Budget & Finance Committee - Regular Meeting

Okay, it is 5:00 June the 12th. Uh we're at the CCAP building. This is budget and finance. I call the meeting to order. Uh we have taken the role and recorded the attendance on the sheet and I will entertain a motion to approve the agenda. Motion to approve. Motion by Stelfield. Second. Second by Miss Jones. Any discussion? Any additions to the agenda? Okay. All those in favor by I. I. Okay. Public comments. Number one is Maryann Edinger. Before we get started, I'll remind everybody, please silent your phone. Okay. Good evening. The reason why I asked to speak is I've had complaints that I don't speak loud enough. So, I wanted to make sure everybody heard me. This is really about the budget, but I wanted to get this out here before we got deep into the agenda tonight. So, good evening. In order to be heard clearly, like I said, I request to speak here. So, for those who don't know me, my name is Marionette Edinger. I've served as the county coffee county director of accounts and budget since March 2006. This budget here is currently my 20th budget. I tend to be brief and wish a comment that personally I've been tremendously disturbed by reaction and the untrue comments that are being circulated that been told to me over this particular budget to address the issue of the TVA revenue which stands for the Tennessee Valley Authority state revenue sharing. These are property taxes that are assessed to the TVA for any personal property that is located in Coffee County is collected by

the state shared with all counties and cities. The revenue is one of the few that is does not affect any maintenance of effort. If the Coffee County legislative body deems it appropriate to give a portion of that revenue to the rural schools, that is their right. This was done many years ago during periods of severe funding issues as a shortterm option and was never intended to be permanent. The TVA revenue rightfully belongs to the Coffee County general fund and we have reduced that funding in the past to accommodate the rural school budget. Furthermore, the county le body approves the amount of local revenues that is budgeted for the schools. That's all the schools. So I understand that April the school finance director and Dr. Harrove as well as the school board members being upset by this action. I of all people fully comprehend how timeconsuming it can be to recalculate a budget. However, nothing is firm regarding any county budget until the Coffee County legislative body approves it. Therefore, I offer the following funding suggestions regarding the Coffee County Schools general purpose fund. The revenue the TVA revenue that was rem removed was $671,240. There's an increase of current property tax of $260,111. There is an increase of local option sales tax of $189,830. As far as expenditures, I think it wise that the county pay the train bond payment that is currently uh budgeted in the Coffee County Schools

general purpose budget in the amount of $32,250 and pay that in the rural debt service fund because that is the appropriate place that the net effect on fund balance is the increase to the general Coffee County general purpose school fund of $130,951. Furthermore, I suggest we continue to pay the drawn pay train bond payment from the rule debt service fund until the bond is paid off a payment to the county general purpose school fund over six years of $2,121,000. that allows a significant period of time where the other revenue can be discussed and and hopefully found. We have also budgeted 650,000 to buy four school buses. That brings a total we have um Oh, I didn't provide that. Oh, over the years since 2014, that's provided $5.3 million worth of funding for school buses and other major capital projects for the schools. So, that's all I have on the school uh general purpose fund, the county general fund. Um, I have found out that we can pay the enterprise debt service, the enterprise uh capital leases from the debt service fund, general debt service. And although we can't pay those all at once, there's a timing issue, but they can. So, I've removed the 500,000 from the sheriff's budget, and we will put that over in general debt service. Also, I've removed the 150 for jail HVAC repair and put it

over in the capital project fund to purchase the HVAC units as they are needed. And then any capital any other major capital purchase that I saw. Uh there were several. Of course, the sheriff's fund's always the biggest. I'm not picking on you. I'm just trying to find this isn't these are just my suggestions. Um, we can decrease that by $50,000. Um, we can increase I believe we need to increase the 911 contribution by any additional um budgetary funding we give them by whatever the amount is over last year which is amounts to $105,2. Uh the other thing I think we need to remove the 2% salary increase leaving the five. Longevity pay is still in the budget. That's a savings of 307,631. We had a little bit of difference sheriff on the sheriff deputy salaries of I spoke to Frank Watkins. So we'll add back the $450,000 in the 106 line. The current deficit, according to the document that was given at the county commission meeting Tuesday night, current deficit in the general fund is 2,665,646. With these adjustments, that brings it down to 1,63,013. So, I just wanted to state that before we started. Okay. All right, next person. Anthony Harden.

Good evening, commissioners. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak to you today. My name is Anthony Harden and I serve as a deputy sheriff in this county. I'm here not only as a public servant, but as a fiance, a community member, and someone who cares deeply about the future of this place we all call home. I want to talk to you not as a number on a payroll, but as a human being who shows up every day to do a difficult and dangerous job. I respond to crisis calls. I put my life on the line, and I wear this bad badge with pride. But the truth is myself and many other co co-workers are reaching a breaking point. My fiance is currently in college working hard to own earn a degree and build a better life for us. Because of her full-time commitment to school, she can't work full-time. That means I am the sole provider for us. Despite risking my life on duty for your families and mine, I'm paid $19 an hour. For that, I work nights. I work weekends. And I miss holidays with my family. Holidays that you all get off. And sometimes I work scenes that no one should ever have to witness. I'm not asking for appraise or special treatment. I'm only asking for fairness and respect through action. Right now, I can't afford to buy a home at $19 an hour, and neither could any of you. I can't build a future with my fiance in this community. Health insurance costs are through the roof. And it's not just me. Many of my fellow officers and county employees are in the same position. Some of my partners I work with every day work two full-time jobs, not because they want to, but because they have to. Others are working part-time jobs on top of full shifts in uniform. And we're burning out, and we're burning out fast. We are giving everything we have to this county, but we're not receiving anything in return. And many of us are hanging on by a thread. Many of you may not know it, but a large

amount of county employees are actively seeking other jobs. That should be a serious concern and a wakeup call for all of you. If these people leave, if we continue to lose experienced, dedicated workers, the services this county depends on and your families depend on will suffer. I love my job. I truly do. But I can't continue to do it at this salary. Not without sacrificing my own family's future. And that's the hardest thing I'm I have to admit. loving what I do, but knowing I can't afford to keep doing it. Commissioners, we are asking and pleading for real change. We're not here asking for luxury. We're asking for a livable wage, for benefits that don't leave our families underwater and for policies that show us we matter, not just in words and in actions. Because right now, it feels like you, the county commissioners, do not care about us. And that has to change. Thank you for your time. And I sincerely hope you take this to heart. [Applause] Devin Nolan. Good evening, commissioners. My name is Devin Nolan. I'm a deputy here in Coffee County, and I'm proud to wear the badge and service this community. I'm also just three years out of high school. Like many people my age, I'm trying to build a future, start a career, raise a family one day, and live an honest life, doing something that matters. But tonight, I want to speak truthfully about something that's hard to say and even harder to live with. $19 an hour is not enough to start a life, and it's especially not enough in law enforcement. This job is not just a paycheck, it's a calling. I know it required sacrifice. I understood the risk, and I accepted the responsibility. But what I did not expect was even working a full-time job as a deputy. I'd struggle to afford the basic necessities that most people take for granted. And

it's not just me. Some of my fellow deputies, grown men and women, experienced professionals are relying on government assistance just to get by. That's not a small issue. That's a warning sign. And let's be honest, most people with families can't afford insurance that the county provides. That's a real problem. For those of us doing some of the hardest and most dangerous work with no room in our budget for coverage that we need to protect our own families, something seriously is wrong. when the people who protect and service community can't afford to feed their kids or cover their medical needs without outside help. To be honest with you, it's hard to stay with the county when I could go to the city and make four more dollars an hour starting out doing the same job and sometime with fewer responsibilities. That difference is life-changing. A lot of people wouldn't think twice about making the switch. And the only reason I stay, and I mean this sincerely, is because Sheriff Barton and the leadership team that he's built. They believe in us. They support us. and they make us feel like more than just a badge number. Uh but no matter how good the leadership is, it's incredibly hard to build a life, let alone a career on $19 an hour. We're not asking for luxuries. We're not asking for special treatment. We're asking for fairness, for dignity, for the basic chance to live and plan a future without having to choose between rent, groceries, and medical care. I joined this profession because I believe in making a difference. I believe in helping people. I believe in doing what is right, even when it's hard. It's becoming harder and harder to give 100% to a county that doesn't seem willing to invest in their deputies in return. $19 an hour is not enough to raise a family. It's not enough to live on. It's not enough for the profession that demands sacrifice, strength, and selflessness. Commissioners, we show up for you guys. Wish up for your neighborhoods, your families, and your emergencies, day or night, rain and shine. I'll leave you with this. Do you guys know what it's like to perform CPR on a loved one, someone's loved one? To give everything you have physically and emotionally for over an hour trying to save a life and watch that life swip slip away? That

loss stays with the families, but it stays with us, too. We carry it home. We carry the faces, the pain, and the weight of those moments because we're human and it affects us deeply. All we're asking is that you see us, you value us, and you show up for us the same way that we show up for you guys. Thank you for your time. Thank you, sir. [Applause] Flores. Good evening. I'm Juan Flores. I'm 26 years old. I've had the honor of serving Coffee County as a deputy sheriff for the last eight years. Since graduating the police academy, I've worn this uniform from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. to protect the citizens of this community as they sleep. I've responded to hundreds of motor vehicle accidents and watched numerous mangled bodies take their last breaths because I couldn't take them out of the car fast enough. I've kicked many doors down of homes of elderly people in distress so that EMS could try to save their lives. I performed CPR more times than anyone ever should. I've been face to face with an armed man that was so unhappy with his life that he was willing to shoot at me in order for me to take his life. And he did. I've spoken to hundreds of beaten women and begged them to let me help them. I've watched children witness situations that no child ever should. I've spent holidays on FaceTime from my patrol car with my family. And I've missed out on important family events. My contacts are messed up. I've also watched deputies come and go. They start their law enforcement career in Coffee County and then move on move on to the next county. Not for a higher position, not for more experience, not to further their career, but simply to make enough money to justify the sacrifice.

