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BCC Minutes 09/06/2001 B (Budget)September 6, 2001 TRANSCRIPT OF THE MEETING OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS Naples, Florida, September 6, 2001 LET IT BE REMEMBERED, that the Board of County Commissioners, in and for the County of Collier, and also acting as the Board of Zoning Appeals and as the governing board(s) of such special districts as have been created according to law and having conducted business herein, met on this date at 5:09 p.m. In BUDGET SESSION in Building "F" of the Government Complex, East Naples, Florida, with the following members present: CHAIRMAN: VICE-CHAIRMAN: ALSO PRESENT: James D. Carter, Ph.D. Pamela S. Mac'Kie James Coletta Donna Fiala Tom Henning Tom Olliff, County Manager David C. Weigel, County Attorney Michael Smykowski, Budget Director Page 1 NOTICE: COLLIER COUNTY ~OARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AGENDA Thursday, September 6, 2001 5:05 p.m. ALL PERSONS WISHING TO SPEAK ON ANY AGENDA ITEM MUST REGISTER PRIOR TO SPEAKING. ANY PERSON WHO DECIDES TO APPEAL A DECISION OF THIS BOARD WILL NEED A RECORD OF THE PROCED1NGS PERTAINING THERETO, AND THEREFORE MAY NEED TO ENSURE THAT A VERBATIM RECORD OF THE PROCEEDINGS IS MADE, WHICH RECORD INCLUDES TESTIMONY AND EVIDENCE U-PON WHICH THE APPEAL IS TO BE BASED. ALL REGISTERED PUBLIC SPEAKERS WILL BE LIMITED TO FIVE (5) MINUTES UNLESS PERMISSION FOR ADDITIONAL TIME IS GRANTED BY THE CHAmMAN. PLEDGE OF AI,I,EGIANCE ,ADVERTISED PUBLIC H'EARING - BCC - Fiscal Year 2002 Tentative Budget. A. Discussion of Tentative Millage Rates and Increases Over the Rolled Back Millage Rates B. Review and Discussion of Changes to the Tentative Budget C. Wrap-up Items D. Public Comments and Questions E. Resolution to Adopt the Tentative Millage Rates F. Resolution to Adopt the Amended Tentative Budget G. Announcement of Tentative Millage Rates and Percentage Changes in Property Tax Rates H. Announcement of Final Public Hearing as Follows: Final Public Hearing on the FY 2001-02 Collier County Budget Wednesday, September 19, 2001 5:05 p.m. Collier County Government Center W. Harmon Turner Building (F) Third Floor, Boardroom Naples, Florida 3. ADJOURN. September 6, 2001 Item #2A DISCUSSION OF TENTATIVE MILLAGE RATES AND INCREASES OVER THE ROLLED BACK MILLAGE RATES CHAIRMAN CARTER: We're going live. Do you have me up and running? I think he does. I'd like to call to order this budget hearing. It is the first of two. Tonight is -- as you know, is September 6th. The second one will be on September 19th in this same boardroom, same time. So if you all will, join me in the pledge of allegiance. (The pledge of allegiance was recited in unison.) CHAIRMAN CARTER: Thank you all for being here. We appreciate it. The commissioners have had a busy, busy day, as many of you are aware. For those tuning in tonight from North Naples, the healthcare workshop will be rebroadcast after this meeting. That's the schedule that I understand. So if you missed that this morning, you'll have an opportunity to tune in after the board meeting tonight to get an update. COMMISSIONER MAC'KIE: They're on now? The cable's back on? CHAIRMAN CARTER: As I understand now, cable is on. That's what we're told. So everybody in the county should have the opportunity to go with the proceedings. As a couple of opening remarks tonight, I know we have people here for a number of reasons. Let me share with you regarding the notice of proposed taxes, the notice of proposed taxes dealing with ad valorem taxes, there are generally three things that you will see on a tax bill that you need to pay attention to. One is an ad valorem or a property tax. Secondly, you will find a school board tax levied by an independent group, and that addresses the school system. That does not come under the jurisdiction of the Board of County Page 2 September 6, 2001 Commissioners. Thirdly, if you live in an area that has an MSTU, a municipal service taxing unit, for your community, you will see that item. So when you're reviewing your tax bills -- and I know they can be confusing at times -- it's always helpful to remember that there's more than one item on there and not put them all together and say it's all the responsibility of the Board of County Commissioners. We deal with the personal property tax referred to as the ad valorem tax. The Collier County share of the total tax bill is approximately 35 percent. Thirty-five percent is the county share of your total tax bill. This is the first general fund millage increase since Fiscal Year 1997. Keep in mind that being one of the fastest growing counties in the state of Florida and in the nation and having had a very sizable increase over the past ten years, I think that this follows what is taking place in our community. Now, citizens are here tonight with questions regarding the market value of the property. That is your assessed valuation. The property appraiser, an independent constitutional officer, Abe Skinner, is required by law to assess property at 100 percent of its current market value. Citizens with questions regarding market value of the property should contact Mr. Skinner's office at 774-8141, and maybe this will get typed up and appear on the screen tonight. That is 774-8141. The property appraiser is responsible for determining the market value of property in Collier County; separate constitutional officer that assesses it; separate constitutional officer that collects it. That's Mr. Guy Carlton. And we have the responsibility to take those monies in the general fund and deal with the issues that face Collier County. So I hope that is -- for those of you who might be here tonight to speak to that issue, I hope that is helpful. We're going to have a discussion of the tentative millage rate Page 3 September 6, 2001 increases over the rollback millage rates, and there's an advertised public hearing agenda on that. But one of the things that has been suggested, and I think it would be appropriate, is that we go to public comment first this evening and allow people to present their concerns as we go through the process. MR. OLLIFF: I think there are some statutory issues that the budget office has to get on the record first, and then we can move on to the public comments. CHAIRMAN CARTER: Okay. Let me know when we get to that -- I see. It's Item D. I don't want to -- my attempt by that statement is that many of you are here for a specific purpose, and we want to give you that opportunity to present your thoughts to the Board of County Commissioners, and we certainly don't want to keep you here all evening waiting to address something that perhaps could be dealt with much sooner. So we thank you for being here. We want to hear what you have to say. And when we can get to Item D, then I will call for that to come forward. So without further ado on my part, Mr. Oliff, Mr. Smykowski, take us forward. MR. OLLIFF: Mr. Chairman, thank you very much. I'd like to just take an opportunity to thank the county staff and the county budget office who have worked a long time to get this budget to the point where it is in front of you today and also to thank the board for having spent the time over the summer in workshop sessions to help us craft the budget that you have before you. There are, as we mentioned, a number of small statutory issues that Mr. Smykowski will walk you through, some general housekeeping items. If anyone here is interested in addressing the board this evening, there are some speaker slips out in the hallway on the small table. And if you'll just fill those out and bring those up here to Mike or myself, we'll make sure that we call you in the