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WE CAN START WITH FIRST.[County Council Budget Work Session]
FIRST OF ALL, LET ME, UH, SAY GOOD MORNING TO EVERYONE AND, AND, UH, OPEN UP THIS FIRST, UH, BUDGET SESSION, WORK SESSION, I SHOULD SAY.NO, HE'S NOT, HE'S NOT COMING.
UH, JUST FOR THE RECORD, THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE IS NOT JOINING US THIS MORNING, SO I ASSUME THAT YOU WILL BE PRESENTING FOR HIM.
SO, MR. MCCORD, WHENEVER YOU'RE READY, THEN YEAH.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, UM, THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE IS PROVIDING ALL THE STAFF THAT HE NORMALLY PROVIDES TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS.
UM, HE'S BEEN PUTTING OUT BUDGET MESSAGES SINCE MARCH, AND, UM, I WILL JUST REITERATE A COUPLE OF THOSE POINTS THAT HE'S BEEN MAKING THAT, UH, HE RELEASES BUDGET WITH NO OVERALL INCREASE IN GOVERNMENT SPENDING, NO INCREASE IN TAX RATES.
MAJOR INVESTMENTS IN PUBLIC SAFETY AND EDUCATION ARE PAID FOR THROUGH EFFICIENCY AND PRUDENT USE OF ACCUMULATED SAVINGS, ALSO KNOWN AS FUND BALANCE.
NOW FACING NEW AND UNANTICIPATED FISCAL CHALLENGE LAST YEAR, OUR FOCUS ON REDUCING EXCESS OF SPENDING THIS YEAR, OUR CHALLENGE IS SUBSTANTIAL REDUCTION IN TAX REVENUE AVAILABLE TO OPERATE THE STATE AND COUNTY GOVERNMENTS.
SO THE REASONS FOR OUR STATE'S CURRENT PREDICAMENT ARE NOT OPEN, ARE REALLY ACTUALLY OPEN TO DEBATE, BUT THE FACT OF THE REDUCTION IN REVENUE IS NOT INCOME TAX REVENUE IS DOWN THIS YEAR BY $13 MILLION.
UM, OUR CHOICES IN RESPONDING TO THE CHALLENGES ARE CLEAR.
WE CAN HOLD THE LINE ON SPENDING AND INCREASE GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCIES OR WE CAN RAISE TAXES.
THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE DOES NOT SUPPORT A TAX INCREASE.
OUR COUNTY'S LONG TERM FISCAL SUCCESS DEPENDS ON RETAINING AND ATTRACTING GOOD BUSINESSES AND TAX PAYERS.
BURDENSOME TAX INCREASES WOULD DO NEITHER.
THEY WOULD PRODUCE ONLY SHORT TERM REVENUE GAINS, BUT AT EXPENSE OF LONG TERM FISCAL STRENGTH.
OVERALL, THE PROPOSED $773 MILLION GENERAL FUND OPERATING BUDGET IS FLAT WITH AN INCREASE OF 0.67% AND NO CHANGE IN TAX RATES.
AREAS WHERE THE BUDGET IS INCREASED OR OFFSET BY REDUCTIONS AND EFFICIENCIES ELSEWHERE, INCLUDING LINE ITEM CUTS WITHIN COUNTY DEPARTMENTS, LEAVING SOME OPEN POSITIONS, UNFILLED AND ELIMINATING POSITIONS THROUGH RETIREMENT INCENTIVE, A SALARY INCREASE COMPRISED OF A 1% COLA AND $1,000 MERIT INCREASE FOR COUNTY EMPLOYEES IS FUNDED THROUGH SUCH MEASURES.
OPERATING BUDGET INCREASES ARE MAINLY FOR PUBLIC SAFETY AS WE CONTINUE STRENGTHENING THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES, FUNDING COMPETITIVE SALARIES FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND PROVIDING VITAL RESOURCES FOR THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
THE BUDGET FOR INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY INCREASES DUE TO THE RISING COST OF SOFTWARE, WHICH IS NECESSARY TO IMPROVE OVERALL OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY.
MAJOR AGENCIES THAT WE HELP TO FUND THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, LIBRARIES, AND COMMUNITY COLLEGE HAVE EACH ACCUMULATED RESERVES FROM PRIOR YEARS OF TAXPAYER FUNDING.
THEY CAN USE THESE FUNDS AND FIND EFFICIENCIES TO PAY FOR SPENDING THEY BELIEVE IS NECESSARY ABOVE THE AMOUNTS PROVIDED BY THIS BUDGET AND BY THE STATE COUNTY.
OPERATING FUNDING FOR THESE AGENCIES IS ALSO FLAT IN FISCAL YEAR 25 AT $314 MILLION.
FUNDING FOR THE HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS BY FAR THE LARGEST COMPONENT OF THE COUNTY BUDGET, EXCEEDING BY $1 MILLION.
THE MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT AMOUNT REQUIRED BY THE STATE UNDER THE BLUEPRINT PROGRAM, AS WE'VE BEEN DOING ALL YEAR, WE WILL CONTINUE WORKING WITH THE SCHOOL SYSTEM ON WAYS TO SHARE AND TO REDUCE COST SO THAT THE SAVINGS CAN BE DIRECTED TO THE CLASSROOM.
HARTFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS CURRENTLY SITTING ON NEARLY $100 MILLION MONEY GIVEN TO THEM FOR THE CHILDREN THAT HAS NEVER MADE IT TO THE CLASSROOMS. MAJOR CAPITAL PROJECTS FOR SCHOOLS INCLUDE CONTINUED FUNDING FOR THE NEW HOMESTEAD WAKEFIELD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, PLAYING FOR NEW COMBINATION ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, HARTFORD ACADEMY, WHICH SERVES CHILDREN WITH SEVERE DISABILITIES AND SIGNIFICANT UPGRADES TO SEE MILTON WRIGHT AND HARTFORD TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOLS.
THE LIBRARY IN HARTFORD COMMUNITY COLLEGE ARE ALSO FLAT.
THEY'RE ALSO SITTING ON FUND BALANCES OF $12 MILLION AND $140 MILLION RESPECTIVELY.
THE OTHER MAJOR CAPITAL PROJECTS INCLUDE PLANNING FUNDS FOR DROP OF TOWN ACTIVITY CENTER AND PLANNING FOR A 1200 PLUS ACRE REGIONAL PARK ON THE OAK AND PENINSULA BETWEEN ABERDEEN AND HAVERTY GRACE, WE'RE FUNDING VOLUNTEER FIRE AND EMS STATION AT RIVERSIDE WHITEFORD VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY.
UM, DESIGN FUNDS FOR A NEW STATION, HARTFORD COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE DETENTION CENTER, REPAIRS AND UPGRADES, UM, BODY-WORN CAMERAS FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IN-CAR CAMERAS, MOBILE DATA OR TERMINAL UM, REPLACEMENTS AND FLEET REPLACEMENTS.
WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR ALL OF THE BUDGET TEAM AND ALL OF THE COUNTY EMPLOYEES FOR HELPING TO CREATE A RESPONSIBLE SPENDING PLAN FOR THE NEXT YEAR MEETS OUR NEEDS.
DOES NOT DEMAND MORE FROM HARFORD COUNTY TAXPAYERS.
UH, I WOULD HOPE THAT WE WOULD HAVE A COPY OF THAT STATEMENT PROVIDED, UH, TO, UM, MS. DIXON TODAY, I CAN YES.
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YOU.SO THAT EACH COUNCIL MEMBER WOULD HAVE A COPY OF IT.
UM, AND THEN WITH THAT, I THINK WE'LL MOVE RIGHT INTO, UM, THE BUDGET PORTION BECAUSE NO SENSE IN ASKING QUESTIONS, UH, OF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE.
HE'S NOT HERE, SO WE'LL WAIT TILL YOU PRESENT.
HOLD ON JUST A SECOND, MR. BENNETT.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY ON THE RECORD, AND HOPEFULLY YOU CAN PASS THIS ALONG TO THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE.
I'M EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED TO NOT HAVE HIM IN THE ROOM THIS MORNING.
EVEN IF HE HAD JUST READ THAT STATEMENT AND LEFT, UM, IT SENDS A STRONG STATEMENT TO NOT EVEN BE WILLING TO COME HERE FOR SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART OF THIS PROCESS.
I KNOW MANY OF US HAVE SECOND JOBS THAT WE TOOK OFF FROM TO BE HERE THIS MORNING.
UM, AND THIS IS THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW WHERE THERE'S A LOT TO CONTEND WITH, WITH THIS BUDGET AND WITH OUR COUNTY'S LONG-TERM FINANCIAL HEALTH.
AND I JUST FIND IT DISRESPECTFUL TO US AS A COUNCIL AND TO THE COUNTY AS A WHOLE, THAT HE CAN'T MAKE 45 MINUTES OF HIS TIME TO BE HERE FOR THE OVERVIEW OF THIS, UH, BUDGET.
THAT DOESN'T MATTER ENOUGH TO HIM TO BE HERE IN THIS ROOM FOR 45 MINUTES.
ANYONE ELSE? MR. THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
I WOULD ECHO WHAT COUNCILMAN BENNETT SAID.
I WANT TO THANK YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR SHOWING UP AND BEING HERE.
UM, LIKE MR. BENNETT, UH, SOME PEOPLE WORK MIDNIGHTS AND THEN COME HERE TO PERFORM OUR CIVIC DUTY.
UH, AND IF YOU PUT A PRODUCT OUT THERE, YOU SHOULD STAND BY THAT PRODUCT AND ANSWER QUESTIONS THAT PRODUCT, AND I APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE, BUT I'M DISAPPOINTED THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE SHOULD, SHOULD, SHOULD HAVE BEEN HERE AND IS NOT HERE.
I WANT TO, UH, ECHO FROM THE CITIZEN SIDE.
IT'S THIS AS WELL, IS THAT OUR DISAPPOINTMENT IS ALSO THERE BECAUSE WE HAVE, A LOT OF US HAVE BEEN IN THIS ROOM FOR ALMOST EIGHT TO 10 YEARS, UM, AND HAVE NEVER NOT SEEN A COUNTY EXECUTIVE SHOW UP FOR US.
LAST YEAR, HE SHOWED UP FOR HOURS, UH, IF EVERYBODY REMEMBERS, WHICH I THINK WE ALL APPRECIATED WITH WHAT WE WERE GOING THROUGH.
UM, IF WE'RE GONNA THROW THINGS AROUND LIKE STRUCTURAL DEFICIT AND THEN NOW THIS YEAR, IT'S, EVERYTHING'S FLAT TOWED THE LINE.
THERE WAS NO COMMUNICATION FROM WHAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO UNDERSTAND WITH A LOT OF THESE DIRECTORS OR DEPARTMENT HEADS.
THE, UH, SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, THE SCHOOLS.
IF, IF WE'RE GONNA HAVE NO COMMUNICATION IN THIS COUNTY, THEN IT NEEDS TO BE NOTED THAT THE MONEY THAT IS BEING ALLOCATED TODAY IS FROM EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM.
ASSUMING THAT YOU LIVE IN HARTFORD COUNTY, THAT MEANS EVERYBODY IN THE COUNTY THAT WORKS, THAT'S ALL SUFFERING TODAY BECAUSE OF THIS, WHAT I'LL CALL A STRUCTURAL FUND BALANCE.
NOW, IF WE'RE GONNA COMPLETELY FLIP THE, UH, SCRIPT HERE AS TO WHAT WE WANNA TALK ABOUT.
SO IF WE WANT TO PUT MONEY BACK IN AND SAY WE HAVE THIS AMOUNT OF DOLLARS, END OF THE DAY, IT'S MATH AND WE CAN FOLLOW THE MATH.
SO FROM THE CITIZEN SIDE AND, AND, AND THIS GROUP THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE ASSEMBLED HERE TO SITTING HERE AND TO LISTEN TO THESE PROCEEDINGS, WE ARE ALSO EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED THAT WE DON'T SEE OUR COUNTY EXECUTIVE TODAY.
ANYONE ELSE? THANK YOU, MR. MCCORD.
WE CAN START WITH THE FIRST ONE.
TURN TO THE DIRECTOR OF BUDGET MANAGEMENT.
THIS IS START OF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S BUDGET.
THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE SHOWS A, UH, SLIGHT INCREASE OF 30,858.
UM, THAT IS ALL IN PERSONAL SERVICES, AND AS YOU CAN SEE, IT WAS FOR FISCAL YEAR 20 FOURS AS WELL AS THIS YEAR'S FY 25 COLA OF 1% IN A MERIT OF A THOUSAND DOLLARS.
UM, AND THEN SOME SLIGHT ADJUSTMENTS TO PENSION AND HEALTH BENEFITS.
AND THAT'S BASED ON WHAT WE WERE SEEING FOR THE INCREASES.
OTHER THAN THAT, THERE WAS NO CHANGE IN ANY OF THE OTHER LINE ITEMS IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S BUDGET.
IF YOU TURN TO PAGE 1 42, THIS IS THE OFFICE OF EXECUTIVE STAFF.
YOU'LL SEE THEY HAVE A DECREASE THERE OF 72,629.
AND AGAIN, THAT IS ULTIMATELY ALL IMPERSONAL SERVICES.
UH, WE DID TRANSFER ONE POSITION OUT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY SERVICES, UM, FOR REDUCTION OF 1 0 7 2 71, BUT IT ALSO DOES ADJUST FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 24 COLA OF 22 8 29.
AND THIS YEAR'S FISCAL YEAR 20 FIVES COLA OF 1% AND MERIT OF A THOUSAND OF 22 626.
OTHER THAN THAT, IT'S JUST SOME ADJUSTMENTS TO PENSION AND HEALTH BENEFITS BASED ON WHERE WE FEEL THOSE COSTS ARE GOING.
AND THEN THERE IS A NEW CALL CENTER UNDER THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S BUDGET OF 37,870, AND THIS IS FOR VETERANS AFFAIRS.
UM, THERE'S SOME TEMPORARY SALARIES THERE FOR, UM, SOMEONE TO ASSIST IN THAT OF $20,000.
AND THEN $16,000 IS BASICALLY FOR, UM, SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS TO HOLD THE VETERANS RESOURCE FAIR
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AND OTHER MATERIALS AS NEEDED.THAT WOULD BE IT FOR THE COUNTY IS NO.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FROM COUNSEL? GO AHEAD.
UM, THIS IS JUST A GENERAL QUESTION, BUT IS THERE ANYTHING CONTRACTUALLY OR LEGALLY REQUIRING THAT ALL DIRECTORS AND DEPUTY DIRECTORS RECEIVE THE SAME COLA AS OUR COUNTY EMPLOYEES? UM, AS FAR AS THE 2024 AND 2025 COLA, UM, THAT WOULD SAY THAT YOU ALL ALSO RECEIVED THE 1% PLUS 1000? I'M NOT AWARE OF THAT.
UM, LEGISL ELECTED OFFICIALS, YES.
BUT THERE'S NOTHING THAT WHEN YOU TOOK THE JOB THAT SAYS THAT YOU ALL ALSO RECEIVED THAT.
UM, I ONLY ASK, UM, AND THIS IS SOMETHING I'LL ASK ROBBIE ABOUT OR MR. SANLI ABOUT MORE LATER.
UM, BUT AS WE'RE SAYING THAT WE'RE ONLY GOING TO HAVE $2.7 MILLION IN AVAILABLE UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE BY NEXT SUMMER, UM, IT SEEMS CONCERNING TO ME THAT WE WOULD STILL BE FUNDING THINGS LIKE COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENTS FOR OUR HIGHEST PAID EMPLOYEES, UH, WHEN WE'RE ENTERING WHAT LOOKS LIKE A FISCAL CLIFF TO ME OF HAVING NO MONEY AVAILABLE FOR ANY EMERGENCIES ANYWHERE.
UM, AND WE'RE STILL FUNDING COLAS, SO I JUST WANT TO, I WANTED TO ASK THAT AS WE'RE LOOKING AT POTENTIAL BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS, IS THAT NECESS, IS IT REQUIRED TO FUND THOSE COLAS? SO THANK YOU FOR THAT ANSWER.
MR. GINGER, DENNIS, GOOD MORNING.
SO, UH, CHIEF OF CHIEF OF EXECUTIVE STAFF WENT FROM ONE POSITIONS TO TWO.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT? ONE PERSON WAS PROMOTED TO, SO NOW THERE'S TWO, CINDY MUFFY WAS PROMOTED TO.
WHAT WAS SHE BEFORE? A DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF, I BELIEVE.
I BELIEVE IF YOU SHE WASN'T A DIRECTOR IN, BUT NOW SHE'S OKAY.
UM, AND THEN YOU, YOU'LL SEE THAT ON THE STAFF CHART ON PAGE 1 44.
DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF WENT TO ZERO.
AND NOW THERE'S ZERO DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF, CORRECT? CORRECT.
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE OTHER TWO? ONE GOT PROMOTED AND ONE WE ELIMINATED.
WHEN YOU ELIMINATED ONE ONE'S LEFT, WHAT HAPPENED TO THE THIRD ONE? TWO, THERE'S, THERE'S NONE LEFT.
THERE'S NO DEPUTY CHIEF STAFF.
SO ONE GOT PROMOTED, ONE GOT ELIMINATED, THEN THERE'S TWO.
SO LET'S DO IT A STEP FURTHER.
CAN YOU IDENTIFY THE THREE DEPUTY CHIEFS OF STAFF THAT WERE THERE AT ONE TIME? PLEASE TAKE THINK IT'S DENNIS.
I THINK IT WAS GENEVIEVE SAM AND CINDY SAM CALL? YES.
AND WHO ARE THEY NOW? THERE'S JUST TWO CHIEFS NOW, CINDY AND JOE.
UH, MR. GUTHRIE, JUST, JUST A QUICK QUESTION.
I, I, I, FROM THE LABOR BACKGROUND NEGOTIATE LOTS OF CONTRACTS WITH COLAS AND THEM.
WOULDN'T THE KOHLER, UM, COVER ALL EMPLOYEES ANYWAY? IT USUALLY DOES, BUT THERE, THERE'S NOTHING IN WRITING THAT SAYS YOU HAVE TO PROVIDE, BUT IT WOULD CERTAINLY BE DISCRIMINATORY TO TAKE THIS GROUP OF PEOPLE AND SAYING, YOU'RE NOT GONNA GET THE COLD.
I BELIEVE DEAN WOULD HAVE TO DO IT FOR THE ONES THAT ARE REPRESENTED BY A UNION AT CS.
YEAH, THAT'S NOT A QUESTION WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT TRADITIONAL.
JUST, JUST LIKE THE BOARD OF ED AND THE BOARD OF EDUCATION ALSO KIND OF, THEY DO THE SAME.
I MEAN, THEY ACTUALLY HAVE MORE OFFICIAL KIND OF ALMOST MEET, YOU KNOW, ME TOO.
OR, YOU KNOW, TO EXTEND THE SAME PHRASES ALL AROUND.
MORE LIKE A ME TOO CLAUSE OVER THERE.
UM, LET JUST FOLLOW UP ONE MORE.
I, I THINK THERE WAS A QUESTION.
I JUST WANT TO BE CERTAIN ON IT.
UM, SO WITH THE 1% COLA AND THE MERIT FOR CERTAIN COUNTY EMPLOYEES, WOULD ANYONE IN THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE STAFF OR THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION OTHER THAN THE ELECTED OFFICIAL, BE RECEIVING MORE THAN THAT? NO.
THEY SHOULD NOT BE RECEIVING MORE THAN WHAT THE 1% OR 1000 UNLESS THEY'VE BEEN PROMOTED.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVES DEPARTMENT.
ADMINISTRATION, THE DIRECTOR'S OFFICE BEGINS ON PAGE 1 53.
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THERE'S A SLIGHT INCREASE THERE OF $6,354.AND BASICALLY THAT IS ALL IN PERSONAL SERVICES AS YOU SEE.
UM, THERE'S, UM, FISCAL YEAR 25 COLA OF 1% IN AMER, WHICH IS 1000 TO ALL OF THE EMPLOYEES.
AND THEN THERE'S SOME HELP BENEFIT ADJUSTMENTS.
OTHER THAN THAT, THERE WAS NOTHING GOING ON THERE.
WE TURN TO PAGE, WELL, 1 55 PROPERTY MANAGEMENT.
YOU'LL SEE THAT MOVED SEVERAL YEARS AGO.
UM, RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, THAT IS BASICALLY ONE EMPLOYEE THAT'S BASICALLY OUR ENER, OUR EFFICIENCY PERSON, UM, LOOKING FOR SAVINGS THERE.
UM, THERE IS A DECREASE IN THAT DIVISION OF 54,493, AND THAT IS THE ELIMINATION OF SOME TEMPORARY SALARIES THAT WE RELOCATED, UM, TO THE NEW CALL CENTER AND HOUSING AND COMMUNITY SERVICES.
UM, HEALTH BENEFITS WERE ADJUSTED, UM, ALSO BASED ON ACTUALS FOR THOSE EMPLOYEES.
AND THEN CONTRACTUAL SERVICES DECREASES $500 AND THEN BUSINESS AND TRAVEL INCREASES 2000.
THAT'S FOR TRAINING COURSES AND MEETINGS, SO FORTH.
IF YOU TURN TO PAGE 1 65, THIS IS BUDGET MANAGEMENT.
AND AGAIN, THE BULK OF THAT INCREASE IS IN PERSONAL SERVICES.
IT, UH, ACCOUNTS FOR THE COLA FROM LAST YEAR OF 16, 419, AND THE FISCAL YEAR 25 COLA AT A COST OF 19,745.
THERE WAS NO CHANGE IN CONTRACTUAL SERVICES, SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS.
WE DECREASED, UM, BASED ON ACTUAL SPENDING FOR COMMERCIAL PRINTING OF $5,000.
AND THERE'S NO CHANGE IN BUSINESS AND TRAVEL.
AND THAT'S IT FOR ADMINISTRATION.
UM, ROB, LET ME, UM, THANK YOU AND KIM BOTH FOR COMING TO SEE ME ON MONDAY, UH, LAST WEEK.
I APPRECIATE THE TIME WE SPENT TOGETHER.
I APPRECIATE YOU ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS THAT I'D ASKED AND THE INFORMATION THAT I ASKED FOR.
UM, I ASKED FOR, UH, THE CONTRACTUAL, UH, FOLKS AND THE AMOUNTS AND TITLES.
THE ONE THING THAT I FORGOT TO ASK FOR IS TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES.
I WOULD LIKE A COPY OF ALL TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES IDENTIFYING WHO THEY ARE, WHAT DEPARTMENT THEY WORK IN, OR WHAT THEIR TITLE IS AND THEIR PAY.
AND IF WE COULD GET THAT LIKE AS QUICKLY AS WE GOT THIS, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
AND THEN THE, THE OTHER QUESTION THAT I HAVE, AND, AND I'M SURE IT'S GONNA BE ASKED A THOUSAND TIMES THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS, IF WE HAVE THESE, UH, DEFICIENCY DOWNTURN IN REVENUES, UH, WHAT ARE WE DOING IN OUR COUNTY TO PROMOTE AND GROWTH NEW REVENUE SOURCES? WHAT ARE WE DOING? MR. MCCORD? CAN YOU ANSWER THAT? THERE'S, WE'RE NOT LOOKING AT RAISING TAXES.
I'M ASKING WHAT ARE WE DOING TO GENERATE NEW REVENUE TO TAKE THE PLACE OF SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE FALLING SHORT ON? UH, OBVIOUSLY OUR COST OF DOING BUSINESS EVERY DAY IS INCREASING.
UM, WE CAN JUST LOOK AT THE DES AND UNDERSTAND THAT RIGHT OUTTA THE GATE.
SO MY QUESTION TO YOU IS, WHAT ARE WE DOING TO HELP OFFSET SOME OF THESE COSTS? AND, AND THIS IS A CONVERSATION WE'VE HAD WITH, UM, DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, UM, ABOUT, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THE EFFORTS THAT WE ARE DOING IN, IN THE COUNTY IN ORDER TO, UH, TO GROW A MORE ROBUST, UM, AND VIBRANT, UM, UM, ECONOMY WITH, WITH, WITH HIGH PAYING JOBS.
AND THEY CAN, UM, I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY AN, AN IDEAL OPPORTUNITY THERE.
AS WELL AS PROBABLY ALSO WITHIN PLANNING AS, AS WELL, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE, SOME OF THE, UM, UM, SOME OF THE ZONING THAT THAT WILL ALSO, UM, UH, ENCOURAGE, ENCOURAGE, YOU KNOW, A MORE VIBRANT, A MORE VIBRANT ECONOMY.
BUT I THINK ALL OF US ARE DEALING WITH, AND THIS IS, THIS IS TRUE KIND OF AT THE STATE LEVEL, UM, BECAUSE YOU'RE GONNA SEE THAT THE REVENUES AT THE STATE LEVEL ARE, ARE MORE OR LESS FLAT TOO.
UM, I BELIEVE THE STATE REVENUES ARE ONLY GROWING BY ABOUT LIKE POINT 0.6.
UM, AND THIS IS THE CHALLENGE NOW, YOU KNOW, WE'VE, WE'VE HAD A, UM, LOCAL ECONOMY THAT'S BEEN LARGELY DRIVEN BY, UM, BY FEDERAL SPENDING.
AND, AND AS, AND AS FEDERAL SPENDING, KIND OF THE NATURE OF IT CHANGES BOTH KIND OF THE POST NINE 11 FEDERAL SPENDING, UM, AS WELL AS BOTH THE, UH, KIND OF THE, THE COVID THE COVID FEDERAL SPENDING HAS, HAS CHANGED SIGNIFICANTLY.
UM, WE DO THINK THAT THE MARYLAND ECONOMY IS PROBABLY GONNA NEED TO CHANGE.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE CONTINUE TO HEAR, UH, A LOT ABOUT IS JUST ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE HIGH, THE HIGH LABOR COST IN MARYLAND, THE HIGH, UM, THE HIGH LEVELS OF, OF, UM, OF TAXATION.
NOT NECESSARILY HERE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, BUT YOU KNOW, KIND OF AT THE, AT THE STATE LEVEL AND, YOU KNOW, AND WHETHER OR NOT THAT IS A DETERRENT TO THOSE AREAS OF THE COUNTRY THAT ARE GROWING FASTER.
THE FLORIDAS, THE, THE TENNESSEES, THE NORTH CAROLINAS, THE SOUTH
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CAROLINAS, UH, THE UTAH'S.UM, AND SO I, YOU KNOW, WE, THERE'S BEEN A LOT WRITTEN ABOUT, I KNOW THE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE HAS PUT OUT SOME, SOME MATERIALS ON KIND OF THE, THE NATURE OF THE, THE MARYLAND ECONOMY.
UM, AND I THINK WE ARE, WE'RE PROBABLY GONNA SEE A REAL, UM, KIND OF VIGOROUS DEBATE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HOW, HOW BEST TO KIND OF GROW THIS, THIS, THIS ECONOMY AT THE, AT THE STATE LEVEL.
BUT THERE ARE THINGS WE ARE DOING, I THINK, AT THE LOCAL LEVEL BY TRYING TO ENCOURAGE THAT.
I THINK PART OF THAT IS BY KEEPING OUR TAX RATE, UM, AMONG, YOU KNOW, AMONG KIND OF THE LOWEST IN, IN THE REGION, YOU KNOW, TO GIVE US SOME FORM OF A, OF A COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE.
AGAIN, SAY A BALTIMORE COUNTY WHERE THE TAX RATE IS SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER OF BALTIMORE CITY.
I JUST, I, AND I UNDERSTAND THE STATE AND IT'S, IT'S, UH, CONTROL AND IMPACT ON OUR LOCAL, UH, JURISDICTION.
BUT I'M ASKING WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE LOCALLY, UH, THIS COUNTY EXECUTIVE, NOR THIS COUNCIL WANTS TO RAISE TAXES, HAS NO DESIRE TO DO THAT.
I, I THINK I'M SPEAKING PRETTY OPENLY ABOUT THAT WITH EVERYONE.
SO, UM, MY QUESTION AGAIN TO YOU IS, AND I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A MORE DETAILED REPORT FROM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND EVERYONE ELSE, WHAT ARE WE DOING? WHAT TYPE OF SUCCESS DO WE HAVE? UM, WHAT ARE THE NUMBERS? ARE WE DOING ANYTHING THAT'S REALLY PRUDENT AND REALLY GROWING, UH, SO THAT WE CAN KIND OF, UH, YOU KNOW, FOLLOW THAT IN OTHER AREAS? UM, THAT'S WHAT I'D LIKE TO KNOW.
I'LL, I'LL ADVISE KAREN AND THEN, YEAH.
THE OTHER THING, JUST TO FINISH, FINISH A PIECE OF THE ANSWER.
CAN YOU USE THAT MICROPHONE A LITTLE CLOSER? THERE YOU GO.
TO FINISH ANOTHER PIECE OF THE ANSWER, THERE ARE A COUPLE OF PROJECTS IN THE WORKS THAT WE JUST CAN'T SPEAK ABOUT.
AND THEY ARE LARGE EMPLOYERS, THEY ARE GOOD SALARIES, THEY ARE LOOKING SERIOUSLY AT HARTFORD COUNTY.
AND UNTIL WE'RE ALLOWED TO SPEAK ABOUT THEM, I CAN'T TELL YOU.
BUT IF THERE WEREN'T ANY OF THOSE, I WOULD TELL YOU THERE ARE NONE OF THOSE.
YEAH, THERE ARE SEVERAL OF THOSE.
AND WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, MR. MCCORD, UH, MYSELF AND MR. JAN ANO HAVE BEEN IN SITUATIONS LIKE THIS BEFORE AND WE STILL GET SOME SORT OF ASSURANCE OF THINGS THAT ARE MOVING FORWARD.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE SPECIFICS NEED TO BE BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, I GET THAT.
BUT WE STILL NEEDED TO HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF THINGS THAT ARE MOVING FORWARD.
MR. BENNETT, UM, AND WHILE, WHILE WE'RE ON THE TOPIC, YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND IN THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE STATEMENT THAT, UH, THERE'S AGENCIES THAT WE FUND THAT HAVE FUND BALANCE AVAILABLE.
UH, BUT THAT'S A TEMPORARY BUDGET FIX.
UM, BUT, YOU KNOW, USING THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AS AN EXAMPLE, 'CAUSE IT'S THE, YOU KNOW, ONE I'M THE LIAISON FOR AND KNOW THE MOST ABOUT, UH, NEXT YEAR, IN ORDER TO CONTINUE TO DO EXACTLY WHAT THEY DO RIGHT NOW, THEIR BUDGET WILL HAVE TO GO UP, UH, $60 MILLION VERSUS WHAT IS CURRENTLY AN FY 24.
UM, IF THEY SPENT ALL THEIR UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE, YOU KNOW, THIS YEAR, THAT WOULD LEAVE THEM WITH AROUND 10 MILLION OF UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE FOR NEXT YEAR.
AND THEN THERE'S $50 MILLION MORE STILL NEEDED FROM SOMEWHERE TO KEEP DOING WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
UM, SO, AND, AND YOU KNOW, IN THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE STATEMENT, TALKING ABOUT ONLY HAVING $2.7 MILLION OF UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE BY FY 26, UM, AND, YOU KNOW, SCHOOL SYSTEM ISN'T THE ONLY ENTITY THAT'S GONNA NEED MORE MONEY NEXT YEAR THAN THIS YEAR.
I'M SURE THE LIBRARIES WILL NEED MORE MONEY NEXT YEAR THAN THIS YEAR.
I'M SURE THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE WILL NEED MORE MONEY NEXT YEAR THAN THIS YEAR.
AND THOSE TWO ENTITIES IN PARTICULAR ARE EXTRA VULNERABLE TO STATE FUNDING CUTS AND WILL NEED THE COUNTY SUPPORT.
SO IS THE ACTION PLAN FOR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE LOOKING AT FY 26, IS THE PLAN TO DRAMATICALLY INCREASE REVENUE TO FILL IN THOSE GAPS? OR IS THE VISION AND PLAN TO CUT SERVICES COME FY 26 WHEN FUND BALANCES ARE DRAINED TO MAKE THE BUDGET BALANCED? WHAT, HOW ARE WE GOING TO, TO WHEN THE AIRPLANE COMES TO THE TARMAC, HOW ARE WE GONNA LAND IT SAFELY AT THE END OF THIS FUND BALANCE ROAD? UM, I, I THINK, 'CAUSE I JUST, I LOOK AT THAT AND I'M REALLY CONCERNED THAT WE'RE ALREADY HAVING, YOU KNOW, LOWER THAN HOPED FOR REVENUE GROWTH THIS YEAR.
HOW ARE WE GONNA HAVE SUCH A DRAMATIC INCREASE NEXT YEAR WITHOUT CUTTING SERVICES? YEAH, I, I THINK THE, THE ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE HAS BEEN, UM, VERY CLEAR THAT, THAT HE HAS, YOU KNOW, NO DESIRE TO RAISE, TO RAISE TAXES, YOU KNOW, AND WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TAXES, YOU KNOW, REALLY, YOU KNOW, PROPERTY TAX AND INCOME TAX, THE TWO, UM, THE, THE TWO MAIN DRIVERS.
UM, SO I MEAN, I THINK THAT THERE IS, YOU KNOW, AN EXPECTATION THAT THAT, UM, YOU, THAT REVENUE MAY
[00:25:01]
PICK UP A LITTLE BIT.BUT I THINK THAT THE OVERALL, AND THIS KINDA GETS BACK TO THE WHOLE IDEA OF, OF USING FUND BALANCE AS A BRIDGE, IS THAT, UH, WOULD, WOULD HIGHLY ENCOURAGE ALL ENTITIES AS WE HAVE DONE WITH THE COUNTY, WITH THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT TO KIND OF LOOK AT SPENDING AND SEE HOW YOU CAN, UM, YOU KNOW, GAIN SOME EFFICIENCIES, PERHAPS ELIMINATE SOME, SOME OPEN POSITIONS.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE DONE THAT HERE IN THE COUNTY.
I KNOW I'VE LOST POSITIONS IN, IN TREASURY, I KNOW MOST OF THE OTHER OTHER AGENCIES HAVE.
UM, AND SO I THINK THAT WOULD PROBABLY BE THE OVERALL DEAL IS THAT TAXES ARE, ARE, THERE IS NO PLAN TO RAISE TAXES.
UM, AND SO THAT, THAT IT'S BEST TO, TO KIND OF LOOK AT WHAT ARE, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S REQUIRED AND WHAT IS, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS MANDATED.
AND THIS IS A CHALLENGE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE WITH A LOT OF KERWIN BECAUSE, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF THAT MAY BE MANDATED THAT MAY NOT NECESSARILY AGREE WITH, OR, OR SAY THAT THAT SHOULD, THAT SHOULD BE A PRIORITY.
HOWEVER, IT, YOU KNOW, IT DOES BECOME, IT DOES BECOME THE LAW OF THE LAND AND THEN TO KIND OF WORK WITHIN THAT, THAT CONTEXT.
SO, SO YOU'RE NOT EXPECTING TO HAVE ENOUGH INCREASED REVENUE TO ENSURE THAT, UH, ENTITIES LIKE THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, THE LIBRARY, AND THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE ARE CONTINUE TO OPERATE WITH THE SAME LEVEL OF SERVICE THEY'LL HAVE IN FY 25.
I, I MEAN, I BELIEVE THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE, UM, SOME MODEST REVENUE GROWTH IN THE FUTURE.
AND, YOU KNOW, IF YOU LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, PART OF THE CHALLENGE WITH OUR BUDGET OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS, BECAUSE WE'VE USED SO MUCH FUND BALANCE THAT EVEN THOUGH WE DO, WE HAVE HAD MODEST REVENUE GROWTH, IT APPEARS AS IT'S, IT'S MORE OR LESS JUST HOLDING FLAT.
'CAUSE WHEN YOU GO FROM 90 TO 75 TO 50, YOU KNOW, EVEN THOUGH THE REVENUES ARE GROWING AND OUR PROPERTY TAX REVENUES ARE STILL STRONG IN THIS, IN THIS COUNTY, THEY ARE, UM, YOU KNOW, WE WERE JUST REASSESSING THE SOUTHERN END OF THE COUNTY.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE CONTINUE TO, WE CONTINUE TO SEE, TO SEE STRONG, UM, KIND OF STRONG REVENUE GROWTH THERE.
AT SOME POINT WE'LL PROBABLY GET INTO A LITTLE BIT MORE WITH, UM, BOTH MY AREA AND SPENDING AFFORDABILITY.
UM, THAT'S BEEN A CHALLENGE, UM, BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE THINGS WE'VE SEEN, WHICH I THINK GETS INTO MAYBE THIS, THIS, UM, ECONOMY KIND OF ENTERING SOME FORM OF A TRANSITION STAGE.
WE'VE SEEN A, A SIGNIFICANT DROP OFF THOUGH IN OUR TRANSFER AND RECORDATION, UM, YOU KNOW, TAX AS WELL.
SO, UM, BUT ALL IN ALL, I WOULD STILL EXPECT THERE TO BE SOME, SOME REVENUE GROWTH AND PROBABLY BETTER REVENUE GROWTH THAN WHAT THEY'RE GONNA SEE AT THE STATE LEVEL.
UM, BUT BECAUSE WE CAN'T USE THE SAME AMOUNT OF FUND BALANCE, YOU KNOW, THE, THE ACTUAL BUDGET CHANGE IS GOING TO BE, UM, UH, LESS AND LESS.
I DO THINK THAT WE ARE GETTING TO THE POINT NOW THOUGH NOW WHERE THE AMOUNT OF FUND BALANCE, UH, BEING USED IS, IS PROBABLY GETTING LESS TO THAT, UM, UNSUSTAINABLE LEVEL OF AMOUNT WHERE YOU'RE KIND OF FO UH, UM, UM, YOU KNOW, UH, FOISTING A A STRUCTURAL DEFICIT, YOU KNOW, WHERE YOU'RE SPENDING ONE TIME MONEY ON LOTS OF ONE-TIME EXPENDITURES.
SO WE HAVE BEEN CLOSING THAT GAP.
UM, AND SO I DO THINK AS WE MOVE FORWARD, YOU KNOW, THAT WE SHOULD ALL HOPEFULLY BE ABLE TO GROW, UM, KIND OF MODESTLY TOGETHER.
MR. GUTHRIE, UM, THANK MR. PRESIDENT.
UM, I, ONE AREA I SEE THAT, UH, I'M JUST NOT SEEING ENOUGH MOVEMENT ON, I SPOKE ABOUT THIS ALMOST A YEAR AGO WHEN COPPER MINE WAS COMING INTO PLAY AND EDGEWOOD, IT'S NOW READY TO GO FULL BORE.
UM, COPPER MINE, UH, A COUPLE WEEKS AGO HAD THEIR, WHAT THEY CALL THEIR SOFT OPENING, UH, ACCORDING TO THE, NOT IN MY, MY, MY STATS, BUT HIS, UM, UH, A ALEX JACOBS, HE'S, HE'S THE OWNER OF COPYRIGHT.
HE HAS FACILITIES ALL OVER THE STATE AND HE HAD BOUGHT THE ONE DOWN HERE ALSO IN BLAIR.
UM, SO I TAKE IT HE KNOWS WHAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT.
HE SAID WHEN HE GETS RUNNING FULL BO THERE, HE EXPECTS TO HAVE, UM, 12,000 PEOPLE IN A GIVEN WEEKEND FROM THURSDAY TO SUNDAY.
NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE PAY ANY ATTENTION TO THAT, BUT IT'S OFF HIS SOFT OPENING.
A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, HE HAD 3000 PEOPLE AND HE DIDN'T EVEN HAVE ENOUGH PARKING PLACES HIMSELF.
HE'S GOTTA DO SOMETHING ABOUT ADDITIONAL PARKING.
BUT HE SAYS THAT THAT WEEKEND, UM, HE WAS SHORT 500 ROOMS IN HARTFORD COUNTY, THAT THOSE PEOPLE HAD TO GO TO BALTIMORE COUNTY AND EVEN TO BALTIMORE CITY.
AND A LOT OF THOSE PEOPLE COMPLAINED.
THEY HAD TO DRIVE ALL THE WAY FROM NAN FROM BALTIMORE CITY TO HARFORD COUNTY TO USE THOSE FACILITIES.
UH, WE'RE LOSING HOTEL TAX, WE'RE LOSING THE REGULAR TAX THAT ALL THE HOTELS WOULD PAY.
UH, LOOKING AT THOSE NUMBERS, WE COULD BILL THROUGH FOUR HOTELS IN HARTFORD COUNTY.
UH, IF HIS NUMBERS ARE CORRECT, WITHOUT, WITHOUT A PROBLEM.
NOW I'M WORKING WITH A COUPLE THINGS, BUT JUST LIKE YOU SAID, THERE'S THESE THINGS AREN'T, UM, ON THE DOTTED LINE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NOT SIGNED, BUT THERE'S SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT SOME HOTELS IN THE COUNTY.
UM, SO, UH, AND IT'LL TAKE A WHILE TO BUILD THEM, YOU KNOW, UM, WE'D ATTACKED THIS PROBLEM A YEAR AGO WHEN WE KNEW COPPER MINE WAS COMING.
THINK OF ALL THE RESTAURANTS, YOU KNOW, HOW MANY PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, 3000 TO 12,000, THEY GOTTA EAT, YOU KNOW, THEY GOTTA
[00:30:01]
BUY GAS.SO IT, IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE ALL HAVE TO BE COLLECTIVELY BEHIND AND FIND OUT WHERE, UH, WE HAVE THE ROOM AND THE FACILITIES AND THE LAND, UH, TO BE ABLE TO PUT UP SOME OF THESE HOTELS.
'CAUSE THE COUNTY'S LOSING A LOT OF MONEY.
AND THIS IS A PERFECT OPPORTUNITY, UH, TO, UM, GET SOME OF THE INCOME THAT EVERYBODY, SOME OF THE PEOPLE UP HERE ARE SPEAKING ABOUT.
YOU KNOW, IT'S A LOT OF TAX MONEY, GAS MONEY, WHICH IS TAXES ON THAT.
AND, UH, UH, AND I, AND I WOULD EXPECT THAT IF THEY COULD, IF THEY PUT A SHOVEL ON THE GROUND TOMORROW, IT WOULD PROBABLY TAKE A YEAR BEFORE THAT HOTEL WOULD, AT LEAST BEFORE THAT HOTEL GOT OPEN AND GET GOING.
SO SOMETHING WE GOTTA TAKE A LOOK AT.
UM, 'CAUSE IT'S SERIOUS AND, AND, UH, H BALTIMORE COUNTY, BALTIMORE CITY ARE, ARE GETTING ADVANTAGE OF IT AND WE'RE NOT.
SO JUST FOR THE RECORD, MR. GUTHRIE, YOU'RE SPEAKING TO THE IMPORTANCE OF SPORTS TOURISM.
WELL, I'M, AND THE IMPACT THAT IT HAS ON OUR LOCAL ECONOMY.
IT'S A BIG, UH, UH, ECONOMY HIT AND, UH, UH, YES, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
UM, I APPRECIATE YOU BOTH BEING HERE AND ANSWERING THE TOUGH QUESTIONS.
UM, AND I, BUT I'M STILL CONCERNED.
I THINK THE COUNCIL IS STILL CONCERNED WITH THE OVERALL STRATEGY, UM, TO KIND OF DEAL WITH THIS STAGFLATION THAT WE HAVE.
WE CAN'T CUT OUR WAY OUT OF IT.
WE CAN'T, UH, TAX OUR WAY OUT OF IT.
WE CAN'T, UH, FEE OUR WAY OUT OF IT.
SO THERE HAS TO BE A BETTER STRATEGY.
AND I UNDERSTAND THE COMPLEXITIES OF SOME CONFIDENTIALITY WITH THE DIFFERENT BUSINESSES THAT POTENTIALLY IT'S POTENTIALLY COULD BE COMING TO HARVARD COUNTY.
SO WHAT I'D OFFER IS PERHAPS MAYBE JUST LIKE WE WOULD DO FOR A SETTLEMENT, PERHAPS WE HAVE A CLOSED DOOR SESSION TO DISCUSS THOSE BECAUSE IT WEIGHS HEAVILY ON THIS COUNCIL'S MIND AS WE GO THROUGH THIS BUDGET PROCESS, KIND OF UNDERSTAND WHAT THE STRATEGY IS.
BUT ONE OF THOSE STRATEGIES I THINK THAT SHOULD BE VERY, VERY IMPORTANT IS THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT WITHIN THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION.
AND AFTER REVIEWING THE BUDGET, IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S BEEN A REDUCTION OF PERSONNEL IN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
AND TO ME THAT WOULD BE A PRIORITY TO MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE OUT THERE, WE'RE RECRUITING BUSINESSES, WE'RE OFFERING INCENTIVES FOR BUSINESS IN HARFORD COUNTY.
UM, COULD ANY OF YOU GENTLEMEN DISCUSS WHY THERE'S BEEN A REDUCTION IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT AND WHY IS THAT NOT BEING UTILIZED AS A STRATEGY GOING FORWARD TO GET OUR WAY OUT OF IT THROUGH, YOU KNOW, SMART BALANCE, ECONOMIC GROWTH? I CAN START BY SAYING THAT THE PREVIOUS MODEL THAT IN THE SENSE WE INHERITED WASN'T REALLY WORKING WELL.
AND SO WE'RE TRYING TO DO IT A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY AND BRING THE, THE, THE PEOPLE WHO KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING, UM, INTO, INTO THE MIX.
AND THEY COULD BE IN DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS, AND IF THERE'S SOMEONE WHO'S INTERESTED IN SOMETHING THAT AFFECTS ANOTHER DEPARTMENT, WE CAN ASSIGN THAT PERSON TO HELP WITH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, UM, DEPARTMENT TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN MAKE SURE WE'VE MADE THE PITCH FOR HARTFORD COUNTY THE RIGHT WAY, UM, TO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE INTERESTED.
SO, UM, THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WERE, UM, THERE'S PEOPLE THAT ARE INTERESTED ALL THE TIME, SO WE TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THE RIGHT PEOPLE TALKING TO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE INTERESTED IN OUR COUNTY.
WE GET THE PEOPLE WHO ARE THE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS WITHIN THE DEPARTMENTS TO TALK ABOUT WHAT IS NEEDED TO MAKE SURE IF THEY LAND HERE, THEY'LL BE SUPPORTED, WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN THAT AREA AND WHAT THEY CAN DO FOR US.
SO WE'VE BEEN USING A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT MODEL NOW TO FIGURE OUT IF WE CAN GET THE PROSPECTS THIS WAY, WHAT CAN WE DO TO KEEP THEM GOING.
MR. MCCORD, IS THAT DIFFERENT MODEL, HAS IT BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN YOUR EYES OR THE ADMINISTRATION'S EYES? WELL, THERE, AS I SAID, THERE ARE LOTS OF THINGS THAT ARE POTENTIALLY GOING TO COME ABOUT, AND IT IS MAKING SURE THAT THE RIGHT PEOPLE GET CONNECTED TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN THE COUNTY.
SO IF THEY'RE INTERESTED IN THE WATER CAPACITY TO DO THEIR PROCESS, WE MAKE SURE THEY GET HOOKED UP WITH THE PEOPLE WHO, FROM DPW THAT CAN EXPLAIN WHAT OUR CAPACITY IS AND WHAT CAN BE DONE FOR THEM.
WE, I, I THINK THAT IT'S GOING TO BEAR FRUIT.
I DO, I JUST, I DON'T WANT TO GO DOWN THIS PIGEONHOLE, BUT I WOULD THINK THAT PROCESS ALREADY EXISTED BEFORE IF THERE WAS A WATER AND SEWER, UH, OR A PLANNING AND ZONING THAT THOSE DIRECTORS OR SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS WOULD BE INVOLVED IN THE CONVERSATION OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THE PAST.
BUT, UM, I JUST MOVING ON, UM, THE SPENDING AFFORDABILITY REPORT, AND I KNOW THAT'S COMING NEXT MONDAY.
[00:35:01]
THIS IS KIND OF A QUESTION DIRECTED AT YOU BECAUSE THE REPORT REALLY, UH, IDENTIFIES AN, UH, UNCERTAINTY OF WHETHER THIS IS AN ACTUAL PROBLEM AS FAR AS THE BUDGET OR A TIMING PROBLEM WITH THE BUDGET, RIGHT.MR. PENMAN, LET'S, LET'S HOLD OFF TILL MR. KELLY AND HIS SPENDING AFFORDABILITY GROUP IS HERE RESPECTFULLY, BECAUSE THEY DID CALL ME THAT IT SPEAK TO ME AND TELL ME THEY WEREN'T AVAILABLE, ASKED TO RESCHEDULE FOR A DIFFERENT TIME.
I APPRECIATED THE FACT THAT THEY ARE COMING.
I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT THIS IS, THIS GOES TOWARDS STRATEGY.
IT JUST, JUST LET ME, LET ME GET TO MY QUESTION FIRST.
SO, UM, AND ONE OF THE, ONE OF THE QUESTIONS IS, IF YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS THAT CAME THROUGH IN JANUARY, RIGHT, IT WAS ROUGHLY 5 MILLION, UH, AS COMPARED TO LAST JANUARY, THE DISBURSEMENT WAS 20 MILLION, RIGHT? SO THE, THE QUESTION IS, AND I HAVE THOSE NUMBERS HERE, BUT JUST, YOU KNOW, ROUGH, ROUGHLY.
SO MY QUESTION IS, IS IS THAT GONNA BE MADE UP, YOU KNOW, LATER ON, ON THE, OVER THE NEXT TWO DISBURSEMENTS, REALLY? UM, WHAT, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I THINK THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE SAW THAT NUMBER AND IT'S, IT, IT WAS A SCARY NUMBER THAT THE DIFFERENCE OF THE JANUARY ALLOTMENT, RIGHT? AND SAW THAT THERE WAS 14 MILLION DOWN ON THAT, BUT WE'VE MADE THAT BACK UP TO AROUND 9 MILLION BASED OFF OF LAST YEAR'S GROWTH.
SO IS IT A TIMING ISSUE OR IS IT AN ACTUAL ISSUE? I THINK IT COULD BE A COMBINATION OF THE TWO.
SO THE JANUARY DISTRIBUTION IS A RECONCILING DISTRIBUTION GENERALLY FROM THE PRIOR TAX YEAR.
SO IN THIS CASE, PEOPLE WHO FILED IN TAX YEAR 2022, SO GO BACK TO THIS TIME LAST YEAR WHEN WE GOT THAT BIG JANUARY DISTRIBUTION, THAT WAS FROM TAX YEAR 21.
AND THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO FILE LATE.
THESE ARE, THESE ARE NOT PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF WHO FILE BEFORE APRIL 15TH BECAUSE THEY JUST HAVE WITHHOLDING AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
THESE ARE GENERALLY, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE THAT HAVE A LOT OF ESTIMATED INCOMES, A LOT OF CAPITAL GAINS, AND THEY TAKE THE SIX MONTH EXTENSION, AND THEN WE GENERALLY SEE THAT MONEY EITHER COME IN, UM, EITHER IN, IN NOVEMBER OR OR IN JANUARY.
SO A FEW YEARS AGO WE SAW A BIG, UM, YOU KNOW, 21 WAS A, WAS A, WAS A REALLY GOOD YEAR FOR THE STOCK MARKET, A LOT OF CAPITAL GAINS.
THERE WAS ALSO A LOT OF THINGS HAPPENING WITH THE STATE AND PASS THROUGH ENTITIES AND TRYING TO GET AROUND THE SALT CAP OF, OF $10,000.
AND, AND I THINK THAT THAT ALSO PUSHED SOME THINGS THAT WOULD'VE NORMALLY BEEN DISTRIBUTED EARLIER AND, AND, AND DELAYED 'EM UNTIL JANUARY.
SO WE GOT THAT $20 MILLION LAST, LAST JANUARY FROM LARGELY FROM TAX YEAR 21.
UM, THE, THE $5 MILLION, UH, FROM 2222 WAS NOT A GOOD CAPITAL GAINS YEAR.
A WHOLE LOT OF OTHER THINGS WE EXPECTED THAT KIND OF TO HAPPEN.
WE THOUGHT WE, AND, AND SO LIKE REMEMBER IF YOU KIND OF GO BACK LAST YEAR AND THERE WAS THE, THE NOTION THAT WELL, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT BEING AGGRESSIVE ENOUGH TO THE INCOME TAX.
YOU KNOW, WE, WE KNEW THAT THAT THAT RECONCILING JANUARY DISTRIBUTION WAS GOING TO COME DOWN.
AND, AND WE ALSO THOUGHT THAT OVERALL ESTIMATE ESTIMATED PAYMENTS WERE GOING TO COME DOWN.
AND THAT'S WHY WE MORE OR LESS HAD INCOME TAX KIND OF BEING FLAT, UM, FLAT LAST YEAR, WHAT HAPPENED THIS YEAR.
AND I THINK WHAT REALLY CHANGED THE DYNAMIC WITH THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE WASN'T SO MUCH THAT JANUARY DISTRIBUTION, IT'S WHAT HAPPENED IN THE THIRD QUARTER, UM, THE NOVEMBER DISTRIBUTION, WHICH REPRESENTS THE THIRD QUARTER OF WITHHOLDING IN, AND THE THIRD QUARTER WOULD BE JULY, AUGUST, SEPTEMBER.
AND THEN WHEN WE RECEIVE THE FOURTH QUARTER WITHHOLDING, WHICH GENERALLY IS OUR, OUR BIGGEST DISTRIBUTION OF THE YEAR, BECAUSE YOU GET A LOT OF THAT YEAR END STUFF, WHICH IS, UM, OCTOBER, NOVEMBER, DECEMBER THE WITHHOLDING WAS DOWN.
SO NOT JUST THE ESTIMATED PAYMENTS AND THE RECONCILING FROM THE BIG PLAYERS, BUT WITHHOLDING PE THE AMOUNT OF TAXES THAT WHEN, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE LIKE MOST OF US HERE, WE, YOU KNOW, WE GET, YOU KNOW, EVERY, EVERY TWO WEEKS, THE, THE THE, YOU KNOW, WE, UM, WE SEND, WE KEEP SOME OF YOUR MONEY AND WE, WE SEND SOME OF IT TO THE, TO THE STATE, WHICH, WHICH, YOU KNOW, THEN THEY, THEY DISPERSE OUT THAT WAS DOWN AND YOU DON'T NORMALLY SEE WITHHOLDING BEING DOWN UNLESS THERE'S LIKE A RECESSION OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF QUESTIONS AS TO WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW.
PART OF IT MIGHT BE THAT THERE COULD BE SOME CALENDAR ISSUES.
AND WHEN THIS HAPPENED IN NOVEMBER, THAT'S KIND OF WHAT WE GOT BACK FROM THE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE OF LIKE, WELL, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW HOW LIKE EVERY TWICE A YEAR YOU KIND OF GET, UM, THREE PAYCHECKS IN A MONTH IF YOU'RE PAID EVERY TWO WEEKS? YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE LIKE THE GREAT MONTHS.
UM, AND SO WE WERE LIKE, WELL, WELL MAYBE SOME OF THE BIG FILERS HAD SOME OF THAT.
AND SO WE, WE DIDN'T GET TOO, TOO WORRIED ABOUT WHAT WE SAW WITHHOLDING AND, UM, GOING DOWN, BUT THEN WE SAW IT GO DOWN IN FEBRUARY.
AND SO LIKE, AS SOON AS THAT HAPPENED, LIKE, LIKE I'M ON THE PHONE TO THE, MY OTHER COUNTIES AND TO THE COMPTROLLER, I'M LIKE, SOMETHING WEIRD IS HAPPENING HERE.
AND THEN, UM, YOU COULD KIND OF TELL TOO THAT AT THE STATE LEVEL THEY WERE LIKE, YEAH, THIS IS, THIS IS MORE THAN WHAT WE EXPECTED.
AND THAT'S WHEN YOU KIND OF SAW THE STATE, UM, LOWER THEIR, THEIR PROJECTION.
SO WHY IS WITHHOLDING GOING DOWN? YOU KNOW, WE, WE KNEW THAT THE RECONCILE, WE KNEW THAT JANUARY WAS GONNA GO DOWN, BUT THAT'S WHY WE'RE REALLY UNEASY.
LIKE, OKAY, YOU KNOW, COMPTROLLER PUT IN A NEW TAX SYSTEM, MAY MAYBE, MAYBE
[00:40:01]
THERE'S SOME OF THAT, MAYBE THERE'S SOME CALENDAR ISSUES OR MAYBE THERE'S SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT BIGGER.YOU KNOW, WE DO KNOW THAT THE LABOR MARKET HASN'T REALLY RECOVERED IN THIS STATE.
AND SOME OF THAT COULD BE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE RETIRED DURING COVID OR, UM, YOU KNOW, THEY'VE, THEY'VE THEY'VE GONE ON THE DIFFERENT JOBS, BUT YOU KNOW, WHAT IF IT'S, WHAT IF IT'S SOMETHING ELSE? AND WHAT IF, YOU KNOW, WHAT IF A LOT OF OUR BIG, BIG EARNERS ARE, ARE LEAVING, YOU KNOW, THEN THEY'RE MOVING TO, UM, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE MOVING TO FLORIDA.
I CAN TELL YOU AFTER I GOT DONE OUR TAXES THIS YEAR, YOU KNOW, MY WIFE'S LOOKING AT THE BILL AND, AND THE WHOLE NIGHT SHE'S ON ZILLOW LOOKING AT HOMES IN SARASOTA.
SO I, I THINK THERE IS SOMETHING KIND OF, KIND OF TO THAT MINDSET, UM, BECAUSE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT PLACES THAT DON'T HAVE ANY INCOME TAX AT ALL WHEN YOU COMBINE OUR STATE AND OUR LOCAL, YOU KNOW, IT'S CLOSE TO 10%.
THAT'S A, THAT'S IF YOU ARE, YOU KNOW, IN SOME AREAS, YOU KNOW, THAT CAN BE, YOU KNOW, A REAL SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT.
SO I DON'T KNOW, ARE WE SEEING THAT? ARE WE SEEING PEOPLE LEAVE? ARE WE SEEING JUST GENERAL IS SO MUCH OF OUR ECONOMY KIND OF BUILT UPON, YOU KNOW, GOVERNMENT AND EDUCATION AND, AND THINGS LIKE THAT THAT, YOU KNOW, WE, WE DON'T HAVE THAT VIBRANCY THAT THAT MAYBE THAT THEY DO IN A NORTH CAROLINA AND SOME OF THESE OTHER PLACES.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHERE SOME OF THE CONCERN IS WHEN WE SAW THAT WITHHOLDING GO DOWN.
I'M SORRY, THIS IS A VERY LONG EXPLANATION.
YOU'LL PROBABLY HEAR IT A A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT TIMES.
UM, BUT, AND I THINK THAT'S WHY THE SPENDING AFFORDABILITY COMMITTEE, THAT'S WHY I WAS CONCERNED.
I THINK THAT'S WHY THE STATE WAS CONCERNED IS SOMETHING ELSE IS MAYBE HAPPENING HERE AND, AND, AND WE, WE DON'T WANT TO GET IN OUT OVER OUR SKIS.
WELL, LET ME FOLLOW UP ON THAT.
UM, I, I UNDERSTAND THAT FEBRUARY WAS DOWN BY ABOUT 1.2, BUT MARCH WAS ABOVE ABOUT 2.3 MILLION.
SO, UM, AND MAYBE EXPLAIN THAT WHAT THAT MARCH DISTRIBUTION IS.
AND SO MARCH WAS, MARCH WAS, UM, A GOOD MONTH MARCH IS WHEN YOU PAY PENALTY AND INTEREST FOR WHEN YOU FILE LATE.
UM, SO TO SOME EXTENT IT COULD BE THAT BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE HAD A LOT OF TAX BILLS THAT WERE HIGH, YOU KNOW, FOR TAX YEAR 21, THAT WHEN THEY THEN EVENTUALLY HAD TO PAY THEIR TAX, THEIR TAXES LATE, THEY HAD SOME, SOME PENALTIES AND FEE, UM, YOU KNOW, PENALTIES AND FEES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO THAT'S AN EXAMPLE OF LIKE A REVENUE THAT, THAT IS REALLY VOLATILE.
LIKE THE GENERALLY INCOME TAX WORKS IN A MORE LINEAR, LINEAR PATTERN.
AND, AND, AND, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE SOME HIGHS AND YOU KINDA HAVE SOME WHERE IT FLATTENS OUT THE INTEREST IN PENALTY IS PARTICULARLY ONE OF THOSE ONES WHERE I WOULD SAY IT'S ALMOST A CRAPSHOOT BECAUSE WHO KNOWS, YOU KNOW, DID SOME BIG HEAVY HITTERS PAY THEIR, THEIR, THEIR TAXES LATE THIS YEAR VERSUS LAST YEAR THAT THAT'S WHAT IT WOULD APPEAR THAT THAT HAPPENED.
BUT YOU NEVER WANT TO KIND OF GO INTO LIKE TRYING TO PROJECT THAT.
LIKE I, YOU KNOW, I HAVE NO IDEA WHO'S GONNA BE ABLE, YOU KNOW, WHEN THEY'RE GONNA HAVE LOSSES, WHEN THEY'RE GONNA HAVE GAINS.
UM, AND SO THAT YOU KIND OF ALMOST TAKE WHEN YOU HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THAT AND YOU SAY, LOOK, LET'S, LET'S COME UP WITH A MORE REASONABLE NUMBER FOR WHAT IT NORMALLY IS.
AND THEN WE HAVE A A A SPIKE, WHICH IS HELPFUL.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THAT'S MONEY IN THE BANK THAT WE'LL HAVE THIS YEAR.
UM, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT'S PART OF THE TREND.
I THINK YOU KIND OF HAVE TO REALLY SEGREGATE THAT OUT AS A, AS A TRUE ONE-TIME MONEY BECAUSE HO YOU KNOW, PEOPLE MAY NOT PAY LATE LA NEXT YEAR.
SO HERE'S THE STRATEGY, NEXT STRATEGY QUESTION.
UM, AND I THINK I UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
MM-HMM,
SO THE QUESTION REMAINS, AND IT'S A STRATEGY QUESTION THAT YOU MAY NOT HAVE THE ANSWER TO THAT I THINK THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE WOULD BE BETTER SUITED TO ANSWER THIS QUESTION IS WHAT WAS OFFERED WAS A 1% COLA AND A $1,000 MERIT, RIGHT? ON, ON CERTAINTY.
AND WE SHOULD BE BELIEVING IN OUR PEOPLE, WE SHOULD BE INVESTING IN OUR PEOPLE, OUR EMPLOYEES, RIGHT? AND THERE'S LOTS OF COUNTY EMPLOYEES THAT RECEIVED NOTHING.
I, THE, THE LIBRARIES RECEIVED NOTHING.
THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE RECEIVED NOTHING.
AND YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY SOMEONE WILL ASK THAT QUESTION LATER TOO, BUT IF, IF THERE, IF IT'S UNCERTAINTY, WHY WOULDN'T HE STAGGER IT THE WAY THAT IT WAS STAGGERED LAST YEAR, FOR INSTANCE, OKAY, WE'RE GONNA GET 3% AND IF THINGS LOOK BETTER BY NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER, MAYBE ANOTHER THREE, I'M JUST THROWING HYPOTHETICAL PERCENTAGE OUT THERE, RIGHT? BUT IF THERE'S UNCERTAINTY, AT LEAST ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WITH THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WITH THE EMPLOYEE GROUPS BECAUSE I, YOU KNOW, I THINK 1% IN $1,000 MERIT IS A SLAP IN OUR EMPLOYEES FACE.
AND I UNDERSTAND DURING HARD TIMES YOU GOTTA HAVE HARD DECISIONS.
UH, BUT WE'RE NOT EVEN KEEPING UP WITH INFLATION.
THESE GUYS AND GALS ARE GOING BACKWARDS.
SO WE SHOULD HAVE A BETTER STRATEGIC PLAN.
AND AGAIN, I WOULD, I WOULD, THIS IS A QUESTION FOR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE.
I UNDERSTAND THAT I'M KIND OF, YOU KNOW, ASKING A QUESTION THAT YOU MAY NOT HAVE THE ANSWER TO THAT I MAY NEED A FOLLOW UP.
[00:45:01]
IT'S JUST DISAPPOINTING THAT WE'RE IN THIS POSITION RIGHT NOW.UM, AND IT'S EMS AND EMS IS, YOU KNOW, NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART.
PUBLIC SAFETY IS NEAR, NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART.
BUT OVER SINCE 2022, WE HAVE EXPERIENCED A 78% BUDGET INCREASE IN EMS. RIGHT? AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF WHAT IS NOT BEING FUNDED IN THE DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS FROM THE COUNTY HAS COME ON THE BACKS OF EMS. UM, I COULD TELL YOU, UM, YOU KNOW, FROM 25 POSITIONS TO 158 POSITIONS IN EMS, UM, PLUS $1,587,000 FOR TEMPORARY SALARIES GOING FORWARD.
SO NOT ONLY DO THEY HAVE 158 EMPLOYEES, BUT THEY HAVE 1.5 MILLION JUST IN TEMPORARY SALARIES, AN OT BUDGET INCREASE OF $2.6 MILLION JUST FOR EMS. SO WHERE IS THE CEILING ON THIS? RIGHT? AND WHERE IS THE PLAN FOR THIS? BECAUSE IT WAS FUNDED.
THERE'S NO FUNDING SOURCE FOR THIS.
IT'S FUNDED ON THE BACKS OF THE SCHOOLS, IT'S FUNDED ON THE BACKS OF THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
IT'S FUNDED ON THE BACKS OF LIBRARY, RIGHT? SO IS IS THERE AN IDEA OF WHERE THIS THING IS GOING IN, IN THE, AND THE IMPACT THAT IT COULD HAVE ACROSS THE BOARD? BECAUSE THAT'S, IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT EXTRA MONEY AND FUND BALANCE, IT'S IN EMS. WELL, I THINK YOU HAD TWO MAIN DRIVERS, UH, THAT ACTUALLY EXPERIENCED, UM, GROWTH IN THIS, IN THIS BUDGET.
AND THEY'RE BOTH PUBLIC SAFETY.
IT'S, IT IS EMS AND IT'S ALSO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, UM, THAT EXPERIENCED, UM, YOU KNOW, ANY, ANY SIGNIFICANT GROWTH.
YOU KNOW, MOST OF THE OTHER ONES WERE ALL KIND OF MORE OR LESS FLAT, UM, UH, FLAT FROM THERE.
YOU, I DO THINK, AND YOU KNOW, WE, WE CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW, EMS WILL BE IN, WILL BE IN THE OFFICE.
I, I'M SORRY, WILL BE IN THE, THE WORK SESSIONS, I BELIEVE NEXT WEEK.
UM, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A, YOU KNOW, A DESIRE, I SHOULDN'T SAY A DESIRE, THERE WAS A NEED TO GET THINGS UP VERY, VERY QUICKLY AND VERY, UM, VERY RAPIDLY.
YOU KNOW, I WAS IN THE PREVIOUS AD ADMINISTRATION AND, AND WE CERTAINLY DID NOT THINK THAT IT WAS GONNA HAPPEN THIS QUICKLY.
YOU KNOW, THIS WAS NOT SOMETHING LIKE, OH BOY, YOU KNOW, THIS IS COMING, YOU KNOW, WE THOUGHT IT'D BE MORE OF A GRADUAL THING AND IT KIND OF HAPPENED, YOU KNOW, SU YOU KNOW, SUDDENLY AND ALL AT ONCE.
UM, SO WE DID, WE HAD TO, WE HAD TO HIRE A LOT OF NEW INDIVIDUALS WE HAD TO TAKE ON THEN THERE'S CERTAINLY, THERE'S A, THERE'S A LEARNING, THERE'S A LEARNING CURVE WITH, WITH SOME OF THIS, OF BEING ABLE TO PROPERLY STAFF.
'CAUSE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT 20, 24 HOUR STAFFING AND YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT HAVING TO, UM, YOU, UH, RECRUIT AND RETAIN IN A VERY COMPETITIVE FIELD WHERE, YOU KNOW, SCHEDULE FLEXIBILITY AND ALL OF THAT ARE, ARE HUGE, HUGE FACTORS.
YOU KNOW, YOU'RE NOT JUST BEING LIKE, OKAY, YOU KNOW, WE NEED PEOPLE IN HERE FROM, FROM, YOU KNOW, EIGHT, EIGHT TO FIVE.
UM, AND SO I THINK WE HAVE MOVED, YOU KNOW, TO THAT.
AND I DON'T THINK THAT AS YOU KIND OF MOVE FORWARD, YOU'RE PROBABLY GONNA SEE THE SAME AMOUNT OF GROWTH.
BUT AS WITH ALL FORMS OF, OF PUBLIC SAFETY, UM, YOU KNOW, THIS IS, THIS IS PROBABLY SOMETHING THAT WILL GROW FASTER THAN THE REST OF THE BUDGET.
UM, SPEAKING OF PUBLIC SAFETY, UM, LAST YEAR THE ABERDEEN MUNICIPALITY REQUESTED THAT THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT TAKE OVER SROS FOR THEIR SCHOOLS, RIGHT? UH, WHICH IS GREAT BECAUSE THEY JUST DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES AND THE RECRUITMENT TO BE ABLE TO STAFF THOSE SCHOOLS.
UH, BUT AT THE SAME TIME AS THE DISPATCHERS THAT INITIALLY THE COUNTY SAID, YOU KNOW, MUNICIPALITIES ARE, YOU KNOW, ARE GONNA BE ADOPTED BY DES FOR DISPATCHERS, AND THEN THEY PUT THE COST ON THEM AFTERWARDS.
WHY ARE WE NOT PUTTING THE COST ON ABERDEEN, THE GOVERNMENT OF ABERDEEN FOR THE COST OF SROS THAT COST COUNTY TAXPAYER DOLLARS OUT OF YOUR BUDGET? OUR BUDGET? I THINK ULTIMATELY IT IS, YOU KNOW, THE, THE, THE SCHOOLS ARE, YOU KNOW, BE, ARE OUR COUNTY FUNCTION, NOT SO MUCH A MUNICIPAL FUNCTION.
WE, I THINK WE'VE HAD GREAT COOPERATION FROM SOME OF THE MUNICIPALITIES IN KIND OF RECOGNIZING, YOU KNOW, THAT THEY HAVE, UM, LOCAL, YOU KNOW, LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND, AND HAVE GRACE IN BEL AIR AND HAVE, AND HAVE STAFFED THEM, UM, YOU KNOW, ACCORDINGLY.
AND I THINK THEN THE QUESTION BECOMES WITH ABERDEEN IS IF, IF, IF ABERDEEN SAYS THAT WE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT GOING, YOU KNOW, THAT WE CAN'T DO THIS, THEN IF YOU DON'T STEP UP AND, AND DO IT, THEN YOU'RE GONNA HAVE, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE SCHOOLS THAT ARE, ARE NOT GONNA HAVE, THAT ARE JUST NOT GONNA HAVE SROS.
THERE'S NOTHING IN THE LAW THAT WE CAN MANDATE THE, UM, THE LOCALITIES TO DO THIS.
YOU KNOW, I THINK WE HAVE GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH A LOT OF OUR MUNICIPALITIES AND WE, YOU KNOW, WE TRY TO WORK AND PARTNER, UM, ON CERTAIN THINGS.
BUT AGAIN, WITH, YOU KNOW, WITH SCHOOLS, YOU KNOW, THE SCHOOLS ARE TECHNICALLY LOCATED WITHIN THE MUNICIPALITY OF ABERDEEN, HOWEVER, YOU KNOW, THEY, THEY DRAW FROM, UM, KIDS FROM, FROM OUTSIDE OF THOSE MUNICIPALITIES.
UM, AND AGAIN, THOSE, THE MUNICIPALITIES GENERALLY DO NOT HAVE A DIRECT RELATIONSHIP WITH, WITH FUNDING THE SCHOOLS.
SO, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, WE TRY TO HAVE A PARTNERSHIP, WE TRY TO WORK, WE TRY TO WORK WITH THEM.
UM, BUT I THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT WAS A, IT WAS A DECISION OF, OKAY, SO ARE WE, ARE WE NOT GOING TO HAVE SROS IN THOSE SCHOOLS OR, OR ARE WE GOING TO, AND, UM, SOMETIMES YOU DON'T GET TO PICK YOUR, PICK YOUR BATTLES.
WELL, BEL AIR FUNDS THEIR SROS,
[00:50:01]
HABIT OF GRACE FUNDS THEIR SROS, YOU KNOW, THEY HAD DISCUSSIONS.WAS IT EVER A QUESTION OR A NEGOTIATION WITH ABERDEEN TO FUND THEIR SROS? AND WE'RE TALKING, I JUST, GOING OFF OF MEMORY WHEN I WAS DOING THE RESEARCH, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SIX TO $800,000 IF I'M SOMEWHERE IN THAT BALLPARK ON SROS FOR THOSE SCHOOLS, RIGHT? THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT THAT CAN GO TO A LOT OF DIFFERENT AGENCIES AND, AND, AND, YOU KNOW, UM, THINGS IN OUR COUNTY.
SO WAS THERE A REQUEST FOR ABERDEEN? WAS THERE A REQUEST FOR ABERDEEN TO DO SIGN AN MOU TO FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE SROS? YEAH, I, I DON'T, YOU KNOW, YEAH, I MEAN, I MEAN, I KNOW THAT THERE WAS CONVERSATIONS AND I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THEY WERE, THAT, THAT THAT THEY WERE WILLING TO ENTER, TO ENTER.
I MEAN, THERE, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, IT WAS NOT PART OF THE CONVERSATIONS WAS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE CANNOT DO THIS AND WE CAN'T AFFORD TO DO IT.
SO IT WASN'T JUST A MANPOWER ISSUE OF, WELL, WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH, YOU KNOW, ENOUGH PEOPLE TO, UM, ENOUGH OFFICERS TO, TO DEAL WITH THIS.
IT WAS ALSO A RESOURCE OF, OF, YOU KNOW, THAT, THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE THE, THE RESOURCES AND WE'RE NOT, AND, AND DID NOT WANT TO CONTINUE EITHER FUNDING IT OR, OR STAFFING IT SO THAT IT WAS NEVER ASKED.
I KNOW THAT THERE WERE CONVERSATIONS, YOU KNOW, BUT YEAH, NO IDEA.
IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE CAN FOLLOW UP ON? YES, THAT'S POSSIBLE.
I'LL PASS IT OFF FOR A MINUTE.
JUST MR. GUTHRIE, JUST, UH, UH, THE THREE MUNICIPALITIES PAY NOTHING TO THE SCHOOL BUDGET.
THEY HAVE THEIR OWN TAX BASE ALSO, BUT THEY DON'T SUPPORT, ALSO, THEY ALSO PAY LESS TAXES INTO THE GOVERNMENT THAN THE REST OF THE COUNTY.
THEY, BECAUSE THEY HAVE A MUNICIPALITY THAT'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT.
THAT'S JUST THE WAY, THAT'S A FACT.
ALSO, THEY, THEY, THEY DO NOT PAY IN THE, THE HIGHWAYS PORTION OF THE PROPERTY TAX, THE 14 CENTS.
SO IF YOU LIVE IN ONE OF THE THREE MUNICIPALITIES, UM, YOUR PROPERTY TAX BILL FROM THE COUNTY IS, YOU KNOW, 84, 80 4 CENTS INSTEAD OF 98 CENTS.
OF COURSE, THEY PAY MORE LOCALLY BECAUSE THEY PAY THEIR, THEY FUND THEIR, IF YOU LIVE IN A MUNICIPALITY, YOU'RE O YOU'RE THE, THE TAXES OUT OF YOUR POCKET ARE HIGHER THAN IF YOU DON'T LIVE IN A MUNICIPALITY.
THOUGH THEY HAVE A LOT OF SCHOOLS WITHIN THE MUNICIPALITIES, THEY DON'T PAY ANYTHING TO SCHOOL BUDGET OUT OF THEIR BUDGET, OUT OF THE MUNICIPALITY BUDGET.
THEY PAY NOTHING DIRECT TO THE SCHOOL BUDGET.
NOT, NOT, NOT, I MEAN, I, NOT, NOT TO MY KNOWLEDGE ARE THEY PAYING ANYTHING, BUT THEY, BUT NOW THEY ARE SUPPORTING, THE TWO MUNICIPALITIES ARE SUPPORTING THEIR SROS, YES.
MR. BENNETT, ALONG THOSE SAME LINES, UM, YOU KNOW, AND I'VE BEEN VERY LUCKY IN MY CAREER WHEN I TAUGHT IN HAV GRACE TO WORK WITH SOME GREAT H GRACE POLICE OFFICERS WHO ARE SROS AND HAVE GRACE ELEMENTARY.
AND, UM, BUT YOU KNOW, OUR MUNICIPALITIES ARE FACING THEIR OWN BUDGET CONSTRAINTS AND THEIR OWN BUDGETARY LIMITATIONS THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE TRYING TO PREPARE FOR.
AND I'M, MY WORRY IS IF HAVE GRACE IN BEL AIR, LOOK AT THIS, UH, YOU KNOW, KIND OF A SWEETHEART DEAL THAT WE'VE WORKED OUT WITH THE CITY OF ABERDEEN, WHERE WE'RE GONNA PAY FOR THEIR SROS AT NO COST TO THEM, THAT, YOU KNOW, AS HAVE DE GRACE IN BEL AIR PREPARE THEIR BUDGETS FOR THE UPCOMING YEARS, THEY'RE GONNA SAY, WELL, YOU KNOW, I SEE ONE PLACE WE COULD SAVE A LOT OF MONEY.
LET'S STOP PAYING FOR THESE SROS.
THE COUNTY WILL STEP IN AND FILL IN FOR US, AND THEN THAT'S A MILLION DOLLARS THAT WE COULD PUT TOWARDS, YOU KNOW, IN, UH, HALF DEGREES WATER INFRASTRUCTURE OR, YOU KNOW, IN BEL AIR.
I DON'T KNOW THE NEEDS OF BEL AIR, BUT I'M SURE THERE'S SOMETHING THAT THEY COULD SAY THAT'S A MILLION DOLLARS WE COULD PUT TOWARDS X, Y, Z.
