Go into town again, we're here. Yes, I can. Thank you, sir. Who is it, Joe? I think I'm the chef. This is Commissioner White. Can you hear me? Yes, I can. Commissioner. And Commissioner Wesson. Can you hear me? Yes, I can. Thank you. Joe, you're a truck. Can you hear me? Yes, I can. But Commissioner Bal chairman, can you hear me? Yes, I can. Right. Commissioner Balant, can you hear me? Yes. Thank you. Hey, Joe. They shall. Wait a minute. Wait a minute. I think they just said they'll be able to. I see it. I agree. I agree. I agree. I guess. I guess. We say it. So, like bringing me to order for the budget session, work session, Ms. Wilson, would you give us an indication? Absolutely. Bless, Fred. Heavenly Father and Eternal God. Father, we just thank you for all of your many blessings. Father, among those blessings is the opportunity that you've given us to serve the citizens of this great county. I pray that we will listen and search our souls and make sure that we are doing our very best to serve as the citizens of this county. We're giving us that responsibility and we're going to do our very best to uphold it. Again, thank you for all of your blessings. In Jesus name we pray. Amen. Amen. Let's just to the flag. I pledge allegiance to the people of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it says, one nation under God, ind indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Just for clarity, Commissioner Robinson has a doctor's appointment and he will be here but he's running behind. Can I matter? I can't say there yet, so I'll hand him a sense. I can't sit there yet. So, I have no sense. Good morning to everyone. We morning also. So, I'm sorry. Yes, right. We will begin by discussing the changes that were requested at the last work session. And just a very brief general overview, have good news that all of the requests that the commissioners made in the last work session have been included in the budget, and we have a balanced budget. But we can discuss exactly what those changes were. So starting with net revenues, net revenues, and when I say net, of course, I'm referring to non-emergency transport. Net revenues were increased and expenditures were decreased to $746,000. My question to that is, is that tail on the main bridge, but we moved to 770-4. So my understanding was that Dave Pickering from Concentre software predicted that the revenue for AMS, I'm sorry, for net would be $771,000. My understanding is that we were instructed to make the revenues equal the expenditures at 746 so that any extra would be gravy on top or be extra. So my understanding was to have net revenues at 746, net expenditures at 746,000. So that's what's in here. And that's fine. I mean, that's what was originally said that we had talked about a recent little bit more. But that's fine. If I misunderstood something, please let me know so that we can make those changes. No, I just want to have an online review. Discuss. Okay. Okay. You remember that, Crayflin? That we talked about going to 771 from 746. Okay. You've got an awesome back one of the 771, 746. Yep. Okay. And that's the deal. Okay. All right. Okay. Next we have the finance budget was increased to account for an assistant finance director position instead of the other position that was believe that accounting technician. I'd agree that we could make that an assistant finance director position. So finance the finance budget was increased. Now what page of the So the finance budget was increased. Now, what page of the... Yes. What do you want as you're moving along? Okay. Page five. Page five now. Yes, sir. What's that? What's that? What am I? Call the target. Extraction. Yep. We set H5 for our gifts. Second. Yes, sir. 4130 finance. We have just a salary. finance. We've adjusted the salaries, fringes and added the remainder of the that piece to the equipment and 5,000 to take care of the office and computer and things like that that they would need. Okay, so that budget basically includes a project. Yes, about 50,000. Mm-hmm. Yes, sir. That is correct. Okay. Okay. If there are no further questions, I will proceed. The next department were changes for made where public buildings. The position of seven. Yes, sir. 8.7. The position that was requested, supervisor position, entitled facility technician has been removed from the budget. However, there was a mix up the $20,000 for the lease payments. That is for lease vehicles. Our director did not include the track to payment, which is $38,000. So the capital outlay equipment, as you can see at the bottom, that was increased from where it previously was, from 30 to 38 to account for that. But the position has been excluded from the salary and wages regularly. Okay. I know it's are soon as about 16,600. All right. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Okay. Yes. Okay. Exit should have been more than actually. Okay. Any questions about that before we move on. I got one first. The latter year. Okay. Any questions about that before we move on? I got one first glad. Thank you. Okay. Next we have on the IT position was removed from IT's budget. So that salary amount went back down to whether the department requested and the IT position has now been included totally in DSS department. That's a 29,000 change. Except. There are no questions as we flip through. Of course, all of the changes and non-emergency transport can be found on page 13. You can see that that budget has been reduced to $746,000 as requested. Before you go there, page 12, yes. That went up. That went up $85,000. Let's see. Are you referring to the overall budget? What do you think? The one that I know why. Go ahead. Yes, that one pays to change. Can you tell us where do you refer to? Why did it give us the mistake from the 95? 9595,000. That's a little low. Page 12 change. Gee, jealous. Where do you refer to? Why did it give us the mistake from the 95, 9595,000? That's a little low. That's right. That's it. Okay. There are no further questions or comments about that on Special Appropriations page 19. 13. Special Appropriations on page 19. We already talked on on about 70 numbers of 746. Management will be 746 to the 771. Okay. Only change here was to increase Bertie County schools. Appropriation by $300,000. Like the chance line down from the top. Let me be clear. So what you're asking in this review here, you're informing us of the changes that you have made. That is correct. Based on the board's request. Yes sir. Well, I can't say that the board requested not to change the school board preparation. The board did not approve that. I think that may have been consensus by some that we never voted to restore that. That wasn't ever done. We did that. You had done that. But that was never, but was never taken to do that. never done. We did that. You had done that. But that was never but was never taken to do that. Correct. Yes, sir. No official vote was taken, but it was very clear that four commissioners wanted me to include it back and one commissioner who was you did not agree with that. So I want to make that clear on the record. And then I want to speak to that as we get as we approve this budget at the end. I want to speak to that fact. Yes, sir. I just want to be clear. Yes, sir. So accept the consensus. And I said, yes, sir, it's consensus of the board, I accept. Yes, sir. And so when I say the board, I meet majority of the board that is requested that we have been made to the General Fund budget. And if you look at page 21, we are balanced for a final General Fund budget of $25,931,916,931,916, $1,$70. Okay. The next changes that I would like to discuss are the water fund budget, which can be found. That's one question for removal. Certainly. And what was the increase for wages and things of that nature? What did we end up doing that? Wages for cross board and then EMS and things of that nature. Okay. So if you want to talk about that now, we can talk about. We can talk about that now. So the going back, I believe the wages that you're referring to would have been for EMS and net, what is included in the budget has been a 3% increase for net as well as EMS. That's what's included in the budget. However, you all did ask us to run the numbers to tell us, to tell you exactly what the increase would be for a $3 increase in our finance officer has that. If to hear that or the... To do the $3 increase in net, it would be an additional... The difference between 3% of the $3 is an additional $65,870 profit. And to do the different, to the 3% EMMS and a $3, it's approximately 250,826 out. I'm going to go to the next one. And I get in the total of 316. 696. Yes, I got to correct. 3% increase. $3,000 increase for everybody was $311,000. Right. Yes, sir. And all of this is with what tax increase now? 4.5 cent tax increase. Okay, there are no further questions. We'll move to the waterfront. On page 30. I'm home. What's social services window? That's the IT position. Is that what that is? Yes, sir. Okay. Yes, sir. On page 30, you'll see the revenues have been adjusted to you to 2.7 the request was that we reduce the budget of 93,888 dollars to 2.7 or either make up that difference with increased rates and something that's something that we will definitely consider and you know if there's a need to do that next year we're planning to do that but right now it was feasible for us to reduce the budget to 2.7 so the water fund budget has been reduced to 2.7 million dollars as requested. Yeah, it was either worth the managers management has reduced it down. Yes, sir. You found the whole of the sound areas to do that. Yes, sir. Okay. Okay. There are no questions about that. Moving. The question was asked is what is the water. The fund balance for the water fund? And when we're dealing with the proprietary fund, the fund balance is the same as the net position. So the unrestricted net position for the water fund is approximately $500. To be exact, it's $498,251. Or $98,551 or $98251. And that is a figure taken directly from our audit. Any other questions about, again, changes that were made to the budget again, all these changes were made for your instruction and we do have a balanced budget for all of our funds here. Thank you. Thank