[A. Proposed 2025-26 General Fund Budget and Millage Rate for the City of Fort Pierce. The City of Fort Pierce is proposing a millage rate of 6.9 and tax rate exceeds the roll-back rate of 6.6109 mills by 4.37%.]

PRINTED . >> COMMISSIONER BRODERICK AND

COMMIT MAYOR PRO TEM JOHNSON . >> WE MOOS DINGHY MOVED TO THE PROPOSED GENERAL FUND BUDGET AND THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE .

>> QUESTION . >> JOHN, WAS THE GRAPHICS INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET? SOMEBODY DID A NICE JOB WITH THIS.

>> THAT IS OUR MURAL AND NOT LOBBY .

>> THAT'S HOW OBSERVANT I AM, RIGHT?

>> ALL RIGHT, ALL, I'M GETTING READY TO MAKE THE PROPOSED ANNOUNCEMENT RATE. THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE IS PROPOSING A MILLAGE RATE OF 6.90 WITH A ROLLBACK RATE OF 6.6109 BY 4.37% . MS. MORRIS, WE YOU GIVE A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET WHICH EXPLAINS WHY THE AD VALOREM TAX REVENUES ARE INCREASING ? THE FLOOR IS YOURS .

>> GOOD EVENING MAYOR PRO TEM IN OUR COMMISSIONERS. TONIGHT WE ARE PRESENTING OUR PROPOSED BUDGET FOR OUR FISCAL YEAR '26.

THE GENERAL FUNDS BUDGET IS BALANCED AT 67 MILLION $887,211.

IT IS AN INCREASE FROM THIS FISCAL YEAR '25 PROPOSED BUDGET. AND THE HIGHLIGHT OF WHAT IS MAKING UP THIS BUDGET IS WE HAD AN INCREASE IN OUR PROPERTY TAX VALUES. IT IS 4,000,883,700 -- 4,883,000,727 THOUSAND DOLLARS. THAT IS A 10.467 IN PERCENT INCREASE. BECAUSE WE HAVE THAT INCREASE IN TAXABLE VALUES, WE ARE PROPOSING NO CHANGE TO OUR MILLAGE RATE .

THOUGH CITIZENS MAY SEE AN INCREASE IN THEIR TAX BILL , IT IS NOT BECAUSE WE HAVE INCREASED OUR MILLAGE RATE , IT'S BECAUSE THE PROPERTY VALUES HAVE INCREASED . AND , WE LIKE TO ALWAYS SHOW HOW THE VALUE THAT THE CITY, OR WHAT THEY ARE PAYING TO THE CITY , WHERE THAT IS OR HOW THEIR TOTAL TAX BILL IS MADE UP. THIS YEAR THE PROPOSED MILLAGE RATE COUNTYWIDE FOR CITIZENS IS 24.2602 MILLION . THAT IS WHAT IS ON THE TRIM NOTICE FOR THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE RESIDENCE. THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE AD VALOREM OR MILLAGE RATE IS 10% . SO OF THAT TAX BILL YOU SEE WHAT EACH AGENCY IS. THE MILLAGE RATE IS 7.38% COLLECTIVELY AND OURS IS 6.39 AND THE SCHOOL BOARD IS 2.690. THE FIRE DISTRICT IS 3.0 AND OTHER SPECIAL DISTRICTS ARE 2.674. THAT IS WHAT IS MAKING THAT UP AND WE ARE 28% OF THAT BILL. AND, WE ALWAYS JOE, JUST A SMALL ILLUSTRATION AS TO HOW THAT IS MADE UP. 100,000 IS THE AVERAGE, ONCE YOU TAKE IN THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION ALLOWANCE. SO 100 THOUSAND IS THE AVERAGE COST. IF YOU TAKE THAT WITH THE MILLAGE RATE OF 24.602, TAXES ON

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THAT IS 2400 . THE COUNTY GETS THINKING YOU SEE WHAT THE SCHOOL BOARD GETS, THE FIRE DISTRICT AND THE OTHER SPECIAL DISTRICTS.

SO, OF THAT TAX BILL, WE ONLY GET THE $690 AND THAT $690 PAYS FOR OUR -- PLATE -- PAYS FOR POLICE, PUBLIC WORKS, PARKS, AND OTHER PUBLIC SERVICES THAT ARE PROVIDED. THAT IS WHAT IS PAYING

FOR THAT RATE. >> OKAY .

