[00:03:16]
OKAY, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE'LL GET STARTED.
RIGHT NOW GOOD MORNING. [LAUGHTER] GOOD MEETING.
SO WE'LL GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED.
WE'LL START OFF, IF YOU'LL RISE, WE'LL DO THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS.
ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
SO HE'LL PROBABLY BE HERE AT SOME POINT, BUT WE CAN GET STARTED.
I'M GOING TO PINCH HIT FOR HIM.
SO THIS EVENING IS THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE FY 2025 BUDGET REQUEST AND PROJECT REVENUE.
I'M VICE PRESIDENT OF THE COMMISSION.
FRANK BARTZ IS OUR COMMISSIONER.
THERE WILL BE TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS TODAY, EACH OF WHICH IS REQUIRED BY STATE OR LOCAL LAW.
FIRST, FOR TESTIMONY ON THE BUDGET REQUESTED FOR THE OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGETS.
THE SECOND IS FOR THE MUNICIPAL PROPERTY TAX DIFFERENTIAL RATES.
BUDGET SUMMARY SHEETS WERE MADE AVAILABLE ONLINE AT THE COUNTY WEBSITE UNDER THE DOCUMENT CENTER IN THE FINANCE AND BUDGET FOLDER, AND WE ALSO HAVE THEM IN THE BACK OF THE ROOM.
[00:05:05]
THESE HEARINGS WERE ADVERTISED IN THE STAR DEMOCRAT NEWSPAPER AS WELL AS ON OUR WEBSITE.SO WE WILL CONVENE THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING ON THE FY 2025 BUDGET REQUEST, IF YOU'RE GOING TO SPEAK, IF YOU'VE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, STATE YOUR NAME, TOWN, AREA OF RESIDENCE, OR AFFILIATION.
PLEASE HOLD YOUR COMMENTS TO THREE MINUTES.
IF YOU HAVE WRITTEN TESTIMONY, PLEASE SUBMIT THEM TO MS. REIBLY AFTER SPEAKING.
OKAY, SO I WILL CALL THE NAMES FROM THE PEOPLE, FROM THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE SIGNED UP.
SO FIRST PERSON TO SIGN UP IS PHIL STARKEY.
PHIL, YOU WANT TO COME UP? I THINK THAT MICROPHONE IS ON.
GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS AND.
AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS PHIL STARKEY, PRESIDENT OF QUEEN OF HILLSBOROUGH FIRE DEPARTMENT.
HE'S THE NEW VICE PRESIDENT FOR THE CAROLINE FIREMEN'S ASSOCIATION.
WE'RE HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT'S REQUEST.
OKAY. I ACTUALLY HAVE TWO THINGS.
THE INITIAL REQUEST WAS A 10% INCREASE ON THE OPERATING SIDE, AND IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT THE FIRE COMPANIES STRUGGLE AS IT IS WITH THEIR FUNDRAISING EFFORTS.
THE MATERIALS THAT DO FUNDRAISING HAS ESCALATED ALONG WITH EVERYTHING ELSE THAT WE DO.
SO TO, TO MAKE THE PROFITS THAT WE WE USED TO IN THE PAST IS GETTING HARDER AND HARDER TO DO.
EQUIPMENT'S GONE UP TRUCKS UP TO $1 MILLION GEAR, YOU KNOW, YOU GUYS KNOW, DEAL WITH IT EVERY DAY.
SO THE 10% ASK IS, I THINK, IN MY OPINION, IS A FAIR ASK.
CONSIDERING MOST OF THE STUFF'S GONE UP 20% IN THE LAST YEAR OR SO.
THE OTHER THING IS THAT YOU GUYS ARE AWARE OF, I THINK MATT MORAN HAS SAID SOMETHING TO YOU GUYS, MENTIONED IN A LETTER THE $2,500 REAL ESTATE TAX PROGRAM FOR THE I THINK IT'S A GREAT PROGRAM.
I'M NOT SAYING THAT $2,500 IS WHERE IT SHOULD BE AT.
YOU GUYS SUPPLY US WITH THE LOSAP PROGRAM, BUT TO HOLD A MEMBER TILL THEY'RE 62 AND GET 25 YEARS, YOU GET SOMEBODY THAT JOINS AT 20, THEY HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THEY'RE 62 BEFORE THEY GET ANY BENEFITS.
THIS TAX PROGRAM IS GOOD, A PROGRAM TO RETAIN PEOPLE IF THEY HAVE TO MEET THEIR 50 POINTS.
AND IT ALSO KEEPS PEOPLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS.
THEY HAVE TO BUY A HOUSE. THEY'RE GOING TO BE PROPERTY OWNERS.
SO THEY'RE GIVING BACK TO THE, YOU KNOW, GIVING BACK TO THE COUNTY AND THE MAINTAINING THE 33,000 FOR THE PROGRAMS IS A NEEDED THING TOO.
IT'S A BIG COST ON THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SPLIT ACROSS THE BOARD.
FIRE REPORTING HAS TO BE DONE ON A MONTHLY BASIS, AS REPORTED TO THE STATE.
PHIL, HOW MANY PEOPLE DO YOU THINK YOU WOULD HAVE THAT WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR ANY TYPE OF PROPERTY TAX BENEFIT IN YOUR? IN MY COMPANY? YES. WE PROBABLY HAVE TEN, 10 TO 12 THAT ON THE CAROLINE SIDE.
YEAH. SOME OF THEM WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PROPERTY OWNERS.
RIGHT. AND EVEN THOUGH THEY'LL MAKE THEIR 50 POINTS, THEY WON'T GET TAXES UNDER THE GUIDELINES.
SO WE'LL GIVE YOU A LITTLE STATISTIC.
AND I HATE COMPARING COUNTIES, BUT WHEN QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY DID IT $1,500 ORIGINAL A FEW YEARS AGO, THERE WAS AN INCREASE ACROSS THE COUNTY OF ABOUT 60 PEOPLE WENT BACK AND STARTED GETTING THEIR 50 POINTS JUST FOR THAT REAL ESTATE TAX PROGRAM ACROSS THE COUNTY.
SO THEY MADE IT RETROACTIVE? NO, THEY HAVE TO.
IF THEY WEREN'T ALREADY, YOU KNOW, DOING IT.
SO YOU DID TWO YEARS OF 50 POINTS, AND THEN THAT THIRD YEAR YOU WOULD GET YOUR REAL ESTATE TAX.
BUT IF YOU'RE ALREADY DOING YOUR 50 POINTS LIKE YOU SHOULD, I GOT YOU.
YEAH. YOU WOULD GET CREDIT FOR THAT YEAR.
YEAH. WHAT I WOULD SAY WOULD BE THIS WILL CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW, WOULD HAVE TO BE A DISCUSSION ITEM.
IT'S NOT GOING TO BE IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET, I CAN TELL YOU THAT.
[00:10:03]
WE WOULD NEED, I WOULD NEED AND I'M THE LOSAP MEMBER.RIGHT. AND AGAIN, ALL OF THEM ARE PROPERTY TAX OWNERS.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT. BUT I WILL MENTION ONE THING.
DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO.
NO, THAT WAS PRETTY MUCH I'M JUST.
OKAY, I WILL MENTION ONE THING THAT WE DISCUSSED TODAY.
508. 508 FUNDS AND THE COUNTY FUNDS.
