May 13, 2021 Joint Meeting of Board of Education and Beaufort County Council

[Call to Order]

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THE ORDER THE MEETING IS BEING CONDUCTED AS THE DISTRICT EDUCATIONAL SERVICE CENTER IS A

HYBRID BETWEEN CONFERENCING MEETINGS. >> THE MEETING IS ALSO BEING LIVESTREAM BY THE COUNTY CHANNEL THE PARTICIPANTS FOR THE SCHOOL THEIR DISTRICT.

>> MYSELF THE BOARD CHAIR FOR WAS THE BOARD VISE CHAIRMAN MR. MELVIN CAMPBELL, THE BOARD FINANCE COMMITTEE CHAIR RICHARD GEIER THE SUPERINTENDENT THAT'S THE TYPE RODRIGUEZ THE CFO IS TONYA CROSBY FOR COUNTY COUNCIL. WE HAVE THE CHAIRMAN, MR. PLASMA THE VISE CHAIRMAN, MR. PAUL SOMERVILLE, THE FINANCE COMMITTEE CHAIR, MR. MARC LAUGHLIN, THE INTERIM COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, MR. ERIC RELAY AND THE CFO WHITNEY RICHLAND.

WE WILL NOT STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND OUR FLAG AT THE HIGH HERE.

>> KATHY ROWE BANK JOIN THE MEETING ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG IN AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. MISSION FOR LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

>> PLEASE BE SEATED. ALL RIGHT. NOW YOU KNOW THE MOTIONS TO

[Approval of Agenda]

GARLIC CASTLE AND IF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. >> SECOND AND IN FAVOR OPPOSE OBVIOUSLY I DON'T WANT TO GO SPANISH. YOU DON'T WANT ME TO BE HERE?

>> HE IS OUR LIAISON TO THE SCHOOL BOARD. >> SO THE FIRST IS THE FISCAL

[Fiscal Autonomy]

AGO. >> AND WE HAVE THIS DESIRE. GIVE THE STAFF WHAT YOU HAVE HERE IS A MEMORANDUM CONCERNING FISCAL AUTONOMY DEVELOPED BY THE ATTORNEYS, THE INTELLIGENCE

. >> AND BASICALLY IT LAYS OUT THE HISTORY OF HOW OUR PRESENT

FISCAL APPROVAL IS DONE. >> AND WHEN YOU GO THROUGH IT, YOU CAN SEE IT FUNDAMENTALLY.

IT COMES FROM A 19 68 COUNTY ORDINANCE INSTEAD OF THE COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION.

SO CERTIFIED TO THE COUNTY COUNCIL. THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR THE OPERATIONS OF THE SCHOOLS IN THE COUNTY FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR WITH ANTICIPATED REVENUE FROM ALL SOURCES AND THE RECOMMENDED PROPERTY TAX LEVY IS THE COUNTY COUNCIL SHELF FROM THE FORCE PREPARE A BUDGET FOR THE OPERATION OF THE COUNTY FOR THE ENSUING YEAR THAT INCLUDES THE COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM MUST RECEIVE FIVE AFFIRMATIVE DOES THAT MANY FEWER COUNCIL MEMBERS AT LEAST PART OF AFFIRMATIVE VOTES TO THE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL

BEFORE BECOMING EFFECTIVE. >> PROVIDED HOWEVER CERTAIN SUCH BUDGET REQUIRE AN INCREASE IN THE TAX MILLAGE OVER THAT LEVY FOR THE PRECEDING YEAR. SO THERE'S NO THERE'S NO INCREASE IN TECHNOLOGY. THERE'S NO NEED FOR THAT CERTIFICATION TO HAVE.

BUT IF YOU GO THROUGH THE AREA YOU'LL SEE THAT IN 1986 WE HAD A HOME IN THE HOME RULE AT IT WAS ACTUALLY IN 1975. IN 1975 THE HOME RULE ACT AND THE BEAUFORT COUNTY GOVERNMENT WAS RECONSTITUTED AS A COUNCIL ADMINISTRATIVE GOVERNMENT IN EIGHTY SIX.

>> SOUTH CAROLINA ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE WROTE THE PRECISE LEGAL AUTHORITY OF THE COUNTY COUNCIL OVER SCHOOL TAX MILLAGE CANNOT BE EASILY DETERMINED BECAUSE OF CONFLICTING FORMAL LEGISLATION. A NUMBER OF PROVISIONS OF THE LOCAL LAWS FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY . IT MAKES DIFFICULT THE DETERMINATION OF WHICH PUBLIC BODIES IN BEAUFORT COUNTY HAVE MILLAGE AND BUDGETARY

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THE OPINION RECOMMENDED ALLEGES DILUTION THIRD OF 2003 THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE AFFIRMED THAT SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS OF THE STATE ITSELF AND COMPLETELY SEPARATE AND DISTINCT ENTITIES FROM COUNTIES AND THAT COUNTY GOVERNMENT INVOLVEMENT. THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IS STRICTLY LIMITED BY THE LIMITS OF HOME RULE. THE HOME RULE DOES NOT ALTER THE SEPARATE IDENTITY OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN SOUTH CAROLINA. SO IT SAYS HERE THAT AN EVALUATION OF THE BUDGET PROCESS THE BOARD NO LONGER SUBMITTED ITS BUDGET TO THE LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION.

INSTEAD THE BOARD CERTIFIED ITS BUDGET TO THE COUNCIL FOR INCORPORATION INTO THE OVERALL BEAUFORT COUNTY BUDGET. NOW WHAT CERTIFICATION MEANS IS NOT SPELLED OUT? I HAVE AN OPINION ON WHAT IT MEANS BUT I CAN'T FIND A LEGAL STATEMENT OF WHAT THAT IS EAT AND THEN HERE'S A OPINION. EVEN IF THE 1968 LANGUAGE AND THE ORDINANCE IS STILL IN EFFECT, NOTHING IN THE LAW CLEARLY AND UNEQUIVOCALLY GIVES THE BEAUFORT COUNTY COUNCIL ANY AUTHORITY TO CHANGE THE SCHOOL BUDGET. 1968 LAW MERELY PROVIDES FOR THE BOARD TO CERTIFY THE SCHOOL BUDGET AND RECOMMEND TAX LEVY. NOW OKAY THE PROPER JUDICIAL CONSTRUCTION OF THE LANGUAGE CERTIFY IN LIGHT OF A CHARLESTON CASE THE CHARLESTON THEY HAD A LEGAL CASE TO DETERMINE WHAT THAT WAS IS THAT LOCAL LAW PROVIDES NO AUTHORITY FOR THE COUNCIL TO MODIFY THE BOARD CERTIFIED BUDGET ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF THE

REPEAL OF THE ACT AUTHORIZING LINE ITEM AUTHORITY. >> HOWEVER, THE 1968 LAW PROVIDES NOTHING IN THIS ACT SHALL BE CONSTRUED TO A BRIDGE OR AFFECT THE POWERS OF ANY POLITICAL SUBDIVISION WITHIN THE COUNTY. HOWEVER, IN SOUTH CAROLINA A SCHOOL DISTRICT IS A CREATURE OF THE STATE. IT IS A POLITICAL SUBDIVISION BECAUSE THE BEAUFORT COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT IS A POLITICAL SUBDIVISION.

THE 1968 LOCAL LAW CLEARLY LIMITS THE COUNCIL'S AUTHORITY .

SUPREME COURT IS STATE SUPREME COURT RECENTLY REPEATED THIS MESSAGE PUBLIC EDUCATION IS A STATE FUNCTION. PUBLIC EDUCATION IS NOT THE DUTY OF COUNTIES BUT OF THE

GENERAL ASSEMBLY. >> SO WE AGREED ALL THROUGH THIS GET DOWN TO THE CONCLUSIONS. THE SIMPLEST ROUTE TO A CORRECT RESULT IS THE BEAUFORT COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION TO CERTIFY ITS BUDGET TO THE COUNTY COUNCIL AND THE COUNTY COUNCIL AND FOR THE COUNTY COUNCIL TO LEAVE THAT BUDGET INTACT AS RECEIVED SO THAT THE COUNCIL IS NOT VIOLATING STATE CONSTITUTION COUNCIL MADE CLEAR CAN MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION IS SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BUDGET. JUST AS THE BOARD OF EDUCATION IS SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE EDUCATIONAL RESULTS OF A BUDGET.

HERE IS THE ISSUE. >> WE WE'VE HIRED A SUPERINTENDENT A SUPERINTENDENT WHO HAS ONE OF THE REASONS WE HIRED IS BECAUSE HE HAS TURNED AROUND SCHOOLS.

>> SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND SO NOW AFTER WE WANTING TO GET THIS STARTED BEFORE, DOES THIS TELL US WHAT YOU NEED, FRANK AND WE'LL GET THE RESOURCES FOR WELL WITH COLBERT HITTING A KIND OF ALL THAT WENT UP ON THE UP IN THE AIR AND FRANK'S BEEN TRYING TO KEEP THE WHEELS ON AND DEAL WITH ALL THE THINGS HAVE BEEN GOING ON WITH MASKING UNMASKING VIRTUAL LIFE HYBRID

AND SO ON. >> BUT NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT GOING BACK TO NORMAL AND HE HAS GIVEN US A BUDGET AND SAYS THIS IS THE RESOURCE THAT I NEED TO MEET THE GOALS THAT YOU HAVE SET IN THE BOARD'S STRATEGIC PLAN AND SPECIFICALLY THE MAIN GOAL IS TO REDUCE AND EVENTUALLY ELIMINATE THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP. AND ACHIEVEMENT GAP IS THE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT GAP BETWEEN OUR MINORITY STUDENTS AND OUR WHITE STUDENTS AND IT

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SO IF WE GOING TO HOLD FRANK ACCOUNTABLE, WE HAVE TO GIVE HIM THE RESOURCES THAT HE REQUIRES AND THE RESOURCES WE LOOKED AT THE BUDGET. WE'VE GONE THROUGH IT AND WE'RE GOING TO REQUIRE A VILLAGE ENGLISH AND THAT IN GREECE IS AT THE LIMIT OF WHAT WE CAN INCREASE BY STATE LAW. IT'S NO MORE AND NO LESS NOW YOU'VE HEARD IT WE'RE GOING TO GET SOME MONEY FROM THE FEDS TO TAKE CARE OF THE IMPACT OF COVID.

YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT MONEY IS VERY SPECIFIC OF WHAT IT CAN BE SPENT FOR AND IT CANNOT BE SPENT FOR RECURRING COSTS. SO IF WE HIRE PEOPLE TO TUTOR OR RUN AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS OR TWO SUMMERS SCHOOLS, THESE ARE NOT PEOPLE GOING TO KEEP ON BECAUSE AFTER THAT WITH MONEY IS SPENT IT'S IT'S GONE 50 MILLION DOLLARS SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF MONEY AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT. THE FINAL WE'VE ALREADY GOTTEN HOW MANY MILLION SEVEN AND IS VERY SPECIFIC WHAT WE CAN SPEND WE CAN SPEND ONLY SO MUCH ON

INSTRUCTION. >> WE CAN SPEND SO MUCH ON FACILITIES, CLEAN AIR.

