PUBLIC HEARING
LEVY COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
SEPTEMBER 8, 2011
The Public Hearing of the Board of Levy County Commissioners was held on September 8, 2011 at 6:30 PM in the Levy County Board ofCountyCommissionersmeeting room, with the following Commissioners present:
Chairman Danny Stevens
Comm. Ryan Bell
Comm.ChadJohnson
Comm. Marsha Drew
Also present were:
Clerk of Court – Danny J. Shipp
CountyAttorney– Anne Bast Brown
CountyCoordinator– Fred Moody
Assistant to theCountyCoordinator–Dick Tummond
Chairman Stevens called the meeting to order at 6:30 PM. Comm. Johnson gave the invocation, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
Sheila Rees presented the Board with a Resolution to set the proposed millage rate at 8.0614, which is the rolled back rate.
Comm. Stevens asked if there was anyone in the audience to speak for or against the item of setting the proposed millage rate.
Renate Cannon requested the Board to keep the millage rate at the current rate and not go to the rolled back rate.
Betty Wolf spoke and stated she was against the Board raising the millage rate.
After discussion, Comm. Johnson made a motion adopt Resolution 2011-46 amending paragraph 1 to fill in the blank with the 8.0614 millage rate for the General Fund which is the rolled back rate. Second was made by Comm. Drew and the MOTION CARRIES.
Mrs. Rees stated the total budget calculated at this rate is $59,231,955.
SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS
Connie Asbell informed the Board she had reduced her budget by another 3%.
Comm. Bell made a motion to approve the Budget for the Supervisor of Elections. Second was made by Comm. Drew and the MOTION CARRIES.
SHERIFF’S OFFICE
Ms. Pendray from the Sheriff’s Office was in attendance and informed the Board Sheriff Smith would not be in attendance and there was no presentation from the Sheriff’s Department.
The Commissioners all expressed their disappointment of the Sheriff not attending this meeting.
Comm. Stevens spoke suggested the Board set the Sheriff’s budget at $9.95 million. This would be a further reduction of $216,380, not counting the retirement amount reduced like everyone else. The total amount reduced from the Sheriff’s original budget would be 8.13%.
The Commissioners discussed a 7% reduction in the Sheriff’s budget. This would be $758,174, which includes 3% for retirement, making the total budget amount $10,072,884.
Comm. Bell made a motion to set the Sheriff’s budget at $9.95 million. Second was made by Comm. Drew and the MOTION CARRIES.
Comm. Stevens asked if anyone from the audience would like to speak as this is a Public Hearing.
Sherry Houston, Sr. Vice President of Advancement at Meridian Behavioral Healthcare spoke to the Board and requested they reconsider reducing their budget. She requested they make a lesser reduction, making their reduction proportional to all the other departments.
The Commissioners stated they would like to see a better patient care facility instead of a new administration building, which is currently planned for construction.
Comm. Bell made a motion to approve Resolution 2011-47 to approve the 2011-2012 FY budget in the amount of $59,231.985. Second was made by Comm. Drew and the MOTION CARRIES.
THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE COMMISSION, THE PUBLIC HEARING ADJOURNED AT 7:48 P.M.
ATTEST: BOARD OFCOUNTYCOMMISSIONERS
LEVY COUNTY,FL
____________________________________ ____________________________________
Clerk of Court, Danny J. Shipp Chairman, Danny Stevens