so depending on
where you fall in that that scale, um some people would say, well, that's a fair that's a fairer tax for uh the residents. Um, and other people can, you know, would make the argument on the assessments. Well, the assessments are
really supposed to be for this road and drainage and those things are, you know, directly related to the the size of your property. So, that's a fairer way to go. I'm not making an argument one way or another. I'm just saying that school those those debates can happen. And I
think that was one of the reasons that the the council left it out there as a possibility. But as we've discussed, to just get to a 3 mil um rate, which is staying at the same rate, we're going to
need a five um nothing vote. Uh 3.5 mills. Regardless of what you think or don't think about the equities of the situation, I do not think that you will get um a unanimous decision to raise the
millage rate. Um so this budget while there is a theoretical possibility of going to 3.5 mills, this budget was based upon an assumption that three mills um would be the cap. With regard to the assessment rate, the assessment
rate um can be approved on a 3 to2 uh vote. Um and so, uh that is where we thought, um based on not only the usage of the
money, um but also the the possibility of getting the increase, it made more sense to uh balance the budget based on an increase in that um road and drainage assessment. >> Go ahead. And sorry, that's going up
from 200 to 300. >> From 200 to 300, which on a 5 acre um piece of property means going from $1,000 to $1,500. That's a a $500
um a year increase. >> And Jeff and Jeff >> $4 a month, however you want to do it, >> and it's been the same rate since 2019. >> Correct. That's that that rate has not increased since 2019.
>> And all of those excess dollars are going to road and drainage. >> They that's where the they go into that fund. And it was last year that staff recommended I think a rate of $280, but the decision at that point in time was
made to fund that um deficit in the operating side on road and drainage um by uh getting money from the general fund, >> right? And the and so then the 3.5 would
just drive dollars to the general fund which would ultimately either go into capital improvement or into reserves. >> Yes. >> Yeah. Or I you know if you if you did go to 3.5 somebody could say and we want to put that.5 mills into uh the road and
drainage fund and continue to supplement it because we think that's a fair way to raise the the revenue. I don't think that's gonna happen. >> One minute. One minute more, Sam. >> I know. I said I didn't need 10 minutes and here we are. >> So the but the reason you say you don't
think that's going to just because of the it's it's this group or the committee that needs the unanimous >> I it is it is the council that has to be unanimous or >> the council. Yeah. Yeah. >> I I would be very surprised if there was a political will to do that, but um
stranger things may have happened. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. So, our So, the the current proposal is stick three and increase the assessment by 100 bucks an acre to balance the current budget, have a little bit excess reserve, and
everything else is balanced based on on the the staffing and uh investments that we want. What we're missing is that whole list of capital improvement projects that you know are are millions of dollars. So it would take a lot to fund
them all in in my review. >> Yes. >> Yes. All right. Great. Good timing, Sam. 458. Well done. Thank you. I think uh Peter, would you like to go next? >> No, I yield back my time. I can learn more from listening. >> Thank you, sir. >> I do have a question, though. Sure,
please. You said the millage rate money could be moved into the drainage fund and the reverse happened. >> Are there any collars on that money? The assessment money are there any collars on it that it can't go into other funds?
the ass the assessment monies. Um when when you do an assessment, you have to show that the benefit to the property um is uh equal to or in excess of the
amount you are assessing. >> I'm taking it that as a yes. The money has to stay in that fund. >> Uh >> generally I you know there There could be there could probably be additional transfer from one fund to the to the
other to um more truly >> he's asking if can can you put assessment money in the general fund? Can you transfer money out of that investment to put it in the general fund? And and the answer my answer is there right now there is a what is it
are we at 1725 again um on the transfer from the road and drainage fund to the general fund for um essentially the management of those things and and their contribution to
>> um >> if you want those >> attorney manager um >> yeah we can try to allocate Yeah, I mean we try to allocate. >> So there could be So what I'm saying is right now it's 1725. Um and if you did a if you really looked at the allocation,
it probably could be higher. So um you could do that as a justified expense and move money over. >> It's a large increase. And I would hope you could move the money, but I >> But but no, but but yeah, but the you would whenever you do an assessment, the
the benefit has to um be equal to or greater than the cost. >> All right. Thank you, sir. Mr. Vu, would you like >> Yeah, >> go ahead. I I I got the question uh based on the the changes that were the
changes that were updated on the uh general fund the 261,629 and then on the back the uh the 16981. So the the way you got those were
looking at uh the disparity in that they initially was uh coded with. And uh if you add that up that that's uh 400 and you know change just shy of a
half a million. The the thing that strikes me is that if we look at the budget, you know, this this is just one area where uh uh an anomaly or whatever you want to call it was was was found and and that
