Sep 24, 2024 Board Meeting

[00:00:03]

WE'RE MISSING LLOYD, BUT WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED.

GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME TO THE SEPTEMBER 2024, 2024 MEETING OF THE MERCED COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

[CALL TO ORDER]

MEET AND CONFER. AGENCY NEGOTIATOR MARCI BARRERA EXISTING LITIGATION.

SILVA, DELIA VERSUS COUNTY OF MERCED ET AL.

MERCED SUPERIOR COURT CASE NUMBER 21CV-00462 AND PENDING LITIGATION.

CITY OF LIVINGSTON.

THE PUBLIC WILL BE PROVIDED AN OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT ON ANY MATTER TO BE CONSIDERED IN CLOSED SESSION, PRIOR TO THE BOARD ADJOURNING INTO THE CLOSED SESSION.

TESTIMONY IS LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER PERSON.

OKAY. AT THIS TIME, WE'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR CLOSED SESSION ITEMS. ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? I SEE NO ONE COMING FORWARD.

SO WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT AND WE'LL ADJOURN INTO CLOSED SESSION.

[CLOSED SESSION]

THIS MORNING WE HAD CLOSED SESSION MEETING AND STAFF WAS GIVEN DIRECTION.

WE WILL NOW START WITH THE INVOCATION LED BY PASTOR ELLA LUNA-GARZA FROM UNITED METHODIST CHURCH.

AND THE SUPERVISOR PEDROZO WILL LEAD THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

IF YOU CAN STAND, PLEASE.

HOLY, AWESOME GOD, WE GIVE YOU THANKS FOR THIS DAY, FOR MERCED AND OUR COMMUNITIES.

WE GIVE YOU THANKS FOR OUR PEOPLE.

WE COME BEFORE YOU KNOWING THAT YOU LOVE US AND THAT EVEN AS WE COME BEFORE YOU, WE CAN ASK FOR EVERYTHING THAT WE NEED AND SO AT THIS TIME, WE ASK FOR LEADERSHIP, FOR OUR LEADERS. WE ASK THAT YOU GIVE THEM WISDOM AND GRACE, THAT YOU GUIDE THEIR HEARTS, THEIR MINDS, AND THEIR SPIRITS FOR THE DECISIONS OF THIS DAY.

THAT YOU GUARD OUR COMMUNITIES, THAT YOU LEAD US TO EVERYTHING THAT IS RIGHT AND GOOD AND THAT YOU BLESS US, BLESS OUR COMMUNITIES, BLESS OUR LEADERS AND BLESS OUR PEOPLE. WE PRAY THIS IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, THE SON, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT.

AMEN. JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE.

. THANK YOU, PASTOR ELLA.

AT THIS TIME NON-AGENDA ITEM, PUBLIC COMMENTS.

[PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK]

TESTIMONY IS LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER PERSON AND 30 MINUTES TOTAL.

OKAY. AT THIS TIME, WE'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT.

AGAIN THIS IS FOR NON AGENDA ITEMS. THANK YOU AND GO AHEAD.

SORRY. MARTA ECHEVARRIA, COUNTY EMPLOYEE AND COMMUNITY MEMBER.

TO SAY THAT COUNTY EMPLOYEES ARE DISAPPOINTED IN THIS BOARD IS A HUGE UNDERSTATEMENT.

YOUR EMPLOYEES, MYSELF INCLUDED, CAME BEFORE YOU MONTHS AGO TO LET YOU KNOW A RAISE WAS DETRIMENTAL TO OUR WELL-BEING.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S JUST US THAT YOU HAVE SO LITTLE DISREGARD FOR, BUT THEN AGAIN, THE FACT THAT YOU HAD OVER A $1 BILLION BUDGET AND STILL MANAGED TO CLOSE DOWN FIRE DEPARTMENTS, MAYBE WE AREN'T ALONE.

IS IT POSSIBLE YOUR HIGH WAGES HAVE MADE YOU LOSE TOUCH WITH REALITY? BECAUSE OUR PLEAS HAVE DEFINITELY FALLEN ON DEAF EARS INSTEAD OF HELP TO YOUR EMPLOYEES.

A PSA TO THE COMMUNITY SUGGESTING WE LEARN TO LIVE WITHIN OUR MEANS WAS ACTUALLY THE LAST LAP THE WORKERS NEEDED TO FACE THIS YEAR.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE AS WORKERS ARE GOING TO DO TO SURVIVE, BUT I DO KNOW ONE THING.

MOST OF US CAME FROM ROCK BOTTOM AND WE MANAGED TO CLIMB OUR WAY TO THE TOP, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO EVEN THOUGH THE HOLES KEEP GETTING DIG DUG FOR US, EVEN IF IT MEANS LEAVING OUR BELOVED COUNTY IN ORDER FOR OUR FAMILIES TO NOT ONLY SURVIVE, BUT TO THRIVE.

WE WILL DO SO.

I KNOW YOU WOULD LOVE IT IF UNIONS IN OUR COUNTY WERE ELIMINATED ALTOGETHER, BECAUSE WOULDN'T IT BE EASIER TO BE ABLE TO ESTABLISH WHATEVER YOU ALL DEEM AS NECESSARY FOR ALL YOUR WORKERS, INSTEAD OF HAVING US COMPLAIN ABOUT IT? WE WOULD HAVE TO JUST LIVE WITH IT.

BUT I CAN GUARANTEE THAT ALL UNIONS WILL BE WORKING HARD TO ENSURE THAT WE REUNITE ALL WORKERS, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE BECOME STRONGER, AND TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE LIVABLE WAGES AND FAIR EMPLOYMENT.

WE WILL BE FOCUSING ON ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY TO PAY ATTENTION TO WHO.

TO THOSE WHO WE AS A COMMUNITY CHOOSE TO REPRESENT US IN THE FUTURE.

BECAUSE CONTINUED FAILURE TO ADDRESS WAGES IS NOT SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE REWARDED WITH REELECTION.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

GOOD MORNING. CHAIRMAN ESPINOSA AND THE BOARD, CHRIS SANTOS HERE REPRESENTING THE OFFICE OF CONGRESSMAN JOHN DUARTE.

FOR SO MANY FAMILIES, THE CENTRAL VALLEY IS WHERE THE AMERICAN DREAM GROWS AND LAST NIGHT, CONGRESSMAN DUARTE GAVE A SPEECH HONORING THREE CENTRAL VALLEY UNIVERSITIES FOR

[00:05:03]

UC MERCED IS RANKED NUMBER ONE, STANISLAUS STATE WAS RANKED NUMBER TWO AND FRESNO STATE NUMBER FOUR IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY FOR HELPING FIRST GENERATION STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES CLIMB UP THE SOCIOECONOMIC LADDER.

I'M A STAN STATE WARRIOR MYSELF, BUT ON BEHALF OF CONGRESSMAN DUARTE.

GO, BOBCATS! GO, WARRIORS AND GO, BULLDOGS! THE ENTIRE VALLEY SHOULD BE PROUD.

OUR OFFICE IS ALSO PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT LAST WEEK, THE HOUSE PASSED CONGRESSMAN DUARTE'S BILL, H.R.

7816, THE CLEAR COMMUNICATION FOR VETERANS CLAIMS ACT.

WITH UNANIMOUS DEMOCRAT AND REPUBLICAN SUPPORT.

WE HAD A ROUNDTABLE AT AMERICAN LEGION POST 83 IN MERCED ON THIS BILL IN APRIL, AND NOW WE ARE GETTING IT PASSED IN SEPTEMBER.

SO THIS BILL WOULD REQUIRE THE VA TO CONTRACT WITH A FEDERALLY FUNDED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER TO MAKE VA NOTICE LETTERS, WHICH ARE OFTEN FULL OF INDECIPHERABLE LEGAL JARGON EASIER TO UNDERSTAND FOR VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES.

THIS WOULD MAKE THE PROCESS MORE TRANSPARENT AND EASIER TO UNDERSTAND, AND THIS WOULD HELP CENTRAL VALLEY VETERANS AND VETERANS ACROSS AMERICA GET THE BENEFITS AND HEALTHCARE THEY DESERVE. CONGRESSMAN DUARTE ALSO RECENTLY CO-SPONSORED THE FARM TO MARKET ROAD IMPROVEMENT ACT.

THAT'S H.R. 9531 TO IMPROVE RURAL COMMUNITIES, ROADS, BRIDGES, AND WATERWAYS.

THIS BILL WOULD SET ASIDE 10% OF THE RURAL SURFACE TRANSPORTATION GRANT PROGRAM SPECIFICALLY FOR FARM TO MARKET ROAD PROJECTS.

HEAVY TRUCKS CARRY 83% OF AGRICULTURAL FREIGHT BY TONNAGE, AND POOR FARM TO MARKET ROADS LEAD TO DELAYS, HIGHER COSTS, AND ULTIMATELY HIGHER PRICES AT GROCERY STORES FOR VALLEY CONSUMERS. CONGRESSMAN DUARTE HAS ALSO CO-SPONSORED A NEW LAW WITH CONGRESSWOMAN MILLER-MEEKS OF IOWA TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL RELIEF TO FAMILIES PURSUING IN VITRO FERTILIZATION TREATMENTS HR9479 ESTABLISHES A REFUNDABLE TAX CREDIT OF UP TO $30,000 TO COVER IVF RELATED EXPENSES, HELPING FAMILIES ACHIEVE THEIR DREAMS OF HAVING CHILDREN WITHOUT BEING BURDENED BY THE HIGH COST OF FERTILITY TREATMENTS.

IT WOULD ALSO ALLOW TAXPAYERS TO DEDUCT IVF RELATED EXPENSES BEYOND THE $30,000 LIMIT, WHICH WOULD COVER A WIDE RANGE OF EXPENSES INCLUDING TRANSPORTATION, EGG RETRIEVALS AND TRANSFERS, COUNSELING, LAB FEES, MEDICATIONS, ULTRASOUNDS AND OTHER EXPENSES.

HELPING FAMILIES GROW IS A PRIORITY FOR THE CONGRESSMAN AS A FATHER AND A HUSBAND, AND HE'S PROUD TO SUPPORT THIS COMMON SENSE SOLUTION.

AS YOU KNOW, WE'RE HAVING APPROPRIATIONS DISCUSSIONS IN DC, AND WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT POTENTIALLY A VOTE ON OUR HYDRO BILL.

THAT'S A HIGH INTENSITY DRUG TRAFFICKING AREA PROGRAM FOR REAUTHORIZATION BEFORE THIS APPROPRIATIONS DEADLINE AND BE SURE TO KEEP YOU UPDATED ON ITS PROGRESS, AS IT'S EXTREMELY RELEVANT TO OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT ENVIRONMENT HERE IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU. HI.

GOOD MORNING. BOARD.

MY NAME IS ALICIA. I'M WITH LEADERSHIP COUNCIL AND AS MERCED COUNTY PREPARES TO DEVELOP ITS EMERGENCY OPERATION PLAN, I JUST WANT TO EMPHASIZE THE CRITICAL IMPORTANCE OF INCORPORATING COMMUNITY INPUT FROM RESIDENTS ENGAGING MERCED COUNTIES COMMUNITIES IN THIS PROCESS IS VITAL FOR CREATING A ROBUST PLAN THAT TRULY MEETS THE NEEDS OF THOSE WHO WILL BE AFFECTED DURING A DISASTER.

THE RECENT COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION WORKSHOP WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS AND DEPARTMENTS TO SHARE RESOURCES AND DISCUSS WHAT HAS NOT WORKED IN THE PAST. THESE CONVERSATIONS ARE ESSENTIAL AS WE MOVE FORWARD, BUT IT'S EQUALLY IMPORTANT TO ENSURE THAT COMMUNITY INPUT IS ACTIVELY SOUGHT AND INTEGRATED INTO THE PLANNING PROCESS.

WE MUST LEARN FROM THE FLOODING THAT HAPPENED IN PLANADA, WHERE MANY RESIDENTS FACE SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES, AND RESIDENTS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED NATURAL DISASTERS FIRSTHAND CAN OFFER INSIGHT AND FEEDBACK BASED ON THEIR LIVED EXPERIENCES THAT NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT STAFF WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PROVIDE.

THEIR STORIES AND SUGGESTIONS CAN HELP US IDENTIFY GAPS IN RESOURCES, IMPROVE COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES, AND ENSURE THAT SUPPORT SYSTEMS ARE EFFECTIVELY TAILORED TO OUR COMMUNITY'S UNIQUE CHALLENGES.

BY ACTIVELY SEEKING INPUT FROM RESIDENTS, WE NOT ONLY RECOGNIZE AND VALUE THEIR EXPERTISE, BUT ALSO FOSTER A SENSE OF COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY AND RESILIENCE.

SO LET'S JUST CONTINUE WORKING TOGETHER TO CREATE AN EMERGENCY PLAN THAT REFLECTS THE VOICES AND NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY, ULTIMATELY ENSURING THAT WE ARE BETTER PREPARED FOR FUTURE DISASTERS.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

GOOD MORNING.

MY NAME IS CHRISTY WATKINS COHEN.

I'M THE OFFICE MANAGER OVER AT THE WINTON CEMETERY DISTRICT.

I'M JUST HERE TO LET THE PUBLIC KNOW THE WINTON CEMETERY DISTRICT IS PARTICIPATING WITH WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA.

SO I HAVE FLIERS HERE FOR THE COMMUNITY.

IF YOU HAVE A VETERAN BURIED AT THE WINTON CEMETERY AND WOULD LIKE TO DONATE A WREATH FOR THEM, PLEASE DO SO BEFORE DECEMBER 14TH.

YOU CAN HEAD OVER TO WINTON CEMETERY DISTRICT DOT NET, CLICK WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA AND PURCHASE THEM ONLINE AS WELL AS SCANNING THE QR CODE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

I LEAVE IT HERE. GO AHEAD.

OH, EXCUSE ME MA'AM.

COULD I ASK YOU A QUICK QUESTION? DO YOU HAVE A LIST OF THE VETERANS THAT ARE BURIED AT THE CEMETERY? I DO, COULD YOU EMAIL THAT TO US? SURE. ALL RIGHT. SOME SOME, MARK IN THE BACK THERE WILL CATCH YOU AND GET AN EMAIL.

[00:10:03]

GOOD MORNING. MERCED COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

MY NAME IS CARLOS ALCALA, BUSINESS AGENT FOR UNITED PUBLIC EMPLOYEES REPRESENTING THE HARDWORKING PUBLIC EMPLOYEES OF MERCED COUNTY UNIT THREE.

I'M SPEAKING HERE TODAY BECAUSE THE VOICES OF MERCED COUNTY PUBLIC EMPLOYEES WHO KEEP THIS COUNTY RUNNING MUST BE HEARD.

PUBLIC EMPLOYEES ARE THE ONES WHO MAINTAIN AND PROVIDE ESSENTIAL SERVICES DAY IN AND DAY OUT.

YET, DESPITE THEIR HARD WORK, DESPITE THEIR DEDICATION, THEY FIND THEMSELVES STRUGGLING TO KEEP UP WITH THE RISING COST OF LIVING.

PRICES ARE AT AN ALL TIME HIGH FROM GROCERIES, GAS, RENT AND BEYOND.

THE COST OF SIMPLY LIVING IS BECOMING UNAFFORDABLE EVERY DAY.

MERCED COUNTY PUBLIC EMPLOYEES ARE MAKING TOUGH CHOICES WHETHER TO PAY THEIR BILLS OR BUY GROCERIES, TO PAY FOR HEALTH CARE, OR TO PUT GAS IN THEIR CAR TO GET TO WORK. THIS YEAR, HEALTHCARE COSTS FOR PUBLIC EMPLOYEES HAS RISEN BY 4.18%.

THIS INCREASE COMES ON TOP OF ALREADY OVERWHELMING FINANCIAL BURDENS.

RAISING THE COUNTY CONTRIBUTION CAPS WAS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, BUT WHAT ELSE HAS THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS DONE TO RESPOND TO THIS CRISIS? THIS BOARD KNEW THE RISING COST OF HEALTH CARE WAS COMING AND STILL DID NOT GIVE PUBLIC EMPLOYEES A RAISE.

YOU ALL STOOD THERE AND CHOSE NOT TO PROVIDE ANY RAISES.

NOT A SINGLE CENT MORE TO HELP OFFSET THE SKYROCKETING COST OF LIVING.

THIS IS NOT JUST A DISSERVICE TO THE COUNTY PUBLIC EMPLOYEES.

IT'S A DISSERVICE TO OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY.

IT'S A DISSERVICE TO THE CONSTITUENTS THAT VOTED FOR YOU.

WHEN COUNTY WORKERS ARE STRUGGLING, THE WHOLE COMMUNITY SUFFERS TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, I SAY THIS IT'S TIME TO STEP UP.

SUPPORTING YOUR PUBLIC EMPLOYEES IS NOT JUST AN INVESTMENT IN PUBLIC EMPLOYEES.

IT'S AN INVESTMENT IN THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.

WHEN COUNTY EMPLOYEES ARE VALUED AND FAIRLY COMPENSATED, EVERYBODY BENEFITS.

WE'RE HERE TO SAY THAT IT'S TIME TO ACT.

IT'S TIME TO LISTEN AND IT'S TIME TO SUPPORT THOSE WHO SUPPORT THE COUNTY EVERY SINGLE DAY.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO STAND UNITED, TO RAISE OUR VOICES AND TO FIGHT FOR WHAT'S RIGHT.

BECAUSE WHEN WE LIVE OUR PUBLIC EMPLOYEES, WE LIFT UP MERCED COUNTY.

REMEMBER, OUR DEDICATION DESERVES MORE THAN JUST YOUR GRATITUDE.

IT DESERVES YOUR ACTION.

THAT IS, COMMITMENT TO YOUR PUBLIC EMPLOYEES ISN'T JUST SPOKEN, IT'S SHOWN THROUGH DECISIONS.

DO THE RIGHT THING.

GIVE MERCED COUNTY PUBLIC EMPLOYEES A RAISE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS RYAN BARRETT.

I LIVE IN DOS PALOS.

IF YOU GUYS DRIVEN DOWN MARTIN LUTHER KING GOING TOWARDS DOS PALOS.

WE HAVE THE FIRE STATION DOWN THERE.

IT'S BEEN THREE WEEKS NOW THAT THE FIRST TWO DOORS HAVE NOT BEEN OPERABLE DUE TO CONSTRUCTION.

I'VE DRIVEN BY THERE MANY TIMES.

YOU CAN DRIVE THERE RIGHT NOW.

THERE IS NO CONSTRUCTION GOING ON.

ACCOUNTABILITY FOR OUR GUYS, DOING THEIR JOBS, GETTING THE SAFETY OF THOSE DOORS OPEN SO WE CAN DECREASE RESPONSE TIME BY 3 TO 5 MINUTES.

LET'S SAY HAVING TO GO OUT THE BACK YESTERDAY, WHAT WOULD THAT HAVE SAVED IF THERE WAS A BODY IN THE BUILDING DOWN THE STREET THAT JUST BURNED? WE NEED TO LOOK AT THAT.

NEED TO GET THE JOBS DONE RIGHT AWAY.

BETTER MANAGEMENT, BETTER PLANNING OF THE PROJECTS.

DON'T OPEN UP SOMETHING WE DON'T HAVE THE PARTS FOR TO DO BEFORE WE GET THERE THAT WILL MAKE OUR JOBS GO BETTER.

THAT WILL SAVE US MONEY AND MAKE SURE THAT WE RUN MORE EFFICIENTLY.

THERE'S A HUGE INEFFICIENCY IN LAYOUT OF PROJECTS.

YOU HAVE ANOTHER HIGHWAY PROJECT GOING ON WHERE THE COUNTY CLOSED THE ROAD.

NO PRIOR NOTICE GIVEN.

DOWN ON MISSION JUST BY 99.

FAILED TO PUT OUT NOTIFICATIONS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE CLOSING THE ROADS NOR DETOUR SIGNS PUT UP.

SO PROPER PLANNING OF THESE PROJECTS WOULD HELP US, AND THEY'D SAVE US A LOT OF MONEY, AND IT WOULD KEEP THAT GUY OUT OF OUR HAIR, TOO, BECAUSE WE'D BE GETTING STUFF DONE AND YOU GUYS COULD BE GOING, OKAY, GOOD JOB GUYS.

[00:15:01]

SO THAT'S JUST WHAT I WANTED TO ADD.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

ANYONE ELSE? ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT? IF NOT, WE'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENTS.

NOW WE'LL MOVE ON TO CONSENT CALENDAR.

[CONSENT CALENDAR]

PLEASE NOTE A FOUR-FIFTHS VOTE IS REQUIRED ON ITEM ONE.

OKAY, AT THIS TIME WE'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS ONE THROUGH EIGHT.

ANY COMMENTS ON ANY OF THESE ITEMS? I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENTS.

WE HAVE ANY COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD.

LET ME GO TO. COMMENTS OR MOTIONS. I SEE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.

SECOND SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

WE'LL MOVE TO A VOTE.

PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

MOTION PASSES FIVE ZERO.

WE HAVE BOARD ACTION BEGINNING WITH PUBLIC WORKS ITEM NINE.

[BOARD ACTION]

OKAY. THIS TIME WE'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR DPW ITEM NUMBER NINE.

