>KEN HAGAN: GOOD EVENING

1

CAPTIONING

SEPTEMBER 12, 2013

BOCC PUBLIC HEARING

BUDGET

***This is not an official, verbatim transcript of the ***following meeting. It should be used for informational ***purposes only. This document has not been edited; ***therefore, there may be additions, deletions, or words ***that did not translate.

>KEN HAGAN: GOOD EVENING.

WELCOME TO THE SEPTEMBER 12th, 2013, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY COMMISSION BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING.

THE PURPOSE OF TONIGHT'S PUBLIC HEARING ON THE BUDGET IS TO TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT ON MILLAGE RATES AND THE BUDGET PRIOR TO THE BOARD APPROVING TWO RESOLUTIONS SETTING TENTATIVE MILLAGE RATES AND A TENTATIVE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR '14.

THE MILLAGE RATES AND BUDGETS WILL BE ADOPTED NEXT THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19th, AFTER A FINAL BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING.

IN A MOMENT THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR WILL READ INTO THE RECORD THE INCREASE IN THE AGGREGATE FISCAL YEAR '14 MILLAGE RATE FROM THE ROLLED-BACK RATE.

WE'LL ALSO RECEIVE A BRIEF DISCUSSION REGARDING THE STATUS OF THE TENTATIVE BUDGET, AFTER WHICH WE'LL TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT.

AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC COMMENT THIS EVENING, THE BOARD WILL DISCUSS ANY POTENTIAL CHANGES TO THE BUDGET.

WE WILL NOT VOTE ON ANY CHANGES UNTIL NEXT WEEK'S FINAL PUBLIC HEARING.

AT THIS POINT, I'LL PASS THINGS OVER TO THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO GO OVER THE CHANGES IN THE AGGREGATE ROLLED-BACK RATE AND THE STATUS OF THE BUDGET.

MR. MERRILL.

>MIKE MERRILL: THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONERS, THE CALCULATED CHANGE IN THE TENTATIVE MILLAGE REPRESENTS A 2.48% INCREASE FROM THE AGGREGATE ROLLED-BACK RATE.

STATE LAW REQUIRES THAT WE ALSO DESCRIBE THE REASON FOR THE INCREASE OVER THE ROLLED-BACK RATE.

THE BUDGET UNDER CONSIDERATION TONIGHT REFLECTS IN PART NORMAL INFLATIONARY INCREASES IN THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS.

IT ALSO REFLECTS THE NEED TO PROVIDE LOCAL GOVERNMENT SERVICES TO A GROWING POPULATION, WHICH INCLUDES INCREASED FUNDING FOR TRANSPORTATION, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, PARKS PROGRAMS, PUBLIC SAFETY, STORMWATER IMPROVEMENTS, SOCIAL SERVICES, AND CERTAIN OTHER COUNTY NEEDS.

WITH THAT, I'LL TURN THE DISCUSSION OVER TO TOM FESLER FOR A BRIEF OVERVIEW ON THE BUDGET MATERIALS PROVIDED.

>TOM FESLER: GOOD EVENING, COMMISSIONERS.

TOM FESLER, BUSINESS AND SUPPORT SERVICES.

COMMISSIONERS, THE TENTATIVE BUDGET THE BOARD WILL VOTE ON TONIGHT REFLECTS THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S RECOMMENDED BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR '14 AS AMENDED BY UPDATES AND CORRECTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE SINCE THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET WAS DELIVERED IN JUNE.

THE BOARD HAS BEEN PROVIDED DETAIL ON THE UPDATES AND CORRECTIONS, AND ALL OF THOSE CHANGES TO THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET HAVE BEEN POSTED ON THE COUNTY'S WEB SITE, AND THE PUBLIC DOES HAVE ACCESS TO THE DETAIL OF THOSE CHANGES.

THE FISCAL YEAR '14 TENTATIVE BUDGET IS $3.5 BILLION, AND IT WAS BALANCED WITHOUT THE USE OF RESERVES.

THE COUNTY CONTINUES TO MAINTAIN ITS GENERAL OBLIGATION AAA BOND RATING, AND THE TENTATIVE BUDGET YOU WILL VOTE ON TONIGHT REFLECTS INVESTMENTS THAT ARE CONSISTENT WITH YOUR NEWLY ADOPTED STRATEGIC PLAN.

