[00:00:10]
[I. Call to Order]
UM, CALLING THE SPECIAL TOWN COUNCIL MEETING ON JUNE 21ST TO ORDER IS THERE, UM, EVERYONE'S HERE, BUT LARRY TUMOR, WHO IS ABSENT AND HE'S NOT CALLING EVERYONE ELSE IS ACCOUNTED BART.[II. Adoption of the Agenda]
AGENDA? IF NOT, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA? UM, ANY DISCUSSION ALL IN FAVOR STATEMENTS SAYING AYE.UM, IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON ONLY ON THE AGENDA ITEMS, PUBLIC COMMENT COMMENT IS CLOSED.
[IV. Public Hearing & Final Reading]
HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING AND FINAL RATING DISAPPROVING THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON FISCAL 2023 PROPOSED CONSOLIDATED BUDGET.WE'LL START WITH THE PUBLIC HEARING IF THAT'S OKAY.
FIRST CALL FOR PUBLIC COMMENT OF THIS PUBLIC HEARING.
SECOND CALL FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR OUR 2023 PROPOSED CONSOLIDATED BUDGET.
I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH, UM, SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE 20, 20 TO 2023 PROPOSED CONSOLIDATED BUDGET, INCLUDING THE ONE CHANGE FROM THE INITIAL BUDGET TO THE CURRENT PROPOSED BUDGET.
SO WHERE WE ARE NOW IS WE'VE HAD OUR FIRST BUDGET ORDINANCE TO TOWN COUNCIL.
WE HAD A FIRST READING MAY 10TH.
WE HAD OUR FIRST BUDGET WORK SESSION WHERE WE WENT INTO DETAIL TALKING ABOUT, UM, SOME COMPENSATION AND ALSO WENT INTO ALL THE DETAILS OF ALL THE BUDGETS EXCEPT FOR CAPITAL.
WE HAD OUR SECOND WORKSHOP ON MAY THE 26TH, WHERE WE FOCUS JUST ON CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS AND OUR DEBT FUND.
AND THEN, UM, ON JUNE 21ST, WHICH WE ARE HERE TODAY WOULD BE FOR OUR SECOND READING, OUR PUBLIC HEARING.
SO, UM, SOME CHANGES THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE SINCE, UM, FIRST READING BASED ON THE CONVERSATION WE HAD, WE DID INCREASE OUR STARTING HOURLY RATE FOR EMPLOYEES TO $18 AND 50 CENTS.
UM, WE WILL, AS WE TALKED ABOUT, WE STILL HAVE THE 2% MERIT INCREASE FOR ALL EMPLOYEES.
SO THAT, UM, NUMBER WILL LOOK TO GO UP IN JANUARY AT MID YEAR, WHENEVER WE DO THE, UM, MERIT INCREASE, AS WE TALKED ABOUT, WE ARE GOING TO CONSIDER LOOKING AT, UM, STAGGERING THEM THROUGHOUT THE, UM, THE DIFFERENT PAY SCALES.
SO THERE MAY BE INCREASE WITHIN THE POSITIONS WITHIN THE PAYMENTS.
UM, RELATED TO THAT, WE DID ALSO INCREASE OUR PART-TIME BY 12%, WHICH LINES UP WITH THE, UM, CROSSING GUARDS, AS WELL AS OTHER OTHER PART-TIME POSITIONS IN TOTAL, IT WAS 12 POSITIONS THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE BUDGET.
UM, WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE THAT UP BY REDUCING OUR BUDGET FOR STREET LIGHTING THROUGHOUT THE TOWN.
THE 2% MERIT INCREASE FOR ALL EMPLOYEES.
WE DID FIND THAT THAT DID NOT INCLUDE OUR SWORN OFFICERS.
WE WERE ABLE TO INCLUDE THAT IN THE BUDGET AND MAKE THAT CORRECTION BY REDUCING OUR BUDGET AND UNIFORMS, UM, BASED ON PREVIOUS YEAR.
SO OVERALL, THOSE DID NOT, UH, CAUSE AN INCREASE OR ANY MAJOR CHANGES WITHIN THE BUDGET.
WE WERE ABLE TO GET THOSE WITHIN WHAT WAS ORIGINALLY PROPOSED JUST THROUGH, UM, CHANGES WITHIN THERE.
