Jun 30, 2021 County Council Special Meeting

[1. CALL TO ORDER]

[00:00:06]

THIS SPECIAL MEETING OF COUNCIL THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND INVOCATION WILL BE DONE BY

COUNCIL MEMBER SOMERVILLE. >> YOU DO ALL RISE TO THE FLAG PLEASE.

>> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THIS REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL WORD VALUE AT THIS POINT FORWARD MAKE US AN INSTRUMENT OF YOUR PEACE WHERE THERE IS HATRED LET US BRING LOVE WHERE THERE IS A FENCE LET US BRING PARDON WHERE THERE IS DISCORD LET US BRING UNION WHERE THERE IS ERROR LET US BRING TRUTH WHERE THERE IS DOUBT.

>> LET US BRING FAITH WHERE THERE DESPAIR. LET US BRING HOPE WHERE THERE IS DARKNESS. LET US BRING YOUR LIGHT WHERE THERE IS SADNESS LET US BRING YOUR JOY IN YOUR PRECIOUS NAME WE PRAY A MAN HAVING TAKEN ATTENDANCE AND SEEING WHO IS IN PERSON AND ONLINE ALL MEMBERS EXCEPT COUNCIL MEMBER GLOVER ARE PRESENT AT THIS TIME AS COUNCIL MEMBER GLOVER SIGNED ON OR COME IN PERSON CAN ANYONE SEE CAUSE I I DO NOT SEE NO

SIR. >> HE HE'S NOT ONLINE YET AND HE IS IS NOT IN THE BUILDING.

>> OK, WE WILL GO IN TO THE BODY OF THE MEETING. WE NEED TO APPROVE THE AGENDA

[4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA]

APPROVE THE AGENDA. >> CHAIRMAN WHEN I HAD OUR MISSION, MR. CHAIRMAN, IT WOULD BE THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION THAT COUNCIL AMEND THE AGENDA BEFORE YOU VOTE ON IT TO INCLUDE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR THE RECEIPT OF LEGAL ADVICE REGARDING THE SCHOOL DISTRICT BUDGET THAT'S ON THE AGENDA WITH A MEMBER OF COUNCIL MAKE THAT MOTION SO MOVE MR. CHAIRMAN WE HAVE A DULY MOTIONED IN SECOND FOR AN EXECUTIVE SESSION TO RECEIVE LEGAL ADVICE. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION THE AMENDED AGENDA WILL BE AMENDED AS DONE? WITHOUT OBJECTION AND I SEE NO OBJECTION. WILL A MEMBER OF COUNCIL PLEASE APPROVE THE AMENDED AGENDA?

>> SOME OF HIS CHAIRMAN MR. CUNNINGHAM MADE THAT MOTION A SECOND PLEASE.

I WILL SECOND. COUNCILWOMAN HOWARD MADE THE SECOND DULY MOTIONED IN SECOND OR THE AMENDED AGENDA. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION SAYING NO DISCUSSION THE AGENDA AS AMENDED WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION. OKAY.

[Additional Item]

OBJECTION. >> I SEE NO OBJECTIONS. THEREFORE WE WILL BE GOING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO VOTE FOR I BELIEVE WE'RE GOING TO BE AN EXECUTIVE S FROM THE EXECUTIVE SESSION AS REASONABLE. THIS EXECUTIVE SESSION.

THERE MAY BE SOME CHANGES IN TWO ITEMS THAT WE WILL DISCUSS AND VOTE ABOUT TODAY.

OUR NEXT ITEM IS OUR CITIZEN COMMENTS. IS THERE ANYONE IN THE PUBLIC

[5. CITIZEN COMMENTS]

BUT OUR DATA THERE INDIVIDUALS ONLINE THAT WAS TO SPEAK. >> HAVE THEY LET YOU KNOW THAT

THEY WISH TO SPEAK AND WHO THEY ARE? >> MISS MACKENZIE IS ON.

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AND SHE EMAILED REQUESTING TO SPEAK. >> OK, GO AHEAD.

SHE HAS THREE MINUTES. MISS MACKENZIE. >> THANK YOU.

GOOD AFTERNOON AND THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU TODAY ON BEHALF OF THE TEACHERS OF B FOR COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT. I WOULD LIKE TO START BY SAYING THAT OUR DISTRICT IS FORTUNATE TO HAVE TREMENDOUSLY TALENTED AND DEDICATED EDUCATORS.

WE HAVE TEACHERS WHO WORK LONG PAST THEIR CONTRACTED HOURS TO ENSURE THAT THEY PROVIDE A VIABLE AND EFFECTIVE EDUCATION TO THE STUDENTS AND DOWNEY. MY CONCERN IS IN RETAINING

THOSE VALUABLE TEACHERS A MARCH 11TH 2021. >> MOLLY SPEARMAN STATED THAT SOUTH CAROLINA WAS THE BEST TEACHING PRICE THIS IT'S REALLY THAT PRICE HAS BEEN GROWING CATASTROPHIC FOR YEARS STARTING THE 20 TWENTY SCHOOL ONE YEAR. SOUTH CAROLINA HAD LOST SIX THOUSAND DURING THE PREVIOUS YEAR. THAT NUMBER WAS DOWN DUE TO COPE WITH THE UNKNOWN ASPECTS. TODAY WE'RE LOOKING AT CLOSER TO 7 THOUSAND TEACHERS ARE LEAVING THE PROFESSION IN DROVES WHEN WE LOOK AT THE CENTER FOR RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION THE NUMBERS OF TEACHERS LEAVING IS CLIMBING.

BUT THE NUMBERS OF GRADUATES WHO ARE GRADUATING WILLING TO FILL THOSE VACANCIES IS PLUMMETING. SOUTH CAROLINA'S TEACHER EDUCATION PROGRAMS STATE THAT LESS THAN TWENTY ONE HUNDRED GRADUATES THIS YEAR ARE JOINING NOT A TEACHER WORKFORCE YET WE STILL HAVE THAT SHORTAGE OVER SEVEN HUNDRED TEACHERS LEFT THEIR POSITIONS IN SOUTH CAROLINA BETWEEN OCTOBER 2020 AND MARCH 2020. THOSE CRISIS NUMBERS ARE ONLY AFFIRMED BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT SURVEY IN MARCH OF TWENTY TWENTY ONE FOR THIRTY NINE PERCENT OF SOUTH CAROLINA TEACHERS SAID THEY WISH THEY DID NOT HAVE TO RETURN TO THEIR CURRENT POSITION. THE CURRENT LOSSES IN OUR STATE OR DIS AGGREGATED BY REGION IN THE LOW COUNTRY TWO POINT 1 3 PERCENT OF TEACHERS ARE LEAVING EACH YEAR.

>> THAT IS THE HIGHEST RATE OF LAYOFFS IN OUR STATE THAT IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE COST OF LIVING. TEACHERS STRUGGLE TO LIVE IN OUR AREA.

THE CURRENT SALARY IMPACTS OR QUALITY OF LIFE AND THAT IS SEVERELY MAGNITUDES MAGNIFIED FOR TEACHERS WHO ARE SINGLE PARENTS AND COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT.

WE WORK DILIGENTLY TO SECURE AND RETAIN EXCELLENT TEACHERS. MRS. WALTON.

MR. D. MRS. MCFADDEN AND ALL OF OUR H.R. APPROVAL TEAMS REALLY DO A SUPERIOR JOB IN SECURING DURING MY SECONDS. WE HAVE TO LEVEL THE FIELD IN ORDER TO RETAIN. I HOPE THAT YOU ARE WORKING TODAY.

THINK ABOUT THOSE TEACHERS WHO WERE ACTIVELY WORKING TODAY TO PREPARE FOR NEXT YEAR.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND I APPRECIATE THAT HE IS SPEAKING YOU.

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT. HAS ANYONE ELSE SIGNED ONLINE? >> NO, SIR.

THAT WAS THE ONLY ONE THAT WROTE IN REQUESTING TO SPEAK. >> AND WE WILL LET THE CITIZEN

COMMENTS. >> AND WE WILL GO TO THE NEXT ITEM.

>> SECONDED BY THEIR EQUIPMENT. ALL RIGHT. ITEM NUMBER SIX IS A PUBLIC

[6. PUBLIC HEARING AND THIRD READING TO MAKE APPROPRIATIONS FOR COUNTY GOVERNMENT, SPECIAL PURPOSE DISTRICTS FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING JULY 1, 2021, AND ENDING JUNE 30, 2022 ]

MAY I HAVE SUCH A MOTION PLEASE? >> MAKE THE MOTIONS MARK.

MR. LAWSON MAKES THE MOTION. MAY I HAVE A SECOND PLEASE? >> THIS IS FOR THE COUNTY BUDGET SURPLUSES. MR. GLOVER MAKES THE SECOND BEFORE A GOOD DISCUSSION BY THE COUNCIL. IS THERE A MAN ANY MONEY IN THE PUBLIC WHO WISHES TO MAKE A STATEMENT ABOUT THE COUNTY BUDGET THERE? NONE.

GO AHEAD, SIR. >> THERE WAS SOMEONE WHO WROTE IN REQUESTING TO SPEAK BUT HE

IS NOT ONLINE. >> THEN WE WILL CLOSE THAT SECTION.

COMMENTS BY COUNCIL MEMBERS GENTLE TO HER VISION. GO AHEAD.

[00:10:04]

FIRST OFF I FROM ALL. >> YEAH. JUST THREE CLEAR.

WE'RE GOING TO GET INTO THE SCHOOL BUDGET JUST A MINUTE. BUT OUR BUDGET AS I'M READING THE ORDINANCE WE ARE APPROVING A BUDGET AND WE'RE ALSO APPROVING A MILITARY.

>> I'M. I KNOW THIS DISCUSSION IS GOING TO COME UP WHEN WE GET TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. SO I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR WE'RE APPROVING UP RIGHT NOW WE'RE APPROVING 60 OR POINT TWO MALES. IS THAT CORRECT? I'M NOT ASKING YOU, JOE. I'M JUST AS SOMEBODY WHO NEEDS TO FIND HIS DEPARTMENT.

