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BCC Minutes 09/05/2024 BSeptember 5, 2024 Page 1 TRANSCRIPT OF THE MEETING OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS Naples, Florida, September 5, 2024 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 5:05 p.m. in BUDGET SESSION in Building "F" of the Government Complex, East Naples, Florida, with the following Board members present: Chairman: Chris Hall Rick LoCastro Dan Kowal William L. McDaniel, Jr. Burt L. Saunders ALSO PRESENT: Amy Patterson, County Manager Jeffrey A. Klatzkow, County Attorney Troy Miller, Communications & Customer Relations     Page 1 September 5, 2024 Collier County Board Of County Commissioners Community Redevelopment Agency Board (Crab) Airport Authority BUDGET HEARING AGENDA Board Of County Commission Chambers Collier County Government Center 3299 Tamiami Trail East, 3rd Floor Naples, Fl 34112 September 05, 2024 5:05 PM Commissioner Chris Hall, District 2; – Chair Commissioner Burt Saunders, District 3; – Vice Chair Commissioner Rick LoCastro, District 1 Commissioner Dan Kowal, District 4; – Crab Co-Chair Commissioner William L. McDaniel, Jr., District 5; – Crab Co-Chair NOTICE: ALL PERSONS WISHING TO SPEAK ON AGENDA ITEMS MUST REGISTER PRIOR TO PRESENTATION OF THE AGENDA ITEM TO BE ADDRESSED. ALL REGISTERED SPEAKERS WILL RECEIVE UP TO THREE (3) MINUTES UNLESS THE TIME IS ADJUSTED BY THE CHAIRMAN. ANY PERSON WHO DECIDES TO APPEAL A DECISION OF THIS BOARD WILL NEED A RECORD OF THE PROCEEDING PERTAINING THERETO, AND THEREFORE MAY NEED TO ENSURE THAT A VERBATIM RECORD OF THE PROCEEDINGS IS MADE, WHICH RECORD INCLUDES THE TESTIMONY AND EVIDENCE UPON WHICH THE APPEAL IS TO BE BASED.     Page 2 September 5, 2024 COLLIER COUNTY ORDINANCE NO. 2003-53 AS AMENDED BY ORDINANCE 2004-05 AND 2007-24, REQUIRES THAT ALL LOBBYISTS SHALL, BEFORE ENGAGING IN ANY LOBBYING ACTIVITIES (INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ADDRESSI NG THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS), REGISTER WITH THE CLERK TO THE BOARD AT THE BOARD MINUTES AND RECORDS DEPARTMENT. IF YOU ARE A PERSON WITH A DISABILITY WHO NEEDS ANY ACCOMMODATION IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROCEEDING, YOU ARE ENTITLED, AT NO COST TO YOU, THE PROVISION OF CERTAIN ASSISTANCE. PLEASE CONTACT THE COLLIER COUNTY FACILITIES MANAGEMENT DIVISION LOCATED AT 3335 EAST TAMIAMI TRAIL, SUITE 1, NAPLES, FLORIDA, 34112-5356, (239) 252-8380; ASSISTED LISTENING DEVICES FOR THE HEARING IMPAIRED ARE AVAILABLE IN THE FACILITIES MANAGEMENT DIVISION. 1. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 2. ADVERTISED PUBLIC HEARINGS A. Special Assessment Roll for Pelican Bay MSTBU (All Districts) Introduced by Chris Johnson – Dir. of Corp. Financial & Mgmt. Srvcs., Presented by Chad Coleman – Deputy Director of Pelican Bay Srvcs., Resolution 2024-157: Motion to approve by Commissioner McDaniel; Seconded by Commissioner Hall – Adopted 5/0 B. BCC Fiscal Year 2025 Tentative Millage Rates and Tentative Budget (All Districts) Read into the Record by Chris Johnson C. Public Comments and Questions 1) Michele Lenhard – Resources and support of Conservation Collier 2) Pat Cogswell – Not present 3) Brad Cornell – Conservation Collier Lands 4) Andy Wells-Bean – Conservation Collier Trust funds 5) Gary Bromley -- Conservation Collier Funds D. Announcement of Tentative Millage Rates and Percentage Changes in Property Tax Rates     Page 3 September 5, 2024 Read into the Record by Chris Johnson, Motion to roll back the Millage Rate, the Sheriff’s budget won’t be touched by Commissioner Saunders; Seconded by Commissioner McDaniel – Adopted 5/0 E. Resolution to Adopt the Tentative Millage Rates Resolution 2024-158: Motion to Adopt the Tentative Millage Rate for FY25 - Motion by Commissioner Kowal; Seconded by Commissioner McDaniel – Adopted 5/0 F. Resolution to Adopt the Amended Tentative Budget Resolution 2024-159: Motion to Adopt the Amended Tentative Budget with Changes by Commissioner Saunders; Seconded by Commissioner LoCastro – Adopted 5/0 G. Announcement of Final Public Hearing as Follows: Final Public Hearing on the FY 2024-25 Collier County Budget Thursday, September 19, 2024 5:05 p.m. Collier County Government Center W. Harmon Turner Building (F) Third Floor, Boardroom Naples, Florida 34112 3) ADJOURN INQUIRIES CONCERNING CHANGES TO THE BOARD’S AGENDA SHOULD BE MADE TO THE COUNTY MANAGER’S OFFICE AT 252-8383 September 5, 2024 Page 2 MS. PATTERSON: Chair, you have a live mic. CHAIRMAN HALL: Good evening, everyone. Welcome to the public hearing for the budget. We'll get started with the Pledge of Allegiance. Mr. Coleman, if you wouldn't mind leading us in that wonderful pledge. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE (The Pledge of Allegiance was recited in unison.) CHAIRMAN HALL: Good job. MS. PATTERSON: Thank you, Commissioners. As you already stated, this is the first of two public budget hearings, and I'm going to hand it over to Mr. Johnson, your director of Corporate Finance -- and he's going to tell you his real title here -- to get started with our presentation. MR. JOHNSON: Thank you, Ms. Patterson. Good evening, Commissioners. Christopher Johnson, your director of Corporate Financial and Management Services. It is a mouthful, for sure. Tonight, we're going to review the Pelican Bay Services Division budget. We're seeking to adopt a resolution approving levying the special assessment roll for this district. This will be followed by the Board of County Commissioners budget hearing where we'll be discussing the tentative millage rates and changes to the tentative budget. I will read into the record tentative millage rates. I know that's everyone's favorite part of the evening. Then we will adopt a tentative millage rate resolution, a tentative budget resolution, and, finally, we will announce the time and place for the final public budget hearing. Tonight, there will be an opportunity for public comment for September 5, 2024 Page 3 both the Pelican Bay budget hearing and the BCC budget hearing. Agenda and speaker slips are available in the hallway. Anyone interested in addressing the Board regarding the budget must complete a slip and provide it to Mr. Miller over there across from me. He will collect the slips, announce the names of the speakers at the appropriate time during this hearing. Item #1 RESOLUTION 2024-157: SPECIAL ASSESSMENT ROLL FOR PELICAN BAY MSTBU With that said, we'll jump right into Pelican Bay Services budget, as that's our first item on the docket. Mr. Coleman is in the room here to present the Pelican Bay budget, and I'll be happy to turn the floor to you. MR. COLEMAN: Good evening, Commissioners. Thank you for the opportunity to be here. Deputy Director Chad Coleman, Pelican Bay Services Division. This year's assessment is going to be 995.77. It's up $60 from last year. Twenty dollars of that is from our operating, which is up 3 percent, and the rest is on the capital side. As you know, the Division's been very intensive about doing capital projects. I'm happy to say that we've completed 13 miles of concrete sidewalk in Pelican Bay. The only good thing about that is when you do a good job, they want you to do a whole lot more. So we've got some more capital projects out onboard coming up. We'll do some lake banks and stuff like that, and that's where our capital assessment is a little bit higher than it was with just the operating. I can say that this -- this budget has been approved by -- unanimously by the services divisions board. There's 11 of September 5, 2024 Page 4 them, so trying to please 11 people with 11 different opinions and 11 different ideas is a challenge, but we had a unanimous approval of this board. And with that, we would recommend the Board of County Commissioners adopt a resolution approving the special assessment roll levying the special assessment against the benefit parties within Pelican Bay for the MSTBU. Mr. Neil Dorrill is on Zoom as well if you have any questions, and I can answer any questions you may have. CHAIRMAN HALL: Mr. Dorrill, any comments? MR. DORRILL: No, sir. Thank you for the opportunity to participate via Zoom. COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: I make a motion for approval. CHAIRMAN HALL: We have a motion for approval. If you're going to -- if you'll keep the flowers pretty and flag flying, I'll second it. MR. COLEMAN: That's easy. That can be done. CHAIRMAN HALL: All right. COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: And just as a question, as discussion, you said you completed 13 miles of sidewalk. Estimated cost, plus/minus? MR. COLEMAN: Too much. It's -- COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: And if you don't have the answer, you can share it with me off-line. I just wanted -- we're doing a very large sidewalk project over in Immokalee, and I just wanted to compare. MR. COLEMAN: Yep. So for those 13 miles, we are right around $7.7 million. So give or take a few, but that was also bids that were let two years ago. So today's current price may be a little bit different. Concrete's pretty stable. What we ran into with the cost was all September 5, 2024 Page 5 the other stuff, the unintended consequences, irrigation, other things that were in the right-of-way, and that's where your cost kind of runs up. You can keep the concrete controlled, but those other things are what the challenges are that we saw. COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Thank you, sir. MR. COLEMAN: Yes, sir. CHAIRMAN HALL: It was an amazing job, too. That was a big feat, and it looks well, and it's a real enhancement to Pelican Bay. We have a motion and a second. All in favor, say aye. COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Aye. COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Aye. CHAIRMAN HALL: Aye. COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Aye. COMMISSIONER KOWAL: Aye. CHAIRMAN HALL: All opposed? (No response.) CHAIRMAN HALL: Done did it. MR. COLEMAN: Thank you, gentlemen. MR. JOHNSON: All right. Thank you, Chad. Thank you, Neil. Our agenda indicates at this time we're going to adjourn the Pelican Bay meeting and commence the public budget hearing for the Board of County Commissioners. And before we begin the required TRIM process for this meeting, I'm just going to give the public and you guys a quick outline of where we've been on the path towards this meeting. And I know you guys have seen this before, but for -- indulge me one or two more times with this, and then hopefully we'll be done. Starting in February this year, we had our first ever Strategic Plan AUIR Budget Policy Workshop. Budget discussions at this workshop included the utilization of priority-based budgeting, September 5, 2024 Page 6 leveraging the ResourceX software solution, and discussion on policy guidelines, including compliance and millage rates. In March, we adopted the budget policy. This policy provided the framework for the departments to build their budgets. At the June 2025 budget workshop in June, on June 20th, the County Manager presented the Board with her recommended budget, and the Board heard a presentation from ResourceX on the progress with the priority-based budgeting to date. On July 1st, we received the certified property values from the Property Appraiser. On July 9th, the Board adopted the tentative maximum FY '25 millage rates with countywide and unincorporated rates set at the maximum of millage neutral. On