[00:00:05]
ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO GET TOGETHER WITH YOU FINE FOLKS.
SO A WEEK AGO CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, JOHN.
MY MEMORY IS FAILING IN MY ELDER YEARS.
JANUARY 2ND WAS A TWO WEEKS AGO.
SO WE KICKED OFF THE BUDGET, PRESENTATION FOR THE DEPARTMENT HEADS.
AND WE KIND OF WANTED TO GO THROUGH, JUST A SERIES OF SLIDES AND OBVIOUSLY GET THE COUNCIL'S INPUT.
OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, BUILDING A BUDGET IS LIKE BUILDING A HOUSE.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE A SOLID FOUNDATION.
SO IF WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE FOUNDATION IS OR WHAT MATERIAL HAT MATERIALS TO USE, MIGHT HAVE A FAULTY FOUNDATION IN THE BUDGET PROCESS.
SO OBVIOUSLY WE'D LIKE TO GET YOUR COMMENTS FEEDBACK EARLY IN THE PROCESS.
SO WE'RE GOING TO CHANGE UP JUST A LITTLE BIT.
SO WE'LL JUST GO QUICKLY THROUGH HERE.
WE GOT FACTS AND FIGURES. I DID SEND THIS TO YOU.
IT WAS AVAILABLE ON THE WEBSITE.
SO WE'RE GOING TO JUMP RIGHT TO SLIDE NUMBER FIVE.
SO MR. JOHN AND I ARE GOING TO TAG TEAM THESE SLIDES, UNTIL WE GET TO THE DISCUSSION PORTION.
AND THEN THE COUNCIL CAN WEIGH IN.
AND THEN, OF COURSE, AS OF TWO WEEKS AGO, OUR BEST PROJECTION, MAY BE SOMEWHAT CONSERVATIVE OF WHAT IT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE AT THE END OF THIS YEAR, FOR THE PROJECTED FISCAL YEAR 24.
WE'VE BEEN VERY GOOD STEWARD OF OUR RESOURCES AND WE HAVE A VERY STRONG, YOU KNOW, FUND BALANCES.
SO WE'RE WE'RE VERY PROUD ABOUT THAT.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO AHEAD TO THE NEXT ONE.
SO EVERY YEAR WE TALK ABOUT STAFFING.
YOU KNOW, WE KNOW WE'RE A GROWING CITY.
SO WE HAVE DEFINITELY, NEEDS EACH DEPARTMENT HAS NEEDS.
SO YOU CAN SEE OBVIOUSLY FROM 2020 TO 24, THE CITY'S WORKFORCE HAS EXPANDED.
AND THAT KIND OF SHOWS, YOU KNOW, THE GROWTH IN THE DEPARTMENTS AND THE DEMANDS.
KIND OF AN INTERESTING NOTE OBVIOUSLY, WE'RE WE HAVE 156.5, ALLOCATED OR APPROPRIATED FOR THIS YEAR, BUT WE'VE ONLY WE HAVE ALMOST 21.5 FULL TIME EQUIVALENT VACANCIES, WHICH MEANS OBVIOUSLY WE'RE HAVING SOME DIFFICULTIES.
WE'RE COMPETING WITH ALL OUR NEIGHBORS, YOU KNOW, TO FIND QUALIFIED PEOPLE, RETAIN QUALIFIED PEOPLE.
I'M TRYING TO THINK WHAT ELSE OKAY. YEAH, IT GIVES YOU IT KIND OF GIVES YOU AND OBVIOUSLY POLICE AND FIRE ARE VERY DIFFICULT OBVIOUSLY, BECAUSE WE'RE COMPETING AND BUT AGAIN, BUILDING INSPECTION AS WELL, TRYING TO FIND QUALIFIED, PEOPLE [INAUDIBLE] THAT HAVE SOME BASIC BUILDING, OR GENERAL CONTRACTOR EXPERIENCE.
SO I GUESS MY NOTE IS OBVIOUSLY WE'RE GROWING, AND OBVIOUSLY WE WOULD EXPECT WE DON'T KNOW AT THIS POINT BECAUSE WE'RE IN VERY EARLY PROCESS THAT 156 WILL BE NEXT YEAR WILL BE MORE THAN 156.
I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT NUMBER, BUT I THINK THAT'S WHAT IT'S GOING TO BE.
THE RECREATION SPOTS ON FILM ARE THEY? [INAUDIBLE] WHERE ARE THEY? JEN? [INAUDIBLE] YEAH, THEY'RE PART TIME EMPLOYEES RIGHT NOW.
WE ARE ASKING FOR A FULL TIME POSITION.
[00:05:02]
WO HALF TWO HALF TWO PART TIME PEOPLE REGULAR SCHEDULED OR ONE FULL TIME EQUIVALENT OKAY.I SEE PUBLIC WORKS HAS BEEN STAGNANT.
IS THERE A NEED FOR GROWTH? WE HAVEN'T BEEN. OR IS IT? WELL, JOHN BROWN'S NOT HERE, SO I'M GOING TO SAY NO, THEY DON'T NEED ANYBODY.
[INAUDIBLE] PRELIMINARILY, HE AND I, HAVE DISCUSSED IT AND I THINK CURRENTLY HE MAY DISAGREE SLIGHTLY WITH THE CITY MANAGER.
YEAH. NO, NO, I MEAN, YOU'RE RIGHT THAT STEVE.
THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION. BUT AS YOU RECALL, WE CONTRACTED AND PRIVATIZED THE THE MOWING, THE LANDSCAPING IN LIEU OF, YOU KNOW, HIRING ADDITIONAL FOLKS.
SO I'M ASSUMING AND, YOU KNOW BUT TO ANSWER STEVE'S QUESTION FOR THE STREET DEPARTMENT COMING ONLINE, THE STORM WATER COMING ONLINE, THE MS4 IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE COMING ONLINE.
THERE WILL THAT DEPARTMENT WILL INCREASE IN STAFFING.
AND I'M [INAUDIBLE] JOHN, I'M ASSUMING HE'S GOING TO ASK FOR SOME FOLKS JUST LIKE PROBABLY PROBABLY ALMOST 95% OF THE PEOPLE IN HERE ARE GOING TO BE ASKING FOR SPEAKERS] YES. FOR PARKS AND REC I THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF WE UNDERSTOOD HOW MANY ARE PART TIME EMPLOYEES TO OPERATE THE REC CENTER? IT'S INCLUDED. AND HOW WE DO OUR BREAKOUT.
WE'RE LOOKING FOR ONE ADDITIONAL WE NEED AT LEAST SEVEN TO RUN.
AND THEN OF COURSE OUR FULL TIME PEOPLE, WE HAVE FIVE.
AND THAT INCLUDES OUR PARKS DIVISION AS WELL.
THAT'S ME, MEL, LOGAN, BILL AND ANDREW.
WE UNDERSTAND THEY'RE JUST TO OPERATE THE REC CENTER.
SO YOU WANT TO SEE THE BREAKDOWN FOR EVERY DEPARTMENT OR JUST THE? JUST THE PARKS AND REC.
BECAUSE I THINK I THINK THE REC CENTER IS A, YOU KNOW, AN ENTITY UNTO ITSELF.
THOSE PART TIMERS ARE IT DOESN'T REFLECT PARKS AND REC IN WHAT THEY DO.
WE DO WE DO NEED IT AND WE DO HAVE IT.
SO I MEAN TO SAY THAT IT'S NOT PART OF PARKS AND RECREATION FULL TIME.
NO, JEN, THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M SAYING.
I'M SAYING, YOU KNOW, PARKS AND REC AND ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE RUN BY PARKS AND REC.
THE PART TIMERS ARE JUST THERE BECAUSE THE REC CENTER IS THERE.
OKAY. WE'LL GET WE CAN GET YOU WE CAN BREAK THAT DOWN AND MAYBE BREAK DOWN THE KIND OF THE RECREATION PROGRAMING, THE REC CENTER AND MAYBE THE MAINTENANCE ASPECT OF IT, FACILITY MAINTENANCE PART, SO COUNCIL CAN HAVE A FULL UNDERSTANDING OF THAT.
YEAH. ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? JOHN. YEAH.
[INAUDIBLE] THIS IS OUR ASSESSED AND ESTIMATED MARKET VALUE HISTORICALLY.
AND THEN THIS IS OUR FIRST BRUSH AT WHAT WE THINK IT MIGHT LOOK LIKE.