Ouch. I apologize, guys. I personally know deputies with one foot out the door. They are starting a family and Coffee County simply doesn't pay enough for this to sustain it. I've watched my partner deliver groceries in order to cover his family's expenses. I filled out applications for other departments myself. Then I think about that man that leads this department and it stops me in my tracks. In the meantime, I spend my days off in Nashville working a security job that pays more than my job here at home. The boots I wear on my feet, the cuffs on my belt, and the pin in my pocket come from my paycheck. I ask that you think about these things that we deal with and that we the problems that we solve that you don't have to think about. Vote like my family depends on it because they do. Thank you. [Applause] Larry McKelby. Good afternoon to the committee, to the citizens of Coffee County. I hope you're hearing what these deputies are saying. We do a tough job and all we ask for is to be competitively paid. Our county is set aside and uh sets aside money for a rainy day. And we always do and that's a good principle. That's a good way to go. But don't create a rainy day. Sheriff Parton and his his staff choose the best young men and women that they can find and they train them up. and it cost us as citizens money. But when they can go somewhere else

nearby and get paid more, where's the where's the true cost? Where's the loss? It's to us as citizens. I hope you'll look at this in your heart. I know we've got money sitting in other places that isn't part of what they're talking about right now. Pay us competitively. uh pay these young men and women competitively so that they're not pulled to other departments. Save our county that way. Is our tax dollars, your tax dollars. Thank you, Matthew. Has anybody pulled this meeting up on their phone? And is this podium shown in the camera? I got the camera view. I just want to be sure. They can see you. They can see them. I believe. Go ahead, sir. Not necessary. Not necessary. Scoot it over just to be sure. Come on. I think it's right in there. Is that good? That'll work. All right. Good evening, commissioners. My name is Matthew Miller and I probably proudly served as a night patrol sergeant with Coffee County Sheriff's Department for coming up on seven years. I want to thank you for the opportunity to speak today. This department and this community are more than just a job. They are my home away from home. I take great pride in serving the people here, standing beside my fellow officers, and doing my part to keep the community safe and strong. The commitment means something to me. It always has. But I also have another home, my family. And lately, I've had to make impossible

choices between providing for them fi financially and being present for them emotionally and physically. I've taken every overtime opportunity available. I've worked second jobs. I've even done Spark delivery for Walmart here in this community just to try to keep up with the rising costs. I'm not afraid of hard work, but despite all that, I find myself falling behind. And worse, I find myself missing the moments with my family that I can never get back. I want to be a provider, but also a present father and husband. And right now, I'm being stretched so thin that I feel like I'm failing at both. If something doesn't change, if our compensation doesn't begin to reflect the cost of living in the demands of the job, I'll be forced to consider leaving the department to seek other meanings of to supporting my family. That would be a painful decision because I truly love this department and what it stands for. But I have to do what's best for my family. I'm not here asking for more just because I want it. I'm asking because I need it. and so do many other officers serving alongside me. Fair, competitive pay helps retain dedicated public servants. It strengthens morale, improves service to community, and lets us show up not just for our jobs, but our families, too. Thank you for your time, and thank you for considering what this truly means, not just for our paychecks, but for our lives. [Applause] Sheriff. Good evening, commissioners. I'm a little under the weather. I think I got a little dose of pneumonia, so bear with me. Um, start out with, I want to say how thankful I am for the words I heard and

the men and women that are here, these young men and women asked to come speak to you. And um, we generally don't like those tactics with the commissioners. It's first time in my 33y year career do I know we've had this many deputies in a committee room uh, to speak to you. uh we've shown up to meetings before over different topics and programs, but to speak to you directly about what is affecting them personally, I think it's the first time it takes a it's really brave of them to to do that. And um I want them to know how much I appreciate them and I want all the county employees to know how much I appreciate them because we all interact with each other every day. We may not always get along or agree to disagree, but at the end of the day, we're all in this pot together called Coffee County. I've spent my entire career for the most part right here in the county. I've had opportunities to go to Nashville just of recently and in the last few years to bigger, better things. So have a lot of these folks. And I chose to stay here because I care about y'all. And if I can't help the folks, my own neighbors, and do what I'm doing here in Coffee County, then, you know, what good am I? Um, I've been thinking here lately, if I can't keep producing and trying to help those men and women that are in this room today, then where have where am I going as sheriff? I've provided them the equipment, provided them the training and the knowledge, all aspects of everything a deputy sheriff should get, but one thing, and that is the investment into their future. And I've got to fight for that. I've got to follow on the sword for it.

If it takes a tax increase voted by this body to get them and all the county employees where they need to be, then I am willing to fall on that sword and take that chance. Elections are not what I'm here for. I don't give a flying damn about getting reelected. And that's the god honest truth. I I I came to this office as a deputy sheriff working in the jail, me and Chief Watkins, in 1993. Y'all don't even want to know what we made because we wanted to set our career. And I've worked at that and I worked at that. And then I became sheriff with one thing, one topic to make it a better place than the way it was left. And that in the way that is is investment into the employees. And I don't want to hurt some feelings, but you know, somebody can bring up about the damn dog pound and cats and dogs. Yeah, I love my dogs. I'm out of the dog business. My dogs all died. We can prioritize other stuff out here. Economic development. We can do mega sites. We can worry about water and sewer. Those are all important. But guys, what you don't understand is if you don't have the employees to implement those utilities or those structures or those businesses, you ain't going to have nothing. You ain't going to have nobody drive the fire trucks. You ain't going to have nobody to drive the bar code to lay the water line. You're not going to have nobody to do the maintenance to the buildings. And you sure as heck ain't going to have nobody to respond to that emergency that you need. From our EMTs to our deputies and our firemen to EMA to the clerks in our offices, each one of them do something different. It's what makes the big call go around. And the only analogy I can put to it is is the small tiny

gears within the big gear. If the little tiny gear is not turning, then the final gear is not turning. And when I start losing those little bitty gears, we've got a cog in the system and it's going to hurt. We got right at 400 inmates out here at this jail. And I never would have thought in my 30 plus years that I would have had the mean people that's in that jail today. And I'm telling you guys, they're mean. I got one inmate out there right now. If he gets one chance to come out that door, he's going to get his arms around one of those young corrections officers. is going to put a shank in her neck and he's going to go out that back 78 door and he's going to be gone. He's wanted for assassinating two people in Chicago. Shot a state trooper on our interstate and he does not care. I've got another inmate tried to shoot me in the head down in point blank range. He's looking at 320 years. He's got nothing to lose. And I've got 18, 19, and 20 year olds out there guarding him. 18, 19, and 20 year olds out there guarding him. I I generally don't come to y'all. Y'all, every one of y'all are my friends. I consider every one of you family. But we've This county is in great financial shape. It's in great financial shape because of all the work you've done, all the work that these employees have done. Each department, our school system is in great financial state because of the people in the past that watched those dollars. We cannot keep building these big funds and building these big funds. Please, I'm begging of you, cash a CD and invest in something. Invest in the county employee. I know we've got growth coming. We got a lot of growth coming. Trust me how well I've been put in a bad spot between myself and some good friends and the

mayor that I love with all my heart. From developers I've known all my life. My daddy done developing. My daddy did farming. My daddy done it all. And I'm in I'm in with all these people. I know what's coming. I know where there's a thousand acres right now that snap of a finger is going to have rooftops on it. And it's only if that man wants to pull that trigger, it'll be done. And it's got sewer right on it. We have to build for the future. I've not asked you for one position as a deputy sheriff. I've got I've asked for two positions since I've been sheriff and it was the two records people that are scanning records. You know why I haven't asked you for any additional positions? Because I can't fill the ones I got. Frank, how many deputy sheriff's positions for the road have we got open right now? Believe it's five. I've got the cities filled up. I've loaded the city police up. It's time. Please. It's It's time. And like I said, I mean it. To the taxpayers that's watching this, if you need another sheriff, you're going to get that chance in May and August of next year. I'm about to my wit's end. I've done about all I can do. And if I've done, and I've always said, if I couldn't do no more, I'd walk away and let somebody else do it. But I can tell you, I've struggled and struggled for the last seven years to give back to this commission and this legislative body over $4.5 million out of my budget. Now, a lot of that was in salaries. I do know that. But there's nobody that can can run that place as tight as me and Frank Watkins and Jennifer Green. And we'll use bathing wire duct tape every chance we get. And some of you sitting at this table have worked out there. Tim, you've been there. Laura, you've been there. Stubfield, you worked there back in the

day. Um, Terry Hman should be a deputy sheriff as much as he's out there. The clerks, all of you. Appreciate you. You got difficult job. You got to put up with a bunch of jer judges and attorneys and egos. I know what it's like. I have to put up with it, too. Um, we've got a great county. We've got a great future. The future is not bleak for Coffee County. Nowhere near it. We got water lines that's going to get run. We got sewer lines that's going to get run. It's going to happen whether we approve it or not. It's going to happen. And the governor of this state, he's going to fill that big industrial park out there. He's going to feel it. It's tough. Yes, I understand about control growth. We had a 10-year plan and I'm still with that 10-year plan. I just need to catch up with with the empty white spots I've got on Frank's wall over there. And if we can get to that, we're good. We're just in seven years into the 10-year plan, but I'm I'm going backwards and I'm wearing these boys and girls out with overtime. I'm wearing them out. Another thing I want to address real quick for all of you listening and all you trollers and warriors. I if I hear one more thing about Bonnaroo money, there is no Bonnaroo money. Thank you. Thank you. I don't know where you come up with it. There's sales tax that comes into it. But you know who gets the Bonnaroo money? The state of Tennessee gets the Bonnaroo money. We've got a little old ticket fee. I said it right, didn't I, Marian? I didn't say ticket tax, did I? I said ticket fee. It's it's it's tiny. Maybe $200,000 we get out of that. Folks, my budget alone is right at $13 million. So, Bonnaroo is Bonnaroo. Great. It's wonderful. I'm sick of Bonnaroo personally.

