[ CALL TO ORDER]
[ Tuesday, April 29, 2025 - 9:00 A.M. Budget Overview Board of Supervisors Internal Service Departments: Finance Human Resources Fleet Management Information Technology Services Development Services Facilities Public Works Capital Improvement Projects Daily Wrap-Up The Board will recess and reconvene at 9:00 A.M. on Wednesday, April 30, 2025.]
[00:00:05]
>> WELL, GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. WE WANT TO WELCOME YOU.
WE ARE IN OUR WORK STUDY FOR OUR FISCAL BUDGET OF 2025/2026.
WHAT I WANT TO SAY IS THAT THIS IS A WORK STUDY, SO IT CAN BE A MORE CASUAL TYPE OF ENVIRONMENT.
BUT JUST BE SURE THAT WE'RE COURTEOUS OF OTHER PEOPLE TALKING OR MAKING SURE THAT THEY ARE FINISHED.
OTHER THAN THAT, I WILL NOW CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER.
THE ONE THING I DO WANT TO SAY IS THE PUBLIC COMMENT WILL NOT OCCUR DURING THIS STUDY SESSION.
I WILL ASK THE CLERK TO TAKE ROLL CALL.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH/ THE FIRST ITEM UP IS THE BUDGET OVERVIEW, AND THAT WILL BE MAURY THOMPSON. GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING, CHAIR, VICE CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
MAURY THOMPSON, COUNTY MANAGER.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTRODUCTORY COMMENTS, CHAIR.
I WAS GOING TO MAKE SOME OF THOSE MYSELF, SO THANK YOU FOR COVERING THAT.
THE ONLY THING I WOULD ADD TO YOUR COMMENTS IS, AS QUESTIONS ARISE TODAY, PLEASE LET US KNOW, LUCY, FRANK, BUDGET ANALYST, SENIOR BUDGET ANALYST OVER HERE IS GOING TO KEEP TRACK OF QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.
THEN, OUR GOAL WILL BE TO GET THE ANSWERS TO YOU IF WE DON'T HAVE THEM TODAY WHEN WE RECONVENE TOMORROW.
AGAIN, WE'LL KEEP TRACK OF THOSE QUESTIONS.
IN GENERAL, I WOULD SAY, BEFORE WE PULL UP THE PRESENTATION AND GET STARTED, I WAS TELLING STAFF AT THE EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP MEETING THE OTHER DAY I'M STARTING TO FEEL VERY OLD.
I REMEMBER EARLY IN MY CAREER WORKING FOR DIRECTOR, WHO WOULD SAY EVERY YEAR.
THIS IS THE TOUGHEST BUDGET EVER.
I'M LIKE, WAIT, IT CAN'T BE EVERY SINGLE YEAR, THE TOUGHEST BUDGET EVER.
BUT I'M BEGINNING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT HE MEANT BY THAT.
THIS YEAR, THERE WERE SOME EXTREMELY TOUGH DECISIONS IN THE RECOMMENDATION THAT I'M BRINGING BEFORE YOU TODAY.
ASK ALL OF THE DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS TO BRING FORWARD ALL OF THE NEEDS OF THEIR VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS.
AS YOU WILL SEE, THEY DID JUST THAT, AND IT WAS A LARGE LIST.
BUT IN REVIEWING THOSE, I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING THERE THAT I WOULD CHARACTERIZE AS WANTS, THEY WERE NEEDS FOR THEIR DEPARTMENTS.
AGAIN, FAR FROM ALL OF THEM ARE INCLUDED IN THIS PROPOSED BUDGET BECAUSE WE JUST DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO DO THAT.
BUT AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK THE DIRECTORS FOR THE OUTSTANDING JOB THEY DID IN LOOKING CRITICALLY AT THEIR DEPARTMENTS AND BRINGING FORTH THOSE NEEDS SO AT LEAST WE KNOW WHAT THEY ARE.
PART OF THE GOAL IS IF WE CAN ADDRESS THEM ALL, WE START TO GET ACCLIMATED TO WHAT THE PRESSING NEEDS ARE, SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN ADDRESS THOSE IN COMING YEARS.
WITH THAT, LET'S PULL UP THE PRESENTATION, AND WE WILL GET STARTED.
THIS IS JUST A REMINDER OF WHERE WE PLAN TO GO OVER THE NEXT THREE DAYS.
WE'LL START TODAY WITH A BUDGET OVERVIEW, GO THROUGH THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, THEN OUR INTERNAL SERVICE DEPARTMENTS, DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, FACILITIES, PUBLIC WORKS, AND END TODAY WITH OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT.
YOU SEE THE LIST FOR WEDNESDAY AND WE'LL GO THROUGH THOSE, AND THEN WE END ON THURSDAY WITH REALLY PUBLIC SAFETY PRESENTATIONS AND HEARING FROM OUR OUTSIDE AGENCIES WHO ARE REQUESTING CONTINUED FUNDING OR INCREASES IN FUNDING, AND THEN WRAP UP WITH OUR BUDGET SUMMARY.
MOST OF THE BOARD HAS SEEN THIS CALENDAR, BUT IN PARTICULAR, FOR NEW SUPERVISOR JENKINS, INFORMATION, GOING TO BE A HISTORY OF HOW WE GOT TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY SO THAT YOU'D HAVE THAT INFORMATION.
YOU CAN SEE WE STARTED BACK IN PREPARATIONS IN OCTOBER-JANUARY.
WE'RE NOW ANALYZING AND BEEN BEGINNING TO DISCUSS THE PROPOSAL HERE, FEBRUARY-APRIL.
WE'RE GOING TO BE MOVING INTO THE PROPOSED BUDGET IN APRIL-JUNE, AND THEN WE'LL ADOPT FINALLY IN THE JUNE-AUGUST TIME FRAME.
SEE, JUNE 25TH, THE HEARING ON EXPENDITURES AND TAX LEVY, THE TNT HEARING, IF NECESSARY, FINAL BUDGET APPROVAL.
THEN, ON AUGUST 11TH, THE PROPERTY TAX LEVY ADOPTIONS.
AGAIN, IF YOU REVIEW THAT SUPERVISOR, YOU'VE GOT ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE LET US KNOW. NEXT SLIDE.
[00:05:02]
THIS IS THE HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW OF THE BUDGET.YOU'LL SEE ON THE LEFT, WE HAVE THE PROPOSED REVENUE, PROPERTY TAXES, PROPOSING A FLAT TAX RATE OF 1.6443, WHICH GENERATES $3.62 MILLION.
COUNTY SALES TAX, INCREASE OF $190,500, LICENSE AND PERMITS, DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.
AS WE KNOW, WE HAVE A NEW FEE SCHEDULE THAT THE BOARD HAS ADOPTED THERE.
WE'RE IN ESTIMATING THAT THAT'S GOING TO GENERATE $912,500.
THEN YOU HAVE YOUR INTERGOVERNMENTAL AND SUPERVISOR JENKINS AND I HAD THIS CONVERSATION YESTERDAY.
THAT'S COMPRISED OF THE TPT SALES TAX AND THE VEHICLE LICENSE TAX, AND YOU'LL SEE THE NUMBERS PROPOSED THERE, AND FINALLY, OUR CHARGES FOR SERVICES, LEADING TO A BOTTOM LINE OF $9.1 MILLION.
THEN, ON THE EXPENDITURE SIDE, PROPOSING IS TO CONTINUE TO ADDRESS THE BOARD'S PRIORITY AROUND COMPENSATION FOR OUR WORKFORCE.
A 2.8% COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT AND 3% MERIT.
YOU'LL SEE THAT TAKES $3.2 MILLION.
HEALTH INSURANCE INCREASE WAS 7%, SO THE COUNTY'S PORTION OF THAT IS ONE MILLION DOLLARS.
I WOULD PAUSE HERE TO SAY THAT AS WE BEGIN TO DEVELOP BUDGET AND WORK WITH THE EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM, CONFIRMED WITH THE DIRECTORS THAT THIS CONTINUES TO BE THEIR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY, THAT WE ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF OUR CURRENT WORKFORCE FIRST BEFORE WE LOOK AT MAKING ADDITIONS TO OUR WORKFORCE OR ADDRESSING OTHER NEEDS.
THIS BOARD AND PRIOR BOARDS HAVE DONE A TREMENDOUS JOB OVER THE LAST MANY YEARS ADDRESSING THE COMPENSATION OF OUR WORKFORCE.
AS WE KNOW, HISTORICALLY, WE WERE LAGGING THE MARKET PRETTY SIGNIFICANTLY.
THE BOARD MADE A ONE TIME INVESTMENT, AND THE BOARD HAS COMMITTED TO CONTINUING TO HONOR THAT INVESTMENT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT LOSING THAT INVESTMENT IN FURTHER YEARS BY CONTINUING TO ADDRESS COLA AND MERIT.
I WOULD ALSO SAY THAT WE'RE SEEING THE BENEFITS OF THAT, IN PARTICULAR IN PUBLIC SAFETY, AND AGAIN A RECORD LOW VACANCY RATES IN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
AGAIN, WE'RE SEEING THE BENEFITS OF THIS INVESTMENT, AND I BELIEVE IT'S WISE THAT WE CONTINUE TO HONOR THE BOARD'S PRIORITY, AND WE CONTINUE TO INVEST IN THAT.
YOU'LL SEE IN SERVICES, WE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF GOOD NEWS IN OUR LONG TERM CARE PAYMENTS.
WE SAW A DECREASE THERE THAT WE'RE PROJECTING, AND THEN OTHER FINANCING USES WHICH IS OUR TRANSFERS OUT.
THEN, IF YOU DROP DOWN TO THE LAST BOLDED ON VACANCY SAVINGS.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE COUNTY HAS NOT DONE IN THE PAST.
A LOT OF ORGANIZATIONS DO THIS.
THE PREMISES IS YOU FACTOR IN A VACANCY SAVINGS ON THE FRONT END BECAUSE YOU KNOW ALL POSITIONS ARE NOT GOING TO BE FILLED ALL YEAR LONG, SO THERE IS SOME NATURAL SAVINGS THERE.
THIS YEAR, THIS IS OUR FIRST FORAY INTO USING VACANCY SAVINGS AS A TOOL AND DEVELOPING OUR BUDGET.
WE DIDN'T DO IT WITH EVERY DEPARTMENT, JUST THOSE LARGE DEPARTMENTS WHO HAVE GREATER VACANCY SAVINGS.
HOW WE DID THAT, IT WASN'T ACROSS THE BOARD.
IT WAS LOOKING AT EACH OF THOSE LARGE DEPARTMENTS AND LOOKING AT THE HISTORICAL VACANCY RATES AND COMPUTING SPECIFIC VACANCY SAVINGS RATE FOR THAT DEPARTMENT, SO IT WAS BASED ON THOSE DEPARTMENTS AND THEIR HISTORY.
YOU'LL SEE THAT ENDS UP AT $4.7 MILLION.
>> THANK YOU. TWO OTHER ITEMS JUST WANTED TO NOTE, OR ACTUALLY THREE OTHER ITEMS. ONE IS THE REDUCTION THERE FOR THE DEBT SERVICE SIDE OF IT.
WE HAVE PROJECTED THIS YEAR THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE PAYING OFF OUR REVENUE OBLIGATION DEBT.
WHAT THAT WILL DO IS THAT WE'LL OPEN UP ADDITIONAL CAPACITY INTO FUTURE YEARS.
THIS DEBT WOULD STILL BE ON THE BOOKS FOR, I BELIEVE ABOUT ANOTHER YEAR AND A HALF, TWO YEARS.
BY GETTING AHEAD OF THAT, IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE PLANNING FOR ON OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT.
UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE FINANCING NECESSARY TO MOVE FORWARD, SOME OF THESE LARGER PROJECTS OVER TIME.
THIS WILL OPEN UP SOME OF THE CAPACITY FOR US AS AN ORGANIZATION.
OVERALL, THAT'S ACTUALLY A NET REDUCTION OF SEVEN MILLION DOLLARS TRANSFERS OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND.
THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT SAVINGS TO THE COST ON THE GENERAL FUND ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.
BUT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF IT, JUST WANTED TO MAKE NOTE OF THIS, AND WE'LL BE LOOKING AT OTHER SLIDES.
MORE SPECIFIC TO THIS LATER ON TODAY IS THE JAIL DISTRICT.
THE JAIL DISTRICT IS ALSO ONE OF THE AREAS THAT THE GENERAL FUND TRANSFERS DOLLARS INTO THE JAIL DISTRICT.
THERE'S ONE THERE'S A STATUTORY PAYMENT IN THERE CALLED MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT THAT WE'RE REQUIRED TO DO AS PART OF THE JAIL DISTRICT.
BUT IN ADDITION TO THAT, WHAT I HAVE IN HERE IS THE ABOVE MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT PAYMENT.
THIS WOULD MEAN IF THE JAIL DISTRICT DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH REVENUE COMING IN TO COVER THE ENTIRETY OF THE RESOURCES, THE GENERAL FUND IS THE BACKSTOP OR THE ONE THAT TRANSFERS.
THIS YEAR'S BUDGET HAS ANOTHER 1.6 MILLION INCREASE FROM LAST YEAR, MOVING INTO THE JAIL DISTRICT.
THIS ALLOTMENT TOGETHER, THE 4.7 THAT MAURY MENTIONED, IT'S MADE UP OF SOME PLUSES, AS WELL AS SOME MINUSES.
[00:10:02]
>> CHAIR MALLORY I HAVE JUST A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
ONE CLARIFYING ON THAT POINT BECAUSE I DID NOTICE SINCE WE DIDN'T GET OUR BUDGET BINDER UNTIL SATURDAY.
I LOOKED AT LAST YEAR'S BUDGET BINDER, AND I DID NOTICE THAT THE DEBT SERVICE WAS ABOUT TWICE WHAT IT WAS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR.
CAN YOU JUST EXPLAIN THAT ONE MORE TIME.
THAT'S AN INCREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE'RE PAYING ON OUR DEBT?
>> GREAT QUESTION. ON THE DEBT SIDE, PREVIOUSLY, WE HAD LAST YEAR, WE HAVE TWO INSTRUMENTS OF DEBT THAT WE HAVE TO PAY.
ONE IS A REVENUE OBLIGATION BONDS, AND I BELIEVE IT'S AROUND $1.9 MILLION A YEAR.
THEN, THE OTHER PART IS OUR DEBT SERVICE PAYMENT FOR THE JAIL OR FOR THE JAIL DISTRICT FOR THE PAYMENT OF THE JAIL, AND THAT'S AROUND 3.4 MILLION.
WHAT WE'RE DOING THIS YEAR IS WE'RE GETTING AHEAD AND PAYING OFF THE ONE THAT ANNUAL 1.9 MILLION, IT ENDS UP BEING AROUND FIVE MILLION TOTAL TO FREE UP CAPACITY OVERALL.
WE WON'T OWE THAT DEBT GOING FORWARD, SINCE WE'RE PAYING IT OFF EARLY, AND WE'LL ONLY HAVE THE ONLY DEBT THE COUNTY HAS IN DEBT SERVICE WILL BE PAYING FOR THE JAIL ABOUT 3.4.
THEY DID REDUCE OUR DEBT AND IT WILL OPEN UP CAPACITY IN PLANNING FOR FUTURE YEARS, KNOWING THAT NEW BUILDINGS, WHAT ARE THE FINANCING COSTS? IT WILL START US AT A BETTER POSITION.
>> THEN, ONE OTHER QUESTION IS, WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME WE FLATTENED THAT TAX RATE? BECAUSE WHEN WE KEEP IT FROZEN OR FLAT, WE STOP TO GO THROUGH THAT TRUTH IN TAXATION PROCESS.
>> WHEN WE GET TO THE PROPERTY TAX SLIDES, IT WILL SHOW THE PERCENTAGE GROWTH YEAR OF YEAR.
I'M NOT SURE ON THE TOP OF MY HEAD RIGHT NOW WHICH ONE IT IS, WHEN WE GET THERE, IT'S NOTICEABLE ON THE SLIDE WHEN WE'VE DONE IT, BUT PREVIOUSLY, WE'VE BEEN AT THE T&T RATE FOR, I WANT TO SAY AT LEAST THE PAST SEVEN YEARS, BUT WE HAVE A SLIDE THAT WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT SHORTLY.
>> IT'S BEEN A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO, I'D HAVE TO LOOK AT THE EXACT YEAR.
I REMEMBER DURING THE EXPENDITURE LIMIT CONVERSATION WITH THE PUBLIC PART OF THAT EDUCATIONAL EFFORTS.
ONE OF OUR TALKING POINTS WAS NINE OUT OF THE LAST 10 YEARS THAT HAD DECREASED.
>> BUT I THINK WE DO HAVE A CONVERSATION WHERE ABOUT KEEPING THE TAX RATE AT THE SAME AT THIS POINT, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> YES. I THINK THAT'S WHAT SUPERVISOR CHECK WAS REFERRING TO.
>> [INAUDIBLE] I ASKED THAT YESTERDAY, WOULD YOU BE PREPARING, OR IS IT THE NEW PACK THAT WE JUST GOT TODAY, A DEBT SERVICE SUMMARY? I HAD ASKED FOR THE ORIGINATION OF THE DEBT SERVICE BY FUND, THE PAYOFF, BECAUSE IT'S REALLY HELPFUL WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT LONG TERM PROJECTS WHEN YOUR CURRENT DEBT ROLLS OFF AND WHAT YOUR DEBT SERVICE YEAR BY YEAR.
IS THAT SOMETHING THAT'S AVAILABLE, OR YOU COULD PREPARE?
>> I THINK THE BUDGET MANAGER IS PULLING SOMETHING OUT OF HIS POCKET RIGHT NOW.
YES, WE TALKED AFTER OUR CONVERSATION AND STAFF WERE WORKING ON THAT.
AGAIN, I WOULD JUST REMIND YOU THOUGH, WITH THIS PROPOSAL, WHICH IF YOU APPROVE IT, WE WOULD PAY OFF THAT DEBT WOULD JUST LEAVE THE JAIL DISTRICT FOR THE JAIL TAX.
>> CORRECT. IT'S ONE OF THE BENEFITS OF NOT HAVING AS MUCH DEBT.
I DIDN'T GET IT INTO THE PRESENTATION, BUT I CAN SHARE IT AFTERWARDS.
BUT IT'S THE NICE PIECE OF MANY TIMES GOVERNMENT DEBT SCHEDULES CAN BE VERY LONG AND HAVE MULTIPLE LINES TO THEM, AND THERE'S A LOT OF COMPLEXITY.
RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE ONLY ONE, WHICH IS OUR JAIL DISTRICT.
WE HAVE IT BROKEN OUT BY THE PAYMENT STRUCTURE IN WHICH CURRENTLY, WE'D HAVE IT PAID OFF IN 2040, AND THE PAYMENT IS AROUND, IT'S SMOOTHED OUT AT ABOUT $4.3 MILLION A YEAR.
THAT IS OUR ONLY OUTSTANDING DEBT CURRENTLY.
>> EXCUSE ME. JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, THAT'S NOT A DEBT OF THE COUNTY, THAT'S A DEBT OF THE JAIL DISTRICT.
I BELIEVE THE COUNTY WOULD HAVE TECHNICALLY NO DEBT ONCE THIS REMAINING BALANCE IS PAID OFF, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> I DO HAVE ONE OTHER COMMENT.
I REALIZE THAT THIS YEAR IS REALLY A MOVING TARGET AS FAR AS SO MANY THINGS IN OUR NATION.
I WANT TO HAVE US CONSIDER THOSE MERIT AND COLA RAISES CONSIDERING THAT THE GOVERNMENT JOB MARKET HAS CHANGED WITH SO MANY FEDERAL WORKERS NOW LOOKING FOR WORK.
ONE STORY IS, I DO THINK THAT PEOPLE WHO HAVE POSTED JOBS RECENTLY WITHIN THE COUNTY HAVE SEEN A PRETTY INCREASED AMOUNT OF INTEREST.
EVEN THOUGH I ABSOLUTELY UNDERSTAND HOW THAT HAS BEEN A TOOL THAT WE'VE LEVERAGED FOR OUR BENEFIT AND REALLY HAS BEEN EFFECTIVE IN REDUCING TURNOVER.
IT MAY BE AN AREA OF FLEXIBILITY.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT COMMENT,
[00:15:01]
SUPERVISOR CHECK AND AT OUR LAST EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM, I CAN HAVE ASKED THAT SAME QUESTION.WE ARE SEEING AN INCREASED RESPONSE TO JOB POSTINGS.
HOWEVER, SO FAR, DIRECTORS ARE REPORTING, AND I THINK HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR COULD SPEAK TO THIS AS WELL.
WE'RE NOT PARTICULARLY SEEING THE FEDERAL WORKFORCE APPLYING HERE, AND I THINK FLOOD CONTROL RECENTLY HAD AN EXPERIENCED, THOUGHT THAT THEY HAD SOME FEDERAL EMPLOYEES WHO HAD LOST EMPLOYMENT, AND WE WEREN'T ABLE TO ATTRACT THEM.
I DON'T MEAN TO SUGGEST THAT MAY BE COMING.
WE JUST HAVEN'T MAYBE UNFORTUNATELY SEEN IT YET.
I'D LIKE TO CONTINUE ON THIS PARTICULAR TOPIC.
LAST YEAR, WAS THIS THE SAME THAT WE DID 2.8% ON THE COLA AND THEN 3% ON THE MERIT.
WAS THAT WHAT WE DID LAST YEAR?
>> NO, I WOULD REMIND THE BOARD THAT IN YOUR CURRENT POLICY, THERE'S A LOOSELY BASED FORMULA FOR DETERMINING THE COLA.
LAST YEAR, WE DID A 3% MERIT POOL, BUT THE COLA WAS DIFFERENT BASED ON THE FORMULA AT THAT TIME.
DOES ANYONE RECALL WHAT THAT, LUCY?
THIS YEAR IS 2.8, SO IT IS DROPPING BASED ON THAT FORMULA.
>> WE'RE DROPPING THE COST OF LIVING?
>> CORRECT. FROM 3.24 LAST YEAR TO 2.8. THANK YOU. PROPOSE THIS.
>> WHAT FORMULA IS THIS? I'M JUST CURIOUS.
>> IT'S A 10 YEAR LOOK BACK AT A VERSION OF THE CPI.
IF YOU REMEMBER, MY UNDERSTANDING WAS THE BOARD DID THAT THREE OR FOUR YEARS AGO NOW, BASED ON THE PREMISE THAT YOU DIDN'T WANT TO REACT IN A SINGLE YEAR TO LARGE FLUCTUATIONS, EITHER UP OR DOWN IN THE CPI, BUT YOU WANTED TO LOOK AT IT OVER TIME.
THE BOARD THEN DECIDED, LET'S USE A 10 YEAR LOOK BACK PERIOD TO TRY TO FLATTEN OUT THE COLA AS MUCH AS YOU COULD FOR BUDGET PLANNING.
>> I'LL PROBABLY HAVE MORE QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT.
>> SURE. THIS WOULD PROBABLY BE A GOOD POINT TO CLARIFY HERE BASED ON THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT THE TAX RATE.
THIS PROPOSAL IS BUILT ON THE PREMISE OF A FLAT TAX RATE? IF THAT WOULD BE A CHOICE THAT THE BOARD WOULD NOT MAKE, WE NEED TO GO BACK IN AND CARVE OUT $2.2 MILLION?
>> FROM THIS. I TALKED ABOUT REALLY TOUGH DECISIONS, THEY GET TO AT THAT POINT.
>> YOU'RE SAYING THAT IF WE DO NOT GO AHEAD AND STAY WITH THE TAX RATE WE HAVE RIGHT NOW, THAT WE WILL CUT THIS BY THE [INAUDIBLE]?
>> CAN I JUST WANT TO NOTE BECAUSE I'M FAIRLY NEW TO THIS POSITION, AND YESTERDAY I WAS ABLE TO MEET WITH THE ASSESSOR TO UNDERSTAND HOW THE ECONOMY AND THE MARKET IMPACTS OUR PROPERTY VALUES.
BASICALLY WHAT I LEARNED IN THAT CONVERSATION IS THAT IS VERY STABLE DESPITE MARKET FLUCTUATIONS, THAT THAT LIMITED CASH VALUE IS PRETTY MUCH GOING TO CONTINUE TO GO UP AND THE MARKET MIGHT COME DOWN AND IS ABLE TO MEET THAT IN THE WORST CASE SCENARIOS, BUT DOESN'T REALLY RESULT IN A DECREASE IN PROPERTY VALUES AS THEIR TAX.
I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER IN THAT CONVERSATION.
THAT PEOPLE'S PROPERTY VALUES ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO INCREASE FROM A TAXATION PERSPECTIVE, DESPITE WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE MARKET.
WHICH IS THE REASON FOR LOWERING THAT TAX RATE EVERY YEAR SO THAT THE DOLLAR AMOUNT REALLY STAYS THE SAME OF WHAT'S COMING IN FROM OUR CONSTITUENTS.
>> THANK YOU, ZIPORA. ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE WE MOVE ON?
>> WITH THE SLIDE RIGHT HERE, THIS SHOWS THE GENERAL FUND REQUEST FOR RECOMMENDED, AND THE REASON FOR THIS SLIDE IS TO SHOW, WHICH COUNTY MANAGER THOMPSON MENTIONED AT THE ONSET OF THE PRESENTATION IS DEPARTMENTS OVERALL REQUESTED A LITTLE OVER $207 MILLION.
THE DIFFERENTIAL BETWEEN WHAT IS RECOMMENDED AND WHAT IS REQUESTED IS AROUND 21 MILLION.
EVEN WITH THE INCREASE IN THERE THAT THAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING IN THE BUDGET, THERE STILL IS SOME, SOME NEEDS THAT WILL REMAIN OUT THERE FOR FUTURE YEARS THAT WE'LL NEED TO CONTINUE LOOKING AT, OF EITHER LOOKING THROUGH EFFICIENCIES AND INNOVATIONS OF DOING THINGS DIFFERENTLY, OR IN THE FUTURE, LOOKING ABOUT HOW WE RE-SCALE OR RETOOL OUR DEPARTMENTS, SO IT'S JUST SOMETHING TO MAKE NOTE OF.
[00:20:06]
>> WE INCLUDED THIS SLIDE THAT MAY LOOK FAMILIAR.
THIS WAS FROM OUR LAST BUDGET UPDATE, THAT IS JUST TOUCHING ON THE EXPENDITURE LIMITATION AND WHAT THAT MEANS.
WITH THE PASSAGE OF THAT, WE HAVE ESTIMATED NEW CAPACITY OF THIS YEAR OF $125 MILLION.
BUT THE REASON I WANTED TO RE INCLUDE THIS HERE, I BELIEVE THERE STILL CONTINUES TO BE SOME DEGREE OF CONFUSION ABOUT WHAT IT MEANT WHEN THE VOTERS APPROVED AN ADJUSTMENT TO OUR BASE EXPENDITURE LIMIT, GIVING US THAT ADDITIONAL AUTHORITY.
THAT DID NOTHING TO ADDRESS OUR ONGOING REVENUE.
ALL THAT DID, AND I APOLOGIZE FOR SAYING ALL THAT DID.
IT WAS AN IMPORTANT TOOL THAT NEEDED TO BE ADDRESSED HERE IN MY OPINION IN THE COUNTY.
AGAIN, THANK YOU TO THE VOTERS FOR GIVING US THAT AUTHORITY THAT ALLOWED US TO SPEND REVENUE RESOURCES WE ALREADY HAD.
AS WE KNOW, WE HAVE HEALTHY RESERVES, WE'RE UNFORTUNATE, SO IT GAVE US THE ABILITY IF THE BOARD SO CHOOSES TO USE THOSE WITHOUT VIOLATING OUR EXPENDITURE LIMIT CAP.
BUT AGAIN, IT DIDN'T CHANGE OUR ONGOING REVENUES, AND I CONTINUE TO FEEL LIKE PERHAPS THERE WAS SOME THOUGHT THAT THAT THERE WAS GOING TO BE LOTS OF NEW RESOURCES TO EXPEND THIS YEAR.
I JUST WANT TO EMPHASIZE, THAT'S NOT THE CASE.
THAT'S NOT WHAT THE EXPENDITURE LIMITATION WAS ALL ABOUT.
>> THAT INCREASED CAPACITY GIVES US ABOUT SAFETY WINDOW OF ABOUT 10 YEARS?
>> THAT WAS STAFF'S PROJECTION 10-12 YEARS.
>> THESE ARE THE BUDGET GUIDELINES THAT STAFF USED IN BRINGING THIS PROPOSAL TO YOU THAT WE WANTED TO ADOPT A BALANCED AND SUSTAINABLE GENERAL FUND BUDGET, A STRUCTURAL OPERATING BUDGET, AND WE WILL TALK MORE ABOUT THAT BECAUSE WE ARE NOT THERE.
WE'VE GOT A PLAN TO GET US THERE, BUT WE WILL NOT BE THERE IN THIS COMING YEAR.
AGAIN, WE ALWAYS USE CONSERVATIVE REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE FORECAST.
WE MAINTAIN RESERVE LEVELS PER COUNTY POLICY.
AGAIN, THERE'S ANOTHER PIECE OF GOOD NEWS.
YOU MIGHT RECALL AT OUR LAST BUDGET UPDATE, I THINK WE SHARED WITH YOU THAT WE WERE AT THE MAXIMUM OF YOUR ESTABLISHED POLICY, SO WE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF FLEXIBILITY THERE.
AGAIN, OUR RESERVES CONTINUE TO BE VERY HEALTHY, SO FORTUNATELY, THAT GIVES US SOME FLEXIBILITY.
WE LOOK AT OPERATING EXPENSES FROM ACTIVE CIP PROJECTS, MAKING SURE THEY'RE INCLUDED IN THE OPERATING BUDGET.
AGAIN, NOT SURE THAT WE'VE ALWAYS DONE AS GOOD A JOB AS WE COULD WHEN THE BOARD HAS APPROVED CAPITAL PROJECTS, STEPPING BACK TO SAY, OH, WE APPROVE THAT BUILDING, WHAT DOES THAT DO TO OUR ONGOING OPERATIONAL COST? HOW MANY NEW STAFF ARE GOING TO BE REQUIRED? WHAT ARE GOING TO BE THE ADDITIONAL COSTS? MAKING SURE WE'RE LOOKING AT THE COMPLETE PICTURE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN.
THEN WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO EVALUATE CURRENT SERVICE DELIVERY LEVELS AND CONTINUE TO SEEK INNOVATION AND EFFICIENCIES WHEREVER WE CAN FIND THEM.
THE STATE FISCAL POSITION, AGAIN, JUST A REMINDER, DID WE UPDATE THIS FROM THE LAST? PRESENTATION TO THE BOARD.
IT'S BEEN ADJUSTED A BIT, BUT STATE REVENUES CONTINUE TO SHOW CAUTIOUS GROWTH IN THE TPT, WHICH WE REFERENCED BACK ON THE EARLIER SLIDE, WHICH IS SALES TAX.
THEN WE HAVE, AS SUPERVISOR CHECK MENTIONED THE UNCERTAINTY IN THE FEDERAL LANDSCAPE ABOUT HOW THAT MAY IMPACT COUNTIES.
GOOD NEWS HERE, AS WE KNOW, WE HAD TWO SIGNIFICANT PIECES OF LEGISLATION THAT WE WERE HOPING TO GET REAUTHORIZED THAT HAD AN IMPACT ON US, IN PARTICULAR THE WESTERN COUNTIES IN THE UNITED STATES, AND THAT'S PILT PAYMENTS IN LIEU OF TAXES.
AGAIN, GOOD NEWS. THAT DID GET ADDRESSED.
BUT AS I THINK YOU ALL KNOW, SRS OR SECURE RURAL SCHOOLS DID NOT GET RE APPROPRIATED.
THERE'S A PIECE IN THAT LEGISLATION THAT PROPOSES AN ALTERNATE FUNDING SOURCE, BUT IT'S A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE OVERALL SRS, SO WE ARE ANTICIPATING LOSS OF THOSE SRS FUNDS.
GOOD NEWS IS FOR THE DIRECT COUNTY BUDGET, IT'S A VERY SMALL PIECE.
BUT THE FUNDING THAT GOES TO SCHOOLS AND ROADS AND FIRE WISE, THAT'S ALL A RISK.
>> WELL, I JUST HAVE A QUESTION BECAUSE MY UNDERSTANDING WAS THAT IF SRS DIDN'T GET PASSED, IT WOULD NEGATIVELY IMPACT ALSO THE PILT FINAL NUMBER FOR OUR COUNTY.
BUT THAT WAS FROM THE COUNTY SUPERVISORS ASSOCIATION DISCUSSION.
>> I'D HAVE TO LOOK INTO THAT TO SEE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TWO, BECAUSE THERE'S A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT RELATIONAL FACTORS AND ONE OF WHICH HOW MUCH THE DOLLARS THAT YOU RECEIVE IN SRS CAN POTENTIALLY CHANGE YOUR PILT DISTRIBUTION.
WE CAN LOOK INTO THAT TO SEE IF THERE'S SOME NEW FIGURES ON THAT.
IT'S ACTUALLY ONE OF THE AREAS WE'VE BEEN CHECKING IN WITH CSA, THEY'RE A GREAT RESOURCE AND GREAT PARTNER ALMOST EVERY 2-3 WEEKS TO SEE IF THERE'S GOING TO BE ANY CHANGES
[00:25:04]
ON THIS BECAUSE THESE ARE ONE OF THE ASPECTS SUPERVISOR AS COUNTY MANAGER THOMPSON MENTIONED, THAT TOUCH OTHER AREAS OF THE BUDGET, MAYBE NOT SO DIRECTLY TO US, BUT COMMUNITY PARTNERS.THIS IS AN AREA THAT WE'LL KEEP WATCH ON.
WE DO GET APPORTIONMENT STILL OF THE SRS, BUT NOT AT THE SAME AMOUNT BY NOT BEING REAUTHORIZED.
WE'RE KEEPING WATCH TO SEE WHEN WE GET THOSE NEW FIGURES SO WE CAN MAKE SURE TO ADD THOSE TO THE BUDGET.
>> WHAT'S THE DOLLAR AMOUNT LOST FOR FIRE WISE WITHOUT THE RE-AUTHORIZATION OF THE SRS, WAS IT ABOUT 120?
>> HAVE YOU COMPENSATED FOR THAT IN THE BUDGET?
>> NO, WE HAVE NOTE. OTHER QUESTIONS? MOVE ON.
WE'LL PUT THOSE ON THE QUESTION LIST AND GET THAT INFORMATION FOR YOU.
ABOUT BOTH OF THOSE. THANK YOU.
HERE'S A SLIDE ABOUT OUR CONSOLIDATED PROPOSED EXPENDITURES.
YOU CAN SEE THE GENERAL FUND THERE, 164 MILLION, 39%, OUR SPECIAL REVENUE, 185, ABOUT 43%, STILL THE LARGEST PORTION OF OUR OVERALL BUDGET.
SPECIAL DISTRICTS, 52 MILLION CAPITAL PROJECTS, 20 AND OUR DEBT SERVICE AGAIN, AS WE TALKED ABOUT A VERY SMALL PIECE 1% OF OUR CONSOLIDATED EXPENDITURES.
THANK YOU. PAUSE THERE NOT TO GET AHEAD OF OURSELVES, BUT WHEN WE GET TO THE CIP PORTION OF THE DISCUSSION AND WE SEE HOW FAR THAT THE BOARD WANTS TO GET WITH TALKING ABOUT THE CAPITAL.
AGAIN, WE'VE GOT SOME THINGS WORKING IN OUR FAVOR THERE.
WE'RE PROPOSING TO PAY OFF THAT 1.9 MILLION DOLLAR IN DEBT, SO THAT JUST LEAVE AS MARTY SAID, NO COUNTY DEBT, SOME JAIL DISTRICT DEBT REMAINING THERE, AND THEN OUR BOND RATING UPGRADE THAT WE RECEIVED LAST YEAR, SO WE'RE IN STRONG POSITION IN TERMS OF THE BOARD CHOOSING TO DO SOME WORK AROUND CAPITAL.
THEN CONVERSELY, THE REVENUE HERE, 50% TO THE GENERAL FUND, 39 SPECIAL REVENUE, 29 MILLION OR 9% IN SPECIAL DISTRICT, CAPITAL PROJECTS 8.3, 2%, AND THEN YOU'LL SEE THE DEBT SERVICE DOESN'T EVEN ROUND UP TO 1%, SO 71,500.
THEY'RE JUST LOOKING AT THE GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES.
YOU'VE SEEN THIS SLIDE BEFORE AND NOT SIGNIFICANT CHANGE FROM LAST YEAR.
COURTS AND PUBLIC SAFETY, YOU SEE TAKE UP 50%.
IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, THAT MAY HAVE BEEN 51 LAST YEAR, SO WAYS HOVERS OR FOR THE LAST MANY YEARS, HOVERS AROUND 50% OF OUR BUDGET.
INTERNAL SERVICE DEPARTMENTS, 21%, OTHERS, 18, AND FINALLY, GENERAL SERVICES 9%.
THEN OUR GENERAL FUND REVENUE.
YOU SEE THE LARGEST PORTION OF OUR GENERAL FUND REVENUE IS THOSE INTERGOVERNMENTAL TRANSFERS, THE TPT AND VEHICLE LICENSE TAX, 45% OF OUR BUDGETS THERE.
PROPERTY TAXES, 39% AND COUNTY SALES TAX, 8%, AND THEN I WON'T GO, READ THOSE TO YOU, BUT YOU CAN SEE THE OTHERS ARE RELATIVELY MINOR PIECES OF OUR OVERALL REVENUE PICTURE.
WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR REVENUE, THE REVENUE SETS THE SIZE OF THE BOXES THAT SAYS.
OUR GENERAL FUND REVENUE IS 79% IS GENERATED FROM PROPERTY TAX AND SALES TAX.
SHARED SALES TAXES, I CAN TURN THIS ONE OVER TO YOU TO TALK ABOUT THE TRANS THERE.
AS WE SAW IT PREVIOUSLY, THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL LINE WILL BRING IN THE MAJORITY OF THE DOLLARS THAT WE BRING IN.
I MEAN, IT'S PRETTY CLOSELY SHARED WITH PROPERTY TAXES.
STATE SHARED REVENUE HAS WE'VE DONE REALLY WELL THIS YEAR.
IN THE BLUE SOLID GRAPH, YOU'LL SEE YOU'LL SEE THE AMOUNT THAT WE BROUGHT IN YEAR OVER YEAR.
THEN IN THE ORANGE, YELLOWISH COLOR, THE LINE CHART, YOU'LL SEE IN THERE, THAT'S THE PERCENT CHANGE YEAR OVER YEAR.
ONE OF THE THINGS I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT HERE IS YOU'LL SEE THE PROGRESSION BETWEEN 2017-2021.
YOU'LL SEE INCREASING YEAR OVER YEAR AND REALLY THE LOW POINT THERE IS 4.3%.
WHAT THIS SAYS IS DURING THOSE YEARS, FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS, THERE WAS VERY STRONG GROWTH IN TPT.
THAT HELPS US, AS WE'RE LOOKING TO SAY, THAT'S WHY I SAY, REVENUE SETS THE SIZE OF THE BOX.
HOW MUCH MONEY DO WE HAVE AVAILABLE AS A COUNTY? THE REVENUE TPT IS ABOUT A THIRD OF OUR REVENUE FOR THE GENERAL FUND. WE KEEP AN EYE ON THIS.
[00:30:03]
BUT YOU'LL START SEEING THEN IT GOES DOWN SLIGHTLY FROM 2021 ALL THE WAY BACK UNTIL RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE A 9.2% INCREASE EXPECTED THIS NEXT YEAR.ONE OF THE THINGS I JUST WANTED TO COMMENT ON THAT IS A 9.2% DOESN'T MEAN THAT THERE'S BEEN GROWTH OF 9.2%.
WHAT IT MEANS IS THE FY 25 BUDGET WHEN HE WAS BUILT.
THE PROJECTIONS ARE RATHER CONSERVATIVE, WHICH IS A GOOD PRACTICE.
WE DON'T WANT TO OVER ESTIMATE OUR REVENUES, BUT ACTUALLY THE GROWTH RATE IS CLOSER TO AROUND 3% YEAR OVER YEAR OF TOTAL REVENUE INCREASE.
NEXT YEAR, WHEN YOU SEE THE ACTUALS, IT WON'T BE NINE BECAUSE WE'RE COMPARING IT'S COMPARED TO THE LAST TIME PERIOD.
IT'S REALLY ABOUT A 3% INCREASE.
BUT OVERALL, THIS IS A VERY HEALTHY GROWTH RATE FOR US.
WE HAVEN'T SEEN THE 5% GROWTH THAT WE DID SEE IN THE PREVIOUS MENTIONED TIME PERIOD.
BECAUSE OF THAT, THAT WILL BE A PRECURSOR DISCUSSING, HOW DOES TPT, ALONG WITH PROPERTY TAX, ALLOW US TO MOVE FORWARD AND SEE HOW MANY NEW RESOURCES CAN WE BRING INTO THE COUNTY.
>> THE INCREASE IN THIS, WHICH IS REALLY DOG ON HEALTHY, IS THAT DUE IN PART TO WAYFAIR DECISION? WHY IS THERE MORE OF THAT? IS THAT BECAUSE NOW WE'RE SEEING THE ONLINE SALES TAX ACTUALLY COMING OUR WAY?
>> GREAT OBSERVATION. MY UNDERSTANDING IS IS THE CHANGE BETWEEN, I FORGET WHAT YEAR WAS BECAUSE THAT'S WHY WAS THE STATE.
BUT IT WAS I WANT TO SAY BETWEEN 19 AND 21 IS WHEN THE STATE DID BRING IN ONLINE SALES TAX INTO THE EQUATION, SO IT BUMPED UP EVERYBODY.
THERE ARE ALSO SOME OTHER STATUTORY CHANGES.
I WAS WATCHING THE CONSTITUTION, BUT THAT'S NOT THE THAT'S NOT ALL THE STATUTES.
WHEN THE STATE SAYS THEY'RE GOING TO CHANGE HOW TPT IS PUT TOGETHER, THAT CAN HAVE SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS FOR US AT THE COUNTIES AND TOWARDS CITIES.
IT'S A GREAT BENEFIT WE HAVE HERE AT THE STATE CHURCH SALES TAX.
THOSE FORMULARIES CAN CHANGE DRASTICALLY HOW MUCH WE SEE. BUT THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING.
THAT'S WHAT I WENT. I BELIEVE SO.
I'D HAVE TO SEE BECAUSE THEY DID SOME OTHER TINKERING AND CHANGES AS WELL, SO I CAN LOOK INTO THAT TO GET YOU THE PIECE ON THAT.
BUT ONCE AGAIN, THIS IS ALSO ONE OTHER THING TO NOTE BECAUSE WE'LL TALK ABOUT EXCISE TAX LATER.
THEY'RE BOTH SALES TAX, THEY'RE A LITTLE DIFFERENT.
TPT MEANS WHATEVER IS COLLECTED ACROSS THE ENTIRETY OF THE STATE IS BROUGHT TOGETHER, AND THEN THERE'S A FORMULARY BASED UPON YOUR POPULATION AND NET ASSESS EVALUATION, AND THOSE TWO FACTORS WILL DETERMINE HOW MUCH WE GET.
IT'S BASICALLY THE RISE OF THE ENTIRE STATE AS A GROUP IS LOOKED.
LATER WE'LL LOOK AT EXCISE TAX, AND EXCISE TAX IS SOLELY WHAT'S TAXED IN YOUR COUNTY.
UNFORTUNATELY, ON THE EXCISE TAX, WE HAVE NOT SEEN THE SAME GROWTH FACTORS.
WHAT WE'RE SEEING OVERALL AT THE STATE LEVEL, WE'VE SEEN VERY HEALTHY GROWTH AND EXCISE TAX.
IT'S BEEN MORE MUTED. THAT BECOMES ONE OF THE CHALLENGES AS WE'RE LOOKING AT THE VARIOUS EXPENDITURE SIDES THAT RECEIVE THAT, THERE'S SOME DIFFERENTIAL THERE.
>> MADAM CHAIR. I'M SORRY, IF YOU WERE FINISHED.
>> I'M GOOD. THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR CHECK IT.
>> I APPRECIATE THAT EXPLANATION BECAUSE THAT INFORMATION DOESN'T TRACK WITH SOME OF THE INFORMATION I'M RECEIVING FROM MY MUNICIPALITIES.
LIKE CLARKDALE, RECENTLY REPORTED THAT THEY'RE DOWN 14% YEAR OVER YEAR ON THEIR SALES TAX.
I GUESS MY QUESTION WAS, IS THAT PROJECTION ACTUALLY TAKING INTO ACCOUNT 2025 DATA?
YES. THE 2026 NUMBERS, THEY'RE ACTUALLY BUILT IN. WHAT I HAVE BEEN THERE.
I THINK IT'S AROUND A LITTLE OVER A 2% GROWTH RATE FOR 26.
WHAT I DO IS I PROJECT THERE'S A FORECAST ON HOW MUCH WE BELIEVE WE'RE GOING TO RECEIVE THIS YEAR.
THEN BASED UPON THAT, I'M LOOKING AT OUR PROJECTIONS.
THE 55 MILLION WE'RE LOOKING AT HERE IS REALLY LOOKING AT ABOUT A 2.2% GROWTH RATE, SO IT'S NOT ESTIMATING A 9%.
IT JUST IS THE TIME PERIOD WE'RE LOOKING BACK AT, IT'S A LARGER GROWTH.
SORRY FOR THE BIG PIECE OF THAT.
ALSO DEPENDING IF IT'S EXCISE TAX OR NOT BECAUSE AND ALSO POPULATION GROWTH, ESPECIALLY SMALLER COMMUNITIES TOO, DEPENDING ON HOW THEIR POPULATION SHIFT.
I CAN IMPACT DIFFERENTLY DIFFERENT CHECKS AND JURISDICTIONS.
>> THE SECOND PART OF MY QUESTION WAS, I THINK THERE WAS A CONSENSUS THAT WE WERE REALLY UNDER-COUNTED IN 2020, PARTIALLY BECAUSE OF THE COVID THINGS, PARTIALLY BECAUSE OF FEAR POLITICALLY FOR PEOPLE TO ACTUALLY REPORT WHO'S THERE.
HAVE THEY DONE ANYTHING TO TRY TO DO A RECOUNT OR A RE-ESTIMATE OF HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY HERE? BECAUSE I KNOW WE'RE HOVERING RIGHT ON THE 250 MARK, AND IF WE GO OVER IT, IT CHANGES A LOT OF THINGS.
>> DO YOU WANT TO TAKE CARE. WHAT I WANT TO MENTION IS, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THERE'S NOT AN AUTOMATIC PROCESS BY WHICH A JURISDICTION WILL HAVE IT TRIGGERED BY THE CENSUS.
HOWEVER, IF IT WAS A DISCRETION OF YAVAPAI COUNTY, WE COULD PAY TO HAVE ANOTHER MINI CENSUS DONE.
