I'M PRETTY SURE WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND CALL THE BUDGET WORKSHOP TO ORDER.
[A. CALL MEETING TO ORDER]
[00:00:08]
TUESDAY, AUGUST 13TH, 2024 AT 11 A.M.WELL, CAN I GET A MOTION TO SKIP THE INVOCATION AND THE PLEDGE? SO MOVED. WE HAVE A MOTION TO DO THAT BY COMMISSIONER THERIOT.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER THOMAS.
ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS? NO. CITIZENS COMMENTS.
OKAY. WE'LL GO RIGHT INTO THE WORKSHOP.
[F.1 To discuss Proposed Budget for FY 2025. Speaker: Judge Haden/Danie Teltow/Ezzy Chan; Backup: 67; Cost: $0.00]
ITEM F ONE TO DISCUSS PROPOSED BUDGET FOR FY 2025.COMMISSIONER TERRY REMINDED ME THAT WE HAD DISCUSSED AND I HAD NOT PUT INTO THE BUDGET YET MOVING JOSE CASTILLO FROM THE ENVIRONMENTAL TASK FORCE TO POSSIBLE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT THAT WOULD MOVE APPROXIMATELY 25, I MEAN, 25, 85,000 FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER.
AND THEN THE POSSIBLE ADDITION OF A PLANNER AT A AT A COST OF $115,000.
AND, COMMISSIONER, I'LL LET YOU KIND OF LINE OUT WHAT YOU TOLD ME.
WE HAD WE HAD TALKED PREVIOUSLY ABOUT KIND OF AN ACTION THAT THE COURT COULD TAKE DURING THE BUDGETING PROCESS TO ADDRESS A COUPLE OF ISSUES THAT WE'RE HAVING ONE OF THE ISSUES IS, IS CODE ENFORCEMENT.
AND SO WE DISCUSSED THE POSSIBILITY OF MOVING THE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER FROM THE DA'S OFFICE TO A DIVISION TO BE CREATED.
THAT WOULD BE UNDER THE JUDGE.
WE ALSO DISCUSSED IN COMBINATION WITH THAT, CREATING A DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DIVISION, WHICH IS A COMMON STRUCTURE WITH COUNTIES BASTROP, HAYS.
YOU KNOW, OUR NEARBY COUNTIES THAT HAVE THAT TYPE OF STRUCTURE AND HAVE THAT DEPARTMENT INCLUDE A PLANNER TYPE POSITION A MID-LEVEL PLANNER.
THE PLANNER COULD OVERSEE THE ACTIVITIES OF THE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER PLANNER IS WELL VERSED IN THE CODE LANGUAGE.
SO HE COULD BE VERY. OR HE OR SHE BE VERY INVOLVED IN THAT PROCESS.
AND THE PLANNER COULD ALSO HELP US TO REDUCE OUR PERMIT REVIEW COST THAT THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY HAVING.
MOST OF THE PLANNING REVIEW THAT DOESN'T INVOLVE NEW STREETS OR ARE THOSE TYPES OF REVIEWS CAN ARE DONE MOST OF THE TIME BY NON-ENGINEERING STAFF IN MOST PLACES.
AND SO THAT PLANNER CAN HANDLE ALL THAT THAT THAT PLANNER CAN HANDLE.
BASIC SITE DEVELOPMENT ISSUES.
THE, YOU KNOW, THOSE, THOSE TYPES OF PERMIT REVIEWS.
SO WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT IMPACTING ANYTHING TO DO WITH CASEY'S CURRENT OPERATIONS. CASEY IS STILL THE SANITARIAN WOULD STILL BE THE INTAKE POINT FOR PERMITTING IN CASE YOU WOULD JUST ROUTE THOSE PERMITS TO TO THIS PERSON FOR REVIEW.
WE'RE IN THE PROCESS RIGHT NOW STILL OF IMPLEMENTING THE NEW SOFTWARE THAT THAT WE HAVE PURCHASED THAT WILL ALLOW ALL OF IT TO BE DONE ONLINE.
SO IT'LL JUST BE A MATTER OF YOU KNOW, THE PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REVIEW, ACCESSING THAT INFORMATION ONLINE AND THEN AND THEN MAKING THAT APPROVAL OR COMMENTS.
