The Board of County Commissioners of Brevard County, Florida, met in special session on August 12, 1996, at 9:30 a.m. in the Government Center, Florida Room, Building C, 2725 Judge Fran Jamieson Way, Melbourne, Florida. Present were: Chairman Mark Cook, Commissioners Truman Scarborough, Randy O?Brien, Nancy Higgs, and Scott Ellis, County Manager Tom Jenkins, and County Attorney Scott Knox.

DISCUSSION, RE: FY 1997 BUDGET - POTENTIAL REDUCTIONS AND ADDITIONAL COSTS County Manager Tom Jenkins outlined the summary sheet provided to the Board including potential additional costs, as follows: (1) Children?s Services Council at $31,600; (2) loss of fire prevention revenues at $100,000; (3) fire rescue three-man crews at $1,400,000; (4) Economic Development Commission at $100,000; (5) parks and recreation/school sites at $46,000; (6) Mims/Scottsmoor Library relocation of module at $60,000; (7) Savannahs drainage at $12,025 (8) lifeguards; and (9) merit increases. He further defined potential reductions, including Supervisor of Elections, rental and utility tenant charges, Judicial Branch, Law Library, capital renewal and replacement, hiring freeze, Road and Bridge, Parks and Recreation, new vehicles, and travel.

The Board discussed the Supervisor of Elections? budget, special elections, voting equipment, cash forward, rental and utility charges, Brevard Cultural Alliance, enterprise funds, and the Justice Center.

Rental and Utility Tenant Charges

Motion by Commissioner Higgs, seconded by Commissioner Ellis, to approve $12.75 per square foot for office space, utilities, and maintenance costs. Motion carried and ordered unanimously.

Court Administration

Discussion ensued on the Court Administration?s budget, local area network computers, court filing fees, Contingency Fund, capital outlay, and operating expenses.

Motion by Commissioner Ellis, seconded by Commissioner O?Brien, to reduce the Court Administration budget by $50,000, with the option available for Court Administration to make the transfer. Motion carried and ordered; Commissioner Higgs voted nay.

The meeting recessed at 11:15 a.m.

The meeting reconvened at 11:35 p.m.

Law Library

Discussion ensued on compensation and benefits, consolidation and efficiency, collections and sets of books, State mandates, filing fees, operating costs, legal aid, economy of scale, and expansion of the libraries.

The Board confirmed its previous action of reducing the Law Library budget by $50,000.

Capital Renewal and Replacement Fund

The Board discussed workman?s compensation savings, reducing operating costs, 3% millage cap, reserve fund, and reducing the size of government.

Motion by Commissioner Higgs, seconded by Commissioner Scarborough, to approve setting aside $500,000 in the Capital Renewal and Replacement Fund. Motion carried and ordered; Commissioner Ellis voted nay.

Road and Bridge Department

The Board discussed debt service payment, maintenance costs, and heavy equipment.

Motion by Commissioner Ellis, seconded by Commissioner Higgs, to reduce the General Fund Supplement for Road and Bridge Department by $70,000. Motion carried and ordered unanimously.

Parks and Recreation Department

Discussion ensued on reduced maintenance costs, capital replacement, improvements and repairs, operational costs, playing fields, lifeguards, and parks.

Motion by Commissioner Ellis, seconded by Commissioner Higgs, to approve transferring $30,000 for lifeguards in the Parks and Recreation budget. Motion carried and ordered; Commissioner O?Brien voted nay.

Motion by Commissioner Ellis, seconded by Commissioner Higgs, to direct Parks and Recreation staff to put money left over from completed capital improvements projects into school sites for fields. Motion carried and ordered unanimously.

Motion by Commissioner Ellis, seconded by Commissioner Higgs, to reduce budgeted losses of the golf courses by $12,025 and budget it for The Savannahs drainage project. Motion carried and ordered unanimously.

New Vehicles

Chairman Cook passed the gavel to Vice-Chairman O?Brien.

Motion by Commissioner Cook, seconded by Commissioner Scarborough, to direct the County Manager to reduce the purchase of County passenger vehicles by 25% or more next year. Motion carried and ordered unanimously.

Vice-Chairman O?Brien passed the gavel to Chairman Cook.

Travel

Discussion ensued on mandatory and non-mandatory travel.

Motion by Commissioner Ellis, seconded by Commissioner Scarborough, to approve mandated travel for certification; and direct the County Manager to reduce all other travel by 25%, and investigate use of educational video tapes, etc. rather than travel. Motion carried and ordered unanimously.

Newsletters

The Board discussed combining newsletters and issuing them quarterly instead of monthly or weekly; and instructed the County Manager to review electronic newsletters for information that advises the public.

The meeting recessed at 1:10 p.m.

The meeting reconvened at 2:10 p.m.

Supervisor of Elections

Discussion ensued on registered voters, referendums, precincts, and use of cellular telephones for precincts during elections.

The Board acknowledged offer from Supervisor of Elections Fred Galey to reduce his budget by $143,000; considered reduction of $200,000; tabled Elections? budget until August 20, 1996 for more information; and offered use of County cellular telephones for precincts during elections.

Hiring Freeze and Merit Increases

The Board discussed additional cuts, insurance rates, and prescription plan.

The Board did not institute a hiring freeze at this time; and directed the County Manager to determine if Departments can generate raises through Department savings, and find other reductions for approximately $100,000 to $150,000, such as funding merit increases in January, etc., but not use reserves.

Sheriff?s Office

Discussion ensued on reserves, excess millage, and step plan.

The Board recommended staff request the Sheriff to work out the two JSO positions internally with light duty personnel.

Emergency Assistance

The Board discussed fire inspections and emergency issues.

Motion by Commissioner Higgs, seconded by Commissioner Cook, to direct staff to develop a policy whereby people receiving emergency assistance are required to pay it back through payments so others can have assistance; and review the policy next year to determine its effectiveness. Motion carried and ordered unanimously.

Children?s Services Council

The Board directed the County Manager to identify an existing staff person for the Children?s Services Council on a part-time basis, if available.

Upon motion and vote, the meeting adjourned at 2:55 p.m.

MARK COOK, CHAIRMAN
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA

ATTEST:
SANDY CRAWFORD, CLERK
(S E A L)