SPEAK TO THAT. >> WE'RE ASKING YOU ALL TO APPROVE SIXTY FOUR POINT EIGHT MALES WHICH IS A POINT SIX DIFFERENT FROM FISCAL YEAR F Y TWENTY ONE POINT TWO.

>> THAT'S WHEN WE MIGHT WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR. >> WHAT? I'M SORRY IT'S SIXTY FOUR POINT TWO. I LOOK AT MY NUMBERS WRONG.

SO WE'RE APPROVING A MILLAGE WE'RE NOT PROVING IT A DOLLAR AMOUNT.

WE'RE GOING TO MILLAGE IS THAT CORRECT? YES.

YES. THAT'S CORRECT. OK.

>> BECAUSE WHEN WE GET THIS GOOD IS WE'RE GOING FLIP IT AROUND AND TRY TO DO THE OPPOSITE WHICH IS VERY CONFUSING TO ME. I MEAN I UNDERSTAND THE MILL THE VALUE OF THE MILL CHANGES EVERY SINGLE DAY PROBABLY EVERY MINUTE OF EVERY DAY.

SO AT SOME POINT YOU HAVE TO PICK A POINT IN TIME AND SAY THIS IS THE POINT IN TIME WE PICK. THIS IS THE VALUE OF THE MILL. AND THIS IS THE NUMBER OF MILLS WE NEED FOR WHATEVER THE BUDGET IS. SO WE'RE THINKING NOW WE'RE THINKING SIXTY FOUR POINT TWO MILLS WITH A COUNTY BUDGET WHICH TRANSLATE TO WHATEVER THE WHENEVER THE COMPUTER VALUE OF THE MILL IS TODAY IT COMPUTES UP TO THE BUDGET.

SO WHEN WE GET TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND ASK THE SAME QUESTION YOU WANT WHY ARE WE DOING IT THAT WAY? SO THERE MAY BE AN ANSWER TO THAT BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS. THAT WAS MY QUESTION. THANK YOU.

>> YOU GO FORWARD WITH YOUR COURSE BECAUSE I WAS THERE WHEN I WAS I HAVE THE UNDERSTANDING THAT IN THE AUDIT IT SAYS THAT THE MILL WILL BE SET LATER OFFICIALLY SAID NO THAT THE TO

WHAT THE ORDINANCE SAYS IS THAT WE CAN WE MAY WE MIGHT. >> I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT

THE LANGUAGE IS. >> COME BACK AND ADJUSTED LATER ON BUT NEVERTHELESS RIGHT NOW WE'RE APPROVING SIXTY FOUR POINT TWO WHICH WHICH IS AND WITH THE OPTION I JUST HATE IN FACT IS RETIREMENT CHANGING ITS FIRST EVER MEETING I MAY HAVE TO DEFER TO KURT A LITTLE BIT.

>> YOU CAN HELP US SPEAK WITH THIS BUT HE IS THE ONE WHO ACTUALLY HELPED DRAFT SOME OF LANGUAGES THE ORDINANCE THIS YEAR THAT WOULD ALLOW SOME FLEXIBILITY IN COMING BACK IN THE FALL ONCE ALL OF THE APPROPRIATIONS FROM THE STATE ARE DEAD ON, ONCE THE VALUE OF THE MILL IS DEAD ON BECAUSE AS YOU JUST MENTIONED, THE VALUE OF THE MILL CAN CHANGE EVERY DAY WE'VE SEEN IT SENT OUT OR WILL SHORTLY BE SENDING OUT NOTICES OF ASSESSMENT TO OUR PROPERTY OWNERS AND BEFORE COUNTY AT WHICH TIME THEY BEGIN THE APPELLATE PROCESS WITH OUR

ASSESSOR'S OFFICE. >> SO THE VALUES THAT WE HAVE CURRENTLY ARE DERIVED FROM THE VALUES THAT HE SAYS ARE PROVIDED TO THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE PROVIDED TO US FOR BOTH REAL AND PERSONAL PROPERTY KNOWING THAT THERE MAY STILL BE SOME ADJUSTMENTS THROUGH THE APPEALS PROCESS THAT MAY CHANGE PROPERTIES FROM FOUR TO SIX PERCENT, WE THOUGHT THAT IT MIGHT BE PRUDENT TO AT A LATER POINT IN TIME COME BACK ONCE THAT PROCESS IS COMPLETE AND SAY NOW THAT WE HAVE THE ACTUAL VALUE OF A MILL THAT THE TREASURER WILL COLLECT FOR THE COUNTY AND IT WILL RESULT IN THIS AMOUNT OF REVENUE THAT WOULD GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY NOT TO INCREASE THAT'S NOT OUR INTENT BUT TO POSSIBLY DECREASE THE STATED MILL AS YOU HAVE IT IN YOUR ORDINANCE TODAY. THAT WAS THE INTENT BEHIND THAT.

CURT, IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD, YOU ARE WELCOME TO TO HELP HERE.

>> THAT IS WHEN YOU SAID THE DO WE HAVE A SECTION IN THE ORDINANCE THAT ALLOWS US TO TWEAK THE MILLAGE RATE AS THE NUMBERS COME IN IN AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER FROM THE STATE AND FROM OTHER REVENUE SOURCES? IT IS SIMPLY COUNCIL'S GIVING ITSELF PERMISSION TO TWEAK THE MILLAGE RATE BY RESOLUTION NOT BY THREE READINGS OF AN ORDINANCE.

NOW I UNDERSTAND FROM PINKY THAT THE MILLAGE RATE SHOULD BE SIXTY FOUR POINT EIGHT MILES IT SEPARATE SEPARATED OUT CORRECTLY AT THE TOP IN EACH INDIVIDUAL CATEGORY IS JUST NOT IN THAT PARAGRAPH SIXTY FOUR POINT EIGHT SO IT SHOULD BE NOTED AS COUNCIL VOTING ON THIS THAT IN SECTION TWO MILLAGE THE RATE SHOULD BE SIXTY FOUR POINT EIGHT NOT SIXTY FOUR POINT TWO

SO THAT NEED REQUIRES AN AMENDMENT ON OUR PART. >> I THINK IT'S JUST AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT THAT THAT THAT WAS A SCRIBNER'S ERROR AND IT NEEDS TO BE JUST ACKNOWLEDGED.

>> I DON'T THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE A FORMAL VOTE OF AN AMENDMENT.

[00:15:02]

>> SO ANYWAYS SO WE'RE APPROVING A BUDGET FOR THE COUNTY RIGHT NOW WHAT WE BOUGHT ON THE UP OR DOWN AND 64 OR TWO MILLS THAT'S WHAT IT IS AND IT'S EMPTY OR BRING DOWN THE ORDERS. THE ACTUAL MILLAGE RATE WILL BE CALCULATED BY THE COUNTY CFO AFTER SUCH STATE REVENUE NUMBERS ARE RECEIVED IN THE VALUE OF THE MIDDLE AND END RESULT. REALLY GREAT RECOMMENDED BY COUNTY COUNCIL WHICH WILL THEN ADOPT A MINT A VALUE OF THE MILL AND WHOSE MILK RATES OR NOT.

AND IF I MEAN IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE WE'RE APPROVING A NUMBER SIXTY FOUR POINT TWO WHICH IS INCORRECT AND WE'RE ALSO SAYING THAT AT SOME POINT THE FUTURE DOESN'T SAY EXACTLY WHEN THAT WE HAVE WE'RE SET THE MILLAGE WHICH IS GONNA BE PRESUMABLY SOMETHING IT COULD BE SIXTY

FOUR POINT TWO, YOU KNOW? >> THAT'S CORRECT. MR. CENTRAL.

THAT'S CORRECT. MR. SUMMERVILLE, THE. YOU WERE REQUIRED TO SET A MILLAGE RATE BY JUNE 30TH, WHICH IS WHAT WE'RE DOING TODAY.

BUT WE ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT NUMBERS CHANGE. THE VALUES ARE ESTABLISHED MORE CLEARLY AS NUMBERS COME IN FROM THE STATE AND ELSEWHERE. SO YOU ARE RESERVING THE RIGHT TO TWEAK THAT MILEAGE AS THOSE NUMBERS COME IN FROM THE STATE AND ELSEWHERE.

BUT YOU'RE ALSO ADOPTING A MILLAGE RATE AS OF TODAY WHICH STATE LAW REQUIRES.

SO IT REALLY DOESN'T MAKE A DIFFERENCE IF WHAT IF THAT'S SIXTY FOUR POINT TWO IS ACCURATE OR NOT IF I UNDERSTAND YOU CORRECTLY, IT'S JUST THAT A PLATE IS SIXTY FOUR POINT EIGHT AND YES IT'S A PLACEHOLDER TO GET US THROUGH THE STATUTE REQUIREMENT FOR BUT A BUDGET BY

TODAY. THANK YOU SAM. >> SIXTY FOUR POINT EIGHT.

BUT I MEAN WHAT WE'RE RAISING OUR HAND TO SIXTY FOUR POINT TWO.

NO, SIR. THAT WAS AN ERROR IN THE ORDINANCE.

IT SHOULD BE SIXTY FOUR POINT EIGHT. NOT AN ERROR.

>> IT'S NOT AN ERROR IN THE ORDINANCE. IF YOU LOOK AT THAT GRAPH ON YOUR SCREEN RIGHT THERE, ALL OF THAT SHOULD EQUAL UP TO SIXTY FOUR POINT EIGHT.

THE NUMBER IN THE PARAGRAPH WAS SCRIBNER ERROR OF SIXTY FOUR POINT TWO SIXTY FOUR POINT EIGHT. IT'S RIGHT THERE IN THAT CHART IN SECTION 2 UNDER MILLAGE.

IT DESCRIBES EVERYTHING THAT ADDS UP TO FOUR POINT EIGHT. BUT IN ANY EVENT YOU'VE BEEN THE ACTUAL THE MILL IT WILL BE SAY WILL BE CALCULATED BY THE STANDARD CFO AFTER SUCH A

REVENUES ARE RECEIVED. >> WELL, I DON'T KNOW WHEN THAT IS.

