GET DOCTOR PHILLIPS TO SPEAK TO EXACTLY WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THAT CHAIR. YOU'RE NOT ISOLATING THEM AND YOU'RE NOT PUTTING THEM IN A ROOM AND CLOSING THE DOOR. YOU ARE TRYING TO ADDRESS AND DE-ESCALATE IN A CALMING ENVIRONMENT. IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT TODAY SOMEBODY GOES TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM THAT IS TRAUMATIC FOR AN ADULT. THERE'S A LOT OF NOISES, LIGHT, MOVEMENT. SO THE IDEA IS TO TAKE A CHILD AWAY FROM THAT
TYPE OF ENVIRONMENT. SO BETWEEN NOW AND THE TIME WE GET ONLINE, I THINK THE BEST THING WE HAVE IS THOSE BEDS AT IN VH. THEY ARE WELL VERSED IN CHILD
PSYCH APPROACH BUT IT IS NOT THE SOLUTION LONG-TERM. BUT WE WERE PUT DOWN BY PROPOSING IS TO NOT PUT THEM IN THE BED. WITHIN 23 HOURS IF IT IS CONTINUOUS, YOU DO HAVE A PLACE FOR THEM TO SLEEP. YOU HAVE A ROOM FOR ACTIVITIES, YOU HAVE A WAY TO ADDRESS THE CHILD. WHAT
YOU SAID IS EXACTLY RIGHT IT IS NOT TO ISOLATE AND PUT THEM BEHIND A CLOSED DOOR. WE ARE TRYING TO GET US TO THAT PLACE, WE ARE TRYING TO MOVE AS FAST AS WE CAN. >> WOULD YOU AGREE THAT WHAT
WE ARE DOING RIGHT NOW IS PROBABLY, IT IS THE BEST OPTION. TO PUT THEM IN A FACILITY THAT IS NOT REALLY SUITED FOR IT, I KNOW IT CAN BE BURDENSOME FOR THE FAMILIES. WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE CHILD UNTIL THIS COMES ONLINE.
>> I THINK THAT IS ALL WE HAVE. ALTERNATIVE IS THAT THEY GO OUT OF THE COUNTY AND OUT OF THE COMMUNITY WHERE THEY HAVE FRIENDS AND FAMILIES TO SUPPORT THEM. I THINK WHAT WE HAVE ON 45TH ST. WITH HOSPITAL COMING ONLINE, IT IS A PEDIATRIC BAKER ACT BED. PRIVATE ROOM,
SPECIALISTS AND THEY GET THE CARE THEY NEED. IT IS NOT IDEAL SCENARIO. WHICH I THINK LONG-TERM IS PODS, CHAIRS TO GET AWAY FROM THE BED CONCEPT. >> NEXT UP WE HAVE SCHOOL
BOARD MEMBER WHITFIELD. >> SOME OF THESE THINGS CAME UP AND HAD TO JUMP ON THEM. I LIKE THE IDEA PREVENTION AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BRINGING THAT OF COMMISSIONER. THE IDEA OF TRYING TO GET TO THE KIDS
BEFORE THEY ARE IN THIS CRISIS, I THINK THAT IS SO IMPORTANT. I KNOW OUR SUPERINTENDENT IS GOING TO SPEAK ABOUT THE THINGS IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. BUT I THINK OUR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS ARE THE FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE. IT IS SOMETHING THAT CAME OUT OF THE MARJORIE STILLMAN DOUGLAS. I
THINK IT IS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY AND WITHIN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM TO CATCH KIDS AS THEIR FIRST GOING INTO CRISIS. THEIR TEACHERS AND PRINCIPALS KNOW THIS AHEAD OF TIME SO THEY CAN CAPTURE THEM INTO THE SYSTEM AND HELP THEM. BUT AGAIN WITH SOME OF THE CHALLENGES AND THEY BROUGHT THIS UP AROUND TRANSPORTATION
FOR THESE YOUNG CHILDREN, WE ARE SENDING THEM TO MARTIN COUNTY, BROWARD COUNTY AND IT IS VERY DIFFICULT FOR A PARENT TO VISIT. AND SO CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 11 WHEN YOU ARE UNDER THE AGE OF 11 BEING SEPARATED FROM PEOPLE WHO CARE ABOUT YOU AND THIS CRISIS IS
REALLY, REALLY TOUGH. WHEN YOU SEND A CHILD TO MARTIN COUNTY AND FOR THE PARENT DOES NOT HAVE TRANSPORTATION TRYING TO GET THERE TO VISIT THEM, THEY ONLY GET VERY LIMITED AMOUNT OF TIME WITH THE CHILDREN. THEY ARE TRULY SEPARATED AND THERE CAN BE ISSUES WITHIN THE FAMILY. BUT TO HAVE NO SUPPORT SYSTEM AT ALL IS VERY SCARY. SO I THINK THIS IS WHY IT IS SO
IMPORTANT THAT WE ARE BUILDING IS HERE AND PALM BEACH COUNTY. WE ARE TRYING TO CREATE A SYSTEM THAT SO THAT PALM BEACH COUNTY IS STANDALONE AND WE DON'T HAVE TO RELY ON OTHER COUNTIES. SOMETHING AS CRITICAL AS TAKING CARE OF OUR
CHILDREN IS SOMETHING WE HAVE THE PUSH FOR HERE. THE ONE QUESTION I WOULD ASK FOR MS. DAVIS FOLLOWING UP ON ALL OF THIS IS IF YOU HAVE A STUDENT WHO IS EXHIBITING BEHAVIORS HOWEVER HAS NOT SAID THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO HURT THEMSELVES, WHAT ARE THE SERVICES THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR OUTPATIENT SERVICES? MAYBE SOMEBODY ELSE
CAN ANSWER THIS WITHIN OUR SYSTEM WHAT SERVICES CAN BE PRIOR TO THE BAKER ACTING? PRIOR TO THE DECISION THAT -- WE HAVE A PEDIATRIC PSYCHIATRIST. I KNOW WE WORK WITH STAFF AT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND A FEW IN PARTICULAR IN HIS TEAM TO TO SAY, SEND THEM TO US. WHEN A
PARENT JUST DOESN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO, WE HAVE CAPACITY, WE HAVE A PEDIATRIC PSYCHOLOGIST. SO WE ARE TRYING TO GET THEM PRIOR TO A CRISIS. >> A FOLLOW-UP TO THAT IS WHAT IS THE WAIT TIME? >> RIGHT NOW SOME OF THOSE THERE IS NO WAY TIME. CALL
THEM AND BRING THEM BEFORE THE END OF THE DAY. IT IS WORKING WHAT WE CAPTURE THE CHILD. I DON'T MEAN TO CAPTURE THEM. WHEN WE RECOGNIZE THE CHILD HAS A NEED. >> IN ADDITION THERE ARE
THERAPISTS AND PSYCHOLOGISTS THAT ARE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE YOUTH SERVICES DEPARTMENT WHO ARE PROVIDING THE DIRECT LEVEL OF CARE. NO ONE EVER AGENCIES CAN HANDLE EVERYTHING. THAT IS PART OF THE INVESTMENT WITH THE FINANCIAL AGENCIES AND COMMUNITY-BASED AGENCIES. MANY
OF THOSE PARTNERS AND I ALREADY MENTIONED THE CENTER FOR CHILD COUNSELING BUT OTHER PARTNERS ARE PROVIDING THOSE SERVICES UNDER CONTRACTS WITH SEVERAL OF US. TO BE ABLE TO MEET THOSE NEEDS BECAUSE NO ONE EVER
AGENCIES ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE IT ALL. >> I JUST WANTED TO BRIEFLY GO BACK TO THE ISSUE OF THE DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED POPULATION AND THE ARTISTIC POPULATION SPECIFICALLY. WE KNOW IT IS AN EVER INCREASING
POPULATION. I JUST WANT TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION AN ISSUE THAT HOPEFULLY YOU ARE ALREADY LOOKING AT WHICH IS JUST LIKE YOU ARE LOOKING AT HOW YOU PROVIDE ERVICES IN A WAY THAT IS APPROPRIATE FOR CHILDREN VERSUS ADULTS THAT YOU HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY TO ALSO BE
ABLE TO TAILOR THOSE SERVICES WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT NOT ONLY A CHILD WITH SPECIAL NEEDS ARE AUTISM AND ADULT WITH SPECIAL NEEDS ARE AUTISM. AS YOU KNOW AUTISTIC INDIVIDUALS DO NOT PROCESS THE WORLD AROUND THEM AND THE INFORMATION AROUND
THEM THE SAME WAY THAT WE DO. WHAT MAY BE AN ACCEPTABLE ENVIRONMENT WHETHER IT IS ISOLATION OR IN A GROUP FOR AN ADULT FOR AUTISTIC INDIVIDUALS OR CHILD CAN TRAUMATIZE AND FURTHER THAT NOTHING YOU DO AFTERWARDS REALLY WORKS. BECAUSE NOW YOU HAVE SENT THEM
BACK MAY BE YEARS IN THE RECOVERY. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IS AT THE FOREFRONT OF YOUR THOUGHT AS WELL AS UTILITIES FOR THE SPECIAL NEEDS POPULATION.
>> THANK YOU. THE BIG ISSUE THAT HAS ADDED TO MENTAL HEALTH IS SOMETHING THAT IS HAPPENING AT THE STATE AND THE LEVEL. HE KNOWS VERY WELL ABOUT IT AND IT IS INTEGRATION. IT IS
HAPPENING IN MY DISTRICT AND COMMISSIONER FLORES DISTRICT. WHEN IT COMES TO PREVENTION, WE CAN LOOK AT THE DISTRICTS THAT HAVE THE MAJORITY OF HISPANICS OR PEOPLE FROM OTHER COUNTRIES. YOU CAN TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.
IT HAS BEEN HITTING HARD. IT IS REALLY HARD FOR ME TO SPEAK ABOUT IMMIGRATION. I LIVED IT WHEN I CAME FROM ARGENTINA WHEN I WAS 13. I KNOW PEOPLE IN MY DISTRICT THAT HAVE GONE THROUGH
IT. WE MET WITH THE ASSOCIATION AND THE HISPANIC ASSOCIATION MAYBE A MONTH OR TWO MONTHS AGO WITH MR. BURTON. OUR WHOLE TEAM TO SPEAK TO THEM IN SPANISH AND ENGLISH TO HEAR ABOUT WHAT THEY ARE HEARING FROM THEIR PEOPLE FAMILIES THAT
THE STORIES ARE HORRIBLE. THAT IS ADDING IS VERY REAL AND ADDING TO OUR MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS AND CHALLENGES AT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. WE DEFINITELY NEED A WHOLE COMMUNITY TO UNDERSTAND THAT IS AN ADDED CHALLENGE THAT MAYBE WE DID NOT
HAVE BEFORE. IMMIGRATION IS NOT GETTING ANY BETTER. SOME OF THESE CHILDREN ARE BORN IN THIS COUNTRY AND SPEAK PERFECT ENGLISH LIKE MY SON. YOU PROBABLY WOULD NOT KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON BUT I WOULD LOVE A LITTLE BIT MORE ATTENTION TO THE TOPIC OF IMMIGRATION. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. LISA? >> THANK YOU. I COULDN'T
AGREE MORE THAT PREVENTION AND EARLY PREVENTION IS KEY BEFORE WE GET -- >> PLEASE EXCUSE ME PLEASE TRY TO SPEAK INTO THE MICROPHONE. >> I CAN AGREE MORE THAT EARLY INTERVENTION IS SIGNIFICANT SO WE DON'T END UP IN A CRISIS MODE. CHILDREN COUNSEL INVESTS
GREATLY IN TERMS OF EARLY ON IN THE FIRST ZERO ÃFIVE ABOUT 65% GO ZERO ÃFIVE AND FOCUSES ON EVERYTHING FROM WHEN MOM FIRST HAS BABY AND HAS POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION ALL AWAY THROUGH SERVICES WHERE THERE'S HOMELESSNESS, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
AND THINGS LIKE THAT. WE HAVE A WHOLE CONTINUUM OF SERVICES TO SUPPORT OUR FAMILIES. THERE IS OR THERE ARE IT IS LITERALLY THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE THAT CAME UP UNDER BIRTH Ã22 ALLIANCE SPOKE DIRECTLY TO YOU. IT WAS IN ONE ISSUE THAT THERE ARE
STRUGGLING WITH. IT REALLY IS FROM THAT EVERY CHILD NEEDS A THERAPIST, IT IS THE WELLNESS, MENTORING AND CHILDREN ARE STRUGGLING AND FEELING SUPPORTED. COVID DID A LOT OF DAMAGE WITH SOCIAL ISOLATION.
HIS ACT OF CONVERSATION WITH BIRTH Ã22 WE ARE HAVING ALL OF THE TIME. THE POINT I WILL MENTION IS COMMISSIONER WEISS WHEN YOU SPOKE ABOUT EDUCATION WE DO HAVE EVERY PARENT CAMPAIGN AND WEBSITES. I WOULD LIKE TO THINK A LITTLE BIT MORE
ABOUT THE SOCIAL MEDIA IMPACT AND WHAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO DO THIS FOR GETTING THE WORD OUT TO FAMILIES ABOUT THE IMPACT THAT HAS. >> COMMISSIONER FLORES YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> I WILL BE BRIEF BECAUSE ALREADY SPOKE. SINCE WE
ENTERED THE CONVERSATION HAD THREE DIFFERENT PARENTS TEXT ME ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH AND WHAT IT DOES TO THEIR CHILD AND THE EFFECT IT HAS IN THEIR HOUSEHOLD AND SO ON. MENTAL HEALTH IS NOT JUST ABOUT OUR YOUTH. WE HAVE A LARGE VETERAN
COMMUNITY OUT THERE WHO FACES A LOT OF THESE ISSUES ON A DAILY BASIS. I JUST WANT TO BRING THAT UP THAT IT IS NOT JUST USE THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT SECTORS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT ARE AFFECTED BY MENTAL HEALTH.
WE TALKED ABOUT TWO ON ONE AND THEY DO GOD'S WORK TRYING TO DIVERGE AND CONNECT PEOPLE TO RESOURCES. THEY ARE HEAVILY UNDERMANNED. WE NEED MORE RESOURCES TO BE INVESTED IN 2112 HAVE A ROBUST PROGRAM.