AFTER PUBLIC COMMENT, YOU CAN DISCUSS POTENTIAL ADJUSTMENTS THAT YOU WILL CONSIDER AT NEXT WEEK'S FINAL PUBLIC HEARING; HOWEVER, WE WOULD ASK THAT YOU NOT VOTE ON THESE ITEMS UNTIL NEXT WEEK.

A BUDGET PUBLIC-- A BUDGET ADVERTISEMENT HAS BEEN PREPARED AND SUBMITTED TO THE TAMPA TRIBUNE FOR PUBLICATION IN THIS SATURDAY'S EDITION.

THE ADVERTISEMENT REFLECTS THE BUDGET INCLUDED IN THE RESOLUTION THAT YOU WILL APPROVE TONIGHT.

AND WITH THAT, IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT.

>KEN HAGAN: OKAY.

THANKS, TOM.

WE'VE HAD THREE PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP THIS EVENING FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, GERALD WHITE, MARK KLUTHO, AND MARILYN SMITH.

IF YOU'D PLEASE COME FORWARD.

EACH PERSON WILL BE GIVEN THREE MINUTES.

GOOD EVENING, MR. WHITE.

> GOOD EVENING, MR. CHAIRMAN.

GERALD WHITE, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY COMMUNITY ACTIVIST.

THANK YOU FOR THE $3.38-BILLION BUDGET, AND I BELIEVE WE'RE DISCUSSING THE YEAR '14 BUDGET.

I WATCHED YOUR RECONCILIATION BUDGET WORKSHOP-- WORKSHOP JULY THE 31st TWICE, AS A MATTER OF FACT, ONE IN-- AND THEN WATCHED THE REPLAY.

PRETTY GOOD MEETING.

FIRST, I'M KIND OF CONCERNED ABOUT THAT LAST MOTION THAT TOOK PLACE RELATED TO FLAGGED ITEMS, AND I DON'T WANT IN ANY WAY THE PUBLIC TO NOT HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY, EVEN AT THE LAST SECOND, TO BRING SOMETHING FORWARD AND GET THE BOARD TO VOTE ON IT.

I DON'T WANT THE-- THE POWER OF THE PEOPLE TAKEN AWAY WITH ANY KIND OF MOTION, ANY KIND OF PROPOSAL THAT WILL HINDER THE CITIZENS' PARTICIPATION IN THE BUDGET WORKSHOP ALL THE WAY UP TO THE LAST SECOND.

ANYTHING BEYOND JUST PROCEDURE CHANGES, SOMETHING LIKE THAT, I COULD SUPPORT, BUT PLEASE DON'T TAMPER WITH THE PEOPLE'S-- I THINK BLACK FOLKS WILL BE HURT IN THE END BECAUSE WE'RE THE LAST ONE TO FIND OUT WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON SOMETIMES, SO BE CAREFUL.

THE OTHER ISSUE IS TRANSPORTATION.

I'M REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT TRANSPORTATION.

I KNOW YOU GOT YOUR WORKSHOP, I KNOW YOU GOT YOUR COMMITTEE, BUT I JUST FEEL LIKE WE'RE NOT GETTING WHAT WE'RE PAYING FOR.

WE HAVE SENIOR POLITICAL OFFICIALS HERE.

WE HAVE DEEP POLITICAL EXPERIENCE, REPRESENTATIVE-- FORMER REPRESENTATIVE, TWO FORMER STATE SENATORS, A MILITARY-- FORMER MILITARY OFFICER FROM THE NAVY, A COMMISSIONER JUST COME BACK FROM HIGH STUDIES AT HARVARD, THE FORMER CHAIRMAN OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

WHY CAN'T WE SOLVE THE TRANSPORTATION ISSUE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY IN THIS BUDGET CYCLE?

I'M JUST CALLING FOR EXCELLENCE, I'M CALLING FOR LEADERSHIP EXCELLENCE FROM THIS BOARD, AND PUT SOMETHING ON THE TABLE THAT CAN SATISFY THE CITIZENS' CONCERNS.

