[00:00:50]
SO WE WILL START OFF BY RECITING THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
IF EVERYONE COULD PLEASE RISE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
AND I DO NOT HAVE MY MICROPHONE ON. I'M SORRY.
FRANK, MAKE SURE YOU TURN YOURS ON. ARE THOSE MIKES ON? OKAY. MY NAME IS TRAVIS BREEDING, AND I'M PRESIDENT OF CAROLINE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
HERE THIS EVENING WITH ME ARE COMMISSION VICE PRESIDENT LARRY PORTER AND COMMISSIONER FRANK BARTZ.
THANK YOU ALL FOR ATTENDING THIS PUBLIC MEETING.
THERE ARE TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS TODAY, EACH OF WHICH IS REQUIRED BY STATE OR LOCAL LAW.
FIRST, FOR TESTIMONY ON THE REQUESTED OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGETS AND THE SECOND PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE FOR THE ANNUAL MUNICIPAL REAL PROPERTY TAX DIFFERENTIAL RATES.
ACTUALLY, THE SIDE OF THE ROOM THERE AT THE ENTRANCE DOOR.
FOR REFERENCE, THE OPERATING BUDGET REQUEST CAN BE FOUND ON THE PINK SHEET, AND THE OPERATING REVENUE ESTIMATES CAN BE FOUND ON THE GREEN SHEETS. THESE HEARINGS WERE ADVERTISED IN THE STAR DEMOCRAT NEWSPAPER, CAROLINE REVIEW, AS WELL AS ON OUR WEBSITE. AND THE MEETING IS BEING STREAMED LIVE AND RECORDED.
MR. BARROLL, IF YOU DON'T MIND READING THE ADVERTISEMENT FOR US, PLEASE.
YES, SIR. THE FOLLOWING NOTICE WAS PUBLISHED IN THE STAR DEMOCRAT ON FEBRUARY 21ST OF 2026 AND ALSO ON MARCH THE 4TH OF 2026. CAROLINE COUNTY GOVERNMENT NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING.
FISCAL YEAR 2027 PUBLIC BUDGET HEARING SCHEDULE.
THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF CAROLINE COUNTY, MARYLAND, WILL HOLD THE FOLLOWING PUBLIC HEARINGS IN PERSON ON THE REQUESTED FY 2027 CAROLINE COUNTY GOVERNMENT BUDGET. SUMMARY SHEETS OUTLINING THE PROPOSED OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGETS, AS WELL AS EXPECTED REVENUES ARE AVAILABLE BY CALLING (410)479-0660 OR VISITING THE COUNTY WEBSITE AT WWW.CAROLINEMD.ORG. THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WILL ACCEPT WRITTEN AND ORAL TESTIMONY.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SUBMIT WRITTEN TESTIMONY, PLEASE MAIL TO THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF CAROLINE COUNTY, 109 MARKET STREET, ROOM 123, DENTON, MARYLAND 21629 OR EMAIL TO INFO AT CAROLINEMD.ORG.
ALL HEARINGS WILL BE RECORDED AND LIVE STREAMED HERE.
THE ADDRESS IS GIVEN. TUESDAY, MARCH 10TH, 2026 6:00 PM CAROLINE COUNTY HEALTH AND PUBLIC SERVICES BUILDING, ROOM 110, 403 SOUTH SEVENTH STREET, DENTON, MARYLAND.
FIRST PUBLIC HEARING TO RECEIVE TESTIMONY ON BUDGET REQUEST.
SECOND PUBLIC HEARING MUNICIPAL REAL PROPERTY TAX DIFFERENTIAL RATES.
PERSONS WITH A DISABILITY NEEDING REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION TO ATTEND SHOULD NOTIFY THE COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE AT LEAST THREE DAYS BEFORE THE HEARINGS BY CALLING (410)479-0660 OR VIA THE MARYLAND RELAY SERVICE AT 7-1-1.
THANK YOU, MR. BARROLL. AS MR. BARROLL STATED, THE ADVERTISEMENT FOR THE HEARING INCLUDED INFORMATION ON HOW TO SUBMIT TESTIMONY BY MAIL OR EMAIL. SO WITH THAT HEARING, ONE IS THE FY 2027 OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGET REQUESTS. THE COMMISSIONERS HEREBY CONVENED THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING ON THE FY 2027 OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGET
[00:05:08]
REQUESTS. SO I GUESS OFFICIALLY, CAN WE MOTION TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING? SECOND MOTION. SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.AYE. AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT.