UM, I DID SKIP ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HELPED US MAKE UP THE HOURLY RATE WAS THE TOWN-WIDE FOR THE BIKE TAXI.
WHEN WE REACHED OUT TO THEM, THEY DID NOT WANT TO RENEW THAT CONTRACT.
SO, UM, FINANCE REACHED OUT TO THEM.
THEY TOLD US THAT THEY COULD NOT GET HELP AND DIDN'T WANT TO RENEW THAT FOR THIS COMING YEAR.
SO WE CAN TRY TO FIGURE OUT IF THERE'S SOME, UM, SOME OTHER OPTION, BUT RIGHT NOW THAT WOULD NOT CARRY FORWARD.
UM, SO THAT COST SAVINGS HELPED US MAKE UP FOR THOSE, THOSE POSITIONS QUESTION ON THAT, THERE ARE TWO PLACES THAT WE PUT SIGNAGE FOR BIKE TAXI.
SO ARE WE GOING TO STORE THAT, REMOVE IT AND STORE IT? UM, WE CAN UNLESS, UM, ESPECIALLY IF THERE'S NOTHING THERE, WE CAN PICK IT UP AND START ANOTHER THERE'S ONE DOWN BY, UM, RIGHT FAMILY.
AND WE CAN, WE CAN LOOK AT GETTING THOSE UP AND STORING THEM UNTIL WE HAVE SOMETHING ELSE.
UM, THE ONE THAT ACTUALLY DID INCREASE THE OVERALL BUDGET WAS THE CIP THAT IS FOR THE LAND ACQUISITION THAT COUNCIL APPROVED, UH, FOR US TO, UM, START.
AND THAT WAS FOR $1.2 MILLION, THE ORIGINAL PROPOSED CIP BUDGET, YOU CAN SEE THERE WAS 26.759.
[00:05:01]
IT WENT UP TO 27, 9 5 9.WE, UM, I DID SIGN THAT AGREEMENT TODAY, UM, AND RICHLAND AND TERRY'S OFFICE WILL BE FORWARDING THAT TO BEGIN OUR, UM, DUE DILIGENCE PERIOD.
THEY WERE WORKING BACK AND FORTH ON LANGUAGE RELATED TO THE TRANSFER OF THE RIGHTS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.
AND THEY FINALLY GOT TO AN AGREEMENT WHERE OUR LEGAL COUNSEL FELT COMFORTABLE WITH THAT APPROVAL.
SO WE FEEL COMFORTABLE MOVING FORWARD AND SIGN THAT TODAY.
SO THAT IS UNDER, WE'LL BE UNDER CONTRACT SHORTLY, AS SOON AS THEY SIGN IT AND SEND IT BACK.
SO I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH PRETTY QUICK HERE, THE, THE FUNDS.
SO WITHIN YOU CAN SEE OUR PROPOSED OVERALL BUDGET CONSOLIDATED ABOUT 41% OF IT IS A GENERAL FUND.
46% IS OUR CIP, WHICH IS OUR LARGE SCALE PROJECTS.
4% IS STORMWATER AND OUR DEBT SERVICE FUND MAKES UP A LITTLE SHORT OF 9% OF OUR OVERALL BUDGET UNDERNEATH THAT.
YOU CAN SEE THE FI THE NUMBER BREAKDOWN OF THOSE, UM, WITH THE GENERAL FUND BEING PROPOSED JUST SHORT OF 25 MILLION AND, UM, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT BEING OUR LARGEST, JUST SHORT OF 28 MILLION FOR AN OVERALL BUDGET OF 60 MILLION, 4 59.
SO OVERALL IT RECOGNIZES THE REVENUE GROWTH THAT WE'VE SEEN IN POPULATION.
AND ALSO, UM, IN CONSTRUCTION, IT KEEPS OUR PROPERTY TAX MILLAGE THE SAME AT 38.5.
IT ALSO WORKS TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL'S PRIORITIES THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED THROUGH STRATEGIC PLANNING, WHICH ARE SOME OF THOSE ARE LISTED THERE.
UM, IT ALSO HAS AN ENTIRE CLASS AND COMPENSATION IMPACT, WHICH WAS A LITTLE OVER, I THINK, ALMOST $800,000 TOTAL.
IT WAS WHAT SEVEN 80 AND CHANGE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THAT.
UM, IT ALSO HAS ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION FOR SET ON INCREASING OUR MINIMUM PAY HOURLY RATE AND INCREASING OUR PART-TIME PAY.