BY WAY OF AN INCREASE IN ASSESSED VALUE AND MARKET VALUE, FOR, FISCAL YEAR 2025.
AND, SO THAT'S JUST, YOU KNOW, OUR BEST GUESS AT THIS POINT, AS WE GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS, WE ANTICIPATE THAT WOULD CHANGE, BUT IN WHAT DIRECTION? WE HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE AS WE, PULL TOGETHER MORE DATA POINTS, WHAT THAT MIGHT LOOK LIKE, THAT IS OUR ESTIMATE FOR RIGHT NOW.
WE DON'T GET THE STUFF FROM BEAUFORT COUNTY AND JASPER COUNTY UNTIL LIKE EARLY MARCH ISH EARLY MID MARCH.
SO WE'RE MAKING ASSUMPTIONS BASED ON BUILDING PERMIT VALUE AND EVERYTHING THAT WE KNOW.
[00:10:05]
AND WE'VE BEEN, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, NOT TRYING TO GIVE OURSELVES A PAT ON THE BACK.WE'VE BEEN RELATIVELY CLOSE EVERY YEAR BASED ON ACTUALS, OUR PROJECTIONS VERSUS OUR ACTUAL.
SO AGAIN, THAT'S THE WHOLE POINT WE'RE TRYING TO SAY HERE.
I MEAN THIS IS VERY STRONG AND VERY VIBRANT GROWTH.
I MEAN, STILL AND AS WE KNOW, AS THE AS THOSE NUMBERS GET GETS BIGGER, THOSE THOSE PERCENTAGES SHOULD START SHRINKING UP BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, TO MAINTAIN THAT 44%. I MEAN, IT IT'S JUST IT'S THEY'RE INCREDIBLE.
THE IN THE YEAR OF 21 THERE WAS SUCH A HUGE INCREASE.
WHAT, WHAT WAS THAT FOR? WAS THAT A REAPPRAISAL? ANYTHING ELSE? ALL RIGHT.
GO AHEAD. SO THIS SLIDE IS JUST SHOWING HISTORICALLY OUR AND AGAIN THIS IS JASPER COUNTY.
WE'RE NOT SLIGHTING BEAUFORT COUNTY.
IT'S JUST JASPER COUNTY IS SO MUCH THE LION'S SHARE OF WHAT WE DO.
BUT YOU CAN SEE BACK IN 14, WE, COUNCIL HAD ALREADY TAKEN THE CITY MILLAGE RATE DOWN, DOWN FROM I THINK IT WAS 153 AND IT WAS 142 IN 2014.
AND THEN IT'S NOW IT'S AT 96 FOR THE CITY.
AND THEN AGAIN, YOU SEE THE THE COUNTY'S MILLAGE, HAS GONE FROM 142 TO 140.
AND THEN THE TOTAL OVERLAPPING RATE IS THE 343.
JOHN THE 2022 WHEN JASPER COUNTY LOWERED THEIR TAXES WHAT WAS THEIR INCREASE IN THEIR ASSESSED VALUE? I DON'T I DON'T HAVE THAT OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, SIR.
LET ME TELL YOU WHAT THE CITY WAS IN 22.
SO AND THE REASON WHAT I WAS GETTING AT.
THE. DOES THE COUNTY HAVE THE SAME REQUIREMENTS THAT THEY WHEN THEY REASSESS, THEY HAVE TO BE REVENUE NEUTRAL? YES. YES OKAY.
SO THE WE ANTICIPATED A MAXIMUM INCREASE OF 14% ASSESSED VALUE INCREASE IN THAT YEAR IF I RECALL THE BUDGET.
IF JASPER COUNTY'S ASSESSED VALUE WENT UP 14% AND THEY LOWERED THEIR MILLAGE BY WHAT, 1%? THEN THAT IS IN ESSENCE A REAL TAX INCREASE.
WE WERE TOLD YOU'RE ALLOWED TO.
AND SEE THAT'S WHERE IT CAME FROM.
THY SCALED IT BACK BUT THEN THEY'D ALREADY FIGURED IN ABOUT THE GROWTH FACTOR.
SO THEY I DON'T KNOW. BUT THEY GOT A GOOD INCREASE THAT YEAR.
AND SO I'M JUST CURIOUS BECAUSE PEOPLE ASK ME, WHAT IS THE REAL TAX DECREASE/INCREASE.
BECAUSE IF THE ASSESSED VALUE WENT UP 14% LIKE WE WERE PROJECTING, THEN THAT'S NOT REALLY A TAX DECREASE.
[INAUDIBLE] REMEMBER WHAT HENRY SAID.
STAYING THE SAME IS REALLY LIKE HAVING A TAX DECREASE.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN ANSWER THAT, JOHN OR NOT.
I GUESS THAT'S KIND OF HARD TO DO, BUT THERE HAD TO BE SOME CALCULATION WE HAD.
[00:15:15]
I'M SEEING A LOT OF COOPERATION IN SOME CORRIDORS AND OTHER CORRIDORS NOT AS MUCH, BUT I'M CERTAINLY WILLING TO TRY, YOU KNOW THAT.I, I JUST HAVE A DISTASTE FOR SMOKE AND MIRRORS.
ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? LET'S KEEP MOVING ON, JOHN.
ALL RIGHT, ONE MORE. YOU READY? ALL RIGHT, SO AGAIN, HERE ARE JUST SOME HERE'S SOME CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES.
BUT I'LL JUST TELL YOU INFLATION OBVIOUSLY THAT'S GOING TO IMPACT THE BUDGET.
WE KNOW ARE AS AN EXAMPLE OUR CITY'S LIABILITY PROPERTY AND CASUALTY IS GOING UP.
AND OBVIOUSLY THE CONTRIBUTION FOR MEDICAL MEDICAL INSURANCE IS GOING UP.
IF WE USE THE CPI INDEX, IT'S ABOUT A 4.5% INCREASE FOR COMPARISON PURPOSES, WE WE UNDERSTAND THAT SOCIAL SECURITY WILL GO UP 3.2% NEXT YEAR.
AS WE ALL KNOW, WE WERE AT THE RETREAT, THE COUNCIL, WE HAVE A LAUNDRY LIST OF WANTS AND NEEDS THAT WE NEED TO, TRY TO FINANCE WITH THAT LIMITED GROUP OF RESOURCES. WE DO HAVE THAT, AGAIN, A VERY ROBUST CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PLAN THAT WE NEED TO TRY TO COME UP WITH A WAY TO FINANCE.
SOME OF THAT WILL BE OFFSET BY THE EXPECTED REVENUE GENERATION FOR THE INSURANCE BILLING.
BUT ON THE GOOD NOTE, OR THE OPPORTUNITIES, WE BELIEVE THERE WILL BE A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THE, PROPERTY TAX COLLECTION OF APPROXIMATELY $1.4 MILLION ADDITIONAL DOLLARS.
WE'RE EXPECTING, YOU KNOW, ROBUST TO CONTINUE THE ROBUST, BUILDING PLANNING REVENUE.
IT'S A MODERATE INCREASE BUT STILL INCREASING.
[INAUDIBLE] AMBULANCE SERVICES, A NEW REVENUE SOURCE FROM AMBULANCE SERVICES.
AND THEN, OBVIOUSLY THE, THE VERY GOOD FUND BALANCE THAT WE SEE INCREASING ON THE DEVELOPMENT FEES TO BE ABLE TO PAY FOR, THOSE NEW SERVICE COSTS AS WELL AS THE OPPORTUNITY TO RENEGOTIATE, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THOSE, AGREEMENTS TO OBVIOUSLY MEET THOSE NEEDS, THOSE ONGOING AND FUTURE NEEDS THAT WE HAVE.
GO AHEAD. ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT? WHAT'S ONE MILL WORTH? ONE MILL JOHN IS WORTH WE'RE EXPECTING ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THAT'S JASPER COUNTY AND BEAUFORT COUNTY.
ONE MILL WOULD BE JUST JUST UNDER 3,000.
JUST UNDER WHAT 3,000 WOULD BE SO ALMOST 100,000, GIVE OR TAKE.
SO EVERYBODY KEEP THAT IN MIND BECAUSE WE'LL BE HAVING THAT DISCUSSION HERE MOMENTARILY.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON ANY JUST THOSE GENERAL OBSERVATIONS.
OKAY. AND THEN THIS IS, THE SPREADSHEET WE SHOW EVERY YEAR.
THIS IS THE HISTORICAL CPI CALCULATION FOR COLA FOR OUR AREA.