WE HAVE TWO INDIVIDUALS SIGNED UP TO TESTIFY IN REGARDS TO THE OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGET.
AND THE FIRST OF THOSE IS SUSIE STALIN. SO, SUSIE.
GOOD AFTERNOON. HI. HI. YEP. ABSOLUTELY. RIGHT THERE.
HELLO. MY NAME IS SUSIE STALIN. I'M A RESIDENT OF CAROLINE COUNTY, AND I WANTED TO COME HERE TO GO ON RECORD FOR OBJECTING TO SPENDING ANY MORE MONEY INVESTIGATING THE POSSIBLE INSTALLATION OF A FUEL STATION AT THE CHOPTANK MARINA.
THE ONLY REASON I'M HERE TODAY IS THAT I LEARNED YESTERDAY THERE ARE STILL $250,000 ASSOCIATED FOR THE INSTALLATION OF A FUEL STATION, BECAUSE THE DNR APPARENTLY REQUESTED US TO RETHINK IT FOR A SAFETY ISSUE.
I'M HARD PRESSED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT SAFETY ISSUE EXISTS SINCE THE FUEL STATION WAS REMOVED BACK IN THE LATE 90S, SO WE HAVE NOT HAD FUEL THERE FOR DECADES.
SO I AM JUST ASKING YOU NOT TO SPEND ANY MORE MONEY.
I KNOW THAT WE GET GRANTS. I DON'T CARE IF IT'S FEDERAL, STATE OR LOCAL MONIES.
TRYING TO JAM A FUEL STATION IN THERE. IF THERE ARE OTHER SAFETY FACTORS THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED, PERHAPS THERE'S ANOTHER WAY TO DO IT. I'M HAPPY TO DISCUSS ANY IF YOU NEED HELP SPENDING MONEY.
I GOT SOME IDEAS. BUT ANYWAY, THAT'S WHY I'M HERE.
PLEASE DON'T. PLEASE DON'T DO A THIRD ENGINEERING DESIGN.
OKAY. ANY QUESTIONS? NO, I DON'T GOT ANYTHING.
IT'S WATERWAY IMPROVEMENT FUNDS THAT COME FROM BOAT TITLE REGISTRATIONS AND BOAT STICKERS, THAT'S THE FUNDING SOURCE. AND THERE'S NOT ANY COUNTY COUNTING MONEY INVOLVED IN THAT I'M AWARE OF.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT SAFETY FACTOR WE'RE FIXING? I DON'T.
I DO NOT. I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF RESIDENTS ON THE RIVER WHO WANT THE FUEL.
YOU HAVE BEEN THE ONLY ONE IN OPPOSITION OF IT.
THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ASK A LOT OF HOMEOWNERS, BECAUSE THE NEAREST FUELING STATION IS CAMBRIDGE, OR THEY HAVE TO GO ALL THE WAY TO DENTON AND BE A MEMBER OF THE CHOPTANK RIVER YACHT CLUB.
OKAY. SO I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S SAFETY PROBLEMS WITH PEOPLE TOTING GAS CANS DOWN TO THEIR BOATS ON THE RIVER, IF THAT'S MAYBE WHAT DNR IS TALKING ABOUT. I KNOW THAT IF IT IS A COUNTY OPERATED FUEL SYSTEM, IT WILL HAVE TO BE OPERATED BY A COUNTY EMPLOYEE.
SO IT'S NOT LIKE IT WOULD BE JUST A DRIVE UP TO AND FUEL YOURSELF.
BUT OTHER THAN THAT, I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE COULD BE CAUSING IT.
AND THEY PROBABLY LOOK AND SEE THAT THERE ARE NOT PLACES FOR PEOPLE TRAVELING UP AND DOWN THE RIVER.
IF SOMEBODY WANTED TO COME FROM THE WESTERN SHORE ACROSS THE BAY, COME UP THE CHOPTANK AND POTENTIALLY GO ALL THE WAY TO DENTON, THEY HAVE LIMITED OPTIONS ON WHERE THEY COULD STOP AND GET FUEL.