[00:35:02]
WITH THAT, THEY WOULD UPDATE THE NUMBERS BASED UPON WHERE THOSE PROJECTIONS COME OUT TO.SOME JURISDICTIONS WILL DO THAT IF THEY FIND THEIR GROWTH RATE HAS EITHER THEY MISSED THE COUNT OR SIGNIFICANTLY OUTGREW IT.
BUT THERE'S SOME PROJECTIONS THAT HAVE TO BE DONE TO MAKE SURE IT'S THE COST OF THE SERVICE, AND THE PERCEIVED BENEFITS ARE IN ALIGNMENT.
>> IF I COULD JUST ADD TO THAT.
WE KNOW THE CENSUS IS DONE EVERY 10 YEARS, BUT THERE ARE ANNUAL ESTIMATES MADE THROUGH THE ACS THAT ADJUST THAT.
I DON'T KNOW THOUGH HOW THOSE ARE GET FACTORED IN, IF AT ALL INTO A FORMULA SUCH AS THIS, THOUGH.
DO THEY GO BACK AND USE THOSE ESTIMATES OR NOT? OR DOES IT STICK WITH YOUR CENSUS NUMBER?
>> YOUR STATE SHARED REVENUE NUMBERS, DOESN'T THE STATE GIVE YOU THEIR PROJECTION FOR STATE SHARED REVENUE?
>> MY UNDERSTANDING IS SOME OF IT IS BASED ON POPULATION, AND I CAN SPEAK FOR CAMP VERDE VERY BECAUSE I SAW THEIR NUMBERS BEFORE I CAME HERE AND WHAT THE STATE DID IS THE COUNTY'S POPULATION WENT UP BUT THE MUNICIPALITIES WENT DOWN.
CAMP VERDE'S POPULATION WAS PROJECTED TO GO DOWN, WHICH IS UNBELIEVABLE, AS WELL AS COTTONWOOD AND THE OTHERS, AND THEY'RE GOING TO APPEAL THAT, OF COURSE, BUT THEY DID PROJECT THE COUNTY'S POPULATION TO GO UP, AND THAT IS PART OF THE FACTOR.
HOW MUCH WEIGHT THEY PUT ON THAT, I DON'T KNOW, BUT THAT'S WHAT I HAD HEARD IF YOU MAYBE CHECK ON THAT.
>> I'LL LOOK INTO THAT BECAUSE THERE'S THE TWO FACTORS THAT I KNOW IT'S POPULATION IN NEXUS' VALUATION.
WHAT I NEED TO CHECK IS TO SEE HOW OFTEN ARE THEY TRIGGERED, AND WHEN ARE THEY CHANGED? I BELIEVE IT'S AT MID-YEAR FOR POPULATION, BUT I NEED TO DOUBLE-CHECK ON THAT TO MAKE SURE NOTHING HAS CHANGED SINCE THE LAST TIME I LOOKED AT IT, BUT THOSE ARE THE TWO FACTORS, AND IF YOU'RE MENTIONING IT'S A LITTLE COMPLEX, HOW IT'S LOOKED IN HOW IT COMES INTO BEING AND THAT'S WHERE IT'S DIFFICULT TO LOOK AT APPLES TO APPLES ACROSS JURISDICTIONS, BUT OVERALL, ONE OF THE AREAS I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTOOD A GROUP IS THAT THE STATE SHARED SALES TAX IS A DIFFERENT FORMULARY THAN OUR EXCISE TAX.
EXCISE IS MORE OF A PROJECTION AS TO WHAT'S HAPPENED LOCALLY WITH TAXABLE SALES IN THE COMMUNITY OR ANY TAXABLE PURCHASES, WHERE STATE SHARED SALES TAX IS MORE OF A FORMULARY PLUS THE ENTIRE STATE, SO THERE'S DIFFERENT GROWTH FACTORS ON THOSE.
>> I WOULD BE CURIOUS TO KNOW, I KNOW THIS CONVERSATION HAS COME UP A LOT IN REGARDS TO REDISTRICTING IN THE COUNTY AS A WHOLE, JUST OUR COUNTY.
YOU MENTIONED THAT WE ARE ABLE TO MAYBE LOOK AT DOING THIS.
I'D BE CURIOUS TO KNOW WHAT THAT COST WOULD LOOK LIKE.
YOU MENTIONED ABOUT WE COULD DO OUR OWN TYPE OF CENSUS, I GUESS YOU MIGHT SAY, IS THAT WHAT YOU WERE REFERRING TO, MALLORY OR ZACH? MENTIONED SOMETHING ABOUT DOING A COST.
I'M NOT RECOMMENDING IT BE DONE.
I'M JUST SAYING, BY YOUR UNDERSTANDING, IT'S A POSSIBILITY FOR A JURISDICTION TO LOOK AT THAT, BUT THERE ARE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH IT.
USUALLY WHEN THAT'S DONE, YOU LOOK AT YOUR POPULATION TRENDS, YOU'RE LOOKING AT A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT FACTORS TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR PROJECTED GROWTH RATE IS OUTPACING A CERTAIN NUMBER YOU'RE LOOKING AT, AND THEN YOU LOOK AT THE COST BENEFIT OF GOING FORWARD WITH THAT STUDY.
THERE'S SOME LEGWORK THAT GOES INTO THAT TO MAKE SURE THAT'S THE RIGHT TIME PERIOD AND ALSO, IT'S USUALLY A LITTLE FURTHER INTO.
WELL, WE'RE ACTUALLY AT THE MIDPOINT RIGHT NOW SO WHAT WE CAN DO IS I'LL LOOK INTO THE TPT SIDE AND MAKE SURE I GET THE ACCURATE RE-BASING OF WHEN THEY RE-BASE THOSE FIGURES FOR THOSE TWO FOR NEXUS' VALUATION AND POPULATION, AND ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE CENSUS SIDE OF IT TO SEE IF WE WERE INTERESTED, HOW MIGHT THAT WORK?
>> I'D APPRECIATE THAT. I'M NOT ADVOCATING FOR THIS.
JUST THIS CONVERSATION HAS COME UP MANY TIMES, EVEN IN THE LAST TERM ABOUT ACTUALLY LOOKING AT THESE DISTRICTS WE HAVE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE SOME ARE MUCH MORE LARGER THAN OTHERS, BUT I AM AWARE THAT OUR CENSUS ISN'T THAT FAR AWAY.
IT MAY SEEM LIKE IT. BEFORE WE KNOW IT, WE'LL BE THERE. THANK YOU.
>> LEADING RIGHT INTO EXCISE SALES TAX.
THIS SLIDE MAY LOOK SOMEWHAT FAMILIAR BECAUSE WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS IN THE TWO PREVIOUS BUDGET RETREAT RETREATS WE DID.
ACTUALLY, THIS IS A BETTER POSITION AT 0%.
PREVIOUSLY, WE STARTED AT NEGATIVE 6%.
I BELIEVE THE LAST TIME AFTERWARDS WAS NEGATIVE 3 OR NEGATIVE 4%.
IT'S INCHING UP A LITTLE BIT MORE AS WELL.
THIS IS SPECIFICALLY MEASURING HOW MUCH SALES TAX WE'RE GETTING IN YAVAPAI COUNTY.
WE HAVE BASICALLY TWO SEPARATE EXCISE TAXES HERE IN YAVAPAI COUNTY.
[00:40:06]
ONE IS A HALF CENT EXCISE TAX, WHICH GETS DISTRIBUTED IN THE PROPORTIONMENT NOTED THERE, 45% TO REGIONAL ROADS, 40% TO THE GENERAL FUND, AND THEN 15% TO CAPITAL PROJECTS.IN LOOKING AT IT, I'LL HAVE TO DOUBLE-CHECK AND MAKE SURE THAT WE MAY BE SEEING A LITTLE BIT HIGHER GROWTH RATE THAN I HAVE HERE IN THE ZERO, BUT REALLY IT'S LESS THAN 2%.
IT'S REALLY CLOSER TO A 1.5%, AND WE'RE TRENDING UP BUT UNTIL RECENTLY, IT REALLY HASN'T BROKEN OUTSIDE OF THE NEGATIVE TERRITORY, SO IT'S GOOD TO SEE SOME OF THE GROWTH FACTORS RECENTLY.
THEN THE OTHER SIDE OF IT IS, WE DO HAVE A QUARTER CENT FOR THE JAIL TAX AS WELL, SO HALF OF THE AMOUNT THAT WE COLLECT FOR THESE THREE DISTRIBUTIONS HERE WILL GO TOWARDS THE JAIL DISTRICT.
>> THAT HALF CENT SALES TAX WHEN IT WAS ORIGINALLY SOLD, WASN'T IT 85% WAS SUPPOSED TO GO TO ROADS, AND HASN'T THAT BEEN MODIFIED AND MOVED INTO THE GENERAL FUND? IT WAS 85%, CORRECT?
>> I DON'T RECALL THE EXACT PERCENT WHEN IT WAS ESTABLISHED, BUT YES, YOU'RE CORRECT.
IT'S BEEN MODIFIED BY BOARD ACTION SINCE THAT TIME TO WHERE WE ARE NOW.
>> GO AHEAD, MADAM CHAIR. I'M SORRY.
>> NO, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S APPROPRIATE, BUT WE DO HAVE ROGER HERE.
[OVERLAPPING] I'M SURE HE'S [OVERLAPPING].
>> I WAS JUST THINKING THE SAME THING.
I'M GLAD SOMEONE KNOWS HE'S HERE.
>> YEAH, PLEASE, ROGER. THANK YOU.
>> WHEN IT WAS ORIGINALLY INSTITUTED, IT WAS 80% THAT WAS GOING TO ROADS AND 20% ELSEWHERE AND IT'S FLUCTUATED OVER TIME.
IT'S BEEN AS LOW AS 20% DURING THE REALLY TOUGH TIMES OF THE ECONOMY, 2009, '10.
AFTER THE RECESSION, IT WENT DOWN TO ABOUT 20% GOING TO ROADS, 80% BACK TO THE OTHER SERVICES WITHIN THE COUNTY.
AROUND THE TIME OF 2012, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, IT INCHED UP TO ABOUT 40% GOING TO ROADS, AND THEN ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO, I WANT TO SAY, WE WENT UP TO 45%, AND THEN THAT'S WHEN THE BOARD DECIDED TO PUT AN ADDITIONAL 5% OF THE HALF CENT FUNDING TO DIRT TO BLACK PROJECTS.
5% THAT YOU'RE SEEING THERE IS STRICTLY DEDICATED TO DOING DIRT TO BLACK TYPE PROJECTS, AND THE REMAINING 40% IS FOR OUR REGIONAL ROADS, THE LARGER ADT TYPE ROADS, MAJOR COLLECTORS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY TO DO IMPROVEMENTS ON THOSE.
>> ROGER, BEFORE YOU STEP AWAY, YOU SAID 80 20.
WAS THE 20 ALL DESIGNATED TO THE GENERAL FUND OR WAS THERE ANY BREAKOUT OF THAT AT ALL?
I THINK THE IDEA WAS TO HELP REDUCE PROPERTY TAXES AT THE TIME, SO IT WAS PROBABLY GOING TO GENERAL FUND, I WOULD ASSUME.
>> THE OTHER PART OF THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL OR THE LIONS SHARE OF THE OTHER INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVENUE SOURCE THAT WE RECEIVED IS VLT.
VLT, IN 2026, WE ESTIMATE IT WILL COME IN AT ABOUT 3.6 MILLION.
SIMILARLY, THE GROWTH RATE IS NOT EXPECTED TO BE THAT HIGH, BUT IT IS VERY STRONG.
IT'S CLOSER TO THE HIGHER 7% YEAR-OVER-YEAR, SO IT IS TRACKING VERY WELL.
JUST A REMINDER VLT IS LEVY PRIMARILY ON REGISTRATION OF NEW VEHICLES, SO AS WE GET EITHER MORE VEHICLES ADDED TO THE STATE OR PEOPLE BUYING NEWER VEHICLES IN WHICH THEY'RE TAXED AT A HIGHER VALUE, THOSE TWO COME INTO US BENEFICIALLY.
THIS IS YOUR PLUG GO BY VEHICLE IF YOU'VE BEEN ON THE FENCE, ABOUT IT.
>> MADAM CHAIR, I JUST WONDER, DO WE HAVE ANY TRENDS FOR THAT? DO YOU KNOW IF THOSE PROJECTIONS ARE UP OR DOWN INTO THE FUTURE?
VLT AND HURF AS A GROUP THEY DO A FORECASTING PROJECT, SO THEY'RE EXPECTING IT TO CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD AROUND, I BELIEVE 3-4%.
THEY USED TO PROVIDE SOME REALLY IN DEPTH DATA.
I ACTUALLY HAD A GOOD CONVERSATION WITH SOMEONE THREE MONTHS AGO, AND THEY SAID, "SORRY, ZACH, YOU WERE HERE IN THE PREVIOUS YEARS.
WE USED TO GIVE YOU ALL THE DATA. WE DON'T DO IT ANYMORE." SOME OF THE TREND DATA, WE USED TO GET ACTUAL MONTH-TO-MONTH INFORMATION DEAGGREGATED.
IT'S NOT AVAILABLE AT THE SAME LEVEL, BUT THEY ARE EXPECTING CONTINUED GROWTH TRENDS.
BUT MIND YOU, THIS IS ALSO, AS I THINK SUPER CHECK MENTIONED EARLIER ON, THE BROADER ECONOMY CAN IMPACT THIS.
WE SAW PREVIOUSLY AFTER THE GREAT RECESSION, THAT'S ONE OF MY FORAY INTO GOVERNMENT WAS, YOU SAW PEOPLE HOLDING ONTO THEIR VEHICLES LONGER.
IF THEY'RE NOT CHANGING OVER VEHICLES, THEN THIS WE WOULD EXPECT WOULD BE DAMPENED.
THERE'S SOME MACROECONOMIC IMPACTS ON THIS THAT WE KEEP AN EYE ON TO UNDERSTAND HOW THIS MIGHT CHANGE ONCE AGAIN,
[00:45:02]
BECAUSE IT IS ALMOST 8% OF OUR GENERAL FUND REVENUE.>> WELL, I JUST MIGHT SAY THAT ANYONE THAT HAS A MANUAL CAR IS DEFINITELY HOLDING ON TO THEIR VEHICLES BECAUSE FOR SOME REASON WE MAY NOT BE MAKING THOSE ANYMORE, SO YEAH, DEFINITELY ON THAT ONE.
>> ROGER MENTIONED A LITTLE BIT AGO, SOME OF THE EXPENDITURE SIDES OF THE HURF REVENUE, AS MENTIONED, HIGHWAY USER FUND REVENUE.
AS WELL, HURF REVENUE HAS BEEN DOING SURPRISINGLY WELL.
ONCE AGAIN, IT'S MORE OF A FACTOR OF OUR MORE CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATES THIS LAST YEAR.
THE GROWTH OVERALL IS A LITTLE BIT MORE BETWEEN THE FOUR AND 6%, BUT THAT'S STILL A PRETTY HEALTHY GROWTH RATE.
WE HAVEN'T SEEN THIS HISTORICALLY YEAR-OVER-YEAR. IT'S ONE OF THE AREAS.
ROGER WILL BE GIVING A PRESENTATION LATER ON TODAY, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, IN TALKING ABOUT HOW THEY DAMPENED REVENUE COMING IN THROUGH THE GAS TAX ON TOP OF THIS HAS NOT GROWN AS QUICKLY AS WE WOULD HAVE LIKED TO TO MAINTAIN OUR ROADS.
BUT THIS IS THE PRIMARY REVENUE SOURCE THAT WE DO HAVE FOR REGIONAL ROAD MAINTENANCE AS WELL AS EXPANSION.
THEY GET A SECONDARY APPORTIONMENT OF IT.
IT'S APPORTIONMENT OF THE HURF IN THEIR MODEL THAT THEY GET AS WELL.
THEY'LL GET BOTH OF THESE COMING TOGETHER, AND THE VLT WILL BE MORE IN LINE WITH THE GROWTH RATES ON THE OTHER SIDE, WHICH IS CLOSER TO A 16% GROWTH RATE YEAR-OVER-YEAR.
>> THANK YOU. HAS THE STATE LEGISLATURE ADDRESSED ELECTRIC VEHICLES AND THE WEAR AND TEAR? THIS IS STRICTLY GAS-BASED, RIGHT? HAS THAT BEEN ADDRESSED YET? THEY DON'T WANT TO TOUCH IT?
>> I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH A BILL COMING FORWARD TO ADDRESS THAT COMPONENT OF IT. [OVERLAPPING]
>> I KNOW IT'S BEEN DISCUSSED HOW CAN ELECTRIC VEHICLES CONTRIBUTE TO MAINTAINING THE ROADS THAT WE ALL SHARE, BUT NOTHING.
>> SUPERVISOR, I KNOW THAT OUR SENATOR MARK FITCHUM THAT'S AN ISSUE THAT IS A PRIORITY TO HIM.
>> THERE'S HOPE SIMILAR TO AS WE SAW WITH TPT, IT TOOK THE STATE A NUMBER OF YEARS TO ADJUST AS WELL WHEN ONLINE SALES TOOK OFF.
IT PROBABLY TOOK A GOOD 7-8 YEARS UNTIL THE STATE CAUGHT UP WITH THAT APPORTIONMENT WHERE IT WOULD PASS THROUGH TO THE OTHER JURISDICTIONS.
>> MADAM CHAIR, HOW IS A STATE ON A GENERAL ARE THEY DOING WELL? BECAUSE IT SEEMS WHENEVER THEY START STRUGGLING FOR MONEY, HURF IS ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THAT THEY TRY AND SWEEP FUNDS FROM.
IS HURF GOING TO BE SAFE FOR THE FUTURE?
>> THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WE HAD THE SLIDE PREVIOUSLY TALKING ABOUT THE FISCAL IMPACT AT THE STATE LEVEL.
CURRENTLY, THEY HAVE THE TWO SIDES OF THE HOUSE.
THEY HAVE THE REVENUE SIDE AND THE EXPENDITURE SIDE.
OVERALL, THEY'RE PROJECTING TO HAVE A POSITIVE FUND BALANCE FOR THEIR ONGOING APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS, AS WELL AS PRETTY STEADY GROWTH RATES, ANYWHERE BETWEEN 3-5% TOTAL GROWTH.
NOW, THEY GET INCOME TAX, SO THEY GET DIFFERENT REVENUE STREAMS THAT COME IN.
THE CONCERN, OF COURSE, IS RIGHT NOW WITH SOME OF THE VOLATILITY AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL, AS WELL AS WOULD THERE BE POTENTIAL CUTS TO SAY PROGRAMS LIKE MEDICAID.
IF THAT WERE TO HAPPEN, THAT COULD COMPLETELY CHANGE THEIR POSITION AND THEY WOULD HAVE TO ADJUST ACCORDINGLY.
THEY DO HAVE A HEALTHY RAINY DAY FUND BALANCE, I HAVE TO SEE IF HOW MANY BILLIONS THEY CURRENTLY HAVE, BUT THAT WOULD DRY UP VERY QUICKLY IF, ONCE AGAIN, SAY THE MEDICAID APPORTIONMENT WERE DECREASED BY, I THINK THE STATE GETS ABOUT HALF OF IT PAID BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
THEY STARTED TO DO SOME STRESS TESTS, AND I BELIEVE THE RAINY DAY FUND WOULD GO NEAR TO ZERO IN THEIR INITIAL PROJECTIONS.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THEY'RE BEING VERY MINDFUL OF, BUT EQUALLY, THIS WOULD BE AN IMPACT THAT COULD POTENTIALLY SPREAD THROUGH THE COUNTY, AND WE COULD SEE SOMETHING LIKE WE DID, I BELIEVE, IN 2007 WHEN THEY STARTED DOING THE HURF SHIFTING OF COSTS, WHICH THEY DID MAKE THE COUNTIES. [OVERLAPPING]
>> IT LOOKS PRETTY SECURE FOR THIS YEAR BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE THEIR BUDGET DONE BEFORE DC REALLY FIGURES OUT WHERE IT'S GOING.
>> IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE GOOD FOR THE SHORT-TERM, AND WE'LL JUST HAVE TO REALLY WATCH WHERE THEY GO ON LONG-TERM STUFF.
BECAUSE WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT HOW MUCH MONEY THAT IS, THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY TO CATCH UP ON IF IT DISAPPEARS.
>> JUST TO ALSO BRING THE HISTORY WITH THAT.
UNFORTUNATELY, WHEN THAT SHIFT HAPPENED, THE COUNTIES WEREN'T MADE WHOLE.
AT THAT TIME I WAS AT ANOTHER COUNTY, AND IT WAS A VERY LARGE NUMBER AND THAT WAS JUST LOST OVER THE PAYING FOR DPS OVER THOSE, SAY, 4-5 YEARS.
[00:50:04]
HOPEFULLY IT DOESN'T GO THAT ROUTE AND RIGHT NOW, THE PROJECTION FOR THE GENERAL FUND FOR THE STATE LOOKS TO BE SUFFICIENTLY HEALTHY GIVEN WHAT THEY KNOW RIGHT NOW.>> I COULD SAY THAT BACK IN THE TIME WHEN I WAS ON CYMPO AT THE TOWN OF PRESCOTT VALLEY, I BELIEVE CHRIS, YOU WERE PROBABLY ON CYMPO AS WELL AT THAT TIME WITH THE CITY OF PRESCOTT, WE WERE GOING DOWN MEETING WITH LEGISLATORS IN REGARDS TO THEM SWEEPING THIS FUND, AND ADVOCATING FOR THEM TO GIVE US BACK THOSE FUNDS.
I REMEMBER MEETING WITH A LEGISLATOR WHO SAID, "WELL, YOU'RE LUCKY I DON'T TAKE MORE." JUST ME HEARING THAT FROM THEM, I THOUGHT, WELL, I'LL REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE.
>> MADAM CHAIR, AND THAT REALLY THREW THE BRAKES ON A LOT OF OUR PROJECTS BACK THEN, AND WE PRETTY MUCH SWITCHED INTO PRESERVATION.
WE COULDN'T DO ANY EXPANSION OR REALLY REBUILDING AT THAT TIME.
>> DEPENDING ON HOW THINGS GO AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TRICKLING DOWN INTO THE STATE, IT IS SOMETHING, I THINK, AS A BOARD, WE SHOULD WANT TO KEEP A EYE ON AND IF WE NEED TO ADVOCATE TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS FUND DOES NOT BECOME SOMETHING ON THEIR TARGET, WE DO NEED TO KEEP AN EYE ON THAT BECAUSE I DON'T MIND GOING DOWN TO HAVE THE CONVERSATION.
>> THANKS FOR STAYING UP WITH THAT.
I THINK YOU GUYS REALLY NEED TO POLISH THAT CRYSTAL BALL TO TRY AND LOOK AND SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING BECAUSE THERE IS SO MUCH UNCERTAINTY RIGHT NOW, AND IT DOES TRICKLE DOWN.
>> CORRECT. IT'S ONE OF THE AREAS WE ALWAYS WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON THERE JUST TO KNOW WHAT OUR POSITION MIGHT BE AND THAT'S WHERE LATER AS WE TALK ABOUT THE RESERVE, AS WELL IT'S AN IMPORTANT PIECE FOR US TO BE MINDFUL OF.
IF AS OUR REVENUES FLUCTUATE, BECAUSE THEY WILL FLUCTUATE OVER TIME, AS WE SAW PREVIOUSLY, OUR TPT WAS HERE FOR A WHILE GROWING AND NOW IT'S STILL GROWING, BUT IT'S NOT AT THE SAME GROWTH RATES THAT WE'VE BEEN ACCUSTOMED TO FOR PREVIOUS TIME PERIODS.
HOW DO WE LOOK AT OUR OTHER REVENUE SOURCES? WHETHER IT BE PROPERTY TAX, EXCISE TAX.
ONE OF THE AREAS JUST TO MAKE NOTE OF IS THE RECENTLY DEVELOPMENT SERVICES HAS BROUGHT A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT FEES BEFORE THE BOARD TO HAVE THOSE INCREASED.
THAT'S BEEN A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE THIS YEAR AS WELL.
I WANT TO SAY THE TUNE OF AROUND $600,000 PLUS ON THE PROJECTIONS AS THEY'RE LOOKING AT THE FEE STRUCTURE AND SAYING THEY FELT THEY NEED TO UPDATE THOSE TO REALLY GET CLOSER TO THE FULLER COST RECOVERY THAT THEY HAVE, SO THAT HELPS OFFSET TOO SOME OF THE OTHER COSTS.
PUBLIC WORKS IS ALSO PROPOSING A SOLID WASTE FEE INCREASE AS WELL FOR SOME OF THE SAME REASONS, SO THEY'LL BE SPEAKING ABOUT THAT WHEN THEY HAVE THEIR DEPARTMENT PRESENTATION.
BUT THIS IS ANOTHER REVENUE SOURCE THAT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE STAY ON TOP OF SO THAT WE HAVE DIVERSIFICATION OF FEES OR REVENUE STREAMS.
>> I THINK SOMETHING THAT STAFF DID REALLY WELL AT DEVELOPMENT SERVICES IS THEY GOT BUY IN FROM THE INDUSTRY, AND THE INDUSTRY SAID, THESE HAVE BEEN STATIC FOR TOO LONG, YOU NEED TO TAKE THEM UP A LITTLE BIT.
ANYTIME WE DO THAT, HAVING THE PUBLIC BUY ON AND ACTUALLY SAYING, THIS IS NEEDED. THANK YOU GUYS.
>> PROPERTY TAXES. THIS GETS BACK TO THE QUESTION SUPERVISOR CHECK ASKED.
HOW THE COUNTY PROPERTY TAX RATE HAS BEEN.
IN A MOMENT, I'LL SHOW YOU THE SLIDE A LITTLE PREVIOUS TO THIS, AND THEN WHERE THIS LOOKS A TOTAL COLLECTIONS.
BUT WHAT THIS SHOWS IS IT SHOWS ALL OF THE COUNTIES AND THEIR PROPERTY TAX RATE IN REFERENCE TO, DID THEY GO ABOVE OR BELOW WHAT IS CALLED THE TNT OF THE TRUTH AND TAXATION RATE.
THE TRUTH AND TAXATION RATE IS ALL COUNTIES EVERY YEAR, WHEN YOU PUT TOGETHER YOUR PROPERTY TAXES, IF YOU DECIDE TO GO ABOVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT, WHICH IS CALLED THE TRUTH AND TAXATION RATE, YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH A HEARING PROCESS.
HOW THAT'S DEFINED IS THEY SAY, LOOK AT HOW MUCH YOU RECEIVED LAST YEAR, ADD IN ANY NEW CONSTRUCTION, AND THOSE TWO TOGETHER ARE WHAT'S CALLED YOUR TRUTH AND TAXATION LEVEL.
IF YOU GO IN EXCESS OF THAT, THAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED SOMETHING THAT WOULD REQUIRE A HEARING.
ANY JURISDICTION UP THERE THAT IS IN THE GREEN, THAT IS A JURISDICTION THAT'S DECIDED.
THEY'RE GOING TO ADOPT A RATE ABOVE THE TRUTH AND TAXATION RATE.
TO GET INTO IT A LITTLE BIT, DON'T WANT TO GO TOO DEEP INTO IT, BUT I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND, AND SUPERVISOR CHECK MENTIONED THIS OF SOME OF THE RECAPTURING, SO THE GROWTH OF A COUNTY, IF YOU HAVE A LOT OF NEW GROWTH, YOUR TRUTH IN TAXATION BAR WILL GO UP HIGHER.
IF YOU HAVE LIMITED GROWTH, YOUR BAR WON'T GO UP BY MUCH.
[00:55:01]
WHAT WE HAD, FOR EXAMPLE, THIS LAST YEAR, WE HAD A NEW CONSTRUCTION RATE.NEW CONSTRUCTION WILL ALLOW FOR THAT GROWTH IN THE COUNTY THAT YOU CAN RECAPTURE OVERALL.
BUT IF YOU HAVE A SLOWER GROWTH LIKE THIS YEAR, WE'RE ABOUT 8% LOWER THAN THE PREVIOUS YEAR OF NEW CONSTRUCTION, IF YOU DON'T ADOPT IT ABOVE THAT TNT RATE.
WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS YOU'RE NOT CAPTURING ANY OF THE DEPRECIATION OF THE HOME VALUE.
HOME OWNER, THEIR LIMITED PROPERTY VALUE CANNOT BE TAXED MORE THAN 5% OF THE PREVIOUS YEAR VALUATION, THAT'S THE CEILING, WHICH YOU CAN HAVE.
YOU'RE GOING TO OVERALL, WE'VE HAD GROWTH OF ABOUT ALMOST 6% OF OUR PROPERTY, TOTAL NET ASSET VALUATION ACROSS THE COUNTY.
BUT IF WE WERE JUST TO GO AT THE TNT RATE, THAT WOULD ONLY BE ABOUT 2.2% GROWTH.
WE WOULDN'T BE PICKING UP ANY OF THAT ADDITIONAL GROWTH, AND THAT'S THE DIFFERENTIAL BETWEEN THE 3.6 MILLION THAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING AT THIS POINT TO BE CONSIDERED VERSUS THE 1.4 MILLION WHICH WOULD BE THE TNT NUMBER.
SORRY FOR GLAZING YOUR GUYS EYES OVER AND GIVEN THAT, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE IT'S UNDERSTOOD.
WHAT THIS MEANS IS ALMOST ALL THE COUNTIES WITH THE EXCEPTION OF LA PAZ FOR TWO YEARS, MARICOPA COUNTY FOR THREE YEARS, AND GREENLEE.
GREENLEE AND YAVAPAI COUNTY HAVE REALLY DONE THE SAME STRATEGY TO SAY, WE'RE GOING NO HIGHER.
WHATEVER THE TNT RATE IS, IT'S GOING TO BE ADOPTED AT THAT.
THAT'S WHAT THAT LINE MEANS, IT MEANS ZERO.
THERE HAVE BEEN NO CHANGES FROM 21 ALL THE WAY THROUGH 25.
THAT TNT RATE IS THE ADOPTED RATE.
WHILE ALL THE OTHER COUNTIES HAVE SAID, WE'RE GOING TO INCREASE IT TO THAT DEGREE RIGHT THERE.
IT'S VARIABLE BASED ON THE COUNTY, BUT IT'S JUST SOMETHING TO SHOW THAT THE PROPERTY TAXES IS A LEVER OR IS A REVENUE TOOL THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE TO US AT A COUNTY, ESPECIALLY TO LOOK AT WHEN WE HAVE OTHER REVENUE SOURCES THAT MAY NOT BE KEEP UP AT THE SAME RATE.
IT'S A CONSIDERATION WE HAVE. DOES THAT MAKE SENSE?
>> I DON'T MEAN TO BEAT YOU GUYS UP TOO MUCH, BUT I THINK IT'S PART OF MY JOB.
IF YAVAPAI COUNTY HAS CHOSEN NOT TO GO ABOVE THE TNT RATE FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, I AM CURIOUS, TRULY THE REASON WHY YOU DECIDED TO BUILD A BUDGET AROUND AN INCREASE.
>> QUITE HONESTLY, BASED ON CONVERSATIONS THAT I WAS HAVING WITH THE BOARD, A SENSE THAT THERE WAS AN UNDERSTANDING THAT WITH A GROWING COUNTY, AND ADDRESSING THE NEEDS THAT WERE BROUGHT FORWARD.
THERE WAS NO GOOD SOLUTION OTHER THAN TO PROPOSE THIS.
I JUST WANT TO EMPHASIZE, THIS IS NOT TALKING ABOUT INCREASING THE RATE.
THIS IS JUST HOLDING THE RATE WHERE IT IS CURRENTLY.
>> BUT THAT STILL TRANSLATES INTO A HIGHER DOLLAR AMOUNT.
>> ABSOLUTELY. THAT'S WHY I WANT TO CALL OUT EARLY ON.
IF THE ULTIMATE DECISION OF THE BOARD IS NOT TO DO SO, THEN WE NEED TO CARVE OUT ADDITIONAL DOLLARS FROM THIS PROPOSAL.
>> WELL, LET ME JUST EXPLAIN MYSELF A LITTLE BIT.
IF YOU DON'T MIND, BECAUSE I THINK THINGS ARE CHANGING PRETTY RAPIDLY.
IN DECEMBER, WHEN I ATTENDED ONE OF THE FIRST BUDGET MEETINGS, THE PREPARATION MEETINGS, I THINK THE OUTLOOK WAS QUITE DIFFERENT.
BUT NOW THAT WE'VE SEEN A TRUE SHRINKAGE AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, AND WHAT I'M HEARING AND READING IN THE NEWS AT THE STATE LEVEL, AS WELL, IN VARIOUS SPECIFIC AREAS.
WHAT I SAW, WE JUST HAD A BIG DISCUSSION ABOUT IT AROUND THE EMBRY RIDDLE BOND WAS THAT, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S LOOKING AT HOW CAN IT PASS ITS COST ONTO SMALLER GOVERNMENTS? THE ONLY PLACE THAT WE HAVE TO PASS ON OUR COST IS TO OUR CONSTITUENTS.
IN A SHRINKING OR IN A MORE CONSTRICTIVE ENVIRONMENT, IT'S DEFINITELY EASIEST TO SIMPLY PASS COST ON.
BUT IT'S MORE RESPONSIBLE TO RESPOND TO THAT CONSTRICTIVE ENVIRONMENT BY CONSTRICTING.
I SPENT 13 YEARS IN THE WINE INDUSTRY PRUNING.
THAT'S A REAL TANGIBLE WAY WHERE IF YOU LOOK AT IF CARBOHYDRATES WERE DOLLARS.
[LAUGHTER] YOU'RE OUT THERE PRUNING YOUR VINES TO SAY, HOW MUCH IS MY VINEYARD GOING TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD THIS YEAR? IF YOU MAKE A MISTAKE AND ALLOW TOO MANY SHOOTS TO GROW, YOU HAVE TWO CHOICES LATER ON.
YOU HAVE TO EITHER EXPECT THAT YOUR YIELDS WILL BE SMALLER OVER TIME, OR YOU CAN REACT ONCE YOU REALIZE THAT AND GO OUT AND SHOOT THE, WHICH COSTS A LOT OF ENERGY.
THAT'S MY PERSPECTIVE ON BUDGETING, AND I JUST WANT TO, ACKNOWLEDGE THAT I DO SEE IT AS A CONSTRUCTIVE ENVIRONMENT.
IT'S NOT THAT I DON'T WANT TO SEE ALL THE GOOD THINGS THAT YOU HAVE A PIE COUNTY HAPPEN.
[01:00:01]
I JUST DON'T WANT TO MAKE THAT STRUCTURAL MISTAKE AND PASS IT ON BOTH TO OUR CONSTITUENTS AND TO THE COUNTY, AS TIME GOES ON.>> MY QUESTION WOULD BE, AND I KNOW SUPERVISOR CHECK AND I HAVE BEEN AT MEETINGS IN REGARDS ON THIS PART OF IT.
THIS MIGHT BE A LITTLE OFF KEY HERE.
DIFFERENT DEPARTMENT, BUT STILL TAX.
THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT OR I HAVE LOOKED AT THAT ON KEEPING THAT TAX RATE, THE SAME.
BECAUSE WE HAVE THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT PARTICULAR DEPARTMENT.
THAT WOULD MEAN THAT THAT WOULD NOT, ALSO THAT WOULD NOT GO IN AN INCREASE.
WE WERE LOOKING AT KEEPING THE TAX RATE.
>> I THINK IT WAS TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF EXTRA FUNDING.
>> HOW DOES THAT WORK IN THE SENSE OF ALL OF THIS? IT'S JUST GOING TO ALSO GO DOWN?
>> WELL, NO, THE PROPOSAL WOULD BE THAT THAT TAX RATE STAYS FLAT AS WELL.
>> THAT ONE WOULD STAY. THE SAME.
>> AGAIN, THAT'S WHAT THIS PROPOSAL IS.
I THINK SUPERVISOR CHECKS SUGGESTING, OF COURSE, THAT'S A DECISION THAT THE BOARD HAS TO MAKE.
BUT AGAIN, THIS IS BUILT ON THE PREMISE OF THE RATE STAYING CONSTANT.
>> I DO WANT TO SPEAK TO THAT.
I THINK FOR ME, IT'S A DIFFERENT DECISION, THE LIBRARY DISTRICT VERSUS THE GREATER TAX RATE.
IF WE FREEZE OR KEEP THE LIBRARY DISTRICT TAX RATE FLAT, IT RESULTS IN ABOUT $300,000.
IT'S A SERVICE THAT'S EXTREMELY USEFUL, ESPECIALLY IN CONSTRICTIVE TIMES.
IT'S A COMMUNITY RESOURCE, IF YOU WILL.
BUT, 2.2 MILLION DOLLAR IS A DIFFERENT, DISCUSSION.
IT'S MUCH LESS, IT HAS MUCH MORE DISCRETION.
IT'S MUCH LESS DEDICATED AND WHERE IT GOES AND HOW IT GETS USED.
>> THANK YOU. APPRECIATE THAT.
>> THEN JUST THE LAST PIECE ON THIS BEFORE, MOVING OFF OF IT, TO MAKE SURE COMMUNICATE IT IS THAT, I THINK THE UNDERLYING DECISION WITH EACH OF THESE JURISDICTIONS IS, AT SOME POINT, THEY WERE CHANGES NECESSITATED BY ADDRESSING PROPERTY TAXES AS A REVENUE TOOL TO ADDRESS GROWTH IN THEIR COUNTIES.
THAT'S THE QUESTION, I THINK THAT ONE OF THE QUESTIONS WE'LL BE DISCUSSING HOW MIGHT PROPERTY TAX BE USED IN A SIMILAR MANNER HERE WITH THE COUNTY.
LEAVING IT FLAT FOR A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME DOES RESTRICT OUR OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH INTO OTHER AREAS.
DO WE WANT TO CONTINUE THAT PATH, OR DO WE WANT TO OPEN UP SOME OF THE NEWER ASPECTS WHICH THEN GOES INTO THE HUMAN CAPITAL SIDE, AS WELL AS THE CONSTRUCTION SIDE LATER ON OF CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT? JUST WANTED TO PUT A PERSPECTIVE ON IT.
HERE'S THE SECOND PIECE. THIS WILL SHOW THE RATE STRUCTURE.
GOING BACK ALL THE WAY TO 2015, YOU CAN SEE THE GROWTH RATE THERE.
THE SAME SET UP, DARK BLUE BARS WILL SHOW HOW MUCH RECEIVED IN PROPERTY TAXES.
THEN THE ORANGES LINES WILL SHOW THE PERCENT GROWTH YEAR OVER YEAR.
WITH THE EXCEPTION OF 2020, EVERY YEAR WAS SET AT THE TNT RATE.
WITH THAT GROWTH, YOU'LL SEE IN THE EARLY YEARS, THERE WAS MAYBE A GROWTH OF MAYBE A MILLION DOLLARS YEAR OVER YEAR.
IT'S A VERY SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE TOTAL GROWTH RATE.
THOUGH PROPERTY TAXES IS A MAJOR REVENUE SOURCE FOR THE COUNTY.
WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING HERE IS IN 2026, THAT WOULD INCREASE IT BY 5.8% TO THE 66 MILLION FROM THE 63 MILLION OF THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
ONCE AGAIN, PROPERTY TAXES REPRESENT ROUGHLY 39% OF TOTAL GENERAL FUND REVENUE.
LET'S CONTEXTUALIZE THIS, BECAUSE THAT'S THE OTHER PIECE, I THINK IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
WHEN WE LOOK AT PROPERTY TAXES, ONCE AGAIN, I BELIEVE, TAXES, IT'S ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS THAT WE DO HAVE IN OUR COUNTRY IS, HOW DO WE DISTRIBUTE TAXES? BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S EQUAL BENEFITS ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY TO PAY FOR PUBLIC GOODS.
THE PROPERTY TAX MECHANISM IS BUILT ON, THE LIMITED PROPERTY VALUE OF HOMES.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO REVIEW THAT.
THIS COMPARES LAST YEAR, 2025 WITH 2026.
JUST A QUICK OVERVIEW, WHEN YOU THINK OF YOUR HOME VALUE, THAT'S REALLY CLOSELY PEGGED THESE ASSESSOR FIGURES THAT WOULD BE THE MEDIAN FULL CASH VALUE.
[01:05:01]
THE ASSESSOR EVERY YEAR WILL LOOK AT THE VALUES OF HOMES, AND THAT WILL BE AS CLOSE AS POSSIBLE TO WHAT THEY ATTRIBUTE YOUR FULL CASH VALUE.WHAT YOUR TAX SIGN IS CALLED THE LIMITED PROPERTY VALUE.
YOU'LL LOOK IN 2025, THOUGH THE FULL CASH VALUES IN THE 400 RANGE.
THE LIMITED PROPERTY VALUE IS ACTUALLY IN THE MID TWOS. 250 THERE.
AT THE PROPERTY TAX RATE OF 1.6443, ON AVERAGE OR THE MEDIAN, AS THE MIDDLE FIGURES, IT WAS AROUND $407 FOR YAVAPAI COUNTY.
WHAT'S BEING PROPOSED THIS YEAR IS THAT THERE IS A INCREASE.
ONCE AGAIN, THE FIGURES FROM THE ASSESSORS, SO THESE ARE UPDATED FIGURES, $261,000, IN WHICH THAT WOULD EQUATE TO $429.70 OR AN INCREASE OF AROUND $22 ANNUALLY.
THIS IS AN ANNUAL CHANGE, NOT A MONTHLY CHANGE.
IT'S ACTUALLY LESS THAN TWO DOLLARS A MONTH.
IF THIS WERE TO MOVE FORWARD, IT WOULD ON AVERAGE, INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF TAXES PAID BY ABOUT $23 PER MEDIUM VALUE HOME.
THEN WE ALSO HAVE PRESENTED BY $100,000, BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT THE TRUTH AND TAXATION DOCUMENTATION REQUIRES US TO LOOK AT PER $100,000 INCREMENT.
IT'S $163 AND 43 CENT PER CHANGE THERE.
WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT RISK EARLIER TODAY, SOME OF THE RISK AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, SOME OF THE RISK AT THE STATE LEVEL.
MOST COUNTIES, FOR THAT REASON, HAVE A RESERVE POLICY.
DOES YAVAPAI COUNTY. THE CAPITAL RESERVE POLICY YAVAPAI COUNTY PLACES THE THRESHOLD OF BETWEEN 17 AND 25% IS OUR RECOMMENDED RESERVE RATE FOR GENERAL FUND BUDGETED REVENUES.
WHAT WE HAVE BUILT IN THE BUDGET THIS NEXT YEAR WOULD BE $40 MILLION.
THAT WOULD PUT US ALMOST A VERY CLOSE TO THE CEILING OF THE TOTAL 25% MAXIMUM THAT WE HAVE WRITTEN INTO OUR POLICY.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, GIVEN THE CHANGES FOR THIS YEAR, THE PICKUP OF NEW DOLLARS AND THE SPENDING FOR NEXT YEAR, THAT WOULD EQUATE TO $74 MILLION OF GENERAL FUND BALANCE AVAILABLE TO THE ORGANIZATION.
THE TWO OF THOSE TOGETHER IS 114 MILLION THAT WOULD BE AVAILABLE TO THE ORGANIZATION.
THEN ADDITIONALLY, THERE'S CONTINGENCY.
JUST WANTED TO MENTION THAT BRIEFLY.
PREVIOUSLY, WE WOULD LOOK AT FOUR MILLION DOLLARS A CONTINGENCY.
BUT THIS YEAR, WE HAVE A COUPLE OF OTHER LINE ITEMS THAT WE'VE ADDED TO THE CONTINGENCY SIDE.
WE HAVEN'T BROKEN UP INTO THESE TWO AREAS OF OPERATING VERSE ONE TIME.
ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE, FOUR MILLION GENERAL PURPOSE IS STILL THERE.
THIS YEAR, WE SPENT A GOOD AMOUNT OF THAT IN THE VEHICLE PURCHASES OF CATCHING UP ON VEHICLE COSTS.
THE BOARD MAY REMEMBER THAT THEY WERE BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS THAT CAME BEFORE THE BOARD THIS YEAR IN ORDER TO MOVE FORWARD THOSE PURCHASES BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF THEM IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR AND SOME OF THE TIMING ISSUES.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, THERE'S A CONCERN TO A POTENTIAL INCREASED COSTS IN JAIL DISTRICT MEDICAL SERVICES AND RTC RESTORATION OF COMPETENCY.
THERE'S STILL NEGOTIATIONS RIGHT NOW TO DETERMINE WHAT IS THE ACTUAL CONTRACT MOVING FORWARD.
BUT WE HAVE 300,000 PLACED ASIDE FOR THIS.
THEN ANOTHER PIECE OF ONE OF THE BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS WOULD BE FOR TWO JUVENILE PROBATION DETENTION OFFICER POSITIONS.
THE RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE TO MOVE FORWARD.
THESE TWO POSITIONS, IF AND WHEN THEY ARE 100% FILLED AT THE DEPARTMENT LEVEL IN WHICH INDIVIDUAL INCREMENTS OF ONE POSITION AT A TIME WOULD BE MOVED FROM THE CONTINGENCY INTO THE JUVENILE PROBATION BUDGET IF THEY FILL THOSE POSITIONS.
PREVIOUSLY, WHAT WE WOULD HAVE, THESE THREE DEPARTMENTS, PUBLIC DEFENDER ELECTIONS, RE QUARTER WOULD HAVE BUDGETS IN EXCESS OF THESE NUMBERS.
THESE NUMBERS PLUS A LITTLE BIT MORE.
AS WE TALKED WITH THEM, WE SAID, DO YOU KNOW WHAT? WHAT IS YOUR ONGOING OPERATION COST? THEY SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT, PUBLIC DEFENDER, WE PROBABLY HAVE A LITTLE MORE THAN $500,000 THAT WE PUT FOR POTENTIAL DEATH PENALTY CASES.
INSTEAD OF THE OPERATING BUDGET TO HAVE THAT CAPACITY IN THERE, WE MOVED IT TO CONTINGENCY TO SAY, IF AND WHEN YOU NEED IT, WE'LL HAVE IT ON THE SIDE, BUT WE DON'T NECESSARILY NEED IT IN THE OPERATING SIDE BECAUSE EVERY YEAR, THE EXPECTATION IS IT WON'T BE NEEDED.
SAME THING FOR ELECTIONS AND RECORDERS.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO ASK IF WE COULD TAKE MAYBE A 10 MINUTE BREAK.
I HATE TO DISRUPT YOU RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS.
BUT WOULD YOU FOLKS BE OKAY WITH THAT RIGHT NOW? I'D APPRECIATE IT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE'LL TAKE A 10 MINUTE BREAK. THANK YOU.
[01:10:12]
>> WE ARE BACK INTO OUR BUDGET SESSION, AND THANK YOU, ZACH, FOR ACCOMMODATING THAT QUICK REQUEST.
>> MADAM CHAIR RIGHT BEFORE WE HAD A BREAK, I DID HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE CONTINGENCIES.