ANY COMMENTS? PUBLIC COMMENTS? NONE. WE'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENTS ON ITEM NUMBER NINE AND WE'LL MOVE THROUGH COMMENTS BY THE BOARD OF MOTIONS.

NO COMMENTS. I SEE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

SECOND BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

CALL FOR THE VOTE.

RECORD THE VOTE, PLEASE.

MOTION CARRIES FIVE ZERO.

NEXT WE HAVE PUBLIC HEALTH ITEMS TEN AND 11.

AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR HEALTH ITEMS NUMBER TEN AND 11.

I SEE NO ONE COMING FORWARD, SO WE'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENTS.

ANY COMMENTS OR MOTIONS BY THE SUPERVISORS? I SEE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

SECOND SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.

WE'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE.

RECORDED VOTE PLEASE.

MOTION CARRIES FIVE ZERO.

NEXT WE HAVE HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY ITEMS 12 THROUGH 14.

AT THIS TIME WE'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEMS 12 THROUGH 14.

ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR ITEMS 12 THROUGH 14 IS NOW CLOSED.

COMMENTS BY THE BOARD OR MOTIONS.

MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

IS THERE A SECOND? SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL SECOND.

WE'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE.

SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.

[INAUDIBLE]. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

MOTION CARRIES FIVE ZERO.

NEXT WE HAVE COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

ITEM 15.

AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR CED ITEM NUMBER 15.

ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? I SEE NO ONE COMING FORWARD.

SO PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS FOR CED ITEM NUMBER 15 IS NOW CLOSED AND THERE'S A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL SECOND SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

WE'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE.

RECORD THE VOTE, PLEASE.

MOTION CARRIES FIVE ZERO.

NEXT WE HAVE PROBATION.

ITEM 16 AND 17.

AT THIS TIME I WOULD GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT FOR PROBATION ITEMS NUMBER 16 AND 17.

ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON THESE ITEMS? I SEE NO ONE COMING FORWARD.

SO PUBLIC COMMENT IS NOW CLOSED AND SO WE'LL MOVE FORWARD WITH COMMENTS BY THE BOARD OR MOTION.

I SEE A MOTION SUPERVISOR PAREIRA SECOND SUPERVISOR PEDROZO CALL FOR THE VOTE.

RECORD THE VOTE, PLEASE.

MOTION CARRIES FIVE ZERO.

NOW WE HAVE WORKFORCE INVESTMENT.

ITEM 18.

WE'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEM NUMBER 18.

ANYONE ON PUBLIC COMMENT? NO. WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT AND I SEE A COMMENT BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM.

THIS IS A VERY GOOD ONE. ERIC HAS WORKED WITH THIS.

THIS IS GOING TO BE OUR SECOND STASH OF MONEY.

I THINK WE HAVE 20 INTERNS CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW TRAINING AND I APPRECIATE VALLEY BUILD APPRENTICESHIP.

THEY'VE ACTUALLY ASKED ME TO COME OUT THERE.

IT'S BEEN HARD FOR ME TO SET IT IN MY SCHEDULE, BUT IT WOULD BE NICE TO GET OUT THERE AND I RECOMMEND ALL OF US TO GET OUT THERE AND SEE THE WORK THEY'RE DOING.

IT'S PRETTY GOOD WORK.

THIS IS ONE WHERE WE'RE GETTING IT RIGHT AND GETTING KIDS TRAINED UP FOR WORK THAT'S NEEDED RIGHT NOW.

[00:20:03]

THANK YOU. I SEE NO MORE COMMENTS.

ANY MOTIONS? SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL FIRST AND SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.

WE'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE.

RECORD THE VOTE, PLEASE.

MOTION CARRIES FIVE ZERO.

NEXT WE HAVE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES.

ITEM 19? WE'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR DAS ITEM NUMBER 19.

ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? I SEE NO ONE COMING FORWARD.

SO PUBLIC COMMENT IS DAS ITEM NUMBER 19 IS NOW CLOSED.

MOTIONS OR COMMENTS BY THE BOARD.

I SEE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA SECOND SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

GO AHEAD AND VOTE. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

MOTION CARRIES FIVE ZERO.

NOW WE HAVE A DISTRICT ATTORNEY.

ITEM 20.

THIS TIME I WILL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THE ITEM NUMBER 20.

ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? NO PUBLIC COMMENTS. WILL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.

ITEM NUMBER 20.

SO ANY COMMENTS OR MOTIONS BY THE BOARD? I SEE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO PAREIRA.

I'M SORRY AND SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

CALL FOR THE VOTE.

RECORD THE VOTE, PLEASE.

MOTION CARRIES FIVE ZERO.

NOW WE HAVE ELECTIONS.

ITEM 21.

AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ELECTIONS ITEM NUMBER 21.

ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? SEEING NO ONE COMING FORWARD.

COMMENT PERIOD FOR ELECTIONS.

ITEM 21 IS NOW CLOSED.

SO WE'LL CALL FOR MOTIONS BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.

SECOND SUPERVISOR PAREIRA CALL FOR THE VOTE.

PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

MOTION CARRIES FIVE ZERO.

NEXT WE HAVE TREASURE TAX COLLECTOR ITEM 22.

THIS TIME I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR TREASURE TAX COLLECTOR ITEM NUMBER 22.

ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? NOBODY WANTS TO COMMENT, PUBLIC COMMENT, PERIOD FOR TREASURE TAX COLLECTOR.

ITEM NUMBER 22 IS NOW CLOSED.

COMMENTS BY THE BOARD OR MOTIONS.

SO I SEE A MOTION SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA SECOND SUPERVISOR PAREIRA CALL FOR THE VOTE.

NEXT WE HAVE COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICE.

ITEMS 23 THROUGH 26.

AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE ASSISTANT CEO MARK HENDERSON TO THE PODIUM REGARDING ITEM NUMBER 33 AND YOU'RE HERE.

GO AHEAD SIR. MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, GIVE ME A SECOND.

GO AHEAD. MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

GOOD MORNING AGAIN. MARK HENDRICKSON, ASSISTANT COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICER.

THIS BOARD HAS BEEN VERY CLEAR THAT WE SHOULD BE TAKING A LOOK AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO IDENTIFY POTENTIAL COST SAVINGS.

I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE MR. TODD MAIN OF PROCURE AMERICA, WHOSE ORGANIZATION ASSISTS PUBLIC AGENCIES FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY TO ACCOMPLISH THIS VERY GOAL.

IT'S FITTING THAT WE BRING THIS ITEM TO YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION ON THE SAME DAY AS YOU WILL LATER CONSIDER YOUR FINAL BUDGET.

MR. MAIN IS HERE TODAY WITH A FEW BRIEF SLIDES TO SHOWCASE WHO PROCURE AMERICA IS AND HOW THEY HELP PUBLIC AGENCIES SAVE VALUABLE RESOURCES.

AND WHILE THEY CAN ASSIST IN SEVERAL KEY AREAS, WE WILL FOCUS OUR TIME AND ATTENTION PRIMARILY ON OUR UTILITY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS BILLINGS, SHOULD THEY IDENTIFY SAVINGS WHERE PERHAPS WE'VE BEEN OVERBUILT AS JUST ONE EXAMPLE, THEY WILL THEN HELP US RECOVER THOSE SAVINGS AND THEN, AND ONLY THEN WOULD THE COUNTY HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO COMPENSATE PROCURE AMERICA AS A PERCENTAGE OF THOSE SAVINGS.

THIS PROPOSED CONTRACT, IF APPROVED, IS CONSISTENT WITH THIS BOARD'S PRIOR STATED GOALS AND IS CLEARLY BENEFICIAL TO THE TAXPAYERS.

SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING MR. MAIN. THANK YOU, MR. HENDERSON. HENDRICKSON, AND GOOD MORNING, BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, MR. MENDEZ AND COUNTY STAFF, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE HERE TODAY.

PROCURE AMERICA IS A BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE FIRM.

WE ARE A PLATINUM MEMBER OF THE CALIFORNIA STATE ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES.

WE CURRENTLY SUPPORT OVER 120 GOVERNMENT AGENCIES IN CALIFORNIA ALONE, INCLUDING 21 COUNTIES.

ALL OF OUR WORK IS FOCUSED ON EXPENSE REDUCTION, OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCIES.

WE HAVE SIX DIFFERENT COST CATEGORIES THAT WE HAVE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS AND THE IMPORTANT THING TO POINT OUT IS OUR DIVISION ADMINISTRATORS, WHO ARE THE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS OF EACH OF THESE DIVISIONS, IN MOST CASES COME FROM THE INDUSTRY.

THEY'VE SPENT 2 OR 3 DECADES OF THEIR LIFE.

THEY COME WITH A TRUE KNOWLEDGE OF THE INDUSTRY.

OUR WORK IS 99%.

THERE'S NO CAPITAL OUTLAY, AND WE DO NOT RECOMMEND VENDOR CHANGES UNLESS OUR CLIENT ASKS US TO.

SO WE ARE COMPLETELY VENDOR NEUTRAL.

YOU SEE THE TOP TWO UTILITIES AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS.

I BELIEVE THAT'S WHERE WE'RE GOING TO START WITH THE COUNTY OF MERCED.

[00:25:01]

IF THE COUNTY ENJOYS THE PROCESS, IF WE'RE ABLE TO DELIVER RESULTS, WE CAN HELP IN ADDITIONAL AREAS.

WE DO A REAL DEEP DIVE.

EACH OF OUR PROJECTS USUALLY TAKES ABOUT 90 DAYS.

THEN WE COME BACK WITH AN ENTERPRISE STRATEGIC PLAN THAT WE HAND OVER TO COUNTY LEADERSHIP.

THEY THEN WILL DECIDE IF THEY WANT TO MOVE FORWARD ON ANY OF OUR RECOMMENDATIONS.

THEY HAVE FULL POWER TO SAY NO.

IF THEY DO, GIVE US THE GREEN LIGHT AND MOVE AND WANT US TO MOVE FORWARD ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS, WE TAKE ALL RESPONSIBILITY FOR IMPLEMENTATION.

SO THIS IS NOT A BURDEN ON COUNTY STAFF.

WE HANDLE ALL THE WORK.

EACH OF OUR PROJECTS REQUIRES PROBABLY 2 TO 3 HOURS OF COUNTY STAFF TIME.

SO WE ARE SELF-CONTAINED AND THEN ONCE WE DO GET THE GREEN LIGHT, WE WILL HANDLE ALL THE IMPLEMENTATION AND THEN THROUGHOUT OUR ENGAGEMENT WITH THE COUNTY, WE CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE INVOICES, MONITOR THE VENDOR, AND MAKE SURE THAT ANY CHANGES THAT WERE IMPLEMENTED STAY IN PLACE SO THAT THOSE SAVINGS REMAIN.

SO IT'S AGREEMENTS, OPERATIONS AND COMPLIANCE.

THE DELIVERABLES.

THE NUMBER ONE THING THAT THE COUNTY IS GOING TO GET, DEPENDING ON WHAT WE LOOK AT, IS THEY'RE GOING TO GET A COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS OF THE SPEND CATEGORY.

IT'S GOING TO BRING A LOT OF EXPENSE TRANSPARENCY AND AGAIN, ONCE WE DO OUR ANALYSIS, THERE'S NO OBLIGATION TO MOVE FORWARD.

SO THIS IS ZERO RISK.

WE'RE GOING TO ENHANCE SERVICE LEVELS WHEREVER POSSIBLE.

BRING A LOT OF TRANSPARENCY.

AS I MENTIONED CONTRACT OPTIMIZATION AND THEN OVERALL NET REDUCED COSTS IS OUR GOAL.

WE AVERAGE ABOUT 31% FOR OUR CLIENTS ACROSS THE BOARD.

AND WE ARE COMPENSATED ON CONTINGENCY BASIS.

SO 30% WILL GO TO PROCURE AMERICA.

THE COUNTY RETAINS LION'S SHARE AT 70%, AND IT'S ALWAYS BASED ON ACTUAL REALIZED SAVINGS, NEVER PROJECTED SAVINGS.

SO THE MONEY'S GOT TO BE IN THE BANK BEFORE WE EVER SEE A DIME AND YOU'LL SEE THERE'S A BLEND OF SOME OF OUR CLIENTS THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA.

LIKE I MENTIONED, ABOUT 120.

WE SERVE COUNTIES, CITIES, SCHOOL DISTRICTS, UNIVERSITIES, WATER DISTRICTS, AND MANY OF THE LARGEST HEALTH CARE ORGANIZATIONS IN THE COUNTRY.

SO WITH THAT, I'M HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.

OKAY, I SEE A QUESTION.

SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. TODD, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

SO AS YOU GUYS HAVE HEARD ME SAY FROM THIS VERY SEAT THAT ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK THAT WE SPEND 10% DUE TO WASTE AND INEFFICIENCY IN GOVERNMENT, AND I THINK I'M BEING VERY GENEROUS WHEN I SAY THAT NUMBER.

THIS IS ONE OF THE BENEFITS OF BEING PART OF CSAC, OUR STATE ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES.

MYSELF, BEING IN LEADERSHIP WITHIN CSAC.

THAT'S WHERE I MET TODD AND PROCURE AMERICA AT ONE OF OUR ANNUAL CONFERENCES AND SIMPLY, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS WHEN WE FIRST MET WITH TODD WHEN HE CAME IN IS THINGS THAT YOU DON'T THINK ABOUT THAT PROCURE AMERICA HELPS YOU TO REALIZE SAVINGS AND THIS IS JUST AN EXAMPLE.

BUT, YOU KNOW, AS A COUNTY, WE HAVE A LOT OF EMPLOYEES.

WE HAVE A LOT OF GOVERNMENT ISSUED CELL PHONES.

WELL, THEIR TEAM GOES IN AND LOOKS AT, WELL, MAYBE 10% OF YOUR OF YOUR USERS ARE USING 90% OF YOUR DATA.

BUT YET WE HAVE EVERYBODY ON AN UNLIMITED DATA PLAN.

SO THROUGH ANALYTICS, ALL THE STUFF THAT THAT THEY THAT THEY DO, THEY COME IN AND THEY TELL YOU, WELL, MAYBE IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE THAT WE HAVE EVERYBODY ON AN UNLIMITED DATA PLAN. MAYBE ONLY 60% OF OUR FOLKS NEED TO BE ON AN UNLIMITED DATA PLAN AND THEN ULTIMATELY, THE TAXPAYER SAVES MONEY AND IN THE WAY THAT THEY STAY IN BUSINESSES IS FOR THEY GET THEY GET 30% OF THOSE SAVINGS AND SO TO ME, YOU KNOW 70% IS IS A PRETTY GOOD DEAL ON MONEY THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN GOING OUT OTHERWISE.

SO I'M EXCITED.

YOU KNOW, AS WE LOOK AT BUDGETS AND YOU HEARD EARLIER, YOU KNOW BELIEVE IT OR NOT, WE DO ACTUALLY CARE ABOUT OUR EMPLOYEES HERE IN MERCED COUNTY AND ONE OF THE WAYS WHEN WHEN I GOT HERE, YOU REALIZE THAT YOU COME WITH A LIST OF PRIORITIES THAT I DIDN'T COME UP WITH, THAT MY VOTERS CAME UP WITH, AND THEY SENT ME HERE.

BUT WHEN YOU GET HERE, YOU REALIZE THE MONEY'S PRETTY MUCH ALREADY ALL GONE ALREADY, RIGHT? SO HOW ARE WE GOING TO BE ABLE TO ACHIEVE THE THINGS THAT WE WANT TO ACHIEVE? AND IT'S TO LOOK WITHIN AND HOW DO WE BECOME MORE EFFICIENT? AND SO I'M SUPER EXCITED THAT TODD'S HERE.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE STARTING OUT AND IN TELECOMMUNICATIONS THAT AREA FIRST UTILITIES AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND LET'S SEE HOW IT GOES AND IF WE CAN REALIZE THOSE SAVINGS BECAUSE A PENNY SAVED IS A PENNY EARNED.

SO, TODD, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

I KNOW THAT IT IN GOVERNMENT, THE MINUTIA OF HOW LONG IT TAKES TO GET HERE SOMETIMES FRUSTRATES ME.

BUT NEVERTHELESS, WE'RE HERE TODAY AND I'M EXCITED TO SUPPORT THIS ITEM.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. OKAY, SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

THANK YOU TODD. YEAH, GOOD TO SEE YOU.

GLAD WE FINALLY WAS ABLE TO GET YOU ON OUR AGENDA TO MOVE THIS FORWARD AND ONE OF THE THINGS I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT, THIS ISN'T SOMETHING THAT OUR EMPLOYEES, OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS ARE DOING WRONG. THIS IS STUFF THAT WE GET BUSY, WE'RE WORKING.

WE'RE FOCUSED ON DOING THE JOB ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE THAT YOU DON'T REALLY HAVE THE TIME TO REALLY EXPLORE AND SEE WHERE THE SAVINGS ARE, WHERE THE OVERUSAGE IS, AND

[00:30:03]

I APPRECIATE THAT, AND THE STAFF TIME IS VERY MINIMAL FOR YOU TO JUMP IN.

BUT I KNOW WE HAVE SAVINGS HERE.

I KNOW WE ALL WORK VERY HARD AND THERE'S JUST NOT THE TIME AND DOING THE PEOPLE'S WORK TO GO BACK AND ANALYZE.

SO WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE AND LOOKING FORWARD TO THE SAVINGS YOU'RE GOING TO BRING SO WE CAN PASS THAT ON.

THANK YOU. OKAY I SEE NO FURTHER COMMENTS.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH.

OKAY. AT THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE DEPUTY CEO OF SUMMER TO THE PODIUM REGARDING ITEM NUMBER 25.

GOOD MORNING. BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

CHAIRMAN, CEO MENDEZ AND COUNTY COUNSEL HANSEN.

SUMMER MONIES. DEPUTY COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICER, H.R.

286. GROUP HEALTH PLAN RATES IS BEFORE YOU TODAY.

THIS IS AN ANNUAL ITEM REQUESTING YOUR ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THE NEW RATE FOR THE COUNTY HEALTH PLAN FOR THE UPCOMING BENEFIT YEAR.

IN THIS CASE, IT'S FOR 2025.

A LITTLE HISTORY THE COUNTY JOINED PRISMA HEALTH IN 2003, IN AN EFFORT TO PARTICIPATE IN A LARGER POOL FOR THE PURPOSE OF SHARING RISK AND CAPITALIZING ON THE BUYING POWER OF THAT LARGER GROUP.

THE AVERAGE RATE INCREASE OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS IS 5.7%, WITH THE LOWEST AT 0.5% IN ONE YEAR AND THE HIGHEST LAST YEAR AT 12.1%.

THE OVERALL RATE INCREASE FOR THE 2025 BENEFIT YEAR IS 4.18%.

PRISM DETERMINES THE RATE USING SEVERAL FACTORS.

THE HEALTH CARE MARKET UTILIZATION BY PLAN MEMBERS AKA OUR EMPLOYEES INFLATION, AND SOMETIMES LEGISLATION LIKE MINIMUM WAGE. THE IMPACT OF THESE FACTORS IS CONSIDERED IN THE RATE DEVELOPMENT.

OVER THE LAST YEAR, EMPLOYEES ASSERTED THAT HEALTH CARE IS A PRIORITY.

SPECIFICALLY, THEY WANT AFFORDABLE PLANS AND HIGHER COUNTY CONTRIBUTIONS TOWARDS PREMIUMS. THE ITEM BEFORE YOU TODAY DESCRIBES THE VARIOUS NEGOTIATED CAPS FOR EACH BARGAINING UNIT, INCLUDING THOSE THAT WILL COVER 100% OF THE EMPLOYEE AND 50% FOR DEPENDENTS ON THE ANTHEM 1500 PLAN.

ALSO, THERE'S A REQUEST TO INCREASE THE FUNDING OF THE HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNT THAT'S OFFERED WITH OUR HIGH DEDUCTIBLE PLAN BY $50, MAKING IT $1,650, WHICH IS THE DEDUCTIBLE AMOUNT FOR THE EMPLOYEE AND LASTLY, A CHANGE TO PLAN OFFERINGS TO CEASE OFFERING THE ANTHEM 200 PLAN. THAT HAS HISTORICALLY BEEN OUR MOST EXPENSIVE PLAN IN 2022.

THE COUNTY NEGOTIATED TO FREEZE THE 200 PLAN FOR ALMOST ALL EMPLOYEES, AND IN 2023, WE FROZE FOR ALL EMPLOYEES IN ANTICIPATION OF CONTINUED HIGH COST OF THE PREMIUM AND POTENTIALLY NOT OFFERING THAT PLAN ONE DAY.

EMPLOYEES WHO ARE IN ANTHEM 200 PLAN WILL HAVE FOUR OTHER PLAN OPTIONS TO CHOOSE FROM, AND WILL SAVE $687 TO $7288 ANNUALLY WITH THIS MOVE.

THIS YEAR WE'RE INTRODUCING A NEW AUTOMATED SYSTEM.

IT'S CALLED BEN EXCEL AND THIS WILL ALLOW EMPLOYEES TO BE ABLE TO GO ON AND DO SOME COMPARISON OF PLANS.

WE THINK THIS WILL BE HELPFUL AND KNOWING WHAT YOU'RE GETTING.

WE'VE ALSO EXTENDED OPEN ENROLLMENT FOR A FULL MONTH FROM OCTOBER 1ST THROUGH THE 31ST.