SO IT WAS DISCUSSED AT THE AT PREVIOUSLY MOVING THE MONEY TO FUND WHILE THE, THE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER COMING WITH THEIR, THEIR FUNDING.
AND THEN WE DISCUSSED FUNDING THAT PLANNER POSITION.
[00:05:04]
OUT OF OUT OF ALSO THAT CODE ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENT.I GUESS THAT WOULD BE A DISCUSSION ISSUE THAT THAT WE'D STILL NEED TO HAVE.
THEIR BUDGET NOW IS ONLY AROUND 300 K.
SO YOU'D BE KIND OF CUTTING THEIR BUDGET IN HALF BUT LEAVING THAT STAFF THERE.
YEAH. BUT WE DO HAVE THE MONEY AVAILABLE TO ADD THIS TO THE BUDGET OKAY.
IT WOULDN'T COME OUT OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL BUDGET.
IT WOULD BE AN ADDITION, ADDITIONAL EXPENSE TO THE BUDGET.
BUT IT'S NOT REALLY ADDITIONAL.
WE HAVE THE MONEY. IT'S JUST A REALLOCATION OF.
YEAH, YEAH. SO WITH THAT SAID I, YOU KNOW, I'LL THROW IT OPEN TO THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS.
GET YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS? I I'VE MADE THIS KNOWN AS A PRIORITY OVER THE LAST 2 OR 3 BUDGET CYCLES THAT I THINK WE NEED TO MOVE IN THE DIRECTION OF A DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
IT'S EVIDENT JUST BASED UPON VOLUME.
I DO LIKE THE FACT THAT WE COULD START DOING SOME OF THE REVIEW IN-HOUSE IN ORDER TO START REDUCING THE COST ASSOCIATED WITH THE OUTSOURCING WITH THAT.
SO I WOULD BE IN FAVOR OF MOVING FORWARD WITH BOTH THE CODE ENFORCEMENT POSITION AS WELL AS THE CREATING OF A OF A PLANNING POSITION THAT WOULD OVERSEE IT TO START MAKING SURE THAT THE COUNTY IS IN A BETTER POSITION TO DEAL WITH THE, THE VOLUME OF DEVELOPMENT REQUESTS THAT WE'RE, THAT WE'RE SEEING. OKAY.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS, COMMISSIONERS? IF NOT, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND WE'LL ADD THAT, MAKE THOSE CHANGES SO THAT WHEN WE BRING IT BACK, THEY'LL BE IN THE BUDGET FOR YOUR REVIEW AND, AND EVENTUAL APPROVAL.
ONE OF THE OTHER AREAS THAT I WANTED TO BRING UP THAT'S, THAT'S BECOMING A REAL ISSUE IS WE ARE LOSING. SORRY.
WE ARE LOSING OUR DEPUTIES AT WHAT I WOULD CONSIDER TO BE AN ALARMING RATE.
WE'VE LOST SIX DEPUTIES TO OTHER PLACES FOR MORE PAY.
KYLE WAS A 14 YEAR VETERAN OF THE.
SO WAS ABLE TO TAKE A JOB AT CITY OF LOCKHART AT THEIR PD RECEIVED A BONUS OF $11,000 A YEAR MORE AS AN ENTRY LEVEL PATROL OFFICER.
SO IT'S MY OPINION, BUT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BE COMPETITIVE WITH THAT.
WE CANNOT COMPETE WITH THEM, BUT WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO COMPETE WITH OUR OWN ENTITIES HERE LOCALLY.
SO, OUR SUGGESTION WAS TO ADJUST OUR PAY SCALE TO A SIMILAR PAY SCALE THAT THE THAT CITY OF LOCKHART IS CURRENTLY DOING, WHICH WOULD BE, I THINK, 61,000 FOR ENTRY LEVEL PATROL.
AND THEN GOING UP THROUGH THEIR IT AMOUNTS TO A VERY IT'S PRETTY LARGE INCREASE.
COMMISSIONERS. IT'S ABOUT A 13% INCREASE ACROSS THE BOARD FOR JAILERS AND FOR THE DEPUTIES AND FOR SID. THIS THIS IS ONLY FOR CERTIFIED OFFICERS.
SO, HAVING SAID ALL THAT, THAT THAT INCREASE WILL COME TO A GRAND TOTAL OF $619,875. AND THAT'S THE INCREASE IN PAY.
