Just go anytime. >> Okay, we're going to call this meeting to order. This is our first budget workshop for the Wilson City Council. Uh it is Monday, July the 27th at 5:30 p.m. Uh President Hines has been delayed and she's asked me to start the meeting. Uh,
Miss Bishop, if you'll please call the RO. >> Yes. Mayor Charles Gman. >> President running behind. >> Turn your mic on, please. >> Vice President Deborah Jones
>> here. >> Council member Meredith Martin here. [snorts] >> Council member Mike Cox >> here. Council member Shannon Church here. Interimm city manager Terry Bvard
>> here. >> Attorney Kirsten Blue. >> Financial Director Steven Bloom >> here. >> City Clerk Latricia Wright is out and all other staff >> here.
Do we know if Latricia is online >> by any chance? >> Not that I see. >> You don't know? Okay. All right. At this time, uh we will stand for the opening prayer and the pledge of allegiance. Yes, I will do that in the absence of the name. Dear heavenly father, please be with us
tonight as we go about the business of the city. Uh let us be mindful and respectful of each other and remember all the residents of our city who ask us to do the best that we can for them. In Christ's name we pray. Amen.
>> Amen. >> I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and [clears throat] to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.
Okay, we will start with our presentation by finance director Steven Boy. >> Okay. Um, hear me. Uh, good evening and welcome to the first uh budget workshop for 2026 2027.
Um, like I normally do, I have a nice presentation for you. I promise I've added a couple more new slides to kind of give you something else different to look at. But um we'll basically go through um and cover some of your normal basics. And if you keep going through
the agenda there, you can actually follow along with the slides. That's starting on. Let's see what page that is. I guess that's page three. Keep going. Okay. So, I usually start with what the goals are for today's workshop.
There's a lot of things you can talk about. You know, there really is no um nothing that's off the table in terms of what you're able to speak about, but what you really absolutely have to have today is a consensus on your preliminary
millage. And and again, for the the millillage, this is going to be what we call your high water mark. Meaning once you set this, it is going to go into the trim notice and you can always come down, but you can't go any higher than
whatever you set today. And so the the trim process in itself, it's got a lot of dates that you have to hit each of them, you know, and it's it's it's basically, you know, kind of parade forward of dates. And so I just wanted
and I always remind you that this is the key one for today. It's not the only thing we'll talk about, but at the end of the day, once everything is said and done, you do have other workshops to to go further into it, this is the one item that you can't um pass by. So, okay,
let's keep going then. I do I did put in here in the next page uh your calendar of your key events. Um and you know, I've included uh two other workshops. It doesn't mean you have to do those both of those workshops. Um I think we
did last year. I think we did three last year. Um most times we do at least two. So the next one that we have on this calendar is August 12th. [snorts] >> Um and then after that, two weeks later, the 26th. And we do that because in
September is when your hearings start. And so you're going to have uh three different hearings. You're going to have a hearing on the fire assessment. It's a public hearing. And then you starting on the 15th will be your first uh budget
slashmage rate. Um and then the 22nd is your final one. And so we've done in the past at least those the two budget ones at 6:00. Um you have to you can't do it before 5:00. Um but the you know some we used
to do it at 5:30 and then it was just kind of the similar today. It's it's rough, you know, for everybody to get here. So, we we usually start at 6:00. Um, and and again, those are the key anything in yellow is is key dates for for the council.
And just as a quick reminder, you know, for why this h these dates are there, you cannot have a public hearing on the same night as the county does or the school board. So, that starts to shrink September quite a bit. um you especially
again with the holiday and stuff and you you have to give the trim notices enough time to be received by the residents. So again, you can't have it too early in September. Um so again, this is kind of what we put together and and certainly
some of this stuff could change if you wanted to, but you're going to have a hard time as you can see with some of these other dates. So, >> okay. Um, the only thing I heard from Miss Hines today is she has a hard time getting here at 5:30. So, if we can make our workshops at 6:00, I know she would
appreciate that. >> Okay, that's >> you'll probably hear that from her when she gets here. >> Okay. Um, the the budget book that you have is very similar to what we've done in the past. Nothing nothing uh uh too
different. just tried to give you we try to be as as transparent as possible. There's a lot of information in there. Um, and we put in a couple summary schedules, obviously key things like the staffing plan, uh, your property tax information. It's all in your budget
book and we will go through that in these slides at very summary level and then we can spend as much time as you want on the details. uh as I you know mentioned again your staffing plan is in here operating debt service all capital it's a whole entire
fully you know baked budget in there um it's a first version I think that's important to to state uh the department managers obviously council residents everyone has you know opportunity from this point um to continue the
discussions make changes I I know even I've already gotten some feedback from some managers who weren't particularly thrilled with some of my cuts. Um, we'll talk about that in a second. Uh, but again, they have, you know, plenty of time to kind of give me the feedback. Uh, you have in front of
you as a site, uh, a new staffing plan. Uh, because one of the things as we go through this that, you know, is try and make sure I put in as many of the changes. And so, this one that you have that's outside, you can literally replace what you have in your book. And
it's the most recent, I believe. But again, this will be updated as well as we go through this uh package. But there were some key um changes in the last 3 weeks or so that my version did not have
that was important to have, including some, you know, utility u movements. Um and so, you know, and I also um increase the city manager pay in these versions. Um doesn't mean you have to that but at
least gives you a little more room as you proceed with that avenue. Uh but again this is you know what I'm calling version one and there'll obviously be a version two for your next workshop especially based on any changes uh that
you make tonight. Um overall the budget you have in front of you is about 6.9% higher than your current budget. Now, a lot of that is skewed with capital. When you look at the airport in particular, there's [snorts] about over $7 million of grant funded
expenses in there. I doubt they'll get through all of that in one year. That's that's a lot. But it is in there as an approved budget. When you pull out all of the capital and just look more at, you know, operating, staffing, and debt
service, it's about a 5.5% increase. And so again, that's no small number, but um certainly taking out the capital uh gives you a little bit better understanding of where we're at. Okay, so I want to cover some of the assumptions on what's in your budget and
what's not in your budget. Um again, giving you kind of hopefully giving you a big broad overview of what's you have in front of you and some of the key points. Um there are no new positions in there. Um there were positions that might have been assumed during the current year.
Those are there, but there's nothing new baked into this budget for next year. Um there are right now, as I counted, I think um over the weekend, 11 open positions, you know, and again, you know, the the managers will have to kind of review
those open positions and see if they still all make sense uh for next year. Um but right now, they're all in there. There are no CPI/wages merit. There is nothing in this budget.
This is a very bare minimum base type of a budget. Um it it is balanced but it was really difficult to balance this budget and I'll talk a little bit more about why that is. Uh but there is no increases and that's why I put this is a
chart that I've used before um to give council an idea should they uh decide they would like to put wages in there at some level. Uh each of the columns represents what that wage would be. It does not have to be across the board. Um
but it tells you per fund what it would cost and that is a fully loaded number. Meaning it includes your taxes, it'll include retirement, a little bit of extra workers comp which would go up everything. It's a fully loaded number.
So, if you were to put in 3%, it would cost an additional $170,000 that you'd be putting into the budget. And you can see the breakdown by fund. And again, that assumes across the board um to put the money into the budget.
Now, again, it's a very tight budget and and so really would then be, well, how do you pay for it? What are you going to either cut? Um, you know, it really is very very razor thin right now. Um, one
of the reasons why your general employee pension rate contribution rate for next year is going up. It's currently 4.86. It's going to 7.88. Uh, so not quite doubling it, but certainly a significant increase. That
means for every dollar you're putting in, you know, the 7.88% um across the board for general employees. The police pension wasn't that bad. Um you can see there's a little bit of a decrease in there. So that [clears throat] you know not
terrible on the police side. And basically by the way these are based on the actuarial studies that they're they've already completed. [clears throat] It's not really kind of it's not a guess. They tell us exactly what the next year should be. Um FRS did go up as well a couple percentage
points. It's um and that's just for fire. Uh 35.19 is what you're contributing now and it's going up to 37.74%. Um I also built into this budget a 10% increase for health and life insurance
premiums. Don't know what those are yet. We'll see as we move forth further. It's usually probably not till late August, early September that we kind of get some of those back, but have to bake something in there. Don't want to wind up short. Uh, same thing on your other
general uh, insuranceances. I have 10% in there for workers comp, uh, GL, cyber, and then auto, which has been a biggie lately. It's at 25%. Um, so again, doing nothing else, this particular page, those couple bullet
points shows you already your budget, your, you know, [clears throat] your spending has gone up. You're doing nothing really. Um, and that's why it does make it tougher. Like I mentioned, all of the the budgets are balanced. Um and you know not using any cash reserves.
Okay, let's keep going. Um I did not change good or bad the transfer from the utility fund. Uh 1.39. It's the same as it is this year. Uh again we've talked about this every time during during the workshop. That's a that's a pretty big
number and it is certainly the goal for the city to reduce that reliance on the utility part. just mention it now because you'll hear some you know probably when your um rate studies come out that some of the commissions um in terms of you know uh water and stuff
they are looking for cities to not be pulling so much money out of the utilities and so I ideally every year we would reduce this amount I just did not have it yet in this particular version of the budget to do it um it used to be
about 1.5 so it is down a little bit um but Again, it it is certainly taking money out of the utility fund. Um, no cash reserves. The any loans that we'll talk about today, unless there's something brand new, I have already
built in principal and interest that includes any any loan that's already been approved. And then I have some information in here on a potential new loan. Um, it's already in your budget. Um, so that's all there. Um, we do share cost
um on certain departments. So, the city manager, city clerk, HR, and it couple years ago, the council said, "Hey, I'm tired of having to go through all the different funds and add up all of this to come up with what the city [clears throat] manager really costs." So, we put it all in the general fund
and then each of those other funds gives donations or shares a little bit of money in to cover those. At the very end of the book, you'll see those pages there. I just mentioned it because we don't usually spend a ton of time on that. uh airport uh fuel sales is a very
small increase right now in here. Um you know there's probably some more room on that. Um and then the military. So for the mill rate that's in right now it's at 6.75. No change. Um as we get to a chart um
down the line here you'll be see the trend. um that 6.75% is not going to yield you much in terms of for the current year. I think it's about $58,000. Um and so ideally
in a perfect scenario, um the increase in your taxable values would help offset any increase in in spending. Uh this year it is not. Um like we did this year for 2026.
uh next year has built-in um cash reserve increases. Um coming out of 2025, which was not a great year, when we did the 2026 budget, uh we knew we had to put in and start building up our cash reserves. We had
heard it from the auditor, and you'll hear it again from the auditor. And so this year, uh for 2026, we do have some money in and so far it looks pretty good. Um, and then this budget has some more uh for next year and it's just kind of a a slow approach um to kind of build
those back up to where where they need to be. [snorts] Um, fire assessments is in at the uh high water mark and again that's another decision that will be up and coming for the council as to whether or not to keep it at this 318
uh traffic enforcement fines. when we did the 2026 budget um we put in 200,000 for the cameras and um it really has not achieved that.
So one of the things between 2026 and 2027 is to kind of lower that number to like 50,000 which is still good money you know new additional money coming in but it it certainly was not what we had hoped for. Um, I built in a 4% increase
in the solid waste. Um, it's basically a pass through. So, I've increased the expenses to cover the contract and then the, um, revenue would follow suit. Uh, we'll talk a little bit more about
Fiverr towards the end. Um, but I did in assume as of 101 800 subscribers. So 800 gets you basically a balanced budget for next year. Um kind of that's
your your target. It is fair important to note that a th000 is really the goal once the loan hits the full principle and interest payments. So basically when you did the loan there was a construction only period and that will
end at the end of I think it's September of next year. you got I think you have one quarter's worth of payments next year that's already built into your budget after that. Excuse me. Then you're going to have a full year worth of principal and interest on that and you really need
about a thousand subscribers to cover everything. So, um, certainly something we can talk more about, but that does assume that we get to one of those marks, which when you looked at the the, you know, plan,
the original plan, um, that's not far from what we had expected, >> you know, to get to 800 and then I think it was even,00. So, >> okay. Any approved utility rate increases, meaning they're already built
in to your ordinances or in in the budget? I know there's um really I think that's uh gas and electric are the tube. I don't think you have anything further on water or sewer at this point. I think you have some great studies that are in
development that'll be coming in front of you for those two. Um but really I think gas and electric are the only ones that are actually been approved and voted on. >> Okay. Um, next chart just kind of shows you where the increases are
year-over-year. Um, so capital is going up. I mean, that's kind of, you know, what capital is. Most of that and then all of that is being funded by grants. Um, your debt service is going up. The largest one that I wanted to mention is operating
expenses. Now, I'm showing it going up by about $800,000, but it's important to note that a lot of that would be um the additional uh cost of of selling fuel at the airport, the additional cost of
purchasing natural gas. Same thing with with electric. A lot of this is really more about what you're going to need to support the revenue than it is, hey, why are we, you know, building up our operating? And you'll see that more when you go through the details. And then the personnel really is a is going to be a
function of some of the other stuff we already talked about. The health insurance is built into that um you know uh FRS pensions. So it's it's about 2% but it's not a small number. It's about $120,000.
So just a visual way of looking at the budget as a whole. So you can see kind of where the different splits are for that 6.9%. Um, in terms of capital, I've kind of highlighted it on the next page. Um, I mentioned the airport already. It's
about 7.8 million. Um, that's in here. Um, and again, I I I doubt you're going to get through all that in one year. Um, it's usually, you know, kind of um two-year process by the time you get through it all, but then next year most likely there'll be new projects to add
on to it. But and then the CRA at the bottom is kind of what they have, you know, the different things that they have going on. Uh the uh communication which is at the top, the radio consoles, that's actually in your current budget, has not been
spent on this year kind of a carryover. Um the radios are new, that's a smaller number. And then the um the brush 72 replacement vehicle that also is in your 2026 um budget. um both the radio consoles,
which is really just the installation of it. I believe that the chief's already got the actual consoles um that she got it for a very good deal. So, the installation of it and then the um replacement vehicles, those were both actually a part of a loan that we had
not done yet and that was budgeted and approved in 2026. And I do have a further loan uh slide coming up here. Okay. So I I um I mentioned about the the property taxes. Obviously, you know,
if everything is going great, then you are able to keep your same millage rate, but also get some additional revenue because of the taxable values have increased. So, um it is showing at with a 4.53%
increase. But if you keep your millage rate the same at a 6.75, you're only going to get about $58,000. It's just not a lot to cover the rising costs in in the general fund. And that's to me the biggest concern I have with the general fund right now is just that,
you know, um normally I even would put in some small um increases in the first [snorts] version of the budget. I think I've done most years something just to kind of get you started. I couldn't. I mean, it took me about three trip three times around the budget and and a lot of
scissors on some accounts just to get this balanced. Um, it's it was a very very razor tight year. Um, surprisingly so. So, and again, this is really just part of it. Um, you know, I I try and built in a little bit of an increase in
some of your intergovernmental revenue, but honestly, at this point, they haven't even pro provided the estimates yet. They're not going to do that until August. So, I don't want to overshoot on some of that. you know, like your sales tax, your fuel tax, those things, you usually will get a little bit of an increase year-over-year. Um, shared
revenue, but those numbers are not published yet. And again, it's it's not going to be 5 10%. It'll just be some small amounts to help out. So, this is one of the, you know, really the areas that's that's probably the most concerning. Um, now on the next slide, I did
include, and I've included this every year, uh, some different options for you to consider. And what that means, um, as you're kind of trying to figure out this, um, basically what this means is right now you're at 6.75 is what's in your budget. That's already gotten you
to $58,000. It's already baked in. um if you were to go up to seven mills that's that's going to basically get you another what $50,000 roughly. And so every you know um what's it 0.25
mills is about $50,000. And again you know this really just more for your you know review and discussion and kind of you know what you you know when you get to that point uh you can certainly go through this and you know
out what you'd like to do. Um I did include in the the next um slide kind of what that means uh for somebody you know in terms of the residents as you go you know take them from [snorts] 6.75
up to 7. So what this means is that um for every 100,000 of assessed value, okay, after assuming that they're homesteaded, this really doesn't assume
homesteaded. Um for every 100,000 that you're assessed, basically it's not exact. It's about $13 more that you're going to as you go from 6.75 to 7. So if you're If you're at a half a million dollar, then you're just going
to take your $13 times five. And, you know, I just did I did a quick hundred,000 just to kind of give you, you know, a rough point on what that means. Your $200,000 is $26 of an increase between each one. And that's
annual, just so you know. That's um let's see. Then I did look at seven which this is this is a 6.5 showing [clears throat] the different um basically the different kind of assessed values. Um in other words let me pull um
you can go to the the next one please. Thank you. So if you have and I'll just do it at the half a million again for a second which is kind of the fourth column. So if your assessed value is a half a million dollars then you get your your exemption of
50,000 off of that. Um, divide that by a,000 and then you multiply it by your millage rate of 6.75. So your property taxes is going to be $3,37.50. And then again, for everyund 100 um
thousand, you can see how it it goes up just to kind of again it gives you some reference as you're making these decisions. We can refer back to these later once you get to that point on what it means uh to that. And I think I did one the next one I believe is at seven
the same thing just to kind of you know give you the difference of like $700 there going for every $100. Um but again um when you're looking at at establishing your high water mark it
can always come down you know you'd have two more workshops or whatever you establish it at you certainly going to have two more workshops and then you have two more hearings so you would have four more opportunities to bring it down you have zero opportunities to bring it
up. So that's kind of how that works. This is the fun stuff to the good size. >> Um, we've talked about this before. It's just worth, you know, as you're going through, um, let's say you, hey, I I need another 100,000 for this project or that
project. Well, how would you do it? Well, in the general fund, obviously, you you have your opportunity now to increase your military. You could increase the transfer. Again, really not recommended at this point. Um, and then I think probably more more than likely what you're going to
probably [snorts] want to do is cut from somewhere else. Um, you know, as you're moving stuff around and so, you know, for example, hey, you know, we um really need another $50,000 in materials. Where where are we going to get that? Well, we're probably going to have to go to
some other department um not naming any one particular department and cut from there. But um [clears throat] but that's how you're going to do it. I mean, if you want to put in increases, I think your first thing you're going to want to try and do is see if there's any other cuts to do that before. And then you're going to have to probably look at your
millage rate and say, [clears throat] "Hey, do I leave this up at a certain do I make give myself a little bit more room? Do I take it to seven? Do I take it a little bit more than that?" Um, we have not really increased the millage rate for for several years on purpose. Um, and I'm not suggesting you have to.
I'm just giving you the options as you have those discussions on where you want to look at. on the utility fund. Obviously, it's not millage. You have your rate increases and then again where do you want to cut type of a deal.
This is actually the uh it's a new slide and and my new favorite. We've talked about the different funds and how they're doing. This shows you how they've done over the last five years. And and again, I'm I'm not going to talk
much about the airports. I mean, all in the black, a really nice job that they're doing out there. Every year when you look at this, they've increased their cash reserves. So, really not going to spend much time on there. It's just nice to see the general
fund. When you look at 2021, 2022, 2023, solid numbers there. Um growth, not much, you know, again, uh razor thin. 2024 and 2025. So 2024 you had your hurricane expenses. So you basically had
$100,000 roughly that you have not gotten money back yet for. And [clears throat] then on top of that you you put in about $76,000 in comp plan expenses. Um, and so that, you know, takes that
313, you back out those two numbers, and then we had already budgeted to use a little bit of cash reserves in 2024. I went back to look at it. We had budgeted about 60,000. So between those three line items, that kind of explains why you got the 313,000
loss. Some of that was on purpose, meaning that you wanted to fund some things at the time. The comp plan, you had to do had to do some of that. You got a little bit of that. By the way, that comp plan was not a total city. You know, there was some grants that came in along with that. This is 76 was what was
not covered by grants. By the way, you spent about 121. Then the hurricane. Um and then you've got two years now hurricane expenses. 85,000 and 92,000. Obviously not planned and does not help. Um, now what's not in here is the
170,000 that is slowly making its way uh through the FEMA process for reimbursement. Um, I know they've made progress and again I haven't included because don't know if you could get it tomorrow, you could get it in three years, but the point [snorts] that I wanted to make on the general fund first
is your five-year period here is a $35,000 loss. If you get the $170,000 back into it, now you go from a $35,000 loss razor thin to, you know, a plus
aboutund and what's that? 135 favorable over a 5year period. Not great. Doesn't necessarily do a whole lot for your cash reserves, but it kind [clears throat] of gives some perspective on where the general fund has been over the last 5 years. And now
moving forward into 2026, what's not in there is the expectation is now you have about 100,000 at the end of this year adding to your cash reserves for the general. So now now you have you put back in the 170, you put back in 100 and
then now your 2027 budget has about 150 and you know now you're starting to get yourself closer to where you need to be. And I do have the slide coming up that says what that looks like. So the general fund, you know, while it is razor thin and has been for many, many
years, as you can see, is not you have a game plan to to get you closer to where you need to be. And that's basically what the auditors when they come probably in a couple weeks, they're going to tell you the same thing. Your cash reserves are too low. Now, you'll
be able to say, "Well, we've got a plan. We've looked at that. We know that we've got some money in 2026. We hope to get back the hurricane and now we're going to have some money in 2027. It's not going to bring us all the way back, but it turns us around and starts to build up our cash reserves for the general
fund. Now, the utility fund is an interesting one and you'll see some really big numbers in 2024, 2023. And by the way, these numbers include um depreciation expense.
Now, depreciation expense is a non-cash item, meaning you're not paying anybody for depreciation. But the idea is if your utility fund can cover your cost and your depreciation, that means you have you're generating enough money to cover your future
capital needs for for your assets. And you can see here for four out of the five years you were. Now, what the difference is in 2025 is is you do not have a bunch of grant revenue that came in to help. You [snorts] notice that in
um 2023 you had two and a half million. In 2024, 2022 you had two million. And so that's a lot of money coming in for grants. And then even back going to 2021 you had 9, you know, 900,000.
In 2025, you had 150,000. It's a big difference. So 2025 is probably a pretty a closer indication of what the city looks like without the grants with depreciation and how close you are to where you need to get. The other thing
to note here is within this $186 is also Cow Link. And so Cow Link had about $113,000 loss last year. So you take that out and you can see while the the um enterprise
fund is not doing what you expect, And so what the point I'm making with this is several years ago the council put in some increases in rates [snorts] and this shows you why you needed those because without the grants you would
have been in trouble with the grants and water rate and not just water but in those increases you're actually pretty close to being able to cover your depreciation. Now again, you still have to figure out fibercowing stuff because that is something that's going to it's draining
on 2026 as well, but I again I'm hoping the slides gives you a little bit more perspective as we talk about, you know, both how tight these funds are, but where we're kind of moving, you know, where some of the positive is and and what the city has done.
Um the next slide kind of highlights really where I expect us to be at the end of this year 2026 versus where the recommendation is. So the recommendation is you want to have at least 3 months 25%
in your cash reserves. Um now the airport again nothing really to say about that. They're you know really good. the general fund will have 600,000 and then again you put in the 170 and then you put in another 150 um in 2027
and now you're getting closer to a million of the of the million5. So again progress not quite there. The utility fund again um there's some opportunities that I want to talk about in terms of of financing some of the
infrastructure projects where we've used some cash reserves. Uh but again, if you put in here's 725 um there was some money used for for uh fiber that we reimburseed that plus again you have another probably two
maybe um no I'm sorry I put 350 in for for next year. So again even that will get us closer to to about a million for that. So not quite there. Um better after this year but again it's just going to
require putting in some money into those cashers every year. And and again, part of why it's good to see the airport on this thing is because that's what the airport's done. There hasn't been a year where they put in a half a million into their cash reserves. They're just consistent. Every year they're putting
in money into it. Um even when they are investing in other things, they're still putting some money away. And that's why, you know, they're doing good shape. So with all the stuff we've got going on, all the you know the plans, projects and stuff, uh moving forward, that's really going to be the goal is every year we
put something away, you know, into both the general fund and the utility fund until, you know, we're built up. Um, so as I mentioned, the 2026 budget did already have a loan in there. Um,
and in addition to that, um, I'm proposing we we uh get about a $1.6 million loan to cover, assuming that you're still interested in in the um assume the brush 72 vehicle. I I don't
know where that landed. The consoles you have, so you got to install those. That's you have to do that. The sport truck you have on the way, that just probably be better to finance it instead of using cash. Um your fiber project, I don't know when you're going to get to
800 subscribers. The original plan um assumed you were already well on your way by January, February. We're obviously in July. We're still utilizing labor from the city every month. Um, and so I'm
assuming basically probably another half a million potentially um that you'll need to cover to increase the project. Now, my guess is that number is high. Um, but I don't know. I don't know what the the damages are
going to be back from PSI, if any. Um, I don't know how long it's going to take to get to 800. Um, you know, again, there's already um payments. We made one already for 148,000. You have another one coming up
at the end of of August. Um I want to make sure that there isn't going to be a danger zone with that project. And you might as well finance the full cost of it. Uh the the original loan was $4.6 million. That's only covering the PSI
project, the um contract right now. Um it's not covering any um city um that they did for the polls. It's not covering anything the city labor. Um and so you might as well finance the whole thing instead of using cash reserves.
And then I built in another half a million um into this. The way this loan would work is you would only um pull it if you want it, if you need it. You wouldn't be making interest payments or anything on money you don't need. But
there's other projects that are potentially coming up. And again, prefer to finance these projects. Um, and so a big part of where the utility fund is and how it got to where it is is basically the city um spending on
infrastructure and future re revenue generating projects, uh, communities, new neighborhoods. So those communities were used with cash, which is fine. Now you're going to just generate revenue with them, but you really don't have any more reserves right now to just keep
doing that. That It made sense maybe five, six years ago. It just doesn't at this point. So, I wanted to kind of build in a little bit of of a cushion there in case you need it. Again, that you can put whatever safeguards you want on that. Meaning, hey, it's got to come in front of the
council. Um, whatever you want. But the [snorts] idea being is anything that you know is 5, 10, 15 years, you might as well finance it instead of using your cash now. because you just don't know what's going to happen tomorrow, what you're going to need. And that's part of
what hurricanes have shown us. You know, we didn't many years we didn't have a ton of hurricane expenses and then all of a sudden we got 100, you know, 200,000 in two years. So, I did get a very very uh quick rough
um dirty quote for 10 year of this. It would be a quarterly payments of about 50,000. And and the way work is each of the funds based on what their particular purchases are or projects would get a
piece of it. Um and then there's 15-year um option as well. Again, obviously this is not something you're deciding today. Uh but you know, it was a good opportunity to kind of present it. Uh certainly, you know, a couple of these purchases,
um uh you know, chiefs have been waiting for pretty much most of the year to decide to get, you know, the vehicle and the consoles in the square truck we already know is coming. Um but again, this is just kind of the preliminary time for you to kind of look at this and
get an explanation as to why it's here. >> Um I do have a couple slides on on your property tax uh reform for for next year. I'm not going to spend a ton of time on this because I've already kind of um taken a lot of time here today. Um
but I think most of you have have um heard about this and know what's going to happen. First year, you know, would be 150,000. The exemptions would go up to second year. It's going to go up to 250,000. Obviously, there's going to have to be a vote on this November 1st before
anything happens. Uh one of the things that people talk as much about is is that this thing also puts a cap on the non the nonh homesteaded properties at 5% instead of 10. Uh so again that that's not a small impact as well. Uh
based on the numbers that we were provided um the first year it'd be about a $300,000 [clears throat] uh impact for the city and then by year two about 400,000. So that's a lot. Um, and again, we would
have to figure out ways uh to recoup that should that actually um get voted on and pass. Um, I do have a couple things in in here in terms of offsets. Nothing nothing on this list that's
going to make you happy, honestly. Um, you know, increasing the nonhomesteaded millage rate is is not an attractive option. None of these things are particularly attractive. Certainly, there have been plenty of discussions about impact fees for the city. Um,
you'd have to take a look at, you know, again, what are you going to do? Um, you know, lean on your fire assessment, you know, how far do you go with that? Because again, that's outside of the property taxes. Are there any other assessments um that you would u want to
do to kind of recover? again, three $300,000, $400,000, those are big um numbers to replace. Um my my hope is that some of the uh state, you know,
revenue sharing type stuff like um sales tax that they would do something to help generate some revenue off of that. You again, but there's no promises right now. They're not even really looking at that honestly. Um, but this just
something I wanted to kind of bring in front of you. Um, it's not a great picture, but certainly something we might have to be looking at when we do this when we're sitting in here next year at this time. Um, and just kind of taking a look at each of the services. What are we going to do to kind of claw
back and figure out how to make up or generate, you know, $300,000? That's all. send us that, right? >> Oh, this is on your agenda. >> But we didn't get a copy of it. >> Um, okay. Yeah, sure.
>> Use your mics, please. >> I'll make sure you get a copy. >> We didn't get a copy. >> Oh, maybe not in the book. No, I Yeah, I'll send you. I don't think any of us cover it.
>> Okay, take care. Your turn. >> Over to me. >> Yes, absolutely. So the money from Mike [clears throat] >> someone a loan from the fiber. What you mentioned about
that? What was that for? What was that loan for that's being paid back? So the original loan was $4.6 million to cover the fiber project. It was um modified
and some of the money that we had expected to use to cover city labor and some materials was changed over so that the whole 4.6 is going to PSI. So there's no more money in that loan to
cover city staff for any other materials. In essence, the loan is short. So, we're we've used all the money from >> Well, I have not we the city has not paid the final amount to PSI
pending the final, you know, liquidated damages and all that good stuff. They have one more payment of about $600,000 that we are withholding. So, but if if we were to, again, I don't know what the damages are going to be.
My hope is that that at least covers the interest payments, you know, which is again 148. It'll be another, you know, basically about 200,000. So, my hope is to to keep about 200,000 of that 600,000. But I have no, you know, I have no say in it. That's just my my opinion.
If you were to say, okay, we have no choice but to pay the 600,000 uh to them, that would mean the full 4.6 of the loan would have gone to them. And then the city would have used cash
reserves to cover about $400,000 of this project. And that was never the intention. And obviously this project, you know, it was originally planned works. The original plan worked until it wasn't completed [clears throat] on
time. And so now you're going from, you know, basically hopefully starting generating revenue in January to it now being August basically >> January of last year. >> No, no, January of this year. >> Next year, this year. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I'm sorry. January 1st
of 2026 and I think even December and one of the meetings they said December really. So you're basically about eight or nine months short of revenue. And so, you know, this the city, if you don't keep all that money back, if you don't say, "Hey, we're going to keep the 600,000."
Um, I don't know if you have grounds or not, I can't say that. I just want to make sure if you do that the city is still covered, that that 400 or 500,000 um of additional costs should be financed like the rest of the project was, honestly. And so, I I believe
that's either a 10 or 15 year loan. So half a million dollars over 15 years when you're going to have subscribers paying you to cover that makes a lot more sense than taking a half a million dollars out of your precious cash reserves and just [clears throat] you know basically being done with it. So
that's my game plan. That's why I'm I'm bringing this is to basically say hey if we were to redo this if we had if we went back to the very beginning and said you know what it's not going to be done until August 1st [clears throat] how much would you need? and you probably
need about five million, maybe a little bit more would be what the loan amount would have been. And so now in talking with the bank, they're like, "Well, it's probably not cost effective to go back to that loan and extend that amount because you're going to have to do all kinds of things and legals and stuff."
Um, so since we already had some other purchases that we were going to make, I said, "Well, what if we just kind of consolidate it all together and come up with a small loan to cover both?" And that's kind of what I presented to you, a way of kind of covering it all as well as giving you some cushion. Now, I think
two years ago for John Henry Park, the city already had about a a million and a half line of credit and and it was there to cover that park. But the beauty of it was we pulled the
money when we needed it, paid the bills, and then it took them a while to pay us back. So if we didn't have that loan, we would have been out a million, a million and a half or something. So it it pays to have something of a line of credit of sorts to cover things like that,
especially when you're only going to pay interest if you use it. And so that's always the game plan is just give you flexibility and make sure that you won't get caught with it. Um, not having enough money, you know, like now, like, you know, the city is working on um the
gas project to extend to the airport, but there's no revenue yet for that. So, right now, that's coming from cash reserves. But again, why why not finance that? You're going to have people at the airport for years to come that are going to be using gas to cover that project.
So, it's just a different approach than what we probably have taken maybe five years ago in terms of how we paid for projects. >> Another question since we're talking about with loans, was any of the money
tied up? Well, not tied up any of the money used where um it was the loan that before Mr. Bvard had left. It was a It was a I call it a rainy day fund, but it's >> that's the line of credit I was just talking about.
>> And we have not touched that. >> We did not. We paid it back as soon as we got the grant funds. We paid it back instantly. And then it just closed as it was, you know, it was only supposed to be intended to be like a two-year line of credit. It closed. It was never used again. It was never used for anything
other than what the the purpose was, which was that park. I'm not the park. The um improvements have questions. Okay. All right. And we'll go to item number three. Start with the budget instructions. Um,
city manager. >> Thank you, ma'am. So, I'm going to go over tonight. I'm going to go over um staffing plan for both myself and the city clerk and then each department will at that point break
down [snorts] their budget for you. Um just kind of lead off real quick some of the key takeaways that I got from Mr. Bloom's presentation is that [clears throat] basically from what I'm seeing here, uh, any pay raises are
going to have to equate to cuts from the current budget. Is that correct, Mr. Bloom? >> Unless there is an appetite to increase the military >> military, right? So, I will tell you just general math, we talked about the fiber a little bit. um
we can get on track for that number, but we're going to need additional resources from outside. Once again, occurring cost to do that. As it stand right now, um we will not reach [snorts]
the 800 um based on the installation today, but I've been told that you're looking at you're doing four to five at the most a day. You just do the simple math and then for yourself I'm missing something here. Those numbers are not going to tabulate into the 800.
>> Not close. >> Yeah, not close. So, so we're going to definitely have to look at that. Um there's going to have to be a lot of discussion about the money um and PSI and some crosswalking what the contract
said and what was done to see what effect that had if any. And [snorts] um so we will be doing that in the coming weeks. I can most certainly assure you. I can tell you right now for my goal. Um obviously
we talked about you know what I need to be looking at. The biggest thing I'll be looking at other than the budget this year obviously is the the fiber. So I'm going be spending a lot of time on that in the coming weeks to kind of get a good idea where um going back to the but some key
takeaways I wanted to put in there. Um, just in case I missed it, which I don't think I did, the biggest would be the pay raises. >> Yeah. >> Means we're gonna have to cut some money somewhere. >> Um, when you look at the the city uh council budget, y'all's pretty much stayed the
same. There was really no increases there that I saw. Um, city administration, you know, of course is myself and uh and the city clerk. And there was a um slight increase. I'm not I'm not sure why, but I've talked to
Stephen about that in one of the positions. And then I think we're coming in at about $677,419. Um that is in your new staffing plan that was handed out to you. That is the most accurate one. And um
that's all I have right now for at least my part of the budget other than kind of maybe the tone for of the future. I um I'll just tell you that I'm probably not going to entertain filling any open
positions. It seems to me, unless I've totally got it wrong, um that we seem to be holding the line at best on our responsibilities and uh and probably considering the budget that Stephen's presented here tonight, um holding the line on those
open positions is probably going to be the smartest thing to do. Um, obviously the IT position is one that we will will look at filling, but other than that, um, you know, I I think we're doing pretty good where we're at right now.
It's hard work. We're working hard. Um, but these open positions, I think, are going to become pretty pivotal in the future, uh, for anything that we need to do considering what they are. Um,
obviously I have no control over the fire and police department, but my recommendation for that would be to do the same is hold the line on positions, card that precious income, and let's see what happens. Plus, considering what's
happening in November that could potentially create some big problems, the three or $400,000 shortfall [clears throat] from the actual on taxes next year, I I don't again to cut that. Um
then obviously you know you can only do so much with the citizens that we have on we only have so many resources that we provide people we provide utilities to and it's only going to go so far. So, as
far as grad um so I don't [clears throat] have anything right now other than that if you have any questions of me about my comment that I just made um or if you have any questions about um the city administration
part of the budget. I'll pass it on to the department head if y'all are ready for that madam president and I'll >> sit here quietly till y'all are ready. Um, let me just say that if public works
under roads, >> excuse your mic, please. >> Sorry. There's only one person listed under public works under roads and I don't know how one person can do it. >> I mean, it's got an open position. So, if we don't fill it, I don't know how
they can do it by themselves. I as bad as our roads are. So, from my understanding right now, um, we're pulling from different departments. So, like, uh, and mowing season's about to be over, right, Jonathan? So, like Jason Fox has been helping out in streets and
parks. Correct me if I'm wrong, sir. >> And we just been pulling from where different areas are to help fill those gaps. >> Other duties. >> Yeah, the other duties as a sign parameter is what we're utilizing.
You know, I don't know. We could put a million dollars in our roads and we would make a dent over the next year, you know, or two. >> We need grants is what we need. >> Yeah. The problem is, right, unless we get some sort of grants or something like that, you know, the road department
is simply running around patching it. Um, I'm sure we're not doing hot patch. one cold path that was not the best but you know we probably are holding our own there so and it's like Tim said from my understanding each department is helping
each other to get the job >> I mean as long as it's a ride on mower you just tell me the day before and I'll come dress and go out and mow >> it's a road department I'm worried about fixing the roads >> we can pull somebody from streets and parks and I'll take their spot >> now I'm not giving up the position I'm
just saying I we'll hold off on filling it >> right >> until we get a better handle. Um obviously I I I will feel a whole lot better uh probably over the next 30 to 60 days when I get a better handle on we're going to meet those goals for the
fiber and a lot of this may change. Um, right now I'll be honest with you, I don't really know how we take on any additional burden considering the looking over the bow of the ship and understanding what's coming our way. Um, Fiverr is a big one. Do I think it's
doable? Yeah, I think if we find the right contractor, come in and help us out, hire the right person, um, you know, we we maybe we can reach those goals. Um, but we're not going to do it with two people. I can tell you that. not on four installs today. And these
four installs are doing today um are literally the ones that are pre-wired. Those are the ones that the fiber is going to the house. It's going down the house. It's going it's already got the box on the house. I mean, it's a minimal time that the the technicians
are spending there hooking things up. And so these are all being done pretty quickly. And so the tougher installs are the ones that are not three wires that we have to run the wire to the house or vary it to the house and then hook it
up. Um, so yeah, I'm not going to give up position. I'm just saying that as long as we can keep our head above water without filling position, um, I think we're better off
here. Yeah, just to clarify, the the four or five that we're averaging today is mostly scheduling limitations. It it's just that's how many we get scheduled today. It's not that we couldn't do more. Um that's just kind of be where the scheduling is when we put the the word out and people call making
appointments and we're having to deal with everybody else's life, you know, oh, I can't be there at 9:00, but I can be there at 10:00. So sometimes we have a gap in there and that's when they're doing other work, you know, prepping the routers and doing things just to get ready. So, the the limitation there, I
mean, it potentially we could we could if we could schedule one of these uh installs that is pre-wired. The average on those is 30 minutes to an hour and it's usually done. Um, there are some exceptions to that where you may have other problems that you don't
anticipate, but in theory, we could do seven or eight per technician a day if we got those scheduling down and got people to actually call and make the appointments. But that's kind of the other thing we're fighting. Oh, I can't be there. Can you do it on Saturday? You know, then then now now they're coming
in working overtime to to get them done, you know. So that's that's the limitation. >> So So we're not going down a list and calling people in. >> Yes, we are. We're sending out emails and list. I'm doing 30 40 50 at a time
um to the pre-registered customers trying to get them to come. That's why we're concentrating on the pre-registered customers because those are the fastest way to get more people on as quick as possible is doing concentrating on the pre-registered customers because the drop's already done. That was that was the plan. That's
why we did it that way. Um, we have some mixes in here where we've made appointments and done for people that didn't have the drops. Some of those take four to six hours to do. So, you can only do so many of them a day, obviously. So that's why we're focusing on trying to get the pre-registration
customers done first because that's the way we're going to get the most on as quick as possible. So the the four or five a day again is not a limitation of of our capacity of what we could do. It's just that's kind of where our scheduling is averaging right now. >> Who who's calling and scheduling?
>> The the customer. >> I mean we they >> that's that that's why I'm [snorts] confused. So the customer has to call in. >> No, they don't have to call in. They have they basically go on they we make up an account, set up an account for them. Either they do it themselves or we walk them through it or we do it for them. They set up the account and if
they're talking to Alex, they usually make the appointment then at that point. >> But you call them. >> I'm talking about the ones that are already registered. >> Yes. Those are the ones we're sending emails and notification out to to get a hold of us to make an appointment. >> That's all we can do is ask them to
call. I've got some that call, some that email, and we call them back and we make an appointment. So, I mean, that's how we're reaching out to them is we're trying to do it a few at a time so we don't get overwhelmed and have a waiting list of people waiting to be in hooked up. Right now, I think I didn't look today, but
whatever it was Friday, I sent you, Terry, we had 40 49 I think sitting on the list that are waiting for an appointment. You know, we just are only three or four calling in to get >> It's well, but it's just not a matter of them calling in. It's a matter of when
they can accommodate us coming to do their install. In a perfect world, I can say, "Hey, I'm going to be there at 8:00 to hook up your internet. Hey, I'm going to be there at 9:00 to do yours. I'm going to be at 10:00 to do yours." In a perfect world, that' work great. But when you're having to accommodate people, you got to work around their
schedule. Could I make >> But but are you are are you and and I'm I'm really getting into your business now. But um are you looking at at a week's time or looking in a a schedule a calendar of a month and say okay? >> No, whenever they want it as soon as
possible. You we're not we're not we when she does an appointment, she'll look at this calendar and say what's available. >> And then offer them to you know what's the day good? Hey, I've got a 9:00. Is that good for you? Yeah, sure. Let's do it. Or hey, I can't. I got a doctor appointment. How about you come back at
12:00? You know, so that's she's just scheduling it that way. >> But if they say, "Okay, I'm not available this day, but I'm available on this day." Is she going to schedule them for that day? >> Oh, yeah. Absolutely. >> Have that available? >> No, absolutely. Whatever they work out for, we got we got appointments set out
two or three weeks in advance at this point. >> Okay. >> So, I mean, it's just a matter of having to accommodate the people as well because, you know, they've got a life and things to do, too. >> So, all right, Mr. Well, what what may have to occur is what I'm hearing from
from Aaron, what y'all are talking about now is uh when um Spectrum installed my my Wi-Fi, they gave me a date and time and maybe that's maybe that's one of the problems. So,
>> I I I would definitely agree because now you have people who can't be signed up because we're waiting on somebody who pre-registered. >> That's exactly right. >> And now we're falling. No, no. It's It's not that. It It's not that >> No, no. It's not that people can't sign up. It The problem is if they do sign
up, it takes so much longer to do that installation. >> We're not We're not turning them away. We're scheduling them and we're doing them, but we're trying to focus on the ones that have the drops already in place. >> Okay? >> Because the ones that have the drops in place, we can do more of them quicker
>> because it only takes 30 minutes to an hour as an average to do those installs. If they go run the fiber from 600 feet down the street, have to go to every pole and do all that work, it might take them four to six hours to get that one customer hooked up. >> But if you have three, four, three or
four, five people scheduled in a day and it only takes you what 30 minutes to install one that's already pre. >> Well, it's just an average. It could be 30 minutes to an hour. >> And now we have how much more time in the day that we can actually do? >> Yeah, we do. But we are scheduling when,
like I said, we're scheduling what we can. And when the people do call or sign up that don't have the drop, we're still doing them. We're working them into that schedule. So, we're [clears throat] allowing an hour per install. And when they go out and do an install, if they're 30 minutes early, hey, they'll get on the phone and call the customer, say, "Hey, we're a little bit ahead of
the schedule. Can we come now?" And most of the time, they'll say yes. You know, cuz they've they've accommodated us because they're waiting on us to be there. >> Okay. I'm just >> But we're not turning anyone away by any means. It's just that we're trying to focus on the quickest as quick as
possible. As many as quick as possible. That's what we're trying to get done because we know where our goal is to be where we need to be. >> Right. But if you're not getting those quick those quick enough, >> but I can't make I can't make the people sign up and get an appointment any faster.
>> I I didn't say that you could. What I'm saying is if people are signing up, even though it may take a longer period of time, when we only have two people to install in a day, then somebody who just signed up that you need a full install can be installed.
>> Yeah, we're doing we are doing that. That's exactly what we're doing. We're doing those exact steps. >> That's not what I was hearing. So that's why I'm asking the question. So >> she's talking and >> Yeah. I'm talking about the new ones, not when she says.
>> Yeah. But that's what I said. That's what we are doing. We are not turning anyone away. When they call, we make an appointment. If it's a full install, we schedule at least 4 hours to do that install. Okay? And if it's a quick one that's an already pre-registered customer, we schedule it for an hour.
Some of those may get done in 30 minutes. Some may take two hours. You never know until they actually show up on on at the customer's residence or business and they find out, oh well, I got to run 150 ft of fiber through to, you know, all the way around the other side of the building. That's going to
take longer. Where if I got to go through a wall and run a 12T cable and hook them up, they're done. They do that one in 30 minutes. So, they're not all cookie cutter. It's not that simple. I wish it was, but it's not. >> Okay. But when you say it's quick and easy, >> well, well, no, but but that is the
quickest way because those customers are already they have the drop to their home or their building and they have the nid on the side of the building. >> So for us to do an install, we have to go from the nid and run a fiber into the house or the building ever how it gets there. That's what determines how long
it may take. Plug the equipment in. Sometimes it works automatically, sometimes it doesn't. that done, we have to in the back end go in and do the manual process to get them activated, which takes longer. So, it it's all a varying mess of of how can we get this accomplished, but the ultimate goal is
to get as many on as quick as possible. And that's why we're focusing mostly on the pre-registered customers, >> okay? >> Cuz those are the quick ones that we can get done quickly. >> And those are how many is [snorts] that? 800. Those are >> well the go yeah there was there was
there was about 850 total counting the RV park in the town. >> Okay. >> But even at our rate now if we averaged four and five a day as we're doing now >> you still wouldn't. >> Well in 8 months we'd be at 800. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. You're not going to make >> and then in 10 months we'd be at a
th00and at that rate. So I mean can you wait 8 months? >> No. >> No. >> So that's where we're at. >> Okay. Um I just had two things. one, we got to look at how long ago the people who pre-registered signed up. If that was a year and a half ago, there's a huge
already gone. >> Interrupt second. We sorted that list by date. >> Okay. >> And we we started, that's the only fair way to do it. We sorted it by date. We started at the top and started emailing out in blocks by date. >> Right. Right. Um what I was getting at was we had to take into consideration maybe the reason why some of these
people are not reaching back out is because they've already acquired services somewhere else, especially if they're like working from home or it's needed for a business. they didn't really have the opportunity to wait for a year and a half or however long to get the service. Um, and then also the other part I think Mr. Bvard has a good point.
If you're allowing the human element to take place, then you know when it's time to sign up, they're going to be like, "Oh, I'm busy on this day. I'm busy on that day. I can't really have open accommodations versus this is your block of time. I'll be there between 1 to 5 on this day or this day. Which one would you like?" And then they go ahead and
set them in stone. And like I said, we're able to get more in because the install was quick quick and easy and we can move more. We just typically call them and say, "Hey, we got an opening. Do you want us to come by today?" It makes it a little bit easier on this side because it takes that human element out of it of trying to go around an
entire, you know, list of people's schedules. So, I that might be an option of just saying, "Hey, we're trying to get you set up as fast as possible. You signed up on this date. um here are three options of blocks of time that we can get out there versus being like let me know when you're available if that
might help. >> Try it. >> Yep. They they do that to me all the time. Just recently we'll be there between 8 and 12. >> 8 and 12. I I have a whole day that I >> But that's what we're not them. >> Granted, >> we're different. We're trying to be
different and be better. >> That's that's fine. But if you can get more people in between that 8 and 12, then it makes a heck of a lot different. >> See, I got something. >> I got something you going to like even less. If you got 800 people on a list,
I'm saying send all 800 of them something that says we're going to install on a first, not be finished. We're going to install on a first come, first serve basis. Let me let us hear from you. >> Well, in a nutshell, that's what we're doing. We're announcing to them that they are >> you're pulling 15 or 20 at a time
>> and and like I said, I've got 39 sitting out there right now waiting for an appointment. >> I won't wait. I sent them all whoever calls for >> and then they're still going to be sitting on a list a year from now cuz we're not to them yet and they're still going to be mad. >> But you won't have to wait for them to make an appointment. They will be waiting for you. I think there's still
going to be >> I think if it bottom line it comes down to we get a contractor to come in and help will hit those goals. >> Yes. In in a nutshell, if you hire the
contractors we talked about from the pricing we got, you're going to spend call it 2 and 1/2 months of revenue to pay those contractors to get them hooked up and in two and a half months you're making money. It's it's kind of where you have to spend the money to make the money kind of deal and that is doable. It was going
to take more focus on getting more people to sign up. Obviously, that's when your neighborhood door hangers come in and cuz then you can keep up with the flow >> and we make it go do the whole RV. >> Well, that's the goal. Once we start in there, they're going to pretty much be one person in there all the time,
>> right? Because right now only have two, but yes. >> Oh, yeah. Two, maybe two. and she's she's working on scheduling 20 to 25 at a time per section, >> which will add to the numbers as well. And those will go pretty fast. Those they can probably knock out in 15 to 30
minutes. >> Anyone else? [snorts] >> No, I think that's enough for me. [laughter] part their budget. So, >> we'll get there.
>> If we don't, y'all can find us. >> And I'll say before you got here, we did not look at the budget summary or the staffing plan or the property tax before we get to the individual departments. We did not do that. So we that's probably where we need to go. So
we've got to get in preliminary millage tonight before we go home. >> What are we doing the property? >> I mean in the book we haven't done the budget summary the steps the whole staffing plan. He did his too but we haven't done any of the rest of them.
And the property tax part is where we would normally set the net. And then the general fund starts with these guys that are on our agenda to make. They're all I think they have presentations to make. I know a couple of the departments do. >> No presentation tonight.
>> Why not? That gets us what we got. >> You're joking, aren't you? >> I'm joking. I'm joking. >> Get to say that before 5:30. >> Yeah, [laughter] exactly. Jeez, y'all should already.
All right. So, we need to go with the So, we'll go to the property tax section section. [clears throat] Before we before Oh, this is all before we do that in the staffing plan. There are people that are part-time, Stephen,
uh who have part-time hours who are marked part-time, but it says their count is one instead of a half. >> Yeah, I don't. >> It just makes our count seem so high, >> and we catch a plank for that in all honesty.
>> Okay. So all these I mean I've got so many circles here that are reading um part it says they're part-time and this this whole group's got 300 hours and they all say they're a fulltime employee. >> Okay. Yeah. I think in the past we've
put one one body one equals one. >> Well some of them do have five. >> Oh there's only two.5. [clears throat] >> That part would be interesting. There's one. The custodian actually does work in
two spots. So, instead of putting one, >> so you divide them in half. >> Um, everybody else got a one. Um, I want to do five. >> I mean, like here's somebody who works 800 hours, but it says they're their their count is one instead of a half.
And then there's uh let's see, there's another one here that says I think it has 1,600 hours in a year. that says they're full-time and there's five there's five right here that say they're full-time. They've only got 300 hours a year.
So, I just, you know, if if you're going to make your count lower or AC more accurate when people look at it and say we have 110 employees, we really don't. We have a half and a half and a half and a half >> and two of them only make the whole. >> Yep, I could do that. >> You know what I'm saying?
>> Yeah, I could do that. >> It It's a It drives the number up. Um, like if you look at the whole staffing count now, that number probably is pretty correct. Uh, because
it has the it doesn't even have the fire Well, yes, it has 35 people, the fire department, and they're all part time. >> So, do I consider them all half? I mean, we still have 35 people, but when you look at over here on the other side, I
mean, we still have 35, but over here there's there only half, not a whole, cuz they don't work that many hours. I mean, I don't know. It just seems like it drives the count up. Like, this is when you have 132 people.
35 of them are part-time firefighters. And most people don't realize that. Oh, and one, two, three, I can actually count them. Four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, 10, 10 others.
10 10 11 others are less than a,000 for 40 hours, which would be a hard time. Don't get nos. Um, >> I don't know. It just
>> I can let me think that through and see what the best way. Would it be possible for us just to different to add an additional column that differentiated between total time until the part-time employees over here on the count.
>> I mean, I even have have counsel in account as well in there, too. >> Yeah. Yeah. We're part time obviously. >> I mean, that's what I can do is I can leave the ones, but do a better breakdown on how that really, you know,
>> Sorry to interrupt. I say that whether we do anything about it or not. >> All right. >> Oh, yeah. I forgot. I'm sorry. So, since we're on full-time and part-time individuals, um we need to
make sure that we add in health insurance for these people because if they work over 30 hours, we have to offer them per the HR manual. Uh only health benefits. >> 30 hours a week? >> Yes, ma'am. Yeah. 30 hours a week. So,
um >> * 52 is what? >> Why are they working 30 hours with your part time. Isn't there a certain number for part-time staff? >> No, ma'am. It's not um described uh in FLSA. It's not defined as what part-time
is. Same with our HR manual. It just says full-time is scheduled 40 hours. That's the only definitions that we have right now. I think there may be a couple at the airport that are real close to that, but
the rest of them are nowhere near it. >> Uh, one person at um, fire is uh, Donna, she works what? 32 >> 32 >> 32 a week. Yes. >> Yeah, that's I I'll be straight up. That's an oversight on my part. >> I'm sorry. We need to lower it to
whatever it needs to be. >> Is it 30 or under 30? >> It is under 30. So 29 >> I was like a clam. >> Yeah. >> Can't afford benefits. >> That's what makes sense. >> She may not even if we ever be parttime.
>> Yeah. >> There should be no What were you saying about that or something? >> We don't have any any part-time utility people or >> no ma'am. >> Okay.
There's one person at the airport that only works 800 hours, >> but that's not close, so we don't have to worry about that. Must be the fill in person. [clears throat] Get out of here. You good?
>> Got a plan. >> You got a plan. All right. Good. Good. Anybody else fit over? >> No. Kim, >> not that I uh >> So, basically what we're going to do is um come open enrollment,
uh we are going to go ahead on certain people that I've already have a plan with. When it comes to open enrollment, they have to fill out if they work 30 plus hours and they do not want the benefits regardless, they have to fill
out at open enrollment the uh they can wave it all. So, I've already got that in preparation and we're working on getting that set up. >> It's the ones that have already it is certain individuals that have been uh
they work over 30 [snorts] and they don't want the benefits. So with open enrollment, because we have to offer them, they still have to wave them. >> So we have a plan set up for that. >> But this is not for part-time people.
>> 29 or less. No, ma'am. >> Okay. You're talking about people [snorts] who are 30 and over. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Okay. >> There are two people. There are two people shelter that are working 30 hours. >> Okay. >> And I can work on that. >> Gotcha. And they're parttime as well. >> They are part time.
>> Gotcha. I think I got it now. >> A longer lunch. >> Yeah. >> Still three days, but longer lunch. [laughter] >> Yeah. >> 30 minutes. >> You still got to count
for lunch. >> All right. M rate. You want to talk about >> I know what's up. >> [laughter] >> All right. So, currently our military is 6.75. Um, [clears throat]
do we want to go up on it? I do. Really? I do. I really I really, really do. I mean, that sounds bad, but but I'll have to say it, too. I'm not like I'm doing it. Not.
>> But um >> I can tell you we haven't gone up for six years. >> I know. >> You haven't gone up since 2021. >> Um I [clears throat] would say even though we don't have a stay there.
Um quite a bit of a job. >> I can tell you if we go to seven, this is not a reason to do it, but if we go to 7.25, we could actually do a 2% raise, which may not be what you want to do
with your money. I actually had a question about that ties into it as so my question was because I've only been present for what's my third third budget um have we
given a all the budget meetings that I have been to or budget sessions I've been to we have given the employees either 3% or 3 point for one year we gave them due to the clerical era era a three error a 3.5%
increase. How many years in a row have we done that? Did we do that every single year? Has it fluctuated up and down? So, >> no, I've been >> I got a no and I got a yes. >> No, it has. It's been that way every year. >> Every year it's been Yeah.
>> Okay. >> And I >> I think it's been or three three and a half or four every year. >> Okay. So, after three years, you everybody's getting a basically at that point a 10% raise. >> After how many years? If after three years, if we give a 3% raise every year,
it's approximately 10% raise every three years. [clears throat] >> Yes, sir. I think it's a lot, but y'all I update it every year, don't I? >> Just remember, minimum wage goes up a dollar a year on October 1st. So, if you don't give some type of raise, you're
going to start following further behind and you have compression issues. Correct. You said some type of raise. You didn't say 3%. >> No, some type of raise. >> Right. Right. Right. >> A dollar would be nice, but >> Well, yeah. Yeah. I mean, I I just think we need to, like I say, every year I'm
I'm the I'm that person just because I know that our budget is what it is. Um I'm not necessarily opposed to raises, but I think we We don't have to give a raise every year or we don't have to give that
amount of a rave every year. >> I know. I looked up the um CPI. >> Uhhuh. >> To see what it was cuz what Social Security was giving, but that's what the easiest place would be to go to look. >> Mhm. >> Uh and they're [snorts] planning to give a 3.9. >> Are they really?
>> Because that is it. Maybe even more by the time they get there. >> But what were they giving before? >> They g I think they gave a 2.5 before. One year they gave almost six >> because it was three. >> But it fluctuates. It varies. It is what I'm saying. That's something that Yeah.
We don't do we don't vary. We just >> go with a straight across the board. >> Yeah. Did you know? >> Oh, okay. >> Yes, we do. >> And as of next year, y'all have to do the CPI increase because of the $15 [clears throat] an hour raise because it
had to be $15 by 2026, right? And then it was to be adjusted for so many years after by the CPI. >> The law actually says that >> the law actually says that >> that >> I had class on it not too long ago.
>> September of 2027 after that. >> That's when after that then you're going to have >> September 27. >> 27. So you got I think there's actually one employee I had to actually move up to 15 by the way in here.
somebody 15. >> So everybody is at a minimum 15 right now. >> Yeah. Right. >> Including part time. >> Yeah. It doesn't matter. >> So to clarify the the required CPI increase that you just referred to is
only for people at minimum wage rates. >> Well, that's next year. Right now, all you have to do is make sure you're at the [clears throat] minimum of $15. September of 2027, that's when it becomes um mandatory that the [snorts] $15 is going to get
increased by whatever the CPI is and you know so forth. So if it's 4% then that's what it's going to be. >> So we've been we've been doing 3% for at least 5 [snorts] years that I've been around. Have we been above the CPI?
>> No. >> No. Sometime we've been lower and sometimes we've been higher, >> I would think. Yeah, >> but usually we're cuz one year it was six. >> Yeah. Let me see if I can find >> I'll keep
>> You can Mr. blue for the raise in property taxes. I thought I heard or been somewhere where they talked about raising the military
to compensate, you know, for the um >> property taxes, you know, to prepare for the future. is that are they still >> well it that's becomes an option that's not going to become a requirement. So if
you are again throwing out numbers here but if [snorts] you are homesteaded and your taxable value is again taxable value not market value is 150,000 or less. It doesn't matter what the mill
rate is. you're not when that first year comes in and you get your exemption at 150 that you're not paying taxes no matter what happens to the military. If you are um a nonh homesteaded, that's when you you know those are the the properties that are going to um be hit
harder when the mill rate goes up because they don't have the exemptions to compensate for it. cuz I thought it was something that um one of the cities was talking about it saying that that's probably, you know,
we need to shoot here to be prepared for what could happen in November. >> Yeah, I I think that's probably just be to be safe. Keep in mind as a part of this this bill, there is a small it's not small, but there is an action item that's required for them to potentially
go find ways to get rid of property taxes on all homestead properties >> across the board. I mean, after these first two years, it doesn't mean it's going to stop there. Um, so, you know, it just really does um put a premium on,
you know, what are you going to do with your millage rate? And that's why you're seeing some of the cities that are starting to, you know, say, "Hey, we're going to have to increase this now because we don't know what's going to look like in a year or two. We're not going to have that much of an option next year and the year after and who knows where." So, yeah,
>> they're freezing it. >> Yeah, >> they're freezing it. So, you can't [clears throat] >> Yeah, there's all I mean, again, it's >> can't raise the assessment, can't raise your >> I've always been one to bring the millage up a little higher
>> because we hadn't done it for such a time. But if we're looking at like here to increase to get raises, we're not doing anything to put money in
our different >> Oh, that's not why I [snorts] increase that. No, I'm just >> Okay, [clears throat] >> let me just say >> I believe there may be this one >> during CO it was 1.4 and 2.3 and 1.4 in
2021 it went up to 722 it was 6.5 2023 it was 3.4 and 24 it's 3.1 and last year was three and this year I'm seeing like 3.67 or something like that. three and a half is
what I'll look up social security just that's that's what it the historic annual CPI that's what I asked for your phone >> and that was over 10 years was it >> yeah the average over the last 5 years has
been between 4.2 4.7 nationally. It's been a little bit different in Florida, >> right? In some places, >> how much? >> In some places, you go and it asks you what region of the country you're from.
>> Um, and it does do it by what region of the country you're in because some states are worse or better than others. And what I did was do the historic annual CPI, which is from the government. That's overall. But Meredith's right. They do have some that
are different for each state. I am in agreement with Dr. Even though none of us want to raise. I think that we need to recognize that it's a need. Um, you know, we have budgetary needs that have
to be met and we're going to be probably experiencing that shortfall pretty soon. it would be wise to make sure that we're not behind the eightball as we move into that um that new era that's probably coming down the pipes,
but um at least it would give us some time if we we raised it. I'm not necessarily saying exactly the number that we should raise it to, but would give us a little bit of hopefully room to then figure out what
we would need to do to adjust to the additional um co costs that we're going to have to incur if we're not getting them from the adalorum taxes. So in other words, if we did end up having like a storm water assessment or something like that, there would be a
delay between when we decided to do it, when it was implemented, and when that income was coming in. And by increasing the millage rate this year would give us some buffer to cover our operating expenses until we could get those assessments in place if we needed to.
Anyone else like No, I I say as I've said, you know, in the past, go higher. Approve it for that. You don't have to. >> We can always start lower, but at least
it's [snorts] there. >> So, what what would we do about your higher V? We're at 65 725 7.25 or 7.5.
But as long as it's used for, as Meredith said, vegetarian things that we need Any thoughts? You don't have to have fun if you don't. But here you go. Is it possible to have that stipulation
on it that we decided on the like 7.25 that it be used for these purposes and not No, because because what we're going to do is we're going to have it and then we're going to talk about the budget. The entire budget.
>> Yeah. >> So, is there any way for you to give us a number for 7.5 to 7.25? >> Yes, it's annual. Is it up there already? >> It's right up there for you. So, >> is that it? >> Yep.
>> See, I can't read that. So for the seven >> so if you go up to 7.25 it's an additional roughly $100,000 >> right but I meant as far as like the amount >> annually per 100,000 whatever.
>> Oh >> that's what I meant. I'm sorry. I want to be clear, >> right? >> Cuz then it kind of give us an idea of how much the the um >> it's an extra 157,96, >> right? But I want to know approximately
how much extra the citizen is going to have. Is it a couple? It's a couple down actually. I think the person was seven. >> Yeah, I think it was >> right. But it would be like 1250 plus
12.5. So that's 3 375. Okay. >> Well, if we did the >> Oh, see I read that totally wrong. >> Okay. Gotcha. Okay.
Um, so where do we want to lay? >> We have 7.25 and 7.9. I would trying to look at it from how it'll be seen across the board. Um, having such a huge jump as the highest number. I know
it's not the highest option, but [snorts] everything in me is to look for at least the 7.25 cuz that's a that's a $25 difference for the residents. >> 7.25. >> It's more than that. Yeah, it's it's
>> going from 33750 to 36250 >> for every 100,000 of your property. >> So if you're if it's a 200,000 then you can multiply it by two so forth and so on >> which could be a lot. >> Exactly. And and taking into
consideration every other cost that just continuously rises to the residents and I know that that's our highest that would be our decided highest number. We could always go down, but at the same time, I'm just [snorts] trying to feel like I'm just trying to keep in mind how the residents will build.
>> So, we wanted we just wanted to know where we want to start. >> Yeah. I guess my approach would be having been in Shannon's chair three years ago. I thought it was this mileage rate, not bullet rate. [laughter] >> Wow, that's a lot.
all of it. Um that's the way that I kind of I approached it was like all right let's start high and then whittle you know whittle down out of the budget and we don't if we get enough out of the budget which is painful but then we don't have
to hold at the highest amount that if we can't get it out of the budget then we have to hold at whatever the highest amount we decide is. So, >> and it depends on if we want to do a raise or not, >> right? Which is part of the budget
>> because if we don't do something, it's not there's no raise in the budget. >> We'd have to add it and he'd have to bring it back and show us what it looked like. >> I know. I wouldn't want to go any more than 7.25. >> So, consensus well 7.25 raise your hand.
So, we'll do 725. >> Okay. And again, that will go into the trim and get, you know, the 7.25 and get mailed out along with the um date and time of the first public hearing also. >> And I think you bring that to us at our
next meeting to actually ratify it, right? >> Don't we have to vote on that before? >> You don't, but I certainly can if you if you would like to. >> I thought we did. And >> we do not. It's it's really consensus and and because >> because it's preliminary. >> Yeah. >> Okay. But again, I don't want to short
change it if we haven't in the past, but we certainly can if that's >> So only at the very end do we sign it and certify it. >> Oh yeah. First you're going to >> I remember doing that. >> Well, yeah. The first public hear is one time and then you get the second time you're going to sign a resolution. You
get all the resolutions and stuff. Got it. >> Do you want this back? >> Okay. And I'll be back to you at the end. >> That's right. No, I'll put mine in a bigger book. So we did.
So I'm going to go to do that again. >> Well, we didn't do everybody, right? >> Yeah. >> So, we're going to go with staff and plan start page four.
So your council we talked about well we talked about this right and council and development. All right. So community Shares a comment about
that section. You want to talk about animal shelter. She >> Are you me now? [snorts] >> No. >> Who's over animal? >> Yeah. >> City manager. >> BJ's here. [clears throat]
>> That's what I just asked if she wanted to. She just tell >> it. Okay. >> It's okay. Like it is. >> Absolutely. >> I'm sorry. What' you say? >> I said, "Do I think I'm worth it?" Absolutely. We've done a lot with that
shelter in the last 10 months. >> How many more you think you were? >> [laughter] >> Let me just say that we learned our lesson about giving individual people raises and not giving everybody the Lord.
>> Right. Right. We're not saying we're going to give it. I'm just asking her how much I think she's worth. She said she's worth a lot. >> The shelter overall. >> The shelter overall. >> Just say more than this. >> Definitely more than this. >> But other than that, test service and billing
without any increase in uh pay. Everything else can stay the same. I mean obviously everybody wants a pay increase but everything else should be fine. >> Okay. >> Chief, excuse me.
Uh, I am the same as uh, >> microphone, please. >> Oh, shoot. >> I told everybody else to do and I forgot to do it. Uh, as far as my budget goes, uh, I am good with my budget. If the city decides they want to give pay
increases, of course, my guys will take it. But, um, >> right. >> I think my budget's fine besides Stephen taking a razor blade to it, but it's all right. Are you okay as well with your open positions remaining open for now? >> I only have one open position and that
was Major Major Fortney. Uh my plan is to uh fill that position but with a I would be a hire a police officer to fill that position uh to put more boots on the ground. Uh and then maybe later on making a transfer later or promotion
later uh somebody up which will still at that point still uh say still won't cost any money to the budget. So where it says you have police officer opening, you'll just hire somebody and that's fine. Then whenever you're ready to promote to major, then you still have that slot available if needed.
>> Yeah, I have no >> what you're saying, right? >> I have no officer positions available. >> So you need to give Stephen the name that goes in this open position. >> Me and Stephen have already talked about that. So >> Okay. >> Yep. >> So what's what's the first name? >> Trevor.
>> Oh, yeah. Trevor. >> Okay. Thank you. And the rest of them are reserved. >> You only have one reserve person and those are the part times that all got counted as one. >> Yeah, I have uh I have five
reserve positions. >> Mhm. >> U and me and Steph have talked about this as well. All five of those positions are filled. Three of them are filled with police officers. One is filled with a reserve dispatcher and one is filled with a
reserve animal control officer. Assistant, I would say not officer assistant. >> So, should we change what it says? How it says it? >> We will be renaming that. >> Okay. >> Yeah, we will rename that. >> So, we're not >> But I did that.
>> So, so I'm not >> No, I did that to save uh on having to come back to the council and ask for additional personnel. Uh since I've been here, we've always had 13 uh police officers, including myself. >> Uh we haven't asked for an increase.
That is the reason why as far as Major Courtney's position go, I'm going to hire another police officer to fulfill that position. Uh which will give me more boots on the ground, which is more what I'm concerned about is less top heaviness and more people on the on the ground. So
>> that's the plan for that position. and then later on eventually make a promotion. >> Gota give you a run department if you would like. I have a total of 30 30 people in my department. 13 full-time patrol
officers including myself, three reserve officers, five full-time dispatchers, uh one reserve dispatcher, one admin assistant, one animal control officer, one reserve animal control officer, one crossing guard, one custodian, and I
currently have one opener, which we just talked about. Who? >> Yes, he's down there. >> Yeah, is my crossing. >> He's the one that is Oh, Stephen had to move up to $15. >> Oh, okay.
>> So, he's Charles. I never knew his name. >> Oh, yeah. >> And I think he spells Charles different. >> It's got a Z in it, I'm pretty sure. No. Are you positive? Does he not have a Z in his sight
anyway? >> It used to be that way, but it's really not. >> He writes it that way. >> It's not. >> All right. Anything else? >> You're good with everything as is, and then we'll get to the races later.
>> Yeah, I'm good with everything. Uh Stephen and I have talked about the install of the consoles, uh incorporating that into the possible loan looking at. Um, as last budget when we made some changes last year, I told you guys that I would
go approximately two years without purchasing new vehicles. Uh, this will be year two coming, but I'm not asking for new vehicles at this time. >> Thank you. Appreciate that. >> Okay, Chief Chief, you're next.
>> Yes, ma'am. Uh just so you know, uh assistant chief Willis will be making the presentation about the budget this year. >> Awesome. Practice. Let's go. >> Now, are we on the staffing plan or are we on their department under general fund? >> We're on the staffing plan. >> Well, that's not what they're talking
about. That's not what he was. >> Staffing plan looks good. >> I mean, they're two totally different things. >> But sorry, >> I just have a maybe later. I have a question about the overtime like just it's just purely an
educational question that she >> fire department. Yeah, he said. >> So my question is um why some of these folks um do not work my understand full-time
280 hours but then their overtime amount. So I'm sure this is just me not understanding this. >> Is that your pay sheet you had must ever >> Yes. >> Okay. >> They get an overtime rate when they get called out from the house to come in. They don't have to hit the 40 hours before they get that overtime rate on
the on that staffing plan. >> Yeah. The column that says regular hours is while they're in the station waiting for a call. When it says overtime, it goes to that figure when they are in the truck fighting a fire or a crash scene.
>> The the straight the straight face. He's correct. The guys that are scheduled to be there on duty crew that day, the two guys that we have currently, we're going to talk about that later. Two guys we have there are on regular pay. If I'm sitting at the house on a Saturday afternoon and a car wreck goes out and I respond to it, I get my overtime rate to
go run that call out. That makes sense. >> Does your over tire rate start when you get the call or when you get to the station? It >> starts when the call comes out till the call ends. So, it's documented in the cab sheet. So if you're not actually at home but you're 30 minutes away and take
so you get time from that time to >> it's just the way it's documented in the in the CAD sheet. I'm just asking. >> I'm just telling. >> So that and the CAD sheet is the thing that we got recently, right? >> CAD sheets to print out from dispatch. >> I thought we had some that was
electronic. You need to get that. >> It it Yes, it does. It does. It gets So we're dispatched to Levy County right now. At the end of the call, they actually generated an email and sent it to all the firefighters. They can sit down and have the accurate times to put in the reports. That's how we pull the payroll report is off the reporting
system. >> Okay. Cool. I haven't had one. Um, just [clears throat] because I'm still learning the process. Um, so does the overtime hours go to everyone who responds to the call? So if one call comes out and there's like 10 of you guys that rush out to it, it goes to all
10. >> Exactly. [cough] >> Okay. I'm still trying to understand that >> what that does. There's the two guys at the station. Call goes out. We pay the back fill of the station. >> Car wreck goes out, they get there and they can handle it. That's fine. We have two, three, four, five guys at the
station on standby. If they get there and it's an extended extrication, we'll roll one or two more trucks. That second med call goes out, we'll run to a second call. We try to have the station staffed at all times. >> That makes sense. I think my question was more along the lines of the pay for the all the trucks that respond to the
call versus the ones that are still staying at the fire. >> They get paid whether they run to it or not. >> They're there for the call, >> but they get paid the regular time, not the overtime. >> The ones who are The two guys on duty get the regular time. The other guys get over [music] time.
>> Everybody else get >> I don't know. >> Must be Aaron. He's reaching for his pocket. >> Please turn all devices off. Put them [clears throat and snorts] on by break. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. Let me make sure [laughter]
now that I said that. All right. Okay. Any other questions about the staffing plan for fireworks? None >> public works utilities. >> Any changes in your plan?
Um my budget would could stay the same, but um it was mentioned that we we wanted to hold off on hiring in the gas in the streets and parks department, but in the streets and parks department, we only have two, which they are blown more
they're more right now, which they're trying to keep up with that. So I would recommend we do try to hire at least two people in the streets and parks and two in the gas department. >> All [snorts] right. between you [clears throat] and the manager.
>> And I think the >> I think >> I think the two in the guest department are compliance, aren't they? I mean, don't you have to have to? >> Yes, ma'am. >> I think I think you do. And also I'm down one inmate supervisor
which he the one we has works 14s so he's off on Fridays. >> So are you saying that you need to hire somebody? >> Yes ma'am. Which ones? Which ones are you recommending? Dire
>> the positions and streets and parks and gas. We can hold off on the water right now. [snorts] So it was my intentions to hold off on the liveman C position. Mhm. >> My intention is to hold off on
right now the assistant utility director utility director and you say gas is a compliance issue. >> Yes, [clears throat] sir. >> Okay. >> I think they actually digged us at one
point because they only had one and came in and told us that we have to have another one. >> Yes, ma'am. >> How many How many do we have now? We only have one tech. >> We have two. One tech. >> Okay. So So who who is
Michael Warren? Is he like a He's not a supervisor or anything, right? >> No, ma'am. >> So you have to you say you have to have two for compliance. So you have to for compliance, right? >> Technically. >> Gas tech. Technically. Sorry.
>> There's one open position for gas. >> Yeah. You're looking at the very first person, >> right? That's one. >> I I think my question would be is how's the inspection going to go on the fourth? We only have one >> or we have two. We have two.
>> Yeah, they're both licensed, >> right? [clears throat] So, he has a license, but he's just training, right? So for forgive me for taking over, but far as the to answer Mr. Bvard's question, far as the uh audit this year, we're going to be fine because one just left or basically because one just left.
So far as the auditing goes, we're fine. But far as next year, showing proof of what we're going to do next year, we won't be fine. So we will not be gigg this year. They'll talk about it and make recommendations how we need to have more for the following year. So we do it this year or we do it next year. Keep in
mind with the one gas tech, uh you're correct. The other gas tank is also a half a meter reader. So depends how you want to look at that, right? So because we're down a meter reader right now. >> Well, I understand people are doing dual rolls. Yes, sir. >> I think my question certification wise,
where are we at? >> We're barely legal right now and we'll be fine for the audit because one just left >> coming out. >> Yes, sir. >> Next year. >> Well, for not for next year. Correct. >> So the gas tank training now is not certified.
So, one's 100% certified and one just got certified. Because he just got certified, he doesn't have the hours in. So, yes and no. It's a hard answer to answer without sounding confusion. >> It's not hard. You You answered it. All right. So, you have to have a certain amount of hours in order to be compliant.
>> Yes, ma'am. And one of those will be your master evaluator this year. We Nate hasn't made his mind up yet which one he wants to do it with. So if you go and you hire somebody in that position as a gas tech, they still won't have those hours. So then how do you make them compliant?
>> You will by working a full-time within the next year. They will be compliant. By the next audit, they will be compliant. >> Or you have to hire somebody that's experienced. >> Yes. [clears throat] >> Yes, ma'am. >> Not for 1826. You know, >> I started to say, but not for $1826.
you won't talk. >> I don't know how to answer that question, Terry. I know McDonald's was paying 16. Was paying 17. So, I don't know how to answer that question. >> We didn't ask what everybody's paying. >> I [laughter] just know how to answer the question. >> Well, too, when the auditor shows up and
he sees your one guy's gone, he'll give you the recommendation that you need another one, then we'll have our answer. >> Yeah. >> That's what happened before. That's why I remember it. >> Yes, ma'am. Gotcha. >> Okay. So, lemon beastic
May Jason Parker. >> But you're not you're not doing the utility directives and assistant at this time. Correct. >> Okay. >> And you're leaving the titles as they are? >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Everybody's in place where they are
right now. And then I I'm not I have no intentions of back doing anything uh with those two positions >> at the moment. >> We'll just leave it there. [clears throat] >> All right. So, did we say whether or not we were going
to hire LC or we're not? If I have my waiver, >> some of the So I thought Limeman Se trimmer and groundsman was paying for something, >> wasn't the tree trimmer when that
supposed to be where we hired Davey? >> Yeah. >> Yes. >> And I thought line I thought all three of those positions were paying for Davy tree. >> Okay. >> That was what I was under this year though, not next year. >> I thought we had 200,000 to pay. Well, we do, but come next year, Dave won't be
here, >> right? >> The 200,000's coming out of this year's budget, and it shows somewhere because I saw it in here. >> Oh, okay. Well, I was under the assumption we couldn't Well, at least I was told that correctly. >> Two years. >> So, we don't have these two years just
this year. >> I mean, if we don't have a tree, we're going to need them again. That's >> Yeah, that's the only problem with not hiring. It'll just get bad again. So lime but maybe tree trimmer. >> Am I correct? >> Yeah.
>> Okay. >> No lime. >> No lime feed but tree. >> No brown but maybe >> used to have two tree. >> One was a groundsman. >> Yeah. We had a tree trimmer and then a groundsman for them.
>> Okay. >> So Cody and and Kirk when they first started, one was a tree turner and one was a ground. >> Oh, that I can't answer. I don't I don't know. >> And he's shaking his head. Yes. >> I couldn't have spot each other.
>> So S treatment collection spine parts roads. >> All right. Can I back up one second? I'm so sorry. I noticed that the chief has a dispatcher that makes 1,60 hours. >> Which chief?
>> But I think that's only 20 hours a week. >> I was going to say, yeah, that's >> your dispatcher. That one's only 20 hours a week. That's making 1,60. >> Yeah, she's part time. >> Yeah. >> Well, she I'm just making sure she's under 30. >> Yeah.
>> Yeah. >> Yeah. She works what? One day every two weeks or two days every two weeks. >> All right. Sorry. >> All right. Airport. >> Is he alive? Is Benton alive?
>> Did he want? >> Go ahead. Benton. You got a room. >> Just I know. I just asked if he want to. If nothing's changed, you can just tell us nothing's changed. We'll keep moving.
>> Benton, are you there? >> Change, but >> proposal >> proposal, right? Okay. I [clears throat] think he's got it covered from what I call Go ahead. >> I can hear everybody talking, but I
couldn't uh >> it wouldn't push me. >> There we go. >> Yeah, I just put him on. Can you try it again? >> Okay, >> there you go. >> Let's see. >> Okay. >> Try to go back to the app. >> His phone. We're only on the staffing
plan, not on the >> Yeah. >> So, yeah, just just asking if there's any changes. >> Yeah. No, I mean, that's that's the only changes that I really have is to the staffing plan. >> Okay. Which is what we got. Do we do you have it up there to show to anybody? [clears throat]
Do you have staff? >> Can you ask me if that's what? So, so can you just tell us real quick if you >> somebody messed with the knobs again? I think I got it figured out. >> So, you want to wait on that? >> Okay.
Okay. Benton. >> So, Benton. >> Yes, ma'am. >> So, um we'll when we get ready to come back to you cuz we just want to know about your staffing, but it's like you have a lot
of different ch you have changes that has >> I have changes to my staffing plan. Yes, ma'am. Um I'm I'm requesting one additional part-timer. Um, and then there's some some um job descriptions that we're going to kind of change
around here and there and uh you know, kind of do a a rework of the entire staff of the airport. Um, so I mean, that's that's kind of the big changes that that are coming from the airport budget. You know, I'd also, you know, with with that kind of like to remind the council that the uh the airport's
budget is independent of the cities. Um, so, you know, it it doesn't really affect the rest of the city's bottom line. Um, you know, we we've kind of we're kind of just out there operating on our own budget. So, I mean, if we if you want to go over
some of the changes in the staffing plan or wait till a different time, we can do that, too. >> Yeah, we'll go over it when we get to the budget budget. >> Okay. >> All right. Thanks. So one additional position and then it's not showing on
>> our staffing plan that we have in our book there is no additional request >> right no I I understand and that's Steve Stephen and I talked about it and from what I understand Stephen kind of just gave you guys the the bare bones and we
were going all the department heads are going to give our presentations as we go through it. Um so you know That's the the only additional staff person that I'm requesting is one additional part-timer. Um, and you know, then there there going to be some
requested changes to pay, you know, if we as we come down the line, you know, if you which sounds like you guys want to come back to it. >> Yeah, we'll come back. You may make first since you're in the conference.
>> Yeah. I mean, sessions are over for the night. Um, you guys have my full attention. Does it work? >> All right. Thank you. All right. Fiber. Fiber. >> I think we're good. We are.
>> All right. Good. Okay. [snorts] All right. So, we'll start with budget. I keep it in order. >> All right. >> So, >> we'll start. Yes, >> we have a question.
>> Question. We might have an answer. >> I just have one question. In my in Nate's uh public works facilities, I have a Ian Finnen. I don't know what that's about. >> Custodian
custodian >> in facilities. I have an Ian Finn. I don't know who that is. Or we don't know who that is. I'm sorry. >> Oh, I think he's the guy who that's the cleaning. >> He's the cleaning guy for the PD. >> I don't know how he got public works, >> but he's he's in my facility. He's in
the facilities budget. >> He does both. >> Go ahead. But he's in PD budget, which I have no I think the way they did it last time is I think Stephen split it last time because he was doing two things.
>> If he's half over there and half over here and then over here, >> but I don't know if he works over here. >> No, he's not. >> I was going to say I thought one of our guys >> Yeah, Tom. Tom does it here. >> I'm not trying to start trouble. I just It's all >> That's up to you. Last year it was
requested that that position was going to serve a dual role that was lower and you know I don't know the reason behind that how that works. So if that's not the case then >> he's 100% chief for you. Is that how it
should work? >> Yeah. >> So he's been 100% for you. Just you? >> Yes. >> He is not. He is now before uh like Brook was saying before the custodian was split between the PD and animal control
>> airport >> airport airport >> and I think Stephen I thought we changed it but I guess we left it that way but he doesn't do anything for airport or public works that I'm aware of. >> Mhm. >> He just cleans for the PD.
>> Okay. I'll move all these hours back up to police. >> Okay. So anywhere that he's allocated Stephen in the budget will move over to the PD. >> Yeah, it's just facilities is the only other place. >> Okay. >> That was the ask of the workshop last
year was he and the facilities. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. [laughter] >> All right. So, we're going to go to the general budget and we'll start with >> let's start please
And it's page 26. >> 26. >> We're in general fun. Correct. >> Y >> page 26 27. >> So as I say before, nothing in my budget under my power changed,
but under the power of Mr. Bloom, there are some changes which uh me and him have spoke about and we are able to work those changes out. And I do believe with the changes that he made, the budget was only affected by 7. Cena,
>> is that right? >> Yeah. >> Only affected by 7. So, not a very large increase uh in the changes that he made. But as far as everything that's the line items in the budget, I'm I'm completely fine with for the police department.
So we can if you like I can go down the list of some of the things he cut and he can give you the reasons why if if you want. >> Okay. So for holiday pay uh for the law enforcement side Stephen [clears throat]
took a 28.6% uh reduction in that and I believe as me and Mr. Boon spoke about it was because all of that revenue for holiday pay wasn't being used. Is that correct? Great, Stephen.
>> Yeah. So, basically, I looked at his overtime and his holiday pay and his special events, kind of put them all together and realize even though he had a $35,000 budget um in 2026, if you look, his actuals for
2025 were far below that and his projections for 2026 are far below that. So, um he hadn't been using 35 so I cut it down to 25. >> So, Are they being characterized properly?
>> That was categorized properly. Excuse me. >> That was one of the problems we experienced uh that we finally I think Kim and I got with uh >> what's the name of it? InfroAr got info mark and was able to straighten it up
because they were taking >> taking the revenue out of different areas that was zero in those areas out uh and me and Stephen talked about that. So, we're going to try to make this work. Uh hopefully it will. If not, I
think Stephen has some way of moving some revenue around. >> Yeah. >> So, to the chief's point, I think um some of the holiday pay was winding up in in overtime. >> Yes. >> Um so, that's why I looked at the two of them combined. And if you still look at them combined in 2025,
it's it's what about 40 for the two lines. So, I'm still putting in there 58 for the two lines. So, there's still more. There's still plenty in there. To the chief's point, though, we've got a square way where payroll is coding them. So, as we move forward, we have a better
indicator of which is truly holiday pay and which is truly ours, >> which it should all be fixed because I entered them into Edmonds on the back side. >> Yeah. So, moving forward, it should be good. Perfect. >> We we've done a we we've done a really
good job. I mean, the supervisors have stepped in and we and have filled those gaps. Um, I've stepped in and filled those gaps, which has cut down on a lot of our overtime. Uh, so we're we're we're proud of that. I mean, we're trying to do what we can to be
financially responsible. So, I'm okay with a 28.6% uh reduction at this time. So, moving on, we went to investigations. uh investigations as you see took a 58.3% reduction. Uh knock on wood, thank God,
we haven't had had to have any overtime for any major investigations taking place. Uh if you remember back a couple years ago, we had a couple homicides and things that took place that uh ate us alive as far as overtime goes, but so far, knock on wood, uh we haven't had
those cases pop before. So there hasn't been a need to spend that over time. Not saying that tomorrow something can't happen and we're spending a whole lot of money in investigations. So >> So this is one of the lines where the chief and I said we would have put it
back to the 6K. So your next version will have um the overtime investigation back to 6K just because it's a it's hopefully becomes a line where it's a contingency and not needed, but it's not that much. And if it needed. It's I'd
rather have it there. So, >> so it's no longer a negative, >> right? It's not going to be as >> zero. Okay. All right. I'll be here a while cuz did some butchering on my budget. [laughter]
Uh let's get to payroll taxes. We'll go down to it took uh 2% out of workless comp. That means we're having less injuries and having less clean. So, I'm okay with that. Uh salary and wages and training.
Um we've been doing a good job. We're being able to find training for our guys and girls that have been region sponsored. Uh, it's nice that I am the chairman of the law enforcement trust fund so I know which classes are free,
you know, so I can send the guys and and girls of those classes and those classes don't cost us any money. So, we've been able to save uh some funds on that as well. So, I'm okay with that. Uh, professional services, Stephen just wiped that out 100%. Uh we've
incorporated that into some other areas that we've been able to fund professional services out of. So I'm all right okay with that one. >> Actually, Chief, that's another line that I did put the 2000 back in in version two. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. [laughter]
>> Just a little bit. >> Just a little bit. >> A little bit. That's right. >> All right. So, we'll go down to our postage, which was cut down 50%. Uh we're okay with that. Uh we're not doing a whole lot of sending out uh letters.
You know, most of it's through email as as life goes on. Repairs and maintenance of equipment. Uh as you know, we bought body cams a while back, so we haven't had to have a bunch of repairs done to our equipment. Uh we just got new radios, so everything seems
to be working pretty good right now, so we haven't had a opportunity to have to spend that money. Um miscellaneous suspense. down 37.5%. Am I all right with that? We can find other places to do things out. Training
school seminars. I just talked about why those are down. Uh vehicle maintenance. Um, this is one that me and Stephen are going to talk about because we're we're pushing these cars now for let's see the
newest vehicles we have are 2023 and we're going on 2027 and I think our oldest cars are 2018 maybe. So, our maintenance cost because we did not buy cars last year is going
to increase. Uh, we're seeing that already because of the wear and tear on the cars. So, tires are more, oil changes are more. So, that's one area that I'm going to speak with Stephen about maybe [clears throat] getting that put back because all it takes is one
breakdown and we're right back in the hole again. So, >> yeah. So, so unless the council disagrees, I was going to put that one back to 53 for the next budget. >> That was actually one of the areas we increased in our last budget when we
were able to move that money around. Uh we increased our vehicle maintenance because we said we were not going to ask for cars for two years. So uh I was a little shocked when I seen that one was changed because we had already kind of worked that out. So the council don't
have a problem with that. I would like to to put that back due to the age of our vehicles. >> I'm cold. >> Go ahead. >> All right. I fix it for you. >> You all right? >> Can you fix the air somebody please?
He's the expert. Materials and supplies. Um 41.2% reduction. I think we can make that work with what Stephen has there. Our uniforms 25%
reduction. Uh we just bought some uniforms recently. We will have to buy more later on, but currently right now uniforms seem to be holding up pretty well. We bought a new brand and they seem to be doing a lot better than the old ones that we had. The polyester. We
actually have something that breathes. Now, >> how often do you typically buy new uniforms? >> Uh uniforms is one of those things where it can happen at any time. You can get out something. You run through the woods, you jump a pants, you rip them, you tear them up. Um it's a constant
thing. The pests from interior wise wear it on the inside of the material. So maybe once every two years. >> Okay. So >> we can get by with it >> right out. We don't do like the >> No, we buy them right. We buy them as needed. >> No. >> Yeah. That way we don't have a stockpile
just sitting there, you know, wasting. So we just buy them as if officer need them, we'll buy them. Uh but our un the uniform fund also covers our bulletproof vest, which currently right now we're still under the bulletproof vest grant, which means they pay 50% for our vest.
So that saves us some money on that as well. Those vests are running around, thousand bucks right now. So, and that's it for that. >> Any questions? >> All right. Communications.
All right. Communications, holiday pay. Once again, it was one of those areas. uh it took students took a 75.7% reduction which I don't know how that's going to work. >> So again, if you look at overtime and
holiday pay, those two lines combined, it makes more sense than when you look at them individually. So overtime and holiday pay in 2025 was 6,400. And then when you look at the projections for for 2026, it's a little
bit under 12,000. So for those two next year I have 14,500. So in essence his budget for next year is still would be a threeyear high, you know, if nothing were to change with those two lines combined. >> So it looks goofy because again it's the
same scenario. Some of the money that's in overtime probably will belong in holiday pay as we move forward. >> But when you look at them two together, you're okay. Yeah. >> So when you come back, are you going to have you'll have them separated or you going to have >> Well, if I if I can get a better
indicator from from the chief as to how those two numbers split then I can take that the 14,500 split it however he wants. I just, you know, before the budget, it's going the percentages are based off of an 18,800 budget. That's
where, you know, so I just basically trimmed it back to it's still a three-year high and now we can move it around. so that the percentages make more sense. >> And a lot of that uh overtime pay and holiday pay, you know, we were short staffed. So, we didn't have as many
people on board as we do now. Uh and once again, we ran into that same situation where holiday pay was being taken out of overtime like this year, which is cleared out our overtime. Uh luckily, Kim and I got it fixed. So now
to get a real accurate number won't be to this year, next year's budget because of the mishap of taking holiday pay of overtime. So hopefully we got that squared away right now. Uh other than that, everything else that
he did in dispatch, uh contractual services 30%. Uh it was only $500. He took it down to 350. uh repairs and maintenance. Um this is a thousand. He took it down to 550% reduction
traveling for them. Great thing for us how dispatchers are not doing a whole bunch of traveling. Uh so I'm okay with that. Material supplies dropped it down from uh 3,000 to a,000. We can live with it. Uniforms. Uh this practice doesn't
use a lot of uniforms, so we're okay with that. reduction and other than that communications I'm I'm good. >> Okay. Any questions? >> Um the loan repayment. What is the loan
the debt service for the police department? Is that the same question? >> I don't know what that is. >> Are you doing communication >> that again? That's a future for the when you get the communications loan for the installation of the consoles. >> Okay. And the capital outlay that's
$125. That >> that's the actual,000. >> That's the actual installation cost. >> Okay. So, we need both. >> You need both because up top your revenue you're going to have a loan proceeds to match 125
>> to pay both. Okay. One is the debt service. >> One's a debt one's debt service and >> the yearly payment and then the loan proceeds will line up with the expense here in thank you very much. >> Yeah.
>> Um and this is this is actually not specific. >> This is not specific to the police department but it is in the police department that the question for Stephen a lot of places the retirement um has gone up significantly everywhere. Can
you explain why that's gone up and why it's so different from department to department, but every department has gone up? >> Well, it's going to depend upon um there's two retirement pan plans. So, the general um plan is actually going
three actually. I'm sorry. FRS is for fire only and we get the rates. The state sends us the rates and they're higher. So the you know all I do is for every dollar I'm putting in whatever their rate is. Um and the same thing the
general is not quite doubling but for general employees but it's going like four something to to 7.8 >> and this is >> the the police >> 185. >> Yeah >> I think it went up too marginal I think it was. Yeah. So it's
the the retirement basically the actuaries for the two retire pension plans. They do a complete review of both pensions based on, you know, current staffing, the the yields of the investments, and they tell us, hey, here's how much you should put aside and
contribute into the plans next year based on every dollar. So, it's just a calculation of that percentage. >> So, it's a 65.2% in communications. Then, then over in like animal control,
code code enforcements, 176%. And then back in police act police department it's only 9.5. I guess can you just educate me on why those numbers are so different >> because it's going to really depend upon the salaries changes over year over
year. Okay. >> And what type of plan that they're in. So it it's you know again with for example um the the position the major position was in drop. So there was no um actual uh money going into that
particular position in the current year budget. Well, next year I had to put it in. So now that is a you know again all of a sudden you're going from zero pension to 100% for that position. So it really just depends upon um you know but
when you look at the staffing plan there's actually columns hidden uh that show you per person what each retirement is based on which particular plan they're in. >> Okay. Thank you. >> We're in a chief for retirement.
>> I got a question. Go ahead. >> For the retirement, did we uh were you able to add in the line item to cover the retiree health that we passed? >> The retire I did not add anything in for that. No.
>> Okay. We probably should add that in because we got one collecting now. Um which is fine. We have open positions that we can use the healthcare from for the rest of the year and then we have another one who's eligible this year.
>> Okay. Yeah. So that again for the if you retire then you can you get the type of sorts. Um but yeah then goes in there and so I guess I forget what age do they report that >> police department are in a different pension plan to the communications
people. Yes. >> What was that, Stephen? >> It's till what age? >> Uh, so now she's 25 and out. We will pick up three years in your healthcare. >> So we'll be, you know, start putting that into the budget.
>> All right. Last but not least, animal control code enforcement. Um, not very many changes. U just on the advertisement side. Steven cut that at 50%.
And on the vehicle repair and maintenance, uh Stephen and I talked about that. Uh he's going to have to increase that because he only allow it for a,000 bucks. That's one tire and one oil change >> and you're at a,000 bucks. So, so we need to increase the vehicle maintenance
under that category. And other than that, we're good. Sorry. Um, it appears that there are two animal control code enforcement officers. >> I don't know that there really are, but if you look at it, it's got two
different positions at 100% each and two different rates of pay. So, I just need a little clarification on that. one is uh I think his name is Isaiah. He's the part- timerr. >> He's the one from
>> and Christiey's the full-timer. >> Looks like they make almost the same amount of money. >> I was going to say part time is making 31,000. >> Yeah. See, I have that position in there fulltime, by the way. So that's going to be >> some savings that will, you know,
>> that should save. Yeah, it will save. We need to make sure they're making under 30 hours. >> Yeah. Oh, no, he doesn't. No, that that >> that'll save all that. >> Not the first one. >> The first one is part time. Yeah. >> Okay. Thank you.
>> That was the only question I have that you have a question. >> And that will change all the That will change [clears throat] the change >> with retirement and health insurance and all that will go down and not be so such a huge percentage.
>> Saving money is very >> Hey, we're cutting something. That's good. Not much, but we're trying. We're trying to work on those raises. >> Doing my part. >> You're good. >> I'm good. >> Thank you. All right. So, the next one would be the
fire department. It's page 31. >> It's page 31, but Miss B Miss BJ's putting the presentation up. >> Oh, okay. >> You can follow along your book. It should be pretty close. While we're waiting, our oldest vehicle
is a 1994 and our newest one's a 2022. So, going back to what Chief R said, >> yours don't run as hard as mine. >> Okay. >> He He said, "We don't we don't run the Chief Steve said we run the wheels off a
truck Friday night. I'm sitting at a birthday dinner for my son. I get a phone call from a firefighter." Answer the phone. He said, "Chief Willis, the front left wheel hub is on fire on the rescue." >> So, he had to put the fire truck out and then get it back to the station. And it is back in service now. But to say we
run the wheels off the truck is literal right now. [laughter] >> Burning them wheels. Yeah. >> I think you hit it from beginning. >> Hit F7. I think BJ. [music] >> Nope. Maybe not. >> I spelled everything right.
>> There's a shortcut to make it play. I just don't know where it's at. >> Click on the second slide. >> You can do it one by one. All right. Run through this. We got a couple big ticket items. >> Uh Stephen got a bunch of the stuff in there. Each one of these we're going to
go through one by one here in a few minutes through the slideshow. It includes adding a third person to each shift. We'll talk about that. We need some additional mobile and portable radios. The new squad is a continuence from this year's budget item. And then the the little ghost in the room. We had
talked last year about a new fire engine to replace engine 722. The best we could recall, it was supposed to be included in a low interest loan with a truck for the utility department. I was just trying to figure out where that ended up. We're not going to put it
in the budget this year if we don't get it, but it will need to go in next year. We'll talk about that here in a few minutes, too. >> I believe that was a Walt Nichols project. And the then the small minimum increases. We'll go through all those one by one, too. Next slide, please.
All right, y'all. Uh, we've had a bunch of questions about the staffing for the fire department, so I figured we'd have a little history lesson on this. January 1st, 2025, volunteer response is becoming harder with the state regulations on firefighter ones. And the city crew is getting busier during the
day. City crew used to make up 75% of the fire department. What they would do, medical call goes out. Whoever wasn't real busy and they're on the fire department, they'd go get a truck, run the med call. We didn't run a whole lot of med calls back then. Structure fire went out. City crew shut down. They went and got fire trucks. The good news was
we didn't have to call for the utility crew cuz they were already on the scene. They could kill the power, gas, water, and everything else. Not sure what happened there, BJ. >> You just hit the space bar and it'll keep going through the slides. >> One more time.
All right. So, around January of 2025, we started with a duty group. It started with two firefighters being paid from 8:30 to 4:30 5 days a week and nobody on truck nights. Outside of those normal business hours, we still relied very heavily on the volunteer response and it it worked back then.
Next slide, please. Or the next segment, end of fiscal year 2006 2007, the Scott the call loads going back up again. 28% increase. You can just hit it again, TJ. Uh we went from 664 calls to 850 calls
over about a 2-year process. Then we approved having one firefighter on call at night and moving the duty crew to 7 days a week. So now we're 8:30 to 4:30 7 days a week and one guy on call at night. Next slide. So when we paid that one guy at night, he was on standby. We paid him three
hours of straight time for standby and then he got paid his overtime rate for every every call he ran at night. Hit it again. There you go. In the fiscal year 2014 2015, the call call loads going up again. We're at 16%. Over
a 7-year period on the increase. Hit it again. You hit it two or three times. All right. So now we're we're at 977 calls 0708 and we're now at 1138 calls in 1415. So we're getting a little busier. October 1st we moved to having
two duty crew guys 78 to 7P and one guy paid 4 hours for standby at night plus the calls he ran into fiscal year 2016 27. It shows a [clears throat] correct >> shows a 40% increase over the last two
fiscal years or an additional 458 costs. So then we moved to two guys 7A to 7P and one firefighter paid all night from 7P to 7A. End of fiscal year 21-22 shows the call the calls are trending again to go up
this time increasing 25% over 5 years or an additional 400 calls. Fiscal year 1617 had 1596 calls. Fiscal year 2122 had 1998 calls. We can probably call that 2,000. So during this time we're dealing with
CO Now somebody's coughing up there. We're we're dealing with CO response. So it's skyrocketing. At the same time, the county is having a hard time running calls in Morston. We're running the calls in Morston when they don't have staffing. And that's when we're billing Moring the county to run those calls. Uh
around February 22, we moved to two guys from 7A to 7P and then two firefighters from 7P to 7A, which is where we're currently at right now. Fast forwarding the end of fiscal year 2526, Williston Fire Rescue is projected to run around 2,300 calls, between 23
and 2400 calls, depending on what estimator you use. This be about a 12% increase over the past four years and about 200 calls more. We're back to the amount of calls we were running during the CO levels and while we were providing the calls in Morston. The
problem is we're not. These are all mostly in our zone. Now, what we're requesting is to move to have one more firefighter per shift. This will allow two personnel to respond to the initial minor call and leave one personnel at the station for the next call. It doesn't sound like a big deal. It
happens a lot. If it's a serious call, multiple trucks can respond the same to the same call initially to establish a safer operation initially and then move on from there. Here's your little line graph to kind of give you an idea where where the call
loads at with the years being at the bottom. Go ahead and click it again. Click it about three or four times. There you go. We had a 10% increase from last year. We're about 200 calls over where we were at at this time last year.
And it seems for some reason the amount of times we have two or three calls going out at the same time is getting more and more. It seems like there's not a weekend where I'm not supposed to be at home getting a honeydew list done and I have to leave to go run a call because there's no guys at the station. On the
safety aspect, it gives our uh crews a better chance with the interior attack. If you only have two guys trying to make an interior attack on a structure fire, it's first off, it's not safe and it's virtually impossible. Someone needs to be on the outside in an incident command or a safety role. And it gives more
coordination to incoming crews to they can run the pump panel, see where the water levels are at. They can look at the house, make sure the roof's not about to collapse. All stuff we're trained to do. More guaranteed coverage at the station. You're not waiting on someone to come from the house for a second call. And then it's Friday,
Saturday, and Sunday are three of the four busiest days of the week for us for for last year. I went back seven or eight years. It seems to be pretty close all those years, too. And it just so happens that the off duty response is the lowest on Friday, Saturdays, and
Sundays cuz our guys like to go have a life. Hit the slide, please. There's your call load by the by the day of the week. Friday's the busiest, followed by Monday. We know everybody hates to ruin their weekend, so they wait till Monday to call 911. And then
Saturday and Sunday's right there as well. Hit it, please. Adding the additional person or adding the additional person, this was just going off some of the numbers Steven had that I ran. It looks like it'd be about a $227,000 increase to the payroll, the retirement,
and the salaries. And Stephen could confirm that later now that he has all these numbers. Hit it, please. All right, the new radios. We were on a VHF radio system forever. The radios were
$500 to $800 a piece. FCC regulations force Levy County to build a new P25 compliant radio system. Don't ask me what that is. I cannot explain it. Aaron probably can. And go away from the current VHF system. Uh the police department was required to do it as
well. The county built a multi-million dollar system and invited us to come on it just like we were on their other system. We had about 25 portable radios and we had one mobile radio in each truck. When they came to us, they said, "Hey, we're going to replace your radios." Well,
they kind of had to do it evenly and fairly. So, they pretty much eliminated our 25 radios and gave us 16 portable radios. NFPA recommends you have one radio per seated position in the truck. We're not close to that. I don't expect y'all to buy us another 18 radios this
year at somewhere between5 and $7,000 a piece. So, we're only going to ask for four. Um, all 16 portable radios are assigned to the trucks. For an example, the squad and the rescue both have two radios assigned to them. A lot of times we have three guys riding in the trucks.
One guy's without a radio. The engine has three. If we have four or five on a structure fire, there's two guys without a radio. That's kind of a a pretty good no no right now. In the future, our radios will be linked to the air packs. So when they have an air pack on, it's
linked to the radio for radio communications inside the building. So it's not one of them that you can just go grab a radio off another truck. It's actually got to be assigned to that seat. Hit the button, please. the new squad. It's just a a continuence
from last year. >> You want to slide back one if you can? It's it's a continuence of last year. Um the the specs, we went through the specs with a fine tooth comb, kind of figuring out what we want to do. We visited a
couple vendors to see the difference in the quality of beds that they build. They've been emailed to the attorney. She's going through central bidding. I think's the program that y'all use right now to see if there's something we can piggy back off of. So far, she sent me four of them, and those aren't going to
work out for us, but she's still looking on some other stuff. That truck's going to replace a truck that's 26 years old and flat, worn out. We called to get a replacement steering box for that truck about 2 years ago, and they said, "Yeah, you need to go to a junkyard to get it."
They don't they don't even make the parts for that truck anymore. The cost is going to be about 240,000. It's going to look a lot like the Squad we drive now. It's just going to have a different style bed on the back. It's more built for a squad rather than a brush truck. The one we have now works.
We have to repair some of the shelving and stuff in the trucks. Every once in a while, it'll be a lot more suited as a brush truck. So, we're going to buy a new squad, take the current squad, and make it a brush truck. Hit the button, please. The fire engine I talked about a few minutes ago is going to replace the
engine 722. It's a 2008 American Lef France and I believe it was the last one to roll off their assembly line before they folded up. And you know when you get the last truck off an assembly line, you get spare pieces. The door handles on that when they tear up, Captain Maddox goes to Napa and buys a door
handle for a 2008 Dodge 1500 pickup and that's the door handles that are on that truck. So it's just kind of piece mil together. That new truck's going to cost about $1.2 million. It's going to be a two-year weight currently is what they're sitting at right now. Same design as the current engine we the
newer engine that we have with some minor changes just to due to industry standards and safety factors on it. That's what I talked about a minute ago. We believe Walt Nichols is working on a low interest loan to include a truck for utility department. We just needed an update. Like I said, it's not in this
year's budget. Talk to Mr. to Walt. If he doesn't have anywhere to go, we might have to put it in next year's budget. Hit the button, please. The small minimum increases. We asked for a $2,000 increase on traveling for DM. We all know that the travel costs
are getting higher. They're not getting any cheaper. Our guys need to be able to go to more trainings and seminars and conferences to to learn. Basically, we send guys to these seminars and conferences. They learn a lot of stuff. come back and we'll do in-house training over here so everybody gets educated on
it. Get uh go back real quick. >> She's hungry like I am [clears throat] probably. >> That's what I said. >> The last conference we attended in Indianapolis, myself and Captain Maddox went up. We met with 20 different
vendors that we currently used to see what new projects they were coming out with, what new updates, and met with 10 other vendors that we were looking at going with. So, it's very beneficial. Instead of talking to somebody over the phone looking at it on the computer, you can actually go in there and lay hands on it. You can tell if it's 3D printed
or if it's actually manufactured somewhere. It's It's very beneficial. Next line, please. The other way. [clears throat] Office supplies. We asked for a $300 increase. Uh the equipment inspections $1,000 increase. You'all remember we got the
new ladder trucks. We have to have that ladder tested every year. And we also made aware that the the cost of the equipment inspections going up. Some of the stuff that we were paying to have inspected, we are able to do in-house now. So it should offset a little bit, but this is kind of where we feel the
budget needs to be at for the bigger projects. Next button, please. dues and subscriptions. We asked for a $1,750 increase. Last year, we came to you for a new report writing system. It's called ESO.
The report writing system that they sold us, and I'm going to say this, and it's nothing against ESO. They sold us a a Nifers program. The state had a requirement February this year, you had to go from niffers to nearest. When ESO switched from knickers to nearest completely different program did not
work for what we needed it to work for a lot of people are unhappy with them throughout the state so we chose to call and cancel that we have talked with first do it's another report writing module it also does your hydrant checks your hose testing checks the big thing that I like about it is the fire
inspection module for Mr. Danny right now he's taking a piece of paper and going out there and drawing this stuff out and marking stuff. He takes a tablet, goes out here with this fire inspection module. He can mark stuff out. He can take the property appraisers overhead view, download it to it, and make the marks that he needs. When our
guys go out and do a fire pre-plan, if we look on there and it says there was a fire extinguisher there when Mr. Danny did his inspection and it's not there, we can mark it. It doesn't it doesn't tell Mr. Danny to go back out, but when Mr. Danny comes back in 3 6 months. He says, "Hey, when the fire department was
here last, that fire extinguisher wasn't there. I need to make sure to go check that." So, they they interlink a lot and it's very beneficial for both us and him. When he goes out and does an inspection and we go to the fire, we can pull it up on the on the computer and see what exactly we're going to, what
changes they have made if we haven't been in that building in a while. Click the button. Building maintenance. [clears throat] $3,000 increase. So, we all know the fire station is well beyond its expiration date. The band-aids are being
fixed with bigger band-aids. We had to have some plumbing issues taken care of in the bathroom long not too long ago. And the guy said he remembered putting that band-aid on that same problem seven or eight years ago. That unfortunately that's the only thing they can do is keep doing band-aids. The low bid rollup
doors we got years ago, they're not lasting, going up and down, especially with the wind load coming in and hitting the doors. All the flooring in the station needs to be replaced. Paints needed and general repairs are just increasing. It's an aging building. That building was originally a 20-year
building and we're six 15 years past that 20-year threshold. So, we're 36 years into a 20-year building. >> Tell me about it. [laughter] Let's just say when I was in kindergarten, they were building that building and I've been growing away 21 years.
>> 23 years. I'm sorry. I'm getting older. Fire prevention education increasing it by $500. This goes to buy a lot of the stuff that we hand out at the Fourth of July, the peanut festival, the the Christmas festival when all the little kids come to the fire station in kindergarten, that type stuff. And
unfortunately, the cost of those is increasing. And we're getting more and more kids around here. If y'all haven't realized that, we got all the all the private schools call us to go out there and do stuff. So, we're we're trying to take care of everybody. The button, please. Vehicle repairs and maintenance. We're
proposing a $5,000 increase on this. The overall cost of having somebody fix the truck that's qualified just continues to go up. Their insurance is going up, so therefore, they have to pass the cost on to us. And also, we have the increased number of apparatus in the fleet, and
our fleet is getting older. Hit a button, please. Materials and supplies. It was just a small increase and that should cover any any minimal increases that we see. It's not a whole lot of different stuff we buy every year. It's just the stuff we use all the time. Fire hoses, nozzles,
foam, that type stuff. Hit the button, please. Vehicle fuel. We all know vehicle fuel prices are going down. That's why we asked for an increase on that. running more calls. It's just a bigger bigger
cost to us. Hit the button, please. All right, this one right here might pay you for a loop. Keep hitting it. Keep hitting it. Keep hitting it. Keep hitting it one more time. There you go. Right there. So, I went back and broke this down off 2024's numbers.
Gainesville Fire Rescue, they're a full-time department with eight stations. They ran a little over 32,000 calls. They have 19 staffed apparatus. If you break that down, that's 1660 calls per staffed apparatus. Ocala Fire Rescue full-time department with seven
stations. They have 15 staffed apparatus ran 18,000 almost 19,000 calls. Averages out to,254 calls. Your Williston Fire Rescue part-time department, one station providing coverage 24/7 operates like a
full-time professional agency for a fraction of the cost. 257 calls with one staffed apparatus just to show you how busy we actually are. Hit the button, please, ma'am. Hit it again. All right. Well, Fire
believes in providing a full-time service at a part-time price. We've continually done this for many years. We have grown accustomed to doing more with less. It's not fun, but we make it happen. All we are asking for is a few items that allow us to continue to serve the citizens of Williston and the
surrounding area safely, efficiently, and professionally. One more slide. We've requested an increase in funding from Levy County for the area that we're contracted to cover. If you're not aware, the city of Willist, including the airport's about 8 to 8 12 square miles. Our first due
response district with inside Levy County is 118 square miles. So, we're we got a big area to cover. Like I said, we have gone in there and asked for an increase, we should know about that here in the next month or so. The trucks that have been requested
approved in last year's budget, the budget process, but weren't able to be purchased in this last budget year. Like I said, we're working with we're working with the attorney. We're trying to do everything right to get the right truck the first time. The small minimum increases and a few line items are primarily to cover the rising cost we
can't control. We have asked for some very minor upgrades with some computer programs that we use that long-term makes our jobs easier, makes processes easier for business owners, city staff, and residents along with saving us time, which allows us to complete other tasks at the same pay. If we can save 10
minutes per report, we're running six calls a day, that's an additional hour that we gain. We can be doing something else rather than sitting there typing a report. One more slide. That's all, folks. You have any questions? Where are we going to get the money?
>> Ma'am, where are we going to get the money? >> I'm just here to explain what we need. >> You know, that's always my question. Where >> I need to find out how all these other municipalities get $20 million grants
and different ones. Our grant writers need to step it up for us >> because none of this is in the budget except the last things that you talked about. >> Yes, ma'am. >> And he actually had a some of them had
more dollars than what you requested. There were a couple that had >> I think was the fuel. I didn't think his number was high enough for fuel bas. >> So when when I sent it in, it had a set of numbers in it and when Stephen sent that one back, a couple of the lines had
a different number in it and I went back trying to trying to adjust for it. I >> I I think the piece I don't have in is the personnel. >> Correct. >> And the other vehicle, >> the engine truck. >> Yeah. >> Cuz that was something Walt was working
on with the grant loan combo. Um and I do not know where he is with that package. >> Okay. I said I didn't want to put that in this year's budget. I just wanted to kind of get an update on where that was at or jog some memories.
I believe that was in the estate revolving fund loan, wasn't it, Terry? >> Say that again, Jonathan. >> I believe all that was in the state revolving funds alone that we were trying to think of that too. >> Not none that I'm aware of. Which one?
>> And that and that we were going to get a we're going to pay for the squirt. We were going to get the um >> Yeah. >> Vacon truck and then the fire truck at the same time through that revolving fund loan. Okay. So the vaccon truck and the other fire truck that I I don't recall that
>> that might have been right after you left that >> truck was supposed to be paid out of capital which were not >> correct >> and then so I think probably the only thing that that reflecting the additional person per
night right so >> and day >> additional person 247 okay that's not in your number >> so let me ask going to ask you a question. So, if I ask you a question, if you had could have one or the other,
>> and I know you want one in the daytime and one at night, which one is actually the busiest? If you could if we could only afford half of this, >> I cannot the daytime the busiest. [clears throat] >> It it it flu I think it fluctuates. Matthew Batton ran six calls after
midnight the other night. It's kind of hard. Midnight. So, it's kind of hard to say. >> [clears throat and cough] >> So, where is the fire assessment money in this budget? Is it in here already?
>> Yes, unfortunately it is in there. It's um let's see here. It's the third Yeah, the revenue is the third line right under property and like taxes. Um, and it's the full amount. So, there's
not even any room. That's the full amount. You proved the max up to 318. 318,915. That's in there. >> I see. My page doesn't show revenue at all. It only shows [snorts] expenses. So, where's the revenue? Is it on a
different page? >> Um, hold on. Let me check my >> Cuz page 30 and 31 only show expenses. >> Oh, yeah. You have to go back to the top of the general fund >> to the top. >> Let me get the page. Um >> like the general fund budget somewhere. >> Yeah, the general fund budget. Let's
see. >> Okay. Budget. Oh, there's the revenue. Gotcha. >> It's page 14. Um anyone else want to see it? So, yeah, this I mean this budget's got the increase in the assessments. I even have the um proposed increase in
from the county. >> I see that >> it's maxed out. Um, >> I saw that, but I didn't see the >> And in addition, there is some for the fire does usually get some grant money to cover some of their uh equipment purchases. So, it includes some money in
there for that as well. >> There's the fire assessment. This the fire assessment is the third item down on page 14. >> Yeah, I finally found it. Thank you. Okay. >> So, the um fire truck you talked about,
which company was that with uh E1? >> The the big fire engine was through E1. Yes, sir. >> But E E1, Pierce, Crave, they're all about the same price, the same weight list. The only re the I shouldn't say the only reason, the main reason last
time we bought a truck was 2018. They build it in 2019. We went and looked at all the different manufacturers >> cuz I remember last year I think you guys used the company that um renovated it. >> Correct. >> Did one of your trucks?
>> They did. That truck right there that 2008 American France is not worth renovating. If I had my way and drive it off in the city pit, make artificial reef out of it after you take all the the fuel and stuff out. You know what I mean? >> Yeah. I just said if if it was through E1 or if it was through the company that
>> it was through E1's parent company. So E1 is owned by Matheni Motors >> and Matheni is the one who did the the refurb on that truck. Yes, sir. >> And that's the thing with with buying a E1 when it tears up the repair shop's 35 mi down the road or 30 mi down the road.
If you buy a Pierce, it's got to go to almost Fort Meyers to get fixed. There's a new vehicle that you would like to order that won't be ready for two years. How much I mean are you looking at
dividing that sum over four years? Are you looking at a loan? >> That's a Steven question to be honest with you. And like I didn't even have that in this year's budget. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. I was just trying to put it in there to kind of see, hey, where are we at on this project? >> I mean, this the the approach using the
state revolving loan is the best >> best >> option because you're going to get a forgiveness portion of that. I don't know what I don't remember what the percentage that Walt suggested is, but say 50%. >> So, that's a good forgive 50% and then usually the interest rates on those are
pretty low as well and very competitive. So, if you're going to do it, if you have to do it, that's a that's a good approach to take. He had a laundry list of of items. I forget he there's a presentation blown out that he did that included even some of the things Terry that you probably don't know but um I
certainly know that the utility truck was scrapped um that was that was taken out. Um the back truck I believe was as well. Yeah. >> So I think really most of that's on that list was just that fire vehicle. Um, but
you know that would be something if you're going to do it. If you're not going to get 100% grant, then that would be the second best option. >> What's the wait time on a squad truck? >> Just shy of 6 months. It takes uh right
at 4 months for them to build the bed. Then you buy the cabin chassis and have it outfitted. It's not that much longer. I I do have one other option for you when it comes to the staffing. If Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday are our busiest days. If you could do the
three days, do Friday, Saturday, Sunday. It's three of the four busiest days and it's the three days we have the least amount of response. It should be in if if the whole cost is 225, it should be in the neighborhood of $100,000. We could do that. It would help out a lot. and then just try to move forward
to the to the third person for the whole time, you know, in later years. >> Question I guess for I know you've gone through the police department and caught Have you had the opportunity to go through the fire department the same way you went through the police department?
>> It depends on who you ask. >> Okay. >> Um but no, the short answer is no. >> He's already made all the cuts he can at the fire department. I did only a little bit. But see, [clears throat] again, the approach was very simple with this first version. >> Cut where it the numbers suggested
>> needing to be cut. >> Um, and unfortunately in the fire department, they did not allow for much cutting without having these further discussions with them that says, okay, >> you know, for three years straight, you spent 35,000 in this line. What can you do now? How can I challenge you to get
down to 30,000 in that line? >> Okay. So, but that's a secondary that's the next version and that would be what would be required to say now is hey if you're if you're going to add and I don't know what the your your last version of this how much would that three-day cost I guess you have to rerun those numbers
>> it's about $100,000 >> so if you had 100,000 how much of that can you cut in some of your other operating stuff >> $100,000 is a steep ask >> I think you'd wind up having to use some of that uh millage you just um put out there unfortunately,
>> right? I I mean I know it's not apples to apples um but I do you know there are some places where it seems like there are a lot of increases in one department that seem like they maybe could be adjusted. I think it's really the fire
is the one that had the toughest >> toughest >> the toughest and again you know have to challenge them a little bit more on that but again as you saw they they've got >> some of you know some pretty clear reasons for that it's not just you know pay blanket
>> increase but again if the police department is going to be asked to make some of those cuts that they weren't asked >> but if they if they're going to be doing that which you know the chief you heard them say some of the stuff he was okay with and some He wasn't. >> Yeah. >> So, we put back some of the ones he's
not and the buyers can probably have to do something very similar to try and trim that 100, you know, the net of that. So, I don't know. >> There might be some There might be some >> maybe 25 of the 100. I I don't know what that looks like without having some more discussions with them. >> All right. Thank you.
>> I believe it would be like contingent upon that of finding with that additional revenue of 150 some odd thousand with the millage increase and if if we decided to
do I mean even the 112,000 is only a 2% rate but it's better than nothing. >> Well, and again that's that's where you know you're putting in if you're putting in 100 here keep in mind what your decision is going to be on the overall
increases because And that's going to be more I mean again you're going to again you're going to run out of money again. >> Yes. >> Pretty quickly if you don't find some other cuts. So there's going to have to be some challenges um to get the increases to get this other some of this other stuff. There is
going to be some more challenges. There's going to be more some discussions to say hey if I want you know what do we put in the general fund? Um 2% is 60,000. So now you had a 100 you know if you put in 100 there and now that's 60. So now
you're 160,000 you've already covered >> and not even >> and that that takes the decision about the 7.25 out of your hands right there, right? >> Because now you're kind of stuck with it if you don't find some other, you know, I don't think that's what you wanted. You wanted to have some flexibility. So yeah, there's going to have to be some
more some other places. Now we've got some things. We looked at the plan, you know, changing that part-time that full-time to part-time. That'll help a little bit. Couple other places and maybe that'll trim, but Beyond that, I'm not sure.
>> One more question because I know we >> I know we um approved a new number for the fire assessment that we'll we'll vote on September 8th. Is that you know a new rate? That's the number that's in here.
>> That's the number that's in there. >> Okay. >> Yeah. So again, if you decide, hey, I'm not comfortable with that number then. >> Yeah. And you said that also includes the proposed reimbursement from the county since 75 our county
>> the proposed increase you know there's already the amount that they were giving us but I believe it's 30,000 remember correct way that um that's what we're hoping to get from them. So, what happens if they don't? And >> same answer. >> Yeah, that that's that's a hard part for
me to wrap my brain around because if we're being told over 70% of our calls are going to the county, but the expenses are going to it's just >> that's the next >> it's down to 60% in the county, 40% city
now. And it's actually start over the past couple years, it's actually starting to float back more to the city. We don't have a whole lot of young people living in the RV park. And our guys know the RV park by the back of their hands on what they're willing to give the
services that they they're getting. >> Stephen, I have another question. If that squad is already approved in this year's budget, does that fund just roll over to next year's budget or how does that work? >> You know, with the 240,000. >> Yes, sir. >> No, I I have it in next year's budget,
>> but it's in this year's budget as well. Well, I'm not projecting it to be used this year >> again. Now, it's going to be funded with a loan. So, whenever you're getting a loan, it's not like I pull out the 240 and I can use that for something else. It doesn't work like that. It's uh you're going to finance it. You're going
to finance it in whatever year you actually, you know, decide you're going to purchase it. >> Gotcha. And the capital outlay just means we've approved it. It doesn't mean we have money for it. Not until you approve the loan, >> right?
[laughter] He's going to work with anything. >> Yeah. talk about our next one. >> Anything else from the fire department? >> Do we need to give them any direction on how we feel about the additional staffing or you want to wait to see what
they come up with? >> I just don't know. Are we interested in this? >> I would say And if we can come up with it, are we interested in doing that? >> If we can find the money. >> Okay. >> Yeah.
>> And mostly for the weekend for the >> start that would that would be the end of >> Yes, ma'am. That would be the starting point. um go in that direction and and we've got some ideas that we can we can
bounce off of you, you know, after we figure them out ourselves. >> Can you go out and stay in the in the um roadway and do a drive? I >> I can Didn't we used to do that? Well, not we >> we have to get We have to get a permit for you. I was
>> Didn't you guys just do that once before? >> I do not ever recall you being out there. >> That's why that's why I changed it. I said we, but I have our chicken. >> Yeah, it was never for us. House for NBA. >> For Jerry's kids. >> Okay. >> We have a bunch of say that.
[laughter] >> Easy. Easy. >> Yes. Yes. Um, >> so >> yeah. So, so Chief, if you if you add the I'm just thinking out loud here. Maybe I'm wrong. You had the third
person here 24/7. Will that cut back any of the other overtime expenses that you have on callins? >> It'll cut back. I want to say it was about $8,000 on the officer day that we currently pay for. We currently pay officer to be on standby 4 hours on
Saturday and Sunday. I can't say if it's going to cut back on the call ends because when the call goes out, you know, if it's a structure fire, I want 12 people there. I don't four. You know what I I just thought maybe there would show show some savings on the other side now that you're adding additional work.
>> In theory, it would could be one less person to respond from offer paying them full time or paying them a regular something to think about. >> Yep. >> I calculate those numbers. >> Do you have food? >> You can go get something. You can make a
road at Subway for us or Walla. They love you. >> For everybody. >> They love you at Wawa. They're beautiful. >> Everybody. >> Hey, the firefighters made the sandwich. Police department. You can go pick them up. >> You want to do it on your app? You can do it on my app. >> No matter how just generic calls are
never used. Y'all are serious about food. >> All right, let's keep moving. [laughter] >> Yeah. So, we didn't plan on I can tell you that, but I didn't plan on >> Well, well, our person who typically plans that is not here.
>> She's out. But but we if we keep moving, >> it's still going to be 11:30. >> But if we keep moving. >> All right. So, are we building the fire department? >> Awesome. Huh?
>> Shall we take a five minute break? >> Yeah. Yeah, they're coming back. Sure. Five minute break. Return at 8. >> You needed this. >> You needed this. You're the only person to take a break. You didn't just try us cuz I needed it. [laughter]
>> You're the only one who can go. Come and go, please. >> Well, inside the building here, >> start your order. I don't have one. >> Let me go get >> Oh, jeez. Can Can we get your credit? >> I got one.
>> Oh, yeah. >> There you go. >> I got her. >> Yeah, but I didn't think that they >> Hey, you need to go get your little boy over there. He just said I needed this for the >> You're the only one with >> I know, right? Jeez. Yeah, there is. I mean, you got
>> they don't [laughter] do the best I can do the store. It's >> what else leads you to the bottom of the pit. The bottom >> grab it.
I'm working hard >> and I was there. Yeah, my dog and my other not because I'm not doing there, but yeah, it never >> seats are good, you
It's a curve, right? It's a learning curve. >> That's what you [laughter] >> sometimes. I don't want to >> the way I calculate this I took all your costs
>> and then said, "Okay, 62% of that is >> not real." >> That would mean you're about $300,000 short. >> They would barely give me the 30. >> Are we providing drinks to have water, right?
This has water. >> Oh, time out. We full. Oh yeah, cuz that's >> we are notice. >> Oh my god. Would you people give up on the boil water notice? >> Yeah, but makes zero sense why >> Wilson resist
I mean that's I'm not even talking about equipment I mean, just just that alone that right there is your extra person. And that's why I understand. >> So I'm sitting over here. Yeah. Yeah. You have been sitting over there. I
would have stepped with my knife. >> You're right. That's already most of it right there. because >> I think one person make sure >> [clears throat] >> You know, I do have vegetables in my
car. >> Don't worry. created their [laughter] >> friend. Well, we'll see how far it gets now. I feel >> water in a midnight.
All right. >> That CPI thing. [laughter] >> Just Just leave it like that. I'll work it out. Did you get it? >> Oh, you want to get it? >> All right. You ready?
>> Hello. You guys ready? >> You ready? >> M. Mics, please. 859. We are returning to our meeting. So, we're now at community development. >> CR. >> Anyone here for that? >> Page 22.
>> It's all good. >> You can lay down and take a nap. >> I'm down. I don't see only [clears throat] for the list that we're going down. >> Okay. Maybe that's what that is.
Well, we're going to community development with this plan. >> We're not going by the >> Yeah, that's that's building the permitting and planning and it >> it's a five 524 and um 515
That's cuz you tried to tear it. >> Yeah. It's like one of those syringes you can't open. >> All right. So, we're 20. You said 23. 22. >> 22. >> Is anybody here?
>> Yeah, you got me. I was going to say >> I would say based on the cuts that Steven's made >> unless I'm seeing something that's out of our control. >> Pretty much what it is. >> Yeah. I mean that I don't I do not have
any comp plan money in there. That would be the only thing I'd be concerned about if there's anything um related to that. Otherwise, I mean, I try again before September. >> That would be a good idea. Yeah.
>> I have a question about the salary on page 23. >> I I don't I don't quite know why we have the budget why the salary [clears throat] changed from 2023 2027 significantly.
5,000 >> more than a 3% raise. >> So well I see the building permit technician is in their 100%. 38,000 and change and then planning and
zoning has 50% coming out of for >> is that who that is [clears throat] only 249 fixing >> the contractual services. That's what you >> right Stephen? >> That's right. So the other the rest of the um planning and zoning admin I got
title I think but is out of the CRA. CRA pays for >> the other 50% of that position. >> So >> on page 22 right? >> Yeah you're on page 22. >> My question is on page 23 why there's such a significant increase in the
salary. >> So 13.2% 2%. >> And BJ, >> just needed to know. >> Turn the mic on, please. [clears throat] >> Any other questions? Oh, >> can we go to the airport?
I don't know why we just didn't put >> Can we do a CR? >> Well, we also had done the animal shelter, >> right? But they're separate department there. animal.
>> Yeah. >> So, see if we just went this way straight through >> instead of just going by this. Yeah. >> Well, I was going by the person who has experience cuz I don't I'm afraid we're going to miss something
if we don't. >> Yes. would be next. >> All right. So now, but now we've done some things and >> what page >> 24.
>> All right. So, we're going to start with animal shelters. >> Well, we're on 24. >> We miss you mis purchasing 21. >> Oh, M. See, NHR >> HR. That's why I said
>> that's why it's easy to what page >> human resources on 20. >> Are you ready to bed? >> Yes. >> Not yet. >> City clerk. services.
Okay. So, we're going to start on page 20. We'll start with Kim and then we'll go back to those in the end. We're not going back that way. >> It'll be short and sweet. >> HR 20.
So, the only thing I need to do here is move money around. I don't have any increases or anything. Um, for printing and binding, since we got to do the comp plan every year, I would like to take the 1,500 because drug testing has gone
up significantly along with the background checks and split that money between those two categories cuz this year I'm going to be over. Um and then what there was one other that
uh employee incentives we can drop off um we can drop that down to 1,500 uh and then we can move that money possibly to make up I don't know how much significant the drug screening's gone up. I know the last time we did one
it was almost $100 and when I first started here it was like 70. So, um, as much money as we can move into the drug testing is what I need to go into. >> So, you want printing and binding. You
want that to go into to drug screening? >> Yes, ma'am. >> So, you're going to have zero? >> Yes, ma'am. I didn't spend any this year because again, the comp plan, that was the whole reason for it was we were going to bind all the comp plans, but we
got to get it approved every year. So, I'm going to bind it, unbind it, rebind it, and it just seems like a waste of money. >> Okay, >> we can just throw it on the share drive and call it a day. >> All right. And then you're going to take
your what' you say your prettiest? >> No, it's the full amount or >> No, just drop uh a,000 off of it. um drop it down to 1500 because we have a good program going with getting these coins and you know printing and stuff
like that. So uh that thousand maybe move the entire 1,500 from printing and binding into drug screening and then the extra thousand into um into the background checks because they're they went up we haven't we've been kind of not hiring lately but we used checker
and it went up to it was like 95 the last time I did one. So, um, you know, just kind of moving that money around to make it work. >> Okay. So, the original he's already cut a,000
from printing and binding, right, Stephen? >> Yes. >> Okay. So, that leaves you, 1500 left. >> So, we're talking about moving 1,500 to drug screening. >> Yes. >> Okay. Then you said the remaining thousand. There isn't a remaining thousand. >> No. for um employee incentives, cut that
down by a thousand >> and moving that into the background checks. >> Got it. >> And just so you know, we were in um Lake City the other night. >> Mhm. >> And they also had the coins as big as
ours, >> but you know, it's good to see that there's other areas, municipalities doing that. Yes, sir. >> It's a good way to reward. >> On that on that note, they're supposed to be here in December. Okay.
>> It would be nice if we could save some of those for them. >> Yes, ma'am. We will we'll do an exchange. get shipped. >> Mhm. We we did that like in the army, you would um so some of the when I was in Afghanistan, other countries would give us patches or
coins, whatever they had, and we would exchange what we had and then take them and then we would, you know, uh reward them to some of the soldiers that way. >> Well, they handed one out to everybody who was there this past Thursday. >> Oh, nice. >> Probably 80 people. 80 85 people. >> All right, let's get back on track.
Okay, that's that's really all I have is just moving some money around. >> Okay. And that's that's everything that you need to move around. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Okay. >> Purchasing. That's purchasing. >> I would say let it ride. So, let's go ahead and
>> All right. >> Only building we just did. >> We need to go back first. >> We are. We're going to go there at the end after we know where we are. >> Yeah. >> All right. We talked about the animal show.
I don't think we did. >> That's BJ. This BJ. Go ahead. What do you have for us? on page 24. >> Yes. >> I'm just telling >> um
so the only thing that I have um a proponent of professional service is getting cut. So the fact that I'm trying to get a better record and better record going a month and I need a better record so that I can
start giving shots to our animals when they come in and I can order tests so that we can check for this ringorm outbreak that we have. We can test for ringorm I've been very blessed this year to be
able to use for most of my services. So we haven't a lot of money on a professional that that's just a blessing. That's not actually reality. >> Right.
>> Um I had I did I had asked to move $2,500 for professional services to make a event fund so that we can have things at the shelter to bring attention so that we can educate people and I'll know
the way things work and also so that I can go to when we do have animals. They had a really big one. >> So would they fall under advertising? And then the advertising would be like
>> but if you're having an event to have also taking adoption where you're doing taking animals to different places [clears throat] so like petsmart say hey you can bring you know so many animals up
to be able to go up there the funds to do that. I was just trying to make a small one. Um also the other thing I had asked um was that an expenditure GL for donations.
We have a GL account for it to go into [snorts] but we don't have anywhere to pull it from. Um, so whenever I go to because like I got a check last year that said dog food, but it was a donation for dog food. I I come out of
my supplies. So people want to make sure that their donation money is actually being used towards donation and if it's coming out of the general fund and they ask me how I >> is that
it can be a dollar >> the um the revenue coming in revenues goes to revenue expense goes to expense so that's why that's split um I'm not sure how to accommodate that part of it.
>> I mean there is a line as she says it says donations in that's what I did. I put one for the expense size. >> Yeah. No, see I I had that confused because I added a revenue line for events and I added a donation line. Um
and then normally you would use these [snorts] expenses, you know, to cover those things. But I can >> just be transparent so people actually see that it come out of the donation from him versus
me telling oh well I had $7,000 and >> I think like >> so what's the miscellaneous miscellaneous event you got $500 for that for the animal shelter >> I'm looking at page 15
the overall the overall budget line item is donation animal shelter is animal shelter event >> I just randomly That's revenue. >> Both those pages are revenue. >> Um I mean that's fine. I I can um I
guess the mechanics of that will make that work. So you're looking for >> a >> donation supplies maybe. >> I think it's kind of like where the chief sells a car. >> I know. That's that's like he does that.
I have >> she had something for that 4th of July where she comes in and out of there's a department >> for special events and then there's donations that come in there. One's in
revenue, one's in expense. >> Um, >> so she has a revenue and an expense line. >> Yeah. It's just not what you're saying is it's not separate. She wants it split in the expense side. >> So that instead, for example, if you get
a $500 donation for food, um, for doggy food, instead of showing the expense coming out of supplies, she would like something that says donation food or something so that she can see that lines up.
>> Yeah. >> And I'm not asking to put any money in it. I want to put my actual donations that I get next year into that. >> That That's where it gets tricky though. I mean, I can best I can do is do it during the year, but auditors are going to require revenue shown as revenue, not
as contra to expenses. Meaning if you let's say you have a $100,000 line item for building permitting for example, that's what it cost you. You don't take the building permitting revenue and then put it against those expenditures. You have it split. That's just the the way
it has to be done for the accounting standards. Revenue goes revenue. Um >> so okay, my budget say is $7,000 for materials and supplies. If I get a $500, that increases that that expenditure.
>> Yeah. No, it does. But if you were assume that you're going to get donations, let's say you have um let's say you have $2,000 worth of donation revenue, then you should have that $2,000 somewhere in your expenditures built in
so that they line up when you get the revenue. What you're saying, I understand what you're saying is if you get the donations of $5,000 and you spend $5,000, then your your expenditures will be out of line, >> right? But if you match them up and say, "Okay, I'm going to put in $5,000 in
donation revenue, and then I'm going to go down here and put $5,000 in my expenditures." >> They net to zero within the fund. >> You can show them separately for per the accounting standards and not have to worry about your budget.
>> Does that make sense to you? >> If like a journal entry posting is what it amounts to, I see that a lot of >> well and again I I I guess the only other way only one other way and why you will see it is people will set up
separate funds completely >> where you take okay I'm going to take the revenue and I'm going to take you know the expense and I move it over to its own separate fund 004 or whatever it is >> and now I can anybody asks well here's my here's a piece of paper that shows both the revenues and the expenses
>> right >> and they net zero >> right >> that would be that that would be the accounting way to do it if you need it. But >> that's what I was looking for. >> And the only problem with that is you're you're talking like a couple thousand dollars >> that you're doing this for. I mean I that's what you want to do. I can
>> do that. But that's that I mean the netting it is not a good idea. You start >> talk about it later. >> Yeah. >> That's okay. >> It makes it more transparent to do it that way, >> right? >> Yeah. I think that's what she's trying to do. >> I had a young lady that didn't want to
donate because I didn't her that that $100 was going to the shelter >> and she ended up donating it. >> I give her a receipt receipt charge. So then how do you deposit the money
into >> I bring it up here and they deposit it into the general fund. >> But you have your own uh deposit bank account >> but the only thing that goes into that currently is shelter love. Anything that
comes in shelter love which is our which is our adoption. So there are donations in that because if it comes through shelter love it goes into that account. because [clears throat] >> well
>> so you don't have a donation separate checking account >> we had to have a se separate checking account to start our um the program that we went into the shelter >> love >> because all of it 90% of it was done
online so when you adopt an animal or like I'm working on the tags when you would purchase your tags that money would go into that >> it goes there Yes. >> All right. Well, we're going to we're going to go ahead and move forward, but are you keeping any documentation on
your [clears throat] >> shelter love keeps and I have all the reports? >> No, meaning when people are donating money, are you writing it down somewhere and and that's what shelter love is? >> That that way you can kind of show them, okay, when you deposit and this is where
it was. >> Okay. to find anything. But >> I know. >> All right. >> Is there any place that you that you think we can cut to put your professional services back what you're
looking for? >> Similar to what we did. >> This is this is my first year of a full budget, you know, as shelter manager because I started in October. So, we're just getting to our our point. Can I
supposed to review my books and then I put them on my y'all? We're going to talk about that and we'll see it next time. >> All right. It >> I'm good. >> You're good. All is well. Everybody deal with it.
>> I mean, I don't like it, but I you know, >> I'm good. We'll make it work. >> So, it's a good budget. >> What's this 9% 9%? Yeah. What does that 9? What does that mean? >> 90% of the salary comes into this
budget. 10% goes somewhere else. I want to say that airport. >> Airport. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> That's all it over there. >> Gotcha. Gotcha. >> Can you tell a quick question about the the cell phone? That's just the the increases. The Do we have more cell phones or is just increase in cell phone fees?
>> Uh the increase is actually just more devices. So, we've added dash cams instead of the geot trackers for the police department, which is more money, more monthly money. Uh, we had to pay for those. Uh, where the geot trackers we got basically for free. Um, we've
added tablets in the field for the >> personnel. Every everything is a cell phone. I mean, everything's a SIM card for data. So, it just we're adding more and more of those devices. And I think I'd asked for a little more than that, and I think Stephen put the hatchet on it. So we'll just have to see how that pans out at the end of the year.
>> Are we not making those individual departments pay for that their stuff? >> It well they all contribute to it. So that's it all comes in from different divisions. But >> Gotcha. Gotcha. >> Instead of it being in every department having their own, it all comes under me. >> Okay. And and for clarity purposes, the
other 10% we're talking about here is is in the uh fiber >> in the fiber not >> in the fiber not because like Aaron correctly said >> airport >> the the airport is is gener is um donating for all of it.
That's the you you'll see in there a contribution that's for the whole IT department. They're generating they're donating a certain percentage. But I [snorts] take out 10% from Austin. It goes straight to Calink and it's just covered with not with
>> fiber. >> Yeah. Can we fix the name of that cuz >> I think I What did I call here? >> Yes. Yes. >> No problem. Yeah, I had a call around here.
>> So, okay. is fiber on Facebook. >> Oh, no. Fiber is way >> Okay. >> And I'm good with that one if you just want to get that out of the way. >> You're you're good with fiber as well. >> All right.
at the very very back. Yeah, there's the other 10%. >> Everybody looking at 645. >> We're here with him. My only question is if we uh any of the contractual services that we're talking about in this these
two pages >> I believe not >> is that correct Stephen? Um, no it would not be the correct >> the hope would be that would be covered in 2026 >> and that's the capital project for
>> that would be part of yeah again we would finance the the the outsourcing of that along with the rest of the project. >> Great. All right, let's keep moving.
We did police. We did animal control. We did the fire. We did parks. We didn't do parks, did we? >> All right. Parks. It's time for you. >> Parks and roads.
>> Do that one. Okay. A few months back, we had a a in the House budget meeting and we agreed that we would keep the same budget as last year, but it's been a few cuts to to this budget. >> Page 30. >> It attacked you too, huh?
>> Yes, ma'am. >> Not everybody. >> That knife Steven. >> But but go ahead. [laughter] If we could keep the budget the same as last year, we we would make it work. We would be squeezing it, but we would be able to make it work if we could keep it
as last year's budget. >> I don't think we can make it work though. Maybe not. >> Well, but the if you look at your operating expenses for parks, it's actually going up. The only cut is because of um the uh
projections in the salaries. >> 32. >> Yeah, it's page 32. It's just a a function of the allocation between parks and the other um roads and and um facilities, but you're operating. I
didn't have not touched that yet. >> Key word was yet. >> Well, no. I mean, again, your budget for this year is 4 39,858. That's your operating budget for five parks, right? You see that number?
>> It's under fiscal year 2026 budget. >> I don't see what's right. >> 439,858 under >> total operating expenses. >> You see it? >> Yes, ma'am. And then you're that if you
go two across there for 2027, I have you at 441,000. >> It's an extra increase. >> It's a small increase. >> That's what he told me to mate. [laughter] >> I I moved some stuff around like >> I think he moved money around.
>> Yeah, like the park improvements went down a little bit >> and then vehicle [clears throat] fuel. Well, I kept vehicle fuel materials I kept the same. uh repairs. I mean, with I think I took training down a little bit because you go ahead and use the training. >> Over time, special events went down a lot
>> and their their department does a lot when it comes to special events. >> Yep. >> Oh, yeah. Like they put up all the road blocks and take down all the road blocks. >> I can put I'll put a little more in there. That makes sense. >> Between the parks and and it's the same over here in the roads, but those two
work together when it comes to that sort of thing. >> Yeah, it does look like it's a little bit short. I'm in the spending from 25 was 4,800. I'm expected to go up to well, it's projected to go up to 7500 and I have 7,000. So, it's a little short. I can
put some more money in that one. >> No, no, we're not. Is there any kind of training you need or is that portion of the budget look okay? >> It looks okay now. There's things we want to do but the timing ain't right. >> Timing is not right. >> Yes, ma'am. With the budget the way it
is, certain programs we want to try to install in the future, timing just isn't right for it. >> [clears throat] >> Uh but Stephen, if you don't mind, we had a conversation about the special budget for all the different overtimes and all for all the different events. Um remember that?
>> Uh yeah, we can revisit that. >> Okay. Thank you. >> So Oh, but we we decreased the training in seminars. Yeah. Quite a bit. Okay, >> I want to interrupt for a second. Really
important. What was your order number? >> What was my order number? I sent him a picture. >> I'm I'm getting an update that they are way behind. >> 868. >> No, just should be a three-digit number. >> I just talked to Jimmy. He said he'd be here.
>> Oh, there is no order number, but it's under. But there's no order number on the top of your ticket >> right where it says your name. >> Do you guys want to like take another break? This is immediate. >> I just trying to, you know, let you know
when you need to take a break if he's coming or not. Or we got another 30 minutes. >> I'm looking at my app. >> At least it's on the record. >> It is >> officially >> it is definitely on the record. Can I ask the question while we're about this? >> Yes, please.
>> So, Stephen, I see that they're they're 2025 actuals for overtime special events. I I see nothing. And then the budget was 5,000. We added a,000. I think my question may be I know it's the down 66%. Is that because we didn't jail
code that correctly? Is that what that is? >> Yes, sir. >> Okay. Mhm. >> So, we add that,000 to the 6,000 that you're budgeting puts us up to seven, which is very close to what the actual
>> it is. Yeah. I'm going to put a little more in get it back to to square. >> Yeah. I think the confusing thing is when you see a 66.7% decrease and >> you have to peel back the onion a little bit to explain what happened.
>> All right. >> So, you're just going to make the overtime in special events together. >> Never mind. >> Yeah, I think Jonathan wants to pull all those out, combine all his special events so we can do a little bit more. Correct. We want to be a little more efficient with that.
>> Correct. So my goal was if you look at all the overtime fire streets uh facilities, parks and roads, when you look at all the special events we have, uh I think we're pushing 400 hours total. I just want to do a separate event, separate GL code for that to be
more transparent. >> Okay. >> But he hasn't said he's got it yet. >> All right. So that's it for parks. I mean, yeah. So now we'll go on to roads. >> There was a decrease in. [snorts] >> Okay. I do have a question. >> Ask your question.
>> Salaries and wages on roads. Um, streets and park supervisor 21,693 and then one road technician 100% for 39. >> It's broken up. >> Yeah, it's only 33%.
>> It's 30% for parks, roads, and then another one. and another 33% all the way here. Where are the other 33%? >> Uh parks, roads, and facilities. >> Perfect. >> Yep. >> You guys good with roads back there?
>> Vehicle repair maintenance. If we could get that same number from last year, that would be nice. We do have a backhoe that is struggling in roads as well as the crane truck that's
getting operated on right now at this moment. >> We can get that one at this year's budget. >> Yes, ma'am. That's the goal. in a minute. >> All right. So, the um repair and maintenance, is that just regular repair
and maintenance or is that for the roads? I mean, the actual >> and not vehicles. >> It'll be for the vehicles and the equipment. >> So, I mean, you got two though. You got one that's repair and maintenance and then you have vehicle repair maintenance. Two different things,
right? There's one that says straight repair. >> The vehicle repair maintenance is the one we would like to keep the same as last year's. >> Right. But tell me what the repair and maintenance is. What are you repairing and maintaining on that one?
>> Um, so that would be equipment wise as far as tools and track and the tractor and the John Deere. Anyone else have any questions about roads? So, we're good with roads.
>> So, you guys are going to talk with Stephen about that increase right for the vehicle repair? >> Yes, ma'am. You guys are going to have that conversation with him and then he'll let us know what is decided cuz we're checking. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Unfortunately, we're adding in. I'm
still taking away. We're not going so hard. >> Well, I think we only added a couple things. >> We added Yeah. So, >> yeah, we have a they're going to scuff. We still have to talk about this. >> So, >> cuz I wouldn't I wouldn't mind you when you says projected 2026,
you're looking at 8 8,649. That's for this year and so far or you think at the end about by by December that's what we'll be >> the projected column is what we'll be at the end of September. >> Yeah. >> Unless something catastrophic.
>> Yeah. I take whatever we have to the actuals and then I'll forecast for the rest of the year >> and I think that's why you just added the amount of grand next year as well. I mean there there's always going to be things >> things that you don't see
>> you didn't plan for that right >> for the kids to balance the budget >> amendment the flavor Yeah. >> All right. So, nothing else from Rose? >> No, ma'am. >> All right. See now we're going to take
15 minute break. >> It is. >> All right. So, >> should we just a suggestion that we finish up facilities because it's kind of part of roads and parks and should be quick. Only if they have nothing, did they? All
right, let's finish break some parts. I mean facilities with parks like >> any changes, any issues? Anything you want to put back that was taken out? Don't look like anything was taken out. Look like we added a whole lot.
>> No, ma'am. >> So maybe we need to look at what we need to take out. the projected overtime is really high. >> So that's why they raised it so much. >> I can speak on that overtime.
>> Well, the projected is 16,000 but um for the budget it's only 11,000. >> Right. >> I'd like to hear from Mr. Bishop if you don't mind why we ended up with that. >> Oh, I was talking but okay. >> Sorry, >> Mr. Bishop. >> Hi.
>> Hi. Um, so the increase is it on paper it looks really bad and I get that. So the increase is with Tom doing all the cleaning that he's actually doing. I [clears throat] spoke with Stephen trying to we had a conversation about taking the cleaning money out of the general fund that we're putting towards
city hall and everything else and putting to facilities overtime since that's where he's getting paid from anyways. Um, if you look at last year's budget, you'll notice where I was 351 hours over on the overtime. Uh that was because I was trying to be transparent with the actual overtime being spent
from the facilities. So that's Tom doing all the special events and all the cleaning plus the 2080 that he normally gets paid. Right. So I did that so we could be more transparent. So this year if y'all grant me what I'm asking the cleaning money will go into facilities
overtime budget which will be more honest of and reflect more what Tom's actually doing. And then if me and Stephen have more conversations about the special event fund with the October Peanut Festival and all the other things that go on, the goal would be when we do the overtime to put a GL code on the
overtime where it goes. So that way it gets allocated to the actual overtime budget where it goes instead of his budget that make [clears throat] it look good. >> And if you do that, that'll decrease your overtime budget. >> Yes and no. Yes. Dr. Steven's
mathematically >> if it's going to be put somewhere other than facilities that decrease your budget your overtime budget. >> So the goal >> because if it's coming out of the general fund related to the city city hall then that's totally different budget right.
>> So maybe I explained that wrong. Can you help? Was that Stephen? >> Yeah. So the the uh there's a building um maintenance line in in 001513 and that's where um in the past [clears throat] we've coded the cleaning to it was a service not not a person was
a service. So if you're going to take that service away then that line can go down and then you the person would be doing it would be here in this particular department. So it's more of an allocation. >> Absolutely. Yes. I think it is. But I thought you said he wanted out of this department.
>> No, no, he wants to end this department. >> I want to end of I want to end the department. So when we do the overtime, everything is act shows more accurate. Help me. I lose my words. I wanted to reflect more where the money is actually coming from and where it's actually going. So if you look at the overtime budget last year for facilities, it's
351% over. And the reason I did that was it's the cleaning that made it go over. But there was no way for me to transfer the money, blah blah blah. So, I let it go over on purpose because I knew the money was there first even because of the cleaning. So, if we move the cleaning fund, cleaning money over into the overtime budget for facilities when
Tom does the cleaning every 3 days a week, it'll be more transparent on us where money is going. >> So, how much overtime is he getting? >> More than we want to discuss in this meeting. >> Okay. And if you'll remember, we had a cleaning service before that came in. I think it came in every Wednesday
>> and it's the same monies. We're not adding We're not There's no more monies. I'm not asking for any more monies just to be clear. >> Now he's doing it instead. >> Correct. But we have zeroed out that cleaning service contract cost. That's a Stephen question I believe. Right. >> Yes, we did.
>> Okay. >> So, it's paying for the overtime. And if you remember Tom too does all the special events like when we use the community center and there's somebody in there on Friday, there's somebody in there on Saturday, there's somebody in on Sunday. He's coming and resetting the
room each time. whoever needs it. He's also resetting the pavilion, >> correct? >> When they have an event down there, if they need chairs and tables, he's the one who does that. And he comes back later and puts them up. >> But why is it being paid in overtime if
it's the same amount of money we pay a cleaning service? >> Because he has a regular job of 40 hours. This is what's left he does on on the side. In addition, should I say, >> in addition, he's staying late and cleaning after everybody goes home after he's done his job.
and he's coming back in and resetting this room >> all over all through the weekend. >> Like he said, it's every Sunday for the church. >> But is he getting paid an overtime rate? >> Looks absolutely yes. He is
what? >> Give me a second. Let me get my thoughts out. Okay. What I'm saying is if we're paying him the same amount that we paid a cleaning company and his rate is a different rate then we're paying him
overtime. Is it really coming up to that same amount and what >> or or is it more? Well, we just sat and said that it's the same amount. >> So, is it more than what we were paying the cleaning company? Is it the same as
what we were paying the cleaning company? What is it? If we're paying them at an overtime rate, >> we should be able to find a claiming company. >> Yeah, I can do some more research on that. It's a great question. Meaning, is it is it financially viable? >> Right. Exactly. >> That I would have to go back into
>> What I'll say is Stephen does math way better than I do. >> Nobody should be Nobody should be eating it until everybody's done. >> That's right. Y'all better go get out there. >> Go ahead. So, what I'm going to tell you is Steven's math does better math than I do, but when I did the math, it come out at the end of the day, it come out to be
the same monies and all. >> Well, we had to know what the money was. >> Absolutely. >> Roughly $800 a week cleaning and I don't have the mathematic equation in front of me. I didn't expect the conversation to go this way, but I have the proof and I'll talk with Stephen >> and that's fine. He said he'll give us the number. >> Yeah, absolutely. >> Okay. So, where was the cleaning fee
last year >> under under building maintenance >> and facilities is 900,000? [clears throat] Is it up in the admin? >> So, any other um comments about the oral facility? Miss Mary, [clears throat]
>> did you find it? >> It's probably this contractual services. >> Mhm. Which went well? I don't know if it is or not because it goes down. >> That's where I pulled it from, but I I confirmed it.
>> Last year the budget was 20,000. 20,000 and this year it's 15, but I'm sure it's more than 5,000. >> Yeah, I only took it down five though. >> Okay. >> We could ask electrician cuz she'll know.
We paid them $900. >> We paid them $900 a month, I do believe, is what I used to write the check for to the clean to the cleaning service. >> 900. >> She said 900. >> 900 a month. >> That's not a lot.
>> That's pretty,800. >> How much now? >> 10,000. The problem is is they weren't completing the tasks that we needed. >> And so that's >> Yeah, it's fine. We just want the numbers.
>> All right, we're going to take a break. 15 minutes. Be back at 10:00. It is 9:45. >> I did. >> He showed me what to do. [laughter] >> I'm like, I sure did. You can't hold me
on a >> No. >> My batteries back up. >> No one told me. >> Just wanted to cut some budgets. >> Yeah. >> Stephen, remember you got to leave here. >> But Chief, you're here. Everybody is got
the same complaint. >> No, they don't. >> Dr. I know, right? The chief thought I was just picking on him. >> No, you were. >> I think Hey, he balanced the budget on my budget. He balanced the budget on your back.
>> Yeah. Yeah. >> No, you got you got, you know, strong shoulders. >> They going to tell me, "Oh, well, it increased by what? 7%. I sure thought I'd be home. >> I'll run the numbers. >> Yeah, the whole 15,000.
>> It's all right. >> Yeah, >> we just need What I needed from you is how many hours does he How many hours does he >> $10,800 worth of shooting service? Still, >> pretty damn right.
cleaning. >> That's not I could say the place is cleaner. >> Well, maybe. >> Well, but we're not comparing to the full 15. Some of that 15 is is for other >> No, even the 108, >> right? No, I'm saying. But they're they
were looking at, hey, it went up to 15 versus the 108. It's not really, you know, it's so that's why I've got I just got to pull it out and split it. Maybe it's better. No, I have [groaning] >> Better Hurry up. >> [snorts]
>> They call number They call number 278. Yours is going to 309. I'm like 300. You want to come up here? He said they said 309. I'm like I have no clue what was going on. She
didn't even say she who ordered all the pizzas. [laughter] Got to be honest for a gas station pizza. >> Yep. I hope everybody got food, [clears throat] >> but a cheese shouldn't be eaten again.
Just call him out. >> That poor man was about to starve when I walked in the door. >> I didn't have all the boxes laid out. He was digging >> and he eats [laughter] [laughter] like to talk to you with a pizza in your
hand. >> Steven said that I need to come in there like Dennis did. >> Put the bullets on the table. He Yeah. Put bullets on the table. >> Dennis put bullets on the table. >> Oh yeah. Every meeting when here he come
in not not from council. >> No. >> He would come in and he would show me his bullets inventory. He >> say let's talk about the budget. [laughter] >> Yeah. Every year. And it always went
well for him for some reason. I'm sorry. >> I'm glad I actually ate lunch today. >> Hey, I could use an escort if you want to take me back down to Port St. Lucy tonight. >> My second When we come in here for the second budget, my buddy's going to be
straight. >> When I get when I get >> here tonight, >> don't add nothing. They're like a scared straight type of approach you going to do with me. >> Yeah. >> I had enough pretzels. >> I had enough.
>> It's already in the second verse. The message I sent you was the same budget as this year. >> Yeah, they all sent me that. >> That didn't budget. That didn't balance. >> Well, nothing in mind needed to change.
>> No, I got to hire somebody. I got to promote somebody. >> Why you planning on going on vacation or something? Yeah, I do that. >> I am. I'm hire somebody boots on the ground. Talk to Gerald about this. Let him get
it done. [cough and clears throat] I don't >> continue >> talking second request. She won't go to sleep till I get home. >> It's like having a real mom
>> all over again. I'm surprised they haven't got it. Can you tell them >> your children? >> Your your nieces won't go to sleep cuz they home. >> They keep messaging me wanting more time on Roblox and stuff. >> Oh.
Yeah. >> So, he's learning. >> He's got a detective. >> Yeah. And I needed him I needed him to to understand both sides, you know, not just detective side. So, there's a lot
of things they did on the road. Did you eat some of my pizza? Did >> you eat anything? >> I know what I want, but they closed now. >> Oh, yeah. He says he's got a nice place for me. >> How about I order my phone next time
before >> chewing it on? >> I know, ma'am. >> Who told you? >> Don't believe everything you do. That's why that's why I didn't go to the last group with y'all.
>> Are you serious? I'll be back. >> Why does he want to ride it? >> You're all right. >> They're going to Oh, they didn't tell you I said they are. [laughter] >> What's in Hollywood?
>> Is that this year? >> Next month. pizza. >> I'm going [clears throat] to replace >> what you call You going to do it in there?
>> No. >> Not the house. It's a big yellow train. >> What's What's that train they >> Jason? >> What's the train? Highspeed train they built down Orlando down south. What's it
called? Yeah, they probably go from like >> Orlando down to Lauderdale >> or West Palm. I can't think of the name of it. >> I can't think of the name of it either. >> Drive three hours. >> Well, but you got to drive to Orlando. It's two hours.
>> Three minutes. Three minutes. [laughter] wine. >> It's called black wine. >> Okay. One way >> round. >> Oh, let's just pick a Friday. Sunday. >> No, I think we're going to do it at
whatever time you were doing. >> Monday was fine. I just >> 60 to 117. >> Hey, you're waiting on Thursday. >> Yeah. >> I put your counsel in there. It pops up. Um
the guy from C Coast Bank just Yeah. >> For what now? >> For your your seat. Council seat. I'll try to send y'all out memo on some fiber stuff. But every time >> I
can have access to >> Yeah, it makes sense. I would have to log in. It it says this email doesn't exist. >> Go to office.com and log in with your email and your password. >> That's okay.
>> On the browser. >> And how many of us go ahead? >> Thank you. You're the only one. [cough] [clears throat] >> Blind coffee and kind of like this person.
Yeah, it's going to be Miami. >> So, they may have a stop, but still >> uh basically runs from Orlando to Miami. It's a Brightway train from Orlando Drive
>> from Orlando to Miami, but you still got to drive two hours. Orlando, catch the train. >> When they going to move it to they all extend that right by the turn >> cuz they do that.
Yeah. >> And I seen a picture of you on the boat the other day. I thought you >> All right. So, let's >> All right. We're going to call back to order 10:01 p.m. >> And right now, we're going to talk about
our budget time. >> So, August the 12th is a Wednesday. We do it on a Wednesday >> because what? Oh, I don't know. >> If we we could do it on the 11th, that would be fine, but the 12th is on Wednesday. >> Just place
the other ones on Wednesday, too. >> I think we did a Wednesday last year or Thursday. >> I thought we were doing Tuesday. And I think >> 68. >> So we going to do August 11th. Stephen,
is that okay >> at the council? Well, >> well, I just don't know what the other >> workshops don't. >> It doesn't matter. Okay. >> It's only that last one that counts, [clears throat] >> just the two public hearings. >> All right. So, August 11, >> 6:00 at 6.
>> 6 p.m. I will still not be pres no 26 is the next scheduled one but that's also >> Wednesday we did the 25th of August 11th He had all the
>> beer again. works for me. Meredith can't be home on the 26th, but she can be here on the 25th. >> On the 26th, >> we 25th or 16th. What are you going to do?
>> Yeah. >> September. Yeah. >> So September 8th is the fire. >> The first public is September 15th >> and that's the one that's already advertised, right? So we can't change.
>> Okay. So here's the problem. >> If you want to first budget >> at 6 p.m. Uh, don't we have a council meeting? >> No, that's what I thought too. >> It's second Tuesday, right? >> It's actually the third Tuesday, but
there is no Tuesday. There's no Monday. There's not >> fire assessment. What time does we start? On the 8th, sir. September 8th. 6 council >> meeting on 8. >> What are you talking is the uh public
hearing do that what's convenient for y'all? >> Is it supposed to be a clerk question? >> So we have >> so the assessment is just going to be a
part of your regular council meeting. Oh, the >> public do. >> Okay. >> You could do it before as you want. >> Yeah. I mean, you can just do it. You can do it in the meeting. >> Make it first. >> Ma'am,
>> we can make it first. >> Sure. >> All right. So, September 22nd, >> that's not us. September 29th is the second hearing. >> September 29th is the second budget hearing. which is the same night as the planning
consult. Well, the first All right. So, we good. Good job on the bud budget calendar, right? >> Yeah. >> August 11th, August 25th, >> August 15th, and August 29th. All in sixth. >> The last two September.
>> Yes. >> Yes. Sorry. 11 and 25th >> 15th August >> sorry August 11th and August 25th your next two workshops 6 p.m.
>> and then September 15th at 6 p.m. will be your first public hearing. September 29th at 6 p.m. will be your final public hearing. >> Okay. What was the first one in September? 15 >> and somewhere in between the 25th and
the 15th it gets. >> Yes. >> All right. We're going to keep it moving. >> Special events. That's Miss Patricia. Are you going to be doing that? We we we will postpone that one and go [laughter]
>> other than but it looks like zero >> 415. >> Yeah, >> everything's the same. I'm going to be the rain on the parade here about fireworks >> because we upped the budget for
fireworks this year 250 >> well darn >> well previously it was 18,000 so >> how about we go back to 25 >> back to 25 when was it 25 it was 18 >> it wasn't but if we go back to 25 we'll
still have some good fireworks >> if we go back to 2025 2025 or 25,000,000. >> We do not add 25,000. >> But if we roll it back to 25,000, don't kill us.
>> How about we roll it to 22,000? >> Okay, >> that's only 5,000 more. >> I'm good with 22. Everybody good with 22? >> Oh, okay. Well, what I said. [laughter] >> All right. You heard that, Stephen? We want to I know. So, we gonna roll back
to 22,000. >> Already did it. >> Thank you. She ain't gonna like us. >> All right. So, non departmental. >> That's stuff we can't do anything about. Do we want to talk about that?
>> That's the storms and insurance and I mean, you could you could I wouldn't say cut it now. I would say look at what the age of private organization is and see itemize it. >> I know what it is. >> What is it? >> Chamber of Commerce. >> It's what? >> Chamber of Commerce.
>> So, we're good with it. >> They get it in 2500. >> All right. Airport is our is our airport manager on line. question. >> He is. I don't know if he can hear you. [clears throat] >> Try it again.
>> No, I was waiting. >> Cuz y'all keep going back to >> uh He's He's not there. He dropped off. >> Okay. So, let's go back to the general fund. >> All right. Talk >> the Oh, he's there. >> Yeah. Having to drop off a green central
is terrible. Um but u yeah I mean a lot of the u changes that are coming for the airport are going to be you based on staffing. Um I sent you guys the uh the presentation. Um I've got it up if anybody wants to to
go over any of of that stuff. Um or if anybody needs to to hear about it for the first time, we can do that too. >> Let's hear about it for the first time. Even though [clears throat] I I looked at it but >> Okay, cool. What else? >> Um, so we've been um, you know, as as
Stephen said earlier, we've been taking some very measured approaches with the airport um, as far as, you know, keeping it competitive and keeping um, you know, keeping salaries in check, not getting too terribly
topheavy. Um, and you know, we're we're kind of at a point where we need to uh to deal with some compression. Um, along with revamping, you know, revamping our job descriptions in a couple of different places. Um, so we're we're
going to be making some or, you know, with your approval making some organizational changes. Um, and, you know, that will help with some of the compression. Um that'll help our leadership structure at the airport and just you know overall management of the
airport. Um let's see. Do you guys have the PowerPoint? I can't see if you have it up or not. >> Some of us we do not have your PowerPoint. I Oh, I do. I have it on my phone. >> Yeah. Everybody should have it.
>> If somebody wants to print it, I can send it to them and they can print it. I mean, every one of the council members and city manager and city clerk should all have it in their emails somewhere. >> We do. >> Um, >> continue.
>> Okay. Um, so on slide three of that, it kind of shows this year's org chart. Um, myself um you know, Audrey as our our project manager. Um, John is a maintenance superintendent. Um, we we have a kind of an a standin operation
supervisor right now, but we don't have anybody named in that position. Um, we've been training one of our team members to to kind of step into that role. Um, and he's done a pretty good job of that. So, we're uh, you know, we're planning on making it, you know,
making filling that spot this year. Um the big big organizational changes for us is I would like to um I would like to create a an assistant manager's position um out at the airport. Um so
Audrey would be filling that assistant manager's role. Um she's, you know, kind of already been filling that role. Um we would be changing the project manager to a project supervisor role. Um, and I've got a team member that's willing to take
on that. Um, we've got job descriptions already kind of updated and submitted to HR. Uh, the project supervisor will essentially work with the uh the land leases and the grants um and grant submitts. Um, we wanted to have a a
person that was a little bit more dedicated to grants because, you know, Stephen and I have been been talking about that and uh, grants and middles for the next couple of years will be um, something that we need to stay on top of. Um, we're not we're not going to be
able to, you know, let a month go by without submitting for um, any of our grants. So, um, yeah. Then we have Lucas moving in to do operations supervisor and then a couple of ops technicians and then I'm asking
for a part-time ops technician um which will be a a weekend role. So Lucas would be the the operation supervisor. um he would supervise a weekend team um you know primarily and you know that's that's kind of how we have it
broken down for our or um slide five would show um you know all of the pay increases >> before you go there >> um let's talk about your organizational chart so you you are creating a position
do you have to advertise for that position before you put somebody in Uh, not if it's an internal promotion. No, ma'am. >> Okay. >> But it's a new position. I mean, if it was a position already, I think you have to post that
>> post that position before you actually move somebody into it. >> Mhm. >> Just just check with HR prior to [laughter] >> We'll make it right. Yeah. >> Yeah. Just just check with HR to make sure since we're that we're good.
Okay. All right. Now, we're going to pay. >> You still there? >> Yes, ma'am. >> Okay, we [snorts] can we can continue. >> Okay. Um, so
are if I'm assuming that you guys are not looking at the slide, so I'll just read it all. >> We are. We are. We are. Oh, you are up on >> Oh, very good. Well, that makes my life a little bit easier on this side. Um, you can see everybody's current rate um
on on slide five. Um the then the columns right next to it would be the increase and then proposed rate. Um yeah, and then and then rate of change right next to it. Um so I'll give you guys a second to look over that. Um, and then at the U
[snorts] at the bottom you'll see um you'll see the cost differential. Um, so this was this was my HD math. Um, you know, it it may not be as exact as some of Steven's math. Um, but it, you
know, it gives us a pretty good number to work with. Um, so that's where we're at with that. Are there any questions thus far? >> I guess it would be good for you guys to understand why I need another
part-timer. Um, so >> is that a new position that you're talking about part- timerr? >> Yes, ma'am. >> Okay. >> Yeah. So, we we're going to need a new OBSC for the weekend. U Dawson is presently on a weekend. he would shift to more of a weekday role in a project
supervisor role. Um, and over the past um over the past four to five years, our fuel sales have increased 140%. Um, [snorts] so our headcount really hasn't increased
all that much. Uh, so we've we've been pretty measured and pretty, you know, steadily, you know, going about doing this the best way that we could without um, you know, without putting oursel in a bad position. But we're starting to
get to a point where we just need one person to give everybody a little bit more room to breathe um, to be able to to not have things fall through the cracks. So, let me ask this. Oh, never mind. I see you gave a raise. I was going to say we're starting the new position out at
more than your operating technician that's there, but I see we gave him a raise already. So, disregard. >> Yes, sir. And I mean, just to to be totally transparent with the with the council, my intention is to get my my baseline guys over the probably the course of the
next two to three years. Um I want I would like to get my lowest guy to $20 an hour. Um, so, you know, we're we're Stephen and I will continue to work very closely and, you know, still have very conservative fuel numbers um and make
sure we're not putting the airport in a bad place doing that, but that's my intention. >> How many out of all your employees, how many of them are going to you proposing for a raise? >> All of them. And their percentages started. See, we had this issue a couple
years ago >> where we were going to forego that. >> I know you say you're separate from the city, but when you go against what all the other departments are doing in the city, it causes issues and then it's
like our hands are forced to, >> right? And and I can understand the concern, which is why we're also revamping just about all of our job descriptions. Um because there's a lot of things from the you know the crew worker airport job description that we
originally came down with um you know and now it's an opt but it still doesn't capture everything that they're doing. Um so we're we're going to try to capture everything that they're doing to justify the the raises this year to include you know we don't have a facilities maintenance um or or
cleaning out the airport. My staff does all of our cleaning. Um, you know, everybody does a little bit of everything. You know, we we all mow, we all get on the tractor, we all get on the lawn mower. Um, so I mean, everybody out there is a jack of all trades. Um, everybody pumps gas. So, we're we're not
just a, you know, a single line item u crew member as it were. >> So, if we need Sorry. >> If we need to, you know, justify that with uh changing dog descriptions, that's that would be the the easy button.
So the gentleman that you pay to cut grass, cut the >> long runways, he still working with you. >> So he is he's he's more or less auxiliary. Um he only comes out if we really need the help. And this year
we've actually done a pretty good job of keeping it all in check. We hadn't had the tractor issues like we've had. Um you know, Michael, you can see one of the guys on there that I'm um you know, putting in. we've been kind of moving him towards a maintenance role. He's
[clears throat] actually got one of the tractors up and running and operational um and is is keeping it run very well. Um so we haven't had a single tractor issue this year when it came to uh you know to mowing season which you know allowed that allowed us to have two
tractors operating at one time. Um so we're we're doing a lot better as far as cutting the grass goes. Uh, so you could I mean we we could probably take some out of other contractual services, but I I don't know that we
need to per se. >> I'm This is Deborah. >> Sorry, this is Deborah. Um, >> I'm here to say that it just looks to me like you've changed people's job titles to get them a raise. No, I mean we're
>> and pretty much >> they are members of this employee base. They are also covered by the union just like all the rest of them. And if we start one without concluding all we're going to be in trouble
and just changing a job title to me doesn't do it. And that's that's kind of the way I feel about it at the moment anyway because you've done everybody. I mean, if there were some that were were getting promoted for a special
reason, that's one thing. Uh >> well, they they everybody just kind of looks real fishy. >> I mean, not not everybody's being promoted. So, you know, I've got as it is.
>> Um, you know, I've Audrey is is going to be stepping into this number two role. She's kind of been playing it, but not not really. Um, you know, and I'm being pulled into more of a a regional role, like I'm at this conference this year for the first time in, you know, seven or eight years, however long I've been
at the airport. Um, then I'm, you know, being pulled into more of the strategic planning and takes me away from the operations. So, I need a an assistant manager, which means, you know, I'm going to need more leadership positions and more positions to to do these other
things. Um, you know, I I understand your concern. Uh, but it's not we're not just creating positions to get people raises. We're creating, you know, we're creating these things. We're moving these things around because these are these are the pieces that we need in the
right place to play the game properly. Um, and [snorts] you know, I I can wholly understand the concern. Uh, you know, we're we didn't we didn't play the certificate game like everybody else
did. Um, you know, we we've been doing it the right way, as it were. And, you know, I'm trying to trying to fight compression in a way that makes sense. >> I can tell you that some of your people were on that list and did get that hour that dollar an hour raise.
what dollar an hour raise. >> But that's neither here nor there. >> So let's kind of just stay with this court. So, so me personally, I'm I would be okay once you clarify that position
when you with Miss Audrey giving her a raise because she is stepping into a managerial position and the other person who stepped into a supervisory position. If they're stepping into supervisory a different position than where they were,
then I could see giving a raise. Maybe not just because of the position, but you have a couple people on here who are in the same position and [clears throat] if we're not giving everybody a raise, then
they don't get a raise. Shouldn't get a raise either because they're because they're they're still in their same position. They didn't increase in position. And I think I only see two of those people that are on here. But your supervisor changed,
your um project supervisor changed, and your assistant manager changed. Well, is it will change? And was there another one? Did I miss somebody? And yeah, the main those are the those
are the big title changes um and and responsibility changes this year. Um yeah, outside of that, everybody's just picking up a little bit little bit more work here and there, but um >> it's called collab. >> If that's the way that the golfer wants to go, then I I guess that's what we'll
do. >> I mean, we're sitting here looking right across from me with BJ Bishop and she's not getting a raise and she deserves one because she's running an animal shelter,
>> you know. So we don't want to say you may [clears throat] you may get raped because everybody may but >> speak to it. >> Yeah. Can I add just add one thing real quick? I would say that, you know, any of the staffing levels that you're
looking at that if any of those have changed moneywise from what they were 6 months ago or whatever or the last of that, you have [clears throat] to be very careful we don't end up in the same situation we were before when we ended
up having to pay that 0.5% if y'all recall. >> Right. That's what I was saying. If it's if if if they're in the same position, absolutely. But if they are there's a promoted position, then they're entitled
to that just because of the position. >> So if there's a >> Does that make sense? >> Yes, ma'am. >> But I'm saying if there is a promoted >> Well, no, not for title. I mean, I mean, it's it's a job title. If that's what he has listed within his organization, then you have to pay them accordingly. That's
what we always talk about, right? Paying people accordingly. Those titles aren't there now. I think they >> It's only one that's not right. >> That's the assistant, >> but I think the other titles are new. >> No, because one of the project manager was Audrey and now Audrey is going to be
the assistant manager if >> there is no assistant manager position. >> Correct. >> Right. That's the one we said that he has to apply for. Well, do whatever. Talk to um HR. I mean, he he made it make sense. If
he's he he's being pulled to do other things, then he needs an assistant. We need to allow him to have an assistant, and we need to pay that assistant accordingly. Miss Meredith, >> am I wrong? >> No, I I would agree with what you just
said actually. um and and having been at the airport recently um and and there's a lot of movement to create some real economic opportunities at the airport and they are going to involve I think a lot more uh strategic planning and
meetings on Benton's behalf. Um, and so I I do agree that I think exactly what you said, darkness, that that if that position is needed in order to free up to go out and seek out and promote and organize and manage [clears throat] economic development opportunities at
the airport, there does need to be somebody there who's actually managing the airport. Um, and that's I'm very comfortable with the decision to have an assistant, >> but to keep it from looking like what Miss Deborah is saying, that's why I'm saying if we're making a new position,
it needs to be advertised, >> right? People who are maybe qualified to >> Well, I'm just I'm just saying I'm I'm just speaking >> in that event, we need to >> Yeah. Make sure it's advertised and not
that we we have the correct appearance and of things going correctly. >> Mr. >> Mr. Bvard, did you have something else to say? >> Oh, he said you did. Just checking. Well, other than just reiterate again
what I said is the the staffing plan that we had two months ago, three months ago, six months ago, if it has changed at all from tonight, that when we approve this budget coming in, I don't want to set oursel up to be in another
position where I have to come back and deal with the union again because some people have been giving higher raises because we know how that works. They're going to figure out what the highest rate was and now we're going to end up have to give everybody uh that favor. >> I just want to just remind everybody how
that kind of works, >> right? Well, we don't necessarily have to approve it tonight, but we do have it on our radar and we can talk with HR the um our council and make sure that we don't fall
in that same place. But I'm under the impression that, you know, if we approve it, as long as it's a different position, if somebody is in not the same one, >> then why would they not get
>> Can I can I add to that just for >> Yes. Yes. >> U so the the positions that we're talking about with raises are going to be exempt positions as well. So, u if if the council chooses not to do the raises
for u for my non-exempt team members um or if you come back and do a uh you know come back to do whatever you want to do u the three that we're talking about with the assistant manager project supervisor and op supervisor those are all exempt positions they're non-union
eligible positions for thought >> so their exempt position does that mean it's salary position [clears throat] but it's not a salary position can it position and not be salary. >> Yeah, they're they're they're salary so non-exempt non-un non-un
they're exempt. So if so if it's if they are I'm sorry >> if [clears throat] they are salary then why do we have >> rates >> cuz there don't >> huh
>> yeah that's how Steven's done it in the past >> I'm just asking just clarify me >> no no it's just a way of making everybody on the same page if you show if I have some of them showing their salary and showing how rates we can
compare them as easily. >> Okay. >> Everybody's now rates even though the salary people are divided by 2080. >> Okay. >> Easier to compare. >> Is there anywhere in here to to like signify that there's salary
>> salary or hourly? >> Salary. >> I I know I said it wrong. Okay. um I don't >> is there a way for >> I'm sorry Benton >> I don't know that there is in this particular slide but I know it would be
in their job descriptions. >> Okay. >> Right. >> Okay. Gotcha. Any other conversations? So So how we want to move forward with this? bring it back to the next meeting.
