[XI 1. Consideration of an Ordinance Approving the Town of Bluffton Fiscal Year 2024 Proposed Consolidated Budget – Public Hearing and Final Reading – Stephen Steese, Town Manager]

OF THING I I OPPOSED THAT UNANIMOUS. NEXT WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING AND THIS IS FOR OUR 2024 BUDGET. SO IT'S APPROVING THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON FISCAL YEAR 2024 PROPOSED CONSOLIDATED BUDGET. I'M GOING TO CALL FIRST CALL FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON OUR BUDGET DURING THE PUBLIC HEARING.

SECOND CALL FOR PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING OF OUR FISCAL YEAR 2024 PROPOSED BUDGET THIRD AND FINAL CALL FOR PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING ON OUR TOWN OF BLUFFTON FISCAL YEAR 2024 PROPOSED CONSOLIDATED BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED FOR FINAL READING MR. GET HIM THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL AS WE HAVE HASHED THIS OVER THE LAST MONTH DURING

[00:30:11]

FIRST READING WAS A LITTLE MORE DETAILED THAN I'M GOING TO BE TONIGHT SINCE WE'VE HAD THE FIRST READING AND TWO WORKSHOPS SO I'M GONNA GO A LITTLE HIGHER LEVEL TONIGHT WE'RE GOING TO THE SECOND READING AND JUST HIT ON SOME THINGS THAT HAVE CHANGED SINCE FIRST READING AND THEN GO OVER KIND OF SOME OF THE CONSOLIDATED BUDGET NUMBERS.

SO THIS IS OUR SCHEDULE FOR THE BUDGET AND APPROVAL PROCESS. SO AS YOU SEE WHERE THE BUDGET ORDINANCE SECOND READING AND WE JUST HAD THE PUBLIC HEARING WITH NO COMMENT SO WE'RE MOVING ON TO PROPOSED FINAL READING FOR COUNCIL SO A FEW CHANGES SINCE THE FIRST READING ON MAY 9TH WE DID INCREASE WE'LL LOOK LIKE AN INCREASE FOR THE GENERAL FUND THIS WHERE WE'RE GOING TO BE SETTING ASIDE THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND THE RESERVE FUNDS THAT WE'RE GOING TO TRACK LIKE WE TALKED ABOUT AT THE SECOND WORKSHOP.

BUT THAT'S GOING TO BE A TRANSFER IN FOR THOSE FUNDS AND WE'LL TRACK THOSE JUST LIKE WE TALKED ABOUT. YOU'LL SEE IT IN THE AUDIT EVERY YEAR AND WE'LL CARRY THOSE FORWARD YEAR OVER YEAR JUST LIKE THE OTHER GRANT PROGRAMS ARE THERE THE LOCAL ACCOMMODATIONS TAX IT INCREASED AND PART OF THAT WAS FROM WHERE WE DECREASED THE AMOUNT THAT WE SENT TO THE BLUFFTON CHAMBER OR THE HILTON BLUFFTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SORRY GOT THEM BACKWARDS THERE AND THEN ALSO 15% THAT WE ARE GOING TO USE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT WE'RE ALLOWED TO DO SO UNDERNEATH THE STATE LAW THAT WAS PASSED THIS YEAR, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND INCREASED BY 63,900 THAT IS THAT 4% OF THAT THAT WE CUT FROM THE BLUFFTON HILTON HEAD BLUFFTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IT WAS AN 8% FOR US GOING STAYING IN THE LOCAL ACCOMMODATIONS TAX FOR US GOING TO OUR PROJECTS WE'RE GOING TO MOVE THAT OVER AND THAT WAS THAT INCREASE OF 60,900 THAT YOU SEE THERE? SO REMEMBER WE HAD 8% OF LOCAL TAX THAT WAS GOING TO FUND 4% STAYING AND LOCAL TAX WE'RE GOING TO USE THAT TO OFFSET EXPENSES THAT WE HAVE AND THEN THE OTHER PORTIONS GOING OVER TO CAP TO HELP OFFSET CAP PROJECTS THAT CAN GO FOR THEY CAN LOOK AWAY TAX CAN PAY FOR THINGS LIKE THE RENOVATIONS OF SQUIRE POPE PROPERTY PROGRAMS LIKE THAT. SO THE TOTAL CONSOLIDATED IMPACT INCREASE IS ABOUT $750,000 WITH ABOUT HALF OF IT BEING ENTER FUND TRANSFERS SO WILL GO THROUGH OUR FUNDS REAL QUICK AGAIN THIS IS OUR CONSOLIDATED BUDGET BROKEN UP BY FUNDS SO YOU CAN SEE OUR TOTAL BUDGET FOR THE YEARS PROPOSED IS PROPOSED TO BE 78,000 EXCUSE ME $78,572,643. THIS IS A 7.2% INCREASE BUT OUR RURAL AGAIN JUST LIKE I'VE DONE ALL THE OTHER ONES POINT OUT THAT WE ARE NOW TRACKING OUR SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS AS PART OF ONE OF OUR OUR SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS NOW INCLUDES HOSPITALITY AND LOCAL ACCOMMODATIONS TAX. SO THE PREVIOUS YEAR YOU'LL SEE IN 23 THERE'S A ZERO IN THAT LINE AND 24 IT'S $9.3 MILLION. SO IF YOU REMOVE OUT OF THE BUDGET FOR THIS YEAR IT'S ACTUALLY OF A DECREASE OF ABOUT $4 MILLION OVER WHERE WE WERE LAST YEAR.

WE JUST DIDN'T HAVE THE WE DIDN'T TRACK THOSE FUNDS IN OUR CONSOLIDATED BUDGET THIS YEAR WE ARE SO THERE'S THAT YOU CAN SEE THAT ZERO VERSUS THE 9 MILLION THAT'S WHAT IS SHOWING THAT THAT'S IN THERE SO SO WHAT DOES OUR CONSOLIDATED BUDGET DO SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS IS IT RECOGNIZES SOME OF THE SLOWDOWN WE'VE HAD IN THE GROWTH FOR RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION THAT WE'VE SEEN IT KEEPS OUR PROPERTY TAX MILLAGE THE SAME AT 38.5 MILLS AS I'VE SAID NUMEROUS IT IS PENDING REASSESSMENT THAT'S ONGOING AT THE COUNTY RIGHT NOW.

SO ONCE WE START GETTING MORE REASSESSMENT UPDATES WILL PROVIDE THAT TO COUNCIL AND WE'LL HAVE TO REVISIT OUR MILLAGE ONCE WE GET WHAT THE INCREASE IN VALUES ARE AND WE HAVE TO DO LOOK AT OUR MILLAGE TO MOVE FORWARD SO WE'LL BRING THAT BACK TO YOU.

I'LL PROBABLY ASSUME IN AUGUST ONCE WE GET THOSE NUMBERS FROM THE COUNTY.

SO YOU EXPECT ALL THOSE NUMBERS TO BE POSITIVE. OH YEAH.

YES SIR. YEAH I'M. ASSUMING THE PROPERTY VALUES ARE GOING CONTINUE TO GO UP, I WONDER IF YOU SAW SOMETHING I DIDN'T KNOW THE KEY TO REMEMBER IS DURING REASSESSMENT THE MAX WITH 388 THAT A PROPERTY VALUE CAN INCREASE IS 15%.

SO THIS IS A LOT OF TIMES FOR OUR LONG TIME HOMEOWNERS THIS IS ONE OF THE ONLY TIMES THEIR PROPERTY VALUES WILL INCREASE. SO I'M ASSUMING IF SOMEBODY DIDN'T INCREASE FROM SELLING THEIR PROPERTY AFTER FOUR OR FIVE YEARS WITH THE PROFIT WITH A GROWTH WE'VE SEEN IN PROPERTY VALUES, THEY'RE GOING TO MAXED OUT AT THAT 15% CAP. BUT WITH THAT 388 IT IS CAPPED AT 15% FOR THOSE THAT COULD NOT AFFORD IT ACTUALLY GETTING TO ITS TRUE VALUE FOR SOME OF OUR LONG TERM HOMEOWNERS AND THAT STATE LAW THAT'S NOT LOCAL JUST SO WE CLARIFY THAT IT ALSO

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FOCUSES ON TOWN COUNCIL PROGRAMS. WE TALKED ABOUT NEIGHBORHOOD ASSISTANCE AS PART OF OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING PRIORITY HISTORIC PRESERVATION.

