[4.a TO2508 - An Ordinance of the City Commission of the City of Tamarac, Florida to establish and levy ad valorem taxes within the corporate limits of the City of Tamarac, Florida, for the tax year 2022; providing for the levy of ad valorem taxes in the amount of 7.2000 mills ($7.2000 per $1,000) based upon the taxable value of nonexempt real and personal property located within the City limits of the City of Tamarac; providing for conflicts; providing for severability; and providing for an effective date.]

THIS IS THE SECOND AND FINAL PUBLIC HEARING TO ESTABLISH THE OPERATING MILLAGE RATE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023.

BEFORE WE BEGIN, MADAME CITY MANAGER, PLEASE READ YOUR STATEMENT.

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TRUTH AND MILLAGE REQUIREMENTS OF FLORIDA STATUTES, THE CITY IS REQUIRED TO ANNOUNCE THE PERCENTAGE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE PROPOSED MILLAGE RATE AND THE ROLLBACK RATE.

AS SUCH, THE FOLLOWING IS READ INTO THE RECORD.

THE TENTATIVE OPERATING MILLAGE RATE OF 7.2000 MILS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023 IS 0.7613 MILS OR 11.82 PERCENT MORE THAN THE ROLLBACK RATE OF 6.4387 MILS.

THAT CONCLUDES MY STATEMENT. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

>> THANK YOU. MR. CITY ATTORNEY, PLEASE READ THE TITLE FOR THE RECORD.

>> YES.

>> TITLE TO A TEMPORARY ORDINANCE NUMBER 2508.

>> YES, MADAM MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION.

THIS IS AN ORDINANCE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF TAMARAC FLORIDA TO ESTABLISH AND LEVY AD VALOREM TAXES WITHIN THE CORPORATE LIMITS, THE CITY OF TAMARAC, FLORIDA, FOR THE TAX YEAR 2022, BROUGHT IN FOR THE LEVEE OF AD VALOREM TAXES, THE AMOUNT OF 7.2000 MILS, WHICH IS $7.2000 PER $1,000 OF SUCH VALUE, BASED UPON THE TAXABLE VALUE OF NON-EXEMPT REAL AND PERSONAL PROPERTY LOCATED WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS OF THE CITY OF TAMARAC, PROVIDING FOR CONFLICTS, PROVIDING FOR SEPARABILITY, AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

>> THANK YOU. NOW WE WILL HEAR A PRESENTATION FROM OUR FINANCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT.

>> MAYOR, I'M GOING TO START WITH A BRIEF INTRODUCTION.

>> ALL RIGHT, GO AHEAD THEN.

>> THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COMMISSION.

THE BUDGET BEFORE YOU TONIGHT AS A PLAN, IT'S BEEN BUILT BASED ON WHAT THE RESIDENTS AND BUSINESS OWNERS HAVE TOLD US THEY WANTED, AND IT'S BUILT ON THE COMMISSION DIRECTION GIVEN AS STRATEGIC PLANNING IN JANUARY AND THE BUDGET WORKSHOP HELD IN JUNE.

BACK IN JANUARY, COMMISSIONERS CONSENSUS WAS TO INCREASE INVESTMENT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS, BEAUTIFICATION, LANDSCAPING, OTHER QUALITY OF LIFE EFFORTS, AND TO BUILD NEW PARKS AS IDENTIFIED IN THE EAST SIDE FEASIBILITY STUDY.

AS I SAID, THE BUDGET IS A PLAN.

IT ACCOMMODATES WHAT WE KNOW YOU WANT TO ACCOMPLISH YET IS FLEXIBLE ENOUGH TO ABSORB INCREASED COSTS OR REORIENT PRIORITIES WITHIN THE YEAR.

IT SAYS OUTER LIMITS ON SPENDING AND PROVIDES US WITH LONG-TERM FINANCIAL PLANNING CAPABILITIES.

THE MILLAGE RATE IS THE VEHICLE THROUGH WHICH THE PLAN IS PARTIALLY FUNDED.

WELL, YOU WILL SEE IN THIS PRESENTATION ARE OPTIONS THAT COMBINED BUDGET REDUCTIONS AND/OR AN APPROPRIATION FROM THE FUND BALANCE TO SET THE MILLAGE RATE AND RESPECTIVE OPERATING BUDGET.

IT'S INTENDED TO PROVIDE YOU WITH AN APPROACH THAT GIVES RELIEF TO TAXPAYERS, YET PROVIDES THE CITY WITH SUFFICIENT FUNDS TO MEET OUR MUTUAL GOALS.

INVESTING IN THE FUTURE COMES WITH A PRICE, BUT IT ALSO COMES WITH SIGNIFICANT RETURNS.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS HAVE RESULTED IN THE BRAND NEW AMAZON FACILITY, EVEN WEST TAMARAC VILLAGE AND BAILEY SQUARE TO NAME A FEW, ALL IMPROVING THE TAX ROLLS AND ULTIMATELY EASING THE BURDEN ON RESIDENTIAL TAXPAYERS.

AS WE KNOW, THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS HAVE BEEN AN ANOMALY IN MANY WAYS.

[00:05:02]

DUE TO COVID AND AUSTERITY MEASURES, WE DELAYED CAPITAL PROJECTS AND VEHICLE REPLACEMENTS, SPENT LESS ON TRAVEL, TRAINING, EVENTS AND SALARIES TO NAME A FEW.

MUCH OF THE SAVINGS IS ONETIME SAVINGS.

NORMALIZED SPENDING HAS ALREADY ENSUED AS LIFE HAS BEEN RETURNING TO PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS.

FREED UP GENERAL FUNDS BECAUSE OF RPA PLUS UNANTICIPATED SAVINGS AND INCREASES IN FORECASTED INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVENUE SHARING ALLOW US TO ALMOST DOUBLE SPENDING ON OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM FOR ROADWAY IMPROVEMENTS, CITY FACILITIES AND PARKS, NAMELY: SABAL PALM, CAPORELLA, AND THE TAMARAC SPORTS COMPLEX.

THE COMMUNITY WANTS THESE ITEMS AND WE'VE PROMISED TO DELIVER THEM.

ONCE BUILT, THE PARTS AND BUILDINGS NEED TO BE STAFFED, MAINTAIN, SECURED, CLEANED, AND ENSURED.

THESE INVESTMENTS COSTS MONEY AND REQUIRE US TO BE PREPARED TO PAY FOR THEM LONG INTO THE FUTURE.

THE MILLAGE RATE PROVIDES THE FUNDING AND FINANCIAL FLEXIBILITY FOR DOING SO.

>> MADAME CITY MANAGER, I'M SORRY TO INTERRUPT YOU.

WE HAVE A TECHNICAL ISSUE.

IT APPEARS THAT WE HAVE VIDEO BUT NO AUDIO.

FOR PURPOSES OF US PRECEDING CITY ATTORNEY, PLEASE GIVE US THE LEGALITIES ON THAT.

>> THE MEETING AND THIS HEARING THIS EVENING HAS BEEN ADVERTISED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS.

WE DO HAVE AUDIO.

>> OKAY. THEN FOR THE [OVERLAPPING]-

>> BUT NONETHELESS, I'LL FINISH.

>> OKAY, PROCEED.

>> IT'S BEEN PROPERLY NOTICED, AND IT'S APPROPRIATE FOR YOU-ALL TO PROCEED TO THE EXTENT THAT THERE MAY BE SOME TECHNICAL GLITCHES WITH EITHER THE LIVE FEED OR THE LIVE AUDIO, CERTAINLY IN ACCORDANCE WITH OUR NORMAL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES, THIS MEETING IS BEING RECORDED AND WILL BE PLACED ON OUR WEBSITE FOR VIEWING AFTER THE MEETING IS OVER, IF ANYONE SO WISHES, IF NOT, THE PURPOSE OF THE NOTICE IS TO LET THEM KNOW THAT THE MEETING IS TAKING PLACE AND THEY CAN COME HERE IN PERSON IF THEY WISH TO SPEAK.

WE ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE LAW.

>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MS. CITY MANAGER, PLEASE CONTINUE. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. I'M WRAPPING UP.

TAMARAC HAS A LONGSTANDING HISTORY OF FINANCIAL PRUDENCE.

WE DON'T OVEREXTEND OURSELVES AND WE BUDGET TO PAY FOR ITEMS THAT COMMUNITY DESIRES.

THE APPROACH TO BUDGETING CONTINUES TO BE MEASURED AND THOUGHTFUL.

IT WAS ONLY THREE YEARS AGO THAT WE FULLY RECOVERED FROM THE ECONOMIC RECESSION OF 2008.

IT TOOK 10 YEARS TO RECOVER FROM THAT FINANCIAL SETBACK AND WE STILL HAVE LESS STAFF TODAY THAN WE DID 12 YEARS AGO.

A CONSISTENT AND STEADY APPROACH TO BUDGETING HAS SERVED US WELL OVER MANY YEARS.

PLEASE BE DELIBERATE AND THOUGHTFUL AS YOU UNDERTAKE, CONSIDERING IN SETTING A MILLAGE RATE THAT PRESERVES THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR RESIDENTS AND FULFILLS THE PROMISES WE'VE MADE TO OUR STAKEHOLDERS.

A MEASURED APPROACH WILL AVOID DRAMATIC INCREASES TO TAXPAYERS IN THE FUTURE.

I CONTINUE TO BE PROUD OF THE WORK OF OUR STAFF IN PREPARING THE BUDGET AND FOR LEADING TONIGHT'S CONVERSATION.

THANK YOU, JEFF, AND THANK YOU, PAT, AND THANK YOU IVAN, AND AT THIS POINT, I'LL TURN THE PRESENTATION OVER TO JEFF STREDER, BUDGET MANAGER TO LEAD YOU THROUGH THE PRESENTATION SO THAT A FRUITFUL DISCUSSION MAY ENSUE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR.

COMMISSIONERS, FOR THE RECORD, JEFF STREDER, BUDGET MANAGER.

I'M JOINED BY ASSISTANT FINANCE DIRECTOR, PATRICIA WHITE.

TONIGHT WOULD BE THE FINAL PUBLIC HEARING IN ESTABLISHING THE FISCAL YEAR 2023, OPERATING MILLAGE RATE AND ADAPTING AND OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGET.

ON SEPTEMBER 12TH TO TENTATIVE OPERATING MILLAGE RATE WAS APPROVED BY THE COMMISSION, IT'S 7.20000 MILS.

THE MILLAGE RATE IN THE BUDGET WAS ADVERTISED ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 19TH, IN AN AD IN THE SUN SENTINEL IN A BUDGET SUMMARY AD AND A NOTICE OF PROPERTY TAX INCREASE THAT WAS BASED ON THE ACTION TAKEN BY THE COMMISSION AT THAT MEETING.

IT ASSUMED A 7.2000 MILLAGE RATE AND INCLUDED A GENERAL FUND BUDGET BASED ON WHAT THAT WOULD GENERATE IN PROPERTY TAX REVENUE.

THE ADOPTED TENTATIVE MILLAGE RATE WOULD PROVIDE FOR GENERAL OPERATIONS OF THE CITY.

IT WOULD MAINTAIN SERVICE LEVELS TO RESIDENTS AT A TIME WHEN THE CITY IS EXPECTED TO PAY CONSIDERABLY MORE FOR EVERYTHING.

IT ENABLES THE DESIRED LEVEL OF CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS TO BE FUNDED FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023.

AS STATED EARLIER, IT EXCEEDS THE ROLLBACK RATE OF 6.4387

[00:10:03]

MILS BY 0.7613 MILS OR 11.82 PERCENT.

NOW, BASED ON INFORMATION THAT WAS CONTAINED IN AUGUST TRIM NOTICES, 24 OUT OF THE 31 BROWARD COUNTY CITIES WERE PROPOSING EITHER KEEPING THE MILLAGE RATES THE SAME AS 2022 OR INCREASING THEIR MILLAGE RATE.

THIS IS BASED ON INFORMATION THAT WAS CONTAINED IN TRIM NOTICES.

LAST WEEK AT THE COUNTY'S PUBLIC HEARING, THE COUNTY VOTE ALSO VOTED TO KEEP THE MILLAGE RATE THE SAME AS 2022.

IN FACT, THE COUNTY WENT SO FAR AS TO BUDGET AND SET ASIDE AN $11.77 MILLION RESERVE TO SAFEGUARD AGAINST ECONOMIC TRENDS.

LIKELY, SOME OF THE SAME ISSUES THAT I LIGHTLY TOUCHED ON IN THE LAST PRESENTATION I MADE IT THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING.

THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION BEING MADE TO THIS BODY IS FAR BY NO MEANS DRASTIC IN THAT WHAT'S BEING RECOMMENDED IS PRESERVING YOUR ONGOING RESOURCES TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE INTO THE FUTURE, AS OPPOSED TO BUDGETING AND SETTING ASIDE A SET AMOUNT NOW.

THE ADOPTED TENTATIVE BUDGET FOR ALL CITY FUNDS IS $243,987,846.

THIS INCLUDES A GENERAL FUND BUDGET OF $77,686,494.

