* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.
          [00:00:02]
           GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. 
          WE'LL 
          [County Council Budget Work Session]
GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED WITH OUR THIRD DAY OF WORK SESSIONS, UH, WITH, UH, HUMANE SOCIETY. 
          OKAY. 
          GOOD MORNING, COUNSEL. 
          UM, HUMANE SOCIETY APPEARS ON PAGE 6 77 OF YOUR OPERATING BOOKS FOR FY 27. 
          THE COUNTY IS FUNDING THE HUMANE SOCIETY'S OFFICIAL REQUEST OF 1.8 MILLION. 
          IN ADDITION, THE COUNTY IS INCLUDING 100,000 AS A CONTINGENCY TO OFFSET EXPENSES RELATED TO COURT MAIN MANDATED ANIMAL SEIZURES OR OTHER UNPLANNED EXPENSES. 
          OVERALL COUNTY FUNDING OF 1,900,000 IS AN INCREASE OF 563,000 OR 42.1%. 
          WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO AMANDA. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU, BEN. 
          GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. 
          CAN YOU HEAR ME ALL RIGHT? MM-HMM . 
          GOOD DEAL. 
          GOOD MORNING. 
          UM, AS BEN SAID, I AM AMANDA HICKMAN. 
          I AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE HUMANE SOCIETY OF HARFORD COUNTY. 
          WITH ME TODAY, I HAVE JOE KAJARO AS WELL. 
          HE IS OUR BOARD TREASURER, UM, ALONG WITH A NUMBER OF MEMBERS FROM OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS IN THE AUDIENCE TO MY LEFT, UM, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO, AGAIN, SPEAK FOR YOU, UM, AND FOR YOUR CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP AND SUPPORT FOR THE HUMANE SOCIETY. 
          UM, BEFORE I GET INTO THE NUMBERS, BECAUSE I LOVE DATA, AND AGAIN, I APOLOGIZE, I DIDN'T BRING A PUPPY. 
          I FEEL EVERY YEAR I NEED TO COMPETE, UM, WITH MS. HASSLER, BUT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S ALWAYS NEXT YEAR. 
          UM, I'D LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO GROUND US IN WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO FOR THE COMMUNITY. 
          UM, AS MOST OF YOU KNOW, WE ARE THE ONLY OPEN ADMISSION SHELTER HERE IN HARFORD COUNTY. 
          WE ACCEPT ALL ANIMALS REGARDLESS OF CONDITION, BEHAVIOR, OR CIRCUMSTANCE. 
          WE SERVE AS A CRITICAL EXTENSION OF PUBLIC SAFETY FOR THE COUNTY, AND WE WORK ALONGSIDE ANIMAL CONTROL, AND WE RESPOND TO EVERYTHING FROM ROUTINE STRAYS TO LARGE SCALE SEIZURE CASES. 
          THIS IS ESSENTIAL WORK, AND IT HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY COMPLEX OVER TIME. 
          TO GIVE SOME CONTEXT FOR THAT, IN 2022, OUR INTAKE WAS 2,734 ANIMALS IN 23, THAT INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY TO 4,259. 
          2024. 
          INTAKE WAS 36, 48, AND IN 25, WE CARED FOR 3080 ANIMALS. 
          WE ARE ON THE PATH CURRENTLY FOR, FOR 2026 TO BE CLOSER TO THAT 3,100 NUMBER IF WE KEEP MOVING IN THE SAME DIRECTION. 
          SO, WHILE INTAKE HAS FLUCTUATED, ONE TREND REMAINS CONSISTENT IN THAT APPROXIMATELY 70% OF THE ANIMALS THAT WE CARE FOR ARE NOT OWNER SURRENDERS. 
          THEY ARE STRAYS OR ANIMAL SEEDS THROUGH ANIMAL CONTROLS SPECIFICALLY. 
          THESE CASES IN PARTICULAR COME WITH ADDITIONAL LAYERS OF COMPLEXITY. 
          THEY OFTEN REQUIRE EXTENDED, SOMETIMES INDEFINITE HOLD PERIODS, INCREASED MEDICAL AND BEHAVIORAL CARE, LEGAL INVOLVEMENT, UH, INCLUDING COURT PROCEEDINGS. 
          AND IN MANY OF THE CASES, THERE IS NO OPPORTUNITY FOR COST RECOVERY IN 2023, DURING THE HEIGHT OF INTAKE AND CASE SEVERITY, WE MADE THE DECISION TO BRING ON ADDITIONAL STAFF TO ENSURE THAT WE CAN MEET THE NEEDS OF THE ANIMALS IN OUR CARE SAFELY AND RESPONSIBLY. 
          WHICH LEADS TO AN IMPORTANT POINT ABOUT OUR BUDGET. 
          YES, OUR SALARY LINE IS THE BIGGEST LINE ITEM IN OUR BUDGET THAT REFLECTS THE NATURE OF THE WORK. 
          WE RELY ON LICENSED VETS, LICENSED AND CREDENTIAL VET TECHS, SKILLED ANIMAL CARE AND BEHAVIOR STAFF. 
          THESE ARE TRAINED PROFESSIONALS IN A FIELD THAT IS ALREADY FACING HIGH DEMAND AND LIMITED WORKFORCE AVAILABILITY. 
          IN ADDITION TO THOSE DAILY RESPONSIBILITIES, OUR TEAM IS ALSO INVOLVED IN SUPPORTING ANIMAL CONTROL CASES, INCLUDING COURT APPEARANCES AND DOCUMENTATION, WHILE MANAGING A HIGH VOLUME, HIGH RISK ENVIRONMENT. 
          OFFERING COMPETITIVE WAGES IS ESSENTIAL NOT JUST TO RECRUIT, BUT TO RETAIN THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE THE WORK POSSIBLE. 
          I ALSO WANNA RECOGNIZE THAT WE DON'T DO THIS WORK ALONE. 
          IN 2025, WE HAD 318 VOLUNTEERS CONTRIBUTE OVER 8,000, ALMOST 9,000 TOTAL HOURS OF SERVICE. 
          THAT REPRESENTS NOT ONLY AN INCREDIBLE COMMITMENT FROM THE COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO A SIGNIFICANT OPERATIONAL VALUE THAT HELPS US EXTEND OUR REACH BEYOND WHAT STAFFING ALONE COULD SUPPORT. 
          THAT'S A COST SAVINGS OF $308,000 RIGHT THERE. 
          BEYOND OUR SHELTER OPERATIONS, WE ARE DEEPLY ENGAGED IN PUBLIC FACING OUTREACH EFFORTS THAT SUPPORT BOTH ANIMALS AND THE PEOPLE WHO CARE FOR THEM. 
          IN 2025 ALONE, WE SERVED 1,108 PETS DIRECTLY THROUGH OUR PUBLIC VACCINE AND MICROCHIPPING CLINICS. 
          WE HAD 
          [00:05:01]
960 VISITS TO OUR PET PANTRY, HELPING FAMILIES KEEP THEIR PETS DURING TIMES OF HARDSHIP INSTEAD OF HAVING TO SURRENDER THEM TO THE SHELTER. 
          AND WE PARTICIPATED IN 29 COMMUNITY OUTREACH EVENTS AND 21 ADOPTION EVENTS. 
          THESE PROGRAMS ARE CRITICAL. 
          THEY REDUCE INTAKE AT THE FRONT END BY SUPPORTING RESPONSIBLE PET OWNERSHIP, KEEPING ANIMALS IN THEIR HOMES AND PREVENTING AVOIDABLE SURRENDERS. 
          THIS IS PART OF HOW WE MANAGE THE BROADER SYSTEM OPPOSED TO JUST REACTING TO IT. 
          WHICH LEADS ME TO OUR REQUEST, OUR MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE COUNTY OUTLANDS OUTLINES THAT REIMBURSEMENT SHOULD REFLECT AT A MINIMUM THE ACTUAL COST OF SERVICES PROVIDED, INCLUDING ADMINISTRATIVE AND OVERHEAD COSTS. 
          AND I'M GONNA TURN THIS SECTION OVER TO JOE, SO YOU CAN SPEAK ON THAT. 
          THANK YOU. 
          GOOD MORNING. 
          UH, JOE RO, UM, MEMBER OF THE BOARD AND TREASURER. 
          UM, JUST GONNA GO OVER A LITTLE BIT WITH THE MOU AND, AND TURN IT RIGHT BACK OVER TO AMANDA. 
          YOU'D RATHER HEAR HER THAN ME. 
          ANYWAY. 
          UM, SO I JUST WANTED TO OUTLINE THE MOU. 
          IT'S AN OPERATING AGREEMENT BETWEEN US AND THE COUNTY. 
          IT WAS INITIALLY ESTABLISHED IN 1992 AND RENEWED UNDER THE ORIGINAL AGREEMENT SINCE 2013. 
          I BELIEVE IT'S A 20 YEAR COMMITMENT THAT WE BOTH AGREED, UM, AS PART OF THAT AGREEMENT, THE COUNTY, WHICH IS REQUIRED, YOU KNOW, BY STATE AND COUNTY LAW, THEY NEED TO PROVIDE CERTAIN ANIMAL CONTROL SERVICES. 
          AND THAT'S WHERE WE COME IN AS THE HUMANE SOCIETY. 
          UM, EXCUSE ME, UM, BASED ON THIS REQUIREMENT WHERE WE NEED TO PROVIDE ANIMAL SHELTER MANAGEMENT SERVICES FOR THE STATE AND THE COUNTY, AND BASED ON THIS REQUIREMENT, AGAIN, WE SHALL PROVIDE THESE SERVICES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND SPECIFICATIONS CONTAINED IN THE MOU HEREIN PER SECTION TWO, I BELIEVE. 
          DOES EVERYONE HAVE A COPY OF THE MOU? NOT THAT THEY, YOUR HONOR, THEY DO, AND I DON'T EXPECT EVERYONE TO READ ALONG WITH ME, BUT AT LEAST I WANT TO OUTLINE SOME OF THE, SOME OF THESE ISSUES. 
          AND, AND ONE MISCONCEPTION WHERE I WANT TO START IS WE'RE NOT HERE TODAY AS A 5 0 1 C3 CHARITY ASKING FOR, UM, MONEY TO SUPPORT OUR CAUSE. 
          WE ARE ASKING YOU TO FULFILL THE FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS AS DEFINED IN THE MOU TO PROVIDE THE REQUIRED SERVICES AS DICTATED BY STATE AND COUNTY LAW. 
          WE ARE BUDGETED UNDER THE PUBLIC SAFETY CATEGORY, NOT UNDER A 5 0 1 C3 CHARITY, ALONG WITH OTHER EMERGENCY SERVICES DEPARTMENTS AND DIVISIONS, AND READING THROUGH SOME OF THE, UM, ARTICLES WITHIN THE ACTUAL BUDGET ITSELF. 
          IT, IT'S ALSO STATES THAT FUNDING IS PROVIDED FOR THE OPERATION EXPENSES OF THE HUMANE SOCIETY. 
          AND I BELIEVE ALL THOSE TERMS ARE ALL KEY. 
          UM, AND GETTING INTO THE MOU, SOME OF THE SPECIFICS, THE SOCIETY SHALL OPERATE THE SHELTER AND KEEP THE SHELTER OPEN TO THE PUBLIC SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, EXCEPT FOR FEDERAL, STATE AND COUNTY HOLIDAYS PER SECTION TWO A FOUR. 
          UM, NOW THAT DOESN'T MEAN WHEN WE HAVE A STATE, COUNTY, AND FEDERAL HOLIDAY THAT WE ACTUALLY CLOSE, WE STILL HAVE TO FEED THE ANIMALS AND TAKE CARE OF THEM AND CLEAN THE SHELTER AND SUCH. 
          SO WE'RE STILL OPEN 365 DAYS A WEEK. 
          THE COUNTY SHALL NEGOTIATE, UH, AN ANNUAL MARKET, A FAIR MARKET FEE FOR EACH OF THE INITIAL TERM AND ANY RENEWAL WHICH SHALL BE PAID TO THE SOCIETY. 
          THE FEE SHALL BE AT A MINIMUM, THE ACTUAL COSTS INCURRED BY THE SOCIETY, PLUS A PRO RATA SHARE OF ADMINISTRATIVE AND OVERHEAD COSTS FOR THE NUMBER OF ANIMALS DELIVERED BY OR ON BEHALF OF THE COUNTY, INCLUDING STRAYS, UM, AND EXCLUDING ANIMALS BROUGHT IN TO BE SURRENDERED. 
          THAT IS PER SECTION THREE OF THE MOU. 
          UM, BOTH PARTIES ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE SOCIETY WOULD ALSO INCUR EXTRAORDINARY COSTS AND EXPENSES AND ADDRESSING THESE EXTRAORDINARY SITUATIONS. 
          FOR EXAMPLE, DOG HOARDING, UM, THE EXCESSIVE CAT HOARDING AS WELL. 
          SO THAT REQUIRES IMMEDIATE EMERGENCY RESPONSES BY THE SOCIETY, WHICH IS SUBJECT TO PAYMENT BY THE COUNTY. 
          THE AMOUNT TO BE PAID SHALL NOT EXCEED THE DOLLAR AMOUNTS APPROVED EACH YEAR IN THE COUNTY'S ANNUAL BUDGET AND APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE PER SECTION THREE. 
          AND THIS IS WHY WE'LL BE ASKING FOR A CONTINGENCY, BECAUSE IT NEEDS TO BE IN THE BUDGET FOR THESE EXTRA CASES. 
          UM, SO IN ADDITION TO THIS AND, AND MEETING THE COUNTY, UH, COUNTY STAFF HAS BEEN GREAT. 
          THEY'VE ACCOMMODATED OUR REQUEST FOR MEETINGS, SAT DOWN AND LISTENED TO ME BEAT ON 'EM FOR A LITTLE WHILE. 
          UM, BUT WE'VE ALSO AGREED THAT WE'D LIKE TO CONTINUE THE CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM 
          [00:10:01]
SO WE CAN ACTUALLY COME UP WITH A, A, MAYBE EVEN A NEW MOU THAT REALLY OUTLINES THE ACTUAL COSTS. 
          SO WE'RE NOT COMING IN HERE, UM, AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THEY ARE AND COME UP WITH ACTUAL CALCULATIONS. 
          SO WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO TURN IT BACK OVER TO A, SO TO BUILD ON WHAT JOE HAS STATED, THIS IS NOT A REQUEST TO EXPAND SERVICES. 
          UH, IT IS A REQUEST TO BRING FUNDING INTO ALIGNMENT WITH THE COST OF THE WORK ALREADY BEING PERFORMED ON BEHALF OF THE COUNTY. 
          AN ALLOCATION OF FYFY 27 OF 2.4 MILLION IS BASED ON THAT ALIGNMENT. 
          I DO WANT TO ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND HIS TEAM. 
          UM, WE'VE HAD CONTINUED AN OPEN CONVERSATION WITH THEM, UM, THROUGHOUT THIS ENTIRE PROCESS. 
          THEY'VE BEEN RECEPTIVE TO OUR POSITION AND RECOGNIZE THE CHALLENGES THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH. 
          UM, AGAIN, THERE'S ALSO A SHARED UNDER UNDERSTANDING THAT MOVING FORWARD THERE WILL NEED TO BE AN AMENDMENT TO THAT AGREEMENT AND WE'LL CONTINUE WORKING ON THAT. 
          AS YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN OPERATING IN A STRUCTURAL DEFICIT SINCE FY 23. 
          WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE INCREASE RECOMMENDED THIS YEAR. 
          IT IS MEANINGFUL PROGRESS. 
          AT THE SAME TIME, IT DOES NOT FULLY ADDRESS THE GAP FROM PRIOR YEARS THAT HAS BUILT OVER TIME. 
          THE $1.8 MILLION LEVEL THAT WAS PRESENTED TO THE COUNTY EXECS TEAM IS A MINIMUM BASELINE SCENARIO TO ACHIEVE A BALANCED FY 27 BUDGET. 
          IF WE CONTINUE AT THE LEVEL THAT WE'RE AT, THAT IS STATUS QUO. 
          THE FIGURE MIRRORS ALSO WHAT WE HAD REQUESTED AN FY 26 AND DID NOT RECEIVE. 
          OKAY. 
          WE INTENTIONALLY PROVIDED TWO FUNDING SCENARIOS, ONE TO DEMONSTRATE BASIC STABILIZATION AND ONE TO REFLECT FULL ALIGNMENT WITH THE COST OF SERVICES. 
          OUR FORMAL REQUEST FOR THE 2.4 MILLION REPRESENTS THAT SECOND OPTION, ONE THAT ENSURES LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY RATHER THAN CONTINUED SHORTFALLS. 
          THERE IS A VERY CLEAR MISMATCH BETWEEN THE ACTUAL COSTS AND REIMBURSEMENT. 
          HISTORICALLY, WE'VE BEEN FORTUNATE TO HAVE STRONG DONOR SUPPORT AND GRANTS THAT HAVE HELPED OFFSET THOSE GAPS, BUT THOSE SOURCES CANNOT RELIABLY SUBSIDIZE MANDATED SERVICES LONG TERM. 
          OVER THE PAST YEAR, WE HAVE TAKEN CAREFUL AND DELIBERATE STEPS TO STABILIZE OPERATIONS. 
          WE'VE REDUCED EXPENSES WHERE POSSIBLE, INCLUDING DIRECTLY TO OUR WORKFORCE. 
          UM, IN 2025, WHEN I FIRST CAME ON BOARD, WE HAD 43 EMPLOYEES. 
          WE ARE DOWN TO 34 AS OF TODAY. 
          WE ARE NOT FILLING A NUMBER OF POSITIONS THAT, UM, EMPLOYEES ARE LEAVING ON THEIR OWN ACCORD FOR. 
          WE'VE TIGHTENED CONTRACTS AND VENDOR SPENDING, AND WE'VE IMPLEMENTED MORE DISCIPLINED FINANCIAL CONTROLS. 
          THESE ACTIONS HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE TO THE BOTTOM LINE, BUT THEY HAVE ALSO REQUIRED DIFFICULT TRADE-OFFS IN CAPACITY AND FLEXIBILITY. 
          IT'S NOT A POSITION WE WANNA REMAIN IN, AND WE KNOW IT'S NOT SUSTAINABLE. 
          LOOKING AHEAD, WE'RE FOCUSED NOT JUST ON MAINTAINING OPERATIONS, BUT IMPROVING OUTCOMES. 
          WE HAVE SECURED, UH, $200,000 THROUGH A STATE BOND BILL, UH, TO COMPLETE OUR CANINE TRAINING AND BEHAVIOR FACILITY. 
          THIS WILL ALLOW US TO IMPROVE ADOPTABILITY, REDUCE LENGTH OF STAY, DECREASE RETURN RATES, AND ULTIMATELY REDUCE LONG-TERM COSTS. 
          I JUST WANNA SPEAK FOR A MINUTE TO OVERSIGHT AND TRANSPARENCY. 
          WE OPERATE WITH MULTIPLE LAYERS OF OVERSIGHT. 
          IN ADDITION TO THE STANDARD SET FORTH IN THE MOU WITH THE COUNTY, WE HAVE TWO COUNTY APPOINTED BOARD MEMBERS NOW REPRESENTING BOTH THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND THE COUNTY COUNCIL. 
          THEY ARE PRESENT AND INVOLVED IN MONTHLY MEETINGS, AS WELL AS ANNUAL REVIEWS AND ANYTHING THEY COULD POSSIBLY NEED OR WANT. 
          WE ARE AVAILABLE TO ASSIST. 
          UH, WE ARE REGULATED AT THE FEDERAL, STATE, AND MUNICIPAL LEVELS AS WELL. 
          WE CARRY STATE LICENSURE AS BOTH A VETERINARY HOSPITAL AND AN ANIMAL CONTROL FACILITY. 
          AND I WANT TO POINT TO THAT A LITTLE FURTHER BECAUSE THERE IS A GREAT DEAL OF MISCONCEPTION AND CONFUSION FROM THE GENERAL PUBLIC REGARDING THOSE LICENSES. 
          WE ARE NOT A PRIVATE VETERINARY FACILITY. 
          WE ARE ALSO NOT A RESCUE. 
          THEY ARE DISTINCTLY AND VASTLY DIFFERENT. 
          WE ALSO REMAIN IN FULL COMPLIANCE UNDER ALL OF THOSE STANDARDS EVERY SINGLE YEAR. 
          WE ALSO HAVE AN INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL AUDIT ANNUALLY, WHICH IS PROVIDED TO THE COUNTY. 
          WE HAVE MADE OUR FORM NINE 90 FILINGS AVAILABLE PUBLICLY, DIRECTLY ON OUR WEBSITE EVERY YEAR. 
          WE HAVE PUBLISHED FOR THE PUBLIC AS WELL, OUR STANDARDS OF CARE NEW IN FY 26. 
          WE DO POST OUR QUARTERLY INTAKE DATA 
          [00:15:01]
DIRECTLY TO OUR WEBSITE, BUT THAT HAS ALSO ALWAYS BEEN PROVIDED TO THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AS REQUIRED BY LAW AS WELL. 
          WE ARE NOT REQUIRED TO MAKE ANY OF THIS INFORMATION PUBLIC. 
          MANY SHELTERS DO NOT. 
          IF YOU LOOK AT THOSE REGIONALLY CLOSE TO US, THEY DO NOT SHARE THIS INFORMATION. 
          WE DO. 
          SO AT ITS CORE, THIS REQUEST IS ABOUT ALIGNMENT. 
          ALIGNMENT BETWEEN THE SERVICES THE STATE AND COUNTY REQUIRE THE REAL COST OF DELIVERING THOSE SERVICES AND THE FUNDING NECESSARY TO SUSTAIN THEM. 
          A $2.4 MILLION REQUEST REFLECTS THAT ALIGNMENT AT SOME POINT. 
          CONTINUED COST CUTTING BEGINS TO IMPACT SERVICE DELIVERY. 
          WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR MORE THAN IT TAKES TO DO THE JOB. 
          WE'RE SIMPLY ASKING FOR THE ABILITY TO DO SO RESPONSIBLY. 
          AND WITH THAT, I'LL OPEN IT UP TO ANY QUESTIONS. 
          UM, AMANDA, JOE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. 
          THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, UH, THIS PAST WEEK AS WELL. 
          UM, MS. IMO, GOOD MORNING. 
          UM, FIRST I WANNA SAY, AS THE COUNCIL APPOINTED BOARD MEMBER, UM, YOU GUYS HAVE HONESTLY ILLUSTRATED A DEEP DIVE INTO ALL ASPECTS OF HOW THE HUMANE SOCIETY HAS BEEN FUNCTIONING AND NEEDS TO FUNCTION MOVING FORWARD. 
          UM, YOU KNOW, UM, OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF BIG CHANGES AT THE HUMANE SOCIETY. 
          UM, WE WERE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO GET A NEW, VERY IMPORTANT BUILDING THAT IS ACTUALLY CONDUCIVE TO THE WORK THAT YOU GUYS DO. 
          UM, WE'VE OBVIOUSLY HAD SOME LEADERSHIP CHANGES, AND THAT HAS RESULTED IN US NEEDING TO TAKE A LOOK AND SAYING, JUST BECAUSE WE'VE ALWAYS DONE SOMETHING A CERTAIN WAY, DOESN'T MEAN THAT THAT'S THE APPROPRIATE WAY TO KEEP DOING IT. 
          UM, WE HAVE SPENT SO MANY OF OUR BOARD MEETINGS GOING OVER FINANCES DOWN TO EVERY SINGLE BUDGET LINE. 
          UM, AND WHAT IT HAS COME DOWN TO IS, UM, THERE SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN A MISMATCH IN COUNTY UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE OBLIGATIONS OF SHALL FUND VERSUS MAY FUND. 
          ONE OF THE LINES IN THE MOU STATES THAT THE HUMANE SOCIETY CAN'T COME BACK TO THE COUNTY LATER AFTER THE BUDGET AND ASK FOR MORE FUNDS. 
          WELL, WHEN YOU HAVE THESE IMMENSE HOARDING CASES, WHICH I WAS ABLE TO GO OUT AND SEE LAST SUMMER, AND HAVE FOLLOWED THROUGHOUT THIS ENTIRE DURATION, THE HUMANE SOCIETY IS STILL MONTHLY ACCRUING EXPENSES TO THESE HOARD CASES AND ANIMAL CONTROL CASES. 
          WITH THAT BEING SAID, IF ANYONE GOES TO HUMANE SOCIETY, THEY'RE NOT FRIVOLOUSLY SPENDING ANYTHING. 
          IT IS ESSENTIALLY A BARE BONES HUMANE TREATMENT FOR THESE ANIMALS. 
          THE MAJORITY OF THEIR STAFF ARE VOLUNTEER, WHICH IS AN IMMENSE RESOURCE TO THE COUNTY. 
          UM, AND ACTUALLY AFTER REVIEWING THEIR BUDGETS FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, THEY'VE ACTUALLY BEEN, UM, DEPRIVED OF ABOUT A MILLION DOLLARS EVERY YEAR FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. 
          AND SO, YES, WHILE THE ADDITION ADDED TO THE, THE BUDGET FROM LAST YEAR IS NICE, WHAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR IS HONESTLY A BUDGET LINE FOR A LOT OF THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT. 
          AND THEY PROVIDE A HEALTH SERVICE, A SAFETY SERVICE, YOU KNOW, UM, A COMMUNITY SERVICE. 
          AND SO I JUST DON'T THINK IT'S INSANE TO BE ABLE TO FUND THEM AT WHAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING SAYS THAT THEY CAN'T COME BACK LATER IF THEY HAVE A TON OF HOING CASES. 
          LAST SUMMER ALONE, THEY WERE DEALING WITH AT LEAST THREE AND A FARM, A PERSIAN CAT AND AN INSANE DOG COURT CASE, UM, THAT ENDED UP RESULTING IN FBI SERVICES. 
          UM, AND SO IF THE MOU STATES THAT THEY SHOULDN'T BE COMING AND, AND HAVING TO SUBMIT INVOICES, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE WOULDN'T BE FULLY FUNDING THEM BASED OFF OF WHAT THEIR 2026 ACTUAL NEED WAS. 
          UM, AND IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE MOU STATES THAT THEY CAN SUBMIT AN INVOICE TO THE COUNTY WITHIN 30 DAYS. 
          THEY SUBMITTED ONE IN SEPTEMBER THAT'S STILL NOT PAID. 
          SO I THINK WE'RE STRUGGLING WITH OUR PROCESS AT THIS POINT, AND IT NEEDS TO BE REALLY REASSESSED. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU, MS. ENH. 
          UH, ANYONE ELSE? MR. BENNETT? UH, HELLO. 
          GOOD MORNING. 
          THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US THIS MORNING. 
          ESSENTIALLY, YOU'RE ASKING FOR, IF I UNDERSTAND CORRECTLY, UM, $600,000 MORE THAN WAS PRESENTLY IN THE BUDGET. 
          CORRECT. 
          AND, UM, MR. SANLI, COULD YOU JUST SAY TO FOR THE RECORD, AND TO REMIND ANYONE WHO'S LISTENING YEAR OVER YEAR, OR JUST CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, YEAR OVER YEAR, OUR UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE, JUNE 30TH, 2026 COMPARED TO JUNE 30TH, 2025, IS GROWING BY ROUGHLY 38 MILLION. 
          [00:20:01]
WELL, WE, WE HAD A UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE AT THE CLOSE OF LAST YEAR, ABOUT $37 MILLION. 
          THAT WAS AFTER TWO YEARS OF THE UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE BEING AROUND 6 MILLION OR SO A YEAR OR SO. 
          LAST YEAR WAS A JUMP UP IN THE UNASSIGNED OVER THE LAST, OVER THE LAST, UH, LAST THREE YEARS. 
          UM, AND MAYBE MR. MCCORD CAN ANSWER THIS, HAS, WAS THE COUNTY, UH, ADMINISTRATION AWARE OF THAT REQUEST OF THE $2.4 MILLION BEFORE THIS MORNING? THEIR REQUEST? MM-HMM . 
          OKAY. 
          WAS THERE ANY RATIONALE AS TO WHY WE LANDED AT 1.8 AND NOT 2.4? SO THEY, THEY SENT US A, A REQUEST AND MET WITH US, I'M GONNA SAY IN JANUARY, PROVIDED US WITH TWO OPTIONS. 
          UM, I HAVE THEIR REQUEST FROM JANUARY, UH, WHERE THEY SAY THE FY 27 BUDGET REQUEST OF 1.8 MILLION IS INTENTIONALLY CONSERVATIVE AND DESIGNED TO SUPPORT A BREAK EVEN OPERATING YEAR ONLY. 
          I THINK AS AMANDA JUST SAID, THEY ALSO PRESENTED AN, YOU KNOW, A HIGHER LEVEL FUNDING OPTION OF, OF 2.4 MILLION. 
          UM, SO WE, WE FUNDED THE $1.8 MILLION SORT OF BASELINE REQUEST, WHICH AS I SAID IS ABOUT A 600, UM, EXCUSE ME, A 563,000 INCREASE OVER THE CURRENT YEAR, ABOUT 42%. 
          UM, I KNOW THAT THERE ARE, UM, SOME REQUESTS FOR THIS CURRENT FISCAL YEAR. 
          UM, BUT AGAIN, BECAUSE OF THE CONSTRAINTS OF THE MOU, WE CAN ONLY PROVIDE UP TO THE AMOUNT PUT IN THE BUDGET, ALTHOUGH WE DO HAVE THE OPTION OF USING OTHER FUNDS BUDGETED ELSEWHERE. 
          BUT WE DON'T TYPICALLY LIKE TO DO THAT UNTIL THE FOURTH QUARTER OF THE YEAR UNTIL WE KNOW THAT THE PLACE WHERE THEY WERE BUDGETED HAS THOSE FUNDS AVAILABLE. 
          SO, AND ALSO, BY WAY OF EXAMPLE, THE PRIOR FISCAL YEAR FY 25, I BELIEVE WE PROVIDED THEM WITH ABOUT 250,000 OVER AND ABOVE THEIR REGULAR FUNDING AMOUNT, UH, LATER IN THAT FISCAL YEAR. 
          SO IT'S NOT CORRECT THAT WE DON'T EVER PROVIDE THEM WITH ADDITIONAL FUNDS ABOVE WHAT WE'VE BUDGETED THEM. 
          WOULD THE ADMINISTRATION BE OPEN TO AMENDING THE BUDGET TO INCREASE THE HUMANE SOCIETY'S FUNDING? I MEAN, I'D HAVE TO TAKE THAT BACK, BUT AGAIN, WE ARE PROVIDING THEM WITH AN AN IN AN INCREASE OF 42%, WHICH IS FAR AND AWAY THE HIGHEST YEAR OVER YEAR INCREASE, UM, OF ANY DEPARTMENT OR AGENCY THAT WE FUND. 
          UH, BUT WE CAN CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW, TAKE THAT BACK AND LOOK AT IT AGAIN. 
          BUT AGAIN, WE'RE PROVIDING THEM WITH A VERY SIGNIFICANT INCREASE. 
          THANK YOU, MR. BENNETT. 
          MS. ROBERT, GOOD MORNING. 
          UM, GREAT TO SEE YOU BOTH HERE TODAY. 
          SO IT DEFINITELY LOOKS LIKE THE MOU NEEDS TO BE AMENDED FOR SURE. 
          UM, I DIDN'T SEE ANY LANGUAGE IN THERE FOR, UM, THESE SEIZE CASES, UM, AS WELL. 
          UM, IT LOOKS LIKE WE ARE NOW INTAKING FOR, ACCORDING TO THIS, LIKE 1400 SEIZED ANIMALS, WHICH IS A BURDEN I'M SURE. 
          SO WHAT IS THE ADDITIONAL COST IF YOU HAVE THAT NUMBER, UH, FOR HOLDING ONTO THEM? I KNOW YOU'VE HAD THE PERSIAN CATS. 
          I KNOW YOU HAD THE DOGS. 
          THEY WERE THERE UNTIL FBI, YOU KNOW, TRANSFERRED THEM. 
          I BELIEVE THE CATS MIGHT BE STILL THERE. 
          UM, THEY'RE NOT , THEY'RE NOT THERE. 
          THAT'S RIGHT. 
          THEY REMOVED. 
          UM, SO WHEN YOU GET THE FARM ANIMALS AND THEY'RE STAYING FOR LIKE SIX MONTHS OR THAT LENGTH OF TIME, AND THEN YOU HAVE THE COURT HEARINGS, WHAT DOES THAT COST LOOK LIKE? BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT'S WHERE YOU'RE WANTING THAT ADDITIONAL FUNDING IS BECAUSE THAT IS BECOMING A BURDEN. 
          SO, UM, THE ADDITIONAL 100,000 THAT HAS BEEN SET ASIDE ABOVE AND BEYOND THAT 1.8, UM, FOR THE, THE FY 27 ALLOCATION IS MEANT TO, UM, COVER ANY OF THOSE EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES. 
          IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT TO NAIL DOWN A SPECIFIC NUMBER OR EVEN AN AVERAGE. 
          UM, IT DEPENDS ON THE CASE, UM, THE HEALTH, THE SEVERITY OF THEIR CONDITIONS. 
          UM, TO GIVE AN IDEA, THE DOG SITUATION FROM LAST SUMMER, UH, THERE WERE 44 DOGS THAT WE HELD FOR A LITTLE OVER 60 DAYS. 
          UM, THE COST OF THAT ALONE, WHAT WE WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PURSUE IN RESTITUTION WAS A LITTLE OVER 60, $67,000. 
          UM, AND THAT ACCOUNTED FOR, UM, YOU KNOW, DAY-TO-DAY CARE FROM OUR STAFF AS WELL AS THE ADDITIONAL DOCTORS, THE VETS THAT IT TOOK TO COME OUT, UM, AND ADDRESS THOSE ANIMALS. 
          SO IT REALLY JUST DEPENDS. 
          THEY WERE IN, UM, VERY POOR CONDITION AND REQUIRED A LITTLE EXTRA LOVE FROM OUR TEAM. 
          UM, WHEREAS THE, 
          [00:25:01]
THE HOARDING CASE, UM, THAT WE JUST RECENTLY WERE ABLE TO, UM, CLOSE OUT ACTUALLY LAST WEEK WITH THE FARM ANIMALS. 
          MM-HMM . 
          WE'VE HAD THEM SINCE LAST JUNE MM-HMM . 
          MM-HMM . 
          UM, 57 FARM ANIMALS THAT WE'VE NOT BEEN ABLE TO PLACE WITH RESCUES, FOSTERS ANYTHING. 
          WE'VE HAD TO KEEP THEM IN-HOUSE. 
          WE ARE OVER, I THINK 125,000 MM-HMM . 
          AS OF TODAY. 
          UM, AND WE WILL NOT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE OF THE OUTCOME OF THAT CASE TO GO BACK TO SEEK FULL REIMBURSEMENT IN THE FORM OF RESTITUTION. 
          SO IT REALLY VARIES. 
          IT DEPENDS ON WHAT SPECIALISTS HAVE TO BE BROUGHT IN. 
          UM, YOU KNOW, FEED REQUIREMENTS ARE DIFFERENT BETWEEN LIVESTOCK AND A DOG OR A CAT. 
          IT, IT SIMPLY VARIES. 
          SO IT DEFINITELY SEEMS LIKE THE AMOUNT YOU ARE ASKING FOR IS APPROPRIATE BASED ON THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES, BASED ON, I'M SURE THERE'LL BE MORE COURTING CASES. 
          UM, YOU KNOW, THEY SEEM TO BE BECOMING MORE FREQUENT. 
          UM, SO IT WOULD BE GREAT TO HAVE EVERYONE SIT DOWN AND LOOK AT THIS MOU, UM, REINVEST, ESPECIALLY SINCE I'M LOOKING AT SIGNATURES AND ME BEING A GRANT PERSON FOR THE COURTS. 
          ANYTIME WE DID MOUS, WE ALWAYS HAD 'EM SIGNED BY THE CURRENT DIRECTOR, THE CURRENT BOARDS, THE CURRENT WHOMEVER, UM, AT LEAST, YOU KNOW, PUTTING THAT INTO PLACE AS WELL WITH THE NEW LANGUAGE OF, YOU KNOW, THERE'S DIFFERENT DEFINITELY DIFFERENCE WITH SHALL, MAY, UM, ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT COURT LANGUAGE, WHAT YOU WANT IN PLACE IS SOMETHING THAT IS BASICALLY LIKE THIS WILL OCCUR. 
          SO, UM, THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU, MS. ROBERT, MS. , CAN YOU GUYS GO OVER SOME OF THE ALTERNATIVES THAT YOU'VE HAD TO DISCUSS IF YOUR BUDGET IS NOT WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE? UM, AGAIN, WE WOULD HAVE TO LOOK AT OUR SALARY LINE. 
          UM, THERE WOULD BE POTENTIALLY ANOTHER WORKFORCE REDUCTION. 
          UM, WE HAVE NOT HAD A DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS SINCE LAST YEAR, THE START OF THIS CURRENT FISCAL YEAR. 
          UM, WE ABSOLUTELY NEED THAT SUPPORT. 
          WE NEED THAT ROLE FILLED. 
          UM, IT WILL ALSO AFFECT OUR STANDARDS OF CARE. 
          UM, EUTHANASIA IS A VERY HOT BUTTON TOPIC, GENERALLY SPEAKING. 
          UH, WE DO NOT EUTHANIZE FOR SPACE. 
          UM, AGAIN, WE'VE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE AND WE HAVEN'T HAD TO DO THAT. 
          BUT AGAIN, IN THOSE FIRST TWO YEARS OF OUR DEFICIT, I NOTED THAT WE WERE VERY CLEARLY ON TOP OF THOSE LARGE SCALE CASES, WE WERE CLEARLY TRYING TO SAVE EVERY SINGLE ANIMAL. 
          THAT WAS THE MENTALITY. 
          THAT IS WHAT THE COMMUNITY DEMANDED OF US AND WE WERE SPENDING. 
          YOU CANNOT ACCOMPLISH THAT. 
          UM, AND YOU CANNOT HAVE A 100% LIVE RELEASE RATE UNLESS YOU HAVE VERY DEEP POCKETS, AN UNLIMITED FUNDING SOURCE. 