SENATOR MARK KELLY MET WITH A BUNCH OF MAYORS LAST FRIDAY, AND HE RUNG THE BELL AND SAID, THIS POTENTIAL MEDICAID CUT THAT THEY'RE CONSIDERING IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS REALLY SHOULD PROBABLY BE THE TOP OF OUR LIST OF CONCERNS AS FAR AS BUDGETING GOES.
I KNOW THAT, THE COUNTY HAS TO PROVIDE MEDICAL CARE FOR PEOPLE WHO WALK IN THE DOOR WHETHER THEY CAN PAY THEIR BILLS OR NOT, INDIGENT CARE.
I'M WONDERING, I DIDN'T SEE OUR COMMUNITY HEALTH SERVICES ON THAT LIST OF CONTINGENCIES.
I KNOW WE'LL BE ABLE TO HEAR FROM DIRECTOR HORTON TOMORROW, BUT I JUST WANTED TO FLAG THAT AS SOMETHING I WANT TO UNDERSTAND AND EXPLORE SHOULD THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BE MORE CONSERVATIVE.
>> THANK YOU. THIS NEXT SLIDE IS A SLIDE THAT WAS PRESENTED DURING THE LAST BUDGET RETREAT, AND IT TALKS THIS IDEA OF STRUCTURAL BALANCE.
STRUCTURAL BALANCE, THE WORKING DEFINITION, I LIKE TO USE, IS THAT YOU HAVE SUFFICIENT ONGOING REVENUE TO SUPPORT ONGOING EXPENDITURES.
WHEN YOU START SPENDING WITH DOLLARS THAT ARE ONE TIME, YOU START GETTING STRUCTURALLY IMBALANCED.
AS WE DISCUSSED PREVIOUSLY, THE FY25 ADOPTED BUDGET WAS BUILT WITH A STRUCTURAL IMBALANCE, AND SOME OF THE FACTORS IN THERE, AS WE HAD MENTIONED IN THAT MEETING IN MARCH, ONE IS REVENUE SLOWDOWN, WHICH WE'VE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER TODAY.
AS REVENUES DECLINE AND EXPENDITURES START GOING UP, YOU CAN GET AN IMBALANCE.
SECONDARILY, INFLATION, WHICH WE'RE IN A VERY UNIQUE TIME PERIOD.
HOPEFULLY, WE DON'T GO BACK TO THAT.
THIRDLY, IS STAFF INVESTMENTS.
WITH THE PENT-UP DEMAND OF NOT INCREASING COAL AND MERIT EQUALLY ON A REGULAR BASIS, THERE HAD BEEN SOME CHALLENGES IN RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION.
NEXT PIECE IS LOWER VACANCY RATES.
AS WE HAVE STARTED TO INVEST IN STAFF OVER TIME, THE VACANCY RATES HAVE DIPPED DOWN FROM HISTORIC NUMBERS WHERE YOU HAD CERTAIN DEPARTMENTS THAT WERE OVER 10% VACANT, WHICH IS A BIG NUMBER.
THEN THE THIRD PIECE OF THAT IS LIMITED JAIL DISTRICT REVENUE GROWTH, AND WE'LL LOOK AT A SLIDE IN THAT AFTERWARDS TO SEE SPECIFICALLY WHAT THAT'S ATTRIBUTED TO.
>> I JUST REALLY WANT TO PUT THIS OUT IN THE FOREFRONT.
I WAS PART OF ON THE BOARD WHEN WE WENT BACK TO TRY TO BRING THIS COMPENSATION FOR OUR EMPLOYEES TO WHERE IT IS TODAY.
IT WAS A LOT OF WORK, AND IT COST A LOT OF MONEY JUST TO GET GOING TO WHERE WE NEEDED TO BE.
AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH A DISCUSSION ON KEEPING OUR TAX RATE FLAT OR HOW WE LOOK ABOUT THAT, I REALLY JUST NEED TO SAY THAT THE EMPLOYEES ARE NOT WHERE THE MONEY IS GOING TO COME FROM.
THE COMPENSATION NEEDS TO STAY AND MOVE FORWARD AS IT HAS BEEN GOING FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS NOW.
IF WE ARE NOT THINKING ABOUT THE TAX RATE OR HOW WE END UP DOING THAT, THEN I GUESS THEN WE WILL HAVE TO TAKE A LOOK AT OUR OWN SITUATIONS, WHETHER IT'S IN OUR DISTRICTS OR HOW THAT GOES.
BUT THE EMPLOYEES ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THIS GOVERNMENT, AND I WILL BE VERY SUPPORTIVE OF OUR EMPLOYEES.
IS THIS THE YEAR THAT YOU'RE IN, OR IS THIS NEXT YEAR? IS THIS FY26 ON THIS?
>> GREAT QUESTION. THIS SLIDE WAS PRESENTED BACK IN MARCH WHEN WE WERE TALKING, SAY, A COUPLE OF MONTHS BACK, BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO CONTINUE THIS DISCUSSION BECAUSE EACH PREVIOUS FISCAL YEAR WILL BUILD ON THE OTHER.
BUT THESE ARE SOME OF THE MAIN FACTORS WE'RE LOOKING AT IN THAT IMPACTED FY25 THAT ARE NOW GETTING US INTO CONSIDERATIONS FOR FY26.
SOME OF THESE FACTORS ARE STILL PRESENT.
AS YOU MENTIONED, THE REVENUE SLOW DOWN IS STILL THERE.
INFLATION HAS SUBSIDED SIGNIFICANTLY.
HOWEVER, WE HAVE A NEW COST BASE.
STAFF INVESTMENTS HAVE CONTINUED TO INCREASE, AND AS I MENTIONED RIGHT NOW,
[01:15:01]
THAT IS PART OF THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET.LOWER VACANCY RATES, WE ARE STARTING TO SEE THAT, WHICH IS A GOOD THING BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE POSITIONS THAT GO UNFILLED, AND THEN WE'LL TALK RIGHT NOW ABOUT LIMITED JAIL GROWTH.
BUT THIS WAS REALLY A FOCUS AT THAT POINT TO TALK ABOUT HOW THE ADOPTED BUDGET WAS BUILT WITHIN A STRUCTURAL BALANCE AS WELL.
>> I'M GLAD YOU CLARIFIED VACANCY AS STAFF BECAUSE I'M THINKING HOTEL ROOMS. [LAUGHTER] THANK YOU.
>> THERE IS TOURISM HERE, SO THAT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY AS WELL. THE JAIL DISTRICT.
THE JAIL DISTRICT AS PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED TODAY HAS A PRIMARY REVENUE SOURCE, WHICH IS COUNTY SALES TAX, AND SO LOOKING AT THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET FOR THIS NEXT YEAR, IT'S AROUND 16.2 MILLION OR ABOUT A $300,000 INCREASE.
ASIDE FROM THAT, TRANSFERS IN IS THE MAJORITY OF THE REVENUE SOURCES THERE, AND BY TRANSFERS IN MEANS IN ACCOUNTING TERMS, IS DOLLARS COMING FROM ANOTHER SOURCE, ANOTHER FUND, INTO THIS FUND TO HELP BRING IN NEW REVENUE.
THIS IS WHOLLY THE GENERAL FUND COMING IN AND SUPPORTING SOME OF THOSE CHANGES.
LOOKING AT THE EXPENDITURE SIDE, YOU'LL SEE IN HERE IN THE SALARY LINE ITEM, AND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 2025 AND '24, WE SAW AN INCREASE OF AROUND 2.5 MILLION, A LITTLE OVER TWO MILLION IN THERE, AND THEN SIMILARLY, THIS YEAR, WE'RE SEEING ABOUT A $1.4 MILLION INCREASE.
OVERALL, THAT WOULD BE A 6.1% INCREASE YEAR-OVER-YEAR.
HOWEVER, ONCE AGAIN, TO BALANCE THIS OUT, THEN THAT REQUIRES A TRANSFER IN, MEANING THAT THE GENERAL FUND COME AND BACKSTOP THE INCREASED GROWTH.
THIS BECOMES ONE OF THE AREAS THAT WE'LL CONTINUALLY LOOK TO MONITOR, AS WE UNDERSTAND, SOME OF THE DRIVERS IN THIS WILL BE THE FACILITY, THE FACILITY IS RATHER NEW, BUT WE HAVE TO PAY OFF THE DEBT, AND SO THAT WILL BE ON THERE FOR THE ONGOING FUTURE, AS WELL AS WE HAVE THE COST OF THE EMPLOYEES.
BUT THE OTHER PIECE IN THERE IS THE MEDICAL COST.
THERE'S MEDICAL SERVICES THAT ARE PROVIDED.
THIS IS ONE OF THE AREAS OF POTENTIAL GROWTH THAT WE'RE MONITORING VERY CLOSELY, AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WE HAVE A CONTINGENCY IN THERE THIS YEAR OF 300,000 IN THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET.
BUT THOSE TRANSFERS, SO THE $19.8 MILLION, WHAT WE'RE LOOKING OUT THERE IS ONE, THE MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT.
IF WE HAVE A JAIL DISTRICT, THE GENERAL FUND HAS TO PAY INTO THIS.
THEY CAN'T FOREGO PAYING INTO IT.
BUT THE ABOVE MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT IS NOT A REQUIREMENT.
IF THE JAIL DISTRICT RECEIVED HIGHER REVENUES, THAT WOULD NOT BE NEEDED BECAUSE THEY WOULD HAVE REVENUE TO SUPPORT IT, AS WELL AS A DEBT SERVICE, AS WAS PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED BY ASSISTANT COUNTY MANAGER BRENNAN.
THIS DEBT IS A DEBT OF THE JAIL DISTRICT, AND SO AFTER WE PAY OFF OUR OTHER PORTION OF THE DEBT, THIS $4.3 MILLION, THOUGH IT'S ON THE JAIL DISTRICT, IT'S CURRENTLY BEING PAID BY A GENERAL FUND TRANSFER INTO THE JAIL DISTRICT TO PAY FOR, SO 11.1 MILLION ABOVE THE MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT IS BEING INVESTED INTO THE JAIL DISTRICT THIS NEXT YEAR.
THEN LASTLY, JUST ONE OTHER THING TO TALK ABOUT STRUCTURALLY, IS IT'S BUILT IN 2026 THAT FUND BALANCE LINE AT THE VERY BOTTOM, WHERE IT SAYS -1.26 MILLION.
WHAT'S THAT SAYING, IS THAT WE'RE BUILDING IN WHICH IT WILL BE SPENDING DOWN.
THERE'S A SMALL FUND BALANCE IN THE JAIL DISTRICT.
WE'LL BE SPENDING DOWN 1.26 MILLION OF THAT FUND BALANCE BECAUSE THEY'RE GETTING SO MANY TRANSFERS.
IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO KEEP A FUND BALANCE THERE.
HOWEVER, NEXT YEAR, WE'LL BE STARTING WITH THAT STRUCTURAL IMBALANCE AGAIN.
IT'S JUST A REMINDER AS WE START WITH THE STRUCTURAL BALANCE ONE YEAR, IT CARRIES OVER TO THE NEXT YEAR UNTIL WE GET NEW REVENUE TO OFFSET IT.
THIS IS ONE OF THE FUNDS THAT WE'RE VERY CLOSELY WATCHING BECAUSE OF THE INTERDEPENDENCY BETWEEN THE GENERAL FUND AND THE JAIL TAX.
>> HOW MUCH IS LEFT ON THE JAIL OR HOW MUCH DO WE OWE TO PAY IT OFF?
>> ACTUALLY, I GAVE A REVENUE SCHEDULE, A DEBT SCHEDULE OVER THERE.
IT MAY SAY ON THE BOTTOM OF THAT.
SUPERVISOR JENKINS, DOES IT HAVE THE TOTAL?
>> I BELIEVE SO. CONNIE GAVE ME THE NODS. THANK YOU, CONNIE.
>> YOU HAVE VARIOUS FUND BALANCES LIKE MOST GOVERNMENT, IS THERE A STATEMENT OF FUND BALANCES FOR ALL FUNDS IN HERE?
>> I CAN PROVIDE IT TO YOU. I DON'T HAVE IT IN THERE.
[01:20:03]
IT'S YAVAPAI COUNTY HAS ROUGHLY 300 ACTIVE FUNDS.IT'S AN ONGOING TOPIC OF DISCUSSION ON THE SIDE OF HOW TO MANAGE OUR FUNDS, BUT I CAN GET YOU A LISTING OF ALL THE FUND BALANCES.
>> BEFORE WE MOVE ON, I THOUGHT I SAW SOME PUZZLED LOOK.
CAN YOU GO BACK, YOU'RE BACK THERE TO THAT SLIDE.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THAT? DOES THAT MAKE SENSE?
>> JUST ONCE AGAIN, THE EXCISE TAX.
THIS GETS INTO THE QUESTION TO OF THE JAIL DISTRICT IS LIMITED BY THE REVENUE SOURCES AVAILABLE, AND SO IT IS TRULY ONE MAJOR REVENUE SOURCE BEYOND TRANSFERS IN FROM THE GENERAL FUND, AND THAT IS COUNTY SALES TAX, AND SO THE EXCISE TAX.
AS THE EXCISE TAX, IF IT CONTINUES TO HAVE MUTED GROWTH, IT WILL BE A CONTINUED CHALLENGE WE HAVE AT THE COUNTY DETERMINING HOW ARE WE GOING TO APPROPRIATELY FUND THE JAIL, KNOWING THAT EXPENDITURES ARE GOING TO OUTGROW THE CURRENT 2% PROJECTIONS THAT WE LOOK MORE FAVORABLE PROJECTIONS FOR NEXT YEAR.
THEN ZOOMING BACK OUT A LITTLE BIT OF THE GENERAL FUND STRUCTURAL REALIGNMENT.
I HAD MENTIONED IN TWO SLIDES PREVIOUSLY IN 2025 WHERE THE SHIPS SITTING THERE, THAT'S THE ADOPTED BUDGET STRUCTURAL BALANCE.
THIS IS SHOWING THE STRUCTURAL BALANCE OF THE GENERAL FUND GOING BACK TO 2024.
IN 2024, IT WAS STRUCTURALLY IMBALANCED BY 29 MILLION, 21 AND THEN 2025, 21 MILLION.
HOWEVER, IN 2024, WE ENDED UP WITH A POSITIVE FUND BALANCE.
IT'S A COMBINATION, I THINK OF ALSO WE WOULD BE OVERLY CONSERVATIVE WITH OUR REVENUES AND ALSO OVERLY CONSERVATIVE IN OUR EXPENDITURE SIDE.
OUR ENDING POSITION IN 24 WAS A POSITIVE FUND BALANCE.
WE WERE IN THE BLACK, NOT IN THE RED, THOUGH WE BUILT A BUDGET IN THE RED.
WE EXPECT TO BE IN THE BLACK ABOUT SIX MILLION DOLLARS.
THIS IS ADOPTED. THAT'S A GOOD POSITION.
COMING INTO 2026, WHAT THE GOAL OF THE BUDGET IS COMING FORWARD BEFORE YOU TODAY IS TO SAY, HOW DO WE MOVE TOWARDS OUT OF THAT STRUCTURAL IMBALANCE YEAR-OVER-YEAR IN ORDER TO GET US SO THAT WE ARE BALANCED AS AN ORGANIZATION? WE HAVE THE 14.9 MILLION.
THAT'S HOW THE BUDGETS CURRENTLY BUILT THAT WOULD SHOW THAT WE'D HAVE 14.9 MILLION SPENT OUT OF FUND BALANCE.
THAT'S BROKEN UP IN TWO DIFFERENT PARTS.
ONE IS A RECURRING SIDE, AND THE OTHER ONE IS A ONE-TIME SIDE.
THERE WILL BE ONGOING INVESTMENTS TO THE COUNTY THAT WOULD BE ON AN ONGOING NATURE OF AROUND 10 MILLION, AND THEN THE OTHER 4.7 MILLION WHO ARE PARTITIONING IT, WOULD TRULY BE FOR A ONE-TIME EVENT.
NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET, THOSE WOULD BE PULLED OUT.
ANY NEW VEHICLE WE BUY? WE'RE NOT GOING TO BUY THE SAME VEHICLE YEAR-OVER-YEAR.
ANY INVESTMENT INTO A BUILDING? WE'RE NOT DOING THE SAME INVESTMENT TWICE. THOSE WILL BE PULLED OUT.
REALLY WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET WOULD START AT THE 10.2 MILLION AS WE'RE LOOKING TO WEAN OURSELVES OFF AND GET TO BE A STRUCTURAL BALANCED COUNTY.
WHAT ALLOWS US TO DO IT IN A MORE MEASURED APPROACH LIKE THIS IS THE STRENGTH OF OUR FUND BALANCE.
IF WE DID NOT HAVE, ONCE AGAIN, OUR RESERVES, JUST A REMINDER, AGAIN, IS AT $40 MILLION PLUS THE ESTIMATED AT THE END OF THIS 2026, WOULD HAVE $74 MILLION OF FUND BALANCE IN THE BANK.
THAT'S WHAT ALLOWS US TO DO A SLOW MEASURED APPROACH RATHER THAN DOING SOMETHING MORE DRASTIC, AND THAT'S WHY THE RECOMMENDATION IS PRESENTED AS SUCH.
>> ZACH, IF I COULD ADD TO THAT.
I BELIEVE LAST TIME WE LOOKED AT THIS SLIDE, DURING THE BUDGET UPDATE, THE 2026 PROJECTION AT THAT POINT WAS $12 MILLION, CORRECT?
>> NEGATIVE 12 MILLION. CORRECT.
HOWEVER, THAT WAS BASED ON JUST LOOKING AT THE RECURRING ALONE, NOT ADDING IN THE ONE-TIME, CORRECT?
>> YOU CAN SEE THE TREND THERE GOT A LITTLE BIT BETTER YET AGAIN.
BUT AGAIN, I WOULD EMPHASIZE THE GOAL IS TO GET TO A POINT WHERE RECURRING EXPENSES ARE NOT FUNDED WITH ONE-TIME REVENUES.
AGAIN, TRENDING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, BUT WE'RE NOT THERE YET.
>> MADAM CHAIR. WE SAW OUR RESERVES ARE OVER $100 MILLION TOTAL.
YOU JUST SAID, IT'S IN THE BANK.
IS IT GETTING A RETURN? ARE WE INVESTING THAT MONEY? IT'S NOT JUST SITTING THERE?
>> YES. IT'S INVESTED WITH THE TREASURER.
>> CORRECT. YES. I BELIEVE IT'S OVER A LITTLE OVER A MILLION THAT WE'LL BE RECEIVING, ACTUALLY A MILLION AND HALF THIS NEXT YEAR.
WITH THE VERY HEALTHY RESERVE POSITION AND WHERE RATES CURRENTLY ARE, WE'VE HAD SOME PRETTY GOOD RETURNS.
>> WE'RE ONLY GETTING LIKE 1.5% ON OUR MONEY?
>> IF YOU'RE GETTING TO THE EXACT, I'M NOT SURE.
>> YOU WOULD THINK WE'D BE DOING A LITTLE BETTER THAN THAT.
[01:25:04]
>> THEIR POSITION WASN'T AS HEALTHY LAST YEAR, SO IT'S MEANING IT'S GROWING A BIT.
BUT I CAN LOOK INTO THAT TO SEE WHAT THE MOST RECENT RESERVE RETURN RATES ARE.
I DON'T HAVE THAT OFF OF THE WRITTEN DOWN.
>> THANKS. IT JUST SEEMS LIKE SOME OF THIS CAN BE COVERED IF WE PUT IT IN THE RIGHT PLACE.
>> WELL, AND ALSO, I SHOULD MENTION THAT TO SUPERVISOR KUKNYO.
I'M ACTUALLY PRETTY CONSERVATIVE WITH THOSE NUMBERS, SO THAT'S ONE OF THE AREAS RATHER THAN LOOKING AT, SAY, HISTORICALLY THE 4-5% EXPECTED RETURNS.
I USUALLY LOOK TO SEE WHERE WE'RE AT THE PREVIOUS YEAR AND THEN MAYBE A SLIGHT INCREASE, BUT WE'RE TALKING LESS THAN 3%.
WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT YESTERDAY, AND I LIKE BEING CONSERVATIVE BECAUSE THEN AT THE END OF THE YEAR, YOU CAN BE HAPPY AND NOT SHOCKED.
>> THAT'S BEEN THE GREAT POSITION TO HAVE TO SAY OF THE WAY THE COUNTY HAS MANAGED IN 2024, AS WELL AS 2025.
BOTH OF THOSE YEARS HAVE BEEN POSITIVE YEARS, ALTHOUGH THE BUDGET HAS BEEN BUILT WITH A STRUCTURE IN THE MANNER PRESENTED UP THERE TODAY.
>> MY ASSUMPTION IS NOT ALL FUNDS ARE INVESTED.
SOME IS IN THE BANK ACCOUNT PAYING BILLS CONSTANTLY, SO NOT ALL FUNDS ARE INVESTED, AND THAT COULD ACCOUNT FOR THE CALCULATION OF 1% IS PROBABLY MUCH HIGHER THAN THAT BECAUSE NOT EVERYTHING'S INVESTED AT THE SAME TIME.
>> GREAT POINT ON THE CASH FLOW.
CORRECT. ONE OF THE GREAT POSITIONS BECAUSE THE COUNTY, THE AMOUNT OF FUNDS WE HAVE IN THE BANK THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO GO OUT FOR ANY OTHER DEBT INSTRUMENTS IN ORDER TO PAY OUR BILLS BECAUSE WE HAVE SUFFICIENT CAPITAL. GREAT POINT.
>> JUST ONE MORE REMINDER IF YOU SEE ZACH AND I NOT WRITING WHEN THERE ARE QUESTIONS ASKED, LUCY'S CAPTURING ALL OF THIS FAR.
>> JUMPING INTO THE BUDGET ENHANCEMENTS.
THIS IS A NEW LANGUAGE THAT I INSTITUTED THIS YEAR, I THINK IN TALKING WITH ONE OF THE SUPERVISORS SAID, WHAT IS A BUDGET ENHANCEMENT? NOT SAYING WHO THAT PERSON IS. BUT IT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
WHAT WE PREVIOUSLY CALLED THEM WERE EXHIBIT 3S SO THE IDEA IS ANY NEW ASKS THAT ARE BEING ASKED TO THE GENERAL FUND JAIL DISTRICT FUND, OR EVEN SOME OF THE OTHER FUNDS THAT THEY'RE BEING TRANSFERRED INTO, WE ASKED DEPARTMENTS TO GO TO SPEND THE TIME AND TALK ABOUT WHAT'S THE UNDERLYING ISSUE THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO ADDRESS, PROVIDE A JUSTIFICATION FOR WHAT IT WOULD BE, AS WELL AS THE TOTAL DOLLARS.
BECAUSE WHAT WE'RE MOVING TOWARDS, TRYING TO CONTINUE TO BUILD UPON, IS ACTUALLY AKUDO STEKANI TWO YEARS AGO, I THINK 2025, SHE STARTED ASKING DEPARTMENTS TO PUT IN PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENTS, SO SOME DEPARTMENTS DO HAVE PERFORMANCE MEASURES, BUT NOT ALL OF THEM DO.
THE GREAT THING ABOUT PERFORMANCE MEASURES THAT HELPS US UNDERSTAND WE WERE HAVING THIS DISCUSSION THE OTHER DAY WITH SUPERVISOR KUKNYO.
NOT JUST THE DOLLARS WE'RE INVESTING, BUT WHAT ARE WE EXPECT TO DO WITH THE DOLLARS? THE IDEA BEHIND THE BUDGET ENHANCEMENT IS SO WE'RE CREATING A MINI EVALUATION TO SAYING, WE EXPECT EXTRA CHANGE IN THE COMMUNITY, WE'RE LOOKING FOR THESE RESOURCES TO MAKE THE CHANGE, AND NOW WE HAVE A MODEL WE CAN LOOK AT AND LOOK AT MULTIPLE YEARS TO SEE IF IT'S ACTUALLY EFFECTUATING CHANGE.
IF IT IS, WE SHOULD DEFINITELY CONTINUE TO FUND IT.
IF IT ISN'T, MIGHT WE PIVOT TO SOMETHING ELSE SO YOU'LL SEE IN YOUR BOOKS, EVERY RECOMMENDED BUDGET ENHANCEMENT IS ACTUALLY IN THE DEPARTMENT SCHEDULE.
YOU CAN SEE IF IT'S A RECOMMENDED BUDGET ENHANCEMENT, THE RATIONALE PUT BEHIND THERE, THE TOTAL NUMBER OF DOLLARS.
THE DEPARTMENTS DID AN AMAZING JOB OF SPENDING THE TIME TO DO THAT PER ENHANCEMENT.
IT TAKES A LOT OF WORK, BUT IT HELPS CLARIFY HOW THE DOLLARS ARE GOING TO BE UTILIZED, AND SO THAT THEY CAN LOOK AT THE HISTORY OF WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING TO MOVE FOR.
OVERALL, THE BUDGET ENHANCEMENTS IN THE BUDGET THIS YEAR, THERE'S A TOTAL OF $6 MILLION OF RECURRING ONGOING BUDGET ENHANCEMENTS THAT ARE BUILT TO THE BUDGET, AND THEN 4.7 MILLION DOLLAR OF ONE TIME BUDGET ENHANCEMENTS, WHICH NEXT YEAR, WE WOULD GO INTO THE BUDGET AND REMOVE THOSE FROM THOSE DEPARTMENT BUDGETS, BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT THEM TO SIT IN THERE.
THAT'S A ONE-TIME INVESTMENT ONLY.
SIMILARLY, THE JAIL DISTRICT HAS 800,000.
IT'S 100% IN THERE FOR OVERTIME, SO THE OVERTIME BUDGET WAS MUCH SMALLER THAN IT NEEDED TO BE ON THE HISTORICAL ARCHIVE, SO THEY HAVE THAT IN THERE.
THEN THERE'S A COUPLE OF OTHER FUNDS THAT WE HAVE RECURRING OF 492,843 ON THE ONE TIME.
IT MEANS OUT OF THE TOTAL 223 BUDGET ENHANCEMENTS THAT WERE LOOKED AT A 7.3 MILLION DOLLAR ONGOING INVESTMENT ACROSS ALL FUNDS AND A ONE TIME INVESTMENT OF 5.6 SO A LOT OF THE BOOK THAT YOU'LL BE LOOKING AT WILL BE THIS IDEA OF INSTEAD OF A DEPARTMENT GOING IN AND JUSTIFYING EVERY DOLLAR THEY HAVE, WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE FOR THE NEW ASKS SO THAT EACH OF YOUR DEPARTMENT SECTIONS WILL HAVE THAT.
WHEN THE DEPARTMENTS COME AND PRESENT STARTING TODAY, YOU'LL SEE THAT THEY'VE BEEN ASKED TO TALK ABOUT WHAT ARE THEIR MAJOR BUDGET ENHANCEMENTS AND HOW DO THEY LOOK FOR THEM TO
[01:30:03]
MOVE FORWARD AN ASPECT OF SERVICE IN THE COMMUNITY? THIS NEXT SLIDE TALKS ABOUT STRATEGIC PRIORITIES.FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, THE BOARD HAS ADOPTED ANNUAL PRIORITIES TO LOOK AT WHEN WE'RE BUILDING OUR BUDGET.
COUNTY MANAGER THOMPSON STARTED WITH THIS AT THE BEGINNING, TALKING ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION, SO I'LL SKIP OVER THAT ONE BRIEFLY.
THE NEXT ONE IS FACILITY MASTER PLAN.
THERE HAVE BEEN ALREADY TWO WORK SESSIONS THIS FISCAL YEAR WITH THE BOARD, AND LOOKING AT THE SPACE NEEDS FOR THE COUNTY, BUT ALSO SERVICE DELIVERY, AND ASSESSMENT, ARE WE BUILT FOR THE GROWTH OF THE COUNTY? AND SO WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT THAT MORE SO IN THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN SECTION FOR TODAY.
THIRD ASPECT WE HAVE IN THERE IS ARPA, SO ARPA IS STILL A THING.
WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT THE CLOSEOUT OF ARPA PROJECTS.
THEN THERE WERE TWO NEW PRIORITIES OUT OF THIS YEAR.
ONE IS THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLANNING, SO THE CIP SIDE, THERE'LL BE A SESSION DEDICATED TO THAT, SO WE WON'T JUMP TOO DEEPLY INTO THAT.
BUT IT REALLY IS THE EXPECTATION OF HOW DO WE EXTEND THE PLANNING HORIZON FROM JUST ONE YEAR TO MULTIPLE YEARS.
IT ALLOWS US TO BE MORE NIMBLE.
IT ALLOWS US TO THINK FULLER AND ALSO TO THINK ABOUT HOW DO WE USE OUR RESERVES APPROPRIATELY.
THEN LASTLY, I THINK THIS PIECE IS AN IMPORTANT PIECE AS WE CONTINUE TO BUILT INTO THE CULTURE OF YAVAPAI COUNTY, OF HOW DO WE FIND MORE INNOVATIVE WAYS AND EFFECTIVE WAYS TO PROVIDE SERVICES? PART OF THE DISCUSSION IS THAT REVENUES ARE NOT SHOWING TO BE OUR SAVIOR TO COME AND SAY BE A 10% GROWTH RATE YEAR OVER YEAR, WITH THAT, WE'LL HAVE TO CONTINUE TO FIND INNOVATIVE AND NEW WAYS TO PROVIDE SERVICES, OR WE'RE GOING TO BE LIMITED BY SOME OF THE GROWTH FACTORS.
IT'S A GREAT PRACTICE FOR ANY ORGANIZATION TO MOVE INTO, AND THE ORGANIZATION, THROUGH THEIR CULTURE SIDE OF REALLY ASSESSING HOW DO THEY CULTURALLY WORK WITH ONE ANOTHER AND INTERNALLY, AS WELL AS SOME OF THE NEWER EFFORTS, I THINK HAVE REALLY STARTED YAVAPAI COUNTY OR CONTINUE TO BUILD THIS CULTURE IN THE ORGANIZATION.
WE'LL GET A LITTLE DEEPER ON THE COMPENSATION, BUT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THIS TODAY.
COLA COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENTS, WHAT THIS IS, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK IT WAS PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED.
THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION OFF AFTERWARDS, SUPERVISOR JENKINS.
IS COST OF LIVING, SO EVERY ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEE WOULD GO UP BY 2.8%.
IF YOU'RE HERE AT THE DATE, I BELIEVE IT'S JULY 7, IS THAT CORRECT, LUCY? JULY 7 IS THE DATE WE USE.
>> IT'S THE FIRST DAY OF THE PAY PERIOD.
>> FIRST DAY OF THE PAY PERIOD, SO BASICALLY, THE STARTING OF FY 26, 2.6% ALL EMPLOYEES WOULD GO UP BY THAT AMOUNT.
THAT'S WHAT'S CURRENTLY PLACED INTO THE BUDGET.
OH, 2.6. SORRY FOR DAMPENING IT.
[LAUGHTER] NO, LOSING MONEY, WE'LL FIND IT.
COLA LOOKS AT INFLATIONARY SIDE.
MERIT IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT, SO MERIT, EVERY POSITION THAT'S ELIGIBLE FOR MERIT, THIS WILL COME LATER IN THE YEAR, SO IT DOESN'T START IN THE JULY 7.
BUT WE PUT ASIDE 3% PER ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEE.
BUT THE IDEA BEHIND IT IS THIS IS GIVEN TO DEPARTMENTS SO THAT THEY CAN DETERMINE WHAT PERCENTAGE INCREASE THEY MIGHT GIVE TO STAFF BASED UPON THE DETERMINED SETUP BY HR GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS.
THIS IS, LOOK A MORE OF A MANAGEMENT APPROACH.
THERE'S SOME DISCRETION GIVEN TO SHOW WHICH EMPLOYEES ARE WORKING ON NEW PROJECTS, HOW MIGHT THEY HAVE ADVANCED SOMETHING FOR THE ORGANIZATION.
WHAT WAS BROUGHT UP PREVIOUSLY IS THE COUPLING OF THE TWO GIVE A STRENGTH BASE APPROACH TO CONTINUING TO KEEP AND RETAIN OUR BEST EMPLOYEES.
THEN, AN OFTEN FORGOTTEN PART ABOUT IT.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION ON MERIT.
>> ON MERIT, THAT 3% EQUATES TO $1 FIGURE, SO THAT'S WHAT THE WHOLE ORGANIZATION IS GOING TO WORK OFF THAT DOLLAR FIGURE.
IS IT CONCEIVABLE THAT SOMEBODY COULD GET 6% AND SOMEBODY COULD GET 2%? THIS IS JUST THE NET FIGURE, CORRECT?
>> IT WOULD BE 3% PER DEPARTMENT. CORRECT.
>> WHATEVER THAT DOLLAR FIGURE EQUATES TO, IT COULD BE DIFFERENT PERCENTAGES PER EMPLOYEE, AS LONG AS THEY MEET THE DOLLAR FIGURE THAT RELATES TO THE 3%.
>> YES, THAT IS EXACTLY CORRECT, AND I WOULD SAY SHOULD BE.
THIS IS A PAY-FOR-PERFORMANCE MODEL. THANK YOU.
>> I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO COVER IT. BUT JUST I WANTED THE DOLLAR NUMBER FOR THAT MERIT, AND LOOKS LIKE IT MIGHT BE ABOUT $2 MILLION, 3%?
>> WAS IT BROKEN OUT ON THE EARLIER SLIDE, OR WAS IT JUST THE AGGREGATE NUMBER?
>> I HAVE THE AGGREGATE NUMBER IN THERE
>> IF THE AGGREGATE IS A LITTLE OVER $4 MILLION.
[01:35:04]
>> THIS ONE'S A LITTLE HIGHER IN THE PREVIOUS ONE I SHOWED, PURE COLA MERIT.
THIS WILL ACTUALLY TAKE INTO ACCOUNT, SO WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE INCREASE THE SALARY OF INDIVIDUALS, IT WILL ALSO INCREASE FICA, IT'LL INCREASE THE RETIREMENT COSTS.
THOSE ARE THE TWO MAJOR DRIVERS, AND A LITTLE BIT OF WORKERS' COMP AS WELL, IT'S CLOSER TO ABOUT A $4 MILLION PIECE.
BUT MERIT AND COLA, COLA IS A LITTLE BIT HIGHER COST, EVEN THOUGH IT'S A LOWER PERCENTAGE, AND BECAUSE IT STARTS EARLIER, SO THE CURRENT WAY WE DO OUR MERIT STRUCTURE IS WE START THAT IS IT NOVEMBER.
>> THANK YOU FOR COMING, WENDY EARLY.
WITH THE NOVEMBER TIMELINE, IT STARTS A LITTLE BIT LATER IN OUR BUDGETING, SO IT'S A LITTLE BIT LESS OF A TOTAL AMOUNT, BUT IT WOULD BE 3% ACROSS THE DEPARTMENT.
>> JUST A NOTE SINCE IT'S SOMETHING I BROUGHT UP EARLIER, AS FAR AS FLEXIBILITY, WE COULD DO 2% MERIT, AND PEOPLE WOULD STILL HAVE THE ABILITY TO GET RAISES AT DIFFERENT VARIANCES THERE.
THERE'S STILL A WAY TO BE FLEXIBLE THERE AND STILL SHOW OUR APPRECIATION FOR STAFF. THANKS.
>> THANK YOU. THEN ANOTHER PIECE IS WE'RE LOOKING AT THE FULLY COMPENSATION, IS BENEFITS SO THIS YEAR, WE HAD AN INCREASE IN OUR MEDICAL RATE.
PREVIOUSLY, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO KEEP IT STEADY, WHICH HAS BEEN AMAZING.
AS THE YAVAPAI COMBINED TRUST HAS DONE REALLY WELL.
WE'VE BEEN BUDGETING AROUND $11,000 PER POSITION FOR MULTIPLE YEARS.
BUT IT'S GOTTEN TO A POINT WITH SOME OF THE INFLATIONARY MEDICAL INFLATION THAT THE RECOMMENDATION FROM THE BOARD WAS, IT WAS TIME TO INCREASE BENEFITS SO THERE IS A 7% INCREASE ON BENEFITS IN WHICH THE COST IS BORNE BOTH TO THE EMPLOYER AS WELL AS TO THE EMPLOYEE SO BOTH OF THEM ARE SEEING THE COST INCREASE.
THERE'S ALSO THE ORGANIZATION OF THE CULTURE PIECE, AND I'M GOING TO PASS THIS OVER TO A COUNTY MANAGER.
>> THANK YOU, ZACH. I JUST WANTED TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO REMIND THE BOARD OF THE CULTURE WORK WE'VE DONE OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS AND OUR CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THAT LOOKS LIKE IN YEAR THREE.
WE KNOW WHEN IT COMES TO CREATING A PREFERRED PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT AND BECOMING A PREFERRED EMPLOYER, IT IS MORE THAN JUST THE PAY.
THE CULTURE HAS TO BE ADDRESSED, AND I JUST WANTED TO REMIND YOU ALL THAT WE HAVE BEEN ACTIVELY WORKING ON THAT OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS AND PLANNING TO CONTINUE THAT WORK.
WE JUST THIS LAST WEEK HAD A CHANCE TO MEET WITH OUR DEPARTMENT OR ASSISTANT DIRECTORS WHO HAVE BEEN ENGAGED IN THE WORK IN ADDITION TO THE EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM THIS PAST YEAR, AND HEARD THEIR PRESENTATIONS ON TASKS THAT THEY'VE BEEN ASSIGNED ACROSS THE ORGANIZATION AND IT WAS EXTREMELY IMPRESSIVE, THE WORK WHERE THEY WERE DOING.
VERY IMPRESSIVE FOR ME TO LOOK AROUND THE ROOM AND SEEING FOLKS IN THAT ROOM WHO, ON A REGULAR BASIS, WOULDN'T HAVE THE CHANCE TO INTERACT, BUT HOW THEY WERE INTERACTING AND FORMING THOSE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN DEPARTMENTS, WHICH I'M CONVINCED, WILL YIELD POSITIVE RESULTS.
IF YOU KNOW WHO YOUR PEERS ARE IN OTHER DEPARTMENTS, YOU'RE MORE LIKELY TO PICK UP THE PHONE, MAKE THAT CONTACT, AND FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN BE WORKING BETTER AND SMARTER, AMONG OURSELVES.
>> THANK YOU. THIS IS ONE LAST SLIDE, JUST GETTING INTO SOME OF THE SPECIFICS YEAR OVER YEAR.
FICA AND MEDICARE HAVE BASICALLY BEEN FLAT FOR AS LONG AS I'VE BEEN WORKING IN BUDGETING; THOSE NUMBERS HAVE NOT CHANGED.
BUT ASRS, AS WELL AS OUR OTHER RETIREMENT RATES, DO FLUCTUATE ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.
BASED UPON THE ACTUARIAL ESTIMATES PROVIDED TO US, THIS IS HOW MUCH WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING FOR THE DIFFERENT EMPLOYEES THAT MEET THOSE DIFFERENT RATES.
FOR THIS YEAR, ASRS DID GO DOWN, SO THAT PROVIDED A LITTLE BIT MORE OF A SAVINGS FOR ANY OF THE ASRS EMPLOYEES, AS WELL AS CORP TIER 1 AND TIER 2 DID GO DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY WITH THAT.
BUT PSPRS WENT THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION.
EACH PLAN IS MANAGED SOMEWHAT SEPARATELY.
IN AGGREGATE, IT'S BASED ON OUR EMPLOYEES IT OFFSETS ITSELF PRETTY WELL.
BUT IT'S JUST SOMETHING WE KEEP AN EYE ON YEAR OVER YEAR TO MAKE SURE HOW CAN WE MANAGE THESE COSTS AND ALSO STAY AHEAD OF THEM IN PLANNING.
THEN, LASTLY, THAT LINE ITEM, AS I MENTIONED, THIS IS ALSO A SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT INTO THE ORGANIZATION OF THE HEALTH INSURANCE OF GOING FROM 11,000 A COVERED EMPLOYEE TO ALMOST $12,000.
>> MADAM CHAIR. THIS IS SOMETHING I ALWAYS WATCH BECAUSE IT GETS US IN A LOT OF TROUBLE, AND THIS IS STUFF THAT SNEAKS UP ON YOU AND STARTS EATING INTO YOUR GENERAL FUND.
[01:40:01]
HAD SOME EXPERIENCE WITH THAT.IS THIS SAYING ASRS MADE MONEY WITH THEIR INVESTMENTS THIS YEAR?
I CAN LOOK INTO THE PARTICULARITIES OF THE ACTUARIAL REPORTS BECAUSE THEY WILL DELINEATE THE FACTORS THAT DEALT WITH THE GROWTH.
I DON'T REMEMBER OFFHAND WHAT LED TO THOSE, BUT WE CAN GET THOSE FOR YOU.
>> I'D LOVE TO SEE WHAT THE HISTORICAL RETURNS ARE FOR MAYBE THE LAST FIVE, 10 YEARS ON THESE DIFFERENT FUNDS.
ALSO, IF YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO INCLUDE IN THAT THE STATE TREASURE, WHAT KIMBERLY IS RETURNING WITH HER FUNDS.
>> SUPERVISOR, KNOWING YOUR INTEREST IN THIS TOPIC.
OVER THE WEEKEND, I HAPPEN TO BE READING AN UPDATE FROM PSRS, AND I CLICKED ON THEIR BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND DISCOVERED THAT I KNEW TWO OF THEM.
I REACHED OUT TO ONE TO SAY, HEY, I'D BE INTERESTED IN SCHEDULING A STUDY SESSION TO COME UP TO GIVE THE BOARD AN UPDATE ON THE STATUS, HISTORICAL STATUS, AND PROJECTIONS WHERE WE'RE GOING ON PSPRS, WHICH INCLUDES CORP 2.
THEY HAVE AGREED TO DO THAT, SO WE WILL BE SCHEDULING THAT HERE SHORTLY TO GET THEM BEFORE US ALL TO GIVE US AN UPDATE.
>> GREAT. I KNOW THEY'RE TRYING TO TURN THE SHIP AROUND BUT IT'S NICE TO SEE HOW MUCH THE SHIPS TURNED.
BECAUSE EVEN THE TITANIC TURNED, AND IT STILL HIT THE ICEBERG.
>> ON THE COMPENSATION INVESTMENT, HERE'S THE TOTAL DOLLARS AS PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED.
THE 4 MILLION WILL INCLUDE, IT'S AN ESTIMATE OF THE ADDITIONAL COSTS IN ADDITION TO THE 3.26 DIRECT COSTS.
FOR COLA MERIT, THE RETIREMENT COSTS, AS WELL AS THE FICA PORTION OF IT, AND THEN A LITTLE OVER $1 MILLION ESTIMATED FOR THE GENERAL FUND HEALTH INSURANCE.
THESE ESTIMATES OVERALL, IT'S ABOUT $5 MILLION, SO THAT MEANS A SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT INTO THE PERSONNEL HERE AT YAVAPAI COUNTY.
>> I KNOW WE HAVE WENDY HERE, BUT I JUST HAD A LITTLE CURIOUS ABOUT THE MERIT.
WAS IT 3% LAST YEAR? HOW MANY YEARS HAVE WE BEEN DOING 3%, I GUESS, WOULD BE MY GENERAL QUESTION.
DID WE HAVE A 2%? I DO KNOW WE HAD IT ROUGH WHEN I FIRST CAME TO THE BOARD WHEN IT CAME TO THE STAFF AND PAY AND COMPENSATION AND KEEPING EMPLOYEES TURNOVER IS A VERY COSTLY THING ALSO.
>> I'LL GIVE A QUICK OVERVIEW.
SORRY TO INCLUDE THE SLIDE ON THIS; IT HAD BEEN DONE IN A PREVIOUS BUDGET RETREAT.
IN 2014, THERE WERE NO INCREASES.
IN 2015, THERE WAS A 1% INCREASE OF COLA.
IN 2016, THERE WAS A 2% INCREASE OF COLA, IN 2017, THERE WAS A 3% INCREASE OF MERIT.
IN 2018, THERE WERE NO INCREASES AT ALL.
IN 2019, THERE WAS A 3% INCREASE IN MERIT.
IN 2020, THERE WAS A 3% INCREASE IN MERIT.
IN 2021, THERE WAS A 4% INCREASE IN COLA, THEN IN 2022, YOU START SEEING THE TWO TOGETHER, WHERE YOU GET A 1% INCREASE IN COLA AND A 2% INCREASE IN MERIT, IN 23, A 3.5% INCREASE IN COLA IN THERE, AS WELL AS TARGETED CHANGES.
THAT WAS POST WHEN THERE WAS DONE A COMPENSATION STUDY, AND THERE WAS REBASING OF OTHER SALARIES.
THEN IN 2024, THERE WAS THE EMERGENCE OF THE TWO TOGETHER, IN WHICH YOU HAD A 5.7% INCREASE IN COLA THAT WOULD BRING UP THE ENTIRE ORGANIZATION BASED UPON THE COMPENSATION STUDY, AND 3% INCREASE IN MERIT.
THEN THIS YEAR, AS PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED, THERE WAS THE 3.2% INCREASE IN COLA AND 3% INCREASE IN MERIT.
WE'VE BEEN DOING THE 3% SINCE 2024, EQUALLY SO THE RECOMMENDATION THIS YEAR IS A 3% INCREASE IN MERIT.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT BECAUSE I DO KNOW THAT WE WERE HAVING SOME REALLY ROUGH TIMES AND WE WERE LOSING EMPLOYEES TO OTHER ORGANIZATIONS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
EVEN THOUGH THAT ONE YEAR WAS, YOU SAID, A LITTLE OVER 4% OR SOMETHING.
I THAT'S WHEN WE WERE REALLY TRYING TO GET ALL THIS CATCH-UP DONE AND EVERYTHING.
THE WHOLE OBJECTIVE WAS TO GET IT WHERE NEEDED TO BE AND STAY THE COURSE, SO WE DON'T GO BACK TO THE YEARS WHERE WE DO NOTHING.
BECAUSE DOING NOTHING IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND ALSO VERY COSTLY BECAUSE HIRING PEOPLE IS EXPENSIVE, AND THEN TURNOVER IS COSTLY, TOO.
IT'S EITHER YOU PAY THIS WAY OR YOU'RE GOING TO PAY THAT WAY.
[01:45:05]
I THINK WE HAVE FANTASTIC EMPLOYEES.AGAIN, I'M JUST VERY SUPPORTIVE OF WHAT WE STARTED AND WHAT WE, I THINK SHOULD KEEP GOING.
>> WELL, THANK YOU, CHAIR, FOR THOSE COMMENTS AND ASKING FOR THAT DATA.
I DO NOT MEAN THIS TO SOUND CRITICAL IN ANY WAY.
BUT IF YOU GO BACK AND START LOOKING AT THAT HISTORY, WHAT IT SUGGESTS TO ME IS WE REALLY DIDN'T HAVE A STRATEGY AROUND COMPENSATION.
WE DID SOMETHING DIFFERENT EVERY YEAR FROM NOTHING, AND THEN THE NEXT YEAR, WE DO JUST A COLA, NO MERIT, AND ONE YEAR, WE DO MERIT, NO COLA.