LASTLY, MY LAST COMMENT WAS WE TALKED ABOUT SOME THE ISSUES THAT WE KNOW BUT WE REALLY HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT ALL OF THE CHALLENGES IN THIS SPACE. AND REALLY THE GAPS THAT WE ARE DEALING WITH. WE ARE SPENDING
A LOT OF MONEY IN HERE BUT IT IS NOT NEARLY ENOUGH OF WHAT WE NEED TO BE SPENDING. I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. FROM WHAT I AM HEARING IN THE COMMUNITY IS THAT THESE THERAPISTS AND THE PEOPLE THAT ARE TREATING THEM ARE GETTING BURNT OUT. WE DO
NOT HAVE NEARLY ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO SERVICE OUR COMMUNITY. THERE SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH FIELDING ENOUGH THERAPIST TO DO THE WORK. I KNOW WE HAVE SORT OF TOUCHED ON SOME OF THESE THINGS THAT I FEEL LIKE THERE
IS MORE GAPS OUT THERE THAT WE HAVEN'T EVEN DISCUSSED. THANK YOU. >> SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER ANDREWS. I WILL LET YOU SPEAK BUT AFTER THEM I AM GOING TO HOLD COMMENTS TO LET STAFF FINISH THE PRESENTATION. >> THANK YOU. I CONTINUE TO GET CALLS FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE
HOMELESS. WE ARE LIVING IN A TIME WHERE AFFORDABILITY WHERE PEOPLE CAN'T PAY THEIR RENT. THE CHILDREN ARE A PART OF THAT. THAT IS WHY WE HAVE SO MANY HOMELESS CHILDREN. THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PALM BEACH DO AS MUCH AS WE CAN TO MAKE
SURE THEIR LIVES ARE NOT DISRUPTED TO MAKE SURE WE KEEP THEM IN SCHOOLS AND FEED THEM AND SO ON. I WAS SO HAPPY WHEN WE DID MELISSA'S PLACE IN BELLE GLADE. WE STILL JUST DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PLACES WHEN PEOPLE ARE CALLING. THEY MAY NOT BE IN A CRISIS AT THE VERY BEGINNING BUT IF THEY CANNOT
FIND A PLACE TO LIVE WITH THEIR CHILDREN, BABIES AND SO ON. I LOVE SITTING AROUND THE STABLE BUT WHEN IT COMES TO WHAT WE REALLY DO HAVE THAT IS WHY GO BACK TO TALK TO THE COMMUNITIES AND TALK TO THE LEADERS ON THE GROUND, CHURCHES AND THOSE COMMUNITY SO PEOPLE WILL KNOW WHERE TO TURN. EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE ALL OF THESE PEOPLE THAT SUPPOSED TO BE DOING WHAT THEY ARE DOING AND I BELIEVE THEY ARE DOING IT BUT WHEN PEOPLE
ARE HURTING, THEY REALLY WANT TO BE ABLE TO COME TO SOMEBODY TO GET HELP. HOUSING IS STILL A BIG ISSUE, HOMELESSNESS, FEEDING THEM AND KNOWING THAT WE ARE ALL HERE IN THESE POSITIONS AROUND THE TABLE DOING HIS BEST AS WE CAN. BUT
I THINK THERE SHOULD BE A TABLE OF PEOPLE FROM THOSE COMMUNITIES NOT JUST AT A LEAGUE OF CITIES DISCUSSION BUT ON THE GROUND IN THOSE COMMUNITIES ALMOST WHAT WE HAVE HERE. AND BUILDING FROM THIS REAL VOICES OF WHAT IT IS THAT WE TRULY NEED TO DO TO TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL. TO GET INTO
THE DOORS WHERE THOSE PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING THAT ARE LIVING IN THEIR CARS WITH NOTHING TO EAT. THEY ARE OUT THERE AND THEY ARE CALLING FOR HELP. >> COMMISSIONER FLORES AND MEMBER ANDREWS YOU GAVE ME THE PERFECT TEE UP TO THE NEXT
SLIDE. WHICH IS ALL OF THE PARTNERS HERE AT THE TABLE ARE WORKING THROUGH THE COLLECTIVE IMPACT MODELS ON HOMELESSNESS. CERTAINLY PREVENTION JUST LIKE IN MENTAL HEALTH IS A PLACE WHERE WE WANT TO START. THERE
ARE DISTINCTIONS BETWEEN WHAT IS CONSIDERED TO BE HOMELESSNESS UNDER McKINNEY AND SCHOOL DISTRICT AND HUD. IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE IN WHICH FUNDING SOURCES CAN SUPPORT. WE DO HAVE MECHANISMS FOR
CRISIS RESPONSE AND A LOT OF OUR COMMUNITY BASED AGENCIES AND NONPROFITS IN THE COMMUNITY ARE WORKING IN THIS ARENA. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO TURN IT OVER TO SUPER -- SUPERINTENDENT BURKE
TO TALK ABOUT A PLATFORM WE STARTED LAST YEAR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT SPECIFICALLY TO ADDRESS THESE. >> WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT THIS IS A SNAPSHOT OF A POWER DASHBOARD. IT WAS BUILT UPON
DIVISION OF ERICA WHITFIELD. I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE CREDIT TO KEITH OSWALD. WHAT WE HAVE DONE HERE IS CAPTURE A LOT OF REAL-TIME DATA. ALL THE SCHOOL
-- STUDENT DEMOGRAPHIC AND WE ARE SUCH A LARGE COUNTY HOW DO WE IDENTIFY WHERE THE NEEDS ARE? HOW DO WE GET SERVICES TO ADDRESS THOSE NEEDS? PARTICULARLY WHEN IT COMES TO HOMELESSNESS AND FOOD INSECURITY BOTH PASSIONS OF MS. WITH BILLS THAT HAVE LED US DOWN TO THE POINT. THIS HAS BEEN REALLY IMPACTFUL. THE SNAPSHOT DOES NOT DO IT JUSTICE. IF YOU HAVE USED THIS DASHBOARD BEFORE YOU CAN FILTER
AND DRAW DOWN AND SET YOUR PARAMETERS AND ZERO IN ON THINGS. THIS ALLOWS US TO GO ACROSS ALL OF OUR SCHOOL AND PROVIDE STUDENT DEMOGRAPHICS. IT HAS INFORMATION AROUND ATTENDANCE AND WE TALKED ABOUT IT EARLY ABOUT CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM. LET US KNOW WHICH
STUDENTS ARE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF HUNGER RELIEF PROGRAMS IN WHICH STUDENTS MAY BE MORE AT RISK. THE SAME THING WITH HOMELESSNESS. IN THIS DASHBOARD THAT YOU MADE AVAILABLE ON THE WEBSITE YOU SEE THE LONG WEBSITE ADDRESS
ACROSS THE BOTTOM. THIS IS PUBLIC FACING. IT IS ALL THE COMMUNITY PARTNERS OUT THERE WORKING ON HIS FIELD AND THE WHOLE ROOM THE DIFFERENT AGENCIES LIKE THE FOOD BANK THAT WANT TO HELP US WITH FOOD PANTRIES, WE CAN FEEDING PROGRAMS THIS GIVES US A TOOL TO TURN TO. AND SAY THIS IS WHERE THE HELP IS NEEDED SO LET'S DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
IT IS HAVING AN IMPACT. LIKE MS. FIELD SAID IT IS A YEAR OLD AND IT IS BEING UTILIZED. MR. OSWALD ANYTHING YOU WANT TO ADD ABOUT THAT? I KNOW THIS WAS ONE OF THE PROJECTS. >> THANKS TO MRS. WHITFIELD. THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS CAN DRILL INTO YOUR OWN DISTRICT TO
SEE THE DATA. THE NUMBER OF HOMELESS STUDENTS THAT EXIST THAT WE HAVE IDENTIFIED THROUGH McKINNEY ENTER THE COUNTY. IT DOES CROSS-REFERENCE ALL THE
ASPECTS YOU TALKED ABOUT. >> THE HOMELESS NUMBER OF STUDENTS FLUCTUATES THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR. WE CAN RANGE FROM 4000 Ã6000 STUDENTS EXPERIENCING SOME TYPE OF HOMELESSNESS. WHETHER IT IS SPEND TIME ON SOMEONE'S COUCH OR CAR OR ASSISTED LIVING. ANYWAY THAT IS MORE ABOUT THE
DASHBOARD, I WILL POP BACK UP IN A FEW SLIDES. >> THANK YOU. ALL YOU SHOULD HAVE THIS DOCUMENT AND I KNOW IT IS THICK. IT IS ALSO AVAILABLE ONLINE. THIS IS A WEALTH OF DATA AND I WANT TO
TURN THIS OVER TO DOCTOR LISA WILLIAMS TAYLOR FROM CHILDREN'S SERVICES COUNCIL AND HER TEAM ALONG WITH MANY PARTNERS WORKED TO DEVELOP THIS. IT HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE THAT SYMPOSIUM. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. CSC AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT REALLY TAKE THE LEAD
ON PUTTING THIS TOGETHER. AS YOU MENTIONED IT IS REALLY AGGREGATE. THERE ARE MANY PARTNERS THAT COME TOGETHER TO SUPPLY THEIR DATA. IT REALLY DRIVES THE FIRST 22 ALLIANCE AND LOOKING AT WHETHER HIS GAPS ARE WHERE WE ARE DOING REALLY
WELL AND NEED TO SUSTAIN OR DO MORE. AND ALSO WHETHER OR GAPS AND WE WANT TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT. TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE, WE DEFINITELY HEARD FROM ONE OF THE WORKGROUPS THAT MENTORING SPECIFICALLY FOR CHILDREN THAT ARE INVOLVED IN THE DJJ SYSTEM WAS REALLY A GAP AND THAT WAS SOMETHING WE WERE ABLE TO COME TOGETHER THROUGH
THE UNITED WAY, CSC AND THE COUNTY AND YOUTH SERVICES TO COME TO TOGETHER FOR THE CHILDREN. WE USE IT ON A REGULAR BASIS TO DRIVE WHERE WE ARE GOING TO USE OUR DOLLARS. THE DASHBOARD I JUST HAVE TO SAY WERE USING IT FOR WHERE WE ARE PUTTING OUR BACKTRACK
PROGRAMS. WE ALSO HAVE A WORKGROUP ON LOOKING AT LITERACY RATES OF CHILDREN THAT ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. SO AGAIN GREAT WORK, IT IS REALLY HELP DRIVE DECISIONS FOR US. BUT ALSO IN ADDITION TO THIS AGGREGATE HOW WE ROLL UPDATED LOOK AT TRENDS, WE ARE
EACH ENTITY LOOKING AT THEIR OWN INDIVIDUAL DATA. SO FOR EXAMPLE YOU WILL SEE IN YOUR PACKET HE HEALTHCARE DIFFERENT THAN MY -- DISTRICT THE ROLE OF INDIVIDUAL DATA. THE YOUTH SERVICES AS MS. FIELD MENTION
IS WORKING WITH CHILD COUNSELING ON DATA TRACKING. OF COURSE SCHOOL DISTRICT MONITORS STUDENTS AND ALSO YOU SAW THE DASHBOARD. I DID WANT TO MENTION THE TRACK INDIVIDUALS LEVEL DATA. WE HAVE 23 PROVIDERS THAT ARE
ENTERING DATA INTO THE SINGLE SYSTEM REPRESENTING 62 DIFFERENT PROGRAMS. WE HAVE ACCESS TO ALL PRENATAL AND FOR SCREENS AND IT IS DEMENTED AND -- DEVELOPMENTAL SCREENS.
WHETHER IT IS A COMMUNITY PROGRAM WHERE WE ARE ABLE TO GET THE FAMILY INTO THE SERVICES THEY NEED. WE ALSO HAVE DATA SHARING AGREEMENT WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, SCHOOL DISTRICT, EARLY LOANING COALITIONS, DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY AND THE
DEPARTMENT OF JUVENILE JUSTICE WHICH HELPS US LOOK AT DOING OUR OWN PROGRAM EVALUATIONS AS WELL AS DOING LONGITUDINAL ANALYSIS. TO LOOK AT WHETHER EARLY INTERVENTION AND PREVENTION PROGRAMS REALLY ARE HAVING A LONG-LASTING EFFECT. I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT OUR SYSTEM IS HIPAA
COMPLIANT WHICH MEANS WE ABIDE BY PRIVACY LAWS IN RELATION TO MEDICAL INFORMATION. AS WELL AS ALL OF THE ENTITIES AND BOARDS BECAUSE YOU'RE COLLECTING INFORMATION THAT IS PRIVATE SO THAT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THERE ARE FEDERAL REGULATIONS ABOUT WHAT CAN BE SHARED AND HOW THINGS ARE SHARED AREA AND OF COURSE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WHICH YOU KNOW
IS FEDERAL EDUCATION PRIVACY LAWS. AS WERE TALKING ABOUT SHARING INFORMATION, WE HAVE TO BE REALLY CAUTIOUS AND WORK TOGETHER TO SEE WHAT IS POSSIBLE. BUT I KNOW THERE ARE OR IS WORK LOOKING AT DATA SYSTEMS WHERE POSSIBLE. WE PRESENTED A LOT OF GOOD TRACKING INFORMATION AND IT
REALLY IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT THE COMMUNITIES WERE LOOKING AT THIS INFORMATION TO KNOW WHERE TO INVEST DOLLARS. BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WAS HAVING DISCUSSIONS ABOUT CONVENING THIS MEETING AND
GETTING US HERE, IT SHOULD BE NO SURPRISE THAT FUNDING WAS ONE OF THOSE BIG ISSUES THAT WAS A HIGH LEVEL OF TOPIC OF INTEREST OF CONVERSATION. IN THIS SECTION, WE WANTED TO TALK
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT. THERE IS A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT COMPONENTS OF THIS. THERE IS ISSUE OF WHAT WE ARE FINDING INDIVIDUALLY, COLLECTIVELY, ARTIE MEETING THE NEEDS OR THEY NOT MEETING THE NEEDS? WHERE ARE THE RESPONSIBILITIES MIGHT LIE IN DOING THAT AND HOW WELL WE HAVE DONE COLLECTIVELY IN ADDRESSING SOME OF THESE OTHER POLICY ISSUES THAT WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT. THIS SLIDE GIVES
YOU A HIGH LEVEL IN TERMS OF AS THE FOUR ENTITIES ARE TAXING AUTHORITIES THAT HAVE THE ABILITY TO LEVY MILLAGE. SOME ARE MORE RESTRICTED THAN OTHERS IN DIFFERENT CAPACITIES. FROM THE COUNTIES PERSPECTIVE OUR
4.5 MILLS IS THE COUNTY OPERATING AND THE DEBT YOU SEE UP THERE AS WELL. WE ALSO LEVY FOR OUR LIBRARIES AS WELL AS OUR FIRE RESCUE. WE COLLECT ABOUT $2.1 BILLION A YEAR COLLECTIVELY AMONGST ALL OF THOSE ENTITIES. IN TERMS OF TAXES PROPERTY TAXES WE ARE ABLE TO COLLECT. OF THAT A LOT OF THAT GOES BACK INTO SERVING
SOME OF THE CHILDREN IN OUR COMMUNITY. SPECIFICALLY WE HAVE YOUTH SERVICES DEPARTMENT, COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT, VERY ENGAGED WITH ISSUES WITH CHILDREN. OUR PARKS VERY ROBUST IN TERMS OF CHILDREN SERVICES. PALM TRAN IN TERMS
OF PROVIDING RISE TO A NUMBER OF KIDS TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITIES. IMPORTANT SERVICES WE PROVIDE BUT ALL TOPICS OF CONVERSATION THAT HAVE COME UP BEFORE THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ABOUT HOW WE FUND THAT HOW MUCH WE FUND IT AND AS MUCH WE LOOK FOR. SOME OF YOU HAVE HEARD A FEW FOLKS IN TALLAHASSEE HAVE
SAID THAT MAYBE WE ARE SPENDING TOO MUCH MONEY IN SOME PLACES OR ANOTHER IN THE COUNTY. THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AND THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ON THERE HAVE BEEN RESPONDING TO THAT CENSURE THAT WE
CONTINUE TO DO THINGS EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY AS WE CAN. THE BOARD HAS BEEN EXTREMELY RESPONSIBLE ABOUT CUTTING TAXES IN THE PAST HAVING TWICE IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS REDUCING MILLAGE RATE AND ALSO ELIMINATING INFRASTRUCTURE SURTAX AT THE END OF THIS YEAR. SO THREE TAX CUTS OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS. OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS OBVIOUSLY AND YOU HEAR FROM THE
SUPERINTENDENT SHORTLY BUT CERTAINLY HAVE LIMITATIONS AS WELL FROM THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE IN TERMS OF HOW THEY RAISE THEIR MILLAGE. AS WELL AS REDUCTIONS THAT THEY HAVE SEEN FROM TALLAHASSEE AND WHAT SOME OF THOSE IMPACTS HAVE BEEN IN TERMS OF WHERE THERE ARE ABLE TO GARNER SOME OF THE NEW DOLLARS THEY HAVE TO MEET
SOME OF THOSE NEEDS. AND ON THE INDEPENDENT SPECIAL DISTRICT SIDE THERE ARE SPECIFIC LIMITATIONS THAT YOU WILL HEAR ABOUT IN EACH OF THOSE RESPECTIVE DISTRICTS IN TERMS OF WHAT THEY ARE ABLE TO SPEND THEIR DOLLARS ON. LISA WILL SHARE IN TERMS OF WHERE
THE DOLLARS WILL GO IN AGE RANGES AND WHAT THEY PROVIDE. I WANT TO HAVE A HEALTHY CONVERSATIONS OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF SLIDES AND THE ENTITIES AND THE RESPECTIVE BOARDS ABOUT FUNDING AND LIMITATIONS WE HAVE COMPANIES WE HAVE AND HOW WE ARE WORKING COLLECTIVELY TOGETHER. I WILL
TURN IT OVER TO SUPERINTENDENT BURKE TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SCHOOL DISTRICT FUNDING. >> THANK YOU. YOU DID A NICE JOB OF OUTLINING IT. SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE UNIQUE SO WE HAVE FOUR DIFFERENT TAXING AUTHORITIES HERE IN PALM BEACH COUNTY AT THE TABLE. FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS THE STATE
LEGISLATURE THROUGH THEIR ANNUAL BUDGET PROCESS DETERMINING BULK OF OUR FUNDING. THE FLORIDA EDUCATION FINANCE PROGRAM THEY'RE GOING TO SETTLE ON A NUMBER AND LAST YEAR WAS $9500 PER STUDENT. AND THEN THEY TELL THE SCHOOL BOARD THIS IS A REQUIRED LOCAL
EFFORT. THAT IS THE GUEST COMPONENT OF OUR MILLAGE. BY STATE LAW YOU MUST LEVY THIS TAX. THAT IS WHAT YOU SAW ON THE PREVIOUS SLIDE BY STATE LAW. WHAT THAT MEANS IS ACROSS OUR STATE IF EVERYONE IS GETTING BASICALLY $9500 PER
STUDENT THE PORTION THAT IS FUNDED LOCALLY WILL VARY FROM COUNTY TO COUNTY. 3-POINT MILLS WILL GENERATE ABOUT 70% OF THE FUNDING. IF YOU ARE IN A COUNTY THAT IS MORE RURAL AND LESS PROPERTY VALUE WILL YOU WILL SEE LESS LOCAL SOURCES AND MORE STATE REVENUE COMING IN. WHICH IS TYPICALLY DERIVED FROM