BUT CERTAINLY WE'LL TAKE YOUR TESTIMONY INTO CONSIDERATION AND YOU KNOW, WE'LL SEE WHAT WE CAN DO.
SO ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. THANK YOU.
YEP. OKAY, NEXT UP WE HAD ANNA. NO. GOOD. OKAY.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK IN REGARDS TO THE OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGET REQUESTS? YEAH, SURE. SABRINA, COME FORWARD, STATE YOUR NAME.
[00:10:03]
AS YOU MAKE YOUR DECISIONS, HOW THE COUNTY IS LARGELY ALICE, ASSET LIMITED, INCOME CONSTRAINED, EMPLOYED. AND THE SITUATION IS GETTING WORSE AND WORSE AND WORSE FOR, AS YOU KNOW, MANY REASONS.AND I GUESS IT WAS REALLY DISHEARTENING TO SEE $40 MILLION BEING ALLOCATED, THOUGH I DO ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE INCARCERATED DESERVE A BETTER PLACE TO BE INCARCERATED.
BUT I JUST, AS YOU KNOW, SERVE PEOPLE IN CAROLINE COUNTY WHO ARE STRUGGLING.
AND I JUST WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT PEOPLE ARE MAKING DECISIONS ON FOOD, HEAT, RENT AND WHATNOT.
SO THAT'S MY COMMENT. WHAT IS THE $40 MILLION YOU'RE REFERRING TO? OH, IS THERE NO DETENTION CENTER $40 MILLION? IT'S NOT. WE HAVEN'T MADE THAT FINAL DECISION ON THAT YET.
WE'RE STILL, WE'RE IN THE EARLY PHASES OF DESIGN AND PLANNING, MAYBE RENOVATING.
WE'VE GOT TO EXPLORE ALL OF OUR OPTIONS SO WE MAY RENOVATE THE FACILITY THAT WE HAVE NOW.
MORE THAN LIKELY, WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE TO BUILD A NEW ONE BECAUSE.
TO YOUR POINT, WELL DATED, BUT THERE ALSO IS NO PROGRAMING SPACE FOR REHABILITATION SERVICES, FOR PEER RECOVERY SERVICES, FOR PEOPLE WITH ADDICTIONS TO MEET WITH COUNSELORS.
LITERALLY RIGHT NOW, SABRINA, THEY MEET IN THE BASEMENT WITH A CEILING.
THAT'S. I HAVE TO. I FULLY AGREE. SO WORKFORCE TRAINING, THE PEER RECOVERY SERVICES, ALL OF THOSE, OTHER SIR, WE HAVE NO MEDICAL MEDICALS IN A CLOSET, SO THERE'S A LOT OF EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCE, A LOT OF DIFFERENT PRESSURES ON US THERE IN OUR DECISION.
I THINK, UNFORTUNATELY, WE ARE PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE TO BUILD A NEW FACILITY.
I MEAN, THAT'S THE DIRECTION THAT I'M LEANING.
BUT I CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND THE LAST THING WE WANT TO DO IS SPEND THAT KIND OF MONEY IN THAT.
BUT I DON'T THINK WE HAVE A LOT OF OTHER OPTIONS.
I THINK YOU KNOW, WITH THE NEW REGULATIONS THAT BOTH THE FEDERAL AND STATE LEVEL AND THE RIGHT THING TO DO TO TRY TO IMPROVE OUTCOMES FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE INCARCERATED, I THINK WE NEED, WE NEED A DIFFERENT FACILITY, BUT WE'RE INVESTIGATING THAT. THAT'S YEARS OUT.
SO IT'S NOT ANYTHING. I MEAN, WE'RE, WE'RE TOLD AT LEAST FIVE YEARS FOR THE STATE FUNDING.
GOOD TO KNOW. YEAH, I WAS MISINFORMED. YEAH. THIS IS WHY WE'VE GOT CONVERSATIONS. YEP, YEP.
ALSO, THAT'S SUCH A RELIEF TO HEAR JUST BECAUSE LIKE I SAID, YOU KNOW, I HEAR PEOPLE CRYING EVERY SINGLE DAY ABOUT THEIR NEEDS BEING MET. AND $40 MILLION COULD JUST HELP SO MANY PEOPLE, YOU KNOW? OKAY, WELL THAT'S GOOD. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? OKAY, WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGETS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2027.
