June 16, 2026 Commission Budget Workshop

[00:01:59]Mhm.

[00:05:49]>> Mhm.

[00:07:44]>> Mhm.

[00:09:39]>> Mhm.

[00:11:34]>> Mhm.

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[00:20:42]>> City Commission budget workshop. It is June 17th, 2026.

[00:20:47]It is 6 p.m. I'm calling this meeting to order.

[00:20:50]Beginning with the invocation by Commissioner Davis and the pledge of allegiance led by Commissioner Campbell.

[00:20:56]Please stand if you are able.

[00:21:01]>> Dear heavenly Father, we first want to give you thanks.

[00:21:51]>> Roll call, please, Ms. Collier.

[00:21:54]Ms. Davis, Commissioner Davis.

[00:21:57]Commissioner Boram.

[00:21:58]>> Present.

[00:21:59]>> Commissioner Dennis.

[00:22:01]>> Here.

[00:22:03]Present.

[00:22:04]>> And Mayor prepare.

[00:22:06]>> Present.

[00:22:07]>> We have Well, we don't need a quorum since the workshop. So, if you can save that, I'm going to move on to public comments. Is there anybody here from the community for public comments for items not specified on the agenda? Public comments are limited to 3 minutes, but there will not be a response given.

[00:22:22]Is there anybody here for public comments?

[00:22:25]Then we'll close public comments.

[00:22:28]I'm sure I get a business. Fire Department budget.

[00:22:37]>> Good evening, Mayor, Commissioners, staff.

[00:22:40]We'd like to present the uh fiscal '26 '27 budget for the Fire Department.

[00:22:47]Um I I know we're having some technical issues, so the last eight pages in the packet that I gave you are the slides.

[00:22:55]If that'll help.

[00:23:00]So, under our achievements this year, we wanted to talk about updating our standard operating guidelines, rules and regulations. That's an ongoing thing, but we have gotten started and we're moving along pretty well.

[00:23:11]Um our new inspector, John Silva, passed his all of his inspector classes. He also received his EMR certification and he's working on his investigator.

[00:23:23]Um we received a new ladder truck, as everyone's aware.

[00:23:27]Um we've had increased visibility thanks to the work of the PIO.

[00:23:31]Uh we also renegotiated most of our uh facility contracts with Georgia Pacific and we're working on some of the others, but with Georgia Pacific, we actually gained an extra 25,000 to help fund the special operations team.

[00:23:45]Um we also received the FM Global Grant to get us iPads for moving away from paper in our truck checks, inventory, inspections, and other uh duties in the fire department. As you know, we also got a donation from the Women's Club to buy hoods.

[00:24:02]We uh received and have completed the HMGP grant for the bay doors at station two.

[00:24:08]Uh the final inspection for that will be July 17th and then we should be looking forward to reimbursement.

[00:24:15]Um we've updated a lot of our Hazmat training props and we've got several classes for advanced or advanced classes for our Hazmat technicians.

[00:24:26]Um we added response personnel and asset management modules to our First Due program or platform.

[00:24:32]And we also got um we were accepted into a USDA grant and that was a $2 million grant to help reimburse the fire ladder truck and get us a new engine.

[00:24:45]As we move to the next slide, our major priorities for this coming year, we're going to continue working towards that hazardous materials team, updating our training, equipment, and props so that these guys can stay fresh with um low frequency high risk uh training.

[00:25:04]We want to restructure more of our MOUs with our industrial partners and try and get more training and money for those special operations.

[00:25:14]Um we increased the the specialized training facilities fire, hazmat, and USAR.

[00:25:22]We had added some more stuff to the burn building complex so allowing our guys to stay prepared and work in different fashions at that building.

[00:25:31]We've added person or we're asking to add personnel.

[00:25:34]Um if we can add one, that would be great. We would like to add three. That would be two each shift would get one.

[00:25:41]But anything we can do there, we know that uh budget's tight this year and and we don't expect a whole lot, but we we do need to ask for that.

[00:25:49]Also, we are applying for the SAFER grant again, which would pay for 3 years of those personnel if we received it.

[00:25:56]Um we did get declined from last year, but we are applying again.