July 12th, the Board received the tentative FY 2025 budget document. On August 13th, we had a discussion on ResourceX priority-based budget return on investment report, and staff presented a presentation on progress and potential future insight implementations. On August 19th, the TRIM was sent from the Property Appraiser to property owners within the county. On August 27th, we had further discussion with ResourceX on next steps and the review of the organizational structure along with a refresher on the tentative budget in anticipation of today's meeting. As Amy stated earlier, this is our first of two required public budget hearings. The final hearing will be in two weeks, Thursday, September 19th. And with that, I'm going to welcome everyone again to the first of two public hearings on the Collier County Fiscal 2025-year budget which begins October 1st, 2024, and runs through September 30th, 2025. The public budget hearings in September must follow a specific format pursuant to State of Florida truth in millage, or TRIM, guidelines. The presentation is a scripted agenda pursuant to these September 5, 2024 Page 7 TRIM statutes. So if you'll indulge me a while, I'll read some things into the record as we normally do, and then there will be time for public comment, and then we will move on to the action items on the agenda. Okay. Your agenda contains the specific sequence of agenda items to be covered pursuant to statute. This hearing was advertised as part of the TRIM notice mailed to all Collier County property owners on or about the week of August 19th. The final budget hearing is two weeks from tonight on September 19th, 2024. The final hearing will be noticed as a part of the statutory advertising requirements contained in the truth in millage statutes. The final -- the final hearing notice advertisement will appear in the Naples Daily News on September 16th, 2024, and depending on action tonight, will either contain a notice of proposed tax increase or a budget hearing notice. A notice of proposed tax increase is necessary when the county's tentative adopted aggregate millage is greater than the current year's aggregate rolled-back rate. A budget hearing notice is necessary when the current year aggregate millage rate is less than or equal to the current year's rolled-back rate. The final tax rate and budget decisions will be made at that final hearing on September 19th, 2024. As stated earlier, agenda and speaker slips are available in the hallway. Anyone interested in addressing the Board of County Commissioners regarding the county's budget must complete a slip and give it to Mr. Miller over there in the corner. Following some introductory remarks regarding tax rates and changes to the tentative budget released in mid-July, there will be an opportunity under Agenda Item 1C for public comment. Speakers will be called by name. Again, the TRIM notice was mailed to all property owners -- I'm sorry. The TRIM notice was mailed to all September 5, 2024 Page 8 property owners, and indicated on that notice is September 13th, 2024, is the deadline for property owners to contact the Property Appraiser and file a petition for market value adjustment with the Value Adjustment Board. All right. Then we'll move into the certified taxable value and millage rate discussion quickly. Taxable value increased 10.33 percent countywide and 10.51 percent in the unincorporated area to 152.3 billion in 96.5 billion respectively; 4.6 billion of the $14.3 billion increase countywide is net new taxable value used in the calculation of the rolled-back rate. Likewise, in the Unincorporated Area General Fund, 3.2 billion of the $9.2 billion increase is attributed to net new taxable value. Of note, the Florida Constitution provides a 3 percent limit on annual assessed value increases for homesteaded properties for all taxing authorities and a 10 percent annual limit to assessed value for non-homestead property for all authorities with the exception of state and local school boards. As a result, at the maximum millage, a typical homestead property owner would see a modest increase in overall taxes this year and non-homestead property owners would be limited to a 10 percent increase as it pertains to county taxes. Item #1A DISCUSSION OF TENTATIVE MILLAGE RATES AND INCREASES OVER THE ROLLED BACK MILLAGE RATES And this brings us to Item 1A, which is discussion of percent increases in millage over rolled-back rate needed to fund the budget and the reasons ad valorem revenues above the rolled-back, as calculated on the state's DR420 forms, are being increased. Rolled-back rate is defined as the tax necessity to generate prior year September 5, 2024 Page 9 tax revenues, and this tax is calculated utilizing taxable values associated with new construction, addition, deletions, and rehabilitative improvements. The Board adopted maximum millage rates in July at a millage-neutral operating levy for all countywide levies. Millage-neutral rates for these levies are 3.2043, 0.0263, and 0.2242 for the General Fund, Water Pollution Control Fund, and Conservation Collier Fund respectively. Likewise, the Unincorporated Area General Fund maximum millage rate was also set at a millage neutral or 0.7280. Levies for the General Fund and Unincorporated Area General Fund together represent the majority of the total aggregate taxes levied across all Collier County taxing authorities for FY 2025. The FY '25 tentative General Fund and Unincorporated Area General Fund operating and capital budgets presented are based upon Board-adopted maximum millage rates. Countywide funds and the Unincorporated Area General Fund proposed tax rates are higher than the rolled-back rate. Collier County taxable value has increased for FY '25 by 10.33 percent countywide and 10.51 percent within the Unincorporated Area General Fund. With the increasing taxable value environmental, the rolled-back rate will be lower than the millage-neutral rate. This is the case for FY '25. The MSTU maximum millage rates, per policy these budgets were established to cover the operational need for FY '25 and any planned capital alloc- -- any planned capital allocations. The proposed maximum millage rates were set to support those budgets. Of note, Radio Road Beautification MSTU is re-established this year at .1 mill, and the newly established private road MSTU we've reduced to zero for today, and that change will be included in your September 5, 2024 Page 10 budget changes. All right. Referring to Exhibit 1A, Page 1 or Packet Page 38, millage rates for each Collier County taxable authority have been established pursuant to Board guidance. The roster of tax rates adopted by the Board on July 9th, 2024, represents the maximum property rates that can be levied in FY 2025. The cumulative aggregate rolled-back rate for all county taxing authorities, exclusive of debt service, totals $3.7702 per 1,000 of taxable value. The proposed aggregate rate for all Collier County taxing authorities, exclusive of debt service, totals $4.0049 per 1,000 of taxable value. This represents an increase of 6.23 percent over the aggregate rolled-back rate, and adoption of these rates as the tentative rates wouldn't necessitate a notice of proposed tax increase advertisement for TRIM purposes and not simply a budget summary advertisement. Final millage rates will be adopted by the Board on September 19th, 2024. Item #1B REVIEW AND DISCUSSION OF CHANGES TO THE TENTATIVE BUDGET Now we're going to move on to the changes in the tentative budget, Item 1B. For tonight's hearing, changes from the FY 2025 July tentative budget, as noted within Exhibit 1B, pertain to customary adjustments to the Tax Collector and Property Appraisers' budgets, which were received in August, a reduction, as a stated earlier, to the private road emergency MSTU down to 0 mills from 1; adjustments to certain funds reflecting FY 2024 revenue and expense changes, which resulted in adjustments to FY 2025 carryforward or the beginning balance; adjustments for positions related to the September 5, 2024 Page 11 workforce prioritization pool; and other customary and routine revenue and expense adjustments required to support capital or operations as the FY 2025 fiscal year begins. These fund-level adjustments occur as a matter of normal operations or are necessary in accordance with previous Board direction. Detailed budgetary changes are found within Exhibit 1B, Pages 3 to 18, or Packet Pages 43 to 58. A summary of these actions is described within Exhibit 1B, Page 1 and 2 or Packet Page 41. The total gross budget changes amount to $2.86 million. As stated earlier, the only proposed change to the maximum millage rates set by the Board on July 9th, 2024, included is the private road emergency repair adjustment. And with that, Commissioners, that ends my required readings here before we get into the action items. Item #1C PUBLIC COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS The next step would be Item 1C, public comment, followed by discussion on millage rates and budget changes. MR. MILLER: Mr. Chair, I have four registered speakers here in the room, and it's fluctuating between one and two on Zoom. We'll start with Michele Lenhard, and she'll be followed by Pat Cogswell. I should have had the Jeopardy theme ready. MS. LENHARD: I know. Good evening, Commissioners. Michele Lenhard, chair of Conservation Collier Land Acquisition Advisory Committee. I thank you for the opportunity to comment on the budget this evening. As the budget process wraps up this month, I thank you for the September 5, 2024 Page 12 hard work over the past year to undertake a programmatic analysis and look for efficiencies and savings. Your priority-based budgeting approach will reap benefits for the taxpayer. The ResourceX ROI report recommendations focused on Conservation Collier management funds, listing programmatic efficiencies, and does not address the acquisition fund since it is budget positive. This information, plus long-standing community support for Conservation Collier, will provide a framework for our budget discussions and decisions. I would like to highlight some of the long-term goals of the program which support a need to maintain financial strength of all funds. First one, there are currently 28 A-listed properties in the pipeline for acquisition. This represents 2,346 acres, an estimated value of $26.7 million. Included in this list is the Williams Farm property, which is 2,247 acres, at a cost of $11.9 million. The Board recently also approved target protection area mailing maps, which will direct our efforts to attract new applications. This mailing will target 474 parcels or another total of 4,031 acres. New to this list is the I-75/Everglades Boulevard area which is 551 acres. Our multi-parcel project areas -- there are four of them. To complete them is 772 acres with an outstanding estimated value right now at $19.9 million. FY '24 budget transfer out of Conservation Collier management and acquisition funds was $29.6 million. The property management fund obligations continue to be an area of concern since historically low interest rates create a challenge meeting the programmatic goals of preserving our properties in perpetuity. The passage in November 2020 of the most recent referendum provides funding sources for 10 years. The timing and costs of September 5, 2024 Page 13 applications are difficult and hard to predict. Acquisition funds can be used after our funding sunsets