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NO W. FSTEMOST, GOOD MNING A IELCOMEEVERYONE T E FIRSTORTUTY FOR. TO
[1. 26-1810 A Presentation of Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Budget Estimate.]
RELY GETN UNDSTANNGFWHATT AR IGK LIKE WANT THA T MAGERFFHE BAT AND 'RE IALLSEEI I ROLRASTEAS AESULA A HA. BUT I WANTO TNK YOU ANYOUR STA AND E S HERE TODA W PLAN AL IN PNG THISY.HIS IAROSST WILLE A FTHS.ND IT'S PSSRE WAN E COMMUNI BNEOMMU BOTOU SIDENTS. THERE'S MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE. YOU CAN EITHER WRITE US AN EMAIL. YOU CAN EITHER COME IN PERSON OR YOU CAN ENGAGE VIA ZOOM IN ONE FORM OR ANOTHER. BUT WE'RE JUST GRATEFUL THAT WE STARTED THIS PROCESS, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO PUTTING TOGETHER A BUDGET THAT IS, AGAIN, COMPREHENSIVE AND REALLY ADDRESSES ALL OUR NEEDS HERE IN THE CITY. BEAUTIFUL AS WE CONTINUE TO EVOLVE ON A DAILY BASIS. SO THANK YOU, MADAM DIRECTOR IN ADVANCE FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK. THE FLOOR IS YOURS. GOOD MORNING. PAULA RODRIGUEZ, DEPUTY FINANCE DIRECTOR. I'D LIKE TO ECHO THE MAYOR'S SENTIMENTS. AND FIRST OF ALL, THANK THE MAYOR AND THE COMMISSION, THE CITY MANAGER AND THE DEPUTY CITY MANAGER AND ACM FOR THEIR GUIDANCE. AS WE GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS EACH YEAR AND SET THE PRIORITIES FOR WHAT WILL BE FUNDED. I WANT TO THANK MY STAFF BECAUSE REALLY, THEY'RE THE ONES THAT MAKE ME LOOK GOOD. THEY DO ALL THE HARD WORK BEHIND THE SCENES, AND I WANT TO THANK ALL THE DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS AND THEIR STAFF, BECAUSE THIS REALLY IS A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT. KNOWING THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY AS WE CAME INTO THIS BUDGET SEASON. THEY REALLY TOOK THE DIRECTION TO HEART, AND THEY ALL UNDERSTOOD THAT THIS YEAR WOULD BE A YEAR WHERE WE WOULD ASK THEM TO ASK FOR WHAT THEY NEED, BUT TO PLEASE BE CONSCIENTIOUS OF THE UNCERTAINTY AND TO KEEP IT AS AS MINIMAL AS AN EFFICIENT AS POSSIBLE. AND THEY REALLY THEY REALLY DID THAT. THEY REALLY TOOK THAT TASK TO HEART AND THEY MADE OUR JOB MUCH EASIER. SO I THANK THEM ALL FOR THEIR PARTICIPATION AND THEIR PART IN THIS. IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT I DO ALONE. SO TODAY'S MEETING IS IS THE FIRST BUDGET PRESENTATION FOR THE BUDGET. THAT WAS THE JULY 1ST BUDGET THAT WAS PRESENTED TO THE COMMISSION AND GIVEN TO THE CITY ON JULY 1ST, AS REQUIRED BY CHARTER. OUR END GOAL FOR TODAY IS TO PASS A RESOLUTION THAT WILL SET THE PROPOSED MILLAGE RATE AND ALLOW US TO SUBMIT THAT RATE TO THE COUNTY, AND THAT IS THE RATE THAT WILL GO ON YOUR PROPERTY TAX BILLS, ON THE CITY'S PROPERTY TAX BILLS. AND SO, AS YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE THIS RATE IS THE RATE THAT WILL GO ON THE BILLS. AND TO INCREASE THIS RATE WOULD BE A LITTLE BIT DIFFICULT. SO TYPICALLY THIS IS THE RATE THAT ENDS UP IN OUR SEPTEMBER BUDGET.SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME ON THAT. I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND START THE PRESENTATION. I KNOW WE WERE ALL HERE LATE LAST NIGHT, SO I WILL TRY AND BE AS BRIEF AS POSSIBLE. AND SO YOU'RE ALL FAMILIAR WITH OUR BUDGET CALENDAR. I AM PRESENTING I DON'T KNOW IF CABLE TV. ARE YOU GOING OFF OF MY ZOOM OR ARE YOU GOING OFF OF THE PRESENTATION ON YOUR SCREEN? IF YOU COULD SHARE MY ZOOM, PLEASE. THANK YOU. SO THIS IS THE BUDGET CALENDAR. AS THE MAYOR SAID, WE START THIS PROCESS VERY EARLY. WE ACTUALLY STARTED EARLIER THIS YEAR KNOWING THAT WE HAD A LOT TO THINK ABOUT. HOWEVER, THE DATES ON HERE START WITH OUR FIRST CONVERSATIONS WITH THE COMMISSION. AND SO IN MAY, WE BRING TO THE COMMISSION CONVERSATIONS ABOUT OUR CAPITAL PRIORITIZATIONS WE MEET WITH EACH ONE OF YOU INDIVIDUALLY.
AND THEN ON JUNE 1ST, WE RECEIVED OUR PROPERTY VALUES, OUR PRELIMINARY PROPERTY VALUES FROM THE PROPERTY APPRAISER. WITH THAT, WE PREPARED OUR JULY 1ST ESTIMATE. ON JUNE 3RD, WE HAD A BUDGET WORKSHOP TO REVIEW CAPITAL PRIORITIES, AND THOSE CAPITAL PRIORITIES ARE WHAT ARE INCLUDED IN THIS JULY 1ST BUDGET. TO THE EXTENT THAT WE WERE ABLE TO FUND THEM. LUCKILY, WE WERE ABLE TO FUND MOST OF THEM. JULY 1ST, WE RECEIVED A REVISED BUDGET ESTIMATE. I'M SORRY. ON JULY 1ST, WE RECEIVED REVISED PROPERTY VALUES. I WILL PROVIDE THOSE NUMBERS TO YOU IN JUST A MOMENT. AND WE ALSO SUBMITTED THE BUDGET ESTIMATE BASED ON THE JUNE 1ST PROPERTY VALUES TO THE COMMISSION. AND HERE WE ARE JULY 8TH, HAVING OUR BUDGET PRESENTATION OF THE BUDGET ESTIMATE. THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER, WE WILL CONTINUE TO REFINE REVENUES, PRIMARILY REVENUES THAT WE. REVENUE ESTIMATES THAT WE RECEIVE FROM STATE SHARING FUNDS SUCH AS SALES TAX. AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO LOOK AT OTHER CITY REVENUES TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR TRENDS HAVEN'T CHANGED. FROM OUR JULY 1ST ESTIMATE ON AUGUST 1ST, WE'RE REQUIRED TO CERTIFY OUR TAX RATE, WHICH IS WHAT WE ARE SETTING TODAY, AND THOSE DOCUMENTS WILL BE SENT TO THE PROPERTY APPRAISER. SEPTEMBER 15TH WILL BE OUR FIRST BUDGET HEARING WHERE WE WILL ADOPT THE
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BUDGET ON FIRST HEARING, AND ON SEPTEMBER 29TH WILL BE THE SECOND BUDGET HEARING WHERE WE WILL FINAL. WE WILL HAVE FINAL ADOPTION BY ORDINANCE OF OUR BUDGET. SO OUR BUDGET ESTIMATE.SO THIS IS A SUMMARY OF OUR BUDGET ESTIMATE. OUR OPERATING REVENUES ARE 299 MILLION. THAT INCLUDES ABOUT $1.5 MILLION OF DEBT SERVICE. AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE HAVE TRANSFERS FROM RESERVE. AND SO THIS YEAR FOR FISCAL YEAR 27, WE ARE BRINGING IN FIVE POINT JUST UNDER 5.5 MILLION FROM GENERAL CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND, 7.8 FROM THE GENERAL FUND, 586, 587,000 FROM ART AND PUBLIC PLACES, 522,000 FROM THE GENERAL CAPITAL IMPACT FEE FUND, $2.8 MILLION FROM THE GENERAL FUND BUILDING RESERVE. FIRE INSPECTIONS WERE BRINGING IN 171,000 FROM THE FIRE INSPECTION RESERVE, PRIMARILY FOR CAPITAL ITEMS FOR THE COUNTY, FOR THE COUNTRY CLUB, ONE OF THE FEES THAT WAS IMPLEMENTED AS PART OF THE COUNTRY CLUB WAS A HISTORIC PRESERVATION FEE, AND SO WE HAVE NOW COLLECTED ABOUT 197,000 FROM THAT FEE, AND WE ARE REINVESTING IT BACK INTO THE COUNTRY CLUB CAPITAL ROADWAY IMPROVEMENT FUND. WE ARE BRINGING IN 108,000 FROM THEIR RESERVE PARKING FUNDS, 664,000 AND STORMWATER UTILITY FUND, 815,000, FOR A TOTAL OF $19.2 MILLION. AND SO THESE FUNDS THAT ARE BROUGHT INTO THE RESERVE ARE GENERALLY USED TO FUND ONE TIME ITEMS. SO WE HAVE WE HAVE AGREED ON A PRACTICE IN THE CITY THAT WE USE ONE TIME MONEY FOR ONE TIME ITEMS. IT IS NOT OUR PRACTICE TO USE ONE TIME FUNDS TO FUND RECURRING FUNDS. SO OUR TOTAL BUDGET IS OUR TOTAL REVENUE BUDGET IS $318,445,014. AND SO WE HAVE TO HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET. OUR EXPENDITURE BUDGET THIS YEAR IS $252,277,167. OUR CAPITAL BUDGET THIS YEAR IS $51,066,090, AND OUR DEBT SERVICE IS $10,564,436, FOR A TOTAL OF $313,907,693. OUR TRANSFERS TO RESERVE SO FUNDS THAT WE ANTICIPATE TRANSFERRING REVENUE OVER EXPENDITURE TO CERTAIN FUNDS AT THE END OF THE YEAR.
THE CITY CLERK SPECIAL REVENUE IS ESTIMATED TO HAVE $9,833 TRANSFERRED TO RESERVE THE PARKING FUND RESERVED FOR CAPITAL DEBT. THIS IS THE DEBT THAT WE HAVE BEEN TRAINING THE PARKING FUND TO ABSORB FOR MOBILITY, FOR THE MOBILITY HUB, WHICH YOU ALL VOTED ON YESTERDAY. AND SO WE PLAN TO TRANSFER $4.2 MILLION AT THE END OF NEXT FISCAL YEAR FOR THAT DEBT. SANITARY SEWER FUND $327,430, FOR A TOTAL OF 4.534 $4,537,321. AND OUR TOTAL EXPENDITURES. AS YOU CAN SEE, WE HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET IS $318,445,014. THERE'S NO QUESTIONS. I'LL GO TO THE NEXT PAGE. SO THE NEXT SLIDE IS A BREAKDOWN OF REVENUES BY SOURCE.
AND SO OUR INTERN VERY KINDLY PRESENTED PARTIALLY THIS YESTERDAY. AND SO YOU CAN SEE HERE THAT OUR REVENUE AND I THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT THIS YEAR TO SHOW THIS SLIDE. OUR REVENUES ARE PRIMARILY MADE UP OF PROPERTY TAXES. SO THIS IS OUR OPERATING REVENUE OF $297 MILLION. OF THAT, 146 MILLION COMES FROM OUR PROPERTY TAXES, 49.2% OUR USE CHARGES. SO CHARGES SUCH AS VRS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE ARE ABOUT 50 MILLION, 50.7 MILLION. OTHER TAXES ARE 28.7 MILLION. LICENSES AND PERMITS ARE 19.7 MILLION. OTHER REVENUES ARE 21.3 MILLION. INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVENUES ARE 9.6 MILLION. THIS INCLUDES THE STATE, STATE SALES TAXES, FUNDS THAT WE RECEIVE, FOR INSTANCE, FROM THE JPA, THE JOINT PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT THAT YOU APPROVED YESTERDAY. THOSE THAT WE KNOW ARE COMING AND WE ARE ABLE TO BUDGET FOR
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RECREATION FEES ARE 11.7 MILLION AND INVESTMENT IN EARNINGS IS ABOUT 9 MILLION.AND SO YOU CAN SEE A COMPARISON FROM YEAR TO YEAR OF THE PERCENTAGE THAT THOSE REVENUES PLAY IN OUR TOTAL BUDGET, OUR TOTAL OPERATING REVENUE BUDGET OF $297 MILLION. YOU CAN SEE THAT IT WENT UP ABOUT $20 MILLION THIS YEAR. EXPENDITURES BY FUNCTION. SO SIMILAR SLIDE THAT WAS SHOWN YESTERDAY. OUR EXPENDITURES BY FUNCTION ARE $313.9 MILLION. AND THIS IS A BREAKDOWN OF OUR EXPENDITURES BY FUNCTION AS KIND OF A FINANCE TERM. BUT I'LL BREAK DOWN A COUPLE OF THEM. SO PUBLIC SAFETY REPRESENTS ABOUT 36.2% OF OUR BUDGET AT 100 AND JUST UNDER $114 MILLION. PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT PRIMARILY INCLUDES PUBLIC WORKS FUNCTIONS, IS ABOUT 18% AT $57.4 MILLION. ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT IS $3.1 MILLION. GENERAL GOVERNMENT. SO THAT INCLUDES MOST ADMINISTRATIVE DEPARTMENTS, INCLUDING THE COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE, IS $70.5 MILLION. 22% OF OUR BUDGET TRANSPORTATION. YOU CAN IMAGINE THAT INCLUDES OUR ROADWAYS AND AND THE TROLLEY SERVICE IS ABOUT $29 MILLION AT 9% OF OUR BUDGET AND CULTURAL AND RECREATION ARE FOR $40 MILLION, ABOUT 12.8% OF OUR TOTAL BUDGET OF OPERATING BUDGET, OF $313,907,693. YOU CAN SEE HERE THAT OUR TOTAL BUDGET WENT UP JUST SLIGHTLY. I KNOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A MILLIONS, BUT FROM 309 MILLION TO 313 MILLION. AND SO IN THE SPIRIT OF KEEPING THIS BUDGET AS TIGHT AS POSSIBLE AND CONTINUING TO OPERATE LEAN, THERE'S BEEN MUCH CONVERSATION ABOUT THE NUMBER OF POSITIONS THAT WE ADD EACH YEAR. THIS YEAR, WE ARE ONLY ADDING ONE FULL TIME POSITION, AND THAT POSITION IS BEING CONVERTED BY THE ELIMINATION OF PART TIME POSITIONS, A MUCH NEEDED POSITION IN OUR COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MY PLEASURE. I'D JUST LIKE TO REITERATE AND MEMORIALIZE. I KNOW THAT PEOPLE DON'T LIKE TO GO IN THE PAST, BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WE DID IN THE PAST SO WE DON'T MAKE THOSE MISTAKES MOVING FORWARD. 2028. I'M PRETTY CERTAIN THAT THIS REFERENDUM WILL PASS, AND YOU'LL SEE MANY CITIES BEING SIGNIFICANT TROUBLE. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DID HERE THAT I COMPLETELY AND UTTERLY DISAGREED WITH, AND I KNOW THE VICE MAYOR ALSO DISAGREED WITH, WAS IN ONE YEAR, I THINK WE BROUGHT IN ABOUT 20 OR SO EMPLOYEES. AGAIN, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO OUR EMPLOYEES, THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK. BUT THAT IS NOT THE WAY TO MANAGE A BUDGET. OKAY? THE WAY TO MANAGE A BUDGET AND A PRIVATE SECTOR IS YOU DON'T BRING IN 20 EMPLOYEES IN ONE YEAR UNLESS YOU SEE A HUGE SPIKE IN REVENUE OR CLIENTS, AND YOU NEED TO ADDRESS THOSE CLIENTS. WE HAVE THE SAME AMOUNT OF CLIENTS. WE HAVE 51,000 CLIENTS IN THE CITY. SO WE I WANT TO JUST GO BACK AND MEMORIALIZE AND PUT IT ON THE RECORD. HOW MANY EMPLOYEES DID WE HIRE UNDER AMOS ROJAS HERE AT CITY MANAGER THAT ONE YEAR? I DON'T HAVE THAT EXACT MY UNDERSTANDING WAS IS ABOUT 20 OR SO. YES. I DON'T HAVE THAT EXACT NUMBER IN THAT BUDGET, IN THAT BUDGET, IN THAT BUDGET, IN THAT BUDGET. WE SOUNO NOT MAKEHAISTA.LLY BEDES CA,ESHE RA TOUGH COMSS ERRYLE WRE GNG TOAYG RHIS R NEXTEASE EYEES EERE FOR 30 YEARS, 25RS THE ARITIONS T W REE WHAT GO HNIN 28,E HAVOALTRSK RE MORE WGLE R IN DE WITH TH WH AHORTTO THAT WE'RE TALBOUTON POLLY OMHESE TAXNUMBNEIF WE DIDE MIN LE, THATOUE COBUNGSE $2 MIIO TOOUREM S INSTEADOFUTNG $MILLN WOUL HAVE PUT5 LLION TH WE DI YR BEFORE, AND ALSO ANDDNAPLOYEES.RYONE DEY IT'SUS THE SARIES FOR TH0 EYE IT' END THAT WH AYOU CAN SEE, OUR OR MUR MANAG AKINGTHEIR HEADECAU WT MATRIBIONSE . HE HETHE BE WTH CARETP IS YEAR. ANDCOT II' WROU BECAUSE I SAY THADOT T MY S COS FEPELY WN U'RETALKG OUT UNION NEGOTI. S HAT SOUND LE CASON A RAU BE M BUT THEYERE VERY ADAMAN ABO US BEI VERREFUL AND N W WEONDUCTED OES WE'REOTO RNDHE DCMAND AND T THE, AT WE WAN DO, BAUSEEHAVE T VY RD PRESENURSELVESITHAS ATAME OUT T. I D'THEREAS KNOWFDY AE TO SIT, ANDOU HOPE TT ULD BAB TSE I YOU OUCITIES ARENGTALKS FOTH 2REFEUMS, T CUTS THE GOING TO AKG.