YOU'LL BE GETTING SOMETHING FROM THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT, EACH COMPANY, IT'S GOING TO BE CRITICAL THAT WE GET THE INFORMATION THAT WE ASK AS FAR AS THE BUDGET, HOW THE MONEY IS SPENT, IT'S GOING TO BE CRITICAL THAT WE GET THAT INFORMATION PRIOR TO THE DEADLINE TO BE ABLE TO DISPERSE THAT MONEY, OKAY, BECAUSE WE'RE NOT GOING TO I MEAN, YOU KNOW, WE'LL WORK.
WE'LL WORK TO THE EXTENT WE CAN, BUT WE GOT A LOT GOING ON.
SO I MEAN, IT'S GOING TO BE CRUCIAL THAT WE GET I'M NOT SAYING YOU HAVEN'T BEEN DOING THAT.
THIS IS GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO GO OUT TO ALL THE COMPANIES WITH THE DEADLINES OF WHEN THE INFORMATION IS DUE, BECAUSE IT'S DUE FOR US TO COMPLY WITH THE STATE AND WE'RE GOING TO TIE COUNTY FUNDING TO THAT AS WELL.
THANK YOU GUYS. APPRECIATE IT.
YEAH. APPRECIATE YOU COMING IN.
I GOT A QUESTION. YES SIR. OKAY OKAY.
QUEEN ANNE'S BUDGET IS ABOUT 180 MILLION.
AND THEIR TAX REVENUE IS WAY MORE THAN WHAT CAROLINE CAN AFFORD.
SO WE'RE FIGHTING FOR EVERY DOLLAR WE CAN GET AHOLD OF.
TO KEEP SO USUALLY WHEN SOMEBODY JOINS THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, USUALLY AT WHAT AGE DO THEY DO, THEY JOIN? SO MOST TIME THEY CAN JOIN AT 16 TO BE A JUNIOR MEMBER OR CADET MEMBER, WHATEVER THE COMPANIES CALL IT, 18, THEY'RE USUALLY A FULL MEMBER.
RIGHT. SO WE'LL SAY 18 THEY'RE A FULL MEMBER.
RIGHT. SO AND AS FAR AS RETENTION ASPECT OF IT USUALLY WHEN YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET SOMEBODY 25 JOIN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, JUST THAT'S GOING TO JOIN, RIGHT? IT USUALLY STARTS AT A. TYPICALLY IT'S A YOUNGER AGE.
THEY MIGHT HAVE A CHILD, THEY START DROPPING OFF.
YEAH. REALLY CARE ABOUT THE LOSAP PART OF IT.
RIGHT. YOU KNOW, THERE'S OTHER COMPANIES THAT HAVE INDEPENDENT LOSAP PROGRAMS. BUT YEAH, THE REAL ESTATE THING WAS, YOU KNOW, WE THOUGHT WAS A GOOD, GOOD THING AND THE STATE ALLOWED IT AND THAT'S WHY.
SO I THOUGHT ABOUT THIS IN THE LAST SINCE THE LAST BUDGET HEARING.
AND YOU KNOW, WHILE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT LOSAP.
SO IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF THINGS WE INVEST, YOU KNOW, THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE INVESTED IN LOSAP BECAUSE ALL THIS IS THIS IS FOR RETENTION, RETENTION, RETENTION. SO NOW WE'RE SAYING THAT LOSAP ISN'T REALLY USED FOR RETENTION.
THEY'RE GETTING TAX BENEFITS FROM THE STATE.
YOU KNOW, WE NEED SOMETHING TO TRY TO HELP PUSH THAT ALONG A LITTLE BIT.
RIGHT. TO MAKE IT TO THAT 62 OR BEFORE, THEY CAN.
ONLY, YOU KNOW, AS FAR AS I THINK AS FAR AS THE KEEP TRACK OF ALL THIS, IT'S, A BURDEN.
WELL, WELL, THE OWNERSHIP IS A LITTLE BIT OF A PAIN, BUT ONCE IT'S IN, IT'S IN THE TRACKING ITSELF.
KELLY DOES A GREAT JOB WITH LOSAP .
SHE TRACKS ALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT MEMBERS.
THAT INFORMATION IS ACTUALLY TRACKED WITHIN THE COMPANY.
THE COMPANY? EACH COMPANY HAS A LOSAP COORDINATOR WITHIN THEIR COMPANY.
AND YOU KNOW, THE RESPONSIBILITY IS REALLY ON THE COMPANIES TO CERTIFY.
THAT'S RIGHT. THE YOU KNOW, THE PERSON IS ELIGIBLE.
I MEAN, I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
DO YOU HAVE A CADET PROGRAM? WE JUST STARTED IT BACK UP LAST YEAR.
[00:15:01]
YEAH. YEAH.I MEAN THE THE LOSAP PROGRAM IS A RIGHT NOW IS ABOUT DANNY 4 MILLION LIABILITY? I THINK WE'RE CLOSER TO FIVE.
FIVE. IT'S ABOUT A $5 MILLION LIABILITY THAT'S CARRIED BY THE COUNTY.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT YOU DO, WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO IS YOU HAVE TO TAKE THE YOU TRY TO FIGURE ON THE AMOUNT OF TIME YOU'RE GOING TO BE, YOU KNOW, PAYING A MEMBER.
THEY TAKE ACTUARIAL TABLES AND SAY, WELL, THIS PERSON, OKAY, REACH THIS.
SO WHAT YOU DO IS SAY THIS PERSON HAS REACHED LOSAP AGE AT 62.
HOW MUCH LONGER ARE THEY GOING TO LIVE? RIGHT? I MEAN, WHAT'S THE LIFE EXPECTANCY? SO WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO IS TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW MUCH YOU'RE GOING TO PAY THAT PERSON EACH MONTH FOR THAT NUMBER OF YEARS.
YOU KNOW, OF COURSE, EVERY YEAR YOU HAVE SOME WHO COME OFF, SOME PASS AWAY, SOME COME ON.
SO, I MEAN, IT'S NOT A TREMENDOUS CHANGE IN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE.
AND I THINK THAT THE FORMULA THAT THE GUY FROM DENTON YZ, I DON'T KNOW HOW TO PRONOUNCE HIS NAME, BUT HE CAME UP WITH I THINK IT'S REALLY GOOD BECAUSE IT'S BASED ON THE ACTUAL NUMBER OF YEARS SERVED.
GOTCHA. AND I THINK THAT MAKES PERFECT SENSE.
AND SO BUT, YOU KNOW, YOU REALLY START WHAT THE WAY WE USED TO DO, IT WAS FUNDED EACH YEAR.
RIGHT. TRYING TO GUESS ON HOW MANY PEOPLE YOU WOULD HAVE.
RIGHT. BUT THIS WAY IT'S FUNDED AND WE ARE ABLE TO INVEST THE MONEY AND TRY TO GENERATE UNTIL WE GET TO A POINT WHERE WE, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY WILL MAKE ENOUGH ON THE INTEREST RATE. AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO FUND IT ANYMORE.
BUT I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU MEAN.
GOTCHA. AND I'M A LIFE MEMBER NOW.
SO I MEAN, BUT THERE ARE DIFFERENT REASONS FOR PEOPLE TO JOIN.
BUT I THINK IN EVERY ORGANIZATION AND I DON'T WANT TO GENERALIZE.