UM, AND SO I JUST WORRY ABOUT THAT.
UH, NOW WE'RE SETTING THIS, UH, PAST PRACTICE THAT THEN OTHER MUNICIPALITIES COULD SAY, OH, WELL HERE YOU GO.
THANK YOU FOR TAKING CARE OF THAT HARTFORD COUNTY.
AND THEN THAT'S GONNA BE, UM, A FUTURE BUDGET STRAIN FOR NEXT YEAR OR THE YEAR AFTER, WHENEVER THE MUNICIPALITIES DECIDE TO MAKE THAT CHANGE.
AND I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT, UM, HOW WE HANDLE THAT TRANSITION WITH ABERDEEN DOESN'T INCENTIVIZE THE OTHER MUNICIPALITIES TO MAKE THE SAME, UM, TRANSITION.
SO I JUST WANTED TO ECHO THAT POINT, UM, THAT, UH, IT'S, IT'S GREAT RIGHT NOW.
YOU KNOW, I LOVED IN H GRACE SPECIFICALLY THAT OUR HAV DE GRACE, UM, POLICE THAT SERVED AS SROS WERE LOCAL TO THE COMMUNITY.
THEY WERE THE SAME PEOPLE THAT OUR STUDENTS SAW AT FIRST FRIDAYS OR WHEN THEY WERE GOING TO THE LIBRARY OR WHEREVER THEY WERE.
'CAUSE IT WAS THEIR LOCAL PEOPLE.
MOST OF 'EM LIVE IN THE COMMUNITY, UM, WORK IN THE COMMUNITY.
IT WOULD BE DIFFERENT TO HAVE AN SRO FROM ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTY SERVING ANYWHERE ELSE WHEN THEY'RE NOT AT SCHOOL.
UM, THAT IS A GREAT RELATIONSHIP THERE.
UH, BUT I ALSO UNDERSTAND, UM, MS. MALADIES HAVE BUDGETS THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO BALANCE.
AND I WORRY THAT BY NOT EVEN ATTEMPTING TO HAVE SOME SORT OF DEAL THERE,
[00:55:01]
WE'RE BASICALLY PUTTING AN OPEN INVITATION OUT THERE TO BEL AIR AND HAV DE GRACE TO DUPLICATE THAT PROCESS.MR. PENMAN, UM, SO WITH BUDGET SHORTFALLS, UM, DO YOU THINK, UH, IT MIGHT BE A CONSIDERATION OVER THE NEXT YEAR TO KIND OF SHIFT FROM THE LAND ACQUISITION? UM, YOU KNOW, WHETHER THAT'S, UM, THROUGH PARKS AND REC OR WHETHER THAT'S AG PRES? UH, AND I KNOW WE HAVE AN AG PRES THING, AND WE'LL, WE'LL GO MORE INTO THAT, BUT IF, IF WE DON'T HAVE THE FUNDS TO INVEST IN PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, SHOULD WE DIAL BACK ON LAND ACQUISITION? WELL, THERE'S A COUPLE FORMS OF LAND ACQUISITION.
UM, STATE LAW, YOU KNOW, UM, IT WAS ENABLING LEGISLATION.
IT COULD BE CHANGED AT THE STATE LEVEL THAT 50% OF OUR TRANSFER TAX GOES TO AGRICULTURAL PRESERVATION, 50% GOES TO, UM, SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION.
UM, SO, YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW THAT WOULD REQUIRE THAT TO BE CHANGED.
A LOT OF THE PARKLAND ACQUISITION IS THROUGH THE STATE POS PROGRAM, UH, WHICH IS FUNDED WITH STATE TRANSFER TAX, AND YOU REALLY CAN ONLY BE USED IN THAT AREA.
SO THEN WHEN YOU GET INTO COUNTY, UM, SITE ACQUISITION, I THINK PRIMARILY WHAT YOU'RE GONNA BE TALKING ABOUT THERE, UM, AS FAR AS THE BIG DOLLAR AMOUNTS IS GONNA BE THE SCHOOLS.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE, WE HAD THE, THE RECENT ACQUISITION FOR THE, FOR THE HARTFORD ACADEMY, YOU KNOW, THAT THAT CAME OUTTA THERE.
AND WE KNOW AS WE GO FORWARD THAT, AND WE'RE STARTING TO WORK OUT WITH THE SCHOOL SYSTEM THAT WE ARE GOING TO NEED PROBABLY ANOTHER SCHOOL IN THE, UM, ANOTHER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN THE ABERDEEN, PERHAPS THE ABERDEEN H GRACE AREA, BECAUSE OF ALL OF THE DEVELOPMENT HAPPENING WITHIN THE MUNICIPALITY, WHICH THE COUNTY CANNOT CONTROL, YOU KNOW, AROUND RIPKIN STADIUM, AND THEN TO A LESSER EXTENT AROUND KIND OF BULLY ROCK AND, AND ALL.
UM, AND YOU KNOW, THIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN ONE OF THE BIG DISCONNECTS IN, IN, UM, WITH, AND THIS KINDA GETS TO A LOT OF THE THINGS WITH MUNICIPALITIES VERSUS COUNTY OR COUNTIES HAVE THE OBLIGATION FOR THE SCHOOLS.
UM, BUT YOU KNOW, MUNICIPALITIES ARE, ARE INDEPENDENT, YOU KNOW, OFTENTIMES THEY'RE ABLE TO, TO ANNEX, UM, ANNEX LAND, UM, AND GROW THEIR, THEIR, THEIR, UM, THEIR BOUNDARIES.
AND THE, THE EQUATION OF KIND OF COST BENEFIT FOR A MUNICIPALITY IS DIFFERENT THAN IT IS FOR, UM, THE COUNTY BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THE OBLIGATION OF THE SCHOOLS.
SO FOR US, GROWTH IS ALWAYS A LITTLE BIT OF A MIXED BLESSING FOR A MUNICIPALITY.
YOU KNOW, IT'S LESS SO, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THEY, THEY CERTAINLY HAVE SOME, I DON'T WANNA BE, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE POLICE AND THEY HAVE ROADS, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE THAT THE SAME DRIVER.
UM, SO OFTENTIMES ADDITIONAL GROWTH FOR MUNICIPALITY, UM, IT IS, IS IS MORE ON THE PLUS THAN LESS ON THE MINUS.
SO YOU, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE HAVE TO PROVIDE THOSE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO PROVIDE THOSE LAND, YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T JUST SAY, YOU KNOW, OH, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, I GUESS YOU COULD ALWAYS SAY TO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, ALRIGHT, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, UM, REBALANCE ENROLLMENT, UM, AND THEN MAKE SOME KIDS THEN TAKE A LONG BUS RIDE AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
BUT ULTIMATELY, PARTICULARLY WITH ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, YOU TRY TO HAVE SCHOOLS SOMEWHAT NEARBY WHERE THE POPULATION IS AND THE POPULATION IS GOING TO GROW SIGNIFICANTLY IN THOSE AREAS.
SO WE ARE GOING TO NEED SOME TYPE OF LAND IN ORDER TO BUILD SOME TYPE OF A SCHOOL IN THE NEXT, YOU KNOW, SEVERAL YEARS.
UM, ANYONE, BUDGET ADVISORS, ANY QUESTIONS OR ANYTHING BEFORE WE MOVE ON? MR. STOVER? UH, THANK YOU, MR. SEN.
I JUST WANNA DOVETAIL ON SOMETHING YOU SAID, UH, BUT I'LL GIVE YOU FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR PERSPECTIVE WHEN IT COMES TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
UM, I MAKE A PAYROLL EVERY TWO WEEKS.
I'M A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER, AND WHEN REVENUES ARE DOWN, YOU HAVE TWO OPTIONS.
YOU EITHER CUT FOLKS, WHICH IS THE PAINFUL OPTION, OR YOU BROADEN YOUR REVENUE STREAM.
AND I JUST WANT TO CONVEY TO THE ADMINISTRATION THAT THOSE OF US IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR ARE HERE, WE'RE WILLING TO HELP, UH, TO THE EXTENT WE CAN, YOU KNOW, FACILITATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR WHETHER IT'S JOB GROWTH DEVELOPMENT, UH, THAT'S SOMETHING WE WANT TO DO BECAUSE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT.
AND I THINK THAT WAS A GREAT QUESTION YOU HAD, UH, MR. VINCENTI, UH, MR. PENMAN, YOUR POINT ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AGAIN, FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR, THERE'S A BIT OF A GAP TOO IN PLANNING AND ZONING RIGHT NOW.
I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF, UH, VACANCIES THERE, AND I THINK THAT FILLING SOME OF THOSE WOULD ALSO HELP WITH FACILITATING ECONOMIC GROWTH IN THE FUTURE.
THANK YOU, MR. S MR. SCHERZER, JUST ADDING INTO A, A DIFFERENT ANGLE, BUT IT'S GONNA PROBABLY TAKE UP A LOT OF TIME LIKE IT DID LAST YEAR ON PAGE 54 FUND BALANCE.
YOU KNOW, I THINK WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE UNALLOCATED OR THE UNAVAILABLE RESERVE, WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME LAST YEAR ON THAT, AND OVER THE YEAR WE DID A LOT OF RESEARCH AND HAD THE DELEGATION PROVIDE US WITH, UH, PROOF THAT WE PUT IN OUR REPORT IN JANUARY.
UH, THAT, THAT 125 MILLION, YOU KNOW, BACK TO THE TIMING DISCUSSION, THE STATE GAVE US LESS THAN THE YEAR PRIOR.
WE'VE HAD LESS THAN THE YEAR PRIOR, BUT THEY ALSO HELD BACK ANOTHER 3 MILLION AND PUT IT INTO THE, UH, ACCUMULATED UNAVAILABLE REVENUE.
WE ALSO CONFIRMED THAT THE, THE PIGGY BANK LOAN THAT MR. SANDLES AND I TALKED ABOUT A LOT LAST YEAR, HE PROVIDED US A LOT OF GOOD INFORMATION.
THAT PIGGY BANK LOAN, UH, DURING THE RECESSION WAS NEVER REPAID.
SO, YOU KNOW, AS WE GO FORWARD AND WE CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT FUND BALANCE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S 125 MILLION IN ARREARS THAT'S OWED TO THE COUNTY,
[01:00:01]
AND THERE'S A LOAN OF AN UNKNOWN AMOUNT BACK FROM 2008, NINE, AND 10 OWED TO ALL COUNTIES, ALMOST A BILLION DOLLARS.UM, MY CONCERN IS IF WE DON'T START TO ADVOCATE AS A COUNTY OR AS A, UH, STATE OF COUNTIES FOR THAT MONEY, IF THE STATE GOES DOWN A PATH OF ANOTHER RECESSION, UH, WHEN WILL THEY TAKE ANOTHER BILLION DOLLAR LOAN FROM THE 2.5 TO 3 BILLION THAT'S SITTING THERE? THAT'S OUR MONEY.
UM, AND IF WE HAVEN'T BEEN REPAID IN THE LAST DECADE, IT'S PROBABLY NOT A GOOD CHANCE THAT WE'RE GONNA GET PAID IN THE NEXT DECADE.
I JUST WANTED TO ECHO, UH, THE COMMENTS OF MR. STOVER AND THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
UH, I, I'M NOT SURE THE COUNTY HERE IN TERMS OF THE ADMINISTRATION IS FOCUSING IT OFF ON STRATEGY FOR MOVING FORWARD, UH, FOR ADDITIONAL REVENUE.
AND, AND WE START WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THAT WAS BROUGHT UP FROM WHAT WAS DESCRIBED THIS MORNING.
IT SOUNDS LIKE WE HAD HAVE AN OFFICE OF, OF, OF ECONOMIC REACTION INSTEAD OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
WHEN YOU'RE, WHEN YOU'RE CUTTING STAFF AND RESOURCES AND RELYING ON OTHER PARTS, I GET THAT OTHER PARTS ARE PLAYERS IN THE BIG SCHEME OF THINGS, BUT THEY'RE AUTOMATICALLY BROUGHT IN AT SOME POINT ANYWAY.
AND I DON'T, I'M NOT SURE THAT WE'RE DOING ENOUGH IN TERMS OF STRATEGY TO GROW THOSE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN THE COUNTY.
UM, THE OTHER POINT I, I WANTED TO MAKE, UH, WAS, UH, I'M SORRY, I FORGOT WHAT I WAS GONNA SAY.
I GOT A, I GOT A LOT GOING ON, UH, THIS MORNING.
UM, OH, AND WE HEAR ABOUT THESE OPPORTUNITIES, THESE REALLY BIG OPPORTUNITIES, ONE OR TWO BIG OPPORTUNITIES.
AND I REALIZE THAT SOMETIMES THINGS HAVE TO TAKE CASE TAKE PLACE BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, BUT A LOT OF, A LOT OF TIMES THESE THINGS TAKE MONTHS AND YEARS TO DEVELOP.
AND I JUST HOPE AND PRAY THAT WE'RE NOT PUTTING OUR EGGS IN THE BASKET OF A PG IN TERMS OF GOVERNMENT CONTRACTORS FOR THAT NEXT BIG THING.
I GUESS I'D HAVE A QUESTION FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WHEN THEY GET HERE.
WHAT HAS BEEN THE GROWTH IN TERMS OF BUSINESS GROWTH OVER THE PAST YEAR? BECAUSE I'M NOT SURE IT, IT HAS REALLY GONE ON THE SAME TRAJECT TRAJECTORY WE'VE SEEN OVER THE PAST MAYBE DECADE IN THIS COUNTY.
UM, I HAD A FEW QUICK QUESTIONS.
ONE, MR. MCCORD, YOU MENTIONED THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN THAT WAS IN THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION WASN'T WORKING.
WHAT, WHAT IS THE NEW PLAN OR HOW WAS THE OLD PLAN FAILING
THE, THE, THE CONCEPT OF HAVING BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT PEOPLE WHO WERE NOT OUT OF THE OFFICE AND TRYING TO DEVELOP BUSINESS.
THAT'S WHAT I REALLY MEAN ABOUT THAT.
UM, ALSO, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT IT'S THE INTENT TO NOT MOVE FORWARD WITH FUNDING THE CENTRAL PRECINCT, ALTHOUGH THE TAXPAYER FUNDS WERE COMMITTED FOR THAT PROJECT.
UM, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE LONG-TERM EFFECTS THAT THIS WILL HAVE.
UM, HAS THERE BEEN ANY CONSIDERATION, CONSIDERATION FOR FUNDING A PRECINCT SOMEWHERE? YEAH, THE CENTRAL PRECINCT, YES, THERE'S BEEN CONSIDERATION FOR FUNDING A PRECINCT SOMEWHERE.
WE'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT THAT, BUT, BUT IT WILL NOT HAPPEN AT THE PLACE WHERE IT WAS PREVIOUSLY SCHEDULED TO HAPPEN.
UM, IS THERE ANY PLAN FOR WHEN IT MAY HAPPEN? I CAN'T TELL YOU A DATE.
ANYONE, MR. BEN? UM, I HAVE ONE LAST, UH, QUESTION FOR ME.
UM, WHILE WE HAVE EVERYBODY HERE, UM, AND IT MIGHT BE A QUESTION BETTER FOR ROBBIE, BUT I, BEFORE YOU LEAVE, UM, I WAS IN CONVERSATION WITH, UM, SOMEONE OVER THE WEEKEND WHO SHARED WITH ME THAT OTHER COUNTIES WHEN DOING BOND SALES TO FUND CAPITAL PROJECTS LOOK AT 30 YEARS INSTEAD OF 20 YEARS TO LESSEN THAT YEARLY BURDEN OF, OF TOTAL COST AND THAT WAY THEY COULD ACCELERATE CONSTRUCTION PACE.
UM, IS THAT, IS THERE A, UH, A POINT IN DOING 20 YEARS VERSUS 30 YEARS, AND IS THAT, UH, YOUR RATE BEEN SOMETHING THAT WE'VE CONSIDERED AS WE'RE LOOKING AT, AS YOU SAID, POTENTIALLY HAVING TO PUT A SCHOOL IN BETWEEN ABERDEEN AND HAV GRACE HAVING TO CATCH UP ON, UM, YOU KNOW, UH, PRIOR YEARS CONSTRUCTION PLUS OTHER PROJECTS BEYOND SCHOOLS THAT JUST NEED TO GET DONE AND CAUGHT UP ON? I, I MEAN, YEAH, YOU CAN ALWAYS LOOK AT, AT, UM, EXTENDING THE, THE, THE LIFE OF THE, OF THE BOND.
SO, SO LONG AS THE ASSET YOU IS IS THAT LONG, LIKE, YOU KNOW, YOU, IF YOU HAD AN ASSET THAT WAS ONLY GONNA LAST 20 YEARS, YOU, YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU COULDN'T DO A 30 YEAR BOND FOR IT.
YOU KNOW, SCHOOLS ARE, SCHOOLS ARE, YOU KNOW, UH, UH,
[01:05:01]
WASTEWATER OR, YOU KNOW, THINGS LIKE THAT.YOU WOULD CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU COULD DO IT.
I THINK THE PROBLEM IS, IS THAT IT KIND OF CREATES, UM, KIND OF A FALSE HIGH IN THE SHORT TERM BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, ALL OF A SUDDEN NOW YOU'RE TAKING ON MORE DEBT, BUT JUST LIKE YOUR OWN PERSONAL LIFE, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE GONNA PAY OFF THAT, THAT, THAT THAT 20 YEAR DEBT IS FASTER THAN THAT, THAT THAT 30 YEAR DEBT.
AND EVENTUALLY, YOU KNOW, ONCE YOU DO THIS FOR SEVERAL YEARS, YOU'RE JUST GONNA FIND YOURSELF WITH MORE, YOU KNOW, WITH HIGHER DEBT SERVICE BECAUSE NOW YOU'RE PAYING OFF FROM 30 YEARS, 30 YEAR DEBT GENERALLY COMES WITH A HIGHER INTEREST RATE THAN DOES, UM, UH, THAN DOES 20 YEAR DEBT, YOU KNOW, BY, BY THE SAME TOKEN, YOU KNOW, IF WE HAD 15 YEARS WOULD BE LESS THAN 20.
UM, SO THERE IS A BALANCING ACT THERE.
UM, AND ULTIMATELY THOUGH WE ARE UP AGAINST, YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW WE ARE GOOD ON DEBT AFFORDABILITY RATIO.
SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT, UM, YOU KNOW, HARTFORD COUNTY AS A, A PERCENTAGE OF OUR DEBT AS, YOU KNOW, PERCENTAGE OF THE ASSESSABLE BASE OR AS A PERCENTAGE OF OUR PERSONAL INCOME AND ALL OF THIS, YOU KNOW, WE ARE STILL TO THE GOOD ON THAT.
AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY THOUGH WE HAVE THAT AAA BOND RATING.
IF YOU LOOK AT A LOT OF JURISDICTIONS NOW THAT ARE, UM, YOU KNOW, PARTICULARLY SOME JURISDICTIONS THAT HAVE A LOT OF OLDER INFRASTRUCTURE THAT ARE NEEDING NOW TO DO A LOT OF, OF, UM, ACCELERATED CAPITAL SPENDING IN ORDER TO PROBABLY ADDRESS THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY ARE BEING LOOKED AT VERY CLOSELY BY THE RATING AGENCIES.
UM, AND YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, THEY DON'T AUTOMATICALLY LOSE THEIR RATING STATUS, BUT THEY GET PLACED ON WATCH AND EVENTUALLY THEY, THEY, THEY CERTAINLY COULD, YOU KNOW, HARTFORD COUNTY IS A, IS A TRIPLE A RATE RATED COUNTY, UM, FOR A LOT OF GOOD REASONS.
WE HAVE A LOT OF REALLY, UM, UH, PLUS THINGS AND YOU KNOW, WE, WE'VE BEEN AA COUNTY NOW FOR ABOUT, UM, YOU KNOW, A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN A LITTLE BIT 10 MORE THAN 10 YEARS.
BUT IT'S NOT A, A GIVEN THAT WE ALWAYS MAINTAIN THAT.
SO, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE LOOKING AT, THEY'RE LOOKING AT OUR FUND BALANCE, THEY'RE LOOKING AT OUR DEBT AFFORDABILITY.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT ONE OF THESE COUNTIES, WE'RE NOT HOWARD COUNTY.
WE'RE, YOU KNOW, A, A PLACE LIKE HOWARD, HOWARD COUNTY'S GOT, GOT SO MONEY, UM, UM, YOU KNOW, KIND OF POSITIVE ATTRIBUTES, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE OF KIND OF WHERE THEY'RE LOCATED AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
UM, THAT IT WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT FOR A PLACE LIKE THAT TO LOSE THEIR AA BOND RATING STATUS.
BUT, YOU KNOW, IN HARTFORD, YOU KNOW, IT'S KINDA ALMOST LIKE, YOU KNOW, AVIS, YOU KNOW, NUMBER TWO.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO BE VERY COGNIZANT OF, OF MAINTAINING STRONG FUND BALANCES, OF MAINTAINING STRONG DEBT AFFORDABILITY SO THAT WE DON'T LOSE THAT AA BOND RATING.
AND I WOULD ALSO SAY THAT THAT AAA BOND RATING GOES BEYOND JUST OUR, UM, YOU, THE, THE RATE AT WHICH WE CAN BORROW.
I THINK IT, IT VERY MUCH SENDS A MESSAGE, A MESSAGE TO THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, TO THE PROSPECTIVE BUSINESS COMMUNITY THAT THIS IS A COUNTY THAT'S ABLE TO MAKE, UM, YOU KNOW, HARD DECISIONS THAT'S ABLE TO, THAT HAS A, A KIND OF A BALANCED ECONOMY, UM, THAT IS WELL RUN AND WELL OPERATED.
AND, AND SO FOR A HOST OF REASONS, YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK WE EVER WANNA PUT THAT TRIPLE A IN BOND RATING AND IT GOES BEYOND JUST, YOU KNOW, WHETHER OR NOT WE SAVE, YOU KNOW, A FEW, YOU KNOW, A MILLION DOLLARS OR SOMETHING ON, ON INTEREST.
DO YOU THINK, UM, YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO PROVIDE LIKE, UM, ANY HARD NUMBERS OR DATA? OBVIOUSLY NOT RIGHT NOW, BUT JUST TO, UM, THE WEIGHTED PROS AND CONS OF 20 YEARS VERSUS 30 YEARS.
I THINK IT WAS ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY I WAS LOOKING AT THAT DOES 30 YEAR BONDS, UH, BOND SALES FOR THEIR CONSTRUCTION OF JUST, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY WHAT THE YEARLY SAVINGS ARE DOING THAT VERSUS 20 YEARS, BUT ALSO THE LIFETIME COSTS OF 30 YEARS VERSUS 20 YEARS FOR, UH, YEAH, I MEAN, WE COULD RUN YOU AND YOU COULD JUST RUN LIKE AN AMORTIZATION.
JUST SAY, OKAY, IF YOU HAD, YOU KNOW, LET'S JUST SAY, YOU KNOW, $50 MILLION OR A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS SALE, YOU KNOW HOW MUCH MORE YOU WOULD SPEND, I THINK I'VE LOOKED AT THIS IN THE, IN THE, IN THE PAST AND, YOU KNOW, LIKE OVER LIKE THE ADDITIONAL 10 YEARS OR SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, IT, IT, IT, IT DOES END UP BEING, YOU KNOW, SEVERAL MILLION DOLLARS, BUT IT DEPENDS ON THE SIZE OF THE THING.
BUT WE CAN, WE CAN RUN AN AMORTIZATION.
AGAIN, IT'S VERY KIND OF, YOU KNOW, BASIC AND JUST AS YOU KNOW, IS, IS IS JUST A, A, A SNAPSHOT OF WHERE KIND OF INTEREST RATES ARE RIGHT NOW, BUT WE KNOW WHAT, UM, GENERALLY WHAT A 30 YEAR, WHAT A 30 YEAR, UM, INTEREST RATE WOULD BE VERSUS A 20 YEAR INTEREST RATE FOR A AAA.
AND THEN YOU CAN KIND OF JUST, YOU KNOW, UH, PLOP THAT DOWN INTO A A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLAR BOND SALE AND SHOW THE DIFFERENCE.
UM, SINCE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AAA AND, UH, THE FUND BALANCE, UH, WHEN REVIEWING, UM, THE PROJECTIONS ON 2024 LAST YEAR, AND THEN KIND OF THE AFTERMATH, THOSE PROJECTIONS HAVE BEEN ADJUSTED, AND, AND THAT'S WHAT, YOU KNOW, SOME OF MY POINT WAS LAST YEAR, UM, ABOUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE, THE ESTIMATES ARE, WERE A LITTLE MORE, AND I'LL GIVE YOU KIND OF AN EXAMPLE, UH, PROJECTED FUND BALANCE THAT WAS GONNA BE USED AT THE START OF LAST YEAR, FY 24.
SO INITIALLY IT WAS PROJECTED TO USE $63 MILLION OF FUND BALANCE, BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS YEAR'S BUDGET, UH, IT'S ABOUT 25, AND I'LL GIVE YOU KIND OF THE EXACT NUMBER.
SO THE 2024 REVENUE ESTIMATE IS 697 MILLION.
THAT NUMBER WAS LOWER, UM, LAST YEAR.
[01:10:02]
UH, ARE LOWER BY ABOUT $25 MILLION TO NOW IT'S 723, AND I THINK LAST YEAR WAS ABOUT 750 MILLION.SO THOSE NUMBERS OF WHAT WE'RE SAYING WE'RE USING OUT OF FUND BALANCE OVER THE COURSE OF ONE YEAR HAS DRASTICALLY DECREASED FROM 63 MILLION TO 25 MILLION.
UM, SO, AND I THINK THAT GOES INTO ONE, THE TRIPLE A BOND RATING, AND I THINK IT'S A REFLECTION OF OUR LOCAL ECONOMY IS DOING PRETTY WELL.
UM, AND IT'S, YOU KNOW, THE SKY HASN'T FALLEN THAT WE'RE USING ALL THE FUND BALANCE TO FUND THESE THINGS BECAUSE OVER ONE YEAR WE'VE SHIFTED, YOU KNOW, ROUGHLY $40 MILLION.
AND WELL, A LOT OF IT TOO IS, IS THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE COME UP AT THE, BE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, YOU KNOW, WE, WE WILL LOOK AT WHAT THE, THE, THE EXPENDITURES ARE GONNA BE, AND WE'RE GONNA ASSUME THAT THAT LEVEL OF EXPENDITURE IS GOING TO BE KIND, KIND OF FULLY DONE.
NOW, THERE'S A LOT OF PARTS OF THE BUDGET THAT, THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER WE GIVE TO THE SCHOOLS IS FULLY, YOU KNOW, FULLY EXPENDED.
BUT THEN FOR THE OTHER HALF OF THE BUDGET, THAT KIND OF STAYS WITH THE COUNTY.
OFTENTIMES WE DO, WE HAVE, UM, WE HAVE VARIOUS FORMS OF EXPENDITURE SAVINGS OR, OR, OR THINGS LIKE THAT.
A LOT OF WHICH DON'T JUST HAPPEN BY CHANCE, BUT HAVE ALSO KINDA HAPPENED BECAUSE OF SPECIFIC DIRECTION WHERE WE SAYING LIKE, LOOK, UM, YOU KNOW, LAST YEAR, YOU KNOW, WE, WE DID A, UM, A TWO AND A HALF PERCENT REVERSION, YOU KNOW, WE WENT TO ALL THE BUDGETS WITHIN THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT AND SAID, LOOK, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA SET ASIDE THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY SO WE HAVE EXTRA MONEY, UM, AT AT YEAR END.
YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW, I WOULDN'T SAY THAT WE HAVE A HIRING FREEZE, BUT WE CERTAINLY HAVE SOMETHING, UM, APPROACHING IT WHEN IT COMES TO NON-PUBLIC SAFETY POSITIONS.
UM, WHEREBY, YOU KNOW, WE, WE, WE, WE VERY MUCH LOOK, WE, WE LOOK HARD, HARD AT THEM.
UM, SO YOU'RE ALWAYS GONNA HAVE WITH FUND BALANCE, YOU'RE, YOU KNOW, YOU ALWAYS ARE GONNA HAVE, UM, YOU KNOW, SOME KIND OF MIDYEAR, YOU KNOW, SAVINGS AND, AND HOPEFULLY TOO, WE'RE GONNA BE TO THE GO ON REVENUE.
IT'S VERY SIMILAR TO, YOU KNOW, HOW YOU WOULD DO A BUDGET IN YOUR OWN OWN HOUSEHOLD.
YOU'RE LIKE, LOOK, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE CERTAIN THINGS THAT YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IT'S GONNA BE YOUR MORTGAGE, YOU KNOW, ASSUMING YOU DON'T REFINANCE, YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IT'S GONNA BE.
OTHER STUFF YOU'RE LIKE, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE CONSTANTLY MAKING ADJUSTMENTS, YOU KNOW, GROCERIES, ELECTRICITY, YOU KNOW, UM, WHAT HAVE YOU.
UM, AND SO, YOU KNOW, FROM THERE YOU OFTENTIMES WILL HAVE SOME, SOME SAVINGS.
AND THEN GENERALLY TOO, THE REVENUES DO COME IN A LITTLE BIT BETTER, UM, THAN EXPECTED.
AND THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN THE CHALLENGE OF, OF, UM, UH, BUDGETING REVENUES IS YOU DON'T WANT, AGAIN, YOU DON'T WANNA GET OUT OVER YOUR SKIS, BUT YOU ALSO DON'T WANNA BE TOO, UH, TOO LOW.
SO BECAUSE OF THAT, WHEN WE DO APPROPRIATE FUND BALANCE, WE DON'T ALWAYS USE ALL OF IT.
AND THAT'S WHY IF YOU GO TO TWO YEARS AGO, YOU, YOU KNOW, WE, YOU KNOW, WE APPROPRIATED $90 MILLION OF FUND BALANCE, BUT THE FUND BALANCE WENT FROM TWO 11 TO 1 75.
AND THIS YEAR, YOU KNOW, WE APPROPRIATED $75 MILLION OF, OF FUND BALANCE, AND WE HAVE THE FUND BALANCE GOING FROM 1 75 TO ONE 50.
SO INSTEAD OF GOING DOWN BY, BY BY 75.
NOW, I WILL SAY THIS, THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S HAPPENING IS, IS AS THESE NUMBERS CONVERGE, I DON'T THINK THAT THERE'LL BE, UM, UNLESS WE END UP WITH, UM, UM, A WEIRD SITUATION LIKE WE KIND OF HAD LAST YEAR WHERE, YOU KNOW, YOU GET THIS $20 MILLION OF UNEXPECTED REVENUE IN, UM, IN, IN JANUARY, UM, YOU KNOW THAT YOU'RE PROBABLY NOT GONNA SEE SOME OF THOSE SAME REVENUE, SOME OF THOSE SAME REVENUE FLUCTUATIONS.
UM, BUT I ALSO DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE GONNA SEE THE SAME LEVELS OF EXPENDITURE SAVINGS, BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT HOW WE'VE DONE THIS BUDGET THIS YEAR, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALWAYS GONNA HAVE SOME VACANCIES.
WE'RE ALWAYS GONNA HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF GIVE, THERE'S GONNA BE A LOT LESS OF THAT.
SO WE TALKED ABOUT THERE'S 11 FEWER POSITIONS, UM, ON THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT SIDE, THE CABINET GOVERNMENT SIDE, UM, THAT WERE FUNDED THIS YEAR.
YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE POSITIONS THAT OTHERWISE WOULD'VE BEEN BUDGETED.
AND HEY, YOU KNOW, MAYBE, MAYBE WE WOULD'VE, IT WOULD'VE TAKEN US TO OCTOBER OR TO JANUARY TO FILL 'EM, SO WE WOULD'VE HAD SOME SAVINGS.
SO YOU'RE GONNA HAVE LESS OF THAT.
AND I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY POSITIONS WE HAD 24 THAT WE ONLY PARTIALLY FUNDED.
THAT YOU, THAT YOU FUNDED FOR THE HALF YEAR.
SO LIKE, I HAVE TWO CLERK POSITIONS THAT I, I'M LIKE, ALL RIGHT, YOU KNOW, I'M GONNA FUND THESE FOR HALF THE YEAR I'M GONNA MAKE, MAKE DUE.
SO I THINK THAT THAT DELTA BETWEEN KIND OF WHERE YOU'RE ACTUALLY GONNA SPEND AND WHERE YOU'RE BUDGETED IS GETTING TIGHTER.
UM, AND THAT'S WHY I DON'T THINK THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO USE THE SAME AMOUNT OF, OF, UM, OF FUND BALANCE THAT WE HAVE IN THE PAST.
THAT, AND WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, IN REAL TERMS, OUR FUND BALANCE IS LESS TODAY THAN IT WAS TWO YEARS AGO.
IT WENT FROM TWO 11 TO 1 75, AND I THINK IT'LL GO DOWN TO ABOUT ONE 50, UM, AT THE END OF, AT THE END OF THIS YEAR, GIVE OR TAKE.
SO WOULD YOU AGREE TO THIS COUNCIL'S CREDIT THAT THE GRIM OUTLOOK THAT WAS PRESENTED LAST YEAR WASN'T, WASN'T EXACTLY WHAT OCCURRED.
IT WAS, IT WAS BETTER CIRCUMSTANCES THAN IT WAS ORIGINALLY PROJECTED? WELL, I DON'T KNOW.
BUT ALSO PROBABLY SAY THAT, THAT OFTENTIMES WITHIN HERE, THERE WAS THIS BELIEF THAT WE SHOULD RAISE REVENUE PROJECTIONS BECAUSE THEY WERE ARTIFICIALLY TOO LOW.
UM, HAD WE DONE THAT, WE WOULD'VE BEEN IN A MUCH MORE SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM RIGHT NOW, HAD WE HAD INCOME TAX GROWING AT, AT, AT 5% INSTEAD OF BEING HELD FLAT, 'CAUSE WE'RE STILL GONNA BE LOW.
WE'RE, YOU KNOW, WE ARE NOT GOING TO HIT OUR INCOME TAX NUMBER THIS YEAR UNLESS SOMETHING CRAZY HAPPENS.
[01:15:01]
SO I THINK THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF, OF, OF, UH, OF, UH, YOU KNOW, CALLS FOR, UM, YOU KNOW, CONCERN AND CONSERVATISM PROBABLY ON BOTH SIDES THAT WE'RE TRYING TO NOT GET, YOU KNOW, OVEREXTENDED.WE ARE ALWAYS GOING TO HAVE SOME SAVINGS WITHIN, WITHIN THE BUDGET BECAUSE OF SALARY SAVINGS.
AND BECAUSE ONCE WE SEE THAT REVENUES ARE NOT COMING IN, OR EVEN IF REVENUES ARE, IF WE'RE TRYING TO MAINTAIN RESOURCES FOR THE OUT YEARS, WE ARE ALWAYS GOING TO PROBABLY SAY TO OUR, TO AT LEAST THOSE PARTS OF THE BUDGET THAT ARE UNDER THE COUNTY EXECUTIVES CONTROL, HEY, YOU KNOW, LET'S NOT SPEND THAT MONEY.
LET'S, LET'S, LET'S SEE IF WE CAN GET BY.
SO A LOT OF THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN BY CHANCE.
SO IT'S NOT AS IF IT JUST, IT JUST HAPPENED.
UM, IT WAS VERY, UH, YOU KNOW, STRONG DECISIONS WERE, WERE MADE AND, AND HARD DECISIONS WERE MADE NOT TO SPEND MONEY THAT WE OTHERWISE COULD HAVE, BECAUSE IT'D BE VERY EASY FOR US TO, YOU KNOW, GO TO AT THE YEAR END AND BE LIKE, ALL RIGHT, YOU KNOW, WHAT DOES EVERYBODY NEED? YOU KNOW, MY WIFE SELLS FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT VERY BUSY IN THE MONTH OF, UM, IN THEIR CASE IN THE MONTH OF, UH, OF SEPTEMBER, BECAUSE EVERYBODY DOESN'T WANT TO LOSE IT.
YOU KNOW, THEY, THEY HAVE THEIR APPROPRIATION AND THEY WANNA SPEND IT.
SO WE CAN NEVER TAKE VACATIONS IN SEPTEMBER.
YOU KNOW, WE, YOU KNOW, WHEN IT GETS TO OUR END OF OUR FISCAL YEAR HERE, WE DON'T HAVE A USER TO LOSE IT APPROACH.
YOU KNOW, WE, YOU, WE DON'T SAY, YOU KNOW, HEY, IF YOU DON'T SPEND IT, YOU'RE NOT GONNA GET IT NEXT YEAR.
UM, SO, AND THAT'S ACTUALLY A DECISION THAT GOES BEYOND THIS COUNTY EXECUTIVE.
IT WAS UNDER THE PRIOR ADMINISTRATION.
IT WAS UNDER THE PRIOR PRIOR ADMINISTRATION.
IT'S REALLY UPON A PART OF HARTFORD COUNTY, I WOULD SAY FISCAL CULTURE.
UM, AND SO WE'RE ALWAYS GONNA HAVE THAT.
BUT AGAIN, IT'S, IT'S GONNA, I THINK IT'S GONNA BECOME LESS AND LESS SO BECAUSE WE'RE GONNA HAVE LESS AND LESS BUDGET FLEXIBILITY NOW.
I MEAN, THE WAY THAT I SEE IT IS IT WAS $40 MILLION DIFFERENCE.
BUT AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
THANK YOU FOR THE CONVERSATION.
THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR STAFF BEING HERE.
ANYONE ELSE? MR. ROUNDISH? ALL RIGHT.
I WASN'T GONNA DO THIS TODAY, BUT LET'S JUST DRIVE THIS POINT REAL QUICK.
SO YEAH, WE KEEP TALKING INCOME, INCOME, INCOME, I GET IT.
BUT THERE'S PROPERTY TAX HERE AS WELL.
AND WE HAVE NOT TALKED MUCH ABOUT PROPERTY TAX TODAY.
PROPERTY TAXES IS DEFINITELY HIGHER THAN WE THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE LAST YEAR BECAUSE OF THE ASSESSED VALUES.
SO I THINK WE SAID THAT ALREADY WHEN YOU SAID THEY WERE REASSESSED IN THE SOUTH OF THE COUNTY.
SO YOU SAY PROPERTY TAXES ARE HIGHER THAN WE THOUGHT THEY WERE GOING TO BE ASSESSED.
VALUES WERE HIGHER THAN WE THOUGHT ASSESSED, ASSESSED VALUES, A COUPLE THINGS TO ONE.
SO WHEN WE CAME IN WITH, WITH, WHEN THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE WAS STATING THAT WE, WE WERE GONNA HAVE 5% REVENUE GROWTH, THAT WAS LARGELY BASED ON THAT.
WE DID THINK THAT THE, UM, PROPERTY TAXES WERE GONNA GO UP BY ABOUT 5% AND INCOME TAX WAS GONNA GO UP BY, BY, BY ABOUT 5%.
THE PROPERTY TAX COMPONENT IS, IS CORRECT, BUT ALSO REMEMBER WITH PROPERTY TAXES, YOU KNOW, ONE, THEY DON'T, THEY DON'T ALL COME IN AT ONCE.
