[00:00:01]
WE'LL GO AHEAD AND, AND CALL THIS
[County Council Budget Work Session ]
FIRST BUDGET WORK SESSION TO ORDER.UH, I WANT TO THANK, UH, FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK, UH, THE CITIZEN BUDGET ADVISORS FOR MAKING TIME OUT OF THEIR BUSY SCHEDULES TO BE HERE WITH US TODAY.
IS MR. TIPS NOT HERE TODAY? HE'S NOT, HE'S NOT COMING TODAY.
WELCOME TO THE CHAMBERS TODAY, MR. MCCORD.
UM, IF, UH, IF WE CAN, UH, WE'D LIKE TO START WITH YOUR OVERVIEW.
UM, FIRST I'D LIKE TO JUST, UH, THANK THE, UH, COUNCIL BUDGET ADVISOR BEING THIS MORNING.
I APPRECIATE HAVING BEEN A FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER MYSELF.
I UNDERSTAND FULL WELL THE ROLE BUDGET ADVISORS PLEDGE AND, AND, AND I APPRECIATE THAT.
UNDERSTAND, READY TO, TO HELP YOU ALL AS WELL WITH THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WORKING THROUGH BUDGET ISSUES.
SO, UM, SECONDLY, I WANNA THANK THE COUNCIL FOR YOUR CAREFUL DELIBERATIONS AND YOUR VOTE LAST NIGHT.
UH, YOU SAID AN AGGRESSIVE SCHEDULE.
WE'RE THERE TO MEET YOU WITH IT.
WE'LL WORK WITH YOU ON, ON THE LEGISLATION.
UM, MY, MY GOAL IS TO, WE WORK TOGETHER TO CRAFT AND AGREED UPON LEGISLATION.
AND I'M HOP TO DISCUSS THIS STUFF NOW.
UM, NOT TODAY, I MEAN, NOT, NOT RIGHT NOW, BUT STARTING THIS AFTER THIS, AFTER YOU, YOU, YOU'VE DONE BUSINESS TODAY.
YOU GOT MY PLANNING ADMINISTRATOR THERE TO ANSWER TECHNICAL QUESTIONS.
WE WANT BE TOTALLY TRANSPARENT AND WORK TOGETHER, LEGISLATION DO ALL ACCOUNTABLE, SUBJECT WITH A RATOR.
UM, THE, UH, YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU THE OPERATING AND THE CAPITAL, AND THE OVERVIEW OF THE COUNTY BUDGET, UM, WHICH WAS DELIVERED LAST WEEK FOR THE COUNCIL.
UH, IT'S A FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE BUDGET THAT SEEKS TO MAINTAIN SPENDING ON ESSENTIAL SERVICES AND ESSENTIAL CAPITAL PROJECTS.
UH, MY, UH, PAL HERE TO THE RIGHT, ROB MCCORD, AND I'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS BUDGET LITERALLY SINCE DECEMBER 6TH.
WE'VE BEEN MEETING WITH OUR BUDGET ADVISOR AND OUR TREASURER AND STAFF PRETTY MUCH EVERY MORNING.
UH, THAT'S HOW WE START OUR DAY OFF AND FREQUENTLY SPENDING THE ENTIRE DAY, UH, REVIEWING BUDGET AND OPERATIONS.
UM, I WILL, KIM SPENCE IS NOT HERE TODAY, JUST UNAVAILABLE PHYSICAL CHALLENGE.
UM, BUT, UH, WE'VE GOT, HER STAFF IS HERE.
UM, BUT JUST WE'RE NOT HOLDING KIM BACK.
I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE HER HERE, BUT SHE'S NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO MAKE IT TODAY.
UM, AND WE'RE HOPING FOR HER FOR, UH, THE BEST.
UM, THE, UH, LOOK, THIS IS A BIG BUDGET.
MAYBE SOME THINGS IN HERE THAT GOT LEFT OUT, MAYBE YOUR PET, SOMETHING WAS LEFT OUT.
UM, I'M, WE'RE HAPPY TO SIT DOWN AND TALK ABOUT THOSE THINGS.
THERE'S SOMETHING YOU SAY, WHAT HAPPENED TO THAT? UH, HEY, LOOK, IT'S THE ELEPHANT MOVING THROUGH THE ROOM.
SOMETIMES THE SMALLER THINGS JUST KIND OF GET IGNORED.
SO, UH, IF YOU, YOU, IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT YOU DON'T THINK IN THERE, PLEASE COME.
UM, I, I DON'T THINK WE'VE, WE'VE, WE'VE, UH, WELL, I CAN ASSURE YOU, WE'VE NOT INTENTIONALLY LEFT ANYTHING OUT FOR ANY POLITICAL REASON.
UM, THE, UH, THE, UH, YOU GOT A MASSIVE OPERATING BUDGET HERE, 758 MILLION PLUS A CAPITAL BUDGET OF ONLY 229 MILLION.
UM, AND THEN THE OTHER FUNDS FOR A TOTAL BUDGET OF 1 BILLION.
ALL RIGHT? 1,000,184,307, UM, ONE $1,184,307,000.
UM, UH, THIS IS, UH, LOOK, THERE'S, THERE'S, UH, BEEN SOME BIG CHANGES FROM THE PAST TWO YEARS.
UH, MOST OF THIS COUNCIL IS NEW.
UM, AND MOST OF YOU ALL DID NOT HAVE TO SPEND THE LAST YEARS DEALING WITH INFLATION.
UH, I'M SORRY, THE LAST COUNCIL DIDN'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR GOING FORWARD.
UM, IT'S A, IT'S A, A RADICALLY DIFFERENT, UH, SETUP HERE.
UM, YOU ALL ARE GONNA SPEND AT LEAST THE FIRST FEW YEARS, IF NOT MORE, DEALING WITH, WITH INFLATION.
YOU'RE GONNA SPEND AT LEAST THE FIRST YEAR, IF NOT MORE, DEALING WITH THE UNCERTAIN ECONOMIES, THE WORLD ECONOMY, THE STATE ECONOMY, THE ACCOUNT ECONOMY.
UM, YOU, YOU ALSO HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL CHALLENGES THAT, THAT THE LAST ADMINISTRATION, UM, UH, BEQUEATH YOU, UH, THEY FINISHED UP THE TERM SPENDING 90 MILLIONS OF 90 MILLION OUTTA THE FUND BALANCE.
YOU DON'T HAVE, YOU DON'T HAVE IT AVAILABLE TO YOU.
UM, THEY ALSO, UH, CURIOUSLY, WHEN WE HAD A TAKE, 90 MILLION OUTTA THE FUND BALANCE, ALSO REDUCED REVENUES BY 20 MILLION A YEAR GOING FORWARD, THAT'S 20 MILLION YOU'RE GONNA FACE.
YOU'RE GONNA RECEIVE 160 MILLION OVER, ASSUMING YOU DO TWO TERMS A YEAR, YOU, YOU'LL, YOU'LL FACE 160 MILLION IN REDUCED REVENUE AVAILABLE TO YOU TO DO ANYTHING YOU WANT TO DO.
OKAY? SO WE, THAT'S A BIG CHALLENGE FOR US.
UM, UH, I'M NOT TRYING TO REVERSE THAT.
[00:05:01]
BUT IT DOES PUT CONSTRAINTS ON ALL OF US GOING FORWARD.UH, THEY ALSO HAD EIGHT YEARS OF COVID MONEY, A LOT OF COVID MONEY THAT'S ALL GONE.
YOU DON'T HAVE THE COVID MONEY.
SO MY RESPONSE TO THESE CHALLENGES IS MULTIFACETED.
ONE, WE'VE REORGANIZED OUR GOVERNMENT, THE, THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH FOR EFFICIENCY, EFFICIENCY OF OPERATIONS, EFFICIENCY OF COSTS.
UH, WE'RE LOOKING AT CONSOLIDATING PHYSICALLY, TRYING TO REDUCE RENTALS.
UM, WE'RE HOLDING A LINE ON NEW COSTS.
UH, THE, UH, WE'RE FOCUSED HEAVILY ON REVENUE GENERATION, YOU KNOW, THAT I REORGANIZED THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, THE DEPARTMENT TO MAKE THEM A STANDALONE DEPARTMENT.
AND WE'VE PUT A LOT OF STOCK IN, IN BEEFING THAT UP.
WE'VE GOTTA GENERATE MORE REVENUE.
CLEARLY, A PROVING GROUND IS A BIG PART OF THAT EFFORT, UH, TO PRETEND TO, TO, TO IGNORE THIS MAJOR, MAJOR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PRESENCE, UH, ALONG THE ENTIRE EAST SIDE OF OUR COUNTY WOULD BE LUDICROUS.
AND, UM, I'M, I'M A FIRM BELIEVER THAT ALL THE FOLKS WHO SAID THAT BRA FAILED US, UH, FAILED TO REALIZE THAT BRACK WAS AN OPPORTUNITY.
IT WASN'T A, IT WASN'T A, A GOLDEN TICKET.
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT OPPORTUNITY.
AND I, I WOULD SUBMIT TO YOU, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THAT WE FAILED FOR EIGHT YEARS AT LEAST, IF NOT LONGER, TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE BRACK OPPORTUNITIES.
AND WE'RE MOVING RAPIDLY AND AGGRESSIVELY TO REVERSE THAT.
THERE'S THERE, THE, THE, THE KIND OF MONEY THAT WE CAN PUT IN.
I APPRECIATE YOUR DELIBERATION YESTERDAY ON THE, ON THE, UH, THE, UH, UH, SHIPPINGS THAT WAREHOUSE DISTRIBUTION CENTERS, WHICH DO NOT BRING THE KIND OF REVENUE THAT WE ALL NEED.
UM, BRA CAN DO THAT BRA CAN BRING US THOSE, THOSE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE HAVE TO CHASE THEM, UH, PROFESSIONALLY DILIGENTLY, UH, WITH, WITH, WITH, WITH EVERY, EVERY FIBER IN OUR BODY.
WE STARTED DOING THAT FROM DAY ONE.
UM, THERE'S A LOT OF CRITICISM ABOUT THE BUDGET.
UH, YOU'VE SEEN IT PLAYED OUT IN THE PRESS.
UM, MOST, YOU KNOW, CURRENTLY THE BIGGEST, THE, THE, THE BIGGEST FOLKS IN THE MEDIA, UH, PLAYING OUT IS THE SCHOOLS.
AND I'M JUST GONNA, I'D LIKE TO JUST, YOU CAN TAKE A, THESE, THIS IS THE, UH, I'M JUST GONNA GIVE YOU A CHART OF SCHOOL FUNDING, PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDING OVER THE PAST, WELL, SINCE 2016.
SO YOU JUST, WHERE, WHERE THAT IS TOTAL PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDING.
UM, IF YOU LOOK AT THIS CHART AND, AND JUST LET'S JUST DRAW SOME TRENDS HERE.
UM, IF YOU, IF YOU TAKE, IF YOU DRAW A TREND LINE OVER THE FIRST, YOU KNOW, TREND LINE, YOU JUST TAKE YOUR PIECE OF PAPER AND LAY IT OVER THE TOP OF THE CHARTS FOR THE FIRST THREE.
IF YOU LOOK AT THAT, THE TREND THAT YOU HAD FROM 2016, 17, AND 18, MY GOSH, IF THAT'S THE TREND IN FUNDING, WE'RE WAY THE HECK ABOVE THAT.
UM, IF YOU TAKE THE TREND FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS, OH MY GOSH, WE'RE WAY ABOVE THAT.
UM, AND, AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE, THE, THE TREND FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS, GOSH, WE'RE RIGHT IN LINE WITH THE TREND FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS, WHICH SORT OF REPRESENTS KERWIN.
UM, SO, UH, YOU KNOW, THE SUGGESTION THAT THERE'S THIS MASSIVE UNDERFUNDING OF OUR SCHOOLS IS NOT THERE.
THE, THE, THE CHART SHOWS THAT THE, THE, THEY'RE UP BY $20.1 MILLION THIS YEAR OVER A LAST.
NOW THE RETORT IS, WELL, HEY, THE COUNTY SHARE WENT DOWN.
WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT? IF YOU TAKE, IF YOU, IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT THE COUNTY'S TRENDS HAVE BEEN, WE'RE ACTUALLY WELL ABOVE THE TRENDS OTHER THAN THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS WHEN WE WENT WAY TOO HIGH, LADIES, GENTLEMEN, THAT'S, THAT'S THE ONLY RESPONSE I HAVE.
AND WE UNSUSTAINABLE HIGH, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE CUT OUR TAX REVENUE BY $20 MILLION A YEAR, UM, THAT, THAT, THAT LEVEL OF INCREASE WAS NOT SUSTAINABLE.
UM, IF, IF YOU WANNA TAKE OUR TRENDS FROM 2 20, 21, 20 22, WE'RE RIGHT IN LINE.
UM, AND, UH, IF WE'RE GONNA DO MORE THAN THIS, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO SUBMIT A TAX INCREASE.
CAUSE WE'RE NOT SITTING ON A FUN BALANCE.
I DON'T HAVE THAT $90 MILLION TO CASH INTO.
SO IF WE'RE GONNA INCREASE SPENDING, LET'S BE REALLY HONEST AND UPFRONT ABOUT THIS.
WHEN YOU SAY INCREASE SPENDING, YOU'RE EITHER GONNA SLASH SOMETHING ELSE THAT WE DO IN THE COUNTY, OR YOU'RE GONNA INCREASE TAXES.
UH, I DON'T SEE A THIRD ALTERNATIVE.
SO, UM, I'M, I'M HERE TO, TO WORK WITH EVERYBODY.
OUR COUNTY EMPLOYEES, OUR, OUR, OUR, OUR, OUR BOARD OF EDUCATION EMPLOYEES, OUR SHERIFF EMPLOYEES, OUR LIBRARY EMPLOYEES.
I APPRECIATE ALL THE HARD WORK THEY DO.
BUT I, UNLESS WE'RE GONNA BE THE, THE, THE, THE TAX AND SPEND COUNCIL, UM, WE'RE LIMITED.
UH, AND I, I REALLY DON'T HAVE A BETTER ANSWER TO YOU.
UM, AND I TRIED TO LAY OUT TO YOU JUST NOW WHY WE'RE LIMITED, BUT THOSE ARE THE, THOSE ARE THE REAL LIMITS.
SO WITH THAT, I'LL OPEN UP ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL.
UM, I THINK WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO, YOU'RE GONNA BE HERE THROUGH YOUR OWN, THROUGH MY OWN, YES.
I WAS GONNA SAY THROUGH MY OWN.
IF YOU NEED SOME MORE, I, I CAN COME BACK OR WHATEVER, BUT OBVIOUSLY YOU'LL HAVE THE REST OF
[00:10:01]
MY STAFF.BUT I'LL BE HERE THROUGH THIS AND, AND THEN THROUGH MY OWN.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO BE HERE THROUGH YOURS, FOR SURE.
I'LL BE, AND I THINK THAT'S WHEN I'M GONNA OPEN THE FLOOR UP FOR COUNSEL FOR QUESTIONS.
UM, SO, UH, NEXT WILL BE THE, UH, SPENDING AFFORDABILITY REPORT.
I WANNA ALSO RECOGNIZE MR. WISEMAN, MR. GODARD TO HERE WITH YOU TODAY.
ALSO, BEFORE WE GET STARTED, I WANNA RECOGNIZE SHERIFF GAYLOR IN THE AUDIENCE.
I JUST LOOKED OVER AND SAW HIM THERE.
MR. EATON, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
MR. ROBY, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
APPRECIATE, UH, APPRECIATE YOU HAVING YOUR TEAM MEMBERS HERE AT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE WITH US EVERY TUESDAY EVENING.
UH, WE DID TAKE ADVANTAGE OF HIM AGAIN LAST NIGHT.
I'D LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THE ANNUAL SPENDING AFFORDABILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE REPORT THIS MORNING.
I'VE, I'VE NEVER BEEN ACCUSED OF BEING QUIET, SO
UH, BEFORE I ADDRESS THE SUBSTANCE OF THE COURT, I'D LIKE TO START OFF BY EXPRESSING MY GRATITUDE FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BOTH SERVE ON THIS COMMITTEE, UH, AND ADDRESS THIS BODY ON SUCH IMPORTANT ISSUES TO OUR BELOVED HARTFORD COUNTY.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK EACH OF YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN SERVING OUR NEIGHBORS, OUR FRIENDS, OUR FAMILY, OUR COMMUNITY, FOR THEIR STRONG SUPPORT AND STEWARDSHIP OF THE COUNTY'S FINANCES.
I'D LIKE TO THANK THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE, MR. BOB CALEY AND HIS EXCELLENT STAFF.
ROBERT MCCORD, DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION, ROBERT SANDIS, COUNTY TREASURER RICK PER DEPUTY TREASURER, KIM SPENCE COUNTY BUDGET CHIEF, AND GAIL DE PETRO ADMINISTRATIVE SPECIALIST.
OUR COMMITTEE ALSO RECEIVED VALUABLE INSIGHT FROM MANY COUNTY EMPLOYEES, PARTICULARLY RICHARD TRUITT, DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF INSPECTIONS LICENSING AND PERMITS.
SHANE GRIM, DIRECTOR OF PLANNING AND ZONING.
AND KAREN HOLT, DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
YOU'RE ALL TO BE CONGRATULATED FOR DOING A JOB WELL DONE IN EXHIBITING GREAT LEADERSHIP IN CHALLENGING TIMES WHEN IT IS NEEDED MOST.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK ALL THE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMITTEE, TRULY CITIZEN VOLUNTEERS FOR THEIR HARD WORK AND DEDICATION, MR. WAYNE GODDARD, MR. JOHN O'NEILL, MR. JOHN SCOTT, MR. LEE TYSON, AND MR. STEVE WEISMAN.
MY NAME IS BRIAN KELLY, AND AS A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF HARTFORD COUNTY, I'M PROUD TO CHAIR THIS COMMITTEE AND TO BE PART OF THE PROCESS.
AS A FOUNDING PARTNER OF A BELLAIRE BASED WEALTH MANAGEMENT AND PLANNING FIRM, WITH OVER 20 EMPLOYEES, I SHARE WITH ALL RESIDENTS AND BUSINESS OWNERS AND MY PRIDE IN THIS COUNTY AND MY OPTIMISM FOR FUTURE.
AS YOU KNOW, OUR GROUP IS CHARGED WITH PRESENTING TO THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND TO YOU OUR COUNTY COUNCIL, OUR RECOMMENDED LEVEL OF OPERATING, SPENDING, A RECOMMENDED LEVEL OF NEW DEBT, AND A RECOMMENDED LEVEL OF UN APPROPRIATED ON BALANCE WORK RETAINED EARNINGS.
THE MAJORITY OF OUR TIME WAS SPENT ON DETERMINING THE LEVEL OF OPERATING FUNDS THAT WE BELIEVE WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR USE BY THE COUNTY IN THE COMING FISCAL YEAR.
OF COURSE, ALTHOUGH WE WORKED HARD IN ARRIVING AT OUR CONCLUSION WORLD-CHANGING EVENTS OF RECENT YEARS, IN RECENT MONTHS, IN RECENT DAYS, REMIND US THAT PREDICTING OUR FISCAL FUTURE CAN BE A VERY PERILOUS ACTIVITY.
AS I OFTEN SAY, PREDICTING THE FUTURE IS EASY ONCE IT'S PASSED, WHEREAS MY DEAR FATHER ALWAYS TAUGHT ME, HINDSIGHT'S ALWAYS 2020 TO ACHIEVE OUR MISSION.
WE WORK TO DETERMINE THE LEVEL OF INCOME TAX REVENUES, AND REAL ESTATE TAX REVENUES THAT WILL BE RECEIVED IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2024.
WHILE THERE ARE OTHER COMPONENTS, THESE TWO CATEGORIES REPRESENT APPROXIMATELY 89% OF OPERATING FUNDS.
WE ASSUME THE OTHER REVENUES WILL MIRROR THE CHANGE OCCURRING IN INCOME IN REAL ESTATE TAXES.
WHILE OUR OFFICIAL CHARGE HAS BEEN TO RECOMMEND A LEVEL OF OPERATING SPENDING, THE COMMITTEE HAS HISTORICALLY USED A BUDGET BASED APPROACH FOR OUR ESTIMATE ON SPENDING AFFORDABILITY.
THIS APPROACH ESTIMATES A REVENUE LEVEL THAT WILL BECOME AVAILABLE TO THE COUNTY, ASSUMING NO CHANGE IN TAX RATES, FEES, OR GOVERNMENT SPENDING, OTHER THAN THOSE ALREADY ENACTED.
THIS DOES CONTRAST WITH OTHER SPENDING AFFORDABILITY APPROACHES USED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS, WHICH DETERMINE SPENDING
[00:15:01]
LEVELS TIED TO CITIZEN CITIZEN'S ABILITY TO PAY.PLEASE NOTE THAT THE COMMU COMMITTEE DID NOT FACTOR IN ANY CHANGE IN TAX OR FEE STRUCTURE.
WE WERE MADE AWARE THAT THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE IS CONSIDERING CERTAIN FEE INCREASES.
IF ANY SUCH INCREASES ARE PASSED INTO LAW, THE COMMITTEE WOULD SUPPORT A REASONABLE REVISION TO THE COUNTY REVENUES BUDGETED AS IN PAST YEARS AND USING VARIOUS TOOLS AVAILABLE TO US, WE DETERMINED INCOME TAX LEVELS BASED UPON THE ECONOMIC CONDITIONS IN THE CALENDAR YEAR 2022, AND OUR ATTEMPT TO PROJECT THAT OF 23.
REAL ESTATE TAXES ARE DETERMINED BASED UPON INFORMATION PROVIDED FROM THE STATE AND OUR COUNTY TREASURER.
SINCE ITS REAL ESTATE VALUES ARE ASSESSED BY THE STATE, THEN IMPLEMENTED OVER THREE YEARS, WE HAVE A FAIRLY ACCURATE LEVEL OF TAXABLE VALUE.
SINCE WE KNOW THE TAX RATE AND THE VALUE.
OUR PROJECTION FOR REAL ESTATE TAX INCOME HAS BEEN REASONABLY ACCURATE.
THE COMMITTEE PROJECTED OUT THE REMAINDER OF THIS FISCAL YEAR 23 AND DETERMINED THAT THE NET ADJUSTED GENERAL FUND BUDGET FOR THIS YEAR TO BE 663 MILLION AFTER ADJUSTING FOR AN 89.6 MILLION IN APPROPRIATED FUND BALANCE.
WE BELIEVE THE COUNTY NET ADJUSTED GENERAL FUND BUDGET WILL INCREASE BY 2.5%, WHICH MEANS COUNTY ESTIMATED REVENUE AVAILABLE WILL EQUAL 680 MILLION FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024.
THE COMMITTEE NOTED SEVERAL ADDITIONAL ITEMS IN REGARDS TO REAL ESTATE TAXES.
THE COMMITTEE ESTIMATES THAT THEY WILL INCREASE 2.2% FOR 2024.
REAL ESTATE VALUES CONTINUE TO SHOW IMPROVEMENT THIS YEAR.
GROUP TWO, WHICH INCLUDES BELL AIR IN THE FOSEN AREAS, WAS REASSESSED AND GREW.
ITS 16%, WHICH WILL BE PHASED IN OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS.
THIS REPRESENTS THE STRONGEST REASSESSMENT GROWTH SINCE 2008, AND IS AN INDICATION OF THE VIBRANT HOUSING MARKET IN OUR COUNTY.
THE COMMITTEE PROJECTS AN INCOME TAX REVENUE INCREASE OF 3.9% FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023 FROM THE 2022 ACTUAL, NO ADDITIONAL GROWTH IS ANTICIPATED FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024.
WHILE THE COMMITTEE DOES EXPECT, UH, LABOR MARKETS TO CONTINUE TO BE TIGHT, RE RESULTING FROM CONTINUED STRONG GROWTH AND WITHHOLDINGS, A COUNTERBALANCING FACTOR THAT WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT IS THE DROP IN ESTIMATED TAX PAYMENTS AND FINAL PAYMENTS THAT COME FROM OUR BUSINESSES AS A RESULT OF MAYBE CAPITAL GAINS, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
HOWEVER, ONE AREA OF PARTICULAR CONCERN FOR THE COMMITTEE IS A STRUCTURAL DEFICIT OF THE COUNTY, AND THE USE OF FUND BALANCE IN FISCAL YEAR 2023 IS GENERAL FUND BUDGET.
BUDGETED EXPENDITURES GREW BY 14% OF BUDGETED REVENUES GREW BY SEVEN.
THE DIFFERENCE WAS MADE UP WITHIN NEARLY $90 MILLION.
WHILE THE COMMITTEE IS NOT OPPOSED TO THE USE OF FUND BALANCE IS RECOMMENDED THAT IT BE USED PRIMARILY FOR ONE TIME EXPENDITURES.
THE COMMITTEE STRONGLY ENCOURAGES THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND THE COUNTY COUNCIL TO CORRECT THIS IMBALANCE IN A PRUDENT AND PRACTICAL, THOUGHTFUL MANNER.
THE COMMITTEE ALSO DEVOTED TIME TO DISCUSSING DEBT POLICY AND PLAN DEBT ISSUANCE.
WHILE WE DO NOT FEEL QUALIFIED TO ADVISE THE COUNTY ON DEBT ISSUANCE, WE DID REVIEW THE COUNTY'S DEBT MANAGEMENT POLICY AND DISCUSS THE PLAN WITH THE COUNTY MANAGEMENT TEAM.
WHILE THE COUNTY'S DEBT AFFORDABILITY RATIOS ARE HEALTHY AND IN LINE WITH OUR TRIPLE A RATED COUNTIES, THE FISCAL YEAR 2023 CAPITAL BUDGET HAD A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN FUTURE BONDS.
WHILE THE COMMITTEE UNDERSTANDS THE CAPITAL NEEDS OF THE COUNTY AND THE RISING COST OF CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS, THERE WAS CONCERN EXPRESSED REGARDING THE TRA TRAJECTORY OF FUTURE DEBT.
WE APPLIED THE METRICS DESCRIBED IN THE POLICY AND COMPARED THEM TO THE ACTUAL AND PLAN DEPOSITION OF THE COUNTY.
AND THE COUNTY IS IN CONFORMITY WITH THEIR DEBT MANAGEMENT POLICY.
THE COMMITTEE'S THIRD CHARGE IS WITHIN REGARDS TO THE FUND BALANCE.
THE COMMITTEE REVIEWED THE COUNTY'S PRACTICE OF MAINTAINING AN ASSIGNED FUND BALANCE OF APPROXIMATELY 5% OF ITS ANNUAL OPERATING FUND BUDGET.
THIS RESERVES HOLDS FUNDS THAT COULD BE USED FOR THE COUNTY, UH, TO FUND REVENUE FOR SHORTFALLS OR OTHER TYPES OF EMERGENCIES.
THIS FUND BALANCE IS CONSIDERED CRITICAL IN MAINTAINING AN ACCEPTABLE LEVEL OF FINANCIAL STRENGTH.
THE COMMITTEE IS ALSO AWARE OF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVES PRACTICE OF MAINTAINING A MINIMUM OF 20 MILLION IN UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCES IN ADDITION TO THIS 5%, AND ENDORSES THIS PRACTICE OVERALL.
THIS DOES CONCLUDE MY PREPARED REMARKS.
[00:20:01]
YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, YOUR LEADERSHIP AND SUPPORT FOR OUR COMMUNITY, HARFORD COUNTY.UM, I ALSO WANNA RECOGNIZE MR. TYSON.
I DIDN'T, DIDN'T RECOGNIZE YOU SITTING THERE AT FIRST, SO DIDN'T SEE YOU.
AND THEN ALSO, UH, MS. WOOD, I DIDN'T SEE YOU AS WELL,
UM, COUNSEL, ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. KELLY? MR. JEREN? UH, GOOD.
UM, MR. KELLY, THANK YOU FOR THE REPORT.
WILL, WILL WE BE ABLE TO GET A COPY OF THAT? YOU HAVE IT IN YOUR VOICE? WE DO HAVE IT, YES, SIR.
THAT'S WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR.
UM, NO, NO OTHER QUESTIONS RIGHT NOW.
WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT OFFICE SPACE THAT'S BEEN TRANSFORMING IN THE POST COVID ECONOMY, IS IT GONNA, ARE YOU THINKING IT'S GONNA BE MORE OFFICE SPACE NEEDED OR LESS? I, I COULD SEE EITHER WAY.
WELL, UH, UN I'M A, I'M A CITIZEN.
I'M A PLANNER AND WEALTH MANAGER.
BUT OUR, OUR REAL FOCUS IN, IN THIS AREA WAS THE, THE ITEMS WE OUTLINE.
AND I THINK THAT ONE CAN MAKE ARGUMENTS IN BOTH REGARDS.
ANECDOTALLY, I'M A BUSINESS OWNER AND I OWN OFFICE SPACE IN BEL AIR, AND I'M VERY PLEASED TO OWN THAT OFFICE SPACE SO THAT I, I PUT MY MONEY WHERE MY MOUTH IS.
I GUESS, AND I'LL, I'LL JUST HAVE TO, ONE OF THE POINTS WE MAKE, UM, TO THE RATING AGENCIES, UM, UH, EACH, EACH YEAR IS THAT HARTFORD COUNTY'S COMMERCIAL FACE, UH, DOESN'T HAVE MAYBE SOME OF THE SAME CHALLENGES THAT SAY A, UH, A BALTIMORE OR, UH, A NEW YORK OR, OR AN AREA WITH A LARGE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT HAS RIGHT NOW, AS WE'RE RECEIVING LOTS OF THESE COMMERCIAL SPACES, THESE OFFICE BUILDINGS, UM, BEING VACANT BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE WORKING REMOTE.
UH, AND, AND LIKE, SO I DO THINK THAT'S A, A STRENGTH OF THIS COUNTY IS THAT OUR COMMERCIAL BASE IS, IS, IS, UH, MUCH MORE DIVERSIFIED.
WE ALSO DON'T HAVE THE SAME LEVEL OF HUGE RETAIL THAT SOME OTHER AREAS HAVE.
UM, WHERE YOU SEE LOTS OF, UH, LARGE SHOPPING MALLS THAT ARE, THAT ARE VACANT.
UM, YOU KNOW, OUR RETAIL HERE IS LARGELY KIND OF, YOU KNOW, BIG BOX DRIVEN, OFTENTIMES ANCHORED BY GROCERY STORES, WHICH SEEM TO BE INCREDIBLY STRONG.
UM, EVERY TIME YOU TURN AROUND, THERE'S ANOTHER GROCERY STORE.
UM, AND SO I, THAT, THAT'S ONE OF THE GOOD PARTS OF US VERSUS SAY A, A BALTIMORE CITY OR EVEN A, A BALTIMORE COUNTY OR A MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
ANYONE ELSE? MR. ISH? MORNING.
UM, SO I WANT TO HIT ON THIS STRUCTURAL DEFICIT.
SO IN WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS THAT THE 90 MILLION THAT WAS SPENT IN, AND I'M ASSUMING THAT'S NOT UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE, SO THERE'S GOTTA BE ARPA FUNDS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT MONEY AS WELL, BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE 90 MILLION FUND BALANCE AS OF LAST YEAR, CORRECT? NO, NO.
WE, THERE WAS, THERE WAS NO ARPA ARPA FUNDS, SO THERE WAS 90 MILLION OF APPROPRIATIONS MADE BY THIS COUNCIL LAST YEAR.
SO WHEN THERE, WHEN YOU WOULD LOOK AT THE BUDGET, UM, LAST YEAR'S 750 MILLION OF, OF EXPENDITURES, UM, THERE WAS SIX SIX, UH, I HATE DOING MATH IN PUBLIC.
UM, SO IT'S OUR JOB, UM, 6, 6 70, UM, 6 70, 6 60 IN, IN REVENUE.
AND THE DIFFERENCE WAS WITH FUND BALANCE.
NOW, OUR FUND BALANCE HAS GROWN CONSIDERABLY IN THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS.
UM, IN LARGE PART DUE TO, UM, UM, SOME REALLY STRONG REVENUE, UNEXPECTED REVENUE GROWTH IN INCOME TAX.
YOU LOOK BACK ABOUT TWO, THREE YEARS AGO, OUR INCOME TAX WENT UP ALMOST 20% UNPRECEDENTED.
MY COUNTERPARTS AROUND THE STATE HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT BEFORE.
WE HAD A STRONG INCOME TAX GROWTH.
IT WAS, HEY, WE HAD 8% OR 7% 89, NEVER THAT.
THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT FACTORS AT PLAY THERE, SOME OF WHICH HAS TO DO WITH HOW WELL OUR ECONOMY WITHHELD DURING COVID.
CAUSE WE DID A GOOD JOB OF STAYING OPEN.
WE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO COULDN'T WORK REMOTE, SO THEY DIDN'T MISS ANY PAYCHECKS.
UM, THERE WERE SOME OTHER FACTORS IN THERE TOO.
AND I WANNA GET TO, AND I TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS AT THE, UM, UH, THE REVENUE UP, UH, UPDATE.
BUT ABOUT SIX, SEVEN YEARS AGO AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, THEY TAX STATE LOCAL INCOME TAX DEDUCTION, UH, TO $10,000.
SO, YOU KNOW, RELATIVELY BLUE STATE LIKE THIS, THAT HAS, UM, FAIR AMOUNT OF, OF, UH, STATE, STATE TAXES.
UM, YOU COULD ONLY HAVE IT AT, AT, AT $10,000.
MR. SANDIS, PULL THAT MICROPHONE OVER.
HE'S, UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPENED WITH THAT IS THAT THE STATE OF MARYLAND, IN ORDER TO HELP OUT, NOT NECESSARILY INDIVIDUAL FILERS, UM, THAT WERE, WERE, WERE, UM, UH, HAD LESS OF A DEDUCTION.
PEOPLE LIKE ME, BUT PARTICULARLY BUSINESSES, UH,
[00:25:01]
PASS THROUGH ENTITY BUSINESSES, UM, THAT RECEIVE A LOT OF WHAT THEY CALL PASSIVE PASSIVE INCOME.THEY ALLOWED THEM TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS CREDIT.
AND IN ORDER TO KIND OF DO THAT, THEY NEEDED TO START MAKING PAYMENTS THROUGH THE ESTIMATED PAYMENT PROCESS ON A QUARTERLY BASIS AS OPPOSED TO KIND OF AT YEAR END.
AND THEN THIS WOULD ENABLE THEM TO BE ABLE TO DEDUCT MORE OF THOSE TAXES AS BUSINESS EXPENSES OFF OF THEIR FEDERAL TAXES.
SO WHAT WE SAW BACK IN 21, WE SAW THAT 20% BUMP IS, SOME OF THAT WAS ECONOMIC RELATED, BUT A LOT OF THAT WAS ALSO RELATED TO THESE BUSINESSES THROUGHOUT THE STATE PUTTING A LOT OF THEIR PAYMENTS IN ESTIMATED PAYMENTS.
SO YOU, THAT'S WHY YOU SAW AN 18% INCREASE THAT YEAR.
BUT THE FOLLOWING YEAR, OUR INCOME TAX GREW BY LESS THAN 3%.
IT WAS LIKE TWO AND A HALF, 2.99%.
UM, SO I KNOW IT'S A CIRCUITOUS WAY FOR ME TO TRY TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION.
LET, LEMME JUMP ON THAT FOR A OKAY.
BUT, BUT THEN WHAT, SO WHAT WE HAD IS WE HAD SOME REALLY STRONG REVENUE GROWTH THAT ENABLED THIS COUNTY TO HAVE, UM, SOME VERY HEALTHY FUND BALANCES BECAUSE WE WEREN'T EXPECTING THAT.
I'LL TELL YOU, WHEN WE WERE HERE, THIS SPENDING AFFORDABILITY COMMITTEE TWO YEARS AGO GOING, AND, YOU KNOW, WE WERE MEETING PRETTY MUCH THE WEEK WHEN COVID HIT, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, WE, WE, I THINK WE WERE FINALIZING OUR, UM, OUR ESTIMATES IN, IN THAT EARLY MARCH, RIGHT? WHEN EVERYTHING, NONE OF US WERE EXPECTING THAT WE WOULD, WE WOULD HAVE THAT, THAT TYPE OF RESULT.
SO WE DID, WE HAD SOME CONSERVATIVE BUDGETS AND CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATES AND WE DID, WE BUILT UP A SIGNIFICANT FUND BALANCE, WHICH WE WERE ABLE TO USE A LOT LAST YEAR IN ORDER TO MAKE EVERYTHING WORK.
SO JUST, JUST TO CLARIFY, YOUR SALT POINT WITH MARYLAND MM-HMM.
SO THAT YES, YOU MIGHT HAVE HAD SOME BUSINESS DEDUCTIONS THAT ARE THERE, BUT WHAT THEY WERE DOING WAS DEDUCTING INCOME TAX FROM THEIR BUSINESSES THAT WAS THEN PAID AS AN ESTIMATED TAX AT THE END OF THE YEAR.
SO THERE WAS ONE YEAR TIMING DIFFERENCE ON THAT WHEN THAT LAW CAME THROUGH.
THAT'S WHY WE SAW, SO JUST TO CLARIFY THAT.
THAT'S WHY WE SAW THE BIG, THAT'S WHY WE SAW THE BUMP.
IT IN ESSENCE, IT TOOK, IT DIDN'T NECESSARILY INCREASE LOCAL REVENUES.
IT DOESN'T BUMPS A, IT'S A PASSTHROUGH GAME, BUT IT BUMPED IT UP IT ON A TIMING WAY, YOU KNOW, HOW WE, HOW WE ESTIMATE INCOME TAX TIMING, CORRECT.
AND THAT'S WHY I'LL GIVE YOU TIMING.
THAT'S WHY WE SAW THE BIG, THE BIG, THE BIG BUMP UP THAT YEAR.
SO THIS, YOU'RE WALKING RIGHT DOWN.
MY QUESTION THEN IS THAT WE'RE NOW SAYING THAT, THAT THE ECONOMY IS HITTING A RECESSION IN SOME WAY.
CUZ WE'RE ESTIMATING, AND THIS GOES BACK TO THE BOARD, 2.5% INCREASE IN EXPENDITURES IN REVENUE THERE, IT YOU WANT TO INCREASE YOUR ANNUAL BUDGET BY 2.5%.
NO, THAT'S NOT IN YOUR REPORT RIGHT THERE.
SO THEN YOU'RE GONNA TAKE THAT REVENUE AND TURN INTO EXPENDITURES.
SO 2.5% IS WHAT WE'RE THAT REVENUE PLUS PLUS THE NEW PLUS WHATEVER FUND BALANCE.
AND IN THIS BUDGET THERE'S 62 60 3 MILLION OF FUND BALANCE.
THAT'S OFF OF THE, THE FUND BALANCE YOU'RE GONNA BE GETTING THIS YEAR.
CUZ I THOUGHT THERE WAS NONE LEFT.
NO, AND AND, AND THAT'S, AND THAT'S, THAT'S ONE OF THE CHALLENGES OF, OF THE, WE TALKED ABOUT THE IDEA OF THE PRACTICAL NEED FOR THE STRUCTURAL DEFICIT IS THAT YOU CAN'T CORRECT THE STRUCTURAL DEFICIT ALL IN ONE YEAR.
SO IF I, IN A, IN AN IDEAL WORLD, WE WOULD HAVE, IF WE WERE DOING 60 MILLION OF, OF FUND BALANCE IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET, AND YOU THEN IT WOULD'VE BEEN CLOSE TO 60 MILLION IN ONE TIME EXPENDITURES.
NOW, IN THIS BUDGET, THERE'S ABOUT 30 MILLION OF ONE-TIME EXPENDITURES AND ABOUT, AND IT'S, IT'S A LITTLE BIT LIKE TURNING A BATTLESHIP THIS BUDGET OR LAST BUDGET, THIS BU THIS BUDGET HERE, THIS FISCAL YEAR 24 BUDGET, LAST YEAR'S BUDGET, LAST YEAR'S BUDGET HAD 90 MILLION OF FUND BALANCE.
AND I WOULD SAY ONLY 30 MILLION OF IT WAS ONE TIME EXPENDITURES, MEANING 60 MILLION WAS ONGOING EXPENDITURES.
AND YOU SAID THERE WAS NO ARPA MONEY USED OUTTA THAT 90 MILLION FIGURE THAT YOU GUYS USING.
SO ALL OF THE ART, ALL, ALL OF ALL OF THE ARPA MONEY HAS BEEN A FUND WAS, WAS PUT EITHER INTO SPECIFIC CAPITAL PROJECTS, MOST, MOST NOTABLY THE BROADBAND CAPITAL PROJECT.
UM, OR IT WAS PUT INTO SMALLER GRANTS WHERE WE PAID SOME THINGS LIKE, UH, WE PROVIDED SOME PREMIUM PAY TO, UM, UH, TO COUNTY EMPLOYEES, TO SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS, FOOD SERVICE WORKERS.
UH, WE, WE PROVIDED, UM, SOME H V A C UPGRADES.
UM, UH, AND, AND LIKE, BUT WE DIDN'T TAKE ANY OF THAT ARPA MONEY AND MOVE IT TO THE GENERAL FUND.
IT WAS EITHER VERY SPECIFIC CAPITAL PROJECT RELATED OR ONE-TIME GRANT PROJECT RELATED.
NOW YOU COULD ARGUE IF WE WOULDN'T HAVE HAD ARPA BEFORE THAT CARES, WE WOULDN'T HAVE HAD THE, THAT THE COUNTY WOULD HAVE, LIKE IN THOSE EARLY DAYS OF, OF, OF 2020.
YOU KNOW, WE WERE CERTAINLY LOOKING AT THE FUND BALANCE AT THE TIME AS BEING LIKE, OKAY, HEY, WE'RE GONNA NEED TO USE SOME OF THIS FUND BALANCE TO BUY MASK AND STUFF LIKE THAT, THAT WE WEREN'T, WE WEREN'T PLANNING ON.
BUT THEN THE CARES MONEY CAME IN AND THEN FOLLOWED BY THE ARPA MONEY.
SO THE LAST QUESTION JUST TO PUSH ON.
SO THE DROP OFF IN REVENUE THAT YOU'RE EXPECTING THIS YEAR, OUT OF EVERYTHING YOU'VE SAID, INCOME TAX REMAINS HIGH REAL ESTATE TAXES REMAIN AT ALL TIME LEVELS THAT WE'VE SEEN.
I UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVEN'T SEEN THIS RECESSION THAT THEY'VE SAID THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE BECAUSE EMPLOYMENT STAYS AT LOW UNEMPLOYMENT.
HOW'S, THERE'S NOT A LOT OF HOUSING ON
[00:30:01]
THE INVENTORY WHICH KEEPING PRICES UP, INTEREST RATES HAVEN'T AFFECTED THAT OVER THE LAST SIX MONTHS.I JUST AM QUESTIONING THE, THE REVENUE INCREASE.
SO WHAT HAPPENS IF WE GET TO THIS POINT NEXT YEAR AND THAT REVENUE INCREASE IS REALLY 15%? ARE WE GONNA SEE ANY CHANGES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR THAT'S GONNA BE ABLE TO, SO THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S A REALLY, I WILL SAY ALL OFF THE CLIFF NUMBER.
ONE, THE RE THE REVENUE, THE COUNTY REVENUE IS NOT DROPPING FROM THIS YEAR TO NEXT YEAR, EITHER ON A BUDGET BASIS OR ON AN ACTUAL BASIS.
WE ARE SEEING AN INCREASE IN REVENUE.
THE CHALLENGING PART IS OUR REVENUES ARE GROWING, UM, UH, BY ABOUT $30 MILLION, BUT OUR FUND BALANCE IMBALANCE INSTEAD OF BEING 90 IS 60.
SO FROM A BUDGET EXPENDITURE STANDPOINT, IT ENDS UP BEING A BIT OF A WASH.
AND THAT 30 MILLION OF AN INCREASE DOES INCLUDE THE INCOME, YOU KNOW, UM, THE, THE THE, THE ONE VERSUS KIND OF WHERE, WHERE WE WERE ON A BUDGET BASIS, INCOME TAX GOING UP.
OUR INCOME TAX ON A BUDGET TO BUDGET BASIS IS ABOUT A 4% INCREASE.
NOW OUR INCOME TAX ON A, UM, REVISED WHEN WE SEE WHAT DO WE THINK WE'RE GONNA BE THIS YEAR, NOT NECESSARILY THE BUDGET VERSUS NEXT YEAR.
THAT'S WHERE THE SPENDING AFFORDABILITY COMMITTEE WAS LIKE, WE WANNA HOLD THAT FLAT.
AND I'LL TELL YOU, TALKING TO MY COUNTERPARTS, UM, BALTIMORE COUNTY IS ACTUALLY EX UM, EXPERIENCING, YOU KNOW, FROM ON THAT REVISED ESTIMATE VERSUS NEXT YEAR THEY HAVE IT GOING DOWN.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MONTGOMERY COUNTY HAS AN INDIVIDUAL WHOSE SOLE JOB IS PRETTY MUCH INCOME TAX.
THEY HAVE IT GOING DOWN NOW THEY'RE DIFFERENT, THEY'RE DIFFERENT BASES.
BUT YOU TALK AROUND THE, THE COUNTY AND MOST PEOPLE ARE TAKING THAT ARE TAKING THAT, THAT, THAT, THAT APPROACH.
BUT OUR REVENUES ARE STILL GOING UP.
WE, WE HAVE, WE EXPECT MORE REVENUE THIS YEAR THAN THAT YEAR.
AND I THINK THAT IS BECAUSE WE STILL DO HAVE, WE HAVE THESE STRONG ASSESSMENTS.
OUR, OUR, OUR INCOME TAX IS, IS HOLDING.
BUT THERE'S A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY ABOUT, ABOUT INCOME TAX.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE, YOU'RE PROBABLY, YOU, WE WE MAY BE, WE WE MAY BE TOO CONSERVATIVE.
THAT'S A, THAT'S A, THAT'S A FAIR, THAT'S A THAT'S A POSSIBILITY.
WE HAD REAL STRONG CONVERSATIONS ABOUT, ABOUT ALL OF THAT.
ABOUT HOW, HOW MUCH SHOULD WE BE, AND I'LL GO BACK TO THE, WE DON'T HAVE WITH WITH INCOME TAX, THIS IS HOW INCOME TAX WORKS RIGHT NOW IN THIS CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, I'VE ONLY RECEIVED HALF OF THE INCOME TAX.
WE'RE GONNA RECEIVE FOR THE FULL YEAR.
I'LL GET ANOTHER QUARTER AT THE END OF, UM, AT THE END OF MAY.
THEN I'LL GET THE FINAL QUARTER SPREAD OUT AROUND JUNE, JULY, AND AUGUST.
AND THAT ALL GOES BACK TO THIS FISCAL YEAR.
THEN NEXT YEAR WE'LL GET A BIG DISTRIBUTION IN NOVEMBER AND THEN WE DON'T GET ANOTHER THING REALLY BIG UNTIL UNTIL FEBRUARY, FEBRUARY 28TH.
UM, THAT'S ALWAYS THE CHALLENGE.
THAT'S, THAT IS, THAT IS ALWAYS THE CHALLENGE ON HOW WE, WE COME UP WITH REVENUE WITH, WITH, WITH REVENUE, UM, UM, ESTIMATES THAT WE OTHER AGENCIES, YOU KNOW, THEY, THIS IS THEIR BUDGET WITH US.
YOU KNOW, WE DON'T REALLY KNOW IF OUR REVENUE IS GONNA MEET OUR BUDGET UNTIL SOMETIMES IT'S ALMOST TOO LATE.
AND THAT'S WHY YOU NEED TO HAVE A FUN BALANCE BECAUSE IF INCOME TAX DOES COME IN, IF SOMETHING WEIRD HAPPENS ON THAT, THAT, YOU KNOW, JUNE PAYMENT WHEN THE BOOKS ARE PRETTY MUCH CLOSED, WE CAN'T MAKE ANY SPENDING ADJUSTMENTS.
WE NEED TO HAVE A CUSHION THERE THAT IF THAT COMES IN A 5% DROP, WE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A PLACE, WE HAVE A PLACE TO GO.
UM, BUT YEAH, IT COULD BE, IT COULD BE ON THE CONSERVATIVE, UM, SIDE.
I'VE BEEN THROUGH IN OTHER COUNTIES, WHAT IT'S LIKE TO MAKE MID-YEAR CUTS.
AND IT'S REALLY TOUGH BECAUSE BY THE TIME YOU FIGURE IT OUT, IT'S GENERALLY AROUND FEBRUARY, MARCH AND YOU, YOU, YOU HAVE TO, YOU, YOU'VE ALREADY DONE A LOT OF YOUR SPENDING MM-HMM.
SO HOW DO YOU, HOW DO YOU MAKE THOSE CUTS? SO I THINK THAT'S ALWAYS WHY WE'RE GONNA TRY TO BE MORE CONSERVATIVE, UM, TO PREVENT THAT FROM HAPPENING.
YOU KNOW, IF WE COME IN OVER THEN YEAH, THAT MEANS THAT THAT FUND BALANCE IS GONNA BE BIGGER, BIGGER NEXT YEAR AND WE CAN USE IT, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE NOT GONNA TAKE THE MONEY AWAY FROM US.