AND IT ALSO CONTINUES TO INVEST IN PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE.
SO ONE OF THE REASONS THAT WE'RE ABLE TO RECOMMEND KEEPING THE MILLAGE THE SAME WITH ALL THE CHANGES THAT WE JUST OUTLINED IS THAT OUR ESTIMATED VALUE OF A MILL IS INCREASED.
UM, IT WENT FROM $260 MILLION TO ABOUT $294 MILLION BETWEEN FISCAL YEAR 22 AND 23.
UM, SO THAT INCREASES THE AMOUNT OF REVENUE WE GET OFF OF PROPERTY TAXES.
SO THE GENERAL PHONE HAS A COUNSEL KNOWS THAT ACCOUNTS FOR MOST OF THE FINANCIAL RESOURCES AND IS OUR PRIMARY OPPING OPERATING FUND FOR THE TOWN.
THIS GOES THROUGH OUR, UM, KIND OF LUMP OF REVENUES AND EXPENSES.
SO YOU CAN SEE PROPERTY TAXES.
AS WE TALKED ABOUT WITH OUR MILLAGE INCREASING AND GROWTH THAT WE'VE HAD IS INCREASING ABOUT 12%, SAME THING WITH LICENSE AND PERMIT GOING UP ABOUT 11%.
YOU COULD SEE SERVICE REVENUES GOING UP, AND THEN ALSO OUR TRANSFERS TRANSFER TRANSFER ENDS.
YOU CAN SEE OUR HOSPITALITY TAX INCREASED BY ABOUT 114,000 AS WE TALKED ABOUT IN OUR, UM, BUDGET WORK SESSION.
THE INCREASE FOR THAT IS TO RECOGNIZE THE EVENTS THAT THE TOWNS ARE DOING THAT COVERS THE CALLS FOR WHAT DEBBIE AND LINDY HAD BEEN PUTTING ON AND WILL CONTINUE TO PUT ON OVER THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR.
AND YOU CAN SEE THE INCREASE THAT WE'VE HAD FROM ACCOMMODATIONS TAX AS WELL.
AND THEN ON EXPENDITURES, YOU CAN SEE THE BREAKDOWN WHERE SALARIES AND BENEFITS MAKE UP THE MAJORITY OF OUR EXPENDITURES AS WELL AS OPERATING MAKES UP ABOUT A THIRD.
SO THEY'RE SPLIT ABOUT A THIRD TO TWO THIRDS, WENT THROUGH SOME OF THIS EARLIER.
I WILL, AGAIN, HIGHLIGHT DOES INCLUDE 2%, UM, OF SALARIES FOR MERIT INCREASE EFFECTIVE YEAR CONTINUES OUR PTO PAYOUT PLAN FOR UP TO 25 HOURS.
UM, IT ALSO RECOGNIZES THE PUBLIC EMPLOYEE BENEFIT AT 1%.
UM, TH THE INCREASE THAT WE HAVE, I BELIEVE WE HAVE ONE MORE YEAR AFTER THIS YEAR THAT IT'S GOING TO GO UP.
AND THEN WE ALSO, UM, PEOPLE INCREASED THE HEALTH INSURANCE RATE THAT WE HAVE TO PAY FOR ALL EMPLOYEES.
UH, ONE THING I WILL HIGHLIGHT IS THIS BUDGET YEAR DID NOT INCLUDE ANY NEW POSITIONS.
I KNOW WE ADDED SEVERAL LAST YEAR, THIS YEAR, WE DID NOT INCLUDE ANY.
UM, SO THAT SUMMARIZES THE GENERAL FUND GOING INTO THE STORMWATER FUND.
YOU CAN SEE THAT THE STORM WATER UTILITY FEE MAKES UP THE LARGEST AMOUNT OF THE REVENUE WITHIN THIS FUND.
THE REST COMES IN FROM LICENSE AND PERMITS.
IT'S ABOUT A TOTAL BUDGET OF $2.4 MILLION.
A BIG PORTION OF THAT IS, UM, SALARIES AND
[00:10:01]
OPERATING.AND THEN YOU CAN ALSO SEE DOWN AT THE BOTTOM OF THE AMOUNT THAT WE TRANSFER OUT FOR DEBT SERVICE AND THE CIP FUND.
