7. RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF AN ORDINANCE (BY TITLE ONLY) TO MAKE APPROPRIATIONS FOR COUNTY GOVERNMENT AND SPECIAL PURPOSE DISTRICTS FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING JULY 1, 2023 AND ENDING JUNE 30, 2024; TO LEVY TAXES FOR THE PAYMENT THEREOF; TO ADOPT LAW ENFORCEMENT UNIFORM SERVICE CHARGES/ USER FEE; TO PROVIDE FOR THE EXPENDITURE OF SAID TAXES AND OTHER REVENUES COMING INTO THE COUNTY; TO PROVIDE FOR THE EXPENDITURE OF SAID LAW ENFORCEMENT UNIFORM SERVICE CHARGES/ USER FEE; AND OTHER MATTERS RELATED THERETO.

[7. RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF AN ORDINANCE (BY TITLE ONLY) TO MAKE APPROPRIATIONS FOR COUNTY GOVERNMENT AND SPECIAL PURPOSE DISTRICTS FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING JULY 1, 2023 AND ENDING JUNE 30, 2024; TO LEVY TAXES FOR THE PAYMENT THEREOF; TO ADOPT LAW ENFORCEMENT UNIFORM SERVICE CHARGES/ USER FEE; TO PROVIDE FOR THE EXPENDITURE OF SAID TAXES AND OTHER REVENUES COMING INTO THE COUNTY; TO PROVIDE FOR THE EXPENDITURE OF SAID LAW ENFORCEMENT UNIFORM SERVICE CHARGES/ USER FEE; AND OTHER MATTERS RELATED THERETO.]

FINANCE STAFF WOULDN'T BE RIGHT WITHOUT HAVING MR. WILLIAMS COME FORWARD FOR A FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING. WE'LL GO AHEAD AND TURN THE FLOOR OVER TO YOU OUR CFO MR. HAYES WILLIAMS THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN. FIRST OF ALL, WE HAVE DONE I WOULD THINK A GOVERNMENT JOB OF GETTING THE BUDGET DONE THIS YEAR.

I TO THANK EVERYBODY IN THE FINANCE STAFF PARTICULARLY THESE CHRISTMAS TREES FOR THEIR OH THIS JOB WOULDN'T BE DONE WITHOUT OUR WENDY RICHLAND WAS A BIG HELP SHE PUT BACK HER HER CPA HAT FOR A LITTLE WHILE AND HELPED US OUT WITH IT. AND THEN THERE'S CHRISTINE WEBB WHO'S NOT HERE TODAY BUT SHE'S ONE OF OUR STAFF THAT DID VERY WELL.

I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS WHOLE THING TOGETHER WITH THIS VALUES.

WE GOT A LOT OF INFORMATION FROM OTHER COUNTY SUCH AS ASSESSOR AND THAT WAS EBONY SANDERS AND MILTON BOSWELL. THEY DID THE REASSESSMENTS, ALL THE REAL PROPERTY AND GOT IT TO US IN A TIMELY ENOUGH MAJOR MANNER THAT WE COULD DO IT GET GET THE REASSESSED VALUES AND THE ROLL BACK MILLAGE TO YOU ALSO WANT TO THANK GEORGE AT THE TREASURER'S OFFICE HE WAS A A BIG PIECE OF KNOWLEDGE HE'LL BE RETIRING IN JUNE BUT HE HELPED US WITH WITH QUESTIONS THAT WE HAD AS FAR AS A REASSESSMENT AND ALSO ALVIN AVERY FROM THE AUDITOR.

SO THOSE WERE PEOPLE THAT REALLY PLAYED A SIGNIFICANT ROLE AND THEY NEEDED TO BE RECOGNIZED AND AS AN ERIC TO BOOK BUT ANYWAYS Y'ALL SAW MY EMAIL I THINK ON FRIDAY MORNING AFTER I SAID NO BUT I WANTED TO KIND BRIEFLY GO OVER WHAT FUNDS THAT WE HAVE HERE IN THE IN THE RIVER COUNTY, THE FIRST OF THE GENERAL FUND THE GENERAL FUND IS THE COUNTY'S PRIMARY OPERATING FUND. IT ACCOUNTS FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE COUNTY'S ACTIVITIES DERIVES LARGE PORTION OF ITS REVENUES FROM PROPERTY TAXES AND CHARGES FOR SERVICES.

IT SPENDS MOST RESOURCES ON COUNTY OFFICERS OR DEPARTMENTS .

AMONG THEM ARE SHERIFF EMS, PUBLIC WORKS, PARKS AND REC AND THE COURT SO THAT'S THE BIG ONE THAT WE WENT OVER. THAT'S TYPICALLY THE BIGGEST MILLAGE MUNCIE THERE'S ALSO THE CAPITAL FUND THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FIRM HOUSES ALL THE COUNTIES CAPITAL EXPENDITURES AND CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT HAVE A BUDGET DURING THE CURRENT CYCLE.

CAPITAL EXPENDITURES ARE SIGNIFICANT NON-ROUTINE AND COSTLY $50,000 ARE PLACE WE CONSTRUCT CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS FUND THESE EXPENDITURES CAN BE AN ANNUAL SPENDING, AN ANNUAL EXPENDITURE, MULTI-YEAR EXPENDITURE BECAUSE WE WERE FINDING WE COULDN'T GET PROJECTS DONE IN ONE YEAR THEY DRAG ON INTO OTHER YEARS THE SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS ARE THOSE

[00:05:03]

FUNDS WHOSE REVENUES SOURCES ARE LEGALLY RESTRICTED OR COMMITTED TO EXPENDITURE FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES OTHER THAN DEBT SERVICE OR CAPITAL PROJECTS REVENUES ISSUES OR TAXES FEES CHARGES FOR SERVICES AND GRANTS TO NAME A FEW. THEN WE HAVE CAPITAL PROJECT FUNDS WHICH DIFFERENT THAN THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUNDS. CAPITAL PROJECT FUNDS BE USED WHEN RESOURCES ARE LEGALLY MANDATED OR OTHERWISE RESTRICTED PERMITTED OR SO BUT LEGAL REGULATIONS OR COVENANTS TO EXPENDITURE FOR CAPITAL OUTLAYS INCLUDING THE ACQUISITION OR CONSTRUCTION OF CAPITAL FACILITIES AND OTHER CAPITAL ASSETS.

BUT ACTUALLY THOSE OUTLAYS ARE FINANCED BY PROPRIETARY FUNDS OR FOR ASSETS HELD IN TRUST UNDER FIDUCIARY FUNDS. SO THAT THAT'S A LOT OF BOND FUNDS AND THAT WOULD BE ANY OF THE SALES TAX FUNDS THAT WE COMING UP LIKE WE HAVE THE 2018 THAT WE'RE STILL WORKING ON AND THEN YOU'LL HAVE THE GREENSPACE TAX THAT WILL BE IN THERE TO THE DEBT SERVICE FUNDS.

