[1. Call to Order] [00:00:07] >> WOULD TO CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER THIS IS A SPECIAL CITY COMMISSION MEETING AND IT IS ABOUT OUR BUDGET, AND 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. >> CALL THE ROLL PLEASE. [4. ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS TO AGENDA AND APPROVAL OF AGENDA] >> TO THE AGENDA AND APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA. ANY CHANGES TO THE AGENDA IF NOT I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. >> CALL THE ROLL PLEASE. [A. Proposed 2026-27 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 6.5461 mills by 5.41%.] >> OKAY, WE HAVE OUR BUDGET HEARING, SO WE HAVE THE PROPOSED 2026-2027 GENERAL FUND BUDGET MILLAGE RATE FOR THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE I'LL LET YOU ANNOUNCE THE REST OF IT. >> ALL RIGHTY THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE IS A MILLAGE RATE OF RATE EXCEEDS ROLLBACK RATE OF 6.5461 BY 5.41%. MS. MORRIS WILL YOU GIVE US A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE PROPOSED BUDGETS, AND EXPLAINING THE REASONS OUR AD VALOREM TAX REVENUES ARE INCREASING. >> GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS I'LL GIVE YOU A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF OUR PROPOSED BUDGET FOR TONIGHT FOR OUR FISCAL YEAR, '27. WE ARE PRESENTING BALANCED BUDGET AT $73,263,742. THAT IS $5,476,531 INCREASE FROM THIS FISCAL YEAR 2026 BUDGET. THE HIGHLIGHTS IN WHAT'S MAKING THIS UP WE HAD OUR INCREASE IN OUR PROPERTY TAXABLE VALUES OF 5.2 BILLION THAT'S A INCREASE FROM WHERE WE ARE THIS CURRENT FISCAL YEAR AND BECAUSE WE'VE HAD THE 6 PPGHT9 INCREASE TO THE MILLAGE RATE WHICH IS 6.9%. THIS NEXT SLIDE SHOWS AS THE TRIM NOTICE HAS BEEN RELEASED, THIS IS THE MILLAGE RATE TOTAL FOR FORT PIERCE FOR THE OF MILLS, THE CITY AT 6.9 MILLS IS 29% OF THE TOTAL TAX BILL. SO YOU SEE THE ORGANIZATIONS AND WHAT THEIR MILLAGE RATE IS AND WHAT MAKES UP THAT 24.0293 AND THE COUNTY IS 30% OF THAT. THE CITY IS 29%. SCHOOL BOARD IS 26%. FIRE DISTRICT IS 12%, AND ALL OF THE OTHER SPECIAL DISTRICTS ARE 3%. AND HERE'S OUR INFAMOUS DOLLAR, HUNDRED DOLLAR BILLS AND HOW THAT BREAKS UP SO I TOOK PROPERTY VALUE THAT WAS -- HAD A VALUE OF $150,000 AND I STRATEGICALLY USED THAT BECAUSE IF AMENDMENT THREE PASSES YOU'LL SEE HOW MUCH WE LOSE JUST ON THE ONE PROPERTY. SO YOU SEE HOW MUCH OF THAT GOES TO THE COUNTY, THE THOUSAND. 81 DOLLARS AND 32 CENTS. THE CITY WILL GET A THOUSAND 46 AND 4 AND FIRE DISTRICT GETS 4,3253 AND ALL OF THE OTHER DISTRICTS GET 108.13 SO IF PROPERTY, WE GET TO DO ALL OF THE SERVICES THAT WE HAVE TO DO A THOUSAND 45 AND THAT WILL GO AWAY WE WON'T HAVE THAT THOUSAND 45 IF AMENDMENT THREE PASSES. >> IT WILL BE GONE. >> WOW. >> AND SO HERE ARE OUR REVENUE HIGHLIGHTS. OUR AD VALOREM TO RECEIVE 767 THAT'S A 2.25 INCREASE FROM THIS FISCAL CURRENT YEAR. ALL OF OTHER REVENUE WE WENT THROUGH OUR DIFFERENT REVENUE ALL OF ORE REVENUE LIGHT ITEMS AND WE HAVE A DECREASE OF COLLECTIVE DECREASE OF 844,520 IN OUR OTHER REVENUE SOURCES SO OUR -- OUR EXPENSES OR EXPENDTURES CONTINUE TO INCREASE BUT OUR [00:05:01] REVENUE DUE TO LEGISLATIVE CHANGES AND JUST, YOU KNOW, ALL ACROSS ECONOMIC CHANGES ARE DECREASING. SO WE HAVE A 844,000 DOLLAR INCREASE -- DECREASE IN OUR OTHER REVENUE LINE ITEMS. WE CONTINUE TO RESTRICT THE $600,000 FOR FISCAL YEAR 2028 CAPITAL EXPENDTURES AND THERE IS 3,50600 REAPPROPRIATED. THAT WAS WORTH WHEN WE WENT THROUGH THE BUDGET HEARING, AND THE WORKSHOP YOU ALL APPROVED US USING THE FUND BALANCES THAT HAD ROLLED FROM THE PRIOR YEAR THAT WEREN'T USED WE REAPPROPRIATED THEM TO BE USED IN THIS FISCAL YEAR FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS. ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO THE EXPENDTURES? >> QUESTIONS MS. MORRIS. ALL RIGHTY. >> A FEW TIME LRS BEFORE. [LAUGHTER] FOR THE EXPENDTURES TWO NEW POSITIONS THAT ARE ADDED TO GENERAL FUND AND THEY ARE TWO CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS BUT THEY ARE BEING FUNDED BY THE FPRA SO THEY ARE TWO NEW EMPLOYEES BUT THE FUNDING WILL COME FROM FPR FOR THOSE EMPLOYEES. THERE IS NO COST OF LIVING INCREASE FOR BARGAINING OR NON-BARGAINING INCREASE AND NO BARGAINING FOR OUR SWORN OFFICERS AS WELL IN THIS BUDGET. ALSO, AS YOU ALWAYS LIKE TO SEE THE POLICE BUDGET, IT IS $25,379,521 THAT'S A 35% OF OUR GENERAL FUND BUDGET SO OF THE TOTAL 35% OF IT GOES TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. >> IS IT 74% OF THE -- PROPERTY TAXES? >> YES OF OUR AD VALOREM REVENUE, YES. >> SO OPERATING BUDGETSES FOR ALL DEPARTMENTS WERE EVALUATED AND ADJUSTED SO THERE'S SOME ADJUSTMENT AND IF YOU CAN REMEMBER LAST -- THIS CURRENT FISCAL YEAR WE DID A 10% DECREASE IN ALL EVERYBODY WENT THROUGH AND DECREASED BUDGETS ABOUT 10% FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR SO WE WENT THROUGH THIS YEAR. THERE WASN'T A REQUIREMENT AS TO A NUMBER. BUT WE ADJUSTED ALL LOOK AT ALL LINE ITEMS AND MADE ADJUSTMENTS AS NEEDED. THAT'S GOING LOOK A LITTLE DIFFERENT IF WE AMENDMENT THREE PASSES AND THERE WILL BE MAJOR CUTS TO THOSE. BUT AS IT IS, WE'VE MADE ADJUSTMENTS, SO WE ARE ALREADY DOWN TO A BEAR MINIMUM REALLY HONESTLY, THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT WE MAY BE ABLE TO LOOK AT AND SEE THAT WE CAN MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENTS BUT IF AMENDMENT THREE PASS THERE WILL BE SOME DRASTIC CHANGES TO THIS BUDGET THAT WE'RE PRESENTING TONIGHT SO -- >> ARE YOU SAYING THAT THIS FISCAL YEAR WE DID REDUCE ALL DEPARTMENTS 10%? >> LAST -- >> THIS CURRENT FISCAL YEAR WE'RE IN RIGHT NOW '26 YES. >> WE DID THAT AT THE LAST BUDGET CYCLE, YES WE DID. >> OKAY. SO YOU SEE THE CAPITAL COST IS -- CAPITAL COST FOR BUILDING IMPROVEMENTS AND REPLACEMENT OF COMMITMENT IS $4 MILLION. SO WE'RE TAKING 5 MILLION DOLLARS AND PUTTING THAT TOWARD CAPITAL PROJECTS. AND THERE IS A DECREASE IN OUR DEBT SERVICE PAYMENT OF $146,982 AND MAY I HAVE YOUR SLIDE. >> YEAH YOU KNOW WHAT I'M GOING TO ASK SO YOU KNOW -- [LAUGHTER] SO YOU SEE HERE'S THE APPROPRIATION AS TO HOW THOSE CAPITAL FUNDS THOSE 4.956 MILLION CAPITAL PROJECTS ARE ALLOCATED 2.3 OF THAT IS FOR POLICE PROJECTS. AND FACILITY MAINTENANCE IS 1 MILLION 868100 AND MOST OF THAT IS FOR THE PARKING GARAGE THAT'S A HUGE PORTION OF THAT SO THAT'S THE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE PARKING GARAGE. PARKS AND GROUNDS 24 ,000 LEISURE SERVICES AT 190, I.T. PROMGHTSES AGAIN IS 187925 THOSE ARE THE EQUIPMENT THAT WE NEED TO KEEP US CURRENT ENGINEERING PROJECTS 125,000 OUR FLEET MAINTENANCE PROJECTS 18 AND THEN HR HAS 15,000. >> SO ENGINEERING HAS OVER AND ABOVE THIS SURTAX FUNDS? >> YEAH. THEY ALSO HAVE BUT THIS IS THE PORTION