Board of County Commissioners

Gadsden County, Florida

Special Budget Meeting

September 5, 2018

6:00 p.m.

Present:               Brenda Holt, Chair, District 4

                                Dr. Anthony “Dr. V” Viegbesie, Vice Chair, District 2

                                Eric Hinson, District 2

                                Gene Morgan, District 3

                                Sherrie Taylor, District 5

                                Dee Jackson, Interim County Administrator

                                David Weiss, County Attorney

                                Marcella Blocker, Deputy Clerk

INVOCATION, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE   Welcomed everyone, asked everyone to stand for moment of silence and led in Pledge Chair asked for roll call: V, Holt Morgan present
GENERAL BUSINESS
1.	Welcome   Chair welcomed everyone to the budget meeting.  She said there were other bills and was because of increase in Medicaid. Commissioner Hinson arrived at this juncture of the meeting.
2.	Overview and Presentation  Hinson brought up several times how got here with fund balance  Ryan Tucker, Purvis Gray and Company, appeared before the Board to explain graph If plan to use fund balance to  balance budget will have to assign that portion that is to be used  Hinson said received email today with different numbers After making cuts was able to get balance back up to $3.5  Jackson said  there were few budget increases  Library moved personnel to administration-lease for property ended-did not decrease any services-  Morgan asked restricted and unrestricted funds-asked him to clarify reason why unrestricted-revenues have remained flat  Changes approved-funded Greenshade $19,000; Cut Boys & Girls by $101,250  Suggestions for EMS fix-Outsource billing; lease 4 ambulances and sell 4 old ambulances; 40% are no-pay dry runs-heard from other counties-charge $75.00-where staff responds to call and no transport-EMS already receiving $2 Million in collections and this will add another $1-2 Million; EMS staff trained to code for all services/medications provided; advertise positions as a pool; Dual certify 2 ambulances (EMT & paramedic); allocate a portion of the Small County Surtax-currently split 2 ways and split 3 ways-had great meeting with Clerk and Connie yesterday; increase salaries (decreases overtime); transition to Fire Rescue model- If approve splitting Small County Surtax three ways (for 1 year) will require super majority vote.  David said would require amending Ordinance   Morgan asked if surtax would require super majority vote and require public hearing-yes- Dee said would generate revenue and does not take anything from Board  V said was proposed model-if transition to fire rescue-will volunteers become paid staff-will have to be trained Holt asked about billing for services will only work if CHP, Blue Cross, Medicaid/Medicare have that cam bill for  V suggested when get to point-if can find difference percentages  Dee said company estimating can get additional $500,000 in billing Hinson asked to bring back break-down in leasing and purchasing-$200,000 to lease 4 and $200,000 to purchase 1; has heartburn on some of this- Morgan asked if would negatively impact employee Dee said they don’t like working overtime Hinson said every year has issue and Clerk brought up great point with Midway-asked how got to $2 Million more than last year-Clerk was right-did not budget for EMS-if budget will be fine  Ag Center-Bid award is on September 18, 2018 BOCC Agenda-need direction on what action to take V said financing $800,000 at 3.75% rate-is that included in If gives balanced budget don’t understand why dragging on Morgan said before moving on-committing to new debt service payment Holt said where would $ come from Dee said in budget but need to cut $237,000  Was directed by Board to have conversations with Constitutionals-Supervisor of Elections was only one that said could afford 3% cut Holt asked Dee said they could not afford to stay where were and could not afford cut Hinson asked if she could bring background tomorrow minutes on Ag center Morgan stepped out He’s OK with numbers here Morgan returned V asked if hearing Constitutionals are desiring everything requesting for FY 2019 with no zero cut or no cut from 2018-Dee said they had justification as to why their request-they understand unless Board make further cuts they will be funded at current fiscal year funding Morgan asked if Supervisor’s 3% cut figured into budget-Dee said no was not significant-Holt said not right to cut one and not the others  Dee said other possible cuts were: Boys and Girls Club-list totals $135,588 and other slide was $634,000 Dee explained Non-Profits with dash beside will be funded by Tourist Development Council Morgan said could make pretty easy-summer jobs, summer aides, emergency housing would put where need to be  Hinson asked if Eric Hinson day cutting out what he wanted-be fair to citizens-increased budget so huge but want to cut everyone else’s budget  V said 5% cut across board of all non-mandatory expenditures $31,700  Hinson asked if 2% cut across Board and all constitutionals-how much would that be-Holt said can’t touch Property Appraiser and Tax Collector-  Holt said her cuts: Chamber $80,000; Emergency Housing $100,000 Morgan said his-bottom 3-$242,000 Holt said they cutting and constitutionals not cutting Asked if Morgan accepting of 5% across board cut for every organization if came to it-if other things met would agreement Health Department-V no; Morgan no;  Hinson can’t fathom budget Summer job-Morgan