>> AS WE LOOK AT REVENUE, YOU SEE THE AD VALOREM FOR THIS SIT FISCAL YEARS 33 MILLION . IT IS AN INCREASE OF 2.8 , ROUGHLY $2.8 MILLION FROM THIS FISCAL YEAR . WE HAVE $33 MILLION IN AD VALOREM REVENUE. I KNOW WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATION AS TO WHAT OUR GOVERNOR IS PROPOSING, AND ALL. IF WE LOSE THAT $33 MILLION ON A $67 MILLION BUDGET , YOU KNOW, YOU SEE RIGHT THERE WHAT THAT IS . SO, WE HAVE GONE AND ALSO MADE DECREASES TO THE STATE DISTRIBUTED REVENUE AND VARIOUS OTHER LINE ITEM S AND SO THOSE WERE THE CHANGES WHEN WE WENT THROUGH THE BUDGET WORKSHOP , WE OUTLINED THOSE DECREASES IN THE LINE ITEMS. WE STILL CONTINUE TO RESTRICT THE CAPITAL EXPENDITURES TO BE USED NEXT YEAR, THAT SHOULD SAY '27. THEY ARE RESTRICTED TO BE USED FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR . WHEN WE LOOK AT EXPENDITURES, THERE WERE TWO PHYSICIANS OR TWO NEW PERSONNEL COUNT THAT WOULD BE ADDED. ONE IS JUST -- IT IS NEW, BUT WE WILL EXPLAIN WHEN IT COMES TO THE ENGINEER. THE CITY MANAGER IS ONE DEPUTY CITY MANAGER TO BE ADDED THAT WILL TAKE ON THE DEPUTY CITY MANAGER POSITIONS PLUS THE REAL ESTATE THAT YOU MENTIONED. THAT WAS ONE POSITION YOU ALL AGREED AND WE ARE ADDING BACK IN THE CITY ENGINEER AND THOSE ARE THE TWO POSITIONS BEING IN -- ADDED IN.

THERE IS A 5% COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENT FOR NONBARGAINING AND ALL OF OUR BARGAINING EMPLOYEES AND THAT IS 217 EMPLOYEES AND THAT IS $907,000. THEN THE STEP +6% FOR OUR SWORN OFFICERS, THERE IS 128 OF THEM AND THAT IS 924,532 . WE ALWAYS LIKE TO SHOW WHAT THE POLICE BUDGET IS. IT IS 22,000,857 TO 71. OR 33 .7% OF THE GENERAL FUND. THAT IS THE POLICE BUDGET.

>> THE OPERATING BUDGETS FOR ALL DEPARTMENTS WERE DECREASED BY 3% AND FURTHER EVALUATED AND ADJUSTED AS NEEDED. WE DID GO THROUGH TO MAKE THE ADJUSTMENTS AND ALL DEPARTMENTS AND SO WE DID DECREASE THE 3% . WE INCLUDED IN THIS BUDGET FOR OUR CAPITAL COSTS $1,148,026 WHICH WAS THOSE CIP PROJECTS PRESENTED TO YOU ALL THAT ARE INCLUDED IN THIS BUDGET AND SO THOSE WILL BE DONE . AND WE HAD A DECREASE IN OUR TOTAL DEBT SERVICE BALANCE AND THAT WILL BE SHOWN HERE ON THE NEXT SLIDE. I ALWAYS HAVE TO INCLUDE THIS FOR OUR MAYOR. YOU WILL SEE WHERE WE ARE . THE DEBT WAS 31.6 MILLION. ONCE WE MAKE THE DEBT SERVICE PAYMENTS IN FISCAL YEAR '26, WE WILL BE A 27 MILLION. FROM 2012 TO THIS FISCAL YEAR, WE HAVE DECREASED OUR DEBT BY $54 MILLION. AND, THAT IS OUR GENERAL FUND. BEFORE WE GO TO THE ENTERPRISE SPENDING FUNDS , ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS?

>> COMMISSIONERS , ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS SO FAR?

>> SEEING NONE , LET'S PROCEED.