IT'S BEEN THE LAST THREE YEARS.
AFTER WE DID, AFTER THIS BOARD MADE THAT SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT IN OUR COMPENSATION STUDY, REALLY GOT THE ORGANIZATION TO WHERE IT NEEDED TO BE, AND THEN MADE THE COMMITMENT.
WE'VE GOT TO CONTINUE TO NOT LOSE GROUND ON THE SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT WE'VE MADE AND DEVELOP A STRATEGY THAT ADDRESS BOTH PAY FOR PERFORMANCE AND REFLECTION ON WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE ECONOMY WITH COLA.
>> OF COURSE, OUR WHOLE GOAL HERE AS A BOARD IS STABILIZATION AS WE MOVE FORWARD THAT WE'RE DOING THAT AND KEEPING THINGS SETTLED UP, BUILDING THAT CONFIDENCE.
>> WELL, YES, AND IF I COULD ADD REAL QUICKLY TO THAT, THAT'S SOMETHING ELSE.
WHAT WE'VE HEARD FROM OUR WORKFORCE WAS THOSE PRIOR YEARS, AGAIN, WHEN THERE WASN'T A REAL STRATEGY, IT CREATED A GREAT UNCERTAINTY IN OUR WORKFORCE.
WAS I GOING TO GET ANY COLA OR MERIT FROM YEAR TO YEAR, YOU NEVER KNEW.
THAT WE'RE STARTING TO BUILD SOME DEGREE OF CERTAINTY.
AGAIN, KNOWING THAT IT'S THE BOARD'S DECISION EVERY YEAR AND THE DECISIONS MAY BE DIFFERENT, BUT AT LEAST THE BOARD HAS SIGNALED TO THE ORGANIZATION IN THE PAST THAT WE HAVE A STRATEGY, AND THIS IS WHERE WE INTEND TO GO IF WE CAN CONTINUE TO AFFORD IT.
>> I DO REALIZE THE CONVERSATION HAS ALSO COME UP WHERE WE'VE TALKED ABOUT INFLATION, SAYING THAT IT'S GONE DOWN, I THINK, OR SOMETHING.
BUT HONESTLY, I'M OUT THERE EVERY DAY, AND I KNOW IT'S A GENERAL, BUT I DON'T SEE THAT HAPPENING, AND THAT'S JUST.
>> CORRECT. THE PREVIOUS INFLATION.
IT'S A GREAT POINT THOUGH THE YEAR-OVER-YEAR INFLATION NUMBERS ARE GOING DOWN FROM THE HISTORIC HIGHS OF A YEAR AND A HALF AGO.
WHAT DOESN'T GO DOWN IS YOU SET A NEW BASE.
WHAT HAPPENED IS WE USED TO BE HERE, AND THEN WHEN YOU SET A BASE HERE A COUPLE OF YEARS BACK, NOW IT'S SMALLER INCREMENTS, BUT YOU'RE STILL WORKING OFF OF THE NEWER BASE.
>> MADAM CHAIR? I THINK THE THING THAT MAKES MERIT INCREASES WORK IS CLEARLY DEFINED GOALS THAT EMPLOYEES CAN WORK TO THAT KNOW THAT THEY GET THAT, NOT YOU HAVE AN ATTITUDE OR THIS OR THAT.
IT'S LIKE, IF YOU DO THIS, LEARN THIS, OR IN THIS, DO THIS, YOU GOT IT.
I THINK THAT'S WHAT MAKES MERIT INCREASES WORTH THEIR MONEY, IS ENHANCED KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITY TO DO THE JOB FOR THE PUBLIC.
>> WITH THAT, COUNTY MANAGER THOMPSON IS GOING TO BE SPEAKING TO IT A LITTLE BIT, HRS AS A HUMAN RESOURCES GOALS AND SOME OF THE PROJECTS WE'LL BE MOVING FORWARD, AND ONE OF WHICH IS THE PERFORMED SYSTEM.
YAVAPAI COUNTY HAS INVESTED INTO THE CONTINUED IMPROVEMENT OF OUR EVALUATION SYSTEM IN ORDER TO HAVE THOSE CLEAR COMMUNICATIONS AND HAVE A DEFENSIBLE MECHANISM SO THAT WE CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT ARE THE GOALS AND HOW TO MOVE EMPLOYEES THROUGH THE PROCESS IN A WAY THAT ALLOWS US TO TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF THESE MERIT OPPORTUNITIES.
IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS I'VE BEEN EXCITED TO SEE HR CONTINUE TO GROW THIS IN THE ORGANIZATION, SO WE CAN GET THE MOST OUT OF THAT MERIT SIDE.
THE OTHER PART OF THE BUDGET ENHANCEMENTS, AND ONCE AGAIN, THIS IS ZOOMING UP A BIT IS TALKING ABOUT STAFF.
FOR THE REQUESTS IN THE FY-26 REQUESTS, THERE'S 26 NEW BUDGET ENHANCEMENT-RELATED STAFF THAT ARE BEING PROPOSED FOR THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET.
24 OF THOSE ARE IN THE GENERAL FUND, AND I WON'T GO INTO THE DETAIL OF EACH ONE, ACTUALLY, WHEN WE GO INTO THE DEPARTMENT SECTIONS, THOSE WILL BE CALLED OUT.
BUT JUST WANTED TO MENTION THAT THERE IS INVESTMENT, NOT JUST ON THE PERSONNEL SIDE, BUT ALSO ON THE NUMBER OF PERSONNEL.
IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE HEARD FROM STAFF AS WELL AS JUST THE PRESSURES OF PROVIDING SERVICES IN THE COMMUNITY.
IN EACH OF THE DEPARTMENT SECTIONS, THERE'LL BE SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS AS WELL.
>> LET ME ASK A QUESTION, CHAIR.
I JUST WONDERED WHAT THE DOLLAR AMOUNT FOR THOSE 26 ADDITIONAL POSITIONS RELATES TO.
I'M TRYING TO DO MATH AND THE INFORMATION I HAVE IN MY BINDER.
IT LOOKS LIKE MAYBE AROUND 10 MILLION, BUT I COULD BE WRONG.
>> IT SHOULDN'T BE THAT HIGH, BUT I WILL GET YOU THAT.
I WILL GET YOU THOSE FIGURES IN THERE BECAUSE
[01:50:01]
IT'S LITTLE DIFFERENTIAL FOR THE DIFFERENT POSITIONS, BUT I CAN GET YOU THAT INFORMATION.>> THOSE DOLLARS ARE IN EACH OF THE DEPARTMENT SECTIONS, BUT A ZACH SAID, YEAH, WE'LL AGGREGATE THEM TOO.
YOU'VE GOT THAT ALL IN ONE IN PLACE TOO.
>> WE'LL BE GOING THROUGH ALL THESE IN THE DEPARTMENT SECTIONS?
>> WHICHEVER. THIS IS WHAT'S BEEN APPROVED AND IN THE BUDGET, BUT THIS WASN'T THE ORIGINAL ASK.
CORRECT. THIS IS WHAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE IN THE BUDGET THAT'S APPROVED.
YES. THE ORIGINAL ASK WAS MUCH HIGHER THAN THIS.
>> IF YOU GO BACK TO THE ONE SLIDE AND, I THINK, ZACH, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, AND INCLUDED THE ONGOING RECURRING, AS WELL AS ONE TIME, BUT THE TOTAL ASK WAS $13 MILLION.
>> I'LL HAVE TO GET THE OTHER PIECE, BECAUSE WHAT I SHOWED PREVIOUSLY, AND I APOLOGIZE FOR SOME OF THE DIFFERENTIALS OF HOW THEY'RE SHOWN, BUT THE ASK IS MUCH GREATER THAN WHAT WE HAVE IN HERE.
SOME OF THE PREVIOUS SLIDES THAT MORE WAS REFERRING TO.
I SHOWED ONLY THE RECOMMENDED POSITIONS MOVING FORWARD, BUT NO, THE ASKS IS SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER ACROSS DEPARTMENTS BECAUSE IT'S ONCE AGAIN, I GOT TO SEE THE DIFFERENTIAL, I THINK OF THE 21 MILLION THAT WAS NOT REQUESTED.
A LARGE PORTION OF THAT IS PERSONNEL COSTS.
>> WHEN WE GET TO THE INDIVIDUAL DEPARTMENTS.
>> TOUCH BASE ON THAT AS WELL.
>> CORRECT. YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SEE AND IT'S BROKEN UP BY DEPARTMENTS.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT JUST TAKEN A SMALL SIDE NOTE AND IS DEPARTMENTS OVERALL, HAVE DONE AN AMAZING JOB OF THE PREPARATION OF WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
IT'S A TESTAMENT TO THE AMAZING WORK THEY'RE DOING WITH THE LIMITED RESOURCES.
ALL OF OUR DEPARTMENTS ARE DOING A PHENOMENAL JOB OF REACHING THE COMMUNITY, AND THEIR BUDGET NARRATIVES SPEAK TO IT VERY WELL.
IT'S ONCE AGAIN, AN OPPORTUNITY TO THANK THEM FOR THE WORK THEY DO.
>> MADAM CHAIR. I SEE THAT THE BAGDAD YARNELL JUSTICE COURT IS GETTING A SECURITY OFFICER FULL TIME, AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE SELIGMAN JP AS WELL, BUT THAT'S NOT LISTED UP HERE.
>> DID THAT VANISH, OR IS THAT STILL IN THE.
>> IT'S 0.5 FOR EACH ONE OF THEM, THAT THEY'RE CURRENTLY HAVE A HALF TIME, AND SO THIS WOULD BRING THEM BACK TO THE FULL TIME.
THEY WOULD THEN HAVE THE FULL TIME COMPLIMENT FOR EACH ONE OF THEM.
>> I KNOW SUPERVISOR COMPTON AND MYSELF, BUT BOTH VISITED THAT.
WHEN WE SEE THAT THEY NEED THAT SECURITY EVERY DAY.
THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THAT IN THERE.
>> JUST TO BE CLEAR, THEY BOTH HAD A HALF TIME AS ZACH WAS SAYING, SO THEY JUST NEEDED A HALF TIME, SO WE BUNDLED THEM TOGETHER FOR THE ONE.
BUT THIS ADDRESSES BOTH OF THOSE ISSUES. GREAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> I'M SORRY. I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION BECAUSE AS PEOPLE ASK QUESTIONS, THEN YOU GET ANOTHER QUESTION.
I JUST NEED TO BRING THIS TO THE FOREFRONT.
BUT THIS BUDGET IS LOOKING AT KEEPING THE TAX RATE FLAT, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW IS THE TAX RATE IS FLAT.
>> MAKING CLEAR THAT THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.
>> ONE OF THE OTHER PRIORITIES THAT WE HAVE AS PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED IS THE FACILITY MASTER PLAN.
THIS IS ONE OF THE SLIDES WE'VE DISCUSSED IN PREVIOUS BUDGET RETREATS, AS WELL AS WITH THE BOARD IN THE STUDY SESSIONS.
RATHER THAN OPENING UP THE DISCUSSION ON THIS PIECE RIGHT NOW, IT'S BETTER SUITED IN THE CIP DISCUSSION WHICH WILL BE LATER TODAY, BUT I JUST WANTED TO REMIND THE BOARD THAT THIS IS ONE OF THE THREE CONTINUING PRIORITIES THAT THE BOARD HAS WANTED TO FOCUS ON.
IT'S ONE OF THE AREAS THAT WE LOOKED OVER CAREFULLY AS CONSTRUCTING THIS RECOMMENDED BUDGET.
ARPA, THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT.
WE ARE IN THE POST OBLIGATION STAGE AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS WE'VE ALREADY MADE ALL JURISDICTIONS ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE MADE A DETERMINATION OF HOW DOLLARS ARE TO BE SPENT, AND WE ARE REALLY AT THE CLOSE OUT PERIOD.
WE HAVE THE ENDING OF THIS FISCAL YEAR, 2025, AND THEN ALL OF NEXT FISCAL YEAR, AND THEN HALF OF 2027 TO CLOSE OUT ALL PROJECTS.
ANY PROJECTS THAT ARE NOT COMPLETE, THOSE DOLLARS WILL BE REVERTED BACK TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT UNLESS SOMETHING ELSE HAPPENS WITH THOSE DOLLARS.
THERE'S GOING TO BE A BRIEF OVERVIEW.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE TO GIVE A SUMMARY.
BEFOREHAND, WE'VE TALKED EXHAUSTIVELY ABOUT THE PROCESSES, AND WE CAN GIVE YOU MORE INFORMATION.
BUT THESE ARE THE BUDGETS THESE ARE BY FUND BREAKDOWN AND WHAT WE HAVE IN THE BUDGET FOR THIS NEXT YEAR.
[01:55:02]
FUND 782 WAS CLOSED IN, THIS WILL BE CLOSED THIS FISCAL YEAR.FUND 783 IS PRIMARILY WATER AND SEWER PROJECTS.
WE HAVE 4.3 MILLION DOLLAR BUILT INTO THE BUDGET FOR POTENTIAL PROJECTS THIS YEAR.
THAT'S THE BROADBAND PROJECTS.
THERE'S A $15 MILLION OF POTENTIAL BROADBAND PROJECTS THAT IS BUILT INTO THE FY-26 BUDGET.
785 IS MORE OF THE OTHER PROJECTS, WHICH CONSISTS OF THREE MAJOR CONTINUATION.
THE FIRST IS THE COUNTY ATTORNEY POSITIONS.
DUE TO SOME OF THE BACKLOG DUE TO COVID, WE WERE ABLE TO APPORTION AN AMOUNT OF ARPA FUNDING FOR ATTORNEY, AS WELL AS LITIGATION, HELP, WE'LL HAVE A CONTINUATION OF TWO ATTORNEY POSITIONS IN THIS NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET BEING PAID FOR OUT OF FUNDS 785 OR THESE ARPA DOLLARS.
SECONDARILY, WE HAVE THIS IN THIS BUILDING, RIGHT HERE, THE HVAC SYSTEM.
THAT WAS AN IDENTIFIED NEED, DEPENDING UPON WHAT CORNER OF THE BUILDING YOU'RE AT.
THE SAUNA WILL BE GOING AWAY AT SOME POINT, WE'VE BEEN TOLD.
GET IN WHILE YOU CAN RIGHT NOW.
IT'S A LITTLE OVER $5,000,000, THE TOTAL PROJECT COST, BUT 3.6 MILLION WOULD BE PAID FOR BY ARPA.
THEN THE THIRD ASPECT IS THE MEDICAL EXAMINER MODULE BUILDING AND VEHICLE, THE $301,000 IN THE FY-26 BUDGET.
THEN LASTLY, FUND 423, THIS IS WHAT WAS SOME OF THE OFFSETTING REVENUE THAT WE COULD TAKE AS A $10,000,000 PLACEMENT AGAINST ANY PROJECTS, THAT WILL BE CLOSED OUT THIS YEAR AS WELL.
SOME OF THE ADDITIONAL REVENUE WE RECEIVED IS WITH THAT.
WE REALLY HAVE THREE MAJOR FUNDS LOOKING AT NEXT YEAR THAT WILL BE FOCUSING ARPA, BUT THERE'S STILL A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF DOLLARS THAT WILL BE CONTINUED TO MANAGE THE PROJECTS BEHIND THIS, AS WELL AS THE TIMELINES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN CLOSE OUT THESE PROJECTS APPROPRIATELY.
>> HOW MUCH DID THE COUNTY ORIGINALLY GET IN ARPA FUNDING.
[OVERLAPPING] LESS THIS HAS ALREADY BEEN SPENT ON PROJECTS.
>> YES, WE CAN PROVIDE YOU A LIST.
ALL OF THOSE FUNDS HAVE BEEN OBLIGATED, THOUGH.
THESE PROJECTS WILL FINISHED THIS YEAR, AND YOU HAVE UNTIL 26 TO EXPEND ALL THE FUNDS, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> CORRECT. THE FINAL DATE, DECEMBER 31ST OF 2026 IS THE DEADLINE IN ORDER TO SPEND ALL OBLIGATED FUNDS OR ELSE.
>> WAS THAT EXTENDED FROM THE ORIGINAL DATE, OR OKAY. THANK YOU.
IS BROADBAND GOING TO BE DONE IN TIME? IT SEEMS LIKE THEY'RE MOVING SLOW.
>> IF WE GOT THE MONEY, I'D HATE TO LOSE IT AND BY NOT BEING DOWN ON TIME.
OUR PROJECTS ARE ALL ON TRACK.
MOST OF THEM WILL BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF THIS CALENDAR YEAR.
WE DO STILL HAVE SOME BUFFER FOR NEXT YEAR.
QUITE FRANKLY, OUR BIGGEST PROBLEM AT THIS TIME IS FEDERAL PERMITS, AND WE'RE WORKING WITH SENATOR KELLY'S OFFICE TO TRY TO GET SOME OF THOSE ISSUES WORKED OUT.
>> WOULD OUR TIME EXTEND IF IT WAS DUE TO FEDERAL PERMITS NOT BEING ABLE TO GET RECEIVED?
THEN THE LAST PRIORITY, WE HAVE HERE, ONCE AGAIN, IS INNOVATION AND EFFECTIVENESS.
PREVIOUSLY, IN OTHER BUDGET RETRIES, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR THE COUNTY? I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS BECAUSE THIS IS AN APPROACH TO CONTINUING TO SEE WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE TO BE A HIGH PERFORMING GOVERNMENT? WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE TO LOOK AT PERFORMANCE MEASURES AND FOCUS ON NOT JUST THE INPUTS AND OUTPUTS OF THE DOLLARS WE'RE SPENDING, BUT ACTUALLY, WHAT ARE WE DOING WITH THE INVESTMENTS? THEN ALSO, IT HAS THIS OTHER ASPECT, WHICH IT'S BEEN AMAZING TO SEE THE CULTURE OF HOW IT'S COME ALONGSIDE THAT AND SAYING, HOW DO WE DO BUSINESS HERE? HOW DO WE DO INTERRELATIONALLY? ALSO, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE EXPECTATIONS WE HAVE OF HOW WE PROVIDE SERVICES.
THERE'S AN EXPECTATION WE WERE TALKING THE OTHER DAY, SUPERVISOR KUKNYO AND I ABOUT HOW DOES GOVERNMENT DO THINGS AND HOW DO DOLLARS MOVE?
[02:00:01]
THIS PROVIDES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO START RETHINKING HOW ARE DEPARTMENTS ALLOCATE DOLLARS AND HOW ARE THEY ALLOCATED ACROSS THE ORGANIZATION.IT TAKES MULTIPLE YEARS TO MOVE INTO A HIGH PERFORMING GOVERNMENT.
BUT THE FIRST STEPS HAVE BEEN MADE.
WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT LATER STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS.
HOW DO WE GET A FOCUS ON WHAT IS THE VISION FOR THE BOARD, AND HOW DO WE ALIGN MEASUREMENT AND EXPECTATIONS WITHIN THAT.
I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE FOCUS OF THIS CONTINUOUS GROWTH OF INNOVATION AND EFFECTIVENESS HERE, YAO BI COUNTY.
>> MADAM CHAIR, I THINK THIS IS ALREADY STARTED.
I LOOK AT THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT AND THE THINGS THEY'RE DOING WITH ONLINE INSPECTIONS AND THE DIFFERENT STUFF THAT THEY'RE MOVING INTO THE FUTURE.
IT ISN'T LIKE WE'RE NOT STARTING INNOVATION.
IT'S JUST GOING TO CONTINUE TO MOVE ON.
>> THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR UGH. I WOULD AGREE.
I WOULD ADD, I THINK WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB IN MEASURING WHAT WE'RE DOING THERE.
YOU TALKED ABOUT PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT.
I THINK WE'VE MADE STRIDES IN THAT. WE'RE DOING BETTER.
WE'RE NOT THERE YET, AND SO WE'RE GOING TO KEEP WORKING ON THAT, AS WELL AS ZACH SAID, ONCE THE BOARD ENGAGES IN STRATEGIC PLANNING, EVENTUALLY TYING PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENTS TO THAT STRATEGIC PLAN.
WE CAN ALL BE ASSURED, ARE WE MAKING THE PROGRESS THAT WE SAID WE WANTED TO MAKE? ARE WE USING THE RESOURCES TO ADVANCE THIS IN THE WAY THAT WE INTENDED? SO WE KNOW.
>> WE KEEP TALKING ABOUT CULTURE AND HOW WE'RE CHANGING CULTURE.
I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT TIES INTO OUR BRANDING BECAUSE THEY GO HAND IN HAND SO THAT WE'RE NOT DOING BRANDING AND WE'RE DOING CULTURE.
>> WHEN WE GET TO THIS SLIDE, THAT MEANS WE'RE PRETTY MUCH DONE WITH THIS SECTION.
BUT I WANTED TO REITERATE BEFORE WE LEAVE, THE BUDGET OVERVIEW IS WHERE ARE WE AT IN THE PROCESS RIGHT NOW.
APRIL 29TH, TODAY, TOMORROW 30TH AND MAY 1ST, WE'LL CONTINUE THIS BUDGET STUDY SESSIONS.
MAKE SURE TO COME BACK, MADAM CHAIR.
I'M JUST GIVING YOU OUR TIME. I DON'T GET THAT OPPORTUNITY THAT OFTEN.
BUT JUNE 4TH IS ANOTHER IMPORTANT TOUCH POINT.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN THE NEXT STAGE IS AFTER OUR DISCUSSIONS OVER THIS THREE-DAY PERIOD, WE'LL DISCUSS WHAT IS THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE BOARD GOING FORWARD TOWARDS THE TENTATIVE BUDGET.
THE TENTATIVE IS ANOTHER STAGE IN THE PROCESS.
THAT'S WHERE WE'LL SOLIDIFY WHAT DO YOU WANT OUR TOTAL EXPENDITURES TO BE.
BECAUSE IT WILL ACTUALLY SET A LIMIT FOR US AS A COUNTY.
WE CANNOT EXCEED THAT EVEN IF THERE'S AN INTEREST TO DO IN THAT BEFORE THE ADOPTED BUDGET.
AFTER THIS, WE'LL THEN PREPARE WHAT WILL BE CALLED THE TENTATIVE BUDGET.
THEN THE NEXT STEP IS ACTUALLY BUDGET ADOPTION.
WE HAVE SET FOR JUNE 25TH, WHICH WOULD BE A HEARING ON PROPOSED PROPERTY TAX LEVY HEARING IF NECESSARY, AS WELL AS THE FINAL BUDGET.
WE STILL HAVE A COUPLE MORE TOUCH POINTS.
THIS IS NOT THE END AND BE ALL FOR BUDGET.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE UNDERSTOOD THAT.
FORGIVE ME FOR JUMPING UP LIKE THAT, BUT YOU KNOW WE ARE GOING TO BE BREAKING HERE SHORTLY FOR LUNCH, AND FOOD IS VERY IMPORTANT, AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW.
[LAUGHTER] ESPECIALLY, DOING ALL THE NUMBERS, IT MAKES YOUR BRAIN HUNGRY.
>> MADAM CHAIR, I HOPE THAT SOMEWHERE IN THIS SCHEDULE BETWEEN MAY 1ST AND JUNE 4TH, WE CAN MAYBE BRING UP QUESTIONS BECAUSE WE JUST GOT THIS BOOK LATE FRIDAY.
>> UNLIKE NANCY PELOSI, I LIKE TO READ STUFF BEFORE I VOTE ON IT.
[LAUGHTER] I KNOW THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT MORE QUESTIONS, AND YOU'LL PROBABLY GET A LOT OF QUESTIONS THAT ARE ACTUALLY IN THIS MATERIAL, BUT I'VE BEEN TRYING TO BOOGEY THROUGH IT.
COUNTY MANAGER AND I WERE TALKING THAT MAYBE NEXT YEAR HOW THIS IS BROKEN UP INTO THREE DAYS.
MAYBE THAT'S BROKEN UP TO A SINGLE DAY PER WEEK TO GIVE US TIME TO REALLY DIGEST AND ASK QUESTIONS OF STAFF BEFORE WE COME HERE AND NOT KNOW WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
THAT MIGHT BE A GOOD IDEA FOR NEXT YEAR.
>> WELL, I APPRECIATE THAT INPUT, SUPERVISOR KUKNYO.
WE WILL LOOK AT THINGS DIFFERENTLY.
WE WILL CONVERSE ABOUT THINGS DIFFERENTLY, AND THOSE OPTIONS ARE ALWAYS ON THE TABLE, AND SO THAT'S PERFECTLY FINE.
I WOULD LIKE TO SAY IN THE BOOK WE'RE AT, IT SAYS THAT WE HAVE ANY MORE QUESTIONS IN REGARDS TO ALL OF THIS.
WE CAN STILL ASK A FEW MORE IF ANYBODY HAS ANY.
THEY ARE PUTTING THINGS TOGETHER.
THE NEXT CATEGORY, HOW LONG DO YOU THINK THAT IS? IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S LENGTHEN.
>> WELL, WE'VE GOT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, AND THEN WE GO INTO THE INTERNAL SERVICE DEPARTMENTS.
DO YOU WANT TO TRY TO DO BOARD OF SUPERVISORS BEFORE WE BREAK,
[02:05:02]
OR DO YOU WANT TO BREAK NOW? IT'S UP TO YOU.>> WELL, LET'S GO AHEAD AND START WITH THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
ARE MY FELLOW COLLEAGUES OKAY WITH THAT?
>> WE CAN ALWAYS JUMP BACK IN.
>> IF MY COMMENT ON SUPERVISOR KUKNYO, AND I THINK OF OTHERS THAT BROUGHT THAT UP.
YES, PLEASE KNOW THAT STAFF WILL BE AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
AGAIN, WE'RE TRYING TO CAPTURE THEM TODAY, BUT AS YOU THINK OF THEM, SEND THEM TO US, AND WE'LL GET THE INFORMATION TO YOU.
I'M HAPPY TO DEVOTE AS MUCH TIME AS WE NEED TO TO SIT DOWN TO MAKE SURE YOU FULLY UNDERSTAND WHAT'S HERE.
>> YEAH. YOU BET. BACK TO THE COMMENT ABOUT CHANGING PROCESS, PLEASE KNOW THAT THIS WAS HOW THE PRIOR BOARD HAD INSTRUCTED US TO COME FORWARD BUT WITH THE NEW BOARD, YOU'VE GOT OTHER IDEAS, CHANGES YOU'D LIKE TO SEE.
PLEASE LET US KNOW THAT AS WELL TOO.
HAPPY TO TALK ABOUT CHANGING ANYTHING IN THE PROCESS.
>> I DO WANT TO ECHO SUPERVISOR KUKNYO'S CONCERNS ON TIMELINE.
I DO THINK THAT WHAT I UNDERSTOOD WAS WE WERE MEANT TO HAVE A WEEK TO REVIEW THIS PRIOR TO THE HEARINGS, WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH APPRECIATED.
>> THANK YOU. YES, I APOLOGIZE THAT JUST TOOK LONGER TO GET A PULL TOGETHER AND NO EXCUSES, BUT LOTS OF LOTS OF LAST MINUTE CONVERSATIONS WITH DEPARTMENTS AND ELECTEDS ABOUT WHERE WE ENDED UP.
IT TAKES MORE TIME. I GUESS THAT WOULD BE MY ONLY THOUGHT ABOUT SUPERVISOR KUKNYO, YOUR IDEA OF DOING ONE A WEEK THAT PROBABLY MOVES THE WHOLE TIMEFRAME UP SIGNIFICANTLY TOO.
THAT'S SOMETHING WE'LL HAVE TO LOOK AT AND FIGURE INTO.
>> YEAH. WITH THAT SAID, LET'S MOVE ON.
>> MAORI, I JUST DO WANT TO SAY, AND AGAIN, WE APPRECIATE ALL OF THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN PUT INTO IT, AND I KNOW THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF HARD WORK.
FOR US, OR FOR ME, THIS IS A WHOLE NEW WORLD.
I'M NOT THAT PERSON, SO I TAKE A LITTLE LONGER.
>> THANK YOU. WITH THAT SAID LET'S JUMP INTO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS DEPARTMENT.
AS WE KNOW, WE LOOK AT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AS THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND ALL ONE DEPARTMENT, WITH THE DIVISIONS, CLERK OF THE BOARD, COMMUNICATIONS, AND BUDGET.
WHAT WERE OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS, AND PLEASE THIS IS OUR COLLECTIVE DEPARTMENT HERE.
JOIN IN IF YOU THINK THAT I'VE MISSED SOMETHING, BUT I LISTED ON BOARDING OF THE FOUR NEW BOARD OF SUPERVISORS INTO THE ORGANIZATION AS AN ACCOMPLISHMENT SO FAR TO DATE.
WE ALSO COORDINATED THE SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGN TO INCREASE THE COUNTY'S EXPENDITURE LIMIT.
THAT WAS A BIG LIFT LAST YEAR.
THANK YOU FOR THE BOARD WHO WAS INVOLVED IN THAT AND ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO TOOK TIME OUT OF THEIR SCHEDULES TO HELP ATTEND MANY COMMUNITY MEETINGS ON THAT TOPIC.
ALSO, AS YOU'RE AWARE, LOOKING AT THE CONSOLIDATION OF ITS AND GIS INTO ONE DEPARTMENT, AND IT WOULD BE REMISS HERE BY NOT PAUSING TO CALL OUT KEVIN BLAKE AND JARED PAILIN FOR THEIR TREMENDOUS WORK IN WORKING TOGETHER WITH MYSELF AND TYLER ABOUT LOOKING AT WHAT THE FUTURE OF THAT COMBINED DEPARTMENT COULD BE AND WHAT THE STRUCTURE SHOULD LOOK LIKE.
I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE FUTURE FOR THAT COMBINED DEPARTMENT.
WE'VE TALKED EXTENSIVELY THIS MORNING ABOUT ARPA AND HOW WE CONTINUE TO MANAGE THOSE PROJECTS AND FUNDING.
LAST, WE'VE ADDED TWO NEW ROLES TO THIS DEPARTMENT OVER THE LAST YEAR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.
AGAIN, THAT WAS NO ADDITIONAL GENERAL FUND.
THOSE WERE ALL WIOA, WORKFORCE INNOVATION OPPORTUNITY ACT DOLLARS, BUT BRINGING THE ADMINISTRATION NOT THE SERVICES, BUT THE ADMINISTRATION IN THE HOUSE, CRAIG LEFEVER STARTED AS OUR DIRECTOR IN THAT ROLE THIS PAST WEEK.
THEN OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE COORDINATING COUNCIL, THE DIRECTOR OF THOSE EFFORTS THAT WE ARE ADVERTISING FOR NOW.
OUR GOALS THAT I'VE LAID OUT FOR THE COMING YEAR IS TO ADOPT A NEW ORGANIZATION WIDE PROCUREMENT POLICY.
MY THANKS TO TYLER AND CONNIE, AND I'M SURE OTHERS THAT I'M MISSING HERE IN THEIR WORK, OUR GOAL IS TO HAVE THIS TO THE BOARD FOR ADOPTION BY THE START OF THE COMING FISCAL YEAR, SO JULY 1.
WHEN LOOKING AT OUR PROCUREMENT POLICY, PARTICULARLY COMPARED TO OUR PER COUNTIES, WE WERE SEVERELY BEHIND AND UPDATING WHERE WE NEED TO BE WITH A MODERN DAY PROCUREMENT POLICY.
ALSO, YOU HEARD REFERENCE TO THE MULTI YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN THAT THE BOARD HAS SAID.
WE'RE INTERESTED IN ENGAGING IN, AND I'M SO APPRECIATIVE AND THANKFUL FOR THAT.
THAT'S SOMETHING, AGAIN, THAT'S NOT BEEN DONE HERE IN A NUMBER OF YEARS IF EVER A TRUE STRATEGIC PLAN ON THE PART OF THE BOARD, SO I'M EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
WE'LL CONTINUE TO UPDATE COUNTY PROCESS AND PROCEDURES.
YOU'VE SEEN SOME OF THOSE COMING FORWARD PROBABLY, MOST PRINCIPALLY, SO FAR IN HUMAN RESOURCES REALLY SEPARATING OUT BOARD POLICY FROM THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES,
[02:10:01]
ALLOWING US TO BE A LITTLE MORE NIMBLE IN ADDRESSING PROCEDURES WHEN THEY NEED TO BE CHANGED.STILL, OF COURSE, ABIDING BY THE BOARD'S ROLE IN SETTING THE POLICY FOR THE ORGANIZATION.
FINALLY, WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO OUR FIRST EVER STATE AT THE COUNTY ADDRESS IN THIS COMING YEAR, SEPTEMBER OF 2025.
OUR CHALLENGES ARE, AND WE'VE TALKED EXTENSIVELY ABOUT THIS, CONTINUING TO NAVIGATE OUR FISCAL ENVIRONMENT WITH POTENTIALLY SLOWING REVENUES AND THE INCREASED ECONOMIC VOLATILITY, PARTICULARLY ON THE FEDERAL SIDE, AND THEN OUR INFLATIONARY COSTS, WHICH WE CONTINUE TO BE FACED WITH.
YOU SAW THE REFERENCE TO PROBABLY, A MINIMUM OF $300,000 IN ADDITIONAL COST ON THE MEDICAL SERVICES SIDE FOR THE JAIL IN PARTICULAR.
WE'VE TALKED A BIT AGAIN ABOUT A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN, NEEDING TO DEVELOP A TRUE FIVE-YEAR LONGER RANGE CIP.
WE CONTINUE TO WORK ON THAT, AND WE'LL TALK MORE ABOUT THAT LATER TODAY.
WE'RE ALSO WORKING TO IMPROVE THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING MANAGEMENT.
I KNOW SOME OF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH THAT EFFORT THAT'S UNDERWAY, AND I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE IMPROVEMENTS INTO YOUR MEETING STRUCTURE THAT THAT WILL BRING HERE. CHAIR?
>> I THINK BETWEEN THE AIR CONDITIONING HEATING SYSTEM AND THE NEW SYSTEM FOR US AS WE VOTE, I THINK THAT'S THE HIGHLIGHT AT LEAST.
[LAUGHTER] I'M EXCITED ABOUT BOTH OF THOSE.
>> ABSOLUTELY. WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK ON ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE AND CONTINUING TO INCREASE OUR COMMUNICATION WITH INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS.
OUR DEPARTMENT BUDGET OVERVIEW, IS THAT YOU WANT TO COVER THESE SLIDES? THERE'S A COUPLE OF TIME PERIODS HERE AND THIS WILL BE IN A SIMILAR FORMAT FOR THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS MOVING FORWARD.
WE HAVE THE 25 ADOPTED, SO WHAT WE'RE WORKING FROM IN THIS FISCAL YEAR, WHAT'S BEING RECOMMENDED IN 26, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RECOMMENDED AND ADOPTED, THE PERCENTAGE CHANGE, AND THEN LASTLY, THE FTES BETWEEN THOSE TWO TIME PERIODS.
FOR FY 25 IN THE GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES AT 3.2 MILLION, THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET INCREASES TO 4.8 MILLION.
IT IS AN INCREASE IN THERE WITH A NUMBER OF NEW POSITIONS IN THERE, AS MENTIONED IN THE BUDGET.
THERE WILL BE THREE POSITIONS.
THE WIOA POSITION IS NOT HITTING THE GENERAL FUND.
THEN ALSO, THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS IS A PLACEHOLDER FOR OTHER EXPENDITURES THROUGH THE COUNTY AS WELL.
IT'S NOT JUST SOLELY FOR THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS, AND THAT'S WHERE YOU'RE STARTING TO SEE SOME OF THE OTHER FUND REVENUE AND EXPENDITURES.
ACTUALLY, IN THOSE AREAS, WE HAVE $35 MILLION FURTHER DOWN OF WHERE WE PLACE IN THERE FOR ANY POTENTIAL EITHER GRANT FUNDED PROJECTS OR ANY OTHER OPPORTUNITIES.
IN ARIZONA, YOU CAN'T SPEND AGAIN IN EXCESS OF YOUR TOTAL ADOPTED BUDGET IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS.
YOU CAN GO AND ASK FOR MORE CAPACITY IN ARIZONA, YOU'RE LIMITED BY THAT.
WE HAVE A PLACEHOLDER IN THERE OF 35 MILLION THAT ALLOWS US THE CAPACITY TO MOVE IT FORWARD.
UNDER THE OTHER FUND REVENUE AND EXPENDITURES, THOSE NUMBERS LOOK A LITTLE BIG.
THOSE AREN'T ACTUALLY BEING SPENDED AT THAT LEVEL.
IT'S PRIMARILY GIVEN TOWARDS THE CHANGES IN THAT AREA, AS WELL AS SOME CAPITAL PROJECTS.
MY COMMENT FOR THE BOARD'S BENEFIT, THE CHAIR WILL REMEMBER THIS.
WE FOUND OURSELVES IN A SITUATION A YEAR OR TWO AGO WHERE WE WERE LITERALLY UNABLE TO PURSUE SOME GRANT OPPORTUNITIES BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY IN OUR BUDGET, AND PARTICULARLY IN THE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT'S DOMAIN.
HE HAD I THINK, ONE GRANT, HAD TO GO TO COCONINO COUNTY BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE THE SPENDING AUTHORITY TO BE ABLE TO ACCEPT THE GRANT FUNDS, SO THAT WAS AN ATTEMPT TO ADDRESS THAT.
>> I APPRECIATE THAT BECAUSE IT IS UNFORTUNATE WHEN WE ARE ABLE TO ATTAIN THOSE GRANTS, AND THEN WE AREN'T ABLE TO ACCEPT THEM, AND THEY DEFINITELY COME IN HANDY.
>> HERE ARE THE BUDGET ENHANCEMENTS INCLUDED IN THE RECOMMENDED.
THE OPEN MEETING VOTING SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE, THE UPGRADES TO YOUR MEETING HEARING ROOM THAT WE TALKED ABOUT $40,500.
WE'VE GOT SOME ESTIMATES NOW FROM A NUMBER OF VENDORS FOR THAT, $65,000.
THE ASSISTANT TO COUNTY MANAGER POSITION 141,855, AND I WILL PAUSE HERE TO CALL THIS ONE OUT POSITS.
SPECIFICALLY, BECAUSE IT'S A BIG ASK, BASED ON CONVERSATIONS I HAD WITH A NUMBER OF THE BOARD MEMBERS.
THERE WAS A RECOGNITION THAT WE NEED EXTRA SUPPORT IN THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OFFICE.
I THINK WHAT WAS ORIGINALLY SUGGESTED WAS PERHAPS ANOTHER ASSISTANT COUNTY MANAGER AND LOOKING AT OUR RESOURCES, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE CAN AFFORD THAT QUITE FRANKLY, AND BELIEVE THAT THIS POSITION AND ABOUT HALF THE COST WILL ALLOW US TO GET SOME OF
[02:15:03]
THE SAME NEEDS THAT YOU'VE ALL IDENTIFIED ADDRESSED WITHIN OUR OFFICE BY THE CREATION OF THIS POSITION, SO THAT'S WHAT THAT ONE IS.>> I NOTICED YOU CHOKED A BIT WHEN YOU ASKED FOR THAT.
>> BUT IT'S WELL DESERVED AND NEED TO FOR SURE.
>> THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS I'VE RECEIVED ABOUT THE NEED.
AGAIN, I PERSONALLY THINK WITH THAT RECOGNITION, THIS IS A MORE COST EFFECTIVE WAY TO ADDRESS THOSE NEEDS THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED RATHER THAN ANOTHER ASSISTANT COUNTY MANAGER.
>> I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE NEEDS, CAN YOU RELEASE?
>> YES. THE ISSUE AND OTHERS, PLEASE JUMP IN HERE THAT THERE'S TOO MUCH ACTIVITY GOING ON IN THE BOARD'S OFFICE AND PARTICULARLY AROUND THE COUNTY MANAGER'S FUNCTION TO ALLOW ME THE TIME THAT I'M NEEDED TO SPEND WITH SOME OTHER HIGHER LEVEL ACTIVITIES THAT I NEED TO BE QUITE FRANK.
I'VE HAD BOARD MEMBERS SAY, IT'S HARD TO GET ANY TIME WITH YOU BECAUSE YOU'RE SO INVOLVED IN SO MANY THINGS.
IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE YOU'VE GOT THE SUFFICIENT RESOURCES HERE.
THAT'S THE ISSUES THAT I'M HEARING THAT I'M BEING URGED TO ADDRESS.
>> I'LL PUBLICLY STATE THAT I'VE SPOKEN ON THIS MANY A TIME, WHETHER IT'S MR. BRENNAN OR MR. GOODMAN, OR MR. THOMPSON.
THEY'RE JUST BOOKED ON TIME AND WORK.
IT'S JUST AMAZING THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH WHAT THEY ACCOMPLISH AND THE TIME THAT THEY HAVE, ESPECIALLY MR. BRENNAN, CERTAINLY POINT HIM OUT.
IT'S JUST GIVEN HIS POSITION AND HIS DUAL ROLE.
I'M JUST AMAZED AT WHAT HE GETS DONE, AND I'M CERTAINLY FOR IT.
>> THEN FINALLY, A NEW BUDGET ANALYST POSITION.
I BELIEVE THE BOARD, I KNOW I HAVE, AND I BELIEVE THE BOARD AND THE ORGANIZATION HAS SEEN THE VALUE AND WHERE WE'RE BEEN TAKING OUR BUDGET FUNCTION HERE IN YAVAPAI COUNTY, AND BELIEVE THAT WE NEED TO ADD ANOTHER POSITION TO OUR BUDGET TEAM TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO CENTRALIZE STREAMLINE AND PROFESSIONALIZE OUR BUDGET FUNCTION HERE IN YAVAPAI COUNTY.
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT?
>> IS THIS SECTION WE'RE CURRENTLY WORKING ON RIGHT HERE? I DO HAVE A QUESTION HERE JUST ON HOW THINGS ARE LAID OUT.
SPECIFICALLY TO MR. BRENNAN, WE KNOW THAT WE APPOINT HIM, BUT LISTEN HERE ALL OTHER POSITIONS FILLED BY THE COUNTY MANAGER.
COULD YOU EXPLAIN THAT WHEN IT COMES TO THE CLERK OF THE BOARD? IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE CLERK OF THE BOARD IS APPOINTED BY THE BOARD, AND AS THE CLERK OF THE BOARD.
>> DID THAT CHANGE LIKE A YEAR AGO OR DID THE BOARD VOTE ON IT, OR WHAT WAS IT?
>> SUPERVISOR, THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.
YOU ARE CORRECT THAT BY STATUTE, THE CLERK OF THE BOARD IS A POSITION THAT'S FILLED BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
THERE WAS A PROCESS FACILITATED BY THE COUNTY MANAGER WHERE RESUMES OR APPLICATIONS WERE RECEIVED AND REVIEWED, AND THEN A RECOMMENDATION WAS MADE.
BUT ULTIMATELY, THE DECISION TO APPOINT WAS MADE BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AS IS REQUIRED BY STATUTE.
>> IT WAS JUST NOT CLEAR. THEN DID THE PREVIOUS BOARD TASK THE CLERK OF THE BOARD TO THE COUNTY MANAGER?
>> WELL, YOU KNOW THAT WE'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH A LENGTHY PERIOD OF TRANSITION WHERE WE'VE CHANGED FROM A COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO A COUNTY MANAGER SYSTEM.
I BELIEVE THAT THE CURRENT ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE EVOLVE AS PART OF THAT CHANGE FROM ADMINISTRATOR TO COUNTY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.
>> BUT BY STATUTE, IT'S THE CLERK OF THE BOARD, CORRECT?
>> WELL, AGAIN, THE APPOINTMENT IS BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE BOARD WISHES TO DIRECTLY SUPERVISE OR DELEGATE THAT AUTHORITY IS UP TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
>> DID THE PREVIOUS BOARD DELEGATE IT TO THE COUNTY MANAGER OR WAS THERE A STRUCTURAL CHANGE WHEN WE SWITCHED TO COUNTY MANAGER FROM ADMINISTRATORS?
>> I WOULD HAVE TO GUESS TO SOME EXTENT, BUT I BELIEVE THAT WAS JUST THE EXPECTATION OF THE BOARD.
>> I WILL ADDRESS THAT WHEN WE MADE THE CHANGE, PART OF THAT CHANGE INCLUDED THE ADOPTION OF THE REVISED ORGANIZATIONAL CHART, WHICH SHOWED THAT RELATIONSHIP.
>> WELL, I'VE JUST HAD THE QUESTION, ALSO, BECAUSE ON OUR FORWARD FACING DOCUMENTS, THE CLERK OF THE BOARD ISN'T LISTED AND WHO AND WHERE IT IS TASKED TO.
WE DON'T KNOW AND IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING BY STATUTE.
IT'S CLERK, SHE ANSWERS DIRECTLY, IT IS A SHE RIGHT NOW.
ANSWERS DIRECTLY TO THE BOARD, CORRECT, MR. BRENNAN?
>> WELL, YES. SHE IS APPOINTED BY THE BOARD, AND SO ANSWERS TO THE BOARD.
AGAIN, THE EXTENT TO WHICH SHE WANT TO SUPERVISE THE [OVERLAPPING]
>> THAT'S FINE. THE ONLY REASON I BRING IT UP IS BECAUSE
[02:20:02]
OF OUR RECENT APPOINTMENT AND THE CLERK OF THE BOARD VOTING AND HUMAN NATURE IS HUMAN NATURE AND LOYALTIES OR WHERE THEY GO OR NOT.IT WAS A VERY UNIQUE SITUATION HAVING THE CLERK OF THE BOARD VOTING.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CLERK OF THE BOARD UNDERSTANDS IT'S THE CLERK OF THE BOARD.
IT WAS A VERY UNIQUE SITUATION.
I JUST THINK IT NEEDED TO BE POINTED OUT SO WE ALL HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF MAYBE IT WAS CHANGED IN THE PAST, OR HOW WE'RE GOING TO STRUCTURE THIS, KEEP IT THE SAME OR MAYBE THAT'S DISCUSSION FOR THE FUTURE.
BUT I JUST WANTED THAT CLARIFIED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> IF I COULD, VICE CHAIR, THERE'S A SECOND PAGE TO THE ORGANIZATIONAL CHART THAT DOES SHOW THE CLERK.
>> I KNOW. BUT JUST THE FORWARD FACING DOCUMENT DOESN'T HAVE IT.
>> JUST SOMETHING THAT I THOUGHT WAS MISSING ON THE FRONT PAGE WHEN I WAS TALKING ABOUT DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS MISSING.
I THINK SOMETHING SHOULD BE ADDED TO THE EFFECT OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS IS A LIAISON TO THE CITIZENS WHO ELECTED THEM, WHO ACTUALLY SIT AT THE TOP OF OUR ORGANIZATIONAL CHART, ADDRESSING THEIR CONCERNS AND DIRECTING THE COUNTY MANAGER TO ADDRESS THOSE CONCERNS, BECAUSE THAT'S REALLY WHERE WE SPEND MOST OF OUR TIME, AND THERE WAS NOTHING LIKE THAT IN THIS DESCRIPTION.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT. I WOULD AGREE WITH THAT.
YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE NARRATIVE PIECE IN THE BOOK THERE.
>> WELL, IF THAT CONCLUDES ON THE QUESTIONS, WE SHALL HAVE LUNCH AND TAKE 30 MINUTES.
>> MADAM CHAIR, THE NEW KID QUIT.
>> WE, WE WILL GO AHEAD AND CALL THIS BACK IN SESSION.
I THINK WE WILL PICK UP WHERE WE LEFT OFF, AND THAT WOULD BE WITH YOU, MR. THOMPSON.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. WE'RE GOING TO TURN NOW TO OUR INTERNAL SERVICE DEPARTMENTS.
BUT BEFORE WE DO, STAFF WAS HAVING A BIT OF CONVERSATION DURING OUR LUNCH BREAK, AND THE DEPUTY COUNTY MANAGER MADE A VERY ASTUTE OBSERVATION THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE SCOPE OF THE BUDGET, WHAT WE HAVE BROUGHT FORTH AS RECOMMENDED.
BUT MAYBE WE HADN'T DONE A GOOD JOB EMPHASIZING WHAT THE TOTAL NUMBER OF ASK OR THE DOLLAR FIGURE OF THAT ASK THAT WE GOT THE.
THAT NUMBER JUST TO CLARIFY WAS $39,000,000 WORTH OF AS CAME FORWARD FROM OUR DEPARTMENTS THIS YEAR.
AGAIN, A LITTLE BIT OF CONTEXT.
THANK YOU FOR THAT REMINDER, MARTY, THAT WAS HELPFUL.
>> LET ME SEE INTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS.
LET ME SEE IF I DIDN'T GET YOU STARTED AT THE BEGINNING.
>> [INAUDIBLE] REASON. THERE WE GO.
>> OH, THANK YOU. WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR INTERNAL SERVICE DEPARTMENTS, AND I REFER YOU BACK TO OUR AGENDA FOR TODAY.
THAT'S COMPRISED OF FINANCE, HUMAN RESOURCES, AND FOR PURPOSES OF TODAY'S PRESENTATION, FLEET MANAGEMENT AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES.
LET'S START WITH OUR MAJOR SERVICES UNDER FINANCE.
WE'VE GOT PAYMENT PROCESSING, WHICH IS ACCOUNTS PAYABLE, PAY ROLL TRAVEL.
WE'VE GOT PROCUREMENT THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT TODAY, AND FINALLY, FINANCIAL REPORTING AND ASSET MANAGEMENT.
WHEN WE TURN TO ITS, WE'VE GOT OUR BUSINESS SERVICES, CUSTOMER SERVICES, CYBERSECURITY, INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES, RECORDS MANAGEMENT, AND NOW, AS WE KNOW, GIS.
HUMAN RESOURCES AND RISK MANAGEMENT, ENSURE ADHERENCE TO FEDERAL AND STATE EMPLOYMENT LAWS AND COUNTY POLICIES.
THEY ALSO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR RECRUITMENT AND SELECTION, EMPLOYEE RELATIONS, DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING AND BENEFITS, ADMINISTRATION, AND FINALLY, RISK MANAGEMENT SERVICES, WHICH IS OUR LIABILITY CLAIMS, WORKER COMP CLAIMS AND SAFETY PROGRAMS.
[02:25:03]
FLEET MANAGEMENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR ON ALL COUNTY LIGHT FLEET VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT.WE CALL THAT OUT BECAUSE PUBLIC WORKS IS RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR HEAVY FLEET.
FLEET MANAGEMENT AS OUR LIGHT FLEET.
PARTS INVENTORY, PROCUREMENT, ASSET MANAGEMENT, VEHICLE AND EQUIPMENT ASSIGNMENTS, REPLACEMENT, SCHEDULING, AND FORECASTING, AND THEN FUEL MANAGEMENT.
WE HAVE FOUR FUEL UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANKS AND TWO ABOVE GROUND FUEL STORAGE TANKS.
>> I'VE BEEN LOOKING TO SEE WHERE.
THEY'RE INDIVIDUALIZED IN THE BOOKS, SO IT'S.
>> YOU HAVE TO GO TO EACH OF THOSE DEPARTMENTS? PROCUREMENT OF VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT, AND EQUIPMENT MODIFICATION AND SPECIALTY FABRICATION.
TURNING TO ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF EACH OF THOSE DEPARTMENTS AND FINANCE.
CENTRALIZED PROCUREMENT, YOU'LL SEE WE SAY CONTINUING.
CUTTING OF STAFF HAVE MADE SIGNIFICANT STRIDES IN THAT DIRECTION OVER THE LAST YEAR, AND AS WE GET TO REQUEST, YOU'LL SEE A PROPOSAL TO CONTINUE TO INVEST IN CENTRALIZING ALL PROCUREMENT.
FOR THE NEW SUPERVISORS INFORMATION, PROCUREMENT HAS BEEN VERY DECENTRALIZED HERE IN THE COUNTY.
EACH DEPARTMENT RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR OWN PROCUREMENT.
THE LAST BOARD HAD A INTEREST, WHICH I FULLY SUPPORTED IN CENTRALIZING THAT FUNCTION.
YOU HAD PEOPLE WHO DID PROCUREMENT EVERY DAY, REAL EXPERTS IN THEIR CRAFT MAKING THOSE PROCUREMENTS ON BEHALF OF THE ORGANIZATION.
WE'LL CONTINUE WORKING IN THAT DIRECTION.
ALSO CONTINUE TO WORK ON AN UPGRADE OF OUR EMPLOYEE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.
OUR GO LIVE IS NOW SCHEDULED FOR THIS FALL, AND WE'LL BEGIN PROCESS REVIEW AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THOSE NEW MODULES NEXT MONTH SO COMING RIGHT UP.
FINALLY, INTERNAL CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.
THIS IS ONE DEPARTMENT THAT'S HAD PRETTY SIGNIFICANT TURNOVER.
CONNIE CONTINUES TO WORK ON STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES AND STREAMLINING PROCESSES THAT HOPEFULLY, GET TO THE GOAL OF ADDRESSING THAT TURNOVER THERE.
IN ITS, WE REPLACED 386 DEVICES.
YOU MAY RECALL, WE WENT TO A SERVICE AS A DEVICE, WHICH ALLOWED US TO LEASE THOSE DEVICES AND REALLY GET CAUGHT UP ON OUR SCHEDULE.
WE HAD GOTTEN FAR BEHIND IN THE REPLACEMENT OF INDIVIDUAL UNITS ACROSS THE ORGANIZATION.
GOING TO THIS ALLOWED US TO REPLACE ALL DEVICES ON A FOUR YEAR SCHEDULE.
WE DID THE FIRST ROUND THIS PAST YEAR AND I WAS PERSONALLY VERY PLEASED.
I DIDN'T HEAR COMPLAINTS ABOUT THAT.
IT WAS A VERY SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION, SO PLEASED ABOUT THAT.
I KNOW, JARED'S BEEN CONTINUING TO LOOK AT THAT PROCESS AS WELL.
WE ALSO IMPLEMENTED THE CLOUD PHONE SYSTEM, SO COMPLETELY REMOVING FROM ON PREMISES TO THE CLOUD.
NEXT GEN, 911 SYSTEM, WE ACHIEVED OVER 98 EFFICIENCY THROUGH OUR GIS DEPARTMENT, AND FINALLY, SECURITY INFORMATION AND EVENT MONITORING.
A LOT OF CYBERSECURITY WORK BEING DONE THERE TO ENSURE WE STAY AS SAFE AS WE CAN.
HUMAN RESOURCES, YOU'VE HEARD ME TALK ABOUT THE CULTURE DEVELOPMENT, LEADERSHIP TRAINING THAT WE CONTINUED TO DO.
WE'RE IN YEAR TWO OF THAT EFFORT.
WE'VE INCREASED OUR RECRUITMENT STRATEGIES, QUITE FRANKLY, BECAUSE WE HAD TO.
ALTHOUGH I TALKED THIS MORNING ABOUT THAT BEING GREATLY IMPROVED.
OVER THIS LAST YEAR, WE HAD TO BECOME MUCH MORE NIMBLE ABOUT HOW WE WERE RECRUITING AND WHAT STRATEGIES WE WERE USING TO FILL SOME OF OUR DIFFICULT TO FILL POSITIONS.
WHEN YOU NOTICE THE JOB FAIRS THERE, I'M CONTINUED TO PLEASE ON SOCIAL MEDIA, IF YOU'RE FOLLOWING US, YOU'LL SEE OUR STAFF ARE AT SEEM LIKE SOME JOB FAIR ON A WEEKLY BASIS, SO REALLY APPRECIATE THEIR OUTREACH.
FINALLY, NEO GOVERNMENT PERFORM.
TALKING ABOUT OUR PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, WE'RE EXPANDING OUR USE OF NEO GOV TO WORK WITHIN OUR PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.
IT WAS IMPLEMENTED IN SEPTEMBER OF 2024, AND WE CONTINUE TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS TO THAT SYSTEM.
FINALLY, I'M NOT SURE WHY FLEET MANAGEMENT IS SO SMALL ON THIS AND I THINK THE NEXT SLIDE FOR SOME REASON.
FLEET MANAGEMENT HAS RECEIVED 28 VEHICLE REPLACEMENTS WITH 58 VEHICLES ON ORDER WITH AN ESTIMATED ARRIVAL DATE OF NEXT MONTH.
I SHOULD HAVE A LARGE INCOMING NUMBER OF VEHICLES.
PRODUCTION, MOST POSITIVE ADVANCEMENTS, THERE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MAINTAIN OUR AGING FLEET, ESCALATING MAINTENANCE PRACTICES AND PROFESSIONAL ETIQUETTE.
I KNOW GILL AND HIS STAFF WORK VERY DILIGENTLY AND BEING A FRONT FACING INTERNAL CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB IN THEIR SERVICE TO THE REST OF THE ORGANIZATION.
HE NOTED THEY PERFORMED OVER 22 TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENTS AND 13 UPPER ENGINE REBUILDS FOR AN AGING FLEET.
THEY CONTINUE TO DO A LOT OF WORK IN HOUSE,
[02:30:03]
WHICH SAVES US TREMENDOUS AMOUNTS OF MONEY.FINALLY, A FUEL INTEGRATED SYSTEMS UPDATE OUR SYSTEM, WE'RE REACHING INTO LIFE AND NEEDED SOME UPDATE, AND THAT HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED AS WELL.
>> I DON'T KNOW IF YOU NOTICE, BUT EVERYBODY IS FLIPPING BACK AND FORTH IN THESE BOOKS TRYING TO KEEP UP WITH YOU.
I DON'T KNOW IF TOMORROW, WE COULD CHANGE IT TO WHERE WE COULD DO ONE DEPARTMENT NEXT DEPARTMENT.
I DON'T KNOW IF. IT'S HARD TO STAY UP WITH YOU CAUSE I'M TRYING TO LISTEN TO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I'M TRYING TO KEEP UP WITH YOU IN THE BOOKS.
>> I APOLOGIZE THAT. I'VE HEARD THAT THIS MORNING, SO WE WILL LOOK AT MAKING THAT CHANGE. BUT IT HELPS.
THIS IS THE ONLY AREA THE PRESENTATION THAT CAUSED YOU TO GO BACK AND FORTH AFTER WE GET THROUGH INTERNAL SERVICES, THEN IT GOES BACK TO DEPARTMENT BY DEPARTMENT. GOOD COMMENT.
>> ON FLEET SERVICES, I KNOW WHEN YOU HAVE A COP CAR, IT HAS TO START RIGHT LIKE THAT.
DO WE END OF LIFE THOSE, OR DO WE PUT THEM DOWN INTO OTHER, DEPARTMENTS THAT MAYBE IT CAN NOT START IN THE MORNING OR.
>> I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, WITH A COP CAR, MILEAGE DOES NOT REFLECT THE RUN TIME BECAUSE THEY BASICALLY START THEM UP IN THE MORNING AND THEY NEVER STOP.
DO WE EVER REPURPOSE THESE VEHICLES TO GET.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR.
VICE CHAIR, BOARD OF SUPERVISORS GILL RIVERO, THE DIRECTOR OF FLEET MANAGEMENT.
WITH THE YCSO VEHICLES, THOSE THAT WE HAVE INVESTED THE MONEY AND TIME FOR TRANSMISSIONS AND UPPER ENGINE REBUILDS.
WHEN THE REPLACEMENT COMES IN, WE WILL REMOVE ALL THE LAW ENFORCEMENT EQUIPMENT, TURN THEM BACK INTO A REGULAR TAHOE AND YES, THEY WILL GO TO ANOTHER DEPARTMENT SO WE CAN GET OUR MONEY'S WORTH OUT OF THAT.
A TRANSMISSION WITHOUT LABOR IS $3,800.
AN UPPER ENGINE REBUILD IS ABOUT 2,800.
IF YOU PUT THE COST LABOR IN THERE AT $108 AN HOUR, DEPENDING ON THE TECHNICIAN, YOU'RE PROBABLY LOOKING AT ABOUT FOR AN UPPER ENGINE REBUILD AT LEAST 6-8 HOURS AND AT LEAST 4-6 HOURS FOR THE TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT.
SINCE WE INVEST THAT MONEY ON THE PARTS AND TIE TO BRING THE VEHICLE BACK UP TO PAR, WE DO HOLD ON TO THOSE FOR AT LEAST ANOTHER YEAR AND UTILIZE THEM WITHIN THE COUNTY.
>> SURE. WHEN WE TAKE VEHICLES AND WE SEND THEM TO AUCTION, AND EVEN YOU DON'T REALLY DEAL WITH THE HEAVY EQUIPMENT?
>> NO, THE OFF ROAD AND HEAVY EQUIPMENT IS HANDLED BY PUBLIC WORKS.
>> I NOTICED SOMETIMES AT AUCTION, YOU DON'T GET WHAT A VEHICLE IS REALLY WORTH.
THEY SEEM TO GO CHEAPER, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S SPECIALIZED THINGS.
THERE'S A LOT OF TIMES OTHER, JUST HAD THIS THOUGHT WITH COMMUNITIES THAT AREN'T NECESSARILY MUNICIPALITIES, NOT A CITY, OR A TOWN, BUT COULD PAULDIN TAKE ON A ROAD GRADER THAT WE SEE AS END OF LIFE? COULD THAT COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION, COULD THEY GET THAT TO START MAINTAINING THEIR ROADS ON THEIR OWN OR ASH FORK OR SELIGMAN, THAT I SEE WHERE THEY'RE ALWAYS CALLING US WANTING IMPROVEMENTS ON THEIR DIRT ROADS.
IS THERE SOMETHING WHEN WE GET END OF LIFE EQUIPMENT, AND THE REASON I SAY THIS IS I WAS A GARBAGE MAN, AND FOR THE FIRST TEN YEARS IN MY OPERATION, ALL OF OUR FLEET WAS MADE UP OF AUCTIONED OFF MUNICIPAL VEHICLES, AND WE'D GET ANOTHER SEVEN YEARS OUT OF THEM, JUST BECAUSE WE WOULD TAKE CARE OF THE M, WE'D SPEND TIME TO FIX THEM.
WHEN I WAS ON THE CITY OF A PRESCO COUNCIL, WE'D AUCTION OFF A FIRE TRUCK AND WE'D GET 2,700 BUCKS FOR IT.
WELL, INSTEAD, WE STARTED GIVING THAT TRUCK TO GROOM CREEK FIRE DEPARTMENT.
AT LEAST IF THERE WAS A MAJOR FIRE EVENT, THAT PIECE OF EQUIPMENT WOULD STILL BE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND BE ABLE TO UTILIZE IN A FIRE EVENT.
I JUST DIDN'T KNOW IF IN YOUR EXPERIENCE, WHEN WE AUCTION OFF EQUIPMENT, ARE WE GETTING FULL VALUE THAT WE PUT BACK IN THE COUNTY, OR IS THIS SOMETHING THAT SOMEONE ELSE IN THE COUNTY COULD MAKE USE OF IF THEY ARE WILLING TO SPEND THE TIME AND ENERGY TO KEEP IT UP.
>> THAT'S A GOOD POINT, SUPERVISOR.
>> BECAUSE I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT I JUST SAID RIGHT NOW.
>> BUT THERE IS A STATE STATUTE SUPPORTING OTHER JURISDICTIONS WITHIN THE COUNTY.
WE'RE CURRENTLY, I'M NOT SURE IF YOU RECALL, BUT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, WE JUST RECENTLY SENT A TOTALLY UPFITTED, DETENTION VAN, TRANSPORTATION VAN WITH DETAINMENT AND THE REASON WE PICKED THIS VAN IS BECAUSE ITS REPLACEMENT CAME IN.
IT DID HAVE A NUMBER ENGINE REBUILD, AND IT DID HAVE A TRANSMISSION.
THAT WE SOLD TO GRAHAM COUNTY FOR $3,500 BECAUSE THEIR VEHICLE WENT DOWN HARD, AND THEY REACHED OUT TO US.
I ALSO HAVE A REQUEST FROM THE ASHPORT FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR A FOUR
[02:35:01]
BY FOUR SO THAT THE PARAMEDICS CAN ACCESS PLACES THE AMBULANCE CAN.>> AS LONG AS WE WERE COMMUNICATING WITH THEM AND OF COURSE, IT HAS TO GET APPROVED FROM THE BOARD.
THE INITIATIVE WITH THE ASHPORT FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS SOME THAT SUPERVISOR BROWN HAD INITIATED, BUT WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN THAT VEHICLE THAT'S WORTHY OF THAT.
I DEFINITELY DO NOT WANT TO SEND A VEHICLE OUT THERE THAT'S GOING TO LEAVE THEM STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE.
BUT ONCE WE GET ALL THESE REPLACEMENTS ISSUED AND IDENTIFY THAT VEHICLE, I WILL COME IN FRONT OF THE BOARD AND ASK THE CONSENT TO DO THAT.
>> THANKS. BY THE WAY, VISITED YOUR PLACE, YOU WERE IN A GREAT SHOP.
>> YOU BET. IS THERE ANY MORE QUESTIONS?
>> I WOULD JUST ASK, MARTY, ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE IN TERMS OF THE TRANSFERRING OF ASSETS TO MUNICIPALITIES OR NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS.
>> THE BOARD CAN APPROVE THOSE TYPES OF TRANSFERS.
THEY HAVE TO BE AT FULL CASH VALUE, AND THEY REQUIRE UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO THE BOARD.
IN RELATION TO THE VEHICLE THAT GILL JUST DISCUSSED, I THINK YOU CAN BE A LITTLE BIT FLEXIBLE IN TERMS OF HOW YOU DETERMINE FULL CASH VALUE.
YOU COULD LOOK AT THE AVERAGE PRICE THAT THE VEHICLES ARE SELLING FOR AT AUCTION, AND YOU COULD USE THAT IN ORDER TO JUSTIFY WHAT MAY BE A REDUCED FULL CASH VALUE AND PURCHASE PRICE FOR THAT VEHICLE.
BUT THOSE ARE THE CRITERIA THAT HAVE TO BE MET.
>> BECAUSE IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, THE PEOPLE OF ASH FORK HAVE ALREADY BOUGHT THAT VEHICLE.
I THINK THERE COULD BE LEEWAY IN THERE.
>> THAT ALLOWS YOU TO BYPASS THE AUCTION REQUIREMENT?
>> OTHERWISE, ALL OF THE PROPERTY HAS TO BE AUCTIONED OFF.
IF IT'S A LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL UNIT, YOU CAN BYPASS THE AUCTION, YOU CAN SELL IT DIRECTLY.
YOU JUST HAVE TO MAKE A DETERMINATION OF THE VALUE, AND THEN GET UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO THE BOARD.
>> HEY, GILL AND, REMIND ME, I BELIEVE THAT'S HOW WE ESTABLISHED FOR THE THE VALUE OF THAT.
>> LOOKING AT NOT THE KELLEY BLUE BOOK VALUE OR SOME OTHER STANDARD, BUT THE AVERAGE PRICE YOU WERE GETTING INTO OXYGEN FOR THAT ONE, CORRECT?
>> CORRECT, MAURY. THE AVERAGE PRICE WAS $5,500.
AGAIN, THIS IS A JAIL DETENTION BAN. IT'S FITTED.
IT HAS THE DETENTION INSERT WITH THE SEATS AND EVERYTHING TO TRANSPORT THE PRISONERS.
WHEN WE STRIP ONE OF THOSE, IT'S VERY TIME CONSUMING.
IT COSTS ABOUT 2,000-$2,500 IN LABOR HOURS JUST TO GET IT BACK TO A VAN, TO GET IT AUCTIONED.
WE FIGURED THAT IN AS WELL TO MAKE THE PRICE $3,500 TO GRAHAM COUNTY.
THERE IS WAYS THAT WE CAN WORK THAT.
>> FINALLY, I WOULD ADD IN TERMS OF OUR MUNICIPALITIES HERE, GILL AND I WORKED WITH ONE OF THEM, IT HAVE BEEN OVER A YEAR AGO, PROBABLY, WHO'D EXPRESSED SOME INTEREST IN ACQUIRING VEHICLES THAT WERE AGING OUT OF OUR FLEET.
WE SPENT A NUMBER OF HOURS ON THAT INITIATIVE, AND THEY ENDED UP NOT FOLLOWING THROUGH, BUT WE DID HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH AT LEAST ONE ABOUT TRYING TO HELP OUT IN THAT WAY.
I WON'T READ THROUGH THESE FOR YOU UNLESS YOU WANT ME TO, BUT YOU SEE WHAT OUR GOALS ARE FINANCE.
IT'S REALLY CONTINUING A NUMBER OF THE ISSUES THAT I TALKED ABOUT EARLIER, PROCUREMENT, OUR ERP SYSTEM, TIME AND ATTENDANCE SOFTWARE.
WE HAD TO MAKE A CONVERSION THIS PAST YEAR DUE TO AGAIN, A VENDOR WHO IS NO LONGER SUPPORTING THE VERSION WE HAD, SO WE HAD TO UPGRADE, SO THAT WILL CONTINUE AND THEN UPDATE A FINANCE POLICIES.
YOU HEARD ME SAY IT'S OUR GOAL TO HAVE THE PROCUREMENT POLICY BACK BEFORE THE BOARD BY JULY 1 FOR YEAR CONSIDERATION.
LOOK AT ITS, CONTINUING TO ADDRESS STAFFING.
THAT IS ONE DEPARTMENT WHERE WE HAVE CONTINUED TO STRUGGLE WITH FILLING SOME POSITIONS, ALTHOUGH I THINK WE'VE SEEN SOME IMPROVEMENT IN THAT ONE OVER THE LAST 2-3 MONTHS STARTING TO GET SOME OF THOSE POSITIONS FILLED, SO WE KNOW WE'VE GOT TO CONTINUE TO INVEST IN TRAINING AND STAFF DEVELOPMENT, AND I WOULD ADD RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF STAFF, LIFE CYCLE MANAGEMENT, INCLUDING ALL HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE.
YOU HEARD ME COMMENT ABOUT THAT.
FINALLY, INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCY, MAKING SURE THAT WE'VE GOT GOOD REDUNDANT CONNECTIONS IN OUR NETWORK, AND LOOKING AT THE VERDI REGION AND NEEDING TO DO SOME WORK THERE.
I DID ADVANCE. HUMAN RESOURCES, THE GOALS ARE TO CONTINUE TO IMPLEMENT INCREASED RECRUITMENT STRATEGIES THROUGH OUR NEOGOV SYSTEM IN OTHER WAYS.
OUR NEOGOV PERFORM, YOU HEARD ME TALK ABOUT USING THAT FOR OUR PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM,
[02:40:02]
FOR OUR EVALUATIONS OF STAFF, POLICIES AND PROCEDURES THAT'S UNDERWAY, LOOKING AT THOSE, SEPARATING A POLICY FROM PROCEDURE AND GETTING THOSE UPDATED.FLEET MANAGEMENT, REPLACE OUTDATED WAR AUTOMOTIVE LIFT, AND I THINK YOU'LL SEE THAT COMING UP IN THE PRESENTATION, CONTINUING TO ANALYZE FLEET NUMBERS FOR MILEAGE EFFICIENCY AND COST AND CONTINUING TO REPLACE AN AGING FLEET AND WORK WITH DEPARTMENTS FOR SPECIALTY VEHICLES THAT MEET THEIR NEEDS.
AGAIN, GILLEN HAS STAFF DID A GREAT JOB IN MANAGING THAT NEED FOR THE ORGANIZATION.
OUR CHALLENGES, THE UPGRADE OF THE ERP SYSTEM IS GOING TO REQUIRE A SIGNIFICANT PERCENTAGE OF STAFF RESOURCES TO IMPLEMENT THAT.
THAT'S BEEN A CHALLENGE FOR US, HAVING THE TIME TO DEVOTE TO UPGRADING THIS SYSTEM WHILE STAFF ARE CONTINUING TO DO ALL OF THEIR REGULAR DUTIES AS A WELL.
THAT'LL BE A CHALLENGE FOR US.
IN CHANGES IN SOFTWARE, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A NEED FOR LOTS OF TRAINING ACROSS THE ORGANIZATION TO MAKE SURE ONCE WE UPGRADE THAT OUR STAFF KNOW HOW TO USE THOSE NEW SYSTEMS. IT, WE WERE AT CYBERSECURITY RESOURCE LIMITATIONS, AND THAT'S ONE THAT CONTINUES TO BE NOT ONLY FOR US, BUT FOR MOST GOVERNMENT ENTITIES TRYING TO STAY AHEAD OF ALL OF THE CYBERSECURITY CONCERNS.
FRANKLY, YOU COULD DEVOTE LOTS OF RESOURCES.
WE TRY TO FIND THE RIGHT BALANCE OF MAKING SURE WE'RE DOING THE BEST WE CAN WITH AN ADEQUATE AMOUNT OF RESOURCES TO ADDRESS THOSE CHALLENGES.
I'M CONTINUING TO ADDRESS OUR HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE SCHEDULES, OUTDATED INFRASTRUCTURE DESIGN, AND INCREASING DEMAND FOR TECHNOLOGY, SERVICES AND SUPPORTS.
YOU ALL KNOW, IT SEEMS LIKE EVERYTHING WE DO IS MORE AND MORE RELIANT ON TECHNOLOGY EVERY DAY, SO IT'S AN INCREASING DEMAND FOR THE ORGANIZATION. SURE?
>> YES. YOU MENTIONED THE ERP?
>> I SEEM TO REMEMBER THAT CONVERSATION FOR A LONG TIME AND SO WE'RE HAVING IT AGAIN.
WHERE ARE WE WITH THIS? ARE WE DOING IT? WHERE ARE WE AT? IS IT DONE?
>> NO, WE'RE UNDERWAY, AND I THINK I HAD A SLIDE BACK HERE THAT TALKED ABOUT THE TIME FRAME.
SCHEDULED FOR SEPTEMBER 19TH OF THIS YEAR.
YOU'LL SEE BEGINNING PROCESS REVIEW AND IMPLEMENTATION OF NEW MODULES NEXT MONTH.
WE'RE GETTING CLOSE. BUT YOU ARE RIGHT, THIS HAS BEEN A CONVERSATION FOR MANY YEARS NOW.
>> WE'VE HAD SOME STOPS AND STARTS.
>> YEAH. I ALMOST CAN THINK THAT AND I COULD BE WRONG, BUT I FEEL LIKE IT EVEN GOES BACK TO THE VERY FIRST BOARD I WAS WITH.
>> THANK YOU. WHERE WAS I THERE? CHALLENGES FOR HUMAN RESOURCES, AND EVER INCREASING WORKLOAD AS OUR WORKFORCE CONTINUES TO GROW, AND THERE'S NEW LAWS AND POLICIES TO STAY ON TOP OF.
WE'VE HAD CONTINUED DIFFICULTIES RECRUITING AND RETAINING.
AGAIN, MOST RECENTLY, WE'RE SEEING SOME IMPROVEMENTS THERE, BUT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO MONITOR THAT AND FIND OUT WHAT ARE THE BEST WAYS TO RECRUIT NEW STAFF MEMBERS TO THE ORGANIZATION.
FINALLY, FOR HUMAN RESOURCES, ALSO, THE ERP AND UPGRADE OF OUR FINANCIAL SYSTEM THIS YEAR.
AGAIN, JUST MAKING SURE THAT THEY CAN DO WHAT'S NEEDED TO GET THAT IMPLEMENTED WHILE DOING THEIR REGULAR DUTIES WILL BE A CHALLENGE FOR THEM.
OUR OPPORTUNITIES, WE'VE GOT A PROCUREMENT COORDINATOR POSITION RECOMMENDED TO THE BUDGET TO CONTINUE TO BUILD OUR STRONG CENTRALIZED PROCUREMENT DIVISION.
SOFTWARE WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HELP US MANAGE CENTRALIZED PROCUREMENT THIS COMING YEAR, AND AGAIN, THE UPGRADE TO THE ERP.
ITS AGAIN, CYBERSECURITY, LIFE CYCLE MANAGEMENT, INFRASTRUCTURE, IMPROVEMENTS AND STAFF TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT, AND THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES THERE.
MADAM CHAIR, WHEN YOU DO A PROCUREMENT AND YOU'RE LOOKING TO FILL A POSITION.
THERE'S GOT TO BE A LOT OF OTHER POSITIONS IN THE COUNTY DOING THAT.
ARE WE RECRUITING FROM WITHIN, ARE WE TRYING TO GO TO THE OUTSIDE? WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE PEOPLE THAT ARE DOING IT AROUND THE COUNTY RIGHT NOW?
>> WENDY'S BACK. COME UP AND IF YOU'D LIKE TO, WENDY AND ADD TO THIS.
BUT YES, THOSE POSITIONS ARE; WENDY, HELP ME.
I KNOW WE HAVE POSITIONS THAT WE POST INTERNALLY BEFORE THEY GO EXTERNALLY, CORRECT?
>> CORRECT. WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO EITHER RECRUIT ONLY INTERNALLY, SUCH THAT ONLY COUNTY EMPLOYEES CAN APPLY, AND SO A DEPARTMENT COULD START THAT WAY, AND IF THEY DIDN'T GET INTERNAL CANDIDATES, THEY COULD THEN POST EXTERNALLY, OR THEY CAN START OUT POSTING EXTERNALLY.
HOWEVER, COUNTY EMPLOYEES ARE WELCOME TO APPLY FOR THAT AS WELL.
[02:45:02]
>> WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE DO THIS AND WE SWITCH OVER TO CENTRALIZED? WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE PEOPLE DOING IT IN THE DECENTRALIZED SYSTEM?
>> NOTHING REALLY CHANGES, IF I UNDERSTAND YOUR QUESTION.
THEIR SUPERVISOR, INDIVIDUAL DEPARTMENTS WILL STILL THEY'LL BE THE ONES AWARE OF WHAT THEIR OPENINGS ARE, AND THEN THEY WILL WORK WITH WENDY AND HER SHOP TO GET THOSE POSTED AND ASK FOR ASSISTANCE AND HELPING RECRUIT.
>> I DON'T THINK THAT THERE ARE FULL TIME PROCUREMENT PEOPLE IN DEPARTMENTS.
>> SUCH THAT THEY WOULD LOSE THEIR JOBS BECAUSE WE CENTRALIZED IT.
I THINK THERE ARE STAFF MEMBERS WITHIN DEPARTMENTS WHO PART OF THEIR FUNCTION IS PROCUREMENT.
BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT WE WOULD BE LOOKING AT ONCE WE CENTRALIZE IT, THAT IT WOULD ELIMINATE POSITIONS IN OTHER DEPARTMENTS.
THEY SIMPLY WOULD THEN BE WORKING IN TANDEM WITH THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT ON THOSE PROCUREMENTS.
>> I'M SORRY, I MISUNDERSTOOD.
I THOUGHT YOU TALKED ABOUT RECRUITMENT.
BUT YEAH ON PROCUREMENT, I WOULD ADD TO WHAT WENDY JUST SAID.
WE'VE GOT ONE EXAMPLE ALREADY, I BELIEVE, WHERE WE MOVED SOMEONE FROM A DEPARTMENT WHO WAS DOING PROCUREMENT INTO THE CENTRALIZED PROCUREMENT DEPARTMENT UNDER CONNIE'S LEADERSHIP IN FINANCE.
>> GREAT. I WILL SAY, FEEL FREE TO STAY UNTIL I GO THROUGH YOUR SLIDE.
[LAUGHTER] CONTINUE TO STREAMLINE OUR PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT PROCESS.
SUPERVISOR KUGANIATUYU EARLIER COMMENT.
WE'VE MADE CONSIDERABLE PROGRESS IN MY OPINION IN THE LAST FEW YEARS IN MEASURABLE EXPECTATIONS AROUND RECRUITMENT AND FOR OUR PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM BOTH.
WE STILL NEED TO SPEND SOME EFFORT IN IMPROVING THAT SYSTEM.
THEN FINALLY, SOMEONE MENTIONED SUCCESSION PLANNING EARLIER THIS MORNING IN SOME CONTACTS.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO START LOOKING AT AS A COUNTY.
I WOULD SAY BASED ON MY EXPERIENCE, WE'RE NOT ANOMALY.
MOST GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS IN MY OPINION HAVEN'T DONE A GOOD JOB OF THINKING ABOUT SUCCESSION PLANNING, AND WE'VE GOT TO START DEDICATING MORE RESOURCE AND TIME TO THAT EFFORT.
FLEET MANAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES THERE TO CONTINUE TO REFINE OUR VEHICLE INVENTORY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. THEN ZACH.
>> SIMILAR TO THE OTHER CHARTS RIGHT HERE, WE HAVE FINANCE GOING FIRST.
FOR THE GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES, 1.4 MILLION DOLLAR ON THE GENERAL FUND SIDE.
THE RECOMMENDED INCREASE WOULD BE ABOUT 506,000.
AS COUNTY MANAGER THOMPSON PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED, PART OF THAT POSITION ASS, BUT A GOOD PORTION OF IT ABOUT 300,000 IS THE ERP.
THERE'S SOME ERP INCREASES TO THE BUDGET COMING THIS NEXT YEAR.
AND SO THE TOTAL POSITION COMPLEMENT WOULD BE INCREASING BY 1.4 POSITIONS IN THE GENERAL FUND SIDE.
ON THE OTHER SIDE, FINANCE, SIMILAR TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HAS DIFFERENT COSTS IN THERE THAT ARE SOMEWHAT ORGANIZATIONAL COSTS.
I'D SAY THE MAJORITY OF THOSE ASPECTS ARE DEALING WITH OTHER BUDGET OTHER ORGANIZATIONAL BUDGETARY ITEMS THAT JUST GET NESTLED THERE.
IT'S ALMOST LIKE A NON DEPARTMENTAL.
THESE AREN'T DIRECT SERVICES THAT ARE PROVIDED BY THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT, BUT THEY'RE KEPT THERE FOR MONITORING.
SOME OF THE TRANSFERS, SOME OF THE MOVEMENTS BETWEEN SOME OF THE OTHER FUNDS ARE KEPT THERE FROM A ACCOUNTING PERSPECTIVE, BUT DON'T RELATE DIRECTLY TO THE SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE DEPARTMENT.
ITS IS A LITTLE CLEANER BECAUSE THEY ONLY HAVE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES.
THEY ONLY HAVE THE GENERAL FUND.
THIS WILL ALSO REPRESENT THE NEW CONSOLIDATION BETWEEN WHAT WAS PREVIOUSLY ITS AND NOW ITS WITH GIS TOGETHER.
THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET WOULD BE AN INCREASE OF 900 AND ALMOST $1 MILLIOP IN THERE OR A 9% CHANGE BECAUSE THEY HAVE A PRETTY LARGE BUDGET.
THEY HAD A NUMBER OF AS IN THERE THAT ARE DEALING WITH THE SYSTEM OVERALL, WHICH COUNTY MANAGER THOMPSON MENTIONED, FOR EXAMPLE, DEVICES OF SERVICE.
WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS THE COSTS FOR COMPUTERS ARE GOING DOWN, THE CAPITAL COST, WHERE THE LEASE RATES ARE GOING UP.
PLUS THEY HAVE IN THERE SOME OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE PIECES FOR THE DEVICES OF SERVICE.
LET ME BRING UP THE OTHER ONE BECAUSE IT ESCAPED ME, BUT I HAVE IT UP RIGHT HERE.
THAT WILL BE ACTUALLY THE MAIN ITEM IT'S ABOUT 284,000.
A NUMBER OF THE DEPARTMENT APPLICATIONS THAT WE UTILIZE ARE CENTRALIZED IN ITS,
[02:50:03]
SO THERE'S AN INCREASE OF ABOUT 284,000.THAT PLUS DEVICE IS A SERVICE IS A LITTLE OVER $500,000.
THEN LASTLY, THE OTHER BIG PIECES OF FIREWALL MODERNIZATION AS THEY CONTINUE TO KEEP THE COUNTY SUFFICIENTLY PROTECTED.
WE DO HAVE A LOT OF NEW EQUIPMENT THAT MANY OFFICES HAVE RECEIVED OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS.
BUT I DO KNOW THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES THAT HAVE GONE ON, ALSO FOR THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS.
THIS ISN'T JUST HAPPENING NOW.
A LOT OF TIMES, IT SEEMS LIKE THEY'RE JUST NOT FUNCTIONING IN THE WAY THEY SHOULD CONSIDERING THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE HAVE ALREADY PUT INTO THAT.
I REALIZE THE ASKS THAT WE HAVE AND EVERYTHING.
I JUST WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THAT WE WOULD MAKE SURE THAT THE CURRENT MONITORS, SYSTEMS, WHATEVER IT IS, THAT THEY ARE ALSO WORKING UP TO PAR.
I REALIZE WE'RE IN A TRANSITION INTO WITH THE DEPARTMENT AND ALL OF THAT STUFF.
BUT I DO FEEL THAT THERE ARE MANY DEPARTMENTS THAT HAVE A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON, AND WE DEFINITELY MAKE THE EQUIPMENT WE HAVE NOW ACROSS THE COUNTY, WORK PROPERLY, PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU, JER, AND I WOULD ADD TO THAT.
THE OTHER ISSUE THAT WE HAVE IDENTIFIED AS AN EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM, AND WORKING WITH OUR DEPUTY AND ASSISTANT DIRECTORS AND PART OF THE CULTURE WORK THIS YEAR TOO.
WE'RE NOT DOING A GOOD JOB IN TRAINING EXISTING STAFF ON HOW TO USE ALL THE SYSTEMS THAT WE HAVE.
OFTENTIMES I'LL BE THE EXAMPLE, LOT OF TIMES IT'S USER ERROR, ME NOT KNOWING HOW TO DO IT.
WE'RE PUTTING SYSTEMS IN, AND WE'RE NOT ALWAYS TRAINING OUR STAFF.
THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO AND DEVOTE SOME RESOURCES TO AS WELL.
>> I ABSOLUTELY CAN AGREE TO THAT.
THE ONLY PROBLEM THAT I USUALLY SEE THAT HAPPENS, NOT ONLY IF IT'S ME, BUT EVEN IF IT'S SOMEWHERE ELSE, IF I'M AT A DEPARTMENT MEETING, AND THEY'RE TRYING TO BRING IN THE ONLINE PARTICIPANTS AND STUFF.
HERE WE ARE WHERE THE MEETING IS STARTING, AND NOW THIS SYSTEM IS NOT FUNCTIONING RIGHT.
A LOT OF TIMES WE DON'T AT THAT MOMENT, JUST DON'T HAVE THE AVAILABILITY TO HAVE SOMEONE TO HELP US RIGHT AWAY.
THESE ARE REAL ISSUES THAT HAPPEN ALL DAY LONG AND EVERYWHERE.
I'M JUST ACKNOWLEDGING THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF NEW EQUIPMENT AND THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF ISSUES THAT HAPPEN THROUGHOUT THE DAY.
WITH THAT IN FRONT OF US, WHAT DO WE ALL DO TO HELP AND MAKE SURE IT WORKS? THAT'S IT.
>> NO PROBLEM. NEXT, THE HR BUDGET OVERVIEW.
THE FY 25 ADOPTED BUDGET IS JUST ABOUT 1.7 MILLION.
THEIR RECOMMENDED BUDGET IS ACTUALLY A SLIGHT DECREASE.
SERVICE ITEM THAT WAS IN THE BUDGET WE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE HAD ONE TIME ITEMS GET BACKED OUT THE NEXT YEAR.
BECAUSE OF THAT, THOUGH THEY HAD INCREASE FOR COLA, AS WELL AS MERIT WITHOUT ANY OTHER SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THEIR BUDGET, THEY HAD A RECLASSIFICATION OF A STAFF MEMBER OF AROUND $23,000.
THEIR BUDGET ACTUALLY WENT DOWN YEAR OVER YEAR, AND THEIR POSITION COMPLEMENT WOULD BE EXACTLY THE SAME, 13 POSITIONS ACROSS THE BOARD FOR HR.
THEN LASTLY, [INAUDIBLE] THE GROUP WOULD BE FLEET MANAGEMENT BUDGET OVERVIEW.
THEIR ADOPTED BUDGET WAS 6.7 MILLION.
THEIR RECOMMENDED BUDGET IS 7.19.
THE MAJOR REASON FOR THE INCREASE RIGHT NOW IS, SO AS COUNTY MANAGER THOMPSON MENTIONED, LIGHT FLEET IS CENTRALIZED INTO THE BUDGET OF FLEET MANAGEMENT.
THIS WOULD BE THE ADDITIONAL VEHICLES THAT ARE RECOMMENDED IN THE BUDGET FROM OTHER DEPARTMENTS FOR OTHER POSITIONS.
THEY WOULD COME INTO FLEET MANAGEMENT.
THERE'S A SLIGHT DECREASE ON THEIR FUEL ITEMS THIS NEXT YEAR, GIVEN THE FUEL PRICE HAS STAYED RELATIVELY CONSTANT, MUCH BETTER THAN TWO YEARS AGO WHEN THAT FUEL BUDGET WAS SET.
ALSO, THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING DILIGENTLY TO LOOK AT THE REPLACEMENT FLEET FOR THIS NEXT YEAR.
WE HAVE THE SAME BUDGET AS THIS PREVIOUS YEAR WITHOUT THE CONTINGENCY, 2.8 MILLION FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF OUR EXISTING FLEET, AND THEN THIS WOULD BE ONCE AGAIN, THE NEW VEHICLES.
STAFF COMPLIMENTS, EXACTLY THE SAME 16.4 STAFF.
THEN THERE'S ALSO $70,000 FOR A LIFT SYSTEM FOR THEIR WORK BASE.
[02:55:05]
>> ON THESE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT YOU HAVE, OF COURSE, THESE ARE YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS, BUT THEIR ASKS AREN'T ACTUALLY UP HERE, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> CORRECT. UP HERE, NO, WE'RE ONLY LOOKING BASED ON THE SIZE OF IT.
TWO TIME PERIODS ADOPTED WAS RECOMMENDED AND THE DIFFERENTIAL THERE.
BUT IN EACH OF THE SECTIONS OF THE BOOK, IT WILL SHOW ANY OF THE INCREASES THAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR AND THEIR TOTAL BUDGET ASK, SO YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SEE THE TOTAL DOLLARS THAT WAS ASKED FOR, AS WELL AS IF IT WAS THROUGH A BUDGET ENHANCEMENT, YOU'LL GET TO SEE WHAT WAS IN THERE.
IT WILL SAY, I BELIEVE IT'S LET ME SAY HAVE IT RIGHT HERE.
BUDGET ENHANCEMENT IS RECOMMENDED FOR FUNDING IN GREEN, AND THEN BELOW IT, IF THEY HAVE ANY THAT WERE NOT RECOMMENDED IN RED.
YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SEE THE DIFFERENTIAL BETWEEN THE TWO.
THEN AFTERWARDS, ANYTHING THAT IS RECOMMENDED FOR FUNDING THAT'S A BUDGET ENHANCEMENT, YOU'LL SEE THE SHEET THAT THEY SUBMITTED AS WELL, SO YOU CAN UNDERSTAND A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR.
>> WHAT WERE THE BUDGET ENHANCEMENTS OR THE BUDGET REQUESTS MADE THAT WERE INCLUDED IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET.
FOR FINANCE, THAT WAS THE CONTINUED ENHANCEMENT OF OUR ERP SYSTEM.
YOU SEE THE COST THERE, THE PROCUREMENT COORDINATOR THAT I MENTIONED, AND THE OPEN GOV PROCUREMENT SOFTWARE, AGAIN, TO MOVE US TOWARD CENTRALIZED PROCUREMENT.
>> FOR ITS, WE HAD THE APPLICATION INCREASES THAT ZACH JUST MENTIONED, DEVICES A SOFTWARE INCREASE, FIREWALL MODERNIZATION AND OUR PHASE 2 HIGH AVAILABILITY FOR 58, 5.
HUMAN RESOURCES, RECLASSIFICATION OF ONE OF OUR BUDGETED HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER POSITIONS INTO AN ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF HR AND RISK MANAGEMENT POSITION.
I THINK HR AND WENDY CAN SPEAK TO THIS.
IF I GET IT WRONG WAS MAYBE ONE OF THE ONLY, IF NOT THE ONLY DEPARTMENT WARE, BUT WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT LEVEL OF MANAGEMENT IN THE DEPARTMENT.
THEN FLEET MANAGEMENT, REPLACEMENT OF THAT GROUND LIFT.
I THINK SOME OF YOU HAVE BEEN OUT TO THE FLEET BUILDING HERE AND SEN RECENTLY.
I THOUGHT THE ANTIQUATED LIFT THOUGH WE'VE GOT OUT THERE THAT IS LITERALLY NO LONGER SAFE, SO RECOMMENDING REPLACEMENT OF THAT.
>> YEAH, I HAVE BEEN OUT TO THE DEPARTMENT AND WALKED AROUND.
I KNOW GILL IS HERE, BUT I DO BELIEVE THIS LIFT HAS BEEN A ISSUE FOR A WHILE.
VICE CHAIR BOARD OF SUPERVISORS [INAUDIBLE], DIRECTOR OF FLEET MANAGEMENT.
THESE LIFTS ARE IN GROUND LIFTS.
THE COUNTY BOTTOM USED AND INSTALLED THEM IN 2005.
THESE LIFTS GO UP AND DOWN HUNDREDS OF TIMES A DAY WITH VEHICLES ON THEM.
IN GROUND LIFTS ARE NO LONGER USED DUE TO THE HYDRAULICS AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARD.
MY REQUEST IS TO USE THE MORE EFFICIENT ABOVE GROUND LIFTS.
IT'LL BE EVERY YEAR WE REQUIRE AN ANNUAL SAFETY INSPECTION.
THIS PAST YEAR, I WAS ADVISED BY THE LIFT INSPECTOR THAT THEY'RE ON THEIR LAST LEG, AND THEY NO LONGER MAKE PARTS FOR.
>> NO, MA'AM. IT'S A TOTAL OF FIVE LIFTS.
>> YES, MA'AM. THE $70,000 INCLUDES THE PURCHASE OF THE LIFTS, WE'RE GETTING A PRETTY GOOD DEAL THROUGH ORILEY [INAUDIBLE], OFF FOR WILLOW CREEK.