OUR BENEFITS TEAM ARE ALREADY OUT MAKING APPOINTMENTS WITH DEPARTMENTS TRYING TO PRESENT ENROLLMENT INFORMATION.

WE'LL ALSO BE HOLDING A ZOOM IN EARLY OCTOBER.

WE'LL HAVE IT RECORDED SO WE CAN POST IT ON MC INFO.

SO IF AN EMPLOYEE CANNOT ATTEND, THEY CAN CERTAINLY GET ON AND WATCH IT AND EMPLOYEES CAN CURRENTLY REACH OUT TO OUR BENEFITS TEAM BY EMAIL AND PHONE TO GET THEIR QUESTIONS ANSWERED AND TO GET SOME HELP WITH THIS TRANSITION.

WE ALSO OFFERED THIS YEAR A TEXT OPTION ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO, AND MAYBE FOUR MONTHS BEFORE THAT, AN EMAIL WENT OUT THROUGH MC INFO SAYING, SIGN UP FOR OUR TEXT ALERT SO THAT YOU COULD GET INFORMATION AS AN EMPLOYEE ON HEALTH, OPEN ENROLLMENT, AND SOME OF OUR WELLNESS INFORMATION AND ACTIVITIES.

THAT EMAIL WENT OUT AGAIN THIS MORNING AT 8:38, SHOWING YOU HOW TO SIGN UP FOR THE TEXT ALERTS.

I ENCOURAGE ALL EMPLOYEES TO DO SO.

THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE SOME MORE INFORMATION ON THIS ITEM.

OKAY. ANY COMMENTS ON SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL? THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR THIS.

WHEN THE EMPLOYEES APPROACHED US END OF LAST YEAR REGARDING THIS AFTER THE LAST RAISE, I KNOW YOU'VE PUT MANY HOURS OF THAT, AS MANY HOURS OF CLOSED SESSION OF US GOING, BRINGING IN SPEAKERS FROM OTHER OTHER AREAS TO INFORM US ON WHAT'S OUT THERE AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK ON THIS, AND I APPRECIATE MY COLLEAGUES FOR SUPPORTING THIS AS WELL.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I JUST WANT TO I KNOW I BELIEVE SUMMER MENTIONED IT, BUT IT JUST IS JUST A MESSAGE TO THE EMPLOYEES THAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS DOESN'T INCREASE

[00:35:08]

THESE GET INCREASED BY THE HEALTH INSURANCE COMPANY AND THEN WE HAVE TO ACCEPT THOSE, RIGHT.

WE DON'T REALLY HAVE AN OPTION IF WE WANT TO STILL PROVIDE HEALTH INSURANCE.

I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS DOES NOT ESTABLISH NOR INCREASE MERCED COUNTY, MERCED COUNTY'S HEALTH CARE INSURANCE PREMIUMS. ALSO, I JUST, YOU KNOW, AS WE TALK ABOUT THE POTENTIAL THAT THE 200 PLAN IS GOING TO GO AWAY, I KNOW THAT THIS IS A MESSAGE THAT NEEDS TO GO OUT TO EVERY EMPLOYEE.

SO WE HAVE SOME EMPLOYEES IN THE ROOM AND WE HAVE DEPARTMENT HEADS IN THE ROOM AND MY ASK OF YOU IS TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU INFORM YOUR EMPLOYEES IF YOU ARE IN THE 200 PLAN AND YOU DON'T SIGN UP TO GO INTO A DIFFERENT PLAN DURING OPEN ENROLLMENT, WHICH STARTS OCTOBER 1ST AND ENDS OCTOBER 31ST, YOU WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE PUT INTO THE 1500 PLAN.

YOU HAVE A CHOICE IN YOUR HEALTH CARE EXERCISE THAT CHOICE.

BUT IF YOU CHOOSE NOT TO EXERCISE THAT CHOICE, YOU'RE GOING TO BE PUT INTO THE 1500 PLAN.

I KNOW THAT IN EVERY CORRESPONDENCE THAT COMES OUT OF THE HEALTH INSURANCE SIDE OF THE HOUSE IS GOING TO HAVE THAT HIGHLIGHTED IN BOLD.

BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS THAT IF YOU DON'T MAKE A CHOICE, THE CHOICE WILL BE THAT YOU WILL BE PUT INTO THE 1500 PLAN.

SO I JUST AGAIN WANT TO REITERATE THAT SO THAT THERE'S NO CONFUSION LATER.

SUPERVISOR PAREIRA. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. SUMMER, I TOO, WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE HARD WORK.

I KNOW THAT YOU AND ASSISTANT CEO MARCI BARRERA AND YOUR TEAM HAVE REALLY YOU KNOW, DELVED THROUGH ALL THE INFORMATION AS SUPERVISORS. WE'VE ASKED FOR A TON OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THAT YOU ALWAYS PROVIDED.

IN ADDITION TO WORKING WITH VANESSA ANDERSON.

SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT.

I WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT.

IS DURING YOU KNOW, SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL MENTIONED THAT DURING OUR TOWN HALLS THIS PAST SPRING THAT WE HAD MULTIPLE EMPLOYEES COME TO OUR TOWN HALLS AND TELL US THAT THEY NEEDED RELIEF IN THEIR HEALTH CARE, RIGHT.

THE INCREASES WERE YOU KNOW, IN ONE GUY'S TERMS, WERE KILLING THEM AND SO WE DID OUR DUE DILIGENCE AND SO WE RAISED THE CAPS, AND THAT IS THE TUNE OF $3.5 MILLION PER YEAR, RIGHT, DEPENDING ON WHERE THEY END UP BUT THE EMPLOYEES WILL GAIN IN THEIR CHECKS $3.5 MILLION THIS NEXT YEAR AND SO IT JUST REALLY KIND OF DISHEARTENS ME TO HAVE THEM COME HERE AND SAY THE COUNTY IS DOING NOTHING FOR WAGES, BECAUSE $3.5 MILLION IS $3.5 MILLION AND THAT'S THE COST THAT THE EMPLOYEE DOES NOT PAY ANY MORE. THE TAXPAYERS OF MERCED COUNTY WILL AND SO, YOU KNOW, I JUST WISH THAT WOULD GET ACKNOWLEDGED AND I KNOW THAT WAGE INCREASE IS, YOU KNOW, THAT'S ALSO SOMETHING THAT THE EMPLOYEES WANT AND WE'RE ALL FEELING THE CRUNCH.

SO I GET THAT BUT AND TO ASK FOR A WAGE INCREASE IS FINE.

BUT TO NOT ACKNOWLEDGE WHAT WE DID DO JUST KIND OF STINGS A LITTLE BIT AND SO ANYWAYS, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK YOU'VE DONE AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL GET PAST THIS AND EVERYBODY WILL BE OKAY.

SO THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

THANK YOU. I THINK EVERYTHING'S BEEN SAID.

I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO MARCI AND SUMMER FOR REALLY WORKING HARD ON THIS SPENT WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN CLOSED SESSION DISCUSSING THIS STUFF BECAUSE WE HEARD THE EMPLOYEES LOUD AND CLEAR DURING OUR TOWN HALLS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THE HEALTHCARE AND I THINK THAT SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA SAID IT BEST IS THAT WE DON'T SET THESE.

THESE ARE THE ONES THAT ARE GIVEN TO US BY THE COMPANY AND SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE RECOGNIZE THAT IDEALLY WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO DO THIS, BUT THAT'S JUST THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS. SO BUT THANK YOU GUYS VERY MUCH FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND WHAT YOU DID TO REALLY, I THINK THE OTHER GOOD PART IS THE AMOUNT OF INFORMATION THAT YOU ARE NOW PUTTING OUT THERE.

IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S MORE AND MORE SO THAT PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF WHAT'S GOING ON.

SO I APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU.

OKAY. I SEE NO OTHER COMMENTS.

SO I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND OPEN UP TO THE PUBLIC IN CASE THE PUBLIC WANTS TO COMMENT ON ANY OF THE PRESENTATIONS OR THESE ITEMS. ITEMS 23 TO 26.

ANY COMMENTS? GOOD MORNING. BOARD. EXCUSE ME, MARY MCWATTERS WITH LOCAL 2703.

I JUST FEEL I NEED TO MAKE A COMMENT NOW AFTER MR. PAREIRA'S COMMENTS.

YES, YOU GUYS DID RAISE THE CAPS AND YES, IT'S A LOT OF MONEY.

HOWEVER, IN EACH PERSON'S INDIVIDUAL CHECK, IT'S NOT THAT MUCH MONEY THAT THEY'RE GOING TO SEE EXTRA.

[00:40:02]

MR. PAREIRA NOT NOT NOT A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT.

SO I GUESS WHAT I'M SAYING HERE IS THAT IT'S REALLY FRUSTRATING WHEN I FEEL LIKE YOU'RE SO ANTI LABOR ANTI-WORKER AND OUR EMPLOYEES HERE RUN THIS COUNTY, AND THESE COMMENTS ARE COMING FROM YOU.

SO YES, YOU DID RAISE THE CAP, BUT IN EACH INDIVIDUAL EMPLOYEE THEY'RE NOT SEEING THAT MUCH MORE IN THEIR CHECK.

DO WE APPRECIATE THAT.

YES WE DO.

HAVE WE WORKED HARD ON THIS LAST CONTRACT? YES WE DO.

BUT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE A LITTLE MORE APPRECIATION TO THE EMPLOYEE INSTEAD OF COMING UP HERE AND SAYING, BEING UP HERE SAYING, YOU KNOW, WE DIDN'T DO THIS.

OR, YOU KNOW, YOU NEED TO KNOW THAT THAT THIS DIDN'T COME FROM US OR, YOU KNOW, THEY SHOULD APPRECIATE THIS.

WELL, THEY WANT TO BE APPRECIATED, TOO.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS? IF NOT, I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT AND SEE ITEMS 23 TO 26 AND WE'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION BY THE BOARD.

SO I SEE A MOTION SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA SECOND SUPERVISOR PAREIRA CALL FOR THE VOTE.

PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

MOTION CARRIES FIVE ZERO.

NOW WE HAVE BOARD APPOINTMENTS, ITEMS 27 THROUGH 30.

THIS TIME I'M OPEN TO PUBLIC COMMENT FOR BOARD APPOINTMENT ITEMS 27 TO 30.

ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON THESE ITEMS? WE'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENTS AND SO ENTERTAIN A MOTION AS THE A MOTION SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA SECOND SUPERVISOR PEDROZO CALL FOR THE VOTE. [INAUDBLE].

I'M STILL OKAY.

RECORDED VOTE PLEASE.

MOTION CARRIES FIVE ZERO.

AT THIS TIME, WE WILL TAKE A FIVE MINUTE BREAK TO ALLOW STAFF TIME TO TRANSITION TO THE FINAL BUDGET HEARING AGENDA.

WE'LL BE BACK IN A FEW MINUTES. ALL RIGHT.

WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND GET BACK ON TIME.

FINAL BUDGET HEARING.

AT THIS TIME, WE'LL OPEN UP THE FINAL BUDGET HEARING FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2024 AND 2025.

IT IS NOW TIME FOR PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON ITEMS INCLUDED ON THE BUDGET CALENDAR, AND WILL BE HEARD AFTER EACH ITEM IS ANNOUNCED AND, IF APPLICABLE, PRESENTATION OF THE ITEM TESTIMONY IS LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER PERSON.

OKAY, ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? OKAY. GIVE ME A SECOND.

LET ME RESET IT. OKAY.

GO AHEAD. SO, YEAH.

HELLO AGAIN. AS YOU CONSIDER THE UPCOMING BUDGET APPROVAL, I URGE YOU TO PRIORITIZE INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS THAT SIGNIFICANTLY ENHANCE COMMUNITIES QUALITY OF LIFE.

RESIDENTS OF MERCED COUNTY HAVE BEEN VOCAL ABOUT THE PRESSING NEED FOR IMPROVED SIDEWALKS, PUBLIC LIGHTING, PARKS, ROAD REPAIRS, AND BETTER TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS.

SAFE AND ACCESSIBLE SIDEWALKS ARE VITAL FOR ENSURING THAT ALL COMMUNITY MEMBERS, INCLUDING CHILDREN AND THE ELDERLY, CAN NAVIGATE NEIGHBORHOODS SAFELY.

IMPROVE PUBLIC LIGHTING NOT ONLY ENHANCES SAFETY, BUT ALSO FOSTERS A SENSE OF SECURITY.

MOREOVER, EXPANDING TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS IS ESSENTIAL FOR CONNECTING OUR COMMUNITIES MORE EFFECTIVELY.

RELIABLE PUBLIC TRANSIT CAN BRIDGE GAPS FOR THOSE WHO CURRENTLY STRUGGLE TO REACH ESSENTIAL DESTINATIONS.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THE COMMUNITY OF DELHI, WHO HAS BEEN ADVOCATING FOR PARK AND COMMUNITY CENTER FOR OVER A YEAR, THIS FACILITY WOULD NOT ONLY SERVE AS A VITAL RECREATIONAL SPACE, BUT ALSO A HUB FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND SUPPORT.

ADDITIONALLY, RESIDENTS OF SOUTH MERCED INCORPORATED POCKETS HAVE RAISED THE NEED FOR SIDEWALKS, CROSSWALKS, BIKE PATHS AND LANES, MULTI-USE PATHWAYS, PUBLIC LIGHTING, AND PAVED ROADS DURING WALKING TOURS IN DECEMBER 2023 AND JANUARY OF 2024, WITH SUPERVISOR PEDROZO SUPERVISOR ESPINOSA CEO MENDES, MR. NATHAN BRAY AND MR. STEVE MAXEY. RESIDENTS POINTED OUT THE NEED FOR PEDESTRIAN AND BIKE SAFETY INFRASTRUCTURE, ROAD REPAIRS AND STREET LIGHTING ON SOUTH P STREET.

MY COLLEAGUE ASHLEY MARIE HAS INFORMED SUPERVISOR ESPINOSA ABOUT HOMEOWNERS ON WEST AVE WANTING THE COUNTY TO INVEST IN PUBLIC LIGHTING TO DETER CRIME AND THE NEED FOR SIDEWALKS.

SIMILARLY, RESIDENTS ON CONE AVE HAVE RAISED CONCERNS WITH THE LACK OF SIDEWALKS AND PUBLIC LIGHTING THAT MAKE IT DANGEROUS FOR ANY PEDESTRIAN TO WALK ALONG THE BUSY STREET.

THE COUNTY BUDGET INCLUDES A 3.1 MILLION FOR MEASURE V FOR ALTERNATIVE MODES, IN LIGHT OF THESE WELL DOCUMENTED NEEDS FROM SOUTH MERCED RESIDENTS.

WE URGE THE COUNTY TO ALLOCATE FUNDS FROM THE MEASURE V ALTERNATIVE MODES CATEGORY TOWARDS THE INSTALLATION.

THE INSTALLATION OF STREET LIGHTS ON SOUTH WEST AVE, KONA OF GERARD AVE, SOUTH R STREET AND SOUTH P STREET, AND MUST SET ASIDE FUNDING FOR THE

[00:45:05]

THE COUNTY BUDGET ALSO INCLUDES $10 MILLION IN SB1 PROJECTS, AND A LITTLE OVER 10,000,000 IN MEASURE V TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS.

THE COUNTY CAN ALSO ALLOCATE FUNDING FROM BOTH OF THESE SOURCES FOR THE PURPOSE OF PAVING ROADS ON SOUTH ARCH STREET, SOUTH P STREET AND SOUTHWEST AVE TO ENSURE THAT THESE ROADS ARE FIXED AND CAN CONTRIBUTE TO A TRANSIT ACCESSIBILITY.

AS CITY BUSSES AND EVEN SCHOOL BUSSES COME THROUGH SOME OF THESE STREETS.

I ENCOURAGE THE BOARD TO CONSIDER THESE CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU. ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS? OKAY. YEAH, THERE'S MORE PUBLIC COMMENT AFTER EACH ITEM, SO WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE PRESENTATION.

AT THIS TIME WE WILL HAVE A PRESENTATION BY MERCED COUNTY.

FISCAL YEAR 2024, 2024 FINAL BUDGET BY THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICE.

I WILL NOW TURN THE MIC OVER TO THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICER, RAUL MENDEZ.

THANK YOU, MISTER CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, BEFORE I ASK MISS ANDERSON FROM OUR COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICE AND MR. COELHO TO PROVIDE THE FORMAL PRESENTATION BEFORE YOU, I DID WANT TO MAKE SOME OPENING REMARKS.

FOR THOSE INTERESTED MEMBERS IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WOULD LIKE A COPY OF THE BUDGET PRESENTATION, UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE COPIES IN THE BACK OF THE ROOM OR IN THE FOYER. I BELIEVE WE'RE PRINTING SOME ADDITIONAL COPIES BECAUSE I BELIEVE THE COPIES THAT WE MADE, WE MAY HAVE RUN OUT.

SO IF YOU DIDN'T PICK ONE UP.

I ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO SO HERE AND MAYBE AFTER THE PRESENTATION.

SO I DID WANT TO BEGIN MY REMARKS BY THANKING OUR COLLECTIVE COUNTY TEAM THAT HAVE ASSISTED IN THE PREPARATION OF THE FINAL BUDGET.

BEFORE YOUR CONSIDERATION THIS MORNING INCLUDES, OBVIOUSLY, OUR COUNTY EXECUTIVE STAFF, OUR AUDITOR AND COMPTROLLER AND HER STAFF, AND THEN EVERY COUNTY DEPARTMENT APPOINTED AND ELECTED.

THIS YEAR'S YOUR DEPARTMENT HAS DONE SOME EXTRAORDINARY WORK, NOT ONLY AS PART OF THIS PRESENTATION TODAY, BUT ALSO IN SOME OF THE WORK THAT WAS DONE AS PART OF THE PROPOSED. SO I WANTED TO EXTEND MY APPRECIATION TO OUR COLLECTIVE TEAMS FOR THEIR GOOD WORK OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS.

AS THE BOARD IS AWARE YOU ADOPTED A $1.13 BILLION BUDGET AS PART OF PROPOSED FOR THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR 2024, 2025. BACK ON JUNE 25TH, WHICH SERVED AS THE INTERIM SPENDING PLAN FOR THE ORGANIZATION COMMENCING ON JULY 1ST AND OBVIOUSLY THROUGH THROUGH TODAY.

TODAY YOU WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONSIDER SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND ADJUSTMENTS THAT ARE BEING RECOMMENDED FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AND PROPOSE.

I WANTED TO REMIND THE BOARD AND THE PUBLIC THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT RECALIBRATING OUR EFFORTS AS AN ORGANIZATION DUE TO THE ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY, AND ALSO SOME ANTICIPATED DEFICITS.

I AM PLEASED TO REPORT TODAY, THIS MORNING, THAT WE HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL COLLECTIVELY.

IN COMPLETING THE NECESSARY WORK, WHICH WILL BE REFLECTED IN TODAY'S FINAL BUDGET PRESENTATION.

OUR BUDGET STRATEGY WAS AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE BASED ON A MULTI-YEAR APPROACH, KNOWING THAT THERE IS A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY AHEAD FOR COUNTY GOVERNMENTS AND REALLY ACROSS THE STATE AND WE'RE NO DIFFERENT.

EVEN THOUGH YOU WILL SEE THAT YOUR FISCAL OUTLOOK IS MORE OPTIMISTIC OR OUR FISCAL OUTLOOK IS MORE OPTIMISTIC THAN ANTICIPATED WE WILL CONTINUE TO RECOMMEND CAUTION GOING FORWARD.

DEPARTMENTS BEGUN THE RECALIBRATION EFFORT, REALLY IN THE LAST FISCAL YEAR AND AS A RESULT CURTAILED THEIR SPENDING, WHICH LED TO A MORE STURDIER BEGINNING FUND BALANCE.

WHEN YOU TAKE THAT WORK AND REVENUE THAT CAME IN STRONGER THAN ANTICIPATED EVERY DEPARTMENT WENT THROUGH THE VERY DIFFICULT EXERCISE OF IDENTIFYING BUDGET, A BUDGET SHORTFALL IDENTIFIED OF $6.6 BILLION.

I APPRECIATE DEPARTMENTS DOING THAT.

TOUGH WORK, HAVING TO LOOK AT THEIR DEPARTMENTAL BUDGETS TO SEE WHERE THEY WOULD YOU KNOW, REDUCE BUDGET LINES IN ORDER TO MEET TARGETED GOALS.

EVEN THOUGH WE WON'T BE RECOMMENDING THAT THOSE REDUCTIONS BE IMPLEMENTED TODAY.

WE DO PLAN TO RESUME THEM FOR A FUTURE DATE.

IF THERE IS A NEED TO REVISIT OUR FISCAL POSITION COLLECTIVELY AND POTENTIALLY WILL ALSO BE A STARTING POINT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025-26. GOOD EXERCISE TO RECALIBRATE AS AN ORGANIZATION.

[00:50:03]

YOUR FINAL BUDGET THIS MORNING IS BALANCED, MEASURED AND INCLUDES VERY LIMITED RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WERE DEEMED MOST CRITICAL OR WITH A MINIMAL LONG TERM IMPACT TO THE NET COUNTY COST.

