Manatee County Commission Budget Work Session, June 15

BRADENTON – Today the county commission met for a budget work session to discuss several changes in this year's financial plan. Sheriff Steube made a presentation, stating that the Sherriff's office could simply not make any more cuts without endangering the safety of the community. Commissioners discussed implementing a slight increase in millage to provide for the department. .

Agenda
Budget Work Session
June 15, 2010
9:00 a.m.

I)    Call to Order -- Commissioner Hayes

II)    Introduction -- Ed Hunzeker

III)    Constitutional Officer’s Budgets

Property Appraiser–Charles Hackney

• Charles Hackney asked the Commissioners for funding approval for two new positions. He has eliminated seven in the past few years, but has additional duties in the office. One position would take up the slack from an ill employee, and the other would train to replace an employee on the verge of retirement.

• Ultimately, he said he needs the two employees because of IT purposes.

Supervisor of Elections–Bob Sweat

• Sweat stated that if amendment 4 passes there is an option to mail the ballot to residents. As long as there is no candidate on the ballot, this is compliant with Florida Legislature law.

• To hold a special election would cost anywhere from $340-375K, and additional pages for a regular election would be $90K for each additional page.
• Sweat also said he needed money to extend voting equipment.
• He would like funding of $10K to rent the Manatee Civic Center, in order to provide training for employees and volunteers. The Civic Center has served this purpose in the past for free, but has been forced to charge this year because of budget cuts.
• Next year, he hopes to combine precincts to create "super precincts," which would provide major cost savings.

Sheriff – Sheriff Steube

• Steube made the most compelling argument against budget cuts today, when he told the commission that by cutting his budget, they would be jeopardizing the safety of the community.
• The Sheriff said that they have been using their budget to pay for necessary, top-priority items that are not their responsibility, such as cameras in the jail. The commission decided to work with the Manatee County Sheriff to figure out how to increase the budget.
• Commissioner McClash suggested implementing a one-tenth mill tax-rate increase, that would be specifically for the Sheriff’s Department. It would create two million dollars of additional funds. 
• The overall tax rate would not go up because of this millage, since taxes are actually going down, due to declining values.
• Commissioner Bustle suggested a community poll to show support.
• Everyone decided that the Sheriff should make his presentation to the public later that day, and observe the peoples' reaction.

Other County Business

IV)    Review of Decision Unit Changes – Ed Hunzeker

• Several budget cuts were flagged by commissioners for review
• The only public safety entity with additional cuts was the Bradenton Beach lifeguards

V)      Public Comment

• The only person with public comment was Ernest Marshall who presented a list of several revenue saving suggestions including:
• Leasing equipment instead of buying it.
• Utilizing outside private enterprise whenever practical.
• Increase opportunity for rental revenue from county owned resources.
• Raise existing fees on public use facilities.
• Factor out all emotion from program portions and pet department projects.
• Re-qualification of all employee positions (factor in contracts for services not job descriptions).
• Purchase at quantity level to gain favorable pricing, pay for only what you use and let the vendor store the products.

VI)     Adjourn