SO WE SEND OUT ABOUT $600,000 TO GO TO PAY FOR DEBT OR CIP PROJECTS TO COMPLETE, UH, PROJECTS TO, UM, THAT ARE STORMWATER RELATED OR TO RE PUT PEOPLE OFF OF SEPTIC ONTO SEWER.
THERE IS ONE PROPOSED MASTER FEE SCHEDULE CHANGE.
WE TALKED ABOUT THIS, UM, AND THE INITIAL, UM, PRESENTATION ON THE BUDGET.
AND THAT IS TO DO A RE-INSPECTION FOR NOTICE OF A VIOLATION.
AND THAT IS THE SAME AS IT IS FOR A REGULAR INSPECTION, BUT WE DID NOT HAVE THAT IN THERE.
SO IF SOMEBODY GETS A NOTICE OF A VIOLATION, WE HAVE TO GO BACK OUT AND REINSPECT BEFORE THEY CAN, UH, MOVE FORWARD TO, UM, MOVE FORWARD BACK ON THEIR PROJECT.
THIS WOULD JUST DO AN INSPECTION FEE THAT WOULD ALLOW OUR STAFF TO RECOUP TIME THAT IT COSTS TO GO OUT TO ENSURE THEY'RE IN COMPLIANCE TO START WORK BACK UP AGAIN.
SO MOVING INTO THE CIP, AS WE TALKED ABOUT, THIS IS OUR LARGEST FUND.
IT'S PROJECTED TO BE ABOUT $28 MILLION FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023.
ONE OF THAT IS CARRYING THE, HIS MO IS, UM, HAS TO DO WITH THE PROPOSE FOR A TAX INCREMENT FINANCE BOND, THE MOVE FORWARD.
SO WE, UH, FOR, FOR 9.8, $5 MILLION, IS THAT RIGHT, CHRIS, SO THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THE, UM, NEW RIVERSIDE PARK.
SO WE CAN EXPEDITE THAT AND TRY TO REDUCE IT FROM A FOUR YEAR PROJECT DOWN TO A 24 MONTH PROJECT.
AND THAT'S ALSO REFLECTED IN THE INCREASE UNDER EXPENDITURES IN PARK PROJECTS.
UM, THE INCREASE THAT YOU SEE AND LAND ACQUISITION HAS TO ALSO DO WITH THE APPROVAL THAT COUNCIL MADE TO PURCHASE PROPERTY FOR THE $1.2 MILLION.
UM, SO THESE ARE PROJECTS PROJECTED TO BE COMPLETED IN FISCAL YEAR 22 AND 23.
THE ONES ON THE LEFT ARE 22 AS THE ONES THAT ARE IN PROGRESS OR COMPLETED RIGHT NOW, AND THEN PROPOSE FOR FISCAL YEAR 23.
AND YOU'LL SEE A LOT OF THESE, UH, GOING OUT FOR BID SOON, OR I'VE ALREADY GONE OUT FOR BID AND COUNCIL TO AWARD LIKE THE MAY RIVER POCKET PARK.
UM, YOU'LL SEE, PHASE TWO AND THREE OF THE HISTORIC SEWER DISTRICT X SEWER EXTENSION GOING OUT HERE SHORTLY.
AND, BUT THOSE ARE ONES THAT, UM, WE ANTICIPATE COMPLETING IN THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR.
AGAIN, THIS IS A HIGHLIGHT OF WHERE THOSE PROJECTS ARE LOCATED THROUGHOUT THE TOWN.
AND THEN FINALLY, WE GO INTO OUR DEBT SERVICE FUND.
THIS IS WHERE ALL OF OUR FINANCING IS, IS, UM, OUR BONDS AND FINANCING IS HANDLED.
SO YOU CAN SEE THE MAJORITY OF IT COMES FROM PROPERTY TAXES TO COVER OUR DEBT.
THERE ARE SOME LICENSE AND PERMITS THAT ARE IN HERE AS WELL.
IT TOTALS A LITTLE UNDER $5.3 MILLION.
UM, YOU CAN ALSO SEE BELOW WHAT OUR FINANCING IS AND WHICH EXPENDITURES THEY'RE GOING FOR.
SO YOU CAN SEE, WE HAVE OUR 2014 TIF BOND DEBT SERVICE, OUR 22 ANTICIPATED TIF BOND DEBT SERVICE.