order that we receive Page 4 September 6, 2001 them. And we have structured the agenda this evening, Mr. Chairman, in an effort to try and get the public speakers up as early on our agenda as we possibly can, just for their convenience. And with that, I'll mm the microphone over to Mr. Smykowski, and we'll get this thing started. CHAIRMAN CARTER: Thank you. MR. SMYKOWSKI: Thank you. For the record, Michael Smykowski, budget director. I'd like to mm your attention to Item 2- A, page 1. For the benefit of the public, there are copies of the agenda in the hallway as well as the speaker sign-up slips. The first substantive issue that must be discussed pursuant to Florida Statute at the public hearings are the tentative proposed millage rates and the increase over the rolled back rate. Therefore, what I'll do is walk through each of the various funds, the proposed millage rates, the percentage change, and a basic explanation of what's driving the increase up or down. For the General Fund, the proposed millage rate is 3.9077 mils. That's an increase of 27.9 percent over the rolled back rate. There are a host of new services and service enhancements in the general fund, including the opening of a new regional library, the second half of the pay plan adjustment that was initiated in the current fiscal year that falls disproportionately in the general fund. Within the sheriff's office, there are positions formerly grant- funded as well as new positions for the juvenile assessment center. There are a number of new capital projects: Immokalee jail construction; a new North Naples satellite office to improve service, localized service in the north end of the county; acquisition of a new financial system and a touchscreen voting system. There's additional animal control officers being added due to demands for service in that general area; additional roadway maintenance crews. Staff required to acquire right-of-way associated with major Page 5 September 6, 2001 capital projects that are under way to make sure those continue on pace. That includes utilities as well as roads -- as you're well aware, the road projects require tremendous effort on the part of staff to acquire all the right-of-ways associated with each of the road projects -- and contributions to redevelopment areas including Naples, Bayshore, and Immokalee. The Water Pollution Control Fund 114, the proposed millage rate is .0432 mils, which is an 11.3 percent increase over the rolled back rate. What we're doing here is funding -- establishing a sinking fund to replace lab equipment, and there's also a pro-rata share of geographic information system, or GIS system, costs. Overall, the proposed countywide millage rate is 3.9509, which is 27.7 percent over the rolled back rate. Unincorporated Area General Fund 111, the proposed millage rate is .8069. That's 6 1/2 percent over the rolled back rate. We have enhanced code enforcement staffing and parks and recreation staffing as well as enhanced roadway resurfacing efforts. Golden Gate Community Center, the increase is 22.6 percent over the rolled back rate. The proposed millage is .4330. Doing a number of things on the capital side to that building as it ages, repainting, recarpeting, as well as there is a new after-school care program being offered, and staffing of the new annex building. Naples Park Drainage, there is no proposed tax levy in Fiscal Year 2002. Pine Ridge Industrial Park, the proposed millage is .0485 mils, a decrease of 20.8 percent below the rolled back rate. In many of these smaller MSTUs, the millages themselves vacillate quite a bit, but actually the -- overall here there's a decrease in the tax levy of approximately $4,000. CHAIRMAN CARTER: Mike, would you, before you go forward, explain to the listening audience what a rollback rate is and Page 6 September 6, 2001 how that compares to a prior year millage? There is a difference, and there may be some confusion. MR. SMYKOWSKI: Sure. The rolled back rate is the rate calculated in comparison to the prior year rate that identify -- or would generate the same level of tax dollars as generated in the previous year, exclusive of new construction. So it's done to show -- the whole rolled back rate and the TRIM compliance issue was generated to demonstrate the fact that, over time, existing property tends to increase in value. And you essentially rolled back the rate to demonstrate what the equivalent tax dollars were to the current fiscal year, so the same tax dollars as the prior year levied. CHAIRMAN CARTER: Okay. Thank you. And I think that'll help a lot of our listening audience. MR. SMYKOWSKI: Victoria Park Drainage is a small MSTU. There's a $400 decrease in the tax levy. The proposed millage rate is · 1722 mils, a 10.3 percent decrease below the rolled back rate. Golden Gate Parkway Beautification is a one-half mil levy. That's a 7 1/2 percent increase over the rolled back rate. In the majority of the beautification districts, there is a citizen advisory group that recommends a budget to the Board of County Commissioners. In this case they're again recommending the half mil levy. And in the upcoming year, there's maintenance of the completed Tropicana Boulevard project that was initiated this year. Naples Production Park, the decrease below the rolled back rate is 1.6 percent, proposed millage .0304 mils. There's a hundred dollar decrease in the proposed tax levy. Isle of Capri Fire is a 1 mil constant levy. That's 18.1 percent increase. That's a constant levy to fund district operations on the Isle of Capri and, as that district grows, to support the area on 951 that is within their district as well. Ochopee Fire levies a constant millage of 4 mils. That's an Page 7 September 6, 2001 increase of 19.4 percent above the rolled back rate. There's a decrease in available carryforward revenue as well as funding the pay plan adjustments. Collier County Fire is an increase of 4.2 percent above the rolled back rate, a 2 mil tax levy. Again, this is a constant levy. For citizens who are not in-- within the boundaries of the fire district, there are funds distributed to the adjoining districts who service those properties that are not within the boundaries of the fire district. Goodland/Horr's Island Fire District MSTU, the proposed millage is .7377 mils, a decrease of 6.9 percent below the rolled back rate. The value has increased there quite a bit, and the cost of the contractual agreement with the City of Marco Island is approximately constant in the upcoming year. Radio Road Beautification, again, there's a half mil tax levy, 7.8 percent above the rolled back rate. We're generating reserve funds here for future improvements in that corridor. Sabal Palm Road MSTU, there is no proposed tax levy. Lely Golf Estates Beautification, there is a 42 percent increase above the rolled back rate. That proposed millage is 2; the prior year millage was 1 1/2. You'll recall that over the past year the citizens brought forth a petition and an ordinance amendment to increase the millage from 1 1/2 to 2 to provide maintenance and expanded landscaping capabilities within Lely Golf Estates. Hawksridge Stormwater Pumping MSTU, there was a $2600 tax levy. It's a 44 1/2 percent decrease below the rolled back rate. Proposed millage is .0696. Forest Lakes Roadway and Drainage MSTU is a constant levy of 1 mil as recommended by the advisory committee; an increase of 6.1 percent above the rolled back rate. Immokalee Beautification is another beautification district with a constant levy of 1 mil recommended by the advisory committee; a Page 8 September 6, 2001 7.6 percent increase above the rolled back rate. Bayshore Avalon Beautification, the decrease below