SO I JUST UNLESS WE AND RIGHT NOW IN THE IN THE REAL ISSUE IS WE I THINK AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, SHERIFF, BUT WE HAVE TWO DEPUTIES PER SHIFT RUNNING RIGHT NOW AND THAT IS NOT ENOUGH COVERAGE.
YES. YEAH. I HAVE A COUPLE THAT HAVE THREE TOTAL.
BUT WE WERE WE WERE IN A VERY RARE SPOT UP UNTIL JUST RECENTLY, WE WERE THE ONLY ONE IN CENTRAL TEXAS THAT WAS NOT BEGGING FOR PEOPLE AND WHEN LOCKHART ADDED THAT $10,000 SIGN ON BONUS AND DID ANOTHER, DID ANOTHER RAISE, I'M SORRY.
[00:10:04]
I HAD SEVERAL FOLKS LEAVE.I HAVE ONE LEAVING TO NEW BRAUNFELS.
ALL RIGHT. SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE UP AGAINST.
WHAT I WHAT I WANT TO AVOID IS WHAT LOCKHART JUST WENT THROUGH, WHERE WE HAVE OUR STAFFS BEING COMPLETELY GUTTED, AND WE DON'T HAVE ANY EXPERIENCED OFFICERS ON THE STREET. WE DON'T HAVE ANY EXPERIENCED OFFICERS TO PUT IN CHARGE OF OFFICERS.
AND THAT WAS QUITE A MESS THAT THEY JUST WENT THROUGH.
AND WE'RE RAPIDLY HEADING IN THAT DIRECTION.
AND I THINK IT'S MY OPINION ONLY, BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE IRRESPONSIBLE OF US NOT TO DO THIS.
I MEAN, I'LL THROW MY $0.02 IN.
AND WE WORKED PRETTY HARD TO TRY TO FIX SOME OF IT.
UNFORTUNATELY IT'S AN EVOLVING ISSUE.
AND I WOULD PREFER US NOT TO GO DOWN THE ROAD THAT THAT THE CITY OF LOCKHART WENT DOWN BECAUSE IT COMPLETELY GUTTED THEIR COMMAND STAFF AND YOU KNOW, THEY'RE DEALING WITH THAT IN THE WAY THAT THEY'RE DEALING WITH IT.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S HAVING A CONSEQUENCE ON OUR STAFFING.
THAT'S JUST THE NICEST WAY I CAN SAY IT.
I DO NOT THINK THAT IT IS SOMETHING WE CAN IGNORE.
I THINK WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THIS AND BE REAL ABOUT THE SITUATION.
ON WHAT IT TAKES, COMPENSATION WISE, TO PAY EXPERIENCED OFFICERS.
AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY, ALL OF YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN HERE FOR OVER 20 YEARS.
THE LAST SIX YEARS, Y'ALL HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLE TO US.
I'VE HAD. I'VE HAD TO WORK A LITTLE BIT.
IT'S BEEN A NEGOTIATION, BUT WE'VE COME A LONG WAY.
WE'RE JUST STILL. WE WERE JUST THAT FAR BEHIND THAT.
WE'RE STILL TRYING TO PLAY CATCH UP.
AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU LOOKING TO DO THIS.
EVENTUALLY. EVENTUALLY I WOULD LIKE TO TRY TO GET STEP AND GRADE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. MEANING YEARS OF SERVICE, GOOD WORK ETHICS.
YOU KNOW, GOOD EVALUATIONS CAN ALSO HELP OUT.
I UNDERSTAND WE GOTTA TAKE BABY STEPS, BUT, I MEAN, I WOULD ENTERTAIN THAT NEXT BUDGET CYCLE, BUT JUST I JUST NEED A PRESENTATION OF WHAT THAT MEANS. ABSOLUTELY.
AND THEN WE CAN DEFINITELY ENTERTAIN THAT.
WE HAVE TO HAVE GOOD LAW ENFORCEMENT.
WE HAVE TO HAVE EXPERIENCED LAW ENFORCEMENT.
I JUST DIDN'T WANT TO COME AND ASK FOR TOO MUCH.
NO, I APPRECIATE THAT SO, JUDGE, THERE'S 600,000 YOU MENTIONED TO MAKE THAT SALARY ADJUSTMENT.
DOES THAT INCLUDE WHAT WE HAD ANTICIPATED FOR A COST OF LIVING ALREADY? THE. WELL, IT'S JUST 13%.