THE DEBT SERVICE FUNDS ARE USED TO ACCOUNT FOR THE ACCUMULATED RESTRICTED RESOURCES FOR THE PAYMENT OF GENERAL LONG TERM DEBT AND PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST.

AND THIS IS PUT OUT BETWEEN DEBT SERVICE FUND AND THEN THE PURCHASE OF REAL PROPERTY WHICH IS REFERENCED IN THAT FOR FOR RURAL AND CRITICAL LANDS AND THEN THE LAST OF FUNDS ARE PROPRIETARY FUNDS AND THEY'RE KNOWN AS ENTERPRISE AN INTERNAL SERVICE FUNDS THEY'RE USED TO ACCOUNT FOR BUSINESS TYPE ACTIVITIES THAT THE GOVERNMENT OR ABOUT GOODS OR SERVICES ARE PROVIDED TO AND CUSTOMERS EXTERNAL TO THE GOVERNMENT AND WHERE THE ACTIVITY IS OFTEN FINANCED WITH THE SECURED SOLELY FROM THE REVENUES, THE ACTIVITY OR THE USER FEES AND CHARGES ARE SUFFICIENT TO COVER THE COST OF PROVIDING GOODS OR SERVICES INCLUDED RELATED CAPITAL COSTS SUCH AS DEPRECIATION OR DEBT SERVICE. SO THOSE ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF FUNDS THAT WE HAVE IN COUNTY AT THIS TIME THAT'S FOUND IN TAB TWO OR THREE OF THE BINDER AND THAT'S IN YOUR BINDER I'M SORRY. YES, I WAS RENDERED A DEBT I'M SORRY, MR. CHAIR. YES. SO IS THERE A WAY THAT COULD BE FOR THE PUBLIC BECAUSE YOU WANT YOU FLEW RIGHT PAST THAT WE HAVE YES IS ACTUALLY IN IT'LL BE IN THE DEBT OR THE THE BUDGET BOOK THAT WE HAVE COMING THIS YEAR AND IT'S ALREADY IN THE BUDGET BOOK THAT WE HAVE FOR LAST YEAR IS I MEAN I AM VERY INTELLIGENT BUT FOR THE SAKE OF EASE I CAN'T GET IN COPY AND PASTE IT CPA BASED ON ATTACH SO THAT'S BUT BUT IT IS WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE SO ANYWAYS ON TO THE BUDGET VERSUS THE GOVERNOR THIS IS A BUDGET THAT WE HAVE YOU COLLECT OKAY. ALL RIGHT. YOU JUST CLICK THE ONE.

OKAY. OKAY. VERSUS THIS IS ADMINISTRATIVE OVERVIEW AND IT GIVES YOU THE RESPONSIBILITY AS ADMINISTRATION RESPONSIBLE FOR THE EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION. THE POLICY SET BY COUNTY COUNCIL, THE GOVERNOR DAILY OPERATIONS AND SURE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED YOU CAN FREELY AND EFFECTIVELY AND THROUGH SOUND FISCAL ACCOUNTABILITY WHERE THE EXPENSES EQUITABLY SHARED AMONG CITIZENS IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAD A NUMBER OF PRIORITIES WE DID THE BUDGET THIS YEAR YOU KNOW WE HAVE ALREADY DONE THE 3% COLA THAT WAS EFFECTIVE BACK TO FEBRUARY. WE ALSO HAVE THE 3% MERIT LONGEVITY INCREASE THAT WE'RE DISCUSSING STILL AND THAT'S FOR ALL THE EMPLOYEES WE HAD A STATE MANDATED INCREASE OF 1% IRS AND PRESS OR THE BASICALLY THE STATE RETIREMENT FOR EMPLOYEES AND POLICE OFFICERS AND POLICE OFFICERS ARE DIFFERENT RATE THAN THE REST OF US. WE ALSO HAVE A STATE MANDATED INCREASE IN PAY FOR MANAGERS OF $5,000 EACH. WE WELLNESS INITIATIVES OF THE ADMINISTRATION WANTED TO SEE AND WE ACTUALLY HAVE A WELLNESS DEPARTMENT WHICH WILL BE NEW FOR THIS YEAR.

WE AS YOU CAN SEE HAVE BEEN ADDRESSING THESE FACILITY NEEDS AROUND THE COMMUNITY AND IMPROVEMENTS THEREOF. WE ALSO INCREASE EXTERNAL FUNDING TO THE HIGHER EDUCATION

[00:10:01]

CARE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND ALLEN RECREATION FOR LAST AND WE WERE ALSO ASKED TO EXPAND SERVICES FOR SENIORS AND CHILDREN THAT'S 12 MINUTES BEFORE YOU BEFORE YOU GO WHEN YOU GET THE STATE MANDATE TO INCREASE THIS HERE IS THAT FULLY FUNDED? SOME ARE AND SOME ARE SOME ARE FOR IT DEPENDS ON WHICH ONES WERE MORE SO THE 1% MANDATE DEFINITELY WAS NOT THAT SO THAT FALLS ON US ALL TIME THE MAGISTRATE'S PROBABLY WITH A STIPEND SOMEWHAT BUT PROBABLY NOT 100% THE BUT SO SOMETIMES THEY ARE SOMETIMES I DON'T I LOVE THE STATE GOING THAT WAY. WELL I UNDERSTAND THAT SO ANYWAY THE OVERVIEW BY THE FUNDS SO BASICALLY NEXT YEAR WE HAVE A GENERAL FUND OPERATING BUDGET OF $150 MILLION AND THAT IS WE HAVE A BUDGET INCREASES OF PROPERTY TAXES OF $11 MILLION WHICH I'LL GO BACK TO OUR ROLLBACK MILLAGE JUST LATER ON IN THE SLIDE WE THINK OUR BUILDING PERMITS WILL UP BY HALF A MILLION DOLLARS. OUR INTEREST ON INVESTMENTS WILL GO UP ABOUT HUNDRED 45,000 IN OUR STATE AID SUBDIVISIONS IS PROBABLY THE EASIEST ONE THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY CALCULATE.

IT SHOULD GO UP BY ABOUT $402,000 BECAUSE THEY SEND US A LETTER, LET US KNOW THAT SOME DECREASES THAT WE ANTICIPATED THIS YEAR REGISTERED EACH DOCUMENTED DOCUMENTARY STAMPS INDEED REPORTING WE THINK IT WON'T GO DOWN BY ABOUT $1.3 MILLION BECAUSE WE DON'T THINK THE MARKETS WILL BE AS HOT AS IT HAS BEEN IN THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS.

THE REGISTRIES FEES IS REALLY NONE OF FANTASTIC OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE BUT WE THINK THAT'S GOING TO GO DOWN ALSO WE DID TRANSFER FOR ABOUT POINT $7 MILLION FROM THE HOSPITALITY INDEX FUND AND WAS TYPICALLY USED TO OFFSET PUBLIC SAFETY FOR EVENTS FOR LIKE THE HERITAGE AND THINGS LIKE THAT. POLICE OFFICERS AND EMS, THEIR TIME IS USED FOR THAT AND THAT WOULD OFFSET THOSE EXPENSES BUT WE TRY TO KEEP THAT.

