BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

SEMINOLE COUNTY, FLORIDA

SEPTEMBER 11, 2002

 

     The following is a non-verbatim transcript of the BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MEETING OF SEMINOLE COUNTY, FLORIDA, held at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 11, 2002, in the SEMINOLE COUNTY SERVICES BUILDING at SANFORD, FLORIDA, the usual place of meeting of said Board.

     Present:

     Chairman Daryl McLain (District 5)

     Vice Chairman Grant Maloy (District 1)

     Commissioner Randy Morris (District 2)(Late)

     Commissioner Dick Van Der Weide (District 3)

     Commissioner Carlton Henley (District 4)

     County Manager Kevin Grace

     County Attorney Robert McMillan

     Deputy Clerk Carylon Cohen

 

     The Invocation was given by Pastor Paul Wright, Calvary Temple of Praise, Sanford.

     Commissioner Maloy led the Pledge of Allegiance.

     Commissioner Morris entered the meeting at this time.

PROOFS OF PUBLICATION

     Motion by Commissioner Van Der Weide, seconded by Commissioner Maloy, to authorize filing the proofs of publication for this meeting’s scheduled public hearings.

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

PUBLIC HEARINGS

TENTATIVE FY 2002/2003 SEMINOLE COUNTY BUDGET

     Chairman McLain convened the public hearing to consider adoption of the tentative FY 2002/2003 millage rates and amended tentative budget for all funds.

The First Public Hearing booklet was received and filed.


     Chairman McLain advised this first public hearing is on the tentative budget and tentatively approved millage rates.  The millage rates tentatively adopted at the first public hearing cannot be increased above the proposed rates certified to the Property Appraiser without a second tax notice being sent by first class mail to each taxpayer.  He stated the second public hearing on the budget will be held on Tuesday, September 24, 2002, at 7:00 p.m.  At the second public hearing, the Board may adjust the tentative budget prior to the final adoption, but in no event may millage rates adopted at the second public hearing exceed millage rates tentatively adopted at tonight’s hearing.

Cindy Hall, Fiscal Services Director, addressed the Board to state the certified tentative millages for FY 2002/03 are as follows:  Countywide General Fund, 4.7179; Countywide Transportation, .2810, for a total Countywide millage of 4.9989; Countywide Debt Service for Environmentally Sensitive Lands, .0986; Trails Development, .1100, for a total of .2086.  The Countywide total is 5.2075 mills.  The Unincorporated Special Districts Fire/Rescue millage is 2.6334; for Unincorporated Roads, .1228; Total Unincorporated millage is 2.7562.  The total millage including Debt Service is 7.9637, and excluding Debt is 7.7551.  The tentative aggregate millage rate, exclusive of voted debt millage, is 6.3675, that represents an increase of 4.55% over the aggregate rolled back millage of 6.0904.

County Manager Kevin Grace addressed the Board to state this budget is the second year of the initial two-year budget process.  He believes this process has served the County well by improved financial planning and staff productivity, and he believes it will continue to serve the County well in the future.  He advised the County’s finances have weathered the slow economy of the past year better than most local governments.  He believes the financial stability is a testament to the economic diversity of the community and the conservative budget philosophies they use.  He stated the merger of the Altamonte Springs Fire Department will take effect on October 1, 2002, which is a notable achievement.  It will result in millions of dollars of savings to the citizens.  He expects that other merger opportunities will present themselves in the coming years. 

Mr. Grace stated the budget represents the priorities of the Board.  The top two priorities continue to be public safety and transportation.  He reported that the total budget as tentatively approved by the Board for FY 2002/03 is $549,081,461.

Ms. Hall stated staff is requesting adjustments (copy received and filed) to the budget that total $10,320,274.  These reflect the merger of the Altamonte Springs Fire Department - $6,459,117, combined additions to Fire/Rescue Fund and to the Impact Fee Fund from Altamonte Springs.  Another $3,000,000 accounting adjustment reflects design improvements for Highway 17-92 that will be funded by FDOT instead of the County.  The balance is a combination of minor adjustments for grant changes, preliminary tax roll, Board approved items since the Budget Work Sessions, and minor account line adjustments.  In addition, there are two other proposals--one for $90,000 for the Supervisor of Elections to mail voter registration cards and $11,335 for assistance to the Florida Association of Counties for Article V issues.  Ms. Hall said, if approved, these adjustments could be funded from the General Fund Reserves. 

