[00:04:27]
>> [BACKGROUND] GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO THE FEBRUARY 18TH, 2025 CAROLINE COUNTY COMMISSIONER MEETING, WHICH IS NOW IN ORDER.
THIS MORNING, WE HAVE OUR INVOCATION BY REVEREND DON REYNOLDS OF CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH OF DENTON.
THAT WILL BE FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE SO IF EVERYONE CAN PLEASE RISE. REVEREND, THANK YOU.
>> LET US PRAY. FATHER, WE COME THIS MORNING AND WE COME WITH
[Call to Order: Invocation, Rev. Don Reynolds, Calvary Baptist Church of Denton , Pledge of Allegiance; Agenda Review]
THANKSGIVING AND PRAISE UNTO YOU FOR BEING A FAITHFUL GOD.YOU'RE ALWAYS TRUE, DEAR LORD.
[00:05:01]
YOU NEVER HAVE EVER MADE A MISTAKE AND TODAY YOU ARE THE ONE THAT WE KNOW THAT WE'RE TO LOOK TO.I THANK YOU FOR THIS COUNTY AND THE FACT THAT WE ARE A COUNTY THAT IN YOU, WE TRUST, LORD.
WE'RE BELIEVING AND RELYING UPON YOU.
WE BELIEVE YOU, GOD, ARE THE SOURCE OF ALL THAT'S GOOD.
LORD, RIGHT NOW, WE KNOW THAT WE ARE PEOPLE THAT NEED TO HUMBLE OURSELVES BEFORE YOU.
OUR TIME PASSES SO QUICKLY BUT LORD, WE'RE LEFT WITH HUMAN RESPONSIBILITIES TO NOT ONLY LOVE YOU BUT BE GOOD TO OUR NEIGHBORS.
WE KNOW ACCORDING TO YOUR WORD, YOU ESTABLISHED GOOD GOVERNMENT, AND I PRAY TODAY FOR OUR LOCAL, STATE, AND NATIONAL GOVERNMENT, THAT THOSE THAT ARE IN AUTHORITY OVER US WILL HAVE YOUR WISDOM, YOUR DISCERNMENT AND MAKE CHOICES KNOWING LORD THAT THEY'LL GIVE AN ACCOUNT TO YOU.
THERE'S AN AWFUL LOT OF PERSONS WHO WORK FOR OUR GOVERNMENT.
WE ASK YOUR BLESSING UPON THEM.
LORD, I DO PRAY FOR THE CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTY.
HELP US TO BE RESPECTFUL, HONORABLE TOWARDS YOU AND THOSE WHO WE LIVE AMONG, WORK AMONG, AND SERVE.
WE PRAY THIS IN JESUS'S NAME. AMEN.
>> THANK YOU, PASTOR REYNOLDS.
>> WE WANT TO HAVE OUR OPENING PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
[Public Comment]
IS THERE ANYONE IN THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? I GOT IT. SORRY.>> I'VE BEEN READING ABOUT [INAUDIBLE] TRYING TO MAKE A DECISION BETWEEN THE LOCAL DETENTION CENTER.
I CAME HERE WHEN I WAS 26 YEARS OLD AND I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY, IT WAS A LADY NAMED MRS. FLEETWOOD.
ANY OF Y'ALL REMEMBER THAT NAME? SHE HAD A HEART FOR THOSE THAT WERE INCARCERATED, SO SHE WOULD INVITE MINISTERS ON TUESDAY NIGHT I BELIEVE, TO GO DOWN WITH HER AND HAVE SOME SERVICE.
SHE CALLED ME AND SHE SAYS, I'M HAVING A HARD TIME GETTING MINISTERS TO GO WITH ME, WOULD YOU GO? I SAID I'D LIKE TO GO.
I WENT AND I THOUGHT, THAT'S WONDERFUL TO HAVE A TUESDAY NIGHT SERVICE.
SHERIFF ANDREW WAS THE SHERIFF AT THAT TIME AND HIS SON, CHUCK, WAS THE ADMINISTRATOR.
I WENT TO BOTH OF THEM AND I SAID, WOULDN'T IT BE NICE IF THEY HAD A SUNDAY SERVICE IN ADDITION TO TUESDAY NIGHT? ALL I CAN SAY IS THE DETENTION CENTER, IT WASN'T UNUSUAL TO HAVE 40 AND 50 PERSONS IN THE ROOM AT THE TIME.
I DON'T KNOW ALL THAT'S INVOLVED.
Y'ALL KNOW THE MONEY AND ALL OF THAT BUT I HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO GO THERE.
THE TWO YEARS I WAS AWAY, DR. JENSEN COVERED THE SERVICE THAT WE ALWAYS HAD THERE BUT FOR 48 YEARS, SO I FEEL CONNECTED TO SO MANY FAMILIES.
I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN DETAINED FROM OTHER AREAS AND WE'VE HAD ALL TYPES OF PERSONS WHO'VE MADE POOR DECISIONS.
BUT IT'S A WONDERFUL THING TO BE ABLE TO GO IN THERE AND PRESENT THE WORD OF GOD.
ALL I CAN SAY IS WHEN THAT'S FARMED OUT IF IT GOES, THEY PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE A CHAPLAIN MAYBE OR WHATEVER.
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT WITH THE WAYS THINGS ARE, BUT I DO KNOW NOW THAT WE STILL, NOT JUST MYSELF, BUT THE GIDEONS TAKE CARE OF THE LADIES.
WE HAVE A VIBRANT MINISTRY AND ANYWAY, I'D LOVE FOR THAT TO ALWAYS CONTINUE FOR NOT JUST MYSELF, BUT ANY OTHER PERSONS WHO HAVE A HEART TO HELP PEOPLE.
I DO BELIEVE A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE MAKE TERRIBLE CHOICES BUT EVERYONE THERE IS SOMEONE'S SON OR DAUGHTER OR COUSIN.
YOU ALL KNOW IN CAROLINE COUNTY IT'S LIKE EVERYBODY IS RELATED.
[LAUGHTER] PEOPLE, A LOT OF TIMES, THE JUDGMENTS ARE GOOD.
WHEN THEY WANT TO TALK ABOUT LEGAL, I SAY THERE'S OTHER PERSONS, BUT I'M HERE TO BE A BLESSING WITH THE WORD OF GOD.
THE WORD OF GOD, WHEN IT'S ACCEPTED, IT DOES CHANGE PEOPLE'S LIVES. THAT'S ALL I WANT TO SAY.
I'M PRAYING THAT YOU ALL MAKE GOOD DECISIONS ABOUT THAT AND I UNDERSTAND IT HAS TO DO WITH TAXES AND JOBS.
[00:10:03]
I ADMIRE YOU ALL AS COMMISSIONERS AND THOSE WHO SERVE WITH YOU. YOU DO A GOOD JOB.>> WELL, THANK YOU, PASTOR REYNOLDS.
IT IS A VERY DIFFICULT DECISION, AND WE'RE WEIGHING, NOT ONLY THE FINANCIAL IMPACTS, BUT ALSO THE SERVICES THAT WE CAN PROVIDE TO INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS, BUT THANK YOU.
ANYONE ELSE? WE DO HAVE A PRESIDENT'S REPORT HERE.
[FY2026 Budget Workshop]
THE COMMISSIONERS CONVENED IN CLOSED SESSION DURING THEIR FEBRUARY 11TH MEETING TO CONSULT WITH LEGAL COUNSEL REGARDING PENDING LITIGATION AND TO DISCUSS THE ACQUISITION OF REAL PROPERTY IN ACCORDANCE WITH 2014 MARYLAND CODE, STATE GOVERNMENT 3-305 (B) SEVEN AND THREE.THE ATTENDEES WERE THE COMMISSIONERS KATHELEEN FREEMAN, COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, DANIEL FOX, DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR, STEWART BARROLL, COUNTY ATTORNEY, JENNIFER REIBLY, PIO, MARK GAIBLER, OUTSIDE COUNSEL, AND CRYSTAL DADDS, PLANNING AND CODES DIRECTOR.
MOVING ON TO OUR FIRST AGENDA ITEM THIS MORNING, WHICH IS DANIEL FOX, DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR, AND STACY SEWARD, GRANT COORDINATOR WITH THE FY2026 BUDGET WORKSHOP. GOOD MORNING.
>> BEAR WITH ME ONE SECOND HERE WHILE I GET HOOKED UP TO THE AIR TEAM.
IN NORMAL BUDGET FASHION, WE'RE HERE TO PRESENT OUR FY26 DEPARTMENT REQUESTS AND AGENCY REQUESTS.
IN FRONT OF YOU, YOU SHOULD HAVE THE TYPICAL THREE-RING BINDER THAT OUTLINES EVERY DEPARTMENT AND AGENCY THAT WE'VE HAD COMMUNICATIONS WITH OVER THE PAST MONTH OR SO.
THIS MORNING, WE'D LIKE TO WALK THROUGH A BROAD OVERVIEW OF THE REQUESTS, ANSWER ANY IMMEDIATE QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE, AND THEN GIVE YOU GUYS THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO THROUGH AND DIGEST YOURSELF ALL OF THIS INFORMATION.
ON TOP OF THE BINDER, THERE SHOULD BE THREE PRINTED OUT, I'M GOING TO SAY PACKETS.
THE VERSION ON THE TOP IS OUR CAPITAL REQUEST.
IF YOU DON'T MIND, WE'LL START WITH THAT AND FOR EVERYBODY THAT IS IN ATTENDANCE HERE IN THE ROOM, THIS IS THE VERSION THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT THAT IS PROJECTED ON THE SCREEN.
EACH AGENCY AND DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN REQUESTED TO PROVIDE ANY CAPITAL ITEM THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST AN FY26.
THEY'VE ALSO PROVIDED A FIVE-YEAR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN AS WELL THAT GOES ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE BUDGET THAT IS NOT VIEWED IN THIS PACKET, BUT WE DO HAVE.
I'LL JUST TAKE A REAL QUICK STROLL THROUGH THESE ITEMS, AND IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS THAT COME UP AS WE GO THROUGH THEM, PLEASE ASK.
AT THE BOTTOM, WE'LL HAVE WHO PROJECTED MONEY IN AND WHAT THE TOTAL OF THE REQUESTS ARE.
AGAIN, WE BREAK THESE DOWN BY DEPARTMENT AND AGENCY.
AT THE TOP, WE HAVE IT, WHO IS ASKING FOR A COUPLE OF SERVERS.
I KNOW IN TALKING TO CHRIS, A LOT OF THESE ARE AGING OUT AND ESSENTIALLY, OUR END OF LIFE OR WHAT THEY'LL BE SUPPORTED FOR, SO WE'RE REQUIRED TO ESSENTIALLY KEEP THEM IN ROTATION AND REPLACEMENT.
NEXT IN LINE, WE HAVE CIRCUIT COURT SO THIS IS COMING FROM JUDGE PRICE THROUGH THE CIRCUIT COURT.
THEY'RE REQUESTING PARKING LOT CONSTRUCTION OR EXPANSION OF THE BACK PARKING LOT HERE DUE TO THE LACK OF PARKING, AND THEN BALLISTIC WINDOWS FOR THE COURTHOUSE.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU GUYS SAW AS PART OF THE AOC REQUEST THAT WAS WORKED ON LAST YEAR BUT WAS NOT APPLIED FOR DUE TO SOME OF THE CHANGES AND TRYING TO GET UPDATED QUOTES, SO THEY'RE ASKING FOR IT OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET IN THIS YEAR.
>> THE 160 FOR THE PARKING LOT CONSTRUCTION.
>> WE ACTUALLY WORKED WITH AN ENGINEER PRIOR TO START DESIGN OF EXPANDING THE PARKING LOT AND THAT $160,000 NUMBER WAS PROVIDED TO US BY THEM TO ESSENTIALLY TAKE OUT THE GRASS AREA BETWEEN THE TWO PARKING LOTS AND ADD IN, I BELIEVE IT WAS 11, ADDITIONAL SPOTS IN BETWEEN THERE.
WE HAVE PRELIMINARY DESIGN FOR THAT, BUT THAT WAS A NUMBER THEY PROVIDED ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO WHEN WE WERE LOOKING INTO THAT DESIGN.
MOVING ON FROM CIRCUIT COURT, WE HAVE CORRECTIONS.
CORRECTIONS IS ASKING FOR ONE TRANSPORT VAN, AS WELL AS SOME REPLACEMENT AND UPDATING OF THE CONTROL PANEL AND INTERCOM SYSTEM THAT THEY'RE USING CURRENTLY.
DES HAS AN AMBULANCE THAT IS BEING REQUESTED,
[00:15:03]
NOT NECESSARILY OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET.IF YOU SEE ON THE NOTE ON THE SIDE, WE'VE BEEN FUNDING A LOT OF THE AMBULANCE PURCHASES THROUGH THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS OUT OF THE BLS FUND THROUGH SOME ADDITIONAL MONEY WE'VE RECEIVED THROUGH A PROGRAM THEY CALL ESPP, WHICH IS SOME SUPPLEMENTAL MEDICARE THAT WE'VE RECEIVED FROM THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
THEY HAVE CARDIAC MONITOR REPLACEMENT, AND THEN TWO VEHICLE REPLACEMENTS.
YOU CAN SEE WITH THOSE WHAT VEHICLES THEY'LL BE PHASING OUT AND WHAT POSITIONS WOULD BE GETTING THOSE REPLACEMENTS.
>> NEXT ON THE LIST, WE HAVE PUBLIC WORKS, SO WE'LL START WITH FACILITIES.
ON THE LEFT, YOU CAN SEE THE LOCATION OF THE LIKE SAY, UPDATE OR REPLACED AREA.
I'M NOT GOING TO READ THROUGH THESE, BUT AS YOU GO THROUGH THEM, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE NOTE AND WE CAN WORK WITH ROBIN AND STAFF TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ON ANY OF THESE INDIVIDUAL ITEMS. I KNOW IN THE PAST, YOU GUYS HAVE REQUESTED TO PLAY HANDS AND EYES ON SOME OF THESE AS WELL AND WE CAN SCHEDULE THAT AS WELL.
JUMPING OUT OF FACILITIES DOWN TO INFRASTRUCTURE.
WE HAVE OUR TYPICAL HOT MITTS OVERLAY PATCHING AND THEN TAR AND CHIP.
BELOW THAT, WE HAVE DESIGN AND ENGINEERING FOR FUTURE BRIDGES.
THIS IS AGAIN, SETTING MONEY ASIDE FOR OUR 20% MATCH THAT WE MUST PROVIDE WHEN WE'RE WORKING ON BRIDGES.
YOU CAN SEE IT'S BROKEN DOWN WITH ROADS AND FACILITIES IN THE EQUIPMENT LINE, ROBIN AND STAFF HAVE PROVIDED A PRIORITY ORDER FOR THESE AND SOME NOTES, AS WELL AS INFORMATION ON THE PIECE OF EQUIPMENT THAT WOULD BE REPLACED, OR IF THIS WAS A NEW PIECE OF EQUIPMENT ADDING TO THE FLEET.
SOME OF IT IS MATCH MONEY THAT GOES ALONG WITH POS APPLICATIONS, ROOF REPAIRS, A ZERO TURN, AND THEN ADDITIONAL MONEY FOR FIELD RENOVATIONS.
AGAIN, DIRECTOR BEATTIE HAS ALSO PROVIDED PRIORITY ORDER FOR THESE ITEMS. NEXT, WORKING THROUGH RECREATION AND PARKS, THE 4H BOARD HAS PROVIDED THREE REQUESTS IN THIS YEAR'S CAPITAL.
THEY'RE BROKEN OUT BELOW TO INCLUDE WALL DIVIDERS, A BACKUP GENERATOR, AND NEW WINDOWS AND DOORS.
AGAIN, THIS IS REQUESTED FROM THE 4H BOARD THROUGH RECREATION AND PARKS AND THE RELATION THAT WE HAVE THERE.
FOLLOWING, WE HAVE EDUCATION, PRIMARY SECONDARY SYSTEMS. WE HAVE LOCAL BOE.
WE HAVE LOCAL SHARE FOR HVAC CHILLER AT DES, AND THEN THE FIRST PHASE OF EARLY PLANNING AND DESIGN FOR LOCKERMAN MIDDLE SCHOOL.
BOTH OF THOSE ITEMS WERE PROVIDED IN THE CIP PLAN FROM THE BOARD OF ED TO THE STATE THAT THIS BOARD APPROVED, I BELIEVE TWO OR THREE MONTHS AGO WHEN MR. MENGEL CAME IN AND PRESENTED THOSE ITEMS. NEXT ON THE LIST, WE HAVE CHESAPEAKE COLLEGE.
IN THEIR REQUEST THIS YEAR INCLUDES THE FUNDING FOR THE QUEEN ANNE'S TECHNICAL BUILDING.