I THINK, YOU KNOW, FEWER PEOPLE ARE VOLUNTEERING TO DO EVERYTHING.
I MEAN, YOU'RE YOU KNOW, I MEAN, LIONS CLUBS, ROTARY, YOU KNOW, AND FIRE COMPANIES, IT IS A TREMENDOUS COMMITMENT TO MAKE.
AND, YOU KNOW, THE TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION IS MORE AND MORE RIGOROUS ALL THE TIME.
WHEN I JOINED, I THINK IN 81, I HAD TO TAKE A BASIC 80 HOUR COURSE, AND I WAS DONE.
YEP. YOU'RE RIGHT. YOU'RE RIGHT.
IT'S A TIME AND A PHYSICAL COMMITMENT.
BUT AS WE SAY ALL THE TIME AND I KEEP BEATING THIS DRUM, IT'S ALSO A MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL COMMITMENT.
YOU DON'T GO OUT, YOU DON'T GO OUT AND SEE THE THINGS THAT FIREMEN SEE.
FIREMAN SEE, YEAH. YOU KNOW, AND JUST GO HOME AND FORGET ABOUT IT.
AND IT'S GETTING HARDER AND HARDER TO DO THAT.
YEAH. AND YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SOME INCREDIBLE PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTY WHO HAVE SERVED, I THINK JOHN WEBSTER, I'M THINKING HE'S BEEN IN DENTON FIRE COMPANY 64 YEARS.
AND, I MEAN, IT'S THE COMMITMENT THAT THESE PEOPLE MAKE IS ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE.
AND WE DON'T RECOGNIZE THEM ENOUGH.
WE DON'T TALK ABOUT THEM ENOUGH.
WE SHOULD WE SHOULD BE TALKING ABOUT THEM ALL THE TIME.
AND BUT TODAY, YOU KNOW, KIDS ARE I MEAN, IT'S LIKE, DO I REALLY WANT TO DO THAT? AM I PREPARED TO MAKE THAT COMMITMENT? AND WHEN I GO TO MY FIRST FIRE OR TO MY FIRST ACCIDENT, AM I GOING TO GO HOME AND SAY, I'M DONE.
I'M DONE. YEAH, I'LL JOIN THE LIONS CLUB.
AND THE COMMITMENTS ARE GETTING MORE AND MORE CRUCIAL AND MORE AND HARDER.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR WHAT YOU GUYS DO.
BUT WE CERTAINLY WILL THINK ABOUT IT.
EVEN WHEN WE FLAT FUNDED OTHER PEOPLE.
WE APPRECIATE THAT. AND I WELL, WE APPRECIATE WHAT YOU DO AS WELL.
WHAT'S A SET OF TURNOUT GEAR COST NOW.
[00:20:02]
YEAH. ABOUT 6000.AND THEN YOU'RE TALKING TO THE CBA'S.
THAT'S AN ADDITIONAL I'M GOING TO SAY I THINK.
WHEN I JOINED, YOU BOUGHT YOUR OWN TURNOUT PANTS.
IF YOU WORE THEM. IF NOT, YOU WERE CRAWLING AROUND WITH YOUR JEANS ON SO THAT.
YEAH. SO BUT SO IT IS EXPENSIVE.
AND I MEAN, THE LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THAT'S A LOT OF CHICKEN TO COOK AND A LOT AND A LOT OF.
[LAUGHTER] IT IS. YOU KNOW FUNDRAISERS.
I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW MANY FUNDRAISERS GOALS FOR FIRE COMPANY HAS.
I MEAN, THEY TOLD ME AT ONE POINT, BUT IT'S LIKE EVERY EVERY WEEKEND THEY HAVE SOMETHING.
BUT. SO YOU'RE NOT ONLY VOLUNTEERING YOUR TIME, AND YOU'RE NOT ONLY MAKING THE COMMITMENT AND YOU'RE RESPONDING TO THE SCENE, BUT THEN THE BIGGEST PART OF IT IS YOU'RE OUT RAISING MONEY.
SO YOU CAN DO THAT. YOU CAN DO IT.
SO IT'S A IT'S A VERY, VERY ADMIRABLE, ADMIRABLE JOB.
WELL, I GOT ONE MORE ONE THING TO SAY.
AND THEN YOU CAN ASK. SO THE ANSWER TO BACK TO YOUR ORIGINAL QUESTION.
SO THE CAROLINE COUNTY IS ONE OF THE COUNTIES THAT HAS THEIR OWN TAX FORM TOO.
SO WE SO THAT'S HOW KELLY KEEPS TRACK OF THAT EVERY YEAR.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THEY REALLY HAVE TO DO.
BECAUSE KELLY REPORTS THAT TO THE STATE.
YEAH. ON THE TAX FORMS. GO AHEAD. TO IS LATER ON LIKE WHEN IF THIS PROGRAM EVER GOT STARTED IS WELL YOU KNOW AS FAR AS LIKE SOMEBODY THAT RENTS A HOME TO SOMEBODY IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, YOU KNOW THAT WOULD BE THE NEXT THING.
YOU SAW THEM GET THAT SOMEBODY IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND SOMEBODY IN TOWN RIGHT.
THEN YOU KNOW, IT'S AND WELL, WE SHOULD OFFER HIM BECAUSE HE'S RENTING TO A FIRE DEPARTMENT.
I UNDERSTAND THE COMMITMENT, AND I DON'T TAKE THAT FOR GRANTED.
I DON'T SO DON'T TAKE THAT THE WRONG WAY.
RIGHT. NO, I UNDERSTAND. I MEAN YOU GUYS, I COULDN'T DO WHAT YOU DO.
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? THAT'S AND I APPRECIATE ALL THAT.
LAST YEAR, WHEN SOFTWARE WAS INTRODUCED WE WEREN'T TOLD ABOUT THE CONTINUED SUBSCRIPTION OF $30,000.
WE UNDERSTOOD IT WAS A ONE TIME PURCHASE.
WELL, I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T KNOW THAT.
YEAH. I JUST KNOW THAT THEY TALKED ABOUT THAT WAS GOING TO BE PUT IN THE BUDGET, SO.
WELL, IT'S A YOU KNOW, WE HAVE BEGAN OUR BUDGET DELIBERATIONS.
YEAH. AND SO WE WILL YOU KNOW, WE CERTAINLY WILL CONSIDER EVERYTHING.
THANKS FOR COMING IN. NEXT SUSAN REYNOLDS.
NO, IT'S STILL LIGHT OUT, SO WE'LL CALL IT AFTERNOON.
I'M SUSAN REYNOLDS, THE DIRECTOR OF THE CAROLINE HUMAN SERVICES COUNCIL.
OUR ADDRESS IS 3319 BLOOMINGDALE AVENUE IN FEDERALSBURG.
AND I'VE COME BEFORE YOU TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AND GRANTING OUR BUDGET REQUEST.
WE REQUESTED ADDITIONAL DOLLARS THIS YEAR AND WE DID NOT GET THEM.
SO WHAT THE COMMISSIONER'S BUDGET ALLOWS US TO DO IS TO HAVE TWO FULL TIME STAFF PEOPLE.
I USE IT ENTIRELY FOR FRINGE BENEFITS.
AND THAT SUPPLEMENTS WHAT I GET FROM THE STATE, TOO.
