Town Council - Regular Meeting

like to welcome everybody out to the May 4th budget workshop. Please stand for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

All the council looked over the agenda. So, do I have a motion to approve the agenda? Like to make a motion to approve the draft agenda. Do I have a second? Second. I Any discussion? All in favor? I public comments on agenda items. If anybody would like to make a public comment, you're more than welcome to come up. All right. Next up, we'll go into budget, street, storm water, infrastructure, sanitation, and environment. Matter public works department. Hold up, sir. Mr. Mayor, if uh

Yes, sir. Would you like to see the presentation first that kind of gives an overview of um our revenues and expenditures? We'd like to see that first before we get into the individual department presentations. Okay. Uh Alan, if you could bring up that PowerPoint, please.

Each of you should have a copy of that in front of you as well. You're good. So this chart indicates the revenues that the town has. Um and we'll just kind of take it um guess from the noon position there and work our way clockwise around this. So 4% of the revenue comes from special assessments which is approximately $465,000. The bulk of our revenues at the 3:00 position, you'll see come from property taxes, which is about 39% of our revenue, which is about $4.9 million. The parking program, $240,000, which is about 2%. Miscellaneous revenues, 50,500. Now, miscellaneous revenues, at least you can help me here if uh if I'm not right on this, but this could be things such as um fees that are charged for various services, um special events, the fingerprint services, things of that nature that we bring in throughout the year.

Would it be donations? Donations being miscellaneous or is there a separate There's a separate line for donations,

but that's less than 1% of our revenues come from miscellaneous revenues. Sales tax is about 7 accounts for about 17% which is $2.1 million. Interest is about 2% which is 225,000. um fund balance. The fund balance is also includes monies from for inspections for a vehicle because that money from inspections can only be used for things that happens in carrier's department. So that essentially is 241650. The remainder of that to bring us to the 286 650 would be um from Car's department to purchase a vehicle that he's requested this year. The yellow there right about the 9:00 position is the county fire district fees which is about 2.6 6 million 21% of our revenues. Intergovernmental taxes and fees as we continue to move um clockwise about 5% of our revenues at $666,000 building permits which is about 5% 639,000 service charges at $2245 which takes us back around to the top of the pie chart which is about 2% of the revenue that's brought into the town. Total amount of revenue projected is $12,476,470.

Mr. Claymer, to just to make sure I understand what you were saying for the fund balance, the 286,650, not all of that is coming from fund balance. Some of that's coming from building and inspections. Is that for to buy the vehicle and the rest is coming from fund balance? 241650 would be fund fund balance. Okay. We and we estimate too that it's not I guess it's not a true dip into the fund balance if you will because we estimate upwards of a half a million dollars we're going to have as a carryover from this fiscal year. Okay. So it's not dipping into our savings account. Correct. Okay. Thank you for explaining.

Yes, ma'am. Any other questions on general fund revenues before we go to the next slide? One thing on the parking program, the 2% of the 240k, um that's the revenue we're expecting to make this year, but that is also to offset what's already been paid into the parking program. So, we are not back to neutral yet. We've not broke even yet on parking. Correct. We have not. Okay. And as we continue with the island parking and traffic study, we may have to have a conversation about some of the spots that are going to be need to be either removed or repurposed, which if we can't do that in-house, we're going to have to pay some money to get that done, too. But that's that's still ongoing.

Correct. Yes. So, we need to make sure that we put some money into doing that. So, in the past, it's just been pulled out of general fund. So, we need to make sure we fund some money to finish whatever needs to be done with parking based on the study. And I don't think what I've seen yet, we've done that. Just just want to make clarity that we're it's not it's not it's really revenue to pay back what's been paid. So, I think once we have a better look at what we're going to have to do, right?

And if they determine I'm just going to throw a small number out. They say 10 spots need to be removed or repurposed, then I think staff needs to go back and look at what do we do with those 10 spots? Do we just pull them out all together? Do we make them into emergency vehicle parking or parking for authorized vehicles or do we u put a bike rack in there? Do we put a planter in there? Um what is the most costefficient way to repurpose those versus just saying, "All right, let's pull them out and have to spend a bunch of taxpayer money." I think we can find a better way to make use of them. Any other questions on revenue? Important to note is uh restricted revenues. We talked about parking. So parking fees currently the only thing that we can use those monies for is for the parking program. So the revenue that's generated there. Again, as uh Councilwoman Bachelor mentioned, we're trying to pay ourselves back, if you will, for the cost that we've put into this program so far. Um, permit fees for Car's department for inspection, building and inspections can only be used for that department. And of course, fire fees can only be used in the fire department. So, we can't take those monies and put them into general fund.

Um, Chief Claymore, one thing on the revenues, um, as far as the accommodations tax, um, where are we showing that on here? That's a separate fund. Okay. which is restricted as well. Correct. Correct. Yes, it is

tourism related activities. This chart shows our projected expenditures and again we'll start at the top um about the noon position, work our way clockwise. Administration is projected at 7% of the expenditure at $848,000. Now these figures I should note these include salaries, benefits, training, supplies, um everything that it would take in each department to have a fully functioning administration, finance, police, fire, so on. So when you see that number, it's not just a salary line. Next is finance, which is about 4% at $486,000. Environmental protection 1% of our expenditures at 1624. Public buildings, it's 1.15, which is about 9% of our expenditures. Tiny little sliver of purple in there. I don't know if you can see that, but that's uh that's all of you at a less than 1% of our budget at 539. The next is the police shown in red, which we should have been blue. I don't know why she made us red, but uh I won't I'm just I won't argue it. It's fine. She did a great job with this presentation. Sydney built this for us. Uh 3.3 is 27% of the expenditures for police. Next is another little tiny sliver of orange there around the 6:00 position for parks and wreck, which is again less than 1% at 269. That would be uh Amy's department inspections. carries uh department at 6% about 756,000. Public works at about the 7:00 position at 1.3 or 11% of our expenditures. Storm water

3% at 3629. Sanitation roughly 244 or 2% of our expenditures. Planning department 2963 roughly 2%. And then uh about the 11:00 position, we'll finish this chart up with fire, which is 28% of our budget at 3.36 for a total fund expenditure estimate estimate of 12.476470, which matches our expected revenue of 12.476470. Questions on expenditures before we move on? It looks like the percentages for fire and police are maybe slightly off because police is 3,383 490 and fires 30 3,360 270 and it's showing a higher percentage for fire than police.

I noticed that too. So something's a little off in the I know some of these numbers have been changing even as of this weekend. So those usually selfopulate. So how that yeah I don't somehow didn't maybe recalculate. I got a question for you. Where are we showing on here like our payments for like uh we I know we owe money on a fire truck and stuff like that. Where are we seeing that as part of this? Or would that be a relationship for expenditures? That wouldn't be in this pie chart. It would be included in the fire department. It will be on page eight of 19. It'll show your debt service payments. Okay. Okay. That's tab J in your book. Okay. Would be where we where that should be. Just making sure. All right.

Sure. And then the Majestic Oak Park that would be in um public infrastructure tab that this public infrastructure is tab G as in George in your book. Okay.

Do you want to touch on those now, Mr. Quest? I'm just ask I'm looking at this and I'm trying to figure where we're going to show that at. That's fine. That's fine. We'll get there. Can we clarify on the the book with all the tabs in it? Should we really be using the spreadsheets that we were given Friday versus the ones that are in our notebook because they've changed. Correct. The notebook was made earlier in the week. And I believe the adjusted numbers that you have were the latest and the greatest numbers as of Friday afternoon. Right. And that's what I have in my book. I don't have the original. So I have Yeah. So my tabs may not align with yours and you may not you may not have tabs at all cuz we almost we asked Alicia to put page numbers to make it easier cuz the tabs when we kind of looked at stuff last week it was sure

and it's changed some is why I was just making for clarity that we're using the newest with the page numbers. Is that correct? Yeah, I have pages online too. So I I'll quit referring to it. Just making sure because I'm like I'm I'm going off of this not those. My apologies. We'll we'll start referring by page numbers. Okay. Thank you. But those are those those questions that you had are included in this. Absolutely. Okay.

All right. Any other questions on expenditures? All right. This next slide kind of gives you a a brief history of salaries and benefits throughout the years from um FY25 through the proposed FY27. And as you can see the color codes there, the blue represents the 2425, purple is 2526, and then the green is proposed for FY27. So you can see how salaries have kind of taken an increase over course of a three-year period to the tune of about a million dollars increase which causes a ripple effect down the line for the various um benefits that are offered to employees from pensions, 401s to health insurance. And we estimated a what was the number for health insurance increase this year? 5%

5% starting in January. Estimated a 5% increase for health care starting in January of 2027. Does this number for health insurance the 732,475 does that include every healthc care benefit for employees only or employees and their dependent? What does that number capture? That number captures every full-time employee that opts into the program. Okay. And it includes 25% of um spousal care.

Okay. Are we paying 25% now for spousal care? We're paying 50% now. Okay. For dependent care, not just for dependent care. Yeah. So dependents and spouses. Yeah, we're paying 50% now. How did it come about? We were going to make a 25% cut

in order to budget some monies into other areas for projects expected going forward such as streets, storm water, and dredging um versus dipping into the fund balance. We talked about reducing the health care costs which continue to rise. Did anybody have a conversation about this on this various about that? I know I didn't. Okay. So, I'm sorry. What's your point? He he took it out to

I mean, we we we had no discussion about taking out a 25% payment, reducing the employees benefit by 25%. It was discussed in close session. No, it wasn't. Yes, it was. We only talked about no merit and cola in in close session. We did not talk about

that's before you now if you'd like to have further conversation about it now. I'm not in favor of it. I'll say that right now. Um the 25% Let me look at my got some other fac. I'm sorry. You're in favor of what? No cuts. No cuts. We We have not talked about this. Has not been on been on the radar. Nothing. Okay. We have not talked about this. I'm not in favor of any cuts to the employees benefits. We should not We We're sitting on almost $11 million in our rainy day fund. We cannot transfer some money over to cover what whatever this is. It's $54,154 is all it saves. Yeah.

Mr. Arnold, we do not have a rainy day fund. We have a fund balance that is supposed to cover cost should something catastrophic happened in our town. I think what Mr. Claymer was doing was doing what we asked him to do in the closed session to reduce the benefits from 50% to that in close session. We No, we never agreed on that or in a consensus or a vote. just that either to be honest. It was asked for M. Chief Claymore to run the numbers to see what they were and everybody agreed for him to run the numbers and bring them back. I don't think we said we were going to do it.

No, we didn't say we were going to do it. Run the numbers is what was said to see where they would fall in the budget because we were not in but we were not b in a balanced budget state. We knew would you say what you said again? I said the numbers were asked to be run, but there's been no kind of agreement on anything. Agree. That's right.

Yeah. So, what what you see before you then is what was requested to have a reduction in the the dependent care and changes to the step and an addition of 2.5% cola, 2% merit. step would be suspended because the costs of the step were basically unknowns when they were approved last year to give departments the opportunity to rework that step program and bring it back to this council for a possible approval. Um

you said that 25% equals up to about 54,000. The removing the healthare is is only a savings of $54,000. Yes, sir. And Chief Claymore, do these numbers for salaries and benefits include what's the merit in cola? Is merit and cola included in these what percentage? Yes, ma'am. We haven't seen the numbers that you see in this chart here represent a 2.5% cola and a 2% merit based on current salaries. Okay.

So, should this budget in front of you be approved, then that's that's what we're looking at. Now, of course, you know, the the merit is up to a 2%. So there could be some variable there for savings depending upon evaluations of employees and employees that haven't been here for long would not be eligible for for the merit. Okay. Is longevity in here at allity. So no longevity or no step in these numbers or step longevity is not included which is a $71,000 savings.

Okay. And projected step was how much if or the proposed step that wasn't funded is what is it? Almost 142,000. 142 and that includes the training dollars too in that. No. Okay. Okay. The training dollars were additional about $50,000 for the STEP program that were already spent. Right. Right. Okay. But it includes like the long-term disability, workman's comp, the figure. Okay. Yes, ma'am. Just making sure what? Yes, ma'am. Yeah, that's a that's a full picture of of salaries

and benefits proposed for FY27 in green. And then this total amount comes to what? Come to the 12 this 8,439,10 figure we're looking at for all this. on the things we got Friday in the first draft for the general fund. What page are you on?

I'm on page one of 19 on the um general fund. The very first page in our handout we got where it says salaries, wages, FIC years, pension, group health, unemployment insurance, workers comp, retirement, and employee physicals. So that's comes to 8,43910.

It just um it includes the salaries. Um the 5,581585 on the top of page one. That's the first green graph on your sheet. And then the FICA is $427,10. And then the pension. Um the only thing that's not on the sheet is the unemployment, the workers comp on the graph. Okay. And the physicals. So that comes out to 8,43910 roughly is what this all is.

Right. Correct. Any further questions on this slide for salaries and benefits? This next slide shows you funds available in the power bill which is a grand total of $457,545 which how much of that do we have allocated for maintenance in 27? Is that this number?

We have $200,000 that normally comes in as our revenue annual revenue. So, we brought forward fund balance of 257,545 for Matt's projects. I'm sure he'll discuss that in a minute. So, total in the PAL bill is 457,545. If we take the 257,545 out of fund balance, that will still leave 313,000 in fund balance. That's fund balance in the right. Great. Can you say that figure again, Alisa? That's left in left in it. 3 313,000 will be left. Okay. Thank you.

Again, those are restricted funds that have to be used for roads. Questions on the power bill. Next slide shows accommodations tax fund. Again, just starting uh with the pie chart, kind of working our way clockwise at 3:00 3 run 3:00 position. Parks and reps 390 125 uh beach patrol 167 beach rescue for the fireside 158 and then surplus funds of $150,000 for uh total revenue 866740. Um these represent expenditures, right? So this money again is is restricted to what we can do with it. Anything related to tourism and the bulk of that is parks and wreck and then the remainder is our beach operations. Any questions on accommodation tax fund? And this for accommodations tax includes moving the um events coordinator position fully into accommodations tax. Correct. Is that correct?

Right. Okay. Right. So that's part of that 45% there you see hand side.

You want to explain the beach erosion fund? The beach erosion fund is 2% of your accommodations tax. Normally we budget $530,000. So that's what is in there for this year. But for Matt's projects, for some rebuild, for some walkways, we brought forward $485,000. So the total of the fund is $1,15,000. So that the public understands that we're not taking money out of savings savings. This is money that we we we pay six, excuse me, accommodation tax, we get six percent. 1% goes to the county because they collect it, right?

2% goes to beach erosion. In years past, we have built up this fund. Correct. And so the fund balance, which is the savings account for this particular um beach erosion fund, which is 2% of the accommodation tax, is $480,000 that you're bringing forward so that public works can use some of that money. Is that a fair statement? Right. That is a fair statement. And even if we take the $485,000 out, we're still left with like $1.8 million in the beach erosion fund. Thank you for explaining that. I think it's important for the public to know that. Thanks. Can you say that figure one more time? 1.8.

Thank you. Any other questions on the beach road? The last slide shows projects streets at 457, storm water 230, and we don't have anything in a dredging fund. A dredging the dredging fund was closed by an action of council in 2025. I'd like for the council to consider putting some money in the dredging fund so that we can look at um studies um just to have some seed money there because we know that it may come up again and I would not like for us to be in a position where we don't have any money. I in my remarks when we were setting up the budget not with you Mrs. Armstrong but with our former finance director I had mentioned that and I've mentioned it a time or two. Don't know if there's an appetite for that, but um I would like for us to consider that.

M comfortable with putting in there. No, I I don't. Mr. Arnold, were you thinking of a number? I I don't either. That's what I was asking first. We We'll get there somewhere.

Um I also would be in favor of doing that. I feel like um we definitely need to um come up with a plan for dredging. actually have that on a directive for the meeting tonight to list that we need to figure some of that out and we need to start a dredging committee with the folks that are in that's properties are affected by dredging their parcels the ones that were assessed. We need to get our stakeholders all involved with the staff to the community. um we need to make sure that dredging in the future is handled much better than it previously was so that we don't have everything going on and we need to do that right and I think um involved in doing the um with the Palm Cove stuff that they've been doing looking at the engineers there that specialize in that um I had you know briefly spoke to them about that what kind of fig rough figure and they gave out about $200,000 and that would be stuff that we would look at to get it set uh you know, you've got to do all these studies before you can even kind of figure out and unfortunately they are the experts in that. We don't really have experts in that on staff. Um but to really get that rolling so that we set it up properly to start with. I know Ocean Beach has just done some I've watched some of their stuff how they handled it and um some of that. So I I think we do need to start that in our budget cycle this year. We need to start this year that process, which obviously we know will take a while, but eventually um to get that rolling smoothly as well.