Bonaroo's not helped me do nothing but cause me a pain in my rear side. Running all over the country picking up folks for Bonaroo charges. If we had to go to Oregon twice to pick up some Bonaruvian over some dope charge, that cost us money. $3,000 or more on one trip. Who's the victim in that? The taxpayer. Hey Chad, I have a question about that. Yes, ma'am. So, the tax fee, was that set when it first came? Has it ever went up? No, that was set um M Reed a couple years ago when the county and the city kind of got into it when the city annexed and the county went and set a a fee towards the tickets and private act by private act it was done at the state legislature so it's a graduated fee so whatever the best I remember in case something changed so the price of the ticket if it's a lower amount of like a $200 ticket I think there's a dollar or whatever and it goes up and if you're part of a high dollar package ticket, it might go up to $5. It's not a lot of money, but uh they tried to set up a cafeteria plan on you, the county body, to turn that around to where you it was kind of charity wheelfair back to Bonner where you would take that ticket money and designate it back to them to where you would have to pay or pay for their road widenings and all that. That was one of those deals. Yeah. But there's a lot of people that's gained off Bonnaroo uh you know churches and ball teams and stuff. But I'll just tell you with this new bunch that's taken over Live Nation. Y'all know who owns Live Nation? Well, now that we're talking, do anybody in here know who owns Live Nation? The Saudis, the Kuwaitians, Big Oil. They don't give a crap about us. They got trillions of dollars. Their headquarters is in Beverly Hills. They don't care about us. They've got the highest priced attorneys to come down here and look at us hillbillies and

mess with us. They don't care about us. And when that all wads up out there, they'll be gone and it'll be one hell of a subdivision. Yes, sir. Mr. Miller, that broom money goes to tourism basically. Goes to get it in. Yeah. It goes back It goes back to promote them. It goes back to promote them. And it's not worth none. right here. These deputies would much rather be somewhere with their families right now because when I get done here, they're all getting up and they're going 108. They're going back to their post at Bonnaroo. And I appreciate them. I appreciate y'all. We're not trying to show you. We're not trying to be intimidating. I do not like that. I do not like that. What I'm saying is you need to hear from these kids. You need to hear from them. And um some of you are married to some officers that's been around here for a long time. And I can tell you Miss Leanne Pardon sacrificed a lot because of my career. Sacrificed a lot. Learn Nettles sacrificed a lot. We done it because we wanted to be here. Why do we teach school in Coffer County and not Rutherford County or Davidson County? Because we want to be here to teach our young people because we had good rural people teaching us because I wanted to ride Mr. Shores's bus. I wanted to ride Mr. Marsh's bus. I wanted Miss Linda Johnson to teach me in fifth grade and Miss Floyd in fourth and Miss Shelton in third and Miss Latitur in second and my precious Donna Dunn and Susie Boyd in first in kindergarten. That's why. Why do I want to be sheriff? Hell, I don't know.

I don't know. Why do I get up and keep doing it? I'm sick as a horse today. Why does Jenny want to be clerk? Why does Sheila want to do what she's doing? I don't know. Why does John and Donna want to keep doing it? I don't know. Why in the heck does Dennis Hunt want to be up here putting up with all of us when he could be living? Why Mariana's been here? I was sat beside her the night she got hired. You do it because you're good at what you do. You feel like you're giving back and you are. Those numbers right there are tough or is a tough thing to do. It is. And I know Bobby Bryan trained you up, Tim. And I know about reoccurring expenditures. I know about reoccurring expenditures. And Bobby Bryan was good at it. and I miss him at times, even though he was hard-headed, but he was a dang good county commissioner. We're gonna miss Lynn Surn, but for every person that leaves, there's somebody else that'll come along. And our future is bright, guys. And I'm telling you, I think I can go right out the front doors of this mayor's office right now. And if there was, for some unknown reason, mayor, that you had to get on do something for a tax increase, I guarantee you I can rally the troops. I guarantee it. They will citizens will stand behind our school superintendent. The citizens will stand behind our deputies. The citizens will stand behind our clerks because you know why? That's something they can see. That's something they can touch and feel. A lot of our tax increases go to things that you can't see and feel. They go underground. They don't get nothing out of it until their sewer line clogs up up town or they can't get water out of a whale. I appreciate your time. I appreciate each and every one of you. I really do. And I appreciate the time that you serve because you've got to go back and enter your to your constituents and my

constituents are sitting back there wearing hats and black uniforms and also the taxpayers. But job one, I got to take care of these men and women. Thank you. Thank you, sir. Mr. Mark Sony. Yes, sir. My name is John Marchonia. I'm with the trustees office here in Coffee County. I showed up tonight to uh represent the employees. I wanted to talk to this committee uh based on compensation and some of the options that uh you have. Um, I don't know that I could say any more than what these employees have already said. You know, they they've addressed that there is a need uh to increase compensation. They've addressed that there is a need to um slow down the turnover. Um, I think they brought to everybody's attention that that we share a real problem with um turnover. Uh, I don't know how to put how much money you you want to put on ton turnover, but it's got to be an expensive amount every time you replace an employee. Uh, April 24th, I came in and presented a budget and I talked about the performance in my office and what my employees were doing and uh, I'll tell you, it's it's very impressive. I just stand back and and and they take it upon themselves to meet all the productivity goals that we set and they exceed all of our expectations. Um I can't improve upon what they they've done. I mean it's it's uh just just a small item. From um May to June of last year, they brought in over

$400,000 in delinquent taxes. They did it. I didn't do it. They did it. So, um, they're doing a tremendous job. But my office is not the only office. There's a clerk's office, there's, uh, register's office, there's the, uh, probation office, chances court. Every one of those employees get up and go to work every day and they do the best that they can. Um, school system, you know, how tough is it got to be a teacher? How tough is it to to try to manage all the money that that uh you have to manage for are there 10 schools, 11 schools? 10. 10. Okay. So, we have a lot of challenges right here in Coffee County. You as a commission or body. Um you have a lot of responsibility to to the taxpayers and where the money goes. I've been to these these meetings and and one of the things that I'm not real clear on is um a total of expenses. I I'd like to know what our total expenses are and um if if could I could I get that for tonight? Do we have that? It's in your budget. Well, it's the entire budget. You did. You did. And and it's broken down. What I'd like to see is is a total. What is our total expenses? 28. He want to know the total expenditure general fund restricted total. How much is our total expenses? Should be 29,000 769 total general fund is 31 million.

So we spend 315. So So the county commission spends 30 315 million. 30 31,500,000 a year. No, Coffee County taxpayers spend 31 million. Yeah, there you go. Okay, I'll accept that. What about our revenue? What is our total revenue before they leave? I I've got something to say. Can I cut in? Sure. But before y'all leave, I started out at the sheriff's department and worked there eight years making $850, $9 an hour and never got a pay raise the entire time. So I quit. And then I spent 30 years in the military and two years in combat, which I know what it's like what you do. I mean, I've I've done it. I've been there. And the only reason I ran for county commission, is for the employees pay because I'm retired. I've got a house in Mexico. I could be laying on the beach right now drinking margaritas, but I'm here to fight for you. I promise you that. And I do. And and you're right. Some of these county employees or some of these commission I'm not saying these some commissioners don't care if you get a pay raise or not, but I'm here every day to fight for your pay raise. I just want y'all to know that. Thank you. All right. Go ahead, John. Thank you, Mr. Brown. The uh revenues, I don't want to hash the whole budget out right here. I want to I would I'm not hashing the budget. I just want to know what what the revenues are. U total revenues. I don't think he gave you the revenue amount. I think he was and I don't think he gave you the expenditure. I think Dennis gave you the um revenue amount, right? No, our proposed budget is 31,500,000. Okay. That's for expenses. Yes. Okay.

And then the revenue. Yeah. Revenue is 20 a little light at 29 million. We're 2 million short right now. And the quicker everybody gets done talking, the quicker we can get to it. Two minutes. Okay. Well, I guess I'm a optimistic person. I think we can we can reach that that deficit. I think we can exceed our revenues. I think we might have to find a way to be a little more creative in generating revenue without increasing taxes. What we going to do? Start selling marijuana off the street or or what? Because everybody else has looked at it. I mean, about generating new things. I haven't heard anything in these meetings. I haven't heard anything to increase revenue uh other than than the mayor's proposal property tax increase. Yeah. But that's the only way we generate revenue. I think there's been a mayor's proposal for a property tax increase. I asked in the work session if the commissioners were willing to talk about a tax increase, but the only way we generate income is through a tax or a levy. Okay. I I think that there's a way we can maybe we can be creative. Maybe we can talk with other counties and see what they come up with. But I think there's other ways to increase revenue without raising taxes. how I I think that's something we should look into. I'm not saying how. I'm just saying I think it's something we should look into. Okay. But uh I I thank this committee for for their work tonight. I thank the employees for showing up and um Yeah, I did too. I think we can can uh I think we can set those goals. I think we can reach those goals. you know what's on the table right now was a 3% 5% and 7% um increase in in is that not that's not if you don't know the number please don't say it okay can you could could you give me that number please no I

can't give it to you because we haven't voted on anything yet we're still talking about it well I think there was there was I'm good Tony you want to speak I want y'all to adjust your attitude ma'am I'm ready to go to We are too. Okay. But we don't want to be disrespectful. I'm not trying to be disrespectful. It's not sounding good from this. Well, hold on. Let me just say one more thing and then I'm finished. Okay. I think it was discussed three, five, and seven. It was also discussed that the insurance uh was going to increase by 5%. Mhm. We've got a CPI index that is also 5%. Which CPI index is inflation. So, what I'd like for you to consider is 5% for the CPI, 5% for the insurance. That's 10%. Thank you. Would you like to speak? Yes, I do. Come on. Everybody needs to take a deep breath, including myself. I don't know why these attitudes get so crazy and why we might put out something that threatens the taxpayers and the citizens of our community about a tax increase when we have the rainy day fund the slush fund 10 something million have a rainy day fund. Okay. What's it called? It's called a fund balance. Fund balance $10 million. Yes, ma'am. And you know, y'all ask the school department their amount. They told you. Um, we have ran and you know, I can speak for my office, but first before I get into that, I want to say something about the men in uniform and all the others, the the EMT and the volunteer fire

departments. I grew up in that environment. But you know what the big difference was? And this man over here knows what it was. They paid for mine and my sister and my mama's insurance and my daddy. We had free medical. We had a free place to live, free utilities. We had reduced cost at the commissary in exchange for the items that we needed. I lived that way for 20 years. I searched for lunch money in our house. They didn't provide lunch money. Okay? I know. And I've never forgotten where I came from. And I'm sorry. I am I'm g stand right before you and tell you I know everybody knows what my salary is. I'm not proud of it. I am not. So don't you know the the officials some of us didn't know what we were going to get paid when we ran. I didn't until the week two weeks before the general election. That's when I found out. I actually thought it was $45,000. I made a lot more money than that. six figures as a real estate broker, but I sure didn't know that our state was funding these jobs for that amount of money. Um, so again, you know, we as the county, we're not the military and these people, everything from back in the day when I was living in the military world is probably up 200%. And I I don't know how they make it. Uh, I know that in my office, just like what they've talked about, when they're making under $20 an hour, they're working a second job on the weekends. So, what happens on Monday? My people come in pretty tired because they've worked all weekend. They hadn't had a day off. And we're better than that. They give us better than that. We I cannot believe how far the technology