          IF WE HAVE TO REDUCE FURTHER, WE WILL HAVE TO ADJUST OUR STANDARDS OF CARE. 
          THERE WILL BE INCREASED EUTHANASIA, AND THEN THERE WILL BE A MULTITUDE OF PROBLEMS THAT COME FROM THAT MOVING FORWARD. 
          AND I KNOW YOU GUYS HAVE ALSO TALKED ABOUT THE MOU STATES THAT YOU GUYS NEED TO HAVE OPEN HOURS EVERY SINGLE DAY. 
          AND YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT HOW, UM, IF NEEDED TO BE ABLE TO SAVE ON OPERATING COSTS, YOU GUYS MAY HAVE TO REASSESS THAT. 
          CORRECT. 
          UM, AND THEN ON TOP OF IT, FOR, FOR ANYONE WHO KNOWS, THE, THE REASON WHY THEY CAN'T GO BACK AND PURSUE RESTITUTION FROM THE ANIMAL FARM HOARDING CASE IS BECAUSE THAT WAS PART OF THE AGREEMENT IN THE CRIMINAL TRIAL. 
          MM-HMM . 
          UM, AND SO THEY ORIGINALLY HAD THOUGHT THAT THEY COULD START, UM, SENDING THE ANIMALS OUT TO RESCUES AND THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT THEN THE, UM, THE DEFENDANT, THE THE DEFENDANT, UM, FILED, FILED AN APPEAL MM-HMM . 
          AND SO THEY ACTUALLY HAD TO RE GO BACK AND REGAIN THOSE ANIMALS. 
          MM. 
          UM, AND, YOU KNOW, WHEN THEY ARE HOLDING ANIMALS THROUGH ONE OF THESE CRIMINAL CASES, IT'S NOT LIKE THAT THEY HAVE THE FULL ABILITY TO MAKE THE BEST CHOICE FOR THESE ANIMALS. 
          THEY'RE, IN SOME CASES, LIMPING THESE ANIMALS ALONG BECAUSE THEY DON'T BELONG TO THEM. 
          MM-HMM . 
          UM, AND UNTIL THE, THE COURT TRIALS GO THROUGH, THEY ARE ACCRUING AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF VETERINARY NEEDS, SPECIALTY FOOD, HOUSING. 
          I MEAN, THE, THE DOLL COURTING CASES LAST YEAR, LUCKILY YOU GUYS HAVE RECEIVED THE STATE BOND TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THAT AN ACTUAL FUNCTIONING SPACE. 
          BUT WHEN I WENT IN THERE, IT WAS HOT AND THEY HAD TO BRING IN THESE HUGE INDUSTRIAL FANS JUST TO BE ABLE TO KEEP THE ANIMALS, UM, COMFORTABLE. 
          AND THAT ALONE IN ENERGY, I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF THAT HAS BEEN CAPTURED. 
          UM, SO OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF CONCERNS, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT 
          [00:30:01]
THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT PERCENTAGE INCREASE FROM THEIR BUDGET LAST YEAR, BUT I THINK WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS THE BUDGET HASN'T BEEN SUFFICIENT FOR QUITE SOME TIME. 
          UM, AND WE NEED TO DO A REASSESSMENT AND, AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO MOVE FORWARD. 
          THANK YOU, MS. O. 
          THANK YOU. 
          GOOD MORNING. 
          THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY. 
          UM, I JUST WANTED TO SAY, UM, ONE, I APPRECIATE ALL OF THE GREAT WORK THAT YOU GUYS DO EVERY DAY AND THE TRANSPARENCY THAT YOU PROVIDE ONLINE, UM, AS WELL AS ALL OF THE FUNDRAISING EFFORTS. 
          I THINK THAT'S HUGE. 
          SO I REALLY HOPE THAT THE ADMINISTRATION WILL REVISIT THIS. 
          THANKS. 
          THANK YOU. 
          AND THEN YOU MAY HAVE TOUCHED ON IT, AND I MAY HAVE MISSED IT. 
          THE SEPTEMBER INVOICE, THAT'S OUTSTANDING. 
          HOW MUCH IS THAT? A LITTLE OVER 16,000. 
          I THINK IT'S 16,664. 
          AND CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO ME, UH, BEN AGAIN, WHY THAT HASN'T BEEN COVERED? WELL, WELL, BECAUSE WE DON'T, WE DON'T CURRENTLY HAVE A A SOURCE. 
          I MEAN, WE DON'T HAVE A SOURCE FOR IT. 
          WE'VE, WE'VE ALLOCATED ALL THE MONEY THAT'S WITHIN THE HUMANE SOCIETY'S BUDGET TO THE HUMANE SOCIETY. 
          SO IN ORDER TO COVER IT, WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT OUT OF SOME OTHER BUDGET. 
          AND WE, WE, AGAIN, WE HAVE DONE THAT IN THE PAST. 
          AS I SAID, WE DID THAT TO THE TWO OF $250,000 IN FY 25, BUT WE TYPICALLY, TYPICALLY LIKE TO WAIT TILL LATER IN THE YEAR TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE FUNDS ARE ACTUAL, ACTUAL SAVINGS TO THEN BE ABLE TO SEND THEM TO A DIFFERENT AGENCY THAN THE ONE TO WHICH THEY WERE BUDGETED. 
          SO, I MEAN, IN, IN THESE CASES, THE UNASSIGNED WOULDN'T COME INTO PLAY BECAUSE THE UNASSIGNED IS IN ESSENCE GROWING THE BUDGET, NOT REALLOCATING WITHIN THE BUDGET. 
          BUT THE AGREEMENT SAYS THAT THE COUNTY WILL PAY THE INVOICES OBJECTION. 
          MM-HMM . 
          OKAY. 
          IT SAYS SHALL MM-HMM . 
          IN THE MU IT SAYS SHALL, BUT ONLY UP TO THE AMOUNT BUDGETED TO THE TIES IN THE BUDGET. 
          WHICH IS WHY I THINK WE'RE STRUGGLING WITH NOT HAVING A, THE CHUNK OF MONEY THAT'S NEEDED FROM THE GET GO. 
          OKAY. 
          ALRIGHT. 
          THANKS. 
          ANYONE ELSE? CYNTHIA? GOOD MORNING. 
          UM, I REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT YOU DO. 
          I HAVE BEEN, UM, BEFORE YOUR TENDER, I HAVE VISITED THE FACILITY. 
          UM, I'M DIRECTING THIS QUESTION TO THE GUYS WHO'VE BEEN AROUND FOR MAYBE 10 YEARS OR MORE, MR. TBS, ROBBIE, UM, MR. VINCENTI, AT ONE TIME, THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT BY DEPARTMENT BUDGET HELD THE DOLLARS FOR THE COLLECTION OF ANIMALS THAT WERE PICKED UP BY THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT. 
          THEN THROUGH AN UNDERSTANDING WITH THE COUNTY, THE HUMANE SOCIETY WAS, THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT WAS GIVEN A KEY, LITERALLY TO THE HUMANE SOCIETY. 
          SO WHEN THEY PICKED UP AN ANIMAL INSTEAD OF THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT DEALING WITH THAT ANIMAL IN THEIR FACILITY, IT WAS THEN TAKEN TO THE HUMANE SOCIETY. 
          BUT THE CARE OF THOSE ANIMALS ULTIMATELY USED TO BE IN THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT BUDGET. 
          YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT ANIMAL CONTROL? YES. 
          OKAY. 
          UM, AND, AND IT MAYBE 10 YEARS, MAYBE EIGHT. 
          I'M OLD, YOU KNOW, COVID HAPPENED, I DON'T REMEMBER . 
          UM, BUT, BUT WHEN THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT WAS GIVEN THE KEY, THEN THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT WAS NO LONGER RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONTROL, FOR THE CONTROL OF THE ANIMAL BECAUSE THEY SIMPLY PICKED IT UP IN THEIR SPECIAL VEHICLES AND DELIVERED IT TO THE HUMANE SOCIETY 24 7. 
          SO THERE WAS MONEY IN THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT BUDGET ORIGINALLY TO TAKE CARE OF THOSE ANIMALS, AND ESPECIALLY IN HOARDING AND IN WHERE THERE WERE WORST CASE SCENARIOS, SO TO SPEAK. 
          I KNOW THAT EVERY PENNY COUNTS. 
          I'M, THIS IS NOT MY FIRST BUDGET, BUT MAYBE THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN FULLY FUNDED, I BELIEVE THIS YEAR. 
          MAYBE WE CAN LOOK AT SOME PENNIES FOR SOME KIND OF SPLIT 30 70 OR SOMETHING THAT MAYBE FOR THIS YEAR WE COULD LOOK TO THEM THROUGH PENNIES, UM, OUT OF THEIR BUDGET TO BE ABLE TO FORWARD TO THE HUMANE SOCIETY. 
          JUST A SUGGESTION. 
          MAY I HAVE NO IDEA? YOU COULD SURELY ASK THAT QUESTION TO THE SHERIFF WHEN HE COMES. 
          CAN I SPEAK TO THAT BRIEFLY? YES, PLEASE. 
          UM, SO WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH ANIMAL CONTROL. 
          THEY DO STILL QUITE LITERALLY HAVE A KEY TO THE BUILDING WITH 24 7 ACCESS. 
          UM, ANIMAL CONTROL WORKS VERY HARD TO KEEP ANIMALS OUT OF OUR BUILDING. 
          THEY RELY ON A MULTITUDE OF OTHER RESOURCES AND PARTNERS, UM, TO BE ABLE TO PLACE ANIMALS, ESPECIALLY WITH SOME OF THESE LARGER CASES WITH OTHER RESCUES AND, UM, OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. 
          THEY'RE ALREADY DOING THAT. 
          UM, IT IS BETWEEN, QUITE LITERALLY MYSELF 
          [00:35:01]
AND KEVIN KAAS, UM, FROM ANIMAL CONTROL IN DEALING WITH, UM, OUR PARTNERS AT A EH, THE ANIMAL EMERGENCY HOSPITAL FOR THE STRAYS AND, UM, THE INJURED ANIMALS THAT THE GENERAL PUBLIC BRINGS IN DURING OFF HOURS, THEY ARE CALLING ONE OF THE TWO OF US, UM, AND ATTEMPTING TO DETERMINE WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE WITH THAT ANIMAL. 
          THEY ARE ALREADY REGULARLY COVERING COSTS THAT WE ARE NOT COVERING. 
          SO IT IS BETWEEN BOTH OF US, WE ARE TAG TEAMING, UM, AND THEY ARE REGULARLY PULLING ON WHATEVER POCKET OF FUNDS THEY HAVE TO RELY ON. 
          THEY'RE DOING THAT AS WELL. 
          DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, CYNTHIA? YEAH, I'M, I, I'M JUST TRYING TO FIND THINGS. 
          OKAY. 
          CAN I, I DON'T KNOW. 
          CAN I FOLLOW UP? MAYBE. 
          I REALLY DON'T KNOW. 
          , I'LL BE NICE. 
          I'M KNOW ABOUT THAT EITHER. 
          I HAVEN'T HAD MY COFFEE YET, SO I'M NOT ALL WIRED UP. 
          SO, UM, AS PART OF THE BOARD, I'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD, I BELIEVE SINCE 20 18, 20 19. 
          UM, WE, WE HAVE REALLY TRIED TO BE RESPONSIBLE WITH THE MONEY THAT WE'VE RECEIVED FOR THE COUNTY. 
          AND EVERY YEAR WE'VE COME TO YOU AND THE COUNTY EXEC WITH A, WITH A NUMBER THAT WAS BALANCING OUR BUDGET BASED ON A LOT OF MONIES RECEIVED FROM, UM, OUTSIDE DONORS. 
          AND WE'VE BEEN DOING A GOOD JOB. 
          AND THAT'S WHERE THAT 1.8 MILLION STARTED UNTIL AGAIN, WE STARTED DOING OUR DEEPER DIVE, KNOWING IT'S NOT SUSTAINABLE AND BEING UNDERFUNDED FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS BY OVER A MILLION DOLLARS EACH YEAR BASED ON LANGUAGE AND THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING. 
          NOW THAT'S OUR FAULT. 
          RIGHT? THAT'S THE BOARD'S FAULT FOR NOT COMING TO YOU WITH THE LANGUAGE AND TRYING TO MATCH THE LANGUAGE WITH THE DOLLARS THAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO RECEIVE. 
          SO WHEN WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S OFFICE TO SAY, LOOK, WE GAVE YOU A $1.8 MILLION BALANCED FIGURE THAT BARELY PAYS OUR SALARIES FOR THE YEAR, THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE ANY ANIMAL CARE. 
          THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE THE MAINTAINING OF THE GROUNDS. 
          YOU KNOW? SO WE, WE JUST KEEP GOING BACKWARDS MM-HMM . 
          AND UNTIL WE RIGHT THE SHIP AND WE HAVE TO KEEP DIPPING INTO FUNDS, WE'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO STAY OPEN AND BE SUSTAINABLE. 
          AND AT SOME POINT IN TIME, IT'S NOT GONNA BE WORTH US TO STAY OPEN LOSING A MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR OR WHATEVER THAT AMOUNT MAY BE. 
          YOU KNOW, SO WE'RE REALLY HERE, AND THAT'S WHY WE WENT THE 2.4 AND THE 200,000 CONTINGENCY, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THE MOU STATES, YOU KNOW. 
          SO YES, OUR FAULT FOR COMING IN FOR 1.8, WE'RE ASKING FOR WHAT IS REQUIRED IN THE MOU AT 2.4. 
          SO WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR ANYTHING OUTTA THE ORDINARY. 
          UM, SO THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO HOPEFULLY END ON TO, TO SEE IF WE CAN MOVE THIS THING FORWARD. 
          THANK YOU, JEFF, MR. BENNETT. 
          AND JUST TO TRY AND CONNECT EVERYTHING I'VE HEARD THIS MORNING, IF THE HUMANE SOCIETY SEIZES A FEW HUNDRED FARM ANIMALS IN JULY, IT'S THE COUNTY'S POSITION THAT THEY HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THE FOURTH QUARTER OF THE YEAR TO RECEIVE ANY SORT OF REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE FUNDS, UH, COMPANY. 
          WELL, I MEAN, I WOULD JUST SAY THE COUNTY'S POSITION, BUT I, I MEAN, I THINK THAT, THAT, THAT THE, I MEAN THAT THE EXISTING LAW IS THAT WE CAN'T TRANSFER FROM, UH, FROM ONE BUDGET TO ANOTHER UNTIL THE, UNTIL THE FOURTH QUARTER. 
          THAT'S THE CHARTER. 
          YEAH. 
          SO, AND SO WITH THAT IN MIND, YOU KNOW, AND THE FACT THAT OUR OVERALL FUND BALANCE YEAR OVER YEAR IS GROWING $55.7 MILLION, EVEN WITH THE CREATION OF THE NEW CATEGORY OF REVENUE VOLATILITY, THE UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE HAS GROWN $38.2 MILLION YEAR OVER YEAR. 
          I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE'RE HAVING TO SEARCH FOR PENNIES WHEN THE, THE MONEY IS SITTING RIGHT THERE. 
          AND IT, YOU KNOW, YOU COULD HAVE THE UN UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE GROW BY 37.6 MILLION INSTEAD OF 38.2 MILLION, AND I DON'T THINK ANYBODY WOULD EVEN NOTICE, BUT IT WOULD MAKE IT THAT THE MONEY'S THERE TO COVER THE SERVICES THE HUMANE SOCIETY IS, UH, CALLED TO COVER. 
          THANK YOU, MR. BENNETT. 
          MR. TIPS, I, I JUST WAS GOING TO ASK, HOW MANY ANIMALS OUTSIDE THE JURISDICTION DO YOU GET A YEAR? WE DO NOT TAKE ANIMALS OUTSIDE OF HARFORD COUNTY. 
          EVERY NOW AND THEN WE WILL PULL RETURNS THAT ARE SENT TO, UM, BALTIMORE OR CIL COUNTY. 
          THAT'S HOW MANY, UM, NOT MANY. 
          MAYBE 20 OR 30 ON AVERAGE. 
          DO THEY PAY FOR THAT WHILE THEY'RE THERE? OR DO YOU YOU HAVE TO TAKE, WE ABSORB EVERYTHING. 
          I MEAN, THAT'S THE POINT THAT I'M GETTING AT. 
          THEY SHOULD BE PAYING FOR THEIR CARE. 
          THAT'S WHY YOU'RE TAKING CARE OF IT. 
          WELL, ONCE THEY, WHAT HAPPENS IS ESSENTIALLY AN ANIMAL WILL GET BROUGHT TO BARKS. 
          IF THEY ARE MICROCHIP AND THEY CHECK THAT MICROCHIP 
          [00:40:01]
AND THEY FIND THAT, UH, ORIGINALLY THAT ANIMAL, UM, ORIGINATED FROM OUR HUMANE SOCIETY, THEY'LL CALL US AND SAY, HEY, WE'VE GOT YOUR ANIMAL. 
          DO YOU WANT TO COME PICK IT UP? OR, YOU KNOW, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE US TO DO? VERY RARELY DO ANY OTHER ORGANIZATION OFFER TO BRING THAT ANIMAL BACK. 
          UM, BUT WE BELIEVE, YOU KNOW, THEY STARTED WITH US. 
          WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THEM ADOPTED OUT AND POTENTIALLY PUT BACK WITH THEIR ORIGINAL OWNERS IF WE CAN LOCATE THEM. 
          SO WE GO OUT OF OUR WAY TO PICK THEM UP AND, AND BRING THEM BACK. 
          UM, IT IS GOING TO BE VERY DIFFICULT TO GET ANY OTHER NONPROFIT, UM, HUMANE SOCIETY OR SHELTER TO BE WILLING TO COVER THOSE EXPENSES. 
          I, I WAS JUST THINKING OF LAST SUMMER, I THOUGHT, I REMEMBER HEARING THAT YOU HAD, ONE OF THE OTHER SHELTERS WERE OVERCROWDED AND THEY BROUGHT THEM TO HARFORD COUNTY, AND I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG THEY STAYED THERE OR ANYTHING. 
          WE DON'T, AGAIN, WE WON'T PULL UNLESS THEIR MICROCHIP REGISTERS THEM BACK TO THE HUMANE SOCIETY. 
          I MEAN, I THOUGHT THESE WERE SOME ANIMALS THAT CAME FROM A FLOODPLAIN OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. 
          IT'S NOT REGISTERING. 
          I'M SORRY. 
          IT COULD HAVE BEEN A, A, A RESCUE POOL POTENTIALLY FROM HARFORD COUNTY. 
          THANK YOU. 
          YOU'RE WELCOME. 
          THANK YOU MR. DI. 
          MR. JAN. 
          UH, GOOD MORNING. 
          SO THIS IS PROBABLY MORE TO YOU, BEN. 
          UH, SOUNDS LIKE YOU SAID THEY CAME TO YOU WITH TWO BUDGETS, 1.1 FOR 1.8 AND ONE FOR 2.4. 
          IF THEY WOULD'VE JUST COME TO YOU WITH A BUDGET OF 2.4, WOULD YOU HAVE NOT FUNDED THAT AND FUNDED THE 1.8? I DON'T KNOW. 
          WE, THAT'S A HYPOTHETICAL. 
          I DON'T REALLY KNOW. 
          I MEAN, A 2.4 MILLION INCREASE IS WOULD'VE THAT WOULD, THAT'S, THAT'S CLOSING IN ON 80, 90% YEAR OVER YEAR INCREASE. 
          UM, BUT OR MAYBE ROB, MAYBE ROBIN WANTS YOU ANSWER THAT. 
          WELL, I MEAN, I THINK THAT, THAT, THAT WHEN WE'RE, AND, AND THIS IS ONE OF THE CHALLENGES OF, OF, OF THE BUDGET, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THE UNASSIGNED IS, OFTENTIMES WHAT WE'RE LOOKING, LOOKING AT IN THE BUDGET IS WHAT IS OUR ONGOING REVENUE AND WHAT ARE OUR ONGOING EXPENDITURES, AND THEN TRYING TO MATCH THOSE UP. 
          AND THEN WHAT IS OUR ONE-TIME EXPENDITURES AND OUR ONE-TIME REVENUE OR PRIOR YEAR SAVINGS. 
          AND SO THAT'S WHY, I MEAN, OFTENTIMES YES, YOU, YOU CAN LOOK AT ALMOST ANY BUDGET AND SAY, YOU KNOW, WELL, YOU, YOU SHOULD FUND THIS OR YOU SHOULD FUND THIS. 
          AND IT'S NOT THAT IT'S NOT A, A WORTHWHILE ENDEAVOR OR, OR OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, BUT WE ARE TRYING TO BALANCE THAT IDEA OF ONGOING REVENUES WITH ONGOING EXPENDITURES AND ONE-TIME REVENUES WITH, WITH ONE-TIME EXPENDITURES. 
          AND I THINK THAT KIND OF WHERE WE ARE HERE WITH THE HUMANE SOCIETY IS THAT WE'RE PROBABLY TALKING ABOUT THAT YOU ARE THERE FLUCTUATIONS FROM YEAR TO YEAR. 
          YES. 
          BUT IS THERE PROBABLY, YOU KNOW, A A A NEW LEVEL OF, OF EXPECTATION OF, OF, OF FUNDING, YOU KNOW, IN AN ONGOING WAY ANSWER TO THAT IS PROBABLY ALSO, YES. 
          AND SO THAT'S, AGAIN, THAT'S WHERE IT'S, IT'S JUST HARD TO SAY, 'CAUSE YOU GOT A WHOLE BUNCH OF, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT ALL THESE DIFFERENT, YOU KNOW, BILLION DOLLARS OF, OF, OF EXPENDITURES AND WE'RE TRYING TO LINE ALL OF THAT UP. 
          WELL, LET ME ASK YOU, THEY, THEY'VE SHOWED A COUPLE YEARS, LIKE YOU SAID, OF OF DIFFERENCE OF A MILLION DOLLARS COUPLE YEARS. 
          WHAT HAPPENS IF THEY CAN'T CONTINUE TO OPERATE? WHAT HAPPENS TO THE HUMANE SOCIETY THEN? DOES HARTFORD COUNTY HAVE TO TAKE IT OVER A HUNDRED PERCENT OR DOES IT CLOSE? I I KNOW THAT, DOES ANYBODY KNOW THAT ANSWER THAT ANIMAL? I MEAN, THAT THAT, THAT WE ARE REQUIRED FOR, YOU KNOW, IN ORDER TO PROVIDE ANIMAL CONTROL UNDER STATE LAW, YOU KNOW, AS FAR AS AS WHAT IT WOULD MEAN. 
          AND AGAIN, I MEAN, AGAIN, I THINK THAT KIND OF GOES BACK TO THE HYPOTHETICAL. 
          I THINK WE ALL THIS ADMINISTRATION ADMINISTRATIONS IN THE PAST HAVE SUPPORTED THE HUMANE SOCIETY IN SAYING THAT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS A, A, UM, YOU KNOW, UM, THAT GOVERNMENT HAS AN OBLIGATION TO, TO FUND THEM, AT LEAST IN PART, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, AS TO HOW MUCH MORE THAT SHOULD BE. 
          I THINK THAT'S, YOU KNOW, THAT AGAIN, IS THIS, IS THIS IS THIS IS THIS BALANCING ACT NOW, I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD, YOU KNOW, LOSE SIGHT OF, YOU KNOW, THAT WE ARE PROVIDING A, YOU KNOW, RATHER SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN OVERALL, IN OVERALL FUNDING. 
          YOU KNOW? I AGREE. 
          I SEE THAT. 
          AND I THINK THAT'S, YOU KNOW, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE, WE ARE TRYING TO DO. 
          THIS. 
          MOU DOES CREATE SOME, I THINK, PROCEDURAL HURDLES IN THAT IT, IT IS DIFFICULT TO ALIGN WHEN YOU DO HAVE THESE MID-YEAR ONE TIME, YOU KNOW, ONE TIME, UM, UM, YOU KNOW, ACTIONS THAT MAY BE, AGAIN, IF THEY HAPPEN ALL THE TIME, MAYBE THEY ARE NO LONGER ONE TIME, BUT AT LEAST AS FAR AS THE INDIVIDUAL INSTANCES, THEY'RE ONE TIME. 
          UM, AND SO THAT, THAT PROBABLY IS A PLACE WHERE THERE, THERE NEEDS TO BE A DIFFERENT FORM OF ALIGNMENT WITH, WITH, UM, YOU KNOW, WITH, WITH JUST GENERAL BUDGET FLEXIBILITY DONE. 
          YEAH, I, I THINK I CAN ANSWER YOUR QUESTION TOO. 
          THERE, THERE IS, UM, TERMINATION AGREEMENTS IN THE MOU. 
          UM, SO IT COULD BE, I BELIEVE, YOU KNOW, NOT A LEGAL OPINION, BUT IT COULD BE TERMINATED EITHER WAY. 
          I DID SEE THAT. 
          IT DOES SPECIFICALLY MENTION THAT IF WE GO BANKRUPT, YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE'S A CERTAIN TIME WHERE WE CAN, YOU KNOW, GO AWAY. 
          AND AT THAT POINT, I BELIEVE IT'S GONNA BE A LOT MORE EXPENSIVE FOR THE COUNTY TO RUN IT. 
          AND THEY 
          [00:45:01]
LOSE, YOU KNOW, 9,000 HOURS OF DONATED TIME TO THE ANIMALS. 
          AND I MEAN, AND WE AGREE WITH THE COUNTY'S, THE, THE COUNTY'S CONCERNS. 
          WE, WE TRULY DO. 
          AND, AND, AND MAYBE IF WE GOT THE 500 LAST YEAR THAT WE REQUESTED AND THE 500 THIS YEAR, AND THEN WE'RE, WE'RE IN A BETTER POSITION. 
          UH, BUT WE CAN'T KEEP MINIMALLY INCREASING. 
          AND I DON'T WANT TO GET THE CONFUSION POINT EITHER. 
          THERE'S, THERE'S OPERATING COSTS THAT WE HAVE TO DO 365 DAYS A YEAR PER THE MOU. 
          THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR. 
          YEP. 
          OPERATING MAINTENANCE, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR. 
          THE ADDITIONAL 200, YOU PUT THAT IN THE BUDGET, THAT'S ONLY USED FOR THOSE CASES OF HOARDING AND SUCH. 
          SO WE'RE, WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO BE GOOD STEWARDS AND ASKING FOR WHAT'S REQUIRED UNDER THE MOU. 
          SO THE MOU SAYS YOU GOTTA BE OPEN. 
          DOES IT SAY HOW MANY HOURS A DAY YOU HAVE TO BE OPEN? IT SAYS, WE SHALL BE OPEN 365 DAYS A YEAR, MINUS FEDERAL HOLIDAYS. 
          BUT AGAIN, WE STILL HAVE TO GO IN AND FEED, MAINTAIN, TAKE CARE OF THE ANIMALS EVERY DAY. 
          OKAY. 
          THAT'S IT. 
          ANYONE ELSE? THANK YOU. 
          SO, UM, CLEARLY YOUR PATH FORWARD, UH, BECAUSE THIS COUNCIL HAS NO APPROPRIATION AUTHORITY AS FAR AS THE MAIN SOCIETY IS CONCERNED. 
          SO YOUR PATH FORWARD IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE DOING NOW, ADVOCATING WITH THE ADMINISTRATION. 
          UM, AND I THINK, UM, IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE YOU MIGHT HAVE TO HAVE SOME NECESSARY EVILS, UH, COME INTO PLAY WITH ATTORNEYS BECAUSE OF THE MOU. 
          YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO GO BACK AND RENEGOTIATE OR REDRAFT THE MOU. 
          UM, BUT YOU'RE ON THE RIGHT PATH. 
          YOU, YOU'RE OPEN CONVERSATION AND UM, I'M SURE YOU'LL GET TO WHERE YOU NEED TO BE BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THE COUNTY WANTS TO TAKE THIS ON, SIMPLE AS THAT. 
          UM, BUT I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. 
          THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. 
          ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          HAVE A GOOD DAY. 
          I GOT NICE LITTLE GOOD MORNING, PAM. 
          THANK YOU. 
          SOMEBODY LEFT A LITTLE SIGNED. 
          THAT SEEMS TO BE WHAT'S GOING ON AROUND HERE, RIGHT? YEAH. 
          THAT COULD HAVE BEEN ANYBODY DOWN. 
          YEAH, EXACTLY. 
          EXACTLY, EXACTLY. 
          THANK YOU GUYS. 
          YEAH, THANK YOU BEN. 
          I LIKE YOU BETTER UP THERE THAN BACK THERE. 
          APPRECIATE THAT. 
          YOU LIKE BETTER BACK . 
          WELL THAT'S GETTING TOUGH. 
          DO YOU WANT ME TO RUN THROUGH THE NUMBERS OR HOW LONG ARE YOU GONNA BE C OKAY, GO AHEAD. 
          I'M GONNA, I HAVE Y'ALL HAVE THE PRESENTATION AND THEN I HAVE YOU TURN, HOW LONG IS IT GONNA BE? THIS ONE? THERE'S REMOTE. 
          GOOD MORNING, DR. MACK. 
          HOW ARE YOU? GOOD. 
          I SEE YOU HAVE YOUR TEAM WITH YOU. 
          I DO. 
          YEAH. 
          I SAY VISIONS OF DR UH, UH, CANAVAN. 
          . 
          SERIOUSLY. 
          SERIOUSLY. 
          . 
          GET THAT IN A SECOND. 
          YOU ASKING FOR A FORM? DR. MACK, WHO DO I TALK TO? I HAVE TWO NIECES GRADUATING AT PATTERSON MILL. 
          TWO TWINS WANT TO GIVE THEM THEIR, UH, DIPLOMAS. 
          I THINK I DID REACH OUT TO SOMEBODY, BUT I HAVEN'T HEARD BACK YET. 
          I'M GETTING NERVOUS. 
          WE'LL TAKE CARE OF THAT. 
          OKAY, GOOD ON THIS. 
          YOU'RE ATTENDING THAT ONE. 
          YOU'RE ATTENDING? I YOU'RE ATTENDING THAT ONE, RIGHT? WE HAVE. 
          IT'S IN MY DISTRICT AND YES, I AM ATTENDING. 
          PERFECT. 
          I'M AFRAID TO HIT ME. 
          IT'S A LOT DIFFERENT FROM WHEN I GRADUATED. 
          YEAH, I GUESS SO. 
          , HONESTLY, AT LEAST I GRADUATED . 
          IT'S GOTTA BE THAT. 
          YEAH, IT'S DOING IT. 
          OURS, WE'RE ALL OUTSIDE. 
          I DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE WELL RESTED OR NOT. 
          I PROBABLY HAVE, THAT'S THE PROBLEM. 
          WE'RE NOT WELL RESTED MAN. 
          SLOWLY. 
          I'M GOING TO, OKAY. 
          SHE DID THAT. 
          ALRIGHT. 
          WELL AT LEAST IT WASN'T ME, THE USER OUT 
          [00:50:01]
ON MY PART. 
          YES MA'AM. 
          CHINS, I MEAN IT'S VERY POPULAR. 
          C-H-I-T-T-U-M. 
          BOTH OF BOTH OF THEM. 
          OR TWINS? TWINS, YES. 
          THAT'S COOL. 
          UM, BEN, WE HAVE ENOUGH TO GET STARTED. 
          ALRIGHT, UM, THE BOARD OF ED EDUCATION BUDGET, UH, IN THE, YOUR COUNTY OPERATING BOOKS BEGINS ON PAGE 5 56. 
          THERE ARE TWO COUNTY CALL CENTERS IN THE BUDGET FOR BOARD OF ED LAS PAGO AND DEBT SERVICE FUNDING. 
          THE FIRST CALL CENTER IS BOARD OF ED OPERATING, WHICH BEGINS ON PAGE 5 59. 
          TOTAL FUNDING OF 370,196,425 IS AN INCREASE OF 22 MILLION 5 94 1 48 OR AN INCREASE OF 6.5% FOR FUNDING OF THE SECOND YEAR OF THE THREE YEAR FUNDING PLAN AS PRESENTED TO THE BOARD, BOARD OF EDUCATION IN JANUARY, 2025, BOARD OF EDUCATION SUPPORT BEGINS ON PAGE 5 61. 
          TOTAL FUNDING OF 6,414,161 IS AN INCREASE OF 2,936,690. 
          THE INCREASE PROVIDES AN ADDITIONAL SHIFT FROM THE STATE OF 1,449,286 TOWARD TEACHER PENSION COSTS, PLUS A NEW STATE MANDATE TO PROVIDE $1,487,404 FOR PRIVATE PRE-K SCHOOL. 
          DEBT SERVICE APPEARS ON PAGE 6 37. 
          THE COUNTY'S OPERATING BUDGET ALLOCATES 38,534,919 TO SERVICE BONDS ON SCHOOL CAPITAL PROJECTS FOR AN INCREASE OF 2,599,551. 
          PEGA FUNDING APPEARS ON PAGE 6 66. 
          THE COUNTY IS PROVIDING 7,500,000 IN PAYAS. 
          YOU GO FUNDING FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS UP FROM ZERO AND FY 26. 
          OVERALL COUNTY OPERATING BUDGET FUNDING FOR THE BOARD OF EDUCATION TOTALS 422,645,505 FOR AN INCREASE OF 35 MILLION 633 89 OR 9.2%. 
          AND THEN ON THE CAPITAL SIDE, IN ADDITION TO THE 7.5 MILLION ALREADY REFERENCED IN PEGO, THE COUNTY IS ALLOCATING 60 MILLION IN NEW BONDS AND 3.5 MILLION IN PRIOR BONDS AS PART OF AN OVERALL 90 96 $0.9 MILLION SCHOOL CAPITAL BUDGET. 
          SO THOSE ARE THE COUNTY BOOK NUMBERS AND I WILL TURN IT OVER TO DR. 
          MATT. 
          GOOD MORNING. 
          UH, MR. VINCENTI AND COUNTY COUNCIL, WE APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE TODAY. 
          I WANNA THANK YOU BEFORE I BEGIN FOR YOUR SUPPORT THAT YOU'VE PROVIDED US. 
          UM, AS WE'VE, UM, LOOKED TO CELEBRATE OUR EDUCATORS WITH THE CELEBRATION OF EXCELLENCE, APPRECIATE THE PERSONALIZED, UM, CERTIFICATES THAT YOU GAVE AND WE ALSO APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT AND THE INTEREST THAT YOU'VE GIVEN WITH REGARDS TO OUR BOARD VACANCIES. 
          UM, IT IS CLEAR THAT YOU UNDERSTAND THE WORK THAT WE HAVE TO DO AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR ENGAGEMENT IN THAT PROCESS. 
          WITH US TODAY IS OUR TEAM, SO THEY WILL JUMP IN TO SUPPORT THIS PRESENTATION ALONG THE WAY. 
          AND WE ALSO HAVE OUR BOARD PRESIDENT AS WELL AS MANY MEMBERS OF OUR BOARD OF EDUCATION. 
          AND SO WITH THAT, I'M GONNA TURN IT OVER TO MRS. PAGE. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          GOOD MORNING. 
          BEFORE I START, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET OUR FY 27 LINE ITEM BUDGET BOOK. 
          AND IF YOU HAVEN'T, LET US KNOW AND WE'LL BE HAPPY TO PROVIDE YOU ONE. 
          UM, SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME BEFORE YOU TODAY. 
          THIS BOARD TAKES SERIOUSLY AND THE IMPORTANCE OF PROVIDING A HIGH QUALITY EDUCATION FOR EVERY STUDENT, ALONG WITH OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO BE THOUGHTFUL STEWARDS OF PUBLIC FUNDS. 
          THIS BOARD RECEIVED THE SUPERINTENDENT'S PROPOSED BUDGET IN DECEMBER, WHICH REFLECTED A $52 MILLION INCREASE. 
          AND SINCE THAT TIME, THE BOARD AND THE ADMINISTRATION CONDUCTED A THOROUGH AND DELIBERATE REVIEW WORKING COLLABORATIVELY TO REDUCE THE LOCAL BUDGET REQUEST TO A TOTAL OF 37 MILLION. 
          THESE REDUCTIONS INCLUDED THE ELIMINATION OF 31 ADDITIONAL POSITIONS AND THE USE OF $10 MILLION IN OUR FUND BALANCE. 
          WE RECOGNIZE THE SCHOOL SYSTEM REPRESENTS THE LARGEST PORTION OF THE COUNTY'S BUDGET AND WE REMAIN COMMITTED TO IDENTIFYING EFFICIENCIES WHEREVER POSSIBLE. 
          AT THE SAME TIME, IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT HCPS SHARE OF THE OVERALL COUNTY BUDGET HAS BEEN DECREASING EVEN AS EXPECTATIONS, STATE REQUIREMENTS, THE SHEER COST OF SUPPLIES AND SERVICES AND STUDENT NEEDS CONTINUE TO GROW. 
          THIS TREND REFLECTS A SH SHRINKING PROPORTION OF COUNTY RESOURCES DEDICATED TO PUBLIC EDUCATION. 
          OVER TIME, THE COUNTY'S CURRENT FUNDING PROPOSAL OF 22 AND A HALF MILLION LEAVES US WITH A $15 MILLION GAP. 
          AND AS YOU MAY RECALL, LAST YEAR, WE HAD TO CUT A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF POSITIONS TO BALANCE THE BUDGET. 
          ANY FUNDING GAP WILL 
          [00:55:01]
NECESSA NECESSITATE THE SAME. 
          I WANT TO BE CLEAR, THE IMPACT OF THIS GAP IS SIGNIFICANT, RESULTING IN POSITION REDUCTIONS, INCREASED CLASS SIZES, ELIMINATION OF PROGRAMS, AND THE POTENTIAL FOR FAMILIES TO BEAR NEW COST, INCLUDING PARTICIPATION IN ATHLETICS. 
          AT A MINIMUM, THIS BOARD IS STRONGLY URGING THE COUNCIL TO PRIORITIZE FUNDING FOR OUR WAGE PACKAGE FOR ALL EMPLOYEES AND REQUIRED COSTS SUCH AS SPECIAL EDUCATION NON-PUBLIC PLACEMENTS. 
          IT IS THE BOARD'S PRIORITY TO MAINTAIN CURRENT CLASS SIZES AND TO RETAIN AND SUPPORT THE STAFF OUR STUDENTS RELY ON EVERY DAY. 
