[00:00:01]
>> MARIT YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE US OFF [OVERLAPPING].
>> THAT WAS FOR YOU BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE YELLOW.
>> I'M EXCITED TO TALK TO YOU ALL ABOUT OUR BUDGET THIS EVENING.
SO BEFORE WE GET STARTED, I DID WANT TO LET YOU KNOW.
AT YOUR STATIONS, NORMALLY AT THIS MEETING, THERE WERE PAGES FOR YOU TO SWAP OUT IN YOUR BOOK.
BUT SO FAR, WE'RE FINDING JUST MINOR CORRECTIONS NUMBERS HAVEN'T CHANGED SINCE WE HAD THE DIGEST COME IN BEFORE WE PUBLISHED SO YOU'LL GET ALL THE CORRECTIONS, ANYTHING SUBSTANTIAL WHEN YOU GET YOUR ADOPTED COPY IN JULY.
SO THAT'S WHY YOU DON'T HAVE ANY PAGES FOR SWAPPING OUT? YES, SIR. [OVERLAPPING] BUT YES, WE WANT YOUR TYPOS, CORRECTIONS AND [OVERLAPPING].
>> WE HAVE A SEPARATE SESSION ON THE COMMUNITY SURVEY [OVERLAPPING].
>> THAT WE DID LAST YEAR. WE WILL NOT AGAIN [OVERLAPPING].
>> IT'S SAME RESULTS OF LAST YEAR.
WE WILL DO A CITIZEN SURVEY AGAIN THIS UPCOMING IN 2026.
THOSE ARE JUST THERE FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES.
AS YOU KNOW, FOR ANYBODY THAT IS STREAMING THAT I CAN'T TELL THAT DOESN'T KNOW THAT WE HAVE A STRATEGIC PLAN, WE HAVE A STRATEGIC PLAN, AND THAT IS WHAT WE BASE OUR BUDGET ON.
THIS STRATEGIC PLAN, I'LL READ OUR VISION HERE, DECATUR WILL FOSTER AN EQUITABLE, THRIVING AND WELCOMING COMMUNITY FOR ALL TODAY AND IN THE FUTURE.
I BELIEVE AS WE GO THIS EVENING, THAT WHAT THE BUDGET THAT'S BEFORE YOU IS ENCOMPASSED IN THIS VISION STATEMENT.
THE STRATEGIC PLAN HAS SIX THEMES IN IT.
AND ALL OF THESE THEMES ARE INTERWOVEN TOGETHER, THAT EQUITY AND RACIAL JUSTICE, CLIMATE ACTION, CIVIC TRUST, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, MOBILITY, AND ECONOMIC GROWTH.
AND THERE ARE IN YOUR BUDGET NARRATIVE, A SECTION FOR EACH OF THOSE THEMES THAT TALK ABOUT THE PROJECTS AND PROCESSES WE'RE GOING THROUGH NOW AND NEXT YEAR TO LET YOU KNOW.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER DUSENBERY FOR LETTING ME KNOW THAT TOTALS AND THE FINANCIAL IMPACT THEY WERE NOT MATHING, AND THE FORMULA ON MY SIDE WAS INCORRECT.
THAT WILL BE UPDATED WHEN YOU GET YOUR NEW COPY. THANK YOU FOR THAT.
AS I SAID BEFORE, WE DO SOMETHING CALLED THE VISION-BASED BUDGETING PROCESS, WHERE WE TAKE OUR STRATEGIC PLAN, AND WE MARRY IT TO OUR BUDGET IF IT'S NOT AN ITEM IN THE PLAN OR WE CAN'T FIGURE OUT HOW TO PUT IT IN THE PLAN, IT DOESN'T GET FUNDED IN THE BUDGET.
WE TAKE THOSE STRATEGIC PLAN THEMES.
ANDREW AND I CREATED THIS PROCESS WITH THE HELP OF OUR COLLEAGUES HERE OVER THE LAST 15 OR SO YEARS.
IT'S NOT JUST THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE PUTTING THIS BUDGET TOGETHER. IT'S INCLUSIVE.
THERE ARE STAFF AT ALL LEVELS PARTICIPATING ON THE DEPARTMENT SIDE AS WELL AS THE NARRATIVE WRITING SIDE.
THERE'S COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT.
WE BROUGHT BACK THE BUDGET AND BOOK.
WE USED TO BE CALLED BEVERAGES AND BUDGET.
NOW IT'S A BOOK CLUB OR BEER AND BUDGET.
NOW IT'S JUST WHATEVER YOUR BEVERAGE OF CHOICE IS.
AS WELL AS A FEW THINGS, I'LL GET INTO IN THE NEXT SLIDE, BUT I DID WANT TO LET YOU ALL KNOW, THE COMMUNITY KNOW THAT THE BUDGET ADOPTION QUESTION THAT WE TYPICALLY PUT OUT ON POL CO OR OPEN CITY HALL IS NOW AVAILABLE.
SO YOU CAN FIND THAT ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE.
IF YOU WERE REGISTERED IN OUR POL CO SYSTEM ALREADY, YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED AN EMAIL YESTERDAY WITH A LINK TO THE QUESTION.
WE'VE HAD 17 FOLKS RESPOND SO FAR, AND I'D SAY 12 OF THEM SAID YES OR YES, IF THIS.
BUDGET IS ALSO QUALITATIVE, QUANTITATIVE BETWEEN NARRATIVES AND PHOTOS AND METRICS, AND IT'S CREATIVE WITH THE USE OF OUR ART AND SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS WE HAVE IN THERE.
OUR BUDGET GALAXY THING, WHERE'S YOUR SHIRT? RECENTLY TOOK OUR TRELLISES THIS YEAR AND TURN THEM INTO THE BUDGET GALAXY.
WE PLACED THESE TRELLISES IN HARMONY PARK, GLEN LAKE PARK, AND ON THE SQUARE FROM FEBRUARY 28 TO MARCH 15, SO FOLKS COULD PASSIVELY LEAVE US THEIR REMARKS ON WHAT THEY'D LIKE TO SEE INCLUDED IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET.
THAT'S JUST A SAMPLING OF THE THIS IS REALLY SMALL, BUT HERE ARE ALL THE COMMENTS WE RECEIVED.
SOME OF THOSE SUCH AS MIDWAY DOWN THERE THAT SAYS FIX MCCOY POOL.
[00:05:01]
WE CAN SAY, WE ARE WORKING ON IT.>> WE'RE WORKING ON IT. THEN [OVERLAPPING].
ONE OF MY FAVORITE EVENTS OF THE YEAR IS THE TOUCH A BUDGET TOUCH A TRUCK EVENT WHERE WE ONCE AGAIN COMBINED EFFORTS WITH PARKS AND REX TUCH TRUCK EVENT.
IT WAS A CLOUDY DAY, BUT PERFECT TO BE OUTSIDE.
WE ALSO DID A BUDGET GALAXY ACTIVITY FOR OUR YOUNG RESIDENTS THAT WERE THERE AND THE TOP THREE RESPONSES WE RECEIVED WERE FOR LESS TRASH, WHICH HOPEFULLY OUR YOUNG PEOPLE WILL HELP US WITH MORE TREES AND MORE PLAYGROUNDS.
THEN SOMEONE ALSO SAID THEY DID WANT MORE CANDY AND SOME MORE DUCKS.
I WILL NOW TURN IT OVER TO THE CITY MANAGER TO TAKE IT FROM FROM.
>> WE CAN GET CANDY DUCKS. COMPROMISE. [OVERLAPPING]
>> TALKING ABOUT THE LITTLE CLASS [INAUDIBLE].
>> CANDY WERE PEOPLE PICKING UP THEIR OWN [INAUDIBLE].
[LAUGHTER] [BACKGROUND] [OVERLAPPING] I LOVE THIS.
THIS IS GOING TO GET LOTS OF AIRTIME.
[INAUDIBLE] TALKED ABOUT THE MORE RECENT COMMUNITY INPUT, AND OF COURSE, THE STRATEGIC PLAN IN ADDITION TO THAT.
WE ALSO HEARD YOUR PRIORITIES DURING THE 2025 CITY COMMISSION RETREAT.
YOU SEE THE LISTED HERE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BEAUTIFICATION, CHARTER REVIEW COMMUNICATIONS.
COMMUNITY HEALTH AND FOR SAFETY AND HEALTH, DOWNTOWN EXPERIENCE, SESSION PLANNING, ALL OF THOSE WERE DISCUSSED.
HERE ALSO, IF YOU'LL SEE THESE DISCUSSED OR ADDRESSED IN THE PROPOSED SUBJECT. LET'S JUMP RIGHT IN.
>> WE LOOK LIKE WE'RE READY IN THAT [LAUGHTER].
>> WELL, ONE OF US DOESN'T LOOK READY. [LAUGHTER]
>> A LOVELY PHOTO OF WORDS AND NUMBERS.
QUICKLY, THE HIGHLIGHTS, THE REVISED BUDGET IS BASICALLY THE SAME AS THE ADOPTED BUDGET FOR '24, '25, AND SOME YEARS IT'S GONE UP SLIGHTLY.
I WOULD SAY MOST YEARS, THAT NUMBER GOES DOWN SLIGHTLY.
IN THIS CASE, WE DID SEE THE SALARY LINE ITEM DECREASED IN THE REVISED BUDGET, BUT THE OTHER LINE ITEM, AREAS, TELEPHONE COSTS, SOME OTHER UTILITIES, INSURANCE, ELECTRICITY, ATTORNEY FEES.
ALSO, THE FEES THAT WE PAID FOR BUILDING INSPECTION SERVICES, SAFE BUILT SERVICES, SINCE THOSE REVENUES WENT UP AND OUR PAYMENT TO THEM UP.
BUT AGAIN, ULTIMATELY, IT ENDED UP BEING PRETTY FLAT.
THE PROPOSED BUDGET, THAT IS JUST UNDER 5% GREATER THAN THE REVISED BUDGET, THAT'S ALSO BEING RECOMMENDED.
HOW DOES THAT COMPARE TREND-WISE OVER I KNOW, LIKE DURING COVID, WE HAD PRETTY SIGNIFICANT STAYED FLAT OR ACTUALLY EVEN [OVERLAPPING].
>> DO YOU WANT TO FILL THAT UP WHILE I FINISH UP THE HIGHLIGHTS? THAT SHOULD BE UNDER THE [OVERLAPPING].
>> I THINK I KNOW THAT I SAW IT, BUT [OVERLAPPING].
>> THIS IS ONE OF THE SMALLER INCREASES IN YEARS PAST IN RECENT YEARS.
>> THIS MAYBE HERE ON PAGE 42.
>> I LOOK AT THE PERCENTAGE INCREASES.
FINISH THE HIGHLIGHTS PAGE, AND THEN SEE IF WE CAN PULL THAT OUT.
THE DIGEST DID COME IN JUST BELOW 8%.
HOWEVER, WHEN YOU CALCULATE THE TAX REVENUE THAT WE BUDGETED, THAT INCREASE IN TAX REVENUE IS CLOSER TO 6%.
MEANING WE'RE NOT TAKING THE FULL 7.89% DIGEST INCREASE TO THE BANK.
YOU'LL SEE WHY WE DIVE INTO THAT DIGEST.
IN ADDITION TO JUST BEING CONSERVATIVE, THE TENTATIVE MILEAGE RATE THAT THIS BODY HAS ADOPTED HAS NOT CHANGED.
WE'RE NOT RECOMMENDING TO CHANGE THE BOTTOM LINE OF THE MILEAGE RATE.
WE HAVE BUILT A BUDGET THAT ANTICIPATES THE USE OF
[00:10:02]
JUST OVER 1.5 MILLION DOLLAR IN FUND BALANCE AND THAT KEEPS US VERY COMFORTABLY WITHIN OUR FINANCIAL POLICY GUIDELINES, AND WE'LL GO A LITTLE BIT DEEPER AND THERE IS QUITE A HALF PERCENT MERIT BASED SALARY INCREASE IN THIS BUDGET FOR FULL TIME EMPLOYEES, AND THAT WOULD BE EFFECTIVE JULY.>> I HAVE THE TAB, BUT THE PERCENTAGE CALCULATIONS ARE ONLY FOR THE CURRENT HAVE TO GO TO AN OLDER VERSION OF THE BUDGET, BUT WE WILL [INAUDIBLE].
>> I DON'T KNOW THAT IT SHOWS THE PERCENT PERCENT IN THAT.
>> I THINK IT WAS ON PAGE 42 OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
I DO THINK, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT CURVE, THERE'S THAT, PRETTY SIGNIFICANT INCREASE FROM 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, AND SO YOU CAN SEE JUST FROM IT LEVELING OFF THIS JUST UNDER 5% INCREASE IN THE BUDGET OF THE $2,000,000, AND THE A MODEST INCREASE, ESPECIALLY COMPARED TO THE LAST FIVE YEARS.
>> I THINK '23, '24 IS WHEN WE DID THE SALARY SALARY THE SALARY INCREASES.
I THINK BECAUSE IF YOU JUST LOOK AT THAT, IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S THERE'S A BIG BUMP IN THAT PARTICULAR FISCAL YEAR FROM 32 TO CLOSE TO 41, 42.
THAT WAS THE BACKGROUND FOR THAT.
WHEN PEOPLE SEE THAT, THEY MAY WONDER WHAT HAPPENED.
>> A SUMMARY BEFORE I GET INTO THIS HIGHLIGHTS TAB, THIS BUDGET OR ADVANCES THE COMMUNITIES PRIORITIES, THE CITY COMMISSION PRIORITIES WHILE WORKING WITHIN OUR FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS.
I BELIEVE I SAID THIS EARLIER TO COMMISSIONER MEYER.
I WOULD CHARACTERIZE THIS BUDGET AS RESPONSIBLY AMBITIOUS.
IT'S CONTINUING TO MAKE PROGRESS ON OUR AMBITIOUS GOALS, BUT WE'RE DOING IT IN A WAY THAT IS BEEN WITHIN OUR MEANS.
YOU SEE THAT WITH THAT LESS THAN 5% INCREASE ALSO.
THAT'S JUST A [INAUDIBLE] BUDGET.
MORE HIGHLIGHTS, STAFF RELATED COST, SALARIES AND BENEFITS, 57% OF THE BUDGET, THAT'S BEEN STANDARD FOR YEARS, FOR CONSISTENT.
THE CONTRIBUTION TO THE RETIREMENT SYSTEM THAT REMAINS AT 9.5% OF PAYROLL IS YOU WONDER WHAT THAT NUMBER IS.
THERE ARE SOME REALLY MINOR ENHANCEMENTS TO THE HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN.
WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT LATER THIS EVENING AND THEN JUST A REMINDER OF OUR VARIOUS PLANS, EQUITY ACTION PLAN, DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN, PARKS AND RECREATION PLAN, CLEAN ENERGY, AND THE TWO [INAUDIBLE] THAT WE ARE WORKING TO ADVANCE GOALS FROM ALL OF THE PLANS.
LET'S TALK ABOUT THE REVENUES.
AS I STATED EARLIER, THE TAX DIGEST INCREASED JUST SHY OF 8%, AND TOTAL INCREASE IN THE DIGEST.
THAT'S $254 MILLION OF THAT INCREASE 24% OR 61 MILLION OR ALMOST 62 MILLION NEW VALUE.
76% IS REVALUATION. WHAT DOES THAT TELL US? WE'RE GOING TO BE APPEALS.
THAT'S REALLY REASON NUMBER 1 AND PROBABLY REASON NUMBER 2 NOT TO TAKE THE FULL AMOUNT OF THAT INCREASE INTO THE BUDGET.
REAL ESTATE DIGEST IS 98% OF THE TOTAL TAXABLE DIGEST OF THE OTHER PERSONAL PROPERTY, MOTOR VEHICLE [INAUDIBLE] CALLED A TRUTH IN TAX OR TAXPAYER BILL OF RIGHTS THAT ADVERTISING HAS ALREADY STARTED TAKING PLACE.
WE ARE ADVERTISING A TAX INCREASE JUST ABOUT 7.8%.
THE ROLLBACK RATE OF ROLLBACK MILLAGE, SO THAT WE WOULD RECEIVE NO REVENUE ATTRIBUTED TO REVALUATION.
[00:15:02]
THAT WOULD BE 10.344 MILLS.INSTEAD, THE TENTATIVE MILLAGE RATE OF 11.15 MILLS GREATER THAN THE ROLLBACK RATE REQUIRING US TO.