I DO WANT TO NOTE THAT IN THE PRESENTATION THAT CHESAPEAKE COLLEGE PROVIDED FOR US, AND WHAT YOU'LL SEE IN THE BOOK FLAGGED OUT IS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO ASK FOR THIS MONEY OVER THREE YEARS SO THERE'S A SMALL PART UP FRONT FOR DESIGN.
NEXT YEAR, THERE WILL BE CONSTRUCTION, NEXT YEAR, THEY'LL BE FF&E.
DUE TO THE NATURE OF BUILDINGS AND PROGRAMS THAT TIMES OUT OVER THREE YEARS.
I'M OF MIND THAT IT REALLY MAKES SENSE IF YOU'RE GOING TO COMMIT TO A PROJECT LIKE THIS TO BUDGET IT UP FRONT AND HAVE THAT MONEY SET ASIDE.
I DON'T WANT TO SEE OURSELVES IN A SITUATION TWO YEARS OR THREE YEARS FROM NOW, WE'RE TRYING TO SCROUNGE THE LAST HALF OF THAT MONEY TOGETHER.
AGAIN, IF WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO SET THE MONEY ASIDE FOR THIS PROJECT, I'D LIKE FOR US TO LOOK TO DO THE TOTAL AMOUNT.
OF COURSE, WE CAN CHOOSE TO PIECE THAT OUT, BUT IT'S A PHILOSOPHY THAT WE'VE TAKEN ON OVER THE YEARS.
>> DANNY, CAN SVUE PROJECTS COME OUT OF THE IMPACT FEE OR FUND?
>> I BELIEVE SO. THE WAY THE IMPACT FEE IS SET UP, IT IS PRETTY BROAD FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS TO THE BOARD OF ED, THAT THAT COULD BE SOMETHING WE COULD LOOK AT DOING FOR THIS YEAR.
>> AS OPPOSED TO COMING OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND.
TYPICALLY, WE'VE BEEN DOING IT OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND, RIGHT?
>> YEAH. THEN LAST IN THE LIST HERE, WE HAVE THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AS WELL AS ANIMAL CONTROL BETWEEN THE TWO AGENCIES, THE REQUESTING FOUR TOTAL VEHICLES.
JUST LIKE ANY OTHER VEHICLE REQUESTS, WE PROVIDED MILEAGE IN YEARS FOR THOSE VEHICLES.
I APOLOGIZE. COMMISSIONER BREEN, I KNOW YOU HAD ASKED ABOUT MAKE ON SOME OF THOSE, SO WE'LL GET THAT UPDATED AS WELL TO INCLUDE SPECIFICALLY ON.
>> COULD YOU ASK THEM TO GET A PRICE ON PUTTING A TRANSMISSION IN THAT 2017 PATROL VEHICLE AS WELL?
[00:20:11]
ONCE YOU TAKE A TOTAL OVERVIEWED LOOK OF ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES REQUEST.WE HAVE OUR TOTAL EXPENSE AMOUNT OF JUST OVER $11 MILLION THAT'S BEING REQUESTED THIS YEAR.
FUNDING, AT THIS POINT IN TIME, WE HAVE NOTED TO THE LEFT, WHICH IS MADE UP OF TRANSFER TAX, WHICH IS COLLECTED ON ANY TRANSFER OF PROPERTY THAT COMES THROUGH THE CLERK'S OFFICE HERE.
WE'VE TAKEN ABOUT $800,000 A YEAR AND THAT HAS TO BE SET ASIDE FOR CAPITAL AND THEN OUR LARGEST FUNDER OF THE CAPITAL BUDGET IS JUST OUR CAPITAL ALLOCATION AND MONEY COLLECTED ON TAXES AND OPERATING REVENUE.
THIS YEAR, DUE TO THE LARGE VOLUME OF REQUEST, WE'RE SHOWING ABOUT 6.5 MILLION DOLLAR GOING OVER TO GIVE US ABOUT 7.3 MILLION FOR THE CAPITAL BUDGET.
AS WE GET INTO THE OPERATING BUDGET HERE IN A MINUTE, YOU'LL SEE HOW THAT RELATION WORKS AS THE TRANSFER OUT OF OPERATING.
DO KNOW THAT THIS IS FLUID SO IF THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE MONEY TRANSFERRED OUT OF OPERATING TO FUND CAPITAL OR VICE VERSA, WE WANT TO TRIM OUT CAPITAL TO FUND OPERATING.
YOU CAN DO SO AND WE WOULD SHOW THAT THROUGH THAT LINE.
BUT RIGHT NOW, I THINK THE SUMMARY WOULD BE THAT WE'RE ABOUT $3.7 MILLION SHORT IN WHAT'S BEEN REQUESTED IN CAPITAL.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ON CAPITAL BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO OPERATING?
>> I DON'T SEE ANYTHING HERE WITH SOME OF THE DIRT ROADS BEING BUILT UP. [INAUDIBLE]
>> A LITTLE BIT DIRT ROADS ARE A LITTLE UNIQUE SO TYPICALLY, IF WE'RE BUYING MATERIAL TO BUILD UP EXISTING DIRT ROADS THAT GETS SHOWN IN OPERATING BECAUSE WE'RE NOT REALLY CAPITALIZING A NEW ROAD.
SOME OF THE NEWER PROJECTS THAT WE'RE DOING TO INCLUDE JONES CORNER, WOLFS ROAD, STAFFORD, SOME OF THOSE.
THAT'S COMING OUT OF OUR ARPA THAT'S ALREADY COMMITTED AND MARKED, SO IT DOESN'T SHOW IN THIS VERSION OF THE REQUEST.
>> I'M TALKING LIKE PUT THEM ASIDE ABOUT THE ROADS NOT EVEN THAT WE EVEN TALKED ABOUT?
>> CORRECT. THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE REQUESTED AND ADDED IN HERE IF WE WANTED TO DO SOMETHING ABOVE AND BEYOND.
>> IS THAT SOMETHING WE NEED TO DO?
>> BE UP TO A DISCUSSION WITH ROBIN IF WE WANTED TO CONTINUE TO DO THOSE.
>> WE CAN MAKE A NOTE AND HAVE IT CONVERSATION.
>> ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS ON CAPITAL?
>> HOW DOES THIS COMPARE TO PRIOR YEARS?
>> IT IT'S HIGH. THIS IS PROBABLY THE LARGEST CAPITAL BUDGET REQUESTS WE'VE HAD.
>> I'D BE CURIOUS, 202,000 MILES PROJECTED AT THE END OF 2026.
I FEEL LIKE WE SHOULD BE GET MORE MILES OUT OF THESE VEHICLES.
WE GET NOTHING FOR THEM WHEN WE SELL THEM WITH ALL THE UPFIT AND COST OF A NEW AMBULANCE.
I DON'T WANT TO JUMP RUNNING AROUND ON THE ROAD, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I THINK THESE THINGS SHOULD BE LICENSED TO 225-250.
COULD THE BLS FUNDS BE USED FOR THE MONITORS?
>> I KNOW WE'VE HAD A STEADY FLOW OF AMBULANCES, AND I KNOW WE'VE GOTTEN BACKED UP.
I THINK THERE WERE TWO IN ONE YEAR, CORRECT?
>> WE HAVE TWO THAT ARE CURRENTLY BEING BILLED OUT NOW THAT WERE THE TWO THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
I THINK IN TIMING, WE'LL RECEIVE THOSE A COUPLE OF MONTHS SEPARATE OF EACH OTHER, BUT THEY WILL BE WITHIN THE SAME YEAR.
AGAIN, THESE ARE ALL GOOD QUESTIONS, AND I THINK SOMETHING THAT WHEN WE DO THE ROUND TABLE NEXT WEEK, MARK CAN PROBABLY ANSWER A LITTLE MORE DETAIL THAN I CAN.
BUT I WILL MENTION WITH THE AMBULANCES, ONE OF THE NOTES THAT WE HAVE PUT THERE IS IT IS A TWO YEAR BILLED FOR AN AMBULANCE.
IN THIS CASE, IN THE CONVERSATION WE'VE HAD WITH MARK IS THIS WHEN WE GET THE TWO NEW UNITS, THIS ONE WILL PROBABLY BE PLACED INTO RESERVE, SO WE'LL BE GETTING LESS MILES, BUT WE STILL RUN THE RESERVES FAIRLY REGULAR.
[00:25:02]
YOU DON'T PROBABLY HAVE ANOTHER YEAR AND A HALF AFTER THAT 202,000 SO MORE THAN LIKELY, IT'LL PROBABLY BE 220, 230, WHEN THE TIME THAT IT WILL ACTUALLY BE PHASING OUT.IT'S JUST IF WE WANTED TO PLAN IT FOR THAT, WE WOULD NEED TO GET IN LINE AND LET THE DEALERS AND DISTRIBUTORS KNOW SO WE CAN HOLD OUR SPOT, BUT I BELIEVE MARK HAS PROVIDED US WITH A LIST OF ALL THE CURRENT MILEAGE FOR ALL AMBULANCES THAT WE'LL MAKE SURE YOU GUYS HAVE AND KNOW AS WELL.
I'LL JUST MAKE ONE QUICK NOTE ON THE CARDIAC MONITORS AS WELL IN THE BLS FUND.
THE BLS FUND IS A LITTLE BIT OF A UNIQUE ANIMAL IN ITSELF.
IT'S CONSIDERED AN ENTERPRISE FUND THAT'S MADE UP OF ESSENTIALLY BILLING AND SERVICES FOR US RUNNING A BLS AND ALS AMBULANCE SYSTEM.
THAT MONEY GETS SET ASIDE SPECIFICALLY IN THE BLS FUND TO CONTINUE SUPPORT OF EMS, BLS, ALS OPERATIONS.
LONG BEFORE I CAME HERE TO THE COUNTY AND PROBABLY A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE, THAT WAS ALL BEING DONE BY THE VOLUNTEER FIRE SERVICE AND AT THAT TIME, THERE WAS A BLS BOARD MADE UP OF A MEMBER FROM EACH FIRE COMPANY THAT STILL EXISTS TO THIS DAY THAT OVERSEES THAT FUND.
TYPICAL NATURE OF REQUESTING APPROPRIATE USE OF THAT FUND IS THROUGH THAT BOARD.
THEY WILL TYPICALLY SIGN OFF AND APPROVE, HEY, WE SUPPORT ONE AMBULANCE BEING REPLACED OUT OF IT.
I THINK IN PRACTICE AND THE WAY THAT FUND, IF THERE WAS A REQUEST TO REALIGN AND GO WITH CARDIAC MONITORS, THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE RUN THROUGH THAT ORGANIZATION.
>> WELL, MAY BE A DECISION OF IF YOU WANT THE MONITORS, YOU GOT TO USE THAT MONEY.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE UP AGAINST.
IT WOULD BE A DECISION FOR THEM.
WHAT'S MORE IMPORTANT, THE MONITORS OR THE AMBULANCE? I'M JUST THROWING IT OUT. WE DON'T KNOW WHERE WE'RE GOING TO BE.
>> IT'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF DIFFICULT QUESTIONS ASKED, I BELIEVE THIS BUDGET CYCLE.
>> I'VE CHANGED SCREENS AND WE'LL CHANGE HANDOUT SO WE'RE GOING TO MOVE OVER TO OPERATING.
IT'S THE SMALLER SIZE SHEET THAT HAS DRAFT AT THE TOP BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THIS IS NOT FINAL.
REVENUE WE'LL BRUSH ON THROUGH AND SEE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE STOP ME IF YOU DO.
SO EACH YEAR, OUR LARGEST INCOME PRODUCING LINE IS REAL PROPERTY TAXES.
END OF LAST WEEK, ACTUALLY FRIDAY, WE RECEIVED CONSTANT YIELD SO THAT GIVES THE COUNTY ESSENTIALLY WHAT THE NET ASSESSIBLE BASE IS GOING TO BE AND WHAT CAN BE CHARGED.
KEEPING THE PROPERTY TAX RATES THE EXACT SAME AS WE DID THE PRIOR YEAR, $0.98 100 AND HOLDING THE TOWNS TO THE SAME DIFFERENTIAL THAT WAS PROVIDED LAST YEAR.
WE'RE PROJECTED TO TAKE IN $32,852,800, WHICH IS AN INCREASE FROM THE PRIOR YEAR OF JUST SHY OF $2.3 MILLION.
THAT NUMBER WE'RE VERY CONFIDENT IN, THAT'S ESSENTIALLY TO THE DOLLAR OF WHAT WE COLLECT.
THE ONLY THING THAT CHANGES THROUGH THE YEAR IS IF THERE'S APPEALS AND SOMEBODY HAS A REDUCTION IN THEIR BASE OR NEW CONSTRUCTION COMES ALONG, SOMEBODY BUILDS A NEW HOUSE AND THAT'S A NEW BILL, BUT THAT'S A PRETTY CONFIDENT NUMBER OF WHAT WE HAVE THERE.
>> WHAT WHAT IS OUR ACCESSIBLE BASE DAN, 33 BILLION?
>> WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CONVEY THAT INFORMATION TO THE STATE SO THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THAT WE JUST DON'T HAVE THE BASE TO COVER SOME OF THESE COST SHIFTS.
>> IN LINE WITH WHERE YOU'RE THINKING,
[00:30:02]
THESE CONSTANT YIELD REPORTS AND ASSESSIBLE BASE ARE PUBLIC.SOMETHING THAT WE'VE ALSO COMPARED AND CONTRASTED IN THE PAST IS WHAT OTHER SURROUNDING COUNTIES AS WELL.
UNFORTUNATELY, WITH US BEING A LARGER LET'S SAY POOR COUNTY, A PENNY ON THE TAX ROLL FOR US MAY MEAN $330,000, WHERE A PENNY ON SOME OTHER JURISDICTIONS MAY MEAN $1.5 MILLION.
CERTAIN JURISDICTIONS HAVE CERTAIN TOLERANCES FOR WHAT THAT ACTUALLY MEANS.
BUT THAT INFO IS OUT THERE AS WELL.
NEXT IN LINE UNDER TAXES, WE HAVE LINE THAT'S LABELED UTILITIES.
THIS IS BUSINESS PERSONAL PROPERTY.
JUST FOR THE PUBLIC'S INFORMATION AND EVERYONE HERE, CAROLINE COUNTY EXEMPTS BUSINESS PERSONAL PROPERTY EXCEPT FOR ANYTHING THAT IS UTILITY GENERATION.
YOUR POWER COMPANIES, YOUR SOLAR PROJECTS.
WE HAVE ABOUT 14 USERS IN THE COUNTY THAT GET TAXED AND WHEN YOU THINK THAT YOUR LARGER SHOP TANK ELECTRIC TO MOTOR POWER TYPE STYLE IN THE SOLAR PROJECTS.
WE'RE ESTIMATING ABOUT $2.4 MILLION IN THAT, SO THAT'S GOING UP AS THESE COMPANIES AND ENTITIES BUILD OUT THEIR SERVICE INTO THE COUNTY.
AS WE GO THROUGH, THERE'S SOME JUST SMALL SAY CATCH ALL ITEMS, PENALTIES AND INTEREST, PRIOR YEAR.
I'LL MAKE A NOTE TO THAT SO $49,000.
AS YOU KNOW, THE TAX/FINANCE OFFICE COLLECTS AND MANAGES ALL THE PROPERTY TAX COLLECTIONS FOR ALL THE TOWNS.
WE TAKE 1% OF TOTAL COLLECTION UP TO $15,000 AS AN ADMIN FEE FOR DOING THAT SERVICE.
RIGHT NOW, THE TOWN OF DENTON AND FEDERALSBURG ARE THE ONLY TWO TOWNS THAT CAP OUT AT THE $15,000 MARK FOR US, DOING THEIR TAX COLLECTIONS, TAKING THE CALLS, RUNNING THEIR TAX SALE PROCESS.
SOME OF THE SMALLER TOWNS FALL ANYWHERE UNDER THAT 15,000.
>> SHOULD BE HIGHER THAN THAT.
>> AS ONE OF THE INDIVIDUALS DOING THAT, I WOULD AGREE ON THAT STATEMENT.
>> LET ME GO BACK A SECOND TO YOU THE UTILITIES.
>> WHEN WILL THE CHERRYWOOD REVENUE KICK IN?
>> THE WAY THE PILOT IS ESSENTIALLY CONSTRUCTED FOR THAT PROJECT, IT'S WHEN THEY'RE ONLINE AND GENERATING POWER.
>> THAT'S NOT ANTICIPATED IN THIS PROJECTION.
>> CORRECT. WHAT WE WILL SEE IN THIS YEAR IS THE INCREASE IN REAL PROPERTY, THE LAND TAX, ESSENTIALLY.
WE'RE STARTING TO SEE THAT NOW WITH SOME OF THE PARCELS BEING CHANGED OVER.
FROM WHAT WE'RE SEEING, A LOT OF THE PARCELS ARE BEING ASSESSED AT A $ 10,000-ACRE NUMBER OR FIGURE.
DEFINITELY SEEING A BUMP IN THAT, BUT AS FAR AS THE BUSINESS PERSONNEL WHO WOULD BE WHEN THEY ARE GENERATING? CONTINUING ON INCOME TAX IS OUR NEXT BIGGEST LINE ITEM.
