BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

SEMINOLE COUNTY, FLORIDA

SEPTEMBER 14, 2011

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 14, 2011, in Room 1028 of the SEMINOLE COUNTY SERVICES BUILDING at SANFORD, FLORIDA, the usual place of meeting of said Board.

Present:

Chairman Brenda Carey (District 5)

Vice Chairman Carlton Henley (District 4)

Commissioner Bob Dallari (District 1)

Commissioner John Horan (District 2)

Commissioner Dick Van Der Weide (District 3)

County Manager Jim Hartmann

County Attorney Bryant Applegate

Deputy Clerk Carylon Cohen

Commissioner Van Der Weide gave the Invocation.

Commissioner Dallari led the Pledge of Allegiance.

PUBLIC HEARING

TENTATIVE FY 2011/2012 BUDGET

Chairman Carey announced that the Board does not have any control over the tax levies and budgets of the School Board, the Water Management District, or any of the seven cities in Seminole County. Questions regarding property assessed valuations should be addressed to the Property Appraiser, who is present tonight with his staff. The Board of County Commissioners (BCC) has limited authority over the budgets of the Constitutional Officers of the County which includes the Clerk of Circuit Court, Property Appraiser, Sheriff, Supervisor of Elections and Tax Collector. She advised how the budgets for

the Constitutional Officers are reviewed and approved. She stated the purpose of this first public hearing is to take comments regarding the proposed millage rates and budget, amend the budget as desired by the Board and tentatively adopt the millage rates and budget of the County for FY 2011/12.

Lisa Spriggs, Fiscal Services Director, addressed the Board to state the proposed budget for FY 2011/2012 is outlined in the First Public Hearing document (copy received and filed) which was previously distributed to the Board and is available to the public for review on the County’s website (www.seminolecountyfl.gov). She displayed and reviewed a PowerPoint presentation (copy received and filed) covering the following topics: Budget Development; Proposed Budget Summary (total Countywide proposed budget of $778,323,584); Appropriations by Service Area; Millage Rate Summary; 2011 Change in Taxable Valuation; and Property Tax Revenue.

No one spoke in support or in opposition.

Commissioner Henley said he thinks it is appropriate to compliment Ms. Spriggs and her staff for preparation of this budget, along with the new County Manager for his input. He acknowledged a letter to the Commissioners from a citizen who felt he was not taxed enough and sent a check in the amount of $200. He said the Board also received another letter from an individual who felt he was not being taxed enough. Commissioner Henley also stated that citizens of this County have the best bargain around because, when you can get police and fire protection, libraries, paved roads and parks and recreation and all those types of things for the millage rate the Board is setting, that’s a good bargain.

Chairman Carey noted that people who watch this government in action and who have watched them over the years know that over the last several years, the Board has eliminated 270 positions and cut $100 million out of this budget; so they have worked long and hard at it. She said it’s great that staff has been able to continue to work to hold the budget without increasing taxes to the public.

Commissioner Van Der Weide complimented Ms. Spriggs and the management team that has been here only a short period of time, DCM Joe Forte who has worked on this budget from Day 1 and all the staff for their efforts. He said he is proud to be a part of Seminole County and the County Commission.

Motion by Commissioner Henley, seconded by Commissioner Van Der Weide, to adopt the FY 2011/12 Countywide tentative millage rate of 4.8751 mills.