SO WE HAD THE SOUTHERN END OF THE COUNTY CAME IN AT A 20, I WANNA SAY 22 OR 24% INCREASE.
BUT BECAUSE OF, UM, THE WAY PROPERTIES ARE ASSESSED ONLY IN THAT THIRD OF THE COUNTY, THEY'RE, THEY'RE SPREAD OUT OVER THREE YEARS.
IT'S SPREAD OUT OVER THREE YEARS.
AND BECAUSE MOST OF THAT OF OUR BASE IS RESIDENTIAL AND NO ONE'S MOVING ANYMORE, THEY'RE MOSTLY ALL ELIGIBLE FOR THE HOMESTEAD TAX CREDIT.
AND YOUR HOMESTEAD TAX CREDIT PREVENTS YOU OR INDIVIDUAL PROPERTY TAX BILL, UM, ASSUMING NO CHANGE IN, IN THE TAX RATE FROM GROWING BY FIVE, FIVE BY BY 5%.
NOW, IF YOU HAD A 20% INCREASE, THEN THAT MEANS THEN YOU, WE, WE COULD GET FIVE, FOUR YEARS OF THAT, OF THAT 5%.
SO WE HAVE SEEN THAT AND, AND THAT'S BUILT INTO THE BUDGET.
NOW, WE DON'T GENERALLY HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF MID-YEAR SURPRISES WITH, WITH PROPERTY TAX.
SOMETIMES YOU CAN HAVE SOME, UM, HALF YEAR CONSTRUCTION OR THINGS LIKE THAT.
IN FACT, ACTUALLY I THINK ON, UM, YOU KNOW, MID, UM, YOU KNOW, MID, MID-YEAR, YOU KNOW, OFTENTIMES WHERE WE DO SEE SOME SURPRISES TO THE GOOD AND TO THE BAD IS ON PERSONAL PROPERTY BECAUSE THAT'S REALLY NOT ASSESSED BY THE STATE IN THE SAME WAY.
BUT OUR PROPERTY TAX IS STILL STRONG.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHY I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE STRONG FOR THE NEXT, FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS BECAUSE WE JUST HAD THIS, THIS ASSESSMENT, UM, GROW BY THE 22%.
I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA HAVE SEVERAL YEARS OF 5% GROWTH OUT OF THE, UM, THE, THE SOUTHERN END OF THE COUNTY.
YOU KNOW, NEXT YEAR WHEN WE DO, UM, DO THE NORTH END OF THE COUNTY, I THINK WE'LL PROBABLY SEE SOMETHING SIMILAR.
UM, AND THEN I THINK THERE'LL STILL BE SOME RESIDUALS, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE DO BEL AIR, UM, AGAIN, WHICH WAS SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN.
SO WE'RE GONNA SEE THAT WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA SEE, CONTINUE TO SEE, TO SEE THAT.
THE PROBLEM IS, IS THAT YOU, THAT'S, THAT'S ONLY A PART OF THE OVERALL REVENUE STREAM.
AND THEN INCOME TAX HAS GONE IN THE OTHER DIRECTION.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE LESS INCOME TAX TODAY THAN WE HAD, THAN WE HAD, UM, THIS TIME LAST YEAR.
AND AGAIN, THAT'S WHERE WE DON'T KNOW WHERE IT'S, IT'S GOING, BUT WE DEFINITELY DON'T THINK THAT IT'S GONNA GROW BY 5%.
OKAY, SO 37% OF OUR PROPERTY TAXES IS MIXED UP.
THE REVENUE BUDGET THAT YOU GUYS HAVE ON PAGE 80 HERE AND 33% COMES FROM INCOME TAX AND THEN VARIOUS OTHER CHARGES AS WE GO THROUGH HERE.
SO I GUESS THE CONCERN FROM WHAT WE'RE SEEING ON SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS THAT THE COUNTY'S PUTTING OUT NOW ON THEIR OWN SOCIAL MEDIA PAGE AND EVERYTHING ELSE ABOUT THIS FUND BALANCE THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, I THINK THERE'S ONLY TWO WAYS THAT I AM UNDERSTANDING THIS IS GOING EITHER A, WE'RE CONTINUING
[01:20:01]
TO STACK FUND BALANCE TO KEEP OUR BOND RATING UP AT AAA, OR WE ARE SACRIFICING THE REVENUE THAT WE ARE HAVING BECAUSE YOU HAVE AN EXPENDITURE INCREASE IN THIS BUDGET OF LESS THAN 5 MILLION.SO UNLESS YOU'RE TELLING ME THAT YOUR PROPERTY TAX ACROSS WHAT YOU CAN BUDGET FOR, FOR THE NEXT 5%, FOR HOW MANY YEARS, BECAUSE THAT NUMBER IS LOCKED FOR THE THREE YEARS FOR THAT PART OF THE COUNTY THAT'S BEEN DONE.
WHERE, WHERE DID YOU JUST SAY THAT REVENUE WAS BAKED INTO THIS BUDGET? THE PROPERTY TAX REVENUE IS GROWING THE PROBLEM.
WHERE IS IT BAKED IN THE BUDGET, IN, IN THE REVENUE LINE? THE PROBLEM WITH ULTIMATELY THIS BUDGET IS THAT OUR REVENUES ARE GROWING FROM A BUDGET TO BUDGET STANDPOINT, BUT OUR AMOUNT OF FUND BALANCE HAS GONE FROM 75 MILLION TO TO 50 MILLION.
SO IT'S REVENUES ARE UP, FUND BALANCE IS DOWN, IT'S A WASH.
THAT'S, THAT'S ULTIMATELY THE ISSUE.
AND RIGHT NOW THE FUND BALANCE AT 150 MILLION.
SO WHEN WE, WHEN WE SPOKE WITH THE RATING A, UM, ANALYST, UM, YOU KNOW, THIS PAST, THIS PAST BOND SEASON, THERE'S A LOT OF CONCERN ABOUT THE DRAW DOWN OF FUND BALANCE ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
UM, AND WHERE THEY WANT TO SEE FUND BALANCE IS AROUND 20%, YOU KNOW, WHICH IS 150 MILLION.
SO THAT'S WHERE THEY WANT TO SEE IT IN ORDER FOR IT TO BE AAA RATED, UM, TO BE AAA RATED COUNTY.
SO IF YOU LOOK AT OUR TOTAL FUND BALANCE, WHERE WE EXPECT TO END, THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING, ONE 50, WHICH INCLUDES $50 MILLION THAT WE'RE GOING TO SPEND IN NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET, AND HOPEFULLY WE WON'T USE ALL OF IT, UM, BECAUSE OF SALARY SAVINGS OR REVENUE COMING TO THE GOOD.
UM, BUT THAT'S WHERE WE NEED TO BE.
AND IF WE DO USE ALL OF IT, THEN YOU KNOW, WE ARE GOING TO NEED TO DO SOMETHING IN ORDER TO BRING THAT REVENUE THAT THAT FUND BALANCE BACK IN, BACK INTO LINE.
UM, SO THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S THE ISSUE.
BUT, AND YOU JUST SAID THAT YOU DIDN'T USE ALL OF IT OVER THE LAST, SO I, I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO TOW THE LINE TO HOLD EVERY, I MEAN, HOLD THE, THE 1% IN THE MERIT TO THE COUNTY EMPLOYEES, WHICH IS COMPLETELY WELL WITHIN YOUR RIGHT TO DO.
BUT THE QUESTION JUST BECOMES IS AT WHAT POINT NOW YOU'RE ASKING OTHER AREAS WITH FUND BALANCE TO DRAW THAT DOWN, WELL, THAT'S GONNA CAUSE YOU A BIGGER PROBLEM ON THE OTHER SIDE AS YOU ALREADY KNOW WHERE, BECAUSE IF THEY DON'T HAVE THAT FUND BALANCE THERE, THEN THEY'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
THAT'S A ONE ONE-TIME EXPENDITURE.
AGAIN, I, I, SO I UNDERSTAND THERE'S A BALANCE.
I'M JUST CONCERNED THAT THE COUNTY'S SAYING, NO, IT'S NOT YOUR PROBLEM, NOT OUR, I THINK THAT THEY WILL NEED TO USE THEIR FUND BALANCE IN A JUDICIOUS MANNER, WHICH CAN BE ALSO AS A BRIDGE TO GET THERE.
UM, BUT IT SHOULD, YOUR, I AGREE, IT SHOULD NOT BE A LONG-TERM SOLUTION FUND BALANCE IS REVENUE.
AND IF THIS WERE THE PERFECT WAY OF DOING ALL OF THIS, THEN WE WOULD ONLY USE FUND BALANCE FOR ONE TIME, ONE TIME THINGS.
BUT ONCE YOU CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT WHEREBY FUND BALANCE IS USED FOR ONGOING EXPENDITURES, IT'S HARD TO WEAN OFF.
AND THAT'S THE ISSUE WITH ULTIMATELY, KIND OF WITH THIS BUDGET IS THAT, YOU KNOW, OUR REVENUES ARE GROWING, BUT WE CANNOT, WE CANNOT USE, WE CANNOT CONTINUE TO DO FUND BALANCE AT THE 75 OR THE $90 MILLION RANGE.
NOW, ONE THING WITH THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT VERSUS THE OTHER ENTITIES IS THAT THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO HAVE A HIGHER FUND BALANCE THAN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, THAN, UH, THAN THE LIBRARY.
THE COLLEGE IS KIND OF A UNIQUE SITUATION.
AND THE REASON IS FOR TWO, ONE IS REVENUE VOLATILITY.
WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT OUR REVENUES ARE GOING TO BE.
NOW WITH PROPERTY TAX, WE GOT A PRETTY GOOD IDEA WITH INCOME TAX.
I DON'T KNOW, KIND OF, SORT OF HAVE AN IDEA.
UM, BUT WE DON'T, YOU KNOW, WITH THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, THEY KNOW, OKAY, THIS IS HOW MUCH REVENUE WE'RE GETTING, UM, YOU KNOW, FROM THE STATE, FROM THE COUNTY, AND YOU CAN ADJUST, YOU KNOW, ACCORDINGLY.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO MAKE HARD DECISIONS FOR THEIR BUDGET BECAUSE THEY DO, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE THAT REVENUE ON UNCERTAINTY.
AND THE OTHER THING WHICH THEY DON'T HAVE, WHICH WE HAVE, IS WE HAVE THE DEBT.
SO WE NEED TO HAVE A FUND BALANCE THERE TO GIVE, UM, UH, HOPE NO, WHAT'S THE WORD I'M LOOKING FOR HERE? ASSURANCE, UH, TO THE INVESTMENT COMMUNITY, TO THE CREDIT RATING AGENCIES THAT WE HAVE MONEY SET ASIDE.
SO WE ARE NOT GOING TO DEFAULT ON OUR, ON OUR, UM, ON OUR BOND OBLIGATIONS.
AND SO FOR THOSE TWO REASONS, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO HAVE A FUND BALANCE, UM, OF A SIGNIFICANT MANNER.
SO, SO WE SAY LIKE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S, THERE'S A LOT THAT WE CAN DO ON THIS BUDGET AND AGREED, YOU KNOW, THERE, THERE'S CERTAINLY MORE THAT WE, YOU KNOW, THERE, THERE'S A LOT OF EXTRA NEEDS AND, AND WE COULD PROBABLY GO TO EVERYBODY THAT'S GONNA COME IN HERE AND SAY THERE'S, THERE'S ADDITIONAL, YOU KNOW, FUNDING THAT YOU COULD DO TO SUPPORT DIFFERENT PROGRAMS. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE FUND BALANCE NOW HAS KIND OF GOTTEN TO THE POINT WHERE THERE'S NOT A WHOLE LOT OF EXTRA GIVE.
WE NEED TO KEEP IT AT THAT ONE 50 MARK.
AND THEN THE ONLY OTHER THING IS, IS ARE WE THEN SAYING THAT THE REVENUE THAT THE REVENUE PROJECTIONS ARE, ARE OFF? AND I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE, WE KIND OF CAME IN THIS YEAR AND SAID, LOOK, THEY WEREN'T TOO, THEY WEREN'T TOO, UM, THEY, THEY WEREN'T TOO AGGRESSIVE.
IN FACT, MAYBE THEY WERE, UM, I, I'M SORRY, YOU KNOW, THAT THEY WEREN'T TOO CONSERVATIVE.
IN FACT, MAYBE THEY WERE EVEN A LITTLE BIT TOO AGGRESSIVE BECAUSE WE DIDN'T SEE, UM, THIS LEVEL OF DROP OFF IN, IN, IN INCOME TAX.
SO IF THAT'S YOUR REVENUES AND THIS IS YOUR FUND BALANCE, IN ORDER TO COME UP WITH EXTRA SPENDING, YOU KIND
[01:25:01]
OF GOT A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT RATE, YOU KNOW, OPTIONS.YOU EITHER INCREASE THE REVENUES, AND I DON'T MEAN INCREASE THE REVENUE PROJECTIONS, I MEAN INCREASE THE REVENUES, YOU KNOW, OR YOU FIND, YOU KNOW, UH, YOU, YOU CUT OTHER AREAS OR SOMETHING.
BUT THEN THOSE ARE SERVICES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO PEOPLE AS WELL, YOU KNOW, SO THERE ISN'T, THERE ISN'T EXTRA MONEY JUST JUST LYING AROUND THAT YOU CAN JUST, YOU KNOW, KIND OF DRAW FROM.
AND I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE COMMUNICATED THAT EARLIER SO THAT THEY KNEW THAT THE FUND BALANCES WERE GOING TO BE YOUR PITFALL TO MAKE THEM USE THAT WITH NO, WITH A FLAT LEVEL OF FUNDING ACROSS THE BOARD OF FIVE OF LESS THAN FIVE.
I THINK THAT NUMBER'S THREE SOMETHING IN EXPENDITURES THAT YOU'RE SPENDING THIS YEAR.
YOU BASICALLY HAVE PUT ALL OF THIS BURDEN ONTO THE OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTY.
WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS THAT THEY HAVE THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO, AND THEY BETTER USE 'EM THIS YEAR IS WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
WELL, OR, OR, AND, BUT I, I ACTUALLY THINK THAT THEY SHOULD PROBABLY USE THE RESOURCES IN A MUCH LONGER TERM WAY TO KIND OF SMOOTH THINGS OUT.
THEY C THEY PROBABLY SHOULD NOT JUST COMPLETELY ADDRESS IT WITH JUST, WITH JUST FUND BALANCE.
THEY PROBABLY NEED TO ADJUST THEIR, THEIR, THEIR SPENDING, YOU KNOW, TO UM, TO KIND OF, UH, THE, THE, THE NEW NORMAL.
NOW, I THINK ONCE WE GET PAST THIS YEAR, THE, THE DISCONNECT I THINK BETWEEN REVENUE GROWTH AND FUND BALANCE DECREASE IS GOING TO BE LESS, BUT IT MIGHT NOT BE COMPLETELY ELIMINATED.
YOU KNOW, WE MIGHT GET INTO A POSITION WHERE IT'S LIKE, THIS TIME NEXT YEAR, ALRIGHT, YOU KNOW, MAYBE WE CAN DO, YOU KNOW, INSTEAD OF $50 MILLION, MAYBE WE CAN ONLY DO 40, YOU KNOW, I, I DON'T KNOW.
UM, BUT THE, THAT GAP THOUGH IS, IS SMOOTHING OUT AND I THINK WE ARE PUTTING OURSELVES IN A BETTER SITUATION.
BUT AG AGREED GUMMY HARD DECISIONS TO, TO, TO, TO MAKE YOU GO BACK TO A FEW MONTHS AGO THOUGH, AND THAT INCOME TAX NUMBER REALLY WAS UN UNEXPECTED.
YOU KNOW, WE EXPECTED JANUARY TO BE DOWN.
WE DID NOT EXPECT WITHHOLDING TO BE DOWN FOR TWO CONSECUTIVE QUARTERS.
YOU KNOW, WE THOUGHT THAT, OKAY, ALRIGHT, WE'RE GONNA, UM, WE'RE GONNA, UH, PLATEAU OUT THIS YEAR AND THEN WE'RE GONNA GROW, WE'RE GONNA GROW OFF OF THAT.
WE WENT DOWN FROM WHERE WE WERE THIS YEAR.
AND THEN YOU GET INTO LIKE, WELL, WHAT TYPE OF, WHAT TYPE OF OF REVENUE GROWTH SHOULD YOU USE FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR? AND WE'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MORE OF THIS WITH THE SPENDING AFFORDABILITY COMMITTEE.
AND WE ULTIMATELY, YOU KNOW, UM, OPTED FOR THREE AND A HALF, FOR THREE AND A HALF PERCENT OF, YOU KNOW, THAT'S STILL SOMEWHAT OPTIMISTIC BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WE'RE NOT EXPERIENCING ANY GROWTH.
AND WE'RE, WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS THAT OKAY, WE DO THINK THAT SOME OF THIS MIGHT BE SOME NOISE IN THE SYSTEM AND WE ARE GONNA START GROWING NOT JUST FOR NEXT YEAR, BUT ALSO FOR THE LAST TWO DISTRIBUTIONS THAT WE'VE RECEIVED FOR THIS YEAR IN MAY AND THEN IN, IN IN JUNE.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE EXPECTING THEM TO GROW BY ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THREE AND A HALF PERCENT, WHETHER OR NOT THAT HAPPENS, YOU KNOW, I, I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT IT'S GONNA COME IN AND GROW IT BY 10%.
UM, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY IT DOESN'T CONTINUE TO BE FLAT BECAUSE IF IT CONTINUES TO BE FLAT, THEN WE DO HAVE A LOT OF OTHER, WE HAVE A LOT OF OTHER PROBLEMS AND WE NOW HAVE A LOT LESS FUN BALANCE TO WORK WITH THAN WE PREVIOUSLY DID.
MR. JAN? WELL, I'LL TELL YOU, IT'S A LOT OF INFORMATION, BUT, BUT I REMEMBER SITTING UP HERE LAST YEAR AND I HAD CALLED AND FOUND OUT THAT PAYROLL NUMBERS WERE DOWN, AND I THINK I SAID LIKE 15 TO 20%.
SO IF YOU GO BACK AND LOOK AT THOSE PAYROLL NUMBERS, LAST YEAR WHEN I BROUGHT THAT UP, THAT 15 TO 20% WASN'T COMING THROUGH.
IT'S, IT'S PROVEN WHEN NOW WE GET TO, TO THIS PERIOD OF TIME WHERE THE, WHERE THE PAYROLL NUMBER'S DOWN.
SO IT REALLY WASN'T A SURPRISE WHEN I WAS UP HERE ADVOCATING THAT THE PAYROLL NUMBERS FROM EVERYBODY I WAS TALKING TO WERE DOWN DRAMATICALLY.
SO THE QUESTION IS, I HAVEN'T ASKED ANYBODY THIS YEAR IS WHERE ARE THEY THIS YEAR COMPARED TO, TO LAST YEAR? UM, YOU KNOW, AND LOOK IF PAYROLL NUMBERS ARE STAGNANT OR IF THEY'RE UP, UM, YOU KNOW, THE, THE PERCENTAGE THAT WE'RE GONNA GIVE THE EMPLOYEES, I, I'D LIKE THERE TO BE, YOU KNOW, A CAVEAT THAT SAYS, LOOK, IF IF OUR, IF OUR NUMBERS ARE WRONG, OKAY, THAT THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT WE COULD INCREASE, YOU KNOW, AND GIVE THE, THE EMPLOYEES, THE, THE COUNTY EMPLOYEES A, YOU KNOW, ANOTHER 2% OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, YOU KNOW, JUST LIKE COUNTY EXECUTIVE DID LAST YEAR, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS SIX MONTHS, I DON'T WANNA NOT SAY, THIS IS IT, THIS IS WHAT YOU'RE GONNA GET, YOU KNOW, WE KNOW IT'S NOT KEEPING UP WITH THE COST OF INFLATION.
UM, BUT I DISTINCTLY REMEMBER, AND NOW YOU'RE, YOU'RE POINTING IT OUT, LOOK, OUR REVENUES WERE DOWN FOR, FOR INCOME TAX.
AND I SAID THAT LAST YEAR, I MEAN, I KNOW I SAID IT, I'M SITTING UP HERE AND I'M THINKING, YOU KNOW, I, I WAS RIGHT WHEN I TALKED TO ALL THOSE PEOPLE LAST YEAR AND THEY TOLD ME REVENUES ARE, YOU KNOW, THE, THE, UM, THE PAYROLL TAXES ARE DOWN.
I MEAN IT WAS JUST, IT WAS CLEAR AS DAY PAYROLL TAXES DOWN.
NOW I KNOW THE PRIOR YEARS WE HAD CAPITAL GAINS AND EVERYTHING, WE HAD A BIGGER THING ON THAT, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY'RE STANDING THIS YEAR.
I HAVEN'T ASKED, I TALKED TO A LOT OF BUSINESSES, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE NOT STRUGGLING, BUT THEY'RE STARTING TO FEEL THE PAIN.
THE RESTAURANT REVENUES THE LAST MONTH OR SO ARE DOWN.
UM, I PROBABLY HAVE LIKE 15 OF 'EM THAT I'M TALKING TO.
SO I DON'T KNOW WHERE IT'S GOING WITH THAT.
[01:30:01]
ALSO DON'T KNOW TO WHAT EXTENT, YOU KNOW, WHEN, WHEN THE INCOME TAX NUMBERS COME IN FOR THESE DISTRIBUTIONS, IT'S COMING IN FROM THE STATEWIDE DEAL.AND WHAT THEY DO IS THEY SAY, ALRIGHT, HARTFORD COUNTY, WHEN WE, WHEN YOU, WHEN WE DID ALL THE TAXES LAST YEAR, YOU KNOW, YOU GOT 4.4% OF THE POT AND THEN THEY'LL GIVE US 4.4% OF THAT POT AND THEN THEY'LL MAKE IT UP ON THE RECONCILIATION.
SO IT'S CERTAINLY POSSIBLE THAT HARTFORD COUNTY'S INCOME TAX IS STILL GROWING BY THREE, FOUR OR 5%, BUT THAT MONTGOMERY COUNTY IS DOWN.
BUT THEN, YOU KNOW, AND, AND, AND OFFSET THERE AND THAT, THAT WILL EVENTUALLY WILL ALL BE FIGURED OUT IN THE WASH.
BUT LIKE RIGHT AT THIS POINT, THAT'S ALL WE KNOW IS THAT OVERALL WITHHOLDING IS, IS IS DOWN.
SO AGAIN, HOPEFULLY HARTFORD COUNTY IS, IS AN EXCEPTION TO KIND OF THE STATEWIDE AVERAGES AND WE'LL, BUT UNFORTUNATELY WE'RE NOT GONNA FIND THAT OUT FOR ANOTHER YEAR OR SO.
SO BUDGET MANAGEMENT AND IF YOU WANNA MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT YEAH, WE WENT OVER IT.
YEAH, SO WE'RE PRETTY WELL AHEAD OF SCHEDULE HERE A LITTLE BIT.
SO I ASK A QUESTION JUST TO GET THIS OUTTA THE WAY NOW.
UM, CAN I TOUCH ON THE, UH, LET'S JUST USE THE SALARY LINE.
SO YOU HAVE THE 2023, UM, ENACTED.
NOW I SEE THE RUNNER AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE THAT BASICALLY SAYS WE DON'T PUT THE AUDIT IN THE BOOK, RIGHT? BUT WHEN WE'RE HAVING THIS COUNCIL LOOK AT THE, UM, WHAT WE HEAR WITH THE 1% AND THE MERIT, CAN I GET CLARIFICATION ON AT LEAST FISCAL YEAR 24? I KNOW YOU DID THE, UM, THE PAYROLL ADJUSTMENT TOWARDS THE END OF THE YEAR, OUT OF THE, SO THOSE NUMBERS ARE NOT IN THE ENACTED 2024 NUMBER.
THEY DON'T SHOW IN THE ENACTED SALARY LINES FOR EACH CLASSIFICATION.
BECAUSE THOSE MONIES WERE PUT IN HUMAN RESOURCES AS A LUMP SUM AND WE MOVED THEM OVER.
SO IN FY 25, YOU'RE GONNA SEE TWO, YOU'RE GONNA SEE THE FISCAL YEAR, 20 FOURS, COLA AND MERIT, AND YOU'RE GONNA SEE THE 25.
AND I THINK THAT THAT'S SOME OF THE, SO NOW IS THERE EVER GOING TO BE A POINT, JUST 'CAUSE WE'RE IN THE BUDGET SESSION OF THIS THING WHERE WE'RE GONNA PUT LIKE REVISED NUMBERS IN THIS TO HAVE THIS READ.
IF YOU GO BACK TO THE LINE ITEM DETAIL, OKAY, THAT'LL SHOW YOU, WELL IT WON'T SHOW YOU THE, IT'LL ONLY SHOW YOU WHAT WAS APPROVED.
SO WHAT ARE, THERE WAS, THERE'S TRANSFER.
I MEAN, I, I ONLY BRING IT UP 'CAUSE LAST YEAR WE MOVED PAYROLL AROUND FOR EVERY DEPARTMENT AT THE END OF THE YEAR.
SO IF WE'RE EVER TO POINT TO HAVE LIKE WHAT WE SEE IN OTHER COUNTIES AND REVIS, YEAH, WE COULD PROBABLY, WE PROBABLY, I MEAN IT'S FOR NEXT YEAR.
IT'S NOT FOR THIS YEAR OBVIOUSLY.
BUT, AND IN 2023 AT THIS POINT WE SHOULDN'T BE USING ENACTED NUMBER SHOULD WE? THAT THAT'S BEEN AUDITED AND YEAH, BUT WE'VE ALWAYS DONE THAT.
WE DON'T, WE DON'T GO BACK AND PUT AUDIT.
BUT I THINK THAT AS WE SEE THESE FLUCTUATIONS OF VAGUE LAST YEAR, THIS, THIS YEAR, I, I THINK IF YOU, THAT'S SOME OF SEE THE AUDIT PAYROLL, TOTAL PAYROLL NUMBER THAT IS IN THE LINE ITEMS IN THE BACK OF THE BOOK.
BUT FOR US, THAT'S A TOTAL POINT IN BUDGET TO GO BACK AND SAY, OKAY, THIS CLASSIFICATION ACTUALLY MADE THIS AMOUNT.
THAT WOULD BE, I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF WE COULD DO THAT TO BE HONEST.
'CAUSE WE DON'T BUDGET, BUT YOU DO IT.
IF WE DID IT IN THE RIGHT YEAR, IF WE DID IT EVERY YEAR, WE KNEW WHAT IT WAS GONNA BE OR NOT PUT IT ALL INTO HR FOR ONE YEAR.
I MEAN THAT WAS THE BIGGEST ISSUE.
THAT WAS A CHANGE TO THE BUDGET AS WELL.
THAT WAS, THAT WAS HUGE NIGHTMARE FOR US.
THAT'S THE, TO BRING IT BACK OUT IN JUST DO THE BUDGET.
SO THAT'S, I MEAN, IT, IT'S, IT'S JUST FOR EVERYONE'S KNOWLEDGE HERE THAT THE, THE NUMBERS FROM 2024 ARE NOT GONNA LINE UP TO WHAT ACTUALLY IT IS OR 2023 BECAUSE THAT'S STILL STARRED AND SAYS THE SALARIES, PERSONNEL SERVICES AND ALL EXPENDITURE ITEMS AS WELL ARE NOT THE AUDITED NUMBERS.
SO JUST, I, I JUST WANTED A CLARIFICATION FROM THE BUDGET SIDE IF THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD CONTINUE TO SEE.
MR. SANDS, JUST ONE FOLLOW UP QUESTION 'CAUSE I DON'T SEE ANYWHERE ELSE WHERE I COULD FIT THIS QUESTION IN ON THE AGENDA.
UM, THE LANDFILL CLOSURE COSTS, I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT THAT LAST YEAR AND IT'S INCREASED BY $2 MILLION THIS YEAR FROM 10 TO 12, I THINK, UM, IS, IS THAT A MANDATED PERCENTAGE OF WHAT WE NEED TO PUT IN THERE? AND, AND THE QUESTION I HAVE IS, I MEAN, COULD WE USE SOME OF THAT MONEY? I KNOW THE STABILIZATION IS, IS CONSIDERED WITH THE, THE AAA, UH, BOND, UH, RATING.
UM, BUT YOU KNOW, I, I WOULD THINK THAT IF WE KNEW THE LANDFILL WAS GONNA CLOSE, PERHAPS, YOU KNOW, WE CAN FUND THAT THROUGH BONDS, UH, DOWN THE ROAD FORECASTING.
AND THAT 12 MILLION COULD BE USED FOR A LOT OF THINGS SUCH AS THE, UH, CIVILIAN PERSONNEL OF THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
'CAUSE THEY DIDN'T GET ANYTHING.
UH, OR THE LIBRARY STAFF AS WELL.
'CAUSE I DON'T BELIEVE THEY HAVE THE MERIT OR THE COLA.
SO ALL OF THOSE AGAIN, WOULD BE ONGOING EXPENDITURES AND THAT WOULD BE ONE TIME REVENUE.
SO YOU'RE JUST CREATING A FURTHER STRUCTURAL DEFICIT.
THE, THE TOTAL FUND BALANCE, AND THIS GOES BACK TO WHAT THE CREDIT RATING AGENCIES WERE SAYING, YOU KNOW, SHOULD BE AROUND $150 MILLION.
[01:35:01]
SO THE MONEY THAT'S IN THERE FOR THE LANDFILL IS A, IT'S KIND OF A KNOWN LIABILITY THAT WE KNOW ABOUT AND WE HAVE SET ASIDE MONEY FOR THERE.YOU'RE NOT REQUIRED TO NECESSARILY SET MONEY ASIDE.
NOW WE ARE REQUIRED TO MITIGATE OUR LANDFILL.
SO EVENTUALLY WE WOULD HAVE, WE WOULD HAVE THAT, UM, WE WOULD HAVE THAT EXPENDITURE.
SO THAT'S WHY WE HAVE CHOSEN AND NOT JUST UNDER THIS COUNTY ADMINISTRATION.
IN FACT, I THINK, YOU KNOW, PUTTING ASIDE MONEY THERE PROBABLY GOES BACK, I DON'T KNOW, MAY GO BACK TO EILEEN, I DON'T KNOW.
UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S, UM, IT'S BEEN THERE FOR A LONG TIME AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE TRY TO DO WITH FUND BALANCE IS THAT WHEN WE KNOW WE HAVE THESE KNOWN LIABILITIES, LIKE LOOK, FUTURE GENERATIONS ARE GONNA HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT, BUT IT'S REALLY ABOUT THE CURRENT, YOU KNOW, LANDFILL THAT WE'RE OCCUPYING NOW.
SO IF YOU FORCE THAT ONTO A FUTURE GENERATION, WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS THAT, OKAY, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA TAKE THIS MONEY AND, AND USE IT FOR ONGOING EXPENDITURES NOW AND THEN 10 OR 15 YEARS FROM NOW WHEN WE NEED TO DO THAT LANDFILL CAPPING, INSTEAD OF HAVING MONEY SET ASIDE FOR IT, WE'RE GONNA TELL THAT GENERATION, EVEN THOUGH YOU DIDN'T CREATE THE TRASH AND YOU DIDN'T CREATE ALL OF THAT, YOU NEED TO PAY FOR THE PRIOR GENERATIONS, UH, LANDFILL CAPPING COSTS.
AND IS, YOU KNOW, THAT'S KIND OF ULTIMATELY THE ARGUMENT.
WE KNOW WE HAVE TO ADDRESS IT.
UM, AND WE'VE LONG BEEN DOING IT.
UM, AND SO I THINK IT'S JUST A RESPONSIBLE, RESPONSIBLE THING TO DO.
BUT YOU KIND OF GO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL IDEA OF OUR FUND BALANCE PROBABLY NEEDS TO BE AROUND $150 MILLION.
SO WHETHER OR NOT WE HAVE IT IN LANDFILL CAPPING OR WE HAVE IT IN OTHER TYPES OF THINGS, THE FACT THAT WE ARE SETTING ASIDE $150 MILLION IN SOME FORM IS I THINK THE BIG, THE BIG IDEA THAT WE PROBABLY NEED TO KEEP OUR EYE ON.
SO IF I, IF I GET THAT RIGHT, IT'S JUST, YOU'RE THROWING 12 MILLION IN THERE JUST TO, UH, INCLUDE IT IN THE FUND BALANCE, UH, AND AS FAR ASSIGNMENT.
YEAH, AND AS FAR AS THE DEBT, I MEAN, THAT'S WHAT WE DO WITH SCHOOLS.
THAT'S WHAT WE DO WITH ALL MAJOR PROJECTS IS ASSUME THAT DEBT FOR THE FUTURE GENERATIONS.
AND I JUST DON'T KNOW WHY, BUT IN THAT CASE THOUGH, YOU'RE ACTUALLY, YOU'RE SEE LIKE, BUT WE DON'T, WE, YOU KNOW, SAME, SAME THING WITH LIKE OTHER POST-EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS OR PENSIONS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
YOU KNOW, YOU SHOULD BE SETTING ASIDE MONEY FOR WHEN THOSE, THOSE, THOSE COSTS, THE COST FOR PENSION OR RETIREE HEALTH ARE REALLY BEING GENERATED NOW BECAUSE IT'S BECAUSE OF YEARS OF SERVICE THAT THAT CURRENT EMPLOYEES ARE, ARE GENERATING.
AND THEN WE SET IT ASIDE SO WE CAN PAY THOSE BENEFITS LATER ON.
SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT, UM, I THINK THAT'S A BETTER ANALOGY WHEN IT COMES TO SETTING ASIDE MONEY FOR LANDFILL CLOSURE, YOU KNOW, THE, THE, THE COSTS ARE ALL HAPPENING NOW.
THE SERVICES ARE ALL BEING USED NOW AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN ADDRESS 'EM, WE CAN MITIGATE 'EM IN THE FUTURE IN THE CASE OF A BOND FOR A SCHOOL.
IN THAT CASE, WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS, OKAY, WE'RE GONNA BUILD A NEW SCHOOL AND IT'S GONNA COST A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS AND PEOPLE FOR THE NEXT 30 YEARS OR 20 YEARS OR, YOU KNOW, 50 YEARS ARE GOING TO USE THAT SCHOOL.
SO THEY SHOULD BE THE ONES THAT ARE KIND OF PAYING FOR IT, AS OPPOSED TO SAYING TO THE CURRENT GENERATION, YOU KNOW, HEY, 10 YEARS FROM NOW WE'RE GONNA NEED A SCHOOL, SO WE'RE GONNA HOLD BACK MONEY SO THAT WE CAN PAY FOR THAT SCHOOL IN 10 YEARS.
IT'S REALLY ABOUT LINING UP, YOU KNOW, WHO BENEFITS, UM, FROM THE SERVICE, YOU KNOW, WITH WHO'S PAYING FOR IT.
AND I THINK WHAT YOU, WHAT YOU DON'T WANT TO HAVE IS THIS INTERGENERATIONAL TRANSFER OF WEALTH THAT'S UNFORTUNATELY TAKING OVER KIND OF THIS COUNTRY NOW IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS BECAUSE WE ARE, WE ARE PAYING FOR CURRENT YEARS OF SERVICE, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, UM, FOR A WHOLE HOST OF THINGS BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY SET ASIDE FOR IT, AND WE'RE JUST GONNA CONTINUE KICKING THAT CAN DOWN THE ROAD.
AND WE'RE GONNA KEEP ON TELLING FUTURE GENERATIONS, HEY, YOU KNOW, WE CREATED THIS COST, BUT YOU HAVE TO PAY FOR IT BECAUSE WE, YOU KNOW, WE WANTED TO USE THAT MONEY FOR SOMETHING ELSE.
YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S THE MOST RESPONSIBLE THING TO BE DOING, THE ONE 50 FUND BALANCE, 150 MILLION, IS THAT THE FIRST I'VE I'VE HEARD OF THAT.
UM, BEING KIND OF A BENCHMARK AND THEN IF WE ADD THE STABILIZATION, WE ADD THE LANDFILL CLOSURE, I MEAN WE'RE, WE'RE LOOKING OVER 200 MILLION.
NO, NO, NO, THAT'S ALL PART OF THAT 150.
IN OTHER WORDS, THAT 150 WOULD INCLUDE OUR STABILIZATION FUND, YOU KNOW, THE MONIES WE SET ASIDE FOR STORMWATER.
AND I WILL SAY THAT IN THE PAST, THE CREDIT RATING AGENCIES WERE FAR MORE OPAQUE.
THEY WOULD BE LIKE, WELL, YOU KNOW, YOU JUST, WE'LL, WE'LL LET YOU KNOW IF YOU'RE DOING A GOOD JOB.
THEY'VE GOTTEN A LOT BETTER NOW WITH THESE SCORECARDS, UM, WITH, WITH SAYING LIKE, THIS IS REALLY WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR.
AND AGAIN, THEY'RE NOT HARD AND FAST RULES, BUT THEY'RE GUIDELINES, AND THIS WASN'T THE CASE A FEW YEARS AGO.
UM, BUT NOW, YOU KNOW, FITCH AND MOODY'S AND S AND P ARE PUTTING, BECAUSE I THINK THEY'RE UNDER PRESSURE TO BE MORE TRANSPARENT SO THAT IT'S NOT JUST SOME VAGUE GAME.
SO, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE, THEY'RE NOW SAYING LIKE, LOOK, WE, WE WANT, UM, FOR AS A MIDPOINT, UM, FUND BALANCE TO BE AT, AT 20%, YOU KNOW, WHICH EQUATES TO $150 MILLION.
NOW AGAIN, IF IT ENDS UP BEING 140 OR IT ENDS UP BEING, YOU KNOW, A HUNDRED AND AND AND 60, IT'S NOT NECESSARILY THAT IT'S GONNA GENERATE A CHANGE, UM, IMMEDIATELY, BUT IT'S A GOOD GUIDEPOST AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, KUDOS TO THE RATING AGENCIES FOR NOW HAVING A LOT MORE TRANSPARENCY.
SO WE REALLY DO KNOW, YOU KNOW, KIND OF WHAT IT IS THEY'RE LOOKING FOR.
[01:40:01]
THANK YOU.NO MORE QUESTIONS I PROMISE FROM ME, MR. GINGER.
JAMES? SO I DID CONFIRM, UH, PUBLICLY TRADED COMPANY THAT REVENUES, PAYROLL REVENUES ARE UP 25% THIS YEAR AND GROWING.
AS OPPOSED TO LAST YEAR WHEN I ALSO FOUND THAT IT WAS 20% LESS, WHICH LOOKS LIKE IT CAME THROUGH ON THOSE NUMBERS.
SO JUST FYI JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT GIVE YOU THAT INFORMATION.
ANYONE ELSE? MR. S CHURCH? I THINK JUST TO PIGGYBACK ON MR. RISH AND MR. PENMAN, UM, I, I THINK MR. SANDLES, WHAT WE'RE KIND OF GRAPPLING WITH IS, I, I UNDERSTAND THE REVENUE PERSPECTIVE, BUT FROM A HEALTH OF THE COUNTY PERSPECTIVE, WITH THE REPORT THAT CAME OUT IN OCTOBER, YOU KNOW, THE NET POSITION OF THE COUNTY INCREASED BY $69 MILLION.