AND THEN THIS IS WHAT THE THIS COLUMN HERE IS WHAT THE, THE MATH IS CONSISTENTLY.
AND THEN THIS IS WHAT THE COLAS HAVE BEEN AFTER CONSIDERING THE COLUMN TO THE LEFT.
OKAY. WE'RE GOING TO BYPASS THIS PART.
THIS IS SOME OF THE DIRECTIONS TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS.
LET'S STAY ON THAT PAGE REAL QUICK.
SO I JUST WANTED TO DRAW YOUR, YOUR ATTENTION, TO THE WHAT ONE, TWO, THREE FOURTH BULLET, JUST, YOU KNOW, AND I DIRECTED THE DEPARTMENT HEADS THAT, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THEIR SEE, THEIR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS SHOULD CORRESPOND TO THE COUNCIL'S ADOPTED GOALS AND OBJECTIVES.
SO WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE.
[00:20:06]
MILLAGE, YOU KNOW, AND AGAIN, WE DON'T WE NEED WE DON'T NEED A CAST IN STONE.BUT WE REALLY LIKE TO HAVE A GOOD ROBUST DISCUSSION ON MILLAGE RATE, COST OF LIVING INCREASE.
WHAT WAS THAT NUMBER? 0 TO 4%.
LOW THREES. ALL RIGHT JOHN, GO BACK TO THAT NEXT SLIDE.
OKAY. SO CURRENTLY WE'RE AT 97 RIGHT.
96. AND THEN WHERE ARE WE FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY? 102 102.
SO 96 AND 102 AND THE MIL IS APPROXIMATELY 100,000 GIVE OR TAKE.
ANY FEEDBACK? THOUGHTS? OH, I'M OF THE OPINION, AS I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN, THAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SHOULD BENEFIT THE TAXPAYER IN THE FORM OF MILLAGE REDUCTION.
AND SO I'D CERTAINLY FAVOR REDUCING IT.
ANYBODY ELSE. WE REDUCE THIS THE ONLY YEAR WE HAVEN'T REDUCED IT.
AND IT ACTUALLY STARTED BEFORE MY TIME WAS THE COVID YEAR . SO I THINK WE SHOULD CONTINUE, TO DO SO.
[INAUDIBLE] I TEND TO AGREE, BUT I STILL NEED MORE INFORMATION BEFORE I COULD, COMPLETELY AGREE WITH REDUCING THE MILLAGE.
WE SEE THAT WE DO. WE DEFINITELY KNOW WE HAVE NEEDS.
I JUST DON'T I WON'T COMMIT TO A REDUCTION UNTIL I SEE THAT WE CAN FULFILL THE NEEDS.
AND, MAYOR, I DO AGREE THAT WHAT WE DO DOES NEED TO REFLECT AND GO BACK TO ALL OF THE CITY, BUT SOME OF THE INCREASES IN PERSONNEL AND EQUIPMENT AND THINGS THAT WE DO NEED WILL ALSO BENEFIT TOO.
I THINK YOU'D BE. IF YOU LOOK BACK AT WHAT'S ALL THE YEARS.
BUT THAT DOESN'T ALSO REFLECT THE INCREASES THAT WE'VE GOTTEN IN PERMITTING FEES AND, THE BUILDING FEES, ALL THE THINGS.
[INAUDIBLE] IF YOU GO AND YOU LOOK AT THE SLIDES THAT WE DELIVERED TO [INAUDIBLE] AND ALL OF THEM, AND LOOK AT THE INCREASES FROM 2015 OR WHATEVER THAT SLIDE SHOWED TO, TO LAST YEAR, JUST THOSE THREE CATEGORIES A TAX, H TAX, BUILDING PERMIT FEES AND BUILDING FEES.
JUST WHAT WE'RE UP, NOT WHAT THE TOTAL IS, BUT WE'RE UP $6.2 MILLION.
OKAY. SO THERE'S A LOT MORE INCOME COMING THAN JUST FROM MILLAGE.
IN FACT, MILLAGE IS PROBABLY THE SMALLEST AMOUNT OF OUR INCOME.
SO WE'RE GETTING A LOT OF MONEY.
[00:25:02]
YOUR DECISION, I AGREE.DO WE HAVE A NUMBER ON OUR UNSPENT FROM THE CURRENT BUDGET? I KNOW WE HAD WE HAD BUDGETED FOR SOME PERSONNEL SLOTS THAT WERE NEVER ABLE TO BE FILLED.
DO WE HAVE A NUMBER? THERE WILL BE SOME LAPSED SALARY MONEY, BUT WE HAVE NOT QUANTIFIED THAT.
WE'LL DO THAT OVER THE NEXT MONTH OR SO.
OKAY, I'M NOT SAYING TAKING IT OUT, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MY OWN INFORMATION WHAT THAT TOTAL IS.
JOHN IS YOUR THOUGHT THERE THAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO A POINT OR TWO JUST INTUITIVELY OR.
YEAH, LISTEN, I'M, I THINK I THINK WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO SHOW THE RESOLVE TO LOWER TAXES.
ONE OF THE BENEFITS OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SHOULD BE LOWER TAXES FOR THE CITIZEN.
THEY SHOULD BENEFIT AS WELL, NOT JUST, YOU KNOW, DO STUFF.
AND IF THAT MILLION THREE AND CHANGE IF YOU LOWERED TWO MILLS, IT'S $200,000.
YOU'RE STILL INCREASING YOUR LINE ITEM FOR MILLAGE BY 1,000,001 AND CHANGE.
AND I THAT'S BEEN MY PHILOSOPHY SINCE I GOT HERE.
AND I BELIEVE IT'S IT'S THE RIGHT ONE TO DO.
AND MAYBE SOMEDAY JASPER COUNTY WILL FULFILL THEIR PROMISE AND DO THE SAME THING.
I THINK WHAT YOU'RE SAYING TO ME, HOW I WOULD SAY IT IS IT REPRESENTS FOR ALL OF US BEING GOOD STEWARDS WITH IT, WITH THE MONEY THAT WE'RE ABLE TO BRING IN FROM OUR RESIDENT BASE AND OUR TAXES, AND TO BE THOUGHTFUL ABOUT THAT AND HAVE IT AS PART OF OUR PHILOSOPHY OF HAVING A GOAL TO REDUCE IT EVERY YEAR, MAKES GROWTH NOT NECESSARILY SOMETHING PEOPLE ARE MORE AFRAID OF, BUT THEY THEY SEE THE BENEFITS OF IT, AND THEY SEE GOOD STEWARDSHIP AS OPPOSED TO, YOU KNOW, BRINGING ALL THIS MONEY IN AND FROM THE PUBLIC'S POINT OF VIEW, BEING WASTEFUL WITH IT.
SO I THINK YOUR PHILOSOPHY, HARRY, IS ONE THAT I, I AGREE WITH THE WHOLE IDEA OF STEWARDSHIP.
IT'S NOT THAT I DISAGREE WITH IT.
AT ON ONE MILL [INAUDIBLE] REDUCTION AND I, YOU KNOW, I COULD FAVOR DOING THAT AGAIN THIS YEAR.
GIVEN THE ADDED REVENUE THAT WE WILL HAVE IN TAXES.
AND LIKE THE MAYOR HAS SAID, THE OTHER THINGS COMING IN BECAUSE I DO THINK, A REDUCTION OF THE MILLAGE, IF POSSIBLE, DOES SHOW GOOD STEWARDSHIP TO THE COMMUNITY AND EVERYBODY ELSE COMING IN.
I JUST RIGHT NOW, I JUST DON'T HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION TO MAKE, A DECISION WHETHER IT SHOULD BE ONE MILL, TWO MILL OR WHATEVER THAT, THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO DECREASE.
SO WE NEED JOHN WE NEED, I THINK.
I THINK ALL THOSE NUMBERS NEED TO BE REPRESENTED.
SO THE COUNCIL CAN MAKE A DECISION.
AND FOR YOU, JOHN, YOU UNDERSTAND SORT OF OUR GOAL OF THE REDUCTION PHILOSOPHY AS PART OF YOUR AWARD, MAYBE WORKING ANALYSIS WHEN YOU LOOK AT THOSE NUMBERS. YES.
GOOD. I APPRECIATE THAT, MIKE.
I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY, HOW TO PHRASE THE QUESTION OR WHATEVER.