OUR FISCAL YEAR 24-25 AND GOING FORWARD WOULD ALSO WILL ALSO INCLUDE A MID-YEAR ANALYSIS THAT'S MORE ROBUST THAN WHAT WE'VE DONE IN RECENT YEARS IN ORDER TO PROVIDE DEPARTMENT REQUESTS TO BE RECONSIDERED, OR FOR THE BOARD TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS TO THE BUDGET. BASED ON MAYBE ADDITIONAL REVENUE THAT'S RECEIVED, FUNDING SOURCES AND OBVIOUSLY YOUR BOARD PRIORITIES.

AT THIS TIME, I WILL TURN OVER THE PRESENTATION TO MISS ANDERSON, WHO WILL WALK YOU THROUGH THE DETAIL OF THE FINAL BUDGET BEFORE YOU THIS MORNING.

MISS ANDERSON.

GOOD MORNING, MR. CHAIRMAN, SUPERVISORS? JUMPING RIGHT INTO OUR PRESENTATION THIS MORNING.

WE'LL START WITH OUR BUDGET OVERVIEW.

WE HAVE BEFORE YOU TODAY FOR CONSIDERATION A $1.14 BILLION BUDGET PACKAGE.

THAT IS AN INCREASE OF $4.3 MILLION FROM OUR PROPOSED BUDGET, AND CERTAIN INCREASES ARE REFLECTED.

MAJOR INCREASES WERE INCLUDED IN OUR OTHER FUNDS OF $9.9 MILLION, AND THAT INCLUDES SOME ROADS, PROJECTS, INCREASES TO OUR ROADS PROJECTS. AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE SOME OTHER NON-GENERAL FUND, CIPS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS THAT ARE INCLUDED IN THAT CATEGORY AND THEN WE HAVE FOR OUR GENERAL FUND, WE HAVE AN INCREASE OF $5.6 MILLION OR I'M SORRY, A DECREASE OF $5.6 MILLION, BRINGING OUR GENERAL FUND TO $812.5 MILLION.

A LOT OF THOSE CHANGES STEM FROM OUR HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES FUNCTIONAL AREA AS WELL, AS THAT DECREASE WAS OFFSET BY SOME INCREASES THAT WE SEE IN OUR JAIL, MEDICAL AND THEN SOME CONTINGENCY FOR OUR JAIL PROJECT THAT WE CONTINUE TO SEE THROUGH THE PROCESS.

BREAKING DOWN OUR GENERAL FUND INTO KIND OF THOSE FUNDING SOURCES.

WE HAVE $600.3 MILLION IN DEPARTMENTAL DEDICATED REVENUES.

I WANT TO PAUSE HERE, MAYBE FOR A MINUTE, AND MAKE IT A VERY CLEAR DISTINCTION THAT $600.3 MILLION, PLUS THE $325 MILLION THAT WE SEE IN OTHER FUNDS, THOSE ARE VERY SPECIFIC RESTRICTED FUNDS.

THOSE HAVE THOSE MAKE UP THE 1.14 BILLION SPENDING PACKAGE.

HOWEVER, THOSE COME THROUGH FROM FEDERAL, STATE OR OTHER LOCAL SOURCES AND THOSE HAVE VERY SPECIFIC USES, SUCH AS OUR ROADS FUND THAT'S HELD IN THE OTHER FUNDS.

THOSE ARE VERY SPECIFIC.

WE CLEARLY HAVE TO USE THOSE FOR OUR ROADS AND OUR DEPARTMENTAL DEDICATED REVENUES.

THAT 600 MILLION LINE ITEM, THOSE ARE STATE FEDERAL FUNDS THAT COME THROUGH AGAIN, VERY SPECIFIC AND WHAT WE KIND OF SAW DURING OUR PROPOSED BUDGET PACKAGE, CONCERNS ABOUT MAYBE CLAWBACKS FROM THE STATE FEDERAL.

SO IT COULD HINGE ON BUDGETARY TROUBLES THAT WE SEE IN OTHER SPACES.

SO THAT IS DEFINITELY NOT A SPACE THAT THE BOARD HAS CONTROL OR DISCRETION ON PROGRAMING.

IT'S A PASS THROUGH SIMILAR TO SOMETHING THAT JUST COMES IN.

WE PROGRAM IT AND WE UTILIZE IT FOR THOSE INTENDED PURPOSES.

DIVING DOWN INTO THAT SECTION FOR OUR NET COUNTY COST, THE 212 MILLION IS WHAT THE BOARD HAS CONTROL OVER, AND THAT IS REALLY WHAT WE PROGRAM FOR DISCRETIONARY FUNDING.

BREAKING THAT DOWN INTO A COUPLE MORE CATEGORIES.

WE HAVE $135 MILLION IN OUR LOCAL REVENUES, THOSE GENERAL PURPOSE REVENUES THE 212.

IF I COULD TAKE A STEP BACK, THAT $212 MILLION MAKES UP 19% OF THAT TOTAL BUDGET PACKAGE, THE 1.14 BILLION.

SO NOT AS BIG SPAN OF CONTROL AS PERHAPS WE WOULD LIKE TO COVER ALL THE BOARD PRIORITIES AND COMMUNITY PRIORITIES.

DRILLING INTO OUR GENERAL FUND.

IT'S 26% OF OUR GENERAL FUND AND THOSE LOCAL REVENUES, THOSE ARE ONGOING, $135 MILLION THIS YEAR IN WHAT WE ANTICIPATE TO SEE AS ONGOING REVENUES COMING IN.

WE HAVE A FUND BALANCE AT $76.6 MILLION, AND THAT IS WHAT WE USE PRIMARILY TO BALANCE OUR BUDGET AND REALLY IS A ONE TIME SOURCE OF FUNDING AND WE'LL TOUCH MORE ON THAT LATER.

AGAIN, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE $6.6 MILLION IN THE FUNDING SHORTFALL THAT WE HAD AT.

PROPOSED BUDGET IS NO LONGER INCLUDED WITH OUR FINAL BUDGET AND WE WILL ALSO UNPACK KIND OF HOW THAT SHIFTED.

[00:55:02]

THAT IS OUR OTHER FUNDS.

THOSE ARE OUR ROADS.

THAT'S FIRE CASTLE.

WE HAVE PLANADA $20 MILLION IN THERE.

AS WE KNOW, WE'VE BEEN DEDICATING THOSE RESOURCES TO OUR COMMUNITY BUILD BACK.

WE HAVE JAIL PROJECTS.

THOSE ARE LARGE CAPS, COMMUNITY CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS THAT ARE HELD OUTSIDE OF OUR GENERAL FUND.

THE LIGHTER BLUE, $812 MILLION.

THAT'S OUR GENERAL FUND SLIDING OVER TO THE RIGHT SIDE.

WE KIND OF SEE AGAIN WHAT THOSE FUNDING COMPONENTS ARE, BRIGHT BLUE BEING $600.3 MILLION OF THOSE DEPARTMENTAL DEDICATED REVENUES AGAIN, PASS THROUGH MONEY. IT'S REALIGNMENT MONEY.

IT'S MEDI-CAL REVENUE.

IT'S GRANTS FOR PARKS.

IT IS MONEY THAT, AGAIN, THE BOARD DOESN'T HAVE A LOT OF THAT DISCRETIONARY LATITUDE TO MAKE DECISIONS ON AND THEN WE HAVE THE SLICE OF THE PIE FOR $135 MILLION. THOSE ARE GENERAL PURPOSE REVENUES.

AGAIN, ONGOING FUNDING THAT WE CONTINUE TO SEE AND SUPPORT, LOOK TO SUPPORT THOSE ONGOING COSTS THAT THE COUNTY HAS THAT REQUIRES FUNDING.

THAT'S NOT THAT WE DON'T HAVE MANY OTHER WAYS TO COVER IT AND THEN OUR $76.6 MILLION IN THE YELLOW SLICE FOR OUR FUND BALANCE.

AGAIN, A ONE TIME SOURCE OF FUNDING AND COVERING COSTS THAT DON'T OTHERWISE HAVE FUNDS TO TO COVER.

MOVING ON TO OUR TOTAL KIND OF PACKAGE OF OUR BUDGETED LOCAL RESOURCES, THIS SHOWS THE BOARD'S DISCRETIONARY SPENDING LIMIT.

YOU CAN SEE ON OUR RIGHT SIDE THE 24-25 AT THE $212.2 MILLION.

THAT BLUE SECTION AT THE BOTTOM RUNS THROUGH THE TRENDS OF OUR LOCAL REVENUES THROUGH THE YEARS FROM 1314 UP TO OUR 24-25.

THE YELLOW SECTION AT THE TOP IS THE FUND BALANCE.

THESE REALLY ARE THE TWO SOURCES, AGAIN, THAT THE BOARD CAN TAP INTO TO COVER THOSE COSTS THAT WE NEED TO PROVIDE COVERAGE FOR.

THE GROWTH THAT WE SEE REALLY THROUGH THE YEARS STEMS FROM PROPERTY TAXES.

THAT REALLY IS PROBABLY THE MOST ROBUST SOURCE OF THE GENERAL PURPOSE REVENUES THAT WE HAVE TO SUPPORT AND THAT REALLY IS DRIVING.

SO THE COMBINATION OF THOSE TWO SOURCES BALANCE OUT OUR BUDGET.

AND THAT IS WHAT WHEN WE SPEAK OF NET COUNTY COST, THAT'S HOW WE THESE ARE THE FUNDS THAT WE UTILIZE.

AGAIN, ONLY 19% OF OUR ENTIRE BUDGET PACKAGE DRILLING IN A LITTLE BIT FURTHER FOR THOSE BUDGETED LOCAL RESOURCES, WE'RE REALLY SHOWING HERE WHAT SOURCES WE DO HAVE.

AGAIN, PROPERTY TAXES BEING THE LARGEST PORTION, THE TOP TWO LINES WE SEE MOVING ON DOWN INTO CERTAIN SALES TAX AND INTEREST REVENUES FOR OUR FISCAL YEAR 24-25 FINAL BUDGET PACKAGE.

WE HAVE AN INCREASE OF $3.2 MILLION IN THESE GENERAL PURPOSE REVENUES.

BASED ON OUR FISCAL YEAR END CLOSE OUT, WE IDENTIFIED A LITTLE BIT MORE FUNDING THAT WE FELT COMFORTABLE AND JUSTIFIED BASED ON HOW WE CLOSED OUT OUR FISCAL YEAR AND SO THAT WAS A COMPONENT THAT CLOSED OUT THAT $6.6 MILLION FUNDING SHORTFALL THAT WE HAD.

GOING DOWN INTO THAT FUND BALANCE, YOU CAN SEE WE INCREASED BY $7.1 MILLION FROM WHERE WE ANTICIPATED AT OUR PROPOSED BUDGET AND THEN AGAIN, KIND OF BRINGING US TO A $3.7 MILLION INCREASE IN THOSE LOCAL RESOURCES TO COVER THE NEEDS OF $212 MILLION.

AGAIN, PROVIDING A MULTIYEAR HERE TREND FOR THE LOCAL RESOURCES, OUR GENERAL PURPOSE REVENUES, WE HAVE AN INCREASE OF $8.8 MILLION IN THE SOURCE OF FUNDING FOR OUR 24-25 FINAL BUDGET PACKAGE FROM LAST YEAR'S FROM 23-24 FINAL BUDGET.

I KIND OF WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT, AGAIN, THAT IS THE COMBINATION OF THE SLIDE WE JUST SAW.

IT'S A PROPERTY TAXES.

IT'S OUR SALES TAX.

IT'S INTEREST REVENUE.

AGAIN, MOST OF THAT MONEY COMES FROM OUR PROPERTY TAXES AND THIS IS 64% OF WHAT OUR BOARD UTILIZES TO COVER NET COUNTY COSTS NEEDS.

WHILE WE SAW A GROWTH OF $68.6 MILLION FROM 1314 FISCAL YEAR 13-14 UP TO OUR 24-25 WHAT WE'LL SEE LATER IN THIS PRESENTATION IS THAT THE FUNDING NEEDS HAVE INCREASED BY $122.3 MILLION.

SO REALLY SHOWING THAT THE NEEDS HAVE OUTPACED WHAT WE ACTUALLY HAVE TO SPEND.

[01:00:06]

THIS IS THE SECOND COMPONENT THAT THE BOARD HAS AVAILABILITY TO PROGRAM FOR LOCAL RESOURCES.

WE KIND OF ALL UNPACK THE COMPONENTS HERE.

THERE'S A VERY TOP LINE YOU MAY OR MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SEE.

IT'S A BRIGHT IT'S A DARKER BLUE ONE AT THE TOP.

THOSE ARE OUR NON SPENDABLE CATEGORY OF FUND BALANCE.

IT'S USUALLY LESS THAN $1 MILLION AND THESE REALLY CONSIST OF INVENTORIES OR LOANS TO OTHER FUNDS REALLY NOT LIQUID ASSETS AND WE SEE THE GREEN SECTION AS OUR COMMITTED AND GENERAL FUND. IT'S OUR GENERAL FUND RESERVE.

IT'S THE RAINY DAY FUND AND THIS IS WHAT WE WOULD RELY ON WHEN CERTAIN TRIGGERS ARE MET.

IF THERE'S AN ECONOMIC DOWNTURN, IF THERE'S A NATURAL DISASTER, REALLY KIND OF THAT SAFETY NET FOR US TO TO CALL UPON, IF IN FACT WE NEEDED TO GET IMMEDIATE RESOURCES, OUR YELLOW SECTION, OUR ENCUMBRANCES AND THESE ARE PURCHASE ORDERS, CONTRACTS, OBLIGATIONS THAT THE COUNTY HAS MADE AND REALLY SET ASIDE.

THIS IS A SET ASIDE FOR US TO BE ABLE TO COVER THOSE IN THE FUTURE.

WHEN THE WHEN IT COMES TIME TO MAKE A PAYMENT ON THOSE.

WE HAVE A LOT OF PROJECTS OUT THERE FLOATING AROUND AND AN INCREASE IN CONTRACTS, OPERATIONAL CONTRACTS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.

BOTTOM SECTION WE SEE IN THE BLUE, THAT'S OUR AVAILABLE FUND BALANCE.

IT REALLY IS JUST THAT THE BALANCE OF OUR FUND BALANCE THAT IS NOT ATTACHED TO ANYTHING ELSE.

IT'S REALLY WHAT WE UTILIZE TO BALANCE OUR BUDGET, AND IT IS NECESSARY FOR US TO KIND OF FILL THE GAP FOR WHAT OTHERWISE OUR GENERAL PURPOSE REVENUES DON'T COVER.

YOU'LL SEE AN INCREASE IN TOTAL FOR OUR 2324 CLOSEOUT OF $11.7 MILLION THAT CONSISTS OF THREE OOPS, I'M SORRY.

THAT CONSISTS OF A $3 MILLION INCREASE IN THAT GREEN SECTION FOR OUR GENERAL FUND RESERVE.

THAT WAS WHAT THE BOARD HAD APPROVED LAST YEAR IN OUR 23-24 FINAL BUDGET PACKAGE.

I WANT TO NOTE THAT THERE IS NO INCREASE RECOMMENDED IN THIS PACKAGE FOR THE BOARD'S CONSIDERATION.

IT'S NOT AN AUTOMATIC INCREASE.

IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE DO WHEN WE NEED TO MEET THE BOARD POLICY THAT'S BEEN ESTABLISHED, OR IF THERE ARE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AVAILABLE AND THEN WE SEE IN OUR YELLOW SECTION THE ENCUMBRANCES THAT INCREASED BY $4 MILLION.

AGAIN, SPEAKING TO KIND OF THE OBLIGATIONS OUT THERE, THE SPENDING NEEDS THAT WE HAVE AND KIND OF THE ROLL OVER INTO THE NEW YEAR.

OUR BOTTOM SECTION INCREASED BY $4.8 MILLION.

WE HAVE 76.6 MILLION TO PROGRAM AND A LOT OF THAT REALLY IS ATTRIBUTED TO SOME UNANTICIPATED ONE TIME REVENUES THAT CAME IN AND THE CLOSEOUT OF OUR FISCAL YEAR END. SO MOVING ON TO KIND OF SHOW THE PERFORMANCE OF EACH FISCAL YEAR'S BUDGET.

THIS IS THE RESULT OF OUR FISCAL YEAR END.

THIS IS OUR GENERAL FUND.

YOU'LL SEE REVENUES COMPARED TO EXPENDITURES.

THIS REALLY DRIVES TO THAT FUND BALANCE THAT WE JUST HAD IN OUR PREVIOUS SLIDE.

SO WE SEE WE CLOSED OUT OUR FISCAL YEAR 2324 WITH $612 MILLION IN EXPENDITURES IN REVENUES AND THEN $601 MILLION IN EXPENDITURES.

THAT WAS THE $11.7 MILLION SURPLUS THAT WE IDENTIFIED IN THE PREVIOUS SLIDE.

AGAIN, NOT ALL OF THAT SURPLUS IS AVAILABLE FOR PROGRAMING.

WE KIND OF SAW ON THE PREVIOUS SLIDE, THE $4.8 MILLION OF THAT HAS BEEN PROVIDED IN OUR AVAILABLE FUND BALANCE.

ANOTHER THING THAT I WANT TO NOTE OF THE $56 MILLION THAT WE SEE IN INCREASED REVENUES FOR FROM OUR FISCAL YEAR 22-23 CLOSE OUT TO 2324, 85% OF THAT STEMS FROM FEDERAL AND STATE RESOURCES.

SO AGAIN, SPEAKING TO THE SIZE AND THE VOLUME OF THOSE PASS THROUGH MONIES THAT REALLY IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR OTHER PROGRAMING INCREASES IN OUR EXPENDITURES OF $44.5 MILLION STEM FROM SALARIES AND BENEFITS.

WE SAW CERTAIN WAGE INCREASES, WE SAW CERTAIN CAP INCREASES, COUNTY CONTRIBUTIONS FOR THOSE CAP INCREASES AND WE ALSO SAW 105 MORE FILLED POSITIONS AS A SNAPSHOT FROM THE CLOSE OF THIS LAST FISCAL YEAR TO THE PRIOR FISCAL YEAR.

SO GROWTH THERE IN THOSE EXPENSES AS WELL AS CONTRACTS AND THEN THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS.

MOVING IN TO SUMMARIZE HOW OUR NET COUNTY COST IS PROGRAMED TO WHAT TYPE OF EXPENSE.

SO ON THE LEFT SIDE WE'LL SEE ONE TIME NET COUNTY COST NEEDS AND THEY ARE SUPPORTED ENTIRELY BY FUND BALANCE.

AT $29.7 MILLION.

THAT IS THE MOST APPROPRIATE USE OF FUND BALANCE.

WE HAVE FUND BALANCE AS ONE TIME MONEY.

THAT REALLY FUND BALANCE IS NOT GUARANTEED TO BE REPLENISHED.

FUND BALANCE IS NOT NECESSARILY ONCE IT'S SPENT.

THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT IT'S GOING TO BE THERE AGAIN NEXT YEAR.

BECAUSE AGAIN, THAT STEMS ON HOW YOUR FISCAL YEAR CLOSES OUT.

[01:05:02]

THE NEXT SLIDE THAT OR THE NEXT BOX THAT WE SEE THERE ARE THE ONGOING NET COUNTY COST NEEDS AND HOW THEY ARE FUNDED.

WE HAVE $135.6 MILLION IN OUR COUNTY WIDE REVENUES.

THOSE ARE THE GENERAL PURPOSE.

THAT'S THE ONGOING FUNDING AND THAT IS VERY MUCH APPROPRIATE FOR US TO ATTACH THE USE OF OUR ONGOING FUNDING TO OUR ONGOING NEEDS.

WE SEE THE $46.9 MILLION AT THE TOP.

THAT IS FUND BALANCE ATTACHED TO OUR ONGOING NEEDS.

SO AGAIN, THE ONE TIME MONEY ATTACHED TO ONGOING COSTS, THAT IS AN AREA THAT WE CONTINUE TO MONITOR.

AGAIN, SPEAKING TO THE SPENDING POWER, IF IN FACT, WE EVERYONE SPENT WHAT THEY INTENDED TO SPEND IN THAT PACKAGE, THAT AMOUNT MONEY WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE IN THE NEXT YEAR AND SO WE WOULD NEED TO FIND OTHER SOURCES TO COVER THAT.

IF, IN FACT, THAT WAS THE PATH THAT HAD BEEN TAKEN AND AGAIN, I GUESS SPEAKING TO THE FACT THAT WE NEED TO HAVE SPACE TO ALLOW THOSE ONGOING COSTS TO CATCH UP TO WHAT THE ONGOING NEEDS ARE, SO THAT DARKER SECTION NEEDS TO CATCH UP WITH CLOSEOUT, A LITTLE BIT OF THAT BRIGHT BLUE, AND THEN THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE SLIDE REALLY KIND OF JUST SHOWS THE SUMMARY OF THOSE ONGOING REVENUES.

AND THE ONE TIME REVENUES LEADING UP TO THE $212 MILLION OF THE NET COUNTY COST NEEDS.

PULLING BACK A LITTLE BIT AND LOOKING AT OUR TOTAL BUDGET PACKAGE AGAIN, WE HAVE A 1.14 MILLION OR BILLION DOLLAR SPENDING PACKAGE, WHICH YOU CAN SEE WITH THE BLUE LINE HERE OR I'M SORRY, THE YELLOW LINE IS OUR DEPARTMENTAL REVENUES.