WHAT THE COMMISSION DECIDES TO DO IN REGARDS TO THE MILLAGE RATE TODAY, WILL INDIRECTLY IMPACT THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET AND UPON CHANGING THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET, IF THERE IS A CHANGE TO THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET THAT WOULD CARRY INTO THE TOTAL BUDGET.

MOST LIKELY THE OTHER CATEGORIES OF FUNDS WILL NOT BE AFFECTED BY WHAT YOU DECIDE TO DO WITH THE MILLAGE RATE TODAY.

THE TENTATIVE OPERATING MILLAGE RATE GENERATES BUDGETED PROPERTY TAX REVENUE OF $36,476,384.

THAT IS 46.95 PERCENT OF THE TOTAL GENERAL FUND REVENUE.

IT IS MOSTLY CONSUMED BY PAYING FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.

AFTER YOU PAY FOR POLICE AND FIRE, THERE'S ABOUT $10 MILLION LEFT THAT CAN BE ALLOCATED ACROSS THE OTHER GENERAL FUND-FUNDED OPERATING DEPARTMENTS.

THIS TABLE SHOWS YOU VARIOUS MILLAGE RATE OPTIONS, THE RESULTING LOSS IN REVENUE TO THE CITY, AND WHAT WOULD BE BUDGETED IN TERMS OF PROPERTY TAX REVENUE AS A RESULT OF THAT MILLAGE RATE.

NOW, SOUND BUDGETING PRACTICES DICTATES THAT ONGOING EXPENDITURES SHOULD BE PAID FOR FROM ONGOING REVENUES.

IDEALLY, TO ADDRESS A SHORTFALL IN ONGOING REVENUE, YOU WOULD ADDRESS THAT WITH ONGOING EXPENSE REDUCTIONS.

LATER IN THE PRESENTATION, WE'LL SHOW YOU A LIST OF REDUCTIONS THAT THE COMMISSION HAS IDENTIFIED DURING THE COURSE OF THE YEAR OR AT THE LAST PUBLIC HEARING.

WE WILL SHOW YOU A LIST OF POTENTIAL REDUCTIONS THAT THE STAFF PUT TOGETHER FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.

ANOTHER OPTION OR WHAT YOU CAN ADD TO YOUR APPROACH TO BALANCE OUT FOR THE LOSS IN REVENUE IS A ONE-TIME INCREASE IN THE APPROPRIATION FROM FUND BALANCE THAT CAN BE USED.

BUT AGAIN, THAT WOULD ONLY BE A ONE-TIME SOLUTION AND IT DOESN'T HELP YOU WITH YOUR POTENTIAL STRUCTURAL BALANCE THAT COULD RESULT FROM REDUCING THE MILLAGE RATE THAT COULD OCCUR IN THE FUTURE.

OBVIOUSLY, YOU COULD USE SOME COMBINATION OF BOTH EXPENSE REDUCTIONS AND MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE

[00:15:04]

WITH A INCREASE IN THE APPROPRIATION OF FUND BALANCE.

DEPENDING UPON WHAT MILLAGE RATE YOU DECIDED ON TODAY, IT IS POSSIBLE TO USE AN APPROPRIATION FROM FUND BALANCE TO ADDRESS THE ENTIRE SHORTFALL, BUT THAT DEPENDS ON WHAT MILLAGE RATE YOU DECIDE TO ADOPT.

TRIM COMPLIANCE REQUIRES THAT ANY FINAL MILLAGE RATE ADOPTED ABOVE THE MAJORITY VOTE RATE, BE ADAPTED BY A MINIMUM TWO-THIRDS VOTE.

IN ORDER TO GET TO THE TWO-THIRDS VOTE, THIS COMMISSION HAS TO HAVE A 4:1 AFFIRMATIVE VOTE IN ORDER TO HIT THAT MINIMUM TWO-THIRDS THRESHOLD.

WE WOULD BE REQUIRING WHATEVER MILLAGE RATE YOU ADOPT TODAY IS, WE'LL HAVE TO BE ADOPTED BY A 4:1 VOTE.

ONCE THE MILLAGE RATE IS SET ON AND ADOPTED, WE CAN THEN MOVE ON TO THE BUDGET AND MAKE THE ADJUSTMENTS TO THE BUDGET BASED ON THE APPROACH THAT YOU DECIDED TO TAKE.

IS THAT EXPENSE REDUCTIONS ONLY? IS IT A COMBINATION OF EXPENSE REDUCTIONS IN AN APPROPRIATION FROM FUND BALANCE? THAT CHANGE CAN EASILY BE MADE BY JUST CHANGING THE ATTACHMENT A TO THE BUDGET ORDINANCE BECAUSE THERE'S NO LANGUAGE IN THE BUDGET ORDINANCE THAT TALKS ABOUT SPECIFIC NUMBERS.

STEP 1 IS TO LAND ON AND ADAPT A MILLAGE RATE, AND THEN MOVE ON TO THE BUDGET AND MAKE THOSE ADJUSTMENTS BASED ON THE DECISIONS YOU MAKE TO GET THERE.

THIS IS A LIST OF ITEMS THAT AT VARIOUS POINTS DURING THE YEAR THE COMMISSION HAS SUGGESTED SHOULD BE TAKEN OUT OF THE BUDGET.

ALL OF THESE ITEMS TOGETHER TOTAL UP $804,727.

THIS IS A LIST OF STAFF POTENTIAL REDUCTIONS PUT TOGETHER BASED ON A LAST-IN, FIRST-OUT STANDARD AND IDENTIFYING THE ITEM AS A NON-CORE SERVICE TO CITY BUSINESS.

THIS IS A LIST OF CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT ARE RECEIVING FUNDING IN FISCAL YEAR 2023.

SHOULD YOU SO DECIDE YOU COULD EITHER DEFER OR ELIMINATE A PROJECT TO GET A ONE-TIME EXPENSE REDUCTION.

THE ONE-TIME EXPENSE REDUCTION COMES IN THE FORM OF AN ELIMINATION OF THE TRANSFER FROM THE GENERAL FUND TO THE CAPITAL FUND.

IF YOU CUT OUT THE PROJECT, YOU'RE ABLE TO ELIMINATE THE TRANSFER THAT'S REQUIRED TO PAY FOR THAT PROJECT.

THAT'S HOW YOU END UP WITH A EXPENSE REDUCTION TO THE GENERAL FUND.

AGAIN, IF YOU CHOSE TO CUT OUT ONE OR MORE OF THESE PROJECTS, THAT WOULD ONLY BE A ONE-TIME SOLUTION.

IT DOESN'T ADDRESS ONGOING AND STRUCTURAL BALANCE.

NOW, ALTHOUGH THESE CAPITAL PROJECTS ARE CONSIDERED ONE-TIME IN NATURE, THERE'S A FEW LARGE TICKET ITEM PROJECTS THAT EVEN IF THE CITY WAS ABLE TO FIND A WAY TO PUT THE FUNDING TOGETHER TO PAY FOR THE CONSTRUCTION, THE CITIES BY NO MEANS DONE PAYING FOR THESE PROJECTS.

FACILITIES NEED STAFF TO OPERATE THEM.

YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE UTILITIES COST IN THE FORM OF PROVIDING ELECTRICITY AND WATER.

AFTER A BUILDING OR FACILITY HAS BEEN PLACED IN SERVICE A FEW YEARS AFTER THAT, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE SIGNIFICANT ONGOING ANNUAL MAINTENANCE COSTS.

EACH OF THOSE LARGE TICKET CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT THE COMMISSION AND THE RESIDENTS OF TAMARAC WANT TO SEE IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD AND BUILT, THEY ARE GOING TO COME WITH A NEW SET OF ONGOING EXPENDITURES.

THAT WILL REQUIRE AN INCREASE IN THE LEVEL OF ONGOING EXPENDITURE FOR ONGOING REVENUES IN THE GENERAL FUND TO BE ABLE TO PAY FOR ALL THOSE STAFF, UTILITIES, MAINTENANCE.

[00:20:06]

AGAIN, HERE IS THE TABLE THAT SHOWS POTENTIAL MILLAGE RATE OPTIONS TO REQUIRE THE RESULTING LOSS IN REVENUE TO THE GENERAL FUND AND THE RESULTING BUDGETED PROPERTY TAX REVENUE.

AS AN EXAMPLE, IF THE COMMISSION'S DESIRE WAS TO GET TO 7.15 MILES, YOU'D HAVE TO REMOVE EITHER 253,308 IN EXPENDITURES OR SOME COMBINATION OF EXPENDITURES AND APPROPRIATION FROM FUND BALANCE.

AN EXAMPLE MIGHT BE TO REMOVE $100,000 OF PARKS EVENTS OF GENERAL EVENTS, AND THEN MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE OF 153,308 WITH A FUND BALANCE.

THAT'S JUST AN EXAMPLE OF HOW YOU MIGHT GET TO A LOSS OF REVENUE TO THE CITY TO MAKE UP THAT DIFFERENCE.

THE NEXT STEPS IN THIS MEETING IS TO SET A FINAL MILLAGE RATE.

AGAIN THAT REQUIRES FOUR AFFIRMATIVE VOTES.

THEN MOVE ON TO ADJUST THE BUDGET BASED ON THE MILLAGE RATE THAT YOU DECIDE ON.

WITH THAT, PAT AND I ARE HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WE WILL NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON TEMPORARY ORDINANCE NUMBER 2,508.

I HAVE PEOPLE WHO HAVE SIGNED UP.

I'LL MAKE SURE TO CALL FOR YOU WHEN WE'RE DONE.

EVERYONE WHO IS IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK WHO HAS NOT SPOKEN AND SIGNED UP, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SPEAK.

WE HAVE TWO ITEMS ON HERE AND PEOPLE HAVE NOT NECESSARILY SAID IF THEY WANT TO SPEAK ON THE MILLAGE RATE OR THE BUDGET.

RIGHT NOW WE'RE ON THE MILLAGE RATE, BUT IT CAN GET A LITTLE CONFUSING.

IF YOU STILL WISH TO SPEAK JUST SPEAK AT THIS TIME, AND ALSO I'LL ASK YOU TO FORGIVE ME IF I CAN'T PRONOUNCE YOUR NAMES PROPERLY.

IT'S MOSTLY MY READING.

DELPHINA BURKE, DO YOU WISH TO SPEAK?

>> NO.

>> NO?

>> I'VE BEEN IN THIS CONFERENCE FIRST TIME, SO NO.

>> YOU'RE JUST HERE TO LISTEN?

>> I'M SORRY.

>> NO WORRIES. EXCELLENT. THANK YOU. MEL YODER.

>> [BACKGROUND] [NOISE]

>> ONE SECOND. ACTUALLY, BEFORE YOU BEGIN, CITY ATTORNEY, DID YOU WANT TO STATE THE RULES OF PUBLIC HEARING?

>> I'LL SUMMARIZE THEM.

EVERY SPEAKER HAS UP TO THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK ON ANY MATTER AS IT RELATES TO THIS ITEM.

THERE'S OBVIOUSLY THE MILLAGE RATE IN THE ADOPTION OF THE FINAL BUDGET.

PLEASE ADDRESS YOUR COMMENTS TO THE BODY AS A WHOLE AS OPPOSED TO ANY INDIVIDUAL COUNCILOR, COMMISSIONER.

INPERTINENT, INAPPROPRIATE OR DISPARAGING REMARKS ARE PROHIBITED.

IF REQUESTED BY THE COMMISSION, PLEASE, FOR NOT FOLLOWING THE RULES, YOU CAN BE REMOVED FORCIBLY IF NECESSARY.

I THINK THAT'S A QUICK SUMMARY OF THE RULES.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. PART OF WHAT I DON'T KNOW IF I HEARD.

WE KNOW THIS COULD BE A VERY SENSITIVE TOPIC.

MONEY IS ALWAYS VERY SENSITIVE.

WE KNOW SOME PEOPLE MIGHT SAY THINGS YOU LIKE, AND THEY MIGHT SAY THINGS YOU DON'T LIKE.

WE REQUEST THAT IF YOU REALLY FEEL THE URGE TO EXPRESS YOURSELF, IF WE DO IT IN A QUIET MANNER, WE DON'T WANT TO BE DISRUPTIVE TO THE PERSON SPEAKING.

YOU CAN JUST SNAP, [LAUGHTER] VERY QUIET.

SOME PEOPLE DO THE HAPPY HANDS LIKE THIS.

BUT WE TRY TO SHOW RESPECT FOR THE PEOPLE SPEAKING AND WITH THAT, MR. YODER.

>> MEL YODER, KINGS POINT TAMARAC.

MADAM, MAYOR COMMISSIONERS, ONE MEMBER OF THE COMMISSION PROPOSES LOWERING THE MILLAGE RATE AND CUTTING CAPITAL EXPENDITURES, BECAUSE THE CITY'S FINANCIAL MANAGERS, SAYS THE COST OF THESE PROJECTS HAVE CONTINUED TO INCREASE.

APPARENTLY THE COMMISSIONER CAN SEE INTO THE FUTURE AND SEE THESE PROJECTS GETTING CHEAPER.

OR IT MAY BE THAT HE WANTS TO TRY TO IMPRESS THE RESIDENTS, CHANGE THEIR FOCUS, SO LATER ON HE CAN INTRODUCE PET PROJECTS THAT AREN'T BUDGETED AND HOPE RESIDENCE WON'T NOTICE.