and the advancement in my office has went. And that's because of the team that I've been able to maintain in there. I can't do it all, but I sure have been able to jump through the hoops to get us there. And you know, it could be so much easier when you start out with this budget if you clarify some of the things we found out this week. And I do not think when I look at what we're looking at that we don't need to raise taxes. We're good this year. And you know what? It's only going to get bigger. I'm in the register's office. I see all the properties selling. I see the the rooftops coming in. There's more that I didn't even know about that I watched be advertised on TV that's out in the other end of the city. Those houses are 385. Starting at 385 and they've got a whole development coming in and they've already got about six houses sitting there. There's so much out there that we we've not even gotten to getting that money yet. In order to get there, we've got to maintain the staff. We got to maintain the educators. We got to maintain those sheriffs to keep control of the environment that we live in. Now I just want to say this about my office and I know the others are in about the same shape is when looking at this I think my my whole wage and benefit package is only 4.4% more than last year. My people still are not where they're supposed to be against the state across the state. We Coffee County is behind and we were behind in 2014. We were severely behind and I pre I provided graphs and charts and everything and brought those in and Tim Morris threw

them up in there and said don't bring anything like this again to the table. I was trying to let you know in 2014 oh yes there's witnesses. In 2014, I was trying to educate this county that we were way excessively behind. Last year, we had a mayor that he knew it because he'd been all across the state. He knew he knew a lot. And it's a shame that he's not here today. But he made sure these employees got 8% because he listened to us and he knew we knew what we were talking about. like me or don't like me, think about the employees. Don't think about me. I I I I'm only here every day to do a job. I'm not here to build a friend corral or an audience or followers. I'm here to work for the citizens. I look out my window every day when I walk through there and I think about what all we're getting done that day for the people out there and how I'm protecting their most biggest asset is their property and their home. The title to it, trying to make sure we watch everything that comes in that door. I think my budget, Mariana can correct me if I'm saying this wrong. I think it was right at 16% total uh more. I I've lost my sheet here where I had it because I'm so nervous. I think it was around six. Yes, right here. Total operating was at 16%. Total budget at the end of it was 5.7% difference. 5.7% difference. And yes, we're getting some equipment, but I managed that creatively with the one the flat bed wide scanner that we got. And now we're going to get a cradle

scanner. There's offices in this room that need to use that cradle scanner that I'm getting. It's not just going to service me. It's going to service every one of y'all's preservation of your records in the old books. We'll be able to go in there and replace any page that you can't read. When I came in, it was going to cost 98,000 to get 40 books scanned. 98,000. And I knew, well, I couldn't even get $4,000. How was I going to come ask for 98,000? Y'all, it's 2025. I've been around a long time and watch the growth in this county. It has exceeded what I ever thought I would see in my lifetime at this point from being a real estate broker for 20 years. I sold this county. We're we're just at a a crest of it. It's it's going to be mountain high what's going to happen here. And everybody needs to understand that to go forward. We have to take care of what we got. We have to take care of our facilities. We have to take care of our schools. We got to make sure we have the right equipment. And that takes money. The employees can't make the m can't make it happen. They depend on you, the commissioners, to look at this budget. Know that you've got some foundation there. and know that yes, you may be taking a little chance this year of thinking about what's going to come in at the end of 26 this time next year, but I'm not going to say I'm a betting person because I'm not. But I feel so much assurance from what I see and hear across the state of Tennessee and conferences, it's not going away. And we've had a hiccup when we got through the election and we've got a few things out there going on. It's It's coming. It's happening.

And I ask of you, if you don't do anything else with this budget, pay the people. If you want to take some of my money away to operate that office, do it. Pay the people. If you don't want me to get that piece of equipment, I won't get it because having the staff as first. I've got to have the staff members there. And 19 and $20 an hour does not cut it. Thank you. I would like to make a statement. You said the mayor made sure you got 8%. The mayor did not. This board did it. Excuse me, Miss Reed. I worked on that board. We'll just go just have a good day. Thank you. Hey, Mr. Morris. You're not going to do that to me again. I've grown up since then. I'm asking you to and I'm going to say respect goes comes back and forth to this table and I know what I'm talking about. Credit and you didn't give us credit. That was mine. It's okay. Uh Dwight mayor last year. Do what? I believe he was mayor last year when we had budget. Yes, that's correct. Thank you. I did not intend to speak. Uh, I just wrote my name down in case during your debate I wanted to ask a question, but there are a few things that have come up and what I've been listening to that are not completely accurate and I think most of the commissioners know that, but I think a lot of the audience may not know that. Just like that Bonnaroo money, we don't really get to use that money. And it implies when we're talking about that that's money we could give that to you, but it's not. It's restricted thanks to the uh people who lobby and

make sure that we didn't get that done. Uh as far as elected officials, they're not paid by the state. We're paying them. The state mandates what we pay them. So, it's not quite as easy as it seems talking about 5% on insurance. Well, it makes it sound like you need a 5% increase just to cover the insurance. That's not the case. The cost of insurance is near where near where what the cost would be uh of pay payroll. So, there's just a number of things I don't want people to get misrepresented and think we're trying to beat you. This is a tough job. I've been doing it for seven years. I won't do it again. I think I've spent my time and it's not something that anybody should be doing unless they want to serve. So, that's all I want to say. Thank you, sir. Thank you, Mr. Jeannie Anthony. Well, good evening. Um, I think there's still some deputies in here um left. My office knows I'm a crybaby and when I care about something, I get emotional, so I'm going to try to keep it keep it in. But the things that the deputies said tonight, it's home. I've lived it and it's hard. Um, my husband decided he left his job from working at Nissan, making very good

money. We had the best insurance you can think of. He took the buyout. Um, he's always wanted he wanted to be an officer. I hated the idea, but I love that he wanted to serve. I've always I worked in the medical field up until I um started with the clerk's office. So, I also had a heart to serve. But um finally I after he took the bow I thought well he's not happy he's not going to be happy doing anything else. So he went on got him a job as a jailer working at the Coffee County Sheriff's Department at that time. It was Sheriff Graves. um he made $10 an hour and um we had a daughter and you know as as he went on um you know of course the Nissan insurance was gone and um I didn't have insurance me myself he was covered I didn't have insurance um my daughter didn't have insurance and Um we went along without insurance for a while and then when um he finally got accepted to go to uh the police academy two weeks into the police academy found out I was pregnant with my son. No insurance. I couldn't I couldn't go on without it. So, I had to march myself into the health department and sign myself up on teen care and that hurt my pride just a little bit. So, the deputies that spoke tonight, it hits home with me because I see the sacrifice and I know Miss Heather

Eldridge, we were in this together. Brian and Jonathan worked at the jail. They started together. So, that's how far we go back. Um, so she's with me on this. She knows and we've had the same hardships. Um, Sheriff Parton, you asked why. Why do we do this? And and I and truly I don't know, but I think it's mainly because we care and we care about what we do. We care about the citizens and we care about our county. And each one of my clerks right here, they care about what they do and they make sure they do a good job. Yes, I've had turnover 100%. Our job is hard and we deal with the same folks that the sheriff has to deal with. They come to court, they come to court in shackles. They're I mean the building is not ideal for a judicial system. I know it's a lot of money and we talk about I know it's going to take time. I'm not I'm not here to talk about that. But the things that we have, our tools that we have to work with are very limited. And then when your pay is limited, your tools are limited, it's hard to keep the morale up. And it puts a lot of pressure on me. They're looking, you know, they're wanting answers from me that I can't give and my hands are tied. So it is it is very very difficult being in this role not being able to give and do what you see is necessary. Um commission y'all have been this commission has been wonderful. Um I think up until you guys came in I don't I don't know that the county employees ever got raises. I think there was the stepping gray and of course I I I do think I believe I disrupt the apple cart with what I did when I first came in,

but I was very passionate. I've live I lived it and that is why. Um and I whatever I got to do, I'll do. I'll give them my 3%. If if I was able to do that, I would give it back to the employees 100%. I don't do it for the money. I'm hiring deputy clerks in making three at least three more dollars on the hour than when I was running General Sessions criminal department as a chief deputy clerk. Um I don't it's not about that. And again I I still you know and there's very many days that I ask why why but I wake up the next morning and I'm ready to go because it's I'm passionate about it and I'm passionate about what we do. Um, so I just want to kind of introduce who's here. They didn't want to speak and I understand um because I I don't I don't love public speaking either, but um Wanie, she's been with the department for a very long time. She's our accounting clerk. Um she wears many many hats. She's our accounting clerk, but she wears many many hats. She she takes care of everybody and she's kind of our mentor. And if anybody wants to wants to know anything about anything, we're like just go see Wanie. she because she's kind of she knows it all. Um we do have a nickname for her in the office and um she's aka the warden. Um if you're getting a phone call in the office from Lanise, you know that it's like reporting to the principal's office. You know you've done something wrong. You've receeded something wrong and and she's going to call you out on it. But she is wonderful. Don't make any mistakes. But yeah, no, she's she's great. Miss Heather Eldridge. Um, she came in um before I started this role. Um, but I know she she worked I don't know if you care if I say she worked um here

at our local dry cleaners. Um, yeah. So, she came in um making I don't know what was it $13 an hour. $13 an hour. And um now what are we up to? I want to say you're up to 21. She's my chief deputy clerk in civil and in in civil sessions court. She didn't have the confidence. She didn't think she had the confidence to take on that role. That department is running better than it has ever ran in the history of ever. Um there was always been a backlog. No more backlog. She keeps it caught up. She took on that role. Um the whole depart that whole our whole she took that on and um the lady that was chief deputy she had left. Um we had another position open. We only had I don't know I sat back there for a while because we only had like one employee. I think somebody was on vacation. We had one employee that had worked in that department and um I didn't do I knew enough to get by with but I didn't do day in day out. So Heather walks in, she was working in criminal sessions criminal and she walks in. She had worked in civil before but she walked in and and she completely that department has run better than it ever has and I'm so proud of her. Um same thing with Rhonda Steel. Same thing happened back in November. She um I was actually running the department myself, me and Wanise. Thank you, Wanise. Um and then Whitney Bryant, she helped when she could. She's she runs my sessions criminal department. But Rhonda has done the same thing. She has turned the circuit department around