AGAIN, THOSE ARE THE 873 MILLION.

THAT IS NOT DISCRETIONARY.

THOSE ARE THE PASSTHROUGHS THAT MAKES UP 77% OF WHAT SUPPORTS THESE COSTS AND YOU CAN SEE REALLY THE, DRIVING OF THOSE SPENDING AUTHORITIES IN THE BACKGROUND, THE GRAY BARS THAT'S REALLY BEING DRIVEN BY THAT YELLOW LINE.

THE HIGHER THAT YELLOW LINE PUSHES, THE HIGHER THE SPENDING AUTHORITY PUSHES THAT BLUE LINE.

AT THE BOTTOM ARE THE COUNTYWIDE REVENUES.

THOSE ARE GENERAL PURPOSE.

THAT'S LOOKS PRETTY STATIC IN COMPARISON TO ALL THE OTHER GROWTH THAT WE'VE SEEN.

SOME OF THE GROWTH THAT WE SAW FROM 2021 INTO 21-22 ARE FROM OUR HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.

THE PROGRAMING INCREASED.

WE SAW A LARGE PROJECT SUCH AS OUR BLACK RASCAL.

ALSO IN THAT NEXT YEAR UP TO 22-23, WE SAW SOME MORE GROWTH AND WE HAD A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS FOR OUR JAIL PROJECT AND THAT WAS WHERE A LOT OF OUR ARPA MONEY WAS. SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO SEE THAT DECLINE MAYBE A LITTLE BIT, AS A LOT OF THOSE CIP PROJECTS AND THE JAIL PROJECT CONTINUES TO BE SPENT DOWN, 24-25 DOES HAVE A SLIGHT DECLINE AND THAT REALLY IS ATTRIBUTED TO THE SPIN DOWN OF A LOT OF THOSE PROJECTS, COMPLETION OF OUR ARPA PROJECTS AND THE CIP AS THE JAIL PROCESS CONTINUES TO TO COMPLETION.

MOVING INTO SHOW KIND OF OUR LOCAL REVENUES WHERE THEY'RE PROGRAMED BY FUNCTIONAL AREA.

AGAIN, THAT TOP LINE IS THE GENERAL PURPOSE REVENUES THAT WE HAVE EACH OF THE FISCAL YEARS HAS FOUR BARS AND THE GRAY ONE BEING OUR HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, THE LOWEST UTILIZER OF OUR GENERAL PURPOSE REVENUES.

THEY TYPICALLY ARE UTILIZED FOR EITHER MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT OR OTHER MANDATED COST MATCHING COMPONENTS IN THE PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE IN OUR COUNTY AND THE YELLOW SECTION ARE MUNICIPAL AND COUNTY WIDES, AND THESE INCLUDE PUBLIC WORKS, AG COMMISSIONER, LIBRARY OR CORONER, AND ANIMAL CONTROL.

A LOT OF THESE DEPARTMENTS WILL HAVE SOME FEE FOR SERVICE REVENUE OR GRANT REVENUE INCLUDED, BUT ABOUT 70% OF THESE COSTS STILL RELY ON THE USE OF NET COUNTY COST AND SO YOU'LL SEE KIND OF THE GROWTH THAT WE HAVE THERE UP IN THE MOST CURRENT YEARS.

ONE THING I WANT TO POINT OUT IS A LOT OF THAT DRIVING INCREASE COMES FROM CERTAIN TRANSFERS OUT THAT WE HAD FOR OUR JAIL AND THEN ALSO OUR BLACK RASCAL PROJECT.

THAT, AGAIN, IS A BIG OUR BLACK CROSS, THE FLOOD CONTROL PROJECT THAT IS CONTINUING TO GAIN MOMENTUM AND I BELIEVE VERY CLOSE TO KIND OF BREAKING GROUND AND MOVING FORWARD.

WE HAVE OUR BRIGHT BLUE BAR AND THAT IS THE PUBLIC SAFETY AND JUSTICE AREAS AND KIND OF SHOWING THE GROWTH THAT WE SEE CONTINUOUS GROWTH THROUGHOUT THE YEARS AND AS THAT GENERAL PURPOSE REVENUE LINE CONTINUES TO INCREASE, WE CONTINUE TO SEE INCREASES IN THAT BRIGHT BLUE LINE AS A PRIORITY OF OUR PUBLIC SAFETY.

THE DARKER BLUE LINE ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE, WE SEE SUPPORT SERVICES AND REALLY CENTRAL SERVICE DEPARTMENTS, INCLUDING LIKE OUR ASSESSOR'S, OUR TREASURER, TAX COLLECTOR, REGISTRAR OF VOTERS AND OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS.

[01:10:03]

BUT IN OUR 24-25 PACKAGE, THERE IS A SLIGHT DECLINE, AGAIN, SHOWING THE PROGRESS THAT WE'RE MAKING, THE SPIN DOWN OF OUR ARPA MONEY AND A LOT OF COMPLETION OF SOME BIG PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE.

JUST PROVIDING A SNAPSHOT HERE AGAIN, KIND OF OUR 2425 BUDGET PACKAGE, WHERE OUR GENERAL PURPOSE REVENUES GO.

OF THE $135.6 MILLION, WE HAVE 79% GOING TO OUR PUBLIC SAFETY AND JUSTICE FUNCTIONAL AREA.

WE HAVE 3% GOING TO OUR HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, 10% TO OUR SUPPORT SERVICES, AND THEN 8% TO THE MUNICIPAL AND COUNTY WIDE AND THOSE WERE THE CATEGORIES THAT WE JUST SPOKE OF ON THE PREVIOUS SLIDE, BUT REALLY KIND OF JUST SHOWING THAT SNAPSHOT OF WHERE THOSE MONIES GO IN THIS CURRENT YEAR'S PACKAGE.

AND I WILL TURN THE REST OF THE PRESENTATION OVER TO GREG.

MR. CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD CEO, MENDEZ COUNTY COUNCIL HANSEN.

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC GREG KILO, BUDGET MANAGER TO WALK YOU THROUGH THE SECOND HALF OF THE PRESENTATION SLIDE.

WE'RE CURRENTLY LOOKING AT PRESENTS THE GENERAL FUND APPROPRIATIONS BY CATEGORY.

THE LARGEST CATEGORY, REPRESENTING 42% OF THE TOTAL GENERAL FUND BUDGET IS SALARIES AND BENEFITS.

WE SEE A SLIGHT DECREASE FROM PROPOSED BUDGET.

THE FINAL BUDGET THAT'S REALLY LINKED TO HOW WE ARE BUDGETING FOR THE RETIREMENT OF VACANT POSITIONS, WHERE BEFORE WE WERE BUDGETING THEM AS TIER TWO POSITIONS.

NOW WE'RE RIGHTSIZING THAT OR TRUE SIZING THAT AND BUDGETING AS A TIER FOUR, WHICH RESULTED IN THAT $0.9 MILLION DECREASE IN SALARIES AND BENEFITS, THE SECOND LARGEST CATEGORY.

SERVICES AND SUPPLIES WERE THE BULK OF THE DEPARTMENT.

OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT.

CONTRACTS. RESIDE AND THAT MAKES UP 26% OF THE TOTAL PACKAGE PRESENTED HERE FOR 24-25 OF THE GENERAL FUND OR GENERAL FUND APPROPRIATIONS.

WE SEE AN INCREASE OF $8.2 MILLION THERE AND THAT'S LARGELY DRIVEN, LIKE I SAID, BY THOSE CONTRACTS.

JAIL MEDICAL CONTRACTS IS ONE OF THEM.

MENTAL HEALTH CONTRACTS CONTRIBUTE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT AS WELL.

WE HAVE AN INCREASE IN HSA AID TO THE NEEDY OR HSA CONTRACTS, AS WELL AS SOME WORKFORCE INVESTMENT CONTRACTS.

THE THIRD CATEGORY PRESENTED IS THE OTHER CHARGES, AND THOSE ARE MADE UP OF THE DIRECT PAYMENTS TO CLIENTS FOR DIRECT ASSISTANCE THINK HSA ASSISTANCE TO THE NEEDY, FOSTER CARE PAYMENTS, ETC..

WE SEE A DECREASE OF ABOUT $11 MILLION FROM PROPOSED BUDGET POST-BUDGET PACKAGE TO THIS FINAL BUDGET PACKAGE.

THE CATEGORY UNDERNEATH IT IS A TRANSVERSE, AND THAT REALLY MAKES UP THE SHIFTS OF RESOURCES BETWEEN FUNDS.

WE SEE AN INCREASE OF $2 MILLION THERE, AND THAT'S REALLY TO ACCOUNT FOR ANY TRANSFERS FOR EXPENSES INCURRED IN ONE FUND REIMBURSED BY ANOTHER FUND CAPITAL ASSETS.

THIS INCLUDES THE CARRYOVER OF BALANCES FOR ONGOING PROJECTS.

OVERALL, WE SEE A DECREASE FROM PROPOSED BUDGET TO FINAL BUDGET OF $3.9 MILLION.

THAT IS BECAUSE OF THE SPEND DOWN THE PROGRESS THAT HAS ACTUALLY BEEN MADE ON ONGOING PROJECTS AND THEN THE CONTINGENCIES IS THE SAFETY NET THAT THE COUNTY HAS AVAILABLE FOR UNANTICIPATED COSTS OR EMERGENCIES AND THAT'S BEING KEPT LEVEL WITH WHAT WAS INCLUDED IN THAT PROPOSED BUDGET, AS WELL AS WHAT WAS INCLUDED IN LAST YEAR'S BUDGET PACKAGE.

IN TOTAL, WE SEE A DECREASE IN THE GENERAL FUND APPROPRIATIONS OF $5.6 MILLION.

TAKING A CLOSER LOOK AT THESE GENERAL FUND APPROPRIATIONS BY CATEGORIES WE FOCUS ON, WE FOCUS HERE ON THE 4 LARGER ONES WE SEE ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE, KIND OF THE HISTORICAL OR THROUGHOUT THE CHART, THE HISTORICAL LAST THREE YEARS, AS WELL AS THE FIGURES INCLUDED FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR 24-25 FINAL BUDGET PACKAGE.

THE FIRST CATEGORY IS THE SALARIES AND BENEFITS, WHERE WE'VE SEEN A STEADY INCREASE, MAINLY DRIVEN BY THE LABOR NEGOTIATIONS AND NEW POSITIONS THAT HAVE BEEN ADDED OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS.

THE SECOND CATEGORY REPRESENTS OUR SERVICES AND SUPPLIES, SHOWING THE IMPACT OF INFLATION, THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS FOR OUR DEPARTMENTS, INCLUDING THE GROWTH IN SIZE OF OR AMOUNT OF THE CONTRACTS THAT DEPARTMENTS ARE RELYING ON.

THE THIRD CATEGORY IS THE AUTO CHARGES.

AGAIN, THE ASSISTANCE TO THE NEEDY AND THE DIRECT PAYMENTS TO CLIENTS AND THEN WE SEE CAPITAL ASSETS ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE WITH A STEADY INCREASE OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS.

[01:15:08]

THOSE BALANCES HAVE TO BE REPROGRAMED BECAUSE THOSE BALANCES ARE LOWER THAN WHAT THEY WERE IN PRIOR YEARS.

BECAUSE OF THE PROGRESS WE'VE MADE, WE SEE THAT DECREASE REPRESENTED IN THE CAPITAL ASSETS AND SOME OF THOSE CAPITAL ASSETS ARE SUPPORTED WITH ARPA FUNDING, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT HAD BEEN MADE AVAILABLE OR THAT WERE PART OF THE ARPA OR THE ARPA FRAMEWORK.

TAKING A CLOSER LOOK AT THE SPENDING AUTHORITY BY FUNCTIONAL AREA, WE SEE ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE THE SHARE OF TOTAL BUDGET THAT THOSE FUNCTIONAL AREAS MAKE UP.

ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE, WE SEE THEIR SHARE OF THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET.

IN YELLOW WE SEE THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES FUNCTION MAKING UP 45% OF TOTAL BUDGET, 59% OF THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET.

WE SEE LOCAL PUBLIC SAFETY AND JUSTICE SYSTEM IN GRAY ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE, MAKING UP 17% OF THE TOTAL BUDGET.

23% OF GENERAL FUND BUDGET, WORTH POINTING OUT IS THAT THAT YELLOW SECTION ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE WE SEE IT MAKES UP A FAIRLY LARGE SHARE, MAKES UP THAT 59%.

IT'S PRIMARILY FUNDED WITH STATE OR FEDERAL REVENUE SOURCES, WHEREAS THE REMAINING FUNCTIONS REALLY REQUIRE SIGNIFICANT USE, SIGNIFICANT COVERAGE BY NET COUNTY COST AND THAT'S ILLUSTRATED IN THE NEXT SLIDE.

THIS DOESN'T PRESENT JUST A GENERAL FUND.

WE'RE LOOKING AT ALL FUNDS HERE.

AND I'M ACTUALLY GOING TO TAKE YOU FROM RIGHT TO LEFT.

JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT RED SECTION WE SEE OF EACH BAR REPRESENTS THE USE OF NET COUNTY COSTS OR GENERAL PURPOSE REVENUE, WHICH MEANS THAT THE NON-RED SECTIONS REPRESENT THE PROGRAM SPECIFIC FUNDING OR THE PROGRAM SPECIFIC SPENDING THAT THE BOARD DOES NOT HAVE DISCRETION OVER.

SO, STARTING OFF TO THE RIGHT, WE SEE THE LARGEST AREA OF ACTUAL SPENDING HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.

THAT'S PRIMARILY SUBVENTED, AS WE POINTED OUT, AND UTILIZES THE LEAST AMOUNT OF NET COUNTY COSTS.

THE HIGHEST UTILIZER OF NET COUNTY COST IS THE PUBLIC SAFETY ONE, WHICH IS THE SECOND ONE FROM THE LEFT.

SO HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES BEING THE LARGEST ONE, THE NEXT HIGHEST AREA OF GROWTH THAT WE SEE IS THE MUNICIPAL AND COUNTY WIDE SERVICES.

THAT INCLUDES THE CASTLE FIRE FUNDS INCLUDES ROADS, OES RESPONSE AND RECOVERY THAT WAS USED FOR THE RECENT FLOOD EVENTS, RESPONSE AND RECOVERY ACTIVITIES AS WELL AS ARPA FUNDING.

PUBLIC SAFETY AND JUSTICE FUNCTIONAL AREA CONTINUES TO SEE CONSISTENT GROWTH AND INCREASES IN SPENDING AUTHORITY AND THEN THE SUPPORT SERVICES FUNCTIONAL AREA THAT INCLUDES OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS, OUR ONE TIME CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE JAIL PROJECT, FOR EXAMPLE, AS WELL AS OTHER CAPITAL PROJECTS OUTSIDE OF THE GENERAL FUND.

FOR CONSIDERATION WITH THIS FISCAL YEAR 24-25 FINAL BUDGET PACKAGE, THERE ARE SOME POSITION CHANGES.

THERE IS A NET CHANGE OF MINUS ONE POSITION COUNTYWIDE 2466 POSITION COUNTYWIDE IS WHAT THE COUNTY IS INCLUDED IN THIS IN THIS PACKAGE.

FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION, 2388 OF THOSE ARE COVERED BY THE GENERAL FUND.

THERE WERE SEVERAL REQUESTS CONSISTING OF SWAPS AND RECLASSIFICATIONS.

ADDITIONS TO CERTAIN DEPARTMENTS WERE OFFSET BY REDUCTIONS OR DELETIONS BY OTHER DEPARTMENTS, AND THAT WAS REALLY IN LINE WITH FUNDING CONSTRAINTS AND CHANGES THAT THE DEPARTMENTS IMPLEMENTED AND SUBMITTED.

LOOKING MORE CLOSELY AT THE CHANGES, THE ADJUSTMENTS THAT WERE MADE FROM PROPOSED BUDGET TO FINAL BUDGETS, AS FAR AS NET COUNTY COST GOES, WE INCLUDED, OR WE SAW AN CLOSEOUT WITH AN INCREASED LOCAL RESOURCES THAT HAS BEEN INCLUDED IN THIS FINAL BUDGET PACKAGE OF $3.2 MILLION.

THE ANTICIPATED FUNDING SHORTFALL THAT WAS INCLUDED THAT PROPOSED BUDGET IS NO LONGER INCLUDED WITH THIS FINAL BUDGET PACKAGE, BRINGING FORWARD A BALANCED FINAL BUDGET PACKAGE FUND BALANCE BEING UTILIZED, AN INCREASE OF $7 MILLION, MAKING FOR A TOTAL CHANGE OF JUST SHY OF $3.7 MILLION.

ON THE REVENUE SIDE, ON THE BUDGET ADJUSTMENT SIDE, WE SAW RETOOLING OF THE HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY IN THEIR ASSISTANCE TO THE NEEDY, LEADING TO A DECREASE OR REDUCTION OF NET COUNTY COST.

WE ALSO SEE THE REDUCED REPROGRAMING FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS BECAUSE OF PROGRESS THAT HAS BEEN MADE IN THAT SPECIFIC AREA.

[01:20:06]

WE DO HAVE INCLUDED IN THIS PACKAGE AN INCREASE IN TRANSFERS OUT AS A CONTINGENCY FOR THE JAIL PROJECT, AS WELL AS AN ANTICIPATED INCREASE FOR OUR JAIL MEDICAL CONTRACT, AND THEN WITH SOME ADDITIONAL OTHER DEPARTMENTAL ADJUSTMENTS, BRINGING FORWARD AGAIN THAT BALANCED PACKAGE FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.

LOOKING AT THE GENERAL FUND RESERVES, THE RAINY DAY FUND THAT THE COUNTY HAS AVAILABLE, THESE HAVE BEEN UPDATED BASED ON THE ACTUAL CLOSEOUT OF THE PRIOR FISCAL YEAR JUNE 30TH. THE CEILING AND THE FLOOR ARE BASED ON THE BOARD POLICY THAT SAYS THAT WE WILL STAY WITHIN THAT 12%, BETWEEN 7% AND 12% AND THAT'S WHAT WE SEE REPRESENTED BY THAT BLUE BOX ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE.

INCLUDED IN THIS PACKAGE IS THE RECOMMENDATION TO KEEP THE RAINY DAY FUND AT THE SAME LEVEL AS IT WAS AT PRIOR, AS PRIOR YEARS.

IT'S $45.1 MILLION.

WORTH NOTING IS THAT THIS IS INTENDED TO BE USED AS A SAFETY NET IN TIMES OF ECONOMIC CHALLENGES.

AND THAT THERE ARE SPECIFIC TRIGGERS THAT WOULD AUTHORIZE THE USE OF THIS SPECIFIC FUNDING, SUCH AS DISASTERS, EMERGENCIES, ECONOMIC DOWNTURNS, OR TO ABSORB LIABILITY SETTLEMENTS IN EXCESS OF ANY PROGRAMED RESOURCES.

THE SAFETY NET THAT THE COUNTY HAS AVAILABLE, THE GENERAL FUND CONTINGENCIES.

WE SAW AN INCREASE A FEW YEARS BACK IN 2020-2021.

THAT WAS MAINLY DUE TO THE ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY THAT THE COVID PANDEMIC BROUGHT LAST YEAR.

THAT WAS DECREASED BACK FROM THAT $9.5 MILLION TO THE $6.5 MILLION THAT WE SEE INCLUDED IN THIS YEAR'S PACKAGE AS WELL AND THAT WAS REALLY TO UTILIZE THAT FUNDING FOR THE NEEDS OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY RADIO SYSTEM.

THE TEN YEAR PROJECT THAT THE COUNTY WANTED TO PRIORITIZE AND AT THIS POINT, I WOULD LIKE TO TURN IT OVER TO THE MICROPHONE TO CEO MENDEZ FOR CLOSING COMMENTS.

YES. THANK YOU, BUDGET MANAGER AND DEPUTY CEO ANDERSON FOR THE PRESENTATION AND KIND OF WALKING US THROUGH THOSE SLIDES.

IN CLOSING, THE FINAL BUDGET THIS MORNING BALANCES THE ORGANIZATION'S PRIORITIES WITH AVAILABLE RESOURCES.

THIS SLIDE HERE DEPICTS OUR AREAS OF FOCUS THAT ARE CAREFULLY BALANCED WITHIN THE FINAL BUDGET PLAN.

IF WE CAN GO ON TO THE NEXT SLIDE.

SOME POLICY ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION THAT WILL BE PART OF THE FINAL BUDGET AS WELL AS PART OF THE BUDGET AGENDA.

THIS MORNING, THERE ARE A SERIES OF ITEMS FOR THE BOARD TO CONSIDER, INCLUDING ANNUAL ACTIONS REQUIRED AS PART OF THE FINAL BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING AND ITS PROCEEDINGS.

THESE INCLUDE.

SETTLEMENT SETTING.

SETTING THE APPROPRIATION LIMIT.

APPROVING OR AUTHORIZING BUDGET.

FINAL BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS.

LEASE PURCHASE AGREEMENTS.

PERSONNEL ACTIONS.

ORDER SCHEDULES AND IT'S IN ITS AND IN ITS TOTALITY, THE FINAL BUDGET ADOPTION.

WE HAVE ALSO PREPARED FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION THESE POLICY ITEMS ROAD WORK PROGRAM WILKINSON ACT STAFFING ADJUSTMENTS COUNTY WIDE FIRE SERVICE.

SO FOR THE POLICY DISCUSSIONS, COUNTY STAFF WILL BE AVAILABLE TO ASSIST WITH EACH RESPECTIVE ITEM.

AT THIS POINT, THIS CONCLUDES OUR BUDGET.

FINAL BUDGET PRESENTATION, MR. CHAIR. WE'LL PASS IT BACK TO YOU SO YOU CAN WALK US THROUGH THE ITEMS PER YOUR AGENDA THIS MORNING.

OKAY. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

AT THIS TIME, WE'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE FINAL BUDGET PRESENTATION.

AS A REMINDER, PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON ITEMS, INCLUDING ON THE FINAL BUDGET CALENDAR WILL BE HEARD AFTER EACH ITEM IS ANNOUNCED AND, IF APPLICABLE, PRESENTATION OF THE ITEM. SO ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? OKAY. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR THE FINAL BUDGET PRESENTATION IS NOW CLOSED.

SCHEDULED ITEMS. WE NOW HAVE PUBLIC HEARING FROM THE AUDITOR, COMPTROLLER.

AUDITOR. COMPTROLLER. PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER SETTING THE APPROPRIATION LIMITATION FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024 2025, ESTABLISHED UNDER ARTICLE 13 B OF THE STATE CONSTITUTION. I WILL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING AND ACCEPT PUBLIC COMMENT RELATED TO THE SETTING.

THE APPROPRIATION LIMIT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024-2025.

ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS WILL BE A MANUAL VOTE.

[01:25:01]

CHAIR SILVEIRA MOTION TO APPROVE.

MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.

SECOND BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES FIVE ZERO.

MR. CHAIR, IF I COULD, I JUST WANT TO THANK THE AUDITOR CONTROLLER FOR BEING HERE AND BRINGING THAT PUBLIC HEARING TO US.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

BUDGET. BUDGET. CALENDAR.

WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO THE BUDGET CALENDAR, BEGINNING WITH THE FINAL BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS AND AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEM NUMBER ONE FINAL BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR ITEM ONE.

FINAL BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS IS NOW CLOSED.

I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.

A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.

WE'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE.

RECORD THE VOTE PLEASE.

MOTION PASSES FIVE ZERO.

NOW WE HAVE LEASE PURCHASE AGREEMENTS.

AT THIS TIME, WE'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEM NUMBER TWO.

LEASE PURCHASE AGREEMENTS.

ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? WE WILL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT ON NUMBER TWO.

PLEASE PURCHASE AGREEMENTS AND I SEE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PEREZ.

SECOND SUPERVISOR PAREIRA SILVERA.

WE'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE.

RECORD THE VOTE.

MOTION CARRIES FIVE ZERO.

NOW WE HAVE MOVE ON TO THE POLICY ACTION ITEMS BEGINNING WITH ROWE DIVISION WORK PROGRAM.

WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT.

GO AHEAD. GOOD MORNING.

GIVE ME A SECOND. GO AHEAD.

GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.

I DID HAVE A COMMENT ABOUT THE ROADS.

I SEE THAT YOU'VE ALLOCATED $68 MILLION FOR THE ROADS, BUT THE ONES THAT WERE LISTED WHEN I CALCULATED ALL OF THOSE, IT COMES OUT TO $27 MILLION AND THEN WHEN I SEE MCKEE'S ONLY BEING FIXED FROM SANTA FE TO SOUTH BEAR CREEK AND I DID SPEAK TO SUPERVISOR JOSH PEDROZO YESTERDAY AND I DID UNDERSTAND, FROM NORTH BEAR CREEK TO YOSEMITE, IT'S PART PART COUNTY, PART CITY.

SO HOW DO WE KNOW THAT'S GOING TO GET FIXED? BECAUSE YOU'RE DRIVING ON THAT ROAD.

IT IS THE ONE OF THE MOST TREACHEROUS ROADS IN MERCED AND EVEN ALL I MEAN, THERE ARE OTHERS, BUT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I LIVE IN NORTH COUNTY, SO I DRIVE ON THAT ROAD.

FOR ME, IT'S REALLY TREACHEROUS AND EVEN ON OLIVE RIGHT OFF OF LEAF, BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE I LIVE.

YOU KNOW, CAMPUS PARKWAY IS DONE NOW, AND YOU SEE ALL THESE CARS DRIVING BY FAST AND THERE'S SO MANY POTHOLES AND I DON'T SEE IN THIS BUDGET VERY SPECIFICALLY WHAT AMOUNT YOU HAVE ALLOCATED FOR POTHOLES, BECAUSE I'M WORRIED NOW THAT WINTER IS APPROACHING AND YOU'RE GOING TO FIX A POTHOLE NOW IT'S GOING TO RAIN AND THEN YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE MORE POTHOLES. SO I'M REALLY CONCERNED THAT I DON'T REALLY SEE THAT MAYBE I DON'T UNDERSTAND THIS BUDGET AND MY OTHER CONCERN IS IF THERE'S 68 MILLION AND YOU'VE ONLY SPENT 27 MILLION ON THIS IS THE REST GOING TO CAMPUS PARKWAY AND THE ATWATER PARKWAY AND FOR ME, CAMPUS PARKWAY FOR YOU'RE BUILDING IT TO GO TO FROM YOSEMITE TO UC.

BUT THAT'S GOING TO BE PART OF THE CITY NOW.

SO LIKE IS THAT FAIR TO SPEND MONEY? IS THAT ALREADY ALLOCATED FOR YOU TO SPEND ON THAT CAMPUS PARKWAY AND NOT ON THE COUNTY ROADS AND YOU SEE, LIKE THE MAJORITY OF YOUR REVENUE COMES FROM SALES, FROM PROPERTY TAXES. AND AS PROPERTY OWNERS OF MULTIPLE PROPERTIES IN THE COUNTY, I JUST WANT TO SEE MY TAX DOLLARS GO TO THE BASIC ROADS, LIKE WE JUST NEED THEM TO NOT HAVE POTHOLES AND I DON'T THINK IT'S MUCH TO ASK. SO I JUST NEED A LITTLE BIT MORE CLARIFICATION.

THANK YOU. OKAY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

YOU WANT TO COMMENT ON THAT? YOU WANT TO CALL OUR DIRECTOR NATHAN BRAY.

YOU WANT TO COMMENT ON THAT PLEASE.

GOOD MORNING. BOARD CHAIR AND SUPERVISORS.

SOME COMMENTS ON THE THE COMMENTS THAT WERE JUST MADE.

THE $68 MILLION OF APPROPRIATIONS AND EXPENSES INCLUDE ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS, ALL OF THE ROAD DIVISION DEPARTMENTS, EXPENSES.

THE PROJECTS THAT TOTAL ROUGHLY $28 MILLION ARE JUST FOR VERY SPECIFIC IDENTIFIED PROJECTS.

THE REMAINING OF THE FUNDS ARE USED FOR PLANNING EFFORTS.

THEY'RE USED FOR STAFFING EFFORTS.

THEY'RE USED FOR OTHER OPERATIONS THAT THE THE DEPARTMENT WILL CARRY OUT, SUCH AS ILLEGAL DUMPING EFFORTS.

THE PROJECTS BOTH CAMPUS PARKWAY AND ATWATER MERCED EXPRESSWAY, BOTH HAVE DEDICATED REVENUE SOURCES THAT CAN ONLY BE USED ON THOSE SPECIFIC ELEMENTS.

[01:30:03]

THIS BUDGET PROPOSES USING $500,000 EVERY YEAR.

THIS YEAR, SIMILAR TO LAST YEAR, JUST FOR POTHOLE MAINTENANCE TO BE USED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.

THAT IS IN ADDITION TO THE STAFF'S ALREADY WORK PLAN THAT WE USE OUR LOCAL HIGHWAY USER TAX FUNDS FOR.

SO THERE ARE FUNDS SPECIFIED JUST FOR POTHOLE MAINTENANCE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.

IT'S NOT ARTICULATED AS A SPECIFIC PROJECT WITHIN THE ROAD WORK PLAN, BECAUSE THOSE ARE MORE.

CONSISTENT WITH TYPICAL MAINTENANCE APPROACH, BUT I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY OTHER QUESTIONS.

THAT YOU MAY HAVE OR THAT THE PUBLIC HAS.

YEAH AND I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THAT NATHAN IS GOOD ABOUT ANSWERING QUESTIONS TO FROM THE PUBLIC ALL THE TIME.

SO YOU'RE WELCOME TO CALL HIM, TOO.

YEAH AND I WILL GIVE HER MY CARD AS WELL.

APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. ANY FURTHER COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? NO. THANK YOU.

ANY MORE QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC BEFORE I CLOSE IT? NO. SO ALL RIGHT.

PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD ON ITEM.

THREE IS CLOSED.

SO COMMENTS OR MOTIONS BY THE BOARD I SEE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.

SECOND SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL WILL CALL FOR THE VOTE.

RECORD THE VOTE, PLEASE.

MOTION CARRIES FIVE ZERO.

NOW WE HAVE POLICY ACTION ITEM FOR CAPITAL ASSETS AND CAPITAL PROJECTS.

AT THIS TIME I WILL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEM NUMBER FOUR CAPITAL ASSETS AND CAPITAL PROJECTS.

NO QUESTIONS.

ALL RIGHT. WE'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEM NUMBER FOUR CAPITAL ASSETS AND WE'LL FURTHER FOR COMMENTS OR MOTIONS.

MR. CHAIR GO AHEAD.

THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT ON ITEM NUMBER FOUR.

I KNOW THAT IT WAS EXPLAINED TO ME YESTERDAY IS IF YOU WENT THROUGH THIS LIST OF CAPITAL ASSET PROJECTS I GUESS THERE'S ONLY A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF CHARACTERS THAT ARE ALLOWED TO BE PUT IN THE ACCOUNT NUMBER DESCRIPTION.

AND IT JUST WHEN I SEE THINGS LIKE AN ANALYZER WITH A Z IN IT KIND OF IT JUST STRIKES ME AS ODD. SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE CAN DO MOVING FORWARD TO MAYBE MAKE THAT MAYBE WE SEND OUT LIKE AN SOP ON EXACTLY WHAT WE USE FOR ABBREVIATIONS SO THAT WE HAVE CONSISTENCY IN IT.

BECAUSE MY CONCERN IS THAT LIKE 100 YEARS FROM NOW, WHEN PEOPLE COME BACK AND LOOK AT THE GREAT WORK THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING FOR FOR MERCED COUNTY AND THEY READ SOME OF THIS STUFF, THEY'RE GOING TO THINK, WOW, WHAT ARE THESE PEOPLE THINKING? THEY COULDN'T SPELL VERY WELL.

SO WHATEVER WE COULD DO TO INFORM DEPARTMENTS BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT'S IT'S REALLY DEPARTMENTS SUBMIT THESE ABBREVIATIONS AND THEN IT COMES INTO THE BUDGET OFFICE AND THEY GOT TO KIND OF USE WHAT'S THERE.

BUT YOU KNOW I THINK WE COULD DO A BETTER JOB ON THAT.

SO THAT'S JUST MY COMMENT AND I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS ITEM.

OKAY. SO I SEE WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.

SECOND SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL CALL FOR THE VOTE.

PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

MOTION CARRIES FIVE ZERO.

NOW WE HAVE POLICY ACTION ITEM FOR WILLIAMSON ACT PROGRAM.

SO I JUST WANT TO MENTION THAT I AM IN CONFLICT WITH THIS ITEM.

SO SINCE I HAVE A PROPERTY IN THE WILLIAMSON ACT, SO I'LL BE STEPPING IN ABSTAINING FROM THIS ITEM.

SO AND SUPERVISOR PEDROZO, THE VICE CHAIR WILL TAKE OVER.

I'M RECUSING MYSELF.

I HAVE PROPERTY IN THE WILLIAMSON ACT AS WELL, SO I RECUSE MYSELF.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. [INAUDIBLE].

OKAY. AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEM NUMBER FIVE.

WILLIAMSON ACT PROGRAM.

ANY COMMENT FROM THE PUBLIC? OKAY. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW FOR ITEM NUMBER FIVE.

WILLIAMSON ACT PROGRAM IS NOW CLOSED.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS WILL BE A MANUAL VOTE AS I'LL CALL FOR THE QUESTION.

SO MOVE. YOU HAVE A MOTION BY SILVEIRA.

ACTUALLY, MR. CHAIR, IF I COULD.

SO A YES VOTE IS IN SUPPORT, OR A NO VOTE IS IN NOT SUPPORT OF THE WILLIAMSON.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE CLARIFY THE VOTE FOR THE PUBLIC.

A YES VOTE MAKES THE REQUIRED FINDING TO SHORTEN WILLIAMSON ACT CONTRACTS FROM TEN YEARS TO NINE YEARS.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

IS THERE A SECOND? [INAUDIBLE].

OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.

A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

[01:35:01]

THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR PEDROSO.

NEXT WE HAVE POLICY ACTION ITEM FOR MODIFICATION OF EFFECTIVE DATE FOR MERCED COUNTY FIRE STATION CONSOLIDATION PLAN.

AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE ASSISTANT CEO MARCI BARRERA TO THE PODIUM TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ON THIS ITEM.

GOOD MORNING. BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

COUNTY COUNCIL HANSON CEO MENDEZ MARCI BARRERA.

ASSISTANT COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICER.

ON MAY 7TH OF 2024, THE BOARD APPROVED A PLAN TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF FIRE STATIONS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY FROM 19 TO 15 TO STREAMLINE OPERATIONS, REDUCE COSTS, AND MEET THE NEW CAL FIRE STAFFING REQUIREMENTS, WHICH MANDATE A 2.0 STAFFING WITH A 3.0 FACTOR.

THE CONSOLIDATIONS WERE APPROVED TO TAKE EFFECT ON OCTOBER 1ST, 2024.

HOWEVER, SINCE THAT TIME THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL DEVELOPMENTS THAT WE BELIEVE WARRANT RECONSIDERATION OF THE EFFECTIVE DATES.

THE DEVELOPMENTS INCLUDE THE SAFER GRANT.

AS YOU MAY RECALL, THE COUNTY APPLIED FOR A $10.8 MILLION SAFER GRANT THROUGH FEMA.

IF AWARDED, THE SAFER GRANT WILL SERVE AS A THREE YEAR STOPGAP FUNDING MEASURE, WHICH WILL AFFECT THE INCORPORATED CITIES OF LIVINGSTON, GUSTINE, AND DOS PALOS.

THE DEADLINE FOR AWARDS OF THIS GRANT IS THE END OF SEPTEMBER, AND ALTHOUGH AS OF TODAY WE HAVE NOT YET BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE AWARD, WE DO REMAIN HOPEFUL.

ANOTHER RECENT DEVELOPMENT IS THE PUBLIC SAFETY SALES TAX MEASURE.

A HALF A CENT SALES TAX IS SET TO GO BEFORE THE BOARD.

EXCUSE ME. IT'S SET TO GO BEFORE THE PUBLIC FOR CONSIDERATION DURING THE NOVEMBER 5TH ELECTION.

IT'S PROPOSED TO FUND LAW ENFORCEMENT AND FIRE PROTECTION SERVICES WITHIN MERCED COUNTY.

ADDITIONALLY, THERE HAVE BEEN RECENT DISCUSSIONS SINCE THE MAY 7TH DECISION FROM THE BOARD ON POSSIBLE COST SHARING WITH INDIVIDUAL JURISDICTIONS IN WHICH, IF THEY'RE AGREED UPON, COULD CHANGE THE OUTCOME OF THE PRIOR BOARD ACTIONS.

DUE TO ALL OF THE DEVELOPMENTS THAT HAVE OCCURRED AND THE UNKNOWNS.

ITEM NUMBER 6 BEFORE YOU TODAY IS TO CONSIDER AMENDING THE PRIOR BOARD ACTION TAKEN ON MAY 7TH, 2024 TO CHANGE THE CONSOLIDATION.

EFFECTIVE DATES FOR STATIONS 76, IN DOS PALOS STATION, 96 IN LIVINGSTON AND STATION 85 MCKEE FROM OCTOBER 1ST, 2024 TO DECEMBER 31ST, 2024.

MODIFYING THE CONSOLIDATION EFFECTIVE DATES WILL PROVIDE THE NECESSARY TIME TO AWAIT THE SAFER GRANT DETERMINATION.

REVIEW THE OUTCOME OF THE MERCED COUNTY PUBLIC SAFETY SALES TAX MEASURE, AS WELL AS FINALIZE THE COST SHARING PROPOSALS THAT ARE BEING DISCUSSED WITH THE INDIVIDUAL JURISDICTIONS. IF ANY OF THESE ITEMS MATERIALIZE IN THE MEANTIME, STAFF WILL RETURN TO THE BOARD AT THAT TIME FOR FURTHER BOARD CONSIDERATION ON ADJUSTMENTS.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

OKAY AT THIS TIME.

OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEM NUMBER SIX.

MODIFICATION EFFECTIVE DATE FOR MERCED COUNTY FIRE STATION OF CONSOLIDATION PLAN.

PLEASE GO AHEAD. HELLO AGAIN.

I KNOW I WAS HERE IN MAY, SO I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF KEEPING THOSE FIRE STATIONS OPEN AND I HEARD THREE IFS.

IF SAY FOR GRANT IF ELECTIONS IT'S PASSED, THE MEASURES PASSED AND IF THERE'S A COST SHARING THE SAFER GRANT AGAIN IT'S FRIDAY, I GUESS IS THE DEADLINE.

SO WHAT IF THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN? WHAT IF IT DOESN'T PASS? AND IT'S BEEN ALL OF JUNE, ALL OF JULY AND ALL OF AUGUST AND WE I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE PRIVY TO THE INFORMATION, BUT AS PUBLIC, WE'RE NOT PRIVY TO THE INFORMATION OF THE COST SHARING AGREEMENT DETAILS.

SO JUST ANY UPDATES ABOUT THAT WOULD BE APPRECIATED AND WHAT IF NONE OF THOSE THINGS MATERIALIZED? THEN YOU WILL SHUT THESE DOWN ON DECEMBER 31ST AND SERVICES.

LIKE I AM REALLY WORRIED IF SOMETHING HAPPENS, WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO MY HOUSE? IF SOMEBODY HAS TO COME FROM PLANADA OR SOMEBODY HAS TO COME FROM 59? SO I JUST HEAR A LOT OF IFS AND HOPES AND IFS AND HOPES DON'T SAVE HOMES FROM FIRE.

THANK YOU AND ON THE HALF CENT SALES TAX TWO AS WELL.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM? LIVING ON HIGHWAY 152.

I GET ACCIDENTS ALL THE TIME.

IF WE CLOSE DOWN A DEPARTMENT DOWN IN DOS PALOS, WE'RE LOSING NOT ONLY A FIRE DEPARTMENT, BUT WE'RE LOSING A FIRST RESPONDER.

[01:40:08]

THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS THERE FIRST.

SO CLOSING THESE UNITS AND MOVING THEM AROUND, YOU'RE GOING TO INCREASE YOUR RESPONSE TIME AND WHY AREN'T WE LOOKING AT PUTTING VOLUNTEERS IN THERE? I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE DON'T HAVE A VOLUNTEER PROGRAM.

I KNOW MARIPOSA COUNTY HAS A VOLUNTEER PROGRAM.

WHY DON'T WE HAVE ONE? START STAFFING IT WITH THEM.

GET JUNIOR VOLUNTEERS LIKE THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.

LET'S UTILIZE, YOU KNOW, VOLUNTEERS, CORRECTIONAL GUYS COMING FROM THE STATE WHO HAVE DONE CAL FIRE.

LET'S GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THEIR COMMUNITY SERVICE THERE OR SOMETHING.

THERE'S GOT TO BE BETTER WAYS THAN CLOSING DOWN.

EMERGENCY SERVICES RESPOND.

LIKE I SAID EARLIER, WE SHUT DOWN OR WE DON'T HAVE SOMETHING IN PLACE.

OUR RESPONSE TIME GOES UP THROUGH THE ROOF AND THEN WE HAVE OTHER ISSUES.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR.

ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS? THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR ITEM NUMBER SIX, MODIFICATION OF EFFECTIVE DATES FOR THE MERCED COUNTY FIRE STATION CONSOLIDATION PLAN IS NOW CLOSED.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS WILL BE A MANUAL VOTE AND WILL BE TAKING EACH ACTION ITEM SEPARATELY.

WE WILL START WITH ACTION ITEM NUMBER ONE REGARDING STATION NUMBER 75 IN DOS PALOS Y.

IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS? IF I MAY, BEFORE YOU TAKE THAT MOTION, I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THAT THAT IS STATION 76 DOS PALOS.

YES. OKAY.

THANK YOU.

GOOD SIR. I'LL SECOND IT.

OKAY. SO WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.

SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.

ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES FIVE ZERO.

NEXT WE HAVE ACTION ITEM NUMBER TWO REGARDING STATION 96, IN THE CITY OF LIVINGSTON.

ANY COMMENTS OR MOTIONS? CHAIR SILVEIRA. MOTION TO APPROVE.

SECOND. SO WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.

SECOND. SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES FIVE ZERO.

WELL. NEXT WE HAVE ACTION ITEM NUMBER THREE REGARDING STATION 85.

MCKEON MERCED.

ANY COMMENTS OR MOTIONS? YEAH, I HAVE A QUESTION.