[00:26:01]Um we're also hoping to continue moving on with our cancer prevention and mental wellness programs.

[00:26:07]We're continuing to update the standard operating guidelines and and procedures.

[00:26:13]We added two car seat technicians as I know some of the commissioners were really excited about.

[00:26:19]Um we are still continuing to use more technology to streamline services and our other systems.

[00:26:25]We'd like to maybe add part-time administrative help if we can.

[00:26:30]And that would help us with updating some of the data and data entry into our platforms.

[00:26:35]As you move to the next slide this looks at our operational budget.

[00:26:41]And in the packets I gave you there's a couple corrections. It was after our executive session meeting the other night I went back and just changed a couple things cuz I know that the budget was tight.

[00:26:52]So, originally on the in the slide it says that our current is 554642 or 652, sorry.

[00:27:00]Our new proposed would be 576 592.

[00:27:06]And our differential there would be 21,000.

[00:27:09]And most of the drivers for that is fuel.

[00:27:11]Whether it's natural gas, electricity, and those sorts of things and vehicle maintenance.

[00:27:17]Um so those are the things and then what we've noticed too is all of our medical stuff has gone up.

[00:27:23]So, we're going to have to ask a little bit more there.

[00:27:26]As we move to the next slide, which would be personnel, as you know, this is mostly an HR function, but we do have some numbers there. They're pretty close, but as you heard from the executive session it is another 30,000 with the longevity across the board for those people that receive it, plus any benefits and pension contributions.

[00:27:48]Um I'm sure that HR will update those numbers as we move into that part of the budget.

[00:27:56]And the next slide is the capital budget.

[00:27:59]This is where we propose our our our decrease. So, last year we had 228,000 to work on some of these projects with our training props and other things like that and the trucks and different things.

[00:28:12]This year we're proposing that we drop it down to 100,000.

[00:28:16]That would give back 128,000 to the city.

[00:28:21]But it would still allow us to move forward with some of the CIP or capital improvements that we need.

[00:28:28]Uh the next slide would be our contracts and fire services.

[00:28:34]This should still be pretty accurate. I didn't change anything here. So, Georgia Pacific went to 55,000 a year.

[00:28:41]That's 30,000 for our retainer and we got the 25 for the hazmat.

[00:28:46]We're still working with Seminole They've been a little more difficult to deal with.

[00:28:51]But we're we're trying to uh to get them to help us in that way as well.

[00:28:56]We've also started talking with certain T about the same kind of things.

[00:29:01]And we'll move towards St. Johns and some of the others. The churches I don't think we'll bother with. Those are minimal things and they're not something we're worried about.

[00:29:10]Um but these other things are pretty high risk.

[00:29:13]Um with our contractual services, the expenditure side, that's our first due platform.

[00:29:19]This does our inspections, our pre-incident planning.

[00:29:22]It controls personnel, inventory, and it has response tied to it. So it tracks all of our data. It's giving us really some good numbers that we had a hard time really tracking and and understanding prior when we were using the state system.

[00:29:38]Um the Lexipol training system there, we use that to make sure we keep our EMT in in place and we can do rainy day training that way on the computer if we need to get some hours.

[00:29:49]And then the Samsara is our GPS locators for the trucks and tracking our vehicles.

[00:29:57]And on the fire prevention services, year-to-date totals is 55 19. That's for plan review and and inspections. We expect that'll go up a bit, but construction has slowed down a bit, I think. But we're still moving along pretty good with plan review and fire marshal and and the inspection side.

[00:30:19]That's generally the the uh the presentation there. In the packets I gave you, I do have a couple pages on our kind of three-year plan.

[00:30:30]And then it takes you through the next page takes you through the about our operational budget line by line.

[00:30:35]It shows you which ones we were asking to change and what we had in the previous year.

[00:30:41]Um and if you look there, the one thing that is I wanted to bring to your attention and and get your feeling on is the scholarship.

[00:30:50]So, we dropped it down last year to a point that it was hard to do what we had originally designed it to do.

[00:30:58]Or originally, you guys wanted us to hire people, get them to school, and give them that stipend so that they could pay their bills and go to school and and do that kind of stuff. Well, when we cut the budget last year, it was to such an extent that we couldn't pay anybody.