No one spoke in support or in opposition.

Commissioner Maloy said he would be supportive of the $90,000 to the Supervisor of Elections as it seems that probably should have been included in the budget earlier.  He said he was not in support of the $11,335 for FAC.  He believes they already paid $42,000 upfront for dues and that seems like a huge amount of money. 

Commissioner Morris said he agrees with Commissioner Maloy.  He recalled that a couple years ago when FAC asked for money, he and Commissioner McLain recommended the Board not put in money for the campaign on Article V.  They thought it was inappropriate.  Now this article has been approved, which insists the State take over responsibilities for the courts.  This would be a potential savings to local governments and puts this back where it belongs to the State government.  However, the Legislature has not yet implemented Article V.  He said the issue is to attempt to get Article V implemented within a timely fashion. 

Motion by Commissioner Maloy, seconded by Commissioner Van Der Weide, to direct the Budget Manager to include in the next budget presentation the $90,000 to the Supervisor of Elections.

Under discussion, Commissioner Henley stated he supports any effort to avoid any confusion on the part of the elector for the November election.  He discussed how much money the Supervisor of Elections has in her contingency budget.

Chairman McLain noted that the Supervisor of Elections was required to keep the polls open an extra two hours on Election Day September 10.  Whereupon, Commissioner Henley questioned if the Supervisor had enough money in the budget to cover those expenses.  Chairman McLain said the Board will probably see a request for additional funding for that in the near future.

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

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Commissioner Henley stated he agrees with Commissioner Maloy on the $11,335 to FAC being distasteful, but that is a small amount of money compared to what failing to lobby successfully is going to cost the County.  He said there are a number of legislators who feel, as a result of the Counties supporting this effort and getting it passed, they are going to take the money from the counties to pay the bill.  That is why it is necessary for the County to have a presence at any meeting and to continue working throughout the entire time.

Commissioner Van Der Weide stated he has been around Tallahassee long enough and understands that if the Board wants to make this work, they will have to go with it.

Motion by Commissioner Morris, seconded by Commissioner Van Der Weide, to include the special appropriation of $11,335 to the Florida Association of Counties in the FY 2002/2003 budget.

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

Commissioner Maloy voted NAY.

Ms. Hall read again into the record the certified tentative millages and the tentative aggregate millage rate.

Motion by Commissioner Van Der Weide, seconded by Commissioner Morris, to adopt the tentative millage rates for FY 2002/2003.

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

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

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

Chairman McLain announced again that the second public hearing to take final action on the millage rates and budget for FY 2002/2003 is scheduled for September 24, 2002, 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 adoption of the Non-Ad Valorem Assessment Roll, received and filed.

     Gail Bigelow, Senior Analyst, and Kathryn Moore, MSBU Program Manager, addressed the Board to present the request for adoption.

     Ed Couey, 4248 Iron Gate Court, addressed the Board to state he is opposing the non-ad valorem tax assessment because he is of the philosophy that he doesn’t pay for something he does not receive.  He said he does not receive the service he is supposed to get.  He explained that he is not receiving the yard pick-up he is supposed to.  He said the service is from terrible to non-existent. 

     Chairman McLain explained the County’s contract with the garbage haulers provides for severe penalties for complaints.  He asked Mr. Couey to contact his office tomorrow and he would take care of this.  He advised after so many complaints there is a financial penalty placed against the garbage company.  He also asked Mr. Couey to give his phone number and address to the Solid Waste Director, Dave Gregory, who was in attendance.  He advised Mr. Couey to call Mr. Gregory when the yard trash is not picked up so he can follow up.

     No one else spoke in support or in opposition.

     Chairman McLain read the Written Comment Form from Atholene Bennett, 108 Brown Drive, in opposition to the high prices for the elderly.

     The Speaker Request and Written Comment Forms were received and filed.

     Commissioner Morris advised that the street lighting rates are set by Florida Power & Light, and the Board of County Commissioners just administers the program.

     Commissioner Van Der Weide stated there are probably some agencies that could help assist the elderly. 

Chairman McLain asked Ms. Bennett to contact DCM Sally Sherman after the meeting and hopefully she can help her with some of the concerns about the lighting district.

     Motion by Commissioner Morris, seconded by Commissioner Van Der Weide, to approve and authorize the Chairman to execute Resolution #2002-R-147, as shown on page _______, and 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 7:35 p.m., this same date.

 

 

 

ATTEST ________________________Clerk____________________Chairman

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