Board Minutes of

Ray Hooper, Acting Fiscal Services Director, addressed the Board to review the tentative millage rates and changes from the current millage rates for each fund as follows: Countywide Operating General Fund is 4.7179 and Transportation is 0.2810. The total countywide is 4.9989. Debt Service for Environmental Sensitive Lands is 0.0869 and 0.1041 for Trails Development. The total Debt Service is 0.1910. Total countywide is 5.1899. The current millages for Unincorporated Special Districts are as follows: Fire/Rescue 2.6634 and 0.1228 for Unincorporated Roads. Total unincorporated is 2.7562. The total millage, including debt, is 7.9461. The net total, excluding debt, is 7.7551. The tentative “aggregate” millage rate, exclusive of voted debt service millage, is 6.6904, which represents a 9.13% increase over the “aggregate” rolled-back millage rate of 6.1309.

Kevin Grace, County Manager, addressed the Board to point out that the finances have weathered the slow economy over the past two years relatively well compared to what other local governments have been experiencing. He stated staff has been able to balance the budget and keep the proposed millage rates at the current year’s level. He said the tentative budget for FY 2003/04 totals $543,476,046 and $477,444,889 for FY 2004/05.

Mr. Hooper reviewed the requested adjustments as outlined on pages 18 and 19 of the Budget Book. He stated the adjustments total $91,388. Based on this adjustment, the total tentative budget is $543,567,434.

Chairman McLain advised that the Board most recently changed the animal control procedures in which all animals, prior to adoption, must go to a vet for neutering or spaying and be picked up after the adoption takes place.

Mr. Grace stated the new policy was implemented approximately a month ago and staff is confident that this procedure will result in 100% of the adopted animals being spayed/neutered.

Commissioner Morris stated the policy regarding wild animals has been changed and implemented as well. The County is no longer putting out traps to trap wild animals. He stated the County has authorized the ability of the community to come together with a committee made up of interested parties regarding other voluntary improvements that can be made.

Mickey Mullen, 3899 Kingston Oaks, addressed the Board to ask for funding for a public neutering clinic at the Animal Services facility. She stated this would save money for the County as the animals would be spayed and neutered before the citizens pick them up. If the facility is at Animal Services, the animals would be ready to be adopted. Part of the concerns that she has is some of the citizens do not come back to pick up the animal after it is spayed or neutered. She said most of the time when animals are adopted, a good number of them are back at the Animal Services with their litters, or the males are out producing more puppies or kittens. She stated she would like the Board to consider funding this so that there won’t be an over population of animals. She submitted Petitions, as shown on page ________, from area residents requesting a spay-neuter clinic for Animal Services.

Jean Lade, 2240 Alafaya Trail, addressed the Board to state she would like to give her speaking time to Ms. Mullens.

Ms. Mullens stated she would love the Board to consider the spay-neuter clinic. She stated most of the people who collected the signatures were people who already do rescue work.

Commissioner Morris stated the Board recognizes that they may not be doing a most efficient way, but they will be evaluating, over a one-year period, to see if it justifies the capital investment to do a spay/neuter clinic in-house.

Chairman McLain stated several organizations are working with the County; and staff will continue to make sure they are doing everything possible in a reasonable fashion in solving this problem.

Bonnie Carollin, 641 S. Wildflower, addressed the Board to state she is hoping the County, at some point, will have a spay/neuter clinic. She stated a committee is being put together and they will submit their recommendations.

Commissioner Van Der Weide requested that the organizations these ladies belong to be included in the Volunteer Appreciation Day ceremonies.

Gloria Wade, 120 N. Fairfax Ave., addressed the Board to state she represents the Protectors of Companion Animals, Inc. She stated her organization is pleased with some of the changes in direction the County has taken over the past several months. She asked if the cities that are close to the borders of Seminole County contribute to the operating costs of Animal Services. If not, a yearly contribution could facilitate funds to establish a spay/neuter services.

At the request of Chairman McLain, Mr. Grace explained how revenues from Ad Valorem taxes are collected from other jurisdictions.

Gail Nagan (phonetic), 303 Altamonte Bay Club Circle, addressed the Board to state she feels that a better break down of statistics would be helpful in knowing where the problem areas are. This way they can educate the residents in those areas.