[00:31:15]So, we just kind of held off.

[00:31:17]So, I do have one kid that's trying to go in.

[00:31:20]That That's the 2,500 that I was asking to keep.

[00:31:24]We have enough this year to pay for his fire.

[00:31:27]The 2,500 would take him through his EMT, and that would get him through school.

[00:31:31]We wouldn't pay for him to have a job or anything like that. It would That would be on him. We'd just pay for his classes. If you guys are not thinking that that's worth it, or you don't want to continue that way, or or you want to change the funding, yes, sir.

[00:31:45]>> Let me ask the question. When you say that would not pay for him We would not pay for him to have a job, could you bring clarity to that, please?

[00:31:51]>> Yes. So, when we talked about this in the past, you guys at one point had asked us to give them a stipend. So, we were hiring them, and I think we did this with two people.

[00:32:02]We got them through school, and we hired them at minimum wage until they got through school.

[00:32:09]And and >> Logan Dillard is one of the men that that actually completed that.

[00:32:14]In the very back page of this packet, right before the slide or right after the slides, was a a sheet that shows you kind of how that program went.

[00:32:25]I think it was not as successful as we thought.

[00:32:29]We had a lot of failures. We had a lot of people just drop out.

[00:32:32]Um, and so, it was it didn't quite do what we wanted. We did get a couple really good employees.

[00:32:38]But for the amount of money that we put into it, I don't know that we got back what we expected.

[00:32:44]>> Can we not consider it be a reimbursement type deal versus >> We can Yeah, we can change it any way you guys see fit. Right now, we haven't had a hard time attracting talent like we did when we started the program.

[00:32:59]>> Got you.

[00:33:00]>> So, I I mean, I don't know that we need to continue it. I would like to continue with this guy, but if you guys say no, then we won't put him in school in September and it'll just be on us and >> Board, next year is this program something you're going to discuss with HR and get their >> Sure.

[00:33:19]>> feedback on how it fits into the entire personnel plan and maybe can get some shed some light on a uh way we can accomplish what we need to accomplish.

[00:33:31]>> Yes, ma'am. Absolutely. We can we can change it any way you see fit.

[00:33:35]>> discontinue it or whatever and we'll get with HR and >> Yeah, that's what I'm saying. For me, I don't have the expertise to give direction one way or another, but to understand a plan that's presented and how it impacts our budget would what I would be looking for.

[00:33:49]>> Exactly.

[00:33:49]>> Okay.

[00:33:50]>> Exactly.

[00:33:53]>> And to with the uh other portion of it is the city manager would also be uh as a part of that uh because responsible for all the all staff.

[00:34:02]>> Absolutely. We can actually we can anybody that needs to be there.

[00:34:06]>> Thank you. Does anybody have any other questions for Chief Fowler?

[00:34:10]>> No.

[00:34:10]>> All right, Ms. Fowler.

[00:34:12]>> I would normally not ask questions of a director, but I because I am new, first day, I wanted to ask you, is there any place in the um and again, Chief, first day, otherwise you and I would have talked already and really haven't done that at all.

[00:34:25]>> at all.

[00:34:26]>> So, is there any place in here that it shows what your total total personnel is for the fire department?

[00:34:32]>> It is not accurate. Because we had at the city here we've we've always allowed on pay chart to do that because we don't know the benefits and all of those things. But those numbers should be fairly close.

[00:34:44]That are in that in the slides.

[00:34:46]>> So I am not page number here but I saw I think maybe three captains currently a whole roster three captains, three lieutenants, six engineers and 12 fire fighters.

[00:34:56]>> Yes, ma'am.

[00:34:57]>> So that's a 24 number and I was going somewhere else as I was doing research it was approximately 30 in 18.

[00:35:04]So I don't know you have some administrative staff on board as well.

[00:35:07]>> Right, that's what that is.

[00:35:08]>> And so you I believe maybe a total for the fire department of 30.

[00:35:13]Uh including your administrative staff.

[00:35:15]I just >> Maybe >> We'll get to the bottom of it.