THEY PUT US IN CONTACT WITH THE CONTRACTOR FOR INSTALLATION IN OUR FIRST ANNUAL INSPECTION.
THAT IS THE WHOLE DOLLAR AMOUNT FOR PURCHASE AND INSTALLATION.
>> WELL, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO BE HAVING A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR EMPLOYEES.
THERE ARE DEPARTMENTS IN THIS COUNTY THAT SAFETY HAS GOT TO BE THE FIRST.
OUR JOB IS TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE HAVE EVERYTHING THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO DO THEIR WORK AND NOT HAVE ANY ACCIDENTS.
I APPRECIATE YOU DOING THIS, AND I REALLY WANT YOU TO ALWAYS KEEP US IN THE FOREFRONT ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN THAT GARAGE BECAUSE THAT IS A PLACE THAT REQUIRES MUCH SAFETY.
>> I APPRECIATE YOU TAKING CARE OF THIS.
>> MADAM CHAIR, THESE LIFTS HAVE GOTTEN INCREDIBLY INEXPENSIVE.
THEN THEY'RE VERY NICE TO HAVE ABOVE GROUND, AND THESE ARE ELECTRIC WITH AIR?
[03:00:01]
>> CORRECT, SIR. [OVERLAPPING] THE MOST MODERN ONES, YES.
LIFT BY THEMSELVES ARE $57,000, AND WE'LL BE CHARGED BASICALLY 5,000 FOR THE INSTALLATION OF ALL FIVE LIFTS.
>> EVERYTHING IN YOUR DEPARTMENT, THE CARS, EVERYTHING, IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS RUNNING CORRECTLY, AND I KNOW THE SHERIFFS THEY'RE FOREVER HAVING THEIR, THEY HAVE THEIR CHASE, AND THEN THE CARS GET DAMAGED, AND THEY'RE LIKE, ABOUT 100,000 EASY NOW TO EITHER REPLACE OR WHATEVER THAT LOOKS LIKE. THANK YOU.
>> QUESTIONS. I KNOW WE WENT THROUGH THAT VERY QUICKLY.
QUESTIONS ON ANY OF THAT FOR NOW.
I GO TO TURN THAT BACK OVER TO YOU, AND WE WILL MOVE TO DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. CHAIR MALLORY AND VICE CHAIR COMPTON AND BOARD MEMBERS.
JEREMY DIE, YOU'RE DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.
I'M DOING WELL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES FY 26 RECOMMENDED BUDGET.
JUST TO GO INTO A BIT OF OUR MAJOR SERVICES.
WE WEAR A LOT OF HATS AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.
WE HAVE OUR BUILDING SAFETY, OUR PERMITTING, OUR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENTAL, ADDRESSING, AND LAND USE.
WE COVER A LOT OF DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES HERE, SO YOU CAN SEE WE PROCESS AN ISSUE OVER 5,000 PERMITS PER YEAR.
WE REVIEW CONSTRUCTION AND WASTEWATER PLANS.
OUR WASTEWATER SEPTIC SYSTEMS, WHICH IS A SERVICE THAT IS DELEGATED TO US THROUGH ADEQ.
OUR BUILDING AN ENVIRONMENTAL FIELD CONSTRUCTION AND INSPECTIONS.
JUST AS A LITTLE BIT OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES TRIVIA FOR OUR CONSTRUCTION INSPECTIONS, WE COVER, OF COURSE THE COUNTY IS THE SIZE OF NEW JERSEY, BUT WE COVER OVER 280,000 MILES OF GROUND JUST TO PERFORM THOSE CONSTRUCTION INSPECTIONS, NOT EVEN INCLUDING OUR ENVIRONMENTAL FIELD INSPECTIONS.
THERE'S QUITE A BIT OF GROUND THAT WE COVER.
IF YOU TAKE THAT IN PERSPECTIVE AND START FROM HERE AND DRIVE OUT WELL PAST THE MOON.
YOU ACTUALLY GET A SENSE OF HOW MUCH GROUND WE ACTUALLY COVER.
WE'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT IN JUST A FEW MINUTES AS WELL.
OUR LAND USE, OUR CODE COMPLIANCE INVESTIGATIONS, AND ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES, WE RECEIVE OVER 2000 COMPLAINTS PER YEAR THAT WE ADDRESS EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM.
WE HAVE SIX STAFF MEMBERS FOR THE LAND USE DIVISION.
IF DO THE MATH THERE, WE ACTUALLY EACH ONE OF THEM COVERS 333 CASES PER YEAR.
THERE'S JUST A PRETTY SUBSTANTIAL WORKLOAD HAPPENING IN LAND USE, AND SO WE'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT IN JUST A FEW MINUTES AS WELL.
AGAIN, JUST OTHER SERVICES THAT WE PROCESS ARE PLANNING CASES, PUBLIC HEARINGS, FOR THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION, THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS, THE BUILDING SAFETY ADVISORY AND APPEALS BOARD, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS, AND ALSO ADDRESSING ASSIGNMENTS AS WELL.
JUST SOME OF OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR FY 2025 HERE.
OUR AVERAGE REVIEW TIMES FOR ALL PERMIT TYPES IS AVERAGING ABOUT THREE WEEKS RIGHT NOW.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, JUST TO TRY TO STREAMLINE AND OUR PROCESSES AND LOOK FOR THOSE EFFICIENCIES TO REALLY BRING DOWN OUR PERMIT REVIEW TIMES.
ONE OF THE THINGS I'M PARTICULARLY PROUD OF IS ALL OF OUR PERMIT TYPES ARE AT ABOUT THREE WEEKS RIGHT NOW.
OUR ENVIRONMENTAL WASTEWATER PERMITS A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, WE'RE ACTUALLY HAD ABOUT A SIX MONTH BACKLOG, AND MOST OF THOSE ARE BEING DONE IN THE SAME WEEK AT THIS POINT, SO I'M REALLY, REALLY PROUD OF THAT.
THESE PERMIT REVIEW TIMES ARE REALLY OUR KEY PERFORMANCE MEASURE IN DEVELOPMENT SERVICES BECAUSE THIS IS HOW WE PROCESS THOSE PERMITS AND KEEP THEM MOVING FORWARD.
WE CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR THOSE EFFICIENCIES.
[03:05:01]
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE IMPLEMENTED HERE ABOUT THIS TIME LAST YEAR, WE IMPLEMENTED A REMOTE VIDEO INSPECTION PROGRAM, AND PREVIOUSLY, THE BOARD HAD APPROVED ABOUT $40,000 FOR US TO PURCHASE SOME SOFTWARE TO ALLOW US TO DO THIS VIDEO INSPECTION PROGRAM.TO DATE, THAT'S ACTUALLY REALLY PAID OFF.
I CAN SHARE WITH YOU, THE NUMBER OF INSPECTIONS THAT WE'VE CONDUCTED HAVE SAVED 4,375 MILES TRAVELED.
AGAIN, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT OUR TRIP TO THE MOON AND BACK THAT REMOTE VIDEO INSPECTION HAS REALLY STARTED TO SHOW SOME EFFICIENCY THERE.
THAT SAVED US 107 HOURS OF TRAVEL TIME OF WINDSHIELD TIME, REALLY.
WE CONTINUED THIS PROGRAM IS REALLY PICKING UP, AND CONTRACTORS ARE REALLY STARTING TO SEE THOSE EFFICIENCIES AS WELL.
IT'S CONVENIENT FOR IT'S CONVENIENT FOR THE PROPERTY OWNERS, AND IT SAVES US TIME AND TRAVEL.
WE ALSO EXPANDED OUR HOME OF MY OWN PROGRAM TO SIX FLOOR PLANS, AND THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT'S BEEN PRETTY SUCCESSFUL AS WELL.
IT'S RECEIVED A LOT OF POSITIVE ATTENTION FROM THE PUBLIC, AND WE'RE PROUD OF IT OURSELVES.
WE OFFER THESE FLOOR PLANS AT NO CHARGE TO RESIDENTS OF YAVAPAI COUNTY AND SEVERAL OTHER JURISDICTIONS NOW THAT HAVE PARTNERED WITH US.
WE'VE MADE THOSE AVAILABLE TO RESIDENTS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES AS WELL.
TO DATE, AT LEAST IN YAVAPAI COUNTY, WE'VE ISSUED 32 CERTIFICATES OF OCCUPANCY AS WELL.
THIRTY TWO OF THESE HOMES ARE COMPLETE, AND 32 FAMILIES ARE LIVING IN THEM RIGHT NOW, SO WE'RE VERY, VERY PROUD OF THAT.
>> JEREMY, I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT AT THE HOME AND GARDEN SHOW OVER THE PAST WEEKEND.
MANY OF THE BOOSTS THAT I STOPPED DOWN WAS TALKING WITH PEOPLE HERE AND THERE ACTUALLY REALLY PRAISED THIS PROGRAM THAT THE COUNTY DOES.
CONSIDERING THE HOUSING SITUATION.
THIS HAS BEEN A HELP, SO JUST THOUGHT I'D PUT THAT OUT THERE.
I'M HAPPY TO HEAR THE POSITIVE FEEDBACK ON THAT.
REALLY, IT'S HOPEFULLY ONE TOOL THAT WE CAN PROVIDE IN THE TOOLBOX, TO ADDRESS THAT HOUSING SITUATION, AS WELL, WHICH IS NOT JUST IN YAVAPAI COUNTY, BUT ALL OVER THE STATE.
>> JEREMY? I'M SORRY. EXCUSE ME.
WHICH MUNICIPALITIES REMIND US NOW USING THOSE AS WELL.
>> COCHISE COUNTY, THE CITY OF WINSLOW, TOWN OF CLARKDALE, TOWN OF PRESCOTT VALLEY.
>> I WAS JUST THINKING OF THE MUNICIPALITIES WITHIN OUR COUNTY.
CLARKDALE AND PRESCOTT VALLEY WAS THE MOST RECENT.
>> YES. WE'VE ALSO REACHED OUT TO THE TOWN OF CAMP VERDE AND COTTONWOOD, AS WELL.
WE'RE WAITING TO HEAR BACK FROM THEM. YEAH.
>> I KNOW [INAUDIBLE] LOOKED AT IT AS WELL, AND THERE WERE SOME DIFFERENTIATION BETWEEN ACCEPTABLE CODES AND NOT.
WE'RE TRYING TO GET IN LINE BECAUSE WE DEFINITELY THAT AREA WANTS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS WONDERFUL PROGRAM TO THE CITIZENS.
IT'S JUST SUCH AN EXCELLENT PROGRAM. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> TO YOUR POINT, SUPERVISOR JENKINS, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP, TOO, ONE OF THE SLIDES YOU'RE GOING TO SEE HERE SHORTLY IS WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH THE ADOPTION OF THE 2024 BUILDING CODES, WHICH MEANS THAT ALL OF OUR HOME OF MY OWN FLOOR PLANS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BE BROUGHT UP TO THAT 2024 STANDARD AS WELL.
THAT MAY OPEN UP SOME OTHER OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN TOWN OF CAMP VERDE AND OTHER JURISDICTIONS WHO WANT TO PARTNER WITH US ON THAT AS WELL.
THANK YOU FOR THAT. ALSO, WE'VE COMPLETED OUR ADOPTION OF OUR UPDATED FEE SCHEDULE FOR ALL OF OUR FEE SCHEDULES TO HELP US TO RECOVER HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF COST RECOVERY.
THAT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS IN DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, WHERE THE COST OF OUR SERVICES IS TAKEN CARE OF BY THE FEES THAT WE CHARGE.
OVER TIME, WE'VE SEEN THAT THE SERVICES THAT WE CHARGE, OUR EXPENSES, OUR OPERATING BUDGET HAS INCREASED OVER TIME, BUT OUR FEES HAVEN'T KEPT UP WITH THAT.
MOST RECENTLY, YOU'LL PROBABLY RECALL OUR ENVIRONMENTAL FEE SCHEDULE CAME BEFORE THE BOARD FOR APPROVAL.
THAT HADN'T BEEN UPDATED SINCE 1999.
THAT WAS JUST RECENTLY UPDATED.
NOW ALL OF OUR FEES SCHEDULES ARE CURRENT.
WE'RE HOPING TO REALLY OFFSET THE COST OF THE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE.
WE'RE NOT A BUSINESS, WE'RE NOT AN ENTERPRISE FUND OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
WE CAN'T MAKE A PROFIT, BUT THE STATUTE ALLOWS US TO RECOVER THOSE COSTS THROUGH FEES.
WE REALLY WANT DEVELOPMENT TO PAY FOR ITSELF.
[03:10:02]
IF THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE FEES THAT WE CHARGE AND THE COST OF THE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE, THAT GAP IS MADE UP FOR IN THE GENERAL FUND.WE WANT TO MOVE AWAY FROM THAT AND MAKE SURE THAT DEVELOPMENT IS PAYING FOR ITSELF.
>> JUST LOOKING AHEAD HERE TO OUR DEPARTMENT GOALS, AND WE'RE WORKING FEVERISHLY ON ALL OF THESE RIGHT NOW.
AS YOU ALL KNOW, WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE ZONING ORDINANCE UPDATE, AND SO NOW WE'RE MOVING AHEAD WITH THAT AT LIGHTNING SPEED, AND, OF COURSE, YOU KNOW THAT THIS IS TO REPLACE OUR ANTIQUATED ZONING ORDINANCE FROM 1968.
THIS THE FIRST TIME THAT YAVAPAI COUNTY HAS ACTUALLY GONE THROUGH AND DONE REALLY A FULL REVISION OF OUR ZONING ORDINANCE.
THE ZONING ORDINANCE, AS IT STANDS NOW IS 57-YEARS-OLD.
WE ANTICIPATE THIS BEING A THREE YEAR PROCESS.
YOU'RE GOING TO BE RECEIVING REGULAR UPDATES AT BOARD MEETINGS.
OF COURSE, WE'RE GOING TO BE REACHING OUT TO YOU FOR TO BE ABLE TO ATTEND YOUR TOWN HALL MEETINGS AND COMMUNITY MEETINGS TO BE ABLE TO SHARE THIS INFORMATION WITH THE PUBLIC AS WELL.
BUT REALLY, AS A PRIORITY, WE IDENTIFIED THAT OUR DARK SKY LIGHTING ORDINANCE, WHICH IS PART OF OUR ZONING ORDINANCE WAS VERY ANTIQUATED AND VERY OUT OF DATE.
IN ORDER TO KEEP UP WITH NEWER TECHNOLOGIES, WE'VE BEEN MOVING FORWARD WITH UPDATING OUR DARK SKY ORDINANCE INTERNALLY.
A COUPLE OF OUR STAFF HAS BEEN WORKING ON THAT.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE TAKE PRIDE IN OUR DARK SKIES AT NIGHT AND YAVAPAI COUNTY, WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
JUST AS A BIT OF TRIVIA, ALSO, YAVAPAI COUNTY WAS ONE OF THE FIRST JURISDICTIONS TO ADOPT A DARK SKY LIGHTING ORDINANCE BACK IN 1985.
IT'S BEEN UPDATED SINCE THEN, BUT WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO KEEP IT UPDATED.
FOR INSTANCE, WE SEE A LOT OF THE LED STRING LIGHTS OUT RIGHT NOW.
WELL, OUR DARK SKY ORDINANCE NOW DOES NOT ADDRESS LED TECHNOLOGY.
SOMETHING THAT WE REALLY WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH.
YOU'LL BE SEEING THIS COMING TO YOU, COMING TO THE BOARD THIS SUMMER.
AGAIN, AS I MENTIONED, WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH THE ADOPTION OF OUR 2024 BUILDING CODES.
YAVAPAI COUNTY FOLLOWS A SIX YEAR CYCLE OF ADOPTING BUILDING CODE, SO WE'RE CURRENTLY UNDER THE 2018 CODE CYCLE RIGHT NOW.
ADOPTING CURRENT BUILDING CODES ASSISTS WITH OUR COUNTY'S ISO RATING, WHICH HAS A DIRECT IMPACT ON OUR PROPERTY INSURANCE PREMIUMS AS WELL.
IT BENEFITS THE COUNTY AND BENEFITS ITS RESIDENTS IN A LOT OF WAYS.
ALSO, THIS INSTANT PERMIT PROGRAM IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR THE LAST YEAR.
THIS IS ACTUALLY SOMETHING THAT IS A REALLY AT NO COST.
OUR SOFTWARE PROVIDER, OUR CITIZEN SERVICE SOFTWARE PROVIDES THIS OR IS WORKING ON THIS FOR US BEHIND THE SCENES, AND WE'RE REALLY BRINGING FORWARD [NOISE] HOPEFULLY ANOTHER PROCESS TO A STREAMLINE OUR PERMITTING WHERE SOME OF THE LESS COMPLICATED PERMITS THAT DON'T NECESSARILY REQUIRE A REVIEW BY BUILDING SAFETY OR A REVIEW BY PLANNING CAN BE ISSUED AUTOMATICALLY.
THE PROPERTY OWNER WANTS TO DO SOMETHING SIMPLE LIKE REPLACE A WATER LINE OR REPLACE THEIR HOT WATER HEATER OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, SOMETHING THAT WOULD REQUIRE A PERMIT, IT DOESN'T REQUIRE ANY REAL REVIEW ON OUR PART, IT'S JUST REPLACING A LIKE FOR A TYPE OF TYPE OF THING.
WELL, THAT PERSON IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE, WE'RE ABOUT READY TO ROLL THIS OUT, BUT WE'LL BE ABLE TO SUBMIT THEIR APPLICATION ONLINE AND HAVE THAT PERMIT ISSUED AUTOMATICALLY.
WE FIGURE IF 50 OF THOSE PERMITS OR 100 OF THOSE PERMITS ARE ISSUED EVERY YEAR, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT TAKES REALLY THE WORKLOAD OFF OF THE PERMITTING STAFF.
HOPEFULLY SOMETHING THAT WILL CONTINUE TO REALLY STREAMLINE OUR PROCESSES.
SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED FOR FY 26.
WE'RE REALLY SEEING THIS AND EVERYBODY SEEING THE PINCH ON IT JUST OF INCREASING POPULATION AND GROWTH IN COUNTY WIDE, AND THAT'S PUTTING A STRAIN ON OUR RESOURCES AND THE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT IN DEVELOPMENT, WE EXPECT THAT TO HAPPEN, AND WE WANT THAT TO HAPPEN, WE WANT IT TO HAPPEN IN A RESPONSIBLE WAY.
BUT, WE'VE ALL SEEN IN THE LAST FIVE, 10 YEARS, REALLY THE SECRET IS OUT ABOUT YAVAPAI COUNTY.
PEOPLE ARE COMING IN HERE IN RECORD NUMBERS HERE PEOPLE ARE COMING IN FROM ALL OVER THAT THEY'RE COMING FROM DIFFERENT JURISDICTIONS THAT HAVE DIFFERENT SETS OF RULES, AND SO WE'RE SEEING AN INCREASE IN OUR CODE COMPLIANCE CASES.
[03:15:01]
WE'RE SEEING MORE COMPLEX RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL PERMIT REVIEWS.WE'RE STARTING TO SEE AN INCREASE IN COMMERCIAL PERMITTING AS WELL IN THE COUNTY.
THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN A PRETTY LOW PERCENTAGE, BUT WE'RE STARTING TO SEE AN INCREASE IN THAT TOO.
SOME OF THESE ARE JUST THEY'RE BRINGING TO US NEWER TECHNOLOGIES, DIFFERENT CONSTRUCTION TYPES, DIFFERENT CONSTRUCTION PROCESSES.
AGAIN, IT'S A CHALLENGE FOR US THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH AT THIS POINT.
AGAIN, AN ONGOING HIGH LEVEL OF PERMITTING ACTIVITY.
OUR PERMITTING ACTIVITY, AS WE'VE SEEN HAS LEVELED OUT TO PRE PANDEMIC LEVELS.
WE REALLY SPIKED UP QUITE A BIT DURING THE PANDEMIC, BUT WE'RE STARTING TO SEE THAT EBBING DOWN A LITTLE BIT, BUT STILL REALLY MAINTAINING A HIGH LEVEL OF DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY.
AGAIN, OUTDATED ZONING ORDINANCE REQUIREMENTS ARE PRESENTING SOME UNIQUE CHALLENGES FOR US AS WELL.
OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED HERE.
WE'RE EXPLORING OPTIONS NOW TO REPLACE OUR CURRENT ONLINE PERMITTING SYSTEM, OUR CITIZEN SERVE PERMITTING SYSTEM.
WE'VE BEEN ON THIS FOR ABOUT SIX YEARS NOW.
ONE OF THE INTERESTING THINGS ABOUT CITIZEN SERVE IS WE WENT LIVE WITH THAT IN SEPTEMBER OF 2019, JUST ABOUT SIX MONTHS BEFORE THE PANDEMIC ACTUALLY HIT.
WHEN EVERYONE ELSE WAS STRUGGLING WITH TO MOVE TO AN ONLINE OR A VIRTUAL FORMAT, WE WERE ALREADY THERE AND READY TO ROLL WITH IT.
BUT NOW THE QUESTION COMES UP AFTER ABOUT SIX YEARS.
IS THIS REALLY THE BEST SOLUTION FOR US AT THIS POINT? THERE ARE OTHER TECHNOLOGIES, OTHER SOFTWARE APPLICATIONS THAT MIGHT SERVE US AND SERVE OUR RESIDENTS BETTER.
WE'RE EXPLORING THOSE OTHER PERMITTING SYSTEMS FOR THE FUTURE AND TRYING TO IDENTIFY REALLY WHAT THE BEST BEST SOLUTION IS.
AGAIN, WE'RE CONTINUING TO FIND WAYS TO STREAMLINE OUR PERMITTING PROCESSES THROUGH TECHNOLOGY.
WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR REMOTE VIDEO INSPECTION, WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR INSTANT PERMITTING PROCESSES.
THOSE TYPES OF THINGS ARE REALLY WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR IN TERMS OF OPPORTUNITIES.
INCREASING STAFF AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT THROUGH TARGETED CERTIFICATION AND TRAINING.
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK TODAY ABOUT RETENTION OF STAFF, AND TO BE QUITE HONEST IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS IN DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, WE'VE MANAGED TO REALLY RETAIN A STRONG STAFF, AND OUR STAFF IS TRAINED, THEY'RE CERTIFIED.
NOW WE'RE LOOKING FOR WAYS TO REALLY TAKE THAT TO THE NEXT LEVEL.
LAST YEAR, FOR INSTANCE, EVERYONE IN DEVELOPMENT SERVICES WENT THROUGH CUSTOMER SERVICE TRAINING.
WE'VE BUILT IN ONGOING TRAINING INTO EACH OF OUR PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS AS AN EXPECTATION OR OUR GOAL, AND WE'RE LOOKING AT CROSS TRAINING FOR LEADERSHIP POSITIONS AS WELL.
THE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES HERE IS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR INCREASED JUNK PROPERTY ABATEMENTS.
STATE STATUTE ALLOWS US TO GO ONTO PROPERTIES TO CLEAN UP JUNK ON PROPERTIES AND THEN ESSENTIALLY JUST BUILD A PROPERTY OWNER BACK FOR THAT CLEANUP.
WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF THOSE JUNK PROPERTIES JUST POP UP OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS AS WELL.
SOMETHING THAT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US, AND YOU'LL SEE THAT IN JUST A FEW MINUTES IN ONE OF OUR BUDGET REQUESTS AS WELL.
WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF THOSE PROPERTIES INCREASE LIKE IT'S REALLY BECOMING A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM.
OUR LAND USE FOLKS DEAL WITH SOME VERY SIMPLE WEED PROBLEMS, AND THEN THOSE ESCALATE UP TO VERY COMPLICATED, EGREGIOUS JUNK PROPERTIES.
>> MADAM CHAIR. SOMETIMES THE JUNK PROPERTIES ARE THE ENTIRE PROPERTIES THEMSELVES.
WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF THAT IN ASH FORK AND SELIGMAN UP THERE THAT THEY REALLY NEED TO COME DOWN.
THEY'RE ACTUALLY LEANING INTO SOMEONE ELSE'S HOUSE.
WE JUST RECENTLY HAD ONE IN CHINO, WHERE THIS MANUFACTURED HOME IS LITERALLY CRUMBLING, BREAKING IN HALF, FALLING TO THE GROUND.
IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE RECOMMENDING 250.
I WISH IT WAS A LITTLE HIGHER BUT IS THERE OTHER WAYS WE CAN DO THAT AS WELL LESS EXPENSIVE, COULD WE COOPERATE WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, GET A CAN OF GAS AND A MATCH.
IT WOULD MAKE THE CLEANUP MUCH LESS EXPENSIVE AND A LITTLE BIT EASIER.
WE TALKED TO THE PROPERTY OWNER WITH THIS, AND IT'S NOW TURNED INTO
[03:20:02]
A COMMUNITY ZOO WITH SKUNKS AND ALL KINDS OF WILDLIFE INHABITING THE HOME? IT'S A PUBLIC HEALTH HAZARD, I DON'T KNOW WHY WE CAN'T MOVE FORWARD.THIS GUY IS ACTUALLY WAITING FOR THE COUNTY TO TAKE OVER THE PROPERTY FROM LACK OF PAYING TAXES.
I DON'T KNOW HOW WE SPEED THAT UP.
IT SOUNDS LIKE STATUTORILY, WE CAN'T DO THAT.
BUT THIS IS BECOMING A PROBLEM, AND I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT, I THINK IT'S GROWING MORE AND MORE AS PEOPLE JUST ABANDON THESE PROPERTIES.
>> I APPRECIATE THOSE POINTS, SUPERVISOR KUKNYO.
REALLY TO SPEAK TO THAT, I'LL SHARE THAT SLIDE IN JUST A FEW MOMENTS HERE.
OVERALL, OUR LAND USE ENFORCEMENT PROCESS WORKS VERY WELL.
IN THE 90-95% OF THE CASES, THEY'RE ABLE TO COME INTO COMPLIANCE, AND PEOPLE COMPLY.
MOST PEOPLE WANT TO, MOST PEOPLE WANT TO FOLLOW THE RULES.
IN THOSE HANDFUL OF OTHER CASES WHERE PEOPLE EITHER DIG THEIR HEELS INTO THE GROUND AND DON'T WANT TO BUDGE, OR IN THE CASE WHERE PROPERTY OWNERS MAY BE DECEASED, AND THERE AREN'T ANY OPTIONS, OTHERWISE.
THOSE ARE REALLY THE CASES THAT WE'RE TARGETING FOR THOSE TYPES OF CLEANUPS.
>> WE HAVE A HOTEL IN THE CENTER OF ASH FORK THAT IS ONE OF THESE HAZARDS, AND IT JUST TAKES AWAY FROM ANY KIND OF IMPROVEMENTS TO THE TOWN.
>> EXACTLY. THOSE ARE THE TYPES OF THINGS WE REALLY WANT TO FOCUS ON WITH THAT ONE TIME EXPENDITURE THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR.
DID I SKIP A SLIDE THERE? NO. THERE IT IS RIGHT THERE.
ZACH HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT, THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET IS $7.6 MILLION.
WE ARE ASKING FOR TWO FULL TIME EMPLOYEE POSITIONS, WHICH WOULD TAKE US FROM 72.3-74.33.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'D LIKE TO BRING OUT AS WELL, AND THIS IS ALL ENCOMPASSED AS PART OF THE OVERALL REVENUE, BUT DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DOES GENERATE REVENUE BACK INTO THE GENERAL FUND, AND THAT WAS INCORPORATED INTO ONE OF THE SLIDES THAT THE ZACH AND MAURY WERE TALKING ABOUT EARLIER.
BUT WE'RE PROJECTING THE REST OF THIS YEAR WE'RE PROJECTING REVENUE OF $4,430,000.
AND $4,4330,369. IF I CAN, THAT'S A MOUTHFUL FOR ME THERE.
BUT AGAIN, OUR VACANCY LEVEL, AS I MENTIONED, OUR TURNOVER HAS BEEN VERY LOW AS WELL, SO WE APPRECIATE THAT.
LOOKING AHEAD AT OUR BUDGET REQUESTS HERE.
AGAIN, AS YOU BROUGHT OUT SUPERVISOR KUKNYO, WE ARE ASKING FOR $250,000 IN ONE TIME.
THIS IS A ONE TIME EXPENDITURE FOR PROPERTY ABATEMENT FUNDING.
WE HAVE IN OUR OPERATING BUDGET, NOW, THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS LAST YEAR FUNDED US $100,000 OF ONGOING FUNDS FOR PROPERTY CLEANUPS, AND WE WE DISCOVERED WE USED THAT UP PRETTY QUICKLY THIS YEAR.
IT WAS ABLE TO BE USED ON TWO PROPERTIES.
WE'RE ABOUT TO MOVE FORWARD ON A THIRD PROPERTY, AND THAT'S PRETTY MUCH GOING TO WIPE OUT THAT $100,000.
THIS AGAIN, WOULD ALLOW US ANOTHER SEVEN TO 10 PROPERTIES THAT WE COULD CLEAN UP.
AGAIN, THIS IS A ONE TIME REQUEST.
>> BUT, JEREMY, YOU'LL PROBABLY, IT MIGHT BE A ONE TIME REQUEST FOR THIS YEAR, BUT I'M SURE WE'LL BE BACK AT IT POSSIBLY ON THE NEXT BUDGET BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING YOU'RE CONTINUING DEALING WITH.
>> THE PROBLEM ITSELF IS NOT GOING TO GO AWAY.
THIS WILL ALLOW US TO GET REALLY THE MOST EGREGIOUS PROPERTIES AND CLEAN THOSE UP AND HOPEFULLY BE ABLE TO RECAPTURE SOME OF THOSE COSTS AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE THROUGH BILLING THOSE PROPERTY OWNERS BACK.
BUT THAT BEING SAID, YES, WE WOULD LIKELY, COME BACK CONTINUE TO ASK FOR THOSE FUNDS TO BE ABLE TO KEEP MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT.
>> JEREMY, IF I MAY, THAT EXCELLENT COMMENT.
LET'S TAKE A MOMENT TO TALK ABOUT THAT.
YES, THIS HAS BEEN CLASSIFIED AS A ONE TIME ASK BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE LIMITATIONS AROUND WHERE WE ARE WITH THE BUDGET, HELPS US KEEP A CLOSER EYE ON IT.
BUT YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT, YOU'RE LIKELY TO SEE THIS AGAIN AS ANOTHER ONE TIME EXPENSE NEXT YEAR, IF WE CAN'T, EVENTUALLY BUILD IT INTO ONGOING EXPENSES IN JEREMY'S BUDGET.
AGAIN, TO SUPERVISOR KUKNYO'S COMMENT ABOUT THE 250, THEY REQUESTED 500.
AGAIN, IT WAS JUST TOUGH CHOICES.
YEAH, THEY COULD ABSOLUTELY PROBABLY SPEND HALF-A-MILLION DOLLARS, BUT AGAIN, TRYING TO MAKE IT ALL FIT. THAT'S WHERE WE ENDED UP.
[03:25:03]
>> IS THERE ANY WAY TO GET THE PRIVATE SECTOR BECAUSE YOU'RE SAYING IT COSTS ABOUT $50,000 TO TEAR IT DOWN A HOUSE OR WHATEVER, THE PROPERTY.
WE GET THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO COME IN THERE.
YOU CLEAN UP THIS PROPERTY, YOU GET DEEDED THE PROPERTY, NO COST TO THE COUNTY.
THE PROPERTY GOES BACK ON THE TAX ROLLS, EVERYBODY WINS IN THIS CASE.
IS THERE THINGS LIKE THAT WE COULD EXPLORE?
>> I'M LOOKING AT OUR COUNCIL HERE.
>> YES, THANK YOU, CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
WE DON'T ACTUALLY OWN THE PROPERTY, AND SO THERE IS A PROPERTY OWNER WHO HAS INTERESTS IN THE PROPERTY AND ITS CURRENT CONDITION.
ANYTHING WE DO IN RELATION TO THE PROPERTY IS SUBJECT TO A COURT ORDER.
I'LL TELL YOU COURTS TEND TO BEND OVER BACKWARDS TO MAKE SURE THAT INDIVIDUAL PROPERTY OWNERS AND THEIR RIGHTS ARE ACCOMMODATED.
IT TENDS TO BE A VERY LENGTHY PROCESS.
WE DO ULTIMATELY GET A JUDGMENT THAT ALLOWS US TO PROCEED AGAINST THE PROPERTY, DO WHATEVER NEEDS TO BE DONE, INCLUDING REMOVAL OF STRUCTURES.
THEN ULTIMATELY WE GET A LIEN AGAINST THE PROPERTY FOR ANY COSTS THAT HAVE BEEN INCURRED.
LONG TERM, WE CAN FORECLOSE UPON THE PROPERTY AND RECOVER AT LEAST A PORTION, IF NOT ALL OF THAT LIEN AMOUNT.
ONCE IT'S REDUCED TO A JUDGMENT, IT ACCUMULATES A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF INTEREST.
LONG TERM, WE SHOULDN'T BE OUT AS A RESULT OF DOING THESE, BUT IT DOES TAKE A LONG TIME TO ACTUALLY GO THROUGH THE PROCESS AND THEN ULTIMATELY RECOVER ANYTHING FROM IT.
>> I THOUGHT IT WAS A GREAT IDEA.
>> YOU COULD ALMOST CREATE A POCKET INDUSTRY, AND WITH THE HOME, HE'S WAITING FOR THE COUNTY TO REPOSSESS THAT PROPERTY.
IS THERE SOMETHING WE COULD DESIGN THAT HE SIGNS AND SAYS, I FORFEIT THIS PROPERTY, AND THEN WE GET SOMEONE TO TAKE IT OVER, PUT A NEW MANUFACTURED HOME, AND NOW OUR INCOME TO THE COUNTY GOES UP.
THE PROPERTY'S FIXED, THE NEIGHBORS AREN'T COMPLAINING, AND THE ZOO IS GONE.
IT JUST SEEMS LIKE SOMETHING THAT WE COULD WORK WITH THE COURTS OR WE COULD FIGURE OUT SOME WAY TO MAKE THAT THING HAPPEN.
IF WE DID THAT, WOULD WE CREATE ANOTHER POCKET INDUSTRY THAT SOMEONE WOULD EMBRACE AND ACTUALLY DO THIS? I KNOW IT'S A PROCESS TO GET DONE, BUT IS THAT SOMETHING WE COULD WORK ON AND MAKE HAPPEN?
>> YOU COULD WORK WITH INDIVIDUAL PROPERTY OWNERS AND IF THEY'RE WILLING TO UNLOAD THE PROPERTY, THAT IS AN OPTION.
OBVIOUSLY, YOU'D HAVE TO DO YOUR DUE DILIGENCE AND MAKE SURE YOU'RE NOT INHERITING SOMETHING YOU DON'T WANT, AND THAT'S GOING TO CAUSE UNINTENDED OR UNANTICIPATED PROBLEMS IN THE FUTURE, BUT IT'S A POSSIBILITY.
>> MADAM, CHAIR, I JUST HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT SOME OF THE DATA IN OUR PACKET.
THERE'S A PERFORMANCE MEASURES TABLE, AND IT LOOKS LIKE TOTAL PERMIT REVENUE IS GOING DOWN FROM 2021 UNTIL IT LOOKS LIKE IT SAYS 2024/25 PROJECTED, THEN IT BUMPS UP TO SIX MILLION.
I JUST WONDERED IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND EXPLAINING THAT A LITTLE MORE.
>> THE PERFORMANCE IT'S BEEN A MOVING TARGET HERE IN TERMS OF WE'VE JUST NOW UPDATED OUR FEE SCHEDULES.
THERE WAS A WHERE ARE WE GOING TO LAND WITH THIS AT THE TIME WE WERE PUTTING THIS BUDGET DATA TOGETHER? AS WE'VE SHARPENED OUR PENCILS AND LOOKED AT IT A LITTLE BIT MORE CLOSELY, IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE GOING TO REACH MORE OF THAT $4.4 MILLION REVENUE PART.
>> JUST TO REITERATE, AS DIRECTOR DYE HAS MENTIONED, WE HAVE IN THE BUDGET ABOUT $912,000 OF NEW DOLLARS FROM THE ADOPTED BUDGET TO THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET, GIVEN IT'S ABOUT A 25% INCREASE ACROSS THE MAJOR FEES THAT HAVE BEEN CHANGED IN THERE.
THAT IS A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE, AND ONCE AGAIN, IT SHOWS SOME OF THE OPPORTUNITIES TO US AS A COUNTY WE DIVERSIFY AND MAKE SURE OUR FEES ARE UP TO DATE WITH THE TOTAL COST.
IT HELPS DEFRAY SOME OF THE OTHER COSTS.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.
JUST MOVING ON, I'VE GOT A COUPLE OF OTHER ASKS HERE, WHICH ARE ONGOING FULL-TIME POSITIONS HERE, A NEW FULL-TIME SENIOR PLANNER POSITION, WHICH IS REALLY THE FOCUS OF THIS POSITION, IS GOING TO BE MORE OF OUR LONG-RANGE PLANNING ACTIVITY.
IN THE COUNTY, AT LEAST ON THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES SIDE, WE REALLY HAVEN'T HAD A LONG-RANGE PLANNER IN THE PAST.
THIS POSITION WOULD REALLY FILL THAT ROLE.
STARTING WITH THE ZONING ORDINANCE UPDATE, THIS WOULD BE A POSITION THAT WOULD REALLY TAKE ON AND OVERSEE AND COORDINATE WITH OUR CONSULTANT FOR THE ZONING ORDINANCE UPDATE, WHICH IS A FULL-TIME JOB IN ITSELF RIGHT NOW.
[03:30:02]
BUT ONCE THAT'S DONE IN ANOTHER THREE YEARS, WELL, THAT REALLY BRINGS US PRETTY CLOSE NEXT TO OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DECENNIAL UPDATE.THAT POSITION WOULD ROLL RIGHT INTO THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE FOR THAT 10-YEAR UPDATE.
AGAIN, LOOKING MORE FOR THE LONG-RANGE FUTURE PLANNING OF THE COUNTY, WHICH WE'VE NEVER HAD BEFORE.
ALSO, A FULL-TIME LAND USE SPECIALIST SENIOR POSITION FOR THE HIGHER-LEVEL CODE COMPLIANCE AND ENFORCEMENT CASES.
I MENTIONED TO YOU, OUR LAND USE SPECIALISTS, EACH AVERAGE ABOUT 333 CASES EACH YEAR.
THIS POSITION WOULD HELP WITH THAT WORKLOAD BY OFFSETTING SOME OF THAT, TAKING THAT ON, AND REALLY FOCUSING ON SOME OF THE HIGHER-LEVEL CASES, LIKE WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE EGREGIOUS HOARDING CASES AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.
I ALSO HAVE THAT I DON'T HAVE BULLET POINTED HERE, BUT I HAVE A COUPLE OF TWO OTHER REALLY NOMINAL PERSONNEL RECLASSIFICATION REQUESTS FOR AN ADMINISTRATIVE ONE POSITION TO A PROGRAM COORDINATOR, AND ALSO A PLAN FOR ONE POSITION TO A PLANNER TWO POSITION.
>> JEREMY? I DID NOTICE ON HERE.
IT SAYS THAT, WELL, YOU DID GET THE LAND USE SPECIALIST, THAT WAS A SENIOR, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE THE OTHER ONE WE DIDN'T RECOMMEND; IS THAT RIGHT? YOU DID GET ONE WHO WAS A SENIOR, BUT THE OTHER ONE WE DIDN'T RECOMMEND?
>> YES. CHAIR MALLORY, THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.
THE TWO THAT I HAVE HERE ARE THE ONES THAT WERE APPROVED BY THE COUNTY MANAGER'S OFFICE AND THE BUDGET OFFICE, OR EXCUSE ME, RECOMMENDED BY THE COUNTY MANAGER'S OFFICE.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION, CHAIR, IF I MAY.
I WAS JUST GETTING READY TO COMPLIMENT JEREMY ON THIS.
AGAIN, TRYING TO MAKE THE EXPENDITURES FIT WITHIN THAT REVENUE BOX.
ORIGINALLY HAD ONLY ONE POSITION, I BELIEVE IT WAS THE LAND USE SPECIALIST INCLUDED IN MY RECOMMENDED BUDGET.
HE CAME BACK AND SAID, LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT.
I THINK THERE ARE OTHER ADJUSTMENTS I CAN MAKE IN MY BUDGET.
WELL, YOU CONSIDER IT, WE WERE ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER AND MAKE SOME OTHER ADJUSTMENTS AND GET THIS ONE INCLUDED.
I HAD A NUMBER OF DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS DO THAT.
WHEN WE SAT DOWN AND WORKED ON, THEY SAID, WE'VE GOT SOME IDEAS ABOUT SHIFTING SOME THINGS.
CAN WE LOOK AT IT DIFFERENTLY? ABSOLUTELY, WE COULD.
I JUST SAID ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THE INNOVATION OF OUR DEPARTMENT, SAYING, LET'S THINK ABOUT THIS DIFFERENTLY.
MAYBE THERE'S A WAY WE CAN GET THERE, SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
>> APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU.
>> JUST A COMPLIMENT, LIKE, WE TALKED ABOUT INNOVATION.
YOU HEARD THAT PROBABLY EARLIER, BUT YOU GUYS ARE REALLY GOING FORWARD WITH THAT, SO I APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT, SUPERVISOR.
IF I MAY, JUST AS MAYBE A CLOSING STATEMENT, I'D JUST LIKE TO GIVE SOME PROPS TO THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES TEAM.
ALSO, WE HAVE JUST A FANTASTIC TEAM IN DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.
THEY'RE ALL VERY HARD WORKERS.
THEY'RE DEDICATED, THEY'RE PROFESSIONAL, THEY'RE INNOVATIVE.
THEY'RE ALWAYS THINKING OF GOOD IDEAS, LOOKING FOR WAYS TO STREAMLINE OUR PROCESSES.
I AM VERY PROUD OF THEM, AND I HOPE YOU ARE AS WELL.
YOUR DEPARTMENT DOES HANDLE A LOT OF THINGS.
YOU HAVE A LOT OF HARD THINGS THAT YOU HAVE TO DO IN THAT DEPARTMENT, DEALING WITH VERY DIFFICULT SITUATIONS AND DIFFICULT CITIZENS, TOO.
WE APPRECIATE YOU, AND YOU'RE ALWAYS VERY GOOD ABOUT RESPONDING TO THE NEEDS OF ALL THE SUPERVISORS. THANK YOU AGAIN.
>> IF EVERYONE IS OKAY, I'D LIKE TO THINK I'D TAKE A BREAK.
THEN WE WILL JUMP RIGHT INTO FACILITIES.
I'D LIKE TO TAKE A BREAK NOW, BECAUSE I HAVE A FEELING BRANDON MAY GET A LOT OF QUESTIONS.
THERE'LL BE A LOT OF CONVERSATION.
IF THAT'S OKAY, WE COULD DO THAT.
>> FANTASTIC. LET'S DO 10 MINUTES, ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.
>> MADAM, CHAIR, IT'S 1:38 AND 30 SECONDS.
>> COULD WE PLEASE GIVE SUPERVISOR KUKNYO THAT RED, GREEN LIGHT, YELLOW THING? WHERE IS IT? HE IS THE TIMEKEEPER OF MY LIFE RIGHT NOW.
WE'RE READY TO GO. I'M ALREADY A MINUTE LATE. WELCOME, BRANDON.
WE'RE ONLY TALKING ABOUT A CERTAIN THING, BUT I INSIST THAT WE'LL GO FURTHER.
MR. THOMPSON, DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING BECAUSE I KNOW YOU JUMPED ON, NO?
[03:35:03]
>> NO, I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY [INAUDIBLE].
>> EXCELLENT. GOOD MORNING, CHAIR MALLORY, VICE CHAIR COMPTON, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, COUNTY MANAGER'S OFFICE.
I'M BRANDON SCHULTZ, THE DIRECTOR OF YOUR FACILITIES DEPARTMENT.
WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A WALK THROUGH OUR DEPARTMENT'S OPERATIONAL BUDGET, AND I KNOW YOU GUYS WERE CHATTING A LITTLE BIT OFFLINE BEFORE WE STARTED.
YES, I DO BUILD A LOT OF THINGS, AND WE WILL COVER THE MAJOR CAPITAL PROJECTS AS PART OF THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN THAT ZACH WILL BE KICKING OFF AFTER WE HAVE FINISHED PUBLIC WORKS PRESENTATION, I BELIEVE.
WE'RE JUST GOING TO GO OVER OPERATIONAL BUDGET, OPERATIONS FOR THE FACILITIES DEPARTMENT.
JUST A QUICK OVERVIEW OF OUR MAJOR SERVICES, LIKE SO MANY OTHER DEPARTMENTS.
GENERALLY, WE HAVE A BUSINESS OPERATIONS, MANAGERS' BUDGETS, PROJECTS ADMINISTRATION, OVERSIGHT, CONCEPTUAL SKETCHES, LOTS OF OTHER THINGS IN THERE.
WE HAVE A MAINTENANCE DIVISION, WHO IS ALL MY TRADE SPECIALISTS, MY HVAC, MY PLUMBER, MY ELECTRICIAN.
THEY HANDLE A LOT OF OUR DAY-TO-DAY REPAIRS.
THEY ALSO ASSIST IN SOME OF OUR PROJECTS WITH REVIEWING DOCUMENTS AND PROVIDING OVERSIGHT ON SOME OF THOSE PROJECTS AS WELL.
WE HAVE A CAPITAL PROJECT MANAGEMENT SECTION, AND WE HAVE PROJECT MANAGERS, AND AS PART OF THE BUDGET THIS YEAR, I AM SPECIFICALLY ASKING FOR A CAPITAL PROJECT MANAGER WITH THE ONCOMING PROJECTS THAT WE ARE FORECASTING.
THIS COVERS EVERYTHING FROM PLANNING TO PROJECT ADMINISTRATION, AND OVERSIGHT, CONCEPTUAL SKETCHES AND WALKING THROUGH THAT PROCESS.
THE MAIL SERVICE OPERATES OUT OF THE PROSSER LOCATION AND HAS 31 DIFFERENT STOPS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.
DROVE 46,000 PLUS MILES LAST YEAR, AND EVEN INCLUDES STOPS THAT ARE NOT SPECIFICALLY COUNTY, JUST HELPS US STAY COORDINATED WITH TOWN PRESCOTT VALLEY, BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF DELIVERIES THAT COME AND GO, SO WE ACTUALLY HAVE A STOP THERE, IF I REMEMBER THAT ONE CORRECTLY.
WE RUN A GROUNDS DIVISION, TAKES CARE OF ALL OF YOUR PARKS, ALL OF YOUR GROUNDS AROUND THE BUILDING, AND INCLUDING THE PLAZA DOWNTOWN.
THEN LAST BUT NOT LEAST, WE HAVE A CUSTODIAL DIVISION, WHICH TAKES CARE OF, OF COURSE, ALL YOUR JANITORIAL SERVICES, FLOOR CARE, AND THEY ACTUALLY HELP WITH SOME OF THE INSTALLATION OF CARPET AND MEETING ROOM SETUPS.
