HomeMy WebLinkAboutFinal Budget Public Hearing Minutes 09-23-2010
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
ST. LUCIE COUNTY, FLORIDA
FINAL BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING
Date: September 23, 2010 Convened: 6:00 p.m.
Adjourned: 8:05 p.m.
Commissioners Present: Chairman, Charles Grande, Doug Coward, Chris Craft, Paula A. Lewis, Chris
Dzadovsky
Others Present: Faye Outlaw, County Administrator, Lee Ann Lowery, Asst. County Administrator, Dan
McIntyre, County Attorney, Marie Gouin,OMB Director Jennifer Hill, Budget Manager,Millie Delgado-
Feliciano, Deputy Clerk
I. INVOCATION
II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
III. PUBLIC HEARING ON THE FINAL BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2010-2011
THE PURPOSE OF THE PUBLIC HEARING IS TO ADOPT THE FINAL MILLAGE RATES AND A BUDGET
FOR FISCAL YEAR 2010-2011.
A. DISCUSSION AND READING OF THE ROLLED-BACK RATE. THE ROLLED-BACK RATE IS:
8.2620. THE PROPOSED AGGREGATE MILLAGE RATE IS 8.0853, WHICH IS 2.14% BELOW
THE ROLLED-BACK RATE. The Management and Budget Director advised the Board the rate
advertised was less than the roll back rate.
B. OVERVIEW – An overview of the budget was presented by the Management and Budget Director.
C. MILLAGES AND BUDGETS (NOTE: ONLY MILLAGES WILL BE READ INTO THE RECORD.
FUND BUDGETS ARE PROPOSED AS LISTED). The Management and Budget Director read
the millage rates.
FY 11 Millage FY 11
Fund Fund Name Rate Budget
001 General Fund
2.8707 157,802,117
101 Transportation Trust Fund
61,268,614
102 Unincorporated Services Fund (Community Development MSTU)
0.4380 5,548,740
102001 Drainage Maintenance MSTU (Stormwater Management MSTU)
0.4731 11,359,693
103 Law Enforcement MSTU
0.5103 3,096,667
104 Grants & Donations Fund
588,174
105 Library Special Grants Fund
129,881
107 Fine & Forfeiture Fund
3.9699 71,041,064
109 Drug Abuse Fund
51,164
111 River Park I Fund (SISD 1)
46,347
112 River Park II Fund (SISD 2)
9,046
113 Harmony Heights 3 Fund (SISD 3)
4,780
114 Harmony Heights 4 Fund (SISD 4)
9,194
115 Sheraton Plaza Fund (SISD 5)
11,151
116 Sunland Gardens Fund (SISD 6)
10,181
117 Sunrise Park Fund (SISD 7)
3,155
118 Paradise Park Fund (SISD 8)
15,111
119 Holiday Pines Fund (SISD 9)
15,002
120 The Grove Fund (SISD 10)
3,602
121 Blakely Subdivision Fund (SISD 11)
2,567
122 Indian River Estates Fund (SISD 12)
17,358
123 Queens Cove Lighting Dist#13 Fund (SISD 13)
6,770
126 Southern Oak Estates Lighting (SISD 126)
4,625
127 Pine Hollow Street Lighting MSTU
7,130
128 Kings Hwy Industrial Park Lighting
11,520
129 Parks MSTU Fund
0.2313 10,377,966
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130 SLC Public Transit MSTU
0.1269 12,188,270
136 Meadowood MSTU
28,697
138 Palm Lake Gardens MSTU Fund
5,269
139 Palm Grove Fund (SISD 16)
13,222
140 Airport Fund
10,121,724
140001 Port Fund
9,680,354
142 Port MSBU Development Fund
90,788
145 Mosquito Fund
0.2036 7,009,093
146 Mosquito State I Fund
37,000
150 Impact Fee Collections
359,996
160 Plan Maintenance RAD Fund
414,346
162 Tourism Dev-5th Cent
186,763
170 Court Facilities Fund
2,396,748
171 Court Facilities Fund-Court Costs
175,417
181 SLC Housing Finance Authority Fund
31,815
182 Environmental Land Acquisition Fund
78,227
183 Ct Administrator-19th Judicial Cir
2,880,640
184 Erosion Control Operating Fund (District E)
0.0925 10,496,563
185 Housing Assistance SHIP Program
565,721
187 Boating Improvement Projects
1,036,835
188 Bluefield Ranch Improvements
129,175
189 Hurricane Housing Recovery Plan
1,265,412
190 Sports Complex Fund
2,409,144
204 Communication System I&S Fund
413,973
210 Impact Fees I&S
427,560
215 Sales Tax Revenue Bonds I&S Fund
8,058,609
216 County Capital I&S
1,518,414
217 State Revenue Sharing Bonds I&S