THIS ONE HAS BEEN A LITTLE DIFFICULT OVER THE YEARS WITH THE WAY THAT SOME OF THE FEDERAL MONEY, WE THINK BACK TO CARES, RPA, PPP LOANS.
SOME OF THE MONEY HAS BEEN INFUSED INTO THE COUNTY, STATE, AND COUNTRY, AND HOW WE'RE COLLECTING INCOME TAX.
RIGHT NOW, WE'RE TAKING THE FIGURES THAT THE STATES PROVIDED US AND SOME OF THEIR PROJECTIONS AND MARKING UP PRIOR YEARS' COLLECTION PLUS WHAT WE'RE SEEING THIS YEAR TO TAKE US TO ABOUT $26,335,000.
THAT'S A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE FROM WHAT WAS BUDGETED IN THE CURRENT YEAR BUT IS NOT THAT LARGE OF AN INCREASE OF WHAT WE'VE ACTUALLY BEEN COLLECTING.
ONE THING THAT I WANT TO NOTE WITH THIS IS LAST WEEK, I BELIEVE I WAS SITTING UP HERE DISCUSSING SOME OF THE CHANGES IN INCOME TAX.
THIS CURRENTLY DOES NOT REFLECT THAT.
WE DO NOT KNOW WHERE THAT SITS.
I THINK I'VE HEARD SOME DISCUSSIONS.
BEHIND THE SCENES THAT THAT MAY BE CHANGED, MODIFIED ON THE STATE LEVEL ON WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.
IT'S VERY HARD FOR US TO NAIL DOWN AT THIS POINT IN TIME AN EXACT NUMBER, BUT IF NOTHING CHANGES AND WE CONTINUE WITH THE PROCESS THAT HAS BEEN DONE OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, THIS IS OUR BUDGETED FIGURE.
MY FEAR THOUGH IS THAT THE STATE DOES CHANGE THE WAY THAT WAS PAID.
[00:35:01]
>> MY GUESS IS THAT NUMBER WILL BE REDUCED UNDER THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET.
>> WE'RE LOOKING AT A $1.4 MILLION REDUCTION.
I IF THE ENTIRE CHANGE THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS PROPOSED IS PASSED, AND WHAT WE HEARD LAST NIGHT WAS THAT THE HOUSE IS FORWARD AND THE SENATE SEEMS TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF COLD FEET. WE'LL SEE.
>> AS THAT CONTINUES ON, AND JUST LIKE OTHER ITEMS IN THIS THAT YOU'LL SEE THAT ARE CONTINGENT ON SOME OF THESE BILLS PASSING.
WE'LL UPDATE THEM, KEEP THE BOARD UPDATED.
I THINK FOR NOW, WE'RE TRYING TO GO WITH OUR BEST ASSUMPTION, BUT KNOWING THAT SOME OF THESE LINE ITEMS MAY CHANGE FOR GOOD OR THE WORSE.
>> REAL QUICK, DAN SO 1.4 MILLION, WE'RE LOOKING AT TO OFFSET THAT LOSS IN INCOME TAX REVENUE, WE WOULD HAVE TO INCREASE PROPERTY TAXES $0.4, $0.5.
>> CONTINUING THROUGH, WE HAVE OTHER LOCAL TAX.
THE FIRST BEING MOBILE HOME TAX.
WHEN EVERYBODY PAYS, WE TYPICALLY TAKE ABOUT $80,000 IN.
ONE NOTE WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING WITH OFFICE OF LAW ON RESTRUCTURING THE COLLECTION OF THE MOBILE HOME TAX.
WE'VE NOTICED SOME REQUIRED CHANGES THAT WE NEED TO MAKE.
HOPEFULLY, IN THE NEXT MONTH OR TWO, WE'LL BE BRINGING THAT TO THE BOARD TO DISCUSS THE COLLECTION PROCESS OF THAT. BUT JUST WANTED TO KNOW.
RECORDATION IS COLLECTED THROUGH THE OFFICE OF FINANCE ON THE TRANSFER AND SALE OF PROPERTIES, ANYTHING THAT TAKES IN NEW CONSIDERATION OR ADDS MONEY TO AN EXISTING OBLIGATION OF THE HOME.
THIS NUMBER, I THINK I'VE SAID FOR THE PAST NINE, 10 YEARS, I'VE BEEN DOING THE BUDGET.
I CANNOT VISION IT CONTINUING TO GO UP, BUT IT CONTINUES TO GO UP.
PEOPLE ARE SELLING HOMES AND REFINANCING, TAKING OUT HOME EQUITY LINES OR CREDITS FASTER THAN WE'VE EVER SEEN.
IF YOU NOTICE IN THE PRIOR COLUMN, WE HAVE ABOUT 2.3 MILLION.
WE DID SEE SOME BUMPS WHEN WE HAD THE SALE OF A LOT OF THE SOLAR PROJECTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE NORTH COUNTY CHERRYWOOD PROJECT THAT PAID IN SOME LARGER SUM.
WE DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE THAT HIGH IN COLLECTION, BUT WE DEFINITELY ARE MARKING IT UP FROM PRIOR YEAR.
HIGHWAY USER REVENUE, THAT IS THE NUMBER PROVIDED TO US FROM THE STATE, THAT'S THE NUMBER DOWN TO THE DOLLAR THEY'RE TELLING US WE SHOULD COLLECT CONTINUING THROUGH, I SAY SOME OF THESE ARE SMALLER, SO I'LL SPEED UP THROUGH.
A LOT OF THAT IS REVIEWED FROM PRIOR YEAR AND ANY CHANGE THAT WE MAY ESTIMATE HAPPEN.
IF YOU LOOK AT BUILDING PERMITS, YOU CAN SEE WE ARE STARTING TO COLLECT MORE IN BUILDING PERMITS.
I KNOW CRYSTAL IS NOT PRESENT WITH US, BUT I THINK A LOT OF IT IS IN ASSOCIATION WITH SOME OF THESE LARGER PROJECTS THAT ARE COMING THROUGH THE COUNTY, AND AS WELL AS CHANGING THE STRUCTURE OF THE FEES TO NOW CHARGING RE-SUBMITTALS.
WE INCREASE THAT LINE BY WHAT WE'RE SEEING SO FAR THIS YEAR.
SOME SMALLER LINES, FEDERAL GRANTS.
IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THE MIDDLE LINE THAT'S LABELED EMPG, THAT IS MONEY WE RECEIVE THROUGH HOMELAND SECURITY FOR SALARY ASSISTANCE THROUGH CERTAIN POSITIONS IN DES.
THAT MONEY HAS GONE DOWN IN THIS FISCAL YEAR, AND WE HAVE ENVISIONED THAT IT WILL CONTINUE TO GO DOWN.
RIGHT NOW, WE'RE HOLDING IT AT 64,000, BUT ONCE WE RECEIVE AN ACTUAL NOTICE OR AN AWARD FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, WE'LL UPDATE THAT TO WHAT THE ACTUAL WILL BE.
I DON'T THINK IT WILL BE ANY MORE THAN $64,000. STATE GRANTS.
I REALLY HIGHLIGHT THE TOP 2 ITEMS THERE, WHICH ARE THE DISPARITY GRANT AND TEACHER RETIREMENT SUPPLEMENT.
IF YOU TAKE A LOOK, OUR DISPARITY BY FORMULA IS SUPPOSED TO GO DOWN ABOUT $176,000.
THEN NEXT IN LINE, THE TEACHER RETIREMENT SUPPLEMENT, THAT IS BEING CUT IN HALF.
BOTH OF THOSE ARE IN WHAT THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET IS AND CURRENTLY WHAT WE SEE.
TEACHER RETIREMENT SUPPLEMENT IF PASSED WITH THE CURRENT GOVERNOR'S BUDGET,
[00:40:05]
WILL PHASE OUT IN FY '27.CUT IN HALF THIS YEAR OR '26, AND THEN PHASED OUT IN '27 WHERE THAT GOES DOWN TO ZERO.
>> IT'S OVER A HALF MILLION DOLLARS IN REVENUE.
>> BETWEEN THOSE TWO, YES, SIR.
>> I DON'T KNOW THAT I'VE EVER SEEN A YEAR WHEN WE'VE LOST REVENUE.
>> NO, SIR. KEEP THAT IN MIND WHEN WE GET TO TEACHER PENSION ON THE EXPENSE SIDE.
WE HAVE THAT SLIGHTLY GOING UP.
>> REAL QUICK DANNY. IT WAS 600,000 JUST IN THE DISPARITY GRANT LAST YEAR.
NOW WE'RE GETTING ANOTHER HALF A MILLION THIS YEAR AND CUT.
>> POLICE PROTECTION AID. YOU'LL SEE THAT'S MARKED UP A LITTLE BIT.
THAT'S BASED OFF SOME ACTUAL FIGURES AND WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET.
THE NEXT COUPLE OF LINE ITEMS, FAMILY SERVICE GRANT PROBLEM-SOLVING PILOT PROGRAM ARE ALL STATE-FUNDED PROGRAMS THAT ARE HOUSED HERE IN THE CIRCUIT COURT.
YOU'LL SEE THAT ON THE EXPENSE SIDE, DOLLAR IN OR DOLLAR OUT DOLLAR IN AND ARE REALLY A WASH BASED ON WHAT THE STATE PROVIDES FOR THOSE PROGRAMS. IT'S NOT REALLY ANY NEW MONEY TO GO TO ANY EXISTING COSTS. OTHER GRANTS.
WE HAVE THE RELATION BETWEEN US AND THE BOARD OF ED WHEN IT COMES TO THE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS AND WHAT THEY'RE CONTRIBUTING FOR THAT RESOURCE.
FEE FOR SERVICE, WHEN WE START LOOKING THROUGH THOSE LINE ITEMS. YOU'LL SEE STACEY AND I GO LINE BY LINE THROUGH THESE.
WE WORK WITH THE DEPARTMENTS TO TAKE A FRESH LOOK AT THEM EACH YEAR AND TRY TO LOOK AT HISTORICAL DATA, ANY POLICY PROCEDURE CHANGE THAT MAY AFFECT THOSE LINE ITEMS AND UPDATE THOSE TO THE CURRENT VERSION.
SAY THEY'RE MINUSCULE AND OVERALL, BUT WE TRY TO KEEP THEM AS ZEROED OUT AS POSSIBLE.
AGAIN, IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS ON THOSE, PLEASE LET ME KNOW, BUT I READ THROUGH EVERY SINGLE ONE UNTIL WE GET TO INTEREST.
IF YOU TAKE A LOOK, WE'RE BUDGETING ABOUT $2.2 MILLION IN INTEREST.
WE TOOK IN 2.4 THE PRIOR YEAR.
WE'RE STILL CONTINUING TO HAVE A REALLY HEALTHY FUND BALANCE THAT'S ACCRUING THIS INTEREST, BUT WE HAVE SEEN THE RATES SLOWLY TICK DOWN FROM WHAT WE WERE COLLECTING AT THAT TIME.
BASED OFF CURRENT MONTHS AND WHAT WE'RE SEEING HERE, WE'RE ESTIMATING ABOUT 2.2.
AS WE GET THROUGH THE LAST HALF OF THIS YEAR, IF OUR BALANCE CONTINUES TO GROW AND WE'RE TAKING IN MORE, I MAY ADJUST THAT UP JUST A TINY BIT, BUT I THINK THAT'S PRETTY CLOSE TO ZERO WITH WHAT WE'RE SEEING.
SOMETHING NEW, NOT NEW FOR THIS YEAR, BUT NEW AND FRESH IN OUR MINDS IS THE MIDSHORE TO HOST FEE.
IF YOU TAKE A LOOK, WE'RE BUDGETING ABOUT $420,000 FOR THE MIDSHORE LANDFILL HOST FEE BASED OFF OF WHAT WE'VE ACTUALLY BEEN COLLECTING.
WE'VE MARKED THAT UP TO $446,000.
THAT'S AGAIN SOMEWHAT FRESH AND NEW LINE ITEM THAT WE'RE TAKING IN THAT'S GOING TO HELP IN THESE FUTURE YEARS.
EXISTING IN THE HR BUDGET, THERE IS A RETIREE OR EMPLOYEE HEALTH BENEFIT LINE THAT IS DIRECTLY OFFSET BY A TRANSFER IN FROM THE OPEB ACCOUNT.
THAT'S JUST DOLLAR IN DOLLAR OUT FOR THOSE EXPENSES, TRANSFER BLS.
THIS IS BACK TO THE BLS FUND, MONEY THAT WE'RE COLLECTING ON TRANSPORTS THAT'S BEING TRANSFERRED INTO THE GENERAL OPERATING BASED OFF THE AMOUNT OF CALLS WE'RE TAKING AND THE RATES THAT ARE PRESCRIBED TO BE REIMBURSED.
ALL IN ALL, WHEN WE LOOK AT WHAT'S ACTUALLY BEING BUDGETED.
FIRST LAST YEAR, WE'RE LOOKING TO TAKE IN ABOUT 78,788,000, AND THE CURRENT VERSION THAT IS TODAY, THE BIG INCREASES, AGAIN, INCOME TAX, PROPERTY TAXES, AND SOME ADJUSTMENTS AND SOME SMALL LINE ITEMS.
>> WHEN DO THE TIPPING FEES ON THE LANDFILL KICK IN?
>> AS FAR AS OUR PORTION OF THE COLLECTION, QUARTERLY, AND WE'RE GETTING THOSE NOW.
THIS FISCAL YEAR, WE'VE TAKEN IN TWO-QUARTERS OF THOSE.
ANY QUESTIONS ON REVENUE BEFORE WE JUMP OVER TO REQUEST?
[00:45:04]
THAT'S THE FUND YOU'RE REFERRING TO THAT WE PULL THE AMBULANCE?
>> THAT 41.4 MILLION THAT YOU'RE SEEING TRANSFERRED IN JUST TO GIVE YOU A BREAKDOWN OF THAT IS MADE UP OF REALLY TWO MAIN THINGS.
THE BIGGEST BEING QUARTERLY TRANSPORT.
AT THE END OF THE QUARTER, DES FIGURES HOW MANY CALLS WERE TAKEN BY THE VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANIES AND HOW MANY CALLS WERE TAKEN BY OUR SAY, COUNTY AMBULANCE.
WE GET A FLAT DOLLAR PER CALL TRANSFERRED INTO THE GENERAL FUND FOR THOSE CALLS.
IF THERE'S AN EXTENDED TRANSPORT LONG TIME, YOU GET A LITTLE MARKUP ON IT, BUT THERE'S ESSENTIALLY AN AGREED-UPON FORMULA, AND THAT SAME FORMULA IS PAID TO THE VOLUNTEER COMPANIES.
IF THEY TAKE X AMOUNT OF CALLS, THEY'RE GOING TO GET A CHECK EVERY QUARTER FOR THAT.
THAT'S THE BULK OF THE MONEY THAT COMES OVER.
THEN THERE ARE TWO POSITIONS THAT ARE IN THE DES BUDGET THAT ARE FUNDED MAINLY OUT OF THIS FUND AS WELL.
>> THIS IS NOT ALL OF THE COLLECTIONS, OR THIS IS EVERY DOLLAR THAT WE TAKE IN A PORTION OF WHAT WE TAKE, IT GOES INTO THE CAPITAL FUND AND A PORTION GOES INTO THE GENERAL FUND.
>> CORRECT. JUST GENERALLY SPEAKING, WHAT WE'VE SEEN OVER THE YEARS IS WHAT'S ACTUALLY BEING COLLECTED FROM BILLING IS MORE THAN WHAT GETS PAID OR TRANSFERRED OVER.
YOU HAVE THAT FUND THAT'S STARTING TO CORRODE.
THAT'S WHY IT'S HAD THE ABILITY TO HAVE THE MONEY IN IT TO PAY FOR SOME OF THE CAPITAL ITEMS AND AGAIN, COLLECTIONS IS OUTPACING WHAT'S BEING TRANSFERRED OUT.
WE'LL JUMP OVER TO THE REQUEST SIDE.
THIS IS A LOT OF INFORMATION, SO I'M GOING TO TRY TO BREEZE THROUGH IT AS GENERALLY AS POSSIBLE, BUT AS YOU'LL SEE, HIGHLIGHTED IN THE ORANGE COLUMN, COLUMN D FOR WHAT'S ON THE BOARD ARE THE REQUESTS FOR EACH DEPARTMENT.
ANYTHING TO THE RIGHT IS NOTED EITHER ABOVE OR BELOW FLAT AS WELL AS A NOTE.
A LOT OF TIMES THIS YEAR, STACY AND I FOUND OURSELVES REALLY JUST REFERRING TO THE BOOK BECAUSE THAT HAS ALL THE MULTI PAGES OF WHAT'S INCLUDED, WHAT THE DEPARTMENTS HAVE PROVIDED US.