SALES TAX. THAT IS MY MAIN POINT AND WE ARE CONSIDERING INDEPENDENT TAXING AUTHORITY. THE INDEPENDENT IS SUBJECTIVE. THE BOARD IS TOLD BY THE STATE THROUGH THE STATE AND WILL BUDGET PROCESS THIS IS WHAT YOUR TAX WILL BE IN THE OTHER
COMPONENT IS CAPPED BY STATE STATUTE. FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT WE ARE CAPPED AT 1.5 MILLS AND OTHER COMPONENTS WE CAN LEVY. IF THE SCHOOL BOARD WANTS TO BRING MORE REVENUE TO THE TABLE THAT IS WHERE WE TURN TO THE VOTERS. WE HAVE DONE THAT SUCCESSFULLY. pON THIS SLIDE YOU SEE A LITTLE
STORY IN THE MARGIN. IT IS TITLED THE PERFECT STORM. THIS IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF WHAT WE ARE FACING CURRENTLY THE SCHOOL YEAR. THE STATE LEADERS HAVE BEEN FOCUSED ON TRYING TO REACH
-- REDUCE -- [INDISCERNIBLE]. 0.6% OF THAT WAS FOR TEACHER PAY AND OBVIOUSLY THAT DID NOT GO VERY FAR WITH OUR TEACHERS. WE CONTINUE AND WE ARE AT AN IMPASSE WITH THE TEACHERS TRYING TO GO THROUGH A
SETTLEMENT BUT WE'RE GOING TO THE IMPASSE PROCESS. WE HAD A PACKAGE THAT WAS FAR BEYOND THAT BUT IT'S STILL WAS NOT ACCEPTED YET. BUT WHAT REALLY COMPLICATED OUR BUDGET SITUATION WAS UNEXPECTED DECLINE OF STUDENT ENROLLMENT. WE WERE PROJECTED BY THE STATE AND EVEN BY OUR OWN DEMOGRAPHER
THAT WE THOUGHT WE WILL BE DOWN ABOUT 400 Ã500 STUDENTS. WHEN WE GOT TO THE 11 DAY COUNT WE WERE DOWN NEAR HIS -- NEARLY 6000. WE SAW MAJOR CHANGES IN THE DEMOGRAPHIC TRENDS. YOU'RE PROBABLY AWARE OF THE STATE
UNIVERSAL VOUCHER PROGRAM FOR THE FLORIDA EMPOWERMENT. THAT IS A PIECE OF IT BUT IT IS A RELATIVELY MINOR PIECE. WE ARE SEEING THE BIGGER SHIFTS A BYPRODUCT OF IMMIGRATION POLICIES. WE HAVE FEWER STUDENTS MOVING INTO PALM BEACH
COUNTY. WE ARE SEEING A DECLINE IN STUDENT THAT SPEAK DIFFERENT LANGUAGES. I MENTIONED THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE $40 MILLION BUDGET AND I'M
CONFIDENT THE CFO IS GOING TO ADDRESS. WE HAVE A BUDGET WORKSHOP TOMORROW. FOR SCHOOL BOARD, IT IS CHALLENGING BECAUSE THEY HEAR FROM THE CONSTITUENTS OF THE TEACHERS AND THEY WILL HAVE TO PAY THEM MORE. BUT THEY REALLY CAN'T, THEY DON'T HAVE THE OPTION TO RAISE THE MILLAGE. BEING A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER IS NOT FOR
THE FAINT OF HEART. YOU HAVE CAST-IRON STOMACHS AND THEY ARE DOING WELL WITH IT. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE FUNDING IT IS JUST LIKE THE COUNTY. WE HAVE THE OPERATING BUDGET THAT WE CAN USE TO SPEND FOR THE DAY-TO-DAY COST TO SERVE OUR STUDENTS FOR PRIMARY TEACHER PAY. WE NEED
TO RENOVATE AND BUYING BUSES AND COMPUTERS. I WANT TO TOUCH ON WHAT HAS HELPED US ADDRESS A LOT OF THE NEEDS WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT TODAY. SO IN 2018 IN THE WAKE OF STONEMAN DOUGLAS TRAGEDY AND GROWING FRUSTRATED
THAT WE WERE UNABLE TO PAY THE TEACHERS MORE WE WENT TO VOTERS FOR A ONE MILL LEVY. THANK YOU FOR LETTING THEM MOVING FORWARD AND PLACED ON THE BALLOT. THE ONE MILL HAS ALLOWED US TO IMPROVE TEACHER PAY, SURE OF
SAFETY MEASURES AND PUT THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL IN EVERY ONE OF OUR SCHOOLS. ON TOP OF THAT THE ONE PROFESSIONAL, WE WERE ABLE TO DO MONTHLY TIERED SYSTEM TO HELP SUPPORT. WE CAN BRING IN COLOCATED THERAPIST THAT WE PAY FOR OUT OF THOSE FUNDS FOR THE STUDENTS ANY MORE THAN JUST A QUICK TRIP TO THE COUNSELOR OR BEHAVIORAL THERAPISTS THAT NEED MORE SERVICES. I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY WE CANNOT DO THIS
WITHOUT YOU. IT NEEDS A GREAT, YOU SAW THE NUMBER 24% REALLY MAKES ME SAD. THAT IS HARD TO STOMACH. I HEARD COMMISSIONER
WEISS, I DON'T NECESSARILY DISAGREE WITH YOU. IT HAS BEEN 12 YEARS SINCE THE LAST TIME WE GOT TOGETHER AND I THINK IT IS PRETTY SAFE TO SAY MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS MOST OF OUR RESIDENTS HAVE INCREASED OVER THAT SPAN. SUPERINTENDENT. MDM. MAYOR WE ARE GOING TO AS MISS WILLIAMS TELL HER TO WALK A SUMMIT
THROUGH THE COMPONENTS ON THE FUNDING SIDE OF THE CHILDREN'S SERVICES COUNCIL. >> UNDER OUR STATUTE OUR FUNDING MUST BE BY OUR NAME DEDICATED TO CHILDREN. THERE IS NO SO NOTHING THAT IS A CORE RESPONSIBILITY OF ANOTHER ENTITY. SPECIFICALLY IN OUR
STATUTE CALL OUT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND SAYING NOTHING UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT SHOULD BE FUNDED BY CSC. WE HAVE REQUIREMENTS BY POLICY, BOARD POLICY THAT IS NOT TO FUND
PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN OVER THE AGE OF 18. WE DO NOT FUND MEDICAL SERVICES, HOUSING OR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS. >> SO IF YOU KEY TAKEAWAYS ABOUT THE HEALTHCARE DISTRICT I THINK 1ST AND FOREMOST I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND WHERE WE PRIMARILY A
FUNDER. THE BUDGET IS FOR OUR OWN PHYSICIANS, NURSES AND ALL OF THAT. WE HAVE MANY PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT WE HAVE A HOSPITAL IN THE GLADES. WE HAVE NURSES IN THE SCHOOLS, WE HAVE A SKILL NURSING FACILITY,
TRAUMA HELICOPTERS, AND OUR INVESTMENT IN HEALTH. WE ARE HERE TO FILL THE GAPS IN HEALTHCARE. WE TRULY ARE A PUBLIC HEALTH ENTITY. REALLY WHAT I WANT TO CALL OUT IS THAT DEFINITION OF HOW WE UTILIZE OUR DOLLARS. UTILIZING LIMITED RESOURCES TO ACHIEVE THE GREATEST IMPACT. WHILE THERE
ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT ARE PHENOMENAL PROGRAMS, THEY DON'T NECESSARILY LEND THEMSELVES TO BEING FUNDED WITH TAXPAYER DOLLARS. PERHAPS PHILANTHROPY FOR SOMEBODY ELSE TO PAIR -- PAY. THERE'S AN ALGORITHM WE
GO THROUGH WHEN SOMEBODY COMES TO US AND SAYS, YOU SHOULD BE DOING THE FOLLOWING THINGS. THE FIRST QUESTION IS, IS IT EVIDENCE-BASED HEALTHCARE? THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT PEOPLE WANT TO THROW IN THE HEALTHCARE BUCKET OR WELLNESS BUCKET AND SO YOU SHOULD BE DOING THIS. I'M NOT GOING TO PICK ON ANYTHING EXCEPT YOGA IS
REALLY GOOD FOR THE MIND. YES IT IS BUT IS IT GOING TO BE GOOD FOR THE GREATER NUMBER OF PEOPLE? IS IT EVIDENCE-BASED? DOES MEDICARE OR MEDICAID PAY FOR IT? THAT IS THE THING WE USE AS OUR NORTH STAR. IF A FEDERAL AGENCY OR STATE AGENCY
HAS AGREED THAT THIS IS TRULY HEALTHCARE THEN WE TEND TO FALL IN LINE AND AGREE. AND THEN WE LOOK AT THE RATES. WHAT IS MEDICARE OR MEDICAID PAY FOR THEIR SERVICE? YES, THEY AGREED THAT IT IS HEALTHCARE BUT THEY ARE PAYING X DOLLARS
AND THAT GIVES US A REALLY GOOD OR BE IN A SPACE. WERE LOOKING AT DUPLICATION OF SERVICES AND IN PARTICULAR WE OFTEN GET CONFUSED. PEOPLE THINK WE ARE THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AREA THEY
THINK WE ARE FIRE RESCUE, THEY THINK WE ARE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. WE DON'T ALWAYS KNOW WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO BUT WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING TO SEE IF SOMEONE ELSE IS DOING IT. ARE WE THAT RESOURCE OF LAST RESORT? >> MME. MAYOR WE HAVE TWO SLIDES LEFT IN OUR
PRESENTATION. THESE ARE SOME OF THE TAKE AWAY COMPONENTS FROM THE MEETING. WE CAN SUDDENLY GET TO THE REST OF THOSE OF YOU WOULD LIKE US TO DO THAT. WE WILL DO THAT. ONE OF THE THINGS COLLECTIVELY FROM STAFF THAT WE LOOKED AT WHAT WE CAME TOGETHER AND PUTTING
TOGETHER THE PIECES OF THE PRESENTATIONS, WE ARE CERTAINLY ON THE BACK END OF THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TODAY. THAT IS, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE TAKE AWAY FROM THIS JOINT MEETING? ONE OF THOSE THAT WE KNOW IS IMPORTANT TO ALL OF US ARE THINGS THAT THE LEGISLATURE DOES. IT'S -- AND SO WE CAME
UP WITH A LIST OF LEGISLATIVE ITEMS THAT POTENTIALLY WE COULD CRAFT INTO A LETTER OF JOINT SUPPORT FROM OUR RESPECTIVE BOARDS. ON YOUR TABLE UNDERNEATH THE FOLDER THAT WE PLACED THERE IS A THREE-PAGE
LETTER HAT SAYS DRAFT ON IT IN RED. WE PUT THAT TOGETHER AND NO PRIDE IN OWNERSHIP. WE PUT IT TOGETHER TO FLOW THROUGH SOME OF THESE BULLET POINTS FOR YOU. JUST TO KIND OF SHARE SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT COLLECTIVE WE THOUGHT COULD BE IMPORTANT AND THINGS THAT EACH
OF OUR BOARDS WOULD FEEL COMFORTABLE IN ADVANCING COLLECTIVELY. OBVIOUSLY THE FIRST ONE BEING PROPERTY TAXES. WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY A FEW WEEKS AGO OUR BOARD SPENT THREE HOURS IN A WORKSHOP WITH THE HOUSE PROPERTY TAX COMMITTEE GOING OVER SOME OF THOSE PROPOSALS AND WITH AMY TO OUR
COLLECTIVE BUDGET. THE MAIN BILL THAT IS MOVING TO THE LEGISLATURE RIGHT NOW WOULD BE OVER $600 MILLION HIT TO PALM BEACH COUNTIES BUDGET. THAT IS ROUGHLY EQUAL TO THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT THE BCC SPENDS IN ALL OF THEIR DEPARTMENTS THAT
THE FUND EXCLUDING PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENTS. SO TREMENDOUS IMPACT AND I KNOW SOME OF OUR SPECIAL DISTRICTS ARE IN THE SAME BOAT. THE SCHOOL BOARD WHILE THEY MIGHT NOT BE WORRIED AT THE MOMENT ABOUT POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAX CUTS, THEY CERTAINLY ARE ABOUT
INDIVIDUAL FUNDING FOR STUDENT ALLOCATION. WE THE COUNTY HAVE SUPPORTED THOSE ALLOCATIONS BEFORE AS PART OF OUR LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM. SOVEREIGN IMMUNITY IS SOMETHING THAT IMPACTS EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US. AS A GOVERNMENT ENTITY IN THE LEGISLATURE HAS BEEN LOOKING AT MOVING SOME OF THOSE
LIMITS TO A LITTLE BIT HIGHER. WHICH AT THE SAME TIME THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT PROPERTY TAXES AND REDUCTIONS CERTAINLY HAS
OUR ANTENNAS UP. HEALTHCARE DISTRICT HAVE INDIVIDUAL REQUEST FOR A HELICOPTER FROM MULTI-MISSION EFFORTS WHICH WE ARE SUPPORTING THAT EFFORT. AND SOME OF THE OTHER CAREER TECHNICAL EDUCATION FUNDING THAT WE HAVE INCLUDED IN THIS. SAFEGUARDING OF PUBLIC FACILITIES AND CAMPUSES AND SPECIFICALLY WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT HERE IS INFRASTRUCTURE HARDENING, EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS AND BEHAVIORAL THREATS ASSESSMENTS AS A PART OF SAFEGUARDING THOSE
CAMPUSES. MOVING TO A FULL DAY OF VOLUNTARY PRE-K WHICH MY WIFE AND I ARE VERY IN FAVOR OF. [LAUGHTER] ALSO ON THE FEDERAL SIDE AS WE HAVE SEEN LATELY SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND WEEK THAT CAME UNDER ATTACK
AND ASKING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO SUPPORT THOSE VERY IMPORTANT FUNDING SOURCES TO OUR COMMUNITY AND LOCAL IMPACT OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT REQUIRED TREATMENT OF HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS WE DISCUSSED EARLIER. I THINK I COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR MIGHT HAVE
A FEW THINGS TO ADD TO THAT AS WELL. >> I APPRECIATE IT AND TO PIGGYBACK ON THE BEGINNING OF THE SLIDE -- >> EXCUSE ME CAN YOU PLEASE SPEAK UP. >> CAN HEAR ME BETTER NOW? I THINK CHIEF DEPUTY WANTED TO ADD CONTEXT TO THE BEGINNING OF
A COUPLE OF BULLET POINTS FROM THE PROPERTY TAXES AND WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT AS COUNTY ADMINISTRATION. I AM EXCLUDING CFO COMMENTS ON SEVERAL DAYS AGO. TO ME THAT IS A PERSONAL OPINION. WE THE COUNTY THAT
WAS NOT DODGE. WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY TYPE OF AUDIT OR INVESTIGATION FROM THE STATE ON WHAT THE CFO IS ALLUDING TO. HOWEVER, FIRST IN A POSITION WE ARE UNDER A DOGE AUDIT. THEY
ARE ENGAGING WITH US IN A DETAILED WAY. I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE CONVERSATIONS BIWEEKLY OR ONCE EVERY THREE MONTHS WITH THE DIRECTOR OF DOGE. HE IS WITHOUT QUESTION THEY ARE KEYING IN ON OUR COMMUNITY
SERVICES AND YOUTH SERVICES. I BRING THAT UP BECAUSE I COAST GUARD AND I AM PREPARING THAT THE STATE WILL REQUEST CUTS IN
THOSE DEPARTMENTS SPECIFICALLY. SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? I THINK THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR THE BROADER DISCUSSION. ESPECIALLY FOR THE CSC, WE MAY NEED HELP. WE MAY NEED HELP BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE STATE IS GOING TO LEVY ON OUR BOARD. WE WILL HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER WHEN IT COMES BUT I WILL PUT MONEY
ONTO SOMETHING THAT IS COMING. THANK YOU MME. MAYOR. >> I AM GOING TO ELABORATE ON THAT A LITTLE BIT. IN THE DISCUSSIONS WE SEEM TO BE HEARING FROM THE STATE ON WHICH LEGISLATION HAPPENED TO BE ON
THE BALLOT SOMETHING IS GOING TO GET REDUCED AT SOME LEVEL. IT SEEMS THAT THEY HAVE SPECIFICALLY SAID THEY ARE NOT GOING TO OR NOT IMPACT THE SCHOOL BOARD ON ANY KIND OF TAX INTO THE SCHOOL BOARD FOR
PUBLIC SAFETY FOR VOTER APPROVED. WITH THAT BEING SAID THEY ARE SPECIFICALLY COMING AFTER THE COUNTIES AD VALOREM TAXES. AND SOWITH THE CHILDREN SERVICES COUNCIL AND FOR THOSE THAT DO NOT KNOW I
WAS ON IT UP UNTIL THE LAST FEW WEEKS. COMMISSIONER FLORES WILL BE TAKEN MY SEAT ON THE CHILDREN SERVICES COUNCIL. HAVE BEEN VERY FAMILIAR WITH
THAT PROCESS AS WELL. THAT MSTU, YOU MAY WANT DECIDE WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO GOING FORWARD TO MAKE THE DOLLARS. I'VE BEEN SAYING THIS ALL ALONG THAT THE CHILDREN SERVICES COUNCIL DOES BRING IN A LOT OF MONEY EVERY YEAR. I DO NOT THINK THERE CAN NEVER BE ENOUGH MONEY TO SOLVE EVERY PROBLEM
THAT IS OUT THERE. IT IS AN IMPOSSIBLE TASK. YOU CANNOT BUY YOUR WAY OUT OF PROBLEMS. THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE. I WILL SAY I LIKE TO ASK THE CHILDREN SERVICES COUNCIL SPECIFICALLY TO START CONSIDERING A PLAN FORWARD BECAUSE SHOULD
SOMETHING GO ON THE BALLOT YOU HAVE TO CONTINUE HELPING CHILDREN WHICH ARE DOLLARS. OUR BOARD IS GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE A SERIOUS LOOK AT WAYS THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO
READJUST I WANT YOU TO KEEP THAT IN MIND AND I WANT TO TURN IT BACK OVER TO TODD. >> THANK YOU MME. MAYOR. IF YOU WANTED TO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS DOCUMENT THAT I GAVE YOU. CERTAINLY IF THERE ARE ANY OF THESE ISSUES ARE ONES THAT YOU
HAVE CONCERN WITH AND DRAFTED IT PLEASE LET US KNOW IF WE ARE MISSING SOMETHING THAT YOU THINK RISES UP TO THIS LEVEL. THERE WERE A LOT OF ISSUES THAT WE COULD HAVE INCLUDED ON THIS. WE HAVE BOUNCED A NUMBER AROUND TO TRY TO NARROW IT DOWN TO SOMETHING THAT WAS SOMEWHAT REASONABLE. IF YOU'RE GOING TO SHARE SOMETHING COLLECTIVELY TO LEADERSHIP IN THE LEGISLATURE. YOU CAN TAKE A LOOK AT THAT AND
MAYBE TAKE ACTION ON THAT A LITTLE BIT LATER IN THE MEETING AFTER YOU HAVE FURTHER DISCUSSION. ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM. ANY OTHER COMMENTS RIGHT NOW? >> YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> DO YOU WANT COMMENTS NOW?