JUST A COMMENT. GO AHEAD.

BECAUSE IT WAS MADE MENTIONED.

YOU KNOW, THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION WITH A LOT OF DIFFERENT MOVING PARTS AND A LOT OF CREATIVE IDEAS THAT ARE GETTING PUT OUT THERE AND IT'S BEEN FRUSTRATING.

IT'S BEEN THERE'S GLIMMERS OF HOPE AND I THINK THAT THE PUBLIC DOES, YOU KNOW, DESERVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT, WHEREAS WE CAN'T REALLY GET INTO THE ALL OF THE DETAILS, THERE ARE A LOT OF MEETINGS THAT ARE TAKING PLACE AND SO IT'S NOT LIKE WE'RE DROPPING THE BALL ON THIS.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT AND I KNOW THAT I'VE BEEN WORKING REALLY HARD WITH THE CEO.

CHIEF PIMENTEL WITH THE CITY TO REALLY COME UP WITH A SOLUTION, AT LEAST FOR NUMBER 85 AND I KNOW THAT'S SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, ISN'T LOST ON ANY OF US UP HERE OF HOW IMPORTANT THESE DECISIONS ARE WHEN IT COMES TO THIS BECAUSE IT IS, YOU KNOW, IT'S A COMMUNITY SAFETY ISSUE, BUT IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE'RE NOT AT LEAST CONTINUING TO WORK ON.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT.

BUT WE ARE FOCUSING A LOT OF ATTENTION ON THIS.

SO I WILL MAKE THE MOTION TO MAKE THE MOTION TO APPROVE.

OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND. SECOND.

SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES FIVE ZERO.

LAST WE HAVE ACTION ITEM NUMBER FOUR.

DIRECTION DIRECTING STAFF TO RETURN TO THE BOARD IF AWARDED THE SAFER GRANT.

IF THE PUBLIC SAFETY SALES TAX MEASURE R IS APPROVED, OR IF AGREEMENT OF AN ALTERNATIVE OPTION IS REACHED BY THE CITY BY CITY JURISDICTION TO CONSIDER ANY ADJUSTMENTS TO THE BOARD ACTION TAKEN AS PART OF THE ITEM.

ANY COMMENTS OR MOTIONS? MOTION BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

SECOND SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES FIVE ZERO.

WE NOW MOVE ON TO THE PERSONNEL.

PERSONNEL ACTIONS AT THIS TIME.

OPEN UP. PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEM NUMBER SEVEN.

PERSONNEL ACTIONS.

ANY COMMENT? OKAY. THE PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEM NUMBER SEVEN.

PERSONNEL ACTION IS NOW CLOSED.

I SEE WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.

SECOND SUPERVISOR PEDROZO CALL FOR THE VOTE.

RECORD THE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES FIVE ZERO.

NOW WE WANT TO UTTER AUDITOR SCHEDULES AT THIS TIME.

OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEM NUMBER EIGHT AUDITOR SCHEDULES.

[01:45:02]

AUDITOR SCHEDULES IS NOW CLOSED, SO WE'LL SEE.

I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA SECOND SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.

SO PLEASE VOTE.

MR. CHAIR, I JUST WANT TO MAKE ONE ONE COMMENT.

I JUST WANT TO AGAIN THANK THE AUDITOR CONTROLLER FOR PUTTING THESE SCHEDULES TOGETHER FOR US.

IT IS MUCH APPRECIATED AND REALLY, WE CAN'T DO THE GOOD WORK OF THE BUDGET WITHOUT THOSE AUDITOR COMPTROLLER SCHEDULES.

SO I JUST WANT TO THANK HER FOR THAT.

OKAY. GO AHEAD AND VOTE.

RECORD THE VOTE.

MOTION CARRIES FIVE ZERO.

WE NOW MOVE ON TO THE FIFTH TO THE FINAL ITEM ON THE BUDGET CALENDAR, WHICH IS TO ADOPT THE FISCAL YEAR 2024-2025 FINAL BUDGET.

AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEM NUMBER NINE.

ADOPTION OF FISCAL YEAR 2024 2025 FINAL BUDGET.

ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? OKAY. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR ITEM NUMBER NINE, ADOPTION OF FISCAL YEAR 2024-25 FINAL BUDGET IS NOW CLOSED.

GO AHEAD. WE HAVE A COMMENT? YEAH.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT.

OKAY. GO AHEAD. SIR. I JUST, YOU KNOW, WANT TO THANK STAFF FOR ALL THE WORK.

YOU KNOW NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET WILL BE STARTED WORKING ON PROBABLY MONDAY AND SO, YOU KNOW, ALL THE DEPARTMENTS GO THROUGH YOUR BUDGETS.

YOU KNOW, OUR BUDGET OFFICE, CEO'S OFFICE SPENDS A LOT OF TIME AND ENERGY ON TRYING TO GET THIS RIGHT AND I KNOW IT SEEMS A LITTLE CLUNKY SOMETIMES BECAUSE WE COME, YOU KNOW, IN THE SPRING OR LATE SPRING WITH THE PROPOSED BUDGET, WHICH IS ACTUALLY A BUDGET AND THEN THIS ONE, IN MY OPINION, IS A WE CALL IT FINAL BUDGET, BUT IT'S AMENDED BUDGET ONCE WE KNOW WHAT THE STATE'S GOING TO DO AND WHERE THE MONEY, YEAR END MONEY ACTUALLY FALLS AND SO ANYWAY, I JUST WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU AND ACKNOWLEDGE WHAT YOU DO ALL YEAR LONG.

I GUESS THIS IS KIND OF THE KENTUCKY DERBY OF BUDGET.

SO WE'RE CELEBRATE TODAY, BUT I KNOW THERE ARE A LOT MORE WORK GOES INTO IT.

SO THANK YOU. OKAY.

ANY FURTHER COMMENTS? THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. A COUPLE COMMENTS I DID WANT TO HIGHLIGHT.

IT WAS BROUGHT UP IN THE PRESENTATION EARLIER.

THE THING THAT CONCERNS ME THE MOST IS THE $76.6 MILLION FUND BALANCE AND JUST TO REITERATE, IS LIKE, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE TASKED WITH AS THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS IS TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS, AND WE'RE GETTING READY TO TAKE A VOTE WHERE WE'RE GOING TO APPROPRIATE $1,137,700,000, WHICH IS A NUMBER THAT WHEN I GOT HERE, I DIDN'T THINK THAT WE WOULD REACH FOR A LONG TIME.

FIRST BUDGET I WAS A PART OF IN THE 1920 FISCAL YEAR WAS 684 MILLION AND NOW WE'RE OVER BILLION DOLLAR BUDGETS.

BUT WE VOTE.

THERE'S A LOT OF WORK BY DEPARTMENTS, DEPARTMENT HEADS, MANAGERS WITHIN DEPARTMENTS TO PUT THESE BUDGETS TOGETHER.

THE BUDGET OFFICE TO PUT ALL THAT TO MAKE THIS WHOLE PACKAGE WORK.

DON'T WANT TO FORGET OUR FRIENDS IN THE AUDITOR CONTROLLER'S OFFICE WHO PUT IT ALL ON SCHEDULES FOR US AND THEN THE REALITY IS, WITH THIS FUND BALANCE IS THAT IF EVERYBODY SPENDS EXACTLY WHAT THIS BOARD HAS GIVEN THEM AUTHORITY TO SPEND, THERE'S A SLIDE IN THE BUDGET OR IN THE PROCESS OR THE SLIDE PACKAGE THAT SHOWED THAT THEY'RE ABOUT 30 MILLION OF THAT $76 MILLION IS ACTUALLY GOING TO ONE TIME THINGS.

SO IF IT'S A ONE TIME THING, YOU THINK THAT NEXT YEAR THAT'S PRETTY EASY TO WIPE OUT.

BUT THE REST OF THAT $45 MILLION IS GOING TO ONGOING EXPENSES.

WE'RE USING ONE TIME MONEY FOR ONGOING EXPENSES.

SO TO REALLY DRIVE HOME THE POINT THAT WE HAVE A $45 MILLION RESERVE AND WE GOT A LITTLE OVER $45 MILLION OF ONE TIME FUNDING, THAT'S KIND OF LIKE A SAVINGS ACCOUNT THAT IF WE USE THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE UP OUR RESERVE IS GONE.

SO IT CONCERNS ME, I DON'T THINK I HAVEN'T SEEN IT, BUT AS A PERCENTAGE OF BUDGET THAT IT'S REALLY GONE UP.

BUT THAT NUMBER KEEPS GROWING.

IF YOU GO BACK AND LOOK AT SLIDES FROM PREVIOUS FISCAL YEARS HERE THAT FUND BALANCE HAS GROWN.

I HAVE IT UP HERE IN FRONT OF ME.

YOU GUYS SAW IT A LITTLE BIT EARLIER, BUT YOU KNOW THAT WHEN I FIRST GOT HERE, THAT WAS A $46 MILLION FUND BALANCE.

NOW OUR FUND BALANCE, THOSE THINGS CONTINUE TO CONCERN ME.

I THINK THAT WE'RE GOING TO TAKE SOME EXERCISE, PARTAKE IN SOME EXERCISES THIS YEAR WITH MID-YEAR BUDGET REVIEWS.

I ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO TAKE THOSE SERIOUSLY BECAUSE IT'S CHALLENGING WHEN YOU START AT A PROPOSED BUDGET THAT WE VOTE ON IN MAY TO START.

SO THAT OR EXCUSE ME, IN JUNE, SO THAT COME JULY 1ST WE COULD ACTUALLY START PAYING OUR BILLS AND I'M GLAD THAT IT WORKED OUT IN A WAY THAT THERE WAS ADDITIONAL REVENUES THAT WERE FOUND THAT THAT PUT US IN A LITTLE BIT BETTER FISCAL POSITION THAN WHERE WE WERE.

WE STARTED AT A $6.6 MILLION DEFICIT AND WE CLOSED THAT.

BUT AS YOU AS I STATED EARLIER, THAT MONEY THAT CAME IN SURPLUS OF ROUGHLY ABOUT $4 MILLION, GIVE OR TAKE, IT'S ALREADY SPENT.

[01:50:03]

WE NEED TO WORK BETTER ON GETTING THOSE NUMBERS TO BE TRUER SO THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY BUDGET TRUER NUMBERS.

SO AGAIN, I'M YOU KNOW, WE TALK ABOUT THE PROPOSED BUDGET IS STAFF'S BUDGET.

THE FINAL BUDGET IS OUR BUDGET.

THIS IS THE ONE THAT WE STAMP AND PUT OUR NAME ON.

YOU'VE HEARD FROM OUR EMPLOYEE GROUPS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE WERE ABLE TO DO A LITTLE BIT OF STUFF WITH HEALTHCARE THIS YEAR, BUT BUT, YOU KNOW, WAGE INCREASES ARE SOMETHING THAT I'M HIGHLY, HIGHLY CONFIDENT THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE SEEKING HERE JUST IN A FEW MONTHS BECAUSE WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK AT THE TABLE WITH THEM AND SO AS WE LOOK AT THOSE THINGS, WE GOT TO HAVE TRUER NUMBERS TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THESE THESE BIG DECISIONS AND, YOU KNOW, AND THEN THERE'S ONE OTHER SLIDE THAT IN THE BUDGET WHERE IT TALKS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, AND IT'S NOT ALL JUST THE SUBVENTED STUFF.

THERE'S OTHER THINGS THAT GOES INTO THE DEPARTMENTAL REVENUES.

BUT FROM 23=24 FISCAL YEAR TO 24-25 FISCAL YEAR, THAT NUMBER WENT DOWN BY $43.8 $8 MILLION, DOWN BY 43.8.

THAT JUST SHOWS YOU THE STATE.

YOU SAW IT BRIEFLY ON A SLIDE.

THAT THE STATE IS IN THIS TWO YEAR BUDGET CYCLE WHERE LITERALLY THEY'VE DONE SOME STUFF.

YOU KNOW, I THINK I MENTIONED THIS AT PROPOSED BUDGET, BUT IT'S CRAZY THAT AT THE STATE THAT IF THEY DELAY PAYING PEOPLE, INSTEAD OF PAYING THEM JULY 31ST, THEY PAY THEM OR EXCUSE ME, JUNE 30TH, THEY PAY THEM JULY 1ST.

THEY KICK IT TO A NEW FISCAL YEAR THAT SOMEWHERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF OVER $2 BILLION THAT THEY GET TO PLAY A BUDGET GAME WITH.

THEY DON'T HAVE TO SHOW IT IN ONE YEAR, CAN SHOW IT IN THE NEXT YEAR AT SOME POINT.

EVERYBODY'S FEELING THE PAIN OUT THERE.

I JUST, LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE, FEEL WHAT INFLATION IS DOING TO US.

ALL THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON.

AT SOME POINT WE'RE GOING TO PAY THE PIPER AND SO IT CONCERNS ME THAT THOSE NUMBERS ARE SO HIGH BECAUSE THE STATE I'M JUST VERY CONCERNED BECAUSE AGAIN, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THEY CAN PRINT MONEY.

THE STATE GOVERNMENT, THEY DON'T NECESSARILY STEAL IT.

BUT I CALL IT STEAL IT.

THEY JUST PROMISE YOU MONEY AND THEN TAKE IT AWAY AND PROMISE THAT THEY MAY PAY IT BACK TO YOU AT A DIFFERENT POINT IN TIME WHEN THE STATE HAS MONEY AGAIN AND I STILL THINK THERE'S A LOT OF ORGANIZATIONS OUT THERE STILL WAITING FOR THAT POINT IN TIME WHEN THEY'RE GOING TO REPAY THAT MONEY BACK.

SO INCREASE, REGULATIONS INCREASE.

YOU KNOW, YOU LOOK AT OUR SUPPLIES AND SERVICES, THAT'S COST OF LIVING STUFF.

THE COUNTY IS NOT IMMUNE TO THEIR POWER BILL GOING UP, OUR COST OF DOING BUSINESS, FUEL PRICES, ALL THOSE THINGS KEEP GOING UP TOO.

SO WHATEVER INCREASES THAT WE'RE SEEING IN OUR LOCAL SHARE OF REVENUE, THEY'RE GETTING EATEN UP BEFORE WE EVEN GET A SHOT AT THE APPLE.

SO AGAIN, IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT I WANT.

WE HAVE ALL OF OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS HERE I WANT YOU GUYS TO CONSIDER IS WE GOT TO GET BETTER AT BEING ABLE TO GIVE THE BUDGET OFFICE'S NUMBERS THAT ARE CLOSER TO ACTUALITY SO THAT WE CAN MAKE THE GOOD CHOICES AND DECISIONS THAT WE NEED TO MAKE AS POLICYMAKERS AND THEN THE LAST THING THAT I'LL SAY, MR. CHAIR, IS AGAIN, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR BUDGET STAFF KIM, AMBER, TERRY, GREG AND VANESSA.

THE CRAZINESS THAT GOES ON, AND I'M GOING TO GIVE THEM A LITTLE BIT OF A BREAK.

I'M GOING TO LET THEM HAVE AT LEAST A WEEK BEFORE THEY GOT TO START ON NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET.

BUT THAT'S THE REALITY WITH THIS MID-YEAR BUDGET REVIEW.

THEY'RE GOING TO YOU FINISH ONE AND YOU JUST START RIGHT INTO THE NEXT ONE AND IT'S AS A POLICYMAKER.

YOU KNOW, WHEN I WAS AT THE CITY OF LOS BANOS, WE STARTED WITH ROUGHLY ABOUT A $40 MILLION BUDGET WHEN I WAS THERE.

IT'S GROWN SINCE THEN.

MY MIND COULD WRAP MY HEAD AROUND $40 MILLION.

I COULD UNDERSTAND IT.

KIM, WE'RE SO THANKFUL TO HAVE YOU HERE AS ONE.

SHE'S THE ONE WHO TAUGHT ME THE BUDGET IN LOS BANOS, RIGHT? YOU GET TO THE COUNTY AND ORIGINALLY WHEN I GOT HERE, IT'S 684 MILLION.

NOW IT'S OVER $1 BILLION TO TRY TO WRAP YOUR HEAD AROUND ALL THAT, IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE.

SO YOU GOT TO RELY ON, THE GOOD BUDGET STAFF TO BE ABLE TO EDUCATE US.

SO I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU GUYS FOR THE GOOD WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING AND WE LIVE TO FIGHT ANOTHER DAY.

I TYPICALLY SAY, YOU KNOW, WE'RE HEALTHY.

WE'RE NOT WEALTHY HERE IN MERCED COUNTY.

WE'RE DEFINITELY NOT WEALTHY, AND OUR HEALTH CHECK DOESN'T LOOK AS OPTIMISTIC TODAY AS IT DID JUST A FEW YEARS AGO.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. THANK YOU.

SUPERVISOR PEDROZO. WELL, I DON'T THINK I HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO SAY AFTER THAT, SO I THINK YOU COVERED IT ALL.

NO. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY WHO PUT THIS TOGETHER.

I KNOW THERE WAS A LOT OF QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS STARTING IN JUNE, BUT I THINK THAT THE TEAM WORKED TOGETHER REALLY HARD.

I ALSO WANT TO THANK ALL THE DEPARTMENT HEADS.

I THINK THE EXERCISE OF THE DEPARTMENT HEADS WENT THROUGH BY REALLY ASSESSING THEIR BUDGETS AND BECOMING MORE PRUDENT.

I THINK IT WAS REALLY SOMETHING THAT I APPRECIATE AND I ASKED THE QUESTION, YOU KNOW, THEY WENT THROUGH THIS EXERCISE, HOW COME WE'RE NOT DOING IT? WELL, THEY WERE TOLD THEN IT WAS, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A GOOD ANSWER THAT SAID, HEY, THEY DON'T NEED IT THIS TIME.

BUT IT'S A GOOD EXERCISE MOVING FORWARD SO WE KNOW WHERE WE CAN SEE IT LATER ON WHEN WE NEED TO DO IT.

I TOO AM CONCERNED.

I THINK WE HAVE A SIGNIFICANT SPENDING PROBLEM.

BUT TO ECHO WHAT MY COLLEAGUE SAID, YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T BE SPENDING ONE TIME MONIES ON ONGOING COSTS.

[01:55:02]

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT VANESSA DID SAY EARLIER IS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THAT EMERGENCY RESERVES.

RIGHT? AND THEY HAVE TO HIT CERTAIN TRIGGERS.

BUT ONCE YOU HIT THOSE TRIGGERS, THEY STILL HAVE TO BE REPAID.

SO YOU STILL HAVE TO COME UP WITH A PLAN TO REPAY THAT RESERVE TO GET IT WHOLE AGAIN AND SO THAT'S A SCARY THING.

I THINK THAT WE YOU KNOW, NEED TO TAKE, TAKE IT UPON OURSELVES TO REALLY LOOK AT WHAT OUR PRIORITIES ARE AS A BOARD BASED ON OUR CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR CONSTITUENTS AND KNOW THAT WE'RE DOING THE BEST WE CAN WITH WHAT LITTLE WE HAVE AND RECOGNIZE THE FACT ALSO THAT THERE'S A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY IN THE STATE.

I MEAN, THEY'RE ALREADY TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WITH OUR JAIL CONSTRUCTION, THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT POTENTIALLY NOT GIVING SOME MONEY BACK THAT IS OWED TO US FOR THAT.

AND SO THAT'S A CONCERN.

FOR ME, I'M SURE MY COLLEAGUES AS WELL AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO REALLY PAY ATTENTION TO, WHEN WE LOOK AT THESE BIG EXPENSES.

BUT AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY THAT WORKED ON THIS AND I KNOW HOW HARD YOU GUYS WORK TO PUT THIS TOGETHER AND AGAIN, WE HAVE A LOT.

WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO, EVEN THOUGH IT'S DONE.

I DO WANT TO CHALLENGE ALL THE DEPARTMENT HEADS TO TAKE THESE REALLY SERIOUS, YOU KNOW, REALLY SHARPEN THOSE PENCILS WHEN YOU'RE GIVING US THE NUMBERS SO THAT WE HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT WE HAVE TO WORK WITH.

BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH THANK YOU.

SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. SHE'S FROM THESE THREE.

THERE'S NOT MUCH TO TALK ABOUT ANYMORE, SO I FEEL SORRY FOR YOU WHEN I GET DONE.

SO I JUST WANT TO THANK THE STAFF AND VANESSA YOU.

I KNOW WE SPENT A LOT OF TIMES IN OUR OFFICE CALCULATORS OUT, SCRATCHING STUFF OUT LOOKING AT DIFFERENT WAYS TO DO IT AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE TIME.

YOU NEVER GOT FRUSTRATED WITH US.

YOU NEVER EVEN.

THERE'S NO ATTITUDE.

WE MIGHT HAVE SAW IT AS YOU'RE WALKING DOWN THE HALL AND YOU WOULD IGNORE US AS YOU'RE WALKING DOWN THE HALL.

[INAUDIBLE]. BUT NO, I APPRECIATED ALL THE TIME.

AND I KNOW YOU HAD FIVE DIFFERENT IDEAS COMING AT YOU AT ALL TIMES AND YOU JUGGLED IT VERY WELL.