[00:35:19]>> I believe >> I got >> it's 29.

[00:35:22]>> Okay. So 29 field is it 30 authorized?

[00:35:26]Is it 29?

[00:35:26]>> 24 in the field plus myself and and Deputy Chief >> Ramford.

[00:35:31]>> And then we have an inspector.

[00:35:33]That would be 27 and then we have two assistants.

[00:35:35]>> Okay. Any vacancies?

[00:35:38]>> One firefighter. So we're actually at 23. We have 24 positions. We have 23 firefighters.

[00:35:43]>> Okay, thank you.

[00:35:44]>> We are testing next week.

[00:35:46]Um we have three test dates set up.

[00:35:49]Um >> Okay, so 29 and of the 29 one vacant.

[00:35:53]>> Correct.

[00:35:54]>> All right, thank you.

[00:35:55]>> Yes, ma'am.

[00:35:57]>> Anybody else have any questions?

[00:35:59]Thank you, Chief.

[00:36:00]Thank you, Chief.

[00:36:01]>> Absolutely, thank you.

[00:36:05]>> I'm going to go on chain with the mission by the way, Chief.

[00:36:23]>> Greetings, everyone.

[00:36:25]Can we put the the um spreadsheet up or there's still technically >> on that screen though tonight. We're we're limited to one screen.

[00:36:34]>> Okay.

[00:36:37]So I would first like to state this is a 3-year budget versus actuals as of September 30th. So if it's that first column, the budget 2023, that's as of 9/30/2023 and that actual column is also 9/30 and that would apply to all of the the columns there. So we've got 3 years of of history there of budget to actuals.

[00:37:08]And my thoughts were to discuss whether we should confirm whether the same numbers for fiscal year 25/26 should be carried forward into the fiscal year 26/27 budget or if you'd like us to kind of go down the list one by one and discuss how you would like to move forward.

[00:37:33]>> Does anybody want to I I think there are clearly some things that are somewhat fixed like salaries and benefits. I don't know that we have to go through all of those one by one. Health insurance of course. There are some things again that my opinion that we probably and I brought this up last time last year, probably may have to sacrifice particularly this year and I think we need to give it consideration if not making a decision. I don't know what I mean specifically when I say that, I'm talking about special events and projects, the money's, the funds we each get for that. I know it's $5,000 each, but it's 5 * 5. I mean that is still I think we have to make some effort to give up some things as well and I honestly was never comfortable with giving tax dollars to non-profit organizations and I just maybe Yes. Go ahead, Ms. Pia.

[00:38:29]>> So, I wanted to ask in prior years uh non-profits were given uh the opportunity to present to the commission like community needs to be considered.

[00:38:39]Um and I believe that would include the the Newtown Museum unless the thinking about that is different.

[00:38:48]But Is that >> I mean, when I look at the MOU that Spin drafted, it hasn't been approved. I realize that. I didn't see that. Maybe I misunderstood in terms of the Newtown Museum. I didn't see it in the same category as I saw it as a different circumstance.

[00:39:03]Well, I don't know what is everybody else's take on that.

[00:39:06]>> Okay.

[00:39:06]>> Uh no, I I don't know. Um and I think this is a valid question.

[00:39:12]Um was it in some It wasn't in arts category or anything. So, I'm not sure.

[00:39:19]But all I know we had the request, you know, for the annual you know, the $25,000 annually.

[00:39:28]Um but since we didn't get to a point to fully discuss, I wasn't even sure where that was coming from.

[00:39:34]>> But I I never recall it being placed in this particular budget line item.

[00:39:39]Um whether we agree to or not with the MOU, there was a $25,000 amount, but it wasn't listed it wasn't one of those things that I thought was in this category. Maybe I misunderstood.

[00:39:50]>> It was 25 a year.

[00:39:51]>> Correct.

[00:39:52]>> Is that a month?

[00:39:53]>> No, I didn't I said 25,000. I didn't say month or year. But any rate, um it wasn't I didn't Yeah. I don't know about any of that. So, I didn't see it here in this particular in in our budget our specific budget commissioner's budget.

[00:40:07]I said it could be in arts something cultural and arts, but I did not see it in our budget as a line item.