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RECTN.O AVE AY GO BACK TO,HEECIS AT MAD WCHGA W HA ITI FCOMI. D ANOTHER PCEF THAT,CAE TS S PAE IT TWO YGOOW? Y. IADDION THE TAY HAVE A F AS LON TM EMPLOYEES, ALS LE OUTN IME AALMPROVENTS,OU KNOW, IME EXPRES WO HAV PAVED ME ROADS ORD PLER X MOREINAGE ISSUE T COD HAVEED WIT ONEIME THINOSEATURE. BAUSED,MOISRI PSET THMORENCREAS RALUDTITMPYEES, NDES O TTATE. SO HAVE TIME TO TIMSE ANYOW,ING. BE CULT ME YOU DONYTHG IN A WHLANER, TREGOING SA AND SKE WOMCOMMISSION FMTHER, AN TY'REUFNGAR GRTER THAN WREAUSETH DONAV AENTL BUSI DICT. THEY DO THE COMRC PPERTSTOELHO UT'S ENG ANDHE FAXCU IS THEREAUHEMICN THESTIAL COMMUNITY IS THAT YNG PPLAN'T FOTAY HHERE MOVINGUTF STATE A T WHEN YR FY MOVES ANDR TH FAMIESTA TO G SEERE, AND YOUANT TOE WITH GCHILDREN THE ALSAV Y ELD TI MG.O HS BOTHNDS OFCTRU ANDON'T THINKHATO THSI TT ANFOUR CITY OR TO HAVE TO AT.E'REOINGOING TO WG TO HAVE RECALIBRATE BUT JUSTEFORTHND OF THEYOMAY, E 2UMBE BAUSE ILARIFY ANREAS, BUT I NOTDIHOSEO OBSLY, TALKING AUTSI O INE THOIT WAS O 4YO EMPLOYTH WEED ION YEAR. I CAN ACTUALLY SHOW YOU ON THE SCREEN. SO THE NEXT SLIDE IS THE ONE THAT'S ON THE SCREEN NOW. AND SO THAT REFLECTION IS THE CHANGE BETWEEN 2024 AND 2025. SO AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED AND POLICE OFFICERS AND FIREFIGHTERS, WE ADDED FIVE. THAT WAS THE SECOND OF THREE YEARS OF ADDING, I'M SORRY, THE THE LAST OF THREE YEARS OF ADDING FIVE POSITIONS. SO NOT COUNTING THAT IN GENERAL, EMPLOYEES, YOU SEE FROM 2024 TO 2025, WE WENT FROM 548 TO 584. BUT FROM THAT 584, WE HAVE TO REMOVE THE 20 THAT WE ADDED IN BUILDING THAT CAME FROM THE BUILDING REVENUE FUND. AND SO WHEN YOU REMOVE THAT, THE DIFFERENCE IS 26. SO 26 POSITIONS WERE ADDED IN THAT FISCAL YEAR. SO IF YOU LOOK AT IF YOU LOOK AT THE LAST 13, 14 YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN HERE, WE'VE NEVER HAD MASSIVE NUMBER LIKE THAT AGAIN. I WANT TO PUT IT ON THE RECORD BECAUSE HOPEFULLY ONE DAY THE FUTURE ELECTED OFFICIALS WILL CALL BILLY AND ASK FOR A PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST FROM THE CLERK AND THEY'LL SAY, HEY, HOW DID THIS HAPPEN? HOW DID WE MAKE A $2 MILLION COLA PAYMENT FOR THE NEXT TEN YEARS, $20 MILLION? HOW DID WE INCREASE ALL THESE EMPLOYEES IN ONE YEAR? AND THE REASON WHY I SAY THAT IS BECAUSE THE MANAGER WILL PROBABLY GET A GOOD LAUGH OUT OF THIS, BECAUSE WE'VE HAD MANY CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THIS. WE ALWAYS GO BACK AND TRY TO FIND IN THE IN THE ORDER OF OUR PENSION PAYMENTS, WHERE WE MISSED A PENSION PAYMENT LIKE 20 SOMETHING YEARS AGO, BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO FIND OUT HOW WE GOT INTO 50% FUNDED, LIKE WHEN I GOT HERE. AND THAT'S A NUMBER THAT WAS MISSING. AND WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT THAT. HOW DID THAT HAPPEN? HOW DID THAT HAPPEN HISTORICALLY? I WANT TO PUT IT ON THE RECORD AND BE VERY CAREFUL SO THAT IN THE FUTURE, IN THE FUTURE, JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVE 40 PLUS EMPLOYEES IN 1 IN 1 YEAR, AGAIN, I WOULD LOVE NOTHING MORE THAN TO HIRE MORE PEOPLE WITH THE TRUST ME, THERE'S A NEED. THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT PROJECTS THAT I WOULD LOVE TO TACKLE. JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA, WHEN IN MY OWN OFFICE, WE LOWERED. WE LOWERED SALARIES, I THINK, BY $30,000 LAST YEAR. SO WHEN YOU LOOK WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS, THAT'S WHERE THE PROOF IS. THE NUMBERS IS HOW MUCH WEIGHT AND HOW MUCH TAIL DO WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS? I KNOW NOBODY WANTS TO TALK ABOUT THAT. IS THAT THAT'S NOT A PLEASANT CONVERSATION, JUST LIKE THE COLA. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THEN AT THE END OF THE DAY, THAT IS A TREND THAT WE NEED TO KEEP AN EYE ON BECAUSE THE MORE EMPLOYEES WE ADD, THE MORE STRESS WE PUT ON THE SYSTEM. YEP. OKAY, SO WHAT I'M SEEING HERE DIFFERENCE FROM 2023 TO 2024 IS 22 EMPLOYEES. AND FROM 2024 TO 2025 IS 46 EMPLOYEES. AND WE SHINE A LITTLE MORE LIGHT ON THAT. MY HUSBAND WOULD TELL YOU THAT WE CANNOT DO MATH WITHOUT OUR EXCEL SPREADSHEET.SO MY STAFF IS GOING TO DOUBLE CHECK BECAUSE THERE WERE CHANGES TO POSITIONS MADE IN BETWEEN. THEY'RE GOING TODOUB TO AND GIVE YOUHA NUMBEKABEUS WIGNI TH A SNICANT DIFFE EN ITELLEE RE EMP I DELOPMENT SERVICESEPARTMEN EMP, TER AT DEPANTT R IF ITRI F, I 2 OYEE S GNGACK TO WH THES SING.E'RE LA THINKT WASLE OURS. B SETHCIOR PART YOU O SET'S T' ABO TT.K AB THA S BORYO GOTHE HT RAID NT OF THE FIRHTERS
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VOVERY MONTH, ERY Y N PITNS. OY. AND WE HED 15 NEW FIRETERS A 15 NEWOLE FIRS WT YOU AN NSEITIONS IGARDTO PUBLIETY, EFFORT TOONSE YKNOW NOHAOUCTSTRAIGH BU M EDUCATE Y A I'LLHATAFFND'LF ATYO WHE YOU TK ABLO AND YOU TA AUT THE EMPYE THA E PTTGARENT, REGAR TO LODORFROM WHE MER,M E EERPRISE FUND,UBDEVELOPMEN SEE FUND YES S T ARE NGM THE G FUND.AND Y DWE DOHAT?E WANT THA WOR CLASSPENGORRE WHIS NT TO VEHE BESTIT.EDITER Y RMITARTMT IN SOUT FRHE GENUNT'MING FROM T ENTERPRN WH BY STATE STATE. NAGENDOREF M WRONG,NOPENDHAT NEROM E EISE . IT HAS TBE SPEN THE PEITTMENT,ORCT? YEIT MAYAN G INTOENALUN I INENERUND?T D OF THE D I'M INBOUT WE'NG DECISIONS OUT DESIS WHERHERE'S AENTESED. I HO ENDI MEYA BE, YOU'RE SUHEOBILUB, RENUTREA W IS MOY TT'S COROMRKIT LEERE ITHE AUNT OF BROUGHING AROWHIC EVEEASIT WASAS ECUT WHOE RN RESUGHT I THE AMOUN EMPLOYE THAT WE BRT I THAEEAR STRE AND WT T? ENTERPD.WE G A F S THA TY CNDHESIN NUMBEHE M. YEAH,S YE ION'T. I'THI YORE UNDSTDINGHAT'S IN LEGOHEAD AND REVTH ENCE I020OUR,OKARE'S A PLOY025,6 E THE BGEK JUSTTHA MAMDICTOR. O IO COM, BAUOMESANGE HAPN BEN.O IN FISCAL YEAR 25, WE ADDED 26 POSITIONS TO THE TOTAL HEAD COUNT, FULL TIME POSITIONS. AND SO THAT INCLUDED FIVE POLICE OFFICERS AND FIVE FIREFIGHTERS. SO THE TOTAL INCREASE TO HEAD COUNT WAS 16 AT THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR IN 25, WE ADDED 20 POSITIONS TO THE BUILDING FUND. THE BUILDING FUND IS A PROPRIETARY FUND THAT CAN ONLY FUND ITS ITS SERVICES. RIGHT. THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE FLORIDA BUILDING CODE, THE ONLY OTHER FUNDS THAT WORK IN THAT NATURE ARE THE SANITARY SEWER AND THE STORMWATER FUND. THOSE ARE THE ONLY OTHER FUNDS THAT CANNOT REALLY GO BETWEEN ANY OTHER FUND. AND SO THE DISCUSSION IS, IS THAT THOSE POSITIONS DID NOT AFFECT ANY OTHER DECISIONS CITY WIDE AS TO WHAT COULD BE FUNDED WITH THOSE RECURRING REVENUES. I UNDERSTAND THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE POSITION COUNT STILL WENT UP BY 46, BUT THE CONVERSATION OF INCREASING HEADCOUNT REALLY REVOLVES AROUND HOW DO WE HOW DO WE ALLOCATE THOSE RECURRING FUNDS, WHETHER WE INCREASE THE OPERATING COSTS CITYWIDE OR WE ARE ABLE TO USE THAT FOR OTHER RESOURCES. SO MY POINT IS, MY POINT IS THAT YOU INCREASE EMPLOYEES BY 16 THAT DON'T HAVE A DEDICATED REVENUE SOURCE. IF YOU LOOK AT THE YEARS PRIOR INCREASE WAS TWO EMPLOYEES, THREE EMPLOYEES, ONE EMPLOYEE. IT WAS NEVER 16 IN 1 YEAR. AT ITIGHTHERE. THEY S YE YOU. MAYO WE OJUST EXPLAED MG ADD THAT ,51 PE OFFICERS FOR DOWNTOWNNIT.LEAT THEOWWASO B WI ERAIN PEOEM TH PRONG A BERVICEOVLHEESIDEN. S BEWE HAD A FETAFO, ANWE HAV DEMR STNR. SO THOEREERSEWO.HE REDENT A T0ITIOUR THATEREDDED TUI DEPARTNT COMROTHE BUDING DARCH DE AND IN AEPNUND,ENERAL IS AT MS ENTERPRIUNT Y USED THA F ENHAEMENT HE BLDING AT AND TT' A ATHE STE, CL TS IS WHAT'M TELLIHEAS T B I'DTO A DEDIC.FIT OSIDEF ICETY, REVENUE SOCE, IC ISSOMETHING AT. SE IOINT, E LITY H I INK ISOMET ITA SO YOU HAVE 1EMOYEES WEREDDED IN E THAT BUDG BECAUSEIN,THE GOESP 23% WL HAV WLALPLNS IN T T N ADDITIONALOS I RDS TO THEMPYE. I OVER YEA L JT USE 202013. WN I U LOOK ATHE NRS ONE EMOY TWO EMPLOYES E MAMUME ADDED EINGLE AR. AND WREY THTFUL OY IN ONE YEAR, BUT ANYIDN'T MP6 WAY YONTO SKANY WAY ANWAY YO WANT HIT A WANTPLAY THE GAME CK A T THOTTOM NE IATE R. I'M GOING TO ASK PAUL MADIRECTOR, HAVE EN H OKA S IT' VERIN ONYEAR LIKE D'T WTO HE TH I DON WANT CK AND FOR GE ANYMOR THIS IS THAT'SHE TYPEF DEONS THAT ARINTAL TO OURGE IF KEEP ADDINGVE SINGLE , TIONS,'RGOG TO YO BECAUSE EVEUALL YOU'RENG TO HAVE T GUE WHET GO OF PITIO THERAOWN INEVEN. L BE VERY CARELND VY THOUGHTF AND NOT IUSI WT GO AHEAD AND PUTH, ,ERCLEAR. OK 2 ITS B LET'S GO AND REMOV THEVEIRIGHTEE LI OFFIC AND'SAHEAD MO T FEFIREG AR AIREFIGHTEROLET'TRACH OFHEM T THAT'SHAT WEE EANGORRECTWE REROM THA2 EMOY CORRECT. CORCT ME IF W.'M SORM FOLWI YE'RE LOOKING AT2, 24, I'M SOR,3 4, FROM 2023 TO 2024, YOU CAN SIMPLY LOOK AT THE GENERAL EMPLOYEE COLUMN. AND SO IN THAT YEAR, OTHER THAN POLICE AND FIRE, WE WENT UP FROM 536 TO 548 FOR THE MAYOR. YES, SIR. COMMISSIONER, DO YOU HAVE 1 OR 2 TO TO 948