that uh equated to uh you know uh uh uh cost avoidance. you could either say cost avoidance or or money that was can actually be used instead of changing, you know. Uh I I I
would just think that you know there's lots of other areas that we can look at that 100,000 is is a lot of money to find and and uh Tracy brought up that the budget overall
the majority of our uh our budget was was uh salaries and with any business you know salaries always expensive but the Number one thing I look at is that with these new hires,
new positions, you know, how much money are they going to be generating, you know, because you you usually don't go out and hire somebody unless the money you're going to pay them, they're going to generate money to
pay them their own salary, plus also something for the business. So I I don't know if anybody looked at that that part of the thing that it's it's not a matter of the the uh the amount of salaries is by opening these new
positions or whatever. Here is the cost benefit that you know they you anticipate them generating especially in the uh public works area where uh you're going to be
having a a receptionist slash uh code person there. uh she'll be avail or he uh uh would be available to respond to more code violations and you know uh resolving
whatever issues that would generate money and and in the same same uh thing I think uh the uh financial guy alluded to it about the training you know
and all these trips that we, you know, all of a sudden you see taking a trip here, taking a trip there. Uh what what about the uh taking the trip to Tallahassee to to uh you know get with the the the money holders up there and
influence them to to uh send some money to Lahachi's way because uh if if we don't have a presence up there uh it's like playing the lottery. If you don't play, you can't win. But most people
think it's a a waste of money until you hit the big one, you know. Uh I I definitely think uh it's good to critique the the different training and and trips and all that, but
you know uh a little side note would would be good to say, hey, this trip has generated x number of dollars the last time we went there because we as a result we end up getting a approval of
uh x number of dollars, you know. that would normally not not not get uh sent her way. It's the same thing with the uh the FEMA dollars. You know, granted that's federal, but if if you
don't uh get back with FEMA or or or or let the the the powers to be know that, hey, there's a need here. I mean, the the one thing they look at is that big $100 deferred maintenance.
There's no way we can do that all at once. But we we have to put a plan in place to start taking one bite at a time. If not, you know, it's it's going to be like a snowball. And all it takes is that that
uh hurricane that's off our shore right now is to make a left turn and everything comes to a ha, you know. uh my and as far as the uh the $300 in uh raise per five acre,
that's uh $500 more I got to pay. Uh and way I break that down is that's $40 more a month. And uh I I I have to give up uh one soft drink because it'd be a$130 a day. So that's one one drink I have to
pay. uh because a lot of this budget is is uh predicated on money that we really don't have in hand where that would be money that hey you actually got that money. Uh, same thing with the millillage.
It's whether you you get at least I think we're smart enough to say, "Hey, we're going to go for three, even though it might be 3.5, you know. This way you you you you undercut it, but at the same time, you give yourself some breathing room
because all the other areas is is you can massage it. But the the one area that scares me is the uh the reserve and and the hurricane preparedness
because that that mother nature has no respect to person or whoever. She she hits everybody the same way. >> Forgiving. >> Yeah. And uh uh uh you know it it it when uh uh uh uh was it last year when
the tornadoes I was on my way out the the the the barn door with a a bucket of feed and I had to stop run inside and run to the house because it was like I was in a movie, you know, and there
there's no warning on those things. They just pop up, you know. So uh that that was a big awakening for us uh clo close call here in Lakahachi and and my big thing is hey it's like you know hey uh
hay farmers used to say hay on the ground is money in the bank you know during the winter and same thing here when you have money in the reserve that's that's that's insurance because uh when when the when the big category five comes
Nobody's going to be coming to Lakahachi handing out uh ice water because that's all they going to bring down here. They're going to give you water. They're not going to be doing infrastructure upgrades and you
know it it it's ice water. That's how you get. So my my big push on the on the budget is, you know, ensure that we have a balanced budget with with all the the
different areas and uh the the the the uh new new hires and new positions. That's a long sheet you you you add there, Jet. That's that's pretty long. But, you know, the town is growing and
and uh to to be able to maintain the the services that people expect and come accustomed to. Uh part of running a town, you know, all these positions need to be funded and they
they they generate goods and services back to us. >> Yeah. I I think sometimes we we probably should uh I I guess you you got to look for the data. What what what is the return on our investment? You know, just
like we put money in the bank, what's our return on this individual? When you hire somebody, hey, we're looking to hire this person and they're going to be filling this position, but they also when you look at money like like before the public works was paying a lot of
money out to vendors. The in-house guy, I passed them on my way here cutting the side of the bank. I know grass cutting is expensive. I had the guys come to my place for for one visit. It was like almost $300 uh one hour.