>> HERE WE HAVE THE ENTERPRISE FUNDS AND COMPARE THEM FROM WHERE THEY WERE IN FISCAL YEAR '25 TO FISCAL YEAR '26. THE CHANGE IS THE RESULT OF THE CAMPAIGN FOR THE INCREASED COSTS IN THE SOLID WASTE CHARGES. THAT IS WHY YOU SEE THAT SIGNIFICANT INCREASE FROM WHAT IS BUDGETED . THE DECREASES ARE IN OUR ANIMAL

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SHELTER AND STORM WATER . THE STORM WATER, WHY THERE IS A DECREASE IS BECAUSE IT WAS PROJECT BASED. THERE WAS A FUND BALANCE OF $1,000,003 IN THIS CURRENT FISCAL YEAR DUE TO THE PROJECT . IT IS NOT BUILT INTO THE BUDGET AND THAT IS WHY THE DECREASES PROJECT BASED? ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS?

>> ANY QUESTIONS ? >> SEEING NONE, LET'S PROCEED .

>> YOU SEE THE SPECIAL REVENUES AND THE POLICE GRANTS WITH A DECREASE OF 575 THOUSAND . THE PRA POLICE OFFICERS, THAT IS AN INCREASE. SEE PTG IS AN INCREASE IN WE HAVE REVENUE WE HAVE TO SPEND . WE HAVE BEEN NOTED FOR TIMELINESS SO WE WENT AND IDENTIFIED THE PROJECTS AND THEY WILL BE CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT ARE GOING TO BE PAID FOR . THAT CAME BEFORE YOU DURING OUR CIP WHEN WE IDENTIFIED THAT. ONE OF THE MAJOR THINGS WAS THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL EMERGENCY LIGHTS. THEY WILL PAY FOR THAT AS WELL AS PARK IMPROVEMENTS THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. THEN DECREASES BASED ON ALLOCATIONS FOR A SHIFT IN THE GRANT ADMINISTRATION. AND, THOSE ARE OUR BUDGETS. THESE ARE THE GENERAL FUND, ENTERPRISE AND SPECIAL REVENUE FUND BUDGET. I WILL ENTERTAIN ANY QUESTIONS .

>> ANY OVERALL QUESTIONS, COMMISSIONERS, ON WHAT IS BEING

PROPOSED. >> I KNOW WE HAVE DONE A DEEP DIVE IN THIS UP TO THIS DATE . ARE THERE ANY CHANGES FROM THE LAST BUDGET WORKSHOP MEETING TO TODAY ?

>> THERE ARE NOT ANY CHANGES REFLECTED HERE . THERE ARE SOME UNFORESEEN'S WE WILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH, BUT WE WILL DEAL WITH THEM AS THEY COME. NOT ANYTHING TO ADJUST FOR NOW, BUT THAT IS

EVERY YEAR. IT SEEMS THAT -- >> MY ONLY OTHER QUESTION TO THAT AND I WILL USE THIS AS AN EXAMPLE, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS SHORT . I'M NOT SURE HOW MANY SWORN STAFF AND I KNOW IT IS IN THE TEENS SOMEWHERE . WE CARRY IN OUR BUDGET TO FUND A FULL COMPLEMENT OF OFFICERS. WHEN WE ARE NOT FUNDING THE FULL COMPLEMENT OF OFFICERS, WHAT HAPPENS TO THOSE FUNDS? DO THEY

STAY IN THE GENERAL FUND? >> THEY STAY IN THE GENERAL FUND BECAUSE I DON'T ALLOW ANY CHANGE IN PERSONNEL . THEY CAN CHANGE BETWEEN LINE ITEMS AT THE BOTTOM BUT PERSONNEL , WE DON'T ALLOW THOSE ITEMS TO BE USED. BUT WHAT HAPPENS IS UNFORESEEN'S . THEY MAY HAVE A $100,000 PROJECT WITH A TYPE OF EQUIPMENT OR SOMETHING . WHILE WE KNOW THEY ARE NOT CARRYING THE COMPLEMENT OF OFFICERS, WE HAVE TO HAVE THE MONEY THERE AND WE BUDGET FOR THEM. I ALLOW THEM TO USE THE FUNDS WITHOUT MOVING IT . AT THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR, THEY MAY BE OVERBUDGET DOWN AND EXPENDITURES BUT UNDER IN THEIR PERSONNEL COSTS AND IT BUT DIGGING BALANCES OUT AT THE END .

