A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

JULY 14, 1983

The Lake County Board of County Commissioners met in special session on Thursday, July 14, 1983, at 1:30 p.m. in the Commission Meeting Room, Lake County Courthouse, Tavares, Florida. Present at the meeting were the following: Thomas J. Windram, Chairman; James R. Carson, Jr.; Claude E. Smoak, Jr.: C. A. "Lex" Deems; and Glenn C. Burhans. Others present were: Donald Smalt, Administrative Services Director; Robert Wilson, Finance Director; Bill LeHeup, Senior Clerk: Michael C. Willett, Director of Development and Public Works; and Cathy B. Roy, Secretary.

BUDGETS

Bob Wilson, Finance Director, addressed the Board to report that due to the increasing use of cash carry forward funds over the past few years and the fact that expenditures have steadily increased without an increase in revenues that with the figures discussed and tentatively approved by the Board, there was a 1,348,500 difference between expenditures versus all revenues to be received in the 1983-84 fiscal year. Mr. Wilson referred to handouts supplied to the Board reflecting Budget Projections for FY 1983/84 marked Exhibit "A"; Expenditure Budget Projections for FY 1983/84 marked Exhibit "B" and Revenue Budget Projections for FY 1983/84 marked Exhibit "C".

Considerable discussion occurred regarding various areas of the proposed budget that would need to be re-evaluated for possible expenditure cuts. A number of the areas discussed were as follows:

Association for Retarded Citizens - Request for $6,000 and

a new funding request.

Economic Development Council - Request for $25,000 and a new

funding request.

Elections - Request for $14,000 for an IBM System Six in which Mr. Wilson stated there was a possibility Elections could utilize a System Six presently in the Clerk's Office.



Emergency Communications Department - Request for $87,500 to implement a County operated Emergency Communications Department.



Lake County Expo Center Capital Improvements - Request for $35,000 in which Commr. Smoak stated could be postponed in light of a study regarding the feasibility and interest of the Expo Center being sold to the City of Eustis.



Salaries - A decrease of $100,000 by decreasing salary increases from 6% to 4%. The Board requested that the Finance Department adjust the departmental budgets in order that this item can be studied.



Mosquito Control-Aquatic Weed - A decrease of $50,000 in that these funds could be available from either State or Federal sources for aquatic weed control.



Public Works-Road & Bridge - A decrease of $644,000 from new equipment which, under an opinion from the Attorney General, can be purchased from 5th and 6th cent gas tax monies.



Bob Wilson, Finance Director, stated that in order to directly reduce expenditures, reductions could be made from the General Fund, County Transportation Trust, Mosquito Control and Fine and Forfeiture. Mr. Wilson stated the Board could consider deleting $117,000 from the Aquatic Weed Budget to be replaced with Fish Conservation monies, leaving a balance of $83,000 in the Fish Conservation Fund.

Discussion occurred regarding the Commissioners meeting with the Department Directors for which they were liaison Commissioner to go over each line item with regard to possible reductions and requesting each Constitutional review their proposed budgets.

The Board discussed with Mr. Willett, Director of Development and Public Works, that his department was presently looking at the Building fees. Mr. Willett stated he would have some tentative figures to the Board should they elect to meet next Thursday, July 21, 1983.

The Board scheduled a Budget Workshop Meeting for Thursday, July 21, 1983, at 1:30 p.m.

On a motion by Commr. Smoak, seconded by Commr. Deems and carried unanimously, the Board authorized the Finance Department to adjust the proposed budget figures in Salaries to a 4% increase, for the purpose of establishing a base with which to work at future budget workshops. It was noted that this action was not to be considered to set an across the board increase of 4%.

Commr. Smoak requested that the Finance Department report what impact the statutorily set millages for the ambulance districts and hospital district has on the millage cap on which the Board can levy.

There being no further business to be brought before the Board, the meeting adjourned at 3:45 p.m.

Thomas J Windram, Chairman

James C. Watkins, Clerk

cbr/7-15-83