YEAH. SO YEAH, IT'S ALL ROLLED UP INTO THAT.
INSTEAD OF 3%, IT WOULD BE 13%.
GOTCHA. YES, SIR. SO IT'S JUST LIKE THE WHOLE PACKAGE IS IN THAT 13%.
YEAH. FOR IT BE FOR THE FOR THE DEPUTIES, FOR CID, FOR THE JAILERS.
AND SARAH FLAME WANTS TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE BAILIFFS AS WELL.
BUT WHAT THIS NUMBER INCLUDES IS WHAT I JUST SAID.
GET IT? SHERIFF, HOW MANY? HOW MANY OFFICERS ARE YOU YOU'RE LOOKING FOR? HOW MANY OFFICERS AM I SHORT? I THINK I'M SHORT SIX RIGHT NOW.
MAY I TALK ABOUT THAT? YES, SIR. SO WE ARE COMING UP ON ANOTHER YEAR OF SENATE BILL MONEY.
AND I, WE HAVE OUR PROPOSAL THAT I'VE HANDED OVER TO HER.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S IN THERE IS WHAT WE CALL SOFT PAY.
SO ANOTHER ONE OF THE THINGS THAT LOCKHART DOES, AND SEVERAL OTHER AGENCIES DO IS THEY GIVE PAY IN THE LIKE, CERTIFICATE, PAY THINGS LIKE ADVANCED.
WHERE IS THAT PART OF IT? SOFT PAY, VERY FIRST TOP.
YEAH. SO IT'S GOING TO BE THINGS LIKE CERTIFICATE PAY, NIGHT DIFFERENTIAL, SPECIAL TEAMS. SO WE HAVE ONE OFFICER, ONE DEPUTY THAT IS ON THE REGIONAL SWAT TEAM WITH TRAVIS.
I'M SORRY. HAYS AND CALDWELL COUNTY.
SO HE WOULD GET A LITTLE BIT EXTRA EVERY PAYCHECK.
NIGHT DIFFERENTIAL WOULD BE A LITTLE BIT.
[00:15:04]
JUST TRYING TO DO A LITTLE BIT MORE INCENTIVES AS WE CAN.AND THAT WOULD COME OUT OF THE SENATE BILL MONEY.
OUR PLAN IS WE DON'T KNOW THAT THIS MONEY IS GOING TO BE THERE FOREVER.
RIGHT. AND I DIDN'T PUT IN FOR ANY PAY RAISES LAST YEAR USING THIS MONEY BECAUSE OF THAT.
IF IF THIS DOES GO AWAY IN ANOTHER 2 OR 3 YEARS, THEN I'M GOING TO I'M WILLING TO TRY TO WORK WITHIN THE BUDGET THAT I GET TO TRY TO KEEP THAT.
I'M NOT TRYING TO STICK THE COUNTY WITH ANYTHING THAT THEY CAN'T DO.
I'M JUST TRYING TO USE THE MONEY WHERE I CAN AND STILL KEEP OUR DEPUTIES.
I DON'T BELIEVE FOR A HOT MINUTE THAT THIS MONEY IS GOING TO GO ON FOREVER.
NO. SO I DON'T MEAN THIS IN AN INSULTING WAY AT ALL.
IT'S NOT AN INSIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY.
IF YOU DO SOFT PAY, PLUS WE WILL JUST.
IF YOU DON'T MIND, SHERIFF, I'LL JUST GO AHEAD AND DISCUSS IT ON THE SECOND PAGE.
THERE'S WHAT THE SERGEANTS ARE.
SERGEANT LOWE, AND HIS DEPUTIES ARE MAKING NOW.
AT FIRST HE WAS PROPOSING THAT THEY MAKE THE SAME AS PATROL DEPUTIES.
AND THEN WE'VE HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS TODAY, AND HE'S PROPOSING THAT THEY GET PAID AT THE SAME RATE.
BUT IT WOULD NOT EQUATE TO THE SAME SALARY BECAUSE THEY WORK LESS HOURS THAN PATROL DEPUTIES.
SO, IT WOULD BE SOMETHING LIKE $58,000 A YEAR, RIGHT? 58 837 SO WHAT I HAVE SO BUT THAT'S ALSO LOCKHART MATH.
SO IF YOU SO JUST FIGURE JUST SAY 200,000.