THERE ARE TWO THAT WANT TO LOOK AT COMMISSIONER BENEFITS LINE BY

[00:25:01]

LINE AND POSSIBLY REDUCE THOSE ITEMS BEFORE OTHER CITY ITEMS. THERE IS ONE WHO IS GRANDSTANDING AND WANTS AN ALL OR NOTHING REVIEW OF COMMISSIONER BENEFITS.

HE KNOWS THAT IT WILL FAIL AND HE CAN VOTE NO ON THE OTHER ITEMS. LAYING THE OTHERS CLAIM THE MORAL HIGH GROUND AND SAVE THE BENEFITS.

FINALLY, WHERE THE COMMISSIONER DOESN'T FEEL RIGHT VOTING ON SOMETHING THAT MIGHT AFFECT THE NEXT COMMISSIONER.

I CHALLENGE HER TO ACTUALLY DISCUSS AND VOTE ON THIS AS SHE'S BETTER SUITED THAN A NEW COMMISSIONER.

WE HAVE TO INVEST IN OUR FUTURE.

WE CAN'T CONTINUE TO PUSH OFF ROAD IMPROVEMENTS, SOUND BARRIERS, NEW PARKS, WAGES TO ATTRACT CITY EMPLOYEES, AND EMERGENCY PERSONNEL AND ITEMS THAT HELP RESIDENTS ENJOY LIVING IN TAMARAC JUST TO SAVE SOME MONEY NOW.

WHAT WILL BE THE LONG-TERM EFFECT? EVENTUALLY THESE THINGS WILL HAVE TO BE DONE, OR WE RISK THE MIGRATION OF RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES OUT OF OUR CITY.

THAT PUTS THE TAX BURDEN ON THOSE THAT STAY EVEN MORE AND CREATES A VICIOUS CYCLE.

THE PROBLEM THAT COMMISSIONERS FACE, IT'S CONVINCING RESIDENTS THAT THE INCREASE IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

THE COMMISSIONERS CURRENTLY ARE SUFFERING FROM A VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE FROM THE RESIDENTS.

WE SEE THE CONSTANT POSTURING BY VARIOUS COMMISSIONERS NAME-CALLING, MONEY BEING HANDED OUT FOR ALLOWANCES AND MONEY FOR WHAT I'LL CALL EVERYONE THINKS IT IS, SLUSH FUNDS.

HOW CAN YOU CONVINCE RESIDENTS THAT THE INCREASE IS NECESSARY WHEN YOU BEHAVE THE WAY YOU DO? YES, IT'S DIFFICULT FOR FAMILIES IN THIS TIME OF HIGH INFLATION, HIGH HOUSING COSTS AND UNCERTAINTY.

EVERYONE HAS TO TAKE A CLOSE LOOK AT THEIR FINANCES TO DETERMINE WHERE THEY CAN SAVE, WHAT THEY CAN CUT.

BUT THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT FAMILIES FACE DAILY.

YOU NEED TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT FOR THE CITY.

SET THE EXAMPLE BY CUTTING SOME OF THE COMMISSIONER BENEFITS.

THAT WOULD GO A LONG WAY TO CONVINCE RESIDENTS THAT YOU HAVE THEIR BEST INTERESTS AT HEART.

I RECOMMEND ACCEPTING THE MILLAGE RATE AT 7.2000 AND THE BUDGET AS APPROVED ON SEPTEMBER 12TH, MINUS THE REDUCTION OF SOME OF THE COMMISSIONER BENEFITS.

I CHALLENGE ONE OF THE COMMISSIONERS TO DO THE RIGHT THING, THE ZOHAR TERM WAS NOT ENDING.

>> THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR, POINT OF ORDER.

>> THANK YOU, MR. YODER. COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS.

>> WE'RE IN A MIDDLE OF A MEETING AND WE HAVE ONE OF OUR MEMBERS PASSING OUT BROCHURES, INFORMATION THAT WE DON'T EVEN HAVE.

CITY ATTORNEY CAN YOU PLEASE ADDRESS THIS?

>> IS PROPAGANDA ALLOWED TO BE HANDED OUT FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE AUDIENCE IN THE MIDDLE OF A MEETING?

>> THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. WE'RE IN A MEETING.

>> YOUR RULES SAY, I'M PARAPHRASING, BUT I CAN PULL THEM OUT IF I NEED TO QUOTE THE VERY SPECIFIC RULES IS THAT, EACH ONE OF YOU OR DURING THE COURSE OF THE MEETING, ARE SUPPOSED TO PARTICIPATE AND BE PART OF THE MEETING UP HERE DURING THE COURSE OF THE MEETING WHEN ITEMS ARE BEING DISCUSSED.

THE LOCATION AND THE PLACEMENT OF COMMISSIONERS AT THIS POINT IN TIME IN THE MEETING SHOULD BE UP ON THE DESK.

>> MAYOR, MAY I REQUEST COMMISSIONER GELIN, REPORT BACK TO HIS SEAT.

>> MS. VICE MAYOR.

>> GOOD MORNING, BY THE WAY.

>> IT MIGHT BE CONSIDERED DISRESPECTFUL FOR YOU TO BE HANDING OUT WHATEVER YOU'RE HANDING OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF A MEETING, ESPECIALLY WHEN THIS IS PUBLIC HEARINGS AND THERE WAS A PERSON SPEAKING WHILE YOU ARE DISTRACTING THE AUDIENCE FROM BEING ABLE TO HEAR HIM.

WOULD YOU PLEASE RETURN TO THE DESK? LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE'RE NOT SURE WHAT YOU ARE BEING HANDED.

PRETTY SURE IT'S A PERSON'S OPINION OF THINGS.

WE CAN'T COMMENT ON THAT, WHICH WE DON'T KNOW BECAUSE WE'VE NOT YET SEEN WHAT YOU HAVE JUST RECEIVED.

ON THAT NOTE, [NOISE] WE HAVE CHARLES AWAR.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK, SIR? YOU JUST FOR SIGNING IN.

SAME THING FOR MRS. AWAR.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE THIS EVENING.

HORACIO BRIAN, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK OR YOU WERE JUST SIGNING IN? YES. [NOISE] NAME AND ADDRESS OR AT LEAST THE CITY IN WHICH YOU LIVE, PLEASE.

>> FIRST, I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT I AM NOT ON THE CLOCK.

AS FAR AS MY NAME AND WHERE I LIVE, I WILL GET TO IT EVENTUALLY.

I THINK IT'S MORE IMPORTANT TO ESTEEM YOU GUYS MORE HIGHLY THAN MYSELF, BUT MY NAME IS HORACIO BRIAN.

I LIVE AT 6194 LAUREL LANE IN BANYAN LAKES.

[NOISE] FIRSTLY, I'D LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE

[00:30:03]

JESUS CHRIST AS MY LORD AND MY SAVIOR FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW.

GOOD EVENING, MADAM MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, THE ENTIRE COMMISSION, CITY MANAGERS, CITY COUNCIL, ALL STAFF MEMBERS IN THEIR RESPECTIVE PLACES, CURRENT CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR OFFICE AND MY FELLOW TAMARACIANS.

ON MARCH 20TH OF THIS YEAR, MY 8-YEAR-OLD SON'S CURIOSITY WITH A BARBECUE LIGHTER STARTED A FIRE THAT RESULTED IN A TOTAL LOSS.

I THANK GOD THAT EVERYONE MADE IT OUT UNSCATHED.

I'M VERY GRATEFUL TO CHIEF AND ECN AND NUMEROUS MEN AND WOMEN OFF THE TAMARAC FIRE DEPARTMENT THAT MADE IT OUT TO MY HOME TO FINALLY PUT THE FLAMES OUT.

I'M CURRENTLY ATTENDING TAMARAC UNIVERSITY AND I AM GRATEFUL AND HUMBLED TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN SO MUCH OF THE INTRICATE DETAIL THAT MAKES FIRE RESCUES LIKE THE ONE THAT HAPPENED AT MY HOME ON MARCH 20TH POSSIBLE, SUCH AS FIRE TRUCKS CAN RANGE FROM $400,000 TO OVER A MILLION DOLLARS AND THAT IS ONLY THE COST OF THE TRUCK.

THERE ARE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ADDITIONAL STAFF TO MANAGE AND OPERATE THE TRUCKS.

THEN THERE'S EQUIPMENT FOR EACH PERSONNEL.

THEN THERE ARE THE DEVICES TO EQUIP THE TRUCKS LIKE THE JAWS OF LIFE, THE DRONES, THE FIRE SUPPRESSING FOAM, AND THE LIST GOES ON AND ON.

ALL THIS FROM JUST ONE NIGHT AND TWO HOURS.

I HAVE A NEWFOUND RESPECT AND APPRECIATION FOR THE VARIOUS STAFF THROUGHOUT OUR CITY WHOSE RESPONSIBILITY IT IS TO KNOW ALL THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE VITAL JOB OF RUNNING OUR CITY.

I THINK IT WOULD BE WOEFULLY UNWISE FOR US TO CUTBACK OF THE PERKS THAT WE OFFER TO ATTRACT THE BEST TALENTS TO OUR CITY.

OTHER CITIES OFFERS THE SAME OR EVEN BETTER PERKS AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE ATTRACTING THE BEST TALENTS TO THEIR CITIES.

TAMARAC DESERVES THE BEST OF THE BEST, AND I DO BELIEVE THAT'S WHO WE CURRENTLY HAVE.

THE LAST BUDGET MEETING, JEFF STREDER, THE BUDGET MANAGEMENT TOOK THE TIME TO MAKE SURE THAT HE EXPLAINED ALL THE INTRICATE IN A VERY EASY TO UNDERSTAND MANNER.

HE MADE VERY WISE AND MATURE JUSTIFICATIONS FOR THE NEWLY PROPOSED MILLAGE RATE.

THIS REAFFIRMS MY FAITH IN OUR STAFF AND THE EXCELLENT JOB THAT THEY CONTINUE TO PERFORM.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

[NOISE] DARCY SCHILLER. [NOISE]

>> SORRY, I SEE SCHILLER, KINGS POINT, TAMARAC.

I AM IN FAVOR OF KEEPING THE MILLAGE AT 7.2 BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT LOWERING THE MILLAGE TO 7.15 OR ANYTHING ELSE, YOU'RE TAKING AWAY MONEY FROM OUR STREETS, OUR COMMUNITY, OUR POLICE, OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT, EVERYTHING ELSE.

I GO BACK OVER THIS MANY TIMES.

IF YOU TAKE OUT THE $225 FOR ALL THE DIFFERENT PARTIES THAT WE HAVE AND $125 COMMISSION OF FRILLS, WE TAKE OUT $10,000 TRAVEL PER COMMISSIONER, WE END UP SAVING $450,000, AND THEN IF WE DROP EACH COMMISSIONER SALARY BY 10,000, WE GET THE 532.

THAT IS OVER THE $500 THAT WE WOULD SAVE IN THE MILLAGE RATE, SO I AM DEFINITELY IN FAVOR OF KEEPING THE 7.2.

IF WE GO TO LOWER IT, THAT'S ALL WELL AND GOOD, BUT I WOULD NEVER LOWER IT MORE THAN 7.1.

WHAT THE COMMISSION IS FAILING TO SEE IS THAT WE HAVE FUTURE YEARS AHEAD OF US AND IF WE WANT TO GET PEOPLE TO COME TO OUR COMMUNITY, IT NEEDS TO LOOK RESPECTFUL.

THE SECOND THING I WANTED TO ADDRESS IS LAST MONDAY NIGHT'S BUDGET MEETING AND I WANTED TO ADDRESS THE DEFINITION OF A BULLY.

A BULLY IS SOMEONE WHO IS VERY INSECURE, AND THEY DEFEND AGAINST THEIR INSECURITY BY BEING LOUD, RUDE, AND DISRESPECTFUL.

TONIGHT, WE HAD ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF BULLYING.

WE HAD OUR VICE MAYOR IN THE MIDDLE OF A MEETING DISRUPT EVERYTHING BY HANDING OUT HIS DEFINITION OF THE PROPOSED PROPERTY TAX INCREASE.

LAST BUDGET MEETING, BULLYING WAS ABSOLUTELY OUT OF CONTROL.

I HAVE TO LOOK TO YOU AS THE CITY ATTORNEY AND ASK WHY IS IT THAT VICE MAYOR GELIN IS STILL HERE WHEN HE HAS EGREGIOUSLY BROKEN THE RULES, HANDING OUT PAPER, WHETHER IT'S HIS OPINION OR PROPAGANDA, WE DO NOT KNOW AND WHY IS HE NOT BEING REMOVED FROM THE DAIS, AND HOW IS IT THAT EVERYBODY UP HERE IS GOING TO ALLOW HIM TO GET AWAY WITH THIS? THAT'S ABSOLUTELY HORRIFIC.