SO MOVED. SECOND. MOTION SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT. JEN, DO WE HAVE ANY WRITTEN COMMENTS? NOTHING. OKAY. SORRY, I WAS SUPPOSED TO ASK THAT FIRST.
GOOD THING WE DIDN'T. NEXT UP IS. ARE WE GOOD? MY SCRIPT SAYS RECESS, BUT. ALL RIGHT. OKAY. NEXT WE HAVE OUR SECOND HEARING, WHICH IS FOR THE MUNICIPAL REAL PROPERTY TAX DIFFERENTIAL RATES. SO I HEAR A MOTION TO CONVENE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
SO MOVED. SECOND. MOTION SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
STACEY STEWART, OUR ACTING FINANCE DIRECTOR, I BELIEVE HAS A DIFFERENTIAL RATE STATEMENT.
YES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONERS.
CURRENTLY, THE FOLLOWING TOWNS RECEIVED A DIFFERENTIAL.
TOWN OF DENTON $0.06. TOWN OF PHILIPSBURG $0.08.
TOWN OF GREENSBORO $0.06. TOWN OF PRESTON $0.01 AND TOWN OF RIDGELY $0.05.
AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE, UNLESS THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. STACEY. YOU'RE WELCOME. I DO NOT HAVE ANYONE SIGNED UP TO TESTIFY IN REGARDS TO THE MUNICIPAL TAX RATES. IS THERE ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT? OKAY. DO NOT SEE ANYONE. I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE ANNUAL MUNICIPAL PROPERTY TAX
[00:15:05]
DIFFERENTIAL. SO MOVED. SECOND. MOTION SECOND.ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT. THAT CONCLUDES OUR AGENDA FOR TONIGHT.
UNLESS YOU GENTLEMEN WANT TO ADD SOMETHING. WELL.
COMMISSIONER PORTER. SINCE WE ALL GOT DRESSED UP AND CAME UP HERE.
I'LL JUST MAKE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS, I THINK. I HAVE SET THROUGH A NUMBER OF THESE BUDGETS, AND I WANT TO EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION TO THE DEPARTMENTS WHO REALLY KEPT THEIR BUDGET REQUESTS UNDER CONTROL THIS YEAR. I THINK THERE ARE YEARS THAT I CAN RECALL THAT WE HAVE HAD TO BALANCE A BUDGET THAT HAD MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT HAD BUDGET REQUESTS OVER THE PRIOR YEARS.
SO I APPRECIATE THE DEPARTMENT'S WORKING ON THAT.
AND WHEN WE GET THE FINAL VERSION, IT'S ALL PUT TOGETHER IN A FORM THAT WE CAN READILY UNDERSTAND AND READILY BE ABLE TO, TO MAKE DECISIONS. I THINK THAT I DON'T WANT TO BE PREMATURE, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US BE ABLE THIS YEAR TO MAKE A REDUCTION OF THE PROPERTY TAX RATE.
DEPENDING ON OTHER UNFORESEEN THINGS THAT WOULD BE COMING DOWN THE ROAD.
AS EVERYONE PROBABLY UNDERSTANDS, THE LARGEST PORTION OF OUR BUDGET IS THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.
AND THOSE NUMBERS CONTINUOUSLY YOU KNOW, CAN CHANGE OVER A PERIOD OF TIME.
THE BLUEPRINT FORMULAS ARE, I DON'T EVEN THINK THE STATE UNDERSTANDS THEM.
SO WE'RE ALWAYS KIND OF AT THE, AT THE MERCY OF GETTING A NEW NUMBER.
AND THAT NEW NUMBER HAS A LOT TO DO WITH BEING ABLE TO BALANCE THE BUDGET.
BUT, YOU KNOW, I'M CONFIDENT THAT WE'LL, YOU KNOW, BE ABLE TO WORK TOWARDS SOMETHING.
SO I THINK THAT FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT OF THE COUNTY HAS BEEN A PRIORITY FOR ALL OF US.
IN ADDITION TO THE DETENTION CENTER, WE ARE ALSO THE INITIAL LARGE CAPITAL PROJECT THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FACE IN THE NEXT OR SOMEONE, WHOEVER SETS UP HERE IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS IS GOING TO FACE THIS BUILDING A NEW MIDDLE SCHOOL.
