MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA

 

 

 

March 9, 2006

 

 

 

The Board of County Commissioners of Brevard County, Florida, met in special workshop session on March 9, 2006, at 1:00 p.m. in the Government Center Florida Room, Building C, 2725 Judge Fran Jamieson Way, Viera, Florida. Present were: Chair Helen Voltz, Commissioners Truman Scarborough, Ron Pritchard, and Jackie Colon, County Manager Peggy Busacca, and County Attorney Scott Knox. Absent was: *Commissioner Susan Carlson.

 

 

 

Commissioner Pritchard stated one in twenty  workers are illegal immigrants; and he is concerned the cost effect this will have on Brevard County to provide housing, jail, healthcare, schools, etc.

 

 

 

Commissioner Pritchard advised he had a projection from Tammy Tharpe, Planning and Zoning Office, based on Brevard County population; and the projected population is 530,000 for 2006 and in 2020 approximately 663,000. He inquired if the County is under projecting in 2020, what will be the effect on where the County will be going, will municipalities be taking over more County land, what will the state of the County be in providing services, and should the County be looking at more umbrella type services.

 

 

 

Chair Voltz noted the building permits have been pulled for The Savannahs due to residents complaints regarding dust and debris.

 

County Manager Peggy Busacca provided an overview to the Board concerning Coordination with the Strategic Plan, Customer Satisfaction, Financial Efficiency, Transportation Issues, and Workforce Satisfaction. She explained National Trends and how the population is getting older and living longer; stated baby boomers are moving into retirement; finding qualified workforce is becoming more of a challenge; female adults are drinking less milk and more soda than female children; and movie theater attendance is declining due to more people enjoying movies at home.

 

PRESENTATIONS, RE: TRENDS/ ISSUES/ STATISTICAL DATA  

 

Ms. Busacca discussed home ownership, Florida growing faster than the United States average, population changes, Floridians more mobile population, and how Floridians are more diverse. She further explained Central Florida trends, attitudes toward growth, preferred development patterns, and quality of life priorities.

 

Commissioner Pritchard inquired who provided this information. Ms. Busacca responded it is from The National Citizens Survey.

 

Ms. Busacca continued her presentation with Brevard County and its overall quality of life, community participation, quality of services, highest rated characteristics, perspective on local government, lowest rated characteristics, and potential problems such as too much growth, traffic congestion, and drugs. She advised between FY 2000 and FY 2005/2006 the total budget for Parks and Recreation is $969 million; the annual budget increase has been 51%; total personnel has increased 40%; 89% of residents visited a park in the last year; Brevard County is spending its money where the citizens have requested it to be spent on a service they appreciate and use. She advised the next largest amount of money spent is on public safety; the budget for these five years totals $730 million, an annual increase of 66%; total personnel has increased 26%; and it is the communities highest quality of life priority. She noted 63% feel somewhat or very safe from violent crimes and 83% feel somewhat or very safe in neighborhoods after dark. She advised transportation expenditures between FY 2000 and FY 2005 total $560 million; stated total personnel remained level; rising cost of materials means fewer roads are built and repaired each year; traffic congestion was identified as the number one potential growth problem; and identified needs are $415 million. She commented on Libraries, advised total expenditures between FY 2000 and FY 2005, equal $128 million; the budget increased 19%; personnel increased 12%; and Melbourne Beach and Suntree/Viera libraries were opened.   

 

Budget Director Dennis Rogero explained preliminary estimates for the cost of implementation of the salaries study; and advised preliminary estimates indicated the Library Department is going to cost more than any other department even though it does not have the most number of employees.

 

Ms. Busacca discussed capital needs and unfunded capital needs for Animal Services, Emergency Management, Facilities, Information Technology, Library Services, Mosquito Control, Parks and Recreation, Road and Bridge, Solid Waste, Stormwater, Transportation Engineering, and Utilities. She explained the Human Resources trends, employee turnover/retirements, education, and group health insurance for employees and retirees; and commented on General Fund Revenues & Expenditures Per Capita, including adjustment for inflation. She stated levels of revenues should at least equal expenditures; and greater revenues allow for expansion of services. She discussed financial effectiveness; and advised the County operating budget increased 70% from FY 2000/2001 to FY 2005/2006, including the General Fund at 52%, special revenue funds at 71%, debt service at 76%, and capital projects at 524%.

 

Chair Voltz inquired about Brevard County debt services compared to other counties. Mr. Rogero responded compared to similar counties such as Osceola and Volusia, Brevard County is lower.

 

PRESENTATIONS, RE: TRENDS/ ISSUES/ STATISTICAL DATA  

Ms. Busacca advised compensation and benefits for the General Fund increased 45%; and explained considering the entire General Fund increased 52%, General Fund agencies have had very little to work with in addition to what they get for compensation and benefits.

 

Chair Voltz inquired which departments are included in General Fund. Ms. Busacca responded the Sheriff, Property Appraiser, Tax Collector, and Supervisor of Elections.

 

*Commissioner Carlson’s presence was noted at this time.

 

Commissioner Pritchard inquired if the five departments part of the Pilot project for Bob Seemers’ evaluation are General Fund.

 

 

Ms. Busacca responded Library Services Department is Municipal Service Taxing Unit (MSTU), Housing and Human Services is General Fund and grant, Animal Services is General Fund, Natural Resources is General Fund and grant, and Parks and Recreation has some General Fund.

 

Commission Pritchard stated Mr. Seemers’ recommendation claims a 40% increase in productivity; and inquired how can the County equate Mr. Seemers’ recommendations with an alleged 40% increase in productivity and balance against what the current revenues are for each department. Ms. Busacca responded Mr. Seemers indicated many of the efficiencies will allow an increase of services without reducing the budget.

 

Ms. Busacca advised property values have increased from FY 2002 through projected FY 2007; valuations have increased 91% since FY 2001; increased property values for FY 2002, 2003, and 2004 were similar for new construction and new valuations of existing construction; new construction for FY 2005 is providing more of the valuations; and the FY 2006 trend is exactly the opposite.

 

Assistant County Manager Stockton Whitten commented last year was the first year where the reassessments, the increased valuations eclipse new construction in terms of valuation; new construction will level off and reassessments will increase or be greater than new construction valuations.

 

Ms. Busacca stated staff will have to start thinking about roll back differently because it  will not  be getting that boost from new construction. She explained the property tax revenue increase in value/millage from FY 2002 through projected FY 2007; and stated property tax revenue has increased 60% since FY 2002.

 

PRESENTATIONS, RE: TRENDS/ ISSUES/ STATISTICAL DATA  

 

Mr. Rogero explained the FY 2007 increase in revenue associated with value and/or millage is very small because staff put forward a scenario where the County is just above roll back; and if the Board decides to increase aggregate operating millage above roll back it will see revenues from value/millage increase also.

 

Commissioner Pritchard stated the commentary property tax revenue has increased 60% since FY 2002; and inquired what are the dollars that equate to 60%. Mr. Rogero responded about $116 to $212.

 

Commissioner Pritchard inquired if it contributed to the $88 reduction that some tax payers got based on their valuations. Mr. Rogero replied there was a combination of valuations and millages adopted by the Board against those valuations; and it would include the value increase and increase associated with new construction.

 

Ms. Busacca provided a breakdown of the FY 2005-2006 County budget; stated four areas the County has spent the most money include  parks, public safety, library, and transportation, which is 48% of the total budget.  She further noted how the budget was spent for FY 2005-2006; stated there was a $25.5 million increase for 21 Ad Valorem Taxing Districts including Fire, Parks & Recreation, and Environmentally Endangered Lands (EELS) Program; $2.3 million went to additional Local Option Gas Tax (LOGT) relief for Road and Bridge; $300,000 went to the timing of traffic signals; and $495,967 went to Transit Services. She stated $998,822 went to annualize salary and benefits of 107 Jail, civilian, and corrections officers, $798,279 was for eight additional correctional officers for jail expansion; $200,734 was for four court security deputies, and $532,000 was for additional law enforcement MSTU. She advised $336,220 in General Fund transfers was for deputy sheriffs that were partially funded by grants; $315,091 in General Fund and $293,000 in Law Enforcement MSTU revenues were for the Sexual Predator Unit; $1,196,500 were for reserves; and $3,580,000 was for employee health insurance. Ms. Busacca stated there was a $250,000 increase for Medicaid, which is provided by the State, $2.8 million in additional General Funds for pre trial offenders required by the State, $3,100,000 in salary increases for qualified staff, $1,760,000 for salary study, and an increase of $322,493 for Aquatic Weed Control and Mosquito Control. She advised other increases include $50,000 in Agricultural and Extension Services for an additional Horticulture position, $65,000 to provide an emergency generator for South Animal Care Center, $108,000 for hurricane after action funding, $505,369 for Detention Center expansion, and $1,079,124 for additional fire engine and equipment. She advised of further increases, including $378,904 in additional funding for libraries, $210,257 for equipment for Road and Bridge MSTU, and $165,000 for equipment replacement for Space Coast Government Television (SCGTV).