          SUPPORTING THE BOARD OF EDUCATION'S PROPOSED BUDGET WILL HELP ENSURE WE CAN SUSTAIN CURRENT SERVICES, MEET OUR OBLIGATIONS, AND CONTINUE PROVIDING THE HIGH QUALITY EDUCATION OUR STUDENTS DESERVE. 
          AND SO ON. 
          OUR FIRST, UH, THE BOARD MEETS EVERY YEAR TO GO OVER OUR PRIORITIES. 
          YOU CAN SEE THOSE THREE PRIORITIES ON THIS FLOOR SLIDE. 
          ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT WITH A FOCUS ON MATH, READING AND LANGUAGE ARTS. 
          UM, IMPROVE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT WITH A FOCUS ON SAFETY AND ATTENDANCE AND THEN INCREASING OUR COMMUNITY AND, UH, PARENTAL TRUST THROUGH PARTICIPATION AND TRANSPARENCY. 
          AND WITH THAT, I THINK I'LL TURN IT BACK OVER TO YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          SO THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF CHATTER ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND, UM, ONLINE ABOUT PAST, ABOUT PAST BUDGETS, ABOUT PAST SET AGREEMENTS. 
          WE ARE MOVING FORWARD. 
          IT IS OUR HOPE THAT YOU WILL HELP US MOVE FORWARD, UM, WITH THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. 
          AS THE INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT, I STEPPED INTO THIS ROLE ON JANUARY THE SEVENTH. 
          WE PRESENTED OUR BUDGET TO THE BOARD OF ED ON JANUARY THE 12TH, AND IT WAS APPROVED ON FEBRUARY THE 25TH. 
          DURING THIS TIME, WE DID HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH THE COUNTY EXECUTIVES TEAM TO DISCUSS CAPITAL. 
          HOWEVER, WE DID NOT HAVE COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSIONS WITH THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND THE TEAM TO DISCUSS THE OPERATIONAL BUDGET. 
          I HAVE ASKED FOR THE TIME IN THE SPACE TO LEAD THROUGH THIS TRANSITION WHILE ALSO NAVIGATING THE BUDGET PROCESS. 
          AT OUR RECENT WORK SESSION, WE ENGAGED IN SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT THE FORMAT OF FUTURE BUDGETS, THE PROCESS OF BUDGET DESIGN, AS WELL AS IDENTIFYING PRIORITIES FOR THE FUTURE AND FOR THE BUDGET PROCESS WE ARE MOVING FORWARD. 
          THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S PROPOSED BUDGET IS INSUFFICIENT TO COVER THE RISING COSTS OF SERVICES CURRENTLY BEING PROVIDED BY HARTFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 
          IT DOES NOT REPRESENT THE EVOLVING NEEDS AND IT DOES NOT FULLY SUPPORT ALL OF OUR EDUCATORS. 
          BY HONORING THE BOARD OF ED, UM, NEGOTIATED WAGE PACKAGE, HARTFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS MOVING FORWARD. 
          HOWEVER, IN ORDER TO DO SO, WE WILL NEED YOUR SUPPORT. 
          THE FY 27 BUDGET, THE LARGEST PART OF OUR BUDGET, REALLY LOOKS AT INVESTING IN HIGH QUALITY, UM, STAFF AND PROTECT CLASS SIZE. 
          THE LARGEST PART OF OUR BUDGET IS OUR STAFFING AND OUR WAGE PACKAGE. 
          AND SO WE WANT TO KEEP THAT IN MIND. 
          AND I WANT YOU TO KEEP IN MIND THAT WE ARE ALL EDUCATORS IN HARPER COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL. 
          OUR PROPOSED BUDGET ALSO HAS AN EMPHASIS ON PRE-K, UM, PARA PE PARA PARAEDUCATOR SUPPORT IN THE PRIMARY GRADES THAT IS DESIGNED TO SUPPORT, UM, OUR TEACHERS TO SUPPORT LITERACY AND TO SUPPORT BEHAVIOR REGULATION. 
          OVER THE PAST THREE OR FOUR YEARS, EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION HAS BEEN A PRIORITY FOR HARVARD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 
          AND OUR BUDGET WAS DESIGNED WITH THAT IN MIND. 
          WITH THE RISING NEEDS OF OUR YOUNGEST LEARNERS, WITH THE INCLUSION OF FULL DAY PRE-K, IT HAS BECOME EVIDENT THAT WE NEED ADDITIONAL SUPPORT IN OUR PRIMARY GRADES. 
          WE HAVE WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE HARFORD COUNTY GOVERNMENT, WITH MEMBERS OF THE HARFORD COUNTY, UM, COMMUNITY AT LARGE, AND WITH OUR SCHOOLS AND OUR FAMILIES IN ORDER TO SUPPORT THE SPECIAL NEEDS THAT ARE OCCURRING WITHIN THIS YOUNGEST GROUP OF LEARNERS. 
          THE LEVEL OF BEHAVIOR DYSREGULATION, THE OVER-RELIANCE OF TECHNOLOGY AND THE IMPACTS TTE HAS IN OUR CLASSROOM AND KINDERGARTEN READINESS HAS HAD, HAS CREATED A NEED FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO SUPPORT OUR YOUNGEST LEARNERS. 
          THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION HAS, UM, IMPLEMENTED A COMPREHENSIVE READING PLAN THAT SETS THE EXPECTATION OF STUDENTS READING BY BY GRADE THREE. 
          UM, IF THEY ARE NOT READING BY THE, UH, H BY GRADE THREE, THEN RETENTION IS ON THE TABLE. 
          AND SO, AS WE HAVE ALWAYS HAD PROACTIVE STRATEGIES IN PLACE, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WITH THESE, UM, ADDITIONAL CHALLENGES IN PLACE THAT WE'RE SHIFTING OUR WORK TO MEET THESE, UM, INCREASING DEMANDS. 
          THE ADULT SUPPORT FOR OUR YOUNGEST LEARNERS IS ESSENTIAL. 
          THE FY 27 BUDGET ALSO, UM, ADDRESSES THE NEED FOR US TO PLAY OUR INCOMING TEACHERS AT 60, $60,000. 
          UM, IT ALSO LOOKS AT THE NEED FOR US TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT 
          [01:00:01]
WE'RE HAVING WITH, UM, THE PLACEMENT OF OUR STUDENTS IN NON-PUBLIC EDUCATION SETTINGS FOR STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS. 
          ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE SEEING IS THAT WITH CHANGING LEGISLATION, IT HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY CHALLENGING FOR US TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF SOME OF OUR MOST PROFOUNDLY DISABLED STUDENTS, UM, WITHIN OUR HARTFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SETTING. 
          THEREFORE, WE NEED TO SEND THEM TO NONPROFIT, UH, NONPROFIT, EXCUSE ME, NON-PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 
          AND THE INCREASE, UM, IS REFLECTED IN OUR BUDGET. 
          IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU KNOW THAT BECAUSE OF THE HIGH QUALITY EDUCATION THAT WE PROVIDE FOR ALL OF OUR STUDENTS, BUT ALSO FOR OUR STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS. 
          WE ARE RECEIVING AN INFLUX OF STUDENTS COMING FROM ACROSS THE STATE AS WELL AS ACROSS THE NATION. 
          AND THE FUNDING THAT WE HAVE, UM, BEEN RECEIVING IS SIMPLY NOT ADEQUATE. 
          SAFETY IS ALSO PARAMOUNT FOR OUR SCHOOLS. 
          WHILE WE HAVE ENGAGED IN SOME LOW COSTS OR EVEN THE COST NEUTRAL, UM, ENHANCEMENTS, THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT ARE IN PLACE THAT WE NEED, UM, TO BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN. 
          AND SO IN OUR BUDGET, WE DO PRIORITI PRIORITIZE SAFETY AND IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS EVERYONE'S RESPONSIBILITY. 
          WE ALSO HAVE AGING SCHOOLS, AND SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE NECESSARY, UM, UH, RESOURCES IN ORDER TO ADJUST THOSE AGING SCHOOLS SO THAT WE CAN ENSURE THAT OUR SCHOOL, OUR STUDENTS, AND OUR EMPLOYEES ARE IN SAFE, FUNCTIONAL SPACES. 
          THANK YOU. 
          SO WE WANTED TO SHARE THE REVENUE SUMMARY OF OUR PROPOSED BUDGETS, UH, THAT WE'VE HAD SINCE JANUARY. 
          SO IN THE SUPERINTENDENT'S PROPOSED BUDGET, WE HAD DEVELOPED A BUDGET SHOWING AN INCREASE OF $53.9 MILLION. 
          UM, AS MS. PAGE REFERENCED, THE BOARD WORKED, UM, TO REDUCE THAT REQUEST DOWN TO $37.3 MILLION. 
          AND THAT WAS SUBMITTED TO THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE. 
          AND AS YOU CAN SEE, THE PROPOSED FUNDING IS $22.6 MILLION. 
          UM, THAT DIFFERENCE IS A $14.7 MILLION GAP THAT WE HAVE TO, UM, ADDRESS AT THIS TIME. 
          SO THIS IS A SUMMARY OF EACH OF THE LARGER AREAS OF THE CHANGES IN OUR BUDGET. 
          ON PAGE 43 OF THE BUDGET BOOK IS THE INDIVIDUAL LINE ITEMS FOR EACH OF THESE SECTIONS, WHICH DETAIL OUT THE INCREASES THAT WE ARE REQUESTING BEHIND PAGE 43, I THINK IT STARTS ON PAGE 45, ARE DETAILED REQUESTS EXPLAINING WHY WE NEED THE THINGS THAT ARE LISTED ON THIS LIST. 
          I CAN TELL YOU THAT MOST OF THEM ARE REQUIRED THINGS THAT WE KNEW NEED TO JUST MAINTAIN WHAT WE ARE DOING. 
          AND AT THE BOTTOM, WE'VE ADJUSTED THAT TO THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE REQUEST. 
          SO YOU CAN SEE THE GAP AT THE BOTTOM OF 14.7 MILLION THAT WE HAVE TO FILL AT THIS TIME. 
          SO AS WITH ANY BUDGET THAT IS NOT FULLY FUNDED, THERE ARE TRADE-OFFS. 
          AND SO LAST YEAR, UM, WE MADE SOME SIGNIFICANT SHIFTS TO OUR CLASS SIZE IN ORDER TO, UM, ENSURE THAT WE COULD MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS, BUT KIND OF STRETCH THOSE EXPECTATIONS JUST A LITTLE BIT. 
          AND SO LOOKING AT CLASS SIZE RIGHT NOW, IF WE ARE NOT ABLE TO GET THE FUNDING THAT, UM, WE'VE REQUESTED, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT CLASS SIZE, AGAIN COULD INCREASE, UM, THROUGHOUT HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, NOT JUST AT OUR PRIMARY LEVEL, BUT ALSO AT OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL AND OUR SECONDARY LEVEL AS WELL. 
          UM, WE HAVE ALREADY HAD A CONVERSATION A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT EMPLOYEES SALARY PACKAGE AND THE BENEFITS, UM, EACH OF OUR UNIONS HAS NEGOTIATED, AND EACH OF OUR UNION'S, UM, NEGOTIATED BENEFIT PACKAGE WAS INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET. 
          UM, IT IS OUR HOPE THAT ALL OF OUR EDUCATORS CAN BE, UM, COMPENSATED AT THE, THE RATE THAT THEY NEGOTIATED. 
          BUT WHAT IS AT STAKE IF WE DO NOT RECEIVE THE BUDGET, ARE THOSE NEGOTIATIONS. 
          ANOTHER TRADE OFF WOULD BE ATHLETICS. 
          IF YOU REMEMBER MANY YEARS AGO, WE HAD PAY TO PLAY AND THEN THERE WAS A, A BIG PUSH TO TAKE THAT PAY TO PLAY OFF OF THE TABLE SO THAT WE WOULD NOT HAVE THAT BURDEN ON OUR FAMILIES WITH NOT WITH, WITH THE CUT OF NOT RECEIVING OUR FULL BUDGET, IT PUTS ON THE TABLE CUTTING ATHLETICS, CUTTING EXTRACURRICULARS, CREATING ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO PAY TO PLAY. 
          AND ONE PIECE I JUST WANNA KEEP IN MIND IS THAT PAY TO 
          [01:05:01]
PLAY DID NOT COVER ALL OF OUR ATHLETICS. 
          AND SO DEPENDING ON THE LEVEL OF, UM, FUNDING THAT WE RECEIVE, WHATEVER IT WAS BEFORE, I THINK IT WAS MAYBE LIKE A HUNDRED DOLLARS, UM MM-HMM . 
          THAT MAY HAVE TO INCREASE. 
          SO WE WE'RE REALLY GONNA HAVE TO MAKE SOME TOUGH DECISIONS. 
          UM, LOOKING AT OUR FIELD TRIPS, UM, CURRENTLY WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE FIELD TRIPS OUTSIDE OF THE SCHOOL. 
          THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING WE'RE NOT ABLE TO DO. 
          EXTRACURRICULARS. 
          UM, WE HAVE A LOT OF EDUCATORS THAT, UM, ARE, THAT WE PAY FOR EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, UM, THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT WE'RE SIMPLY NOT ABLE TO SUSTAIN. 
          TRANSPORTATION IS A REQUIREMENT FOR STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS. 
          IT IS NOT A REQUIREMENT FOR THE OTHER CITIZENS OF HARTFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 
          IT IS GREATLY NEEDED. 
          WE NEEDED TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE ARE ACTUALLY, OUR STUDENTS ARE PRESENT FOR TEACHING AND LEARNING. 
          UM, HOWEVER, AGAIN, LOOKING AT TRANSPORTATION COSTS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'LL HAVE TO CONSIDER. 
          IF YOU REMEMBER MANY YEARS BACK, WE, UM, DID, UH, INCREASE THE, UM, THE MILEAGE THAT WOULD REQUIRE BUS TRANSPORTATION. 
          AND SO AGAIN, THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT EXPANDING OUR NON-SERVICE AREA, SAFETY AND SECURITY. 
          UM, THAT DEFINITELY WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO LOOK AT. 
          AND AGAIN, NOT NONE OF THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE WANT TO DO, BUT THESE ARE THE KINDS OF CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO HAVE IF WE ARE NOT FULLY FUNDED. 
          AND THEN THE LAST ONE IS OUR VALUED PROGRAMS. UM, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE MAGNET PROGRAMS. YOU KNOW, I HAVE, WE HAVE SIGNATURE PROGRAMS. WE ALSO HAVE THE, UM, HARTFORD YOUTH YOUTH WORKFORCE, UM, THAT IS IN PLACE IN HARTFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 
          THERE ARE SOME REALLY SPECIAL, UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES THAT OUR STUDENTS HAVE BECAUSE THEY'RE HERE IN HARTFORD COUNTY. 
          IF WE ARE NOT FULLY FUNDED, THEN, UM, WE'RE PUTTING ALL OF THOSE THINGS AT STAKE AND, UM, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO HAVE VERY REAL CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THEM. 
          SO WHAT WOULD YOU BE IN INVESTING INTO? UM, THIS SLIDE REALLY JUST TALKS ABOUT THE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN GOING REALLY WELL FOR HARTFORD COUNTY. 
          AND SO IF YOU JUST TAKE A LOOK, YOU CAN SEE THAT WE DO OUTPERFORM, UM, THE STATE AS IT RELATES TO, UM, THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING WITH MCAP. 
          YOU WILL SEE THAT WE HAVE INCREASED OUR AP UM, PASS RATE. 
          YOU WILL SEE THAT, UM, WE ARE LEADING THE STATE IN OUR APPRENTICESHIPS. 
          AND THEN YOU WILL ALSO SEE THAT THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING STATEWIDE AS IT RELATES TO, UM, ADVANCED COURSEWORK, DUAL ENROLLMENT, CTE AND CREDENTIALING PATHWAYS IS ALSO, UM, AT A VERY HIGH CALIBER. 
          AND SO THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT, UM, OUR CITIZENS ARE INVESTING INTO, AND THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT THEY'RE GETTING AS A RESULT OF OUR WORK AND THE SUPPORT FINANCIALLY. 
          THEN WE ALSO HAVE SOME CELEBRATIONS. 
          AND SO THIS YEAR, SINCE JANUARY, WE'VE HAD HALLS CROSSROADS RECOGNIZED AS A NATIONAL DISTINGUISHED SCHOOL. 
          AND THAT SPEAKS TO THE WORK THAT THEY'VE BEEN DOING, UM, AS IT RELATES TO THEIR ATTENDANCE INITIATIVES, THE GROWTH THAT THEY'VE HAD IN THEIR, THEIR SCORES AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. 
          AND SO THAT'S A PAYOFF FOR THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING AT HALLS CROSSROADS UNDER MRS. JAN AKS LEADERSHIP, BUT THEN ALSO BECAUSE OF THE PROGRAMS THAT WE'RE ABLE TO HAVE IN ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS. 
          TOMORROW I'LL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO MSDE BECAUSE ROY WILLIAMS HAS JUST RECEIVED A PURPLE STAR DESIGNATION. 
          AND SO WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT ROY WILLIAMS IS, UM, MEETING ALL OF THE CREDENTIALING NECESSARY TO SUPPORT OUR MILITARY FAMILIES. 
          WE KNOW THAT A LOT OF OUR FAMILIES THAT ARE COMING FROM ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES, WHEN THEY COME TO, UM, HARFORD COUNTY, A LOT OF TIMES THEY MAY END UP IN ONE OF OUR SCHOOLS. 
          THE SCHOOL WITH THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF, UM, HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS THAT ARE SERVICE AND MILITARY CONNECTED IS ROY WILLIAMS. AND SO THIS IS A SPECIAL, UM, RECOGNITION THAT MRS. MARTINO AND HER TEAM HAVE WORKED FOR YEARS TO EARN THIS DESIGNATION. 
          AND WE'RE SUPER PROUD OF THEM FOR THE WAY THAT THEY'RE REPRESENTING OUR MILITARY FAMILIES. 
          HARTFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND THEN HARTFORD COUNTY AS A WHOLE. 
          SO YOU'RE INVESTING IN THEM. 
          ED RISING, WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN GET FUTURE EDUCATORS. 
          AND SO THIS YEAR WE HAVE DEDICATED, UM, TIME AND RESOURCES TOWARDS ESTABLISHING ED RISING, UM, CLUBS IN EACH OF OUR HIGH SCHOOLS. 
          AND WE HAVE 17 ASPIRING TEACHERS WHO HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED INTO A COMPETITIVE INTERN, INTERN, UM, INTERNSHIP AND TRAINING PROGRAM. 
          AND AGAIN, THIS IS BECAUSE OF DIFFERENT RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE HAVE WITHIN, UM, UH, HARTFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 
          AND THEN FINALLY, HALLS. 
          GROSS HALLS ROADS IS IN THE NEWS LATELY, A LOT MM-HMM . 
          AND THAT IS BECAUSE, UM, MR. KOVI MADE A COMMITMENT IN HER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT MODEL, AND THE TEACHERS BOUGHT IN. 
          AND SO, I'M SORRY, THE EDUCATORS BOUGHT IN BECAUSE IT WASN'T JUST THE CLASSROOM TEACHERS, IT'S ALSO 
          [01:10:01]
SOME OF OUR SUPPORT STAFF. 
          AND SO THEY COMMITTED TO TAKING SOME ADVANCED COURSEWORK. 
          NOT ONLY DID THEY TAKE THE ADVANCED COURSEWORK, BUT THEY ALSO GOT A PASSING GRADE FOR THE COURSEWORK. 
          AND SO THEY WERE RECENTLY RECOGNIZED THROUGH MSCE FOR THEIR HARD WORK AND FOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO, UM, READING AT THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL. 
          AND SO UP UNTIL THIS POINT, THERE HAVE BEEN MANY BLUEPRINT, UM, REQUIREMENTS. 
          AND SO WE KNOW THAT IT'S HARD TO TALK ABOUT BUDGET WITHOUT TALKING ABOUT BLUEPRINT. 
          WE'VE BEEN COMPLIANT AND BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN COMPLIANT, WE'VE RECEIVED THE STATE SHARE OF THAT FINDING. 
          UH, WHAT YOU SEE ON THIS SCREEN IS WHAT'S COMING, AND WE WANT TO BE COMPLIANT IN THESE AREAS AS WELL. 
          THE FIRST ONE IS THE MINIMUM STARTING SALARY OF $60,000. 
          YOU CAN SEE THAT, UH, WILL TAKE EFFECT THIS FALL. 
          THE OTHER PIECE, UM, THAT WILL COME INTO EFFECT FOR 27 28 IS THE LEVEL FOUR TEACHERS. 
          AND SO THAT IS, UM, AN INITIATIVE THAT WILL ALLOW SOME OF OUR, UM, NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFIED TEACHERS TO WORK WITH, UM, OUR, OUR STUDENTS, AND HAVE SOME OF THAT FLEX TIME TO BE ABLE TO DO, UM, SOME COACHING AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. 
          AND THEN YOU CAN SEE THAT THERE'S ALWAYS THINGS THAT ARE CHANGING THROUGH, UM, THE MARYLAND STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. 
          UM, THERE IS THE COMPREHENSIVE READING LITERACY PLAN, AS WELL AS THE COMPREHENSIVE MATH PLAN. 
          WE'RE ANTICIPATING NEW CTE PATHWAYS AND THEN OF COURSE, CONTINUING OUR WORK WITH THE APPRENTICESHIPS. 
          SO THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE COMING UP AND THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO ANTICIPATE IN TERMS OF FUNDING. 
          WE KNOW THAT OUR STATE REVENUE HAS INCREASED AND WE KNOW THAT, UM, THE REQUIRED SERVICES THAT HARPER COUNTY NEEDS TO ENGAGE IN HAS ALSO INCREASED. 
          WE KNOW THAT THERE IS MINIMUM FUNDING THAT NEEDS TO OCCUR AS PRESCRIBED BY THE BLUEPRINT, BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT THERE ARE LOCAL SERVICES AND PRIORITIES, THINGS THAT I'VE TALKED ABOUT, ATHLETICS NOT ACCOUNTED FOR IN THE BLUEPRINT. 
          CLASS SIZE, NOT ACCOUNTED FOR IN THE BLUEPRINT. 
          TRANSPORTATION NOT ACCOUNTED FOR IN THE BLUEPRINT. 
          AND SO THAT DOES REQUIRE LOCAL FUNDING, AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY. 
          IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THIS SLIDE, UM, THIS WILL SHOW YOU THE FUNDING THAT HAS BEEN PROVIDED THROUGH BLUEPRINT. 
          IF YOU LOOK AT THE LOCAL, ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE, AND THEN YOU WILL SEE HOW MUCH FUNDING WE'RE LEFT WITH TO ADDRESS OUR LOCAL PRIORITIES. 
          AND OFF ON THE SIDE WE GAVE YOU JUST SOME ESTIMATES, HALF OF THE MONEY THAT IS DESIGNATED FOR LOCAL PRIORITIES WILL GO TO OUR SPECIAL SPECIAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT. 
          SO THEN THAT LEAVES US $50 MILLION TO ADDRESS ALL THOSE OTHER SERVICES, ALL THOSE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES AND INITIATIVES THAT I'VE, UM, THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED THROUGHOUT THIS PRESENTATION. 
          AND SO WE WANTED TO SHARE THIS WITH YOU JUST SO YOU CAN SEE THE IMPACT OF ATHLETICS. 
          $4.2 MILLION IS ABOUT WHAT THAT WOULD TAKE FOR TRANSPORTATION. 
          39.4 OF MILLION DOLLARS, SAFETY AND SECURITY, $5.2 MILLION. 
          THOSE ARE ALL LOCAL PRIORITIES. 
          THOSE ARE ALL THINGS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP INTACT FOR OUR TEACHERS AND OUR STUDENTS AND OUR EDUCATORS. 
          THIS SLIDE SHOWS, UM, THE TRAJECTORY OF WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED IF WE RECEIVED A 5% INCREASE EACH YEAR. 
          WHAT YOU'LL NOTICE IS THAT ON THE ACTUAL, WHEN WE GET TO ABOUT 2024, THERE WAS A DIP. 
          THAT DIP OCCURRED BECAUSE THAT WAS A ONE TIME OPPORTUNITY THAT THE LOCAL DID NOT HAVE TO, UM, DO MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT. 
          THEY COULD HAVE DONE MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT, BUT THE DECISION WAS MADE NOT TO. 
          AND THEN YOU CAN SEE THE IMPACT OF THAT TRAJECTORY. 
          AND SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT, UM, WANTING TO HAVE A PERHAPS A 5% INCREASE OVER TIME, SOMEHOW WE HAVE TO GET BACK TO THAT 2024 MOMENT IN TIME WHERE WE LOST OUR GROUND. 
          YOU CAN SEE BY LOOKING AT THAT TOP LINE, IF WE HAD KEPT GOING IN THAT TRAJECTORY, UM, IT SHUT DOWN. 
          OH, KEEP GOING, . 
          OKAY. 
          THANK YOU. 
          UM, IF WE HAD, UM, IF WE HAD KEPT GOING AT THAT 5% INCREMENTS, THEN UM, WE MAY NOT BE IN THE SITUATION THAT WE'RE IN NOW BECAUSE IT'S BEEN HARD TO RECOVER. 
          WELL, WE HAVE NOT RECOVERED FROM THAT DECISION MADE IN 2024. 
          86.7% OF OUR BUDGET IS FOCUSED ON THE INSTRUCTION AND TRANSPORTATION OF OUR STUDENTS. 
          A LOT OF CONVERSATION. 
          UM, YOU WILL HEAR, UM, ABOUT OUR CENTRAL OFFICE, 2.6% OF OUR BUDGET, $20 MILLION IS FOR CENTRAL OFFICE, AND THAT IS $20 MILLION SUPPORTING THE OTHER $667 MILLION THAT GOES TO DIRECT SUPPORTS FOR OUR STUDENTS, FOR OUR EDUCATORS, 
          [01:15:01]
AND FOR TRANSPORTATION. 
          AND SO THIS VISUAL JUST GIVES YOU AN IDEA OF HOW THE MONEY IS BEING USED AND WHERE THE BULK OF OUR FUNDING, UM, GOES TO SUPPORT TEACHING AND LEARNING. 
          THIS IS ACTUALLY ONE OF MY FAVORITE SLIDES BECAUSE ONE OF THE AHAS THAT I KEEP HAVING IS THAT WHILE HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS SERVING THE STUDENTS IN HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, THEY'RE ACTUALLY SERVING THE STUDENTS OF HARFORD COUNTY. 
          AND SO THE STUDENTS THAT ARE COMING INTO HARTFORD COUNTY, WHILE OUR ENROLLMENT HAS DECREASED, OUR NEEDS HAVE INCREASED. 
          AND SO WHEN YOU TAKE A LOOK AT OUR SPECIAL ED POPULATION, OVER TIME, IT HAS INCREASED BY 18%. 
          THE COMPLEXITIES OF THE CHILDREN THAT WE'RE SERVING TODAY ARE MUCH DIFFERENT THAN THE COMPLEXITIES OF THE STUDENTS THAT WE WERE SERVING BACK IN 2009. 
          ANOTHER PIECE THAT WAS EYE OPENING FOR ME AS I GOT INTO THIS BUDGET CYCLE WAS REALLY LOOKING AT OUR FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH, UM, POPULATION. 
          OUR STUDENTS THAT ARE IN POVERTY. 
          UM, IT HAS INCREASED BY 43% SINCE 2009. 
          BUT IF YOU LOOK AT OUR OVERALL POPULATION FOR HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, BACK IN, UM, 2010, WE HAD A, UM, POVERTY RATE OF 21.6. 
          TODAY WE HAVE A POVERTY RATE OF 39.3. 
          THAT IS AN 82.4% INCREASE. 
          THAT'S WHO WE'RE SERVING. 
          AND WE SERVE THEM WELL. 
          WE SERVE THEM PROUDLY, BUT THERE IS NO WAY IN THE WORLD THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO SERVE AT THE CALIBER THAT WE'RE SERVING WITHOUT A SHIFT IN THE WAY THAT WE'RE BEING FUNDED. 
          WITH THE GAP THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE, THAT 15 MILLION ISH GAP, THAT WOULD BE ABOUT 150 TEACHERS, IF WE DID NOTHING ELSE AND SIMPLY SAID, WE'RE CUTTING TEACHERS, IT WOULD BE 150 TEACHERS THAT WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO HAVE IN OUR CLASSROOM DIRECT FACING. 
          IT WOULD BE 150 TEACHERS THAT WE WOULD BE CUTTING THAT WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO SUPPORT OUR SPECIAL NEEDS. 
          UM, IT WOULD BE 150 TEACHERS THAT WE WOULD BE CUTTING THAT WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO SUPPORT, UM, ALL OF THE VARIOUS PROGRAMS THAT OUR COMMUNITY HAS BEEN ACCUSTOMED TO RECEIVING. 
          AND SO I'M GONNA ASK, UM, THAT MS. MENDEZ COME FORWARD AND WE'RE GONNA TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR CAPITAL BUDGET. 
          GOOD MORNING. 
          GOOD MORNING. 
          I WANTED TO GO THROUGH, UM, SOME OF THE UNFUNDED CAPITAL PROJECTS, ALTHOUGH I KNOW, UM, THIS IS NOT NECESSARILY HOW, UM, THE COUNTY LOOKS AT THIS WHEN THEY REVIEW IT. 
          I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU SEE WHAT THE BOARD HAD APPROVED AND SENT OVER IN TERMS OF PRIORITY ORDER. 
          UM, WE HAVE DONE A LOT OF WORK IN TRYING TO COLLABORATE. 
          UM, YOU WILL SEE SOME OF THE FUNDING THAT'S BEEN PROPOSED, UM, DOES ALLOW FOR SOME COLLABORATION AND SOME COST EFFICIENCIES IN TERMS OF PAVING PROJECTS WHERE WE'RE ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER, UM, WITH OUR COUNTY GOVERNMENT PARTNERS TO SUPPORT THAT. 
          I ALSO DO WANNA RECOGNIZE BEFORE WE GO THROUGH THIS LIST, UM, THAT THE HARTFORD ACADEMY AND NEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PROJECT IS TAKING A LARGE PORTION, OBVIOUSLY, OF OUR CAPITAL FUNDS, AND WE DO WANNA RECOGNIZE THAT, BUT I DO THINK WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KNOW THERE ARE OTHER NEEDS. 
          UM, OUR SCHOOLS ARE AGING, AND THIS LIST IS GONNA CONTINUE TO GROW. 
          UM, SO I'M NOT GONNA GO THROUGH THIS LINE BY LINE FOR YOU, BUT AGAIN, I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE NOTE THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL, UM, SLIDES HERE OF UNFUNDED, UM, CAPITAL ITEMS THAT WE DID REQUEST. 
          UM, AND NOW WE'LL GET TO WHAT THE CURRENT PROPOSED, UM, LOOKS LIKE IN TERMS OF WHAT IS, UH, PROPOSED TO BE FUNDED. 
          UM, WE HAVE THE HALLS CROSSROADS ROOF PROJECT. 
          WE ARE RECEIVING SOME STATE FUNDING FOR THAT. 
          UM, SO THAT IS GOOD NEWS THERE. 
          UM, AND THEN AGAIN, THE HARTFORD ACADEMY AND THE NEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PROJECT IS ONE OF OUR MAJOR INITIATIVES AND MAJOR PRIORITIES. 
          AND YOU'LL SEE THERE WE'RE ACTUALLY RECEIVING 24 MILLION, UM, IN STATE FUNDING THIS YEAR, WHICH IS GREAT NEWS. 
          UM, WE ARE GETTING THE 55 MILLION PROPOSED CURRENTLY FROM THE LOCAL FUNDING, UM, FOR THAT TOTAL OF 79 MILLION. 
          UM, SO THOSE ARE OUR BIG, UH, STATE ELIGIBLE PROJECTS. 
          UM, NOW WE'RE GONNA GO DOWN TO THE LOCAL ONLY PROJECTS WHERE WE ARE IN TERMS OF WHAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO IN STRETCHING THAT MONEY. 
          UM, IN THE PROPOSED, UM, WE WERE ABLE TO TRANSFER ABOUT 3.5 MILLION FROM SOME CLOSED OUT PROJECTS. 
          UM, AND AGAIN, WE WORKING COLLABORATIVELY WITH OUR COUNTY GOVERNMENT PARTNERS, UM, IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO FUND THAT NEW, UM, CENTRAL PLANT AT EDGEWOOD MIDDLE SCHOOL. 
          UM, AND THEN AGAIN, THE PAVING PROJECTS HAS BEEN A GREAT COLLABORATIVE EFFORT. 
          UM, WE DO HAVE SOME SIGNIFICANT PAVING NEEDS, AGAIN, BECAUSE OUR SCHOOLS ARE AGING, UM, AND WE ALL KNOW WHAT KIND OF WINTER WE EXPERIENCE THIS WINTER, SO DEFINITELY A PRIORITY FOR US. 
          ALSO, SOMETHING THAT WE'RE RATED ON WHEN THE STATE COMES OUT AND LOOKS 
          [01:20:01]
AT, UM, YOU KNOW, WHAT OUR SCHOOLS LOOK LIKE AND THE RATING THAT WE RECEIVE FROM THEM. 
          UM, SO AGAIN, NOT GONNA GO THROUGH THIS ENTIRE LIST, BUT I DID JUST WANNA, YOU KNOW, POINT OUT THAT WE ARE WORKING COLLABORATIVELY, TRYING TO COME UP WITH SOME SOLUTIONS, UM, WHERE WE CAN AND TRY TO, YOU KNOW, WORK TOGETHER, UM, ON PROJECTS THAT MAY BE BENEFICIAL FOR ALL OF US. 
          UM, AND I WILL LEAVE YOU WITH, YOU KNOW, OUR BIGGEST CONCERN IS WITH OUR AGING FACILITIES. 
          UM, THIS LIST NOT BEING ABLE TO BE COMPLETELY FUNDED, WHICH WE KNOW IS A BIG ASK, DOES LEAVE US IN A POSITION WHERE WE ARE GONNA SEE GREATER NEEDS ON THE OPERATING SIDE BECAUSE AGAIN, AS THINGS CONTINUE TO AGE, WE KNOW THAT WE'RE GONNA EXPERIENCE GREATER OPERATIONAL, UM, COSTS. 
          FOR EXAMPLE, I DO JUST WANNA POINT OUT THE SEPTIC. 
          WE'RE WORKING ON THAT AT NORTH HARTFORD, BUT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN, UM, VERY COSTLY THIS YEAR BECAUSE OF WHERE WE ARE WITH THAT. 
          SO, UM, AGAIN, THAT'S HOW WE'VE PRIORITIZE THINGS MOVING FORWARD, UM, TO TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ADDRESSING ANYTHING THAT IS MORE COSTLY ON THE OPERATIONAL SIDE THROUGH OUR CAPITAL REQUEST. 
          AND I WILL LEAVE YOU WITH THE LAST SLIDE. 
          THANK YOU. 
          AND SO AGAIN, I JUST WANNA THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO SHARE TODAY AND, UM, JUST KIND OF SH UH, HIGHLIGHT THE THINGS THAT WE VALUE WITHIN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM AND THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING EVERY DAY. 
          UM, AS MRS. PAGE MENTIONED, AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS PROCESS, WE HAD A BUDGET THAT WE CREATED. 
          WE WORKED COLLABORATIVELY WITH OUR BOARD, AND WE REDUCED OUR ASK. 
          WE REDUCED IT BEFORE WE GAVE IT TO THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE. 
          AND, UM, NOW WE'RE STILL LOOKING AT A $15 MILLION DEFICIT. 
          AND SO, UM, WE ARE HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE, AND JUST THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR, UM, YOUR SUPPORT. 
          THANK YOU. 
          UM, DR. MACK, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION TODAY. 
          APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU BEING HERE. 
          UM, YOU KNOW, WE ALL OFTEN TALK ABOUT OUR CHILDREN BEING OUR GREATEST RESOURCE, UH, AND WE ALL WANNA SEE THEM, UH, GET THE EDUCATION THEY NEED TO PREPARE THEM FOR THE FUTURE. 
          SO, UH, WE KNOW THAT, UH, YOU GUYS ARE DOING AN OUTSTANDING JOB. 
          UM, WE'RE OFTEN IN OUR SCHOOLS, WE OFTEN GET TO SEE THE ATMOSPHERE, UH, THE JOY OF THE KIDS BEING IN THERE. 
          AND I KNOW THAT, UM, WE ALL KNOW THERE'S A FEW BAD APPLES SOMETIMES, BUT FOR THE MOST PART, THE KIDS ARE WONDERFUL. 
          UM, JUST RECENTLY AT THE TEACHER OF THE YEAR EVENT, UH, WE WERE WELCOMED UP TO SCHOOL, UM, AND JUST, JUST A GREAT TIME. 
          UM, AND FROM WHAT I'M HEARING HERE TODAY, UH, WITH THE PROPOSED INCREASE, YOU'RE STILL 5 MILLION SHORT OF YOUR BENEFIT PACKAGE, IS THAT CORRECT? YES. 
          AND THIS, THERE'S SEVERAL, AGAIN, WE, WE HAVEN'T BROKEN IT OUT, BUT IF, IF I LOOK AT THE PAGE, WE DID HAVE AN INCREASE FOR BENEFITS. 
          WE HAD AN INCREASED FOR SPECIAL SPECIAL EDUCATION, UM, I'M SORRY, WE HAD SOME NEW, UM, EDUCATORS COMING IN TO SUPPORT OUR EARLY LEARNERS THAT WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO FUND. 
          UM, SO THERE'S SEVERAL THINGS, BUT YES, BENEFITS IS AN INCREASING COST AS YOU'RE WELL AWARE. 
          AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS AS WELL WHEN WE RECONCILE THIS BUDGET. 
          OKAY, MR. GINGER? WELL, GOOD MORNING, HOW ARE YOU? SO, A COUPLE QUESTIONS. 
          UM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. 
          UM, MIDDLE SCHOOL SPORTS PROGRAM, WHEN DID THAT START? WHAT YEAR? IT WAS SEVERAL YEARS TRAVEL PROGRAM AGO. 