INSTEAD OF US TRYING TO SUMMARIZE IN ONE LITTLE SENTENCE, A LOT OF TIMES WE REFERENCE TO LOOK AT THE BOOK AND HAVE NOTED THE ITEMS IN THERE.
JUST GENERALLY SPEAKING ON THE EXPENSE SIDE THIS YEAR, ADMINISTRATION HAS REALLY, SAY, TAKEN A LOOK AT HOW WE'RE VIEWING OUR PAY SCALE AND HOW WE'RE REALLY PAYING EMPLOYEES, AND HAVE MET WITH DEPARTMENTS, MET WITH AGENCIES, AND REALLY HAVE HEARD THIS IS ONE OF OUR BIGGEST AREAS OF LACKING OR CONFUSION WHEN IT COMES TO EMPLOYEES AND DEPARTMENTS AND SUPERVISORS.
THIS YEAR, WE'RE REQUESTING TO IMPLEMENT A PAY SCALE.
IN THE BEGINNING OF THE BOOK, YOU'LL SEE THERE'S SOME INFORMATION ON WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.
THERE'S THE DRAFT PAY SCALE VERSION IN.
THE BUDGET VERSION THAT YOU SEE IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY ESSENTIALLY HAS EVERYBODY, ALL THE MERIT EMPLOYEES BEING PLACED ON A PAY SCALE AND BEING PROVIDED A 2.5% COLA AS WELL AS ONE STEP ON THAT SCALE.
WHAT THAT TRANSLATES INTO IS ANYWHERE FROM A 3.5-4.5% INCREASE FOR EMPLOYEES BASED ON WHERE THEY FALL ON THAT SCALE.
AGAIN, AT THE BOTTOM END, SOMEBODY WOULD RECEIVE 3.5% AND AT THE TOP END, 4.5%.
WHEN WE, AGAIN, LOOK AT THE DEPARTMENTS, THAT'S THE VERSION THAT'S INCLUDED.
IF THERE ARE QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW THAT LOOKS AND THE PROCESS THAT WE ARE TAKING WITH THAT, WE'RE MORE THAN HAPPY TO CARVE OUT TIME TO GO OVER THAT, BUT IT IS A BIG UNDERTAKING AND CHANGE TO OUR CURRENT PHILOSOPHY AS A COUNTY.
WE'LL JUST STROLL THROUGH SOME OF THE DEPARTMENTS, AND NOT WHAT YOU SEE THE DAY.
WE'LL START WITH GENERAL GOVERNMENTAL, AND THESE ARE REALLY DEPARTMENTS THAT FALL UNDER THE TITLE OF JUST GENERAL GOVERNMENT.
YOU HAVE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, ELECTIONS, FINANCE, LAW, HR, PLANNING AND CODE, GENERAL SERVICE, IT.
FOR THE MOST PART, DEPARTMENTS HAVE STAYED FLAT.
SOME HAVE HAD REQUIRED INCREASES.
[00:50:03]
JUMPING DOWN TO ASSESSMENT AND TAXATION, YOU'LL SEE WE HAVE AN INCREASE ABOVE FLAT OF ABOUT $146,000.AS NOTED, THAT IS THE CHANGE IN THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET TO HAVE COUNTIES NOW CONTRIBUTE 90% OF THAT BUDGET INSTEAD OF THE PRIOR 50%.
>> LET ME GO BACK UP TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR A MINUTE, I'M CONFUSED ABOUT THAT.
>> ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HAD A LITTLE BIT OF CHANGE IN STAFF, SO WE'VE REFLECTED THAT.
BUT DUE TO THAT, DIRECTOR ZIMMEROV HAS REQUESTED SOME CHANGE IN LINE ITEMS TO REFLECT SOME OF THE ADDITIONAL WORKLOAD.
WE SAT DOWN AND TALKED TO BOB ABOUT THIS, AND THERE IS A TWO-PAGE PROVIDED SUMMARY AND NARRATIVE THAT HE'S PROVIDED US THAT WE'VE PLACED IN THE BOOK.
BUT I BELIEVE A LOT OF IT IS ASSOCIATED WITH MARKETING AND CERTAIN SERVICES THAT ARE BEING REQUESTED.
ASSESSMENT TAXATION WAS ONE OF THE LARGER ONE.
YOU'LL SEE FINANCE HR, WE HAVE SOME SMALLER INCREASES RELATED TO CONTRACTED INCREASES DUE TO SOFTWARE OR SERVICES THAT WE ARE REQUIRED TO DO, WHETHER IT'S AUDIT OR ACTUARIALS, AND HRS CONSENTS.
PLANNING CODES, WE HAVE A SMALL REDUCTION, GENERAL SERVICE HOUSES ALL OF OUR COUNTY WIDE INSURANCE POLICIES.
THESE ARE THINGS THAT CAN'T BE ITEMIZED OUT TO EACH DEPARTMENT, BUT ARE REALLY COUNTY WIDE BUILDINGS.
WE'RE ESTIMATING AN INCREASE OF ABOUT $49,000 TO THOSE POLICIES, AND THAT'S REFLECTED THERE.
IT HAS SOME INCREASES IN LICENSING MAINTENANCE AND WIDE AREA NETWORK.
A LOT OF THESE ARE IN CONTRACT THAT THE PROVIDER OF SUCH SERVICE GETS TO MARK UP X PERCENTAGE EACH YEAR.
I KNOW CHRIS DOES A GOOD JOB WITH ITEMIZING THOSE OUT AND PROVIDING ESSENTIALLY WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE, AND THAT'S BEEN REFLECTED IN THAT YEAR'S BUDGET OR THIS YEAR'S BUDGET AS WELL.
JUMPING DOWN TO THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM, WHICH INVOLVES REALLY ALL OF THE COURT SYSTEMS HERE.
WHEN WE GO THROUGH THOSE, YOU'LL SEE A LOT OF THEM ARE NOTED, ESPECIALLY THE TOP THREE IS 100% STATE FUNDED, AND THOSE RELATE BACK TO THE STATE GRANTS THAT WE WERE DISCUSSING EARLIER, PROBLEM SOLVING, FAMILY SERVICE.
CIRCUIT COURT IS REQUESTING A NEW POSITION.
THIS IS THE JUDICIAL ASSISTANT THAT WAS REQUESTED LAST YEAR FROM JUDGE PRICE.
THE COST TO DO SUCH, I BELIEVE, IS AROUND THE $85,000 MARK.
AGAIN, THAT INFORMATION IS BROKEN DOWN IN THE BOOK AS WELL.
DOWN THE STATE'S ATTORNEY, WE HAVE SOME SMALL ADJUSTMENTS THAT THEY'VE MADE TO THEIR LINE ITEMS, AND THOSE HAVE BEEN NOTED AND BROKEN DOWN IN THE BOOKS AS WELL.
THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE REALLY COMES NEXT, SO THIS IS GOING TO BE THEIR GENERAL OPERATIONS, CONTRACT ACCOUNT COVERAGE, AND THEN THE SROS.
WE'LL START WITH JUST THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IN GENERAL.
IN MEETING WITH SHERIFF BAKER AND CAPTAIN HELMER, THEY REALLY HAVE TRIED TO STAY FLAT IN THE BUDGET.
THERE ARE SOME LINE ITEMS LIKE OTHER AGENCIES THAT WE HAVE TO INCREASE DUE TO CONTRACTS FOR SERVICES THAT THEY HAVE WITH DIFFERENT PROVIDERS.
BUT ABOUT HALF OF THE REQUEST IS TO UPDATE THEIR PAY SCALE.
I'LL TRY TO BE QUICK IN THIS SUMMARY.
ONE OF THE THINGS WHEN SHERIFF BAKER TOOK OVER THAT HE NOTICED AND BROUGHT TO HR, AND MY ATTENTION WAS, THEIR CURRENT PAY SCALE REALLY HAD NO RHYME OR REASON WHY CERTAIN POSITIONS OR STEPS WERE DIFFERENT FROM ONE ANOTHER.
HE SAT DOWN WITH US AND LOOKED AT THE PAY SCALE THAT WE WERE WANTING TO IMPLEMENT, AND WANTED TO TAKE THE SAME APPROACH.
IN ESSENCE, WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR STEPS, A LOT OF THOSE ARE JUST GOING TO SAY 2%.
EACH YEAR, A STEP WOULD BE 2%.
IN THEIR CASE, YOU MAY HAVE A STEP THAT'S 5.5% AND NEXT YEAR IT WOULD BE 1.5, AND THEN 3.5.
IT WAS REALLY ALL OVER THE PLACE AND WAS MAKING IT REALLY CONFUSING FOR HR AND OURSELVES TO DIGEST AND FIGURE OUT.
WE'VE TAKEN A NEW LOOK AT THIS,
[00:55:02]
AND HAVE TRIED TO SIMPLIFY IT AND MAKE IT MIRROR OUR PROPOSED PAY SCALE, AND TO DO SUCH, I BELIEVE IT WAS AROUND $23,000 IN ADJUSTMENTS THAT WOULD NEED TO BE MADE TO CATCH AND ENCOMPASS ALL OF THAT.AGAIN, THAT INFORMATION IS IN THE BOOK, BUT WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT CHANGE THERE.
TOWN COVERAGE, SRO ELEMENTARY, AS YOU CAN SEE, A LOT OF THAT IS REIMBURSED BY THE TOWNS OR THE BOE, DEPENDING ON THE PROGRAM.
DOLLAR IN AND DOLLAR OUT FROM THE REVENUE.
ANIMAL CONTROL, SMALL INCREASES, REALLY, A LOT OF IT'S JUST AUTO INSURANCE.
I'LL JUMP TO THE VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANIES.
THIS YEAR, THE FIRE COMPANIES HAVE ASKED FOR A COUPLE OF NEW THINGS.
LOSAP, THE FIRST LINE, THEY'RE REQUESTING THAT WE LOWER THE AGE TO COLLECT LOSAP FROM 60 TO 55.
THERE WOULD BE AN INCREASE TO THE LOSAP YEARLY PAYMENT OF ABOUT $35,000.
THEY HAVE ALSO ASKED THAT WE CONTRIBUTE $15,000 EACH YEAR TO THE FUND THAT'S SET ASIDE.
OUTSIDE OF THAT, WE GO TO FIRE COMPANIES.
THEY'RE REQUESTING A 10% INCREASE IN THE YEARLY ALLOCATION, A LETTER EXPLAINING OR BREAKING DOWN WHY THEY'RE ASKING FOR 10% HAS BEEN PROVIDED IN THE BOOK.
NEW FOR THIS YEAR, THEY'RE ASKING FOR $20,000 TO BE ADDITIONALLY CARVED OUT TO DO COUNTY WIDE COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING.
THERE'S A NOTE PARAGRAPH IN THE BOOK OF WHAT THAT WOULD ENTAIL AS WELL.
THEN NEXT IS A PROPERTY TAX CREDIT.
IN THEIR LETTER, THEY REQUESTED THAT CAROLINE COUNTY LOOK AT TAX CREDITS THAT ARE PROVIDED BY QUEEN ANNES AND DORCHESTER, AND TRY TO MIRROR, ESSENTIALLY THOSE PROGRAMS. STACY TOOK SOME TIME, WENT THROUGH THE WEBSITES OF BOTH QUEEN ANNES AND DORCHESTER, BROKE OUT THEIR PROGRAMS, AND PROVIDED COPIES OF THOSE IN THE BOOK.
BUT THE LONG AND SHORT IS, YOU HAVE TO BE ACTIVE FOR THREE YEARS TO RECEIVE THE PROPERTY TAX CREDIT, FILE A FORM WITH THE THE COUNTY TAX OFFICE, AND THEY WOULD VERIFY WITH DES OR WHOEVER THE AGENCY IS THAT'S VERIFYING ACTIVE ELIGIBILITY, AND THE INDIVIDUAL WILL BE PROVIDED THAT CREDIT.
IN CONVERSATION WITH KELLY AT DES, THEY HAD ACTUALLY GONE THROUGH THE EXERCISE OF TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW MANY INDIVIDUALS WOULD BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE THAT IN CAROLINE COUNTY? IF MEMORY SERVES ME CORRECT, I BELIEVE IT WAS ABOUT 175 INDIVIDUALS?
>> THEN WE TOOK ESSENTIALLY A NUMBER OF WHAT THE PUBLISHED RENT VERSUS OWNERSHIP OF PROPERTIES IN CAROLINE COUNTY WAS, TIMES IT BY 175, I BELIEVE IT IS ABOUT 128 INDIVIDUALS IN THEORY WOULD BE ELIGIBLE.
ESSENTIALLY TOOK THAT TIMES THE $2,500 THAT QUEEN ANNE'S DOES FOR ESSENTIALLY THE MAX FIGURE THAT THEY WOULD GET.
THAT'S HOW YOU GET THE $320,000 THAT WE WOULD FOREGO IN REVENUE.
YOU COULD DO ANYTHING AS SMALL AS $100 OR ANYTHING IN BETWEEN.
BUT FOR THIS EXERCISE, AGAIN, THEY ASKED TO MIRROR THE NEIGHBORING JURISDICTION, SO I WANTED TO PROVIDE THE NUMBER THAT WOULD DO SO.
>> WE SHOULD SPEND A LOT OF TIME ON THIS.
>> THAT INFORMATION IS THE BOOK, THAT'S HOW WE GOT TO THAT NUMBER.
AMBULANCE AID, THAT IS A FLAT NUMBER WE'VE PROVIDED EACH YEAR TO THE COMPANIES THAT ARE RUNNING AMBULANCE.
STATE FIRE AID, THAT'S 100% FUNDED FROM THE STATE.
THAT'S WHAT'S KNOWN AS THE EMS OR THE 508 MONEY.
THAT HAS A PROPOSAL TO GO UP IN THE CURRENT BUDGET OF THE GOVERNOR, SO THAT'S NOT THERE.
CORRECTIONS IS THE NEXT LINE ITEM.
THE WARDEN IS SITTING HERE TODAY, BUT REALLY THE BULK OF HIS BUDGET IS GOING UP DUE TO FOOD AND MEDICAL CONTRACTS AS WELL AS A REQUEST FOR A NEW INVESTIGATION SERGEANT.
THE COST OF THAT EMPLOYEE, PLUS WHAT WE'RE BUDGETING TO GO UP IN FOOD AND MEDICAL SERVICE HAS BEEN PROVIDED IN THE BOOK.
BUT WITH THOSE THREE ITEMS, HIS ABOVE FLAT COMES TO ABOUT 103.
DES, ADMIN HAS SOME SMALL CHANGES.
THE UNIFORMS FOR ACTUALLY ADMIN AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT WERE COMING OUT OF EMS PRIOR, SO WE'RE TAKING THOSE OUT OF EMS AND PUTTING THEM TO THE DEPARTMENT WHERE IT BELONGS.
YOU'LL SEE THAT SMALL RIGHT UP IN ADMIN.
COMMUNICATIONS ACTUALLY HAS A REDUCTION GOING DOWN.
WE'VE BEEN BUDGETING TEMPORARY SALARIES FOR MANY YEARS, AND ESSENTIALLY THE PART TIME EMPLOYEES HAVE FALLEN OFF AND WE REALLY DON'T HAVE ANY THAT ARE WORKING, SO WE'VE MARKED THAT DOWN TO ACTUAL USAGE.
EMS HAS SOME SMALL REALIGNMENTS IN LINE ITEMS,
[01:00:01]
BUT THE BULK OR THE BIGGEST REQUESTS THAT THEY'RE ASKING IS TO PHASE OUT THE SENIOR PARAMEDIC POSITIONS AND IMPLEMENT SERGEANT POSITIONS.ESSENTIALLY, WE HAVE WHERE IF SOMEBODY HITS CERTAIN YEARS OF SERVICE, I BELIEVE, IT'S 10 YEARS, YOU GET A PROMOTION TO SENIOR PARAMEDIC.
RIGHT NOW, WE'RE LOOKING AT ESSENTIALLY LAYERING IN SOME MORE SUPERVISORY DUTIES AND DOING AWAY WITH THAT, AND CREATING A SERGEANT TO HAVE A MIDLINE SUPERVISOR UNDER THE LIEUTENANT THAT'S ON SHIFT.
IT'S NOT A CHANGE IN NUMBER OF FULL TIME EMPLOYEES.
IT'S REALLY A CLOSE TO ZERO COST CHANGE.
IT'S MORE OF A STRUCTURAL CHANGE IN THE DEPARTMENT OF HOW THEY REPORT AND WHO'S IN CHARGE OF WHAT DUTIES AND PROCESSES.
BUT AGAIN, MARK HAS SOME INFORMATION HE'S PROVIDED IN THE BOOK THERE, AND I'M SURE WE'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT.
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, WE HAVE SOME NEW LINE ITEMS THERE.
THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, THEY ADDED A NEW POSITION IN THERE, AND WE'RE NOW JUST REFLECTING UNIFORMS, MILEAGE AND CONFERENCE, EMPLOYEE DEVELOPMENT, ANY SUPPORTING COSTS THAT GO ALONG WITH THAT NEW EMPLOYEE IN THE BUDGET.