>> Yeah. Yeah. No, it's expensive. Mr. 10 minutes, but uh >> yeah, I uh Thank you. No, that's very helpful. Thank you so much. Tracy, would you like to go? >> Sure to go. >> Sure. All right. >> So, thanks to my friend here. He has given me extra eight minutes, but I'll
try to limit mine in 10 if I could, but I have a little bit more room. Let me start with um u strategic priorities and I would like each of you if you don't have it already share that list with the town manager because um the this year
budget and next 5 to 10 year budget is driven by what is needed by the town as Mr. said we needed natural disaster preparedness and uh Tracy mentioned about physical discipline and and uh we have all the other comments on
retirement and uh other physical discipline as well. So let me start with my list and I'm going to also ask for your support. I'm going to say how many are yay nay quickly. So if all of 5041, it sends a strong message to the council
that we are all unified irrespective of who appointed us. We all represent this town. So when you make these votes, this is for the entire town. It's not just your political individual person's view. It's for the best of the town. So let me
start with the first priority. building prioritize building essential infrastructure to mitigate flooding and hurricane risk and therefore avoid major financial and property losses to our town. I would like this to be included in our priority. Roads and drainage
department has mentioned in this presentation that they have some critical projects that are unfunded like a gate. Uh I think they're calling it a retrofit rebuild of pump station. Uh scattera restoration of historical
drainage and other essential projects. I would like to request the head of the department to tell us exactly what we are missing at this time. What essential projects are missing? As we all said, not everything has to be done right away, but for 2026, what are the gaps?
That's the one of the top priorities. Anybody all in f anybody denying? Let me put it this way. All in fa anybody would like to second that motion. >> We're talking about B1. >> Um, no. I'm just talking about strategic priorities. Uh, just to say is that a priority in your mind? I'm not even
>> I agree. I'd like to second it. >> Second. Tracy, all in favor? >> I >> Mr. Vu on the >> I don't understand that. I don't understand the question. Like >> the question is do you think this should be the priority for the town in the town budget for 2026 the next 5 to 10 years
to first fund >> the essential infrastructure that is required to protect our town against flooding and major losses natural disaster risk >> because I spoke on that I mean don't do everything >> yes do something >> do something that is immediately
>> 100 mill yeah Sam I don't know whether um did you get uh a draft from Manish um proposed strategic priorities to be added to budget FY2026 and next five year 5 to 10 year plan.
>> Yeah. >> So Sam I'll share that list with you. You can review and give your comments uh if you like but the what we are saying is is that a priority essential infrastructure that is needed to prevent uh mitigate flooding and Mr. Vu just
mentioned. So I said yes. We have four people who are saying yes. If you want to review and come later, that's fine. >> Yeah. And and I think those priorities are um I think staff would concur in those priorities. Perfect. >> This would also come under the assessment. Correct. The increase in assessment.
>> Yes. That goes under road and drainage and it goes under capital. Okay. Second priority is >> Yeah, these are going to most these things would probably fall within the capital, but they are for the road and drainage, >> right? >> Benefit. The second priority I would like to suggest is that safeguard our
groundwater and drinking water. So I have heard in numerous meetings that uh we have industrials who are dumping their motor oil in the uh in the water. They are dumping their human unprocessed sewage in the water. So uh I would like
us to have some budget kept aside for testing water in the canals especially discharged from the industrials and nurseries and proactive and aggressive health and safety code in uh enforcement on biological and chemical contamination
such as chemical spills from industrial facilities improper water disposal unapproved chemicals. >> But is that that sounds like that they should already have something in place? >> That's my question Mr. Vu. I want to know is there something >> the answer the answer is um no we don't
have a a testing protocol for the the canals >> health department >> general uh the town doesn't >> and >> no as a business though you can't >> dump raw sewing no you can't but Mr. What I'm saying is it's happening.
People have already filed complaints. I'm saying our enforcement, they should have the capability to take a water sample. They may not test it, just store it and provide it to health and safety or put a phone call to health and safety, but this should be in their priority. If our water quality is
compromised, guys, our property values will drop like a rock, which has happened time and again. just >> but Jeff but Jeff do do we do we have we we don't have a a a water fund right uh
>> th this is what what they're what they're speaking of is um our canal system >> um and and so certainly we have the opportunity to to test those waters um
we do not have u I'm not aware aware of any program but I know that we do not have a global program with respect to testing the quality of those um canal waters. I I don't want to say that we've never tested the water or we don't everywhere
but we no that is not something that has been done. This would be the initiation of a new program >> I'm saying think about that because we have heard this multiple times. Next >> build a case build a case collect sample in a legal fashion so you can present it down the line. Okay. Next priority is so
first of all every anybody um let me say who anybody would like to sponsor this water quality testing >> I think we get with the health department first and see what they're going through >> okay but no added in the priority they can figure out the back and I'm saying should they be adding this >> this this uh sounds like they should
already have >> they should have but I'm saying that I'm not sure >> you could call if if somebody's dumping stuff you could there's a number you can call and report it And I guarantee you >> it's not done through lockdowns. It's done through the actual county health
department the bigger Florida. >> All right. But but my look this may be my individual uh priority that please look into this and if there is a process please educate everybody on how to do this. Okay. Next one is uh we know natural disaster and building a reserve
25% is required as a minimum for our town and in by Florida law but I would like to suggest a priority under which we also build a legal defense uh emergency reserve fund to deal with developer litigation. We have multiple
developers who we denied their commercial uh zoning and then they come back with a lawsuit and if they see that our town has no money as you see our external legal fund is only 50k etc. So I'm not saying keep a separate fund.