1,163,508
218 Transportation I&S Fund
3,523,413
242 Port I&S Fund
0.0154 1,104,226
250 Capital Projects I&S
21,015,641
262 Tourism Dev 4th Cent I&S Fund
1,216,629
273 SHI Sp Assessment Rfd 1998 Bond
2,295,239
282 Environmental Land I&S Fund
0.0459 1,574,394
295 River Branch I&S Fund
60,598
296 No Lennard Rd 1
2,489,830
297 No Lennard Rd 2
430,068
298 No Lennard Rd 1
204,406
301 So. County Regional Stadium
13,655
310 Impact Fee Funds
12,135,108
315 County Building Fund
2,087,673
316 County Capital
19,231,204
317 County Capital-St Rev Share Bnd
4,334,588
318 County Capital - Transportation
18,344,710
330 Lakewood Park Fund
8,950
362 Sports Complex Improv Fund
959,212
370 MSBU Inhouse Financing Projects
739,446
382 Environmental Land Capital Fund
4,630,881
390 MSBU Capital
10,601,019
396 Lennard Road 1 - Roadway Capital
5,384,996
397 Lennard Road 2 - Water Capital
937,842
398 Lennard Road 3 - Sewer Capital
305,625
401 Sanitary Landfill Fund
27,470,715
418 Golf Course Fund
1,443,323
451 S. Hutchinson Utilities Fund
4,859,270
458 SH Util-Renewal & Replacement
390,541
471 No County Utility District-Operatin
6,395,839
478 No Cty Util Dist-Renewal & Replace
282,251
479 No Cty Util Dist-Capital Facilities
2,294,859
491 Building Code Fund
1,813,388
505 Insurance & Loss Fund
35,182,360
610 Tourist Development Trust Fund
646,691
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611 Tourist Development Trust-Adv Fund
418,926
620 Law Enforcement Trust Fund
428,909
625 Law Library
417,627
665 SLC Art in Public Places Trust Fund
481,083
666 SLC Economic Dev Trust Fund
108,150
669 Lake Drive MSBU
13,171
681 King Orange 2
11,009
682 Skylark 2
7,705
683 Revels Lane 1
13,424
685 Sunland Gardens MSBU
39,769
686 Greenacres MSBU
17,973
687 Indian River Estates MSBU
874,720
688 Briargate MSBU
8,269
689 Rouse Road MSBU
15,492
690 Treasure Cove/Ocean Harbor S MSBU
86,823
691 North A1A MSBU
6,767
694 Raintree Forest MSBU
8,127
Total Budget 591,991,436
Aggregate Millage Rate 8.0853
D. COMMENT ON ERRATA AND SUBSTANTIVE CHANGES.
The Management and Budget Director stated there have been changes to the Errata for 2010
2011.
The increase to the Errata would be $361,161.00 which would increase the budget to
$ 592,352,597 if approved.
Com. Grande addressed mis-information and stated they must choose a rate otherwise they will
not have a rate to place on the tax bill, there is no default.
Com. Craft stated he does not believe there was mis-information, he recalled staff indicating they
had to pass a millage rate. He requested staff preview a trim notice in order to inform the public
what is stipulated on the notice.
E. PUBLIC COMMENT.
Mr. Jonathan Ferguson, area resident, addressed the Board in favor of raising the millage. He
believes if they do not this will have a ripple effect in obtaining new taxes for necessary services.
He also stated he believes staff may have gone too far in the cuts. The reality is that expenses go
up and county expenses go up. He advised the Board he has a rental property and his taxes have
gone up $29.00. He believes this is immaterial because he is paying for services and he expects
the cost of services to increase. If they start to cut essential services which is what local
government is responsible for, the Board would be doing a disservice.
Mr. John Fitzpatrick, area resident, addressed the Board in opposition to the millage increase.
He stated he believed the insurance the Board is paying is too high. He believes they need to cut
the budget and get it under control before requesting a millage increase.
Ms. Michele Tautnik, area resident, addressed the Board regarding the transit system and asked
them to reconsider the significant cuts they are proposing. She addressed the disabled utilizing the
system.