MY LAST COMMENT IS, IF VICE MAYOR GELIN IS REALLY INTO THIS AND HE REALLY WANTS THE MAYOR SEAT,

[00:35:03]

WHICH YOU ALL KNOW HE'S RUNNING FOR, AND THIS IS ALSO PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE OUT AND ABOUT, THEN WHY IN TWO YEARS IS HE GOING TO RUN FOR A COMMISSION SEAT ON BROWARD COUNTY COMMISSION? I'M ABOUT HAD IT, SO PLEASE CITY ATTORNEY ADDRESS MIKE GALLON'S BEHAVIOR TONIGHT. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> MADAM MAYOR, I KNOW THAT IT IS NOT THE NORM TO RESPOND TO SPEAKERS COMMENTS.

THEN I WOULD LIKE TO AT THE END OF THE MEETING, TO WHOEVER DECIDES TO STAY, TO RESPOND AND EXPLAIN TO WHOEVER WISHES TO STAY HOW OUR RULES OF PROCEDURE ARE LAID OUT AND HOW THEY'RE APPLIED.

BECAUSE I'VE SAID IT BEFORE, BUT APPARENTLY PEOPLE DON'T RECALL OR DON'T REMEMBER HOW IT'S BEEN EXPLAINED NOT ONLY BY ME, BUT MY PREDECESSORS, I'M THE PARLIAMENTARIAN, I'M NOT THE ENFORCER. I'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT.

>> THANK YOU, CITY ATTORNEY.

GEORGE MONTERO. YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS.

YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS AND IF YOU'RE NOT COMFORTABLE WITH ADDRESS THE CITY, PLEASE.

>> MY NAME IS GEORGE MONTERO.

I LIVE AT 8025 NORTH WEST 72ND STREET.

I'M OVER 20-YEAR A RESIDENT AND HOMEOWNER HERE IN TAMARAC AND WOODMONT, SPECIFICALLY, ABOUT A YEAR-AND-A-HALF AGO WE DECIDED TO MOVE BECAUSE MY WIFE WORKS IN MIAMI AND WE STARTED LOOKING AT COMMUNITIES ALL THE WAY DOWN TO DORAL WHERE SHE WORKS.

WE SPENT ABOUT A YEAR LOOKING FOR A NEW HOUSE AND WE FINALLY FOUND ONE, THREE BLOCKS OUT OF OUR EXISTING HOUSE IN WOODMONT IN TAMARAC.

WHY? BECAUSE WE LOVE THIS CITY, WE LOVE THIS COMMUNITY, WE COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING REMOTELY APPROACHING THE FAMILY FEEL WE FEEL HERE.

WHAT CONCERNS ME, AND I ONLY FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS MEETING TWO DAYS AGO BECAUSE OF A PERSONAL EMAIL I RECEIVED FROM VICE MAYOR GELIN, WHICH I APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH.

I WOULDN'T HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THIS MEETING.

I DON'T READ THE SUN SENTINEL, BUT I DO TRY TO KEEP UP WITH EVENTS.

RIGHT NOW, AS IN OLDER RESIDENT I'M FACING A LOT OF ISSUES WITH MY FINANCES RELATED TO THE HUGE INFLATION SITUATION, INCREASED COSTS ALL AROUND GASOLINE, ESPECIALLY FOOD AND GROCERIES AND SO FORTH.

ONE OF THE REASONS I STAYED IN TAMARAC AND IN WOODMONT IS IN PARTICULAR IS BECAUSE YOU'VE SUCCEEDED IN CONTROLLING THOSE EXPENSES, THE ADDITIONAL PROPERTY TAXES, THE PROPERTY TAXES ARE AFFORDABLE HERE FOR ME.

I'M CONCERNED THAT IF THEY ARE RAISED ANY HIGHER PEOPLE LIKE ME ON FIXED INCOME, YOUNG FAMILY MEMBERS ARE GOING TO HAVE A HARD TIME STAYING HERE.

I LOVE THE IDEA ABOUT CAPITAL EXPENDITURES AND IMPROVING COMMUNITY, BUT I ALSO LIKE TO HAVE A COMMUNITY I CAN AFFORD TO STAY IN.

I WOULD JUST LIKE TO PUT MY VOICE IN FOR KEEPING TAXES AS LOW AS POSSIBLE.

SINCE I HAVE TO TIGHTEN MY BELT IN THE LAST YEAR OR SO BECAUSE OF THE RAISES AND COSTS THE CITY SHOULD RESPECT THAT AND TIGHTEN THEIR BELTS TO KEEP THEIR COSTS UNDER CONTROL. I THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE. THANK YOU.

THIS IS GOOD. KIM HAYDEN.

AM I READING YOUR LAST NAME, RIGHT.

IF I'M NOT, I APOLOGIZE.

>> NO, THAT'S FINE. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> KIM HAYDEN, TAMARAC SECTION 10, MAINLANDS.

I HAVE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS REGARDING THE BUDGET.

I DID COME LATE, SO I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY WHERE WE'RE AT.

CAN I ASK SPECIFIC QUESTIONS REGARDING THE BUDGET?

>> YOU CAN, YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE ANSWERS FROM THE DAY AS REGARDING SPECIFIC QUESTIONS TO THE BUDGET.

WE WILL HAVE A SEGMENT ON THE BUDGET, RIGHT NOW WE'RE ON THE MILLAGE RATE.

IF YOU WISH, YOU CAN COME BACK UP THEN.

>> I WILL BE TOTALLY OKAY, THANK YOU.

>> FOR EVERYBODY TO KNOW, ALWAYS WE HAVE OUR WONDERFUL FINANCE STAFF, THEY'RE IN THE BACK, THEY'RE HERE, AND THEY'RE ALWAYS AVAILABLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS WHEN WE DON'T ANSWER QUESTIONS FROM THE DESK.

I BELIEVE I WAS GIVEN ONE MORE PIECE OF PAPER.

NO, I THINK I GOT THEM ALL.

SIR, I BELIEVE YOU WANTED TO SPEAK.

I'M SORRY, I DON'T. DARCY, THE PERSON.

[00:40:05]

SIR, DID YOU WISH TO SPEAK? YES PLEASE.

NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS AND IF YOU'RE NOT COMFORTABLE WITH THE ADDRESS, JUST CITY, PLEASE.

>> I'M SORRY. I DIDN'T KNOW THERE WAS A SIGN UP IN ADVANCE.

OKAY. MY NAME IS JAKE RADARSCH.

I LIVE AT 7449, NORTH DEVON DRIVE.

THE RESIDENTS OF TAMARAC ARE BEING ABLE TO SERVE BECAUSE IT'S AN ELECTION YEAR.

I WANT EVERYONE TO THINK WHAT ENTITY IN THEIR LIVES THIS YEAR HAS NOT RAISED THE COST.

WE KNOW GAS, DENTIST, BARBERSHOPS, TIRES, EVERYTHING IS GOING UP BECAUSE THEY KNOW THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE INCREASED COSTS.

YET HERE, MAYBE IT'S UNCONSTITUTIONAL TO RAISE PROPERTY TAXES, BUT EVERYTHING ELSE HAS BEEN RAISED, EVERYTHING ELSE.

WHAT YOU WANT TO DO, AND I WISH THAT GENTLEMAN WHO GAVE PRESENTATION PUT UP THAT SIGN, ARE THERE SOME THINGS THAT CAN BE CUT.

WE'RE CUTTING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR RESIDENTS.

I DON'T HAVE THE FIGURES, BUT SURELY THERE'S SOME INCREASE THAT CAN BE RAISED.

WHY SHOULD PEOPLE SAY TO MY CITY WE'RE GOING TO STOP HERE AND CUT OUR QUALITY OF LIFE.

I THINK THAT'S A CRIME.

WHAT ARE WE GOING TO HAVE DIRT ON BUILDINGS, LESS LANDSCAPING.

I THINK THE FITNESS THING WAS BEING CUT, OFTEN NOT RAISING RATES.

SURELY THERE'S SOME RATE THAT PEOPLE CAN TOLERATE OR SHOULD TOLERATE, $100 A YEAR, $10 A YEAR, $500 A YEAR.

BUT NOTHING IS BEING DISCUSSED AND I WANT TO BE CORRECTED, AND PLEASE DO IT NOW ABOUT RAISING THE RATES.

NO BUSINESS COULD SURVIVE LIKE THAT.

WHY DON'T YOU GO TO ALL YOUR SUPPLIERS, PAPERCLIPS, TELEPHONES, FURNITURE AND SAY I WANT YOU TO PLEDGE NOT TO RAISE YOUR COURSE THE NEXT YEAR.

THEY'LL LAUGH IN YOUR FACE.

I JUST MOVED HERE A YEAR AGO.

I DON'T WANT MY QUALITY OF LIFE TO BE CUT.

I'M WILLING TO SPEND $100 A YEAR OR WHATEVER.

I THINK I SAW SOMEBODY SAY $100 A YEAR COULD BE A COUPLE OF 100,000.

WHAT? I THOUGHT SOMEBODY SAID SOMETHING, I'M SORRY.

WHATEVER. PLEASE LET THE PEOPLE KNOW THERE'S NO FREE LUNCHES.

IN MY HOA IN KINGS POINT, WE PUT IN A DECENT SIZED RAISED PER MONTH AND PEOPLE COMPLAIN, SO WE PUT IT OUT FOR A VOTE.

WE SAID VOTE YES, AND BY THE WAY, IF YOU VOTE NO THE FOLLOWING SERVICES WILL BE CUT, LANDSCAPING, BUG CONTROL, MAINTENANCE, CLEANING, EVERYTHING WILL BE CUT, NOT CUT OUT, BUT DECREASE YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE.

ALL OF A SUDDEN, WAS THAT A BUZZER OR? THE INCREASE SUM WAS PASSED.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER WHO DID NOT HAVE A CHANCE TO SIGN UP.

SEEING THEN NOBODY ELSE WISHES TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER, THIS PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED.

[NOISE] I WILL NOW ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADOPT THE OPERATING MILLAGE RATE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023.

THIS IS A MOTION THAT WILL SET THE OPERATING RATE AT 7.2000 MILS, WHICH IS 0.7613 MILS, OR 11.82 PERCENT MORE THAN THE ROLLBACK RATE OF THE 6.4387 MILS.

THE PURPOSE OF THE INCREASE IN THE MILLAGE IS TO FUND THE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES IN THE FINAL BUDGET.

DO I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND?

>> I MAKE A MOTION TO SET THE OPERATING MILLAGE RATE AT 7.2000 MILS, WHICH IS 0.7613 MILS OR 11.82

[00:45:06]

PERCENT MORE THAN THE ROLLBACK RATE OF 6.4387 MILS.

>> I'M ADDING ONTO THAT, IF YOU DON'T MIND PRO THE CITY ATTORNEY OF FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE INCREASE IN THE MILLAGE TO FUND THE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES IN THE FINAL BUDGET SORRY.

YEAH. DO I HAVE A SECOND?

>> SECOND.

>> I HAVE A SECOND.

DISCUSSION, I HAVE VICE MAYOR.

>> THANK YOU.

THE ITEM I PASSED OUT WAS A PRESENTATION I'M GOING TO GO OVER.

IF ANYONE WANTS A COPY, I HAVE SOME COPIES HERE.

I'LL PASS IT ON TO ANYONE ON THE COMMISSION.

WAS JUST MY GUIDE FOR ME TO FOLLOW MY TALKING POINTS.

PROPERTY VALUES HAVE INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS BECAUSE OF REAL ESTATE VALUES. THANK YOU.

AS A RESULT, WE SHOULD, IN MY OPINION, LOWER THE MILLAGE RATE TO EASE THE BURDEN ON TAXPAYERS.

WE CAN LOWER THE MILLAGE RATE, STILL GENERATE ENOUGH REVENUE TO FUND OUR PROGRAMS AND OUR RESOURCES.

BETWEEN THE YEAR OF 2012 AND 2023, PROPERTY TAX VALUES IN THE CITY OF TAMARAC WENT FROM 2.5 BILLION TO 5.3 BILLION.

JUST LAST YEAR ALONE, IT WENT FROM 4.7 BILLION TO 5.3 BILLION, A 12.29 PERCENT INCREASE.

IF YOU KEEP THE MILLAGE RATE THE SAME, AND LET'S JUST DO EASY MATH.

THE NUMBER 2, 1 TIMES 2 IS 2, 2 TIMES 2 IS 4, 3 TIMES 2 IS 6, 4 TIMES 2 IS 8.

THE VALUE KEEPS GOING UP 8, 10, 12, 14, 16.

IF THAT NUMBER REMAINS AT TWO, AND IN OUR CASE, 7.2 MILS, THEN YOU WILL GENERATE AN INCREASE IN YOUR RATE.

I RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM A RESIDENT LAST NIGHT.

GOOD EVENING, VICE MAYOR GELIN.

I'M SO GRATEFUL YOU TRIED TO LOWER THE MILLAGE RATE BECAUSE A SLIDE THEY SHOWED STATING THAT PROPERTY OWNERS WILL SEE IS NOT COMPLETELY ACCURATE.

ALL THE NEW HOMEOWNERS LIKE MYSELF WILL SEE AN INCREASE OF OVER DOUBLE COMPARED TO LAST YEAR.

FORTUNATELY FOR ME, I ACQUIRED A NEW JOB THAT PAYS A LOT MORE AND I WAS MAKING WHEN I BOUGHT MY HOME.

IF I DID NOT CHANGE JOBS, I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD A HOME I JUST BOUGHT A YEAR AGO.

