Call to Order, Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance

   Vice-Chair Simpkins called workshop to order at 4 p.m. Vice-Chair led into invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance.

Citizens Requesting to be Heard on Non-Agenda Items (3-minutes Limit)

The Gadsden County Board of County Commissioners welcomes and encourages public participation at all meetings of the Board. Citizens are free to speak for up to three (3) minutes on non-agenda items. Public comments and participation are also encouraged for items on the agenda. Additionally, if you are unable to attend a meeting in person, comments from the Public can also be submitted via email to CitizensToBeHeard@gadsdencountyfl.gov until noon on the date of the meeting. Comments submitted after the deadline, but prior to the meeting, will be added to the official record, but the County cannot guarantee that Commissioners and staff will have adequate time to review comments prior to the meeting. Citizens are further encouraged to participate on the County’s website at www.gadsdencountyfl.gov.

   Vice-Chair read aloud the above statement.

Holt appeared at 4:02 p.m.

General Business

1.       Introduction

  Roosevelt Morris, on behalf of Mr. Dixon, introduced Burgess and stated she would provide a presentation on budget.

2.       Tentative Budget Summary

  Burgess appeared.

  Burgess went thru property tax revenue trend chart

  Burgess went on to millage rate increase impact

Current mill is 9.0000

  Burgess went thru expenditures by fund

  Burgess went thru tentative budget summary chart.

  Burgess went thru dept. highlights for their budget.

  Summer youth program

  FY25 Outlook

  Elderly Affairs

  Love Where You Live campaign

 Economic Development budget highlights   

  Parks & Rec Dept. budget highlights

  FY25 Outlook for Parks & Rec  

  Tentative budget – summary of budget increases

               Total $1,815,163

  Burgess stated pages 20-28 summarizes expenditures by depts.

3.       Questions

  NeSmith asked about total operating budget

Burgess stated 1% increase

  Holt stated they could increase taxes or decrease cost

Stated can bring in revenue by bringing in businesses.

  Chair Green stated may need to look at other options with healthcare

  NeSmith stated he did not see list of items they wanted to achieve in strategic plan

  Chair stated to be realistic in what it takes to get economic development dept. going – not going to happen within first 2 years.   

  Holt stated asking for 30k for training in Planning and Zoning

  Holt mentioned increase in salary study compensation

  Holt stated they could never get away from Medicaid cost.

  Holt stated to look at health insurance

  Simpkins stated Medicaid was a mandatory cost. Need to look at vehicle lease- it was presented as a savings in maintenance and there has not been a decrease in that. Still have repairs of heavy equipment – that’s where major costs come in. Vehicle lease was affecting everyone’s budget.   

  Simpkins mentioned health insurance and stated need convo with CHP. They provide lack of service in Gadsden County.

   Chair stated Simpkins was right in regards to CHP

  Morris stated they have already brought CHP to the table.

  Curtis Young appeared  

  Simpkins mentioned Vehicle Maintenance

  Holt stated need to look at tax possibilities and millage rate increase.

  Simpkins stated need to have environment where they maintain quality staff.

 Need to do exit surveys when people leave county

  Holt stated salaries need to be competitive

  Holt stated still asking for fire station on east side of county 

  Hood appeared 

NeSmith stepped out at 5:11 p.m.

Hinson appeared at 5:11 p.m.

Hood stated 95% is non-emergent

  Simpkins stated there are convos needed to be had – insurance is expensive. They need to be coming to the table.

NeSmith returned at 5:17 p.m.

NeSmith stepped out at 5:18 p.m.

  Hinson stated should fund the volunteer fire fighters.

Holt stepped out at 5:21 p.m.

Holt returned at 5:22 p.m.

Holt stepped out at 5:22 p.m.

Holt returned at 5:23 p.m.

  Hinson stated what greater infrastructure than fire.

Stated zoom was going in and out – need to put premium on broadband 

  Simpkins mentioned Broadband and stated planning meeting with constituents

  Holt stated need to ask Capital Regional for a meeting and CHP could be at same

  Hinson mentioned comm. Development

  Chair Green asked when will have finalized numbers

  Burgess stated last year it was mid-August – keep updating numbers until they get all estimates.     

  Simpkins stated keeping county clean was important but asked for breakdown on advertisement for that.

  Simpkins asked if maintaining or exceeding   

  Burgess stated depends on a lot of factors

  Simpkins stated will be having problems if nothing changes 

  Hinson mentioned amendment dealing with homestead – if it happens, will lose funding.

Would be great to have no changes and wait until know what is going to happen first.

  Simpkins mentioned salaries and stated it was not addressed the way she intended. 

Motion to Adjourn

Vice-Chair adjourned workshop at 5:45 p.m.