and if funds are available. So on behalf of the committee, I request that you fully fund our program as well as replenish the funds transferred in FY '24, assuring the long-term financial health of a valuable program. Thank you very much. MR. MILLER: Your next speaker is Pat Cogswell. She'll be followed by Brad Cornell. CHAIRMAN HALL: Looks like Brad's up. MR. MILLER: Pat Cogswell, are you in the room? (No response.) MR. MILLER: All right. Brad Cornell, followed by Andy Wells-Bean. MR. CORNELL: Good evening, Commissioners, Mr. Chair. Thank you for the opportunity to address you tonight. I'm speaking on behalf of Audubon Western Everglades as their policy director and also on behalf of Audubon Florida and its conservation -- excuse me -- its Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. I see a C, and I think conservation. It's Corkscrew. I also want to express my appreciation for your extended priority-budget process, the ResourceX process that's been going on for the last several months. I've been watching that and commented when I could. I think this has been a useful efficiency exercise, an important first step. There's more, I think, that we all would recognize to come in that discussion. Conservation Collier's budget has some important priorities to consider as well. First, effective ordinance revisions last March have created a streamline process that has been officially evaluating and moving highly ranked and environmentally important properties quickly to Board of Commissioners approval. Currently, there are over 2,300 acres of top-ranked properties September 5, 2024 Page 14 ready for final steps by the Board for acquisition. They are valued at approximately $26.8 million, and 10 already have Board-approved contracts, including the 1,400 acres of Williams Farm, which is the Conservation Collier portion of that acquisition. Estimated annual land management costs in Fiscal Year '25 are about $2.4 million for about 6,400 acres, including that Williams Farm acquisition. On top of that, there are also 930 acres pending acquisition, as I mentioned, along with the Williams Farm. That would result in over 7,300 acres of managed Conservation Collier lands in Fiscal Year '25, which is a great accomplishment, and it's an important legacy responsibility. How will this management and land acquisition be accomplished? Audubon strongly recommends restoring funds to the land management trust fund as quickly as possible in order to generate the annual interest to fund this level of management and more going forward. To accomplish both acquisition and management, Audubon also recommends levying the maximum millage rate. This could reasonably be adopted with the public's strong support, regardless of your actions in any of the other millage rate areas for your budget. So thank you very much for considering our comments on this and in a mutual effort to achieve conservation outcomes for all of Collier County citizens. Thank you. MR. MILLER: Your next speaker is Andy Wells-Bean, and he would be followed by Gary Bromley. MR. WELLS-BEAN: Good evening. Thanks for being here and for holding this hearing to understand the public's will about the budget moving forward. I want to speak, as you might guess, about Conservation Collier budgets being replenished. Now, we know that Conservation September 5, 2024 Page 15 Collier, as an ordinance, is only authorized to raise funds for a limited period of time. There's a time limit. And so that does not line up to perpetual maintenance which goes on into the -- into the forever. So while we have the taxing authority with Conservation Collier, we need to make as best use of it as possible so that we're setting ourselves up and we're not leaving a big budget hole for future commissioners to have to fill in 10 or 12 or 15 years to maintain that property. But we also know that Conservation Collier trust funds are there as a piggy bank that we can smash if we need to, if a hurricane rolls through or should I say, "When a hurricane rolls through," and we're waiting on FEMA money. So to ensure that we have the money that we need for perpetual maintenance and to have at hand when there's a natural disaster, we'd urge you to replenish those trust fund monies. Thank you very much. MR. MILLER: Your next speaker is Gary Bromley. Pat Cogswell, have you returned to the room? (No response.) MR. MILLER: She has not, so Gary will be followed on Zoom by Blanca Lukay (phonetic). MR. BROMLEY: Good evening, Commissioners. I'm here to speak on the same topic, which is Conservation Collier, and the funds that were re-purposed from Conservation Collier into an account that can be used for a number of programs that have nothing to do with conservation or preservation. I was one of the voters, the enthusiastic voters that voted for the referendum to support Conservation Collier. I found it rather unsettling that the fund transfer that took place earlier in this year happened. My point today is that I think that it would restore a lot of faith September 5, 2024 Page 16 in people like me who support the program if we knew there was a plan to replenish those funds. There's lots of ways to do it, obviously, one fell swoop, little by little, and everything in between. So I'm here to advocate for a statement of some kind of plan to replenish those funds and starting it in the 2025 budget. Thank you very much. MR. MILLER: Mr. Chair, as inconceivable as this sounds, I've made a mistake. Blanca Lukay is actually a staff member on Zoom and doesn't need to speak under public comment. CHAIRMAN HALL: You're forgiven. COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: I'll be quiet. MR. MILLER: And that would wrap up our public speakers. MR. JOHNSON: Thank you, Troy. All right, Commissioners. And that will bring us on to the discussion for tonight. Let me just go back to the millage rates here. Obviously, up in -- up for discussion tonight is where we want to land with our millage rates. As you know, we have identified our maximum millage rates as the millage-neutral rates for the countywide taxing districts and the unincorporated area. This slide here, you've seen this one before. This shows you the prior year adopted tax dollars; the current year rolled-back tax dollars; in the green there, you'll see the difference between last year and this year based on the rolled-back rate; then you have the millage-neutral tax dollars followed by the difference between last year and this year at millage neutral; and then, finally, the difference between the rolled-back rate in green and the millage-neutral change in blue and the yellow on the end. So with that, I'll open it up for discussion. CHAIRMAN HALL: So, Mr. Johnson, the yellow, that's the difference between the millage-neutral rate that was policy and last year's taxes that were collected? September 5, 2024 Page 17 MR. JOHNSON: That's the difference between the millage-neutral rate, which is our maximum millage rate, and last year's that -- CHAIRMAN HALL: So if we adopted the millage rate, we would be $32 million ahead of rolled-back rate? MR. JOHNSON: Correct. That's what I was going to say. It's the difference between the blue and the green is the -- CHAIRMAN HALL: Okay. So how much -- how much of those dollars -- we had the taxable values that were new -- that were new taxable values. MR. JOHNSON: Correct. CHAIRMAN HALL: How much actual dollars is the new -- is the new growth? MR. JOHNSON: If you look at the green there, essentially, that's the -- that's the new growth, the number in the green. So your rolled-back over your last year would be that amount that's attributable to net new taxable value. CHAIRMAN HALL: So the rolled-back rate with the new growth would give us basically $15 million? MR. JOHNSON: Fifteen million countywide and 2.1 in the unincorporated. CHAIRMAN HALL: And that would less -- that would make the difference in the yellow about half, correct? MR. JOHNSON: No, because the yellow is the difference between the green and the blue. CHAIRMAN HALL: Okay. MR. JOHNSON: So you could collect -- the blue is what you would collect over last year at millage neutral. So you would have 46.9 million in the countywide and 6.3 in the unincorporated. CHAIRMAN HALL: Gotcha. How much was the money that -- you know, we planned for 63 million last year from the September 5, 2024 Page 18 Conservation Collier fund, but we only actually got to transfer a portion of that. How much did we not get to transfer? MR. JOHNSON: Commissioner, if you look at this slide here, this shows the changes. So, initially, it was going to be 53.5 million. The transfer ended up being 29.6-. The delta there is 23.9 million. All the way on the right-hand side. CHAIRMAN HALL: So we did not -- we left, basically, 24 million in the Conservation Collier account? MR. JOHNSON: Correct. COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: We borrowed the 23- plus or minus. MR. JOHNSON: We borrowed 29.6- plus or minus. COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Okay, 29.6-. CHAIRMAN HALL: What is the actual dollar amount for the proposed -- the proposed millage rate on Conservation Collier based on values? MR. JOHNSON: Based on values? CHAIRMAN HALL: Yes. MR. JOHNSON: At the proposed millage rate of millage neutral, Commissioner? CHAIRMAN HALL: Rolled-back. MR. JOHNSON: At rolled-back. Let me go back to that other slide I was at. COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: 31.9. MR. JOHNSON: 31.9. CHAIRMAN HALL: That's additional dollars that would go back at the rolled-back rate? MR. JOHNSON: Oh, additional would be 822- over last year; 822,000 over last year. But if we levied the rolled-back rate next year, the tax rate would be 31.9 million. So that would be next year's tax levy going into those accounts. September 5, 2024 Page 19 COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: And do you have the -- excuse me, Mr. Chair. I don't mean to jump. Can I ask a question? CHAIRMAN HALL: Sure. COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Do you have the amount of reserve accounts in Conservation Collier right now? MR. JOHNSON: I sure do. All right. I'll give you the current amount, and I'll give you the budget for next year, if that works for you, so... COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: The budget will be added to the -- MR. JOHNSON: Depending on where the millage is. COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Depending where we end up on the rolled-back rate. MR. JOHNSON: Correct. COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: But the current reserves that are in the fund today. MR. JOHNSON: The current reserves within your Collier County maintenance fund, the amended budget is that 23.5 million, and the amended budget for the land acquisitions is at 22.7 million currently. COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: And the division in the -- I'm going to use the rolled-back rate because that's what we've all been talking about. But the new revenue added would then be another 31.9 -- MR. JOHNSON: 31.9. COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: -- million. It's divided -- if I recall, we adjusted the percentage of hold from the original 15 percent up to 25 percent of the new money to be appropriated to reserves for maintenance. MR. JOHNSON: And I believe -- I believe in the new September 5, 2024 Page 20 ordinance, that is -- that is -- and I'm going to look over at Ed and Jeff here. I believe that that