THE FUND BALANCE DID DROP IT, IT'S PROJECTED TO DROP AGAIN.
AND I THINK WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO GET AT IS WE DEFINITELY NEED TO FOCUS ON GROWTH TO MAKE UP FOR THAT REVENUE SHORTFALL.
AND YOU'RE, YOU'RE CORRECT ON THAT.
I THINK WHAT CONCERNS US WHEN WE START LOOKING AT THE BUDGET AND WE SEE 12 MILLION IN LANDFILL CLOSURE AND 8 MILLION IN MISCELLANEOUS FOR EMS, THAT'S $20 MILLION THAT I DON'T KNOW.
AND I THINK MR. ISH IS GETTING AT THAT POINT, WE KNOW WITHOUT SOME SORT OF CATASTROPHE EVENT TO CAP THAT TOMORROW, THAT'S ABOUT 20 MILLION.
THAT'S NOT GONNA GET SPENT, AND WE'LL FALL BACK TO FUND BALLOTS.
I UNDERSTAND WE HAVE TO KEEP ONE 50 PER THE RATING AGENCY, BUT I THINK WHEN WE START TO LOOK AT A LIEN BUDGET AND YOU START TO SEE, YOU KNOW, LARGE POCKETS OF MONEY THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE EXPENSED, THAT'S, THAT'S THE, THAT'S THE RUB.
AND IT PAINTS A PICTURE OF DIRE STRAITS.
AND YET, EVEN THOUGH REVENUE WAS OFF, THE COUNTY'S HEALTH WENT UP 69 MILLION AND ASSETS TO THE COUNTY ARE ABOUT $884 MILLION, WHICH ARE PRODUCING MORE INCOME THROUGH INVESTMENT INTEREST, WHICH WE'LL TALK ABOUT, I'M SURE, OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS.
BUT I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DRIVING AT.
NOT THAT YOU'RE, YOU KNOW, UH, UNDER OR OVER PROJECTING IT'S, CAN WE HAVE A BASELINE HEALTH DISCUSSION AND THEN DISTINGUISH THE REVENUE, I THINK IS WHAT WE'RE ALL TRYING TO GET AT.
SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, NET, NET POSITION, AND A LOT OF THAT IS BECAUSE WE HAVE, THOSE ARE NOT JUST, YOU KNOW, UH, CASH THAT'S AVAILABLE.
THOSE ARE, THOSE ARE HARD ASSETS.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE, WE'VE BUILT CAPITAL PROJECTS, WE'VE, YOU KNOW, WE'VE BOUGHT LAND, WE'VE DONE THINGS LIKE, LIKE THIS.
SO IT'S KIND OF VERY SIMILAR TO AN INDIVIDUAL.
YOU KIND OF HAVE YOUR INCOME AND THEN YOU HAVE YOUR WEALTH, BUT UNLESS YOU'RE WILLING TO GO AND SELL YOUR HOUSE, YOU CAN'T NECESSARILY TAP INTO ALL OF THAT.
SO, UNLESS WE'RE GONNA GO AND JUST START SELLING LOTS OF PROPERTIES, YOU CAN'T NECESSARILY TAP INTO THAT.
I DO THINK ONE, THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS WHERE WE MIGHT BE, BE, UM, UH, OF KIND OF, YOU KNOW, MIXING UP DIFFERENT, DIFFERENT POTS OF MONEY.
THE EMS IS AN OPERATIONAL INCREASE.
EMS WE THINK IS GONNA COST WHATEVER, SEVEN.
THE $8 MILLION HE'S TALKING ABOUT IN MISCELLANEOUS IS FOR VOLUNTEER PRODUCT COMPANIES.
BUT, BUT THAT'S WITHIN, THAT'S WITHIN THE BUDGET.
THE LANDFILL CLOSURE IS A PART OF THE FUND, IS THE PART OF THE FUND BALANCE.
UM, SO, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, IF YOU WERE TO TAP INTO THE LANDFILL MONEY NUMBER, WHAT YOU'RE, WHAT YOU'RE THEN SAYING IS THAT, OKAY, WE'RE FILLING UP THE LANDFILL CURRENTLY NOW, AND WE EXPECT FUTURE GENERATIONS TO PAY FOR THAT.
UM, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING WE COULD DO.
UM, AND THEN, BUT ON THE, THE, THE, THE MISCELLANEOUS, THEN WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS, IS THAT THAT WOULD MEAN THAT WE WOULD NEED TO TAKE THE MONEY FROM THE VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANIES AND GIVE IT TO OTHER AREAS.
SO, AND AGAIN, NONE OF THIS IS EASY.
THIS IS, THIS IS THE HARD PART WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENT BUDGETING.
EVERYTHING WE DO HERE IS, IS ABOUT THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT, YOU KNOW, SCHOOLS AND PARKS AND, UM, SHERIFF AND, AND, AND EMS, AND WE DIRECTLY PAY FOR IT ALL HERE.
YOU KNOW, THIS ISN'T DEBT FINANCING LIKE IT IS AT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WHERE THEY'RE LIKE, OH, YOU KNOW, 60 BILLION HERE, A HUNDRED BILLION THERE.
LIKE, WELL, HOW ARE WE GONNA DO IT? SO ANY MONEY THAT WE SPEND IS EITHER MONEY THAT WE'RE GONNA RAISE IN THE CURRENT YEAR IN THE FORM OF REALLY TWO PLACES, INCOME TAX OR PROPERTY TAX, OR WE'RE GONNA DRAW DOWN OUR SAVINGS.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S THE HARD PART, YOU KNOW, THAT REALLY IS, AND I, I, I WISH THAT IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THEY HAD THE SAME LEVEL OF TRADE-OFFS THAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH HERE.
UM, BECAUSE I THINK IT WOULD BE A, A FAR DIFFERENT, UH, SITUATION.
THIS TOUGH CONVERSATION, TOUGH ANSWERS IN THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE IS MISSING IN ACTION.
UM, LET ME JUST SAY THOUGH, HOW MUCH WE APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT YOU'RE HERE TODAY HAVING THIS CONVERSATION WITH US.
UH, YOU GUYS WORK ON THIS ALL YEAR LONG.
WE HAVE A WEEK WHEN AFTER RECEIVING THE BUDGET AND WE SIT HERE AND WE GO INTO THESE WORK SESSIONS.
SO SOMETIMES IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S A LITTLE CONFRONTATIONAL, BUT IT'S NOT REALLY, WE'RE JUST TRYING TO FIND A PATH FORWARD.
WE APPRECIATE, UH, THE JOB THAT YOU GUYS DO, THE BUDGET TEAM, ALL THAT THEY DO.
UH, WE APPRECIATE YOU PICKING UP THE PHONE WHEN WE CALL WITH QUESTIONS.
[01:45:01]
UM, AND, YOU KNOW, WE, WE ARE ALL TRYING TO GET TO THE SAME PATH.WE JUST HAVE DIFFERENT ROUTES, THAT'S ALL.
UM, AND THEN IF, IF I MAY, CAN I ASK FOR A LIST OF THE ITEMS THAT ARE IN THAT FUND BOUND TO MAINTAIN THAT $150 MILLION? CAN I HAVE A LIST OF THOSE IN THE AMOUNTS? BUT IT SHOULD BE JUST, YEAH, IT'S, IT'S THERE.
AND, AND REALLY IT'S THE, IT'S THE, IT'S THE, IT'S THE STABILIZATION RATE.
IT'S THE MONEY FOR STORMWATER AND IT'S THE LANDFILL CLOSURE COSTS.
YOU KNOW, IN FACT, THERE WAS A TIME WHERE WE ACTUALLY HAD A LOT MORE THINGS, YOU KNOW, KIND OF, KIND OF IN THERE.
AND BECAUSE OF THE BUDGET TIGHTENING, WE'VE ACTUALLY REDUCED, YOU KNOW, REDUCED A LOT OF THOSE OTHER, OTHER ASSIGNMENTS.
UM, I MEAN, SOME OF THOSE I KNEW ABOUT RIGHT OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, BUT NOT ALL OF THEM.
SO YEAH, PAGE 54, I'M, BUT THEY ARE, THEY ARE LISTED.
AND YOU KNOW HOW THEY, THEY ACTUALLY END UP BEING, YOU KNOW, WHEN, WHEN WE DO THE FINANCIALS AT THE END OF THE YEAR WILL, WILL VARY.
BUT THAT, THOSE ARE THE CURRENT ESTIMATES.
WELL, LIKE I SAID, WE APPRECIATE YOUR AVAILABILITY AND, UM, WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND TAKE A BREAK AND, UH, WE'LL BE BACK, UH, WITH MS. DIXON.
WE, UH, WILL SIT IN FOR OUR AFTERNOON WORK SESSION ON THE BUDGET, AND WE WILL BE STARTING WITH ONE AND ONLY MS. DIXON.
A REPRESENTING THE COUNTY COUNCIL.
UM, THANKS FOR HAVING US ALL HERE TODAY.
UM, TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS, THIS IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT FROM LAST YEAR.
YOU GUYS ARE A LITTLE BIT MORE INTO IT, UH, DIVING INTO THE BUDGET.
SO I KNOW WE'VE HAD SOME DISCUSSIONS THIS YEAR.
UM, I DO WANNA TAKE A BRIEF MOMENT TO THANK YOU ALL WHILE YOU DEALT WITH ME DURING A VERY PERSONAL SITUATION.
AND IT CAME AT A VERY, UM, CRUCIAL TIME.
SO I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS WORKING WITH ME AND ALLOWING ME TO HANDLE THAT, UH, HOW IT NEEDED TO BE HANDLED.
UM, WE HAVE WITH US TODAY, CHARLIE KEARNEY, THE COUNCIL ATTORNEY,
CRYSTAL, UNFORTUNATELY, UM, IS NOT HERE TODAY.
UM, BUT IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME, JUST, UH, FOR HER, LET ME KNOW AND I CAN DEFINITELY GET THOSE ANSWERS.
UM, UNDER THE COUNCIL IS ALSO THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS, UM, AND THE PEOPLE'S COUNCIL BUDGETS.
UM, SO WITH THAT SAID, OUR BUDGET THIS YEAR DOES REMAIN FAIRLY, I'M GONNA SAY KIND OF FLAT.
UM, OUR LINE ITEMS DIDN'T REALLY SEE ANY CHANGES, MINUS WHAT YOU'RE GONNA SEE IN PERSONNEL SERVICES, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
UH, CRYSTAL BROOKS HAD ONE ADDITIONAL CHANGE, WHICH WAS VERY MINIMAL.
UM, IT WAS AN $1,800 INCREASE TO THE TEMPER OR TO HER, UH, INTERN, SUMMER INTERN.
SO THEY DID REQUEST AN ADDITIONAL $1,800 THERE.
UM, YOU WILL SEE HARTFORD TV HAD A VERY, UM, THEY DID HAVE AN INCREASE IN THEIRS, BUT THEIRS IS IN CAPITAL, WHICH I'M SURE KIM WILL TOUCH ON WHEN WE GET TO THEIR, UH, REPLACEMENT FOR THEIR VAN FOR PRODUCTION, UM, WHICH I UNDERSTAND IS IN THE WORKS NOW.
KELLY CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT WHEN WE GET THERE.
UM, OTHER THAN THAT, UH, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, WE ARE OPEN.
KIM CAN GO THROUGH THE NUMBERS AND THE PAGE.
UM, I THINK COUNCIL'S OKAY TO LET KIM GO AHEAD AND GO THROUGH THE NUMBERS, IF WE WOULD.
UM, ON PAGE 4 62 IS THE COUNTY COUNCIL OFFICE.
UH, THERE'S AN INCREASE THERE OF ONE 39,952.
AND THAT IS ALL IN PERSONAL SERVICES.
UM, AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE WAS SOME TURNOVER.
UH, THE COLA FOR 24 WAS 41,606 AND THE COLA OF 1% AND THE THOUSAND DOLLARS MERIT FOR FISCAL SCHOOL YEAR 25 IS 45,482.
THERE WAS SOME ADJUSTMENTS TO PENSION HEALTH BENEFITS AND, UM, RETIRE SAVINGS PLAN, BUT THAT'S ALL BASED ON ACCESS.
IF YOU TURN TO PAGE 4 64, THAT IS THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY AUDITOR, THERE'S AN INCREASE THERE OF 29,278.
AND AGAIN, ALL OF THAT IS IN PERSONAL SERVICES.
YOU WILL SEE THAT SHE DID INCREASE THE, UM, SUMMER INTERN LINE ITEM BY $1,800.
THE COLA FROM 20 FOURS IN THERE AT 9,836.
AND THE FISCAL YEAR 25 WAGE ADJUSTMENTS, UM, EQUALS TO 7,006 20.
[01:50:01]
OTHER THAN THAT, IT WAS ALL BASED ON ACTUALS FOR HEALTH BENEFITS, SO FORTH.ON PAGE 4 68 IS THE BOARD OF APPEALS AND REZONING.
UM, THERE'S AN INCREASE THERE OF 9,000 2 0 5.
AGAIN, IT'S ALL IN PERSONAL SERVICES, UM, FOR BOTH THE 24 COLA AND THE FISCAL YEAR 25 COLA.
AND THERE IS NO CHANGE IN ANY OTHER LINE ITEMS THERE.
PAGE FOUR 70 IS THE COUNSEL, ATTORNEY, AND THE PEOPLE'S COUNSEL.
YOU'LL SEE THERE'S AN INCREASE THERE, 15,000 3 0 4.
UM, THE BULK OF THAT IS IN PERSONAL SERVICES FOR AN INCREASE OF 14,000 7 0 4.
AND THE ONLY THING REPRESENTED THERE IS THE COLA BECAUSE THE POSITIONS ARE GONNA BE VACANT FOR THE START OF JULY 1ST.
UM, THEN YOU HAVE BUSINESS AND TRAVEL INCREASES, UM, FOR $600.
AND THAT WAS REALLOCATED FROM CELL PHONE REIMBURSEMENT.
THAT WAS UP IN PERSONAL SERVICES ON PAGE 4 74.
UM, THERE'S AN INCREASE THERE OF 36,729.
AND AGAIN, ALL THAT IS IN PERSONAL SERVICES.
UM, FOR THE 24 COLA 13,638, THE FISCAL YEAR 25 IS, AND MERIT IS 11,559.
AND THEN IS SOME ADJUSTMENTS FOR PENSION AND HEALTH BENEFITS IN THE CAPITAL BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 25.
YOU WILL SEE THERE'S 275,000 FOR A NEW HARTFORD TV VAN.
I'M TRYING TO FIND WHAT PAGE NUMBER THAT IS.
AND WITH THAT, THAT'S ALL I HAVE.
UM, RIGHT OUTTA THE GATE, UH, MILE, YOU KNOW WHAT WE ALL THINK OF YOU IN THE SERVICE THAT YOU PROVIDE EACH ONE OF THE MEMBERS HERE ON THE COUNCIL, UH, ALL OF OUR COUNCIL FAMILY WITH OUR LEGISLATIVE AIDES AND ALL OF OUR OUTSIDE PEOPLE, UH, THAT WE DEAL WITH ON A DAILY BASIS.
UM, CHARLIE, UM, WHERE HE, UH, THERE HE IS, CHARLIE, UM, HE'S NORMALLY OVER HERE,
UM, CHARLIE, WE ARE DEFINITELY GONNA BE MISSING YOU AS YOUR LAST DAY IS JUNE THE 28TH.
UM, AND, UH, WE ARE ACTIVELY, UM, PURSUING, UM, I DON'T SAY A REPLACEMENT 'CAUSE I DON'T THINK WE CAN REPLACE YOU, BUT WE ARE PURSUING SOMEONE TO FILL THAT SEAT ALONG WITH A LEGISLATIVE DRAFTER AS WELL.
WE BUDGETED FOR THE LEGISLATIVE DRAFTER LAST YEAR.
WE PUT A COUPLE OF, UH, PIECES OUT TO, TO LOOK FOR SOMEONE TO FILL THAT SPOT.
AND, UH, WE'VE HAD SOME CHALLENGES.
UH, ONE OF THE REQUIREMENTS, UH, CHARLIE, AS YOU CAN SPEAK TO, IS THAT LEGISLATIVE DRAFTER HAS TO BE AN ATTORNEY.
THAT, THAT THAT'S THE REQUIREMENT RIGHT NOW.
SO, UM, WE'VE HAD A COUPLE OF PEOPLE APPLY.
WE'VE HAD SOME OTHER PEOPLE INTERESTED, BUT WE JUST DIDN'T FEEL LIKE THEY WOULD BE A GOOD FIT FOR THE COUNCIL AT THIS TIME.
AND, UH, BUT WE ARE, WE ARE ACTIVELY LOOKING AND, UM, HOPEFULLY, UH, HAVE SOME MOVEMENT PRIOR TO YOU, UH, VACATING.
SO, UM, AND I KNOW YOU'RE GONNA BE TRAVELING AND ENJOYING THAT FOR SURE, BUT, UM, AS I SAY, I THINK EVERYBODY HERE ON THE DESK WOULD AGREE WITH ME THAT TRYING TO FIND SOMEONE TO FILL YOUR SHOES WITH THE INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE THAT YOU HAVE AND THE SERVICE THAT YOU PROVIDED US, THE WISE COUNSEL THAT YOU PROVIDE US DAILY, UM, IS GONNA BE A TOUGH TASK.
AND WITH THAT, UM, MR. PENMAN, THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
UM, I FIRST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE, UH, THE WORK THAT YOU DO, MS. DIXON.
UM, I TELL YOU, I LEAN ON YOU A LOT JUST FOR YOUR EXPERTISE AND, AND JUST INFORMATION AND LOGISTICS OF THINGS.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND MR. KEARNEY, UH, I APPRECIATE YOU TOO.
LONG TENDERED SERVICE TO HARTFORD COUNTY.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT, UH, THAT WE DO FIND SOMEONE TO FILL YOUR SHOES.
UH, MS. DIXON, ONE OF THE, UH, DISCUSSIONS WE HAD WHEN WE SAT DOWN ON THIS BUDGET PRIOR TILL TODAY, AND I THINK IT WAS, UH, COUNCILMAN DEANDRE ANDOS QUESTION IS THE LINE ITEM FOR, UM, THE ATTORNEY AND THE LEGISLATIVE DRAFTER.
I THINK IT, IT NEEDED TO BE TWEAKED A LITTLE BIT.
I JUST DON'T, I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT THOSE NUMBERS WERE, AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT RESEMBLES WHAT, UH, COUNCILMAN GANO SUGGESTED.
I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER WHAT THAT CONVERSATION WAS.
I REMEMBER THAT SPECIFIC DAY I WAS ON MY WAY OUT THE DOOR.
I KNOW WE HAD TALKED ABOUT, UM, THE LEGISLATOR DRAFTER POSITION WAS A DOLLAR A FIGURE.
WE CAME UP WITH, WITH THE PERSONNEL COMMITTEE, UH, THE COUNCIL PERSONNEL
[01:55:01]
COMMITTEE.UM, AS FAR AS THE SALARY FOR MR. KEARNEY'S CURRENT POSITION, WE LEFT IT AT WHAT, WHAT IT, WHAT IT'S CURRENTLY FUNDED AT NOW.
SO I THINK THAT ADDRESSED WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT.
AND THEN THE, THE OTHER THING I WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS, AND I'D BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T, UH, MENTION IT, UM, IS AN INDEPENDENT SERVER FOR THE HARTFORD COUNTY COUNCIL.
I THINK TO, UH, ALLOW, UM, THE RESPECT AND HONEST BALANCE OF GOVERNMENT, UM, WITHIN HARTFORD COUNTY, UH, TO ELIMINATE ANY POTENTIAL OF ABUSE.
I THINK IT'S, UH, GONNA BE WELL SERVED IF WE START HAVING A DISCUSSION ABOUT THE HARTFORD COUNTY COUNCIL HAVING AN INDEPENDENT SERVER.
I KNOW THAT'S A COST, UM, THAT'S GONNA ENSUE WITH THAT.
UH, AND WITH TODAY'S, UM, ECONOMIC ISSUES THAT WE'RE FACING NOW, IT'S A DIFFICULT CONVERSATION TO HAVE.
UH, BUT IT'S ONE THAT I WANT TO PUT ON RECORD AND ONE THAT I WANT TO PUSH FORWARD IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
AND JUST FOR THE RECORD, THERE HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATIONS AND CONVERSATIONS IN REFERENCE TO THAT, BUT AS YOU ALLUDED TO, THE COST TO THE CITIZENS IS SOMETHING THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WEIGHS HEAVY ON US, NUMBER ONE, NUMBER TWO, IN A TIME.
NOW, WHEN, UH, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, UH, THE BUDGET BEING VERY CLOSE, IS THAT A WISE EXPENSE? YES, I DO BELIEVE BASED ON, UH, SOME OF THE PAST ISSUES THAT IT IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT IN THE FUTURE, BUT I JUST DON'T KNOW HOW, HOW CLOSE IN THE FUTURE NOW.
AND I AGREE, AND I JUST LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING THAT CONVERSATION AND TO FIND A WAY TO DO IT.
MR. GUTHRIE, UM, COUPLE THINGS.
FIRST, UH, UH, CONGRATULATIONS, CHARLIE.
I THINK WHEN I CAME BACK ON THE COUNCIL, YOU SAID YOU'RE RETIRING BECAUSE I WORKED YOU SO HARD MY 12 YEARS HERE THAT YOU WERE GONNA LEAVE
SO I KNOW YOU WERE KIDDING, BUT THAT'S ALL RIGHT.
AND MY, UH, YOU DO, YOU GUYS ALL DO A GREAT JOB.
UH, BUT I HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS.
ONE, I UNDERSTAND THAT THE, THE THOUGH, IT SAYS HERE, THE LEGISLATIVE DRAFTER IS GOING TO GET A HUNDRED, $1,500, THAT, UM, THAT'S, THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO WORK PART-TIME.
SO IS THAT HALF THAT SALARY? IT IS NEGOTIABLE, YES.
WE HAVE A SALARY AMOUNT IN THERE, BUT IN A PART-TIME, UH, CAPACITY THAT WOULD BE ADJUSTED.
I, I WOULD ASSUME HALF OR THERE SOMEWHERE.
I'M ON THE PERSONNEL COMMITTEE.
THE OTHER, THE OTHER ISSUE IS, UM, UH, WOULD THAT SAME SAME THING APPLY TO, UH, THE COUNCIL ATTORNEY, UM, THAT THE NEW ONE WOULD BE HIRED SOMETHING LOWER THAN WHAT THE BOOK SAYS, OR, AND THEN THEY WOULD BE PRO PROMOTED UP THE LINE? OR, I MEAN, DO YOU THINK I DON'T, I DON'T, I WOULDN'T BELIEVE THAT THE SOMEBODY COMING IN AND SITTING IN THE SEAT RIGHT AWAY SHOULD GET THE SAME MONEY THAT CHARLIE WAS GETTING.
I MEAN, THERE SHOULD BE A, A PROGRESSION.
I THINK THAT'S A DISCUSSION WE SHOULD HAVE IN THE PERSONNEL COMMITTEE.
AND, UH, YOUR POINT'S WELL TAKEN.
NOT EVERYONE IS GONNA BE IN A POSITION TO BE ABLE TO ASSUME THAT ROLE AND THAT TYPE OF SALARY.
SO WE'D HAVE TO LOOK AT THEM ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS AND THE QUALIFICATIONS THAT THEY HAVE, THE EXPERIENCE THAT THEY HAVE, POSSIBLY WITH LEGISLATION, UH, ZONING MATTERS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE, MR. JAMES OR DAN.
SO, UH, CHARLIE, UH, I GUESS THIS IS OUR LAST BUDGET, UH, SESSION TOGETHER, SO HOPEFULLY WE DON'T TRY TO BE TOO MUCH CRAZY.
AND, UH, BUT I I ALSO ECHO, UH, THE OTHER COUNCIL PEOPLE AND APPRECIATE YOUR, UH, AVAILABILITY AND RUNNING THINGS OFF YOU AND TELLING ME I COULD DO THIS, OR I CAN'T DO THAT, AND WHY DO I WANNA DO THIS AND WHY THAT? AND, AND PUTTING EVERYTHING TOGETHER SO IT MAKES SENSE.
SO IT, IT'S GREATLY APPRECIATED AND, AND APPARENTLY THAT'S A VERY RARE, UH, QUALITY AND NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE CAN DO WHAT YOU'RE, YOU'RE DOING.
SO I KNOW WE'LL HAVE SOME CHALLENGES THERE.
MYLA, UH, YOU KNOW, SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS AND, UH, GLAD WE'RE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, HELP YOU FOR THAT.
AND, AND I THINK, UH, TALKING ABOUT, UH, COUNCILMAN PENMAN ISSUE ABOUT THE, UH, SERVER, I THINK WE, WE DID INITIATE AND LOOKING AT, YOU DON'T ACTUALLY NEED A SERVER 'CAUSE EVERYTHING IS IN THE CLOUD, THAT WE COULD SEPARATE OUR STUFF AND HAVE OUR OWN CLOUD ADDRESS, WHICH, WHICH WOULD BE A LOT LESS EXPENSIVE THAN HAVING A SERVER DEDICATED TO US AND PUT SOMEWHERE.
SO I KNOW WE HAD THAT CONVERSATION WITH SOME PEOPLE, JUST, JUST FYI TO YOU AS WELL.
I JUST WANNA ECHO WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE SAID.
I VERY MUCH SO APPRECIATE, UM, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW IF THE COMMUNITY ALWAYS REALIZES HOW MUCH OF THE COUNCIL'S WORK IS DONE BY THE STAFF THAT MAKE UP THIS BUILDING.
AND I APPRECIATE MYLA, EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO TO MANAGE AND, AND TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS OPERATING THE WAY IT SHOULD BE.
AND, AND TO ALSO TO MR. KEARNEY FOR ALL OF HIS TIME, VERY PATIENTLY ANSWERING
[02:00:01]
QUESTIONS OR JUST BEING THERE TO BOUNCE OFF OF OR TAKE A PHONE CALL.UM, I WAS JUST CURIOUS ABOUT THE TIMING.
I KNOW WE WENT A WHOLE YEAR WITHOUT FINDING A LEGISLATIVE DRAFTER.
AND I KNOW WE'VE TALKED ABOUT JUST EVEN DURING LUNCH TODAY, THE HARDSHIP OF MAKING IT A 0.5 POSITION, FINDING SOMEONE WHO'S WILLING TO DO THAT WITHOUT COUNTY BENEFITS, AND ALL THAT COMES WITH IT, WITH IT BEING PART-TIME.
UM, IS THAT MONEY, COULD YOU SEE THAT MONEY BEING USED BETTER ELSEWHERE TO SUPPORT THE OFFICE IN ANY WAY? SINCE WE KNOW FOR THE TIME BEING, IT'S GONNA BE VERY HARD TO FILL IT, OR, I THINK ROLLING INTO THE NEW FISCAL YEAR, IT'S THE COUNCIL'S GOAL TO GET THAT POSITION FILLED.
AND I THINK THE MONEY IS WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE RIGHT NOW.
AND, AND DO WE HAVE A TIMELINE, UM, FOR, AS FAR AS HIRING A NEW COUNSEL ATTORNEY ON WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE? IS THAT MORE HOPEFUL THAT IT'LL BE QUICKER THAN I AM NERVOUS FOR CHARLIE, AS HAPPY AS I AM FOR CHARLIE'S MR. KEARNEY'S RETIREMENT, I AM NERVOUS TO HAVE THAT OFFICE EMPTY FOR A PROLONGED PERIOD OF TIME.
I DON'T THINK WE CAN HAVE IT EMPTY FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME.
SO I WOULD THINK IT'S THE COUNCIL'S GOAL TO DEFINITELY FILL THAT POSITION SOONER THAN LATER.
ANYONE ELSE? ANYONE, CITIZENS, ANY QUESTIONS OF MS. MS MS. DIXON? THANK YOU, MICHAEL.
IF I COULD JUST, I FORGOT TO THANK KIM AND HER STAFF, BECAUSE AS ALWAYS AMAZING.
WHENEVER I HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, NEED HELP, SHE'S ALWAYS THERE, OR SOMEBODY IN HER STAFF AND HAVE TO RECOGNIZE I'M GONNA MISS HER NEXT YEAR.
SO I, I KNOW SHE HAS SET HER STAFF UP TO BE JUST AS AMAZING AS SHE IS, I'M SURE.
AND ALSO WANNA THANK THE REST OF MY STAFF, JEANETTE AND HEATHER, BECAUSE WITHOUT THEM, UM, I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO, TO DO WHAT I DO.
AND KELLY, BEFORE YOU GO THE, THE BUS, IT IS ON TRACK, THE NEW VEHICLE.
IF WE ARE ON TRACK, WORKING WITH FACILITIES FIRST TO LOCATE THE ACTUAL VEHICLE FIRST, THAT'S BEEN A BIT OF A CHALLENGE ACCORDING TO FACILITIES.
TO FIND THE ONE THAT WE NEED, WE BASICALLY NEED THE SAME EXACT ONE THAT WE HAVE NOW.
THE DIMENSIONS FIT PERFECTLY IN OUR GARAGE.
THE INSIDE THE INTERIOR IS EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE USING ON CAD DRAWINGS TO LAY OUT THE NEW INTERIOR.
AND THEN STEP TWO WILL BE THE OUTFITTING.
AND, UM, FINGERS CROSSED WE FIND THE VEHICLE IN THE NEXT MONTH OR SO.
WE'RE ON TRACK TO START THIS, UM, FIRST THING IN JULY, AND IT WILL BE A FOUR TO SIX WEEK PROCESS THAT WILL BE WITHOUT THE VAN WHILE WE'RE MAKING THE MOVE TO THE NEW ONE.
SO YOU'RE WORKING WITH MR. PATRICK AND HIS TEAM? YES.
UH, NEXT WE HAVE, UH, HUMAN MAIN SOCIETY.
YOU'LL FIND THEIR FUNDING LINE ITEM ON PAGE 6 0 8.
GENTLEMEN, HOW ARE YOU TODAY? YES SIR.
IT'S UNDER APPROPRIATIONS TO TOWNS, STATE AND OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES.
ONE LITTLE LINE ITEM THERE, WHENEVER YOU'RE READY.
YOU HAVE A COPY, A COPY OF WHAT OUR CURRENT BUDGET IS, AND YOU'VE ALREADY BEEN INFORMED THAT IT'LL STAY FLAT THIS YEAR.
SO WE'LL GO THROUGH THIS, UH, PRESENTATION FAIRLY, FAIRLY QUICKLY.
CAN WE ASK YOU LET MY DESK SURE.
IS THAT A LITTLE BIT BETTER? YES.
SO WE CAN GO THROUGH THE PRESENTATION AND JUST KIND OF HIGHLIGHT A FEW THINGS.
UH, ON THE ONE SLIDE WHERE YOU'LL SEE THE ANIMALS BY THE NUMBERS, THE INTAKES HAVE GONE UP OVER THE PAST YEAR BY 28%.
AND I'LL ELABORATE ON SOME OF THESE AS WE GO THROUGH.
UH, TOWARDS THE END, THE, UH, ADOPTIONS ARE UP 27.4, OBVIOUSLY BASED ON THE NUMBER OF ANIMALS.
SO WE'VE BEEN STILL PRETTY FORTUNATE UNTIL RECENTLY TO MAINTAIN AND KEEP THESE ANIMALS GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS OF GETTING INTO FOREVER HOMES AND NOT BEING EUTHANIZED.
[02:05:01]
OUR PLACEMENTS ARE LIVE RELEASE RATE, WHICH IS ANY ANIMAL LEAVING THE ORGANIZATION ALIVE VIA WHATEVER AVENUE, UH, MAINTAINS ABOVE 90.90% IS, UH, CONSIDERED NO KILL.
WHILE WE ARE NOT A NO KILL SHELTER, UH, IT'S PRETTY IMPRESSIVE TO BE AN OPEN EMISSION SHELTER MAINTAINED 90% OR HIGHER.
WE ARE AT 92.3% FOR A PREVIOUS YEAR.
WE'VE HAD A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE, UH, WITH ANIMAL CONTROL AND ANIMAL CONTROL, BRINGING ANIMALS INTO US VIA OWNER SURRENDER OR THROUGH STRAY AND SEIZED ANIMALS.
ALSO, UH, JUST THE PUBLIC, UH, ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
WE'VE SEEN THIS INCREASE OVER THE LAST YEAR.
ALL HUMANE SOCIETIES, SHELTERS WERE ALL IN THE SAME BOAT.
SOME WERE SOME BETTER, UH, BUT WE, WE HAVE NOT BEEN LEFT OUT OF THAT.
SOME OF US HAS SEEN IT COMING, SO WE WERE PROACTIVE, OBVIOUSLY.
UH, BUT WE FINALLY HAVE BECOME TO WHERE WE ARE OVER CAPACITY AND WE ARE WORKING ON SOLUTIONS FOR THAT.
BUT, UH, WITH AN INTAKE OF 3,300 THIS YEAR, WE HAVEN'T SEEN THOSE NUMBERS.
I THINK THE LAST TIME WAS 2017.
SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT CAME OUT OF THE POST PANDEMIC SITUATION.
UH, AND ANIMALS HAVE BEEN TURNED IN, IN DROVES, UH, ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
BUT ONE SLIDE YOU'LL SEE IN FRONT OF YOU, ANIMALS BROUGHT IN BY ANIMAL CONTROL.
I ALWAYS INCLUDE THIS SO YOU CAN SEE WHERE THE ANIMALS ARE COMING IN, UH, FROM SOME SPECIFIC AREAS.
AND THEN OF COURSE, ON, YOU KNOW, OTHER AREAS OF THE COUNTY.
SOME POSITIVE THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED OVER THE LAST YEAR, WHICH, UH, WHEN I WAS HERE LAST YEAR, WE, THAT WAS ONE OF OUR GOALS IS THAT WE WOULD SEE SPAY AND NEUTER SURGERIES INCREASE.
I'M HAPPY TO SAY THEY'VE INCREASED BY 81%.
UH, WE COMPLETED 1,742 SPAY NEUTER SURGERIES, WHICH, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL? THE BIG DEAL IS THAT WE WORK TO DECREASE, UH, ANIMAL OVERPOPULATION.
WE'VE IMPLANTED OVER 2300 MICROCHIPS, WHICH REALLY HELPS NOT ONLY ANIMAL CONTROL AS WE RETURN ANIMALS IN THE FIELD, WHICH IS, UH, WOULD, WOULD BE THE WAY WE'D WANT TO DO THAT, NOT TO BRING THEM INTO THE SYSTEM.
UH, SO WE, IT IS, IT'S NICE TO SEE THAT.
SO WE HAVE A VERY GOOD RETURN TO OWNER RATE, AND WE ACTUALLY DID 84 DENTAL PROCEDURES, WHICH IS SOMETHING WE HAVE NEVER DONE IN THE PAST.
AGAIN, THAT WAS A GOAL LAST YEAR, WHICH WE HAVE MEANT, UH, WE'VE, WE'VE SEEN A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE THOUGH FOR HELP FROM THE COMMUNITY, PEOPLE REQUIRING ASSISTANCE, WHETHER IT BE VET CARE, WHETHER IT BE FOOD, SIGNIFICANTLY IN THE FOOD.
UH, WE HAVE A PET FOOD PANTRY.
AND THE REASON THAT'S BEEN SO SUCCESSFUL IS BECAUSE JUST THE NEED.
UH, WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE DONATING TO THAT.
WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE REQUIRING ASSISTANCE.
AND THAT GOES TO, IN AN EFFORT TO KEEP PETS IN THEIR HOMES WITH THEIR PEOPLE AND AGAIN, NOT ENTER THE SYSTEM.
WE, WE WANTED TO KICK OFF MICRO, UH, VACCINE CLINICS.
SO WE, WE HELD TWO LAST YEAR, WHICH WE VACCINATED OVER 500 ANIMALS, WHICH GOES A LONG WAY TO HELPING TO PREVENT RABIES, UH, WITHIN THE COUNTY, ALONG WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
UH, AND AGAIN, IT'S ALL ABOUT REACHING THE PEOPLE, REACHING THE ANIMALS, UH, PEOPLE THAT DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO CARE OR CANNOT AFFORD IT.
AS WE GET TO THE, WE CAN SKIP A PAGE HERE OR TWO AS WE GET BACK INTO OUR LONG RANGE GOALS, OBVIOUSLY YOU'LL SEE THE STORIES BEHIND THE ANIMALS.
WE DO TRY TO DO AS MUCH AS WE CAN FOR INJURED, UH, ANIMALS ALL THE TIME.
AND THERE'S A COUPLE STORIES THERE.
SOME OF YOU THAT DO FOLLOW US WOULD REMEMBER VELVET.
VELVET IS AN ANIMAL THAT SOMEBODY, UH, ON PURPOSE GLUED HER EYES SHUT AND, AND OTHER THINGS, UH, THAT WAS A, A REALLY GREAT SUCCESS STORY THERE.
AND AS WE GET BACK TO THE LONG RANGE CHALLENGES, THIS IS WHERE I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO KIND OF, TO UPDATE EVERYBODY ON WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH.
SO A FEW MONTHS AGO, WE WERE, WE'VE BEEN WALKING A FINE LINE WITH POPULATION CAPACITY WITHIN THE SHELTER.
WE HAD A HOARDING SITUATION BROUGHT INTO US THROUGH ANIMAL CONTROL, 17 DOGS AT ONE TIME.
AND THAT PUT US OVER CAPACITY.
WE HAVE TO KEEP SPACE OPEN FOR ANIMAL CONTROL PURPOSES AND FOR THE PUBLIC TO BE ABLE TO SURRENDER, UH, FOR EMERGENCIES AND SUCH.
UH, FOR SOME OF YOU WHO MAY BE AWARE THAT WE WERE FORCED TO PUT UP AN EMERGENCY SHELTER, WHICH IS OUTSIDE OF THE CURRENT BUILDING BECAUSE WE HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO SPACE FOR DOGS WITHIN THE FACILITY.
UH, THIS ISN'T A ONE TIME THING.
I WISH I COULD SAY, HEY, THIS IS GONNA BE A ONE TIME THING AND WE'RE NEVER GONNA HAVE TO FACE THIS AGAIN.
IF ALL THOSE ANIMALS WERE TO LEAVE THE FACILITY TOMORROW, WE'D STILL BE OVER CAPACITY.
THE ANIMALS ARE COMING IN, THEY'RE COMING IN FROM THE PUBLIC, THEY'RE COMING IN FROM ANIMAL CONTROL.
AGAIN, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AND SOMETHING THAT WE MUST DEAL WITH.
NOW AS FAR AS POPULATION, UH, OVER OVERCROWDING, IT'S JUST A FACT OF LIFE.
AND I MEAN, IF YOU FOLLOW THE NEWS, IF AT ALL, YOU'LL KNOW THAT.
I MEAN, THERE'S SO MANY ARTICLES OUT THERE ABOUT SHELTERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY FACING THIS POST PANDEMIC AND, UH, INFLATION.
I MEAN, THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS HAS GONE UP.