DID ANYBODY KNOW WHEN THAT IS? SEPTEMBER IS BROKE. >> HE DOESN'T SAY SO WITH YOU.

ALL RIGHT. THAT'S WHY I GET IT. THAT'S WHAT I NEEDED TO KNOW.

THANK YOU. >> MR. CHAIRMAN, IF I MIGHT OFFER YOU I MIGHT OFFER AN AMENDMENT TO CLARIFY ALL THIS. I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO AMEND THE SECTION TO MILLAGE TO SAY IN THE FIRST LINE SIXTY FOUR POINT EIGHT MILLS A SECOND TO THAT AMENDMENT.

>> OK, OK. MR. FOLLOWING MADE THE MOTION AND MS. HOWARD, I THOUGHT I HEARD YOU. YES, I DID. CORRECT.

CORRECT. OK. >> ANY DISCUSSION ABOUT

CHANGING THAT TO SIXTY FOUR POINT EIGHT. >> AND I'LL THROW IT OUT.

I'LL NOTE FOR THE RECORD THAT THIS IS A CLARIFICATION OF THE OTHER DATA THAT'S IN THE ORDINANCE. SO THAT SO IT ALL MATCH, RIGHT? RIGHT.

DULY NOTED. MR. RODMAN, I'M CONFUSED. >> EASY TO DO.

DID I HEAR ERIC YOU SAY THAT THIS IS AN INCREASE OR THE SIXTY FOUR POINT EIGHT IS THE SAME AS LAST YEAR BECAUSE WE'VE HAD CONTINUING DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE FACT THAT THIS WAS TAX NEUTRAL ON OUR CITIZENS. SO DID I HEAR YOU WRITE THAT THIS IS A TAX INCREASE? THE OVERALL MIL RATE DID INCREASE BUT IT'S ONLY BECAUSE OF THE DEBT MILLAGE PORTION.

THE OPERATING PIECE IS EXACTLY AS IT WAS OPERATING. THIS IS THE SAME.

YES. OK, AND THAT MILLAGE DOES HAPPEN IN FRONT OF US ALL THE TIME. YOU WELL YOU BETWEEN LAST YEAR'S ADOPTION OF THE MILL RATE AND THIS YEAR'S ADOPTION THERE WAS ABOUT 30 SOME ODD MILLION DOLLARS OF DEBT THAT

WAS ISSUED. >> OK. SO THAT'S FIRST POINT.

SURE. OK. WELL THAT CLARIFIES IT'S ON THE OPERATING SIDE. IT'S IT'S TAX NEUTRAL. YES, SIR.

THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?

OK. >> MR. CHAIRMAN, I BELIEVE THE AMENDMENT CAN BE ADOPTED WITHOUT OBJECTION. MR. CUNNINGHAM, YOU HAD A QUESTION.

YEAH. I BELIEVE WHEN WITH ONE OF THOSE FIRST ASKING THAT'S YOUR RESPONSE WAS THAT YOU BELIEVE THAT ANALOGY IS ACTUALLY GOING TO DECREASE ONLY FINALIZE THIS IN SEPTEMBER IS THE PROJECTION I BELIEVE THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT IT COULD DECREASE. YOU KNOW, FOLKS, I DEAL WITH THIS EVERY SINGLE DAY OF MY

[00:20:01]

CYCLE. >> PROPERTY VALUES ARE GOING CRAZY.

WE ALL KNOW WE HAVE READ THE NEWS . IT'S IT'S THERE.

>> OK, IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO APPROVING THIS AMENDED ITEM SAYING NO OBJECTION THEN WE WILL CHALLENGE THEM AIRCRAFT THE MOVE FORWARD IN THE LANGUAGE ITSELF IS A NUMBER WE

A LITTLE DILIGENT. >> I HAVE A WRONG AT IS TWICE WHAT RETURNING MILL IS IT HAS TO UP LOCAL SIXTY FOUR TO SIXTY FOUR POINT TWO OR SIXTY FOUR POINT SIXTY FOUR POINT EIGHT SIXTY FOUR TWO TWENTY FIVE POINT THREE REAL ESTATE IS PART OF THE REAL ESTATE FIVE POINT THAT IS I DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT HAND FOR POINTING THAT PROBLEM .

>> OK OK WELL THE ITEM WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION. I SEE NO OBJECTIONS.

THEREFORE WE WILL CHANGE THAT. YOUR DRAFT READS SIXTY FOUR POINT EIGHT WHICH BY THE WAY THIS CAUSED US A REAL PROBLEM BEFORE WHEN THE PARAGRAPH SAID ONE NUMBER AND THE BOTTOM SAID A DIFFERENT NUMBER. SO IT WAS APPROPRIATE FOR US TO ACTUALLY CHANGE THEM BECAUSE THIS IS AN OFFICIAL DOCUMENT INCOME BECOMES PART AND PARCEL OF THE BUSINESS WE TRANSACT TODAY. ALL RIGHT. WE ARE BACK TO THE MAIN MOTION WHICH IS THE APPROVAL OF THE COUNTY BUDGET. MR. HARVEY SHINE AS PARENTS THE QUICK COMMENT AND CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU FINANCE .

NOW WHEN YOU FRANKIE HE'S AN ARREST. IS THAT THE BUDGET THAT WE GOT ? I THINK IT'S SAFE TO SAY A VAST IMPROVEMENT ON WHAT WE'VE HAD IN THE PAST AND REALLY PROVIDE SOME GREAT CONTEXT AROUND WHAT WE'RE GOING ON AND WHAT WE'RE DOING. SO I JUST WANT TO SAY I APPRECIATE YOUR WORK AND REALLY

GOOD PERSON TO BE BOURBON. >> PENNY, OTHER COMMENTS. >> KAREN JUST BRIEFLY, I DO WANT TO MAKE A QUICK COMMENT AND THAT IS AND I'M NOT I'M NOT SUGGESTING THAT ANYTHING HAS BEEN SAID HERE IS NOT AND NOT ACCURATE OR IN GOOD FAITH BUT LANGUAGE IN THIS ORDINANCE DOES NOT SAY THAT WE'RE ONLY RESTRICTED TO DECREASING THE MELEE JUST AS IT WILL BE SET.

SO WE'RE USING THIS LANGUAGE WE COULD RAISE THE MILLAGE. I'M NOT SUGGESTING WE WILL.

ALL I'M SAYING IS THIS LANGUAGE IS VERY CLEAR THAT INCREMENTALLY CHANGE AND IT COULD GO OR COULD GO DOWN AND WE'RE SITTING HERE SAYING IT CAN ONLY GO DOWN AND LET'S ALL HOPE THAT'S THE CASE. BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT THE LINE WAS THAT WE'RE VOTING ON SAYS LANGUAGE. SO WE'RE VOTING ON SAYS IT WILL CHANGE AND IT WILL BE SOME KIND

OF FUTURE DATE. >> THAT'S WHY I REFERRED TO THIS AS A PLACE HOLDER.

SO JUST TO BE CLEAR, WE'RE VOTING ON SOMETHING THAT COULD GO UP OR DOWN.

WE'RE GOING TO STAY AND HELP EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE NO INTENTION WE SAY OF PICKING IT

UP. >> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

OK. ANY ANY QUESTIONS SEEING NONE. JOE, STAY THERE, MR REDMAN.

>> YEAH. WELL, I'M LOOKING AT THAT LAST PARAGRAPH ON THE FIRST PAGE WHICH WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THAT ESSENTIALLY SAYS WE CAN BUY RESOLUTION CHANGES THE MILLAGE RATE UP OR DOWN. I THINK PROBABLY THE SINGLE BIGGEST THING THAT WE DO ON COUNTY COUNCIL IS PROBABLY TO SET THE TAX RATES FOR HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PROPERTIES AND HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF OF PEOPLE. SO I'M VERY UNCOMFORTABLE WITH SAYING WE'RE JUST GOING TO PASS A RESOLUTION AND CHANGE IT AND WE'RE ACTUALLY DEALING WITH AN ORDINANCE. I ALWAYS THOUGHT ORDINANCES REQUIRED THREE READINGS IF WE WERE GOING TO AMEND THEM. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD BE DELEGATING EVEN TO OURSELVES TO DO THIS. SO I THINK THAT WE IF WE CHANGE IT, WHETHER IT'S UP OR DOWN, HOPEFULLY IT GOES DOWN WE MAY BE ABLE TO REDUCE IT. WE MAY BE ABLE TO DO SOME MORE SPENDING. BUT I THINK WE OWE IT TO THE PUBLIC TO ACTUALLY GO BACK THROUGH THE FREE RATINGS FOR AN AMENDMENT LIKE WE ALWAYS DO FOR ORDINANCES.

SO I'M GONNA MAKE A MOTION THAT WE MOVE TO REMOVE THE LANGUAGE THAT RELATES TO SUBSTITUTING A RESOLUTION FOR AN AMENDMENT TO AN ORDINANCE SARAH'S SECOND TO HIS AMENDMENT.

>> SECONDLY SECOND. MR. CHAIRMAN, MY ELABORATE ON THAT.

YES, GO AHEAD OF THE. WHAT WE STARTED LAST YOU'RE DOING IS TO TRY TO UPDATE THIS

[00:25:06]

WHEN HE GOT HERE SHE AND I WORKED HARD IN APRIL AND AND ALSO WITH BRITTANY EXCUSE ME WITH WHITNEY TO GET THIS AUDIENCE IN SHAPE TO INCLUDE LANGUAGE THAT NEEDED TO BE THERE TO INCLUDE AREAS TO BE ADDRESSED. ONE OF THEM WAS THE FACT THAT COUNCIL ALWAYS HAS THE AUTHORITY TO AMEND THE BUDGET AFTER THESE NUMBERS COME IN.