the rolled back rate is 28.6 percent. The proposed millage rate is 2. That's a decrease of a full mil from the previous year. During the first three years of that MSTU, they were in a ramp-up phase to fund the construction efforts along Bayshore Drive. Those have been completed. We're migrating now to a maintenance mode of those completed improvements. And, as a result, the millage decreases. Parks GOB Debt Service is a decrease of 8.4 percent. The proposed millage rate is .0318 mils. That is to fund the balance of debt service on the five original community parks within Collier County. There's no proposed tax levy in the Isle of Capri Municipal Rescue. Collier County Lighting, there's an increase of 46.7 percent above the rolled back rate. The proposed millage rate is .2002. A decrease in available carryforward revenue as well as the increased cost of electricity within the streetlighting district is the need for the increase in the millage within that MSTU. Naples Production Park Streetlighting, again the increased cost of electricity, the proposed millage is .0413; a 10.1 percent increase above the rolled back rate. Pelican Bay MSTBU is an increase of 14.1 percent above the rolled back rate. The proposed millage is. 1994. We'll have a separate hearing in Pelican Bay on September 12th, if memory serves correctly. With that, Mr. Chairman, Item 2-A is completed, discussion of tentative millage rates and increase over the rolled back rate. Item #2B Page 9 September 6, 2001 REVIEW AND DISCUSSION OF CHANGES TO THE TENTATIVE BUDGET We'll move to Item 2-B, summarize changes. I'll do that quickly. There are resolutions beginning on Item 2-B, page 1. Summary, the general fund change was the recent building acquisition on Horseshoe Drive. We were previously renting that building for the sheriff. The board made the -- the decision to purchase that building, so we've just taken the rent money that was budgeted and reallocated it to debt service to pay the outstanding -- essentially the principal and interest on the loan we used to make that initial building purchase. The tax collector's budget was received. Pursuant to Florida Statute, that is not required to be received until August 1st, so that is included in the budget. The balance of-- the balance of changes are primarily in capital projects, and that's simply an adjustment. Staff makes an initial estimate of which projects they anticipate to be under contract by September 30th, which is the close of the county's fiscal year. Obviously they're making those estimates in mid-March. Our crystal ball is typically much better when we're in early September and guessing what'll be under contract by the end of-- by September 30th. As a consequence, what we've done in the past to minimize the number of executive summaries and budget amendments that we have to bring forward at the beginning of the fiscal year, we simply have changed forecasts to reflect projects that will not be under contract and simply rebudgeted them in Fiscal Year 2002, as well as adjusting for some additional impact fees that were above previous projections that were also completed in the March/April time frame. Page 10 Item #2C September 6, 2001 WRAP-UP ITEMS We have one wrap-up item, 2-C, Mr. Chairman. The supervisor of elections is requesting $25,000 to implement the recently completed pay and classification study. It was done in the board agency to ensure internal equity. It was done by David M. Griffith Maximus. We've taken those results, applied them to the supervisor of election positions. That would require $25,000. It would be funded from general fund reserves. CHAIRMAN CARTER: Thank you. Any questions by members of the board? COMMISSIONER HENNING: Yes. The classification study for the supervisor of elections, what is that all about? MR. OLLIFF: Generally the DMG study that was done internally was done for your agency. And in order for employees between agencies of the constitutional officer and yours not to have differences in similar type positions, so that a secretarial position here on our side of the house wouldn't be 300 or $400 more in salary range than would the same position in the supervisor of election's agency, she needs to move her pay ranges commensurate with ours so that we stay on the same competitive -- COMMISSIONER HENNING: How many employees does she have or how many positions? MR. OLLIFF: Off the top of my head, I don't know that, but I'll get you that number. MR. SMYKOWSKI: I believe it's 18. Item #2D Page 11 September 6, 2001 PUBLIC COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS CHAIRMAN CARTER: All right. That gives us the opportunity now to go to public comments, and you have the sign-up sheets. If anybody's missed that, this is your time to get one and come forward. You have five minutes at the podium to present your thoughts. We appreciate that. I don't know how many people we have, Mr. Oliff, but it's usually helpful if the person speaking is at the podium and then the next person is on deck. MR. OLLIFF: I'll call the first and the second speaker. If the first speaker would go ahead and come to either of the podiums here and present your information to the board, I'll also call the second speaker as well so you can come close to the podium and be ready. The first speaker is Robert Bums followed by -- I believe it's Isidro Roses. MR. BURNS: Thank you. My name is Robert Bums. I'm a resident. I'm from the North Naples area. I had to fight the weather to come down, but glad to have the rain. I had one comment that I wanted to make, and then I had a question. And the comment was, I guess I'm a little out of sorts because what I'm looking at is a -- almost over a 32 percent increase in dollars in the general fund budget from year -- from prior year. I mean, we can talk about millage rates and so forth, but the dollar increase is just phenomenal. And I -- you know, obviously with the economy the way it is, that has a significant impact on taxes and so forth. And the question that I had was, in looking through the document here, there's nothing in here that shows where any efforts are being made to improve the efficiency of the government in Collier County, to control the kind of expense that -- dollar expense that we're looking at. Can anyone comment on that? Page 12 September 6, 2001 CHAIRMAN CARTER: Mr. Oliff, would you like to comment on that? MR. OLLIFF: I can tell you the budget document is more of a fiscal document. But on the efficiency side, I think the board has been very diligent in creating its own citizens productivity committee, for one, that spends a great deal of time -- and they are local businesspeople who review our agencies on a regular basis. As well, we have a number of audits that are done through the clerk of court's office which obviously have resulted in some business-related-type changes at community development, and I think it's certainly added to the efficiency there. And, as well, I think I recently sent you some information, in fact, as part of my appraisal document, indicating that we had turned our own office of management and budget staff into, if you will, internal consultants of a sort who spend a great deal of the off-season budget time out in the agency doing nothing but efficiency-type reviews and things. So I think there are three different efforts that we have that -- in trying to look at efficiencies. And I will tell you that they have been very, very successful, especially on the productivity side, the productivity committee side, in finding and making some very good recommendations that you have almost unanimously always adopted that have caused us some cost reductions. CHAIRMAN CARTER: If my memory serves