THE REASON YOU DON'T HAVE A LOT OF CITIZENS HERE AT THIS $3.3-BILLION BUDGET, BECAUSE THEY'RE STUCK IN TRAFFIC RIGHT NOW, AND SO, REALLY, WE HAVE THIS HIGHLY QUALIFIED, EDUCATED ELECTED BODY, AND I REALLY BELIEVE THAT YOU ALL HAVE THE FITNESS AND ABILITY TO DELIVER.

MR. CHAIRMAN, YOU'RE CHAIRMAN OF TRANSPORTATION, YOU'RE TOP-- TOP-- YOU'RE THE TOP MAN IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.

YOU COULD DO IT, AND I WANT TO SEE A REAL TRANSPORTATION PUT FORTH, MR. CHAIRMAN.

YOU HAVE GREAT POLITICAL EXPERIENCE, LONGEVITY ON THE BOARD, AND I REALLY WANT TO SEE A TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM THAT CAN SATISFY THE WISHES OF THE CITIZENS OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY BEFORE YOUR TERMS END, AND THAT'S MY WISHES AND THAT'S MY CONCERN AND THAT'S MY HOPES IN THE BUDGET OF 2014.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>KEN HAGAN: THANK YOU, MR. WHITE.

APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS AND YOUR KIND WORDS.

MR. KLUTHO, MARILYN SMITH, AND THEN JOSEPH CLEMIS.

GOOD EVENING, MR. KLUTHO.

> MARK KLUTHO, LARGO.

YOUR ECONOMIC INDICATORS, THEY ARE NOT GOOD.

AND THEN WE HAVE BUDGET INDICATORS, AND FOR FISCAL YEAR '14, $691 MILLION FOR BUILDING, AND THAT WILL BE NEW DUMB BUILDINGS THAT WILL-- EVERYBODY CAN HEAR-- THAT WILL ADD TO THIS EMISSION PUSH THAT WILL BE RAISING THE GLOBAL TEMPERATURES.

AND WE GO OVER HERE TO WHAT YOU SAY IS A STRATEGIC PLAN.

NOW, USING THE WORDS "BUDGET"AND "STRATEGIC"IN THIS BUILDING ARE NOTHING MORE THAN AN OBSCENITY.

I'VE HAD THIS PHOTOGRAPH HERE I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY TIMES.

THE IMAGING SPECULAR REFLECTOR FIXTURE LETS YOU ELIMINATE THE BULBS, AND YOU CAN'T GET THAT RIGHT.

YOU CAN'T EVEN GET THE FIXTURES AND THE BULBS RIGHT.

I LOOK AT THAT MORGUE UP THERE ON 40th OR 46th, A MONUMENT TO IGNORANCE.

YOU'RE BURNING THE PLANET.

BUDGET?

YOU DON'T BUDGET ANY MONEY HERE.

YOU DO NOTHING BUT WASTE MONEY.

WINSTON CHURCHILL SAID, WE SHAPE OUR BUILDINGS; THEREAFTER THEY SHAPE US.

BEFORE ME HE'S SAYING WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF THIS, WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF THAT.

YOU CAN'T DO IT BECAUSE YOU'RE SQUANDERING THE MONEY.

IT'S GOING UP IN SMOKE.

AND THIS ARTICLE HERE, THIS EDITORIAL TELLS IT SO WELL ABOUT WHAT A YOUNG BABY TODAY IS GOING TO SEE POSSIBLY AT THE END OF THIS CENTURY.

YOUR LEGACY, IGNORING SCIENCE.

BUDGET, NO; STRATEGY, NO.

IT'S NOTHING BUT MALFEASANCE.

"MALFEASANCE" IS THE WORD.

>KEN HAGAN: THANK YOU, MR. KLUG.

> DESIGN.

>KEN HAGAN: MARILYN SMITH, JOSEPH CLEMIS.

GOOD EVENING, MS.SMITH.

> BUONA SERA.

WELL, THE LACK OF PUBLIC PARTICIPATION SHOULD BE SCREAMING VERY LOUD AT YOU.

THE PEOPLE OUT THERE HAVE NO FAITH IN YOU.

YOU HAVE TO KNOW THAT BY NOW.