AND THAT IS ANTICIPATED TO COME TO COUNCIL NEXT MONTH IN JULY FOR FIRST READING.
AND THEN SECOND READING IN AUGUST.
THEN WE HAVE OUR SERIES 2020 GEO BOND DEBT SERVICE AND OUR 2020 OTHER GEO BOND DEBT SERVICE FOR PROJECTS.
SO THOSE ARE OUR CURRENT OUTSTANDING DEBT.
SO YOU CAN SEE, UM, OUR PAYMENTS MATCH OUR REVENUES ON THAT.
AND IT'S ACTUALLY DECREASED BY ABOUT A HALF A MILLION DOLLARS FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
SO IN SUMMARY, AGAIN, THIS IS OUR PROPOSED CONSOLIDATED BUDGET.
THIS IS JUST A SUMMARY SLIDE OF WHAT WE WENT OVER AT THE BEGINNING WITH THE BREAKDOWN OVER THE DIFFERENT FUNDS AND TO SUMMARIZE THAT'S WHERE WE HERE ARE WE WHERE WE ARE TODAY, WHICH IS FOR SECOND READING AND PUBLIC HEARING FOR COUNCIL.
SO IT WILL BE MORE THAN GLAD TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT MAY HAVE COME UP OR THAT YOU MAY HAVE IT THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS AS WE'VE GOTTEN HERE TODAY.
AND THEN IF COUNCIL IS SO SATISFIED, WE WOULD, YOUR, UH, PROPOSED RECOMMENDED MOTION WOULD BE TO APPROVE THE FISCAL YEAR 23 BUDGET.
IF NOT, UM, WE CAN HAVE ANY CONVERSATION OR DISCUSSION AS WE NEED TO, AND I CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
AND OF COURSE I HAD ASKED TO CONSIDER $20 AS A MINIMUM SALARY.
UM, I COULDN'T WORK ON, UM, WHEN WE TALKED IN HERE, WE TALKED ABOUT GETTING THERE OVER, I THOUGHT WE TALKED ABOUT THE NEXT TWO YEARS.
I APOLOGIZE IF I'VE MISUNDERSTOOD THAT I MISUNDERSTOOD THAT.
UM, CAUSE WHEN I SUMMARIZED, I THOUGHT WE WERE ON THE SAME PAGE OF
[00:15:01]
LIKE GETTING TO 1850 THIS YEAR IN BETWEEN PAY AND THEN ANY CHANGE THAT WOULD COME, UM, WITHIN THE BUDGET NEXT YEAR WOULD GET US TO 20 WITHIN NEXT FISCAL YEAR BUDGET.UM, IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU AND COUNCIL WANT TO SEE, WE CAN LOOK AS WE DO A CARRY FORWARD IN OUR MID-YEAR BUDGET ADJUSTMENT.
WHEN WE DO, LIKE WHEN WE GET TO EVALUATIONS IN JANUARY AND START LOOKING AT THAT, WE CAN LOOK AT TRYING TO MAKE THAT CHANGE.
MID-YEAR SET OF WAITING TO NEXT BUDGET YEAR.
UM, MERIT PAY WAS ANOTHER CONVERSATION CAUSE THAT I'M NOT SURE.
UM, THAT'S WHERE I WANT TO BE BECAUSE I BELIEVE THERE ARE.
AND I SAID IT THE LAST TIME, THERE ARE PEOPLE ALREADY MAKING A DECENT SALARY.
SO, BUT THOSE WHO ARE MAKING UNDER $20 AN HOUR OR THE ONE THAT I THINK THAT ARE, ARE, ARE SUFFERING THE MOST.
SO WASN'T MARY PAY IS, IS IT'S ACROSS THE BOARD, BUT THOSE PEOPLE, THIS MY OPINION, UNDERPAID OR AWARE OF, WE NEED TO FIND SOME RELIEF.
SO WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT LAST TIME AND WHAT I REFERENCED EARLIER WAS JUST ABOUT, UM, LOOKING AT STAGGERING THAT 2%.
THAT WOULD BE FOR ALL SALARIES IS LOOKING AT MAYBE THE LOWEST FIVE PAY BANDS THAT IS 5% AND THEN THE NEXT, MAYBE 4% OR 2% OR 1% AS IT GOES UP.