had changed to -- we have a lot more flexibility in that allocation. COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Okay. MR. JOHNSON: Based on what you guys adopt in the budget. COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Because I remember -- originally when it was established, there was only a 15 percent allocation for reserves for maintenance. And I know we raised that up at one time, and there's even more flexibility because, as was brought up, this theory of perpetual maintenance isn't perpetual. We have to budget as we continue to acquire new lands. We watched -- I think last year when we were talking, we were running about a million and a half a year in ongoing maintenance, and that next year it's estimated to be 2.5. And -- now that's going to come and go with new properties and the expenses associated with bringing those properties up to par, but that's -- I really want us to focus a lot on the reserves side for maintenance as we're going along just because as we add properties to it, we're -- that reserve, that maintenance is going to increase as well. MR. JOHNSON: And if I may, Commissioner, your current proposed budget would increase that reserve in '25 to -- the maintenance reserve to 45.6 million, and your land acquisition would be around 42 million for FY '25, sitting at the current proposed rate. Obviously, that would be adjusted if you moved back to the rolled-back rate by approximately $2 million. COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Okay. CHAIRMAN HALL: Commissioner Saunders. COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: A lot of numbers floating around in terms of Conservation Collier. Can you just tell me what the total amount of funds are in Conservation Collier? Just September 5, 2024 Page 21 maintenance and acquisition, just the total amount right now. MR. JOHNSON: The current budget right now is -- set for next year is about $100 million. So if you took out the 30-, you'd have 70-. COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: All right. What I'm trying to find out -- I just want to simplify this a little bit. How much money is in Conservation Collier right now? I'm not talking about the future. I'm talking about what exists there right now. MR. JOHNSON: The current amended budget is $110 million. CHAIRMAN HALL: Not budget. The actual balance of Conservation Collier. MR. JOHNSON: I don't have the cash balance with me at the moment. I could have somebody look it up. COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Well, you have -- I mean, I don't want to be argumentative, but I thought you had the acquisition fund and the maintenance fund. MR. JOHNSON: That's a budget, yes. So the acquisition -- the acquisition reserve is 23.5 million. The -- I'm sorry. The maintenance reserve is 23.5 million. The money set aside for acquisition is 22.7 in the amended budget currently. COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: So right now in that fund there is 46.2 million? MR. JOHNSON: In the combination of the two for those two identified items, yes. COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: That's in the bank right now? MR. JOHNSON: In the bank. COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: So if you go to the rolled-back millage rate, how much money would be added? Again, just total. I'm not trying to break it down. MR. JOHNSON: The addition would be $31.9 million. COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: 31.9. So you'd have a total September 5, 2024 Page 22 of -- COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Seventy. COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: -- 78 -- CHAIRMAN HALL: Thirty-two and 42, about 75 million. COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: It's 31 million versus 34 million if we stayed with the millage neutral. MR. JOHNSON: Correct, correct. COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: That's at -- that's at rolled-back? MR. JOHNSON: That's at rolled-back. It will be 31.9. At millage neutral, the new addition would be 34.1. COMMISSIONER KOWAL: That's $3 million difference. COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: All right. I wanted to get an idea what the total maximums were. And then one other question -- this has not been a unanimous decision of the Board, but the Board has indicated a willingness to at least look at replenishing the 30 million that was taken out. It wasn't 53-; it was the 30 million. Has staff looked at some kind of a plan to do that in the event that the Board does proceed in that direction? MR. JOHNSON: Yes, sir. On the slide here, you'll see some of the Conservation Collier refunding options. I'll just go through them real quick, if you guys want. Option 1, no repayment. No action needed. Option 2, the Board could create a resolution to extend the millage to an 11th year for the repayment of the $29 million. Option 3 would be annual repayments. That could be done through increases in the General Fund millage to repay for the remaining seven years or cutting budgets in another area to repay. And, finally, a lump sum repayment. If you noticed, the variance between the General Fund rolled-back and the General Fund millage neutral is approximately $29 million, so... September 5, 2024 Page 23 COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: So give us a timeline on when Conservation Collier started and when that 10th year occurs so we'll know when that 11th year is. MR. JOHNSON: The first year of this addition of Conservation Collier was FY '22. It will be over after FY '31. COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: So we would be talking about extending it to 2032? MR. JOHNSON: Correct. COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. That's all my questions for right now. CHAIRMAN HALL: Commissioner Kowal. COMMISSIONER KOWAL: Thank you, Chairman. My questions are kind of on the same line. I was looking for those numbers also, what actually was left in the -- in the account. This might be another question you might not be able to answer, but do you know how much of that 20 -- was it 22.7 million in the acquisition, around there, is in there now that's already earmarked to go out, or is that exact -- is that a drop-dead number where we're probably going to be at? MR. JOHNSON: That's the budget for this year depending on how the properties line up. Their forecast was to spend about 11 million of that 22.7- by the end of the year, so that will leave you with 11 million in acquisition. But, again, the budget for next year where we current sit is set to put $42 million in acquisition, $45 million into the maintenance reserve. COMMISSIONER KOWAL: Which is more than what we started with last year, right? MR. JOHNSON: Correct. COMMISSIONER KOWAL: And we did a lot of work last year in purchasing properties with what we had left in there. MR. JOHNSON: And keep in mind there are a few -- I know at September 5, 2024 Page 24 least the Williams property's a large acquisition that -- if that goes through, it will be next year. That's 21 million of that. So give or take. COMMISSIONER KOWAL: But we won't need that money till next year. MR. JOHNSON: Correct, correct. COMMISSIONER KOWAL: Where I'm going with this is -- because I think everybody agrees that the maintenance fund is probably the most important part of this, because that stays into perpetuity even beyond the collection period of this, unless it doesn't get voted back in. And I know we worked on a new ordinance on how to, you know, move the money around as needed. You know, my thing is that we look at what we have in there left over. I would think that, you know, it wouldn't make sense to take money from the acquisition fund, move a few million over to keep the maintenance fund rolling in the right direction, and then start over with the new amount for purchases for FY 2025 because we're already going to be fatter than what we were last year, and we did a lot with the money that was in there, and keep that going all the way up until 2031. And we will have probably reached that magic number that we'll be able to operate off the interest of what's in that maintenance fund into perpetuity. So, you know, I think that's something we should take a strong look at, not raising taxes or moving from the General Fund, but moving their money around a little bit to make it work better for them in the long run within their two accounts, because there's going to be money left over from this year's acquisitions. MR. JOHNSON: And I believe with that new ordinance, you guys have the flexibility to do that. And just to answer the other question -- I know I've been talking budget numbers -- my staff just provided me with the actual cash September 5, 2024 Page 25 balances in those funds, and the total's 93.5 million. CHAIRMAN HALL: That's what I thought. MR. JOHNSON: In the acquisition fund, there's currently 50 million. In the maintenance fund, there's currently 42.6-. COMMISSIONER KOWAL: That's double what -- MR. JOHNSON: So, again, there's kind of a bunch of stuff they're doing in there. So that doesn't take in -- when we're talking reserves, we're talking just the reserves in that fund. They're also doing maintenance daily out of that fund, and then in the acquisition fund, they're paying people and doing other things as well. COMMISSIONER KOWAL: But I think, you know, as a Board of County Commissioners, this body up here, that we could manage those accounts between each other and make it move in the right direction in the future and have that magic number without taxing or without putting a burden on the other accounts to repay it. I think we have the ability to do that and still keep moving the project in the right direction. I think that's just something we could chew on and think about. CHAIRMAN HALL: Commissioner Klucik. COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Thank you, Chairman. Mr. Klatzkow, I just wanted to ask you a few questions. I was looking at some of my old notes when we first started talking about the Conservation Collier budget -- or not budget, but the fund and how there was quite a bit of money in there that was sitting dusty, and that started our whole conversation of moving money around. And correct me if I'm wrong, at that very first meeting, we thought we moved about 50 million, right? And then a second -- a meeting after that we were corrected that we could only move 29-, right? I mean, that was -- MR. JOHNSON: Correct. COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: I'm just sort of summarizing. September 5, 2024 Page 26 In my notes there was some ambiguity at the very first meeting on replenishment. And at least I had it in my notes. And maybe we got an answer, and maybe I just didn't write it down, but I want to get it into the record. There was some ambiguity as to, legally, do we have to replace that money that we borrowed or we -- or the fine print says we can move it at our discretion, and we don't have to replace it? I had that specifically written in my notes on that very first meeting, and I think we were a little bit unsure. I think there was a -- or at least maybe I just didn't write down the answer. But I want to get it into the record now, and I would expect all that research has been done. Because your first slide says no replenishment. So I guess my question is, is that an option that we have at our discretion? I want to get that into the record, yes or no, legally. MR. KLATZKOW: Yes. COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Okay. That was the only question I had. I just wanted to get certainty on that. CHAIRMAN HALL: Commissioner McDaniel. COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Go back to that other slide, please. So we don't have to repay the funds that were utilized. I think we should repay the funds that were borrowed from Conservation Collier. I think some kind of mechanism for us to do that should be discussed at some stage how we got there. And of these four suggestions, really, the only two in the middle are, in my mind, something that halfway is viable. I have no interest in drawing 29 million out of other revenues in order to replace it all back at once. I think we need to give consideration to the fact that when we all walked in here at that last budget hearing last year, there was a general consensus to move to rolled-back. There wasn't a plan to fund the budget at rolled-back with that 62-, 59-, whatever the September 5, 2024 Page 27 number was. In my brain, it was a $62 million deficit, and that plan was devised by this board by borrowing from Conservation Collier. It turned out that we weren't able -- we were able to manage the deficit, 29- from Conservation Collier and the balance from other funds, and we still did not delay -- and this is an important key. We did not delay capital projects, which has been the case that this county has done over a long period of time is they would refer capital projects in order to fund budgetary items. So for discussion purposes, I'd like for us to draw down the choices here from four to two and utilize those two in the middle, having some discussion -- I don't think we're going to dive in at this stage, gentlemen, to the ResourceX suggestions of reallocation and appropriate compensation for services that are provided. I don't think we're going to have the capacity to do that in this budget cycle, but we are certainly going to be able to have that discussion ongoing for our next budget cycle. And so I think giving our staff direction that we borrowed the money from Conservation Collier, the number was 29 million or so, whatever -- whatever Chris has decided that it was, and a mechanism to repay those funds is a proper way. I, myself, suggested that when I was talking to Brad and Meredith last year. We went on break after a very long budget hearing, and I felt certain that that was the proper way. I mean, whenever you borrow money, you're supposed to pay it back. And so I would like to see us move in that direction to eliminate 1 and 4 of this list and focus on 2 and 3 and have this discussion ongoing with -- with available funds. We have -- we have -- we have new allocations/reallocations coming forth. We have new compensation for services that are rendered that is, in fact, going to be coming forth, and utilizing a portion of those revenues, either reallocation and/or compensation, I September 5, 2024 Page 28 think, is a path for us to travel and begin that process of the repayment. CHAIRMAN HALL: Commissioner Saunders. COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Thank you. I agree with you, Commissioner McDaniel, that we should eliminate No. 1 and No. 4 and take a look at the other two options. The extension for an 11th year, or the -- I doubt that we're going to increase the millage rates anywhere to do that, and I don't think we're going to cut projects. But I would agree that we should at least limit it to those two things so at least we're letting the public know that the intent is to replace those funds one way or other. COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: At some stage. COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: At some point, if there's a motion, then I would support that. Mr. Chairman, I was going to ask a question that's totally unrelated to Conservation Collier, and I don't want to do that until we're finish with Conservation Collier. CHAIRMAN HALL: Sure. I'll come back to you, then. Commissioner Kowal. COMMISSIONER KOWAL: Thank you, Chairman. You know, the two options you're looking at, one's increasing the GF millage rate. You know, I'm crunching the numbers over here for our public safety. And, you know, we're looking at about $16.2 million difference from last year's budget for the Sheriff to this year's budget. At the rolled-back, quote [sic] me if I'm wrong, I think we gain 14.9 million, and that's a -- the increase is 16.2. So as a governing body, we have a responsibility to public safety. COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Number one. COMMISSIONER KOWAL: Number one. Number one. So when you're talking about taking these funds and possibly increasing them to pay something back we never said we were going September 5, 2024 Page 29 to pay back or we are required to pay back -- if I want to have a discussion, an educated discussion on how we make up the delta of the 1.2 million, or whatever it is, to cover the Sheriff's budget, I'd rather have that conversation than raising millage rates to refund Conservation Collier. That's kind of my position right now. COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Agreed. COMMISSIONER KOWAL: Because I know as a governing body, that is our primary duty is public safety first. COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Right. COMMISSIONER KOWAL: So I like the rolled-back rate, but I see, just in that one particular part of the budget, it's not jiving. You know, so that's a discussion I think we really need to have. COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: But -- CHAIRMAN HALL: So we -- we did not talk about borrowing funds last year. We never said the word "borrow." We said we're going to take those funds and balance the deficit in our budget. And the public -- you know, you can't get me wrong. Brad, you can't get mad at me. I love Conservation Collier. I was proud of everything that we did this year with that program. Making it easier. The fund is healthy. It's robust. There's money in there to -- there's more money than we can use. I also wanted to roll the rate back last year so that we didn't increase the taxes on the people. And in doing so, there was a $63 million difference, so we grabbed $63 million, we thought -- COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Tried. CHAIRMAN HALL: -- or 50-something, a large chunk, from the Conservation Collier fund that was not being used. It just sat there. It was just money in the bank. And so we used that to fund our budget, and then we are short -- we were shorted $23 million because we couldn't take the whole amount. There's $93 million in the acquisition fund right now, or September 5, 2024 Page 30 50 million, and there's 50 million more going to come if we even fund it at the rolled-back rate, which is .20 something. I still don't want to -- we are into this -- my brain is about five steps ahead of my mouth, so let me slow down. The expenses that we operate with have not come down yet. We are into the ResourceX program, the ResourceX recommendations. We have a solid game plan to reallocate funds to do private/public partnerships, to charge extra fees. We have a solid plan to do that. That was first. It was -- it was my hope that we would be twice the amount down the road with ResourceX, but we're not. So I'm going to have to exercise patience there. Commissioner McDaniel said, you know, we're in the process with being more efficient, with looking at redundancies, streamlining processes. We have a good example of doing the labor pool thing. So we have hope that's on the end of the horizon that we're going to be able to reduce expenses so we're not just talking about revenue to balance our budget. We need to make up $32 million from the rolled-back rate to the millage-neutral rate, basically, this year in this budget? MR. JOHNSON: The 32- is the difference between the two. CHAIRMAN HALL: That's the yellow. MR. JOHNSON: Yep, the yellow. CHAIRMAN HALL: I'm getting better. MR. JOHNSON: If you recall, the millage-neutral rate was what was adopted in July as your maximum millage rate. CHAIRMAN HALL: That was the max. We couldn't go past that, but that didn't tie us to it. MR. JOHNSON: So that's where your budget sits now. The budget that was brought to you earlier was at rolled-back, so the difference between those has been put in reserves and/or the corresponding TIFs where the money went. September 5, 2024 Page 31 CHAIRMAN HALL: Okay. So basically, I'm still going to be a fan of the rolled-back -- we can't do rolled-back forever, but while we can, I want to. And to get there, we're going to have to balance our budget, and we're going to have to find some money, at the same time last year, we wanted to do the deep dive and do the hard work, and we put ourselves out there on the line to cut the spending and to cut -- and to shrink the machine. That didn't happen. It's -- we're working on it. Things just don't happen in government like they happen in business, and it's frustrating for me. But I can see the plan -- I can see the method to the madness, as I mentioned earlier. Conservation Collier is as healthy a fund as we have. One of the things that we can look at as a board is to change the rules of the maintenance. One of those -- you know, one of those things is to remove the exotics, which is like peeing in the wind. You remove them; they grow back. You remove them; they grow back. So if we would look at the maintenance to where we could remove the exotics that are on the trails or that are in the way, but not in general, I think we would reduce our expenses within that Collier County -- within that Conservation Collier maintenance fund dramatically. And Commissioner McDaniel and Commissioner Kowal mentioned, this is not going to -- you know, this is a perpetual thing. This is going to go on. But while we're looking at rolled-back and while we have some monies that we can -- we can maneuver -- we can't take from Conservation Collier unless we declare an emergency. That was one of the things that we did earlier this year, but what we do have a chance to do is not to fund it fully for this year so that we can -- we can move the difference. If we were going to do .25, we can do .1 for Conservation September 5, 2024 Page 32 Collier. We'll move the .15 to the general budget, to -- so that the tax stays the same for the people, balance our budget. It allows us one more year -- I hate to say that because I was really wanting to do this and be clean with it. But we could do one more year that would allow us not to just look at reallocations, not just to look at private partnerships, but we could -- that would give us a year to actually do the deep dive, cut the internal things, find the redundancies, become more efficient, get the processes that are -- that are cumbersome out of the way so that it doesn't cost us as much to operate. Whatever those dollar figures are, I need you-all's help to do that. I just hypothetically said that. I wasn't pushing for that, but that's the rationale that I'm thinking of. Commissioner McDaniel. COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: I like your rationale, by the way. Just to -- and this is just a thought. I'm the one that's thrown in the "borrow," with the language of the borrow. Words matter, as Commissioner Saunders reminds us on a regular basis. Had we not done what we did in order to fund last year's budget, public safety being our number-one duty -- the Sheriff