THEY ACTUALLY HELPED US SET UP THIS MEETING ROOM THIS MORNING.
SOME OF OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS OVER THE LAST YEAR.
OF COURSE, WE TOUCH A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS AND GO IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT PLACES.
BUT WE'VE DONE BOILER REPLACEMENTS AT THE CAMP VERDE DETENTION, ELEVATOR UPGRADE IN THIS BUILDING.
THANK YOU, EVERYBODY, FOR YOUR PATIENCE WHILE IT WAS DOWN.
I UNDERSTAND THERE'S NOT A BUNCH OF IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TIME, WHICH WAS NOT EXPECTED, BUT THE ELECTRONICS ON THE BACK SIDE SHOULD ACTUALLY BE MUCH MORE FUNCTIONAL, AND IF ANYTHING SHOULD HAPPEN, WE CAN GET PARTS READILY AVAILABLE.
WE ALSO DID A LOT OF PARKING LOT MAINTENANCE THIS YEAR.
WE LITERALLY JUST WRAPPED UP IN THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS THE PAVING PROJECT AT THE PUBLIC DEFENDER.
WE'VE DONE A COUPLE OF PROJECTS OVER AT THE CAMP VERDE JAIL.
WE EVEN PAVED AN AREA THAT HISTORICALLY HAS BEEN DIRT.
NRDA IS ACTUALLY SUPPOSED TO BE NATA.
WE DID SOME REPAIR WORK IN CONJUNCTION WITH YCSO OUT THERE TO BRING THE TRACK BACK UP TO STANDARDS SO THAT THEY COULD CONTINUE HOSTING AND TRAINING THERE AT THAT LOCATION.
WE'VE DONE A TON OF OFFICE REMODELS.
WE DID A SMALL ONE FOR CYMPO, AND WE ALSO DID ONE FOR COTTONWOOD ADULT PROBATION.
WE'VE DONE SOME HVAC REPLACEMENTS, SPECIFICALLY, ONE DOWN AT THE CONGRESS LIBRARY.
WE'VE WORKED ON A COUPLE OF ROOF REPLACEMENTS.
ONE IS ACTUALLY GETTING READY TO START FOR THE CAMP VERDE DETENTION.
THEN THE OTHER ONE WAS A CHERRY PARK PLAZA.
THE CHERRY PARK PLAZA WAS ACTUALLY HAIL-DAMAGED.
WE GOT AN INSURANCE CHECK THAT PAID FOR ABOUT 80% OF THE REPLACEMENT.
THEN WE KICKED IN SOME MONEY FOR OUR EXISTING DEPARTMENT TO BUDGET TO TAKE CARE OF SOME UNDERLAYMENT ISSUES THAT WASN'T REALLY AN INSURANCE ISSUE, BUT WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE MADE THE UPGRADES.
YOU ONLY GET TO DO A ROOF ONCE EVERY 20 YEARS IF YOU'RE LUCKY, AND SO NOW IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT.
WE ARE ALSO WORKING THROUGH AN IRRIGATION ASSESSMENT FOR THE COURTHOUSE PLAZA.
THE INTENT BEHIND THAT IS TO UPDATE ALL OF THE CONTROLLERS AND THE SPRINKLER HEADS AND REROUTE THE PIPING TO REDUCE OUR WATER CONSUMPTION.
WE CONSUME AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF WATER DOWN THERE, KEEPING THAT GRASS GREEN, AND ESPECIALLY WITH ALL THE EVENTS THAT WE HOST DOWN THERE, IT TAKES A LITTLE EXTRA LOVE TO KEEP IT LOOKING GREEN.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE USING OUR RESOURCES EFFICIENTLY AND WISELY.
WE ARE WORKING THROUGH THAT ASSESSMENT RIGHT NOW.
ONE OF THE REQUESTS WE'VE GOT, WHICH I BELIEVE WAS RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL, IS OUR FIRST PHASE OF IMPROVEMENTS BASED UPON THAT ASSESSMENT.
[03:40:03]
WE'LL START WITH SOME OF OUR MAIN LINES, UPDATING OUR MAIN LINES, SOME OF OUR BRANCH LINES, AND WORK WITH THE CONTROLLER, GETTING A NEW CONTROLLER WILL ALLOW US TO MONITOR SOME OF THE WATER CONSUMPTION A LITTLE BIT BETTER.WE'LL BE ABLE TO REPORT BACK ON THAT.
I ACTUALLY HAVE TWO SLIDES OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I BROUGHT SOME ATTENTION TO THE SOFTWARE UPGRADE.
WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT A LOT OF NEW TECHNOLOGY, AND WE ARE ACTUALLY TRANSITIONING FROM MICROMAN TO CARTEGRAPH AS OUR WORK ORDER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.
CARTEGRAPH IS A GREAT PROGRAM, ACTUALLY AN OPEN GULF PROGRAM, AND PUBLIC WORKS HAS BEEN USING IT FOR A FEW YEARS.
THEY'VE BEEN VERY HAPPY WITH IT, AND WE ARE ACTUALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO USING THAT.
IT WENT LIVE A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO.
IT'S ACTUALLY BEEN PRETTY SMOOTH.
BUT TO THE POINT THAT WAS BEING MADE EARLIER, THERE'S A LOT OF TRAINING AND A LOT OF RESOURCES THAT WENT INTO THAT, AND I CANNOT THANK ALFONSO IN MY OFFICE ENOUGH FOR HIS WORK IN IMPLEMENTING THIS PROGRAM.
IT WAS AMAZING THE DEPTH THAT HE HAD TO DIVE INTO UNDERSTANDING THE PROGRAMMING AND MAKING SURE THAT ALL OF OUR DATA CAME OVER CORRECTLY AND IS GOING TO WORK FOR US AND THE TEAM, AND THE END USERS, YOU GUYS SUBMITTING WORK ORDERS.
WE ALSO HELPED COREY OUT WITH A MONUMENT DOWN IN BLACK CANYON CITY.
THERE WAS A MONUMENT THAT WAS CRAFTED DOWN THERE, BLEW OVER IN THE WIND, AND WE CAME UP WITH A PLAN TO STAND IT BACK UP.
IT'S NOT THE SAME SHAPE THAT IT USED TO BE, BUT THE COMMUNITY WAS ACTUALLY VERY HAPPY TO GET THAT BACK UP.
IT'S LOVED DEARLY BY EVERYBODY DOWN THERE.
WE ALSO WORKED WITH THE COURTS FOR DOING SECURITY GATES FOR THE JUDGES AT JJC AT THE ADJACENT JUSTICE CENTER.
WE RECONFIGURED THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S RECEPTION AREA.
I BELIEVE WE'VE ACTUALLY FINISHED ALL THAT WORK, AND WE'RE JUST WAITING ON THE DOOR TO ACTUALLY SHOW UP.
WE WORKED WITH PUBLIC WORKS IN DOING A STORAGE COPY THAT WAS JUST COMPLETED A COUPLE OF FEW WEEKS AGO.
THEN WE HAVE DONE TWO PHASES OF A CONFERENCE ROOM REMODEL FOR HR.
I UNDERSTAND THAT ROOM. I UNDERSTAND, I'VE USED IT.
IT IS ACTUALLY WORKING OUT VERY WELL.
I'M HAPPY TO BE A PART OF THAT PROJECT.
THEN ONE LAST ACCOMPLISHMENT WE'VE GOT ON HERE THAT I DIDN'T HAVE A BULLETED POINT FOR WAS I JUST FOUND OUT A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO, I HAD ONE OF MY EMPLOYEES PASS A BICSI CERTIFICATION.
BICSI CERTIFICATION, AND I APOLOGIZE.
I DON'T KNOW THE ACRONYM OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, BUT IT IS A CERTIFICATION FOR PEOPLE WHO DO STRUCTURED NETWORK WIRING.
MY DEPARTMENT DOES ALL THE STRUCTURED WIRING FOR THE COUNTY.
WE WORK IN CONJUNCTION WITH IT.
THEY DO ALL THE NETWORK SWITCHES, BUT WE DO ALL OF THE WIRING FROM THE WALL TO THE IT CLOSET.
THIS CERTIFICATION HELPS RAISE THE STANDARD AND RAISE THE LEVEL OF PERFORMANCE FOR MY DEPARTMENT.
IT WAS NOT REQUIRED AS PART OF THE JOB DESCRIPTION SO THIS GENTLEMAN WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND TO OBTAIN HIS CERTIFICATION, AND SO KUDOS TO SEAN FOR THE WORK THAT HE'S DONE THERE.
DEPARTMENT GOALS FOR THE COMING YEAR.
CONTINUED IMPLEMENTATION OF PREVENTATIVE SERVICES TO REDUCE CORRECTIVE REPAIR WORK.
WE'VE REALLY IMPLEMENTED A GREAT PM SERVICE FOR OUR HVAC THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE COUNTY.
I'M TRYING TO EXPAND THAT TO ALL OF OUR ELECTRICAL AND PLUMBING FEATURES, TOO, SO THAT WE'RE NOT JUST RESPONDING WHEN SOMETHING BREAKS OR WHEN THERE'S SOME FAILURE, BUT WE'RE AHEAD OF THE GAME.
WE'RE IDENTIFYING ISSUES SO THAT WE CAN MINIMIZE ANY OUTAGES.
WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING TO IMPROVE EFFICIENCIES, BOTH WITH THE BUILDING EQUIPMENT AND WITH OUR STAFF.
AGAIN, BACK TO THE BICSI CERTIFICATION.
THAT'S ABOUT EFFICIENCIES IN THE STAFF AND WHAT WE'RE DOING.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT OUR EQUIPMENT.
WHENEVER WE COME TO YOU FOR HVAC UPGRADES, IT'S NOT JUST LIKE-FOR-LIKE EQUIPMENT.
WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING TO THE NEWEST STANDARD.
WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR THE HIGHEST RATING THAT WE CAN GET SO WE CAN REDUCE OUR ENERGY CONSUMPTION WITH THE EQUIPMENT.
THEN THE LAST GOAL I'VE GOT FOR THIS YEAR IS EXPANDING OUR COMMUNICATION AND COORDINATION, AND YOU'LL SEE THAT DOVETAIL INTO A COUPLE OF POSITION REQUESTS.
CHALLENGES IN THE COMING YEAR.
OF COURSE, ONGOING COMPLICATIONS IN THE SUPPLY CHAIN.
I WAS REFERENCING THE DOOR WE WERE WORKING ON FOR THE COUNTY ATTORNEY, AND ALL OF OUR WORKS DONE, AND WE'RE LITERALLY WAITING FOR A DOOR TO SHOW UP.
WE'RE FINDING LEAD TIMES ARE STILL LONG.
IT'S GOTTEN BETTER OVER THE LAST YEAR, BUT IT'S LONG.
SOMETIMES IT'S ODD, WHAT MIGHT BE HUNG UP IN THE SUPPLY CHAIN.
YOU MIGHT HAVE BOUGHT SOMETHING, A MONTH AGO, AND IT TOOK TWO WEEKS TO GET HERE, AND THEN YOU GO TO ORDER IT AGAIN, AND IT'S NOW SIX WEEKS OUT.
WE STILL EXPERIENCE THAT HICCUP IN THAT SUPPLY CHANGE.
ONGOING CHANGING DYNAMICS IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY, BOTH WITH THE CAPABILITY OF STAFF AND THE CRAFTSMANSHIP OF YOUR WORKERS, THE KNOWLEDGE THAT'S OUT THERE, CHANGING TECHNOLOGIES.
[03:45:02]
IT'S INTERESTING TO TRY TO KEEP UP WITH CHANGING DYNAMICS IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY.>> ALSO, BALANCING APPROVED PROJECTS, OUR EXHIBIT 3, AS THEY WERE LAST YEAR, BUDGET ENHANCEMENTS THIS YEAR.
ALL OF THE STUFF THAT'S PLANNED, INCLUDING OUR MAJOR CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT WE'RE DOING AND BALANCING WITH THE MID YEAR REQUESTS, STUFF THAT SHOWS UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE YEAR THAT WAS NOT INITIALLY PLANNED, AND WE TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO ACCOMMODATE THAT, WHETHER THAT BE MOVING DEPARTMENTS LIKE THIS YEAR.
WE'VE GOT A DEPARTMENT THAT WE'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO NAME BY NAME, WHO IS MOVING INTO A NEW BUILDING.
THAT WAS NOT ANTICIPATED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR FOR MY DEPARTMENT, AND WE'RE FIGURING OUT HOW TO ADD SECURITY ELECTRONICS FOR THAT BUILDING, CAMERA SYSTEM, DOOR CONTROL SYSTEM.
WE'RE UPDATING A PANIC SYSTEM, I THINK, A BURGLAR ENTRY SYSTEM FOR THEM.
THAT WAS ALL STUFF THAT WAS NOT FORECASTED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR.
THEY FOUND THEIR OWN FUNDING SOURCE, WHICH IS HELPFUL, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE'VE ALWAYS GOT TO BE COGNIZANT OF INTERNAL RESOURCE LIMITATIONS WHEN IT COMES TO THAT.
ALWAYS A CHALLENGE, ALWAYS WILL BE A CHALLENGE, AND YOU MIGHT SEE THAT BULLET POINT ON THERE EVERY YEAR THAT I'M HERE.
THEN ALONG LINES WITH THE SUPPLY CHAIN, WE STILL SEE EVER INCREASING COSTS.
IT HAS BALANCED OUT A LITTLE BIT MORE, BUT IT CONTINUES TO INCREASE.
WE DO FIND ODDITIES WHEN WE MIGHT HAVE THREATS OF TARIFFS AND THINGS LIKE THAT THAT DRIVE OFF COSTS ARTIFICIALLY FROM TIME TO TIME, AND THOSE COSTS CAN COME FROM OUR VENDORS, FROM OUR SUPPLIERS, OR FROM OUR UTILITY PROVIDERS.
APS, AND SORRY, THE HYPHEN IS SUPPOSED TO BE A HYPHEN.
IT'S NOT A NEGATIVE 4%. APS ACTUALLY RAISED THEIR ELECTRICAL RATES BY 4%.
THERE'S ACTUALLY A REQUEST FOR INFLATIONARY COSTS.
I THINK I'VE GOT A $65,000 INCREASE IN THAT ONE, AND THAT MAY OR MAY NOT COVER ALL OF OUR COSTS FOR THIS YEAR.
AGAIN, THAT BUDGET WAS PUT TOGETHER BEFORE I WAS CONTEMPLATING THAT ONE DEPARTMENT AND WHILE WE WERE CONTEMPLATING OPENING A NEW HEALTH CLINIC IN ASH FORK.
I'VE GOT A COUPLE OF ADS IN THERE.
I THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE CLOSE, BUT THAT'S ALL PART OF THAT EVER INCREASING COST THERE.
THIS IS ACTUALLY A LOT OF WHAT I'VE TALKED ABOUT LAST YEAR, REDUCING DUPLICATION OF WORK BETWEEN DEPARTMENTS.
THIS TO ME WAS A REFERENCE BETWEEN HOW MY DEPARTMENT TRACKS EXPENDITURES ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS, AND THE FACT THAT FINANCE DUPLICATES SOME OF THAT WORK, DOES IT IN THEIR OWN WAY.
FROM THE BUDGETING ASPECT TO THE EXPENDITURES TO EXPENSING IT OUT AND IN FINANCE.
I FIND THAT A LOT OF TIMES WE DUPLICATE A LOT OF THAT TRACKING PURPOSES FOR OUR OWN PURPOSES, AND I LOVE THE THOUGHT OF AN ERP SYSTEM FOR BRINGING ALL OF THOSE TOGETHER.
I THINK THERE'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY IF WE CAN FIGURE OUT HOW TO BRING THAT INFORMATION TOGETHER, REDUCE KEYSTROKES FOR INDIVIDUALS, REDUCE THE NUMBER OF SPREADSHEETS THAT WE HAVE TO KEEP FOR THAT.
FOR ME, I THINK THAT'S A HUGE OPPORTUNITY, REALLY FOR ALL OF US, NOT JUST MY DEPARTMENT.
THEN, ONE, I HAVE ABSOLUTELY PESTERED CONNIE AND MALLORY TO DEATH ABOUT FOR MORE THAN A YEAR NOW IS INCREASING THE PROCUREMENT THRESHOLDS TO PRODUCE PAPERWORK, AND THAT WAS SOMETHING WE SPECIFICALLY TALKED ABOUT HERE LAST YEAR, IT'S AMAZING THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT GOES INTO SOME WHAT YOU CALL IT LOW LEVEL PROCUREMENT ITEMS FROM THE 5-50 RANGE, AND IT'S AMAZING HOW MANY OF THEM LAND ON THE AGENDA, AND YOU ALL HAVE TO APPROVE THEM.
NOT ONLY DO I HAVE TO DO A BUNCH OF PAPERWORK.
IT HURTS THE CLERK OF THE BOARD.
COUNTY ATTORNEY'S GOT TO REVIEW IT.
IT JUST TOUCHES A LOT OF PEOPLE.
THE MORE WE CAN RAISE THAT THRESHOLD, THE MORE PAPERWORK WE CAN REDUCE IN THAT.
I'M A BIG PROPONENT OF IT, AND I CAN'T WAIT FOR IT.
I'VE BEEN PESTERING MALLORY, AND I'M REALLY EXCITED TO SEE THAT CHANGE.
THEN ANOTHER THING THAT KIND OF CAME UP, AND AGAIN, I APOLOGIZE.
I THOUGHT ABOUT IT WHEN WE WERE IN HERE TALKING ABOUT THE MEETING WAS CENTRALIZED PROCUREMENT.
I DID WANT TO TOUCH BASE ON THAT BECAUSE I DO HAVE ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE IN MY OFFICE.
HER TITLE IS CONTRACT SPECIALIST, BUT SHE DOES A LOT OF PROCUREMENT FOR ME AT THE HIGHER LEVELS, WHEN WE'VE GOT TO GO OUT FOR CONTRACTS, WHEN WE'VE GOT TO DO BIDDING, A LOT OF THAT DOES HAPPEN IN MY OFFICE, AND WE ARE AT CAPACITY.
I AM ABSOLUTELY DRIVING DONNA NUTS EVERY DAY ON.
WELL, HOW CAN WE SLIP THIS IN? HOW CAN WE SLIP THIS IN? WAIT, LOOK AT THIS THING THAT CAME UP.
WAIT, WHAT ABOUT THIS? SHE'S GOT A HEALTHY LIST OF THINGS THAT SHE'S WORKING ON FROM THE PROCUREMENT, THE INITIAL COSTING OF IT, TO THE CONTRACTING, THE FINALIZING THE QUOTES, AND THE CONTRACTING, SHE FEEDS INFORMATION TO MY ACCOUNTS PAYABLE TO GET THE PURCHASE ORDER.
WE WORK CLOSELY WITH FINANCE ON RULES AND REGULATIONS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CONFORMING.
I AM VERY SUPPORTIVE OF CONNIE'S DEPARTMENT GETTING ANOTHER PERSON BECAUSE WITH ALL OF THE STUFF I SEE COMING AT ME IN THE COMING YEARS,
[03:50:03]
I'M GOING TO NEED A LITTLE BIT OF HELP, AND I SUPPORT THE CENTRALIZED PROCUREMENT.I REALLY SUPPORT CONNIE'S ASK BECAUSE I NEED HER HELP.
WHEN THAT COMES ONLINE, I GUESS, I BELIEVE TO ANSWER CHAIR MALLORY'S QUESTION ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS WITH THOSE PEOPLE.
FINANCE IS GOING TO HELP WITH THE CENTRALIZED PROCUREMENT, BUT THERE'S STILL GOING TO BE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF LEGWORK THAT WE'VE GOT TO DO TO GET THE PROJECT STARTED.
THEN ONCE IT LANDS INTO FINANCE'S HANDS, WE'RE STILL GOING TO END UP CRAFTING CONTRACTS AND WORKING THROUGH CONTRACTS AND COORDINATING WITH OUR CONTRACTORS.
WE'RE GOING TO WORK THROUGH AGENDA ITEMS AND THE SUBMITTALS, AND SO THERE'S GOING TO BE A WHOLE BUNCH OF WORK THAT STILL HAPPENS IN OUR OFFICE, EVEN IF EVERYTHING HAPPENED IN FINANCE.
REALISTICALLY, I DON'T SEE EVERYTHING FROM MY DEPARTMENT GOING TO FINANCE, AND CONNIE CAN CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG. WE'VE GOT A LOT.
THERE'S A LOT THAT HAPPENS IN MY DEPARTMENT FROM A SMALL SCALE, THAT 5-10 RANGE, HOPEFULLY A LITTLE BIT MORE NOW, ALL THE WAY UP TO MULTI MILLION DOLLAR CONTRACTS.
ALL OF THIS STUFF GOES THROUGH THAT ONE PERSON, AND SHE CRIES EVERY TIME I COME INTO HER OFFICE, I'M LIKE, HEY, GUESS WHAT? I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO A LITTLE BIT OF RELIEF FROM FINANCE, AND I CAN'T SUPPORT HER AND HER DEPARTMENT ENOUGH, IN THAT SENSE.
DEPARTMENT SNAPSHOT. I ACTUALLY LIKED THIS A LOT MORE WHEN I WAS LOOKING AT THE BASE BUDGET BECAUSE I DID MAKE SOME CONSIDERATIONS THIS YEAR WITH ZACH'S HELP.
WE ACTUALLY REDUCED MY BASE BUDGET.
I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT THAT FINAL NUMBER WAS RIGHT AROUND $100,000.
BUT THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET THAT YOU'RE SEEING HERE IS ACTUALLY A SLIGHT INCREASE OVER LAST YEAR, JUST DUE TO EXHIBIT 3 BUDGET ENHANCEMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN INCLUDED, AND THAT IS SHOWING A 3% CHANGE.
PART OF THAT IS DUE TO TWO POSITIONS THAT I'M REQUESTING.
ONE IS A CAPITAL PROJECT MANAGER, VERY SPECIFIC TO THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN, THE PROJECT THAT WE'RE GETTING READY TO GO THROUGH, AND ALL OF THE STEPS THAT ARE GOING TO COME ALONG WITH THAT.
THE OTHER POSITION I'M ASKING FOR, AND IT MAY BE MISSED TITLED ON THAT SHEET IS A PROJECT COORDINATOR, NOT JUST A CAPITAL PROJECT COORDINATOR, BUT IT'S GOING TO BE A MORE GENERIC PROJECT COORDINATOR.
THAT COMES BACK TO ONE OF MY GOALS FOR THIS YEAR AS IMPROVING COORDINATION AND COMMUNICATION WITH DEPARTMENTS.
I'VE TRIED TO FARM THAT OUT TO MY BUILDING MANAGERS, AND WHAT I FEEL LIKE WOULD BE A BETTER ANSWER IS HAVING MORE CENTRALIZED COORDINATION AND COMMUNICATION IN MY DEPARTMENT, SO THAT WE CAN COORDINATE EVERYTHING FROM SMALL OFFICE MOVES TO MAJOR DEPARTMENT RENOVATIONS, WHICH WE'RE DOING WITH HEALTH DEPARTMENT RIGHT NOW.
THEN THEY COULD ALSO SUPPORT OUR CAPITAL PROJECT MANAGER WHEN IT COMES TO BRINGING NEW BUILDINGS ONLINE TO.
I DO WANT TO MENTION A COUPLE OF THINGS.
I AM ONE OF THE DEPARTMENTS THAT IS DOING THE VACANCY SAVINGS.
I BELIEVE THAT ENDED UP NETTING MY DEPARTMENT A 2.5% REDUCTION SOMEWHERE IN THERE.
I'M ACTUALLY VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THAT.
I WISH THAT I DIDN'T HAVE THIS PROBLEM, BUT I DO CONTINUE TO HAVE VACANCY PROBLEMS IN MY CUSTODIAL DIVISION.
IT'S NOT THAT I'VE GOT ONE POSITION THAT'S OPEN FOR AN EXTENDED TIME.
IT'S OPEN, IT'S FILLED, AND THEN THE NEXT ONE GOES VACANT.
I FIND PEOPLE LEAVE FOR PERSONAL REASONS.
SOMETIMES PEOPLE HAVE LEFT FOR MONEY.
I SEE THIS CONSTANT CHURN, AND I SEE ANYWHERE 20%-25% VACANCY ON MY CUSTODIAL DIVISION.
AGAIN, NOT BECAUSE I'VE GOT ONE POSITION THAT'S OPEN.
IT'S JUST THIS CONSTANT CHURN AND IT'S ALMOST A BAD JOKE IN MY OFFICE AT TIMES WHEN THE CUSTODIAL MANAGER COMES AROUND.
IT'S WHO ARE YOU HIRING OR WHO YOU'RE FIRING THIS WEEK.
I DID ALSO WANT TO SPEAK TO COMMENTS BY SUPERVISOR CHECK AND SUPERVISOR MALLORY, CHAIR MALLORY ABOUT COLOR AND MERIT.
I BELIEVE THAT THE BOARD HAD REALLY COMMITTED TO THAT A FEW YEARS AGO BECAUSE THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE OF THE EMPLOYEES HAD COME OUT AS BEING SOMETHING THAT WAS REALLY NECESSARY.
I TOTALLY AGREE THAT I THINK THE MORE THAT WE CAN DO FOR OUR EMPLOYEE BASE, THE BETTER WE ARE.
IT'S OUR SINGLE BIGGEST INVESTMENT OUTSIDE OF THE ASSETS THAT I MANAGE FOR THE COUNTY AND THE ROADS THAT ROGER MANAGES FOR US.
BUT THEY ARE A HUGE WORKFORCE AND IF THEY ARE EFFICIENT AT THEIR JOB BECAUSE THEY FEEL LIKE THEY'RE COMPENSATED AND LOVED AND CARED FOR.
THEN THEY WILL PRODUCE MORE FOR US IN THE LONG-TERM THAN ANY ONE OF OUR BUILDINGS WILL. YES, MISS. MALLORY.
>> WE TALKED ABOUT THE HVAC, WE'RE REPLACING ALL THAT.
YOU'RE WORKING ON THAT. ARE YOU WORKING ON THAT WHOLE AIR CONDITIONING?
>> YOU ARE, RIGHT. BUT WHAT I DID NOTICE IS THAT WE DID NOT APPROVE THE NEW HVAC TECHNICIAN POSITION, AND I'M NOT ASKING FOR THAT.
I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND BECAUSE THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH.
I GUESS WE DO HAVE SOMEONE THAT DOES THIS.
[03:55:02]
>> WE CURRENTLY HAVE, I ACTUALLY HAD REQUESTED SEVEN POSITIONS TOTAL.
I THINK TWO HAVE LANDED IN THE RECOMMENDED PORTION.
FIVE WERE NOT, INCLUDING AN HVAC, AN ELECTRICIAN.
I CAN'T REMEMBER IF IT WAS A PLUMBER.
THERE WAS A TRADE SPECIALIST AND A GROUNDS PERSON IN THERE AS WELL.
I SEE THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY, AND THIS WAS PART OF THE DISCUSSIONS OF WHAT'S MORE IMPORTANT, AND I PUT MORE IMPORTANCE ON THE PROJECT MANAGEMENT, BECAUSE EVEN TODAY, I'M SEEING MORE WEIGHT BEING PUT ONTO THAT BECAUSE I CAN'T HAVE AN EXPERT OF EVERY SINGLE INDIVIDUAL SYSTEM.
A SYSTEM, LIKE WE'RE GETTING READY TO DO FOR FAIR STREET IS FAR BEYOND WHAT I CAN MANAGE INTERNALLY.
FOR ME, PROJECT COORDINATION BECOMES A KEY COMPONENT THERE.
ULTIMATELY, I WAS LIKE, IF I HAD TO MAKE A CHOICE BETWEEN THE TWO, I THINK I CAN ACCOMPLISH MORE BY HAVING PROJECT MANAGERS THAN BY ADDING A SINGLE HVAC TECH.
STILL VALUE THERE, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE ELECTRICIANS DOWN THE ROAD.
I'D LOVE TO GET BETTER ABOUT SOME OF OUR ELECTRICAL PMS, BUT HAVING TO MAKE THAT CHOICE, THE PROJECT MANAGEMENT, I THINK I COULD PUT MORE REPAIRS IN PLACE BY ADDING THAT ONE POSITION THAN BY ADDING THE ONE HVAC TECH.
>> THAT'S FINE BECAUSE I ABSOLUTELY DO SUPPORT THAT PROJECT MANAGER.
THAT'S GOING TO BE VERY IMPORTANT TO YOU, FOR SURE.
I JUST THOUGHT I'D BRING THAT UP BECAUSE THIS AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM IS SUPER IMPORTANT. [LAUGHTER].
SOME OF US ARE OVER IN THE ARABIA DESERT SOMEWHERE.
YOU TALK ABOUT THE CUSTODIAL SITUATION? IS THAT AN OUTSOURCING POSSIBILITY, OR IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WOULDN'T I'M JUST WONDERING, WHAT WOULD THAT LOOK LIKE? I MEAN, WOULD THAT SAVE US MONEY IF WE LOOKED OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THAT? THEN THAT WOULD BE ONE LESS THING HE HAS TO KEEP LOOKING TO FILL AND KEEP GOING.
ALSO, WE SPEND A LOT OF MONEY, AS I SAID BEFORE, HIRING HIRING AND HIRING.
I DON'T KNOW, JUST A THOUGHT. THAT'S ALL.
>> NO, I JUST WANT TO SAY, TO JOIN YOUR QUESTION, YEAH, I BELIEVE WE'VE LOOKED AT THAT IN THE PAST.
YOU HAVE IT, WHICH SEEM TO RECALL HAVING SOME CONVERSATION AND HAVING SOME MIXED EXPERIENCES WITH THAT.
>> MIXED RESULTS WITH THAT. IS RIGHT.
IT WOULD DEFINITELY REDUCE SOME OF THE [NOISE] HR COMPONENTS OF THE HIRING, THE FIRING, THE PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT THAT WOULD THEN GET PUT ONTO OUR VENDORS.
WHAT IT WOULDN'T ALLEVIATE IS MY MANAGEMENT AND OVERSIGHT.
I WOULD STILL HAVE TO PROVIDE A LOT OF OVERSIGHT AND MAKE SURE THAT THOSE SERVICES ARE BEING PROVIDED.
WHAT WE FOUND, AND I THINK THIS WAS ABOUT SIX YEARS AGO WE HAD ENGAGED A COUPLE OF COMPANIES IS ON THE SURFACE, YES, IT LOOKS LIKE A COST SAVINGS, BUT IT COMES WITH A SIGNIFICANT SERVICE REDUCTION TOO.
WHAT WE FOUND WAS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO WANT TO COME IN DURING THE DAYTIME, SO IT'S GOING TO BE DISRUPTIVE TO WHAT'S GOING ON HERE, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH BACKGROUND CHECKS WITH VENDORS AND ENSURING THAT THEY'RE COMPLYING, WHICH I THINK IS A LOT HARDER THAN MAKING SURE OUR OWN STAFF IS COMPLYING.
YOU WON'T GET THE QUICK RESPONSES.
LIKE, IF SOMETHING HAPPENS HERE, EVEN THOUGH I DON'T [NOISE] HAVE A CUSTODIAL ON STAFF AT THIS VERY MOMENT, WE COULD CALL SOMEBODY AND SOMEBODY WHO WILL BE DOWN HERE IN HALF AN HOUR TAKING CARE OF A MESS, WHICH DOES ACTUALLY HAPPEN FROM TIME TO TIME.
THE CHARGES THAT WOULD COME FROM AN OUTSIDE COMPANY FOR THAT WOULD BE MUCH MORE SUBSTANTIAL THAN WHAT WE'RE PAYING FOR STAFF.
THEN WHAT WE FOUND WAS ONCE WE ACTUALLY BROUGHT THEM UP TO THE LEVEL OF SERVICE THAT WE PROVIDE, THE COST SAVINGS WENT AWAY.
>> MR. SHAW, IN REFERENCE TO THE CAPITAL PROJECT MANAGER POSITION, I'VE EXPRESSED TO MANAGEMENT AND OTHERS THAT IN THIS POSITION THAT YOU SEEK AN ARCHITECT.
IT IS USED IN OTHER COUNTY GOVERNMENTS.
IT RELIEVES YOUR CONCERN ABOUT DEALING WITH HVAC AND OTHER THINGS THAT ARCHITECTS DO DEAL WITH ON A REGULAR BASIS.
I BELIEVE IT WOULD HELP YOU TREMENDOUSLY AND IF WE'RE CONSIDERING THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE MOVING FORWARD WITH AND THE AMOUNT OF THEM THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE MOVING FORWARD WITH.
BECAUSE IT'S NOT YOUR ABILITY THAT I'M CONCERNED WITH.
I'M YOU'RE WORRIED WITH YOUR TIME AND THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE ABLE TO DO THOSE PROJECTS, IF WE COULD MULTITASK AND BRING SOMEBODY IN LIKE THAT, I THINK WOULD BE OF GREAT HELP TO THE COUNTY IF WE COULD DO THAT.
>> [INAUDIBLE] COMPTON, I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT QUESTION AND THAT CONCERN.
YES, TO YOUR POINT, IT IS ALWAYS A CONCERN ABOUT STAFFING AND HOW MUCH WE WANT TO BLOAT IN THAT SENSE.
I LIKE TO USE THE JUSTICE CENTER AS A GREAT EXAMPLE.
WE HIRED AN ARCHITECT, AND THEY HAD CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATION WAS THE COMPONENT FOR THEM, IS HOW THEY REFER TO IT.
THEN WE ACTUALLY HIRED A CAPITAL EXPENDITURE MANAGER KITCHELL, AS THE OWNERS REP. WE TOOK $1.5 MILLION OUT OF DLRS CONTRACT FOR DESIGN SERVICES AND CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATION,
[04:00:01]
AND WE FUNNELED THAT INTO THE ULTIMATELY, I THINK KITCHELL ENDED UP WITH 3.4 MILLION DOLLAR THAT WE SPENT FOR THEM TO ACT AS THE OWNER'S REP.BUT WHAT I STILL FOUND WAS I SPENT HALF MY TIME OVER THERE STILL MAKING DECISIONS ON BEHALF OF THE OWNER, BECAUSE THEY WOULD COLLECT INFORMATION.
THEY WOULD DISSEMINATE IT, BUT I STILL HAD TO BE ENGAGED IN THE MEETINGS TO BE ABLE TO MAKE QUALITY DECISIONS ON BEHALF OF THE COUNTY AS AN AGENT.
WE WEREN'T COMFORTABLE JUST TURNING THEM LOOSE AND MAKING DECISIONS AND THEN ACCEPTING WHATEVER BUILDING SHOWED UP.
BECAUSE WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE FINISHES WERE WHAT WE NEEDED, THAT IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE COULD MANAGE AND MAINTAIN.
HINDSIGHT, WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS ESSENTIALLY THIS, WHERE WE'VE GOT THE CAPITAL PROJECT MANAGER THAT WE BRING IN TO ESSENTIALLY DO THAT JOB THAT I WAS DOING THERE.
BUT LEAVE THAT $1.5 MILLION IN THE ARCHITECTS CONTRACT, OF COURSE, RELATIVE TO WHATEVER PROJECT WE'RE DOING, NOT HIRE THE CAPITAL EXPENDITURE MANAGER, BUT PUT THAT ON US ON THE ARCHITECT AND LET THEM DO THE DAILY LOGS, THE RECOMMENDED CHANGES, REVIEW THE CHANGE ORDERS, REVIEW THE BILLING IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE PROJECT MANAGER, BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S STILL GOT TO COME TO SOMEBODY ON COUNTY STAFF TO SAY, YES, PAY THAT BILL.
HERE IT IS PROCESS. I COULD EITHER SIT AND SCRUB THAT BILL LINE BY LINE AND MAKE SURE THAT IT CONFORMS WITH PROGRESS BEING MADE IN THE FIELD.
BUT I WANT TO PUT THAT TO YOUR POINT ON THE ARCHITECT.
YOU SCRUB THAT. THEN I PURELY HAVE A RECOMMENDATION.
THAT CAPITAL PROJECT MANAGER THEN DOESN'T HAVE TO SPEND NEARLY AS MUCH TIME ON THAT SITE, AND THEY CAN MANAGE MULTIPLE PROJECTS AT THE SAME TIME. THROUGH DIFFERENT PHASES.
THAT'S THE OTHER THING THAT WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT WHEN WE KICK OFF A PROJECT, IT'S GOT TO START SOMEPLACE.
THIS CAPITAL PROJECT MANAGER WOULD ALSO BE THE INITIAL SOLICITATION FOR FINDING ARCHITECTS AND FINDING CONTRACTORS AND WORKING THROUGH THAT.
BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH WE WOULD HAVE AN ARCHITECT ON BOARD DOING A CERTAIN PORTION OF THAT, IT'S STILL GOT TO START AT HOME, SO TO SPEAK.
WE ARE ALWAYS GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE THIS CERTAIN AMOUNT OF OWNERS REPRESENTATION THAT'S GOT TO HAPPEN IN THERE ACROSS ALL THE DIFFERENT PROJECTS.
THE BIGGER PROJECTS A LOT EASIER TO FOLD THAT INTO.
THE SMALLER PROJECTS ARE A LITTLE HARDER TO KEEP THAT ALL CONTAINED WITHIN THE ARCHITECT'S BUDGET.
BUT YES, TO YOUR POINT, AS MUCH AS I CAN PUT ON THE ARCHITECT, AND THAT WILL KEEP ME FROM HAVING TO CREATE A LARGER STAFF ESPECIALLY IF WE GET INTO MULTIPLE MULTIPLE BUILDINGS IN A SINGLE YEAR.
>> THANK YOU. LAST THING, I DID WANT TO MENTION HERE, NOT SPECIFICALLY BULLETED, BUT BACK TO SOME OF THE COMPENSATION.
I'VE BEEN HERE THROUGH TWO COMPENSATION STUDIES, AND IN BOTH OF THEM, I THINK THERE WAS RECOMMENDATIONS TO DEVELOP A POLICY FOR MERIT AND COLA, MAKE IT CONSISTENT AND DO IT YEAR AFTER YEAR.
WHAT THAT STEMMED FROM WAS THAT WE WERE INCONSISTENT WITH MERIT, AND WE WERE INCONSISTENT WITH COLA, AND IT CREATED DEPARTMENT INEQUALITIES.
THAT WAS JUST A RECOMMENDATION THAT CAME FROM BOTH OF THOSE COMPENSATION STUDIES.
AGAIN, BACK WITH COLA AND THE MERIT.
I REALLY BELIEVE IN THE EMPLOYEE WORKFORCE, AND SO ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO SUPPORT THEM, I THINK, IS GOOD FOR US AS A WHOLE.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST, THESE WERE JUST A HANDFUL OF THE BUDGET ENHANCEMENT REQUESTS THAT MY DEPARTMENT HAD PUT TOGETHER.
I BELIEVE WE WERE RIGHT AROUND 30 TOTAL REQUESTS THAT HAD LANDED IN HERE.
THE FIRST TWO, AS VICE CHAIR COMPTON HAD POINTED OUT, CAPITAL PROJECT MANAGER, PROJECT COORDINATOR, THAT PROJECT COORDINATOR IS MEANT TO BE BROAD, COULD SUPPORT THE CAPITAL PROJECT MANAGER, COULD SUPPORT MY OTHER MANAGER, MIGHT COORDINATE SMALLER PROJECTS ON THEIR OWN.
THE THIRD ONE HERE, $100,000 WORTH OF HVAC COMPONENTS.
THAT'S SPECIFIC TO THE COURTHOUSE ON CORTEZ STREET.
WHAT WE'VE BEEN FINDING IS WE CAN GET SOME EXPERTISE TO DO SOME OF THE WORK, BUT SOMETIMES THE PARTS ARE LONG LEAD, AND THEY CAN BE 6-8 WEEKS OUT BEFORE WE GET THEM.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, WE'VE GOT PART OF THAT SYSTEM THAT'S DOWN RIGHT NOW.
WE'RE WAITING FOR COMPONENTS TO COME IN.
REALLY WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO WITH THIS $100,000 IS PUT A BUNCH OF PARTS ON THE SHELF.
THEN WHEN WE HAVE A PROBLEM, WE CAN CALL UP A VENDOR, WE CAN GET THEM TO COME FIX IT.
THEN WHILE THAT PARTS BEING INSTALLED, WE'LL ORDER THE REPLACEMENT TO GO BACK ON THE SHELF TO KEEP OURSELVES WHOLE.
NUMBER 12 IN HERE AS FIRE ALARM UPGRADES AT THE CAMP VERDE JUSTICE CENTER.
THAT FIRE ALARM SYSTEM HAS BEEN IN PLAY FOR A LOT OF YEARS.
BACK TO 1999, I BELIEVE, IS WHEN IT FIRST STARTED.
IT'S BEEN EXPANDED A COUPLE OF TIMES.
WE WOULD LIKE TO BRING THIS UP TO CURRENT STANDARDS, GET RID OF SOME OF THE OLDER SYSTEM THAT'S IN THERE THAT IS PROBLEMATIC AT TIMES.
THAT WAS AN IMPORTANT REQUEST FOR US THERE.
NUMBER 14, A ROOF REPLACEMENT FOR THE COTTONWOOD ANNEX C BUILDING.
I KNOW WE'VE DONE SOME WORK OVER THERE, BUT FOR US, PRESERVATION OF BUILDING STARTS AT THE ROOF TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T
[04:05:01]
HAVE ANY LEAKS AND ANY DAMAGE ON THE INSIDE.THIS LAST ONE ON HERE, I'M ACTUALLY REALLY HAPPY TO SAY, I DON'T WANT.
WE FOUND A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUE ON A CONTRACT YOU GUYS ARE GETTING, I BELIEVE IT'S GOING TO BE ON THE NEXT AGENDA.
WE WERE ABLE TO USE A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT TECHNIQUE ON ROOF REPLACEMENTS FOR THE TWO TOWERS, AND WE WERE ABLE TO DO THE TWO TOWERS AND THE AREA THAT'S UNDER THIS $370,000 REQUEST FOR, I THINK I'M ABOUT $10,000 OVER BUDGET, AND I'M GOING TO TAKE THE REST OF THAT OUT OF MY EXISTING BUDGET.
YOU GUYS CAN TAKE THAT ONE BACK.
>> WITH THAT, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS?
>> ON A LOT OF THE POSITIONS THAT YOU DIDN'T GET THE HVAC ELECTRICIAN GROUNDS PLUMBER, EVER THOUGHT ABOUT DEVELOPING ANY APPRENTICE PROGRAM WITH C TECH OUT OF THE COLLEGE TO BRING SOME EXTRA BODIES THERE AND MAYBE THAT'D BE A PIPELINE FOR FUTURE EMPLOYEES WHEN YOU HAVE VACANCIES?
>> I'M VERY INTERESTED IN APPRENTICESHIP.
I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE TO BEGIN WITH SOME OF THAT.
I KNOW WE'VE WORKED WITH NACOG OR I SHOULD SAY, TRIED TO WORK WITH NACOG IN A SIMILAR CAPACITY.
THEY WEREN'T INTERNSHIPS, BUT IT WAS ABOUT BRINGING PEOPLE ON BOARD, AND WE HAD A REALLY HARD TIME WORKING THROUGH THE LEGAL AGREEMENTS.
THEY WEREN'T WILLING TO COME TO THE TABLE AND WORK THROUGH THE AGREEMENTS WITH OUR LEGAL TEAM AND WITH HR.
WE GAVE UP ON THAT, BUT I HAVE USED NACOG EMPLOYEES IN THE PAST.
I DON'T KNOW WHY IT'S GOTTEN SO DIFFICULT IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
HOPEFULLY, WITH CHRIS AND THE NEW WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT THING THAT WE'VE GOT GOING ON, THAT THAT WILL GET BETTER.
>> MADAM CHAIR, I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE INFLATION.
IT'S ONE OF THE ITEMS THAT CONCERNS ME IS JUST THE COST OF MATERIALS, HAVING, AS YOU KNOW, SOME OF OUR BIDS WE HAD TO REJECT BECAUSE THEY WERE ABOVE BUDGET.
WHAT DOES $102,000 REALLY GET AT IN THAT DISCUSSION?
>> OF THAT 102, THE FIRST $65,000 IS ELECTRICITY.
I BELIEVE THERE'S $12,000 FOR SOLID WASTE HAULING.
BECAUSE WE GOT A MID-YEAR INCREASE, I'M ABSORBING THAT THIS YEAR, AND I'M REMISS BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE THE REST OF IT ALL PRINTED OUT, BUT NONE OF IT IS FOR MATERIALS.
I ACTUALLY THINK THERE IS ONE AND FOR OUTSIDE SERVICES.
BUT THE BULK OF IT, I THINK THE 70-$75,000 OF IT IS BETWEEN TWO UTILITY PROVIDERS.
>> WELL, THAT REALLY MAKES ME EVEN MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THIS ITEM. THANK YOU.
[LAUGHTER] BUT IT'S UNCERTAINTY, AND WE JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT MATERIALS, HOW THOSE COSTS WILL CHANGE, BUT IT CONTINUES TO BE ONE OF THOSE QUESTION MARKS AND CONTINGENCIES.
>> YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT, SUPERVISOR.
I THINK WE'LL GET INTO THAT MORE AS WE TALK ABOUT THE CIP PLAN.
WE HAVE SOME OF THOSE SAME CONCERNS.
THANK YOU, BRANNON. APPRECIATE IT.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR MALLORY.
VICE CHAIR COMPTON, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
ROGER MCCORMICK HERE, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS.
HAPPY TO BE BEFORE YOU HERE TODAY TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT PUBLIC WORKS AND WHAT WE DO AND WHAT WE'RE REQUESTING FOR THIS UPCOMING YEAR.
JUST TO GET STARTED, PUBLIC WORKS DOES COVER A WIDE ARRAY OF ACTIVITIES WITHIN OUR DEPARTMENT.
WE COVER ROAD MAINTENANCE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY, WHICH INCLUDES ABOUT 800 MILES OF PAVED ROAD.
NEARLY THE SAME IN UNPAVED, JUST SHORT OF 800 MILES OF UNPAVED ROAD.
WITH THAT, WE HAVE TO MAINTAIN OUR EQUIPMENT THAT WE USE TO MAINTAIN THOSE MILES.
WE HAVE A HEAVY FLEET DIVISION WITHIN PUBLIC WORKS THAT WE USE TO HELP MAINTAIN THE EQUIPMENT THAT'S UTILIZED IN THAT MAINTENANCE AND PRESERVATION OF OUR EXISTING ROADS.
WE HANDLE RIGHT OF WAY PERMITTING, AND SO ANYTHING THAT WOULD REQUIRE A CONNECTION TO THE COUNTY RIGHT OF WAY.