>> THE ONLY QUESTION I HAVE IS I WOULD BE CURIOUS TO SEE YOU'RE INTERESTED TO SEE IF WE AREN'T REALLOCATING THE FUNDS THAT WE SHOULD AT LEAST BE AWARE OF THAT. IT CAN BE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY. AS IS STATED, EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE THAT NUMBER OF SWARM OFFICERS, EVEN IF WE ARE NOT AT THE THRESHOLD, WE HAVE TO BE CLOSE TO IT. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THE MONEY IS AVAILABLE TO US . I WANT TO AS THE CITY MANAGER IF WE HAVE THE EXTENSIVE REALLOCATION OF FUNDS, I'M NOT SAYING I'M QUESTIONING IT IT , BUT HOW ARE WE ADVISED OF IT ?

>> WE USED TO DO MONTHLY AND QUARTERLY REPORTS SO YOU WOULD KNOW EVERY MONTH . AS WE GO TO QUARTERLY REPORTS, YOU WILL SEE WHERE WE ARE QUARTERLY IN PERSONNEL AND EXPENDITURE COSTS

AND ALL OF THAT . >> I WAS GOING TO SAY COMMISSIONER BORDERICK THAT WE BUILD IT IN ON A TIMETABLE THAT WE ARE HERE QUARTERLY . MY QUESTION TO YOU, MS. MORRIS, GENERALLY WHEN THERE ARE MOVEMENTS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, THAT IS A CONVERSATION THAT ORIGINATES WITH YOU AND THE CHIEF OF POLICE, AT THAT POINT OF WHY THEY NEED TO MOVE MONEY AROUND ON SPECIAL PROJECTS THAT NEED TO BE PAID FOR AND IT TRIGGERS A CONVERSATION BETWEEN YOU AND MR. CHESS .

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>> OF ITS OVER A CERTAIN DOLLAR AMOUNT, IT COMES TO YOU FOR APPROVAL. ANYTHING UNDER $50,000 IT GOES THROUGH MR. CHAS.

ANYTHING OVER, IT COMES TO YOU.

>> THERE IS A TRIGGER IF IT IS OVER 50 THAT IT COMES TO US FOR APPROVAL. ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY, MS. MORRIS, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. SO, THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING .

ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ISSUE WHICH IS THE 2025-2026 BUDGET, PLEASE COME FORWARD. WE INVITE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS. THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING. WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO SPEAK? I SEE MOVEMENT . THIS WOULD BE THE TIME YOU COME DOWN.

PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND YOU HAVE -- HOLD ON ONE SECOND .

>> YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES ON YOUR COMMENTS .

>> HELLO, MY NAME IS ALANA SEMINAL AND I AM A NEW RESIDENT AND OWNER OF A BUSINESS AND COMMERCIAL BUSINESS IN THE RENAISSANCE FINANCIAL CENTER . I AM HAPPY TO BECOME A CITIZEN OF FORT PIERCE . THIS CITY HAS A BIG GROWTH POTENTIAL. SO, LOOKING AT THE BUDGET, THE CITY HAS FUNDS TO DEVELOP THE MARINA AND DEVELOP THE PORT IN THE AIRPORT AND AREAS FOR TOURIST ATTRACTIONS . I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE CITY COMMISSIONERS TO LOOK INTO THE HOMELESSNESS ISSUE THAT WE HAVE DOWNTOWN . AND, WE HAVE A NICE THEATER AND WE HAVE NICE RESTAURANTS AND WE HAVE A NICE PARK IN LIBRARY. A NICE EPISCOPAL SCHOOL . SO, WHEN A GROWN-UP MALE URINATED ON THE STREET, IT DOESN'T LOOK VERY GOOD FOR THE CITY. HOPEFULLY FROM THIS MONEY IN THIS BUDGET, WE WILL DO SOMETHING ABOUT MAYBE DEDICATE AN AREA SOMEWHERE ELSE FOR THEM OR IDENTIFY IDENTITIES AND ASKED THEM NOT TO HANG OUT AND NOT TO TRASH THE PARK AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS. THAT IS WHAT I WANT TO SAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION .

>> THANK YOU AND THANK YOU FOR COMING. I'M SORRY, I CANNOT PRONOUNCE YOUR LAST NAME, CAN YOU HELP US OUT WITH THAT .