LET'S JUST SAY IT GOES AWAY NEXT YEAR.
AND, AND THESE FOLKS HAVE TAKEN THAT RAISE AND GONE OUT AND BOUGHT A CAR THAT WHAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT SENDING MY [INAUDIBLE] IS IF THE MONEY IS NOT THERE IN YOUR BUDGET, SHERIFF, FOR WHATEVER REASON HOW DO WE LOOK SOMEBODY IN THE EYE AND SAY, I'M SORRY, BUT YOUR CAR IS GOING TO GET REPOSSESSED? IT PUTS ME IN THE POSITION OF HAVING TO SOMEHOW FIND THAT MONEY.
ALL OF US GO INTO THE FUND BALANCE OR WHATEVER WE GOT TO DO TO FIND THE MONEY.
IT'S NOT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S MY ONLY CONCERN WITH DOING THAT IS THAT PEOPLE ARE PEOPLE.
AND, YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANT THEM TO NOT BE ABLE TO BUY A CAR.
AND THAT'S WHERE MY CONCERN LIES WITH TAKING THIS, THIS MONEY AND USING IT FOR THAT KIND OF STUFF.
NOW, THE THE SOFT PAY STUFF, 110,000 MIGHT BE PRETTY EASY TO ABSORB.
BUT AS WE GO ALONG THAT THE OTHER PAYS GET HARDER TO ABSORB BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST THE PAY, IT'S THE PAY TIMES 1.4 BECAUSE WE'VE GOT ALL THEIR BENEFITS, ALL THEIR, EVERYTHING'S CALCULATED OFF OF THAT FICA WITHHOLDING.
SO IT TURNED INTO A PRETTY CHUNKY NUMBER WHEN YOU START ADDING ALL THAT STUFF ON TOP.
AND I JUST WORRY THAT THAT THAT WE MIGHT NOT HAVE THAT IN THREE YEARS.
AND THEN WHAT? I DON'T DISAGREE WITH YOU AT ALL.
YEAH, IT IS ABSOLUTELY A CONCERN, BUT.
AND I KNOW HOW MUCH YOU DISLIKE WHAT I'M ABOUT TO SAY.
YOU DON'T LIKE BEING COMPARED TO OTHER COUNTIES.
AND I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU PROBABLY HAVE A HIGHER PERCENTAGE TO YOUR LAW ENFORCEMENT BUDGET THAN THOSE OTHER COUNTIES, BUT BECAUSE THEY HAVE LARGER BUDGETS. BUT I'M TRYING TO MAKE IT EQUAL ACROSS THE BOARD, AS CLOSE AS I CAN.
THEY DON'T GO OUT AND WORK PATROL.
BUT WHEN YOU NEED THEM, YOU NEED THEM JUST AS BAD AS YOU DO THE GUYS ON PATROL.
THEY HAVE TO HAVE THE SAME QUALIFICATIONS.
THEY HAVE TO. THEY HAVE TO DO THE SAME ESSENTIAL JOB.
[00:20:01]
THEY'RE NOT OUTSIDE IN THE HEAT.THEY MAY NOT BE RESPONDING TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN THE STREET.
HOWEVER, I'M SURE YOU'VE HEARD STORIES OF THINGS GOING A LITTLE CRAZY OVER AT THE COURTHOUSE IN THE PAST AS WELL AT THE JUSTICE CENTER, AND THEY HAVE TO RESPOND, AND THEY HAVE TO BE READY.
OKAY. I JUST I DON'T I DON'T DISAGREE.
I JUST DISAGREE AND I DON'T DISAGREE WITH YOU USING THIS POT OF MONEY TO DO IT.
BUT COMMISSIONER ANY THOUGHTS? I, I AGREE WITH YOU, JUDGE.
YOU KNOW, ON THE CONCERN ABOUT USING THAT POT OF MONEY.
IF WE EVER WERE IN A SITUATION WHERE WE, WE PAID SALARIES WITH THAT MONEY ONE YEAR AND THAT MONEY WENT AWAY THE NEXT YEAR, CAN OUR YOU KNOW, WE ALWAYS WE'VE BEEN IN A MODE OF HAVING TO REDUCE OUR TAX RATE, YOU KNOW BECAUSE OF EXCESS REVENUES.
I KNOW I'M NOT SAYING IT RIGHT BUT YEAH, JUST PROPERTY VALUES GOING UP.