BETWEEN THE TAXES AND INSURANCE INCREASES, MY MORTGAGE JUMPED WAY UP IN JUST ONE YEAR.

IF I COULD MAKE THE MEETINGS TO VOICE MY CONCERNS, I WOULD, BUT AT LEAST I KNOW YOU'RE FIGHTING FOR US. THANKS SO MUCH.

I PASSED OUT HIS PROPERTY TAX INCREASE, WHICH WENT LAST YEAR, $2,485 TO $5,104.

HIS TAXES IN TAMARAC WENT FROM $523 TO $1,405.

THE OTHER AMOUNTS ARE ALL THE TAXES FROM ALL THE DIFFERENT TAXING AGENCIES.

THE PROPERTY APPRAISER IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY SUGGESTED THAT ALL CITIES REDUCE THEIR PROPERTY TAX RATE BY THREE PERCENT.

HE EXPRESSED CONCERN TO THE COUNTY AND CITIES, URGING THEM TO REDUCE THEIR MILLAGE RATE BY THREE PERCENT TO LOWER PROPERTY TAXES FOR HOMEOWNERS AND BUSINESSES.

IN ADDITION TO ASSISTING RENTERS WHO MAY BE EXPERIENCING HIGHER MENTAL INCREASES.

A THREE PERCENT DECREASE TO THE MILLAGE RATE WILL OFFSET THE INCREASE IN THE ASSESSED VALUE AVOIDING A TAX INCREASE FOR THESE HOMEOWNERS.

HE WENT ON TO SAY BECAUSE SEVERAL CITIES DID REDUCE THEIR MILLAGE RATE, I'M GRATEFUL TO THOSE TAXING AUTHORITIES THAT HAVE REDUCED THEIR MILLAGE RATE TO SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY DURING THESE DIFFICULT TIMES, I CONTINUE TO URGE CITIES UNWILLING TO REDUCE THEIR MILLAGE RATES, TO DO WHAT THEY CAN, TO PROVIDE PROPERTY TAX RELIEF FOR ALL PROPERTY OWNERS IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY.

I SENT A TEXT MESSAGE TO THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS IN TAMARAC ASKING THEM TO BE AWARE OF THIS MEETING, TO COME TO THIS MEETING, TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS.

MANY HAVE EXPRESSED THEIR VIEWS VIA TEXT MESSAGE.

NOW, THE MIAMI-DADE COUNTY MAYOR, SHE DID AGREE TO LOWER THE MILLAGE RATE.

SHE SAID WE OWE IT TO OUR RESIDENTS STRUGGLING WITH THE RISING COST OF LIVING TO PROVIDE IMMEDIATE RELIEF.

THAT'S WHAT THIS WOULD DO IF WE WERE TO REDUCE THE MILLAGE RATE.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT VARIOUS TEXT MESSAGES AND SOME OF YOU HAVE THEM THAT WERE SENT,

[00:50:04]

SOME PEOPLE HAVE EXPRESSED THEIR STRONG DESIRE NOT TO INCREASE PROPERTY TAXES IS ONE EXAMPLE.

NO, IT'S ALREADY HIGH FOR SENIOR CITIZENS ON SOCIAL SECURITY.

NO, I DID NOT SUPPORT A PROPERTY TAX HIKE AND SOME OF YOU HAVE COPIES OF THIS.

I DO SUPPORT YOU.

I LOVE THE CITY, BUT I'M SELLING MY HOUSE AND MOVING TO A CONDO BECAUSE OF THE UNREALISTIC CAUSE SOME INSURANCE ON MY HOME.

NO, WE CANNOT AFFORD ANOTHER TAX INCREASE.

THE TAXES ARE ALREADY RISING.

THE MESSAGES GO ON AND ON.

I'M RUNNING OUT OF TIME.

BUT WE AS A COMMISSION OR BOSSES OR THE RESIDENCE, THEY'RE THE VOTERS, AND WE REPRESENT THE PEOPLE IN THE ROOM.

STAFF REPRESENTS THE CITY.

OUR JOB IS TO FIND A BALANCE BETWEEN THE CITY'S NEEDS AND THE NEEDS OF THE RESIDENTS AND MEET THOSE NEEDS.

>> VICE MAYOR.

>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]

>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE, ONE OF THE THINGS WE TRY IS WE, THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT.

WE'RE SUPPOSED TO FOLLOW THE RULES WE ASK EVERYBODY TO FOLLOW.

WELL, I WAS GOING TO LOOK SOMETHING UP, BUT SINCE NOBODY ELSE SEEMINGLY WISHES TO SPEAK.

I APOLOGIZE. COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS DID A BIT TO IT.

COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS AND COMMISSIONER BOLTON.

>>THANK YOU, MAYOR AND THANK YOU, VICE MAYOR FOR THAT.

I'M CONFUSED ON COUPLE OF THINGS THAT YOU MENTIONED NOT BEING ACCURATE.

YOU GOT AN EMAIL FROM A RESIDENT SAYING THAT IT'S NOT ACCURATE.

SO IS THE RESIDENTS SAYING THAT OUR STAFF IS INCOMPETENT THAT OUR NUMBERS ARE NOT ACCURATE? IF I CAN GET A RESPONSE, GREAT.

IF NOT, THAT'S OKAY.

>> I NEVER SAID THAT ANYONE WAS INCOMPETENT.

>> NO. I'M TALKING ABOUT [OVERLAPPING]

>> WHERE WE'RE GOING TO NOT HAVE CROSS CONVERSATION.

YOU CAN MAKE YOUR COMMENT OF WHAT YOU THINK IS A CONCERN.

BUT PLEASE LET'S NOT HAVE THIS CROSS CONVERSATION.

>> I WOULD QUESTION THAT EMAIL THAT THE RESIDENTS SAID THAT INFORMATION IS INACCURATE, THAT WE'RE PROVIDING.

TAXES DON'T GO UP FROM $2,000 TO $5,000.

TAXES DO NOT GO UP FROM $523 TO $1,400 JUST BECAUSE THEY FEEL LIKE IT.

WE GOT AN EMAIL TODAY FROM STAFF, THE MEDIAN HOME TAXABLE VALUE.

IT WILL ONLY INCREASE BY $40.

I'M NOT SURE WHAT INFORMATION WE'RE TRYING TO GET HERE.

IF WE REDUCE IT ALL THE WAY TO 7.0, WE'RE TALKING $12 A YEAR IN COMPARISON TO $40 A YEAR.

I'M NOT SURE WHAT 523 TO $1,400 MEANS.

CITY MANAGER THROUGH THE CHAIR, CAN YOU GIVE US THE DEFINITION OF INCREASING PROPERTY TAXES VERSUS MAINTAINING OUR CURRENT LEVEL AT 7.20?

>> YEAH, THE MILLAGE RATE IS BASED ON THE ASSESSED VALUE.

AS THE PROPERTY INCREASES IN VALUE, THE MILLAGE RATE CONTINUES TO BE THE SAME, JUST THAT IT'S OFF.

YOU GET HIGHER INCOME.

THERE IS HIGHER REVENUE TO THE CITY BECAUSE OF IT.

>> WE'RE NOT TAXING ANYMORE? WE'RE JUST MAINTAINING. [OVERLAPPING]

>> WE ARE TAXING AT THE SAME RATE AS WE TAXED LAST YEAR.

IT'S JUST THAT THE PROPERTY ITSELF HAS INCREASED IN VALUE.

>> I'M GOING TO LOOK AT THIS PROPERTY TAX BILL THAT VICE MAYOR PROVIDED TO ME.

ARE YOU AWARE OF ANYONE BEING TAXED FROM THE CITY TRIPLE THE AMOUNT FROM THEIR PREVIOUS YEAR ASIDE FROM THEM BUYING A NEW HOME, PAYING THE CURRENT PROPERTY VALUE, THEM KNOWING WHAT THEY'RE PAYING FOR, BECAUSE THAT'S THE REALTOR AND THEIR LENDERS AND EVERYBODY ELSE WILL LET THEM KNOW YOU'RE PAYING MARKET VALUE, AND THAT'S WHERE YOU'RE BEING TAXED FROM, NOT FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR OR THE LAST TIME THAT ALMOST PURCHASED?

>> RIGHT, I BELIEVE AND I HAVE STAFF TO BACK ME UP HERE.

THE TAXES ARE BASED ON THE ADDRESS.

THIS WAS A NEW HOMEOWNER, SO THEY BOUGHT IT, LIKELY AT A HIGHER PURCHASE PRICE.

THEY DON'T HAVE THE SAVE OUR HOMES DEDUCTION OR PORTABILITY AND THAT'S WHY THERE IS AN INCREASE AT THAT LEVEL.

[OVERLAPPING] THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING IN THE SAME PROPERTY LAST YEAR AND THIS YEAR WILL EXPERIENCE ON AVERAGE $40 INCREASE.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> COMMISSIONER BOLTON.

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. THE IDEA IS THAT AS PROPERTY VALUES GO UP,

[00:55:06]

THAT THE MILLAGE RATE IS DIALED BACK, AND THAT IS AN IDEA THAT WE SHOULD EMBRACE EVERY YEAR BECAUSE IF I LIVE IN A HOME AND THE ASSESS VALUE HAS GONE UP, IT MEANS THEN THAT MY TAXES JUST WENT UP.

KEEPING THE SAME RATE DOES NOT MEAN THAT WE'RE NOT RAISING TAXES.

IT DOES MEAN THAT WE'RE RAISING TAXES.

IF WE DO NOT ADOPT THE ROLLBACK RATE OF 6.4387 MILES, THEN WE ARE RAISING TAXES, SO WE WILL NOT DANCE AROUND THAT IDEA.

THE SECOND THING IS THAT THE GENTLEMAN FROM KINGS POINT, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR COMING AND WE'LL TAKE WHAT YOU'VE SAID INTO CONSIDERATION.

BUT WE'VE HEARD FROM THE BUDGET MANAGER SEVERAL TIMES THAT PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN A CONDO OR COMMUNITIES THAT YOU LIVE IN DOES NOT FEEL THE BLONDE OF TAXES, LIKE THE PEOPLE IN THE MIDDLE, PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN OTHER SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES, THEY'RE THE ONES WHO ARE FACED WITH A TREMENDOUS TAX BURDENS.

WHILE YOUR OPINIONS ARE WELL-TAKEN, AT LEAST BY ME, IT IS NOT THE SENTIMENT OF THE ENTIRE CITY.

THERE ARE WORKING FAMILIES THAT CANNOT AFFORD A PLACE TO LIVE AND ARE BEING KICKED OUT OF THEIR HOUSES, WHETHER THEY OWN IT OR RENT.

THAT IS NOT TO BE DEBUNKED, BUT IT IS NOT THE ENTIRE CITIES SENTIMENT.

WE'VE HEARD, "OH, RESIDENTS WILL ONLY SAVE $7 OR $20 OR $40." WELL, I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.

THERE WAS A LADY THAT APPROACHED ME IN THE GAS STATION AND ASKED ME FOR $5.

I ASKED MYSELF, "WHY WOULD SOMEBODY BE ASKING FOR $5?" SHE SHOWED ME HER BANK ACCOUNT.

SHE SAID, "I'M NOT A BOMB." HER WORDS.

SHE SAID, "I JUST DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO BUY GAS." WHILE THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE OUT OF TOUCH, THAT WOULD SAY, WELL, IT'S NOT A LOT OF SAVINGS.

I DON'T CARE IF IT'S $5 OR $10, THERE'S SOMEBODY OUT THERE THAT WILL GET FROM POINT A TO POINT B WITH $5 GAS, AND IF WE'RE SAVING YOU $5, $10, $40, OR $100, SO BE IT.

WE'VE ALSO HEARD THAT WE'RE DOING THIS IN AN ELECTION YEAR.

NOT TRUE. WE DID THIS LAST YEAR.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, THE YEARS BEFORE I ASKED FOR IT, DIDN'T HAVE SUPPORT, BUT WE DID IT LAST YEAR.

LAST YEAR WAS NOT AN ELECTION YEAR, AND QUITE FRANKLY, THE CITY AFTER THAT, CELEBRATED THE FACT THAT WE'VE REDUCED THE MILLAGE RATE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A LONG TIME IN THE TANGRAM, AND ALSO VIA THE VISION VIDEO THAT WE DO EVERY YEAR.

IF IT IS NOT A GOOD THING TO RAISE TAXES, WHY DID WE CELEBRATE THE FACT THAT WE DID IN THE TANGRAM AND OTHER PLACES LAST YEAR, SO THAT WOULD BE PROPAGANDA.

TO MY COLLEAGUES THAT BELIEVE THAT CUTTING SALARIES OR TO RESIDENTS WHO BELIEVE THAT CUTTING SALARIES AND PERKS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD CUT AND IT IS ONLY A SOUNDBITE.

WELL, I HAVE NEWS FOR YOU.

WE WILL PUT IT OUT THERE AGAIN, AND IF MY COLLEAGUES DO NOT WANT TO CUT THEIR SALARIES, THEN IT IS NOT A SOUND BITE, IT IS NOT A POLITICAL STATEMENT.

IT IS SIMPLY THIS THAT ELECTED OFFICIALS SHOULD WORK FOR THE PEOPLE, NOT HAVE ASSISTANCE, GO HANG TVS.