I MENTIONED FUNDS THAT CAN GO TO SQUIRE POPE WITH ONE OF OUR MAJOR HISTORIC RENOVATION PROJECTS RIGHT NOW ENHANCING QUALITY OF LIFE. WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT AND SEE UP FOR A LOT OF THE SIDEWALK SEWERS AND OTHER PROJECTS WE'RE DOING THROUGHOUT THE TOWN PARKS AND ALSO WORKS TO KEEP OUR PAY COMPETITIVE AS WE TALKED ABOUT WE DID OUR CLASS AND COMP STUDY LAST YEAR SO BETWEEN OUR CLASS AND COMP STUDY AND OUR MERIT INCREASE THAT WE HAVE IN OUR CURRENT BUDGET. THAT'S ABOUT THE END ALL EMPLOYEES GET ON AVERAGE OF ABOUT A 7% INCREASE FROM THAT AND THEN A 2% FROM THE MERIT INCREASE.

SO WE HAD ABOUT 9% ON AVERAGE INCREASE LAST YEAR. THIS YEAR IT'D BE ABOUT 4% 2% COLA WHICH WOULD BUMP OUR PAY BANDS UP TO KEEP US COMPETITIVE.

SO WHEN WE DO NEXT CLASS AND COMP OUR PAY BANDS AREN'T STAYING STAGNANT WHILE WE SALARIES GROW AND THEN THE OTHER WOULD BE A MIDYEAR MERIT INCREASE.

SO THAT'S ABOUT A 13% INCREASE OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS FOR OUR EMPLOYEES AS WE TALKED ABOUT IN OUR SECOND WORK OUR FIRST WORKSHOP WE'VE GOTTEN OUR MEAN AND MEDIAN SALARY FOR OUR EMPLOYEES ABOVE THE AMATEUR LEVEL. SO WE'RE BEATING OUR COUNTY FOR MEDIAN INCOME HERE AT THE TOWN. SO THAT'S SOMETHING WE'VE DONE OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS CLARITY FOR THOSE WHO WEREN'T BEFORE WE DID THE WAGE AND SALARY ANALYSIS WE'VE ACTUALLY FALLEN BEHIND IN OUR PAY SCALE CLASSIFICATIONS. SO WHEN WE SAY 13% IT'S REALLY WE WERE MAKING UP FOR THOSE CLASS THOSE WHO WERE UNDER RIGHT AND IN THE COST IN THE COLA COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT TO ALLOW US TO KEEP THAT FROM BEING SO SO DRASTIC IN THE FUTURE. AND THEN AS I TALKED ABOUT INVEST IN PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE YOU CAN SEE A LIST OF A LOT OF OUR SAP PROJECTS ARE ONGOING AND THAT WE HAVE IN THE FUTURE THERE. SO IT DOES PROPOSE A MASTER FEE SCHEDULE.

SOME OF THIS IS TO CATCH UP WITH THE COST OF ACTUALLY DOING STUFF.

WE MENTIONED OFF DUTY POLICE PAY THAT'S RECOGNIZE THE INCREASE WE'VE HAD FOR THE COST OF A POLICE OFFICER FROM WHERE WE'VE BEEN BUMP AND PAY UP RETIREMENTS INCREASED INSURANCE INCREASE SO FORTH IT DOES ADD A NEW RENTAL FEE FOR THE BUCKWALTER PARK THAT WE PURCHASED THE OLD EVERCORE PARK THAT IS NOW OUR BUCKWALTER AMPITHEATER APART SO IT CREATES A RENTAL FEE. SO AFTER JULY ONE ONCE THIS IS DROPPED IN AND GOES INTO PLACE WE'LL BE ABLE TO BEGIN THAT FACILITY JUST LIKE WE DO MART AND FAMILY AND OTHER OR EXTRA FACTORY PARK AND OTHER TOWN FACILITIES THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY AND WE DID KEEP THAT FEE SIMILAR TO WHAT WE CHARGE FROM ART AND FAMILY PARK TO MAKE SURE THAT WHETHER THEY WANT TO BE AN OLD TOWN BUCKWALTER SIMILAR AND AFFORDABLE FOR THE COMMUNITY AND THEN WE DID A JUST A FEW GROWTH MANAGEMENT FEES WE ADDED ONE IN THERE FOR SOME THINGS THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE FOR PRINTING COPIES OF DOCUMENTS LIKE OUR COMP PLAN.

WE HAD SOME I ASK FOR A HARD COPY OF THAT AND IT'S ABOUT $70 TO PRINT SO WE ADDED A FEE IN THERE FOR ANYBODY WHO WANTS A HARD COPY WE ARE GOING TO PUT IT IN THE LIBRARY SO IN THE FUTURE WE'LL HAVE OUR COMP PLAN AND SOME OF OUR OTHER PLANS. WE'RE GOING TO ASK THE LIBRARY TO PUT THEM ON THE SHELVES SO IF ANYBODY WANTS THEM THEY CAN GO CHECK THEM OUT, READ THEM AND NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT GETTING THE COPIES FROM US AND TRY TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR THE COMMUNITY TO ACCESS THOSE THINGS OUTSIDE OF THE WEBSITE IS THAT WHAT YOU WERE GOING TO SAY? OH OKAY AND THEN WE ALSO ADDED ONE MORE STORMWATER FEE IT'S THE SAME AMOUNT IT'S JUST A REINSPECTION FEE VERSUS WHENEVER WE HAVE TO GO OUT AND INSPECT PONDS THAT HAVE CLOSED OUT AND THERE'S THE MAP FOR THE PORTION OF THE BULK WATER PARK THAT WILL NOW BE RENTABLE AND WE'LL YOU'LL BE ABLE TO EITHER RENT PARK OR PART B OR ALL OF IT TOGETHER FOR UNIFORM FEE THE FEES ON BOTH PARTS OF THE SAME.

STEPHEN I THINK PARK IS A LITTLE CHEAPER WITH THE AMPHITHEATER AND ALL THAT.

I THINK IT'S 300 AND THIS ONE 600 AND IF YOU WANT TO READ ON BOTH TOGETHER IT'D BE 900 FOR THE FOR RUNNING BOTH OF THEM SO IT'S JUST A LUMP OF THE TWO TOGETHER SO AND WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE THIS FOR BIRTHDAYS AND I HAVE A FEELING THIS WILL BE BECOME ANOTHER BIG FOR PEOPLE TO RENT FOR DIFFERENT EVENTS AND STUFF LIKE THAT AND THIS IS WHERE THE BLACK FRUIT FOOD TRUCK FRIDAY WILL BE HELD IS IN THE AMPHITHEATER STEPHEN YES, SIR? HOW DO WE COME UP WITH THE FEES WHEN LET TO BE USED TO DECIDE WHAT THE COST? SO FOR THIS WE USE WE USE WHAT WE CHARGE FOR OTHER PARKS WHAT HAD ALREADY BEEN SET BY COUNCIL. SO WHEN WE LOOKED AT THE TO CHARGE FOR THIS ONE WE LOOKED AT THE AMOUNT OF LAND THAT THERE IS TO RENT THE AMENITIES ARE THERE FOR POWER FOR BEING ABLE TO HAVE THE WHOLE AREA FENCED OFF AND SECURED AND WE LOOKED AT ALL WAYS TO FACTOR IN RIGHT FAMILY. MARTIN FAMILY AND LOOKED AT WHAT WE CHARGE FOR THOSE AND MADE IT THE SAME COUNCIL WAS SUGGESTED THAT WE TRY TO BREAK EVEN WITH THAT FEES IN OTHER

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WORDS THAT BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT STAFF AND WHATEVER SUPPLIES NEEDED IS THAT WORKING SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DID RECOMMEND AND I WENT OVER BECAUSE I TALKED ABOUT THE RENTAL FEE IS BUMPING OUR CLEANING FEE UP AND IT'S FOR THAT REASON BECAUSE WE DID OUR CLEANING CONTRACT FOR THE TOWN THEY RAISED THEIR FEE TO DO A CLEANING AFTER EVENT.