you. How much was the 2% increase for employees instead of 3% Let's see About that amount about three and take exactly that's what I did and I didn't get you know what three Yes, sir that that is usually how is done yeah, so 311,000 and about three times two would be about $207,333. And that would be just over, that would be two tax increases. Not quite. It's $80. $80. One sentence. A little bit under the. One sentence approximately 145,000. That's the one and a half sentence. One sentence. Almost one and a half. It would be about 1.4243. It'd be exact. So two cent tax increase is the 311,000 for the 3% employees. Yes, sir. A tax increase of two cents will be approximately 145 times two, which is about 290,000. Yes, sir. And last year we increased, we didn't increase taxes, but we put a fire tax. So we had $360,000 in the budget that went to taxing, to basically went to raises as well. We did receive an increase last year, so I think it's better to say that. Okay. You might go over this 3% and it was money that you found in the budget current, not in the fund balance, correct? Absolutely not. There has been no fund balance appropriation in this. For the legislature, okay. Yes sir. No, no, no, no. Sir, I haven't been fund, but I mean we're getting it because we're increasing taxes. Yes sir. We've not found it's that we're going to tax citizens more to make this happen. Just to clarify. Absolutely. But we did it knowing that this was the best long term strategy. We were the only county in the state of North Carolina that did not have a part tax. We knew that we could not sustain it with the money we had. So we changed to a system that would allow the citizens to make that decision. I'm talking about this year. Can you still have a problem? I'm talking about this tax this year. Can I put it in a position? The unbalanced. I mean the protect. That was a strategy on the protect. I think we're starting level 3, sir. Thank you, Greece. Okay. And just for the record for the citizens, kind of, kind of managed it was that on $100 value property. What will that be? Goodness. I don't remember but I can't say I can just so more to He once again Increase right increase. Right. Oh, from $1,000. So $45 increase. Okay. So it'd be $910. No. It total. No, the house was $1,000 divided by $1154. It has to be $4,000. For a year. Increase. It's $910 taxes total, what I was saying. Because it ends up being $4 right taxes are gonna go up to 41 Santa You mean 91 91. I'm sorry 91 cent Right, yeah, but the increase for the taxpayers 45 dollars on right that's all a house Yes, it's a yes, and I can I was looking for the exact reason the presentation Yeah, and so was looking for the exact presentation. Yeah, and so, so yes, sir. And I have a pull up. Sorry, took me a minute. It's increasing. Yes. For a $100,000 house, yes, or the difference for a four and a half cent increase would be $45. Yes, for a $50,000 home, it will be half of that. It will be $22.50. And then for home value at $150,000 home will be half of that. It will be $22.50 and then for home value at $150,000, the difference would be $67.50. I guess one is a public to hear that. That's an increase though. That's not your total tax being. That is the increase in your tax. That is correct. Yeah, it's a good sign. Thank you. Yes, sir's a desire. Yes, sir. Thank you. So commissioners, of course, if you have other questions or the things to consider, we can of course talk about that. But I would like to mention a couple of other items that have been some discussion about, but I just wanna make sure, still on your radar costs. Of course, we've been discussing the $3 increase for EMS and that we provided the biggest for those. And something else that we would have to consider, going forward as we've talked about before where of course we have the construction of a new 911 facility with the $1.3 million match. And of course we often talking to our legislators trying to secure those funds and we're making progress with that but nothing has been confirmed. I just want that to stay on our radar as well. Something else I like to point out, when we met with the project consultant Robin Payne, there was $95,000 that was needed for architecture joins, to allow us to move without that. We can't move forward to phase three for top glass of water. Just want to make sure that's on your radar. And also we can also talking close session about the initial terms of our contract going forward. There's some unfinished business around that as well. There was some discussion about towns, companies contributing for what she does for the towns, versus what she does for the county. And if additional funds are provided for her for my strategic initiative fund, that could basically deplete any funds that we would have. Sometimes during the year comes up about a beach day spring festival, fall festival. So I just want to make sure those things are on your radar and being conceived. That's one other major thing. One is that it is very likely that within the new year, cap financing of internet expansion, that we will be required to pay significant