>> MY LAST NAME IS

>> WE HAVE IT, THANK YOU . >> THANK YOU. IS THERE ANYONE

ELSE ? THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING. >> ALL RIGHT, SEEING NO ONE, I'M GOING TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND BRING IT BACK TO THE COMMISSION . SO, ARE THERE ANY AMENDMENTS TO THE PROPOSED

BUDGET, COMMISSIONERS? >> I THINK THAT WITH THE COMMISSION'S INPUT , THE STAFF REALLY WORKED HARD TO GET THIS INTO ALIGNMENT . MAINTAIN THE MILLAGE RATE , COVER OUR EXPENDITURES APPROPRIATELY. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THEM FOR ALL THE WORK THEY DID. YOUR TEAM DID A GREAT JOB HERE. I'M NOT THRILLED WITH THE OUTCOME BUT SATISFIED WITH THE INCOME .

>> ANY COMMENTS, COMMISSIONER GAINES ?

>> WE HAD TO SEND THEM BACK TWICE TO BALANCE THE BUDGET AND I WANT TO THANK THE STAFF AND THANK THE DEPARTMENT HEADS FOR TAKING A 3% CLIP ON THAT. BUT, WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE FOR COST OF LIVING FOR ALL CITY EMPLOYEES . MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE WERE ALSO ABLE TO PROVIDE -- TO FUND A STEP FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AS WELL AS 6% ON TOP OF STEP . THAT'S IMPORTANT IN OUR COMMITMENT TO LAW ENFORCEMENT TO MAKE SURE THOSE THAT NEED TO STEP INTO THEIR APPROPRIATE LEVELS BASED ON WHERE WE ARE TRYING TO GET THEM BASED ON TENURE, ET CETERA. THAT IS THERE AND WE ALSO SOLIDIFIED IN THIS BUDGET, MISSES COX, FOR YOUR SERVICE, THANK YOU FOR THAT . SO, WE HAVE A SOUND BUDGET AND I LOOK FORWARD TO US HAVING CONTINUED COMMUNICATION. MAKING SURE WE ARE INFORMED AND THAT WE CAN AFFORD THE PUBLIC OF WHAT IS HAPPENING TO THE TAX DOLLARS. WE HEARD FROM A CONSTITUENT TONIGHT THAT HAS CONCERNS WE ALL SHARE. WE SERVE ON THOSE APPROPRIATE BOARDS AND WILL CERTAINLY DO OUR PART TO ENSURE WE ARE COMMUNICATING THAT AND TRY TO WORK WITH ALL PARTNERS . THE

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COUNTY, CITY, COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CITY ENFORCEMENT, WHATEVER WE CAN TO ADDRESS THIS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. SO, WITH THAT BEING SAID, SEEING NO AMENDMENTS , IS THERE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE MILLAGE RATE OF 6.90 .

>> SO MOVED , SECOND . >> SO MOVED AND SECONDED TO

ADOPT THE MILLAGE RATE OF 6.90. >> COMMISSIONER BORDERICK ?

>> YES . >> COMMISSIONER GAINES ?

>> MAYOR PRO TEM JOHNSON? >> YES.

>> IS THERE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE 2025-2026 BUDGET .

>> SO MOVED. >> SECOND.

[A. Legislative Hearing - Ordinance 25-026 providing for the levying and collecting of taxes for the City of Fort Pierce for Fiscal year beginning October 1, 2025 and ending September 30, 2026 and adopting the final millage rate of 6.9. FIRST READING]

>> COMMISSIONER BORDERICK? >> YES .

>> COMMISSIONER GAINES ? >> YES.

>> MAYOR PRO TEM JOHNSON? >> THIS IS WHERE WE DO THE READING OF THE ORDINANCES AND THEY WILL BE READ IN THEIR ENTIRETY, SO BEAR WITH ME. WE HAVE ORDINANCES 25-026 .