me correct, some 70 million in capital expenditure requests never were brought to the board this year because of your own internal assessments and dialogues that determine that we could -- we didn't have to do them at this point, and we were not going to go forward, take a very conservative viewpoint in terms of what we had to do in those areas. MR. BURNS: It's just amazing that -- the magnitude of the dollars that we're talking about here, the year-to-year increase. Page 13 September 6, 2001 Thank you. CHAIRMAN CARTER: Okay. Thank you, sir. Appreciate your comments. There also is an annual inflation or cost of business increase that you project, Tom, and I'll defer that percentage to you. I think it's 6 percent, but I am not gonna -- I don't want to say that unless I know it's tree. Is that correct? MR. OLLIFF: The actual -- what we use is a Southwest United States inflationary number, and the number, I think, the last time we checked was 2.9 percent. So there is that, but there's also growth in your budget just based on sheer growth in the volume of the community. As new residents come on, there are new taxes added, and those new taxes are added in order to provide new services required for new residents. So in an area that's going to grow like this, you are going to have some inherent growth in your budget simply by new people and new construction and new homes coming on board. The next speaker is Isidro Roses followed by -- I believe it's Enide Milord. COMMISSIONER MAC'KIE: If you'll come on down. Thank you, sir. MR. ROSES: Good afternoon, everybody. My name is Isidro Alberto Roses. I own property in the United States for 45 years. That's the first time in my life I am in the front of these cameras, microphones, and too many people. In five minutes I can't describe to you the word "taxes." I went to my psycholege (phonetic), and he told me it's an addiction. The gentleman before me said that it was 35 percent raise in taxes. I'm sorry about my English. I speak seven language. CHAIRMAN CARTER: That's fine. You're doing wonderfully. Thank you. MR. ROSES: If anybody can't understand, please let me know. Page 14 September 6, 2001 I think it's a little bit wrong when one of my lands for my retirement in another five years when my wife finish -- she's a teacher. I was paying $500. Now it's a thousand dollars. And the other one from $800 it's $2,000. A couple weeks ago I call (941) 774-8172. A very nice lady answered the telephone, and I asked her, "What's going on? My lot must have some diamonds, gold, gas, something that is there." But she said, "Mr. Roses, the reason we are raising the taxes, we are asking for more money, is because the revenue in Marco Island went up." I bought a lot for $32,000 two years ago. Three months later it was $80,000. Four month later it was $150,000. Five months later it was $250,000. CHAIRMAN CARTER: I wish that I had had your foresight, sir. I would have been much happier than being in the stock market. MR. ROSES: The real estate has been call my house, all the real estates on Marco Island, if I want to sell my lots. The majority of the lots in Marco Island, they've been owned for real estate people. The lot on the comer of my house is worth $145,000 two years ago, three years ago, and after two weeks we sold $500,000. Now, has anybody went to Marco Island and say, "Where is this money coming from?" They pay millions for lots. I want to live on Marco Island. I don't want to be thrown out of Marco Island. I'm a retired person. I'm disabled. I got hurt very bad. I went to the bank to get my loan to buy my lots. And this is serious, very serious. This is not a joke. Okay? To be here to me cost me a lot of guts. I never in my life went in the front of the microphone and say what I have to say. It's better somebody or the politician to start thinking. And word "taxes," according to my doctor, it is an addiction. But it's better you go onto Marco Island, to Naples and to start to know why a guy pay $200,000 for a lot, and the next week he pay a million dollars. Page 15 September 6, 2001 All right. I can no go more because I can say a lot of things. And another thing, can anybody in this room tell me when my house is going to be mine according to the American dream? I am from Argentina. I am in this country for 45 years. I pay all my taxes. They can check all my records. But I will never own my house. The American dream, I think, is gone if the politicians don't get serious into this. You don't own a house, and I don't own a house. Nobody here own nothing. The reason -- the reason is the addiction of taxes. I want to die. Before I die I want to say, "This house is mine." I work in this country. I pull for this country for 45 years. I don't want to lose my house. I want to retire on Marco Island. It's not my -- and Naples is not only for rich people. You better go into that. You check. You can call the president. You can call anybody. We are sick and tired. I want to say, "This is mine," and I don't want nobody to take from me. Twenty years of taxes or twenty-five years of taxes is enough. How long we going to pay taxes? How long? Nothing. I don't own nothing. I'm sorry. I don't want to be unrespectful to anybody. I apologize to everybody, but I think that we own nothing if we don't get serous. Taxes is an addiction. It's better somebody step up right on the top and say, "Listen, we going to get everybody sick here." Everybody's getting sick. I don't want to move from Marco Island. I can't afford this, from $500 to $2,000 in taxes, because you want to do a construction or want to -- hey, listen. I pay taxes when I buy a house. I pay taxes when I sell a house. How far we going to go? Can anybody tell me how far we going to go? Now, (inaudible) 3, 4, $5 million in the bank. There's a guy in Marco Island own from the real estate 17 properties, 20 properties on Marco Island. Hey, I hope everybody own a hundred houses. I want everybody to be rich, but don't take it when it belong to me. No. When it belong to me, I'm sorry. I gonna fight or something. It's Page 16 September 6, 2001 better somebody does an investigation. Somebody go find out where the millions of dollars coming from outside of Marco Island, because the people live in Marco Island, they don't buy lots for a million dollars. Charge the taxes to people that buy a lot for $2 million. I pay 32,000 for my lot because I want to live there. Now my dream is good-bye, to the moon. I'm sorry. I apologize to everybody. I got sick. I went to the doctor, and I have a right, told that I have all my life. The word "taxes" it is an addiction, and it's better to put (inaudible) and find out what I try to tell you. It's better you analyze what I try to tell you people and very deeply, because we all going to lose something. I'm sorry, sir. Thank you and have a good afternoon. CHAIRMAN CARTER: Thank you for your comments, sir. Can we have the next speaker, please. MR. OLLIFF: The next speaker is Mr. Milord followed by Loretta LeLeux. MR. MILORD: Good afternoon. My name is Milord. I represent my wife. She sent me to find out how much she's -- her taxes going to be this year. That's all I have to say. Then we have to know -- I believe that we sent a copy of this taxes for us and the -- this month. Thank you. CHAIRMAN CARTER: Thank you. Mr. Olliff, you want to comment on that, please? MR. OLLIFF: I'm going to ask somebody from the budget office if they could get with him and see if-- either if he has a copy of his tax bill so that we can walk him through that, and if not, maybe we can set up a time when we can meet him again afterwards and go through his tax bill. Ms. LeLeux will be followed by Erica Lynne. MS. LELEUX: Good evening. My