SO WITHOUT THAT BUDGET, WE EITHER HAVE TO CUT A FULL TIME PERSON, OF WHICH THERE'S ONLY TWO OF US, AND OR I WOULD HAVE TO CUT PROGRAMS. SO I'M JUST GRATEFUL FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
ANY QUESTIONS WITHOUT ME HAVING TO LEAF THROUGH THIS BOOK? WHAT IS YOUR REQUEST? 25,000. THAT'S WHAT WE GOT LAST YEAR AND THE YEAR BEFORE.
SO YOU'RE SAYING FLAT? YEAH. SO WHEN YOU SAY YOU DIDN'T GET AS MUCH.
YOU MEAN FROM THE STATE? YES. HOW MUCH LESS? ABOUT 57,000.
YOU MEAN WITH ALL OF THESE WONDERFUL PROGRAMS THAT IS BEING INTRODUCED BY THE LEAVE NO ONE BEHIND GUY THAT WE'RE YOU'VE GOT CUT MONEY? YEAH.
WHAT HAPPENED IN FY 23 GOVERNOR HOGAN GAVE US SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGETS.
[00:25:02]
AND IN FY 24, WHEN GOVERNOR MOORE CAME IN, HE DID NOT ADD THAT SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING TO OUR BUDGETS.SO WE ENDED UP LOSING ACROSS THE STATE $2 MILLION.
FOR CAROLINE COUNTY IT ENDED UP ABOUT 57,000, WHICH IS A LOT TO CAROLINE COUNTY.
THAT'S AN ENTIRE PROGRAM FOR ME.
SO IN 24, AGAIN, WE DID NOT GET ANY ADDITIONAL FUNDS.
WE'RE HOPING THAT NOW THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE FOR CHILDREN HAS BEEN CREATED.
DON'T MAKE ME LAUGH, LARRY, THAT WE'RE HOPING THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE MORE MONEY PUT IN OUR BUDGET.
WE'VE BEEN TOLD THERE IS DISCUSSION, BUT UNTIL I SEE IT, I DON'T BELIEVE IT.
I'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR 22 YEARS, AND I'VE SEEN SO MANY PROMISES COME AND GO.
SO YOU'VE HAD THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OF CHILDREN AT ONE POINT, YES.
AND NOW WE'RE BACK TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.
YES. COMMISSIONER PORTER POSTED A NICE ARTICLE IN THE BALTIMORE SUN.
HOW MUCH SURPLUS DID WE HAVE? AND NOW WE'RE IN THE NEGATIVE.
SO, I MEAN, IT'S QUITE UNDERSTANDABLE WHY, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, CAROLINE COUNTY IS A LITTLE $57,000.
THAT WAS THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT BLUEPRINT, BUT RIGHT.
YEAH. WELL, I MEAN, LIKE I SAY, $57,000 IS A PROGRAM FOR US.
AND WE'VE ALREADY HAD TO CUT TWO PROGRAMS FOR FY 25 SIMPLY BECAUSE WE'RE FUNDING NOW THREE AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS. WHAT PROGRAMS DID YOU CUT? WE HAD TO CUT MEN FOR CHANGE MENTORING PROGRAM AND THE YMCA PROGRAM.
BUT I WORKED WITH THOSE VENDORS AND THEY ASSURED ME THEIR PROGRAMS WILL CONTINUE WITHOUT OUR FUNDING, BUT WE HAD TO PICK UP THREE AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS BECAUSE THERE WAS NO OTHER FUNDING, AND WE CAN'T LET OUR AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS GO.
AND I TALKED TO YOU BEFORE ABOUT THE TRANSPORTATION RESOURCES.
THAT IS A NEW PROGRAM FOR US THAT WE'RE DOING THIS YEAR.
IT WON'T BE MOVING PEOPLE FROM PLACE TO PLACE.
IT WILL BE PROVIDING RESOURCES LIKE CAR REPAIRS, PEOPLE IN ARREARS OF MAYBE TWO MONTHS WORTH OF CAR INSURANCE, DRIVER'S ED, THINGS LIKE THAT.
IT WON'T BE LIKE WE'RE HAVING NOW WITH THE MOD.
HAVE YOU CUT THAT OUT? WE'RE STILL DOING IT THIS YEAR.
YEAH. OKAY. AND THEN WE'RE FUNDING TEEN COURT.
YOU WERE. YOU WERE FUNDED THAT TO A GRANT.
IT'S. ON DEMAND. THAT WAS THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT WITH THE STATE IN OUR BUDGET.
YEAH. AND THE FUNDING YOU GOT FOR THAT WAS ONLY FOR THAT.
YES. I MEAN, IT WAS INCLUDED IN OUR PROGRAM BUDGET MONEY.
DO ANY OF YOUR PROGRAMS FALL WITHIN THE PILLARS FOR THE BLUEPRINT FOR DISASTER PROGRAM? ALL OF THEM. AND THEY'LL ALL FALL IN UNDER THE ENOUGH ACT.
THE ENOUGH ACT? YES. WHAT IS THE ENOUGH ACT? THE ENOUGH ACT IS 14.
IT'S NEW FUNDING THAT WILL BE COMING DOWN IN FY 25.
IT'S GOING TO BE AVAILABLE BASICALLY TO GRASSROOTS PROGRAMS. THE RFP HAS NOT COME OUT BY THE STATE YET, SO WE DON'T REALLY KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE.
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE LOCAL MANAGEMENT BOARDS IS GOING TO BE.
AND WITH THAT SO IT'S KIND OF A GRAY AREA RIGHT NOW, BUT WE DO KNOW THERE IS GOING TO BE A LOT OF MONEY ASSOCIATED WITH IT, BUT IT IS ALSO COMPETITIVE FUNDING.
AND RURAL COUNTIES HAVE A VERY HARD TIME COMPETING FOR MONEY BECAUSE OF OUR POPULATION SIZES.
SO IT'S A LITTLE HARD TO COMPETE WITH BALTIMORE CITY AND MONTGOMERY, HOWARD, PG AND ALL THEM.
SO DO YOU THINK YOUR CHANCES OF GETTING A LITTLE BIT OF THAT IS PROBABLY.
I DON'T KNOW THAT LMBS ARE GOING TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO APPLY FOR IT, BUT SMALLER NONPROFITS, AGENCIES, BUSINESSES, ALL OF THEM WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO APPLY.
[00:30:02]
THAT'S THE WAY IT'S WRITTEN RIGHT NOW.SO THAT COULD CHANGE CONSIDERABLY.
WHAT DOES ENOUGH STAND FOR? OH, BOY. I KNEW YOU WOULD ASK ME THAT.
I'VE READ THE BILL. I'VE SEEN THE BILL.
I CAN'T I CAN'T EVEN BEGIN TO EVEN CARE WHAT IT STANDS FOR.
YES. AND, LARRY, I CAN'T EVEN TELL YOU.
THE MONEY COMES FROM DIFFERENT SOURCES.
SO IT'S JUST LIKE THE LOCAL CARE TEAM MONEY, WHICH RIGHT NOW IS IN JEOPARDY.
WE FUND LCT COORDINATORS THROUGH OUR CPA BUDGETS, BUT IT IS A SEPARATE AWARD.
WAIT YOU ARE USING ACRONYMS. LOCAL CARE TEAM.
I'M SORRY, I THOUGHT I DID SAY THAT.