portion of if we move forward as we promise with internet. Yes, sir. You know, also add that we still have about $600,000 of all of the funds set aside for for top glass of water-related expenses as well as 500,000 set aside for Great grant, right, and that is the first part that we already obligate of correct Yes, there it is great and we have 600,000 all000 else. So, or from ARP for a total of less work for us. Yes, they were for grant matches. I believe one portion of it was for Phase 1 overages and the other portion was grant matches for Phase 2. Okay. But days of borrowing and time decay, the one in the open to scratch. I'm sorry. They've already been paid out, correct? Since. Seems to repeat that. Phase one has been paid out. I believe that is correct. Okay. Phase one has been paid out. Yes, sir. So we have six hundred thousand all of a sudden and fun battles right now. Not from that well, pop up. Let's go outside and awful. So that can be used towards the But that can be used towards the big internet upgrade. 500 is set aside for great matches. That's what I understand. Yes, sir. Another one that could be coming up also. Can. Yes, sir. Well, over millions. Okay. Do we know what that is? The melt. No, we don't have exact figures on any cap. It's all that we will have at this time. What's the person who wrote the bug? Which was so there's percent if we know the ground. I'm not certain exactly what that is. And I'm a Franklin. Go ahead. It's good. It's still that it's not completely been determined, but we will have a match. It is going to be somewhere between 10% and 20%. Very low. I says 10 could be as much as 20. Yeah, we don't know one that is going to be around. We know it's going to be enough kind of huge. We know one of the years. I tell the other, we're going to do another state of board. Great question. As we as it stands now, there's no money in the budget set us out for that. It depends on how soon or exactly when those funds would have to be provided again. I don't have to have been provided that information, but when we are, if we see how much flexibility we have with our current offer funds outside of that, we're going to have to talk about it in the way that we're going to come from. we are, if we see how much flexibility we have with our current all-per-vons. Outside of that, we're going to have to talk about it in the way that we're going to come from. We will not be obligated to spend that amount in the year, but we would be obligated to incur that amount. It's the difference, right? We pay for it over a period of time, not all of it would be paid in that year. It's just like you accept a grant, right? You accept it and you accept the matching part of it. But we don't know what that's gonna be as of yet. Oh, right. We've been talking about it in reality, but you're saying, man, we can't plan for this because they have no idea what it's gonna be. Right. I just want to, yes. And I guess, I was mentioning the single, I guess commission I want to speak to know this to be in the center that it's coming. No good. But management can't plan forward in this budget because they wouldn't know what to plan forward. Right. That is the right. I do not know what our cap green cost will be. Well, that would be a correct statement also of finance officer. Each much. Management can plan for this because they don't know what it's going to be for this budget, correct? The Great Grant. No, not the Great Grant, which $20.00. Yeah, yeah, yeah. We already have that for the Great Grant. It's more ambitious to go ahead and shoot the dollar amount to drive to your anticipated gaming. And that's what most counties have done whether it's operatives or additional dollars in the budget because they know it's coming. That's the contingency line out of you we were talking about earlier. So we could add in and have it pulled from there. I want to be very clear contingency lines don't work and then for what you said. Right. That is absolutely. They're not being met as a slush on the said. Right. That is absolutely. They're not being as a slush on. That it's sometimes just for that night. Right. And I've been on the side. Yeah. Can it brings us back to the budget finance officer. It says that we should plan on this. Where are we at? You want to repeat what you see? I don't know. I said, so if you wish to management could include it. And there is no obligation that we have to do anything of it. If we choose to, then that will be a responsibility, of course, and let that to us. Do you have this information at all? You don't have any of this information. What about you? I know that cab is something that I've been talking about. They're going to be some cab grants that are coming or, you know, will be available to us. And there could be a match again in the percentage range that chairman of commissioner was in commission but again do I know exactly how much is going to be no sorry let's be clear it is not that it could be that decision has been made that there will be a match from code yes sir when I say people I'm talking about if we choose to move in that direction as