THAT IS NOT WHAT YOU'RE PAID TO DO.

YOU'RE PAID TO MAKE SURE THAT THE RESIDENTS ARE TAKEN CARE OF, AND IF WE HAVE TO DO THAT AT A LOWER RATE, WE CAN.

LET'S DO IT AT A LOWER RATE.

NORTH LAUDERDALE, LAUDERDALE LAKES, LAUDERHILL, ALL THE CITIES AROUND US PAY LESS MONEY TO THE ELECTED OFFICIALS.

THEY ARE NO LESS THAN US.

WE WILL STILL ATTRACT GOOD TALENT HERE IN THE CITY OF TAMARAC, I'M SURE IT GOES PEOPLE WHO ARE RUNNING FOR OFFICE WILL STILL WORK FOR HALF THE AMOUNT OF MONEY, SO LET'S CUT OUR BENEFITS.

IT IS NOT A SOUND BITE.

LET US CUT OUR CAR ALLOWANCE, LET US CUT OUR SALARIES IN HALF, AND PROVE TO THESE RESIDENTS ONCE AND FOR ALL THAT WE'RE A COMMISSION FOR THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE, AND WE WILL ALWAYS MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE TAKEN CARE OF. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

[01:00:04]

>> COMMISSIONER PLACKO, DID YOU WISH TO SPEAK? [BACKGROUND].

COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS?

>> YES. THANK YOU MAYOR. CITY MANAGER THROUGH THE CHAIR, CAN YOU CLARIFY IF WE REDUCE THE MILLAGE RATE AND THEN WE WERE TO INCREASE IT NEXT YEAR, WHAT THAT DEFINITION MEANS.

IS THAT THE DEFINITION OF A REAL TAX HIKE INCREASE?

>> IT WOULD BE A TAX INCREASE IF WE RAISE THE TAXES NEXT YEAR.

IF WE RAISE THE MILLAGE RATE AGAIN NEXT YEAR.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

FOR MY COLLEAGUES THAT THINKS OTHERWISE, THERE IS YOUR ANSWER.

THERE WAS A QUESTION ABOUT A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CONDOS AND RESIDENTIAL HOMES.

IF FOLKS IN HERE, WATCHING AT HOME, COMMISSIONERS AND MAYOR, IF YOU DO NOT KNOW, A LOT OF THE CONDO OWNERS ACTUALLY PAY A LOT OF MONEY TO LIVE THERE.

SOME OF THEM PAY UP TO $550 A MONTH JUST ON MAINTENANCE.

SOME OF THOSE UNITS ARE WORTH 400,000 PLUS, SO TO SAY THAT IT'S DIFFERENT, I DON'T KNOW WHAT PLANET YOU LIVE IN, BUT THEY ARE THE SAME.

PEOPLE ARE PAYING TAXES ON $300 ON CONDOS IN KINGS POINT, CONCORD VILLAGE AND EVERY PLACE THAT YOU CAN THINK OF SO TO SAY THAT IT'S NOT.

AGAIN, THE MEDIAN "TAX HIKE" IS $40 A YEAR.

IT'S NOT HUNDREDS.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE KEEP TALKING ABOUT HUNDREDS AND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS WHEN IT'S NOT TRUE.

WE JUST SAW A PRESENTATION.

WE JUST RECEIVED AN EMAIL EXACTLY ON WHAT IT WOULD BE.

YES, IT IS A SOUND BITE.

WHEN YOU HAVE THE FACTS AND YOU'RE NOT SHARING THOSE FACTS, YOU RECEIVE THE FACTS, SO YOU SHOULD BE TALKING ABOUT THE FACTS AND IT IS AN ELECTION YEAR, AND THAT'S WHY IT GETS SO TENSED.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR.

>> THANK YOU. VICE MAYOR.

>> YES. I SENT JAMES TWIGGER AN E-MAIL.

CAN YOU OPEN UP AN E-MAIL THAT SHOWS THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET VERSUS THE ACTUAL EXPENDITURES.

IT WAS EMAILED BY THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER TODAY I WANT TO SHOW IT TO THE AUDIENCE BECAUSE IN FACT, WE DON'T NEED TO CUT ANYTHING FROM THE BUDGET.

BECAUSE OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS, GOING BACK TO 2017, WE'VE ALWAYS COME UNDER BUDGET.

I'LL STATE THE NUMBERS QUICKLY.

JAMES, CAN YOU PULL UP THE EMAIL?

>> MANAGER.

>> IT'S AT THE PLEASURE OF THE COMMISSION.

WE'LL HAVE THEM DO THAT.

>> EVERYONE ON THE DAIS HAS THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET VERSUS ACTUAL EXPENDITURES FROM 2022 GOING BACK TO 2017.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE AUDIENCE TO SEE IT.

>> MR.STREDER , DO YOU HAVE THIS IN YOUR PRESENTATION? [BACKGROUND]

>> IT WAS IN AN EMAIL THAT EVERYONE WAS SEEING?

>> THAT WASN'T MY QUESTION.THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> WE CAN SPEAK TO IT SHOULD THE COMMISSION WISH TO HEAR IT, YES.

>> I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT [OVERLAPPING].

>> JAMES, DO YOU HAVE THE INFORMATION AND DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR? [NOISE].

GO AHEAD, PAT.

>> WHAT WAS YOUR QUESTION, PLEASE?

>> I DON'T HAVE A QUESTION. I DON'T WANT THE DOCUMENT TO BE SHOWN FOR THE AUDIENCE TO SEE.

>> I STILL APPRECIATE THEM, THAT'S WHY IT'S HERE, FOR THERE TO BE ANY QUESTIONS THAT SHE WILL BE ABLE TO ANSWER BECAUSE IT'S ONE THING TO US HAVE IT.

BUT IF THERE'S ANY DEFINITION OR DISCUSSION [OVERLAPPING] BE ABLE TO ANSWER IT.

>> BACK TO 2017, PLEASE, ON THE NEXT PAGE. [NOISE]

>> GOING BACK TO 2017, YOU CAN SEE THERE, JUST SCROLL UP TO THE TOP PLEASE.

TO THE SIDE SO WE CAN SEE THE CATEGORIES.

SHRINK THE SCREEN A LITTLE BIT.

CLAIMING MY TIME. CAN YOU STOP THE CLOCK, PLEASE? I'M JUST GIVING INSTRUCTIONS.

>> YEAH.

>> THANK YOU. AS YOU CAN SEE, 2017, WE ONLY SPENT 96 PERCENT OF OUR BUDGET, 2018, 91.2 PERCENT,

[01:05:03]

2019, 88.2 PERCENT. NEXT PAGE, PLEASE, 2020, 87.84 PERCENT, 2021, 86.8 PERCENT, AND HERE TO DATE THIS YEAR, WE'RE JUST ONE MONTH AGO, 72.1 PERCENT.

WHEN WE BUILD OUR BUDGET, WE BUILD A LOT OF FACT IN THE BUDGET THAT WE END UP NEVER SPENDING.

WE'RE GOING TO MAKE ANY CHANGES IN OUR BUDGET.

IF WE REDUCE THE MILLAGE RATE TO 7.0 MILS, WE'LL STILL GENERATE $35 MILLION IN REVENUE VERSUS $36 MILLION IN REVENUE.

WE CAN STILL FUND THE OPERATIONS, AND GIVE OUR RESIDENTS THE BREAK THEY DESERVE.

>> CITY MANAGER, IF YOU WOULD NOT MIND, I WOULD APPRECIATE, THIS BEING [OVERLAPPING]

>> EXPLAINED?

>> YES, PLEASE.

>> PAT, WOULD YOU GO THROUGH THE EXPLANATION? THANK YOU.

>> I'M PATRICIA WHITE, THE ASSISTANT FINANCIAL SERVICES DIRECTOR.

AS YOU'LL SEE, ONE OF THE LARGEST ITEMS ON THERE THAT YOU'LL SEE ON ANY OF THOSE, IS THE RESERVES.

THAT'S OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT RESERVE.

THE CITY PUT IN PLACE IN 2019, FIVE MILLION DOLLARS TO DO SOME ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THE CITY THAT WE HAVE ROLLED THAT BUDGET FORWARD YEAR AFTER YEAR.

ANY YEAR WHEN WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY UNSPENT MONEY IN THE YEAR WAS ROLLED TO THE NEXT YEAR.

THAT'S WHY YOU'RE SEEING THAT ADDITIONAL MONEY DOWN AT THE BOTTOM OF THE LINE.

I WANTED TO MAKE SURE TO EXPLAIN THAT.

>> CAN YOU FURTHER EXPLAIN THE PURPOSE OF THAT MONEY, AND WHAT IT IS CURRENTLY BEING USED FOR IN OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT?

>> YES.

>> THANK YOU.

>> WE HAVE ACQUIRED TWO PROPERTIES WITH THE FUNDING.

IN ADDITION, WE'VE JUST AWARDED A $250,000 GRANT FOR THE REVITALIZATION OF ONE OF THE PLAZAS.

>> WHICH PLAZA?

>> WINN-DIXIE PLAZA.

THEN WE HAVE 11 OTHER APPLICANTS THAT ARE IN LINE TO GET THAT MONEY IN RESPONSE TO THE REQUEST FROM THE COMMISSION, AND THE COMMUNITY ABOUT IMPROVING THE DISTRESSED PROPERTIES, SO THAT, IT'S AN INCENTIVE GRANT THAT THEY WOULD IMPROVE THEIR PROPERTIES.

>> THAT MONEY FOR THE TWO PROPERTIES WAS IN THE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY ZONE? IS THAT CORRECT?

>> IF IT'S IN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, YES.

THOSE TWO PROPERTIES THAT WE'VE ACQUIRED ON STATE ROAD 7 AND COMMERCIAL BOULEVARD, YES.

THIS COMMISSION APPROVED. [OVERLAPPING] EXCUSE ME.

>> THROUGH THAT MASTER PLAN?

>> YES. THROUGH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MASTER PLAN.

IT WAS SET OUT AS THE STRATEGIC PLAN IN ORDER TO JUMPSTART THE REVITALIZATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES IN THE CITY.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. WHILE CONDOS PAY LESS IN TAXES, AND THAT IS TRUE, REGULAR HOMES PAY HIGHER TAXES AND THAT IS TRUE.

CONDOS PAY HIGH RATES FOR THEIR CONDO FEES, YES, THAT IS TRUE, BUT HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION FEES ARE ALSO HIGH.

THOSE FEES HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE CITY OR HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE DISCUSSION TONIGHT.

WHAT WE'RE DISCUSSING IS YOUR TAX BILL.

YOUR CONDO BILLS ARE NOT DISCUSSED IN THESE CHAMBERS.

IF WE REDUCE TAXES, WE WILL LOSE PROGRAMS. WE HEAR THAT ALL THE TIME.

WE HEARD THAT LAST YEAR.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, THOSE SAME LINES WERE USED LAST YEAR, AND GUESS WHAT? WE REDUCE TAXES, AND YOU KNOW WHAT? WE KEPT ON DOING WHAT WE DID BEFORE AND WE EVEN SPENT MORE ON NEW EVENTS, THAT WE SHOULD NOT HAVE SPENT ON.

TO SAY THAT WE'RE GOING TO REDUCE TAXES AND IT'S GOING TO CUT YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE, THAT IS THE LINE THAT CITY ADMINISTRATIONS, NOT JUST THIS ONE, BUT ALL OVER THE US USE TO ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO ARE OUT OF TOUCH.

BY THE WAY, THIS YEAR, WE'RE RECEIVING MONEY FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS CALLED ARPA.

THOSE FUNDS, WILL GO TO PAYING BSO, WHICH PUTS MORE MONEY IN OUR BUDGET, WHICH THEN CAN BE PASSED ON.

THESE SAVINGS CAN BE PASSED ON TO THE RESIDENCE OF TAMARAC.

I'M HAPPY TO REDUCE, THE MILLAGE RATE THIS YEAR.

I CAN'T WAIT UNTIL THAT VOTE COMES.

REST ASSURED MY VOTE REMAINS TO THE PEOPLE TONIGHT, TO REDUCE YOUR TAXES. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> YOU MIGHT JUST PUT SEVEN MINUTES SINCE I HAVEN'T GONE. I MIGHT BE THAT LONG.

I'M GOING TO ASK THE AUDIENCE,

[01:10:01]

JUST BY A SHOW OF HANDS, HOW MANY PEOPLE HAD LIVED HERE FOR A YEAR? JUST A YEAR. JUST MOVED IN? FIVE YEARS. FIVE YEARS.

FIVE TO ZERO? FIVE TO JUST MOVED IN? FIFTEEN?

>> I CAN'T HEAR YOU.

>> YOU MOVED IN A YEAR AGO. OVER 15 YEARS? LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WHAT I'VE DONE BECAUSE, YOU ARE BEING GIVEN A LOT OF INFORMATION AND NOT ALL OF IT IS 100 PERCENT ACCURATE, I HAPPEN TO BE AN ATTORNEY SOME DAYS WHEN I PLAY MY PLAY ONE, BUT I DEAL WITH REAL ESTATE.