SO ONE TECHNOLOGY WE CAN'T GO BEYOND WHAT THE FEDS SAY WE CAN SPEND AND THEN WE HAVE TO PROVIDE THEM A BILL. WE HAVE TO SPEND IT UP FRONT, PROVIDE HIM THE BILL AND THEN THEY WILL REIMBURSE IF THEY LOOK AT IT AND APPROVE OF HOW WE SPENT THAT MONEY.

SO OBVIOUSLY WE ARE VERY CONSTRAINED AND THIS DOES NOT ALLOW US TO TAKE CARE OF SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS WE HAVE FOUND SINCE FRANKLIN. WE HAVE AN EFFICIENCY STUDY HIRED A FIRM TO COME IN AND LOOK AT OUR STAFFING AND THEY FOUND SOME PROBLEMS THAT WE

KNEW OPERATIONALLY THAT WE HAD. >> BUT THESE FOLKS TOLD US FOR EXAMPLE, YOUR H.R. IS COMPLETELY UNDERSTAFFED FOR THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES THAT YOU HAVE WHEN YOU TAKE RISKS IN H.R. YOU TAKE SIGNIFICANT RISKS . THEY SAID IN THE PAST YOU'VE GOT RID OF STUDENT SERVICES AND YOU PUT STUDENT SERVICES AMONGST OTHER DEPARTMENTS.

AND RIGHT NOW STUDENT SERVICES IS VERY, VERY KEY. THAT'S THE COUNSELORS THAT'S THE SOCIAL WORKERS AND ALL THOSE FOLKS THAT HELP US DEAL WITH THE PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS THAT WE'VE HAD FOR PANDEMIC AND EFFECTS THAT WE HAVE FOR THE CHEAP BECAUSE THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP. SO THERE'S A NUMBER OF ITEMS IN THE BUDGET TO TAKE CARE OF THAT. LASTLY AND IMPORTANTLY WE HAVE NOT BEEN PAYING OUR TEACHERS WHAT WE SHOULD AND I THINK IT WAS 10 YEARS AGO THE H.R. BRIEFED US THAT BEAUFORT COUNTY HAD THE SECOND HIGHEST TEACHER SALARIES IN THE STATE. TODAY WE'RE IN THE BOTTOM THIRD OF THE STATE. WE HAVE NOT KEPT UP. WE HAD A STEPPING FREEZE THAT WE DID NOT FUND IN 2012. WHICH. SO WE'RE STILL TRYING TO CATCH UP FROM THAT. AND HERE'S THE PROBLEM THAT WE'RE FACING RIGHT NOW.

TEACHERS HAVE BEEN WORKED FOR DEATH TRYING TO DO HYBRID, TRYING TO DO VIRTUAL TRY TO BRING KIDS BACK INTO CLASS, TRYING TO CATCH UP, TRYING TO CONTACT PARENTS.

>> TEACHER RETENTION IS GOING TO BE A PROBLEM. TEACHER RECRUITMENT IS GOING TO BE A PROBLEM. MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE SAYING I'M NOT GOING TO BE A TEACHER.

AND SO RECRUITING AND RETAINING TEACHERS UNFORTUNATELY TAKES SALARY AND OTHER THINGS IN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COSTS MONEY.

SO IF WE ARE GOING TO COPE WITH THE EFFECTS OF THIS PANDEMIC, IF WE ARE CONNECTED GOING TO BE COMPETITIVE TO BRING IN QUALITY TEACHERS, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO ADJUST AND OUR BUDGET HAS A THIS MISSING STEP INCREASE PLUS ABOUT AN EXTRA THOUSAND DOLLARS IN BASE PAY.

OBVIOUSLY THE COST OF LIVING NOW OF COURSE YOU KNOW WE GET STATE FUNDING AS WELL.

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WHAT WE GET IS WHAT 600 AROUND 600 DOLLARS AND THAT'S AT 388 THAT'S BECAUSE WE'RE RICH.

SO THE STATE EVEN WHEN THEY GIVE US STATE MANDATES FOR STEP INCREASES AND SALARY INCREASES WE DON'T GET ALL THE MONEY FOR THOSE STATE MANDATES. WE HAVE TO PAY IT OUT OF OPERATIONAL FUNDS. SO WE HAVE AN ISSUE WITH AUTONOMY.

WE HAVE AN ISSUE WITH BUDGET AND WE OBVIOUSLY ARE GOING TO BE ASKING FOR MORE MONEY.

>> AND WE'D LIKE TO DISCUSS ON HOW WE CAN SOLVE THIS ISSUE. IT COULD BE AS SIMPLE AS TAKING A 1968 COUNTY ORDINANCE AND BRINGING IT UP TO DATE TO STATE LAW.

IT COULD BE HAVING TO GO TO THE LEGISLATURE, STATE LEGISLATURE AND GET A SPECIAL ACT.

BUT THAT TAKES TIME. THAT AND OF COURSE THERE'S OTHER ISSUES THAT WE COULD DO IF WE IF WE HAD TO DO THAT TO TAKE CARE OF IT. SO THAT'S KIND OF AN OPENING.

FRANKLY, ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO MENTION? I THINK I WOULD ADD THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE YOU'RE A VETERAN. TEACHERS ARE ALSO, YOU KNOW, OTHER MORE EXPERIENCED EDUCATORS AS WELL. AND WITHIN OUR SYSTEM THAT STEP INCREASES AND F POINTS FOR PAIN. SO ONE OF THE THINGS WE'D LIKE TO DO IN THIS BUDGET IS TO INCREASE INCREASE A YEAR ON THAT 45 AND SO ALSO. SO LET'S JUST ANOTHER PIECE WITH RESPECT TO TO YOU ARE PART OF A POINT THAT I THINK YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH AN UNPRECEDENTED YEAR. I THINK IN EVERY ASPECT OF SOCIETY.

BUT EDUCATION IS CERTAINLY INCLUDED IN THAT. YOU KNOW, I THINK YOU KNOW, IT REQUIRES AN UNPRECEDENTED RESPONSE FROM US TO TRY TO IMPROVE OUTCOMES FOR KIDS.

BUT I THINK IT REALLY HIT US. WE RECENTLY GOT TO TEST SCORES OF MODERATE PRE-K IN I'M NOT SURE SO OUR KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS TAKE AN ASSESSMENT THAT TILL EARLY OFF.

THAT TELLS US READINESS FOR KINDERGARTEN. WHAT WE FIND IS THAT EIGHTY TWO POINT SEVEN PERCENT OF OUR KINDERGARTNERS ARE NOT READY FOR KINDERGARTEN.

SO LOOKING TO EXPAND EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMING IS I THINK AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT IN ORDER TO HELP YET GET MORE STUDENTS INVOLVED IN PRE-K AND AND KINDERGARTEN.

SO. SO SO I THINK THOSE ARE REALLY RELEVANT FACTORS AT THE KINDERGARTEN IS NOT MANDATED. FIRST GRADE IS WE LOST IN MOMENT IN KINDERGARTEN.

PARENTS ELECTED TO SAY WELL RATHER THAN GO THROUGH HYBRID RATHER THAN GO TO VIRTUAL AS YOU CAN IMAGINE KINDERGARTEN VIRTUALLY IS A CHALLENGE. MANY PARENTS ELECTED TO JUST KEEP THE KIDS AT HOME. SO THAT MEANS THEY'RE COMING TO EXPECT YOU TO GO TO FIRST GRADE WITHOUT HAVING KINDERGARTEN AND ALREADY WE KNOW 82 PERCENT AREN'T READY FOR KINDERGARTEN.

SO THAT'S A CHALLENGE. HOW MANY EARLY PRE WHAT'S YOUR PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS ARE PRE-K GOING FOR THIS KIND OF CURRENTLY? WHERE IS IT? IS IT OVER THE 18 PERCENT? BUT THE EIGHTY TWO PERCENT THAT'S NOT READY FOR 80 80 ARE READY FOR KINDERGARTEN. EIGHTY TWO POINT SEVEN YEARS AND I'M JUST ASKING WHAT YOU'RE FOR SAYING THAT KIDS ARE A PRE-K PROGRAM. YOU'VE GOT I DIDN'T QUALIFY FOR PRE-K. THEY HAVE TO BE DEFINITELY BELOW THE 50 PERCENT NOW.

SO BUT JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE QUALIFIED DOESN'T MEAN THAT THEY'RE ACTUALLY SET.

RIGHT. SO UNDER THE NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND YEAH.

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SO THAT'S ONE GROUP. AND THEN YOU HAVE OTHER PRE-K PROGRAMS THAT SCHOOL DISTRICTS CAN OR CANNOT DO OR WILL OR WILL NOT DO TO GET KIDS READY FOR KINDERGARTEN.

DAVIES I WAS JUST LOOKING FOR THE NUMBER OF KIDS THAT ARE IN THE IN BEFORE COUNTY AND THE PRE-K PROGRAM. MANY KIDS ARE ALREADY AS A PERCENTAGE.

REED REHAB PRE-K KIDS IN OUR SCHOOLS NOW. BUT OF COURSE THERE'S A LOT OF PRE-K PROGRAMS LIKE CHURCHES I'M SURE OF IT. SURE.

SO WHY WE WE DON'T HAVE BROAD DATA. AND IT IS A STRUGGLE FOR YOU.

>> KINDERGARTEN TEACHERS AND YOUR ADMINISTRATION TO DETERMINE YOU KNOW, WE ALL START KINDERGARTEN. YOU WENT TO THE CATHOLIC SCHOOL .

HE WENT TO A SYNAGOGUE. HE WENT TO A MONTESSORI. HE WAS.

AND NOW WE'VE GOT TO FIND OUT WHERE THEY WHO KNOWS HOW TO TIE THEIR SHOES? WHO KNOWS THE ALPHABET? WHO KNOWS HOW THEY'RE BRIGHT. THEIR NAME IS THANKS.

THAT ILLUSTRATE OUR PROBLEM. A GREATER NEED FOR OUR COUNTY IS THAT WE HAVE TO EDUCATE ALL THE PEOPLE IN OUR COUNTRY TO BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH OUR EMPLOYMENT ISSUES.

AND YOU KNOW, FOR YEARS WE'VE HAD, YOU KNOW, POCKETS GOOD EDUCATION, THE POCKETS OF NOT SO GOOD EDUCATION. AND WE WE NOW. WE DID.