WE WANT TO KEEP THAT IN THERE. WE THINK BUSINESS LICENSES WILL GO DOWN ABOUT 300,000 AND FRANCHISE FEES WILL GO DOWN ABOUT 170,000. WHY DO WE THINK BUSINESS LICENSES YOU KNOW, WE BASICALLY ARE BASING IT ON TREND ANALYSIS AND LOOKING OVER SEVERAL YEARS AND WE IN TALKING TO THE PEOPLE THERE AND WE JUST THINK THAT IT'S GOING TO NOT BE AS HIGH THIS YEAR WHICH IS KIND OF THEY'RE ALL IN A WAY THAT'S ALL.

SO FOOTBALL SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO BE LIKE THE REGISTER DAYS IS HIGHER SOME YEARS AND LOWER OTHER YEARS. I THINK YOU KNOW IF ANY OF THOSE QUESTIONS JUST GO AHEAD AND LET MR. WILLIAMS KNOW WE'LL HANDLE THEM NOW AND AGAIN WE'LL HAVE QUESTIONS AT THE END FOR ANYONE THAT MISSES SOMETHING BUT YEAH. SO ANYTHING PERTINENT TO THE TOPIC PLEASE JUST GO AHEAD AND ASK THE QUESTIONS RIGHT NOW AND SHE JUST REMINDED ME TO SOME OF THE BUSINESS LICENSES ARE EVERY OTHER YEAR WHICH WOULD CALL FOR THAT.

THE FIRST THING I DID IN THE STATE DO SOMETHING ABOUT BUSINESS LICENSES FOR A MOMENT MISTAKING THEM FOR SOMETHING ELSE. YEAH I THOUGHT THE STATE GOT INVOLVED IN BUSINESS LICENSES BECAUSE EVERY COUNTY MUNICIPALITY WAS DOING SOMETHING DIFFERENT AND THE STATE SAID NO WE WANT TO HAVE SOME SORT OF STANDARDIZATION OF THE RATES YES AND SO MAY HAVE AN EFFECT ON BUSINESS LICENSES.

WE'RE NOT GENERATING SAME AMOUNT OF REVENUE UNDERNEATH THAT NEW STATE LAW AND OUR LOCAL LAWS AS YOU WORK VIA OKAY OKAY SO EXPENDITURE BUDGETS THIS WE HAVE WHAT WE CALL A PAYROLL CONTINGENCY ACCOUNT IN THE PAST WE'VE HAD EACH DEPARTMENT WOULD HAVE GAP POSITIONS THAT THEY COULD FILL BUT SOMETIMES THEY WOULDN'T FILL THEM.

I'D GIVE FOR INSTANCE WOULD BE THE DETENTION CENTER THEY WOULD HAVE TROUBLE HIRING OFFICERS FOR THE DETENTION CENTER BUT WOULD STILL HAVE THOSE POSITIONS.

WELL NOW THAT THE DIFFERENCE IN THAT IS OVER IN THIS PAYROLL CONTINGENCY ACCOUNT WHERE THEY DIDN'T LOSE FTE SO IF THEY WERE ABLE TO HIRE THE ADDITIONAL WHICH WOULD BE GREAT WE CAN MOVE THE MONEY FROM THE PAYROLL CONTINGENCY TO HELP COVER THAT THIS YEAR DO ME ASK YOU TO STAND IN AN AREA LIKE STONEWALL AND THEY HAVE BUDGETED X OF EMPLOYEES IN WATER WOULD THAT BE A CONTINGENCY HERE BECAUSE THEY ARE STILL LOOKING FOR AN EMPLOYEE I MEAN LOOKING FOR EMPLOYEES BUT THEY HAVE NOT HIRED SO WOULD THAT BE IN YOU KNOW SO THAT THEY'RE THINK ABOUT ENTERPRISE FUNDS AS A STANDALONE OKAY SO THEY LIKE THIS PAYROLL CONTINGENCY WOULD

[00:15:02]

ONLY BE FOR GENERAL. YES I'M SORRY THEY CAN CERTAINLY I WON'T SAY IT'S NEW THIS YEAR BUT SOMETHING THAT IS THAT WE'RE HAVING TO RE-IMPLEMENT THAT WE HAD RIGHT . I GUESS WE HAD IT WHEN I CAME ON IN 2020 BUT WE STOPPED DOING IT WAS THE GENERAL FUND WOULD TRANSFER MONEY TO ALCOHOL AND DRUG INDS AND TO HELP SUPPLEMENT THEIR OPERATIONS IN DURING THE COVID CRISIS THE COUNTY ELECTED TO STOP TRANSFERRING THIS MONEY AND THEY HAD SIGNIFICANT FUND BALANCE WHICH THEY LIVED ON FOR ABOUT THREE YEARS BUT IT'S LOOKING NEXT YEAR THEY'RE GOING TO NEED AN ADDITIONAL TRANSFER INFUSION FROM THE GENERAL FUND TO KEEP SERVICES WHERE THEY ARE NOW AND THAT THEY'LL BE NOT NEW BUT NEW TO THIS BUDGET FROM FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS. SO THAT'S ABOUT POINT $8 MILLION. THERE'S GOING TO BE ABOUT $1 BILLION TO DO THE NEWPORT ROYAL LIBRARY BEFORE THAT SALARY OF ELECTED OFFICIALS WENT UP ABOUT 832 THAT THAT SORT OF IN IN TOTAL WENT UP ABOUT 833,000 AND THEN WE PREDICTED ANOTHER HALF A MILLION DOLLAR INCREASE IN INSURANCE PREMIUMS LIKE IT'S BEEN A TRIPLE DIGIT SALARIES FOR ALL DEPARTMENTS WAS ELECTED OFFICIALS WENT DOWN ABOUT 1.2 WE'VE MADE THE MAJORITY OF THE PAYROLL CONTINGENCY WHICH I TALKED ABOUT EARLIER WE ALSO MOVE OUT WE'RE TRYING TO SEPARATE OPERATING AND CAPITAL EXPENSES SO. WE'RE MOVING CAPITAL EXPENSES OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND INTO THE INTO THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUNDS WHICH IS 1040.