>> ANDREA, JUST FOR TRANSPARENCY, COULD YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF WE DECIDED TO GO WITH THE ROLLBACK RATE INSTEAD OF THE ADOPTED RATE? THE IMPACT TO THE BUDGET.
>> I DON'T KNOW RIGHT OFF HAND WHAT THAT DOLLAR AMOUNT WOULD BE.
>> THERE WE GO. ONE MILL IS $3.5 MILLION AND SO 0.8 MILL WOULD BE I GUESS THREE MILLION.
I'M DOING THAT. ONE MILL IS 3.5.
BUT THE ROLLBACK RATE WE WOULD REDUCE THE MILLAGE RATE BY 0.8 SO 80% OF 3.5.
JUST UNDER THREE MILLION. I'M SORRY.
JUST UNDER $3,000,000, WE WOULD NEED TO FIND, AND THAT WOULD BE AS A STAFF, WE WOULD REGROUP, AND WE WOULD HAVE TO MAKE, TALKING ABOUT $3 MILLION.
THE ONLY PLACE THAT WE'RE FINDING $3,000,000 IS FINE ITEM.
THERE WOULD BE A NUMBER OF POSITIONS THAT WOULD NOT BE THAT WOULD REMAIN VACANT, I GUESS PORT STREAM; THERE ARE POSITIONS THAT WE NEED TO.
AGAIN, WE WOULD SIT DOWN AS A GROUP, FIGURE OUT HOW DO WE BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN THE LEVEL OF SERVICE I WOULD DO LESS.
>> OBSERVATION. THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET OVERALL, INCREASED BY 2.1.
IT SEEMS THAT IF WE DID THE ROLLBACK, IT ACTUALLY WOULD DECREASE MONEY THIS YEAR.
>> THIS IS WHY WE'RE NOT RECOMMENDING.
I MEAN, I APPRECIATE YOU ASKING THAT, BECAUSE ME DURING IN-HOUSE 581 DISCUSSIONS AND HEARINGS, I MEAN HEARD, A NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY.
PEOPLE WITH TWO ADULTS WORKING FULL TIME, EXPRESSING YOUR DIFFICULTY IN TAXES FOR THE CITY OF D. WE'VE TRIED TO DEVELOP A BUNCH OF THAT ONE, RECOGNIZES THAT TAXES CAN PRESENT A HARDSHIP TO A WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY.
ON THE OTHER HAND, ALSO TRYING TO DELIVER THE SERVICES THAT AT A LEVEL OF QUALITY THAT ARE EXPECTED BY MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
OUR GOAL IS TO GO TO TRY TO STRIKE THAT BALANCE.
THOUGH THAT FOR SOME PEOPLE, IT IS NOT GOING TO STRIKE THAT BALANCE, ESPECIALLY IF THEY SEE PROPERTY VALUES DON'T CHANGE, THEN AGAIN, THEY STILL FEEL A STILL MAY FEEL OR BE TAX BURDEN.
WE HEARD THAT YOU HAD CONVERSATIONS.
ULTIMATELY, WHERE WE BEND IT UP SERVES THE OVERALL COMMITTEE.
>> IS IT CORRECT THAT THOSE NEW VALUATIONS WILL BE OUT JULY 1, IS THAT CORRECT? IS THAT WHAT THE COUNTY HAS SAID THAT WHEN THE COUNTY TAX BILL COMES OUT,
[00:20:05]
IT WOULD INC VALUATIONS, CORRECT?>> READ SOMEWHERE THERE YOU SO STARTING TO RECEIVE YOUR COUNTY ASSESSMENT SHORTS.
>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT DATES RIGHT.
ANOTHER WAY TO SPIC AND DICE THE PROPERTY TAX DIGEST IS COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL.
RESIDENTIAL STILL REMAINS THE MAJORITY OF THE OVERALL DIGEST AT 77%.
THE PRIOR YEAR, THE NUMBER EVEN BEFORE THAT WAS 24%, AND THAT 22% WAS THE RESULT OF AGGRESSIVE COMMERCIAL APPEALS.
THE COMMERCIAL DIGEST OR COMMERCIAL PORTION OF THE DIGEST INCREASED 15% OVER 2024.
AGAIN, I WOULD EXPECT THAT WE WOULD SEE SOME.
>> QUESTION. WE TALK ABOUT HOW WE WANT TO INCREASE THE COMMERCIAL PERCENTAGE OF THE TAXES COMMERCIAL.
>> TO ULTIMATELY WELL, THE COMMERCIAL DIGEST GROWS, THAT THAT ALSO GIVES MORE OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE TAX RELIEF TO RESIDENTIAL HOMEOWNERS.
I WOULD SAY ESPECIALLY IN THE FORM OF HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS.
I THINK IT OPENS UP THAT OPPORTUNITY.
EVEN AS WE'VE SEEN THE COMMERCIAL DIGEST GROW, I BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT HAS ALLOWED US TO DO WHAT I BELIEVE ARE FAIRLY HEALTHY HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS WHICH ARE TARGETED TO RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY.
ULTIMATELY TO SHIFT THE BURDEN.
>> A LOT OF SO WE HAVE LARGE APARTMENT BUILDINGS.
THEY'RE CONSIDERED 77. FIGURE OUT.
SEVEN. THEY'RE CONSIDERED COMMERCIAL.
GOING BACK TO THE CONVERSATION ABOUT 581.
IT IS A POLICY THING, BUT JUST TO HIGHLIGHT IT.
A LARGE PART OF OUR COMMERCIAL TAX JUST A APARTMENT BUILDING, OBSERVATION.
>> DOES THAT THEN IMPACT RENT RATES, OBVIOUSLY? BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF OTHER LIST OF OUR COMMERCIAL IS YOUR SMALL BUSINESSES AND APARTMENTS.
>> I THINK THAT'S A GREAT POLICY DISCUSSION.
I MEAN, WE WILL SAY THAT FOR DECADES.
THAT'S BEEN, THIS BODY HAS PRIORITIZED RESIDENTIAL HOMEOWNERS.
AGAIN, THAT HAS BEEN THE DE FACTO POLICY.
>> I WILL SAY COVID PROBABLY IMPACTS THAT AS WELL, IMPACTED THAT BECAUSE WE SAW OUR SMALL BUSINESSES REALLY STRUGGLING.
I WORKED ON THE WAYS OF ACTIVITY IN THE HOUSE.
THE CHAIR WAS IT DON'T TAX, DON'T TAX DEGREE.
WE HAVE A GOVERNMENT-PROVIDED SERVICE POLICY'S ALSO RESPONSIBILITY.
>> AGAIN, I PUT THIS IN HERE REALLY JUST FOR PERSPECTIVE AND IT HELPED ME ANSWER MAYOR'S QUESTION.
WHAT DOES ONE MILL EQUATE TO ABOUT 3.5 MILLION DOLLAR? THEN ONE MILL ON YOUR TAX BILL IS ROUGHLY $310.
THAT'S A REMINDER, AS WE WERE TALKING ABOUT HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS, AND THERE IS A COST ASSOCIATED WITH HAVING HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS.
I KNOW THAT YOU ARE FULLY AWARE OF THAT.
[00:25:02]
JUST HELPFUL TO SEE THAT IT DOES COST US ABOUT $2.9 MILLION TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES THAT ARE BASED ON HERE.OWNERSHIP, OCCUPANCY, AND IN SOME CASES, AGENT.
GENERAL HOMESTEAD, WHICH IS AVAILABLE TO ANY RESIDENTIAL HOMEOWNER, YOU RESIDE IN THE HOME LION SHARE OF THAT COST ABOUT $2.5 MILLION.
>> ALSO, SEE THAT COMPARISON LAST COUPLE OF YEARS IN THE INCOME-BASED ONES, AS WELL AS IN THE AGE-BASED ONES, IS THAT HOW WAS THAT SHIFTED OR CHANGED?
>> THEN WHEN THESE INCREASE IN THE PRIOR YEAR, THAT WAS AN ADDITIONAL COST ACTUALLY OF ABOUT $1,000,000.
WELL, I THINK THAT'S ANOTHER THING THAT WE HEARD IN HOUSE 581 IS WHILE YOU RECOGNIZE THE SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE BUDGET AND THE GENERAL REALLY THE GENERAL FUND OPERATIONS OF EXPANDING THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION, SAVING 25,000-40,000.
THAT WAS AN IMPACT OF OVER $1,000,000 ON THE BUDGET.
BUT WE HEAR FROM SOME OF THE RESIDENCES THAT YOU JUST SAVE ME A COUPLE OF HUNDRED THAT THAT THAT'S THAT'S NOT GOING TO HELP ME WHEN I'M LOOKING AT A TAX BILL THAT'S 89 $10,000.
THAT'S WHERE, IN MY MIND, I REALLY RECOGNIZE THAT EVEN THIS WORK ON THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS, THERE'S AND THAT EVEN EVEN MAKING SIGNIFICANT INCREASES TO THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION SIGNIFICANT INCREASE, ONES THAT HAS A BIG IMPACT ON OUR GENERAL FUND.
THAT'S STILL JUST WE'RE JUST STILL WORKING IN THE MARGINS IN TERMS OF WHAT WE CAN DO TO PROVIDE SOMEONE WITH A REAL PROPERTY TAX RELIEF.
>> FOR GENERAL FUNDS THIS INCLUDE DDA.
THE EXEMPTIONS APPLY TO THINGS OTHER THAN THE GENERAL FUND?
>> THEY APPLY TO THE DDA AND TO THE CAPITAL, JUST NOT THE BOND FUND.
ONE MILL IS 31010 ON HOMESTEAD PROPERTY.
THAT'S WHAT I HADN'T SEEN. GOT IT. THANK YOU.
>> DID WE INCREASE WHAT WE ASSIGNED AS FAIR MARKET VALUE BECAUSE I REMEMBER LAST YEAR, THAT WAS A QUESTION THAT I ASKED IF WE HAD UPDATED THAT FIGURE.
>> THE 700,000 FAIR MARKET VALUE IS THE AVERAGE VALUE ROUNDED TO THE NEAREST 25,000; THIS IS THE STATE LANGUAGE.
THE COUNTY PROVIDES US WITH THE FAIR MARKET VALUE OR THE AVERAGE VALUE FOR HOMESTEAD PROPERTY IN THE CITY, AND SO USING THAT FORMULA, THE NEAREST 25,000-700,000.
>> NEXT YEAR BECAUSE WE ARE USING SHEET IT TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
COULD WE GET A HISTORY OF WHAT FAIR MARKET VALUE HAS BEEN, SAY, OVER THE LAST 15 YEARS?
>> EIGHT YEARS IT'S GONE 5-6-7.
>> THOUGH I'D LOVE TO LOOK BACK A LITTLE BIT AND SEE, YOU KNOW, I THINK AS WE TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET, I THINK A FAIR QUESTION FOR THE OTHER SIDE FOR OUR CONSTITUENCIES, LOOK AT WHAT YOUR HOMES' VALUE HAS GROWN TO.
YES, IT'S A FORM OF, YES, YOU PAY MORE IN TAXES, BUT YOUR INVESTMENT IS ALSO WORTH MORE.
>> LAST YEAR IT WAS 675,000, ONE MORE YEAR.
BUT YES, WE CAN GET YOU A CHARGE.
>> I MEAN, I THINK IT'S JUST REALLY GOOD CONVERSATION SO THAT WHEN YOU BRING OUT THE BAD, YOU ALSO COUNTER IT WITH THE GOOD.
I DON'T SPEND A LOT OF TIME HERE.
FIVE MILLAGE RATE IS THE SAME AS THE 24 ADOPTED RATE.
BUT I WILL SHOW YOU, NOT ONLY SOME JUST THE BOTTOM LINE, THE BOTTOM LINE IS UNCHANGED, BUT WE ARE REARRANGING THE MILLAGE RATES WITHIN THE VARIOUS FUND CATEGORIES.
[00:30:09]
WE'RE CONTRIBUTING SOME OF THE GO BOND MILLAGE RATE TO THE MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION MILLAGE RATE.PRES 5.16 FROM THE GO BONDS, AND THEN SIX.
BUT REALLY, WE'RE ABLE TO DO THAT BECAUSE THE REVENUE THAT WE NEED FOR THE DEBT SERVICE ASSOCIATED WITH THE GO BONDS REMAINS FLAT.
WHEN THE DIGEST INCREASES, THAT DOES GIVE US SOME FLEXIBILITY.
>> THE EXEMPTION DOES NOT APPLY TO THE BONDS WHEN YOU DO THAT YOU ACTUALLY ARE REDUCING [OVERLAPPING].
>> WE'RE GETTING THERE. YES, SIR.
>> IT APPLIED TO IF WE GO BACK AT THE PREVIOUS SLIDE, IF WE HAD NOT OPTED OUT, HOW MUCH OF THIS WAS A PART OF WHAT HOSPITAL 581 WOULD HAVE IMPACTED? WAS IT OUR TOTAL X RATE, OR IS IT JUST OUR GENERAL [OVERLAPPING].
>> HOUSE BILL 581 THAT'S THE PROPERTY VALUES. [OVERLAPPING].
>> IT DIDN'T IMPACT YOUR RIGHT.
>> THE MILLAGE RATE WAS THE [OVERLAPPING].
>> HOW MUCH YOUR PROPERTY VALUE WENT UP.
>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE NUMBER WAS.
BUT IT WAS GOING TO BE PAIRED TO SOME RATE OF INFLATION.
THAT ALMOST 8% INCREASE IN THE DIGEST, THAT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN REALIZED.
SO THE TOP AND THIS IS USING $700,000 FAIR MARKET VALUE, AND THAT WAS BASED OFF OF THE COMMISSION'S REQUEST FROM LAST YEAR TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE USING THAT AVERAGE HOME VALUE.
FOR 2024 AT 12.97 MILLS, $499.90.
THE SAME 12.97 MILLAGE RATE, JUST BIT THAT SHIFTED.
THE 0.16 SHIFTED TO THE GENERAL FUND RESULTS IN TAX BILL AT $6.40 LOWER THAN 2024, IF YOUR VALUE DID NOT CHANGE.
THAT IS BECAUSE THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION DOES NOT APPLY TO THE BOND FUND.
WHEN YOU HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE, THE MILLAGE RATE INCREASES FOR A FUND THAT ENJOYS THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION, THEN YOU GET JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE OF A TAX BREAK.
[LAUGHTER] [OVERLAPPING] I BELIEVE THAT THIS WAS A REQUEST THAT THE COMMISSION HAD REQUESTED LAST YEAR JUST SEEING WHAT THE TAX BILLS LOOK LIKE AT DIFFERENT FAIR MARKET VALUES OF 500, 750, AND [OVERLAPPING].
>> BE CLEAR THIS IS JUST OUR PROPERTY TAXES NOT [INAUDIBLE] SCHOOL.
>> THAT IS CORRECT. AGAIN, THIS SHOWS THAT REALLY JUST THAT DROP BY $6.40.
HERE'S A COMPARISON. THIS IS 750.
LET'S GO BACK TO THIS WAS 700.
SO, 700,000 FOR 2024, YOUR TAX BILL WOULD HAVE BEEN 4,099.
WHILE IT'S NOT EXACTLY THE SAME INCREASE ABOUT JUST OVER 7% INCREASE WOULD GET YOU TO 750,000 AND YOU WOULD PAY $4,300.50.
THAT'S AN INCREASE OF $201. ARE YOU ALL FOLLOWING ME? ASSUMING THAT YOU ARE MAYBE YOU WERE LAST YEAR, YOU WERE AT 700,000 AND YOUR PROPERTY INCREASE TO 750,000, IS CLOSE TO THAT OVERALL INCREASE IN THE DIGEST.
NONE OF THIS MATH IS ON THE SCREEN.
[00:35:02]
BUT AGAIN, I ALSO HESITATE TO CALCULATE EVERYBODY'S PROPERTY VALUE IS GOING TO BE DIFFERENT, AND SOME ARE GOING TO CHANGE, SOME ARE GOING TO GO DOWN, SOME ARE GOING TO GO UP 3%, SOME ARE GOING TO GO UP.DEBT SERVICE, TO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO SEE THE DEBT SERVICE PICTURE TO SEE ALL THE FORMS OF DEBT THAT THE CITY HAS INCURRED OR IS RESPONSIBLE FOR.