ONE THING THAT WE HAVEN'T MENTIONED UP HERE, THAT CONTINUES TO AFFECT OUR BUDGET OR THE UNFUNDED MANDATES THAT THE STATE AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PUT ON US, WHENEVER THEY DICTATE SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO DO, IT HAS TO COME OUT OF OUR POCKET, OUT OF OUR BUDGET AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT, I MEAN, WE DON'T REALLY HAVE A SCALE.

MAYBE WE SHOULD SHOW THE PUBLIC EXACTLY WHAT THOSE UNFUNDED MANDATES ARE THAT THEY CONTINUE TO IMPOSE UPON US.

BUT THAT'S SOMETHING MOVING FORWARD AND I KNOW SITTING IN THE POSITION I DO AT RC, RC, WE ARE GETTING READY TO PUSH BACK ON THE STATE REGARDING THOSE UNFUNDED MANDATES, BECAUSE THERE HAS TO BE, IF THEY EXPECT US TO DO IT.

I MEAN, LOOK AT OUR WASTE THAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW.

THERE'S NO FUNDING THERE TO BACK THAT UP AND WE HAVE ANOTHER TRUCK ON THE ROAD AND WE HAVE AND I KNOW EVERYBODY'S PUTTING ALL YOUR TABLE SCRAPS INTO THE OTHER BIN, INTO A BAG, INTO YOUR GREEN BAG.

RIGHT. SHAKE OUR HEADS.

YES. BUT YEAH, I MEAN, THAT'S A WHOLE NOTHER COST THAT'S AFFECTING ALL OF US.

SO I MEAN, THAT'S JUST AN EXAMPLE MOVING FORWARD.

BUT APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK YOU DID.

I APPRECIATE THE DEPARTMENT HEADS FOR SHARPENING YOUR PENCILS AND LOOKING AT IT.

I KNOW WE CAN SHARPEN THEM SOME MORE, BUT APPRECIATE ALL THE HARD WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING.

BUT TRYING TO KEEP UP WITH THESE EXPENSES IS VERY HARD, BECAUSE PG AND E IS NOT GOING DOWN AND NOTHING ELSE IS GOING DOWN EITHER, AND IT AFFECTS THE COUNTY THE SAME WAY.

BUT I APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK YOU'VE DONE.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. THANK YOU.

[INAUDIBLE] DO YOU HAVE ANY LAST COMMENTS ON THE BUDGET? NO. WELL, WELL, FOR ME, I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE STAFF AND THE BUDGET, BUT I ALSO WANT EVERYBODY TO KNOW THAT I APPRECIATE EVERY EMPLOYEE OF THE COUNTY, 2400 PLUS PLUS THE PART TIMES BECAUSE [INAUDIBLE] SAID, IT INCLUDES ALL OUR TAXES AND THE RESIDENTS THAT CONTRIBUTE AS TAX DOLLARS AND I KNOW THAT WE HAVE A FEW HALF-CENT SALES TAX, $0.01 SALES TAX PROPOSED, YOU KNOW, AND NOBODY WANTS TO VOTE FOR ANY TAX.

BUT I SINCERELY HOPE THAT, YOU KNOW, IF ANY OF THE CITIES ANY THE RESIDENTS CAN, YOU KNOW, CAN TRY TO CONTRIBUTE FOR THE SALES TAX BECAUSE I KNOW NOBODY WANTS TO PAY MORE IN INSURANCE.

WE ALL WANT TO PAY INSURANCE AND, YOU KNOW, COSTS ARE SO HIGH.

PG&E IS SO HIGH.

LIKE WHAT'S NOT HIGH RIGHT.

SO AND WHO KNOWS WHAT THE BUDGET IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE NEXT YEAR IF THERE'S A CRASH.

JUST, YOU KNOW, I CAN'T EVEN BELIEVE IT AND, YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE EASY.

I'M NOT GOING TO BE IN THIS POSITION.

THIS IS MY LAST BUDGET.

SO I, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY TO MY COLLEAGUES NEXT YEAR AND JOHN PACHECO, YOU KNOW, WISH YOU GUYS THE BEST NEXT YEAR AS WELL.

SO YOU KNOW THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AT THIS TIME WE WILL GO BACK.

OH SO WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUE.

PEDROZO AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

SO WE'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE.

[02:00:05]

MOTION CARRIES FIVE ZERO ON THE FINAL BUDGET.

AT THIS TIME, WE WILL GO BACK TO THE REGULAR MEETING AGENDA AND HAVE BOARD REPORTS STARTING WITH SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

[REPORTS/BOARD DIRECTION]

I'LL DO MINE PRETTY QUICKLY, BUT WE HAVEN'T MET FOR A WHILE, SO I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AT THE CHILDREN'S SUMMIT.

THAT'S PUT ON EVERY YEAR AT THE HANDS ON HEROES AWARD THROUGH FIRST FIVE.

LAST WEEK I HAD AT THE BEGINNING OF THE WEEK, HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO THE RURAL CRIME SCHOOL THAT WAS PUT ON HERE IN MERCED BY THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, AND I THOUGHT IT WAS VERY INFORMATIVE AND YOU COULD LEARN A LOT BY JUST SITTING IN AND THE DIFFERENT TECHNIQUES AND WHAT THEY'RE USING TECHNOLOGY WISE AND THE DIFFERENT STUFF THAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR GOING OUT THERE AND I THINK IT'S PRETTY INTERESTING.

I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS I FOUND OUT THERE WAS THAT WE ONLY HAVE ONE DETECTIVE TO COVER AG CRIME IN MERCED COUNTY, AND THAT'S A PRETTY BIG JOB HERE IN MERCED COUNTY.

SO I APPLAUD HIM FOR THAT.

THERE WAS ALSO A JOINT HEARING ON GROUNDWATER RECHARGE LAST WEEK IN HERE AND THEN A COUPLE WEEKS AGO AND I WANT TO MAKE MENTION OF THIS JUST BECAUSE SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL ASKED ME TO GO IT WAS THE FIRST TIME I HAD BEEN, BUT THEY DID A NATIONAL DAY OF REMEMBRANCE ON NINE OVER 11 IN ATWATER AND I TELL YOU, I DON'T REALLY I REMEMBER THAT DAY LIKE IT WAS YESTERDAY AND SO THERE'S A LOT OF THOUGHTS THAT STILL COME INTO TO MY HEAD WHEN, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE RELIVING THAT.

BUT ATWATER REALLY DOES IT THE RIGHT WAY AND SO I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE CITY OF ATWATER FOR WHAT THEY DID BY REMEMBERING THE PEOPLE WHO LOST THEIR LIVES.

LAST WEEK I ALSO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT OR TWO WEEKS AGO, THE NAVIGATION CENTER AND THEN WE ALSO ATTENDED THE RCRC CONFERENCE LAST WEEK. AND THEN WE'RE HEADED TO THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY REGIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA COUNTIES CONFERENCE AS WELL.

SO WITH THAT, THANK YOU, HAVE A GOOD DAY.

OKAY. SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

ON 9/11, I ACTUALLY HAD THE HONOR OF GOING TO ARLINGTON CEMETERY IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

I WAS THERE WITH SUPERVISOR DOUG BABOON FROM KINGS COUNTY AND KINGS COUNTY HAD ACTUALLY LOST A MEMBER, AND OF THEIR CITIZENS WHO WAS IN THE PENTAGON FOR THE CRASH.

AND WE WENT OUT THERE AND HONORED HONORED HIM WHERE KINGS COUNTY DID A PRESENTATION FOR THEIR BOARD MEETING ON SEPTEMBER 11TH.

WE WERE ABLE TO TAKE SOME PICTURES AND HONOR THE GRAVESITE THERE AT ARLINGTON FOR THE INDIVIDUAL FROM KINGS COUNTY.

VERY MOVING AND I WILL SAY THAT IT'S VERY MOVING AT JUST THE HERITAGE WITH THE FORMER AIR FORCE BASE AND THE CITY OF ATWATER, THEY DO A VERY GOOD JOB, NOT ONLY ON VETERANS DAY, BUT ON SEPTEMBER 11TH AS WELL.

ALSO, I ATTENDED RURAL COUNTIES REPRESENTING CALIFORNIA CONFERENCE LAST WEEK.

WENT ROWE. WELL, I JUST WISH I HAD GOOD NEWS TO REPORT FROM THE STATE, BUT THERE'S NOT A WHOLE LOT OF GOOD NEWS COMING OUR WAY.

LIKE I SAID, THIS MULTI YEAR BUDGET AND SHORTFALLS THAT THEY'RE SHOWING ISN'T GOOD FOR COUNTIES AND I CAN SAY I LIKE HOW MY COLLEAGUE LIKES TO SAY WE'RE HEALTHY BUT NOT WEALTHY. BUT WE'RE A LOT HEALTHIER THAN A LOT OF OUR SMALLER RURAL COUNTIES WHO ARE HAVING A HARD TIME KEEPING UP WITH REVENUES, WITH THE STATE MANDATES ON TOP OF THEM AND I REPEAT THE MANDATES, BECAUSE THAT IS SOMETHING WE'RE FIGHTING WITH RCRC, BECAUSE THE MANDATES ARE REALLY KILLING RURAL COUNTIES AND WITH THAT, THANK YOU CHAIR. OH WAIT, THERE IS ONE OTHER THING.

I'M SORRY. IT IS AN HONOR FOR ME TO SAY TODAY HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO MY WIFE.

BUFFY AND I HAVE BEEN MARRIED FOR 30 YEARS, AND I WOULD LIKE TO PUT THAT ON RECORD.

THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS.

SHE JUST TEXTED HIM TO REMIND HIM.

YEAH. SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. YEAH, LIKE.

LIKE MY COLLEAGUES. I ATTENDED THE RCRC CONFERENCE.

I WANT TO THANK VANESSA AND SUMMER, WHO ATTENDED.

AS WITH US, ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RCRC AND CSAC IS THE RCRC IS THE RURAL COUNTIES.

SO IT TYPICALLY IS A SMALLER GROUP OF PEOPLE AND SO ALL OF YOUR SESSIONS ARE DONE TOGETHER ALL IN THE SAME ROOM.

I WANT TO THANK DEREK AZEVEDO FROM BOWLES FARMING, WHO WAS ACTUALLY ON THE SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE PANEL, JUST A REALLY GREAT REPRESENTATIVE FOR MERCED COUNTY AND WHAT THE GOOD WORK THAT BOWLES FARMING IS DOING OUT THERE, AND ALSO BRINGS THE REALISTIC APPROACH AND SUSTAINABLE FARMING THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU ULTIMATELY HAVE TO BE PAID FOR IT IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO KEEP IT SUSTAINABLE AND SO I THINK HE BROUGHT THAT MESSAGE TO THE REST OF THE GROUP.

SO I WANT TO THANK HIM FOR THAT.

ALSO ATTENDED CONGRESSMAN, WE HAD A CONGRESSIONAL FIELD HEARING WITH CONGRESSMAN DUARTE OUT IN SANTANELLA.

IT'S AN ACTUAL OFFICIAL LIKE C-SPAN WAS THERE AND RECORDED IT.

SO I WANT TO THANK THE CONGRESSMAN FOR BRINGING THAT INTO ACTUALLY, YOUR DISTRICT, MY FORMER DISTRICT, BUT OUT AT THE MISSION DE ORO IN SANTANELLA.

[02:05:06]

IT WAS FOCUSING ON CALIFORNIA WATER.

ALSO WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUE FOR INVITING ME OVER TO THE BEACHWOOD FRANKLIN GROUNDBREAKING FOR THE NEW BEACHWOOD, FRANKLIN PARK.

SOME PEOPLE CALL IT FRANKLIN BEACHWOOD.

BUT WHEN YOU'RE IN BEACHWOOD, YOU CALL IT THE BEACHWOOD FRANKLIN AREA.

SO I THINK IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS.

YOU KNOW, WE HEARD FOLKS EARLIER, YOU KNOW, IF WE HAD ALL THE MONEY IN THE WORLD, WE WOULD BUILD A LOT OF STUFF, I PROMISE YOU THAT.

BUT WE DON'T AND SO WE GO OUT FOR THESE GRANTS AND I KNOW THAT THAT COMMUNITY HAS BEEN WAITING FOR.

YOU KNOW, MY COLLEAGUE FROM DISTRICT THREE SAYS THAT HE IS THE ONLY SUPERVISOR THAT DOESN'T HAVE A COUNTY PARK IN HIS DISTRICT AND HERE IN A FEW SHORT MONTHS, THAT HE'S NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO SAY THAT ANYMORE AND THAT'S A TESTAMENT TO THIS BOARD AND THE WORK THAT WE DO IN SUPPORTING EACH OTHER, THAT GOING AFTER THESE GRANTS AND LOBBYING AND POLITICKING OUR STATE OFFICIALS IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO ACHIEVE THESE THINGS AND I TOO, WILL BE ATTENDING THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY SUPES CONFERENCE.

THAT'S HOW YOU ABBREVIATE THAT BECAUSE IT IS QUITE LENGTHY AND WORDS THERE.

AGAIN, I THINK THAT'S EVERYTHING I HAVE.

THANK YOU SIR. SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

WELL, I'LL JUST REPEAT WHAT EVERYBODY SAID.

I WENT TO THE CONGRESSMAN'S SUMMIT ON WATER.

A GREAT DISCUSSION.

IT ALLOWED SOME LOCAL AGENCIES TO PRESENT AND KIND OF CALL OUT BUREAU OF RECLAMATION'S FOR BEING STAGNANT ON HELPING US WITH THE NEEDS WE HAVE HERE IN OUR AREA FOR WATER.

AND IT WASN'T JUST MERCED COUNTY, RIGHT? WE'RE TALKING FROM THE DELTA SOUTH AND SO VERY, GOOD HEARING.

I TOO ATTENDED THE CHILDREN OF MERCED COUNTY CHILDREN'S SUMMIT.

I THOUGHT THE INFORMATION PRESENTED WAS REALLY GOOD.

IT WAS KIND OF NEAT TO HONOR FOLKS IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT ARE DOING GOOD THINGS TO HELP CHILDREN, WHICH I APPRECIATE.

ATTENDED THE BEACHWOOD, FRANKLIN PARK RIBBON CUTTING AND IT WAS, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST AMAZING TO SEE THE WORK ALREADY STARTED.

IT'S PRETTY PHENOMENAL.

I KNOW SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL HAS WORKED HARD ON THAT ISSUE SINCE WE PROBABLY STARTED BEFORE YOU TOOK OFFICE WORKING ON IT.

SO AND THEN OUR RCRC WAS VERY INFORMATIVE.

WE HAD SOME LEGISLATORS FROM SACRAMENTO COME AND DO A SESSION WITH US AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S KIND OF INTERESTING.

YOU KNOW, WE TALK ABOUT ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING WRONG IN CALIFORNIA AND YOU KNOW, TO HAVE SOME GENTLEMEN KIND OF SHARE.

SOME OF THE GOOD THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING.

WAS GOOD TO HEAR.

I FELT I WALKED AWAY FROM THERE FEELING A LITTLE MORE MOTIVATED FROM A STATE STANDPOINT, A LITTLE MORE CHALLENGED AS WELL TO DO MORE.

SO WITH THAT, I'M DONE.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

THANK YOU [INAUDIBLE].

YES, THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, THERE'S A QUOTE OUT THERE THAT SAYS THE ABILITY TO MAKE DIFFICULT DECISIONS DEFINES YOUR LEADERSHIP.

I BELIEVE MERCED COUNTY EXEMPLIFIES THIS.

THE WORK THAT WE DO IS VERY HARD.

I THINK YOU'VE HEARD ME SAY THIS TIME AND TIME AGAIN, EASIER WHEN THERE'S NOT MANY CHALLENGES THAT WE'RE FACING.

HARD WORK WHEN THERE ARE PLENTY OF CHALLENGES IN CHALLENGING TIMES.

SO I APPRECIATE THIS BOARD FOR YOUR RESOLVE.

OBVIOUSLY, A LOT OF SIGNIFICANT ITEMS THAT YOU HAD TO CONSIDER TODAY APPRECIATE THE DEPARTMENT HEADS AS WELL.

THAT PROVIDES STEADY LEADERSHIP OUT THERE FOR OUR FOR OUR ORGANIZATION AND THEY DID WANT TO MAYBE BEFORE SHE WALKS OUT, THANK AFSCME LOCAL 2703 FOR WORKING WITH US.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

I KNOW IT'S HARD WORK ON BOTH FRONTS.

RIGHT. SO AS YOUR CEO, THERE'S NO BETTER PRIVILEGE THAN TO BE WORKING ALONGSIDE COUNTY DEPARTMENTS AND WORKING UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP, TRYING TO PROVIDE FOR MERCED COUNTY RESIDENTS THE BEST WE CAN WITH THE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE, AND TRYING TO ANTICIPATE AND FORECAST WHAT'S COMING DOWN THE ROAD.

SO AGAIN, JUST, YOU KNOW, THERE'S OPTIMISM THERE.

YOU HEAR IT FROM ME AND IT'S BECAUSE WE HAVE A GOOD TEAM.

SO THANK YOU MISTER CHAIR.

BACK TO YOU. THANK YOU AND ONE FOR ME.

I JUST WANT TO SAY, YOU KNOW, I WHEN I'M A DIRECTOR ON MCAG, I'M ALWAYS CONSTANTLY PUSHING FOR PROJECTS, INCLUDING YOU KNOW A SIGN THAT WAS TORN DOWN ABOUT A YEAR AGO, AND IT HASN'T BEEN REPLACED.

WE WORKED OUT VERY HARD WITH MR. JOHN CHAVEZ FOR TWO YEARS TO PUT IT ON THE FREEWAY.

AND IT WAS SOMEBODY I GUESS MUST HAVE HIT IT AND WE CAN'T FIND IT.

SO I'VE BEEN PUSHING CALTRANS TO GET IT BACK ON THERE AS WELL AS THE LE GRAND MAC.

I THINK LE GRAND COMMUNITY SIGN IS MISSING AS WELL.

SO WE'LL BE KEEP PUSHING FOR THAT.

WE'VE BEEN PUSHING TO GET HIGHWAY 59 PAVED FROM THE FREEWAY DOWN TO THE CITY LIMITS AS WELL AND LIKE I SAID, IT'S IT WAS GETTING PRETTY BAD.

SO AND I WANT TO THANK SUPERVISOR SILVERA FOR ADDRESSING THAT ISSUE AS WELL, TOO, AS WELL AS OTHER PROJECTS.

[02:10:06]

SO LIKE I SAID, THERE'S NO NEVER ENOUGH POTHOLES.

THERE'S NEVER ENOUGH ROADS THAT WE CAN FIX, BUT THERE'S NEVER ENOUGH MONEY.

RIGHT AND SO WITH THE INFLATION SO HIGH, IT COSTS THE COUNTY A LOT OF MONEY TO, YOU KNOW, PAY FOR EACH MILE AND DO BRIDGES AND, YOU KNOW, SO THERE'S NEVER ENOUGH FUNDING.

SO I KNOW IT'S FRUSTRATING FOR THE PUBLIC.

IT SEEMS LIKE WE PAY SO MANY TAXES AND WE WANT TO PAY TAXES, RIGHT? THEY WANT US TO PAY MORE TAXES.

BUT LIKE I SAID, IT'S LIFE IS NOT EASY.

IT'S NOT GOING TO GET EASIER. SO AND I JUST WANT TO, YOU KNOW, THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR APPROVING THE, YOU KNOW, THE FIRE STATIONS CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD ALL THE WAY TILL DECEMBER AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN, YOU KNOW, OBTAIN THAT SAFER GRANT AND FOR AT LEAST ANOTHER THREE YEARS SO WE CAN FUND THEM WITHOUT CLOSING ANY STATION.

SO I CERTAINLY WILL BE PUSHING THAT, YOU KNOW, AS I WALK AND KNOCK ON DOORS FOR MY CAMPAIGNS THAT I'M DOING AND ALSO, YOU KNOW, I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT BEACHWOOD IS GETTING A PARK.

DEL HINES. IT'S A MUCH, YOU KNOW, IT WAS ADDRESSED.

THEY NEED ANOTHER PARK AND AS WELL AS WE HAVE SOME FUNDING FOR THE CENTENNIAL PARK.

I KNOW THE DESIGN IS GOING ON FOR THREE ACRE PARK.

YOU KNOW, EVERY COMMUNITY DESERVES A PARK SO THAT WE CAN, YOU KNOW, TAKE OUR FAMILIES, THE KIDS THERE.

SO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT LIFE IS ABOUT IS, YOU KNOW, PROVIDING PEOPLE WORK HARD AND ALL THEY WANT TO DO IS REST, TAKE A BREATHER AND TAKE THEIR KIDS TO A PARK.

SO I CERTAINLY YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID, I'M TRYING TO ADDRESS AS MUCH AS I CAN AND ALSO I WANT TO I SAID I ATTENDED A CONFERENCE, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LATINO ELECTED OFFICIALS.

I APPLIED FOR A SCHOLARSHIP FOR TWO DAYS.

I WAS THERE FOR WEDNESDAY TO FRIDAY.

I DIDN'T PREPARE ALL MY COMMENTS, BUT NEXT BOARD MEETING, I'LL BE ADDRESSING THAT.

SO WITH THAT THIS CONCLUDES THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING FOR SEPTEMBER 24TH, 2024 OUR NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING WILL BE HELD AT 10AM.

ON TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8TH, 2024.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND HAVE A GOOD DAY.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.