I, I KNOW EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT WE ARE DEALING IT.
[02:10:01]
THAN ANYBODY ELSE, EXCEPT IF WE CAN'T PASS, UH, YOU KNOW, OUR COSTS ONTO ANYBODY OR WE'D NOT BE ABLE TO ADOPT OUT ANIMALS.THERE'S VERY LITTLE ROOM FOR US TO BRING MONEY IN LIKE THAT FOR, FOR SERVICES.
UM, LACK OF AFFORDABLE VET CARE.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE FACING.
THERE'S NOT A DAY THAT WE DON'T RECEIVE A REQUEST FOR.
MAYBE IT'S AS SIMPLE AS VACCINES THAT WE CAN HELP WITH.
A LOT OF TIMES, UH, ANIMAL HIT BY CAR CAN'T AFFORD TO TAKE CARE OF IT.
AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING CASE BY CASE, BUT, UH, IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT WE DEAL WITH EVERY DAY.
AND, AND WHEN PEOPLE CAN'T PAY FOR THEIR CARE, THEY SURRENDER THE ANIMALS AND IT BECOMES OUR ISSUE BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR.
THE, UH, BACK TO THE, UH, CAPACITY PROBLEM, THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE, THAT WE ARE ADDRESSING RIGHT NOW WITH THE EMERGENCY CELL, UH, SHELTER.
WE ARE NOT FINANCIALLY IN A POSITION TO, TO CARRY THAT ON DAY AFTER DAY.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE LOOKING AT COST OF, UH, UPWARDS BETWEEN 18 AND $20,000 A MONTH JUST TO HOUSE THE ANIMALS OUTSIDE OF OUR CURRENT FACILITY.
THAT INCLUDES EVERYTHING FROM THE FEEDING 'EM, TAKING CARE OF 'EM, OUR, OUR MAN HOURS, EVERYTHING.
UH, IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT, AGAIN, IS NOT GOING TO GO AWAY.
SEE THE, UM, I GUESS ANOTHER THING I WANTED TO POINT OUT, YOU KNOW, WE SAID THERE'S BEEN SUCH AN INCREASE WITH ANIMALS COMING IN.
APPROXIMATELY 32.1% HAS, HAS COME THROUGH ANIMAL CONTROL.
THE PROBLEM WE SEE IS, IS OF COURSE, THEY'RE HELD UP.
A LOT OF THESE ARE COURT CASES.
WHEN NOW WE'RE PROACTIVE, WE FOLLOW, WE LOOK, WE MAKE SURE THAT THE OFFICERS HAVE EVERYTHING THEY NEED TO GO THROUGH THE COURT SYSTEM, BUT IT DELAYS.
SO WE, WHEN YOU HAVE AN ANIMAL THERE FOR TWO YEARS, THAT'S, THAT'S OBVIOUSLY A SITUATION.
YOU HAVE SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF ANIMALS THAT ARE BEING HELD FOR LONG TERM, UH, LIKE THESE, UH, LIKE THE CURRENT HOARDING CASE THAT, UH, HAS JUST BEEN POSTPONED AGAIN FOR ANOTHER MONTH.
UH, THESE ARE WHAT WE'RE UP AGAINST, IT'S DUE PROCESS, BUT WE HAVE TO HOUSE AND, AND AGAIN, WE NO LONGER HAVE THE SPACE TO DO IT.
UH, AND AGAIN, I, LIKE I SAID, I WISH WE COULD SAY THIS WAS A ONE TIME DEAL, BUT IT'S NOT.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE, THIS IS THE NEW NORMAL AND THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH.
SO I BRING THAT UP NOW, ONLY TO, TO, YOU KNOW, HAVE YOU AWARE, AND WE ARE LOOKING AT THE PROCESS.
WE NEED A, A SEPARATE BUILDING FOR ANIMAL CONTROL ANIMALS TO BE HELD.
SO THEY'RE NOT IN GENERAL POPULATION WITH ADOPT ADOPTABLE ANIMALS, WHICH THEY HAVE BEEN, WHICH IS NOT RIGHT.
THESE ANIMALS ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE VIEWED IN THE FIRST PLACE.
AND WE TRY OUR BEST NOT TO DO THAT.
BUT THEY'VE ALWAYS CO-MINGLED.
AND WE, THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE DONE, NOR ARE WE ABLE TO DO IT ANYWAY.
UH, WE JUST DON'T HAVE THE ROOM.
THAT'S AGAIN, WHY THE TENT IS UP.
UH, SO 32% OF THOSE ANIMALS ARE SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE VERY LITTLE CONTROL OVER.
AND AT THIS POINT, WE JUST HAVE TO HAVE A SEPARATE BUILDING, UH, OF SOME SORT TO HOLD THESE ANIMALS UNTIL THEIR DISPOSITION COMES AND WE PULL 'EM INTO THE SHELTER AND WE, UH, HOPEFULLY PUT 'EM UP FOR ADOPTION.
UH, AND THEN AGAIN, OUR CURRENT EXPENSES WITH THE EMERGENCY SHELTER HAVE REALLY PUT PRESSURE ON US, UH, AT THE TIME BEING.
BUT AGAIN, WE FELT, WE AS MYSELF AND THE BOARD FELT WE HAVE TO DO THIS.
THE ALTERNATIVE IS TO EUTHANIZE HEALTH HEALTHY ANIMALS, WHICH IS NOT THE BUSINESS THAT WE'RE IN.
AND NOR DOES ANYBODY WANNA SEE THAT ANYWAY, SO YEAH, IT'S A, IT'S A CATCH 22.
I MEAN, THE TENS UP AND INTO BOB'S POINT WE'RE FULL.
BUT THIS WAS A, A HUGE PROCESS TO GET THIS TENT UP.
AND THE PROBLEM IS WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING WITH THE ANIMALS.
I MEAN, AND THE, AND THE WHEELS OF JUSTICE MOVE VERY SLOWLY AS THEY SHOULD.
THESE 17 DOGS ARE GONNA SIT HERE PROBABLY FOR ANOTHER THREE TO FOUR MONTHS.
AND TO BOB'S POINT, WE'RE FULL INSIDE.
SO WE'RE CONSTANTLY JUGGLING AND MOVING.
AND YOU ADOPT, YOU ADOPT TWO ANIMALS OUT, AND THEN YOU SEE, YOU KNOW, THE, THE VAN PULL UP WITH, WITH THREE MORE.
WE DO HAVE A, A BARN ON THE PROPERTY THAT WE MAY BE ABLE TO RETROFIT DOWN THE ROAD, UM, FOR CASES LIKE THIS.
BUT TO BOB'S POINT, IF THESE 17 DOGS WENT AWAY TODAY, WE'D STILL BE CHALLENGED AND JUGGLING.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, IT, IT, IT'S, IT'S NOT FUNNY, BUT IT IS SORT OF FUNNY.
I MEAN, ANIMAL CONTROL WILL ROLL IN WITH TWO COWS, THREE PIGS AND A HORSE.
AND, AND WE DEAL WITH THAT AND WE DO IT VERY, VERY WELL.
AND DON'T KNOW HOW THIS GUY DOES IT JUGGLING ALL THE THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, HE HAS TO JUGGLE.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE DIPPING INTO RESERVES TO TRY TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
AND WE'RE OBVIOUSLY GOOD STORES OF THE MONEY WE RECEIVE.
AND WE'RE ALSO DOING GREAT WITH FUNDRAISING.
AND WE, WE HAVE OVER $300,000 RAISED ALREADY THIS YEAR, AND WE'RE KICKING OFF ANOTHER GIVING CAMPAIGN BECAUSE WE HAVE TO MAKE UP THE DEFICIT.
AND TO YOUR POINT ABOUT THE OVERCROWDING, I WAS THERE NOT TOO LONG AGO WHERE YOU HAD A PARKING LOT, UH, FULL OF DOGS THAT YOU WERE TRYING TO ADOPT OUT.
[02:15:01]
UH, I KNOW YOU WERE SOMEWHAT SUCCESSFUL IN THAT ATTEMPT, BUT RIGHT, LIKE YOU SAID, THEY JUST KEEP COMING.AND, AND SO, YOU KNOW, ADOPTIONS HAVE SLOWED REALLY TOWARD, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE OF THE ECONOMY.
PLUS WE'RE GETTING INTO OUR BUSY SEASON.
NORMALLY YOU SLOW DOWN OVER THE WINTER AND, AND THAT WOULD BE THE NORM.
AND NOW WE'D START TO RAMP UP FOR THE KITTEN SEASON FROM MORE, MORE ANIMALS COMING IN AND ADOPTION, SLOWING DOWN BECAUSE WE'RE COMING INTO END OF THE SUMMER.
THINGS SLOW DOWN AS FAR AS THAT GOES.
UH, THE PROBLEM IS WE'VE STAYED AT A HIGH TEMPO ALL THE WAY THROUGH AND INCREASED.
AND AGAIN, THAT, THAT'S TAKEN A TOLL ON EVERYBODY, VOLUNTEERS, STAFF, WE HAVE HIRE MORE STAFF, MORE CONSUMABLES.
I MEAN, I KNOW YOU ALL KNOW THIS, BUT THIS IS THE WAY IT IS TODAY.
AND SO WE HAVE TO PLAN GOING FORWARD AND WE ABSOLUTELY NEED SPACE TO BE ABLE TO HOUSE THESE ANIMALS.
AND I THINK THAT'S THE BEST WAY TO DO IT.
I KNOW WE, GEORGE AND I HAVE MET A FEW TIMES ABOUT THE, THE BUILDING THAT WE HAVE ON THE PROPERTY.
UH, I THINK IT'S A, A STRONG POSSIBILITY THAT WE COULD REFURBISH THAT FOR THIS USE AND THAT WOULD HELP US IMMENSELY AND BIAS TIME FOR THE NEXT FEW YEARS, I THINK, TO BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH THESE THINGS.
UH, LUCKILY WE, EVERYBODY'S BEEN PROACTIVE TO EVERY POINT TO GET ANIMALS OUT, BUT THERE IS JUST NO SLOWING THE FLOW COMING THROUGH THE DOOR.
ALRIGHT, UH, MR. PENMAN, THANK MR. PRESIDENT.
UM, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TEAM.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR PROGRAM.
I KNOW IT'S, IT'S PROBLEMATIC FOR YOU, BUT IT'S AN INVALUABLE RESOURCE FOR THOSE FIRST RESPONDERS AND I'VE SEEN IT FIRSTHAND, A BUNCH OF DOGS AND LIZARDS THAT WHERE ELSE YOU'RE GONNA TURN TO, BUT TURN 'EM OVER TO THE HUMANE SOCIETY.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
UM, AND I WANT TO TALK TO ABOUT TWO THINGS.
AND, UM, GEORGIA, YOU MENTIONED IT, UH, AS FAR AS FUNDRAISING, UM, I YOU, IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'VE RAISED 300,000.
IS THAT ATTAINABLE TO CONTINUE TO FUNDRAISE, TO SUPPLANT THE, UH, THE BUDGET, THE, THE LACK OF THE BUDGET BECAUSE WE'RE IN A TOUGH BUDGET SESSION, UM, TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE THE DEMANDS THAT YOU HAVE, NOT, NOT THROUGH ALL OF FUNDRAISING.
THAT'S, THIS IS NOT GONNA HAPPEN.
I MEAN, WE TAP INTO, YOU KNOW, DONOR DONOR BURNOUT, YOU TAP INTO THE SAME PEOPLE ALL THE TIME, UH, AND EVENTUALLY THAT PLATEAUS.
AND YES, THERE'S WAYS TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX, WHICH WE DO TO TRY TO COME UP WITH SOME NEW IDEAS, BUT NOT TO THE AMOUNT OF WHAT WE'RE FACING TODAY.
AND WE RAISE OVER A MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR TO SUSTAIN WHAT WE HAD LAST YEAR, WHICH WAS FINE.
WE WERE ABLE TO DO THAT, BUT THERE'S NOT ENOUGH FUNDRAISING ABILITY TO CHANGE TO WHERE WE ARE NOW WITH 32% INCREASE OF ANIMALS COMING IN.
THAT'S, YEAH, THAT'S GONNA BE VERY TOUGH TO DEAL WITH.
UM, AND THEN THAT KIND OF TAKES ME TO THE LONG RANGE, UH, GOALS AND, AND YOU KNOW, WE'VE, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT A KIND OF, YOU KNOW, THE, THE CODE HAS IT TO WHERE IT HAS TO BE AN ABANDONED ANIMAL THAT, UM, THAT IS TREATED.
UM, IS THERE ROOM FOR IN THE FUTURE, UM, TO OBVIOUSLY ON A LOW INCOME LEVEL TO, TO TREAT OR, UH, VACCINATE OR TO WHERE, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE ABLE TO MAKE SOME MONEY OFF OF IT TO SUPPLANT THE PROGRAM, RIGHT? THAT THAT IS CORRECT.
UM, YOU KNOW, IF, IF THINGS WERE TO CHANGE IN THAT VERBIAGE WHERE WE, WE COULD OFFER A LOW COST SPAY NEUTER AND WELLNESS CLINIC TO THE PUBLIC, THERE IS, YEAH, IT'S TWOFOLD.
IT BENEFITS THE PUBLIC WHO ABSOLUTELY NEED THOSE SERVICES AND IT BENEFITS US BY CREATING A STREAM OF REVENUE THAT WE CAN WORK WITH.
SO IF I WERE TO PUT THAT LEGISLATION IN, WOULD YOU HAVE THE RESOURCES TO BE ABLE TO COMBAT THAT? NOT, NOT CURRENTLY, BUT IF WE WERE PLANNING FOR IT? ABSOLUTELY.
UM, I WAS JUST CURIOUS FOR, UH, MY OWN RECORD KEEPING.
UM, I, I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU'RE, UH, FLAT FUNDED IN THE PROPOSED FY 25 BUDGET.
DID YOU MAKE AN ASK THE TO THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE FOR A CERTAIN YES.
475,000, A $475,000 INCREASE? THAT'S CORRECT.
I JUST THOUGHT THAT WOULD BE GOOD FOR US TO KNOW AS A COUNCIL, AS WE'RE LOOKING AT THE BUDGET AND LOOKING AT EACH.
MR. BENNETT, WHAT, UM, I'M SORRY.
WHAT WOULD'VE BEEN SOME OF THE MAJOR, UM, LIKE PROGRAMMATIC OR CAPITAL, UM, THINGS THAT 475,000 WOULD'VE GONE TOWARDS? A SIGNIFICANT PART, THERE'S TWO PIECES THAT ARE VERY SIGNIFICANT IS STAFFING.
'CAUSE THIS IS A LABOR INTENSIVE ORGANIZATION, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT WE DO.
UH, SO STAFFING AND THE VETERINARIAN CARE THAT THESE ANIMAL ANIMALS REQUIRE, UH, THOSE PRICES HAVE TRIPLED OVER THE LAST YEAR.
UH, IT'S, AND THAT'S WHAT A BIG PART OF IT.
SO WE'VE SEEN OUR COST GO UP SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING, YOU KNOW, ALL OF OUR CONSUMABLES.
BUT THOSE TWO, AND, YOU KNOW, FOOD, FOOD, DIRECT CARE, UM, AND
[02:20:01]
THE MEDICAL CARE THAT IS REQUIRED, THAT'S THE PROBLEM.WHEN THOSE NUMBERS, WHEN THE AN THE NUMBER OF THE ANIMALS GO UP LIKE THAT, THOSE NUMBERS AUTOMATICALLY GO UP.
YOU'VE GOTTA HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE TO HUMANELY TAKE CARE OF THESE ANIMALS.
AND WHEN YOU'RE FULL, THAT INCREASES A LOT OF STRESS ON THE ANIMALS, WHICH REQUIRES MORE MEDICAL, REQUIRES MORE BEHAVIOR AND ENRICHMENT.
UH, AND IT REQUIRES MORE PEOPLE TO DO THAT.
HOW, HOW ARE YOU? SO, UM, QUESTION ON, UM, WHEN SOMEBODY REGISTERS, I GUESS THEIR CAT OR THEIR DOG, WHERE DO THEY GO AND WHAT DOES THAT COST? DO YOU GUYS GET ANY OF THAT MONEY WHEN THEY REGISTER AN ANIMAL? YEAH.
UH, WE, WE ARE ABLE TO DO THAT THROUGH THE SHELTER, BUT IT GOES INTO THE COUNTY.
UH, REGISTRATION FEES UP DOWNS? UH, NO, THEY'RE ACTUALLY UP A LITTLE BIT UP BECAUSE OF THE, THE NUMBER OF ANIMALS THAT WE SEE THAT WE'VE TAKEN CARE OF.
SO ANY ANIMAL THAT GETS ADOPTED OBVIOUSLY IS REGISTERED AND LICENSED.
BECAUSE YEAH, WE'VE HAD AN INCREASE IN THAT AS WELL, GETTING ANIMALS OUT.
AND, AND I DON'T THINK YOU GOT, UH, AND I'VE GOT A, A PROBLEM WITH FERAL CATS IN BEL AIR THAT I'VE BEEN ASKED TO LOOK INTO.
UM, SO IS THAT YOU GUYS OR IS THAT AN ANIMAL CONTROL UNDER THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE? SOFER, FERAL CATS ARE A COMBINATION.
OF COURSE, ANIMAL CONTROL GETS CALLED FOR NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS.
YOU KNOW, THE ANIMALS DOING WHAT THEY DO.
UH, SOMETIMES THEY TRAP THEM, AND WHEN THEY DO, THEY BRING 'EM TO US.
AND THEN WE WORK WITH OTHER GROUPS.
UH, WE, WE WILL WORK WITH A, LIKE A TNR GROUP WHERE WE ALTER THEM, MAKE SURE THEY'RE HEALTHY, MAKE SURE THEY GET OUR RABIES VACCINE AND PUT THEM INTO A COLONY TO HELP REDUCE THOSE COMPLAINTS.
BUT THERE IS NOTHING THAT REALLY COVERS AS FAR AS LIKE AN ORDINANCE FOR FERAL CAST.
SO WHO DO I GO TO TO, UM, GET THIS PROBLEM RESOLVED? RIGHT.
THAT HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE IN THE, IN THE TOWN OF BEL AIR, AND THEY'VE ASKED ME TO LOOK INTO IT.
WELL, THERE'S MULT, THERE'S THE TWO BEST WAYS ARE ANIMAL CONTROL AND ALSO US.
AND THEN WE WORK, WE'LL WORK WITH LIKE A, UH, TNR GROUP TO SEE IF WE CAN ASSIST.
BUT IT REALLY COMES FROM A THREE ANGLE, THREE DIFFERENT ANGLES TO HELP.
UH, ANIMAL CONTROL USUALLY GETS INVOLVED BECAUSE EITHER, LIKE, THERE MAY BE A NUISANCE PART OF IT AND THEY TRY TO EDUCATE AND TALK TO THE PEOPLE, AND THEN THAT WILL COME OUT TO EITHER OUR, OURSELVES OR A LOCAL GROUP TO HELP.
SO I NEED TO SET UP A MEETING WITH YOU AND ANIMAL CONTROL AND MAYBE SOMEBODY FROM THE BEL AIR, BUT THE ISSUE WITH THE CATS IN THE BEL AIR, YEAH.
THE TWO OF US WOULD BE THE BEST PLACE TO FAR, SIR.
UM, ON THE, UM, NEUTERING, UH, I REMEMBER YEARS AGO WE USED TO HAVE A PROGRAM, UM, EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE YOU'D, YOU'D OPEN THE FACILITY AND, AND, UH, PEOPLE COULD BRING THEIR ANIMALS IN AND GET 'EM NEU OR, UM, WE PROBABLY CAN'T DO THAT ANYMORE,
BUT, UM, WHAT, UH, WHAT DO YOU DO? WHAT'S, DOES THE FACILITY DO ANYTHING FOR THE, FOR PEOPLE TO BRING IN AND HAVE THEIR, UH, ANIMALS NEUTERED? UH, AND IF, IF SO, UH, WHAT IS THE COST? SO AT THIS POINT, UNFORTUNATELY WE CANNOT HELP THE PUBLIC.
UH, LIKE, LIKE, UM, COUNCILMAN PENMAN HAS SAID WE HAVE TO CHANGE, UH, THE VERBIAGE, UH, FOR US TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
WE, WE CANNOT WORK WITH AN OWNED ANIMAL.
THE ANIMAL MUST BE SURRENDERED.
SO BY WHAT WE CAN DO, A ROUNDABOUT IS THAT WE DO TAKE CARE OF OBVIOUSLY ALL THE SHELTER ANIMALS, AND THEN WE ARE ABLE TO WORK WITH OTHER NON-PROFITS TO HELP THEM ALTER THE ANIMALS THAT ARE NOT OWNED BY PEOPLE.
SO WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO GO THAT FAR.
WE CAN HELP OTHER LOCAL RESCUE GROUPS, 5 0 1 C THREES, UH, WE WORK TOGETHER.
SO COLLABORATION, AGAIN, WE'RE ALL TRYING TO DO THE SAME THING AND PREVENT OVERPOPULATION, SO WE CAN HELP THAT.
BUT I CANNOT HELP, LIKE, ER, IF YOU CAME TO ME AND SAID, YOU KNOW, I CANNOT AFFORD $800 TO SPEND MY, MY DOG BIG GERMAN SHEPHERD, NORMALLY WE COULD DO SOMETHING THAT LIKE THAT IF WE HAD A LOW COST CLINIC FOR PROBABLY AROUND 200 TO 250, YOU KNOW, SO IT'S A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE.
AND THAT, THAT'S WHO WE WOULD LIKE TO REACH AT SOME POINT, BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY PEOPLE THAT NEED THAT THEY NO LONGER CAN AFFORD TO, UH, PRIVATELY HAVE IT DONE.
AND SO WHAT HAPPENS IS THEY DON'T, IT'S THE SAME THING WE SEE WITH THE VACCINE CLINICS.
THAT'S WHY THEY COME TO US TO GET THEIR CORE VACCINES BECAUSE THEY'RE $10 A PIECE.
THAT'S WHO WE'RE TRYING TO REACH.
THOSE PEOPLE THAT JUST DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO CARE OR CAN'T AFFORD IT.
SO WHAT HAPPENS IN TURN, A LOT OF TIME WE HAVE UNWANTED PREGNANCIES IN WHICH MEANS WE'RE GONNA HAVE MORE ANIMALS COMING INTO THE FACILITY.
SO YOU'RE, YOU'RE SAYING IT COSTS $800 THE N DOG NOW FOR A LARGE DOG, YEAH.
IF YOU GET SOME SMALLER DOGS, YOU COULD BE SOMEWHERE FOUR 50 ISH, 500.
UM, I DON'T KNOW, IS THERE ANYBODY HERE THAT'S HAD ONE DONE RECENTLY? THEY COULD PROBABLY TELL US.
IT'S BECOME VERY, VERY EXPENSIVE.
MY YORKIES GOING AROUND JUST THE WAY HE IS.
SO WAS MY, MY LAB, WHO WAS THE BIG ONE.
[02:25:01]
UM, UH, DO, DO, UM, SO YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THESE PROGRAMS AROUND 200 SOMETHING.IS THAT AVAILABLE? UM, THE PEOPLE, UH, THAT HAVE THEIR, OR WHAT KIND, WHAT IS THAT SERVICE YOU, YOU MIGHT CHOOSE? IT'S NOWHERE AVAILABLE IN HARTFORD COUNTY.
IF YOU LOOK AT BARKS COUNTY AND, YOU KNOW, BARKS, UH, ANIMAL RESCUE, UH, BALTIMORE COUNTY, THERE ARE OTHER LOW COST, YOU KNOW, CLINICS OUT THERE.
IT'S JUST NOT HAPPENING HERE BASED ON THE VERBIAGE THAT WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER.
BUT NO ONE, WE'RE NOT, WE'RE NOT AUTHORIZED TO DO THAT.
I REMEMBER, UH, YEARS AGO THAT ACTUALLY THE FIRE HALL USED TO HAVE, UH, SOME SPRAY NEUTERING, UH, EVENTS.
UH, EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE ON A SATURDAY, THE, THE CHOP OF MAGNOLIA FIRE HOLE USED TO HAVE, WE USED TO GO THERE.
I MEAN, THEY USED TO BE INVOLVED TO DO, UH, VACCINE CLINICS AND MICRO MICROCHIP CLINICS, WHICH WE ARE ACTIVELY INVOLVED COLLABORATION WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT NOW.
BUT AS FAR AS SPAY NEUTER, I DON'T, I, I CAN'T SPEAK ON THAT.
I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT WOULD BE DONE UNLESS IT WAS A, LIKE A PRIVATE MOBILE VET THAT WAS DOING, 'CAUSE OBVIOUSLY THE PRIVATE VETS CAN DO THAT.
BUT THAT WOULD BE THE ONLY WAY, BECAUSE THIS, THIS, WE LOOKED, I LOOKED INTO THIS A LITTLE BIT, AND WE KNOW THIS GOES, THIS DATES BACK TO 2013 ISH, MAYBE, OR BEFORE, YOU KNOW, AS FAR AS HAVING THAT LANGUAGE IN THERE THAT WOULD, THAT WOULD PREVENT US FROM DOING SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
ANYONE ELSE? MR. TIBS? YES, SIR.
UH, YOU'RE SPEAKING OF THE OVERCROWDED, THIS, HOW MANY OF THOSE ANIMALS COME IN FROM OUTSIDE OF HARFORD COUNTY? UH, WE DON'T TAKE ANIMALS IN FROM OUTSIDE THE COUNTY UNLESS IT'S A SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCE.
YOU DON'T TAKE ANY AT ALL FROM OUTSIDE.
ONLY IF IT'S, LIKE, IF SOMEBODY FINDS AN ANIMAL AND THEY WERE LIKE ON THEIR WAY HERE, USUALLY THEY'RE AN INJURED OR A SICK ANIMAL THAT WE SEE.
I, I MEAN, I JUST, I'VE HEARD SAY BARK SAY WE HAVE TO GO TO HARFORD COUNTY TO GET RID OF SOME OF THESE ANIMALS.
WELL, THERE, THERE, THERE ARE, YEAH.
THERE ARE TIMES WHERE WE WILL WORK WITH ANOTHER SHELTER AND VICE VERSA.
LIKE WHEN WE'RE OVER CROWDED, WE TRY TO FIND OTHER SHELTERS TO PULL FROM US.
AND WE CAN DO THE SAME SHELTER TO SHELTER.
BUT IF IT'S A, IF IT'S THE PUBLIC, NO, THEY, WE LOOK, WE LOOK AT WHERE THEIR ADDRESS IS AND THEY HAVE TO GO TO THEIR, UH, SPECIFIC SHELTER TO TURN ANIMAL IN.
SO THERE ARE SHELTER PROGRAMS. 'CAUSE WE HELP EACH OTHER.
WHEN ONE'S FULL, WE, WE, AND WE HAVE SPACE, WE'LL MOVE THEM TO US.
AND THEN IF WE, IF WE'RE FULL, WE TRY TO MOVE THEM.
BUT EVEN THAT HAS BECOME A THING OF THE PAST ALMOST.
SO LESS THAN 1% WOULD BE COMING IN.
LIKE IF SOMEBODY JUST HAD A SITUATION WHERE IF IT WAS INJURED OR SICK SUFFERING, THEN I WOULD AGREE TO TAKE IT IN.
IT'S NOT THROUGH THE CONTRACT.
AND HOW MANY ANIMALS DO YOU HAVE TO EUTHANIZE THE YEAR? SO WE'VE BEEN PRETTY FORTUNATE.
SO YOU'RE TALKING THE REST OF THE ANIMALS THAT DON'T MAKE IT OUT ALIVE.
SOME OF THOSE ARE DANGEROUS ANIMALS.
THE ONLY ONES THAT WE EUTHANIZE, UH, WOULD BE LIKE A BEHAVIORAL ANIMAL.
WELL, THAT'S WHAT I WAS GETTING AT.
SO THREE, MAYBE THREE A MONTH.
OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, WE'RE HERE TO SAVE LIVES.
SO, UM, WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING IS REALLY WHAT IS REALLY GOOD IN THE SCHEME, IN SHELTERING IN THE INDUSTRY.
BUT, UH, SO YEAH, WE DON'T HAVE TO EUTHANIZE CURRENTLY FOR SPACE.
AND I HOPE THAT WE DON'T GO THAT WAY.
UH, 'CAUSE NOBODY WANTS TO EUTHANIZE FOR SPACE.
BUT WE ARE, WE EUTHANIZE FOR MEDICAL, WE EUTHANIZE FOR DANGEROUS ANIMALS.
ANIMALS THAT CAN'T BE PLACED SAFELY IN THE PUBLIC.
I I WAS JUST THINKING ABOUT THE FERAL CATS THAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT.
YOU KNOW, SOME OF THOSE YOU CAN'T GET PLACED IN OTHER HOMES THEN YOU WOULD HAVE WELL, WE, WELL, YEAH.
WE, WE DO NOT PLACE, UH, FERAL CATS INTO, UH, HOMES.
THEY, THEY GO BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY, INTO COLONIES, UH, THAT ARE SET UP, YOU KNOW, TO HAVE THOSE COLONIES.
THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE, THE COLONIES ARE SPAY AND NEUTERED.
WE TEST THEM FOR FELINE DISEASE.
SO THEY'RE HEALTHY AND THEY MAINTAIN A CERTAIN POPULATION.
IF, IF YOU DO NOT SPAY NEW TO THOSE ANIMALS, THEY'LL KEEP POPULATED.
AND SO THAT'S PART OF HOW WE HELP REDUCE THE FERAL POPULATION WITHIN THE COUNTY.
MOST OF THE LOCAL GROUPS DO THAT.
SOME OF THE GROUPS WILL, LIKE, IF A FERAL, A TRUE FERAL DOES COME INTO US, A GROUP WILL TRY TO TRANSFER THAT, YOU KNOW, AWAY FROM US OR WE, WE'VE ENTERED INTO LIKE A BARN PROGRAM.
'CAUSE WE DON'T, WE DON'T EUTHANIZE, WE DON'T SEE A LOT OF FERAL CATS COMING IN.
UH, BUT WE, WHEN WE DO, WE, WE MOVE THEM.
SO AGAIN, THERE'S NOT A NEED TO EUTHANIZE 'EM PER SE.
UH, IT IS CHANGED THAT, THAT WHOLE IDEA HAS CHANGED QUITE A BIT OVER THE YEARS.
UH, YEAH, BOB, JUST AS A POINT OF REFERENCE, WHAT IS YOUR ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET TOTAL? UH, WE'RE ABOUT, UH, 2.4 MILLION.
YOU, WHICH, WHICH NOT IF I COULD, WHICH IS, IS IN LINE WITH, UM, THIS SIZE OF AN ORGANIZATION AND
[02:30:01]
THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WE HAVE IN THE COUNTY.UH, IT'S, IT'S VERY CLOSE TO BEING IN LINE WITH, WITH WHERE IT SHOULD BE.
BUT AGAIN, NOBODY COULD, YOU KNOW, FORESEE THE FACT THAT WE ARE GONNA HAVE, UH, SUCH A INCREASE IN ANIMALS DUE TO CURRENT SITUATIONS.
UH, AND AGAIN, LIKE I SAID, THAT'S ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, UNFORTUNATELY, THAT BE THERE.
ANYONE ELSE? JUST, OH, AND THEN JUST TO PUT CONTEXT ONTO THE, UM, UH, DOG LICENSE REVENUE QUESTION.
THE, THERE IS, IT'S, UH, IT, THE REVENUE GENERATED THERE IS 18,000 A YEAR FROM DOG LICENSES.
MS. MOON, FOR THE RECORD, I'M A DOG OWNER AND I WANNA SAY CATS NEED LICENSES TOO.
UH, IF WE DON'T HAVE ANYONE ELSE, THEN UH, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
WELL, I'M HERE TODAY OF COURSE, TO REPRESENT HARTFORD COMMUNITY COLLEGE, ALONG WITH OUR ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT FOR FINANCE, KARINA JACKSON.
SOME OF YOU MAY RECOGNIZE KARINA.
SHE WAS A LONG TIME EMPLOYEE FOR THE COUNTY, SO WE STOLE HER AWAY AND HAPPY TO HAVE HER
SO, UM, YOU HAVE A PRESENTATION IN FRONT OF YOU.
I'LL GO THROUGH VERY QUICKLY AND, AND HOPE TO LEAVE SOME TIME FOR ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE.
SO, STARTING AT THE BEGINNING, OF COURSE, ALL OF YOU KNOW THE VALUE OF HARTFORD COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND WHAT WE DO.
WE, UM, PROVIDE ECONOMIC STABILITY, UH, IN THE COUNTY BY PROVIDING EDUCATION, TRAINING AND, UH, SKILLS ENHANCEMENT FOR THE CITIZENS.
UM, AND WE ALSO WORK VERY, VERY CLOSELY, OF COURSE, WITH OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES TO MAKE SURE WE'RE MEETING THE NEEDS OF OUR BUSINESSES AS A COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
UM, WE'RE VERY IN TUNE WITH THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY, AND WE'RE EDUCATING AND TRAINING FOR THAT PURPOSE.
YOU MAY KNOW THAT WE ARE EMBARKING ON, UM, CREATING A NEW, UH, STRATEGIC PLAN THIS YEAR.
UM, WE'VE UPDATED OUR MISSION AND VISION, WHICH I'VE INCLUDED FOR YOUR INFORMATION.
I WANNA CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO TWO WORDS IN OUR VISION, AND THAT'S SHARED PROSPERITY.
SO IF YOU, UM, AGAIN, THINK ABOUT SHARED PROSPERITY IN THIS COUNTY.
UM, BUT NOT EVERYONE'S SHARING IN THAT.
SO AT THE FOUNDATION OF THIS STRATEGIC PLAN IS A VERY INTENTIONAL FOCUS ON FINDING THOSE POCKETS IN THE COUNTY THAT ARE NOT PARTICIPATING IN EDUCATION AND TRAINING, THAT ARE ALSO LIVING BELOW THE POVERTY LINE.
AND WE'RE REACHING OUT TO THEM AND OFFERING THEM, UM, SPECIFIC WORKFORCE TRAINING TO HELP LIFT THEM OUT OF POVERTY AND INTO LIVABLE WAGES.
SO THAT IS GOING TO BE A VERY TARGETED AND INTENTIONAL FOCUS AS WE MOVE THROUGH, UH, OUR STRATEGIC PLAN, WHICH WE'RE CALLING VISION VISION 2030.
UM, THE NEXT PAGE YOU CAN SEE WE'RE A MAJOR EMPLOYER FOR THE COUNTY.
UM, NEITHER
UM, AND THEN AGAIN, PART-TIME AND FULL-TIME, STAFF AND ADMINISTRATORS.
THE NEXT PAGE, YOU GET AN IDEA OF WHO WE SERVICE.
AS FAR AS STUDENTS, WE SERVE MORE THAN 15,000 STUDENTS PER YEAR.
6,300 OF THEM ARE ON OUR TRADITIONAL CREDIT SIDE, BUT 7,400 OF THEM ARE IN OUR WORKFORCE AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION PROGRAMS. SO THOSE ARE, AGAIN, WORKFORCE PROGRAMS THAT ARE PREPARING STUDENTS FOR JOBS IN THE REGION.
UM, AS WELL AS WE HAVE A LOT OF MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY THAT COME FOR, UM, COMMUNITY EDUCATION.
I TOOK MY FIRST, UH, TRAVEL PROGRAM WITH THE COLLEGE TO, UM, DO THE, UH, CHERRY BLOSSOMS TRIP THIS YEAR.
UM, WE DO A NUMBER OF THINGS AGAIN FOR OUR SENIOR CITIZENS, COME AND SWIM IN OUR POOL.
SO, UH, THERE'S A LOT THAT WE DO ASIDE FROM TRAINING IN TRADITIONAL EDUCATION THAT IS INTENDED TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.
AND YOU CAN SEE AGAIN, OUR DEMOGRAPHIC, OUR AVERAGE AGE
[02:35:01]
IS 24.YOU CAN SEE THE ETHNICITY PRETTY MUCH ALIGNS WITH THE, THE ETHNICITY AND, UH, OF THE COUNTY.
UM, AND ALMOST 90% OF OUR STUDENTS LIVE IN THE COUNTY.
AND SO WE ARE SERVING OUR LOCAL STUDENT, UH, STUDENTS NOW TO TRANSITION INTO TALKING ABOUT FUNDING.
UH, COMMUNITY COLLEGES HOPE TO BE FUNDED.
ONE THIRD, ONE THIRD, ONE THIRD BY THE STATE, THE COUNTY, AND THEN THE BALANCE BY TUITION.
UM, WHEN THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN, WHEN WE DON'T GET THE STATE FUNDING OR WE DON'T GET COUNTY FUNDING, THEN WE HAVE NO CHOICE BUT, UH, TO, TO, UH, MAKE THAT UP WITH OUR STUDENTS.
SO YOU CAN SEE THE VISION OF 33%.
THE ACTUAL, UH, BUDGET IS FOR THIS PRELIMINARY BUDGET FOR FY 25, 29 0.5% COMING FROM THE STATE.
AND I'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE, UH, THE STRUGGLE THAT WE'VE HAD WITH STATE FUNDING.
UM, AT 32.5% FROM THE COUNTY AND 38% MADE UP OF TUITION AND A FEW OTHER REVENUE SOURCES.
MAINLY INTEREST ON OUR INVESTMENTS IN CASH IN, IN THE BANK.
SO AGAIN, WE MAKE THAT AMOUNT UP, UM, WHEN WE DON'T GET THE FUNDING THAT WE NEED FROM, FROM THE STATE OR THE COUNTY.
SO JUST A, A HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW ON THE NEXT PAGE OF THE PRELIMINARY OPERATING BUDGET.
UM, THIS IS COMPARING FY 24 TO FY 25 FROM A REVENUE PERSPECTIVE, WE ARE GAINING 1.4 MILLION IN TUITION DOLLARS AND THAT'S MADE UP OF A 4% INCREASE IN WHAT WE PROJECT WILL BE OUR ENROLLMENT GROWTH.
WE ARE GROWING OUR ENROLLMENT RIGHT NOW ON THE CREDIT SIDE.
WE'RE COMING, WE'RE REBOUNDING FROM, UH, COVID.
AND SO WE'RE EXCITED TO SAY THAT OUR ENROLLMENT IS GROWING.
WE DID INCREASE TUITION BY 2%, AND I'LL GIVE YOU THE DETAILS OF THAT.
IT'S A VERY SMALL, UH, INCREASE IN TUITION, BUT THAT BROUGHT IN $1.4 MILLION.
WE WERE CUT BY THE STATE AFTER ONLY TWO YEARS OF FULL RECEIVING FULL FUNDING FROM THE STATE.
UH, THE STATE HONORING THE, THE FORMULA THAT THEY CREATED 20 PLUS YEARS AGO, AFTER TWO YEARS OF FULL FUNDING, THEY CUT US.
AND SO THAT, UH, DECREASE WAS 2.3% OR $431,000 FOR US.
WE WERE COUNTING ON A INCREASE, AND INSTEAD WE GOT A 2.3% DECREASE.
AS YOU ALL KNOW, WE WERE FLAT FUNDED BY THE COUNTY.