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THAT'S 40, 46 EMPLOYEES. THAT YEAR WE ADDED FIVE FIREFIGHTERS AND FIVE POLICE OFFICERS, WHICH WHICH IS 36, WHICH BRINGS THAT DOWN TO 36. WE ADDED 2020 POSITIONS TO, TO, TO DEVELOPMENT SERVICES OR TO THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT THROUGH THE ENTERPRISE FUND. THAT'S 20. SO 20 -36 IS 16. SO 16 IS THE AMOUNT OF POSITIONS THAT WERE ADDED. OKAY. AND YOURRI AND PRIORT WASE.YEUT F POLEOFFICER, GHT.2,HT. CERSVERY YEA TETOFEFERS,ERETE AC 15EFIGHTAN 1 P FI OREEARPERIOD. WE'R ADDIN FIVE FIV I TNKEERSTAND IT'S 2YEES, INAY.A REALITT'STRTING POIR AND T2025UBTRACNG T IS6 OYS. IOU'R BTG THE0 RA FEVELOP SE, AM CORRE 2 DEPMENERVICE O SATLD EQU 1 AS MT WRG, P IF WE'RE TNG ABOU THE DREE FROM 2 25, T NUMBETHAT W ADDED 2TO OTHHAANDAS 16, NUM THATASDD FTO 24 R TOLICE FIRE WAS 12 I LKING TTHE BUDTBOOEE WHAHOS ERTEDART TIME PNS. LET JUS S IF CET TO SE DITI CENFORCEN OFFICER WHICE DI SUBANALLYNCREE G IOUR CODE EA RCENT THA TIMO CONFCEMELDINGADCEMT?WH DST ME FO PANT CEORMENT SO REHAN HA OF TSE POSITIS WE TH ENSE FUN THAMY POINT. SWE CE CEE G CIR AND T T ONEP CHER. B AT THE ENDTHDA JUST WANT TO TAKE OWNEHIP OF LAS YEUDGE WHICHOU VOT FAVORFHE VICN AMOS RAS P L TF LEHOUSDE R IMA NEVER TERNCOFEADA WHOEVER'EFT HE, WILL GON AND PAHEONQUS F ADDIN AS REST OF THEREASNL T SM PENSIONTE'S PRAY GOD TTI S A A LE WE' SN IN REGARD TO T MART. SO CK ATH,EAN KEEP GOING ONHI THEUMBERSE TH NUMBERT DON'T W T BELCATI.AL FROM 23 TO 24,ERHE PNS TTERHS DEWEREN BIN DEPANTT TIME DT M TO THEEW THE N BLDING. A SAT TH TIM W AED A MEAN ICTORUMBING INSPE, BINGECT. I DON KNOW IF I SAITHAT ALY. AHELTHOH NOTWORNOSITN, WELSO CONVOT TEBACKGROUND INVESTIGATOE RE TRYING ADDRESS THE CRUITMEN ISSUETHATE IN THAEA S ONS LE THE C ENTHATAGER NTIONE POSITION AT,HICH AO THERE'S COUPLE RE. BUT SO ME A LONSTY S, E'NTABOUT OUT LICEBVIOUSLY ARE PUBLIC SAFETY. THEY HAVE TO GET FUNDED. AND THEY WERE THEY WERE REQUESTS, OBVIOUSLY FROM FROM THE POLICE CHIEF, WHAT WE CAN IN REGARDS TO PUBLIC SAFETY, WE PRIORITIZE PUBLIC SAFETY. BUT AS YOU CAN SEE, A MAJORITY OF THE POSITIONS, I WOULD SAY 80% OF THE POSITIONS PROBABLY LED US TO MAYBE 2 OR 3 NEW POSITIONS. WE'RE ALL FROM AN ENTERPRISE FUND. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR CLARIFYING THAT. YOU'RE THE MAYOR. COMMISSIONER, I DON'T WANT TO CONTINUE THIS THIS CONVERSATION. WE'VE BEEN ON THIS FOR 20 MINUTES AND WE HAVEN'T MADE ANY PROGRESS. BUT AN ADDITIONAL POINT OF CLARIFICATION, THERE WERE ALSO PARKING RELATED POSITIONS, WHICH ARE GENERALLY REVENUE GENERATING POSITIONS. THE OTHER ISSUE WE HAD WAS WE WERE DEALING WITH MAJOR ISSUES IN PUBLIC WORKS FOR TRASH PICKUP DEPANT. IUEAVESINC BEERESSED SOA EY PIO TT AE TIME WERDEEMSARY.ECAN K AN FORTO WHETHE T CY MAN W A CITY MANR NOT. HE COENDE BY TH CHA OF THEBOARD OFS COTULANGS FORAKIN ANTO EXCEENT DN ONEW CIAGERUT YOU KNOW, WE CAN BE HEAY. THINKE SHUSMO FSTND E RECD AND BEING VERY C IT ON ON THE RECORD,VETHOUGH I KN MAYBE SOMEO L THGS OE RECOR IT DERSTAND THAT D I AGREE CAUSE DECIERE MATHATARRASSHE C E HA AONRUCTE CONVERSATION AND BEERY CLR ON RECOMNDEDW W TH POSIOORIEL FERNANZ. DONNOWF THAT T SMAT THTHATDIIN THE MIDDY WAS ANHO EVEN WAS OBLY O OF THE H PROBABLYOST HAPHAZARD G WEEVER S HERE HAPPEN ITHE COF LAORPORATIN THE THERIGHT MIOU EA PRIVAT SECTOR, HIRE SODYOFF STRN UNRSTA WHO THATN WAHE AT THE END O HA PCESS A 'S WHA CALD R.OI'M HPY YOU BROUH ITY TO PUTT T COSO, M DIREOR.
THAN YOU. I'M GOI TO GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE. SO THE NEXT SLIDE IS ONE THAT WAS REQUESTED SEVERAL YEARS AGO. AND SO WE PRESENTED EACH YEAR. THIS IS A PRESENTATION OF SALARIES FOR EACH DEPARTMENT COMPARED TO THEIR TOTAL EXPENSE. AND WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THEIR DEPARTMENT IS, IS PERSONNEL COST. AND SO YOU CAN SEE HERE THE LIST STARTING WITH THE CITY
[00:30:03]
COMMISSION, THIS WOULD BE THE TIME FOR ME TO NOTE THAT THE CITY COMMISSION SALARIES INCREASE EACH YEAR BY CPI. AND SO THIS YEAR'S CPI THAT'S INCLUDED IN THE JULY 1ST ESTIMATE IS JUST OVER 3%. THIS IS BASED ON THE CPI THAT'S AVAILABLE TO US. WE WILL REFINE THAT NUMBER SOMETIME AT THE END OF AUGUST WHEN WE GET THE CPI THROUGH JULY, WHICH IS THE CPI THAT WE BASE THE BUDGET ON BASED ON OUR CODE. AND SO YOU CAN SEE HERE THAT SALARIES ARE GENERALLY 80% OF THE OPERATING BUDGET. AND JUST GOING DOWN THE LINE OVERALL, IT IS 63% OF OUR DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET, WHICH MAKES SENSE BECAUSE OUR CITY IS A SERVICE CITY. AND SO IN ORDER TO PROVIDE SERVICES, WE REQUIRE LABOR. IT IS ALSO A TESTAMENT THAT DEPARTMENTS KEEP THEIR BUDGETS, THEIR OPERATING BUDGETS VERY LEAN. AND SO WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF EXTRA FUNDING WITHIN OUR OPERATING BUDGETS. YOU CAN SEE IN DEPARTMENTS LIKE PUBLIC WORKS OR IN COMMUNITY RECREATION, THE PERCENTAGE OF THEIR SALARIES TO THEIR OPERATING BUDGET IS A LITTLE BIT LOWER BECAUSE THEY CARRY A HIGH OPERATING COST, SUPPLIES, DIFFERENT MACHINERY THAT THEY USE IN THEIR IN THEIR SERVICE. AND SO THAT IS THE CHART. IF THERE'S NO QUESTIONS, I'LL GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE. SO WE HAD THIS MEETING ON JUNE 3RD. THE NEXT FEW SLIDES ARE THE CAPITAL FUNDING THAT WAS INCLUDED IN THIS BUDGET. AS NOTED, FOR A TOTAL OF. I'D HAVE TO REMEMBER WHAT IT WAS, $51 MILLION. SO I'LL JUST GO THROUGH THE CATEGORIES. YOU'VE ALL HEARD THESE PROJECTS. WE PRESENTED THEM ON JUNE 3RD, SO THE PUBLIC WAS ABLE TO HEAR THEM AS WELL. IF THERE'S ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS, I CAN GO THROUGH THEM. SO 4.6 MILLION IN CAPITAL EQUIPMENT, JUST OVER 6 MILLION FOR FACILITY PROJECTS, 9.3 MILLION INVESTMENT INTO HISTORICAL FACILITY PROJECTS. 4 MILLION. JUST OVER 4 MILLION IN THE REPLACEMENT AND RENEWAL OF OUR MOTOR VEHICLE FLEET PARKING PROJECTS, JUST OVER $1 MILLION. PARKS AND RECREATIONS. THIS INCLUDES THE COUNTRY CLUB JUST UNDER $5.3 MILLION. PUBLIC SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS JUST UNDER $2.6 MILLION. TRANSPORTATION AND RIGHT OF WAY OF $10.8 MILLION. THIS DOES INCLUDE FUNDING THAT WE ARE RECEIVING FROM THE COUNTY. THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE ANY OF THE APPROPRIATIONS THAT WERE RECENTLY APPROVED BY THE GOVERNOR. THOSE WILL BE INCLUDED IN OUR SEPTEMBER BUDGET, AND I CAN GO THROUGH THOSE UTILITY REPAIR IMPROVEMENTS, $11.3 MILLION FOR A TOTAL CAPITAL BUDGET OF $55 MILLION, 4 MILLION OF THAT IS FLEET REPLACEMENT, WHICH IS ACTUALLY IN THE OPERATING BUDGET. AND AS I MENTIONED, THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE APPROPRIATIONS THAT WERE RECENTLY APPROVED BY THE GOVERNOR THAT WILL BE INCLUDED IN OUR SEPTEMBER ESTIMATE. AND THOSE INCLUDE 900,000 FOR ENVIRO REMEDIATION OF OUR DEBRIS SITE, 450 000 FOR GRAVITY, GRAVITY, SANITARY SEWER PIPE REHABILITATION, 400,000 FOR TRAFFIC CALMING AND SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS, 225,000 FOR THE DOWNTOWN DRAINAGE, FLOOD MITIGATION AND 225,000 FOR THE PONCE CORRIDOR WATERWAY FLOOD MITIGATION FOR A TOTAL OF $2.2 MILLION. YOU'LL RECALL THAT A COUPLE OF ITEMS WERE NOT APPROVED. I'M SORRY, THAT IS NOT WHAT WAS INCLUDED. THOSE ARE THE ITEMS THAT WERE SUBMITTED. ALL RIGHT. I GOT THROWN OFF A LITTLE BIT WITH THE PRIOR DISCUSSION. IF THE ITEMS THAT WERE APPROVED. I'M SORRY, THE TRAFFIC ITEM WAS VETOED BY THE MAYOR. SO THE 400 000 FOR TRAFFIC CALMING WAS NOT APPROVED. THE. THE WATERWAY. AND THE DOWNTOWN DRAINAGE AND FLOOD MITIGATION WAS NOT APPROVED FOR 225 000. IF I MAY, MAYBE I MISHEARD. THE MAYOR DOESN'T HAVE VETO POWER HERE IN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. I WANT TO MAKE SURE BECAUSE THE GOVERNOR. THAT'LL MAKE IT ONTO THE BLOGS TOMORROW. MAYBE I'LL MAKE A PREDICTIONS. THE GOVERNOR. BUT BY THE WAY, BUT BY THE WAY, LIKE I MENTIONED YESTERDAY, WE ENDED THE MEETING.[00:35:01]
YOU KNOW, WE WE HIT WE HIT THE HIGHEST NUMBERS WE'VE HIT IN THREE YEARS. SO YEAH, GOOD POINT. AND I WANT TO CONGRATULATE OUR STAFF, LIKE I SAID YESTERDAY. WELL DONE. SO MY INTERN DID NOT SHOW UP, BUT SHE DID A GREAT PRESENTATION YESTERDAY. THIS WAS GOING TO BE HER PRESENTATION SLIDES. SHE WAS VERY INSTRUMENTAL IN ASSISTING US IN PREPARING THIS PRESENTATION THIS YEAR. SHE DID AN AMAZING JOB OF LEARNING ABOUT THE MILLAGE AND HOW THAT'S CALCULATED. SO I AM IMPRESSED BY HER ABILITY TO TAKE ON DIFFICULT INFORMATION SO QUICKLY. YOU'RE THE MAYOR. WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE WHEN YOU BRING THIS SLIDE BACK UP IN SEPTEMBER, COULD YOU BREAK THOSE THOSE COLUMNS UP INTO WHAT'S MUNICIPAL? WHAT IS A SCHOOL BOARD AND WHAT IS COUNTY? BECAUSE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR RESIDENTS TO REALIZE THAT'S NOT JUST US AND HOW MUCH THE SCHOOLS AND THE COUNTY GET FROM THEIR TAXES, AND WHAT A SMALL PORTION, REALLY, THE MUNICIPAL TAX LEVY IS ON ON THE RESIDENTS. WE WILL TRY TO DO THAT. WE DO HAVE TWO SLIDES FROM NOW. WE DO HAVE AN EXAMPLE OF THAT FOR OUR CITY. SO I WILL SHOW THAT. SO AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, THIS IS A COMPARISON OF ALL MIAMI-DADE COUNTY CITIES AND THEIR TOTAL MILLAGE TO THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. LAST YEAR WE WERE 12TH LOWEST. THIS YEAR WE ARE 10TH LOWEST. THIS IS THE ADOPTED MILLAGE FOR LAST. FOR THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR. WE WILL UPDATE THIS NEXT YEAR WITH THE. WHAT WITH WHAT'S ADOPTED THIS YEAR. AND SO YOU CAN SEE THAT KEY BISCAYNE CONTINUES TO REMAIN THE LOWEST MILLAGE OF THE FULL SERVICE CITIES, PROVIDING POLICE AND FIRE SERVICES. WE ARE SECOND TO THE FULL SERVICE CITIES, AND THEN YOU HAVE. SO THE FULL SERVICE CITIES ARE HIGHLIGHTED IN BLUE SURFSIDE, MIAMI BEACH. I'M SORRY. THAT'S WRONG. YOU HAVE MIAMI BEACH AND MIAMI AND HIALEAH, AND WE STILL CONTINUE TO BE SECOND IN THAT LIST. THE NEXT SLIDE IS GOING TO PROVIDE YOU A COMPARISON OF JUST THE CITY MILLAGE FOR THOSE FULL SERVICE CITIES. AND SO CORAL GABLES MILLAGE, THE MILLAGE THAT WE ARE PROPOSING TODAY IS 5.559. FOR THE 12TH CONSECUTIVE YEAR, THE ESTIMATED CITY PORTION OF PROPERTY TAXES FOR THE AVERAGE HOMESTEADED VALUE OF $1,012,564 WOULD BE $5,629.IF A RESIDENT WAS TO HAVE THAT SAME PROPERTY IN THE CITY OF MIAMI, WHOSE VILLAGES 7.3616, THAT ESTIMATE WOULD BE JUST OVER $7,400, AN INCREASE OF $1,800 TO THE CITY, TO OUR CITIES MILLAGE MIAMI BEACH. THEIR OPERATING MILLAGE IS 6.113, OR THEIR CITY MILLAGE IS 6.113. THEIR ESTIMATED PROPERTY TAX FOR THE SAME AVERAGE VALUE IN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES WOULD BE JUST OVER $6,200 $582 OVER OUR RESIDENTS IN HIALEAH. THE MILLAGE RATE THE CITY MILLAGE RATE IS 6.3018. THE AVERAGE PROPERTY VALUE IN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES WOULD PAY JUST OVER $6,300 FOR $752 DIFFERENCE TO CITY TO CITY OF CORAL GABLES RESIDENTS. AND IN KEY BISCAYNE, THEIR MILLAGE RATE IS 2.8846. THEIR. THE SAME VALUE WOULD PAY $2,900, JUST UNDER $3,000, FOR A DIFFERENCE OF $2,708 LESS THAN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. THE MAYOR.