BUT IF WE COME IN SHORT AND WE HAVE TO MAKE CUTS, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A MUCH MORE DIFFICULT PROPOSITION.
BUT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A TIMING ISSUE.
SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A TIMING ISSUE.
NOW THAT MONEY'S NOT GONNA BE SPENT ON NEXT TIME.
BUT YOU, YOUR DROPS IN INCOME TAX REVENUE IS THE SAME TIMING.
SO YOU'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR A LONG TIME.
SO YOU KNOW, WHEN THEY'RE DR LIKE NOTHING'S CHANGED IN THIS BUDGET VERSUS, WELL, I'LL, I'LL SAY THIS UP, I GET THE UNCERTAINTY SIDE.
AND, BUT I, THE LEVEL OF UNCERTAINTY NOW AND IS, AND WE USED TO HAVE LIKE ONCE IN A LIFETIME EVENTS.
I FEEL LIKE WE HAVE ONCE IN A LIFETIME EVENTS EVERY WEEK THAT I'LL GIVE YOU AS WELL, EVERY TIME YOU TURN AROUND THERE'S ANOTHER BLACK SWAN EVENT.
UM, AND, AND I THINK THAT'S WHERE THE CONCERNS, THAT'S WHERE THE CONCERNS ARE.
I WOULD CHALLENGE THE ADMINISTRATION.
THERE WAS A LOT OF THOUGHT ABOUT IF WE DON'T OR DOOMSDAY OR THIS OR THAT.
I WOULD CHALLENGE ADMINISTRATION TO THINK ABOUT WHAT IF THERE'S A BIG SURPLUS OUT OF THIS AS WELL.
BECAUSE THERE'S A VERY CONSERVATIVE BUDGET IN FRONT OF US HERE FROM AND, AND A AND A VERY AFFORDABLE, OR, OR OR FROM THE AFFORDABILITY COMMITTEE THAT SAYS, HEY, WE'RE GONNA BE CONSERVATIVE.
AND YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, HEY, IF WE DON'T HAVE TO MAKE METEOR CUTS, THAT'S GREAT, BUT WHAT HAPPENS IF THAT FUND BALANCE GROWS TO UNPROPORTIONAL LEVELS AGAINST, THAT'S WHAT I WOULD CHALLENGE TO HAVE THOUGHT ON AS WELL.
WHICH, AND, AND I WOULD SAY YOU CAN'T ANSWER THAT UNTIL, YOU KNOW.
AND I WOULD SAY THAT WE BY, BY YOU BY, BY
[00:35:01]
USING 63 MILLION OF FUND BALANCE, YOU KNOW, WE ARE, WE ARE EXTENDING OURSELVES OUT IN THAT WAY.UM, HOLD ON JUST A MINUTE, FELLAS.
UM, MR. SAMUEL, UH, I WAS WONDERING IF YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO PROVIDE FOR US JUST A RECORD OF THE HISTORICAL CHANGES TO REVENUE FOR THE INCOME TAX AND PROPERTY TAX AND NOT NECESSARILY IN THIS MOMENT.
UH, BUT I'M MOSTLY INTERESTED IN LIKE FROM 2008 FORWARD BECAUSE THAT, THAT WOULD JUST GIVE US A GLIMPSE.
I MEAN, THOSE WERE DARK, LIKE SOME OF THE DARKEST YEARS, 2008, 2009, 2010, TO JUST GET A SENSE OF LIKE, WHAT ARE THE WORST POSSIBLE YEARS AND WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT AND CHANGES TO THOSE THINGS.
UM, AND THEN, UH, SO THAT'S JUST LIKE A, A, A REQUEST.
SO I CAN LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, HISTORICAL TRENDS IN THOSE TWO THINGS.
MR. BENNETT, BEFORE YOU GO ANY FURTHER, MR. SANDS, I'D RATHER YOU DEAL WITH THAT WHEN YOUR TIME IS UP AS TREASURE, IF YOU DON'T MIND.
OR SEND IT TO HIM AHEAD OF TIME.
I'D REALLY LIKE TO DEAL WITH MR. KELLY SO I CAN GET HIM OFF THE, I'M, I'M SORRY, OFF THE FRONT PIECE HERE.
AND, UM, AND THEN MY OTHER QUESTION IS JUST, UM, LOOKING, UM, LARGER PICTURE, TRYING TO UNDERSTAND LIKE LAST YEAR INTO THIS YEAR.
CUZ IT REALLY SOUNDS LIKE IN, IN UNDERSTANDING THIS REPORT THAT LIKE WE REALLY PUT OURSELVES INTO A PICKLE FINANCIALLY WITH LAST YEAR'S DECISION TO, UH, REDUCE THE PROPERTY TAX.
UM, THAT IS, UH, REALLY TIGHTENING THE BUDGET.
AND I'M JUST STRUGGLING TO UNDERSTAND LIKE, WHAT WAS THE MATH LAST YEAR THAT MADE, UH, AN IDEA OF THERE'S STILL BEING LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY IN OUR ABILITY TO OPERATE AS A COUNTY THAT JUSTIFIED PUTTING THAT, UH, TAX ADJUSTMENT FORWARD.
AND THEN, YOU KNOW, 365 DAYS LATER, WHAT CHANGED IN THE MATH THAT NOW THAT DOESN'T WORK? LIKE I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THE PEOPLE WHO WERE HERE TO, TO USE CALCULATORS AND, AND, AND JUSTIFY PRESENTING THAT FORWARD TO THE COUNTY COUNCIL ARE THE SAME PEOPLE WHO ARE CALCULATING THE NUMBERS AND TELLING US THIS YEAR, UM, THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT DOESN'T WORK AND THEN WE CAN'T FUND ANYTHING ANYMORE.
AND I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT, WHAT WAS IT LAST YEAR THAT MADE IT SO THAT WAS A PROPOSED RECOMMENDATION AND WHAT IS IT THIS YEAR THAT MAKES US NOW SAY, BECAUSE OF THAT DECISION? YOU KNOW, WE'RE IN A, A REALLY BAD SPOT.
UM, I, I WILL SAY THAT LAST YEAR'S SPENDING AFFORDABILITY COMMITTEE DID, DID NOT KNOW THAT THERE WAS GONNA BE A, A TAX ATTACKS, TAX CHANGE.
SO THEY REALLY DID NOT WAIT ON IT.
UM, THE PRIOR YEAR WE HAD A, UM, A SMALLER TAX, UH, CUT TO GO TO THE CONSTANT YIELD.
MOST OF THAT HIT THE HIGHWAYS, UH, FUND.
JUST, IT WAS JUST THE WAY THAT THE, THE THE, THE EVERYTHING WORKED.
UM, YEAH, WE, THERE THERE IS NO, UM, YOU KNOW, NO, NO BUDGET.
PEOPLE ARE GENERALLY, I WOULD SAY PRETTY CONSERVATIVE ON BOTH ENDS.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE COULD, I COULD, I COULD HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH YOU ABOUT MY OWN, YOU KNOW, NATIONAL POLICIES AND ALL OF THAT, AND YOU KNOW, ONE DAY WE'LL DO THAT.
BUT LIKE WHEN YOU'RE IN THIS ROLE, YOU, YOU GENERALLY BECOME LIKE, HEY, WE GOTTA HAVE ADEQUATE RESERVES.
LET'S NOT INCREASE SPENDING TOO MUCH.
YOU KNOW, YOU KIND OF TAKE THAT, THAT TYPE OF A ROLE OF, OF A ROLE.
LAST YEAR, I THINK THE ARGUMENT WAS WE SAW A HUGE INCREASE IN OUR FUND BALANCE, AND WE HAD A, A STRONG, A REALLY STRONG REVENUE GROWTH, GROWTH INCREASE.
AND CONSIDERING WHAT WE WERE DOING ON THE SPENDING SIDE, YOU KNOW, WE WERE 30 MILLION MORE TO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, YOU KNOW, FULLY FUNDING, UM, UH, UH, ACROSS THE BOARD, SHERIFF LIBRARY, COMMUNITY COLLEGE, THIS COUNTY OPERATION.
I THINK THE THINKING WAS IS THAT IT'LL BE DIFFICULT TO GO TO THE TAXPAYERS AND UM, AND, UH, AND NOT SAY, HEY, YOU KNOW, YOU GUYS ARE DEALING WITH INFLATION, YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO HELP, HELP HELP YOU OUT.
SO, AND I, I, I THINK IT WAS KIND OF THAT DESIRE TO, TO TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY WAS SOMEWHAT, SOMEWHAT TAKEN CARE OF AND ALL.
BUT YOU KNOW, THIS IS, THIS IS A DEMOCRACY.
THIS IS THIS, YOU KNOW, THEY, UM, I'M NOT THE DEEP STATE.
LIKE, I CAN'T BE LIKE, OH, I'M JUST GOTTA, YOU KNOW, PREVENT THAT FROM HAPPENING.
YOU KNOW, WE, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE REAL CITIZENS COME UP TO ELECTED OFFICIALS AND THEY'RE LIKE, LOOK, YOU KNOW, MY PROPERTY TAXES ARE TOO HIGH AND, AND THIS AND THAT.
AND, YOU KNOW, AND I THINK ELECTEDS WANT TO WANT TO ADDRESS THAT.
AND THEY WANT TO FUND THE SCHOOLS AND THEY WANT FUND THE SHERIFF.
AND ALL OF THIS IS, THIS IS KIND OF WHERE, WHERE, WHERE, WHERE WE ARE.
BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, AND YOU DON'T HAVE THE SAME LEVEL AT THE STATE OF THE FEDERAL LEVEL.
YOU DON'T HAVE THAT SAME LEVEL OF CITIZEN INTERACTION.
BUT HERE WE DO IN THE LOCAL, IN THE LOCALS, AND IT'S ALL VERY PUBLIC AND HOW THIS WORKS.
CAN I JUST RESPOND BRIEFLY THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN POLITICS GETS IN THE, GETS IN THE WAY.
UM, I FELT VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE SPENT
[00:40:01]
MY INITIAL POLITICAL CAREER ON BALLET OR UNDER, UH, BILL MCFALL, WHO WAS A AWESOME, THERE WAS THE BUDGET, DON'T MESS WITH THE BUDGET.UM, HERE'S YOUR POLITICAL PIECE.
IF YOU SCREW WITH THE REST OF THIS, YOU JEOPARDIZE THE FINANCIAL SECURITY OF EVERYBODY HERE.
AND IT WAS AN AWESOME LESSON TO LEARN.
UM, AND WE SERVED AS BOTH THE EXECUTIVE IN THE TOWN.
YOU, YOU'RE BOTH THE EXECUTIVE IN LEGISLATIVE, SO IT'S A DIFFERENT, A DIFFERENT DIFFERENT POSITION.
BUT, UH, UM, LOOK, I ROLLING IN HERE.
UM, UH, I WAS DETERMINED NOT TO PLAY POLITICS WITH THIS.
THAT'S WHAT, YOU KNOW, MR. SANDIS COMES FROM THE LAST ADMINISTRATION.
I GOT UNIFORM REPORTS FROM EVERYBODY.
THE BUDGET ADVISORY COMMITTEE, THERE'S A LOT OF REPEATS IN THERE, RIGHT? THEY WERE APPOINTED BY THE LAST ADMINISTRATION.
UM, SO I DIDN'T LET POLITICS COME INTO THIS PIECE OF IT.
AND I INTEND TO CARRY THROUGH WITH THAT, THAT I'M, I'M TRYING TO BE TRANSPARENT HERE.
THIS IS A, THIS IS A GUESSING GAME.
UM, BUT I'M DEFERRING AS THE EXECUTIVE TO THE BEST ADVICE I GOT.
AND IF WE END UP WITH A SURPLUS, HALLELUJAH, YOU KNOW, AND HONESTLY, THAT'S WHY YOU SEE IN THE, IN THE, IN THE, THE COLA WE GIVE TO THE EMPLOYEES 1.5% NOW AND HOPING THAT WE'RE NOT QUITE HOPING WE'RE TOO CONSERVATIVE, ANOTHER 1.5%.
LET'S LOOK AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
UM, AND, AND, AND I'M HOPING THERE'S A FUN BALANCE AND I'M HOPING WE CAN JUMP RIGHT BACK IN NEXT YEAR AND PICK UP WITH SOME THINGS THAT WE'RE DEFERRING.
CAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT YOUR CAPITAL BUDGET, WE'VE DEFERRED A LOT OF STUFF TO NEXT YEAR.
WELL, HONESTLY, IF THIS DOESN'T TURN AROUND THAT DEF WE GOTTA DEFER EVEN FURTHER TO THE RIGHT, RIGHT? SO WE'RE REALLY COUNTING ON A TURNAROUND.
AND IF WE GET A TURNAROUND IN MID-YEAR, WELL, WE CAN COME BACK AND ASK FOR A COURSE CORRECTION, MAYBE SOME OF THE STUFF WE'VE DEFERRED IN YOUR CAPITAL BUDGET AND, AND OTHER BUDGETS WE CAN SAY, HEY, LET'S RE-LOOK AT THAT.
SO WE'LL BE HAPPY TO MAKE A BUDGET, UH, UH, AN ADJUSTMENT.
BUT I THINK MR. SALE'S POINT IS REALLY WELL TAKEN THAT THE WORST POSITION TO BE IN IS TO HAVE TOLD THE, NOT ONLY THE, THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT, BUT THE OUTSIDE ENTITIES AND EVEN THE NONPROFITS, THAT HERE'S WHAT YOU, HERE'S WHAT YOU SHOULD BUDGET FOR.
AND THEN TO GO BACK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE YEAR AND SAY, WHOA, WHOA, STOP EVERYTHING YOU'RE WORKING ON.
YOU GOTTA GIVE US, WE, WE, WE CAN'T PAY FOR THAT.
RIGHT? WE DON'T WANNA BE IN THAT POSITION.
IT'S BETTER TO TELL THEM MID-YEAR THAT I GOT SOME MORE MONEY FOR YOU.
AND INSTEAD OF SAYING, I NEED, I NEED SOME MONEY BACK, I GOTTA LAY YOU GUYS OFF.
THAT'S, THAT WOULD BE DEVASTATING.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S THE APPROACH WE'RE TAKING.
AND, AND TO ME, CONSERVATIVE IN A BUDGETING IS A SMART WAY TO DO IT.
I THINK MOST OF US DO THAT IN OUR HOUSEHOLDS.
I THINK GOVERNMENT OUGHT TO DO THE SAME.
I'M, I'M HOPING ONLY KEL, THAT THESE GUYS ARE THE WORST PESSIMISTS IN THE WORLD.
AND THAT, THAT WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA BE ROCKING AND ROLLING.
I MEAN, BROOKS, JUST TO ADD TO THE DISCUSSION.
I, IN TERMS OF HISTORICAL CONTEXT, I, WE WILL, AT THE LAST, FROM 2019 TO 2022, ACTUAL AND AUDITED, UH, FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, AND EVEN 2008, 2009, 2010, EVEN AT THE DEEPEST PART OF THE RECESSION IN 2009, WE WERE OFF ON ACTUAL REVENUE BY ROUGHLY 15 MILLION, 6 MILLION IN 2008 AND FLAT IN 2010.
UM, HISTORICALLY WITH COVID BEING INCLUDED, WE WERE 5% ABOVE BUDGETED EXPECTATION.
EVEN IN THE SECOND WERE ARGUABLY THAT MARKET TERM'S, THE WORST MARKET COLLAPSE WE'VE HAD IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, HISTORICALLY, BACK TO 2019, WE'VE UNDERESTIMATED ON AVERAGE BY ABOUT 9%.
IF YOU JUST TAKE ACTUAL, IF YOU INCLUDE AUDITED FIGURES, IT'S ALMOST 14% OFF OF BUDGETED NUMBERS.
SO I THINK TO ADD TO THE CONVERSATION OF CONCERN, BEING OVERLY CONSERVATIVE AND HAVING THAT EXTRA FUND BALANCE, WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT OCCUR, UH, WE UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S LOOKS TO BE BASED ON THE CURRENT FIGURES AND THE REPORT THAT MR. SANDOS GAVE US IN MARCH.
WE ALREADY ARE PROJECTING MORE REVENUE ABOVE THE BUDGET FROM LAST YEAR.
SO TO ASSUME THAT THE DEFICIT FOR 23 IS A GUARANTEE, I THINK THAT'S THE LARGEST ASSUMPTION WE'RE ALL MAKING FOR THIS NEW BUDGET.
AND WE'RE NOT EVEN TO JUNE YET.
SO THAT WOULD BE MY CONCERN IN TERMS OF THESE NUMBERS.
IT TOTALLY STICKS TO ONLY BUDGETED AND DOES NOT LOOK AT THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT OF REVENUE.
AND, AND I'LL JUST KIND OF ECHO THAT.
AND I, SIR, I, I GET BEING CONSERVATIVE, BUT I, AT THE SAME TIME, I DON'T WANNA BE CAVALIER THAT BEING UNDER CONSERVATIVE BECAUSE IT, IT HAS CONSEQUENCES.
IT HAS CONSEQUENCES ON PUBLIC SAFETY, IT HAS CONSEQUENCES ON EDUCATION.
AND I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, UM, THAT THIS IS, YOU KNOW, NOT, UM, UNDERESTIMATING, UH, PROBLEM AND NOT A STRUCTURAL DEFICIT PROBLEM.
AND AS, UH, MR. SCHER MENTIONED, UH, THE PROJECTIONS WERE OFF SIGNIFICANTLY.
AND I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, IT WAS HARD TO PREDICT, UH, THE LAST, IN 22, IT WAS AN ANOMALY IN 21.
[00:45:01]
OFF THIS YEAR AS WELL.AND IF YOU LOOK THROUGH, UM, JUST SOME OF THE EXAMPLES JUST FOR, UM, FY 24, UM, IN THE BOOK THAT YOU GAVE US HERE ON MARCH 7TH, IT HAS 320, UH, MILLION PROJECTED FOR FY 24.
HOWEVER, ON PAGE, I'LL TELL YOU THE PAGE, I THINK IT'S 28, THERE'S 311 MILLION.
SO THAT'S A 9 MILLION DIFFERENCE.
AND I JUST DON'T KNOW WHERE, WHAT THE DIFFERENCE IS ON, ON THAT.
WELL, SO WHEN WE DID THE INITIAL, UM, YEAH, WHEN, A COUPLE THINGS THERE AND, AND THIS REALLY CAME OUT OF OUR CONVERSATIONS AT SPENDING AFFORDABILITY, UM, UH, AND I ORIGINALLY DID HAVE, AT THE TIME, UM, UH, A HIGHER, A HIGHER NUMBER.
AND WE HAD A LOT OF THIS WEIRD UNCERTAINTY WE HAD, THE, THE, UM, I, I JUST RECEIVED THE FEBRUARY DISTRIBUTION THAT, THAT, THAT HAD, UM, GONE UP 2.2%.
SO I DID NOT REVISE IT BASED UPON THAT.
AND THEN AFTER THESE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE SPENDING AFFORDABILITY COMMITTEE, UM, IT WAS LIKE, YOU KNOW, WE WERE GOING AROUND AND WE'RE LIKE, YEP, EVERYBODY IS OVERPAID ON ESTIMATED TAXES.
THEY'RE GOING TO BE, THEY'RE GONNA BE, UM, REIGNING IT IN.
WE, WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE'RE EXPECTING FOR NEXT YEAR.
UM, AND THE CONSENSUS AMONG A VERY DIVERSE GROUP OF BUSINESS INDIVIDUALS IN ACCOUNTING, WEALTH MANAGEMENT, FORMER GOVERNMENT, WAS THAT WE NEEDED TO, UM, TO BECOME, YOU KNOW, WE, WE NEEDED TO, TO REIGN THAT BACK IN.
UM, YOU KNOW, THAT, THAT, UM, THAT OPTIMISM IF YOU WILL.
UM, AND THAT I DO THINK THAT WHEN I LOOK AND SEE WHAT OTHER COUNTIES DID THAT WE WERE, WE ENDED UP BEING IN LINE, YOU KNOW, BALTIMORE COUNTY WAS SHOWING A DROP.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY WAS SHOWING A DROP, YOU KNOW, OUR, OUR OTHER SURROUNDING AREAS WERE.
UM, AND, AND SO THAT'S, THAT'S REALLY WHERE THAT CAME FROM.
AND YOU CAN YOU, UH, ANY OF THE, UM, SUSTAINING PORTABILITY CAN CERTAINLY DISCUSS KIND OF OUR CONVERSATIONS.
BUT, AND, AND JUST TO, TO CHIME IN ON THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, YOU PERHAPS YOU HAVE MUCH MORE CONFIDENCE THAN I DO IN THE CURRENT FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION.
UM, BUT WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT BLACK SWANS HAPPENING EVERY YEAR, WE HAVE NEVER SEEN THE LEVEL OF FEDERAL SPENDING IN THE HISTORY OF THIS COUNTRY.
YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT HISTORICAL TRENDS, WE'VE NEVER SEEN IT.
WE DON'T KNOW SITTING HERE TODAY WITH THE FINAL OUTCOME'S GONNA BE, WE CAN'T EVEN CLOSE, COME CLOSE TO PREDICTING WHAT THAT'S GONNA HAVE ON THE, ON THE GLOBAL ECONOMY, THE NATIONAL ECONOMY, THE STATE ECONOMY.
AND I CAN TELL, YOU KNOW, IN MY DISCUSSIONS WITH, WITH, UH, ON THE, WE DEFEND A LOT ON, ON OUR, OUR OUR, UH, THIS IS SOMETHING THEY HAVEN'T EVEN FACTORED IN YET.
WE DEPEND A LOT ON OUR, OUR, OUR, OUR CONTRACTING COMMUNITY OR DEFENSE CONTRACTORS.
WELL, WHAT WE'RE, WHAT THEY'VE REPORTED TO ME NOW, WHICH THEY HAVEN'T EVEN FACTORED IN YET, IS THAT A LOT, THE, THE FEDS ARE NOW SEEING, THERE'S A, APPARENTLY THE TREND NOW IS THEY'RE PULLING STUFF BACK INSIDE, INSIDE THE GATE, MEANING INSTEAD OF CONTRACTING IT OUT, THEY'RE PULLING IT AND DOING IT INTERNALLY.
WELL, THAT'S NOT GOOD FOR US CUZ WE DON'T TAX THE OTHER SIDE OF A, THE OTHER SIDE OF THE GATE.
WE ONLY TAX ON THIS SIDE OF THE GATE.
SO THERE'S JUST, AND THEY'RE DOING THAT FOR OBVIOUSLY GOOD REASONS CUZ THEY'RE NOT, THEY DON'T KNOW WHERE THEIR BUDGETS ARE GOING.
THEY, GENTLEMEN, I JUST SUBMIT TO YOU THAT THERE'S A, THE, THE, THE LEVEL OF INCI WHERE YOU SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THE GLOBAL SCALE, I, I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE, I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH SAYING, WELL WE CAN, LET'S LOOK AT THE TRENDS FROM EIGHT YEARS AGO.
WE DIDN'T HAVE THESE EIGHT YEARS AGO.
WE'VE HAD SEEN HISTORICAL CHANGES IN THE LAST TWO YEARS, LAST ONE YEAR.
AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE IMPACT ON THE ECONOMY'S GONNA BE AND NEITHER DO YOU.
WHAT I DO KNOW IS THAT WE DEPEND, REALLY HAVE OUR NUMBER ONE EMPLOYER IS IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN THIS COUNTY.
AND WHATEVER THEY DO IS GONNA, WE'LL ROCK US.
AND IF THEY PULL BACK, WE ARE ALL PULLED BACK AND WE CAN'T ESCAPE THAT.
SO, I DON'T KNOW, I QUITE FRANKLY, THEY'RE SAYING THEY'RE CONSERVATIVE.
I DON'T THINK THEY'VE REALLY, EFFECTIVELY, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, I'M NOT SURE THEY'VE REALLY FACTORED IN.
CUZ I CAN'T, I CAN'T PUT FEDERAL, THE FEDERAL SITE ON OUR, YOU KNOW, I CAN'T PUT THE POST GUYS ON OUR, OUR COMMITTEE HERE.
I'M NOT REALLY CONFIDENT THAT THEY'VE REALLY FACTORED IN SOME OF THE TRENDS WE'RE SEEING OVER THERE.
AND I'M HOPING, I'M HOPING THAT EVERYTHING STAYS STRONG, BUT THERE'S CONCERNS.
AND, AND, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT.
UM, BUT, AND IT'S HARD TO PREDICT, BUT YOU, MR. SANDIS, MR. KELLY, MR. SCHER ARE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS, RIGHT? SO THEY'RE GONNA HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING THAN PROBABLY ME, MAY EVEN YOU.
AND YOU TALK ABOUT THE SNAPSHOT OF THE LAST ONE OR TWO YEARS, AND IT, AND IT HAS BEEN, UH, UNDER EVALUATED THE LAST ONE OR TWO YEARS, RIGHT? SO, AND THIS WHOLE BUDGET IS BUILT UPON THE ESTIMATIONS THAT YOU PROVIDE YOUR WHOLE BUDGET ON WHAT YOU'RE GIVING EDUCATION, PUBLIC SAFETY LIBRARIES.
AND IF IT'S WRONG, THEN WE HAVE A PROBLEM THAT THAT IS UN UNFORTUNATELY THE HAND THAT WE ARE, WE ARE DONE.
AND I WILL GO BACK TO SAY THAT MAKING ADJUSTMENTS THE OTHER DIRECTION IS FAR MORE DIFFICULT CAUSE OF THE TIMING.
AND BECAUSE OF SO MUCH OF OUR MONEY GOES TO OUTSIDE AGENCIES, THAT, THAT IT'S, THAT IS MUCH MORE, IT'S MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO KIND OF REIGN THAT MONEY BACK IN WITHIN THE CURRENT YEAR COUNTY GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS.
ONCE YOU START FACTORING OUT SCHOOLS, SHERIFF FLY RATE, IT'S LIKE 20% OF THE BUDGET.
[00:50:01]
YOU, YOU, YOU CAN'T CUT THAT SERVICE.YOU CAN'T CUT, YOU KNOW, AND SO THAT'S WHERE YOU REALLY HAVE TO GO TO A LOT OF THOSE, THOSE MID-YEAR FOR THOSE MID-YEAR CUTS.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S SOME OF THE TIMING ISSUE.
BUT I, I WOULD LIKE SPENDING AFFORDABILITY THOUGH TO JUST KIND OF JUST DISCUSS, I MEAN, AGAIN, LIKE, I MEAN THEIR, THEIR CONCERNS.
SO I, YOU KNOW, I, IT'S BEEN INTERESTING LISTENING TO THIS CONVERSATION.
AND AS A SMALL BUSINESS PERSON, WE, WE CERTAINLY HAVE TO BALANCE OUR BUDGETS AND WE GET HIT BY THINGS OUT OF NOWHERE.
SO ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS ABOUT OUR COMMITTEE THAT ARE PASSIONATE PEOPLE AROUND CARING PEOPLE ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY, UNDERSTANDING THAT BEING TOO CONSERVATIVE CUTS, CUTS CAN CUT DEEPLY.
BUT WE ALSO UNDERSTOOD THAT COMING BACK MID-YEAR WAS, WAS EVEN LESS PALATABLE OVERALL.
BUT LET'S THINK ABOUT SOMETHING THAT WE HAVEN'T CONSIDERED.
AND AGAIN, I, I PAY A PAYROLL EVERY TWO WEEKS.
I, SEVERAL OF MY COMMITTEE MEMBERS PAY A PAYROLL EVERY TWO WEEKS OR ONE.
I'M, I'M NOT EMPLOYED BY THEM MAYBE ONCE A MONTH, WHATEVER IT IS, WE WERE CONSIDERING OUR WAGE GROWTH TO CONTINUE.
I GET IN FRONT OF MORE EXPERTS THAN YOU COULD EVER IMAGINE IN ECONOMICS AND FINANCE WITH WHAT I DO.
AND NONE OF THEM ARE, ARE RIGHT THAT OFTEN.
THEY'RE RIGHT IN THE VERY LONG TERM.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING IN STATISTICS CALLED REVERSION TO THE MEAN.
AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE DID LOOK AT IN HISTORIC NUMBERS WITH INCREASES IN WHERE BUDGETS CAME IN.
AND I THINK THAT WAS TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION BY OUR COMMITTEE AT A MACRO LEVEL, NOT GETTING DOWN INTO THE STATS PER SE, BUT WHAT IF, WHAT IF THE WAGE GROWTH DOESN'T HIT? WHAT IF WE HAVE A RECESSION AND THAT NUMBER GOES NEGATIVE? WE'VE, WE'VE INCLUDED A POSITIVE NUMBER THERE.
SO I, I WOULD NOT CALL THIS, I, I REALLY APPRECIATE A LOT OF THE COMMENTARY.
I THINK IT'S WELL-INFORMED AND THOSE, THESE ARE GOOD, GOOD CONCEPTS AND GOOD DISCUSSION PIECES, BUT WE DIDN'T EVEN THINK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS IF THE WAGE SIDE DOESN'T COME IN.
AND WHAT I'VE SEEN ANECDOTALLY FROM CLIENTS, FROM CPA FRIENDS, WE HAVE A CPA ON, ON OUR COMMITTEE, UH, IS YOU HAD A, A YEAR, A TAX YEAR 21 WHERE WE HAD SOME OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT CAPITAL GAINS IN OUR HISTORY, AND THOSE ALL FLOW THROUGH ONTO INCOME TAXES, WHICH FLOW THROUGH TO HERE.
WE WERE REVISING CLIENTS MID-YEAR.
MANY HAD ZERO PAYMENTS WHERE THEY HAD SIGNIFICANT FOURTH QUARTER PAYMENTS FOR 21 AND THEN FINAL PAYMENT DUE.
SO I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF MOVING PARTS HERE, UH, THAT, THAT WE DID TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION.
SO I, I WOULD SAY I'M A CONSERVATIVE PERSON BY NATURE, EVEN THOUGH I'M A, A, A BUSINESS OWNER, BUT I WOULD USE THE WORD PRUDENCE.
AND WHEN I THINK OF OUR POSITION AND WHAT WE WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR AS A COMMITTEE IN DEFINING REVENUE, I THINK OF STEWARDSHIP, WHICH IS VERY PERSONAL TO ME.
AS I'VE SAID, I'VE LIVED, I'VE GONE TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS HERE IN THE COUNTY.
I, I, I'M PRETTY SURE I GRADUATED FROM HIM.
UH, IT MEANS A LOT TO ME TO BE A PART OF THIS PROCESS, UM, AS AN INDEPENDENT BUSINESS PERSON AND THINKER.
AND I, I'M VERY PROUD OF MY COMMITTEE BECAUSE IT WAS NOT ONE VOICE, IT WAS ALL VOICES BEING HEARD AT THAT.
SO, BUT ALL VERY GOOD POINTS AND THANK YOU FOR, AND IF I COULD JUST FOLLOW UP ON ONE, ONE THING, UM, TALK ABOUT SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS, UH, FOLLOWING THE AAA HEARING ON FEBRUARY 28TH, UH, THE FITCH RATING, UH, ORGANIZATION, UH, WHICH DOES ANALYTICAL COMMENTARY ON, ON EACH, UH, AGENCY, UH, HAD THIS QUOTE TO SAY, AND I READ IT LAST NIGHT, BUT I'LL READ IT AGAIN.
THE AAA, IDR AND GOFUND RATINGS REFLECT THE COUNTY'S ROBUST FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, SOLID REVENUE GROWTH PROSPECTS, AMBLE RESERVES, AND LOW LONG-TERM LIABILITY BURDEN.
THE COUNTY'S STRONG REVENUE FRAMEWORK AND EXPENDITURES, FLEXIBILITY SUPPORT FITCH'S EXPECTATION FOR RESILIENT OPERATIONS THROUGHOUT ECONOMIC CYCLES.
AND THEY ARE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS, OBVIOUSLY FAR MORE THAN ME.
UM, AND THIS WAS BASED OFF OF PRESENTATION THAT THE COUNTY MADE IN NEW YORK TO TRIPLE A.
SO, CAN I RAISE MY PLEASE? YES.
SO I WAS THE LEAD OFF IN THOSE PRESENTATIONS, AND REALLY THE DISCUSSION HEAVILY REVOLVED AROUND WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO WITH YOUR STRUCTURAL DEFICIT? AND THAT WHAT THEY WANTED TO HEAR FROM ME WAS, I'M GOING TO ATTACK IT.
THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE THAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS, WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT NOW.
WE CAN'T DELAY ACTION ON THIS.
THIS WAS, AND I LAID IT RIGHT OUT.
THIS WAS A POLITICAL YEAR WE WERE SPENDING FOR POLITICS ON THE EXECUTIVE, THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH, THE TOP TWO LEADERS OF THAT WERE BOTH RUNNING FOR POLITICAL OFFICE, ONE STATEWIDE, AND ONE IN THE COUNTY.
AND THAT WAS A POLITICAL YEAR, AND THAT WAS AN ABERRATION.
AND WE'RE TAKING IT BACK AND WE'RE GONNA HAVE A RESPONSIBLE, UH, BUDGET.
SO LET ROBBIE, WELL, AND JUST TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT THERE, THROUGH FITCH'S RATING SYSTEM, AND I THINK THERE WAS A MOODY'S ANALYSIS THAT ALSO DID IT.
THERE IS NO REFERENCE OF A STRUCTURAL DEFICIT AT ALL ON THOSE.
I'M NOT SAYING THAT WASN'T A DISCUSSION POINT, BUT THERE WAS NO REFERENCE OF IT TO WHERE THAT COULD HAVE
[00:55:01]
BEEN IMPACT.THE RATING THAT WE ALREADY HAVE, THE AAA BOND RATING.
WELL, WHAT THEY ARE LOOKING AT IS THEY ARE LOOKING AT YOUR FUND BALANCE, YOUR FUND BALANCE RATIOS.
AND WE NOW KNOW THAT OUR FUND BALANCE THIS.
I AM ASSURED OF THE THE FUND BALANCE, WHICH HAS BEEN GROWING EACH AND EVERY YEAR.
AND IT WAS AT VERY, VERY LOW LEVELS EIGHT YEARS AGO.
AND I WILL, YOU KNOW, THAT THE FORMER COUNTY EXECUTIVE, YOU KNOW, WE, WE WERE ABLE TO BUILD THAT FUND BALANCE, FUND BALANCE UP THIS YEAR IS THE LA YOU KNOW, IT IS GOING TO GO DOWN 40, PROBABLY 40, 50 MILLION.
IT'S NOT GONNA GO DOWN THE FULL 90.
IT'S NOT GONNA GO DOWN THE FULL 90 BECAUSE WE ARE GONNA HAVE SOME EXPENDITURE SAVINGS.
THE REVENUES WILL BE, UM, A LITTLE BIT HIGHER THAN EXPECTED, BUT IT IS GONNA GO DOWN.
AND IF WE CONTINUE DOWN THIS PATH, IT DOESN'T TAKE VERY LONG TO, TO GET BACK TO THAT A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLAR, UM, FUND BALANCE LEVEL.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE A BILLION DOLLAR OPERATION HERE NOW, AND OUR FUND BALANCE, IT SEEMS LIKE, YOU KNOW, YEAH, THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY.
AND IT IS 200 MILLION, 150 MILLION, 175 MILLION.
BUT IN THE CONTEXT OF, OF A BILLION DOLLAR ORGANIZATION THAT HAS INCREDIBLE REVENUE, UM, UH, VARIANCE AND UNCERTAINTY KIND OF GOING ON ON RIGHT NOW, UM, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE MAINTAIN IT AT THOSE LEVELS.
SO THEY DO, YOU KNOW, THEY, THEY LOOK AT OUR, AT OUR RATIOS.
WE DO, WE HAVE, WE HAVE STRONG RATIOS, WE HAVE STRONG DEBT AFFORDABILITY.
UM, WE HAVE A HISTORY IN THIS COUNTY OF MAKING THOSE HARD DECISIONS.
WHEN, WHEN WE NEED TO, AND I'M GONNA GO BACK TO THE REVENUES ARE GROWING.
WE'RE NOT SAYING THE REVENUES, WE'RE NOT SAYING THE REVENUES ARE NOT GROWING, BUT IN ORDER TO DO WHAT EVERYONE WOULD, WOULD, YOU KNOW, WISHES WE COULD DO, WE WOULD EITHER HAVE TO DO ONE OR TWO THINGS.
WE WOULD HAVE TO BUMP UP THE REVENUES CONSIDERABLY AND NOT JUST BUMP THEM UP BY A PERCENT OR SO.
YOU'D HAVE TO BUMP THEM UP CONSIDERABLY.
OR WE WOULD HAVE TO ALMOST DRAIN THE, THE ENTIRE FUND MOUNDS.
WE, THE ONLY WAY WE COULD FUND A 90 MILLION FUND BALANCE THIS YEAR WOULD BE IF WE WERE TO TAKE ON SOME OF THOSE ASSIGNMENTS.
AND, UM, THERE ARE TWO BIG ASSIGNMENTS IN FUND BALANCES THAT WE HAVE, THAT WE HAVE SET, UM, SET MONEY ASIDE FOR ONE IS THIS RAINY DAY FUND AT 5%.
SO WE JUST SAW LAST WEEK WHEN, WHEN D P W CAME AND THEY SPOKE ABOUT, UM, UH, THE, THE, THE, UH, THE MS FOUR PERMIT AND, AND ALL OF THAT, THAT IS A VERY EXPENSIVE PROPOSITION.
AND EACH YEAR, YOU KNOW, WE, WE GO AFTER THE LOW LOWER HANGING FRUIT AND IT GETS MORE AND MORE EXPENSIVE.
AND WE DID UNDER THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION, WE PUT ASIDE MONEY THERE BECAUSE THE RECORDATION THAT WE HAVE DEDICATED TO THAT, TO THAT END IS NOT THAT, THAT'S ANOTHER FUND THAT'S IN A STRUCTURAL ISSUE.
WE BRING IN $3 MILLION OF REVENUE AND WE'RE SPENDING $6 MILLION A YEAR IN BONDS.
EVENTUALLY THAT CATCHES UP WITH YOU.
WE NEEDED TO PUT SOME MONEY ASIDE IN THAT FUND BALANCE TO SAY, HEY, IF WE NEED TO COME IN WITH MONEY TO PAY OFF THAT DEBT OR TO SUPPORT THOSE OPERATIONS, WE HAVE 'EM.
NOW AGAIN, MAYBE WE'LL FIGURE OUT ANOTHER REVENUE SOURCE IN THE FUTURE.
BUT YOU HAVE TWO BIG PARTS OF THAT, OF THAT ASSIGNMENT OF, OF FUND BALANCE.
AND I WOULD BE VERY RELUCTANT TO, TO DIP MORE INTO THAT.
WE ARE PROBABLY NOT GOING TO HAVE, UM, JUST ON A BUDGET BASIS, UM, AS BIG OF A, OUR UNASSIGNED LAST YEAR WHEN WE CLOSED THE BOOKS WAS 35 MILLION.
I DON'T THINK IT'S GONNA BE ANYWHERE NEAR 35 MILLION THIS YEAR.
UM, NOW AGAIN, MAYBE WE GET SOME STRONG REVENUE GROWTH AT THE END, BUT I'LL TELL YOU, WE ALSO DIDN'T HAVE LAST YEAR BRINGING OVER A $7 MILLION FUND BALANCE TO BUY A BUNCH OF AMBULANCES FOR, UM, A EMS TRANSITION THAT NONE OF US THOUGHT WAS GONNA HAPPEN.
MAN, I, I DID THE BUDGET LAST YEAR.
NONE OF US THOUGHT THAT WAS GONNA HAPPEN.
UM, AND, BUT THAT'S, THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE A FUN BALANCE.
UM, SO WE ARE GONNA HAVE LESS FUN BALANCE TO WORK WITH.
SO, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, HOW MUCH MORE FUND BALANCE, YOU KNOW, COULD WE, COULD WE APPROPRIATE? AND, AND I DON'T THINK THERE'S A, A, A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT THAT WE COULD.
SO, UH, COUNSEL, IF I MAY, I KNOW MR. RILEY HAS A QUESTION.
I'D LIKE IT DIRECTED TO MR. KELLY, UH, FOR THE SPENDING AFFORDABILITY, IF IT'S FOR MR. SANDIS, CAN WE BRING IT BACK WHEN HE'S ON THE TABLE AT THE FRONT OF US? I, I WANT THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO BE ABLE TO GIVE HIS INFORMATION AND MOVE ON.
SO, MR. RILEY, AM I DIRECTED TO THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE? UM, SOME OF THE, THE TONE OF THE, OF THE CONVERSATION IS, IS, UH, AND I'LL JUST DO SOME QUOTES.
CAN'T FUND ANYTHING REALLY BAD SPOT, HAVE A PROBLEM TIGHTENING BUDGET CUT DEEPLY, DEEPLY.
WHEN I LOOK AT THE BUDGET, I DON'T SEE ANY MAJOR CUTS.
I DON'T SEE ANYTHING THAT HAS BEEN CUT.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S FOLKS OUT THERE THAT WANT, UM, MORE MONEY THAN THEY'RE GETTING.
UM, AND IF IN FACT THE, SOMEHOW THE EXPECTATION OF THE SPENDING AFFORDABILITY COMMITTEE AND THERE IS MORE MONEY COMING IN, PLEASE DON'T FORGET ABOUT THE TAXPAYER, CUZ I KNOW THERE'LL BE A LOT OF WOLVES AT THE, AT THE HEN HOUSE.
YEAH, I MEAN, LOOK, WE, WE, WE'VE REALLY TRIED TO NOT TOUCH OUR EMPLOYEES, OUR COUNTY EMPLOYEES, AND NOT, WHEN I SAY COUNTY, I MEAN, EVERYBODY WHO'S DEPENDS
[01:00:01]
UPON THE COUNTY BUDGET ARE, ARE CRITICAL TO US.AND SO, UH, WE, WE, YOU KNOW, BUILDINGS WE CAN PUSH OFF.
COUNTY EMPLOYEES ARE HERE OR THEY'RE NOT.
SO WE GOTTA, WE GOTTA TREAT THEM FAIRLY RIGHT UP FRONT.
SO YEAH, WE'VE NOT DONE ANY LAYOFFS.
WE'VE, WE'VE, WE TRIED TO GIVE, UH, UH, UH, APPROPRIATE RAISES.
WE, WE, ON THE, ON THE SHERIFF'S SIDE, UH, THAT WAS THE, THE BIGGEST CHUNK BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT, UH, THE, THE DEPUTY MARKET IS TOUGH.
SO THEY GOT THE BIGGEST CHUNK OF, OF THE RAISES.
UM, THE, THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IS PUSHING FOR A RATHER SUBSTANTIAL RAISE WITHIN THEIR BUDGET.
UM, BUT YOU KNOW, THE COUNTY EMPLOYEES ARE AT THE, THE 1.5, HOPEFULLY A 3% RAISE, UH, UH, OF COAL, EXCUSE ME, UH, GOING FORWARD.
BUT, UH, YEAH, THE, THE, UH, THE, IF YOU LOOK AT, IF YOU LOOK AT THE CHART THAT THEY GAVE YOU ON THE SCHOOLS AND, AND JUST, YOU KNOW, DO SOME QUICK MATH AND LAY, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN, YOU CAN DO YEARLY, YOU CAN DO AVERAGES.
AND IF YOU, IF YOU LAY THE, LAY A PAPER ACROSS LIKE THE FIRST FOUR YEAR, FIRST FIVE YEARS OF COUNTY FUNDING, WHICH IS LOWER PART, THAT'S BLUE.
AND, AND, AND LOOK AT THAT TREND AND FOLLOW THAT THROUGH TO THE, TO THIS YEAR, WE'RE WELL ABOVE THAT TREND.
AND, AND QUITE FRANKLY, IF YOU, IF YOU FOLLOW THAT TREND TO THE FIRST YEAR TO, TO 2021, UH, THAT'S THE TREND WE'RE AT.
THAT'S THE RATE OF INCREASE WE'RE AT.
NOW, IF YOU TAKE LAST YEAR TREND, NO, WE CAN'T MEET THAT.
WE, THAT BLEW THE BANK ON EVERYTHING, RIGHT? SO WE, WE DON'T LOOK AT THAT TREND.
BUT BUT YEAR OVER YEAR FOR, FOR, FOR, FOR POLICE, FOR, UM, THE, THE, THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND, AND WE'RE, WE'RE AT THAT STEADY RATE OF INCREASE.
WE DIDN'T, WE'RE NOT PEAKING, BUT WE'RE AT A STEADY RATE OF, AND WE'RE NOT CUTTING, IT WASN'T DIP DOWN.
THERE'S NO, THERE'S NO CUT DOWNS.
UM, UNLESS YOU LOOK AT LAST YEAR, UM, WHEN WE HAD A SHARP, SHARP INCREASE THAT RATE.
UM, BUT EVEN THOUGH WE'RE NOT CUTTING, WE'RE JUST NOT THAT'S RIGHT.
UM, BOB, I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS, UH, FOR YOU.
UH, WE SERVED ON THIS COUNCIL TOGETHER AND WE HAD A DIFFERENT ARGUMENT.
MR. GUTHRIE, CAN WE HOLD, IS THAT IN REFERENCE TO JPA? YES.
UH, I'M NOT GONNA FORGET YOU MR.
CAN I JUST, I JUST WANNA SIT WITH MR. KELLY HERE TOO AS WELL.
AND I, I DON'T THINK YOU MEANT IT THE WAY THAT MAYBE CAME OUT, BUT THIS BOARD THAT YOU'RE ALSO SITTING IN FRONT OF, THE SEVEN THAT BEND DULY APPOINTED BY US UP HERE, ARE ALSO DEEMED SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS AND APPOINTED BY ALL OF THEM.
WE HAVE LAWYERS, WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE ON BANKS, WE HAVE CPAS, WE HAVE BUSINESS OWNERS AS WELL.
SO I DO WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE HAVE THAT SKILLSET SET THE SAME AS YOUR BOARD, WHICH IS WHY WE'RE HERE IN THE SAME ROOM AS YOU TODAY.
SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT POINT CLEAR TO THE BOARD THAT I HELP REPRESENT AND CHAIR, AND, AND THIS ISN'T EVEN THE ONLY BUDGET THAT I WORK ON.
SO I'VE SEEN TRENDS IN OTHER COUNTIES HERE IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND.
SO WE, WE ARE COMING FROM A PLACE OF UNDERSTANDING.
SO I DON'T, I, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT MY BOARD WAS ALSO DEFENDED IN THAT AS WELL.
I WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE SPENDING AFFORDABILITY COMMITTEE.
WANNA THANK YOUR TEAM FOR ALL YOUR EFFORTS AND YOUR COMMITMENT, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AGAIN, UH, IN THIS SAME POSITION.
AND I KNOW YOUR, YOUR WORK IS NOT LIGHT, SO I'LL BE PRAYING FOR EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM, AND I APPRECIATE ALL THE OTHER VOLUNTEERS AS, AS PART OF THIS.
THAT'S, THAT'S EXTRA PRAYERS RIGHT HERE, PLEASE,
SO I'M, UM, KIM'S ROLL THIS TIME.
AND CHARLIE, CAN YOU GIVE HIM THAT MICROPHONE PLEASE? NO, I JUST NEED TO JUST KEEP IT CLOSER TO ME AND WELL, SO THAT HAVE IT EXTRA.
I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER AGAIN HOW SHE DID THIS.
HER STAFF HAS TRIED TO HELP ME OUT HERE SOMEWHAT, BUT IF YOU GO TO PAGE 127 IN YOUR BOOK, YOU WILL SEE, UH, THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S BUDGET.
UM, UH, YOU WILL SEE AN INCREASE THERE OF, UH, UH, 959, UM, EIGHT 17.
I WILL NOTE THAT IF YOU TURN TO PAGE 268, YOU WILL SEE THE ELIMINATION OF THE OFFICE OF GOVERNMENTAL AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS, UM, FOR A NET, UH, FOR A DECREASED THERE OF 1.5, UH, MILLION.
SO I WOULD LOOK AT THAT INCREASE NETTED OUT FROM THAT, THAT DECREASE, AND IT ENDS UP BEING AROUND, UM, AROUND, UH, A $500,000 DECREASE BETWEEN THOSE TWO AREAS.
THAT'S BECAUSE THOSE OPERATIONS WERE CONSOLIDATED.
UM, YOU GO TO PAGE 130, UM, YOU'LL SEE IN THE OFFICE OF COUNTY EXECUTIVE THERE, UM, AN INCREASE YEAR OVER YEAR OF 3 71.
UM, THIS IS KIND OF THE NET EFFECT OF SOME POSITIONS BEING, UH, TRANSFERRED, UM, TO DIFFERENT TO, UH, TO, TO, AND FROM DIFFERENT AREAS AS WELL AS A, UM, INCREASE IN, UM, IN FUEL COST.
AND, UM, THEN IF YOU TURN TO PAGE 133, SEE THE OFFICE OF EXECUTIVE
[01:05:01]
STAFF, THIS IS A NEW BUDGET AREA.MOST OF THIS WAS PREVIOUSLY UNDER OFFICE OF GOVERNMENT AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS.