you state it we don't have to go in that direction but if we do there will be a man. Yeah, man But feel like we need to go in that direction now. I Don't know that we have enough information Again, but if the the board will sit some careful on the side so that we'll be prepared We can actually do that management feel like we need to go in that direction In the direction in the direction of what? What do you something in there for care just management direction. In the direction of what? Well, he's something that I'm for cat. Just management for like we need to go in that direction. Here's here's what I know that most counties have done and we have been asked to do that too. Cab has asked us to look at what we're getting from great grant which will determine how many citizens will still be left out, not covered. Many asked us to do the work identifying those customers to know how many they were. That will determine how much it will cost us, and then that will determine what is our portion of it. It's a simple math equation, but a lot of families not all have done that as part of the great grant, working with their provider to say, okay, you're covering this many households in great grant. These numbers are being left out. But the state would like us to do is to find out how many people are not covering great grant. That would determine what request they would give us for care, knowing that a portion of that we would have to pay our match for. Does management think we need to do something with just now or should we wait for more information? the increases for EMS in that that would be helpful to feel a significant number of vacancies that we have. I would not recommend a setting plan to side for CAF at this time until I will wait until we find out exactly where we are with great grant and see exactly what would be needed for CAF. That makes sense. That makes sense. That makes sense. Yeah, that makes sense. Yeah, that makes really good sense, man. So in other part of that, so maybe you could give with your economic development person, you know me, and see does he have any knowledge or could give your update on that? Yes, sir. I'm sure he will be prepared to provide one at the end. And then they put me down. Okay but the state association has some estimates for every county. There's a report that they can turn it to that. You know exact but it's an estimate of what it would cost and we can get that very easily from the association. So planning for long-term though would it not make more sense to set aside a hundred and some thousand dollars for this just so we do have it if we need it instead of because we're increasing taxes again, right? And I know this is at the lawyer last year with some else, but if you find out in next year that you need more money for this, we cannot keep taxing the citizens. So instead of giving a 3%, if you gave people a 2% increase, that gives you $100,000 and $668,000, $103,668 that you could set aside in a contingency fund for this if you find out this year. Because you're saying that's not, you could do it over years. You don't have to pay it all at one time just where you're right So then that you have another hundred three thousand six hundred six eight dollars the next year if you need to I'm just saying I would love for us to plan for the future instead of just right this second at some point Yes, sir, and I understand that and the board can choose to do that It was simply would not be my recommendation to take that from an increase from staff for something that we don't know exactly when we'll have to do it or we'll have to do it at all. I wouldn't recommend that, but the board can absolutely do that. I'm not against, if we have something to set aside doing so, but I don't want to take back the 3% that I think employees are looking forward to. Yeah. Hold on, yeah. Well, are looking forward to. Oh, well, I manage it. I personally can care, especially the unknown thing, you know, and the employers here, they deserve it, man, because they were saying a lot of money. They deserve it, you know. And especially when we don't know and we get tired to know, you know, paid less paid to people. I was here with the manager for the foundation. Look at it. in regret in relation. Look at it. What else? Just on that point, worry is on our political zone. I think she did. That is some discussion. There will not be a question. Yeah. That is a good time. I'm on the vote. Well, the third page of it. And that it's not up in the vote. That's not been determined. Right now they are saying that we can expect between 10 and 20%. That has not been done. The legislation has not been voted to prove that. Let's be clear of that. We can validate that while with the association. That's not been voted. Because it's kind of hard for management to plan for an increase or something like that without thinking you'd have the impression. It's the same with this. It's very hard to do that this reason. You know, the vast questions and management has said that they don't think it this time was a practical time to do this. Is that correct? Yes, there it