AND THE TOP TIER OF THE STATE IN TERMS OF EDUCATION WAS TO SAY THE COUNTRY AND WE INTEND TO HAVE A WORLD CLASS EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM HERE SO THAT WE CAN ATTRACT WORLD CLASS INDIVIDUALS. AND THAT'S NOT BEING DONE AT THE PART OF THE SYSTEMIC PROBLEM. IT'S EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION. AND LIKE YOU MENTIONED ALL POCKETS WE DON'T HAVE IT IN OUR GRASP WHO IS BEING EDUCATED AND HOW AN EARLY SO WE WANT TO EXTEND OUR OUR EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAM SO THAT WE DO HAVE THOSE NUMBERS AT OUR FINGERTIPS . YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T SEE HOW THE MASS MY SMIRKING AND SMILING AND DISMAY AND CHAGRIN AND EVERYTHING BECAUSE THIS IS THE FIGHT I HAD 46 YEARS IN EDUCATION SO I KNOW FULLY WELL YOU KNOW, YOU SETS THE BAR FOR YOUR SUPERINTENDENT WHO IS YOUR

EDUCATIONAL LEADER. >> HE IS THE ONE WHO'S GOING TO TELL YOU THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I NEED IS TO RUN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM THAT YOU WANT. AND IT IS UP TO EVERYBODY ON COUNTY COUNCIL ON THE SCHOOL BOARD TO UNDERSTAND IF THIS IS WHAT WE WANT.

THIS IS WHAT IT TAKES TO DO IT. IT IS THAT SIMPLE. MR. LAWSON? YES, SIR. THE RESPONSE TO YOUR QUESTION IS THAT WE HAVE SEVEN HUNDRED AND TWENTY NINE STUDENTS IN PRE-K. THAT'S THREE POINT FOUR TOTAL ADMIRAL. SO IF YOU LOOK IN PARTICULAR FLAX STUDENTS ACROSS THE CURRENCY DISTRICT LIKE KIDS IT WOULD BE ME RIBAUT MAYBE HAVE ALMOST ALMOST HALF THE GRADE LEVEL. IF YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT'S THE NORMAL KINDERGARTEN CLASS EACH YEAR JUST ABOUT EVERY ONE OF OUR GRADE LEVELS ARE OVER JUST OVER FOURTEEN HUNDRED STUDENTS. WELL IT IS IT SAY IS THAT IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE OPINION THAT IT WAS WRITTEN THIS IS AN OPINION. WOULD YOU SAY THAT THIS 40 HAS BEEN HAPPENING WHEN YOU PRESENTED IT AT I BELIEVE THAT YOU PRESENTED IT AT THE SCHOOL TO SEEK OUT AND CORRECT WRITTEN HANDWRITTEN AND THEN LEAVE THE BACK PAGE.

>> THAT CAME FROM THE THAT'S FROM THE SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET PROPOSAL AT 8 2009.

>> BECAUSE YOU LOOK AT THIS AND AND AND YOU READ THIS AND OBVIOUSLY IT IS AN OPINION IT WOULD HAVE TO BE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, OUR LEGAL COUNSEL LOOK AT AND GET THEIR OPINION IF THIS IS THE CASE MAKES IT VERY EASY FOR US BECAUSE THEN WE CAN SAY RAISING TAXES ALL ON YOU GUYS BECAUSE IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE HERE TO TO MAKE SURE IS THAT WE TRY TO KEEP TAXES TO A MINIMUM AND KEEP THINGS THAT THINGS ARE SPENT CORRECTLY AND WE ARE DOING WHAT'S RIGHT FOR THE COUNTY. SO OBVIOUSLY IF THIS IS CORRECT AND THIS IS THE OPINION THE FACT OF RAISING THE SCHOOL BOARD BUDGET, I THINK I CALCULATE IT WAS PROBABLY ABOUT SIX AND A HALF PERCENT INCREASE THAT THAT FALLS BACK TO Y'ALL. AND WHAT YOU DO AND HOW YOU

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GETS HAMMERED EVERY YEAR WHERE THIS COMES FROM. >> WE TRY TO PROTECT THEM AND TRY TO KEEP THEIR TAXES TO A MINIMUM. YOU KNOW, EVEN WHEN YOU REVISIT SAYS FROM THE 68 WITH THE ANTICIPATED REVENUE FROM ALL SOURCES AND THE RECOMMENDED PROPERTY TAX LEVY. SO IT JUST JUST READING THROUGH THAT AND LOOKING INTO 68 OF WHAT'S IN HERE. SO WHEN I FIRST READ THIS I YOU KNOW, I'M A BIG SUPPORTER.

>> I VOTED VOTED LAST YEAR FOR THE PORT FOR A TAX INCREASE THAT WE HAD LAST YEAR AND I WANT TO DO THE SAME THING THIS YEAR. HOWEVER, MOST THINGS THAT WE REALIZE WHEN A PANDEMIC. BUT YOU'RE SAYING THIS IS MONEY COMING FROM SOMEBODY THAT'S GONNA HAVE TO PAY FOR THESE ITEMS. I CAN GIVE YOU A RESTAURANT FOR A SEVEN POINT SIX INCREASE OR TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS RENTAL PROPERTY THAT WOULD MEAN A ABOUT A TEN DOLLAR A MONTH INCREASE IN TAX TAX INCREASE TEN DOLLARS A MONTH OR FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLAR HOME. IT'S WHAT EIGHT POUNDS A YEAR? YEAH, HOW MUCH A MONTH? IT WAS 15, 20 DOLLARS A MONTH. THAT'S THAT'S WHAT A SEVEN SIX YEAR INCREASE WAS UP FOR FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS OR A LOT MORE.

IS TO INCREASE RENT TO MAKE SURE THIS WAS A STRUGGLE FOR YOU WHEN YOU'RE PUTTING THIS

BUDGET TOGETHER? >> IT'S NOT EASY. OK.

YOU'RE SERVING THREE MASTERS THE YOU KNOW THE EDUCATIONAL LEADER SAYS THIS IS WHAT I NEED THE TAXPAYER SAY I DON'T WANT TO PAY FOR IT BUT YOU WELL BETTER DO THIS.

>> AND THE COUNTY SAYS WE HAVE TO WEIGH IN OPTIONS. SO IT IS A FRUSTRATION I GET THERE BUT I'M CERTAINLY IN SUPPORT OF WHAT YOU DO BECAUSE THIS IS THIS IS WHAT'S NECESSARY THAT YOU SAID IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A WORLD CLASS EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM, YOU HAVE TO START SOMEPLACE AND THIS IS THE ROAD TO DOING THAT .

THESE ARE OUR FUTURE LEADERS. THESE ARE THE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE GOING TO BE OUT THERE LIVING IN OUR COMMUNITY, DOING THE WORK IN OUR COMMUNITY .

WE NEED TO HAVE THEM WELL EDUCATED, WELL VERSED IN SOCIETY SO THAT THEY CAN MAKE THE PROPER DECISIONS, HAVE ANY OTHER PLANS FROM PRESENT REGARDING THAT IS MORE COMMON.

IF THAT WAS HER FIRST OR BUSINESS, WHAT IS IT EXACTLY YOU WOULD LIKE US TO DO? WELL, IT SEEMS LIKE THE TWO GROUPS WITH REPRESENTATION PROBABLY NEED TO ME AND I AM TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT YOU KNOW, AS MARC POINTED OUT THIS THIS OPINION AFTER OPINION WE HAVE RECEIVED SAYS REALLY IT'S THAT WE HAVE THE FOR LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY TO DEVELOP THE BUDGET THROUGH THE BUDGET AND SET THE TAX RATE IN EARLY COUNTY COUNCIL DOES NOT HAVE THAT AUTHORITY. SO I JUST THINK IT NEEDS TO BE CLARIFIED WHETHER IT'S IN AS IT WITH REGARDS AS A COUNTY ORDINANCE, MCCAIN'S PREVIOUSLY INDICATED AND IN FACT THE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL BACK IN 86 SAID THAT'S NOT CLEAR FROM WHAT WAS WRITTEN.

AND IT WOULD BE WISE SHOULD GO GET THE LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION TO PASS THE LEGISLATION AT THE

STATE LEVEL TO CLARIFY IT NOT BE FINE WITH THAT. >> I MEAN I THINK SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE BECAUSE IT'S PROBLEMATIC. AND YEAR AFTER YEAR WE'VE HAD, YOU KNOW, SHORTFALLS IN THE LAST 11 YEARS WHICH TAX REFORM WITH THE REVENUE OVER 30 MILLION I BELIEVE BECAUSE OF YET 30 AND A HALF MILLION. I MEAN THAT'S A LOT.

AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT'S THIS EDUCATED. IT'S NOT SOMETHING YOU CAN JUST WITHOUT IT. OH, I WILL MAKE UP FOR IT NEXT YEAR IF THAT'S NOT THE CASE.

IT'S NOT BEING MADE UP FOR NEXT YEAR. AND SO YOU'RE OUT YOU KNOW WE'RE ENTRUSTED WITH THE CHILDREN AND EDUCATE THE CHILDREN.

AND THAT REQUIRES MONEY. IT REQS AND GOOD ACADEMICS. AND YOU KNOW, IF WE SAID WELL

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BUT YOU HAVE TO DO WITH LESS THE FEAR LESS WITH THE LESS THE NEXT YEAR.

IT'S NOT POSSIBLE TO DO IT'S IMPOSSIBLE. RIGHT.

SO I PROBABLY HAVE THE LONGEST HISTORY ON THIS ISSUE. LET ME TAKE JUST A MINUTE AND WALK THROUGH. I'VE ACTUALLY PRODUCE SOMETHING I WOULD LIKE FIND A COPY OF IT BUT I THINK EVERYTHING YOU CITED IN THERE I DISAGREE WITH FROM MY RECOLLECTION OF WHAT HAPPENED OVER TIME. I THINK THE ISSUE IS WHETHER OR NOT THE COUNTY COUNCIL HAS TO APPROVE THE PROTECTORATE WITH THAT EXCEPTION THE SCHOOL BOARD CERTIFIES IN THE PAST ALL THAT COUNTY COUNCIL WOULD DO IS VOTED UP OR DOWN DOES NOT BLIND CHANGE ANYTHING ALONG THE WAY.

SO I THINK THAT'S THAT'S THE ISSUE NOW. ALTHOUGH WHEN I WAS I CAME ON THE SCHOOL BOARD 18 YEARS AGO AND SO I CAN ACTUALLY SEE WHAT HAPPENED OVER 20 YEARS.

AND IF YOU GO BACK WHAT HAPPENED ABOUT THE TIME I CAME ON IS THE COUNTY COUNCIL WERE ROUTINELY REJECT THE SCHOOL BOARD BUDGET THAT THEN LED TO THE ORDINANCE CALLED THE MAINTENANCE OF LOCAL EFFORT THAT WOULD KICK IN THAT WOULD SAY THEY WERE ENTITLED TO THAT INCREASED EQUAL TO ENROLLMENT INCREASE AND INFLATION HAPPENED FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS.

>> AND SO BUT DURING THAT PERIOD OF TIME THE EFA FUNDING WAS FALLING BECAUSE OF THE

FORMULA BECAUSE WE WERE TAXPAYING ABILITY. >> SO WE WERE ACTUALLY IN A FAIRLY DEEP HOLE. TONYA WILL REMEMBER THIS PRETTY WELL ZERO.

YEAH. WE ACTUALLY WERE AT ONE POINT WHERE WE THOUGHT MAYBE THEY'RE GOING TO SEND US AN INVOICE BECAUSE THE CALCULATION WAS NEGATIVE AND THIS IS PICK BACK UP A LITTLE BIT. AND ONE YEAR WE GOT A PROVISO FOR SEVEN OR EIGHT MILLION I THINK TO BRIDGE THE GAP AND THEN I WENT TO COUNTY COUNCIL WITH I WAS STILL A SCHOOL BOARD AT THAT POINT. WE HAD A DISCUSSION THAT SAID WE'VE GOT TO FIX THIS PROBLEM.