GENERALLY SPEAKING I AM OKAY WITH WHAT IS ON HERE. MY ONLY CONCERN IS IT IS A LETTER TO ME THAT COULD BE EASILY PUT ASIDE AND OKAY GREAT DOCUMENTED FINE
AND PUT IT OVER HERE. PROVIDING CONTEXT FOR EACH OF THE REQUEST WOULD BE HELPFUL. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO GO INTO LONG ELABORATE RATIONALE AND REASONS FOR PROVIDING AS AN EXAMPLE THE
HEALTHCARE DISTRICT WITH THE HELICOPTER. WE UNDERSTAND PALM BEACH COUNTY IS URBAN, RURAL, COASTAL, IN THE LAKE BUT GOING UP TO TALLAHASSEE AND TRYING TO
HELP REMIND LEGISLATURES ARE IN THIS CASE THE SPEAKER IN PARTICULAR HOW LARGE OUR COUNTY IS AND WHY THIS WOULD BE SO BENEFICIAL TO OUR RESIDENTS.
AS AN EXAMPLE. IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE EXTRA PARAGRAPHS AND EACH ONE BUT SOME SORT OF KEYLINE EXAMPLE AS TO WHY WE ARE MAKING THIS ASKED. IT IS NOT JUST PROTECT THIS ARE WHAT HAVE YOU.
WE UNDERSTAND THE GOALS OF THE STATE BUT THESE ARE OUR CONCERNS THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE ADDRESS FOR OUR RESIDENTS. >> SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER FERGUSON?
>> THANK YOU MDM. CHAIR. I SIT ON A NUMBER BOARD SET ANNUALLY PUT IN A REQUEST FOR FULL DAY VOLUNTARY PREKINDERGARTEN. I DO NOT SUPPORT THAT. I DON'T THINK IN A ROOM IN TALLAHASSEE IN NEWLY AND ACTED DOGE THAT IS A HIGH
FIGURE AND YOU FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION. I THINK WE NEED TO LIMIT AND PAIR THEM DOWN TO TRY TO GET A DEAL DONE ANNUALLY. IF YOU SAY LONG-TERM YOU WANT TO TRY TO GIVE THIS FULL DAY VOLUNTARY PREKINDERGARTEN FIVE. I WILL
LET EVERYBODY KNOW THAT HAS BEEN SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN BANNED FOR OVER 20 YEARS AND WE STILL HAVEN'T GOTTEN IT. IT IS MORE EXPENSIVE NOW AND YOU DON'T HAVE THE POLITICAL IN TALLAHASSEE. I WOULD SAY TO SCRAP THAT FROM THIS VERY WELL DRAFTED LETTER. I WOULD SAY FROM THE COUNTY AND MUNICIPALITIES I THINK WE ARE MISSING THE BALL TO A CERTAIN
DEGREE. LOOK AT THE KINDERGARTEN READINESS COURSE AND SEE HALF OF THE CHILDREN ARE NOT KINDERGARTEN READY. SO BASICALLY ONE THING I HAVE NOTICED AND I THINK OTHER PERSON SOME NOTICE AS WELL AS THE CHILDREN WILL START BEHIND TEND TO STAY BEHIND. THOSE
THAT ARE AHEAD TEND TO STAY AHEAD. WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB FROM THE COUNTY, MUNICIPALITIES AND SCHOOL BOARD GETTING THAT INFORMATION OUT INTO THE RESPECTIVE HOMES.
IRRESPECTIVE IF YOUR MOM OR DAD HAS $1 MILLION IN YOUR BANK ACCOUNT $10,000 IN YOUR BANK ACCOUNT. THERE METRICS YOU NEED TO MASTER BY AGE 2, THREE, FOUR, FIVE. THE DISTRICT IS YOUR BEST CHOICE IN PALM BEACH COUNTY FOR PURPOSES OF EDUCATION. AND SO A LOT OF TIMES I COME TO THESE MEETINGS I FEEL LIKE IT IS DOOM AND GLOOM. LESS MONEY, LESS MONEY, LESS MONEY BUT YOU DO NOT NEED MONEY TO DISSEMINATE INFORMATION AND KNOWLEDGE INTO THE HOUSEHOLD. I WOULD ENCOURAGE EVERYONE IN THEIR NETWORKS TO FOCUS ON THAT. MME. CHAIR THE FULL DAY VOLUNTARY PRE-K, IT IS NOT
HAPPENING HERE IN FLORIDA AND MOST STATES AS FAR AS I CAN TELL ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THINK WE SHOULD DO A BETTER JOB OF TEARING DOWN OUR LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM. THAT GOES NOT JUST HERE BUT IN EVERY WAY. THESE PEOPLE ARE BEING INUNDATED BY THIS GROUP, THAT GROUP AND ANOTHER GROUP ASKING FOR A 1000
THINGS UNDER THE SUNDAY IT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. READ ROOM AND UNDERSTAND WHERE THEY ARE WE GET A BETTER CHANCE OF GETTING ONE OR TWO THINGS WE SHOULDN'T BE GETTING ACROSS THE FINISH LINE. I JUST THINK IT SHOULD BE REMOVED. I AM GOING TO EXCUSE MYSELF BECAUSE I FEEL UNDER THE WEATHER. MERRY
CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR X2 SPECIFIC ITEMS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO HONE IN ON? >> THE ONE THAT HAD MOST CONCERN IS THE FULL DAY VOLUNTARY PRE-K MME. CHAIR BECAUSE IT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN AT THIS POINT. >> SO YOU WANT TO ELIMINATE IT FOR THEM -- FROM THE LETTER?
>> THE LEGISLATORS JUST LOOK AT US LIKE WE HAVE THREE EYES AND TWO HEADS. I THINK IT SHOULD BE REMOVED AND I DON'T THINK IT IS PRACTICAL. THE THING WE PUT ON LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM SHOULD HAVE SOME LIKELIHOOD OF GETTING PAST. IT SHOULDN'T JUST BE OKAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND MOVE ON TO THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE OFFICE.
LIKE A SAID EVERYTHING IS WELL IS WELL THOUGHT OUT AND CRAFTED. IT IS BY RECENTLY INACTIVE, ACTIVE LEGISLATOR. EVERYTHING MATCHED UP FOR THE
VOLUNTARY BUT I DON'T SEE THE NEED FOR IT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR. >> WE HAVE A LIST GROWING. I HAVE VICE MAYOR WOODWARD.
>> I WILL SPEAK BRIEFLY ON PROPERTY TAX ISSUE. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT IT. EVEN THOUGH AT THIS POINT IT LOOKS LIKE SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE GOING TO BE LEFT OUT OF THAT. WE KNOW WOULD BENEFIT FROM YOUR SERVICES. THEY BENEFIT OUR FAMILIES, PARENTS, STUDENTS AND IF YOU ALL GET SQUEEZED THROUGH A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT AM SURE IT IS GOING TO SPILL OVER
INTO WHAT WE ARE ABLE TO DO HER STUDENTS. I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THAT SCHOOLS BEING EXEMPTED FROM THE PROPERTY TAX PROPOSALS, I DON'T THINK IT IS AN ACT OF BENEVOLENCE. I THINK IT IS AN ACT OF NECESSITY. THE
REQUIRED TO STATE BUDGET. IF THEY WERE TO TAKE PROPERTY TAXES OUT OF THE EDUCATION BUDGET WHEN THEY ARE SITTING AT 46 IN THE NATION, IT WOULD ALMOST BE IMPOSSIBLE. SALES
TAX WOULD HAVE TO BE JACKED UP TO I DON'T KNOW MAYBE 20% SALES TAX OR SOMETHING. I THINK THAT IS WHY SCHOOLS ARE LEFT OUT OF IT. WE ARE THANKFUL FOR THAT BUT WE DO RECOGNIZE THAT THESE SERVICES ARE IMPORTANT AND IMPACT THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND THE CONDITION OF HER STUDENTS WHEN THEY ARRIVE AT OUR SCHOOLS. FROM CROSSING GUARDS
TO NURSES. THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TAKE A 60% VOTE OR HIGHER AND THAT IS HARD TO GET TO. HOPEFULLY IF THE COMMUNITY IS PAYING ATTENTION THEY SHOULD BE LOOKING AND SEEING WHAT SERVICES ON PARTING WAYS WITH BEFORE THEY MAKE THAT VOTE. I
JUST WANT TO PUT THAT ON THE TABLE BECAUSE I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT. >> THANK YOU MAYOR. FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO WHEN WE ASKED FOR THIS MEETING A FEW MONTHS AGO
WE WERE AWARE THAT WE WERE BEING THOSE. PAGE 32 CHILDREN SERVICES COUNCIL AND IT IS VERY INTERESTING TO ME AND I THINK
IT IS A DEPOSIT THAT MY POLICY I BELIEVE THE CORE RESPONSIBILITY OF ANOTHER AGENCY. IT IS A QUESTION THAT WE HAVE HAD TO START ASKING OURSELVES THE HARD QUESTIONS. IT IS NOT JUST US OUR RESIDENTS ARE ASKING US THE SAME QUESTION. I HAVE CONVERSATIONS ON A DAILY BASIS WITH PEOPLE IN
THE COMMUNITY THAT I RESPECT THAT ARE VERY INVOLVED AND AWARE I THOUGHT OF WHAT WE DO AND WHO THINK IT IS WONDERFUL TO GET RID OF PROPERTY TAXES. I SIT THERE REALLY LET'S TALK
ABOUT IT. AFTER A CONVERSATION THAT ANY OF YOU IN THIS ROOM CAN HAVE PEOPLE ARE CERTAINLY AWARE OF WHAT WE USE OUR PROPERTY TAXES FOR. HOWEVER, THERE ARE PART WHERE WE ARE
FINDING THINGS THAT IS NOT OUR COURSE RESPONSIBILITY. WE AS A COUNTY HAVE THE MOST FLEXIBILITY OF ANY OF THE TAX OF THE DISTRICTS IN THIS ROOM. THAT IS PROBABLY HOW WE GOT TO THIS PLACE. BECAUSE WHEN THERE IS A GAP, WE HAVE THE MOST FLEXIBILITY TO FILL THAT GAP. HOWEVER, THE CURRENT WORLD WE
ARE SITTING IN WHETHER OR NOT SEE OF OLD -- CFO OPINION. WE
ARE GOING TO HAVE TO ANSWER THIS. SOMETHING IS GOING TO BE ON THE BALLOT AND UNCLEAR WHAT THAT IS GOING TO BE. IN THE MEANTIME PART OF THESE CONVERSATIONS ARE GOING TO BE ALSO FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND, WHAT ARE WE DOING WITH THEIR MONEY? WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE ARE HURTING AND THERE IS NEED AND
ALL OF THIS AND THE NEED CONTINUES TO GROW. WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT OR BELIEVE IT OR NOT PROPERTY TAXES OR VIEWED AS A PART OF THE PROBLEM OF THE EXPENSE OF LIVING HERE. IT IS CREATING MORE OF A PROBLEM. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE SOMEONE THERE ÃTHAT SOME UNCOMFORTABLE CONVERSATIONS WITH EACH OTHER. WHETHER
TALLAHASSEE WANTS TO THROW THE HAMMER DOWN ON HIS OR NOT IT IS TO BE IRRELEVANT BECAUSE OUR CITIZENS ARE GOING TO. WE ANSWER TO THEM. THE HEADLINES ARE WHAT THEY ARE. WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS. THIS LETTER, I CANNOT AGREE MORE WITH WHAT
FERGUSON SAID. I CHECKED THREE THINGS ON HERE I FELT WOULD BE IMPORTANT BUT IT IS THERE FOR OTHER PEOPLE TO SEE. PROPERTY TAXES WHETHER OR NOT THEY ARE COMING FOR THE REST OF YOU PROPERTY TAXES IS A PRIORITY I DO BELIEVE. I AGREE WITH THE
CTE FUNDING AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION. I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT TALLAHASSEE ALSO HAS AN APPETITE FOR. THIS IS FUNDING FUTURE WORKERS THROUGH EDUCATION. I THINK THIS IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING IF WE'RE GOING TO PUSH FOR FUNDING THIS
IS SOMETHING THAT COULD PASS AND SHOULD PASS. I ALSO SAFEGUARD FACILITIES. WE HEARD ITALICIZE SEE THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT IS NOT TO BE TOUCHED WITH ANY OF THIS. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THERE IS AN APPETITE FOR US TO PUSH FORWARD TO GET ALL OF US TOGETHER
WHETHER HIS COUNTY BUILDINGS, SCHOOLS, PUBLIC SAFETY IS SOMETHING TALLAHASSEE DOES CARE ABOUT. THOSE THREE THINGS LESSER IS MORE AND IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THE THREE. THERE ARE NUMBER OF CARDS I KNOW PEOPLE WHO WANT TO SPEAK. WHEN WE ALL GO TOGETHER HOWEVER WHEN
WE GO IN GROUPS IF WE ARE HITTING JUST A FEW ITEMS NOT PAGES OF IT JUST A FEW ITEMS AND REALLY EVERY SINGLE PERSON THAT WE TALK TO AND WE GO UP THERE, I THINK IT HAS MORE IMPACT. THIS IS A TIME WHERE
IT IS NOT A TIME FOR US TO BE SHOOTING FOR THE MOON TO ANSWER A LOT. WE ARE ASKING FOR THINGS THAT AGAIN WE ARE READING THE WRONG. NOT JUST UP THERE BUT LOCALLY. AGAIN FOR US WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE SOME DIFFICULT DISCUSSIONS US AS A BOARD ON HOW WE ARE SPENDING OUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS. WE WILL HAVE TO ANSWER IN BOTH
DIRECTIONS. I THINK WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE SOME TOUGH DECISIONS AND HOPEFULLY THESE OTHER TAXING DISTRICTS THAT EXIST A LOT OF THE PROGRAM HAVE BEEN PUT INTO PLACE. THEY ARE GREAT BUT I THINK FOR US WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO IDENTIFY OUR LANE. WE STAY IN OUR LANE
AND THEIR MULTIPLE LANES WE ARE GOING IN THE SAME DIRECTION. WE ARE NOT LEAVING OR EXITING. FOR RIGHT NOW IT IS A BIT OF A COURSE CORRECTION. AT LEAST THE WAY I SEE THINGS MOVING FORWARD THAT WE HAVE LESS THAN A YEAR BEFORE THIS GOES ON THE BALLOT. IT WILL BE HERE IN A FLASH. THESE ARE THINGS THAT PART OF THE DISCUSSION WHEN WE
ARE TALKING TO THE PUBLIC THESE ARE THINGS WERE GOING TO HAVE TO TALK TO THEM ABOUT AS THIS DISCUSSION MOVES FORWARD. THIS IS A STATEWIDE INITIATIVE.