IT'S SIMPLY A FACT BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW THE NUMBERS BUT YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET AND A MILLAGE SET BY JUNE 30TH. WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE IS COUNCIL GIVING ITSELF THE AUTHORITY TO AMEND BY RESOLUTION AND THE REASON THAT THAT'S PRACTICALLY IMPORTANT IS THAT IF WE FIND OUT SAY THE END OF SEPTEMBER AND WHAT THE MILITARY SHOULD BE AND THEN WE HAVE TO HAVE THREE READINGS OF AN AUDIENCE THAT MEANS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT POTENTIALLY NOVEMBER BEFORE YOU HAVE YOUR BUDGET ORDINANCE AMENDED AND THAT REALLY INTERFERES WITH THE ISSUANCE OF TAX BILLS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

SO THAT'S WHY THIS LANGUAGE WAS PUT IN. YOU ALWAYS HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO AMEND YOUR ORDINANCES, AMEND THE MILLAGE. THIS WAS GIVING IT A SHORTCUT WAY TO DO IT. IT'S NOT AMENDING AN ORDINANCE. IT'S SIMPLY TWEAKING A MILITARY AS YOU'RE GIVING YOURSELF EXPLICIT AUTHORITY TO DO IT AND GET IT DONE IN A TIMELY WAY SO

THAT IT WON'T INTERFERE WITH TAX BILLS. >> OK.

AFTER HEARING THAT EXPLANATION ,DOES THE MAKER OF THE MOTION AND THE SECOND YEAR WISH TO WITHDRAW THEIR MOTION? OTHERWISE WE'LL VOTE ON IT. YES I HAVE.

I HAVE NO DESIRE TO WITHDRAW IT. WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, IT'S NOT

THAT COMPLICATED. >> WE'LL MOVE ON. AND THIS MAN I WAS SPEAKING MR. HALL I WAS SPEAKING MR. CHAIRMAN. BUT WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, I WAS SPEAKING SO I HAVE NO DESIRE TO DO TO REMOVE THE MOTION BECAUSE I DO BELIEVE THAT IT'S WRONG FOR US TO GO AND DO THIS WITHOUT GIVING THE PUBLIC AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME FORWARD IN

A PUBLIC HEARING AND ACTUALLY DO WITH ANY OTHER ORDINANCE. >> ONE FURTHER POINT, MR. CHAIRMAN, REGARDING THE AMENDMENT THAT'S ON THE FLOOR, I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S REALLY POSSIBLE FOR COUNCIL TO AMEND BY ORDINANCE THAT CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA THAT REQUIRES AN ORDINANCE TO CHANGE MELONS OR REMEMBER GREAT.

I DON'T THINK WE CAN DO THIS ANYWAY. I THINK IT'S A VALID AMENDMENT . ALL RIGHT. MR. RUDMAN, YOU MADE THAT

MOTION VOTE. >> YES. MR. CUNNINGHAM, YOU WERE SECOND

YES. >> MR. DAWSON. MR. FLEMING? YES. MR. GLOVER. MR. GLOVER.

OF THE WAITING GAME. AND YOU, MR. HARBHAJAN? YES.

MS. HOWARD. NO, MR. LAWSON.

OUR CLOSET? NO. MR MACALLAN.

>> MR MCGOWAN, YOU'RE ON MUTE. >> I GOT MY VOTE. >> MR. SOMERVILLE NO.

MR. GLOVER. NO, JOE, I DON'T THINK YOU GUARANTEE.

YOU DIDN'T GET ME. YEAH. OKAY.

YEAH. YES. YOU GET THEIR VOTES.

NO. WE HAVE SEVEN. NO.

AND FOUR. YES. >> MOTION IS DEFEATED.

WE'RE BACK TO THE ORIGINAL MOTION. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS REGARDING

THE BUDGET BEFORE WE VOTE ON THE BUDGET? >> DO I NEED A ROLL CALLS?

>> WERE THE BUDGET? I WOULDN'T THINK SO. THEN THE BUDGET WILL BE ADOPTED WITHOUT OBJECTION. AND I SEE NO OBJECTION. THEREFORE THE FISCAL YEAR BUDGET IS ADOPTED. GOING ON TO THE NEXT ITEM WHICH IS THE SCHOOL DISTRICT BUDGET I

[7. PUBLIC HEARING AND THIRD READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO MAKE APPROPRIATES FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING JULY 1, 2021, AND ENDING JUNE 30, 2022.]

2021 AND ENDING JUNE 30TH. >> TWENTY TWENTY TWO AND EMOTION PLEASE.

>> I'LL MOVE TO APPROVE MR. CHAIRMAN, THIS YOU'RE RODMAN MAKES THE MOTION FOR YOUR MR.

[00:30:06]

BUDGET? SIR, THERE ISN'T. >> OK, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC PORTION OPEN IT UP TO DISCUSSION BY COUNTY COUNCIL. DO I THINK YOU HAVE THE FLOOR? I SAW MR. MCKELLEN FIRST MCKELLEN GO AHEAD THEN MR. SOMERVILLE I'M JUST NEED ABOUT

FIVE MINUTES. >> I MAY RECALL TWO WEEKS AGO I ASKED THE MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WHO WERE THERE TO PROVIDE ME WITH SOME INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR PROGRAM RELATING TO DYSLEXIA. I SPECIFICALLY ASKED THE AMOUNT OF FUNDS THAT WERE APPROPRIATED. A NUMBER OF STUDENTS WERE DIAGNOSED WITH THAT ISSUE AND THE NUMBER OF STAFF THAT WERE ATTENDING TO THE STUDENTS HAD THIS MUCH REASON I ASKED THAT QUESTION AS I RECEIVED ANECDOTAL REPORTS FROM PARENTS WHO SAID THEY WERE DISAPPOINTED WITH THE SERVICE BEING PROVIDED BY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND AS A RESULT THAT THEIR CHILDREN ARE READING AT LEVELS WELL BELOW WHERE THEY ARE PLACED IN THE SCHOOL.

AND TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM SINCE IT WASN'T BEING ADDRESSED IN THE COUNTY THAT THEY ARE ENROLLING THEIR CHILDREN OUT OF STATE IN CAMPS FOR THE SUMMER WHERE THERE WILL BE PEOPLE WHO WILL SPECIFICALLY ADDRESS THIS DYSLEXIA ISSUE. SO WHEN I LEARNED FROM THE SCHOOL DISTRICT ON SUNDAY NIGHT AFTER I REQUEST THIS INFORMATION TWO WEEKS AGO WAS THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION HAS ISSUED GUIDELINES FOR THE UNIQUE EDUCATIONAL NEEDS OF STUDENTS WITH DYSLEXIA UNDER THE INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES EDUCATION ACT. SO THERE IS A FEDERAL LAW THAT IS REQUIRING SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO HAVE PROGRAMS TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE WITH STUDENTS UNDER THE IAEA.

THESE SPECIFIC LEARNING DISABILITY DOES INCLUDE DYSLEXIA AND AS SUCH LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCIES MUST CONDUCT EVALUATIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH GUIDELINES TO DETERMINE WHETHER A CHILD MEETS CRITERIA FOR A SPECIFIC LEARNING DISABILITIES.

THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS REQUIRED ALL LICENSED PERSONNEL TO RECEIVE INSTRUCTION MODULES PROVIDED BY THE SOUTH CAROLINA OFFICE OF SPECIAL EDUCATION AND AS A RESULT OF THE UPDATED FEDERAL GUIDELINES THAT INCLUDED DYSLEXIA AS AN ELIGIBILITY FOR SERVICES UNDER THE IPA, LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCIES ARE REQUIRED TO IMPLEMENT EVIDENCE BASED MULTI CENTURY INSTRUCTIONAL METHODS AND INTERVENTIONS. THIS WAS THE GATEWAY YEAR FOR IMPLEMENTATION. BEAUFORT COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT WAS TWO HUNDRED TWO THOUSAND SIXTEEN AND TWO THOUSAND SEVENTY. SO IN ASSUMES THAT I POSED HOW MANY STUDENTS IN THE DISTRICT ARE AFFLICTED WITH DYSLEXIA AS EVIDENCED BY THE TESTING THAT IS REQUIRED? THE ANSWER IS WE DON'T KNOW. THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION DOES NOT PROVIDE A SPECIFIC CODE FOR DYSLEXIC STUDENTS AND AS SUCH THE DISTRICT DOES NOT CURRENTLY HAVE THE CAPABILITY TO TRACK THE NUMBER OF DYSLEXIC STUDENTS DUE TO THE LACK OF A STATE IDENTIFIER. THE NEXT QUESTION I ASKED WAS HOW MANY STAFF ARE PROVIDED AND THE ANSWER IS NONE. THERE ARE NO SPECIFIC STAFF IDENTIFIED FOR DYSLEXIC STUDENTS. TEAMS OF TEACHERS SUPPORT DYSLEXIC STUDENTS ALTHOUGH THEY DON'T KNOW QUITE FRANKLY WHO THEY ARE.

THE TEAMS INCLUDE CLASSROOM TEACHERS, READING INTERVENTIONIST PSYCHOLOGISTS AND LITERARY COACHES. A CHILD WITH A SPECIFIC LEARNING DISABILITY MAY HAVE DYSLEXIA BUT THEY DON'T TRACK THEIR I ASK WHAT'S FUNDS ARE APPROPRIATED? THE ANSWER? NO FUNDS ARE APPROPRIATE. THERE ARE FUNDS APPROPRIATED FOR TRAINING OF TEACHERS TO DEAL WITH THIS ISSUE BUT APPARENTLY THEY MAY NOT KNOW WHO THE STUDENTS ARE WHO HAVE THIS PROBLEM. THERE IS FIFTY NINE THOUSAND DOLLARS THIS YEAR OUT OF THE TWO HUNDRED AND SEVENTY FOUR MILLION DOLLARS THAT'S BEING REQUESTED TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE EVEN THOUGH THERE IS A REQUIREMENT UNDER FEDERAL LAW TO DO SO. DURING THE ACADEMIC SCHOOL YEAR OF TWENTY TWENTY ONE SELECTION OF THE DYSLEXIA SCREEN WAS FINALLY FINALIZED FIVE YEARS AFTER THE GATEWAY PROJECT'S

[00:35:03]

TIME, MR. SOMERVILLE. >> WE COME OFF MUTE HERE. THANK YOU KNOW I'M PROUD OF IT.