AND I BELIEVE WE PUT FORWARD A 16 MILLION DOLLAR INCREASE WHICH AT THAT TIME WAS KNOW TWELVE PERCENT IT WHATEVER IT WAS AND HE ENDED UP OVER TIME THAT'S ACCORDING BILLION DOLLARS. AND SO THEN AT THAT POINT I END UP GOING ON THE COUNTY COUNCIL AND FINANCE AND THEY'RE ALWAYS INVOLVED IN THE BUDGET. THE THE THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE WITH ONE EXCEPTION I DON'T THINK WE EVER DENIED THE SCHOOL BOARD.

I STAND CORRECTED. I BELIEVE WE BASICALLY AGREED WITH WITH EVERYTHING IN FACT A COUPLE OF CASES. WE ACTUALLY SUGGESTED THAT YOU INCREASE YOUR BUDGET.

ONE WAS GETTING ON WITH THE COMPUTERS AND ACCELERATING THOSE FASTER AND WE WERE THE ONES WHO SUGGESTED TELL US WHAT IT IS THAT YOU NEED FOR THE SCHOOL TEACHERS.

AND THAT WAS FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT YOU STILL EFFECT.

WE ACTUALLY PUT A STEP FOR ONE OR TWO YEARS AND THEN I THINK LATER ON WE ALL GOT RID OF IT.

BUT IT ALWAYS SEEMED TO ME THERE WAS SOME LOGIC TO CONTINUING THIS STEP.

THE ONLY PLACE I REMEMBER WHERE WE DIDN'T FLOAT WHAT YOU ASKED FOR.

I THINK IN 19 AND YOU HAD A SIZABLE INCREASE. AND SO WE TOOK IT IN TWO STEPS.

ONE WAS TO APPROVE AN AMOUNT WHICH WE DID IN THE SPRING TO GO UP TO THE MAXIMUM THE 388 INCLUDING THE CARRY FORWARD AND THEN THAT THEN SAYS COME BACK IN THE FALL IF YOU THINK YOU STILL NEED MORE. SO YOU ALL DID THAT FELL ONE VOTE SHORT VISIT NEEDED A SUPER ,SUPER MAJORITY TO DO IT. AND QUESTION WAS IT BASICALLY CAME BACK TO HOW MUCH MONEY WAS DESERVE AT THAT TIME? SO THAT'S KIND OF MY RECOLLECTION.

NOW I'VE THOUGHT ABOUT THIS OVER TIME AND BACK ABOUT SEVEN YEARS AGO I ACTUALLY WENT TO THE DELEGATION AND SAID I THINK THERE'S A STRONG ARGUMENT FOR PHYSICAL AUTONOMY FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. THE LIKE. MY THOUGHT PROCESS WAS THAT IT WOULD ACTUALLY ENCOURAGE MORE PEOPLE TO CONSIDER RUNNING FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD BECAUSE YOU WOULD BE SETTING THEIR TAXES BECAUSE THEY HAVE THIS FALSE IMPRESSION THAT WE'RE, YOU KNOW, GUARDING THE HENHOUSE. BUT IN ANY EVENT THEY TURNED IT DOWN FLATLY.

SO AS I'VE THOUGHT ABOUT IT SINCE I DEVELOPED THIS LITTLE PIECE, I'LL JUST RUN THROUGH IT REAL QUICKLY. BUT IT DOES SEEM TO ME THAT A WEIGHT AND WEALTH EFFECT IF YOU LOOK AT THE STATE ABOUT A THIRD OF THE COUNTIES HAVE FULL FISCAL AUTONOMY.

ABOUT A THIRD HAVE THE COUNTY COUNCIL ASKED TO APPROVE IN ABOUT THIRD HAVE LIMITED AND I

[00:35:03]

BODY TO HAVE TO HEAR WHAT IT IS THAT YOU'RE SAYING. >> AND THEN IF WE AGREE TO SET THE TO BUILD THAT SUPERMAJORITY TO TO APPROVE THAT NOW IT'S KIND OF FUNNY IN A WAY BECAUSE THEN 388 HAS THIS STATUTORY CEILING YOU CAN GO UP TO BUT THE OLD MAINTENANCE LOCAL EFFORT IS WHAT WAS IT I CAN TELL IS STILL IN EFFECT THE TWO ARE ALMOST SAME OTHER THAN ONES BASED ON THE ROMAN ONES BASED ON POPULATION THAT YOU COULD BE UPSIDE DOWN.

YOU COULD ACTUALLY HAVE THE FLOOR BEING GREATER THAN THE CEILING BASED ON WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE ENROLLMENT ITSELF. SO SO IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THAT THAT WOULD BE AN AVENUE GOING FORWARD. I DON'T THINK YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF SUCCESS WITH THE DELEGATION BUT I WOULD THINK THAT COUNCIL COULD CONSIDER IF YOU WANTED TO GO DOWN THAT PATH OF ASKING THE DELEGATION TO APPROVE THAT TYPE OF AN APPROACH WHICH WOULD ESSENTIALLY SAY THE ONLY PLACE THAT YOU WOULD HAVE TO COME TO US FOR APPROVAL WOULD BE WHERE YOU EXCEED THE CAP ON 388 WHICH I THINK YOU HAVE TO DO ANYWAY. WOULD YOU DO ANYWAY? I THINK THAT MIGHT GIVE YOU EVERYTHING YOU WANT IN THAT IN THAT REGARD.

>> IF YOU WANTED TO GO DOWN DOWN THAT PATH. NOW THE SECOND PAGE THIS WAS SOMETHING LIKE YEARS AGO BUT YOU CAN SEE AT THE VERY TOP THERE THOSE ARE THE CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH 388 IS BROKEN. I THINK THERE'S FIVE OF BUT CLEARLY THE KIND OF THING YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT NOW LIKE THAT IS TO IS THE CATASTROPHIC EVENT THAT HAPPENED.

SO IT WAS WE'RE CERTAINLY IN THE ABILITY IN THE PLACE TO TO DO THAT FOR YOU IF YOU WANT TO SKIP. I THINK FOR THIS YEAR I WOULD THINK THAT THAT MIGHT BE THE BEST APPROACH BECAUSE I DON'T SEE ONLY ABLE THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE AND I THINK THE LEGISLATURE DISAGREED THAT THE COUNTY COUNTY CAN UNILATERALLY CHANGE THAT.

I HAVEN'T READ THE OPINION BUT I WOULD GUESS THAT THAT'S WHERE THEY WERE FROM.

SO WHAT IS FOURTH OF IT WOULD SEEM TO ME A WAY TO HAVE A PATH FORWARD THAT MIGHT GET WHAT YOU ALL WANT GET YOU THROUGH THIS YEAR AND THEN AND MAYBE GET THE FIRST STEP TOWARDS FISCAL TOMMY

. >> TONYA, YOU HAVE A I. I DO RECALL THE I THINK WE'VE USED A SURCHARGE REQUEST TWICE OVER HISTORY IN ABOUT 20 YEARS. THERE WAS A COURT ORDER CERTAINLY MANY YEARS AGO AND THE OTHER REQUEST WAS THE DEFICIENCY IN THE TWENTY EIGHTH NINETEEN THIS YEAR. SO IN TWO CASES I THINK THAT. SO IT'S IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT. ALL RIGHT. IT IS BUT HAS OCCURRED A FEW TIMES OVER HERE. SO JUST FROM A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE IF YOU WANT TO GO DOWN THIS PATH I THINK YOU CERTAINLY HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE DELEGATION WOULD BE HAPPY TO PURSUE IT. BUT OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE TO HAVE YOUR BLESSINGS TO THE COUNCIL

PLUS. >> I AGREE WITH BECAUSE I THINK OR THAT FOR THE LEGISLATIVE

DELEGATION RIGHT NOW IS THE ROAD TO NOWHERE BOGGED DOWN? >> I THINK ON DAY ONE IS GOING TO BE THE END OF IT. THAT'S WHY I THINK HERE. THAT'S ALL IT IS.

YOU'VE GOT WHAT'S CALL. WHAT'S YOUR REACH BACK? HOW MUCH REACH BACK YOU HAVE LEFT? ANY FOUR POINT FOUR MILES IS BEING LOOKED BACK OVER IN THE TWO YEARS AND THEN CURRENT CAPPED AMOUNT IS THREE POINT TWO.

SO THE COMBINATION OF THOSE SEVEN POINTS THAT SECTARIAN SO YOU MEET ALL THE STATUTORY REQUIREMENT WITHIN THE GUIDELINES. YES.

SO COULD THEY REALLY TALK ABOUT TWO THINGS THE MORE I GET TO THIS JANUARY AND THEN GO BACKWARDS NUMBER TWO IS WHAT THE LONG TERM IS GOING LOOK LIKE.

LONG TIME. YEAH, NO THERE'S TOO MUCH QUESTION IF YOU WANT OR IF YOU WANT ATTACK THE QUANTITY OF FOUR OR WHICH WE TAKE AFTER THE BUDGET THAT'S GOING TO GIVE

[00:40:08]

EVERYBODY A MUCH LARGER. >> I'M JUST I'M JUST TALKING OUT LOUD SEEMS TO ME THE LOGICAL THING TO DO WOULD BE TO TAKE IT AS LONG IT IS THREE A TIMELINE.

IT SOUNDS LIKE YOUR THEN AT THAT APPROVED AND THEN ATTACK THE THE LONG TERM AUTONOMY H.

YOU KNOW I'VE READ AND REREAD IT AND REREAD THIS OPINION AND IT LOOKS LIKE THE OPINION SEEMS TO TAKE THE 1968 STATUTE AND SAY THAT THE OVERRULED IS OVERRULED TRUMPED IT READ AND THAT AFTER THAT OUTSIDE. IT SOUNDS TO ME SO OBVIOUS TO THE TEST CASE WILL LOOK AT IT AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO INTERPRET ANYTHING WE HAVE BEFORE 1975.

SO THEN WE THEN OF COURSE THE AUTHOR REMEMBER WE YOUR FIRST IN ALLEGHENY COUNTY, NEW YORK IS WELL SAID CHURCH IT'S AT ALL BEGINS WITH THE RULE AND THERE'S NOTHING SUBSEQUENT TO THAT THAT REALLY, REALLY TAKES AWAY THE AUTHORITY FROM THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO SET THERE OWN REALLY SO THAT THE ART ABILITY TO DEAL WITH AN ART DOES TAKE THAT ARGUMENT ON ITS FACE AND SAY WELL AT THAT POINT IN THE COUNCIL WE'D HAVE TO SAY WE'D HAVE TO GET A LEGAL OPINION SAY CAN WE DO THAT OR NOT? BECAUSE WE OBVIOUSLY CAN'T CAMPAIGN FOR THE LEGAL OPINION. IF A LEGAL THING WOULD LOOK LIKE THAT THEN I GUESS WE COULD VOTE ON IT AND SAY HEY, YOU KNOW, WE SINCE 1975 WE'VE DOING SOMETHING WE DON'T HAVE TO DO IT AND SO WE CAN DEFEND RIGHT THE SHIP IF WE RAISE ANSWERED SAYING AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO IT ANYMORE BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE STATUTORY AUTHORITY TO DO IT.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE FIRST SENSE OF THE BODY. YES.