AT THE END OF 2026, YOU SEE THIS COLUMN, THE ENDING BALANCE, WHILE THIS DOESN'T HAVE A TOTAL, THAT TOTAL IS 148,000,500 ROUGHLY.
THAT WILL BE OUR OUTSTANDING PRINCIPAL AT THE END OF 2026.
45% OR 66.5 MILLION OF THAT PRINCIPAL FOR SCHOOL PURPOSES.
ALSO, THE 2007 GO BOND, HALF OF THAT IS FOR SCHOOL PURPOSES.
THAT 20 MILLION HALF OF THAT FOR SCHOOL CAPITAL PROJECTS.
THE SCHOOL SYSTEM HAS 66.5 MILLION IN HERE, AND THAT IS PAID BACK BY THE MILEAGE RATE.
YOU SEE THE FUND, IT'S IN DEBT SERVICE.
THAT MEANS THAT THE DEBT MILLAGE RATE IS DEDICATED TO THAT.
27% OR ABOUT 40 MILLION IS SUPPORTED BY SALES TAX.
THAT'S A GUARANTEE FOR AT LEAST THE NEXT SIX YEARS PAST AND THEN THE REMAINING 28% IS PAID BY CITY TAXES.
I THOUGHT THAT WAS JUST SOME HELPFUL PERSPECTIVE, 45% WITH THE SCHOOLS, 27% IS THE FLOSS OR SALES TAX, AND THEN 28% CITY MILITARY.
>> EARLIER ABOUT THE TAX BILL FOR THE AVERAGE PERSON, ACTUALLY, SOME OF THAT IS GOING TO PAY BACK SCHOOL BONDS?
>> IS CORRECT. OF THE MILEAGE RATE OF 1.82 FOR GO BOND, 1.21 OF THAT IS PHYSICAL BONDS.
>> WHAT ABOUT $1.2 MILLION. [BACKGROUND]
>> WE COULD SPEND A LOT OF I SPENT A LOT OF TIME ON THE DEBT SERVICE SLIDE.
I JUST WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE AND I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS THE BUDGET MESSAGE AS WELL.
I MEAN, BOTH OF THE RATING AGENCIES WHEN WE JUST RECENTLY GOT OUR CREDIT RATING FOR THE ISSUANCE OF BONDS TO BE PAID BACK BY SALES TAX FOR THE SQUARE RENOVATION.
MOODY'S AND S&P BOTH RECOGNIZED THAT THE CITY HAS A HIGH DEBT BURDEN.
WE'RE NOWHERE NEAR THE STATE LEGAL LIMIT, BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT YOU STRIVE TO BE RIGHT AT.
>> WE'RE NUMBER ONE. [LAUGHTER]
>> HOWEVER, THEY DID ACTUALLY SAY THAT IF WE WERE TO REDUCE THAT DEBT SIGNIFICANTLY, THEN THAT [INAUDIBLE] POSSIBLY.
IT COULD LEAD TO AN UPGRADE IN OUR CREDIT RATING.
HOWEVER, IF WE WERE TO ISSUE MORE DEBT ANYTIME SOON, THEN WE WOULD SLIGHTLY BE LOOKING AT A REDUCTION IN OUR CREDIT RATING AND OF COURSE, AT THAT POINT IT WOULD COST MORE TO BORROW MONEY.
BUT AT THIS POINT, WE ARE NOT ACTIVELY SEEKING OR CONSIDERING NEW DEBT FOR THE CITY.
WE ARE STILL TALKING ABOUT REVENUES.
THE GENERAL FUND REVENUES, $45,000,000 AND THAT IS MOST OF THOSE REVENUES ARE MADE UP OF TAX REVENUE, AND CLOSE TO 35 MILLION OF TAX REVENUE, AND 79% OF THE TOTAL REVENUE.
AGAIN, YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR, THAT PERCENTAGE [INAUDIBLE].
THEN MAYBE IN THE FUTURE, I'LL CHANGE THE ORDER BECAUSE THEN THE NEXT REALLY LARGEST REVENUE LINE ITEM IS RECREATION FEES.
[00:40:04]
THAT'S AT THE BOTTOM, BUT SHOULD BE MOVED UP BECAUSE IT DOES INCLUDE THE CHILDREN AND NEW SERVICES PROGRAM JUST [INAUDIBLE].THEN DEVELOPMENT PERMITS, 1.2 MILLION.
THAT WAS VERY CONSISTENT WITH LAST YEAR.
THEN THE REVENUE CATEGORIES OR THE AMOUNT ASSOCIATED WITH THE CATEGORY DROPS DRAMATICALLY.
WE ARE HEAVILY RELIANT ON TAXES.
THE NEXT SLIDE GOES ON TO SHOW OF THOSE TAXES, OF THE $34 MILLION, ROUGHLY $34 MILLION IN TAXES.
WE'RE LOOKING AT 28 MILLION FROM REAL PROPERTY TAXES.
THE GOOD THING IS THAT PROPERTY TAXES, THEY ARE INELASTIC.
AS YOU HAVE ECONOMIC DOWNTURNS, RECESSIONS, JUST FISCAL CHALLENGES, REAL PROPERTY TAXES.
THEY'RE STILL SUBJECT TO THE ECONOMY.
THEY'RE NOT AS WILDLY ELASTIC AS [INAUDIBLE].
>> OBSERVATION THAT IT SEEMS IN COMMISSIONER WALSH I KNEW ABOUT THIS, BUT WE'RE SEEING LEVELING OFF OF [INAUDIBLE] HOW IT'S NOT GOING TO IMPACT THIS YEAR'S BUDGET PERHAPS [OVERLAPPING].
>> NO. I'M WISHING THAT I INCLUDED A FORECASTING SLIDE HERE.
THAT IS I WOULD SAY THAT THIS BUDGET ANTICIPATES EXACTLY THAT AND WHAT YOU'VE SEEN WITH THE REST [INAUDIBLE] AND THE REPORTS THAT [INAUDIBLE] THAT VALIDATES. BUT
>> THE AVERAGE DAYS ON MARKET NOW, DO YOU KNOW?
>> JUST ON THE FRONT END OF THIS STRONG.
I MEAN, YOU CAN SEE IT JUST, GOING AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND SEEING THE NUMBER OF HOUSES ON THE MARKET AND SOME WITH A REDUCED PRICE, AND WE HAVEN'T SEEN THAT IN A LONG TIME.
>> ANY GOOD NEWS ON INTEREST RATES, WHICH MORTGAGE RATES, AND INFLATION? UNCERTAINTY VOLATILITY IS POISONED FOR MAKING BIG DECISIONS.
I DO WANT TO POINT OUT THE COLUMN FOR THE FIRST LINE ITEM FOR REAL PROPERTY TAXES.
THE CHANGE FROM THE ADOPTED CURRENT YEAR TO REVISED CURRENT YEAR.
SO IT'S A PRETTY HEALTHY INCREASE IN THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, AND THEN THAT REVISE TO PROPOSE ANOTHER 1.6 MILLION.
YOU MAY BE ASKING HOW IS THE CURRENT TAX REVENUE INCREASING $1.5 MILLION.
IT'S A GOOD SITUATION TO BE IN, AND I'LL SAY THAT THAT REFLECTS THE CULMINATION OF SETTLED APPEALS.
IT'S DELINQUENT TAX COLLECTION EFFORTS.
IT ALSO REFLECTS A CONSERVATIVE COLLECTION RATE AND WHENEVER THAT COLLECTION RATE SLIGHTLY FOR THE ACTUAL COLLECTION EXCEEDS THE BUDGETED COLLECTION RATE.
>> YOU A LITTLE BIT OF THE JOHNSON.
THAT'S JUST AMONG OTHER THINGS, AN EXAMPLE OF THE PRIVATIVE NATURE OF [INAUDIBLE].
>> CAN YOU ALSO SPEAK TO THOSE THAT HAVE DECREASED, I THINK I GUESS, OUR ALCOHOL EXCISE TAX IS BEARING OUT THE FACT THAT WE READ THAT PEOPLE ARE DRINKING LESS.
I GUESS, CONSUMING MORE NON ALCOHOLIC COCKTAILS,
[00:45:03]
BUT THE PARKING METER FEES AND THE RECK CENTER FEES.I SEE WE HAVE INCREASED IT SUM FOR 25 26, BUT THE REVISED AND THE ADOPTED WAS ALMOST $1,000,000, $900,000 DIFFERENCE.
>> THE PARKING METER FEES STILL HAVE NOT HAVE NOT CAUGHT UP TO PROVE PANDEMIC LEVELS.
WE MAY END UP A LITTLE BIT BETTER THAN THIS I'M SORRY, THIS 375 AT THE TIME.
THAT'S WHERE I THOUGHT WERE GOING TO END UP.
I THINK WE MAY END UP A LITTLE BIT BETTER, BUT WE'RE NOT SEEING A WHOLE LOT OF BIRD GROWTH IN THAT AREA.
THE RECREATION FEES, SO WITH THE RECREATION FEES, WITH THE FEES ON THE REVENUE SIDE AND ON THE PROGRAM AND EXPENDITURE SIDE, WE ARE BUDGETING AS IF THOSE CLASSES ARE FULL.
THEY'RE FULL EVERY DAY AND THE INSTRUCTORS ARE ALL BEING PAID.
THEN WE COME BACK IN AND WE MAKE SIGNIFICANT ADJUSTMENTS TO REFLECT THE CLASSES THAT WEREN'T FOR CLASSES THAT DIDN'T MAKE FOR SHIFTS WITH SERVICES.
AGAIN, THAT'S WHAT YOU SEE WITH THE PROPOSED IS WE REESTABLISH WHAT WE ASPIRE TO DO, AND THEN IN THE REVISED BUDGET, WE'LL TRUE UP.
>> I WONDER ABOUT THE PARKING FEES.
WE OFTEN ENCOURAGE PEOPLE A PUBLIC TRANSIT.
I THINK MAYBE THEY'RE LISTENING.
>> I THINK PEOPLE REVERT TO THE RESTAURANT AS WELL.
>> WELL, AND THAT TOO. I THINK PEOPLE ARE CHOOSING TO GET HERE LIKE SMARTER WAY.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN GLEAN ANYTHING FROM MARTA ABOUT RIDERSHIP AND HOW MAYBE THAT'S CHANGED AT OUR DIFFERENT STATIONS, BUT I'D BE CURIOUS TO KNOW BECAUSE I KNOW WHEN I GO PLACES NOW, LIKE NOW I DON'T DRIVE TO THE AIRPORT.
I JUST TAKE MARTA BECAUSE IT'S A LOT EASIER TO JUST GRAB ONE SUITCASE AND GO.
>> YOU DON'T HAVE THE STRESS OF [OVERLAPPING] FIND A PARKING SPOT.
>> NO. I DON'T HAVE THE RUMOR WHERE MY CAR IS.
YES. NOW, IT'S 40 AND EIGHT. NO.
>> ONE OF OUR FAVORITE SUBJECTS, THE FUND BALANCE.
THE FINANCIAL POLICY IS TO KEEP A FUND BALANCE OF 20-30% OF OUR GENERAL OPERATING EXPENDITURES [INAUDIBLE] SAVINGS AND FUND BALANCE IS CREATED WHEN REVENUES EXCEED EXPENDITURE YEAR TO YEAR.
WE MAY SPEND THAT FUND BALANCE.
AT THE END OF 23-24, WE USE JUST OVER $233,000 FROM FUND BALANCE.
EVEN IN THE REVISED BUDGET IN 2024, WE HAD ESTIMATED THAT WE WERE GOING TO USE TWO POINT MONEY.
233, WELL, THERE IS STILL A REAL AMOUNT OF MONEY OUT OF $40 BILLION BUDGET.
I WOULD SAY THAT THAT WAS PRETTY MUCH A WASH OF A BUDGET IF WE WERE JUST GOING DOWN $233,000.
THAT LEFT US WITH $15 BILLION IN FUND BALANCE, 35% OF THE EXPENDITURES.
NOW IN THE CURRENT OR REVISED 24-25 BUDGET, WE ARE STILL BUDGETING TO USE 75,000 FROM THE FUND BALANCE, BUT THAT IS DOWN SLIGHTLY OR 1 MILLION FROM THE ADOPTED USE OF FUND BALANCE OF 3.3.
REALITY IS, IF I HAD TO BET, I WOULD THINK THAT WE WOULD END UP USING LESS THAN THAT $2.3 MILLION.
ALSO LOOKING AT 25-26, THIS IS WHERE A MUCH MORE COMFORTABLE PLACE TO BE TO BE RECOMMENDING TO THE CITY COMMISSION.
NOW, WE'RE BUDGETING TO USE $1.5 MILLION OF FUND BALANCE, AND THAT WOULD BRING US DOWN TO 11,100,000 OR 25% OF EXPENDITURES.
AGAIN, REALLY RIGHT BACK WHERE WE NEED TO BE, ANTICIPATE THAT AT THE END OF 2026.
[00:50:05]
ANY QUESTIONS AT THIS MOMENT ON 24 HOURS [INAUDIBLE]? THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS AT THE MOMENT ON REVENUES.WE'LL LOOK AT THE EXPENDITURES.
EXPENDITURES, 45,211,680 JUST HAPPENED TO BE THE EXACT SAME AMOUNT THAT WE'RE ANTICIPATING IN REVENUES.
AGAIN, $2.1 MILLION OR JUST ABOUT 5% HIGHER THAN THE REVISED BUDGET.
ALSO REMEMBERING THAT THE REVISED BUDGET IS PRETTY MUCH THE SAME AS THE ADOPTED BUDGET FOR 24-25.
IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET, THE PERSONNEL SERVICES INCREASED ABOUT $1.6 MILLION OVER THE 24-25 REVISED.
REMEMBER THE 24-25 REVISED PERSONNEL SERVICES NUMBER, THAT GOES DOWN BECAUSE OF VACANCIES, AND THEN WE BUDGET AGAIN AS IF EVERY POSITION IS FULL EVERY DAY.
SORRY, I'M TRYING TO READ MY NOTES.
1.6 MILLION, BUT YOU SEE OUT OF 2 MILLION AND THE LINE SHARE OF THE INCREASE IS GOING TO BE IN PERSONNEL SERVICES.
HEALTH CARE COSTS ARE WITHIN THOSE PERSONNEL SERVICES, AND WE WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT HEALTH CARE COSTS, BUT JUST UNDER $200,000 INCREASES.
HERE'S A LINE ITEM WE HAVEN'T TALKED MUCH ABOUT IN THE PAST, BUT PROPERTY AND CASUALTY, OTHERWISE, PROPERTY AND LIABILITY INSURANCE.
OUR PREMIUMS FOR THE BUDGET ARE INCREASING 391,770 OR 45%.
BASED ON SOME INFORMATION THAT WE JUST RECEIVED YESTERDAY FROM OUR BROKER, THAT NUMBER IS GOING TO BE LESS.
>> THERE IS A BUT. IT'S GOING TO BE LESS, BUT WE'RE ALSO GOING TO SEE INCREASED DEDUCTIBLES.
I THINK IN AT LEAST ONE AREA, THE COVERAGE IS GOING TO BE LOWER AND WE COULD PROBABLY HAVE A WHOLE, MAYBE WE SHOULD.
WE COULD HAVE A WHOLE WORK SESSION ABOUT THE STATE OF THE INSURANCE MARKET.
GEORGIA IS ONE OF THE FIRST STATES AS IT RELATES TO INSURANCE CLAIMS AND REALLY [INAUDIBLE].
THEN DECATUR COUNTY IS THE TYPICAL TERM EVIDENTLY IS A JUDICIAL HELL HOLE.
[LAUGHTER] AGAIN, CALLS OF THE COURT REFORM, AND THIS PAST GENERAL ASSEMBLY DID NOT ADDRESS THIS IN COURT REFORM.
MUNICIPALITIES WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THAT.
>> I THINK IT IS STILL ALIVE FOR THE NEXT STEP FOR ONE MORE YEAR, BUT IT IS.
>> BUT YES, THERE'S THERE'S BEEN NO RELIEF.
THE INSURANCE COMPANIES, THEY REALLY TAKE IT ON THE NOSE.
WHETHER THAT'S THROUGH SETTLEMENTS OR WHEN THEY EVEN AGREE TO VERY HIGH SETTLEMENTS BECAUSE THEY'RE SO AFRAID OF THE UNCERTAINTY WENT FOR JURY OFFICIALLY IN DECATUR COUNTY.