 

Ms. Busacca summarized FY 2005-2006 budget allocations priority largest expenditures of $25.5 million increase, $2.3 million to off set LOGT relief, $3.2 million for public safety, $3.5 million for court and juvenile justice, $1.2 million to increase reserves, and $3.6 million in health insurance.   

PRESENTATIONS, RE: TRENDS/ ISSUES/ STATISTICAL DATA

 

Ms. Busacca further noted in FY 2006-2007 if $25,500,000 is received it will require a 7.39% increase over the aggregate rolled back rate which includes the Fire/EMS flip and funding the HazMat Program through the General Fund. She stated approved salary survey will require 3% above roll back to fund what has already been approved for next year.

 

Chair Voltz inquired on the difference of increase with the EMS flip.

 

Mr. Rogero replied the revenue flip will automatically increase the aggregate operating millage above roll back almost ¾ of a percent.

 

Ms. Busacca stated the workshop today is to identify priorities to be covered in the budget; and providing customer satisfaction and level of services issues are to have some sense of what the community says based on the survey and information received from the constituents.   

 

Chair Voltz stated the issue with the LOGT is vitally important.

 

Ms. Busacca commented the $1.7 million transfer to Road and Bridge to offset LOGT will have Road and Bridge back to the amount of General Fund it was prior to migration to LOGT; She explained to fully implement the salary survey the Board has identified  that one-half of the implementation beginning in April will cost $12 million. She further explained budget priorities of $3.2 million in health insurance, $1.6 million for the infrastructure management system, increase in reserves, Medicaid, $18 million for the 800 MHz, $15 million for replacement of Palm Bay Library, $2 million to $5 million for jail expansion, $63 million maintenance and construction, economic development, unfunded capital improvement  projects, other mandated program increases, and other community priorities.

 

Commissioner Pritchard inquired if the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) has been prioritized.

 

Mr. Rogero replied this fiscal year when unfunded capital improvement projects were removed, the result is a fully funded Capital Improvements Program allowing the Board to look at the next five years, see the projects identified funding, and prioritize in the book by agency, such as Parks and Recreation prioritization of projects.  He explained what will not be shown are other unfunded needs, for example, $300 million for transportation needs; but it has not been included in the CIP.

 

Ms. Busacca inquired if the Board is interested to transfer Road and Bridge to General Fund off of LOGT; and summarized on how much can be implemented of the salary survey, the infrastructure management system, and bonding for facilities needs. She inquired are there any other priorities to be noted to fit in the budget, and what other information is needed from staff in future meetings that need to be addressed.

 

 

Commissioner Carlson stated her support of the items under budget priorities include  transfer to LOGT to offset LOGT and the infrastructure management system both related to transportation; and the infrastructure management system is an efficiency issue which needs to be addressed. She advised of her support for the $12 million and $3.2 million regarding salaries, increase of reserves, Medicaid, Mhz system, jail expansion, and economic development. She requested the Budget Office come back to the Board with a clearer picture on debt service and how it could be afforded.

 

Chair Voltz requested staff look at potential ideas of how $25 million should be spent and how much of an increase will be needed.

 

Mr. Whitten advised $25 million is based on new construction, and, increased valuations; and this year the property roll increased 22%. He stated of the $25.5 million, with the flip it is $11 million off; the difference between the .68% and getting to the $25.5 million is about $14 million; so when looking at $25.5 million, about $14 million could be spread across the 21 operating districts. He noted if the County only did the flip, everything else at roll back would be an increase of $11 million; it would be an increase from the roll back aggregate operating millage of .68%; holding everything else to roll back assuming 5% new construction and 8% for reassessments would be $11 million and .68%; and assuming a $25.5 million increase, the County is at 7.39% above rollback.

 

Commissioner Scarborough commented on salary survey, loss of workforce, libraries, and health care.

