GADSDEN COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

AGENDA & NOTES

BUDGET WORKSHOP

JULY 26, 2012

Present: Sherrie Taylor, Chair, District 5 (arrived late)

Gene Morgan, Vice-Chair, District 3 (absent)

Eugene Lamb, District 1

Doug Croley, District 2

Brenda Holt, District 4

Jeff Price, Budget Director

Arthur Lawson, Interim County Administrator

Beryl H. Wood, Deputy Clerk

Call to Order:

Commissioner Holt called the workshop to order.

Mr. Lawson asked that they finalize the amount for constitutionals and non-profits, so that the next time they meet they can have a balanced budget.

Lamb – At this time we have a balanced budget, if any changes are made you would have to go to the reserve.

Holt – at 25% non –profits are in budget.

Lamb – gave non-profits 25% of their budget, if they add any more they would have to come from reserve.

Croley –no capital projects being funded; at what point would you like to here.

· Review of Interim County Administrator Memo (attached) – Highlighted by Jeff Price.

Chair Taylor arrived at this juncture of the meeting.

· FY13 Budget Overview

Ø Kept the millage rate the same as last year – 8.9064.

Ø Property taxes decreased by nearly $340,000 based on the Property Appraisers’ July 1^st number plus the $70 million pipeline addition.

Ø Budgeted $100,000 for the Reserve for Contingency account

Ø Deleted Medicaid backlog $260,000

Ø Reduction in funding community organizations $292,000.

Ø Drew down $89,000 from General Fund balance to fund community organizations 25% of last fiscal year

Ø 3% cuts with Constitutional Officers $297,000

Ø General Fund transfer to EMS $305,000

· Comments from the Public

o Kevin Haywood, 155 Willow Court, spoke in support of the Boys and Girls Club Funding.

o Sylvia Martin, 1109 Circle Avenue, spoke in support of the Boys and Girls Funding.

o Latoya Moody, Director, Senior Services, spoke in support of funding for Seniors.

o Jaquel Byrd, Spoke in support of Boys and Girls Club.

o Elvina Brown, 540 Crawfish Rd, Boys and Girls Club.

o Dorthoy Roberts, Havana FL, spoke in support of Boys & Clubs.

o Tonya Chavers, Board Member of Boys & Girls Club, spoke in support.

o Tricia Floury, Director of Boys & Girls Club of the Big Bend.

o Mary Dekle, Legal Services of North Florida

Chair Taylor reemphasized the hard decisions they have to make.

Commissioner Croley – He thanked everyone for coming to make their plea. He added the he would like to share issues that are of importance to him such as the Fire Engine Replacement, Building Permit Records being placed online, Dump Truck Fleet is old and need of replacement, He asked that they start using the ½ cent funds to start replacement, Clerk’s Finance Department increase, he spoke of the importance of having the ability to run County Government is essential. Animal Control it’s a kill shelter, because of lack of spading and neutering they are thrown in land fill. He asked for an incinerator for proper disposable. Sharing in the Revenue Tax Dollars, give employees option for Health Insurance & may generate savings for County. Inmate Labor 10 man inmate labor for Public Works. Need for Capital Hospital Fund. He asked Mr. Lawson to talk with Mr. Glazer take some of principal maintain a future for repairs. Courthouse Facility Funds, it is in need of repair. Circuit Judge and Assistant Judge travel, should be eliminated from the budget. Contingency Fund, $100,000 he encouraged the Commission to eliminate, but it could help with non-profits instead of taking out of Cash Reserve.

Lamb – ½ cent tax should be used for Public Works and Fire Station. Rollback would have been great and all services could have been kept.

Holt – Rollback explained to the public. She said that was her suggestion; otherwise there is not enough to go around.

Croley – Millage Rate (explained to the public.) is the tax rate. For the benefit of the whole and we have to be competitive, this is not the right time to raise taxes. When you raise Ad Valorem Taxes you are raising taxes. He said this is not the right time to raise taxes.

Taylor – Are the ½ cent sales dollar already allocated.

Mr. Lawson said they have already allocated funding.

Taylor – They are other funding sources, they money is there, we don’t need to raise taxes. She stated she was not in favor of placing undue burden on the citizens. She said they can go into the reserve and fund all programs. She said funding is in the Reserves. She suggested coming up with a budget to meet the level of funding from last year.

Lamb – I am willing to compromise. Reserve. He clarified not saying removing the Arts and Emergency Housing Repair, but to fund the others first.

Holt – What’s the 5% required to hold by the State. Reserve for 3 months. She asked did the Chamber turn in their report. In favor of going to reserve, but not funding if they didn’t get report for some they shouldn’t be funded.

Price – In the budget.

Mr. Lawson commented they did not.

Croley – I’m for supporting non-profit out of the Contingency Fund - $100,000. Not in support of funding non- profits being taken out of the Cash Balance in the amount of $380,730.

· Board Priorities and Directions

Taylor – told the audience to get an understanding, find out for yourself about your County Government. You have consensus of looking at the Reserve for funding of the non-profits, she mentioned the Chamber of Commerce not submitting the budget. She said she could Emergency Housing Repari and Gadsden Arts Center.

Recommendation for the 5 non profits

Lamb – funding for 7

Croley –

Holt – not in support of funding the Chamber

Consensus – take out of reserve.

Adjourned at 5:15pm