You are anyway requiring 25% minimal reserve. Increase that percent to maybe 35 40 use that money uh if needed be uh for legal defense fund based on town council's approval because that send a strong message to any developer who may
be looking to force the town towards commercial development. So I would suggest if somebody if any of you would like to second that welcome to do that but that's a priority that I would >> and on this one here do so uh do we have
a in-house attorney now >> yes that would be >> but his bandwidth is filled with day-to-day matters and other things right little commission requires many many expert different >> well well the the the the thing is there's already legal in place and and
to to to put money towards it, more money towards it. >> I I saying keep a reserve fund, keep your build your reserve. You don't have to use it. You can use it for natural disasters, too. But anyway, that was my priority. >> Question for you. So, basically what you're saying to us is instead of having
the required 25%, you want to make it a requirement of 35%. >> Yes. I don't disagree with that. >> Yeah. >> Because it's in a reserve. You can't touch it. >> Correct. >> It's an emergency fund. >> We already touch it. No, we touch it there is an if there is an emergency >> and the bigger the pot of money sitting
in the corner or hands are looking at it right. >> No, I know. But that's what I said. Town cost >> human nature. >> That one you're not going to argue about. >> Okay. Next one is trust by transparency. Um protect our town's rural future by
controlling our expenditures without having to rely on new commercial zoning. So this is a very very important issue. You probably hear a lot of news around this RV zoning. We have to commercialize Southern Boulevard. In my humble view
and I've run lot of numbers here, our town does not have to depend on any commercial development, any new commercial development to fund our essential services or infrastructure. So I would say town manager should present
cost cutting options such as limiting staff. As we all discussed, staff is very heavy here. Reduce administrative employee using technology. Hiring freeze only hire essential staff and other cost reductions. Developers that require change to our comprehensive plan text
and map should not be allowed to come forward unless they have filed an application and there is a 90-day window unless approved by the council. So that saves a lot of staff time and focus because you know as in a given project
we spend two years going around wasting energies. If this is not allowed by our comprehensive plan then it should not even have come forward. >> No I'm just reading. Let me float the motions in a second. There should be a freeze on developers hiring town
building planning code enforcement staff consultants. I mean this has been even though it's legally allowed this is the biggest uh conflict of interest I've seen. If a developer can pay our external lobbyist or consultant to consult for them and then they're also supposed to provide an independent
neutral advice to us as a town. That's a big conflict of interest. So I I'm suggesting this is my recommendation list. This is not entirely my motion but I'm suggesting we put a freeze on uh developers hiring our very staff who is required to provide an independent
opinion. I'm not Manish I'm not I'm not really sure what you're >> what you're the fiscal decision these are diff these affect our uh you know you generate revenue from services fee for services so I'm just saying that when you do that kind of a stuff those
staff should be separated from the staff who is going to actually give opinion because if somebody's getting paid >> you got conflict interest >> conflict on interest that's that's already in place >> not aware of a situation which okay good then the environment uh consultants that are in the review,
>> but but the way I I interpret this, you >> I just wanted to make that clear. >> Yes. >> I'm I'm not saying it never happened or anything like that. I'm not aware of any such circumstance that you're describing here. >> Wonderful. Okay, that's good. If you're not aware,
>> I I I got you. You said >> stop all hiring, you know, >> not all hiring, non-essential hiring. Well, right now is that's all we're hiring is essential people. >> Are they essential? >> Are they essential? That's what you're asking for this output.
>> Here's here's my put on it. I I got here three years ago. You know, thank God I'm still alive because a crazy neighbor next door was run them up, right? Code enforcement non-existent. >> I had one guy, I got him on the phone,
he was a part-time guy. He went away. >> That's essential. Absolutely essential. Well, and and what what as a result of that, he he basically run a muck. >> No, me. >> Well, I think he's thinking >> he ran my property down. If if any of y'all went down B-roll and see this
crazy guy putting pallets up along the crazy fence and all that madness, >> I don't think he's talking about that. He's talking about all these open positions that have not been filled. Let's not fill them. I think he's trying to say, >> "Yeah, you had court enforcement." >> Well, the thing is though, all those open positions already been funded. >> No, this is what this part of this
budget's for. Yeah. >> Well, no. I I mean the when you say so you're saying if somebody resigned on August 1st, we shouldn't try to fill the position. >> What I'm saying is let let me explain specifically >> just because it's open. >> No, non-essential administrative
consultant lobbyist. So, let me float specific uh motions. >> I'm I'm brand new like like I said and and I come here and there's limited services. Trust me, I I I tried to spend money. I couldn't spend no money. Why?