WE ANALYZE AND LOOK AT THOSE CONNECTIONS, WHETHER IT BE NEW DEVELOPMENT OR EXISTING HOMES THAT WOULD LIKE TO DO
[04:10:03]
SOMETHING IN RELATION TO A CHANGE TO THEIR ACCESS TO OUR RIGHT OF WAY, WE REVIEW THOSE.WE HAVE ENGINEERING DIVISION WITHIN PUBLIC WORKS, WHICH DOES IN HOUSE DESIGN FOR SEVERAL OF OUR ENGINEERING PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.
THEY ALSO HELP OVERSEE SOME CONTRACTS THAT WE PUT OUT FOR CONSULTANT WORK.
IN RELATION TO PROJECT MANAGEMENT OF THE ENGINEERING THAT IS UTILIZED FOR THOSE LARGER SCALE PROJECTS.
ENGINEERING ALSO DOES HAVE A SURVEY DIVISION THAT WE ARE ABLE TO DO SOME SURVEYING WITHIN THE ENGINEERING TO HELP WITH THOSE DESIGNS.
IN THAT LAST THING AND IMPROVEMENTS, WE HAVE OUR CONSTRUCTION DIVISION WITHIN ENGINEERING AS WELL THAT WE HANDLE ALL OF OUR CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATION IN HOUSE WITHIN THE COUNTY.
WHEN WE PUT OUR PROJECTS OUT TO BID, OUR CONSTRUCTION ENGINEER OVERSEES ALL OF THOSE PROJECTS, AND HE HAS INSPECTORS THAT HE HAS THAT GO OUT TO EACH OF THOSE PROJECT SITES AND MAKE SURE THAT THE COUNTY HAS A FULL-TIME INSPECTOR THAT'S ON THOSE SITES THROUGHOUT THE CONSTRUCTION PHASE OF THOSE PROJECTS.
WE HAVE THREE OF THEM THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.
ONE IN SELIGMAN, ONE IN BAGDAD, AND ALSO ONE IN SEDONA.
WE HAVE A SOLID WASTE DIVISION THAT HAS EIGHT TRANSFER STATIONS AND TWO TIRE YARDS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.
THEY ARE VERY BUSY, AND YOU'LL SEE AS WE GO FORWARD HERE TALKING ABOUT SOME OF OUR REQUESTS, THIS YEAR, A LOT OF THOSE ARE IN RELATION TO OUR SOLID WASTE DIVISION.
LASTLY, BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST IS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
ASHLEY AL QUOZ OVERSEES OUR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DIVISION, AND IS CONSTANTLY DOING WORK IN RELATION TO PLANNING AND SUPERVISION OF EMERGENCIES WHEN THOSE DO ARISE.
HIT ON SOME OF OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN FY 2025.
BRANDON HAD HIT ON THIS A LITTLE BIT EARLIER.
PUBLIC WORKS DOES UTILIZE THE SAME OPEN GOV ASSET MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE SYSTEM.
WE HAVE USED THIS SINCE 2016 FOR OUR PAVEMENT MANAGEMENT AND ACTUALLY RECORDING A CONDITION RATING FOR EACH ONE OF OUR ROADS THROUGH THE COUNTY.
THIS SYSTEM IS ALSO ROBUST ENOUGH WHERE IT CAN TRACK AND DO WORK ORDERS WITHIN OUR STAFF THAT IS DOING WORK ORDERS ON THE ROADWAY FOR OUR GENERAL MAINTENANCE.
THIS LAST YEAR, WE WERE ABLE TO TRANSITION FROM A LEGACY PRODUCT THAT WAS CALLED ROAD MASTER SUITE THAT HAD BEEN DEVELOPED INTERNALLY BY THE COUNTY, THAT HAD BEEN USED FOR SEVERAL YEARS, AND HAVE TRANSITIONED INTO OVER TO USING CARTEGRAPH AS OUR MAIN WORK ORDER SYSTEM AS WELL.
TALKING ABOUT EXPANSION PROJECTS.
THEY DON'T HAPPEN A WHOLE LOT WITH THE CURRENT TIMES IN WHICH WE ARE WITH CONSTRUCTION AND COSTS AND JUST HOW EXPANSION PROJECTS ARE VIEWED IN RELATION TO ROADWAY.
WE WERE ABLE TO RECENTLY, IN FACT, THIS WEEK, WE HAVE A FINAL WALK THROUGH FOR THE PIONEER PARKWAY TRAILHEAD PROJECT.
THIS WAS A PROJECT THAT WAS DEVELOPED BETWEEN THREE ENTITIES, THE COUNTY, THE CITY PRESCOTT, AND ALSO THE CENTRAL YAVAPAI METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION, WHICH RECENTLY WENT THROUGH A NAME CHANGE TO Y PLAN.
THEY ARE ALL PARTNERS IN THIS, AND WE EACH PUT IN A LITTLE BIT OF FUNDING AND TURNED OUT TO BE A GREAT EXPANSION PROJECT.
THE TRAILHEAD IS OFF OF PIONEER PARKWAY CLOSER TO THE WILLIAMSON VALLEY END, BUT IT WILL ALLOW FOR A DIRECT CONNECTION FOR HORSE TRAILERS, AS WELL AS PEDESTRIANS TO ACCESS THE CIRCLE TRAIL WITHIN THE PRESCOTT AREA.
WE HAVE FINALIZED THE COUNTY EVACUATION ZONE PROJECT.
WITHIN THE UNINCORPORATED AREA OF YAVAPAI COUNTY, THAT INCLUDED DEVELOPMENT OF JUST OVER 500 ZONES IN RELATION TO THOSE ZONES THAT WOULD BE PUT ON NOTICE IN TIME OF EMERGENCY.
[04:15:05]
THIS SYSTEM THAT'S BEING UTILIZED IS ACTUALLY BEING WIDELY ADOPTED BY THE INCORPORATED AREAS, THE MUNICIPALITIES WITHIN THE COUNTY.IN FACT, ALL OF THEM, EXCEPT FOR TWO, IS WHAT I UNDERSTAND ARE USING THE SAME SYSTEM.
OF THE TWO THAT ARE REMAINING, ONE OF THEM IS TRANSITIONING INTO THE SAME SYSTEM.
THEN THE OTHER ONE HAD HAD ZONE SET UP FOR QUITE SOME TIME AND IS ABLE TO UTILIZE THAT SYSTEM THAT THEY'VE BEEN USING.
THIS IS A VERY EXCITING THING BECAUSE COUNTY WIDE, WE NOT ONLY HAVE THE UNINCORPORATED AREA, BUT ALSO ALL OF THE CITIES AND TOWNS THAT NOW HAVE THE ABILITY TO BE UNDER A ZONE SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCIES, WHICH IS A GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENT.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING RECENTLY ON AN UPDATED PLAN FOR THE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLAN.
THIS IS A PLAN THAT WE'RE REQUIRED TO UPDATE EVERY TWO YEARS IN RELATION TO OUR EMPG GRANT FUNDING, AND COMING BEFORE THE BOARD, AND AT THE NEXT BOARD MEETING, YOU'LL GET A PRESENTATION BY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ON THAT EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLAN UPDATE.
GOALS THAT WE HAVE FOR 2026 IS TO REDUCE THE BACKLOG OF PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN CREATED BY PREVIOUS YEARS WITH THE EXPENDITURE LIMIT.
WE'VE HAD SEVERAL DISCUSSIONS TODAY TO TALK ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THE EXPENDITURE LIMIT ON OUR OVERALL BUDGET.
LAST YEAR ALONE, THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT WAS ASKED TO REDUCE OUR OVERALL BUDGET BY $6.5 MILLION IN ORDER TO FIT UNDER THE EXPENDITURE LIMIT CAP THAT WE HAD.
WE WERE EXTREMELY PLEASED WITH THE CITIZENS OF YAVAPAI COUNTY BEING WILLING TO INCREASE THAT CAP BECAUSE, HOPEFULLY, WE HAVE PLANNED THIS YEAR TO CATCH UP ON SOME OF THOSE DEFERRED PROJECTS.
WE HAVE PUT FORWARD A BUDGET WITHIN OUR REGIONAL ROAD HALF CENT BUDGET THAT IS AROUND 25 MILLION THIS YEAR, WHICH IS THE HIGHEST IN WHICH WE HAVE PUT FORWARD SINCE I'VE BEEN AT THE COUNTY.
I THINK PROBABLY SINCE THE EXISTENCE OF THE HALF CENT REGIONAL ROAD FUND TO TRY TO COMPLETE SOME OF THESE PROJECTS.
THAT'S ONE OF OUR GOALS THIS YEAR IS TO TRY TO GET CAUGHT UP ON SOME OF THOSE DEFERRED PROJECTS.
WE'RE LOOKING TO CREATE A DEVELOPMENT FEE REVIEW SCHEDULE.
WHEN I SAY THAT, I THINK WE'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK WITH THE FLOOD CONTROL DEPARTMENT, AS WELL AS DEVELOPMENT SERVICES RECENTLY WITH DEVELOPMENTS THAT ARE COMING INTO THE COUNTY AND THE REVIEW TIME THAT'S REQUIRED TO OVERSEE THOSE PLANS AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PLANS ARE MEETING THE COUNTY DESIRED GOALS.
RIGHT NOW, PUBLIC WORKS STAFF IS WORKING ON THOSE REVIEWS, AND THERE ARE NO FEES THAT WE CHARGE THE DEVELOPERS IN RELATION TO THE REVIEW OF THE ROADWAYS AND INFRASTRUCTURE WITHIN THOSE DIVISIONS.
WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO IS DEVELOP A FEE SCHEDULE SO THAT THOSE FEES CAN BE PUT OVER TO THE DEVELOPER RATHER THAN THE HIGHWAY USED REVENUE FUND EMPLOYEES COVERING THAT COST, AND/OR IN SOME CASES, SOME OF THOSE EMPLOYEES HAVE PART OF THEIR SALARY COVERED BY THE GENERAL FUND.
THAT WOULD RELIEVE SOME OF THE BURDEN ON THE GENERAL FUND AS WELL.
WE'RE LOOKING AT TRYING TO IMPLEMENT THAT.
I THINK IT WILL BE IN COORDINATION WITH DEVELOPMENT SERVICES AND WITH THE FLOCK CONTROL DEPARTMENT, AND MAYBE LEANING TOWARDS MORE OF A COUNTY WIDE FEE SCHEDULE TYPE OF APPROACH.
>> WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO SEEK FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES TO SUPPLEMENT OUR EXISTING FUNDING THAT WE DO HAVE WITH THE HIGHWAY USER REVENUE FUND, AND WITH THE HALF-CENT FUNDING.
SOME EXAMPLES OF WHAT WE DO SPECIFICALLY WITHIN THE HALF-CENT FUNDING, I WOULD SAY IS MOSTLY DEDICATED TO THIS IS OR WE MATCH DOLLARS THAT ARE REQUIRED THROUGH PROGRAMS SUCH AS THE HIGHWAY SAFETY IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM OR THE OFF-SYSTEM BRIDGE PROGRAM, OR THE SAFE STREETS FOR ALL PROGRAM.
THESE ARE ALL GRANT OPPORTUNITIES IN WHICH THE COUNTY CAN APPLY FOR PLANNING DOCUMENTS AND OR IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS, AND WE TRY TO LEVERAGE THE DOLLARS THAT WE GET THROUGH THE HALF-CENT FUNDING TO BRING IN ADDITIONAL DOLLARS TO THE COUNTY.
[04:20:03]
WE HAVE SEVERAL ACTIVE HSIP PROJECTS AND OFF-SYSTEM BRIDGE PROJECTS, AND CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING AND SAFE STREETS FOR ALL PROJECTS RIGHT NOW.WE'RE VERY BUSY WITH ALL THESE DIFFERENT FUNDING SOURCES THAT ARE COMING WITH INTO THE COUNTY.
WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO SEEK THOSE IN THE COMING YEAR.
WE HAVE THREE HSIP APPLICATIONS RIGHT NOW THAT ARE GOING THROUGH AN ADDITIONAL SCOPING PHASE WITH ADOT.
LASTLY, ON HERE, WE ARE LOOKING TO IMPLEMENT NEW TRANSFER STATION FEES.
WITH THE TRANSFER STATION FEES, THESE ARE THE FEES THAT A CITIZEN WOULD PAY AS THEY COME INTO OUR TRANSFER STATIONS TO DISPOSE OF SOLID WASTE.
WE DO NOT TAKE COMMERCIAL DEBRIS AT OUR TRANSFER STATIONS.
THESE ARE STRICTLY FOR RESIDENTIAL SERVICES.
WITH THE EXCEPTION OF LANDSCAPING CONTRACTORS DO DISPOSE OF GREEN WASTE MATERIAL AT OUR SOLID WASTE TRANSFER STATIONS.
THE LAST TIME THAT WE LOOKED AT AN ADJUSTMENT TO THESE FEES WAS RIGHT AROUND TWO DECADES AGO.
ABOUT 20 YEARS AGO, 2004, 2005 TIME FRAME IS WHEN THE LAST TIME THEY WERE ADJUSTED.
THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO LOOK AT HAVING THE PATRONS THAT ARE UTILIZING THE SERVICES OF THE TRANSFER STATION ACTUALLY PAY FOR THAT SERVICE THAT THEY'RE USING, VERSUS HAVING THE GENERAL FUND COVER THE OFFSET IN WHICH WE'RE HAVING TO COVER THROUGH THE GENERAL FUND FOR THOSE SERVICES.
CURRENTLY, THE TRANSFER STATIONS ARE OPERATING ABOUT 45% COST REVENUE THAT'S COMING IN.
THE GENERAL TAXPAYER WITHIN THE COUNTY IS THROUGH THE GENERAL FUND COVERING ABOUT 55% OF THOSE SERVICES AT THE TRANSFER STATION, BECAUSE THESE FEES ARE SO OLD.
THAT'S ANOTHER THING I THINK THAT WE'VE DISCUSSED RECENTLY AS PART OF MAYBE THE BUDGET PROCESS IN DEVELOPING A COUNTY-WIDE FEE SCHEDULE THAT WE WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE OF IS THAT YEARLY, WHEN THE BOARD DOES LOOK AT THE BUDGET TO ALSO LOOK AT THESE FEES THAT WE HAVE AT THE SOLID WASTE TRANSFER STATION AND SUCH, AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE IN LINE WITH WHERE THEY NEED TO BE EACH YEAR SO WE DON'T END UP IN A SITUATION LIKE WE ARE NOW WHERE THEY'RE 20 YEARS OLD, AND WE NEED TO DO A BIG ADJUSTMENT TO THEM.
THE CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE WITHIN THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, I WOULD SAY, ARE VERY SIMILAR TO SOME OF THE OTHER CHALLENGES THAT OUR DEPARTMENTS HAVE MENTIONED ALREADY TODAY.
I HATE TO BE A BROKEN WHEEL, BUT WE DO HAVE SOME OF THE SAME THINGS THAT SPECIFICALLY BRANDON WAS MENTIONING, WITH INFLATION AFFECTING THE COSTS THAT PUBLIC WORKS IS NOW PAYING FOR SERVICES AND MATERIALS.
WE HAVE CERTAIN MATERIALS SUCH AS CONCRETE AND ALUMINUM FOR OUR SIGN PANELS, STEEL, FOR OUR SIGN POSTS.
THESE SPECIFIC ITEMS ARE RELATED TO INFLATION, ESPECIALLY RECENTLY, WHERE THEY'VE GONE UP SO MUCH THAT SOME OF OUR VENDORS ARE HAVING A TROUBLE KEEPING THE PRICES THAT WE PUT OUT TO CONTRACT.
THAT IS GOING TO BE A CONTINUED CHALLENGE THROUGHOUT 2026.
GOING TO JUMP BACK TO THE FIRST BULLET HERE WITH THE HURF REVENUES.
WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS THIS MORNING, BUT THE HURF REVENUES THAT ARE COMING INTO THE COUNTY ARE BASED OFF OF A 1990 HURF TAX ALLOCATION, WHICH WAS $0.18 PER GALLON.
THAT $0.18 PER GALLON IS STILL WHAT THE STATE OF ARIZONA IS USING TO FUND ROADS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE VALUE OF $1 BACK IN 1990, AND YOU LOOK AT THE VALUE OF $1 NOW, THE DOLLAR IS ABOUT $0.40 TO WHAT IT WAS BACK THEN.
WE'RE OPERATING ON A TAX FOR HIGHWAYS REVENUE FUND THAT IS OUTDATED.
A LOT OF THE STATES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY HAVE UPDATED THEIR GAS TAX AND HAVE LOOKED AT BASING IT UPON A CPI SO IT CAN CONTINUALLY INCREASE.
HASN'T BEEN THE APPETITE FOR THAT WITHIN ARIZONA AT THIS POINT, ALONG WITH WHAT SUPERVISOR JENKINS WAS MENTIONING THIS MORNING WITH
[04:25:03]
THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE TAX THAT HASN'T BEEN TACKLED WITHIN ARIZONA.NOW I KNOW IT'S BEING DISCUSSED.
BUT THAT IS A BIG CHALLENGE FOR US AS FAR AS THE REVENUE SOURCE, BEING UPDATED TO CURRENT STANDARDS, OUR CURRENT DAY.
YOU COULD SAY. I THINK THOSE SECOND TWO BULLETS, I'VE ALREADY HIT ON WITH THE VENDORS AND INFLATION.
WE DO HAVE A HIGH RISK OF HAZARDS WITHIN YAVAPAI COUNTY, ESPECIALLY WITH THE LITTLE AMOUNT OF RAIN THAT WE'VE HAD OVER THE LAST YEAR OR TWO.
THERE IS A HIGH POTENTIAL FOR FORCED FIRE AND THE LIKE.
WE HAVE DIFFERENT THREATS THAT ARE COMING NOW INTO THE COUNTY.
WE RECENTLY HAD A TECHNOLOGICAL DOWNTURN THAT CAME WITH THE CROWDSTRIKE EVENT THAT HAPPENED THAT PUT A LOT OF COMPUTERS WHERE THEY COULDN'T EVEN BOOT.
THERE'S MORE THREATS, I THINK, TO YAVAPAI COUNTY AND THE COMMUNITY THAT MIGHT NOT BEEN A THOUGHT OF FIVE YEARS AGO THAT NOW WE'RE HAVING TO ADDRESS AND SO BEING ABLE TO ADDRESS ALL OF THOSE AND HAVE STAFF TO BE READY TO ADDRESS ALL OF THEM.
OUR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DIVISION HAS FOUR FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES TO HANDLE ALL OF THAT, AND THEY NOT ONLY HANDLE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT FOR THE COUNTY, BUT THEY ALSO ASSIST ALL OF THE JURISDICTIONS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY WITH EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT THROUGH IGAS THAT WE HAVE WITH THEM.
THEY HAVE A BIG TASK AND A LOT OF WORK TO DO.
PROCESSING AN INCREASED AMOUNT OF SLASH MATERIAL TRANSFER STATIONS.
AS PART OF OUR BUDGET ENHANCEMENTS THIS YEAR, WE HAD LOOKED AT TRYING TO INCREASE OUR PRODUCTION AT THE TRANSFER STATIONS WITH RELATION TO WHAT WE CALL GREEN WASTE OR SLASH MATERIAL.
IT'S A POPULAR PROGRAM THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.
IN FACT, THIS YEAR, WE STARTED IT TWO WEEKS EARLY, AND WE'RE EXTENDING IT TWO WEEKS LONGER SO THAT PEOPLE CAN UTILIZE THAT SERVICE TO DROP OFF THEIR YARD WASTE AT OUR TRANSFER STATIONS.
NOT ONLY DURING THAT TIME, BUT THROUGH THE REMAINING PART OF THE YEAR, WE DO SEE A HIGH INFLUX OF SLASH MATERIAL INTO OUR TRANSFER STATIONS.
CURRENTLY, IT'S COMING IN AT SUCH A RATE THAT WE ARE HAVING A DIFFICULT TIME KEEPING UP WITH THE PILES OF SLASH.
WE HAVE ONE CREW THAT'S DEDICATED TO ALL EIGHT TRANSFER STATIONS THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE COUNTY.
SO THEY HAVE WE ACTUALLY HAVE TWO GRINDING MACHINES IN THE COUNTY.
ONE IS A VERMEER, THAT IS QUITE OLD.
I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY THE AGE ON THAT, BUT IT PREDATES MY COMING TO THE COUNTY, WHICH WAS IN 2012.
WE'VE HAD THAT ONE FOR QUITE SOME TIME.
WE ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO, I WOULD SAY, GOT AN UPGRADED MACHINE MADE BY ROTOR CHOPPER, WHICH HAS INCREASED OUR PRODUCTIVITY.
IT WILL GRIND AT A FASTER RATE THAN THE OLD ONE.
BUT WE STILL HAVE ONLY ONE CREW TO OPERATE THE GRINDING OPERATION.
THAT ONE CREW DOES TRAVEL AROUND THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY TO TRY TO MAKE A DENT IN THESE PILES.
BUT THEY'RE INCREASING AT SUCH A RATE THAT IT'S HARD FOR US TO KEEP UP.
THE CREW FROM TIME TO TIME, AND I WOULD SAY, INSTEAD OF FROM TIME TO TIME, IT'S QUITE OFTEN THAT OUR TRANSFER STATION ATTENDANTS WILL NEED SICK TIME OR HAVE A PLANNED VACATION.
THEY'LL GO WHEREVER IT MAY BE THAT THEY NEED TO BE DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT, AND OUR CREW THAT DOES THE GRINDING NOW HAS TO GO AND COVER AT THOSE TRANSFER STATIONS SO THAT WE HAVE AN EMPLOYEE THERE TO OPERATE AND TO ALLOW THE PUBLIC TO COME IN.
OUR GRINDING CREW IS NOT GRINDING EVERY DAY.
THEY ARE BEING TASKED WITH FILLING IN WHERE THEY NEED TO TO JUST KEEP OPERATIONS RUNNING.
THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE HAVE SUCH LARGE PILES OF SLASH THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.
IT DOES CREATE AN ISSUE WHERE THOSE PILES GET TALL ENOUGH AND THEY HAVE ENOUGH MATERIAL IN THEM,
[04:30:04]
THEY CAN PRODUCE HEAT AND CATCH ON FIRE.THAT'S WHAT WE WANTED TO AVOID.
THAT IS DEFINITELY A CHALLENGE THAT WE HAVE IN 2026 GOING FORWARD AND HAVE HAD FOR QUITE SOME TIME.
>>ROGER? I THINK WE DID HAVE THAT SITUATION.
I THINK IT WAS WHEN DAN WAS STILL THE DIRECTOR THAT SOMETHING CAUGHT ON FIRE.
>> THE TRANSPORTATION AND K30.
>> IT IS IMPORTANT. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT TO OUR ATTENTION.
>> IT SOUNDS LIKE IF THE PILES IN THE RIGHT PLACE, IT SOLVES TWO PROBLEMS.
>> MOVING ON FROM CHALLENGES, I THINK WE HAVE OPPORTUNITY.
WE ALL HAVE CHALLENGES, BUT WE ALSO HAVE OPPORTUNITY.
I TALKED ABOUT EARLIER, WE DO LIKE TO LOOK FOR FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES TO AUGMENT OUR EXISTING CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.
WE DO SEEK AFTER THOSE FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES QUITE AGGRESSIVELY.
EACH YEAR WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE, WE TRY TO IDENTIFY WHERE WE CAN PUT IN A GRANT APPLICATION TO GET SOME ADDITIONAL FUNDING INTO THE COUNTY WHEN IT MAKES SENSE.
SOMETIMES THE PROJECTS AREN'T HIGH ENOUGH VALUE, WHERE IT MAKES SENSE TO GET FEDERAL DOLLARS INTO IT, BUT WHEN THEY ARE, WE DO LIKE TO DEFINITELY GO AFTER THOSE FUNDS.
SECONDLY, WE HAVE THE CHANCE TO INCREASE OUR RESILIENCY FOR EPI COUNTY BY ENHANCING EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS AND PLANS.
EVERYBODY KNOWS OF THE FEDERAL CHANGES THAT WE'RE HAVING IN RELATION TO FEMA, AND THE IDEA OF SHIFTING A LOT MORE OF THAT RESPONSIBILITY ONTO THE LOCALS VERSUS MAYBE HAVING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TAKE OVER THE RESPONSIBILITY THAT THEY HAVE BEEN DOING.
THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO LOOK AT EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND TO SEE HOW WE CAN INCREASE EPI COUNTY'S RESILIENCY AT THE LOCAL LEVEL TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PREPARED DEPENDING UPON WHAT HAPPENS.
A LOT OF IT'S UP IN THE AIR RIGHT NOW, IT'S BEING REVIEWED, AND THINGS ARE BEING CUT.
BUT AS WE LOOK FORWARD, IN RELATION TO FUNDING TO OUR STAFF WITHIN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, AND ALSO WITH THE EVER-GROWING POPULATION THAT WE HAVE WITHIN THE COUNTY, MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE PREPARED EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT WISE WITH OUR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DIVISION.
THE OPPORTUNITY THAT WE HAVE WITHIN OUR SOLID WASTE DIVISION IS THE ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY WHO OVERSEES THE WASTE TIRE PROGRAM WITHIN THE STATE.
HAS RECENTLY CHANGED THE FEES THAT ARE CHARGED FOR DISPOSAL OF A TIRE.
IT HAS NOW GONE UP TO $4.66 AS OF APRIL 1ST.
THEY HAD TALKED ABOUT IMPLEMENTING THOSE FEES AS EARLY AS BEGINNING OF THIS CALENDAR YEAR IN JANUARY.
BUT THROUGH DISCUSSION WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, THEY TRANSITION THAT TO APRIL 1ST OF THIS YEAR.
AS OF APRIL, THOSE COLLECTION OR DISPOSAL FEES THAT ARE CHARGED TO DISPOSE OF THOSE TIRES HAS ESSENTIALLY LITTLE MORE THAN DOUBLED.
WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY WITHIN OUR EXISTING BUDGET, WE'VE GOT AROUND $620,000 WE'RE ESTIMATING THAT WOULD COME IN FOR THAT REVENUE SOURCE, WITH THE DOUBLING OF THOSE FEES BY ADQ, WE'RE LOOKING AT INCREASING THAT REVENUE DOUBLING UP TO ABOUT 1.4 MILLION.
THAT'LL BE A BENEFIT TO THE COUNTY BECAUSE SOME OF THE BUDGET ENHANCEMENT REQUESTS THAT WE PUT FORWARD IN RELATION TO SOLID WASTE CAN BE UTILIZED THROUGH THE TIRE FUND, AS LONG AS THOSE REQUESTS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH MAINTENANCE OF OUR TIRE YARDS.
THEN LASTLY, DON'T WANT TO FORGET THE PIECE I ALREADY MENTIONED, BUT THE PROPOSED TRANSFER STATION FEE ADJUSTMENTS, WHICH WE'RE ACTIVELY PLANNING ON DOING THAT IMPLEMENTATION.
IN FACT, WE'VE SET OUT A CALENDAR TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN STARTING JUNE 1ST.
WE WILL BE ADVERTISING ON THE COUNTY'S WEBSITE, THE CHANGES TO THOSE FEES.
THAT'S A 60-DAY NOTIFICATION THROUGH OUR WEBSITE
[04:35:04]
AND THEN 15 DAYS PRIOR TO THE 60 DAYS EXPIRING.WE WILL COME BEFORE THE BOARD WITH A HEARING TO POSSIBLY LOOK AT INCREASING THOSE FEES.
THOSE FEES, I WOULD SAY, IN GENERAL, ABOUT DOUBLE FROM WHAT THEY ARE RIGHT NOW CURRENTLY TO DISPOSE OF A BAG OF TRASH AT OUR TRANSFER STATIONS IS $1, AND SO WE'D BE LOOKING TO INCREASE FROM $1 TO $2 FOR A DISPOSAL OF A BAG OF TRASH.
>> ARE WE STILL GOING TO HAVE THE TIME WHEN WE MIGHT HAVE FREE SLASH DAYS, STILL GOING TO DO THAT, AT LEAST, ONCE A YEAR, WHATEVER.
ARE WE STILL GOING TO OFFER THAT UP, OR HOW'S THAT GOING TO WORK?
>> YEAH, WE'VE BUILT THOSE NUMBERS INTO OUR BUDGET.
WE DO THAT ON A YEARLY BASIS BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S A POPULAR PROGRAM, THAT THE CITIZENS LIKE.
YES, WE DO ACCOUNT FOR THAT EACH YEAR, AND IT IS WITHIN THE 2026 BUDGET TO DO THAT AGAIN NEXT SPRING.
USUALLY, APRIL 1ST TO JUNE 1ST IS WHEN WE DO THAT.
>> WELL, IT JUST GIVES THEM THAT TIME, THAT OPPORTUNITY IF THEY CAN'T AFFORD.
I KNOW PRESCOTT VALLEY HAS THEIR FREE DAY OF, DUMP DAY, WHATEVER THEY CALL IT.
>>YOU'RE PAYING FOR IT ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, DEVELOPMENT SERVICES IS GOING TO CLEAN IT UP IF WE DON'T OFFER A FREE DAY. I'M JUST SAYING.
>> MADAM CHAIR, WE EXTENDED IT TWO WEEKS AND ANOTHER TWO WEEKS ON THE OTHER SIDE? DID YOU SEE A RESULT OF THAT? DID PEOPLE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT?
>> WE'RE TRACKING THOSE NUMBERS, AND I DON'T HAVE THE RESULTS OF THOSE YET.
I KNOW SOLID WASTES DIVISION MANAGER, JEFF DARLEY IS ACTUALLY IN THE ROOM WITH US TODAY, AND HE HAS BEEN LOOKING AT THAT, BUT WE DON'T HAVE THEM TABULATED OR AVAILABLE AT THIS POINT, BUT WE'LL DEFINITELY GET THOSE TO YOU WHEN WE DO HAVE THEM.
>> ANY OPPORTUNITY TO TURN THAT SLASH INTO A PRODUCT FOR WASTE TO ENERGY OR OUT AT DRAKE CEMENT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT?
>> GREAT QUESTION, SUPERVISOR KUKNYO.
WE HAVE LOOKED AT THAT IN THE PAST, AND ACTUALLY, SPECIFICALLY WITH DRAKE'S CEMENT, WE'VE ASKED THEM IF THERE'S INTEREST IN UTILIZING THE GROUND MATERIAL FOR ENERGY PRODUCTION AT THEIR PLANT OUT IN DRAKE.
WHEN WE LOOKED AT THAT, THE PROBLEM WITH USING THE MATERIAL THAT'S GROUND UP AT OUR SOLID WASTE TRANSFER STATIONS IS THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF WOOD THAT ARE PART OF THAT.
YOU MIGHT HAVE A JUNIPER BRUSH, YOU MIGHT HAVE A COTTONWOOD TREE, YOU MIGHT HAVE AN ELM TREE.
WHATEVER THE WOOD IS, WE'RE GRINDING IT UP AND IT'S GOING INTO A PILE.
THEY ALL HAVE DIFFERENT FLASH POINTS IN HEAT PRODUCTION THAT THEY CREATE.
NOT KNOWING EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO GET WHEN YOU BURN THE MATERIAL WAS AN ISSUE FOR DRAKE BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO HAVE A PRODUCT THAT PRODUCES A CONSISTENT HEAT INDEX.
THAT DIDN'T PAN OUT IN THE PAST WHEN WE LOOKED AT IT, AND WE LOOKED AT THAT WITH THEM, I'D SAY WITHIN THE LAST TWO YEARS.
WE'VE HAD THAT DISCUSSION, BUT WITH THAT SAID, WE DO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH A VENDOR, MIRACLE-GRO, THAT DOES UTILIZE OUR GROUND MATERIAL FROM OUR TRANSFER STATIONS.
THEY COME IN AND THEY HAUL IT OFF AND USE IT IN PRODUCTION OF THEIR SOIL PRODUCTS THAT THEY SELL TO THE CONSUMER.
WE'RE ACTIVELY TRYING TO GET ALL OF OUR TRANSFER STATIONS SET UP IN A WAY IN WHICH MIRACLE-GRO CAN BRING TRUCKS BY ALL OF THEM SO THAT THEY CAN GET THE MATERIAL LOADED.
IT'S DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO LOAD THE MATERIAL AT SOME OF THE TRANSFER STATIONS, AND SO THE MAIN ONE THAT'S DOING THAT RIGHT NOW IS THE ONE IN CAMP VERDE BECAUSE IT'S SET UP WELL FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT, BUT THAT IS A SERVICE THAT IS BENEFICIAL TO THE COUNTY BECAUSE IT DOESN'T COST US ANYTHING TO HAUL THE MATERIAL OFF AT THAT POINT.
THE VENDORS ARE COMING BY AND TAKING IT.
>> WHEN WE MOVE SOLID MUNICIPAL, DO WE USE ROLL OFF BOXES OR TIPPER TRAILERS?
>> I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION.
DO YOU? ROLL OFFS? YEAH, ROLL OFFS.
>> JUST BECAUSE IF WE COULD SOMEHOW USE THE TIPPER TRAILERS, THEN YOU COULD PICK WHAT LANDFILL YOU WANTED TO GO TO, AND THAT COULD BE A SIGNIFICANT CUT IN HALF WASTE SAVINGS.
JUST OTHER WAYS, I DON'T KNOW. MY WHEEL HOUSE.
>> THAT'S YOUR BUSINESS, FOR SURE.
[04:40:02]
I THINK WE HIT EVERYTHING ON THE SLIDE.HERE'S JUST A DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW.
THANKS, ZACH FOR HELPING PUT TOGETHER THIS SLIDE.
THE RECOMMENDED THAT YOU'RE SEEING HERE IS A RECOMMENDED NUMBER BASED UPON THE INCLUSION OF THE BUDGET ENHANCEMENTS THAT WERE RECOMMENDED.
THOSE BUDGET ENHANCEMENTS THAT ARE RECOMMENDED ARE THE GENERAL LINE ITEM INCREASES WITH SOLID WASTE FOR INFLATIONARY COSTS, MOST OF THOSE RELATED TO HAULING AND DISPOSAL.
THOSE HAVE GONE UP SIGNIFICANTLY, AND THEN I'LL GET INTO THESE A LITTLE BIT MORE LATER ON THE BUDGET ENHANCEMENT SIDE OF THINGS, BUT A NEW SOLID WASTE FIELD SUPERVISOR RECLASSIFICATION OF ONE OF OUR EXISTING POSITIONS WITHIN SOLID WASTE.
THEN ALSO, THE AIRPORT GRANT MATCHES THAT WE DO EACH YEAR, AND THEN A GRINDING TRUCK, A FRONT LOADER, AND ACTUALLY, THE FRONT LOADER WOULDN'T BE PART OF THE GENERAL FUND.
THE 4.1-4.7, IT WOULD BE PART OF THE OTHER FUNDS BECAUSE IT'S PART OF THE TIRE FUND IS WHERE WE'RE FUNDING THAT ONE THROUGH, BUT THEN ALSO FENCING AT BOTH OUR BLACK CANYON CITY LOCATION AND OUR CONGRESS LOCATION TRANSFER STATIONS.
THEY'RE IN NEED OF NEW FENCING.
WE OPERATE IN RELATION TO FTES FOR ABOUT 145 EMPLOYEES, AND WE'D BE GOING UP TO, I THINK AROUND ABOUT 146 WITH THE INCREASE OF THIS SOLID WASTE FIELD SUPERVISOR. IS THERE A QUESTION?
>> I DO HAVE A QUESTION, IF YOU DON'T MIND, CHAIR.
WHY IS SEDONA AIRPORT NOT INCLUDED IN THE GRANT MATCH? THAT'S MY QUESTION.
>> THE COUNTY DOES HAVE THREE AIRPORTS.
WE ACTIVELY MANAGE THE GRANTS THAT COME IN.
SORRY, I THINK OF THE SOLID WASTE TRANSFER STATION IN BAGDAD.
FOR THE BAGDAD AIRPORT AND FOR THE SELIGMAN AIRPORT, WE MANAGE THOSE GRANTS.
THE SEDONA AIRPORT IS A LITTLE BIT UNIQUE IN THAT THERE'S A SEDONA-OAK CREEK AIRPORT AUTHORITY OVER THERE THAT HANDLES THE INS AND OUTS OF THE OPERATIONS FOR THE SEDONA AIRPORT.
WE DO HELP THEM WITH MANAGING THOSE GRANTS AS THEY COME IN.
I THINK IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IS, I THINK YOU'RE SEEING THREE GRANT MATCHES FOR BAGDAD AND ONE FOR SELIGMAN, AND SO IN RELATION TO THAT, THAT'S WHAT IS FOR THIS YEAR.
>> SEDONA JUST DIDN'T APPLY FOR GRANTS?
>> I THINK THAT'S ABOUT EVERYTHING WE WANT TO HIT ON THERE.
OUR BUDGET ENHANCEMENTS, TO JUST TO GO INTO A LITTLE MORE DEPTH ON THESE, WE PICKED OUR TOP 3 SO THAT WE DIDN'T GET INTO EVERYTHING BUDGET ENHANCEMENTS, BUT IF THERE'S SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ABOUT ANY OF THE OTHER ONES WITHIN YOUR BOOKS, I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER THOSE.
REQUEST NUMBER 07-15 AND 07-16, I'VE GROUPED THEM TOGETHER BECAUSE THEY'RE BOTH FENCING PROJECTS.
IN RELATION TO THE ONE IN CONGRESS, WE HAVE THAT TRANSFER STATION LOCATED ON BLM PROPERTY, AND ACTUALLY ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE TRANSFER STATION, WE HAVE A PIT THAT WE USE FOR OUR ROAD OPERATION ACTIVITIES TO HOME STORE MATERIAL, ALLOW OUR EQUIPMENT TO BE THERE WHEN WE'RE DOING WORK DOWN IN THE AREA.
WE HAVE BEEN UTILIZING THAT PIT FOR THE ROAD OPERATIONS FOR THE COMMUNITY CLEANUPS, RATHER THAN HAVING IT ON OUR CONGRESS TRANSFER STATION SITE.
REASON BEING IS THE CONGRESS TRANSFER STATION SITE IS QUITE SMALL.
THEY'VE ASKED US TO STOP HOLDING THE COMMUNITY CLEANUPS IN OUR ROAD PIT ON THE OTHER SIDE, AND SO WE NEED TO EXPAND THE EXISTING CONGRESS TRANSFER STATION WHICH BLM IS WILLING TO DO THAT FOR US.
THEY DON'T HAVE NO OBJECTION TO IT.
THEN AS PART OF THAT EXPANSION, THE EXISTING FENCING THAT IS AROUND THE CONGRESS TRANSFER STATION IS QUITE OLD AND DILAPIDATED, AND SO WE WOULD LOOK AT FENCING THE NEW AREA AND MAKING IT ALL UPDATED WITH NEW FENCING.
[04:45:07]
THEN WITH BLACK CANYON CITY, SIMILAR SITUATION, THE FENCING IS QUITE OLD, DILAPIDATED, FALLING DOWN IN SOME AREAS.SOME AREAS, IT'S THREE BARBED WIRE FENCE RANGE TYPE OF FENCING.
FOR CATTLE, IT'S NOT REALLY A SECURITY FENCE.
WE CONTINUALLY HAVE ISSUES DOWN IN BLACK CANYON CITY WHERE WE'RE HAVING BREAK INS, THEFT AND VANDALISM THAT'S DONE TO THE COUNTY TRANSFER STATION, AND SO WE WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO FENCE IT WITH AN ACTUAL CHAIN LINK FENCE WITH BARBED WIRE AT THE TOP OF IT TO HELP PREVENT SOME OF THAT FUTURE THEFT AND VANDALISM WE'VE BEEN HAVING DOWN THERE WITHIN BLACK CANYON CITY.
SECOND ONE DOWN, THE SOLID WASTE FIELD SUPERVISOR.
THE SOLID WASTE FIELD SUPERVISOR IS ASKED TO DO A LOT OF THINGS.
IN FACT, THEY ARE THE FIELD SUPERVISOR THAT GOES AROUND TO ALL THE TRANSFER STATIONS.
IF SOMEBODY IS NOT AVAILABLE TO WORK AT THEIR TRANSFER STATIONS, THEY'RE ONE OF THE ONES THAT SOMETIME FILLS IN.
IF, SAY OUR GRINDING CREW IS IN THE MIDDLE OF SOMETHING AND JUST CAN'T BREAK AWAY, THEN THE FIELD SUPERVISOR CAN HELP ASSIST WITH THAT, BUT WITH HAVING EIGHT TRANSFER STATIONS AND TWO TIRE YARDS, THIS POSITION IS REALLY TAXED.
THEY HAVE 19 EMPLOYEES THAT THEY OVERSEE WITH THE ONE SUPERVISOR, AND JUST FOR MERE AVAILABILITY FOR THAT SUPERVISOR TO BE AVAILABLE FOR EMPLOYEES TO TALK TO AND TO ASK QUESTIONS, IT REALLY IS TO THE POINT NOW WITH TAKING OVER THE SLASH PROGRAM AND HOW IT'S REALLY INCREASED IN THE RECENT YEARS, THAT WE DO NEED A SECOND SOLID WASTE FIELD SUPERVISOR.
TO BE ABLE TO SPLIT THAT RESPONSIBILITY OF THE TRANSFER STATIONS AND THE EMPLOYEES BETWEEN TWO PEOPLE IS GOING TO REALLY HELP US AND BENEFIT US.
THIS COST HERE DOES INCLUDE A TRUCK FOR THAT PERSON TO GET AROUND THROUGH THE COUNTY TO THE DIFFERENT TRANSFER STATIONS, AND SO THAT'S ACCOUNTED FOR, ALONG WITH THE OPERATING EXPENSES OF A COMPUTER AND ALL THAT STUFF THAT GOES WITH IT.
LASTLY, THE SOLID WASTE GRINDING TRUCK.
CURRENTLY, WE DON'T HAVE A TRUCK THAT'S REALLY OUTFITTED TO SERVICE WHAT WE DO WHEN WE GO OUT AND WE OPERATE OUR GRINDING MACHINES.
WE HAVE TOOLS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO CONSOLIDATE INTO ONE VEHICLE THAT IS DEDICATED TO THE GRINDING ACTIVITY THAT WE DO WITH THE GREEN WASTE MATERIAL.
THIS PARTICULAR TRUCK WITH THE SERVICE BODY WOULD BE OUTFITTED WITH A CRANE THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT OF THE DIFFERENT SCREENS THAT GO INSIDE OF THE GRINDING MACHINERY.
CURRENTLY, IF WE NEED TO PULL A SCREEN OUT, SAY FROM A FOUR INCH SCREEN DOWN TO TWO INCH SCREEN BECAUSE WE'RE REDUCING THE SIZE OF THE MATERIAL THAT WE'RE GRINDING, THE WAY THAT WE DO THAT IS WE HAVE A FRONT END LOADER AND WE'LL HOOK THE FRONT END LOADER UP TO A CHAIN, WE'LL CHAIN THE CHAIN TO THE GRATE, AND WE'LL LIFT IT OUT WITH A FRONT END LOADER.
THIS SERVICE BODY WITH A CRANE WOULD ALLOW US TO DO THAT A LOT MORE SAFE FOR THE EMPLOYEES.
THOSE ARE THE TOP THREE THAT I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT, AND I THINK THAT TAKES US TO THE END OF OUR PRESENTATION.
>> RODGER, I JUST WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT THAT FRONT LOADER.
DID YOU SAY THE COST FOR THAT IS GOING TO COME OUT OF THE TIRE FUND OR? LET'S UNDERSTAND THAT.
>> WE DO HAVE WITHIN THE BUDGET REQUESTS, AND I THINK IT IS ON THE APPROVED RECOMMENDATION FOR FUNDING IS A NEW FRONT END LOADER TO BE PURCHASED THROUGH THE TIRE FUND, AND IT WILL BE UTILIZED TO HELP MOVE TIRES AROUND AND STUFF LIKE THAT WITHIN THE TIRE YARDS.
IT ALSO CAN BE UTILIZED IN COMMUNITY CLEANUPS AND THINGS LIKE THAT AS WELL.
>> GREAT. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? WELL, I GUESS WE'RE GOOD TO GO.
>> NOT ON YOU. SOME GROUPS HAVE TOUCHED ON GRANTS.
[04:50:05]
I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE GRANT PROCESS HERE WITHIN THE COUNTY IF YOU HAVE A GRANT WRITER OR IF EACH DEPARTMENT. YOU'RE SHAKING YOUR HEAD.[LAUGHTER] I WAS JUST CURIOUS BECAUSE I'M FAMILIAR WITH EACH DEPARTMENT HANDLING GRANTS, AND I'M TOLD THAT IT'S NOT THE PROCESS USUALLY OF GETTING THE GRANT.
IT'S THE PROCESS OF TRACKING ALL THE REQUIREMENTS THAT YOU HAVE TO DO ONCE YOU GET THE GRANT, AND UNFORTUNATELY, SOMETIMES STAFF MAYBE THINK TWICE ABOUT EVEN APPLYING FOR THE GRANT BECAUSE OF ALL THE PAPERWORK FOLLOWING.
I WAS JUST CURIOUS IF YOU HAVE A SIMILAR PROCESS HERE WITHIN THE COUNTY THAT I'M FAMILIAR WITH.
>> YES. UNFORTUNATELY, IT SOUNDS LIKE WE DO.
IT'S AT THE PURVIEW OF EACH DEPARTMENT.
WE DO HAVE SOME CENTRALIZED REPORT SUPPORT THROUGH THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT, THROUGH COUNTY'S DEPARTMENT, BUT THAT'S WHY I WAS CHUCKLING.
WE'VE HAD SOME INTERNAL CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE NEED FOR A GRANT WRITER.
RIGHT NOW WE DON'T HAVE THAT EXPERTISE, BUT YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT, TOO.
IT'S NOT JUST THE PROCESS OF IDENTIFYING AND SEEKING WRITING GRANTS, BUT THEN GRANTS MANAGEMENT. ABSOLUTELY.
>> SURE. CHAIR, IF THERE ARE NO OTHER QUESTIONS, THE LAST ITEM ON OUR AGENDA FOR TODAY IS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS.
HOWEVER, WE HAVE A DEAL FOR YOU.
>> IT'S 2:55, ALMOST THREE O'CLOCK, AND SINCE PEOPLE ARE GETTING TIRED, NOW WE'RE JUST LOOKING TOMORROW'S SCHEDULE ACTUALLY IS OUR LATEST DAY, AND WE THINK WE'LL MOVE THROUGH IT PRETTY QUICKLY.
IF THE BOARD WOULD LIKE TO, WE CAN MOVE THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS PIECE TO TOMORROW.
I THINK WE'LL PROBABLY STILL FINISH QUICKER.
>> THAT WAS JUST A SIGNAL, CHAIR. SORRY.
>> I HAVE NO PROBLEMS WITH THAT.
MY JEEP IS READY AT THE CAR DEALERSHIP.
[LAUGHTER] I WAS THINKING, I'M NOT GOING TO GET MY CAR.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS [OVERLAPPING] TOMORROW, NINE O'CLOCK, SAME PLACE.
>> WHAT DO WE CALL THIS? WE WILL RECONVENE AT 9:00 TOMORROW MORNING, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30TH.
THANK YOU, EVERYBODY. [BACKGROUND]
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.