UM, SO YOU'LL SEE AN INCREASE, UH, WELL PRETTY MUCH A BASELINE BUDGET THERE OF 1.3 MILLION.
UM, AGAIN, THAT'S LARGELY DUE WITH THAT REORGANIZATION.
SO AGAIN, I WOULD LOOK AT THESE IN THE CONTEXT OF, OF THE ELIMINATION OF THE OFFICE OF GOVERNMENT AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS ON PAGE 2 68.
UM, NO, NOT EXACTLY AS GOOD AS KIM, BUT HOPEFULLY
NOW I'LL TURN IT OVER TO THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE.
I'LL JUST NOTE THAT WE ALSO, WE ALSO ELIMINATED THE CHIEF ADVISOR POSITION.
UH, THAT ALSO IN IMPACTS THE, UH, THE BOTTOM LINE, UH, QUESTIONS YOU GOT.
SO I'D LIKE TO START WITH JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND, I NOTICED YOU HAVE THREE DEPUTY CHIEF POSITIONS UNDERSTAND GENEVIEVE FOR SURE, PROBABLY ONE OF 'EM, BUT WHO ARE THE OTHER TWO? YEAH, THE, UH, YOU GUYS 30, 20.
YEAH, SO THE DEPUTY CHIEFS ARE, UH, CINDY MUNY, UH, SAM KALE AND JENNA MASONS, I'M SORRY.
I THOUGHT SAM LEFT AND WENT TO D P W.
AND THEN THE ONLY, THE ONLY OTHER THING THAT I WANNA SAY IS THAT WHEN I LOOK AT THIS BUDGET, I ABSOLUTELY HAVE CHALLENGES, CONCERNS, AND, AND, AND I'M GONNA SAY I'M DISAPPOINTED WITH THE FACT THAT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT WAS NOT FUNDED.
THIS WILL BE THE 11TH BUDGET CYCLE THAT WE'VE BEEN THROUGH, THAT THEY'VE BEEN FLAT FUNDED.
AND I JUST THINK IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, I CAN'T EVEN EXPLAIN IT TO ME.
THIS COUNCIL AS A WHOLE WORKS WITH THAT HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
EVERY DAY WE SEE WHAT THEY GO THROUGH.
WE WORK WITH THEM ON A REGULAR BASIS.
WE'VE GONE THROUGH COVID WITH THEM, AND THEY DESERVE MORE SUPPORT, MORE BODIES.
AND I APPRECIATE THE IT, UH, THAT YOU'VE GIVEN THEM THE HELP WITH THAT, THE INNER GOV.
BUT THEY NEED MONEY TO FUND POSITIONS.
THESE POSITIONS ARE CERTIFIED, TRAINED, YOU JUST CAN'T GO OUT ON A STREET AND FIND THEM.
WE CAN'T TAKE PEOPLE FROM ONE DEPARTMENT AND PUT 'EM IN THERE TO DO INSPECTIONS.
AND YOU AND I HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH THIS EARLY ON, YOU KNEW THIS WAS A PRIORITY.
I'M GONNA BE SENDING YOU A FORMER REQUEST TO AMEND THIS BUDGET.
AND, AND AT THIS POINT, IT'S COMING FROM ME PERSONALLY AS A, AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL.
BUT I'M HOPING THAT MY COLLEAGUES ALL SIGN ON AS THE BOARD OF HEALTH.
SO THAT, UH, I WANTED TO BRING THAT UP TO YOU.
AND THEN, AS I TALKED ABOUT EARLIER, TOURISM, THAT TO ME IS NOT A PET PROJECT.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT'S SERIOUS IN THIS COUNTY.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT GENERATES A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF REVENUE.
I THINK VISIT HARVARD'S LAST REPORT WAS 50 SOME MILLION IN THE COUNTY, UH, THAT SUPPORT ALL OF OUR BUSINESSES AND COMMUNITIES.
UM, IT'S SOMETHING THAT RIGHT NOW, THIS BUDGET HAS GOT THEM EXTREMELY, EXTREMELY CONCERNED, AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
THEY NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOUR THOUGHTS ARE AND WHERE THEY'RE GOING.
THERE'S 3.4 MILLION, I THINK IT IS GENERATED IN THE COUNTY FROM PEOPLE THAT COME TO THE COUNTY, NOT THE CITIZENS TRANSIENTS THAT VISIT AND SUPPORT TOURISM IN THE COUNTY.
THAT, THAT, THAT MONEY SHOULD GO BACK TO, UH, ALL OF THESE TOURISM RELATED EFFORTS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.
AND I KNOW THAT'S YOUR INTENT, BUT THEY NEED TO HAVE SOME ASSURANCES.
MY PHONE IS BURNING UP, BURNING UP OVER MANY THINGS, UM, PUBLIC SAFETY, UH, EDUCATION.
BUT FOR ME, UM, THESE ARE THE ONES THAT ARE MOST VISIBLE BECAUSE I'VE HAD 45 YEARS PLUS EXPERIENCE IN TOURISM IN THE COUNTY BEFORE THERE WAS A TOURISM GROUP IN THE COUNTY.
SO, UM, IT'S SOMETHING THAT I WOULD LIKE YOU TO ADDRESS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
AND A AS I SAID EARLIER, I AM GOING TO PUT FORTH A FORMER REQUEST FOR YOU TO AMEND THIS BUDGET FOR THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
UM, YOU, WE LOOKED AT HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND, AND CERTAINLY MR. MCCORD AND I TOURED, TOURED THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, SPOKE WITH EVERYONE OVER THERE, UM, AND, UH, WE MADE A CONSCIOUS EFFORT TO TRY TO FACILITATE THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
UM, WE WERE AWARE THAT THEY DID FINALLY HAVE A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE ON THE STATE SIDE.
$700,000, HUNDRED THOUSAND, NOT SUBSTANTIAL OVER 10 YEARS.
WELL, IT'S, IT'S WHAT THEY GOT THIS YEAR.
IN, IN A, IN A REALLY TOUGH BUDGET YEAR, WHICH IF I HAD 20 MILLION MORE, UM, IN REVENUES, WE COULD CERTAINLY, I ASKED FOR A MILLION.
THAT'S WHAT I ASKED FOR BASED ON WHAT THEY NEEDED.
SO, UM, WHAT WE DID GIVE THEM WAS, UH, THE, THE BIGGEST ISSUE WE SAW WAS, UH, GOING THROUGH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT
[01:10:01]
WAS THIS, THE COMPUTER GLITCH THAT THEY HAD SEVERAL YEARS AGO HAS STILL VIRTUALLY SHUT THEM DOWN.AND I WATCHED WHAT, HOW WE OPERATE.
THEY GO PEOPLE, WE GOT GOOD PEOPLE.
WE OPERATE, UM, VERY EFFECTIVELY, VERY EFFICIENTLY.
WE HAVE THE, THE, THE, THE, THE E GOV SYSTEM, AND THERE'S VERY LITTLE PAPERWORK ON OUR STAFF'S DESK.
I GO OVER TO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND IT'S FILES AND PACKED STACKS OF PAPER AND HORRIBLY INEFFICIENT.
UM, WHAT I TELL THEM IS, LOOK, I WOULD BE HAPPY TO FACILITATE YOUR TRANSFERRING FROM THE 19, UH, SEVENTIES TO 2024 IN ANY WAY I CAN.
UM, BUT WE'RE JUST NOT GONNA DUMP MONEY IN HERE.
UM, I NEED TO KNOW, I NEED, I NEED OUTCOMES, NOT JUST INPUTS.
AND, AND THE IDEA THAT EVERYTHING IS DEPENDENT UPON HOW MUCH MONEY DID YOU, THAT'S WHAT IT MEANS, INPUTS.
HOW MUCH MONEY DID YOU SPEND? IF THAT'S, IF THAT'S THE METRIC FOR SUCCESS, UM, WE'RE ALL LOST.
BUT IF I CAN, IF I CAN INTERRUPT YOU JUST FOR A MINUTE, IT, IT'S NOT JUST PUTTING MONEY IN AND, AND WE DON'T JUST VISIT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT TODAY OR TOMORROW.
WE'RE IN THE, THE FIELD WITH THEM EVERY DAY WHEN THEY'RE DOING PERK TEST, WHEN THEY'RE INSPECTING SEPTIC SYSTEMS, WE'RE IN THERE IN RESTAURANTS WORKING WITH THEM.
AND IT'S NOT JUST PUTTING MONEY, IT'S PUTTING MONEY TO PUT BODIES ON THE STREET.
SO WE DON'T GET CALLS FROM OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY WANTING TO KNOW WHY IT TAKES SO LONG.
YOUR INVESTMENT IN IT AND TECHNOLOGY IS ABSOLUTELY NEEDED AND APPRECIATED.
YOU'RE TAKING 'EM FROM THE DINOSAUR TIME TO TODAY, AND I APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH.
SO WE'RE NOT SAYING WE'RE, WE'RE THANKING YOU GREATLY FOR THAT, BUT WE NEED BODIES IN THERE, AND WE CAN'T HAVE BODIES WITHOUT HAVING ANOTHER INVESTMENT CASH.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S GOTTA BE A DIVIDEND, MR. PRESIDENT, THERE'S GOTTA BE A DIVIDEND TO TECHNOLOGY.
IF I GIVE YOU THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY, YOU'RE NOT GIVING ME, YOU'RE GIVING THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
IF, IF I GIVE THEM THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY IN COMPUTERS AND, AND, AND ENABLE THEM TO ACTUALLY BE MORE EFFICIENT, UM, I WOULD HOPE THAT THEY DON'T NEED AS MANY PEOPLE WITH EFFICIENT, INEFFICIENT OPERATIONS AS YOU NEED IN INEFFICIENT OPERATIONS.
UM, NOW IF, IF IT TURNS OUT THAT THEY DO NEED A FEW MORE PEOPLE IN THERE, BE HAPPY TO LOOK.
BUT, YOU KNOW, I, I THINK THE FIRST THING WE GOTTA DO IS SAY IS, IS ADDRESS THE IMMEDIATE PROBLEM, WHICH IS YOU'RE DEALING WITH A, AN ANTIQUATED COMPUTER SYSTEM, AND YOU'RE DEALING WITH STACKS OF PAPERS AND READINGS OF PAPERS THAT WE'RE NOT DEALING WITH.
I WOULD FULLY EXPECT THAT BY, BY WHAT WE PROVIDED THEM WITH, IS A SOFTWARE MODERN UP-TO-DATE SOFTWARE TO HELP THEM ACTUALLY MANAGE THEIR WORKFLOW.
WE'VE PROVIDED 'EM WITH THE HARDWARE MODERN UP-TO-DATE HARDWARE, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE PROVIDED 'EM WITH STORAGE SPACE.
THEY ACTUALLY STORE THEIR STUFF IN THE SAME COMPUTER, IN, IN, IN THE SAME SYSTEM THAT YOU ARE ALL STORING YOUR, YOUR, YOUR DATA.
SO THEY CAN, AND, AND, AND SO THEY CAN OPERATE VERY EFFICIENTLY.
UM, AND, AND, UH, I I I, I DON'T, YOU KNOW, TO SAY, WELL, THAT'S ALL WE GAVE THEM.
WE'VE ALSO GOT, I MEAN, UH, UH, UH, MY, MY DILT FOLKS GO OVER THERE.
MY, MY PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPERTS IN EGO GO OVER.
THEY'VE GOT PEOPLE, THEY'RE ON OUR DIME.
WE'RE PAYING FOR 'EM, BUT OUR PEOPLE ARE OVER HERE HELPING OUT.
SO, DO I WANT TO GIVE MORE? UM, I'D LOVE TO, UH, I, I AM IN THE FIELD.
I'VE, I'VE VISITED THE VARIOUS HEALTH DEPARTMENT OFFICES LIKE YOU.
UM, I SUP I WANNA SUPPORT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
MORE FACILITIES ARE OVERCROWDED.
WE, WE'VE GOTTA GIVE, BUT I, I'VE MADE A GOOD FAITH EFFORT HERE TO REALLY TRY TO, UH, INCREASE EFFICIENCY, WHICH HOPEFULLY WILL, WILL, WILL SPEED THINGS ALONG.
UM, AND, AND JUST US HAVING TRANSPARENCY, WHERE IS THAT PERMIT? WHERE, WHAT'S THE STATUS OF IT? THAT'S WHAT E EGO DOES FOR US.
AND THAT YOU TRACK STUFF THROUGH THE SYSTEM.
AND, AND I WANT TO SAY THIS, UM, THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE THAT WOULD SAY, WELL, IT'S A STATE ENTITY, BUT IT SAYS HARFORD COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT ON THE BUILDING.
AND MANY OF OUR CITIZENS, THE FIRST ENCOUNTER THEY HAVE WITH COUNTY GOVERNMENT IS THROUGH GOING TO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO GET A PERMIT FOR SOMETHING.
IF THEY HAVE A BAD EXPERIENCE THERE, HARFORD COUNTY GOVERNMENT'S TERRIBLE, RIGHT? SO WE NEED TO HELP THEM DO THE JOB, GIVE THEM THE TOOLS THEY NEED.
YOU'RE ON THE RIGHT PATH WITH TECHNOLOGY, AND I APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH.
BUT I WANT TO SEE AN AMENDMENT TO THIS BUDGET TO HELP THEM.
UM, BUT I, AND I SHARE YOUR BELIEF, MR. PRESIDENT, THAT IT'S NOT THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, BECAUSE I'VE HAD THAT SAME DISCUSSION YES.
ON STATE HIGHWAY, WHEN THAT CITIZEN CAN'T GO IN THE PARK OR THE, OR THE ROAD HAS A HOLE IN IT, THEY DON'T SAY, OH, THAT'S A STATE HIGHWAY OR A STATE PARK.
THEY SAY, THAT'S OUR PARK, AND WE'RE ALL WRONG.
SO WE'RE WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE STATE GOVERNMENT THROUGHOUT AND WITH AN ATTITUDE THAT WE'RE ALL ONE BIG TEAM HERE.
YOU GET YOURS, YOU GET YOUR MONEY FROM THE STATE.
WE GET OUR MONIES DIRECTLY FROM THE COUNTY TAXPAYERS, BUT I CAN ASSURE YOU WE'RE DOING THAT ON THE, ON THE TOURISM SIDE.
[01:15:01]
UM, LOOK, COMING INTO OFFICE AND REVIEWING THE, THE, WE GET, WE GET ROUGHLY, I GUESS LIKE 3.4 MILLION GROSS OUTTA THE HOTEL TAX.BIG CHUNKS OF THAT GO DIRECTLY TO, TO ABERDEEN AND TY GRACE, IT DOESN'T COME THROUGH US.
GET, WE DEAL WITH ABOUT 2.2 MILLION OUT OF THAT.
REVIEWING HOW THAT WAS BEING SPENT, I SAW A LOT OF BASICALLY INTEREST FREE LOANS, GIFTS, UM, FOR PEOPLE WHO, I'M STRAIGHT, WHAT IS THIS GUY TO DO WITH TOURISM? UM, AND I TALKED TO THE HOTEL OWNERS AND THEY'RE FEELING VERY MUCH LIKE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE PAYING THIS TAX.
WE DON'T SEE ANYTHING COMING BACKED AROUND, BUT THEY'RE NOT PAYING A TAX.
IT'S A TAX COMING THROUGH THEM.
IT'S A PASS THROUGH FROM THEM.
IT'S NOT COMING OUT OF THEIR POCKET.
BUT, BUT THE IDEA WAS TO INCREASE TOURISM.
OVERNIGHT STAYS, OVERNIGHT STAYS GENERATE A WHOLE LOT MORE THAN, UM, THAN JUST ONE TIME IN, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, TRIPS.
SO WHAT WE WERE TRYING TO DO IS TIE THIS STUFF, YOU KNOW, JUST ENDLESS GIVEAWAYS CAN'T BE WHAT WE'RE ABOUT.
IT'S GOTTA BE SOMEHOW INCREASING TOURISM AND, AND SOME ENTITIES, YEAH, DO A GREAT JOB IN CENTERING TOURISM AND OTHERS.
BUT, UH, THE MORE PEOPLE WE GET IN THE HO TOTO HOTELS OVERNIGHT, THE MORE WE, WE CIRCLE, WE CIRCLE BACK AROUND HERE.
SO OUR INTENT IS TO FUND THE, THE RIGHT ENTITIES.
UM, WE'RE TRYING TO TIE, PUT SOME, PUT SOME, UH, ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS ON THESE GRANTS TO, TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO ACTUALLY GENERATE OVERNIGHT STAYS AND NOT SIMPLY OPERATE.
OPERATING IS GREAT, BUT WE REALLY WANT YOU TO DO IS OPERATE IN A FASHION THAT ENCOURAGES PEOPLE TO COME SPEND A NIGHT, TWO NIGHTS IN HARVARD COUNTY, NOT JUST CHECK IN FOR ONE EVENT.
SO OUR, OUR GOAL IS TO SAY, LET'S WORK TOGETHER, YOU FOLKS IN THE TOURISM INDUSTRY OR IN THE, IN THE, IN THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY, THE TOURISM INDUSTRY, LET'S WORK TOGETHER TO TRY TO, TO TRY TO GENERATE LIKE WEEKEND PACKAGES THAT ENCOURAGE PEOPLE.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO.
SO, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO INTENT TO SLATE THE INDUSTRY.
I FULLY APPRECIATE THE INDUSTRY, UM, AND, AND, AND INTEND TO SUPPORT IT VERY STRONGLY.
I, I BELIEVE ME, I, I TOTALLY SHARE YOUR, YOUR CONCERN FOR THE INDUSTRY.
I THINK, UM, IF NOT TO INTERRUPT YOU, BUT I THINK, UM, YOUR MESSAGING NEEDS TO CHANGE AS WELL TOO, BECAUSE THESE FOLKS, A LOT OF 'EM DON'T UNDERSTAND, UH, WHERE THEY NEED TO BE, WHAT PROCESS IS HAPPENING, WHAT APPLICATIONS THEY HAVE TO HAVE.
FOR SOME REASON, THAT MESSAGING IS NOT ACCURATE OUT THERE.
IT'S JUST, IT'S TOUGH COMING FROM ZERO TO WHERE WE ARE UNDERSTOOD WITH EVERYTHING ELSE.
AND, AND WE'RE GONNA WORK WITH FOLKS AND, UH, YEAH, WE'LL STRUGGLE IN THE FIRST YEAR.
I'M VERY CONFIDENT THAT BY THE SECOND YEAR, THIS WILL BE A REALLY GREAT, UH, UH, UH, PROCESS THAT WILL ENCOURAGE OVERNIGHT STUDIES, ENCOURAGE TOURISM, AND I'M HAPPY TO WORK WITH ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS.
A AS WE, AS WE WORK THROUGH THIS PIECE OF THE BUDGET.
UM, I NEVER CONSIDER MYSELF AN EXPERT IN TOURISM.
THAT'S WHY I REACHED OUT AND, AND, AND ASKED P FOLKS IN THE INDUSTRY FOR THEIR THOUGHTS.
I, I, I DON'T HAVE, YOU KNOW, I, I CAN, I CAN SUPPOSE THINGS, BUT I NEVER WORKED IN THE INDUSTRY.
I HAVE GREAT RESPECT THAT THE PEOPLE WHO WORK IN THE INDUSTRY KNOW THIS BETTER THAN I DO.
AND THAT'S WHY WE, WE TRY TO COME UP WITH A PROGRAM BASED UPON WHAT THEY'RE TELLING US AS OPPOSED TO WHAT, YOU KNOW, WE THINK SO.
UH, THAT CONVERSATION OPENED UP A FEW MORE DOORS FOR ME.
I HOPE
BUT I JUST, JUST TO TOUCH ON THE HOTEL TAX, WHICH IS A, A SORE SPOT, UH, IN DISTRICT A, UM, AND, UH, I, I, I AGREE WITH DISTRICT E AND F A HUNDRED PERCENT THAT THE MONEY THAT THEY GET THERE, THEY DESERVE BECAUSE THEY'RE RAISING IT.
UM, DISTRICT A RAISES ABOUT $685,000 A YEAR, UH, IN THE HOTEL TAX.
AND OVER THE LAST EIGHT YEARS, THAT MOUNTS ABOUT 5.5 MILLION.
AND OVER THE LAST EIGHT YEARS, WE GOT ABOUT 50,000 OUT OF 5.5 MILLION RAISING INTO NINE HOTELS.
UM, UH, I HAVE A BILL COMING FORWARD WITH THE HELP OF MY COUNCIL.
I HOPE I CAN GET IT PASSED THAT, UH, THAT DISTRICT A CAN SHARE IN SOME OF THOSE FUNDS THAT THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO SE SHARE.
NOW, I, I GRANT YOU, THERE'S, UH, SOME FAULT ON THE PEOPLE IN DISTRICT A BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T DONE THE PROPER THING TO GO AND FILE FOR IT.
UM, I DID ATTEND THE, UH, THE, UH, SCHOOL, I GUESS YOU WANT TO CALL IT ON THE, UH, UM, ON THE EDUCATION, ON THE NEW, UH, UH, PROPOSAL THAT YOU HAVE AS FAR AS, UH, UM, THE HOTEL TAXES CONCERNED.
UH, AND I'VE SPREAD THE WORD OF WHAT'S GOING TO BE NECESSARY TO GET THE FUNDS OUT OF THERE.
AND, AND PEOPLE NEED TO STEP UP THE PLATE.
UH, AND, UH, JUST TO ADD TO THAT, AND I'LL GO INTO MY, UH, ISSUE ABOUT THE, UM, UH, COMMUNITY CENTER.
UH, THE, UH, WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN IN DISTRICT GAY IN THE, IN VERY SHORTLY IS THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE AN ADDITIONAL, UM, UH, WE MIGHT EVEN NEED MORE HOTELS IN DISTRICT A WITH THE COPPER MINE BUILDING THOSE EIGHT, UH, SPORTS FIELDS IN EDGEWOOD.
[01:20:01]
UM, THEY ESTIMATE, AND WE'VE MET PAT, UH, MYSELF AND OTHER PEOPLE HAVE MET WITH THE, THE CO, AND I'M SURE YOU HAVE TOO, UH, ALEX, UH, IN REGARDS TO THAT, UM, COPPER MIND IS EXPECTING, AND THIS IS THEIR FIGURES, NOT MINE.THEY'RE EXPECTING 6,000 PEOPLE ON A SATURDAY AND 6,000 MORE ON A SUNDAY, UH, 12,000 PEOPLE ON A WEEKEND.
THAT'S A LOT OF PEOPLE COMING INTO THE EDGEWOOD AREA.
UH, I'M SURE THE RESTAURANTS ARE GOING TO BE LOADED AND THE HOTELS ARE GONNA BE LOADED.
WELL, AND I, AND I'M SURE THAT $685,000 IS GOING TO GROW SOME MORE.
SO, UH, BACK ON THE, THE LITTLE, THE LARGER ISSUE, I WAS EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED IN SEEING YOUR BUDGET.
CAUSE YOU AND I HAVE HAD A NUMBER OF CONVERSATIONS.
UM, COURSE I ELECTED IT BETTER WHEN YOU'RE ON THIS SIDE THAN WE FOUGHT THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE.
NOW, I GOT YOU TO FIGHT
UM, I WAS REALLY DISAPPOINTED TO SEE YOUR, UH, PROPOSAL IN THE JPA CHOPPA CALLED YOUTH SENIOR CENTER, THE COMMUNITY CENTER, WHEREVER YOU WANNA CALL IT.
UM, UH, AND THIS IS NOT, SHOULD NOT BE COSTING THE COUNTY ANY MONEY, BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT THE LAST FOUR BUDGETS, YOU KNOW, THAT MOUNTS OVER $4 BILLION.
OKAY? THE PROPOSAL IS IN THERE, AND I EXPECTED THE PROPOSAL TO BE CARRIED FORWARD.
IT'S BEEN CARRIED FORWARD SINCE 2019, 20, 21, 22.
AND I HAVE ALL THOSE RECORDS RIGHT HERE.
AND IT GOES, GONE ALL THE WAY BACK TO, TO, UM, UH, THE, THE FISCAL 20, UH, 2020 BUDGET.
UH, IN THAT BUDGET, IT WAS APPROVED.
THERE WAS $7 MILLION FOR THE COST, UH, AND $500,000 FOR THE, UH, FOR THE ENGINEER AND DESIGN DESIGN WORK.
AND EACH ONE OF THEM BUDGETS, THAT'S ALL CARRIED THROUGH THE 2021 BUDGET, THE 2022 BUDGET, AND INTO THE, INTO THIS BUDGET.
WE EXPECTED THAT THIS YEAR, ACCORDING TO THOSE APPROVALS, NOW THEY'RE APPROVALS.
THAT'S, THAT'S THE PREVIOUS COUNCIL VOTING APPROVED THO THOSE BUDGETS, THAT'S IN THE BUDGET.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE, HOW THAT MONEY WENT IF IT WAS ALREADY BEEN APPROVED.
OKAY? NOW, WHAT WAS APPROVED WAS FISCAL 2023.
AND IN YOUR BUDGET, IT DOESN'T EVEN SHOW UP.
THAT, THAT, UH, IT SHOWS THE 500,000, BUT IT DOESN'T SAY, WELL, IT'S GOING TO BE SPENT WHERE IT'S GONNA BE SPENT OR HOW IT'S GOING TO BE SPENT.
IT JUST SAYS ENGINEERING DESIGN, 500,000.
THE PREVIOUS BUDGET, UM, WAS SAID THAT ENGINEERING DESIGN, $500,000 WOULD BE SPENT IN FISCAL 2023 ON THE ENGINEERING AND DESIGN.
I HAVEN'T SEEN A THING, NEVER HEARD A THING.
IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, BECAUSE ALSO IN FISCAL 2024 WAS SUPPOSED TO BE CONSTRUCTION FOR THIS COMMUNITY CENTER, $7 MILLION.
AND, UM, FISCAL 25, IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE FINISHED 300,000.
YOU'VE TAKEN IT ALL THE WAY OUT TO 2029.
UM, AND WHAT YOU'VE DONE BY TAKING IT OUT TO 2029, YOU'VE ADDED, UM, 2 MILLION, $500,000 TO THE TOTAL COST.
UH, UH, BECAUSE YOU GET OUT TO 29, IT'S GONNA COST MORE.
YOU KNOW, THAT DOESN'T TAKE, UH, UH, ANY, UH, SEMBLANCE OF BRAINS TO FIGURE THAT ONE OUT.
THEY'RE, THEY, IT'S GONNA COST MORE MONEY INSTEAD OF WHAT, WHAT IT'S GONNA COST.
NOW, THE, THE, UH, UM, UH, AND IN THE AREA, UH, AREA OF, OF, UH, DISTRICT A, I SEE NOTHING BUT INCREASED INCOME TO THE, TO THE COUNTY FOR GOOD NEWS, BAD NEWS, UM, UH, UH, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT, BECAUSE THERE'S RIGHT ON, RIGHT ON THE, UH, UM, BEING BUILT RIGHT NOW IN, IN DISTRICT.
A GOOD NEWS, BAD NEWS IS PROBABLY WELL OVER ON THE BOARD, UNDER CONSTRUCTION, ABOUT A THOUSAND HOMES.
UM, GOOD NEWS, BAD NEWS, UH, GOOD NEWS FOR THE COUNTY, CUZ THERE'S GONNA BE A LOT OF TAXES COMING UP.
THESE HOMES ARE GONNA BE BETWEEN 300, $500,000.
UH, THAT'S GONNA GENERATE A LOT OF TAXES.
NOT TO MENTION ALL THE INCOME'S GONNA COME IN FROM, FROM COMPROMISE.
UH, JO OF TOWN HAS BEEN BEEN BEATING ON THIS SUBJECT FOR PROBABLY OVER 30 YEARS.
UH, WE LIVE IN A DISTRICT THAT'S, UH, MUCH OLDER THAN HARTFORD COUNTY.
JO OF TOWN IS ABOUT 310 YEARS OLD.
IN FACT, WHEN YOU GO UP ROUTE 40, RIGHT AT JOPPA FARM ROAD, THERE'S A BIG SIGN THAT THE STATE PUT UP.
WHEN I WAS IN OFFICE BEFORE, WHEN WE REACHED OUR 300 YEAR ANNIVERSARY,
[01:25:01]
THERE'S A BIG SIGN THERE, RIGHT ON ROUTE 40 IN JOPPA FARM ROAD.CONGRATULATIONS, JPA TOWN ON YOUR 300TH ANNIVERSARY.
THERE'S A, THERE'S A, UM, UM, A UH, UM, A LARGE MANSION ON THAT PROPERTY CALLED THE RUMSEY MANSION.
IT'S CALLED IT, IT'S, UH, ON RUMSEY ISLAND WHERE I LIVE.
UH, BENJAMIN COLONEL BENJAMIN RUMSEY LIVED IN THAT HOME, UH, AND DURING THE CIVIL WAR AND, UH, UH, KEPT, THAT WAS HIS HEADQUARTERS.
THAT HOME WAS BUILT, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, BY TALL, BY TALL SHIPS COMING IN AND BRINGING BRICKS AND STONE.
AND THAT'S HOW THAT, UH, MANSION WAS, UH, BUILT.
NO ONE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY NITY TO TOUR THAT I HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
IT'S, UH, IT'S SEVERAL, TWO, 300 YEARS OLD.
UH, SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND, UH, WHAT I WANT YOU TO DO IS THERE'S, I DON'T UNDERSTAND ANY COST HERE BECAUSE THE LAST FOUR YEARS IT'S BEEN ON THE BUDGET, UM, CLEARLY TO, UH, UH, START THIS, UH, ENGINEERING DESIGN.
NOW, 20 23, 20 24, WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE THE CONSTRUCTION.
2025 IS SUPPOSED TO BE FINISHED.
YOURS IS THE 500,000 IS ON THERE.
BUT DOESN'T SAY WHEN WE'RE GONNA SPEND IT OR WHEN THEY'RE GONNA DO THE ENGINEERING DESIGN.
DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE UNDER YOUR BUDGET TO DO THE ENGINEERING AND DESIGN BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT GONNA BUILD IT TILL 2029.
AND BY THAT TIME, THAT ENGINEERING WILL, UH, THAT YOU JUST SPENT $500,000 AND WHETHER DAN, YOU CAN THROW IT OUT BECAUSE BY 2029 THE ENGINEERING DESIGN WILL CHANGE, THE MONEY WILL CHANGE, THE COST WILL CHANGE.
AND THEN THERE'S 2 MILLION IN 2026 UNDER CONSTRUCT.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT'S FOR CUZ IT, THERE'S 7 MILLION IN 2029, UH, TO FINISH THE PROJECT.
SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE GONNA DO WITH 2 MILLION, BUILD THE BASEMENT OR SOMETHING.
BUT, UM, UH, POOR JBA TOWN LITERALLY HAS, UH, WHEN, WHEN YOU GO AROUND THE COUNTY AND, AND, UH, UH, LOOK AT, UM, UH, ALL THE DIFFERENT, UH, THERE ARE, THERE ARE, THERE ARE NINE DIFFERENT COMMUNITY CENTERS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY RIGHT NOW.
AND, AND ACTUALLY MORE THAN THAT BECAUSE, UH, SOME OF 'EM ARE, UM, THERE'S MORE THINGS IN, UH, THE AREA THAN JUST THE COMMUNITY CENTER.
EDGEWOOD, MY DISTRICT'S PERFECT EXAMPLE.
THEY HAVE A COMMUNITY CENTER, WHICH I HELPED WHEN I WAS LASTING HERE TO GET A, GET A, UH, UH, BASKETBALL COURT PUT ON INTO A BASKETBALL COURT, PUT ONTO THAT CENTER.
THEY ALSO HAVE A SENIOR CENTER.
IT'S ENTIRELY SEPARATE BUILDING.
THEY ALSO HAVE A BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS, ENTIRELY SEPARATE BUILDING.
WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING DROP OF TOWN, DOESN'T HAVE A SINGLE BUILDING OF ANY KIND TO HOUSE A SENIORS OR, OR YOUTH OR UM, UH, BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OR ANYTHING THAT'S JUST BEEN, UH, CONSTANTLY ARGUED.
AND FINALLY, WE, WE, WE SAW A LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL AND THEY'LL, YOU'VE CLOSED THE TUNNEL BECAUSE 2029 IS AN ESTIMATE.
IT DOESN'T EVEN MEAN NECESSARILY THAT YOU'RE GONNA BUILD IT IN 2029, WHICH IS TOTALLY, UM, UH, UNSATISFACTORY.
UH, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THAT YOU CAN'T GO BACK AND TAKE A LOOK.
MAYBE YOU MISSED SOMETHING OR TAKE A LOOK AT THE, THE, THE, WHAT'S ALREADY BEEN AN IMPROVED BUDGET.
UM, WE'RE NOT ASKING TO SPEND MORE MONEY.
YOU'RE ASKING TO SPEND MORE MONEY CUZ YOU TAKE IT OUT TO 2029.
YOU GOTTA ADD TWO, 2.5 MILLION TO THE, TO THE, TO THE PROJECT.
AND NOW HERE'S SOMETHING YOU MAY HAVE MISSED BECAUSE UP IN THE PROJECT, THIS, UM, DESCRIPTION YOU SAY, BUT IT CARRIED OVER AND SOMEBODY PROBABLY MISSED IT.
ENGINEERING AND DESIGN FOR THIS PROJECT IS SCHEDULED TO BEGIN IN FY 2023.
WHEN IS THAT GONNA START? THAT'S IN YOUR PROPOSAL.
YOU PROBABLY OVERLOOKED IT BECAUSE IN THE PRODUCT, IN THE, IN THE LAST FOUR BUDGETS, OKAY, THAT LANGUAGE IS IN THAT BUDGETS, THOSE FOUR BUDGETS ALSO, I THINK YOU HAD TO RESPOND.
SO SINCE, SINCE BEING IN OFFICE, I SPENT MORE TIME, FAR MORE TIME WALKING MEETING IN DISTRICT A THAN ANY OTHER DISTRICT.
I'VE, I'VE, I'VE, UH, MEETING WITH BUSINESS PEOPLE, WALKING THROUGH STRIP CENTERS, MEETING WITH, WITH, WITH, UH, NONPROFITS, TOURING THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, UM, LITERALLY WALKING THE STREETS TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND STUFF.
UH, I TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOUR POINT ON TOURISM COUNCIL MEMBER.
THE, UH, WHICH IS WHY WHAT WE'VE PROPOSED IS THAT A PIECE OF THE TOURISM GRANT GO ACTUALLY FOR PHYSICAL IMPROVEMENTS, FOR MAINTENANCE OF THE INTERSECTIONS AT EDGEWOOD, ABERDEEN, AND BELL CAMP, BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THE HOTELS ARE.
[01:30:01]
IS YOU GET OFF THE INTERCHANGES AND IT'S DOESN'T LOOK FREE PRIDE.IT'S NOT, IT DOESN'T BRING A SENSE OF PRIDE.
THEY'RE ALL STATE HIGHWAY INTERSECTIONS.
AND AS YOU ALL KNOW, IT'S TOUGH TO GET THOSE THINGS MAINTAINED BY STATE HIGHWAY.
AND THE INTENT IS THAT WE'LL JUST GO AHEAD AND DO CONTRACTS.
SO THEY LOOK NICE THAT THEY'VE GOT SOME PLANTINGS IN THERE.
AND THAT'S THE CHALLENGE WE FACE WITH THE WHOLE TOURISM GRANT IS GETTING, GIVING THE WHOLE COUNTY A SHARE OF IT.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT PROMPTED OUR CHANGES IN THE ENTIRE TOURISM PROCESS ON THE, ON THE, ON THE YOUTH CENTER.
YOU KNOW, MR. MCCORT AND I HAVE LITERALLY WALKED VERY LOOKING AT VARIOUS OPTIONS AND I, I PROMISE YOU THAT I WE WOULD, WE WOULD DO THE SAME.
AND WE HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO DO THAT YET.
UM, I I FULLY INTEND TO MOVE FORWARD.
I'LL LET MR. SAND CAN RESPOND TO SOME OF THE, THE, THE BUDGET THING TO PUSHING IT OUT.
BUT LOOK, I, I'VE COMMITTED TO YOU TO WORK HARD FOR THIS THING.
WE, WE HAVE LITERALLY BEEN WALKING PROPERTIES LOOKING AT OPTIONS.
I WANT TO SIT DOWN WITH YOU AND TALK AND, AND WORK MORE.
WELL, BOB, LET ME ASK YOU, I INTERRUPT YOU.
I, I DIDN'T MEAN TO INTERRUPT YOU, BUT YOU COME DOWN TO JPA TOWN AND YOU'RE GONNA TAKE A TOUR OF JPA TOWN, WOULDN'T YOU THINK YOU WOULD CALL UP THE COUNCILMAN AND GO WITH YOU? WHY WOULD YOU TOUR AN AREA THAT YOU'RE NOT THAT FAMILIAR WITH WHEN YOU, WHEN UH, THE COUNCILMAN WHO'S LIVED THERE 57 YEARS WOULD BE MAKE SENSE FOR? HE CALLED DION UP AND LET'S LET HIM GO WITH US.
HE CAN SHOW US, UH, AROUND, AROUND YOU ALSO SAID YOU, YOU, YOU APPOINTED THIS COMMITTEE, THE SOUTHERN, WHAT DO YOU CALL IT? UH, TASK FORCE.
OTHER TASK FORCE, SOUTHERN TASK FORCE, RIGHT? YOU TOLD ME I WAS GONNA BE ONLY COMMITTEE.
I HAVEN'T, I HAVEN'T BEEN TOLD THAT.
I HAVEN'T GOT A LETTER ON THAT.
I HAVEN'T BEEN, UH, UH, YOU'VE BEEN, THERE'S BEEN A NUMBER OF MEETINGS I'VE HEARD ABOUT.
I MEAN, WE CAN'T BE MORE IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE COUNTY THAN POSSIBLE.
MAYBE YOU, MANY UMPTEEN YEARS AGO WE WERE IN BALMER COUNTY,
BUT WE ARE VERY HAPPY TO BE BE IN HARFORD COUNTY AND SO AM I.
AND I WANT TO, I'M RETIRING HERE.
CAUSE I, I, UH, TOO OLD TO, TO, TO MOVE ALL MY DAMN FURNITURE.
I'D LIKE YOU TO WALK, BUT YOU KNOW, SCHEDULING WISE, I HAVE A MEETING ON POST IN THE MORNING AND I, ON THE WAY BACK, WE STOP AT PLACES.
I HAVE, YOU KNOW, IT IT, IT'S NOT LIKE I SPEND EIGHT HOURS THERE, BUT WE'LL, WE'LL, WE'LL WALK IT TOGETHER.
UM, ON THE, UH, UM, UH, UH, YOUR, YOUR OTHER ISSUE, UM, EXCUSE ME, LOST, LOST MY, OH, THIS SOUTHERN COUNTY TASK FORCE.
UM, I, I'M DETERMINED NOT TO ROLL SOMETHING OUT WHEN WE'RE NOT READY FOR IT.
AND WHAT WE'VE BEEN WORK, AS I'VE TOLD CONSISTENTLY IS WE'VE BEEN WORKING INTERNALLY TO DEVELOP OUR CAPABILITY.
AND WHAT WE'VE STOOD UP IN OUR, IN OUR, UM, PLANNING AND ZONING DEPARTMENT AND WORKING WITH OUR GIS FOLKS IS WE'VE HAD ALL OF OUR VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS FEED THE DAY-TO-DAY COLLECT, WE COLLECT TONS OF DATA AND FEED THAT INTO THE GIS DEPARTMENT.
AND GIS DEPARTMENT IS EXPAND THEIR CAPABILITY TO ACTUALLY CREATE ANALYTICAL MAPS, WHICH I'LL BE DELIGHTED TO SHARE WITH EVERYBODY ON THIS COUNCIL ONCE WE GET THAT PROCESS UP.
BUT, YOU KNOW, INVESTING, I, I'M, I'M INTERESTED IN OUTCOMES, NOT JUST INPUTS AND FROM, FOR US TO HAVE POSITIVE OUTCOMES, WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT THE CHALLENGES ARE.
WE KNOW WHAT THE CURRENT SITUATION IS AND WHY THERE'S A PROBLEM.
AND DO NOT JUST WHAT ANECDOTALLY, BUT ACTUALLY WHAT THE DATA SHOWS.
AND THE NICE PART ABOUT THAT IS THEN ONCE WE INVEST, IF I COME BACK FOR FEDERAL GRANT OR STATE GRANT OR COUNTY MONEY AND INVEST OVER THERE, WE'LL BE ABLE TO TRACK THE DATA AND SAY, THIS WORKED.
I MEAN, JUST AS, AS A QUICK EXAMPLE, YOU KNOW, I'VE WALKED STREETS OVER THERE THAT I THOUGHT WERE PRETTY CRAPPY AND I'M THINKING, WELL, I'M GONNA DO JUST INVEST IN THAT STREET.
I PULL UP THE DATA AND REALIZE, OH, THIS IS A PRIVATE ROAD AND IT'S A HOA THAT'S DEFUNCT.
WHAT THE HECK WOULD YOU DO ABOUT THAT? OR WHY IS THERE NO STREET LIGHTS IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD LIKE THERE IS DOWN THE ROAD WHAT WE'D LIKE TO CUT IN THEM OUT.
OH, THAT'S BECAUSE THIS NEIGHBORHOOD'S IS AN HOA AND THESE ARE PRIVATELY OWNED STREETS AND PRIVATELY OWNED SIDEWALKS AND I DON'T, I CAN'T GO IN AND JUST PUT STREET LIGHTS UP CAUSE WE DON'T OWN IT.
SO IT'S, IT'S THAT KIND OF DATA THAT'S REALLY TEASING OUT AND, AND WE'RE, WE'RE STILL IN THAT PROCESS OF STANDING UP THE DATA.
AND I CAN ASSURE YOU, I JUST GOT THROUGH THIS ONCE I'VE GOT THAT YOU WILL ABSOLUTELY BE FRONT AND CENTER OF THIS.
I FULLY APPRECIATE YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF YOUR COMMUNITY AND YOUR EXPERTISE AND AS, AS WELL AS A NUMBER OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UM, BUT I DON'T WANNA JUST ROLL SOMETHING OUT AND JUST START TALKING ABOUT IT.
WE WANNA MOVE BEYOND TALK, WE'LL MOVE INTO ACTION AND THEN MOVE INTO ACTION.
I'VE GOTTA HAVE THE DATA TO SUPPORT WHAT WE'RE DOING SO WE CAN ANALYZE IT AND ACTUALLY INVEST.
HAVE YOU GOT, GOT FOUR YEAR DA YOU'VE GOT FOUR YEARS OF DATA HERE ON THIS COUNT, ON THIS COMMUNITY CENTER FOUR YEARS.
AND ALL I WANT YOU TO DO IS CARRY OVER WHAT THEY'VE DONE FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS BECAUSE IT WAS THE SAME FOR ALL FOUR YEARS.
AND WHY CAN'T WE, I MEAN THIS WAS ALL, THIS IS APPROVED BY FOUR DIFFERENT COUNTY COUNCILS AND COUNTY EXECUTIVES SIGNED YEAH.
APPROVAL, RIGHT? YEAH, APPROVAL.
LET ME ASK YOU, WAS THAT APPROVED, THE PLAN WAS APPROVED, AND THIS IS A, THIS IS A BIG DISTINCTION.
THE BUDGET WAS APPROVED NOT AS A, A PLAN.
SO, AND, AND, AND I I I DO UNDERSTAND,
[01:35:01]
SO THE, THE BUDGET, SO THE BUDGETED APPROPRIATION THAT WAS APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL THANK YOU.SO $500,000, CORRECT? NO, NO, NO.
AND THEN THE, THE COUNTY COUNCIL ALSO APPROVES THE C I P AS A PLAN, WHICH IS A PLAN FOR THE, FOR THE OUT YEARS.
AND THERE IS GENERALLY A REASONABLE EXPECTATION THAT, THAT THE PLAN WILL, UM, UH, WILL, WILL FOLLOW THROUGH.
HOWEVER, DUE TO, YOU KNOW, VARIOUS, YOU KNOW, VARIOUS FACTORS, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES THE PLANS NEED TO BE, NEED TO BE CHANGED BEFORE THEY BECOME PART OF THE ACTUAL BUDGET.
SO LIKE, WHEN WE'RE APPROVING THE BUDGET FOR ANY CAPITAL PROJECT THAT'S FISCAL, IN THIS CASE, IT'S GONNA BE ABOUT FISCAL YEAR 24, BUT YOU'RE ALSO APPROVING THAT PLAN IN THE OUT YEARS.
ONE OF THE COUPLE OF REASONS WHY, WHY PROJECTS CAN GET MOVED BACK IN, IN THE PLAN.
UH, ONE OF WHICH IN, IN MY UNDERSTANDING ON THIS PROJECT IS, YOU KNOW, THAT WE'RE STILL TRYING TO LOCATE, YOU KNOW, WHERE, WHERE, WHERE THE, THE PROJECT WILL BE LOCATED, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT WOULD BE AN EXISTING FACILITY OR WHETHER IT BE A NEW, NEW FACILITY.
SO I THINK BECAUSE OF THAT UNCERTAINTY THERE WAS, AND, AND THAT IT WASN'T AS IF THERE WAS LIKE A, A READY TO GO PLAN RIGHT NOW.
THAT'S WHY IT WAS ALSO PUSHED BACK.
ANOTHER THING THAT WHICH WE, WE TRIED TO DO WITH THE CIP P AND THIS CAME UP DURING THE CREDIT RATING ACTUALLY THE FIRST YEAR UNDER THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION'S, UM, UNDER THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION'S, UM, UH, CREDIT RATING IS THEY WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR CIP P WAS A REASONABLE C I P AND THAT IT WASN'T JUST THINGS WEREN'T JUST PLACED THERE AND THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE, UM, UM, A LEGITIMATE PLAN TO, TO GO FORWARD WITH, WITH ANYTHING THAT'S BOND PROJECT.
WE PUT IT INTO THE C I P WE'RE, AND IF WE PUT DOWN BONDS, WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS THAT AT, AT A LATER DATE, WE ARE GONNA TAKE OUT DEBT TO PAY FOR THESE PROJECTS.
SO IT'S, AT THIS POINT, IT'S ALMOST LIKE A LOAN APPLICATION OR IT'S A, IT'S A PROMISE THAT WE ARE GOING TO ISSUE DEBT IN THE FUTURE, BUT UNTIL YOU ACTUALLY SELL THE BONDS, THERE'S NO REAL COST ASSOCIATED WITH IT.
SO THIS PAST YEAR WHEN WE SOLD $50 MILLION OF, OF BONDS, THAT'S FUTURE DEBT SERVICE THAT WE'RE GONNA HAPPEN.
AS A GENERAL RULE OF THUMB, YOU KNOW, FOR, FOR EVERY, YOU KNOW, FOR EVERY 10, YOU KNOW, FOR A A 10, IF WE SELL 10 MILLION, UM, OF BONDS, IT'S AROUND A MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR OF DEBT SERVICE FOR THE NEXT 20 YEARS.
IT'S NOT A, IT'S NOT A, A CLEAN CUT, YOU KNOW, DEAL LIKE THAT BECAUSE OF, OF HOW THINGS ARE PAID OFF.
BUT AS A GENERAL RULE OF THUMB, THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO KEEP IN MIND.
SO IF WE HAD A, IF, IF WE GO FORWARD WITH THIS, UM, WITH, WITH THIS PLAN, THEN, THEN THAT WOULD GENERATE, WHICH WITH, WITH, WITH THIS PLAN, WHICH ONE? THE, THE, THE, THE PLAN TO DO WITH 10, THE ONE THAT WAS FOR LAST YEAR OR THE ONE FOR THIS YEAR? WELL, ONCE IT, ONCE IT WOULD ACTUALLY, IN OTHER WORDS, ONCE IT ACTUALLY BE AND BECOMES PART OF THE BUDGET.
SO IF YOU WERE TO GO FORWARD WITH A 10 MILLION PROJECT, IF YOU GO FORWARD WITH A 10 MILLION PROJECT AT THIS POINT, IT'S JUST, IT'S, IT'S A PLAN.
ONCE YOU ACTUALLY SELL THE BONDS IS WHEN IT BECOMES REAL.
AND THAT'S WHEN IT SHOWS UP IN DEBT SERVICE, WHICH IS PART OF THE GENERAL FUND.
UM, SO THEN YOU HAVE, YOU KNOW, THEN IT'S YOU, YOU, YOU'VE APPLIED FOR THE CREDIT CARD, BUT THEN ONCE YOU, YOU ACTUALLY PUT, PUT THE EXPENDITURES ON THE CREDIT CARD, NOW YOU HAVE, NOW YOU HAVE THE MONTHLY BILL, OR IN OUR CASE, THE ANNUAL BILL.
AND THAT'S WHEN YOU'RE, THAT'S WHEN YOU'RE PAYING IT.
THE OTHER PART OF ANY TYPE, ANY TIME YOU DO A NEW PROJECT IS YOU ARE GONNA HAVE ADDITIONAL OPERATING COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH IT.
UM, YOU HAVE TO STAFF IT, YOU HAVE TO HEAT IT, YOU HAVE TO COOL IT, YOU HAVE TO CLEAN IT.