YEP. COULD WE STILL ABSORB THAT THROUGH KEEPING MORE OF THOSE EXCESS REVENUES THAT THAT NEXT YEAR? I MEAN I KNOW THAT'S NO GUARANTEE EITHER OUT THERE BUT.
WELL SO WE'VE BEEN WE'VE BEEN I'LL SAY A FEW THINGS.
WE'RE MUCH HEALTHIER FINANCIALLY THAN WE WERE 6 OR 8 YEARS AGO.
WE FINALLY HAVE OUR FUND BALANCE TO A POINT WHERE WE HAVE A YEAR'S WORTH OF REVENUE IN IT SO THAT IF WE HAD CATASTROPHE AND NOBODY IN CALDWELL COUNTY WAS ABLE TO PAY THEIR TAXES, WE COULD OPERATE FOR A YEAR.
SO WE'RE VERY HEALTHY IN THAT RESPECT, AND IT'S TAKEN US A WHILE TO GET THERE, BUT WE'RE THERE NOW.
SO THAT SO TO BE HONEST, IF THIS WENT AWAY, WE PROBABLY COULD GET IN THE FUND BALANCE AND FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO FOR A YEAR OR TWO. BUT WHEN I START GETTING WORRIED AND IT'S JUST AND THIS IS THE CONSTRUCTION GUY COMING OUT IN ME BECAUSE I'VE LIVED THROUGH THIS TWICE.
I WAS RACKING AND STACKING THEM, HAD 15 EMPLOYEES AND JUST KILLING IT.
AND THEN THE AT THE END OF 2008, I LAID OFF 15 EMPLOYEES.
MY PHONE COMPLETELY STOPPED RINGING.
YEAH. AND THAT HAD A DEVASTATING IMPACT ON EVERYTHING, ON PROPERTY VALUES, ON YOU NAME IT.
AND SO MY MIND GOES, THAT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN EVENTUALLY.
THEY GET HOT, THEY GET COLD, AND SOMETIMES THEY COLLAPSE.
AND WE DARN NEAR HAD IT HAPPEN DURING COVID.
AND THAT WAS COMPLETELY UNPREDICTABLE.
NOW, IF WE WANT TO, I WOULD BE MORE COMFORTABLE, FRANKLY, NOT TAKING IT OUT OF THIS POT OF MONEY IF WE IF WE HAVE IF WE CAN FIND IT IN THE BUDGET TO DO IT, I'D RATHER HAVE THAT CONVERSATION.
JUST I JUST AM NOT COMFORTABLE TAKING SALARY OUT OF OUT OF BASICALLY GRANT MONEY.
THAT'S. NO, THAT'S NOT GUARANTEED.
SO I'M NOT I DON'T WANT TO THROW COLD WATER ON THE CONVERSATION, BUT WE PROBABLY COULD ABSORB IT, BUT THAT'S GOING TO BE A CONVERSATION FOR ALL SIX OF US.
SO I'M JUST I'M PROBABLY WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN IS MIKE AND I NEED TO SIT DOWN AND TOGETHER AND SEE IF WE CAN COME TO SOME COMPROMISE ON THIS.
AND THEN BRING THAT BACK TO Y'ALL.
CAN WE HAVE A WITNESS IN THERE IN THAT ROOM? THIS ONE. AND THE REASON AND THE REASON THAT I CAME THIS THIS WAY IS BECAUSE THE JUDGE HAS BEEN VERY GOOD TO US THIS YEAR, AND HE'S THE ONE THAT CAME TO US ABOUT THE 13%.
AND IT'S HARD TO LOOK A GIFT HORSE IN THE MOUTH.
AND THAT'S WHY I WAS LOOKING FOR OTHER OPTIONS TO DO THIS.
MIKE, I WANTED TO ALSO ASK I GUESS I CAN TALK ABOUT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THEIR BUDGET IN GENERAL.
ANYTHING EVERYTHING'S FAIR GAME RIGHT NOW.
SO AND YOU, YOU, MORE THAN ANYONE ELSE, IS AWARE OF YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT ARE OUT THERE, PARTICULARLY HAPPENING AT NIGHT, YOU KNOW, THE GUNFIRE AND ALL THE LOUD NOISES, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.