QUESTION OF THESE OTHER CITIES THAT YOU'RE DOING A COMPARATIVE. DO ANY OF THEM. I'M GOING TO USE THE WORD SUBSIDIZE, ALTHOUGH IT'S PROBABLY NOT CORRECT. THE GARBAGE FEE OR IS IT BILLED SEPARATELY TOTAL? SO I BELIEVE I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT MIAMI BEACH BILLS SEPARATELY. I BELIEVE KEY BISCAYNE ALSO PAYS SEPARATELY. I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH HIALEAH'S PRACTICE, AND I BELIEVE MIAMI ALSO HAS A SEPARATE SOLID WASTE FEE. I DON'T KNOW IF THEY SUBSIDIZE IT. WE CAN FIND THAT OUT FOR YOU. OR IF THEY BILL THE TOTAL COST. YEAH, BUT BUT IF YOU WERE GOING TO ACTUALLY COMPARE APPLES TO APPLES, YOU WOULD HAVE TO HAVE AN EFFECTIVE MILLAGE RATE BASED UPON THE AMOUNT OF SUBSIDY SUBSIDY THAT WE DO PROVIDE FOR RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES HERE. RIGHT. SO 5.5590 IS NOT ACTUALLY WHAT THEY'RE CHARGED BASED UPON THE AMOUNT OF SUBSIDY. YEAH. TO THAT POINT AS WELL. THERE ARE CITIES THAT HAVE VOTED DEBT. WE DON'T WE HAVE CHOSEN NOT TO HAVE VOT DT. SO T ARE THAAVE SEPARE
[00:40:02]
EY FUND CIT WITSETE MGE. TREVERE WOULD NEED MAKE T MAKE APPLES AS.UTINLY TH S SIDAS AND WH TY FULLY CERHAT WO BE GOOD CPARIAS Y. INIT'SAND BRIHAT IMRTBECAUSE SOMET KNOW, RESIDEN D DERSTA TT SOMOFHE FEES THA A CRG BY OTHER THGS OF THAT NATE, OF COURUT TT IS A GOOD PO IF THERE NO OTH QUESONS, I'L GTO THE NEXT SLIDE. THIS SLIDE PROVIDES A VIEW OF THE CORAL GABLES PROPERTIES BY TYPE. AND SO WE'VE MENTIONED THIS IN THE CONVERSATION ABOUT THE THE VOTE FOR THE HOMESTEAD, THE CHANGE TO THE HOMESTEAD 54.1 OF OUR PROPERTIES CONTINUE TO BE HOMESTEADED RESIDENTIAL. SO THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF OUR PROPERTY TAX REVENUE. 31.8 IS NON HOMESTEADED RESIDENTIAL.AND THEN 8.7 IS COMMERCIAL AND 5.4 IS ALL OTHERS. YOU'LL NOTICE A SMALL DECREASE IN HOMESTEAD RESIDENTIAL. BUT I BELIEVE IT'S OFFSET BY THAT NON HOMESTEADED RESIDENTIAL SLIGHT INCREASE. AND SO PROBABLY THERE ARE NEW RESIDENTS. AND IT'LL TURN OVER NEXT YEAR WHEN THEY ARE ELIGIBLE FOR HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION. SO THIS IS AN IMPORTANT FACTOR TO CONSIDER WHEN WE'RE CONSIDERING THE VOTE. THAT'S GOING THAT'S GOING TO OUR RESIDENTS TO INCREASE THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION FROM 50,000 TO 150,000 AND 250,000 IN THE SUBSEQUENT YEAR. WE'VE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT. WE'RE NOT FOCUSING ON IT IN THIS PRESENTATION BECAUSE THIS IT WILL NOT AFFECT THIS BUDGET, ALTHOUGH WE ARE CONSIDERING IT AS WE PLAN THIS BUDGET. WE'RE ESTIMATING A DECREASE IN PROPERTY TAX REVENUE OF ABOUT $5.7 MILLION NEXT YEAR AND ABOUT AND ALMOST DOUBLE THAT FOR $11.4 MILLION IN THE SUBSEQUENT YEAR. WE HAVE BEGUN SPEAKING INTERNALLY, AND I KNOW THAT WE'VE SPOKEN WITH SOME OF YOU ABOUT THE DIFFERENT APPROACHES THAT WE WILL LOOK AT TO TO BE ABLE TO I'M NOT GOING TO SAY ABSORB, BUT TO BE ABLE TO WEATHER THAT AND TO CHANGE THE WAY WE DO THINGS. AND SO WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS INTERNALLY AND WITH EACH OF YOU AS WE APPROACH NEXT FISCAL YEAR'S BUDGET. BUT I IMAGINE THAT OUR BUDGET PROCESS WILL LOOK A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT. AND WE'LL BE BRINGING TO YOU OUR IDEAS OF HOW OF HOW WE'LL ADDRESS THOSE DECREASES IN REVENUE, LIKE IN THIS PARTICULAR BUDGET. AND I DIDN'T TALK ABOUT IT IN THE CAPITAL SECTION. WE MADE SURE, WHICH IS A PRACTICE THAT WE STARTED SEVERAL YEARS AGO, BUT PARTICULARLY IN 2023 WITH THE, WITH THE, THE GUIDANCE OF THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE AND THIS COMMISSION OF TAKING RECURRING REVENUE AND PUTTING IT INTO CAPITAL, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THAT RECURRING REVENUE IS BEING USED NOW FOR ONE TIME ITEMS. AND SO THOSE ONE TIME ITEMS COULD, AND I'M GOING TO USE THE WORD VERY LIGHTLY, EASILY BE REMOVED. RIGHT. SO FOR INSTANCE, IN THIS BUDGET CYCLE, I KNOW THAT ABOUT $6.3 MILLION OF PROJECTS ARE ONE TIME ARE REALLY ONE TIME IN NATURE. FOR INSTANCE, THE ALHAMBRA WATER TOWER ALONE IS ALMOST 1.8, $1.75 MILLION. SO THAT WILL NOT BE A REOCCURRING COST IN OUR CAPITAL NEXT YEAR, AND WE CAN COUNT ON IT TO HELP BALANCE OUR OPERATING BUDGET IF WE NEED TO. THERE WILL. THERE WILL BE SUBSEQUENT CAPITAL NEEDS THAT WE'LL NEED TO FUND. BUT WE KNOW THAT AT LEAST IT'S ALMOST LIKE A SAFE KEEPING THAT WE ARE USING RECURRING FUNDS FOR ONE TIME ITEMS. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO REMOVE ALL OF THE 6.3 MILLION, BUT IN THE. IN THE EFFORT OF IMPACTING SERVICES AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE FOR OUR RESIDENTS WHILE HAVING A BALANCED APPROACH TO FUNDING CAPITAL IMPACT, I THINK THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO COME UP WITH A GOOD PLAN OF HOW TO GET THERE AND NOT COMPLETELY IMPACT ALL OF OUR SERVICES. WHILE IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT I'M ADVOCATING FOR, BUT IT'S STILL WAYS FOR US TO CONSIDER HOW TO GET THERE. MR. MANAGER, I KNOW THIS MAY NOT BE THE RIGHT OR APPROPRIATE TIME TO DISCUSS THIS, BUT I'M GOING TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY THAT WE'RE IN THE SUNSHINE HERE WITH MY COLLEAGUES. I'M GOING TO BE CALLING FOR IN THE NEXT COMMISSION MEETING. I'M GOING TO BE REQUESTING TO PUT IT ON THE AGENDA AFTER I SPEAK WITH YOU. I HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO EVEN SPEAK TO YOU WITH IT AND GET YOUR GUIDANCE ON IT. I'D LIKE TO BUILD A BLUE RIBBON PANEL WITH EACH MEMBER OF THE COMMISSION, ALONG WITH THE MANAGER, CITY ATTORNEY, CITY CLERK. HAVING A MEMBER WHO IS WELL VERSED IN FINANCE, PERSON
[00:45:04]
WHO REPRESENTS THE COMMUNITY TO REALLY DIGEST AND WORK WITH STAFF, TO REVIEW AND YOURSELF TO REVIEW OUR BUDGET. AND LET ME TELL YOU WHY. WHY I THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA. I THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA BECAUSE IT WILL ALLOW THIS BLUE RIBBON PANEL TO START, JUST LIKE WE DID WHAT WE DO EVERY TEN YEARS. NOW, NOT EVERY EIGHT, EVERY TEN YEARS WITH OUR OUR CHARTER REVIEW.THE CHARTER IS PRETTY SIMPLE IF YOU LOOK AT IT. BUT WHAT I WHAT I THINK THE CHARTER REVIEW PROCESS REALLY DELIVERS IS ENGAGING IN THE PUBLIC, MAKING THE PUBLIC UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS AND BEING VERY TRANSPARENT, HAVING MULTIPLE MEETINGS, ENGAGING, GETTING PUBLIC INPUT. I THINK THAT THE BLUE RIBBON PANEL WOULD SERVE AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO START EDUCATING A LOT OF THE RESIDENTS WHO ARE HIGHLY EDUCATED, WHO ARE VERY AFFLUENT AND VERY HIGHLY EDUCATED COMMUNITY, BUT TO ENGAGE THEM IN THE CONVERSATION OF WHERE THERE MAY BE POSSIBLE CUTS, AND WHAT ARE THE RAMIFICATIONS FROM YEAR ONE TO YEAR TWO, AS YOU'VE SEEN, 5.7 TO ALMOST $12 MILLION. SO I'D LIKE TO SEE IF THERE'S AN APPETITE FOR THAT. I'M GOING TO BRING IT UP IN THE NEXT COMMISSION MEETING. SO THAT WE CAN HAVE REAL CONVERSATIONS, HAVE PEOPLE REALLY DIGEST, REALLY DELVE INTO THE BUDGET, AND WE CAN HAVE PUBLIC MEETINGS, MAYBE 2 OR 3 PUBLIC MEETINGS, SO WE CAN HAVE CONVERSATIONS AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT SIMPLE THINGS LIKE WE CONTINUE TO FUND SOMETHING THAT WE STARTED EIGHT YEARS AGO, WHICH IS THE SEA LEVEL RISE INITIATIVE FOR $4 MILLION A YEAR. DO WE CONTINUE TO, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE WHAT ARE CONVERSATIONS? I DON'T EVEN WANT TO BRING UP CERTAIN THINGS HERE BECAUSE BEFORE YOU KNOW IT, THERE'LL BE AN ARTICLE ON IT TOMORROW. YOU KNOW, I'M AGAINST THAT, YOU KNOW, GARBAGE PICKUP IN THE REAR OR OR OR OR POT OR THE TRASH PITS OR ANYTHING. THAT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. TRYING TO FIND WAYS TO BALANCE THE BUDGET WITHOUT AFFECTING SERVICES. CONTINUING THAT. BUT IF WE CUT FROM CAPITAL, WE'RE CUTTING OUR NOSE IN SPITE OF OUR FACE. WE HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL, JUST LIKE WHAT WE DID WHEN WE ACCEPTED THE COLA, AND WE CUT OUR NOSE IN SPITE OF OUR FACE, BECAUSE WHAT WE DID WAS INSTEAD OF KEEPING IT AT A $9.5 MILLION PAYMENT. I KNOW NOBODY LIKES TO HEAR THAT, BUT I'D LIKE TO REPEAT IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN SO PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT TO NEVER MAKE THAT MISTAKE AGAIN. NOW WE'RE MAKING A $7.5 MILLION PAYMENT. DON'T VOTE FOR IT. YOU SHOULD WORRY ABOUT YOURSELF. SO THAT'S, THAT'S THAT'S VERY EASY TO POINT FINGERS AT YOU. THE FUNNY THING IS YOU SEND OUT AN EMAIL. YOU INTERRUPTED ME. YOU RECOGNIZED ME. YOU KNOW I DID NOT. YOU DID. YOU POINTED AT ME. I RUN THE MEETING. I RUN THE MEETING. I KNOW WHO I RECOGNIZE. TRUST ME. OKAY, LISTEN, YOU SHOULD WORRY ABOUT YOURSELF AT ALL. YOU SHOULD. THAT'S WHY. THAT'S WHY IT'S VERY CLEAR. YOU SHOULD WORRY ABOUT YOURSELF AND WHY I'M BEING THAT I MENTIONED YOUR NAME. I DIDN'T MENTION YOUR NAME, I DIDN'T, YOU DID IT IN EMAIL. I DIDN'T MENTION IT TODAY. SO STOP LIVING IN THE PAST. OKAY, SO MY POINT IS.
STOP INTERRUPTING ME, COMMISSIONER. CONTROL YOURSELF. YOU'RE VERY, VERY CONCERNED ABOUT ROBERT'S RULES AND ALL KINDS OF THINGS, BUT YOU SEEM TO NOT KNOW HOW THE MEETING GETS RUN. OKAY, SO LET ME EXPLAIN TO YOU ONCE AGAIN. WHEN YOU CUT $2 MILLION FROM THE COLA, WHICH IS A VERY SIMPLE THING TO DO, YOU ONLY EXTEND THE PAYBACK PERIOD. MY GOAL WAS TO WHOEVER IS LEFT AFTER I'M GONE, IS THAT YOU WOULD HAVE $25 MILLION AT YOUR DISPOSAL, THAT YOU WOULDN'T HAVE TO USE TO PAY DOWN THE UNFUNDED. SO THAT'S WHY WE TIGHTEN OUR BELTS AND WE MAKE TOUGH DECISIONS, AND WE DON'T DO THE SIMPLE THINGS THAT GENERATE VOTES. WE MAKE THE TOUGH DECISIONS THAT MAKE SURE THAT WE SHORE UP THIS SHIP, AND IT CONTINUES TO SAIL MOVING FORWARD. SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, I THINK THAT PUTTING TOGETHER A BLUE RIBBON PANEL TO DISCUSS EVERY OUT WOULD ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY AND ALLOW THEM TO SAY, HEY, LISTEN, I THINK WE WE SHOULD SPEND $4 MILLION ON SEA ICE. OKAY, THEN WHAT ARE WE GOING TO CUT THE MONEY FROM? IF WE CUT CAPITAL, WE'RE GOING TO BE CUTTING WHAT YOU'RE SPENDING ON TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR HISTORICAL PROJECTS CONTINUE TO BE TOP CLASS. WHAT ARE WE GOING TO SPEND IN REGARDS TO PICKLEBALL COURTS AND TENNIS COURTS? AND, YOU KNOW, THE YOUTH, THE YOUTH CENTER, WHICH WE'RE NOT SPENDING MONEY ON THAT RIGHT NOW, BUT THERE'S A LITANY OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT REQUIRE ATTENTION. SO THERE'S GOING TO BE A VERY TOUGH, TOUGH PROCESS.