UM, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU WOULD, YOU WOULD EXPECT THOSE EXPENDITURES WILL SHOW UP IN, IN PARKS AND REC.
SO WE'RE NOT SAYING THAT THAT, UM, SO AS WE, WE KIND OF LOOK AND TRY TO BALANCE EVERYTHING YOU'RE TRYING TO TAKE INTO THOSE, INTO THOSE CONCERNS ABOUT, OKAY, YOU'RE, YOU KNOW, DO YOU HAVE THE BUDGET FLEXIBILITY FOR, FOR ALL OF THIS? NOW AGAIN, IT'S STILL IN THE PLAN AND I STILL THINK THAT THE INTENT IS TO, IS TO GO FORWARD, UM, YOU KNOW, WITH, WITH THE PLAN, BUT DUE TO SOME LOGISTICAL ISSUES SUCH AS THE AMOUNT OF, OF, OF, UH, YOU KNOW, WHERE IT'S GONNA BE LOCATED, THE LAND OR, AND ALL OF THAT, AS WELL AS SOME FISCAL CONCERNS.
YOU KNOW, ADDITIONAL DEBT SERVICE, ADDITIONAL OPERATING IMPACTS, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHY IT WAS, IT WAS PUSHED, IT WAS PUSHED BACK IN, IN THE PLAN.
I, I DON'T QUITE UNDERSTAND WHEN EIGHT YEARS AGO, EIGHT YEARS AGO, I HAD THE PIECE OF PROPERTY AND STILL HAVE IT TODAY, SITTING RIGHT ALONGSIDE OF THE EDGEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL, WHERE A LOT OF THE COMMUNITY CENTERS ARE NEAR THE SCHOOLS, WHICH IS A GOOD IDEA BECAUSE WHEN A SCHOOL LETS OUT KIDS GOT SOMEWHERE TO GO, MOST OF THE COMMUNITY CENTERS SHOULD BE, COULD BE HOUSED A AS, AS CLOSE TO THE MIDDLE OF THE AREA AS POSSIBLE SO THE KIDS HA CAN WALK TO THE FACILITY NOT WAY OVER SOMEWHERE.
WHERE NOW WE GOTTA TAKE BUSES TO GET THE KIDS THERE, RIGHT? AT THE JOPPA TOWN HIGH SCHOOL, THERE'S A LOT RIGHT ALONGSIDE OF, IT'S 4.4 ACRES, I BELIEVE.
AND, UH, UH, WE HAD THAT LOOKED AT IT, IT, IT COULD BE BUILT THERE.
UH, AND THAT'S BIG ENOUGH TO BUILD A COMMUNITY CENTER.
UM, AND, UH, TALK TO THE, TO, UH, THIS, UH, UH, THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
I SAID WITH THE PRESIDENT, WITH THE NEW, UH, PRINCIPAL OF THE JOPPA TOWN HIGH SCHOOL.
[01:40:01]
THE COMMUNITY THAT MAY HAVE SOME DIFFERENT IDEAS, BUT THERE IS A PROPERTY THAT THEY'LL GIVE US THAT'S PROBABLY SAVING A MILLION DOLLARS INSTEAD OF CUTTING US OUT TO, UH, 2029 AND ADDING 2.5 MILLION.HOW'S THAT MAKE SENSE? HOW'S THAT MAKE SENSE? THAT YOU'RE ADDING TWO AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS TO THIS PROJECT WHEN IF YOU DO IT NOW IT'S TWO AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS LESS.
HOW DO YOU, HOW DO YOU TELL THAT TO THE SUE WHO'S PAYING THE TAXES? HOW DO YOU, HOW DO YOU CONVINCE THEM? OH, WE DON'T TAKE IT RIGHT NOW.
WE'RE GONNA TAKE IT OUT TO 2029, THOUGH.
IT WAS APPROVED TO BE STARTED TODAY, THIS YEAR, 2023 DUTY ENGINEERING, 2024 STARTS TO CONSTRUCTION.
THAT'S NOW OUT THE WINDOW ACCORDING TO THIS.
AND I'M GONNA TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, BOB, UH, WE'VE KNOWN EACH OTHER A LONG TIME, BUT AS LONG AS THAT LOOKS LIKE THAT, I WILL NOT VOTE FOR THIS BUDGET.
OKAY, LOOK, WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT THIS.
BUT YOU KNOW, THE, THE ISSUES THAT, THAT YOU AND I NEED TO HAVE A DISCUSSION IS DO WE STICK A COMMUNITY CENTER OVER AT THE HIGH SCHOOL PROPERTY, WHICH WE DON'T OWN YET? DO WE STICK IT OVER THERE OR WE PUT IT DOWNTOWN IN JOPPA TOWN WHERE IT ACTUALLY GEN GENERATES WHERE THIS USED AND SENIOR, WELL, LET'S GO WALK SOME PROPERTIES, BUT YOU GOT A LOT OF VACANT LAND RIGHT IN THE CENTER OR UNDERUTILIZED LAND, RIGHT IN THE CENTER OF TOWN IN THE OLDER PART, THE COMMUNITY PART WHERE THE PEOPLE ACTUALLY LIVE.
DO WE, DO WE JUST PUNT THAT AND LET THOSE, YOU GOT SOME VACANT.
YOU GOT A CRITICAL VACANT, VACANT, SEVERAL VACANT PROPERTIES OVER THERE, UM, THAT ARE, HEY, YOU GOT THE SWIM CLUB IF YOU WANT TO GIVE HIM 1.6 MILLION TO THAT GUY.
HE'S BEEN SITTING ON THAT PROPERTY FOR 10 YEARS AND IT'S DONE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.
YOU AIN'T TURNED A SP AT DIRT.
MR. GU, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU'D LIKE TO TALK TO THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE? I, I ANTICIPATE A, A ANOTHER, UH, AMENDMENT REQUEST.
I, I I, I CAN SEE THE
HAPPY TO SEE YOUR AMENDMENT REQUEST.
UM, I HAVE BEEN WALKING, WE'VE BEEN, LOOK, I'VE BEEN LOOKING AT VARIOUS PROPERTIES CUZ I DIDN'T KNOW A LOT OF THESE PROPERTIES.
UH, YOU AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT GETTING TOGETHER OVER THERE AND WALKING.
I FULLY INTEND TO DO THAT AND THIS LITTLE BUDGET THING GET IN THE WAY, BUT WE'LL, WE'LL, WE'LL HAVE PLENTY OF TIME HERE COMING UP IN THE COMING MONTHS, HOPEFULLY ACTUALLY WALK AROUND TO LOOK AT SOME OF THESE THINGS.
COME WITH A PLAN, BUT I, WE'RE, WE'RE, I APPRECIATE, LISTEN TO MY FRUSTRATIONS.
BUT THIS IS A 30 YEAR PROJECT.
THE COMMUNITY, THE COMMUNITY HAS NOTHING.
IT DOESN'T HAVE A SINGLE BUILDING IN IT THAT'S BEEN PROVIDED BY THE COUNTY.
AND I'LL, I'LL LET IT GO AT THAT.
THANK YOU MR. PRESIDENT AND THANK YOU BOB.
YOU ARE EXTREMELY PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS PROJECT.
UM, SPEAKING OF CAPITAL PROJECTS, I WANT TO DISCUSS THE HARFORD COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, CENTRAL PRECINCT IN THE TRAINING FACILITY.
NOW, WE'VE HAD MULTIPLE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THIS AND I'M, AND I AM JUST LIKE, UH, DION, UH, DISAPPOINTED THAT THIS PROJECT HASN'T MOVED FORWARD DURING OUR CONVERSATIONS.
I THINK, UH, YOU ALLUDED TO THAT THIS PROJECT WOULD BE MOVING FORWARD BECAUSE, UH, THE ADVOCATION FOR MYSELF AND OBVIOUSLY THE AVOCATION OF THE SHERIFF, AND I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, THAT YOU UNDERSTAND THAT THE CENTRAL PRECINCT ISN'T HOUSED AT 45 SOUTH MAIN STREET.
WE'RE NOT, WE'RE NOT MOVING THE CENTRAL HUB OF THE HEADQUARTERS OVER INTO TECHNOLOGY DRIVE.
THIS WILL BE A DIFFERENT PRECINCT.
AND FROM MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE, UH, FACILITIES THAT COULD BE USED FOR CENTRAL PRECINCT ARE BEING HOUSED OUTTA THE SOUTHERN PRECINCT, WHICH IS INUNDATING THEM DOWN THERE.
UH, BUT SPEAKING ABOUT THE ACTUAL CAPITAL PROJECT, UH, BUDGET, UM, AS WE, WE KNOW THIS HAS BEEN APPROVED, THE COUNCIL HAS APPROVED THIS EXPENDITURE, UM, IN THE LAST ADMINISTRATION.
AND IF YOU LOOK OVER HERE ON PAGE 75 OF THE CAPITAL PROJECTS, IT STATES, UH, THAT THE APPRO APPROPRIATED TOTALS FOR THIS PROJECT IS 22 AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS.
SO YOU SP YOU SPEAK OF THE ANALOGY, MR. SANDIS, ABOUT THE CREDIT CARD.
UM, HAS THE CREDIT CHAR CREDIT CARD BEEN CHARGED? AND ARE WE, ARE WE, UH, PAYING INTEREST ON THIS 22.5 MILLION AT THIS POINT? SO THERE WAS A PORTION OF THIS MOST CURRENT BOND SALE OF, I WANNA SAY A FEW HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS THAT WE SOLD BONDS, UH, RELATED TO SOME OF THE INITIAL DESIGN, BUT MOST OF IT IS, IS NOT, HAS NOT BEEN SOLD.
SO IT WOULD, LET'S JUST SAY WE WERE TO, LET'S SAY WE WERE TO, TO GROUND, UH, BREAK GROUND, BREAK GROUND TOMORROW AND START INCURRING EXPENSES.
AND IT WOULD TAKE SEVERAL YEARS TO DO IT.
IT WOULD PROBABLY MEAN THAT THE BONDS, THE BOND SALE WOULD BE, I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE 10, YOU KNOW, 10 MILLION NEXT YEAR AS FAR AS THE BOND SALE AND THEN THE FOLLOWING YEAR, ANOTHER 12, $12 MILLION.
YOU'RE SOMETHING ABOUT JUST UNDER THAT TYPE OF A SCENARIO.
AND THEN ONCE YOU WERE FULLY OPEN, THEN IT WOULD HAVE ALL THE OPERATING IMPACTS AS, AS, AS WELL.
SO THAT'S HOW IT WOULD HIT, HIT THOSE FUTURE, UM, THOSE FUTURE BUDGETS, YOU KNOW, THOSE FUTURE DEBT SERVICE.
SO IF YOU WERE TO DO THAT, IF WE BREAK GROUND ON IT TOMORROW, WE HAVE 10 MILLION OF EXPENDITURES.
WHEN WE GO TO NEW YORK, WE SELL 10 MILLION WORTH OF BONDS.
THEN IN THE FOLLOWING YEAR'S BUDGET, THE FISCAL YEAR 25, WHATEVER OUR DEBT SERVICE WOULD'VE BEEN, YOU KNOW, ADD AN EXTRA MILLION DOLLARS ONTO IT.
[01:45:01]
THE FOLLOWING YEAR WE DO, WE SELL THE OTHER 10 MILLION.NOW ADD ANOTHER MILLION DOLLARS ONTO IT, SO, YOU KNOW, 2 MILLION MORE THAN, THAN IT OTHERWISE WOULD'VE BEEN.
SO A PORTION OF IT WE ARE PAYING INTEREST ON.
SO, SO RIGHT NOW ABOUT, I WANNA, I WANNA SAY IT WAS A, A FEW HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS, MAYBE, MAYBE 500,000.
I, I, UH, I CAN GET YOU THAT NUMBER, BUT I, BUT IS, YEAH, AND IT LOOKS LIKE WE'VE ALREADY SPENT A MILLION OR SO JUST ON THE ENGINEERING AND DESIGN IT.
SO AS FAR AS THEN, THEN, THEN THERE'S ALWAYS A LITTLE BIT OF A, THEN, THEN THAT WOULD BE ANY OF THAT ADDITIONAL BEYOND WHAT WE SOLD THIS YEAR WOULD THEN PROBABLY BE SOLD, YOU KNOW, NEXT YEAR.
SO THERE COULD BE A LITTLE BIT.
SO LET'S JUST SAY IF WE DID, IF WE HAVE SPENT A MILLION DOLLARS AND WE'VE SPENT 600,000 OF IT ALREADY, THAT WAS PART OF THE BOND SALE, THEN THAT OTHER 400,000 WOULD BE PART OF NEXT YEAR'S BOND SALE.
SO, UH, I WOULD SEE, UM, THIS PROJECT IS IMPORTANT.
UM, DO YOU HAVE INTENT TO MOVE FORWARD ON THIS PROJECT COUNTY EXECUTIVE? UM, YOU KNOW, HERE, HERE WE SIT IN, IN, IN A POSITION WHERE A PRIOR COUNCIL APPROVED THIS, THE PRIOR COUNCIL, THEN WHAT? $20 MILLION OUTTA YOUR FUTURE BUDGET.
UH, AND, AND WE ARE ALSO SEEING THAT SINCE THAT TIME, WE'VE GOT INCREASED POLICE COSTS.
I'VE GOT, I CAN SHOW YOU THE, THE PROPOSAL FOR POLICE.
HERE'S WHAT WE GOT WITH THE POLICE OPERATING COSTS.
DRAMATICALLY IN POLICE, POLICE OPERATING COSTS, EVEN WITHOUT THE CENTRAL PRECINCT.
UM, AND I THINK THIS COUNCIL NEEDS TO WEIGH ON IT.
THIS COUNCIL NEEDS TO LOOK AT THIS AND SAY, IS THIS SOMETHING WE CAN AFFORD? CAN WE AFFORD ONE MORE NEW BUILDING AND ALL THE ANCILLARY COSTS OF, OF THAT NEW BUILDING? AND IF YOU, IF YOU WANNA TAKE A LOOK AT OUR, OUR, THE OPERATING COSTS, UM, WE'RE, WE'RE, AND WE'VE DONE THE RATES OF INCREASE FROM 2008 TO 2016, WE SAW A RATE OF INCREASE OF 2.1%.
AND THEN WE SAW FROM 2016 UP TO 5.9%, THAT WAS THE EARLY YEARS OF THE GLASS ADMINISTRATION.
OKAY? BUT THEN SUDDENLY IN 2023, WE DID 16, ALMOST 17%.
AND, AND, AND NOW WE'RE PROPOSING, UH, A 25% INCREASE ON TOP OF THE 17% INCREASE.
SO, UM, LOOK, UH, IT'S IN, IT'S NOT A, IS NOT ABOUT WHAT'S THE IDEAL POLICE FORCE.
IT'S ABOUT WHAT'S A POLICE FORCE YOU CAN AFFORD.
AND I THINK THIS COUNCIL NEEDS TO RELOOK AT THIS STUFF AND DECIDE, IS THAT AN EXPENSE THAT WE CAN INCUR, UM, MOVING FORWARD.
UH, THAT IS, IS THAT WHERE WE WANT TO PUT THE MONEY? BECAUSE RIGHT NOW YOU SEE THAT THE, THE 2024.
BUT THE SECOND BLUE LINE IS WHAT'S REQUESTED.
UM, AND, AND THE 2020 AND THE, AND THE LAST LINE IS THE BUDGETED AMOUNT.
UM, AND YOU CAN LOOK AT THE RATE OF INCREASE, IF THIS IS GONNA BE A RATE OF INCREASE FOR RUNNING A POLICE FORCE.
UM, YOU ALL NEED TO REALLY LOOK CARE.
WE HAVE TO ALL LOOK CAREFULLY AND SAY, WHAT CAN WE AFFORD? BECAUSE THIS MEANS ALL NEW, THE, THE, THE, THE, THE OPERATING EX, YOU KNOW, BUILDING IT IS GENERALLY THE CHEAPEST, YOU KNOW, BUILDING.
YOU OPERATE IT FOREVER, RIGHT? AND YOU KEEP ON GOING.
THAT MEANS ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL TO JUST, TO, TO OPERATE ADDITIONAL MAINTENANCE COSTS.
SO YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO LOOK AT THIS STUFF, BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW THAT THE LAST COUNCIL REALLY FOCUSED ON THIS, HOW MUCH IT'S GONNA COST US BASED UPON THE, THE CURRENT BUDGET REQUEST FOR THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.
THAT THAT WAS, THAT'S WHAT IT'S GONNA COST US TO, TO DO POLICING MOVING FORWARD.
AND THIS ISN'T, THIS IS JUST FOR OPERATING.
THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE CAPITAL, RIGHT? SO WE'VE GOTTA DECIDE, BECAUSE YOU'RE LOOKING AT COMMUNITY CENTERS.
YOU'RE LOOKING AT, AT, AT, AT, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY'S LOOKING AT SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
BUT FOLKS, THIS IS, THESE ARE BIG INCREASES.
YOU TALKING ABOUT THESE INCREASES AND WHAT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM'S ASKING FOR, FOR INCREASES JUST FOR OPERATING EXPENSES, WE'VE GOTTA START PULLING BACK SOMEWHERE.
AND THIS COUNCIL NEEDS A WEIGH IN, NOT THE LAST COUNCIL WHO PULLED 20 MILLION FROM YOUR ANNUAL OPERATING EXPENSES, RIGHT? UM, YOU ALL NEED TO RE-LOOK AT THIS AND THINK CAREFULLY ABOUT THIS, WHETHER WE WANNA MOVE FORWARD.
AND I'M HAPPY TO DISCUSS THIS WITH ALL THE MEMBERS AT THE COUNCIL AND REALLY SEE HOW DO WE MAKE THIS, CAUSE I GOT, I GOT REALLY TOUGH TO, WE GOT REALLY TOUGH DECISIONS TO MAKE GUYS MOVING FORWARD.
AND HOW DO WE, HOW DO WE FUNCTION? AND I DISAGREE WITH THIS COUNCIL, UM, HAVING TO LOOK AT IT CUZ IT'S ALREADY BEEN APPROVED FROM A PREVIOUS COUNCIL.
ARE WE GONNA LOOK AT EVERYTHING THAT OTHER COUNCIL'S BEEN APPROVED AND TRY AND TRY TO REVERSE THAT.
SO THE QUESTION REMAINS, THOUGH, ARE, ARE, ARE YOU PREPARED TO MOVE FORWARD SINCE THE COUNCIL'S APPROVED THIS PROJECT? I, I'M, I'M PREPARED TO KEEP LOOKING AT THE FINANCIAL SITUATION, UM, AND, AND LOOKING AT WHAT WE CAN SPEND, WHAT WE CAN AFFORD.
UM, I, I'M, I'M ALL, AND I'LL SHARE WITH YOU, I DO QUESTION AND I HAVEN'T, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO SIT DOWN AND TALK SOME MORE.
I THINK YOU ALL NEED TO TALK AND LOOK INTO THIS.
YOU'VE GOT, YOU'VE GOT BASICALLY, UH, UH, HA GRACE IS A SMALLER CRIME CENTER.
ABERDEEN'S IS A LARGE CRIME CENTER.
EDGEWOOD IS A LARGE CRIME CENTER.
AND GREATER VELA IS A LARGE CRIME CENTER.
UM, YOU'VE GOT A ABER GRACE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
WE HAVE AN ABERDEEN POLICE DEPARTMENT.
ALL THE GROWTH IN TY GRACE, ALL OF IT IS INSIDE THE, IS INSIDE THE CITY OF TY GRACE CUZ THERE'S NO WATER AND SEWER OUTSIDE THE CITY OF TY GRACE.
ALL OF THE GROWTH IN ABERDEEN IS INSIDE.
[01:50:01]
INSIDE OF ABERDEEN CUZ THERE'S NO WATER AND SEWER OUTSIDE OF THAT.SO ALL THAT GROWTH IS UNDER THAT POLICE DEPARTMENT JURISDICTION, NOT SO IN EDGEWOOD.
THAT'S, IT'S OUR WATER AND SEWER.
SO WISELY, OUR, OUR SOUTHERN PRECINCT SERVES AS A DEFACTO, YOU KNOW, MUNICIPALITY OVER THERE PROVIDING THOSE SERVICES.
THEN YOU LOOK IN THIS AREA FROM FOREST HILL ALL THE WAY UP THROUGH 24, UM, YOU GOT LITTLE BELL AIR THAT SITS IN HERE, 10,000 RESIDENTS.
THE POPULATION IS, IS OVER A HUNDRED THOUSAND.
UM, THAT DOESN'T, THEY DON'T HAVE, THAT'S ONLY THE SHERIFF, BASICALLY, OTHER THAN THE LITTLE TOWN OF BELLAIRE, WHICH GOES FROM THE MEMORIAL GARDENS TO MCFAIL ROAD, TO FROM THE HARTFORD MALL OVER TO BINGHAM POND.
THAT'S, THAT'S YOUR TOWN OF BELLAIRE.
THEY'RE, THAT'S ALL, THAT'S ALL THEY'RE DOING.
SO WE'VE GOTTA LOOK AND SAY, YOU KNOW, I, I, I PERSONALLY QUESTION WHY ARE WE, WHY ARE WE MOVING, WHY WOULD WE PUT THE CENTRAL PRECINCT IN ABERDEEN, WHICH IS GONNA BE IN ONE TIME IT'S DONE, IT'S GONNA BE INCORPORATED INTO THE CITY OF ABERDEEN, RIGHT? THEY'RE GONNA, THEY'RE, THEY'RE INCORPORATING AROUND THERE.
SO WE'LL HAVE A PRECINCT, THE SOUTHERN, THE CENTRAL PRECINCT WILL BE IN THE CITY OF ABERDEEN.
WE'LL HAVE A CENTRAL PRIEST, ANOTHER, THIS OTHER PRECINCT IN EDGEWOOD AND EVERYTHING, ALL THE ROUTE 24 WILL BE GOVERNED, WILL BE POLICED, I ASSUME FROM EITHER ABERDEEN OR EDGEWOOD OR THE NORTHERN PRECINCT.
RIGHT? WELL, THE QUESTION, THOUGH, DISCUSSION WE NEED TO LOOK AT, AND I AGREE WITH THIS IS A DISCUSSION.
AND BY THE WAY, THE OTHER HALF OF THAT PROJECT IS, IS A, UH, POLICE TRAINING FACILITY.
WE HAVE A POLICE TRAINING FACILITY.
CAN WE AFFORD TO MOVE, PULL OUT OF THAT, THAT PROPERTY? CAN WE AFFORD THAT? IS THAT, CAN WE AFFORD TO DO THAT? IT'S SERVED UP OUR FACILITY FOR YEARS.
SHOULD WE BE EXPANDING THAT OR SHOULD WE DO A WHOLE NEW OPERATION? AND THEN WHAT GOES WITH THE CO WHAT GOES INTO THE COLLEGE? BECAUSE WE PAY THAT BUDGET TOO, RIGHT? WE PUT SUBSTANTIAL MONEY OVER THERE.
SO I JUST WOULD HOPE THAT THIS COUNCIL WOULD LOOK AT THIS, UM, AND, AND LOOK AT IT SERIOUSLY BECAUSE, UM, WE NEED TO MAKE DECISIONS BASED UPON WHAT WE CAN AFFORD AND NOT BASED UPON WHAT THE POLITICS THAT THE LAST COUNTY EXECUTIVE ENGAGED IN.
AND REALLY LOOK SERIOUSLY, IT'S BECAUSE I JUST WANT TO, LET'S BE CLEAR HERE.
THIS WAS APPROVED BY A COUNTY EXECUTIVE WHO FOR AN EIGHT YEAR TERM DIDN'T APPROVE IT IN THE FIRST FOUR YEARS.
DIDN'T APPROVE IT IN THE SECOND TWO YEARS.
THIS THING WAS APPROVED BASICALLY ON HIS WAY OUT THE DOOR IN HIS SEVENTH AND EIGHTH YEAR, RIGHT? SO IT DIDN'T LOOK SO GOOD TO HIM FOR SIX, SEVEN YEARS.
AND SUDDENLY WHEN THE COST OF OPERATING IT WE'RE GONNA GO ON THIS COUNCIL, IT WAS FINE.
OKAY? I, I'M, I'M TROUBLED BY THAT FOLKS.
AND YOU WANNA BE LOOKING AT TOO, YOU'RE GONNA BE PAYING FOR THIS, NOT LAST COUNSEL, NOT THE PREVIOUS COUNSEL.
YOU ALL NEED TO LOOK AT WHAT'S THE IMPACT OF THIS.
AND, AND AGAIN, WELL, I WOULDN'T HAVE THE BEST POLICE FORCE POSSIBLE, BUT LET'S FACE IT, THERE ARE FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS.
WE CAN'T JUST, THIS ISN'T CHRISTMAS.
WE'VE GOTTA, WE'VE GOTTA LOOK AT PRACTICAL CONSTRAINTS AND, YOU KNOW, DO WE REALLY NEED TO MOVE FROM THE COLLEGE? DO WE REALLY, REALLY NEED TO DO THAT? OR IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE, REALLY NICE TO HAVE? YEAH.
UM, BUT IS IS, IS THAT A PRACTICAL, IS THAT REALLY MAKE SENSE? A CENTRAL PRECINCT? DOES IT, YOU KNOW, IS, IS THIS, IS THIS REALLY WHERE IT SHOULD BE? UM, DOES THIS, IS THAT WHERE WE'RE GONNA INVEST IN, IN ONE MORE BOOTING, WHICH MEANS I HAVE TO PUT IN FUEL STATIONS, I GOTTA PUT IT, WE GOTTA PUT IT IN, FUELING AN ENTIRE NEW FUELING STATION, ENTIRE NEW GARAGES.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO HAVE MAINTENANCE, WE'RE GONNA HAVE, YOU KNOW, THAT'S, THAT'S ALL THE NOT, THAT'S ALL COMING OUT OF YOUR COMMUNITY CENTER OPERATING EXPENSES AND EVERYBODY ELSE'S.
SO, WELL, I, I DON'T WANT TO PIT MY, MY REQUEST AGAINST OTHER REQUESTS.
I, I, I DON'T, I DON'T THINK THAT'S FAIR.
BUT, AND THERE'S A COUPLE POINTS, UM, THAT YOU, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE LOCATION, RIGHT? YOU RELY ON ROBBY AS A SUBJECT MATTER EXCERPT FOR THE BUDGET.
SO WHY WOULDN'T YOU RELY ON THE SHERIFF AND HIS STAFF AS A SUBJECT MATTER EXCERPT FOR WHERE THEY WANT TO BE, UH, WHERE THEY NEED THE PRECINCTS? SECONDLY, THERE'S A COUPLE POINTS THAT YOU MADE.
THE TRAINING FACILITY, ANNAPOLIS HAS PUT, UH, LARGE RESTRAINTS ON, ON LAW ENFORCEMENT ACROSS THE STATE, UH, DEMANDS ON TRAINING.
SO WE NEED A NEW FACILITY OUTSIDE OF THE COLLEGE SO WE CAN HAVE THE BEST AND THE BRIGHTEST THAT ARE OUT THERE ON OUR STREETS.
UM, SO, UH, I I REALIZE THAT 1201 TECHNOLOGY DRIVE IS, UH, UH, CURRENTLY A VACANT BUILDING THAT IS OWNED BY THE COUNTY.
THAT'S WHY THE PRICE TAG IS SO LOW ON THIS, RIGHT? SO, AND I COULD TELL YOU THOUGH, UH, THE REASON WHY THE, UH, PREVIOUS COUNTY EXECUTIVE APPROVED THIS IS BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN THE REQUEST CAME THROUGH.
THAT'S, THAT'S WHEN THE SH AS SOON AS THE SHERIFF MADE THE REQUEST, THAT'S WHEN HE DIDN'T MAKE THE REQUEST FOUR YEARS EARLIER OR SIX YEARS EARLIER, BECAUSE THE DEMAND IS GOING UP, THE RESPONSE TIMES DEPUTIES ARE HAVING LONGER TIMES TO WRITE REPORTS BECAUSE OF THE THINGS THAT CAME OUT OF ANNAPOLIS, YOU KNOW, AS YOU KNOW, CUZ YOU WERE DOWN THERE.
SO I, I, WHAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT IS THIS PROJECT BEING HELD UP BECAUSE 1201 TECHNOLOGY DRIVE, UH, HAS DIFFERENT IDEAS FOR THAT PARTICULAR PROPERTY THAT'S BEEN VACANT FOR EIGHT YEARS.
I THINK YOU GOTTA LOOK IS THAT THE OPERATING EXPENSES ARE SUBSTANTIAL.
YOU DIDN'T USED TO HAVE THE OPERATING EXPENSES OF AN, OF OWNING AN ENTIRE EMS WHERE, UH, THE, UH, UH, COUNTY OWNED AMBULANCE SERVICE, WHICH IS GONNA NOW THROW ANOTHER
[01:55:01]
17 MILLION OR SO PER YEAR IN OPERATING EXPENSES ONTO THE BUDGET.THINGS ARE NOT WHAT THEY WERE UNDER THE LAST COUNCIL.
UM, AND, AND THIS COUNCIL NEEDS TO LOOK AND, AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE YOUR OWN PRIORITIES IN THERE.
UH, WOULD WE, WOULD WE LIKE TO HAVE THE BEST POSSIBLE POLICE TRAINING ACADEMY THAT MONEY CAN BUY? OF COURSE WE WOULD.
DO WE HAVE THE MONEY TO BUY IT? THAT'S WHAT YOU ALL HAVE TO ANSWER.
DO WE HAVE THE, DO WE, CAN WE DO, WE, WOULD WE LIKE TO HAVE POLICE PRECINCTS ALL OVER THE COUNTY, BIG, YOU KNOW, BUILDINGS ALL OVER THE COUNTY? OF COURSE, WE WOULD FUEL STOPS EVERY COUPLE OF MILES, OF COURSE WE WOULD.
UM, BUT, BUT YOU GOTTA DECIDE, WHICH IS NOT A POLICING ISSUE.
THAT'S WHY WE HAVE SEVEN COUNCIL MEMBERS WITH DIFFERENT VARIED EXPERIENCES, IS TO WEIGH THIS AND SAY, WELL, YEAH, THERE'S POLICING ISSUES, THERE'S EMS ISSUES, THERE'S EDUCATIONAL ISSUES, THERE'S PRIVATE, THERE, THERE'S, UH, PRIVATE BUSINESS ISSUES.
THIS IS A WING, THIS IS, THIS IS ALL WING.
AND IT'S NOT A MATTER OF, WELL JUST SAY WHAT'S THE BEST FOR POLICING.
IT'S A MATTER OF SAYING WHAT'S THE BEST FOR EVERYTHING.
AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THE DIVERSITY ONLY COUNCIL THAT I THINK IS IMPORTANT.
AND YOU WON'T NEED TO LOOK AT THIS STUFF AND SAY, IS THIS HOW, HOW ARE WE WEIGHING THIS STUFF OUT? AND, AND, AND I I, I RESPECT THE SHERIFF'S INPUT ON THIS.
THERE'S OTHER, THERE'S OTHER THINGS WE HAVE TO CONSIDER.
UM, AND, AND I I JUST THINK WE ALL NEED TO LOOK AND WEIGH THE MONIES WE'VE GOT AND WHAT IT, IT'S WHAT WE CAN AFFORD AND, AND HOW IT'S GONNA AFFECT OUR OPERATING BUDGET GOING FORWARD.
UH, AND I, I OBVIOUSLY, UH, THE COUNCIL ALREADY WEIGHED ON IT, BUT I LOOK FORWARD TO, TO MORE CONVERSATIONS AND I JUST HAVE TWO QUESTIONS, THEN I'LL PASS IT OFF.
AND THEY'RE PERSONNEL QUESTIONS, NOT ABOUT THE PRECINCT.
UM, YOU MENTIONED THE EMS PARAMEDIC, UM, AND IT LOOKS LIKE ROUGHLY, UM, UM, 160 POSITIONS OR SO, UH, 130 POSITIONS, ROUGHLY 130.
I THINK YOU'RE ADDING THE 9 1 1 LONG AS WELL.
YEAH, WE, WE FRENCH, SO I LOOKED AT THE NUMBERS, IT'S ROUGHLY LIKE $6 MILLION.
AND I KNOW THAT'S, THAT'S A COST THAT THE COUNTY HA YOU KNOW, UH, WAS KIND OF PUSHED TOWARDS.
BUT, UM, THE VACANCIES, MY CONCERN IS THE VACANCIES, RIGHT? IS HOW MANY VACANCIES ARE IN THAT NEW ESTABLISHED EMS PARAMEDIC UNIT, RIGHT? AND WHAT IS THE REALISTIC APPROACH TO, WE'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO FILL IT, JUST LIKE THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND OTHER, WE HAVE VACANCIES THAT WE CAN'T FILL THE STATE'S ATTORNEY'S OFFICE THE SAME WAY, RIGHT? THEY'RE TRYING TO FILL THEM.
AND I THINK WE'RE MOVING, YOU KNOW, POSITIONS AROUND WHERE THEY CAN'T THERE AS WELL, BUT WE'RE TRYING TO FILL THEM.
BUT THIS, THE, YOU KNOW, THE HIRING PROCESS IS A LITTLE DIFFICULT, DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE WELL TRAINED THAT WANT TO COME HERE.
SO MY POINT IS, ARE WE FUNDING ALL THAT 6 MILLION FOR 130 EMPLOYEES THAT WE ARE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO FILL THOSE POSITIONS? REALISTICALLY? SAY WE ONLY FILL 70 OR 80 OF THEM, BUT WE'RE FUNDING AN EXTRA 50 OF THEM.
SO, YOU KNOW, UNLIKE, UNLIKE OTHER POSITIONS THAT WE FILL OR DON'T FEEL, UH, WHEN THE AMBULANCE, YOU KNOW, IT'S IT, IF YOU, DID YOU TEACH AS MUCH? DID YOU PATROL AS MUCH? UM, YOU'D LIKE TO DO ALL AS MUCH AS YOU CAN, BUT WHEN THE AMBULANCE IS LATE AND IT DOESN'T SHOW UP FOR AN EXTRA TWO OR THREE MINUTES AND THE PERSON'S DEAD, THEN PEOPLE REALLY CARE.
AND WE'RE NOT MEETING OUR RESPONSE TIMES.
WE WEREN'T MEETING 'EM WHEN I GOT INTO OFFICE, I WATCHED THAT.
I WATCH THE NUMBERS EVERY WEEK.
I LOOK AT THE NUMBERS, I GET IT, I GET IT WITH A BIG GREEN OR BIG RED THUMB ON MY, ON MY CHART THAT SHOWS THAT WE MEET IT.
UM, WE'VE GOTTA FILL THOSE, THOSE POSITIONS.
COUNCILMAN? WE WE'RE, WE'RE WORKING REALLY HARD.
WE'RE WORKING ON THE, ON THE HIGH SCHOOL, RECRUITING, THE COLLEGE, RECRUITING, THE EXPERIENCED PEOPLE, RECRUITING, UH, WE'VE BEEN OFFERING BONUSES.
WE GOTTA FILL THESE THINGS BECAUSE, UH, THE, THE VOLUNTEER FORCE FOR AMBULANCE IS JUST NOT THERE ANYMORE.
I CAN ASSURE YOU, MY STAFF, UH, THAT'S THEIR NUMBER ONE MISSION IN ALL DIFFERENT ASPECTS.
FROM, FROM EVERYTHING FROM ADVERTISING TO THE HR PIECE, TO THE, UH, EMS FOLKS TRAINING AND EQUIPPING WE'RE, UH, MY, MY PUBLIC WORKS.
PO FOLKS HAVE BEEN OUT IN THE VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANIES BUILDING QUARTERS FOR OUR PEOPLE TO, TO BE HOUSED.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING DEALS WITH THE VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANIES.
WE'VE BEEN BUYING MY, MY VEHICLE PEOPLE OR BUYING AMBULANCES FROM THE, FROM THE VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANIES.
I MEAN, YOU'RE ANTICIPATING FILLING ALL THOSE ONE 30.
WE'VE GOT TO, OKAY, WE GOT TO, I CAN'T, I CAN'T CONTINUE TO HAVE SUBSTANDARD A AND NONE OF US WANT THAT.
YOU KNOW, IT SUBSTANDARD AMBULANCE RESPONSE TIMES.
AND YOU CAN ONLY, THESE FOLKS CAN ONLY WORK SO MUCH.
RIGHT? IT'S A STRESSFUL, IT'S A REALLY STRESSFUL JOB.
UH, A VERY STRESSFUL JOB, WHAT THEY DO.
UH, AND SO I GOTTA PAY MARK RATES, RIGHT? UM, AND I'LL, AND I'LL ALSO ADD THAT IN THOSE TYPES OF AREAS, AS WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT, WHEN YOU CAN'T FILL THE POSITIONS, THEN OFTENTIMES YOU'LL SEE A CORRESPONDING SPIKE IN OVERTIME BECAUSE YOU STILL NEED TO FILL THE NUMBER OF SHIFTS.
UM, AND SO YOU MIGHT NOT NECESSARILY, YOU MAY HAVE SOME SALARY SAVINGS, IF YOU WILL, BECAUSE YOU HAD A VACANT POSITION, BUT YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL OVERTIME BECAUSE NOW YOU HAVE, YOU, YOU HAVE TO STILL FILL THOSE SLOTS, YOU KNOW, HAVE THE, THAT THOSE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THE, UM, AVAILABLE FOR SERVICE.
AND ONE MORE QUESTION FOR THIS SESSION.
UM, SO, AND IT'S ABOUT YOUR ADMINISTRATION.
UM, AND I'VE, I KNOW YOU TRANSFERRED A LOT OF DIFFERENT,
[02:00:01]
UH, COMPONENTS AROUND TO WHERE YOU, YOU KNOW, YOU FEEL THAT'S THE BEST FIT.BUT, UM, I TRIED TO DO THE MATH AND I JUST WANT CONFIRMATION ON IT.
IT LOOKS LIKE YOUR ADMINISTRATION, IT IT, TELL ME IF I'M WRONG, THAT YOU HAVE 12 NEW POSITIONS IN YOUR ADMINISTRATION.
IS THAT RIGHT? 12 NEW, 12 NEW PINS YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT? YEP.
YOU'RE TALKING IN THE ENTIRE ADMINISTRATION.
WHETHER WE HAVE 12 NEW PENS IN, I MEAN, 1300 EMPLOYEES.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE 12 NEW PENS.
WELL, I MEAN, IF, HOW, HOW MANY DID YOU HIRE WITHIN YOUR ADMINISTRATION? ALL, ALL ACROSS.
I MEAN, I MEAN, THERE WAS 17 NEW DISPATCHERS, UM, HIRED.
AND I SUBTRACTED ALL THOSE NUMBERS AND IT LOOKED LIKE YOURS WAS 12.
I I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE I'M RIGHT ON THAT.
AND I COULD BE WRONG, COUNSEL.
WE, WE DON'T, YOU KNOW, WE, AS PEOPLE COME UP, YOU'LL SEE IN EACH INDIVIDUAL BUDGET LINE, YOU KNOW, TO SAY THERE'S 12 NEW PINS.
I DON'T THINK THERE'S THAT MANY NEW PENS.
I'M NOT, I MEAN, UM, UH, I, I MEAN, WE DID GIVE, THE STATE'S ATTORNEY ALONE HAS 13 NEW PINS.
ADMINISTRATION, ENTIRE ADMINISTRATION.
ARE YOU TALKING PUBLIC WORKS PLANNING AND ZONING AND ALL THEM, WHETHER THERE'S 12 NEW PINS ACROSS THERE.
I, I READ, AND I THINK I'M DIRECTLY JUST, JUST YOUR ADMINISTRATION, JUST YOUR F*****G, YOUR CHIEF.
YOUR, YOUR, YOUR CHIEFS OF STAFF.
WHAT, CAN YOU FOLLOW UP ON HOW MANY YOUR ADMINISTRATION AND YOUR DIRECTOR HAS HAD AND WHAT THAT, WHAT THAT PRICE WOULD BE? YEAH, SO I MEAN, WE'VE, WE'VE REDUCED AN ENTIRE DEPARTMENT AND CONSOLIDATED THEM INTO MY DEPART WHEN WE, WE, WE, WE'VE MOVED PEOPLE IN WHO WORKED IN OTHER AREAS.
UM, SO, UH, WE DID, WE ELIMINATED THE, THE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT AND, AND BROUGHT THEM UNDER THE EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT.
SO, BUT THOSE WERE POSITION, THAT'S, IT'S A REORGANIZATION.
THERE'S NOT AN ADDITIONAL, YOU KNOW, THE BUDGET, UH, REVENUE, IT'S REVENUE NEUTRAL.
BUT I HAVEN'T ADDED BOTH NEW, AND I THINK WHEN I GET IT, I, I GOT THE TOTAL NUMBER AND IT WAS LIKE, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY STARTS AT 1900 AND YOU WEED IT DOWN FOR DIFFERENT AGENCIES.
UM, AND, UH, THE NEW POSITIONS FOR 130, UH, PARAMEDICS AND THEN THE STATE'S ATTORNEYS.
AND SO I I YOU WERE JUST ASKING ABOUT THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICE, RIGHT? WELL, YOUR ADMINISTRATION, WELL, AGAIN, MY ADMINISTRATION IS COME, WE'RE GOING BACK AND FORTH HERE.
YEAH, I THINK YOU'RE, YOU'RE RIGHT.
ADMINISTRATION IS, I MADE A BIG EXCUSE THIS DMS. IT IS.
PLANNING AND ZONING IS PUBLIC WORKS.
ALL OF THOSE ARE PART OF THE ADMINISTRATION.
NOW, IF YOU WANNA ASK US ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO GO AND LOOK AT ALL OF THAT OVER THE LAST YEAR.
UM, IF YOU'RE ASKING ABOUT THE LITTLE COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICE, IT'S UP, YOU KNOW, HUNCHED UP WITH THERE ON TWO 20 ON THE THIRD FLOOR.
THERE'S NOT 12 NEW PINS IN THERE.
BUT MAYBE I SHOULD HAVE BEEN CLEAR ON THAT FOR YOUR WHOLE ADMINISTRATION.
WHOLE ADMINISTRATION IS, IS HOW, HOW MANY NEW POSITIONS WE, WE'LL HAVE TO GET BACK TO YOU.
I KNOW WE ADDED, UM, UH, A DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR, UH, UM, UH, IT, AND WE ADDED A DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR, UH, UH, HOUSING.
I KNOW WE ADDED THOSE TWO POSITIONS FOR SURE.
AND I'LL HAVE TO GO BACK AND, AND I WAS, ANOTHER THING THAT I KNOW THAT WE HAVE, WE HAVE DONE IS YOU HAD A LOT OF POSITIONS BEFORE THAT WERE PEOPLE WITH SALARIES.
AND THEY WERE IN, THEY WERE CONSIDERED TEMPORARY POSITIONS.
SO THEY DIDN'T HAVE THAT CORRESPONDING, THEY DID NOT HAVE THAT CORRESPONDING PIN.
I KNOW THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE COUNTY AUDITOR WOULD OFTENTIMES GO THROUGH AND BE, BE, BE KIND OF CRITICAL OF, OF SAYING THAT, THAT YOU, THAT YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE THESE TEMPORARY POSITIONS.
THERE WAS AN EFFORT TO CLEAN UP SOME OF THAT.
SO I'LL TAKE THE TREASURY BUDGET AS, AS AN EXAMPLE.
WE WERE FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS SAYING THAT ANYBODY THAT WAS HIRED IN AS AN ACCOUNTING CLERK, ONE WOULD BE A TEMPORARY POSITION.
THEY WERE STILL PAID THE SAME, THEY STILL HAD ALL THE SAME BENEFITS.
UM, WE THEN WERE LIKE, LOOK, THIS ISN'T, THIS ISN'T HOW, HOW THAT SHOULD BE.
SO WE CREATED, IF YOU WILL, PINS, BUT DIDN'T NECESSARILY CHANGE THE FUNDING BECAUSE WE SAID THAT THOSE SHOULD BE CLASSIFIED POSITIONS.
SO THERE WERE PLACES THROUGHOUT THE BUDGET, I THINK, WHERE WE TRIED TO SAY, LOOK, THAT THAT'S A TEMP.
IT'S REALLY NOT A TEMPORARY, TEMPORARY SHOULD BE MUCH MORE FOR, UM, INTERNS AND, AND SEASONAL WORK AS OPPOSED TO, UM, FULL-TIME POSITIONS.
SO THERE WAS AN EFFORT TO CLEAN UP THOSE.
AND I, I DO RECALL THAT, COUNSEL, BUT THAT IN RESPONSE TO THE COUNTY, THE COUNCIL AUDITOR, THAT YES, WE HAD THOSE PEOPLE WHO WERE TEMPORARY.
AND SITTING IN THERE AS SUPPOSEDLY TEMPORARY POSITIONS.
WE MADE THEM, WE, WE GAVE THEM PINS AND JUST TO BE HONEST ABOUT, YOU KNOW, BE TRANSPARENT.
SO THAT'S WHAT, YES, THERE WERE A NUMBER OF THOSE.
IF THEY'D BEEN THERE DOING THOSE JOBS, IT WAS, THEY WERE EFFECTIVE, THEY WERE ESSENTIAL PARTS OF THE GOVERNMENT.
WE CALLING 'EM TEMPORARY AND ACTUALLY GAVE 'EM A PENCIL.
AND I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT, THAT'S A LITTLE BIT CONFUSING TOO, BECAUSE AN DISTINCTIVE STATE'S ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IS A PRIME EXAMPLE OF, THEY HAD TEMPORARY POSITIONS WHERE YOU, YOU, UM, INDICATED THAT YOU GAVE THEM NEW POSITIONS, BUT REALLY THEY'RE AT THE SAME POSITIONS.
[02:05:01]
ON THE OPTICS OF IT LOOKS LIKE THEY GOT NEW POSITIONS AND THEY ACTUALLY REALLY DID WELL.THEY, THEY ACTUALLY GOT THREE NEW, WE PUT IN THREE NEW POSI, THREE BRAND NEW POSITIONS.
WE CONVERTED PEOPLE WHO WERE TRULY, WHO HAD JUST COME IN, UM, OVER THE LAST YEAR AND, AND, AND MADE THEM PERMANENT.
SOME CON SOME PEOPLE WHO HAVE COME IN OVER THE LAST YEAR, WE CONVERTED TO PERMANENT AND, AND UP THROUGH NOW, AND THEN WE GAVE THREE NEW PINS AND THEN AGREED TO GIVE THREE MORE PINS, UM, EFFECTIVE IN JANUARY.
SO THERE ARE ACTUALLY SIX NEW, I MEAN, BUT THAT'S NOT 14.
SO, BUT THERE'S ONLY SIX REAL NEW PEOPLE.
NO, THERE'S REALLY, THERE'S REALLY, BECAUSE YOU ADDED PEOPLE AS TEMPORARY PEOPLE OVER THE PAST YEAR WHO WE'VE NOW GIVEN PINS TO ARE ACTUALLY GROW.
THEY, THEY NOW HAVE FULL BENEFITS.
THEY'RE BENEFITS AND THERE'S A COST OF BENEFITS.
BUT AS FAR AS NEW PEOPLE, IT'S NOT THIRTEENS 11 NEW CONVERTED TO TEMPORARIES TO, SO WE CONVERTED TWO, TWO TEMPORARIES TO DEPENDS.
UM, YOU KNOW, JUST REAL QUICK ON THE HOTEL TAX, I AGREE WITH PAT, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW WHERE I LIVE ON BOURBON STREET, UM, I WALK OUT MY DOOR, I'M AT THE STAR CENTER.
MY CHURCH IS ACROSS FROM THE OPERA HOUSE.
I WALK PAST THE MARITIME MUSEUM, THE DECOY MUSEUM, THE LOCK HOUSE.
YOU KNOW, HAVING GRACE IS A, UH, ARTS DISTRICT AND, YOU KNOW, THAT'S CHANGED OUR COMMUNITY DRASTICALLY.
WE WERE A COMMUNITY WHERE, YOU KNOW, 75 PLUS PERCENT OF OUR KIDS RECEIVED FREE INTRODUCED MEALS TO NOW WELL BELOW 50%.
AND I THINK A LOT OF THAT WAS DRIVEN BY TOURISTS TURNING INTO COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
CUZ THEY FELL IN LOVE WITH WHAT WE HAVE TO OFFER.
AND A LOT OF PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT, YOU KNOW, RUN THESE THINGS THAT BRING PEOPLE TO US ARE STRESSED BECAUSE THESE CHANGES WERE BROUGHT TO THEM.
AND BEFORE THEY COULD EVEN, UH, BREATHE, LET ALONE THINK AND CONSUME AND UNDERSTAND ACTIONS PUT FORTH.
AND I JUST THINK FROM A MESSAGING PERSPECTIVE, IT WOULD'VE BEEN A LOT MORE EFFECTIVE TO TAKE A YEAR TO, TO GET THE, THE CONCEPT OUT THERE, TO, TO EXPLAIN IT, TO PRESENT IT, TO TAKE IT ON TOUR AND THEN NEXT YEAR PUT IT IN EFFECT.