WE FUND THE LOCAL CARE TEAM COORDINATOR HERE IN CAROLINE COUNTY.
THAT IS THE ONLY MECHANISM THAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THESE VERY HIGH INTENSIVE NEEDS YOUTH TO FIND THEM RESOURCES FOR THEIR FAMILIES IN CAROLINE COUNTY TO PREVENT THE OUT OF HOME PLACEMENTS, WHICH COST THE STATE A LOT OF MONEY.
THAT MONEY IS IN JEOPARDY RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THAT MONEY COMES FROM THE CHILDREN'S CABINET, WHICH IS COMPOSED OF THE SECRETARIES OF ALL THE CHILD SERVING AGENCIES, AND THEY'RE LOOKING AT THEIR BUDGETS AND THEY'RE SAYING DO WE REALLY NEED THESE LCTS LOCAL CARE TEAMS? THEY DON'T REALIZE WHAT BENEFIT THESE LOCAL CARE TEAMS ARE TO THE COUNTIES THEMSELVES.
I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE WOULD DO WITHOUT THE LOCAL CARE TEAM.
HOW MANY LOCAL CARE TEAMS YOU GOT? ONE. THERE'S ONE IN EVERY COUNTY.
AT LEAST ONE. WHERE'S YOUR, AT YOUR OFFICE? NO ACTUALLY, IT'S NOT LOCATED ANYWHERE.
RIGHT NOW, ALL OF OUR MEETINGS ARE VIRTUAL, AND WE BRING IN.
I'D SAY RIGHT NOW WE HAVE ABOUT 15 AGENCIES AND PROVIDERS SIT ON THAT LOCAL CARE TEAM.
YEAH. IT'S DSS, DJS, AND I'M USING ACRONYMS AGAIN.
BUT I KNOW YOU KNOW WHAT THESE ARE.
MENTAL HEALTH, THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, ALL OF OUR CHILD SERVING AGENCIES.
AND THEN WE HAVE RESOURCE PROVIDERS THAT ALSO SIT ON THE LOCAL CARE TEAM.
SO SO THERE'S NOW A NEW SECRETARY OF THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OF CHILD.
CHILDREN. CHILDREN? YES. CABINET. WHO IS THAT? I'M GOING TO SHARE MY AGE HERE.
CARMEL MARTIN, SHE IS THE SPECIAL SECRETARY AND A CHIEF OF STAFF HAS JUST BEEN APPOINTED, AND I'M SORRY, I CAN'T GIVE YOU HER NAME.
I HAVE IT WRITTEN DOWN, BUT I DON'T HAVE IT WITH ME.
WE JUST LEARNED THAT THIS MORNING IN A ASSOCIATION MEETING.
AND WE DO BELIEVE THAT THE REST OF THE STAFF THAT WAS AT THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, CRIME PREVENTION, YOUTH AND VICTIM SERVICES WILL BE BROUGHT OVER ALL EXCEPT THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.
I THINK SHE IS STAYING AT GOCCP AND THEIR NAME HAS CHANGED ALSO.
SO WE'RE BACK TO WHERE WE WERE.
YEAH. HOW MANY YEARS AGO? LET'S SEE. LEE WAS THERE.
YES. WHEN ARLENE LEFT IS WHEN THEY MOVED US OVER INTO GOCCP AND CHANGED THE NAME AND DID ALL THAT.
SO NOW WE'RE BACK TO BEING THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE FOR CHILDREN.
THE LMBS ARE KIND OF SITTING OUT THERE IN LIMBO RIGHT NOW BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T BEEN MOVED ANYWHERE.
OUR BUDGET STILL RESTS AT GOCCP.
YEP. I'LL RESERVE ANY FUTURE, ANY MORE COMMENTS THAT I HAVE TONIGHT ON THAT.
ANYTHING ELSE? ALL RIGHT, THAT'S IT.
HOLLY, YOU HAVE A NAME? A LINE THROUGH YOUR NAME.
I'M GOING TO RESPECTFULLY DEFER TO DEBBIE.
OKAY. YOU READY FOR ME? I'M READY FOR YOU.
[00:35:02]
DEBBIE IS THE LAST ONE SIGNED UP.SO IF ANY OF YOU THINK OF ANYTHING YOU WANT TO SAY WHEN SHE'S.
COME ON UP, PLEASE. IS THAT A SURPRISE? OH MY GOD.
WE'RE OUT OF TIME. [LAUGHTER] SO SORRY.
I'M JONAH OWENS, I'M THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR LIVE IN RIDGELEY.
AND FIRST OFF, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF THE LIBRARY AND OF THE DOLLY PARTON IMAGINATION LIBRARY.
WHICH I THINK WE CAN BE PROUD OF.
SO I HOPE YOU'LL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THAT PROGRAM.
WE ARE ASKING FOR AN INCREASE IN THE OPERATING BUDGET.
IT'S ALWAYS ABOUT THE STAFFING AND TRYING TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN GOOD STAFF.
AND I KNOW WE'RE NOT ALONE IN THAT.
I THINK PROBABLY EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM IS DOING THAT.
AND WE ALSO WANT TO AND PROVIDE A 2% COLA AND AN ADDITIONAL 2% MERIT FOR SOME KEY STAFF THIS NEXT YEAR.
SO WE STILL HAVE OPEN POSITIONS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO FILL.
IT'S HARD TO RECRUIT THE SKILL SETS THAT WE NEED.
HOW MANY DO YOU HAVE? BUT WE HAVE.
THIS YEAR. RIGHT? RIGHT. AND ONE OF THEM NEXT YEAR IS AN IT TECHNICIAN.
AND WE JUST HAVE TO FILL THAT.
SO JONAH STOPS DOING TEN JOBS AND CAN JUST DO NINE JOBS.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE A PRETTY SMALL OPERATION WITH THE THREE LOCATIONS.
ALL THE STAFF ARE TRAINED TO DO PUBLIC SERVICE AND BE ABLE TO WORK AT ANY OF THE LOCATIONS.
AND THEN WE TRY TO FIND THERE'S SOME POSITIONS WE NEED THE KEY SKILLS, OR WE TRAIN.
YOU KNOW, A LOT OF TIMES I FEEL LIKE A FARM TEAM.
AND I'VE MENTIONED THIS TO YOU BEFORE.
YEAH. THE PEOPLE THAT REALLY, REALLY FIND OUT THEY LIKE LIBRARY WORK, WE GET THEM TRAINED AND COMPETENT AND THEY CAN GO TO A LIBRARY EVEN ON THE EASTERN SHORE, SOMETIMES FOR MORE PAY AND ALSO MORE ROOM TO MOVE UP IN THE ORGANIZATION.
SO IT IS KIND OF TOUGH, AND WE APPRECIATE WHATEVER YOU CAN DO TO HELP US WITH THAT.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR FUNDING.
THE LOCAL MATCH FOR THE LAST PART OF OUR RENOVATION OF THE CENTRAL LIBRARY, WHICH WAS THE PITCHED ROOF IN THE BACK OF THE LIBRARY AND THE ELEVATOR. THE ELEVATOR IS ABOUT 85% DONE.
AND LIKE I TOLD YOU BEFORE, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A CELEBRATION IN MAY.
WHICH YOU ALL ARE INVITED BACK.
THE COMMUNITY WILL BE INVITED TO THAT.