Because I couldn't get no no nothing approved because nobody would come to my property and see what this madman was doing. >> Well, we're paying a lot of money for somebody to come. >> Yes. >> Right. Until he finally assaulted me and then I I took a different
Mr. V. Let me float specific motions. Now, this is simple, guys. You say yes or no. So that's okay if let me start with the first motion. >> Are so you going to so I can >> understand the recording on it. Are you going to go through the bullet points
one at a time? >> Yes sir. >> At this >> no you would like second. I would like your second. I can't float it. I'm going to read it. I would like somebody to say I support this. I want your support. Okay. >> So we're contemplating six of six six
votes I think. control. >> Okay. Uh I would like to as a f um my personal motion and I would love your support on this motion that the balance our general fund. So you know our
general fund keeping the millage rate at 3.0 we are increasing our revenue by 210,000 but our expenses in the version they have submitted earlier were going up by 776,000. In the current version they are reducing
that 70 776,000 by 261,000. Still there is a gap of about 500,000 here. So my first motion is only increase. So the first motion A2 is uh keep your general fund expenses at 2025
level. So that's the very tough position that frees up $776,000 to put into investment reserves and other things. So, let me propose this motion. Do we have um >> I'll second it. >> Second by Tracy.
All in favor? >> David. David, are those numbers accurate? I don't think the budget's going up by a million dollars. >> Right now, you say yes or no. I'm saying, >> but I can't say yes or no if I don't know that those numbers are accurate. >> He can ask for information. >> Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Sorry, I didn't get
you. What was the question? Sorry. is is of David Delena as to whether or not >> um been a $776,000 >> increase in the general fund expenditures >> in the previous budget that was presented.
>> Well, the the update that we all have now the budget increased by 514,000. >> Yes, correct. So now the budget increase is 514 over the last year. I'm proposing keep the 2026 budget of general fund at the same level as
>> what are you proposing that they cut? >> Sorry, >> what are you proposing be cut? >> No, I'm saying in this was when I prepared this, this was based on the old version. The version that >> Sure. But what was this? They haveed the new version. So in the new version, it will be cut by 5 10,000.
>> Sure. But what what line items do you want them to cut on the 500,000? We can't just blank blank and say I'm coming,000. >> No, I'm coming to that. I will suggest but first as a principle big picture do you want to keep the 2026 general fund
budget at the same level as 25? I have a one support from Tracy. I'm saying all in favor? >> No. I would say we need to increase it and continue to improve the service. >> Okay. So no, we have one no, >> two no. >> Two no. >> Three no.
>> Three no. Okay. Motion fails. Now only increase 2026 general fund budget by $210,000. So if we keep our millage rate at 3.0, our revenue only increases by $210,000. So I'm saying increase your general fund
expenses only by 210,000. That's what our tax revenue delta is, new increases. So if our tax revenues are only going up by 210 by keeping the millage at three only increase expenses by 210. Do I have
a second? >> What they should be? >> Novenue. >> Mr. Delina, how much revenue goes up by keeping the millage at 3.0? >> Well, uh $172,000, but I I also assume that there would be
other increases. that you're you're right. The total sources of funds in the general fund go up by $210,000. >> Correct. >> And so what you're what if I understand what you're saying is only let the
increase in the expense side be the same and so therefore we would have to reduce expenses by about 300,000. >> Correct? Yes. >> I'll second that. Second from Tracy. All in favor? >> No. >> In favor?
>> No. And Mr. Romero was voting now. >> Yes. >> Sorry. >> Yes. >> Do that again. >> Keep the 2026 general fund expenses increase at the same amount as the
increase in revenues, which is 210,000. So limit your general fund expense increase. So only increase your expenses by 210 because our tax revenues are only going up by 210. >> Sorry, this is the same question. You're just you're just changing the numbers, right?
>> I >> I three in favor. >> Wait, Mr. Mr. Herity had a question. >> Yes, please go ahead. >> This is this is your the same question just be the last one failed. So you're reducing the numbers. >> We can't hear you, Mr. >> He said he said that Mr. Herity said
this is the same question. you're just reducing um the >> the number. Um and I think his underlying question is how would you propose that to cut the $300,000 >> coming the how part in a bit but I'm
just saying first we agree that this is the we only increase responsibly from what we can afford. >> So live within our means can we first agree to that then we will come down to where we cut. No, >> no. We have No, the budget is balanced as
>> we have a before we want to make sure that we should be able to cut general fun before you get to the nitty-gritty. >> Yes. So, we we are voting here. You all we had a chance to explain. You either say yes or no. So, we have three. Yes. >> Discussion so they understand.