SO IF YOU CAN'T GET THAT AMBULANCE IN THE 12 MONTHS YOU HAVE AN ADDITIONAL YOU CAN GO FORWARD WITH IT FOR THE YEAR. THE GENERAL FUND BASICALLY SUNRISES AND SUNSETS IN THE FISCAL YEAR WITH THE FUND 1040 WHICH IS THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND GOES IS LONGER THAN THAT. I'M GOING TO ASK THE SAME QUESTION I ASKED YOU FRIDAY WHAT'S THE THRESHOLD TO MARK SOMETHING IS CAPITAL 10,000? OKAY, JUST SO KNOW IT'S LIKE 5000 IN MY VIEW IT WELL AND THAT SO IT HITS THE LIST BUT THERE ARE ALSO OTHER LISTS THAT LIGHT AT KEEPS BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY COMPUTER NOWADAYS WOULD NEVER CALL THAT MUCH MONEY BUT IT'S POWERFUL ASSET WHERE WE KEEP DETAILED RECORDS OF WHO THEY ARE WHO THEY'RE AND WHERE THEY ARE AND AND WE KEEP TRACK OF THOSE EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE NOT NECESSARILY REQUIRED TO BE IN THERE FOR A GAP PURPOSES. SO UNLESS THE BUDGET DECREASES TOWARD LIABILITY WE DECREASE BY ABOUT 400,000 IN PROFESSIONAL SERVICES WE DECREASE BY ABOUT 300,000. SO THE NEXT SLIDE THIS SLIDE IS IS OUR PAYMENT OR THE OUTSIDE AGENCIES ALL IN TOTAL THEY REQUESTED ABOUT 15.2 THE KIND OF WE'RE RECOMMENDING ABOUT 14 MILLION IN TOTAL WHICH IS UP FROM THE PRIOR YEAR FOR THE PRIOR YEAR THEY REQUESTED ABOUT 12.3 WHICH I THOUGHT WAS PRETTY GOOD. SO THERE'S IS THE FOUR COLUMN WILL BE WHAT THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR IS RECOMMENDING IF YOU DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS UNDER LOAD IT'S SPLIT OUT INTO THREE SPECIFIC CAN TELL ME WHAT THE MPO FUNDING AND THE HOME CONSORTIUM AS OPPOSED TO ARE SO WHAT IS IMPOSED METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION YEAH THEY'RE ALL CONTRACTS THAT WE HAVE WITH ELKO THESE ARE THE AMOUNTS THAT WE'RE STATUTORILY REQUIRED TO GIVE. WE CAN CONFIRM THOSE WITH ALCALDE EVERY YEAR.

I MEAN PART OF THE BUDGET IS PULLING NUMBERS FROM LITERALLY ALL OVER THE PLACE FROM COLUMBIA TO ELKHART DO YOU KNOW IS IT ALL OVER THE PLACE? SO THE CARDS ALWAYS TELL THE COUNTIES MUCH THEY'RE DOING. SO WE GET A LETTER SAYING OKAY, ALL RIGHT.

YEAH, ALL RIGHT. THE CAPITAL FUND WHAT WE HAVE FOR NEXT YEAR IS ABOUT $21 MILLION AND THEN THE NEXT SLIDE IS THE DETAIL OF ALL THE PROJECTS THAT WE'RE TAKING IN WHICH YOU'LL HAVE IN YOUR PACKET. SO IT PROBABLY BE A LOT EASIER TO READ. SO HE'S ON THE POOLS AND HE REALLY BETTER KEEP SUCH A ASSUME WE'RE DOING THAT ONE BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO DO IT DURING SCHOOL TIME REALLY DON'T WANT TO DO IT DURING THE SUMMER. SO WHEN DOES THAT OCCUR AT BAD TIME I WILL DEFER THAT QUESTION TO MR. WHO IS SHE CFP CORRECT. THERE'S NEVER A GOOD TIME TO DO

[00:20:09]

IT BUT NOW WE HAVE NOT SET A SCHEDULE FOR CONSTRUCTION YET THESE FUNDS ARE FOR DESIGN OF THE POOL AND THE BATTERY CREEK POOL AND THEN IT ALSO INCLUDES CONSTRUCTION FOR THE ROOF BUT WE HAVE SCHEDULE THOSE TIMING WE HAVE WE'RE NOT THAT FAR ALONG WE WILL SCHEDULE THOSE AROUND THE SCHOOL EXCUSE ME NOT THE SCHOOL BUT PARKS AND REC PROGRAMS AS WELL AS THE SCHOOLS. GUESS ON THE AMC RALEIGH POOL THAT IS GOING TO GO TO CONSTRUCTION SOON AND THAT IS FOR REPLACEMENT VBAC AND THE PANELS ALONG THE EDGE TO THAT POOL AND MAKE IT CLIMATE CONTROLLED AND THAT BE GOING TO CONSTRUCTION SOON WE'LL COORDINATE THAT WITH PLANNED SO BE DONE OUR SUMMER SCHOOLS OUT YEAH OKAY MR. MORRISON SO TELL ME WHERE YOU LIVE MR. LAWSON IS THE IS THE BERRY CREEK GYM POOL AND THE WAS SAID THE OTHER ONE BEFORE HIGH SCHOOL IS IS SIMILAR TO WHAT HAPPENED ON HILTON HEAD IN BLUFFTON THESE ARE ALL GREAT POOLS ARE SIMILAR DESIGNED ARE ACTUALLY THE SAME DESIGN AND BUILT IN THE SAME TIME FRAME AND SO EMC RALLIES AHEAD THE OTHER TWO AND AS FAR AS THE GETTING COMPLETIONS BUT THE NEXT PHASE IS TO DESIGN WE'RE DESIGNING EVERYTHING RIGHT NOW BUT THE FIRST PHASE OF CONSTRUCTION IS REPLACEMENT THE ROOF AND THEN THE SECOND PHASE OF CONSTRUCTION WOULD BE IN TO REPLACE THE HBC WE REPLACE THE REMOVE THE SLIDING PANELS THAT ALLOW THE POOL TO BE UP. THOSE BECOME RIGID CLOSED PANELS THAT CAN KEEP THE KEEP THE POOL CLIMATE CONTROLLED WHICH WILL PREVENT THE CORROSION IT WON'T MAKE THE ENVIRONMENT MORE CONDUCIVE FOR USE. IT'S ALSO REFRESHING TILE PAINT THAT'S SO IN QUICKLY IMPROVING AND FOR THE PARKS AND RECREATION 192 THAT'S NOT YOUR TYPICAL VAN OR IS IT? NO, I WOULD I WOULD NEED TO DEFER THAT QUESTION.

OKAY. HERE TO ANSWER BUT AGAIN ON THE VEHICLE CAP WAS DONE BY OUR FLEET MANAGER TODD DAVIS. OKAY AND I DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT THEM OTHER THAN THEY'RE THOSE THEY'RE PASSENGER VANS PART WITH HANDICAP ACCESS WHICH PROBABLY MAKES IT MORE EXPENSIVE BECAUSE THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SO CAN YOU GIVE US OKAY SO THIS THIS SLIDE IS OUR VILLAGES AND YOU HAVE ON YOUR FAR LEFT YOUR PRIOR YOUR MILLAGE THAT WE HAD SO WE HAD A TOTAL OF 64.8 MILLS LAST YEAR OF OF THAT 53.9 OF THOSE MILLS WERE WHAT I WOULD CALL OPERATING MILLS WE'RE IN A PERIOD OF A REASSESSMENT AND WE HAD TO DO ROLLBACK MILLAGE WHICH WE CALCULATED TO BE ABOUT BE ABOUT TO BE 49.5 MILLS ACCORDING TO STATUTE WE CAN LEGALLY RAISE THOSE WITH WITHIN CPI GROWTH WHICH IS DICTATED BY THE STATE WHICH WAS 10.28% WHICH COULD MEAN THAT WE COULD ALL LEGALLY RAISE THEM BY ABOUT FIVE MILLS.