I would support a $200,000 um for the dredging fund um to start somewhere. And I'm glad you you said you were going to mention that tonight. Perhaps on our deposition of directives, you could ask um for us to be thinking about a dredging committee. I know we've had a lot of conversations with folks, a lot of emails, and it would be um prudent on our part if we could include them that when I say them, the folks that are affected by the dredging, and for them to know that we are in fact, well, it two of us are in favor of putting $200,000. I don't know how the rest of you all feel, but um we do need to give the finance director and our administrators some direction on this. Where would we extract the $200,000?

Same place we're extracting all the other. I mean, it's that's the fun part of doing a balance budget. You've got to take from one. And um I guess if the direction is not to take it from fund balance, then we'd have to go back to I guess departments and see what other cuts we could make, come up with 200,000. I think we should proceed and see where we end up.

Sorry. But I'd like to proceed to see where there's other funds in other departments before making a comment on it. I think it's that would be uh rash judgment for me to say something on a particular item. I'd like to see where we're going on all of this. Sure. Yeah. I wouldn't want to cut something from something that we need just to go into this. I mean, if we can definitely find the money for it, I'd be fine with it. Just don't want to start slashing things that we absolutely need just so we can have this. Sure. Nobody I don't think anybody wants to slash anything. Something we could look at.

Sure. If there are no other questions, then we'll jump into uh following the order of the agenda, which brings us to street, storm water, infrastructure, sanitation, and environmental. Hello. Can you hear me? There we go.

All right. So um after our last budget workshop, we had um comments from you all and from citizens alike uh discussing one area of course is Clubhouse Road um as far as streets go. Um so we uh we actually went back um we were able to get with a contractor to come out look at the road um give us different options um as far as at least preserving the road um in stages. Um that way we can also utilize our monies in different areas around the town for streets. Um so we uh we got with uh Maltz Construction and what they would be able to do for us is um we gave them two different areas kind of the worst areas on Clubhouse Road. One is from um Rice Mill over to Crooked Goalie the intersection at Crooked Goalie. Um what he would do is uh skim the patches. So pretty much fill in the pothole and then overlay on top of it to where it would preserve our road for his words about 10 to 15 years um until a lot of that construction starts to slow down and then we can really look at milling it and and filling it the proper way. Um the other area, oh sorry, that number was um $238,452.50.

238 45250. Thank you. And then the other area that he looked at, so we broke that area from Rice Mill to Georgetown, Old Georgetown up in two different areas. So the other area would be from the intersection at Crooked Gully to Old Georgetown Road. That actually totals uh $2.99 uh $19110.

Is that the same process of filling in the potholes and doing an overlay? It is. Yes, ma'am. How thick is the overlay? Uh so he had put it at 2 in 2 inch overlay for both for all of these that you're going to go ma'am. Okay. Two inch. Yes ma'am. what is the cost to repave that area?

So, what we got back from what we got back from uh Barnhill earlier on in this budget workshop um at that time was five for that whole area I just mentioned was um 538 or five $530,800. And that would be to uh mill an inch and a half out, repave over top of that. And what's the expectancy for that to last?

Um that all it all depends on um kind of what all is beneath the road as well. Um normally when you mill and fill, I mean, you can get many years out of it. It all just going to depend on the the volume of traffic that goes over it, mainly the trucks and everything. Um, so so both areas would be that price that you so that would be cheaper than filling it in and coding it. So why wouldn't why would we kind of peacemeal it if we can just redo it for the same price, right? So that those those numbers are about a month different from each other. Um I'm familiar with Barnhart which they're reputable. I'm not familiar with All Speed Construction.

Where have they done projects? Um they've done projects for DOT and I I mean I don't know where um as far as areas of that goes. Um Lockwood Folly they've done projects for um up they're mainly out of Bolivia Leland area they've done projects up around that area for the most part and into Columbus County Blake County. What were the prices again to to resurface versus milling and paving? So milling and paving was $530,800 and then the uh resurfacing essentially. Um and I don't I didn't total those numbers up but it's it's over it's over

it's about 75 537 64060 on those right now. Again the reason we went out these numbers is to just get a different price point. Yes sir. Um, so we just wanted to bring them back and show you the differences of prices.

It makes sense to fix it right the first time so that two or three years, four years, five years, maybe when we're not sitting up here, we pass this on to somebody else. I I would vote in favor of doing it correct the the right way, milling it, paving it, having it last longer. That that's a better product. That's a better customer service product to our constituents. that that is a very highly traveled road. Um filling in potholes and just putting in a little 2-in surface over it. I don't believe that will last as long in my experience with doing roads. Um you need to do it right the first time. Okay. And you said it was a $7,000 difference.

Main thing is go back to them, get a solid figure. Yeah. And present that to the council and let them look at it because if it is, like I said, it would make more sense to do that. Okay. Yeah. because it's cheaper right now to repave it versus fill it in and co I mean based on these numbers right so um with with that said do would you like me to go back and try to break up the two areas that I mentioned earlier rice mill to crooked gully crooked go to old Georgetown if get us a solid price where we can compare to what it is make sure it is the same I know the petroleum's up and down and I know things change every day

the reason I mentioned that is because if we go that route we're most likely going to use all of that street money and pal bill or that road. No other roads. The reason I had him break this up is to kind of give us a little bit of play with on different roads. So, won't you do it this way? Get a quote for the two roads or the two pieces, right? And then another quote for all of it together and let us look at it all. That may be the best way. Okay. To move forward. All right. Do you think you could have that pretty quickly? Because I think we're going to try to meet maybe in a week and a half. It would be good if we could have that number. We could decide.

Yeah, we can reach back out today to the gentleman at Barnhill. Um, and uh I'm sure he'd be able to just take the number he's got and add whatever's come up with prices and then also split it into two different areas.

We had a tenative budget meeting scheduled for the 18th of May, a Monday, uh, another session. And, uh, we'd have to have that before we get to that date. Okay. Earlier when we were looking at revenue, I wrote down and I may have written down something incorrectly, but I wrote down 457545. Then I wrote down 33,000, excuse me, 31300,000 left over.

Yep, that's correct. So the the 313,000 that's left over, are we not looking at spending any of that money for the roads?

That I think what I originally had brought up to you all was to get the revenues that we had for I think it was altogether 207 this year if I'm not mistaken around that and then add an extra 200,000 from the PAL bill fund for that. Um, and I think normally what we do in the uh streets public works is for the infrastructure repair and maintenance uh it's about $150,000. So we kind of incorporate all that together. So what I got with the 457 that you referenced in the 150,000 was $67,000. You know what would really be helpful the next time we meet for this to be broken down for us exactly dollar for dollar rather than trying to sketch it over here on it would just be better because we may miss $100,000 here or there adds up quickly. So

um if you would do that for us that would be most beneficial. Yeah, it'd be good to be able to review it ahead of time, too. So, we have um Is there any extra funds in the PAL bill funds for this physical year? We do have money that has not been spent yet. And how much is left in that right now? Would you say?

Well, I thought that was the 313,000. That is that not the 313,000. The last the last I have um I think this this report that I have is from April 24th I believe but it's um as of 331 which is March 31st um we had spent $25,784 and I mean I can't do the math up top but it's about $174,000 that we haven't spent as far as PAL bill go that we have available to spend this year it looks like to me is Thank.

So the next time we meet, you all are going to give us like a I don't care spreadsheet, just a piece of paper, whatever of available funds, not just what's available this year, but what is in the power bill fund balance because we're taking some out. It looks like I think we need to know in totality how much is there. Not saying we're going to spend it all, but we'd like to know how much is there. Um I think she said 313 is what you had said was still left in it. Right. And then this this Matt's talking about is what's going to be what you project be left in from this past budget. Correct.

Right now there's a total of $571,000 and I was going to take the $257,000 from that out of that. Yes, ma'am. So out of that there'll be $313,000 left in the balance that was not designated for any roads. Okay, Matt. Uh, when you do your spreadsheet, you also have that and you didn't spend much this year, right? 25 30,000, right? Make sure you put that as an line line item where you'll be doing patch repairs when you need it. Don't exclude that. Yeah, we're also going to be incorporating cing as well in different areas around the town to see what what's beneath the road. Okay. And we'll do that cord before we think about repaving clubhouse road

in its entirety. Yes. Yes. Yeah. Okay. We we need to. That's important. Yeah. If not, it's like painting over rust. Thank you. Well, that kind of goes into Matt and Vicki the um the road report. I know we got a new one last week that was in our box. I know. I called and spoke with Vicki and um it appeared that they didn't rank every road again. They rank some. So, it's slightly different and it's got slightly different figures. Is that what you got? How you'd evaluate it? So, the dirt roads aren't included in there. They're still separate. But, yeah.

What is the what is your thoughts on the report you got back? Is it sufficient or not sufficient? Because it it seems like a lot of that data was pulled off the previous year several years ago report. Um I mean, what's your take on it? I mean,

yeah. I mean, uh, of course, I mean, they changed some roads up, um, from our our last report that we got. Um, and what they did was, you know, there's a percentage score that comes with every single road. Um, so instead of it going 1 2 3, four, five, six, seven, and so on. Some of them that have the same percentage, it's all fives because it's it's the same percentage, same quality of road. So, um I mean they did change some of that up and made it a little bit easier to read as far as that goes. Um but of course, you know, there's roads that higher volume on them, bigger trucks that have deteriorated a little bit more than what's on the list as far as ranked.

So, based on that report, would y'all recommend going off that report to prioritize what needs to be done in the town knowing it excludes the dirt roads? Yeah, I think for the majority for the majority, yes, ma'am. Okay. Um

there will be ones that we there it may be, you know, 17th on the list that should be moved up to fifth on the list. Um there's going to be those moving around, of course. Um but for the most part, I think the first five to eight of them are pretty consistent. Um try to try to attack over the next couple years. Then the unpaved roads, it's kind of hard to prioritize those. They're all the same. Um, so what we do is we drag the roads and as soon as we drag the roads, they all look the same. So you can't really say this one needs to be repaired. They're all after a day or two of people driving on them and no rain or anything, they all get pretty rough. If y'all were to in the future do request a road report to rank them, what would be done differently or what would you recommend to be done differently to get a better output in our report that we paid for? Because it seemed like what we got back data or what got back last summer in data was questionable.

Right. I don't know a whole bunch about streets and everything, but I would look for I would want some kind of cing involved for sure to see what the base is. Um, we all know, uh, being around here that trees have were cut down and roads were put back in, you know, the 70s and 80s and who knows what was put down. Um, so you we need to see what's underneath first. Um, and instead of a more so a windshield view, we need to have folks get out, see exactly what the what causes are. So, they just drove around is all they did. That's it's kind of what my understanding was. I don't know what the original task order was or how it was written. What who signed it? I don't know.

When we met with them, I asked about the core samples. They said that they were not tasked with that. It was only a $10,000 project for them to do. And then, you know, we sent it back to them because they had roads that we had identified. We knew that were wrong, that they had some roads that um were in terrible shape, were not even on the top top tier of the list. Um, and that's what we received back. But I think we still question that because we didn't do they didn't do core samples. But you all know what I know you said you don't know that much about roads, but you do know what looks bad. Oh, yeah.

And you also know that we can do select core samples. It will cost, but we can do that. But it's well worth the price to do that. And then you all know what roads are traveled the most. You know the wear and the tear. you know, what kind of vehicles are going on there. I think we would lean on you all to come up with some type of priorization on how to move forward. Um, I know we want to make some decisions based on solid evidences, but we don't have that. This report was given to the previous council in September of 2025 and then we inherited this report which um we've discussed is is not very helpful. stack of paper.

Um, it's a stack of paper. I'll say it. Yeah, we both said it. So, um, but we do need to give you some type of direction on what to do. Do you feel like you have enough? Yeah, I believe so. Okay. Yeah. Especially moving forward, um, you know, if we do this again or a different contractor, whoever, we'll know what to kind of look for. And I mean I'll rely on um other folks that are in that profession that they can tell me what to look for. That way we have a understanding of what we need in the town.

I know Sean had mentioned about the cing. Are you planning to do the coring before you would actually to make sure what's spokes underneath there is what you think it is before spending the money on any road, not just clubhouse? Yes. Yeah, I believe so. um you know once we get into this new budget in July that those things can be done throughout the year. Paving is kind of seasonal can't really do too much in the winter time it's too cold. Um so we'll have to pave in the in the fall or the spring whereas this cing we can try to get cores in the middle of summertime right when the budget hits and get an understanding of what we need

especially if we prolong it to March April next year to pay. Yeah, I do think at one point there was consensus among council wanting to do roads, do some roads because we if we can work out the funds. Yeah, absolutely.

Are we going on to storm water? Yes, sir. It's fine.

All right. Um nothing's really changed in storm water for us. The prices are um pretty much the same. Um, one thing I did do was, um, we had met with a contractor for our drainage easements, um, back here in Seaside Station for the most part. Um, and initially I had some trouble finding some folks to come and talk to me or at least give me a quote back because it's some pretty strenuous work that happens back there. Um and plus we don't have the access for machines on the majority of these so it's all hand work. Um but we did come back with a number um he actually gave it to me last week but um bi-weekly which obviously is twice a month pretty much. Um they would be able to maintain our easements for $12,750 a month and that is for six months. which totals $76,500. They would start midappril end midocctober. Um and any issues that would happen after that, I believe they'd be maintainable by us for sure to get in there. The growing pretty much stopped at that time. Um so we'd be able to kind of open them up during those times. But the hard thing is for us is with everything else we have going on and the limited personnel we have to get in there as frequent as we would like to it's just really difficult. So we reached out try to get a number. Um but it does come with a price obviously.

So you don't have personnel that can do this or do you have per you have personnel that could do it? It's a matter of workflow or work scheduling. We have personnel that do do it. do. Okay.

Um there's 24 easements. Um some of them are small, some of them are pretty big. They're hard to get into. Um but we we go out there as much as we can. Um you know, if we're done with a walkway, for example, checking it and everything like that, sand and everything, the next thing we're doing is getting into a ditch. Um we try to get out there as much as we can, especially during the summertime. Obviously, stagnant water, mosquitoes, no one likes those. So, we get that water flowing and it helps out a lot. just is we're not able to get into them as as often as I would like to. There's an area over there near Miloth. There is um that has gravel and a cone and that gravel and that cone's been there for a long time,

right? What's the plan on that? Cuz I mean gravel and a cone doesn't look very nice. Yeah, the cone's removed. Um there is gravel there. We put that in there. We had a depression off the side of the road well over a year ago. Um, we put some gravel there for the time being. It hasn't, um, gone down since. Um, but I did meet with two contractors last week. Um, their word was they were supposed to be getting me a quote by this week. Okay.

Um, that is something that we can do within this current year's budget. Um, as long as it's not astronomical, but it shouldn't be. Um, so we can do it this year. It's it's metal pipe, which I talked to you. Um, we'll talk to all of y'all in November, I think, when we met that I wanted to get rid of the metal pipe anyway. So, that's just one area we can go ahead and start with. It's going to be the concrete reinforced. Yeah, there's actually two different. There's um RCP, which is reinforced concrete pipe, or there's a um it's called HTP pipe. It's plastic pipe, but it's it's just as good as concrete. It just comes in 20 foot sections instead of 8ft sections. Okay, good. Either way would be fine underneath that road.

Okay, great. So that sounds like that's going to be a resolve this year's budget. Yes. Great. The number that you gave us, the 77 $76,500, is that in addition to what we looked at earlier when you you all were going over the pie charts or is that included in the pie chart? I guarantee it's not included. It is not included in the pie chart. I never gave them the numbers. Okay. So, it's not included. That number I never gave. This is in addition to what we just looked at. Yeah, it is. It is. But I mean in the in the it needs to be done. No, no, no harm. I'm just wanting to know budgetary wherewise where we are.

Right. That was on me. I did not I did not give them that number. Got it on Friday afternoon. So any other questions about that? Hey man, under storm water for your your uh back truck, you've increased the um

maintenance on it by 50,000. What's going on with that? So, there are some major issues. Um, so that machine is a 2014 back truck that was already used by the time we got it um for sewer and other things. Um, we've had a little bit of issues here and there, but obviously, you know, wear wear and tear on the machine. Um, this air air and uh the moisture around here, it's really taken a toll on everything. Um, so we had some work done back in September, October, I believe it was. I think it was around that time and um they gave us another quote for what needs to be done in order for this machine to operate. It's operable now, but very soon we're going to have major issues. So, they gave us a quote that is around 20,000 now. This quote was back in February, I believe it was.

Okay. Is going to go up. Yeah. That's one I mean July 1st that's 20 to $25,000 right out the gate to repair everything that we need on that um to it's preventative maintenance. Yeah. Yeah. Um so that was the biggest item right there. But throughout the year we have many issues. Hydraulic hoses, pressure hoses, water hoses, things like that that are breaking on that machine. We also have a Cameron system that occasionally needs to be repaired. We do that in-house for the most part. Uh, but we do have to order the parts for it. Okay. Thank you. We did also quote out replacing that vehicle alto together. Thank you.