JOHN MAY UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M PROBABLY WHAT I'M ASKING, BUT I REMEMBER A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, SOME PEOPLE IN THE COUNTY WERE TELLING ME THAT YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT KEEP LOWERING THE MILLAGE BECAUSE YOU CAN ONLY RAISE IT BY A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE IF YOU GET IN TROUBLE LEGALLY.
AND I AND I REMEMBER VIVIDLY 4 OR 5 YEARS AGO, I ORIGINALLY GOT IN A DIRE CIRCUMSTANCE.
WHAT IS IT POINT? I DON'T KNOW, WHATEVER BUT ANYWAY, THEY GOT THEY GOT IN A BIND BECAUSE THEY HAD NEVER CHANGED THEIR MILLAGE.
AND WHEN THEY NEEDED IT, THEY COULDN'T DO IT.
SO I DON'T WANT US TO GET IN THAT BIND EITHER.
I'M NOT SAYING NOT [INAUDIBLE] OR WHATEVER, BUT I DON'T WANT TO GET IN THAT BIND EITHER.
IF WE GET IN A PINCH AND THEN WE GET IN TROUBLE AND WE CAN'T RAISE IT.
IT'S A GOOD POINT, JOHN [INAUDIBLE].
IF I RECALL, EACH YEAR YOU CAN ONLY RAISE YOUR MILLAGE BY 6 OR 8.
[00:30:14]
WE'LL SAY TO DO THAT DO THAT.IF YOU EVER GET IN THAT SITUATION.
AND I'VE BEEN IN THAT SITUATION WHERE YOU HAVE TO RAISE TAXES, YOU'RE LIMITED.
AND THEN THE NEXT STEP IS REDUCING STAFF.
YOU KNOW WHEN YOU'RE GETTING A BIND, WHEN YOU GET IN A BIND THE MOST THE EASIEST THING TO CONTROL IS THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE YOU PAY, AND THAT'S USUALLY WHAT HAPPENS.
SO BOTH BOTH ISSUES ARE ARE TO YOUR POINT.
THAT'S RIGHT. IT SEEMS LIKE WE LOWER AND I YOU KNOW I KNOW IT DOESN'T MATTER.
IT SEEMS LIKE WE LOWER AND JASPER COUNTY GETS A LITTLE BIT MORE EACH YEAR.
I MEAN, IF WE LOWER A MILL, DIDN'T WE FIGURE LAST YEAR, JOHN, IT WAS LIKE $30 A HOUSEHOLD OR $25 OR SOMETHING FOR SOMEONE LIVING IN A IN A IN A HOME WITH A HALF MILLION DOLLAR ASSESSMENT, THEY'RE GOING TO THIS A ONE MILL INCREASE OR A ONE MILL DECREASE IS GOING TO BE $20.
AND I'M SOMEWHERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
BECAUSE WE WE DIDN'T RAISE OUR TAXES WITH THE REASSESSMENT YEAR.
MY TAX BILL WAS $500 LESS BECAUSE MY HOUSE DIDN'T GET REASSESSED LOWEST DENOMINATOR.
THAT'S REALLY NOT A GOOD WAY TO FOR ME TO EVALUATE THE SITUATION.
YOU CANNOT YOU KNOW, YOU CAN ALWAYS SAY, OH, IT'S $30.
IT'S THROWAWAY, BUT IT'S IT'S NOT $30, IT'S $30 EVERY YEAR.
AND AND YOU COME UP TO A REASSESSMENT IT CAN BE SUBSTANTIAL.
WE HAVE COST OF LIVING INCREASE FOR STAFF AND THOSE THINGS.
IT'S HARD TO JUDGE WHERE WE'RE GOING TO BE WITH THE MILLAGE UNTIL WE KNOW WHAT, WHAT, WHAT ARE WHAT, WHERE ARE WE AT FINANCIALLY WITH ALL OF THOSE? I, I THE DISCUSSION ITEMS FOR ME I GUESS SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE COST OF LIVING SHOULD HAVE BEEN AT THE TOP, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT AND MILLAGE AT THE BOTTOM.
WE CAN'T DECREASE WHAT WE COLLECT UNTIL WE KNOW WHAT WE'RE REALLY COLLECTED TO SPEND.
YEAH. SO FOR THE COST OF LIVING QUESTION.
WHAT DATA WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE? I MEAN, DO YOU WANT TO KNOW WITH WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW, WHAT IS 4.5% EQUATE TO OR.
YEAH. THAT'S THOSE ARE THE NUMBERS THAT WE'RE GOING TO NEED [INAUDIBLE] . THAT'S JUST COST OF LIVING.
THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE [INAUDIBLE].
IF YOU GIVE THEM 4% ON AVERAGE, IT'S CLOSE TO 8% INCREASE [INAUDIBLE] . JUST UNDER PROBABLY ABOUT $800,000 IF YOU FIGURE 3% FOR EVERYBODY WE CURRENTLY HAVE ON STAFF.
SO THAT CUTS $800,000 OUT OF THE 1.3, THAT'S DOWN TO FIVE.
AND THEN. JUST TRYING TO PROVIDE DATA POINTS, NOT TRYING TO ADVOCATE ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.
THE ANTICIPATED HEALTH INSURANCE INCREASE FROM WHAT I'M HEARING FROM [INAUDIBLE] IS 11.8% NOW.
THAT STARTS IN JANUARY, BUT ON AN ANNUALIZED BASIS, THAT'S $151,000.
SO WE ARE BASICALLY ABOUT 350.
AND THEN THE GENERAL LIABILITY ANTICIPATED INCREASE OF 15%, AGAIN, STARTING IN JANUARY WOULD BE ON AN ANNUALIZED BASIS, $54,000. SO I'M NOT I DON'T HAVE A CALCULATOR IN MY HEAD.
AND THOSE NUMBERS WERE WAY TOO BIG.
WHAT WHERE ARE WE AT WITH THAT A MILLION DOLLARS.
SO YOU'RE JUST OVER $1 MILLION WITH THE, THE THE SALARY INCREASE, THE COLA, THE COST OF LIVING OR THE COST OF LIVING, THE MERIT AND THOSE THREE ITEMS OF INSURANCE INCREASES.
[00:35:01]
WELL YOU SURE KNOW HOW TO BURST SOMEBODY'S BUBBLE.BUT HERE'S TAKE ANOTHER SIDE OF THE ARGUMENT.
WE'LL GIVE STAFF AND LET'S SAY, YOU KNOW, NO CHALLENGE 8%.
BUT A 2% MILLAGE RATE IS ONLY 2% FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE PAYING THAT 8%.
SO SHOULDN'T EVERYBODY BENEFIT FROM ALL THE ECONOMIC GROWTH? AND THAT'S MY ARGUMENT.
AND YOU KNOW, I'M NOT SAYING THE STAFF DOESN'T DESERVE IT, BUT SO DO THE RESIDENTS.
THEY SHOULD ALL GET AN INCREASE.
RIGHT. YOU KNOW, WHAT WAS THE MILITARY GIVEN? REMEMBER THAT YOU SAID, OKAY, WE'RE GIVEN A LOT MORE THAN WHAT THE MILITARY IS GETTING.
WE SHOULD COMPARE IT NOT JUST TO THE COST OF LIVING, BUT ALL THE SAME ITEMS WE LOOKED AT LAST YEAR.
YOU KNOW WHAT? WHAT DID WHAT WERE THE OTHER MUNICIPALITIES DOING? WHAT WERE WHAT WERE THE MILITARY GIVING? WHAT'S EVERY WHAT'S THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT GIVING? AND THE CHART THAT WE SHOW, I THINK AT LEAST SINCE [INAUDIBLE] BEEN HERE, I BELIEVE THAT WAS THE METHODOLOGY THAT WE USED.
AND COUNCIL, TO MY UNDERSTANDING, WENT ALONG WITH THAT METHODOLOGY EVERY YEAR UNTIL LAST YEAR.
AND BUT THAT'S BUT THAT'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE OUR FIRST DATA POINT BECAUSE WE DID IT FOR SIX, EIGHT YEARS IN A ROW AND, AND AND IT WORKED.
AND THEN LAST YEAR IT, YOU KNOW, IT WAS A DATA POINT, BUT IT DIDN'T.
THE COST OF LIVING WASN'T EXACTLY THE CALCULATION.
BUT THAT CALCULATION, AGAIN, FOR THIS YEAR IS A PLACE TO START THE DISCUSSION.
SO UP UNTIL, YOU KNOW, THE LAST TWO YEARS, THE NUMBERS WERE PRETTY LOW.