yes; V not elimination but cut; Hinson ?; Holt don’t  want to eliminate-cut  Hinson said think in crunch-don’t increase any areas in BOCC until figure out where at-every department that got increase cut Holt asked where was increases Holt reminded 1 building inspector short; need Planning and Zoning; Housing Jeff said County had cut $700,000 Hinson said wanted to see increases Hinson asked how much total was increased into a department Hinson asked how much was added Emergency Housing-V-position is don’t want to totally eliminate any of them; Holt cut; Morgan cut Summer aide-Holt cut; Morgan cut; V Morgan said if can justify keeping commissioners aides and summer youth jobs when need to prioritize and make decisions  V said if cut aide and summer youth, where would be-still $100,000 short Holt said not opposed to looking at other cuts from other constitutionals Holt said they could cut staple guns, not make copies-cuts could be made Holt said cut summer youth, emergency housing and aide- V said if have until tomorrow, asked Dee to sit with Sheriff and Clerk to see if willing to cut $50,000  Dee said could sit with them but they have shared why could not take cuts-Sheriff explained his budget  Holt-take out $10,000 aide; $100,000 emergency housing; summer youth cut $32,000 Holt said needed to come back tomorrow with balanced budget Holt said all for cuts need to come up with $95,000 Hinson thanked them for meeting-reminded him of Jo V stepped out V returned Hinson moved to table until tomorrow and Holt said could not do that  $50,00 from Clerk; $50,000 from Sheriff; emergency housing, youth and summer aide Morgan stepped out Hinson asked about 2% cut for constitutionals  V said $25,000 cut for Sheriff and Clerk and look at Diamonds in Rough cut $1,000; Morgan returned  Holt asked Hinson for numbers  V $25,00 cut Sheriff and Clerk; Supervisor 3%; Diamonds in Rough $1,000 Hinson said cut Arsenal $2,500 Holt said $4,500 ½; Havana Comm De. ½; Diamonds ½; NFED ½: ½ arsenal  Hinson said out of all increases made for County, decrease 5% V said prepared and sure will hear about cuts for Sheriff and Clerk tomorrow and leaning toward for 1 year taking $20,000 from summer youth Holt said Clerk won’t take her calls, if they take cut he could take cut V said $25,000 from Clerk and Sheriff; $12,00 Supervisor; $20,000 Summer Youth; $13,000; emergency housing; Hinson said to cut from GCDC $60,000 Morgan said need to prioritize-make cuts-  V-summer youth $50,000; deduct $15,000 from GCDC; $10,00 Chamber Holt said sees production with GCDC and not with Chamber V $15,000 Chamber; $10,000 GCDC; $30,000 from Summer Youth; cut $25,000 from Clerk and Sheriff Holt said can pass budget whether constitutionals agree or not Weiss said understood Dee: We Care $2250; Havana Comm Dev $4500; Diamonds $2250; NFEDC $2250; Apalachicola Arsenal $2994; GCDC $150,000; Chamber $6500; Health Dept $50,000; Senior Citizens $102,000; Summer Youth $80,000; cut aides and emergency housing; cut $17,878 Sheriff and $17,878 Clerk V move to adopt numbers/Holt 2-2 Hinson and Morgan opposed Hinson said to let Manager go through numbers and come back tomorrow-Holt said could not do that-they have to balance budget Hinson said could not sleep at night knowing senior citizens and kids need help  Holt has no problem with economic development because they bring jobs Holt said to take out everything on second page except Boys & Girls Club and Legal Aid; GCDC; Chamber; Health Dept; Senior Citizens  Hinson said they increased different areas of budget by $745,975 and listed increases Morgan stepped out Morgan returned  Hinson said they should as school board go line by line through budget  Morgan motion to cut summer youth, commissioner aide, emergency housing Hinson said so interesting when speak so eloquently why budget to not be cut Holt cut bottom 3 and all of first page except Legal Services  Morgan cut bottom 3 and second page Hinson asked why increase in auditors budget-contract up in spring and making adjustment for that  V said $5,000 cut from Sheriff; $5,000 from Clerk; $14,000 first page of non-profits; $10,000 each from GCDC and Chamber  Holt said $10,000 from both constitutionals; $5,000 from Supervisor; non-profits $14,244 V move to adopt/Holt 2-2  V asked with last proposal what was bottom line cut for constitutionals-did not think constitutionals would laugh at $2,000 Hinson stepped out  V asked if 2-2 vote-no-one losing end-could he make same motion again-Morgan said motion failed  V asked about Roberts Rules in making another motion V motion to recess 5 minutes/Holt 3-0 Chair called the meeting back to order   $10,000 from GCDC & Chamber; $14,000 non-profits; $2,000 each from 3 constitutionals for total-died lack of second  Morgan-leave boys and girls;  We care $2250; Havana Comm Dev $4500; Legal Services $$5850; Diamonds $2250; NFEDC $2250; Havana Museum $2500; Arsenal $5988; $144,000 GCDC; $72,000 Chamber; $50,000 Health Dept; Senior Citizens $102,000; $50,000 Summer Youth; Delete Aides; delete emergency housing; cut Clerk, Sheriff and Supervisor of Elections $2,000 each/Holt second 2-1 V opposed  Motion passed
Citizens Requesting to be Heard on Non-Agenda Items
	Jed Carroll, 1872 Jamison Road, Havana, FL
	Wilbert Butler, Jr., 901 Riggins Road, Apt. 435,
	Bill Piotrowski, 93 Sandy Creek Road, Havana-Havana History & Heritage Museum- was recipient of TDC funds last year and commitment made would was would be continuing for 3 years Do not expect them to be able to consider $9950 but would like to highlight things-museum is investment
MOTION TO ADJOURN  Adjourned at 10:46 p.m.