AND WE CAN TAKE WE CAN TAKE THE MONEY FROM AREAS THAT SEEM VERY, VERY SIMPLE BECAUSE THEY MAY SEEM BENIGN. OH, WE'LL JUST CUT FROM THE UNFUNDED LIABILITY $1 MILLION HERE. YOU'RE ONLY HURTING YOURSELF BY DOING THAT, YOU UNDERSTAND. BUT WE HAVE TO BE VERY, VERY CAREFUL. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IT PAINS ME TO PAINS ME TO SAY IT. LIKE I'VE SAID BEFORE, ONE OF THE FEW ITEMS THAT I THE ONLY ITEM THAT I HAVE ON THE AGENDA, EXCUSE ME, ON THE BUDGET, WHICH I'VE ADVOCATED EVERY SINGLE YEAR, IS MY OWN. MY ONLY PET PROJECT IS THE $500,000 THAT WE'VE HAD FOR LAND ACQUISITION. WE HAVE ALWAYS CUT THAT, AND I'VE BEEN THE FIRST ONE TO SAY, CUT IT. I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FACE IS THE $4 MILLION, BECAUSE IT'S A ONE.
IT'S A BIG LUMP SUM AMOUNT FOR SEA LEVEL RISE. WE HAVE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY IN
[00:50:02]
THAT ACCOUNT. HOW MUCH DO WE HAVE ALREADY IN THAT ACCOUNT? 32 MILLION. $32 MILLION. AGAIN, I KNOW THAT WE CAN'T USE THAT MONEY BECAUSE IT'S AN ENTERPRISE FUND, CORRECT? YES.BUT MAYBE WE DON'T FUND THAT ANYMORE. AND THAT GETS US PROBABLY 70% OF THE WAY. I KNOW, MAYOR. YES. OF COURSE, THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF DIVERSITY OF OPINION. THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF DIVERSITY OF OPINION ON ALL ALL THESE ISSUES. SO THE MEMBERSHIP ON THIS PARTICULAR COMMITTEE MIGHT NEED TO BE A LOT BROADER THAN JUST, YOU KNOW, YOU MIGHT WANT TO TAKE YOUR CURRENT FOLKS THAT ARE SERVING ON THE BUDGET BOARD AND HAVE ADDITIONAL FOLKS APPOINTED OR FROM EACH DISCIPLINE SO THAT IT CAN HAVE A ROBUST DISCUSSION ON, YOU KNOW, WHERE DO WE MAKE THESE CUTS? AND I WELCOME THAT FEEDBACK. AGAIN, AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S IT'S GOING TO BE A IT'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT IT'S GOING TO BE THIS COMMISSION'S RESPONSIBILITY.
AND IF YOU READ THAT WALL STREET JOURNAL ARTICLE THAT CAME OUT, YOU CAN SEE THAT PEOPLE ARE BRACING AND WE'RE BLESSED. LIKE THE VICE MAYOR SAID OF OUR CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT. BUT IF WE DIDN'T HAVE A CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT, YOU HAVE SOME CITIES THAT IN THAT ARTICLE, THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT 30, 40% CUTS IN THEIR BUDGET. OKAY. AND THAT WOULD BE A TSUNAMI IN THIS COMMUNITY. YES, SIR. WE'VE BEEN FORTUNATE THAT WE'VE RUN A VERY LEAN OPERATION FOR A LONG TIME. WE EXPECT A $5.7 MILLION TO GO IN 28 AND ANOTHER $5.7 MILLION TO GO IN 29. WE'RE TOLD 11.4 MILLION. WE'VE HAD WE'VE ALREADY HAD A NUMBER OF SCENARIOS THAT WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT TO SEE WHERE, WHERE THIS FUNDING CAN, CAN, CAN, CAN, CAN TAKE PLACE. IT'S ALSO GOING TO BE A FUNCTION OF WHAT OUR PROPERTY VALUES ARE AT THAT TIME ALSO. SO THERE'S A LOT OF VARIABLES HERE THAT WE HAVE. I THINK A COMMITTEE WOULD BE WOULD BE VERY GOOD TO SO THAT WE CAN HAVE RESIDENT INPUT INTO, INTO WHAT WE DO. OUR, OUR, OUR FEELING IS CUT IS CUT. SERVICES DO NOT CUT SERVICES, DO NOT CUT SERVICES, DO NOT CUT CAPITAL.
AND I THINK THAT WITH VARIOUS SCENARIOS THAT WE HAVE, I THINK WE CAN GET THAT DONE. IT'S GOING TO. IT'S GOING TO TAKE OTHER THINGS. WE'VE SUBSIDIZED TRASH FOR A LOT OF MONEY. WE ALMOST $9 MILLION. SO SHOULD WE CONTINUE SUBSIDIZING THAT AT THAT LEVEL? YOU MENTIONED THE THE, THE FUND, THE SEA LEVEL RISE FUND, THAT'S $4 MILLION. SO WE HAVE A LOT OF AREAS THAT WE CAN LOOK AT THAT WE CAN LOOK AT THAT ARE NICE TO HAVE, BUT DO WE REALLY NEED NEED THREE WE WE SUBSIDIZE TRASH BY $3.6 MILLION A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. SO THAT THAT'S QUITE A BIT OF MONEY ALSO. SO I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF SCENARIOS THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT AND, AND THERE'S A LOT OF VARIABLES THAT ARE GOING TO TAKE PLACE. WE'VE ALREADY LOOKED AT VARIOUS SCENARIOS IN THIS PARTICULAR BUDGET. WE HAVE A LEAN BUDGET. WE'VE ASKED OUR DIRECTORS TO BE AS LEAN AS POSSIBLE, TRYING TO GET READY FOR WHAT WE LEAVE WHAT WE BELIEVE IS COMING, WHICH IS $5.7 MILLION REDUCTION IN OUR IN IN OUR FUNDING. I WANT TO BE CLEAR, MR. MANAGER, ON THAT POINT. THAT IS, I HAVE FULL FAITH AND CONFIDENCE IN OUR FINANCE TEAM EVERY SINGLE DAY WITH YOUR OFFICE. BUT I THINK THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY JUST TO GET PEOPLE TO REALLY UNDERSTAND, TO REALLY ENGAGE, BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO GO OUT AND VOTE. MAYBE WE USE THIS AS A TOOL TO EXPLAIN, HEY, WHERE ARE YOU GOING AND CAST THAT VOTE? I'M NOT SAYING YOU TO VOTE ONE WAY OR ANOTHER. I BELIEVE THERE SHOULD BE TAX CUTS, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN RETIRED AND BEEN PAYING THEIR, YOU KNOW, THEIR, THEIR, THEIR HOMES FOR SO MANY YEARS. RETIREES IN THIS COMMUNITY DESERVE A TAX CUT. WILL FIRMLY SAY THAT OVER AND OVER AGAIN. AND I ALSO THINK THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE FIRST TIME HOMEBUYERS DESERVE A TAX CUT SO THEY CAN AFFORD TO LIVE IN THIS COMMUNITY FOR A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME, MAYBE 4 OR 5 YEARS. BUT THAT'S NOT THE CONVERSATION TODAY. I THINK THE PURPOSE OF OF THAT, OF THAT OF THAT BLUE RIBBON COMMITTEE OR WHATEVER THE COMMITTEE IS, IS JUST TO EDUCATE AND SAY, LISTEN, THIS IS WHAT'S COMING. BECAUSE I DON'T THINK PEOPLE REALLY THEY READ IT, BUT THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND THE IMPLICATIONS IN THEIR OWN CITY. SO THROUGH THE MAYOR. YEAH. AND I JUST ONE OF THE PURPOSES OF THE REDUCTION IN THE GARBAGE FEE WAS TO HELP THOSE OUT WHO NEEDED HELP THE MOST. IT WAS A WAY OF GIVING A REDUCTION IN TAXES THAT DIDN'T HELP THE WEALTHY THE MOST. IT HELPED THOSE WHO ARE STRUGGLING THE MOST. SO ONE OF THE THINGS I'D LIKE THE COMMITTEE TO LOOK AT, AND I LIKE OUR STAFF TO LOOK AT, IS, IS THERE A WAY TO GEAR THE GARBAGE FEE WHERE THERE'S AN APPLICATION PROCESS OR WE MIRROR WITH THE COUNTY IS DOING TO GIVE A REDUCTION TO THOSE WHO NEED IT THE MOST, THOSE WHO ARE STRUGGLING, THOSE WHO ARE UNDER A CERTAIN INCOME LEVEL, WHETHER IT'S 50, ZERO, ZERO ZERO OR ANOTHER NUMBER THAT CAN BE DEBATED AMONGST THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS AS THE APPROPRIATE LEVEL AT WHICH THE SUBSIDIES SHOULD APPLY. YOU DO AN APPLICATION. YOU HAVE A SWORN AFFIDAVIT THAT, UNDER PENALTY OF PERJURY, YOU ONLY RECEIVE THIS MUCH INCOME. SO
[00:55:07]
THAT'S SOMETHING I THINK THAT WE COULD DO AND HELP BUILD SOME OF THE GAP THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE FACING. SO WE CAN WE CAN CERTAINLY LOOK AT THAT OPTION. I'VE TAKEN A NOTE OF THAT SO THAT WE CAN CONSIDER IT IN IN THAT PROCESS. AND I APPRECIATE THE MAYOR'S AND THE COMMISSION'S OPENNESS TO LOOKING AT VARIOUS IDEAS, BECAUSE THAT IS EXACTLY THE APPROACH THAT THE MANAGER AND STAFF HAS TALKED ABOUT IS THAT THIS IS NOT YOU KNOW, IT WOULD BE EASY TO SAY CUT ALL OF IT FROM ONE AREA OR JUST CUT A BUNCH OF POSITIONS OR JUST CUT A SERVICE. AND THAT'S NOT THE APPROACH THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT. AND I AGREE THAT ENGAGEMENT WITH OUR CITIZENS AND WITH THE COMMISSION ON THE DECISIONS THAT ARE MADE TO GET THERE WILL BE A VITAL PART OF THIS PROCESS, BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS IS YOUR CITY, THIS IS THEIR CITY. AND SO WHATEVER SERVICES THEY PAY FOR IS, IS REALLY THEIR IS REALLY BASED ON THEIR INPUT, RIGHT? SO WE REPRESENT, YOU ALL REPRESENT THE CITY AND WHAT THEY WANT AND WHAT THEY ARE WILLING TO PAY FOR, WHAT THEY'RE WILLING TO, WHAT THEY, WHAT THEY EXPECT FROM, FROM OUR, FROM THEIR GOVERNMENT. AND SO I APPRECIATE THE MAYOR'S SUGGESTION TO ENGAGE THE CITIZENS, BECAUSE I THINK THAT IT'S GOING TO BE A BIG PART OF MAKING THESE DECISIONS FOR THEM AS TO WHAT WHAT WILL CONTINUE TO OPERATE, WHAT WILL GET CUT, WHAT MIGHT GET REFINED. AND THE MORE PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE ENGAGED IN THAT CONVERSATION, AND THE MORE INPUT, I THINK, THE BETTER OF A PLAN. WE'RE GOING TO COME OUT WITH THE MAYOR. YES, SIR. YEAH.SO I LOVE THIS IDEA. YOU KNOW, AS A AS A GENERAL CONCEPT, I'M NOT JUST WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE THE CONVERSATION OR THE DEBATE TODAY REGARDING IT, BUT I'M NOT PARTICULARLY IN FAVOR OF A BLUE RIBBON COMMITTEE FOR THE SAKE OF JUST BEING INCLUSIVE AND LARGER. RIGHT.
BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THEN I THINK WE'RE YIELDING TOO MUCH TO. POTENTIALLY TOO MANY DIFFERING VOICES, RIGHT? WHAT I'D LIKE IS THE WAY THAT THE MAYOR HAD TEED IT UP FIRST. RIGHT. YOU FIRST MADE A REFERENCE TO THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE. NOW YOU'RE REFERRING TO A FORM OF LIKE A BLUE RIBBON COMMITTEE AKIN TO THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE, COMPRISED OF INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE A PARTICULAR EXPERTISE IN FINANCE. NOW, I REITERATE, WE HAVE, BAR NONE, THE FINEST FINANCE TEAM IN THE LAND. YOU ALL ARE FANTASTIC. BUT HAVING REPRESENTATIVES WHO ARE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY VOLUNTEERING THEIR EXPERTISE BUT DIVERSE ENOUGH, IN MY VIEW, DIVERSE ENOUGH TO REPRESENT AT LEAST APPOINTEES AKIN TO THE CRC FROM THE COMMISSION AND THE CITY MANAGER AND THE CITY ATTORNEY, YOU KNOW, SO THAT WE CAN MAYBE HAVE A I'M JUST SUGGESTING MAYBE A VERSION OF THE CRC IN TERMS OF NUMBER AND REPRESENTATIVE, AT LEAST THE FOCUS SHOULD BE THERE BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN SELECTED FOR THIS TYPE OF A BLUE RIBBON COMMITTEE.
WE HAVE TOWN HALLS, WE HAVE THESE BUDGET MEETINGS THAT THE I MEAN, WE CAN SEE WE HAVE A VERY FULL GROUP TODAY HERE. I THINK THERE'S AMPLE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE RESIDENTS TO PROVIDE THEIR THOUGHTS, THEIR VIEWS. EACH OF US HOLDS WELL. WE HAVE OFFICE HOURS, BUT I THINK A BLUE RIBBON COMMITTEE LASER FOCUSED ON PEOPLE WHO BRING THAT PARTICULAR EXPERTISE IS WHAT I'M MORE IN FAVOR OF. NOT OVERINCLUSIVE THROUGH THE MAYOR. YES, SIR. I ACTUALLY I THINK THERE COULD BE A FUSION BETWEEN BOTH IDEAS. I DO LIKE THE VICE MAYOR'S CONCEPT OF HAVING DIFFERENT OPINIONS ON SPECIFIC AREAS, BECAUSE THERE ARE PROJECTS THAT MAY BE THE, THE, THOSE THAT ARE IN FINANCE DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND, BUT MAYBE THERE'S A WAY TO HAVE A SPECIFIC MEETING WHERE YOU CAN HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE OF EACH OF OUR ADVISORY BOARDS THAT WOULD HAVE AN AREA OF EXPERTISE, AND THEY CAN BE PRESENT FOR ANY QUESTIONS THAT THIS BLUE RIBBON PANEL WOULD HAVE. AND YOU'RE RIGHT, I THINK IF YOU EXPAND IT TOO MUCH, IT BECOMES EXTREMELY DIFFICULT FOR IT TO ACCOMPLISH ITS GOAL. AND REALLY, AS THE MAYOR SAID, THE GOAL WOULD BE THE FINANCE OF THE CITY. SO IT SHOULD BE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE EXPERTS IN THAT AREA WHO COULD REALLY GIVE THE COMMISSION SOME SOUND ADVICE, BUT OPEN IT UP FOR THEM TO HAVE THE RIGHT PEOPLE IN THE ROOM TO ANSWER QUESTIONS THAT THEY MAY HAVE. LIKE COMMISSIONER LAURA SAID.
