Okaloosa County BOCC — January 30, 2013 — Regular Mtg April 16 2013 — reading text

-15- Minute Book 69, Page Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners Curry replied it is his belief everything must be completed by July 1. Mr. Parisot said the Board should also address the establishment of a stormwater utility. Mr. Amunds drew the discussion back to issuance of letters on possible revenue sources. Mr. Harris made motion, seconded by Mr. Boyles, to authorize the Chairman to forward letters to the utility companies regarding implementation of a franchise fee and to forward letters to the City Councils to gather input on implementing additional gas taxes. 5 yeas. Mr. Amunds stated at the end of last fiscal year the Board sent letters to the cities regarding assistance in supporting Okaloosa County Transit (OCT). He said he has asked Mr. Kampert to have this information available during the budget workshops. Mr. Amunds commented that he has not received any response yet. Mr. Kampert stated he has only heard from the City of Valparaiso which declined to provide financial support. Mr. Parisot again said he would like to address establishing a stormwater utility for unincorporated Okaloosa County. He said we presently have a Municipal Services Taxing Unit (MSTU) for parks with a millage rate of 0.1800 mills. Mr. Parisot advised there is currently a reserve of $4 Million in the Unincorporated Parks MSTU. He recommended holding a public hearing to amend the ordinance which created that MSTU to split the revenues between parks and stormwater. Mr. Windes asked how many counties have stormwater utilities. Mr. Hofstad answered Pensacola and Tallahassee have these utilities. Mr. Dowd asked Mr. Parisot if he is advocating amending the Parks MSTU. Mr. Parisot replied it is the same boundaries and the same customers and there would be no increase in the millage rate. Mr. Amunds stated when the MSTU was established for parks, that Board promised the citizens 100% of the revenue would go to parks. He said he is not interested in going back on the word of the former Board which established the MSTU and he is not interested in the proposal to divert a portion of those taxes to a stormwater utility. Mr. Amunds said if there is interest in April 16, 2013 -16- Minute Book 69, Page Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners generating revenue for stormwater, then it should be by separate MSTU. Mr. Parisot questioned why elections are held every four years. Mr. Windes stated you cannot do a “bait and switch.” Mr. Parisot objected and said that is not what it is. Mr. Windes replied, “It’s close.” Mr. Parisot said he is trying to do this without a tax increase. Mr. Dowd provided the history behind creation of the Unincorporated Parks MSTU, which included dual taxation lawsuits by the municipalities. He advised that part of the settlement with the cities was to create the MSTU to pay the costs of parks. Initially, the settlement included provisions for law enforcement and libraries but those were removed. Mr. Boyles stated that he will have to follow precedence, pointing to what Mr. Dowd just illustrated. He agreed there is a substantial need for a stormwater utility but he does not want to overload the boat, saying the Board has discussed other tax issues. Ms. Linda Sanders, Seventh Avenue, said she believes there is an easier answer to this issue and asked why a referendum can’t be held. She suggested dropping the millage rate for parks and adding stormwater. Ms. Sanders said, “We can’t do simple any more. You have to make it complicated.” She said the problem is really bad in Shalimar and stated she does not understand why this cannot be done. Mr. Curry replied that it can be done and that is what the Board is discussing. Mr. Harris pointed out there are other issues to be considered. He said that he understands the logic but this room could be filled with people who disagree with diverting that revenue from parks. Ms. Sanders asked if some of the money could be used for the flooded parks in her area. Mr. Harris told Ms. Sanders she is talking about two parks and there are hundreds of parks in the county. Mr. Curry told the commissioners it has been an honor and pleasure to serve the Board. April 16, 2013 -17- Minute Book 69, Page Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 8:50 p.m. _____________________________ _______________________________ DON W. HOWARD DON R. AMUNDS, CHAIRMAN CLERK OF CIRCUIT COURT BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS (These minutes were transcribed by Teresa Ward.) April 16, 2013 -18- Minute Book 69, Page Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners