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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBudget Minutes 07-08-2008BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ST. LUCIE COUNTY, FLORIDA BUDGET WORKSESSION Date: July 8, 2008 Convened: 1:30 p.m. Adjourned: 4:15 p.m. Commissioners Present: Chairman, Joseph Smith, Paula A. Lewis, Doug Coward, Chris Craft, Charles Grande Others Present: Doug Anderson, County Administrator, Faye Outlaw, Asst. County Administrator, Lee Ann Lowery, Asst. County Administrator, Marie Gouin, Management and Budget Director, Millie Delgado-Feliciano, Deputy Clerk The County Administrator made opening remarks and advised those present all outstanding issues will be presented for discussion on Thursday. Airport This budget reflects a 7.8% decrease. For the first time there will be no general fund subsidy for the airport. They now have money coming in to the Airport from the Golf Course. They will be presenting to the Budget Committee where they stand in the business plan. They have cut back in their operating budget, lost an office assistant and another staff member retired. The Port is looking to purchase property from the airport for the spoil site. Staff is working with the FDOT to be sure to get back the funds to clean up. The Golf Course payback will be $345,000 per year. They are making the Airport whole however at the same time they will not be making any money it will be going to off set the general fund contribution. It was the consensus of the Board to approve this budget. Public Works Administration This budget reflects a 21.4% decrease. The Assistant Director's position has been eliminated; there have been layoffs and retirements. They are down 15 positions excluding Code Enforcement which they have lost 7 positions for a total of 22 positions. The gas tax revenue is down; reduced impact fees are down also. Code Compliance This budget reflects a 2.5% decrease. There are 6 frozen positions, 2 voluntary layoffs and 2 retirements. There is also $50,000 in the budget for demolition of houses. Engineering This budget reflects a 4.4% decrease. They are down a total of 7 positions. Com. Coward stated he would like to have a consensus to have the sidewalk completed from Hurston to Angle on Avenue D. ~~ .~~ ~i The County Administrator stated there is presently an issue with the City of Ft. Pierce and he could not recall what it was, however he advised the Board he will look into it. He believes they can use the borrowed $1.1 million for the sidewalks. A project list was provided and these projects are carry over's some funded by grants and previously funded. 2009 Planned Construction Projects Road Widening/Sidewalks Midway Road Widening (25th St. to Turnpike) Walton Road Widening (Village Green to Lennard Road) Walton Road Improvement (US 1 to Village Green) Lennard Road MSBU (Silver Oak to Kitterman) Angle Road Sidewalk (Orange Avenue to 53`d St) Juanita Avenue Sidewalk (25`h St. to US 1) Stormwater Projects Paradise Park Stonmwater- Phase II Lakewood Park Phase 1 (Control Structures) White City Canal "D" Retrofits Erosion This budget reflects a 35.3% increase. There are projects carried forward until the funds are obtained for completion. These beach projects are considered maintenance projects and this is why they are included in the operations side. The Ft. Pierce Beach Project they are looking to nourish this beach in 2009 and they are pretty set and ready to go. They have the permits and 53% of this cost is non-federal, however they are waiting on an agreement and the cost sharing for the county would be down to 22-23%. They are trying to get a new 50 year project life. The present one expires in the year 2020. The South County Beach project, they will have some work to do next week. It is being funded out of a grant 100% however, some of the work for design and permitting he will defer till next year. There is $500,000 in the water energy bill which was provided due to the work of our Senators. They are investing less than 2% of the Erosion District budget for the artificial reef projects. Road and Bridge Drainage This budget reflects a 14.6 % decrease. The Transportation Trust Fund funding is down throughout the state. This department spends $211,000 in manpower since they contract the majority of the work. They have 13 frozen positions, 2 vacant, 7 early retirement and 2 voluntary layoffs. Road and Bridge Maintenance This budget reflects a 22% decrease. This department will be assuming the right of way mowing previously contracted out. They have the equipment in the budget. Com. Coward recommended asking the developments if they would be willing to take care of the right of way at the entrance to the development. 2 Road and Bridge Traffic This budget reflects a 16.7% decrease, also due to the decrease in Transportation Trust funding being decreased. They have $70,000 for temporary labor budgeted to assist in installing signs. Public Works Stormwater Management This budget reflects a 10.1 % decrease. Majority of the funds come from the Stormwater MSTU, they have some decrease in the revenues due to the property values dropping. They have reduced their Swale maintenance program. They will be able to do a limited amount of swale maintenance through contract due to the fact they have one full time employee remaining out of three. Public Works Capital Improvement Impact fee money will mostly go to Midway Road - $1.4 million. There is no new capital money in the budget only carry forwards. U.S. 1 to Village Green, they will need to come back to the Board for approval for this project. They will use road bond money. They cannot use impact fees for this project. It was the consensus of the Board to approve the Public Works departmental budgets. Administration/Research and Education Park Staff had budgeted $100,000 for a business plan (under operating expenses). This budget reflects a 42.9% decrease. There are two positions noted, one for an Executive Director and an Executive Assistant. Ms. Jane Bachelor expressed her concern with bringing the legal expenses down so much. She believes they will increase rather than decrease and informed the Board they will be bringing the business plan to the Board in August and hopefully they can start marketing and advertising. They hope to send someone to an important conference coming soon within the State if the funds are available. The County Administrator stated the two attorney's charges were too high. Com. Coward stated he felt this was too much money for attorneys doing part time work. They may have money not earmarked since they would not be filling the staff positions immediately to use for other areas in this project. Com. Craft stated he believed there were local qualified attorneys who could probably charge less. The County Administrator advised the Board they are presently revising the job description of the executive director and will be bringing it back to the Board for approval. At this time the Board requested a breakdown on hours spent on this project versus the Fees charged. Mosquito Control This budget reflects a 14% decrease. They anticipate getting the Indian River Lagoon Plate but they have not received that Grant as yet. • It was the consensus of the Board to approve this budget. PORT This budget reflects a combination operating capital budget. The general fund is decreasing $1,863,801 or a 50% decrease from the general fund. They have $6.5 million in grants the spoil site is $ 3.9 million, of this $1.5 million is to purchase Ridgehaven property from the airport. The local share is $1,563,690 leaving FSTED fund of $2,350,000. It is 75%FSTED, 25% local he has used a portion of this for the spoil site. They are working on three projects presently. Total operating capital budget is $9,351,436 of which operating is only $112,791.00. • It was the consensus of the Board to approve this budget. The meeting was adjourned. 4