SO WE LEGALLY DO THE TOTAL OPERATIONS UP TO ABOUT 54.5 RIGHT NOW BASED ON THIS VALUES AND WHAT WE NEED TO GET DONE WE RUN A PROJECT THE THE OPERATING MILLAGE TO BE AT ABOUT 51.7 SO THAT'S A 5.3 MILL DISCOUNT BETWEEN WITH WITH THE THE SERVICE IN THE OPERATIONS FROM LAST YEAR TO THIS YEAR. NOW WE'RE PLANNING ON COMING BACK IN THE JULY-AUGUST TIMEFRAME BECAUSE AS YOU ALL KNOW THE VALUES PROPERTY ARE CONSTANTLY MOVING DURING THE YEAR AND WE WANT TO GET MUCH BETTER READ THAN OF THE YEAR AND WE'VE TALKED TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE FIRE DISTRICTS AND WE'LL BE DOING THAT WE'LL BE COMING TO THAT DEAL DURING THE SUMMER SO THAT'S WHERE WE ARE BUT THAT WILL ENOUGH MILLAGE OR ENOUGH REVENUE WE THINK TO COVER TO COVER OPERATIONS FOR NEXT YEAR AND HAYES WILL DURING THAT TIME FRAME WON'T THERE BE APPEALS ON YES OR VALUE OF PROPERTIES? WELL, THERE CAN BE APPEALS ON THE ASSESSED VALUE PROPERTIES. THERE'S ALSO 42662 4% OF IN THEY CAN DO THAT UP UNTIL THE 15TH. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE TIME FRAME IS ON ASSESSED VALUES OF THE PROPERTY I'D HAVE TO ASK YOU HAVE ANY STANDARDS ABOUT THAT BUT BUT YES YOU CAN APPEAL YOUR VALUE BUT YOU SHOULD CAPPED AT 15%. YEAH SO YOU'RE NEXT.

[00:25:09]

ALL RIGHT. THE GRANT FUND IS ABOUT $3.2 MILLION AND WE'RE ESTIMATING WE'RE BRINGING THE THE THE THE REPAIRS OF MAINTENANCE IN HOUSE AND WE'RE EXPECTING THAT TO SAVE ABOUT $665,000 NEXT YEAR. I HAD A QUESTION ABOUT WHAT KIND OF ANALYSIS WAS DONE ON THAT AND OR IS IT GOING TO BE HARD TO HIRE PEOPLE? THE ANALYSIS WAS DONE BY PUBLIC WORKS AND JARED BUT WE'VE LOOKED AT IT AND WE WILL SO I MEAN I SEE THE BENEFITS IT I JUST WANTED TO KNOW FOR THE PUBLIC TO KNOW WHY YEAH SO WE HAD A PRETTY LIBERAL CONTRACT WAS DRAFTED SOME TIME BEFORE I TOOK OVER COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR IT WAS IN FAVOR OF THE PERSON WHO HAD THE CONTRACT OF TO DO OUR MAINTENANCE VERY EXPENSIVE CHARGE TO DO BASIC ROUTINE MAINTENANCE ISSUES LIKE OIL CHANGES AND THINGS LIKE THAT SO WE'VE DECIDED TO DO THAT.

I'M ALWAYS A PROPONENT OF HIRING PEOPLE AND MAKING THEM COUNTY EMPLOYEES AND PROVIDING THOSE SERVICES HERE IF WE CAN. SO WE RAN THAT ANALYSIS.

YOU CAN SEE PROJECTION ON WHAT WE'LL SAVE. WE DON'T THINK WE'LL SEE ANY OF EFFECTIVENESS BECAUSE WE DO BELIEVE THAT MANY OF THE EMPLOYEES THAT ARE CURRENTLY THERE WILL WOULD JOIN THE COUNTY WORKFORCE FOR THE BENEFITS AND THE PACKAGES THAT WE'RE OFFERING THEM. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE LEARNED THROUGH THIS WHOLE PROCESS THAT DID NOT OCCUR I WAS NOT AWARE OF THAT WHEN PEOPLE WORK ON FLEET VEHICLES THEY HAVE TO BUY THEIR OWN TOOLS. I DID NOT I DID NOT KNOW THAT.

SO THEY HAD TO BRING THEIR OWN TOOLS TO WORK WITH THEM. SO ANYWAY SO WE'RE GOING TO WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO SUPPLY BADGER WE'RE GOING TO BUILD OUT ADEQUATE STAFF.

WE'RE DOING SOME IMPROVEMENTS TO THE FACILITY THEIRSELF TO BE ABLE TO WORK ON HEAVY EQUIPMENT ,AIM LOSSES THAT WE CAN'T GET INSIDE THE BUILDING NOW LARGER VEHICLES WE CAN'T GET OUTSIDE INCLUDE THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT TOO. IT ABSOLUTELY INCLUDES SHERIFF'S OFFICE. YES. OKAY.

WELL, WE'RE TODAY I WAS IN STICKER SHOCK WHEN IT ALL CHANGED SO I YEAH, YEAH, YEAH I YEAH. THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN THINKING .

ALL RIGHT. NEXT ONE IT'S ALWAYS FUN TO BE 11.7 MILLION WITH THE BUDGET INCREASE ABOUT $900,000 LAST YEAR WE WERE OVER BUDGET HEALTH INSURANCE AND WE TOOK THAT SAVINGS AND SO THAT'S WHERE WE ARE WITH A SOLID ONE PLACE ONE AND THEN QUESTIONS THE PEOPLE HAS ANY QUESTION THAT WAS A LOT THERE'S A LOT IN HILLS BINDER TO GO OVER GO BACK TO STONEWALL EMPLOYMENT AND GENERALLY SPEAKING THERE THERE'S BEEN THE INABILITY TO HIRE ENOUGH WORKERS TO STONEWALL AND WONDERING WHAT THAT ISSUE IS IF YOU KNOW YOU CAN MAYBE FIND OUT A LITTLE LET ME KNOW WHY THEY CAN'T HIRE A FULL TIME CREW RIGHT NOW WHAT I UNDERSTAND IS THAT THEY HAVE POSITIONS IN THE BUDGET FOR CREW BUT THEY ONLY HAVE ONE AT THIS TIME.

THEY'RE SERVING THE WHOLE COUNTY AND THERE ARE GREAT NEEDS IN EVERY OF STORMWATER SERVICES SO I CAN I CAN HELP ANSWER THAT QUESTION. YES, SIR.

IT'S ESSENTIALLY THE ECONOMY, THE BOOM THAT WE EXPERIENCED BY THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS BASICALLY PULLED THOSE A LOT OF THOSE THAT DO THAT TYPE OF WORK IN THE PRIVATE BECAUSE THEY CAN PAY A LOT MORE THAN WE CAN PAY AND MAKE A LOT MORE MONEY.