AGAIN, WE'RE NOT GOING TO FIGURE THIS OUT TODAY. I JUST BROUGHT IT UP FOR MY COLLEAGUES TO THINK ABOUT IT. THE CLERK REMINDED ME, CORRECTLY, THAT WE HAVE A BUDGET REVIEW COMMITTEE, WHICH THE END OF THE DAY, WE COULD WE COULD USE THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO AGAIN, GIVE UP THEIR TIME ALREADY IN REGARDS TO THE CITY, BUT THE INTENT OF WHATEVER WHATEVER'S THE WILL OF THE COMMISSION, I'M MORE THAN WILLING TO DO. I JUST THINK THAT EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE A PERSON NAMED TO THAT COMMITTEE AND THAT IT SHOULD BE BASED AROUND, AGAIN, BUDGET AND THE FORTHCOMING TAX IMPLICATIONS. MY ONLY INTENT WILL BRING IT UP AT THE NEXT COMMISSION MEETING, AND WE'LL HAVE A CONVERSATION AND WE'LL MAKE A DECISION ON THAT POINT. OKAY. THANK YOU, MADAM DIRECTOR. MY SCREEN PLEASE. THANK YOU. AND SO THIS I WENT AHEAD AND I WENT TO THE
[01:00:08]
NEXT SLIDE. THIS SLIDE IS THE SAME INFORMATION JUST REPRESENTED IN DOLLARS. SO THIS IS PROPERTY TAX REVENUE BY PROPERTY TYPE. AND SO YOU CAN SEE THAT APPROXIMATELY JUST UNDER $72 MILLION COMES FROM OUR HOMESTEAD RESIDENTIAL CURRENTLY IN THE IN THIS FISCAL YEAR BUDGET, 37.5 FROM NON HOMESTEAD, 25.5 FROM COMMERCIAL AND 11.8 FROM ALL OTHERS. THIS ACTUALLY REPRESENTS THE UPDATED PROPERTY VALUES, GENERATING $146 MILLION IN PROPERTY TAX REVENUE. OUR JUNE 1ST ESTIMATE IN. I'M SORRY, OUR JULY 1ST PROPERTY VALUES. HOWEVER, THE BUDGET ESTIMATE IS BASED ON THE JUNE 1ST VALUE. SO THIS IS A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT THAN WHAT'S IN YOUR BOOK. BUT IT'S THE UPDATED INFORMATION. SO NOT A HUGE INCREASE FROM THE VALUES THAT WE RECEIVED ON JUNE 1ST TO JUNE TO JULY 1ST. THIS IS PROPERTY SAME INFORMATION PROPERTY TAX REVENUE BY PROPERTY TYPE. THIS IS JUST DEPICTED IN A PIE CHART. AND THEN THIS IS THE SLIDE THAT WE WERE REFERRING TO TENDS TO BE A FAVORITE DISCUSSION ITEM BECAUSE IT IS VERY REPRESENTATIVE OF WHAT GOES ON WITH OUR PROPERTY TAX REVENUE.AND SO AS AS THE MAYOR HAS HIGHLIGHTED EACH YEAR, AND AS COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ MENTIONED TODAY, YOUR THE PROPERTY TAXES PAID BY THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES RESIDENTS DOES NOT ALL GO TO THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. AND SO THAT IS A CONCEPT THAT MANY PEOPLE DON'T KNOW. AND SO THIS PIE CHART REFLECTS FOR YOU BASED ON JUST THE CITY'S MILLAGE OF 5.559, WHICH IS WHAT WE SET TODAY FOR THE PROPOSED MILLAGE TO GO ON THE TAX BILL. THE CITY RECEIVES $0.31 PER TAX DOLLAR OF THE TAXES THAT OUR RESIDENTS PAY, AND THIS IS BASED ON THE AVERAGE HOMESTEADED TAXABLE VALUE IN. DADE COUNTY RECEIVES $0.30 PER TAX DOLLAR. REGIONAL, WHICH IS PRIMARILY THE STATE RECEIVES JUST $0.02 PER TAX DOLLAR PAID BY OUR RESIDENTS.
AND THE SCHOOL BOARD ACTUALLY RECEIVES $0.37 PER TAX DOLLAR. SO YOU CAN SEE VERY CLEARLY HERE HOW THE HOW THE PROPERTY TAXES ARE DIVVIED UP FROM THE DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS. IT DOES NOT ALL GO TO THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. HOWEVER, I BELIEVE THAT OUR RESIDENTS WOULD AGREE THAT THE MAJORITY OF THEIR SERVICES ARE PROVIDED BY THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES.
AND SO THIS IS A VERY TELLING SLIDE. TO THE MAYOR. YES. SO THIS IS WHY I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT ON THE OTHER ONE. SO IT CAN BE COMPARED AND PERHAPS ON THAT ONE, WHAT THE VICE MAYOR WAS MENTIONING ABOUT THE GARBAGE FEE. MAYBE YOU CAN MAYBE AN INTERN CAN TAKE ON THIS PROJECT, BUT ADDING REVENUE FROM DIFFERENT FEES AND OTHER MUNICIPALITIES AS WELL, BECAUSE WE MAY END UP BEING NUMBER ONE FOR ALL WE KNOW, BECAUSE OTHERS MAY HAVE ADDITIONAL FEES THAT ARE MAKING UP THE DIFFERENCE OF WHAT THEY'RE NOT COLLECTING ON THE MILLAGE. SO WE CAN HAVE A REAL ACCURATE EXAMPLE OF HOW MUCH REVENUE IS COMING IN FROM THOSE ADDITIONAL FEES THAT, IN OUR CASE, AS THE VICE MAYOR WAS MENTIONING, WE'RE COVERING THAT FROM THE GENERAL FUND. SO WE WILL TRY AND MAKE THAT ADJUSTMENT TO THAT TABLE. MY ONLY CONCERN, AS I THINK ABOUT IT IS THAT TABLE IS VERY BUSY ALREADY. SO IT MAY BECOME. BUT WE'LL BUT WE'LL SEE IF THERE'S A IF THERE'S A CLEAN WAY FOR US TO HIGHLIGHT. YEAH. OR MAKE IT TOP 15. YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE TO GO ALL THE MUNICIPALITIES, BUT IT'LL, IT'LL SHOW US WHERE WE ARE IN THOSE TOP ONES. AND THEN JUST THE COMPARISON OF THE FEES. WE WILL WE WILL SEE. WE WILL TAKE A LOOK AT THAT. MANY CITIES HAVE DIFFERENT TYPES OF FEES. SO WE'LL IT GETS A LITTLE BIT TRICKY. AND IT'S ALMOST LIKE A, YOU KNOW, IN OTHER AREAS, BUT WE'LL, WE'LL TRY AND COME UP WITH A COMMON LIST OF FEES AND SEE IF WE CAN GATHER THAT INFORMATION BEFORE THE SEPTEMBER HEARING. OKAY, SO WE'RE ALMOST DONE. I THINK I HAVE THREE SLIDES LEFT. SO THIS IS THE ANNUAL PENSION CONTRIBUTION. SO THIS CHART SHOWS YOU EACH YEAR THE FLUCTUATION BETWEEN THE ANNUAL REQUIRED CONTRIBUTION TO PENSION, THE EXTRA PENSION PAYMENT AND THE PAYMENT TO FRS AND 401. AND SO AS YOU CAN SEE HERE IN 2027, THE BUDGET IS $24.9 MILLION FOR THE REQUIRED PAYMENT, SLIGHTLY LESS THAN LAST YEAR'S REQUIRED PAYMENT. WE ALL KNOW THE REASON THAT
[01:05:01]
LAST YEAR INCREASE OF SUBSTANTIALLY WAS BECAUSE OF THE RETIREE COLA, ALSO BECAUSE OF SOME NEW ITEMS TO UNION AGREEMENTS AND SOME USUAL PENSION CHANGES. FOR INSTANCE, THE FUNDING OF THE LOWERING OF THE ASSUMPTION RATE. AND SO THIS YEAR IT HAS SLIGHTLY GONE DOWN. THIS YEAR, WE ARE ALSO ABLE TO INCREASE THE EXTRA PAYMENT AMOUNT TO 8.6 MILLION.STILL ALMOST $1 MILLION LESS THAN IN 2025. IN 2026, WE DID HAVE TO DECREASE IT BECAUSE OF THAT. COLA. THE APPROVAL OF THE COLA FOR THE FOR THE RETIREES. BUT THIS YEAR, EACH YEAR WE APPLY A 1.25% INCREASE TO HOW MUCH WE FUND TOWARDS PENSION. AND SO PARTIALLY BECAUSE OF THAT, WE WERE ABLE TO FUND ADDITIONAL AN ADDITIONAL AMOUNT TO THE EXTRA PENSION PAYMENT.
AND THEN YOU CAN SEE THAT OUR FRS F 0401 PAYMENTS SLIGHTLY DECREASED FROM LAST YEAR, HOWEVER NOT TOO MUCH. AND YOU CAN SEE THAT THE PARTICIPATION IN THE PLAN HAS INCREASED EVERY YEAR SINCE 2019, WHICH HELPS TO LOWER OUR PENSION CONTRIBUTIONS. SO THIS SLIDE IS SAME INFORMATION, SAME PLAN DIFFERENT INFORMATION. SO THIS IS THE FUNDING RATIO OF OUR PENSION PLAN YEAR OVER YEAR. AND SO FOR FISCAL YEAR 20. IS THIS RIGHT. THIS CHART DOESN'T LOOK RIGHT. IT'S PROJECTING 76% FUNDED. IS THE INFORMATION RIGHT. I I'M SORRY THIS IS FOR THE 25 YEAR. SO THIS IS FOR FISCAL YEAR 27. WE WILL BE FUNDED AT 76.2% AND 23.8%. THIS IS JUST BASED ON THE ACTUAL ACTUARIAL YEAR. THANK YOU. AND SO THE GENERAL FUND RESERVE ANALYSIS. AND SO WE HAVE A POLICY OF FUNDING 25% OF OUR TOTAL OPERATING BUDGET. AND SO AT THE END OF FISCAL YEAR 25, WE ARE WE ARE FUNDING THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE 26 BUDGET, AND WE WILL BE FUNDED AT $64 MILLION. AND SO EACH YEAR, THAT INCREASES AS OUR BUDGET INCREASES, BECAUSE WE ARE TRYING TO FUND AT LEAST THREE MONTHS OF OPERATING EXPENSES IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO RECOVER AFTER A MAJOR CATASTROPHE. AND SO THAT IS THE FUNDING RATIO FOR EACH YEAR. I'M SORRY. PAULA, WOULD YOU MIND IF YOU CAN RECALL, GO BACK TO THE PREVIOUS SLIDE, THE FUNDING OF THE PENSION PLAN, THE ANNUAL PENSION CONTRIBUTIONS, A COUPLE OF SLIDES BACK, ONE MORE. WHERE IT GOES THROUGH 2027, RIGHT? YES. SO BASED ON WHAT OUR INVESTMENT MANAGERS ARE PREDICTING AND PROJECTING AND GIVEN IF WE MAINTAIN A CONTRIBUTIONS WHERE WE'RE MAKING THE EXTRA PAYMENT, CAN YOU TELL US A COUPLE OF THINGS LIKE, NUMBER ONE, WHEN IS IT ESTIMATED THAT THERE WILL BE FULLY FUNDING? I'M GOING TO DEFER TO OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR, DIANA GOMEZ. SURE. SO AT THE LAST MEETING THAT WE HAD WITH THE PENSION BOARD AND THE JOINT MEETING, THEY DID PRESENT THAT INFORMATION. AND IF THE ACTUAL INVESTMENT RETURNS ON THE MARKET VALUE OF ASSETS MEETS THE REQUIRED RATE THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE, WHICH IS 6.95%, THE PLAN IS EXPECTED TO BECOME PRETTY MUCH 100% FUNDED BY OR IT SAYS, 98% FUNDED BY TEN ONE, 31 AND OVER 100% BY TEN 132. SO BY TEN 131, WE WILL BE ESSENTIALLY FULLY FUNDED. OKAY, SO THAT'S IF EVERYTHING HOLDS RIGHT. WE CERTAINLY CAN'T PREDICT WHAT THE CRYSTAL BALL, BUT THESE ARE SOME OF THE SMARTEST PEOPLE IN THE ROOM.
THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE GIVING US, AS I WOULD SAY, A REASONABLE OR CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATE. RIGHT.
SO IN 2030, TOWARDS THE END OF 2031. RIGHT. CORRECT. SO WHAT IMPACT WOULD THAT HAVE THEN ON OUR AVAILABLE FUNDS WITH HAVING BEEN RELIEVED OF HAVING TO MAKE THE EXTRA PAYMENT? CAN YOU JUST KIND OF THIS IS FOR, YOU KNOW, THE RESIDENTS TO GET A SENSE OF LIKE WHEN YOU TIGHTEN YOUR BELT, YOU MAKE THOSE EXTRA PAYMENTS. YOU, YOU HOPE FOR THE BEST. YOU, YOU PLAN FOR THE WORST. WHAT, WHAT, WHAT IS THE POT OF GOLD IF THERE IS AT THE END OF THAT RAINBOW. SURE. SO THE NORMAL COST OF THE PLAN IS THE COST TO FUND THE EVERYDAY PLAN BENEFITS. ASSUMING NO UNFUNDED LIABILITY
[01:10:03]
IS ABOUT $6.5 MILLION. SO. AND THAT CHANGES EVERY YEAR DEPENDING ON BENEFITS PROVIDED AND THINGS LIKE THAT. SO LET'S IF WE ARGUE BASED ON THE LAST REPORT, IT'S ABOUT $6.5 MILLION, THEN THE DIFFERENCE FROM THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF PAYMENTS THAT WE MADE. SO AT THIS, YOU KNOW, SOMEWHERE AROUND $25 MILLION, $24 MILLION WOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR OTHER USES. ONCE WE HAVE NONE, NO OTHER UNFUNDED LIABILITY. WELL, THAT'S A REMARKABLE NUMBER. YES, ALMOST $25 MILLION. YES. THAT WE DON'T HAVE NOW. BUT WE WILL HAVE AVAILABLE IF WE MAINTAIN THIS SORT OF FISCAL RESPONSIBLE WAY OF HANDLING THE UNFUNDED LIABILITY. AM I RIGHT? THAT IS CORRECT. SO THINK ABOUT IT. YOU KNOW, THINK ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO FOR THE CITY WITH THAT ADDITIONAL MONEY THAT WE DON'T HAVE NOW. AND, AND IN LIGHT OF THE RATHER DRASTIC AND MATERIAL CHANGES THAT ARE GOING TO BE COMING OUR WAY WITH RESPECT TO REVENUE, WE DEPEND ON BASED ON PROPERTY TAXES. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. SO THE RESERVE SLIDE IS MY LAST SLIDE. SO THE ITEM[2. 26-1811 A Resolution of the City Commission setting the Proposed Operating Millage Rate of 5.559 for the Fiscal Year 2026-2027; to be submitted to the Miami-Dade County Property Appraiser in the form required by Section 200.065, Florida Statutes.]