>> No, I explained. What other questions do we have? >> I think Mr. Herity had a comment. >> Go ahead, Mr. Herity. I can't hear you. That's the problem. Your voice is very low here. We can't hear you. >> Can you hear me? Okay, now >> sorry. >> Very low.
>> Go ahead, Mr. Harity, please. >> No, it's okay. I'm voting against it. I think it's the same question as before, just with lower numbers. >> Okay, good. The budget is balanced for 2026. We should approve the balanced budget for 2026. >> Okay, thank you. Motion passes 3 to two.
Next motion. Freeze any non-essential. So this is now addressing your next question where we can save this additional 300,000 or so freeze any non-essential hiring vendor expenses such as liaison and lobbyists. Now let
me give you a little background guys. TPA grant window closed in July. There is no nothing required. Other grants our governor told us no more money. county doesn't have any money and and I'm going to pass another propose another motion
which you will be very surprised to hear but point remains there is no money governor said done uh federal government said no money so if we keep on these guys and you know Mr. who said roll the dice and play casino. We don't have the
luxury to do so. So, I'm saying freeze any non-essential hiring, vendor expenses, liaison, lobbyist, maybe hire them next year if the governor changes. Who knows? Credit card use, training, travel, non-essential, non-essential
credit card, don't no expenses on food, etc. Unless it's essential, non-essential training, non-essential travel, everything stopped until we have received the FEMA pending invoices. We have about a million dollar, I'm told, stuck with FEMA. Build the reserves uh
at a level which we all agree upon and properly funded capital improvement funds. If those three things happen, we have reserves, we have funded our capital improvement fund. Of course, you guys have a luxury to do other things, but not at this minute. So anybody would
like to second that motion. >> So what is the motion? I just read please any non-essential spending that's >> so they have to come back with a categorization this is essential this is non-essential right like code
>> enforcement >> spending is like talking about >> that's that's common sense >> well but common sense is not common right I'm saying do you know if it is being spent today you don't know we don't know I'm just saying let's propose >> I guess I guess one of the questions I would have if if we if we were to
implement that Um, so who's making the decision as to whether it was non-essential or essential? Are you delegating the the staff to do that? For example, you know, um, there was there was a a fuel pump that needed to be
replaced last week. Yeah. So, >> would that be put on >> that's essential, right? >> No, I think >> Well, the way I think about it is is uh non- essential. That means nothing is essential. Mr. >> All the services >> okay they will come back to us
>> emergency services >> I'm saying let them come back to us and say these are the things that are yes there may not be a receptionist saying hello to you >> I guess and I'm I was being a little bit facicious but okay on the fuel pump that we needed to replace last week
>> that is essential >> we have to go to council >> that is essential >> okay >> I'm not I'm saying but >> how but who's the question becomes who makes who makes the decision on whether >> I think whoever makes the decision he would have to he or she would have to defend that position. >> Yeah,
>> I think that's the point. >> You have a second fuel pump that you can use. Is there only one fuel pump? >> Hey, can I uh can I just uh just make one comment? We have uh less than two weeks that statutoily we
have to come up with a budget. Um, so I you know I uh if if you if you have any recommendations specific recommendations of what you feel
is is not uh needed. >> I think that's the purpose recommendation something I feel is essential. This is the third meeting that the tech technical >> Yes.
All right. Three times I think or four times. Well, >> this is not work three times. >> That's that's essential and I'll defend that position. >> We need to get this thing because I can't even hear Mr. >> Yeah. I know.
>> Okay. So, so David, >> wait. Did Sam finish? >> Yes. >> The operator. >> Sam, did you finish your question? >> I wasn't speaking. It was David. >> I thought you were finishing. >> It was me. >> I'm sorry. No. So, I mean, like if you have a a specific like, you know, let's
say let's say you don't want uh you know, you don't want the board clerk to have the minimum requirements for reporting her minutes. And so, all right. Um, >> David, let me give you specifics. I would like, as I said in this memo, I would like all the liaison lobbyist
fired. I would like them to go away. Yes, that's one. That saves us 200,000 right there. I would like >> we only budgeted 75 and that's an other >> David let me float my motions we will head into the disc I just
>> yeah but I think the the issue is if the numbers are wrong >> you right here on this >> issue is if the wrong following the motions doesn't help us >> and I think the the goal here >> is to figure out the budget we have 750
50,000 this year. >> Last year >> there there are lobbying costs in the capital in the proposed capital program as we've discussed the TPA. >> Yeah. >> How much is the lobby >> lobbying right now? We've spent 106,000
a little over $106,000. >> Yep. >> The current lobbying contract um Mr. Book's contract will be up for renewal. Um the the folks that are lobbyists it's on the order of $160,000.
