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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBudget Workshop Minutes 07-23-2007BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ST. LUCIE COUNTY, FLORIDA BUDGET WORKSESSION Date: July 23, 2007 Convened: 9:00 a.m. Commissioners Present: Chairman, Chris Craft, Joseph Smith, Paula A. Lewis, Doug Coward, Charles Grande Others Present: Doug Anderson, County Administrator, Faye Outlaw, Asst. County Administrator, Marie Gouin, Management and Budget Director, Millie Delgado-Feliciano, Deputy Clerk The County Administrator commented on Allied Universal and stated they had suggested since they get an ad-valorem tax exception that we with hold payments from ad valorem tax exception in lieu of a bond. The County Administrator advised the Board they would be receiving $75,000 year for 20 years from the plant that is being constructed. There is money in the general fund for the Bluefield Ranch and the intent was to use it for Environmental Lands. They did a swap this morning of $125,000 from the general fund and using this money in lieu of it. Com. Coward stated he wanted to make sure the money was being used for Environmental restoration. At this point they have picked $427,315 for the general fund and $93,000 fine and forfeiture with a total amount picked up of $520,396.00. Outstanding Issues Geoplasma- Landfill Man hours spent on budget preparation Report on Hybrids Impact Fees settlement with PSL Look into chiller lines Conceptual drawings-green building Presentation on Artificial Reefs Update on Lakewood Park Drainage Prioritizing Sidewalks North Section of 25th St. median-redesigning, xeroscape & funding Find out if post office grant can be used for bits and pieces Heathcote -where in budget-make sure grant has been established- linear park project Look at Library Impact Fees- will they need to be lowered if we don't build new libraries Look at Library Impact Fees use for Books Plan for Windmill Point at Strategic Planning Session Card Games $ go toward Research & Education- work with City Ft. Pierce 1 Check with County Attorney about SOOK parks allocation for Boys and Girls Club Review Utility chargebacks Look at COBRA insurance for inmates Completed Items: Contingency information How much are we paying for rent for Clerk-Depot Drive - $38,400 Check with Parks on SOk used for UDT instead of Pepper Park- $ was not specified Compare our Golf Course to Martin County Golf Course- # of rounds- Fairwinds- 25-30% more rounds Maintain Library Hours and lift freeze for three part time positions Rollover amount for wiring projects $50,000 Possible Additional Funding Paradise Park Paving $300,000 did not allocate money to this Lakewood Park Pool -open year round $ 86,000 New Horizons $67,361 Board to Reconsider Media- Web Streaming $19,690 in budget right now Airport Land- look at alternatives (selling other land etc) $1,500,000 in budget Orange Avenue Post Office Museum- revisit Apri108 $500,000 Bookmobile whether to park it or not- consensus to park it June -Sept. Com. Coward requested getting a legal opinion if the $300,000 set aside for landscaping at the landfill if it can be used for other purposes. Heathcote - Com. Coward stated the linear park concept like the post office they would need to look at it further and see if it is realistic with the increasing cost. Supplies and shelving for Windmill point remains in the budget. Com. Smith recommended having line items for paving project in the future and creating a program so that they can go and access funds when needed, it's a long term idea. 2 COURT ADMINISTRATION There is $91,000 carry forward, and they have requested $211,000 of new funding they are requesting of which $175,000 is the construction of the Ft. Pierce courthouse wiring and the build out for St. Lucie West. Part of Court Administration moved to St. Lucie West. The balance are for the communication lines needed to be installed to make it secure. The Management and Budget Director stated there is $50,000 that can be added to the general fund. 211 HELP LINE This budget reflects a 9% decrease as recommended by staff. Staff recommended $15,925. The agency requested $17,3 54. Com. Craft recommended adding the $1,575 reduction back in. It was the consensus of the Board to fund this agency at $17,354. ARC of St. Lucie County This budget reflects a 9% decrease. The agency requested a $1600 increase. Staff is recommending $6,555 decrease from the current funding. The current funding level is $72,838 and they are requesting $74,438. The difference is $8,155 from what is being recommended and what they are requesting. It was the consensus of the Board to fund at the current level of $72,838 (putting back in the $6,555). Com. Smith advised the Board and the County Administrator he would like to make up the $ 1,600 difference from the money each Commissioner received for their personal allocation that was donated previously. COUNCIL ON AGING This agency requested a $1,566 increase. Staff recommended a 9% decrease or $14,566. Com. Coward recommended funding at last year's level of $195,976 and utilize money from the $50,000 funds found earlier in the meeting (court administration). The Board concurred. HEALTH DEPARTMENT This agency did not request an increase in their budget. Staff recommended a 9% decrease. Com. Coward stated he was comfortable with the budget before them now due to the increase in funding provided in the prior budget years. The Board members concurred. HEALTHY START This budget reflects no increase request. Staff is recommending a 9% decrease or $5,184.00. Com. Coward recommended funding at their current level. The Board concurred. Com. Coward pointed out they had provided the Health Department $320,000 more than they provided 5 years ago even with a 9% recommended reduction this year. NEW HORIZONS This agency had requested a 3% increase which has been withdrawn. They are asking to remain at the same funding level as this year. Staff recommended a 9% decrease or $67,361.00 less than this current year. The Chairman requested discussing this later in the day after all budgets have been reviewed. The Board concurred. SHARED SERVICES/EXECUTIVE ROUND TABLE This agency requested the same funding as last year of $48,000. Staff recommended a 9% decrease. It was the consensus of the Board to keep at the current funding level of $48,000. TC HOMELESS SERVICES COUNCIL This agency requested to remain at the current funding level of $25,000. Staff recommended decreasing the funding by 9%. It was the consensus of the Board to fund at its current level of $25,000. 