THE BILL THAT YOU ARE SHOWN HERE, IS FOR A PERSON WHO DID JUST BUY THE HOUSE, AND THEY BOUGHT THE HOUSE FOR 245,000 AND CHANGE.

THE HOMEOWNER AHEAD OF THEM OWN THE HOUSE FOR MANY YEARS.

THEIR, SAVE OUR HOMES WAS $122,000.

THEIR TAX RATE WAS 212, BUT THEY HAD SAVE THEIR HOMES, SO THE CAP OF THREE PERCENT.

WHEN THE NEW HOMEOWNER GETS YOUR PROPERTY, THEY GO AND IT GETS JUMPED UP THAT FIRST YEAR.

EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU WHO IS NEW, YOUR FIRST YEAR, YOU WILL HAVE A JUMP TO THAT PURCHASE PRICE.

IF YOU DO SAVE OUR HOMES, THEN YOU'LL HAVE IT CAPPED UPTO THREE PERCENT, AND YOU WON'T HAVE IT ANY FURTHER.

BECAUSE THERE WAS SOMEBODY IN THE AUDIENCE WHO IS LEFT UNMOVED, IF YOU DIDN'T DO A TRANSFER PORTABILITY OF YOUR TAX, YOU WILL HAVE AN INCREASE YOUR FIRST YEAR, A SIGNIFICANT ENTRIES, YOUR FIRST YEAR, EVERYTHING ELSE SHOULD REMAIN THE SAME.

I ALSO TOOK LIBERTIES BECAUSE I KNOW SOME OF YOU.

I ALSO HAVE SOME OF YOUR ADDRESSES.

SOME PEOPLE'S TAXES AT THE PROPOSED 7.2 WILL GO UP $3.83.

[NOISE] BLESS YOU. YOU'RE SNEEZING AT THE TRUTH, ACCORDING TO MY GRANDMOTHER.

WE HAVE $21.16.

ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO JUST MOVED IN IT'LL BE, $153.5, $34.77, $16.71, $30.25.

THAT'S BASED ON 7.200.

I ASKED YOU TO REALLY CONSIDER WHAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR LIFE THAT HASN'T GONE UP.

TRULY, IS IT THE CITY'S FAULT OF INFLATION? NOT AT ALL, BUT YOU WANT SERVICES.

VALUES HAVE GONE DOWN.

WE'VE HAD THE BENEFIT OF THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS THAT VALUES HAVE GONE UP.

YES, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO RAISE SOME MORE MONEY, SO TO SPEAK.

BUT WHAT HAPPENS IF NEXT YEAR OUR PROPERTY VALUES PLUMMET? IT WILL BE CONSIDERED AN EVEN HARDER INCREASE FOR US TO BEAR, A BIGGER BURDEN FOR US TO BEAR.

IT'LL BE LEFT UP FOR WHICHEVER PERSON SITTING IN THIS SEAT AND WHICHEVER PEOPLE ARE SITTING IN THIS SEAT TO DEAL WITH THAT ISSUE.

I FEEL IF WE REDUCE THIS TO AN EXTENT THAT'S ONLY SAVING YOU A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY.

IS IT GOING TO FEEL GOOD NEXT YEAR WHEN THE SERVICES MIGHT HAVE TO BE INCREASED? WE ARE CONSIDERED A VERY SMART, FISCALLY SOUND CITY FOR OVER 30 YEARS.

WE HAVE RECEIVED AWARDS FOR IT BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN SOUND WITH OUR MONEY AND WE HAVEN'T LET FEAR TACTICS MAKE US DO THINGS THAT ARE PROBABLY NOT IN THE BEST INTERESTS FOR OUR CITY.

WE HAVE BEEN ASKED TIME AND AGAIN THROUGH OUR SURVEYS TO MAKE SURE WE'RE SECURE, MAKES SURE THAT WE HAVE FIRE RESCUE, TO MAKE SURE WE'RE INVESTING IN OUR CITY.

I HAVE A PERSON WHO HAS YELLED AT ME BECAUSE OUR STREETS WERE NOT PRESSURE CLEANED SOON ENOUGH AND DO NOT LOOK GOOD.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE THOSE SERVICES AVAILABLE.

I'M NOT SAYING THIS AS A SCARE TACTIC IN REVERSE.

THE REALITY IS WE HAVE THINGS WE NEED TO PAY FOR.

WE HAVE BUFFER WALLS THAT SO MANY PEOPLE ARE STILL WAITING FOR.

IT COSTS $100 LAST YEAR.

TWENTY PERCENT INCREASE FOR IT TO BE DONE THIS YEAR.

CONCRETE HAS GONE UP.

IT WILL GO UP AGAIN.

YES, WE'VE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF A SAVINGS, BUT LIKE ANY OF US, WE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF A SAVINGS, BUT NOW THAT THINGS ARE MORE EXPENSIVE, SO GUESS WHAT, WE GOT TO TAKE THAT SAVINGS, BE GRATEFUL WE HAVE IT.

BECAUSE NOW WE CAN AFFORD TO PAY THE PROJECT THAT WE'VE BEEN LOOKING TO DO.

CENTRAL PARK HAS BEEN WAITING FOR THEIR PARK FOR HOW MANY YEARS? THE COST OF US NOT DOING THAT PARK AND NOT BEING ABLE TO FUND THAT PARK AND SAVE FOR THAT PARK WILL ONLY COST US MORE MONEY IN THE LONG RUN.

I BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS WE CAN CUT.

I HAVE MADE THE COMMENTS ABOUT THEM.

I'M ALL FOR, SORRY LIAISONS.

LIAISON, YOU'VE DONE A GREAT SERVICE TO OUR CITY.

BUT WE CAN CUT LIAISONS, WE CAN CUT OUR INITIATIVE FUNDS.

WE CAN CUT A COUPLE OF EVENTS THAT WE DON'T NEED OR HAVE NOT BEEN WELL-ATTENDED.

[01:15:03]

WE CAN DETERMINE THAT.

AMORPHOUS CUTS WE CAN REDUCE OR ELIMINATE CAR ALLOWANCE.

WE CAN DISCUSS ALL THESE THINGS.

I KNOW WHAT I HAVE ON MY LIST WHEN IT COMES TO BUDGET.

LET'S JUST DO AWAY WITH.

CAN WE USE SOME OF OUR SAVINGS THAT WON'T AFFECT OUR FUTURE ABILITY TO KEEP OUR PROPERTY VALUES ON THE RISE? WHEN YOU BOUGHT HERE OR WHEN YOU MOVED HERE, YOU MOVED HERE BECAUSE OF THE SERVICES THAT YOU RECEIVE, BECAUSE OF THE CLEANLINESS, BECAUSE THE EVENTS THAT ARE PUT ON, BECAUSE OF YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE, WE'VE GOT TO BE CAREFUL THAT WE DON'T RISK YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE TODAY FOR APPROXIMATELY ON AVERAGE $14 BECAUSE THAT'S THE AVERAGE THAT WE'VE BEEN TOLD.

THAT WILL SAVE PEOPLE FOR THE BENEFIT OF US IN THE FUTURE.

I SAY THIS AS A PERSON WHO LIVES IN THE CITY.

I OWN MY PROPERTY.

I HAVE AN INVESTMENT PROPERTY THAT I'VE HAD FOR A WHILE AND I BOUGHT WHERE MY LAW FIRM IS.

I PAY TAXES TO THE CITY TOO.

I PAY IT THREEFOLD.

I'M NOT SAYING THIS TO TRY TO BRUSH IT OFF LIKE I DON'T THINK IT'S IMPORTANT.

JUST AS AN EXAMPLE OF SOME OTHER THINGS, FIRE STATION ON UNIVERSITY ACROSS FROM THE HOSPITAL.

THIS BRAND NEW STATION THAT WE PUT IN IS WITHOUT A FIRE ENGINE.

WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE MONEY TO HAVE THE FIRE ENGINE.

WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE AN INSURANCE THAT COVERS THE COST OF THAT FIRE ENGINE.

EVERYBODY'S SAFETY COUNTS.

AGAIN, THAT IS NOT A SOUNDBITE.

I'M SEEING I'M RUNNING OUT OF TIME.

I THINK I'VE MADE MY POINT.

IT IS NOT AN EASY JOB TO SIT HERE AND SAY THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE HAVING FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES, BECAUSE EVERYBODY IN THIS BUILDING IS HAVING SOME FINANCIAL DIFFICULTY ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.

BUT WE'RE HERE TO DO THE HARD DECISIONS AND SEE WHAT'S IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE ENTIRE CITY.

I APPRECIATE THAT YOU'RE LISTENING AND I WILL NOW CALL THE QUESTION.

[BACKGROUND] IT SEEMS COMMISSIONER PLACKO HAS CHANGED HER MIND.

COMMISSIONER PLACKO HAS TWO MINUTES.

>> SORRY, I WILL HOLD SOME OF MY COMMENTS, BUT AS I'M SITTING HERE LISTENING TO RESIDENTS, THE CITY HAS EXACTLY THE SAME EXPENSES THAT RESIDENTS DO.

WE STILL NEED GAS IN OUR CARS AND TRUCKS.

GAS PRICES HAVE GONE UP.

ABSOLUTELY. YOURS HAVE, OURS HAS, THE CITY'S HAS.

WE NEED INSURANCE.

WE KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENED WITH INSURANCE.

WE NEED SUPPLIES TO RUN THE BUILDINGS.

WE HAVE MAINTENANCE ISSUES, WE HAVE SAFETY ISSUES, WE HAVE VEHICLES THAT NEED TO BE REPLACED.

THESE ARE ALL COSTS OF DOING BUSINESS EVERY SINGLE DAY.

THE SAME COST THAT YOU'RE INCURRING WITH SUBJECTED HIGHER COST TO. WE ARE TOO.

THOSE HAVE TO BE PAID FOR WITHOUT CITIZENS SUFFERING IN ANY WAY, WHETHER THAT BE RESCUE SERVICES, WHETHER THAT BE OUR DSL, WE STILL HAVE TO COVER THOSE COSTS AS WELL.

I UNDERSTAND IT'S A TOUCHY SUBJECT AND I UNDERSTAND EVERYONE HAS THEIR FEELINGS ABOUT IT, BUT WE HAVE TO RUN A BUSINESS AND WE HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF OUR RESIDENTS.

I AM A VERY STRONG PROPONENT OF GETTING OUR STREETS REPAVED AND GETTING THE STRIPING BACK ON THE STREETS.

THAT ALL COSTS MONEY.

I KNOW IT'S DIFFICULT AND I KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE A DIFFICULT CONVERSATION, BUT WE NEED TO HAVE IT. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. MY MIND IS GOING TO PROCEDURE.

I AM GOING TO TABLE THE MILLAGE RATE DISCUSSION MOVE TO BUDGET.

>> YES, YOU CAN DO THAT.

BUT LET'S MAKE IT CLEAR THAT IF YOU TAKE UP THE BUDGET, THEN YOU'LL HAVE TO TABLE THAT BECAUSE UNDER STATE LAW YOU MUST ADOPT THE MILLAGE RATE FIRST.

>> CORRECT.

>> ONE DRIVES THE OTHER.

IT DEPENDS ON YOUR PERSPECTIVE.

WHAT I WILL SAY FROM A PROCEDURAL STANDPOINT,

[01:20:02]

THERE IS A MOTION ON THE TABLE.

IT HAS BEEN SECONDED TO ADOPT THE FINAL MILLAGE AS READ INTO THE RECORD.

THAT HAS TO BE VOTED UP OR DOWN AS PREVIOUSLY STATED, BASED UPON A RECENT CHANGE IN STATE LAW, BASED UPON THE PERCENTAGE ABOVE ROLLBACK RATE THAT ANY LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROPOSES TO ADOPT.

THEIR FINAL MILLAGE REQUIRES EITHER A SIMPLE MAJORITY, A SUPER MAJORITY, OR A UNANIMOUS VOTE.

THE NUMBER THAT HAS BEEN PROPOSED BY YOUR STAFF REQUIRES A SUPERMAJORITY VOTE, A 4-1 VOTE.

AT THIS POINT IN TIME, I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT YOU VOTE ON THE MOTION THAT'S ON THE TABLE, UP OR DOWN BY ROLL CALL VOTE, AT LEAST INITIALLY.

THEN IF YOU WANT TO THEN TALK ABOUT WHAT TO CUT OUT OF THE BUDGET TO THEN GET TO A MILLAGE RATE THAT IS ACCEPTABLE TO FOUR OF YOU, THEN THE APPROPRIATE THING TO DO WOULD TO TABLE THE ORDINANCE THAT'S CURRENTLY UNDER DISCUSSION, BRING FORWARD THE BUDGET ORDINANCE WILL READ INTO THE RECORD.

YOU CAN DISCUSS REACH CONSENSUS ON WHAT FROM THAT BUDGET YOU WOULD LIKE TO CUT AS A GROUP, TABLE IT AND THEN TAKE BACKUP THIS PARTICULAR ORDINANCE, ADOPT THE FINAL MILLAGE.

>> WHICH WAS WHAT DID I MISS SOMETHING IN THE CONVERSATION.

>> NO. I THINK THAT AS I HEARD, YOU WANTED TO MOVE TO TABLE THE ORDINANCE.