is. Okay. All right. Yes, sir. So that is all I have. I do have something for personnel and clean closed section. But that is all I have regarding the budget and the changes that were made. Again, all of the requested changes that you all have that the board requested. I'll discuss they are in the budget and we do have a balance. Okay. Okay. I just discussed discussed they are in the budget and we do have a balance. But okay, just discuss some of these changes with management also. It's for department heads and this and the other. I have worked very closely with finance officer and the assistant accounting manager and I've had some discussion with with department heads about some changes that take place but I have not since we last met been able to sit down with each department yet. No, but there has been some conversation with department. Yeah, and management is called down with each department yet. But there has been some conversation with the department. Yeah. And the management has just called school. Would they gut now? Correct. Sure. Paulatex and she said that. She says. Make it. Paulatex, just take me, and I'm sure she was. Yeah, I think so. No, I'm sorry. She and me can hear it. You're just, you got to call the budget now, right? Yes, sir. Comfortable. Well, let me say this. Since we're here now, I'll make the next things from the bulk through this. It's whether or not we're going to prove the budget, right? Let me say I am not comfortable with the budget. Let me go into record and say I'm not comfortable with the budget. And I want to be very specific of why I am not. Okay. Let Okay. Let me read part of this. At a time when we're asking our taxpayers to contribute over $652,000 more to run this county government, which means that we're asking them to do more with less. And at the same time that our school system has reduced the operation of three buildings, Southwestern, Askeville Preschool, and now, Orlando Elementary. At the same time, that we are reducing request of virtually all, most of departments within County Government, we're not asking our school system to share in any reductions. It is public record that the school system's fund balance, not this year, which is probably even higher, but the prior year was higher than the counties' fund balance. That does not include the $1 million plus gain that the school system received from the sale of Ask of your preschool. Remember when that's gain was announced, I then asked even on the record here for the commissioners that we asked for the split of that one million dollars to have to go back to the citizens and have to go to the schools and citizens paid for that school, but that was denied. That would have been enough to pay for most of the tax increase that we are asking our citizens and our shares. And the school system would have still had over a half million dollars and additions. You know, I think that the school system has done a tremendous job. I'm very proud of the work that the school system has done. And Dr. Smowicz has said that the school system has done a tremendous job. I'm very proud of the work that the school system has done. And Dr. Smarrowicz has said that the school system that the county has been very generous in funding the school systems. We have not cut their budget one dime over the time that I've been here. And we have not even in the face of reduction in students, savings on buildings, we have not done that. In fact, what we're not even asking them to, if to not give them to make that $300,000 request, is not even asking them to cut their budget. It's simply to reduce the gain that they are making, because at the very least, there's a million dollars gain from the Cell of Asuka preschool just to reduce that does still gives more so when we talk about and look no one here No one here and say that I am not supportive of this school system because I most certainly am of this school system, because I most certainly am. Over the last nine years, my wife and I have donated over $90,000 to feed kids in this school system. And in the prior three years in that, we donated $30,000 in scholarships for students, high school students graduating. Nelly, what's the scholarship foundation? Funded by my family, my wife and I. I believe in the public schools. What I think we're doing incorrectly is we're not asking them to share in this reduction with us. When they are funded better than the entire county government, I look back over the weekends, I could not find another school system that had a higher fund balance than the county. Not a one. I could not find one. And one that was still growing substantially. So I think our fiduciary responsibility is for county government, all of the citizens, and to ask them to share, to ask how the department heads to cut back on what they say they needed. Everyone should be sharing in this reductions. That is my fill. And that why I will not vote for this budget without that reduction. Thank you. Yes, but I have to say in response to that, and I have to listen to Dr. Small, and then the advising board of the Kansas Dolls have been through this