I CAN'T. WHEN WE DID WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THE COUNTY BUDGET, WE POINTED OUT THAT WE ARE MOVING A LACK OF A BETTER TERM PLACE HOLDER MILLAGE 64 SIXTY ONE POINT EIGHT BILLS. SO WHAT NEXT? FOUR POINT EIGHT.

I'M SORRY 64. THANK YOU. I STAND CORRECTED.

WHAT THAT SAYS TO THE COUNTY IS YOU CAN EXPECT TO RECEIVE REVENUE FROM SIXTY FOUR POINT EIGHT BILLS AND UNLESS YOU GET REVENUE FROM ADDITIONAL SOURCES I HATED THE STATE IT WILL PRETTY MUCH STAY SIXTY FOUR POINT EIGHT IF THERE ARE ADDITIONAL REVENUES THAT COME IN WE MAY BE ABLE TO REDUCE IT A LITTLE BIT. ON THE OTHER HAND WE COULD ALSO RAISE IT. WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THAT. THERE WAS NO INTENT TO DO THAT BUT IT'S A POSSIBILITY NOW. FAST FORWARD TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS GIVEN US A BUDGET A NUMBER AND A A MILLAGE NUMBER TO SHOOT AT. THIS IS THE MILLAGE THAT THEY THINK BASED ON THE CURRENT VALUE M. THAT THEY WILL NEED TO OPERATE AT THE LEVEL THAT THEY EXPECT TO OPERATE DURING THE 21 22 YEAR. AND I'M NOT I'M NOT COMFORTABLE AT ALL SAYING TO THEM WELL WE'LL APPROVE THE NUMBER BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO TELL YOU WHERE HE WAS. WE'RE NOT GOING TO TELL YOU THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET YOU THE MONEY THROUGH MILLAGE NUMBERS. WE'RE NOT GIVING AN ANSWER AT ALL.

ALL WE'RE DOING IS CAP AND WHAT THEY SPEND WHICH THEY'VE ALREADY SAID.

THAT'S ALL WE WANT TO SPEND. SO BUT BUT AS FAR AS WHERE THE MONEY COMES FROM, WE'RE KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD AND SAYING WE'RE NOT GOING TO GIVE YOU A MILLAGE NUMBER.

WE'RE JUST GOING TO SAY OK, YOU CAN SPEND THIS MUCH. BUT AT WE'RE NOT GOING TO TELL YOU WHERE IT'S GOING TO COME FROM. NOW I WOULD GRANT YOU IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT MAY HAVE SOME SOME LAST MINUTE FUNDS OR SOME UNEXPECTED FUNDS WINDFALL FUNDS JUST LIKE THE COUNTY MIGHT AND THAT COULD AFFECT THE MILLION.

WHAT THE VALUE OF THE MILL LOOKS LIKE. BUT I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE WANT TO SAY TO THEM NO, WE'RE NOT GOING TO APPROVE ANY GUY. YOU WON'T DO SOMETHING ON THE ROAD. WHY DON'T WE GIVE THEM GIVE THEM A PLACE HOLDER MILLIONS.

JUST LIKE WE GIVE THE COUNTY AND AND THEN IF THEY RECEIVE WINDFALL MONEY OR SOMETHING ELSE OCCURS THAT'S SUBSIDY BETWEEN NOW AND LET'S SAY SEPTEMBER OR WHENEVER ALL THE NUMBERS ARE FINALLY IN WE CAN MAKE THE CHANGE. BUT I'M NOT COMFORTABLE SAYING YES. HERE'S HERE'S A CAP ON YOUR CAP ON YOUR EXPENDITURES THAT YOU ASKED FOR BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO GIVE YOU A MILLION NUMBER TO ME THAT JUST DOESN'T.

JUST DOESN'T SOUND RIGHT. SO I DON'T KNOW HOW THIS DISCUSSION IS GONNA GO.

I'M INTERESTED IN WHAT HE HAS TO SAY BUT I'M NOT GOING TO PERSONALLY NOT VOTE FOR SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T GIVE THEM A MEAL VALUE AND I'M TALKING ABOUT A MEAL VALUE THAT THEY ASK FOR. JUST LIKE WE'VE DONE WITH THE COUNTY, THE COUNTY IS ASKED FOR SIXTY TWO POINT SIXTY FOUR POINT EIGHT ALTHOUGH WE JUST COULDN'T RESIST A SIXTY FOUR POINT EIGHT SCHOOL GAIL FOR WHAT IS ONE TWENTY ONE POINT SIX I THINK IT IS.

I'M SAYING FINE LET'S GIVE THEM THAT ONE TWENTY POINT SIX OR WHATEVER THAT NUMBER IS AND IF THERE IS WINDFALL MONEY AND WE CAN LAST IN SEPTEMBER JUST LIKE WE HAVE JUST THE COUNTY'S NUMBER. BUT TO SAY NO TO THEM NO PLACE HOLDER NO NO NO APPROVAL ON A MILEAGE NUMBER TO ME JUST DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. THANK YOU TO ROBERT.

>> YES. THERE'S TWO THINGS IN PLAY HERE AND YOU'VE TOUCHED ON THE FACT THAT WE'RE APPROVING A BUDGET IT'S CALLED AN APPROPRIATION. THAT'S THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT THAT THEY CAN SPEND AND IF THEY WANT TO GO BEYOND THAT AMOUNT, THEY HAVE TO COME BACK TO THE COUNTY COUNCIL AND AS I'VE SPOKEN IN THE PAST AM VERY MUCH IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE BUDGET THE WAY

[00:40:06]

BUT HERE'S MY THOUGHT PROCESS THAT THERE'S AN AWFUL LOT OF MOVING PIECES HERE.

THERE IS ON THE ORDER OF I THINK 70 MILLION DOLLARS IT'S COMING FROM THE FEDS TO THE TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. NOW IT'S GOT A LOT OF STRINGS TIED TO IT, HOW IT CAN BE USED AND EVERYTHING ELSE. BUT IT'LL CERTAINLY HAVE SOME IMPACT ON THEIR SPENDING AND WHAT THEY NEED TO DRAW ON FROM THE REGULAR. SECONDLY, THE THE NUMBER THAT THEY'RE SUGGESTING AT COMES FROM THE POLICY THAT'S SET BY THE SCHOOL BOARD.

YOU KNOW AND TWO YEARS AGO WE WENT THROUGH A VERY SIMILAR THING WHERE WE APPROVED A LOWER MIDDLE RATE SAID COME BACK IF YOU WANT MORE. THEY DID COME BACK.

WE DID NOT APPROVE THAT. BUT AT THAT POINT IN TIME WE WERE DEBATING WHETHER THE RESERVE WOULD BE 13 OR 14 PERCENT OF THE THE NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET.

WE'RE NOW DEALING IN THE AREA OF 16 TO 17 PERCENT. AND THEY'VE CHANGED THEIR POLICY WHICH IN TWO YEARS AGO WAS I BELIEVE 12 TO 15 PERCENT AND NOW THEY'RE IN THE 15 TO 17 PERCENT. NOW I DO THINK THAT WE'LL WE'LL NEED TO COME BACK.

I'M VERY SENSITIVE TO THE THE TEACHER PIECE AND IF WE'RE UNDERPAYING THE TEACHERS, I WOULD HOPE THEY WOULD COME BACK AND ASK FOR SOME MORE MONEY FOR THE TEACHERS.

BUT AT THIS POINT IN TIME THEY HAVE NOT NOT DONE THAT. NOW RELATIVE TO THE MIDDLE RATE CERTAINLY BRIAN MADE THE POINT THAT THE MILL RATE IS MORE LIKELY TO GO UP THAN DOWN.

I THINK STAFF SAID PROBABLY THE SAME THING. THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THEIR SUBMISSION TO US SAID PART OF THE REASON THAT THEY SET THE MILL RATE IS THEY HAD NOT RECEIVED THE INPUT FROM THE COUNTY. SO THEY WERE GOING TO BE CONSERVATIVE AND SET A LOW MIDDLE RATE. AND IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE PURPOSE OF A RESERVE OBVIOUSLY TO ONE EXTENT THERE MAY BE AN ARGUMENT THAT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR BONDING AND WE SHOULD BE BE SENSITIVE TO THAT FOR BOND RATING.

ON THE OTHER HAND, YOU WANT RESERVES FOR RAINY DAYS IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH TWO HURRICANES AND A PANDEMIC AND THE RESERVE HAS SERVED AS WELL.

AND IT JUST CONTINUES TO GO UP . IN FACT, IF YOU GO BACK 15 YEARS AGO, THE RESERVE HAS MORE OF AN ORDER OF 8 MILLION AND NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT 46 48 MILLION. SO MY CONCERN COMES DOWN TO ARE WE PUTTING A TAX INCREASE IN PLACE WHICH ESSENTIALLY ACCRUES TO A RESERVE? AND WHY WOULD WE DO THAT? THE REST OF THE COUNTY AND EVERYBODY ELSE IS PRETTY MUCH LIVING WITHIN THEIR BUDGETS THAT THEY HAD PRIOR. SO IF I DON'T SEE ANY HARM IN ACTUALLY HAVING A SETTING THE MILLAGE TO BE WHAT IT WAS THE PRIOR YEAR, IT'S NOT GOING TO AFFECT THEIR EXPENDITURE RATE AND AS TIME GOES FORWARD THEY GET SMARTER ABOUT WHAT MONEY THEY HAVE.

THEY CAN CERTAINLY COME BACK IN THE FALL AND WE'D OBVIOUSLY CONSIDER AS WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST. SO I'M GOING TO MAKE AN AMENDMENT.

MR. CHAIRMAN, A PROPOSED AMENDMENT THAT WE APPROVED THE BUDGET BUT SAID IT AT THE CURRENT MILL RATE FOR THE CURRENT F Y TWENTY ONE THAT WE'RE IN RIGHT NOW WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT WE WELCOME THEM TO COME BACK AND MAKE THE ARGUMENT IF THEY NEED MORE WHEN WE'RE SMARTER IN IN THE FALL. I'LL SECOND THAT AND THEN MR. CHAIRMAN.