I SUSPECT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO ARE GOING TO WANT TO CLAIM TENACIOUSLY TO THIS AUTHORITY. I DON'T KNOW THAT FOR A FACT I'M GUESSING I DON'T KNOW.

I DON'T HAVE ANY REASON TO THINK THAT THAT'S THE MAJORITY OF COUNSEL BUT IT COULD BE A PERSONALLY I'VE ALWAYS FELT THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT SHOULD HAVE AUTONOMY FOR THE BASIC REASONS, SAYS YOU ALL ARE ELECTED JUST LIKE WE ARE TO DO A JOB AND SPEND MONEY.

YOU SPEND MORE MONEY THAN WE DO . AND SO WHY WHY SHOULD WE BE RESPONSIBLE FOR DECISIONS THAT YOU MAKE? WE'D NEVER REALLY I MEAN REALLY REALLY NOT A LOT. NOT LIKE MAYBE MORE TO HAVE PEOPLE WITH TWO THOUSAND EIGHT SEPARATE JUDGES THAT WE'D NEVER REALLY TAKE IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT PERFORMANCE.

BUT I GET BACK. BUT IF AT ALL. SO AS A PRACTICAL WHATEVER YOU KNOW IT'S YOU'VE HAD ESSENTIALLY AUTONOMY BUT YOU STILL HAVE TO DO IT.

IT MAY HAPPEN. I I GUESS I'M INCLINED TO SAY TO MY OKATIE FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH IT SHOULD BRING FORWARD THE TO 2021 22 PROPOSAL WITH CLAWBACK WHAT YOU CALL A QUOTE OUT OF REACH LOOKED AT 4:00 SOLVING AND I'LL I WOULD THINK THAT THAT WOULD HAVE BUT IF IT DOESN'T THEN WE'LL GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD. BUT LET ME MAKE ANOTHER COMMENT. THIS WHOLE BUSINESS ABOUT PAYING THE TEACHERS ADEQUATELY.

I ABSOLUTELY AGREE WITH THAT. BUT JUST ADDED I JUST DON'T AGREE THAT THE TEACHERS ARE NOT ADEQUATELY TRAINED. I THINK ANYBODY WHO'S ON A SALARY OR AN HOURLY RATE RIGHT NOW WHICH IS OFF A CLIFF JUST BECAUSE OF THE COST MEANS THAT IT'S A DOUBLE WHAMMY.

FIRST OF ALL IS WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE NATIONAL ECONOMY. AND THEN SECONDLY, IT PROBABLY MORE PAINFUL IS WHAT'S GOING ON THE FEE FOR COUNTY HIGH PRICED. SO THE WE HAVE HAD IT.

WE INVENTED CLASSIFY CERTIFIED STEP BOTH. I'M SORRY.

WE'VE ADDED ALL EMPLOYEES WITH A I'M ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO WAIT TABLES AND THEIR NEAR THE PEOPLE WE HAVEN'T CHANGED SHEETS AND ALL THE BEAUFORT COUNTY AND THE PEOPLE WHO DO EVERYTHING UNLESS YOU HAVE ASSETS RIGHT NOW OR EQUITIES YOU'RE IN TROUBLE.

IT'S JUST A QUESTION OF WHAT DEGREE YOU'RE IN TROUBLE. YOU'RE RIGHT.

SOME OF THOSE TEACHERS THAT TO THOSE PEOPLE WAIT TABLES OR TEACH OR TEACHERS.

YEAH. BECAUSE THEY THEY HAVE TO YOU KNOW RON.

I AGREE WITH LARRY FOR LONGER WITH THAT. REALLY? I MEAN IF WE LEAVE IF THE COUNCIL IS QUIET WOULD BEGIN IN JULY OR WE CAN BEGIN TO GET A

[00:45:06]

YOU KNOW WITH FISCAL AUTONOMY IS FISCAL AUTONOMY. LIKE I SAID, WE SPENT 46 YEARS IN EDUCATION VERY FAMILIAR HOW A SCHOOL BOARD BUILDS ITS BUDGET, WHY THEY SOLD IT THAT WAY AND WHO THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE TO. EACH STATE DOES IT DIFFERENTLY.

I HAD A BAG CITIZENS OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT I OVERSAW TO PASS THE BUDGET WHEN IT DID.

WE WERE FIGHTING WHEN IT DIDN'T I HAD AND NOW GO TO THE TOWN WHO I HAD TO EXPLAIN THE BUDGET TO. AND I HAD TO START OFF BY SAYING OK, PLEASE PUT THE PAY FOR THIS ONE. YOU'RE UPSIDE DOWN. THEY HAD ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA WHAT I WAS TALKING WITH MUCH LESS FUND ACCOUNTING AND THIS IS A FEDERALLY MANDATED PROGRAM SO ON AND SO FORTH. SO I CERTAINLY FEEL YOUR PAIN. I DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO THE FISCAL AUTONOMY IN THE NEXT COUPLE WEEKS BEFORE YOUR BUDGET HAS TO BE CERTIFIED. SO WE EASILY CAN EXPLAIN TO COUNCIL THE PROPER WAY THAT YOU ARE DOING YOUR BUDGET. YOU ARE WITHIN THE LAW AND THE LAW SAYS YOU ARE ALLOWED TO DO THIS AND WE GO ON FROM THERE. AND I THINK I THINK YOU MAY WANT TO JOINTLY JUST GO TO GET AN ATTORNEY GENERAL'S SAY LOOK, THAT'S THE QUICKEST, SIMPLEST AND MOST BINDING WAY TO GO.

I THINK PEOPLE ARE BEGINNING TO PANIC BECAUSE THEY'RE STARTING TO LOOK AT THEIR INDIVIDUAL SITUATION AND TRY TO ANTICIPATE WHAT IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE IN A MONTH OR TWO DOWN THE ROAD AND THEY'RE STARTING TO GET REALLY, REALLY NERVOUS. THE RAISING OF RAISING THE MILLAGE IN OPERATIONS JUST WON'T BE THE LEAST OF THEIR WORRIES.

THEIR WORDS ARE GOING TO BE WHAT'S GOING TO BE I'M MAKING FOUR DOLLARS AN HOUR.

THIRTY DOLLARS FOR WHATEVER. I'LL TAKE IT. THAT'S NOT GOING TO GET ME.

THAT'S NOT GOING TO GET ME THROUGH THE NEXT SIX MONTHS HERE.

SO YOU'VE SIMULTANEOUSLY TALKED ABOUT RAISING THE WAGES OF YOUR ENTIRE WORKFORCE.

KNOW I'M OF IT IF THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY IS DOING THE SAME THING.

I THINK THEY ARE AND THEN I THINK I THINK IT WOULD JUST BE PART AND PARCEL OF WHAT'S GOING ON IN THIS COUNTRY. IT'S NOT SOMETHING YOU NEED TO BE FRATERNITY EXCLUDED FROM YOUR PARTY'S. YOU'RE TRYING TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION.

ALL RIGHT. AND THE FACT OF WHAT YOU SAID YOU HAVE TEACHERS WHO TEACH ALL DAY AND THEN GO TO WORK AT ANOTHER JOB TO MAKE ENDS MEET. ONE OTHER THING THAT I WANT TO BRING UP IS IS THIS CHARTER TERMINATING THE VALUE OF THE MILL AND SETTING THE PROPER MILITARY HAS REALLY PUT US IN A BIND. AND YOU YOU KNOW WHY? I DON'T NEED TO EXPLAIN WHY THAT IS. BUT YOU CAN'T HAVE THIS HAPPENS ANYMORE. BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE BORROWING A WHOLE BUNCH OF MONEY AND RIGHT NOW WHICH WE GOT TO WHAT WAS THE LAST 80 BILLION DOLLAR

INTEREST RATE FRACTION OF A PERCENT BRANCHES OF A PERCENT. >> THAT'S NOT GOING TO HOLD TO AN. BUT OUR BOND RATING IS ABSOLUTELY KEY.

RIGHT NOW WE ARE RIGHT OUT WHERE WE THE MINIMUM TO KEEP OUR DOUBLE A 1 BOND RATING BUT THAT BOND FUND BALANCE THAT GIVES US THAT IS NOT ENOUGH TO PAY OUR BILLS FROM 1ST OF JULY TO DECEMBER WHEN THE MONEY STARTS COMING IN. AND YOU YOU KNOW THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE ALWAYS DOING. WE'RE LIKE WE'RE LIKE TOYS R US, YOU KNOW, HANDS WE GET ALL OUR MONEY IN DECEMBER OR JANUARY IF WE CAN DETECT BILLS ON TIME, SHALL WE BORROW A TAN EVERY YEAR AND THE TAN? WHAT DO WE PAY ON INTEREST AND FEES FOR THIS YEAR'S TAN? GET THE TWO OF YOU. BUT I THINK IT WAS ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY EIGHT THOUSAND EIGHTY MILLION AND I THINK THE NET INTEREST COST IS PRICED SIXTY FIVE THOUSAND ON ANNUALLY ON

THE 14 MILLION DOLLAR VOLUME. >> SO TO GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE HAVE FROM BALANCE NOT ALL

[00:50:01]

SO WE THAT'S INTEREST IS A TEACHER THAT'S WHETHER THAT'S A TEACHER AND SO WE WE HAVE THIS KIND SHORTFALLS BECAUSE YOU KNOW WE WE LOOK AT THE VALUE OF THE MIDDLE.

>> AT THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR WE KNOW WHAT THE MILLAGE RATE WAS.

AND WE KNOW WHAT WE GOT IN THE BANK. AND THAT SIMPLE MATH TO GET IT.

THAT'S NOT THE WAY THE MILITARY HAS BEEN SAID. THE MILITARY HAS BEEN SAID BASED ON THE TAX BILLS THAT GO OUT AND THE ASSESSED VALUE AND ADDITIONALLY SHORTFALLS LIKE THAT. IT'S NOT JUST THE SHORTFALL THAT HURTS THAT PARTICULAR YEAR BUT IT HAS A COMPOUNDING ON WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO. EDUCATION FOR KIDS IT'S THE WHOLE EDUCATIONAL FUNDING FORMULA. SO SETTING SETTING THE NOW ESPECIALLY IN A REASSESSMENT YEAR REASSESSMENT KILLED US. AND IF WE IF WE WOULD HAVE GOTTEN NOT HAD THESE AMOUNTS WE WOULD HAVE ENOUGH FUND BALANCE THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO NOT HAVE TO HAVE A 10. SO I KNOW THE PROCESS IS HARD BECAUSE WHEN YOU MAKE AN ESTIMATE OF WHAT REVENUE YOU GET FOR A SPECIFIC MEAL THAT'S HARD BUSINESS AND THERE'S SO MANY VARIABLES 6 PERCENT TO 4 PERCENT BUSINESSES DECREASES. I MEAN THAT'S HARD.