4 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL There is a total allocation of $200,000. This budget has a challenge match of $100,000 by the County to provide $1.00 per $1.00 match by the private sector included in the allocation. The initial commitment is $100,000. The Board concurred. SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION This budget reflects a 6% increase mostly funded by grants and a $4,000,00 increase from last year's county budget. Com. Coward stated he was comfortable with the recommendation before the Board at this time. Staff recommended $66,470. The agency requested $66,910. It was the consensus of the Board to approve the requested amount of $66,910. UTILITIES This budget reflects a 36.7% increase mostly carried over from their capital, with a 6.7% increase in operating. It was the consensus of the Board to approve this budget. COUNTY EXTENSION This budget reflects a 12.8% decrease. It was the consensus of the Board to approve this budget. COUNTY ATTORNEY This budget reflects a 3.1 % decrease. He is not requesting an increase in staff. Acquisitions will also remain the same. Criminal Justice Division- Pre-trial services will require new positions. This is a division county staff has taken over. They are asking for an $11,000 increase for the Pre-Trial manager's position. If they were to increase the position by 5% it would be $49,000. They are recommending a salary of $57,193 due to the increase in workload and would be effective October 1St It was the consensus of the Board to approve this budget and request. 5 AFTERNOON SESSION/UNRESOLVED ISSUES The County Administrator advised the Board there are presently $535,950 unallocated funds remaining between Fine and Forfeiture and General Fund. Possible Additional Funding Paradise Park Paving Lakewood Park Pool-open year round New Horizons $ 300,000 86,000 67,361 Board to Reconsider (in budget) Media Web Streaming Airport Land( look at alternatives Orange Avenue Post Office Museum Bookmobile 19,690 1,500,000 (selling other land) 500,000 (revisit April `08') 8,000 Com. Coward recommended utilizing the $300,000 from the landfill off site. The County Attorney stated the landfill is an enterprise fund and if the operations of the landfill is causing an environmental impact, he believes this could justify the expenditure of the $300,000 for alternative measures, i.e. mitigation purposes for trees off site. Com. Craft stated his concern was as we move forward with the gasification, he wants to make sure the staff is comfortable that there are enough funds for what is needed before allocating any funds elsewhere. He would like the Director and the Asst. Director's input. The County Administrator spoke with the Director and he stated it would not hurt the landfill if they transferred the funds for another project. Com. Coward recommended having the Environmental Resources Dept. come back with recommendations on where to use it. It was the consensus of the Board to transfer $300,000 from the enterprise fund from the landfill and set up a reserve account for environmental restorations, to be determined where to use. Paradise Park Paving- $300,000 Com. Lewis recommended placing this money aside until needed. The Board concurred. Pools- $86,000 (for Open Space and Lakewood Park Pools) The Board requested a report on the January attendance to see if they should be open all year. Airport - $1.5 million 6 Com. Craft questioned if the county will be reimbursed after selling the parcels. The Airport Director stated she needed $3 million, however if the Board directed her to sell the properties to obtain the full $ 3million she would. They have not received the $1.5 from the State as yet. Com. Smith stated she would be getting the amount needed if she sold the properties because the values are less today. The Board Chairman recommended providing $1 million as a loan and $500,000 from the general fund as did Com. Smith. Media Web Streaming- $34,000 first year $20,000 second year 4,000 a year for maintenance The Media Manager stated this would make sure the program is up and running. This does not include the minute piece which would be phase 2 and then the indexing is another. There are two different pieces of soft ware. It was the consensus to leave the $19,690 for web streaming in the budget. Public Works -Paradise Park- The Public works Director advised the Board the drainage would be completed in the summer of 2008 and they will be ready to pave at that time. There is $250,000 in the budget at this time. New Horizons- $67,361 Com. Craft stated he would like to see the Board give them the same level of support if there are any funds left. Com. Coward questioned the number of additional beds provided by New Horizons for the additional funding provided last year. The Board was informed by the County administrator after speaking with the Director of New Horizons the beds did not materialize, however they used the additional funding for wrap around services which helped to divert people from going to jail. Com. Craft requested information to substantiate his statement. The Criminal Justice Coordinator stated they in fact used the funds for the wrap around services as indicated because the additional beds did not materialize. He receives a monthly report with how many hours they are receiving in therapy etc. The Board also funded a $65,000 Mental Health Case Manager and this is where the funds are being utilized. Com. Coward commented on continuing to fund the Mental Health System. 7 It was the consensus of the Board to fund New Horizons at the same level as last year. TC Sports Commission Com. Coward requested the Sports Commission not be cut as drastically as they have been. Com. Craft stated he felt the county was not getting their bang for their buck and he still has not seen the report the Board requested. The total last year was $152,000 with $90,000 going to Administration and the balance for bid fees for acquiring events. They have lost one person. At this time it is at $100,000 total with $40,000 for Administration and the balance for bids ($60,000). Com. Grande recommended $20,000 be allocated towards the position contingent upon the balance being supported by the other local government entities (on a matching basis). Com. Craft stated he would like to understand the budget before putting any more money into this budget he is not comfortable with the program. He would like to see it come in-house. It was the consensus of four members to allocate $20,000 to fund the position contingent upon the other local government supporting the balance of the position. The Management and Budget Director reviewed the millage rate for tomorrow's agenda. The meeting was adjourned. 8