I THINK BECAUSE OF REAL COST AND THE COST OF PROCEED OR JUST THE WORST CASE SCENARIOS, AND WE'VE SEEN A WORST CASE SCENARIO PLAY OUT IN A CASE IN THE STATE [INAUDIBLE].
THAT THE INSURANCE COMPANIES ARE PROTECTING THEMSELVES.
WE DID LOOK AT GOING TO ESSENTIALLY WHAT I WOULD CONSIDER A SELF INSURED MODEL.
I STILL DON'T THINK THAT WE'RE THERE YET AND THE FACT THAT IT LOOKS LIKE AT THE FINAL HOUR THAT WE WERE ABLE TO GET [INAUDIBLE].
THIS IS A DISCUSSION THAT I THINK WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO HAVE.
I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE'RE TAKING THIS VERY SERIOUSLY WITH OUR BROKER, WITH OUR ATTORNEY, THE CITY ATTORNEY, TO TRY TO FIND THE [INAUDIBLE] TO
[00:55:03]
THE CITY TO HAVE THE APPROPRIATE COVERAGES, BUT ALSO [INAUDIBLE] WHETHER WE'RE TALKING 250,000 OR 391,000, THERE'S THERE'S SO MUCH THAT WE COULD DO GOOD IN THIS COMMUNITY IF WE HAD $300,000 THAT WE COULD DIVERT AWAY FROM INSURANCE PREMIUMS PROVIDING.>> THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE THE LEGAL COSTS WITH OUR OWN.
>> NO, IT DOES NOT INCLUDE OUR LEGAL FEES.
>> THERE'S ADDITIONAL. I DO THINK THE WORK SESSION IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN POINT ELECT OTHER OFFICIALS IN THE STATE HOUSE, EVEN OUR OWN ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT REPRESENT US TO HAVE FURTHER CONVERSATIONS BECAUSE I KNOW TORT REFORM IS NOT ALWAYS LIKE POPULAR AND THERE ARE CONVERSATIONS AT THE STATE HOUSE OF THINGS LIKE, WELL, THE CITY WOULD NOT EVER TAKE CARE OF THE STREETS OR DO ANYTHING IF THERE WASN'T A THREAT OF A LAWSUIT AND THAT WAS ACTUALLY SAID AND NOT REFERRING TO ANY SPECIFIC CITY, BUT JUST CITIES IN GENERAL.
BUT I THINK GMA WORKED REALLY HARD AND I THINK THIS WILL BE ANOTHER, IT WAS THERE AGAIN I GUESS PRIMARY FOCUS THIS PAST YEAR.
I THINK WE WILL DO SO AGAIN, AND I THINK THE MORE EVIDENCE THAT ANY CITY CAN PROVIDE ABOUT HOW MUCH IT COST AND HOW DIFFICULT IT IS AND TO GO BEFORE A JURY WILL BE HELPFUL.
>> NOW, I'M JUST GOING TO SAY IT WOULD BE HELPFUL MAYBE IN THE COMING YEAR, MAYBE DURING RETREAT, IF WE HAD A SECTION WHERE WE TALKED ABOUT WHAT THAT COULD POTENTIALLY LOOK LIKE.
IF THERE ARE SOME SIGNIFICANT SAVINGS THAT YOU THINK WE CAN ACHIEVE FROM THAT, IT WOULD PROBABLY BE WORTH A WORK SESSION OR AT LEAST A BREAKOUT DURING RETREAT TO TALK ABOUT IT BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THAT'S THE ONE THING THAT I THINK IS THE UNSEEN COST BEHIND A LOT OF DECISIONS.
YOUR INSURANCE GOES UP, YOU CAN'T EAT IT.
>> IN THAT CASE, IF WE'RE GOING SELF INSURED, WE'RE SHIFTING THE RISK, WE'RE TAKING ON THAT RISK AND GRANTED THERE'S STOP LOSS INVOLVED.
IT WOULDN'T BE A RISK WITHOUT SOME SAFETY NET.
WE WILL BE TALKING TO YOU ALL BECAUSE WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THE LEVEL OF COMFORT WITH THE RISK THAT MAY BE INVOLVED.
BUT IT'S HAVING A REAL SIGNIFICANT IMPACT BOTTOM LINE.
>> EVERYBODY'S BOTTOM LINE. [LAUGHTER]
>> RIGHT. WE'RE NOT ALONE. THE INSURANCE COMPANIES, SOME OF THEM THEY'RE PULLING OUT OF GEORGIA ENTIRELY, AND SO WE ALSO THEN HAVE YOUR CHOICES AND ARGUABLY [INAUDIBLE] SERVICE AND FROM THE COMPANIES THAT REMAIN BEHIND.
>> MORE EXPENSIVE WHEN THERE IS LIMITED, I GUESS CHOICES.
>> LESS COMPETITION. BECAUSE OF THE LEGAL IMPLICATIONS, THERE'S EVEN A GREATER BURDEN ON OUR CITY ATTORNEY.
AGAIN, THAT'S ALSO ONE OF THE OUTSIDE OF PERSONNEL SERVICES, PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, THE NEXT LARGEST CATEGORY OF EXPENSES INCREASE AROUND $331,000.
AGAIN, A FAIRLY MODEST INCREASE.
SOME OF THAT INCLUDES [INAUDIBLE] FEES FOR SAFE BUILT FOR PERVADING INSPECTION SERVICES.
THEN THE ENERGY OF THE PERFORMANCE CONTRACT OR ENERGY SAVING [INAUDIBLE] AND I BELIEVE THAT'S IN THE BUDGET.
THEN I BUMPED UP THE LEGAL FEES AND SO THERE WE GOT US TO SERVE 3,000.
THEN CONTRACTUAL SERVICES DECREASED AROUND 300,000, BUT I WOULD SAY, DON'T LET THAT FALL.
SOME OF THAT THERE WAS REALLY A REDISTRIBUTION.
[01:00:04]
I THINK MOST OF THAT WAS IN PARKS AND REC, WHERE THEY'RE RECLASSIFYING SOME EXPENDITURES, SAY RECLASSIFYING, THEY'RE DOING THE RIGHT THING, GETTING SOME CHARGES THAT MAY HAVE BEEN FOR A FEW YEARS IN THE WRONG PLACE.[INAUDIBLE] SOME OF THE BIG CONTRACTS THAT ARE IN THERE.
THE POOL MANAGEMENT CONTRACT IS ONE OF THE LARGER CONTRACTS, AND THEN IS, THE DOWNTOWN AMBASSADOR PROGRAM, WEBSITE HOSTING EVEN [INAUDIBLE] ABOUT PERSONNEL SERVICES, THAT MAKES UP THE MAJORITY OF THE BUDGET, 57% OF THE OVERALL BUDGET.
WE TALKED ABOUT THESE THE RETIREMENT CONTRIBUTION AT 9.5% OF PAYROLL THAT'S WITHIN THE RECOMMENDATION THAT WAS PREPARED BY THE RETIREMENT BOARDS ACTUARY.
THERE ARE NO ADDITIONAL FULL TIME POSITIONS, SO WE REMAIN AT 258.
THEN THERE ARE SOME RECLASSIFICATIONS THAT I'LL RUN THROUGH JUST REAL QUICK.
SALARY INCREASE BEGINNING ON JULY 1ST.
MAYOR MENTIONED THIS BEFORE, THE FIRST DRAFT OF THE BUDGET OR AT LEAST THE DRAFT UP UNTIL MAYBE AT THAT INCREASE PUSHED OUT UNTIL JANUARY OF 2026.
BECAUSE OF THE DIGEST, I BUILT THE BUDGET ON A TIGHTER DIGEST OR SMALLER INCREASE IN THE DIGEST WITH A SLIGHTLY LARGER INCREASE IN DIGEST COMFORTABLY MOVE THAT INCREASE.
>> FOR OUR EMPLOYEES WHO DID NOT SEE IT.
I'M JUST GOING TO RUN THROUGH THESE REAL QUICKLY.
THERE'S BEEN A VACANT PROJECT MANAGER IN PUBLIC WORKS FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS AT LEAST.
WE'RE GOING TO RECLASSIFY THAT TO AN EQUIPMENT OPERATOR POSITION IN STREETS.
WHAT'S THE PRIMARY REASON TO DO THAT? STREETS IS WHERE WE'RE GETTING MOST OF OUR SERVICE REQUESTS IN THE CRM OR C-CLICK FIX SYSTEM.
I THINK THIS WILL PROVIDE US WITH THAT OPPORTUNITY TO BE CLASSIFYING.
>> JUST ANECDOTALLY, I'M GUESSING THE COUNTY HAS REALLY RAMPED UP ITS SERVICE AS WELL, AND WHAT THEY DO.
THERE'S ALWAYS A LEFTOVER WORK AS WELL TO BE DONE.
I IMAGINE THAT'S PART OF THE REASON WHY THEN WE COME IN AND FINISH, BUT I THINK THERE'S JUST EXTRA WORK TO BE DONE, BUT TO ME, IT'S AN INDICATION OF MORE WORK DONE BY THE COUNTY AS WELL
>> THAT COULD BE THE CASE, BUT I WOULD ALSO SAY [INAUDIBLE] AN ANECDOTAL STATEMENT BY ME.
WE ARE WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH THE COUNTY SO THAT WE ARE NOT CLEANING UP WHAT THEY ARE LEAVING BEHIND, BUT IT DOES APPEAR FROM WHAT WE UNDERSTAND FROM THE COUNTY, AND MS. SCHARER, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, THEY HAVE TWO DIFFERENT HANDS, ONE HAND WILL COME IN AND DO THE REPAIR AND THEY CUT UP THE STREET AND THEY REPAIR THE PIPE AND THEY MAY OR MAY NOT PUT THE PLATE ON TOP.
THEN THE OTHER HAND IS SUPPOSED TO KNOW THAT THAT'S HAPPENED.
AGAIN, HAS A RELATIONSHIP WITH PEOPLE OF THE COUNTY TO ALL THE WORK.
>> IT'S UNRESPONSIVE [OVERLAPPING]
>> THERE IS A NEW PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR AT THE COUNTY, AND I KNOW CARA HAS BEEN IN TOUCH WITH HIM SOME, AND I DO FEEL LIKE THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HE'S, I THINK, TRYING TO DO WITH ALL OF THE CITIES.
THEN I KNOW THAT CARA HAD MENTIONED TO ME THAT THE CITIES ARE ALL GETTING TOGETHER TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE STATE OF GOOD REPAIR FOR STREETS WOULD BE, THAT IT WOULD BE THE SAME FOR ALL THE CITIES.
[01:05:02]
WE WOULD HAVE THE SAME, I GUESS, REQUIREMENT, SO THAT IT WOULD BE STANDARD SO THAT WE'RE REQUIRING THE SAME THINGS THAT DUNWOODY AND ALL THE OTHER CITIES, AVONDALE, EVERYBODY ELSE, THAT WHEN THE COUNTY COMES BEHIND AND DOES THOSE REPAIRS, THEY SHOULDN'T LOOK DIFFERENT IN DECATUR THAN THEY DO IN BROOKHAVEN.THAT WAY, HOPEFULLY, IT WILL MAKE IT EASIER FOR THE REPAIRS TO BE DONE BY THE COUNTY IF THEY'RE NOT LOOKING AT DIFFERENT STANDARDS BASED ON WHAT CITY THEY HAVE COME AND WORKED ON.
I APPRECIATE CARA'S WORK ON THAT AND I KNOW THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IS HOPEFULLY, GOING TO BE HELPFUL IN THE FUTURE.
>> PROJECT CIVIL ENGINEER, THAT IS A FIELD POSITION, BUT WE'RE LOOKING TO RECLASSIFY THAT POSITION TO A STORM WATER MANAGER POSITION AND WITH THE EXPECTATION THAT THEY'RE OVERSEEING ALL OF THE PROJECTS FROM THE STORM WATER MASTER PLAN, ALSO OVERSEEING THE DRAINAGE TEAM.
SOME SLIGHT CHANGES IN JOB DUTIES.
RECLASSIFYING A RECREATION SUPERVISOR POSITION, ELEVATING THAT TO AN ATHLETICS MANAGER, AND THAT'S REFLECTING SOME REORGANIZATION WITHIN THE PARKS AND REC DEPARTMENT.
THEN RECLASSIFYING A RECREATION SUPERVISOR POSITION TO A COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR POSITION THAT IS REFLECTING THE WORK BEING PERFORMED AND EXPECTED BY THE PERSON IN THAT POSITION, ALSO IN PARKS AND RECREATION.
THEN IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THERE IS THE RECOMMENDATION TO RECLASSIFY A SWORN POSITION TO A NON-SWORN POSITION TO A CIVILIAN DETECTIVE.
I THINK THIS IS NOT INCONSISTENT WITH WHAT YOU SEE IN OTHER POLICE DEPARTMENTS, RECOGNIZING THAT THERE ARE DUTIES.
THAT DON'T HAVE TO BE PERFORMED BY THE SWORN POLICE OFFICER.
IT'S LESS EXPENSIVE, LESS TRAINING.
ALSO, I THINK JUST AS EFFECTIVE, BUT DEFINITELY LESS EXPENSIVE, MAYBE MORE EXPEDIENT WAY TO GET SOME JOB DUTIES HANDLED, SO THEY'RE WILLING TO RECLASSIFY A SWORN POSITION.
THEN IN THE ACCOUNTING AND REVENUE OFFICES, CREATING SOME OPPORTUNITY FOR PROMOTION OR ADVANCEMENT WITH VERY SPECIFIC CRITERIA THAT IF YOU MEET THIS CRITERIA, THEN YOU WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR A SENIOR DESIGNATION FOR THE ACCOUNTING SPECIALIST OR A SENIOR REVENUE OFFICER POSITION.
>> THAT COULD APPLY TO MORE THAN ONE PERSON>
>> IT COULD APPLY TO EVERYONE IN THE DEPARTMENT IF THEY MEET THE CRITERIA, BUT AT THIS POINT, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THERE'S ANYONE THAT MEETS THAT CRITERIA.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT THIS WOULD BE ABLE TO [INAUDIBLE] BY HAVING THIS DESIGNATION, THE PAY PLAN AND PROMOTE INTO IT.
A LITTLE BIT MORE IN TERMS OF PERSONNEL, THERE ARE SOME ADJUSTMENTS TO PART-TIME POSITIONS.
THERE'S A REQUEST FOR TWO ADDITIONAL CROSSING GUARD POSITIONS.
NOW WE'RE AT 50 PART-TIME CROSSING GUARDS.
I THINK PEOPLE SEE THE VALUE THAT THEY BRING TO OUR COMMUNITY, NOT JUST DURING SCHOOL TIME, BUT EVEN LAST NIGHT WAS A GREAT EXAMPLE WITH THE TRACK CLUB EVENT TAKING PLACE OVER [INAUDIBLE] CROSSING GUARDS.
WE ARE RECOMMENDING A 50 CENT PER HOUR INCREASE FOR THE CROSSING GUARDS AS WELL.
THERE IS A PART-TIME POSITION THAT WE ARE RECOMMENDING THE CREATION OF AN EQUITY AND ENGAGEMENT SPECIALIST POSITION TO SUPPORT BOTH OF THOSE FUNCTIONS WITHIN THE EQUITY AND ENGAGEMENT POSITION, BUT CERTAINLY TO HELP CONTINUE TO ADVANCE THE WORK FROM OUR RACIAL EQUITY ACTION PLAN PART-TIME POSITION.
FIFTY CENT INCREASE FOR RECREATION SPECIALIST.
WE'RE BUDGETED FOR INCREASE IN STARTING PAY FOR THE RECREATION SPECIALIST POSITIONS, ALSO BASED ON QUALIFICATION, CERTIFICATIONS, OR EXPERIENCE.
THAT'S ALSO REFLECTED JUST BEHIND THE NUMBERS.
THEN THERE IS FUNDING FOR SOME ADDITIONAL PART-TIME TENNIS PRO SERVICES,
[01:10:04]
AND JUST GIVING US SOME FLEXIBILITY TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE INDIVIDUAL GROUP LESSONS PROVIDED BY PART-TIME TENNIS PROS.>> TALKED ABOUT THE PARKS RECREATION MASTER PLAN AND TALKED ABOUT THE BUSINESS PLANS FOR [INAUDIBLE], BUT DID THIS COME OUT OF THE BUSINESS PLAN FOR THE TENNIS RECREATIONAL CENTER?