You want to tell them how much that was? No, I will, but it's it's significant. It's so we did um we did get a price on a brand new machine that which would be valuable to us um but it it's around $600,000. brand new. No one's used it. It's just ours. But still, it's it's a big chunk of change. That's a beneficial piece of equipment. So, it is 60,000 I mean, the $50,000 increase is a chunk, but if we can continue to use that, the preventative maintenance that they've done with that truck is well worth that money. Maybe next year.

It's not uncommon to get like 20 years of life out of that that type of a vehicle, right? So, we need to You're saying we need to plan for that next year's budget coming. It's coming sooner than later. Okay. If we want to, if we want to try to maintain our storm water systems to the best of our abilities, be proactive. Yes. Yes. Very much so. How much have you had to put into that 2014 truck to maintain it? Have you had to put over the years?

Yeah. Uh it's well over say well over 100,000. I think we bought it for 237,000 in 2018. Okay. So a lot of money. We were always told kind of not to look into it right now. More important matters. So I understand that. We're getting to that point now where we're going to have to start looking at it whether it's next year or the year after. All right. Sanitation.

I I think it's about the same as Yeah. 244. Um, so that's our our leaf and limb program that we have, of course, the GFL recycling and Ike Williamson. Um, it's only going up $5,000 in contract services. So,

will you explain what Ike Williamson does for the town? It's our um so it's kind of not a landfill by any means, but um we're able to drop our debris off there. Um take loads of I think that's what brush they go to there, too. Yeah. So, so our our lethal limb is deposited there. Um any storm water that we have is deposited there. Um, so aside from us possibly going all the way to Bolivia for a landfill, that's our closest option. Um, so that's that's what he among other things, but in in this particular sanitation um budget, that's what he does for us. When we took the dirt off of uh the just to go, did we shop it off at uh Ike Williams took the stuff we took off? You packed with trucks and took it over there. Did we drop it off there?

He dropped it off. Oh, he dropped He loaded it and took it. Yes. What was the charge for that? Nothing. Nothing.

But he got He got the free. He did. He got the Okay. He did, but he didn't charge us anything for it. Okay. Any questions on sanitation, environmental protection? Um, so we've increased a little bit um with pond management. Twin Lakes is um um Still Water Ponds. Um we'll be looking at doing um a bi-weekly essentially two times a month service on the Twin Lakes. That's why that price has increased. And then everything else is essentially the same with the mosquito bricks. We didn't get any spray materials this year as of yet. Um there is that possibility. um which normally a container of that I think it's a 30,000 container 30 gallon container can range from $3,000 to $3,500 chemical for mosquito spray.

Will you explain the natural disaster reimbursement at $50,000 what that is? I've actually never um had to deal with that too often. Um I don't know if Alicia, do you have any experience with that or Ken? Um, from my understanding, it's just a number we put in the budget in case we do have a natural disaster. So, um, we'll be authorized to spend the money during a a hurricane or a storm and then we would ask for reimbursement. Yes. Okay. Very good. Thank you.

All right. Matt, has there ever been any thing y'all's department has done looking at the canal waters or the inter coastal way waters? I know I'm hearing from a lot of residents that um similar to the ponds that there's, you know, buildup and stuff in them. Um I think some due to lack of rain stuff going on there. Um didn't know if y'all do anything regarding the other waters in town.

I no ma'am, we have not we have not other than the judging that has taken place. Um, obviously they can only get to certain areas themselves depending on the u agreement contracts and things like that, but no ma'am, we have not. Other than um the shoreline projects that we've done at the park, that's really it. Cuz some of the properties that you know are against the water, some are never ones that would really be dredged at all. So, they would never be looked at. So, just didn't know across the board if those have been looked at in any capacity. Amen. To me, all of our waters are important.

Absolutely. You know, we did discuss this a little bit when we were talking about the roads that were not paved that that would if we were to pave them that would reduce the silt and the the debris going into the canal that canals or right um getting a buildup of that. So, we did we did talk about it. Um would be nice to do something with it because we know it's just continued to run off into those canals, right? They have um they have something I think you may have heard of it called a saffl baffle. Um it's been brought up before in front of you all.

Um so we had a meeting a couple years ago with a couple different companies that provide that that service essentially. Um it's a piece of equipment that goes inside a manhole so to speak and supposed to break down everything. The thing is with our moral roads that it's so fine that it just kind of sips right through. it doesn't break down and go to the bottom where we could suck it out. And that was baff not on those roads. We do have one in place for catchment 7 to try to see what can happen, but really there's no maral roads that drain into that area. So, I think it's going to be bigger items, sand, more sand particles and dirt clouds and stuff.

Well, definitely at the end of the roads on the island. I know. And um you know the the builtup there is crazy especially with the you know the lack of rain. You can see it way more pronounced than ever but you can definitely see it at low tide majorly. It just keeps building up. Yes ma'am. What if if that's the roads where some of this silt obviously is washing into the canals. Absolutely. If there was a well, if you wish, dropped where that water runs in and it fills up and the clear water disperses, can we would we have to what equipment would we have to use to suck all that stuff out, get it down to base, a well like that?

Uh, depending on how deep it would be, a back truck could do that. What's the man hours on that that labor intensive on the back? No, it should not be not too often. No, I mean you can you can essentially run it with one person. Obviously, when you're working with machinery like that, you want to to be safe, but uh it can do we do that? How often do you Surely you bas and everything? Yeah, we we do it multiple times a year. Routine maintenance for that.

Okay. We have a schedule of um you know off season off season we do the island any other time throughout the year we're on the mainland. But thankfully you know with that machine we've we've um corrected a lot of issues that we've had in the past. It's all under your department. Any objections to discussing power bill and beach erosion now, which is item number seven on the agenda that's under Mass Department. So we can get him through and get back to work.

Before we leave that though, a question. Yes, ma'am. in your um and it may be what you're getting ready to talk about in the we've had a few meetings. I can't remember which one, but you had a proposal where we were looking at the um water that's going to go on the excuse me the dirt roads. Yes. And then there was two things that we were looking at. One was the way we're doing it now and another was to to look at a piece of equipment. Did we decide what we were doing with that? And is that in the budget or is that not in the budget? We took it out of the budget. So, it's not in the budget.

No, we were um yeah, we were looking at selling selling a piece of equipment that we had um but instead with the prices and everything of the services, the other options we had given you all, we decided to remove that from sales and we're using that. Okay. So, the the method that we have been using is what we're going to continue to use. Yes, ma'am. Just want clarity on that because the public heard that we're buying this equipment and I don't want there to be any confusion when we're not doing that when they see us doing it the way that we've always done it. We are doing it the same way. Okay. Yes, ma'am.

There was other capital removed from your budget as well. if you want to talk about that while we're talking about capital.

So, um, a couple other areas that we did remove from last time was the community center fence behind the fence. Um, so originally I thought other departments were going to be utilizing that area. Um, I was wrong in that assumption. Um but the reason was is to move things from town hall parking lot down to that area, open up some space, but um we've actually put a lot of those items on gov deals and everything has been sold essentially other than the bathroom trailer and the dump truck that we have up here. So all the curb stops and patters and everything have been sold. So they'll be out of the parking lot I think hopefully by the end of today. Um, so that's the reason we removed the fence from the uh from the community center.

So what would we off the street lights? Street lights were the other thing. What would we store in the community center at all? Anything back there? No, sir. Okay. No need to. Other than the fence going, I wonder know if we're going to put anything else back there. So, the street lights for the island and the the gazebo and streetscape, you all have removed those. Yes, ma'am. Just want to make sure the public knows that because, you know, we we hear things, they hear things, and that's been removed. Yes. Okay. Yeah. The um I believe the one thing we can hope for is I hate to say it like this, um is that the street lights all go out, we can replace them for free. I mean, I don't I don't want that to happen because it's a safety issue, but but for $900, we could replace the street lights.

Yeah. Correct. Correct. So, we're not going to spend $900 and we're not going to have street lights working and we're going to have a safety issue out there with exposed stuff. I mean, that's up to you all. So, why were they removed out? Uh because when I brought them up in the past, other options were discussed and nothing was set on, so I just removed them. the other options I think were more pricey and you know that was like you know having a little kid in a candy store, right? This is something that looks good but do we really need it? Um so perhaps the under $1,000 would be wise to put back into the budget. Okay. Um and no not to do the more pricey um right?

You know we're not going to the candy store to get everything but we do need to get something and it is a safety issue. Um gosh, we have exposed exposed totally, right? Yeah. Um so I think another option, another thing was there was no decision on what kind of post you had mentioned some um we had brought up the regular roadway street lights. Um it wasn't aesthetically pleasing. So there was no clarity on what to even ask. But like the decorative ones which were the nicer one, they are still $100 $900. It'll cost just the electric is more a month. Right. Exactly. I think it's But we're paying that anyway now.

How many lights will we end up having to quote replace or new ones put in? Nine. Nine out of I think there's 17 altogether for $900. That's all of streetscape and the gazebo, not just the gazebo. Is that something we can't do in this budget? I mean, I'm sure I'm sure we can. It seems like I mean, I hate we're wasting time talking about this, but it is a safety thing. And I'm I guess I am glad we brought it up because this is something we can absorb in this year's budget. Yeah. There's if there's no additional request from council to do anything different with the posts or the lighting fixtures, if we could find the 900 now, I'd say we do that now and not even consider changing the numbers in the FY27 budget.

Are you all good with that? I'm fine with that. Yep. Okay, great. What kind of lights? We have to know what you presented to us. Let me find the note right notebook. I've got them here. Let me find your 10. One was kind of square and one was kind of oval. Is that a fair statement? Which one's the ones that the other seven? There's 17 of them. What's out there now? Why not go back with the same thing? There's no sense in changing up something different. So they they were bought by the town and Brunswick Electric doesn't have those. All right. So that's one option. Okay. Okay.

And the other option essentially is the roadway lights. This typical roadway lights you see that they put up everywhere. Is this an option? Which one's that? Yeah. Yeah. That the decorative light look better, but you know the Mr. Arnold. The decorative light. That's plastic too. This one. It is. Yeah. The head on is plastic. I feel like I'm at a department store buying clothes. Mr. Paul, are you in favor of this or this? One second. I believe everybody likes this. Perfect. See what

it's 2250 per month cost of lighting it. Right. Right. And we're doing that now, right? We're paying uh those are those are a little bit more expensive. what we're paying right now. I actually I don't know which one of those pulls a month from that. A roadway light, the typical roadway light pulls $14.50 a month. Yep. These are $8 more a month. But these are LED instead of the We'll just read the raise the P parking fee by 50 cents.

You get a motion. I'll second it. Well, we got to be safe out there. And I agree. Yeah, that's an easy fix, I believe. Real quick, just so you're aware, they're not double-headed lights. So, at the at the gazebo parking lot, there's double-headed lights, right? These are not double-headed lights. These don't come with it. Now, the roadway lights do come with double heads. These don't. Are you still okay with that? Oh, well, it's the only option you gave us. I guess we have I mean, is there another option? What? As far as double dual heads, no.

Cuz those are so nice that are out there. I hate they can't I know I've asked you many times, can they not can we not somehow source the bulbs and the covers cuz they are very unique, very nautical, very they look weathered, but that's a good thing cuz they Right. Uh got a question. Yes, sir. Double-headed lights. Yes, sir. What's the what do you know of the price on those? because they actually shine over like the sidewalk in the street. Correct. Correct. It's like me doing this. Yes. Okay. Instead of you just doing Yes.

So, um, essentially it's it's just doubled. As far as So, the roadway lights, typical roadway lights, they come with the double head. Obviously, you're using two lights. So, $1450 a month goes to $29 a month. That's it. It's the only difference. But they're safer. They add more safety for walkers and cars. Maybe it's it could be. Yeah. Along those lines, what Mr. Posel is saying, can the lighting company give us an illustration of what the lights would look like in the evening in our areas to show I know some we have seen a a a photo that showed that to kind of know so we make sure.

Yeah, we can check with Brunswick Electric. Yeah. To see if they can do that. Yeah, absolutely. Calculated what it is for both either one. So when we What was that? What's the cost for either one? So that when we get down on the 18th for an example, we'll have a solid thing to do. Okay. I think that you know if you if we're going to ask you to do one and then we change our mind, we're back to square zero. We're running out of time. Gotcha. We can do that. Okay. So, your dirt streets were taken out, the community center fence, and the lighting were like the lighting you're going to this budget. Okay.

Anything else? I believe so. Um, so the next thing would be PAL bill, which we did talk on that briefly earlier. Um, are we all agreement with this questions? I mean, I would love us. I mean to have more money for Pal chipper roads obviously I'm not sure anybody else feels on that topic if we um I think we got to see where everything shakes out because this is our first time really discussing it all before we just discuss capital stuff. So yeah, in theory we'd love all that capital stuff, but we got to have money to pay for it and

that's the balancing act we're in. So, I feel like um I feel like with the roads, if we could put more money to get more roads done, would be great, personally. Um because I do feel like there's a lot that needs doing and we can't just keep putting everything off because before long, you know, some roads are not in great shape, some need.

So, I think what we're going to end up doing um is you guys have mentioned it multiple times as far as getting a ranking almost a capital um improvement plan with our roads. Um, so what we do this year obviously will be put on the back burner. Um, and then so on and so forth. We'll go we'll go through each road that we have in our town and we can go from there as far as rating them and seeing the volume of traffic, cracks, potholes, things of that nature and just give prices on those and bring them back up to you all every year. It it is an appropriate use of the fund balance, an appropriate use to take money for long-term projects like this. I mean, a road, a storm water, dredging, those are long-term things that it is appropriate to take out of fund balance, out of our savings account to to fund these projects. I mean, it's a we'll have to agree on it. It's a a philosophical thing, but but we may need to look at that. Um, not saying that we're going to do it, but we do need to look at that and what is the appropriate amount of money to leave in the fund balance. I know a lot of people discuss that we do live in the coast. We do have to prepare for hurricanes. Hurricanes happen. Just because we hadn't had one does not mean that we won't have one that'll swipe us out. So, we do need to have an appropriate fund balance to to build up things and and for things that happen along the way that might not even be a hurricane, but we it is an appropriate use to take some funds out. Um, just want to lay that for us to be thinking about that and to consider perhaps taking some out.

What What is the appropriate percentage? A couple things to consider and um Mr. Armstrong shared with me um of a resolution that was passed by a a neighboring agency that set their fund balance. It might be something this council wants to consider and that neighboring agency I believe was set at 80%. So those numbers obviously are up for negotiation. I think we're sitting over 100 right now. I'm 109 Rick

106. I have my nine upside down. Um so we're sitting at 106. if we were to drop it to 90 95 um we'd have an idea of how much money then out of fund balance that we could appropriate to keep us at that number. Now I want to Matt, this is the projects. Correct me if I'm wrong. This is what you plan to do this year or FY27. Are these numbers accurate for those portions? That was that was originally. Yes. But after comments and everything from last I'm looking at um

yeah, this is okay. So, we just want to be sure that the that the the board realizes what projects we're going to look at this year for paving so that you all are aware. What are they? I don't think we know what they are. All we talked about today was Clubhouse Road, right? But we also know that there's 40th Street. I mean, we know that there's a lot of other streets as well. He's got a few that are on the radar for this year if you want to discuss.

So, originally it was Old Point um with the tree. We have um two or three large live oaks on Old Point that are buckling the road. Um we did meet with the master association. They're supposed to meet with their arborist to see how we can keep the trees but also um make the road better. Um another one was 27th Street. Um it feels like a dirt track when you get on there, so it needs to be um leveled out and paved. Um, we do have intentions of if we if we have any leftover money, especially um with 40th Street, um, possibly crack sealing that and putting a seal over top of it. Um, and then obviously the biggest one is Clubhouse Road, what I talked about earlier.

Do you think all of those can be done with the funds you have allocated or not? Uh, probably not unless we unless we use the entirety of the pal bill. And maybe if you come back with us with the total of all that, right? I'm going to get the numbers I'm going to get the numbers from Barnhill broken up and then have a big number as far as clubhouse goes and then see what we have as far as what we can do. And then could you maybe rank the next top three roads in the town and the cost of those so we'll know and then we'll kind of know if we are pulling for a fund. Okay.

Know what we're looking at because we've got to soon make a call. Gotcha. Okay. The old list that we had was Old Point Road, Clubhouse Road, Seat Trail Drive West, and 27th and 26th Street. But Sea Trail Drive West is off the list because it's not that it's not bad. Correct. Uh but you know those were the basis of the ones that you had before. I don't know what you've added to it or not. So that's just what I'm looking at. So we really haven't added too much to we really removed 36th Street and kind of put the radar on 40th Street. Mhm.

Um those are the biggest things. Clubhouse Road is still on there when of course in 27th Street. Yeah. But Clubhouse Road is only a small portion on that original sheet. Yes. But there's far worse areas on Clubhouse. That's why we're back into that.