and is doing fabulous. Um Whitney, um she's she's she was I was her. Um, she's the chief deputy over sessions criminal. Very high volume, very fast-paced, very demanding. You demands of and Rhonda gets it too. The demands of the DA, the PD, the state. Um, you know, Rhonda has to deal with TDOC, Whitney. You know, she's in communication. They both are in communication with the sheriff's department, the Tammy out, the jail, the jail administrator. I mean, she I mean, it's it's constant. It's fast-paced and it's a lot to keep up with and a lot of paperwork. Um Jerry Davis, she her and Whitney, they act like they don't get along, but um they are um two peas in a pod and she's a workhorse and she also works in her sessions criminal. She will often stay over. Um I catch her over. I'm like, Jerry, what are you doing here? Oh, I just I gota I got to get this in. And so very dedicated Reed. Reed doesn't he didn't want me to acknowledge him, but I'm going to get to a little bit of what he does. I hired Reed, of course, in fear that he's going to leave me because he's young and he's very intelligent. So, y'all don't try to steal him from me. Um because I really need him on my team because Wanise is wanting to retire and I don't want her to. But he is going to take on Wanise's role in accounting. Reed um he has a bachelor of science degree in mathematics. I don't know who does that, but he loves numbers. I and I'm so grateful um for that. Um but he um he took on the role and um he uh started in session civil and now he's working his way toward being my accounting clerk and um I'm I see a very bright future for him. I'd like to I'd like to hang on to him. So if we could get him more money, I I would like to

keep him around. um he would be a huge asset to the county um itself. So Reed, he is so very numberoriented. He printed up some graphs. Tim, please don't throw them. Um um he printed up some graphs just on some numbers just based off of our office. No, I'm just teasing you. I'm just teasing anything. Um, but I just kind of wanted you to see um what um what it is that this the first sheet and I'll pass them around. Um this first sheet is the number the amount of money that was receded in our office. Um by year and he kind of did a graph I need a dip. Um, so each year and Reed, you may have to help me just a little bit because he he prepared these right before I I walked in here and I was making copies before I came in. Um, but each year there's been a little bit of an increase on the the amount of money that our office has receded. So, um, right now, and we'll probably get to about $6 million that our office has receded. That's how busy we are. Um, and when I say, uh, $6 million, it's not big dollar amounts at one time. You're talking about $100 here, $100 there. So, um, that's a lot of work receding that much money. Um, so that's how our much volume that we have. Our second page is the money that has been dispersed to the trustee and it has um

grown a little bit each year and read correct me if I'm wrong but I believe we calculated it's not on the sheet but I think around we're at 6% um on the money that that's money that's been distributed out to the county not necessarily general fund but it is uh county revenue And then on the on the two back sheets is just kind of a breakdown of what our cost bills look like and the money that was generated um from that. I just like you to kind of see what it is that we do because I I feel like you know that we do a job but sometimes the the details you don't see and I just kind of like to share that with you. Um there's a lot that goes into it. But our cost bills, I don't know, we have how many lines on our cost bills? About 30 something lines um where monies get put into certain line items and then it gets dispersed. I'm sure Marian deals with the same thing. Um one Yeah. And now we have a new one um to add on to it. So I actually I did work on that today with the state again. Um, then I also wanted to bring up to this board a little bit of positive news because I didn't bring it up before just because, and I'll pass this around. I wasn't for sure how it would fall and I just now got our invoices for our software, our case management system. Sure. Oh, no. Um but I am so the state mandated that our juvenile courts go on a certain uh software system. So we were paying for that software system in all of our courts. But since the state mandated it is state funded um that the case management system that our juvenile

courts going on in July, it's going to save um about 10,ou a little over $10,000. So, I don't know if that helps any, but I not when you're talking big numbers, but it it's it's something. And um I just wanted to let you know that um $10,000 out of my maintenance fees will not be spent this upcoming year. Um, and I just I commission I thank you because y'all have co y'all have made covered a lot of ground the past few years and um we've gotten increases every year since 20 since I took office in March of 21. So that says a lot. And um I do feel like I know y'all have a hard job and I know there's a lot at stake, but um my job is hard, too. There's been many nights when I've had turnover and I'm trying to make things work and we're thin. I mean, there's been many nights I've been up to 2 o'clock in the morning. I had to um had to figure out how to how to um file an appeal with the the court of appeals because you know the my chief deputy clerk left and um she was the only one in the office that knew how to do that. So I I'm self-taught and now I'm best friends um with the appeals court because we've had several more than we've ever had before come in at one time. But um you know I'm I'm proud of our office. I'm proud of what we do. I'm proud of all county employees. Um, and all the offices and

um I thank the sheriff, the deputies, and the commissioners and Donna. I thank you and your office. John, everybody, everybody has a hard job. There's not an easy job. Um, but um I just I do feel like we don't need to go backwards. we need to keep moving forwards and I'm the weights are heavy and everyone is exhausted and we get tired and I don't want to I don't want to lose what I have um because what I have is good. So um whatever we can do if there's anything that I can do um I'm happy to do it. Thank you. Thank you ma'am. Thank you. You can't have him, but he's back there in the corner. I met him last. Oh, I know. I know. I'm just teasing, but no, I promise. Okay, that that's the end of the public comments. And I would like to say this. Everybody in this county works their tail off. They do. And they're not acknowledged enough. uh whether thanking financially support uh the school system's the same way. I think just about everybody's job is that way. Um but we do care about you as employees. Uh this job is hard when you sit up here and and you're trying to as one thing that Dwight mentioned a while ago when we were sitting in the mayor's office. If you take money out of the general fund, which now is drawing interest, not only are you cutting the general fund, but you're cutting a revenue source. And I'd never thought of it that way because that money is in a bank drawing interest. I don't know what it is,

but that's something that was new to me tonight. I mean, that that money sitting there is drawn interest. So, it is a revenue source. It may not be the the best in the world, but if you take and take and take over the next four years, we're going to be broke. So, there's things that to me need to be kept. Yeah. In 10 minutes, we will. But that's me. Okay. So, I'm on to approving the minutes of the previous meeting. And I didn't see anything. I did. Somebody do you need approval first? Somebody make a motion to approve the minutes and then she has a I'll make a motion to approve the minutes. Okay. By Nettles. I'll second it by Chambers. All right. Mariana. Um I believe the motion was amended down commission field. He just left but it was 5% July 1st and we have the revenue available another 2% in January 2026. So that would be the third one from the bottom. Yes. 5% he amended July 2% January of 2026. Remember if we voted on that or not. I don't think we did. I don't I didn't think we did. I remember him saying that, but I don't know. I remember that he amended um the motion to to do it and divided among employees would not exceed more than the higher uh the department, but I So, you want to leave it the same or change it? I don't care. Well, I've got it broke down. It doesn't matter. I'll ask it. It

doesn't matter. All right. We'll leave it the way it is as written. TV. Did I put ATV? Yeah. Okay. I did. Sorry about that. That's okay. I can fix that. Did we approve approve the senior citizens with the rule fire? Because I know we talked about Yes, we Yeah. Okay, we probably need to look at that, too. Everybody good with the minutes? Okay. All those in favor by I Okay, minutes pass. All right. Next thing up is uh budget amendments from Mariana. These are these are very short that stamp over there. See [Music] what's around. Did we the May 29th? I didn't see the May 29th. No, we haven't done here. We haven't done them. I'm have to go back through the video and do it. Make sure I always put

Okay. Anybody need a Okay. budget amendment. All right. Okay. Uh these are just the end of year amendments that I sorry that I have to do. Uh it's 116 202522 is the first one. Uh these are um revenues that were higher than what I had originally budgeted. That's the top part. Those are increases. Um reducing where it says 55732 convenience centers overtime maintenance repair solid waste equipment and other equipment. So, we're reducing the community centers and then adding to the bottom down here the second part uh reduction wholesale beer tax as revenue $16,919 convenience waste collection charge $7500 and then we need to increase the sanitation management trustee commission by the 1,157 waste pickup increase Contract uh private agencies 31,000 vehicle and equipment insurance 5 which is 511 245 and then uh convenience centers uh just their small uh this benefits retirement medical dental and then increase communication electricity that's a total of $60,943 no effect on fund balance with the um amendments for the rule solid waste fund. The next one is ambulance fund 118 2022

25523. Uh increase in permits $500. Increase in patient charges $82,928. Uh increase vision communication trustes commission. And then we've returned to fund balance $77,015 [Music] which makes a total fund balance of 2,224,647. Next one is highway fund. This one is very minor but right now I have to do formal budget amendments for anything that's salary or benefits. So decrease fund amounts of $130. Uh increase vision, life insurance, medical, dental. So that decreases the 130 to 5 1,589,238. And then the last one is drug fund. Um 122 2022525. Uh the top part revenue. These are increases. Uh drug control fines 5,000. Uh drug control fines, which comes from another court, $15,000. Proceeds from confiscated property 43,255. Sale of material supplies $60. Sale of equipment 20,000. Contributions 20,000. Insurance recovery $30,950. And then the the expenditure lines are just reduced. And then increase 54150 drug enforcement 429 instructional supplies and materials. Increase that 20,000. That is the contributions that we received for 20,000. And then we

return to the unassigned fund balance 22,765. New drug fund fund ballot 730,736. I want to make a motion on all four. Motion we approve all of them. Okay. 22 23 24 and 25 by second by Stfield. Any questions or discussions? All those in favor by I I want to take a break. You asked for a Okay. 10 minute break. No more than 10 minutes. 6 34,000 worth of jail and and I talk, you know, and Rick got together because it's hitting Rick hard and right off the bat at the beginning of the year and his and his budget is taking out and it's not it's not attached to that $150,000 part where we're going to replace one a year if we have to. That's really So, did he put anything in there in the in his budget? I don't do not put it in his budget because I want to take it out of his budget and put it in capital projects because it's killing here can't be in capital project. Huh. The repair cost has to be the actual HAC unit itself. It can't be the repair of them. No, it's difficult. You have to separate it. I know. I've got them all separated and

they're all, you know, they're all eight and $9,000. But when he adds them up, it hits him bam right off the bat. I know. And his budget. So, that's the way it is. Can we put it on his add it to his budget then because we got to do something. We just went over it. We're eating. Oh, I know. We talk about it. I We watch his budget constantly. Um I mean, we just unfortunately it's like the jail medical. It's one of those Uh, I just want him to be able to have something there that he says that he can operate and and not sit there and take a big hit right off the bat.