I DON'T THINK IT'S BEEN REPAVED SINCE WE RENOVATED IN 1995 AND IT'S LOOKING PRETTY BAD.
ANY QUESTIONS? HOW MANY PEOPLE YOU THINK YOU SERVE ON IT.
I KNOW, IT'S HARD TO COME BY LIKE ON A DAY TO DAY BASIS COME FROM THERE.
WE HAVEN'T HAD AN AVERAGE DAY FOR A FEW YEARS.
[LAUGHTER] YOU KNOW, I COULD GO BACK AND TELL YOU PRE-COVID AND THEN WHERE WE WERE STARTING TO GET BACK ON A ROLL BEFORE WE STARTED THE RENOVATION, WE'RE STARTING TO SEE AN INCREASE NOW.
AND ACTUALLY WE HAVE NEW PEOPLE COUNTERS THAT WILL GIVE US MORE ACCURATE NUMBER.
WE HAVE WE'RE THE ONLY PUBLIC PLACE THAT'S OPEN TO EVERYBODY.
IT'S A DESTINATION TO SPEND TIME.
IT'S SAFE, IT'S WARM, IT'S COOL.
[00:40:06]
AND WE'RE JUST STARTING TO ROLL BACK INTO SOME PROGRAMING, WHICH HAS BEEN HARD WITH THE ELEVATOR OUT OF COMMISSION.SO THAT'S PART OF OUR TRAFFIC TOO.
BUT IF YOU. I CAN GET YOU SOME NUMBERS.
NO, NO NO, I, ALWAYS FORGET ABOUT COVID.
YEAH. IT'S JUST I KNOW BECAUSE EVERYBODY WANTS TO KNOW THAT AND IT'S LIKE.
YEAH. DON'T TALK TO US ON THAT.
WHEN IS THAT LEASE UP IN GREENSBORO, YOU KNOW? WHAT TIME? MARCH OF 25.
SO ARE YOU UP TO SPEED ON THAT? IS JONAH UP TO THE SPEED? YEAH, ON THE LEASE. AS MUCH AS.
UP TO SPEED AS ANYBODY CAN BE.
YEAH. I WAS GOING TO SAY IS ANYBODY UP TO SPEED? SO SERIOUSLY, WE HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING MORE ABOUT THAT BECAUSE I THINK THE FOCUS HAS BEEN GETTING THE BUILDING.
YEAH. YEAH. REPAIRED AND SAFE.
YEAH. HE'S BEEN INVOLVED IN ALL OF IT.
THAT'S GOING TO BE A INTERESTING NEGOTIATION.
HE WANTED ME TO TAKE CARE OF IT BEFORE I RETIRED.
[LAUGHTER] I WANT YOU TO TAKE CARE OF IT BEFORE I RETIRE.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
YEAH, BUT THAT'S ALL BUT I AND AGAIN, I DO THAT'S ANOTHER THING THAT YOU ALL AND STEWART HAVE BEEN, YOU KNOW, VERY SUPPORTIVE. AND THERE'S A LITTLE PROGRESS THERE.
WELL, WE GOT TO HAVE PLACES THAT WE CAN KEEP WARM AND KEEP COOL AND KEEP THE DOORS OPEN.
BOTTOM LINE. YOU KNOW? BOTTOM LINE.
SO DEBBIE, WHEN YOU HAVE THESE VACANCIES, WHEN YOU BUDGET, WHEN YOU DO YOUR BUDGET.
DO YOU DO YOU BUDGET FOR THOSE SPOTS? IN OTHER WORDS, IF YOU DON'T HAVE SOMEONE IN THAT POSITION, DO YOU STILL BUDGET AS IF THAT POSITION WAS WAS FILLED? WE LIKE LOOKING AT THE FY 25.
WE BUDGET FOR THOSE POSITIONS AS THOUGH WE'RE GOING TO FILL THEM.
AND WE HAVE A RANGE THAT WE ADVERTISE.
AND THEN WE, WHICH IS A REALLY SMALL RANGE.
BUT TO GIVE US A LITTLE BIT OF WIGGLE ROOM.
AND THE TIME THAT IT TAKES TO FILL THEM AGAIN, WE'VE ACTUALLY BEEN ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF SOME BUILDING MAINTENANCE THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO ASK THE COUNTY FOR, BECAUSE IT'S NOT ALL NICKEL DIMES.
OKAY. AND THEN JUST KEEP DOING THE PROCESS.
AND WHEN IS YOUR JUNE 30TH? JUNE 30TH. WELL, I MENTIONED THIS IN THE ROUNDTABLE AND I'LL MENTION IT AGAIN TONIGHT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE COUNTY.
IT JUST SEEMS LIKE YESTERDAY THAT YOU WERE TAKING OVER FOR GEORGE.
AND SO IT'S I THINK ONE OF THE CONSTANTS IN THE COUNTY HAS BEEN THE LIBRARY, AND IT'S ALWAYS BEEN THE, YOU KNOW, IT'S ALWAYS BEEN THE LIGHT.
I KNOW WHEN WE WERE, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE WERE DEVELOPING PLACES IN THE INDUSTRIAL PARK, WE IT WAS AMAZING TO ME WHEN PEOPLE STARTED EVALUATING ABOUT WHETHER THEY WERE GOING TO COME TO THIS COUNTY OR LIVE IN THIS COUNTY.
ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THEY ASK ABOUT WAS SCHOOLS AND THE LIBRARY.
I WAS ALWAYS VERY HAPPY TO SAY, WELL, WHY DON'T YOU GO UP THERE AND SEE WHAT WE GOT? AND THEY ALWAYS CAME BACK WITH A SMILE ON THEIR FACE.
YOU'RE WELCOME. IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE.
YOU'VE GOT I THINK YOU'VE GOT TO ALWAYS HAD A GOOD BOARD.
ALWAYS HAD A VERY RESPONSIBLE BOARD.
SHE'S CURRENTLY THE SECRETARY.
[00:45:01]
BART HAS TO GO OFF THE BOARD.SARAH, WHY DON'T YOU BE PRESIDENT? WE'LL SEE. SO WE'LL BE COMING TO YOU.
WELL, YOU'LL BE COMING TO THEM TO NOMINATE A NEW PERSON.
SARAH. SHE NEVER LIVED IN GREENSBORO.
[LAUGHTER] SO HER DAD WAS FROM GREENSBORO, THE HOMELAND.
VERY GOOD JOB. SHE DOES A GOOD JOB.
EVERYBODY ON THE BOARD HAS BEEN GREAT.
YEAH. DO YOU HAVE A I MEAN, BART HAS DONE A.
HOW LONG HAS BART BEEN ON THERE? THIS IS HIS SECOND TERM.
AND THAT'S HE'S FEDERALSBURG. YEAH, HE'S DONE A VERY GOOD JOB.
THANK YOU. SO YOU GOT ONE MINUTE.
ONE MINUTE. WHO ARE YOU REPRESENTING? I AM REPRESENTING THE ARTS COUNCIL THIS EVENING.
ARE YOU GOING TO GIVE ME SOMETHING HERE THAT I'M GOING TO? YEAH. SORRY.
I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT.
I AM SUE SIMMONS, SERVING AS THE INTERIM MANAGER FOR CAROLINE COUNTY COUNCIL OF ARTS.
DEBBIE BENNETT, WHO I WILL RECOGNIZE IS STILL HERE, IS AN EX OFFICIO BOARD MEMBER FOREVER.