Mr. Clour, you had mentioned um that you and um our finance director Armstrong looked at other I guess our peer group to see other coastal towns what their appropriate fund balance is. And I know the fund balance vacasillates. It might be at 106 right now, but next week it could be at 100. um depending on what we we purchase and and such. Do do you all want the administrator and the finance director to look at a policy for us? Um I know that previous councils have a long time ago looked at that. I think they um talked about a 75%. I I will say that 75 80% to me is too low. You all know I'm conservative, but I think that that's too low for our area. We sure don't want to go on a spin thrift. Not a spin thrift. We don't want to go spending uh crazy, but but I he mentioned it and we don't get together a lot, but he mentioned it and we're up here.

Can we provide some direction on that? feel comfortable with if you're saying it's 106 to bring it down by 11% and use that money for something. Okay, that's my

I would support that, Mike. And I know when I was at the League of Municipalities, I asked that question when we had our training and um you know, it's kind of subjective by town because I had heard the 75%. Also, I was I was advised that's way too low being a coastal town for us. So, the 80% would scare me to be that low. Um I I was told between 90 and 95% even to 100% was a good range to they would recommend but again it's subjective number. So um and I'd like to mention that you know we've had two rehabs for the county and everybody reduced their tax rate except for us and our taxpayers have continually to pay into this and they've continually paid into the fund balance. The roads would be a significant project that they see where their tox tax dollars are going to storm water. They can see where their tax dollars are going to. Um, we know we live on the coast. We know we may have to do some dredging. We know that we've got silk going into the canals. Um, we just talked about that about 30 minutes ago. It would be prudent wise of us to be able to give our taxpayers something tangible that they can see. They see you all that we appreciate our employees. They see that, but they don't see the roads being nice in some areas. Some roads are very good. A lot of towns would love to have our roads. Um, but for us, the roads are not in in 100% shape and they want them to be that way. So, yep. Could we see that figure that 11% just to give the council that that number to see what they could be working with if it was going from one, you know, just just a projection. I mean, I I would never want to see it get below 90. No,

16%. 95 I think's a good level amount. I like if we could see that 11% just to see what kind of funds that and then we could see where it needs to be used. Mr. Arnold. Uh, I'm I'm good with 90 or 95%. We've got a lot of work to do on these roads. I think that uh report we got doesn't cover everything that we have out there as far as the the assessment. So, yeah, I think it's a good number. Okay. Well, everybody wants you to do it.

We can do it. Yeah. At our next meeting, our next budget meeting, we'll come back and give you the the number of what 95% looks like. And then if that's the number that we're going to settle on, then for the June regular session meeting, we'll bring forth a resolution for you to consider. Yes. Very good. Great. Thank you. Forward, sir. So, the last thing is um the beach erosion. Yes.

So, I uh I had originally brought to you all on 37th, 32nd, and 18th Street walkways. Um, so forgive me, I've never dealt with this in the past, um, as far as the process and everything of, uh, grants and, um, bid processes and things like that. Um, so after reaching out to, um, the engineering firm that designs our walkways and everything, they kind of gave me a play byplay of how everything works as far as when you should, um, get your grants and and proposals and things of that nature. Um obviously we we have missed the deadline for this year as far as speed erosion walkway funding for grants um through the camo and everything.

What was the deadline? Uh the 24th I believe it was April. I was thinking that we were going to meet that deadline. I was thinking we talked about it and it was going to be we don't have any numbers for anything. I seem to recall that under the prior administration, there was a request for grants for the walkways and the money was not given to us because of other communities that had worse situations, right? So, I think it's time for us to go back after them, right? Yes,

I agree. So, um, so with that said, um, I'm going to reach back out to the engineer and he's going to put these, uh, these three walkways on a bid process. As much as these are going to cost, we're going to have to send it out for bid to get some money back in or get some quotes back in. Um, and then at that time, we should have an idea of what we can go for a grant with. I didn't feel comfortable just putting in numbers for a grant and then we get we get more than what we needed. I don't know how that would work out and I didn't want to take a chance with that to be honest with you. Um so one of the walkways 18th Street um it's in fairly good condition. Um the biggest thing is that it's it's right it ends right at the middle of a dune. So as long as we keep it open it's in it's in good condition. But what we can do in house is actually extend that um out further to the toe of the dune. Um and that would that would alleviate a lot of issues with that particular walkway. Just to let you know, I happen to spend time with somebody who has a house on beach this weekend

for a visit. Anyway, we were talking and they were looking out and they were marveling on how much the they're on 34th Street. Mhm. They were marveling on the well you did got we done we've done on their walkway all the way through and it's a long one. It is. And they said $300,000 is not un they could not believe that you know that's how much it cost but it looked well worth it. Right. We appreciate that. On this beach erosion fund. Yes, ma'am. Um I'm on page 19 of 19. Is that what page you all are on? Yep. Okay. It shows that we have um an increase of $765,000.

Can you go over what all that is? What what that would be? I don't know where the $765,000 comes from. that that part of the revenue that's accurate. 485 is accurate for the three estimates for the walkways, but I don't know where the 765 came from. So last year the budget was 530,000. Mhm. This year it's a million 15,000 which is an increase of 765 $974. That's that's you're adding the 485 to the 530, right?

Okay. I didn't cut it anymore. Okay. So, the million5 is the addition of the 485 from the three projects this year, this coming year, and the 530,000 from the original budget. So, she was just adding those together make it million5. Can you I I don't know that I'm following that. I'm just I'm just adding up those two numbers. The 485 is what we're proposing this year with 732nd and 18th Street. That's it's just a clerical error. That's not what's needed is a million5. We can free up $530,000. Okay. That's what I was thinking.

Yay. Yeah. We just found $530,000. Yay. Streets wrong. All right. Yeah, it's just clear. Um, one thing I will say, did we find some money? We did find half million dollars. We found a half million dollar. That's the best news I've heard all day. That's pretty good. Well, let's go. We We're on a roll now. So, we we can change that proposed budget than Matt comfortable at 485 or say half a million. I'd rather just do half a million if possible. Reason I say that is because we do repair the walkways, other walkways throughout the year. Um, plenty in there. So, we need to have extra money for that for sure.

It's 500. And we know that is a continual job y'all are having to do out there with the sand accumulation. And my worry is with the dredging going on by the jetties, all of that sand is eventually going to get blown up on the Sunset Beach because those king tides are going to take it and bring it right out and then it's going to disperse. So, what's the bottom line number are we looking at for 2627 for the beach erosion fund we just talked about? 100,000. Thank you.

Matthew, thank you. Thank you very much, Vicki. Thank you for your Yes, Vicki. Thank you. Now, we we'll uh jump into the building inspections and planning. What we'll go to next, Mr. Carrie. Thank you, sir. Thank you, Mayor Council. Would you like to tell us what page we're on? Okay. Nine. Page 19. Nine of 14. Nine of 19 pages. Yes.

Nine is what we'll start with. Let me make sure. So, nothing's really changed uh on my budget as no request obviously from the last uh meeting we had. Um the um kind of just go through it here uh and then y'all can certainly ask me uh any questions you want to. Uh as far as the positions, um I kept the five positions in there. Uh, one of them is actually a u part-time position that uh is uh is vacant again. And um one thing I had talked to uh town administrator about possibly uh in the near future uh with the Hampton Inn uh building is a uh is a higher level classification as any of the guys uh who work here. Uh I can myself I I can inspect it but uh time is uh is of the essence with with me and stuff in here and um so we're looking at potentially instead of me bringing on someone part-time uh with those classifications to inspect that building to uh potentially maybe do a uh contract um and so may maybe be a little little easier uh with uh with the department. So, uh that uh potentially uh and those uh monies uh from those inspection fees uh is going to uh certainly cover uh those that those u inspections. So, just one thing I want to just bring to your attention. Uh so, you will know going forward. That's one thing that I am looking at doing. Uh the other uh full-time position I I I am requesting to keep it in the budget. uh therefore

uh just not knowing and uh would like to um definitely uh probably reconsider sometime after beginning of the year depending on the economy and everything filling that position as well if if need be. Um as far as the vehicle uh like I said everything is still everything is still um uh quite wise just as it is. Uh actually I pulled it back up this morning before I come in here just just to reverify and I'll certainly answer any questions. Carrie. Yes sir.

Do you think as the Logan project really gets rolling that will increase your workload dramatically?

It it will. Um it's just when um like I say, we kind of if you notice in our reports, uh weekly or monthly reports, you know, uh sometimes you'll see two or three homes and then sometimes you'll see 10 homes. So, it just uh I can't really um uh I you know, as far as Logan and Ryan Holmes, um Bill Clark has not built quite as much here recently. And um so, um I think eventually it'll probably pick up, but like right now, you know, we're still we're still about the same as we were this time last year.

He's clearing a lot of land back there. He's he's moving a lot of dirt and getting ready. Uh that's for sure. The beauty of your department is the people that build, people that have permits, those are the ones that are paying for it. So like my house is built in. I'm not paying into this. Likewise, the other folks that aren't building anything. So your enterprise fund just stays right there with the people that are paying and it's self-funded that way. That's the beauty of the way your department is. You handle your own. You don't take money out. You don't take money in. monies that come in through any type of permit or any kind of inspection, right? And providing providing that service.

And I think it's important for the public to know that. So that's why I mentioned that. What I can also add, too, I think it's important that when Carrie talked about contracting out the inspections for the Hampton Inn, it's not the town that would pay for that. It would be the Hampton in that would pay for that contract. Exactly. Uh question. Yes, sir. You're getting rid of and focus for new software. I'm sorry. I didn't hear the first part of your question. The annual fee for your your annual fee for software and you're removing and focus what is this same similar type software that you're using the uh well that is our uh that is our inspection. Let's see our annual

in focus was the that was the yeah the contract code enforcement but now we have code enforcement covered in house we don't need the the uh contract within focus yes uh but our uh our work software will remain the uh remain the same for our permitting okay and Mr. like for the certifications for our current employees or even one you may um hire there. I know some of those certifications it's my understanding that they they need to have them to do that job. So

yes and I had prepared a uh document here to give you today if you if you want me to to give it to you uh just to kind of if we want to go there and talk about that just a second. I didn't have it for a PowerPoint but I do have a copy if you'd like and I can just give you a brief overview real quick. Yeah, because I think I understood there was definitely some employees that need a certification and there there might be a different pay needed for that certification. Let me do this. Now that you brought it up, I'll just give you a do have for that if we want to put it on PowerPoint, but that's up to

whatever. The public would probably like to see it. Yeah, let's do it. I just want to make sure that we that Carrie has the funding needed for that. Yeah. Yeah. Really what he's got on the power.

I just I just made a note that to make sure we covered that. Yeah. Here's what you got here. So basically uh if you want it's just and I knew it was going to be hard to read so I wanted to give you that in front of you. Okay.

So um I'm I'm going to just cut through this uh here and just read it to you basically here. So this overview is the North Carolina Office of State Fire Marshall requires all building inspectors working in the North Carolina to hold applicable certifications. To meet this requirement, inspectors must complete approved classroom training at an accredited community college and pass the course examination before being eligible to sit for the state exam. Uh upon su successful completion of the state exam, the inspectors issued a inspection certificate. Uh the building inspection department provides services across all four level trades uh building, plumbing, mechanical and electrical. Uh each trade includes uh three certifications which is a building level one, building level two and three. Uh each level authorized the inspector to perform inspections to uh specify to four specific types of construction based on the factors such as square footage and occupancy classifications. Advancement to higher level requires the inspector to hold a temporary probationary certificate uh in applicable trade such as uh issued by the qualifications board up to 3 years and complete the required on job training hours under direct supervision uh before applying to sit for the next state exam. So basically um and I'll get to Jeremy's uh the the level one uh is uh is obviously the uh least amount of u that you got to have to do inspections like for residential things of that nature. And then once you get to uh level two um the moves up to to be able to do commercial inspections on a small scale and then also do um mechanical do uh residential as well. Same thing but the square footages change. So they can limit those square footages and the haz

the occupancy classification uh of like hazardous and things of that nature. So you have to have higher levels to be able to do those inspections, which we don't have institutional and things of that nature. So therefore, does it really warrant, you know, three inspe level three inspectors? But as far as being able to advance to do multifamily just like what Ryan Holmes is proposing, Hampton End's uh getting ready to build um those require those level two and level three certifications. And so we do have a lot of level two inside the town limits and those are uh multifamily units uh Eastwood Bluff uh different places like that clubhouse built those are the ones that require those level twos. So a level one cannot inspect those buildings. So therefore we have to provide a level two have a level two certification and that is in all four traits uh that I just mentioned. Uh the level three building that currently here within the town is the uh building down at um I call it the highrise and the curve and

the Regency.

So that is level three and uh I have to do the inspections uh on that building when they do come up. And obviously as you all know we've got things down there now that's going on with that building that uh that's requires uh you know inspections from from me to be able to do. Um so that's why I think it's important um obviously um you know for the town to provide a minimum of a level two inspector and uh and with the option of having a three. So I move I actually put one more slide on there actually I can't have see okay so that is so I just wanted you know that's I just put an example in there and that is what I think I had originally put in the uh in the budget as prepared

uh for Mr. Parker. And these are things that um he has completed up until now. Uh that obviously uh we we've not compensated him uh yet for. Yeah. And that was what I made a note of was that we need to make sure that we address that because a lot of work's gone into this to get the town has invested a lot in him and we want to keep him as well. He's invested and he's invested a lot too to get these services. These are not easy. You are explaining this like you're going to pick up a loaf of bread at the grocery store. There is a lot of detail into this and you know that with your expertise there is we have to have this. We have to have this.

We do. And like I said, he's put a lot of time. He's still under my supervision for most of it, but uh as far as the hours, he's put forth the hours. um obviously uh just you know I just put some certificates in here to show you uh what he's uh already accomplished and then also uh these probationaries are under my supervision and he's able to uh be able to you have to work with so many hours up until that point before you can actually sit for a state exam.

Right. So, he's got, like I said, mechanical, uh, plumbing, and he also qualified for electrical level three way earlier on when I hired him due to job experience. And so, uh, he was actually, uh, able to skip one examination and move to the next because of job experience. Right. But anyway, I felt like we needed to put that in there so at least you can get a visual. Yeah, I definitely support us doing what you recommend there. I know that's a little different, but I feel like it's needed to make sure and um have that expertise as well as that um staff member here.

Yeah, he's like I said, he's put forth the effort and uh and also the town has put forth uh made made it financially uh able for him to be able to achieve achieve these and so we want to what we put out we want to keep it within town if we can far as investment. Yes, sir. Uh I we talked about this I think once before. Uh after CO the state allows the building inspectors to if you wish get the final approval on let's say an air conditioning change out via video versus actually going in person to see the actual Yes sir. Live remote inspection. Is that for all uh inspectors for all levels?

Um it's not for all levels. So we still have to abide by those same uh if that building actually I do some for the Regency uh he cannot perform those you know inspections without a level without a level three cuz that does save you time if you can do the house typical air conditioning get it does yes sir yes sir and we do we do quite a bit obviously we all know we do a lot of heating and air replacements here due to the nature of the elements do you need a thumbs up on this or we do because the the budget you had before you does not include this step

step was removed from this budget. So if this is one that we want to consider and I need I need a consensus to add it back in. I am with that. Yes, I'm good with that. I'm okay. Yes. Thank you. Thank you. Okay. So we're any any other questions? Unless you have thanks for everything you do in your department. We appreciate it. Good job. Thank y'all for uh reconsidering that. Yes. For him. It would be much appreciated. Yes. Thank you. Thank you, sir. Thank you. And the planning. Who's going to have a plan?

The planning part. It says it says inspections and planning. So, y'all want to look at that right quick or something's going to be long drawn out? Be nice to take a break at something. Yeah, we're going through here in just a few minutes. That's why I don't know if this is going to be a long thing. Oh, okay. This is just a short thing. We can go ahead and see it for a few minutes, but if it's going to be so long, we can come back in and see it.

I don't think it's going to be a long drawn out, should we? Yeah, this won't be a long drawn out. We can get through this and then if you want to break

uh page 14. So, as you know, we are um we did look for a a planning director. Um we're in negotiations now. So, you'll see the uh proposed budget there includes both the planning director and the zoning and code enforcement officer that we already have working uh currently for us. Now um the savings there is removing the contracted planning services which significantly offsets um the salary line there. So, we're coming out in the positive or negative. Um, let me higher.

Well, there's there's an increase of 131,000 from the previous year. Now, the previous year did not have um the costs associated with code and zoning which were under our previous right um zoning and project project manager. Was that under administration? Where was that housed before when that the project manager? I don't know where that was housed to be honest because it's really it's not an increase because we were already paying for that. Correct.