[00:25:04]
IF IT WOULD BE AT ALL POSSIBLE TO OUTFIT AN OFFICER THAT WORKED THAT EVENING SHIFT THAT WAS SPECIALIZED, HAD EVERYTHING THEY NEEDED TRAINING ALL THE THINGS INVOLVED IN THAT TO WORK THE EVENING SHIFT AND CONCENTRATE IN THOSE AREAS.I MEAN, THAT OFFICER, THAT DEPUTY COULD DO OTHER THINGS ALSO.
BUT BUT, YOU KNOW, FOCUS ON THAT, THAT THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING I WOULD, I WOULD DEFINITELY SUPPORT.
SURE. THAT WOULD GIVE THAT THE KIND OF ATTENTION THAT IT WOULD NEED.
IT WOULD HAVE TO BE A SPECIFIC POSITION.
AND I DON'T THINK WE'RE IN A PLACE RIGHT NOW TO, TO HIRE FOR THAT.
NOW, IF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT GIVE ME A POSITION AND THAT'S IT'S SPECIFIC.
WELL, THAT'S WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT.
IF WE CONSIDERED A SPECIFIC POSITION FOR THAT, I'M NOT SAYING THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO DO.
ABSOLUTELY. BUT I HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF THESE OTHER THINGS FIRST.
I HAVE TO HAVE MY PATROL DIVISION FULL.
ALL OF MY DETECTIVES ARE LEAVING OR HAVE LEFT, SO I'M I HAVE TO FILL MY REQUIRED STUFF FIRST.
BUT YEAH, I ABSOLUTELY I IF YOU GIVE ME NEW POSITIONS, I'M GOING TO TAKE THEM FOR SURE OKAY.
AND I HAVE SOME WORK TO DO ON THAT ON THAT PART.
JUST REAL QUICK, I WANT TO I WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M ON THE RIGHT TRACK.
AND SO. WE'LL JUST WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT.
I NEED TO GET SOME NUMBERS FROM DANNY.
SOUNDS GOOD. BRING IT BACK TO THE COURT.
DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE FOR ME? NO, SIR. I THINK THAT'S IT.
SO COMMISSIONERS IN THE LAST BUDGET THAT WE SHOWED TO YOU, WE ONLY HAD 300,000 IN CONTINGENCY.
THAT ALWAYS MAKES ME A LITTLE NERVOUS BECAUSE I NEVER KNOW WHAT OUR SUBDIVISION FEES ARE.
YOU KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN? SO WE BUMP THAT UP A COUPLE OF HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS TO 500,000, I THINK.
IS THAT RIGHT? I CAN DOUBLE CHECK FOR YOU.
I THINK IT WAS 500. IT'S EITHER 5 OR 600,000.
AND THAT WAS THAT WAS JUST TO MAKE Y'ALL AWARE.
SO YOU DIDN'T THINK I WAS TRYING TO PULL A SHADY ON YOU? WE BUMPED THAT UP A LITTLE BIT.
WE IT'S NOW CURRENTLY AT 1.8 MILLION.
YES. YES. SO AND THAT'S A THAT SOUNDS LIKE A BIG NUMBER, BUT IT'S NOT.
WE SMOKE THROUGH THAT EVERY YEAR WITH UNEXPECTED THINGS.
YEP. AD VALOREM INCREASE IS GOING TO BE LET'S SEE.
2.1 MILLION GOES FROM 22.9 TO 25 MILLION WHICH IS GREAT NEWS.
THIS FIRST YEAR WE'VE HAD THAT IN LIKE THREE YEARS WHERE WE WEREN'T DRAGGING.
NOW WE JUST SPOKE FOR ABOUT OVER A MILLION OF THAT DURING SOME CONVERSATIONS TODAY.
SO SO TAKE THAT WITH A GRAIN OF SALT.
SO THERE'S ABOUT A MILLION LEFT.
I JUST, I REALLY, YOU KNOW, THE DA'S OFFICE.
THAT MONEY WAS GIVEN TO DAS SPECIFICALLY FOR STIPENDS.
AND I TOLD FRED, I SAID IF THAT MONEY GOES AWAY, THE STIPENDS GO AWAY, AND THAT'S THAT.
AND SO EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS IT.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY PURVIEW OVER THAT.
THAT'S THE WAY THE LEGISLATURE DID THAT WITH SB 22 MONEY.
AND I AM JUST SO UNCOMFORTABLE.