SO WE HAVE MADE WE DID THAT TO TO BREAK EVEN TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT WE PAY THE CONTRACTOR IS BEING THE SAME AS WHAT WE CHARGE FOR THAT WE'LL TRACK THAT AND SEE WHAT WE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE JUST LIKE WE DO WITH OTHER AND WE NEED TO ADJUST THAT RIGHT WE CAN COME BACK TO COUNCIL AND HAVE THAT CONVERSATION BUT WITHOUT RENTED IT OUT BEFORE IT'S HARD TO ADJUST TO GUESS HOW MUCH POWER USAGE, WATER USAGE AND ALL THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE AND HOW MUCH ADDITIONAL MAINTENANCE AND UPKEEP WE'RE GOING TO SEE WE ACTUALLY SEE WHAT KIND OF PEOPLE RENT ON AND WHAT THAT WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE OVER NEXT YEAR THAT'S WHY WE USED.

MARTIN AND WHAT'S YOUR FACTORY AS REALLY OUR GUIDE BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT WE AT LEAST BREAK EVEN AT THOSE ARE GOING TO FOLLOW UP WITH THAT I THINK IT'D BE A GOOD EXERCISE IF YOU CAN DO IT SOMEHOW ALL THESE METRICS AND OUR FABULOUS FINANCE DOES THAT HUNDRED A DAY PLUS THE CLEANING THE BREAK EVEN OF STAFF TIME AND MAINTENANCE AND THAT'S WHERE WE KIND OF WANT IT WE WANT THIS TO WE DON'T WANT TO MONEY ON IT BUT I DON'T THINK WE EVER THOUGHT PARKS WERE GOING TO BE A MONEY MAKER. SO ARE WE LOSING OR ARE WE BREAKING EVEN? I THINK WE TRACK WE CAN LOOK INTO IT AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT AFFECTS THAT IS IF YOU'RE A NONPROFIT WE NORMALLY YOU RUN IT FOR FREE.

SO A LOT OF THAT REDUCES THE AMOUNT OF REVENUE BECAUSE I WOULD SAY PROBABLY A THIRD IF NOT HALF OF WHO WANTS TO RENT OUR FACILITIES NONPROFITS SO THAT THAT AFFECTS THAT SO WE CAN BECAUSE I HAVE COMMUNITY OUTREACH EVENTS AND OUTREACH DEBBIE AND LINDSAY TRACK THAT AND THEY KEEP UP WITH HOW MUCH WE ACTUALLY FORGIVE FOR NONPROFITS VERSUS HOW MUCH WE ACTUALLY GENERATE SO WE CAN COMPARE THAT AND SEE WHERE WE'RE COMING IN AT SOMETHING.

YEAH AND I WAS I WAS THINKING WHEN WE WERE WAS THIS YOU KNOW, FOUR OR FIVE YEARS AGO WHATEVER THAT THE WERE HALF OF WHAT A NORMAL FEE WAS IT WASN'T TO BE FREE BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF NONPROFITS THAT ARE LEGIT WE HAVE A LOT OF NONPROFITS THAT AREN'T REALLY NONPROFITS THAT ARE UTILIZING THEIR FOR CERTAIN YOU KNOW FOR SOME OF THE STUFF I'VE WITNESSED ESPECIALLY AT THE WEST PARK AND EVEN AT THE OTHER PARKS WHEN THERE IS AND I'VE BEEN SATURDAY NIGHT I'VE HAD TO CALL STEVEN OR SOMEBODY TO GET THERE AND TRASH CANS ARE OVERRUN AND YOU THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT GOES IN YOU KNOW, NOT JUST THE SMALL PARTIES SO TO SPEAK BUT THERE THERE IS A LOT OF EXPENSE. WE HAVE TO HAVE SOMEONE ON CALL TO GO IN AND CHECK THINGS AND MAKE SURE THINGS ARE IN ORDER, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU RENT THE PARK ON SATURDAY AND SUNDAY AND WE'VE ACTUALLY ADDRESSED THAT WITH FLEXING OF STAFF. SO WE HAVE A STAFF TWO THAT ACTUALLY WORK ON THE WEEKENDS NOW TO ADDRESS THAT IS DEVIN TO HAVE THEM WORK THE SAME SCHEDULE AND HAVING TO HAVE THEM CALLED IN. SO WE WE'VE HANDLED A LOT OF THAT BY HAVING PEOPLE AT LEAST ONE OR TWO PEOPLE HERE ON THE WEEKENDS NOW WITH THE EVENTS TO BE ABLE TO GO AND ADDRESS THAT PLUS IF WE HAVE STORMS THERE'S SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS IN OLD TOWN OR ANYWHERE WE HAVE A ALREADY HERE TO ADDRESS THAT AND THEY DO ABOUT SOME MAINTENANCE STUFF. OUR EMPLOYEES AREN'T HERE SO WE'VE WE'VE ADDRESSED SOME OF THAT WITHOUT ANY ADDITIONAL COST. MR..

IS THERE THE LEGITIMATE NONPROFITS I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD MEASURE THOSE THE SAME AS FIGURING OUT WHETHER WE IN EVEN OR NOT. I THINK THE PURPOSE OF EVEN GIVEN THE NONPROFIT THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE AN ASSET TO THE TOWN IN MOST EVENTS THEY DO IS CONTRIBUTION OUR TOWN SO IF YOU IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO A METRIC TO SAY BREAK EVEN OR NOT I'M COMFORTABLE ON THE REST OF COUNCIL I'M COMFORTABLE TAKING THE LOSS IF THEY'RE LEGITIMATE NONPROFITS. BUT WHEN YOU MEASURE WHETHER THOSE WHO ARE USING IT FOR PROFIT AND I THINK THAT'S HOW WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE BREAK EVEN WE'LL GET THEM TO PULL THE NUMBERS AND SEE WHAT WE'RE WHAT'S BEING PAID AND WHAT'S THE WE DO TRACK THAT FOR ME SO WE CAN GET THAT INFORMATION SHE PROJECTS AND SHE HAS NOT A QUESTION JUST A COMMENT WHILE WE'RE ON THE SUBJECT IN COUNCIL MANY OPTIONS THAT HE DIDN'T KNOW THE REST OF COUNCIL THOUGHTS I'LL WEIGH IN ON MINE I AGREE IN REGARD TO NONPROFITS BUT WHEN IT COMES TO FOR PROFIT