THAT'S HARD. BUSINESS BUT WE'VE BEEN AWFUL. I LOOK AT THE RECORDS.

YOU KNOW, WE'VE ASKED FOR. SO WE ASSESSED THE VALUE MALES SHOULD BE LOOKED AT AND WHAT WE'VE GOT IS VALUE YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN AWFUL A LOT CLOSER TO WHAT IT ACTUALLY TURNED OUT

TO BE. >> AND IF WE HAD THE STATE DEPARTMENT REVENUE COME AND TELL US IF YOU GET A LITTLE BIT MORE IN OTHER WORDS, YOUR MILITARY BRINGS IN MORE THAN YOU ANTICIPATED, THEN YOU JUST TAKE THAT TO THE NEXT YEAR AND DON'T ASK FOR MUCH.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, IF YOU GET SHORT YOU JUST HAVE TO IT UP. SO THAT THAT'S THE FRUSTRATION THAT WE'VE HAD WITH THIS BUDGET PROCESS. AND I KNOW YOU HAD THE SAME ISSUES. SO YOU KNOW, I'M PREACHING TO THE CHOIR.

I REALIZE THAT. BUT THAT'S JUST THAT'S JUST THE FRUSTRATION THAT WE HAVE TRY TO DEAL FROM WHAT THEY WANTED TO GET THROUGH TO WE PASSED IT AND WE RATED THE TACKLE THE ROOT, THE THE AUTONOMY I THINK WE THINK THAT THERE'S PRAISE FOR A COUPLE OF OUR LEGISLATORS DELEGATION BUT THE THREE QUESTIONS THAT HAVE COME INTO MY MIND IS WHO'S GOING TO PUSH BACK ON THIS? WHO'S GOT THE SPIRIT WITH ALL OF THIS? AND I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER THERE BUT THE MORE LEGISLATORS COME UP WITH MONEY AND BE A GOOD IDEA THAT JUST THE WATER MAKE SURE THERE'S NOT A MAJORITY OF THEM BECAUSE IF WE PROCEED WITH THAT ILLEGAL IN OUR LAWS THIS YEAR. THAT'S RIGHT.

AND WE SAY OK, WELL WE'LL GO ALONG WITH THAT A LEGISLATOR DELEGATION DESCENDS ON MADE THIS STRATEGIC PARTNER THAT I HATE WEST AND WOULD KEEP HIS DESK FROM TO FIRST JOINT WE'VE TALKED TO PRIVATELY DOES EVEN THIS CHAIRMAN NEEDS WHILE RESPECTED IN THE LEGISLATURE HE'S GOING TO BE CLOSE TO WHAT WAS ACCOMPLISHED AND WHEN HE GETS INTO TOWN THAT'S NOT.

BUT I THINK WHAT'S THE BEST HANDLE THEY MIGHT LOOK OPINIONS IN ON COUNTY COUNCIL IS HE HAS THE LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE RIGHT NOW THAT WE HAVE ANY REALLY KIND OF THE FIRST TWO AGENDA ITEMS THE ECONOMY JUST GOT ANOTHER 20, 21, 22.

[FY2021-2022 School District Budget]

NOT GOING TO BE FOR STUDENTS AT ALL. >> WHAT WHAT WE'RE FACING RIGHT NOW WHICH SO WE TALKED ABOUT THE KINDERGARTEN READINESS ALREADY.

RIGHT. THE WHAT WE'RE FACING IS THE STATE IS DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION IS PROJECTING THAT STATEWIDE STATEWIDE SEVEN OUT OF 10 CHILDREN IN GRADES THREE THROUGH EIGHT WILL NOT BE ON GRADE 7 OR IN AN ACADEMIC RECOVERY IS IS NOT THE TYPE

[00:55:01]

SEVERAL OF THEM AREN'T EVEN GOING TO FINISH HIGH SCHOOL. >> SO YEAH YOU'VE GOT YOUR WORK CUT OUT FOR YOU, FRANK. WE UNDERSTAND THAT WE EMPATHIZE AND SYMPATHIZE.

THIS THIS IS GOING TO BE A STRUGGLE. WE'LL BE BACK HERE NEXT YEAR TALKING ABOUT THE REMEDIATION PROGRAMS YOU NEED AND WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO COST EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM ON THIS SIDE IS VERY SUPPORTIVE OF EDUCATION HAS IS NOT SAY WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET A LOT OF PERSPECTIVE ON OUTSIDE OF THE REALM OF CANCER AND ONLY CARE CAN BE ON OUR SIDE. IT'S NOT CLEAR WHERE I SHOULD GO TO NANCY.

>> ACTUALLY WE STAYED ABOUT FOR MONEY BECAUSE WE WEREN'T HITTING THE ROOMS AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT BUT WE GOT ABOUT TWO BILLION DOLLARS LESS IN REVENUE THAN WE WERE EXPECTED TO GET. SO OUR ACTUAL PLUSH WAS THAT TWO MILLION DOLLARS THAT WE PUT IN OUR FUND MANAGERS AND THIS YEAR I DON'T KNOW WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR EXPENDITURE RATE WE'RE GOING TO SAVE SOME MONEY THIS YEAR AS WELL BECAUSE WE'RE NOT HIRING AS MANY SUBSTITUTES

OF ANY SUBSTITUTES. >> SO THAT'S GOING TO GIVE US SOME SAVINGS THIS YEAR.

BUT AGAIN, WHO KNOWS WHAT WE'RE GOING TO GET FOR REVENUE? >> RIGHT NOW WE'RE AT 98 PERCENT. WE'VE GOT 98 PERCENT OF WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO GET.

YES, IT LOOKS LIKE FOR COMES SLIGHTLY OFF OF THE BUDGET ON THE GENERAL FUND AND THAT SERVICE. SO I'M ESTIMATING 2 MILLION ABOVE THE BUDGET ON THE GENERAL

FUND AND WHAT IS THE SURPLUS? >> YOU HAVE PERCENTAGE WISE WHAT IS RECOMMENDED BY THE STATE. WE HAVE ABOUT 16 PERCENT. OUR BOARD POLICY IS 15 TO 17 PERCENT. SO RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE WE'RE AT ABOUT 56 DAYS OF OPERATIONS.

THE STATE MINIMUM IS 30. YOU'RE IN BIG TROUBLE IF YOU GO BELOW 30 RECOMMENDED RATE IS 60 . SO WE'RE A LITTLE BELOW THE 60 50 YEARS RATHER THAN THE 7 PERCENT. IT'S REALLY SOMETHING YOU'VE CONVINCED US OVER TRYING TO KEEP PUMPING IN OUR THE RATING AGENCIES HAVE TO SHOW THAT GOING ALONG THAT IT'S TRYING TO KEEP IT FROM A SPATE SURPLUS WAS THE PERSON THAT WAS IT SARCASTIC AIMING TO GET US OFF

[Impact Fees]

SO MY QUESTION IS THE BOARD OF EDUCATION CARE MEMBER IT IS WHERE DO WE STAND WITH THIS? WE'LL TURN OUT BACK BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON IMPACT FEES FOR A PERIOD OF TIME AND IT'S NOT JUST A SCHOOL IMPACT IT IT'S IN THE ENTIRE PACKAGE OF IMPACT FEES AND HOW THEY WILL AFFECT FUTURE DEVELOPMENT. BUT LET ERIC WEIGH IN ON THIS WITH REGARDS TO SCHOOL ON FIVE FEET CANNOT LEGALLY PROCEED UNTIL WE HAVE SOME INDICATION FROM THE NFL IN STUDYING SOMETHING THE BROAD AREA THAT THEY ARE GOING TO SOUND AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT

VERSUS STATE LAW. >> THERE'S SOME WRONG CASES THAT THERE'S LITIGATION AGAINST THE MOVEMENT THAT BASICALLY SAID THAT IT'S HARD TO JUSTIFY INCLUSION, AN IMPACT FEE FOR

[01:00:04]

IT'S IN MY HANDS THEY'RE WAITING. I'LL IF YOU GIVE US SOME GIVE US SOME FOR A COUPLE MONTHS IT'S CROWDED WITH ARTIFICIAL I HERE HE'S SINCERE AND FRIEND HE

HITS THE MICROPHONES IN THE MIDDLE. >> THANK YOU SO SO AS ESSENTIALLY THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION IS IS THAT WE'VE PROVIDED INTERGOVERNMENTAL SEVERAL MONTHS AGO PROBABLY BACK IN THE FALL OF 2020 TO ALL THE MUNICIPALITIES OR NOT ONLY THE SCHOOL IMPACT FEE BUT VARIOUS OTHER IMPACT FEES THAT WE'RE UPDATING OR STARTING AND

THAT WOULD BE AN M.S. FEE AS WELL. >> SO WE ARE WAITING ON THOSE MUNICIPALITIES TO RESPONSE LEGALLY WE CAN NOT PROCEED ON WITH THE ADOPTION OF PARTICULARLY THE SCHOOL IMPACT FEE BECAUSE OF SOME COURT CASES FROM RULINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED IN THE JURISDICTION OF FLORIDA THAT BASICALLY SAYS THE JURISDICTION CANNOT IMPOSE A SCHOOL IMPACT FEE IF ALL MEMBERS OF THE AREA OR THE IMPACTING WOULD BE APPLIED TO APPLICABLE TO COLLECTS THE FEE AS WELL. SO WE WOULD BE WE WOULD BE ON SHAKY LEGAL GROUND TO ADOPT THAT TYPE OF FEE WITHOUT ON THIS.

SO THEY HAVE THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT SUCH MY UNDERSTANDING OFTEN TOOK UP THE DISCUSSION OF THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT MONDAY EVENING AT THEIR MEETING. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY COMMUNICATION WITH THEMSELVES KIND OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND I THINK HAS EXPRESSED SOME CONCERN ABOUT U.N. SCHOOL IMPACT FEE AND HARDY. WELL WE'VE PROVIDED THOSE AGAIN TO THEM THE SECOND TIME RECENTLY AND I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING FROM THEM. BUT YOU ALL AS THE SCHOOL BOARD COUNTY COUNCIL IS KIND OF TAKING YOU KNOW, THE APPROACH WITH THE SCHOOL IMPACT FEE THAT IS PRETTY MUCH THE SCHOOL BOARD TO PUSH FOR THE ADOPTION OF THOSE INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT SO THAT WE CAN PROCEED ON WITH THE ADOPTION OF THE SCHOOL IMPACT THAT WE'VE GIVEN THAT FIRST READING BY TITLE. BUT WE CANNOT GIVE IT ANY OTHER READINGS UNTIL WE HAVE THE GENERAL GOVERNMENT. WE HAD A MEETING WITH THE MAYOR OFTEN AND THAT WAS BROUGHT UP AND SHE TOLD US THAT SO FAR THEY'RE ON TRACK THIS YEAR TO ADD 1000 INDIVIDUAL HOUSES HOUSING UNITS AND PUT 1000 WHICH IS THEY HAVEN'T HAD THAT SINCE I THINK 2000 AND 7 2008 AND THEN CRASHED. SO HERE.