name is Loretta LeLeux. I'm a resident of Naples Park. I'm the treasurer of the property Page 17 September 6, 2001 owners of Naples Park. We are an aging community, and we have been anxiously awaiting Dover Kohl. And we have been doing a grass-roots effort to work towards some of the recommendations that they have made for our community, and that's why we're here. We have an area of approximately a square mile, and we're called Naples Park, but there isn't a park in Naples Park. We have approximately 3200 homes with 1400 children living in those homes. We have roadways, drainage, no open space, no neighborhood parks. And we would like to enforce the sense of community and neighborhood closeness to reemphasize that. Why are we here? We were identified in the Dover Kohl study as an older suburb that's in need of being revitalized. One of the steps was to create new parks in existing neighborhoods or enlarged right-of-ways. We've done a lot of work in the community. We've engaged in a grass-roots effort to identify the few remaining lots in our neighborhood. There aren't very many, and there are even less that are suitable for a park. We've identified four parcels that possibly could work, and we have been working with the department of parks and recreation in this effort. We recently submitted an application to the parks and recreation department only to find out that we were too late for this year, and we're too early for next year, so we're caught in the middle. However, they did realize that we had a good potential and have endorsed our project. What we're asking is that we're asking funds to be made available so we can purchase the most -- okay. I'm having a senior moment here. Anybody have those? -- the best selection in the four lots that we have. We contacted the owners of the properties. This owner responded to us. It just so happened that that week he was preparing a package to submit to sell his lots. He had two -- two parcel lots, and he held this one for us. However, he does want to sell Page 18 September 6, 2001 by the end of the year. He did go ahead and list the other one. It sold within three days at the price he was asking. So we don't have a lot of time. We don't have a lot of property. So what we're -- we're kind of playing catch-up here. I know that the Dover Kohl plan -- I mean, especially in an older neighborhood, you have to do it piecemeal. You go where you can when you can get it. It's not like a new development that's all laid out, and it's put out. So what we're asking is that we try and find some funds that are unallocated that we can possibly do this; if not to develop the park, at lease to purchase the property before we lose it. CHAIRMAN CARTER: And how much is that, Ms. LeLeux? MS. LELEUX: The asking price is 160,000 for the two lots. COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Has funds been identified that could be used from a project that's not going to go forward at this time? MS. LELEUX: Well, what we've understood was that Dover Kohl recommended $500,000 to be allocated for neighborhood parks, and I understand parks and recs requested $350,000. If those funds were available -- we understand there's another park that was approved, and when it went to be rezoned, that there was some question by the people in the neighborhood and that that has been put off for another time. Those are two possibilities. But I know that with a budget the size that you have, that sometimes there are places where it can be tweaked out. MR. OLLIFF: Mr. Chairman, I think ifI could jump in here and let Mr. Ochs give you a little update and some options. If the board's interested in this, I think the board does have some options, and I know you've got three other registered speakers here on the same particular item. So if the board-- COMMISSIONER MAC'KIE: I'm--just in case you're counting noses, I'm extremely supportive of this. It's a chance to put Page 19 September 6, 2001 Dover Kohl on the ground early. It's basically, you know, what we're -- an example of it that would get to go on the ground. And if there's a way to do it, it's the right thing in my judgment. CHAIRMAN CARTER: Well, Commissioner Mac'Kie, you're absolutely right. And Vera Fitzgerald called me a couple weeks ago and says, "What do we do?" I said, "Go to Leo. Find out how we can work with this so we don't have a lost opportunity." So I look forward to your comments, sir. MR. OCHS: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Good evening, commissioners. For the record, Leo Ochs, public services administrator. Staff did, in fact, budget $350,000 for two neighborhood parks for next year. In addition to that appropriation, we're also carrying forward about $95,000, bringing that into next fiscal year. That was money budgeted for a neighborhood park in Livingston Woods for this year. That project has been deferred at Commissioner Henning's request by request of that neighborhood. They were going to survey the neighborhood, do some more work. So in talking with Commissioner Henning, we thought that perhaps that money would be available for this acquisition. That 95,000 then could be rebudgeted in Fiscal Year '03 because, as I understand it in my conversation with Commissioner Henning, the neighborhood in Livingston Woods isn't going to make final decisions as a neighborhood until the spring of next year, which is pretty much in sync with our budgeting cycle. So once we know what they want to do, assuming they want to go forward in some fashion, it would give us an opportunity to identify specifically what they need, plug that into the FY '03 budget, and free up this $95,000 for the acquisition in Naples Park. Now, obviously the difference -- we'd still need to find about 50, $55,000 in order to purchase that property. COMMISSIONER HENNING: Commissioner Carter, a few Page 20 September 6, 2001 issues in Livingston Woods is I'm working with the sheriff's department and some of the neighborhood schools before I sent out a survey to get a good sense of the neighborhood, whether they're in support of a neighborhood park or not. I think that -- like Leo stated, that we can defer the improvement of this park until we get all the issues ironed out. And I would be in support of the Naples Park people in -- into acquiring those two parcels for a park. I think this is -- once that property goes away, we'll never get another chance. CHAIRMAN CARTER: Well, I really appreciate that, Commissioner Henning, and I will publicly state right now I would support all your efforts next budget cycle to accomplish the objective for Livingston Woods. And it gives us an opportunity to move forward in Naples Park. COMMISSIONER FIALA: And isn't the land going pretty quickly in Naples Park anyway? I mean, if they could quickly grab it right now, that's the best thing to do. CHAIRMAN CARTER: Well, I no longer can be in a speculator role in my position as a commissioner, but others who may have that opportunity I'm sure are already doing it. MR. OLLIFF: Mr. Chairman, I can -- we'll just go ahead and make those adjustments to your budget and have that before you for your next public hearing in detail. But with that, I'll look at the three other speakers. And as I call your names, if you'll waive, I mean, if that direction's good enough for you. The next speaker is Erica Lynne. COMMISSIONER MAC'KIE: Waiving. CHAIRMAN CARTER: Waiving. MR. OLLIFF: The next speaker was Mary Ellen Rand. COMMISSIONER MAC'KIE: Waiving. MR. OLLIFF: And the last speaker was Dwight Richardson. COMMISSIONER MAC'KIE: I think Dwight's waiving. Page 21 September 6, 2001 MR. LELEUX: And we all waive. CHAIRMAN CARTER: Okay. Thank you. MR. OLLIFF: All right. Thank