consumes, on a round number, how much of our -- CHAIRMAN HALL: Half, half. COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: About half. So that $62 million would have been drawn out of the -- 50 percent of that would have been drawn out of the Sheriff's budget last year, and there was no plan. There was no plan over there -- and I'm pointing at Ed and Amy right now -- on how to fund that budget at anything less than rate neutral. There was no -- that wasn't -- well, Amy's making a face. There wasn't a discussion. The promotion of the budget at rate neutral was what was brought to us all the way until that last budget hearing. September 5, 2024 Page 33 We developed the plan that night to -- I'm going to say "borrow" again -- borrow the money from Conservation Collier, which was -- which is healthy. We only borrowed or used 29 million. We're not required to pay it back. I feel obligated to pay it back, irrespect- -- And I don't disagree with you at all about a management plan for the maintenance, savings associated with it. I don't disagree with you at all -- and I'm not pointing at you, sir. I don't disagree at all with regard to manipulating the available funds to pile as much into the maintenance reserves so that the interest can then start to carry and offset those ongoing annual expenses associated with it. But I've said it before, and I'm going to say it again. I think we can fund this year's budget, do what we need to do at the rolled-back rate that's been proposed. I think we can -- that's going to -- that's going to take Conservation Collier nion to 100 million -- $99 million or so that's going to be available between the maintenance and the purchases. The one correction, Commissioner Kowal, is the Williams property contract comes up in December, and we may be able to extend it depending on what we're doing with appraisals and environmental studies and so on. And also remember that once we acquire that piece of property, we're going to do some zoning with regard to the RLSA and move that slough area that's across the north into the RLSA, and then do the credit generation for the restoration and the efforts for water quality going into Lake Trafford, and with the disposition of those generated credits, we're going to be able to bring back a large portion -- a large portion of the acquisition monies that we utilized for that acquisition. So those are just things to keep in mind as we go along. Those are revenues that can be -- that can be utilized over -- I don't have any interest, by the way, in those two choices that -- of the four that we've now theoretically whittled down to two, I don't have any interest in September 5, 2024 Page 34 raising millage to be able to do this. I just -- I think it's -- it's something that we can talk about as we're going forward when we start with the theoretical savings that may come through adjustments and how we're conducting our business, the recommendations of ResourceX, the compensation for services rendered. And if we start to pinpoint those numbers -- I mean, I'm going to use an example. You know, our Tax Collector comes in here every year quite proudly and hands us a check for 4, 5, or $6 million of excess revenue that was budgeted that he didn't expend. And so when those -- when those roll-back -- or rollover monies start to come in, maybe we can -- maybe we can start to allocate some of those for a reduction in that exposure from the used -- I don't want to say "borrowed." That borrowed money might be a trigger for you, Commissioner Hall, but it's -- CHAIRMAN HALL: That's twitching. COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Yeah. I see you twitching. COMMISSIONER KOWAL: You can check the transcript -- COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: That was -- it was a wonderful plan. We didn't hurt Conservation Collier at all. I feel obligated that we make every effort possible to replace those monies, even if it is extending the program for an additional year. At the current rate, that's $31 million this year at the current rate that we have going on, so... CHAIRMAN HALL: You know, you said you felt obligated, and I just -- I never have said this publicly, but -- it's the way I think, but I never have said it. So my wife's always saying to me, "Use your words." If we had taken that money from Conservation Collier and it had left that account in a bad way, I would definitely feel obligated to replenish that money, but that money was not -- we didn't leave that account -- we didn't even budge it. I mean "budge it," not "budget." September 5, 2024 Page 35 But that account is robust, and it will be robust again. And we haven't whittled anything down to two. There's four options out there. I still like the first one. We haven't whittled anything down. Two of you have mentioned it, but we haven't whittled anything down. So, Commissioner LoCastro. COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Thank you, Chairman. I'm just going to tell you where my mind is so that we start marching towards some decisions and -- you know, less speeches, more decisions. And I don't mean that in a derogatory way, but, you know, we could sit here and, you know, pontificate on all the different things. But I'll just talk about some facts. We did take quite a bit out of Conservation Collier. We thought we took 50 million. In the end, we took 29-. We got chastised for it by a lot of people, and they were all worried. My recollection is we bought more property since we did that than we probably have done for years. That's a fact. So, you know, I'm proud of that. People that are concerned that we took money out of the Conservation Collier budget -- and I've said this before on the record -- I'm shocked that they weren't more concerned that 60 million was sitting in the bank dusty and nothing was being purchased while everybody was continuing to be taxed. That concerned me more as a commissioner than the 29 million that we took, and then we simultaneously actually bought more properties during that time period. I'm only supportive of going to the rolled-back rate, and the reason I'm comfortable with that is because I think the term's been used, you know, where we're going to "find" money. I feel really confident in our top-down review and what ResourceX and then what our own homework assignments are going to produce to find money September 5, 2024 Page 36 that's being wasted in certain places and then re-purposing it to areas that could be a little thin if we go to the rolled-back rate, or if they are -- but I think the rolled-back rate still gives us plenty of cash flow. When I look at Conservation Collier, the thing that -- and I guess this is maybe less position and more just sort of making a statement. If we're collecting more money than is actually needed to buy the properties that are a priority, that's something we really should take a look at. I mean, I'm not one for patting myself on the back saying, you know, "We're collecting money for Conservation Collier just like the voters wanted," but then there's -- we're collecting way more than is required. So I think it was stated by a couple of you-all -- and I want to agree with that -- that that's something we might want to take a look at. I mean, I'm not proud of taxing people and then not using the money for anything of value or just sitting in the bank "in case." And I do think a lot of changes could be made to the maintenance, and we could save a lot of money and still conserve and preserve a lot of parcels, a lot of land. If replenishment is something that we start gravitating towards, the only one that jumps out at me, if we replenishment -- that's why I wanted to see if, you know, legally No. 1 was an option, because I remember a couple meetings where we were concerned that we couldn't just take the money and then just forget about it, and now that that's been confirmed, that actually Option No. 1, even if we all don't like it, is still a legal option. But the only one that really resonates with me is extending it for a year if, in fact, we think some sort of replenishment is needed. I still think there's plenty of funds in the -- in Conservation Collier if we go to the rolled-back rate and do nothing for replenishment. I'm not saying that's my position and that's -- I want to sort of generate a September 5, 2024 Page 37 little discussion here. But I've already heard from -- I think Commissioner McDaniel probably echoed similar to what I was saying is, you know, extend it for a year, and that seems to be, maybe the most prudent way if you felt replenishment was needed. But I'm not for increasing any kind of millage rate to get the money back or just digging 29 million out of -- you know, out of the other funds and just throwing it back for the sake of doing it. So at least that gives you a little thought process as to what's in my brain, and that's about -- that's kind of where I'm leaning after doing all the math. CHAIRMAN HALL: I mean, if it's needed, the extra year could be a good ace in the hole, the hold. You don't have to exercise it now. COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Absolutely. CHAIRMAN HALL: It's a good possibility. Commissioner Saunders. COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I think there are a couple givens here that we can perhaps all agree to and take those issues off the table. In terms of the Sheriff's budget, no one up here's going to reduce the Sheriff's budget, so that extra two million, if we go to rolled-back millage rate, staff's just going to have to figure that one out. We don't need to figure that out here tonight, but I think it's important to let staff know we're not going to cut the Sheriff's budget. COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Agreed. COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: And that's number one. And, number two, I think we've all -- I think we're all agreeing at this point that we're going to go to the rolled-back millage rate, and I think we ought to make that decision tonight so that it will relieve some of the effort that staff has to do, but it will also reduce some of September 5, 2024 Page 38 the cost that staff has to incur in terms of advertising and that sort of thing. So if we're going to go to -- COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Make that motion. COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Yeah. Okay. So those are two givens that -- and then the issue of reimbursement to Conservation Collier. Whether the majority wants to do that or not, it's not really an issue for tonight because we're not going to raise the millage rate tonight to do that. We're not going to extend the program tonight. So I would suggest that we kind of focus back on the budget, recognizing a rolled-back millage rate, recognizing the Sheriff's budget's not going to be touched. And then -- but I do have a couple of questions in addition to that, but I want to throw that out just to see if that's where the Board is, and if it is, then -- CHAIRMAN HALL: We like you. COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Okay. So -- COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Do you want to make the motion, or do you want me to? COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: I'll make the motion to do that -- MR. MILLER: Mr. Chair -- CHAIRMAN HALL: -- those two items. MR. MILLER: -- I hate to interject, but I had a gentleman registered on Zoom who was on early, dropped