THAT MIDDLE SCHOOL, OUR SHARE OF THAT MIDDLE SCHOOL IS AROUND IN AROUND THE AREA OF $25 MILLION.
SO I THINK WE ARE IN A POSITION AT THIS POINT WHERE THROUGH BUDGETING, MONEY MANAGEMENT, TRYING TO PREPARE FOR WHAT WE KNEW WAS COMING. I THINK WE'RE IN A POSITION NOW OF BEING ABLE TO FUND OUR SHARE WITHOUT HAVING TO BORROW MORE MONEY OR GO INTO DEBT, WHICH IS A IMPORTANT YOU KNOW, AN IMPORTANT ASPECT FOR ME, AND I THINK THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS, I DON'T LIKE BORROWING MONEY AND WE HAVE SOME DEBT THAT'S COMING OFF THE BOOKS THAT IS GOING TO HELP THAT AS WELL.
SO AGAIN, THANK, THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO PUTS IN A REQUEST FOR IN THIS BUDGET.
THE REQUESTS WERE REASONABLE, WELL DOCUMENTED.
CERTAINLY IF WE HAD ANY QUESTIONS, WE COULD REACH OUT.
WE'VE ALREADY REACHED OUT AND HAD SOME QUESTIONS. THEY ALWAYS HAVE ANSWERS.
THEY'RE NOT ALWAYS GOING TO GET ALL THE MONEY THEY WANT, BUT AT LEAST I'M VERY PLEASED THAT PEOPLE HAVE ANSWERS AND ARE PREPARED TO TO EXPLAIN THEIR, THEIR REQUESTS. SO WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT OVER.
THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER BARTZ. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYBODY WHO COME TONIGHT.
WE APPRECIATE THE PARTICIPATION AS EVERY BUDGET WE GO INTO, YOU KNOW, WE ALWAYS HAVE OUR PRIORITIES, PUBLIC SAFETY, EDUCATION, ROADS, AND THEN THEM DEM THREE USUALLY TAKE THE TOP AND THEN WE WORK DOWN FROM THERE.
SO, IF WE DO, WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO BORROW ANY MONEY FOR SCHOOL OR DETENTION CENTER AT THAT TIME.
I TOO WOULD LIKE TO SEE A REDUCTION OF TAX RATE AS THINGS EVOLVE AND WE SEE THAT WE CAN DO THAT.
AT LEAST SOMETHING THAT'S SHOWS THAT WE ARE TRYING TO LOWER TAXES.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN DO A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT, BUT AT LEAST I THINK MAYBE WE CAN, YOU KNOW, TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF BURDEN OFF BECAUSE A LOT OF OUR SENIORS AND PEOPLE ON FIXED INCOMES, AND I MEAN,
[00:20:06]
THEY'RE REALLY FEELING THE PRESSURE BETWEEN THE ELECTRIC BILLS, THE, YOU KNOW, THE STATE TAX ASSESSMENTS ARE REALLY HITTING THEM HARD.AND WE HEAR THAT A LOT. SO ACTUALLY, I'VE HEARD IT A COUPLE TIMES TODAY, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.
I'D LIKE TO THANK THE STAFF FOR ALL THE HARD WORK, STACEY AND KATHLEEN AND JENNIFER STEWART AND ALL THE DIRECTOR HADES FOR PUTTING IN THE EFFORT AND TRYING TO KEEP YOUR BUDGET AS FLAT AS POSSIBLE AS PREVIOUS YEARS.
SO AS THINGS EVOLVE, YOU KNOW, IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS, WE'LL, WE'LL TRY TO DO THE BEST WE CAN.
SO THANK YOU. YEP. THANK YOU. YEAH. I WOULD ADD THE THE PROPERTY TAX INCREASE.
YOU KNOW, WE, WE'VE EXPERIENCED ABOUT A $2 MILLION INCREASE IN REAL PROPERTY TAX REVENUE BETWEEN FY25 AND 26. AND THEN WE ARE ESTIMATING APPROXIMATELY THE SAME $2 MILLION INCREASE BETWEEN 26 AND 27.