[00:40:14]>> The way I'm seeing it or viewing it is that it's a 501c3, a non-profit organization. There's a GL line account called non-profit assistance and that [clears throat] was the line item that was used to for to make contributions to 501c3s.

[00:40:33]So, I put it in that category, but if that's in if that's not the right >> I don't think we had really figured out which category it fell under because it is fairly new and it's an annual commitment for an annual 25,000.

[00:40:50]Um, someone ongoing for a few years. So, I just well, okay. I didn't just didn't see it. I'll go ahead and Miss Pierre Miss >> Go ahead, please.

[00:40:58]>> Pierre. Um, members of the commission.

[00:41:00]So, again, reviewing it, I'm I familiarize myself with what's in the packet. What I have not been able to do is have the discussion with staff.

[00:41:09]To provide a recommendation to the commission. And so, um, I am hearing the presentations today as you are hearing them.

[00:41:17]But what I'd like to do because I know this is a workshop, no decisions are being made is I'd like to be able to go back and, um, recap with everybody who's already come before the commission um, with a budget request and, um, basically reconcile against an estimated revenue which we have not >> done.

[00:41:39]>> Right. Uh, and so, in the case of the Newtown agreement as I have listened prior to coming on board I know that it is something that the commission has discussed.

[00:41:49]There is an expectation.

[00:41:51]Um, I'd like to be able to further kind of ferret that out, figure out whether it is a part of the recommendation that will come back or whether you will direct me to put it into the budget from whatever revenues we have available. So, I hear Miss Pierre and and, you know, she interjected not for profits use Newtown as an example.

[00:42:12]Um, I don't know whether there are others that we should be considering or thinking about as we're building the budget. So I would ask the commission to just hold and allow me to come back with a recommended budget and if you direct me to put it in or take it out then we go back and figure out how to balance that out.

[00:42:31]I appreciate Ms. Pierre bringing it to your attention that it is a 501c3 but it's a little premature right now.

[00:42:38]>> Thank you and I I appreciate that and knew it was a 501c3 and also again last budget we did give some funding to some other 501c3s that came before us with presentations with a need. So again I'm not sure we can do that again but we need to wait and get more information.

[00:42:55]>> So with that being said just for consideration of my fellow commissioners would we want to take into consideration giving her the opportunity to meet with those department heads even the ones that are being able to present today so that she would be able to have that or basically put out what she's already mentioned and we move forward to the city manager administrative report.

[00:43:25]>> I'm ready for that action.

[00:43:27]>> Well currently she's on commission budget so she can finish that thing.

[00:43:34]>> No because she wants to get with >> Right she wants to get with Ms. Pierre and with other folks to get with it.

[00:43:39]Get more input.

[00:43:41]>> Equal.

[00:43:42]What I would suggest what I presented to the >> Yeah we have and yes we have human resources and code compliance also on the agenda but if we want to hold on that until Ms. Karina would give her the opportunity especially based on some of the things that she has mentioned with reference not wanting to ask questions of directors in a open meeting cuz she would have generally had these conversations had she been here before and granted this is her first day and I think that her administrative report would address some of the things that may come before us in the future. So that's why I'm asking for a consideration of the regular business concluding that and moving forward to the administrative report.

[00:44:29]>> Yes, I'm in agreement with Commissioner Campbell and the other thing that it will do is I think it'll make our workshops more efficient and effective.

[00:44:38]Yes, I'm not opposed to this. I also think we're getting crunched on time though for the budget too. So we need to look at some of the dates pretty quickly to move forward. Yes.

[00:44:47]>> difference if we push off one more day.

[00:44:50]What >> No, I'm not saying. I'm just saying time is going to be of the essence. I'm not saying we can't push it off, but we're going to have to push it on to something pretty soon.

[00:44:59]But I guess we're going right to the administrative. Is that the consensus?

[00:45:02]And allow Miss Curry to Does everybody agree with that?

[00:45:07]I'm okay.

[00:45:10]Thank you. You're on.