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I THINK WE SHOULD BE LOOKING TO DO MORE THAN JUST BREAK EVEN IN THE SENSE OF WE DO SPEND LOT OF MONEY IN PARKS AND IT IS A LOT OF EFFORT AND TIME EVEN FROM PUBLIC WORKS AND MAINTAINING AND KEEPING THE PARKS UP TO DATE IN AN UP MA'AM SO IT WOULD ALMOST BE KIND OF YOU KNOW DISADVANTAGEOUS TO TO CREATE THEM IN NOT TO BE ABLE TO TO HAVE SOME TYPE OF REVENUE THAT GOES BEYOND JUST JUST BREAK EVEN BECAUSE WE TOUT TO BE KNOWN FOR PARKS AND WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE. SO IT HAS TO KIND OF MAKE SENSE TO AND BEING ABLE TO CONTINUOUSLY MANAGE ESPECIALLY AS WE'RE ADDING ON MORE AND MORE PARKS IS THE ONLY THE ONLY PROBLEM THAT WE'RE GOING TO RUN INTO WITH THAT IS THAT WE WANT TO TAX PEOPLE OUT OF THE PARKS AND WE DON'T WANT TO DO THAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE THE PARK IS ACCESSIBLE THE COMMUNITY SO YOU DON'T WANT TO LOOK FOR BECAUSE THAT MEANS THAT THEY CAN USE THE PARKS IN A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WILL LIKE TO USE THE PARKS PROBABLY COULDN'T AFFORD IT BUT THAT'S FOR A NONPROFIT IF IT'S FOR PROFIT NO DIFFERENT THAN WHETHER IT'S THE WATERFRONT PARK OR ANY OTHER PARKS. EVEN THE PARK THAT WE HAVE NOW SOMETIMES THERE'S MULTIPLE PEOPLE RUNNING TO WANT TO BE ABLE TO RENT THESE PARKS FOR THEIR FESTIVAL EVENTS OR MUSIC EVENTS ARE GOING ON. IT'S NOT SAME AS A FAMILY WANTING TO DO A BIRTHDAY PARTY OR ANYTHING ELSE BECAUSE. THOSE ARE STILL FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE AND NONPROFITS AREN'T WAIVED IN TO THE SAME FEE CRITERIA AS THE FOR PROFIT I'M JUST SAYING IN THAT BREAK DOWN IT SHOULD BE LOOKED AT DIFFERENTLY I THINK THAT MIGHT BE YOUR STRATEGIC RETREAT ITEM BECAUSE WE CAN ALWAYS CHANGE THIS MIDYEAR WELL AND AS WE DID LARRY HAD A QUESTION WELL AND AS WE HAVE THE NEW RIVERSIDE BARN COME ON THAT'S GOING TO BE A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT KIND OF FEE SCHEDULE THAT WE'RE TO LOOK AT WITH THAT BARN VENUE AND STUFF LIKE THAT SO IT CAN CONTINUE TO BE A LONGER CONVERSATION. I DO HAVE ONE COMMENT BUT I CAN HOLD I CAN KEEP MINE UNTIL THEN. DO YOU QUESTION YEAH AND THIS WAS BEFORE YOUR WHEN WE REVISED THESE RULES AND STUFF I'M QUITE SURE THERE WAS A STIPULATION IN THERE THAT THE PARK COULD BE USED BY A NONPROFIT FOR SO MANY TIMES A YEAR NOT BUT I THINK IT'S FOR THEY CAN USE IT FOR TEN OR WHATEVER BECAUSE YOU KNOW I'LL JUST THROW IT OUT THERE THE WAY IT IS BECAUSE I SHOOT FROM THE HIP SOME OF THESE NONPROFITS HAVE OWNERS AND EMPLOYEES THAT ARE MAKING MORE MONEY THAN ANYBODY IN THIS ROOM.

YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? SO IF IT'S A NONPROFIT AND THEY'RE GIVEN 2% OF THAT $5 THEY CHARGE TO GET IN THE GATE WHICH MIGHT BE A COUPLE $300 TO SOMEBODY OR TO YOU KNOW, THE DOG PARK OR WHATEVER. YOU KNOW, THAT'S THAT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT BECAUSE THERE IS SOME OF THAT GOING ON AND YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? SO THOSE ARE TWO OF THEM.

YOU KNOW ANYTHING ELSE ON THIS SIDE AND I THINK IT'S SOMETHING WE CAN REALLY LOOK AT AND YOU YES, YOU MAY MAKE A COMMENT. SO ONE THING I WILL POINT OUT AS WE START TALKING ABOUT FEES AND WE TALK ABOUT OUR COST, WE'RE GOING TO GET IN IN A MINUTE TO TALK ABOUT OUR LOCAL TAX HOSPITALITY AND HOW WE'VE RECALCULATED WHAT WE TRANSFER FROM THOSE TO OFFSET SOME OF OUR EXPENSES THAT WE USE TO HANDLE THESE EVENTS. SO NOW WE HAVE THOSE TRANSFERS COMING IN AND THEY HELP OFFSET SOME OF THE COSTS THAT DEPARTMENT.

SO JUST KEEP THAT IN MIND AS START TALKING ABOUT WHAT WE GENERATE AND THE POSITION AND THAT KIND OF STUFF. WE ALSO HAVE THOSE OTHER REVENUE SOURCES THAT GOING TO BE COMING THAT WE'RE GOING TO CRIS HAS DONE THE CALCULATION ON THAT THAT WE'RE GOING TO TRANSFER THOSE IN TO HELP OFFSET SOME OF THOSE COST AS WELL SO THERE'S JUST ANOTHER ASPECT OF THAT TO KEEP IN PLACE. PART OF IT LIKE LIKE THE PEOPLE THE PARTY GO GIVER DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT THE POLICE BUT ALSO LINDSAY, DEBBIE BACALL AND TIA BECAUSE A LOT OF STUFF THEY DO IS MARKETING THE VAN. SO LINDSAY IS GOING OUT AND MEETING THEM ON SITE AND SECURING SO THEIR COSTS CAN BE OFFSET.

SO SOME OF THAT IS BEING IT'S GOING TO START BEING DONE WITH THAT TRANSFER FROM ACCOMMODATIONS HOSPITALITY. SO JUST TO KEEP THAT IN MIND THAT PART OF THAT CALCULATION THAT CHRIS DID THIS YEAR. OKAY. OKAY SO TO MOVE ON FROM THAT THAT TAKES US TO THE VALUE OF A MILL. SO YOU CAN SEE FROM FISCAL YEAR 23 TO THE FISCAL YEAR 24 IT GREW BY ABOUT ABOUT $30,000 A LITTLE MORE OF VALUE.

SO THAT MEANS ONE MILL LAST YEAR WAS WORTH A LITTLE SHORT OF 295.

THIS YEAR IT'S ESTIMATED TO BE WORTH ABOUT TO ABOUT 329 $328,000.

SO THAT SHOWS THE POSITIVE GROWTH THAT WE HAVE IN THE COMMUNITY FOR THE LAND VALUE AND I THINK WE'LL SEE THAT AGAIN INCREASE WE SEE RE-ASSESSMENT COME ABOUT SO

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THAT WE'RE TO GO INTO THE GENERAL FUND. SO GENERAL FUND ACCOUNTS FOR PRIMARY RESOURCES OF THE TOWN THAT WE USE TO OPERATE THE TOWN AND IT'S ALSO WHERE PROPERTY TAXES, LICENSE PERMITS AND STUFF LIKE THAT ARE COLLECTED THAT GO TO OPERATE THE TOWN.