JUMPING OUT OF DES, WE'RE GOING TO GO TO HUMANE SOCIETY.
SOME OF THESE, I'LL BE BRIEF WITH.
MANE SOCIETY IS ASKING FOR $437,650 AND INCREASE OF ABOUT $67,000.
THEY'VE BROKEN THAT INTO TWO LINE ITEMS, ONE BEING ADDITIONAL WAGES FOR EMPLOYEES OF 37,000 AND THE OTHER IS ABOUT $30,000 FOR MEDICAL BILLING FOR SERVICES THAT THEY'RE USING ON THE ANIMALS IN THEIR CARE.
JUMPING DOWN TO PUBLIC WORKS, STACY AND I HAD A CHANCE TO SIT DOWN AND MEET WITH ROBIN AT START OF THIS, AND GO THROUGH THE PUBLIC WORKS BUDGET.
HE'S ADJUSTED A LOT OF THE LINE ITEMS TO REFLECT MORE ACTUAL COST.
IF YOU LOOK, MOST OF THE DEPARTMENTS ACTUALLY ARE GOING DOWN, REFLECTING THIS.
CENTRAL SHOP DOES HAVE SOME INCREASE, BUT ONE COMMENT THAT I DO WANT TO MAKE, A LOT OF IT IS TWO PARTS THAT ARE BEING BILLED AND REIMBURSED FROM OUTSIDE AGENCIES.
WE DO SEE A $6,300 INCREASE HERE, BUT ON THE BACKSIDE ON THE REVENUE, YOU WILL SEE A MARK-UP AND REVENUE THAT WE WERE RECEIVING FROM THESE SERVICES OR BILLING OF THE PARKS, SO IT'S ESSENTIALLY A WASH.
I'M NOT GOING TO, SAY, BELABOR PUBLIC PARKS BECAUSE THEY'RE ALL RELATIVELY FLAT.
HEALTH DEPARTMENT, WE TAKE A LOOK.
BOTH BEHAVIORAL MENTAL HEALTH AND THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT ARE REQUESTING A 2% INCREASE IN OPERATING BUDGET BETWEEN THE TWO, IT'S ABOUT A $13,000 INCREASE.
THIS IS UPPER SHORE AGING, DELMARVA COMMUNITY SERVICE, AND THEN A LOT OF THE NONPROFITS AND AGENCIES THAT WE'VE BEEN PROVIDING ASSISTANCE TO.
UPPER SHORE AGING IS REQUESTING AN ADDITIONAL $66,934, DELMARVA COMMUNITY SERVICE IS LOOKING TO REQUEST AN ADDITIONAL 72,000.
AGAIN, BOTH OF THOSE AGENCIES HAVE PROVIDED LETTERS EXPLAINING WHAT PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THEY'RE PROVIDING WITH THAT AND WHY THE REQUEST IS BEING MADE.
SOME OF THE AGAIN, SMALLER NONPROFITS, SOME OF THEM HAVE REQUESTED FLAT FUNDING, SOME OF THEM HAVE REQUESTED SOME CHANGES, ONE BEING MARTIN'S HOUSE AND BARN, THEY'VE ASKED FOR 10,000 AND SO THE 5,000 THEY WERE GETTING THIS YEAR.
AARON'S PLACE HAS ASKED FOR 29,400.
THEY'VE PROVIDED A SMALL LITTLE WRITE UP OF WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING TO DO WITH THAT ADDITIONAL FUNDING.
FLAT, FLAT. [INAUDIBLE] HAS REQUESTED $6,000, IT'S A THOUSAND DOLLARS MORE THAN PRIOR YEAR.
THIS YEAR, THE FIGURE THAT WE'VE BEEN PROVIDED AT THIS POINT IN TIME SHOWS OUR LOCAL BOE NUMBER GOING UP ABOUT $1.8, $1.9 MILLION.
THAT'S REFLECTED HERE, THE KICKER AND SOMETHING THAT I NOTED WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AT THE REVENUE AND WHAT WE'RE LOSING IN TEACHER RETIREMENT SUPPLEMENT, IS NOT ARE WE ONLY LOSING THE SUPPLEMENT, BUT NOW WE'RE GOING TO BE ASKED FROM THE STATE TO CONTRIBUTE $561,000 ADDITIONAL TO TEACHER RETIREMENT SUPPLEMENT, AS WELL AS $12,000 FOR NONPUBLIC PROGRAMS. TOGETHER, IT'S ABOUT $574,000 OF NEW EXPENSES THAT HAVE BEEN PROPOSED IN THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET.
I'VE NOTED THERE PROPOSED STATE TO LOCAL COST SHIFT.
[01:05:03]
>> WITH A REDUCTION AND SUPPLEMENT OF ALMOST 400,000.
>> NINE HUNDRED THOUSAND. YES, SIR.
CHESAPEAKE COLLEGE IS REQUESTING A 5% INCREASE.
AS NOTED IN PRIOR YEARS, THE FUNDING BETWEEN THE FIVE COUNTIES IS BROKEN UP BY FULL-TIME ENROLLMENT.
STACEY HAS GONE THROUGH AND FLAGGED THE PAGE THAT SHOWS WHAT OUR PERCENTAGE IS FOR THIS YEAR.
WE HAVE GONE UP IN ENROLLMENT, WHICH MEANS THAT EVEN THOUGH THE OVERALL SHARE BEING PAID TO THE COLLEGE AMONGST THE FIVE COUNTIES IS ONLY GOING TO GO UP 5%, OUR SHARE OF IT HAS GONE UP LARGER THAN THAT.
WE SHOW ABOUT A $213,000 INCREASE IN THEIR OPERATING BUDGET AND JUST VIRTUE OF THE DEBT SCHEDULE, WE'RE GOING UP ABOUT $794 AND WHAT WE'RE CONTINUING TO PAY FOR THE ALLIED HEALTH BUILDING AND MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS ON THAT SAME FULL-TIME ENROLLMENT SCHEDULE OR FORMULA, SO WE'RE GOING UP ABOUT $6,500 THERE.
I WILL SAY JUST FROM MEMORY, CHESAPEAKE COLLEGE IS AGAIN, FUNDED BY THE FIVE COUNTIES AND VOTED UPON EACH YEAR WITH THE BUDGET.
IF THREE OF THE FIVE COUNTIES VOTE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE 5% INCREASE AND WE CHOOSE NOT TO, WE ARE BY OBLIGATION FORCED TO.
I KNOW THEIR FUNDING WILL BE A TOPIC OF CONVERSATION AND SOMETHING THAT WE'LL MEET ABOUT WITH CHESAPEAKE COLLEGE AND THE OTHER FOUR COUNTIES THAT PARTNER IN THOSE PROGRAMS. THE LIBRARY IS NEXT.
THEY'RE ASKING FOR A 3% COLA TO PROVIDE TO STAFF THAT COLA REPRESENTS ABOUT A $41,000 INCREASE IN THEIR OPERATING ALLOCATION.
NEXT, WE HAVE RECREATION AND PARKS.
RECREATION IS REALLY JUST REALIGNING OPERATING ITEMS THAT ARE ESSENTIALLY STAYING WITHIN FLAT, YOU HAVE SOME THAT ARE GOING UP THAT ARE NOTED IN THE BOOK.
I IMAGINE INSURANCE AND SOME OF THE OTHER SMALL OPERATING COSTS ATTRIBUTE TO THAT.
PARKS, WE DO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF AN INCREASE THERE, ABOUT $37-$38,000, AND A LOT OF THAT IS FOR OPERATING COSTS, UTILITIES, MOWING, SUPPLIES.
JAMIE HAS PROVIDED SOME NOTES ON WHAT THOSE LINE ITEMS ARE AND YOU CAN GET A BREAKDOWN OF HOW MUCH FOR EACH IN THE BOOK.
THEY ARE ALSO ASKING FOR A SMALL INTERNAL REORGANIZATION IN THE PARK MAINTENANCE STAFF.
I'M NOT JUMP IN TO A TON OF DETAILS ON THAT, BUT A NOTE AND WHAT THAT CHANGE WOULD REFLECT ARE PROVIDED IN THE BOOK.
CONTINUING THROUGH ANY ABOVE FLAT, WE HAVE EXTENSION SERVICE.
THEY'RE GOING UP ABOUT $14,190.
EACH YEAR, THEY HAVE A CONTRACTED INCREASE FOR OFFICE SPACE RENT AND THEN OUR SHARE OF COLAS FOR EMPLOYEES THAT ARE WORKING IN CAROLINE COUNTY.
SOIL CONSERVATION IS ASKING FOR $50,000.
THE BOARD ALLOCATED 40,000 LAST YEAR, SO THAT'S AN INCREASE OF 10,000.
AGAIN, THAT MONEY IS GOING TO MAINTENANCE AND ASSISTANCE WITH THE TAX STRETCHES OR PDAS IN THE COUNTY.
SCROLLING THROUGH ALL OF THIS AND GOING OVER THE HIGHLIGHTS OF WHAT'S INCREASED, I APOLOGIZE, SO THAT NEW REQUESTS AT THE BOTTOM.
WE DO HAVE TWO NEW REQUESTS THIS YEAR.
THE TOWN OF RIDGELY IS REQUESTING US TO CONTRIBUTE TO THEIR WINTER FESTIVAL THAT THEY'RE CONDUCTING.
AS YOU CAN SEE, I DID NOT PUT A NUMBER THERE.
THEY DID NOT REQUEST A SPECIFIC AMOUNT, BUT THEY PROVIDED A DONATION FORM, WHICH RANGES ANYWHERE FROM $25-$10,000.
I WILL SAY IF IF THE COMMISSIONERS DO CHOOSE TO FUND ANYTHING IN ASSISTANCE WITH THAT, I WOULD PROBABLY JUST RECOMMEND IT COME OUT OF CONTINGENCY AND NOT MAKE A NEW LINE ITEM FOR THAT.
BUT I WANTED TO SHOW THAT BECAUSE THEY DID MAKE A FORMAL REQUEST.
THEN LAST, WE HAVE THE VETERAN AND MILITARY SUPPORT ALLIANCE.
I BELIEVE A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO, WE HAD REPRESENTATIVES FROM THAT AGENCY COME FORWARD AND TALK TO THE COMMISSIONERS ABOUT WHAT THEIR AGENCY DOES AND THE ROLE THEY PROVIDE.
THAT INFORMATION HAS BEEN PROVIDED IN THE BOOK AND THEY'RE ASKING FOR $20,000 IN NEW SUPPORT THIS YEAR.
AGAIN, TAKING ALL OF THAT INTO CONSIDERATION, WE'RE LOOKING INTO TOTAL REQUEST OF ABOUT 79,682,000, WHICH IS OUTPACING THE ESTIMATED INCREASE IN REVENUE OF ABOUT AROUND $900,000.
[01:10:07]
THIS IS WHERE WE'RE AT CURRENTLY TODAY.OBVIOUSLY, THERE'S A LOT OF ITEMS THAT ARE STILL NOT SET IN STONE.
WE HAVE QUESTIONS AND REVENUE WITH INCOME TAX, WE HAVE BLUEPRINT FIGURES THAT WE STILL ARE USED TO RECEIVING CHANGES IN AS WE GO THROUGH THE YEAR.
THIS IS VERY FLUID, STACEY AND I ARE TRYING TO STAY UP ON THIS STUFF EVERY DAY.
BUT AS OF THE 18TH AND THIS MORNING, THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE IN PLACE TO OUTLINE WHERE WE GO FROM HERE.
NEXT WEEK, NEXT TUESDAY, WE WILL HAVE THE ROUND TABLE AT THE HAPS BUILDING, SO DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES WILL BOTH COME IN.
EITHER GENTLEMEN WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASK QUESTIONS TO THEM ONE-ON-ONE IN THE ROOM AND RECEIVE ANY ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE US TO TALK TO THE DEPARTMENTS OR AGENCIES ABOUT, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO STOP IN, SEND US AN E MAIL.
WE'LL TAKE NOTES, WE'LL ASK THEM AHEAD OF TIME SO THEY'RE PREPARED TO ANSWER THOSE TYPES OF QUESTIONS WHEN THEY GET THERE.
IF NOT, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO TALK TO THE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES YOURSELF AS WELL.
I KNOW EVERYBODY HERE THAT'S LISTENING IS MORE THAN OPEN TO DISCUSS THEIR REQUEST.
WITH THAT, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR ANYTHING THAT YOU WOULD LIKE US TO DIVE INTO MORE DETAIL WITH OPERATING OR CAPITAL?
>> IF THE INCOME TAX DOES CHANGE, IT GOES DOWN TO ONE POINT.
NOW, YOU'RE TALKING 2.3 MILLION.
>> WE COULD BE JUST OVER TWO MILLION DOLLARS.
>> IN DEFICIT IN THE DIFFERENCE?
I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE TO START ON THIS BECAUSE EVERY INDICATION THAT WE HAVE IS THAT IT'S WORSE THAN THIS, THE STATE SHIFTS ARE GOING TO BE WORSE THAN THIS.
I THINK AT THIS POINT, I'M GOING TO BE LOOKING AT THIS AS A ZERO BUDGET HONESTLY.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO OTHER THAN THAT.
ALL THESE THINGS THAT EVERYBODY WANTS, I UNDERSTAND, BUT I'M NOT SURE WHERE WE'RE GOING TO GO.
I THINK WE'VE DONE PROBABLY THE BEST WE CAN TO PREPARE FOR THIS, HONESTLY I DON'T KNOW BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW ABOUT OTHER COUNTIES' BUDGETS.
I THINK WE'RE PROBABLY IN AS GOOD A SHAPE AS MOST COUNTIES WHEN IT COMES TO FUND BALANCE AND THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT I HAVE NO IDEA WHERE THIS IS HEADED.
WHAT WE HEAR LAST NIGHT IS THAT THE BUDGET IS THERE IS NO BUDGET AT THE STATE AT THIS POINT.
THEY DON'T KNOW AND I THINK THE COMMENT WAS MADE THAT IN ALL THE YEARS THAT EVERYBODY HAD BEEN THERE, THIS WAS THE MOST FLUID.
AT THIS POINT IN TIME, THAT THIS WAS THEY DON'T EVER REMEMBER THERE BEING MUCH MORE QUESTIONS AND THEY'RE JUST KICKING IT BACK AND FORTH WITH EACH OTHER AND NOBODY WANTS TO TAKE THE BLAME FOR ANYTHING.
APPARENTLY, THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE HAS MADE THE COMMENT THAT THEY'RE NOT TOUCHING BLUEPRINT, WHICH I DON'T UNDERSTAND.
I THINK THE PROBLEM THAT I SEE IS LEADERSHIP.
THERE IS NO LEADERSHIP AT THE STATE LEVEL.
>> THERE'S NO ADULT THAT'S GOING TO TELL NOBODY NO.
NOBODY IS GOING TO TELL THE SOLAR LOBBY OR THE TEACHERS UNION.
>> THAT'S THE PROBLEM. I HATE TO SAY THAT AND I'M SURE PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO HEAR IT, BUT THERE'S NO LEADERSHIP THAT I SEE AT THE STATE LEVEL WHO ARE GOING TO BE WILLING TO MAKE THE TOUGH.
IF YOU WALK INTO A ROOM AND SAY THAT THE LARGEST DRIVER OF WHAT I THINK IS CAUSING THIS PROBLEM AT THE STATE LEVEL IS THE BLUEPRINT AND YOUR PERSON WALKS INTO THE ROOM AND SAY, YOU'RE NOT TOUCHING IT FROM THE START, I DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU GO FROM THERE.
I DON'T KNOW THE SPEAKER, DON'T WANT TO KNOW HER, BUT I'M JUST TELLING YOU THAT THERE'S NO LEADERSHIP AT THE TOP.
THEY'RE MUCH MORE FOCUSED ON THESE RIDICULOUS PROGRAMS THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO PUSH THROUGH.
THEY'RE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT SOLAR AND GENDER ISSUES,
[01:15:07]
AND THINGS LIKE THAT THAN THEY ARE ABOUT THE BUDGET AND NOBODY WANTS TO TALK ABOUT IT.ALL YOUR WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE IS GREAT, BUT I'M NOT SURE AT THIS POINT WHERE WE GO.
>> NO, I THINK WE SHARE IN YOUR OPINION ABOUT THE UNCERTAINTY WITH THIS.
IN THE PAST AND DOING BUDGETS AT THIS POINT IN TIME, YOU CAN REMEMBER BACK 7-8 YEARS AGO, EVERYTHING AT THIS POINT YOU HAD WAS PRETTY MUCH DOWN TO THE DOLLAR AND IT WAS GOING TO BE AN EXERCISE OF WHAT YOU NEEDED TO BE BACK WHOLE.