PEOPLE LOVE THE IDEA OF LET ME GET RID OF THE PROPERTY TAX AND PART IF THAT IS ON IS THAT WE HAVEN'T DONE A GOOD JOB OF SAYING WHAT WE DO. THERE'S A LOT OF HIDDEN WORK THAT HAPPENS OF THE ROAD THAT GETS TO YOUR HOUSE OR YOUR SCHOOL. DRAIN,
EMERGENCY OPERATION AND WE CAN GO TO THE LIST OF WHAT WE DO. WE KNOW IT BUT THEY DON'T. A LOT IF THAT IS OUR FAULT. IF IT IS OUR FAULT BECAUSE WE HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN A PROBLEM. PEOPLE KNOW WHEN THINGS ARE GOING WRONG. WE HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB OF KEEPING THINGS RIGHT BUT WE ALSO NEED TO LET THEM KNOW ALL OF THE THINGS THAT ARE AT RISK. THE HARD DECISIONS WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE. AND FOR SOME OF THE STUFF HOPEFULLY THE REST OF YOU CAN HELP US MAKE UP THE
DIFFERENCE ON WHAT IS COMING. THAT IS ALL I HAVE TO SAY. THANK YOU. >> COMMISSIONER FLORES YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> THE GOOD NEWS IS WE GET TO
MAKE THESE DECISIONS. WE GET TO BE THE ONES TO HELP SOLVE SOME OF THE ISSUES FOR OUR COMMUNITY. I WANT TO BRING UP YOUR ATTENTION TO SLIDE 31. WE ARE RANKED 46 IN THE NATION.
LET ME REPEAT THAT WE ARE RANKED 46 AND SPENDING IN OUR CHILDREN AND EDUCATION. WE ARE FLORIDA IS THE FOURTH LARGEST GDP IN THE UNITED STATES. FOLKS SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT
ALL OF THESE ENTITIES THAT ARE SITTING HERE TODAY STEM FROM A LACK OF FUNDING FROM THE STATE IN OUR YOUTH. SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT STEM FROM MENTAL HEALTH IS BECAUSE OF THIS RIGHT HERE. HOMELESSNESS, IT IS ALL
CORRELATED. AND YET THE STATE ONCE AGAIN WANTS TO LIMIT OUR ABILITY TO INVEST IN OUR COMMUNITY. THE REASON THAT PEOPLE CHOOSE TO MOVE TO PALM BEACH COUNTY IS BECAUSE WHO WE
ARE AND WHAT WE HAVE INVESTED INTO OUR COMMUNITY. IT IS BECAUSE WE DO GOD'S WORK IN OUR COMMUNITIES. IT IS NOT PERFECT OUT THERE. WE HAVE HIGH POVERTY RATES. WE HAVE THE SEND BACKPACKS SO OUR KIDS CAN GET FED OVER THE WEEKEND. OUR
HOMELESS COUNT IS OVER 2000 IS THAT CORRECT? >> CLOSE TO IT. >> CLOSE TO IT. THE STATE ALSO TOLD US THAT WE CAN'T HAVE PEOPLE SLEEPING OUTSIDE BUSINESSES. SO WE CONSTANTLY GET TOLD WHAT TO DO, HOW TO DO IT BUT WE ARE NOT GOING TO FUND
YOU. WE ARE GOING TO TAKE MORE MONEY AWAY FROM YOU. LISTEN, I DO NOT WANT TO RAISE TAXES ON ANYBODY. NOBODY WANTS TO PAY TAXES. BUT UNFORTUNATELY THAT IS WHAT MAKES THIS NATION GREAT. IF YOU LOOK ACROSS AND YOU COMPARE US TO OTHER
NATIONS, THEY DON'T DO NEARLY WHAT WE DO. THAT IS BECAUSE WE ALL PAY TAXES. DO WE ALL WANT TO PAY TAXES? ABSOLUTELY NOT. SO WE MOVE FORWARD, I THINK WE ALL HAVE TO BAN TOGETHER. THIS IS GOING TO AFFECT EVERY SINGLE ENTITY HERE WHETHER YOU LIKE IT
OR NOT. I HEARD OUR ADMINISTRATOR MENTIONED IT AND WE ARE GOING TO NEED YOUR HELP. THE HOMELESS PROPERTY TAX CUT IS GOING TO HIT THEM AS WELL. I AM ASSUMING IS GOING TO HIT THE HEALTHCARE DISTRICT AS
WELL. THERE'S GOING TO BE LESS DOLLARS TO DO THE WORK THAT WE HAVE TO DO IN OUR COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW. WE HAVE TO COME TOGETHER, WE HAVE TO EDUCATE OUR CONSTITUENTS AND LET THEM KNOW EXACTLY WHAT WE DO, HOW WE
DO IT AND THE IMPACT THAT IT IS GOING TO HAVE IN OUR COMMUNITY. I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT EVEN THOUGH THE SCHOOL BOARD MIGHT NOT BE AFFECTED A
LOT OF THE WRAPAROUND SERVICES THAT ARE OFFERED BY THE COMMUNITY ARE GOING TO BE AFFECTED. THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT MORE KIDS GOING HOME AND I'M NOT SURE WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE THE RESOURCES TO BE SUCCESSFUL AT SCHOOL. THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF OTHER PROGRAMS THAT ARE GOING TO BE CUT. I COME TO YOU WITH A HUMBLE HEART BECAUSE I KNOW WHAT THIS IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE IF WE HAVE A 40/50% CUT IN OUR HOMESTEAD PROPERTY TAXES. I
HOPE AND I AM IN FAVOR OF THE LETTER. NPO THE METROPOLITAN WE HAVE THE MISSION ZERO THAT WE HAVE NO CASUALTIES IN PALM
BEACH COUNTY. WE HAVE ADOPTED AND IS IT GOING TO HAPPEN PROBABLY NOT. WE SHOULD AIM TO KEEP EVERYBODY SAFE. I BELIEVE THAT IT SHOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE AFFORD OUR CHILDREN ALL DAY. EVEN THOUGH IT IS A
PIE-IN-THE-SKY IDEA, I THINK WE SHOULD CONSTANTLY DRIVE TO BE BETTER THAN WE ARE TODAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND THANK YOU EVERYBODY FOR BEING HERE TODAY. I REALLY HOPE WE ARE ABLE TO CONTINUE DOING THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING MAKING PALM BEACH COUNTY BETTER EVERY
SINGLE DAY. THANK YOU. >> CAN I GET A POINT OF CLARIFICATION? COMMISSIONER AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. I WANT TO BE CLEAR ON ONE ITEM. MY REMARKS
ALTHOUGH A HOUSE BILL 201 WHICH WOULD ELIMINATE 90% OF YOUR BUDGET COMMISSIONERS THAT IS ONE THING TO DECIDE. I WAS ALSO SPEAKING AS IF THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN. BECAUSE WE DO
NOT KNOW WHAT IS COMING UP ON THE BALLOT AND WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE STATE SENATE IS WHAT TO DO. WE DO NOT KNOW ANY OF THE ABOVE SO THERE'S NOTHING UP ON THE BALLOT AT THIS TIME. WHAT I DO KNOW IS THAT DOGE HAS COME ON INTO OUR GOVERNMENT CENTER. WHAT I DO KNOW I WAS ASKED POINT-BLANK ON HOLD IN MY
POSITION, WHY DO YOU HAVE THE YOUTH SERVICES DIVISION WHEN YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TAXING DISTRICT THAT IS SUPPOSED TO HANDLE YOUTH SERVICES? I HAVE A STRONG FEELING AND INCLINATION THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE FURNISHED THE STATE REPORT AT SOME TIME TO ANSWER THESE DIFFICULT QUESTION IRRESPECTIVE IS SOMETHING IS PUT ON THE BALLOT OR NOT. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. NEXT UP WE HAVE
SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER BRILL AND WOODFIELD. >> THANK YOU AND THANK YOU COMMISSIONER FLORES AND VICE MAYOR WOODWARD. I WANT TO START OFF SAYING THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM IS THAT THERE IS NO
WAY THAT THE STATE OF FLORIDA IS EVER GOING TO HOLD PUBLIC SCHOOLS HARMLESS. THE STATE OF FLORIDA, TALLAHASSEE, THE ELECTED OFFICIAL, COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION ARE PUTTING THINGS IN PLACE TO ELIMINATE PUBLIC EDUCATION. WE KNOW THAT AND WE
ARE UNDER ATTACK SO REGARDLESS OF WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE TAXING AUTHORITY PUBLIC EDUCATION IS IN JEOPARDY HERE IN FLORIDA. I AM VERY PROUD OF THE WORK THAT THE DISTRICT HAS DONE. I WANT TO ADDRESS THE LETTER. FIRST OF ALL I THINK IT IS A GREAT IDEA TO PUT SOMETHING TOGETHER.
I THINK WE SHOULD BRING IT BACK TO OUR RESPECTIVE BOARDS AND COME BACK WITH SUGGESTIONS. I WOULD SAY THAT WE NEED TO COPY OUR ENTIRE DELEGATION AS WELL AS ALL OF THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS. AND THEN WE CAN USE THESE AS TALKING POINTS THROUGHOUT ALL OF OUR VISITS UP IN TALLAHASSEE AS FAR AS THE
NUMBER OF ITEMS MY BOARD MAY REMEMBER I AM THE ONE THAT SAYS I DO NOT LIKE LAUNDRY LIST. I THOUGHT TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF ITEMS WE HAD BUT I DO NOT SEE THE LIST AS BEING VERY
EXPENSIVE. I DON'T SEE IT AS BEING TOO LONG. I WILL ADDRESS AT OUR BOARD MEETING MR. FERGUSON I DO NOT WANT TO SPEAK OUT OF TURN WITHOUT HIM HERE BUT FULL DAY VOLUNTARY VPK IS ON OUR PLATFORM. SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT OUR BOARD HAS AGREED TO, IT IS ALSO SOMETHING
THAT THE ECONOMIC COUNCIL AND BUSINESS COMMUNITY WANTS. MY SUGGESTION WOULD BE THAT WE GO BACK TO OUR BOAD BECAUSE I THINK THIS IS A GREAT IDEA. THE MORE WE CAN PUT IN FRONT OF THE ELECTED OFFICIALS, THE MORE THAT WE CAN ECHO WITH EACH OTHER, I KNOW THE COLLISION OF WEST POINT RESIDENTIAL
ASSOCIATIONS HAS PUT TOGETHER THEIR PLATFORM. THEY HAVE INSERTED SOME OF THE ITEMS FROM THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. I KNOW OTHER ORGANIZATIONS HAVE. WE NEED TO ECHO EACH OTHER'S THOUGHTS, ECHO EACH OTHER'S PRIORITIES AND WORK TOGETHER.
SO I THINK THIS IS A LIVING AND BREATHING TOOL. WE HAVE A LITTLE TIME HOPING IF EVERYBODY AGREES TO BRING IT BACK TO THEIR BOARDS THAT WE CAN GET IT ON AS A DISCUSSION ITEM AT THE BOARD MEETING NEXT WEEK AT THE SCHOOL BOARD. AND WE COME BACK WITH A DOCUMENT THAT WE CAN BRING FORWARD. THANK YOU.
>> SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER WHITFIELD YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. A FEW COMMENTS I WANT TO MAKE. FIRST OF ALL I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO RECOGNIZE THE DIFFICULTY OF LIVING IN PALM BEACH COUNTY. I UNDERSTAND THE MOTIVATION BEHIND PEOPLE WANTING TO REDUCE COST FOR EVERYONE. I THINK
THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. WE ARE LIVING IN A TIME WHEN IT IS EXCEPTIONALLY DIFFICULT TO LIVE HERE. PERSONALLY, I WOULD LIKE THEM TO LOOK AT INSURANCE RATES MORE THAN PROPERTY TAXES. I THINK INSURANCE RATES ARE ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES WE HAVE
IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. WHEN WE ARE LOOKING AT PROPERTY TAXES THESE GO TO THE SERVICES THAT WE HAVE ALL COME TO REALLY NEED AND WANT IN OUR COMMUNITY. I THINK THE THING THAT IS COMING FORWARD TO US RIGHT NOW IS DECIDING WHICH ONE OF THE PROPERTY TAX PROPOSALS IS GOING TO GO ON THE BALLOT. AS WE ARE IN THIS PROCESS AND MANY OF US WILL BE IN TALLAHASSEE AND
TALKING TO OUR LEGISLATURES, I THINK WE ARE HAVING AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADVOCATE FOR THE LEAST IMPACTFUL OPTION. SO I THINK THAT IS WHERE WE SIT AS A COMMUNITY AND THAT IS OUR NUMBER ONE ISSUE. IS SAYING THAT WE UNDERSTAND YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE THIS STEP HOW CAN WE MAKE THAT THE LEAST IMPACTFUL? HERE IS WHY WE NEED IN PALM
BEACH COUNTY. HERE IS WHAT WE ARE USING THE PROPERTY TAX DOLLARS THAT WE DO NOT WANT TO LOSE. I THINK IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE ALSO RECOGNIZE THERE IS A NEED FOR MAKING THINGS CHEAPER HERE IN PALM BEACH COUNTY. SO ONCE WE FIGURE OUT WHAT OUR PROPERTY TAX SITUATION IS GOING TO BE, I
THINK THIS GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS EVERYONE SHOULD BE COMING TOGETHER TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THE SERVICES IS. I THINK IT IS NOT REALLY A WHOLE LOT OF DUPLICATION. THERE'S A LOT OF COLLABORATION. AND SO THERE'S A LOT OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE WORKING TO COLLABORATE SPECIFICALLY WITH THE YOUTH
SERVICES DEPARTMENT. I SEE SERVICES A WAY TO COORDINATE AMONG AGENCIES TO PROVIDE THE BEST SERVICES AS OUR COMMUNITY. MAYBE THERE ARE PLACES THAT IT CAN BE CUT AND DELEGATED THE RESPONSIBILITIES BUT I DO NOT WANT TO SEE HER MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS HERE IN PALM BEACH COUNTY SUFFER BECAUSE WE HAVE DECIDED TO CUT FUNDING FROM THE COUNTY. IF THERE IS A WAY THAT
WE CAN TRIM, I AM ALL FOR IT. WE NEED TO REDUCE HOW MUCH THINGS COST IN PALM BEACH COUNTY. I DO NOT WANT TO SEE WHOLESALE CUTTING DOWN OF THE DEPARTMENT WITHOUT LOOKING AT THE IMPACTS THAT IT IS GOING TO CAUSE FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTY. WHEN WE START LOOKING AT YOUTH
SERVICES AND WE ARE DESIGNED TO REMOVE THOSE THAT DEPARTMENT HOW ARE WE GOING TO TRULY SPLIT UP THE WORK BECAUSE IT IS A COMMUNITY SERVICES. THERE ARE MANY COMMUNITY ENTITIES AND WE ARE DOING THIS WORK BECAUSE
THERE IS A NEED IN THE COMMUNITY. I DON'T THINK ANYONE IS INVENTING WORK TO DO IN YOUR DEPARTMENT. IF THIS WORKS STILL MUST BE DONE AND I BELIEVE IT MUST, HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THE WORK IS BEING SPREAD OUT SO WE CAN DO IT? AND ALSO I WOULD LIKE TO SAY, THE REASON WHY THESE DEPARTMENTS WERE CREATED AND WHY WE TALKED ABOUT THE HISTORY AND WE WENT IN 20
-- 20 -- 2012. WE HAVE SEEN THIS NUMBERS COMING DOWN AND SEE THE ACTIONS WE HAVE TAKEN REDUCE PEOPLE IN HOMELESSNESS AND HUNGER IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE HAVE SEEN THE NUMBER IS GOING UP SO WITH THAT PROGRESS I DO NOT WANT TO LOSE WHAT WE
HAVE DONE SO FAR. FINALLY, WANT TO SAY ABOUT THE LETTER. THE VPK ISSUE FIRST OF ALL WE HAVE WARREN ELDRIDGE IN OUR ROOM. HE RUN THE COALITION AND HE MIGHT BE BEST SUITED TO SPEAK TO A LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY AROUND THAT. HOWEVER SIMILAR TO WHAT SHE SAID I THINK VPK TIES INTO WORKFORCE. WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT PARENTS ENABLE TO DROP THEIR CHILDREN OFF AT A SAFE PLACE WHERE THEY CAN THEN LEARN AND BECOME BETTER MEMBERS OF OUR SOCIETY AND HOPEFULLY PRODUCTIVE CITIZENS. BUT ALSO MOM AND DAD DO NOT HAVE TO LEAVE TO BE ABLE TO GO PICK UP THEIR KIDS AND AND A HALF DAY
AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THEY GO. CSU STEPS IN WITH WRAPAROUND SERVICES CURRENTLY AND I DO NOT WANT TO SEE THE WRAPAROUND SERVICES GO AWAY. MAYBE THEY NEED TO BE REGROWN. I THINK WHEN WE ARE LOOKING AT VPK AND A FULL DAY WHAT WE ARE
SAYING IS WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO MAKE SURE CHILD HAS A PLACE TO BE THAT IS SAFE FOR AN ENTIRE DAY. RIGHT NOW I AM NOT PICKING UP MY CHILD AT SCHOOL BECAUSE I AM HERE. LUCKILY SHE IS IN A SAFE PLACE SHE CAN STAY UNTIL 4:00 PM. JUST IN CASE ANYBODY WAS WONDERING. [LAUGHTER] THE WONDERFUL PLAY SHE CAN STAY
SHE IS LEARNING AND BEGINNING ENGAGED. NOT ALL OF HIS ÃÃIT IS EDUCATION. I THINK WE ARE ASKING FOR IS A COMMUNITY. MAYOR WOULD BE OKAY FOR WARREN TO SPEAK FOR A LITTLE BIT?
>> WE HAVE AT LEAST SEVEN PEOPLE THAT NEEDS TO SPEAK. IF YOU DON'T MIND IF WE CAN WAIT UNTIL THE END I THINK IT MIGHT BE MORE APPROPRIATE. >> THANK YOU. >> COMMISSIONER POWELL, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> THANK YOU MDM. MAYOR. TO
REFERENCE THE LETTER FOR THOSE OF US WHO ARE LOOKING AT THIS LETTER THAT IS GOING TO THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE DANNY PEREZ AND THE HON. SENATE PRESIDENT BEN ALBRITTON PLEASE KEEP IN MIND ALTHOUGH WE ARE GOING TO PALM BEACH COUNTY
LEGISLATIVE DAY, THE LEGISLATURE IS NOT JUST PALM BEACH COUNTY DAY. SO ALTHOUGH WE AS A COALITION OF PEOPLE WHO GO TO ADVOCATE THERE ARE AT LEAST 13 PEOPLE WHO ARE
LEGISLATURES IN PALM BEACH COUNTY WHO ARE ADVOCATING EVERY DAY. WHEN I HEAR PEOPLE AND BECAUSE I SPENT SO MUCH TIME OF THEIR A LOT OF TIME MORNING, NOON, AND NIGHT GETTING WITH
LEGISLATION AND A LOT OF IT DIRECTLY IN PALM BEACH COUNTY, WANT TO SURE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND YOUR LEGISLATIVE EDUCATION IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING SURE THE ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF PALM BEACH COUNTY FOR THE ISSUES
THAT WE KNOW ARE IMPACTFUL. MYSELF,, WE CAN TELL YOU IT IS NOT JUST PALM BEACH COUNTY. WHEN YOU COME FROM PALM BEACH COUNTY THEY SPEAK TO THE LEGISLATOR IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE. BUT WE ARE THERE WELL WE USED TO BE THERE.
SOMETIMES UNTIL ONE, TWO, 3:00 IN THE MORNING WORKING ON THESE ISSUES SPEAKING DIRECTLY TO THE SENATE PRESIDENT AND THE APPROPRIATION CHAIRS OF THE DIFFERENT COMMUNITY THERE COMMITTEES. DIRECTLY TO THE APPROPRIATION CHAIRS FOR THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE. AND THOSE IN THE SENATE AND THE
HOUSE TO WORK BOTH SIDES BECAUSE WE HAVE THOSE RELATIONSHIPS. SO PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT THIS IS JUST A SMALL LIST. WHEN I HEAR PEOPLE SAY THIS IS TOO MUCH THERE ARE LITTLE COMMUNITIES IN COUNTIES AND SMALLER COUNTIES IN PALM BEACH COUNTY THAT GO AND ASK
FOR MORE. MORE THAN WHAT WE HAVE ASKED FOR ON THIS IS. THIS IS A DROP IN THE BUCKET TO ME. I ALSO WANT I DO NOT WANT TO CONTRADICT ANYONE BUT AS SOMEONE WHO HAS A SMALL CHILD OR AN EMERGING CHILD TO HEAR PEOPLE SAY THAT WE SHOULD NOT
HAVE A FULL DAY OF VPK IS A CHALLENGE TO ME. BECAUSE IN THE SAME SENTENCE, YOU SAY THAT WE UNDERSTAND THAT CHILDREN WHO START KINDERGARTEN BEHIND NEVER CATCH UP. THAT MEANS WHEN THEY GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL, LET ME STOP IF THEY NEVER CATCH UP
THEY DON'T GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL. THEY DO NOT GO AND GET A TRADE. THEY END UP SOMEWHERE ELSE, THEY END UP SOMETIMES THEY ARE GOING TO SCHOOL AND END UP HOMELESS. THE END UP IN
JAIL OR IN THE SYSTEM. IT IS UP FOR US TO ADVOCATE FOR OUR CHILDREN AND ALL COSTS. MYSELF AND WARREN ELDRIDGE ALONG WITH FORMER SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER AND A TEAM OF PEOPLE IN PALM BEACH COUNTY PUSHED FORTH A PILOT PROGRAM ONE YEAR TO EXTEND EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION FOR A
SPECIFIC AREA. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD DEFINITELY LOOK AT. FUNDING, WE TALKED ABOUT WITH THE STATE DOESN'T HAVE AND WE ARE LOOKING AT CUTS. THE STATE HAS $150 BILLION BUDGET. I FOUND OUT THREE YEARS THAT THE STATE WAS ABLE TO PASS LEGISLATION SO THAT EVERY STUDENT IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA COULD RECEIVE A VOUCHER TO GO TO A PRIVATE
SCHOOL. I AM TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. WHY ARE WE ASKING FOR LESS WHAT MY EYES ARE OPEN, I DO NOT GIVE UP I GET UP. THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE ARE WILLING TO GET UP. I DID NOT GET ELECTED TO LAY DOWN. I HAVE HEARD THE
CONVERSATION WITH REGARD TO DOGE IN PROPERTY TAXES AND WHAT WE COULD LOSE TO. AND ALSO THE COMMENTS RELATED TO WHAT VOTERS MAY VOTE. REMEMBER THIS MAKES IT TO THE BALLOT, WE DON'T EVEN KNOW IF WE WILL MAKE IT TO THE BALLOT. LET ME BE THE VOICE OF
REASON THERE. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IS POTENTIALLY GOING TO GO ON THE BALLOT AND WE WILL NOT KNOW UNTIL THE SESSION ENDS. ACCORDING TO LAST YEAR, WE DON'T KNOW WHEN THE SESSION WILL END. IT USED TO BE 60 DAYS AND THERE IS A POTENTIAL TO BE UP UNTIL JUNE. WE SHOULD
START WORKING AFTER WE FIND OUT EXACTLY WHAT PASSES AND THEN IS SOMETHING IT'S ON THE BALLOT HAS THE PAST BY 60% OF THE VOTE. I CAN TELL YOU IS SOMEBODY WHO HAS BEEN ELECTED A FEW TIMES, QUITE A FEW TIMES PEOPLE WHO VOTE ARE NOT STUPID.
THEY ARE NOT DUMB, THEY WILL KNOW WHAT THEY WILL LOSE POTENTIALLY. IT HAS TO MAKE SENSE. I CAN TELL YOU KNOW THE PEOPLE WHO VOTE BECAUSE CLEARLY THEY VOTED FOR ME A BUNCH OF TIMES. [LAUGHTER] I AM JUST SAYING. BY LARGE
MARGINS. [LAUGHTER] I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE HERE THOSE OF US WHO ARE ELECTED AND THOSE WHO ARE ADVOCATE FOR THE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITIES TO UNDERSTAND, IT IS OURS POSSIBILITY TO FIGHT FOR WHAT WE WANT. NOT TO WAKE
UP AND START ASKING FOR LESS. I DON'T TEACH MY DAUGHTER OR MY WIFE TO WAKE UP AND LOOK AT THE WORLD AND ASK FOR A SMALLER AMOUNT. GO AFTER WHAT WE NEED BECAUSE IN PALM BEACH COUNTY NOBODY IS AFRAID OF A
THREE-YEAR-OLD. NOBODY IS AFRAID OF IT FOR YOU ALL, FIVE-YEAR-OLD SIX-YEAR-OLD. 10 YEARS LATER WHEN THEY ARE 15, 16 AND 17 NOW PEOPLE ARE FIGURING OUT WAYS TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO INCARCERATE THEM BECAUSE THE DANGERS OF THESE TEENAGERS
AND THE THINGS THEY FIND THEIR HANDS ON. WE NEED TO INVEST IN THEM EARLY ON THE FRONT END SO YOU ARE NOT SUFFERING THE CONSEQUENCES ON THE BACK END. THIS IS OUR COUNTING, THIS IS OUR COMMUNITIES AND IF WE ARE
PUT IN POSITIONS ADVOCATING FOR PEOPLE IT IS OURS POSSIBILITY TO GET UP AND I GIVE UP. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. KATHLEEN? >> THANK YOU. I HATE GOING AFTER BOBBY. I APPRECIATE THE CONVERSATION AND I REALLY WISH EVERYONE WAS STILL HERE. VICE
MAYOR WOODWARD, UNDERSTAND I DON'T THINK THE LETTER IS TOO LONG. I WOULD JUST WANT TO REMIND ALL OF THE ELECTED AND BOBBY YOU STOLE MY THUNDER. WE PUT OURSELVES IN THIS POSITION TO FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT. SO LET'S FIGHT IT. WE KNOW THE
STATISTICS. TO GO BACK TO 46 PER PUPIL AND SPENDING ON EDUCATION WE HAVE ALL OF THESE OTHER PROBLEMS. WE SEE WHAT IT LEADS TO. YES, THINGS HAVE NOT CHANGED BUT I HAVE BEEN IN THOSE ROOMS WITH THE VPK AND
LOOKED AT THE AUDIENCE OF OTHER PARENTS. I HAVE HAVE HELP, HAVE RESOURCES AND I LOOK AT THEM LIKE HOW ARE YOU GOING TO STAND UP HERE AND GIVE A NINE Ã 12 HOURLY THAT BARELY COVERS EVERYTHING. WE SHOULD BE GOING AFTER THESE GOALS. WE SHOULD ON THE FULL SIDE BE HUMBLE ENOUGH TO LOOK AT THERE ARE OVERLAPPING EXPENSIVE AND MAYBE
WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT THAT AND SAY WHAT CAN ANOTHER ORGANIZATION DO BETTER? I KNOW THE HEALTHCARE DISTRICT DID THAT AND IT SHOULD BE INCUMBENT UPON US REGARDLESS OF WHAT IS ON THE BALLOT TO SAY WHAT WE ARE DOING THAT IS WORKING IN A SILO THAT ANOTHER ORGANIZATION COULD BE DONE? I TELL THAT TO MY NOT-FOR-PROFIT IN MY
DISTRICT ALL OF THE TIME. BECAUSE WE HAVE TONS OF THEM WORKING AND NOT WORKING TOGETHER AND WORKING IN SILOS. WHILE I WOULD HOPE OUR BUDGETS DON'T GET DRASTICALLY CUT I THINK IT IS INCUMBENT UPON US TO PUSH FOR THE THINGS THAT WE KNOW THAT THE DATA SHOWING US REGARDLESS IF WE CONTINUE TO
GET, NO. WE WERE THERE WE FOUGHT THE FIGHT AND ON THE FLIPSIDE LOOKING AT THE OTHER THINGS AND SAY MAYBE CHILDREN SERVICES COUNSEL CAN PICK THIS UP. MAYBE WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT THE CENTER FOR CHILD COUNSELING LIKE TAMMY RECOMMENDED AND USING DATA. AND SAYING HEY, WE CAN CUT SERVICES BY LOOKING AT
PREVENTION AND BY LOOKING AT TECHNOLOGY AND UTILIZING IT. AND SO I DON'T THINK THIS IS ALL DOOM AND GLOOM. I THINK IT IS ANOTHER CHANGE WHERE WE ARE FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT TO MAKE SURE THE RESOURCES DON'T GET CUT APPROPRIATELY AND WE DON'T SWING A PENDULUM ONE WAY AND CONTINUE FIGHTING BACK TO GET IN THE MIDDLE. AND SO I THINK
THE LETTER IS FINE AS IS. I AM SURE THE REST OF THE BOARD AND MYSELF WILL LOOK OVER IT TO MAKE SURE IT ALIGNS. I WOULD HOPE THAT WE ARE ALSO LOOKING AT OUR PARTNER MUNICIPALITIES. I CAN'T HELP BUT THAT I AM WITH WEST PALM THAT WE CAN
PARTICIPATE IN THIS AS WELL. AND SHOW SUPPORT FOR IT. I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU. I REALLY WAS DISMAYED BY EVERYONE'S COMMENTS. BECAUSE HE HAS A YOUNG CHILD AND HE KNOWS THE BENEFITS OF IT. I KNOW IT IS DISHEARTENING SOMETIMES BUT WE STILL FIGHT.