[00:45:12]>> All right, again Madam Mayor, members of the commission. I did ask um, Chief Shaw, acting city manager Shaw at the time, and the clerk to give me some consideration as to placing an item on the agenda to just bring some things to the commission's attention. Not that you are not already aware, but because we are in budget season and there are some things that will impact this commission going forward and even if those things do not that thing does not come to pass on November 3rd, I think we still need to be thinking in the vein of how we can be more efficient, how we can be more transparent, and do more with the money's our revenues that we get. So with that, I have included in the package some information that I have tailored specifically to the city of Palatka Palatka relative to the property tax constitutional amendment. Um it will be on the ballot on November 3rd.

[00:46:07]I also want to mention as I go through this that tomorrow I believe at 9:00 there is a briefing that will be held.

[00:46:13]It is remote with the lobbyist Becca Poliakoff. So I will make sure that I am available for that call and will have representation. I believe Chief Saw, you're going to be on that call. I have a meeting in the morning at 9:00 with a commissioner. So as long as we're covered, I'm good. But basically what I'd like to do today is just bring to your attention what is happening with that coming out of special session F.

[00:46:40]It now heads to the ballot.

[00:46:43]The amendment will reduce the city's largest source of general revenue and make that loss harder to recover.

[00:46:49]I'll talk a little bit about that. It's not a static cut. It is designed to grow from an estimated $483,000 in the first year to roughly $586,000 the next year.

[00:47:02]Which is in fiscal 28. The compounded percentage increase is 21% increase from one year to the next. The amendment directing the legislature toward eventual full elimination of homestead property taxes.

[00:47:18]The number to remember alongside the dollars at full effect, it is 96% of the city's homesteaded properties would owe no city property tax at all.

[00:47:30]The revenue impact is firm. It is focused on this brief as I am focused on this briefing. Nothing changes unless voters approve the measure in November.

[00:47:38]So if 60% of the voters of the state of Florida do not move this, then there there's no change.

[00:47:45]Again, to just recap, the annual loss in the final year which is 28 or in the second year which is fiscal year 28 is $586,000.

[00:47:56]In that year alone, that is 11.7% of the city's property tax levy, which is about 4 and 1/2 million dollars.

[00:48:04]Um 96% of homesteads would owe zero city tax.

[00:48:08]And 1,661 homesteaded properties would be affected. Right now, it's only about 233. So, it tells you uh um widespread this is.

[00:48:20]Um two measures passed together now move to the voters and to implementation.

[00:48:26]Um a much larger homestead exemption is on the path.

[00:48:29]Um and we do know that the 150 in '27 and then again in in uh fiscal '28 if it passes 250,000, will have a sweeping effect on our revenues. Um the property tax revenue is the largest revenue source, um you know, in the general fund and in terms of overall, I think it ranks um number five when you look at all the other revenues coming into the city.

[00:48:54]Uh but in terms of the general fund, it's the largest one.

[00:48:57]Uh a tighter cap a tighter cap on non-homesteaded property. And what I mean by this is the annual assessment increase cap on commercial property and smaller rental property drops from 10% to 5%. So, it is narrowing in on the base of revenues that we are able to apply a millage rate to.

[00:49:17]Um a 5-year residency wait for new residents for radians will establish the residency after January 1, 2027. They must wait 5 years before qualifying for increased exemption.

[00:49:31]Um I would like to talk a little bit about um where we stand with another measure that has also passed the legislature. And that, quite frankly, is more around administration than it is around the dollars.

[00:49:52]Um in January of 2027, we, the city, will be required to do a lot of administrative work around budgets. We have to have a budget calendar ready by January of 2027.

[00:50:05]A budget calendar has to be filed. We have to um look at 6 years worth of history. We have to do an exercise where we are looking at a 10% decrement, and that is an exercise that we have to have publicly. There has to be a public meeting around that. Uh and so there are quite a few changes on the horizon around our budget process. It will be a lot more public and a lot more strenuous based on the requirements of the legislation.

[00:50:37]And again, the annual budget reduction exercise by the commission in public. 6 years worth of standardized budget data posted in a prescribed three eight I'm I'm sorry, nine category format.

[00:50:50]Um quarterly employee compensation summary titles, names, and salaries.