SHE'S BEEN ON THAT IN THAT CAPACITY FOR A REALLY LONG TIME.
I JUST WANTED TO CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO NOT ONLY THE ARTS COUNCIL'S REQUEST, WHICH IS 6,500 BUCKS.
IT IS A RELATIVELY SMALL FRACTION OF THE BUDGET.
WHAT I'VE SHARED WITH YOU, I THINK I SENT A TELEPATHIC MESSAGE TO STACEY AND FINANCE TO PUT THIS IN YOUR PACKETS, BUT JUST IN CASE SHE DIDN'T RECEIVE MY MESSAGE, I THOUGHT I WOULD SHARE THIS WITH YOU.
THIS IS THE INFORMATION THAT WE SHARED WITH THE MARYLAND STATE LEGISLATORS TO REINFORCE FOR THEM THE IMPACT AND THE POWER OF THEIR INVESTMENT.
RELATIVELY SPEAKING, THE RESOURCES THAT WE GET THROUGH THE STATE FOR OUR LITTLE CAROLINE COUNTY COUNCIL OF ARTS IS PENNIES, NOT EVEN PENNIES ON THE DOLLAR.
I GUESS WE COULD SAY THE SAME THING ABOUT THE $6,500 THAT YOU ALL HAVE SUPPORTED THE ARTS COUNCIL THE LAST TWO FISCAL YEARS.
OUR APPLICATION THIS YEAR WAS NO DIFFERENT.
THAT ON SOME LEVEL IS A RELATIVELY SMALL GIFT TO THE OVERALL BUDGET THAT WE ARE MANAGING LESS THAN $300,000. BUT LIKE MANY OF THE SMALL NONPROFITS THAT YOU ARE CONSIDERING IN THIS BUDGET PROPOSAL, FROM HIS HOPE HAVEN TO POSITIVE STRIDES TO MID-SHORE COUNCIL ON FAMILY VIOLENCE, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THIS TYPE OF AN INVESTMENT AND I THINK I'M ACTUALLY REFLECTING YOUR WORDS, COMMISSIONER PORTER LAST YEAR, IS THAT BEING ABLE TO ACKNOWLEDGE, EVEN ON A SMALL LEVEL, THE INCREDIBLE COMMITMENT AND HOURS THAT ARE INVESTED? IT BLOWS MY MIND.
JUST THE PRESENTATION THAT I WALKED IN ON WHEN PHIL STARKEY WAS HERE TALKING ABOUT EVEN $1,500 TAX DIFFERENTIAL DISCOUNT IS LIKE JUST THAT PUSH TO MOVE IT FORWARD.
I THINK MANY OF THE FOLKS ON THIS LIST, THE ARTS COUNCIL, AS YOUR COUNTY ARTS ORGANIZATION AND AS A LOCAL NONPROFIT, HAVE COLLABORATED TREMENDOUSLY WITH MANY OF THESE.
AND I JUST I DID NOT WANT TO MISS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY THANK YOU.
AND PLEASE WRITE THAT SAME LEVEL OF THE CHECK.
I CAN'T GIVE YOU THAT NAME RIGHT NOW BECAUSE WE'RE IN NEGOTIATION, BUT WE ARE LOOKING TO I'M LOOKING TO RETREAT FROM INTERIM MANAGEMENT LAND GO BACK TO SERVING ON THE BOARD AND, YOU KNOW, CONTINUING TO MAKE YOUR LIVES AS MUCH OF AN ADVENTURE, ARTISTICALLY AS I POSSIBLY DAMN WELL CAN.
SO YOU'VE ALWAYS FULFILLED THAT? I KNOW, BUT I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
[00:50:03]
WE'RE VERY OPTIMISTIC THAT WE'LL STAY THE COURSE AS FAR AS THE, THE STATE FUNDING AND BUT WE WILL SEE. IT'S ALL AN ADVENTURE.BUT I THINK THE SIGNIFICANT IMPACT BETWEEN THE GRANT MAKING THAT WE DO, THE PROGRAMING THAT WE DO, THE RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT FOR THE LOCAL ARTISTS, THAT THE TOUCH OF THE ARTS COUNCIL IS REALLY SIGNIFICANT.
WHEN I LOOK BACK JUST YEAR TO DATE, THAT 11, YOU KNOW, CLOSE TO 12,000 ADULTS AND A LITTLE UNDER 10,000 CHILDREN WERE BENEFITING AND ENGAGING IN THE PROGRAMING THAT THE ARTS COUNCIL WAS SUPPORTING.
SO WE FORCE MULTIPLY, WE GIVE GRANTS AWAY TO OTHER COMMUNITY NONPROFITS TO HELP FACILITATE THE LINCHESTER MILL POND. AND THERE, YOU KNOW, AND PROGRAMING DOWN IN FEDERALSBURG AND GREENSBORO AND RIDGELY AS WELL AS DENTON.
SO. I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
NO QUESTIONS. WHAT? I'M SORRY. THAT'S ALL RIGHT.
I'VE SEEN YOU A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, AND YOU ANSWERED THE SO THANK YOU FOR STEPPING IN.
AND YOU KNOW, WE HAD THIS DISCUSSION PRETTY MUCH EACH YEAR ABOUT NONPROFITS.
I KNOW. I THINK, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO SEE THE IMPACT THESE ORGANIZATIONS HAVE.
AND THE ONE THAT I ALWAYS POINT TO IS THE POSITIVE STRIDES, BECAUSE I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHAT POSITIVE STRIDES WAS UNTIL, YOU KNOW, I BECAME A COMMISSIONER. AND TO SEE THE EFFECT THAT THOSE THAT THAT PROGRAM HAS ON KIDS IS, IS UNBELIEVABLE.
YEAH. AND YOU KNOW, SO IT'S YOU KNOW, IT'S PART OF WHAT I THINK MAKES THE COUNTY UNIQUE.
I MEAN, I REMEMBER WHEN THAT BUILDING WHERE ARTS COUNCIL IS, I REMEMBER WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE, YOU KNOW, BEFORE YOU WENT THERE. AND IT'S CERTAINLY A SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT TO WALK DOWN THE STREET AND WALK PAST THAT BUILDING.
YEAH. NO, YOU KNOW, THE WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE.
THANK YOU. YEAH. THANK YOU FOR COMING.
FOLKS. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE? THAT'S ALL WE HAVE ON OUR SIGN UP BOOK.
ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? NO. OKAY.
THAT WILL CONCLUDE THE TESTIMONY ON THE OPERATING AND BUDGET REQUEST.
FRANK, ANY COMMENTS? NO. JUST THANK EVERYBODY FOR COMING IN.
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK.
I KNOW YOU GUYS WORK COUNTLESS HOURS ON THE BUDGET.
THAT JUST SEEMS COMMON DENOMINATOR.
SO WE'LL WORK HARD TO TRY TO DO THE BEST WE CAN FOR EVERYBODY AND GO WITH THAT.
I DON'T WANT TO BEAT THAT DRUM ANYMORE THAN I BEAT IT TODAY.
SO BUT IT IT IS A SIGNIFICANT FACTOR IN THE BUDGET.
AND IT IS A SITUATION WHERE IT'S DIFFICULT TO STRIKE A BUDGET WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW.