THAT IS BEFORE YOU TODAY IS TO PASS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER AND STAFF TO SUBMIT THE MILLAGE RATE OF 5.559, WHICH IS 6.94 6.94% ABOVE THE ROLLBACK MILLAGE OF 5.1982. SO FOR THOSE WHO ARE NOT FAMILIAR, THE ROLLBACK MILLAGE RATE WOULD BE THE MILLAGE RATE THAT WOULD GENERATE APPROXIMATELY THE SAME AMOUNT OF REVENUE AS WE ARE GENERATING THIS FISCAL YEAR IN NEXT FISCAL YEAR. SO 5.1982 IS THAT ROLLBACK RATE. THE ROLLBACK RATE THAT WE ARE PROPOSING IS THE SAME IS MAINTAINING THE 5.559, WHICH ALLOWS US TO FUND THE BUDGET ESTIMATE PROPOSED TO YOU TODAY, WHICH IS 6.94% ABOVE THE ROLLBACK RATE. MR. MANAGER DO YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER COMMENTS OR ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO ADDRESS IN REGARDS TO THE ESTIMATED BUDGET? I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT WE THIS IS ABOUT THE 12TH YEAR THAT WE'VE MAINTAINED THIS SAME 5.559%. TWO YEARS PRIOR TO THAT, WE WERE HIGHER. ACTUALLY, WHEN YOU WERE HERE AND YOU. YOU ACTUALLY LOWERED THE MILLAGE RATE. SO WE WE ARE THE POSTER CHILD FOR FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY ACCORDING TO WHAT THE STATE TELLS US.HOWEVER, WE HAVE BEEN CAUGHT IN THIS AWASH OF TAX REDUCTION BECAUSE OF VARIOUS OTHER COUNTIES AND MUNICIPALITIES. BUT I, I DO BELIEVE THAT THE FACT THAT WE'RE GOING WITH OUR 12TH YEAR WITH THE SAME MILLAGE RATE AND THE FACT THAT WE HAVE A VERY A VERY SOUND BUDGET, A VERY SOUND CITY, I BELIEVE THIS IS A, A, A, A GOOD BUDGET. AND I CERTAINLY RECOMMEND ACCEPTANCE. OKAY. THANK YOU. THE MAYOR, MADAM VICE MAYOR. MY TRIPS THIS YEAR AND I MADE, I THINK, THREE I MEAN, CHELSEA WOULD REMEMBER BETTER THAN I WOULD HOW MANY TRIPS WE MADE TO TALLAHASSEE. WHAT I HEARD FROM FROM OUR ELECTED LEADERS IN TALLAHASSEE IS THEY WERE VERY PLEASED WITH THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. THEY WERE NOT UPSET BY OUR MILLAGE RATE. WHAT THEY WERE UPSET AT WERE OTHER CITIES THAT RAISED THEIR MILLAGE RATE. OTHER CITIES THAT WERE DOING THINGS LIKE HAD HAPPENED IN OUR CITY IN THE PAST, WHERE THERE'S RAISES FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS, WHERE THERE'S, YOU KNOW, OUR ALLOWANCES AND OTHER EXPENDITURES THAT THEY FELT WERE EXCESSIVE AND NOT IN SERVICE OF THE RESIDENTS. SO I'M CONFIDENT THAT THIS ADOPTING THIS MILLAGE RATE IS IN KEEPING WITH WHAT OUR LEADERS IN TALLAHASSEE WOULD BE HAPPY WITH, AND OUR EFFORTS TO TIGHTEN OUR BELT ON EXCESSIVE EXPENDITURES IS IS EXACTLY WHAT THEY WANT TO SEE OTHER CITIES DOING. AND WE ARE SETTING THE EXAMPLE FOR SURE. THROUGH THE MAYOR. YES, I PROPOSE SOMETHING. LAST YEAR IT WAS THE POINT. 25 FOR CONSECUTIVE YEARS. I'M NOT GOING TO BE PROPOSING THAT THIS YEAR, BUT I AM GOING TO BE PROPOSING AT LEAST SOME REDUCTION, SOMETHING THAT'S NOT GOING TO AFFECT THE BUDGET MUCH, BUT SHOWING A POINT THAT, HEY, WE CARE, OKAY, THIS HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION IS NOT GOING TO TAKE EFFECT RIGHT NOW. IT'S GOING TO TAKE TIME. AND I THINK RIGHT NOW WE CAN SHARE OR SHOW THE PEOPLE THAT WE ACTUALLY CARE.
[01:15:02]
NOW, WE INCREASED BY 46 EMPLOYEES COMPARED TO LAST YEAR. AND THE NUMBERS DON'T LIE.THEY'RE HERE. MY QUESTION IS, WHO PAYS THE PENSION FUND FOR THE BUILDING EMPLOYEES? THE PENSION FUND DOES THE BUILDING FUND? DOES THE BUILDING FUND US? OKAY. THAT'S GOOD. ALL THE COSTS THAT ARE BORNE BY EACH OF THE PROPRIETARY FUNDS ARE PROPORTIONATELY CHARGED TO THEM.
SO SANITARY SEWER AND STORMWATER ALSO PAY THEIR PROPORTIONATE COST OF THE PENSION FUND. OKAY. AND THEN THE OTHER THING THAT I ALSO WANT TO MENTION, THE MAYOR KEEPS ON TALKING ABOUT THIS COLA, RIGHT. AND KEEPS ON POINTING FINGERS. BUT FROM WHAT I COULD REMEMBER TO ACCEPT THIS COLA, WE NEEDED FOUR VOTES, DIDN'T WE? WE DID. RIGHT? CORRECT? YES. OKAY. AND WHO WERE THE FOUR PEOPLE THAT VOTED FOR THIS COLA? AS I RECALL, THE ONLY ONE WHO DIDN'T VOTE WOULD BE THE MAYOR. SO YOU'RE TRYING TO TELL ME THE VICE MAYOR ANDERSON VOTED FOR THIS COLA. I VOTED FOR COLA. I VOTED FOR THIS COLA. COMMISSIONER MENENDEZ VOTED FOR THIS COLA. AND COMMISSIONER ARIEL FERNANDEZ VOTED FOR THIS COLA.
SO JUST KEEP IN MIND THAT WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE COLA, YOU'RE ALSO TALKING ABOUT THE VICE MAYOR. AND IT'S NOT TO SAY ANYTHING NEGATIVE BECAUSE I STAND BY OUR DECISION. SOME PEOPLE HERE DON'T RUN BUSINESSES EVEN THOUGH THEY SAY THEY RUN BUSINESSES OR THEY SAY THEY ARE AND THEY ACTUALLY GET FIRED. EMBARRASSING. OKAY. BUT FOR A PERSON THAT DOES RUN A BUSINESS, RETENTION IS VERY IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY FOR PUBLIC SAFETY. SO WHEN YOU RAISE A COLA, IT WAS A VERY SMART DECISION AT THAT POINT WHEN WE HAD MORE THAN 30 VACANCIES IN PUBLIC SAFETY. THAT'S TAKING CARE OF THE SAFETY OF THIS COMMUNITY. SO WHEN YOU KEEP ON BRINGING COLA AND COLA AND TRYING TO POINT FINGERS, BECAUSE WE TOOK 2 MILLION FROM AN EXTRA PAYMENT TO, TO, TO FUND THE PENSION, THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A LITTLE MORE, OKAY? BECAUSE THE SAFETY OF THIS COMMUNITY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING. MADAM FINANCE DIRECTOR, MAY I ASK YOU A QUICK QUESTION? WHAT WAS THE RECOMMENDATION AT THE TIME? WHAT WAS THE RECOMMENDATION THROUGH THE MANAGER IN REGARDS TO THE COLA? SO THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE FINANCE DIRECTOR, BECAUSE THAT'S ONE PART OF THE HEARING THAT WE HAVE, IS MY RECOMMENDATION WAS TO NOT GRANT THE COLA BASED ON THE FACTORS THAT WERE IDENTIFIED IN THAT MEMO FROM THE TIME. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SECOND. I DID NOT VOTE FOR THAT COLA. I STAND AND I VOTE FOR THAT COLA. IT WAS THE SMARTEST MOVE. AND NOW YOU'RE SEEING THE REPERCUSSIONS. IT ONLY HURT THE EMPLOYEES, THE CURRENT EMPLOYEES. LET ME EXPLAIN TO YOU WHY. BECAUSE THE COMMISSIONER FAILS TO EITHER UNDERSTAND OR HE PREFERS TO. I HOPE SHE UNDERSTANDS IT, BUT SHE MAY BE PREFERS TO NOT SAY THE WHOLE TRUTH. OKAY. INSTEAD OF ATTACKING ME ABOUT SOME RIDICULOUSNESS, WHICH IS NOT TRUE. REALLY QUICK. IN REGARDS TO THE COLA, WHEN WE GRANTED THAT COLA WHO BENEFITED FROM THAT COLA, DID THE CURRENT EMPLOYEES BENEFIT FROM THAT EMPLOYEE FROM THAT COLA? NO. RETIREES. SO YOU UNDERSTAND, MR. MAYOR, IF I MAY. IT'S A SUBSET OF RETIREES. IT'S NOT ALL RETIREES. IT'S THE ONES.
SORRY, I'M GETTING THERE. I'M GETTING THERE. I'M GETTING THERE. GETTING THERE. YOU'RE JUMPING THE GUN. SORRY. LET ME JUST LET ME. YOU'RE YOU'RE STEALING. YOU'RE STEALING MY THUNDER. BUT LET'S JUST PUMP THE BRAKES, NOT ATTACK PEOPLE PERSONALLY. LET'S ATTACK. LET'S ATTACK THE ISSUES. RIGHT. NOT HERE. ATTACKING ANYBODY PERSONALLY. AGAIN, WE'RE TALKING ISSUES HERE. VERY PROUD TO NOT HAVE VOTED FOR THAT COLA. IT WAS A HUGE MISTAKE THAT STAFF EVEN SAID NOT TO VOTE FOR. BUT ALL OF YOU THAT ARE EMPLOYEES DID NOT BENEFIT FROM THAT. COLA AM I CORRECT? YES OR NO? THAT IS CORRECT. OKAY. NOW LET'S SAY, HEY, MAYBE ALL OUR PAST EMPLOYEES BENEFIT FROM THAT COLA. IS THAT TRUE? ALL OUR PAST EMPLOYEES BENEFIT FROM THAT COLA. NO. IF I MAY RECALL, IT WAS ABOUT 700 OR SO INDIVIDUALS. CORRECT? IT'S ABOUT CORRECT. I'M TRYING TO PULL IT UP, BUT IT'S A SUBSET OF THE TOTAL ROUGHLY 900. SOME RETIREES. THAT WORD THAT THIS WAS DERIVED FROM A SETTLEMENT PROCEEDING, CORRECT? YES. OKAY.
THIS CODE IS GOING TO COST THE CITY $20 MILLION FOR THE NEXT TEN YEARS. LET ME BE CLEAR.
THESE ARE INDIVIDUALS THAT I'M GRATEFUL THAT THEY WORK FOR THE CITY, BUT THEY'RE RECEIVING THEIR RETIREMENT. AND MANY OF THEM ARE ALSO RECEIVING SOCIAL SECURITY. SO AND MANY OF THEM
[01:20:06]
RECEIVE 175 MONEY AND 185 MONEY, AND DROP MONEY TO THE TUNE OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. SOME FIREFIGHTERS, AS I WROTE IN MY LETTER, AS MR. DAVID PEREZ, WHO'S SITTING IN THE BACK, CAN TELL YOU, LEAVE THE CITY WITH $1.5 MILLION IN CASH AND THEIR AVERAGE OF $77,000 A YEAR. SO WE PAY OUR EMPLOYEES HANDSOMELY FOR THE WORK THAT THEY DO. IF YOU LOOK AT THE FIREFIGHTERS, I'D LIKE TO USE THEM AS AN EXAMPLE. THEY AVERAGE $117,000 AVERAGE PAY YEAR. THEY HAVE THE BEST FACILITIES IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, IF NOT THE STATE OF FLORIDA, ALL BRAND NEW FACILITIES. AND WHEN I GOT HERE, MR. PEREZ WALKED ME THROUGH OUR FACILITIES AND I MADE A COMMITMENT THAT I WOULD RENOVATE OR BUILD NEW FACILITIES. AND I KEPT MY PROMISE. WHAT I WON'T DO IS JEOPARDIZE THE FUTURE OF THE CITY BY GRANTING ABSORBENT COLAS OR GRANTING EXORBITANT PENSION CONTRACTS, WHICH WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST. SO AT THE END OF THE DAY. THE REASON WHY I SELECT TO HAVE TO POINT THE FINGER AT COMMISSIONER CASTRO IS SHE'S RUNNING FOR REELECTION. AND THE I'LL BE VERY CANDID. AND THE PEOPLE WHO ARE VOTING IN THIS COMMUNITY NEED TO UNDERSTAND THEY DIDN'T SUPPORT AN ECG. YOU VOTED FOR A $2 MILLION COLA. SHE GAVE HERSELF A PERSONAL 101% RAISE. SHE GAVE HERSELF A CAR ALLOWANCE. SHE GAVE HERSELF AN EXPENSE ACCOUNT. SHE VOTED IN OPPOSITION OF A NOVEMBER ELECTION. OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN. WE CAN CONTINUE TALKING ABOUT THIS. AT ONE POINT, WE EVEN HAD CONVERSATIONS ABOUT SPENDING OUR RESERVES DIPPING INTO OUR RESERVES, WHICH IS ABSOLUTELY RECKLESS, JUST LIKE ACCEPTING A COLA. SO WITHOUT WE'RE TALKING FACTS HERE. WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT PERSONAL MATTERS HERE. NO NEED TO BRING PERSONAL ISSUES. THE MAYOR. YES, MADAM VICE MAYOR. SO IF WE'RE GOING TO RECOUNT WHAT HAPPENED DURING THAT COLA MEETING ACCURATELY.MR. CASTRO WAS PUSHING FOR AN 8% COLA. HOW MUCH WAS THAT STRIPPED FROM OUR BUDGET? IT WOULD HAVE BEEN ROUGHLY A $27 MILLION. MAYBE A LITTLE BIT MORE, ABOUT $3.5 MILLION PAYMENT EVERY YEAR OVER TEN YEARS. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN DEVASTATING, WOULDN'T IT? OKAY, MR. CASTRO, I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU THE FOLLOWING SUGGESTION. REDUCING THE MILLAGE RATE HELPS THE RICH THE MOST. WORKING OUT SOMETHING WITH STAFF TO WHERE THERE CAN BE AN APPLICATION PROCEDURE FOR REDUCTION IN GARBAGE FEES GOING FORWARD. IT'S NOT GOING TO BE. THIS YEAR IS THE BEST WAY TO HELP THOSE WHO ARE STRUGGLING. AND THAT'S ULTIMATELY WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO, IS HELP THOSE WHO ARE STRUGGLING, WHO HAVE DIFFICULTY PAYING FOR THESE FEES. IT'S GOING TO GIVE MORE TAX RELIEF TO THOSE WHO ARE STRUGGLING. THEN ANY TWEAKING OF THE OF THE MILITARY EVER COULD DO. THAT'S WHERE YOU CAN HELP PEOPLE THE MOST. THE OTHER SOUNDS SEXY, BUT IT DOESN'T DELIVER. THROUGH THE MAYOR. YES. OKAY. WELL, SINCE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT RUNNING FOR ELECTION REELECTION, YES, I AM RUNNING FOR REELECTION, BUT THAT'S NOT SOMETHING WE SHOULD BE TALKING ABOUT. BUT LET'S GO AHEAD AND TALK ABOUT IT JUST A TAD BIT.