[00:50:55]These are things that we're going to be required to send to the state. January 30th, we have to budget have a budget calendar developed and published.

[00:51:04]And um 5 years of retention. 5 years I said 6, but it's 5 years of retention of final budget and amendments kept online.

[00:51:13]So we it's it's double-edged in terms of the effect. Yes, the vote on November 3rd and the potential of the result of that vote, but these administrative requirements will be a lot more strenuous on our staff as we move forward. So um I will address questions as I am able to. I did not get into can and cannot use dollars for because that question is still an open question that's being ex- being explored. Uh and I don't want to speak out of turn. We'll learn more of tomorrow from the conversation with our lobbyists. Um and I also um don't want to get on a soapbox about this because it's still pending. Of course, we know signature. And I just thought that it was important for me to officially um share with the commission the potential impact of the legislation on us as a city as it affects cities around the state and counties around the state.

[00:52:10]It'll have a sweeping impact on reduction of revenues and how we reshape and reimagine services as we deliver services in the city of Palatka.

[00:52:19]And so um I will answer questions as I am able, but again, I'm simply providing this for information purposes as I think maybe maybe the first time that you have had a presentation as a commission relative to this particular special session um bill.

[00:52:35]>> Thank you.

[00:52:37]>> Commissioner Bourne.

[00:52:38]>> Yes, I want to um thank you um Ms. Curley uh City Manager for that update.

[00:52:44]Um I think there's also in that same measure um there's a thing that where the legislation also are not um in terms of your budget as it relates to raising your uh to to raise your budget to for any improvements that you need to make, um there's a restriction in place on that as well. I think they're going to require you to roll back through the roll back as opposed to um move keeping it um the same.

[00:53:14]>> You're right.

[00:53:15]>> supermajority vote >> Right.

[00:53:16]>> of the commission if anything.

[00:53:18]>> Correct. To be able to even advance that. So, I just wanted to at least throw that out on the table so that um the commission also knows and understand what we're looking at going forward.

[00:53:30]>> I'll move on to the next item.

[00:53:31]>> Okay, go ahead.

[00:53:32]>> Thank you.

[00:53:33]>> So, I did include in the package today a fiscal 27 budget calendar and that's for discussion purposes only. I know that there was a calendar produced, but what I tried to do and what you're looking at here is to insert TRIM um dates and requirements because we need to be in compliance with TRIM uh relative to the Department of Revenue.

[00:53:58]And so, um on June 1, of course, we got the preliminary roll numbers, but in July, uh the 1st of July, we should be getting the certified taxable value um from the property appraiser, and that's an important number for me to be able to utilize as I am continuing to work with departments and estimate revenues, this being the largest revenue source.

[00:54:18]We need to get to that that July 1 date so I can get that number and not start estimating and then having to change the estimate because you know, so I want to wait for July 1 to get those numbers. So, that's an important one. Um and then that starts that 35-day millage clock because we have a window to work within that. Um we have a a workshop coming up on the 15th, as you can see here, and we have several workshops um that Well, that's the only one before July 23rd, and then you have several other workshops even after that, one on the 17th, um another one on August 26th. I think they're actually highlighted in yellow.

[00:55:01]What I I asked earlier and I'd like to reiterate again, allowing me prior to July 23rd, that's your next official commission meeting.

[00:55:12]Prior to that meeting, giving me the opportunity as city manager to meet with all department directors, those that have already made presentations to you, and those that would be making these presentations as these dates, to have all of that information rolled up into scenarios um that will be presented to you on the 23rd. So, I would be reviewing with the directors, making a recommendation based on their request, based on information that I've now received from the property appraiser.

[00:55:45]Now, I have numbers that I can use to estimate property tax revenue to roll into my general fund revenue estimates.

[00:55:52]I still may be waiting for some information to come in from the state because their estimates come in a little late in July.

[00:55:59]But, I would be able to come back to you on the 23rd with budget scenarios, revenues, and expenditures that will balance based on a scenario. The scenario may be a current level of service. It may be a 5% reduction. It may be a 10% reduction. But, at each one of those scenarios, the budget will be balanced based on the um uh estimated revenue that I have and the information that I have at that time.