I THINK A LOT MORE PEOPLE WOULD BE COMFORTABLE WITH IT, UNDERSTAND IT, ACCEPT IT, RATHER THAN JUST, HERE IT IS, YOU HAVE A MONTH, GET WITH IT OR LOSE IT.
AND I THINK THAT WOULD'VE WORKED A LOT BETTER.
UM, SO I JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT THOUGHT WITH YOU CUZ I THINK MESSAGING MATTERS A LOT AND, YOU KNOW, UM, AS A COUNTY, UH, WE LIVE AND DIE OFF OUR PARTNERS AND WE CAN'T AFFORD TO BURN BRIDGES.
UM, ESPECIALLY IF WE'RE GOING INTO A TIME OF TIGHT ECONOMICS WHERE WE HAVE TO MAKE TOUGH DECISIONS.
WE HAVE TO HAVE PEOPLE WHO TRUST US AND WHO WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH US EVEN WHEN WE MIGHT HAVE TO DO THINGS THAT WON'T ALWAYS WORK FOR THEM.
YOU KNOW? AND IF WE'RE, IF WE'RE TAKING ACTIONS AND MAKING STATEMENTS AND, AND YOU KNOW, AND DOING THINGS THAT MAKE IT SO THAT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE, GET BECOMING DISTRUSTFUL OF US OR ARE GETTING A BAD TASTE IN THEIR MOUTH FOR HARTFORD COUNTY GOVERNMENT, THEN WE'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO HAVE THOSE PARTNERSHIPS AND RELATIONSHIPS WITH SO MANY AGENCIES, NONPROFITS, ORGANIZATIONS THAT WORK IN HARTFORD COUNTY.
WE HAVE TO BE REALLY MINDFUL OF MESSAGING AND HOW WE COMMUNICATE AND HOW WE WORK WITH ALL THESE DIFFERENT PARTNERS IN THE COMMUNITY.
BECAUSE I THINK THAT REALLY MATTERS JUST AS MUCH AS THE ACTION YOU CAN MAKE THE, THE RIGHT ACTION.
BUT IF IT'S COMMUNICATED IN THE WORST WAY, IT'S NOT GOING TO TO, TO, TO TAKE.
UM, BUT UM, THE OTHER THING I JUST WANTED TO SHARE CUZ YOU KNOW, THE HARTFORD CENTER AND THE ARC ARE BOTH IN DISTRICT F AND, UM, I THINK ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS THAT, UM, A GOVERNMENT CAN DO AS A BODY, YOU KNOW, IT'S A COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE WHO COME TOGETHER AND SAY, HEY, WE'RE ALL GONNA CHIP IN TO, TO TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER, IS THE MOST VULNERABLE AMONGST US TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE GONNA BE OKAY.
AND THE HARTFORD CENTER AND THE ARC ARE BOTH BEAUTIFUL REPRESENTATIONS OF THAT, YOU KNOW, UH, YOU KNOW, ADULTS, UH, WITH, WITH DIFFERING ABILITIES WHO GET TO, TO BE A PART OF THE COMMUNITY, WHO GET TO, UM, GO OUT AND EXPERIENCE ACTIVITIES, HAVE GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT.
UM, YOU KNOW, AND THESE, UH, YOU KNOW, THE HARTFORD CENTER AND THE ARC, THEY DON'T ASK FOR A LOT FROM HARTFORD COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
UM, AND WHEN YOU LOOK, LOOK AT THE BUDGET, IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE GETTING AN INCREASE.
YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE HARTFORD CENTER, FOR INSTANCE, IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE GETTING 12 AND A HALF THOUSAND DOLLARS MORE THIS YEAR.
BUT WHAT YOU HAVE TO ACCOUNT FOR IS THAT THE GRANT AND AID THAT THEY'VE TRADITIONALLY GOTTEN IS DISSOLVED.
AND THAT WE'VE NOW JUST PUT IT INTO THE TOTAL WHERE THEY USED TO TRADITIONALLY GET $30,000 A YEAR IN GRANTON AID.
[02:10:01]
AND A HALF THOUSAND DOLLARS PUT INTO THEIR BUDGET.AND 17,017 AND A HALF THOUSAND DOLLARS IN GRANTON AID IS GONE.
AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, THEY WERE TOLD, SORRY, WE'RE NOT GONNA SPONSOR ANY EVENTS ANYMORE.
SO IN ALL, THAT'S $23,000 GONE FOR THEM TO WHICH, YOU KNOW, $23,000 IN A BILLION DOLLAR BUDGET IS, IS PEANUTS.
BUT TO THE HARTFORD CENTER, $23,000 IS A LOT TO AN AGENCY THAT HAS WORKED SO HARD TO NOT RUN AT A DEFICIT.
YOU KNOW, SHERRY PRIDES HERSELF THAT SINCE SHE'S COME IN, THEY'VE NEVER RUN OUTTA DEFICIT.
AND SHE WORKS REALLY HARD TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
BUT SHE CALLED ME AND SAID, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO RUN OUTTA DEFICIT NEXT YEAR WITHOUT THIS MONEY.
AND WHEN THEY RUN OUTTA DEFICIT, THAT MEANS, YOU KNOW, COMPROMISING THE QUALITY OF PROGRAMMING, IT MEANS IMPACTING THE PEOPLE THAT THEY SERVE.
AND, YOU KNOW, I JUST THINK ACTIONS LIKE THAT, LIKE IT'S NOT IN GOOD FAITH TO NOT GIVE $23,000 IN GRANT AID AND SPONSORSHIPS, UM, TO, TO PEOPLE WHO ARE DOING SUCH VITAL WORK AND ASK SO LITTLE OF US.
AND I JUST THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE KEEP THE HARTFORD CENTER AND ARC IN MIND, UM, AND, AND, AND, YOU KNOW, FULLY SUPPORT THEM IN GOOD FAITH FOR THE WORK THAT THEY DO.
UM, AND I THINK THAT IS SYMBOLICAL OF A LOT OF THE ISSUES IN THE BUDGET THAT WE ALL SEE, YOU KNOW, THAT IS A MICROCOSM OF WHAT WE'RE SEEING WITH A LOT OF DIFFERENT AGENCIES AND DEPARTMENTS WHERE WE JUST ARE NOT SEEING A GOOD FAITH EFFORT.
AND MAYBE IT'S HAPPENING, BUT IN THE MESSAGING, IT'S NOT BEING RECEIVED TO BE KNOWN, TO BE SEEN, TO BE UNDERSTOOD AND FOR OUR NEEDS TO BE MET.
AND, YOU KNOW, I WOULD JUST GREATLY APPRECIATE THAT, THAT MONEY $23,000 BE, BE PUT FORTH TO THE HARTFORD CENTER SO THEY CAN OPERATE AND CONTINUE TO RUN WITHOUT A DEFICIT.
BE FISCALLY MINDFUL, SUPPORT THEIR STAFF AND SUPPORT THE PEOPLE THAT THEY WORK WITH EACH AND EVERY DAY.
I, I HAVE TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE AMOUNT, THE INTENT FOR THE, FOR HARTFORD CENTER WAS TO PULL IT OUT OF A GRANT AND JUST PUT 'EM IN THE BUDGET BECAUSE WE GIVE THEM, WE PAY 'EM EVERY YEAR.
AND WE FELT THERE WAS NO REASON FOR THEM TO COMPETE.
NOW IF THE AMOUNT DIDN'T TRANSFER OVER, I'M HAPPY TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.
CUZ THERE WAS NEVER AN INTENT TO CUT IT.
AND, AND, AND I'M NOT GONNA SIT HERE AND TELL YOU IT WASN'T, CUZ I, I DON'T HAVE IT RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME, BUT I, I ASSURE YOU IF THAT, IF THAT WAS A CUT, THE, THE ONLY INTENT WAS TO SAY QUIT HARASSING HIM WITH COMPETITION.
THE OTHER THING WE DID WITH THEM WAS, UM, WE'VE, NOW, IT'S, IT'S A COUNTY OWNED BUILDING.
SO NOW WE'RE, WE'RE DOING THE LANDSCAPING, RIGHT? SO INSTEAD OF PUTTING THAT BURDEN ON THEM, WE'RE ALSO DISCUSSING WITH THEM, UH, MOVING FORWARD THIS YEAR, WE WANNA LOOK AT, AT, AT OTHER THINGS WE CAN DO TO REMOVE EXPENSES THAT, YOU KNOW, HAVE THEM PULL WITH US ON EXPENSES.
SO WE DID TOUR BOTH, YOU KNOW, I SPENT A MORNING, UH, AT HARTFORD CENTER BEFORE THE BUDGET AND LOOK AT WHAT WE COULD DO FOR THEM.
AND THE SAME THING WITH THE ARC.
UM, AND, AND, UH, LOVE TO DO MORE FOR THE ARC.
BUT, AND I, WE'LL LOOK, IF THE GRANT, IF IF IT DIDN'T TRANSFER OVER ONE FOR ONE ON THAT, THAT WAS INTENT TO JUST REMOVE THE BURDEN OF GOING FOR A GRANT, JUST PUT IT IN THE BUDGET AND, AND THEN TO TRY TO DO WHAT WE CAN.
THE, THE LANDSCAPING WAS THE FIRST THING WE JUST, HEY, WE'RE ALREADY DOING LANDSCAPING.
SO WE'RE ALREADY MOVING ON THAT ONE.
AND WE'RE GONNA LOOK FORWARD, WE'RE LOOKING AT OTHER WAYS WHERE WE CAN BRING THEM UNDER OUR UMBRELLA FOR FUEL PURCHASES AND, AND TRANSPORTATION ALIKE.
AND YOU KNOW, I, I TALKED TO, UH, SHERRY YESTERDAY AND SHE APPRECIATES THE LANDSCAPING AND SHE WANTS IT TO BE VERY CLEAR THAT SHE'S THANKFUL, THANKFUL.
YOU KNOW, SHE DOESN'T WANT TO COME OFF COMPLAINING TO TO HER, HER RIGHT.
BUT, UM, THEY ALREADY HAD SOMEBODY WHO DONATED THEIR EFFORT TO LANDSCAPING.
AND IF THERE HAD BEEN A CONVERSATION THERE, IT WOULD'VE BEEN KNOWN.
THAT DOES, THAT'S NOT A COST SAVINGS FOR THEM.
I MEAN, THEY APPRECIATE IT, BUT IT WAS ALREADY ZERO FOR THEM FOR LANDSCAPING CUZ SOMEBODY CAME AND DID IT FOR THEM FOR FREE.
WELL WE, WE DID DISCUSS THAT AND, AND WE DID OFFER THAT.
AND YEAH, THE FREE LANDSCAPING WAS NICE.
WE'RE TAKING IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL.
I MEAN, YOU GET ONE THING FOR THE FREE VOLUNTEER, BUT THERE'S MUCH MORE THEY CAN BE DONE.
AND SO OUR INTENT WAS TO BEEF IT UP.
THEY CAN CONTINUE TO DO MOWING AND STUFF, BUT I, I THINK WE WERE PRETTY TRANSPARENT ON THIS ONE.
UM, UH, AND I KNOW SHE'LL CONTINUE WITH HER VOLUNTEER DOING SOME STUFF, BUT YOU KNOW, YOU LOOK AT THE BUILDINGS AROUND HERE, WE DO A, YOU KNOW, THE CONTRACTS DO A PRETTY GOOD JOB WITH LANDSCAPING.
THAT HARTFORD CENTER CLEARLY WASN'T GONNA PUT TOO MUCH EFFORT, THIS BUDGET ISSUE.
SO WE'RE TRYING TO WORK WITH THEM.
WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THEM.
WE HAVE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM.
IT'S A DAY-TO-DAY RELATIONSHIP AND THE THE DOORS ARE, AND THE PHONES ARE ALWAYS OPEN.
UM, TOTALLY RESPECT AND APPRECIATE THEIR MISSION AND, AND WE'LL, WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
AND I WILL ABSOLUTELY LOOK AT THE GRANT AID.
WE, I HAD NO IDEA THAT HOW THAT HAD COME OUT.
I THINK THERE MAY BE AN ERROR IN IT.
SO WE'LL LOOK AT THE, WE GIVE THIS AFTERNOON, WE'LL LOOK AT THE GRANT AID FOR THE ARC AS WELL.
AND THEN THE ONE THING THAT MAYBE,
[02:15:01]
UH, THE HARTFORD CENTER COULD USE IS SOME HELP IN, IN MAYBE FLEET SERVICES.I KNOW THEIR FLEET IS IN BAD SHAPE.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE AN OUTSTANDING THING FOR THE COUNTY TO DO.
I MEAN, THEY PAY THE BILL OBVIOUSLY, BUT I THINK, UH, RATHER THAN ONE VEHICLE OR SO GOING TO A, SEE, MAYBE THERE ISN'T A BILL.
WE, WE DISCUSSED THAT WITH THEM AS WELL.
AND WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT.
SO YEAH, LOOK, BIG BUDGET, IF THERE'S, THERE WAS NO INTENT TO CUT EITHER THE ARC OR, OR THE HARTFORD CENTER.
UM, I JUST WANNA FOLLOW UP WITH COUNCILMAN PEN'S, UM, TRAINING CENTER THAT IS IN MY DISTRICT.
UM, PUBLIC SAFETY IS THE CORNERSTONE OF OUR COUNTY.
UM, WE ALL RAN ON THAT AND YOU KNOW, I WANNA FOLLOW THROUGH WITH THAT.
SO WHAT IS IT, WHAT IS THE, HOLD UP? I THINK THIS COUNCIL NEEDS TO LOOK AT THE CURRENT BUDGET.
YOU GOT A, YOU GOT A LOT OF DECISIONS TO MAKE RIGHT NOW, UM, IN THE NEXT MONTH ON, ON, UH, YOUR BUDGET, YOU HAVE A GOOD BUDGET.
IT WASN'T THE MONEY ALREADY THERE.
I'M SORRY, THE PLANS WERE DONE.
THE MONEY WAS NO, THE, THE, THE MONEY FOR THE, THE MONEY TO BUILD THE CENTER WAS THERE.
THE MONEY THIS COUNCIL WAS ALREADY, WELL THE CENTER IS ALREADY BUILT.
IT'S VACANT TO RE TO TO RENOVATE.
SO WHAT YOU ALL GOTTA CONSIDER IS LOOKING FORWARD DOES IS OR THE OPERATING COSTS JUSTIFIED, UM, THAT, THAT THIS IS GONNA COST MONEY.
AND YOU SEE WHAT YOU SEE, THE BUDGET FOR POLICING IS JUST GONE.
I MEAN, IT'S THROUGH THE ROOF.
WE CAN'T EVEN AFFORD WHAT THEY'RE PROPOSING FOR OPERATING A COSTS.
I CAN'T, RIGHT NOW, I I HAVE TO RAISE TAXES TO, TO FUND THEIR OPERATING COSTS UNLESS I WANT TO ASSUME A VERY ROSY TAX PICTURE OR REVENUE PICTURE.
WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT LANDSCAPING AND FLOWERS, LIKE I, I'D RATHER LIKE PUT THAT IN TO WHERE IT REALLY MATTERS THAN, THAN LANDSCAPING, YOU KNOW? YEAH.
IT'S NOT A LOT OF MONEY, BUT IT'S SOMETHING.
WE'RE TALKING SOME FAIRLY LOW LEVEL THINGS, RIGHT.
WE'RE TALKING DIFFERENT, DIFFERENT PICTURES, DIFFERENT HERE.
BUT, UM, BUT I CAN'T, YOU KNOW, IN, IN EDUCATION, UH, WHEN THE STATE SAYS, UH, YOU WILL FUND KWIN, UM, IF I DON'T, THEN THEY WITHHOLD OUR TAX REVENUE.
UM, I'VE GOT, THERE'S, YOU KNOW, YOU LOOK AT THE BUDGET, THERE'S A LOT IN HERE THAT WE DON'T HAVE DISCRETION ON.
WE ARE GONNA SPEND A MILLION DOLLARS THIS YEAR PROVIDING FREE DRUGS TO PEOPLE IN THE DETENTION CENTER.
IT'S NOT NOTHING YOU ALL WANT TO DO, NOTHING I WANT TO DO.
BUT THAT CAME DOWN FROM ANNAPOLIS.
THERE'S ANOTHER MILL THAT'S, THAT'S IT'S MUCH.
WE'RE TALKING HERE, WE'RE TALKING, CAN WE GIVE THE HARTFORD CENTER ANOTHER 10 GRAND? CAN WE GIVE THE, CAN WE GIVE THE ARC ANOTHER 10 GRAND? I JUST GOT BIG FOR A MILLION, NEARLY A MILLION DOLLARS TO DO THAT.
UM, BECAUSE THE COURTS AREN'T KEEPING PEOPLE IN THE DETENTION CENTER.
WE'RE, WE'RE UP ABOUT 600, OVER 600,000 TO GET TO, TO, FOR FOOD SERVICE BECAUSE THEY CAN'T USE PRISONERS TO DO IT ANYMORE.
CUZ THE PRISONERS AREN'T THERE LONG ENOUGH TO DO IT.
SO YEAH, THERE'S A LOT OF, THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF THAT'S, THAT THAT'S COMING UP THAT'S, THAT'S BIG TICKET ITEMS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.
AND UM, THESE WERE NOT, THESE WERE NOT EXPENSES THAT THE LAST COUNCIL WAS REALLY FOCUSED ON CUZ THEY DIDN'T SEE THAT BUDGET, THEY DIDN'T SEE THAT OPERATING BUDGET I JUST GAVE YOU.
UM, AND, AND YOU'RE SAYING, WELL THEY APPROVED THIS.
NOT KNOWING THAT A YEAR LATER YOU'D BE LOOKING AT AN OPERATING BUDGET.
THAT'S JUST QUITE FRANKLY SHOCKING.
UM, WELL, AND HOW DOES OUR FUND BA OUR FUND BALANCE ACCOUNT, HOW DOES THAT COMPARE TO THE OTHER COUNTIES? NO, I MEAN WE, WE HAVE, WE HAVE, I MEAN WE'RE A TRIP AWAY RATED COUNTY, SO WE HAVE A STRONGER FUND BALANCE THAN MANY OTHER COUNTIES.
BUT FUND BALANCE IS ONLY ONE TIME SPENDING.
SO WE DID BUILD IT UP, WE ARE NOW, WE, WE, UM, USING IT DOWN AND YOU HAVE TO KEEP IT AT A CERTAIN LEVEL SO THAT YOU CAN DEAL WITH EMERGENCIES AND REVENUE SHORTFALLS AND WEIRD THINGS THAT COME UP.
WE'RE, WE'RE RUNNING A CONSERVATIVE BUDGET AND THEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE FUND BALANCE KIND OF BEING LIKE A RAINY DAY FUND.
UM, AND WE'RE LIKE 10% TAKING ABOUT 10% OF OUR BUDGET FOR FUND BALANCE.
IS THAT CORRECT? BUT, BUT IT'S, IT'S STILL NOT GONNA BE A SUSTAINABLE, I MEAN A SUSTAINABLE LONG-TERM NUMBER.
I MEAN, IT WOULD BE LIKE IN YOUR, IN YOUR PERSONAL LIFE, IF YOU'RE MAKING 10,000, $10,000 OF, OF INCOME AND YOU'VE GOT $50,000 IN THE BANK, BUT YOU'RE SPENDING, YOU'RE SPENDING $15,000, OKAY, YOU CAN LIVE THAT LIFE FOR A WHILE.
EVENTUALLY THOUGH THAT MONEY IN THE BANK IS, IS DEPLETED.
AND SO THAT'S KIND OF, THAT'S, THAT'S THE SITUATION OF THIS ONGOING REVENUE VERSUS ONGOING EXPENDITURES.
SO ANYTIME WE ADD, WE ADD LEVELS OF SERVICE, WHETHER THAT'S THE OPERATING IMPACTS OF A CAPITAL PROJECT, WHETHER THAT IS ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR A NONPROFIT OR THE SCHOOLS OR TREASURY OR WHATEVER.
UM, YOU, YOU, YOU NOW HAVE THE, THAT LEVEL OF, OF, OF ONGOING, OF ONGOING FUNDING.
AND IF YOUR REVENUES AREN'T KEEPING PACE WITH THAT, YOU CAN MAKE
[02:20:01]
IT WORK JUST LIKE IN THE INDIVIDUAL.YOU CAN, YOU CAN, YOU CAN WEAR DOWN YOUR, YOUR YOUR, YOUR SAVINGS.
BUT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE KEEP SAVINGS AT A CERTAIN LEVEL BECAUSE IF WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY, NO ONE'S GONNA COME FOR US.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO CALVARY THAT THAT'S GONNA COME, COME THROUGH, YOU KNOW, SO WE NEED TO KEEP, WE NEED TO KEEP IT AT A, AT A CERTAIN LEVEL.
AND I WANNA GO BACK TO WHAT WOULD THAT LEVEL BE? YOU KNOW? WELL, I, I THINK THAT IDEALLY WE NEED TO KEEP DEFINITELY THE FIVE, THE 5%, UM, FOR THE RAINY DAY FUND.
AND THEN I THINK THAT OUR UNASSIGNED NEEDS TO BE IN THAT 20 TO 30 MILLION RANGE, WHICH IS WHERE IT'S NOT PROBABLY GONNA BE THIS, THIS AT THE END OF, AT THE END OF THIS CYCLE.
AND THE OTHER PART WITHIN OUR FUND BALANCE IS THERE ARE, THERE ARE ASSIGNMENTS THAT WE'VE MADE THAT'S STORM WATER ISSUE.
NOW, IF WE HAD ANOTHER REVENUE SOURCE THAT WE DIDN'T, THAT WE COULD DEDICATE TO STORMWATER, THEN WE COULD RELEASE THAT.
WE COULD USE IT FOR OTHER THINGS.
BUT I'LL GO BACK TO THAT'S STILL JUST ONE TIME MONEY.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE GROWING REVENUES AT, UM, IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET, THE REVENUES JUST REVENUE GROWTH AND THIS INCLUDES THE FEE, SOME OF THE FEE CHANGES.
BUT OUR, OUR BASELINE REVENUE GROWTH IS GROWING 4.74%.
WE'RE, WE'RE GROWING REVENUES.
THE, THE ISSUE IS THAT OUR FUND BALANCE WENT FROM 90 MILLION, WHICH THERE IS, THE ONLY WAY WE COULD DO $90 MILLION IS IF WE WERE TO COMPLETELY GET RID OF THAT, THAT $30 MILLION FOR STORM WATER, YOU KNOW, AND THEN WE'RE RIGHT BACK IN THE SAME SITUATION NEXT YEAR.
UM, F*****G FOLLOW UP ONE I THINK MR. IS IT OKAY IF I, YEAH, I JUST HAVE A QUESTION ON FUND BALANCE CUZ A LOT OF THE JUSTIFICATIONS FOR DIFFERENT AGENCIES THAT ARE FUNDED BY THE COUNTY WAS, WELL THEY'LL USE THEIR FUND BALANCE TO MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE.
YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT WAS BROUGHT UP FOR THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOR THE SCHOOLS.
UM, BUT EVENTUALLY THAT RUNS OUT FOR THEM TOO.
AND YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE THE SAME FINANCIAL PRACTICE IF THEY NEED TO HOLD ON TO FIVE TO 10% FOR THE EVENT OF EMERGENCY.
I REMEMBER THERE WAS A TIME WHERE THE SCHOOL SYSTEM DIDN'T HAVE ANY EMERGENCY FUNDS SAVED UP.
UH, AT THE TIME IT WAS CALLED JOHN ARCHER HAD THEIR PIPES BURST.
THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO MONEY ANYWHERE IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM TO COVER THAT.
SO THEY ACTUALLY HAD TO CUT ALL OPERATIONAL FUNDING WITHIN THE SCHOOL BUILDINGS, LIKE THEIR BUDGETS TO COVER THAT COST.
UH, WHICH MEANT I BOUGHT HAND SOAP FOR ALL THE BATHROOMS IN HA GRACE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BECAUSE THERE WAS NO MONEY IN HA GRACE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL'S BUDGET TO COVER HAND SOAP FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR.
LIKE THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A SCHOOL SYSTEM RUNS OUT OF FUN BALANCE AND AN EMERGENCY HAPPENS.
SO MY QUESTION IS, YOU KNOW, WHEN THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE, WHEN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, WHEN THE LIBRARIES, WHEN THEY SPEND THEIR FUND BALANCE AND THEN WE'RE OUT, LIKE WHAT'S THE LONG-TERM PLAN TO GET OUR OPERATING BUDGET TO A POINT WHERE WE CAN FUND THOSE AGENCIES WITHOUT THERE BEING THAT RESERVES THAT WE CAN COUNT ON WITHIN THEIR, WITHIN THEM ALREADY THERE.
YOU KNOW, LIKE, CUZ IT SEEMS LIKE, YOU KNOW, BOB, YOU VIEW THE DECISION LAST YEAR TO CUT TAXES AS A POLITICAL DECISION AND, AND MOST, YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANNA PUT WORDS IN YOUR MOUTH, BUT MY FEELING ON YOUR FEELING IS THAT IT WAS A MISTAKE FOR THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE, BUT WE'RE ALSO NOT IN THE VIEWPOINT THAT WE WANNA UNDO THAT DECISION.
SO WHAT IS THE ACTION WE'RE GONNA TAKE TO LEAD TO LONG-TERM STABILITY AND SUSTAINABILITY SO THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT DRIVING ALL THESE OTHER OUTSIDE AGENCIES INTO THE GROUND A YEAR FROM NOW, A FEW YEARS FROM NOW WHEN THEY ALSO LOSE THEIR FEDERAL MONEY THAT'S DRYING UP.
SO MY POSITION ON, ON, ON LAST YEAR'S TAX CUT IS YOU DON'T INCREASE EXPENSES AND REDUCE REVENUE.
I'M ALL FINE WITH REDUCING GROWTH, REDUCING EXPENSES.
THAT'S A GREAT THING FOR GOVERNMENT TO DO.
BUT YOU DON'T, YOU, YOU DON'T, YOU DON'T INCREASE EXPENSES AND DECREASE REVENUE.
THAT'S WHAT I CALL A PURELY POLITICAL DECISION.
I GET, I GET TO HAVE MY CAKE AND EAT IT TOO.
RIGHT? THAT'S HOW THAT'S A POLITICAL DECISION CUZ I GET THE, THE BENEFIT OF THE BIG SPENDING AND THE BENEFIT OF THE TAX CUT AND THEN THE NEXT GUY GETS NO CAKE.
UM, AND SO THAT'S THE CHALLENGE WITH, WITH WITH WITH WHAT YOU HAVE THERE.
UM, I MEAN GOING FORWARD, I I TRIED TO OUTLINE SOME OF THAT, THAT, THAT, YOU KNOW, MOVING FORWARD WE'VE GOTTA CONTINUE TO LOOK AT HOW WE'RE SPENDING MONEY.
WE'RE LEASING TOO MANY PROPERTIES.
WE'RE ALREADY IN THE PROCESS NOW OF CONSOLIDATING LEASES.
WE'RE LEASING HALF A MAIN STREET,
SO WE'RE LOOKING AT, WE'RE LOOKING AT PULLING SOME OF THOSE IN, UH, OWNING, OWNING PROPERTIES.
SO WE DON'T HAVE THAT ENDLESS RENT GOING IN IN THE FUTURE CONSOLIDATING OPERATIONS.
UM, EFFICIENCIES, WE WE'RE TALKING TO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM ABOUT, UH, A CONSOLIDATED EFFORT ON, ON OUR, UM, UH, FACILITIES AND OPERATIONS.
WE SAT, WE GOT WITH CORNELL BROWN AND HIS FOLKS AND WALKED THEIR FACILITY OPERATIONS TO SEE HOW THEY'RE DOING IT.
IF WE CAN, IF WE CAN MERGE THOSE TWO, THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS EXPENSES GO DOWN, OURS DON'T, BUT AT LEAST THEY DON'T NEED AS MUCH MONEY GOING FORWARD.
UM, WE'RE WE'RE, WE'RE DOING THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PIECE.
[02:25:01]
BUSINESS SECTOR.WE GET, WE NEED MORE INCOME TAX FROM BUSINESS, NOT JUST PROPERTY TAX AND THE INCOME TAX.
THAT MEANS GROWING THE BUSINESS SECTOR PRIMARILY.
UH, THE, THE, THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT AND THE HEALTH AND THE HEALTH FOLKS WE'RE FOCUSED ON BOTH OF THOSE.
I TALKED TO THE LEADERSHIP OF BOTH THE HOSPITAL AND, AND THE HEALTH AND THE, AND THE APG REALLY SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK AND, AND, AND TOURING AND WORKING TOGETHER.
SO WE GOTTA GROW THE REVENUE, WE GOTTA CONTINUE TO REDUCE EXPENSES, NOT JUST IN COUNTY OPERATIONS, BUT IN THE BOARD OF WE CAN, WE CAN BE A TEAM.
IT'S, WE HAVE A SUCCESSFUL MODEL WITH THE VEHICLE MAINTENANCE SHOP.
SO WE'VE GOTTA CONTINUE TO REDUCE THOSE, THOSE, THOSE KIND OF EXPENSES.
AND, AND SO I, I THINK IF WE CAN AND, AND, AND MANAGE OUR BUDGET AND, AND NOT, YOU KNOW, WE, WE HAVE A, AS, AS YOU KNOW, MY COLLEAGUE HERE IS, IS, IS, IS IS QUICK TO TELL ME THOSE CAPITAL PROJECTS, YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE MANAGEABLE.
SO WHEN WE BUILD, YOU KNOW, WE'VE TOLD FOLKS IN THESE, IN YOUTH CENTERS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY, WE HAVE ALL THESE PLANS FOR YOUTH CENTERS.
I'M TELLING 'EM, LOOK, WE GOTTA REDESIGN THESE THINGS.
I CAN'T CALL THE OPERATING COST OF YOUR USE CENTER IS GONNA BANKRUPT US.
DO WE NEED TO HAVE GYMS? WE NEED GYMS, RIGHT? WE NEED TO PLAY VIDEO, PLAY BASKETBALL, BUT IT'S GOTTA BE A FACILITY THAT'S GOT LONG TERM LOW MAINTENANCE, LOW OPERATING COSTS, UM, AND, AND S SO WE GOTTA CHANGE THE WAY WE'RE DOING BUSINESS ACROSS THE BOARD.
AND THAT MEANS OPERATING LEANER AND MEANER AND SMARTER.
UM, THE, THE, THE DEMANDS ARE GOING UP AND UNLESS WE CAN GET THE REVENUE TO MATCH IT, UH, WE'RE IN TROUBLE.
I THINK LONG TERM I'M REALLY OUT, I I'M BULLIED ABOUT, I'M BULLISH ABOUT HARTFORD COUNTY.
I THINK THAT LONG TERM, WE'VE GOT GREAT POTENTIAL IN THE, IN THE, IN THE DEFENSE INDUSTRY, IN THE HEALTH INDUSTRY, IN THE AG INDUSTRY.
WE, BUT WE, WE'VE GOT, IT'S NOT GONNA HAPPEN WITHOUT A WHOLE LOT OF WORK AND A WHOLE LOT OF EFFORT.
IF WE CAN DO THAT, UM, WE CAN GENERATE THE KIND OF REVENUE THAT, THAT IS NECESSARY TO HAVE A FIRST CLASS SCHOOL SYSTEM, A FIRST CLASS SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND, AND, AND ALL THE LIGHT.
UM, SO WE'RE MOVING FORWARD, WE'RE DOING THIS ONE PIECE AT A TIME.
WE, WE'VE HOPEFULLY FIXED OUR 9 1 1 FOLKS.
WE'RE MOVING FORWARD ON OUR, ON OUR, OUR AMBULANCE FOLKS.
UM, TWO CRITICAL PIECES OF THIS.
UH, WE'RE CONTINUE, WE, WE'VE GIVEN MORE MONEY TO THE SHERIFF.
UM, I REALIZE IT'S NOT EVERYTHING THEY, THEY, THEY, THEY'RE ASKING FOR.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE CHART RIGHT THERE, IT'S A PRETTY DARN HEALTHY RATE OF GROWTH GOING IN THERE AS WELL.
UM, AND, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH ALL THESE THINGS AND JUST MANAGE, GOTTA MANAGE EXPECTATIONS, MANAGE THE BUDGETS AND THE LIFE.
I MEAN, YOU'RE, YOU'RE IN ESSENCE, YOU'RE, YOU'RE KIND OF RESETTING, YOU'RE, YOU'RE RESETTING YOUR BASE TO THEN TRY TO START CATCHING UP WITH THE REVENUES.
WHEN YOU SAY THAT THE BUDGET LAST YEAR WENT UP 14 WENT UP 14%, BUT REVENUES, UH, WERE ONLY BY SEVEN.
IT, WE, IT WAS ALMOST AS IF YOU HAD MULTIPLE YEARS OF BUDGET GROWTH IN, IN, IN, UM, IN ONE YEAR.
UM, NORMALLY THE FIRST SEVERAL YEARS, YOU KNOW, OUR BUDGET WOULD GROW, YOU KNOW, FOUR OR 5%.
AND SO IT'S ALMOST KINDA LIKE WE DID THAT.
AND THEN ON TOP OF IT, THE, THE, THE, THE TAX REDUCTION.
SO IF YOU DO GO AND YOU TRY TO RESET YOUR BASE AS BEST, AS BEST YOU CAN, THEN EVENTUALLY WE, YEAH, I DO THINK THAT THOSE REVENUES ARE GOING TO CATCH UP FROM WHAT WE'RE HEARING ABOUT THIS, THIS, UM, UM, THERE, THERE IS THE PREPONDERANCE OF, OF ECONOMISTS THINK THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE A RECESSION.
THEY THINK IT'S GONNA BE RELATIVELY, RELATIVELY, UM, SHORT AND RELATIVELY SHALLOW.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT BUILDING IN A A 10% DROP OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
WE'RE JUST SAYING THAT WE ARE EXPECTING IT TO, TO SLOW DOWN.
AND THEN I DO THINK ON THE OTHER END OF THIS, WE COME OUT OF THIS, UM, YOU KNOW, REVENUE GROWTH WILL CONTINUE, BUT IT WILL PROBABLY GO BACK TO BEING IN THIS, YOU KNOW, 3, 4, 5 PER 5% OFF OF, YOU KNOW, OFF OF THAT SMALLER BASE.
AND JUST TO GO BACK ONE TO THE, TO THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS, UM, AND THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND THEIR FUN BALANCE, YES, THEY, THEY DO HAVE UNEXPECTED, UM, SITUATIONS AND THAT'S WHY THAT THEY, THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE THAT.
THEY SHOULD HAVE A FUN BALANCE.
I WILL SAY WHY, WHY THE COUNTY HAVING A FUN BALANCE ISN'T THE SAME AS THEM.
ONE, THEY DON'T HAVE THE REVENUE FLUCTUATION.
YOU KNOW WHAT MEAN? THEY KNOW THAT, OKAY, THIS IS GONNA BE THEIR STATE AND THIS IS GONNA BE THEIR COUNTY.
WHEREAS WE ARE LIKE, WELL, WE THINK WE'RE GONNA BRING IN THIS MUCH MONEY.
SO, AND YOU, SO IF OUR INCOME TAX IS DOWN 5% THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S, THAT'S NOBODY'S FAULT.
THAT'S JUST, THAT'S JUST BASED UPON INDIVIDUAL TAXPAYERS AND WHAT'S GOING ON.
THE OTHER THING IS THAT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM DOESN'T HAVE DEBT IN THE WAY THAT WE DO.
SO WHEN WE, UM, THE COUNTY, UM, SELLS DEBT, YOU KNOW, WE SELL IT FOR ALL THE SCHOOL BUILDINGS.
YOU KNOW, MOST OF OUR DEBT SERVICE IS FOR SCHOOL IS FOR IS FOR SCHOOLS, WHICH IS, WHICH IS FINE, BUT WE'RE THE ONES MAKING THOSE PAYMENTS.
SO THE REASON WE HAVE TO HAVE THINGS LIKE A RAINY DAY FUND AND THESE OTHER RESERVES IS BECAUSE WE NEED TO, THAT THE CREDIT RATING AGENCIES DEMAND THAT BECAUSE THE INVESTMENT COMMUNITY DEMANDS THAT.
BECAUSE THEY NEED TO KNOW THAT WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE LIKE SOME OF THESE, UM, CALIFORNIA TOWNS THAT HAVE, UH, DEFAULTED ON THEIR DEBT AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO THAT WE HAVE TO SAY TO THEM, JUST LIKE YOU FOR GOING TO A LOAN TO, UH, GO INTO A BANK TO GET A LOAN.
HEY, YEAH, WE GOT THIS MUCH IN RESERVES, YOU KNOW, WE CAN AFFORD TO PAY THIS BACK.
AND, AND SO THERE, THERE ARE SOME DIFFERENT, DIFFERENT DYNAMICS, UM, AT PLAY ON OUR, THE NATURE OF OUR FUND BALANCES VERSUS THE NATURE OF, OF THEIRS.
[02:30:01]
YOU MENTIONED IT TWO TIMES AND I, AND I TAKE EXCEPTION TO, I GUESS YOU'RE TRYING TO ALLUDE THAT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS IRRESPONSIBLE WITH THEIR REQUEST AND THEIR BUDGET, BUT I I CAN TELL YOU THAT, UM, THE ELEVATION OF THE BUDGET, UH, IS PRIMARILY DUE TO WHAT'S GOING ON IN SOCIETY, TRYING TO RECRUIT THE BEST IN THE, IN THE BRIGHTEST AND ALSO WHAT HAPPENED DOWN IN, IN ANNAPOLIS AND, AND THROUGH THE BODY WORN CAMERA EXPENSES.AND YOU MENTIONED THE DRUG PROGRAM, A MILLION DOLLARS, RIGHT? THAT ADDS A COST ON THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, UM, UH, BUDGET.
AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT THAT WAS VOTED IN, UH, 2019 ON HOUSE BILL ONE 16, UM, THAT YOU VOTED FOR.
SO A LOT OF THIS HAPPENED FOR, WHAT WAS THAT BILL? WAS THAT THE BUDGET? WHAT WAS THAT BILL THAT WAS FOR THE DRUG? ONE, $1 MILLION FOR THE DRUG PROGRAM AT THE JAIL.
I'M, I'M, I'M AS A LEGISLA, AS A FORMER LEGISLATOR.
I'M TOO USED TO PEOPLE PULLING OUT A, A, YOU KNOW, A BILL THIS THICK AND SAY YOU VOTED FOR THAT PIECE OF IT.
I, WE, WE RUN IT HERE AND I WILL, I'LL WELCOME THE RESEARCH.
BUT THE BILL, BECAUSE OF ANNAPOLIS AND THEIR MANDATES ON LAW ENFORCEMENT IS ONE OF THE PRIMARY REASONS THAT THE, THE BUDGET FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE HAS BEEN ELEVATED.
COUNSEL, I, I'M, I'M NOT SUGGESTING THAT THE SHERIFF IS, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS PULLING OUT STUFF AND THROWING IT IN THE BUDGET JUST FOR JOLLY'S.
WHAT I'M SAYING IS THAT WHEN WE LOOK AT THE BUDGET AS A WHOLE, YOU GOTTA LOOK AT THAT STUFF BECAUSE THAT WASN'T THOSE, THE LAST COUNCIL NEVER HAD THIS ASSUMPTION.
THE LAST COUNCIL ISSUED MADE DECISIONS ON SPENDING THAT AFFECT YOU ALL GOING FORWARD.
AND WHEN THEY MADE THOSE, I CAN GUARANTEE YOU THAT SPIKE THAT YOU'RE SEEING WAS NOT IN THEIR THINKING IN THE LEAST BIT.
AND THEY WERE LOOKING AT A TRAJECTORY THAT THEY HAD SEEN FOR EIGHT YEARS THAT WAS SORT OF LIKE THIS.
THEY DIDN'T FACTOR THAT INTO THIS.
AND SO YOU CAN'T IGNORE THE, YOU CAN'T IGNORE THE FISCAL REALITIES OF, OF THIS STUFF.
UM, AND, AND I, I, I APPRECIATE THE DEBATE, WHICH I'VE NEVER SEEN IN A, MAYBE YOU'VE SEEN IT, MR. PRESIDENT, BUT I'VE NEVER SEEN SO MUCH FOCUS ON THE REVENUE SIDE OF A COUNCIL ON, ON A BUDGET.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF ATTENTION TO THE REVENUE SIDE.
THERE'S GOTTA BE MORE MONEY HERE.
THERE'S GOTTA BE MORE MONEY HERE.
YOU KNOW, I WISH THERE WAS TOO.
THESE ARE THE SAME PEOPLE WHO DID THE REVENUES BEFORE.
UM, AND YEAH, THE REALITY HURTS HERE.
THE EXPENSES ARE TOO HIGH, THE DEMAND IS TOO MUCH.
AND WE CAN'T WISH THAT AWAY BY SAYING, LET'S JUST, LET'S HOPE THERE'S MORE REVENUE COMING IN THAN WE'RE PROJECTING GUYS.
THIS IS NO TIME TO CHANGE HORSES ON A REVENUE, A REVENUE CREW.
THEY'VE BEEN HERE WITH US, THEY'VE BEEN DOING A REALLY GOOD JOB.
AND I THINK WE GOTTA TAKE, I, I REALLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO TAKE THEIR, THEIR THOUGHTS INTO, INTO, YOU KNOW, DO CONSIDERATION AS WE LOOK AT THIS BUDGET GOING FORWARD AND WE CAN'T WISH THIS DEFICIT AWAY.
IT'S GONNA TAKE REALLY TOUGH CHOICES AND NO ONE'S GONNA BE HAPPY.
AND I CAN ASSURE YOU, I'M, I SEE 'EM, THEY'RE ALL OUT THERE IN THE MEDIA NOW.
I DON'T LIKE YOU NAME IT, I HATE THEM ALL.
THAT'S, THAT'S THE IMAGE THAT'S COMING OUT HERE.
UM, I DON'T, I DON'T LIKE BEING THE TOUGH GUY.
I DON'T LIKE THAT BE THE, THE, THE GUY WHO HAS TO COME IN AND SAY, NO, NO, NO.
THAT'S NOT A POSITION THAT ANY COUNTY EXECUTIVE ENJOYS.
UM, CAUSE THE, I TELL YOU WHAT MY, MY COMPATRIOTS ACROSS THE, THE STATE ARE DOING, IT'S REAL EASY.
YOU RAISE TAXES, YOU RAISE TAXES OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS, YOU SET HIGHER PROPERTY TAX RATES.
THAT'S HOW THEY'RE GETTING BY ON THIS STUFF.
UM, IF THAT'S THE SOLUTION YOU ALL WANNA VOTE FOR, YOU LET ME KNOW.
UM, I'VE TRIED TO BE VERY, VERY JUDICIOUS ABOUT THIS.
IT'S GOING FOR THE 9 1 1, THE TIPPING FEE, JUST TO MAKE THINGS BALANCE.
UM, BUT, UH, I, I'M NOT SEEING E WAY'S EASY WAY OUT HERE.
AND, AND, AND GOING AFTER THE REVENUE SIDE, I FIND REALLY INTERESTING DISCUSSION.
BUT IT'S NOT GONNA GET YOU THERE.
SO I APPRECIATE YOUR QUESTIONS.
UM, AND I'M HAPPY TO FOLLOW BACK UP WITH ALL OF THESE.
UM, YEAH, THERE'S SOME, I, I, I
I'M SURE THERE'S SOME STUFF IN HERE THAT WE KIND OF GOT LOST OF PUTTING THE WHOLE THING TOGETHER.
WE'LL GO BACK AND LOOK AT THAT.
I APPRECIATE YOUR, YOUR COMMENTS.
UH, AND, AND WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THOSE.
JUST GIVE US A COUPLE MORE MINUTES.
UH, CITIZEN BUDGETS, ADVISORS, ANYONE.
MR. HAGAR, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.
UM, AFTER, UM, THE SHUFFLE IN YOUR ADMINISTRATION, UNDER WHOSE UMBRELLA? UMBRELLA IS CONSTITUENT SERVICES? UH, IT'S, IT COMES UNDER THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S OFFICE.
AND, AND SO IS THERE A A POINT PERSON? UM, WELL, JOE CLUSTER IS THE, IS THE CHIEF OF STAFF.
CINDY MUMBY WORKS WITH HIM, AND THEN THAT ALL IT COMES UNDER CINDY.
UM, ADDITIONALLY, UM, FOR YEARS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE CONDITION OF THE COURTHOUSE, UM, AND THERE WAS MONEY PUT IN FOR THE, FOR THE COURTHOUSE, UH, RENOVATIONS.
THERE'S, THERE ARE A COUPLE PENNIES IN THERE TO CONTINUE THAT THIS YEAR.
HAS ANY THOUGHT BEEN GIVEN TO EVEN WOULD'VE, WHAT DO WE DO IN THE FUTURE IN THE NEXT FIVE, 10 YEARS? THE COURTHOUSE IS
[02:35:01]
NOT GONNA SUSTAIN.WE ARE ENGAGED IN NEGOTIATIONS TO, TO, TO PURCHASE THE YIELD M AND T BANK, UH, THE COURT, THE, WE'VE BEEN REPEATEDLY TOLD THAT THERE'S PEOPLE OUTSIDE THE COURTHOUSE THAT NEED TO BE INSIDE THIS COURTHOUSE.
SO THEY'RE BEHIND THE SECURITY WALL.
UM, OUR CHOICES WOULD BE HIGHER, PAY MORE FOR SECURITY IN A DIFFERENT BUILDING, OR MOVE THOSE PEOPLE IN THE COURTHOUSE.
IT'S GONNA BE A LOT BETTER FOR US TO MOVE THOSE PEOPLE, LIKE OUR MAGISTRATES, WE CALL 'EM MAGISTRATES, STILL WHAT WE CALLING 'EM NOW? I THINK THEIR MAGISTRATES NOW MAGISTRATE, YEAH.
MOVE OUR MAGISTRATES INTO THE COURTHOUSE.
UM, AND SO THE, THE PLAN RIGHT NOW IS THAT WE WOULD TAKE, UH, THE STATE'S, STATE'S ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, MOVE THEM OUTSIDE, MOVE THE MAGISTRATES AND THE, LIKE, ADDITIONAL COURT PERSONNEL INSIDE OF THE COURTHOUSE.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S ONE THING WE'RE DOING.
UM, YOU KNOW, MOVING FORWARD LONGER TERM.
UH, YEAH, I, I'VE SAT WITH THE, WITH THE FOLKS IN THE COURTHOUSE, UH, THE ONE BIG, THE ONE BIG PIECE OF THIS IS WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN WITH ARISTO BUILDING, UM, WHAT'S GOING ON THERE.
BECAUSE IF THAT, IF THE DISTRICT COURT DOES IN FACT MOVE OUT, WHICH I CAN'T CONTROL AS A STATE COURT, IF THAT MOVES OUT, UM, AND THAT BAILING, THAT BUILDING BECOMES AVAILABLE, UH, THAT'S SOMETHING WE HAVE TO REALLY LOOK SERIOUSLY.
I MEAN, THAT'S
UH, AND SO WE'RE SORT OF WATCHING WHAT HAPPENS OVER THERE TO SEE WHAT THEY COMMIT TO.
UM, BUT, AND WE, WE ARE CURRENTLY ENGAGED IN A, UH, ANOTHER CAPITAL PROJECT IN THE COURTHOUSE.
THEY'RE DOING SERIOUS RENOVATIONS, PARTICULARLY IN THE, UH, HISTORIC COURTROOM.
UH, I KNOW IT'S WIRING AND A FEW OTHER THINGS, THE UPGRADES OVER THERE.
SO THOSE, THAT'S BEING WORKED AS WE, AS WE SIT, I THINK, UM, SECURITY, THE, THE AUTOMATIC SECURITY ALARMS UPGRADING THERE.
AND THERE'S A FEW OTHER THINGS.
UM, JUST, JUST TO GO BACK TO THE REVENUE PIECE AGAIN REAL QUICK, AND THEN I'LL JUST LET THAT GO.
BUT WE HAVE HAD THE TREASURER TELL US THAT THERE'S BEEN YEARS OF, SO THAT'S WHERE THE REVENUE'S COMING FROM, THIS KIND.
WE, WE'VE KNOWN EACH OTHER FOR A LONG TIME.
UM, SO WE'RE NOT PULLING THAT OUTTA NOWHERE.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT NOW, IF YOU CAME TO US AND SAID THERE'S A DEFICIT, NOT A STRUCTURAL DEFICIT, A DEFICIT THIS YEAR.
SO THAT'S WHERE I'M SAYING FROM THE REVENUE SIDE, IF THAT SEEMS COMING FROM LEFT FIELD.
BUT I JUST WANTED TO SEE IF YOU WANTED TO COMMENT ON THIS, BECAUSE I, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE KNOW THIS.
UM, AND I KNOW IT'S, IT'S BASED ON THE TIMING OF WHAT I BELIEVE IT IS.
IT'S, IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S PROBABLY ACROSS YOUR DESK AT THE MOMENT.
IT'S THE FACT THAT WITH THE SCHOOLS, THE WAY THAT THEY WERE FUNDED AND THE WAY THAT, AND BACK IN 20 20, 20 21, THE WAIVER OF MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT LAYS OUT.