>> THANK YOU. SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER FERGUSON IS 90 I WILL MAKE A COMMENT. I UNDERSTAND HIM TO SAY THAT HE DID NOT AGREE WE SHOULD GO AFTER THESE. HE WAS AGREEING THAT WE SHOULD NARROW OUR SCOPE OF WHAT WE ARE ASKING FOR. I ALSO DO AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER POWELL THAT
THERE ARE A LOT MORE THINGS THAT OTHER SMALLER COUNTIES ARE ASKING FOR. I DO SEE BOTH SIDES OF IT. WITH THAT BEING SAY -- SAID, COMMISSIONER
MARINO? >> I THINK WE ARE BASICALLY SAYING THE SAME THING. WHAT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE EACH HAVE TO GO AND TALK TO EVERY ELECTED OFFICIAL AND ANY TO SEE YOU BACK HERE THE SAME THING FROM ALL OF US. THEY KNOW WHAT IS IMPORTANT FROM ALL OF US. I THINK WE NEED TO DO MORE FOR PREVENTION AND EDUCATION SO WE DON'T GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE
ARE SO FAR GONE. INSURANCE RATES WHEN TOBY OVER DOOR WAS WITH US I BROUGHT UP INSURANCE AND THERE WAS NOT MUCH MOVE ON
THAT AT ALL. AND ALSO THE LETTER WE TALK ABOUT SOVEREIGN IMMUNITY AND I THINK THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT. THAT COULD BE SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO COST A LOT OF MONEY IN THE FUTURE. IN THE LAST IS UNFUNDED MANDATES THAT IS NOT ON THIS LETTER. FOR THE COUNTY IS OVER $40 MILLION OF UNFUNDED MANDATES. JUST A REMINDER THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE TALKED ABOUT IN OUR BOARD SO I WANTED TO SHARE IT WITH ALL OF YOU. THANK YOU.
>> COMMISSIONER WEISS YOUR RECOGNIZED. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. IN LOOKING AT THIS IT BOILS DOWN TO HOME RULE. A LOCAL COMMUNITY MAKING DECISIONS FOR ITSELF ON HOW IT WANTS TO AND
HOW THE LEVEL OF SERVICE PEOPLE WANT, HOW THEY WANT TO FUND IT. WE GOT AND I DON'T REMEMBER HOW MANY FISCALLY CONSTRAINED COUNTIES IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. THEY CAN'T PAY THEIR
OWN BILLS. THEY DO NOT HAVE SERVICES. I REMEMBER HEARING FROM ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES IN ONE OF THESE COUNTIES WHEN HE WAS GOING OUT THEY HAD NO PARKS, THEY DO NOT HAVE FIRE SERVICE, THEY DID NOT HAVE POLICE SERVICE. AND THE PEOPLE
WANT TO CHOOSE TO LIVE IN COMMUNITIES LIKE THAT, THEY HAVE THAT OPTION. BUT WE ARE PALM BEACH COUNTY. THERE IS A LEVEL OF SERVICE THAT PEOPLE HAVE CHOSEN TO BE HERE. BECAUSE MOST PEOPLE AND NO OFFENSE TO PEOPLE THAT WERE BORN HERE BUT THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. MOST OF US CAME
FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE. AND TO SEE THE STATE CONTINUOUS AND THIS IS NOT NEW AND TO THE STATE LEGISLATORS THAT ARE THIS ROOM AND THERE ARE MANY OF YOU WHO HAVE SERVED, YOU KNOW IT IS NOT. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR QUITE A NUMBER OF YEARS
NOW. PROPERTY TAXES IS JUST ANOTHER ATTACK ON HOME RULE. THEY WILL DO WHATEVER THEY WANT TO DO AND PUT IT IN FRONT OF THE VOTERS WHATEVER THEY WANT TO PUT IN FRONT OF THEM. I DON'T THINK THERE IS MUCH TO SAY THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE OVER THAT. I DON'T THINK THEY
ARE GOING TO LISTEN TO WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO EXPLAIN TO THEM. AS IT RELATES TO THIS LETTER, I THINK IT IS APPROPRIATE. CIRCLING BACK TO VPK AND I AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER THAT IT
IS AN ECONOMIC ISSUE. I WOULD HOPE THE LEGISLATORS UNDERSTAND THAT. YOU HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE MAKING 15, 20, $25 PER HOUR AND THEY HAVE TO GO OUT AND FIND
SOMEPLACE FOR THE KIDS FOR THE REST OF THE DAY AS WELL AS FINDING THE TRANSPORTATION TO GET THEM THERE. IT WOULD BE BETTER FOR OUR ECONOMY. FLORIDA THE THIRD LARGEST ECONOMY IN THE WORLD, WE HAVE A
PHENOMENAL IF YOU ARE IN THE TOP IN FLORIDA RIGHT NOW, YOU ARE LIVING REALLY WELL. BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE AND MOST PEOPLE ARE NOT. THEY ARE STRUGGLING. AND SO THE FULL DAY OF VPK WOULD TAKE ONE LESS ISSUE OFF OF THEIR TABLE AND
PROBABLY HELP WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES. A LOT OF MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES IS THE STRESS THAT THEY ARE UNDER. IF YOU CANNOT PAY YOUR BILLS THAT IS STRESSFUL. THAT IS ONE THING
WE CAN I THINK IS IS THERE -- IT IS IMPORTANT TO KEEP IT ON THE LIST FOR THOSE REASONS. WORKING TO FIND THE OVERLAP, I WILL REMIND EVERYBODY THAT CHILDREN ARE RESIDENTS HERE.
SO THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT HAS RESPONSIBILITIES TO THEM AS WELL. EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE A CHILDREN SERVICES COUNSEL THEY ARE A PART OF THE PEOPLE WE SERVE AND WE THAT THROUGH THE LIBRARY SYSTEM, PARK SYSTEM BUT WE ALSO HAVE COMMUNITY SERVICES THAT IS HELPING WITH SUPPORTS AND SERVICES FOR THEM. OUR
COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION SPECIFICALLY TRYING TO HELP THOSE SPECIFIC LOW INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS. THE YOUTH SERVICES IS ALSO FILLING A GAP THERE. IT IS MAKING SURE WE ARE INFORMED AS COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS MEETS THE NEEDS OF THAT GROUP OF RESIDENTS. WE HAVE A VETERANS DEPARTMENT BUT THERE IS A VA AS WELL. IT IS A MATTER OF WORKING TOGETHER. IF
WE ARE FUNDING THINGS THAT SOMEBODY ELSE CAN FUND, AND NO ISSUE TO PASS THOSE OFF. THE LEVEL OF SERVICE THERE HAS BEEN A DEMONSTRATED NEED FOR IT. IF THERE WASN'T THAT NEED, WE WILL NOT CONTINUE TO DO IT. WE HAVE
SEEN THE BENEFITS OF THAT BUT I AS SENATOR SACHS, YOU CANNOT BE AFRAID OF THE FACTS OR OF THE DEBATE. I BELIEVE IN THAT.
LET'S LOOK AT THE FACTS AND IF THE FACTS LEAD US SOMEWHERE ELSE THAN FINE. WE HAVE TO BE AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED WE HAVE TO BE DRIVEN BY THE FACTS. >> SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER ANDREWS AND VICE CHAIR RODRIGUEZ. >> THANK YOU. WE HAVE BEEN
TAKING CARE OF OUR KIDS FROM ALL OF OUR AGENCIES YOU CAN SEE FROM WHAT WE DISCUSSED TODAY. WE CAN'T WAIT ANOTHER FIVE YEARS. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO GET TOGETHER MORE OFTEN. I WOULD SUGGEST, I LOVE THE LETTER AND LET ME GET BACK TO THE LETTER. I THINK AND I
DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE SEEN ALL OF OUR LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES FOLLOW -- FROM ALL OF OUR GROUPS. THERE ARE LOTS OF OTHER THINGS WE HAVE IN OUR LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES. ALL OF US NEED TO SEE EACH OTHER'S.
THAT IS THE FIRST THING. WE HAVE TO STICK TOGETHER AND WE HAVE TO FIGHT. BECAUSE THE COUNTY, I WANT TO TELL YOU MR. JAMES GREEN, I SAID A LOT OF YOUR COMMITTEES. I KNOW THE WORK THAT YOU DO OUT IN THE COMMUNITIES. AND WHEN THERE IS A CUT AT THE COUNTY LEVEL, WE ARE GOING TO SUFFER. I SEE THE
SUMMER PROGRAMS YOU HAVE FOR OUR CHILDREN WITHIN OUR SCHOOLS SO THEY CAN GET SOME EXTRA SUPPORT AND ATTENTION DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS. SO WE HAVE TO FIGHT FOR WHAT WE NEED. FULL DAY VPK BIG TIME WE HAVE
BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT FOR YEARS AND PALM BEACH COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT TO SAY THE FULL DAY PIECE IS VERY CRITICAL. CTE WE HAVE TO GET OUR CHILDREN READY FOR EMPLOYMENT AND TO DO THE JOBS THAT ARE NEEDED. WE HAVE A LOT ON HERE AND BEING 46 AND THE NATION IS REALLY BAD. I JUST WANT TO SEE US BECAUSE THE MAYOR'S OF ALL OF THE CITIES
THAT WE WORK WITH SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS AND WE REPRESENT EVERYBODY FROM ALL ACROSS. THEY ARE GOING TO FEEL THE SHOCK IS SOMETHING DOES COME DOWN. MAYBE THE SCHOOL BOARD MIGHT BE OKAY BUT I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ISSUES. I THINK IT ALMOST NEEDS TO BE A SMALLER
SUBSECTION OF THIS GROUP WORKING AND THINGS ARE BEGINNING TO UNFOLD. IT IS GOING TO BE FLUID WITH THE LEGISLATURE. IT DOESN'T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT. IT GOES RIGHT UP UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE AND IT NEVER ENDS SENATOR BOBBY POWER WHO WAS A COMMISSIONER NOW. WE MAY HAVE TO COME BACK TOGETHER AGAIN AND WE HAVE TO
COMMUNICATE WITH ALL OF OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS AS YOU SAID. BECAUSE THEY ARE GOING TO GET THE HIT WHEN THE COUNTY GETS THE HIT. IT IS ALL ABOUT US TAKING CARE OF ONE ANOTHER. IT IS GREAT THAT WE CAME BACK TOGETHER TO GAY -- TODAY. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO LEARN HOW
WE DO IT TOGETHER AND OTHERS WILL HAVE TO PICK UP THE SLACK IF SOMETHING COMES UP. COMMUNICATIONS AND COLLABORATION WILL BE VERY CRITICAL OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. BECAUSE CHANGE PROBABLY IS COMING AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE AND WE NEED TO BE AHEAD OF THE GAME. THE SOUTH COUNTY,
WEST COUNTY CENTER COUNTY WHERE WE HAVE TO BE, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO GET THERE AND WORK TOGETHER. SO I SEE A SMALLER SUBSECTION OF THIS GROUP AND THE SCHOOL COMING BACK TOGETHER. AND REALLY EDUCATING THE MAYOR'S IN THE CITIES ALL ACROSS PALM BEACH COUNTY BECAUSE WHATEVER COMES DOWN IS GOING TO HIT OUR CHILDREN, IT IS POINTED OUR COMMUNITIES. THEY HAVE BEEN USED TO WHAT WE HAVE GIVEN THEM WHICH HAS BEEN
SUPERB. WE STILL NEED A LOT MORE TO DO SO WE CAN'T AFFORD A CUT. BUT IF WE DO WE NEED TO BE PREPARED FOR IT. THANK YOU. >> VICE CHAIR RODRIGUEZ? >> ALONG THE LINES OF PROACTIVE COMMUNICATION, I AGREE. I THINK THE KEY TO OUR SUCCESS IN ENSURING WE CAN
CONTINUE TO DELIVER THE SERVICES THAT THE COMMUNITY NEEDS BUT FROM MY PERSPECTIVE THE CHILDREN OF OUR COMMUNITY NEED IS GOING TO BE MORE FREQUENT AND MORE DIRECT INTERACTION BETWEEN THE STAFF OVER THE NEXT 12 MONTHS. IF I
HAD TO BET, I COULD BE PROVEN WRONG. I THINK IT IS LIKELY THAT YOU WILL GET AMENDMENTS ON THE BALLOT. I ALSO THINK IT IS VERY LIKELY TAX CUTS WILL PASS. I KNOW WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT THE COUNCIL AND FOR US IT IS
GOING TO BE TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF REDUCTIONS IN OUR BUDGET. WE MAY NOT BE OR IT MAY NOT BE ABLE TO ABSORB AS MUCH AS WE WOULD BE ABLE TO ABSORB AND PARTNERSHIP WITH OTHER ENTITIES IN THIS ROOM IF WE WERE EXEMPT. RIGHT NOW I DO
NOT SEE ANY OF THE BILLS AND I CAN BE WRONG THAT EXEMPT THE SPECIAL TAXING DISTRICT AND CHILDREN SERVICES COUNCIL. I THINK WE SHOULD PROBABLY MY SUGGESTION IS TO BE READY TO MEET SHORTLY AFTER WHATEVER PASSES PASSES SO WE CAN COLLABORATIVELY FIGURE OUT HOW
DO WE CONTINUE TO TRY TO PROVIDE THE MOST SERVICES WE CAN TO OUR CHILDREN. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. MR. WARREN WOULD YOU MINE COME INTO THE MICROPHONE? YOU COULD JUST
HAVE A SEAT. COMMISSIONER FLORES IS NOT HERE. YOU ARE GETTING YOUR STEPS IN. [LAUGHTER]
WE WERE ASKED EARLIER TO SPEAK TO SOME OF THE ISSUES IF YOU WOULD NOT MIND? >> YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU MDM. MAYOR AND THANK YOU TO THE COUNTY COMMISSION, SCHOOL BOARD. MY PARTNERS AT THE CHILDREN'S SERVICES COUNCIL AND THE HEALTHCARE DISTRICT. REGARDING THE VOLUNTARY PREKINDERGARTEN PROGRAM FULL DAY, I WOULD LIKE TO TOUCH ON IT BUT I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO
SHARE. TO TOUCH ON IT VOLUNTARY PREKINDERGARTEN TAKE A SUBSTANTIAL DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF OUR CHILDREN. THOSE PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAM ENTER SCHOOL MUCH MORE READY TO LEARN AND LAST YEAR 72% LEFT FOR THE CONCURRENT PROGRAM.