Correct. Yeah. Yeah. In the zoning we were paying um I'm sorry not zoning code enforcement we were paying in focus what $7,000 a year. Was it $7,000 a year? Excuse me. $7 $7,000 a month that we were paying them that we're not paying that anymore. So that money is not in this budget. So correct. Yeah. That and focus was shown in the previous uh presentation where that money is being removed. Right. And then also our contract planner position is being removed. So, we're removing I guess what we're trying to get at is the fact that we're actually

saving money even though it looks like here it's increasing it. It's not. It's a town and right what you what you you won't see all of those in on page 14 simply because they're in different funds, right? 7,000 for focus. We basically it's $219,000 is what's going back in there from the plan from the contracted service which was 135. You said $7,000 a month which equals out to what 84. Mhm. So that puts us at 219 that's going to come back in to balance in with all those numbers plus what we were planning for the land use plan um additional on top of that. So it's even more of a savings. Sure.

How much was in focus a month? Do we know? 7,000. So that's 84,000 off the top of my head. It was something around it was either 70 a year, 70,000 a year or$7,000 a month. I can't 7,000 a month. I'm pretty sure I'm correct in that. And then the land use plan was $65,000 and then the contract with Anchor Point was $17,000. So anyway, it's closed. just a lot of business. Well, we we're definitely ahead of the game or equal so is I guess what we're trying to point

because this shows an increase of 166,000 but it's truly not just is what we're saying other funds will increase which offset the grand total. Correct. questions on planning. Um, Don, I'm thrilled that we're going to have an in-house planner. Yes. Um, that can be here every day. I think that's his lunch call. It was just for us to have a break. To have a break. Yeah. Any more any other questions on planning? If not, let's do a recess or just or do do a break. We'll come back.

Okay. Is that good with everybody? Yes, we're good.

Richard call this meeting back to order. We will now be moving in to the council part of the budget council administration finance and events. Mr. Claymore All right. So, we'll start with the uh town council portion, which is page two of 19. Through this, you'll see just a few uh increases over last year's last year's budget. significantly are um using subscriptions, which has a a $6,000 increase. Um but there's also some decreases shown kind of offset that. Um the proposed budget for the council for FY27 is 53930, which is shows $187,000 decrease. Um, but there's a there's a tra you at least you want to talk about that transfer to the capital reserve that was it's shown in there as well for the 2526 operating

the transfer got moved to the transfer got moved to the fire department fund. What does that mean? I don't understand that it got moved to the fire department. It was a transfer to move money for the capital reserve for the fire truck. So instead of showing it in the council department, we just moved it to the fire department. So you'll see in the fire department budget. Okay. How much do we owe on the fire truck? But do you know is it one or two more payments?

This is for the fire truck that we haven't purchased yet. Um, one fire truck the last payment is in 2027 and then the other fire truck pays out in 2031. The 2031. Is that the one we have on order? It is. What stands to reason since it's 20 31 5 years from now that that's probably the new truck. You have a truck on order now?

We do. You do? That's likely what that is then because this capital reserve is uh just building up money in anticipation of that bill that's going to be coming in on order. Yeah. Can you go over the dues and subscriptions? What why that's increasing 6,000 or what's included in it also?

So professional um that would be under make sure I'm saying this right. Yeah. So, any any of the any memberships that any of the council members have would come out of dues and subscriptions. Um, and what memberships are y'all showing that to be? Can you help me? Um, I can look it up and just paid out of it so far. We belong to the League of Municipalities, right?

And we also belong to the Council of Governments. And if I'm not mistaken, the North Carol um the Capefir Council of Governments went up in the dues. And I believe that's what that reflection is, the $6,000. There was and that's not necessarily for us in general. That's for the whole town for us to be a member of the Capefir Council of Governments. And then the North Carolina League of Municipalities would be another one. And I believe their dues went up as well. I was just curious what those give her a second lines.

The other thing was liability insurance. It it um went up um or decreased a a great deal. Is that just cuz that's just our portion of the liability insurance versus the whole town's the liability insurance is just a estimate right now. We did the renewals applications last week. So, we'll have the final numbers um by the end of May and we'll have to decide, you know, if we're going to stay with the league, but I'm sure we will. Um but then those numbers can be amended for all the departments because all the workers comp and liability insurance went up in all the departments. Okay. But I just increased it by the same percentage that it was last year.

Okay. Because it looks like ours it was um more it was 16,000 last year and what's proposed is $2,65 for town council. Was that because we're breaking it up by department truly and that's just our share of it. I'm not sure how it was allocated in last year's budget, but what I did was the workers comp. I just took the total divided by the number of full-time employees for each department and the property and liability insurance. I just did that as a percentage of everybody's budget.

The way that it was done last year was by function. So that would have shown up on everybody's as a line item for everybody. What I think you've done, which we appreciate this, is to show specific departments how much everything costs. So you're doing everything by department rather than by function, which is something that we had asked you to do. So not not to answer your the question, but the Miss Bachelor I think that will provide comfort with you. Yeah. Just making sure to know that we just haven't gone down. It's

before liability insurance was put into the administration budget. But you're expecting it to be for the whole town. 16,000 plus some sort of um increase for the whole town. That what we're thinking. Um I'm expecting an increase. Hopefully not as much as last year. Right. Okay. Um the dues were paid out of Capefir Council of Government. Um School of Government and North Carolina League of Municipalities.

Okay. And what the totals were for each of those? Is that where we're coming up with that that $16,000 increase? Um, this is $6,000 increase, but um Oh, I'm sorry. Yeah, $6,000. Yeah.

We can bring that back. That'd be fine. We're going to be Just making sure it was a big jump at 6,000. So, I need a question mark on there to ask why. Bring that back. That'd be fine. Okay, fair was going up. We got that lead. They had not went up in a long time. Decided to pull up every It's not just us. And one thing on the salaries here, I would like to make a note because there's been some rumors going around that council voted themselves a raise and we absolutely did not do that. Um I think due to having to do the budget amendment because there was not funding in our line item is why maybe that was perceived, but we have not voted ourselves a raise at all. So, just for clarity,

just for clarity, I've every year I've announced this or actually inquired to the council about giving up your fees. Again, I've wanted to do that from the get-go. And now I found out through this last time that I can go and sign some kind of paper and they'll take my little bit of fee away. And I'm willing to do that. I want to do that. I don't think that we should be getting paid for something that we're doing a service to our community for. So, if any of the other council would like to join me, they're welcome to sign the paperwork where you don't get paid. But if not, that's completely up to you. But mine will be signed.

Yeah. Well, also to note, I know from the months I have been in office, when I add up my expenses in town with mileage and different stuff, I'm in the negative even for the $156 I get paid a month. Just so you know, we're not making money. Yeah. It ain't for the money. No. Any other questions on the town council scared that sir?

All right, with that we'll move on to the administration budget. This budget and the salary line still includes um the town administrator position, the human resources position. They're both vacant positions. um deputy clerk position which our um is that deputy clerk or clerk? As we know, we're we're sending uh our deputy clerk to training and then in the coming fiscal year to move up to town clerk. The salary line also still includes um an administrative assistant and an operations manager. The position that was removed was the project manager/code enforcement position. So the increase there is $22,000 228. That's a fine. Um you'll see a reduction in attorneys fees $37,000. a reduction in contract services, which brings our overall budget to an increase of $15,615, even with those uh other positions in the salary line.

The MUN code that's in there, um that's something that we've done historically, but it's not required as long as the public entity has their ordinances. um electronically on their website. I don't know how much we pay for that. Um but I'd like for council to consider not utilizing that service. So just so that we're clear on what it is. It's um a website. It's MUN code. It stands for municipal code and it has all of our ordinances in it. And so every time that we update one, it should be reflected there. It has not been updated in a couple years. We have our ordinances online, which is if it's online, that satisfies the requirement. We could save some money if we were to not renew the the uh MUN code. Am I making sense with what I'm talking about? It's just a duplication. But the duplications that we have on MUN code that we're paying for it is not has not been updated in a couple years. And I think it's important whatever we put out there that it be correct. It's already on our website so it satisfies that. It'll save a couple thousand dollars. I I don't know the exact amount, but I remember signing checks in years past um in public entities and then we did away with it. So

yeah, I don't know the amount of it either. I know from an ease of use standpoint for using Municode quite regularly, it's nice to be able to do a keyword search and to filter by section. So if you're specifically looking for something with relation to beach rules, for example, you can go to chapter 95 and everything you need is there. Where now it's just a PDF. it's not searchable and it's it's tough to try to find something you might be looking for whether it's in the um you know the ordinances or UDL. So you like MUN code? I like I like Mode.

So I guess then we need to have a plan to make sure that it's accurate because it's not I don't know what the cost is. Um and that's something we need to look at. We are going to keep it. Is there is there another option to put a searchable document online that we could use um versus using MUN code? Because it's like I said, if if one of our visitors is curious about a beach roll or a park rule, they got to scroll through 160 pages of a PDF to try to find it where now they could just type in glass or dogs or fireworks and those searches are going to populate for

but it may it's not correct though. That that's the caveat. That's the caveat to they can search it but it's not right. And if it's not right, people violate not knowing that they're violating. they go off of what they read and then two years old. Maybe come back to us with the cost and other options and recommendations on that then since we don't know the cost and and it's stated it's inaccurate. We can bring that back. Okay. Thank you.

Can you find out if there's any way you can ask municipal code, hey, can you update your documents? I mean as is there's got to be somebody we can reach out to. I think that's a responsibility of the town to send those updates to meeting and then we pay them to do the update. Okay. So just we'll have to get the big picture of what it's going to cost to continue with them and then to do what's the cost per update so if we change an ordinance uh at our meeting today for example what would that cost be to update it the the next business day. Okay. It's just a storehouse for what we tell them and if we don't tell them they don't know.

Exactly right. Anything else on administration budget? Um um I've got one question. I guess I'm a little I'm now I'm spinning around in circles on this. Uh we're adding a manager. We removed a manager project manager from salary group. Right. We did. Was that any is that the zoning code enforcement officer we loaded into the planning or is that a different person or is it split? It's split. That's part of it. So the project manager uh was also the code enforcement and now it's

so that's that whole position has been removed and kind of split between the various departments between code and um zoning enforcement and pardon to the the operations manager. The total salary for the two new positions versus the one, is there comparable to total salary annual? They're comparable. Yes. The increase the exact dollar amount, not right. Um it's about dollar for dollar. Mhm.

Okay. Okay. The increase that you see out to the right, the $22,810, that increase would be for the um since it's salaries and wages, that line item, that would be for their merit raise and for their cost of living adjustment. So, it's not like we're moving money. It's that that's what that number would be. Well, when I'm looking at the spreadsheet, and I'm not sure which spreadsheets we're going off of because when I look at the spreadsheet that details the salary stuff from last week, um this was I believe on mid last week. It was 396 238 for those positions and that was 45,000 base salary for administrative assistant and 125 for operations manager. Is that the numbers we're going off of for the the ones that aren't field?

Those are those are the numbers that we're going off of. Okay. And that the oper or the um administrative assistant would be a new well not a new position, right? I understand. Moving some people around to to fill some other vacancies. Right. Okay. And the operations manager is not it's a new title but it's not really a new position because it it's um substituting the one for the project manager. Correct. Correct.

And you feel that you need that for the salary for that one the base salary. Oh, so that's uh not to exceed. Okay. Okay. Because that puts the total compensation of like 179 for that, you know, 180. Just curious, you know. Yeah. And there's no I mean I have no immediate plans to Right. Right. do anything with that right now. Okay. Just question. Yeah. Okay. Any more questions on administration? We'll move on finance. finance. I'm going to let uh drop this one.

Um the biggest increase in finance is the workers compensation which hopefully that will decrease when we get the final numbers. The professional services fee increase due to the audit fees. Um the town um the tax collection fees increased. That's the percentage we pay to the county. And then there's an increase in contract services because that's our um Black Mountain software support. So the total budget um increased $16,325.

Are those actuals for the audit fees or you don't have actuals yet? That's just what they're projecting it'll be. I'm actually taking that to council tonight. Right. I need it's um $28,000, but there's also some additional that there's a um actuarial study done for law enforcement supplement out of that professional fees. And there's also some background checks in case we hire anybody new. So that's the difference. So that all that's in audit fees. All of that is in professional services. Yes. All right. But you it's got audit fees beside it, I guess. So it's more than just audit fees, right? How much was all that? 28,000.

28,000. Thank you. More questions on finance. Just one quick question under uh the cell phone calls. Is that just for one phone? That's for two phones. Two phones. Okay. I got a question. No, nobody shoot me. We go back to the town council budget. Prior year, last year, this year, whatever you want to call it, those for travel and lodging and meals was $800. Now we're projecting 5,000 is said is travel in Bahamas.

I'm sorry, Mr. Puzzle, what was your last question? Is travel travel. We went from 2526 from $800 and now we're projecting $5,000 and 2627. I don't believe the council the previous councils have attended any professional organizational meetings to get updated information to learn about what other entities are doing. Um you've been on council for six years and Mr. Pley you've been on for two. Do you all recall anybody going to any professional meetings out of town like to Raleigh?

Just the times I went to Raleigh that I didn't have any fees. I mean, I just was over myself. I never asked anything back. So, I guess that's why we had never had no fees. I see the two before. We didn't even have any. I'm talking about going to a conference. Did you go to any conferences? Just our regular stuff that we that we do go to. Nothing extra. I mean, no extra stuff. No. Right. Okay. Kate Fear Council Governments. We go to that stuff. But as far as anything as with the uh COD or not COD but league of municipalities or the school of school of government school of government stuff. No that answer your question Mr. President. Yeah.

Back in finance. Any anybody else in finance? Let me finish looking at it. So, what does it mean when it says moved landlines on the phones? Does that mean that the staff no longer has desk phones? No, I think they're all included in um public building that next page telephones focus. It's just all under contract services in public buildings department. Now, what does that note mean? Moved landlines. Uh, it's What does that mean?

It's just not included in each indivi It's all included under public buildings. It's not a It's not in in each individual department. So, finance, police, events, they're not going to have the landlines are all going to fall under one one fund. Yeah, because I guess telecommunications is 2,000 for finance. And when you look at town council, I think it was a thousand. Is that not including landlines in because we've got double the people finance does if it's cell phones. Right now we're paying $124 out of that telecommunications per month. So it' be for 14.88 88

for finance or principal for finance. Yes.

Okay. And like I said, when I look at council for the telecommunications, it was $1,000 and there's more of us, double of us. So that's why I was curious if that's right or which is right or wrong or Let's see. I don't know. I have to check. The bill is showing $270 um a month, but we've only paid three months, December, February, and March. I'm not sure why.

If we're budgeting for a whole year, that wouldn't be enough, I guess, is what I'm one of them is probably not accurate is what I'm thinking. Unless there's somewhere I'll have to check on our AT&T bill. the we all but we all got cell phones in December for the first time under town council. So you would have had December, January, February, maybe March. You're probably eventually you'll catch up with the other three months. Okay.

We'll take a closer look at that and bring it back on our next meeting. Okay. Anything else related to finance? Not we'll move on to events.

So as you can um see

so page six in the uh general fund and page 16 in the accommodations tax. So there's kind of two pages um to look at. So, um, my salary as well as, um, all of the part-time parking salary was moved to accommodations tax. So, that's, um, probably the biggest change, uh, as far as the budget goes. We also, um, removed the cost of the uplighting that we had originally proposed. So, that's $8,000 that's not in there this year. Um and we also uh made the adjustments that we discussed at our uh budget workshops as far as um addressing um the costs for different things such as the green wave and um the uh workshops that were planning for treeboard and ERC. Um the other um major change was that we added $3,000 into the concert schedule um with the addition of um the additional concert that we're going to do on September 23rd. Does anybody have questions? Talk about it more specifically by event if you need me to.

Any questions for Vance?

I think just the parking attendance. What is our latest on the parking? I know we've had lots of discussions about parking attendance and I didn't know we what we are currently doing and what our plan to do is next year. So, what we're currently doing is if uh any of the businesses have um offered to let us use all of their parking or a portion of their parking um we are providing a parking attendant um just to control the parking in their lots. um if the people are not providing us any parking, we have a sandwich board that's going in um in their parking lots. That explains that event parking is not allowed here. Um and that's going to all of those businesses. So, those get set up. They'll be set up for the concerts. They'll be set up for the markets and for any special events that we have um going forward.

Okay. Let's say the park for the markets on Thursdays. What do we do on those days? I have an attendant at Dave's um and I have an attendant at um Island Breeze and I have an attendant at Bills. Okay. And Dave, is that the little lot, the little extra lot? That's really

Yes. And he um and Fletcher also uh allows us to um park if we have guests that come that are handicapped. and the handicapped is filled um in order to get them as close as possible to the park. Um he'll he will let the parking attendant use the lot for handicapped um individuals as well. So, and we also park in the dirt lot next to his next to his shop. Okay. And then for the concerts,

we have we have attendance there as well. Um he will be closing at 5:00 p.m. every um every Wednesday night. So after he's closed and their staff has had the ability to get out and leave, we'll be able to use his lot for um parking as well. And then Island Breeze again, bills again, and then we have people in the lot underneath the bridge um because the way that that has to be parked, you need to have attendance otherwise people will block it all in. So there's four on concert nights. Five because or no, we've got Dave's Island Breeze, two at the under the bridge and one at Bill's. Okay.