SO WE HAVE TO EVALUATE WHAT WE PAY ALL OF OUR POSITIONS AND WE'RE CONTINUING TO DO THAT.

WE'RE DOING NOW AND WE WILL BE BRINGING THE PLAN BACK FOR YOU ALL LATER ON THE MONEY THAT WAS IN THE BUDGET FOR MERIT INCREASES AND THINGS LIKE THAT TO TRY TO RECTIFY SOME OF THAT STUFF LONG TERM WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO DO ANYTHING MUCH ABOUT IT THIS YEAR BUT WE WILL BE RECTIFYING IT LONG TERM TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PAYING A COMPETITIVE SALARY FOR THOSE POSITIONS BUT THAT'S PRETTY MUCH THE ISSUE NOW IS PRIVATE CONSTRUCTION.

[00:30:02]

SO THANK YOU. OH YOU DO DO THAT MEANS TO ME WE DID FOR A LOT OF OUR STORMWATER ISSUES WE MAY HAVE TO GO OUTSIDE TO GET A CONTRACT WE CAN I MEAN WE CAN LOOK WE CAN LOOK AT DOING THAT. WE KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE COSTLY.

IT'LL BE VERY COSTLY. YEAH SO YEAH BIG BOYS THESE ARE HIRED THEM PAY THEM OR ARE PAYING SOMEBODY TO DO IT THROUGH PRIVATE SECTOR AND WHATEVER BEING SO BUSY RIGHT NOW EVERYTHING'S JUST COSTING A LOT MORE MONEY TAKES A LOT LONGER IF WE HAVE TO GO THE PRIVATE ROUTE SO WE'RE WE'RE OFF IN MY MIND IF WE CAN HIRE THE FOLKS I AGREE WITH YOU ON IT APPRECIATE. THANK YOU. MR. WILLIAMS. I ACTUALLY HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU WITH BMA WHICH I KNOW THEY'RE ASKING FOR MORE MONEY THAN THEY USUALLY DO IN ORDER TO BUILD THE EDUCATION CENTER AND I BELIEVE SOME IN-HOUSE TREATMENT FOR THEIR PSYCH WARD. I THINK IT WAS THEY'RE ASKING FOR 2 MILLION IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE SUGGESTING OF A LITTLE OVER $1 MILLION. RIGHT.

ARE THERE STILL TO BE OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP FUND THAT WELL, SO THE THAT HAS BEEN SET UP IN THE PAST IS THEY'RE BASED ON A MILLAGE AS THE THE ASSET VALUES GO UP THEY GO UP.

SO WE'RE NEXT YEAR THEY'RE GOING TO GET ABOUT $150,000 A YEAR FOR INDIGENT CARE.

NOW THE OTHER TWO REQUESTS THAT THEY HAD, THEY HAD HALF A MILLION DOLLARS FOR THREE YEARS FOR THAT WAS A CRISIS CENTER I BELIEVE ANOTHER $250,000 FOR A LEARNING CENTER.

AND SO THOSE WILL BE FUNDED OUT OF OUR FUNDS. SO WE'LL BE FUNDING THE SO WE WILL BE $1.5 MILLION OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS FOR THAT AND THEN THE 250 WAS A ONE TIME ASK BUT BY INDIGENT CARE FOR BOTH THEY AND THE BEFORE FOR COMP HEALTH IS GOING UP I MEAN IS 899,000 THIS YEAR AND IT'S 1040 THIS YEAR WHICH IS I MEAN I JUST CALLED 150 SO I MEAN I SPENT TIME WITH HAYS AND ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I ASKED WAS FOR EXAMPLE, SHERIFF'S BUDGET THERE'S 50 LINES THAT HAVE AN AND A LIKE WHAT'S AN INMATE SO YOU WANT TO TELL US HOW YOU'RE CLEANING UP THE CHART OF ACCOUNTS MAYBE SO AND I DON'T KNOW WHETHER IT'S THE NUMERATOR OR THE DENOMINATOR WHEN YOU'RE WHEN YOU DO A FORMULA IN EXCEL BUT YOU'LL GET THIS NASTY LITTLE HASHTAG FORWARD SLASH DMV AND SO INSTEAD OF Y'ALL HAVING 50 OR 60 OR MAYBE 100 PAGES OF THE THOSE I JUST PUT THAT IS IN A JUST BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT WAS IT'S NOT REALLY ZERO AND IT'S NOT REALLY IN A BUT THERE'S REALLY AN ANALYSIS THAT YOU CAN DO WITH THAT FUNCTION. HAZEL WE ASK YOUR QUESTION ABOUT THE SHERIFF'S BUDGET.

WE HAD A BRIEF MEETING WITH THEM PRIOR TO COMING HERE AND THEN YOU AND I SAT DOWN TAB AND PAUL AND I WE SAT DOWN JUST TO UNDERSTAND IF THEY PRESENTED A BUDGET OR THEY WILL BE PRESENTING A BUDGET. WE HAVEN'T ASKED THEM TO DECREASE SALARIES OR ANYTHING.

WOULD YOU JUST ADDRESS THAT BECAUSE I THE WAY THAT THEY'RE SET UP RIGHT NOW I KNOW THAT THEY HAD AN ISSUE WITH THIS DON'T HAVE OUR SERVICE FEES AND THEY THEY DID THEIR BUDGET BASED ON THEY NEEDED AND PROJECTED WE BUT WE DID OUR REVENUES BASED ON HISTORIC TRENDS AND TRENDING IT AND THERE WAS A SHORTFALL THE ONLY WAY THAT WE CAN CHANGE THOSE FEES IS VIA ORDINANCE AND SO WE HAVE TO HAVE AN OUTSIDE ENTITY PRESSURE BASE COME IN AND DO THE STUDY SO THEY'RE GOING TO DO THE STUDY. WE HAVE UPPED EVERYTHING I THINK WE TWEAK RETIREMENT A LITTLE BIT TO GET IT MORE LINE WITH KIND OF THE THE WHAT WE HAD PROJECTED BUT ALL IN ALL THAT BUDGET IS BASICALLY WHERE IT SHOULD BE DOLLAR TO DOLLAR WITH WHAT THEY PRESENTED SO THAT I MEAN I'D HAVE TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM THEIR ORIGINAL THE ORIGINAL BUDGET IT WAS HARD LOCKED IN BECAUSE IT WAS DONE THE SUBMISSION DATE IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE DUE ON THE 28TH SO THEY'RE PENDING COULD HAVE HAD CHANGES IN IT SO IT'S REALLY TO SEE WHAT IT WAS BUT IT IS SIGNIFICANTLY MORE THAN WHAT IT WAS IN THERE.

BUT I'D BE HAPPY TO GET TOGETHER WITH SUZANNE AND GO OVER PERFECT.

THAT'S GOOD. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, MR. PRESIDENT? GO AHEAD. BASED UPON WHAT WE'VE HEARD, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO RECOMMEND THE APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER SEVEN.