>> MR. CHAIRMAN IF I MAY I HAVE A FLOOR JUST SO WE CAN CLARIFY THIS MOTION.

>> WOULD THAT BE POSSIBLE? SURE. THANK YOU.

JOE, YOU STILL ON MUTE? I WHAT I HEAR WHAT YOU SAY, STU, IS THAT YOU WANT TO CHANGE SECTION 2 WHERE IT ESTABLISHES THE MILL RATE FROM 126 121 POINT STAKED.

YOU WANT TO CHANGE IT TO 1 1 4 POINT SIX AND THEN IN SECTION 3 PARAGRAPH A INSTEAD OF THE

[00:45:08]

WHAT YOU'RE TRYING? I THINK SO. >> I THINK SO.

TO CLARIFY 1 1 4 POINT ZERO POINT SIX. IF YOU'RE GOING BACK TO THAT

ONE MORE TIME I AT THAT DOWN FROM THE REST OF THE THING. >> THE REST OF THE PROVISION I'M JUST RIBAUT IT DOES WHAT IT WAS IT'S ONE POINT ONE FOURTEEN POINT ZERO POINT ZERO THAT'S WHAT I'M SORRY. SO 1 1 4 POINT ZERO STATIC 1 1 4 POINT SIX I HAVE BAD HANDWRITING. I APOLOGIZE. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS ON MY DUAL MR. DAWSON? YEAH, I'M I'M GOING TO VOTE AGAINST THE MOTION FOR THE SIMPLE REASON WE TRAVELED THIS ROAD BEFORE WE WHERE WE'RE HEADED DOWN THE SAME ROAD THAT WE HAVE ALREADY TRAVEL COMING THROUGH THE TWENTY TWELVE TWENTY EIGHTEEN COUNCIL ERA.

WE HAD THESE TYPE OF DISCUSSIONS WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE BOTTOM LINE IS AND ALL ALL IT BOILS DOWN TO IT IS COUNCIL TRYING TO ASSERT THEIR AUTHORITY OVER THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND ACTUALLY CONTROLLING AND DIRECTING THEM AS TO HOW TO SET THAT BUDGET.

NOW GRANTED WE KNOW THAT WE COUNCIL WE HAVE THE ULTIMATE SAY OVER THEIR BUDGET.

WE KNOW THAT BUT FOR US TO KEEP INSISTING THAT THAT SCHOOL DISTRICT PRESENT A BUDGET TO OUR LIKING, I THINK WE'RE ALMOST STEPPING IN OVERREACHING.

I THINK WE SHOULD WE SHOULD ACCEPT THE BUDGET THAT THEY'RE PRESENTED.

AND IF THERE'S A WINDFALL THEN NEXT YEAR WE CAN WE CAN LOOK AT THAT CAN HAVE BEEN USED THAT WINDFALL THAT FUND BALANCE TO THEN SUPPLEMENT THE BUDGET ASKING AT THAT GIVEN TIME.

BUT AS TO THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS, THAT AMENDMENT THAT'S ON THE FLOOR IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE IN MY VIEW. IN MY OPINION. MR. CHAIRMAN, THERE'S MR. DOUBT YOU WERE NEXT AND THEN MISS HOWARD. I'LL TRY TO BE QUICK BECAUSE I'VE ALREADY SPOKEN AND I DON'T WANT TO DOMINATE. I'M GOING TO VOTE AGAINST THIS MOTION BECAUSE ALL WE'RE DOING BY SETTING THE MILLAGE AT LAST YEAR'S LEVEL 1 114 0 IS WE'RE TELLING THE SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT WE'RE GOING TO MANIPULATE YOUR FUND BALANCE.

>> NOW I DON'T THINK IT'S OUR IT'S OUR POINT. IT'S OUR PLACE TO TELL THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WHAT THEIR FUND BALANCE SHOULD BE ON OFFER OPERATION WE'RE TAKING WE'RE FORCING THEM TO TAKE MONEY FROM THE FROM THE FUND BALANCE FOR OPERATIONS AND THAT'S NOT WHAT FUND BALANCE FOR FUND BALANCES FOR CRISES OR PERHAPS UNEXPECTED CAPITAL EXPENSES BUT JUST FOR REGULAR OPERATING EXPENSES ROUTINELY DIP INTO YOUR RESERVES IS NOT PRUDENT FISCAL POLICY IN MY MIND SO I'M GOING TO VOTE AGAINST IT AND HOPE THAT I HOPE THAT WE CAN

APPROVE A MILLAGE CLOSER TO WHAT THEY ASK FOR THIS HOWARD. >> SO I'M GOING TO VOTE AGAINST THE AMENDMENT 2 I THINK THEY HAVE DONE THIS ON WHAT THEY ARE RECOMMENDING FOR THEIR MILLAGE IN THE BACKGROUND INFORMATION THEY PROVIDED AFTER OUR QUESTIONS REGARDING MS SALARIES FOR TEACHERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND IN SIMILAR STATES WAS WELL RECEIVED IN SO I'M GONNA VOTE

AGAINST THIS AMENDMENT. >> MR. LAWSON. YES, MR. DAWSON I THINK THAT YOU WERE VERY PRECISE AND WHAT YOU SAID AND I AGREE WITH YOU WE'VE GOT A VERY GOOD SCHOOL

BOARD RIGHT NOW THAT IS DOING A GREAT JOB. >> I AM HERE TO SUPPORT THE SCHOOLS. I SUPPORT DR. RODRIGUEZ. I MEAN WE JUST WENT THROUGH A PANDEMIC. AND FOR SIT HERE AND TRY TO CUT THEIR BUDGET AND TRY TO CHANGE THINGS FROM WHAT THEY ARE WHEN WE KNOW EVERY CHILD OUT THERE HAS BEEN LEFT BEHIND BECAUSE

OF THIS. >> I I AM NOT FOR DOING THIS AT THIS TIME.

I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THE SCHOOLS AND JUST AS MR. DODSON HAS SAID, I AGREE WITH HIM 100

PERCENT. >> OBVIOUSLY I'M IN SUPPORT OF THIS FOR A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT REASONS. IF WE KEEP THE MILITARY THE SAME, THERE'S STILL GETTING A RAISE IN THEIR BUDGET BECAUSE THE MIL VALUE SHOULD INCREASE AS WHAT WE'RE SAYING.

SO SOMEWHERE BETWEEN SEVEN AND 10 MILLION IS WHAT THEY WOULD STILL GET AND IF THEY HAD TO COME BACK AND ASK FOR THE 10 OF THE 20 THAT THEY'VE ASKED FOR, THEY'RE MORE THAN WELCOME TO. BUT YOU GUYS ARE RIGHT. DEPENDS.

MICK DID CHANGE A LOT OF THINGS. IT DID TAKE A BIG TOLL.

[00:50:01]

THAT'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN OUR MILLAGE CHANGE AND THEIRS. OURS IS NEUTRAL.

THEIRS IS NOT IT THERE IS A CLEAR TAX INCREASE ON THE PEOPLE THAT CAN LEAST AFFORD IT . THEY'RE ALREADY GOING TO GET MORE FUNDING BASED ON THE MILLAGE INCREASE ITSELF THE VALUE OF IT. AND AS FOR PEOPLE SAYING IT'S AN OVERREACH, IT'S ACTUALLY OUR JOB. THAT'S THE ONE PART WE ARE DESIGNED TO DO WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD IS TO APPROVE THEIR BUDGET.

BUT IT'S NOT JUST IT'S NOT OUR MONEY. THIS IS OUR TAXPAYERS MONEY WHICH IS WHO WE REPRESENT. AND IF WE FEEL THAT THEIR TAXPAYER MONEY IS BEING OVEREXTENDED. I MEAN AT WHAT POINT DO WE SAY ENOUGH IS ENOUGH WITH YOUR RESERVE? I THINK LAST TIME I CHECKED THOSE HAVE 46 MILLION AND THEY SHOULD BE AROUND 50 MILLION BY THE END OF THIS YEAR FOR THEIR RESERVE.

SO LET'S SAY THEY PUT IN THEIR RESERVE AGAIN THIS EXTRA MONEY THAT WE'RE GIVING THEM THAT'S NEVER COMING BACK. WELL, LET'S BE CLEAR ON THAT THAT THAT FUNDING THAT THEY HAVE TO GET FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS TO BE DONE IN A TIMELY MANNER.

THERE'S EXPIRATION DATES ON IT AND YES, THERE'S RESTRICTIONS. SO WHY WOULD WE NOT GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS FIRST BEFORE THEY COME BACK TO US AND ASK US FOR MORE MONEY IF IT'S STILL NEEDED AFTER THEY GO THROUGH THE FEDERAL MONEY INSTEAD OF GIVING IT TO THEM NOW WITH NO STRINGS ATTACHED AND PUTTING IT RIGHT INTO THE RESERVE AS MR. RODMAN SAID, COUNCILMAN ROBERT, WE'VE BEEN THROUGH HARD TIMES THE LAST FOUR, FIVE YEARS AND THEIR RESERVE HAS STILL CONTINUED TO GROW MULTIPLE EVACUATIONS. AN ECONOMY SHUT DOWN TIME AND TIME AGAIN.

THEY'RE STILL GETTING MORE OF THE MILLAGE AND THEY NEED BECAUSE THE MORE OF A REVENUE THEY NEED THEIR RESERVE CONTINUES TO CLIMB. SO I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THIS HELP YOU GUYS THINK ABOUT THAT. I MEAN IT IS A PLACE HOLDER.

WE TOLD THEM THEY CAN STILL COME BACK TO US. SO MR. SOMERVILLE IS POINT SAYING THAT WE'RE NOT GIVING THEM A MILLAGE. WE ARE GIVING THEM A MILLAGE.

IT'S THE SAME VILLAGES BEFORE AND THAT'LL BE DEFINED THE VALUE OF IT SOMEWHERE ROUGHLY BETWEEN FIVE TO 10 MILLION. SO WE'RE ONLY 10 MILLION OFF ON THEIR BUDGET.