Any more questions? Time for advance. While we're talking about the How many did we eliminate by including the sandwich boards? What was the total number you would normally have? Normally I would have eight or nine depending on. So now I have four to five. Okay. Thank you. So

So we basically cut it in half by having the sandwich boards. So and really we didn't have any troubles. The only place where it can be difficult is at the park uh where people park for the boat launch. There's many signs there. It says no parking in about seven different places, but there's not a big huge board that says no parking. So, it might make sense for us to get another sandwich board that says no event parking period. And then just put it there and that way there's really no reason why people wouldn't see it. So, especially if it's a big fluorescent sign, there's a lot of signs there not to park there. There is a lot of sign

and the parking places are about 25 ft long or 30 ft long. So, it looks a little weird, but um anyway, it's sometimes people who aren't familiar with the town or what what that lot is, but I can get another sandwich board, it's it'll take us two minutes to put it out every time. So, and if it saves people and saves people complaints and and issues, then then I think it's worth it. Okay. And for the private events that take place or the fundraisers stuff, various, you know, I know we have a lot of stuff going on in the park. Um, I guess, um, I know there's attendance for that and I think the main thing is looking to make sure we recoup all of our cost and charge enough for every event because the costs do add up and um,

absolutely and they're included in the fee schedule of how many attendance they get. Um, and I feel as though that's what we did this year to make it. Before it was very we had to choose 17 different categories to get to your one final price. So, we were trying to make it simpler by saying for this price you get X, Y, and Z. But having gone through it this year, I think it makes sense for people to have X, Y, and Z. So, I'm working on an updated fee schedule for for you all to approve because I think that it we could write it in a way that would be more clear. So,

I would agree and and I also want to I know just running some of the events doing clearly make considering them each as their own event and cost associated somewhere in the whole four and and particularly like the race and stuff like that. I think we need to make sure we cover our our town cost and absolutely even the people that are quote salaried make sure and add everybody in there because there is a cost and a lot of y'all are spending a lot of time on those events. Yes. As well. So

I think it's significant to note along with the cost the true cost of what it cost the town. It's also reserving where nobody else can use it or nobody can use that portion of it. So what while you're doing that, I'd like for you all to consider some type of search charge too, not say for instance if it cost $10. Well, it cost us more than $10 the wear and the tear on things. Um, we're not adding for the use of the bathroom a lot of times in these and we know that water costs money. We know that toilet paper costs money. We know paper towels and soap costs money. We're not adding those. So once again, we're adding a donation to somebody or excuse me, our taxpayers are making a donation. So I'd like for us to think about that, too. So when you're crafting your number, when you're asking your estimations, are you all okay with asking our event coordinator to look at those numbers?

Yes. Yes. And I'll come back with recommendations and backup for you just to to take a look at and then we can see where we want to go from there. Also, um I know that when we have any sort of a large scale festival, um anything that would be another large event, it's would be something that we would I we I go to the department head meeting and everybody needs to sign off on it before we go through and approve something that is basically any event of any size. It's a 30 person wedding, I don't take it to them. But if it's a 100 person wedding or really anything bigger than that, then we go there and we all talk about it at our department meetings. Is council ever made aware of those prior to them happening? I mean,

um, that wasn't some that wasn't a request we had in the past, but it's certainly something we could do going forward. Um, if we want to set a you want to set a parameter for if it's going to be an event that's the entire park that's taken up and it's going to drastically affect um, parking and then and the number of people that are going to be in the park. If it's something like that, I can certainly bring it to council to get it approved. um if you'd like to have that. Um even if we knew about it. I know I have to go to the calendar if people ask me and sometimes the calendar doesn't give a lot of information. It just says reserved. Sometimes it says a certain festival and it names it. It kind of varies. Um

yeah, I if it's a private person hosting a private event, I normally don't put who the person is on the calendar, but if it is a festival or something that's open to the public, then I do try to put what it is. But rather than putting people I don't want to put people's names on there that I didn't ask about. So, I just say wedding or private event. But to be clear, even if they book the park, book the park for an event, anyone, a resident can still, anyone can go really to to the park. It's open and that's one of the things that's always discussed with anybody who's booking it. Um, the park's open to everybody all the time and you're welcome to use it for your private event, but um, Right. Thank you.

Thank you. This a tag team. This a tag team.

Which page are we on first? Eight. Eight. I'm seven. Seven. 78. Oh, who's going first? Yeah, that's what I said. Who's going? Fire's going first. Yeah, fire's first. Stan's going to speak for me. We came up here together. That's what we were wondering. What's going on?

Hello everyone. Hello. All right. So, do you have any questions about these line item or would you like to start with those capital projects? Well, you know, we're just seeing this. Yeah, give us a minute. I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

No, that's okay. I probably didn't realize that we just got it. And I think I had a question for fire because the thing I got that was somewhere. Let me find it. So is this the correct number the 3 million 360 Richard? Um is that the correct one? Because there was another number like a in the updated graph I got back from lunch. I wasn't sure. That might be a Lisa question. I don't question please

cuz the one we just got had the fire updated at 3 million453,665,000 and the document the spreadsheets are and what was previously on this graph before lunch was a different number. So, I was curious.

Um, I'm assuming I I missed a little bit of the first part of this meeting and I was going to ask for clarification on the salary step program and the the b the health insurance benefits and that's what I'm assuming that's what that was, but I'll turn to Alicia and ask her for clarification there. While she's doing that, um, I see a reduction in tires at $5,000. So, you don't need any tires on any of the I I think you have a vehicle. The captain's all we have. How many? Tell us about how many vehicles we have.

We do. Bear with me one second. I'll go through that. But it shows that we're having a reduction in tires and we sure have some provisions if we have blowouts or any of that kind of stuff.

We do. We do. And the majority of the the small vehicle tires, uh um they're not that expensive, but the large truck tires, they're really $1,000 a piece. Uh so you think about our fire trucks, we have four large firet trucks. They have uh six tires each. So that's a lot. That's $1,000 a piece. Uh we do our best to make those last, but it is what it is. You know, a lot of our turns and roundabouts wear and tear. So, um I'll go through our vehicles. We have four large trucks. One of those is a ladder truck. We have a 2017 F-150. We have a 2018 Ram 1500 pickup. We have a 2018 Dodge 2500 pickup. We have a 2020 Explorer. Uh, we have two 2022 Chevy Taho and one um 2025. We got a new F-150 last year. And that's not including um three UTVs for the beach, one high clearance vehicle, um two boats and two jet skis. And each one of those boats and jet skiis, the trailers have tires as well. So, um, we're we really minimize those trailers and don't really tow them much so they last, um, as long as we can. Um, reducing that line item is just an attempt to try to cut and lower cost and things like that. I'm hopeful we can do that. Um, it all depends mostly on the big truck tires.

We have four fire trucks. And how many um, trucks like a truck like you and the captains drive? How many of those do we have? Seven. Seven. Seven. Okay. So, that would be the fire chief, the deputy fire chief, three captains. No, you have four captains. I do have four captains, but only one of them is assigned a vehicle. Okay. So, one captain. One captain. That's three. That's three trucks. Who drives the other four?

So, station two has a a pickup truck and that's a what we call a quick response vehicle. So on a lot of the sheets you see it says QRV and then at station one we have uh the Ram 1500 and the Ram 2500. They're not assigned to anyone but uh their duties are mostly pulling the jet ski or pulling the boats to the ram. Okay. So they're do you have a quick response vehicle at station one? We have two. Two two and just one at station two. Correct. So the reverse of numbers. Got correct.

And the last time you bought tires for the I hate to be trivial about this, but the last time you bought tires for these vehicles, was it this past year? Uh, we've spent some money this year on tires, I believe. Uh, we did two sets for the Taho. They're around about 30,000 miles. Um, and the Explore was early on in the year we did that. Um, and we did front tires on the 2017 fire engine as well this year. There's a $5,000 reduction in tires. I mean, that's somebody out there might be thinking that's not a lot, but that is a lot. That's a lot of money. That's a lot of money and already a tight budget.

It is. And I just want to make sure that if we don't if we really don't need them, okay, but we sure don't want later on to say, "Oh, we need to buy some sets of tires." Correct. And then we have budget amendments because I know our new finance director is not going to like that. Were you asked to reduce that line item budget or I know there I think there was a request to reduce some capital or look at C or look at expenses whatever the request was. That's it. So is that why that got reduced? Exact. It is I would prefer $10,000 and if we don't replace the tires, we don't replace the tires and that money is still there. You want 10 or 15? 15. I'm sorry.

15 is what you had last year. 15 would be ideal. Um and again we only replace them if we need to. Um you know every year they're inspected annually by third party you know truck mechanic and he tells us hey tires are coming up or these are worn you know they have to pass inspection. So that's that's how we manage the tires. You all are driving these vehicles and you all are very it's important that we keep you safe. That's right. I I I don't want you to have personally I wouldn't ask you to reduce that if you if we had 15 last year. I I just don't see us not needing that much. I would appreciate that. Well, it's very concerning. Um

what else did you reduce? I mean, I see turnout gears reduced by 5,000. Is that something you budgeted or is that a reduction? So, that again, that's part of the the overall line item trying to come down in a couple of items. um that uniform is really a um it covers a lot of things. So, it's more than just the day-to-day uniforms. A turnout gears is the largest portion of that. Um turnout gear is roughly $4,500 a set, not including a helmet, gloves, boots. That really is it's almost $6,000 to outfit a firefighter. So, that's a lot of money in that. Um I think I can handle that $5,000 decrease in that line item, though. Um, I think that would be one we can do

because what else did you reduce that we because we don't know what you reduced, I guess. Well, equipment, it looks like equipment repair and maintenance that you reduced $2,500 and that's for our annual, you know, testing of fire hydrants. No, bear with me one second.

So, equipment repair is basically all the small tools. So, uh, think about chainsaws, um, cutters, um, thermal imaging cameras. A large portion of that is our SCBAs, uh, that are in the fire truck. So, that's all third party inspection and occasionally they do, uh, uh, have issues and we have to repair that. So, that's the biggest portion of that. I think we can manage that cut on that particular line item. Um again we have two repair line items and uh we definitely cannot do that in the vehicle rem vehicle repair. That's that's something we can't do. Um but equipment repair we can we can manage that.

So what else what did you cut from the last time? What have you reduced at a at a trying to cut cost that was previously in your budget so we can So I'll go I'll go through the whole thing. Thank you. Uniforms $5,000. Um I think we're okay there. Tires. Um um I'm hearing that we can keep that original cost there. Um bear with me. Everything we print off is so small here. We know to read it a magnifying glass.

So department supplies uh 8675. Um I think that's something we can man manage out of this. and then equipment repair 2500. And that's it. Now, a couple of those things are are down on the um vehicle purchases and vehicle equipment and some of the some of the uh payments have been reduced as well. But as far as operational budget, that's that's it. The security cameras that you presented to us Yes, ma'am. I don't know, six weeks ago, maybe. Yes, ma'am. They're not in this budget. Is that right? You took those out? Yes, ma'am. Uh that is department equipment 540.

Now overall that line item shows we reduced it $370 but um I think we bought a vehicle last year. That's why that is. But that covers the portable radio project, the carpet and the security cameras. So are these the same radios that Chief Klay had talked about or not? Are I know there was some radio discussion you All right. So, we we hadn't uh I hadn't had any conversations with staff yet about reduced capital. You know, we had um we had kind of spitball that just in case we needed to do that to help man to help um balance the budget, but we haven't done that yet. Okay.

I wanted to get through today to see where we landed and see if that was something we had to do. The chief and I did have a conversation about those radios um because of the um the option that we have through our cell phone vendor for more of a two-way communication, but I don't know that that's 100% solution for what the chief's trying to get at. Okay. So, those portable radios that he's requesting are still 100% in this budget. Okay. And how much were those? Drop the topic. Bear bear with me one second. That total cost just under $30,000.

Okay. Right. 30. Okay. I know. I had a note that those might be able to the other thing might work, but So, y'all have y'all had a chance to research it or together or not yet? There was a box sitting outside my door when I got in today that had those devices in it. So, they're not yet programmed or assigned or we don't even know how. They're yet to be determined if that's could work or not. Okay, sounds good. Thank you. I think it'll help with the beach operation for certain. Whether or not it's going to help with other operations remains to be seen. Okay, sounds good. Thank you. We're very hopeful. Yeah,

um what is page 8 of 19? the 3 million is that 350 360 360 numbers are small and they are 3.36 is um what we should be looking at to discuss personnel and this has uh step amounts removed so that's the accurate number okay so in theory we need to add 5,000 to it to that number for the tires right yes we're going up 5000 for tires right what you say what's been removed

step Yeah. Step a step in longevity and that includes um the cola amount and the merit amount 336527. Thank you, Chief. Thank you. Next up with the police stand. Yeah. Is that easy? What p? Let me get to the right page.

Uh seven and also have 19 for our beast control. I Okay. Yeah. 18. 18 should be 18. Yeah. Sorry. 17. Yeah. 17. 17. 19. Seven and 17. Okay.

Like I'm not seeing 17 18.

Thank goodness for page numbers. I said the wrong the second number said the first one ready. I don't think there's any changes since this book last uh to any to any of our items. So on here, I must be looking at something wrong because it shows salary and wages that they've gone up 177 $280

dollars. Is that correct? $177,000 extra for police salaries and wages. I mean, and then I see all the other the pension and the FICA and the health insurance, but it went up that much. Um, that's not a number that I come up with. So, so last year it was a million6. Yep.

This year it's a,778. So, an increase of $177,000 just in the salary and wages line. That that can't be right. If it's a 2%. My increase is in there for doing the dual roll. Okay. Um it's not $177,000. Let's make that clear.

Um Okay. Well, and you know, likewise, the pension is going up $72,000. The 401k contribution looks like it's going up not as much, but we have a 5% right 401k and then the 5% of their salaries go in a 401k plan. And then for workers comp, it doesn't look like the percentages, it just doesn't look right. We always showed retirees out of that line. We have Okay.

You would have shown retirees last year as well too, right? Yeah. Or do we have a new retiree? No, not from last year. Which one is retiree in? You're saying in that 121 that first line salary and wages, but it would have been in there last year as well. So, it's not like that's not Okay. Well, okay. That's why I wanted to be sure that we always showed them in that line. Just circle back around with us on that because we know that's not I mean it can't be right.

Part of confusion may be that the book we picked up a week ago showed 1.839 million in salaries and the newest ones we got today shows 1.778 in salary million in salaries. So there's a diff already a difference there of about uh $60,000 which probably could be one officer or something. So some of the reasons why it's different than a couple weeks a week last week is because you moved some of the things out of accommodation tax. Is that correct to put you want to speak speak on that?

Um was taken out. We're not talking about step. I know y'all want to talk about step, but we're not talking about step. We're not talking that was in the That was in the um original binder. Was that the original 9 million the dollars for personnel cost? Is that the the number? Cuz I I think it's changed because these spreadsheets we got Friday are different. You took out beach patrol part of beach patrol and put that over there in the accommodations budget. We I think that might we took 40% of Tracy's salary and moved to accommodations tax, but that should have been in both both the binder budget and the one we just sent out. Right.

But the binder budget have to have this, if you wish, step program or whatever you want to call it. Yes, sir. Whereas this one does not have it. It's got the two and a half and 2% or whatever. Right. Okay. This has the two% merit and 2 and a half% cost of living adjustment. Yes, they both had that.

So that'd be four and a half%. Yes. your um I call it the wellness program for our law enforcement officers. Is that in this budget? Yes, ma'am. We got it under dues and subscriptions. It will be a subscription to that building. I think

I think that's a worthy cause when we have um our law enforcement officers. You know, today when we walked into this building, we kind of expected to have some safety. Um, but I don't go outside my life expecting to catch a bullet or not knowing when you're serving somebody's needs what you're going to deal with. And I I know that you all deal with a lot of stuff and mental health is extremely important to our nation. And for the $8,500 that it costs, I think that's very wise for us to invest in our law enforcement officers. Yes, ma'am. Thank you. So, thank you for keeping that in the budget. And Stan, is this for is this for the 21 personnel? Is that correct?

Yes, ma'am. We have 20 sworn and then administrative. Okay. Because that's what I was showing on this one of my spreadsheets. Whichever one the increase in the um part-time is that in here. We looked at part-time. We did add that. Is that that's still in, right? Yes. Um because we've got 365 days at 25 at 9 thou 9 9,100 correct? Is that still I'm sorry. 9,100 for on call police. Is that right? Yeah. 365.

Does this budget include the increase we have for your administrative assistant? So we asked for a reclassification of that position that was removed as part of staff. Okay. On that to I'm sorry. We did take a consensus vote to to actually make that approval. Not not I'm not I'm talking about the reduction but to give that bump in salary. We did take a consensus vote on that. We talked about that in initial our initial budget presentations. It was talked about then.