you very much. COMMISSIONER HENNING: One question. Leo, we can move on this -- after the final budget hearings, on these two parcels real quick? MR. OCHS: Yes. MR. OLLIFF: We can as of October 1. And I think as long as we can have our real property people go ahead and start to contact the property owner and make sure that nothing's going to happen between now and October 1 to just ensure that we're not -- COMMISSIONER HENNING: Please do. COMMISSIONER MAC'KIE: They can tie it up. CHAIRMAN CARTER: We'd ask that person if they wouldn't give us at least about 24 days to give us an opportunity to put it together, and hopefully he will honor that request. MR. OLLIFF: Mr. Chairman, the next speaker is Hank Bryan followed by Erika Cook. CHAIRMAN CARTER: And, commissioners, I thank you for that effort. It's certainly valued by Naples Park and all the residents of Collier County, that when we see opportunities, we do something for neighborhoods and have that opportunity to enact part of the Dover Kohl study. So we're doing what we said we would do. COMMISSIONER HENNING: I think we all recognize a good thing when we see it. COMMISSIONER FIALA: Yeah. And it's usually -- it's after the fact, you know, just after you've missed it. How nice that they were able to grab this before budget time. This is super. COMMISSIONER MAC'KIE: Very interesting information on this, commissioners. I got a chance to look at it ahead of time. And it's not great news, but it's the truth, and it's good to know it. Page 22 September 6, 2001 MR. BRYAN: My name is Hank Bryan, B-r-y-a-n. I've been a property taxpayer in Naples for ten years. I come here representing 163 of my neighbors who have asked me to represent them at this meeting. And the document I'm putting before you, instead of speaking I would like to take about two minutes of my time and just let you read it. CHAIRMAN CARTER: Well, I think you can highlight it, sir, because the listening public nor the audience have no idea what you're presenting. MR. BRYAN: Basically what it says is this: I have outlined the increases of property tax value for the last eight years, from '94 to 2001. In the first five years, we had pretty reasonable increases and pretty reasonable county mil rates. And our average assessed property value increase for those years, for '94 to '98, was 6.88 percent with an average mil rate of 3.66. And in the next year, '99, we had a property value increase of 14.43 percent, and -- I'm sorry. That's a five-year period. We had an increase of 13.59 percent in the year 2000. We had an increase of 20.52 percent in 2001 with average tax mil rates of 3.68, 2/100 of a mil higher than the previous rate for this three-year period from '99 to 2001. The average taxable assessed property value increase of 18.88 percent per year for the last three years together with the higher averages in county property tax mil rate, I guess my question to the -- basic question to the county commission is, is a 19 percent increase in tax revenue really sustainable over the long term? I mean, are we basing our budgets on 20 percent increases in revenue over the long term? COMMISSIONER HENNING: Wouldn't that matter of the economics, the property values? MR. BRYAN: I kind of perceive that the property values in this area are going to be like the stock market in a way. We're in a wild, Page 23 September 6, 2001 speculative, pay-as-you -- you know, anything to get property. The stock market was in the same mode. Having lived in Florida about 30 years, I've seen it go bust and rise. And I don't expect these values to increase forever at this rate. They simply aren't sustainable. We'll have nothing but the superrich living here. There won't be a county commission because nobody would be able to afford to be on it, and none of us will be here. Actually, if you had just my property owners that I'm representing in here tonight, you could not seat them in this room. There's 163 of them, and there's not 163 seats in here. But we're saying, is this sustainable? We actually have an increase in revenue, under the proposed millage increase and the increase in taxable value, of 31.65 percent greater than one year ago. In other words, this county is going to get, at this millage rate and this tax base, 31.65 percent more money than it got last year to spend. Is that really a sustainable increase in income, and do we base our spending and our mind-set on 31 percent more money per year? If we do, most of us are going to have to find another place to live, I think. I don't think construction's going to be that great. I don't think property values are going to increase that much. I've watched the stuff in the south end of the city go from 2 million to 5 million, but I really don't expect it to go to 10 million. I think there's a top for everything. And we -- I'll read you -- oh, I'm done? CHAIRMAN CARTER: Well, I want to give you a chance to summarize, sir. MR. BRYAN: We don't mind paying our fair share of property taxes. We never have. This is my first trip in here or to any commission in the ten years I've been here. But the last three years have been just what my neighbors consider to be unconscionable increases in property taxes. And if we got the mil rollback or rollback mil rates, which is 3.1 percent -- 3.01 percent as opposed to Page 24 September 6, 2001 3.95 percent, my taxes would actually go down. With that rollback my taxes, my personal taxes, are actually $121 less than they were last year. But my taxes with this increase are going to be $1125 greater than they were last year. And there's only a certain amount of this you can stand. I'm looking for light at the end of the tunnel. If this is a permanent mind- set, I may as well find another place to live. I can't stand it. I will not be able to stand it because if we -- what you need to understand is that all this is compounded. You know, it's like compound interest. 12.75 percent results in over a hundred percent increase in six years, and it's getting steep, fellas. I hope you'll do something about it. Thank you very much. CHAIRMAN CARTER: Sir, I appreciate-- (Applause.) CHAIRMAN CARTER: I certainly appreciate your comments. There's a couple of factors that I think everyone needs to please consider. This Board of County Commissioners inherited some situations. We're playing a lot of catch-up. And part of that was doing a pay-plan adjustment, not only for county employees, but it was the sheriff's department, that if we'd have done it every two years, you would have probably seen a gradual increase in your millage, and it wouldn't have come as such one big whack. But that didn't take place, and what we've had to do over the last two years is bite that bullet. And we have done it, and that's where you see the sizable amount of dollars in this budget to complete that so that we get to a two-year cycle so that we gradually do what has to be done in order to be competitive in the marketplace to attract the brightest and the best in county government, law enforcement, and the other agencies. And we have seen the downturn and the negativity when you don't do that. And any time you lose a good person, it probably costs you 150 percent of that person's salary to go Page 25 September 6, 2001 out and find another one. And that is very expensive, very inefficient and causes enormous problems. Secondly, we had the situation in the 2000 election where the State of Florida, as we all know, was in the gun barrel -- under the -- in the gun sights. The initiative taken by the state legislature says you must have an election reform process, and they gave us an option of two choices of what to do, neither one close to funding what had to be done in order to