WE DO CUTS HERE AT THE COUNTY. I HAVE NOT SEEN ANY CUTS AT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT LEVEL EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A DECREASE IN POPULATION IS COMING UP HERE.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT. MR. RUDMAN, YOU MADE THE

MOTION. YOU GO FIRST. >> JUST ONE LAST COMMENT IS A VOTE YES. KEEP IN MIND WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT CUTTING THE BUDGET.

BUDGET IS GOING TO BE APPROVED. SO THE ONLY ISSUE IS WHETHER WE INCREASE TAXES TO PUT MONEY IN THE RESERVES. SO I'M GOING TO VOTE YES FOR THE AMENDMENT.

CUNNINGHAM YOU WERE NEXT. >> YES, MR. DAWSON. AL STRIP CLUB BOWLING.

>> YES, MR. GLOVER NO. MR. HER. NOW MISS HOWARD.

NO. MR. LAWSON. MARK LOSS OF NO MR. MCCLELLAN.

YES. I'M SORRY. DID YOU SAY.

YES, I. MR. SOMERVILLE. >> NO CHAIRS AS NO.

THE MOTION IS DEFEATED WITH SEVEN NO'S AND FOUR YESES BACK TO THE ORIGINAL MOTION.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ABOUT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT BUDGET? AS TO BLOW ON I THINK THIS IS THE WRONG TIMING IN THE ECONOMY TO TAKE MORE MONEY OUT OF THE TAXPAYER'S POCKET.

I THINK THAT ESPECIALLY SINCE THOSE ARE THE TAXPAYERS THAT WE MANY OF THEM ARE THE ONES WE WORRY ABOUT THE MOST THE PEOPLE WHO ARE RENTERS AND DON'T FORGET THE THE EVERYDAY PERSON EVERY SINGLE PERSON WHO OWNS A VEHICLE OR BOAT PAYS THE SIX PERCENT TAX RATE ON THAT BUSINESSES PAY THE 6 PERCENT TAX RATE ON ALL THEIR FURNITURE FIXTURES AND THE PROPERTY RENTAL PROPERTY. THE VERY TEACHERS WE WORRY ABOUT NOT BEING ABLE TO AFFORD TO LIVE UP TO THE STANDARD OF LIVING IN COUNTY. THEY HAVE TO PAY INCREASED RENT IN ORDER TO COVER THIS TAX INCREASE. I OWN RENTAL PROPERTY AND I CAN ALMOST GUARANTEE YOU THAT THERE WILL BE A RENTAL INCREASE THIS YEAR TO PAY FOR THE ADDITIONAL TAXES THAT ARE NECESSARY. SO YOU KNOW, I THINK THIS IS THE BAD BAD TIME OF THE ECONOMY TO DO THAT IS WE'RE ENTERING WHAT WE HOPE IS A RECOVERY. WE SEE AN INCREASE IN LOTS OF DIFFERENT COSTS OF LIVING AROUND THE AROUND THE COUNTRY AND AROUND THE COUNTY.

I THINK IT'S JUST BAD TIME FOR A TAX INCREASE FOLKS. HER VISION IS TO TURN I INTEND

[00:55:01]

TO VOTE NO ON THIS TODAY. >> I THINK IT IS SIMULTANEOUSLY A LARGE TAX INCREASE AND I DON'T THINK IT IS NEARLY FAR ENOUGH TOWARD GETTING OUR TEACHERS ADEQUATELY COMPENSATED. SO FOR THAT REASON I'M GOING TO .

>> ANY OTHER COMMENTS, MR. CUNNINGHAM? THEY KNOW YOU CAN GET AWAY FROM ME SAYING MR. PASS TO ME. COME ON BY A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT THINGS.

SOME OF THIS I DIDN'T ACTUALLY INTEND ON SAYING BUT MISS MACKENZIE CALLED IN AND BROUGHT A LOT OF THINGS TO LIGHT THAT I'VE STATED BEFORE. I DON'T KNOW IF SHE CALLED IN EXACTLY IN SUPPORT OF THE BUDGET OR NOT IN SUPPORT OF THE BUDGET BECAUSE AS MR. HIRSCHHORN SAID, IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO FIX THAT TEACHER SITUATION.

NOW WE HAVE WHAT I FIND INTERESTING IS SHE DID STATE THAT BEAUFORT COUNTY IS THE WORST COUNTY IN RETENTION IN THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA FOR TEACHERS THE WORST YET WE ARE NOT THE HIGHEST IN COST IN LIVING. BUT THE OTHER ISSUE I DO HAVE WITH THAT AS WELL IS WE HAVE A SCHOOL BOARD THAT HAS BEEN DOING A PHENOMENAL JOB.

YOU KNOW, I DO THINK THINGS ARE ON THE UPRISE BUT WE ALSO HAD A SCHOOL BOARD UNANIMOUSLY VOTE IN FAVOR OF IMPACT FEES FOR OUR SCHOOLS WHICH HURTS THOSE VERY TEACHERS THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO KEEP EMPLOYED. BECAUSE MR. FALLINGS OUT AT BEST THERE IS GOING TO BE AN INCREASE ON THEIR RENT. THERE IS GOING TO BE AN INCREASE IN FIRST TIME HOMEBUYERS. IT IS NINETY FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS TO NOW BUILD RIGHT OFF THE BAT IMPACT FEES FOR SOME SINGLE FAMILY HOME AND BE FOR COUNTY THAT IS DIFFICULT FOR TEACHERS. SO THIS PAY RAISE THAT WE WANT TO GIVE THEM WHICH THEY SHOULD HAVE AND THEN SOME JUST WENT RIGHT OUT THE WINDOW WITH THE IMPACT FEES THAT WE'RE ABOUT TO PUT ON PLACES THAT THEY WANT TO LIVE IN A RENT OR OWN. SO I DO FIND THAT COUNTERPRODUCTIVE. IT'S A CATCH 22 WHICH YOU GUYS KNOW I VOTED NO ON THOSE IMPACT FEES FOR THAT EXACT REASON. IT HURTS OUR WORKFORCE HOUSING INCLUDING TEACHERS.

THE OTHER THING I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS ON I ASKED A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS ON THE MORALE OF OUR TEACHERS AND I BELIEVE TANYA'S ON HERE SO MAYBE SHE COULD WEIGH IN ON A COUPLE OF THESE AND WE CAN CONVERSE A LITTLE BIT. BUT I WAS GIVEN A SPREADSHEET OF . I THINK WE ALL WERE OF A SURVEY DONE.

IT LOOKS LIKE IT WAS DONE IN SPRING 20 21 TO NO SURPRISE OF ANYBODY THE LOWEST RESPONSE FOR. AM I SATISFIED SALARY I EARN ONLY 35 PERCENT OF PEOPLE AGREED TO THAT. WE ALL AGREE THAT'S AN ISSUE. THE NEXT CLOSEST THINGS ON THERE BETWEEN 76 AND 81 PERCENT IS APPRECIATION 76 WORKLOAD OUTSIDE LIFE AND PUBLIC RECOGNITION. THOSE ARE AND ALSO COLLABORATION AND TRUST.

THOSE ARE SOME OF THE VERY THINGS THAT I HIGHLIGHTED IN THE FIRST MEETING WHICH ARE THE LOWEST ON THIS SPREADSHEET RIGHT HERE NOW. IF YOU READ DOWN THE VERY FIRST LINE WHEN THIS WAS TAKING IT WAS TAKEN 20 21. MY QUESTION IS HOW MANY OF THOSE MEMBERS WERE FACULTY AND HOW MANY OF THOSE WERE STAFF AS TEACHERS? BECAUSE THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A TEACHER BEING APPRECIATED INSIDE OF A CLASSROOM AND THE FULL FACULTY OF THE SCHOOL OR BEAUFORT COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT TO SKEW THOSE NUMBERS. MY OTHER QUESTION BE IS DID YOU SERVE YOUR THE PEOPLE THAT WERE SURVEYED? I KNOW YOU HAVE EXIT SURVEYS. HOW MANY PEOPLE THAT LEFT TOOK THE EXIT SURVEY AND WHAT WERE THOSE RESULTS? I'M NOT I'M NOT.

I MEAN I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE STAYING. DON'T GET ME WRONG.

BUT OUR ISSUE IS THE ONES THAT ARE LEAVING AND WE HAVE A HUGE RETENTION PROBLEM HERE.

BEAUFORT COUNTY, THE WORST IN THE STATE AS STATED I DIDN'T GET A LOT OF THOSE ANSWERS TO ME. I GOT THIS SURVEY HERE. MAYBE MISS TONYA COULD ENLIGHTEN ME ON A COUPLE OF THOSE IN A MOMENT. BUT IT GENUINELY COMES DOWN TO A TAX INCREASE RIGHT OUT OF A PANDEMIC WHEN BUSINESSES ARE TRYING TO OPEN BACK AND YOU'RE JUST PUTTING MORE HARDSHIP ON BEAUFORT COUNTY IN THREE MONTHS.

WE'VE ALREADY IMPROVED NEW IMPACT FEES PUTTING LOST ON A BUDGET.

NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AN INCREASE ON TAXES FOR PROPERTY OWNERS AND THEN WE'RE COMING BACK NEXT YEAR FOR ANOTHER TRANSPORTATION TAX. THAT'S A LOT COMING OUT OF A PANDEMIC. WE'VE BEEN CLOSED FOR TWO AND A HALF MONTHS.

I'M GOING TO VOTE NO AND I WAS WILLING TO COMPROMISE WITH FAMILIAR.

DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. AND I HOPE YOU GUYS TAKE A HARD LOOK AT THAT BECAUSE EVENTUALLY THE BUCK HAS TO STOP. IT HAS TO THAT RESERVE IS CONTINUING TO GROW AND OUR TAXPAYERS ARE CONTINUING TO HANDLE THAT WORKLOAD ON THEIR

BACK. ANY FURTHER COMMENTS? >> BEFORE WE GO, MR. GLOVER,

[01:00:04]

WE TALK ABOUT GETTING A HANDLE DISCIPLINE IN THE CLASSROOM IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.