DURING YOUR BUDGET PROCESS, YOU REALLY DON'T KNOW UNTIL TOWARD THE END OF YOUR BUDGET PROCESS WHAT THE LARGEST NUMBER IN YOUR BUDGET IS GOING TO BE, AND YOU DON'T HAVE ANY CONTROL.
I MEAN, WE CAN CONTROL MOST OF THE THINGS IN THIS BUDGET.
AND YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT HOPEFULLY SOMEWHERE DOWN THE ROAD SOMEONE IS GOING TO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS AND FINALLY ADMIT THAT IT IS A BAD PROGRAM.
AND SO, AND IT NOT ONLY AFFECTS OUR OPERATING BUDGET, IT AFFECTS THINGS THAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO FROM A CAPITAL STANDPOINT.
I MEAN, EARLIER, EARLIER TODAY, WE HAD THE HOSPITAL COME IN AND YOU KNOW, ASK FOR HELP IN GENERATING REVENUE, YOU KNOW, TO BUILD THE NEW REGIONAL MEDICAL FACILITY.
[00:55:03]
I IT'S GOING TO BE VERY DIFFICULT FOR US TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT BECAUSE OF THE MANDATED EXPENSE THAT WE CAN'T CONTROL.THERE ARE PROBABLY, YOU KNOW, SOME PROPONENTS OF THE BLUEPRINT.
I'VE LOOKED AROUND, THEY'RE HARD TO FIND.
BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN A VERY, VERY DIFFICULT SITUATION.
I'LL JUST SPEAK FOR CAROLINE COUNTY TO HAVE TO LOOK AT THIS NUMBER AND, AND HAVE TO FIGURE OUT, YOU KNOW, THE, THE AMOUNT THAT WE HAVE TO GO ABOVE WHAT WE WERE COMMITTED WHAT WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN COMMITTED TO PAYING IN THE PAST.
AND UNTIL IT CHANGES OR UNTIL WE DECIDE WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO IT THAT'S WHERE WE ARE.
SO ANYBODY ANYTHING? YEAH. GOING FORWARD, YOU KNOW, THE EMPLOYEES THAT WORK FOR THE COUNTY AND THE DEPARTMENT HEADS WE STILL WANT TO DO THE BEST TO TRY TO TAKE CARE OF AS BEST AS WE CAN.
BUT WE DO HAVE TO LOOK OUT FOR THE TAXPAYER, TOO.
SO IT'S JUGGLING THAT THING TO MAKE EVERYBODY HAPPY.
WE STILL WANT TO TRY TO DO THE BEST WE CAN FOR YOU.
THANK. WE FORTUNATELY, I THINK IN THE RECENT YEARS HAVE I THINK WE BUDGETED WELL. I THINK WE'VE GOT A TREMENDOUS FINANCIAL STAFF.
WE'VE GOT YOU KNOW, WE'VE WATCHED OUR PENNIES.
WE'VE, TRIED TO SAVE, WE'VE TRIED TO BUILD A FUND BALANCE.
WE'VE TRIED TO BUILD A RESERVE.
AND IT'S COMING IN HANDY, BELIEVE ME.
BUT IT GETS IT GETS EATEN UP QUICKLY.
SO ANY COMMENTS FROM ANYBODY, KATHLEEN.
YOU DO NOT HAVE ANY COMMENTS OKAY.
ALL RIGHT. I DON'T NEED A RECESS OR WE WANT TO KEEP GOING.
OKAY. SO WE WILL MOVE TO HEARING NUMBER TWO, WHICH IS THE MUNICIPAL PROPERTY.
MUNICIPAL REAL PROPERTY TAX DIFFERENTIAL RATE.
I HEREBY CONVENE I THINK IF WE GO BACK, I THINK I NEED A MOTION TO CLOSE THIS.
YEAH. GO AHEAD. MAKE A MOTION TO EXCLUDE THE BUDGETS HEARING AND REQUEST.
I'LL SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
AYE. OKAY, SO WE WILL NOW MOVE TO THE SECOND HEARING.
THE MUNICIPAL REAL PROPERTY TAX DIFFERENTIAL RATE.
CONVENE THE TAX DIFFERENTIAL HEARING.
I DON'T BEFORE WE AGAIN THE SAME PROCESS.
IS THERE A BOOK BACK THERE? I HAD IT IN THERE, SO.
IF YOU WANT TO SPEAK, YOU GET THREE MINUTES.
WE DON'T HAVE ANYONE SIGNED UP.
BUT CERTAINLY, IF ANYBODY WANTS TO SAY ANYTHING AFTER DANNY'S PRESENTATION, FEEL FREE.
SHOULD I WRITE YOUR NAME IN HERE? ALL RIGHT.
OKAY. WHY DON'T YOU SET UP HERE WHERE I CAN SEE YOU? [LAUGHTER] OKAY.
SO FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025, THE BOARD HAD REQUESTED THAT WE HOLD THE DIFFERENTIAL RATE AT THE SAME RATE THAT WE DID FOR THE PRIOR YEAR, THE CURRENT YEAR THAT WE'RE OPERATING IN.
AND THOSE RATES ARE TOWN OF DENTON AT $0.06.
TOWN OF FEDERALSBURG $0.08, TOWN OF GREENSBORO $0.06, THE TOWN OF PRESTON $0.01.
AND THE TOWN OF RIDGELY AT $0.05.
JUST AS A REMINDER TAX DIFFERENTIAL IS THE OPTION OF THE COUNTY TO PROVIDE.
IT IS NOT MANDATED IN STATE LAW.
LAW PROVIDES THE COUNTY THE OPTION TO PROVIDE A DIFFERENTIAL.
IN TOTAL BY EMPLOYING THOSE RATES THAT I JUST WROTE OFF, THE COUNTY WOULD FOREGO $540,624 IN REVENUE THAT WOULD GO UNCOLLECTED.
IF THESE RATES GO THROUGH ALL THE WAY THROUGH THROUGH THE YEAR.
SO IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS THAT I CAN ANSWER, I'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY.
[01:00:02]
BUT ANYTHING.JUST TO BE VERY CLEAR, THIS IS THE COUNTY FORGOES THESE FUNDS IN RECEIPT OF TAX REVENUE PAID BY THE INDIVIDUAL TAXPAYER.
YES. IT IS A REDUCTION OF RATE TO THE TAXPAYERS THAT LIVE IN THESE MUNICIPALITIES.
IT DOES NOT AFFECT MUNICIPAL BUDGETS.
YEP. SO, YOU KNOW, AND SOME YEARS AGO WE CAME UP WITH A FORMULA.
SO WE TRIED TO MAKE IT MAKE SOME SENSE.
YEP. BUT I THINK IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS WE'VE HELD THE RATE FLAT.
AND. SO WE WILL SEE WHERE WE GO ON THAT.
I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE MUNICIPALITY TAX DIFFERENTIAL HEARING.
SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
THIS CONCLUDES THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE FY 2025 BUDGET.
AS A REMINDER, THE SECOND HEARING IS SCHEDULED FOR MAY 7TH AT CAROLINE COUNTY COURTHOUSE AT 6 P.M.
FRANK, DO YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS? THANK YOU, EVERYBODY, FOR COMING OUT.
YEAH, I DON'T HAVE ANY EITHER.
SO THIS CONCLUDES THE FIRST BUDGET HEARING.
THANK YOU EVERYONE. WE DID IT WITHIN AN HOUR.
SO THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.