after the debates at schools. And when it's happening in such a way, you have to say it's either gonna fall upon the citizens, again, as kicking the can down the road, or remove this budget fully. And part of that I'm in favor of removing the budget forward. I understand what you're saying Mr. Lesson and the mudder. Again, Chairman, I listen to what the school superintendent has to say when it comes to capital funds and improvements that have to be done to these schools. I know for a very big AC issues, we've had all kinds of routine issues and things of nature. All it says is data are schools. And so there's one, but there's a lot of things. And those things are not in the budget. They're not in the budget. They're 25 million out of scrapbooks. Not in there. Not in the budget. I'm sure they have things that have to be done. There are millions of dollars in things we can say they need to be done at this cap. We have ducts. We're doing right now. How you sir? Good boy. Okay. As far as the school budget goes, okay. And you had told us just forward that you had at least two million dollars with a cap full. A cap full that needs to be done from through to some schools, the scores, repairs and things of that nature, like Greg, yes or no. Okay, and we allocate what, $375,000 for that? Yes, for that. Okay, and you did make a cell of a piece property, or a piece property was purchased from the school system, correct? Yes, okay. And that was about making dollars. Something's over right in there. Yes, right. Okay, and that has to be used for capital funds, correct, just for capital improvements. Just for use of previous. Okay, and with that, that's gonna go towards capital. You get root issues, correct? Yes. You see issues, correct? Yes. Okay, if you didn't have that money on the side, okay, we'll do that. What would that money come from? That would be the price difference you got off. Exactly. And that would be able to make $1 million. That's correct. I'm almost taking it to that 1.375 guy. And that's where we stand at. And that's one reason that I'm not in favor of cutting school budget and school adding. I'm not in theus of what they have. I'm happy that they have it to be able to take this burden off our taxpayers and to cut a school system when we know what the school superintendent is telling us is what's happening in the future. And also, whereas God has done to these schools, then it's helping the taxpayer not hurting the taxpayer, but that would be a prick statement. I agree. Okay. And that would be my same towards that. And again, I understand that the miserable Muslim has a different worldview. And I concur that. And I have to say, after hearing the malerty of peers that he's been talking about, and has come with a full of forward, then we can't kick this can down the road and cut them and then re-adversize again. Okay. And that's what's going to end up happening. Look, John, let me be clear. Well, I support what the school is asking for. But these capital, these capital press and needs have been the greatest. They weren't there last year. They weren't there to even for it. They weren't there to even for that. We funded it the amount of money that we're funding right now. So when the school receives another additional million dollars in addition to a significant growth in their fund balance. At the same time we asked our citizens to pay almost $600,000 more. We asked our department heads with ask for additional to take us. All I'm saying is that we all of to share in those reductions because the greater good here, if we were reducing what we, but the amount of funds that the school board has, I would never vote for that. But we're not saying that. We're saying I'm suggesting that we reduce part of the gain that they have made, not reducing the funding that they have been given in the past. Dr. Smallwood, under our conversations that you've had with this board, the gains that you've had in your fund balance that have been through what? Probably a release book. A code of release book would be the same thing as the ARP for us, correct? And how much do you receive the net money? Got it, it's very certainly starving. Okay, three, three of us. It's an ARP. So your phone balance is basically increased all the COVID relief money is that correct? We need to be aware of the virus. We need to have the use of that. That is correct. So there's a lot of time. Sorry. We're being aware of the virus. So we need to have the use of the use of the health. That is correct because they don't be depended. Not because we did not cut. We did not cut. Let me first. John. John, and that cost was, let me first. Done. Well done, I'm just like, go up, go up, go up, go up. You were your target. I need what I would give you, then, too. Put the data. I'm going to get the cost you would need on demand. Look down, too. Go right there. So you leverage that money and save money. Can't it get it, correct? That's what it is. You're getting more than one of the items. So in reality is that after that you're done you're back on okay and you've got the money in there to take care of the