NOW AND YOU HAVE TO TAKE UP THE VOTE THAT'S ON THE TABLE FIRST BEFORE YOU CAN TABLE.

THAT'S MY CLARIFICATION.

>> THAT ONE WENT RIGHT OVER MY HEAD.

>> THERE HAS BEEN A MOTION MADE THAT HAS BEEN SECONDED FOR DISCUSSION PURPOSES?

>> CORRECT.

>> BEFORE YOU CAN TAKE UP THE MOTION TO TABLE.

YOU HAVE TO DISPOSE THE MOTION THAT'S ON BEFORE YOU RIGHT NOW, WHICH IS THE MILLAGE, DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU'RE YOU'RE FINISHED WITH IT.

YOU'RE JUST GOING TO THEN TABLE IT AND COME BACK TO IT AFTER YOU TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET.

MAYOR, THERE'S A MOTION ON THE TABLE BEEN SECONDED, WOULD BE VOTED UP OR DOWN.

>> WHICH IS A DEFEATIST PURPOSE TO TABLE.

>> NO, BECAUSE THEN YOU CAN STILL MAKE A MOTION TO RECONSIDER THE ORDINANCE.

THE BOTTOM LINE HERE IS EVERYONE IS WE'VE GOT TO ADOPT A BUDGET, [OVERLAPPING] AND A MILLAGE AT SOME POINT TONIGHT?

>> CORRECT.

>> IT'S UP TO YOU OF ALL HOW YOU WISH TO DO IT.

UNLESS THE PERSON WHO HAS MADE THE MOTION, AS WELL AS THE SECONDARY, RESCIND THEIR MOTION AND THEIR SECOND AND THEN YOU TABLE.

>> COMMISSIONER PLACKO RESCINDS THE MOTION AND COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS RESCINDS HIS MOTION, THEREFORE, THERE IS NO MOTION ON THE TABLE.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE MILLAGE RATE AT 7.0000 MILS.

>> CAN I MAKE A SECOND THE MOTION TO THAT? SEE ATTORNEY?

>> YES. I [OVERLAPPING]

>> IT'S BEEN SECONDED ALREADY.

>> [OVERLAPPING] GAMES OF FOOT. CAN WE PLEASE HAVE SOME DECORUM?

>> YES. COMMISSIONER, WHAT IS YOUR QUESTION?

>> CAN I MAKE IT TO THE TWO MOTIONS TO COMMISSIONER, VICE MAYOR GELIN'S MOTION TO READ?

>> YOU CAN MAKE A MOTION TO AMEND IT.

IT WOULD HAVE TO BE SECONDED BY OR ACCEPTABLE TO THE PERSON WHO SECOND IT AS WELL AS THE MOTION MAKER.

>> MY MOTION IS MAKING A LITTLE BIT OF THE TWO MOTIONS TO FIRST TABLE IT SO THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THE MAYOR'S REQUEST TO DISCUSS THE ITEMS.

>> LET ME SAY IT THIS WAY.

APPROVING THE CURRENT MOTION ON THE TABLE OF SEVEN MILLS, IT TRANSLATES INTO A NEED TO ELIMINATE A MILLION DOLLARS PLUS OR MINUS FROM YOUR BUDGET.

IF THERE'S NO SUPPORT FOR THAT, THEN THIS MOTION IS GOING TO DIE AS WELL.

MAYBE AGAIN, I'M SUGGESTING THAT THIS ITEM BE TABLED SO YOU CAN TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU WANT TO CUT FROM THE BUDGET TO THEN GET BACK TO THE MILLAGE RATE,

[01:25:01]

WHICH IS WHAT THE MIRROR SUGGESTING.

>> I'D TAKE BY MY SUBJECT TO MOTION AND JUST DO A ROLL CALL ON VICE MAYOR GELIN MOTION.

>> CITY CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

>> CAN WE HAVE DISCUSSION ON THE ITEM?

>> NO WE'VE ALREADY HAD DISCUSSION ON THE ITEMS.

>> CITY ATTORNEY, THAT'S A NEW MOTION HAS BEEN SECONDED. THERE'S DISCUSSION.

>> [OVERLAPPING] THE CITY ATTORNEY.

>> WHETHER OR NOT YOU WANT TO HAVE ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION?

>> CITY ATTORNEY?

>> YES, MA'AM.

>> THE PURPOSE OF THE PROCEDURES THAT WERE GIVEN TO US SO WE CAN STREAMLINE THE PROCESS IS NOT SO WE CAN SIT HERE AND REHASH THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

HENCE THE REASON TO TRY TO GET TO THE BUDGET ITEM SO WE CAN DISCUSS WHICH ITEMS WOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE BUDGET IF WE WERE TO BE REDUCING THE MILLAGE RATE.

IT STANDS TO REASON THAT LOGICALLY.

>> I WOULD NOT DISAGREE WITH THAT STATEMENT.

AS WELL AS THE MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE, IT IS YOUR RULES OF PROCEDURE TO APPLY.

AS A PARLIAMENTARIAN, IT'S PERFECTLY NORMAL AND APPROPRIATE TO TAKE A VOTE AT THIS POINT IN TIME.

UNLESS THE VICE MAYOR CAN ARTICULATE SOMETHING NEW TO THE DISCUSSION.

I THINK THAT IN MY OPINION, THE COMMISSIONERS BETTER SERVED BY TABLING THE ITEM AND THEN TAKING UP THE BUDGET BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET TO WHATEVER THE MILLAGE RATE THAT SWEET SPOT, THAT NUMBER THAT YOU ALL FIND ACCEPTABLE AS A MAJORITY.

WITHOUT DISCUSSING THE BUDGET [OVERLAPPING] I'M SORRY.

>> VICE MAYOR SAYS HE HAS SOMETHING NEW TO ADD AS SUCH THEN, IT WOULD ONLY BE TWO MINUTES [OVERLAPPING] AND IT IS ONE ITEM.

>>I HAVE A POINT OF ORDER.

>> PARDON.

>> I HAVE A POINT OF ORDER.

>> GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS. [OVERLAPPING]

>> AS CITY ATTORNEY SAID THAT IT'S UP TO THIS BODY TO EITHER ALLOW OR DISALLOW FURTHER DISCUSSION, SO CAN WE GET CONSENSUS ON THAT?

>> COMMISSIONER PLACKO?

>> TALK IN THE MICROPHONE.

>> FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE VICE MAYORS.

>> MOTION 2-7.0.

>> NO.

>> COMMISSIONER BOLTON?

>> YES.

>> MYSELF. NO. THEREFORE.

>> NO.

>> I ADMITTEDLY PRESUMED THAT YOU ARE A NO SINCE YOU MADE THEM TO CALL.

BASICALLY, THERE WAS A REQUEST FOR PROCEDURALLY TO SEE IF THERE WILL BE ALLOWED FURTHER DISCUSSION BECAUSE WE'VE HAD OUR DISCUSSION ON THE ITEM AND CONSENSUS ON THE DAY AS IS THAT THERE WILL BE NO FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM AND WE WILL GO TO ROLL-CALL.

CITY CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

>> MAYOR, IF VICE MAYOR GELIN COULD PLEASE JUST CLARIFY HIS MOTION FOR ME, PLEASE.

I HAVE A MOTION AT 7.00 BUT I BELIEVE EARLIER IN MY CONVERSATIONS WITH FINANCE, THEY NEEDED IT TO BE READ AT THE PROPER WAY.

>> CORRECT.

>> IF YOU COULD CLARIFY THAT, PLEASE.

>> ONLY THE FINAL ONE TO [INAUDIBLE].

>> OKAY. WE WILL MAKE SURE WHICHEVER FINAL BUT MILLAGE RATE WE WILL HAVE THE MOTION INTO THE RECORD RE-READ, SO THAT IT IS PROPERLY PUT IN THE MINUTES.

>> THE MOTION IS TO REDUCE THE MILLAGE RATE OR APPROVE A MILLAGE RATE OF 7.000 MILS, WHICH WOULD RESULT IN TAX REVENUE OF $35,463,151, WHICH IS $2.98,212 OVER WHAT WE GENERATED LAST YEAR, SO IF WE KEEP THE RATE THE SAME, WE WILL GENERATE. [OVERLAPPING]

>> VICE MAYOR IT'S NOT A DISCUSSION.

[OVERLAPPING] VICE MAYOR, YOU'RE OUT OF LINE.

>> NO, I'M NOT. I'M EXPRESSING [OVERLAPPING] MY EMOTION.

>> NO, THE ACTUAL WAY TO READ THIS WOULD BE CERTAIN NUMBER OF MILS AND THE PERCENTAGE RATE OVER THE BACK MILLAGE RATE.

BUT YOU DO NOT HAVE THAT INFORMATION AND DO NOT WORRY WHEN THE TIME COMES WE WOULD MAKE SURE OF IT.

[OVERLAPPING] PLEASE.

>> YOU DON'T WANT TRANSPARENCY.

>> VICE MAYOR. YOU DO KNOW THERE ARE PROCEDURES FOR A REASON, CORRECT?

>> CITY CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

>> THANK YOU, MA'AM. COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS?

>> NO.

>> COMMISSIONER BOLTON?

>> YES.

>> MAYOR GOMEZ?

>> NO.

>> COMMISSIONER PLACKO?

>> NO.

>> VICE MAYOR GELIN.

>> YES.

>> MOTION FAILED, 3-2.

>> I HEREBY TABLE THIS ITEM, AND WE ARE MOVING TO DISCUSSION ON OUR BUDGET.

SINCE THERE WAS NO OTHER PENDING MOTIONS.

CORRECT CITY ATTORNEY?

[01:30:02]

>> PROCEDURALLY, THERE WOULD BE A MOTION TO TABLE.

>> MOTION TO TABLE. DO I HAVE A SECOND?

>> SECOND.

>> THANK YOU. WE DON'T NEED ROLL-CALL WHEN IT COMES TO MOTIONS.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> TO TABLE, AND IS A TABLE TO TIME CERTAIN, IT WILL BE PULLED BACK AFTER DISCUSSION ON THE BUDGET.

>> CORRECT.

>> OKAY. CLARIFYING THAT MOTION.

WE'RE MOVING TO TEMPORARY ORDINANCE 2509.

[4.b TO2509 - An Ordinance of the City Commission of the City of Tamarac, Florida,adopting the Operating Budget, Revenues and Expenditures, the Capital Budget, andthe Financial Policies for the Fiscal Year 2023; providing for conflicts; providing forseverability; and providing for an effective date.]

THIS IS THE SECOND AND FINAL PUBLIC HEARING TO ESTABLISH THE FISCAL YEAR 2023 OPERATING BUDGET, CAPITAL BUDGET, FINANCIAL POLICIES.

BEFORE WE BEGIN, MADAM CITY MANAGER, PLEASE READ YOUR STATEMENT.

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. THE TENTATIVE OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023 IS 243,987,846, WHICH IS $20,683,819 MORE THAN THE AMENDED BUDGET OF 223,304,027 FOR FISCAL YEAR 2022.

THE TENTATIVE GENERAL FUND BUDGET, WHICH IS THE PRIMARY FUND FOR PROVIDING GOVERNMENTAL SERVICES, SUCH AS OUR CONTRACT WITH BSO, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES, PUBLIC SERVICES, AND PARKS AND RECREATION IS $77,686,494, WHICH IS 6,297,693, MORE THAN THE AMENDED BUDGET OF 71,388,801 FOR FISCAL YEAR 2022.

IN ADDITION, THE FINANCIAL POLICIES ARE INCLUDED AS PART OF THE ADOPTION OF THE ANNUAL BUDGET.

THESE FINANCIAL POLICIES ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF OUR LONG-TERM FINANCIAL PLANNING FOR THE CITY.

THESE POLICIES SET PARAMETERS FOR OPERATING MANAGEMENT, INCLUDING ESTABLISHING RESERVES FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES, ESTABLISHING ACCOUNTS MANAGEMENT AND FINANCIAL PLANNING POLICIES, AND ESTABLISHING POLICIES ON ECONOMIC RESOURCES.

THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR.

>> THANK YOU. MR. CITY ATTORNEY, WILL YOU PLEASE READ THE TITLE TO TEMPORARY ORDINANCE NUMBER 2509?

>> YES, MA'AM. MA'AM, MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION.

THIS IS AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COMMISSIONER OF CITY TAMARAC, FLORIDA, ADOPTING THE OPERATING BUDGET, REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES, THE CAPITAL BUDGET AND THE FINANCE POLICIES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023, PROVIDING FOR CONFLICTS, PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILTY, AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE, AND JUST IF I MAY MAYOR, WHEN WE GO BACK TO ITEM 4A, I BELIEVE THAT THERE'S A TYPOGRAPHICAL ERROR IN THE TITLE TO THE ORDINANCE AS IT'S SHOWN ON THE AGENDA.

IT SHOULD SAY FOR THE TAX YEAR 2023, NOT 2022 BECAUSE THEN WE HAVE AN INCONSISTENCY BETWEEN THE TITLES STAFF WE HAVE AN INCONSISTENCY BETWEEN THE TITLES FOR THE ORDINANCE ADOPTING THE FINAL MILLAGE AND THE ORDINANCE ADOPTING THE FINAL BUDGET.