SO THAT THE FURTHER, THE HIGHER YOU ARE WITHIN THE PAY SCALE, THAT THAT PERCENTAGE OF INCREASE WOULD BE LOWER THAN IF YOU'RE LOWER WITHIN THE PAY BAND.
SO THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT DURING THAT, THAT MEETING AS WELL, WAS LOOKING AT THOSE KIND OF TWO THINGS TO HELP KIND OF SET 1850 FOR THIS YEAR, LOOK AT WHAT, HOW THE MERIT PAY COULD BE.
LOOK, IT COULD BE STAGGERED TO TRY TO GET THE ONES THAT ARE IN THAT PAY BAND UP AT A HIGHER RATE.
AND THEN, UM, BY THE TIME WE WOULD GET TO NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET AND LOOK AT ANY KIND OF INCREASE FOR PAY OR ANYTHING, THEY WOULD BE RIGHT AT THAT $20 AN HOUR AT THAT POINT IN TIME.
UM, SO I APOLOGIZE IF THERE WAS CONFUSION ON MY END, BUT I THOUGHT THAT'S WHERE WE KIND OF SUMMARIZED THEM.
I UNDERSTOOD THAT TO BE, YOU WERE TRYING TO, TO SPREAD IT OVER A COUPLE OF YEARS, JUST BECAUSE OF THE HIT, IT WOULD TAKE US IN ONE BUDGET YEAR AND YOU GAVE US ALL THOSE DIFFERENT SCENARIOS.
UM, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO LIKE, LET'S STAY ON TOP OF IT WHEN YOU'RE READY TO DO IT.
MAYBE IT'S JUST AN FYI OF COUNCIL OF, OF WHEN IT IS THAT I DIDN'T AT THAT THE WAY HE SAID IT, THIS WAY I REMEMBERED IT.
BUT LIKE I SAID, IT'S A CON, WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT IT THAT NIGHT, IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A CONVERSATION THAT ENDS THAT NIGHT.
THERE'S STILL OTHER THINGS WE CAN LOOK AT.
THERE'S STILL DISCUSSION WE CAN HAVE.
AND IF WE START GETTING INTO MID-YEAR BUDGET YEAR AND OUR REVENUES ARE STARTING TO LOOK LIKE THEY HAVE THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, WE CAN LOOK AT THAT AS A MID-YEAR BUDGET ADJUSTMENT TO BRING THOSE THAT ARE AT THAT LEVEL UP.
AND THEN DO, MAYBE WE DO THAT TO GET THEM UP AND THEN LOOK AT THE MAYOR, JUST BEING FOR, YOU KNOW, TO GET EVERYBODY TO, TO ADDRESS EVERYBODY ELSE.
SO, BUT WE CAN STILL HAVE THAT CONVERSATION.
LOOK, MID-YEAR, IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GONNA STOP THINKING ABOUT AFTER THE BUDGET'S ADOPTED.
I JUST WAS CURIOUS ON THE LIGHTING, WHERE WAS THAT ADJUSTMENT MAJOR? UM, IT JUST KIND OF COMING IN AFTER WE'VE TRANSITIONED OUT TO LED LIGHTS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
WE'VE SEEN THE COST BELOW WHAT WE'VE BEEN BUDGETING, BUT WE HAD SOME SAVINGS IN THERE.
WE WERE ABLE TO, TO CAPTURE, UM, A COUPLE OF THINGS ON THAT.
IT SOUNDED LIKE YOU'RE REMOVING THE LIGHTING, BUT YOU'RE JUST TAKING THE SAVINGS.
WE'RE NOT CHANGING OUR LIGHTING PLAN.
AND WAS THAT THE SAME? HOW ABOUT THE UNIFORMS? YES.
YEAH, THAT WAS JUST, UM, WE W BASED ON WHAT WE HAVE BEEN BUDGETING VERSUS WHAT HAS BEEN EXPENDED OR WHAT IS ANTICIPATED, WE HAD SOME SAVINGS WITHIN THERE.
WE WERE ABLE TO REDUCE THAT NUMBER.
SO WE MIGHT'VE HAD TO MAKE UP $12,000 AND WE COULD REDUCE THAT BY $12,000 TO MAKE THAT OR WHATEVER THAT NUMBER WAS.
AND THEN ON THE SALARY, I MEAN, I, I DID HEAR YOU CORRECTLY.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE STAY ON IT.