THAT MEANS MORE SCHOOLS. >> THESE ARE THESE ARE HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS.

THEY'RE GOING TO BRING IN A LOT MORE KIDS. WE HAVE WE HAVE TWO DEVELOPMENTS GETTING READY TO KICK OFF THEIR THIRD TO THEY ON THE WAY IN THAT AREA THEY'RE PAYING THE SCHOOLS CAPITAL FEE BUT THEY'RE BUILDING HOUSES RIGHT, LEFT IN THERE BUT THEY'RE PAYING THEM WAY LESS THAN THE NINE THOUSAND DOLLARS. SO THE FASTER WE GET THIS DONE THE BETTER OFF YOU ARE GOING TO BE. BUT WE CAN'T.

YOU KNOW, I'D BE A GOOD IDEA FOR YOU ALL AS ELECTED, PARTICULARLY THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS THAT ARE ELECTED FROM THOSE AREAS TO START PRESSURING THOSE INDIVIDUAL ELECTED OFFICIALS FROM THE MUNICIPALITIES TO GET THIS DONE.

THE IMPACT FEE ON THAT ISLAND IS GOING TO HAVE A NEGLIGIBLE IMPACT BECAUSE THE IMPACT THESE TWO THINGS ABOUT IMPACT FEES THAT PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE PARTICULARLY AS THEY APPLY TO SCHOOLS IS IF IT'S REDEVELOPMENT. SO IF YOU'RE REPLACING A DWELLING WITH ANOTHER DWELLING ,THE SCHOOL IMPACT FEE WOULD NOT APPLY.

RIGHT NOW IF THEY'RE TAKEN DOWN 10 SINGLE FAMILY HOUSES AND REPLACING THOSE WITH 50 MULTIFAMILY HOUSES THEN THEY WERE THEY WILL PAY THE DIFFERENCE OR 40 NEW GROWING UNITS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. SECONDLY, SHE IS WORRIED ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING ARE COUNTY COUNCIL AND WE STILL PLAN ON DOING THAT AS BUILT IN MONEY HAS FUNDED A WAIVER ACCOUNT FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS AND WE DON'T WE DON'T SEE THAT NOT OCCURRING AGAIN.

SO THOSE TWO CONCERNS YOU CAN KIND OF USE TO TAKE OFF THE TABLE FOR THE TOWN OF GUILT.

IN MY OPINION IT'S NICE THAT WE CAN'T WAIVE THE FEE WITHOUT CHARGE.

SO JUST FOR CLARIFICATION. SO WITH THREE MUNICIPALITIES SOUTHERN PART OF THE COUNTY, IF ONE OF THOSE MUNICIPALITIES WAS NOT SUPPORTED BY OTHER, IS THAT IT OR COULD IT THEN MOVE

[01:05:05]

THE QUICK ANSWER I DON'T REALLY KNOW. OKAY I'M SORRY BUT WHAT I WOULD TELL YOU IS IT WOULD SEEM TO ME THAT GIVEN WHAT I'VE BEEN TOLD BY THE LEGAL TEAM THAT WORKED WITH OUR IMPACT FEE CONSULTANT BASED ON WHAT THEY TOLD ME ANY JURISDICTION IS NOT SIGNED ON AND AGREED TO COLLECT THE IMPACT FEE FOR THE SCHOOLS WOULD COULD MAKE IT VERY DIFFICULT FOR US TO CONTINUE THE ADOPTION. WE COULD SEE AN EXTENSION OF SPIROS. WHAT ARE YOU ALL TRYING TO REFERENDUM WITH 20 TICKETS

EVERY YEAR? >> I'M EXCITED. OKATIE AND I HEARD YOU WERE THINKING ABOUT LOOKING AT WHERE YOU WERE IN THAT PROCESS BUT I WILL TELL YOU THIS I'VE WORKED IN JURISDICTIONS THAT HAVE SCHOOL IMPACT FEES AND THE ARGUMENT THAT SCHOOL IMPACT FEES SLOW DOWN GROWTH AND STOP GROWTH AND HINDER GROWTH AND OR SOME SORT OF BACKDOOR TAX IS NOT TRUE. THAT'S NOT ACCURATE. IT'S JUST EMOTIONAL ARGUMENT IN THE AREAS THAT I WORKED IN YORK COUNTY THAT WHERE WE STARTED THE SCHOOL IMPACT FEE IF ANYTHING WHEN THE FORMAL SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN YOUR ACCOUNT IN FORT MILL ADOPTED THE SCHOOL IMPACT FEE CONSTRUCTION AND GROWTH POPULATION GROWTH IN FORT MILL ACCELERATED BECAUSE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT GOT THAT MUCH BETTER THAT MUCH FASTER BECAUSE THERE WASN'T A REVENUE SOURCE TO PAY FOR CAPITAL THAT THEY COULD LEVERAGE OTHER FUNDS FOR IN ACCOUNT THAT FREED UP OTHER MONEY TO GO INTO OPERATIONS FROM THAT TAX BASE.

SO YOU CAN'T USE THEM LIKE FEES FOR OPERATIONS OR MAKE SURE THAT'S CLEAR BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHO MIGHT BE LISTENING HADN'T YOU? BUT THE IMPACT FEE THAT'S GOING THAT GOES FOR CAPITAL AND PRETTY MUCH WOULD FREE UP MORE MONEY IN GENERAL FUND THAT COULD BE REALLOCATED TO OPERATIONS. DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? WHAT'S THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF ALL THAT IMPACT IS IN THE UP TO FOUR PERHAPS PER HOUSE? I'D HAVE TO LOOK AT HOW REAL SISTERS LIKE TO PLAY UP THE TABLE 15.

YEAH I SAW. SIX A TOTAL LIBRARY ROADS. NO, NO IT'S FROM A SCHOOL THAT I WAS TAKING. ERIC YEAH I'LL HAVE TO LOOK. I THINK IT'S LIKE 15 OF HIS 15 FRIENDS WERE BASED ON THAT ON THE SQUARE FOOTAGE OF THE HOUSE IF YOU RECALL.

YEAH I WOULD HOPE THAT HELPS WITH THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING ISSUE TO THE LARGER HOUSE MORE FEES ARE PAID, SMALLER HOUSE LESS FEES ARE PAID. SO THAT'S ONE WAY WE'RE DEALING WITH THE AFFORDABILITY TEST THAT WE HAVE TO MEET FOR THE FOR THE STATE STATUE IMPACT FEES. IT DOES COME BACK AROUND. BUT YOU ON THE SCHOOLTEACHERS? NO BECAUSE THE ABILITY TO BUY A HOME. RIGHT.

RIGHT. BECAUSE THAT GOES UNDER THE MORTGAGE IMMEDIATELY.

YEAH. OK. SO WE UNDERSTAND ABOUT THE IMPACT. I'M SORRY. CAN I GET BACK? I JUST WANT TO THINK ABOUT THAT. SOMETHING YOU SAID HERE IS THEY'VE MADE A BIG POINT OF THAT WHEN THE RATES GAVE THEIR PRESENTATION A YEAR AND HALF AGO. WAS THAT EXACTLY WHAT YOU SAID IS HAPPENING FOR NOW? INSTEAD OF YOU KNOW, PEOPLE NOT WANTING TO GO THERE BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT, THEY DON'T WANT TO BUILD THEIR HOME ARE QUITE THE OPPOSITE BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE RIGHT AWAY.

BUILDING THE INFRASTRUCTURE WAS REALLY NEEDED. IT MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE AND I THINK PEOPLE SORT OF JUST THINK OF IT LIKE AS THE WORKFORCE SOME PEOPLE ARE COMING HERE RUN DOWN THIS PIER WHO WANT TO PUT DEMONSTRATES WOULD YOU ENOUGH TO YOU?

[Lobeco branch library/Head Start property]

AND I GUESS SO. ONE OF OUR QUESTIONS IS WHAT'S BEEN RELAYED TO THAT TO THE DISTRICT IN. THE BOARD IS THAT THE COUNTY IS PROBABLY NOT REALLY INTERESTED IN BUYING THAT PROPERTY. YOU GOT A LOVELY LIBRARY ON THEIR AND YOU KNOW THE OTHER OPTIONS IS THAT IT'S A PUTTING IT ON THE MARKET OR LEASING IT TO WORK.

YEAH. KNOW YOU GOT SOME PROPERTY SOUTH OF THE BROAD YOU'D LIKE TO SWAP BETWEEN WE'RE GOING TO NEED SOMETHING IN LAST I REMEMBER THERE WAS DISCUSSION COUNCIL ABOUT WHETHER WE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE A NEW AGREEMENT OR AMEND THE OLD ONE.

WE WERE TOLD WE NEED DIFFERENT THAN THE OLD AND I THINK WE APPROVED IT OR IN BRUSSELS AT

[01:10:01]

THAT'S OBSOLETE LIQUID OUTSIDE THIS PROPERTY. YEAH.

YEAH. JOHN I DON'T KNOW THE DETAILS. I'LL BE GLAD TO GO BACK AND VISIT WITH YOU. I'LL BE GLAD TO LOOK INTO THAT AND FIND OUT WHERE WE STAND ON THAT. I MEAN THERE IS THERE MIGHT BE AN INTEREST YOU YOU KNOW, I THINK I THINK OUR COUNT SAW AND I CAN'T SPEAK FOR ALL COUNCIL BUT YOU KNOW, INSTEAD OF US PAYING LEASES FOR PROPERTY AND THINGS LIKE THAT, IT WOULD CERTAINLY BE AN IMPETUS JUST PURCHASED PROPERTY FROM MY PERSPECTIVE BECAUSE AGAIN, YOU KNOW, YOU YOU'RE YOU'RE GONNA EVENTUALLY OWN IT OUTRIGHT. STOP PAYING. SO I'LL LOOK INTO THAT AND GET

[Security Fee for Hilton Head Police Services]

NEXT IS THE SECURITY NET POLICE SERVICES. WHEN I LET YOU SPEAK ABOUT IT AND I'LL TALK ABOUT THAT BUT I HONESTLY WE'VE WE'VE RECEIVED A BILL FOR SECURITY SERVICE POLICE SERVICES ON HILTON HEAD AND AS A SCHOOL DISTRICT WE WE ALREADY PAY FOR POLICE SERVICES THROUGH OUR SRO PROGRAM THAT WE RECEIVE. SO SO WE'RE ALREADY PAYING FOR POLICE SERVICES AND THEN WE'RE GETTING HIT WITH. I THINK IT'S THIRTY TWO THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED THIRTY TWO THOUSAND OR ASSESSMENT FEE FOR POLICE SERVICES.

SO WE WE HAD SUBMITTED AN APPEAL PROCESS TO WAS DENIED. WE SUBMITTED A SECOND APPEAL.

THE SECOND APPEAL WAS DENIED UNTIL WE JUST WANTED TO DISCUSS IT BECAUSE IT FEELS LIKE WE'RE

PAYING AN INVASION FOR PROPERTY SERVICES ANYTHING ELSE. >> NO URBAN.