          SEVERAL YEARS AGO. 
          YEAH. 
          AND HOW MUCH DOES THAT COST A YEAR? I BELIEVE IT'S ABOUT 300,000, FOUR, 400,000. 
          OKAY. 
          SO WHY DID WE START THAT PROGRAM WHEN WE WERE HAVING TROUBLE WITH FUNDING EVERYTHING ELSE? AND NOW I'M HEARING THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE TROUBLE MAYBE GOING FORWARD WHERE YOU WANT TO GO BACK AND PUT PEGO IN ON THE, UH, HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAMS, WHICH, UM, SO, SO THAT MAY BE FOR ALL ATHLETICS. 
          IF WE WERE ABLE TO MAINTAIN ATHLETICS, THE FEES MAY BE FOR EVERYTHING. 
          UM, WE PUT THAT IN USING SOME COVID FUNDS. 
          SO THAT WAS HOW WE WERE ABLE TO START, UM, MIDDLE SCHOOL SPORTS. 
          HOW ARE YOU PAYING, HOW ARE THEY PAYING FOR IT NOW THAT THE COVID FUNDS ARE GONE? WE DID ROLL INTO THE OPERATING BUDGET. 
          OKAY. 
          SO, SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION SURE. 
          TO ADD A LITTLE BIT TOO. 
          BUT PART OF THE REASONING AT THE TIME, UM, AND I WAS ELEMENTARY, SO I'M TRYING TO GO BACK TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT THE EXACT REASON. 
          BUT DURING THAT TIME, WE ALSO DID MIDDLE SCHOOL INNOVATION. 
          WE KNOW THAT OUR MIDDLE SCHOOLS, THAT'S A, THAT'S A TOUGH PERIOD OF SCHOOLING WHERE YOU'RE TRYING TO FIND YOUR IDENTITY, TRYING TO INCREASE OPPORTUNITIES, TRYING TO HEIGHTEN ENGAGEMENT. 
          SO TO ANSWER THE FIRST PART OF YOUR QUESTION OF WHY WAS BECAUSE WE WANTED TO ENHANCE THE MIDDLE SCHOOL EXPERIENCE BECAUSE THAT WAS WHAT THE DATA WAS SHOWING IN TERMS OF JUST NEEDING TO MAKE SURE WE GET MORE BUY-IN IN ORDER TO, UM, CAPTURE THOSE STUDENTS. 
          OKAY. 
          SO MY CONCERN GOING FORWARD THEN IS I HEARD YOU SAY ABOUT THE PAY TO GO FOR THE 
          [01:25:01]
SPORTS GOING PRO FORWARD, WHICH I WAS THE ONE WHO COMPLAINED ABOUT THE PAY TO GO SPORTS BEFORE AND SAID, UM, IT WAS ABSOLUTELY CRAZY THAT THESE KIDS WERE PAYING A HUNDRED DOLLARS AND, AND IT'S NOT THE LOWER INCOME, IT'S NOT THE HIGHER INCOME, IT'S THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THE MIDDLE THAT REALLY BOTHERED ME. 
          AND, AND OBVIOUSLY I WAS A BIG SPORTS PERSON, SO, SO WHEN I SEE THAT THE MIDDLE SPORTS PROGRAM WAS PUT IN, AND I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING NOW, BUT IT WAS FOR COVID THAT, THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING THAT QUESTION. 
          UM, SECOND, THIS IS MY EIGHTH BUDGET, AND OUT OF SIX, OUT OF THE EIGHT, THEY'VE NEVER BEEN FULLY FUNDED. 
          THE ONLY TWO YEARS THAT WERE FULLY FUNDED WAS THE LAST TWO YEARS OF THE GLASSMAN ADMINISTRATION WHERE THEY FULLY FUNDED EVERYTHING. 
          AND I REMEMBER SITTING, UH, IN MY OFFICE UPSTAIRS, AND WE HAD THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE OUTSIDE SCREAMING TO, TO GET MORE MONEY. 
          AND MYSELF AND COUNCIL PRESIDENT, UM, HAVE MET BEFORE WITH COUNTY EXECUTIVE CALEY AND ALWAYS FOUGHT FOR DIFFERENT FUNDS. 
          BUT I ALSO SEE THAT YOU GUYS CAME OUT WITH A $53 MILLION BUDGET, AND THEN THE SCHOOL BOARD PAIRED IT DOWN TO 37 MILLION, AND THEN COUNTY EXECUTIVE WENT TO 23, 20 3 MILLION. 
          SO SCHOOL BOARD BROUGHT IT DOWN 15 MILLION AND YOU GUYS BROUGHT IT DOWN 14 MILLION AND, AND IT, THERE, THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN OBVIOUSLY 53 AND 23, BUT, UM, I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY GOT FROM 53 MILLION TO 37 MILLION. 
          UM, THAT, THAT'S A CONCERN, MR. ANO. 
          YES. 
          THAT IS LISTED ON PAGE 43 ALSO. 
          SO THE PROPOSED CHANGES FROM THE 53 MILLION REQUEST TO THE 37 IS LISTED IN THE CHANGE COLUMNS. 
          SO YOU CAN SEE WHAT THEY REMOVED FROM THE ASK IN ORDER TO GET TO THE 37TH. 
          AND IF I CAN JUST ADD, JUST TO KIND OF GO BACK IN TIME, AGAIN, I CAN'T REMEMBER THE DATES, BUT WHEN I CAME IN, UM, WE, THE BUDGET WAS PRETTY MUCH DONE. 
          AND SO IN WORKING WITH THE BOARD OF ED, WE COULD SENSE THAT THAT 53 WAS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. 
          SO THE REASON WHY, THE REASON HOW IT GOT DOWN WAS BECAUSE WE WORKED COLLABORATIVELY WITH OUR BOARD OF ED IN ORDER TO GIVE A REASONABLE ASK. 
          AND SO THEN WE MADE OUR ASK, AND THEN NOW ON TOP OF THAT, IT'S 15 MILLION LESS THAN THAT. 
          SO THAT'S, WE LAID IT OUT LIKE THAT SO THAT SHE COULD SEE YES, IN JAN, JANUARY 1ST THERE WAS A BUDGET NUMBER, AND THEN JANUARY 7TH HAPPENED AND WE WERE DILIGENT. 
          WE DID WHAT WE COULD, GIVEN THE WORK THAT HAD ALREADY HAPPENED FOR THE PREVIOUS THREE TO FOUR MONTHS IN ORDER TO HIT WHAT WE THOUGHT WOULD BE I REASONABLE, BUT WE NEEDED MORE. 
          BUT THAT WAS OUR ASK. 
          AND SO WE WANTED TO BE ABLE TO SHOW THAT WE DID MAKE SOME EFFORTS TO PULL BACK, EVEN THOUGH WE KNEW WHAT SOME OF THOSE PRIORITIES WERE, AND WE MADE THE CUTS. 
          AND SO NOW WE'VE MADE THE CUTS, AND NOW WE'RE BEING ASKED TO MAKE THE CUTS AGAIN, THE NEXT ROUND OF CUTS ARE GOING TO HURT. 
          WAS, WAS THERE ANY, UH, VALIDITY TO THE FACT THAT, UM, MR. CALEY AND MR. BOLSON HAD AGREED ON A NUMBER GOING FORWARD? AND ROBBIE, WAS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU WERE PRIVY TO THOSE CONVERSATIONS? I MEAN, THERE, YEAH, I MEAN, THERE WAS, THERE WAS A, THERE WAS A BOARD OF EDUCATION PROPOSAL, UM, PRESENTATION THAT WAS GIVEN THAT, THAT LAID OUT THOSE THREE YEAR, THAT THREE YEAR FUNDING WITH SPECIFIC DOLLAR AMOUNTS FOR ALL THREE OF THOSE YEARS. 
          AND IT HAD LAST YEAR THAT WHAT IT WAS ABOUT, UM, UH, ABOUT 7.5% INCREASE THE NEXT YEAR AT SIX POINT HALF, UH, PERCENT INCREASE, AND THEN NEXT YEAR AT 5% INCREASE. 
          SO THE DOLLAR AMOUNTS WERE ALL VERY MUCH IN A PUBLIC SETTING. 
          AND THAT PRESENTATION IS STILL ON THE SCHOOL BOARD'S WEBSITE. 
          UM, AND THAT IS WHAT WE WERE TRYING TO WORK AROUND TO BE LIKE, OKAY, 'CAUSE LAST YEAR WAS A BIT OF A, A, A BIT OF A DIFFICULTY IN TRYING TO MAKE ALL OF IT WORK AT 7.5%. 
          THAT WAS A, THAT WAS A LARGER INCREASE THAN, THAN ALMOST ANY OTHER PART OF THE BUDGET. 
          UM, AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE, WE WERE COMMITTED TO DOING THAT, TO DOING THAT THREE YEAR, UM, PHASE IN, AND THAT REFLECTS WHAT'S IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET. 
          SO I WAS IN THE MEETING, UH, FOR THE AGREEMENT THAT YOU'RE REFERENCING, ROBBIE, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WERE THERE AS WELL, BUT MR. CASTLEY ASKED IF WE COULD GO FROM WHEREVER WE WERE, GET DOWN TO 5%. 
          SO DR. 
          BOLSON AT THE TIME INDICATED THAT IS, IT WAS A ROADMAP THAT WE COULD TRY TO GET TO. 
          THERE IS A PRESENTATION, UM, MS. RIDGEWAY PROVI, UH, REMINDED ME OF THAT. 
          WE CAN SEND THAT TO YOU THERE. 
          THE, THE SLIDES THAT WERE MADE WERE INDICATING WHAT THE EXPECTATION WAS AND HOW WE MAY BE ABLE TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS AND REDUCE OUR ASKS GOING FORWARD. 
          SO THAT'S HOW THAT CAME ABOUT AND WHERE WE ENDED. 
          AND I'D JUST LIKE TO ADD, AND I'VE HAD THIS CONVERSATION WITH FOLKS AS WELL. 
          [01:30:01]
I WASN'T AT THAT TABLE, SO I DON'T KNOW, I CAN'T SPEAK ON ANY AGREEMENTS. 
          WHAT I CAN SPEAK ON IS THAT WHAT WE'RE WORKING WITH IN HARTFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, IT MIGHT BE NICE TO BE ABLE TO PREDICT WHAT WE'RE GONNA ASK, BUT WE'RE WORKING WITH CHILDREN. 
          WE WERE JUST HEARING A PRESENTATION, UM, YOU KNOW, ABOUT THE ANIMAL SHELTER. 
          THERE ARE UNPREDICTABLE THINGS THAT HAPPEN. 
          THERE ARE NEEDS THAT HAPPEN WITHIN AN ORGANIZATION THAT WE CAN'T POSSIBLY, UM, ANTICIPATE. 
          AND THERE'S COMPLEXITIES WITH OUR STUDENTS. 
          SO THE THINGS THAT, UM, WE ASKED FOR THIS YEAR, I WASN'T IN THE ROOM. 
          UM, BUT I WOULD SAY THAT WE ARE STILL RECOVERING FROM PREVIOUS YEARS WHERE WE WERE NOT FULLY FUNDED. 
          AND SO I JUST WANT YOU TO TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION. 
          SURE. 
          NO, I UNDERSTAND. 
          AND LIKE I SAID, THIS IS MY EIGHTH BUDGET AND SIXTH OUTTA THE EIGHTH, WE HAVEN'T FULLY FUNDED. 
          AND THE LAST TWO YEARS OF THE GLASSMAN ADMINISTRATION, THEY FULLY FUNDED EVERYTHING. 
          SO, YOU KNOW, UM, I UNDERSTAND THAT. 
          AND THAT WE'VE ADVOCATED THE LAST COUPLE YEARS AND HAVE HAD SOME ARGUMENTS ABOUT GETTING THE SCHOOL MORE MONEY. 
          AND WE'VE GOTTEN A LITTLE BIT MORE MONEY. 
          WE HAVE GOTTEN IT. 
          BUT, YOU KNOW, I'M JUST TRYING TO FIND OUT THAT, THAT THE, THE INFORMATION THAT WE, THAT EVERYBODY'S GIVEN AND EVERYBODY WANTS TO KNOW THOSE, THAT QUESTION ABOUT, HEY, THIS IS, YOU KNOW, THIS IS WHAT WE'VE HEARD OUT THERE. 
          SO TO CLARIFY THAT I THINK IS IMPORTANT FOR EVERYBODY TO LISTEN. 
          AND, AND LAST, LAST YEAR'S BUDGET WAS FULLY FUNDED THOUGH. 
          OKAY. 
          YES. 
          SO, SO, YOU KNOW, JUST, JUST GOING BY THAT, LIKE I SAID, MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS THAT MIDDLE SCHOOL, MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAM SPORTS WAS, LIKE YOU SAID, WAS PUT IN DURING COVID, BUT I DON'T WANT THAT TO COME BACK AND AFFECT CURRENT ATHLETICS AND, AND THE PAY TO GO OR ANY CUTS IN THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM. 
          OBVIOUSLY THAT'S A, THAT'S A BIG, UH, DEAL FOR ME. 
          NOR DO I WANT TO SEE ANY OF THE TEACHERS BE CUT. 
          UM, YOU KNOW, MY MOST IMPORTANT THING HAS ALWAYS BEEN MAKE SURE YOU PAY THE TEACHERS, MAKE SURE YOU PAY THE POLICE, YOU KNOW, FIND ANY POLICE, KNOW, FIND ANY PLACE ELSE TO CUT. 
          AND I KNOW THE BLUEPRINT HAS BEEN VERY TOUGH. 
          'CAUSE THE STARTING TEACHERS ARE COMING IN AT 60 GRAND, AND IF ANYBODY ELSE WAS MAKING 60 GRAND, THEY'RE LIKE, WELL, WAIT A MINUTE. 
          I WAS MAKING 60 GRAND AND THEY'RE COMING IN MAKING 60 GRAND. 
          THAT'S NOT FAIR TO ME EITHER. 
          SO WHAT AM I GOING TO GO? AND, AND THOSE INCREASES ARE OBVIOUSLY REFLECTED IN THAT, AND I, AND I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND THAT. 
          SO, UM, AND I JUST WANTED TO BRING THOSE, THOSE, THOSE ARE MY QUESTIONS. 
          UH, THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU, MR. BENNETT. 
          GOOD MORNING. 
          GOOD TO BE WITH YOU. 
          UM, I HEAR, UH, UH, COUNCILMAN G GIORDANO'S CONCERNS ABOUT REDUCTION IN POSITIONS, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT THE BUDGET PRESENTED, IF FULLY FUNDED, WOULD STILL INVOLVE A REDUCTION IN PO UH, FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES AT, UH, CERTAIN SCHOOLS. 
          CORRECT? UM, HAVEN'T SOME SCHOOLS, LIKE HIGH SCHOOLS BEEN NOTIFIED THAT THERE WOULD BE A SMALL REDUCTION IN, UH, INSTRUCTIONAL POSITIONS? SO EACH YEAR WHEN WE, UM, DO STAFFING BASED UPON THE CAPACITY OF THE SCHOOL, THE ENROLLMENT OF THE SCHOOL MM-HMM . 
          THOSE SHIFTS ARE MADE. 
          A LOT OF TIMES IT ENDS UP BEING REASSIGNMENT VERSUS IT'S A CUT FOR A SCHOOL, BUT NOT NECESSARILY A CUT FOR THE SYSTEM BECAUSE YEAH, THE, THE TEACHER WILL END UP SOMEWHERE ELSE, BUT THE POSITION NO LONGER EXISTS. 
          NO POSITION. 
          WELL, NO, THE TEACHER, THE TEACHER AND THE POSITION, IT JUST LEAVES THAT FULL. 
          RIGHT. 
          BUT THE POSITION IS STILL THERE. 
          THE FTE IS STILL THERE. 
          OKAY. 
          UM, I WANTED TO ASK ABOUT THE IMPACT. 
          'CAUSE OBVIOUSLY I WAS VERY ACTIVE IN, AT THE STATE LEVEL WITH BOTH THE LITERACY POLICY AND THE MATH POLICY. 
          UM, NOW THE LITERACY POLICY IS BEING EXTENDED BEYOND THIRD GRADE. 
          UM, AND, YOU KNOW, THE MATH POLICY IS GONNA BE IMPACTING OUR CURRICULUM IN MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND HIGH SCHOOLS WITH THE MERGER OF ALGEBRA AND GEOMETRY. 
          UM, HOW HAVE THOSE THINGS IMPACTED US ON AN OPERATIONS PERSPECTIVE AND A BUDGETARY PERSPECTIVE? YOU KNOW, FIGURING OUT HOW WE'RE GONNA HAVE ALL THESE LITERACY PLANS AND IMPLEMENTING THOSE PLANS AND, AND, AND, AND THINGS OF THOSE, LIKE, LIKE, SO WHILE WE'RE TALKING, UM, WE MAY HAVE ACTUAL NUMBERS FROM, UM, ON ONE OF OUR WORKSHEETS, BUT ESSENTIALLY ONE OF THE COUPLE THINGS, UM, THE, THE LITERACY POLICY IS CALLING FOR A SCREENER. 
          WE CURRENTLY HAVE DIBELS, BUT IT'S CALLING FOR AN ENHANCED DOUBLE. 
          SO WE'RE GONNA NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO PURCHASE THAT, THAT ADVANCED SCREENER FOR NEXT YEAR. 
          I BELIEVE THE OTHER PIECE, BECAUSE I TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT, I MEAN, WE ALL WANT ALL OF OUR STUDENTS PERFORMING ON GRADE LEVEL, BUT WE KNOW THERE ARE STUDENTS WHO WILL NOT. 
          AND SO IN THAT LEG, IN THAT LEGISLATION IS, UM, THE REQUIREMENT THAT RETENTION BE CONSIDERED AT THIRD GRADE. 
          AND SO WITH THAT IN MIND, UM, WE ARE RAMPING UP OUR INTERVENTIONS. 
          AND SO REALLY TAKING A LOOK AT, LOOK AT IN THE CURRICULUM DEPARTMENT, WHAT ADDITIONAL INTERVENTIONS DO WE NEED? UM, THE PLAN ALSO, UH, CALLS FOR AFTERSCHOOL 
          [01:35:01]
BEYOND THE SCHOOL BELL, UM, INTERVENTIONS TO BE PROVIDED. 
          AND SO THAT WOULD MEAN IF WE HAVE A TEACHER THAT IS GOING TO PROVIDE AFTERSCHOOL INTERVENTION, WE NOW NEED TO PAY THAT TEACHER BEYOND THE SCHOOL DAY IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THE INTERVENTION. 
          UM, THAT IS NOT SOME, THAT IS AN UNFUNDED, UM, REQUEST COMING FROM, UM, THE BO, THE MSDE. 
          THERE'S ALSO, WITH THE MATH CURRICULUM, WITH THE CHANGES THAT ARE BEING MADE, WE'LL NEED TO, UM, LOOK AT CURRICULUM RESOURCES THAT WE'LL HAVE TO PURCHASE. 
          AND THEN THERE IS A CALL FOR THE, THE INSTRUCTIONAL DAY TO CHANGE THE MA UH, MINUTES. 
          AND SO AGAIN, IT MAY BE TEACHER WORK GROUPS TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW DO WE GET THE, THE TEACHER BUY-IN, UM, INTO, UM, THE PLANS THAT WE'RE CREATING. 
          AND ANYTIME THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH TEACHERS TO GET THEIR VOICE, NINE TIMES OUTTA 10, IT MIGHT BE BEYOND THE DUTY DAY. 
          AND AGAIN, PAYING TEACHERS FOR THEIR TIME AND THEIR EXPERTISE AND THEIR SERVICES IN ORDER TO IMPLEMENT THE PLANS THAT ARE BEING ROLLED OUT FROM MSDE, IT'S 60 MINIMUM MINUTES OF 60 MINIMUM FROM, AND IT CAN'T BE CONNECTED TO A TRANSITION. 
          IT CAN'T BE CONNECTED TO GOING TO LUNCH OR GOING TO SPECIAL. 
          I BELIEVE IT'S HIGHLY SPECIFIED. 
          SO THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANKS, MR. BENNETT. 
          MS. EMAL, GOOD MORNING. 
          GOOD MORNING. 
          UM, FIRST I WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS, ESPECIALLY DEBORAH. 
          UM, WE DID THIS REMARKABLE THING OF, UM, THERE WAS RUMORS THAT THERE WAS NOT A LINE ITEM BUDGET, AND SO WE ASKED FOR IT, AND THEN YOU PRODUCED IT, UM, BACK IN MARCH, ACTUALLY. 
          AND SO FOR THAT, I JUST WANNA THANK YOU. 
          AND NOT ONLY DID YOU PRODUCE THE LINE IN A BUDGET, UM, BUT YOU ALSO MADE TIME TO TALK WITH US. 
          AND YOU WENT THROUGH ALL THE DIFFERENT SCENARIOS OF HOW WE GOT TO THE ORIGINAL ASK, UM, AND THEN WHAT, UM, ANY FURTHER CUTS WOULD ACTUALLY MEAN. 
          UM, AND SO FOR THAT, WE APPRECIATE IT. 
          THERE'S ALSO BEEN A LOT OF COMMENTS ABOUT HOW, UM, UH, A MISBELIEF THAT THERE'S NOT ENOUGH AUDITS THAT OCCUR FOR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM FUNDING. 
          UM, AS, UH, MY CAREER HAS LED ME IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS. 
          I HAVE ACTUALLY PARTICIPATED IN MORE MSDE AUDITS THAN I WOULD EVER LIKE TO ADMIT. 
          UM, AND SO FOR CLARIFICATION, I JUST WANNA SAY, UNLIKE A LOT OF OTHER DEPARTMENTS, THERE'S NOT JUST ONE ACCOUNTABILITY AUDIT FOR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. 
          TRANSPORTATION HAS AN AUDIT, FOOD SYSTEMS HAVE AN AUDIT ED, UH, CURRICULUM HAS AN AUDIT, SPECIAL EDUCATION HAS AN AUDIT. 
          AND SO THERE'S ALL THESE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS WITH MSDE THAT ARE RESPONSIBLE TO UPHOLD THE MOST, UM, THE HIGHEST STANDARD OF CARE. 
          AND THEN ON TOP OF IT, THERE'S SEVERAL PROGRAMS THAT I KNOW ARE GRANT FUNDED, WHICH COME WITH THEIR OWN AUDITS ON TOP OF EVERYTHING. 
          SO IT'S ACTUALLY THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT'S BEEN SHARED IN THAT YOU GUYS PROBABLY UNDERGO MORE INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL CHECKS AND BALANCES FOR THE FUNDS THAN PROBABLY ANY OTHER DEPARTMENT WE WILL TALK WITH. 
          UM, EVEN WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES, I'VE SPENT A LOT OF MY CAREER WORKING IN LEVEL FIVE SCHOOLS. 
          SO I WORK WITH THE KIDS WHO YOU GUYS HAVE LITERALLY PUT IN PLACE EVERY INTERVENTION POSSIBLE TO NOT MOVE THEM OUT OF HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 
          UM, AND I SAY THIS WHOLEHEARTEDLY, BUT THAT WHEN THE STUDENTS DO GET TO A LEVEL FIVE SCHOOL, YOU GUYS HAVE PUT IN SO MANY THINGS IN PLACE TO TRY TO BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN THEM BECAUSE MOVING THEM TO A A NON-PUBLIC IS EXPENSIVE. 
          UM, AND SO FOR THAT, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS. 
          I KNOW THERE'S TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, BILLING INSURANCE FOR DIFFERENT SERVICES, BUT THEN THAT WOULD GO INTO ADDITIONAL AUDITS AND DIFFERENT ACCOUNTABILITY AND REQUIRE DIFFERENT STAFFING TO BE ABLE TO ENSURE THAT IF A, A STUDENT'S INSURANCE CHANGES OR DROPS OR WHATEVER, UM, THAT YOU GUYS CAN MAINTAIN THAT. 
          UM, I ALSO WANT TO, UM, DO A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO YOUR TEAM. 
          SO I HAVE A FOURTH GRADER AND A SIXTH GRADER OF HARTFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 
          AND THIS YEAR, MY FOURTH GRADER EXPERIENCED THE CHANGE WITH MATH TESTING. 
          UM, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW, THE, THE CURRENT, UM, STATE TESTING IS CALLED MCAP. 
          AND THE, UNLIKE WHEN I DID M-S-P-A-P-P, MY GIRLS HAD NO IDEA WHAT A SCANTRON WAS, WHICH MADE ME FEEL SOME SORT OF WAY, BECAUSE THE ENTIRE TEST FOR MCAP IS DONE NOW ON A COMPUTER. 
          AND SO TO IMPROVE OUR TESTING, THE SCHOOL SYSTEM DECIDED, OKAY, LET'S START TESTING OUR KIDS WITH MATH THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR ON COMPUTERS SO THAT THEY HAVE A BETTER, UM, MENTAL ROADMAP TO BE ABLE TO SAY, OKAY, I STUDIED THIS ON PAPER, BUT THIS IS HOW I INPUT IT ONTO THE COMPUTER. 
          IT, THERE'S A LOT OF NEUROSCIENCE INVOLVED. 
          AND SO WHILE THAT WAS 
          [01:40:01]
APPRECIATED, A LOT OF OUR KIDS REALLY STRUGGLED WITH HOW WHEN YOU FINISH YOUR TEST, YOU IMMEDIATELY GET YOUR SCORES. 
          AND A LOT OF OUR STUDENTS WHO ALREADY HAVE TEST ANXIETY AND MATH ANXIETY WERE, HAD SO MUCH ADRENALINE IN THEIR SYSTEM. 
          AND THEN AS SOON AS THEY GOT TO THAT SCREEN AND IT SAID THEY DIDN'T GET THE GRADE THEY WANTED, THEY WOULD HAVE A MENTAL BREAKDOWN AND IT WASN'T GOOD FOR OUR STUDENTS. 
          AND SO I DID THIS CRAZY THING, I ASKED YOUR MATH CURRICULUM TEAM TO MEET WITH ME IN THAT ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDING. 
          AND I LEARNED NOT ONLY FROM THAT MEETING, BUT JUST IN MY EXPERIENCE SINCE THEN THAT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN CHARGE OF YOUR CURRICULUM ARE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS. 
          AND WE ARE LUCKY TO HAVE THEM, AND THEY'RE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS BECAUSE THEY'RE TEACHERS WHO WERE SO GOOD AT THEIR CRAFT THAT THEY WERE SEEN TO BE ABLE TO BE ABLE TO TEACH THE TEACHERS. 
          AND NOT ONLY WERE THEY WILLING TO LISTEN TO MY CONCERNS, NOT ONLY AS A C PERSON BUT AS A MOM, UM, BUT THEY CHANGED THEIR PRACTICES. 
          THIS REMARKABLE THING OF YOU IDENTIFY A PROBLEM, YOU GO TO THE PEOPLE WHO CAN CHANGE IT. 
          AND THEN LITERALLY WITHIN TWO WEEKS, MY STUDENTS' CLASS, MY MY DAUGHTER'S CLASSES WERE GETTING EMAILS SAYING, WE UNDERSTAND THERE'S A PROBLEM, LET'S ROLL THIS BACK A LITTLE BIT. 
          AND I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY CONVERSATIONS I'VE HAD SINCE THEN WITH PARENTS WHO NOTICED IT AND APPRECIATE IT. 
          UM, AND I CHECK IN WITH MY FOURTH GRADE ON A REGULAR BASIS. 
          NOT ONLY IS HER CONFIDENCE GETTING BETTER, BUT HER PEERS ARE GETTING BETTER AND THE TEACHERS ARE FEELING MORE EMPOWERED. 
          AND SO I ALSO JUST WANNA BE ABLE TO THANK YOUR CURRICULUM TEAM FOR NOT ONLY BEING PRESENT, BUT LISTENING AND PUTTING STUFF INTO ACTION. 
          SO THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS FOR TODAY. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU, MS. ILLA. 
          MS. ROBERT? YES. 
          THANK YOU. 
          UM, GOOD MORNING. 
          UM, AND I, SO I'M UNDERSTANDING THERE'S A 15 MILLION GAP IN FUNDING. 
          UM, AND THANKS TO DEBORAH AND ERIC FOR SITTING DOWN WITH ALLISON AND I, UM, IN MARCH. 
          I THINK THAT GAVE US A, A BIG PERSPECTIVE OF THINGS. 
          AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT IS WHAT DO WE LOOK LIKE COMPARABLE TO, UH, OUR SURROUNDING COUNTIES? AND IT LOOKS LIKE, YOU KNOW, BALTIMORE COUNTY IS DEFINITELY PAYING MORE, UM, AND THEIR BENEFIT PACKAGES ARE BETTER. 
          CECIL COUNTY IS A LITTLE BELOW US, SO WE'RE, WE'RE KIND OF IN THE MIDDLE THERE. 
          UM, AND I ASKED, ARE YOU GETTING WHAT YOU NEED? UM, AND I THINK YOU BASICALLY SAID, WE'RE NOT ASKING WHAT WE NEED AND STILL GOT CUT. 
          UM, AND YOU KNOW, IT WAS MENTIONED THAT IT IS VERY, UM, UNDERSTAFFED. 
          UM, AND EVEN THOUGH THE STUDENT ENROLLMENT IS REMAINING PRETTY FLAT, WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IS AN INCREASE IN SPECIAL EDUCATION. 
          UM, AND I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT SPECIAL EDUCATION NOT ONLY JUST INVOLVES, YOU KNOW, GOING TO NON-PUBLIC PLACE PLACEMENTS, BUT THERE'S LOTS OF STUDENTS IN THERE ON 5 0 4 PLANS, UM, WHICH IS REALLY FOR THOSE WITH MENTAL HEALTH AND BEHAVIORAL SERVICES, THE KIDS I SEE IN THERAPY, UM, AND THEN WE HAVE THOSE ON IEPS THAT MAY NEED ADDITIONAL SERVICES BECAUSE THERE'S LEARNING DISORDERS, UM, AND OTHER, UH, UNDERSTANDING THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. 
          AND LOSING TEACHERS MEANS, UM, A LOT, UM, OVERSIZED CLASSROOMS FOR A CHILD ON WHO'S IN IDENTIFIABLY AS A SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES, UM, CAUSES CHAOS. 
          UM, BECAUSE YOU MIGHT HAVE AN ANXIETY KID WHO NEEDS ASSISTANCE THAT THEY'RE HAVING A PANIC ATTACK IN THE MIDDLE OF A CLASSROOM. 
          YOU MAY HAVE A KID WHO HAS SIGNIFICANT A DHD, UNMEDICATED , UM, WHERE THEY CAN'T MAINTAIN IN THEIR SEAT AND THEY'RE DISRUPTING THE CLASSROOM SETTING. 
          UM, AND WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE THAT EVEN EXTRA SPECIAL EDUCATOR THERE TO ASSIST, WHILE THE TEACHER CAN TEACH MEANS A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE IN A CLASSROOM, IT ALSO MEANS SIGNIFICANT ADDITION TO LEARNING. 
          UM, I KNOW CHILDREN, YOU KNOW, WHEN I WAS IN BALTIMORE CITY, I WAS A BEHAVIORAL THERAPIST IN THE SCHOOLS STARTING AT THE YOUNGEST AGE OF THREE. 
          SO I KNOW THOSE LITTLE YOUNG AND CLASSROOMS REALLY DO HELP AND PROVIDE GOOD SERVICES FOR CHILDREN. 
          THE CONCERN IS, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU CAN'T ADDRESS SOME OF THOSE BEHAVIORAL CONCERNS, IT JUST GETS INCREASINGLY WORSE. 
          UM, AND I DO WANNA SAY KUDOS TO THE SCHOOL SAFETY LIAISONS. 
          I THINK THEY ARE A DEFINITE ASSET. 
          I THINK WE NEED MORE OF THEM. 
          I'VE HEARD GREAT REPORTS ABOUT THEM AND HOW INTUITIVE THEY ARE AND HOW THEY'RE KEEPING THE CHILDREN ON TASK. 
          AND I, I DO APPRECIATE THAT. 
          AND I THINK MORE MONEY NEEDS TO GO INTO THAT AS WELL. 
          UM, AND THEN THE AMOUNT OF, I DON'T THINK EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS THAT THE POVERTY LEVEL HAS INCREASED, UM, ESPECIALLY WITH FEDERAL JOBS BEING CUT AND OTHER, UH, JOBS BEING 
          [01:45:01]
REDUCED. 
          AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS ADDING AN ELEMENTARY LOAN, IT WAS 50% OF STUDENTS ARE RECEIVING, UM, FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH. 
          AND THAT'S JUST ONE SCHOOL WITH THE AVERAGE BEING ABOUT 40% OF RECEIVING THAT. 
          AND THEN SNAP GOT CUT. 
          SO I FEEL LIKE THERE'S CUTS EVERYWHERE AND IT'S NOT BENEFITING THE PRIORITY OF OUR COMMUNITY, WHICH IS OUR CHILDREN. 
          UM, OUR CHILDREN ARE NOT BENEFITING IF THEY'RE SITTING IN SCHOOL HUNGRY, THEY'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO CONCENTRATE ON WHAT'S GOING ON, HOW TO DO MATH, HOW TO DO READING, ET CETERA. 
          SO I FEEL REDUCING TEACHERS INCREASING, UH, CLASS SIZE, UM, AND HAVING ALL THE EXTERNAL COMPONENTS AROUND IT IS NOT BENEFICIAL TO OUR CHILDREN. 
          SO I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE MONEY GO INTO THE SCHOOLS. 
          I HAVE, YOU KNOW, THE REPORT THAT SAYS, UM, YOU KNOW, ALL THE SERVICES ARE INCREASING INSURANCE, FIXED COSTS. 
          UM, I, I AGREE WITH UH, TONY, I LOVE ATHLETICS IN THE SCHOOLS. 
          OUR KIDS BENEFIT FROM ATHLETICS, THEY BENEFIT FROM MUSIC, ART, ALL OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN GRADUALLY CUT AND UM, IT'S JUST NOT GOOD ENOUGH IN REALITY. 
          UM, IT'S NOT BENEFITING OUR STUDENTS, IT'S NOT BENEFITING OUR TEACHERS BECAUSE WHAT THAT'S DOING IS STRESSING THEM TO THE CAPACITY, UM, THAT THEY DON'T NEED TO BE STRESSED FOR, NOT THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THEY SHOULD BE MAKING. 
          SO THAT'S MY 2 CENTS , THANK YOU FOR YOUR 2 CENTS, MS. AL. 
          I JUST HAVE ONE MORE THING. 
          SO I ACTUALLY ASKED AROUND, BECAUSE I KNOW THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF PUSHBACK SAYING, YOU KNOW, THE SCHOOL SYSTEM GETS SUCH A HUGE PORTION OF THE COUNTY BUDGET, YOU KNOW, PUBLIC SAFETY GETS A HUGE PORTION OF THE COUNTY BUDGET. 
          SO I WANTED TO LOOK UP TO SEE COMPARABLE COUNTIES, WHAT IS THE PERCENTAGE OF THEIR BUDGET THAT ALSO GOES TO SCHOOL SYSTEM AND PUBLIC SERVICE AND AND PUBLIC SAFETY. 
          AND TURNS OUT THIS, WELL, IT IS A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF MONEY. 
          THIS IS WHAT IT COSTS TO RUN A COUNTY OF OUR SIZE. 
          AND I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE. 
          UM, YOU KNOW, NO ONE WANTS TO LIVE HERE IF OUR SCHOOLS SUCK AND OUR PUBLIC SAFETY IS EMPTY. 
          UM, AND SO WE ARE COMPARABLE TO, UM, HONESTLY, THE THREE COUNTIES THAT ARE MOST COMPARABLE TO HARTFORD COUNTY, CARROLL COUNTY, FREDERICK COUNTY, AND HOWARD COUNTY. 
          UM, WELL, THERE MIGHT BE SOME VARIANCE, SOME COUNTIES SPEND MORE ON PUBLIC SAFETY. 
          THIS IS WHAT IT COSTS TO RUN A COUNTY OF OUR SIZE. 
          AND I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT NOTE TO MAKE. 
          THANK YOU. 
          ANYONE ELSE? MR. PARISH? UM, JUST A QUICK QUESTION. 
          WOULD ANY OF THE UNFUNDED CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS BREAK DOWN ANY OF THE NON-PUBLIC PLACEMENT NEEDS? SO COULD THAT, COULD ANY OF THEM POTENTIALLY SAVE MONEY IN THE WALL IF FUNDED NOW? SO YES, POTENTIALLY. 
          UM, WE COULD THE DEERFIELD SPECIAL ED STRIVE EXPANSION AND THE TWO ADDITIONAL BUSES. 
          SO BEING ABLE TO SERVICE OUR STUDENTS IN COUNTY, WE OBVIOUSLY HAVE TO HAVE SOME SPACE MODIFICATIONS THAT NEED TO BE DONE IN ORDER TO DO THAT. 
          UM, AND THEN OBVIOUSLY THE BUSES TO TRANSPORT THEM THERE. 
          UM, SO YES, THERE ARE SOME SPECIFICS THAT WE COULD LOOK AT AND WE HAVE ASKED FOR, UM, YOU KNOW, IN THE CAPITOL TO TRY TO REDUCE THE NON-PUBLIC. 
          MR. TIBS, GOOD MORNING. 
          UM, I'M JUST GOING TO ASK ABOUT THE TRANSPORTATION. 
          I SEE BUSES WITH TWO TO THREE PEOPLE ON, AND I'VE TALKED TO SOME PARENTS AND THEY SAY MY CHILD'S THE ONLY ONE ON THERE IN SOME AFTERNOONS. 
          I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW WE CAN RUN A 40 PASSENGER BUS WITH WHAT OUR STUDENTS ARE. 
          SO THERE'S A COUPLE THINGS I WANNA TALK THROUGH IN TERMS OF ROUTING. 
          UM, SO IN THE AFTERNOONS, PARTICULARLY AT THE HIGH SCHOOL, THERE ARE A LOT OF STUDENTS WHO ARE STAYING AFTER. 
          WE DON'T ACTUALLY RUN THE FULL ROUTE IF WE ONLY HAVE ONE OR TWO STUDENTS RIDING. 