I'M ASSUMING, AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO COMMENT TO THIS, BECAUSE I'M GONNA ASK THE SCHOOL BOARD THE SAME QUESTION.
THE COUNTY OBVIOUSLY HAS USED A WAIVER BASED ON THE NUMBERS THAT I'M LOOKING AT, AND, AND THAT'S BEEN FILED WITH THE STATE AND, AND PROVIDED TO THE LOCAL BOARD.
YOU, YOU DIDN'T NEED TO USE THE WAIVER THIS YEAR.
THE STATUTE ALLOWED US, THE, THE, THE LAW IS THAT WHAT PEOPLE ARE CONSIDERING? THE ONE-TIME WAIVER, IT WAS A, WELL, IT WASN'T, IT'S NOT EVEN A WAIVER.
IT JUST, IT WAS A STA STATUTORY.
THEY SAID, UM, YOUR MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT IS X.
THEY SAID TO ALL THE JURIS, WELL, MOSTLY JURISDICTION, UH, FOR 2024, YOUR MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT IS, AND THEY LISTED, I MEAN, HERE, IT'S, UH, IT WAS, UH, WAIT A SECOND.
AND THEY PROVIDED, UM, UH, IT SAYS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 24, THE FOLLOWING AMOUNT SHOULD BE SUBTRACTED FROM THE COUNTY'S FISCAL YEAR HIGHEST LOCAL APPROPRIATIONS.
AND IT, IT SAID WHAT OUR, BASICALLY, WHAT OUR REMAINS OF EFFORT IS, WE, IT GAVE US A FREEBIE ONE TIME RESET.
SO WOULD, IF YOU WERE TO HAVE TO, I'M LOOKING AT THEN DOWN THE ROAD WHERE WE'RE ALL A LITTLE MORE CONCERNED THAN WE ARE PROBABLY IN THE NEXT NINE MONTHS.
DOES THAT GO AGAINST YOUR, WOULD THAT BE LOOKED AT IF, DOES ANY OF YOU KNOW IF THAT'LL BE LOOKED AT AGAINST THE FIVE YEARS WHERE WE DID TAKE A WAIVER? NO, BECAUSE IT, AGAIN, THERE, THERE, THERE WAS SOME UNIQUE SITUATIONS WITH WHERE ALLOWED IT TO BE RESET AND REALLY HAD, HAD TO DO WITH HOW ENROLLMENT WAS CHANGING DURING, DURING, UM, THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR THAT WE, DURING, DURING, DURING COVID STOP.
BUT THERE IS THIS, THIS IS THE NEW MAINTENANCE EFFORT.
HOWEVER, THERE IS ALSO A REQUIRED, UM, AMOUNT OF, OF FUNDING THAT YOU WERE KIND OF REQUIRED TO DO UNDER, UM, UH, UNDER KERWIN.
AND, AND SO THERE WAS A LOT OF JURISDICTIONS THAT, THAT, THAT, THAT, THAT NEEDED TO INCREASE THEIR FUNDING THIS YEAR, BECAUSE OF KERWIN, BALTIMORE CITY WAS ONE OF 'EM.
I BELIEVE CECIL COUNTY WAS ONE OF 'EM.
UM, WE WERE ALREADY ABOVE THE KWIN, THE KWIN FUNDING THE FOUNDATION FUND, UH, FUNDING.
SO THIS CHANGE OF MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT, UM, CHANGED JUST THAT MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT.
BUT IT DIDN'T NECESSARILY SAY THAT WE HAD A, A LOWER, YOU KNOW, OBLIGATION, I GUESS UNDER THE, UNDER THE, UNDER THE FORMULA.
SO GOING FORWARD, YOU WOULD HAVE, THIS IS, THIS WOULD BE YOUR MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT, BUT IF IT DOES END UP GOING UP AGAINST ANY OTHER KERWIN REQUIREMENTS, THEN, THEN, YOU KNOW, YOU WOULD HAVE TO, YOU WOULD HAVE TO ADHERE TO THOSE.
BUT THIS JUST SAME THING, IT KIND OF CREATES A, A NEW, A NEW BASE GOING FORWARD.
UH, TO ADDRESS YOUR QUESTION, THE WAY I THINK MR. KALEY'S, RIGHT? I THINK THE WAY THAT THE, UH, THE
[02:40:01]
BUDGET WAS HANDLED WITH RESPECT TO HARTFORD CENTER ON THE ARC, IT WAS A MOVE FROM GRANT NA, BUT I AGREE WITH YOU.I THINK SHARPENING THE PENCIL TO SEE WHAT THE NET EFFECT OF THAT IS, IS IMPORTANT.
UH, AND THEN MR. VINCENT, YOUR POINT ABOUT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, YOU KNOW, SITTING HERE AS A CITIZEN ADVISOR, SOMEBODY WHO'S, UH, IN THE LINE OF WORK, I, I CAN TELL YOU HAVE MANY CLIENTS WHO DEAL WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, AND I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT BIG NATIONAL HOME BUILDERS DON'T GENERATE SYMPATHY.
I'M TALKING ABOUT YOUR SINGLE LOT OWNER'S GOT A FAILING SEPTIC.
I'M TALKING ABOUT YOUR LOT OWNER WHO CARVING OFF ONE LOT IS GENERATIONAL MONEY.
THE BUSINESS OWNER THAT IS TRYING TO OPEN UP THE RESTAURANT THAT HAD A FIRE, UH, NOT AN INDICTMENT OF THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, CUZ I THINK THEY DO THE BEST THEY CAN, BUT FOR YEARS THAT RESPONSE TIME HAS BEEN UNACCEPTABLE.
SO I THINK YOUR POINTS ARE RIGHT ON THE MARK.
ANYONE ELSE? MR. SCHULTZ? I THINK ADDING TO THE MEMBERS' COMMENTS ABOUT THE SHERIFF'S, UH, OFFICE AND THEIR BUDGET, THE CENTRAL PRECINCT AND THE TRAINING CENTER, I THINK, YOU KNOW, AS A CIVILIAN, UH, NOT IN LAW ENFORCEMENT OR A POLITICIAN, BUT AS A FINANCIAL ADVISOR THAT LOOKS AT TRENDS, AND I AGREE WITH THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S PERSPECTIVE OF RUNNING THIS LIKE A HOME, I THINK NONE OF US WOULD SACRIFICE SECURITY OF OUR HOME.
WE WOULD PROBABLY DEFER THE ROOF AND MAYBE THE DECK AND THE POT IN THE FRONT, UM, TO DISTRICT E'S COMMENTS.
UM, WITH THAT SAID, WE DO HAVE TO LOOK AT THIS 1.1 PLUS BILLION DOLLAR BUDGET AND FOCUS ON THE BIGGEST ITEMS. AND IF WE ARE EXPECTING HEADS AND BEDS AND GROWTH THROUGH TOURISM, WHICH HAS BEEN DISCUSSED, WE WILL NEED MORE LAW ENFORCEMENT.
AND IF WE DO GO INTO A RECESSION, THERE IS DATA THAT SHOWS PRIME INCREASES WHEN PEOPLE ARE DESPERATE.
UM, AND PEOPLE WILL BECOME DESPERATE.
AND WE ARE ATTRACTING NEW RESIDENTS BASED ON THE CENSUS DATA THAT WE NEED TO BE PREPARED FOR.
AND SO AS WE PREPARE WITH EMS, WHICH I THINK IS ALSO GOOD, WE WOULD ALSO NEED TO MAKE SURE WE ARE AHEAD OF THE CURVE OF GROWTH BECAUSE CATCHING UP AT THAT POINT WILL NOT WORK.
THANK YOU, MR. COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
THIS IS MY FIFTH BUDGET SESSION AND THE FIFTH TIME I'VE HAD TO CONTEND WITH THIS POLL,
UM, JUST, UH, I JUST WANTED TO, TO, UH, REINFORCE, UH, MR. STOVER AND MR. J UH, BENNETT'S, UH, COMMENTS IN, UH, CONSIDERING CONSIDERATION FOR FUNDING FOR BOTH THE ARC AND THE HARTFORD CENTER.
THESE ARE TWO VERY IMPORTANT ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE SERVICES FOR CITIZENS OF THE COUNTY.
IT MIGHT BE A SMALL PORTION, BUT THESE ARE VERY IMPORTANT SERVICES THAT I HOPE WE WOULD RECONSIDER THE FUNDING FOR THAT.
UH, THE OTHER POINT I JUST WANTED TO GO BACK TO MR. PEN'S, POINT OF PINS WITH SOME OF THE OFFICES, I'M NOT QUITE SURE WE HAVEN'T SPOKEN ABOUT THIS, BUT THERE ARE SOME POSITIONS THAT ARE RELATIVELY NEW WITHIN, I THINK THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE AND THOSE AREAS THAT WEREN'T THERE BEFORE.
SO IF, IF YOU DO HAVE A PERSONNEL REPORT THAT YOU CAN GENERATE TO SHOW US WHAT IS NEW IN THIS BUDGET, I KNOW A FEW PEOPLE, I KNOW THERE WAS SOME SHIFTS IN TERMS OF, UH, REALLOCATING, UH, PERSONNEL RESOURCES BASED ON CERTAIN DEPARTMENTS KIND OF GOING UNDER THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S OFFICE.
BUT THERE'S A NEW, UH, UH, CHIEF OF STAFF, WHICH REPLACED A SENIOR ADVISOR.
BUT THERE'S THREE DEPUTIES AND WE TALKED ABOUT SOME NAMES.
SO WHATEVER, YOU COULD COME BACK TO US WITH SOME INFORMATION ON HOW THAT'S GONNA LOOK MOVING FORWARD AND MAYBE WHAT PRECIPITATED THOSE NEEDS, UH, MOVING FORWARD THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR THIS BUDGET GROUP.
USUALLY THAT'S MY JOB TO TALK ABOUT THE COMMUNITY CENTER YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR.
SO I'M GLAD YOU DID IT FOR ME THIS YEAR.
UH, THE QUESTION I HAVE ABOUT, UH, PEOPLE GETTING IN TOUCH WITH THE COUNTY WITH QUESTIONS, UH, I SEE YOU HAVE A TEMPORARY POSITION NORMALLY.
CINDY MUMBY HANDLES ALL MY QUESTIONS AND VERY WELL, UH, SO DO WE HAVE A NAME SOMEBODY THAT I CAN BOTHER? IS IT, IS IT JANE WALKER? I HAVE A PERSON.
THE ONLY, THE THE, THE TEMPORARY POSITION IS SAME SET UP THAT THERE WAS IN THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION AND HOW THESE THINGS WERE PROCESSED THROUGH.
UM, BUT YOUR, YOU CAN, YOUR BUDGET QUESTIONS OR JUST GENERAL QUESTIONS? GENERAL QUESTIONS, YEAH.
WELL, UH, JAMES, THE, THE, YOU CAN CERTAINLY REACH OUT TO CINDY.
YOU CAN, THAT, THAT'S CERTAINLY, BUT IF YOU, IF YOU GOT SOMETHING MORE TARGETED, WE'RE GLAD TO, BUT YOU AND GENEVIEVE CAN ALSO HELP YOU.
JENNA, FOLEY, UM, EITHER ONE OF THOSE.
WITH THAT, I'M GONNA CLOSE BY JUST SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE LAST COUNCIL, BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY I WAS COUNCIL PRESIDENT, UH, COUNCILMAN JAN J SAT ON THAT LAST COUNCIL.
UH, WE, UH, LISTENED TO, UH, THE REQUEST FROM THE SHERIFF IN REFERENCE TO THE CENTRAL PRECINCT.
YOU AND I HAVE HAD SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS OVER THE PAST COUPLE
[02:45:01]
OF MONTHS IN REFERENCE TO THE CENTRAL PRECINCT.I STILL BELIEVE TODAY THE WAY I DID BEFORE WHEN I APPROVED, UH, THE, UH, PURCHASE, UH, OR THE BUDGET BEFORE.
UH, I DO BELIEVE IT ALLOWS, UH, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO HAVE GREAT ACCESS TO 95, 22 AND 40 ALONG THE SOUTHERN CORRIDOR.
AS ABERDEEN CONTINUES TO GROW AND AS THEY STILL CONTINUE TO LAG IN POLICE OFFICERS IN THE CITY OF ABERDEEN, I WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED SOMEDAY THAT YOU SEE, UH, AN MOU WITH THE CITY OF ABERDEEN IN HARFORD COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, UH, TO PROVIDE SERVICES THERE ALONE, 95, IT IS A STATE POLICE CORRIDOR, BUT A LOT OF TIMES WHEN THERE'S AN ACCIDENT THERE, THE FIRST PERSON THERE IS A DEPUTY SHERIFF, HARFORD COUNTY DEPUTY SHERIFF.
SO I STILL BELIEVE, UH, AS I DID BEFORE, THAT THAT'S THE PROPER LOCATION FOR IT, AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT MOVE FORWARD.
AND I, I MEAN, I JUST, WE'VE DISCUSSED THE, WHETHER AS, AS WE LOOK AT INCREASING REVENUE, WHETHER WE WOULD USE A VERY VALUABLE PIECE OF COMMERCIAL PROPERTY TO PUT GOVERNMENT SERVICES SO IT WOULDN'T DRAW ANY FUTURE TAX REVENUE.
SO IS THAT, IS THAT THE BEST USE OF, OF THAT PARTICULAR PARCEL? UM, UH, AND, AND JUST HOPE YOU ALL WILL CONSIDERED THE, THE, THE TAIL THAT GOES ALONG WITH THAT AND, AND JUST WEIGHING IS THE, IS BAILING ON THE COLLEGE FACILITY THAT WE ARE GONNA CONTINUE TO HAVE, CONTINUE TO OWN, CONTINUE TO PAY FOR? IS THAT REALLY IS, IS THAT WHAT THIS COUNCIL WANTS TO DO? BECAUSE, UH, I, I THINK YOU GOTTA LOOK AT THAT.
AND I, I THINK THAT, UH, THERE ARE, THERE ARE MAJOR EXPENSES AND, UM, UH, DOING AN MOU WITH THE CITY OF ABERDEEN MEANS WE STILL PAY FOR IT.
THE CITIZENS OF HARTFORD COUNTY PAY FOR PAY FOR, UH, A POLICING, UM, UH, ON TOP OF WHAT THE CITY OF ABERDEEN'S DOING.
AND, UM, I MEAN, WE GOTTA LOOK AT THAT BECAUSE ABERDEEN'S GROWING, ABERDEEN GETS THE REVENUE.
ABERDEEN'S GETTING THE EXTRA REVENUE TO PROVIDE THOSE POLICING SERVICES.
SO IF ABERDEEN'S GONNA GET THE REVENUE FROM THOSE CITIZENS AND THEN WE'RE GONNA PROVIDE THE POLICING SERVICES, UH, THAT'S PROBLEMATIC.
WELL, I'M SURE THERE COULD BE SOMETHING WORKED OUT THERE AS WELL.
CERTAINLY THE TOWN OF BEL AIR WOULD LIKE TO DO THE SAME THING.
IT PROBABLY STILL WOULD HAVE ANY GRACE.
IT, UH, THAT, HEY, IF WE'RE GONNA JUST PICK UP ALL THEIR, THEY'LL CONTINUE TO GET THE REVENUE AND WE'LL PROVIDE THE POLICING SERVICES.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF ISSUES HERE.
AND, AND, UM, YOU KNOW, I, I APPRECIATE WHERE YOU'RE ALL LOOKING AT THIS, BUT MM-HMM.
AND LONG-TERM DEBT IS A BAD WAY TO GO LOOK AT THE OTHER JURISDICTIONS.
UM, OUR NEIGHBORING COUNTIES, UH, TO THE SOUTH, UM, WHO HAVE MUCH LESS DISCRETION ON HOW THEY GOVERN BECAUSE THEY'RE DEBTS HIGH, RIGHT? HIGHER, THEY'RE HAVING A MUCH HIGHER DEBT.
AND WE'VE HAD A LOT OF FLEXIBILITY IN THIS COUNTY.
WE CAN DO A LOT OF STUFF BECAUSE OUR PREDECESSORS HAVE KEPT, HAVE KEPT DEBT VERY REASONABLE.
AND I, AND I ASK YOU TO LOOK AT THOSE CHARTS I GAVE YOU AND LOOK AT THE RATE OF GROWTH THAT WE SAW IN THESE COUNCILS BACK IN LIKE 2008 AND HOW THAT WAS SUSTAINED FOR YEARS AND PUT YOU ALL IN A PRETTY, A MUCH MORE, UH, REASONABLE POSITION THAN OTHER COUNTIES BECAUSE THE COUNCIL HAS HAD THE, THE FORESIGHT TO ACTUALLY MANAGE THE RATES OF GROWTH OF, OF, OF EXPENSES.
AND IF WE, UH, DON'T TAKE THAT OBLIGATION REALLY SERIOUSLY, WE'RE GONNA END UP SOME PROBLEMS IN THE LONG RUN.
CUZ I CAN'T CONTROL A LOT OF PIECE OF THE SCHOOL GROWTH.
THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF THAT THE SHERIFF HAS TO DO THAT I CAN'T CONTROL THE GROWTH OF IT.
LIKE IT'S, IT'S, IT'S OUT OF, IT'S THE STATE, UNFUNDED STATE MANDATES.
UM, BUT THAT'S ALL GONNA EAT AWAY FROM EVERYTHING ELSE WE DO.
AND WE TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, MAKING, HAVING GRANTS FOR HARTFORD CENTER IN NEW YORK AND, AND, AND, AND THE DECOY MUSEUM AND, AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
THE DECOY MUSEUM HAVING ALL THOSE FUNDS AVAILABLE TO US, THAT, THAT, THAT'S, THAT'S BEING PITTED UP AGAINST THESE OTHER EXPENSES.
AND SO NOW, AND, AND LISTEN, I APPRECIATE ALL THAT, BUT WE, WE'VE BEEN BLESSED IN HARFORD COUNTY TO HAVE A GREAT QUALITY OF LIFE.
AND TWO THINGS THAT MAKE UP THAT GREAT QUALITY OF LIFE ARE PUBLIC SAFETY AND EDUCATION.
SO THERE ARE TWO GREAT KEY COMPONENTS, AND I APPRECIATE ALL YOUR EFFORTS, UH, TO, TO LOOK AT THAT EVEN FURTHER THAN YOU HAVE.
I APPRECIATE ALL THE TIME THAT YOU'VE GIVEN US HERE TODAY AND, AND FIELDED ALL THE QUESTIONS.
UM, BUT WE'RE GONNA LET YOU GO.
AND WE'RE GONNA TAKE JUST A QUICK BRIEF MINUTE, PAULS, AND WE'RE GONNA COME BACK, UH, TO YOU, MR. MCCORD.
REALLY FUNNY TO GET TO KNOW IF I COULD GET EVERYBODY BACK IN THEIR SEATS, PLEASE PICK IT UP.
24 HOURS SINCE I HAD ANYTHING.
I, UH, I APOLOGIZE FOR, UH, RUNNING OVER.
BUT, UM, I THINK IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS VERY IMPORTANT FOR EVERYONE TO GET THEIR QUESTIONS IN WHILE THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE WAS HERE.
UH, WE DON'T HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF HAVING ALL OF THIS IN FRONT OF US, UH, FOR THE PAST 10 MONTHS OR SO, AS,
[02:50:01]
AS YOU GUYS DO.SO, UM, WE APPRECIATE YOUR PATIENCE WITH US.
AND, UH, I'D LIKE TO START UP AGAIN WITH THE DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION, MR. MCCORD.
SO ON UH, PAGE, PAGE 1 38, YOU'LL FIND THE ADMINISTRATION, UH, BUDGET.
YOU WILL SEE A, UM, DECREASE OF 8.7 MILLION.
THIS IS LARGELY DUE TO, UM, FACILITIES AND OPERATIONS AND CENTRAL SERVICES, WHICH WERE PREVIOUSLY UNDER ADMINISTRATION HAVE NOW BEEN MOVED TO D PW.
SO ANY OF THOSE QUESTIONS WILL BE BEST ADDRESSED.
UM, DURING THE D P W SECTION AND PROPERTY ACQUISITION AND MANAGEMENT, UM, WAS MOVED OUT OF ADMINISTRATION AND INTO PROCUREMENT.
SO THAT'S ALSO GONNA BE AN OPPORTUNITY AND PROCUREMENT.
UM, ONLY OTHER SIGNIFICANT, UH, CHANGE TO, TO NOTE IS THERE IS A, UH, A NEW AREA HERE CALLED RESOURCE MANAGEMENT THAT, HOWEVER, WAS CARVED OUT OF BUDGET.
UM, SO YOU'LL, YOU'LL NOTICE THAT THE POSITIONS, UM, THERE, THERE WAS ONE INDIVIDUAL AND THEN THAT POSITION MOVED FROM BUDGET TO, TO THERE.
UM, AND THEN OTHER THAN THAT, JUST YOUR, YOUR ROUTINE CHANGES.
SO WITH THAT, UM, MR. MCCORD, ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO ADD? UH, I THINK I LOST THE MOST PEOPLE.
UM, BUT THE ONE PERSON I HAVE FOR THE ENERGY MANAGEMENT SITUATION IS THE ABILITY FOR THIS PERSON TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT HAVE MY BACKING SO THAT EVERYTHING COMES THROUGH ME AND SHE MAKES RECOMMENDATIONS TO ME.
SHE TELLS, TELLS AN AGENCY, I THINK WE NEED TO DO THIS, THIS WAY.
IT'S NOT JUST CHANGING THE LIGHT BULBS, IT'S EVERYTHING ELSE THAT SHE CAN FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN SAVE MONEY AND HOW WE CAN MANAGE THE ENERGY RESOURCE.
SO THAT COMING UNDERNEATH OF ME WITH MY AUTHORITY AND MY ATTENTION IS I THINK, A GOOD THING TO DO.
SO OTHERWISE TREASURER EXPLAINED IT.
UH, OBVIOUSLY THIS IS YOUR BUDGET IN A SENSE.
AS DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION, I WANT TO, UM, YOU KNOW, COMMEND YOU AND YOUR TEAM, UH, IN ALL THE EFFORTS THAT, UH, YOU PUT FORTH TO, TO BRING US THIS BUDGET.
AND WITH THAT, I'M GONNA OPEN IT UP TO COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR ANY QUESTIONS.
ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OF, UH, DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION, CITIZEN BUDGET ADVISORS? ANYONE? MS. MOO, I JUST ALWAYS ASK ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTIONS LIST.
I'M ALWAYS CURIOUS, WILL THAT BE COMING OUT LATER? YOU KNOW, ITEMIZED LIST? YEAH.
WE'LL, WE'LL, WE'LL PROVIDE THAT.
ANYONE ELSE? UH, ROB, I'M JUST GOING TO EXPLAIN TO YOU AGAIN, UH, MY PASSION FOR THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND THE NEED FOR THEM TO HAVE AN AMENDMENT BROUGHT FORWARD.
I'D RATHER COME FROM YOU RATHER THAN US TAKE ACTION HERE.
SO, UM, I'M GONNA HAVE THAT DISCUSSION AGAIN WITH THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE AT FIVE O'CLOCK, UH, ALONG WITH SOME OTHER THINGS.
SO, UM, I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR, UH, INSIGHT ON IT.
I LOOK FORWARD TO COOPERATING AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, SIR.
WELL, I THINK WITH THAT ACTUALLY, BECAUSE ATER ADMINISTRATION AND BUDGET AND, AND MANAGEMENT, WHICH IS UNDER ADMINISTRATION, I THINK WE'RE PROBABLY THEN GOOD UNTIL, ALL RIGHT, BREAK TIME.
WE'RE, UH, WE GOT OUR MICS ON, SO LET'S, UH, IF EVERYONE WANNA TAKE THEIR SEATS, PLEASE, WE'LL GET STARTED.
WE'RE GONNA DO OUR SECOND HALF OF THE DAY, STARTING WITH THE COUNTY COUNCIL.
THE COUNTY COUNCIL SECTION OF THE BUDGET STARTS ON PAGE, UH, FOUR 80.
UM, YOU'LL SEE THE OVERALL INCREASE THERE OF, UM, UH, $1,500.
UM, THEN TURN TO PAGE, UM, UH, 4 84, YOU'LL SEE THE CO, UM, COUNTY COUNCIL OFFICE, UH, WITH A, UH, PRODUCTION OF, UM, OF $200,000 THERE.
THAT'S LARGELY DUE TO OUR CHANGE IN HEALTH BENEFIT CALCULATION.
27TH PAY THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY AUDITORS OFFICE DOWN 13,266.
ALSO DUE TO THE 27TH PAY BOARD OF ZONING, BOARD OF APPEALS AND REZONING.
UM, AN INCREASE OF $40,000 IS LARGELY DUE TO ADDITIONAL FUNDS, UH, FOR LEGAL SERVICES AND OTHER PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FOR THAT BOARD.
UH, AND THEN THE, UH, OFFICE OF THE COUNTY ATTORNEY, THE PEOPLE'S COUNCIL WITH A, UM, INCREASE OF 168,384.
THAT IS LARGELY DUE TO THE, UM, CREATION OF A NEW POSITION, A LEGISLATIVE DRAFTER.
AND WITH THAT, OH, AT HARTFORD TV, I'M SORRY, HARTFORD TV IS, THAT'S ALSO, YEAH, HARTFORD TV WITH AN INCREASE OF SEVEN, UH, $7,247.
UM, THAT'S KIND OF A, UH, A NET OUT OF, UM, SOME ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR, UM, THEIR, UH, REPURPOSING THEIR OFFICES OFFSET BY, UH, A CHANGE IN THE HEALTH BENEFIT CALCULATION THAT I WILL TURN IT OVER TO.
THANK YOU COUNSEL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE TODAY, AND WELCOME TO YOUR FIRST BUDGET WORK SESSIONS.
UM, WITH ME TODAY IS KELLY JERRA
[02:55:01]
WITH HARTFORD TV.CHARLIE KEARNEY, UH, COUNCIL ATTORNEY AND CRYSTAL BROOKS, UM, COUNTY AUDITOR.
UM, I'VE MET WITH YOU ALL INDIVIDUALLY.
WE DISCUSSED THIS BUDGET IN DEPTH.
UM, WE HAVE HAD SOME MINOR CHANGES ON SOME LINE ITEMS JUST DUE TO STILL ADJUSTING WITH THE NEW COUNCIL.
UM, OUR BIGGER REQUEST WERE IN THE CONTRACTUAL FOR LEGAL SERVICES, UM, WHICH WE HAVE FOUND MUCH NEEDED IN THE LAST COUPLE YEARS.
UM, OTHER THAN THAT, THE CHANGES HAVE BEEN VERY MINIMAL.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK KIM AND HER TEAM, UM, AS ALWAYS FOR WORKING WITH ME TO MAKE SURE I HAVE WHAT I NEED TO GET YOU GUYS THE ANSWERS YOU HAVE.
SO, OTHER THAN THAT, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR IF KELLY CRYSTAL OR CHARLIE WOULD LIKE TO OFFER ANYTHING, UM, WE ARE OPEN.
MR. KEARNEY MAY, UNLESS YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
OH, NO, WE DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR YOU.
UM, COUNSEL, ANY QUESTIONS FOR MS. DIXON? I, I DO HAVE ONE.
UM, AND I WAS TRYING TO LOOK THROUGH IT.
I, I DIDN'T LOOK THROUGH THIS PORTION.
UM, THE 1.5 FOR THE STAFF MEMBERS, A PERCENT RAISE IS THAT, ARE THEY INCLUDED IN THAT? SO AT THIS POINT RIGHT NOW, THAT THAT PART WAS NOT PUT INTO THE INDIVIDUAL INDIVIDUAL BUDGETS, WE HAVE IT IN PERSONNEL SERVICES, AND THEN WE'LL PROBABLY DO A, UH, A MID-YEAR, UM, A ADJUSTMENT AND ALL.
SO THIS, THIS ONLY HAS THE, UM, UM, UH, THE CHANGES IN SALARY FROM, FOR THE PRIOR YEAR 27.
BUT THE, THE COLA IS NOT, UM, IN THE INDIVIDUAL BUDGETS, BUT IT WOULD APPLY OKAY.
THANKS, MR. AND ANYONE ELSE? UH, BUDGET ADVISORS.
NO,
UH, ON YOUR EXTRA LEGAL, UH, SERVICES, WOULD THAT BE UNDER, UH, CHARLIE'S OR WOULD THAT BE UNDER PEOPLE'S COUNSEL? WELL, BECAUSE THEY'RE BOTH TOGETHER, THE POT IS UNDER ME IN PEOPLE'S COUNSEL AND COUNCIL ATTORNEY AND, UH, FOR THE COUNCIL ATTORNEY.
UNFORTUNATELY, GO OUT AND HIRE OUTSIDE COUNSEL, UH, ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS OVER THE LIST, UH, I GUESS YEAR, 18 MONTHS.
AND WE LOOK AT THIS AS A CONTINGENCY FUND, SORT OF LIKE INSURANCE.
AND THEN IT GOES BACK TO GENERAL FUND, WHICH CUSTOMARILY USED TO DO ALMOST IN ITS ENTIRETY OR, BUT LIKE INSURANCE, IF WE NEED IT, IT'S THERE.
AND THEN WE, WE CAN HIT THE GROUND RUNNING INSTEAD OF WAITING FOR THE SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION.
UH, SO I THINK THE ADDITION OF A LEGISLATIVE DRAFTING AID IS A GOOD ONE.
UH, ESPECIALLY SINCE IT, IT SEEMS AT LEAST IN THE NEAR FUTURE THERE MAY BE ADDITIONAL BILLS COMING FROM ACROSS THE STREET.
I'M JUST CURIOUS AS TO WHAT THE, PERHAPS FOR YOU, CHARLIE, THE QUALIFICATIONS OR BACKGROUND OR WHAT THAT CANDIDATE MIGHT LOOK LIKE.
WELL, I'D LOVE TO FIND SOMEBODY WHO'S FAMILIAR WITH RUNNING LEGISLATION.
I DUNNO HOW IT, IT'S KIND OF A NICHE YOU GET.
IT'S, UM, AND I THINK THAT THE PLANS ARE TO TRY TO START SMALL, MAYBE A FEW DAYS A WEEK WHEN WE FIND SOMEBODY WORKING PART-TIME.
HOPEFULLY, I, I CAN SIT THERE AND GIVE SOME FOUR, HAVE DIRECT LEGISLATION AND THEN EXPAND AS START WITH, CONTINUES TO EXPAND.
AND WE NEED MORE BILLS AND AMENDMENTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
BUT IF YOU KNOW ANYBODY WHO, WHO, WHO OR IF YOU'RE INTERESTED, BRAD.
BY THE WAY, CHARLIE, THEY ALSO, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS, THEY HAVE TO BE AN ATTORNEY.
THAT'S, THAT'S WHY WE PUT THE NUMBER IN THAT WE DID.
YOU INTERESTED? NOW
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO EVERY DAY.
THANK YOU FOR THE SERVICE THAT YOU PROVIDE, NOT ONLY TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, BUT TO THEIR A AND TO THE COUNTY AS A WHOLE.
OKAY? ALL OF OUR A HAVE A VERY CLOSE WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU, AND WE APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH.
AND I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR COMMITMENT, UH, TO THIS BUDGET.
CAUSE I KNOW HOW HARD YOU WORK.
ANYONE FOR MS. JERRA? I'D LIKE TO ASK HER ONE QUESTION.
HOLD ON JUST A MINUTE, MR. CA.
NO, I JUST WANT TO THANK MILA ALSO, UM, SECOND TERM, AND I KNOW FIRST TERM YOU WERE BIG HELP.
UM, ALTHOUGH I HAVE NOS OUT FOR A WHILE, BEING SICK AND YOU GUYS TOOK GOOD CARE OF ME AND,
[03:00:01]
UH, BOTH MYSELF AND AND CAITLIN WE'RE NEW.WE NEEDED A LOT OF, UH, A LOT OF HELP.
AND, UH, EVERYBODY WAS WILLING TO HELP.
AND, AND DEFINITELY YOU WERE ONE OF THOSE AND GREATLY APPRECIATE THAT AND COULD COME TO YOU ANYTIME.
SO, UH,
BUT, BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU, YOU KNOW, THAT BOTH CAITLIN AND I DO APPRECIATE ALL THE HELP AND, AND ONGOING NOW ROLES VP, IT'S, IT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, KEEPING ME STRAIGHT, I, I CERTAINLY DO APPRECIATE THAT.
AND I THINK IT'S FAIR TO SAY THAT WE APPRECIATE, UH, ALL OF THE STAFF FROM MR. KEARNEY TO MS. BROOKS BECAUSE WE NEVER KNOW WHEN WE'RE GONNA NEED MS. BROOKS HELP.
WELL, I ACTUALLY, UH, JUST ASKED MS. BROOKS FOR SOME HELP AND, AND DEFINITELY DO APPRECIATE THAT.
AND, UM, CERTAINLY IT'S NICE TO KNOW THAT SOMEBODY'S LOOKING AND WATCHING EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO.
AND IF YOU MAKE AN ERROR, THEY, UH, THEY'RE THERE TO HELP, CORRECT YOU.
AND, UH, JUST LOOK AT YOUR PHONE AND MAKE SURE YOU, UH, PAY ATTENTION.
I IF MY, UH, HONOR OF SERVING ON THAT BOARD FOR ABOUT 25 YEARS.
UH, UH, DID YOU EVER GET THE BUILDING EXPANDED JOKE? THAT'S AN INTERNAL JOKE.
YOU HAD TO KNOW ALL THE INNER WORKINGS OF THAT LITTLE PROBLEM.
ANYONE ELSE? LAST CALL? THANK YOU, MR. HEIDEL.
WE DON'T HAVE A BAR TO PAY US DUDES.
OKAY, WELL, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALL WEARING MULTIPLE HASSIS THEN HERE.
IF YOU'LL TURN TO PAGE 6 36 43 AND YOUR BUDGET BOOK, I'M GONNA FIND THE, FIND THE, UM, HUMANE SOCIETY.
THERE ARE A, UH, UH, DEPARTMENT APPROPRIATIONS TO, UH, TOWN, STATE, OTHER GOVERNMENT, UH, UPPER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES.
UM, YOU WILL SEE A, UH, BUDGET OF, UH, UH, 1,000,187, UH, THOUSAND.
THAT IS A, UH, $12,000, UM, INCREASE OVER THE, UH, UH, FISCAL YEAR 23, THAT SOCIETY.
PLEASURE TO SEE YOU HERE WITH BOB, OUR NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.
HE'S BEEN WITH US FOR COMING UP ON A YEAR.
WE HAVE A COUPLE BOARD MEMBERS WITH US AS WELL.
LISA BEAR FROM HARTFORD BANK AND CHUCK WELLINGTON.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
UM, BOB'S GOING TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE PRESENTATION, A LITTLE SLIDE SHOT HERE.
SO, UH, I'LL JUST TURN IT OVER TO BOB AND HE CAN JUST RUN THROUGH IT.
SO, UH, I'M GONNA JUST TAKE IT, UH, ASSUME THAT YOU'RE ALL FAMILIAR WITH THE HUMANE SOCIETY, OBVIOUSLY BEING AROUND, UH, AND I KNOW THAT I'M SO NEW, BUT I JUST, UH, SO I REALLY DON'T GO INTO ABOUT THE MISSION OF THAT.
BUT, UH, JUST WANNA POINT OUT A COUPLE THINGS ON HERE.
UH, SOME OF THE WORK THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING, UH, AND I PUT IN THE SLIDE SHOW HERE, BASICALLY THE PRESENTATION TO SEE, KIND SHOW YOU SOME NUMBERS OF WHERE THE ANIMALS ARE COMING FROM, HOW MANY WE SAW DURING 2022.
AND AS WE GOT CLOSER TO THE 25, 2600, UH, THE AMOUNT YOU CAN SEE, UH, IT'S BROKEN DOWN, UH, JUST WHERE, WHAT THEY ARE, WHERE THEY'VE COME FROM.
ONE THING I I WANT TO POINT OUT IS THE, UH, THE LIVE RELEASE RATE IS SOMETHING THAT WE, UH, WE CAN BE, ALL OF US CAN BE PROUD OF.
UH, WE, WE RUN AT A 98.2% COMPARED TO THE NATIONAL AVERAGE IS SOMEWHERE IN THE EIGHTIES NOW, WHICH IS VERY FORTUNATE.
BUT WE, WE HAVE BEEN IN THAT AREA.
WE, WE'VE SEEN IT INCREASE THE LAST OVER THE PAST YEAR.
AND BOB, CAN I GET YOU TO PULL THOSE MICS TO YOU, GEORGE, PULL THAT ONE TO ME PLEASE.
SO OVER THE PAST YEAR, WE'VE SEEN THAT INCREASE AND, UH, REMAIN IN THE UPPER 90 PERCENTILE, UH, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT'S WE ALL SHOULD STRIVE FOR.
YOU SEE THE INTAKE AND OUTCOME NUMBERS.
DID YOU GET INTO ANIMALS BY THE NUMBER ON THAT SLIDE? I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THAT IN 2021, ALSO, WHEN I ARRIVED HERE, I HAD A NICE CONVERSATION WITH, UH, THE ANIMAL CONTROL MANAGER.
WE TALKED ABOUT THINGS AND I HAD ASKED HIM WHERE WE COULD IMPROVE AND WHERE, YOU KNOW, WHAT HIS THOUGHTS WERE.
AND SO ONE OF THE, ONE OF THE ISSUES WHERE I FELT LIKE THE, THE OFFICERS WERE PICKING UP A LOT OF ANIMALS IN THE FIELD THAT WERE ACTUALLY OWNED, UH, THEY WERE BEING SURRENDERED TO THE OFFICERS IN THE FIELD.
AND SO WHEN I LOOKED AT THOSE NUMBERS, THAT'S WHY I'M POINTING IT OUT, THAT YOU CAN SEE THE, UH, THE
[03:05:01]
AMOUNT OF THE STRAY AND OWNER SURRENDER, HOW, HOW HIGH THAT WAS VERSUS WHERE WE WENT IN 2022.YOU KNOW, MY THEORY, MY BACKGROUND IS IF THE OFFICERS ARE OUT IN THE FIELD, THEY NEED TO DO THE JOB.
BUT I'D LIKE TO SEE THE OFFICERS BE ABLE TO FOCUS ON, UH, YOU KNOW, DOING SOME INVESTIGATIVE WORK WHEN IT COMES TO, UH, THE ANIMALS IN THE FIELD.
NOT HAVE TO JUST PICK THEM UP AND BRING THEM INTO THE SHELTER.
OF COURSE, THAT'S WHY WE'RE THERE.
BUT, UH, I FELT THAT WE COULD DO A BETTER JOB AND THAT THESE NUMBERS REFLECT THAT.
SO WE'VE CHANGED A LITTLE BIT ON HOW WE OPERATE AND REALLY FOCUSED ON WORKING WITH THE PEOPLE MORE AND GETTING THEM, UH, TO BE ABLE TO BRING THE PEOPLE TO THE PUBLIC THEMSELVES, TO THE SHELTER VERSUS PUTTING THAT WEIGHT ONTO THE OFFICE.
I'M HOPING TO ALLOW THEM MORE TIME TO BE MORE, YOU KNOW, TO BE ABLE TO INVESTIGATE THE ISSUES THAT ARE GOING ON OUT THERE IN THE FIELD.
AND SO WE'VE SEEN THAT NUMBER AND THAT NUMBER WENT IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
THE NEXT PAGE, YOU'LL SEE WHERE WE BROKE IT DOWN.
WHERE, WHERE DO THE ANIMALS COME FROM? THAT DOES A COUPLE THINGS.
WHAT IT DOES FOR US, UH, IS TO BE ABLE TO FOCUS ON THOSE AREAS.
AS WE DO MORE COMMUNITY OUTREACH.
IT ALLOWS US TO SAY THAT THE ED, EDGEWOOD, ABERDEEN, BELLAIRE, JOPPA, AND THESE AREAS ARE WHERE WE NEED TO FOCUS.
THIS IS WHERE WE'RE SEEING THE, THE NUMBER OF ANIMALS COMING IN.
AND THEN IT, IT, UH, STRATEGICALLY MAKES US THINK, WHAT CAN WE DO TO PROVIDE SERVICES IN THOSE AREAS? AND WE'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE AS WE GET THROUGH THAT.
UH, ON THE SUR ON THE MEDICAL SIDE OF THINGS, WE, WE, UH, IT'S HAPPY TO REPORT THAT WE DID OVER JUST OVER A THOUSAND SURGERIES LAST YEAR.
BUT I THINK THE THING TO, TO FOCUS ON THERE IS THAT I EXPECT ONE OF OUR GOALS IS TO REACH 2000 SURGERIES THIS YEAR.
WE HAVE A FULL MEDICAL, UH, CLINIC.
WE HAVE A FULL-TIME VETERINARIAN WITH, UH, YOU KNOW, EXPERIENCED TECHS ON STAFF.
AND WE ARE DOING A LOT MORE, NOT ONLY ARE WE DOING THE SURGERIES IN-HOUSE ON THE ANIMALS THAT ARE BEING ADOPTED, OBVIOUSLY WE'RE ALSO ABLE TO SPECIALIZE AND DO SOME OTHER SPECIAL SURGERIES.
AND ALSO WE ARE HELPING THE LOCAL RESCUE GROUP, OTHER 5 0 1
THEY USED, BEFORE WE STARTED DOING THIS, THEY WERE DRIVING UP TO AN HOUR AWAY TO BE ABLE TO GET THESE SERVICES AT A REDUCED COST.
UH, AND YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO DO THAT THROUGH A FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION IS JUST, IT'S NOT WITHIN THEIR, THEIR REACH.
SO I'M HAPPY THAT WE'RE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT FOR THEM AS WELL.
UH, AND THEN OF COURSE, THE NEXT PAGE YOU'LL SEE JUST A COUPLE STORIES BEHIND THE ANIMALS.
UH, I'LL JUST POINT OUT RHETT, THE, UH, WAS A CARDIAC, UH, DOG NEEDED SURGERY.
SO WE'RE ABLE TO GET THAT FORM.
WE ARE DEFINITELY STRIVING TO DO MORE AND MORE FOR THE ANIMALS TO COME INTO OUR CARE.
YOU KNOW, SIMPLY EUTHANIZING, YOU KNOW, EUTHANIZING, THAT'S NOT THE ANSWER.
AND WE'RE SET UP TO DO MORE OF THAT, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO MORE OF THAT.
COUPLE LITTLE, UH, JUST UNITING PETS AND PEOPLE, OBVIOUSLY THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT WE DO.
UH, IT'S A COUPLE THINGS WHERE PEOPLE HAVE RESPONDED.
WE, WE DO REACH THE PEOPLE AND WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
WHERE YOU SEE THE PAGE WHERE IT SAYS 17% INCREASE, THAT'S WHAT WE SAW.
THIS IS SOMETHING WE SAW NATIONALLY, UH, WITH ANIMAL SHELTERS.
UH, YOU CAN SEE IT EVERYWHERE IN THE NEWS.
YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE TO BE IN THIS FIELD.
BUT COMING OFF THE PANDEMIC, UH, A LOT OF ANIMALS HAVE BEEN RETURNED TO SHELTERS AND WE DID SEE A 17% INCREASE, UH, LESS THAN SOME.
UH, BUT, BUT WE STILL HAVE TO REACT TO THAT.
I PUT SOME NUMBERS IN THERE JUST SO YOU CAN SEE THAT, UH, WHAT WE ARE RECEIVING, UH, NOT ONLY DO I BELIEVE IT'S FAIR, THE NUMBERS JUSTIFY IT, UH, FOR THE, THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING THAT WE DO RECEIVE FROM THE COUNTY FOR THE CONTRACT TO HOUSE THE ANIMALS FROM ANIMAL CONTROL AND TO GET THEM THROUGH THE STRAIGHT PROCESS AND GET 'EM READY TO BE ADOPTED, AND ALSO PROVIDE LIFE, UH, LIFESAVING TREATMENT IF, IF NEEDED.
UH, SO I'M HAPPY TO SAY, AND, AND WE ARE HAPPY WITH WHAT WE DO RECEIVE.
UH, OUR GOALS FOR 2023, I'VE ALREADY SAID WE'RE GONNA INCREASE SURGERY.
WE, WE WE'RE ALREADY DOING THAT.
A BIG PUSH IS TO REDUCE THE BARRIERS FOR ADOPTION.
ONE OF, ONE OF THE BARRIERS WE SAW, UH, AND WE CONTINUE TO SEE WAS THE DENTALS AND ANIMALS.
I'M HAPPY TO SAY THAT WE ARE DOING DENTAL WORK NOW.
UH, LUCKILY, UH, THANKS TO SOME DONORS.
WE HAVE A DENTAL X-RAY MACHINE AND DENTAL EQUIPMENT.
AND WE ARE, WE ARE ACTIVELY DOING THAT CUZ THERE'S NOTHING WORSE THAN TRYING TO, UM, PEOPLE COME IN AND THEY MEET, THEY FALL IN LOVE IN, IN A SECOND.
AND THEN, YOU KNOW, WE END UP PUTTING OUT ANIMALS WITH TEETH THAT, YOU KNOW, AND, AND FORTUNATE THEM INCUR THAT CHART.
SO, SO WE, WE DEFINITELY ARE REDUCING THAT BARRIER.
AND, UH, I DON'T WANT TO PASS THE COST ON THE PEOPLE.
WE WANT THEM TO BE HAPPY WHEN THEY LEAVE.
UH, IF YOU, IF YOU HAVEN'T HEARD, WE ARE STARTING VACCINE CLINICS ALONG, OBVIOUSLY THE COUNTY DOES THE RABIES CLINIC, UH, AND WE WILL BE OUT THE OTHER THREE QUARTERS OF THE YEAR.
SO HUMANE SOCIETY WILL BE DOING RABIES QUARTER MAGAZINES, OFFERING MICROCHIPS.
OUR FIRST ONE WILL BE AUGUST FIT AND, AND WHITEFORD AT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
SO WE'RE, AGAIN, THAT'S ANOTHER PART OF OUR OUTREACH AND WHAT WE, WE, WE, IT IS WITHIN OUR MISSION AND WE WANT TO DO MORE FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND THAT'S A BIG GOAL FOR US IN THE FUTURE.
[03:10:01]
TO CARE FOR PEOPLE, PEOPLE AND THEIR PETS? WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH THE PETS FOREVER.WE HAVE TO REMEMBER ABOUT THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE PETS, AND THAT'S WHERE WE'RE GOING.
SO, UH, I KNOW THAT'S, UH, FAST AND FURIOUS THERE, BUT, UH, IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER WHATEVER I CAN.
AND AGAIN, LIKE I SAID, I PUT THE NUMBERS IN THERE JUST TO SHOW THAT THIS IS A FAIR AND ACCURATE, UH, ACCOUNT FOR WHAT WE'RE RECEIVED.
THANK YOU, BOB, FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
UH, HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN THERE NOW? 10 MONTHS, SIR.
YOU MENTIONED SOMETHING ABOUT CHIPS AND I THINK IF I REMEMBER FROM LAST YEAR, ISN'T THERE A FREE WEBSITE THAT PEOPLE CAN GO TO, TO, UH, SIGN UP FOR IF THEIR PET HAS A, A CHIP SO THAT YOU CAN MONITOR IT? RIGHT? SO THERE, THERE'S MULTIPLE WEBSITES OUT THERE WHERE YOU CAN GET CHIPS, YOU CAN REGISTER IF, IF THE ANIMAL'S LOST, THEY CAN BE SCANNED AND YOU CAN GO TO THE WEBSITE.
I THINK THAT'S MAYBE WHAT YOU'RE, WHAT YOU'RE ASKING.
UH, YEAH, I MEAN IT'S, IT'S, WE HAVE SEEN SO MANY ANIMALS BE RETURNED TO THEIR OWNERS THROUGH MICROCHIPPING, BUT ALSO WITH THE OFFICERS, WE RETURN IN THE FIELD.
AND THAT'S A, THAT IS A PRIORITY FOR ALL OF US BECAUSE IF WE CAN KEEP THE ANIMAL FROM COMING INTO THE SYSTEM MUCH BETTER OFF.
SO, SO OFFICERS HAVE THAT ABILITY AND WE SEE THAT HELPING, UH, ON THE NUMBER OF ANIMALS THAT ARE RETURNED TO OWNER.
UM, I KNOW SOME OF THE COMPANIES CHARGE, BUT I THOUGHT THE HUMANE SOCIETY HAD AN APP THAT DIDN'T CHARGE AND SOMEBODY COULD REGISTER THEIR CHIP TO THAT.
WELL, WHAT, WHAT WE OFFER IS THAT THEY COME THROUGH US.
WE'LL, DO WE HAVE CHIP CLINICS THAT ARE FREE OF CHARGE? WHEN THE ANIMAL COMES IN, WE ASK THEM IF THEY WOULD, YOU KNOW, CAUSE WE CAN'T DO IT ON OUR OWN.
WE ASK THEM IF THEY WOULD LIKE A MICROCHIP AND WE PROVIDE THAT FOR 'EM.
AND WHAT IF A DOG ALREADY HAS A MICROCHIP THOUGH, SO THEN THEY CAN SCAN.