I THINK EVERYONE HERE IS VALUABLE AND I THINK ALL OF US STILL THAT WAY, MY FAULT, AND IT'S TO LOOK AT IT DOWN THE ROAD.
IT'S NOT BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THERE'S A STARTING POSITION FOR REASON.
SOME PEOPLE HAVE NO EXPERIENCE, BUT ARE WE HIRING PEOPLE WITH NO EXPERIENCE? I'M NOT SURE.
MAYBE WE LOOK AT IT OVER THIS NEXT YEAR OF HOW, UM, IN THE BODY I WOULD, I WOULD THINK AN OFFICER HAS TO HAVE SOME EXPERIENCE BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO PASS ALL THESE TESTS.
I'M NOT JUST PICKING ON POLICE.
YOU GOTTA HAVE, YOU GOTTA KNOW HOW TO HOLD IT.
I MEAN, YOU GOTTA HAVE SOME KNOWLEDGE UP HERE PERHAPS CAN
[00:20:01]
THINK ABOUT, INSTEAD OF JUST GIVEN A BUMP TO SOME LEVEL, WHY DON'T WE, WHY CAN'T WE LOOK AT JUST BOOSTING OUR STARTING PAY? YOU KNOW, I REALLY THOUGHT THROUGH HOW DO WE, AND LET'S REALLY MAKE SURE WE GET REALLY GOOD PEOPLE.YOU KNOW, MAYBE IF WE BOOSTED THAT STARTING PAY, WE WOULD GET BETTER, BETTER APPLICANTS.
AND THAT'S WHAT THE GOAL WAS WITH GOING TO THE 1850, BECAUSE WE WERE 16, I THINK, 70 AND CHANGE.
SO BY GOING TO THE 1850, WE WENT UP ABOUT $2 AN HOUR IN HOPES OF THAT.
AND JUST FOR EXAMPLE, WE, UM, ONE OF THE POSITIONS THAT WE FILLED LAST WEEK WAS ONE OF THE ONES THAT WOULD'VE NORMALLY QUALIFIED AS THE LOWEST EVENT.
AND THE PERSON CAME IN, HAD SOME EXPERIENCE AND THEY STARTED AT $20 AN HOUR.
SO THEY WERE ABLE TO COME IN BECAUSE THEY DID HAVE SOME EXPERIENCE AND GET ABOVE WHAT THAT PROPOSED MINIMUM WAS THAT ALSO NOT ONLY GET YOU BETTER APPLICANT, IT HELPS YOU MAINTAIN THOSE THAT ARE, THAT YOU HAVE, UM, EMPLOYED BECAUSE THEY WON'T BE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING ELSE.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE 23 PROPOSED SOME QUALITATIVE BUDGET ON HER FINAL, FINAL READING? OKAY.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE, UH, 5 20, 23 PROPOSED CONSOLIDATED BUDGET? SECOND, YOU NEED DISCUSSIONS.
I'M ALL IN FAVOR STATE BY SAYING AYE.
I FORGOT TO SET IT UP BEGINNING, BUT I DO WANT TO THANK FINANCE STAFFS, SENIOR STAFF COUNCIL, AND EVERYBODY FOR YOUR INPUT AND INVOLVEMENT IN GETTING THE BUDGET TO WHERE IT IS.
AS YOU KNOW, IT'S ONE OF THE BIGGEST DECISIONS AND BIGGEST ITEMS WE DO EVERY YEAR.
SO APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S HELP.
AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A TEAM EFFORT TO GET HERE AND SO MANY MORE, EVERY SINGLE PERSON HAS TO LIVE WITH IT.
[V. Executive Session]
IS THERE A MOTION TO MOVE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR PERSONNEL MATTERS RELATING TO COUNT MANAGER ANNUAL REVIEW AND THAT SCHOOL YEAR ACT 34 71 THERE A SECOND.ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR STATE BY SAYING AYE.
I'M A NATURALIST AND EDUCATOR HERE IN THE LOW COUNTRY.
YOU KNOW, BUFORD COUNTY IS AN AMAZING PLACE TO LIVE.
NOT ONLY IS IT BEAUTIFUL HERE, BUT WE HAVE AN AMAZING DIVERSITY OF LIVING THINGS IN THIS SERIES.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO TRAVEL TO OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD LIKE AFRICA, ASIA TO SEE NEAT THINGS.
WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT HABITATS RIGHT HERE IN BUFORD COUNTY.