          UM, HOWEVER, PER CONTRACT WITH OUR BUS CONTRACTORS, WE DO HAVE A REQUIRED MINIMUM HOUR AND MILEAGE, WHICH IS FIVE HOURS AND 55 MILES. 
          UM, SO MOST OF THOSE ROUTES THAT YOU WOULD SEE THAT ONLY HAVE A FEW STUDENTS. 
          UM, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT CAPACITY OF THE BUS, WE ALSO TALK ABOUT LENGTH OF THE BUS RIDE. 
          'CAUSE WE DON'T REALLY PARTICULARLY WANT IN COUNTY STUDENTS ON THE BUS FOR SAY, TWO HOURS. 
          UM, WE REALLY TRY TO KEEP IT TO AN HOUR OR LESS IF THEY'RE GOING TO THEIR ACTUAL HOME SCHOOL. 
          SO THERE COULD POTENTIALLY BE IN THE AFTERNOON IF YOU ONLY HAD A BUS THAT HAD 20 STUDENTS, BECAUSE THAT ROUTE IS AN HOUR BECAUSE THEY'RE IN THE MORE RURAL PART OF THE COUNTY AND THERE'S ONLY A FEW STUDENTS IN THE AFTERNOON. 
          THEY WOULD NOT, UM, YOU KNOW, BE TAKING THE ENTIRE ROUTE. 
          THEY'D ONLY BE DRIVING THE STUDENTS HOME WHO WERE ON THE BUS. 
          BUT WE ARE STILL REQUIRED TO PAY A MINIMUM, UM, TO OUR CONTRACTORS. 
          SO REGARDLESS OF STUDENT RIDERSHIP, THAT'S WHAT I WAS GETTING AT. 
          CAN WE GET SMALLER BUSES? IT WOULD BE CHEAPER TO RUN, OR HOW DOES, I 
          [01:50:01]
MEAN, I KNOW A CONTRACTOR, HE WANTS TO HAVE ALL 40 PASSENGER BUSES. 
          AND THAT'S, SO IF WE DO HAVE SMALLER VEHICLES, WHICH WE HAVE LOOKED AT AT TIMES AND OUR SPECIAL NEEDS BUSES ARE, UM, A LITTLE BIT SMALLER, THEY'RE ABOUT SIX FEET SMALLER, OBVIOUSLY THEY HAVE SPECIALIZED EQUIPMENT. 
          WE DO HAVE SOME ALTERNATIVE VEHICLES THAT WE HAVE IN THE FLEET NOW, AND WE'VE BEEN USING THOSE FOR OUR, UM, MCKINNEY-VENTO STUDENTS. 
          SO OUR STUDENTS WHO ARE DISPLACED, UM, BECAUSE WE ARE TRYING OUR BEST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE, YOU KNOW, ARE ABLE TO DO THAT. 
          IT IS ACTUALLY NOT AS COST EFFECTIVE AS YOU WOULD THINK FOR THAT SMALLER VEHICLE. 
          'CAUSE THEY TOO REQUIRE MINIMUMS. UM, AND A LOT OF THE COST IS ACTUALLY THAT DRIVER'S SALARY. 
          UM, SO HAVING THE LARGER BUSES DOES GIVE US MORE FLEXIBILITY BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THAT TIER SYSTEM, SO YOU HAVE THE HIGH SCHOOL, THEN YOU DO THE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND THE ELEMENTARY. 
          WHILE THERE MAY NOT BE THAT MANY STUDENTS ON FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL, THE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ROUTES ARE NORMALLY PRETTY CROWDED. 
          AND THEN THAT BUS MAY ALSO GO AND DO SOME ATHLETIC TRIPS AS WELL. 
          UM, WE TRY TO BE AS EFFICIENT AS POSSIBLE WITH THE ROUTING. 
          SO THE HIGH SCHOOL MAY LOOK A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT, BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT IS SOMETHING WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING AT IN TERMS OF CAPACITY FOR REDUCING ROUTES. 
          UM, AND THAT IS SOMETHING THEY'RE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE TO US IN TERMS OF NUMBER OF STUDENTS RIDING. 
          WE ACTUALLY LOOK AT THAT ONCE WE GET INTO THE SCHOOL YEAR. 
          SO THANK YOU. 
          YOU GOT IT. 
          I JUST NEED THESE BUSES WITH TWO KIDS ON 'EM. 
          I'M THINKING WHY ARE WE DOING THIS? WELL, AND IF YOU SEE ONE IN SPECIFIC, LET ME KNOW. 
          I'D BE HAPPY TO INVESTIGATE FURTHER. 
          I'VE DONE THAT. 
          UM, I CAN SAY TOO, JUST SO YOU KNOW, THE BUS NUMBERS IN THE COUNTY, IF YOU DO SEE A COUNTY BUS WITH A 300 OR A 400 SERIES, THOSE ARE OUR SPECIAL NEEDS BUS RIDERS, UM, ARE LIKE OUR HARVARD ACADEMY ROUTES. 
          THOSE ARE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY, SO WE DO TRY TO KEEP THOSE AS SMALL AS POSSIBLE. 
          UM, BUT WE DO KNOW IN THE AFTERNOON IT IS A LITTLE BIT LIGHTER, UM, PARTICULARLY AT OUR HIGH SCHOOL, UM, LEVEL, BUT THEY ARE GOING TO, YOU KNOW, DO A MIDDLE SCHOOL RUN OR THEY'RE GOING TO DO, UM, AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL RUN, AND THEN AGAIN, FIELD TRIPS AND ATHLETICS. 
          THANK YOU. 
          AND ALSO, UM, WHAT, HOW DO YOU DETERMINE CLASS SIZE? SO WE HAVE, UH, CLASS SIZE RECOMMENDATIONS. 
          UM, THEY ARE GENERALLY DETERMINED BASED UPON THE BUDGET. 
          UM, THERE AREN'T, I DO NOT BELIEVE THERE ARE SPECIFIC GUIDELINES FOR THE STATE OF MARYLAND THAT SPECIFIES CLASS SIZE BEYOND PRE-K. 
          IN PRE-K WE CAN HAVE 20 STUDENTS, BUT WE NEED TO HAVE TWO ADULTS IN THE CLASSROOM WITH THEM. 
          UM, SO TRADITIONALLY WE'VE TRIED TO KEEP OUR CLASS SIZE LOW, LOW BEING WHATEVER WE THINK WE CAN AFFORD. 
          LAST YEAR, UM, WE WENT, IF I RECALL, WE WENT INTO THE BUDGET SEASON KIND OF KNOWING OUR NUMBER. 
          AND SO WE MADE OUR CUTS EARLY. 
          UM, DR. 
          BOLSON SHARED THIS IS, THIS IS OUR ASK, THIS IS WHERE WE'RE GOING. 
          AND SO EARLY ON IN THAT PROCESS, WE DECIDED THAT WE WOULD HAVE CLASS SIZE FOR ANY PARTICULAR GRADE TO BE, YOU KNOW, 20 FOR KINDERGARTEN, 20 TO 30, WHATEVER THE BREAKDOWN IS. 
          UM, AND THEN WE ALSO TIER OUR, OUR CLASS SIZE BASED UPON POVERTY LEVEL. 
          AND SO INTERNALLY WE MAKE IT, WE MAKE OUR DECISIONS BASED ON THE POVERTY LEVEL OF THE SCHOOL, BUT IT'S ALSO IN CONJUNCTION WITH ESSENTIALLY WHAT CAN WE AFFORD AND HOW MANY TEACHERS DO WE, WHAT MIGHT WE NEED TO GIVE UP IN ORDER TO MAKE OUR BUDGET BALANCED? I, I, I KNOW, UH, ON THE OLD PORE IN THIS ROOM, BUT I REMEMBER WHEN WE WERE IN SCHOOL THERE WAS MAYBE AS MANY AS 40 IN THE CLASS. 
          AND I THINK I GOT A PRETTY GOOD EDUCATION. 
          I BELIEVE YOU PROBABLY DID. 
          UM, HOWEVER, I'M NOT QUITE SURE OUR COMMUNITY HAS THE APPETITE FOR 40 KINDERGARTNERS IN THEIR CLASSROOM. 
          I SAY KINDERGARTEN, I CAN UNDERSTAND, BUT, BUT, BUT KEEPING OUR OPTIONS OPEN, . 
          AND I DO HAVE ONE OTHER COMPLAINT WITH THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. 
          COUNTER COMMITTEE WORKS DILIGENTLY. 
          I AGREE WITH YOU. 
          SAY NO MORE. 
          AND THEN WE GET TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND THEY CHANGE IT. 
          AND I, I, I JUST FEEL, I'VE WORKED ON THIS CALENDAR COMMITTEE OFF AND ON FOR PROBABLY 20 YEARS, AND I SEE THIS EVERY TIME AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY IF, FOR INSTANCE, A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO THEY WANTED HALLOWEEN OFF FOR A HOLIDAY. 
          I THINK WE, I THINK WE WERE IN THE SAME MEETING. 
          UM, I WILL TELL YOU STAY TUNED FOR TONIGHT BECAUSE WE'RE GONNA CHANGE THE CALENDAR ONE LAST TIME, . 
          BUT YOU KNOW, IT REALLY GETS TO ME BECAUSE THEY WANT TO START SCHOOL BEFORE LABOR DAY A WEEK BECAUSE WE HAVE TO TEACH FOR OUR EXAMS, AND THEN WE GO AND WE HAVE EARLY DISMISSALS, WE HAVE DAYS OFF FOR INCUMBENT WEATHER, AND WE CUT MORE DAYS THAT WAY THAN WE WOULD HAVE HAD. 
          WE STARTED AFTER LABOR DAY AND WE GO 
          [01:55:01]
FARTHER INTO JUNE THAN WHAT WE EVER HAVE IN THE PAST. 
          SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU'LL SEE TONIGHT IS THAT WE ARE GONNA REVISIT THE CALENDAR AGAIN. 
          AND THE REASON THAT WE'RE DOING THAT IS BECAUSE THE STATE, MARYLAND, UM, STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION HAS ISSUED A RESOLUTION THAT SCHOOL WILL END BEFORE JUNETEENTH. 
          AND SO WE NEED TO GO BACK INTO OUR CALENDAR AND MAKE ADJUSTMENTS. 
          ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I CAN TELL YOU, UM, WITH OUR NEW BOARD LEADERSHIP AND WITH YOUR NEW INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT, WE'VE WORKED REALLY CLOSELY. 
          AND SO OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH OUR TEAM AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WILL BE THE BEST WAY TO ATTACK THE CALENDAR MOVING FORWARD. 
          AND SO WHEN I'VE ASKED FOR THE TIME AND THE SPACE, THIS IS ONE OF THOSE TOPICS, TIME AND SPACE. 
          WE CAN'T DO EVERYTHING ALL AT ONCE, BUT WE'RE MOVING PRETTY QUICK ON THE CALENDAR. 
          UM, AND WE MOVED PRETTY QUICK ON IDENTIFYING SOME OF THOSE CHANGES FOR THE BUDGET PROCESS AS WELL. 
          SO STAY TUNED, WATCH TONIGHT. 
          UM, BUT, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, WATCH FOR NEXT YEAR BECAUSE WE DO HAVE, UM, SIMILAR FEELINGS ABOUT THE CALENDAR COMMITTEE. 
          IF YOU'VE DONE TIME ON THE CALENDAR COMMITTEE, IT'S, THAT JUST SAYS IT ALL. 
          BUT WE ARE, WE ARE LOOKING TO ENHANCE THAT OPPORTUNITY AND TO, UM, YOU KNOW, GET TO A POINT WHERE WE'RE CLOSELY ALIGNED WHEN IT COMES TO THE BOARD FOR A VOTE. 
          THANK YOU FOR THAT FEEDBACK THOUGH. 
          , MR. PARISH. 
          YEAH. 
          BACK, BACK TO CAPITAL, JUST ANOTHER QUESTION. 
          THIS MAY BE A PARAGRAPH. 
          THE, IS THERE A BREAKDOWN SOMEWHERE THAT SHOWS HOW MUCH OF THAT THIS CAPITAL FUNDING IS GONNA BE SOLD THROUGH BOGS AND THAT WAY, AND HOW MUCH STRATEGIC THEY YEAH, I MEAN, IF YOU LOOK AT THE, THE SUMMARY, THE, THE, UM, YEAH, SO THE, THE, UH, THE, THE PAYGO IS SEVEN AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS. 
          THE PRIOR BONDS, THAT'S, THAT, THAT'S THAT REALLOCATION FROM HOMESTEAD WAKEFIELD, UM, UM, THAT'S 3.5 REGULAR COUNTY BONDS, JUST A LITTLE BIT OVER 60, 60 MILLION. 
          SO REALLY UP ABOUT $65 MILLION, $65 MILLION IN BONDS. 
          UM, AND THEN I THINK THE STATE PORTION OF THAT, AND THIS IS WHERE IT'S ALWAYS TRICKY WITH THE STATE IS, IS, UM, UH, 2025. 
          AND THAT'S LARGELY ON THE HOMESTEAD WA I'M SORRY. 
          IT'S LARGELY ON THE HARTFORD ACADEMY PROJECT, SO THANK YOU. 
          UM, MR. J, DOES ANYBODY KNOW HOW MUCH WE GET, UH, HOW MUCH THE TOTAL REVENUE IS FOR THE SCHOOL BUS VIOLATIONS? WE DO NOT GET THAT, THAT GOES DIRECTLY TO THE COUNTY. 
          SO I'D HAVE, UM, I, I, I HAVE IT HERE. 
          YEAH, I WANT TO KNOW THAT BECAUSE I, I, AND I, I KNOW IT'S PART OF AN OVERALL, I MEAN, IT'S, IT'S A, IT'S A FEW HUNDRED THOUSAND, THOUSAND DOLLARS. 
          I DO KNOW THE, THE INTENT OF ALL OF THAT TYPE OF STUFF IS THAT HOPEFULLY IT GOES DOWN OVER TIME. 
          AND AS MORE PEOPLE REALIZE LIKE, HEY, I GET A PRETTY EXPENSIVE BILL, THEORETICALLY. 
          YEAH. 
          UM, OR CHILDREN'S SAFETY AND, AND I KNOW THE, UM, SO THERE, IS THERE ANY REASON SHOULD BE MEGAN, IS THERE ANY REASON WHY WE CAN'T PUT A BILL IN THAT SAYS THEY WOULD GET THE, THOSE FUNDS FROM THE SCHOOL BUS VIOLATIONS? I'LL HAVE TO CHECK AND SEE THE STATE AND THERE'S ANY STATE ENABLING FOR THAT. 
          YEAH, BUT WE'RE ALSO TALKING ABOUT HACK. 
          I MEAN, IT'S, LET, LET'S JUST SAY THAT IT'S 600,000, LET'S, LET'S SAY IT, LET, LET, LET'S SAY IT'S A MILLION DOLLARS. 
          WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT WE'RE FUNDING YOU. 
          HOW HOW WE FUND SCHOOLS IS SO MUCH IS, IS, I MEAN, I, I GET IT. 
          YOU COULD, YOU COULD TACK IT ON, BUT THE REAL DRIVERS OF, OF, OF, OF HOW YOU FUND SCHOOLS IS THE, THE, UH, THE STATE FOUNDATION FORMULA AND THEN OF COURSE THEN MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT, RIGHT? BUT YOU KNOW WHY THAT'S, IT'S JUST ANOTHER, ANOTHER IDEA. 
          UM, SECOND THING, CAN YOU TELL ME THE POVERTY LEVELS, HAVE THEY CHANGED IN THE LAST FIVE, 10 YEARS? AND WHERE, WHERE DO YOU GET THOSE PERCENTAGES FROM? CHANGED? AND I AM GONNA PURSUE THAT QUESTION ABOUT THE FEES FOR THE BUSES AND, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE LOOKING FOR THAT, CAN I JUST SAY ONE THING? I WAS INVOLVED IN FORMER ROLE. 
          UM, I DO KNOW THAT THERE'S AGREEMENT, UM, BETWEEN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, UM, HARPER COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND THEN HARPER COUNTY GOVERNMENT, THEY'RE RECEIVING THE REVENUE. 
          THERE IS SOME MONEY THAT IS PAID FOR THE, UM, PERSON AT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE WHO'S A CIVILIAN WHO'S REVIEWING THOSE CITATIONS. 
          BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS, UM, THAT FUNDS WERE TO BE USED FOR TRAFFIC SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS SPECIFIC TO SCHOOL SAFETY. 
          UM, I'M NOT SURE YOU KNOW, THAT, THAT EVER, I THINK IT MAY HAVE BEEN MORE OF A MAY THAN A SHALL. 
          SO, UM, DEFINITELY INTERESTED TO HEAR MORE ON THAT. 
          AND I, I DO HAVE THE ACTUALS HERE FOR, FOR, UH, THE SCHOOL, SCHOOL BUS VIOLATION, 600 AND 615,783. 
          TONY, I CAN ADDRESS THE, UH, POVERTY LEVEL. 
          I'M HIDING BEHIND TRAFFIC. 
          I, I'M HEARING A VOICE AND I DON'T SEE IT. 
          , DON'T WORRY. 
          IT GETS WORSE. 
          IT'S WITH AGE. 
          UM, SO IN YOUR PRESENTATION THAT WAS PRINTED FOR YOU, WE WENT FROM ROUGHLY 9,990 STUDENTS ELIGIBLE FOR FREE AND REDUCED MEALS IN 2009, 
          [02:00:01]
10 SCHOOL YEAR TO OVER 14,000. 
          I THINK IT'S 14 2 60. 
          I'M GOING OFF MEMORY. 
          THAT PERCENTAGE INCREASE I THINK WAS 42%. 
          SO JUST THE NUMBER OF HCPS STUDENTS THAT ARE ELIGIBLE FREE AND REDUCED MEALS. 
          THE PERCENTAGE DR. MACK QUOTED GOING FROM ALMOST 22% TO 39%, I THINK IT WAS. 
          THAT'S OUR FREE AND REDUCED KIDS DIVIDED BY HOW MANY KIDS WE HAVE IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. 
          SO OUR POVERTY RATE HAS GONE FROM ROUGHLY 22% TO ROUGHLY 40% SINCE 2009 10 IN HARVARD COUNTY. 
          AT LEAST IF YOU IDENTIFY IT BY THE FREE AND REDUCED MEALS KIDS IN OUR SCHOOL. 
          'CAUSE I, 'CAUSE I KNOW OUR INCOME HAS GONE UP, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THEN, EVEN THOUGH OUR INCOME'S GONE UP, THAT, THAT, THAT OTHER THING IS, YOU KNOW, INCREASE AS WELL FOR THE, FOR THE POVERTY. 
          THAT'S WHY I WAS ASKING A QUESTION. 
          THIS IS JUST MY THOUGHT TOO. 
          I THINK WE MAYBE HAD UNDER IDENTIFIED OUR KIDS BACK IN 2009 AND 10. 
          WE PROBABLY HAD MORE KIDS THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN ELIGIBLE. 
          OKAY. 
          AND FINAL QUESTION, DO WE HAVE ANY BUSES THAT GO TO OTHER COUNTIES TO PICK KIDS UP? YES, YES. 
          EVERY SINGLE DAY. 
          SO WE'RE REQUIRED BY AN UNFUNDED MANDATE, UM, UNDER MCKINNEY-VENTO, WHICH IS FOR DISPLACED STUDENTS. 
          SO ANY STUDENT WHO STARTS THEIR YEAR, LET'S SAY THEY'RE AT, UM, BELLOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND THEN THEIR FAMILY BECOMES DISPLACED FOR ANY REASON AND THEY'RE DESIGNATED UNDER THAT FEDERAL ACT WE'RE REQUIRED TO TRANSPORT THEM. 
          UM, WE HAVE LOOKED AT MULTIPLE OTHER ALTERNATIVE SERVICES. 
          UM, AND WHEN IT, WHEN WE'RE ABLE TO DO THAT, WE CAN, BUT IT IS ACTUALLY SOMETIMES MORE COST EFFECTIVE ACTUALLY TO SEND A BUS BECAUSE WE ONLY HAVE TO PAY THE DRIVER MAYBE AN EXTRA HOUR A DAY VERSUS PAYING A, UM, VAN DRIVER FIVE OR SIX HOURS A DAY. 
          'CAUSE AGAIN, THAT'S YOUR LARGEST PORTION OF, UM, ? WELL, IT'S JUST FOR THAT CALENDAR YEAR. 
          IT COULD BE, UM, FOR LONGER DEPENDING UPON THE DESIGNATION FROM THE, UM, PUPIL PERSONNEL WORKER. 
          SO WE HAVE TRANSPORTED STUDENTS FOR MULTIPLE YEARS, UM, BACK INTO THE COUNTY FROM OUTSIDE OF THE COUNTY, DEPENDING UPON THEIR SITUATION. 
          NOT TYPICAL, BUT I DON'T WANNA TELL YOU THAT THAT HASN'T EVER HAPPENED. 
          OKAY. 
          THANK YOU MS. IMHO. 
          ALONG THOSE LINES ALSO FOR, BECAUSE THERE'S NOT ENOUGH LEVEL FIVE PLACEMENTS. 
          SO THE KIDS WHO HAVE MAJOR BEHAVIORAL ISSUES OR SPECIAL EDUCATION NEEDS THAT CANNOT BE MET IN THE HARTFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM BECAUSE THERE'S NOT ENOUGH PLACEMENTS IN OUR COUNTY, HARTFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS OBLIGATED TO TRANSPORT THOSE KIDS TO THEIR IDENTIFIED LEVEL FIVE SCHOOL. 
          AND DURING THE EXTENDED SCHOOL YEAR, SOMETIMES EVEN WITH THAT, THESE KIDS ARE BEING PICKED UP AT MULTIPLE SCHOOLS. 
          AND SO YOU HAVE AUTISTIC KIDS, BEHAVIORALLY CHALLENGED KIDS, A DHD KIDDOS WHO ARE LITERALLY SITTING ON A BUS FOR ALMOST TWO HOURS EACH WAY. 
          AND THE, UM, NON-PUBLIC PLACEMENTS THAT ARE GOING OUTTA COUNTY ARE TYPICALLY STUDENTS WHO RESIDE IN HARTFORD COUNTY CURRENTLY. 
          BUT WE ARE THEN TAKING THEM OUTTA COUNTY FOR THEIR, UM, PLACEMENT NEEDS. 
          SO A KENNEDY KRIEGER, FOR EXAMPLE. 
          UM, FOR BUSH, WE HAVE ABOUT 22 DIFFERENT NON-PUBLIC PLACEMENTS THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY TRANSPORTING TO. 
          UM, AND I KNOW OUR SPECIAL ED DEPARTMENTS WORKING TO TRY TO HAVE MORE PROVIDERS COME IN COUNTY. 
          BUT UNFORTUNATELY MOST OF THOSE PROVIDERS ARE, UM, IN THE BALTIMORE, UM, CITY OR BALTIMORE COUNTY AREA. 
          SO WE ARE TRANSPORTING, UM, SEVERAL STUDENTS, TYPICALLY AROUND 200 OUT OF COUNTY AND THEN BACK IN EACH DAY AND INCLUDING IN THE SUMMER. 
          ANYONE ELSE? MR. PARISH? I GOT CAPITAL QUESTION. 
          , SORRY. 
          I JUST, UH, I WAS LOOKING AT THE CAPITAL BOOK HERE AND WE'RE LOOKING AT OUT YEAR PROJECTS. 
          UM, I KNOW A LOT OF ABOUT ANCIENT SCHOOLS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. 
          SCHOOL REPLACEMENT. 
          SO WE'VE GOT THE HARTFORD ACADEMY COMING UP, UH, AS THE NEW SCHOOL, BUT THE ONLY ONE I'M SEEING IS THE FUTURE OUT YEAR PROJECTS RIGHT NOW IS RIGHT LIMITED RENOVATION, WHICH THAT PROBABLY SHOULD BE, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING IT'S GONNA BE 79 MILLION STRATEGY. 
          BUT, UH, WHAT PLAN IS THERE PLACE NOW FOR THE NEXT COUPLE YEARS IN TERMS OF, SO WE DO HAVE OUR EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES MASTER PLAN, UM, THAT DOES LAY THAT OUT. 
          AFTER THAT WOULD BE, UM, OLD POST IS WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT NEXT FOR THE NEXT REPLACEMENT BUILDING. 
          UM, UNFORTUNATELY WE ARE CURRENTLY AT ABOUT 162 YEAR CYCLE BECAUSE OF THE COST OF CONSTRUCTION. 
          UM, AND SO THESE BUILDINGS ARE HAVING TO LAST A VERY LONG TIME. 
          NOT SURE HOW REASONABLE THAT ACTUALLY IS. 
          AND OBVIOUSLY WE KNOW THE COST IS GOING UP, UM, EXPONENTIALLY EACH YEAR. 
          SO, UM, THAT'S KIND OF THE PLAN. 
          IF YOU DO WANNA SEE THAT MORE DETAIL, WE DO HAVE THAT ON OUR WEBSITE AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE'LL BE WORKING ON. 
          UM, AND EVERY SUMMER WE PUT THAT FORWARD. 
          SO THAT'S THE NEXT REPLACEMENT BUILDING. 
          OKAY. 
          MR. CYNTHIA, UM, WAY BACK WHEN WE STARTED, YOU SAID THAT WE HAD STUDENTS THAT WERE COMING FROM OUT OF DISTRICT. 
          HOW MANY STUDENTS COME FROM OUT OF DISTRICT AND ARE ANY OF THEM FROM OUT OF STATE? FOR SPECIAL? FOR SPECIAL ED? MM-HMM . 
          TOTAL STUDENT POPULATION 
          [02:05:03]
MOVING HERE TO TOWN. 
          HARPER COUNTY? NO. 
          NO. 
          WE'RE TRANSPORTING OR THEY STUDENTS COMING FROM OTHER JURISDICTION ARE ARE YOU? YEAH. 
          ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT STUDENTS WHO MAYBE COME DISPLACED? SO LIKE THEY STARTED HERE AND THEN THEY MOVED, THEY'RE DISPLACED SOMEWHERE ELSE. 
          WAY BACK IN WHEN WE FIRST STARTED TALKING, WHEN I, WHEN WE FIRST STARTED TALKING, I WAS REFERENCING FAMILIES THAT MOVED TO HARPER COUNTY BECAUSE OF THE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE. 
          I DON'T HAVE AN EXACT NUMBER AS TO HOW MANY COME FROM SURROUNDING STATES OR NATIONWIDE, BUT WE DO GET AN INFLUENCE. 
          I MEAN LIKE ARE THERE STUDENTS THAT COME FROM DELTA, PENNSYLVANIA, SO TO SPEAK? OH, I'M SURE THEY MOVE, YES. 
          BUT THEY HAVE TO MOVE HERE, BUT THEY HAVE TO MOVE HERE. 
          WE DON'T, WE DON'T EDUCATE THEM FROM WHERE THEY ARE. 
          THEY'RE ACTUALLY MOVING. 
          OKAY, SO THEY ACTUALLY MOVED? YES. 
          OH, OKAY. 
          YES. 
          I THOUGHT THEY WERE SURROUNDING OH NO. 
          HEREFORD ZONE. 
          NOW. 
          NOW I WILL SAY THAT, UM, IF YOU ARE NOT A RESIDENT FOR HARVARD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, YOU CAN PAY TUITION TO COME TO HARVARD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, BUT THAT'S PROBABLY NOT SOMETHING. 
          SO THE SAME IS IF YOU WANTED TO GO TO A PRIVATE SCHOOL AND YOU THOUGHT THAT, UM, HOMESTEAD WAKEFIELD WAS THE BEST PRIVATE SCHOOL. 
          SO YOU PAID FOR THAT. 
          YES. 
          AND THEY PROVIDE THEIR OWN TRANSPORTATION. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          SO, UM, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION AND, UM, UNLIKE EARLIER WITH THE HUMANE SOCIETY, THE COUNCIL DOES HAVE THE ABILITY TO TAKE A LOOK AT OTHER AREAS, UH, TO IDENTIFY FUNDS TO MOVE TO EDUCATION. 
          UM, AND WHEN I SAY THAT I KEEP FOCUSED ON PAGE 16 OF YOUR PRESENTATION, UH, THE, UH, GRAPH THAT YOU HAD IN THERE. 
          AND WHAT STANDS OUT TO ME, AND I'M SURE TO MR. ANO AS WELL, IS THE ONE TIME CUT THAT CALEY MADE TOWARD MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT ORIGINALLY OF $20 MILLION AND WE WERE ABLE TO RESTORE 10 MILLION OF THAT. 
          WHAT WOULD THAT GAP LOOK LIKE HAD WE HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO RESTORE THAT AND WE'VE NOT GAINED ANY GROUND SINCE. 
          SO, UM, I JUST, I JUST WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT FOR THE RECORD. 
          ALRIGHT, WELL THANK YOU. 
          THIS WILL, UH, END THE MORNING SESSION OF THE WORK SESSION AND WE'LL SEE YOU, UH, TWO O'CLOCK WITH DI DI. 
          READY? WHENEVER YOU'RE READY. 
          YES. 
          OKAY. 
          UH, INSPEC INSPECTIONS, LICENSES AND PERMITS BEGINS ON PAGE THREE 80. 
          THE DEPARTMENT HAS FOUR DIVISIONS, ALL GENERAL FUND WITH A TOTAL BUDGET OF 4,871,730, WHICH IS AN INCREASE OF 312,630 OR 6.9%. 
          THE DIRECTOR'S OFFICE BEGINS ON PAGE 3 85. 
          THE DIVISION BUDGET OF 1,312,591 IS AN INCREASE OF $64,065. 
          PERSONAL SERVICES INCREASES $67,007. 
          THAT'S THE RESULT OF SALARY ADJUSTMENTS OF 578 TURNOVER SAVINGS OF 1007 61 COLA AND MERIT, TOTALING 46,108. 
          PENSIONS INCREASED 7,108 WORKERS' COMP DECREASES 1,211. 
          HEALTH BENEFITS INCREASE 12,650. 
          OP E INCREASES 494. 
          RETIREMENT HEALTH SAVINGS INCREASES 3,112 IN PICA DECREASES $91. 
          CONTRACTUAL SERVICES DECREASES $992 FOR TELEPHONE AND FAX SERVICES, SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS INCREASES 750 FOR DELIVERY CHARGES. 
          BOTTLED WATER, UH, BASED ON ACTUALS, BUSINESS AND TRAVEL DECREASES 2,700 FOR PROFESSIONAL BOOKS. 
          AND THEN THERE'S NO CHANGE IN MISCELLANEOUS BUILDING SERVICES BEGINS ON 3 89. 
          THE DIVISION BUDGET OF 1,701,775 IS AN INCREASE OF 122,514. 
          PERSONAL SERVICES INCREASE IS 116,554 AS A RESULT OF SALARY ADJUSTMENTS OF 2030 $2 AND MERIT TOTALING 68,625. 
          TEMPORARY SALARIES DECREASE 1,600 PENSIONS INCREASED. 
          9,661 WORKERS' COMP DECREASES 2003 79. 
          HEALTH BENEFITS INCREASE. 
          19,600 OPPE INCREASES 6,559. 
          RETIREMENT HEALTH SAVINGS INCREASES. 
          14,024 CONTRACTUAL SERVICES INCREASES 2,860 
          [02:10:02]
FOR TELEPHONE SERVICE. 
          SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS INCREASES $100 FOR BOTTLED WATER AND BUSINESS AND TRAVEL INCREASES $3,000 FOR PROFESSIONAL BOOKS, PLUMBING SERVICES BEGINS ON PAGE, UH, 3 92. 
          THE DIVISION BUDGET OF 1,002,953 IS AN INCREASE OF 70,051 PERSONAL SERVICES INCREASE IS 66,380. 
          THAT'S THE RESULT OF SALARY ADJUSTMENTS OF 6,256 COLA AND MERIT, TOTALING 38,883. 
          TEMPORARY SALARIES DECREASE 1,600 PENSIONS INCREASED. 
          6,760 WORKERS' COMP DECREASES 1,411. 
          HEALTH BENEFITS INCREASE. 
          9,800 OPEC INCREASES 5,261 RETIREMENT HEALTH SAVINGS INCREASES 2075 FICA INCREASES. 
          3 56 CONTRACTUAL SERVICES. 
          DECREASED 629 FOR FAX SERVICE APPLIES AND MATERIALS INCREASES 350 FOR DELIVERY CHARGES AND BOTTLED WATER. 
          BUSINESS AND TRAVEL INCREASES 3,950 FOR TRAINING PARTIALLY OFFSET BY A DECREASE IN FUEL. 
          AND THERE'S NO CHANGE IN MISCELLANEOUS ELECTRICAL SERVICES BEGINS ON PAGE 3 96. 
          THE DIVISION BUDGET OF 854,004 11 IS AN INCREASE OF 56,000. 
          PERSONAL SERVICES INCREASES 51,375. 
          THAT'S THE RESULT OF SALARY ADJUSTMENTS OF 4,214. 
          THE MERIT TOTALING 32,990. 
          TEMPORARY SALARIES DEC DECREASED 1,600 PENSIONS INCREASED. 
          5,549 WORKERS' COMP DECREASES. 
          1,361 HEALTH BENEFITS INCREASE 8,400. 
          OPE INCREASES 901 AND RETIREMENT HEALTH SAVINGS INCREASES 2075 AND FICA INCREASES 207. 
          THERE'S NO CHANGE IN CONTRACTUAL SERVICES. 
          SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS INCREASE 625 FOR DELIVERY CHARGERS. 
          BOTTLED WATER AND SOFTWARE BUSINESS AND TRAVEL INCREASES 4,000 FOR TRAINING AND THERE'S NO CHANGE IN MISCELLANEOUS. 
          AND WITH THAT, WE'LL, ANY QUESTIONS ON THE DI BUDGET? UM, THANK YOU BEN. 
          UM, GOOD TO SEE YOU, HAROLD. 
          UM, JUST REAL QUICK, OUR OVERALL, UH, CURRENT PERMIT ACTIVITY, STRONG SOFT. 
          THE, THE LAST REPORT I HAD, WE WERE ACTUALLY SLIGHTLY AHEAD ON SINGLE-FAMILY DWELLINGS COMPARED TO THIS TIME LAST YEAR, BUT WE WERE DOWN ON COMMERCIAL, SO IT'S KIND OF EVEN DOWN. 
          OKAY. 
          AND, UM, CAN YOU, I DON'T KNOW IF I GET A COPY OF THAT. 
          I THINK I DO, BUT I'M NOT SURE. 
          CAN YOU SEND ME AN UPDATED COPY OF THAT? SURE. 
          YES SIR. 
          THANK YOU. 
          UM, MS. IMA, GOOD AFTERNOON. 
          UM, I THINK I SHARED THIS DURING LAST BUDGET CYCLE, BUT I HAVE TO GIVE, UM, YOU GUYS PROPS AND PRAISE. 
          A COUPLE YEARS AGO, MY HUSBAND AND I BUILT A HOUSE AND THE BUILDER WAS CONVINCED THAT WE WERE GOING TO BE LOGGED BEHIND THE DIFFERENT ZONING AND PERMITTING AND ALL THAT STUFF. 
          AND YOU GUYS WERE ABLE TO TURN STUFF AROUND WITHIN A MATTER OF DAYS. 
          UM, AND THEY WERE CONVINCED THAT WE WERE GONNA BE BEHIND FOR MONTHS COMPARED TO OTHER COUNTIES. 
          UM, AND SO I HAVE TO APPRECIATE THAT BUILDING A HOUSE WAS NOT A FUN ACTIVITY. 
          UM, BUT YOU GUYS MADE IT AS PAINLESS AS POSSIBLE. 
          THANK YOU. 
          AND SO I JUST HAVE TO GIVE YOU THAT PRAISE. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU MS. AL. 
          MR. BENNETT. 
          HELLO. 
          GOOD AFTERNOON. 
          GOOD TO BE WITH YOU. 
          UM, I WAS JUST CURIOUS, UM, HAVE THERE BEEN ANY, UH, DEMOLITIONS OF VACANT UNSAFE BUILDINGS IN THE PAST YEAR? UH, THIS FISCAL YEAR? I THINK WE'VE MAYBE DONE ONE OR TWO. 
          I DON'T KNOW OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD. 
          THE, THE DEMOLITION DOESN'T OCCUR AS OFTEN AS BOARDING UP. 
          AND SO HOPEFULLY, I MEAN, WE HAVE THE BUDGET FOR IT, BUT HOPEFULLY WE DON'T HAVE TO USE IT A LOT ON DEMOLITIONS BECAUSE WE'RE HAVING TO TEAR UP. 
          BUT I, THERE MAY HAVE BEEN, I, I THINK I KNOW ONE FOR SURE, BUT I THINK THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN TWO THIS FISCAL YEAR. 
          AND, AND THERE'S LIKE A NOTICE THAT THEY GET PRIOR AND HOPEFULLY THEY CORRECT THEM. 
          MAKE IT A SAFE DWELLING SPACE. 
          THAT CORRECT. 
          THEY WERE GIVEN EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE CARE OF IT LONG BEFORE WE DO. 
          AND WE ONLY REACT IF WE CANNOT GET THE PROPERTY OWNER TO TAKE CARE OF IT ON THEIR OWN. 
          UM, I'M THANKFUL FOR THAT 'CAUSE IT EITHER MAKES THE BUILDING SAFE OR GETS RID OF AN UNSAFE SPACE. 
          UM, SO I REALLY THANK YOU ALL FOR THE WORK YOU DO WITH THAT. 
          I WAS ALSO JUST CURIOUS, IF YOU DON'T KNOW THIS OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD, THAT'S FINE, BUT WITH THE SOLAR FEDERAL SOLAR TAX CREDIT ENDING, HAS THERE BEEN A SLOW DOWN PAST JANUARY OF HOMES COMING FORWARD, OR HAS IT STAYED ABOUT THE SAME? NO, I JUST, I HAVE A PLAN OF VIEWERS ON VACATION. 
          I JUST SENT ABOUT 10 
          [02:15:01]
RESIDENTIAL SOLAR PERMIT VIEWS HIS WAY THAT CAME IN IN THE LAST 10 DAYS. 
          THAT'S FINE. 
          SO I DON'T SEE SOLAR SLOWING DOWN. 
          THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT. 
          YES, SIR. 
          MR. JANA. 
          IT'S COMMERCIAL SOLAR THAT ENDS IN JULY, THE CREDIT. 
          SO IS THAT PICKED UP? WELL, UH, WE DON'T GET THAT MANY ANYWAY. 
          OKAY. 
          SO, NO, MOST OF OUR SOLAR IS RESIDENTIAL. 
          OKAY. 
          UM, I, I DO WANT TO THANK YOU. 
          AND OF COURSE I WANT TO THANK RICH. 
          HE, HE'S LISTENING OVER HERE. 
          HE SAID HE WAS LI TRYING TO LISTEN. 
          SO, UH, BUT IT, IT'S BEEN A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LAST ADMINISTRATION, THIS ADMINISTRATION WITH A, HAVING ACCESS TO YOU GUYS AND THE AMOUNT OF TIMES THAT I CALLED YOU GUYS TO HELP YOU GUYS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THERE, ALWAYS BEEN ABLE TO ANSWER ALL MY QUESTIONS, ALWAYS BEEN ABLE TO HELP ME GET SOMEBODY SQUARED AWAY, UH, WITH SOMETHING AS, YOU KNOW, WE JUST TALKED FIVE MINUTES AGO ON THAT. 
          I ASKED, I TEXTED HIM AND SAID, YOU KNOW, HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED TO DO. 
          UM, BECAUSE PEOPLE WANT THINGS DONE AND, AND SOMETIMES THEY, THEY CALL US AND THEN WE CALL, CALL YOU GUYS. 
          SO HAVING YOU GUYS THERE TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS IS BEEN A GODSEND. 
          I REALLY DO APPRECIATE IT. 
          AND JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT YOU AND YOUR STAFF KNOWS. 
          AND I, I REALLY DO APPRECIATE IT A LOT. 
          THANK YOU. 
          APPRECIATE THAT. 
          YEAH, THANK YOU MR. ANO. 
          ANYONE ELSE? MR. RILEY? HAROLD, WHAT ROLE DO YOU GUYS PLAY IN THAT SOLAR? WELL, THE ONLY ROLE WE EVER PLAY ON ANYTHING IS WHEN WE GET PERMIT APPLICATIONS. 
          WE DON'T. 
          SO I'M A RESIDENT AND I WANT SOLAR ON MY PROPERTY. 
          I COME TO YOU TO GET A PERMIT. 
          CORRECT. 
          AND WELL, EVERYTHING STARTS WITH PLANNING AND ZONING. 
          OKAY. 
          SO IT HAS TO BE ZONED FIRST FOR IT TO BE, NOT, NOT FOR SOLAR, BUT SO, SO I'M SAYING IF YOU'RE JUST PUTTING IT ON THE ROOF OF YOUR BUT I, I'M SPECIFIC TO SOLAR. 
          YEAH. 
          WELL, BUT ON THE ROOF OF YOUR HOME, IT WILL GO THROUGH PLANNING AND ZONING FOR NO ISSUE. 
          AND THEN WILL COME TO US, WE DO A MINOR REVIEW ON IT. 
          IT SHOULD BE FAIRLY SIMPLE. 
          IF YOU'RE TALKING, UH, GROUND BASED, THAT GETS SWORN INTO THE PLANNING ZONING SIDE WHERE YOU HAVE A, YOU KNOW, THE GROUND BASED SOLAR PANELS. 
          THEY THEN GET THE APPROVAL BEFORE WE DO TO SAY YOU CAN PUT IT THERE AND WHERE YOU CAN PUT IT BASED ON THE PROTECTIONS OF YOUR LOT, BUT ON YOUR ROOF. 
          IT'S PRETTY SIMPLE. 
          IT'LL COME JUST THROUGH STRAIGHT THROUGH TO US. 
          SO ONCE THEY PUT IT ON, THEY GET PLANNING APPROVAL FOR GROUND. 
          WHAT'S YOUR ROLE? SAME THING. 
          YOU HAVE TO APPLY FOR BUILDING PERMIT TO PUT IT IN AND THAT'S IT. 
          THAT'S ALL YOUR ROLE. 
          YOU DO INSPECTIONS OR ANYTHING ELSE? OR WE DO THE, NO, WE DO INSPECTIONS. 
          EVERY BUILDING PERMIT WE ISSUE. 
          BUT WHEN IT, WHEN ON EITHER SOLAR OR GROUND, WHETHER IT'S GROUND BASED OR ROOF MOUNTED, I'M STICKING 'EM WITH GROUND. 
          OKAY. 
          WELL WE WOULD DO, UH, WE DO INSPECTIONS. 
          WE DO TWO INSPECTIONS FROM THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT. 
          THEY GENERALLY GET A, A FOUNDATION AND THEN WE WOULD DO A FINAL. 
          AND IN THE ELECTRICAL SERVICES DIVISION, WE, THE ELECTRICAL PERMITS, THEY WOULD COME OUT AND DO ALL THE ELECTRICAL INSPECTIONS. 
          SO TWO DIVISIONS INVOLVED THE GROUND BASE. 
          SO PLANNING ZONING HAS TO LET YOU KNOW IT'S OKAY FOR THEM TO PUT IT ON THEIR PROPERTY. 
          IF IT'S, IF IT'S A LARGE, UH, SO BIG SOLAR FARM, THEY'RE GONNA HAVE TO GO THROUGH DEVELOPMENT AND BUDGET COMMITTEE ANYWAY, GO THROUGH DAC APPROVAL BEFORE IT EVER GETS TO US. 
          IF IT'S SMALL, THEN THEY'RE PART OF THE REVIEW PROCESS AND THEY WOULD GET TO, TO TELL US. 
          YES, THAT'S FINE. 
          UH, IF YOU'RE ON WELL IN SEPTIC, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT'S INVOLVED, MAKE SURE YOU'RE NOT TOO CLOSE TO, WELL, TOO CLOSE TO SEPTIC INTERFERING IN SEPTIC RESERVE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. 
          SO THEY CAN ALSO BE INVOLVED ON WELL IN SEPTIC PROPERTIES. 
          THANKS, YOUR HONOR. 
          THANK YOU MR. RILEY. 
          ANYONE ELSE? ALRIGHT, HOPE YOU'RE, UH, FITTING INTO YOUR NEW ROLE HERE. 
          I'M DOING FINE. 
          GOOD. 
          THANK YOU. 
          ARE WE, ARE WE LOOKING TO BACKFILL THE VOID WITH RICH GOING? I DON'T YOU HAVE TO TALK TO ADMINISTRATION. 
          HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING YET. 
          OKAY. 
          VERY GOOD. 
          ALRIGHT. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          UH, WHILE THEY'RE COMING UP, UH, HOUSING AND COMMUNITY SERVICES COMING UP. 
          OKAY, I'LL, NO, THIS'LL TAKE ME A WHILE. 
          HOUSING AND COMMUNITY SERVICES BEGINS ON PAGE 2 62. 
          THE DEPARTMENT HAS FIVE FUNDED DIVISIONS ALL IN THE GENERAL FUND. 
          THE TOTAL BUDGET OF 8 MILLION 383 180 9 IS AN INCREASE OF 450,567 OR 5.7%. 
          THE DIRECTOR, THE DIRECTOR'S OFFICE, BEGINS ON PAGE 2 69. 
          THE DIVISION BUDGET OF 1,847,834 IS AN INCREASE OF 49,611. 
          PERSONAL SERVICES INCREASE IS 55,671. 
          THAT'S THE RESULT OF SALARY ADJUSTMENT OF NINE, UH, DECREASE OF 986 COLA AND MERIT OF 50,213. 
          TEMPORARY SALARIES DECREASED. 
          23,469 PENSIONS INCREASED THREE THOU, EXCUSE ME, UH, PENSIONS INCREASES 7,385. 
          [02:20:01]
HEALTH BENEFITS INCREASED 10,930 AND RETIREMENT HEALTH SAVINGS INCREASES 10,912. 
          CONTRACTUAL SERVICES DECREASES 6,000 FOR OTHER CONTRACTUAL AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES. 
          ADVERTISING AND TELEPHONE SERVICE SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS INCREASES 500 FOR PRINTING, PARTIALLY OFFSET BY DECREASES FOR MEALS, GENERAL OFFICE SUPPLIES, AND OTHER FOOD SUPPLIES. 
          THERE'S NO CHANGE IN BUSINESS AND TRAVEL. 
          MISCELLANEOUS DECREASES 500 FOR GRANTS. 
          INTERGOVERNMENTAL DECREASES $60 FOR FLEET CARPOOL RENTALS. 
          HOUSING BEGINS ON PAGE 2 73, THE DIVISION BUDGET OF 2 MILLION 4 40 19. 
          IT'S AN INCREASE OF 174,981. 
          PERSONAL SERVICES INCREASES 99,856. 
          THAT'S THE RESULT OF SALARY ADJUSTMENT OF 8,284. 
          GRANT OFFSET OF 62,627 AND MERIT TOTALING 43,567. 
          TEMPORARY SALARIES DECREASED 9,997. 
          PENSIONS INCREASED 5,787. 
          HEALTH BENEFITS DECREASE 10,006 10. 
          CONTRACTUAL SERVICES DECREASES 15,500 FOR OTHER PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AND ADVERTISING. 
          THERE'S NO CHANGE IN SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS. 
          BUSINESS AND TRAVEL INCREASES. 
          1,800 FOR COUNTY OWNED VEHICLES AND MEMBERSHIP FEES PARTIALLY OFFSET BY DECREASES IN MILEAGE AND PARKING. 
          MISCELLANEOUS INCREASES 89,325. 
          THAT'S THE RESULT OF AN INCREASE IN GRANTS OF 110,000. 
          A DECREASE IN SPONSORSHIPS OF 7,500 AND GRANT IN EIGHT DECREASES 13,175 TO A TOTAL OF 1,260,725. 
          NEXT IS THE OFFICE OF DRUG CONTROL POLICY, WHICH BEGINS ON PAGE 2 77. 
          THE DIVISION HAS A TOTAL BUDGET OF 1,229,172 FOR A DECREASE OF $978. 
          PERSONAL SERVICES INCREASES 29,022. 
          THAT'S THE RESULT OF THE AND MERIT TOTALING 16,352. 
          TEMPORARY SALARIES DECREASED. 
          3,375 PENSIONS INCREASED 2034. 
          HEALTH BENEFITS INCREASED. 
          3,930. 
          OPE INCREASES 1,678 AND RETIREMENT HEALTH SAVINGS INCREASES 8,837. 
          CONTRACTUAL SERVICES DECREASED 10,000 FOR OTHER PROFESSIONAL SERVICES. 
          THERE'S NO CHANGE IN SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS OR BUSINESS AND TRAVEL. 
          AND MISCELLANEOUS DECREASES 20,000 FOR CONTRIBUTION FUNDING. 
          THE SOUTHERN COUNTY TASK FORCE BEGINS ON PAGE TWO 80. 
          THE DIVISION BUDGET OF 156,000 1 35 IS A DECREASE OF 1,211. 
          PERSONAL SERVICES DECREASES 1002 11. 
          AS A RESULT OF TEMPORARY SALARIES INCREASING 16,669 COLA AND MERIT TOTALING 8,481. 
          HEALTH BENEFITS DECREASED 21,270. 
          RETIREMENT HEALTH SAVINGS DECREASED. 
          7,281 FICA INCREASES 1,275. 
          AND THERE'S NO CHANGE IN CONTRACTUAL SERVICES, SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS OR BUSINESS AND TRAVEL. 
          THE OFFICE ON AGING BEGINS ON PAGE 2 84. 
          THE DIVISION BUDGET OF 2,710,029 IS AN INCREASE OF 228,001 FOUR PERSONAL SERVICES INCREASES 1 63 1 THAT'S RESULT OF SALARY. 
          ADJUSTMENTS OF $100 AND MERIT TOTALING 92,575. 
          TEMPORARY SALARIES INCREASED. 
          10,486. 
          PENSIONS INCREASE 19,132. 
          HEALTH BENEFITS INCREASE 21,860. 
          OP LOPEZ INCREASES 5,079. 
          RETIREMENT HEALTH SAVINGS INCREASES 10,148 AND FICA INCREASES. 
          4,516 CONTRACTUAL SERVICES. 
          INCREASE IS, UH, 63,223. 
          THAT'S THE RESULT OF AN INCREASE IN OTHER PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FOR ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTOR CONTRACTS AT A COST OF 41,143. 
          AND AN INCREASE IN SOFTWARE FOR SENIOR DATA COLLECTION IN SERVE TRACKER SOFTWARE OF 22,000 SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS INCREASES 2007 50 FOR RECREATION SUPPLIES, UH, DUE TO A DECREASE IN FEDERAL GRANT FUNDING. 
          BUSINESS AND TRAVEL DECREASES 850 FOR FUEL AND VEHICLE RELATED CHARGES. 
          AND THERE'S NO CHANGE IN CAPITAL OUTLAY. 
          WITH THAT, WE'LL HAVE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. 
          AFTERNOON, BARBARA. 
          UM, COUNSEL. 
          ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? MS. IMO? UM, I JUST HAVE KIND OF A ON TWO PAGE 278. 
          [02:25:01]
UM, AND I KNOW I'M KIND OF JUMPING AHEAD OF A LOT UNDER MISCELLANEOUS DISCREPANCIES. 
          UM, IT SAYS FUNDING DECREASE FOR CONTRIBUTIONS BASED ON ACTUAL EXPENSE HISTORY. 
          SO YOU DIDN'T SPEND ALL THAT MONEY, BUT I THINK, I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE MISCELLANEOUS $200,000 FUNDS. 
          2 278 TOTAL CONTRIBUTION IN A DCP. 
          I'LL FLIP TO THE BACK HERE TO LOOK AT THE LINE IN DETAIL. 
          OKAY. 
          YEAH. 
          MM-HMM . 
          SO GRANTS CONTRIBUTIONS AND OGCD JUST USAGE. 
          YEAH, THAT'S, YEAH. 
          YOU REMEMBER WE NOW RECEIVE, UM, OPIOID RESTITUTION FUNDS. 
          SO A LOT OF MONEY WHERE PRINCIPAL ORGANIZATIONS IS SPLIT. 
          THAT'S, WE'RE SPENDING A LOT LESS ON CONTRIBUTIONS AND SPONSORSHIPS. 
          OKAY. 
          SO THE MISCELLANEOUS IS, UH, NOT FUNDS COMING IN NECESSARILY, BUT FUNDS THAT ARE GOING OUT. 
          SO IT'S GOING THROUGH SPONSORSHIPS. 
          SO IN, LET ME JUST FLIP TO THIS PAGE. 
          UH, SORRY. 
          SO IN, SO MISCELLANEOUS, UM, MISCELLANEOUS IS, IS A, WE CALL A CHARACTER. 
          MM-HMM . 
          UM, SO THAT WOULD INCLUDE LIKE CONTRACTS, GRANTS, PAYMENTS TO OTHER GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES AND SO FORTH. 
          UM, IT LOOKS LIKE IN THIS CASE, THE DECREASE IS ALL IN CONTRIBUTION. 
          SO THE CURRENT YEAR CONTRIBUTIONS IN ODCP IS 220,000 AND FOR NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET IT'S 200,000. 
          AND WHERE DOES THAT MONEY GO? IT CAN GO TO A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT, UM, ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROVIDE SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER SERVICES. 
          OKAY. 
          SO THE, SO THOSE ARE THE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE OTHER AGENCIES. 
          SO I SAW GRANT AID, THEY LISTED OUT EVERY, ALL THE RECIPIENTS AND STUFF LIKE THAT. 
          DO WE HAVE A LIST OF WHO THAT MONEY GOES TO? WE CAN. 
          UM, I MEAN IN TERMS OF THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, WE CAN PROVIDE YOU WITH A LIST OF THE ENTITIES THAT HAVE RECEIVED MONEY AND CONTRIBUTIONS IN THE DCP THIS CURRENT FISCAL YEAR. 
          OKAY. 
          THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU MR. MOFF. 
          ANYONE ELSE? MR. BENNETT? HELLO. 
          GOOD AFTERNOON. 
          THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. 
          UM, COULD YOU JUST GO THROUGH BY DEPARTMENT AND SHARE WHAT THE JOBS ARE FOR THE TEMPORARY SALARIES ESPECIALLY 'CAUSE FOR HOUSING COMMUNITY SERVICES, IT'S ABOUT 15% OF YOUR BUDGET IS TEMPORARY. 
          SO I THINK IT'D BE HELPFUL TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THOSE JOBS ARE FOR TEMPORARY SALARIES. 
          UM, SO IN, LET'S SEE, FIRST DIVISION IS DIRECTOR'S OFFICE. 
          UM, THERE'S A GRANT SPECIALIST POSITION IN THE DIRECTOR'S OFFICE, UH, HOUSING. 
          AND THE, THE GRANT SPECIALIST POSITION IS THE TOTAL OF THE TEMPORARY SALARIES FOR, UH, THE DIRECTOR'S OFFICE. 
          UM, I MEAN, WE'RE HAPPY TO GIVE YOU A BREAKDOWN BY, BY POSITION. 
          UM, I KNOW THAT'S ON OUR LIST TO PROVIDE YOU WITH. 
          UM, SO I DON'T WANNA SPEAK AND BE OH, 'CAUSE YOU KNOW, THAT I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE 'CAUSE LIKE THAT DROP BY, UH, WHAT, 18,000 SOMETHING LIKE THAT FROM 111 TO 93? YEAH. 
          WAS THAT TURNOVER OF, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY WHO WAS MORE EXPERIENCED AT A HIGHER PAY LEVEL AND NOW THERE'S A NEW PERSON IN THAT POSITION WHO'S AT ENTRY LEVEL PAY. 
          YOU'RE TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THAT CHANGE IN, IF IT'S JUST ONE POSITION, YOU KNOW, MOST PEOPLE GET A COLA, IT COULD BE TURNOVER. 
          UM, LIKE I SAID, WE'LL, WE'LL GIVE YOU A LIST OF, OF EVERYONE. 
          DO YOU, DO YOU KNOW, SINCE THAT'S YOUR DEPARTMENT, DO YOU KNOW, UM, AND THEN IN HOUSING, UM, AGAIN, IT LOOKS LIKE IT WENT DOWN SLIGHTLY FOR TEMPORARY SALARIES. 
          IS THAT ALSO A TURNOVER? IT WOULD BE A, UM, SO IT'S FOR HOUSING SERVICES, COUNSELING AND GRANT MANAGEMENT. 
          SO, UM, IT'S MULTIPLE POSITIONS THERE. 
          UM, IT LOOKS LIKE, YEAH, THE, THE, THE SALARY LINE IS, IS RELATIVELY CLOSE TO CURRENT FISCAL YEAR. 
          SLIGHTLY AS YOU SAID, SLIGHTLY DOWN. 
          SO, UM, AND HOW MANY PEOPLE IS THAT? HOW, HOW HOUSING COUNSELING AND, UM, BUT THERE'S ALSO GRANT MANAGEMENT 
          [02:30:01]
IN THERE TOO. 
          AGAIN. 
          WE'LL, WE'LL GIVE YOU THE EXACT LIST WITH THE EXACT NUMBERS. 
          OKAY. 
          UM, IF, YEAH, IF YOU, WHEN YOU SEND THAT TO ME, IF IT COULD JUST BE ORGANIZED BY, IT'LL BE ORGANIZED BY DIVID, BUT DEPARTMENT AND DIVISION. 
          OKAY. 
          PERFECT. 
          AND THEN SOUTHERN COUNTY TASK FORCE PRETTY MUCH IS ENTIRELY TEMPORARY SALARY. 
          SO HOPEFULLY YOU CAN DESCRIBE THAT IN DETAIL OF HOW MANY PEOPLE THAT IS AND WHAT THEIR JOB TITLES ARE. 
          YEAH, SO, UM, IN SOUTHERN COUNTY TASK FORCE, UM, YEAH, THAT'S TWO POSITIONS. 
          THERE IS A, UH, SOUTHERN COUNTY TASK FORCE ADMINISTRATOR AND THE TASK FORCE COORDINATOR. 
          AND IS THE INCREASE OF, UM, $24,000, IS THAT JUST A COLA OR WHAT, WHAT IS THE INCREASE THERE? UH, IT LOOKS LIKE A COMBINATION OF THE COLA AND SALARIES INCREASE. 
          IS THAT, AND IS THAT NEGOTIATED DIRECTLY WITH THE TEMPORARY EMPLOYEE SINCE THEY'RE NOT A PART OF ANY BARGAINING UNIT? YOU JUST, AT THE DISCRETION THEY CAN SAY, I WANT X AMOUNT OF DOLLARS, YES OR NO? UM, I'D HAVE TO, I'D HAVE TO LOOK INTO THE SPECIFIC REASON FOR THE INCREASE. 
          UM, YOU KNOW, JUST I COULD JUST SPEAK GLOBALLY FOR HOW WE DO IT ACROSS THE COUNTY. 
          UM, YOU KNOW, AS IT COULD BE A CASE OF, YOU KNOW, ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES. 
          I'M NOT SURE WHICH OF THE TWO POSITIONS THIS APPLIES TO. 
          BUT, UM, AGAIN, GLOBALLY, WE, WE, WE LOOK AT, UM, SALARY INCREASES. 
          YOU KNOW, IF, IF, IF AN EMPLOYEE GETS ADDITIONAL TRAININGS OR IF AN EMPLOYEE, UM, YOU KNOW, IN THE CASE OF LIKE A CAREER LADDER TYPE TYPE OF SCENARIO, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT'S, AND THAT'S, THERE'S REALLY NO DIFFERENCE THERE BETWEEN THE PERMANENT AND THE TEMPORARIES IN TERMS OF MAKING THOSE EVALUATIONS. 
          THANK YOU. 
          AND I KNOW I'VE, I'VE BEAT THIS DRUM FOR FOUR YEARS, BUT THIS IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF WHY I DO NOT LIKE TEMPORARY SALARIES. 
          'CAUSE IT'S, THERE'S NO TRANSPARENCY IN THIS CONVERSATION ON, UH, WHAT THEY'RE PAID, WHY IT WAS INCREASED, YOU KNOW, LIKE A PIN YOU CAN TRACK AND, AND YOU KNOW, THERE'S A PAY SCALE THAT DETERMINES PAY AND THAT'S FAIR TO EVERYBODY WHO WORKS FOR THE COUNTY. 
          BUT LIKE, UM, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO LOOK AT A DEPARTMENT AND, AND KNOW WHO'S WORKING THERE AND HOW MUCH THEY'RE MAKING AND WHAT THE JOB DESCRIPTION IS. 
          AND, YOU KNOW, YOU LOOK AT THIS AND YOU JUST CAN'T SEE ANY OF THAT. 
          SO YEAH, AS I SAID, WE'LL, WE'LL PROVIDE YOU WITH A LIST OF, UM, ALL THE, THE BACKUP NUMBERS THAT GO INTO DETERMINING THE, THE LINE ITEM FOR SALARY, TEMPORARY SALARIES IN EACH DIVISION. 
          THANK YOU. 
          UM, I WANTED TO ASK ABOUT THIS YEAR'S, UM, EXPERIENCE. 
          THIS BUDGET YEAR WE'RE CURRENTLY IN EXPERIENCE THROUGH THE WINTER. 
          WAS THERE ANY ACTUAL SAVINGS EXPERIENCED IN REMOVING THE HOTEL VOUCHER FUNDING? UM, AND IF SO, WHAT WAS THE SAVINGS? FINANCIALLY? YES. 
          YES, THERE WAS A SAVINGS. 
          I WOULD HAVE TO GET THAT NUMBER TO YOU, BUT IT WAS A SIGNIFICANT SAVINGS. 
          UM, AND WHO WAS STAFFING THE EMERGENCY WARMING SHELTERS? UH, AND WHAT WAS THE COST PER NIGHT OF, YOU KNOW, STAFFING THE WARMING SHELTERS OVERNIGHT? WELL, IT DEPENDS. 
          SOMETIMES IT WAS VOLUNTEERS, SOMETIMES IT WAS COUNTY EMPLOYEES. 
          SO IT DEPENDED ON THE NIGHT. 
          OKAY. 
          UM, I WANTED TO ASK ABOUT GRANT AND AID FUNDING A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE THIS YEAR THERE SEEMED TO BE A LOT, AT LEAST FROM WHAT I'VE EXPERIENCED IN THE PAST FEW YEARS, A LOT MORE CHANGING IN, IN, YOU KNOW, WHO GOT MORE, WHO GOT LESS, WHO WAS ADDED, WHO WAS TAKEN OFF. 
          WAS THERE, UM, ANY ORGANIZATION THAT WAS PREVIOUS? WELL, I KNOW AT LEAST ONE ORGANIZATION THAT HAD REQUESTED ANOTHER YEAR OF GRANT AID AND DIDN'T RECEIVE IT, WHICH WAS N STEP. 
          UM, THEY HAD ASKED FOR $5,000 AND AREN'T GETTING ANY MONEY THIS YEAR. 
          UM, BUT WHAT ABOUT LIKE CAVITY GRACE HOUSING AUTHORITY? THEY, THEY DIDN'T APPLY. 
          THEY DIDN'T APPLY. 
          OKAY. 
          UM, AND THEN WHAT ABOUT FOR N STEP? YOU KNOW, THEY'VE GOTTEN MONEY FIVE YEARS IN A ROW. 
          UM, THIS YEAR THEIR $5,000 WAS CUT. 
          UM, I WOULD HAVE TO LOOK THE GRANT, A REVIEW BOARD MADE THOSE DETERMINATIONS. 
          OKAY. 
          I DO KNOW THAT N STEP IS RECEIVING FUNDING FROM SOME OTHER SOURCES. 
          WE HAVE LOTS OF GRANTS IN OUR DEPARTMENT NOW, SO THAT MAY HAVE PLAYED A PART. 
          OKAY. 
          AND, UM, COULD YOU TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE VESTRY OF DEER CREEK CREEK AND THEIR RIDE SHARE AND THEIR FOOD PANTRY? BECAUSE THAT WAS TWO NEW THINGS THAT WERE ADDED. 
          ACTUALLY, THEY HAVE BEEN FUNDED IN THE PAST. 
          I THINK MAYBE LAST YEAR THEY EITHER DIDN'T APPLY OR SOMETHING HAPPENED. 
          BUT THE RIDE SHARE PROGRAM IS A SENIOR RIDE SHARE PROGRAM WHERE THEY PICK UP SENIORS AND TAKE THEM TO A DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENTS UP IN, AND THE FOOD PANTRY IS A FOOD PANTRY THAT'S ACCESSIBLE FOR ANYBODY IN THE COUNTY. 
          I THINK THEY TARGET THE DARLINGTON AREA, BUT I THINK IT'S OPEN TO ANYONE. 
          UM, AND THEN ASKING ABOUT, UM, THE OFFICE OF DRUG CONTROL POLICY, UM, 
          [02:35:01]
WITH MARCUS LEAVING, WHICH IS A HUGE LOSS FOR ALL OF, OF HARTFORD COUNTY, IS THE PLAN TO, UH, FILL HIS POSITION NOW THAT IT'S VACANT? YES. 
          WELL, WE, NO ONE'S GONNA BE ABLE TO STEP INTO MARCUS' SHOES, . 
          SO WE KIND OF DID SOME REORG BACK IN THE OLD DAYS. 
          THINK ABOUT WHEN THE OFFICE OF DRUG CONTROL FIRST STARTED AND JOE RYAN WAS THERE. 
          I MEAN, THERE WAS, THERE WAS ALMOST ALL NOTHING BUT OUTREACH, PREVENTION, THAT KIND OF THING. 
          UM, WHEN MARCUS CAME ABOUT THE TIME WE STARTED GETTING ALL OF THE FUNDING FOR THE OPIOID RESTITUTION FUNDS, THE COMMUNITY REPAIR AND REINVESTMENT FUNDS. 
          A GREAT DEAL OF HIS JOB WAS JUST MANAGING THOSE GRANTS. 
          THE REPORTING AND THE, THEY'RE VERY TECHNICAL. 
          SO WE'VE KIND OF SPLIT THAT, THOSE ROLES INTO TWO. 
          OKAY. 
          SO I CAN SHARE WITH YOU THAT ALION, IS SHE A PREVENTION COORDINATOR? SHE'LL BE DOING MOST OF THAT OUTREACH EDUCATION. 
          THAT'S SHE'S GREAT. 
          GREAT ACCELERATOR. 
          AND THEN WE'RE HAVING, UM, SOMEONE IN HOUSE YOU'LL, WHO DOES THE GRANT REPORTING TO PICK UP THAT PIECE OF IT. 
          UM, AND IS VOICES OF HOPE THE DESIGNATED ORGANIZATION FOR RECOVERY SUPPORT SERVICES? YES. 
          AND HOW MUCH WILL THEY RECEIVE THIS YEAR? THEY, I KNOW, I CAN TELL YOU FOR THE CURRENT YEAR, WE HAVE 550,000 FOR THE CURRENT YEAR, THEY HAVE NOT SPENT ANYWHERE NEAR THAT AMOUNT. 
          SO I THINK WE HAVE THAT MUCH SET ASIDE FOR NEXT YEAR. 
          THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT THEY DON'T SPEND IT, IT COMES BACK TO THE COUNTY. 
          'CAUSE THAT'S ALL COUNTY DOLLARS. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THAT'S IT. 
          THANK YOU MR. BENNETT. 
          MS. SOS. 
          THANK YOU. 
          MR. BENNETT COVERED MOST OF MY QUESTIONS, BUT ON UM, PAGE 2 66, I SEE A SALARY OFFSET OF 62 6 27. 
          IS THAT TIED TO A NEW POSITION OR WHAT'S THE PURPOSE OF THAT? NO, THAT, THAT WOULD BE A, A CHANGE IN HOW, UM, THE GRANT FUNDS EITHER ALL ARE PART OF, OF A POSITION. 
          THAT'S WHAT THAT, THAT, UH, SO A GRANT OFFSET REFERS TO THE AMOUNT OF FUNDS THAT ARE OFFSET BY A GRANT. 
          SO IF THAT NUMBER'S GOING UP, IT MEANS THE GRANTS ARE SETTING LESS OF IT. 
          OKAY. 
          IF YOU SEE ONE THAT GOES THE OTHER DIRECTION WHERE IT'S A DECREASE, IT MEANS THE GRANTS ARE FUNDING MORE OF IT. 
          OKAY. 
          THANK YOU MR. ROBERT? YES. 
          UM, THANK YOU. 
          UM, BARBARA JUST HAS A QUICK QUESTION ABOUT THE GRANT NEED. 
          HOW DO YOU GUYS MAKE DECISIONS ON HOW THE MONEY IS DISTRIBUTED TO EACH OF THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT APPLY FOR THAT? SO THERE'S A GRANT REVIEW COMMITTEE MADE UP OF INSIDE FOLKS FROM THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT OFFICE ON MENTAL HEALTH, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 
          THEY REVIEW ALL THE GRANTS. 
          BASICALLY, WE TOLD 'EM THIS YEAR, YOU'RE, YOU HAVE WHAT WE HAD LAST YEAR, FLAT FUNDING, AND IT'S UP TO THEM TO DECIDE HOW TO DISTRIBUTE IT. 
          OKAY. 
          SO IT'S, IT'S PRETTY MUCH, AND I SEE THERE WAS A DECREASE IN THE MONEY COMING IN, SO PRETTY MUCH EVERYONE MAINTAINED LIKE PRETTY MUCH WHAT THEY HAD LAST YEAR? YEAH, PRETTY MUCH. 
          I MEAN, THEY, NO ONE EVER WANTS TO CUT ANYBODY. 
          A LOT OF TIMES IF WE HAVE NEW APPLICANTS, THAT SOMETIMES IS THE CASE. 
          MM-HMM . 
          I THINK THIS YEAR THEY WERE BLESSED THAT THEY, THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO DO THAT SO MUCH. 
          OKAY. 
          THANK YOU. 
          SAME MARK, UM, ON, ON PAGE 265, AND I NOTICED THAT THERE'S A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF MONEY AND CONTRACTUAL SERVICES COMPARED TO SOME OF THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS, WHICH AVERAGE IS LIKE 6% OF THE SALARIES. 
          THIS ONE IS 22% COMPARED TO SALARIES. 
          CAN YOU TELL ME A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT THE CONTRACTUAL SERVICES ARE? NORMALLY THEY'RE LIKE TELEPHONES, THINGS LIKE THAT. 
          THIS IS JUST SUCH A SUBSTANTIAL DIFFERENCE. 
          200 AND PAGE 265. 
          YEAH. 
          YEAH. 
          I THINK IT INCLUDES THE 500 THAT'S TRUMP FOR VOICES OF HOPE IS OKAY. 
          YEAH. 
          AND IT'S, IT'S, AND IT'S MORE OF AN ACCOUNTING REASON THAT ROBBIE COULD PROBABLY SPEAK TO BETTER OR NOT COULD IN TERMS OF WHETHER, WHETHER SOMETHING IS EXPENSE TO CONTRACTUAL SERVICES OR TO LIKE MISCELLANEOUS OR A TEMPORARY YEAH. 
          AND WHETHER DO WE HAVE A CONTRACT OR IS THIS A CONTRIBUTION? WHAT, AND IT'S, AND SO THOSE ARE THE SORTS OF REASONS WHY THEY'RE IN DIFFERENT PLACES. 
          AND, AND I THINK PROBABLY THE, THE BIGGEST THING WITH, WITH, WITH THIS BUDGET IS LIKE WE, WHEN WE LOOK AT A COMPARISON OF, YOU KNOW, SALARIES VERSUS CONTRACTUAL, SO MUCH OF THE SALARIES THAT RUN, UM, UH, DIRECTOR RICHARDSON'S DEPARTMENT IS, ARE, ARE IN THE GRANT FUND AND SO MUCH, MUCH MORE SO THAN ALMOST ANY OTHER, UM, UH, ANY OTHER DEPARTMENTS THAT, THAT IS GONNA SKEW THOSE, THOSE RESULTS. 
          OKAY. 
          AND THEN I KNOW, UM, SEARCHERS, LAST TIME YOU WERE IN HERE, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE COLD WEATHER PLAN AND ALL THAT STUFF. 
          THE, AND IT'S MY, UM, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT THERE WAS 60 K THAT WAS DESIGNATED TO A SPECIFIC LOCATION THAT WAS INTENDED TO BE A THE SHELTER. 
          UM, BUT DUE TO PERMITTING AND ZONING THAT DIDN'T WORK OUT. 
          AND 60 K WAS ALSO THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE HISTORICALLY HAD IN THE HOTEL MOTEL PLACEMENT. 
          WAS THAT A DIRECT TRANSFER OF THAT MONEY OR DID THE 60 K FOR THE INTENDED COLD WEATHER SHELTER COME FROM THE CAPITAL BUDGET? 
          [02:40:01]
UH, NO, THE COLD WEATHER SHELTER CAME FROM THIS CLIENT EMERGENCY. 
          THAT'S, THAT'S THE MONEY THAT WE TOOK TO, UM, THE CHURCH IN ABERDEEN, THE CHURCH IN ABERDEEN. 
          THAT WAS, I THINK SOME OF THAT CAME FROM THERE, BUT SOME OF IT CAME FROM COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FUNDING, I BELIEVE. 
          OKAY. 
          THE SET, THE COST TO OPERATE THE FREEZING OVER SHELTER CAME FROM THE, THE FREEZING WEATHER LINE ITEM. 
          IS THAT WHERE THE HOTEL MOTEL PLACEMENTS WAS ALSO? THAT WOULD BE EXACTLY. 
          OKAY. 
          ALL THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU MS. MOFF. 
          ANYONE? MR. PARISH, ARE ALL OF THE GRANT EMPLOYEES ABLE TO GET THE COLA AT THE 2000 R ALSO? ANYONE ELSE? MR. TIPS? I I, I WAS JUST CURIOUS, DO YOU HAVE A GRANT WRITER IN YOUR, UH, HOW I FIGURED IF SOMEBODY'S GOT TO APPLY FOR THESE GRANTS? OH YES. 
          SO WE, WE HAVE SEVERAL VERY TALENTED GRANT WRITERS. 
          WE GET A LOT OF COMPETITIVE FUNDING. 
          OKAY. 
          THANK YOU. 
          I GOT ONE MORE. 
          UH, DOES THERE, DOES, DOES THE COUNTY STILL DO A GRANTS REPORT? I HAVEN'T SEEN ONE SINCE COVID. 
          UM, I MEAN WE, WHAT WE, WE HAVE THE SINGLE AUDIT, UM, WHICH WE DO. 
          I KNOW WE WERE DOING, WE WERE DOING THIS ONE, UH, UH, GRANTS REPORT, UM, THAT, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE TRIED FOR, UH, TRIED FOR A COUPLE YEARS, BUT WE'VE BEEN DOING THAT ONE. 
          BUT AGAIN, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE ALL OF THE, THE GRANT REPORTS THAT GO INTO THE, UM, YOU KNOW, THEY GO INTO OUR SINGLE AUDIT. 
          UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S, YOU KNOW, KIND OF OTHER FORMS OF, OF, UH, GRANT REPORTING, BUT I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT. 
          I KNOW LIKE FOR A WHILE WE HAD A, LIKE A GRANT, UM, LIKE A GRANT, UM, STEERING TYPE COMMITTEE AND WE WERE, WE WERE DOING THAT. 
          I KNOW THE PERSON WHO WAS ACTIVE WITH THAT ON MY END RETIRED. 
          UM, SO, UM, WE'RE STILL DOING A LOT OF GRANT REPORTING, BUT NOT THAT SPECIFIC ONE, YOU KNOW. 
          OKAY. 
          THANK YOU BARBARA. 
          OKAY. 
          THANK YOU. 
          ALRIGHT. 
          UH, NEXT IS PLANNING AND ZONING, WHICH BEGINS ON PAGE 2 24. 
          THE DEPARTMENT HAS FOUR OPERATING DIVISIONS ALL FUNDED BY THE GENERAL FUND AS WELL AS COST CENTERS FOR AG PRESERVATIONS DEDICATED COUNTY AND STATE FUNDS. 
          THE DEPARTMENT HAS A TOTAL GENERAL FUND BUDGET OF 4,516,799 FOR AN INCREASE OF $324,008 OR 7.2%. 