All right, my microphone's back on. We were asking the mayor about an impact fee on new homes. The answer is no. It would have to be done by a private act by the Tennessee legislature. And it is also not a recurring revenue. And it's a one-time deal. Okay. All right. And it hits our kids when they're building their single house just like it hits the developer building aund house. So Okay. And and it's on the it's on the end of a developer's home. I mean, he's going to add correct. He just add budget proposal discussions. See where we're at. Everybody make sure your microphone's on. That way they can hear us. Can I speak briefly about the mayor's budget? Yes, sir. Uh, right quick, Miss Tony, it's so much easier to brag on someone deceased than it is to to uh Excuse me. I had the wrong year and I said the wrong thing. My mistake. We all hear that. Yes. But being up here and being as as upset as I

am that we're at this point and being treated like I have been all through the years, I got out of sync on thinking no. Judith within was not the mayor when that 8% went through. Who was the mayor? Dennis Hunt stepped into his seat. My bad. And I cut $120,000 from the mayor's budget to help I got something to say on that implemented. I got something to say. But Jud was the mayor when you got your $1,500 bonus. All the employees. Yes, it was. Now the mayor's budget, the moving forward, our budget than the mayor's office will be about 100 less than it was than the current budget. the the county attorney and the mayor's budget combined was moving towards $648,000 two years ago. This budget cycle that we're fixing to approve, that number is now $433,000. The mayor's budget prior to my getting here included travel expenses charged to the Coffee County taxpayers of $600 a month. This year, there will be zero tax dollars spent on the mayor's travel expenses. I'm not charging the county nothing, just like I said I was not going to when this budget was approved. So anyway, the uh the mayor's office is not the sheriff's office. It is not the school budget. That's where the big money is. You know, when I'm when I'm making my cuts or looking at things to try to save taxpayer money, it's it's minute. It really is. It's really minute. Now in the work session there

was something uh regarding a tax uh property tax increase. I asked in the work session if the county commissioners any county commissioner wanted to discuss a property tax increase. Every single commissioner made no moves to raise their hand. Some of them were shaking their heads. But just to put it in perspective, everything is going up. We heard it 20 times tonight. Everything's going up. Everything. But the property tax, right? I'm just for an example. I'm going to throw out there. One penny raises $160,000 in property taxes, revenue. One penny. Five cents would raise $800,000 that could move straight to employee raises. Me personally, I live on a farm that I work for. I did not inherit it. You know, my birth certificate didn't make me a millionaire. I worked for it. I have a 80 acre farm, a pretty nice house. It's appraised at $600,000. I wouldn't take twice that for it. the uh the uh assessed value with a nickel added to the property tax rate would cost me $45 next year. We did Commissioner Stubblefield. Yours was what? $48? $48. Commissioner Miller, we did his. He's got a pretty nice piece of property. His property tax would go up $60. That was one place. one place. You own a bunch of property, don't you? So, I'm saying it's not that catastrophic to the individual taxpayer,

but could be have what I would call catastrophic positive aspects for our county employees. One nickel. There are counties that are raising their property tax rates 35 cents to get their uh self in order. This nickel is, I feel, minuscule. Now, having said that, I hope that this would not just be brushed aside. I think it needs serious discussion. Uh, city mayor Lynn Surn has endorsed a property tax for the city of Oklahoma. Uh, it's not unheard of right now. The fund balance is important. We have an unexpected expenditure one year because of a lawsuit. Commissioner Miller brought that up. We had to Nobody saw it coming. We had to write a check for a million dollars one year. Anything like that can happen to us in the future. That's why uh Commissioner Morris keeps remind us pounding the table. You don't use fund balance for recurring expenditures. you just don't do it. So, that is something that I want the commissioner. I don't have a vote, uh, but I think a nickel on the property tax will take care of our employees right now and give them a significant raise without hurting the bank account. And so, that that's basically all I need to say. Thank you. I feel like Chad what he said tonight about not being reelected. I could care less if I'm reelected next year and a half, but

the tax increase is coming and the employees has got to be paid. And and I wouldn't care to pay $50 more dollars a year on my taxes. And I think we do need to discuss it instead of just say no, I I don't even want to talk about it. We we need to talk about it. We're broke. Well, we're not broke, but we need some money. Mary, when you got all the money in there right now, how short are we with the adjustments? I discuss where it's 1.6 and that was with what kind of raise that have a raise 5% and leaving the longevity pay. Okay. 5% in the longevity pay. Let me ask this, Mars. When we were doing the um you know, back when we back the first time you was on and you did Tim's budget and we did all that slashing and cutting and freezing and a little bit different everything who suffered on that. Everybody. Everybody. But the employees suffered quite a bit. Yes. They didn't get a raise that year. They didn't get a raise. Well, they went several years was just very little, just whatever the uh stepping grade may. Yeah. So, you know, I I I think we need to figure out a way to take care of that. Not only raises, but something with the insurance, and I'm not a big fan on raising property taxes, but we didn't we didn't raise property taxes back then, but look what we did. We might have should have we probably should have done that, but I think when before I come in, they had raised property taxes now. might not have been a good a good time to do it then. But but uh property taxes were raised back then to pay for a jail, right? In the high school and

middle school, would it or elementary school? No, they were raised mostly to pay for that jail, right? Have to raise them when we had that sales tax lawsuit. Remember the second half sales tax? Okay. Yeah, I think that was before I Yes, that was But I think, you know, we need to do something to take care of those employees because they went for years without getting much of any raise at all. We And we've been talking about the insurance for probably 20 years and haven't done anything yet. We have too. We've increased it. We paying $650. I'm talking about a lower or lower monthly payment. That's what that's what that means. We increased what the county paid. Um it was 500 a month and now it's 650. So that's raising 15 a month. And what's the employee pay per employee? Whatever is over that. There's so many there's different choices of insurance they can pick and whatever is over that um that's what they pay. So 650 minus whatever the monthly invoice is for the insurance. So we have So that was an 18 when we did that that was an $1,800 right benefit to the individual. Yes. when you went up from 500 to 650, right? So, if we go to this year's budget, we're still 1.6 million in the hole with no chance of any more revenue. You mean additional revenue? What I budgeted? Yes. I'm going to budget conservative. Okay. So when you say

that, would there be like 600,000 extra when we wind up next year? I'm not going to say that. I'm just saying that, you know, I know last year we were 2.1 and everybody said it would come in and it didn't. Well, I'm not through yet either. The year's not closed and it won't be closed till July 31st. So there's money that comes in uh during the month of July, some in August depending on if it's where the funding source is. So there's other money, but I'm not going to spend it all and have some unreasonable budget that puts us So what you're saying though, it's 1.6 now, right? If you approve whatever I And it may not be if we did nothing tonight. I mean, if we did nothing, it may not be 1.6 six at the end of the No, it may not. Okay, Tim. Mhm. Um you said that our projected deficit last year was the two 2.1 2.1 and then I think Mariana has provided us a figure that said based on the numbers that we had the other night then we would roughly end up with a deficit of only 600 on this sheet. She's got it projected to be 952 233. That's mine. I think that's from me. Oh, okay. That's me. When I when I froze the budget, that's that was what it was going that Okay. All right. When I froze the budget to last year's budget and added the 5%. I didn't get that. And added $400,000 for things that went up. We were still $600,000 short. Show what? Okay. But if her revenue has gone up, I've got

numbers written everywhere. I had a couple adjustments in the budget I presented to the Tuesday night's meeting the last night because I finally got all the property tax calculated for 2026. So you you came to the table tonight with about $389,000 extra revenue, one of them from property taxes and one of them from projected sales tax for the schools. Not on our Oh, that's for them. Okay. Sorry. I had um removed 500,000 enterprise fees payments. We can pay them in general debt service. uh the jail HVAC the any uh HVAC equipment do that in capital projects fund and then 50,000 removed for capital purchases and put those in capital projects um increase 911 contribution for the whatever the increase in their budget over last year $ 105,2 if you remove the 2% salary increase but keep the longevity pay That's a reduction of 37,631. And then we need to add back the 450 for the sheriff's deputies 106 because that is not what after speaking with Frank what the sheriff meant. So that brings the adjusted deficit to 1 million6. do all that.