SO SOMEBODY HAS, THEY CAN TAKE THE DOG.
IF A DOG OR CAT IS LOST, THEY CAN GO TO A VET THAT HAS A SCANNER, SHELTER, ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER.
THERE'S MANY PLACES THAT HAVE THAT ABILITY AND ONCE THEY DO THAT, THEY CAN RUN THE CHIP AND THEN YOU CAN GO TO A, A WEBSITE OR ONE OF US NORMALLY DO IT.
AND WE CAN FIND THE OWNER THROUGH THAT PROCESS.
UH, BOB, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
UM, AND I JUST, IT'S NOT A QUESTION, IT IS JUST MORE OF AN OBSERVATION.
I JUST, I WENT OUT TO YOUR FACILITY THERE DURING THAT OPEN HOUSE YES.
AND IT'S AN OPPRESSIVE FACILITY AND I JUST WANT TO APPLAUD YOU ON THE 90, OVER A 98% RETURN RATE.
UM, I KNOW THAT'S NOT AN EASY TASK AND THE, UH, DIFFERENT MEASURES THAT YOU'RE TAKING TO MAKE SURE THESE ANIMALS ARE ADOPTED, LIKE THE, THE DENTAL WORK BEFORE SOMEONE COMES IN THERE AND TRIES TO DENTAL OR WHETHER IT'S BEHAVIORAL ISSUES.
YOU GUYS ARE TRYING TO TRAIN THOSE ANIMALS TO CORRECT THAT BEFORE SOMEONE, UH, DUMPS THAT.
YEAH, YOU'RE YOU'RE RIGHT SIR.
THERE'S A LOT THAT GOES INTO, UH, YOU KNOW, FROM THE TIME AN ANIMAL COMES INTO THE ORGANIZATION UNTIL IT'S, IT'S PLACED IN A FOREVER HOME.
THERE'S SO MANY MOVING PARTS, MEDICAL BEHAVIOR, THINGS YOU JUST MENTIONED.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT WE, YOU KNOW, WE'D BE PROACTIVE AND, AND DO THE RIGHT THING.
CUZ AGAIN, WE'RE PUTTING THESE ANIMALS INTO PEOPLE'S HOMES.
UM, I JUST WANNA THANK YOU ABOUT, UH, WHAT YOU'RE FAIRLY NEW THERE, BUT WHEN I WAS ON THE COUNCIL BEFORE, UH, THE OLD, UH, A LOT OF YOU REMEMBER THE OLD, UM, HUMAN HUMANE SOCIETY.
IT WAS, UH, PATHETIC WOULD BE A, UH, WOULD BE A, UM, A COMPLIMENT.
IT WAS REALLY EMPATHETIC FACILITY.
WE WERE ABLE TO RAISE THE MONEY, UH, TO BUILD A NEW, UM, HUMANE SOCIETY.
AND, UH, I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING THERE, PUTTING THE SHOVEL ON THE GROUND WHEN THEY BROKE GROUND TO BUILD A NEW ONE.
SO I'VE BEEN UP THERE RECENTLY A COUPLE OF TIMES MYSELF AND, UM, IT'S CERTAINLY IMPRESSIVE OVER THE YEARS WHAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO THERE.
SO I'M PROUD OF WHAT WE ARE ABLE TO DO, AND I'M PROUD OF THE JOB YOU GUYS ARE DOING.
YEAH, I, I I WILL SAY, I'LL ADD THIS.
THE, UH, THE FACILITY IS VERY NICE.
UH, I'VE WORKED, I'VE, YOU KNOW, WORKED AROUND THE COUNTRIES.
I'VE BEEN IN THIS FIELD SINCE 2006, AND I'VE SEEN A LOT OF FACILITIES THAT ARE NOWHERE NEAR THIS AND, AND ABSOLUTELY NEED, NEED THIS TYPE OF FACILITY.
SO THE COUNTY, YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE WE'RE ALL FORTUNATE THAT WE HAVE SUCH A NICE FACILITY TO WORK WITH.
UM, AGAIN, THANK YOU GUYS FOR WHAT YOU DO.
LOOKING AT, UM, THE ANIMALS BROUGHT BY ANIMAL CONTROL, WHAT DO YOU THINK DRIVES THE, THE RATE THAT ANIMALS ARE BROUGHT IN FROM PLACES LIKE EDGEWOOD AND ABERDEEN BEING SO MUCH HIGHER? AND IS THERE ANYTHING THAT LIKE, UH, LEGISLATIVELY COULD BE DONE OR ANYTHING TO SUPPORT LOWERING THAT NUMBER TO MAKE IT SO THAT, YOU KNOW, ANIMALS AREN'T, YOU KNOW, EXCESSIVELY LEAVING HOMES, LEAVING PROPERTIES AND, AND ENDING UP IN ANIMAL CONTROL TO BE BROUGHT TO YOU ALL? CAUSE I MEAN, THAT MAKES WHAT YOU DO HARDER, RIGHT? AND, AND THAT, THAT'S WHY WE LOOK AT THOSE AREAS AND WHY I WANTED TO PROVIDE THOSE NUMBERS SO WE CAN SEE AND GET AN IDEA.
OBVIOUSLY ONE, WHERE ARE THEY COMING FROM AND HOW CAN WE CHANGE THINGS? WHAT'S THE NEED? AND USUALLY, YOU KNOW, IN THOSE, IN THOSE AREAS THAT
[03:15:01]
I, THAT I SEE NOT JUST HERE, BUT OTHER PLACES I'VE BEEN, WE NEED TO FOCUS ON THOSE AREAS.IT CAN BE, THERE'S LOTS OF REASONS.
THERE'S SO MANY REASONS, BUT THE BIG, THE BIG THING IS BE, IS PEOPLE DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO CARE.
AND SO THEY DON'T ALWAYS GET MICROCHIPS, THEY DON'T ALWAYS GET RAB VACCINES.
THEY DON'T GET, UH, YOU KNOW, TAGS AND INFORMATION PUT ON THEIR ANIMALS.
AND THEN, YOU KNOW, THEY, UH, THEY, THEY GET LOST AND, YOU KNOW, BUT SO THE IDEA OF TARGETING THOSE AREAS ARE SO THAT WE CAN IN, YOU KNOW, INFLUX THOSE AREAS WITH INFORMATION MM-HMM.
UH, YOU KNOW, IF YOU, YOU TALK, I, I OBVIOUSLY TALK WITH THE OFFICERS AND, AND WE TALK ABOUT THOSE AREAS RARELY.
AND, YOU KNOW, UH, WE BELIEVE THAT IF WE ARE TO GET INTO THOSE AREAS, IT'LL TAKE THE OFFICERS AND OURSELVES TO FLOOD THEM WITH THE RIGHT INFORMATION TO GET THEM THE SERVICES THAT THEY NEED, BUT THEN ALSO GET THEM AT A LOW COST.
AND I HOPE THAT, UM, AND WE WILL, I THINK IN THE FUTURE, BE ABLE TO PROVIDE LOW COST, UH, A NEUTER AND WELLNESS TO, YOU KNOW, THAT POPULATION.
AND, UH, BUT, BUT BY, BY GIVING THEM THE INFORMATION, YOU KNOW, THEY'LL BE ABLE TO GET THOSE SERVICES.
AND THEN I THINK FOR SURE, AND I HAVE SEEN IN OTHER PLACES, PARTS OF THE COUNTRY WHO REDUCE THOSE NUMBERS OF ANIMALS COMING IN.
BUT A BIG PART IS OVERPOPULATION IN THOSE SPECIFIC AREAS, YOU KNOW? UH, AND, AND AGAIN, IT JUST, YOU KNOW, WE LOOK AT THE POPULATION AND IT'S MORE CONCENTRATED THERE, AND SO WE'RE GONNA SEE MORE OF THAT.
BUT, SO THOSE NUMBERS THAT WE'VE SEEN DEFINITELY CORRELATE WITH WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO.
WE, WE SEE THE NEED AND WE KNOW IT'S RELATED TO THE LACK OF SERVICES.
ANYONE ELSE? CITIZENS, ANYONE? THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
FELDER, IT'S ALWAYS A PLEASURE.
I'LL JUST GO OVER THEIR BUDGETS WHILE THEY, THEY GET SEATED.
THE, UH, COMMUNITY COLLEGE BUDGET, UH, OPERATING BUDGET IS ON PAGE, UM, 550.
UH, YOU'LL SEE A, UH, EXECUTIVE PROPOSED AMOUNT OF 19,881,000 8 0 6, THAT IS, UH, FLAT FROM THE PRIOR YEAR.
AND THEN ALSO IN YOUR CAPITAL BOOK ON PAGE ONE 50 WILL BE THE, UH, CHESAPEAKE WELCOME CENTER.
UM, THAT IS A PROJECT WITH A, UH, TOTAL PRICE TAG OF 59.5 MILLION, UM, BEING PHASED IN OVER THREE YEARS WITH FISCAL YEAR 24, THIS BUDGET YEAR BEING THE MIDDLE OF THOSE THREE.
UH, IN THAT YEAR, THERE IS, UM, UH, 10.8 MILLION WORTH OF COUNTY BONDS AND, UH, 5.9 MILLION OF, UH, STATE BONDS.
WELL, THANK YOU ALL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE.
I'M TERESA FELLER AS THE PRESIDENT OF HARFORD COMMUNITY COLLEGE, AND I HAVE KARINA JACKSON WITH ME.
SHE'S THE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE.
SO YOU HAVE OUR, UH, BUDGET, UH, IF YOU HAVE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS, THAT'S WHY I HAVE MY FINANCE PERSON WITH ME,
BUT I WILL TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY, UM, AS I ALWAYS DO, TO TALK ABOUT THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING AT THE COLLEGE.
AND, UM, I KNOW SOME OF YOU ARE NEWER, UH, TO THE COUNCIL AND MAY NOT BE AS AWARE OF THE WORK THAT WE DO AS, AS, UH, PRESIDENT VINCENTI IS.
SO, UM, YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU A PR UH, JUST A BRIEF PRESENTATION.
UH, STARTING OFF JUST TALKING ABOUT HARTFORD COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
WE SEE OURSELVES AS AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF, UH, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FROM A WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT STANDPOINT.
SO A LOT OF THE WORK THAT WE DO, OBVIOUSLY IS AROUND EDUCATION, BUT IT'S ALSO ON TRAINING AND SKILL DEVELOPMENT.
SO THE COLLEGE WALL, YOU MIGHT THINK ABOUT THE TRADITIONAL SENSE OF COLLEGE, UH, PURSUING A COLLEGE DEGREE.
WE ARE SO MUCH MORE THAN THAT.
WE, UH, OFFER SKILLS TRADE, UM, TRAINING.
SO WE HAVE AN ELECTRICAL APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM ON OUR CAMPUS.
WE HAVE HVAC APPRENTICESHIP, UH, PROGRAM DOWN AT THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB, WHICH I'LL TALK MORE ABOUT.
UM, WE ARE TEACHING INDIVIDUALS, UH, CONSTRUCTION SKILLS.
SO WE ARE DOING ALL OF THAT WORK.
PLUS WE'RE DOING ASSOCIATES DEGREES WHERE INDIVIDUALS CAN GET AN EDUCATION AND GO DIRECTLY INTO THE WORKFORCE.
UM, THEY'RE ALSO, UH, MANY OF OUR STUDENTS ARE IN THE TRANSFER TRACK, SO THEY ARE COMING TO GET THE FIRST TWO YEARS OF A BACHELOR'S DEGREE AND BEYOND.
SO, UH, VERY OFTEN, I, UH, YOU KNOW, I HEAR PEOPLE SAY THAT COLLEGE ISN'T FOR EVERYONE.
UM, I BELIEVE HARTFORD COMMUNITY COLLEGE HAS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE.
[03:20:01]
EVERYONE NEEDS SOME DEGREE OF EDUCATION OR TRAINING BEYOND HIGH SCHOOL IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A LIVABLE WAGE IN SUPPORTIVE FAMILY.SO THAT'S THE, UH, MAJOR CONTRIBUTION, UH, THAT THE COLLEGE BRINGS TO THIS COUNTY IS DEVELOPING A TRAINED WORKFORCE.
WHEN WE THINK ABOUT OUR FUNDING, OUR GOAL IS ALWAYS TO KEEP OUR TUITION AFFORDABLE.
SO WE SEEK TO HAVE A THIRD OF THE TUITION COME FROM THE COUNTY, A THIRD FROM THE STATE, AND A THIRD FROM STUDENT TUITION.
THE COUNTY HAS ALWAYS DONE THEIR PART, THE STATE NOT SO MUCH.
AND SO WHEN THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN, WHEN THE STATE DOESN'T COME THROUGH, THEN UM, THE TUITION, UM, HAS TO BE A BIT HIGHER.
WE WORK VERY HARD TO KEEP TUITION AFFORDABLE.
SO WHEN, UM, WHEN WE REACH THAT A THIRD, A THIRD, A THIRD, IT KEEPS, UH, IT HELPS US KEEP TUITION AFFORDABLE.
SO, UH, WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL FOR CONTINUED SUPPORT, UH, FROM THE COUNTY.
AND, UH, WE HOPE AGAIN THAT EVERYONE RECOGNIZES THE VALUE THAT WE BRING TO THIS COUNTY.
THE NEXT PAGE, JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF, UH, WHO ARE OUR STUDENTS, YOU CAN SEE THE DEMOGRAPHIC DATA.
UM, WE SERVE, UH, OVER 12,000 STUDENTS IN A GIVEN YEAR IN BOTH OUR CREDIT AND OUR NON-CREDIT WORKFORCE, UH, UH, AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION PROGRAMS. OUR AVERAGE AGE ON THE, FOR OUR CREDIT STUDENTS IS, UH, A LITTLE OVER 24.
UM, AND IT'S SKEWING A LITTLE BIT YOUNGER EVEN NOW, BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MANY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN OUR DUAL ENROLLMENT PROGRAM, WHICH IS A GOOD THING.
UM, WE, MOST OF OUR STUDENTS, AS YOU CAN SEE COME FROM IN COUNTY, YOU CAN SEE OUR ETHNICITY, WHICH, WHICH IS VERY CLOSE TO THE DEMOGRAPHIC OF THE COUNTY.
SO, UH, YOU CAN SEE THAT THERE'S, THERE'S A CORRELATION THERE, AND MOST ALL OF OUR STUDENTS ARE FROM IN THE COUNTY.
SO WE ARE EDUCATING INDIVIDUALS IN THE COUNTY.
THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS IS COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS TEND TO GET THEIR EDUCATION AND STAY IN THE COUNTY, LIVE IN THE COUNTY, WORK IN THE COUNTY.
AND, UH, AGAIN, THAT'S A ANOTHER ADVANTAGE OF BEING A, A COMMUNITY, UH, OF HAVING STUDENTS ATTEND A COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
THEY TEND TO STAY IN THE COUNTY.
UM, JUST FOR YOUR INFORMATION, IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN WHAT ARE OUR STUDENTS DOING, AGAIN, ON THE CREDIT SIDE, THE TRADITIONAL CREDIT SIDE OF THE HOUSE, UM, YOU SEE A BIG BLOCK OF STUDENTS THERE THAT SAYS UNDECLARED.
MANY OF THOSE ARE OUR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.
WE DO NOT ASK THEM TO DECLARE A MAJOR WHEN THEY TAKE COURSES.
SO THAT'S WHY YOU SEE A, A LOT OF STUDENTS IN THAT UNDECLARED BLOCK.
WE ALSO HAVE A NUMBER OF STUDENTS THAT COME OVER THE SUMMER.
THEY MAY BE GOING TO TOW CENTER, UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, AND THEY TAKE COURSES WITH US OVER THE SUMMER, UM, AS WHAT WE CALL VISITING STUDENTS, BECAUSE IT'S SO MUCH MORE ECONOMICAL TO TAKE ENGLISH ONE WITH US, UH, THAN AT A FOUR YEAR, UH, INSTITUTION.
SO YOU SEE THAT BLOCK, BUT NURSING IS ONE OF OUR MOST POPULAR PROGRAMS, AND SO ALL OF YOU, I'M SURE ARE AWARE OF THE NURSING SHORTAGE.
WE ARE DOING OUR PART TO HELP FILL THAT SHORTAGE.
WE'RE WORKING VERY CLOSELY, UH, WITH, UH, UPPER CHESAPEAKE.
UM, THEY ARE, UH, ASSISTING US WITH PROVIDING CLINICAL, UH, FACULTY THAT HELP US FILL THAT SHORTAGE AND INCREASE OUR OUTPUT OF NURSES.
SO THAT'S A VERY POPULAR PROGRAM.
AND THEN THE NEXT BIGGEST BLOCK IS TRANSFER.
SO MANY OF OUR STUDENTS COME OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL, SPEND THE FIRST TWO YEARS WITH US, AND THEN TRANSFER ON TO THEIR TRANSFER INSTITUTION OF CHOICE.
SO THAT IS STILL A VERY BIG FOCUS FOR THE COLLEGE.
AND THEN YOU SEE SOME OTHER PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE AS WELL THAT ARE VERY POPULAR FROM A TUITION STANDPOINT.
UM, ON THE NEXT PAGE, YOU CAN SAY, UH, WE WORK VERY HARD TO ENSURE THAT, UM, WE ENSURE ACCESS FOR ALL STUDENTS BY KEEPING OUR TUITION AFFORDABLE.
AND THE RATE YOU SEE FOR RESIDENT HARTFORD COUNTY RESIDENTS IS $138 PER CREDIT HOUR.
UM, AGAIN, WE, WE, UH, APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT THAT WE GET FROM THE COUNTY.
AND SO WE, FOR COUNTY RESIDENTS, IF PARTICULAR, KEEP OUR TUITION LOW AND, UM, IT'S NOT AN INDICATION OF LESS VALUE.
UH, IT IS AN EFFORT TO KEEP THE TUITION AFFORDABLE WHILE ALSO OFFERING HIGH VALUE PROGRAMS THAT ARE RELEVANT AND MEET THE NEEDS OF THE COUNTY FROM A WORKFORCE, UH, STANDPOINT.
ON THE NEXT PAGE, FROM AN EMPLOYMENT STANDPOINT, WE EMPLOY OVER 1400 STUDENTS.
SO WE ARE ONE OF THE MAJOR EMPLOYERS FOR THE COUNTY AS WELL.
AND YOU CAN SEE THE BREAKDOWN ABOUT HALF OF THOSE ARE FACULTY, THEY ARE TEACHING, THEY ARE IN THE CLASSROOM, UH, AND THEN ANOTHER 600 AND OR SO STAFF, AND A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THOSE, UH, POSITIONS ARE ADMINISTRATIVE, UH, PERSONNEL.
AND THEN JUST LOOKING AT THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA, I BELIEVE I'VE
[03:25:01]
TALKED TO COUNSEL IN THE PAST ABOUT OUR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA EVERY YEAR, THE, THE MARYLAND, UH, COMMUNITY COLLEGES WORKED TOGETHER ON PRESENTING A UNIFIED LEGISLATIVE AGENDA, AND WE DID THAT THIS YEAR AS WELL.THE FIRST FIVE ITEMS THERE WERE A PART OF THIS YEAR'S, UH, AGREED UPON LEGISLATIVE AGENDA, THE OPERATING REQUEST.
UM, WE ALWAYS ADVOCATE FOR FULL FUNDING OF THE CA FORMULA, WHICH IS THE FORMULA USED TO FUND COMMUNITY COLLEGES.
THIS IS ONLY THE SECOND YEAR AND 20 PLUS YEARS THAT WE WERE FULLY FUNDED BY THE STATE.
AGAIN, THAT HELPS US KEEP OUR TUITION DOWN.
SO WE'RE VERY HAPPY THAT THIS YEAR, AGAIN, WE WERE FULLY FUNDED, UH, BY THE STATE.
UM, CAPITAL REQUESTS EVERY, UH, UH, COLLEGE, UH, LOOKS TO THE STATE FOR CAPITAL FUNDING.
YOU MENTIONED OUR CHESAPEAKE PROJECT.
UH, HALF OF THAT COMES FROM THE STATE.
THE OTHER HALF HAS TO BE MATCHED, AND THE COUNTY, UH, HAS AGREED TO MATCH THOSE FUNDS FOR US SO THAT WE CAN HAVE THAT PROJECT MOVE FORWARD.
THE THIRD ITEM WAS THE, UH, COMMUNITY COLLEGE UNIVERSAL PROMISE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM THAT HAS BEEN IN PLACE FOR MANY YEARS, BUT MUCH OF THAT FUNDING DID NOT GET SPENT BECAUSE IT WAS, UH, HELD UP IN, UH, IN WITH MPEC, WITH, UM, THE MARYLAND HIGHER EDUCATION, UH, COUNCIL BECAUSE, UH, OF SOME OF THE RULES AND, UH, BUREAUCRACY IN TRYING TO ACCESS THOSE DOLLARS.
WE WERE SUCCESSFUL IN GETTING THAT, UH, DECENTRALIZED SO THE SCHOOLS GET THE FUNDING DIRECTLY AND GET TO DISTRIBUTE THOSE FUNDS.
SO THAT WAS A HUGE WIN FOR US.
WE BELIEVE MORE STUDENTS WILL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THOSE STATE SCHOLARSHIP DOLLARS BECAUSE IT'S NOW DECENTRALIZED.
SO WE WERE VERY GRATEFUL FOR THAT.
THE NEXT COUPLE OF, OF, UH, ITEMS, UH, WERE, WERE NOT, WE WERE NOT SUCCESSFUL THIS YEAR, SO WE WILL CARRY THOSE INTO NEXT YEAR.
THAT WAS A FACILITIES RENEWAL GRANT WHERE WE WERE SEEKING ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THE COLLEGES INSTEAD OF EVERY OTHER YEAR RECEIVING FUNDING.
WE WERE HOPING THAT WE WOULD RECEIVE FUNDING FOR DEFERRED MAINTENANCE EVERY YEAR.
AND THEN I'VE TALKED ABOUT UNFUNDED MANDATES, UH, FOR TUITION WAIVERS.
AND, UH, SO WE CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR STATE FUNDING TO HELP FUND THOSE, THOSE TUITION WAIVERS.
AND THEN LASTLY, THIS ONE IS UNIQUE TO HARTFORD COUNTY.
THIS IS, UH, A, AN AGENDA ITEM WHERE I AM SEEKING SUPPORT TO DEVELOP A WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT CENTER.
AGAIN, UM, WE ARE DOING GREAT WORK AT THE LEADING EDGE TRAINING CENTER AT, UH, THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB.
AND AGAIN, I'LL TALK SOME MORE ABOUT THAT ON THE NEXT PAGE.
IN FACT, I'LL, I'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT.
PHASE ONE OF A WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, UH, PRIORITY IS THAT WE ARE WORKING THERE TO PROVIDE, LIKE I SAID, CONSTRUCTION SKILLS.
UH, WE ARE DOING SOME, UH, WORKAROUND, TRANSPORTATION AND LOGISTICS MANUFACTURING.
PHASE TWO IS THAT SECOND LEVEL OF TRAINING AROUND, UM, CYBERSECURITY AND ROBOTICS AND COMPUTING.
AND, UH, WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE A WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT CENTER.
MANY COUNTIES HAVE THEM THAT ARE DEDICATED, AGAIN, TO PROVIDING A CENTRALIZED PLACE TO PROVIDE WORKFORCE TRAINING.
AND SO I AM LOOKING FOR COUNTY SUPPORT.
I'M HOPING FOR STATE SUPPORT, AND I'M EVEN LOOKING FOR FEDERAL IN EARMARK THAT MIGHT HELP US DEVELOP, UH, SUCH A CENTER.
UM, THAT'S JUST FOR YOUR INFORMATION.
AND AGAIN, LOOKING MORE CLOSELY AT THE LEADING EDGE TRAINING CENTER.
I WON'T TALK ABOUT THIS MUCH MORE, BUT I'VE TALKED ABOUT THE PROGRAMS, CONSTRUCTION, MANUFACTURING, LOGISTICS, AND, UH, WE VISITED, UH, THE CENTER YESTERDAY AND, AND WE'RE KNOCKING DOWN WALLS THERE TO MAKE MORE ROOM
UM, THE, AND THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB HAS BEEN A GREAT PARTNER WITH US BECAUSE THEY UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT WORK, BUT WE ARE RUNNING OUT SPACE TO DELIVER THAT KIND OF TRAINING.
UM, YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE, THE RESULTS OF THAT WORK.
WE'VE TRAINED, UH, OVER CLOSE TO 200, UH, INDIVIDUALS, AND THESE ARE INDIVIDUALS THAT WERE UNDEREMPLOYED OR UNEMPLOYED, GETTING THEM THOSE BASIC SKILLS.
AND THEN WE, WE HOPE TO CONTINUE TO BUILD ON THOSE SKILLS TO HELP THEM BECOME MORE AND MORE EMPLOYABLE AND UPWARDLY MOBILE, UH, AND AGAIN, ABLE TO EARN A LIVING WAGE TO SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES.
UM, AND THEN YOU CAN SEE, UH, A LARGE PART OF WHAT WE DO IS WE PARTNER WITH EMPLOYERS.
SO HERE'S A LIST OF EMPLOYERS THAT ARE HIRING OUR INDIVIDUALS.
MANY OF THEM HAVE JOB OFFERS BEFORE THEY EVEN GET THROUGH WITH OUR TRAINING, BECAUSE THESE ARE IN DEMAND, UH, AREAS WHERE THEY NEED A WORKFORCE.
AND SO WE ARE, WE ARE SUPPLYING THAT WORKFORCE FOR THEM.
THESE ARE SHORT TERM CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS THAT YOU CAN GET IN, GET TRAINING, AND START WORKING IMMEDIATELY.
AND THEN YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE OTHER, WE'VE JUST STARTED A BRICK MASONRY PROGRAM, BRAND NEW.
WE ADDED THAT TO THE LIST OF FORKLIFT AND CONSTRUCTION AND HYDRAULICS
[03:30:01]
AND PNEUMATICS.WE HAVE, UH, HEAVY EQUIPMENT OPERATION, UM, IF YOU'VE NOT BEEN DOWN THERE AND, AND PLAYED WITH SOME OF OUR SIMULATORS, NOT PLAYED WITH, BUT, UH, THEY'RE TOO EXPENSIVE TO PLAY WITH.
BUT
UH, SO, UM, THAT ACTUALLY IS IT, I, I GOT THROUGH THAT FAIRLY QUICKLY.
UH, BUT IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT WE DO OR, UM, ANY DETAIL QUESTIONS ON, ON OUR, UH, BUDGET REQUEST, WE'RE HAPPY TO ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS FOR YOU.
FELDER, LET ME AGAIN CONGRATULATE YOU ON THE LEADING EDGE TRAINING CENTER.
I KNOW IT'S JUST A START, BUT IT'S A GREAT WAY FOR OUR CITIZENS TO ACHIEVE CERTIFICATION IN THE, IN THE INDUSTRY.
AND, UM, I'VE ALWAYS SAID SINCE DAY ONE, NOT ALL OF US ARE CUT OUT TO BE DOCTORS, LAWYERS, AND ENGINEERS.
UH, WE NEED ALL THESE SERVICES.
AND IT'S VERY EVIDENT THAT YOU HAVE SUPPORT WHEN YOU HAVE LOCAL CONTRACTORS, LOCAL BUSINESSES.
UH, PARTICIPATING AND SUPPORTING YOU.
AND, AND I WOULD LOOK FORWARD TO AN OPPORTUNITY, UH, TO LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUR EXPANSION.
UH, AND BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THAT.
AS I'VE TOLD YOU BEFORE, I THINK DR.
HILL HAS DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB THUS FAR.
UH, HE'S A GREAT GUY AND I DON'T KNOW HOW, UH, YOU WOULDN'T WANT TO BE A PART OF WHATEVER HE'S DOING.
SO, UM, AND, AND JUST I THINK YOU, AS THE LEADER AT, UH, AT, UH, THE COLLEGE HAS DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB, AND, AND I APPRECIATE THAT AND LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU WELL INTO THE FUTURE.
HOW ARE YOU? SO, I HAVE TO, UH, ALSO THANK YOU.
UM, FIRST OF ALL, I'M A GRADUATE OF HCC.
UM, LONG TIME AGO, PART OF THE REASON I WENT THERE, UM, WAS I DIDN'T GET THE BIG SCHOLARSHIP TO PLAY FOOTBALL.
AND HARTFORD HAD, AT THAT TIME, PRIVATE AND NUMBER TWO RANKED FOOTBALL PROGRAM IN THE COUNTRY.
SO UP HERE NATIONALLY RANKED AND EVERYTHING, UM, YEAH.
BUT, UH, I GOT MY BUSINESS DEGREE.
I LEFT, I WENT DOWN TO COLLEGE PARK.
I ACTUALLY CAME BACK IN, IN THE WINTER AND TOOK SOME CLASSES THAT I THOUGHT WOULD BE EASIER TO TAKE UP HERE WITH TEACHERS THAT, THAT WERE LOCAL, THAT HAD EXPERIENCE, AND THAT ACTUALLY HELPED.
AND THEN GOING BACK DOWN TO COLLEGE PARK, BECAUSE YOU JUST GET THROWN IN WITH CLASSES THAT ARE, THERE ARE 500 OR MORE.
SO, SO I ALWAYS SAY IT, IT'S GREAT.
I ALSO APPRECIATE THE, UH, UM, PHASE ONE, THE PROJECT, THE, UH, SKILLS TRADES.
UM, MY NEPHEW WAS IN THE ELECTRICAL PROGRAM.
I KNOW QUITE A FEW KIDS THAT HAVE GONE THROUGH THE ELECTRICAL PROGRAM HAVE MADE GREAT CAREERS OUTTA THAT BECOME MASTER ELECTRICIANS ALL OVER.
IT'S GREAT TO HEAR ABOUT THE, UH, BRICKLAYING FACILITY.
AND I KNOW WE'VE TALKED ABOUT SOME OTHER THINGS, AND I KNOW YOU'RE LOOKING FOR THAT.
WE ALSO JUST MET WITH SENATOR CARDIN, SO I'M GONNA SEND SOMETHING DOWN TO JESSICA COOK AND ASK ABOUT THAT.
IF THERE'S SOME WAY THAT YOU CAN, WE CAN LOOK AT FEDERAL DOLLARS.
YOU KNOW, THE BIG THING IN THAT MEETING WAS SMALL BUSINESS.
MENTIONED A LOT OF THINGS AT THAT TIME.
AND OBVIOUSLY YOU WERE THERE TOO, SO I KNOW, BUT I THINK IF, IF WE TAG TEAM AND YES.
AND PUT PRESSURE ON THERE, I THINK THAT'LL, THAT'LL HELP.
SO ANYTHING, I DID PUT A LITTLE BUG IN HIS EAR ABOUT THE FEDERAL EARMARK WHEN I WAS THERE.
I PUT ANOTHER BUG IN HIS EAR, AND I, UM, I'M SURE DION, WHO, WHO SAYS HE KNOWS HIM WELL, WILL PUT A BUG IN AS WELL FOR HIM.
AND, UH, I, AND I KNOW ONE OF THE THINGS DR.
HILL JUST IMPLEMENTED WAS AN INSURANCE, UH, TRAINING THING, WHICH WE HAD BEEN WORKING ON FOR YEARS WHEN HE WAS OVER AT EDGEWOOD.
HE'S SO ENERGETIC AND ENTHUSIASTIC.
I THINK HE'S COMING FROM MY JOB LISTENING,
SO, UM, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT NOBODY ELSE IS DOING, MAYBE, YOU KNOW, SO WE APPRECIATE THAT.
UM, WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR PEOPLE AND IT'S HARD TO FIND PEOPLE.
SO THOSE THINGS ARE, THOSE THINGS ARE GREAT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING.
UM, I JUST WANT TO TALK INITIALLY ABOUT THE FUNDING.
UH, AND THIS, THE COUNTY IS FLAT.
UM, IS THE STATE FLAT OR UP OR DOWN? IT LOOKS LIKE THE PROJECTION HERE IS A LITTLE SMALLER IN THE PIE CHART, JUST BASED OFF YOUR VISION.
IT'S, IT'S ACTUALLY UP FROM LAST YEAR.
UM, BUT LIKE I SAID, THE, THE GOAL IS FOR IT TO BE A THIRD OF OUR FUNDING.
AND IT, AND IT'S NOT QUITE THERE, BUT IT'S MUCH BETTER IN KARINA, IF YOU WANNA SPEAK TO IT.
IT'S MUCH BETTER THAN IT, THAN IT WAS IN THE PAST.
LAST, THIS COMING YEAR WILL BE THE FIRST TIME THEY'VE, UM, FULLY FUNDED THE CA SO IT'S UP ACTUALLY LIKE 9%.
THE STATE IS VERY UNUSUAL FOR THE STATE.
UM, WELL, THAT'S GOOD TO HEAR.
UM, BECAUSE MY NEXT QUESTION WAS, UM, BASED OFF THE FLAT BUDGET FROM THE COUNTY, UM,
[03:35:01]
WILL THAT INCREASE THE TUITION FOR STUDENTS? WE, UM, WE HAVE IN OUR DRAFT BUDGET THAT HAS TO GO TO THE TRUSTEES FOR APPROVAL, A 2% INCREASE, WHICH EQUATES TO LIKE $2 CREDIT HOUR OR SOMETHING.I MEAN, SO WE ARE STILL GOING TO BE EXTREMELY REASONABLE.
WHAT WE TRY TO DO IS MAKE VERY SMALL INCREMENTAL INCREASES TO TUITION SO THAT WE DON'T EVER HAVE TO MAKE A BIG INCREASE ALL AT ONE TIME.
UH, BUT THEY'RE, THEY'RE USUALLY, LIKE I SAID, A COUPLE DOLLARS PER CREDIT HOUR.
UM, AND, UM, AND IT KEEPS OUR TUITION, UM, AFFORDABLE.
BUT WE ARE MOVING WITH THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY COLLEGES.
ALL COMMUNITY COLLEGES INCREASE SLOWLY, HOPEFULLY.
UM, WE, WE HAD A PERIOD OF TIME WHERE, UH, WE DID NOT INCREASE TUITION FOR SEVERAL YEARS, AND THEN WE HAD A BIG INCREASE.
AND OUR, OUR STRATEGY IS VERY SMALL CHANGES AS NEEDED.
AND YOUR STAFF, UH, WITH COLAS, ARE THEY RECEIVING ANY PAY INCREASES THERE? WE, WE DO HAVE BUDGETED A 4% INCREASE.
AGAIN, IF OUR GOAL IS THAT, UH, WE REMAIN COMPETITIVE, UM, AND IF WE, UM, UH, DO NOT DO, SO, WE, WE WILL, WE WILL LOSE SOME OF OUR FACULTY AND OUR STAFF.
SO 4% IS A MODEST, I BELIEVE, INCREASE.
OH, IT'S, YOU GOTTA BE COMPETITIVE.
UM, MY NEXT QUESTION IS WITH THE PUSH, UH, WITH THE NEW EMT PARAMEDIC PROGRAM IN THE COUNTY, I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE A GREAT NURSING PROGRAM.
HAS THERE BEEN CONSIDERATION, OR YOU DO, DO YOU CURRENTLY HAVE AN EMT PARAMEDIC TRAINING PROGRAM? YES, WE DO.
THE KIND OF BACKFLOW OF SOME OF THE NEEDS THAT THE COUNTY HAS, WE DO.
HAS THERE BEEN AN, AN INCREASE ON, ON INTEREST IN THOSE PROGRAMS? UH, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ENROLLMENT IS IN THAT, IN THOSE PROGRAMS, BUT NOW THAT THERE'S A, A MORE OF A FOCUS IN THE COUNTY, I EXPECT THAT OUR ENROLLMENT WILL GROW.
AND MY LAST, IT'S JUST A COMMENT.
I, I APPRECIATE THE PHASE ONE OF THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT CENTER WHERE, UH, SUPPORT SKILLED TRADES, MANUFACTURING AND WAREHOUSING MM-HMM.
UM, I KNOW THERE'S A, YOU KNOW, A DISCUSSION ON WHETHER WAREHOUSING IS GOOD FOR OUR COUNTY OR NOT, BUT I'M, I'M GLAD, UH, THAT YOU'RE AT LEAST TRAINING PEOPLE FOR IT.
AND FOR SOME OF OUR INDIVIDUALS STARTING IN A JOB LIKE THAT, UM, HELPS THEM, AGAIN, SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES.
FOR US, UM, WE, WE BELIEVE IN CONTINUOUS, UH, OUTREACH TO OUR STUDENTS SO THAT YOU MAY WORK ON THE FLOOR OF A WAREHOUSE.
NOW YOU MAY WORK, WANT TO MANAGE AT ONE POINT AND COME BACK AND GET A MANAGEMENT DEGREE.
BUT SO, UH, LIKE I SAID, WE'VE GOT A, A BROAD SCOPE OF WHAT WE OFFER AND, UH, INDIVIDUALS CAN CONTINUE TO UPSKILL AND BECOME MORE AND MORE EMPLOYED.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR THE COUNTY.
UH, I WANTED TO TALK TO YOU A LITTLE ABOUT THE SKILL TRADES, PARTICULARLY ELECTRICAL WORKERS.
UM, I COME FROM THAT, UH, TRADE.
I'M A BUSINESS MANAGER AND PRESIDENT OF A, UH, LOCAL UNION FROM, FROM THE ELECTRIC WORKERS.
AND WHAT I WAS, UH, UH, INTERESTED IN IS THE, THE ONES THAT YOU TRAIN, UH, TO BE ELECTRICAL WORKERS, UM, UH, HOW DO THEY GET INTO THE PROGRAM FIRST? WHAT IS THE, WHAT IS THE CRITERIA? DO THEY, UH, THEY DON'T COME IN AS APPRENTICES RIGHT AWAY, DO THEY, DO THEY HAVE TO HAVE A, SOME TIME BEFORE THEY CAN ACTUALLY BE CONSIDERED AN APPRENTICE? LONG BEFORE THEY BECOME A JOURNEYMAN? WHAT IS THE, DO YOU KNOW THE, YOU GOT ME ON THAT ONE.
I, I'D HAVE TO HAVE MY ACADEMIC PERSON HERE.
THEY HAVE TO GRADUATE FROM THE PROGRAM BEFORE THEY BECOME AN APPRENTICE.
AND THEY BECOME AN APPRENTICE.
SO, SO WHAT YOU'RE TELLING ME, WHEN, HOW, HOW LONG IS THAT ION? THREE YEARS.
SO THREE YEARS BEFORE D CAN, UH, BE CONSIDERED AN APPRENTICE.
SO THE ONLY REASON I I, I BRING THAT UP IS THAT, UH, UH, LOCAL 24, UH, LECTURE WORKERS IN BALTIMORE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR, UH, QUALIFIED PEOPLE.
AND SO IS LOCAL 26 I B W IN NEAR WASHINGTON, DC.
UM, IF THEY'RE COMING IN WITH THAT, THEY CAN COME IN, UH, THOSE CREDENTIALS.
THEY CAN COME IN RIGHT AWAY AS AN APPRENTICE.
AND, UH, UM, AND WHEN THEY, IF THEY'RE, IF THEY'RE TAKEN IN, THEY HAVE TO BE INTERVIEWED, THEN THEY HAVE TO TAKE A, A SLIGHT TEST MM-HMM.
THEY HAVE TO BE INTERVIEWED BY, UH, THREE CONTRACTORS AND THREE PEOPLE FROM THE LOCAL UNION MM-HMM.
UM, ONCE THEY, ONCE THEY GET INTO PROGRAM, THEY'LL, THEY'LL WORK AND GO TO SCHOOL AT THE SAME TIME AND IT'LL GET PAID, YOU KNOW? RIGHT.
WHICH IS WHAT OUR STUDENTS ARE DOING NOW.
SO THEY'RE, THEY'RE, THEY'RE IN SCHOOL AND THEY'RE ALSO WORKING AT THE SAME TIME.
IT'S, IT'S A, A DEMANDING YES.
UH, BUT YES, THEY'RE ALL WORKING GOOD.
THAT'S THE SAME, BASICALLY THE SAME.
SO THEN IT TAKES, UM, THEY'VE GOT THREE YEARS THERE, TAKES FIVE YEARS TO GO THROUGH THE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM IN THE UNIONS.
AND BY THE TIME, UH, YOU BECOME A JOURNEYMAN, THE, THE WAGE RATE AND THE JOURNEYMAN'S RATE RIGHT NOW IS $60 AN
[03:40:01]
HOUR.SO, UH, YOU CAN GET, YOU CAN GET THAT WORD OUT TO 'EM.
AND, UH, YOU CAN EASILY LOOK UP LOCAL 26, UH, EXCUSE ME, 26 I B E W IN WASHINGTON, DC AND A LOCAL 24 I B W IN BALTIMORE ON PATAPSCO AVENUE.
AND THEY'RE ALWAYS LOOKING TO TAKE IN NEW, NEW APPRENTICES AND, AND, UH, WELL, THEY, THEY CAN'T BE JOURNEYMEN, BUT THEY, THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE PROGRAM.
MY GRANDSON WENT THROUGH IT, SO HE, HE DID HIS FIVE YEARS AND HE'S NOW OUT THERE AS A JOURNEYMAN ELECTRICIAN.
MAKE IT MORE THAN MONEY THAN I AM.
SORRY, SCOTT, BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR, UH, THANK YOU.
ANYONE ELSE? ANYONE FROM CITIZENS? MR. ST.
FIRST, I HAVE TO SAY THAT I SPENT 12 YEARS IN THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND TWO AS THE CHAIR, AND TO HAVE YOUR KID FORMULA FUNDED.
UH, DO YOU HAVE ANY SENSE FROM THE STATE AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THAT IS SORT OF A CATCH UP BEING FULLY FUNDED, OR IF IT'S GOING TO BE AN ONGOING PHENOMENON? I, I KNOW THAT'S SPECULATIVE, BUT DO YOU HAVE ANY SENSE OF THAT? RIGHT.
UM, I, YOU KNOW, I'M HOPEFUL THAT IT WILL CONTINUE.
I THINK, YOU KNOW, AT THERE WAS, UH, A SENSE THAT THE STATE WAS, HAD EXCESS FUNDS AVAILABLE.
UM, SOME OF IT, I'M SURE, DUE TO STIMULUS FUNDS THAT MANY OF THE STATES RECEIVED.
SO I'M HOPEFUL THAT IT WILL CONTINUE.
UH, BUT AGAIN, FOR MANY, THE FORMULAS EXISTED FOR A VERY LONG TIME, UM, AND WAS NOT FULLY FUNDED.
BUT I, I HOPE THAT WE DO NOT GO BACKWARDS, THAT WE CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD.
SO IF I CAN SORT OF, MY NEXT QUESTION, PIGGYBACK, AND I THINK WHERE COUNCILMAN PENMAN WAS ASKING, SO IT SOUNDS LIKE FOR THIS YEAR, WITH FLAT FUNDING FROM THE COUNTY, THE COLLEGE IS ABLE TO HAVE A SMALL, NORMAL INCREMENT TUITION INCREASE DUE TO THE FULLY FUNDING AND THE C YOU KNOW, IF IN THE FUTURE, IF THE STATE KIND OF WENT BACK TO WHERE IT WAS AND NOT FULLY FUNDING CADE AND THE COUNTY REMAINED FLAT, WOULD YOU BE CONCERNED IF THERE THIS, THAT THERE'D BE LARGER TUITION INCREASES? I WOULD BE, I WOULD BE CONCERNED.
UH, OF COURSE, AS I SAID, TO REMAIN COMPETITIVE, WE, WE HAVE TO, UH, WE HAVE TO GIVE RAISES.
WE HAVE TO, UH, ENSURE THAT OUR WAGES ARE COMPETITIVE.
UM, WE'RE, AGAIN, WE HAVE TO KEEP UP WITH TECHNOLOGY.
UM, WE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S SOME REFERENCE TO OUR FUND BALANCE.
UM, THAT FUND BALANCE EXISTS BECAUSE IT'S ALL ALLOCATED FOR DEFERRED UH, MAINTENANCE.
THERE'S, THERE'S ALLOCATIONS FOR ALL OF THOSE DOLLARS.
WE, AS A COLLEGE, MADE A DECISION WHEN WE RECEIVED STIMULUS FUNDING.
MANY OF THE COLLEGES JUST SPENT IT BECAUSE THEY FELT A NEED TO SPEND IT.
SO WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IN OUR FUND BALANCE IS SOME OF THAT IS STIMULUS FUNDING THAT WE SAVE TO DEAL WITH THE, UH, INCREASE IN MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES.
UH, UH, WE, WE DO MORE THAN JUST EDUCATE.
WE DEAL WITH THOSE LIFE ISSUES, THOSE EMERGENCIES THAT COME UP.
UM, MORE SCHOLARSHIPS, UH, FUNDING AVAILABLE.
SO WE SAVE MONEY TO SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS.
SO THE FUN BALANCE IS NOT JUST DUE TO, UH, UH, COUNTY FUNDING.
UM, SO I, I DO WANNA MAKE THAT POINT BECAUSE I THINK THERE WAS A REFERENCE THAT, UH, WE WERE FLAT FUNDED BECAUSE OF OUR FUND BALANCE.
THOSE FUNDS IN THE FUND BALANCE ARE ALLOCATED FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES.
AND, UH, WE COULD NOT SUSTAIN, UH, AFFORDABLE TUITION WITH CONTINUED FLAT FUNDING.
AGAIN, I, I WILL ALSO SAY I'M VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THE SUPPORT OF THE COUNTY.
THE COUNTY HAS ALWAYS SUPPORTED THE COLLEGE.
AND, UM, I, I WOULD HOPE THAT THAT WOULD CONTINUE.
UH, SECOND QUESTION ON THE CAPITAL SIDE, AGAIN, FROM BEING ON THE BOARD, I SEEM TO RECALL THE STATE HAD A CUT LIST WITH THE LINE THAT YOU'RE ABOVE IT, YOU'RE IN THE QUEUE, AND IF NOT, YOU'RE WAITING.
UM, WHAT WOULD BE THE NEXT PROJECT IN THE, OUR COMMUNITY COLLEGE'S CUT LIST? AND HOW CLOSE TO THAT LINE IS IT? RIGHT.
SO WE, WE'VE HAD DISCUSSION ABOUT OUR NEXT PROJECT.
UH, UM, WE ARE, I, I MENTIONED THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT CENTER.
UH, SO THERE'S A COUPLE OF WAYS THAT WE COULD APPROACH THAT.
WE, WE HAVE HAD SOME DISCUSSION IN PARTNERING WITH THE COUNTY ON SOME POSSIBILITIES.
IF THAT DOES NOT WORK OUT, THEN WE WILL SEEK TO DO A STANDALONE WORKFORCE CENTER.
THAT WOULD BE OUR NEXT PROJECT, LIKELY.
UH, THE, THE PAST FEW YEARS HAVE BEEN, UH, KIND OF TOUGH FOR COVID AND EDUCATION AS WE'VE TALKED PREVIOUSLY.
CAN YOU GIVE US AN IDEA OF HOW ENROLLMENT IS RIGHT NOW? I MEAN, HAVE, HAVE YOU KIND OF FULLY RECOVERED OR GO FOR IT? YOU KNOW, WHAT'S THE, WHAT'S THE PROSPECT LOOKING FOR? UH, FUTURE ENROLLMENTS.
[03:45:01]
COMMUNITY COLLEGES, UM, UH, HAVE AN INVERSE RELATIONSHIP WITH UNEMPLOYMENT.WHEN, WHEN FOLKS ARE UNEMPLOYED, UH, COMMUNITY COLLEGE ENROLLMENT GROWS.
WHEN PEOPLE ARE WORKING, WE COMPLETE, WE COMPETE WITH JOBS.
AND SO FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS AS EM, UNEMPLOYMENT, IT'S BEEN LOW.
COMMUNITY COLLEGES HAVE LOST ENROLLMENT.
AND THEN COVID HIT, UH, AND THOUGH THERE WAS A SPIKE IN UNEMPLOYMENT, THERE WAS ALSO COVID.
WE ARE VERY FORTUNATE IN THAT THIS YEAR WE HAVE STABILIZED OUR ENROLLMENT.
AND, UM, THAT'S A HUGE WIN TO STABILIZE.
WE ARE NO LONGER SEEING THOSE DECLINING, UH, DECLINING ENROLLMENT YEAR, UH, ON YEAR.
SO WE, WE HAVE STABILIZED, UM, THERE ARE LESS STUDENTS.
SO THERE'S A, THERE'S A NATIONAL CONVERSATION ABOUT AN ENROLLMENT CLIFF BECAUSE THE BIRTH RATE IS LOWER.
SO WE HAVE LESS STUDENTS, TRADITIONAL STUDENTS COMING OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL.
SO, SO OUR STRATEGY IS WE'VE GOT TO DO MORE WITH ADULTS.
SO A LOT OF OUR PROGRAMS THEN WE'RE DEVELOPING FOR ADULTS THAT ARE WORKING THAT AGAIN, NEED MORE SKILLS.
UM, AND SO WE'RE, UH, OR THEY'RE EMPLOYED AND WE'RE WORKING WITH EMPLOYERS TO SAY, HOW CAN WE, UH, HELP YOU AGAIN, RAISE THE SKILL SETS OF YOUR EMPLOYEES? SO WE HAVE STRATEGIES TO DEAL WITH THE FACT THAT THERE ARE LESS, LESS TRADITIONAL AGE STUDENTS COMING OUT.