ARE YOU NOT RUNNING FOR REELECTION? YOU DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER. OF COURSE HE IS. SO LET'S BE A LITTLE TRANSPARENT HERE. YESTERDAY WE WERE VOTING ON A DEVELOPMENT GOING TO BE VOTING ON. LET ME JUST TELL YOU, GAVE THE GAVE THE MAYOR'S PAC $25,000. OKAY. THAT CRYSTAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECT, WHICH IS THE CRYSTAL DEVELOPER, GAVE THE MAYOR $10,000 THE DAY AFTER QUALIFICATION. OKAY, LET'S GO A LITTLE FURTHER. THERE'S A PROJECT COMING IN MERRICK PARK FROM A BRAZILIAN DEVELOPER WHO ALSO GAVE THE MAYOR $25,000. SO LET'S JUST BE A LITTLE MORE TRANSPARENT. THESE ARE PROJECTS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THAT WE ARE VOTING ON RIGHT NOW. THE MAYOR IS RUNNING FOR REELECTION. HOW DOES THAT LOOK? THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE THAT.
[01:25:04]
WOULD MY COLLEAGUES IN THE COMMISSION LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING ELSE THAT IS GOOD FOR THE ORDER HERE? YES, YES. MR. MAYOR, I ACTUALLY HAVE A QUESTION. SO WE TAKE THREE VOTES IN THE MILITARY, CORRECT? WE TAKE ONE TODAY, AND THEN WE TAKE TWO IN SEPTEMBER. IS THAT HOW IT IS? SO THIS IS THE ONE THAT THE PROPOSED MILLAGE RATE THAT WILL BE SENT TO THE PROPERTY APPRAISER. AND THIS IS THE ONE THAT WILL GO ON THE TRIM NOTICE. AND THEN THERE WILL BE TWO BUDGET HEARINGS IN SEPTEMBER WHERE THE TENTATIVE MILLAGE WILL BE APPROVED AT THE FIRST.AND THEN OBVIOUSLY, YOU FINALLY APPROVE AT THE SECOND BUDGET HEARING. I JUST WANTED CLARIFICATION ON THAT. RIGHT. SO THE MILLAGE THAT'S VOTED ON TODAY IN ORDER TO INCREASE IT AFTER IT GOES ON THE ON THE TAX BILL, REQUIRES ADDITIONAL NOTICING AND WOULD ESSENTIALLY PROBABLY COST THE CITY MORE THAN WE WOULD LOSE, REDUCING THE MILLAGE. SO AND THEN WE VOTE ON THE BUDGET IN SEPTEMBER. AND IN THE TWO YES, TWO READINGS. PERFECT. ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. ANYTHING FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER. BEFORE WE TAKE ON THIS RESOLUTION, I ALSO HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY. IT IS IT A QUASI JUDICIAL PROCEEDING WHEN WE'RE CONVENING TO DISCUSS MATTERS INVOLVING, FOR EXAMPLE, CRYSTAL PROJECT, THE CRYSTAL PROJECT INVOLVED QUASI JUDICIAL ITEMS, THE PAD AND. YES, AND THE SITE PLAN IS A QUASI JUDICIAL. SO I DON'T KNOW IF. AND THE ZONING CHANGES IF YOU, AS THE CITY ATTORNEY, SHOULD CAUTION ANYBODY ON THE DAIS WHEN THEY'RE EXPRESSING A PERSONAL OPINION, PREJUDGING, I WOULD SAY THE ISSUE BY SAYING THAT IF ENTITIES ASSOCIATED WITH THE CRYSTAL PROJECT ARE MAKING DONATIONS TO A PAC, THAT THAT IS CONSIDERED BY THAT COMMISSIONER TO BE AN EXPRESSION OF PREJUDGING ISSUES, SITTING IN A QUASI JUDICIAL CAPACITY THAT COULD GIVE RISE TO RECUSAL. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU THINK YOU YOU WOULD NEED TO CAUTION PEOPLE FROM REVEALING THAT YOU CONSIDER MAKING A CONTRIBUTION, A MATERIAL HAVING A MATERIAL IMPACT PRIOR, PRIOR TO THE THE CONTINUED HEARINGS ON THESE MATTERS. SO AS A GENERAL MATTER, OF COURSE, EACH OF YOU HAS TO MAKE A DETERMINATION THAT YOU ARE, YOU KNOW, AND THAT YOU ARE FREE FROM BIAS AND YOU CAN BE IMPARTIAL IN DETERMINING OR CONSIDERING A QUASI JUDICIAL MATTER. AND OF COURSE, THAT MATTERS NOT HERE BEFORE US TODAY. SO WE SHOULD NOT BE DISCUSSING THAT MATTER. NO, I COULD NOT AGREE WITH YOU MORE. THAT'S WHY I'M MENTIONING THAT THERE MAY BE CAUSE TO CAUTION, AS THE CITY ATTORNEY, MAYBE EVEN TO CAUTION COMMISSIONERS FROM EXPRESSING A CLEAR BIAS FROM MY CHEAP SEATS HERE. CLEAR BIAS THAT THE COMMISSIONER CASTRO IS AGAINST THE CRYSTAL PROJECT FOR THE REASONS YOU JUST STATED HERE ON THE RECORD.
TO THE MAYOR. I THINK, IF I MAY, I'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY. SO AGAIN, AS I'VE I'VE, YOU KNOW, INSTRUCTED EACH OF YOU IN THE PAST, WHEN WE CONSIDER THE QUASI JUDICIAL MATTERS, IT IS UP TO EACH OF YOU TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU CAN BE REMAIN FREE FROM BIAS AND CONSIDER THE APPLICATION BEFORE YOU IMPARTIALLY AND BASED ON THE EVIDENCE AND THE HEARINGS THAT THAT THAT OCCUR AT A PUBLIC A PROPERLY N MEETING T MAY..
ISERADA, IF THERE WAS ING FUNDED BY DEVOPERTS ? NO BY THE PSOATS REGOMETHING THAT IA BLECORD. IT' INFMATION HAESS TO. SIF THERE A BIASERUMR ONE, YOU I ULAY WOU BTHEWAS AIAS, MAYOR'S. HE WOE ASED TOUHE MAYOR. Y DISA. IT'NOT FOR Y T E RECORDAKS FOR ITSELF, RECMENDATIO TO THEIT AND RNEYS TO AID LEADING INTO CAR EO EN Y SD WHAT YOUAI Y ONECORD EXPES CLEA B IT WERE UO ME, I S YD TO OW H YOU COULDOSSIWALK BK URTAMS UNSS Y'ROTEI HON ANYWAY,UST YINGO KEEAN UT FOR AND F THE REST OF COLLES T .HA Y. SO JUST TWO QUICK POIS.UMBER O, THE REASON W I DIDN'T RESPONDO AG YOU'RE TREADING ON ONSOME VYI WANT TO AVOID THAT CONVERSATION HERE IN THE PUBLIC, BECAUSE I THINK THERE IS NO PLACE FOR THAT, NUMBER ONE. NUMBER TWO, MADAM CITY ATTORNEY, THOSE ACCEPTING ANY CONTRIBUTION, I MADE A BIAS. IT DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A VOTING CONFLICT. THE BIAS QUESTION IS ALWAYS UP TO EACH OF YOU IN THE QUASI JUDICIAL MATTERS. BUT THERE'S NO FINANCIAL VOTING CONFLICT. I BRING THAT UP BECAUSE I OBVIOUSLY LIKE TO HEAR FROM THE PROFESSIONALS IN REGARDS TO THESE MATTERS, BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S BEEN THE SAME TACTICS FOR THE LAST THREE AND A HALF YEARS. SLANDER, DESTROY, AND A LACKING ZERO FACTS ISSUES AND NOT LEADING.
SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE HAVE A RESOLUTION HERE OF THE CITY COMMISSION THAT MADAM CITY ATTORNEY, WE READ INTO THE RECORD, PLEASE, SO WE CAN VOTE. YES, SIR. OF COURSE. IT'S A
[01:30:02]
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION SETTING THE PROPOSED OPERATING MILLAGE RATE OF 5.559 FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 TO 2027, TO BE SUBMITTED TO THE MIAMI DADE COUNTY PROPERTY APPRAISER IN THE FORM REQUIRED BY SECTION 200.065 FLORIDA STATUTES. I'LL MOVE IT. I HAVE A SECOND, PLEASE. I'LL SECOND. MR. CLARK, DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? NO. MR. MAYOR, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT. I WAS HOPING THAT, IF I MAY, BEFORE WE TAKE A VOTE ON THIS, I WAS HOPING THAT OUR NEXT MEETINGS THAT WE COULD HAVE SOME PUBLIC COMMENT. I'D LIKE TO SEE THE PUBLIC, ESPECIALLY THE RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL AREAS, ESPECIALLY THE COMMERCIAL AREAS, BECAUSE WE ALWAYS HAVE THE RESIDENTS WHO COME HERE, BUT WE DON'T REALLY HAVE COMMERCIAL AREAS. THEY'RE GOING TO PLAY SUCH A MAJOR ROLE IN HOW OUR BUDGET DEVELOPS, ESPECIALLY WITH THESE TAX REFERENDUMS THAT ARE FORTHCOMING. I'D LIKE TO SEE THE DOWNTOWN, ESPECIALLY AS AS WE EMBARK ON CERTAIN PIECES OF LEGISLATION AND PROJECTS THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR SUCH A LONG TIME, ONE OF THOSE BEING THE CLEANLINESS PROJECT THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE BRINGING FORWARD, THAT CURRENTLY IS BEING REVIEWED BY THE MANAGER AND THE PROCUREMENT TEAM. ALSO, SOME OF THE AMAZING PROJECTS THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR OVER TEN YEARS. FOR EXAMPLE, THE MEDIANS ON EIGHTH STREET. EXCUSE ME, ON EIGHTH STREET, EIGHTH STREET IN PONCE. WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THAT FOR YEARS. AND EVERY TIME THAT I TALK TO THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, THEY'RE SUPER EXCITED. SO WE'RE INVESTING IN OUR DOWNTOWN.WE'RE MAKING SURE WE ADDED THOSE ADDITIONAL POLICE OFFICERS. 15 WE'RE REALLY FOCUSING ON PUBLIC SAFETY IN THE DOWNTOWN AND NOT ROBBING TO PAY. PETER. PAUL. BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE WERE HAVING ISSUES. IF THERE WAS AN ISSUE IN THE DOWNTOWN, WE WERE ASKING THE POLICE OFFICERS TO COME FROM THE RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS. NOW WE HAVE A DEDICATED POLICE FORCE JUST IN THE DOWNTOWN. SO I'D LIKE TO HEAR, BECAUSE THESE ARE MAJOR DECISIONS THAT WE'RE MAKING AND I'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM, AT A MINIMUM, THE CHAMBER SHOULD BE HERE. AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO HEAR FROM SOME OF THE BUSINESS OWNERS, ESPECIALLY BUSINESS OWNERS, ON MIRACLE MILE, BUSINESS OWNERS ON GIRALDA, BUSINESS OWNERS IN THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT. I'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU, BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO BE CARRYING A LOT OF THE WEIGHT IN THESE BUDGETS, NOT ONLY HERE LOCALLY, BUT THROUGHOUT THE STATE, AS WE SEE SOME SERIOUS TAX CHANGES COMING IN 2028, 2028 AND 2029. SO, MR. CLARK, CAN WE HAVE A VOTE, VICE MAYOR ANDERSON? YES, COMMISSIONER CASTRO, I'LL BE VOTING YES, BUT I'M ALSO PUTTING ON THE RECORD. MY PLAN IS TO MAKE THIS A LITTLE LOWER. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ. YES, COMMISSIONER LADA, I ECHO THE MAYOR'S OBSERVATIONS OF THE IMPORTANCE AND THE NEED. I WOULD SAY, TO HAVE NOT ONLY MORE RESIDENTS COME SPEAK DURING THE BUDGET MEETING, BUT WE REALLY NEED TO SEE THE THE COMMERCIAL BUSINESS OPERATORS IN THE CITY APPEAR BECAUSE NOT ONLY ARE THEY IMPORTANT IN ANY GIVEN YEAR, SINCE THEY ARE VITAL TO THE TAX BASE AND THE CONTINUED. SUCCESS OF THE CITY. WHETHER YOU LIVE OR YOU WORK OR BOTH HERE OR YOU VISIT. NOW, GIVEN THE CHANGES THAT WE THINK ARE GOING TO BE COMING DOWN FROM TALLAHASSEE AFFECTING OUR PROPERTY TAX REVENUE, THEY ARE MOST IMPORTANT DURING DURING THESE THESE CONVERSATIONS INVOLVING THE BUDGET. SO I AGREE WITH YOU, MAYOR, THAT WE HOPE TO HEAR MORE FROM THEM SINCE THEY PLAY AN INCREASINGLY VITAL ROLE. SO MY VOTE IS YES, MAYOR. AND AT THAT POINT, SOMETHING THAT WE MENTIONED YESTERDAY IN THE COMMISSION MEETING I BROUGHT UP TO THE MANAGER THIS MORNING, I WENT EARLY IN THE MORNING AROUND 5:00. I TOOK THOSE PICTURES FOR YOU. LAURA, IN MY OFFICE IS WORKING ON PUTTING TOGETHER THE MEMO. I'M GOING TO SEND IT TO THE COMMISSIONER SO YOU CAN SEE. AND I GOT ACTUALLY, IT WAS VERY FORTUNATE TO ACTUALLY SEE WASTE MANAGEMENT IN THE PROCESS OF OPENING THE DOORS. SO I TOOK PICTURES AS THEY WERE ROLLING OUT THE CANS. SO YOU CAN SEE HOW, HOW THE ACTUAL STRUCTURES LOOK INSIDE. AND AGAIN, I BRING THAT UP NOW BECAUSE THESE ARE SIMPLE THINGS THAT COULD PLAY A SIGNIFICANT BEAUTIFICATION ROLE, MAINTENANCE ROLE IN THE DOWNTOWN, WHICH AGAIN, AS REVENUES BECOME TIGHTER, THOSE REVENUES BECOME TIGHTER AND LESS. THIS COULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR MORE BEAUTIFICATION, AND IT COULD BE SOMETHING SO SIMPLE THAT PAYS HUGE DIVIDENDS. SO MY VOTE IS YES TO ADOPT THE MILLAGE. MOVING FORWARD. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE BEFORE WE ADJOURN? ANYTHING ELSE? NO, SIR. THANK YOU. OKAY. WELL, I'D LIKE TO THANK STAFF FOR THIS FIRST OF THREE MEETINGS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK. THANK YOU FOR FOR, YOU KNOW, PUTTING TOGETHER THIS THIS BUDGET ESTIMATE. WE'RE BEYOND GRATEFUL FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK, AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. AND HOPEFULLY IN THE NEXT MEETING, WE'LL HAVE A BETTER TURNOUT IN REGARDS TO THE PUBLIC. AND MAYBE, MR. MANAGER, THROUGH YOUR LEADERSHIP, CAN WORK WITH MARTHA BUNTING TO MAYBE PUT SOMETHING OUT THERE SO WE CAN ENGAGE MORE OF THE COMMUNITY. WE WILL DO THAT. MAYOR, MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? I HAVE A MOTION. MAY I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. MEETING ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.