SO THIS GIVES YOU A BREAKDOWN OF THE FISCAL YEAR CURRENT FISCAL YEAR PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR THE CHANGES IN HOW THAT WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE BUDGET CHANGE THAT IS FROM YEAR TO YEAR SO YOU CAN SEE PROPERTY TAXES LICENSE PERMITS AND SO ON DOWN THROUGH THERE THIS MATCHES EVERYTHING TALKED ABOUT THROUGH THE FIRST READING AND THROUGH THE WORKSHOPS AND THEN I ALREADY TALKED A GOOD BIT ABOUT THIS. IT INCLUDES THE SOME OF IT INCLUDES THE COLA AND THE MID-YEAR MERIT INCLUDES THE PTO PAYOUT FOR 25 HOURS THAT WE DO FOR OUR EMPLOYEES TO ALLOW THEM TO SELL BACK A LITTLE BIT OF TIME FOR THOSE DON'T USE IT AND ARE GOOD STEWARDS OF IT AND INCLUDES AN INCREASE IN OUR RETIREMENT CONTRIBUTION FOR ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES OF 1% I THINK WE HAVE ONE MORE YEAR LEFT OF THAT TO INCREASE IT WENT UP IT'S GONE UP 7% OVER FIVE YEARS THAT WAS THE STATE PASS THAT ALSO INCLUDES 5% INCREASE IN OUR CALLS FOR EMPLOYER HEALTH INSURANCE TO PBA. IT DOES HAVE A FEW POSITIONS IN IT. ONE IS A PART TIME POSITION AND COMMUNITY COMMUNICATIONS COMMUNITY OUTREACH WHICH WE JUST TALKED ABOUT EVENTS AND HOW THAT'S GROWING AND THAT'S WHY WE NEED THAT ADDITIONAL POSITION. JUST TALKING ABOUT MOVING A TIME POSITION TO A FULL TIME AND CUSTOMER SERVICE WE ARE DOING A BACKFILL FOR A POSITION THAT IS RETIRING AND I THINK IN NOVEMBER AND SO THIS IS IN FINANCE SO WE'LL GET SOMEBODY IN THE CROSS TRAIN EACH SHE'LL TRAIN HER REPLACEMENT AND WHEN SHE RETIRES IN NOVEMBER THIS PERSON WILL STEP INTO HER ROLE AND THAT WORKS OUT WELL BECAUSE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE AUDIT WORKING WITH OUR AUDIT SO THEY'LL BE ABLE TO TRAIN THEM THROUGH THIS CURRENT FISCAL YEAR'S AUDIT BEFORE SHE LEAVES AND THEN ONCE WE GET THROUGH THE FISCAL YEAR WE WILL NOT REFILL THAT THAT FULL TIME POSITION WILL DISAPPEAR JUST LIKE WE DID WHENEVER VICKI RETIRED SAME WAY IT ALSO CONTINUES THE MOVE FROM THE FULL DEPUTY CLERK OF COURT TO TWO PART TIMES. THAT WAS WHAT LISA WANTED AS WE TRANSITION AND WE BROUGHT IN A PART TIME JUDGE AND THEN WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE CLASS THREE SORROWS THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ARE WORKING TO FILL. I THINK THEY HAVE THREE AND THEY HAVE THREE MORE THAT THEY'RE WE'RE TRYING TO GET IN THROUGH THE PROCESS NOW SO WE CAN HAVE THEM AS SOON AS SCHOOL GETS DONE THEIR SCHOOL AS SOON AS WE CAN AFTER SCHOOL STARTS. THING WITH THAT IS THOSE ARE ALL GRANT FUNDED SO THOSE WILL NOT COST THE TOWN ANYTHING. THEY'RE 100% FUNDED THROUGH A GRANT THROUGH THE STATE AND THEY'RE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. SO THEY'RE WORKING WITH US ON THE TRAINING AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT SETS THE RATE THEY'LL WORK THE SAME HOURS AS SCHOOL OFFICERS, SCHOOL TEACHERS AND STAFF STAFF DO AND THEY'LL BE OUT FOR THE SUMMER CHRISTMAS JUST THEY ARE AND THEN THEY'LL ONLY HAVE JURISDICTION OVER THE SCHOOL THAT THEY'RE WORKING AT SO IT'S AN INTERESTING PROGRAM AND IT WILL GET A SRO IN EVERY SCHOOL AND BLUFFTON FROM EARLY EDUCATION THE WAY THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL ONE QUESTION ON THAT STEPHEN THAT I WAS THINKING ABOUT LIKE IF THERE'S A SPECIAL EVENT OR A DAY THAT'S NOT SCHOOLS ACTUALLY IN SESSION BUT THERE MAY BE A DANCE THAT NIGHT OR SOMETHING ELSE SO THOSE OFFICERS WOULD HAVE TO THEY WOULD BE STILL ON PICTURE DUTY WHO LIKE TEACHERS WORK MORE HOURS ANYBODY THERE WOULD BE SOME OPPORTUNITY BUT IF SCHOOL IF THEY'RE LIKE WHEN SCHOOL'S OUT THEY CAN'T AND PATROL THE STREET LIKE OUR CURRENT SORROWS DO RIGHT BUT IF THEY HAVE WORK MORE THAN 40 HOURS ARE THEY ON OVERTIME? THAT'S WHEN YOU WOULD LEAVE AND USE THEM. YEAH SO THE SCHOOL MAY THE SCHOOL MAY WANT TO USE THEM FOR EVENTS THEY HAVE AFTER HOURS AND LIKE THAT AND THEN THEY WOULD COVER THAT COST THE ONLY TIME THEY WOULD BE ANY COST TO US IF WE WANTED TO USE THEM FOR SAY LIKE THE CHRISTMAS PARADE AND THEY WERE OUT FOR SCHOOL AND WE WANTED TO SAY HEY YOU WANT TO COME BLOCK TRAFFIC OR HELP DIRECT TRAFFIC WE MIGHT HAVE TO PAY THEM EXTRA DUTY PAY TO COME IN TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT BUT THEY CAN'T DON'T HAVE A POWER THEY CAN JUST DO SOME GOT IT. SO IT'S GIVEN TO THEM. ALL RIGHT.

SO A COUPLE OF THE MORE EXPENDITURE HIGHLIGHTS IT DOES SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND OUR STAFF CERTIFICATIONS CONTINUING TO GROW OUR STAFF IN OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT WHERE WE HAVE A BUNCH OF YOUNG OFFICERS AND GETTING THEM CERTIFICATIONS AND BUILDING THEIR SKILLSET CONTINUES OUR CONTRACT WITH WASTE MANAGEMENT FOR GARBAGE SURFACE IT SUPPORTS OUR PD RECRUITMENT RETENTION, OUR MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS. IT ALSO AGAIN WE TALKED ABOUT THE CLASS B OFFICE ALREADY HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND OUR DON RYAN CENTER FOR INNOVATION IT ALSO MAINTAINS THE SAME LEVEL OF SUPPORT THAT WE HAVE

[00:55:03]

WITH A BUNCH OF OUR PARTNERSHIPS WITH T CROSSING GUARD SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE SHERIFF'S AND INCLUDES FUNDING FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN UPDATES WE'RE THE PROCESS OF DOING BACK ON TIMMONS ALL RIGHT NOW AND THEN WE'LL FIGURE OUT WHERE WE WANT TO GO AFTER WE DO THAT ONE AND THEN IT ALSO CONTINUES OUR VEHICLE LEASE PROGRAM FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND TALKED ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING SEVERAL TIMES BUT IT IS A PRIORITY SO IT IS LISTED CONTINUOUSLY AND YOU'LL SEE THAT AND THEN IT DOES OUR BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE WORK PLAN SO WE'LL TALK ABOUT GETTING INTO THE SPECIAL REVENUES AND THIS IS A NEW ONE WE NORMALLY THIS HASN'T BEEN IN HERE PREVIOUSLY SO THIS IS HAVE GROWN TO A POINT WHERE WE NEED TO START TRACKING THEM JUST WE DO STORMWATER AND CAP AND CAP AND DEBT SO OUR LOCAL LOCAL HOSPITALITY TAX IS 2% THAT'S COLLECTED ON ALL PREPARED FOODS BEVERAGES. SO AS YOU CAN SEE FOR FISCAL YEAR 24 IT HAS GROWN TO THE POINT WHERE IT'S ESTIMATED TO BE ABOUT $3.8 MILLION AND THEN THE EXPENDITURES OUT FOR THAT AS YOU CAN SEE THE MAJORITY OF IT ABOUT 72% IS GOING IN FOR CAP PROJECT AND THE OTHER IS COMING IN TO THE GENERAL FUND TO SUPPORT OPERATIONS OF . THE TOWN OUR LOCAL ACCOMMODATIONS TAX THIS IS COLLECTED 3% ON GROSS PROCEEDS DERIVED FROM RENTAL ON CHARGES FOR SLEEPING ACCOMMODATIONS. I WILL POINT OUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CAME OUT OF THE BUDGET LAST YEAR AND THIS IS REFLECTED IN THE BUDGET FOR THIS YEAR IS REDUCING THE 8% THAT WAS GOING TO OUR DMO WHICH IS THE BLUFFTON THE HILTON HEAD BLUFFTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND THAT REDUCES FROM 8% TO 0% WHICH TAKES ABOUT $128,000 THAT WAS GOING TO THEM AND REPURPOSING THAT 4% OF IT'S GOING TO THE GENERAL FUND, 4% WILL GO TO CAP.