AS TIME HAS GONE ON, BLUEPRINT HAS ALWAYS BEEN A BACK AND FORTH NUMBER, BUT IN THIS CASE, WE HAVE SOME OF OUR LARGEST REVENUE ITEMS, NOW ADDITIONAL EXPENSES THAT ARE BEING PUT ON US THAT WE DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT'S GOING TO END UP.
IT MAKES IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT FOR US TO ENTER INTO A BUDGET PROCESS NOT KNOWING WHAT THAT IS.
>> WE RAISED THAT QUESTION ON THESE CALLS AND EVERYBODY IS SAYING THE SAME THING, BUT THERE'S NO ONE WITH AN ANSWER.
>> WELL, WE WERE TOLD THE DISCUSSION LAST NIGHT WAS THERE IS NO WAY TO FUND THE BLUEPRINT WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT TAX INCREASES ON MIDDLE INCOME EARNERS.
THERE'S NO WAY TO DO IT. GIMMICKS WITH FEES AND RESTRUCTURING OF INCOME TAX AND WHATEVER ELSE YOU WANT TO DO.
ULTIMATELY, THERE IS NO WAY TO FUND THE KIRWAN INITIATIVE WITHOUT MAJOR TAX INCREASES ON THE MIDDLE CLASS. IT'S NOT.
>> THAT ALL GETS INTO POLITICS [OVERLAPPING] AND WHEN THE ELECTION IS AND THEY DON'T WANT TO DO THIS BECAUSE OF THIS.
>> WELL, WHAT'S GOING TO END UP HAPPENING IS WE'RE GOING TO WASTE MONEY IMPLEMENTING A PROGRAM THAT ULTIMATELY IS GOING TO GET ROLLED BACK.
WE'RE GOING TO HIRE PHYSICIANS, WE'RE GOING TO SET UP REPORTING REQUIREMENTS, WE'RE GOING TO SPEND ALL MONEY AND RESOURCES, BUILDING AND STRUCTURE THAT NOBODY IS GOING TO HAVE THE WILL TO RAISE THE TAXES TO FUND, SO WE'RE GOING TO WASTE IT ALL AND ROLL BACK TO WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING, ULTIMATELY IS WHAT I THINK IS GOING TO HAPPEN. BUT WE'LL SEE.
>> WELL, I THINK WE LOOK BACK AT JUST THE CONVERSATION LAST TUESDAY WITH THE RESTRUCTURING OF STATE AND LOCAL INCOME TAX, AND WHAT YOU CAN ESSENTIALLY DEDUCT OR ITEMIZE OUT AND UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES THAT IT'S EASY TO SAY, TAX THE HIGHER EARNERS, DROP THE TAX ON THE LOWER EARNERS.
BUT UNTIL THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE ESTIMATES CAME OUT AND SAID, HEY, YOU'RE GOING TO GENERATE MORE MONEY, BUT THE POORER COUNTIES THAT HAVE A BULK OF THESE LOWER EARNERS ARE GOING TO LOSE MONEY NOW.
AGAIN, I THINK A LOT OF IT IS NOT THOUGHT OUT.
>> IN ENVIRONMENT WHEN THEY'RE SHIFTING COSTS OVER TO US, THEY'RE REDUCING OUR TAXING ABILITY WHILE SHIFTING COSTS FROM THE STATE.
>> FRANKLY, I'M TIRED OF HEARING WHEN YOU ASK A SPECIFIC QUESTION OF THAT SLIP THROUGH THE CRACKS.
WELL, THE CRACKS ARE REALLY BIG RIGHT NOW.
[OVERLAPPING] I'M TIRED OF HEARING ABOUT THE SLIPPING THROUGH THE CRACKS OVER THE YEAR.
>> PEOPLE WHO CANNOT SUSTAIN A PROPERTY TAX INCREASE, NOT WITH THE WAY THE ASSESSMENTS HAVE GONE THROUGH THE ROOF.
THERE'S ENOUGH PEOPLE IN TOUGH PLACES BECAUSE OF ASSESSMENTS, SO THERE'S NO WAY WE CAN GO BACK.
I SAID ONE CENT WOULD RAISE 330,000, I'M JUST PUTTING THAT OUT FOR INFORMATION BECAUSE I'M NOT ENTERTAINING RAISING PROPERTY TAXES.
WE ARE RAISING THEM BY THE ASSESSMENTS GOING UP.
>> OUR INCOME TAX PROJECTION IS BASICALLY FLAT.
WE'RE SEEING A SLIGHT REDUCTION IN INCOME TAX, CORRECT? ABOUT 100,000 IS WHAT YOU'RE PROJECTING REDUCTION OVER THIS FISCAL YEAR?
>> WHAT WE'RE PROJECTING. THIS IS A LOT OF, JUST ON THAT NOTE, WHAT WE RECEIVE IN PENALTY INTEREST THAT'S NOW BEING CLEANED UP WITH PEOPLE FILING ON TIME.
WE STILL HAD SOME A BULK OF LATE FILERS FOR WHEN COVID AND PEOPLE WERE GETTING A LOT OF THE FEDERAL MONEY AND NOT SURE HOW TO FILE.
WE'RE STARTING TO SEE SOME OF THESE CATCH-UP PAYMENTS NOW DWINDLING DOWN.
WE'RE AS, I SAY, FLAT AS ACTUAL CAN BE WITH THE INCOME TAX PIECE.
>> REALLY FOR US AND MOVING FORWARD IN THE SCHEDULE, WE HAVE THE ROUND-TABLE NEXT WEEK. GO AHEAD.
>> MY MESSAGE FOR ALL OF OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS AND ALLIED AGENCIES COMING IN, IT'S NOT THAT WE ENJOY ASKING HARD QUESTIONS OR SCRUTINIZING EVERYTHING.
I DON'T LIKE SITTING UP HERE AND TELLING PEOPLE NO, WE CAN'T DO STUFF, BUT THEY NEED TO BE PREPARED FOR
[01:20:02]
TOUGH QUESTIONS BECAUSE I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SCRUTINIZE EVERYTHING.WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH PROBABLY A LOT OF THINGS WITH A FINE TOOTH COMB IN PREPARATION FOR A POTENTIAL SHIFT SO WE KNOW WHERE WE CAN CUT THINGS.
I THINK WE HAVE TO PREPARE FOR THE WORST AND REVISIT IT.
MAYBE THE SHIFTS DON'T HAPPEN.
MAYBE THE INCOME TAX RESTRUCTURING DOESN'T OCCUR.
BUT I THINK WE HAVE TO PREPARE FOR THE WORST AND BE READY.
MAYBE IT'S EASIER TO ALWAYS ADD STUFF IN THAN TO GO BACK AND FIND PLACES TO CUT.
>> WE JUST NEED SOME LEADERSHIP AT THE STATE LEVEL.
>> GET US SOME HARD NUMBERS AND KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
>> THAT'S WHAT I SAID LAST NIGHT, THAT WE'RE GOING TO RECEIVE OUR BUDGET BOOKS TOMORROW, WE'RE GOING TO START OUR DISCUSSION ABOUT THE BUDGET, AND IT'S REALLY IN VAIN AT THIS POINT UNTIL WE ACTUALLY KNOW WHAT OUR REVENUE SITUATION IS GOING TO BE AND WHAT OUR MANDATORY STATE EXPENDITURES ARE GOING TO BE.
IT'S THE BIGGEST PART OF OUR BUDGET.
>> JUST SO EVERYONE'S AWARE, THIS PROCESS AND THE PUBLIC HEARINGS AND STUFF IS DICTATED BY CODE AND STUFF, SO WE'RE NOT TRYING TO JUMP THE GUN TO ANYBODY LISTENING OR GO THROUGH SOMETHING THAT IS, I DON'T WANT TO SAY A WORTHLESS EXERCISE.
>> THE SAME BODY THAT SETS THIS SCHEDULE FOR US IS THE BODY THAT WON'T GIVE US THE ANSWERS THAT WE NEED TO ACTUALLY ADHERE TO THE SCHEDULE.
>> WE'LL DO OUR BEST TO KEEP YOU GUYS INFORMED WITH ALL THE CHANGES WE SEE.
WE WILL HAVE TO ADVERTISE A PUBLIC HEARING AND SOME OF THESE DOCUMENTS,.
BUT AGAIN, I THINK WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE AND KNOW THAT IT IS VERY FLUID, AND SOMETHING THAT YOU SEE TODAY MAY CHANGE TOMORROW WHEN WE SEE A BILL THAT'S GAINING STEAM OR ANY TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT, LET'S SAY.
IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO STOP IN THE OFFICE, CALL STACY OR I, AND WE'LL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO TAKE SOME TIME AND GO THROUGH ANYTHING.
>> THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THIS ALL TOGETHER.
>> IF NOTHING ELSE, IT GIVES US INFORMATION TO GO BACK WITH ON OUR CALLS AND CONTACTS TO TELL PEOPLE WHAT THIS IS GOING TO MEAN.
BUT IF YOU JUST TAKE THE SHIFTS IN COST, IF YOU TAKE THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, IF WE'RE LOOKING THREE MILLION THERE RIGHT OFF THE BAT WITHOUT ANY INCREASE IN ANY DEPARTMENTS OF ANYBODY THAT'S ASKING ANYTHING.
>> WE NEED SOME ADULTS IN THE ROOM OVER IN ANNAPOLIS.
>> WELL, PRETTY MUCH IF YOU TOOK THE 2025 BUDGET AND COMPARE IT TO THE 26 ESTIMATES, THE BOARD OF ED AND BLUEPRINT IS BASICALLY CONSUMING ALL OF THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO.
IF THIS IS THE MODEL THAT'S GOING TO CONTINUE, AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO SEE $2.3 TO $1.8 MILLION INCREASE MANDATORY ALLOCATIONS TO EDUCATION SPENDING FROM THE COUNTY LEVEL.
IN A GOOD YEAR, IT'S GOING TO CONSUME ALL OF OUR REVENUE CORRECTLY.
IN A BAD YEAR, WE'RE GOING TO BE GOING BACKWARDS.
WE LOOK AT THIS YEAR AND EVERYTHING THAT'S CONSIDERED. WE'LL GET THERE.
WE'LL GET TO A ZERO BUDGET AND WE'LL MAKE IT THROUGH.
BUT HOW MANY CONSECUTIVE YEARS OF THAT OCCURRING CAN HAPPEN BEFORE YOU START HAVE TO RE-LOOK AT THE SERVICES THAT ARE PROVIDED?
>> WELL, AND THE THING THAT ALWAYS GETS OVERLOOKED IS THE CAPITAL NEEDS THAT WE HAVE.
WE NEED A MIDDLE SCHOOL. WE NEED A DETENTION CENTER.
TO COMMISSIONER BARTZ'S POINT, WE SHOULD LOOK AT CONVERTING SOME OF THESE DIRT ROADS FOR SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT THE DENSER HOUSING AREAS ON DIRT ROADS IT'S TIME TO TAR AND CHIP THEM.
IT'S LONG BEEN PAST TIME TO TAR AND CHIP THEM.
BUT ALL OF THOSE CAPITAL NEEDS GET OVERLOOKED AS WELL,
[01:25:05]
AND I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PUT ENOUGH MONEY AWAY TO KEEP UP WITH OUR CAPITAL NEEDS AS WELL.>> I'M GOING TO DO THE LEGISLATIVE UPDATE [LAUGHTER].
[Legislative Session Update]
>> WE'RE IN SUCH A CHEERY MOOD.
>> I THINK THE BILLS ARE SLOWING DOWN A LITTLE BIT, SO I THINK WE CAN CONCENTRATE ON PROBABLY A COUPLE OF THINGS.
IF YOU CHECK YOUR EMAILS, WE JUST GOT A RED ALERT FROM MAKO ABOUT THE ENERGY BILL.
THE ENERGY BILL THAT HAS BEEN PROPOSED, I'M SORRY, IS IT 931 OR 961?
>> THAT'S BILL 931 IN HOUSE BILL 1036.
>> THERE SEEMS TO BE AN ALL OUT PUSH HERE TO GET PEOPLE INVOLVED, AND I GUESS EITHER ONE OF US OR TWO OF US OR ALL OF US WILL BE TESTIFYING AGAINST THE BILL AS PART OF A GROUP.
THIS BILL BASICALLY IS THE BILL THAT PREEMPTS THE COUNTIES INVOLVING SOLAR WHEN IT COMES TO CITING DECOMMISSIONING AND TAXATION.
THEY PUT IT ALL IN ONE BILL, AND THERE'S A LOT OF NEGOTIATIONS GOING ON BEHIND THE SCENES.
I KNOW THAT OUR REPRESENTATIVES ARE TRYING TO MEET WITH THE BILL SPONSORS AND TALK TO THEM.
I DON'T KNOW TO WHERE THIS IS GOING.
I THINK THE 28TH IS GOING TO BE AN INTERESTING DAY.
APPARENTLY, THEY'RE GOING TO BE TRACTORS OVER THERE AND THE WHOLE THING.
I DON'T KNOW EXCEPT TO SAY THAT WE GOT TO REALLY PULL OUT ALL STOPS HERE TO FIGHT THIS BILL.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT CAN BE KILLED, BUT PERSONALLY, I BELIEVE IT'S GOING TO PASS IN SOME FORM.
IT'S JUST WHAT WILL BE THE WORST FORM THAT WE CAN ACCEPT.
THE OTHER BILL THAT WE HAD SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT WAS THE HOUSING BILL, AND I BROUGHT THAT UP LAST NIGHT IN OUR DISCUSSION AND THE CONSENSUS OF OPINION OF THE MAKO PEOPLE WAS THAT THAT BILL WOULD NOT AFFECT CAROLINE COUNTY, AND I'M LIKE, WELL, OKAY.
STEWART BROUGHT UP SOME GOOD QUESTIONS ABOUT IT, IS IT, I DON'T HAVE THE BILL NUMBER.
>> NO, IT'S THE HOUSING TO JOBS BILL 550, I THINK.
MY UNDERSTANDING OF THIS IS THAT WE WOULD NEED TO GET TOGETHER.
WE WOULD HAVE A REGION THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO BE PART OF.
IF PEOPLE SAY, IT'S NOT GOING TO AFFECT YOU, IT'S ONLY GOING TO AFFECT THE OTHER BIGGER COUNTIES.
I DON'T READ IT THAT WAY [LAUGHTER].
BUT AGAIN, I JUST THINK THAT THIS IS ANOTHER SITUATION WHERE THE STATE IS LOOKING FOR A WAY TO FORCE COUNTIES TO DO THINGS THAT REALLY ARE NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH OUR ZONING LAWS AND LAND USE REGULATIONS.
LOOK, 8 YEARS AGO OR 10 YEARS AGO WHEN I'VE BEEN HERE, IF ANYBODY WOULD HAVE TOLD ME WE WOULD BE IN THE SPOT WE ARE NOW, WHERE EVERY DAY THERE ARE BILLS AND LEGISLATION THAT IS BEING PASSED THAT IS TAKING AUTHORITY AND POWERS AWAY FROM COUNTIES, WHETHER IT COMES TO ZONING, LAND USE, HOW MANY HOURS A PERSON CAN BE INCARCERATED PER DAY.
ALL OF THESE THINGS, I CAN'T EVEN BELIEVE WHAT IS GOING ON IN ANNAPOLIS.
[01:30:04]
I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND.IT'S ALMOST LIKE THEY WANT TO DO AWAY WITH COUNTIES AND HAVE A STATE CENTRAL POWER IS WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO DO.
WE SIT HERE AND TALK AND TALK, NOTHING EVER CHANGES, AND NOTHING EVER SLOWS IT DOWN.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE WE'RE HEADED FROM HERE, BUT EVERYTHING, YOU SIT HERE AND LOOK AT THESE BILLS AND THEY'RE ALL WAYS TO CENTRALIZE AUTHORITY AND POWER AT THE STATE LEVEL TO TELL YOU THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO STREAMLINE AND ALLOW SOMETHING TO BE BUILT IN YOUR COUNTY, WHETHER IT COMPLIES WITH YOUR ZONING OR LAND USE REGULATIONS OR NOT, THAT ABSOLUTELY GOES AGAINST EVERY SINGLE THING THAT WE'VE EVER TALKED ABOUT OR DONE AT THE COUNTY LEVEL.
BUT THAT'S WHERE WE'RE HEADED HERE.
WHETHER IT COMES TO CURRICULUM IN SCHOOLS, WHETHER IT COMES TO BUDGETS, I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND.
WE CAN TAKE POSITIONS ON BILLS.
WE CAN WRITE LETTERS OF SUPPORT AND LETTERS OF OPPOSITION.
I'D BE INTERESTED TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS TO THOSE LETTERS WHEN THEY GET THEM.
I THINK THEY GO RIGHT OVER THERE WHERE THAT THING IS SITTING RIGHT THERE BEHIND COMMISSIONER BARTZ.
I'M NOT SURE, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, WHAT GOOD TESTIMONY IS GOING TO DO. WE'LL DO IT.