>> But do you want to ask? >> In my opinion, we need to wait and see if we're going to have raises for everybody else and then see what that amounts to and how much off this is because that's where we're going to get in trouble if we raise it more than the
other people are getting. >> Are you are you talking about the regular people or you talking about the the management position? >> They're all the same. We give a 3% not the same. >> They're not they're not the same. >> It it is the way we've done it before.
>> Not >> except for the um charter people. Everybody got it. >> No, I I appreciate that. But I I think that I mean my understanding of Benton's presentation is is that yes, there were some people on the list who were just getting raises, but there were also some
positions that were created that he was trying to move to cover what is now being required at the airport, which is above and beyond what it has been over the years. And so those being the three exempt positions, a separate category
from just the overall raises. And I think >> certainly with the assistant >> airport manager position and the project supervised because when you look at the math and the numbers on the grants and the projects out there, you know, they do need that position. And certainly
inside city hall, we have reorganized positions before and created new positions and renamed positions inside city hall and utility department and everything else. And so those three I'm comfort the rest the other part absolutely I'm in agreement. We do not want to create any conflict, but if they
need to reorganize so that all of the duties are covered and people are paid appropriately for covering those duties with those exempt conditions, I'm personally in favor of that. >> If that's what he's doing, I would rather do that before we actually get to
the budget into the new budget year. Um so that it doesn't appear that that's why he's doing it. >> But then he would have to have the money for the the new positions and you can't do that until the new budget year. >> Well, I'm looking at the staffing plan we have in our book. There's one
supervisor here. We have two supervisors and an assistant manager. >> So, it's it's a big deal. Um, and I agree with what Meredith is saying. I don't disagree with what you said, but I still think if he's it doesn't need to
appear as if it's been done so they get a raise, then nobody else may not get one. >> Um I think if it needs to be done, it needs to make it we I mean we can make it happen before the budget that just in years past we've we've kind of done this restructuring for the airport at budget
time. So I mean we can make it happen before that if that's what you want. The only problem is you don't have are you going to well if if you restructure before the budget are you
going to leave their pays the same >> how's that going to work >> you can't you won't be able to >> but the airport's got plenty of money they could take care of it >> right but it wasn't in the original budget. So if it wasn't in the budget
initially, then >> can you amend the budget? You would have to amend the budget in order for him to do that. Correct. >> Right. >> So let's again not not to about the decision itself, but in terms of the financial, keep in mind that you're
really talking about maybe two months of of this there. It's just not going to be material enough to affect your 2026 numbers. not going to require the budget amendments. >> Okay. >> It's it's it's at the council's will. Again, >> that's what I'm asking about the budget.
Okay. >> And I would make those managerial supervisory changes now in this year's budget and then let the others wait and see what we do. >> But it still has
>> all the other employees. >> Yes. Approved by >> it. It would. So, I guess have that ready for the next meeting on Tuesday. Get it to Latricia by Tuesday. Tomorrow.
>> I'm just trying to help. [laughter] I'm sorry. >> He probably won't be back. >> Oh, you won't be back. >> I mean, the job descriptions are already done. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Yeah, final run. They're already they've already been submitted to
Latricia and Terry and charge, but we just got to finalize and get a resolution. >> He'll do that for him. >> Mr. Bard will take care of that for you, sir. So, it'll be on the next um agenda and we'll go from there. We'll talk
about it at next budget meeting. Is that cool? I mean, are you okay with that? >> Yeah, absolutely. >> All right. Everybody's okay with that? So it doesn't necessarily need to be done in a budget meeting if he's going to do it before budget takes place,
>> but it has to be on the budget anyway. >> Well, the actual changes to the job description and the creation of supervisory positions, in my opinion, should come back before the council at a regular meeting. >> Yeah. Right. On Tuesday budget,
>> right? Right. On Tuesday. Yes, ma'am. And then when we have our next budget meeting, that those line items will be on the budget. >> Go ahead and change. Okay. Well, that's what I'm saying. Mhm. >> Okay. >> Cool. >> You're absolutely correct. >> Gotcha. All right. Just clarifying.
>> All right. Anything else, Mr. [cough] Migle? Mr. >> Um, just to to finish out the um, you know, the presentation, I guess. >> Yes, sir. >> The way the way that we plan to make up for some of this is we have a a rate and fee schedule increase that's coming in. It should be on the next council
meeting. Um, and we are planning on going up 5 cent in jet. on jet fuel sales and 5 cent a gallon on a gas sales. Um looking at some crude numbers for um you
know the the average of the past uh I'll call the past you know fouryear trend excluding excluding last year that 5% increase on both of those should net us about $22,000. Um, so that that should make up for the differential as well as we should have
about three new land leases coming within the next three or four months >> to the tune of about $18,000. >> Okay. >> Anything else? I'll leave fuel prices up to you. >> Whatever you say.
>> I mean that that's still we're still very competitive. We're we're probably the lowest around. Everybody in the past year has gone up gone up crazy with fuel prices and I mean we're you know we're kind of staying around
our same um same cost per gallon from our supplier. So we do we do a cost plus um and you know we just we raise our cost plus a little bit. We're still the lowest ground by a pretty long shot. >> Okay.
Awesome. So, when we So, I see that you have a 3% in here. We're going to remove that until we make final decisions as well. >> Absolutely. >> Okay. All right. Anybody else? Anyone else have anything to say? Thoughts,
comments? >> All right. Thank you, sir. Appreciate you being here. >> Thank you guys. >> Have a good night. Have a great week. >> Well, yeah. I'll be headed up tomorrow.
>> Oh, okay. It's only one day. Gotcha. >> All right. >> All right. So, we're good. All right. So, we go to the CRA. presentation. >> Did you say nobody's home? All right.
Did you change anything in this? Anybody? Anybody have any comments? Any thoughts? >> Uh, this went through Laura. She Okay. >> And um she requested that the I did it properly up here.
>> She did request that the AP person [clears throat] uh specialist go down to 5%. 10. I just got to update the note on here. Um and that is really it. Um I got subsequent request from Nicole
for version two. go down a little bit. She says that the block 12 parking lot, the 250 that I have budgeted for next year is not needed and I can move I can consolidate that into the capital outlay
um CRA projects line above it. Uh they did increase the facade rent amount um to 50k for the year. So that was something they did do uh otherwise it's it's a
pretty um base type of budget just keeping in mind with the CRA any there is really not a concept of cash reserves they're supposed to spend everything they have now they don't because they just don't get to it but every year I
budget the full amount of what they have to be used in that next year and it'll keep doing that until the CRA sunsets When is there sunset? >> That's been >> 20 years or something. >> Well,
>> if it doesn't change. >> Yeah. >> What's the tax incremental revenue? What is that? >> Is that what we're paying? >> That's the tip money. >> Yeah. We have to pay our portion of it and the county pays their portion. >> Okay.
>> The increase is the increase. >> Yeah. And >> that number will actually go up because it is a function of our military. >> So we have it right right now. It's based on 6.75. It'll go up, you know, based on the 7.25
depending on ultimately. >> Okay. >> Any discussion further discussion on? >> All right. Utility fund. All right. Page 46. 4647.
>> You have nothing. You good? >> Nice cheese. >> Yes, ma'am. All good. >> Oh, good. Okay. Miss D, you have anything for the utility fund? >> Uh, if you don't, I'll be sure. [snorts] I'm
in utility fund [clears throat] electric services page 52 where it says professional services. It went from 10,000 to 40,000. A 300% increase. I'm just wondering what that might be
>> because the tree trimming was separate. >> Something that grabbed me there. I don't quite know. I mean, it looks like you spent 58,000. >> Yeah, I have to go back and check and [clears throat] see what >> I don't know what that is. >> That's um >> could be the poll
for some professional services. I'll take a note on >> or it could be engineering. >> I bet it's engineering. >> They don't do a ton of engineering in the electric side. >> But we have put up some new lines and a
couple different areas. >> I mean like and the squirt truck is in the capital outlay, but there's no money there because we're because it's capital, right? even though it was in the year before. So, we
>> Well, the >> It says we spin it, but I don't know that we did. >> It's It's projected to be spent in 2026. >> Okay. >> They They're actually expecting to deliver it in September. >> Oh, really? >> So, do we have that money?
>> Well, we do, but again, it's something we want to finance. So, the company that is actually sold us or selling this to us has a financing program. They've sent me that information. >> Terrific. >> I've included it as well on the the main loan one. I just want to do a comparison
to see what's better, >> which way [laughter] it'll be financed. >> All right. And of course, I'm looking at that transfer to general fund amount. It is the same as you, like you said, it's the same as last year, which is not too bad.
>> And the same with the transfer of the gas services, which is on page 55. If you look, >> I'll say the same amount. >> 48 is only one point. >> We talked about this briefly with Terry and I.
I just wanted to point out that um water and sewer is is doing better in terms of profitability. >> Not great, but better. Gas >> is the really the the area that we've
got to really take a strong look at and see. I mean, again, keeping in mind the transfer hurts. Uh, but even without the transfer, you would be losing about 300 and, you know, roughly $30,000. Everything else on there is profitable.
You know, your um admin department is is is where I'm showing syncing funds. So, that's that's fine. And customer care does not have customer service does not have revenue. But >> gas is the area that has to be concerned
right because it has not made the level of improvement that you know we hope for you with rate increases. There's one more rate increase coming for it. I just I just wanted to bring that up that you know as we're looking to find areas of
where we need to improve. I mean, if you were to get the gas back to level just even that's about 500,000 added to your utility fun just breaking that you know >> what are you looking at on page 48 very
>> 48 the very last row where that's basically shows you >> yeah it's a cycle of how each service is doing >> and so electric is making about 1.7 million you know You know, even you solid making little
pennies here, but um gas is is projected to budgeted to to about 500,000 next year. >> I have a question. >> Yes. Um I have a question. Why we have overtime and customer service and billing of $1,500?
Just curious why we would accumulate overtime and billing. page 47 because of seven chaos. >> So that was due to uh needing to get caught up for Steven for um of all the
budget people weren't turning in their credit card receipts on time and if they don't turn it in she can't enter it. So there's a lot of overtime that goes into that and a lot of overtime for for Kelly that is required to get it all caught up.
Okay. So that's something we could crack the whip on and get I know it's me or dropping the bucket. >> Yeah. Drop in the bucket. >> Really? It's still a lot of money. >> A lot of money. Yeah. Can I ask about page 56
>> 56 >> 56 I am too I have circles >> um generators I think this was probably when they were talking about buying brand new generators and using them for the lift stations. I
think it was when we had generators that were purchased for that for that purpose, >> not to resell them. So you talking about the $10,000?
>> Yes, sir. >> Do you all know? >> So for the generators, that would be to get all of them out to the lift stations and getting all the lift stations hooked up for emergency purposes. >> But that's not to purchase new ones.
>> That's to use. >> No, sir. just installing. We We have the generators already at the sewer plant. >> Okay. Cuz I saw where generators like [clears throat] spots. So just asking. >> Yes, sir. >> But generators were in the budget for
last year and we're going to put the same amount in for this year. >> So did you move them move some during this fiscal year as well >> to hook up? >> No, ma'am. >> So >> go ahead.
that was in the process of talking about getting them all hooked up for emergency. >> But we already spent this, right? >> Oh, >> it was budgeted. >> Okay. And but we only spent696. >> So you think we're going to use the
whole 10,000 to move and >> Okay. And there's um on page 57 um operating expenses towards bottom there's generators again for 5,000. [clears throat]
>> It'll be the same as well as the >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Cuz one is collection stations >> and they did lower that one from 10 to 5. Yes. >> Um can you also just explain to me uh
just staying on this page although it it kind of travels from page to page uh but [clears throat] the utilities the line items in operating expenses for sewer collection and sewer treatment. You know a really significant increase in utility
cost um both actual and then budgeted for next year. And I was double in the sewer treatment. So I was curious is that are we actually using more electricity? I mean I know our electrical rates have gone up but they certainly haven't gone up 106%.
>> Yeah. So that is the city billing the city. >> Yeah. >> So and it has I expect those those are accounts I I I guess I'll I can give those accounts over to the team and ask them to do a little bit of a deeper dive. >> I just would be curious to know why we have such an increase in utility costs.
>> Yeah. It's more than doubling >> throughout the whole budget. throughout the whole budget. Yeah, it's it's and it it doesn't seem to match what our actual >> the actual utility rate that we're paying. That makes sense. This does not
match that. Like it's it's not rising at the same rate. >> Right. Right. That's the CPR that we put in once. >> Yeah. >> Oh, Jonathan. Yes. connect the engine. >> So everything that was just stated is actual fact. But with acry we had to put
a new meter in that was that was broken. Uh by broke it means it runs slow. So when we put the new meter in it actually did triple. But that's just one lift station out of all of them. So once one lift station absolutely went up the rest of it. I don't know how to answer the question. >> Is there a way to audit that so that we
have a a good understanding of where these rates are coming from or not rates but where these >> Yes ma'am. How how that >> I won't even ask what kind of meter they got. [laughter]
>> So the only way I know what how >> that would be a good thing to check. >> Yes, ma'am. So what I would say is go back get with Megan. I will get with Megan. Nate will get with Megan. We'll go back through the bills and analyze it that way. The only way I know how to do it is go back and look at the old rate versus the new rate versus the increased
rate of next year that's coming and we'll figure something out. [clears throat] the rates don't fluctuate from us to the customers. It's one and done. Like I can't I can't do that. Um we can and usually when I get a high read, even if
it is on a city meter, I send the guys out to recheck it. >> So I mean we're absolutely we can all dive into it a little further, but thus far everything that has came up has been factual. So then I guess that then my question is
let's just say the sewer treatment plant, you know, we we had budgeted $75,000 for this year. We're already at $153,000 projected for this year. That's more than more than doubles. So why suddenly
are we having our utilities at the sewer treatment plant cost twice as much as they did the year? [clears throat] I mean, because look at the actual for year before was $100,000. So it's, you know, it just I don't understand why it's costing that much.
>> Yeah. Jump from 103 to 155 or 153. >> So we produce every month a a a one page sheet that shows every city account and the amount that's been built. So we can pull the poll. I've got one file that
has like 24 months worth of city bills. So I can get that over to the team and they can maybe take a look and see. I want to know if there's been any new accounts added. I know we've had a couple new accounts. I don't know if it's sewer or if it's some other places. I mean, >> even the police Sorry, I interrupted.
Oh, they're all that way. The police department had like a 97% increase, which I was actually going to ask you about, >> but um yeah, so I would just be curious why we have 90 97% increase, 106% increase.
So we can we can come back next meeting with a with a deep dive and try to figure something honest answer for you. >> Cool. Thank you. >> No one else. >> We're good. Can you tell me that portion? I keep moving. Keep moving.
>> I'm done. >> You done with everything? We've done fiber. >> So, let's go back to the front. >> That's just the breakouts that for those particular departments. >> They're really in the other part. That's just the easy place to see them.
>> I just have one question on the police department. Oh, maybe they can answer this. We have a utilities like Miss Bar said. And then when we [snorts] go to dispatch, we have no utility charge.
And then we go to animal control, which we're all in the same building. We have another utilities charge. Maybe they split them all between the three of you. >> No, it's it used to be when animal was not under police. So, they would get a
percentage of the the total. >> Oh, it could save some money there. >> Well, it's just a percentage. So, it was like a 752575. >> You got $2,000 there. >> So, I think we can take a look at the allocations together. But that's all it
was was. >> All right. Where we at? I guess [cough and clears throat] >> go back to page. >> Can we go to city council? >> Thank you.
>> I want to know what all this $25,000 worth of insurance is on on the city council page. >> Yeah, we don't get any insurance >> and there shouldn't be anybody allocated. >> Not help. This is the General liability
public officers. >> Okay. So, DNA >> director of officers liability. >> Yep. >> Can you maybe put that there just for our reference to remember that >> it cost that much? >> Wow.
>> Well, I I've got you can see there I've got 50% increase in there just in case. I I don't think I'll use all >> the utilities. >> Yeah, the utilities. Yeah, we don't really use
>> lights and city manilities. That's >> we're using yours. [laughter] So the election fees went down. >> It's not there at all. That's what he's saying. >> The election fees. >> Oh, election fees. Sorry.
>> Probably because we didn't have to have it. >> Yeah. You haven't used them in like three years. >> Okay. >> We went in with the general. >> He's trying to get us all the raised money he can get. >> There's going to be an election. That's
a question. >> Yes. >> Okay. [snorts] Um, [clears throat] no fun here. But, um, on the training and seminars, I mean, I do think we've done pretty well everywhere else in the city council budget, but um, I just think that possibly we should consider
maybe not this year, but definitely next year that we send representatives to some of these conferences and not multiple council members in an effort to be responsible about that. as well. And trust me, like going to Florida League
of Cities legislative session was incredibly educational. I do think there's some where, you know, because there um each of us is in a different legislative uh session. There's some that that might not make sense, but there are some where
if we needed to cut back, I'm not sure that all of us would need to go. And I'm saying this tonight while Patricia isn't here to throw erasers at me. But um she does love us to >> right. She loves us to be out there. But I just think if we're asking all the
other departments to cut where they can that that's possibly a place that we could look at and I'm not saying in this fiscal year um but next year because it doesn't look like we've had any increase there but um just food for >> not to mention not a lot of not
everybody goes. It's only really been about three people at the most >> that goes to conferences >> and it yeah like coming up we have more people who are going and our new council member is interested which she should be going so that she can learn the roads and you
know how things go as well. Um but I think this is really low considering what it could be if everybody went like we did at one point but that kind of slacked off a lot. I mean, between that and travel and pium, it's $25,000 a
year. >> We don't even pay our our sales per DM like we should. >> So, we only >> That's a savings there. We used >> That's probably mile.
>> I think that goes in. We use $12,893 in travel for DM. That's the mileage. Um the 97 Yeah. Yeah. the 975 I think is for I would assume for feeds or whatever. Anyway, I just I think we should we should make sure we're not
scared of the scalpel either. >> I do want to make one point on that line seminars. I believe that's one of the places that we have some un posted credit cards. Um I think that you know so I think we're probably going to be
closer to the 10,000 by year >> endow. I know they're working on it really hard and trying to get caught up with all the receipts and stuff. That's that's the one reason why it was very important for us to push that because financials are
not going to be accurate. >> Yes. So anyway, so I I just think that your your projected is probably going to be closer to the 10,000 for that >> May and June still need to be posted. because she's not getting the credit
card uh >> information in a timely manner. So, >> I don't know that we run a whole lot of places in May and >> I don't know how much that was. >> You go anywhere. >> I I didn't go anywhere in May or two. >> Those are the two months >> that wasn't paid by the Florida League.
I do go places where the league pays everything for me. >> I don't I mean, they pay for my hotel, they pay for my food, they pay for my mileage because I'm on one of their boards. So people may see it going but they pay for it. >> So
wow. Okay. Anything else for the council section? So what do we decide to do? Nothing. >> We're not doing anything right now. >> Okay. Anybody else?
>> All right. City manager. Sir, >> you you done with everything that you were going to say? >> Yeah. I'm sorry. Yes, ma'am. I'm I'm done for now. >> Okay. >> Let the numbers get back on to us. >> Numbers are pretty much the same, too.
The ones he could control. >> Oh, you talking about the city managers? >> Yeah. >> Oh, you know, you can cut all the travel out that >> he's not going anywhere. Somebody might want to go next year. >> I don't think the new city manager is going to like that much. would not. >> Yeah,
>> he she would not. >> So, >> but it's the same as it was last time, so I'm good with it. >> No, I thought you meant we done for tonight. I was like, yeah. >> No, no. Yeah, we we're almost done.
>> All right. Legal services. So, our Oh, so Miss Latricia is not here. We're going to bypass her unless you want to talk about something. >> I'm good with hers, too. >> Okay. Anybody else want to talk about anything? >> I'm afraid of her. So, [laughter]
>> well, she's not here, so whatever you want to say, say it. And the legal services probably has a CPI. Is it in there? >> Um, I increased it. I didn't increase it based off the CPI. >> I mean, I don't know how much percentage that goes up every year, but it does.
And it's usually after the budget they come around. >> Yeah. of it. >> If you want, I can ask. >> If I ask, they're going to give it to you. >> They are. >> I I see that you cut all of her professional services. >> Who's the electrician?
>> City clerk. >> Oh, yeah. >> I don't know what kind of professional services she had. >> I don't Oh, because I'm You know what? You don't have the note. Um, actually she was having some of the city hall cleaning there >> because I have a note in the side as to
why I did that. So, going back to what we talked about before, um, it wasn't actually in 513, it was here. I don't know why it was here, but she had 10,000 and that's >> she gives it. >> Well, I think you're talking about that
was professional services for the previous cleaning crew. Yes. >> Yeah. So, >> and I knew she took care of that, >> right? >> All right. I think >> administration think we made it.
>> Um, only thing that I It says debt service repayment [clears throat] to utility fund. Um the I forget how many um years ago this is. Maybe two or two vehicles ago.
Fire department um purchased a $400,000 plus truck got half of that with the grant and the other half the utility fund loan them. So very slowly the the you know
we uh gave it back. And then the other piece, it also covers a little bit of the city hall loan. >> Yeah. >> I saw that listed separately somewhere. I remember where. >> All right. So now
I I have a big question. Do we want to put a race in here and ask Stephen to put it in here just so we can what it looked like when he brings it back to us. >> No, >> for the employees.
>> No, I mean, I'm talking about the 2% which would be in part of that money that we talked about earlier. I say no until we figure out what our >> but you're asking but I'm I'm trying to give
my explanation as to why but I don't have to. I believe in it though. >> Well, you just shut you down, girl. >> I was just going to go on into it. >> All right. Go ahead. No, too late. >> Go ahead. >> Go ahead. I would like to see it. I would like to
say I would like to see what our budget looks like before we start wanting to see it. [clears throat] If we put it in there, we'll know how much we have to cut to make it work >> even more. >> Well, I know even more. But in there, we still won't know.
>> No, that was kind of like >> because that's a question. >> It's not going to be just their salaries. It's their retirement and their >> So, we really need to see what it would be. >> Good. How about 1.5%
>> just talking about with the airport? >> What happened >> with him giving the raises? >> We'll see if he would do it for them too. Those people that he did not give a raise to the people that were not the three he's moving to. >> Those three including himself would be
included in that see what it looked like to see and it I actually al also incentivized them to help us cut it so they could keep it. I mean, think about it because we don't know what it looks like and how much needs to be cut in order to
help them >> them accomplish that. >> You know, we that that shows what we have to do to make it come up to that 0. That's bottom line. >> Can you give us uh with and without? Yeah, that was hard.
>> Is it too much or with and without? >> Yeah, I can give you two versions if you want. >> Appreciate it. >> One can decide 2%. This is the final answer. [clears throat] >> Is it 2%? >> 2% is the $112,000. >> Okay. >> We with the increase of the Abor, we're
going to get 150 something,000. I said if we if we go to high if we go to high, but the 3% is 169,000. I don't want to go that high, >> but we might could manage the 2%. >> Can we go in the middle at 1.5?
>> I was saying three. >> 1.5 is in the middle. You know, I meant in the middle of that 2.5. >> In the middle of >> Well, I said two. You said three. >> Two. You said three. >> Oh, two. >> Okay. Two is the best we can. It's late.
>> Y'all all tired. Y'all need to just one one question, Stephen. So the new when you come back with a new budget rate, you come back with a new millage rate and and the higher assessment what we'll get. And so basically what we'll see is is that
7.25%. >> Right. >> Right. >> Yes. Both versions will have the 7.25% 7.25 ms. >> Yeah. One version will have a 2% increase. The other version will not. >> Okay.
>> And then I have the rest of the list that we've just put together. >> Awesome. >> To go through as well and try and integrate that. >> And then as we whittle away back at that 7.25, whether it stays there or not, >> right? >> You can give us a live update
>> of where our budget's at the time. >> Okay. >> That' be great. >> I think that's the only way we can accomplish it. And if not, they'll know we tried, >> right? We always >> Yeah, except me. I'm always trying to get >> So, can I play Devil's advocate?
>> Yes. Who's your advocate? >> This can say something. Just a second. >> Yes. Give me just a second. He has some. >> Go ahead. >> The fire department has some needs that they want and there's some other that we
have to purchase. So, we're going to push those things that we have to purchase back. And again, I I would like to see them get raises, but we're but I think we need to also purchase some stuff that we need. That's just me.
Sorry. >> Most of those things are on the capital plan and would need another funding source anyway that we knew they weren't going to be this budget. >> I would just like to have some money in the bank. Agreed.
>> Yes, sir. >> I just wanted to tell y'all this is one of the most stressfree budget meetings I've been to in probably 30 something years. >> Really? Oh, yeah. This is >> We actually didn't fight with each other or >> actually stayed the whole time. >> Y'all notice that? [laughter]
>> I'm pretty sure I went to sleep the last hour, but I've been here. Um, but no, in all honesty, it it was a uh um a a one of the best budget meetings I've been to in a long time. Everybody seemed to be very
cordial, very stress free and getting along and I think we all needed that. >> Yes. >> I think it's because y'all gave us a good budget to start with. >> Presentation. >> I mean, I'll Stephen the cost. I got some things I need to buy.
>> No. [laughter] And that's fine. We have another budget hearing meeting that we need to attend. So before we leave or a couple more Yeah. discuss any discussion from the council
>> at all about this budget. >> I would like to see if that everybody can already go ahead. I'd like to do raises. I'd like to get trucks, light, things.
So, >> everybody went off. >> Awesome. Thank you. Any participation? This is your first opportunity and y >> seeing none. All right, we'll move forward discussion with possible action. Millage rate by finance director Steve Bloom. I think they already covered
that, but if you want to Okay. Um and public participation again. Anyone out there? We have none. All right. Number eight, German. Can I get a motion? Okay. Simultaneous. We have a motion.
Can I get a second? Second. Second. All right. Motion second.