>> Yeah. >> So I think Manish is trying to >> Yes. >> Right now. >> How much money are they generating? >> There's no zero. This this year zero this year. This coming year. Zero. >> Well, >> can you defend that? They they haven't
gotten us any money. I what my defense of it would be um our Tallahassee lobbyist over the last three years um has pulled in uh
$1.85 85 million in grants um and and gotten us a designation in which we were able to access those monies without having to have any contribution of 25%.
So I would argue that the lobbyist over the last that lobbyist over the last three years has produced over $2.2 million worth of value to the town. >> Okay. He done it. Great. Thank you. But he hasn't kept on it. >> And this year, yeah,
>> but for the governor's veto, there was another uh $750,000 that he had gotten through the legislative process. And we are in the process of trying to get um our rural designation
continued for another um uh several years. And what that means is when we get a grant, we don't have to come up with matching funds. >> Okay? >> So those >> Jeeoff, I can get your explanation in a second. What I'm saying to you is they
done it. Great. We we can have our existing staff, we can lower them. I'm not saying Yeah. What is happening? >> Goodness. Our lobbyist are making our phone rings. Huh. >> Kidnap kidnap kid dangerous thunderstorms.
>> All right. Next motion. Uh did we first of all any do I have any support on this motion? >> Yeah, but my issue with this is that you're you're short you have a short view. >> Three to three to two. The motion passed A4 3 to2. >> Sorry, who voted in favor of that?
>> Tracy, me and Peter. >> Peter. >> Okay. Next motion prohibit diversion of roads and drainage funds towards hiring any lobbyist, liaison and consultant. So one of the things I noticed is that when you say roads and drainage fund this
year we have given 100,000 plus contract to a liazison or a consultant or a lobbyist that's not building the road that is just throwing the dice here we don't have the money for this guys we have people increasing their taxes we don't have reserves this is not something we can afford so no money
spent road and drainage give the increases to our staff let them have machinery let them have everything they need fix the pumps all the essential repairs. Do not hire any consultant lobbyist in particular. Motion B2 reduce
>> if you're you're just missing the forest for the trees here. In my view, you you're taking the motion. You can say yes. 360. >> Oh, he's got a question. >> We taking a lobbyist who you paid $360,000 over three years.
>> Okay. Go ahead, please. I have five minutes. I don't know what to do here. >> Fine. >> All right. Thank you. Then I'm relaxed. Ma'am, what did you say? >> You have a lobbyist who paid 360 or $450,000 over three years. They brought in $2.25
million of either savings or cash and you're saying throw them out because you don't have a view that they might bring in something next year and instead pay 100 grand on roads and drainage. I mean, to me that is super shortsighted. >> Yeah. Yeah. because they they already
generated more money for the next f you could pay them for the next five years and still benefit from the money that they generated. >> Well, maybe that's one out of how many lobbyists do we have? >> We have too many lobbyists. Okay. So, can I answer your question, Mr. Hannity, since you brought a very good point and
and this is going to be a motion. Do you know that um let me explain to you here something. Do you know that our town has applied for something called Florida Commerce Grant? Uh it is given to the towns who are financially distressed rural
communities. In other words, if a hurricane hits a town and government says, "Oh, we are dying." So you go to state or federal, they give you money. But you know what happens with that money? If you accept those funds, Southern Boulevard corridor automatically becomes a rural area of
opportunity under the state law that triggers other statues allowing land owners to pursue reszoning and land use changes. In simple words, kiss goodbye to this rural town. So the state and federal regulations take over the rural
uh local regulation. So this is an example of the grant that our town spends lot of money sends the grant they may even get give us the grant but even if you spend $1 of that grant we will have a permanent tradeoff it will strip away our home rule hand zoning influence
to state and federal agencies invite legal challenges and because our corridor boundaries are even clearly defined what is southern corridor boulevard so it's not just a what is happening right now is we are submitting all these these grants without
understanding what is Southern Boulevard. So here is my motion since you brought it up. I move for a motion to put a morator moratorum meaning freeze on any new grant applications or lobbies contracts tied to southern
boulevard corridor to strictly prohibit the town manager from accepting or using any grant monies without a public vote of this council. In other words, whatever you applied so far, we cannot use a dollar of that grant until we know
what that means. Like I said, even if you spend $1 of this so-called Florida Commerce Grant, uh you you your local rules are overtaken by federal rules and they're opening our lands to rural opportunity zones. So, I don't know who
started this grant, how much money went, staff time went, and for what. Same thing with the RV park. This should not even comprehensive plan is not even allowed for an applicant to file under our current. So how does this all happens and we spend thousands and
thousands on all these projects without even >> being clear what it is if I may. >> Yes. >> Um >> with respect to the Florida Commerce Grant instead. >> Yes. >> Um I don't pretend to be intimately
familiar with that application. Um, in almost all cases, any grant that the town would apply for and receive, that grant has to be accepted by the town council >> before you apply or after you get
>> after you get it. >> But I'm saying why put effort if we we are not going to commercialize the whole thing. Take federal takeover of our zoning. Why do we even do this? >> I'm not >> Manish Manish. Hey, is this even within the purview of this committee? Aren't we supposed to >> review of this is I'm suggesting it
we're not the town council here. We're just approving the budget. >> We have to say yes. >> It's fine if you have a concern for the town council, but that's let's not spend our time here. Our time here is on the budget >> and we need to decide >> 15 minutes. So I'm saying my motion
>> you do not have 15 minutes. You've got about a minute because there's another group that has to come in here at six o'clock and use these facilities. >> All right, wrap it up. Final. We will continue the discussion. So my motion is uh two motion quickly. First is preserve
FEMA invoice payment to only fund capital improvement or build reserve. Do not expense FEMA reimbursement towards any lobbyist or consultant expenses. Do I have a second? >> You do recognize that some like when you the the lobbyist not the engineering
expenses can be reimbured. >> I think it's something that >> I'm saying lobbyist or consult. I'm not talking about >> consultants and an an >> I'm saying lobbyist consultant. Lawbased consultant. >> All right. I just I just want wanted to understand. >> Yes. >> Word freeze is a little harsh. I think we need to look at it and cut back.