 

Commissioner Colon stated Ms. Busacca’s presentation had how the dollars were spent last year; that is critical staff was able to take out that list and see what the County received for its dollars, who voted for it, and who was part of that budget; she is able to look and say she voted for it; and it is important to see a history of it.  She noted in regard to workforce satisfaction the County is hiring the big guns to come in and help the County with strategic benchmark; it has to be a team approach; and everyone is looking at the same picture and it comes out to be customer satisfaction, whether that is to allocate dollars toward roads, law enforcement, etc. She noted when someone says the County is not contributing to law enforcement, it is able to show those dollars and the 66% in the last five years; and those are very powerful numbers. She stated if the majority of the Board wants to focus on a certain way of maybe decreasing or cutting somewhere then it would have to set that tone right now that it is where the majority of the Board wants to go so it is not sending staff all over the place. She discussed the Palm Bay Parkway; and inquired where is the County supposed to get the dollars for right-of-way because what it has right now is not enough; she stated the residents of Palm Bay want to come before the Board to ask to get a little more aggressive in regard to buying rights-of-way.

 

Ms. Busacca replied the County put $1.7 million from LOGT into Road and Bridge; and if the Board said take that money and offset it with General Funds, staff can take $1.7 million and put it toward the Palm Bay Parkway.

 

 

 

 

Commissioner Pritchard provided a booklet with thirty six discussion items; stated the Board needs to discuss the possible Supreme Court ruling in June 2006; and it may abolish county municipal tax incentives to businesses, He advised of the effect it will have on revenue and job stream, funded vacant positions including 202 vacant positions and $4.6 million, added School Board involvement in before and after school programs, and privatization. He inquired would it be more cost effective if the County leased buildings instead of owning them, for example, sell the Merritt Island Service Complex and lease it back at per square foot charge; advised of anticipated increase in revenue from franchise fees, Florida Power and Light (FPL), gas, and Communication Services Tax (CST); expanding the County’s website to include legal notices instead of advertising in the newspaper; and not waiving code enforcement violation and other department fees; He noted a more proactive action needs to be taken sooner; and inquired is it possible for the departments to review their operations and expenditures to help offset the wage increases. He inquired when money is set aside for projects and future needs, can the monies be put in an interest bearing account and at what percent.

 

Mr. Whitten replied it is in an interest bearing account at four or five percent.

 

 

 

The Board reached consensus to cancel the March 23, 2006 budget workshop to allow the Commissioners to review budget materials and submit their lists of issues to staff by April 1, 2006 for discussion at the April 27, 2006 budget workshop.

 

 

 

Chair Voltz suggested the Board review Commissioner Pritchard’s booklet. Ms. Busacca inquired what the Board would like to accomplish at the next budget workshop. Chair Voltz replied she would like to go over the budget and look at any areas the Board may want to cut back.

 

Commissioner Carlson inquired would it be any assistance to staff if the Board agrees to the budget priorities, transportation, and salaries. Commissioner Pritchard stated he does not have a problem if transportation includes stormwater, salaries and health insurance. Commissioner Colon stated she supports Chair Voltz on the $1.7 million to transfer to LOGT, $12 million for full implementation of the salary survey, $3.2 million for health insurance, and $2.5 million for jail expansion as priorities.

 

Commissioner Pritchard commented on Clerk of the Court Scott Ellis’ objection to bonding the park revenue; and inquired where will the County come up with $36 million assuming Mr. Ellis is correct this is a serious consideration.

 

 

 

County Attorney Scott Knox requested the Board approve proposed settlement with Household Finance Corporation III in the amount of $60,000 for acquisition of parcel in conjunction with the Community Development Block Grant Project/Houston Lane Paving, Drainage, and Infill Project.

 

Motion by Commissioner Pritchard, seconded by Commissioner Carlson, to approve proposed settlement with Household Finance Corporation III in the amount of $60,000 for acquisition of parcel in conjunction with the Community Development Block Grant Project/Houston Lane Paving, Drainage, and Infill Project. Motion carried and ordered unanimously.  

 

 

 

 

Upon motion and vote, the meeting adjourned at 3:05 p.m.

 

 

 

 

 

 

ATTEST:                                                      _________________________________

                                                                     HELEN VOLTZ, CHAIR

                                                                     BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

                                                                     BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA

 

 

 

_____________________

SCOTT ELLIS, CLERK

 

 

 

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