THAT'S COMING FROM GENERAL TO HAVE -- THOSE OTHER PROJECTS BUT MOST OF THAT IS SURTAX THAT PAYS FOR MOST THEIR PROJECTS. >> AND SO HERE'S -- OUR DEBT BALANCE TABLE. SO WE SEE IN FISCAL YEAR '26 OUR GENERAL AND FPRA TOTAL WAS AT 26 MILLION TOTAL FOR ALL DEBT WAS [00:10:01] 37.7 MILLION THAT INCLUDES MAN MARINA AND THE SOLID WASTE THAT WE JUST DID, THE LOAN THAT WE JUST DID FOR THE TRUCKS. SO THERE'S THAT 2.5 MILLION THAT YOU SEE FOR SOLID WASTE THAT IS IN ADDITION TO OUR DEBT SERVICE. SO TOTAL IT WAS 26 FISCAL YEAR '27 WE'RE AT 21.9 MILLION AND YOU SEE THE BOTTOM YEAR FISCAL YEAR '12 WE WERE AT 29 AND NOW AT 48 MILLION. >> YEAH IT'S -- THAT'S A REALLY WONDERFUL REDUCTION. >> QUICK QUESTION. >> YES, SIR. >> I THOUGHT WE HAD DEBT ON THE PARKING GARAGE. >> WE DO ALL OF THAT IS INCLUDED IN HERE TOTAL FPRA THAT'S INCLUDED IN THERE. >> OKAY. WE'LL HAVE DEBT UNTIL 2031 ALL DEBT IF WE DON'T TAKE ON ANYTHING NEW, WE'LL -- >> PARKING GARAGE -- 30 MILLION. >> RIGHT. >> RIGHT. >> MADAM MAYOR I WANT TO GO BACK, YOU KNOW, WITH AMENDMENT THREE COMING AROUND AND EVERYONE IS TELLING US AND OTHER CITIES TO STOP WASTING AND SPEND MONEY WISELY. NEXT TIME IS -- DO ME A FAVOR THAT TOTAL DEBT BALANCE MAKE IT A SLIDE SO PEOPLE CAN UNDERSTAND THAT WHERE WE WERE IN 2012 BEFORE I WAS HERE AND SOME OTHER PEOPLE WERE HERE AND WHERE WE ARE TODAY. BECAUSE IT SHOWS THAT WE ARE BEING, YOU KNOW, FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE IN TRYING TO DO SO. SO WE DON'T PAT OURSELVES ON THE BACK ENOUGH -- >> I WILL. >> MS. MORRISON AND I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THAT SINCE 2012. >> I KNOW BUT IT'S AT THE BOTTOM. >> I KNOW. IT'S NOT SEXY FOR MOST PEOPLE BUT IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT. IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT. >> RIGHT NOW AT THIS TIME IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE CAN SAY NO WE'RE NOT WASTING MONEY. WE'RE TRYING TO RUN THE CITY ON THE LIMITED FUNDS WE HAVE, AND IN DOING THAT, WE ARE ALSO DEALING WITH OUR DEBT LIVE WRING WE ARE LOOK AT WHERE WE ARE NOW. SO FISCAL YEAR 2031 IS ONLY FOUR FISCAL YEARS OFF THE WAY AND -- >> THAT'S THE POINT I'M TRYINGS TO MAKE. >> VERY IMPORTANT. JOHNA HELPED US DO THAT. >> WE WORKED TOGETHER AND YOU YU ALL HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB EVALUATING THINGS NOT MOVING INTO NEW DEBT KNOWING WHAT WE WERE LOOKING AT AND TRYING TO MANAGING WHAT WE HAD, YOU KNOW, AND NOT OVEREXPENDING OVEREXTENDING US SO GREAT JOB OF THAT. >> YEAH. AND THAT IS OUR GENERAL FUND BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO THE SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS AND ENTERPRISE FUNDS, ANY QUESTIONS? >> NO PROCEEDING. SO ENTERPRISE FUNDS ARE SPENDING PLANS THAT ARE INCLUDED ALSO IN OUR FINANCIAL BUDGET BOOK, AND YOU SEE MARINA. AT 7,917,643 INCREASE OF 168,466. SOLID WASTE IS 11,891,050 DECREASE. GOLF COURSE IS 1,863,070. SUNRISE IS 2,292,086 A DECREASE. AND THIS WAS THE BUDGET THAT WAS PRESENTED BY THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY. SO THIS IS WHAT THEY PRESENTED THIS IS WHAT THEY SAID THAT THEY WOULD NEED TO OPERATE AND A PORTION ABOUT 296 OF THAT INCLUDES THE PORTION OF THE 500,000 DOLLAR TRANSFER. SO WE'LL SEE HOW CLOSE THEY COME TO THIS. BUT IT'S REMARKABLE THAT THEY'VE DECREASED THE BUDGET AND SAID THAT THEY'RE GOING