Ms. Kathy Chang, area resident addressed the Board regarding the transit system and stated
without transit people who need to get to medical appointments and shopping would not have a
way to get to those areas and keep their appointments. She asked the Board to reconsider the
cuts to the transit system.
Ms. Sue Easton, area resident addressed the Board and advised them she utilizes the transit
system to get to work. She believes many people would be impacted if the cuts are passed and
asked for the Board’s consideration.
Unintelligible name- addressed the Board in opposition to the increase in the millage. He stated he
believed there was someone in our county with a salary over $300,000 specifically the School
Board. He believes salaries should be capped.
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Com. Craft stated they are not charged with the School District’s budget and believes they should
address his issue with them.
Com. Coward requested to clarify for the record where he previously had indicated the Transit
Managers salary was $132,000 and stated he was corrected his actual salary is $112,000. He still
believes this is too high.
Ms. Maureen Rosser, Dialysis Coordinator, addressed the Board and stated many patients take
the transit service for their treatment and for many it is a life and death situation. She asked the
Board to consider what would happen if the system was not readily available for these patients.
F. BOARD DISCUSSION OF THE MILLAGE RATES AND BUDGET.
Com. Dzadovsky stated he was ready to make motion on the Fine and Forfeiture and the General
Fund. He stated after hearing all the public input, receiving the information from the Property
Appraise, the recommendation from the Citizens Budget Committee, he moves to decrease the
millage rate from the advertised rate on the millage to .5853 for the General Fund/Fine and
Forfeiture Fund.
The Management and Budget Director indicated this would increase the General Fund by
.0111 and Fine and Forfeiture Fund by .5742 which equals to .5853. General Fund would be
2.7805 and 3.9699 for Fine and Forfeiture Fund.
Com. Craft seconded for discussion purposes and asked Com. Dzadovsky for his rationale in doing
this.
Com. Dzadovsky stated after reviewing many trim notices and he understands the need for
increase in the dollars to maintain the county as it is. He has concerns with service levels but he
knows there are variable to come forward hopefully to increase their revenue streams. He wished
to provide the Board with an option at a median stream in hopes they would agree. He believes
the values will incrementally come back.
Com. Craft stated the average rate of revenue growth in St. Lucie County is 4% and the largest
was around 20% in one year. If you take the average you do not even come close to closing the
gap. It would be $160,000 towards an $ 11million gap for 2012. He stated regardless of what they
adopt tonight, they would still need to do furloughs for the employees next year. He is concerned
with the services and the employees who carry out the services will be hurt which will in turn hurt
those residents.
Com. Dzadovsky addressed the Constitutional officers who are part of the picture and stated he
would not agree to cut any more from the BOCC Administration because there is nothing left. He
stated the residents should know that there may be an increase next year to take a larger bite from
the deficit and they should be prepared for that starting tonight.
Com. Grande addressed the aggregate for the MSTU and how it would affect them.
Com. Lewis stated she has a concern and while she agrees the general fund is what is needed to
shore up, they are not going to do it all in one year and if they wait until next year, they were told
valuations would be reduced another 5% next year meaning they would have to do a greater
increase next year. Roll back would bring in 11 million this year and if they wait until next year for
roll back it will bring in 3 million. Waiting until next year she believes is not a good move. She has
a real concern with regard with the Transit MSTU and she is assuming if they do adjust the MSTU
to the suggested level, they are looking a .09 less than what has been proposed in the trim notice.
She is not sure going from .67 to .58 is enough of a change to validate the move. She believes the
trim notices are our best bet.
Com. Dzadovsky stated they have a lot of work to do and stated they have 40 different meeting,
strategic planning, labor discussion and spoke with hundreds of individuals, his goal is to take the
increase and move forward and continue to do the work for the people of St. Lucie County. He
asked for the Board’s support.
Com. Craft stated last year Com. Dzadovsky recommended an increase in certain areas and they
were the general fund and mosquito control. At that time he did not have a good grasp on the
budget to support it. His wishes are today that he would have listened last year because he would
be in a better position today to support him. To wait to make the correction will be an increase
above roll back and he believes no one on the Board wishes that. They have the opportunity this
year to raise the millage due to the devaluation where 76% of the residents 78% residential, 60%
commercial and or industrial will see a reduction in taxes. Next year they will see an increase
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greater than roll back and the Board will still have to continue to work on the issues. He believes
they need to do what is right for the public and sometimes it is an unpopular decision.