          THE DIRECTOR'S OFFICE BEGINS ON PAGE 2 31. 
          THE DIVISION BUDGET OF 851,878 IS A DECREASE OF 13,375. 
          PERSONAL SERVICES INCREASES 13,000 7 0 5 AS A RESULT OF TURNOVER, SAVINGS OF 12,111 COLA AND MERIT TOTALING 20,731 PENSIONS INCREASE. 
          2089 WORKERS' COMP DECREASES 6 62 HEALTH BENEFITS INCREASE. 
          4,200  DECREASES 6 52. 
          RETIREMENT HEALTH SAVINGS INCREASES. 
          1037 FICA DECREASES 927 CONTRACTUAL SERVICES INCREASE 2004 20 FOR LEASE FOR, UH, A NEW CLOTTER AND PRINTER. 
          SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS DECREASES 2000 FOR OFFICE AND AND COMPUTER SUPPLIES BASED ON ACTUAL EXPENSES. 
          BUSINESS AND TRAVEL DECREASES 2,500 FOR FUEL TRAINING, UM, AND MEMBERSHIP DUES BASED ON ACTUALS. 
          MISCELLANEOUS DECREASES 25,000 FOR CONTRIBUTIONS BASED ON ACTUALS. 
          AND THERE'S NO CHANGE IN INTERGOVERNMENTAL. 
          COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING BEGINS ON PAGE 2 34. 
          THE DIVISION BUDGET OF 1,270,225 IS AN INCREASE OF 167,809. 
          PERSONAL SERVICES DECREASES 69,809. 
          THAT'S THE RESULT OF SALARY ADJUSTMENTS OF 25,014 PARTIALLY OFFSET BY TURNOVER. 
          SAVINGS OF 24,500 AND MERIT TOTALING 42,993. 
          PENSIONS INCREASE. 
          7,064 WORKERS' COMP DECREASES 1,780. 
          HEALTH BENEFITS INCREASE 14,000 OPE INCREASES 3,834. 
          RETIREMENT HEALTH SAVINGS INCREASES 3,112 AND FPA INCREASES $72. 
          CONTRACTUAL SERVICES DECREASES 2000 FOR OTHER PROFESSIONAL SERVICES. 
          THERE'S NO CHANGE IN BUSINESS AND TRAVEL AND MISCELLANEOUS INCREASES 100,000 FOR CONTRIBUTIONS FOR AMERICA, TWO 50 EVENTS. 
          GIS AND ANALYSIS BEGINS ON PAGE 2 37. 
          THE DIVISION BUDGET OF 544,465 
          [02:45:01]
IS AN INCREASE OF 64,628. 
          PERSONAL SERVICES INCREASES 64,628. 
          THAT'S A RESULT OF SALARY ADJUSTMENTS TOTALING 28,467. 
          TURNOVER SAVINGS OF 800 839 AND MERIT TOTALING 20 2005 90. 
          PENSIONS INCREASED. 
          7,098 WORKERS' COMP DECREASES 401 HEALTH BENEFITS INCREASED 5,600 FICA INCREASES 2001 13. 
          AND THERE'S NO CHANGE IN BUSINESS AND TRAVEL. 
          CURRENT PLANNING BEGINS ON PAGE TWO 40. 
          THE DIVISION BUDGET OF 1,850,231 IS AN INCREASE OF 104,946. 
          PERSONAL SERVICES INCREASES 106,946 AS A RESULT OF TURNOVER. 
          SAVINGS OF 18,309 PARTIALLY OFFSET BY SALARY. 
          ADJUSTMENTS OF 1,992 AND MERIT TOTALING 76,543 PENSIONS INCREASED 9,794 WORKERS' COMP DECREASES 1,972. 
          HEALTH BENEFITS INCREASE 20,275 OPE INCREASES 9,387. 
          RETIREMENT HEALTH SAVINGS INCREASES 2005 93 PCA DECREASES 697 CONTRACTUAL SERVICES DECREASE, UH, 2000 FOR OTHER PROFESSIONAL SERVICES. 
          THERE'S NO CHANGE IN BUSINESS AND TRAVEL AG PRESERVATION COUNTY BEGINS ON PAGE 2 43. 
          THERE'S 12,200,000 IN THIS COST CENTER. 
          BASED ON ESTIMATED AVAILABILITY OF DEDICATED TRANSFER TAX REVENUE. 
          CAPITAL OUTLAY DECREASES 2,250,000 FOR PURCHASE OF AG PRESERVATION EASEMENTS AND DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS. 
          AND MISCELLANEOUS DECREASES 1,800,000 FOR EXPENSES RELATED TO AG PRESERVATION TRANSACTIONS. 
          AND THEN FINALLY, AG PRESERVATION STATE BEGINS ON PAGE 2 45. 
          THERE'S 600,000 IN THIS COST CENTER FROM REVENUE RETAINED FROM THE STATE'S AG TRANSFER TAX. 
          THERE'S NO CHANGE IN PERSONAL SERVICES FUNDING, WHICH PROVIDES FOR PARTIAL SALARY REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE COUNTY'S AG PRESERVATION COORDINATOR AND MISCELLANEOUS INCREASES 430,000 TO PROVIDE FUNDS TO MATCH EASEMENT PURCHASES THAT MOUTH WILL MAKE ON THE COUNTY'S BEHALF. 
          AND WITH THAT, WERE, WE WILL ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. 
          UM, THANK YOU. 
          AG PREEZ. 
          HAVE WE STARTED THAT PROCESS FOR THIS COVER? UH, YES. 
          WE HAVE. 
          WE'RE, I TALKED TO JEN ABOUT WHERE WE WERE CURRENTLY AND SHE'S ABOUT 30, 35% THROUGH, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF SETTLEMENTS COMING UP. 
          OKAY. 
          BETWEEN NOW AND THE END, END OF FISCAL YEAR. 
          ROUGH IDEA OF A NUMBER OF ACREAGE. 
          UM, I THINK THE TOTAL WAS ABOUT 1800 ACRES FOR THE, FOR THE YEAR, I GUESS. 
          OKAY. 
          THAT'S WHAT I BELIEVE THE NUMBER WAS. 
          OKAY. 
          DO I HAVE FUNDING FOR ALL THAT? YES, WE DO. 
          OKAY. 
          UM, MR. BEN. 
          HELLO. 
          GOOD AFTERNOON. 
          THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US. 
          I THINK YOUR DEPARTMENT RIGHT NOW IS LISTED AT 32 TOTAL POSITIONS. 
          UM, I REMEMBER UNDER THE PREVIOUS DIRECTOR, UM, MR. GRIM, HE HAD A REALLY HARD TIME WITH GETTING TO BE FULLY STAFFED. 
          AS OF TODAY, HOW MANY OF THOSE 32 POSITIONS ARE ACTIVELY FILLED AND BEING WORKED? UH, CURRENTLY WE HAVE FOUR OPEN POSITIONS AND SOON TO BE FIVE. 
          AND, UH, IT'S, UH, IT HAS BEEN DIFFICULT TO FIND NEW PLANNERS, UH, WITH THE DEGREES, BUT WE'VE BEEN WORKING HARD WITH ADMINISTRATION AND WE'VE BEEN GOING TO COLLEGE FAIRS AND, AND DOING OTHER INTERESTING THINGS TO TRY TO GET THE RIGHT PEOPLE. 
          BUT WE'VE HAD SOME BETTER SUCCESS OF GETTING PEOPLE, UH, AT MORE OF THE ENTRY LEVEL POSITION THAN TRAINING THEM. 
          BUT IT JUST TAKES TIME TO, TO DO THAT. 
          BUT THE HOPE IS TO GET THOSE FIVE POSITIONS FILLED THROUGH THE NEXT BUDGET CYCLE. 
          YES, WE HAVE. 
          WE'RE WORKING THROUGH, UH, I THINK NEXT, NOT THIS, UH, NOT THIS WEDNESDAY, THE FOLLOWING WEDNESDAY, I BELIEVE WE'RE GONNA HAVE HOPEFULLY ALL FOUR OF THOSE BEING POSTED. 
          AWESOME. 
          THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT. 
          AND THEN MY OTHER QUESTION, THIS IS MORE OF A BUDGETARY QUESTION, BUT WHY ARE WE LISTING A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS IN CONTRIBUTIONS TO AMERICA TO 50 EVENTS UNDER PLANNING AND ZONING AND NOT LIKE THE ADMINISTRATION'S OFFICE? YEAH, I THINK, I THINK THAT DECISION WAS DUE TO THE FACT THAT OUR HISTORIC PRESERVATION SECTION IS WITHIN COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING AND PLANNING AND ZONING. 
          AND THAT JUST MADE, MADE THE MOST SENSE, JUST LOOKING ACROSS THE WHOLE BUDGET OF WHERE, WHERE THE PLACE IS. 
          SO IS, UH, MR. BENSON GONNA BE LIKE IN CHARGE OF, OF THOSE FUNDS? I THINK IT'LL BE, IT'LL BE A GROUP OF PEOPLE AND HE WOULD CERTAINLY BE, BE INVOLVED IN THAT, IN THAT EVALUATION PROCESS. 
          YEAH. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANKS, MR. BENNETT. 
          MS. MOFF, THIS IS 
          [02:50:01]
KIND OF, TO PIGGYBACK OFF THAT QUESTION, BUT IT WOULDN'T BE MORE SUITED FOR LIKE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. 
          UM, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, YOU COULD MAKE, YOU COULD MAKE AN ARGUMENT PRO PROBABLY A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT PLACES. 
          UM, I THINK GIVEN THE HISTORICAL NATURE OF, OF THE, UM, THE EVENTS AND AND SO FORTH, IT JUST MADE SENSE TO, TO PUT IT IN WITH HISTORIC PRESERVATION. 
          WHERE DID THE LAFAYETTE MONEY COME FROM? WAS THAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT? I'D HAVE TO LOOK INTO THAT. 
          IT JUST, IT SEEMS LIKE A VERY ODD PLACEMENT FOR CONSIDERING THAT IT'S, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO BRING PEOPLE INTO HARTFORD COUNTY CELEBRATING HER HISTORY. 
          I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT IT, I'D ARGUE THAT THERE SEEMS TO BE MORE CONNECTED POTS. 
          UM, YEAH. 
          OKAY. 
          IT COULD BE. 
          UM, I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE, AGAIN, WE, WE MADE THAT DECISION GIVEN THAT IT'S DEALING WITH HISTORICAL EVENTS AND WHAT, WHAT WE'RE LOOKING TO DO IS, UH, PROVIDE MONEY AND THERE'LL BE INFORMATION PUT OUT THERE TO THE PUBLIC AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME. 
          BUT, YOU KNOW, COUNTY BASED ORGANIZATIONS, UM, AND THAT WANT TO DO EVENTS SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO AMERICA TWO 50 MM-HMM . 
          UM, AND IS THERE A TOURISM ASPECT ASSOCIATED WITH THAT? I DON'T KNOW. 
          PROBABLY, BUT ALSO IT'S, IT'S ABOUT, IT'S IT'S ABOUT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, UH, YOU KNOW, THE COUNTY'S RESIDENTS AND SO FORTH. 
          AND IT WAS JUST THE DECISION WAS MADE TO TIE IT IN WITH, WITH THE HISTORICAL PRESERVATION AND I GUESS . 
          YEAH. 
          AND I THINK IF IT WAS IN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT UNDER TOURISM, THEN WE WOULD BE USING HOTEL TAX FOR IT. 
          AND SO, WHICH CASE, YOU KNOW, UM, WE'RE NOT USING THE HOTEL TAX IN THIS THIS WAY. 
          SO THAT WOULD BE PART OF THAT DESCRIPTION. 
          SO I GUESS THAT LEADS TO MY OTHER QUESTION OF HOW DO WE PLAN TO SPEND THE A HUNDRED THOUSAND? I THINK THAT THE PLAN IS TO, AGAIN, THERE, THERE'LL BE COMMUNICATION AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME, UM, YOU KNOW, ONCE WE'RE INTO THE BUDGET YEAR MM-HMM . 
          IN TERMS OF HOW COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS CAN'T APPLY FOR THESE. 
          UM, BUT AGAIN, I THINK THAT THE, THE IDEA WAS TO PROVIDE THEM TO, UM, COUNTY BASED ORGANIZATIONS THAT WANT TO EITHER HOLD SPECIAL EVENTS OR TO PERHAPS, YOU KNOW, BEEF UP CURRENT EVENTS THAT ARE ALREADY HAPPENING, BUT PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL COMPONENT. 
          UM, PROVIDE FUNDS TO ORGANIZATIONS THAT MAY WANNA PARTICIPATE IN PARADES AND DO AN AMERICA TWO 50 TYPE OF, YOU KNOW, FLOAT OR WHATEVER, WHAT HAVE YOU. 
          THERE'S ALL SORTS OF THINGS THAT ARE, YOU SEE WHERE I'M GOING WITH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT VERSUS LIKE TOURISM AND THAT KINDA STUFF. 
          I HAVE YET TO HEAR. 
          I MEAN, IT'S PLANNING AND ZONING . 
          WELL, AGAIN, IT'S, IT'S HIS, IT'S HISTORY. 
          YEAH. 
          AND IT'S, OUR HISTORIC PRESERVATION SECTION IS IN PLANNING AND ZONING. 
          AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE SAME BUCKET OF MONEY, WHICH IS THE GENERAL LAW. 
          RIGHT. 
          I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT IT, IT'S ALLOCATED WHERE IT MAKES SENSE. 
          SO THANK YOU. 
          OKAY. 
          UM, I KNOW YOU'VE ALREADY STARTED THE PROCESS, BUT WHEN DO YOU THINK THE MASTER PLAN WILL BE COMING TOGETHER? WHAT'S THE TIMELINE FOR THAT? WELL, CURRENTLY WE'RE JUST BEGINNING OUR PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT PROCESS AND WE JUST STARTED ACTUALLY TECHNICALLY LAST WEEK. 
          SO THAT'S A 10 MONTH PROCESS. 
          SO WE'RE LOOKING AT PROBABLY NEXT FEBRUARY THAT THAT'LL BE WRAPPED UP. 
          AND THEN WE'VE REQUESTED MONEY FOR THE CONSULTANT TO HELP US WITH, AGAIN, START WITH PLAN WRITING. 
          OKAY. 
          UH, SO THAT WOULD BEGIN SOON AFTER NEXT FEBRUARY. 
          OKAY. 
          THANK YOU MR. JANA. 
          HEY MAN. 
          HEY, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. 
          UH, HOW MANY SOLAR FARMS YOU HAVE IN PLANNING AND ZONING RIGHT NOW? I DON'T HAVE A GREAT NUMBER ON THAT BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW, UH, TONY, WE, WE DON'T KNOW UNTIL THE PSC ACTUALLY LETS US KNOW. 
          OH, GREAT. 
          UM, SO WE DO GET NOTIFICATIONS FROM THE PSC. 
          OKAY. 
          AND THAT'S THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN PREEMPTED BY STATE LAW WITH ALL LOCAL ZONING AUTHORITY OVER THE SOLAR FARMS, AS YOU ALL KNOW. 
          YEP. 
          SO I WOULD CONSERVATIVELY SAY 50 50 CONSERVATIVES WOW. 
          THAT WE'VE BEEN, IT DOESN'T MEAN THEY'RE ALL GONNA HAPPEN. 
          IT'S, IT MEANS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN MADE AWARE BY THE PSC WILL THAT GET US TO THE AMOUNT THAT THEY WANT FOR THE ACREAGE. 
          THERE WAS THAT THERE WAS A CERTAIN NUMBER THAT ONCE WE HIT THAT, THAT THEN WE CAN GO BACK AND SAY, WE'RE AT THAT LEVEL. 
          DO, DO WE, DO WE KNOW WHAT THAT IS? IS 50 GONNA DO IT? NO. 
          'CAUSE ARE, ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE PPA? THERE'S A CERTAIN NUMBER OF ACREAGE, UH, THAT IF IT'S IN, IN THE PPA, THEN WE CAN SAY AS A LOCAL GOVERNMENT, I THINK THERE WAS A LAW OR A BILL THAT WAS, UH, I DON'T KNOW THE STATUS FOR THE, THIS YEAR IF IT ACTUALLY PASSED OR NOT, BUT I THINK THEY WERE LOOKING AT CHANGING THAT TO MAKE IT LESS. 
          OKAY. 
          I HAVE TO CHECK THE STATUS OF THAT, BUT I, I THINK, I THINK 50 IS STILL UNFORTUNATELY GONNA BE, THERE ARE PLENTY OF ROOM TO DO 50 WITH THAT TYPE OF ACREAGE THAT WE HAVE BECAUSE WE DO HAVE A LARGE PPA AREA. 
          OKAY. 
          AND ONE OTHER QUESTION, SINCE WE'VE GOT PEOPLE LISTENING, UH, RIGHT NOW WE CAN'T PUT DATA CENTERS 
          [02:55:01]
IN ANY PARTICULAR ZONE AND WE CAN'T DO A SPECIAL EXCEPTION IN ANY ZONE. 
          CORRECT. 
          FOR A DATA CENTER. 
          THE WAY IT STANDS, I MEAN, I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET, BUT I THINK , BUT I CAN ANSWER, I CAN A ANSWER THE GENERAL QUESTION. 
          THERE'S NO PERMITTED USE FOR A DATA CENTER IN OUR ZONING CODE. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          APPRECIATE IT. 
          MR. RILEY. 
          SO WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT SOLAR FARMS, HOW ABOUT THE RESIDENTIALS, THE SMALL ONES THAT THEY DON'T GO THROUGH PSE, RIGHT? THAT IS CORRECT. 
          THEY DO NOT. 
          AND SO DO WE HAVE ANY CODE FROM PLANNING DEPARTMENT AS TO WHEN AND WHERE YOU CAN PUT THOSE SMALLER ONES? WE DON'T. 
          WE HAVE A ZONING CODE THAT WE ENFORCE WITH ANY DEVELOPMENT ON THE PROPERTY. 
          UH, WE DON'T HAVE A SPECIFIC ZONE, UH, SOLAR SETBACK IF THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE GETTING AT. 
          DO YOU HAVE ANY RULES AS TO WHO COULD PUT THE, THE SOLARS ON THEIR GROUND IN SMALLER RESIDENTIAL AREAS? THE, SO SOLAR PERMITS WOULD BE SUBJECT TO ALL THE SETBACKS THAT WE HAVE IN OUR ZONING CODE. 
          JUST WITH ANY OTHER TYPE OF ACCESSORY STRUCTURE. 
          BUT NOT SPECIFIC TO SOLAR. 
          CORRECT. 
          THANKS, MR. TIBS. 
          WHEN YOU SAID, UH, SMALLER SOLAR FARMS, WHAT ARE YOU SPEAKING OF THERE IN MEGAWATTS OR ARE YOU SPEAKING IN ACREAGE OR THE, THE PSE, UH, THEY REGULATE THE SOLAR FARMS ONCE YOU GET ABOVE TWO MEGAWATTS. 
          RIGHT. 
          THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT. 
          'CAUSE I KNOW THERE'S AT LEAST THREE OR FOUR ALREADY ON THE PSCS THING FOR 2.5 OR ABOVE. 
          AND I JUST WAS CURIOUS AS TO, I MEAN, I KNOW WE HAVE NO JURISDICTION AS TO HOW WE CAN STOP THAT, BUT IT'S, UH, OTHER THAN PUBLIC PRESSURE, I GUESS, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S EVEN WORKING OR NOT. 
          I THINK REALLY THE ONLY WAY TO CHANGE THAT WOULD BE CHANGING IT THROUGH THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. 
          OKAY. 
          ANYONE ELSE? THANK YOU, MATT. 
          OKAY. 
          UH, STATE'S ATTORNEY BEGINS ON PAGE FIVE 40. 
          OKAY. 
          YEAH. 
          ALL SHE'S HANDING THAT OUT. 
          UM, SO, UH, AGAIN, PAGE FIVE 40, TOTAL FUNDING FOR FY 27 IS 12,053,758 FOR AN INCREASE OF SEVEN 700,284 OR 5.8% FUNDED BY THE GENERAL FUND. 
          PERSONAL SERVICES INCREASES 680,000 6 47. 
          NO CHANGE IN SALARIES. 
          A SALARY ADJUSTMENTS AND TURNOVER BASICALLY CANCEL EACH OTHER OUT. 
          UM, THERE WERE TWO NEW BODY-WORN CAMERA TECHNICIAN POSITIONS ADDED DURING THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR USING DIS DISCRETIONARY FUNDS BUDGETED FOR IN FY 26. 
          SO THERE'S NO BUDGETARY EFFECT, BUT WE'RE SHOWING THEM THE NEW POSITIONS IN THIS BUDGET FOR THE FIRST TIME. 
          IN ADDITION TO THAT, THERE'S ONE NEWEST ASSISTANT STATE'S ATTORNEY TWO POSITION CREATED FOR FY 27 AT A COST OF 136,520. 
          THE STATE'S ATTORNEY'S OFFICE WAGE PACKAGE TOTALING 478,366, PENSIONS INCREASE DUE TO, UH, RATE ADJUSTMENTS OF 79,075. 
          WORKERS' COMP DECREASES 4,471. 
          HEALTH BENEFITS DECREASE 90,950. 
          OP E INCREASES 22,919. 
          RETIREMENT HEALTH SAVINGS INCREASE IS 59,188. 
          CONTRACTUAL SERVICES INCREASE 3,896 FOR LEGAL SERVICES, TELEPHONE SERVICE, OFFICE EQUIPMENT INSURANCE, AND OTHER PROFESSIONAL SERVICES. 
          SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS INCREASE 11,189 FOR PRINTING OFFICE SUPPLIES, COPIER SUPPLIES, MAILING UNIFORM PURCHASE DELIVERY CHARGES, AND OTHER SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS BASED ON ACTUAL EXPENSE HISTORY. 
          AND THEN BUSINESS AND TRAVEL INCREASES 4,000 5 52 FOR TRAINING, SEMINARS, MEMBERSHIP FEES, LODGING, PROFESSIONAL BOOKS, TRANS TRANSPORTATION COSTS, MEALS, FUEL MILEAGE REIMBURSEMENT, AND PARKING BASED ON ACTUAL EXPENSE HISTORY. 
          AND WITH THAT, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO ALLISON. 
          THANK YOU. 
          GOOD AFTERNOON, MS. HEALY. 
          MR. GOOD. 
          GOOD AFTERNOON. 
          UM, AS I NORMALLY DO, I HAVE GIVEN YOU A COPY OF MY REMARKS FOR TODAY, AND I ALSO GAVE YOU A COPY OF OUR BUDGET MEMO THAT WE SUBMITTED TO THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE WHEN WE MADE OUR BUDGET REQUESTS, UM, AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, PRESIDENT VINCENTIA, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. 
          AS FISCAL YEAR 26, COME 2026 COMES TO A CLOSE. 
          [03:00:01]
I CONTINUE TO DELIVER ON THE PROMISES MADE IN MY ROLE AS YOUR STATE'S ATTORNEY. 
          DESPITE OFTEN BEING LEFT OUT OF THE DEFINITION OF PUBLIC SAFETY IN THIS COUNTY, MY STAFF IS WORKING DILIGENTLY EVERY DAY TO ENSURE THAT HARTFORD COUNTY REMAINS A SAFE PLACE TO LIVE, WORK, AND RAISE A FAMILY. 
          AND WITHOUT THE HARD WORK OF THE EMPLOYEES OF OUR OFFICE, THAT WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE. 
          NOTABLY, SINCE I APPEARED BEFORE YOU LAST YEAR, WE SECURED SIGNIFICANT SENTENCES IN MANY CASES, INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING HIGH PROFILE CASES, THE SENTENCING OF VICTOR MARTINEZ HERNANDEZ, FOR THE BE BRUTAL MURDER OF RACHEL MORIN ON OUR BELOVED MOM POT TRAIL. 
          HE RECEIVED TWO CONSECUTIVE LIFE SENTENCES, THE FIRST WITHOUT PAROLE, PLUS AN ADDITIONAL 40 YEARS TO SERVE THE CONVICTION AND SENTENCING OF JALEN PRINCE FOR THE JOPPA TOWN HIGH SCHOOL SHOOTING. 
          TAKING THE LIFE OF WARREN GRANT, HE RECEIVED LIFE PLUS 20 YEARS SUSPENDING ALL BUT 80 YEARS TO SERVE. 
          ADDITIONALLY, MY OFFICE IS ROUTINELY AND SUCCESSFULLY ARGUING FOR ABOVE GUIDELINE SENTENCES, HOLDING CRIMINALS ACCOUNTABLE AND ULTIMATELY SENDING A STRONG MESSAGE. 
          KEEP YOUR CRIME OUT OF HARTFORD COUNTY. 
          NO CRIME IS TOO SMALL TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY BY MY OFFICE. 
          IN ADDITION TO THE WORK WE ARE DOING IN THE COURTROOM, WE ARE ALSO SETTING THE STANDARD FOR PROSECUTORS ACROSS THE STATE AND THE COUNTRY. 
          MY OFFICE WAS ASKED TO PRESENT CASE STUDIES AT THE NATIONAL DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S ASSOCIATION'S HOMICIDE CONFERENCE AND THE NATIONAL GANG CRIME RESOURCE CONFERENCE, SHARING OUR SUCCESSFUL PROSECUTION STRATEGIES WITH OTHER JURISDICTIONS NATIONWIDE FROM WHICH THEY CAN LEARN AND TAKE THEM BACK TO THEIR OFFICES TO IMPLEMENT. 
          FURTHER UNDER MY LEADERSHIP, SENIOR ASSISTANT STATE'S ATTORNEY STUART WELSH CONTINUES THIS YEAR TO PAVE THE WAY ON THE STANDARD FOR OVERDOSE DEATH PROSECUTION STATEWIDE SECURING THE FIRST MURDER CONVICTION IN RELATION TO AN OVERDOSE DEATH IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND AND TEACHING OTHER JURISDICTIONS ACROSS THE STATE TO DO THE SAME AS ALWAYS, OUR FY 27 BUDGET REQUESTS WERE AN ACCURATE REPRESENTATION OF THE NEEDS OF MY OFFICE. 
          AND I HAVE INCLUDED OUR FULL REQUEST IN THE PACKET PROVIDED. 
          WE REQUESTED $5,000 OF SALARY INCREASE FOR ALL ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF POSITIONS AND A 3% COST OF LIVING INCREASE FOR ALL EMPLOYEES. 
          ONE JUVENILE DIVISION LEGAL ASSISTANT AT 53,000 PLUS BENEFITS. 
          ONE DISTRICT COURT LEGAL ASSISTANT AT 53,000 PLUS BENEFITS AND ONE PRAYER FOR JURY TRIAL ASSISTANT STATE'S ATTORNEY AT 94,000 PLUS BENEFITS. 
          TO FULLY FUND ALL OF THE ABOVE REQUESTS, WE WERE REQUESTING AN ADDITIONAL $673,051 OF SALARY DOLLARS PLUS BENEFITS. 
          HOWEVER, WHEN ASKED IN THE SPIRIT OF COMPROMISE TO IDENTIFY OUR TOP TWO PRIORITIES, I NAMED THE COLA AND THE $5,000 MERIT INCREASE FOR MY SUPPORT STAFF AND AN ADDITIONAL ASSISTANT STATE'S ATTORNEY AS OUR GREATEST NEEDS. 
          ONLY ONE OF THOSE TWO REQUESTS WAS FULLY FUNDED. 
          THE ATTORNEY FOR OUR PRAYER FOR JURY TRIAL UNIT, THE COLA AND MERIT INCREASES ONLY CITED AN A SALARY INCREASE INTENDED TO MATCH THOSE AWARDED TO ALL COUNTY EMPLOYEES. 
          A COLA PLUS 2000 FOR ALL SIMPLY PUT AFTER THE ONLY ATTORNEY ONLY INCREASES AWARDED LAST YEAR, WHICH WERE IMPERATIVE TO KEEP OUR OFFICE COMPETITIVE WITH SURROUNDING COUNTIES AND COMPARABLE POSITIONS IN OTHER DEPARTMENTS. 
          IT WAS MY PRIORITY TO ADVOCATE FOR OUR SUPPORT STAFF TO BE COMPENSATED THIS FISCAL YEAR FOR THEIR SPECIFIC SKILL SETS AND THE IMPORTANT ROLE THEY PLAY IN THE SUCCESS OF PUBLIC SAFETY IN HARTFORD COUNTY BECAUSE THEY WERE EXCLUDED FROM OUR MERIT INCREASES LAST YEAR. 
          AS STATED IN PREVIOUS BUDGET PRESENTATIONS, OUR ATTORNEYS ARE ONLY ABLE TO EFFECTIVELY DO THEIR JOBS BECAUSE OF THE INCREDIBLE CONTRIBUTIONS OF OUR SPORTS STAFF. 
          MANY OF OUR PARALEGALS AND LEGAL ASSISTANCE REMAIN PAID AT MUCH LOWER SALARY POINTS THAN OTHERS IN COMPARABLE POSITIONS IN OTHER DEPARTMENTS OF OUR VERY OWN COUNTY. 
          A LEGAL SPECIALIST ONE IN THE COUNTY LAW DEPARTMENT IS LISTED OVER 84,000 WHEN SOME OF MY MOST EXPERIENCED PARALEGAL TWOS ARE COMPENSATED AT 72,000 PARALEGAL ONES IN MY OFFICE ARE SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER THAN THAT. 
          MOST MOSTLY COMPENSATED IN THE 55,000 TO $65,000 RANGE. 
          THE LANGUAGE USED IN THE PUBLIC RELEASE OF THE FY 27 BUDGET ONCE AGAIN PUTS ME IN A DIFFICULT POSITION OF TELLING MY ATTORNEYS THAT BECAUSE OUR SUPPORT STAFF INCREASE WAS NOT FULLY FUNDED, WE MUST USE THE 2000 INTENDED FOR THEM TO SUPPLEMENT THE DEFICIENCIES IN THE FUNDING AWARDED FOR THE SUPPORT STAFF DUE TO THEIR EXCLUSION LAST YEAR, OR TELL MY SUPPORT STAFF THAT THEY WILL ONCE AGAIN GET LESS THAN WE REQUESTED TO ENSURE EVERYONE RECEIVES INCREASES AS PUBLICLY INDICATED BY THE BUDGET RELEASE TO FULLY FUND THE FULL $5,000 MERIT INCREASE REQUEST FOR THE SUPPORT STAFF MEMBERS THAT WERE EXCLUDED LAST YEAR, IT WOULD REQUIRE ONLY AN ADDITIONAL $150,000 PLUS BENEFITS. 
          THAT'S 3000 TIMES 50 EMPLOYEES. 
          WITH THAT IN MIND, WHEN I INTENDED THE WORK SESSIONS LAST THURSDAY AND HEARD BUDGET PRESENTATIONS ADVISING THAT THE COUNTY FUND BALANCE HAS GROWN OVER $55 MILLION SINCE LAST YEAR AND OUR UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE IS APPROXIMATELY 7 MILLION ABOVE THE TARGETED NUMBER, IT LEAVES ME QUESTIONING HOW THE COUNTY JUSTIFIES DENYING AN ADDITIONAL $150,000 IN FUNDING FROM MY OFFICE. 
          AN IMPORTANT ARM OF OUR PUBLIC SAFETY, TAKING MONEY DIRECTLY OUT 
          [03:05:01]
OF THE POCKETS OF OUR HARDWORKING STAFF, MOST OF WHOM CALL, ALSO CALL HARTFORD COUNTY HOME. 
          THE HARTFORD COUNTY GOVERNMENT SHOULD NOT BE IN THE BUSINESS OF GROWING A FUND BALANCE BY $55 MILLION YEARLY WHILE ITS CITIZENS AND EMPLOYEES OR WITHOUT. 
          AND A PUBLIC SAFETY, A SAFETY AGENCY'S NEEDS ARE NOT MET, ESPECIALLY WHEN CONSIDERING, CONSIDERING THAT FULLY FUNDING JUST OUR TOP TWO PRIORITIES WOULD BE IN THE DROP, A DROP IN THE BUCKET. 
          CONSIDERING THOSE NUMBERS, WE ARE MAKING MODEST AND REASONABLE REQUESTS THAT WOULD HAVE ESSENTIALLY NO NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE FINANCIAL STABILITY OR THE TAXPAYERS OF HARTFORD COUNTY, BUT WILL MAKE BIG IMPACTS ON THE LIVES OF OUR EMPLOYEES, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY THE PUBLIC SAFETY OF THIS COUNTY AND THAT SHOULD MATTER. 
          IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE OTHER TWO REQUESTS THAT WERE NOT NAMED AS OUR TOP PRIORITIES ARE STILL IMPORTANT NEEDS OF MY OFFICE TO START. 
          OUR JUVENILE DIVISION CON CURRENTLY CONSISTS OF TWO EMPLOYEES, A PARALEGAL AND ONE ATTORNEY WHO ALSO HANDLES ADDITIONAL NON JUVENILE MATTERS. 
          AS OUTLINED IN OUR INITIAL REQUEST, YOU WILL SEE THAT THE NUMBER OF JUVENILE CASES PROCESSED BY OUR OFFICE HAS INCREASED NEARLY 115% SINCE 2023. 
          WITH THE CURRENT JUVENILE LEGISLATION, WHICH WILL TAKE EFFECT IN OCTOBER, THESE NUMBERS WILL ONLY CONTINUE TO DRAMATICALLY INCREASE AS MORE CASES WILL BE REQUIRED TO BE FILED IN JUVENILE COURT VERSUS ADULT COURT. 
          THAT UNIT DRASTICALLY NEEDS ADDITIONAL STAFFING. 
          ADDITIONALLY, THE REQUEST FOR A DISTRICT COURT LEGAL ASSISTANT WAS MADE TO ASSIST THE UNIT WITH THE CONSTANTLY GROWING LISTS OF TASKS ASSOCIATED WITH CASE PREPARATION AND TO SHARE THE BURDEN WITH THE ONE LEGAL ASSISTANT RESPONSIBLE FOR RUNNING NEARLY 700 CRIMINAL RECORDS EACH MONTH. 
          SO WHILE WE WERE HAPPY TO PRIORITIZE OUR NEEDS, THESE WERE NOT FRIVOLOUS REQUESTS, BUT ONES THAT ARE STILL IMPORTANT TO THE SUCCESS OF MY OFFICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY OF THIS COUNTY. 
          THESE TWO POSSESSIONS REPRESENT JUST AN ADDITIONAL $106,000 PLUS BENEFITS. 
          THUS TO HAVE FULLY FUNDED THE BUDGET REQUESTS OF THE STATE'S ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FOR THE BENEFIT OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND OUR STAFF WHO WORK TIRELESSLY TOWARD THAT GOAL, THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE WOULD'VE ONLY NEEDED TO HAVE ALLOCATED US AN ADDITIONAL 256,000 IN SALARY MONEY PLUS THE BENEFITS ON THOSE SALARIES. 
          I HOPE YOU ALL CAN UNDERSTAND MY FRUSTRATION WHEN I HEAR THAT THE FUND BALANCE IS BEYOND THE RECOMMENDED AMOUNT BY MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS WHEN FULLY FUNDING A PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCY WOULD BE SUCH A SMALL AMOUNT RELATIVE TO THAT NUMBER. 
          IT MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO BELIEVE THAT THE DECISIONS REGARDING THE BUDGET OF BY OFFICE WERE MADE WITH THE BEST INTERESTS OF HARFORD HARTFORD COUNTY IN MIND. 
          AS ALWAYS, WE EXTEND OUR SINCERE GRATITUDE TO MR. BEN LLOYD, WHO IS ALWAYS RESPONSIVE AND RESPECTFUL AS WE NAVIGATE THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS EACH YEAR. 
          HE IS AN INVALUABLE SUPPORT TO ALL THE COUNTY DEPARTMENTS. 
          WE APPRECIATE HIM ENDLESSLY. 
          I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. 
          THANK YOU, ALLISON, FOR YOUR REPORT. 
          AND IT SEEMS LIKE WE WERE IN A POSITION LIKE THIS LAST YEAR AS WELL. 
          RIGHT. 
          AND THAT'S SORT OF WHAT CAUSED THIS YEAR BECAUSE THEY, THE, THE MERIT INCREASES WERE GIVEN ONLY TO THE ATTORNEYS THIS YEAR, LAST YEAR. 
          SO I ADVOCATED FOR THE SUPPORT STAFF THIS YEAR. 
          OKAY. 
          UM, COUNSEL, MS. ROBERT? YEAH, ALLISON, UM, FOR LETTING US KNOW, I HAD A COUPLE QUESTIONS. 
          ONE WAS HOW MANY CASES ARE COMING THROUGH THE STATE'S ATTORNEY'S OFFICE LIKE YOU GUYS ARE SEEING FOR THE AMOUNT OF ATTORNEYS YOU HAVE? THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. 
          UM, SO I THINK IN A YEAR IN CIRCUIT COURT WE'RE SEEING SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 1500 AND 3000 GIVEN ON, YOU KNOW, ON ANY YEAR. 
          UM, AND THAT RANGES ONE OF THE BIG FLUCTUATIONS THERE IS PRAYER FOR JURY TRIAL CASES. 
          UM, SO SOME YEARS IT'S MORE THAN OTHERS. 
          UM, SO THAT'S THE CASE. 
          NUMBERS CAN GO ANYWHERE FROM, YOU KNOW, C 12 CR 26, WHICH IS THE YEAR AND ZERO ALL THE WAY THROUGH ANYWHERE UP TO 3000 I WOULD SAY. 
          AND I THINK WE'RE IN THE HOW MANY IN DISTRICT COURT? LIKE, LIKE 10,000 A YEAR IN DISTRICT COURT. 
          YEAH. 
          SO I'M ASSUMING YOU'RE THAT'S A LOT. 
          IT'S A LOT . 
          I'M SURE YOU'RE OVERBURDENED. 
          I KNOW YOU'VE MENTIONED, AND I WAS A LITTLE CONFUSED. 