THEY LEFT AT EIGHT LEVEL. WITH THAT BEING SAID IT IS A BIG ASK. I ADMIRE THE GOAL OF PUTTING IT IN HERE. I THINK THERE WILL WAYS WE CAN WORK TOWARDS IT. I DO THINK WE CAN MAKE ADDED CHANGE IN THE
ELIGIBILITY PRIORITIES FOR SCHOOL READINESS PROGRAMS FOR THOSE CHILDREN WHO ARE ELIGIBLE TO INCLUDE WRAPAROUND SERVICES FOR VOLUNTARY PREKINDERGARTEN CHILDREN AS AN ELIGIBILITY PARTY. THAT LEADS TO IF I'M A MDM. CHAIR ADDRESS IT REAL QUICK THE MAIN ISSUE AS IT
RELATES TO EARLY LEARNING AND PALM BEACH COUNTY? MAY I? >> YES, PLEASE BUT BRIEFLY. >> THIS WILL BE VERY BRIEF. THERE IS AN ALLOCATION FORMULA. LAST YEAR THE ALLOCATION FORMULA DOES NOT DO PALM BEACH COUNTY WELL BECAUSE IT DOES NOT MEASURE OUR NEED. I WOULD ASK
FOR THE PARTNERSHIPS WITH EVERYBODY HERE AND WORKING WITH THE PEOPLE IN TALLAHASSEE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY KNOW THAT PALM BEACH COUNTY HAS THE NEED AND THAT WE SHOULD NOT TAKE A $40 MILLION CUT THAT WAS PROPOSED LAST YEAR. WE HAD
LANGUAGE IN THE BACK OF THE BILL THAT ENDED UP GETTING $12 MILLION BACK. WITH THE PARTNERSHIP WITH CHILDREN SERVICES COUNCIL WE ARE NOW WORKING OUR WAY DOWN. BUT WITHOUT THAT MY PREVIOUS CONCEPT WOULD NOT WORK BECAUSE
WE WOULD BE WORKING TO SERVE THE SAME SHOW. THAT IS MY ASKED, PLEASE WORK WITH US TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE ALLOCATION THAT IS FAIR AND THEN WE COULD ADDRESS VPK. >> CAN WE REQUEST IT FROM THE STATE AND LEAVE IT IN THE LETTER? >> I THINK LEAVING IT IN THE
pLETTER IS A GREAT GOAL. I DO THINK IT IS GOING TO BE A CHALLENGE. I WILL NEVER SAY NO DO NOT SERVE OR PROVIDE VOLUNTARY PREKINDERGARTEN FULL
DAY BECAUSE I BELIEVE IT IS THERE. I BELIEVE THERE ARE OTHER WAYS TO GET THERE BUT I ADMIRE THE GOAL. >> THANK YOU FOR THE COMMENTS. SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER? >> A COUPLE OF THINGS, I DEFINITELY AGREE WITH VPK. WE SHOULD NOT BACK DOWN. WE HAVE
TO FIGHT IT. I WAS AT VPK MOM AND IT TOOK A HUGE SACRIFICE TO TAKE LUCA FROM 8:00 Ã11:00 AND PICK HIM UP AT 1050 AND THEN DRIVE TO THE BABYSITTER TO COME
BACK. THAT 30 MINUTES WAS MY LUNCH EVERY DAY FOR A FULL YEAR. IT WAS HORRIBLE AND SOMETIMES I DID NOT MAKE IT TO VPK AND I WAS TIRED AND I COULDN'T DO IT. SO WE DEFINITELY HAVE TO PUT IT IN AND WE HAVE IT IN OUR LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES AND WE NEED TO FIGHT IT. IT IS NOT JUST FOR THE KID, IT IS US THE
PARENTS, AND COMMUNITY. I LEARNED ENGLISH AS AN ADULT I COULD NOT TEACH LUCA PHONICS AND ALL THE KIDS ARE LEARNING AT A VERY YOUNG AGE. IN MY DISTRICT MY WHOLE ENTIRE DISTRICT 51% ARE HISPANIC. WE
HAVE TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE WHOLE PICTURE WHEN IT COMES TO VPK. I AGREE WITH MR. THOMAS WHEN HE SAID WE SHOULD GIVE AN EXAMPLE OF SOME OF THESE ITEMS. WE WENT TO A LEGISLATIVE
BREAKFAST AND REPRESENTATIVE GERWIG SAID DO NOT SEND US GENERAL EMAILS ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS. TELL ME HOW IT AFFECTS YOU. I THINK THAT IS KEY. I LOVE THE IDEA OF EXPLAINING IT. NOT BECAUSE
THESE PEOPLE ARE STUPID, THEY ARE NOT STUPID IN TALLAHASSEE. IF WE GIVE THEM EXAMPLES, I THINK THEY WOULD MAYBE SEE THE WHOLE PICTURE. SO WHAT I DID TODD, I LIKE THESE AND I DEFINITELY DON'T BELIEVE THEY ARE A LOT. BUT COMING FROM A
MARKETING AND STRATEGIC BRAIN, I THINK IT LOOKS LIKE A LOT. SO INSTEAD OF HAVING ALL OF THESE LIKE THAT, WE SHOULD HAVE THREE COLUMNS. ONE IS EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE AND WE PUT VPK AND CAREER AND
TECHNICAL UNDER EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE. WE HAVE ANOTHER COLUMN CALLED PUBLIC SAFETY AND INFRASTRUCTURE AND WE PUT THE HELICOPTER AND THE PUBLIC FACILITIES ENCOMPASSES AND THEN WE HAVE THE THIRD COLUMN AND WE WILL CALL THE GOVERNANCE AND FISCAL POLICY. THAT IS WHERE WE PUT SOVEREIGN IMMUNITY. SO HAVING THREE COLUMNS WITH ALL OF THE STUFF THAT WOULD BE MY
WHOLE IDEA OF HOW TO RESOLVE ALL OF THE ISSUES. THANK YOU. >> SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE TRYING TO CATEGORIZE SOME POTENTIALLY INTO EXISTING COMMITTEES IN TALLAHASSEE. >> IT COULD BE. I AM JUST
SAYING LET SUMMARIZE THESE. WE GIVE THEM THE LETTER AND WE GIVE THEM ALL OF THIS. BUT NOT AS SEVEN ITEMS THAT LOOKS LIKE A LOT. WE HAVE BIG TITLES WITH
BULLET POINTS INSIDE. THE BRAIN IT DOES SOMETHING MAGICAL TO THE BRAIN. IT IS EASIER TO ABSORB. >> I UNDERSTAND THAT BUT ESPECIALLY WHEN WE WANT TO TALLAHASSEE WE NEED A MORE SPECIFIC GOAL OF WHO WE ARE MEETING WITH THE LEGISLATORS. I THINK IT IS A GREAT IDEA TO CATEGORIZE THEM AND TODD IF YOU ARE LISTENING. INTO THE
DIFFERENT COMMITTEES THAT ARE EXISTING SO THAT WE KNOW WHO AND WHAT ARE ABLE TO IMPACT THE DIFFERENT THINGS WE ARE FIGHTING FOR. IT IS A GREAT IDEA. >> THE LESS COMMITTEES THE BETTER AT LEAST FOR THIS. IT CAN BE OTHER ONES ENVIRONMENTAL AND GOD KNOWS MANY OTHER THINGS. AT LEAST FOR THIS CONVERSATION FOR THIS SEVEN, WE
CAN USE COMMISSIONER WEISS HE IS OUR AI GOOGLE. I DID MY HOMEWORK HERE TO COME UP WITH THE THIRD ONE WHICH IS GOVERNANCE AND FISCAL POLICY BUT THERE WE GO. WE HAVE IT.
WE HAD A GREAT CONVERSATION HERE THIS AFTERNOON. AND I JUST WANTED TO REALLY BRIEFLY COMMENT AND SAY THAT, WE ARE VERY LARGE COUNTY. WE ARE ONE OF THE THREE LARGEST COUNTIES IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. SO I THINK THIS LETTER AS IT PERTAINS TO THIS LETTER AND
ASKS IN THIS LETTER, I DO NOT THINK ANY OF THEM SHOULD BE ELIMINATED. INCLUDING THE ONE ON VPK AS I HAVE SEEN SUPPORT FROM MEMBERS SITTING HERE AT THE TABLE. I ALSO WANT TO SAY I AM ONE OF THE BOARD MEMBERS WITH EARLY LEARNING COALITION SO I GET TO SEE FIRSTHAND THE
GREAT WORK THAT ELC DOESN'T VPK BRINGS TO THE TABLE AS WELL AS SCHOOL READINESS. I AM 100% IN SUPPORT OF VPK STAYING ON THIS LETTER. IN ADDITION I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT I AM ALSO A BOARD MEMBER AT HEALTHCARE DISTRICT. I SEE HOW OUR TAX
DOLLARS BENEFIT THIS COUNTY SO VERY MUCH AND ALL OF GOOD WORK THAT HEALTHCARE DISTRICT DOES FOR THE COUNTY. BEING THE DIRECTOR OF THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT THREE YEARS AGO WHEN I STEPPED INTO THIS ROLE, I HAD TO MAKE CUTS. WE HAVE BEEN
FACING CUTS SINCE DAY ONE OF MY EMPLOYMENT. I HAVE GONE TO THOSE CUTS BUT NOT AT THE COST OF THE HEALTH AND SAFETY FOR THE RESIDENTS OF THIS COMMUNITY. WHEN WE DO THAT WE HAVE TO CUT AND THERE'S NO OTHER WAY BUT TO CUT. I AM
ASKED TO GOING THROUGH MY THIRD WORKFORCE REDUCTION IN THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH. THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT I AM PROVIDING LESS QUALITY OF SERVICES OR WHAT THE COUNTY HERE NEEDS AND THE RESIDENTS DESERVE. SO IN THAT LIGHT, I DO TURN TO MY PARTNERS HERE ON
THE COUNTY TO LEVERAGE THOSE SERVICES WHICH THE DEPARTMENT MAY NOT BE ABLE TO PROVIDE. BUT THAT IS WHEN WE COLLABORATE WITH OUR GREAT PARTNERS IN THE COMMUNITY AND IN THIS COUNTY AREA WE DO HAVE WONDERFUL PARTNERS HERE SITTING AROUND THE STATE AND IN THIS COUNTY
AND BRILLIANT MINDS. I THINK THAT WE CAN FACE THESE CHALLENGES HEAD ON AND TOGETHER AS A GROUP, WE CAN COME TO SOLUTIONS EVEN WITH FUNDING CUTS. SO I DON'T HAVE A DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT IF WE KEEP WORKING TOGETHER AND FIGHTING FOR WHAT IS RIGHT THAT WE IN PALM BEACH COUNTY WILL BE ABLE
TO ESTABLISH AND ACCOMPLISH THOSE GOALS. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH, LISA YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> AS WE CLOSE OUT TODAY, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT CSC WANTS TO BE SEEN AS A PARTNER WITH EVERYBODY HERE. WE HAVE
FANTASTIC COLLABORATIONS WITH EACH OF THE ENTITIES AROUND THE TABLE. I DO THINK IT IS GOING TO BE REALLY IMPORTANT TO CONTINUE TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THESE PROPERTY TAX BILLS. WE HAVE DONE THE ANALYSIS TO OUR BUDGET
AND DARCY AND I WAS MENTIONING IT IS A 26/$66 MILLION REDUCTION TO THE CSC'S BUDGET. I JUST WANT TO SAY IT IS GOING TO BE IMPERATIVE THAT WE WORK TOGETHER AS A COLLABORATIVE AND A STAFF TO COME UP WITH A SOLUTION. SO WE CAN ABSORB THE
DOLLAR AMOUNTS BECAUSE IT IS THANK YOU. CHAIR? US. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH MME. MAYOR. THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS I WOULD LIKE TO SAY BUT BECAUSE THE MEDIA IS HERE I AM NOT GOING TO DO IT. I WOULD SAY I
THINK THIS IS A VERY GOOD, HAS BEEN A VERY GOOD MEETING. THERE HAS BEEN SOME REPETITIVE STUFF BUT THAT IS FINE. WE ARE ALL TRYING TO COME TO SOME KIND OF A CONSENSUS WHICH IS GOOD. TALKING ON A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT THINGS BOBBY IS RIGHT. WHAT WE
ARE TALKING ABOUT HERE IS WHAT THE LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION THAT IS PART OF THE RESPONSIBILITY IS TO ADVOCATE FOR OUR COUNTY. I THINK THAT IS A GREAT POINT. MARSHA IS RIGHT AND I THINK IT WOULD BE GOOD TO GET IN MUCH SMALLER GROUPS OF PEOPLE IF WE
ARE GOING TO GO TO TALLAHASSEE AND TRY TO ADVOCATE. IT IS BETTER IN A WAY IF YOU HAVE A FEW PEOPLE TALKING RATHER THAN HAVE A WHOLE GROUP OF PEOPLE COMING UP. AT LEAST WHEN I WAS A LEGISLATOR TO TALK TO ONE OR
TWO OR THREE PEOPLE THAT WERE ADVOCATING FOR SOMETHING. THE OTHER THING I THINK OTHER COUNTIES ARE GOING TO BE AFFECTED BY THIS NOT JUST US.
THE LEGISLATOR AND THE GOVERNOR GOING TO HEAR FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO BE AFFECTED BY THIS. I DON'T THINK WE HAVE TO BEAT OURSELVES JUST US FIGHTING FOR THIS. I WILL SAY WHATEVER GETS ONTO THE BALLOT EVEN THOUGH 60% IS A TOUGH NUMBER TO OVERCOME IF
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE CUTTING TAXES ON ANYTHING, IT IS GOING TO PASS. WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO MAKE SURE WHATEVER THAT LANGUAGE IS IS GOING TO BE LEAST IMPACTFUL ON US. MY ROLE AS THE CHAIR OF THE HEALTHCARE DISTRICT I THINK
THE LETTER IS FINE PERSONALLY. WE NEED TO HAVE A GO BACK BETWEEN THE BOARD COUNSEL AND GET WITH THE BOARD AND DISCUSS WHAT WE THINK IS MOST IMPORTANT AND MOST IMPACTFUL FOR ME TO
SIGN ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD. I AM HAPPY TO WORK WITH TODD. I HAVE WORKED WITH TODD FOR A LONG TIME. I'VE WORKED IN OUR CAPACITY TO GET WHATEVER WE WANT TO PUT ON THIS AND WORK WITH OTHER ENTITIES AND TRY TO ADVOCATE FOR SOMETHING FROM OUR COUNTY STANDPOINT CAN HAVE SOME
IMPACT. LIKE I SAID I'M SURE THE REST OF THE COUNTIES ARE GOING TO BE INVOLVED IN THIS AND FIGURE OUT IF THERE'S A WAY TO GET WITH THEM AS WELL TO HAVE THE MOST FORCE THAT WE CAN HAVE TO GET IN FRONT OF THE LEADERSHIP IN TALLAHASSEE TO GET THIS DONE. I APPRECIATE
THE FOLKS COMING HERE AND SPENDING TIME. THESE MEETINGS CAN BE VERY TIRESOME. THIS WAS ACTUALLY A REALLY GOOD MEETING FOR ALL OF US TO GET TOGETHER AND TALK ABOUT THIS. >> WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE TAKING NY MORE COMMENTS BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WRAP UP. THEY DO NEED THE
ROOM. I WANT TO CLOSE UP COMMENTS AND WRAPPING UP A FEW THINGS WE DISCUSSED. IT SEEMS EVERYONE IS IN FAVOR OF SUBMITTING THE LETTER WITHOUT REMOVING ANYTHING. I WOULD AGREE WITH SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER
AND I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY OBJECTION TO READ CATEGORIZING THE ITEMS INTO POTENTIAL COMMITTEES IN TALLAHASSEE. THERE IS ALSO ADDING SOME PERSONAL EXAMPLES SEEM TO BE A REPEATED THOUGHT. IF WE CAN DO THAT TO THE LETTER AS WELL THAT WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.
LASTLY, I THINK OUR INDIVIDUAL BOARDS, IT WILL BE A GREAT IDEA FOR US WHEN WE GO BACK TO OUR BOARD TO TAKE A LOOK AT THOSE SIX OPTIONS THAT WERE PRESENTED AS POSSIBLE DIFFERENT TAX
PROPOSALS TO GO ON THE BALLOT. FOR US TO CHOOSE ONE THAT WE WOULD FIGHT FOR. INSTEAD OF SAYING WE DON'T WANT ANYTHING AT ALL BECAUSE I THINK AS BOARD MEMBERS WE UNDERSTAND THAT DOESN'T ALWAYS WORK OUT SO WELL. SO I THINK AS INDIVIDUAL BOARDS IF WE CAN PICK ONE THAT WE WILL WANT TO GO TO
TALLAHASSEE AND FRY FOR THAT MIGHT BE THE MOST IMPACTFUL WAY TO ADDRESS THIS. AND THEN WE HAVE SOME SAY OF WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE GOING FORWARD. THE CHAIR OVER DORF PUT ONE OF HIS OWN BILLS FORWARD. TAKING A LOOK AT THAT MIGHT BE A GREAT
PLACE TO START AS WELL. I LIKE THE IDEA OF POTENTIALLY COMING BACK TOGETHER BUT I WILL LEAVE THAT UP TO THE INDIVIDUAL STAFF MEMBERS OF EACH BOARD TO SELECT A DATE GOING FORWARD. THANK YOU EVERYONE THE MEETING IS
ADJOURNED.