He asked Com. Dzadovsky to reconsider his motion, he still believes the advertised rate is too low,
but cannot support what Com. Dzadovsky has proposed which is even lower.
Com. Grande stated he did not agree with the assumption that the values would continue to
decrease 2 or 3 years from now. The problem is mainly due to the values and he does not accept
the dire prediction that they will be in the same position 2 or 3 years from now and this is from what
he sees in the economic community. The leading indicator seems to say we have bottomed out
and are crawling back a little at a time. He is more confident of where they are going. He is not
sure this is the time to take money away from small business and losing more jobs.
Com. Craft stated we will be in dire change even if the factors do change. If we have years of
record values we will not close the gaps. They still have a long way to go. They have absorbed
the majority of the cuts in order to keep up with the judicial side. They are at a point where they
not only need to take care of the fine and forfeiture fund but also the general fund.
Com. Lewis stated we cannot have it both ways. We are not taking in with the increase what we
did last year. She does not know anyone in the county that is doing only the job they got hired to
do. They are doing 2 or 3 jobs from those who have left. They were told conservatively there
would be another 5% decrease next year. There is no way to say we are going down and then
expect to sky rocket.
G. MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION NO. 10-249 ADOPTING THE 2010-2011 FINAL
MILLAGE RATES
Com. Dzadovsky stated in reviewing the figures, we are at a 2001 level. He believes there are
variable and would like to move forward with this proposal which reduces the assigned millage rate
from the trim notice; it achieves revenue for the county and provides an opportunity to give us time
for residents to rebound. He encourages the residents that as the services go away; it will be up to
them to request an increase in the millage rate.
Com. Lewis stated she has heard from various people in support of the advertised millage rate.
The fact is the millage rate has remained stable even when the values increased. She stated she
does not believe $160,000 is enough to take all this grief for.
Com. Grande stated most of the Board receives copies of the e-mail and he has received most of
them indicating not to increase the millage rate. It is not 100% but he does not think its right that
most or half who have contacted the Board have asked for the increase.
Com. Lewis stated his was not what she was indicating.
Com. Dzadovsky stated he was encouraging his four colleagues to meet him at the compromise.
Com. Coward stated after so many meetings he did not wish to re-hash his position. He does
believe they need to provide an increase in the millage and he just disagrees in the amount. He is
not comfortable with the budget as it is and believes the proposal on the table is too high.
Com. Grande stated to him a compromise means they are looking at middle ground and what is
being proposed is not the middle area. He believes they need to look at the aggregate millage
rate before deciding on the millage.
Com. Craft stated he would support a compromise that is less than the advertise rate but not what
is being proposed. He would support a million within the general fund which would see a $400,000
reduction on the general fund millage side. The reason we are at the number below the roll back is
because Com. Dzadovsky, Com. Lewis and himself were at three different places. He supports $
1million within the general fund, and this would be an increase of .0693 within the general fund.
Com. Dzadovsky stated having heard from his other Board members and them not willing to meet
his compromise, he is willing to withdraw his motion and meet the other two Board members in
their recommendation at the current trim notice rate.
It was moved by Com. Dzadovsky, seconded by Com. Craft, to remove his first motion from the
table and move forward with the advertised rate, approving Resolution No. 10-49 as drafted, and;
upon roll call, the vote was as follows: Aye’s: Lewis, Craft, Dzadovsky (reluctantly); Nay’s:
Coward, Grande, motion carried by a vote of 3 to 2.
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H. MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION NO. 10-250 ADOPTING THE FY 2010-2011 FINAL
BUDGET, INCLUDING THE ERRATA AND SUBSTANTIVE CHANGES.
It was moved by Com. Lewis, seconded by Com. Dzadovsky, to adopt Resolution No. 10-250
adopting the FY 2010-2011 Final Budget including the Errata and Substantive Changes, and; upon
roll call, the vote was as follows: Aye’s: Craft, Lewis, Dzadovsky; Nay’s: Coward, Grande, motion
carried by a vote of 3 to 2.
Com. Grande questioned if the motion was on the aggregate.
The County Attorney stated the motion was on Resolution 10-249 which included all the millages
as drafted. The proposed millage as drafted and the aggregate was 8.853, lower than the roll
back rate by 2.14%
The Management and Budget Director stated the rate was 8.0853.
The County Administrator addressed the Board with regards to the budget and expressed her
gratitude for working with her and her staff in the process.
There being no further business to be brought before the Board, the meeting was adjourned.
___________________________
Chairman
____________________________
Clerk of the Circuit Court
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