ALL RIGHT. IS THERE A SECOND FOR THAT? SO ALL RIGHT, ANY ANY ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION LET ME JUST SAY THAT THIS HAS TO GO BEFORE COUNTY FOR THREE MORE READINGS. IT SEEMS LIKE WE HAVE A LOT OF TIME AND ALSO HAS TO BE DONE BY JUNE 30TH, JULY OF THIS YEAR AND AGAIN, THAT'S WHY THIS IS BEING BY TITLE ONLY IS SO WE CAN HAVE A HAVE OF A COME BEFORE COUNCIL TONIGHT BUT WE'LL STILL HAVE TWO MORE

[00:35:04]

MEETINGS OF THIS SO WE STILL GOT ANOTHER MONTH OF GOING THROUGH THIS AND ASKING QUESTIONS AND AND THIS MIGHT BE THE EARLIEST THAT WE'VE SEEN SOME OF THIS IN THE PAST SOMETIMES NOT UNTIL THE END OF MAY AND THEN WE'RE RUSHING TO TRY TO GET THREE MEETINGS IN TO GET THIS APPROVED. WE STILL HAVE PLENTY OF TIME. THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION TO JUST KEEP THAT IN MIND AS WE MOVE FORWARD. BUT AGAIN, WE NEED TO GET THIS BEFORE COUNCIL SO THAT WAY WE CAN HAVE THIS APPROVED WITHOUT HAVING A SPECIAL MEETING BY BY THE FISCAL YEAR END. SO ANY OTHER DISCUSSIONS WITH THAT? I HAVE A QUESTION SO WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS WHICH WE HAVE A BUNCH HERE I NOTICE THE WHAT THEY ASKED FOR AND WHAT ADMINISTRATIONS RECOMMENDED DOESN'T JIVE ALL THE TIME.

DO WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO REDUCE THEIR BUDGET? WOULD THEY ASK FOR WE DO IS AS COUNCIL WE HAVE COMPLETE CONTROL OVER THE BUDGET WHEN IT COMES TO US ADDING OR DELETING SO IF IS PLACES IN THERE THAT WE ARE NOT CONTENT WITH WE'RE NOT SURE ABOUT WE HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT I'D PROBABLY RECOMMEND IS SENDING AN EMAIL TO MYSELF AND TO MR. GREENWAY AND WE CAN GET THOSE QUESTIONS ANSWERED FOR YOU IF THERE IS SOMETHING I KNOW THERE IS SOME DIFFERENCES FROM SOME OF THOSE ELECTED OFFICIALS AND THERE'S REASONS STAFF HAS COME BACK AND HAYS IS MY NEW BEST FRIEND WE TALK ON A REGULAR BASIS ON SOME OF THESE THINGS BUT AGAIN IT'S NOT MY DECISION IT'S COUNCIL'S DECISION WHAT WE DO AND HOW WE OPERATE AND WHAT WE DO. SO IF THERE IS SOME RECOMMENDATIONS THAT'S THAT'S THE NEXT STEP FOR US TO TO LOOK AT TO TO MAKE THOSE CHANGES. WE RELY VERY HEAVILY STAFF TO MAKE US TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO US BASED ON THINGS LIKE STAFFING AND AND SURPLUSES AND THINGS BECAUSE AGAIN IT'S ERICK'S RESPONSIBILITY FOR TO BALANCE THIS BUDGET EVEN THOUGH WE'RE WE'RE THE ONES THAT SEEM TO HAVE THE CONTROL. BUT IT'S AGAIN, IT'S HIS RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE OUR OUR BUDGET BALANCES SOMETIMES IT'S NOT A FUN JOB TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE'S GETTING HOPEFULLY WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR AND EVERYONE'S OUT THERE.

SO CAN I GIVE OUR KUDOS TO HAYES WHO PUT UP WITH ME FOR LIKE 4 HOURS TO GO THROUGH THE BUDGET WOUND ABOUT $1 BECAUSE AS A NEW COUNCIL MEMBER I DON'T KNOW ALL THE FUNDS AND I ASKED A MILLION QUESTIONS AND THAT WAS WHEN THEY HAD NO IN THE BUILDING ON TOP OF BASE.

SO I WANT TO GIVE HIM KUDOS FOR SITTING WITH ME AND THAT'S SOMETHING ELSE THAT THAT MR. WILLIAMS HAS HAS ALWAYS BEEN VERY OPEN. SO IF SOMEONE THAT HAS ANY QUESTIONS WANTS TO SIT DOWN WITH THEM, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THAT YOU CAN DO.

I'M AS A COUNCIL I DON'T THINK YOU EVER TURN ANYONE DOWN AND EVEN THE QUESTIONS THAT SOMETIMES I THINK ARE SILLY BUT THAT HE HAS ANSWERS FOR SO AGAIN THAT'S THAT'S OPEN ANYONE HERE TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT? YES. AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE NOW UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION THAT I WAS ASK AN ELECTED OFFICIAL OF CAN THIS COUNCIL REDUCE THEIR BUDGET ANNUAL BUDGET BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT WAS A STATE STATUTE THAT PROHIBIT US FROM DOING THAT I'M TOM YOU ANSWER THAT. OKAY.

SO THE LAW IN SOUTH CAROLINA IS THAT COUNTY COUNCIL HAS THE ULTIMATE OVER ALL THE BUDGETS.

COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR IS RESPONSIBLE FOR SUBMITTING BALANCED BUDGETS TO YOU GUYS EVERY YEAR WITH REGARD TO IT ELECTED OFFICIAL COUNTY COUNCIL'S CANNOT DECREASE THE APPROPRIATIONS OF AN ELECTED OFFICIALS OFFICE SO AS TO PREVENT THE PROPER FUNCTIONING THEREOF OR TO INDIRECTLY ABOLISH THE OFFICE. THAT'S THE LAW SO YOU CAN REDUCE IT YOU JUST CANNOT REDUCE IT TO THE EXTENT THAT YOU IMPAIR THE PROPER FUNCTIONING OF THE OFFICE OR THAT YOU REDUCE IT SO MUCH THAT YOU ESSENTIALLY ELIMINATE THE OFFICIALS OFFICE. ALL RIGHT. THAT'S THE LAW.

OKAY. THANK YOU, SIR. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION I SEE NO DISCUSSION. IS THERE ANY TO THE MOTION SEEING NO.

THIS PASSES AND WE'LL ACTUALLY NOW BE ON OUR COUNCIL MEETING IT AT 5:00 FOR FOR A READING THIS IS BEING MOVED FORWARD TO COUNCIL FOR FIRST READING UH MAY 8TH THIS EVENING THANK YOU CHAIRMAN THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GO AHEAD.