[00:56:26]Um on July 23rd, you would also be looking at um making a final decision on the fire assessment. Um you would be taking a look at the um community the churches and 501c3s. That question is still outstanding around that. I think that's approximately about $96,000.

[00:56:47]Um that that is actually an expense of the cities that you need to make a decision on.

[00:56:54]We'll be talking about that. You also need to be able to set the maximum millage at that time. And so, the maximum millage obviously is maximum. You can always at your public hearings go lower, but you can't go higher. But again, we're in that 35-day timeframe, and so I'm trying to roll things up so that we don't have a problem um meeting deadlines and getting our ads out and all that kind of stuff. So, all of that kind of stuff. That sounded a little country, but I I am country, so And so, um I would then ask again if we could um adjust the calendar, and I'm not trying to set dates here because the budget I'm going to call them workshops, the meetings that I'm talking about with the directors are meetings with me and the directors and their staff. They're not meetings with the commission. So, I will come back to you all on the 23rd with a big long package. So, we have to eat a little heavy lunch and be prepared to sit a little while to go through.

[00:57:52]>> Well, y'all going to make sure that meeting don't have too much mowing.

[00:57:55]>> Yeah, okay. That's something to consider as well, but that's that's a good solid meeting. And then what it does is it keeps us from rolling into one workshop after another workshop after another workshop.

[00:58:08]And so, that is what I'm proposing.

[00:58:13]>> Anybody have any questions?

[00:58:15]>> Nope.

[00:58:16]>> I think we're all good with that.

[00:58:18]>> I'm in agreement. I'm in an agreement.

[00:58:23]>> I'm again, I'm I'm it's the the direction is what I'm looking for and so if you all are okay with that, that's how we will proceed.

[00:58:28]>> And I we are we are okay with that as far as I understand. Yes, I see a lot yes.

[00:58:34]>> Good night.

[00:58:35]>> The last item in this package, I believe it's the last night I'm for me.

[00:58:39]>> Oh my god, why did you go first?

[00:58:44]>> I'm sorry.

[00:58:46]>> What's the matter?

[00:58:49]Okay.

[00:58:50]>> Okay. It's all good.

[00:58:53]So, the last item in the package is just a snapshot. It's just something for you all to think about. Um we're still a little excited about the interruption.

[00:59:05]>> [laughter] >> So, the last item in the package is just something for us to kind of keep our eye on. The taxable assessed value right now is 804,795.

[00:59:19]We may get a different number on July 1, but this is where we stand right now.

[00:59:23]Um using the millage rate that we currently have at 6.2397.

[00:59:29]Um The 27 estimated tax revenue would be approximately 4.8 million dollars.

[00:59:36]But again, that's an estimate. It could change July 1st. And so, based on that, what I've done here is just simply provided the millage increases based on 0.5 and you can see the revised millage rate, the value of the millage increase.

[00:59:52]As you can see, it's small relatively speaking.

[00:59:56]But there increases and when they get advertised to the public, they get advertised as increases. And so, it's hard to argue that and so you just need to go into it wide-eyed as we move forward. We either have current or rollback or an increase. But that is a decision obviously that you all will make at that time.

[01:00:15]And so, again, this is just for you to gander and contemplate as we move forward.

[01:00:22]Um And quite frankly, that's all I have to offer today. There's a lot of work after today to get prepared for the meeting on the 23rd. Again, thank you for the opportunity and to serve in this interim role. I I sent emails out yesterday to you all as my commission and of course to all of the employees of the city.

[01:00:43]I don't take this role lightly. I'm not going to be right all the time. That's why there's 184 employees work for the city and you know, at certain points in time, they'll tell me whether I'm good, bad or indifferent. I don't know. But I'm going to try to always do the right thing on the behalf of this board who are my leaders.

[01:01:01]I appreciate you. Thank you.

[01:01:03]>> Thank you.

[01:01:04]Anybody have any further questions?

[01:01:07]No discussion?

[01:01:09]Do we have a motion to adjourn?

[01:01:13]>> Welcome aboard.

[01:01:14]>> Welcome.

[01:01:15]>> Welcome aboard. Well said.