I THINK THE AMOUNT THAT WE PAY FOR AS I WROTE ON PROPERTIES OF OUR HILTON THAT'S CLOSE IS ABOUT ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND A YEAR. SO WE JUST FELT LIKE IT WOULD SORT OF DUPLICATE DUPLICATE PAYMENT FOR THE SAME SERVICE. BUT WE UNDERSTAND AREAS CERTAIN LANGUAGES ORDINANCE THAT INCLUDE GOVERNMENTAL UNITS AND THAT WOULD INCLUDE SCHOOLS.

THAT WAS THE RATIONALE FOR THE DENIAL OF THE APPEAL. THERE ARE THERE IS UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES TO THE UNIFORM SERVICE FEE FOR HILTON HEAD ISLAND.

IN THE PAST WE HAD AN AGREEMENT WHETHER IT WAS WRITTEN OR VERBAL OR HOWEVER IT CAME FOR THE LAST 37 YEARS. HILTON HEAD ISLAND PAID FOR POLICE SERVICES SUDDENLY.

HILTON HEAD ISLAND DECIDED THAT THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THEY WERE PAYING WAS NO LONGER ACCEPTABLE TO THEM. THAT THEY BELIEVED THAT THEY WERE ALREADY PAYING THOSE SERVICES WE COULD NOT GET THEM TO PUT MONEY IN THE BUDGET FOR THAT.

WE HAD TO GO THROUGH AN ALTERNATIVE ROUTE CALLED THE UNIFORMED SERVICE FEES THAT HAS UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES AND THAT IS TO TREAT EVERYBODY THE SAME WAY IF YOU ARE A COMMERCIAL BUSINESS, IF YOU ARE A GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY YOU STILL PAY FOR POLICE SERVICES.

SO WE THE COUNTY THAT HAS PROPERTY ON THAT ISLAND ARE PAYING OURSELVES FOR POLICE SERVICES. IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE SRO.

THE SRO PROGRAM IS A SEPARATE PROGRAM. IT IS A SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER PROGRAM. SEPARATE AND APART. SO UNFORTUNATELY THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN DO AT THIS POINT IN TIME TILL WE LEGALLY HASH THIS OUT AND HAVE A CONCLUSION TO THIS. SO YOU KNOW, WE DO APOLOGIZE BUT THOSE ARE THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES THAT WE HAVE. AND NOTHING WE CAN DO AT THIS POINT IN TIME.

STILL THE COURT FINALLY SETTLED IN SESSION AND THERE IS ONE THING THAT YOU ALL DO ON MY MIND IS YOU ALL WHEN YOU'RE TALKING I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE UMPIRE YET SAY HATE YOU ALL PROBABLY OUGHT TO WORK OUT THIS SHERIFF'S DEAL WITH WHAT THE COMMUNITY SAID THAT WE CAN GET

RID OF USER FEE BECAUSE THAT'S HAVING A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON US. >> SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE PERFECTLY CLEAR THAT THE PUBLIC NEEDS THAT'S OUR ROADS ARE KEY FOR COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICERS THEMSELVES AND THEY HAVE THE POWERS AND THE DUTIES OF AN OFFICER.

SO THEY THEY'RE NOT JUST THERE, YOU KNOW, COUNSELING STUDENTS OR WHATEVER THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO DELIVER THE LAW IF NECESSARY. AND WE TAKE 75 PERCENT OF THEIR COMPENSATION AND AND WHAT THE SCHOOLS OPEN, YOU KNOW, WITH REASONABLE THAT 18 DAYS IN NOW DAY ROUGHLY. SO THAT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. YOU COULD HAVE A REAL ARGUMENT HERE. BUT WHAT I SERVICES THIS POLICE DEPARTMENT IS WHAT KIND OF SHERIFF I WAS SUPPOSED TO SUPPLY TO THE PUBLIC AND THE SCHOOLS OF OUR PUBLIC AND WILL

[01:15:03]

I MEAN THAT'S THE OTHER ARGUMENT IN TERMS OF THIS CONVERSATION.

SO IT'S IT IS A DOUBLE SPEED. I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU LOOK AT IT BUT IF WE GOT PAID FOR FOR SEPARATE ENTITIES IN TERMS OF SECURITY, THEN WE WILL WE SHOULDN'T BE WE SHOULDN'T GET A FEE FOR THAT SAME SECURITY. I MEAN THE OTHER BUILDINGS THAT YOU ALLUDED TO IN TERMS OF THE COUNTY ONLY SHOW YOU NOT ALSO PAYING FOR PRIVATE SECURITY IN THOSE BUILDING.

YEAH. LET ME LET ME ADDRESS THAT IF YOU DON'T MIND.

SO YEAH I CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND THAT ARGUMENT BUT IF A USER FEE WHAT WE'VE HAD TO ENCOUNTER HILTON HEAD ON A USER FEE SETUP TO EQUITABLY SPREAD THE CALL PROVIDING THAT SERVICE THROUGHOUT THEIR AREA IT'S JUST LIKE THE SCHOOL IMPACT FEE. OKAY.

YOU TAKE EVERYBODY THAT HAS A HOW SHE DO CALCULATIONS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO IF SOMEBODY COMES IN AND THEY BUILD A HOUSE AND I'VE GIVEN AREA SOFTWARE THE BROAD LIKE A MAP TO THE CASE FOR PERSONAL REASONS I MADE A DECISION TO HOMESCHOOL OUR DAUGHTER AND NEW USE FOR THIS SCHOOL BUT HAD I BUILT A HOUSE AN IMPORTANT OLD SCHOOL DISTRICT I WOULD HAVE PUT THE SCHOOL AN IMPACT FEE AND I DIDN'T USE THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AT ALL EVER. AND I CONTINUE SCHOOL PROPERTY TAXES.

THE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS ARE DESIGNED TO PROVIDE A SPECIFIC DUTY AND PURPOSE WITHIN THAT SCHOOL THE HILTON HEAD ISLAND USER FEE FOR THE SHARE OF IS TO LEVEL THE COST OF PROVIDING POLICE SERVICES ACROSS THE HILTON HEAD ISLAND AREA.

AND THAT'S WHY IT HAS TO BE SHARED EQUITABLY TO EVERYONE AND I BELIEVE SO TO CHAIRMAN CARSON MUCH MORE EARLIER. YOU KNOW, LIKE THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF HILTON ISLAND, THEY HAVE TO PAY THE COUNTY. I'M TRYING TO CONFIRM THAT WE WOULD HAVE HAD TO PAY A USER FEE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND FOR THEIR PROPERTIES BUT I HAD TO PAY A USER FEE BECAUSE THAT'S JUST THE WAY IT'S SET UP AND THAT'S THE WAY THE FUND HAS A WORKING ORDER.

THE CHAMBER IS SCREAMING BECAUSE THEIR CHAMBER MEMBERS LIKE SHELTER COVE IS SHELLING OUT 67 THOUSAND DOLLARS WHICH IS A LOT MORE THAN THEY PAID FOR WHEN THEY WERE PRAYING THROUGH THE PROPERTY TAXES. SO IT'S A PROBLEM AND WE HOPE TO RESOLVE IT.

ALSO ALL THE NONPROFITS, CHURCHES, EVERYBODY. WHAT I'M HOPING WILL HAPPEN IF IT FIRST OF ALL WE HOPE WE HAVE ADJUDICATED IN COURT THEN WE CAN DO WHATEVER THE COURT SAYS . BUT FAILING THAT WHAT I SUGGESTED ANYBODY DISAGREE WITH YET IS THAT LOOK, IF WE IF IT IS UNCERTAIN HOW MUCH HELP IT'S GOING TO PAY, WE STILL OUGHT TO GO BACK TO THE HILTON THAT COLLECTED IN THEIR VILLAGE AND MAKING A PAYMENT TO US JUST LIKE WE CORE. AND THEN THE ONLY ISSUE REALLY IS IS HOW BIG IS IT WHICH THE COURT HAS SAID. SO I'M HOPING THIS WAS A ONE TIME SHOT THAT WE'VE GONE THROUGH. MORE CONTINUING TO WORK THROUGH THAT THAT WE CAN HAVE SOME RELIEF IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS FOR EVERYONE IN THAT SITUATION. IT'S NOT SOMETHING WE WANT TO DO BUT OBVIOUSLY WE CANNOT AFFORD THREE AND A HALF MILLION DOLLAR SHORTFALL IN THE SHERIFF'S BUDGET. SO WE WE WE WE HAD TO DO SOMETHING DIRECTLY FOUR AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS. WELL, SEAN, I MEAN OUR FIRST MOVIE IT WAS THREE AND A HALF THE REST OF THE COUNTY AND THE REST TILL GET PAID TWICE WHAT JUST ENDED AT WE IN OUR BUDGET.

WE HAD THAT ADDED RESOURCE CONTRACT RESOURCE OFFICER TO ALL OF OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS THAT ARE NOT COVERED THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT IT'S DEPARTMENT.

SO IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT WE HAVE TO DO THAT. GOOD.

SO THERE WERE COMMITTED OKATIE . WHAT THOSE WERE SCHOOL FEES.

WHAT SORT OF IS SECURITY SECURITY OR NOT? AND HOW HOW FAR DOES THIS WRETCH GOES YOU? A LET'S GO. SO I INTERPRET BASICALLY IT SOUNDS LIKE COUNCIL WOULD PROBABLY BE REASONABLE AND RECEPTIVE TO EVERY YEAR DEALING WITHIN THE CURRENT SYSTEM. I CAN'T SPEAK FOR COUNCIL AND I DO THINK THE SCHOOL AUTONOMY IS PROBABLY A DISCUSSION FOR ANOTHER DAY. AND YOU OUGHT A TO WEIGH IN ON

[01:20:02]

MY POINT MAY BE A TOUGH SELL WITH LEGISLATE LEGISLATE THEN FABRICATE SCHOOL FEES ALL THE OTHER IMPACT FEES WILL GO DOWN. THAT'S WHAT I SEPARATELY. YEAH.

I MEAN WE DID. WE WE FIRST READING TO THE SCHOOL IMPACT FEE.

ALL RIGHT. SO IF WE DIDN'T HAVE TO WONDER THAT'S THE ONE WE NEED TO PUT OUR SHOULDER TO REAL RIGHT NOW A LITTLE BIT AND EVERYBODY THAT'S HOLDING THE OTHER KIDS DO. YEAH WELL I MEAN IT IS THERE HOLD IT.

SO BECAUSE WE BECAUSE WE HAVE TO HAVE THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT FOR THE SCHOOL AND ALL OF THE OTHER ONES SO WE JUST THE JURISDICTIONS HAVEN'T GIVEN THE STANDARD GOVERNMENT AGREEMENT FOR THE SCHOOL. THEY HAVEN'T GIVEN THE STANDARD VERY MUCH FOR THE OTHER ONES OUT THERE. SO I'M WORKING ON THAT EVERY WEEK.

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

MOST PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT. THEY WERE

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.