Mike Wittmer, Animal Services Division, addressed the Board to state at the moment the County has a form which the residents fill out to get a trap for catching the animals, but they don’t specifically track where the animals come from. He stated his division presently does track the number of animals that are brought in by their owners as well as the stray animals.

Ms. Nagan stated she feels that something needs to be done about people dumping their animals in the neighborhoods.

Chairman McLain stated that is an issue which the Committee will be looking into.

Linda Radon, 1509 Heights Lane, addressed the Board to give some statistics from the Humane Society of how many animals were brought in Orange and Seminole County, and the number of animals that were euthanized as well as those that were spayed/ neutered.

No one else spoke in support or in opposition.

Speaker Request Forms were received and filed.

Commissioner Henley stated he would appreciate it if the Board would consider making a minor change on page 18 relative to the Alcohol/Drug Abuse Trust Fund of $102,100. He stated he would like to know if the contribution to The Grove could come out of this fund instead out of the General Fund.

Mr. Grace stated the Board could do that and reduce the amount allocated to the Community Services funds.

Commissioner Henley stated he would like staff to make that adjustment, but he doesn’t want to imply that the entire amount will be given to The Grove.

Mr. Grace stated instead of adjusting the Budget, the Board could allocate funds to The Grove out of that Trust Fund when the Community Services grant funds are allocated in October.

Commissioner Morris stated aside from the fact there is a 0% increase in the actual millage rates when other counties are raising their millage rates, Seminole County has a ¼% drop in Debt Services. He said Seminole County has also expanded services and they have been able to keep their service rates up, but at the same time didn’t have to increase the tax rates.

Commissioner Henley stated he feels the Budget Committee has done a good job and he echoes Commissioner Morris’ remarks. He stated he feels the public needs to know that the revenues increased by 9.13%. One of the things that concern him is out of the $14 million, over $7 million went into staff personnel. He said new positions have increased by 61 and the County needs to be very cautious in the future because these are reoccurring expenses. He referred to Pay Bands 2-14 outlined on page 72 of the Budget Book and he stated staff informed him that there are Pay Bands 1-14 and Pay Band #1 is not shown in the Budget Book.

Mr. Grace stated he will make sure that is corrected.

Motion by Commissioner Van Der Weide, seconded by Commissioner Morris to adopt the tentative millage rates for FY 2003/04, as presented by staff.

Districts 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 voted AYE.

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Motion by Commissioner Van Der Weide, seconded by Commissioner Maloy to adopt the tentative budget for all funds including proposed adjustments and recommended positions and all pay bands, including Pay Band #1, as initially presented to the BCC by the County Manager in his official capacity as Budget Officer (per Florida Statute 129.025) and subsequently amended by the BCC.

Districts 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 voted AYE.

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Motion by Commissioner Van Der Weide, seconded by Commissioner Maloy to tentatively approve the Budget for all funds as proposed for FY 2004/05.

Districts 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 voted AYE.

Chairman McLain announced that the second public hearing is scheduled for September 23, 2003 at 7:00 p.m., or as soon thereafter as possible.

NON-AD VALOREM ASSESSMENT ROLL

Proof of publication, as shown on page _______, calling for a public hearing to consider the Non-Ad Valorem Assessment Roll, received and filed.

Gail Bigelow, Fiscal Services, addressed the Board to request Board consideration of adopting the Non-Ad Valorem Assessment Roll. She stated the Board adopted the Uniform Method of Collection for Non-Ad Valorem Assessments pursuant to Florida Statutes. First class notices were mailed to all property owners and the public hearing was advertised in a newspaper of general circulation depicting the geographic locations of properties subject to assessment for the first time. Non-Ad Valorem Assessments must be certified to the Tax Collector by October 1, 2003.

No one spoke in support or in opposition.

Motion by Commissioner Morris, seconded by Commissioner Van Der Weide to adopt appropriate Resolution #2003-R-144, as shown on page ________, and authorize Chairman to execute Certificate, as shown on page ________, adopting the Non-Ad Valorem Assessment Roll.

Districts 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 voted AYE.

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There being no further business to come before the Board, the Chairman declared the meeting adjourned at 7:43 p.m., this same date.

ATTEST:______________________Clerk______________________Chairman

SEPTEMBER 10, 2003

PROOFS OF PUBLICATION

PUBLIC HEARINGS

FY 2003/2004 BUDGET

NON-AD VALOREM ASSESSMENT ROLL