YOU KNOW, THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT JUMPED UP TO 5%, THEN 8%.
AND THAT'S WHEN WE WE CHALLENGED IT.
SO I'M NOT SAYING I DISAGREE WITH 4.5%.
ALL I'M SAYING IS, RATHER THAN GET INTO A SITUATION LIKE LAST YEAR, LET'S USE ALL THE COMPARISONS THAT WE USE LAST YEAR TO MAKE A DECISION.
WHAT'S EVERYBODY ELSE DOING? BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, THE COUNCIL CHALLENGED LAST YEAR, YOU KNOW, THAT METHODOLOGY HAD LED US TO A A LL OF A SUDDEN A VERY HIGH NUMBER.
NOBODY CHALLENGED IT WHEN IT WAS 2%.
SO LET'S JUST LOOK AT ALL THE, THE DATA THAT WE, WE LOOKED AT LAST YEAR.
THROUGH THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT.
DO WE HAVE A NUMBER ON WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT THERE? I'M JUST SAYING AS I LOOK AT THIS, IT'S HARD TO LOOK AT THAT MILLAGE WITHOUT HAVING THE INFORMATION ON THE OTHERS.
I MEAN, DO WE HAVE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS THAT ARE EMINENT THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT, THAT HAVE TO BE COMPLETED.
SO SO THAT'S THE FIRST PIECE OF MY ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION.
WE HAD THE RETREAT AND ALL THAT.
ARE THERE ANY PROJECTS IN THERE THAT YOU GUYS ARE THAT THAT COUNCIL AS A WHOLE IS SAYING, YEAH, LET'S NOT WORRY ABOUT THAT TILL FISCAL 27 OR 28 OR NO, THIS IS ONE THAT WE REALLY WANT TO, YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO SEE STAFF FOCUS ON THIS.
WE WANT TO SEE SOME MAJOR PROGRESS ON THIS IN THE NEXT YEAR OR TWO.
THAT'S THE KIND OF GUIDANCE WE'RE HOPING TO COME AWAY WITH TODAY.
[00:40:09]
. SO THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS YOU'RE RELYING, YOU'RE WAITING FOR US TO GIVE YOU THE DIRECTION ON THOSE.WE HAVE SOME PROJECTS THAT ARE ONGOING IN THIS FISCAL YEAR THAT ARE GOING TO ROLL IN THE NEXT YEAR, THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME FUNDING THAT IS LIKELY TO BE LEFT OVER FROM WHAT WE'VE ALREADY BUDGETED.
THERE MIGHT BE SOME WHERE THE PRICE IS INCREASED A LITTLE BIT.
WE'LL HAVE ALL OF THAT AS PART OF THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN WE PRESENT TO YOU.
BUT THERE'S OTHER PLANS THAT ARE OUT THERE.
SO THAT WHEN WE'RE PUTTING TOGETHER OUR PLAN AND THE CITY MANAGER'S GOING TO RECOMMEND WHAT HE CAN DO WITH LIMITED FUNDING STREAMS, THAT THAT WE GIVE, THAT WE GIVE THAT MORE WEIGHT, LET'S SAY.
ALL RIGHT. AND JUST FOR THAT, SO WE HAVE A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN, FIVE YEAR PLAN AS JOHN SAID, THERE'S SOME IN PROGRESS SOME ARE ON THE DRAWING BOARD, SOME WERE IN THE PERMITTING STAGES AS WE KNOW.
SO THE PURPOSE OF THIS DISCUSSION IS ARE THERE ANY SPECIFIC PROJECTS THAT THE COUNCIL SAYS, MAN, I WISH WE REALLY IF WE'RE GOING TO SPEND SOME MONEY, HERE'S SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I'D REALLY LIKE TO GET DONE, EXCLUSIVE OF THE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU WOULD A MAJORITY SAYS WE NEED TO DO THIS.
SO I MEAN, IT'S GOOD TO KNOW THAT NOW.
AND AND I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, STEVE.
I NEED TO SEE THE, THE BREADTH OF THE PROJECTS.
BUT ARE THERE ANY SPECIFIC THINGS THAT YOU REALLY THINK IS IMPORTANT THAT WE REALLY TRY TO FIND A WAY TO FUND? I'D LIKE TO SEE THE PROJECTS NOW THAT ARE IN PLAY.
ARE THERE SOMETHING IN THERE THAT WE COULD ACCELERATE TO FINISH THEM UP? WHERE ARE THEY IN PROGRESS WITH EVERYTHING? I MEAN, ARE WE PLANNING ARE WE STARTED I MEAN, I, YOU KNOW, TO START NEW PROJECTS WHEN WE ARE SO CLOSE TO FINISHING SOME THAT WE COULD GET FINISHED, MAKES MAKES MORE SENSE TO ME.
I SEE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING TO OVERALL TO MAKE THAT.
IF I MAY, FOR WHEN YOU SAY IF THERE'S A PROJECT IN PLAY THAT MAYBE WE COULD ACCELERATE, I UNDERSTAND LOOKING AT IT THAT WAY, BUT I GUESS STAFF'S QUESTION IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT IN THE SENSE OF, ARE THERE ANY PROJECTS IN PLAY THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE BE ACCELERATED? OKAY. DOES THAT. YEAH.
SPEAKERS] DO WE HAVE CERTAIN PROJECTS WHERE WE MAY HAVE OVERRUNS ON? WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF, THE UPGRADES TO THE POLICE STATION.
ARE WE GOING TO HAVE ANY, OVERRUNS OR THINGS THAT.
[INAUDIBLE] WHAT YOU'RE ASKING ABOUT IS JUST IF THERE'S, UNFORESEEN CONDITIONS AND YES, BUT WE HAD A CONTINGENCY IN OUR NUMBER, SO WE'RE OKAY. SO THE BIGGER PROBLEM NOW IS OUR CONTRACTOR IS UNDERPERFORMING AND WE'RE IN NEGOTIATION FOR A TIME, EXTENSION OF WHICH THERE'S A REASONABLE EXPECTATION TO GIVE THEM. BUT THEN THE UNREASONABLE EXPECTATION [INAUDIBLE].
THAT'S NOT PART OF A CONTINGENCY NUMBER.
[INAUDIBLE] MY CONCERN WAS THE CONTINGENT.
I DID NOT NOT ALL PROJECTS, BUT THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT.
[00:45:01]
BE THE 25TH OR 30TH PROJECT.NOT AS FAR AS SOMETHING ON BOARD, JUST LIKE STOMPING ON THE ACCELERATOR.
I DO THINK, THOUGH, THE POINT COUNTERPOINT, YOU KNOW, WE MAY HAVE A VISION, BUT THEN YOU NEED SOMEBODY LIKE A JODY OR SOMEONE TO TELL US THAT WE MAY HAVE SOME FALSE ASSUMPTIONS OR THAT MAY NOT BE ABLE TO BE DOABLE.
AND I THINK THOSE THINGS ARE BEST.
MAYBE WE HAVE A VISION ABOUT IT OR SOMETHING WE'D LIKE, BUT I THINK IF WE GOT INVOLVED IN THE WEEDS AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE PEOPLE LIKE JODY AND THE PEOPLE THAT ARE MANAGING THESE PROJECTS, AND THEY COULD BE DANGEROUS FOR US TO GET TOO INVOLVED IN THAT.
I THINK CERTAINLY OUR INSIGHTS ARE GOOD AND OUR VISION IS GOOD, BUT I I DON'T THINK THEY NEED THE COUNCIL LOOKING OVER THEIR SHOULDERS, . AND I THINK THE SPACE NEEDS STUDY IS GOING TO HELP ADDRESS A LOT OF THAT FOR YOU.
I'M SUPPORTING WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
THANK YOU. WE ALL HAVE VISIONS OF THE PROJECTS THAT WE'D LIKE TO SEE, JOHN.
IT SHOULDN'T STOP MY PROJECT IT'S THE CITY'S PROJECT.
I GUESS I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE ASKING, BUT TO ME THE PROJECTS THAT ARE ALREADY OUT THERE THAT THE COUNCIL HAS LOOKED AT, THAT STAFF HAS RESEARCHED AND STAFF HAS DONE.
I'M FINE WITH LEAVING THOSE ON THE WAY THAT THEY'RE GOING.
I DON'T WANT TO GET INTO THE PET PROJECTS OR THE THE.
I REALLY WANT TO SEE THIS DONE.