>> Cut back. Okay. Cut back. Do I have a motion? Cut back on. Seriously cut back on. Laces. Why don't you propose a motion? >> I propose that we cut back on all of our expenses across the board. >> Absolutely. Okay. >> I think we need to come up with priorities and we need to figure out or
they need to figure out what they are. Okay. So motion is to cut costs in the road and drainage and general fund so that the expenses only go up by
what we can afford in the tax. >> Didn't we already didn't we already do this? >> I I think that I think the qu the relevant question uh for you all to give advice especially on this short notice is are you supportive of a millage rate at 3.0? zero.
>> I think we already voted on that. >> No, we haven't voted on that. >> Yeah, that's the essential question. Before we get into cutting expenses, all those kind of things. The question on the that that the budget has to address is
>> are you supportive of a millage rate of 3.0? >> Jeff, I was told by the council that revenue side is not our preview right now. We to tell them what the cost is and they will decide what the taxes burden is going to be. Our job is to
tell them what the cost or the budget is. >> That dictates how much tax we put on our residents. I'm saying in my collective summary only general fund only increased by 210K. That's it. That's our increase in delta by 3.0 mill rate. In roads and
drainage, you are getting 750,000 extra because of increasing from 200 to 300. Use that money very wisely to res build our reserves and to build our infrastructure critical all that flood related etc. Do not waste it on things
that are rolling the dice like our lobbyist and consultants and liaison and things of that nature. >> But the lobbyist is >> all right. >> But the lobbyist is not rolling the dice. They prove that by by getting us $2.5 million. That's not a roll of the dice. That's the that's a
misrepresentation of that. >> Yeah. But I also have >> anyway our job here is to approve the budget and that's revenue and expenses. I'm so sorry. >> He's saying that >> and I'm frustrated that we're wildly off track here talking about like maybe we
should reduce expenses like we have we have a deadline. Miss Tracy, you haven't >> Okay, we got to we have to end it anyway because we're over time. >> You're saying that you you're saying this yet. >> I don't want to necessarily say lobbyist. I think >> the guy generated over
>> $2 something million. So, so what I what I understood from from uh the chairman's comment and I haven't heard anything different from every anybody else
that is that the the board is um generally supportive of an assessment rate of $300. You just want to to be wisely spent. >> Correct. Correct. >> I would say >> I would be more in favor of increasing assessment that goes to road and drains. I want to make a motion.
>> Yes. that our meetings start at 6 PM. >> Yes. >> In the future. >> Yes, I agree. 6 o'clock. >> Gonna second it. >> I will second it. >> Well, it it No, I I the motion should be our meeting doesn't back up to another one.
>> Well, that's a different motion. You can make that second motion, but my motion is that we have to have we have to start our meetings back committee at 6 PM and not before. >> I second it. >> All in favor? >> Agree. All in favor
I mean with within a relative scheduling limitations. Sure. >> Got >> what? >> He's fine with that. So I hear that was unanimous 6:00 as a starting time.
>> Your motion. >> What is your motion Mr. Vu? Go ahead. That don't back us into a time. What is the motion? >> You want to make a motion. >> Oh yeah. I make a motion that we don't schedule our meeting uh that backs up to another meeting. So what if we do run
over we got to cut it and >> I second that. >> I All in favor? Yes. I'm >> four. Mr. Hann Mr. Hannity. >> Yeah, that's fine. I think we should manage our time better and and
yes, that's that's the problem. All right. Thank you, gentlemen. Appreciate it. And lady, >> make a motion to adjurnn. >> Make a motion to adjurnn. >> All in favor? >> I meeting. will be back here on plate.