comply. We have taken a position through the -- meaning we, the county election supervisor, has taken a position to find the most effective way to do this and spread the cost as long as we can. But it still is a big increase in our budget. We are not ignoring problems any longer as a board of county commissioners. I said this morning it takes serious people to solve serious problems, and we have them in a county that grew 65 percent in ten years. People go to places that are nice to live in. And this is not an exception. From Houston to Maine, you will find the coastal counties are under the same pressures: Great places to live, and it costs more to be there. I'm not any happier than anybody else when my property taxes go up. I have a spouse who reminds me of that. But I also have to carry out and do the due diligence as an elected official not to ignore what has to be done, but to pursue what needs to be done and find the best possible options. I am hoping that we will be able to begin to level this off. And, in fact, I think under the current administration we have in this county, that we'll look for a leveling off so that we don't see these huge increases coming in front of us. We have to do what we need to do to provide the services that are demanded of (sic) you, our customers. All of you want EMS. All of you want sheriff protection. All of you want quality roads. All of you want everything that is associated with a quality of life. We're trying to provide those. And I recognize that it is difficult, and it Page 26 September 6, 2001 causes a great deal of concern that -- dealing with the other issues. So that's why you see the budget that you see in front of us tonight, but the ultimate decision will be by this board, will be up to each commissioner to vote his or her conscience. So I thank you for your patience and your indulgence as we go through this process. MR. OLLIFF: Mr. Chairman, the next speaker is Erika Cook who will be followed by Clark Ketterman. MS. COOK: I would just like to repeat one thing I said this morning, and that's regarding taxes. How do you explain that even though property values have risen dramatically in Collier County and the tax base has increased considerably because of the tremendous growth that has occurred, how is it that property taxes per resident keep rising? And then I'd like to bring to your attention -- I don't know -- it was distributed this morning. I don't know if everyone got a copy, and it was apparently Tom Macchia. I don't know if I'm pronouncing his name properly. He's a member of TAG. And it says, "Come on, commissioners. Give me a break." And they have somebody with his hands in his pocket turning his pockets inside out. And he's listed all the taxes that we are paying. I will list them: Healthy Kids, intangible taxes, 6 cents gas tax, additional 5 cent gas tax, federal gas tax, green tax, Head Start, estate tax, income tax, free lunch, phone taxes surcharges, documentary stamp taxes, Kid Care, Medikids, Kiddie Medicaid, property tax increase, sales tax, use tax. There's 18 taxes. It says, "Give us a break." It's about time taxes are rolled back, spending must be trimmed. I heard what you just said, but we're going to have to learn to do without some of these -- all these extras, and you're saying they're not extras. Well, I think they just cannot continue growing incrementally. If this 32 percent increase that was mentioned earlier is correct, this is excessive. The tax-and-spend mentality must be Page 27 September 6, 2001 revised to one of refund and reduce. And that's all I have to say. CHAIRMAN CARTER: Next speaker, please. MR. OLLIFF: The next speaker is Clark Ketterman, and that's your last registered speaker, Mr. Chairman. MR. KETTERMAN: Thank you. My name's Clark Ketterman. I've been a resident of Collier County for 11 years. Unlike the gentleman from Argentina, I do feel the need for taxes and know why they're necessary and probably wouldn't want to live in Argentina. But I would -- my remarks are going to parallel Mr. Bryan's remarks, except I do not represent as many homeowners as he represented. I represent myself. I called Abe Skinner's office as directed when I got my assessment, and I was told by the young lady, a nice young lady, who said, "Well, could you sell your house for that much?" And I explained to her that I don't intend to sell my house. I'd like to live there forever. I probably won't, of course. But I see that my taxes are going to continue to rise only under one condition, and that's if the millage rates -- if the millage rates stay the same, my taxes are going to rise. If the millage rates rise, my taxes are going to rise. The only way I'm going to have less taxes is for the millage rate to go down. I want the children of Naples Park to have a park to play in on the North Naples side. I want good police protection. But I see things like 7 percent pay hikes for county employees. I retired as an educator. In the 11 years I was down in Collier County, I never got a 7 percent raise. My raises were more between the 2 and 4 percent range. But if you're saying we were behind and had to catch up, that was a terrible situation. But I think that the public employees -- and I was a public employee for many, many, many years. We expect that our raises won't be as high as that of the organized unions and private businesses. Page 28 September 6, 2001 So those are my comments. I'd like for the commissioners to do everything they can to keep that millage rate, reduce that millage rate, and consider what's happening to the average taxpayer. CHAIRMAN CARTER: Thank you, sir. Appreciate your comments. COMMISSIONER HENNING: Can we have a brief summary of employees' raises increase over the last five years? MR. OLLIFF: I can provide that for you. I don't have it with me today, but I'll make sure that I get that for you before the next budget public hearing. Mr. Chairman, with that, I think Mr. Smykowski has some cleanup and some resolution items for you to approve. MR. SMYKOWSKI: That's correct. Mr. Chairman, Item 2-E is a resolution to adopt the tentative millage rates. COMMISSIONER MAC'KIE: Well, I just had a question. CHAIRMAN CARTER: Yes. Commissioner Mac'Kie. COMMISSIONER MAC'KIE: With the -- I know that we only had one item on the -- what do you call the list -- catch-up list -- wrap-up list. But I also know that with the recommendation that we got from the healthcare committee today, that amount is going down. And I guess what I'd like, before you start reading that long resolution, is from-- based on those changes, what is the amount of the reduction from what was sent out on the TRIM notices to what's in front of us today? Isn't it -- I mean -- MR. OLLIFF: Based on the committee's recommendation? COMMISSIONER MAC'KIE: Yes. MR. OLLIFF: You mean what was the total reduction then from what was budgeted? COMMISSIONER MAC'KIE: And then I guess with -- the only other wrap-up item wasn't a reduction. And the one cut that we thought that we could make, perhaps, in parks and rec, because of the Page 29 September 6, 2001 timing question, we've moved that money now instead of cut that money. Were there any other, you know, cuts, any other reductions that were available between the last workshop and now, or basically the only potential cut we're talking about tonight is the reduction in the healthcare? MR. OLLIFF: And until the board makes a final decision on that -- we can give you the tentative impact on what that would be, but the -- that wouldn't be decided until you make a final vote on that. And we're expecting that at the final budget public hearing, just only because we had the workshop this morning. COMMISSIONER MAC'KIE: So