SO WE WILL REPURPOSE IT TO PROGRAMS THAT ARE PRIORITIES FOR COUNCIL.

IT ALSO PROPOSES BEGIN WITH THE ACT TO 70 PER SEND IT TO 24. I FORGET WHAT THAT NUMBER IS SIX SOMETHING LIKE THAT WHERE WE CAN NOW TAKE 15% OF ACCOMMODATIONS IN THE LOCAL ACCOMMODATIONS TAX AND PUT THEM TOWARDS AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAMS TO BEGIN MOVING THAT 15% INTO OUR CAPITAL PROJECT AFFORDABLE HOUSING SO THIS IS OUR LOCAL ACCOMMODATIONS AS YOU CAN SEE IT'S UP TO ABOUT ESTIMATED TO BE ABOUT $1.6 MILLION WITH THE MAJORITY IT 88.2% GOING TO CAP AND ABOUT ABOUT 12% BEING TRANSFERRED IN FOR OPERATIONS IN.

THE GENERAL FUND TO OFFSET OPERATIONS SO STORMWATER FUND IS NEXT THIS CHARGED BY A STORMWATER UTILITY FEE AND OTHER FEES THAT ARE COLLECTED OUR ANNUALLY THE PERMIT FEES OR WHENEVER CONSTRUCTION'S DONE FOR REVIEW UTILITY FEES ARE COLLECTED ANNUALLY.

SO TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA FISCAL YEAR 23 WAS ABOUT 2 MILLION A LITTLE OVER 2 MILLION THIS YEAR 24 IS ONLY ESTIMATED TO INCREASE A LITTLE OVER $30,000 AND YOU SEE LICENSE AND PERMIT IT'S ANTICIPATED TO GO UP SLIGHTLY SO THAT GIVES YOU THE KIND BREAKDOWN WITH TOTAL EXPENDITURES THE MAJORITY GOING TO CAP OR DEBT SERVICE TO HELP PAY FOR THE DEBT OBLIGATION WE TOOK TO CONTINUE WITH THE STORM SEWER PROJECTS THAT WE WERE DOING, THE STORMWATER AND THEN ABOUT I GUESS IT'S ABOUT A THIRD OR NOT EVEN A THIRD ABOUT THE 335,000 GOING TO THE GENERAL FUND TO OFFSET THE EXPENDITURES RELATED OUR STORMWATER OPERATIONS.

SO THEN WE HAVE OUR CAP FUND. THIS IS WHERE ALL OF OUR CAPITAL PROJECTS GET DONE THAT WE ARE HAVE A LOT OF PROGRESS AND WE'RE CONTINUING TO PUSH ON THIS YOU A BREAKDOWN OF WHERE THE REVENUES COME FROM THAT AND YOU CAN SEE IT TOTALS ABOUT ALMOST $29 MILLION AND THEN THE EXPENDITURES BREAKDOWN ON WHERE THOSE FUNDS ARE GOING BETWEEN STORM WATER AND SEWER PROJECTS, ROAD PROJECTS FACILITIES, LAND ACQUISITION, HOUSING AND SO FORTH SO AND JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA WE TALKED ABOUT PROJECTS UNDERWAY. YOU CAN SEE WHAT THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR THIS YEAR WAS WAS ABOUT A LITTLE OVER 36 MILLION NEXT YEAR AND IT'S ABOUT TO GO DOWN ABOUT SEVEN AND A HALF MILLION. THAT'S FROM THE AMOUNT OF PROJECTS THAT WE'RE PUSHING FORWARD GETTING THOSE PROJECTS MOVING FORWARD SO WE'RE NOT ANTICIPATION OF HAVING TO CARRY AS MUCH FORWARD AS WE DID LAST YEAR.

THIS GIVES YOU A BREAKDOWN ON WHERE THOSE WHICH FUNDS ARE SUPPORTING WHICH SO YOU CAN JUST KIND OF SEE ALL THAT TOGETHER. IT'S A LOT ON A CHART THIS IS AVAILABLE FOR ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO SEE IT AND THEY CAN LOOK AT A MORE DETAILED BUT IT GIVES YOU A BREAKDOWN OF WHERE IT'S COMING IN FROM GENERAL FUND HOSPITALITY TAX, LOCAL TAX,

[01:00:03]

STATE AID STORMWATER FEES OUR TIFF BONDS, GO BONDS AND SO FORTH.

YOU CAN SEE EXACTLY WHERE EACH PROJECT IS BEING FUNDED AS AS WE CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD AND IT JUST GIVES YOU AN IDEA OF WHERE OUR PROJECTS THIS IS KIND OF A ZOOMED OUT VERSION SO YOU CAN SEE WHERE THEY'RE AT AS WE COVER ALL OF THE ALL OF THE TOWN AND DIFFERENT LOCATIONS AND THEN A BREAKDOWN FOR A LOT OF THE ONES WE HAVE GOING ON IN OLD TOWN TO INCLUDE A LOT OF SEWER STREETSCAPE AND OTHER PROJECTS LIKE THA. THEN OUR LAST FUND IS OUR DEBT SERVICE FUND. THIS IS WHERE WE BORROW MONEY AND THEN WE HAVE TO TRACK IT AND PAY IT. SO THIS IS WHAT THAT SERVICE IS SO CAN SEE OUR DEBT SERVICE FOR FISCAL YEAR 24 IS ESTIMATED TO BE A LITTLE SHORT OF $4 MILLION AND THEN I'M SORRY $7.5 MILLION. I WAS LOOKING AT THE SUBTOTAL UP THERE FOR REVENUES BEFORE THE TRANSFER AND THEN YOU CAN SEE KIND OF A BREAKDOWN ON WHERE THOSE FUNDS ARE COMING TO PAY OUR DEBT ABOUT TWO THIRDS COMING FROM GENERAL FUND ABOUT THIRD IS COMING FROM THE CAP FUND AND THEN WITH STORM WATER SPECIAL AND DEBT SERVICE FUND AND SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS.

OH SORRY WE'RE BACK ON A CONSOLIDATED BUDGET. I WAS THINKING WE WERE STILL ON DEBT SERVICE HERE SO THAT'S THAT'S A BREAKDOWN OF OUR CONSOLIDATED BUDGET ON HOW OUR BUDGETS MADE UP APOLOGIZE I GOT AHEAD OF MYSELF AS YOU CAN SEE THE GENERAL FUND MAKES UP ABOUT 38% OF THE BUDGET. OUR CAP MAKES UP THE NEXT PERSON PORTION WHICH IS ABOUT 37% FOLLOWED BY OUR SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS WHICH ARE NEW THIS YEAR WHICH IS HOSPITALITY AND ACCOMMODATIONS. AND THEN YOU CAN SEE OUR DEBT SERVICE AND OUR STORMWATER FUND . SO AGAIN THIS IS FINAL READING AND.

THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS CLOSED EARLIER SO IF COUNCIL IS WITH WHAT WE HAVE AND WE'VE COME TO THE END, I WOULD ASK COUNSEL IF YOU WOULD PLEASE ADOPT THE BUDGET SO THAT WE CAN PUT IT IN PLACE BEGINNING JULY AND I CAN ANSWER ANY OTHER QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU DECIDE TO TAKE ANY ACTION ON THAT. WE KIND OF BROKE IN ON HIM QUESTIONS JUST ALWAYS PLEASE REMEMBER THE ROBERT GOULET RECOGNIZE AND JUST REMEMBER THAT ANY QUESTIONS ANY MORE QUESTIONS? SO WE TOOK THE TOOK NOTES FROM WHAT YOU SAID AND WE'LL MAKE SURE WE REVIEW THAT AND GET IF THERE NO MORE QUESTIONS IS THERE A MOTION TO MOVE TO APPROVE THE FY 2024 PROPOSED CONSOLIDATED BUDGET A SECOND ANY DISCUSSION AT ALL IN FAVOR TYPE OF THING I OPPOSE IF I CAN MAYOR I'M SORRY. NOW YOU GO GO AHEAD BANGERT I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY BECAUSE YES, WE ALL HAVE I THINK ON BEHALF OF COUNCIL EVERYONE PLAYS A PART IN THIS. IT'S NOT JUST FINANCE SO REALLY GREAT JOB EASIER TO KIND OF FOLLOW THROUGH. THEY GET BETTER AND BETTER BUT GET THAT THAT'S ALL I WANT.

IT'S I'M SORRY. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE BEFORE I SIT DOWN I THANKS NATALIE AND HER TEAM FOR WHAT THEY'VE DONE CHRIS IS INVOLVEMENT ALL SENIOR STAFF COUNCIL'S INPUT THAT YOU GIVE US THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS WITH ALL OF THAT MAKES THIS SO MUCH SMOOTHER TO DO IT SO QUICK . THANK YOU FOR EVERYBODY FOR BEING INVOLVED AND BEING ENGAGED SO SORRY I DIDN'T MEAN TO INTERRUPT SO WE'RE GOING TO GAVEL I TO HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO

[XII 1. Consideration of a Resolution for the FY2024 Budget and Marketing Plan Presented by the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce in Accordance with Contract 2022-35 as the Town of Bluffton’s Designated Marketing Organization – Natalie Majorkiewicz, Director of Finance]

DO THE PROJECTS AND STUFF YOU WANT TO DO NEXT WE HAVE FORMAL AGENDA ITEM AGENDA ITEMS WHICH WE HAVE THREE. FIRST IS NATALIE CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION FOR THE 2024 BUDGET MARKETING PLAN PRESENTED BY HILTON HEAD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH CONTRACT 2022 DASH 35 IS THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON DESIGNATED ORGANIZATION AND WE HAVE OUR CHAMBER HERE SO THANK YOU ALL FOR SAYING YES. GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND COUNCIL THIS IS THE YEAR TO THE CONTRACT THAT WAS PUT INTO PLACE LAST YEAR FOR 2020 $2.35 AND THIS IS A PER STATE LAW WHERE 30% OF OUR STATE ACCOMMODATIONS TAX IS SUBMITTED TO OUR DMO TO USE FOR PROMOTING AND ADVERTISING BEHALF OF THE TOWN ATTACK MET ON MAY 16TH TO REVIEW THE PROPOSAL BY THE DMO AND HAS RECOMMENDED THAT TOWN COUNCIL AWARD THE SECOND YEAR TO THE DEMO OF THE CONTRACT WHICH WILL BEGIN ON JULY 1ST 2023.

HERE IS THEIR PROPOSED BUDGET AND I BELIEVE WE MAY HAVE ANOTHER BUDGET BUT THIS IS WHAT WAS PROPOSED PRIOR TO THE 8% THAT WAS SUBMITTED TO BE REDUCED IN THIS NOW APPROVED

[01:05:05]

BUDGET. SO I BELIEVE THAT WILL BE COMING FORWARD BUT THIS IS WHAT WAS PROPOSED TO ATTACK FOR 2023 SO THIS TIME FOR THAT WE'RE PUTTING ON DIFFERENT FROM THE BUDGET SO NO NO NO NO NO NO THIS IS THAT SEPARATE THIS IS FOR THE STATE A TAX FOR THE DMO ON PART BASED ON 30%. YES YES YES THANK YOU. YES.

GO BACK TO THAT. OKAY. I MIGHT HAVE QUESTIONS BUT I JUST WANTED TO LOOK. OKAY THANK YOU. OKAY WANT TO BRING OKAY SO ATTACKING STAFF RECOMMENDS THAT THE TOWN COUNCIL APPROVE THE RESOLUTION RESOLUTION PROPOSED UPON APPROVAL THE RESOLUTION BE PUT INTO PLACE BEGINNING JULY 1ST AND THIS WILL BE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR THAT WILL END JUNE 30TH, 2024 AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE WILL SEND QUESTIONS OVER HERE. YES.

NO, NO. AH YES. SO NO YOU TO MY QUESTION YEAH I'VE GOT TO NOW I THOUGHT I KNEW I UNDERSTOOD EVERYTHING BUT I'M CLARIFYING WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT 30% IS GOING TO BE SO THAT COULD BE MORE OF THIS AMOUNT FOR 25 OR WHATEVER IS ON THIS PAPER OR IT COULD BE 700 CORRECT. IT IS STATE LAW THAT IT IS PERCENT OF THE STATE FUNDS THAT WE RECEIVE. SO IT IS AN ESTIMATE AS ALL THE BUDGETS ARE AN ESTIMATE. SO THIS IS THE PROPOSED ESTIMATE OF THE STATE FUNDS.

I'LL FOLLOW UP WITH LARRY SAY AND SAY AND SET TIM. I DON'T KNOW.

IT'S ALMOST LIKE PROPERTY TAXES. WE DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT WE HAVE UNTIL WE GET THEM RIGHT. WHEN IS THAT WHEN DO YOU KNOW THAT NUMBER WE RECEIVE THE STATE FUNDS QUARTERLY SO YOU KIND OF GET IT ON YOUR QUARTERLY AND IF IT'S UNDER OVER THEN YOU BRING TOGETHER THE MARKETING GROUP OR DO YOU COME BACK TO COUNCIL? WE THAT THE 30% DOESN'T CHANGE IT'S WHATEVER WE RECEIVE IT'S 30% OF THOSE FUNDS RECEIVED BY THE STATE BUT BUT BUDGET ITEM IS CHANGE SO IS THAT THE MARKETING GROUP WITH STEPHEN WE BRING US TOGETHER IT'S NOT REALLY DONE THAT BEFORE BUT WE DON'T KNOW THIS YEAR YOU JUST DON'T KNOW IT COULD BE GREAT. BE WORSE COULD BE THE THING YES MA'AM.

I WOULD SAY IF THE THE REVENUES ARE LOWER THAN ANTICIPATED WHATEVER IN THAT BUDGET WOULD NEED TO ADJUST. IT WOULD JUST BE SITTING DOWN WITH THE AND SEEING WHAT NEEDS TO BE ADJUSTED TO REFLECT PRIORITIES OF THAT. MAKE SURE YOU KNOW WHERE THAT FUNDING WAS. IT MIGHT BE 15% GOING FOR THIS. IT MAY NEED TO DROP DOWN TO 5% VERSUS THAT AND WE CAN DO THAT THROUGHOUT YEAR AS WE START SEEING WHAT REVENUES COME IN.

BUT ONE THING I WOULD JUST POINT OUT IS THEY THEY DO LAG SO THE QUARTER THAT ENDS JUNE 30TH WE MAY NOT GET THAT CHECK UNTIL SEPTEMBER OCTOBER OR NOT OCTOBER LIKE AUGUST OR SEPTEMBER. SO WE WON'T START SEEING THIS FISCAL YEAR NUMBERS UNTIL WE GET CLOSER TO THAT WE CAN REVIEW THAT EACH EACH ONE AND SEE HOW WE'RE LOOKING AND THEN WE CAN HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND IT HAPPENS EVERY YEAR. I'D HATE TO BE ON THAT END OF IT. THE LAST TWO YEARS WHAT WE'VE SAW WAS THAT NUMBER HAS BEEN HIGHER THAN WE ANTICIPATED THIS YEAR IT COULD BE LOWER COULD BE BUT WE CAN CONTINUE TO TRACK THAT AND HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY. IF NOT, IS THERE A MOTION THAT WAS UP TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION THE 2024 BUDGET MARKETING PLAN PRESENTED BY THE HILTON HEAD ISLAND BOSTON OF COMMERCE IN ACCORDANCE WITH CONTRACT 2022 DASH 35 IS THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON DESIGNATED MARKETING SO MOVE YOUR SECOND SECOND YOU NEED DISCUSSION ALL IN FAVOR START BY SAYING HI HI THANK YOU AND YOU CAN MAKE A COMMENT IN BETWEEN EITHER SO I'LL KEEP IT TO MYSELF.