>> I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN SPEAK TO IT COMING OUT OF THE PLAN.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE REVENUE PREDICTED FROM THESE, I WANT TO SAY [INAUDIBLE] SOMEWHERE FROM 42,000, 45,000 THAT WE'RE PUTTING INTO FUNDING THE PART-TIME SERVICES.
THE REVENUE WAS GOING TO BE ABOUT 82,000.
NOT ONLY IS IT ENHANCING THE SERVICE WITHIN THE TENNIS CENTER TO HAVE MORE OFFERINGS, BUT ALSO, A SURE [INAUDIBLE].
>> I WAS PLEASANTLY SURPRISED.
THAT IS ACTUALLY BASED OFF OF CURRENT PROS AND FOLKS WORKING OUT THERE TODAY, SO WE HAVE PAST DATA THAT WE WERE ABLE TO USE AND SERVICES THAT OCCUR.
>> THAT'S IN THE CAPITAL FUND.
>> IF THEY'RE CLASSIFIED AS PART-TIME, DOES THAT MEAN 20 HOURS A WEEK LESS?
>> NO MORE THAN 28 HOURS A WEEK.
>> I WAS TRYING TO FIGURE THAT'S WHAT THIS EQUITY SPECIALIST IS UNDER OTHER JOB CLASSIFICATIONS.
>> ON PAGE 88. BECAUSE I COULDN'T TELL FROM THESE AND MAYBE IN THE NARRATIVE THAT SOME OF THOSE WERE PART-TIME.
>> HEALTH AND WELLNESS. HEALTH CARE COSTS, THAT'S A VERY SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF OUR BUDGET, JUST CLOSE TO FOUR MILLION DOLLARS OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET OR 9% OF THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET.
THE OVERALL COST FOR HEALTH CARE, THAT INCLUDES ADMINISTRATIVE FEES, STOCK LOSS, INSURANCE, THE ESTIMATED CLAIMS LIABILITY, THAT'S ALL LOOKING LIKE IT'S GOING TO INCREASE CLOSE TO 9%.
HOWEVER, WE HAVE TO SET OUR RATES, INCLUDING THE EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTION TO HEALTH INSURANCE BASED OFF OF THESE ACTUARIALLY-DETERMINED PREMIUM EQUIVALENT RATES, WHICH WE CALL THEM PERS.
THOSE RATES INCREASE ABOUT 12.6%. HOLD THAT THOUGHT.
AS A REMINDER, IN THIS INSURANCE, WE ARE SELF -INSURED.
HAS IT BEEN 10 YEARS, TERESA, I'M LOOKING AT TERESA, THAT WE'VE BEEN SELF INSURED? EVERY YEAR WE WORK WITH OUR BROKER TO DETERMINE, DOES IT STILL MAKE FINANCIAL SENSE TO REMAIN SELF-INSURED UP TO THE STOCK LOSS, OR DO WE NEED TO GO AND JUST GET FULL TRADITIONAL INSURANCE COVERAGE? EVEN THOUGH OUR COSTS CONTINUE TO INCREASE, IT STILL CONTINUES TO MAKE FINANCIAL SENSE TO RETAIN THE SELF-INSURED MODEL.
AS A REMINDER, IT'S BEEN THE CITY'S DE FACTO POLICY TO MAINTAIN AN 80/20 FUNDING RATIO FOR HEALTH CARE COSTS.
WHEN WE HAVE THOSE PREMIUM EQUIVALENT RATES DEVELOPED, THE CITY HAS AGREED TO PAY 80% OF THOSE RATES AND THE EMPLOYEE PAYS 20%, THERE'S AN ASTERISK, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE EMPLOYEE ONLY COVERAGE.
[01:15:01]
BECAUSE WE DO OFFER EMPLOYEE AND SPOUSE AND EMPLOYEE-DEPENDENT AND EMPLOYEE FAMILY, BUT WE FOUND, THOUGH, THAT DEPENDENTS FINANCIALLY FACTUAL.>> TO A HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN.
IT'S ONE WAY TO ESSENTIALLY RECOGNIZE YOU JUST HAVE EMPLOYEE-ONLY COVERAGE.
LIKELY YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE AS MUCH OF A BURDEN ON THE PLAN, SO YOU ARE PAYING 15%.
THE CITY ACTUALLY TAKES ON 85% OF THE COST.
LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, WE HAVE SURVEYED OUR EMPLOYEES, AND WHILE, I WOULD SAY FINANCIALLY, WE CAN'T, TERESA MIGHT PUT IT NICER, THAT WE'VE ELECTED NOT TO RESPOND TO EVERY REQUEST FROM THE SURVEY.
WE ARE ABLE TO NOT MAKE CHANGES TO THE DEDUCTIBLES BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE YEAR AFTER YEAR.
MAYBE YOUR RATE DOESN'T CHANGE, BUT THE DEDUCTIBLE GOES UP, SO NO CHANGE TO THE DEDUCTIBLES, I THINK THAT'S A HUGE WIN FOR THIS RENEWAL.
WE'VE HAD A, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I WAS AWARE, NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES WHO HAD SOME ISSUES IN THE PAST YEAR OR TWO WITH GETTING INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR SLEEP STUDIES.
WE'VE GOTTEN THAT IN COVERAGE AND SORTED OUT.
ACCIDENT INSURANCE IS PROVIDED BY ANOTHER ENTITY, BUT WE'RE ABLE TO ENRICH THAT BENEFIT AT NO ADDITIONAL COST.
WE'RE PROVIDING DISCOUNTS ON GYM MEMBERSHIPS, WORKING WITH OUR WELLNESS PARTNER TO HAVE A CUSTOMIZABLE WELLNESS CALENDARS JUST TO PROMOTE WELLNESS.
ONE THING THAT WE'VE HEARD IS THAT EMPLOYEES, THEY WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THEIR BENEFITS.
WE'VE HAD BENEFITS AT TOWN HALL, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR EMPLOYEES.
>> JUST UNDERSTAND THEIR BENEFITS, BUT PLAY A ROLE IN CRAFTING THE PLAN.
BUT WITH THAT SAID, WHERE I MENTIONED THE PERS INCREASE 12.6%, THAT DOES RESULT IN EMPLOYEE PAYROLL DEDUCTIONS INCREASING BY 12%.
AN AVERAGE OF ALMOST $17 PER PAY PERIOD.
I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT AT LEAST BE AWARE OF AND WITH THE RECOGNITION THAT THAT'S GREAT, WE'RE PROVIDING MERIT-BASED PAY INCREASES OF 2.5%, BUT AT SOME POINT, THOSE GET EATEN AWAY LITERALLY RIGHT OUT OF THEIR PAYCHECK EVEN BEFORE GOING TO THE GROCERY STORE AND ENCOUNTERING INFLATIONARY PRICES.
JUST BEING COGNIZANT THAT THE PAY INCREASE OF 2.5% THIS BEING EATEN AWAY AT LEAST IN THIS CASE BY THE HEALTH INSURANCE COST.
EVEN WITH THE BUDGET THAT YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU, I'VE BALANCED THE BUDGET, I KEEP TRACK OF A HEALTH INSURANCE FUND BALANCE OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS.
WHEN WE SPEND MORE ON FUND BALANCE, OR SPEND LESS ON FUND BALANCE THAN BUDGETED.
I'M ABLE TO REALLY MINIMIZE WHAT I WOULD SAY IS THE BURDEN OF THE HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN BY ESTIMATING BUDGETING TO USE $500,000 FROM OUR HEALTHCARE FUND BALANCE.
A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS TO POINT OUT.
WE'RE SAYING WITH OUR CURRENT THIRD PARTY ADMINISTRATOR.
WE'RE SAYING WE'RE CONTINUING WITH ETNA NETWORK.
ALLIED IS THE THIRD-PARTY ADMINISTRATOR AND ALLIED ACTUALLY HAS BROUGHT A TREMENDOUS SAVINGS IN TERMS OF THEIR BILL ANALYSIS AND MAKING SURE PEOPLE ARE IN NETWORK OR IS OUT OF NETWORK.
THERE'S A ETNA ALLIED PARTNERSHIP.
THE STOP LOSS PROVIDER DOES NOT CHANGE.
YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THAT NUMBER IN A MOMENT.
ESSENTIALLY, THE INSURANCE ON TOP OF US BEING SELF-INSURED.
WE'RE KEEPING A PRESCRIPTION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, A PAP THAT THERE'S MAYBE A HANDFUL OF FOLKS THAT ARE ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT,
[01:20:08]
I THINK THAT'S RESULTED IN A COUPLE $100, 000 IN SAVINGS. HOW MANY?>> IN THIS YEAR, BUT OVER THE COUPLE OF YEARS AND WHETHER OR NOT THEY [INAUDIBLE] THE STOP LOSS REMAINS AT 105,000.
ESSENTIALLY, THAT MEANS THE CITY PAYS THE FIRST $105,000 FOR AN EMPLOYEE'S HEALTH INSURANCE COSTS.
YOU GO TO THE DOCTOR, YOU HAVE SURGERY, THE CITY PAYS THOSE BILLS UNTIL IT HITS $105,000 AFTER THAT 105, THEN THE STOP LOSS KICKS IN.
THE STOP LOSS RIGHT NOW, THE AMOUNT THAT HAS BEEN SPENT BY THE STOP LOSS PROVIDER OVER THAT 105,000 THROUGH MARCH IS 748,000.
ACTUALLY, THE NEXT LINE MIGHT BE TELLING. HERE ARE THE CLAIMS. I BUDGET THAT THAT THE CITY IS GOING TO PAY OUT OF POCKET $3.6 MILLION IN CLAIMS FOR ALL OF ITS EMPLOYEES, DEPENDENTS, SPOUSES.
BUT AGAIN, THAT'S JUST A BUDGET NUMBER.
WE MAY END UP SPENDING 3.1 OR WE MAY END UP AT THREE, I'M NOT SURE WHAT THERE IS? WE ACTUALLY DO HAVE A MAXIMUM CLAIM LIABILITY.
I DON'T BUDGET THE MAXIMUM CLAIM LIABILITY.
I BUDGET THE MEDIAN OF AN EXPECTED CLAIMS LIABILITY AND A MAXIMUM CLAIMS LIABILITY.
THEN THE STOP LOSS INSURANCE, THAT'S A REAL NUMBER.
RIGHT NOW WE'VE GOT A STOP LOSS CARRIER.
THAT'S ALREADY SPENT $748,000 AND ACTUALLY I GUESS WE'RE LOOKING AT 24-25.
MOST LIKELY, THEY'RE GOING TO END UP SPENDING MORE THAN THE ONE MILLION DOLLARS THAT WE'VE PAID.
THEY KNOW THAT, WHICH IS WHY THEY'VE GIVEN US A RENEWAL NUMBER OF $1.2 MILLION.
>> IS THE 3.489, THAT'S ACTUAL SUM?
THAT ONE HAPPENED. WELL, THAT'S IN THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR.
THAT'S THE BUDGET FOR THIS ENTIRE FISCAL YEAR.
WE'RE GOING TO END UP PRETTY CLOSE TO THAT NUMBER, BUT THAT ACTUALLY IS DOWN FROM THE ORIGINAL BUDGET.
>> I'M SURE OUR BUDGET IS INCREASING.
>> THIS IS IT. THESE ARE OUR COST ADMIN FEES.
YOU MAY RECALL THAT JUST THE CITY COMMISSION HAD TO, BUT AGAIN, UNDERSTANDABLY, WE'RE PAYING FOR THE PTSD BENEFIT FOR OUR POLICE FIRE AND 911 OPERATORS.
YOU CAN SEE THAT THERE'S THE COST ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.
WE DO HAVE A SEPARATE PLAN FOR OUR RETIREES [INAUDIBLE].
>> I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
THE RETIREE PLAN COVERS UP UNTIL EMPLOYEES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR MEDICARE, IS THAT CORRECT OR DO THEY HAVE A SUPPLEMENTAL PLAN? AGE 65.
>> THEY [INAUDIBLE] FOR SUPPLEMENT.
>> IF SOMEONE IS 60, CAN THEY BE PART OF THE ARE THEY ON THE RETIREE PLAN?
>> WE HAVE A RETIREE PLAN FOR ALLIED.
THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
>> IF SOMEBODY'S RETIRED AND THEY'RE 60, THEY CAN TAKE THE RETIREE PLAN FOR FROM THE CITY WHEN THEY TURN 65, THEY'RE ELIGIBLE FOR MEDICARE.
DO THEY ALSO GET RETIREE BENEFITS FROM THE CITY? DID THEY GET THE SUPPLEMENTAL PLAN?
>> THAT'S WHAT THIS RETIREE PLAN.
THIS IS THE PLAN THAT SHOWED HERE.
>> I THINK THE CLAIMS WOULD INCLUDE RETIREES.
>> THE CLAIMS ACTUALLY INCLUDE PEOPLE WHO HAVE RETIRED, BUT NOT YET.
>> [LAUGHTER] THERE'S TWO OF US.
>> THEN I WAS CURIOUS ABOUT WITH THE WELLNESS DISCOUNT.
WHAT PERCENT OF OUR EMPLOYEES PARTICIPATE, AND DOES THAT NUMBER GO UP DOWN OR I JUST WONDERED, AND WHAT FEEDBACK WE GET FROM THE EMPLOYEES ABOUT THE VALUE OF THAT?
[01:25:02]
BECAUSE I SEE WE'RE GIVING MONEY FOR DISCOUNTED GYM MEMBERSHIPS, IS THAT, I JUST BE CURIOUS AS TO SEE THAT, I THINK IT'S A GREAT BENEFIT THAT I HAVE SUPPORTED, BUT JUST BECAUSE I THINK IT'S A GREAT BENEFIT, DO OUR EMPLOYEES THINK IT'S A GREAT BENEFIT? HOW IS IT BEING USED?>> I BELIEVE IT'S A 30% DISCOUNT FOR PARTICIPATION.
I DO NOT HAVE THE NUMBER OF THE AMOUNT OF EMPLOYEES THAT PARTICIPATE.
BUT WE DO, AS PART OF THE BENEFIT SURVEY, WE HAVE A WHOLE SECTION RELATED JUST TO THE WELLNESS PROGRAM SO THEN WE TAKE THAT FEEDBACK BACK TO EHG, WHICH IS OUR WELLNESS PROVIDER, AND THEY USE THAT TO BUILD A PROGRAM, AND I THINK THAT'S PART OF THE WANTING TO HAVE A WELLNESS CALENDAR.
HOWEVER, IT DOES FLUCTUATE BECAUSE I THINK THAT TO REMAIN IN THE PLAN, YOU HAVE TO GET A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF POINTS.
THERE ARE SOME THINGS YOU HAVE TO DO BY CERTAIN TIMES.
>> LOOK AT THE NUMBER [OVERLAPPING] YOU HAVE THE NUMBER.
>> THE 30% DISCOUNT IS SIGNIFICANTLY.
>> IT'S WORTH GETTING YOUR POINTS.
>> [LAUGHTER] HAVE WE LOOKED AT GOING UNDER GMA UMBRELLA? OR HAVE WE JUST LOOKED AT IF WE WEREN'T SELF-INSURED AND WE WERE WANTING TO BE INSURED?
>> I BELIEVE IT WAS LAST FISCAL YEAR.
AT THE TIME, IT JUST WAS NOT FINANCIALLY FEASIBLE TO MAKE THAT MOVE.
BUT YES, NORMALLY WE USE BROKERS, BUT I THINK IT WAS LAST FISCAL YEAR OR THE PREVIOUS ONE, I DID REACH OUT TO GMA DIRECTLY TO GET THAT QUOTE.
>> WOULD YOU STRETCH TOO EARLY?
>> [LAUGHTER] THERE'S ALWAYS THE NEXT SLOT.
>> [LAUGHTER] WE STAY CONSISTENT.
>> A NEW SUPPLY THAT THEY USE THE MAC.
>> THEY MADE LISA WHAT THEY MAKE BECAUSE WHEN SHE HAD TO TAKE SOMETHING, THEY MADE ME BE NARCAN.
THEY WERE LIKE, WE CAN'T FILL THIS PRESCRIPTION WITHOUT GIVING YOU NARCAN [BACKGROUND]
>> WHAT'S EVERYONE'S PLEASURE, TIME WISE? THE SLIDE WISE, WE'RE ABOUT HALFWAY THROUGH, BUT I CAN TALK FAST AND SAY QUESTIONS FOR LATER.
>> I WON'T FINISH WHAT WE JUST FOR THE NEXT.
>> THIS IS THE ONLY MORE SECTION.