AND THAT'S COMING FROM THE PROPERTY OWNERS IN THE COUNTY.
THAT INCREASE IN PROPERTY TAXES THAT THEY PAY IS REALLY HURTING THEM.
MORE PARTICULARLY THE RENTERS, THE PEOPLE THAT RENT IN THE MUNICIPALITIES BECAUSE THOSE PROPERTY OWNERS THAT ARE RENTING THOSE RESIDENCES, WHETHER THEY BE APARTMENT UNITS OR SINGLE FAMILY HOMES.
THAT PROPERTY TAX ASSESSMENT, THAT INCREASE COMES TO THEM IN ONE FULL LUMP SUM.
IT'S WHATEVER THAT NEW ASSESSMENT IS, THEY PAY WHATEVER OUR TAX RATE IS ON THAT NEW ASSESSMENT.
SO THEY GET HIT WITH THE FULL BURDEN OF AN INCREASED ASSESSMENT.
WHEREAS THOSE WHO OWN A HOME, IT GETS PHASED IN WITH THE HOMESTEAD TAX CREDIT, RIGHT, OVER.
AND OUR COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES ALSO FEEL THEY DON'T GET TO PHASE IN.
SO WHATEVER THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE COMES BACK WITH, THAT IS A ONE YEAR, YEAR OVER YEAR INCREASE.
AND IT'S HARD ON BUSINESSES. IT'S HARD ON RENTERS.
SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN DO SOMETHING TO LESSEN THAT BY REDUCING OUR PROPERTY TAX RATE SOME.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE REALLY, REALLY WANT TO PURSUE.
AND, YOU KNOW, JUST THANK, THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR STAFF WHO WORK SO HARD TO GO THROUGH THEIR BUDGETS AND CUT OUT ANY UNNEEDED SPENDING. YOU KNOW, WE MAY GO THROUGH AND FIND WHAT WE PERCEIVE AS A LITTLE MORE CUTTING THAT NEEDS TO OCCUR. BUT YOU KNOW, WE APPRECIATE THE, THE TIGHT BUDGETING, THE, THE REVENUE GROWTH THAT WE'VE EXPERIENCED. SHOULD BE TAKEN VERY CAUTIOUSLY APPROACH VERY CAUTIOUSLY, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO SEE THIS KIND OF REVENUE GROWTH FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME.
SO WE JUST NEED TO DO THE BEST WE CAN TO LIVE WITHIN OUR MEANS.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO CASHFLOW EVERYTHING, BUT AT LEAST WE WON'T BE SENDING THOSE DOLLARS THAT WE'RE PAYING IN INTEREST ON THOSE LOANS OUT OF THE COUNTY. AND THEREFORE, THE RESIDENTS HERE WOULD NOT BE EXPERIENCING THE BENEFITS OF THOSE DOLLARS ACTUALLY BEING SPENT HERE ON OUR CAPITAL PROJECTS. SO TO BE ABLE TO GET AHEAD, TO PUT ENOUGH MONEY AWAY TO OUTRIGHT PAY FOR A NEW MIDDLE SCHOOL OR POTENTIALLY A NEW DETENTION CENTER AND SOME OF THE OTHER NEEDS.
YOU KNOW, THE COUNTY STILL HAS 80 MILES OF DIRT ROAD, WHICH IS VERY EXPENSIVE TO MAINTAIN.
IT'S TIME THAT WE START CHIPPING AWAY AT THOSE LANE MILES OF DIRT ROAD AND, AND YOU KNOW, GIVE A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE RESIDENTS WHO LIVE THERE AND ALSO MAKE A LONG TERM INVESTMENT IN THE COUNTY WHERE WE DON'T HAVE TO SEND PERSONNEL OUT THERE TO SCRAPE AND GRADE AND PUT ADDITIONAL MATERIAL ON THOSE ROADS.
SO THOSE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE PRIORITIES, I THINK MOVING FORWARD THAT, THAT WE HAVE TO ADDRESS.
SO ANYWAY, WITH THAT, THAT MIGHT BE THE FASTEST PUBLIC HEARING YET ON THIS, RIGHT?
[00:25:02]
I THINK SO, YEAH. ALL RIGHT, LET'S MAKE A RECORD MOTION TO ADJOURN.MOVE TO ADJOURN. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED?
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.