Anybody else want to talk about the five cents? I think everybody needs to put in their opinion on I think it's a good idea. We We need the deputies. We need the employees of the county. We got to pay them. We just can't keep laying back and spending money on everything else and not pay the employees. I agree on that. The the 5% even if we went in the hole. Oh, would you say 5 cents or five? 5%. I was talking about the five cents. No, no, I'm asking about that. The I think it needs to be higher than 5%. Well, if you add that to the eight last year, it's 13 over two years. Well, they've they've been screwed out of pay for 20 years. Every other year, every five years, they get a pay raise and they're short. They need to be paid. We just have to go in a hole and fix it next year. We need to eat beans and rice like they are. Quit spending money. You said the 5 cents tax increase would be 800,000. One penny raises 160,000 and change. So five pennies means 800,000. You know that's a dime a dime. That's what I wrote down. You got all these different I don't care extra money. So each fund would get a percentage. Should we have a factor numbers? Okay. Five cents of the general

fund. Just the general fund, right? And that's reoccur. You do that one more time. I've got all this stuff. I've got all this stuff. So that's why I was saying it has to be to buy that the general fund. It's an increase to the general fund of $712,000. So that's what five cents would be if we we put it in the general fund only general purposes. So where does the 78,000 go? 78,000. What's that? If if it minus the 800 and you said Jennifer gets 712, who gets the other 88 actually isn't it? 88 or what? I'm not following you. It's not a trick question. My understanding, Dennis, 712 is what you said went to the general fund. Where does the rest of it go? Um, that's the only fund that will I'm just saying the taxpayer, you know, it all comes down every fund every like depending if you're Manchester rule, you know, you add that to it. That's all I meant. If I said it wrong, apologize. So a penny a penny does generate no a penny penny 160,000. Yeah, a penny generates 160. But 16598 but if you do it five times that's 800,000. How does it drop to 700 and something? That's the question. That's that's what I'm telling you. I would have to give you a spreadsheet to show you that what I'm talking about. Somewhere it goes somewhere though because I think that that some of that money has to go in other funds. It does. Okay. So there's a formula for

distribution. Yes. And I have a spreadsheet, but I didn't bring it. I didn't I can bring it next time. I'd be happy to. I'm not opposed. I just That's You're not dividing it between the other ones that are in the uniform tax, right? Yeah. Yeah, I understand. Okay. But that's what five cents just for the general fund. 712,000. Now, you know, we have our allowance for doubtful accounts because, you know, we never collect all of it and then we have our tax freeze. So, you have to consider that. So, it's not going to get so 10. What? I'm working. Yes, sir. Ask a question. Yes, sir. All right. In this budget and I heard Marian talk about school. So, is the six something still in that budget or now? Has that been changed? Because I couldn't hear all that. The TVA talking about TVA money. Yes. Is it in this budget? It would be in our budget. The one point deficit is that in or out? In. We're retaining it. Yes, we're retaining part of it. What was the other talk about? Well, we might give some of it back. Did I misunderstand that? Yes. Okay. There's a estimated increase in property taxes to the school system. Correct if I'm wrong. Right. $260,111.

Correct. Increased to the school system by sales tax of $189,830. Right. Which is a total of increase to them $389,941 projected, right? And then we pay the train and we're Okay. Yeah. We're gonna pay the train bill off. I didn't write that down. It's uh this year's the coming year's contribution that they bring us a check when we're paying those bond payments is $352,250. That's for next year. So you add the 352 to the 389 and it's a wash. Yeah. They actually have an increase of 130,951. If we take the TVA money and we do this Yes. They increased their revenue by 100,000 130,951. Okay. What if we do that? So say we do uh come up with an increase in property taxes whatever we come up with is what we talked about the last meeting about going by last year's bud is that still in play or does the TVA money come off or does what right now we're on that proposed 2026 budget right the TVA money comes to us right we're going to pay their train debt for the air conditioners and stuff of 352,000. Is that reoccurring every year on that or is that to pay it off? Six more years to train. Six more years. Okay. So, Stub, we're going to pay their $352,252 to train. She says that there's $260,11 property tax increase to them because I guess that's the ADA part. That's the

growth. Okay, that's the growth. and 189,000 when if you add those two up that's going to be over the 670. So they're they're going to be in the green they're or the black. They're they're not going to be in the red. They're going to be in the black by $100,000. Right. So off the table right now, right now we're still at that puts that TVA back to us to us. Back to us. And we're paying the train out of rule debt. Yes. Okay. So the rule people are only paying their debt down because that is rule people's debt. Instead of having to ADA that she found a way to do that, which is wonderful. Well, we didn't have to ADA, but that was the agreement when we did the train for the school side years ago. All right. Devil's advocate one more time. If we froze to last year's budget, I know you hate that. Yeah, I do. Can the train still happen? Well, yeah, the train can happen. And and honestly, I I firmly believe and I've said in the past that needs to that's the proper way to do because it helps them out too. Well, it rule dead is that's what it was set up for. But anyway, that wasn't that way. We're taking money out of that CD that everybody's talking about on Facebook. We don't h that's not happening. I don't know where they Well, I'm recommend a tax profit tax increase. Is that going to still frozen? It is what going to be frozen last year. budget. No, no, no, no. This we're going we're 1.6 in the hole with the new proposed budget. But our budget this year. Well, I'm saying if we do add property tax. Oh, it would and we froze it the last year. Are we still going to freeze it to to the next? Well, that's up to everybody to decide. It's not Tim's budget. It's ours. I'm asking. Yeah. If we do these this and this, are we still going to go by last year's budget or is that come off the table? Just throwing that out there. I would like for it to be talked about, but Well, it's going to be talked about.

It's gonna be talked about. Okay. I've listened as long as I'm gonna listen. I think we'll go to talking. All right. So, first of all, I don't think you're going to find any committee uh in the past that's worked harder for the employees of Coffee County than this committee right here. If you go back and look at the records, you'll see that this committee has give a raise almost every year that we have been in than this that this committee has been together. I've enjoyed working with these these people. I enjoy working with the ones that are in our community. We have some of the best employees and in this in this county I I I have to say we have some really great employees and I will stand up for the police officers and the teachers before I'll stand up for anybody else because I do believe they're all underpaid and I agree that you're you're um everybody is under has been underpaid for so long and we've been trying to move you everybody in steps so we didn't get overwhelmed with debt. Debt's coming and uh we are we are taking this we're getting a look at it this year because of what we did last year. We gambled last year and we lost a little bit. Did we lose a lot? No. But we can handle what we where we're at. So, that being said, I I don't think you will find a better board or a better committee that's that's dedicated to getting our employees up there where they can have a li make a living in this

county. Um, I I'm I'm I'm Sheriff, I'm I'm I'm pissed that your deputies are making $19 an hour. I'm sorry, but I shouldn't have said that on the air. But anyway, but they've come a long ways from where they used to be. Exactly. And and I and I hope that uh everybody realizes that this committee's worked hard to get raises. Now, I'm I'm going to probably stick my neck and my political career out on the line here. So, uh I'm going to propose a 8 cent tax increase. Now, you're going to say, "Why 8%?" I have reasons for it. Now, I won't discuss them right now, but I think eight's where we need to be at. Um, and I'm going to tell you I I will go ahead and Does it Do I need to make two different motions on this thing? Are you saying 8 cents? 8, not 8%. Not 8, not 8%. 8 cents. 8. I you know I I'm I mean I mean I'm 70 years old. Uh I can afford eight cents more on my taxes. If I if you can't then there's another county up on the hill. You can go up there. I I'm sorry. I you know losing people to other counties. I'm tired of it. It cost us money when we train uh employees and they take off for another 50 cents on the hour and go to the county over. And I hate that. And I know what the sheriff's been working at and what he's been dealing with. I know every department head in here has been dealing with the same thing. You train your employees and you you you're thinking they're going to stay and they'll sit

there and go for another dollar on the hour. I'm sorry that they do that, but that is life. They just do that. I They could sit there and and and drive to Nashville for another dollar on the hour, but the problem is they don't think about I'm just gas money. I just spent $5,000 on gas. What did I really make? Can I come back? That's what goes on. And that that's that's part of it, too. But I still um I think we probably need to do this in a motion on this tax part first because then I have then I'm going to say what I'm going to say on the rest of it. So I'm going to make that a motion that we raise property taxes up 8 cents. 8 cents and we'll we'll stop right there for right now. There you go. And how much would that be on a million dollar property? You got a million dollar property? I don't hear it. If you do, I got more. You need to be sitting there selling something somebody else. I don't need to sell it yet. Mine goes up to $73. I would have handed all the employees $73 each tonight. I will too. But only my farm $73 more next year on eight cents. on eight cents. It was 45 before you paid. Can I go up some more? Can I go up some more? All right, we have a motion. I'll second it. Second by Stfield. All right, discussion. The floor is yours. I know everybody didn't want to talk about taxes, but I sure folks, I wish I brought my spreadsheet. This won't be

the last time. We This is not going to be the last time we're going to talk about this if if Well, if we're reelected at some point, but um you know, Tim don't care. But look, I mean, I want what's best for the employees. And and I know this whole committee does. Let me ask you this. Are raising property taxes popular? Heck no. My w I go home, my wife is fixing to drop drop kick me, but and that's okay. She gets a little wiry, but it's okay. I have a question. If you go late, are you going to raise the pay? Am I going to raise the pay from 5% up? I'll make a motion, too. Wait a minute. Wait a minute. You can't There's a motion already on the floor. Let me let me let me interject right quick. 8 cents will raise $1,284,784. Okay. Again, which we're still in the hole 1,284 we're at 10 gross. It'll be a million 605 80 because 10 seems more getting us to the political political side. It don't matter. Nice work. I will amend my motion. Did I say a motion? Did I say a motion? I'm gonna amend my motion. Has anybody had a second? Yeah, we have. I have a second. Yeah, still a fail. Okay. I'm going to amend my motion to raise the

property taxes. Yeah. Thank you very much. 10 cents. 10. 10 cents instead of 8 cents. And uh then we will talk about the race part. Okay. He's going to amend his motion. Now you got to have the second. So I got agree to it. You have to agree or we'll withdraw it. Yeah, I agree to it. Okay. 10%. I will say this 10% 10 cent. Sorry. I will say this though. If if you do do that and you go up to the 7%, it's going to suck $37 more,000 out. 308 really. So, you're going to add $38,000 to the deficit. What's What does 10 gets us even? So, we're going to go back and if you're going to give them seven, I'm just playing devil's advocate here. If you go seven, you're going to go in the hole again. 307. We're still not going to be even. But these numbers are all workable. We don't I mean, they're hypothetical anyway. Anybody else for discussion on 10 cents? There you go. No more discussion. Changing the salary to seven. No, ma'am. No, I'm just I'm just I'm just doing numbers over here that if it does go up, this is going to cover our deficit right now. But if we do the seven, then we're going to dig out 308 more right in a hole. I just want to make sure I get it right. This is not going to cover the seven. We'll be 308 in a hole at least. All right. All those in favor by I chair votes no. Motion passed. Motion passes. That'll go to the full floor.