PROVIDING FOR THE LEVY AND COLLECTING OF TAXES FOR THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE BEGINNING NOVEMBER 2025 AND ENDING 2026 FOR THE PURPOSE OF RAISING SUCH AMOUNTS NECESSARY TO CARRY ON THE GOVERNMENT OF SAID CITY DURING THE FISCAL YEAR AND COLLECTING INTO THE FUNDS FOR THE ACCOUNTS THEREFORE. ADOPTING THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE FISCAL 2025-2026 MILLAGE RATE FOR THE AFFECTED RATE . NOW, THEREFORE IT BE ORDAINED FOR THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE, THE FINAL FOUR 2021 AND ENDING 2026. ENDING THE CITY PURPOSES WHICH IS GREATER THAN THE MILLAGE RATE OF 6.6109 . THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE THEREBY LEVIES A TAX OF 6.9% VALUATION ON THE CITY WITHIN THE CORPORATION -- CITY LIMITS OF SAID CITY. PROVIDED THAT SUCH 6.9 SHALL NOT BE LEVIED UPON PROPERTY IN THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE UNDER STATE STATUTE OR THE CONSTITUTION. THE CITY MANAGER IS HEREBY DIRECTED AND INSTRUCTED TO HAVE THE PROPERTY APPRAISER WITH THE NEW MILLAGE TO BE LEVIED FOR THE FIRST FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER ONE, 2025 IN THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE, FLORIDA PURSUANT TO THE LAWS OF THE CITY OF FLORIDA AND THE CHARTER OF FORT PIERCE. THIS SHALL BECOME EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1, 2025.

>> ALL RIGHT, YOU HAVE HEARD THE READING OF ORDINANCE 25-026.

COMMISSIONERS? >> I MOVE FOR APPROVAL .

>> EXCUSE ME, THIS IS THE FIRST READING SO WE NEED ANOTHER

PUBLIC HEARING . >> I'M SORRY, MY BED. WE HAVE HAD THE FIRST READING OF THIS IN THE SECOND READING WILL COME ON

WHAT DATE, MISSES COX? >> SEPTEMBER 5TH TEEN .

>> ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OF WHAT IS BEEN RENT ON THAT BEFORE

WE MOVE ON TO THE NEXT AGENDA? >> WE HAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING?

>> SO WOULD THAT BE 2025 OR 2026?

>> IT IS 2025 . >> FISCAL YEAR, YEAH . OKAY, MS.

COX, WHAT WE HAVE NEXT? >> PUBLIC HEARING .

>> SO THE FLOOR IS OPEN FOR PUBLIC HEARING AND ANYONE TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT, PLEASE COME FORWARD. ALL RIGHT, SEEING NO MOVEMENT , WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND PROCEED ON .

>> DO YOU NEED A MOTION? >> I MOTION TO APPROVE .

>> MOVED AND SECONDED TO APPROPRIATE 025 .026 .

[B. Legislative Hearing - Ordinance 25-027 adopting the final budget for the City of Fort Pierce for fiscal year beginning October 1, 2025 and ending September 30, 2026. FIRST READING]

>> COMMISSIONER BORDERICK? >> YES.

>> COMMISSIONER GAINES? >> YES, MA'AM .

>> MAYOR PRO TEM JOHNSON, YES, MA'AM .

>> AND ORDINANCE FOR THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE, FLORIDA ADOPTING THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 2025 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2026. ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE, THE CITY COMMISSION AFTER HOLDING A PUBLIC HEARING HEREBY ADOPTS AS ITS FINAL BUDGET FOR THE OPERATION OF THE GOVERNMENT FOR SAID CITY WITH FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 2025 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2026. PRESENTED ON SEPTEMBER 8,

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2025 WHICH DETAILED NOTICES ARE ON FILE . IT SHOULD BE THE DUTY OF THE CITY MANAGERS TO SET UP THE AFOREMENTIONED REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES ON THE ACCOUNT RECORDS OF SUCH CITY TO KEEP RECORDS AS REQUIRED BY THE CHATTER -- CHARTER . SECTION 3, THIS ORDINANCE SHALL BECOME EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1, 2025 AND

THIS IS THE FIRST READING . >> ALL RIGHT, THIS IS THE FIRST READING AND THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING . WE WILL OPEN THE FLOOR AND ANYONE WISHING TO MAKE COMMENTS ON THE 2025-2026

BUDGET, THE FLOOR IS OPEN . >> SEEING NO MOVEMENT, WE'LL CLOSE THE FLOOR AND BRING IT BACK TO THE COMMISSION.

>> YOU NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE?

>> YES, MOVEMENT AND SECOND TO A PROVED 25-027 WHICH IS ADOPTING

[8. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC Any person who wishes to comment on any subject may be heard at this time. Please limit your comments to three (3) minutes or less, as directed by the Mayor, as this section of the Agenda is limited to thirty minutes. The City Commission will not be able to take any official actions under Comments from the Public. Speakers will address the Mayor, Commissioners, and the Public with respect. Inappropriate language will not be tolerated.]