AND I THINK THEY REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT THEIR I'M SORT OF DISAPPOINTED THAT A ONE IS SEVEN POINT SIX MILLION INCREASE BEING ASKED. BUT I SAW THAT NUMBER I WOULD SAY HOW THAT'S REALLY A DRASTIC INCREASE. AND YOU DON'T REALLY WANT TO SEE THAT MUCH INCREASE. SO I'M SORT TORN BECAUSE I REALLY WANT TO SUPPORT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT BUT I'VE DONE IT BECAUSE I THINK THAT I THINK WE OWE IT TO THEM TO SUPPORT I DON'T REALLY BELIEVE IN BANKING MONEY, BANKING MONEY, BANKING MONEY AT THE EXPENSE OF TAXPAYERS. AND SO THAT'S WHAT I'M SORT OF TOLD ME ALSO I JUST WANTED TO EXPRESS THOSE CONCERNS AT THIS. THANK YOU.

>> THERE'S A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISHES TO MAKE A STATEMENT.

PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES ACTION AND ON PAGE LOWCOUNTRY EQUITABLE LAND RESOURCE. I JUST WANTED TO EXPRESS MY SUPPORT FOR COUNCILMAN CUNNINGHAM AND THE CHAIRMAN AND I ALSO DISAGREE WITH RAISING TAXES ON THE PEOPLE WHO CAN LEAST AFFORD IT. DURING THIS TIME I DO NOT BELIEVE IN RAISING TAXES TO ADD TO RESERVES AND I THINK THE PROCEDURES THAT YOU HAVE IN PLACE WHEREBY ENTITIES CAN COME BACK IF THEY NEED MORE RESOURCES. I THINK THAT IS A VERY PRUDENT EXORCISM OF YOUR FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY. SO I JUST WANTED TO LEND MY SUPPORT TO NOT INCREASING OR MAINTAINING THE MILLAGE RATE AS THE STATED RATE.

THANK YOU. >> ANY OTHER COMMENTS? BEFORE WE GO NOW IS ANY I'M SORRY SAY AGAIN I WAS SAYING NO SIR THAT THE LAST CITIZEN COMMENT.

>> OK, MR. RUDMAN, YOU MADE THE ORIGINAL MOVIE YOU GET TO VOTE FIRST VOTE YES.

>> YOU'RE VOTING ON THE SCHOOL BUDGET BUT HE UNDERSTANDS THAT .

MR. GLOVER, YOU WERE SECOND YES. >> MR. CUNNINGHAM NO.

>> MR. DAWSON. YES. MR. FLEW WELLING.

>> NO. MR. HERVE IS JOHN NOW THIS HOWARD?

>> YES. MR. LAWSON. MARK LOST?

YES. MR. MCKELLEN. >> NO, MR. SOMERVILLE, IF THE CHAIR VOTES YES. YES. THESE ARE SEVEN NO'S ARE FOR THESE SCHOOL BUDGET HAS BEEN APPROVED. THE FINAL ITEM ON OUR AGENDA WITHOUT A SECOND I GOTTA GET TO WORK BECAUSE MY PHONE KEEPS STOPPING.

>> CAN SOMEBODY READ THAT MY PHONE WILL NOT BRING IT UP RIGHT NOW.

[8. RECOMMENDATION OF AWARD FOR RFP 041621 RECYCLABLES COLLECTION AND PROCESSING SERVICES FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY ($1,000,000) ]

>> SERVICE CHAIRMAN IF I MIGHT. IT'S SAYING I HEARD SIX RECOMMENDATION OF AWARD RFP AND THEN THE NUMBERS FOR RECYCLABLE COLLECTION AND PROCESSING SERVICES FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY ONE MILLION DOLLARS. MAY I HAVE A MOTION FOR THAT ITEM PLEASE REMOVE MR. CHAIRMAN

YOUR THAN MAKES THE MOTION. >> I HAVE A SECOND PLEASE. AND SECOND THIS HOWARD AS SECOND. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION, MR. CHAIRMAN, IF I MIGHT STAY AHEAD. YEAH. THIS CAME FORWARD PUBLIC FACILITIES A WEEK OR SO AGO AND THERE WERE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS THINGS TO BE CONSIDERED.

AND THE STAFF HAS BEEN DOING THAT. SO I MIGHT.

MIGHT BE APPROPRIATE FOR JARED JUST TO GIVE US A BRIEF UPDATE ON SOME OF THE ENHANCEMENTS

[01:05:02]

BETTER. >> THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN ASMAN COUNCIL MEMBERS.

>> SO YES, THIS WAS APPROVED AT THE FACILITIES ON THE 21ST. THERE WAS A COUPLE ITEMS THAT OR DISCUSSED IN PUBLIC COMMENT AS WELL AS JUST OPEN DISCUSSION.

ONE OF THOSE BEING THE TRANSFER OF THE GLASS MATERIAL AND THE RECYCLE PRODUCTS THAT ARE COLLECTED AT OUR CONVENIENCE AND THERE'S WE HAVE WITH THE PROPOSED VENDOR WASTE MANAGEMENT AS WELL AS GLASSWARE. IT WAS CALLED OUT IN THE RFP THAT THOSE MATERIALS BE DELIVERED TO GLASS WORKS. SO THAT UNDERSTANDING WAS MADE CLEAR ALSO WE'RE WORKING OUT WITH GLASS WORKS IN WASTE MANAGEMENT TO TRANSFER THOSE MATERIALS SUCH THAT THEY'RE NOT CONTAMINATED. THERE WAS A DISCUSSION WITH THAT BETWEEN THE TWO VENDORS SO WE WEREN'T THAT ISSUE OUT. ANOTHER NOTE THAT WAS MADE WAS THE ACTUAL COST OF THE MILLION DOLLAR CONTRACT. THAT'S WHAT'S BUDGETED FOR THE CONTRACT WASTE MANAGEMENT. THERE IS A A ITEM THERE AS BACKUP INFORMATION MATERIAL.

AS FAR AS OUR HISTORICAL DATA AS RELATES TO THE QUANTITIES THAT WE PROCESS IN THE RECYCLING OF THIS RFP AND WHAT THOSE COSTS ARE. SO THIS CONTRACT THERE IS A 10 PERCENT BASICALLY 10 PERCENT COST IMPROVEMENT BETWEEN WHAT WE HAVE CURRENTLY AND WAS PROPOSED WITH WASTE MANAGEMENT. SO WE'RE SATISFIED WITH THAT AS WELL AS IT PROVIDES CONTINGENCIES FOR POTENTIAL OVERRUNS IN GROWTH IN POPULATION GROWTH AND THE USE OF RECYCLABLES AS WELL AS THE RECYCLING MARKET THAT FLUCTUATES PRETTY PRETTY SEVERELY FROM TIME TO TIME. SO THOSE FOLLOWED UP SINCE OUR P.S. LAST WEEK.

>> THANK YOU, MY MR. CHAIRMAN. GOOD. YES, GERARD BUT YOU ARE COMFORTABLE WITH THE INCREASE THE AMOUNT AND I MEAN WE SPENT SEVEN AND SOME THOUSAND DOLLARS

LAST YEAR. >> YOU THINK THAT WILL BE WELL UNDER THAT AND SO THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO NEED TO AMEND THE BUDGET? YES, THAT'S OUR S.R..

WELL, WE HAVE BUDGETED TO ACCOMMODATE FOR THOSE POTENTIALS.

YES. SO WE FEEL COMFORTABLE THAT IT .

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. ANY OTHER COMMENTS BEFORE WE VOTE? I THINK WE SEE THAT WITHOUT OBJECTION, SIR. THAT WAS WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY THEN. THIS ITEM WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION.

AND I SEE NO OBJECTIONS. THEREFORE THE ITEM IS APPROVED. AS IT STANDS.

OKAY. THAT IS THE FINAL ITEM. WE HAVE ONE MORE ITEM GO HAD

[9. RECOMMENDATION OF AWARD OF SC 170 DESIGN CONTRACT (NEAR-TERM IMPROVEMENTS) ($207,163)]

THANK YOU MR. FLEMING. >> MAY I HAVE A SECOND FOR THAT MODE? I'LL SECOND STEP. 2 SAYS THE SECOND. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS ITEM? IS THAT THE BACKGROUND? IF I MIGHT, MR. CHAIRMAN, YOU MAY REMEMBER THAT TWO THREE MONTHS AGO WE TALKED ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR SECTION OF ROAD WHICH IS 170 RUNNING FROM 278 TO THE NORTH UP AS FAR AS 462. IT'S A FAILING SECTION OF HIGHWAY LAST THROUGH THE MPO . IT HAS ACTUALLY DONE A LOT OF WORK ON THIS. THEY CAME UP WITH A LONG TERM AND MEDIUM TERM AND A SHORT TERM IMPROVEMENT. THE SHORT TERM IMPROVEMENT WAS ESTIMATED AT 3 MILLION.

IT HAD 4 SUBSECTIONS THE ONE A NEW LIGHT AT 462 WAS PUT IN. SO WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS THE REMAINING THREE. WE ACTUALLY APPROVED THIS AT COUNCIL WITH A NOT TO EXCEED 3 MILLION SO THAT WE CAN GET ON WITH 300000 SO THAT WE CAN GET ON WITH THE DESIGN.

AND THE REASON FOR BRINGING THIS BACK IS THAT THE RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE TO USE THE DESIGN VENDOR THAT DID THE WORK IDENTIFYING WHAT WE NEEDED TO DO IN THE LONG, MEDIUM AND SHORT TERM. AND SO GIVEN THAT IT WAS A NONCOMPETITIVE BID WE THOUGHT WE OUGHT TO GIVE COUNCIL AN OPPORTUNITY TO REAFFIRM THEIR PRIOR DECISION TO AWARD.

THANK YOU. AND THE ANY OTHER COMMENTS THIS WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT

OBJECTION AND I SEE NO OBJECTION. >> SO THIS ITEM HAS BEEN APPROVED. IS THERE ANY FURTHER BUSINESS TO CONDUCT BEFORE WE ADJOURN

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.