capital repairs need to be done that's cool and you're gonna spend that money on the schedule repair this right that's hard and you're moving forward on this correct you got can I speak now yeah yeah, but thank you. That is my word. Look, the last fund balance that you showed in the audit for the school, the fund balance increases. I can't ask the right. And you're anticipating that the fund balance will also increase when the next part it comes out. That's great. It's awesome. Yes. And in addition to that, there is, which is not put in the budget, another million dollars that come from the sale of Ask for the Obrace of Truth. Right? So what I'm saying is, with the increases to the fund out in past years, which is now larger than the county, anticipated to be more for the prior year, and another million dollars. If we asked you to cut 300,000, we're not cutting into what you had. We're cutting into the game that you would have from those things prior being higher or this current year, right? And the million dollars. And you would still even if you just kept the game from this year, you would still have 750,000 dollars from the sale of the free sales. Because it was a million dollars and we're asking for 300,000 dollars consideration. It is correct for us if we ask our taxpayers to do something for them to do more with less, then we should be asking our departments to do more with less. And we're doing that. We're saying to virtually every department that's asked that be asking our departments to do more for less. And we're doing that. We're saying to virtually every department that's asked that we're asking you to do more with less. Then we need to ask everybody to do more for this, especially those who are well funded and then we have funded up the pet. That's my only point here. I know you have capital needs, right? And I support those capital needs. But right now when I balance that with where this county is, having to go to our taxpayers and ask them for more, without asking for any reductions, to me does not sound like the right thing to do. It's not a question of the need. It's a question of what is our producer responsibility to our citizens. That is my point. And I won't stand in the way. Thank you. And you're not citizens. That is my point and I will stand under the blanket. And you're not going to go outside with me. You have capital needs correct? Oh, yes, sir. Sorry. You have capital needs. Yes, me. There are many of you that have a lot of words to get on. Yes, your phone balances helping. Yeah, since the other fund district outside, but like I would have presented the budget, you know, we knew it was fund balance issues with accounting. So we were trying to show on because we know it was an extra plan to get that. So we can take care of the needs and that. If you were to have $300,000 out of your budget. Would that hurt you? Absolutely. Would it hurt children or birthday pads? Would it hurt your teachers? Absolutely. Would it hurt the progress that you've made in the last five years? Yes sir. And this would end up being up back to a county issue then, right? Yes sir. And you would be coming back to get more money after the pandemic. Because we all know we've got a 22% increase when it comes to inflation. Is that not correct? I ask you to. So if our household bills have gone up, 20, 22%, then I would expect the county bills and also, and also the school bills have gone up 22%. Is that big, great statement of use? and with that being said cutting your budget would be an instrument of form to the school and to the children and it in turn would just make you want to come back to the county within a year maybe two two years. Just like, should we gain that money if not possibly more? Yes, please. So I have to say, I'm so sorry. My name is Matt. Yes, I am. Commissioners, Department here is, and who really else is listening. Vice-Jourim Robinson, totally concovers with Chairman John Trent that we need not to cut the budget school budget for kids because 22% inflation is hot operate. And we are the parent and agent. We are the parent and agent for school board. So with that being said, however, yes, no cut. We're going to prepare. On Friday, it's in the clock. We have a meeting scheduled where we will take care of some county business when it comes to the weapon of the fiscal year which includes adopting this budget and making it very clear what our new tax rate will be setting that which is a budget ordinance will do. So that is where we are next meeting 10 o'clock on Friday to adopt the budget. Set the tax rate for the upcoming year and other counting related matters when it comes to closing those current fiscal year. All right. You had mentioned we need to go into closed section. Yes sir. We can do that. Persuant to general statute 1.43, 3.18, 21.A, 3.6. We have a motion. Please. So, second. We have a first and second. Any questions there are none? All in favor say aye. No. Any day. Say no. Okay. Everybody in the room. Alamos to recess this meeting until Friday and till 10 a.m. So we're first a second on favor say aye. Thank you. That's all.