THE BUDGET OF THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE, CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE .

>> COMMISSIONER BORDERICK? >> YES .

>> COMMISSIONER GAINES , ? >> YES, MA'AM .

>> MAYOR PRO TEM JOHNSON? >> IT IS OPEN FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AND IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO COME FORWARD FOR PUBLIC COMMENT , THE FLOOR IS NOW OPEN FOR THREE MINUTES. PUBLIC COMMENT. THE

STATE YOUR NAME. >>

>> OKAY . >> AT EVENING COMMISSIONERS . AT THE LAST MEETING , THE CITY MANAGER SUGGESTED THAT THE INFORMATION WE SHARED ABOUT SALARIES WITH MISINFORMATION.

LET ME BE CLEAR, THE NUMBERS PRESENTED, WE DID NOT GET THEM OFF FACEBOOK . WE DID NOT GET THEM OFF RUMORS THAT WE DID NOT GET THEM OFF OF GUESSWORK. THEY CAME DIRECTLY FROM A PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST THAT WE PROCESSED THROUGH THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE. IF THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE NUMBERS, THAT ISSUE LIES WITHIN THE CITY'S OWN SYSTEM, NOT US. NOT ONLY DID THE CITY MANAGER NOT GIVE A POSITION THAT THAT COUNSELING WAS ANNUALIZED AND IN OTHER WORDS THEY SHOW UP AS A FULL-TIME POSITION FOR YEAR-ROUND SALARIES WHEN IN REALITY THOSE EMPLOYEES MAY NOT ONLY WORK SEASONAL OR PART-TIME JOBS AT $15 PER HOUR, AND I GET THAT. BUT, HERE IS THE PROBLEM .

THAT IS DATA THAT THE CITY ITSELF PUBLISHES AND PROVIDES TO THE PUBLIC . IF IT MISREPRESENTS IS NOT MISINFORMATION ON OUR PART, THAT IS A TRANSPARENCY ISSUE ON THE CITY'S PART . EVEN IF THE SEASONAL SUMMER CAMP COUNSELOR MAKES $15 PER HOUR, THAT IS STILL WITHIN STRIKING DISTANCE OF WHAT YOU PAY YOUR POLICE OFFICERS. MEN AND WOMEN WHO RESPOND TO SHOOTINGS AND OVERDOSES AND CHILD ABUSE CASES, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASES . THE ONE TO RUN INTO HOMES WHILE SHOTS ARE BEING FIRED AND THE ONE TO CHASE SUSPECTS DOWN DARK ALLEYS AND MAKE SPLIT SECOND DECISIONS THAT CARRY LONG LIFE CONSEQUENCES. OUR OFFICERS ARE BEING ASKED TO DO ALL OF THIS AND THEY ARE PAID AROUND $26 PER HOUR . THAT IS BARELY MORE THAN DOUBLE WITH SOMEONE EARNS SUPERVISING CHILDREN AT A SUMMER CAMP. YET, RISK -- YET THEY RISK THE RESPONSIBILITIES AND THE SACRIFICE CANNOT BE FURTHER APART. WHILE WE WERE RAISING THESE COMPARISONS, SOME COMPARISON -- COMMISSIONERS LAUGHED AND JOKED THAT IF ACCOUNT COUNSELOR MADE $83,000 PER HOUR, THEY WOULD GIVE THEIR SEAT UP AND TAKE THAT JOB . I WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT THIS IS NOT A JOKE TO OUR OFFICERS. THEY ARE NOT LAUGHING WHILE THEY ARE HOLDING THE HANDS OF A DYING VICTIM. THEY ARE NOT LAUGHING WHEN RESPONDING TO GUNFIRE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT . THEY ARE NOT LAUGHING WHEN THEY TELL THE FAMILY OF A LOVED WHEN THEY ARE NOT COMING HOME ANYMORE . SO, YES, WELL WE USE THESE NUMBERS THE CITY PROVIDES, WE WILL CONTINUE TO DEMAND FAIRNESS. THE TRUTH IS THE FORT PIERCE POLICE OFFICERS ARE UNDERVALUED AND ARE BEING LOST TO AGENCIES THAT TREAT THEM