BUT WHEN YOU GO AND YOU GET TWO MINUTES, WHAT CAN YOU SAY? IF YOU START YOUR CLOCK RIGHT NOW, START LOOK AT YOUR WATCH, WHAT COULD WE SAY IN TWO MINUTES THAT'S GOING TO CHANGE SOMEBODY'S MIND WHO'S ALREADY MADE UP THEIR MIND AND WHO'S ALREADY DETERMINED WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO.
START TIMING YOURSELF AND SAYING, WHAT CAN I SAY IN TWO MINUTES? I DON'T KNOW.
THE WHOLE PROCESS HAS GONE HAYWIRE HERE.
BUT THERE'S NEVER ANYTHING VERY SELDOM COMES LONG THAT I LOOK AT THIS THING AND SAY IT MAKES SENSE ANYMORE.
I JUST LOOK AT IT AND SAY, WHAT ARE WE DOING? WHAT ARE WE TRYING TO DO HERE? THE ENERGY BILL IS THE HOT TOPIC AT THIS POINT.
THAT SEEMS TO BE WHERE A LOT OF FOCUS IS IS GOING TO BE.
WE DID TALK ABOUT THE BILL LAST NIGHT, THAT WOULD CLEAR THE RECORD OF A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER THROUGH THE POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY BOARD IF THERE IS A FINDING OF WHERE A POLICE OFFICER IS EXONERATED.
THE WAY THIS IS SET UP NOW IS, THAT CHARGE REMAINS ON THAT OFFICER'S RECORD WHETHER HE'S FOUND TO BE EXONERATED OR NOT.
THAT'S JUST INCOMPREHENSIBLE TO ME, THAT A PERSON CAN BE CHARGED WITH SOMETHING FOUND NOT GUILTY AND STILL REMAINS.
BECAUSE WHAT I UNDERSTAND FROM DELEGATE HORNBERGER, I TALKED TO HIM LAST WEEK, THESE CASES ARE BEING USED BY PROSECUTORS AND SAYING, WELL, HE WASN'T FOUND GUILTY, BUT WHERE THERE'S SMOKE, THERE'S FIRE.
HE WAS CHARGED. WELL, ARE WE GOING TO START DOING THAT TO PEOPLE? WHEN YOU'RE FOUND EXONERATED FROM SOMETHING.
IN THE STATE ADDRESS, WE HAD THE GOVERNOR INTRODUCE SOME GUY WHO HE WAS VERY PROUD OF THAT HAD BEEN CONVICTED OF SOMETHING BUT HIS RECORD HAD BEEN CLEARED.
WELL, THEN LET'S DO THE SAME THING FOR POLICE OFFICERS.
THAT'S A FAIR THING TO ME. BUT I DON'T KNOW.
DISCOURAGING TO SAY THE LEAST, BUT WE'LL KEEP DOING WHAT WE CAN DO.
IT'S NOT MUCH OF AN UPDATE, BUT YOU'RE ALWAYS IN A POSITION OF TRYING TO MAKE SOMETHING A BAD BILL, SOMETHING YOU CAN LIVE WITH.
THAT JUST SEEMS TO BE WHERE WE ARE.
I DON'T KNOW WHY WE'RE NEVER ON THE BRIGHT SIDE, BUT IT'S DISCOURAGING.
[01:35:07]
>> HAS MARK HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT THAT TITLE 29 FIRE PREVENTION CODE?
>> I SENT THAT TO HIM, BUT I JUST HAVEN'T RECEIVED HIS RESPONSE.
>> HAVEN'T HEARD BACK. WE NEED TO GET BACK TO BRUCE AND STEVE IF WE'RE SATISFIED WITH THAT OR NOT.
IF SOMEBODY CAN SHOOT MARK AN EMAIL AND JUST ASK HIM WHEN HE THINKS HE'LL HAVE A CHANCE TO LOOK IT OVER IF IT DOES ADDRESS OUR CONCERNS.
>> IS THAT RELATED TO THE BATTERY ENERGY? I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING IN THERE ABOUT BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE.
>> THERE WAS NO MENTION OF BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE FACILITIES IN THERE.
>> CORRECT. BASED ON MY READING OF IT, I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING ABOUT THEM ADDING THE SECTIONS OF NFPA.
>> THERE WAS NOTHING IN THERE.
IT HAD TO DO WITH WHERE YOU HAD TO HAVE SMOKE DETECTORS, SPRINKLERS AND DWELLINGS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
THERE WAS NO MENTION OF BATTERY STORAGE AS RELATED TO [OVERLAPPING]
I DIDN'T READ LINE BY LINE, BUT I DID NOT SEE ANYTHING.
>> WE NEED TO GET BACK TO THEM AND LET THEM KNOW IT DOESN'T ADDRESS.
>> I SENT AN EMAIL BACK TO STEVE WISE ALREADY AND TOLD HIM THAT I SAW NOTHING IN THERE TO DO WITH THAT.
WHEN HE SENT IT TO US, I DON'T KNOW THAT HE HAD LOOKED AT IT.
>> ON FEBRUARY 12, WHAT WAS THAT LAST FRIDAY, SOMETHING?
>> LAST WEDNESDAY, I DID GET TO TESTIFY ON THE PROGRAM OVID SPACE BILL, WHICH WOULD GIVE US FLEXIBILITY IN SPENDING OUR PROGRAM OVID SPACE ALLOCATION.
I THINK IT LOOKS VERY PROMISING THAT IT'S GOING TO PASS.
I THINK THAT IS ONE GOOD THING THAT WILL COME WITH THIS SESSION.
I GUESS THAT PRETTY MUCH COVERS EVERYTHING.
>> YOU'RE GETTING A LITTLE THINNER UP THERE.
>> I'M SURE. IT'S NOT BECAUSE I'M PULLING IT OUT. I CAN TELL YOU THAT.
IT'S FALLING OUT ON ITS OWN IF IT IS THINNER.
ARE YOU PLANNING ON GOING OVER ON THE 28TH TO TESTIFY ON AS WELL?
>> I'LL TALK YOU ABOUT THAT LATER.
>> I THINK WE GOT TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT WHO'S GOING, WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO.
>> WELL, NO MAKER WAS PLANNING TO CALL FOR MONDAY TO GAME PLAN FOR THE TESTIMONY, HOW EACH COUNTY WILL TESTIFY ON THE BILL.
I'M SUPPOSED TO GO THIS FRIDAY WITH MIKE MAY TO TESTIFY IN SUPPORT OF THE LIQUOR LICENSE CHANGE.
I GUESS CRYSTAL OR IF SOMEBODY COULD GET ME SOME EDUCATIONAL LITERATURE ON WHAT THIS BILL ACTUALLY DOES, AND I THINK I HAVE A GOOD IDEA, BUT IT'S GOOD TO HAVE THE FACTS, SO I KNOW WHAT I'M TESTIFYING ABOUT.
ANY QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, COMMENTS ABOUT ANYTHING ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? COMMISSIONER PORTER?
[Consent Agenda]
REALLY THE ONLY CONCERN I HAD WAS WITH THE ROAD USE AGREEMENT WHICH LOOKS LIKE CHERRYWOOD HAS SIGNED.
I SEE HERE. F SAYS, PROVIDE THE LOCATES OF ALL CABLES TO MISS UTILITY OF DELMARVA.
I THINK THEY MAY ACTUALLY HAVE TO ENROLL AND BECOME MEMBERS OF MISS UTILITY OF DELMARVA,
[01:40:10]
SO THEY ACTUALLY RECEIVE THE NOTIFICATIONS WHEN MISS UTILITY LOCATE IS REQUESTED.THERE'S A COUPLE OF WAYS TO HANDLE THAT.
WE COULD EITHER MAKE A PROVISION THAT THEY ACTUALLY ENROLL AS A UTILITY OWNER IN MISS UTILITY.
I KNOW IT ALSO SAYS THAT D, THEY SHALL ERECT PERMANENT MARKERS INDICATING THE PRESENCE OF THE CABLES AND INSTALL TAPE IN ANY TRENCH WHICH THE OPERATOR HAS PLACED OR WILL PLACE CABLES IN THE COUNTY.
RIGHT AWAY ALL CABLES SHALL BE BURIED A MAXIMUM DEPTH OF 48 INCHES BELOW GRADE, WHICH CABLE SHALL BE INSTALLED IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE PLANS APPROVED BY THE COUNTY PRIOR TO SUCH INSTALLATION.
DO WE HAVE ANY MECHANISM TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY MAINTAIN THE PERMANENT MARKERS? WHAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT IS IF THE SIGNS ARE KNOCKED DOWN OR LOST, AND THEY'RE NOT ENROLLED IN MISS UTILITY OF DELMARVA, NO ONE MAY KNOW THAT THERE IS ACTUALLY AN UNDERGROUND CABLE BURIED THERE.
I THINK WE SHOULD PROBABLY ADD SOME TYPE OF PROVISION WHERE THEY NEED TO MAINTAIN THE MARKERS.
OR DOES THIS REALLY COVER THAT STEWART, BY SAYING ERECT PERMANENT MARKERS, BUT IT DOESN'T REALLY ADDRESS WHETHER OR NOT THEY HAVE TO MAINTAIN THOSE MARKERS.
>> LET ME THINK ABOUT THAT FOR A MINUTE.
>> I DON'T KNOW THAT WE WOULD EVER TRENCH ANYTHING THROUGH.
DITCH MAINTENANCE, YOU'RE GOING TO DIP THE DITCHES OUT, BUT AS LONG AS THEY INSTALL THE CABLE DEEP ENOUGH, TECHNICALLY, IT SHOULD STILL BE MARKED.
OR IF WE HAD ANOTHER UTILITY PROVIDER WHO WANTED TO RUN A CABLE, SAY CHOPTANK 5 OR WANTED TO REPLACE A CABLE OR VERIZON OR CHOPTANK ELECTRIC, AND THEY GO TO TRENCH DOWN THE SHOULDER OF OUR ROAD AND WE'VE ALLOWED THIS PRIVATE UTILITY TO CROSS IF IT'S NOT MARKED.
>> WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST IS THAT A MOTION BE MADE TO AUTHORIZE COMMISSIONER BREEDING TO SIGN THIS AGREEMENT CONTINGENT AS SOON AS THE REQUESTED CHANGE HAS BEEN MADE TO THIS DOCUMENT.
BUT OTHER THAN THAT, THE DOCUMENT IS APPROVED.
I'M SURE THAT WITH THE ATTENTION, MR. SHOWALTER HAS BEEN SHOWING TO THESE DOCUMENTS AND HIS DESIRE TO HAVE EVERYTHING SIGNED QUICKLY, I THINK IT'LL BE HANDLED PROBABLY WITHIN A COUPLE OF HOURS TODAY.
>> WELL, I WOULD JUST SAY THE AMENDMENTS SHOULD PROBABLY REQUIRE THAT THE CABLES ARE INSTALLED IN A CONDUIT BY DIRECTIONAL DRILL METHOD IN OUR RIGHT AWAY.
IF POSSIBLE, OR IF ALLOWED BY MISS UTILITY OF DELMARVA THE OWNER SHOULD ENROLL IN MISS UTILITY OF DELMARVA TO MAKE SURE THEY RECEIVE LOCATE REQUESTS AND RESPOND IN A TIMELY MANNER.
I WOULD JUST ADD A PROVISION THAT THEY WILL MAINTAIN THE PERMANENT MARKERS INDICATING THE PRESENCE OF THE UNDERGROUND CABLES.
IF WE MAKE THOSE THREE AMENDMENTS, I WOULD MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA WITH THE CHERRYWOOD SOLAR, LLC ROAD USE AND MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT ALTERED, AS I JUST LAID OUT.
[01:45:01]
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT.
>> TWO MINOR THINGS THAT I WANT TO MAKE YOU AWARE OF
[County Administrator’s Report]
AND EVERYTHING ELSE WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON IS NOT REALLY OPEN SESSION.ONE, AND I BELIEVE COMMISSIONER BREEDING ALREADY KNOWS THIS THURSDAY AT 2:00 PM.
THERE'S A PROGRESS MEETING SCHEDULE REGARDING SHARP ROAD PROJECT WITH THE TOWN OF DENTON.
I THINK COMMISSIONER BREEDING AND JAMIE BEACHY WILL BE ATTENDING THAT.
OTHER THING I WANTED TO MAKE YOU AWARE OF IN CASE YOU WANTED TO TUNE INTO IT.
THERE'S A PUBLIC COMMENT HEARING ON CHABERTON SOLAR AT THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION.
IT'S VIRTUAL MARCH 3RD AT 7:00 PM.
IF YOU WANT, I CAN SEND YOU ALL A LINK JUST SO IT'S ON YOUR CALENDAR IF YOU WANT TO ATTEND THAT.
>> SEND THAT TO ME AND I'LL GET IT ON THEIR CALENDARS.
>> COUNTY COMMISSIONER OPEN DISCUSS PERIOD. COMMISSIONER BARTZ?
[County Commissioners Open Discussion Period]
>> [NOISE] I WANT TO JUST TOUCH BRIEFLY ON THE REGIONAL CORRECTIONAL CENTER.
WE HAVE NOW REQUESTED INFORMATION ON THE OPERATING EXPENSES FOR THIS PROJECT.
IF I RECALL, WE SENT AN EMAIL THAT WAS JANUARY 27TH ASKING FOR INFORMATION.
WE HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING SINCE THAT POINT.
THERE WERE SOME COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE AT THE LAST ONE QUEEN ANNE COUNTY COMMISSIONER MEETING ABOUT HOW QUICKLY THEY HAD TURNED AROUND REQUESTS THAT EVERYTHING WE HAD ASKED FOR, WE HAD GOTTEN IN 24 HOURS.
I'M NOT GOING TO ARGUE WITH MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS OVER THERE, BUT THAT'S NOT THE FACT.
IN ORDER FOR US TO BE ABLE TO MAKE ANYWHERE CLOSE TO AN INFORMED DECISION ABOUT THIS PROJECT.
IT IS GOING TO BE CRUCIAL THAT WE ARE ABLE TO LOOK OUR TAXPAYERS IN THE EYE AND SAY, WE ARE DOING THIS BECAUSE THERE ARE GOING TO BE SAVINGS TO CAROLINE COUNTY.
AT THIS POINT, I CAN'T SAY THAT.
I HAVE NO INFORMATION TO SAY THAT AND I TAKE EXCEPTION TO THOSE COMMENTS.
IF WE ALL UNDERSTAND AND REMEMBER HOW WE ALL STARTED OUT WITH THIS, WE WANTED IT TO BE AN AUTHORITY.
THERE WAS A DELAY AND DELAY WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT AN AUTHORITY, AND THEN WE FINALLY GOT A RESPONSE SAYING, IT CAN'T BE AN AUTHORITY, IT NEEDS TO BE AN AGREEMENT.
MY SUGGESTION HERE, WE CAN TALK ABOUT OR THINK ABOUT I'M NOT PREPARED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH ANY PUBLIC HEARING OR DISCUSSIONS OR ANYTHING ELSE ABOUT THIS PROJECT UNTIL WE HAVE THAT INFORMATION.
AT PROBABLY THE BUSIEST TIME THAT THEY'VE GOT, OUR FINANCE PEOPLE, WE'VE OFFERED FOR THEM TO GO OVER AND SIT DOWN AND TRY TO HELP COME UP WITH THESE NUMBERS AND HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY RESPONSE.
RECEIVING NO RESPONSE IS A KICK IN THE SHINS TO ME.
EITHER YOU SAY NO, WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO IT OR WE DON'T THINK WE HAVE TO OR SOMETHING.
BUT I'M NOT GOING TO LISTEN ANYMORE TO ANY OF THIS STUFF ABOUT, WE TURNED EVERYTHING AROUND IN 24 HOURS.
BECAUSE NEXT TIME I HEAR THAT, THERE'S GOING TO BE ANOTHER PHONE CALL THAT'S GOING TO BE MADE.
>> I THINK RIGHT NOW, TO ME, THIS THING'S DEAD. TO ME.
I DON'T KNOW HOW WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THE INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE,
[01:50:01]
OR MORE IMPORTANTLY THE INFORMATION WE DON'T HAVE.SO I DON'T KNOW WHO'S LISTENING OR WATCHING.
MY PHONE IS ON MOST OF THE TIME IF EVERYBODY WANTS TO GIVE ME A CALL.
BUT MY SUGGESTION IS GOING TO BE THAT WE TRANSMIT THOSE FEELINGS IN A LETTER TO QUEEN ANNE COUNTY, GIVE THEM WHATEVER AMOUNT OF TIME YOU THINK IS APPROPRIATE.
BECAUSE WE'RE COMING UP ON A DEADLINE, OF MARCH 1ST. WHAT IS TODAY? I DON'T EVEN KNOW LOST TRACK.
WE'RE COMING UP ON A DEADLINE AND I'M NOT GOING TO BE PUSHED IN A CORNER ON THIS THING.
I'M NOT GOING TO BE PUSHED INTO A POSITION WHERE, WE'RE TWO DAYS AWAY AND WE GOT TO MAKE A DECISION.