          UM, YOU NEED ANOTHER DV ATTORNEY OR YOU'RE TRYING, I SAW THE TRANSITIONING 'CAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S MORE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASES, RIGHT? SO WE MOVED A PROSECUTOR FROM OUR PRAYER FOR JURY TRIAL UNIT INTO THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE UNIT MIDYEAR BECAUSE, UM, THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE UNIT WAS OVERWHELMED WITH THE NUMBER OF CASES THEY WERE HANDLING AND THEY'RE VICTIM HEAVY. 
          IT REQUIRES THEY'RE DEMANDING CASES COMPARED TO SOME OF THE OTHERS, LIKE A PRAYER FOR JURY TRIAL CASE. 
          SOME ARE TRAFFIC CASES, SOME ARE, YOU KNOW, THEY CAN BE LESS DEMANDING. 
          SO WE MOVED AN ATTORNEY INTO THAT UNIT AND WENT DOWN A PERSON IN THAT UNIT. 
          WE WERE THEN HAVING OUR CIRCUIT COURT FELONY ATTORNEYS COVER THE BALANCE IN THE MEANTIME, UM, UNTIL WE COULD GET HERE TO ASK TO REPLACE THAT ATTORNEY, UM, IN THAT UNIT. 
          SO ESSENTIALLY THAT UNIT HAS BEEN OPERATING A MAN DOWN, UM, SINCE WE MOVED THAT ATTORNEY, I WANNA SAY THAT HAPPENED IN FEBRUARY OF LAST YEAR. 
          OKAY. 
          AND I HEARD YOU SAY THAT IN COMPARISON FOR YOUR, 
          [03:10:02]
THE ONES THAT DID NOT GET ANY, UM, INCREASE IN FUNDING. 
          WHAT, I'M GONNA COMPARE IT IF YOU KNOW SURE. 
          BETWEEN BALTIMORE COUNTY AND CECIL COUNTY, WHAT ARE THOSE? EGS AND SO I DIDN'T LOOK AT THOSE NUMBERS. 
          I WAS MORE TALKING BETWEEN THE LAW DEPARTMENT WITHIN OUR OWN COUNTY. 
          I DIDN'T REALLY LOOK AT THE PARALEGAL NUMBERS FOR OTHER COUNTIES TO BE HONEST WITH YOU. 
          SO I I DON'T KNOW THAT ANSWER. 
          I COULD, I COULD FIND OUT, BUT, AND I'M JUST ASKING FOR RETENTION PURPOSES, MAKING SURE THAT YOU KEEP THE, THE GOOD PEOPLE THAT YOU HAVE, SO RIGHT. 
          AND SO THAT'S, THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN OUR GOAL. 
          I WOULD IMAGINE IF IT'S CONSISTENT WITH THE ATTORNEY NUMBERS THAT WE LOOKED AT, IT'S PROBABLY DISPARATE, BUT I, I COULD FIND OUT THAT ANSWER. 
          UM, BUT I WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW, I CERTAINLY THINK WITHIN OUR COUNTY AGENCIES WE SHOULD BE SEEING PARITY, UM, FOR POSITIONS THAT ARE SIMILAR IN NATURE. 
          AND I WOULD ARGUE FRANKLY, UM, AND IT'S NO, NOT TO DISPARAGE THE LAW DEPARTMENT, BUT WE HANDLE A LOT MORE CASES A YEAR, UM, THAN THEY DO. 
          SO IT'S, IT'S A HE HEAVIER AND MORE DEMANDING WORKLOAD IN MY OPINION. 
          I'LL HAVE TO CONCUR. 
          AND ONE MORE QUESTION. 
          TWO PEOPLE IN JUVENILE, HOW MANY CASES ARE WE SEEING THERE? USUALLY BETWEEN 700 AND A THOUSAND. 
          I FIGURED I WOULD BE IN THAT. 
          YEAH. 
          YEAH. 
          UM, AND, AND IT'S GONNA GO UP A LOT WITH THIS NEW LEGISLATION. 
          UM, AND NOT ONLY IS IT GONNA GO UP A LOT, IT'S GOING TO BE THE SERIOUS CASES. 
          RIGHT. 
          SO THE, WHAT THEY CHANGED IS THAT THE CASES THAT WE COULD USE, THAT WE USED BE ABLE TO CHARGE AS ADULTS, WE NOW HAVE TO CHARGE IN JUVENILE FIRST. 
          SO THAT MEANS IT'S GONNA BE A LOT MORE WORK INTENSIVE, WHICH MEANS THESE ARE THE BIGGER CASES, PHONE DOWNLOADS, MUCH MORE BODY CAM, MUCH MORE INVESTIGATION. 
          IT'S GONNA BE A LOT MORE TO PREP AND YOU KNOW, A LOT MORE VICTIMS AND WITNESSES TO DEAL WITH. 
          UM, BUT WE HAVE ONE PARALEGAL WHO IS MANAGING THAT ENTIRE CASELOAD RIGHT NOW, WHICH IS WHY WE ASKED FOR AN ADDITIONAL PERSON. 
          I WAS GONNA SAY, IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU NEED MORE AND AND TO HER CREDIT, I MEAN, WE APPRECIATE ALL THE ATTORNEY IN THAT UNIT DOES, BUT OUR PARALEGAL'S RUNNING THE SHOW  IN THAT, IN THAT DEPARTMENT. 
          SO, UM, AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS I'M, THAT'S THE CASE IN A LOT OF WAYS. 
          SO THAT'S WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO ME TO ADVOCATE FOR OUR STAFF. 
          I AGREE. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU, MR. ROBERT. 
          MR, IF I COULD JUST, JUST, JUST, JUST TO CLARIFY THE, UH, THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, THE WAGE PACKAGE, SO IN FY 26, SO THIS YEAR WE PROVIDED, UH, 341,532 TO PROVIDE THE SAME COAL AND MERIT TO ALL OF THE STATE'S ATTORNEY'S EMPLOYEES THAT ALL COUNTY EMPLOYEES RECEIVED. 
          SO THE 3% PLUS A THOUSAND, AND THEN YES, WE DID PROVIDE AN ON TOP OF THAT, AN ADDITIONAL 525,000 THAT YES, AS UM, THE STATE'S ATTORNEY SAYS THAT THE INTENTION FOR THAT WAS TO GO TO THE, THE ATTORNEYS BECAUSE WE LOOKED AT THAT AND SAID THAT YEAH, THERE'S A DISCREPANCY IN THEIR SALARIES COMPARED TO WHERE THEY PROBABLY SHOULD BE. 
          UM, AS WELL AS FOR, UM, A COUPLE ADDITIONAL ADDITIONAL EMPLOYEES. 
          SO JUST JUST TO CLARIFY THAT EVERYBODY ACROSS THE BOARD GOT THE SAME COLON MERIT THAT ALL COUNTY EMPLOYEES GOT? SHE DID. 
          SHE SAID THAT, YES. 
          YEAH, THAT'S CORRECT. 
          JUST TO CLARIFY, I WAS JUST INDICATING THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT WE ASKED FOR VERSUS CORRECT MS. MOFF. 
          SO ALONG THOSE LINES, WHEN I'M DOING THE MATH, I'M ON PAGE 544 AND THERE DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE THE 3% COLA INCREASE CALCULATED FOR A FEW POSITIONS. 
          UM, BODY WORN CAMERA TECH ACTUALLY WENT DOWN. 
          I ASSUME THAT'S DUE TO TURNOVER, BUT EVEN WITH THE 3% THAT DOESN'T SEEM RIGHT. 
          SO ON THE, ON THE STAFF CHART, UM, SO IN THE, IN THE STATE'S ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, IT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN WE, WHAT WE'VE DONE WITH OTHER, OTHER DEPARTMENTS. 
          WE DIDN'T PUT THE COLA AND MERIT IN THE INDIVIDUAL SALARIES. 
          WE, YOU'LL SEE THAT IN THE FINANCIAL NOTES AS THE, I BELIEVE THE 478,000 MM-HMM . 
          UM, TO ALLOW, UM, THE STATE'S ATTORNEY TO ADJUST, SORT OF ADJUST IT AT HER DISCRETION. 
          OKAY. 
          SO YOU'LL, THAT'S SORT OF BE LIKE THAT ONE YEAR LAG NEXT YEAR STAFF CHARTS WITH WHATEVER THE RESULT IS OF PUTTING THOSE COLA AND MERIT INTO THE INDIVIDUAL SALARIES. 
          YOU'LL SEE THAT AT THAT TIME. 
          AND THAT WAS SORT OF WHAT I WAS ADDRESSING. 
          THE WAY IT WAS RELEASED WAS BASICALLY WE'RE GIVING X AMOUNT OF DOLLARS AT MY DISCRETION, WHICH IS GREAT TO AN EXTENT, BUT IT ALSO PUTS ME IN A SITUATION AWKWARD SITUATION. 
          YEAH. 
          OKAY. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          MR. BENNETT. 
          UM, THIS MIGHT BE MORE OF A QUESTION FOR MR. MCCORD OR THE ADMINISTRATION IN DETERMINING WHAT PORTION OF, UH, THE STATE'S ATTORNEY'S REQUEST TO FUND AND NOT FUND. 
          WHAT WERE THE JUSTIFICATIONS FOR WHERE THE ADMINISTRATION LANDED? SO I THINK ON THE, UM, THE WAGE PACKAGE, THE TOTAL NUMBER, I THINK AS WE SAID IS, IS EQUIVALENT TO WHAT THE 3% IN 2000 WOULD BE FOR LOOKING AT HER ENTIRE AGENCY, UM, TO, TO KIND OF ARRIVE AT THAT ONE LUMP SUM. 
          UM, IN TERMS OF THE ADDITIONAL POSITION, UM, AS MS. HEALY SAID, YOU KNOW, WE DID HAVE A DISCUSSION AND ASKED HER TO SORT OF PRIORITIZE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, UM, THOSE, AND, AND, AND YOU KNOW, IF YOU, WE COULD GIVE YOU ONE POSITION, WHICH ONE WOULD IT BE? AND IT WAS LOOKED AT FOR THAT REASON. 
          AND I GUESS THE THOUGHT PROCESS WAS WE COULDN'T AFFORD, OR, 
          [03:15:01]
OR WAS IT THAT WE COULDN'T AFFORD TO PROVIDE THE WHOLE WAGE PACKAGE REQUESTED OR WHAT WAS THE, I MEAN LIKE, LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE, YOU KNOW, WE'VE, WE'VE GOTTA, WE'VE GOTTA PRIORITIZE AND MAKE DECISIONS AND YOU KNOW, WE, WE DON'T, WE DON'T LOOK AT THE BUDGET IN TERMS OF SILOS BREACH DEPARTMENT BECAUSE IF WE GAVE EVERYBODY THAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT THEY, WHAT THEY NEED, WE, WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TO GO AROUND. 
          SO WE HAVE TO DO SOME PRIORITIZATION. 
          WE HAVE TO WORK WITH OUR PARTNERS IN TERMS OF TALKING THROUGH ALL WHAT SHOULD, WHAT ARE YOUR, WHAT ARE YOUR PRIORITIES, WHICH, WHAT, WHAT PRIORITIES SHOULD WE PLAN FOR FOR NEXT YEAR? UM, AND TAKE A SORT OF BROAD VIEW OF WHAT'S NEEDED, YOU KNOW? 'CAUSE WE CAN'T ALWAYS DO EVERYTHING IN ONE YEAR. 
          AND, AND, AND I AND I, AND I WOULD SAY THAT WE, WE ALSO DO TRY TO AFFORD, UH, THE STATE'S ATTORNEY WITH, WITH MORE, UH, UH, LATITUDE AND FLEXIBILITY THAN WE DO WOULD SAY ANY OTHER, OTHER BUDGET. 
          SO LIKE AS THEIR POSITION TURNOVERS AND THEIR SALARY SAVINGS THAT WAY, THE ABILITY TO KIND OF REALLOCATE THEM, UM, IN THE CASE OF BEING ABLE TO LOOK AT, AT, YOU KNOW, RATHER LIKE, OKAY, EVERYBODY'S GONNA GET THE SAME RAISES, YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE LUMP SUM. 
          AND THEN, YOU KNOW, HEY, THIS ONE, THIS ONE MIGHT GET A 10%, BUT THIS ONE MIGHT GET A 5%, THIS ONE MIGHT GET HELD FLAT. 
          UM, SO WE DO TRY TO PROVIDE THAT, THAT LEVEL OF, UM, THAT LEVEL OF FLEXIBILITY. 
          AND AGAIN, LOOKING AT THIS IDEA OF, OF WHAT'S OUR ONGOING ONGOING REVENUE VERSUS WHAT'S OUR, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S OUR ONETIME WHAT'S OUR ONETIME REVENUE NOW, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT SMALLER DOLLAR AMOUNTS, SOMETIMES IT CAN BE VERY EASY TO SIT THERE AND SAY, WELL, YOU KNOW, WOULD THAT MATTER? AND YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S A, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT QUITE THE SAME CONVERSATION WE HAD WITH THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. 
          YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT $15 MILLION. 
          UM, BUT WE STILL DO TRY TO MAINTAIN THAT, THAT CONSISTENCY OF, OF THOUGHT BETWEEN ONGOING VERSUS ONE TIME. 
          UM, AND THEN I GUESS MY LAST QUESTION, THIS IS ACTUALLY FOR YOU, IS ARE WE WHERE WE NEED WITH, UH, BODY CAMERA TEXTS? UM, I'M HAPPY TO REPORT FOR THE FIRST YEAR SINCE WE'VE BEEN HERE. 
          YES. 
          UM, WE ARE DOING VERY WELL, WHICH IS WHY YOU DIDN'T SEE ME ASKING FOR ANY MORE OF THOSE. 
          UM, FIRST OF ALL, THEY ARE KILLING IT. 
          I CANNOT SING THEIR PRAISES ENOUGH. 
          UM, BUT WE HAVE REACHED A POINT WHERE WE ARE MEETING THE TIMELINES THAT WE WOULD EXPECT, UM, TO BE MET. 
          UM, AND NOW THAT WE'VE GOTTEN THE NEWEST ONES UP AND RUNNING FULLY, UM, WE ARE IN A GOOD PLACE WHEN IT COMES TO BODY CAM RIGHT NOW. 
          THAT, THAT'S REALLY GREAT NEWS. 
          SO, UM, I KNOW THAT'S BEEN A HUGE UNDERTAKING BY YOUR OFFICE OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS, AND I'M HAPPY TO HEAR IT'S NOW IN A PLACE THAT'S HEALTHY. 
          WE, WE HAD NO UNIT AS YOU KNOW, WHEN WE CAME IN AND WE ARE REALLY PROUD OF WHAT WE HAVE BUILT, UM, WITHIN THAT UNIT FOR SURE. 
          THANK YOU. 
          MM-HMM . 
          THIS SETTLES. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. 
          OF COURSE. 
          UM, DO YOU HAVE ANY UPDATES ON THE BUILDING SPACE THAT YOU GUYS WERE MAYBE GONNA MOVE INTO OR ? UM, A LITTLE ONE I GUESS. 
          OKAY. 
          SO, AS YOU KNOW, THEY, WE, THEY WERE WORKING ON THE M AND T AND 18 OFFICE STREET PROJECT. 
          UM, THE MAGISTRATES MOVED OUT OF THE SECOND FLOOR OF 18 OFFICE STREET. 
          UM, AND SO THAT PROJECT FOR US, WE'LL SAY, IS COMPLETE. 
          LIKE THE WORK IN THERE IS COMPLETE. 
          SO THE, UM, UNIT THAT WAS IN THE BASEMENT AT OLA, UM, THEIR LEASE WAS UP IN JUNE, UM, OR IS GOING TO BE UP IN JUNE. 
          SO THEY HAVE MOVED IN, THEY ACTUALLY JUST MOVED IN LIKE A WEEK AGO. 
          SO THAT UNIT HAS MOVED INTO THAT BUILDING. 
          UM, THE REMAINDER OF US ARE THOSE IN THE CIRCUIT COURT BUILDING. 
          UM, AND SO WE WILL BE MOVING INTO THOSE SPACES. 
          UM, IT IS SORT OF SQUARE PEG, ROUND HOLE AT THE MOMENT. 
          UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA MAKE IT WORK, OF COURSE. 
          UM, I STILL MAINTAIN WHAT I'VE MAINTAINED ALL ALONG THAT A BUILDING WHERE WE'RE ALL IN ONE PLACE IS THE LONG TERM GOAL HERE. 
          UM, I BELIEVE THIS YEAR WE DID ASK FOR FE FEASIBILITY STUDY. 
          I DON'T THINK THAT THAT WAS APPROVED OR GRANTED. 
          UM, BECAUSE LONG TERM WE DO NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET US ALL IN ONE PLACE. 
          IT IS VERY DIFFICULT, UM, TO HAVE ALL OF THIS, YOU KNOW, ALL THE WAY DOWN MAIN STREET, UM, AND SUPERVISED. 
          SO, UM, BUT THAT PROJECT, MY UNDERSTANDING IS GOING TO BID IN HERE IN THE NEAR FUTURE, IN THE NEXT MONTH OR SO. 
          UM, AND THERE, UM, BARCLAY INDICATED THAT SHE THOUGHT MAY BE THE BEGINNING OF NEXT YEAR, UM, SOMETIME WE WOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE THAT MOVE. 
          ALRIGHT. 
          THANK YOU. 
          MR. TIPS. 
          I'D BE JUST CURIOUS AS TO THE JUVENILE CASES. 
          HOW MANY ARE ACTUALLY HARTFORD COUNTY JUVENILES AND HOW MANY ARE COMING IN FROM ? UM, GREAT. 
          YEAH, AS EXPECTED, YOU KNOW, UM, WE HAVE, WE HAVE OUR FAIR SHARE FROM HERE, BUT WE, WE ARE SEEING A FAIR NUMBER COMING FROM OTHER JURISDICTIONS, MOSTLY THE COUNTY AND THE CITY. 
          UM, PARTICULARLY I WOULD SAY HIGH NUMBER AS IT RELATES TO CAR THEFTS. 
          UM, WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF, A LOT OF OUT OF COUNTY FOLKS, UM, YOU KNOW, COMING INTO THE COUNTY AND THEN TRANSPORTING THEM OUT. 
          UM, BUT IT'S A LITTLE OF BOTH. 
          ALRIGHT. 
          NOW, WHEN THEY ARE PROSECUTED, DO THEY HAVE TO SERVE THE TIME HERE OR BACK IN THEIR HOME COUNTIES? HOW DOES THAT WORK? SO, SERVING THE TIME AS 
          [03:20:01]
IT AS IT WERE IN JUVENILE COURT, UM, FIRST OF ALL, IT DOESN'T HAPPEN A WHOLE LOT 'CAUSE THE LEGISLATURES MADE THAT VERY DIFFICULT. 
          UM, BUT WHEN THEY DO, THEY GO TO THE JUVENILE FACILITIES. 
          WE DON'T HAVE ANY OF THOSE HERE. 
          UM, SO THEY WOULD GO TO, UM, EITHER HICKEY THERE, THERE'S A WHOLE, IF THEY'RE IN, WHEN THEY'RE IN DETENTION, AND THEN THERE'S A BUNCH OF PROGRAMS OUT THERE. 
          I, I DIDN'T THINK WE HAD ONE HERE. 
          THAT WAS THE REASON I WAS ASKING. 
          WE DON'T, THEY, THEY ARE IN OUR DETENTION CENTER. 
          IF THEY'RE CHARGED AS ADULTS, UM, THEY WOULD BE HELD HERE. 
          I UNDERSTAND, BUT, BUT NOT IN JUVENILE COURT. 
          THANK YOU. 
          MM-HMM . 
          THANK YOU MRS. ANYONE ELSE? CYNTHIA, THANK YOU FOR COMING. 
          OF COURSE. 
          UM, WE HAVE NOT SEEN THE SHERIFF'S PRESENTATION YET. 
          OH. 
          AND ME EITHER. 
          , IF HE WERE TO ASK FOR MORE BODY CAMS, WOULD YOU STILL HAVE THE CAPABILITY TO STAY WHERE YOU ARE IN PROCESSING THEM? WE, WE PROCESS THEM BY OUR CASES. 
          UM, SO REGARDLESS, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY THEY ALL HAVE TO HAVE BODY CAMS THAT'S REQUIRED. 
          EVERY DEPUTY HAS TO WEAR ONE BY, YOU KNOW, STATE MANDATE. 
          UM, BUT WE PROCESS THEM BASED ON OUR CASES. 
          SO WE GET, THEY SHARE THE VIDEOS IN OUR CASES. 
          SO THAT ONE THING DOESN'T REALLY IMPACT THE OTHER. 
          OKAY. 
          YEAH. 
          ANYONE ELSE? ALRIGHT. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          I DON'T GUESS WE CAN TELL THE JUDGE TO COME QUICK. 
          . 
          OH, DID YOU CALL HER? YEAH, THEY SHOULD BE PROBABLY ON THEIR WAY. 
          OKAY. 
          TRY AND LEAVE. 
          ALRIGHT. 
          WE, WE CAN HANG OUT UNLESS YOU WANNA GO AHEAD. 
          OKAY. 
          WE'LL HANG OUT. 
          NOW WE GET TO GO OVER MR. LLOYD'S PERSONAL BUDGET. 
          . 
          [03:31:04]
I 
          [03:31:04]
THOUGHT WE WERE AT FOUR. 
          SHE SAID THEY'RE WAITING FOR YOU. 
          I'M LIKE, I'M SORRY. 
          TAKE YOUR TIME, YOUR HONOR. 
          TAKE YOUR TIME. 
          THEY HAVE A NUMBER OF CALL CENTERS, SO I'LL JUST GO THROUGH THOSE NOW. 
          UM, JUDICIAL BEGINS ON PAGE FIVE 12. 
          THE DEPARTMENT HAS SEVEN DIVISIONS ALL IN THE GENERAL FUND. 
          THE TOTAL BUDGET OF 5,816,529 IS AN INCREASE OF 425,660 OR 7.3%. 
          THE CIRCUIT COURT DIVISION BEGINS ON PAGE FIVE 18. 
          THE BUDGET OF 2,782,847 IS AN INCREASE OF 153,000. 
          UH, 492 PERSONAL SERVICES INCREASES 155,492 AS A RESULT OF SALARY ADJUSTMENTS AT A DECREASE OF 117 TURNOVER, SAVINGS OF 2,402, THE COLA AND MERIT TOTALING 107,225. 
          PENSIONS INCREASE IS 15,564. 
          WORKERS' COMP DECREASES 1,127. 
          HEALTH BENEFITS INCREASE 28,000. 
          OPE DECREASES 7,647. 
          RETIREMENT HEALTH SAVINGS INCREASES 16,099 AND FICA DECREASES 193. 
          THERE'S NO CHANGE IN CONTRACTUAL SERVICES, SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS DECREASES 2000 FOR MAILING. 
          THERE'S NO CHANGE IN BUSINESS AND TRAVEL OR MISCELLANEOUS. 
          NEXT IS JURY SERVICES, WHICH BEGINS ON PAGE 5 22. 
          THERE'S NO CHANGE IN THE DIVISION BUDGET OF 345,000, WHICH PROVIDES FUNDING FOR JURORS, JURORS FEES AND RELATED EXPENSES. 
          GRAND JURY BEGINS ON PAGE 5 24. 
          THERE'S NO CHANGE IN THE BUDGET OF 17,000, WHICH PROVIDES FOR GRAND JUROR'S FEES. 
          NEXT IS THE JURY COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE, WHICH BEGINS ON PAGE 5 26. 
          THE BUDGET OF 490 1004 71 IS AN INCREASE OF 13,567. 
          PERSONAL SERVICES INCREASES 3,567 AS A RESULT OF TURNOVER. 
          SAVINGS OF 22,524 PARTIALLY OFFSET BY SALARY. 
          ADJUSTMENTS OF 5,955 COLA AND MERIT TOTALING 19,333. 
          PENSIONS INCREASE IS 468 WORKERS' COMP DECREASES 164. 
          HEALTH BENEFITS INCREASE 5,600  DECREASES 4,870. 
          RETIREMENT HEALTH SAVINGS INCREASES. 
          1037 FICA DECREASES, UH, 1,268. 
          THERE'S NO CHANGE IN CONTRACTUAL SERVICES. 
          SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS INCREASES 10,000 FOR MAILING. 
          AND THERE'S NO CHANGE IN BUSINESS AND TRAVEL. 
          THE MAGISTRATE'S OFFICE BEGINS ON PAGE 5 29. 
          THE BUDGET OF 656,138 IS AN INCREASE OF 172,729. 
          PERSONAL SERVICES INCREASES 147,775. 
          THAT'S THE, THE RESULT OF SALARY ADJUSTMENT OF 784 COLA AND MERIT, TOTALING 20,159. 
          THERE WAS ONE NEW FAMILY LAW ATTORNEY POSITION CREATED AT A COST OF 124,145. 
          PENSIONS INCREASED. 
          2009 48 WORKERS' COMP DECREASES 196. 
          HEALTH BENEFITS INCREASED 5,600 AND RETIREMENT HEALTH SAVINGS DECREASES 5,725. 
          THERE'S NO CHANGE IN SUPPLIES AND MATERIAL MATERIALS OR BUSINESS AND TRAVEL AND MISCELLANEOUS INCREASES 24,000 9 54 FOR GRANT FUNDED EMPLOYEE RRHS CONTRIBUTIONS. 
          NEXT IS COMMUNITY WORK SERVICE, WHICH BEGINS ON PAGE 5 33. 
          THE BUDGET OF 568,028 IS AN INCREASE OF 58,035. 
          PERSONAL SERVICES INCREASES 58,035. 
          [03:35:01]
THAT'S THE RESULT OF TURNOVER. 
          SAVINGS OF 5,992 COLA AND MERIT, TOTALING 24,133. 
          TEMPORARY SALARIES INCREASE, 5,000 PENSIONS INCREASED. 
          2001 13 WORKERS' COMP DECREASES. 
          230 HEALTH BENEFITS INCREASE 28,400. 
          OPE INCREASES 2009 51 AND RETIREMENT HEALTH SAVINGS INCREASES 1,556. 
          AND THERE'S NO CHANGE IN CONTRACTUAL SERVICES OR SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS. 
          AND FINALLY, UH, FAMILY COURT SERVICES BEGINS ON PAGE 5 36. 
          THE BUDGET OF 954,745 IS AN INCREASE OF 27,837. 
          PERSONAL SERVICES INCREASE 52,837. 
          THAT'S THE RESULT OF SALARY ADJUSTMENTS OF $40 COLA AND MERIT TOTALING 30,108. 
          PENSIONS INCREASE 4,903 WORKERS' COMP DECREASES 342 HEALTH BENEFITS INCREASE 7,000. 
          OP E INCREASES 1002 50 AND RETIREMENT HEALTH SAVINGS INCREASES 9,875. 
          CONTRACTUAL SERVICES DECREASED 25,000 FOR OTHER PROFESSIONAL SERVICES. 
          AND THERE'S NO CHANGE IN SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS FOR BUSINESS AND TRAVEL. 
          AND WITH THAT, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO JUDGE KURTZ. 
          ALL RIGHT. 
          GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. 
          UM, HAPPY TO BE HERE. 
          UM, OUR ASK TO SKI WAS NOT VERY BIG. 
          UM, IT WAS REALLY JUST ONE POSITION THAT TAKES UP THE BULK, BULK OF OUR INCREASE. 
          UM, AND THAT'S FOR A FAMILY LAW ATTORNEY. 
          WE HAVE, UM, A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF FAMILY LAW CASES. 
          A BULK OF THOSE CASES ARE CUSTODY CASES, UH, THAT WE PROVIDE SERVICES FOR. 
          UM, WHEN THEY'RE FILED THROUGH THE CLERK'S OFFICE, THEN THEY COME OVER TO OUR SIDE TO THE COURTHOUSE AND WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT DO WE DO WITH THEM. 
          AND THERE ARE SO MANY OF THEM THAT WE'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO BEST TRIAGE. 
          UM, MANY JURISDICTIONS HAVE A FAMILY LAW ATTORNEY THAT ASSISTS THEM IN REVIEWING THESE FILES, FIGURING OUT WHAT SERVICES WE CAN GET IN EARLY ON, UM, HOW BEST TO SHEPHERD, WHAT'S GONNA BE SOMETHING THAT'S GONNA BE ON A SHORTER TRACK THAN SOMETHING THAT'S GONNA BE ON A LONGER TRACK THAT'S GONNA INVOLVE MORE, UM, ENHANCED SERVICES BY THE COURT. 
          UM, SO THAT'S REALLY THE ONLY, UH, REQUEST THAT WE MADE THIS YEAR. 
          AND I WAS, UH, HAPPY TO SEE THAT THE, UH, COUNTY EXEC DID APPROVE IT IF FOR OUR BUDGET REQUESTS. 
          UM, SO THAT IS ALL THAT I'M ASKING FOR. 
          VERY GOOD. 
          VERY GOOD. 
          UM, THANKS FOR COMING THIS AFTERNOON. 
          UH, MR. . 
          GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE. 
          HOW ARE YOU? I'M GOOD. 
          I KNOW LAST YEAR WE, WE TALKED ABOUT, UM, I THINK THE MAGISTRATES AND SECURITY AND I DON'T SEE THAT ADDRESSED. 
          SO NO, IT HASN'T, IT HASN'T BEEN ADDRESSED. 
          UM, I DO BELIEVE OUR SECURITY STAFF TRIES TO ADDRESS IT THE BEST IT CAN WITH THE MANPOWER THAT THEY HAVE. 
          AND I'M VERY APPRECIATIVE FOR THOSE EFFORTS. 
          BUT WE STILL DO NOT HAVE A DEDICATED, UM, SECURITY OFFICER OVER WHERE THE MAGISTRATES ARE. 
          SO THEY ARE OFTEN STILL HAVING HEARINGS WITHOUT, UM, A SECURITY OFFICER PRESENT. 
          UM, TO THE EXTENT THAT WE CAN BRING THEM OVER TO THE COURTHOUSE IN THE MORE MORE CONTESTED TYPE CASES. 
          WE, UM, HAVE DONE THAT, BUT WE JUST DON'T HAVE THE FACILITIES TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT FOR EVERY SINGLE CASE. 
          I WILL SHARE WITH YOU THAT, UM, THE LEGISLATURE DID PASS, UM, BILL 5 44, UM, THAT BILL PROVIDES FOR, UH, MINIMUM SECURITY OFFICERS. 
          THE WAY THEY'VE WORDED IT IS BEST EFFORTS TO HAVE A, UM, SECURITY OFFICER PRESENT IN 20, STARTING IN JULY 1ST, 2027 IN EACH COURTROOM WHERE THERE IS A CRIMINAL FAMILY OR JUVENILE MATTER. 
          AND THEN IN 2029 BEST EFFORTS IN EVERY SINGLE KIND OF COURT PROCEEDING. 
          AND MY UNDERSTANDING WITHIN THE 2027 BUDGET FOR THE STATE, THEY HAVE PROVIDED FOR $5.6 MILLION TO BE ISSUED AS GRANTS TO LOCAL JURISDICTIONS TO HELP WITH THAT FUNDING. 
          SO I AM HOPEFUL THAT PERHAPS IF WE CAN APPLY FOR THAT, THAT WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE OUR MAGISTRATES, UH, WITH FULL SECURITY. 
          OKAY. 
          MR. MOFF. 
          MS. , SO I FULLY UNDERSTAND THE TERM BEST EFFORTS IS A VERY UNSTEADY TERM. 
           YES, IT IS. 
          UM, , BUT EVEN IF THE STATE PROVIDES GRANTS AND WE'RE NOT ONE OF THE COUNTIES THAT IS SELECTED, WE STILL NEED THE FUNDS TO BE ABLE TO ENSURE SAFETY OF OUR MAGISTRATES. 
          WE DO. 
          I DON'T HAVE THOSE FUNDS. 
          NO. 
          AND I DON'T HAVE THE 
          [03:40:01]
CONTROL OVER THAT. 
          UM, THERE ARE OTHERS WHO HAVE THAT CONTROL. 
          UM, WE ARE AT A LOSS AND WE CONTINUE TO BE AT A LOSS. 
          AND EVEN 2027, 2029 FEEL LIKE VERY FAR AWAY SOMETIMES COMPARED UNDERSTANDING THAT NATIONALLY AND EVEN STATEWIDE, WERE HAVING MAGISTRATES AND JUDGES BEING TARGETED ON A YEARLY BASIS. 
          UM, DID YOU ASK FOR SECURITY FUNDS? I DON'T ASK FOR SECURITY FUNDS BECAUSE THE COURT DOESN'T GET SECURITY FUNDS. 
          IT HAS TO GO THROUGH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE BECAUSE THEY'RE THE, UM, PROVIDERS FOR US. 
          OKAY. 
          YES. 
          UM, AND THEN THIS IS FOR OUR BUDGET CREW ON PAGE 537, WHAT PROMPTED US GIVING THEM A $40 SALARY INCREASE? , IT, IT WAS PROBABLY JUST, UM, UM, EITHER A ROUNDING THING OR JUST, UM, THE MANNER IN WHICH YES. 
          UM, SO I KNOW THAT WE DID A, UM, A TRANSITION FROM IN OUR, UM, PAYROLL, PAYROLL SYSTEM, UH, TO WORKDAY MM-HMM . 
          AND I THINK IN SOME CASES THE WAY IT CALCULATED SALARIES BASED ON THE PER HOUR. 
          PER HOUR OKAY. 
          MAY HAVE GONE OUT TO A DIFFERENT DECIMAL PLACE. 
          AND WHEN YOU SPREAD THAT OUT OVER AN ENTIRE YEAR, IT WAS $40. 
          YEAH. 
          IT, SOMETHING LIKE THAT. 
          IT JUST SEEMED LIKE A REALLY FUNNY NUMBER. 
          THANK YOU. 
          APPRECIATE IT MS. ROBERT. 
          THANK YOU. 
          UM, AND JUDGE, I'M GLAD YOU GOT YOUR, UH, ATTORNEY, FAMILY LAW ATTORNEY BECAUSE FROM BEING IN THE COURTS, I USED TO OVERSEE THE CLINIC, UM, AND KNEW WE HAD TO HAVE ATTORNEYS BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT 80% OF THE PEOPLE THAT COME INTO COURT ARE SELF-REPRESENTED. 
          AND SO YOU WANT SOMEONE TO BE ABLE TO ASSIST THEM WHILE NOT GIVING LEGAL ADVICE TO YOURSELF. 
          UM, AND SO I'M GLAD YOU GOT THAT WITH THE SECURITY. 
          UM, HAVE YOU, I KNOW WE HAD, UM, A HODGEPODGE HAVE BAILIFFS, LIKE WE HAD RETIRED LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT WEREN'T PAID BY THE SHERIFFS, BUT WERE PAID BY THE COUNTY. 
          AND THEN WE HAD, UM, SHERIFFS TOO. 
          SO WE HAD LIKE A MIXTURE AND THE BAILIFFS CARRIED LIKE TASERS AND, UH, BUT THEY DIDN'T CARRY GUNS. 
          MM-HMM. 
          UM, HAVE YOU GUYS NO. 
          WE, UM, MANY, MANY YEARS AGO WHEN I FIRST CAME TO HARTFORD COUNTY, UM, IN THE NINETIES, UM, WE HAD INDIVIDUALS LIKE THAT WHO COVERED, UM, THE, THE CIRCUIT COURTS. 
          UM, BUT THE SHERIFF IS RESPONSIBLE, UM, FOR QUITE SOME TIME NOW PROVIDING SECURITY. 
          AND AT THE COURTHOUSE, HE PROVIDES THAT SECURITY FOR US. 
          OKAY. 
          JUST DIDN'T KNOW IF THERE WAS A WORK ROOM TO ENSURE THAT YOU HAD GOT SOMEBODY THERE TO BE ABLE TO ASSIST. 
          NO . 
          SO IT'S A CONVERSATION WE HAD WITH THE SHERIFF. 
          IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE IT'S AN ONGOING CONVERSATION, UH, TO TRY TO FIND RESOURCES AND MANPOWER TO DO THAT. 
          YEAH. 
          AND I THINK THIS IS WHAT, UM, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THE LANGUAGE BEST EFFORTS, IT'S A CHALLENGING ONE FOR EVERYONE, BUT I THINK THAT EVERY SINGLE JURISDICTION OPERATES DIFFERENTLY AND THE FUNDINGS THAT THEY HAVE ARE DIFFERENT. 
          SO THAT TO MANDATE AND SAY YOU HAVE TO HAVE IT, YOU HAVE TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION, WELL, WHAT ARE THEIR FUNDING NEEDS? DO THEY HAVE ENOUGH FUNDING FOR IT? MM-HMM . 
          AND I BELIEVE THAT'S WHY THIS BEST EFFORTS WORDS WAS USED. 
          OKAY. 
          WE ARE, I HAVE TO SAY, COMPARED TO SOME OTHER JURISDICTIONS THAT HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO SECURITY DURING PROCEEDINGS, WE ARE ONE OF THE BETTER ONES. 
          UM, BECAUSE WE ALWAYS HAVE SECURITY AT THE COURTHOUSE IN EVERY SINGLE PROCEEDINGS, NOT JUST LIMITED TO THE THREE THAT THEY'VE, UH, CLASSIFIED FOR 2027. 
          WE JUST DON'T HAVE IT FOR THE MAGISTRATES WHO ARE IN A DIFFERENT BUILDING. 
          AND THAT'S JUST THE NATURE OF OUR COURTHOUSE BECAUSE WE'RE, WE CAN'T DO IT ALL AT THE COURTHOUSE. 
          YEAH. 
          YEAH. 
          AND WE SHARE 'EM ALL. 
          WE HAVE MR. SEVERN WITH US THIS AFTERNOON, UM, AND THEY TRANSFER FROM BUILDING TO BUILDING, UH, ACROSS THE STREET AND UP TO THE COURTHOUSE AS WELL. 
          SO, AND WE APPRECIATE THE SERVICE THEY PROVIDE FOR US. 
          UM, ANYONE ELSE? CITIZENS, YOUR HONOR, YOU'RE GONNA GET OFF EASY. 
          . 
          WELL, I APPRECIATE THAT, . 
          THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
          ALL RIGHT. 
          THANK YOU. 
          UM, THIS CONCLUDES IT, RIGHT? YEP. 
          YES. 
          ALL RIGHT. 
          VERY GOOD. 
          THEN WE WILL, UH, RECONVENE ON THURSDAY.
* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.