I'M HERE FOR THE NEXT ITEM OUT YOUR NEXT QUESTION I WANT TO SET WHO'S DOING THIS AND THEY DON'T SEEM TO KNOW SO MR. GREENWAY WE ARE LOOKING THEN FOR NUMBER EIGHT ON OUR AGENDA RECOMMEND APPROVAL RESOLUTION TO PRESS FOR COUNTY COUNCIL SUPPORT FOR THE CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO TAKE THE NECESSARY STEPS TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS TO

[8. RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION TO EXPRESS BEAUFORT COUNTY COUNCIL'S SUPPORT FOR THE SOUTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO TAKE THE NECESSARY STEPS TO AMEND THE SOUTH 1 County Council Agenda – Beaufort County, SC CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS TO VEST BUDGET AUTHORITY AND MILLAGE RATE SETTING AUTHORITY FOR THE OPERATION OF THE SCHOOLS IN BEAUFORT COUNTY WITH THE BEAUFORT COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION]

[00:40:05]

VEST AUTHORITY IN MILITARY SETTINGS. AUTHORITIES FOR THE OPERATION OF SCHOOLS AND V FOR COUNTY WITH THE COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION SO YES SIR.

YES SIR. FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT HAVE BEEN ON COUNCIL MULTIPLE YEARS YOU KNOW WE HAVE DISCUSSED THIS PARTICULAR MULTIPLE TIMES THROUGH BUDGET PROCESSES AND OTHER AREAS. SO THIS IS COMMONLY REFERRED TO BY OUR SIDE OF THE COIN AS FISCAL AUTONOMY FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. THEY PREFER TO USE THE WORD FISCAL AUTHORITY. I THINK IT'S IRRELEVANT WHICH ONE BUT I WORKED WITH DR.

RODRIGUEZ WHO I HAVE A GREAT WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH. I ADMIRE HIM IMMENSELY AND FOR ALL THE HE'S ACCOMPLISHED IN THE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT AND I'VE ALWAYS ENJOYED WORKING WITH HIM. HE AND I HAVE WORKED TOGETHER. WE HAVE DRAFTED RESOLUTION.

IT'S OUR UNDERSTAND WE'VE MET WITH THE STATE DELEGATION OUR COUNTY DELEGATION FOLKS AND IT'S OUR UNDERSTANDING THAT IF THE COUNTY COUNCIL AND THE BEAUFORT COUNTY BOARD IN A RESOLUTION THAT ASKED FOR THEM TO CHANGE THE STATE STATUTE, THEN OUR DELEGATION WILL INTRODUCE THAT LEGISLATION AND AMEND THE STATE STATUTE TO ALLOW THE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT TO HAVE FULL FISCAL AUTHORITY OVER THEIR BUDGET. THEY WOULD NOT NEED TO COME FOR US TO US FOR THE APPROVAL OF A BUDGET AS LONG AS THEY STAY WITHIN ACT 388 WHENEVER THIS IS ORIGINALLY DONE IN COUNTY ACT 388 DID NOT EXIST SO THERE WAS SOME ISSUES BACK THEN BUT NOW 388 EXISTS AND THEY ARE BOUND BY HOW MUCH THEY CAN RAISE ANYWAY BASED ON THAT.

SO I RECOMMEND SUPPORT THAT. I THINK THERE'S FOLKS HERE FROM THE SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT WOULD LIKE TO WEIGH ON THIS THIS ITEM. CHAIRMAN JUST BE MINDFUL THAT WE HAVE TWO OTHER COUNCIL MEETINGS TODAY SO THANK YOU MR. PRESIDENT.

GOOD. I WOULD WHOLEHEARTEDLY RECOMMEND THIS FOR ADOPTION BY COUNTY COUNCIL SO I MAKE THAT MOTION I LIKE TO SECOND THE MOTION.

ALL RIGHT, SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. IS THERE ANY MORE DISCUSSION REGARDING THIS? I'M VERY EXCITED TO SEE THIS COME TO FRUITION.

WE TALKED ABOUT THIS OUR FEBRUARY BUDGET WORKSHOP AND WE'VE WORKED BEHIND THE SCENES AND ERIC'S WORKED WITH DR. RODRIGUES WHO WE'D LIKE TO RECOMMEND AND RECOGNIZE THE INITIATIVE AND COLONEL GEIGER WHO IS VICE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD.

THIS IS A VERY EXCITING TO ME. IT'S VERY EXCITING THAT THEY HAVE FISCAL AUTONOMY AND THEY CAN SET THEIR FISCAL AUTHORITY, THEY CAN THEIR BUDGET, THEIR MILLAGE INSTEAD OF BEGGING US TO APPROVE IT. SO I'M IN FAVOR OF THIS. THE CHAIRMAN JUST ONE MORE THING IN THAT POINT. YES, IT'S GOOD. THE FIRST MEETING I HAD WHEN I BECAME A COUNTY COUNCIL WAS WITH MR. RODRIGUEZ YOU REMEMBER THAT MEETING THE FIRST THING HE SAID TO ME WAS I THINK THIS IS WHERE THIS WHOLE AMENDMENT IS GOING IS YOU DIDN'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO HAVE ACCESS THE FUNDS UNTIL IT WAS TOO LATE SO YOU LOST A LOT OF GOOD CANDIDATES, CORRECT? PLEASE THAT WE'VE BEEN IN THE PROCESS OF HIRING SEASONED ALREADY. RIGHT. AS AN EXAMPLE.

RIGHT. THE THIS IS THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT TIME WINDOW FOR US BECAUSE SINCE OUR BUDGET TYPICALLY ISN'T FINALIZED UNTIL THE END OF JUNE, WE'RE AT TAIL END OF NEXT YEAR'S HIRING RATE. SO I CANNOT PROMISE OR GUARANTEE A RECRUIT IN PERSON RECRUITING WHAT THEIR SALARY IS GOING TO BE. I CAN TELL IT'S NOT GOING TO BE LOWER THAN THIS BUT I CAN'T TELL THEM LAST YEAR IN PARTICULAR THANK YOU TO EVERY ONE OF YOU AND THAT WE'RE ON THE BOARD ON THE COUNCIL LAST YEAR FOR SUPPORTING THE EFFORT TO RAISE SALARIES FOR OUR EDUCATORS WE WENT FROM 53RD IN THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA TO NUMBER ONE IN THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA. AND THAT IS SO IMPORTANT TO ATTRACT QUALITY EDUCATORS. BUT I CANNOT PROMISE THEM OR GUARANTEE THEM WHAT IT'S GOING TO BE UNTIL BUDGET WE KNOW IS FINALIZED. SO THIS WOULD ALLOW OUR BOARD UH ONCE THEY APPROVE OR CERTIFY OUR BUDGET ALLOW US TO TO MOVE FORWARD AND NOT NOT HAVE THREE THREE READINGS BEYOND THAT. LISTEN I'VE GOT TO YOU I'M EXCITED TO HEAR THAT IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT DOING WORK FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE YOU KNOW, THE KIDS A FUTURE DOCTOR THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR PUSHING THAT WITH US. WE APPRECIATE IT.

BUT IF I MIGHT, I THINK MR. CUNNINGHAM YOU WANT TO THEN. MR..