AS FOR YOUR TRANSPORTATION, LEARN TO RUN THE BUSES.

WE DON'T NEED ANY MORE TRAIN TRACKS ANYWHERE BECAUSE THAT'S NOTHING BUT A MAINTENANCE PROBLEM.

RUN THE BUSES.

THEY'RE FLEXIBLE.

THEY GET EVERYBODY WHERE THEY NEED TO BE.

IF YOU GET THAT RIGHT, YOU'VE REALLY ACCOMPLISHED SOMETHING, BUT I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF FAITH.

I'VE BEEN TELLING YOU THAT FOR QUITE A WHILE.

YOU DON'T SEEM TO WANT TO LISTEN TO THAT.

THERE IS ONE THING-- I MEAN, THERE'S MANY, MANY THINGS, BUT THE ONE THING THAT REALLY BOTHERS ME IS THE FACT THAT WE STILL HAVE THIS EUPHEMISM CALLED THE COMMUNITY AFFAIR -- OFFICE OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS.

THEY REALLY DO LITTLE OR NOTHING.

IT IS VERY MYOPIC.

I'VE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO GET A REAL PERFORMANCE REPORT OUT OF THEM, WHAT AN INDIVIDUAL DOES AND HOW MUCH TIME THEY SPEND DOING IT, LIKE A TIME-IN-MOTION STUDY.

THE QUEEN, HELENE, DOESN'T THINK WE NEED THOSE, THE PUBLIC DOESN'T NEED THOSE.

THEY'VE NEVER GIVEN ME A SUFFICIENCY REPORT.

SO THAT'S ALL RIGHT, I'LL DEAL WITH HER LATER.

WE ONLY HAVE ONE THING THAT COMES OUT OF THERE NOW, AND THEY NEVER USED TO BE THERE, IS THE OFFICE OF NEIGHBORHOOD RELATIONS RUN BY WANDA, AND THAT'S THE ONLY USEFUL THING THAT'S IN THAT OFFICE.

NOW, ABOUT THE REST OF OUR MONEY, WHERE DO YOU THINK WE'RE GOING TO GET MONEY TO SUPPORT YET ANOTHER STADIUM?

WE'VE GOT ONE IN PLANT CITY WE'RE STILL PAYING THROUGH THE NOSE FOR.

WE'RE STILL PAYING DEBT SERVICE, YET YOU-ALL WANT TO BUILD A BASEBALL STADIUM.

FOR WHAT?

NOBODY'S GOING TO GO THERE.

THEY DON'T GO TO ST. PETE.

THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO GO.

THEY DON'T HAVE DISPOSABLE INCOME, YET YOU'RE ENCOURAGING THOSE GUYS OVER THERE CALLED THE RAYS TO GO BANKRUPT TO COME OVER HERE.

NOW, THAT'S WHAT I CALL IRRESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT, CERTAINLY ISN'T LEADERSHIP.

WE DON'T NEED A BALL TEAM.

WE DON'T NEED IT AS BADLY AS WE DON'T NEED THAT YELLOW PIECE OF CAN RUNNING AROUND DOWN THERE THAT THESE FOOLS KEEP SAYING, OH, THE TROLLEY MAKES SO MUCH MONEY.

NO, THE TROLLEY COSTS A LOT OF MONEY.

IT NEVER MADE MONEY, NEVER PAID ITS OWN WAY.

IT WAS AN ENTERTAINMENT, AND SOMEBODY, JOE SMITH, TRIED TO CALL IT TRANSPORTATION.

WHAT A JOKE.

WE NEED TO TAKE BETTER CARE OF OUR CITIZENS, BUT GIVING MONEY TO PEOPLE LIKE OLD BROWN, THE SLUMLORD, AIN'T THE WAY DO IT.

WE ALL FOUND OUT WHAT HE WAS AFTER A WHILE, DIDN'T WE?

I CAN'T SAY THAT IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO BE HERE BECAUSE I'M RATHER DISGUSTED WITH YOU FOLK.

YOU WANT TO DO THINGS YOU DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO DO.

YOU CAN'T FIX THE ROADS.