AND WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT SOME OF THE ANIMALS AND PLANTS THAT MAKE THIS AREA SO SPECIAL.
JOIN ME FOR COASTAL KINGDOM ON THE COUNTY CHANNEL.
[VI. Action from Executive Session]
FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION REGARDING OUR ITEM.IS THERE A MOTION, UM, TO GIVE OUR TOWN MANAGER, STEVEN, STEVE SAID 2% COLA EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, UM, WITH A, UH, UPDATE IN SIX MONTHS PLUS OR MINUS A MONTH FROM THERE A SECOND, SECOND, ANY DISCUSSION? I HOPE, YOU KNOW, WHAT, HOW PROUD WE ARE OF YOU TO BE HERE.
AND WE KNOW WE'RE GONNA JUST, THE RECESSION STAYS AWAY AND WE KEEP GOING UP.
ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE, OPPOSED, MOTION TO ADJOURN WHILE DAN'S LEAVING.
[00:25:16]
THE COUNTY CHANNEL IS ALSO AVAILABLE ON VIDEO, ON DEMAND.GO TO BUFORD COUNTY, SC.GOV, SCROLL DOWN TO PUBLIC MEETINGS, CLICK WATCH NOW, AND THEN CLICK THE VIDEO ON DEMAND BUTTON AND SELECT YOUR PROGRAM FROM MELISSA CALL TO ORDER IF YOU'D LIKE A DVD OF THIS PROGRAM, CLICK ON THE LINK ON THE RIGHT AND FILL OUT THE ORDER FORM.
AND THANK YOU FOR WATCHING THE COUNTY CHANNEL.
I REMEMBER CAMPBELL AND THIS IS BUFORD CONNIE MOMENTS.
WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT FOOD TODAY? FOOD HAS BEEN A GREAT PART OF OUR LIFE IN TERMS OF GATHERING FOOD AND PREPARING THEM ALL FOOD IS BASED ON THE LAND AND THE SEA.
THE LAND FOOD HAS ALWAYS BEEN RICE.
WE DON'T FEEL WE HAVE EATEN DINNER UNLESS WE'VE HAD RICE.
RICE WAS MIXED WITH VARIOUS ITEMS FROM THE SEA, LIKE OYSTERS OR SHRIMP.
AND WHEN THEY'RE COOKED WITH RICE AND ONE POT, WE CALLED IT A RICE SHRIMP ON OYSTER PERLOW AND THEN WE HAVE THE WATERMELONS AND THE SWEET POTATOES, SWEET POTATOES WAS ALWAYS EATEN WITH FISH AND FRESH FISH WITH GRAVY AND A SWEET POTATO.
VOLCKER HAS ALWAYS BEEN A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF OUR FOOD WAYS.
WE RAISED THEM AS WELL AS WE PREPARE THEM WITH SHRIMP AND TOMATOES.
AND SOME PEOPLE WOULD CALL THAT A GUMBO.
AND THAT'S WHAT EXACTLY WHAT IT IS, OKRA GUMBO.
AND SO ENJOY THE FOOD OF THE LOW COUNTRY BECAUSE IT'S BEEN VERY MUCH A PART OF OUR HISTORY.
THIS HAS BEEN YO BUFORD COUNTY MOMENT, UM, TO SEE MORE BE FOR COUNTY MOMENTS, GO TO THE BUFORD COUNTY LIBRARY HOMEPAGE AND CLICK ON THE LOCAL HISTORY TAB.
GETTING THE FLU IS NOT FUN FOR ANYONE.
BLUE PREVENTION AND RESPONSE IS AS EASY AS 1, 2, 3.
SOME WAYS YOU COULD PRACTICE PREVENTION IS BY ONE, WASHING OUR HANDS AND KEEPING YOUR HOME CLEAN TO KEEPING YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM STRONG BY EATING HEALTHY AND BEING ACTIVE AND THREE, STAYING AWAY FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE SICK.
NOW, IF YOU DO GET THE FLU OR GET SICK, THEN ONE GO TO THE DOCTOR TO STAY HOME FROM SCHOOL AT WORK, AND THREE STAY HYDRATED TO STRENGTHEN YOUR BODY, TO FIGHT THE VIRUS.
SO REMEMBER FLU PREVENTION AND RESPONSE IS AS EASY AS THAT 1, 2, 3