UM, AND THEN WE HAVE A INCREASE OF ABOUT $600,000 FROM MISCELLANEOUS, MOSTLY NON-CREDIT TUITION AND, AND AGAIN, INTEREST.
SO THAT WAS A NET $1.6 MILLION INCREASE IN REVENUE.
ON THE EXPENSE SIDE, UH, WE HAD AN INCREASE IN EXPENSES FOR SALARY AND BENEFITS OF $2.7 MILLION.
2.4 OF THAT WAS, UH, MARKET ADJUSTMENTS AND A 3%, UH, COLA INCREASE AS WELL AS A 7% HEALTHCARE INCREASE.
MANY OF OUR EMPLOYEES, I'M SURE MANY ARE SEEING THIS, THEY'RE GETTING, UH, CATCHING UP ON HEALTHCARE, UH, THAT THEY DIDN'T GET DURING COVID.
AND SO OUR HEALTHCARE, UH, COSTS ARE INCREASING.
AND THEN A MISCELLANEOUS INCREASE, MAINLY SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS FOR A NET INCREASE IN EXPENSES OF 2.9 MILLION.
SO YOU CAN SEE THE DIFFERENCE IS $1.3 MILLION.
WE ARE TAKING THAT FROM OUR FUND BALANCE.
UM, AS I SAID LAST YEAR, UM, WE, WE CANNOT SUSTAIN THAT.
UM, YOU ALL KNOW WHEN YOU, UH, MANAGING YOUR OWN HOUSEHOLD, YOU CAN'T LIVE OFF OF JUST PULLING MONEY OUT OF A SAVINGS ACCOUNT.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING THIS YEAR.
OUR ORIGINAL ASK FROM THE COUNTY WAS A 5% INCREASE.
THAT WOULD'VE BEEN $994,000 FOR US, UM, AND WOULD'VE COVERED MOST OF THAT, UM, DIFFERENCE BETWEEN OUR REVENUE AND EXPENSES.
AND BECAUSE WE ARE FLAT FUNDED AND THE STATE NOT HONORING THEIR COMMITMENT TO US, UH, WE ARE GOING TO DEPEND ON A TRANSFER FROM OUR FUND BALANCE OF $1.3 MILLION.
UM, THE NEXT PAGE HAS OUR TUITION RATES.
AGAIN, YOU CAN SEE THAT THEY'RE VERY REASONABLE.
THAT 2% INCREASE IN, UH, EQUATES TO ABOUT $2 PER CREDIT HOUR.
SO AGAIN, WE, UM, WE LOOK AT WHAT OTHER COLLEGES ARE DOING ACROSS THE STATE.
WE'RE ABOUT MIDDLE OF THE PACK.
UM, AND WE TRY AND MAKE SMALL INCREMENTS, UM, IN YEARS WHERE WE THINK WE'RE GETTING OUT OF RANGE WITH OTHER COMMUNITY COLLEGES WE HOLD.
SO WE, UM, WE TRY TO MAKE A VERY, UH, EDUCATED DECISION ON TUITION TRYING TO, AND AGAIN, TRYING TO KEEP IT AFFORDABLE FOR OUR CITIZENS, UH, SO THAT THEY CAN GET AN EDUCATION WITH US, AND EVERYONE CAN GET AN EDUCATION WITH US WHEN WE KEEP IT AFFORDABLE.
UM, JUST A QUICK NOTE ON THE NEXT PAGE OF OUR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA ITEMS THAT THESE ARE STATE AGENDA ITEMS, WE'RE ALWAYS ADVOCATING FOR OPERATING DOLLARS.
AS I SAID, A 20 PLUS YEAR, UH,
[02:40:01]
FORMULA WAS ONLY HONORED FOR TWO YEARS.SO EVERY YEAR WE ADVOCATE THAT THE, UH, THE CADE FORMULA, WHICH GIVES US 29 CENTS FOR EVERY DOLLAR GIVEN TO THE, THE FOUR YEAR UNIVERSITIES.
THIS YEAR, IT WAS REBASED TO 27 CENTS, AND SO IT COST OVER $20 MILLION, UH, ORIGINALLY TO OUR, ALL THE COMMUNITY COLLEGES ACROSS THE STATE.
SO WE'RE ALWAYS ADVOCATING FOR THAT CAPITAL REQUEST.
UM, THE STATE DOES HELP SUPPORT OUR, UH, CAPITAL REQUESTS.
RIGHT NOW WE HAVE THE CHESAPEAKE WELCOME CENTER GOING UP, AND THE COUNTY HAS, UM, UH, SUPPORTED THAT PROJECT AND WE'RE VERY, VERY GRATEFUL FOR COUNTY SUPPORT.
UM, WE'RE LOOKING AT OUR NEXT PROJECT WILL BE A, UM, FULL SERVICE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT CENTER, WHICH I'LL TALK ABOUT IN A BIT.
OUR FACILITIES RENEWAL GRANT, THOSE ARE FUNDS WE GET FROM THE STATE TO SUPPORT, UH, DEFERRED MAINTENANCE.
TYPICALLY, WE GET $500,000 EVERY OTHER YEAR, EIGHT OF THE COMMUNITY COLLEGES EACH YEAR.
THIS YEAR, THAT WAS CUT IN HALF.
SO WE HAPPEN TO FALL IN THAT YEAR WHERE WE GOT ABOUT HALF OF WHAT WE NEEDED FOR, UH, OR WHAT WE WOULD TYPICALLY GET FOR DEFERRED MAINTENANCE, WHICH ISN'T ENOUGH TO TAKE CARE OF THE BUILDINGS THAT WE HAVE.
AND THEN ONE, UM, ITEM THAT WAS SPECIFIC TO HARTFORD COUNTY OR HARTFORD COMMUNITY COLLEGE WAS THIS WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT CENTER, UH, WHICH I'LL TALK AGAIN A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT IN, IN, UH, THE COMING PAGES.
UM, JUST A REMINDER OF THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING.
YOU ALL KNOW THAT THE HARTFORD LEADING EDGE TRAINERS TRAINING CENTER IS LOCATED CO-LOCATED WITH THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB.
AND AGAIN, JUST AS A REMINDER, SOME OF THE PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE THERE, CONSTRUCTION, MANUFACTURING, WAREHOUSING AND LOGISTICS, OUR STUDENTS GO THROUGH THIS TRAINING AND THEY GET JOBS, UM, AND THEY'RE WORKING AND THEY'RE MAKING LIVABLE WAGES, AND WE ARE HELPING THE EMPLOYERS WHO NEED WORKERS BY PROVIDING THIS TRAINING.
AND, UH, JUST A FEW DATA POINTS HERE, YOU CAN SEE OUR STUDENTS, BECAUSE OF A, A GRANT THAT WE RECEIVE FROM THE RATCLIFFE FOUNDATION, GO FOR FREE.
AND SO YOU CAN SEE THE PERCENT INCREASE OF SCHOLARSHIPS OFFERED.
YOU CAN ALSO SEE SOME OF THE, UH, COMPLETIONS THAT WE'VE HAD IN CONSTRUCTION, HEAVY EQUIPMENT OPERATION, WAREHOUSING, FORKLIFT DRIVERS WHO MAKE REALLY GOOD MONEY, UH, WITH JUST ONE DAY OF TRAINING, AND THEN HYDRAULICS AND PNEUMATICS, AND WE'RE TRAINING IN THAT AS WELL.
NEXT PAGE, YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE, UH, COMPANIES THAT WE, AGAIN, BUSINESSES THAT WE, UH, PARTNER WITH TO PROVIDE TRAINING, UM, UH, AND PROVIDE WORKERS FOR THEIR, FOR THEIR, UH, BUSINESSES.
AND THEN THE, UM, WATERS EDGE REGIONAL WORKFORCE CENTER.
THIS IS, UM, WE, I JUST SIGNED A LETTER OF INTENT TO PLACE ADDITIONAL TRAINING THERE.
WE ARE TRYING TO LOCATE ON THE ROUTE 40, UM, BUSINESS, UM, UH, LOCATIONS.
AND SO WATER'S EDGE APPROACHED US, AND, UM, I THINK WE WORKED OUT A PRETTY GOOD DEAL TO OFFER TRAINING IN THEIR SPACE.
UH, AGAIN, LEADING EDGE DOWN IN EDGEWOOD, UH, ABINGDON NOW HAVING THIS REGIONAL WORKFORCE CENTER.
WE'RE OFFERING NEXT LEVEL TRAINING, ADDITIONAL CONSTRUCTION WORK, UM, PIPELINE AND, UM, INDUSTRY 4.0 MANUFACTURING.
SO, UM, ADVANCED MANUFACTURING, UTILITY WORK, AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE.
OUR AUTOMOTIVE DEALERS HAVE BEEN SCREAMING FOR HELP WITH AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE.
AND WE'RE DOING SOME, UH, VIRTUAL, UH, UH, TRAINING WITH HEADSETS.
UM, SO IT DOESN'T REQUIRE A WHOLE LOT OF EQUIPMENT, BUILDING MAINTENANCE, HVAC, UM, YOU CAN SEE ALL OF THOSE, UH, LABELED THERE.
AND WE'RE, UM, DOING, UH, WELDING, WHICH IS NOT ON HERE, BUT WE'RE DOING WELDING.
UM, AND WE'VE ORDERED SOME SELF-CONTAINED BOOTHS TO DO WELDING TRAINING IN THAT SPACE.
UM, AND THERE'S A LOT OF DEMAND.
UH, THEY WILL PROVIDE THE FUNDING, UM, TO HELP US PUT WORKERS THROUGH THOSE TRAINING PROGRAMS AND DIRECTLY MOVE THEM INTO EMPLOYMENT.
SO WE ARE EXPANDING THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING, UH, WITH, WITH WORKFORCE TRAINING.
AND THEN THE LAST PAGE, JUST SO YOU CAN UNDERSTAND THE SCOPE OF WHAT WE DO, WE DO, AGAIN, I'VE TALKED ABOUT GIS, UH, TRADES, BUT ALL THE WAY TO THE MORE TECHNICAL WORK WE DO TO SUPPORT A PG.
SO WE'VE, UH, JUST GRADUATED OR HAD 10 STUDENTS COMPLETE THE, THE PTECH PROGRAM, AND THAT'S DOWN AT JOPPA HIGH SCHOOL, JOPPA TOWN HIGH SCHOOL, WHERE THEY'RE GETTING IT AND CYBER TRAINING, UM, BEING MENTORED BY A PG EMPLOYEES.
AND THEY WERE JUST SWORN IN TO GET THESE 10 STUDENTS TO START WORKING AT A PG VERY SOON AS THEY'VE COMPLETED THIS PROGRAM.
UM, WE'RE DOING BIOTECHNOLOGY PROGRAMMING.
UM, WE ARE PARTNERING WITH C OM ON A DATA SCIENCE PROGRAM
[02:45:01]
DOWN AT THE NEW CONVERGE CENTER.UM, WE'RE DOING SOME AI TRAINING.
SO AGAIN, THIS WILL, JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA FROM THE SKILLS TRADES, UP TO VERY, VERY TECHNICAL TRAINING FOR A PG AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN IS WHAT WE DO AS A COLLEGE.
UH, AGAIN, OUR POINT IS TO, UH, PROVIDE THE WORKERS THAT, UH, THIS COMMUNITY NEEDS AT HIGH PAYING LIVABLE AT, AT THE VERY LEAST, LIVABLE WAGES FOR EMPLOYEES.
UM, AND WE FEEL THAT WE'RE, UH, DOING OUR PART TO MAKE THIS COMMUNITY A BETTER PLACE, UH, TO LIVE IN, TO WORK.
SO THAT WAS MY PRESENTATION VERY QUICK, I HOPE.
UM, AND I'M OPEN TO TAKING ANY QUESTIONS.
WELL, FIRST OF ALL, IT WAS AN OUTSTANDING PRESENTATION AND, UH, I WANNA EXPRESS MY CONGRATULATIONS AND APPRECIATION TO YOU AND TO DR. HILL AND MR. FOLK AND ALL OF YOUR TEAM FOR YOUR EFFORTS OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS THAT, THAT I'VE LISTENED TO THE POSSIBILITIES OF A TRAINING CENTER MOVING TO THE, UH, ROUTE 40 CORRIDOR MM-HMM.
UM, I KNOW THAT, UM, YOU GUYS HAVE MADE A COMMITMENT THERE, UH, AT THE, UH, BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB WITH THE LEADING EDGE TRAINING FACILITY AND EXPANDED INTO THIS.
AND, UM, YOU TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, TRAINING THESE, THESE, UH, YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN, SO THEY HAVE A LIV LIVABLE WAGE JOB, UH, TO MOVE INTO.
AND I KNOW HOW MUCH THE, THE, UH, EMPLOYERS APPRECIATE IT TOO.
UM, MR. ANA, GOOD AFTERNOON, DR.
HOW ARE YOU? I'M GREAT, THANK YOU.
SO I HAVE TO MENTION FIRST THAT I'M A PROUD GRADUATE OF HARTFORD COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
SOME, SOME WHILE AGO BEFORE I WENT DOWN TO MARYLAND AND GRADUATED FROM YEARS AND YEARS YEAH.
BUT, BUT WHAT I LEARNED IN TWO YEARS THERE REALLY HELPED CARRY ME THROUGH IN THE OTHER TWO YEARS DOWN IN MARYLAND, BECAUSE EVEN BACK IN THE EIGHTIES, THOSE, THOSE CLASS SIZES WERE 500 PEOPLE.
AND, AND YOU JUST GOT LOST IN THAT.
AND YOU HAD, YOU KNOW, TAS THAT DIDN'T SPEAK ENGLISH, AND YOU HAD TO UNDERSTAND THINGS.
AND THE, THE, THE BASICS I LEARNED FROM HARTFORD COMMUNITY COLLEGE FROM SOME OF THE CLASSES WERE, WERE WONDERFUL.
I DID NOT SEE IN HERE MM-HMM,
THE ELECTRICAL APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM.
IT'S LONG STANDING ON OUR CAMPUS.
SO IT, IT'S A PHENOMENAL PROGRAM.
I KNOW SO MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVE GONE THROUGH THAT PROGRAM THAT HAVE STARTED THEIR OWN BUSINESSES THAT HAVE DONE EXTREMELY WELL.
UM, SUPER APPRECIATIVE TO, OF THAT.
MY NEPHEW GRADUATED FROM THAT AND THEN WENT INTO THE NAVY'S, A NUCLEAR MISSILE TECH.
UM, BUT HE'S ABLE, HE WAS ABLE TO KEEP HIS MASTER'S LICENSE BECAUSE HE'S IN THE NAVY.
UM, AND HE CHERISHES THAT NOW.
UM, SOME OF THE OTHER STUFF THAT'S COMING ON, ON FORDING, I HEAR ALL THE TIME FROM MY CONTRACTORS, THEY DON'T HAVE PEOPLE RIGHT.
AND THEY'RE, THEY'RE WORKFORCE IS AGING AND DYING, AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHERE TO GET THESE, THESE PEOPLE FROM TO, TO OPERATE THE HEAVY EQUIPMENT.
TO, YOU KNOW, AND, AND EVEN PLUMBING.
I KNOW WE DON'T HAVE A PLUMBING PROGRAM, BUT THAT'S THE OTHER BIG VOID, RIGHT? IS THAT NOBODY'S TEACHING PLUMBING BECAUSE THE HIGH SCHOOLS GOT RID OF THE, UH, BOAT.
UH, HARTFORD TECH GOT RID OF THE PLUMBING PROGRAM.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S, WE ARE STARTING A PLUMBING PROGRAM THAT, THAT IS PHENOMENAL.
UM, BUT I, I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU GET THE WORD OUT TO THESE, TO THESE KIDS AND EVERYTHING, THAT ALL THIS STUFF IS A MM-HMM.
UM, I KNOW THE ORGANIZATION THAT MYSELF AND PAT ARE IN, WE, UM, EIGHT EIGHT SCHOLARSHIPS, AND ERIC, ERIC'S IN IT AS WELL.
ASSUMING HE PAID HIS DUES, UM,
SO I THINK, UM, I JUST ASKED A QUESTION AND I, AND I GOT THE ANSWER.
UM, WE DO $29,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS, AND WE DO EIGHT SCHOLARSHIPS.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE TRYING TO STILL BUILD THAT UP, GIVE MORE AND EVERYTHING.
UM, AND IT, IT ALL GOES TO HARTFORD COMMUNITY COLLEGE, I'M PRETTY SURE IN THAT.
I THINK EVERYBODY REALIZES THE IMPORTANCE AND, AND, AND HAVING THE IMPORTANCE OF, OF A HIGHER LEARNING THAT YOU GUYS HAVE THERE AND, AND THE VARIETY OF DIFFERENT CLASSES.
YOU SAID FROM COOKING, I, I'LL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO TEACH A COOKING CLASS, YOU KNOW,
SO, UM, BUT NO, THANK YOU FOR YOUR, FOR YOUR DEDICATION, UM, AND EVERYBODY OVER THERE AND, UM, APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH.
UM, AND THANK YOU FOR TAKING MY PHONE CALL THIS MORNING.
'CAUSE I WANTED TO CHECK IN AND TALK BEFORE YOUR PRESENTATION.
UM, COULD YOU SPEAK TO WHAT THE, LIKE WHAT WILL BE TAKEN OUT OF YOUR FUND BALANCE PLANNING WISE IN SPENDING THIS EXTRA $994,000 ABOVE WHAT YOU WERE ORIGINALLY PLANNING TO OUT FUND BALANCE? LIKE, WHAT WAS THAT ALLOCATED FOR? MM-HMM.
[02:50:01]
OF OUR FUND BALANCE IS DESIGNATED WITH PUR WITH PURPOSE.I MEAN, WE HAVE FUNDS THAT ARE SET ASIDE FOR DEFERRED MAINTENANCE, DEFERRED EQUIPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY SCHOLARSHIPS, UM, HEALTHCARE COSTS, ACADEMIC INITIATIVES, AND ON AND ON.
SO, UM, WE JUST ADJUST, UM, YOU KNOW, AND, AND HOPE THAT THINGS WILL, UH, UH, THE STATE FUNDING WILL GET BETTER OR BE RESTORED AND, AND EVENTUALLY THE COUNTY, UH, WILL BE ABLE TO FUND US BEYOND LEVEL FUNDING.
WE JUST ADJUST THOSE LINE ITEMS. WE DON'T PLAN JUST YEAR BY YEAR, BUT WE HAVE PLANS IN OUR FUND BALANCE THAT GO OUT 5, 10, 15 YEARS.
AND SO, UH, WE WILL MAKE AN ADJUSTMENT WITH HOPE THAT THINGS WILL SELF-CORRECT.
UM, WE HOPE FOR THAT, BUT WE PLAN IN CASE IT DOESN'T AS WELL.
UM, I JUST HAD A FEW QUESTIONS WITH THE DROP IN THE STATE FUNDING AND THE COUNTY FLAT FUNDING IS RAISING TUITION A LONG-TERM SUSTAINABLE PLAN? UM, SO WE, LIKE I SAID, WE, WE TRY TO RAISE TUITION JUST A TINY BIT, NOT EVERY YEAR, BUT, UH, SEVERAL YEARS BECAUSE WE DON'T EVER WANNA GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE HAVE A DOUBLE DIGIT INCREASE IN TUITION.
UM, MOST OF MY SISTER COLLEGES DO THE SAME THING.
A 2%, AGAIN EQUATES TO $2 AND SOMETHING A A CREDIT HOUR.
AND SO FOR A STUDENT, MOST OF OUR STUDENTS ARE NOT FULL-TIME, BUT IF THEY WERE TAKING 15 CREDIT HOURS, I MEAN, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A $30 INCREASE PER SEMESTER.
SO WE DO THINK IT'S BEST TO MAKE SMALL INCREMENTAL INCREASES SO THAT WE'RE NEVER AT A POINT WHERE WE HAVE TO MAKE AN EIGHT, NINE, 10% INCREASE.
AND THEN, UM, COULD THERE BE ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPAND THE COLLEGE AND PROGRAMS IF THERE WERE PUBLIC UTILITIES AVAILABLE? THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
AS WE'VE THOUGHT EVEN ABOUT, UM, SO YOU ALL KNOW THAT WE'RE NOT ON, UM, UH, PUBLIC, UH, WATER AND SEWER.
AND SO AS WE'VE THOUGHT ABOUT THIS NEW WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT CENTER, UM, WE'VE THOUGHT ABOUT PUTTING IT ON OUR CAMPUS, BUT THAT'S, THAT'S NOT, IT WILL COST US MORE TO BUILD IT ON OUR CAMPUS.
AND SO WE'RE LOOKING AT OTHER LOCATIONS FOR THAT VERY POINT.
EVENTUALLY, UM, OUR WELLS ARE GOING TO, UH, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO KEEP FUNCTIONING AT THE LEVELS THEY ARE, AND SO WE WILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH THAT FACT.
AND, UM, AND WE'RE GONNA DEPEND ON THE COUNTY, UH, TO EXTEND WATER AND SEWER TO US, BECAUSE IT'S JUST NOT LONG TERM SUSTAINABLE TO BE ON WELLS.
UM, MR. FARRELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE, AND I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE FOR ON THE ELECTRICIAN SIDE OF IT.
UH, ALSO WAS OVER AT CHOPPA TOWN HIGH SCHOOL AT THE BINGO THING, AND I'VE TALKED TO SEVERAL PEOPLE, THEY'RE VERY HAPPY ABOUT, UH, UH, WHAT YOU'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO THERE.
AND NOT ONLY THAT, BUT IN, UH, EDGEWOOD, AND I KNOW, UH, WE'VE TALKED BEFORE ABOUT, UH, UH, THE ELECTRIC WORKERS UNION 24 TO, THEY'RE, UH, WORKING TOGETHER WITH YOU AND TAKING SOME OF THE GRADUATES FROM THE TWO YEAR, AND THEY, THEY COME INTO THE, THE LOCAL TRADE AND, UH, THEY, THEY GIVE 'EM CREDIT RIGHT.
SO THAT, THAT TAKES 'EM UP GOOD.
BECAUSE IT, IT TAKES FIVE YEARS TO, TO GO THROUGH THE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM TO BECOME A FULL FLEDGED ELECTRICIAN.
AND, UM, AFTER THEY GET THROUGH THAT APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM, I BELIEVE, UH, THE HOURLY RATE RIGHT NOW IS $57 AN HOUR.
UH, IT'S PROBABLY A LITTLE HIGHER THAN THAT NOW.
BUT, UM, AND THEY'VE, THEY'VE ALREADY HAD A FEW DOWN THERE, SO, MM-HMM.
AND I'M SURE THEY APPRECIATE IT TOO.
FELDER, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
UM, I, YOU KNOW, WE HAD A CONVERSATION THIS MORNING ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND I JUST WANT TO SAY, I MEAN, THE IMPORTANT ROLE YOUR COLLEGE PLAYS IN THAT RIGHT.
AND THEN AS YOU LOOK AT HERE, YOU KNOW, THE CONSTRUCTION JOBS ON MAKING SURE THAT WE RAISE THE LEVEL IN HARTFORD COUNTY SO WE CAN BE SUSTAINABLE.
UM, AND, YOU KNOW, UNFORTUNATELY, IF THAT PIE CHART IS OFF, IT COULD DETER ENROLLMENT.
SO NOW YOU'VE, YOU MENTIONED THAT THE INCREASE IS, UM, JUST A FEW PERCENT, IT LOOKS LIKE, UH, 4% OR 5% HAVE, YOU KNOW, AND YOU MENTIONED THAT ENROLLMENT IS STILL UP, BUT THOSE, IS, IS THAT LONGSTANDING TO WHERE IF THE ENROLLMENT COST, THE TUITION COST PER STUDENT, COULD THAT HAVE AN INFLUENCE ON THE ENROLLMENT NUMBERS IN THE FUTURE? WHICH, UH, IN TURN COULD HAVE A, YOU KNOW, EFFECT ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR OUR COUNTY?
[02:55:01]
ABSOLUTELY.LET ME SAY FIRST, UM, TO YOUR POINT, UH, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DOESN'T HAPPEN WITHOUT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.
AND I SAID THAT ACTUALLY AT, AT, WHEN I TESTIFIED AT THE, AT THE STATE, UH, STATE BEFORE ONE OF THE, UH, COMMITTEES OF THE STATE, WE PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE.
IF WE ARE GOING TO DEVELOP, UM, UH, ECONOMICALLY ACROSS THE STATE, AND OF COURSE IN THE COUNTY, THEN WE HAVE TO HAVE A STR, AN EDUCATED AND TRAINED WORKFORCE.
THAT'S WHAT COMMUNITY COLLEGES DO.
AND SO WE ALWAYS WEIGH AN INCREASE AGAINST HOW IT WILL IMPACT OUR, OUR ENROLLMENT.
AND, AND THERE CER CERTAINLY IS A TIPPING POINT WHERE YOU CAN COUNT ON DECREASED ENROLLMENT IF YOU RAISE TUITION TOO MUCH, BE, AND MAKE IT UNAFFORDABLE FOR OUR CITIZENS.
SO, UH, SO THAT'S WHY, AGAIN, WE, WE TRY TO MAKE SMALL INCREMENTAL AND YEAR TO YEAR, SOME YEARS WE'LL SAY WE'VE GOTTA HOLD IT.
COMING OUT OF COVID, WE HELD TUITION BECAUSE WE KNEW PEOPLE WERE STRUGGLING FINANCIALLY.
UM, ONE YEAR WE HELD IT FOR A HALF A YEAR.
SO WE MAKE THOSE DECISIONS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE NOT GOING TO LIMIT OUR ENROLLMENT AND NOT LIMIT THE OPPORTUNITY FOR, FOR OUR CITIZENS TO GET THE TRAINING AND EDUCATION THEY DESIRE.
AND THE INCREASE YOU HAVE, YOU KNOW, I, I WATCHED FIRSTHAND AS THE MACO REP THAT HOW THE STATE KIND OF DEFUNDED COLLEGES, UM, TO A, UH, YOU KNOW, A, YOU KNOW, 5% I THINK IT WAS, UH, AND THEN THE FLAT FUNDING WITH THE COUNTY TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU DREW ON YOUR FUND BALANCE.
WHICH SHOULD NEVER BE SUSTAINED, ESPECIALLY FOR THE INCREASES IN WAGES.
UM, SO WITH THAT SAID, I MEAN, WHAT IS YOUR SUSTAINABILITY ON YOUR FUND BALANCE AND WHERE IS IT? MM-HMM.
WE, UM, UH, AGAIN, WE, WE HAVE, UH, A PLAN FOR HOW WE USE OUR FUND BALANCE.
IT WOULDN'T BE FOR ANY, UH, INSTITUTIONAL ORGANIZATION TO CONTINUE TO PULL OUT A FUND BALANCE.
EVENTUALLY, YOU'RE GOING TO RUN OUT UNLESS YOU'RE REPLENISHING IT.
UM, SO AS FAR AS A PLAN, AGAIN, YEAR TO YEAR, WE LOOK AT, UM, OUR PLAN IS TO ADVOCATE FOR FAIR FUNDING FROM THE STATE.
UM, AND AGAIN, CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR, UH, FUNDING FROM THE COUNTY, UM, KNOWING THAT WE'RE PUTTING THOSE DOLLARS TO USE FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE COUNTY.
UM, WE, UM, WHEN WE TAKE MONEY OUT OF THE FUND BALANCE, THERE'S THINGS THAT WE, WE MOVE IT AROUND AND THERE'S SOME THINGS THAT WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO DO.
WE, AGAIN, DEFERRED MAINTENANCE IS A BIG ONE FOR US.
WE HAVE $20 MILLION SET ASIDE FOR DEFERRED MAINTENANCE OVER THE NEXT, UH, I'M SORRY, $10 MILLION OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.
OUR BUILDINGS NEED, UH, SOME VERY SERIOUS WORK.
AND SO, UH, IF WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO PULL MONEY AWAY FROM THINGS LIKE THAT, THEN THAT IMPACTS THE WAY WE DO BUSINESS.
SO, YOU KNOW, $10 MILLION FOR DEFERRED MAINTENANCE EQUIPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY, $5 MILLION, UH, THAT WE NEED TO UPGRADE, KEEP OUR TECHNOLOGY, UM, CURRENT.
AND, UH, SO AGAIN, WHEN WE PULL MONEY OUT OF THOSE KINDS OF THINGS, IT IMPACTS US.
SO, UM, WE WILL CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR, UH, COMPLETE AND FULL FUNDING FROM THE STATE AND HOPE FOR THE BEST FOR WITH THE COUNTY AS WELL.
AND THEN MY FINAL QUESTION, ALONG THOSE SAME LINES, YOU KNOW, I'M, I WOULD HOPE, OR I'M SURE THAT YOURSELF AND YOUR SISTER COLLEGES ACROSS THE STATE HAVE ADVOCATED WITH THE GOVERNOR AND THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
DO YOU HAVE ANY INSIGHT ON WHETHER THIS IS GONNA BE A PROLONGED CUT, UH, FROM THE STATE, FROM COMMUNITY COLLEGES, UH, FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE? YEAH, THEY, UM, AS PART OF THE LEGISLATION, THEY PERMANENTLY REBASED US TO 27 CENTS DOWN FROM 29.
UH, WHICH AGAIN, IS A, A DOESN'T SOUND LIKE A LOT, BUT IT'S A LOT.
UM, UH, WE HAVE ALREADY STARTED TALKING ABOUT OUR, OUR AGENDA FOR THIS NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
AND IT IS GOING TO BE AROUND GETTING THE FUNDING RESTORED.
UM, WE ALIGN WITH THE GOVERNOR'S AGENDA SO WELL, AND THAT AGAIN, WAS PART OF MY TESTIMONY, WAS WHAT WE DO AS COMMUNITY COLLEGES ALIGN WITH THE GOVERNOR'S AGENDA TO HELP RAISE FAMILIES OUT OF POVERTY.
AND SO TO CUT COMMUNITY COLLEGES DOES NOT MAKE SENSE.
AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO, UH, SPREAD THAT MESSAGE IN HOPES THAT THERE'S A CLEARER AND BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE DETRIMENT OF CUTTING COMMUNITY COLLEGES.
AND AS PART OF THE AG COMMUNITY, I REALLY WANNA THANK YOU FOR THE PROGRAMS THAT YOU'RE DOING FOR AGRICULTURE AND THE FORMS AND THE SEMINARS THAT YOU'RE PUTTING ON.
WE CERTAINLY DO APPRECIATE THOSE.
[03:00:01]
VERY WELCOME.I THINK FOR THIS ONE I'M PROBABLY BETTER KNOWN AS MR. STACY STOVER FROM THE COLLEGE'S PERSPECTIVE.
FELDER CERTAINLY HAVING BEEN ON THE BOARD FOR A LONG TIME, I CAN SYMPATHIZE WITH WHAT YOU'RE GOING THROUGH.
UM, TRYING TO DO THAT BALANCE WITH THE CADE FORMULA AND THE COUNTY FUNDING AND TUITION, UM, OPERATIONALLY, UH, CERTAINLY HAVING THOSE MINIMAL INCREASES IN TUITION IS WHAT YOU WANT TO DO AS A BOARD.
IS THERE A CONCERN THAT PERHAPS A YEAR OR TWO OR THREE IN THE FUTURE, IT WILL BE MORE THAN THAT IF THE STATE DOESN'T RESTORE C OR IF THERE'S FLAT FUNDING FROM THE COUNTY? COULD THERE BE THAT BIG LOOMING TUITION INCREASE IN THE FUTURE? YEAH, WELL, ABSOLUTELY.
I MEAN, WE, WE TRY TO CONTROL OUR COSTS AND WE DO, I BELIEVE, A GOOD JOB AT CONTROLLING OUR COSTS, BUT EVERYTHING COSTS MORE EVERY YEAR.
AND, UH, THE BIGGER PART OF OVER 70% OF OUR COSTS IS IN SALARY AND BENEFITS.
AND IN ORDER TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN GOOD EMPLOYEES, WE HAVE TO PAY THEM WELL.
UM, AND SO WE LOOK AT THE MARKET TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE AT MARKET, WE MAKE ADJUSTMENTS WHEN WE'RE NOT.
UH, BUT WHEN WE DON'T HAVE STATE AND COUNTY FUNDING, WE HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO INCREASE TUITION, TO COVER OUR COST.
AND SO, YES, IT'S A POSSIBILITY THAT WE HOPE WE DO NOT HAVE TO FACE.
ON THE CAPITAL SIDE, YOU MENTIONED THE CHESAPEAKE WELCOME CENTER, UH, LARGE PROJECT.
UM, DOES, DOES MAX STILL DO THE LIST THAT THEY THEN GO TO THE STATE WITH OR PRIORITY? YES.
AND IS THERE ANYTHING ON THAT LIST FOR THE COLLEGE THAT'S SORT OF PERCOLATING TO THE TOP? SO OUR, UH, CHESAPEAKE WELCOME CENTER IS NUMBER ONE ON THE LIST.
UM, AND WE'RE WORKING ON DEVELOPING OUR, UH, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT CENTER, UM, TO GET THAT PRIORITIZED.
SO THE NEXT TIME THAT WE CAN GET ON THE LIST WILL BE 2027, I BELIEVE IT IS.
UM, AND WE HOPE THAT THAT WILL BE PRIORITI PRIORITIZED AT THAT TIME.
ANYONE ELSE? DR. FOWLER? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
CAN I HAVE TWO PLEASE? THANK YOU ALL FOR HAVING US.
I'M SHERRY ULTI, I'M THE CEO OF THE HARTFORD CENTER, PASSING OUT THE PACKAGES, UH, AS TIM BATAGLIA.
UM, REALIZING THIS IS MY 10TH YEAR PRESENTING TO THE COUNCIL, AND IT IS ALWAYS AN HONOR AND I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT.
I'M KIND OF A, UH, ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM, KIND OF PERSON,
SO I, I LIKE TO MAYBE START AT THE END AND MARK MY WAY BACKWARDS.
UM, FOR THIS BUDGET, UH, WE DID RECEIVE THE INCREASE THAT WE ASKED FOR.
I KNOW THAT WE ARE A NONPROFIT THAT IS IN A VERY UNIQUE POSITION.
I'M HOPEFUL THAT YOU ALL KNOW WHAT THE HARTFORD CENTER DOES WITHOUT HAVING TO BACK THAT OUT, BECAUSE I, I THINK WE'VE, WE'VE DONE THIS ENOUGH YEARS TOGETHER THAT, YOU KNOW, THE GOOD WORK.
I DON'T WANNA SPEND THE NEXT, YOU KNOW, 10 MINUTES TALKING ABOUT THE GOOD WORK THAT'S IMPLIED.
THAT IS THE EXPECTATION IS THAT WE'RE DOING HIGH QUALITY WORK.
UM, AND I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT WE ARE, BUT I DID WANNA PUT THAT OUT THERE.
UM, WE ARE NO MORE DESERVING OF AN INCREASE THAN ANY OTHER NONPROFIT, TRULY.
UM, I'M GONNA OUTLINE SOME OF THE UNIQUE, UNIQUE ASPECTS OF THE HARTFORD CENTER, UM, FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION, BECAUSE I KNOW YOU HAVE VERY TOUGH DECISIONS.
AND IN PUTTING ONE NONPROFIT, ONE, UH, POPULACE IN FRONT OF ANOTHER POPULACE IS, IS NOT A TASK THAT I WOULD CERTAINLY WANT OR DESIRE.
UM, BUT I DID WANNA PUT THAT ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM OUT THERE.
THAT INCREASE EQUALS ABOUT $19,162, I BELIEVE.
UM, WHICH LOOKING AT SOME OF THE OTHER LARGER ASK SEEMS SMALL, BUT IN PROPORTION TO OUR BUDGET, THAT $19,162 IS HUGE.
UH, WE SUPPORT ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES, AND WE ARE VERY UNIQUE.
WE DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO INCREASE COSTS.
I CAN'T INCREASE THE COST OF SERVICE.
WE ARE COMPLETELY DEPENDENT ON STATE FUNDING PRIMARILY, AND THE RATES SET BY THE STATE.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU TRACK ANY OF THE LEGISLATION FOR, UM, DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES ADMINISTRATION, BUT DAYHAB
[03:05:01]
AND SUPPORT EMPLOYMENT.THE SERVICES THAT I PROVIDE ARE TRAGICALLY UNDERFUNDED AT THE STATE LEVEL, AND WE'VE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR YEARS FOR EQUITY IN, IN FUNDING.
UM, THE COUNTY MAKES UP A PORTION OF OUR FUNDING.
WE ALSO HAVE TO FUNDRAISE FOR THE REST, LIKE ALL OTHER NONPROFITS.
AND, AND YOU'VE HEARD ALL DAY ABOUT DONOR FATIGUE, AND WE'RE ASKING THE SAME FOUNDATIONS AND THE SAME BUSINESSES FOR THE MONEY OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
AND REALLY, IT'S A MATTER OF WHERE YOUR PASSION LIES.
IF IT'S FOR ANIMALS, I MEAN, I, I, I WANNA GIVE TO THE HUMANE SOCIETY.
I WANNA GO OVER AND ADOPT A CAT RIGHT NOW.
UM, BUT IF IT DEPENDS ON WHERE YOUR PASSION LIES.
SO MY JOB TODAY IS TO GET YOU TO FEEL PASSIONATE ABOUT THE HARTFORD CENTER AND THE WORK THAT WE DO.
AND SEAN, WHEN SHE COMES BEHIND ME, WE'RE DOING THE SAME WORK FOR THE SAME GROUP OF PEOPLE WHEN THEY'RE WITH ME DURING THE DAY, THEY GO HOME TO SLEEP IN, IN THE HOMES AT THE ARC.
SO WE WORK IN CONCERT TOGETHER.
AND I, I KNOW THAT SEAN WOULD AGREE WITH ME AND WILL CERTAINLY SAY THE SAME THING.
SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE, UM, OUR STAFF ARE MAKING BELOW A LIVABLE WAGE.
THE LIVING WAGE INSTITUTE, IT'S ESTIMATE FOR HARTFORD COUNTY FOR A SINGLE HOME, NO CHILDREN.
OUR INTENTION IS TO RAISE WAGES TO $20 AN HOUR, LIKE THE COLLEGE.
WE DO HAVE SOME MONEY IN OUR, WE CALL IT AN EMERGENCY FUND.
WE DON'T EVEN HAVE THE LUXURY OF CALLING THE SAVINGS.
IT'S NOT A SAVINGS, IT'S AN EMERGENCY FUND.
UM, AND WE HIT AN EMERGENCY, WE HIT COVID, AND WE HAVE HAD TO LOOK AT THOSE MONIES.
SO WE NEED TO RAISE OUR WAGES FOR OUR STAFF.
THE INDUSTRY STANDARD IS $20 AN HOUR.
IT'S STILL NOT A LIVING WAGE IN HARTFORD COUNTY.
MOST, IF NOT ALL OF MY DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS WORK TWO JOBS.
SO THEY WORK 10 HOUR DAYS WITH ME, AND THEN THEY LEAVE RIGHT TO GO TO WORK.
THEY DON'T SEE THEIR THEIR CHILDREN.
THEY'RE GOING RIGHT TO ANOTHER JOB.