>> YOU DON'T GET POSTED THE PRESENTATION WILL BE POSTED TOMORROW TO THE WEBSITE.
>> [LAUGHTER] I'M GOING TO TRY TO ADD THE LAST.
>> WE CAN JUMP DOWN QUESTION MAYBE IN SOME MINUTES.
>> LET'S DO THAT. UNIFICATION. WE HEARD YOU.
THE CITY IS WORKING WITH KEEP AMERICA BEAUTIFUL TO BECOME AN AFFILIATE OF KEEP AMERICA BEAUTIFUL SO KEEP DECATUR BEAUTIFUL.
THERE'LL BE MORE INFORMATION TO COME ON THAT.
WE, ALLISON, ERICKSON, AND OTHERS ARE WORKING ON A REALLY COOL PILOT PROJECT AND THREE PARKS IT'S LIKE COOL GO TO LOOK SUPER COOL WITH THESE CRASH PICK UP STATIONS WITHIN THREE PARKS, PARKS, GREEN SPACES.
BUT THERE'S GOING TO BE A REALLY NEAT PARK COMPONENT TO IT.
ALL OF THESE REALLY ARE PARTNERSHIPS, PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN PUBLIC WORKS AND THE RESIDENTS TO PRESSURE WASH AND THE RESIDENTS PAINTING OF THE BRIDGE THERE AND ONE AT THE PARK.
PATER SQUARE CONDOMINIUMS. THERE'S A PLAN TO CLEAN UP.
I DID NOT EVEN KNOW THERE WAS A HISTORIC BRIDGE.
I APOLOGIZE CLEAN UP AND DO SOME PLANTINGS.
A COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP TO BEAUTIFY, DO PLANTING AT THE GLENLAKE PARK ENTRANCE, AND THAT ACTUALLY CAME ABOUT FROM A PROJECT IN THE GLENWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD.
CORY COMMONS OVER THERE NEAR LANDS DOWN, SOME TRAIL MAINTENANCE, A COUPLE OF THINGS.
BUT ONE THING THAT HAS BEEN DONE, I THINK YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE WORK WITH THE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AT ALLISON LED OVER HITTING COVE PARK, REMOVING INVASIVES, AND PUTTING IN NATIVE PLANTS.
[01:30:02]
AND ALSO WORKING WITH SOME VOLUNTEERS TO PUT IN SOME TRASH CANS ALONG FAIRMONT AND SCOTT, AND THE VOLUNTEERS WANT TO PICK UP TRASH.>> REAL QUICKLY. IS THERE A POSSIBILITY TO ADD MORE PET POOP STATIONS ACROSS THE CITY?
>> YES. WHERE DO YOU WANT THEM?
>> THERE'S A NEED. HONESTLY, THERE SHOULD BE AT LEAST TWO OR THREE IN EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD, ESPECIALLY KEY CORRIDORS.
>> BUT IF YOU DO HAVE A CERTAIN LOCATION, JUST SEND, EVERYONE SEND THOSE TOO.
>> BUT I WILL SAY I WANT TO ALSO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T EXCEED OUR ABILITY TO SERVICE THEM.
THE WORST THING WE CAN DO IS PUT THEM UP AND THEN THEY ACCUMULATE.
>> WELL, I GUESS IF THERE'S A CITY TRASH CAN, THERE SHOULD BE A CITY LIKE POOP STATION.
>> BECAUSE THEN THE TRASH CAN BECOME THE POOP STATION.
>> BECAUSE THEN THE TRASH CAN BECOMES THE POOP STATION. YES.
>> AFFORDABLE HOUSING PRIORITIES.
I THINK YOU KNOW MOST, NOT ALL OF THESE PRIORITIES.
THIS BUDGET DOES CONTINUE THE ANNUAL ALLOTMENT TO THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRUST FUND OF $100,000.
YOU JUST HEARD ABOUT THE NOAH, CDAP PROJECT.
THAT REPORT WILL BE IN YOUR HAND SOON.
THE OAK COTTAGE COURT IS COMPLETE.
I THINK WE HAD A WORK SESSION WITH UPDATES FROM THE DECATUR LAND TRUST, AND WE WILL BE RECEIVING AN MOU, I BELIEVE NEXT MONTH, FOR 600 COMMERCE DRIVE MOU AND THE CITY TO MAKE THAT DEVELOPMENT HAPPEN.
YOU'VE HEARD THE UPDATES AND THE IMPACT OF THE LAND TRUST REHAB PROGRAM, AND EVERYONE IS INVITED TO THE RIBBON CUTTING FOR AT LEAST THE FIRST HALF OF THE AFFORDABLE UNITS AT SOUTH HOUSING VILLAGE.
>> I REMEMBER THE [INAUDIBLE] THAT THEY DID NOT CONSIDER THIS TO DO THE SIDEWALK TREATMENT FOR THE ENTIRE FRONT DIGITAL ON COMMERCE DRIVE BECAUSE OF SOME TOPOGRAPHY CONCERNS.
I'D LIKE TO LOOK AT ACTUALLY PRE-ARGUING THAT TO DO [INAUDIBLE].
>> WE'RE GOING TO START GETTING INTO SOME OF OUR FUND.
>> THE HOTEL/MOTEL TAX FUND, YOU'LL SEE FROM THE '24, '25 ADOPTED TO THE '24, '25 REVISED, A VERY SLIGHT, BUT REAL DECREASE IN THE ANTICIPATED HOTEL/MOTEL TAX REVENUE.
I DID NOT MAKE A REAL PREDICTION FOR WHAT '25, '26 WOULD LOOK LIKE, I KEPT THAT STABLE.
BUT THE HOTELS ARE REPORTING JUST A SOFTENING IN TERMS OF OCCUPANCY OR THE RATES THAT THEY CAN CHARGE.
PART OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE DIFFERENT CHANGES EARLIER IN THE YEAR AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, AND BY AND LARGE, THE CONFERENCES ASSOCIATED WITH THE CDC.
I BELIEVE THAT BOTH OF THE HOTELS, THEY'RE WORKING QUICKLY TO SHIFT AND FILL THOSE VACANCIES, BUT IT HAD A VERY QUICK AND REAL IMPACT ON REVENUE.
THE HELPERS FUNDS ARE DISTRIBUTED TO THE TOURISM BUREAU, TO THE CONFERENCE CENTER, AND THEN 566,000 TO THE GENERAL FUND.
THE TAD, JUST A REMINDER THAT WE HAVE A TAD, AND THAT IS THE EAST DECATUR TAD THAT WAS ESTABLISHED.
THE BASE DIGEST AMOUNT WAS DOLLARS, AND ANY TAXES GENERATED ABOVE THAT BASE GO INTO THE TAD.
WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO SPECULATE ON WHAT THE 2024 DIGEST AMOUNT IS?
>> YEAH. HOW MUCH DO YOU THINK THE VALUE OF PROPERTY HAS INCREASED SINCE 2015?
>> I'D SAY DOUBLED. [BACKGROUND] SIXTY?
IT WENT FROM ROUGHLY 22 MILLION TO ALMOST 120 MILLION.
>> THAT'S JUST A NUMBER BUT [INAUDIBLE].
>> DOES THAT INCLUDE [INAUDIBLE]?
>> THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE [INAUDIBLE].
[01:35:01]
>> WOULD IT INCLUDE [INAUDIBLE]?
>> I BELIEVE THAT WOULD [INAUDIBLE].
>> ONE THING I THOUGHT ABOUT THE TAD IS WE DO TALK ABOUT THE TAD REVENUE, THEN POSSIBLY WRITE ANOTHER TAD EARLY TO JUST COVER AGAIN.
>> THAT IS ON MY LIST TO CONTINUE MONITORING THIS TAD, AND I THINK THERE ARE PUBLIC PROJECTS THAT WE WANT TO SEE HAPPEN.
>> WHAT [INAUDIBLE] PUBLIC PROJECTS?
>> RIGHT. THERE'S A NEED, AS THE DEVELOPMENT CONTINUES THERE, FOR MORE STORMWATER RETENTION.
AT LEAST AT THIS POINT, THERE ARE PLANS AGAIN OUT OR TWO YEARS OUT.
WE'RE LOOKING AT ANGELA FOR A STORMWATER PARK, TRAILS, OPEN SPACE, BUT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE COME TO FRUITION.
IF WE HAVE A TIMETABLE, THAT WOULD BE REALISTIC.
IS THIS TWO YEARS, THREE YEARS?
>> TWO TO THREE. I BELIEVE IT'S IMMINENT.
>> I'VE SEEN IT IN THE MASTER PLAN.
I SAW WE WERE AT 3.2 MILLION [INAUDIBLE].
>> RIGHT. PART OF IT HAS TO DO WITH ALSO THE TIMING OF WHEN WE START MAKING THE PAYMENTS TO NORTHWOOD RAVEN.
BUT THE TAX INCREMENT FROM THE GENERAL FUND THROUGH 2024 TOTALS JUST OVER TWO MILLION DOLLARS, AND THEN WE DO ESTIMATE AS OF THE CURRENT YEAR AND NEXT YEAR, 715,000 FROM THE GENERAL FUND INTO THE TAD.
>> I HAVE NOTICED THAT THE OVERALL TAD GETS $900,000 OR 98.
>> RIGHT. GENERAL FUND, DDA CAPITAL.
THANK YOU FOR PAINTING THE WHOLE PICTURE. SPLOST I.
WHILE WE HAVE SPLOST II, SPLOST I IS STILL VERY MUCH ACTIVE.
THE REVENUE ENDED IN MARCH OF 2024.
WE ESTIMATED THAT WE WERE GOING TO RECEIVE $20,529,000; WE RECEIVED 22,676,000 AND CHANGE.
IN 25-26, WE WERE PROPOSING 2.2 MILLION FOR WEST HOWARD AVENUE.
THE BALANCE OF THAT IS ACTUALLY IN '24, '25. [INAUDIBLE] ON BUDGET.
THERE'S ABOUT $800,000 BUDGETED FOR THE SOUTH COLUMBIA DRIVE, MULTI-USE PATH.
I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE'RE GOING TO NEED ALL THAT BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO EXTEND ARPA FUNDS BEFORE DIPPING INTO THIS BALANCE IN SPLOST.
WE HAVE A MILLION DOLLARS FOR THE MATCH FOR RAISE, NOW CALLED BUILD GRANT, ALONG SCOTT BOULEVARD, BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT THAT GRANT IS CURRENTLY UNDER REVIEW BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AND SO WE DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER OF WHERE THAT STANDS.
OF COURSE, WE HAD NOT EXPENDED ANY FUNDS, BUT WE'RE HOLDING THE MILLION-DOLLAR MATCH ASSUMING THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD.
>> THEY'RE LOOKING TO DEPOSIT THE FALLBACK TO THE GRANT THEY GAVE?
>> WELL, THEY HAVEN'T GIVEN US ANY MONEY, BUT THERE BUT THEY ARE LOOKING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE GRANT AGREEMENT COMPORTS.
>> BUT THE CRITERIA THAT IT WAS SUBMITTED WITH WAS PRIOR TO.
DID WE RESUBMIT WITH DIFFERENT CRITERIA?
[OVERLAPPING] THE FUNDS ARE OBLIGATED.
THEY SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO TAKE THEM BACK.
SO WE'RE DEALING WITH THIS A LOT.
>> BUT WE HAVEN'T RESUBMITTED A GRANT APPLICATION, A GRANT AGREEMENT, HAVE WE?
>> WE RECEIVED A DRAFT GRANT AGREEMENT PRIOR TO JANUARY OF 2025 OF WHICH OUR CITY ATTORNEY REVIEWED, AND WE DID MARKINGS AND PROVIDED BACK.
WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN IT BACK TO EXECUTE IT, SO WE DON'T KNOW NECESSARILY WHAT WE'RE GOING TO GET BACK, BUT ONCE WE DO, WE'LL ENGAGE OUR CITY ATTORNEY TO AGAIN REVIEW BEFORE EXECUTING OUR ADVANTAGE THAT THERE'S STILL ROOM FOR MODIFICATIONS IN THAT AGREEMENT.
>> BUT AGAIN, WE JUST DON'T KNOW.
[01:40:01]
>> WE'RE SPECULATING. [OVERLAPPING]
>> THERE ARE A LOT OF GRANTS. [OVERLAPPING]
>> IN A PERFECT WORLD, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN EXECUTED ALREADY, BUT THEY DID REPORT LAST JULY THAT THAT PROCESS TYPICALLY TAKES ABOUT A YEAR, AND SO WE ARE COMING UP ON.
>> DO YOU THINK FOR WHAT REASON THE PROJECT WOULD BE ABLE TO [INAUDIBLE]?
THERE'S $500,000 IN THE '25-'26 PLUS FOR THE IMPROVEMENT THERE AT EAST LAKE IN PARKWOOD.
THAT PROJECT IS ACTIVE RIGHT NOW.
I KNOW THAT THERE ARE SOME EASEMENTS THAT ARE BEING WORKED OUT.
>> ACTUALLY, I HAD A RESIDENT ASK ME ABOUT THAT TODAY, IF WE KNEW WHEN THAT WAS GOING TO START.
I'LL SEND YOU AN EMAIL. MS. SHERA. I'LL SEND YOU AN EMAIL.
>> THE LAST I'VE HEARD, THAT WE WERE IN THE EASEMENT ACQUISITION PHASE.
>> ARE WE BEYOND THE COMMUNITY, MAYBE?
>> WE'RE STILL IN THE EASEMENT ACQUISITION STAGE.
ONCE WE HAVE ALL THE TEMPORARY CONSTRUCTION EASEMENTS, WE CAN BID IT FOR CONSTRUCTION.
>> SPLOST II. SINCE SPLOST II BECAME EFFECTIVE LAST APRIL, ANOTHER SIX-YEAR SPLOST.
A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SPLOST I AND SPLOST II IS THAT SPLOST I, YOU COULD ONLY USE THE FUNDS FOR TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS.
SPLOST II, OUR DESIGNATION OR OUR BUCKETS FOR RECREATION, CULTURAL FACILITIES, AND TRANSPORTATION.
WE HAD SOME ILLUSTRATIVE PROJECTS, BUT ACTUALLY, THE LEGAL REQUIREMENTS IS THAT A PROJECT FALLS INTO ONE OF THOSE BUCKETS.
SIX YEARS, WE'RE ESTIMATING 30,592,000, AND THE EXPENDITURES THAT ARE IN THE BUDGET FOR '25-'26, AND THE LION'S SHARE OF THEM, OR FOR THE SQUARE TRANSFORMATION PROJECT, YOU RECALL THAT WE JUST ISSUED BONDS WE'LL BE SPENDING IN THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR, AT LEAST 6.5 MILLION DOLLARS OF THE BOND REVENUE.
YOU SEE THAT THERE'S 310,000 IN HERE, THAT'S SPECIFICALLY FOR RECREATION IMPROVEMENTS.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE, THOUGH, THAT Y'ALL ARE FULLY AWARE THAT THERE'S FUNDING IN HERE FOR THE LEGACY GYM, TO REPLACE THE ROOF, TO PROTECT WHAT'S INSIDE THAT GYM.
ALSO, IF YOU'VE BEEN IN THERE, YOU APPRECIATE THE NEED FOR SOUND PROOFING, IN THAT OFFICE [INAUDIBLE] A LITTLE BIT OF REALLY SEED MONEY FOR ANY INITIAL WORK THAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO IN COORDINATION WITH THE COUNTY ON NORTH DECATUR ROAD.
THE DERRYDOWN WAY SIDEWALKS, 600,000 ON DERRYDOWN.
WE DO HAVE A GRANT MATCH AT 420,000, AND THAT IS AT SOUTH MCDONOUGH TO OAKVIEW ROAD.
THEN WE START PAYING THE DEBT SERVICE ON THE SQUARE PROJECTS AT 1.9 MILLION, BECAUSE WE DO PAY OFF THE DEBT IN FIVE YEARS.
THEN, JUST AS A REMINDER, JUST LIKE SPLOST I, SPLOST II, ABOUT CLOSE TO $12 MILLION OF THE TOTAL REVENUE IS EARMARKED TO PRIOR YEARS OF DEBT.
PUBLIC FACILITIES AUTHORITY, PFA.
WE HAVE A SEPARATE FUND, NEXT SLIDE, THAT WE USE TO ACCOUNT FOR THE DEBT SERVICE ON LEGACY PARK, AND THAT THE REPAYMENT SOURCE FOR THE BONDS AND THE LOAN ON LEGACY IS IN THE FORM OF A TRANSFER FROM THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS FUND.
THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS FUND SENDS OVER, I WANT TO SAY MAYBE $2.2 MILLION, AND JUST OVER TWO MILLION OF THAT IS FOR DEBT SERVICE, AND THE REST OF IT IS FOR MAINTENANCE,
[01:45:06]
REPAIRS, AND OTHER IMPROVEMENTS TO THE PROPERTY.YOU SEE HERE, THE FIRST COUPLE OF ITEMS, THE 100,000 FOR INVASIVES, THAT'S STILL GOING DOWN ON THE GRANT THAT WE'VE RECEIVED FROM DEKALB COUNTY.
THE $209,000 IS THE FUNDS THAT WE THINK WE ARE GOING TO RECEIVE VERY SOON.
ALSO FROM CONGRESS HANK JOHNSON, FOR THE CREATIVE VILLAGE.
THEN THE OTHER EXPENDITURES, WE'RE LOOKING TO PAY FOR THAT OUT OF THE REVENUE THAT'S BEEN TRANSFERRED AND/OR ACCUMULATING FROM THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS FUND; REPAIRS TO SOME OF THE COTTAGES, THE ADMIN BUILDING, THAT'S A NEW ROOF.
I'M NOT SURE, I THINK THAT'S THE HVAC.
[BACKGROUND] THE WORK ON THIS PFA FUND. THAT'S THE HVAC.
EVIDENTLY, IT IS NOT A GREAT WORKING ENVIRONMENT FOR MY FRIENDS IN THAT BODY.
>> IT WAS A LITTLE TOASTY, THE LAST BOARD MEETING IN THERE.
>> HOW MANY MORE YEARS OF DEBT SERVICE IS THERE ON THAT?
>> SHOULD WE ACTUALLY FIND THAT SLIDE? [LAUGHTER]
>> DEBT SERVICE SECTION, TOWARDS THE BACK.
IN THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT SECTION, THERE'S A DEBT SERVICE, RIGHT UP THE CITY MANAGER DOES WHICH IS IN THE CHART. [OVERLAPPING]
>> THAT'S FOR BOTH THE [INAUDIBLE] TWENTY FORTY-SEVEN.
LOAN AND FOR THE BONDS, [INAUDIBLE].
IS IT THE LOCATION WHERE THE COTTAGE WAS? [INAUDIBLE] THE PERVIOUS PARKING LOT, AND SO THE QUOTE THAT WE RECEIVED, THE ESTIMATE IS AROUND $300,000.
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT, WE ARE EXPECTING TO RECEIVE IN TAX REVENUE ABOUT $6.6 MILLION.
TO HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE OF THE PROJECTS HERE, $750,000.
>> WE ARE EXPECTING, BY WAY OF REPRESENTATIVE NIKEMA WILLIAMS, STILL A COUPLE OF YEARS IN THE WORKS, BUT WE DO BELIEVE THAT WE ARE [INAUDIBLE].
ALSO, THERE'S THE CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING FROM SENATOR OSSOFF FOR THE SOLAR ARRAY AND BATTERIES DOWN AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THAT'S $500,000 FROM THE SENATOR, AND WE'VE INCLUDED THAT YOU'RE REQUIRED TO PAY A $500,000 MATCH FOR THAT.
I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT PROCESS IS QUITE AS FAR ALONG AS THE DECATUR RECREATION CENTER.
AS A PROCESS, I'M REALLY REFERRING MORE TO THE FEDERAL STEPS IN THE PROCESS.
I DO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THERE IS NO TRANSFER FROM THE GENERAL FUND.
THAT'S ACTUALLY QUITE NORMAL, EXCEPT FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS WHERE WE'VE BEEN IN A POSITION TO SPEND DOWN FUND BALANCE, AND THAT WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE A COUPLE OF HEALTHY TRANSFERS FROM THE GENERAL FUND, THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS FUND.
WE, IN THE PAST, USED THAT SUPPLEMENT FROM THE GENERAL FUND TO REALLY EXPEDITE SOME MILLION PAVING OF REALLY, THE LMIG PROGRAM, SO WHAT YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU NOW IN TERMS OF A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT BUDGET AND AN LMIG PROGRAM IS AN LMIG PROGRAM THAT IS BACK TO NORMAL.
AGAIN, WHEN WE CAN ACCELERATE IT, I THINK THAT'S HOW IT SHOULD BE.
WHEN WE CAN ACCELERATE IT, WE WILL, AND WHEN WE'RE IN A DIFFERENT FINANCIAL POSITION, THE BASELINE.
BUT WE DO EXPECT TO END WITH AN UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE OF $1.25 MILLION, AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO KEEP THAT ON HAND AS WELL.
[01:50:02]
PROJECTS. WE CONTINUE WITH PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT REPLACEMENT AND KEEPING THE EQUIPMENT SAFE, $500,000 FOR THE RESURFACING OF GLENLAKE TENNIS COURT.I WOULD SAY THAT WE HAVE THAT MONEY AVAILABLE, BUT THAT WE HAVE NOT AND WE WILL NOT MAKE THAT FINAL DETERMINATION UNTIL CLARITY ON THE CONDITIONS OF THE WORK, WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO GET SOME OF THE COURTS OPEN AND OPERATIONAL AND ALSO IN CONSIDERATION OF A MASTER PLANNING PROCESS, WHAT NEEDS TO COME FIRST.
BUT THERE ARE FUNDS SET ASIDE.
WE CONTINUE WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S TAKE HOME CAR PROGRAM.
WE WILL BE INSTALLING EV CHARGING STATIONS.
PUBLIC LOCATIONS IN THE CITY, GOING WITH THE LED LIGHTING UPGRADES AT ALL OF OUR CITY FACILITIES IS PAST TIME FOR A REPLACEMENT TO THE CITY'S [INAUDIBLE] THAT BUDGETED FOR SOME LAPTOP REPLACEMENTS THAT INVOLVED AND THEN DISCONTINUED.
OF COURSE, THE BUDGET ITSELF LITERALLY LISTS OUT EVERY SINGLE PROJECT THAT IS COVERED IN THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS FUND.
>> CHARGING STATIONS, DO WE MAYBE USE THEM?
>> THAT WILL BE A POLICY DECISION THAT WE NEED TO MAKE AS WE START TO IMPLEMENT MORE THAT ARE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE.
>> HOW MANY DO WE CURRENTLY HAVE?
>> WELL, WE'RE DOWN TO ONE AT THIS POINT, THE ONE AT OAKHURST AND AT PUBLIC WORKS, WE'LL HAVE SIX PUBLIC-FACING.
THEN WE DO INTEND TO PUT EV CHARGERS ALONG NORTH MCDONOUGH AS THAT PROJECT.
>> I DON'T KNOW OF ANY PLACES WHERE YOU GO TO MUNICIPALITIES WHERE THEY'RE FREE.
>> YOU JUST DON'T EXPECT THAT.
>> I THINK THE ONE IN OAKHURST IS PUBLIC.
WHATEVER DECISION IS MADE NEEDS TO BE PROBABLY STANDARD THROUGHOUT THIS.
>> I UNDERSTAND, AND THIS IS [INAUDIBLE].
>> GREAT SLIDE BECAUSE IT SHOWS FOR DIFFERENT FUNDS, THE INVESTMENTS THAT WE'RE MAKING IN OUR STREETS, SIDEWALKS, FOR MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS, THAT WILL BE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS FUND.
AGAIN, BACK TO THE STANDARD ONE MILLION DOLLARS FOR LMIG AND REPAIRS, AND ALSO SIDEWALK.
THIS 150 IS GOING TO BE MOSTLY SIDEWALK REPAIR.
SPLOST, WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THOSE PROJECTS WITH SCOTT BOULEVARD, WEST HOWARD, THE SOUTH COLUMBIA DRIVE AND TRAIL, EASTLAKE, AND PARKWOOD.
THEN MOVING ON TO SPLOST II, SOUTH MCDONOUGH, OAKVIEW, NORTH DECATUR [INAUDIBLE] AND THEN ARPA.
MOST OF THE FUNDS FOR SOUTH COLUMBIA DRIVE BEING AT THE ARPA FUND, IF WE'RE GOING TO GO INTO DETAIL ON THE ARPA FUND.
JUST AS A REMINDER, ARPA WAS 2021.
WE RECEIVED JUST OVER $9.5 MILLION, WHICH WAS REALLY COMMUNITY-CHANGING MONEY FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
WE RECEIVED HALF OF IT IN '21, HALF IN '22, THE FUNDS HAVE ALL BEEN OBLIGATED AS REQUIRED BY THE END OF LAST YEAR, AND THE FUNDS MUST BE EXPENDED, AND THEY WILL BE EXPENDED BY DECEMBER 31ST, 2026.
A REMINDER, WE DID USE THE STANDARD [INAUDIBLE] PROVIDES ME WITH SOME FLEXIBILITY REPORT.
THE NEXT SLIDE SHOWS THE ARPA FUND.
YOU CAN SEE EXACTLY HOW MUCH WE SPENT IN EVERY CATEGORY.
MUNICIPAL COURT, YOU RECALL THAT WE WERE ABLE TO GO REMOTE WITH MUNICIPAL COURT HEARINGS.
THERE WAS COVID, THERE WAS SUPPLIES AND TESTING.
YOU RECALL THAT WE TESTED EMPLOYEES THAT WERE NOT VACCINATED.
WE PROVIDED PANDEMIC PREMIUM FUNDS.
WE PUT IN THE HYBRID AV AUDIO VISUAL SYSTEM AT DECATUR REC.
WE SPENT 3.8 MILLION, THE LARGEST INVESTMENT BEING MADE IN THE SOUTH HOUSING VILLAGE, AND THEN THE 3.5 MILLION IN THE TRACK AND FIELD THAT JUST OPENED,
[01:55:03]
AND THAT LEAVES EXACTLY $1,616,375 TO GO TOWARDS THE SOUTH COLUMBIA DRIVE MULTI-USE PATH.THERE IT IS. THAT'S HOW ARPA WAS SPENT, AND TO SUM IT UP, IT WAS SPENT TO SAVE AND RECOGNIZE OUR EMPLOYEES AND TO INVEST IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING, TO INVEST IN OUTDOOR RECREATIONAL FACILITIES.
AT LEAST A COUPLE OF THESE PROJECTS ARE ONES THAT WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED AS SOON AS THEY DID WITHOUT THE ARPA FUNDS.
SCHOOL ZONE CAMERA SAFETY PROGRAM FUND.
WELL, NEW IN THE SENSE OF WE JUST STARTED RECEIVING THE REVENUE FOR THIS FUND FROM THE CAMERAS THAT HAD BEEN INSTALLED IN FIVE SCHOOL ZONES.
THE ABSOLUTE ONLY GOAL FOR HAVING THESE CAMERAS IN THE SCHOOL ZONES IS TO GET PEOPLE TO SLOW DOWN AT THIS POINT, JUST BEFORE SCHOOL, JUST AFTER SCHOOL, WHEN THE MAJORITY OF STUDENTS AND CROSSING GUARDS ARE OUT AND ABOUT AROUND THE SCHOOLS, BUT TO SLOW DOWN AND INCREASE SAFETY.
I BELIEVE THAT THIS PROGRAM IS EFFECTIVE, FROM THE PRE-CAMERA NUMBERS TO THE POST-CAMERA NUMBERS, 92% DECREASE, AND HARD TO ARGUE WITH THOSE NUMBERS.
THAT PROJECTION OF 92%, THAT THOSE SCHOOL ZONES ARE A WHOLE LOT SAFER.
I DO BELIEVE THAT WHILE THERE'S CONTROVERSY OR WHETHER REAL OR MANUFACTURED, OR ANGST OVER THE PROGRAM GENERALLY.
AGAIN, IT DOES WHAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO DO, IS TO KEEP THE CHILDREN AND OTHERS SAFE. WE'RE DOING IT THE RIGHT WAY.
FIRST OF ALL, TO GET A TICKET, YOU HAVE TO BE GOING AT LEAST 11 MILES AN HOUR OVER THE POSTED SPEED LIMITS.
IF YOU'RE GOING 36 MILES PER HOUR IN A SCHOOL ZONE, WE HAVE A VERY LIMITED PERIOD OF TIME; THE HOUR BEFORE SCHOOL STARTS, THE HOUR AFTER SCHOOL GETS OUT.
I HOPE WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY, AS A COMMUNITY, TO TELL OUR STORY AGAIN WITH THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND COURAGE THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE CHANGES TO THE STATE LAWS.
STATE LAWS WAS REFERENCED HERE, THAT IT BE CHANGED IN A WAY THAT REALLY MIRRORS THE WAY THAT WE'RE MODELING THE PROGRAM.
>> DO WE HAVE FLASHING LIGHTS AT ALL FIVE LOCATIONS?
>> WE DO NOT YET HAVE FLASHING LIGHTS AT ALL THE LOCATIONS, BUT WE'VE GOT FUNDS IF WE GO TO THE NEST.
>> WELL, ONE THING THAT'S NOT ON ONE OF THE SLIDES, I DON'T BELIEVE IT'S ON THE SLIDES.
AS OF TODAY, AFTER FIVE MONTHS OF REVENUE, THERE'S $850,000 IN THIS BANK ACCOUNT THAT CAN BE USED FOR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR PUBLIC SAFETY INITIATIVES.
PRETTY BROAD, PRETTY VAGUE, BUT NONETHELESS, AS WE WENT THROUGH EVERY REQUEST FROM THE DEPARTMENTS, AND IN SOME CASES, WE MADE DECISIONS TO PUT CERTAIN PROJECTS OR SUPPLIES INTO THIS LINE ITEM, AS LONG AS WE WERE COMFORTABLE WITH HAVING THIS, IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN DISCUSSED AT THE STATE LEVEL.
IF THIS LIST NEEDS TO BE ON THE FRONT PAGE OF THE WEBSITE, AGAIN, WE'RE HAPPY TO DO THAT IN THE INTEREST OF TRANSPARENCY SO PEOPLE CAN [INAUDIBLE] IN A WAY THAT SUPPORTS LAW ENFORCEMENT, PUBLIC SAFETY AND WE CAN ARGUE THAT ROAD SAFETY CERTAINLY FALLS UNDER PUBLIC SAFETY.
[02:00:01]
WE DO ESTIMATE REVENUES NEXT YEAR OF ABOUT $1.6 MILLION, IN HINDSIGHT, THAT MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT HIGH, BUT NOT COMPLETELY A POSSIBILITY.BUT BECAUSE OF THE ACCUMULATED BALANCE FROM THIS YEAR ROLLING INTO NEXT YEAR, WE HAVE REALLY ABOUT $2.5 MILLION TO WORK WITH, AND SO WE SHOW EXPENDITURES AROUND $2.4 MILLION.
TOP OF THE LIST, SOME SCHOOL ZONE FLASHING LIGHTS FOR SOUTH CANDLER ON CHURCH STREET.
WILL THAT THEN ADDRESS THE LOCATIONS THAT DON'T HAVE?
>> YEAH, WE'LL MOVE FLASHING LIGHTS TO BE APPROVED.
>> IDEALLY, BEFORE [OVERLAPPING] SCHOOL STARTS.
>> THE FLASHING LIGHTS ON SOUTH CANDLER DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION IS CURRENTLY BEING [INAUDIBLE] GDOT.
>> IN CHURCH STREET, DO WE HAVE AN ESTIMATE THERE?
>> IT'S IN PROGRESS, AND I THINK IT'S BEST IF I FOLLOW UP WITH A BETTER ESTIMATE THAN TOP OF MIND.
>> BUT WE ARE IN DESIGN AND PROCESS.
>> THERE WAS A LOT OF SCRUTINY [INAUDIBLE].
>> WE DON'T DISAGREE. EVEN THOUGH THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE THERE, THERE'S NO REQUIREMENT, WE BELIEVE THAT THEY SHOULD BE THERE.
THEY'RE ALL SIGNED WITH THE TIMES, TOO.
>> DEFINITELY, YOU CAN SEE THE LIST HERE, BUT THE MAJOR EXPENDITURE LINE ITEM IS ON THIS 1.7 MILLION TO START IMPLEMENTING SOME OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS IN THE SAFETY ACTION PLAN THAT WAS JUST ADOPTED BY THE CITY COMMISSION.