Okay. Was that position already approved for the reclassification at a meeting? Um, for some reason I was thinking that was brought up. It it was presented during the the initial capital presentations. Okay. Just during that we have had so many meetings it's hard to keep track a little bit. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. It wasn't it wasn't step but it was included with that step. Correct. because it was a what she does is significantly more than what um the classification she has as an administrative assistant. So it's almost like that that personnel is taking on a new role because of the reclassification. Would you say that?

She she's taken on more than more than a role. She's taken on multiple roles in our department. She does so much more than just answer a phone or or she she she does a lot. And um I was under the impression that the reclassification was not part of STEP. It was just something we requested because of um the work that she performed. And that's what I was thinking. It was different step.

It was different. It was March the 4th when we met. you presented um our police chief or both of you all presented what she was going to do extra that she was absorbing another half of a position um and the slight increase that we're giving her um that we all voted on we gave you the thumbs up on so that's in here so to clear up it's nothing extra that anybody added you presented it y'all somebody presented it one of the two Mar I know we met March the 5th And that's when um we approved that. Yeah. Well, it's in my spreadsheet that it's not in this. It's not in it's not on page seven of 19.

It's not in there. Oh, okay. Okay. It needs to be added then because we did approve that. Well, I had that one and the one in um Car's inspections as ones that were I guess outside of the step. What's the difference on that one? You know the number 54.940.

Well, that's what's on one of my spreadsheets. So, yeah, I guess we might need to see a reprint out of these that shows what compiles these spreadsheet these other spreadsheets because we've not seen that. Does that make sense? Um we've seen various variations of it. Officer Bordanis, the um cameras, they're they appear to be in here. Yes, ma'am.

We're purchasing some of those this fiscal year or or not. I thought we thought we could find some money. We purchased um cameras for our interview room. Okay. That may be where what you think I remember now. You had talked with the vendor because we were afraid that price would not be offered computers. That was computers. Okay. And is that in here? Yes, ma'am. And as I reported earlier, we were able to secure the the price that I presented. So, Right. Okay. Good. Thank you.

We can dig a little further into that salary line and figure out if that increase is accurate or if there's a Okay. Okay. A number off in there somewhere. Yeah. And there were some It's like an 11% increase. Yeah. Which I I can't understand why why it would be. Yeah. Yeah. Some of those I wasn't sure either. So maybe could have just been a typo or something. Um and there again in telecommunications I would just make sure um the funding's right for that um cost. I know y'all increased it by 5,000, but just make sure cuz some of those

Yeah, that's um ours are a little unique because we have cell phone and a Wi-Fi, like a wireless hotspot, if you will, in the cars that powers the computers, right? Um, and those those usually stay pretty consistent, but um, yeah, we can verify that number just to make sure we got it all covered cuz some of that tailcom stuff was a little wonky. Yeah. On the cell phones.

Anything else for police? I don't think so. Um the um the gas and oil went down for the beach patrol. Is that about 5,000? Is that Yes. Um we just inverted some numbers. Uh that's just based off historical data that we've learned over we've been doing this for two years and we're kind of we kind of getting how much we're actually spending. So that that's where that came in. Okay. Just making sure we have enough of that. Yeah. 17.

Changing the way that we patrol the beach, too, is going to help, I think, with fuel costs instead of just wearing the tires out on those things driving up and down the beach. Yes. You have questions on the beach patrol stuff? question. Next up fund. Good. Yeah. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you. Um, now we're doing accommodations. So, accommodations, we talked about um both um the police, the fire, and um events that come out of accommodations. Is there anything else out of accommodations that we haven't touched on? I don't know if there's anything else in accommodations.

Yes, I know I had asked some questions regarding the accommodation fund. Um, and we, you know, ask about moving the event stuff into that fund, some of the events personnel and costs. And we also are asking about some of the roads that are um, roads for tourists use a lot. Um, we mentioned Clubhouse Road. We mentioned some of the dirt roads on the island to see and I know, um, Alicia had researched that some and it was some of it was a little questionable whether we could do that or not, but um, anything to think out of the box there to see that what we could use. Um, and I I was even thinking, you know, some of our beautifification of the town um, from the flowers to landscaping or things that that also enhances us as a tourist town. Is that, you know, stuff that we could possibly roll in some too or not? Don't know the answer. Just some of it. It sounds like something other things other towns use at times um for their accommodations tax dollars. Um, and I personally feel like in looking at our dollars, what we collect, we're on the low end, and I know I sent some stuff over to look into where some companies what they're showing they charge for their accommodations taxes, not the the correct amount, what they're charging. And um, so I think we want to look at a whole, are we collecting the revenue we should we should be collecting on accommodations tax? um because you can look at um searches of what's available in in our you know in our town um for rentals and um never seen what y'all get on your back end. And I know it's a little not quite got clear direction on what y'all receive as the town on the accommodations tax, but to me, we need to look at that and make sure we are receiving our our dollars from folks and that they're being reported correctly

because some of the listings that are online are not collecting that correctly um by the by the the listings online for the rentals and some are by agencies and some are by private ones listings as well. So, I don't know if that's ever been looked at here, but um in doing some queries on stuff, it seems like we're missing we could be missing hundreds of thousands of dollars that we should be receiving in accommodations tax. I I remember the town contracting with a vendor with a service that was supposed to do it, but I don't do a good job. I don't think it ever got off the ground, did it? Well,

they never got it together. was five or six months late in getting anything started and we finally I think it was finally said no just stop you six months we paid you for your contract and we've got nothing so just it's over in in December or January when I spoke with the previous finance director she told me that that contract expired yeah they never come across what they're supposed to come back with well it's pretty clear that in queries it seems are under receiving funds. So,

are there other vendors that we could use? I mean, surely other municipalities have the same concern and they may be able to provide some type of um I don't know, referral reference to somebody who they have satisfactory services with because it seems like as Miss Bachelor's stating, we're leaving a lot of money on the well, it's not even coming to the table. that's off the table that um we sure could use for some of our needs that we have. Most of the money we're losing is probably BRBOS because they're not going through our normal realtors who would perform the fill out the forms, collect tax, let us know.

Do you recall if that the vendor that you all had previously, did they go after the VRB? They were going to go a VBO, go through Facebook listings, all that stuff. and they they obviously bit off more than they could chew, right? Yeah. But I think some other um tourist towns would be able to provide some insight on who they use or maybe some best practices that they use or something so that we can collect these funds.

And some are done in-house by staff in house and um some are outsourced. um but some of the um the large agency um are not collecting it properly on their website on their listing. So to me my concern is is that an error just on the listing itself and it's on numerous listings not just one then if you go then how do they compute it that then results in a what check is then cut to the town

and that's the piece I've heard that some of the info comes in and it's not kept. So, I'm not really I just think that whole process needs to be looked at because um like I said based on some queries I've done it it appears that we there should be more potential for more and we we are very rented out at time you know we we are very destination for folks. So if there's money that somehow can we need to look into it to see

I've got a separate question on the entire budget which I don't think it was I've seen it in any and it did come up in prior discussions on budget and that there was in the past donations made to nonprofits who actually provide great services to the town and I didn't see anything in the budget Now, was that addressed at all by either of you? It was things like Sunset Vision, um the Veterans Associate, there were a couple of others that were the Planetarium and Oldbridge. Uh the question is, was that it brought up to you at all or I pulled the council on that and the consensus was not to fund the nonprofits in this budget. So, it's not included in this budget. J before recording. Nobody pulled me. That's okay. Whole group got the email.

You were on the email. You didn't answer. I I'll have to look. I'll have to look. I mean, you're welcome to, I guess, have that further conversation now. I brought it up. I'm not going to Fair enough.

I'm not going to push the issue. Not right now. I just think that if we're if we're going to there was a discussion at the same time about the events coordinator charging these same groups two of them at least or using the town activity center. Okay, once a month. Uh if we're going to still do that, then we better not expect the various nonprofits, if you wish, to donate anything back to us, like the the telescope that we got for n for $10,000. So that's all I just It's got to be both. And if you can do them both, that's fine.

So what you're saying, Mr. those. It's got to be a balance or give and take is what what you're saying. Understanding. Yeah. We can't ask them to pay for us and then expect them to give us free $10,000 telescopes. Okay. as an example.

One of the things if we're finished with that section, um, one of the things that we didn't have on the we Yeah, we overlook public buildings. If

we can flip the page five This um this budget for public buildings shows a reduction of uh over half million, $629,000 to be exact. Uh professional services is down $100,000, which is project engineering. uh townwise supplies uh will not come out of this line go to specific departments. Um an increase in utilities for electric, water and sewer 55,000 repairs and maintenance to the building all public buildings rather. I'm sorry it's not just this building including our landscaping contract. um

the landscape and contract. Um I know you all sent it out for bid, I think. Yes, it was last council meeting that we approved those RFQS. Mhm. Did you get responses from those? We did. We have two responses that will be on the June agenda. Okay. And we have a contract that runs through uh June. Great. June 30. Great. Good to know there's interest out there to help the town.

Um contracted services. There's a note there that include what what that includes um that were adjusted to some of the departments. Um liability insurance of course has a bit of an increase. Infrastructure shows a there was $535,000 that was budgeted. I'm sorry. $785,000 that was budgeted in the previous fiscal year. Um $500,000 of that was for the improvements to Sunset Boulevard front of the town park. Uh with an extra $250,000 for improvements to this building, which some of that is being spent in this fiscal year. You're going to see some improvements before long. Um, permanent parking. What's the 25,000?

That's a new line item this year just to um make it easier to track the the parking expenses because we have to keep the parking revenue separate. So you're showing a cost of 25,000 and then the revenues in the other like you're keeping it the same. That's going to be the new parking line item. Yes. I think before it was um in another line item, just an operating budget. So just it's just easier for me to track if we just add a new separate line item.

Have to do a separate spreadsheet, right? Exactly. That's great for the pest. I'm sorry. Go ahead. Go ahead, Miss Bachelor.

Okay. On the um talking about the infrastructure and you talked about the parking there between the town park and Dave's um and we know that that was done that was reworked. Um visually it seems there needs to be some more rework to it. those big old stones that are in there. I've seen many folks almost injure themselves trying to walk across that. Then you've got the big um high bumpers I call them that people, as you can tell, all the black marks on them are running over them. Some have busted tires. um didn't know if we are going to if we do have a new engineering company or or should we from the matter of safety look at trying to fix that because right now I I view that as an unsafe area. Um, I also feel like we need a crossro across there, which I know has been discussed with the

um NC DOT, but those big stones in there and those bumper I mean um I just feel like that's unsafe for our residents and so many people walk across there for our events at the park that are used so much. So, didn't know if we should look at doing something there. Um, did I know at times you had discussed that you were y'all knew there needed to be something done there, but I didn't know if we're going to look at doing something there if others feel like that's unsafe there because I hear that a lot from people and I've witnessed people I mean other people having to hold people to walk across it because some of it you you about have people are walking across that all the time whether they should be or not.

Didn't know. Yeah. It wasn't it wasn't um discussed as a project that would be in this fiscal year. It's something that we can add for sure. Um will that $25,000 in that line for parking cover that? It depends how much our staff is able to do if we're talking about removing the rocks and replacing it with sod, for example. Um I would imagine that's something that our our staff could do as far as the you know those concrete BMS if you will, right? um that might be above their pay grade. That might be something we have.

I know some were cut back for the firetruck. I was told to get in there. But even the department infrastructure where it was 785,000 this year and we've got, you know, 250,000 or so left this year um in there. I didn't know um if that was going to be used for anything or not. I guess I was thinking more for that line item because that's where it was initially part of. And to me, that project is not as it should have been delivered to the residents um from a safety standpoint. Um just my perspective on that.

I agree with you. Um it would be nice to know how much it does cost. Um, as you said, the public works department could easily pick the rocks up, put down sod, but the the u bumpers or curbing curbing. Um, the bumpers and the curbing for them to move that. Um, it would be nice to get a quote on that just to see what it is and let us evaluate because that is a safety concern. And if we know now that we've announced it, we know it's a safety concern. We've we've talked about it before. We've talked about it several times and I think it would behoove us to at least look at it

and to me I don't know if sod would work there because you would have to put irrigation to keep it alive but even if you had um you know we seem to have a lot of this um gravel 57 slate that's used um even if something else was put in there or not even that but even small gravel that would pack down or the Bermuda rock type of stuff because those big rocks people are turning their you know it's just It's not very safe to walk on and that's why happening. I'm sorry. I was going to say the idea is to keep people trying to cross the rocks to go over to the other side. Correct. Uh I hate to say maybe the most not the most attractive idea. Right.

But the easiest is to put a three-foot cycle uh cyclone fence straight across that area so people know they can't go over and they have to walk the street around to get to the other side. Yeah. deterrent. It says, you know, this thing, you can't jump this, so walk around because people tend to think, "Oh, I can make it." And they don't. Yeah. Be a quick solution for now. Yeah. Something because to me, we are. I just feel like somebody's going to get hurt. That type of doesn't cost that much. No. Shouldn't. So, just a thought. Long as it looks nice. Yeah. Well, when we have funds in this budget is what I was getting at. We're we're having, you know, the flooring is being replaced. We're doing some painting

the partition out here, but I I would imagine we're probably going to have over 50,000 remaining in that line this year. Okay. So, I'll get with Matt and see what we can do. Yeah. Thank you. Can we put in the roads? Can we put some in

Yeah, we need to find money in the roads. It looks like we should whatever's left over um with all these line items if we come in under budget. It would be so good to deliver a road or half a road to our um community because we we should have some money left over in this current budget that we're in now. We will definitely have some. Yes. And I I've been listening to you, but I'm looking for your the email you sent me because it works on I'll get to you afterwards. Whoops. All right, Chief. One question.

Yes, sir. So, um, going back to professional services, you said, uh, we're reducing that by $100,000. That's the way I'm looking at that. Yes. We had, uh, 150,000 budgeted for this fiscal year. Yeah. And we're asking for 50. Do you do you think whatever decision we make tonight as far as uh engineering firms that we're we to me I'm thinking we're going to exceed that $50,000 we have look if looking at if we've spent 142 already this year

I don't know what projects we have uh I mean I don't can't think of any new projects on the horizon that we would um well I mean be that involved the engineer. I mean, there be some catchment some catchment progress. Yeah. Yeah, I see what you're saying. So, we want the depending on how this vote goes. The current contractor we're using, we want him to finish out catchment seven the certainly. Exactly. What about Majestic Oak? Would we have and have them I I would say if you're starting it, let them finish it. I think let them finish it. Be the smartest thing to do. Yeah. If we vote.

Absolutely. um what you what we've just talked about as far as the situation down there in front of um the park and Dave's outpost. It's a good it's you know it's a good idea about filling this thing in you know maybe with a smaller stone and make it more walkable. The whole idea behind that and those cuts in the curbing is to allow the water to drain into it. So it might be a better way to go if we can put some stone there. I don't think there's a drain in the bottom of it. I think that's designed just to hold water and just let it evaporate. So, we just want to later on as we're talking about this, we're going to do something there without a doubt, but after we make a my opinion is after we make a decision on who we're going to take as far as a engineering firm, that might be something we want to ask them. And also, we talked about crosswalks and stuff like that. It there's a lot of people that come down West Canal and cross on the back side and they pass Fletchers. So, is there a business need for a crosswalk on that back end of that also in that same area? You know, going from one like from the side of Dave outpost over to the park. Those those are some things we probably ought to take into consideration. Now that the restaurant is open, there's more traffic and everything down there. We need to kind of have some sort of a safety boundary to call it that just to be to have people in a place that was safe for them to walk instead of trying to walk in between the the cars and the rocks. It's just something to think about. But we got to we this is just kind of a thing from a safety standpoint to the walking public. you need probably ought to have just a little bit of somebody to kind of sign off on it and say um you know and also if you stand I think if you stand on Dave's and look across the street to the park where you come out of the exit, we're going to have to do something if if a crosswalk goes in there, we're going to have to do something on that side of the street on the park side of the street to get people into the park where we might have to take some of that curve out of the existing pieces that are there now and

create a walkway through there. Cuz if we put a crosswalk in, it would just be a crosswalk to the area where the curbing is and the rocks, if that makes makes sense to you. But here's the thing. I I don't know the exact boundary between us and the Department of Transportation there. So, this might be something that would also, you know, fall on DOT as far as uh getting their stamp of approval or seeing what they what they thought where the where the boundary is. Chief Claymer, you've looked into this um or started looking into this and also at 40th Street, I believe.

Yes. Yeah. So, as the road becomes um as as you're heading toward the waterway, once you get past um Shoreline Drive, that becomes a town road. It's it's our street. So, we could put a crosswalk you're talking about. Yeah, we could put one there. All right. Um, you know, historically my experience from the police policing side of it is people are going to take the path of least resistance. And if you look at the rope fence that's at the park, how many people do we see every event we have stepping over the rope fence? Some people have fallen stepping over the rope fence because they there's,

you know, there are places where they could go easily, but they that would require walking to those. So unless we had some sort of barricade to prevent people from going anywhere but the crosswalks, they're still going to cross wherever they want to cross, between parked cars, across the road.