IT'S IT'S FOR THE COUNCIL AS A WHOLE TO MAKE THAT DECISION.
AND WE PROBABLY WOULD . WE HAD MASTER PLANS.
WE SPENT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ON OURS AND APPROVED IN 2019 AND THE SPLASH PADS, AS MUCH AS THEY GET RIBBED ABOUT THAT THAT WAS AND I REMEMBER SPECIFICALLY WAIT, THAT'LL BE THE SECOND PHASE.
NOW IT'S THE, YOU KNOW, THE 10TH PHASE.
ANYBODY ELSE? THE RAINY DAY FUND? YEAH, I THINK LAST YEAR WE DECIDED TO INCREASE IT BY 1% EVERY YEAR.
WHAT IS WHAT WHAT WHAT DOES THE STATE RECOMMEND THAT WE KEEP.
IS THERE. DO THEY HAVE A RECOMMENDATION NUMBER? IT'S IT'S NOT REALLY THE STATE AS MUCH AS [INAUDIBLE] GOVERNMENT AND THEN THE GOVERNMENT FINANCE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION.
THEIR GUIDELINE IS TO NOT GO BELOW 16.67.
THAT MIGHT BE THE RIGHT NUMBER.
AND THAT'S WHAT COUNCIL HAS TO DECIDE.
BUT OUR GUIDELINE WOULD BE NOT TO GO BELOW THAT 16.67.
[00:50:14]
I HAVE A QUESTION.AND THEN IN GENERAL, DO WE KNOW WHAT OUR TURNOVER RATE IS ANNUALLY FOR OUR STAFF? YOU KNOW, VERY LITTLE.
WHAT IS IT? YOU KNOW, DO WE KNOW WHAT IT IS? I DON'T HAVE AN EXACT NUMBER TODAY, BUT IT'S BEEN PRETTY LOW UNTIL THIS YEAR.
WE LOST LIKE 5 OR 6 IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AT ONE TIME.
HOW ABOUT THE POLICE? TO KNOW.
AND I'D LIKE TO THROW OUT SOMETHING.
I WASN'T GOING TO SAY THIS, BUT I JUST LIKE TO THROW OUT A WAY OF THINKING ABOUT THE MERIT BUDGET.
IF YOU HAVE 3% OF THE BUDGET, LET'S SAY FOR A MERIT BUDGET AND EVERYBODY GETS 3%.
SO SOMEBODY IN THEIR FIRST QUARTILE OF SALARY COULD GET A DIFFERENT INCREASE THAN SOMEONE IN THE FOURTH QUARTILE OF THEIR SALARY IN THE SAME GRADE, AND IT WOULD BE THE SAME.
IT WOULD BE A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE ON EACH OF THOSE THINGS.
AND I DON'T WANT TO GET INTO IT TOO MUCH NOW, BUT I WOULD I'M GOING TO AT ONE TIME GET, PAM A COUPLE OF YOU TOGETHER AND SHOW HOW YOU CAN SPEND THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY, BUT MOVE PEOPLE CLOSER TO THE MIDPOINT THAT ARE IN FIRST OR SECOND QUARTILE JOBS.
SO THEY GET TO THEY GET TO THE CRITICAL 50% CARTEL IS VERY IMPORTANT.
WHEN WE START NEW PEOPLE, ARE WE HAVING A POINT WHERE WE HIRE THEM AT OUR SALARY POINT, OR ARE WE HIRING THEM LIKE AT THE LOWEST POINT IN THEIR SALARY GRADE SO THAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE THEM A COUPLE RAISES JUST TO GET TO THE MARKET RATE? I THINK THAT SOME THINKING NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT NOW.
DOES THAT MAKE SENSE TO YOU? WHAT I'M SAYING I DON'T MEAN AGREE WITH ME, BUT.
AND I'M NOT SURE I AGREE WITH THAT STARTING EVERYONE AT THE MINIMUM, WE NEED TO LOOK AT IT TO HAVE DATA, WHICH IS MEANING TURNOVER AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS SO THAT WHEN WE GET PEOPLE IN HERE 2 OR 3 TIMES.
SO WE'RE SHOOTING OURSELVES IN A FOOT.
NOW, LET ME JUST STEVE, LET ME ASK SOME OF YOU OUT THERE THAT ARE HIRING.
DO I SOUND LIKE I'M CRAZY SAYING THAT, OR DOES IT MAKE SENSE TO YOU? BECAUSE I LOOK AT IT MORE FROM THE USER POINT OF VIEW, NOT THE STAFF POINT OF VIEW? I'LL TELL YOU THAT ON MY SIDE OF THE HOUSE, I'VE BEEN FIGHTING FOR LONGEVITY RAISES FOR A WHILE, MR. STEVE I'LL TELL YOU THAT. BUT, IT IS WHAT IT IS.
AND I'M GOING TO TELL YOU, IN THIS MARKET, HILTON HEAD IS THE TOP DOG.
IT'S HARD TO COMPETE WITH THAT IN THIS MARKET.
WE CAN'T BE. WE CAN'T DO THAT $70,000 FOR A PARAMEDIC.
I CAN'T COMPETE CAN'T EVEN COME CLOSE.
WHAT WOULD OUR NUMBER BE [INAUDIBLE]? WITH EXPERIENCE AROUND $55 TO $60.
WE BRING THOSE GUYS IN. WE DON'T BRING THEM IN AT THE BOTTOM BECAUSE THEY ARE PARAMEDICS.
AND THEY DO HAVE A VERY VALUABLE SKILL SET THAT WE NEED.
SO THEY DON'T COME IN AT THE BEGINNING.
THE ONLY PEOPLE I BRING IN AT THE BEGINNING ARE THE ONES THAT I HAVE TO SEND TO THE ACADEMY.
YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE NOTHING COMING OFF THE STREET.
AND THAT WAY, BASED ON YOUR EXPERIENCE, YOU DO GET MORE THAN JUST BASE.
SO WE TRY TO GET THEM UP TO THE MIDPOINT, BUT IT'S HARD WITHOUT ANYTHING.
YOU KNOW, WE GOT THE COLA RAISES WHICH IS [INAUDIBLE] WHICH IS GREAT.
WE ALSO HAVE TO BE CAREFUL OF, INEQUITIES WITH PEOPLE THAT'S BEEN HERE FOR YEARS.
[00:55:05]
THE SALARY SCALE KEEPS GOING UP AND IT LOOKS AT THE FUTURE AND THE CURRENT, NOT THE PAST NECESSARILY.AND SO I JUST THINK SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT THAT ARE VERY, VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE I THINK YOU JUST END UP SHOOTING YOURSELF IN THE FOOT WITH TURNOVER AND LOSING PEOPLE THAT MAYBE YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO.
AND THEY'VE DONE IT EVERY SINGLE TIME [INAUDIBLE].
WE HAD HIGHWAY PATROL JUST SENT OUT AN ADVERTISEMENT.
OH, YEAH. STARTING WITH A LITTLE BIT OF EXPERIENCE AT $71,000 AND A $5,000 SIGN ON BONUS.
HOW MUCH? $71,000 AND A $5,000 SIGN ON BONUS.
I GAVE THAT TO MR. C THE OTHER DAY JUST TO SHOW HIM WHY WE CAN'T FIND SOMEBODY.
AND I ALREADY HAD 3 OR 4 OFFICERS LOOK DEEPLY INTO INTO THAT BECAUSE IT'S JUST IT'S NOT THEY'RE NOT STAYING BECAUSE THEY LIKE HARDEEVILLE.
THEY'RE GOING WHERE THE MONEY'S AT.
THAT'S EVERYBODY'S GOING TO DO THAT.
EVERYBODY. YOU CAN'T BLAME HIM.
YOU CAN'T BLAME A YOUNG FAMILY FOR DOING IT.
EXACTLY RIGHT. I'M NOT SAYING WE CAN.
BUT AGAIN, THIS IS ONE OF THE DIFFICULTIES THAT YOU WERE FINDING TRYING TO HIRE GOOD PEOPLE.
MONEY. IT'S JUST HOW WE SPLIT THAT UP FOR THESE INCREASES.
BUT IF SOMEBODY WAS IN THE FIRST QUARTILE THEY MIGHT GET A 10% MERIT INCREASE.