TO, YOU KNOW, OPERATE IT FOR 2.3 MILLION DOLLARS LESS THAN WHAT -- >> THEY'RE GOING TO KEEP AN EYE ON THAT. >> RIGHT. RIGHT. INCREASE, AND ANIMAL SHELTER IS 1,93 0, 000 THAT IS AN INCREASE FROM THIS FISCAL YEAR. >> ALL RIGHT SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS THE POLICE GRADUATE IS 3 MILLION THAT'S A 2.2 MILLION DOLLAR INCREASE AND ALL OF THAT ARE GRANT FUNDS ALL OF THAT INCLUDES THE MONEY THAT WE GOT FROM ALSO MASS THAT PROVIDED. SO SOME OF THAT IS ROLLED OVER AS TO -- [00:15:02] INTO THE -- >> FEDERAL AND STATE GRANTS. CORRECT. CORRECT. POLICE GRANTS FOR FPRA1 MILLION THAT'S A DECREASE BY 1,862. CDPG2 MILLION. DECREASE OF 635,387 AND MOST OF THAT IS ROLLOVER FUNDING THAT FOR YEARS THAT FUNDS HAVE NOT BEEN EXPENSE SO SOME OF THAT WAS USED ON THE FIN PARK AND SMFLT OTHER MAJOR PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN UNDERWAY. SHIP IS 358,000 INCREASE OF 383 AND WE JUST APPROVED THE FPRA BUDGETS OF 16,423 RKS 608 SO THOSE ARE OUR SPECIAL FUNDS ENTERPRISE FUNDS AND OUR GENERAL FUND BUDGET. >> QUESTIONS FOR STAFF. QUESTIONS OF STAFF? >> OKAY. THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING, ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ISSUE PLEASE COME FORWARD. >> SEE NO MOVEMENT I'LL CLOSE A PUBLIC HEARING. ARE THERE ANY AMENDMENTS TO THE PROPOSED 2026, 2027 ANY AMENDMENTS. SEEING NO AMENDMENT TO THE BUDGET THERE'S NO NEED TO RECOMPUTE THE PROPOSED MILLAGE RATE IT IS THEREFORE NOW TIME FOR A MOTION TO ADOPT THE MILLAGE RATE OF 6.90. >> SECOND. >> A MOTION AND A SECOND CALL THE ROLL PLEASE. THE TENTATIVE 2026-2027 GENERAL FUND BUDGET? >> MOVED. >> SECOND. >> MOTION AND SECOND CALL THE ROLL PLEASE. DO WE HAVE AN ADDITIONAL COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? [A. Legislative Hearing - Ordinance 26-019 providing for the levying and collecting of taxes for the City of Fort Pierce for Fiscal year beginning October 1, 2026 and ending September 30, 2027 and adopting the final millage rate of 6.9.  FIRST READING] >> WELL WE NEED TO MOVE ON TO OUR PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR THE ORDINANCES I'LL READ EACH OF THOSE. >> ALL RIGHT MADAM MAYOR. >> READY TO GET OUT OF HERE -- YOU THINK? >> SO WE HAVE ORDINANCE ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE FLORIDA PROVIDING THE LEVEE AND FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1,2026 AND ENDING 2027 FOR THE PURPOSE OF RAISING SUCH AMOUNT AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO CARRY ON THE GOVERNMENT OF CITY DURING FISCAL YEAR AND TO PAY FUNDS SO COLLECTED INTO THE ACCOUNTS PROVIDED THEREFORE FORT PIERCE MILLAGE RATE PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTSIVE DATE THEREFORE ORDAINED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE, FLORIDA SECTION 1 FINAL MILLAGE RATE FOR FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 2026 ENDING SEPTEMBER 20-LEVEES AT THE RATE PER THOUSAND DOLLAR EVALUATION RATE BETTER THAN MILLS BY 5.41%. SECTION 2, THE CITY COMMISSION AND THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE FLORIDA LEVEES A TAX OF 6.9 PER THOUSAND DOLLAR VALUATION OF ALL REAL AND PERSONAL PROPERTY WITHIN THE CORPORATE LIMITS SUBJECT TO TAX ON THE FIRST DAY OF JANUARY 2026 PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT 6.9 SHALL NOT BE LEVEED UPON PROPERTY IN THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE EXEMPT UNDER THE STATE STATUTE OR FEDERAL CONSTITUTION. SECTION 3 THAT THE CITY MANAGER IS HEREBY INSTRUCTED TO CERTIFY TO THE ST. LUCIE APPRAISER ABOVE AND FOREGOING MILLAGE TO BE LEVEED FOR FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 2026 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER, IN THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE PURSUANT TO THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA, AND CHARGER OF THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE. SECTION 4 THIS ORDINANCE SHALL BECOME EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1, 2026. >> THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING ANYONE WILLING TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE PLEASE COME FORWARD. SEEING NO MOVEMENT I'LL COME BACK TO THE COMMISSION FOR A MOTION. >> ALL A MOTION AND A SECOND CALL THE ROLL PLEASE. [B. Legislative Hearing - Ordinance 26-020 adopting the final budget for the City of Fort Pierce for fiscal year beginning October 1, 2026 and ending September 30, 2027.  FIRST READING] >> NEXT, WE HAVE ORDINANCE 26-20 THAT THE CITY COMMISSION OF FORT PIERCE FLORIDA ADOPTING FOR CITY OF FORT PIERCE, FLORIDA, FOR BEGINNING 2026 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2027, FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE BE ORDAINED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE, FLORIDA, SECTION ONE THE CITY COMMISSION OF FORT [00:20:01] PIERCE, FLORIDA, AFTER HAVING HELD A PUBLIC HEARING HEREBY ADOPTS AS ITS FINAL BUDGET FOR GOVERNMENT OF SAID CITY FOR FISCAL YEAR OCTOBER 2026 ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2027, ESTIMATES MADE BID CITY MANAGER OF SAID CITY PRESENTING TO THE CITY COMMISSION ON SEPTEMBER 8, 2026 WHICH DETAILED ESTIMATE AMENDMENTS ON FILE WITH THE CITY CLERK AND DIRECTOR OF FINANCE. SECTION 2 THAT IS SHALL BE THE DUTY OF THE CITY MANAGER TO SET UP THE AFORESAID APPROPRIATION OF REVENUES EXPENSES ON THE ACCOUNT RECORDS OF SAID CITY TO KEEP ACCOUNTS THEREOF AS REQUIRED BY THE CHARTER OF SAID CITY DISTRICTED BY THE CITY COMMISSION AND SHALL BECOME EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1, 2026. I DO BELIEVE WE NEED TO MAKE A CORRECTION, PRESENTED TO THE CITY COMMISSION ON SEPTEMBER 8TH, 2026 SHOULDN'T THAT BE TONIGHT AS WELL SINCE WE'RE DOING THEM BOTH TOGETHER? OKAY SO WE'LL ADMIT THAT CORRECTION FOR THE RECORD THAT IT'S SEPTEMBER 15, 2026. >> ALL RIGHTY. THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING ANYONE WISHING TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE PLEASE COME FORWARD. SEE NO MOVEMENT I'LL COME BACK TO THE COMMISSION FOR A MOTION. >> MADAM DO WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THE AMENDMENT THAT THE CLERK HAD MENTIONED AND THEN MOTION? >> THAT WOULD BE GREAT. >> MOVE APPROVAL WITH THE AMENDMENT STATED BY THE CLERK. FOR THE RECORD. >> SECOND. >> A MOTION AND SECOND CALL THE ROLL PLEASE. >> NOW, WE HAVE ANOTHER COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WISHING TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION ON ANY ISSUE PLEASE COME FORWARD. SEEING NO MOVEMENT, CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. AND I BELIEVE THAT NEXT ITEM IS ADJOURNMENT. >> IT IS. LET'S * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.