THAT'S NOT THE WAY WE OPERATE.
THAT'S NOT THE WAY WE DO THINGS.
IT'S BEEN IN THEIR COURT FOR A LONG TIME.
I HAVE NO CLUE WHAT'S GOING ON.
THEY MAY BE IN THE PROCESS OF PULLING THIS INFORMATION TOGETHER.
WE MIGHT GET IT THIS AFTERNOON.
I DON'T KNOW, UNTIL WE DO, THIS IS A DEAD PROJECT TO ME.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE [LAUGHTER] EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS THAT.
WE DID HAVE A ZOOM DISCUSSION.
I'VE LOST TRACK OF LAST WEEK ABOUT WITH DHCD, WITH SECRETARY DAY.
I THINK WE DID GET SOME CLARIFICATION.
I THINK THAT I FORWARDED AN EMAIL YESTERDAY TO A DEVELOPER WHO SENT ME WHO CONTACTED ME.
I KNOW THEM, AND I THINK THEY DO A REALLY GOOD JOB.
THEY'VE DONE PROJECTS LIKE THIS BEFORE.
I THINK THIS IS ON TOP OF EVERYTHING ELSE.
THIS IS [LAUGHTER] GOING TO HAVE TO MOVE TO THE TOP OF THE DISCUSSION LIST HERE ABOUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO PROCEED.
I THINK WE PROBABLY GOT THE INFORMATION WE NEED.
I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS FLYING AT US AT THIS POINT, BUT I THINK WE NEED TO SET A TIME TO REALLY MAKE A DECISION ON HOW TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT PROJECT.
THAT I DON'T WANT TO SEE THAT THING LINGER.
BUT THAT'S MY SUGGESTION, AGAIN, BACK TO THE DETENTION CENTER.
AT THIS POINT, I WOULD SAY, WE NEED TO PRELIMINARILY START LOOKING AT NUMBERS TO RENOVATE OUR FACILITY, AT LEAST HAVE THAT INFORMATION AND BE PREPARED TO MOVE FORWARD AT AT THAT POINT WITH THAT PLAN.
I'M NOT SURE HOW YOU GUYS IF YOU WANT TO CHIME IN ON THAT OR IF YOU THINK THAT'S THE RIGHT WAY TO GO, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE CAN DO OTHER THAN THAT.
>> I AGREE WITH MR. PORTER, I STATED THAT LAST WEEK SEVERAL TIMES THAT AT THIS POINT, I HAD NO INTEREST IN MOVING FORWARD WITH THE DETENTION CENTER.
>> [NOISE] WELL, WE CAN SEND AN EMAIL AND ASK CAN WE COME OVER AND HELP PUT THE BUDGET TOGETHER? CAN MAYBE CHARLES AND DANNY OFFER ONE MORE TIME TO SAY, "HEY, CAN WE COME OVER, SIT DOWN WITH YOUR STAFF?" LOOK AT THIS BUDGET SO WE CAN GO BACK TO THE COMMISSIONERS AND SEE IF THERE'S PRESENT TO US IF THERE ARE ANY SAVINGS OR IF THERE ARE NOT AND WHAT THOSE SAVINGS WOULD BE OR WOULDN'T BE.
AS FAR AS THE DAY SPRING TOWNHOMES, WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO TO DIRECT STAFF TO COME UP WITH AN RFP? I THINK WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE HAPPEN IS WE GET PUT A PACKAGE TOGETHER TO LIST THE PROPERTY FOR SALE WITH TWO DIFFERENT PROVISIONS, WE'LL ACCEPT BIDS IF THE PROJECT IS GOING TO REMAIN IN LOW INCOME HOUSING OR ASSISTED LIVING, WHATEVER ASSISTED SUBSIDIZED HOUSING.
OR IT BECOMES MARKET RATE HOUSING WITH NO RESTRICTIONS.
WE WOULD ACCEPT PROPOSALS FROM ENTITY'S [NOISE] INTERESTED IN PURSUING EITHER OPTION, AND WE WOULD JUST HAVE A BID OPENING AT A SET DATE IN TIME WHERE THE BIDS WOULD BE READ ALLOWED AND WITH AN OPPORTUNITY.
WHO PUT SOMETHING LIKE THAT TOGETHER? WHERE DOES THAT GET GENERATED? I THINK WE NEED TO PROBABLY CONTACT WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE TO LIST IT WITH THE REALTOR TO ACTUALLY SOLICIT THESE PRICES, [NOISE] THESE OFFERS, I SHOULD SAY.
[01:55:02]
YES. ADD TO THAT, SO TO GO THROUGH ANY SALE OR IN OUR CASE, SURPLUS OF AN ASSET OR PROCESS, THERE'S A DICTATED PROCESS IN OUR COUNTY CODE OF BENCHMARKS THAT WE MUST MAKE.THAT COMPLIANCE WE CAN ASSURE HAPPENS.
I THINK THE TOUGH PART TO YOUR COMMENT, I THINK YOU WOULD HAVE TO HAVE A REALTOR INVOLVED.
JUST THE OTHER DAY I ACTUALLY TALKED TO KIM IN STEWART'S OFFICE THERE, WHO'S BEEN IN THE BUSINESS FOR A WHILE.
THERE IS A HIGHLY RECOMMENDED INDIVIDUAL THAT SHE'S BROUGHT FORWARD THAT WE COULD PROBABLY TALK TO AND HAVE THIS PRELIMINARY DISCUSSION WITH.
BUT I THINK IF THE DIRECTION OR CONSENSUS OF THE BOARD IS THE A AND B MODEL OF APPROACH, IT WOULD TAKE, ESSENTIALLY ADMIN, THE ATTORNEY MEETING WITH THAT REALTOR TO DEVELOP OUR PRE-EXISTING RFP AND PROCESS INTO MORE OF THE PUBLIC SIDE AND SALE OF PROPERTY SIDE.
I THINK AS LONG AS THE LIKE, SAY, A DIRECTION IS GIVEN, WE CAN CERTAINLY START MAKING THOSE CONNECTIONS AND RUNNING WITH THAT MODEL.
>> BUT I THINK JUST JUST TO BE CLEAR SO THAT WE'RE ALL WE WERE ADVISED BY DHCD THAT THE MORTGAGE ON THE PROPERTY WOULD BE DUE AND PAYABLE IF THE COUNTY RELEASED OWNERSHIP POSITION ON THAT ON THE PROJECT, CORRECT? WE WERE TOLD. WE KNOW THE MORTGAGE PAYOFF.
AND I MEAN, I AGREE WITH THE PROPOSAL.
I PERSONALLY WOULD PREFER TO SEE THE PROPERTY STAY AS AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
I THINK THE PLAN TO GET I'D LIKE TO SEE WHAT PEOPLE PLAN TO DO WITH IT AS PART OF THAT PROPOSAL.
I MEAN, DO YOU WANT TO DO YOU WANT TO BUY IT AND DO YOU WANT TO KEEP IT AS AFFORDABLE HOUSING? DO YOU WANT TO BUY IT AND GUT IT, REDO IT, PUT IT BACK ON AND TRY TO MAKE IT A MARKET RENT? THOSE ARE GOING TO BE THINGS, I THINK WHAT WE NEED TO KNOW.
BUT WE'RE ALL CLEAR THAT UNLESS THE COUNTY RETAINS SOME PORTION, IT COULD BE A VERY MINOR PORTION OF OWNERSHIP, THAT MORTGAGE HAS TO BE PAID BACK? WITH INTEREST.
>> WITH INTEREST. I THINK WITH THE IDEA OF THE SAY A AND B PLAN, WE WOULD CERTAINLY TRY TO CAPTURE AND MAKE SURE THAT ALL RESPONSES WOULD INCLUDE THAT FORWARD THINKING, WHAT ARE YOU PLANNING ON DOING MODEL.
OBVIOUSLY, WE WOULD WEIGH THE DECISION BASED ON WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.
BUT I THINK AS FAR AS THE PACKET AND HOW THAT GETS PUBLISHED, WHERE THE PERSON THAT'S GOING TO BE ON SITE MEETING WITH PROPOSED BECAUSE I'M SURE EVERY SINGLE.
>> THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE A WALK THROUGH.
>> THAT INDIVIDUAL WOULD MANAGE THAT PROCESS FOR US SO ONE OF US IS NOT HAVING TO CONDUCT THAT.
AS LONG AS AGAIN, THE CONSENSUS IS TO GO WITH A THIRD PARTY BUILDER TO HELP US WALK THROUGH THIS PROCESS, I THINK IT'S MANAGEABLE FOR US TO DO THAT.
>> THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO PURSUE.
WE'RE GIVING THEM DIRECTION TO GET THIS DONE. CORRECT?
>> GOOD. DANNY, WHILE YOU'RE RIGHT THERE.
>> DATE FOR THE DENTON INDUSTRIAL PARK BID AND DATE FOR CHOP TANK MARINA BID, WE'RE GOING TO BE RUNNING UP AGAINST THE MID-SHORE REGIONAL COUNCIL DEADLINE BY THE END OF THE YEAR BEFORE WE KNOW IT.
>> I'LL START WITH THE DENTON INDUSTRIAL PARKER JUST BECAUSE I HAND ON WITH THAT.
I HAVE A CALL TODAY WITH HIM AGAIN AT THREE O'CLOCK.
>> I'D LIKE TO SEE IT DONE BY THE END OF THIS MONTH.
>> THAT WAS THEIR TARGET DATE?
>> I THINK WHEN WE TALKED TWO OR THREE MONTHS AGO.
>> BEFORE THE WIN [INAUDIBLE].
>> THE WINTERTIME. HE HAS BEEN IN CONSTANT CONTACT WITH MAKAZINSKI AND PLAN AND CODES OF GETTING THE LAST FINALIZED COMMENTS THERE.
>> HOW ABOUT THE TOWN OF DENTON? DO WE NEED TO BRING THIS UP AT OUR MEETING?
>> THE TOWN IS NEXT. THEY HAVE A SMALL GRADING PERMIT THAT THEY'RE GOING TO NEED TO SIGN OFF ON FROM THE [OVERLAPPING].
>> BUT THEY'RE WAITING ON COMMENTS FROM SOIL CONSERVATION?
>> THEY WOULD NOT THEY WANTED TO WAIT UNTIL SOIL AND AT COUNTY.
[02:00:03]
>> HAVE WE GOT IT BACK FROM SOIL CONCERT?
>> WE HAVE IT BACK AT SOIL. SOIL'S DONE.
IT'S JUST MATT AND TIM, DONE THUS CROSS AND TS, AND THEN PLANNING, SO MY THIRD [OVERLAPPING]
>> CAN YOU PUSH THAT MAKE SURE THIS GETS PUSHED? AS WE'RE GOING TO BE UP AGAINST IT.
IT'S GOING TO BE DECEMBER 31ST BEFORE WE KNOW IT AND MID-SHORE REGIONAL COUNCIL AND COMMERCE OR WHOEVER.
WHAT DID IT COME THROUGH BOB WHICH AGENCY?
>> THE DEADLINE TO SPEND IT IS THE END OF THIS YEAR?
>> YES. I BELIEVE THAT'S REQUEST TO PUT IN.
>> AGAIN, I HOPE TO [OVERLAPPING].
>> CHECK WITH JAMIE, SEE IF SHE NEEDS ANY HELP PUSHING AN ALONG AS FAR AS GETTING THE CHOP TANK MARINA BID OUT AS WELL.
>> I KNOW SHE'S BEEN WORKING WITH TIM AS FAR AS DATES AND WHEN THEY'RE PROJECTING TO GO OUT, I UNFORTUNATELY DON'T HAVE THAT AT MY FINGERTIPS, BUT I'LL TALK TO HER, AND I'M SURE SHE'S PROBABLY LISTENING. WE'LL GET THAT TO YOU.
>> IT'S ON MY RADAR. I MEAN, I'D LIKE TO SEE A BID.
I MEAN, WE'RE GOING TO BE THROUGH THE FIRST QUARTER.
THAT LEAVES US THREE QUARTERS LEFT TO GET.
WHAT? TWO MILLION SOME DOLLARS SPENT?
>> I'VE ASKED YOU EVER FOR THE LAST MOMENT.
CHECK IN. GET THAT AT THE TOP OF THE LIST TOO.
HOPEFULLY, WE GOT ALONG. [OVERLAPPING] DON'T WE? [LAUGHTER].
>> GOOD. WITH THAT, WE'LL HAVE OUR CLOSING PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
[Public Comment]
IS THERE ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK AT THE CLOSING?>> I JUST WANT TO SAY A COUPLE OF THINGS.
[NOISE] NUMBER 1, I WANT TO AGREE WITH MR. PORTER ABOUT THIS DETENTION CENTER THING.
I'VE BEEN AROUND CAROLINE COUNTY A LAW, AND I THOUGHT WE WERE SELF-RULE COUNTY.
THAT HAS YOU MIGHT AS WELL SAY THAT IS SOMETHING OF THE PAST.
YOU'RE GOING TO DEPEND ON EVERYBODY ELSE.
WE AGREE FOR ALL THESE COOPERATIVE THINGS, BUT CAROLINE COUNTY HAS REALLY ENDED UP WITH THE BAD END OF ALMOST EVERYONE.
WE DON'T HAVE A CENTER FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE [NOISE] REALLY DISABLED.
IT EITHER WENT TO QUEEN ANNE COUNTY OR ONE OF THE OTHER OF THESE COOPERATIVE GRIEVANCE.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH IT WILL COST MORE TO GET A DECENT DETENTION CENTER HERE, BUT I THINK IT'S TIME WE STOPPED DOING ALL THESE COOPERATIVE THINGS AND END UP WITH A SHORTHAND OF STICK.
A REAL SMALL THING WAS THIS CHESAPEAKE COLLEGE SAY.
JUST BECAUSE WE GOT A LITTLE BIT MORE ENROLLMENT, WE'RE GOING TO BE PAYING THE COUNTY IS GOING TO BE CONTRIBUTING A LOT MORE TO THEM.
BUT WHAT ARE WE WHETHER WE'VE EVER REALLY GOTTEN MUCH OUT OF JUST OUT OF COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
WE SUPPORTED IT FOR MANY YEARS.
THAT'S ONLY COMMENT I HAD MADE, BUT I THINK I THINK YOU DEBATED YOU'VE DONE THE BEST JOB YOU COULD.
BUT THIS CONSOLIDATED DETENTION CENTER.
I THINK THIS IS A ISSUE I REMEMBER MY SUPPORTER GUNS [INAUDIBLE] [LAUGHTER].
>> WELL, THANK [NOISE] YOU, MR. BAKER.
>> WELL, I MEAN, IN RESPONSE TO MR. BAKER, [NOISE] I THINK MY POINT IS, IT'S SOMETHING TO CONSIDER.
BUT I MEAN, BUT WHEN YOU HAVE WHEN YOU HAVE A COUNTY WHO SAYS, WE'RE GOING TO BE IN CONTROL, BUT TO ME, IT'S UP TO THAT COUNTY TO PROVIDE US THE INFORMATION THAT'S GOING TO ALLOW US TO MAKE A DECISION.
NOW, IF WE GET INFORMATION BACK AND IT SHOWS THAT WE'RE GOING TO SAVE, $1.5 OR $2,000,000 A YEAR, THEN ABSOLUTELY THAT'S SOMETHING WE SHOULD LOOK AT.
THERE'S A REASON FOR THAT AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED.
BUT WE ARE BEING ASKED TO PARTICIPATE IN SOMETHING BY A COUNTY WHO WILL NOT GIVE US INFORMATION TO DETERMINE WHETHER WE SHOULD PARTICIPATE IN IT OR NOT.
THAT'S WHAT IT BOILS DOWN TO AND I'M NOT [OVERLAPPING].
>> AGREE WITH WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
>> I'M POOR OLD DUMB GUY FROM GREENSBORO, BUT I'M NOT DOING THAT AND I JUST CAN'T.
>> YOU SEE AS MANY OF THESE JOINT VENTURES AS I HAVE.
[INAUDIBLE] NO LOOKS LIKE WE NORMALLY END UP ON SHORT INSTEAD [LAUGHTER].
[02:05:04]
THAT'S ALL I COULD SAY.>> THANK YOU. WITH THAT, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION TO DISCUSS THE EMPLOYMENT, EMPLOYMENT OR ASSIGNMENT OF A COUNTY EMPLOYEE UNDER AUTHORITY 2014, MARYLAND COAST STATE GOVERNMENT 3-305(B)1.
>> MAY I ADD TO THAT ALSO? THIS JUST CAME UP TO CONSULT WITH COUNCIL REGARDING PENDING AND POTENTIAL LITIGATION.
>> THAT IS UNDER THREE [NOISE]. NO. I'M SORRY.
[Closed Sessions: Discussion of Appointment, Employment, or Assignment of County Employee, and Authority: 2014 Md. Code, State Government 3-305 (b) (1)]
>> SECOND. ROLL CALL VOTE, COMMISSIONER PORTER?
>> MR. BREEDING.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.