Um I I don't I I think the crosswalk is is needed though. I think we need to have it. We need to show people this is where you should safely cross the road and then if they don't, it's on them. We've provided them with a safe place to cross. Um, I think you're right though, having somebody look at that area and give us a recommendation on what is the best fit for that area. If it's what we have with a few modifications, then so be it. If it's a rework, then we come back to you and tell you what we need. Yeah.

I I think also coming from the traffic circle to the stop sign, passing Mavericks, um there's should be some signs there uh indicating a lane shift at the stop sign. And if you come from the boat dock and you stop at the stop sign, right across the street from you is a sign that shows you like what what's might be referred to as like a symbolic lane change where the lane shifts because of the island being there. We don't have that coming from the uh traffic circle down. And if you have it on one side, it's more than likely you need it on the other side, too. We don't have that. So, in the grand scheme of things, yeah, that would should from a traffic engineering standpoint, that would be something we want to make sure we've got the correct signage through there. also and that's it. And that part is NC dot. Okay,

that would be there. Even if it even if that lane shift is in our on our rideway that uh we put it in our rightway without NCBOT's involvement. Okay. Okay. Okay. Yeah, cuz that lane is strange. It is. Any other council comments before um I'm sorry. Yeah, we have public comments next. I just I I need clarification on one thing before we get to endurement. So, however, whatever order you want to go. Um, we can go ahead and do public comments right quick and then you can come back with it. Okay. Public comments on agenda items. I'll leave people.

All right. Ain't none. All right. Now, go ahead, Chief. Uh I know there was some um conversation when we very when we first started this meeting on the the salary amounts for the stepped that was removed and the 25% dependent care is that the direction going forward are we staying with that proposal? Say say that again. Yeah. Are we staying with the with what you saw presented to you today with the um the step the removal of the step and the 25% dependent care so we know going forward on the dependent care we were going back to what we had which is I believe 50%. Correct.

It's currently in front of you at 25. I know but it was currently this budget year it's 50%. Right. It's currently at 50%. Yes sir. We had that discussion earlier and I think it should be remained at 50. But you said that was $54,000. Yeah. 54. How much is it totally? Is it $108,000 to pay dependent coverage and how many employees is that? I'm not asking those not asking departments but how many are using that um benefit

it's 110 roughly total. So if you reduce it um to 25% you'll save about 55,000 but 54,000 is in the general fund and some of that is in the accommodations tax once we move those salaries over. And roughly how many employees is this? I would probably say 28 29 employees if I had to say. What do we offer to the other employees that don't get this benefit? Do we offer them anything? We offer them the benefit. They elect not to take it. Well, if they don't have a dependent, I mean, if they don't if they get married,

I know we're not we're not going to be illegal and tell somebody they need to get married. Mr. possible. Um, what do we offer to someone that doesn't have a child or a spouse? Do we offer them if 28 people? Actually, I think it's four or $5,000. We're offering to those employees, but we're not offering anything to the other employees that don't have a spouse or a dependent, a child. they yeah they don't receive any sort of stipen for not taking that healthcare. I think that's my concern with it is it's not something that every employee can even receive or does receive. And um in some benchmarking um that is not a benefit that's typically offered across the board um to employees and um think about I'm not taking anything away that's been given already. That's like an Indian giver. You take it back. I mean, that's something that's been in there. I mean, if it's something you want to look into as far as future, I can see that. But as far as I mean, it's almost like a grandfather clause to me. I mean, they've been getting it and now you're going to take it away or or that, you know, person that is here has a baby or has or gets married or whatever, you know, that's already in the system, but as far as future to me, it's just like the step stuff. We we said we were going to do it and then they took it back or whatever. That's that's understandable because that was set up at a whole different it was off. I mean, we we know the numbers was off because we were never given any kind of numbers in any shape or form as far as what we thought it was going to be because it was all up in the air to see where we was at and it

came in at a shocking amount. So,

would it be possible to reduce something else? We have a 2% merit and a 2 and 12% cola. Would it because I understand what you're saying um that they're used to having it. I we don't know what like um entities do. Um, well, I I know what they do. I've done a survey and it's a rare it's a rare benefit, but I understand that we've had it we've had it for years, but would it be something else that we could not offer this year? So, because we do not have a balanced budget right now. I when you look at the numbers, the numbers we're not we're taking out of fund balance. We do not have a balanced budget. So, we've got to take something. And it's in no way that we don't appreciate the employees. The employees are our most valuable asset. We we want to be able to retain our employees. We want them to feel appreciated. But at the same time, the benefits are increasing um just like we would with any business that we were running. We have to look at our um our cost. If if you would think about our taxpayers as our owners, as our stakeholders, we want to give them a dividend. We want to give them ex excellent services, but the excellent services are are costing us. We're paying a 2% um merit. We're doing a two and a half% cost of living adjustment. We're putting in a 5% in their 401k. We're paying for a long-term disability. Um, we're paying for a lot of nice, rich benefits. And I think we're proud of those benefits. But in order to balance this, something's got to give. And that's why when we talked about this, it was to look at reducing it at 25% to see what the numbers were. And that's, you know, 50

54. It was 108,000 for the whole but for the whole benefit and then $54,000 for you know half the benefit that they've gotten now. So we you all we can we all want a lot of things but we have got to balance this budget and it is not anywhere near balance. We didn't take anything out. We added things today. I don't know what we're going to take out so that we can even get more B. I mean, we're not balanced now and it's at 25%. So, in theory, if you all like the 50% and that's the way the majority goes, okay, but what are you going to take out? Because we cannot have an unbalanced budget. It's against the law to do that. And I am not familiar with anybody that takes out a fund balance the way that this this budget is taken out of the fund balance to balance this budget.

And I I'll go ahead. Alicia, can you help us uh with what Mr. Matra is saying as far as what she's talking about? Is it is it not uncommon to take money out of a fund balance to balance a budget? Well, I always did that when I was at my former employer. We didn't have the funds. Um, we didn't have any other way to balance it. Okay. So, it's a it it does happen. Yes. How much are we taking out of fund balance this year

to balance with this budget? It's on the pie chart that uh that was presentation where I messed up. It's right now it's $241,650 plus we brought forward um appropriations from inspections fund balance for his vehicle for $45,000. But a balance just the general expenses is 241,650.

Um I think and I think we talked about that earlier that that's not a dip into the savings. It's not a dip into that 106% that we currently have in the fund balance. There will there's an anticipated carryover from the current fiscal year budget that we're in of probably a half a million dollars which if we take 241650 out of that or if we take 300 out of that it's going to leave us potentially another 200 that we could add back into um fund balance. Yeah. It's just you're you paying pet Peter to pay Paul here and you're you know we're taking out of funds that we're not receiving in the in the physical year moving forward also. So in a way you're still doing that you know you're

I understand

and I would I mean I would like to um propose that as a council we um we think on this meet on this. I know Katie and I have um done a lot of research on um on the past numbers how our costs where they are relating to personnel the benefits research on that. And our plan was to present that tonight in close session to give everybody a chance to think on it before our next meeting because we all know this is a not something anybody wants to do or look at. But but when when you see some of the numbers and how it's increasing, I mean the original budget we were bought just for personnel was $9 million. That was spending every every $4 received, three of those go to personnel. So it when you all of those numbers keep compounding up. Um I benchmarked out several more years out where we're going to be at. We're going to be over $12 million just in personnel in a few years because the way everything compounds up compounds in. And we as a council need to look at that. I feel like to make sure we know if if we don't look at something, we're our our taxes are going to have to go up. you know, we're not going to have money to do projects that we want to do like roads and storm water and and other projects to make our town wonderful. Um, we know we need to stay com we also know we need to stay competitive in the marketplace to keep employees. So, it's it's going to be a balancing act and we've got data to share that literally will show you some things are pros in one way, some are cons. We would like to be, I guess, before we make a decision to even y'all to be able to see that and look at it and look at the numbers because um everything's increasing as we know, but um our personnel costs have more than doubled in the last four years. Um and some of those are due to in several years there

was 7% cost of living given and then also 3% merit. So for like two years in a row, employees could get a 10% increase in their salary. So when you increase the salary, that in then increases a lot of the benefits like the pensions that are 23 to almost 25%, the 401k match, all of that. So, um, and it's not something fun to discuss, but I do feel like we need to look at it and objectively and think about it long and hard what we're going to do and and whether we do something this year or not, just look at it to look at the numbers to see where we're going to be because it it's just going to keep increasing and um, that's the facts. It's very hard to discuss this. We've got employees in the room. We do not want them to think we don't appreciate them. Um, but you know, we were we've been told that the employees have not been given raises and we found out that in 2022 and in 2022, excuse me, 23, both years 22 and 23 that employees got a 10% increase in their salaries. And that's what's we're afraid that we keep increasing. We're going to compound ourselves out of having anything that we can buy. We're not going to be back be able to buy tires. Um, we don't want to be like some of the places that that I've worked and some of the place the place that you left where you did have to take money out of fund balance, but not in a community like Sunset Beach should we be taking out of money like like we're doing so that we can to have salaries. Um, you know, the salaries have doubled in the last the whole budget has has doubled in the last four years. That's a lot of money. That's a lot of taxpayer dollars. And I think we

all need to look at that because we are supposed to be stewards of public money. Again, it is a very hard discussion and um so I still don't have a direction, but I guess my question I have then is do we want to try to reduce that fund balance dip? Let's try to eliminate that as well. If we have to take off another $241,000, then it's it's going to reduce a lot more than 25% dependent care. So, if we don't want to bring any money from fund balance, um I guess I just I need need a direction of what to come back with and we do we have a date set to come back as well. I want to be sure that we have that before we adjourn this meeting. I don't know that we have.

Yeah, I guess I was hoping it would be balanced as as my version of balance of not pulling from the fund balance um realizing if the funds are earmarked for certain things, but um is what I was what I guess I would consider as balanced. So that's how I do my own account affairs is I don't go into my savings. Chief We did get a message regarding a budget session on the 6th on uh two weeks from today. Mhm.

And my question is if you're looking for us to meet again, we could do it again at 10:00 in the morning and spend a couple hours to go over some of the issues. I mean, rather than wait till 8 June when we have to actually I think that would be smart. Yeah, we don't want to wait till June because it was proposed. The first one was May the 14th at 1. Did we hear back from I had heard there was four different dates. There was like I got I knew that one week. The 18th week is when I'm out of town that week. Monday is really hard for me to be here on Mondays. Okay. Well, the 14th was a Thursday. Every Thursday. Did everybody respond to Kimberly?

I just I did. Yeah. I respond to Kimberly. So, is that day good? The next Thursday at 1. See, 13th or not? Yeah, next Thursday the 14th. Yeah, I think that was one of the one Katie and I proposed some days and times just to try to get something scheduled because we need the 14th. Is everybody good on that day? Yeah. 1:00 or 10:00. We We can go into morning if that's good for y'all. What's the date to get 14th? Next Thursday. Thursday the 14th. Yeah. Sunset Peach Market is Thursday morning. That's all. Okay. You said 10 a.m. Let's do 10 a.m. I can't do 10. What kind? One o'clock. Well, 1:00. 1:00's good.

Yeah. 1:00 on the 14th. That's next Thursday. That works. No, we said 10 a.m. You said 10 or 1. She can't be here at 10. So, if we could change it to the 14th at 1:00, that would that should be good for everybody. Okay. When's our next one going to be? Because we're probably going to need another one. The 18th. I like I said I'll be out of town on May the 8th. We had another one the 20 something the 21st of Thursday at 1. I I'm out of town that whole week. Whole week. Okay. So the next date I think was was it the 26th? May the 29th at May 29th. Okay. On a Friday. Yeah. So is anybody good on that Friday? But are we because we're supposed to vote on it that next Monday? I'm glad that Friday.

Yeah. Fridays I work also. I mean I get off of What about that Thursday? There's nothing on that Thursday. Does anybody have one? The 28th. Does anybody have anything on that date? Nope. That So, it's going to be May 14th at 1 and then the 28th. May 18th at 1. So, we can let our deputy clerk know to notice 18th is the one I won't be here. But, I mean, y'all welcome to have it, but I won't be here. I'm out of time. We The other one was the 28th if you wanted to wait to

the 28th. Well, we almost need to schedule several, I think. We cuz we got we we've got need to vote on it. I mean, we need to close it out June 1st, right? And this is really our first meeting covering this. I thought we had all the way up to the end of June. June. We can have another meeting and we'll have to notice the Yeah. So, in order to have has to be in

10 days notice to the public. um you present the proposed budget June 2nd or June 5th public hearing on June 16th through the anywhere the week of the 16th 19th and then adopt the budget uh before the end of the month for the end of June so that we're in compliance. Um the other option would be to present the proposed budget 10th or the 12th um the public hearing the 23rd 26th and then adopt the budget uh June between June 25th and July 1. So we have it on our calendar for June 1 to present it. Are we not doing that? That's just on the original calendar.

So if we notice the public today, today is May the 4th and we're proposing to have it on the 14th at 1:00. It's corridor 3 right now. would have to have it at 3:00 or I mean for the 10 to get the No, I don't know what you're talking about 10 days. This is a special call meeting. So, it's not it would be two day. It would be a 48 hour rule. I'm not I'm not sure what you're talking about the 10day do have enough. You're talking about the public hearing. So if we're if we're not ready for presentation of this,

it's talking about final budget until after May 29th. But the meeting on the 14th, we're good to have that. Correct. The 14th at one is good. And then we said the 28th at one, right?

And do we need to schedule one that week? You're gone back. I know. I mean, y'all can schedule it anyway. So, we're noticing the public about a budget um ordinance. You only have to notice them one time. You don't have to notice them every time we meet after that. So, if we've already noticed them one time that we're having it whatever date that is and then we have the public hearing for the budget, we have the public what whatever night that is, it's the first Monday in June. Then, if we have to meet thereafter to approve a budget, we don't have to keep noticing the public the 10 days. We just have to notice them 48 hours.

You would you all like to be easier. Your balanced budget between the time that you have a balanced budget and the time that you adopt it, there has to be at least 10 days. Mhm. So we can still have the meeting on the 14th, you can have a meeting on May 18th, and you can have a meeting on the 29th. That's fine. But at the time that you have a balanced budget until you actually approve or adopt the budget, there has to be a waiting period of 10 days. So you will not be able to continue to adjust the budgets or make tweaks on it on up until May 29th and assuming or approve it at your June meeting. There will not be enough time in between those two.

Approve it. I mean us present it. Present it. I thought we were supposed to present it at the June 1st meeting or then we'll have the the 10 days then would go into effect after that. It has to be available for the public to see, right? This is our balanced budget. We have to give them 10 days to look at this. So we would present it at the meeting on the first at that night would be presented and then 10 days out is when we have another meeting. Correct. That was the original plan for this budget originally back in January or February. That's the schedule I was given.

As long as I mean, if we have that 10 days in there, we could in theory have a balanced budget on June 1, give the public 10 days to inspect the budget, to to look at the budget. We couldn't make any more changes. And then on the 12th we could adopt it.

Yeah. As of right now we got that meeting scheduled for the 14th. So we got it for the 14th and then can we schedule another one for the the next week the 21st. Billy, are you good on the 21st? I can do Thursdays at any time. Okay. So what if we did 1:00 on the 14th, the 21st, and the 28th? That gives us 21st is a Sunday. Oh, no. That's true. Okay. Sorry. Sorry. Sorry. May 14 21 and 28. Yeah. If needed and then if we need change it, you know. Well, the 18th Billy can't do and hot dog can't do. Yes. But hot dogs that whole week. 14 21. I won't be here on that if y'all have that one on. What time is the 21st? 1:00. They're all at one. Okay. They're all at one. Very good.

14 21st. Does that work for everybody? Hot dog. I know you're on vacation. That's fine. That's fine. You can watch us. Y'all voters. I can watch. Yeah, you can give us your feedback. We'll read it. All right. By the way, we've gotten a meeting scheduled and we plug along. And Mr. Mayor, I'd like to make a motion that we adjourn this meeting. Have a second. Uh, I have one question. Yes, sir. You have a motion on the floor? Yes, sir. You have a motion on a second. I I have a second.

I'll second it. All right. Discussion. Go ahead, sir. The Wednesday before the next June meeting is the 27th, which is a Wednesday. Okay. And we've got a budget going on Thursday, but we did have the public session going to be on Thursday, but we were now there was a discussion of moving it back to Wednesday. I'm a little confused on whether it's Wednesday or Thursday. The public the public on Wednesday as always. And then what there what we just discussed is May 28th at 1:00 to have a budget meeting if need be. If need public forum is at what time?

3:30. 3:30. Okay. Thank you. I just calendar on the floor. Any more discussion? Not. All in favor? I