Well, we're meeting again next Tuesday, but see. All right. I know. I would like to throw one more thing out there. My ROA again. Okay, Tims are the freezing freezing it at five 5% raise for the employees 5% freezing it to last year's budget. Adding $400,000 for whatever extenduating things gets us to expenditures of 29 million. Uh we take the school money. You say the sheriff's money is off the table now. The 450. Yep. It's off the table. So 450 is added back to his deputies to him. Okay. So there's another funding that Okay. does not go into that. So I'm going to be a million dollars in the hole instead of the other way. Okay. Well, if you use what you put the 450, you have to add that back to him. But take the 500,000 out. Oh, okay. I came out ahead then. I'm only going to be 550 below. And then I had another 200,000 for capital projects moved out of the general fund. So then I'm going to be 350 in the hole. I don't know what you're looking at to begin with. I just it's just something it's throwing it out there that we stay last year's budget and if we make it through this year and see that we are going to have to have a tax increase, we do it next year. for the Yep. certified. Okay. But you still can raise it though, right? If you what? Yeah. To raise the taxes. Yes, sir. Well, I think it ought to be advertised anyway. That way everybody doesn't think it's well snuck in on them.

You have to. It's easier to do it this year. The dollars have to be. Okay. It's the dollars. All right. So, voted on. Yeah, you voted on that. 10%. 10 cents. 10 10 cents. Sorry, I've done too many numbers. Okay, your unless you want to. I'll done with that discussion, right? Yes, sir. I'm in trouble now. Next, next motion. Okay, I'm going to make a motion to u give department heads that are not elected officials 3% raise and employees a 5% raise and come back in January and look at a possible 2% raise going strictly to their insurance. I don't know if you can do that or not, can you? They're going to make more money 2% on their salary than on their insurance. Yeah. Well, then I won't Well, we'll look at it then as 2% raise. Yeah, we'll put a dollar figure on at in January percentage figure. You put a dollar per check. Okay. Well, what's the motion? Uh 3% raise for department heads, 5% for the employees. Is that a change to the budget? And then that's a lot. So is that 5% across or are we going to maintain our 5% goes to the that goes to that department just like we did last year goes for distribution for them to distribute to their employees. Look at

that first before but it it limits the department head to three and I don't think that's fair. person didn't do what they should have done to penalize every other department. I agree. I agree. I just want to say that. I agree. Two more percent on the department heads is not going to be that much more money you're saving. I'm just saying I'm not knocking you. I'm not knocking you. I'm saying that we're not going to save that much money by holding them down. You're going to create elect 3% anyway, right? Yes. Okay. But they make a whole lot more than our department, too. Well, he was making everybody else for motion. It ain't been seconded yet. I can. No. No. You said and the rest. I don't know. Yeah, I want change. You want change? I do. Okay. Go ahead. Make it. Huh? I don't even know what it is now. All right. All right. Restate your motion. Motion would be to give them 5% um raise for all for the for the employees. Okay. 5% and then 2% in January either towards their salary or towards the insurance payment or dollar amount to dollar amount. All right. You got that, Laura? Okay. So 5% um everybody. everyone except elected officials which their state mandated anyway. Okay. And then in January they re-evaluate at 2% either towards their salary or towards the insurance. And maybe by that time people can give you input us input back of what they would prefer because to me it I would want it

on my salary. I would think I think it would be a bigger increase than paying my insurance. Unless you want to jump way out there and pay somebody's insurance all the way down, but that's something we just need to discuss because insurance is a big Yeah. Oh, it is. Yes, it's a huge It's pre-taxed and Yeah, it's a different Okay, I'll tell I'll tell you why. It's a motion right now. We don't have a second. No, I haven't even had a second yet. I'll second it for Have a second by Stubblefield for discussion. All right, guys. I'll tell you why. I I want to make sure we get them a raise of of any kind because we have had all the department heads come into policy and procedures and ask them what we could do as far as as benefits to help the employees and help them retain them. They said zero money. Money is what they're after. It's about their pay. It's all it's about. It's about the pay. They're basically there's they're happy with their their benefit package, but it's the pay. We we're terrible. Um and we all know that we're back years we are we're not there yet, but we're trying. Okay. And I want all these all of our employees know we're trying. And so can I read? I'm done. Yes, ma'am. Okay. The motion uh and second by still to do 5% on all employees except elected officials uh and to revisit in January for a $2 or a dollar amount towards salary or insurance 2% 2% 2% or a dollar amount right yes ma'am all right yes ma'am in January 2% department head

if they choose to do it as a c as salary or if they choose it for insurance one way or the other we're just going to we're going to look at it at that point because for us to sit there and say it right now is not really fair I don't think so yeah just let's let let us look at it because we we will look at it So, is the 2% from July to January going to be back paid or they just start? Well, they're not. I'm against it. It needs to be just vote against it whenever you Well, I am. It ought to. And if you give everybody 5%, it's going to get distributed like last year. Somebody's going to get more and somebody's going to get less. Well, and I'm going to make that statement again just like I made last year. Can I last year? Can I We done voted on that. No, we have not. Can I motion screw down? Can you do what? Can I amend his motion? You can make a friendly amendment if he agrees to him. If he agrees to it. Yes. If he agrees. All right. Uh stated in there, you know, you want to give 5% to everybody to be distributed. I would amend that to be 5% to the department heads to not exceed 5%. You see what I'm saying? That your the 5% to the department heads does not exceed 5%. That still ain't fair. That gives everybody 5%. Yeah. Department heads, if I'm making $100,000 a year, I don't want no pay raise. I would like chime in. When they gave the departments a lump sum of money, yeah, the large percentage of the department had divided it by a number. They didn't say you get 5%, you get five, you get eight, you get eight, you get they took a $100 and divided it among five employees where they $20 each, for example, including the

department head. Yeah. But some department heads took more than $20. Some Yes, they did. Yes, they did. One one did and it was fixed and I know I know and it got fixed. So I know but if that money goes back to the department heads it is still the department heads discretion how to distribute correct the 5% so that these wage problems that's where we want it to be addressed to to change where it needs the changing. Correct. Correct. We're all in agreement on that. And if you have one who is not performing and one overperforming, then you can reward the person who shows up 15 minutes early, stays 20 minutes late, does not go out, smoke cigarette 35 minutes and stuff like that. Where the other one who comes in 10 minutes late, leaves 15 minutes early, doesn't get as much. And that would be up to that department head to do that. It it would and hypothetically there might be some non-performers that get nothing. It would be an incentive for performance across the board. Any more discussion on his agree to my friendly amendment there? I do. You do. Repeat it. Okay. You want to repeat that? 5% with the department head not to get receiving more than the 5% to be distributed among their department. uh we will revisit this in January for the 2% either going to a 2% raise or something for insurance and the input from the employees would be greatly appreciated on that what they would like I think am I good I got a question yes Dwight the 2% I'm not clear whether that's guaranteed or not

no it is not the statement you made it sound like okay they would we will look at 2% to be added in January. Is that better? I understand that. Okay. Is that the way you meant it? Yes. Okay. So the 2% is not guaranteed in January. If we can afford it we can afford two and we can afford one. We'll go one. Yeah. We're gonna try to do something. We'll look at it. We're gonna look at it. All right. Any more discussion on that? Yes, sir. So that's a if if the money's there. Okay. Which that means no, but No. Well, yeah, it does. If if we know the money's there, let's just go ahead and give them 7%. It's gonna it's going to be there. We thought it was there last year. Well, okay. It's going to be there. And u 5% to everybody. If you're making $100,000, that's a $5,000 pay raise. Something like that. If you're making $13, you're still making pennies. I mean, you still can't survive. I don't think we have anybody at $13 there. What's the lowest paid person? I don't know what's be a part-time college kid at the library. No. What's the janitor make? Who? The janitor. I don't know which janitor. The janitor in this building. She more than that. Well, what? I think she's up 17 something like that. I don't think it's that high. Okay. All right. We're getting way off track though. Yes. All right. 5%. Here we go. No, y'all don't have to. We're going to vote. Well, I Yeah, but you also have to think about this. The person that is the department head is either been here for a long time, has one degree, two degrees, multiple degrees, or is an expert in that field. And they get paid based off their expertise, too. I mean, it's like a young builder and a older builder. the premium builder is going to get more for

his house than the younger person is. But I understand that. But if I was a department head making $100,000, I would want that money to go to my employees. I would I wouldn't want to die. Well, and there's a limit to too. You can only take five. He's limited it to 5%. So that way that doesn't mean he can take that person can take 3% and give the rest of it to his employees. Yeah. Anyway, I can tell they can take zero. Hell yeah. I know what you're saying, but I can tell everybody's against me, but still the employees need more than 5%. Okay, hopefully. But that's a if again, so it's pro it's not going to happen. I'm going to tell you, even with this tax increase and you go to seven, we're going to be 308 and a hole. But we got money. Well, we have money numbers again. Creating money with that cent, right? We don't have the money. Okay. All those in favor by his motion for 5% in the January look at again in favor by I. I. All opposed. No. All right. Now I would like to say in a prior meeting you guys did agree that the department heads however they decided to disperse this just like the letters of agreement from our elected officials they're to turn that in to the mayor's office to verify who gets what. Correct. Yes. Okay. All right. All right. What else we need to talk about? Mariana, I need to go home again. Yes, she does. Fix that motion. Okay. When's the next Tuesday night? Tuesday. Tuesday night. 5 o'clock. Okay.

Let me make sure I got the date right. I think it's the 19th. 17. 17. 17. I haven't read. I got another comment. All right. Hang on. June the 17th, 5:00. Yes, sir. We have to finish this thing next week. So, I mean it, you know, like what we agreed on tonight. It's just whatever. It could change again. Somebody could come up with a motion to disavow and poop for Absolutely. That's right. Okay. Would it be possible for us to get another sheet like this, Maryanne, showing us the numbers where we are right now to consider your comment. All right. So, we're requesting that uh snapshot of that spreadsheet. That's what you get. All right. Mr. Brown has a comment. Go on vacation. It seemed like tonight everybody in here, and I'm not picking on nobody, was all for the county employees getting a pay raise, but when we did it, we just I'm just not satisfied with it. I mean, if it's if it's going to be 7%, let's make it 7%. Not five. And then if we have it later, let's give them that, which we won't have it. I know we won't have it. So, let's just do the 7% and make it up next year. We'll discuss it on Tuesday. I have I have one announcement, please. While we got public involved, the Oklahoma news has verified that the public notice required by TCA of the vacancy of District 9 in will be in Sunday's edition, which gets us compliant. So, his seat can be filled June the 24th. Okay. Okay. All right. So, any more discussion on anything before we get out of here? Motion journ. Motion to adjourn by Stfield. Second by Hurstman. Everybody make sure you turn your microphone.