[XII 2. Accommodations Tax Advisory Committee Funding Recommendations for Quarter Ending March 31, 2023 – Natalie Majorkiewicz, Director of Finance]

THANK YOU AND THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING. EXCITED WORK WITH YOU AGAIN NEXT WE HAVE THE ACCOMMODATIONS AND YOU'RE UP UNTIL WE GET TO THAT SO THESE ARE THE APPLICATIONS THAT SUBMITTED FOR QUARTER ENDING MARCH 31ST AND THERE WERE FIVE APPLICANTS AND THE REQUESTED AMOUNT WAS A LITTLE OVER 261,000 AND THE RECOMMENDED FOR FUNDING FROM ATTACK WAS $234,628 AND I'LL GO THROUGH EACH APPLICANT INDIVIDUALLY.

THIS IS A PREVIEW OF WHAT WE HAVE CURRENTLY BETWEEN AND LOCAL ACCOMMODATIONS TAX THERE IS A LITTLE OVER ALMOST $2.8 MILLION AVAILABLE FOR DISTRIBUTION BETWEEN THE TWO FUNDS. THE FIRST APPLICANT IS SOCIETY OF BLUFFTON ARTISTS.

[01:10:03]

THIS IS THEIR ANNUAL REQUEST AND THEY'RE REQUESTING $15,000 IN SUPPORT OF PROMOTING THE ARTS IN THE LOWCOUNTRY BEYOND WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO GO THROUGH ALL OF THIS TO I'M SORRY. I WAS LIKE OKAY GET UP ON THE THE BACKGROUND ON THIS ONE.

LET'S DO INDIVIDUAL THING. OKAY SO FIRST APPLICANT IS SOCIETY SOCIETY OF BLUFFTON ARTIST YOU SEE THE NAME OF GOING THROUGH IT DOESN'T HAVE DO YOU WANT ME I CAN JUMP BACK AND FORTH TO THE END OF PRESENTATION THAT HAS THE MOTIONS MUCH TO YOU USUALLY JUST DO EACH INDIVIDUAL ONE BECAUSE OF QUESTIONS YEAH SO YOU'RE REQUESTED WAS 15,000 MOUNT RECOMMENDED 15,000 FROM SOCIETY OF BLUFFTON ARTIST AND I SAW CHRISTY CAME IN THANK YOU ARE THERE QUESTIONS ON THIS PER THIS APPLICATION ANY QUESTIONS OF CHRISTY OR OF OKAY NOW REQUESTED 15,000 IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AMOUNT RECOMMENDED OF 15,000 FOR SOCIETY OF BLUFFTON ARTISTS THEIR SECOND SEGMENT ANY DISCUSSION ALL IN FAVOR OF SAYING I OPPOSE NEXT IS THE SYMPHONY YES THE HILTON HEAD SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA HAS COME BEFORE ATTACK IN TOWN COUNCIL FOR THEIR 2023 BLUFFTON CONCERTS THEY HAVE REQUESTED $48,628. THEY ARE PROPOSING TO HAVE TWO CONCERTS ONE TO COINCIDE WITH THE HISTORIC ARTS AND ARTS AND SEAFOOD FESTIVAL AND THEN ANOTHER POPS CONCERT THAT WILL BE HELD AT SAINT GREGORY. SAINT GREGORY WHY NOT WHERE ALWAYS HAS BEEN THEY DID HOLD IT AT SAINT GREGORY LAST YEAR I THOUGHT WAS THE ONE RIGHT FOR MARTIN PARK OR THAT.

OKAY. YEAH SORRY I'M JUST ABOUT HOW DO WE HAVE THE DO YOU HAVE A WHERE WE CAN SEE WE GAVE THEM LAST YEAR I CAN GET THAT FOR YOU IF IT'S EASY DON'T KNOW IT'S LET'S SEE JUST CURIOUS AS TO WHAT SO LAST YEAR THERE WAS 38,374 THAT WAS AWARDED FOR THE 2022 BLUFFTON CONCERTS. HOW MANY CONCERTS LAST YEAR THERE WERE TWO PROPOSED LAST YEAR AS WELL THIS YES SIR REALLY IS A COMMUNITY I'VE NEVER SEEN SOME PEOPLE HAPPY FROM AN 18 YEAR OLD TO AN 88 YEAR OLD. I'VE NEVER SEEN SUCH A DIVERSE GROUP IN AGE LIKE THE SAME THING AND I THINK IT'S BECAUSE IT'S OUTSIDE HONESTLY AND YOU CAN HAVE ONE. WELL I THINK I THINK THAT IT ADDS SUCH A NEW DIMENSION TO OUR COMMUNITY. I MEAN IT'S IT TAKES US UP TO ANOTHER LEVEL AND I WILL SAY EVEN THE THE POPS CONCERT I TRIED TO GET SAINT GREGORY LAST YEAR I COULDN'T I HAD TO GO TO HIM HERE BECAUSE THEY'RE SELLOUTS. I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THE COMMUNITY SUPPORTS THEM, YOU KNOW, THOROUGHLY SO I THINK THEY'RE JUST WONDERFUL.

YEAH. WHEN NEW RIVERSIDE COMES MAYBE THEY'LL HAVE A THIRD ONE.

SO ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THIS PARTICULAR REQUEST? SO THE IF YOU GO BACK THERE WELL I CAN GET NOW ON THE HILTON HEAD SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA REQUESTED AND RECOMMENDED WAS THE SAME A $48,628. IS THERE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THAT RECOMMENDATION SOME OF YOUR SECOND? SO ANY DISCUSSION ALL IN FAVOR TYPE OF THING I I OPPOSE THAT'S UNANIMOUS JUST AS A REMINDER A HISTORIC BLOCKCHAIN FOUNDATION. OKAY.

WE'RE NEXT ON THAT ONE. SO THIS IS THE ANNUAL REQUEST OF THE HISTORIC BLUFFTON FOUNDATION TO SERVE AS THE TOWN'S WELCOME CENTER AT HAYWARD HOUSE THERE IS A DECREASE THIS YEAR THEY ARE REQUESTING $150,000 IN SUPPORT OF THOSE SERVICES.

OKAY. ANY QUESTIONS WE HAVE ROBERT WHAT'S IT THERE'S ROBERT OKAY.

I MISSED HIM LAST HOUR. THE BOARD IS ALL HERE SO WE HAVE PEOPLE HERE.

THEIR QUESTIONS OF ANY OF THEM ARE OF NATALIE ON THE AMOUNT RECOMMENDED WAS 150 REQUESTED AND THE AMOUNT RECOMMENDED BY OUR EIGHT TAX WAS 150. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THAT RECOMMENDATION I WOULD SUPPORT WHAT THE DECREASE OF ASKING IS A SECOND TO THAT SCORE YOU NEED THAT WE DON'T KNOW BUT THANK YOU FOR LOWER IN THE AMOUNT YOUR REQUEST TO LOWER THEM A MEAN TO ME YOU DISCUSSION ALL IN FAVOR SAY BY SAYING I OPPOSE THAT'S UNANIMOUS JUST AS A REMINDER ARE YOU GOING TO RECUSE YOURSELF FROM THESE TO BE DOING IT ONCE WE GOT TO HER DO Y'ALL NEED HER TO SIGN IT NOW OR AFTER THE RECUSAL FORM AFTER FINE LONG AS SHE'S GONE ON THE RECORD RECUSING YOUR PHONE I'M LET YOU SAY IT YEAH AND I'M