BUT, BUT WE ARE CELEBRATING THE FACT THAT WE HAVE, WE HAVE STABILIZED OUR ENROLLMENT THIS YEAR.
FELDER, UM, ARE YOU FINDING THAT ANYBODY'S NOT ABLE TO AFFORD, UM, THE TRADE, UH, PROGRAMS? SO, I KNOW WE DO A BUNCH OF, UM, SCHOLARSHIPS FOR NON-TRADS, BUT TRYING TO GET SOME OF THAT SWITCHED OVER TO THE TRADES, BUT RIGHT.
DO YOU HAVE ANY SCHOLARSHIPS FOR THE TRADE PROGRAMS? AND DO YOU FIND THAT SOME OF THESE KIDS THAT ARE, THAT ARE ACCEPTED, CAN'T AFFORD TO GO? AND SO, UH, WE ARE VERY FORTUNATE THAT, UH, A COUPLE YEARS AGO WE RECEIVED A MILLION AND A HALF DOLLAR GIFT.
UH, FROM THE RATCLIFFE FOUNDATION.
SO ALL OF THE TR WORK THAT WE'RE DOING AT THE RA AT THE LEADING EDGE TRAINING CENTER IS PAID FOR.
UM, NOW THE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM, ELEC, THAT'S SEPARATE FROM THAT.
UM, BUT WE'RE ALSO WORKING WITH THE SUSQUEHANNA WORKFORCE NETWORK TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR PROGRAMS GET, UH, ARE ELIGIBLE FOR, WE OWE A DOLLARS AS WELL.
UM, BUT A, AS YOU HEARD ME ASK, UH, SENATOR CARDIN, UH, THERE'S FEDERAL LEGISLATION TO PROVIDE FEDERAL PELL DOLLARS FOR NON CRED, NONDEGREE AND NON CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS. THAT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL BECAUSE THERE'S DEFINITELY LESS DOLLARS AVAILABLE FOR NON-CREDIT, UH, SKILLS TYPE TRAINING.
SO WE WOULD, WE TRY AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF EVERY STATE PROGRAM, UH, LOCAL DOLLARS, UH, ANY GRANT, UH, THAT WE CAN RECEIVE FROM PRIVATE, UH, DONORS.
UH, BUT IT IS, IT IS LIMITING, UH, LIMITED HOW MANY DOLLARS WE HAVE AVAILABLE FOR THOSE NON-DEGREE AND NON, UH, CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS. THANK YOU.
SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
AS THE, UH, HARTFORD CENTER COMES IN, I'LL JUST TURN YOUR ATTENTION TO PAGE, UH, UH, 2 65 AND 2 66.
UM, HARTFORD CENTER'S, UH, PROPOSED BUDGET OF, UH, 600,000 600 904.
UM, WITH THAT, IT REPRESENTS AN INCREASE OF 12,000, UH, $533 FROM THE PRIOR YEAR.
UH, AS WE SPOKE ABOUT EARLIER, THAT INCREASE, THANK YOU, UM, WAS FORMALLY IN THE GRANT AND AND AID PART OF THE BUDGET, AND WAS MOVED TO, UM, DIRECT FUNDING TO THE, UM, UH, TO THE HARTFORD CENTER.
SHERRY, WHENEVER YOU'RE READY.
MR. PRESIDENT COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.
I'M SHERRY NOLTE, UH, THE ACCOUNT, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE HARTFORD CENTER.
AND IT IS MY PLEASURE TO BE HERE, UM, TALKING WITH YOU ABOUT MY PASSION, THE HARTFORD CENTER.
I KNOW MANY OF YOU HAVE HEARD ME SPEAK BEFORE.
I WON'T GO INTO LONG DETAILS ABOUT WHAT WE DO.
BUT THE WORK THAT WE DO AT THE HARTFORD CENTER, LIKE FROM OUR, IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO THIS COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE BEEN AROUND SINCE 1961.
UH, WE ARE A LONG-STANDING MEMBER OF THIS COMMUNITY
[03:50:01]
AND EMPLOYER OF THIS COMMUNITY.UH, WE ARE ALSO AN INSTRUMENTALITY OF THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT, WHICH MAKES US A VERY UNIQUE ENTITY AND, UM, READS US TOGETHER IN A LOT OF WAYS IN TERMS OF RESPONSIBILITY TO ONE ANOTHER.
SO I WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT.
FIRST, I WANNA START BY THANKING THE COUNCIL.
AND I WANNA THANK THE COUNTY FOR ITS CONTINUED SUPPORT OF THE HARTFORD CENTER.
UM, I DO WANNA PROVIDE A POINT OF CLARIFICATION BEFORE I LAUNCH INTO SOME OF OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS, BECAUSE WE'RE ALL HERE ABOUT BUDGETS TODAY.
SO I WANT TO KIND OF BOTTOM LINE IT FOR YOU.
UH, THE BUDGET APPEARS TO HAVE AN INCREASE OF 12,500.
WE APPLIED FOR GRANT AND AID TO 30,000, AND WE'VE CONSISTENTLY RECEIVED 20,000 IN PREVIOUS YEARS, SPECIFICALLY FOR FUEL COSTS.
AS YOU ALL KNOW, UH, FILLING UP AT THE PUMP IS NOT CHEAP.
IT IS NOT CHEAP FOR OUR 22 VEHICLES, THAT COSTS US IN THE UPWARDS OF $140,000 IN FUEL A YEAR.
SO WE WERE LOOKING FOR $30,000 TO OFFSET SOME OF THAT COST.
BY FOLDING THE GRANT AID INTO OUR APPROPRIATION, IT NEGATES OUR ABILITY TO CONTINUE TO ASK FOR INCREASES IN GRANTON AID.
AND THAT'S CRITICAL BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT GRANTS ARE FOR.
AND WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN ENCOURAGED TO INCREASE OUR, OUR, OUR ASK AROUND GRANTON AID.
ADDITIONALLY, UH, WE'VE ALSO RECEIVED SPONSORSHIPS OVER THE YEAR FROM THE COUNTY, COUNTY GOVERNMENT AROUND 6,000 A YEAR.
SO WITH THOSE TWO CHANGES, UM, WE'RE LOOKING AT ABOUT A $23,500 REDUCTION IN THE COST THAT WE'VE RECEIVED IN PREVIOUS YEARS.
UM, HAVING A SMALL BUDGET, WE'RE A SMALL NONPROFIT.
AND YOU'D SAY, WELL, 23,000, YOU CAN ABSORB THAT.
I HAVE THIS YEAR, LOOKING AT MY FY 24 BUDGET, I HAVE A STRUCTURAL DEFICIT.
UM, AND THAT INCREASES MY DEFICIT.
PART OF THE REASON FOR THE DEFICIT IS LIKE THE REST OF YOUR ORGANIZATIONS, WE HAVE TO OFFER COMPETITIVE WAGES.
MY COMPETITIVE WAGES ARE AT $17 AN HOUR.
SO WITH MINIMUM WAGE INCREASING TO $15 AN HOUR, WE ARE NOT MINIMUM WAGE JOB.
THE WORK THAT THE PEOPLE AT THE HARTFORD CENTER AND THE ARC DO IS INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT.
IT IS NOT A WALK OUTTA HIGH SCHOOL KIND OF JOB.
IT IS NOT A ROYAL FARM STORE KIND OF JOB.
IT IS NOT A DELIVERY KIND OF JOB.
IT IS A JOB WHERE PEOPLE'S LIVES ARE ON THE LINE.
WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO HAVE COMPLICATED MEDICAL NEEDS.
WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE CERTIFIED MED TECHNICIANS AND HAVE TO GO THROUGH TRAINING.
THEY HAVE TO PASS MEDS, THEY HAVE TO BE RESPONSIBLE.
PEOPLE HAVE SEIZURES, AND THEY HAVE TO MONITOR PEOPLE'S MEDICAL CONDITIONS.
SO THESE ARE NOT MINIMUM WAGE JOBS.
AND WE'RE OFFERING $17 TO START.
YOU CAN'T LIVE IN HARFORD COUNTY FOR $17.
SO WE HAVE HAD TO MAKE MARKET ADJUSTMENTS FOR OUR STAFF.
HOWEVER, WE'RE, OUR FUNDING IS NOT KEEPING PACE.
ADDITIONALLY, THE STATE HAS MANY UNFUNDED MANDATES IN TERMS OF TRAINING, BACKGROUND CHECKS, THINGS THAT WE ARE NOT RECEIVING FUNDING FOR, THAT WE ARE REQUIRED BY STATE LAW AND COM COMMAR TO COMPLY WITH RATIOS.
FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE SOME INDIVIDUALS WHO REQUIRE ONE-TO-ONE SUPPORTS.
WE HAVE SOME INDIVIDUALS WHO REQUIRE ONE TO FIVE SUPPORTS.
WE ALSO HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
THE HARTFORD CENTER IS UNIQUE IN THAT WE SUPPORT PEOPLE ON A CONTINUUM.
SO WE PROVIDE SUPPORTS TO PEOPLE WORKING IN THEIR COMMUNITY AND PEOPLE WHO NEED TOTAL CARE FOR FEEDING, TOILETING AND AMBULATING.
SO I WANTED TO GIVE YOU THAT BACKGROUND.
NOT TO SAY I'M NOT APPRECIATIVE, CUZ I AM, I KNOW THE, I KNOW THE SUPPORT THE COUNTY GIVES US AND I'M INCREDIBLY, INCREDIBLY APPRECIATIVE FOR THAT.
UH, BUT I'M CONCERNED, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT, UM, CONTINUED FUNDING.
I'M CONCERNED ABOUT MY WORKFORCE.
IF I DON'T HAVE STAFF, I CAN'T SUPPORT PEOPLE LEGALLY, RESPONSIBLY, ETHICALLY, I WON'T.
SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE ARE PAYING THOSE DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS A LIVING WAGE SO WE CAN ATTRACT QUALITY PEOPLE.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S MY FINANCIAL PLEA.
SO WHY IS THE HARTFORD CENTER SOMEPLACE THAT YOU WOULD WANT HARTFORD COUNTY CITIZENS? WE'VE DONE AN AMAZING JOB AT THE HE CENTER LAST YEAR ALONE.
PEOPLE WENT ON 2,600 COMMUNITY OUTINGS, 2,600.
IF YOU COME INTO MY BUILDING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY, IT'S EMPTY.
IT IS AN EMPTY BUILDING CUZ PEOPLE ARE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES, THEY'RE AT THE MOVIES, THEY'RE WORKING, THEY'RE VOLUNTEERING.
WE HAD A GROUP THIS MORNING AT ANNA'S HOUSE VOLUNTEERING.
SO THE FOLKS AT THE HARTFORD CENTER ARE NOT ONLY RECEIVING FROM THE COUNTY, BUT THEY'RE GIVING BACK TO THE COUNTY.
AND BY VIRTUE OF PEOPLE BEING AT THE HARTFORD CENTER, THEIR FAMILIES ARE ABLE TO WORK.
WE HAVE FAMILIES AT THE HARTFORD CENTER WHO WORK FOR COUNTY GOVERNMENT, WHO WORKED FOR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, WHO WORKED FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
WE HAVE PEOPLE, FAMILIES WHO ARE LIVING AND WORKING AND HAVING FUN HERE IN HARTFORD COUNTY.
SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE'VE ACHIEVED, WE RECEIVED THE 2022 OUTSTANDING NONPROFIT AWARD FROM THE TRANSPORTATION ASSOCIATION OF MARYLAND.
OUR BOARD PRESIDENT RECEIVED THE RUTH HELEN THOMPSON
[03:55:01]
AWARD FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE.OUR VERY OWN MAUREEN HENSON, WHO IS A PARTICIPANT, RECEIVED THE VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR AWARD.
WE HAVE SOME INCREDIBLY SPECIAL AND COMMITTED PEOPLE,
UM, WE'VE ALSO PARTNERED WITH HARFORD COUNTY GOVERNMENT FOR THE WHEELCHAIR COSTUME WORKSHOP.
IT COSTS A LOT TO DO GOOD WORK.
IT COSTS APPROXIMATELY $143 PER DAY TO SUPPORT THE PEOPLE AT THE HARTFORD CENTER.
WE ARE FUNDRAISING TO A GAP OF $162,000 IN ADDITION TO THE STRUCTURAL DEFICIT, IN ADDITION TO SOME OF THE, THE CONSTRAINTS ON THIS YEAR'S BUDGET.
SO THIS IS A VERY CHALLENGING YEAR.
UM, TRYING TO THINK THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE I WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU OF NOTE.
UM, YEAH, OTHER THING TO CONSIDER IS THE PEOPLE THAT WE SUPPORT ARE, ARE LIVING AT OR BELOW POVERTY LEVEL.
ALL THE PEOPLE THAT WE SUPPORT ARE ON MEDICAL ASSISTANCE.
UM, 43% LIVE IN LOW INCOME UNDERSERVED AREAS.
10% LIVE IN VERY RURAL HARFORD COUNTY, NORTHERN AREAS.
WE PROVIDE ALL THE TRANSPORTATION FOR PEOPLE TO COME TO AND PRO.
UH, WE DRIVE OVER 400,000 MILES A YEAR IN OUR VEHICLES.
SO OUR VEHICLES ARE SEEING SOMEWHERE IN TOWN.
WE ARE VERY AGGRESSIVE IN TERMS OF LOOKING FOR GRANTS.
WE RECEIVED GRANTS FROM 53 10, WHICH IS A TRANSPORTATION GRANT.
WE RECEIVED, UH, GRANTS, ANYTHING THAT WAS AVAILABLE DURING THE STIMULUS TIMES WE RECEIVED.
OUR ATTENDANCE HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO RECOVER TO PRE COVID TIMES.
PREVIOUSLY WE WERE BUDGETING ON AN 85% ATTENDANCE RATE.
UM, WE'RE WE'RE MAKING IT AT 75 AND THAT'S WHAT THE DOCTOR SAID.
SO WE WERE TRYING TO INCREASE OUR ATTENDANCE.
BUT FAMILIES ARE SCARED STILL.
PEOPLE ARE STILL, IT, IT'S, IT'S A DIFFERENT ERROR.
NOW, BACK IN THE DAY, AND I'M SURE YOU ALL REMEMBER THIS, WE CAME TO WORK WITH A COLD.
THAT WAS, THAT WAS OUR, OUR WORK ETHIC.
IF PEOPLE ARE SICK, WE WANT THEM TO STAY HOME.
THERE'S A WHOLE CULTURAL CHANGE IN TERMS OF PEOPLE'S ATTENDANCE, BUT THERE'S ALSO A FISCAL CONSEQUENCE OF THAT, SO TO SPEAK.
SO AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK, ALL OF YOUR ADVOCACY, CUZ I KNOW, I KNOW YOU'RE ALL ADVOCATING FOR THE HARTFORD CENTER.
YOU'RE ALL WELCOME TO COME OUT.
MANY OF YOU HAVE BEEN OUT TO THE HARTFORD CENTER.
I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU DO FOR THIS COMMUNITY.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.
SO SHERRY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT YOU WERE A MAJOR PART OF THE CONVERSATION EARLIER TODAY, UHOH, AND I'M SURE THAT, UH, COUNCILMAN BENNETT WILL EXPAND ON THAT.
UM, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT THE BUDGET, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS A BIG THING THAT I PUSHED FOR THIS MORNING WITH OUR COUNTY EXECUTIVE.
UM, YOU KNOW, A DOLLAR SHORT I THINK IS A SHAME ON US.
A BIG STAIN ON THE CHARACTER OF, UH, OF THE BUDGET THAT WE WOULD PUT EVEN A PENNY LESS TOWARDS THE WORK THAT YOU DO.
HONESTLY, EVEN, UH, JUST PUTTING THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY CONSIDERING ALL THAT YOU ALL DO EACH AND EVERY DAY.
DOOR TO DOOR SERVICE, YOU KNOW, SHOWING UP TO PEOPLE'S HOMES AND THEN BRINGING THEM OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY.
CUZ YOU KNOW, IF YOU WEREN'T THERE TO PICK THEM UP, WHERE WOULD THEY BE? UM, YOU KNOW, THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, IT MEANS A LOT TO ME BECAUSE, UH, MY BEST FRIEND TAUGHT AT HARTFORD ACADEMY.
I ALWAYS HAD MY STUDENTS PEN PAL WITH HER STUDENTS.
UH, WE WOULD TAKE A FIELD TRIP TO HARTFORD ACADEMY AND GET TO KNOW THEM.
UH, BUT I WOULD ALWAYS WONDER ABOUT THOSE STUDENTS.
WHAT WHAT IS LIFE GONNA BE LIKE WHEN THEY TURN 21, YOU KNOW, WHERE WHERE WILL THEY GO? AND THEN, YOU KNOW, FINDING ABOUT OUT ABOUT WHAT YOU ALL DO.
IT'S LIKE THEY HAVE SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO.
LIFE DOESN'T END WHEN YOU GRADUATE FROM SCHOOL.
UM, THAT THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, THINGS CONTINUE FOR THEM BECAUSE OF PEOPLE LIKE YOU.
UM, AND IT'S OUR JOB, OUR MORAL RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THAT THAT'S ABLE TO CONTINUE.
UM, AND THAT, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T PUT IT ON A PATH TOWARDS, UM, FINANCIAL STRESS, UM, OVER A FEW, UH, DOLLARS AND CENTS, UM, IN OUR BUDGET IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF THINGS.
I'M GONNA CONTINUE TALKING WITH THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE ABOUT THAT.
UM, YOU KNOW, HE SAID IT WAS A SMALL PIECE OF THE BUDGET.
IT MIGHT BE A SMALL PIECE OF THE BUDGET IN THE SCOPE OF DOLLAR AMOUNT, BUT IT SHOULD NOT BE A SMALL PIECE OF THE BUDGET IN TERMS OF IMPORTANCE.
AND IT SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN MISSED AND IT SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN LOWERED.
AND I'M GONNA MAKE SURE IT IS NOT LOWERED BY THE TIME THE BUDGET IS PROVED.
SO, UM, I'M VERY THANKFUL TO YOU ALL.
UM, AND THAT GOES TO THE ARC AS WELL.
YOU KNOW, THE WORK THAT, UH, EVERYBODY DOES TO THE COMMUNITY FOR THOSE WHO ARE OUR MOST VULNERABLE, UM, IS, IS JUST AN INCREDIBLE GIFT.
[04:00:01]
VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THAT WORK.ANYONE ELSE? MR. GUTHRIE? UH, JUST A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
UH, UH, THE, THE, THE, UM, PEOPLE COME HERE WITH THE DIS DISABILITIES.
DO THEY, I I I SEE SOME, UH, YOU SAY 6% OF YOUR CLIENTS ARE WITH FAMILIES IN HARFORD COUNTY.
UM, DO YOU ALSO HAVE, I GUESS THE OTHER 40% LIVE IN, WE DON'T HAVE RESIDENTIAL.
SO THE OTHER 40% ARE LIVING IN RESIDENTIAL HOMES AROUND THE COUNTY, UH, BETWEEN THE ARC, MID-ATLANTIC, ET CETERA.
BUT 60% ARE LIVING WITH THEIR FAMILIES.
SO 60% OF YOUR CLIENTS LIVE WITH FAMILIES.
BUT THEN YOU SAID THE OTHER 40% LIVE IN FAMILIES LIVE IN RESIDENTIAL HOMES.
RESIDENTIAL HOMES SUCH AS THAT ARE SUPPORTED BY THE ARC THAT ARE SUPPORTED BY RICH CRAF, MID-ATLANTIC GALLAGHER, ET CETERA.
THEY LIVE, UH, LIKE I HAVE, I HAVE A GRANDSON IN NEW YORK, SO, OKAY.
SO ONE RIGHT HERE IN BLA BLAIR.
JUST PRONOUNCED CHOPPA TOWN, RIGHT? THAT'S ALL
SO YOU ACTUALLY HAVE, UH, FROM, FROM THE ARKANSAS MANY PLACE, DID YOU ACTUALLY HAVE THEM COME AND, UH, SPEND THE DAY AND UH, AND THEY COME FROM SOME OF NEW ARC FACILITIES? ABSOLUTELY.
WE HAVE GREAT PARTNERSHIPS WITH DO THEY OTHER PROVIDERS? I KNOW, I KNOW MY GRANDSON GOES OUT ON THESE THINGS, SO MAYBE HE, HE COMES HERE AND I DON'T EVEN KNOW IT, YOU KNOW, AS COULD BE.
UM, DO ANYTHING COME FROM THE, THE, THE LAYER, UM, UH, ARC FACILITY? UH, UH, DO YOU KNOW, I DON'T BELIEVE YOUR GRANDSON ATTENDS THE HARTFORD CENTER, BUT WE DO HAVE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT LIVE AT THE ARC AND CHOOSE THE HARTFORD CENTER.
SO IT'S REALLY UP TO THEIR TEAM AND THEIR CENTER.
IF YOU'RE INTERESTED, YOU KNOW, GIMME A CALL.
YEAH, WELL, AND I'LL TALK TO THEM ALSO ABOUT IT.
CAUSE I USUALLY, WE USUALLY PICK HIM UP ON THE WEEKENDS AND HE STAY WITH US ON THE WEEKENDS, THEN WE'D TAKE HIM BACK ON MONDAY'S.
SO YEAH, I MIGHT WANT TO TALK TO YOU.
UM, SHERRY, THE OTHER THING WE TALKED ABOUT WITH, UH, DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION, TREASURER AND THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE THIS MORNING IS A POSSIBILITY FOR YOU TO PARTNER WITH THE COUNTY, UH, IN FLEET SERVICES.
I KNOW THAT, UH, THEY SAID THEY WERE GONNA BE TALKING TO YOU ABOUT THAT.
I THINK THAT'D BE A GREAT THING FOR YOU TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF.
THE COUNTY'S BEEN GENEROUS IN CONNECTING US WITH THE COUNTY GAS.
SO WE DO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PURCHASE GAS THROUGH THE COUNTY, UM, AT WHATEVER RATE THAT THEY BUY IT AT.
SO THAT WILL CERTAINLY RESULT IN SOME SAVINGS.
I HAVE, IT HASN'T STARTED YET, SO I HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO MEASURE THAT.
IT WAS JUST, IT WAS JUST EFFECTIVE TODAY THAT WE GOT THE, UM, THE GO AHEAD TO START, UM, TODAY.
UM, ANYONE ELSE? THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
SO ON AS THE, UH, THE ARC COMES UP TO THE TABLE, JUST TURN YOUR ATTENTION TO PAGE 2 67, UH, WHERE THE ARC BUDGET IS.
THEIR, UH, FUNDING FOR FISCAL YEAR 24 IS 2,241,950.
THAT REPRESENTS AN INCREASE OF 66,370 FOR THE PRIOR YEAR.
UM, AS, UH, WITH THE SITUATION BEFORE.
THAT'S, UM, THAT INCREASES DUE TO A REALLOCATION OF FUNDS FORMALLY IN THE COMMUNITY SERVICES GRANT AID AREA.
THANK YOU FOR, UM, THIS TIME TODAY.
I JUST WANT TO, UM, I SHARED WITH YOU OUR ANNUAL REPORT AND IN THERE IS OUR KIND OF WHAT OUR STORY WAS LAST YEAR.
SO YOU'RE GONNA SEE A GREAT STORY ABOUT ASHLEY WHO WORKS AT GXO AND HOW THAT'S MADE A DIFFERENCE IN HER LIFE.
UM, THE FAMILY WHO ADOPTED MICAH, UM, WHO NOW HE HAS A FOREVER FAMILY, WHICH IS A REALLY COOL STORY.
AND THEN, UM, JESSICA AND LORI, WHO, JESSICA, JESSICA, SUPPORTS LORI TO NAVIGATE THE COMMUNITY, UM, AND HELP HER, UM, WITH HER INDEPENDENCE.
SO I WANNA GIVE YOU, UM, SOME STATISTICS ABOUT WHERE WE CURRENTLY STAND.
SO WE'RE ON TRACK TO PROVIDE OVER 1000 SUPPORTS, UM, THIS YEAR.
AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS PEOPLE WHO COME IN AND THEY MIGHT RECEIVE ALL DIFFERENT LEVELS, DIFFERENT TYPES OF, UM, SUPPORTS THAT WE OFFER.
SO THIS INCLUDES A HUNDRED PEOPLE IN OUR RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM AND ANOTHER HUNDRED IN OUR COMMUNITY DAY PROGRAM.
OUR EMPLOYMENT TEAM, THEY'RE THE ONES THAT HELP PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES GET JOBS JUST LIKE YOU.
AND I HAVE SUPPORTS OVER 300 PEOPLE AND WE HAVE A 70%
[04:05:01]
EMPLOYMENT RATE, WHICH IS ONE OF THE HIGHEST IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND.AND ACTUALLY NATIONALLY, UM, OUR FAMILY SUPPORT PROGRAM.
IT'S SUPPORTED OVER 300 FAMILIES AND RE WITH RESOURCES AND REFERRALS.
AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, THE DISABILITY WORLD IS A REALLY DIFFICULT WORLD TO NAVIGATE.
AND SO OUR NAV NAVIGATORS HELP FAMILIES UNDERSTAND WHAT THE RESOURCES ARE FOR THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES.
OUR PERSONAL SUPPORTS TEAM SUPPORTS JUST UNDER A HUNDRED PEOPLE TO ACCOMPLISH THEIR GOALS.
AND LASTLY, OUR TREATMENT FOSTER CARE PROGRAM SUPPORTS AROUND 30 CHILDREN EVERY YEAR WITH THE GOAL OF STABILITY, CONNECTION AND SETTING THEM UP FOR FUTURE SUCCESS.
BEING A FOSTER CARE KID IS A REALLY HARD, UM, THING.
SO OUR SOCIAL WORKERS AND OUR FAMILIES DO AMAZING, UM, WORK WITH THEM.
WE ARE THE ONLY PROGRAM IN HARTFORD COUNTY THAT PROVIDES THE FULL RANGE OF DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY SERVICES.
AND WE'RE THE ONLY TREATMENT FOSTER CARE PROGRAM.
UM, ALSO IN THE COUNTY, WE ARE CELEBRATING OUR 70TH YEAR.
UM, AND YOU KNOW, WE BELIEVE IN THE ARM MOTTO OF SUPPORTING PEOPLE ACROSS THE ARC OF THEIR LIFE.
UM, BY EMPOWERING PEOPLE TO LIVE, WORK, AND THRIVE IN THEIR COMMUNITY, THIS IS THEIR COMMUNITY AS WELL.
AND SO IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO HELP THEM NAVIGATE THAT AND BE A PART OF THAT.
WE HAVE CLOSE TO 400 TEAM MEMBERS THAT MOVE OUR MISSION FORWARD.
AND SOME OF YOU, MANY OF YOU WERE ABLE TO COME AND MEET THEM AND, UM, TALK WITH THEM AND ASK THEM QUESTIONS.
AND I REALLY APPRECIATED YOUR VISIT AND COME OUT AGAIN.
I MEAN, YOU'RE MORE THAN YOU'RE NOT, YOU'RE JUST GONNA SEE A BUILDING CUZ ALL OF OUR SERVICES ARE IN THE COMMUNITY.
UM, BUT, UM, WE ARE MORE THAN, UM, HAPPY TO CONTINUE THE CONVERSATIONS COME TO OUR GALA ON MAY 6TH.
WE ARE RAISING FUNDS TO ASSIST WITH TRANSPORTATION.
MANY OF US TAKE TRANSPORTATION FOR GRANTED, BUT IT DOES DEFINITELY CAUSES ISOLATION FOR PEOPLE WE SUPPORT.
AND ESPECIALLY THOSE WE SUPPORT WITH ACCESSIBILITY NEEDS AND CAUSE WE PROVIDE SUPPORTS 24 7.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE 55 VEHICLES.
22 OF THEM ARE ACCESSIBLE AND SIX HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED TO NEEDING TO BE REPLACED.
THE REPLACEMENT COST FOR ONE OF THESE VEHICLES RANGES ANYWHERE FROM 65,000 TO 125,000 JUST FOR ONE OF THOSE ACCESSIBLE VEHICLES.
SO, UM, THAT IS WHAT OUR FUND THE NEED IS FOR THIS YEAR.
UM, WE'RE HOPING TO RAISE SOME FUNDS TO SUPPORT THAT OUR COST OF TRANSPORTATION PER YEAR, UM, EXCEEDS $250,000 A YEAR.
AND THAT DOES NOT COST THE REP, THAT DOES NOT TAKE INTO EFFECT OUR REPLACEMENT COST OF VEHICLES.
SO THE NUMBERS I SHARED EARLIER APPROACHING, UM, 1000 SUPPORTS, THESE NUMBERS WOULD BE HIGHER.
UM, IF WE HAD THE RESOURCES, UM, TO DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO.
THOSE RESOURCE RESOURCES ARE REALLY STAFFING MONEY, TRANSPORTATION AND HOUSING.
WE HAVE WAITING LISTS FOR EVERY SINGLE SERVICE THAT WE OFFER.
AND THE ONLY REASON WE'RE NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE THOSE SUPPORTS IS BECAUSE OF LACK OF RESOURCES.
SO THE NEEDS ARE STILL THERE, THERE ARE STILL PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT ARE LOOKING FOR THE SUPPORTS THAT WE PROVIDE.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'LL HAVE TO BE MAKING DECISIONS ABOUT HOW WE SUPPORT PEOPLE, UM, GOING FORWARD.
UM, WITH THAT, UM, WE ARE PROHIBITED FROM RAISING OUR COST.
WE CAN'T PASS OUR, UM, COST ONTO FAMILIES OR ANYBODY WE SUPPORT.
AND, UM, I JUST WANNA THANK YOU, UM, BECAUSE THIS COUNTY FUNDING IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO THE WORK WE DO.
WE APPRECIATE, UM, ALL THE SUPPORT OVER THE YEARS AND IT'S TOGETHER THAT OUR COMMUNITY IS STRONGER.
WE COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT YOU.
AND I DON'T, I THINK YOU NEED US TOO.
SO, UM, I APPRECIATE, UM, ALL OF YOUR HELP AND SUPPORT OVER THE YEARS.
NO DOUBT THAT WE NEED YOU TO, AND THE SERVICE THAT YOU PROVIDE.
SO, UH, ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO VISIT.
I MEAN, WE, WE SEE YOU OUT AND ABOUT.
UH, WE SEE THE IMPACT THAT YOU HAVE ON THE COMMUNITY AND THE PEOPLE THAT NEED YOUR SERVICES.
AND, UM, SO WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
UM, ALSO AS, AS THE HARVARD CENTER, YOU WERE A PART OF THE DISCUSSION THIS MORNING WITH THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE, SO ARE YOUR ORGANIZATION.
SO, UH, WE'RE HOPING FOR POSITIVE THINGS THERE.
UH, COUNSEL, ANYONE WITH QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, MR. GUTHRIE? I JUST WANT TO COMMENT CAUSE AS YOU KNOW, MY GRANDSON SAYS THAT THE, AND, UH, APPRECIATE ALL YOU DO FOR HIM.
HE'S REALLY, HE'S REALLY COME ALONG A LONG WAY AFTER HIS MOM DIED WAS TOUGH FOR HIM.
SO, UH, WE APPRECIATE ALL YOU DO FOR HIM.
IT IS A HOME AND HIS HOME, HE HAS HIS UH, HE HAS HIS OWN ROOM AND WE BROUGHT HIM A NICE BIG TV AND STUFF THAT HE PUTS IN THERE AND GIVES HIM A LOT OF STUFF THROUGH IT.
AND WE USUALLY PICK HIM UP ON THE WEEKENDS, UH, UNLESS I'M TOO BUSY HERE DOING SOMETHING.
YEAH, A LITTLE BUSY RIGHT NOW.
UH, BUT WE DO, WE AND SOON MY POOL WILL OPEN AND THEN HE'LL BE HERE ALL THE TIME.
YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T WANNA COME BACK TO HIS OWN HOME CAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A POOL.
[04:10:01]
A POOL.BUT I THANK Y'ALL FOR ALL YOU DO.
THERE'S NOT ENOUGH COMPLIMENTS THAT WE CAN GIVE.
THANK YOU FOR TRUSTING US WITH HIS SUPPORT.
UM, I HAD THE PLEASURE OF GOING THROUGH THE FACILITY AND TAKING A TOUR AND SPEAKING WITH YOUR STAFF AND I APPRECIATE THAT OPPORTUNITY.
UH, IT LOOKS LIKE JUST A VERY SMALL INCREASE IN YOUR BUDGET.
I JUST KIND OF WANTED TO SEE HOW THAT'S GONNA AFFECT YOU, UH, IN A OPERATION STANDPOINT AS WELL AS A RECRUITMENT OR RETENTION OF YOUR CURRENT STAFF.
SO RECRUITMENT, UM, AND RETENTION IS, UM, THE BIGGEST BARRIER TO THE QUALITY OF SUPPORTS WE PROVIDES, RIGHT? SO THE LONGER PEOPLE STAY WITH US, UM, AND THE BETTER TRAINED THEY ARE, THE BETTER SUPPORTS THEY PROVIDE.
AND SO WITH, UM, WE'RE ONLY, WE'RE SITTING AT 1675 AN HOUR.
AND REMEMBER MY JOBS ARE 24 7.
I HAVE A, UM, AWAKE OVERNIGHTS.
I HAVE WEEKENDS, I HAVE EVENINGS, I HAVE DAY.
AND SO WE ARE, WE'RE CURRENTLY SITTING AT ABOUT 18% OPEN FTE.
IT'S ABOUT DOUBLE, UM, OF WHAT WE LIKE TO BE AT.
UM, SO WE HAD A, UM, RECRUITMENT FAIR TODAY AND WE HAD ABOUT 11 PEOPLE COME.
UM, BUT WE'VE, OUR CLASSES EVERY MONTH HAVE BEEN, OUR NEW EMPLOYEE CLASSES HAVE BEEN ABOUT 20 PEOPLE.
SO WITHOUT THE FUNDING, UM, OUR INCREASED FUNDING, UM, WE WILL HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHERE NOT TO SPEND MONEY.
I MEAN, EVERYBODY, RIGHT? WE ALL KNOW OUR GROCER.
SO OUR HOUSES, RIGHT? THEY ALL HAVE TO PAY ALL OF OUR HOUSES.
THE 30 HOMES THAT, UM, WE OPERATE.
THEY'RE, UM, UM, INCREASED GAS, UM, COST, GROCERY, COST ELECTRIC, JUST LIKE ALL OF US ARE EXPERIENCING THAT, RIGHT? SO FLAT FUNDING, UM, WE WILL HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WAYS TO, UM, CUT SOME OTHER WAYS OR NOT PROVIDE SUPPORTS.
CUZ A LOT OF STUFF THAT WE DO, THE ARC DOES IS UNFUNDED.
SO, UM, OUR FAMILY SUPPORT PROGRAM IS REALLY UNFUNDED AND THAT IS A PROGRAM THAT WE CHOOSE TO DO BECAUSE WE BELIEVE IN THE VALUE OF HOW TO SUPPORT FAMILIES.
AND SO, AND WE ALSO WILL SUPPORT PEOPLE WHO NEED OUR RESIDENTIAL SERVICES AND THEY MIGHT NOT GET PAID RIGHT AWAY.
WE MIGHT NOT GET PAID RIGHT AWAY, BUT WE KNOW THAT THERE'S A NEED.
SO ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES WILL CALL AND WE DO OUR BEST TO, YOU KNOW, GET RESPITE MONEY.
UM, BUT THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS.
SO SOME OF THOSE EXTRAS, WHICH IS WHAT THE COUNTY, THOSE COUNTY DOLLARS REALLY GO TO.
THE EXTRAS, THE QUALITY OF SUPPORT THAT WE PROVIDE.
AND SO THOSE WILL BE THINGS THAT WILL, UM, BE LOOKING AT.
UM, THE, THE $66,370 INCREASE IS REALLY A REALLOCATION OF THE GRANT NEED FUNDING.
WHAT WAS THE REQUEST IN GRANT NEED FUNDING? SO THE LAST TWO YEARS WE HAD RECEIVED, UM, 70 44 AND 30.
UM, FOR OUR GALA, THEY SPONSOR US AT, UM, 2,500.
THAT'S BEEN PRETTY MUCH THE HISTORICAL.
AND DID THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE GIVE ANY HINT OF THAT CONTINUING OR STOPPING THIS YEAR? NO, NO.
I, THIS YEAR I DON'T THINK WE DID GET FUNDED FOR THE GALA, BUT I, I DON'T, I'M NOT, UM, SURE ABOUT THAT, BUT I THINK THAT'S JUST BECAUSE IT WAS A NEW ADMINISTRATION AND THEY WERE JUST WORKING THROUGH THOSE THINGS.
ANYTHING ELSE, MR. BENNETT? SO THAT'S $10,130, JUST SO WE KNOW EXACTLY HOW MUCH TO TELL BOB CASTLEY TO ADD TO THE BUDGET FOR THE ARG.
SO, UM, FACILITY, THANKS TO, YOU KNOW, FOR THE TOUR AGAIN, UM, YOU GET, DO YOU GET A LOT OF OUTSIDE FUNDING? UH, YOU KNOW, LIKE GROUPS LIKE SAAB THAT WE DO THE GOLF TOURNAMENT? YEAH, THERE'S THIS GROUP CALLED SAAB THAT DOES A LOT OF SPONSORING OF US.
UH, WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT, WE'RE, WE'RE GLAD TO DO THAT.
GLAD TO PARTNER WITH YOU GUYS AND, AND HOPEFULLY THERE'S OTHER PEOPLE DO, IS THERE OTHER GROUPS LIKE US THAT DO DO THAT? DO YOU, YOU KNOW, WHAT KIND OF REVENUE DO YOU GENERATE FROM OUTSIDE GROUPS THAT, UH, MIGHT PARTNER WITH YOU GUYS, YOU KNOW, FOR, FOR DIFFERENT THINGS OR DO SOMETHING ON YOUR BEHALF? SO SPONSORSHIPS, I MEAN, FOR OUR EVENTS, THAT'S ONE WAY THAT PEOPLE, BUSINESSES PARTNER WITH US.
SO LIKE GXO, WHO'S A BUSINESS PARTNER OF OURS WHO HIRES PEOPLE WE SUPPORT, THEY'RE ACTUALLY SPONSORING US THIS YEAR.
UM, WE HAVE ADOPT A HOME, UM, WHERE BUSINESSES COME IN AND THEY BECOME LIKE VOLUNTEERS TO GET TO KNOW THE PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING IN THE HOME AND SPONSORING 'EM IN THOSE WAYS.
WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR BUSINESS PARTNERSHIPS.
WHAT KIND OF REVENUE DO YOU SEE ON A YEARLY BASIS FROM, UM, SPONSORSHIPS AND PEOPLE THAT, SO OUR FUNDRAISERS, UM, OUR
[04:15:01]
DEVELOPMENT TEAM DOESN'T, DOES A, UM, A VERY GOOD JOB.UM, THEY RAISE ABOUT BETWEEN GRANTS AND FUNDRAISING AROUND $700,000, UM, A YEAR.
SO HAS THAT GONE UP? YES, THE LAST COUPLE YEARS.
ACTUALLY, INTERESTINGLY, AFTER COVID A LITTLE BIT SETTLED, WE GOTTA SEE, SAW A LITTLE BIT OF AN INCREASE.
BUT RIGHT NOW WE'LL SEE HOW THE GALA TURNS OUT BECAUSE I KNOW PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THEIR THEIR BOTTOM LINE, THEIR OWN BOTTOM LINE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF, UM, THE COST, UM, OF THINGS GOING UP.
SO, OH, A GOLF TOURNAMENTS SOLD OUT.
YOUR GOLF TOURNAMENT DID SELL OUT.
AND WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE THAT WANNA SPONSOR, SO YEAH, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH A NICE CHECK.
THANKS YOU MR. GINGER, DAN, ANYONE ELSE? UM, WITH NO ONE ELSE.
UH, WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AT THE GALA.
LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU THERE TOO.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, UM, AGAIN FOR ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT.
HAVE A GREAT REST OF YOUR AFTERNOON.
I'LL TAKE YOUR ATTENTION TO PAGES.
THE ELECTIONS BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 24 IS 3,802,116.
THAT REPRESENTS AN INCREASE OF $373,041.
UM, THE INCREASE IS LARGELY DRIVEN FROM A, UH, 92,628, UM, UH, INCREASE FOR ELECTION, UH, DAY JUDGES AND THEN ALSO A $268,013, UM, UH, INCREASE FOR OUR PAYMENTS TO THE STATE AGENCIES, UM, FOR OUR MANDATED REIMBURSEMENTS TO THE, TO THE STATE STATEWIDE ELECTIONS.
UM, MY NAME'S STEPHANIE TAYLOR.
I'M THE DIRECTOR OF THE HARFORD COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTION.
IF YOU WOULD INDULGE ME, I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE SOME OF MY STAFF.
ANYBODY WHO FILED FOR KENNETH C PROUDLY SPOKE TO STEVEN FERRIS.
AND THEN, UH, AMY SULLIVAN NEXT TO HIM.
SHE RUNS OUR VOTER REGISTRATION DEPARTMENT WITH ABSOLUTE DETAIL AND, UM, CARE OF THAT DEPARTMENT.
AND THEN WE HAVE KAREN PERRY, SHE RUNS OUR JUDGE DEPARTMENT.
SHE'S NEW TO OUR OFFICE, BUT NOT NEW TO ELECTIONS.
AND WE HAVE J MR. JOE PRICE, WHO IS OUR BOARD VICE PRESIDENT.
UM, AS YOU KNOW, WE RUN ALL THE FEDERAL STATE AND WE ASSIST WITH THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS IN HARTFORD COUNTY.
WE STRIVE VERY HARD TO BE TRANSPARENT TO, UM, FOLLOW THE LETTER OF THE LAW BECAUSE EVERYTHING WE DO IN OUR OFFICE IS DICTATED BY LAW AND CODE.
UM, A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE IN OUR BUDGET.
IT'S NOT THINGS THAT WE WANT IN THERE.
THERE'S THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE IN THERE.
UM, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY LOVES TO ADD TO THAT BUDGET.
UM, SO YOU CAN THANK THEM FOR THAT.
UM, OTHER THAN THAT, I MEAN, WE, WE WORK, OH, ANOTHER THING.
WE DO WORK 365 DAYS A YEAR EVERY YEAR.
PEOPLE OFTEN ASK US, YOU KNOW, OH, YOU DON'T WORK ON THE OFF YEARS.
IT TAKES A GOOD 18 MONTHS TO GET READY FOR AN ELECTION.
THERE'S A LOT OF MAINTENANCE TO DO.
WE HAVE VOTER REGISTRATION THAT IS ONGOING.
WE HAVE, WE CALL MEET AND GREETS.
WE INVITE, UM, POTENTIAL JUDGES IN.
WE, YOU KNOW, TELL THEM WHAT'S HAPPENING, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S GOING ON AND WHAT THEIR POTENTIAL DUTIES MIGHT BE FOR AN ELECTION.
AND, UH, DECIDE IF THEY WANT TO DO THAT LONG, LONG DAY OF ELECTION DAY AND THE LONG, LONG EIGHT DAYS OF EARLY VOTING.
AND SOMETIMES THEY SAY, THANKS, BUT NO THANKS.
AND SOMETIMES THEY SAY, YEAH, WE'RE ON BOARD.
SO STEPHANIE, LET ME TELL YOU, I'M SU SURELY GLAD THAT WE'RE SITTING HERE TODAY IN A DIFFERENT ATMOSPHERE AND NOT, UM, GOING THROUGH THE STEPS THAT YOU HAD SET IF NEEDED.
WELL, NOT ONLY THAT, I MEAN, IT WAS, IT'S MUCH MORE THAN THAT.
BUT IT WAS REALLY COMFORTING TO ME, UH, TO KNOW THAT WE HAD, UH, A DEPARTMENT THAT WAS THERE DEDICATED TO GIVE US ALL THE INFORMATION WE NEEDED, UH, IN THE EVENT THAT WE HAD TO MOVE FORWARD.
UM, YOU HAD EVERYTHING LAID OUT IN DETAIL, UH, TO THE TIME, THE COST, EVERYTHING THAT WE REQUESTED OF YOU, YOU PROVIDED IN A, IN A VERY, VERY QUICK MANNER, UH, AND OBVIOUSLY SHARED, UH, WITH THE, UH, ADMINISTRATION.
AND, UM, UH, I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR THAT.
UM, WHEN I WAS ASKED A MILLION TIMES, UH, WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO? AND I SAID, WELL, OBVIOUSLY WE'RE NOT READY TO DO ANYTHING, BUT IF,
[04:20:01]
IF IN THE EVENT CERTAIN THINGS HAPPEN, WE ARE PREPARED.AND I WANT TO THANK YOU AND YOUR DEPARTMENT FOR THAT.
IT WASN'T TRULY A TEAM EFFORT.
BUT I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR IT.
THANK YOU HONOR, BECAUSE YOU'RE THE ONE I TALKED TO.
MR. PENMAN AND STEPHANIE AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO, UM, JUST FOLLOW, UH, COUNCIL PRESIDENT, UH, TREMENDOUS JOB THAT YOU DO AND THE SUPPORT THAT YOU GIVE US AND, YOU KNOW, MULTIPLE INITIATIVES ACROSS THE, ACROSS THE BOARD.
UM, I KNOW YOUR STAFF IS IMPORTANT TO YOU AND I I JUST WANTED TO TALK ABOUT, UH, INCREASES COLAS.
UM, AND DOES THAT, DO THEY GET THE 1.5 OR NO, I DON'T, I MEAN, BECAUSE THE, UM, THERE YOUR WAGES ARE DEPENDENT ARE, ARE DETERMINED RIGHT AT THE, THE, THE STATE LEVEL.
SO IF, IF THERE WAS A STATE INCREASE, THEN THAT WOULD FLOW THROUGH, UM, BUT NOT IN THAT DIRECT ONE AND A HALF PERCENT ON THE, ON THE COUNTY SIDE.
SO I DO KNOW THAT STATE IS IS DOING COLAS THOUGH.
THEY DID COLAS AND STEP INCREASES.
THEY DID A, UH, GOVERNOR HOGAN AND GOVERNOR WESTMORE HAVE BOTH IMPLEMENTED A COUPLE STEPS AND A COUPLE COLAS.
I'M ALSO GLAD IT'S A DIFFERENT SETTING.
CAN YOU JUST EXPLAIN, YOU KNOW, JUST THE DIFFERENT ROLE YOU GUYS PLAY IN MUNICIPALITY ELECTIONS IN HARTFORD COUNTY? ALL THREE MUNICIPALITIES? IT'S SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT.
UM, HAPPY GRACE, WE PLAY A VERY KEY ROLE IN THAT ELECTION.
I, I KIND OF ANTICIPATE US TAKING A STEP BACK ON THAT ONE CUZ THEY HAD DIFFERENT PEOPLE IN PLACE.
BUT WE INITIALLY, WE UM, SUPPLY ALL THE EQUIPMENT ON NON-ELECTION YEARS BECAUSE THEY HAVE ONE EVERY YEAR AND IT'S IN MAY.
AND ESPECIALLY, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU REALIZE THEY MOVED THE PRIMARY ELECTION TO MAY 14TH NEXT YEAR, WHICH OUR EARLY VOTING WOULD BE DURING THEIR MUNICIPAL ELECTION.
SO AT THAT TIME THEY WOULD JUST GET A PRECINCT REGISTER AND ONCE THEY HAVE ON THE YEARS THAT THEY HAVE THE EQUIPMENT, WE DO GO UP THERE.
WE HAVE A SCHEDULE WHERE THE EMPLOYEES GO UP ON SHIFTS.
WE HELP OP OR SET UP OPEN, UH, THROUGHOUT THE DAY.
WE HELP CLOSE DOWN, WE BRING THE EQUIPMENT BACK.
BELLAIRE IS UM, A LITTLE SMALLER SO WE USUALLY GO OVER AND SET UP THE EQUIPMENT IN THE MORNING, GET 'EM OPENED UP AND THEN WE LEAVE.
SINCE WE'RE SO CLOSE THEY, IF THEY HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WE CAN GO OVER IN A MOMENT'S NOTICE AND HELP 'EM OUT AND THEN THAT EVENING WE WILL GO AND HELP 'EM CLOSE AND BRING THE EQUIPMENT BACK.
ABERDEEN USED TO BE, ABERDEEN WAS EVERY FOUR YEARS, BUT NOW THEY'RE EVERY TWO YEARS.
SO WE'RE UP THERE A LITTLE BIT MORE WITH ABERDEEN.
UM, CUZ JUST CUZ THEY WANT US THERE.
AND UH, SAME THING AS HAVE GRACE, JUST NOT TO THE EXTENT OF THE HELP THAT WE GIVE HAPPY GRACE, THEY'RE MORE, UM, SELF-SUFFICIENT.
ANYONE ELSE? ANYONE ELSE? NOPE.
THANK YOU TO THE PRESENTATION.
AND I GUESS THIS WILL END THE FIRST WORK SESSION THANKS.