>> HOPEFULLY, WE CAN GET GRANTS TO FURTHER THAT WORK AS WELL, BUT I THINK IT ALWAYS LOOKS IMPORTANT TO GRANT TOURS WHEN YOU'VE INVESTED YOUR OWN DOLLARS AND YOU'RE OFF WITH A ROBUST INVESTMENT IN YOUR OWN PLANS.
>> THE SAFE STREETS FOR ALL IMPLEMENTATION GRANT IS DUE JUNE 26TH.
WE HAVE AN APPLICATION IN PROGRESS, AND WE'RE ACTIVELY WORKING WITH GDOT TO COME UP WITH THE SCOPE BUDGET WE BOTH AGREE ON.
>> THE MILLION DOLLARS OF THAT IS THE GRANT MATCH OF THAT TOTAL THAT [INAUDIBLE] GAVE.
>> CITY ENERGY FUND. COMMUNITY ENERGY FUND, JUST A REMINDER WE CREATED THAT IN '23-'24 TO HELP ADVANCE THE CLEAN ENERGY GOALS SPECIFICALLY FROM THE CLEAN ENERGY PLAN, AND THE FUND IS SLATED TO RECEIVE ABOUT $167,000 FROM THE GENERAL FUND BECAUSE THIS BODY HAS COMMITTED 10% OF THE ENERGY RELATED FRANCHISE FEES.
THEN THERE'S ALSO $400,000 FROM THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND CONSERVATION LOCK GRANT.
WE ARE EXPECTING THAT MONEY TO BE IN OUR ACCOUNT.
IT COULD BE ANY DAY NOW. WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF WHAT IS IT ANY DAY, MAYBE THE END OF THE MONTH BUT IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO MAKE A DRAWDOWN ON THOSE FUNDS.
JUST SO WE CAN LAY OUT THE NEXT SLIDE.
INITIATIVES RELATED TO CLIMATE ACTION, AND SO IN THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS FUND.
WE TALKED ABOUT THE SOLAR ARRAY ALREADY AND BATTERY AT THE REC CENTER AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE CHARGING STATIONS.
THEN THE GRANT FUND, ACTUALLY, THIS IS THE COMMUNITY ENERGY FUND.
I'M SORRY. I MISTITLED THIS. WE HAVE $100,000 THAT'S EARMARKED FOR THE FIRST ROUND OF THE COMMUNITY ENERGY REBATES. YOU MAY RECALL IT WAS A FEW MEETINGS AGO WHERE MISS BODY ENTERED OR AGREED TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY READER IS GOING TO HELP US WITH THAT REBATE PROGRAM. THEN I HAD MENTIONED THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY GRANT PROGRAM, AND WE'RE SHOWING DISPROPORTION OF THAT OF THAT GRANT FUNDING BEING SPENT IN '25-'26, ADMINISTRATOR.
[02:05:08]
>> DO YOU THINK THAT PROGRAM IS STILL GOING TO GO FORWARD?
>> YES, THAT'S THE 400,000 WHERE WE ARE.
I HAVE TO REMAIN CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC ONLY BECAUSE WE HAVE HAD A SUCCESSFUL DRAWDOWN OF OTHER FEDERAL FUNDS AS OF LATE.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS BROUGHT OUT AT THE ARC MEETING WAS THAT BECAUSE THERE WERE SO MANY FUNDS THAT THEY WERE LOOKING AT, WAS THAT THE ONES THAT ARE RELATIVELY SMALL AMOUNTS ARE GOING THROUGH AND THEY'RE REALLY TARGETING THE MULTI MILLION DOLLAR FUNDS THAT THEY MIGHT CALL BACK BECAUSE IT MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE AND IT DOESN'T TAKE THAT MANY.
IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE MILLIONS OF GRANT OUT THERE AND THEY'RE FOR $1 MILLION THEN.
A LOT OF TIMES THE LESS SCRUTINY FOR $700 MILLION.
[OVERLAPPING] NOT TRUMP CHANGE TO US TO BECOME.[LAUGHTER]
>> THIS IS THE LAST FUND THAT WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT, AND THIS IS THE FUN FUND. THIS IS THE WATCH FEST 2026 FUND FOR THE FESTIVAL AND EVENTS SURROUNDING THE FIFA WORLD CUP IN JUNE AND JULY OF NEXT YEAR, JUNE 11TH THROUGH JULY 19TH, 34 DAYS OF SOCCER DURING THAT TIME.
WE ENVISION WATCH PARTIES, ENTERTAINMENT, MUSIC SINCE THE JULY FESTIVAL. THE BUDGET DOES INCLUDE A CONTRIBUTION OR CONTRIBUTIONS TOTALING $300,000 FROM THE GENERAL FUND, SPLIT IT OUT, THIS YEAR, 150, NEXT YEAR, 150.
WE ARE ANTICIPATING ANOTHER $500,000 FROM OUR EVENT PARTNERS, THE DDA, AND THE TOURISM BUREAU. THEN IF THERE ARE ADDITIONAL EXPENSES, AND I HAVE BUDGETED AS IF THERE WILL BE ADDITIONAL EXPENSES.
BUT IF THERE THAT WILL HAVE TO BE COVERED BY SPONSORSHIPS.
WE'RE ACTUALLY MAKING SOME REALLY POSITIVE PROGRESS IN THE SPONSORSHIP AREA.
I DO HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT WE ARE A HANDFUL OF VERY STRONG PARTNERS, SPONSORS.
I HAVE BUDGETED FOR FIRST RESPONDER EXPENSES, POLICE, FIRE.
ACTUALLY I INCLUDE PUBLIC WORKS AND OUR FIRST RESPONDER TEAM ARE TALKING TO THE COUNTY AND THE HOPEFUL THAT THERE MAYBE SOME ASSISTANCE.
WITH THE EXPENSES RELATED TO AT THIS POINT, OUR PARTNERS ON THE BOOKS ARE DEKALB COUNTY, MARTA, THE DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, THE TOURISM BUREAU.
BE SUCCESSFUL WE'RE GOING TO THE COUNTY AND MARTA.
YOU'RE LIKE, THAT'S ALL GOOD. THERE'S THE REVENUES, THERE'S THE EXPENDITURES, ANDREY TALKS ABOUT FUND BALANCE, BUT WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO? HERE YOU GO.
I THINK IT'S AMBITIOUS, BUT THIS IS ALSO VERY REFINED.
THE DOWNTOWN SQUARE TRANSFORMATION.
WE DIDN'T EVEN TALK ABOUT THE UPDATE TO THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND AT THE SAME TIME, WE'RE GOING TO UPDATE THE CLEAN ENERGY PLAN.
AGAIN, AT THE SAME TIME, THE CHARTER REVIEW PROCESS, AND HEAT MITIGATION STRATEGY, IMPLEMENTATION OF SAFE STREETS, YOU SAW WHERE WE HAVE THAT FUNDED THROUGH THE SCHOOL ZONE CAMERAS.
BEAUTIFICATION EFFORTS, AGAIN, WE REALLY AGREE WITH THE NEED TO FIND WAYS TO PARTNER WITH OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT HAPPENS THERE'S UTILITY MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE TO BE ABLE TO MANAGE AND MONITOR OUR UTILITY USAGE CONTINUING DOWNTOWN AMBASSADORS.
STORMWATER CAPITAL PROJECTS, I THINK THAT MIGHT EVEN NEED TO BE ANOTHER WORK SESSION WHERE I CAN REALLY DIVE INTO THOSE PROJECTS, WHERE WE'RE MAKING SOME LOTS OF PROGRESS BEHIND THE SCENES WITH THIS CAPITAL PROJECTS.
THE NOA YOU HEARD ABOUT. YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE MOU IN FRONT OF YOU VERY SOON BETWEEN US AND THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. RE-ESTABLISH AND REVAMP THE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER PROGRAM.
[02:10:02]
I'M GLAD WE'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVISIT AT MOU AND REALLY RESTART SVR AND BACK AT THE RECRUITMENT FOR THE HOMELESS STRATEGY MANAGER.BUT I DO SEE 26 BEING A YEAR WHERE THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF PLANNING AND PARTNERSHIP RELATED TO THE UNHOUSED EFFORTS.
MODEL THAT IN THE NLU WILL BE COMING TO YOU BY THE WATCH FEST, WEST HOWARD AVENUE.
AGAIN, ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY, WE CAN TALK ABOUT EXPANDED AND IMPROVED COMMUNICATION SERVICES, AND INCLUDING TARGETED EMAILS AS WELL AS TEXT AND TEXT.
EBSTER TEEN ACTIVITY AREA, THE CONSTRUCTION WILL BE 26.
ANGELA AND TEAM WILL BE TALKING TO US ABOUT THE DOWNTOWN PARKING ENHANCEMENTS, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND THEY'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE CONTINUATION OF THE COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM.
LIKE YOU RECALL MEETING THE FIRST GROUP OF GRADUATES FROM THE CERT TEAM.
I THINK WAS ONE DAY DRIVE INTO WORK THIS WEEK.
THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT HOW THIS IS GOING TO BE AN ACTIVE HURRICANE THAT REALLY MY FIRST FAULT WAS, LIKE, THAT'S WHY WE DO THINGS SO THAT WE HAVE THESE FOLKS THAT ARE TRAINED AND THEY'RE IN PLACE, AND IT'S ONE MORE PIECE OF OUR RESILIENCE PLAN BECAUSE THESE EVENTS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN AND WHILE WE HAVE STAFF THAT ARE PREPARED AND TRAINED IN SOME WAYS DIFFERENT THAN THE UNIFICATION.
ART ENGAGE RESIDENTS AS AN EXTENSION OF WHAT WE DO. ENERGY REBATE PROGRAM.
I'M SO EXCITED TO START GETTING THOSE REBATES AND THOSE IMPROVEMENTS INTO PEOPLE'S HANDS.
IT NEEDS ASSESSMENT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.
THAT'S IN ADDITION TO THE SYSTEM AND THEN ANGELA AND HER TEAM AND DDA.
THAT'S JUST HIGHLIGHTS, AND LOOK, WE'VE JUST GOT A FEW THINGS DONE.
IN '24-'25, I WON'T BELABOR THOSE, BUT LET YOU LINGER ON THOSE FOR TO SEE WHAT.
EVERYONE PROBABLY HAS A LITTLE SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAT THEY'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT AND LOOKING. THANK YOU. FINALLY, WHAT'S NEXT? WE DO HAVE TWO MORE PUBLIC HEARINGS ON THE BUDGET MILLAGE RATE JUNE 30TH.
LET ME KNOW IF YOU CAN MEET HERE, 7:30, REGULAR MEETING AND WE ASKED TO THE ADOPTION OF THE MILLAGE RATE AND THE BUDGET ON JUNE 16TH.
BUDGET MAY GO INTO EFFECT ON JULY 1ST AND BUDGET OF '25-'26.
WE COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT YOU.
>> JUST A QUICK, SOMETHING I OBSERVED A GOING THROUGH THIS IS THAT THIS BUDGET ACTUALLY ALLOCATES MORE MONEY FOR PARKS AND RECREATION THAN IT DOES FOR POLICE.
>> THE MORE WE SPEND THERE PUT IT IN THE LAST WAY. [LAUGHTER]
>> I THINK WE'RE ALL BELIEVERS. A BUNCH OF PEOPLE SIGHT GETTING IN TROUBLE OUT OF THE TRACK.
[LAUGHTER] OTHER THAN THAT I'M HAPPY TO TAKE QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS.
I KNOW IT'S GETTING LATE, BUT WE HAVE UNTIL THE16TH QUARTER SAME QUESTION OUR WAY.
>> ONE QUICK QUESTION. IT'S A VERY GREAT BUDGET, COLLEGE AVENUE WHAT IS THAT PROJECT?
DO WE KNOW I JUST HAVE TO BE [INAUDIBLE]. [OVERLAPPING]
[02:15:01]
>> I WOULD GOOGLE IT TO SEE THE UPDATE ON THE WEBSITE FOR THAT SPECIFIC PROJECT.
I'M UNSURE TOP OF MINE WHICH FISCAL YEAR THEY WOULD FUNDED, 0018335.
I WOULD VENTURE TO GET 2028 CONFIRM.
WHERE ARE WE WITH THE COUNTY ON OUR TRAFFIC LIGHT SIGNALIZATION UPGRADE? BECAUSE I'VE HAD A NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT OUR NUMBER OF SIGNALS.
TRAFFIC SIGNALS BEING. [OVERLAPPING]
>> WELL, YOU'RE TRYING TO SCORE BROWNIE POINTS.
>> GDOT HOSTED A MEETING WITH THE DIFFERENT CITIES IN DEKALB COUNTY A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO, AND THE LAST STATUS UPDATE WE RECEIVED WAS THAT PROJECT WAS SHELVED BECAUSE OF LACK OF FUNDING, BUT IDENTIFIED TO COME OFF THE SHELF IN 2028.
IN ORDER TO BRING IT OFF THE SHELF, THEY WOULD NEED TO REDO SOME OF THE PLANS TO CONFIRM THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND RIGHT OF WAY, THINGS DIDN'T CHANGE. THEN THEY COULD PROCEED IN THAT TIME, THE COST HAS INCREASED IN ORDER TO FUND THAT PROJECT [OVERLAPPING] LIKE MAYBE $7 MILLION. IT'S VERY EXPENSIVE PROJECT.
>> ALL OF THE PROJECT. [OVERLAPPING]
>> WE DID SUBMIT REQUESTS FOR THAT PROJECT TO OUR SENATORS FOR APPROPRIATION FUNDING AND WE HAVE NOT HEARD.
>> WE SUBMITTED JUST BECAUSE THE PRICE TAG WAS TOO MUCH, BUT TO CHIP AWAY MAYBE FIVE INTERSECTIONS TO EACH OF THE NET 30-40 INTERSECTIONS AND FIRM.
>> NO REAL EXPLANATION AS TO WHY ALL OF THE OTHER SIGNALS WERE UPGRADED IN THE COUNTY EXCEPT FOR DECATUR 15, A LONG TIME AGO.
>> YEAH, I CAN'T SPEAK TO THAT, BUT I CAN SAY THAT, IN THAT MEETING, THERE WAS GREAT ADVOCACY FROM OUR COUNTERPARTS AT DEKALB COUNTY TO JUSTIFY THEIR MILLION DOLLAR INVESTMENT IN SECURING THE RIGHT OF WAY.
WE ARE PARTNERED TOGETHER AND SEEING THAT COME TO FRUITION.
>> IT'S TROUBLING BECAUSE SOME OF THE PROBLEMS AREN'T THE FACT THAT THE SIGNALS ARE OLD.
THERE WERE COMMON THINGS LIKE BULBS BEING OUT? LIKE OH THE GREEN SHOWS, BUT THE RED.
THESE ARE SERIOUS OF ME. IF WE'RE GOING TO GET TO OUR VISION ZERO AND REALLY ADOPT THAT MODEL, AND THIS IS PART OF IT.
IT'S LIKE WE CAN'T GET THERE WITHOUT THIS.
>> YES, WHEN THE SIGNALS ARE UPGRADED, THERE WILL BE MORE OF AN OPPORTUNITY TO BETTER TIME THE SIGNAL AND MAKE THEM SAFER AND MORE OPERATIONAL IMPROVEMENTS.
>> WHY DO WE NEED TO SHOW UP WITH THE PITCHFORKS?
>> HERE IS 28 THERE [INAUDIBLE].
>> I FEEL MORE HOPEFUL THAN I HAVE IN MY TIME HERE AT THE CITY OF DECATUR BASED ON THAT MEETING.
>> I THINK THEN WE'LL SEE WHAT RESPONSE BACK WE GET FROM THE SENATORS WITH THE CONGRESSIONAL ITERATIVE.
I DO THINK THAT IF EITHER OR BOTH OF THE JUST BE ONE.
IF THAT GETS BUDGETED OR FUNDED, THEN I THINK THAT WOULD PROVIDE A MOVEMENT THAT OTHERWISE DOES NOT EXIST.
IF WE DON'T GET FUNDED, THEN I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT.
>> WE'RE ASKING FOR THE FULL SEVEN BILLION PERCENTAGE.
>> THANK YOU TO THESE FOLKS HERE.
[APPLAUSE] THEN ALL OF THE PEOPLE BEHIND THEM.
>> THANKS, BANKS. [LAUGHTER] NUMBER 3.
>> THERE WASN'T. WELL, THERE IS NOW. [LAUGHTER]
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.