AND THAT IS SOMETHING I CERTAINLY HANG MY HEAD ABOUT BECAUSE THEY'RE DOING SOME INCREDIBLE WORK.
THEY ARE FEEDING, CHANGING, HELPING PEOPLE WORK, AND THEN GETTING 'EM OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY.
I KNOW ALL OF YOU HAVE SEEN THE HARTFORD CENTER BUSES.
MY BUSES DRIVE 400,000 MILES A YEAR.
WE SPEND THREE OVER $300,000 IN FUEL AND MAINTENANCE.
AND MY, AND THE BUILDING WE ARE IN IS AGED.
UM, THE COUNTY HAS BEEN INCREDIBLY GENEROUS TO US.
I CAN'T SAY ANYTHING, BUT THANK YOU TO THE COUNTY.
WE RECEIVE, UM, BUILDINGS AT A, YOU KNOW, FOR PENNIES, TRULY.
UM, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THE BUILDING, IT'S, IT'S SHOWING ITS AGE.
UM, 10 YEARS AGO, I WASN'T WEARING MY GLASSES HERE, BUT NOW I AM.
WE'RE ALL, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALL SHOWING AGE.
SOME OF THE ISSUES I CAN TELL YOU LAST WEEK, I HAD NO WATER.
OUR, WE DO NOT HAVE ANY DRINKING WATER IN EITHER OF THE BUILDINGS.
MY ELEVATOR IS CURRENTLY NOT RUNNING.
UM, IT, IT'S, WE ARE CONSTANTLY DEALING WITH THE STRUGGLES OF THINGS THAT WE CAN'T CONTROL.
ITEMS THAT ARE AGING AND HAVE TO BE, HAD MONEY PUT INTO THEM, LIKE THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE SPOKE TO, THAT WE'RE NOT LOOKING AT TECHNOLOGY UPGRADES.
THAT'S, WE'RE LOOKING AT BEING ABLE TO HAVE A BUILDING THAT IS SAFE FOR PEOPLE TO BE IN.
WE HAVE MOLD, AND WE'RE LOOKING AT HAVING TO HAVE SOME OF THAT REMEDIATED.
AND THERE'S A COST RELATED TO THAT.
UM, WE HAVE LEAKAGE ON THE OUTSIDE OF OUR BUILDING.
UM, BUT WITH THAT SAID, I'M SO APPRECIATIVE.
I'M TREMENDOUSLY APPRECIATIVE THAT $19,162, I, I COULD TELL YOU FIVE WAYS I COULD SPEND IT.
I COULD SPEND IT FIVE TIMES OVER, TRULY.
I COULD PUT IT INTO WAGES, I COULD PUT IT INTO THE BUILDING.
I COULD PUT IT INTO VEHICLES, I COULD PUT IT INTO MAINTENANCE.
BUT MOSTLY WHERE THAT GOES IS IT SUPPORTS THE PEOPLE WHEN I RAISE WAGES, 'CAUSE I HAVE TO AT A TWO HUNDRED AND TWENTY, TWO HUNDRED FIFTY SOME THOUSAND DOLLARS STRUCTURAL DEFICIT.
SO THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IN 10 YEARS I'VE BUILT A BUDGET THAT I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO PAY OUT.
SO IT WILL DEFINITELY BE COMING FROM OUR EMERGENCY FUND.
I DON'T HAVE A CHOICE AT THIS POINT, BUT I CAN'T NOT RAISE WAGES.
WE HAVE PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTY THAT WE CANNOT SUPPORT BECAUSE I CAN'T HIRE, I CAN'T HIRE STAFF.
I'M HOPEFUL THAT BEING ABLE TO RAISE WAGES WILL HELP ME ATTRACT MORE HIGH QUALITY STAFF.
WE'RE NOT GONNA HIRE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.
WE'RE NOT GONNA HIRE PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE THE MATURITY TO DRIVE THESE BIG BUSES AND, AND BE ABLE TO BE KIND AND COMPASSIONATE AND HAVE THE SKILL TO MAKE CRITICAL THINKING DECISIONS WHEN THEY'RE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY WITH SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTY.
SO WITH THAT SAID, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU.
AND I KNOW YOU HAVE TOUGH DECISIONS.
I'M HOPING THAT THE 3% WILL HOLD.
I WANT IT TO BE SHORT AND SWEET.
I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE RUNNING LATE, DIANA, OUT OF, OUT OF RESPECT.
[03:10:01]
UM, DID I MISS ANYTHING, TIM? NO, YOU PRETTY MUCH COVERED IT ALL IN ONE BREATH.I'M VERY PROUD TO BE A MEMBER OF THE HARTFORD CENTER BOARD, AND I WAS VERY PLEASED TO SEE YOU ALL GET THE, THE FUNDING THAT YOU REQUESTED.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I SPOKE WITH THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE ABOUT AMONGST MANY THINGS.
BUT IT'S NICE TO SEE THAT TAKEN CARE OF.
IT MEANS A LOT, ESPECIALLY AFTER LAST YEAR, THAT THIS IS ONE THING OFF MY LIST AS WE GO THROUGH THE BUDGET.
UM, AND I JUST ENCOURAGE MY FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS TO COME OUT AND VISIT YOU ALL.
ALTHOUGH, AS SHERRY WILL POINT OUT, THE BUILDING WILL PROBABLY BE EMPTY WHEN YOU SHOW UP.
SO VISIT THEM WHEN THEY'RE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY, WHEN THEY ARE, UH, AT THEIR JOBS, WHEN THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, DOING THE, THE FUN STUFF AND, AND TO SEE WHAT IT'S LIKE.
UM, JUST FOLLOW A BUS DOWN THE STREET AND YOU'LL FIND THEM.
BUT, UM, BECAUSE IT'S VERY IMPORTANT, LIFE GIVING, DIGNITY, GIVING WORK THAT YOU ALL DO EACH AND EVERY DAY.
THANK YOU JACOB, FOR ALL THE SUPPORT.
UM, ANYONE ELSE? MR. PENMAN? UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION AND THE WORK YOU DO IN THE COMMUNITY.
UM, AND I AM, UM, APPRECIATIVE OF, UM, THE ADDITIONAL FUNDING THAT YOU RECEIVED.
DO YOU HAVE IT KIND OF EARMARKED WHAT YOU'RE, WHAT YOU'RE GONNA USE IT FOR? LIKE I SAID, IT, IT COULD GO, I COULD SPEND IT FIVE TIMES OVER.
UM, AT THIS POINT, OUR PRIORITY IS MAKING SURE THAT OUR BUILDING IS SAFE AND GETTING WAGES UP FOR STAFF.
SO E EITHER OF THOSE POTS OF MONEY WOULD BE, THEY HAVE HOLES IN THEM.
YOUR WORKFORCE, HOW BIG IS THAT? OUR WORKFORCE IS AT 53 STAFF.
SHERRY, UM, THANKS FOR COMING TODAY AND APPRECIATE YOUR, UM, I KNOW LAST YEAR, I THINK THE COUNTY WAS TALKING ABOUT, UM, HAVING THE MAINTENANCE DONE ON YOUR VEHICLES BY THE COUNTY.
DID, DID, IS THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPENED? SO WE HAVE MET WITH THE, UM, TRANSPORTATION FACILITY.
WE LET THEM KNOW WHAT OUR NEEDS WERE AND THEY GAVE US A, A PRELIMINARY, VERY, VERY, VERY PRELIMINARY QUOTE AS TO WHAT IT WOULD COST US TO GO TO TRANSFER OUR MAINTENANCE CONTRACTS FROM VARIOUS AND A SUNDRY PLACES ACROSS THE COUNTY TO THE, TO THE COUNTY.
AND WE'RE WAITING, I THINK IT'S, IT'S BEING DISCUSSED IN LEGAL RIGHT NOW.
WHETHER OR NOT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE COUNTY CAN, UM, OFFER US, UH, A CONTRACT WITH, IT WOULD CERTAINLY SAVE US A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY.
AND WOULD, IT WOULD, IT WOULD SAVE US A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY FROM THE PRELIMINARY CONTRACTS.
THEY HAVEN'T HAD THEIR EYES ON OUR BUSES THOUGH, WHICH MAKES ME A LITTLE NERVOUS BECAUSE THEY'RE TAKING IT AT FACE VALUE THAT OUR BUSES ARE WHERE THEY NEED TO BE.
I, I, I WOULD, I THINK THE PRICE IS GONNA BE HIGHER THAN THEY'RE ANTICIPATING.
WHAT IS YOUR AVERAGE, UM, AGE OF YOUR BUSES NOW AND HOW OFTEN DO YOU REPLACE 'EM? DO YOU I REPLACE 'EM WITH NEW OR USED? I'M GONNA DEFER TO TIM ON THIS ONE A LITTLE BIT.
WE, UM, THE AVERAGE AGE IS ABOUT SEVEN YEARS OLD.
WE HAVE SOME THAT ARE 10 TO 12 AND SOME ARE RELATIVELY NEW MOST OF THE TIME.
WE TRY TO, UM, REPLACE 'EM WITH NEW VEHICLES.
WE, UM, APPLY FOR GRANT FROM THE, UM, FROM THE STATE THROUGH THE MTA FOR, UM, EVERY TWO YEARS.
WE USE, USUALLY GIVE OUT THREE VEHICLES FROM THEM, TWO BUSES IN A VAN, UH, THAT ARE BRAND NEW.
UM, LATELY WE'VE HAD TO, UM, PURCHASE AT LEAST ONE NEW BUS ON OUR OWN.
AND, UM, PART OF THAT GRANT IS THAT, UH, UM, FEDERAL FUNDS ARE 80%, WE PAY 20%.
AND RIGHT NOW THE VEHICLES AVERAGE ABOUT $120,000.
DO DO YOU GO THROUGH THE COUNTY AND USE THE BUYING POWER OF THE COUNTY FOR PURCHASING OF THE VEHICLES? WOULD, WOULD THAT HELP? OR IS THAT NEVER TALKED ABOUT? HAVEN'T.
THAT WOULD PROBABLY DEFINITELY HELP, BUT WE HAVEN'T WITH THE, AND I'LL PROJECT, I HAVE A LOUD VOICE WITH THE PARTICULAR GRANT, THE 53 10 GRANT THROUGH MTA, THEY HAVE CONTRACTORS THAT THEY USE FOR BUYING.
BUT IF WE WERE EVER IN A POSITION WHERE WE HAD TO BUY A VEHICLE OUTRIGHT, I I WOULD LOVE TO EXPLORE THAT AS AN OPTION.
HOW, HOW DO WE, KIM, HOW DO WE MAKE THAT HAPPEN? JUST WORK WITH PROCUREMENT.
SO I THINK THAT, I THINK I, I KNOW THE COUNTY WANTS TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE FUNDING YOU AND WE WANT TO TAKE CARE OF YOU.
AND IF WE CAN, YOU KNOW, HELP, UM, IN THOSE LARGE PURCHASES, AND WHETHER IT'S A FIVE OR A $10,000 BREAK, IT'S ANY DOLLAR AMOUNT HELP, CERTAINLY.
YOU KNOW, TO PIGGYBACK OFF OF, YOU KNOW, SOME OTHER PURCHASES.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
[03:15:06]
OF THE YORK UP NOW.I DON'T, I GIVE ONE FOR JIM TOO.
SO WHAT YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU.
I'M THE PRESIDENT, CEO AT THE ARC NORTHERN CHESAPEAKE REGION.
AND WHAT YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU IS REALLY OUR ANNUAL REPORT, HOT OFF THE PRESS.
UM, SOME OF YOU MIGHT HAVE RECEIVED IT FROM, UM, AT HOME.
AND, UM, IT'S REALLY CELEBRATING OUR 70TH BIRTHDAY, WHICH WE ACTUALLY ENDED OUR CELEBRATIONS IN DECEMBER.
SO, UM, ON THAT FIRST PAGE, YOU ARE GONNA SEE THAT WE PROVIDE THE FULL RANGE OF SUPPORT SERVICES, UM, TO ALL FAMILIES, UM, FROM, UM, BIRTH TO THE END OF LIFE, UM, FOR OVER 700, UM, FAMILIES IN THE COUNTY.
ON THAT SECOND PAGE, YOU'LL SEE IT'S 1000 SUPPORTS, BUT THAT MEANS IT'S ABOUT 700 FAMILIES THAT ARE BEING IMPACTED.
THEY MIGHT GET ONE OR TWO SERVICES FROM US.
SO THAT'S WHERE THAT NUMBER COMES FROM.
AND, UM, IT IS THE UNIQUENESS OF, UM, THAT'S WHY WE'RE CALLED THE ARC.
WE SUPPORT PEOPLE ACROSS THE ARC OF THEIR LIFE.
AND IT'S BECAUSE OF THE WIDE RANGE OF SUPPORTS THAT WE PROVIDE.
AND, UM, I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THAT WE CAN NOW SAY WE'RE FINALLY PAST THOSE COVID DAYS IN THE SENSE OF WE HAVE SURPASSED, UM, OUR BUDGET, BUT WE'VE ALSO SURPASSED THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WE SUPPORT SINCE PRIOR TO COVID.
WITH THAT THOUGH, IS GOING TO HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL EXPENSES, UM, BECAUSE WE DO NOW HAVE A WAITING LIST FOR ALL OF THE SUPPORTS THAT WE PROVIDE.
AND THAT MEANS WE EITHER NEED TO BUY VEHICLES, PURCHASE HOMES, UM, OR, UM, FIND TEAM MEMBERS, UM, TO JOIN, UM, OUR TEAM OF 400.
AND I WANT TO JUST SAY THAT THE COUNTY HAS, THE COUNTY CONTRIBUTION IS ABOUT A LITTLE LESS THAN 10% OF OUR BUDGET OF WHAT IT TAKES FOR US TO DO OUR SERVICES FOR THE CITIZENS HERE IN HARTFORD COUNTY.
I CANNOT IMAGINE WHAT, UM, OUR BUDGET OR WHAT THE SERVICES WOULD LOOK LIKE WITHOUT THAT CONTRIBUTION.
AND OUR FAMILY MEMBERS, UM, OUR TEAM MEMBERS, ALL OF US ARE REALLY GRATEFUL TO, UM, THE HISTORICAL SUPPORT THAT THE COUNTY HAS PROVIDED TO THE ARC.
UM, I WANT TO GIVE YOU SOME HIGHLIGHTS OF SOME THINGS THAT ARE REALLY EXCITING.
UM, THIS YEAR WE HAVE FIVE, UM, PEOPLE THAT MOVED INTO OUR, INTO THEIR OWN HOME THIS YEAR.
THEY WERE ON THE WAITING LIST FOR OVER TWO YEARS, AND THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO, UM, MOVE IN.
WE ALSO HAVE FOUR FOSTER CARE CHILDREN WHO ARE GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL AND HAVE A PLAN TO GO TO HARTFORD COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
AND THAT'S REALLY A BIG THING FOR KIDS IN FOSTER CARE.
UM, KIDS IN FOSTER CARE OFTEN HAVE A HARD TIME DECIDING WHAT THAT NEXT STEP IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE.
AND, UM, OVER A HUNDRED PEOPLE WORK INDEPENDENTLY IN THE COMMUNITY AT OVER 90 DIFFERENT, UM, BUSINESS PARTNERS WE HAVE.
SO WE'RE HELPING THEM FILL THEIR POSITIONS WHEN THEY HAVE OPEN, UM, POSITIONS.
AND, UM, WE OUT, WE ROLLED OUT OUR STRATEGIC PLAN THIS YEAR AND ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT WE ARE SEEING, UM, THAT IS REALLY IMPACTING PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES IN THEIR FAMILIES IS MENTAL HEALTH.
SO THAT IS A HUGE PART OF OUR STRATEGIC PLAN AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO, UM, PROVIDE THOSE SUPPORTS.
SOME EXPENSES THAT WE KNOW THAT WE'RE GONNA BE HITTING NEXT YEAR.
OUR HEALTH INSURANCE WENT UP, UM, 25%, WHICH IS ABOUT A $400,000, UM, IMPACT TO OUR BUDGET, OUR NURSING SERVICES, WHICH MAKES US UNIQUE 'CAUSE WE PROVIDE 24 7.
SO WE ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE NURSING.
AND THOSE EXPENSES WENT UP ABOUT 15%, WHICH IS AROUND $50,000 A YEAR.
UM, WE'VE RUN OUTTA SPACE FOR PROGRAMMING AND TEAM MEMBERS.
AND SO WE ARE GONNA BE LOOKING AT, UM, A LEASE OPPORTUNITY, WHICH IS GONNA BE A $60,000 ADDITIONAL EXPENSE FOR US.
AND THEN SOMETHING THAT YOU MIGHT NOTICE, UM, WE HAVE BEEN SAVING FOR THIS RAINY DAY.
THE FIRST RAINY DAY WE DIDN'T KNOW WAS COVID.
UM, AND THANK GOODNESS WE HAD RESERVES IN PLACE FOR THAT COVID.
SO WE WERE ABLE TO, UM, YOU KNOW, WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE COUNTY AND OUR DONORS, UM, BE ABLE TO MANAGE THROUGH THAT.
[03:20:01]
NEXT RAINY DAY THAT WE HAVE IS THE DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY ADMINISTRATION IS TRANSITIONING OUR EMPLOYMENT SERVICES, WHICH WE ARE ONE OF A HANDFUL OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE A SIGNIFICANT EMPLOYMENT RATE, MEANING WE HAVE MOST OF THE PEOPLE WE SUPPORT IN OUR EMPLOYMENT, UM, ARE WITH DISABILITIES, ARE EMPLOYED, UM, IN THE COMMUNITY.AND WITH THAT CHANGE, THEY'RE ONLY NOW GONNA BE PAYING US TO PROVIDE JOB DEVELOPMENT SUPPORTS.
SO THAT'S ABOUT A MILLION DOLLAR IMPACT TO OUR BOTTOM LINE.
AND WE'VE KNOWN ABOUT THIS TRANSITION.
SO, UM, YOU MAY SEE THAT, THAT WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO SAVE FOR THAT, UM, AS WELL THAT IS ACTUALLY GOING TO TAKE PLACE THIS YEAR.
AND SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE EXPENSES AND OUR WAITING LIST FOR OUR, UM, COMMUNITY LIVING SERVICES.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE 10 PEOPLE ON THAT WAITING LIST.
UM, OUR FUND, THE NEED FOR THIS YEAR IS, UM, AROUND HELPING US PURCHASE A HOME FOR THAT WAITING LIST.
UM, LET ME SEE, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WANTED TO POINT OUT ON PAGE FIVE IS, UM, OUR RESIDENTIAL, UM, HOMES HAVE REALLY ONLY BEEN OPEN AFTER SOMEBODY HAS PASSED AWAY.
AND WE HAD A LONG TERM MEMBER OF OURS WHO WAS FANTASTIC.
YOU SEE HIM HERE, UM, VERNON ON PAGE FIVE.
HE, UM, ACTUALLY WAS A, A ROOMMATE WITH SOMEBODY, UM, AND UNEXPECTEDLY PASSED AWAY.
BUT THAT'S REALLY HOW WE'VE ONLY BEEN ABLE TO FILL OUR CURRENT OPENING.
SO THAT'S WHY WE ARE, IS WHEN SOMEBODY PASSES AWAY.
SO THAT'S WHY WE ARE PURCHASING, UM, ANOTHER HOME SO THAT PEOPLE CAN LIVE MORE INDEPENDENTLY.
UM, ONCE AGAIN, I JUST WANTED TO TELL YOU, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE CER THE, UM, SUPPORT THAT THE COUNTY HAS PROVIDED US OVER THE YEARS KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING INTO A CHALLENGING YEAR, UM, WITH THE NEW ADDITIONAL EXPENSES THAT WE ARE GONNA BE, UM, HAVING IN OUR BUDGET.
AND WE TAKE THE MONEY THAT THE COUNTY PROVIDES US AND OUR DONORS GIVE US.
WE'RE GOOD STEWARDS AND WE HAVE, UH, A WAY THAT WE ARE WILL STRATEGICALLY MANAGE THROUGH, UM, THIS.
SO THANK YOU, UM, VERY MUCH THANK YOU SEAN, FOR YOUR PRESENTATION AND, UM, THROUGH MS. HARRIS.
UM, I KEEP IN TOUCH WITH ALL THAT YOU GUYS DO IN A POSITIVE WAY, UM, AND CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MUCH WE APPRECIATE IT.
UM, MR. PENMAN, THANK YOU MR. PRESIDENT.
UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PROGRAM.
IT'S, IT'S, IT'S TRULY INCREDIBLE, UH, WHAT YOU ALL DO THERE.
UH, IT LOOKS LIKE YOU'VE, UH, YOU'RE FLAT FUNDED FROM WHERE YOU WERE BEFORE.
UM, DID YOU REQUEST AN ADDITIONAL FUNDING? I REQUESTED 3%, 3% INCREASE.
SO WITH, UH, THE CURRENT BUDGET RESTRAINTS, UM, THERE'S GONNA HAVE TO BE CUTS ALONG THE LINE.
WHERE, WHERE DO YOU SEE THOSE CUTS TAKING PLACE? UM, SO WE'RE, WE'RE GONNA GO INTO OUR RESERVES, UM, WITH, UM, SOME OF THESE EXPENSES BECAUSE OUR STAFFING EXPENSES HAVE, HAVE ALSO, UM, GREATLY INCREASED.
SO BASED ON THAT, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO GO INTO OUR RESERVES NEXT YEAR.
SO LIKE THE HARFORD CENTER WHERE THIS, THEY'RE KIND OF DRASTICALLY UNDERPAID AND YOU HAVE TO HIRE WITH COMPETITIVE SALARIES TO BRING THESE, UH, QUALITY EMPLOYEES IN.
ARE YOU ON THE SAME, UH, KIND OF, UH, SCHEDULE AS FAR AS, UH, PAY $17 AN HOUR ROUGHLY? SO WE'RE CURRENTLY AT 20.
UM, THAT WAS ONE OF THE MAJOR INVESTMENTS THAT WE MADE LAST YEAR.
IT WAS TO INVEST IN THE INCREASE OF THE SALARIES OF OUR FRONTLINE WORKFORCE.
WE'VE SEEN, UM, WE STARTED OUT THE YEAR WITH ALMOST A 40% OPEN FTE.
WE'RE SETTING AT ABOUT A 10% OPEN FTE RIGHT NOW.
SO THAT INCREASE DID MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
UM, AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE TO ADDRESS THE COMPRESSION FACTORS FOR OUR MID-LEVEL MANAGERS, WHICH IS, ARE REALLY IMPORTANT TO KEEP OUR DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS THERE.
BUT THAT'S ALWAYS A MOVING TARGET ALONG WAY.
THAT'S, THAT'S ANOTHER REASON FOR RESERVES.
UM, SEAN, YOU MENTIONED $60,000 EARLIER IN YOUR PRESENTATION AND THAT'S THE SAME REQUEST THAT YOU HAD? YEAH, IT WAS AROUND 60.
UM, THE 3% WOULD BE AROUND 60, $60,000, UM, FROM THE COUNTY THAT WAS GONNA HELP OFFSET OUR NEED TO, UM, FIND A NEW BUILDING.
AND THAT'S GONNA BE ABOUT THE COST OF WHAT, UM, OUR NEW RENT IS GOING TO, UM, BE PER YEAR.
UM, I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR WHAT DO DO FOR MY GRANDSON? MY GRANDSON STAYS AT THE ART CENTER HERE.
YEAH, HE'S, I KNOW HE IS WORKING.
I'M GONNA TELL YOU PEOPLE WE SUPPORT LOVE PAYING THEIR TAXES, SO LET'S GET HIM JOBS.
UH, HE'S GOT A COUPLE FRIENDS THERE.
UM, HE, HE DID HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF ISSUE WHEN THIS FELLOW PASSED AWAY, BUT, UM, HE GOT
[03:25:01]
THROUGH THAT.UM, UM, UH, WE'VE GOT A, UM, WE GOTTA PICK HIM UP BECAUSE, UH, I GOT HIS BALLOT AT MY HOUSE.
HE'S GOTTA VOTE AND
AND I SIT DOWN WITH HIM AND HE MARKS 'EM, YOU KNOW, I WRITE, READ THE NAMES OUT AND I'M SURPRISED HE, HE CAN TELL HE CAN PICK HIS OWN CANDIDATES OUT THAT HE VOTES FOR.
AND WE HAD A VOTING REGISTRATION DAY A COUPLE WEEKS AGO AT THE ARC.
SO FOR OUR TEAM MEMBERS AS WELL AS FOR PEOPLE WE SUPPORT TO EDUCATE ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF VOTING.
SO ME AND MY WIFE AND MY MOTHER-IN-LAW'S ALREADY VOTED, BUT HIS BALLOT'S SITTING THERE, WE HAVEN'T MARKED, WE HAVEN'T TOUCHED IT.
HE'S, HE'S GOING TO TAKE CARE OF IT FOR US.
SO WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK YOU DO THERE FOR ME.
THANK YOU FOR ENTRUSTING US WITH HIM.
YES, THANK YOU MR. GUTHRIE AND MS. SOS.
AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, CAN YOU REITERATE THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES THAT YOU HAVE? YEAH, WE HAVE A 400 TEAM MEMBERS.
AND ARE THERE ANY RETENTION ISSUES? SO WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON, I, I STILL CAN I KNOCK ON SOME WOOD RIGHT NOW 'CAUSE WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN SETTING AROUND 50% RETENTION.
THIS YEAR WE'RE SETTING AT 60, UM, 61%, UM, WITH THE GOAL OF OUR, THAT WAS OUR FIRST GOAL AND OUR STRATEGIC PLAN.
UM, NOW FOR OUR INDUSTRY, THAT'S DOESN'T SOUND GOOD.
MAYBE IF YOU'RE NOT IN OUR INDUSTRY, BUT OUR INDUSTRY RANGES, UM, FOR RETENTION, UM, AROUND 40 TO 50% RETENTION.
SO WE WERE ALWAYS KIND OF AVERAGE.
SO THIS YEAR I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THAT WE'RE SITTING AT 60, BUT THAT'S GREAT.
WELL, IT'S GOOD TO HEAR THE POSITIVE STORIES TOO.
I ENJOY HEARING, YOU KNOW, THAT PEOPLE ARE MOVING OUT.
UM, I'LL JUST SHARE, UH, CANDIDLY, WHEN I FIRST SAW THE BUDGET, I WAS VERY SURPRISED TO SEE YOU ALL FLAT FUNDED AND DISAPPOINTED TO SEE THAT.
DID THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE REACH OUT TO SHARE ANY REASONING AS TO WHY THAT TOOK PLACE FOR YOU ALL THIS YEAR? THANK YOU FOR ANSWER, UM, ASKING THAT.
UM, I WAS SURPRISED TOO BECAUSE HISTORICALLY, UM, WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN, UM, GIVEN THE SAME INCREASE AS HARFORD CENTER.
AND SO, UM, I WAS SURPRISED THAT THE PAR THE DIFFERENCE, UM, IN THAT.
AND SO I DID REACH OUT AND COUNTY EXECUTIVE CASTLE HAD, UM, MR. MCCORD, DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION REACH OUT AND WHAT THEY, UM, WHAT HE WAS ABLE TO FIND OUT.
'CAUSE HE DID SAY IT WAS A GOOD QUESTION.
UM, AND HE SAID IT HAD TO DO WITH BUILDING.
SO JUST TO BE CLEAR, OUR BUILDING IS MAINTAINED BY US, BY THE ARC NCR.
WE DON'T RECEIVE ANY COUNTY BUILDING, UM, OR EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.
SO THAT'S WHY, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT'S ALL OF OUR BUILDING ARE OUR EXPENSES THAT GO INTO OUR BUDGET.
SO, UM, I JUST, I DO, UM, THINK, AND I'M SPEAKING TO MR. MCCORD AND IN TURN TO MR. CALEY, UM, OUR COUNTY EXECUTIVE, BUT I DO THINK IT WOULD BE BEST PRACTICE TO, TO HAVE THAT PARODY BETWEEN THE HARTFORD CENTER AND THE ARC.
SO IT NEVER BECOMES A SITUATION OUR COUNTY, WHERE THESE TWO ORGANIZATIONS THAT COMPLIMENT EACH OTHER BECOME COMPETING FOR FUNDS.
UM, AND I REALLY THINK $60,000 IS A, A SMALL, UH, SMALL SOLUTION IN LOOKING AT THIS HUGE BUDGET THAT I THINK WE SHOULD BE MOVABLE ON ADJUSTING FOR THE SAKE OF.
SO AGAIN, LIKE I SAID LAST YEAR, SUPPORTING THE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO DESERVE SUPPORT THE MOST OF ALL OF US.
SO, UM, I HOPE THAT THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE WOULD BE AMENDABLE TO THAT.
ANYONE ELSE? SEEING NO ONE ELSE? THANK YOU SEAN.
ONE THING IN YOUR PACKET, YOU HAVE THE GALA I KNOW MANY OF YOU ARE ATTENDING, AND YOU ALSO HAVE OUR ANNUAL MEETING, WHICH YOU GET TO GO TO FOR FREE.
IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN, PLEASE JOIN US FOR THAT, UM, CELEBRATION.
ELECTIONS BEGINS ON FIVE 13, PAGE FIVE 13.
OKAY, ON PAGE FIVE 13 IS THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS.
THERE'S AN INCREASE THERE OF 1 17 1 90.
YOU'LL SEE, UM, UH, THERE'S ADJUSTMENTS IN PERSONAL SERVICES AND TEMPORARY SALARIES.
UM, AND THE RELATED FRINGE, THERE'S DECREASE THERE.
100,993, UM, CONTRACTUAL SERVICES DECREASES 1060 SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS DECREASES $6,100, UH, BUSINESS AND TRAVEL A THOUSAND DOLLARS.
[03:30:01]
MISCELLANEOUS YOU'LL SEE THAT INCREASES 226,343.THIS IS THE REIMBURSEMENT TO THE STATE FOR SALARY FRINGES AND OVERTIME, UM, AS MANDATED BY THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS.
THERE'S A DECREASE THERE OF 69,487.
PERSONAL SERVICES INCREASES $60,000.
THIS IS FOR TEMPORARY SALARIES FOR ELECTION JUDGES AND ELECTION DAY SUPPORT.
UM, AND THEN CONTRACTUAL SERVICES INCREASES 11,875.
AGAIN, THAT'S FOR THE SERVICE FOR MAINLY THEIR MAIL SORTER SUPPLIES DECREASED 66,000.
UM, THIS IS, UM, FOR PRINTING AND OFFICE MAILING DECREASED AS THE STATE IS TO SHARE IN SOME OF THOSE EXPENSES.
BUSINESS AND TRAVEL DECREASES 2000, THAT'S BASED ON ACTUALS.
AND THEN CAPITAL OUTLAY ALSO DECREASES 95,424.
UM, AGAIN, THE FUNDING FOR THE INBOUND MAIL SORTER WAS MOVED UNDER PAYMENTS TO THE STATE.
MISCELLANEOUS INCREASES $22,062 AND THIS IS FUNDS THAT ARE RE THAT REIMBURSES TO THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS FOR, UM, OUR SHARE OF THE BILLING AND STATE FEES ADMINISTRATION FEES.
WITH THAT, TURN IT OVER TO GOOD AFTERNOON.
I'M STEPHANIE TAYLOR, DIRECTOR OF HARFORD COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTION ELECTIONS.
NEXT TO ME IS MY DEPUTY DIRECTOR, KAREN PERRY.
UM, AS YOU SEE, WE'VE BEEN, WELL YOU ALL KNOW WHAT WE DO.
WE WERE ACTUALLY CANVASSING TODAY.
EXCUSE MY FEET 'CAUSE I'M STILL IN MY COMFY SHOES.
I FORGOT TO CHANGE OUT OF THEM.
UM, SO WE DO HANDLE ALL, YOU KNOW, MUNICIPAL.
WE WILL, WE ASSIST MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS, STATE AND FEDERAL ELECTIONS.
UH, AS YOU SEE, WE TRIED, THIS IS LIKE MY THIRD BUDGET THAT I'VE PUT TOGETHER.
SINCE I'VE BEEN DIRECTOR, I HAVE TRIED TO BE VERY CAREFUL WITH THE FUNDS.
I'VE TRIED TO DECREASE AS MUCH AS I CAN.
AS YOU SEE THIS, THIS YEAR WE GAVE A LOT BACK AS MUCH AS WE COULD.
AND I TRIED TO MOVE THINGS AROUND IN OTHER AREAS THAT WE NEEDED IT.
THE INCREASE TO THE, BUT UH, TO THE ELECTION SIDE OF $60,000 WAS OUR GENERAL ASSEMBLY THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA TO GIVE OUR JUDGES A BONUS OF A HUNDRED DOLLARS PER ANY JUDGE RETURNING THAT WORKS DURING EARLY VOTING OR ELECTION DAY.
THEY'RE TO GET A HUNDRED DOLLARS BONUS.
SO THEY FINALLY HAVE DEFINED IT THAT IT'S ONLY THEY HAD TO WORK THE PRIOR ELECTION CYCLE BEFORE THEY COULD HAVE WORKED IN 2008 AND THEN COME BACK IN 2024.
AND THAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED RETURNING.
SO HOPEFULLY THAT NUMBER WILL GO DOWN NEXT YEAR.
UM, 'CAUSE THAT LAW DOES NOT GO IN EFFECT UNTIL JANUARY OF 2025.
THE, UM, MAIL SORTER THAT WE PURCHASED, WE DID HAVE THE FUNDS IN THERE.
WE MOVED IT DOWN TO ANOTHER CATEGORY TO COVER THAT FEE.
IN THE PAST WE USED APPROXIMATELY ANYWHERE FROM SIX TO EIGHT EMPLOYEES TO RECEIVE BALLOTING.
'CAUSE THAT'S A TOTAL MANUAL PROCESS WHERE WE HAVE TO HANDLE EACH BALLOT AND SCAN IT INTO THE SYSTEM.
NOW IT TAKES TWO AND THEY CAN SCAN IN A COUPLE THOUSAND BALLOTS IN UNDER HALF HOUR.
AND SO IT'S BECOME AUTOMATED, WHICH HAS SAVES US A LOT.
AND ACTUALLY WE HAVE A CONTRACTUAL EMPLOYEE IN MY OFFICE THAT I'M NOT RENEWING FOR THE FALL BECAUSE WE JUST DON'T NEED EVERYBODY IN THERE.
SO WE ARE TRYING TO BE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE.
'CAUSE I KNOW THIS IS MY TAXPAYER MONEY.
IT'S EVERYONE'S TAXPAYER MONEY.
UM, BUT WE DO APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT THAT EVERYONE IN HARTFORD COUNTY HAS GIVEN US.
UM, THEY'RE VERY, YOU KNOW, KIND TO US AND THEY'RE VERY, YOU KNOW, WONDERFUL TO WORK WITH.
UM, OTHER THAN THAT, THAT'S REALLY ALL I HAVE UNLESS YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? NO, I JUST, YOU KNOW, I THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO.
THANK YOU FOR, UH, THE OPPORTUNITY TO REACH OUT WHEN THERE'S HARD QUESTIONS OR SOME THINGS THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR.
UH, I WOULD ASK YOU, I MEAN, WITH THIS UPCOMING ELECTION, DO YOU HAVE EVERYTHING THAT YOU NEED? YES.
I MEAN, UH, SMALL BUT MIGHTY FORCE, IN FACT, HOW BIG IS YOUR ACTUAL, YOUR TEAM? WE HAVE 15 PERMANENT STAFF.
UH, 14 ARE STATE, ONE IS COUNTY.
AND I'M GIVING THE COUNTY MONEY BACK NEXT YEAR.
'CAUSE OUR COUNTY EMPLOYEE'S MOVING OUTTA STATE, SO SHE WON'T BE WORKING WITH US ANYMORE.
AND THEN WE BRING IN FOUR CONTRACTUALS FOR THE OFFICE.
AND THEN WE HIRE EIGHT COUNTY.
WELL, WE TRY TO GET 12, BUT WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET 12 SINCE PRIOR TO COVID, UM, COUNTY EMPLOYEES TO COME IN FOR SEVEN WEEKS TO HELP WITH TESTING OF THE EQUIPMENT, PACKING OF SUPPLIES, DELIVERING THE EQUIPMENT, TROUBLESHOOTING DURING EARLY VOTING AND ELECTION DAY.
AND I, I KNOW, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT IT'S JUST NOT ELECTION YEARS THAT YOU GUYS ARE, YOU KNOW, 100%, UH, DEDICATED.
SO THANK YOU, UH, FOR EVERYTHING YOU
[03:35:01]
DO.IT, IT TAKES ABOUT 18 MONTHS TO PLAN FOR AN ELECTION.
UM, ANYONE ELSE? MR. GIANA, DO WE HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH OUR MACHINES AT ALL? NO.
WE HA WE HAVE SOME OLD POLL BOOKS.
THEY'RE OLD, BUT WE HAVE A FANTASTIC TECH IN OUR WAREHOUSE THAT MAINTAINS THEM ON A REGULAR BASIS, KNOWS HOW TO FIX THEM.
SO THEY'RE IN PERFECT WORKING ORDER.
ANY OF THE CITIZENS, MR. TIPS? YES, MA'AM.
DO YOU HAVE, UH, ANY KNOWLEDGE OF HOW MANY MORE WRITE-IN BALLOTS THAT YOU HAVE THAN YOU HAD IN PREVIOUS YEARS? WRITE IN OR MAIL-IN MAIL-IN, I'M SORRY.
UM, RIGHT NOW WE HAVE ABOUT 21,000 REQUESTS FOR THE PRIMARY ELECTION AND JUST A HANDFUL MORE FOR THE GENERAL.
WE HAVE A LOT OF, UM, INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE ON A PERMANENT MAIL-IN LIST THAT'S ABOUT 17,000 AND CHANGE THAT WILL AUTOMATICALLY GET A BALLOT FOR EVERY ELECTION AS LONG AS THEY REMAIN ON THAT LIST.
SO PRIOR TO COVID, I CAN TELL YOU THE MOST WE EVER GOT WAS 7,000.
IN ORDER TO GET OFF OF THAT LIST, YOU HAVE TO REQUEST TO GET OFF OF THE MAIL IN LIST.
OR IF YOU DON'T VOTE, IS IT A COMPLETE ELECTION CYCLE? I THINK IT'S, IF YOU DON'T VOTE IN A COMPLETE ELECTION CYCLE, YOU'RE REMOVED OFF OF THAT LIST AS WELL.
UH, I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU ALSO.
UH, I KNOW ANYTIME I CALL THERE, YOU KNOW, YOU GUYS ARE RIGHT ON THE GALS.
RIGHT ON STICK AND GIVE ME INFORMATION.
I'M LOOKING FOR, UM, AGAIN, SEE, I'VE ALREADY VOTED.
UH, I GOT MY BALLOT AND SO DID MY WIFE AND ONE LAW, SO, AND THEY'RE ALREADY IN THE MAIL.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING SO, SO ASTUTE THERE.
ALRIGHT, ANYONE ELSE? HOPE NO ONE ELSE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
WE'LL SEE YOU SOON AND THIS WILL CONCLUDE TODAY'S, UH, AFTERNOON WORK SESSION.