we're not going to have a discussion tonight about that? Because otherwise -- I mean, when will the public know what their actual rate is going to be? Because it is going to go down some. MR. SMYKOWSKI: It would be at the final hearing on the 19th. That is ultimately the rate that is used to process the final tax bills. COMMISSIONER MAC'KIE: So the tiny bit of good news for the public is that from the TRIM notices that they received, they should expect their county portion of that assessment to go down some amount. We will know what that is based on the board's decision at the final budget hearings. But in the meantime, if there are -- you know, if board members have other items brought to them from the public that they can see that -- you know, it's not too late to cut something. I mean, that's, I guess, the point I want to make. We are -- I expect that we are going to cut the budget based on the healthcare committee's recommendations. MR. OLLIFF: And that should be a significant reduction. COMMISSIONER MAC'KIE: And that's a real -- MR. OLLIFF: From this morning that was probably in the neighborhood of a million dollars out of your budget. And in Page 30 September 6, 2001 addition to that, just so the boards's aware, we, I believe, should have final numbers on the supervisor of elections equipment before the next budget public hearing as well. And there is an opportunity that that may go down as well. COMMISSIONER MAC'KIE: So, you know, we may yet be able to -- we know that we're going to reduce it, and we may be able to reduce it even more significantly by the final hearing. And I just think that's important for the people who are showing up here saying our taxes are too dang high, that we hear you. We have a couple of approaches already for some potential reductions. And if there are others, we will see them and talk about them and make final decisions at the final budget hearing. So please don't get the impression that you wasted your time showing up telling us that your taxes are too high. We're listening to that, and we can find some ways to reduce them, hopefully, at least a million dollars and hopefully more than that. CHAIRMAN CARTER: It's -- a worst-case scenario is what you heard this evening. We're trying to bring it into a better-case scenario and still meet all of the obligations that we have to provide services to our customers, which are you. That needs to be done and needs to be done effectively and efficiently in the process. So, Michael, maybe you and Tom, do you have sort of an idea of what we need to say here? Item #2E RESOLUTION 2001-314 ADOPTING THE TENTATIVE MILLAGE RATES- ADOPTED MR. OLLIFF: Walk them through the resolution. MR. SMYKOWSKI: Yes, Mr. Chairman. We have a resolution Page 31 September 6, 2001 to adopt the tentative millage rates. That is Item 2-E. It does not require reading or reading of the rates. That is not -- COMMISSIONER MAC'KIE: That's next time. MR. SMYKOWSKI: That special joy comes at the final hearing, reading each of the rolled back rates, the prior year levy, the final adopted millage rates, and the percentage increase. We just need a motion. COMMISSIONER HENNING: Motion to move (sic) the resolution for the tentative millage rates for Fiscal Year 2001/2002. COMMISSIONER FIALA: Second. CHAIRMAN CARTER: I have a motion by Commissioner Henning. I have a second by Commissioner Fiala. Any discussion by members of the board? Hearing or seeing no indication, I call the motion. All in favor signify by saying aye. (Unanimous response.) CHAIRMAN CARTER: (No response.) CHAIRMAN CARTER: Opposed by the same sign. Motion carries 5-0. We will see you on September the 19th at- Item #2F RESOLUTION 2001-315 ADOPTING THE AMENDED TENTATIVE BUDGET- ADOPTED MR. SMYKOWSKI: We have another resolution. CHAIRMAN CARTER: -- 5:05 after we hear another resolution from Mr.- MR. SMYKOWSKI: Sorry, Mr. Chairman. Item 2-F is a resolution to adopt the amended tentative budget reflecting the Page 32 September 6, 2001 changes that I walked through at the beginning of this hearing tonight. COMMISSIONER MAC'KIE: And considering this is amended and tentative -- we're going to do the final, and we know it's going to be different from this -- but I will move approval. COMMISSIONER FIALA: Second. CHAIRMAN CARTER: I have a motion by Commissioner Mac'Kie. I have a second by Commissioner Fiala. Any discussion by members of the board? Seeing or hearing none, I call the motion. All in favor signify by saying aye. (Unanimous response.) CHAIRMAN CARTER: (No response.) CHAIRMAN CARTER: MR. OLLIFF: Opposed by the same sign. Motion carries 5-0. Two more items, Mr. Chairman. Item #2G GENERAL FUND IS 3.9077 MILLS WHICH IS 27.9% OVER ROLLBACK RATE; POLLUTION CONTROL IS .0432 MILLS WHICH IS 11.3% OVER ROLLBACK RATE WHICH MAKES A COUNTY WIDE MILLAGE RATE OF 3.95 MILLS WHICH IS 27.7% OVER ROLLBACK RATE AND IS AN AGGREGATE OF 4.5762 MlLLS FOR A 24.61% OVER THE ROLLBACK RATE MR. SMYKOWSKI: The general fund proposed millage rate, 3.9077 -- COMMISSIONER MAC'KIE: But it's going to go down. MR. SMYKOWSKI: -- and that's 27.9 percent over the rolled Page 33 September 6, 2001 back rate. Pollution control is 0.432, 11.3 percent above the rolled back rate, for a total countywide tax levy of 3.9509 mils, 27.7 percent above the rolled back rate. COMMISSIONER FIALA: What page are you on? I'm so sorry. MR. SMYKOWSKI: 2-A, page 1. I'm just going back to those initial rates I walked through. And the aggregate millage rate, which is a blended average of all the millage rates, is 4.5762, which is an increase of 24.61 percent above the rolled back rate. Item #2H ANNOUNCEMENT OF FINAL PUBLIC HEARING The final public hearing, Item 2-H, would be on Wednesday, September 19th at 5:05 in the chambers here. COMMISSIONER MAC'KIE: I have a question about that. MR. SMYKOWSKI: Yes, ma'am. COMMISSIONER MAC'KIE: So as far as being able to know what the final rate is -- I'm just a little confused about the process here on the healthcare question. We're not going to, as a board, discuss the healthcare option until the final budget hearing? MR. OLLIFF: That would be my recommendation just so that you can have some time to let what you heard today sink in and then us have a final plan, and we will easily be able to make the millage rate adjustments on that evening. MR. SMYKOWSKI: We could put that on the wrap-up list for the final hearing, and that would trigger that discussion at the board level. COMMISSIONER HENNING: And there was some recommendations by the board, so that's going to change your budget Page 34 September 6, 2001 items on there. So that needs to gel out for the final budget. COMMISSIONER MAC'KIE: So the final budget hearing is going to be an extremely meaningful hearing because that's when we're really going to decide what the final millage is and what the rate's going to be, particularly based on the healthcare issues. Okay. Great. I understand. MR. SMYKOWSKI: With that, Mr. Chairman, we're concluded. CHAIRMAN CARTER: Do you need a motion on that? You're concluded. All right. Thank you. Any further questions or comments by members of the board? Hearing or seeing none, this meeting stands adjourned. There being no further business for the good of the County, the meeting was adjourned by order of the Chair at 6:16 p.m. ATTEST:.,~? D~!GHTE,..'BROCK,., ,. CLERK BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS/EX OFFICIO GOVERNING BOARD(S) OF jS~~~I~D~cL DISTRICTS UNDE~IAi~~~TROL Attest ae to Cf~1man's $tgsMa~ o~l]. Page 35 September 6, 2001 These minutes approved by the Board on (D~ as presented w'/ or as corrected TRANSCRIPT PREPARED ON BEHALF OF DONOVAN COURT REPORTING, INC., BY BARBARA DRESCHER, NOTARY PUBLIC Page 36