THEN WHEN YOU GET TO THE MIDPOINT AND YOU GET A CROSS THERE, MAYBE SOMEBODY IN THEIR THIRD QUARTILE MIGHT GET A 6% SALARY INCREASE, AND THEN SOMEBODY THAT'S IN THE FOURTH QUARTILE THAT'S CLOSE TO THE TOP VALUE OF THAT JOB, I GET A 3%.
SO PEOPLE AT THE LOWER RATES MOVE FASTER UP BECAUSE THEY STARTED LOWER.
AND IT'S NOT EVERYBODY GETS THE SAME THING, BUT THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF SALARY INCREASES TOTALED IN, LET'S USE THE NUMBER 3%. BUT IT TAKES SOME MATHEMATICS AND SOME WORKING ON THAT.
BUT I THINK AND THEN WE HAD WHERE WE STARTED PEOPLE AND I'M NOT WE NEVER STARTED PEOPLE.
THE MINIMUM OF THE SALARY RANGE BECAUSE WE KNEW WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IN 2 OR 3 YEARS, YOU'D LOSE THEM BECAUSE THE MIDPOINT, THEY'RE NOT GETTING CLOSE TO THAT, WHICH IS THE MARKET RATE FOR THEIR JOB.
SO SO ORGANIZATIONS CAN CREATE THEIR OWN TURNOVER PROBLEM JUST BY NOT HAVING THE RIGHT PHILOSOPHY OF WHERE DO THEY START PEOPLE OR THE MERIT BUDGETS OR THOSE THINGS AND NOT BE SANTA CLAUSE IN THE THINKING OF ALL THAT.
AND SO I SEE US BEING SORT OF AT THE RUDIMENTARY STAGE EVERYBODY GETS 3%.
BUT I'M SAYING THERE'S WAYS YOU CAN MOVE PEOPLE DIFFERENTLY AND STILL SPEND 3%.
AND I THINK IT'S WORTH LOOKING AT FOR THIS NEXT YEAR MAYBE.
I MEAN, BECAUSE THAT'S THAT'S THE GOING RATE.
BUT WE BRING PEOPLE IN WITH, WITH EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE AND ALL LIKE THAT.
WE PAY THEM, WE START THEM OFF AT A HIGHER RATE.
I KNOW I DO AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT THROUGH THE CITY MANAGER, I GO TO THE CITY MANAGER.
I SAID, THIS GUY'S GOT THIS, THIS, THIS AND THIS.
HE BRINGS 20 YEARS OF SERVICE INTO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
I CAN'T START HIM OFF AT $46,000.
YOU'RE ASKING ME TO START A POLICE OFFICER RIGHT OUT OF OFF THE STREET AT $46,500 TO PUT A GUN AND A BADGE ON AND GO OUT HERE AFTER THE BAD PEOPLE AND AND WE DO IT.
BECAUSE THEY'RE ON THE EXACT SAME RETIREMENT SYSTEM.
THEY'VE LOST ZERO IN THEIR RETIREMENT SYSTEM.
THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, THEY SKIP HERE, THEY GO TO THE NEXT PLACE.
THEIR RETIREMENT KEEPS RIGHT ON TRUCKING.
SO THEY'RE THEY'RE LOSING NOTHING BY MOVING DEPARTMENTS.
ALL RIGHT. DOVETAILING ON ALL THAT I GUESS [INAUDIBLE] SO, JOHN, HOW ARE YOU AND MIKE HANDLING THAT BECAUSE SAM NEEDS PEOPLE, AND, STEVE NEEDS PEOPLE.
[01:00:01]
WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN THE BUDGET WISE AS FAR AS MAYBE UPPING THE STARTING SALARIES OR SOMETHING? ARE Y'ALL CONSIDERING THAT? IS THAT GOING TO BE IN THE BUDGET? BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE YOU'VE GOT TO GIVE SAM AND STEVE SOME MONEY TO ATTRACT PEOPLE TO START WITH.SO WHERE DO YOU HOW DO YOU DO THAT? THE REALITY OF HIRING PEOPLE IS DIFFERENT THAN THE SPREADSHEET OF HIRING PEOPLE.
I'M VERY MUCH A PARTNER WITH WITH STEVE AND SAM AND ALL THE DEPARTMENT HEADS WITH THE CITY MANAGER AS WE'RE DOING THIS, I'M SUGGESTING LOOKING AT TURNOVER AND RECRUITMENT AND THOSE KIND OF ISSUES AND WHERE WE START PEOPLE AND ALL THOSE THINGS.
AND IT MAY BE THE RIGHT ANSWER OF WHAT WE'RE DOING.
IT MAY BE THERE'S SOME SLIGHT ADJUSTMENTS THAT WE COULD MAKE THAT WOULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
AND SALARIES ARE NOT EGALITARIAN.
AND ALL THAT NEEDS TO BE PART OF OUR STRATEGIC THINKING IN MY OPINION.
I DON'T WANT TO SOUND LIKE A BROKEN HORSE, BUT I'VE BEEN THROUGH THIS FOR 30 YEARS.
WHEN I WAS WORKING FOR A LIVING, AND I KNEW WHAT I LEARNED FROM THAT.
WELL, AS A CITY MANAGER SAYS THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS, HOW THE SAUSAGE IS MADE, A LOT OF OR A LOT OF, I'D SAY PROBABLY ALL OF WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS PART OF THAT SAUSAGE MAKING [INAUDIBLE]. SO WHERE DO YOU GO, MIKE, THIS YEAR FOR TRYING TO HELP STEVE AND SAM TO ATTRACT PEOPLE? WHAT? I MEAN, WHAT ARE YOU ALL TRYING TO DO? WELL, SO AGAIN, THIS IS I DON'T WANT TO SAY WE'RE GETTING FAR AFIELD, BUT, I MEAN, I'M TRYING TO STAY STAY ON POINT AND I KNOW PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN HERE A LOT LONGER THAN ME.
I MEAN, I KNOW WE HAD SOME DOCUMENT THAT WAS NEVER UPDATED, NEVER COST OF LIVING WAS IMPROVED.
THERE WASN'T ANY PAY FOR PERFORMANCE SYSTEM THAT THAT'S ALL CHANGED.
I MEAN, EVERY YEAR WE UPDATE THE CLASSIFICATION PLAN EVERY 2 OR 3 YEARS.
WE DO COMPARABLE SURVEYS OF COMMUNITIES TO MAKE SURE WE ARE BEING COMPETITIVE.
WE'RE WE'RE TRYING TO DO ALL [INAUDIBLE].
BUT WE ARE TRYING TO BE COMPETITIVE.
SO THAT BEING SAID I UNDERSTAND WHAT BO IS SAYING.
IN MY EXPERIENCE, LOOKING AT WHAT YOU'VE DONE AS A GROUP IS IT'S IT'S IMPRESSIVE AND IT'S GOOD AND BUT IT'S ONE OF THOSE FIELDS THAT NEEDS CONSTANT THOUGHT, CONSTANT. I AGREE WITH YOU BOTH.
IT'S JUST, THINKING OUT LOUD CLASSIFICATION PAYING AS PART OF THE BUDGET.
WE GET IT. SO WE HAVE TO BE COMPETITIVE.
WE WE MIGHT NOT BE THE LEADING HORSE, BUT WE'RE IN THE RACE.
AS AS A AS A COUNCIL MEMBER AND NOT THERE'S NO POLITICS OR ANYTHING INVOLVED IN MY THOUGHT WITH THIS AT ALL.
BUT REDUCING THE MILLAGE, KEEPING IT THE SAME, RAISING THE MILLAGE AND ALL OF THAT BOTTOM LINE IS, IS I HAVE TO JUSTIFY WHATEVER WE DO TO THE CITIZENS OF HARDEEVILLE. AND I CAN LOOK AT IT IN SO MANY WAYS.
THE PAST COUNCIL, AND, YOU KNOW, YOU HAD THE VISION OF BRINGING US AN AMBULANCE.
WE HAVE PARAMEDICS THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CONTINUE TO STAFF.
THERE'S $1 MILLION INVESTMENT SITTING THERE WITH THAT PIECE OF EQUIPMENT.
WE CAN'T PARK IT NOW, SO WE HAVE TO KEEP LOOKING FORWARD WITH THAT.
[01:05:06]
BETTER PROTECTED THAT YOU HAVE RIGHT NOW.WE ARE INCREASING THE CITY SERVICES.
IT'S A HELL OF A IT'S A HELL OF A BALANCE OF TRYING TO ACHIEVE HERE.
AND, YOU KNOW, OUR NUMBERS ARE GOOD FINANCIALLY AND FISCALLY.