off while we were doing public comment. He's back on now. For safety sake, should I try to call him before we do any voting? CHAIRMAN HALL: If he wants -- if he wants to -- we're going to finish our discussion. If he wants to chime in, I'll let him chime in. MR. MILLER: Thank you, sir. My apologies for interrupting. September 5, 2024 Page 39 CHAIRMAN HALL: No worries. COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: So I'll make that motion on those two items just to take that discussion off the table. COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: And the motion is to do the rolled-back rate? COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: To do the rolled-back rate, and we're not going to touch the Sheriff's budget. COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Leave the Sheriff's budget as presented. COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Yes. COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: I'll second that. CHAIRMAN HALL: Motion and second to go to rolled-back rate and to keep the Sheriff's budget funded. All in favor, say aye. COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Aye. COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Aye. CHAIRMAN HALL: Aye. COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Aye. COMMISSIONER KOWAL: Aye. CHAIRMAN HALL: All opposed? (No response.) CHAIRMAN HALL: That part's done. MR. JOHNSON: So, Commissioners, with that, what we'll have to do, at some point -- obviously, the discussion can go on to other items, but we'll have to take a break at some point just to adjust our millage tables. I have to read those into the record then. I just want to -- one point is if we go to the rolled-back rate today, which it sounds like we're going, that creates our new maximum millage. COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: It doesn't "sound like." We just did it. CHAIRMAN HALL: We done did it. September 5, 2024 Page 40 COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: We voted. MR. JOHNSON: That creates our maximum millage going into the next meeting. So we'll advertise it next week, and the following week, Monday, and that will be what we bring back to you at the -- COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Final budget. MR. JOHNSON: -- meeting on the 19th. COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Then, Mr. Chairman, the only other question I was going to raise -- and it's not something we've talked about -- but just looking at the budget by fund summary -- and I don't know what page number this is because it's not numbered, but it's in reference to the tourist development taxes. And we've all been talking a little bit about moving some of those funds around. And I know that whatever decision we make tonight is not going to impact our flexibility in doing that. But I wanted to ask staff a question, and I'd like an analysis of this before our next budget hearing. But the tourism promotion budget, Fund 1101, is proposed to go from 25.7 million to 34.1 million, which is almost a 33 percent increase. And the question becomes, in my mind -- there's some other tourism capital projects that's about a million-dollar increase, which is fine. But that particular line item, that may be the area where we can make some adjustment going forward so that we can peel off some money for some projects. And the tourism folks are going to kind of raise holy heck, if you will, about us doing that, but I think the argument I would make is simply that we imposed a fifth cent tourist tax so we could develop the Paradise Coast facility. About 71 percent of that fifth penny is going to that facility. So about 29 percent of that fifth penny would not even be considered for tourism promotion or anything if we hadn't done that. September 5, 2024 Page 41 And so I think that we have a good argument that we have, perhaps, more money in that fund. And I would just like some analysis. Obviously, someone from the tourism industry, our tourism folks are going to have to weigh in on that, but that just seems like -- that's $9 million for additional advertising, and I just don't know if that's necessary in that amount. MR. JOHNSON: And if I may, quickly, Commissioner, that fund, the increase there is based on the current allocation, as you were -- you were alluding to of those five pennies that currently, by ordinance, go into that find. COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: That's true. MR. JOHNSON: And the roll forward of monies not -- projected not to be spent this year, so... COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: And I know we're not -- when we approve this budget, we're not tying our hands to these numbers here, and so at some point in the future, we can move that money around a little bit. But I would just -- I'm just curious as to, you know, how much is really needed in that particular line item. MR. JOHNSON: We can bring that back. COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: All right. CHAIRMAN HALL: Commissioner McDaniel. COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Thank you, sir. I absolutely agree, and maybe -- it's really not a discussion for us to have during these budget hearings, but we've all had discussions with regard to the utilization of the TDT funds for offset of expenses and upkeep and maintenance of our park. When we passed that extra penny tax when you and I came into office, the increase in the tourist development tax, it was appropriated at 75/25, 75 -- 72 percent or so for the park, and then 25 into beach re-nourishment. So -- but I think we -- within the latitude of the statute -- because September 5, 2024 Page 42 you know each one of those pennies is regulated by statute as to what you can and can't do with it. We actually have an opportunity to maybe make some adjustment in the statute to be able to have a little more flexibility which, if we can free up maintenance and capital funds coming out of the TDT, which promotes tourism, it also frees up other ad valorem money that we have available. So I totally support moving forward on that. CHAIRMAN HALL: I learned these three words, "make a finding." You make a finding that it promotes tourism. COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: There you go. CHAIRMAN HALL: Commissioner Kowal. COMMISSIONER KOWAL: Thank you, Chairman. I just have a question in reference to Option 4, that screen we had up for the -- MR. JOHNSON: Pull it back up. COMMISSIONER KOWAL: -- for your borrowing of the money. It's talking about the 11th year -- or, no, Option 2, I guess it is, taking an 11th year. This is -- I don't know if this is a County Attorney question or not. That's a ballot referendum, right, the 10-year increments? MR. KLATZKOW: It's not a referendum, okay. It was a straw ballot. COMMISSIONER KOWAL: Straw ballot, okay. MR. KLATZKOW: It was a straw ballot, which is nonbinding on the Board. COMMISSIONER KOWAL: So the one year wouldn't have to come up for the vote or anything? MR. KLATZKOW: No. COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: We could do that ourselves. MR. KLATZKOW: You could do that yourselves. Conservation Collier is more like an MSTU than anything else. September 5, 2024 Page 43 COMMISSIONER KOWAL: Gotcha. All right. CHAIRMAN HALL: Commissioner LoCastro. COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. On the tourism dollars, I mean, as the chair of the TDC, I want to make sure that, you know, they get a voice. So it's a great discussion to say, "Hey, maybe they're getting plussed up a little bit too much or whatnot." And as Commissioner Saunders said, we don't necessarily have to decide it, you know, tonight, but I want to make sure we don't make some decisions in a vacuum. A question I have for our County Manager -- because we've traded some e-mails about this very thing -- when we're talking about those marketing dollars that Commissioner Saunders talked about, what was -- what was really important to the -- at the last TDC meeting and that the Board voted on unanimously was that grant -- that grant money for all the different agencies who applied for things. That's separate from what we're talking about here. This is those marketing dollars. And there's -- we even had some healthy discussion at the TDC meeting. But the grant money that we approved unanimously at the last TDC meeting that does need to come to the commissioners for a final greenlight is -- that's not what we're talking about here, correct? Right? MS. PATTERSON: No. We're talking about the promotion dollars. There is some grant money set aside, but it's a fraction of what we're talking about here. COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Absolutely. MS. PATTERSON: And that -- that is going to be coming forward for further guidance from the Board. COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Yeah. Because as I said in some e-mails to the County Manager, I think the commissioners here -- you'll be pleased. You remember a year ago we looked at Paul, and we said, "Look, when it comes to these organizations September 5, 2024 Page 44 applying for grants, just because they got $100,000 last year, don't let them ask for a 100,000 on the back of a cocktail napkin, and then they just automatically get it." Across the board on the spreadsheet, everybody got pretty much a little bit less, and the difference didn't just go in somebody's back pocket. There was a whole list of new organizations that had been reached out to that got a little bit of -- so the money got spread a little bit more throughout the county, so that was great, but also the message that was sent by Jay, our new director that replaced Paul, obviously, to the organizations, was, you know, we're not -- we're not trimming -- we're not giving you less. We're expecting you to step forward a bit more and make up the difference. And he said at the TDC meeting, across the board they were ready for that. You know, they've had a year to prepare for that, and that it was -- it was positively, you know, received; that they understood and were grateful for what they did get and that they were reminded that it's not an automatic. Every year, you're basically reapplying and starting from zero. So -- but if we have -- on the marketing dollars, to be able to bring the tourism leadership team back in here to give us their position, I guess -- I won't say rebuttal, their position -- we'd be able to do that, right? We don't have to decide tonight. MS. PATTERSON: Yes, sir. I don't think anybody's talking about deciding tonight, and it's also -- we're not talking about everything or nothing. COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Right. MS. PATTERSON: So this is really looking at some of these increments and also the allocations. COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Okay. Got it. Thank you. CHAIRMAN HALL: Mr. Johnson, how much time are you-all going to need? September 5, 2024 Page 45 MR. JOHNSON: I would say, just to be safe, a half hour. CHAIRMAN HALL: Okay. Good. COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Don't go on a break. I just want to -- and I just wanted to clarify one thing, Mr. Chairman, of the TDC. You might not have been listening, but when Commissioner Saunders was talking, he was tasking the TDC to actually review these numbers and then come to us. COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Oh, absolutely. COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: So just so you know, we weren't bypassing the TDC. That was a task for you. COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: No, I was listening. I was just reiterating. COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: I thought those words didn't matter. COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Oh, that's right. CHAIRMAN HALL: All right. Should we take a half-hour break so we can get things done and come back and read it -- MR. JOHNSON: That will work. CHAIRMAN HALL: -- and live happily ever after? All right. We'll see you at 7 o'clock. (A recess was had from 6:22 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.) MS. PATTERSON: Chair, you have a live mic. CHAIRMAN HALL: All right. Mr. Johnson, proceed, please, sir. MR. JOHNSON: Thank you, sir. Item #1D ANNOUNCEMENT OF TENTATIVE MILLAGE RATES AND PERCENTAGE CHANGES IN PROPERTY TAX RATES September 5, 2024 Page 46 All right. So that takes us to Item 11D, the announcement of the tentative millage rates. As I'm sure you are all aware by now, Florida TRIM statutes requires that tentative millage rates, rolled-back millage rates, and percent change from rolled-back millage rates be read into the record prior to the adoption of the tentative millage rates under Agenda Item 11E, Packet Page 59. So without further ado, if it pleases the Board, I'll begin. All right. We'll start with General Fund 0001, the proposed millage rate is 3.0107; the rolled-back millage rate is 3.0107. The percent change from the rolled-back rate is 0 percent. Water Pollution Control Fund 1017, the proposed millage rate is 0.0246; the rolled-back millage rate is 0.0246. The percent change from the rolled-back rate is 0 percent. Conservation Collier Fund 1061, the proposed millage rate is 0.2096; the rolled-back millage rate is 0.2096. The percent change from the rolled-back rate is 0 percent. Unincorporated General Fund 1011, the proposed millage rate is 0.6844; the rolled-back millage rate is 0.6844. The percent change from the rolled-back rate is 0 percent. Golden Gate Community Center Fund 1605, the proposed millage rate is 0.1862; the rolled-back millage rate is 0.1756. The percent change from the rolled-back rate is 6.04 percent. Victoria Park Drainage Fund 1608, the proposed millage rate is 0.3814; the rolled-back millage rate is 0.3567. The percent change from the rolled-back rate is 6.92 percent. Naples Park drainage Fund 1613, the proposed millage rate is 0.0041; the rolled-back millage rate is 0.0038. The percent change from the rolled-back rate is 7.89 percent. Vanderbilt Beach MSTU Fund 1617, the proposed millage rate is 0.4650; the rolled-back millage rate is 0.4650. The percent change from the rolled-back rate is 0 percent. September 5, 2024 Page 47 Ochopee Fire Control Fund 1040, the proposed millage rate is 4.0000; the rolled-back millage rate is 3.7079. The percent change from the rolled-back rate is 7.88 percent. Goodland/Horr's Island Fire MSTU Fund 1041, the proposed millage rate is 1.2760; the rolled-back millage rate is 1.1955. The percent change from the rolled-back rate is 6.73 percent. Sabal Palm Road MSTU Fund 1619, the proposed millage rate is 0.0000; the rolled-back millage rate is 0.0000. The percent change from the rolled-back rate is 0 percent. Lely Golf Estates Beautification MSTU Fund 1620, the proposed millage rate is 2.0000; the rolled-back millage rate is 1.8994. The percent change from the rolled-back rate is 5.30 percent. Golden Gate Parkway Beautification MSTU Fund 1621, the proposed millage rate is 0.5000; the rolled-back millage rate is 0.4644. The percent change from the rolled-back rate is 7.67 percent. Hawksridge Stormwater Pumping MSTU Fund 1622, the proposed millage rate is 0.0318; the rolled-back millage rate is 0.0298. The percent change from the rolled-back rate is 6.71 percent. Radio Road Beautification MSTU Fund 1625, the proposed millage rate is 0.1000; the rolled-back millage rate is 0.0000. This is a reinstated millage rate, so there is no percent change over rolled-back. Forest Lakes Roadway and Drainage MSTU Fund 1626, the proposed millage rate is 4.0000; the rolled-back millage rate is 3.7201. The percent change from the rolled-back rate is 7.52 percent. Immokalee Beautification MSTU Fund 1629, the proposed millage rate is 1.0000; the rolled-back millage rate is 0.9521. The September 5, 2024 Page 48 percent change from the rolled-back rate is 5.03 percent. Bayshore Avalon Beautification MSTU Fund 1630, the proposed millage rate is 2.1104; the rolled-back millage rate is 1.8030. The percent change from the rolled-back rate is 17.05 percent; 17.05 percent. Haldeman Creek Dredging MSTU Fund 1631, the proposed millage rate is 1.0000; the rolled-back millage rate is 0.8154. The percent change from the rolled-back rate is 22.64 percent. Rock Road MSTU Fund 1632, the proposed millage rate is 0.7224; the rolled-back millage rate is 0.7224. The percent change from the rolled-back rate is 0 percent. Vanderbilt Waterways MSTU Fund 1635, the proposed millage rate is 0.3000; the rolled-back millage rate is 0.2798. The percent change from the rolled-back rate is 7.22 percent. Forest Lakes Debt Service Fund 2014, the proposed millage rate is 0.0000; the rolled-back millage rate is 0.0000. The percent change from the rolled-back rate is 0 percent. Blue Sage MSTU Fund 3080, the proposed millage rate is 3.0000; the rolled-back millage rate is 2.8690. The percent change from the rolled-back rate is 4.57 percent. Collier County Lighting Fund 1601, the proposed millage rate is 0.1025; the rolled-back millage rate is 0.0960. The percent change from the rolled-back rate is 6.77 percent. 42nd Avenue Southeast MSTU Fund 1637, the proposed millage rate is 1.0000; the rolled-back millage rate is 0.9858. The percent change from the rolled-back rate is 1.44 percent. Palm River Sidewalk MSTU Fund 1638, the proposed millage rate is 0.5000; the rolled-back millage rate is 0.4777. The percent change from the rolled-back rate is 4.67 percent. Private Road Emergency Repair Fund 1639, the proposed millage rate is 0.0000; the rolled-back millage rate is 0.0000. As a September 5, 2024 Page 49 new MSTU, there is no calculated change from the rolled back, and there is no calculated change from last year as well. Pelican Baying MSTBU Fund 1008, the proposed millage rate is 0.0857; the rolled-back millage rate is 0.0792. The percent change from the rolled-back rate is 8.21 percent. Commissioners, the aggregate millage rate proposed is 3.7673, the rolled-back millage rate is 3.7702, and the percent change from the rolled-back millage rate is negative 0.08 percent. And I'm going to look around to see if I got all those correct, and I'm getting head nods, so... COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Those four sitting behind you, they're the ones we've got to watch. MR. JOHNSON: We've got to make sure four -- if five of us agree, we're good, right? That's how it works, right? I think. COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Supermajority. MR. JOHNSON: All right. Now we'll move on to the resolution to adopt the tentative millage rates. Item #1E RESOLUTION 2024-158: ADOPTING THE TENTATIVE MILLAGE RATES Commissioners, at this time, a motion to adopt the tentative millage rates as read for FY '25 via resolution would be in order. COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: So moved. COMMISSIONER KOWAL: So moved. COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Second. CHAIRMAN HALL: Motion and second to adopt the resolution. All in favor, say aye. COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Aye. September 5, 2024 Page 50 COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Aye. CHAIRMAN HALL: Aye. COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Aye. COMMISSIONER KOWAL: Aye. CHAIRMAN HALL: All opposed? (No response.) CHAIRMAN HALL: Good. MR. JOHNSON: All right. And I just wanted to just remind you guys about this: If there isn't a unanimous vote at the next meeting, there are a couple of these MSTU funds that require supermajority. You can see there Victoria Park Drainage, Forest Lakes, Bayshore, Vanderbilt, and Pelican Bay, and there's one that requires a unanimous vote. So at the next meeting, if we don't get a unanimous vote, we'll split those up and deal with those ones on their own. Item #1F RESOLUTION 2024-159: ADOPTING THE AMENDED TENTATIVE BUDGET So I will move on now to the resolution to adopt the amended tentative budget. So at this point, I'll need a motion to adopt the tentative budget. Your action on this item will include changes discussed under Item 1B as well as the changes discussed tonight resulting from the adopted tentative millage rates at rolled-back for the principal funds. Changes from July include changes for the General Fund to roll back, Water Pollution Control, Conservation Collier, and the Unincorporated Area General Fund to roll back, and also, as we discussed, the private road MSTU was brought back to zero. September 5, 2024 Page 51 COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: I'll make that motion, Mr. Chairman. COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Second. CHAIRMAN HALL: Motion by Commissioner Saunders, second by Commissioner LoCastro. All in favor, say aye. COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Aye. COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Aye. CHAIRMAN HALL: Aye. COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Aye. COMMISSIONER KOWAL: Aye. CHAIRMAN HALL: All opposed? (No response.) CHAIRMAN HALL: So moved. Item #1G ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE FINAL PUBLIC HEARING MR. JOHNSON: And, finally, Item 1G is the announcement of the final public hearing. The final public hearing on the FY '24/'25 Collier County budget will be Thursday, September 19th, 2024, at 5:05 p.m. in this building, Collier County Government Center, W. Harmon Turner Building F, Third Floor, boardroom, Naples, Florida, 34112. And with that, open for questions. COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: I've already informed the Chairman and the County Manager that on September 19th, I'll be calling in. I have a conflict that I can't move, and I won't be able to be here in person. So if there's any slides or anything that you can get me ahead of time that I might not be able to, you know, get on my laptop or whatever -- I'll be in a place where I'll have full September 5, 2024 Page 52 connectivity, but I just won't be able to be here. MR. JOHNSON: Certainly. And we'll get you the agenda packet next week for that, and then I'll also provide you with any slides that we put together. COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Thank you. CHAIRMAN HALL: Anybody else? (No response.) CHAIRMAN HALL: We're adjourned. COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Let's go eat. CHAIRMAN HALL: See you Tuesday. ******* September 5, 2024 There being no further business for the good of the County, the meeting was adjourned by order of the Chair at 7:13 p.m. BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS/EX OFFICIO GOVERNING BOARD(S) OF SPECIAL DISTRICTS UNDER ITS CONTROL CHRIS HA , CHAIRMAN ATTEST CRYSTAL K. KINZEL, CLERK 4"4"--"A' tom - signature only These minutes a proved by the Board on q - .2 ,as presented or as corrected TRANSCRIPT PREPARED ON BEHALF OF FORT MYERS COURT REPORTING BY TERRI L. LEWIS, REGISTERED PROFESSIONAL COURT REPORTER, FPR-C, AND NOTARY PUBLIC. Page 53