YOU HAD TO BUILD -- ALL THIS GLITZ AND MONEY YOU HAD TO GIVE TO A REPUBLICAN PARTY ON THE RIVER SO EVERYBODY COULD HAVE A GOOD TIME RUNNING UP AND DOWN WHILE THE CITIZENS PAID THE PRICE.

THAT'S NOT LEADERSHIP, THAT'S IRRESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT.

GOODNIGHT.

>KEN HAGAN: THANK YOU, MS.SMITH.

LAST SPEAKER THIS EVENING, JOSEPH CLEMIS.

GOOD EVENING.

> COMMISSIONERS, MARK, AL.

ONE THING I WANT TO SAY ABOUT YOUR BUDGET, I SEE IN THERE THAT THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR HAS ALLOCATED A 3.5% RAISE FOR ALL EMPLOYEES, AND, OF COURSE, WE SEE ALL THE PLATITUDES AND TYPICAL PROGRESSIVE JARGON IN HERE ABOUT MAINTAINING THE BEST PEOPLE THAT WE CAN GET.

THE BOTTOM LINE IS THE ECONOMY IS IN A SHAMBLES.

IT STILL IS.

THE FEDERAL RESERVE PUMPS $85 BILLION A MONTH INTO THE STOCK MARKET, ALL RIGHT.

WE'RE AN INFLATED ECONOMY.

YOUR TAX REVENUES FOR NEXT YEAR ARE GOING TO BE LESS THAN THIS YEAR.

YOU NEED TO BE VERY RESPONSIBLE.

I DON'T GET BONUSES, I DON'T GET RAISES.

I LIVE IN THE REAL WORLD WHERE I HAVE TO WORK MY BUTT OFF FOR 65, 70 HOURS A WEEK.

MARK KNOWS VERY WELL THAT I TRAVEL THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND WE GO TO ALL KINDS OF PLACES.

I MEAN, WE WERE AT THE JACK DANIEL'S DISTILLERY JUST A MONTH OR SO AGO.

IT WAS GREAT.

HOWEVER, THE CHALLENGE THAT I HAVE IS IS GIVING, SPECIFICALLY IN THIS ONE -- I'M SURE THERE'S A LOT MORE YOU CAN CUT -- IS GIVING EVERY EMPLOYEE, INCLUDING THE ONES THAT HAVE REACHED THEIR CAP, A 3.5% RAISE.

UNFORTUNATELY, YOU FOLKS NEED TO LEARN TO LIVE IN THE SAME WORLD THAT WE DO WHERE WE ARE THE TAXPAYERS AND WE-- YOU GUYS WORK FOR US.

WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT YOU GUYS CAN APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT YOU CANNOT JUST VOTE THESE PEOPLE A RAISE AND THEN-- WELL, OBVIOUSLY, YOU EXPECT IT'S GOING TO ALLOW YOU TO GET MORE VOTES FROM THEM; HOWEVER, WE NEED CHARACTER, WE NEED LEADERSHIP, WE NEED INTEGRITY.

I'M SORRY TO SAY WE DON'T-- NOBODY DESERVES A 3.5% RAISE IN THE COUNTY.

THOSE CANS THAT YOU GUYS JUST REDISTRIBUTED -- THEY'RE BEAUTIFUL THINGS, BY THE WAY -- PEOPLE IN APARTMENTS, CONDOS HAVE THESE HUGE CANS AND THEY HAVE NOWHERE TO PUT THEM.

DID ANYBODY BOTHER TO THINK OF THAT?

NO.

THAT'S HOW IT GOES.

BUT GRANTED WE'RE SAVING MONEY.

I THANK YOU GUYS FOR PUTTING IT OUT TO BID.

THAT'S A GREAT THING.

WE NEED TO CONTINUE WITH THOSE THINGS; HOWEVER, WE CANNOT AFFORD A 3.5% RAISE AND A 3.5% BONUS FOR EVERY EMPLOYEE THAT WORKS IN THIS COUNTY.

THANK YOU AND GOOD DAY.

>KEN HAGAN: THANK YOU, MR. CLEMIS.

APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS.

OKAY.

THAT CLOSES THE PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION OF THE AGENDA.

ARE THERE ANY CHANGES TO THE BUDGET THAT COMMISSIONERS WOULD LIKE TO BRING UP AT THIS POINT?