DO WE DO? WE HIT THIS ALL THE TIME.
BUT PEOPLE SAY, WELL, MY TAX BILL DIDN'T GO DOWN.
WELL, YOU HAVE TO GO LOOK AT JASPER COUNTY OR LOOK AT BEAUFORT COUNTY THAT WE CANNOT CONTROL.
ALL I CAN CONTROL OR ALL WE CAN CONTROL IS WE GOT TO SELL OUR CITY TO THE RESIDENTS.
AND BY BY MAINTAINING AND IMPROVING OUR SERVICES.
WE DO IT. THAT'S JUST MY THOUGHT.
I THINK THERE'S TWO CONVERSATIONS HERE REALLY? NUMBER ONE.
AS YOU [INAUDIBLE] WHAT'S THE MERIT INCREASE? AND I THINK WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT DATA.
THEN I SEE THE RECRUITMENT OF POLICE AND FIRE, PARTICULARLY AS AND ALSO, INSPECTORS.
THAT'S THAT'S A SEPARATE PROBLEM.
HOW DO WE SOLVE THAT? GIVEN AN 8% OR 6% RAISE EACH YEAR DOESN'T SOLVE YOUR PROBLEM OF RECRUITING NEW OFFICERS.
WHAT DO YOU NEED? WHAT IS THERE? WHAT KIND OF PROGRAM AND WHAT'S THE DOLLAR AMOUNT TO THAT? HOW DO WE FILL THOSE 814 POLICE AND FIRE POSITIONS? WHAT'S IT GOING TO TAKE? YOU KNOW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A HOUSING PLAN.
SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT'S ONE WAY OF PURSUING THE PROBLEM.
BUT I THINK WE NEED A SEPARATE CONVERSATION ON HOW DO WE RECRUIT AND WHAT IS IT, WHAT'S IT GOING TO TAKE, AND IS THERE A DOLLAR AMOUNT TO THAT? THAT'S WHAT I WAS TRYING TO IT'S TWO SEPARATE, TWO SEPARATE CONVERSATIONS.
[INAUDIBLE] I'M TRYING TO HIRE A RECRUITING OFFICER RIGHT NOW, SIR.
SOMEBODY THAT'S GOING OUT AND WORKING EVERY DAY TO TRY TO RECRUIT POLICE OFFICERS ON THE OTHER HAND, IT'S GOING TO COST.
AND I'VE ALREADY TALKED TO THE CITY MANAGER BRIEFLY ABOUT IT, ABOUT IT.
AND WE WE COULDN'T COME UP WITH THE THE AMOUNT OF MONEY SHE WAS REQUESTING.
SO WE HAD TO WE HAD TO BACK OFF A LITTLE BIT.
BUT SAM, THEN IF YOU GET THE RECRUITING OFFICER YOU STILL GOT TO GIVE THEM SOMETHING IN ORDER SPEAKERS]. THE OTHER THING TO CONSIDER, JOHN, IF THOSE 14 POSITIONS THAT WERE SHORT WERE FILLED RIGHT NOW.
EVEN THOUGH THE, THE THEIR MONEY WAS BUDGETED IN THERE, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ADDED INSURANCE COSTS AND ALL OF THAT AS WE SAW THAT THAT NUMBER, THAT $1.3, WHAT WOULD THAT BE FACTORED INTO? WHERE WOULD WE BE WITH THAT NUMBER IF WE WERE FULLY STAFFED? GOOD QUESTION. YEAH.
[INAUDIBLE] BUT AND WE BUDGET FOR THE YEAR AT FULL STAFFING OKAY.
IN ANTICIPATION OF DOING THAT OKAY.
ALL RIGHT. YEAH. YOU DO THAT EVERY YEAR.
GOOD GOOD. AND THEN THE OTHER THING IS THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE AMBULANCE SERVICE.
AND I DON'T WANT TO GET US OFF ON OFF TRACK.
BUT THAT'S NOT A DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR THING.
AND THOSE IN MY MIND ARE NOT REAL CLOSE, [INAUDIBLE] JUST TRYING TO GET AN IDEA OF THAT ADDED REVENUE THAT WE ANTICIPATE. AND THE ADDED COST.
WHERE'S THAT? WHAT'S THAT NUMBER? WHERE IS THAT NUMBER GOING TO SHAKE OUT? WHAT WILL WE.
WHERE WILL THERE BE EXCESS MONEY? WILL THERE NOT BE ANY EXCESS MONEY? AND HOW DO WE MAKE THAT DECISION ON THAT MILLAGE RATE?
[01:10:02]
READY TO MOVE TO THE LAST SLIDE.THIS IS THE CALENDAR THAT WE PROPOSED.
WE SHARED WITH STAFF, AND WE DID THIS BACK ON JANUARY 31ST.
[INAUDIBLE] I'M GOING TO TAKE YOU THERE, MR. CARROLL. I'M GOING TO TAKE YOU THERE.
THE INITIAL BUDGET REQUEST AND EVERYTHING IS DUE TO, TO, FINANCE, NEXT MONDAY, WHICH IS A HOLIDAY.
SO WE PROBABLY WE MAY GIVE THEM TILL THE 20TH.
THEN YOU SEE, WE WERE GOING TO WE'RE GOING TO SIT DOWN AND REVIEW WITH THE DEPARTMENT HEADS, AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO MEET MR. CARROLL TO YOUR POINT ON, BETWEEN MARCH 14TH AND MARCH 22ND, MEET WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS INDIVIDUALLY TO DISCUSS PRELIMINARY BUDGET PROPOSALS.
WE USED TO DO THAT AND KIND OF GOT AWAY FROM IT, BUT IT'S JUST SO MUCH EASIER.
YEAH. AND THEN BY THE 12TH OF APRIL, THE CITY MANAGER IS GOING TO PROVIDE THE BUDGET TO COUNCIL, AND WE'LL LOOK FOR A COUPLE OF WORKSHOPS BETWEEN APRIL 15TH AND MAY 10TH WITH THE IDEA OF HAVING A FIRST READING ON MAY 16TH AND A SECOND AND FINAL READING, BUDGET, PUBLIC HEARING AND APPROVAL OF THE BUDGET AND MILLAGE ON JUNE 6TH.
AND THEN WE'LL WAIT A COUPLE MONTHS AND DO THIS ALL OVER AGAIN.
YOU'RE FULL OF FULL OF GOOD NEWS.
ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT OUR CALENDAR? I'M GOING TO THROW OUT A THOUGHT.
I'M NOT GOING TO ESPOUSE ANYTHING, BUT I'LL THROW OUT A THOUGHT.
I CAN'T IMAGINE THAT THEY WOULD.
BUT IF JUST IN CASE THEY DID, PERHAPS.
PERHAPS IT IS SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT RATHER THAN BUDGET ADDITIONAL SPACE, TAKE THAT MONEY AND BUDGET IT TOWARDS FILLING THE POSITIONS THAT AREN'T FILLED NOW.
[INAUDIBLE] WE HAVE 6 OR 8 THAT WE HAVEN'T FILLED SO FAR.
SO RATHER THAN TAKE THAT TEN TIMES WHATEVER AND THAT MONEY, USE THAT MONEY TO PUT TOWARDS A RECRUITMENT EFFORT SO HE COULD FILL THE SPOTS HE CAN'T FILL ALREADY, START WITH.
RIGHT. YOU KNOW, BECAUSE OTHERWISE LET'S SAY YOU KNOW WE'RE GOING TO WE'RE GOING TO ADD THREE MORE SPOTS AND JUST INCREASE THE NUMBER OF SPOTS THAT ARE NOT FILLED. MAYBE WE USE THE MONEY IN SOME OTHER WAY, AND I'M NOT.
THAT'S A POSSIBILITY. I MEAN, WE JUST AGAIN, PART OF OUR OVERALL RECRUITMENT PROCESS.
WE NEED TO GET LEANER AND MEANER.
OKAY. WELL, I MEAN, AGAIN, PROVIDE US YOUR THOUGHTS.
WE I THINK WE AT LEAST HAVE AN IDEA OF WHAT WE'RE DOING.
WE'LL BE MEETING WITH YOU IN THE NEXT MONTH OR SO AND GET, YOU KNOW, GET TO HONE DOWN AND GET A LITTLE BIT CLOSER TO WHERE WE NEED TO GET AND KEEP US INFORMED. WE WILL PROVIDE ALL THE DATA THAT THE COUNCIL REQUESTED.
SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.