[00:30:10]
HOPEFULLY GET SOME NEW INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE COUNTY.THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT DANNY AND I SPOKE ABOUT.
WE'VE REARRANGED THIS COURTHOUSE AS MANY TIMES AS WE POSSIBLY CAN.
BECAUSE RICHARD LITERALLY HAD NO HOME.
SO WE MANAGED TO FIND HIM SOME SPACE HERE BY REARRANGING SOME PEOPLE SO.
AND WE'RE ENJOYING HAVING HIM HERE.
IT'S NICE AND HANDY HAVING HIM RIGHT ACROSS THE HALL.
I MEAN, WE'RE JUST COMPLETELY OUT OF SPACE.
WE'VE GOT PEOPLE PILED INTO TWO, PEOPLE INTO ONE OFFICE, AND A LOT OF CASES.
AND SO WE'RE GOING TO HIT A POINT SOON WITH WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR OR TWO, WHERE WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO CONSIDER EITHER LEASING A BIG SPACE OR BUILDING A BUILDING ON THE SPACE THAT WE HAVE LEFT AT THE JUSTICE CENTER.
AND RATHER THAN IF WE'VE GOT AN EXTRA MILLION DOLLARS RATHER THAN BORROWING $5 MILLION WHEN THAT DAY COMES, IF WE CAN GO DOWN THE ROAD FOR THE NEXT 2 OR 3 YEARS AND PUT THAT IN A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND, ALLOW THAT TO ACCRUE INTEREST SO THAT WE DON'T INCUR DEBT AND JUST USE THE TAXPAYER'S MONEY PLUS INTEREST TO BUY AND PAY FOR A BUILDING.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE A MUCH MORE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE WAY TO DO IT.
SO HAVING SAID THAT ONE THING THAT YOU MAY SEE THAT'S GOING TO BE NEW IN THE BUDGET IS A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND, WHERE WE WOULD PUT SOME MONEY AWAY EACH BUDGET CYCLE TO, TO BUILD UP SOME MONEY SO THAT WE COULD AFFORD TO WE'RE GROWING LIKE CRAZY, AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FIND SOME SPACE AND SEE THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BE A LARGE LEASE, WHICH I HATE LEASING.
FOR ALL THE REASONS THAT EVERYBODY ELSE DOESN'T WANT TO LEASE AND THEY WANT TO OWN SOMETHING.
SO, YOU BUILT WE WOULD BUILD EQUITY IN IT.
IF WE EVER WANTED TO SELL OFF THOSE BUILDINGS SOMEDAY WE COULD AND COULD DO IT WITH EQUITY.
SO, IT JUST IT'S JUST GOOD BUSINESS.
SO I DON'T REALLY WANT TO MOVE MORE MONEY INTO THE FUND BALANCE.
WE HAVE A YEAR, SO I THINK THAT'S GREAT.
SO, IF I'M GOING TO PUT IT IN THERE AND YOU GUYS CAN APPROVE IT OR NOT, BUT I DO WANT TO START A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND SO THAT WE CAN YOU KNOW, TAKE CARE OF THE FUTURE NEEDS OF THE COUNTY WITHOUT ADDING, ADDING A CO OR, OR GOING OUT FOR A BOND AND INCREASING TAX RATES.
SO IT JUST, I THINK IT'S JUST GOOD FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY.
BUT I THINK THAT'S ALL I HAVE.
IF YOU ALL HAVE ANYTHING AND DANNY AND I ARE HERE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.
I DON'T I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ADDITIONAL.
I THINK THE INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT WOULD BE, WELL WORTH IT IN THE LONG RUN.
THAT PROBLEM'S NOT GOING TO GET SOLVED ANY OTHER WAY.
NO. SO, I MEAN, I JUST DON'T WANT TO.
I JUST DON'T WANT TO GO OUT AND ISSUE A BOND OR A CO.
SO I'M EXCITED ABOUT THAT AND LOOKING FORWARD TO BEING ABLE TO DO THAT.
WELL, IF WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE AND I WOULD LOOK FOR A MOTION TO ADJOURN.
A MOTION TO ADJOURN BY COMMISSIONER WESTMORELAND.
THE SECOND BY COMMISSIONER HORN.
AYE. OPPOSED? HEARING NONE. WE'RE ADJOURNED AT 11:34.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.