[3. Call Meeting to Order]
[00:00:06]
THANKS. >>> GOOD EVENING, THE TIME IS 6:34 P.M., THIS PUBLIC HEAR SOMETHING NOW CALLED TO ORDER.
I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME YOU GUYS TO TONIGHT'S PUBLIC HEARING. IN WHICH WE WILL BE DISCUSSING SOME GREAT STUFF. I THINK THAT'S WHY WE HAVE A PACKED HOUSE. SO, UM, WITHOUT ANY FURTHER ADIEU, I WILL IDENTIFY THE TRUSTEES WHO ARE PRESENT AND WE'LL GET
STARTED. TRUSTEE WHITFIELD? >> TRUSTEE WHITFIELD: PRESENT.
>> TRYSUSTEE CLEWIS? >> TRUSTEE CLEWIS: PRESENT.
[5. Citizen's Communication]
>> VICE PRESIDENT JONES: DO WE HAVE A QUORUM. WE DO HAVE A QUORUM. BEFORE WE GO FURTHER, THIS MEETING HAS BEEN PROPERLY POSTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TEXAS OOPEN MEETING ACT.
>> WE HAVE A SPECIAL COMMENT FROM NANET VICK. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK. ITEM C? OH, YOU WANT TO SPEAK ON SPECIAL? THIS
IS THE PUBLIC HEARING. OKAY. >>> IT'S ON THE CARD.
(INDISCERNIBLE) AND DID YOU WANT TO DO PUBLIC HEARING OR THE
SPECIAL CALL MEETING? >> THE SPECIAL CALL MEETING.
>> SO, THAT WILL BE IN THE SPECIAL CALL MEETING.
[6. Convene Public Hearing A. Lancaster Independent School District's 2023-24 Proposed Budget and Proposed Tax Rate - CE(LEGAL and LOCAL)-(G2) Dr. Faith Ann Cheek, CFO - Presenter]
>> PRESIDENT HAMILTON: THERE BEING NO CITIZEN'S COMMUNICATION AT THIS TIME, WE WILL NOW CONVENE THE PUBLIC HEARING. THE PROPOSED BUDGET ADD THE PROPOSED TAX RATE. DR. PERERA.
>> THANK YOU, VICE-PRESIDENT JONES, I DID WANT TO HAVE A FEW WORDS BEFORE MOVING INTO THAT. UM, YOU KNOW, AS A TEAM OF EIGHT, UM, WE HAVE WHAT I WOULD SAY A FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY THAT IS INCLUSIVE AND EQUITABLE TO HAVE INCLUSIVE AND HE CAN QUITIBLE ACCESS FOR EACH STUDENT AND PROVIDE A DIVERSE RESOURCE FOR OUR LEARNERS, ON GOING TRANSPARENCY, FINALIZING A BUDGET WITH A PERSISTENT LEVEL OF INTEGRITY. MEANING THAT IT IS ALIGNED WITH OUR PRIORITIES AND OVERARCHING GOALS WITH OUR DISTRICT. THE DISTRICT'S PROGRESS, EFFECTIVENESS AND LEVEL RESOURCES AN THE AVAILABILITY OF STAFF AND STUDENTS WILL BE DEPENDENT UPON THREE OVERARCHING FACTORS IF YOU WILL, THE LEARNING RESOURCE THAT IS WE PROVIDE. AND AS SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS, I HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT LEARNING RESOURCES, THE RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF STAFF AS WELL AS SAFETY AND SECURITY. THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER FACTORS AS WELL, BUT, THOSE ARE THE THREE THAT BASICALLY INTERTWINE WITH EVERYTHING THAT WE DO. AGAIN, AS SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS FOR THE PAST YEAR, I'VE WORKED COLLABORATIVELY WITH CABINET MEMBERS AND ADMINISTRATORS IN DIFFERENT LEVELS AND YOU WILL SEE AN OVERALL PROPOSED BUDGET INCREASE THAT DECREASED BY 5%. A VARIETY OF RESOURCES FOR STAFF TO UTILIZE WITH STUDENTS IT ALSO ALLOWS US TO BE ABLE TO MEET STUDENT WITH THEIR SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE SO THAT THEY COULD SUCCEED IN A GLOBAL COMMUNITY. IT IS NOT LONGER THE CLASS THAT IS WE HAVE, AND THE STUDENTS WE SERVE, THEY ARE NO LONGER PREPARING FOR OUR WORLD, IT IS A DIFFERENT COMMUNITY WHICH IS MORE GLOBAL. THAT ALLOCATION ALLOWS US TO PROVIDE THAT UP-TO-DATE LEARNING, RESOURCES AND TECHNOLOGY TOOLS AND IMPROVING OUR DIGITAL RESOURCE CENTER. EDUCATION, RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION. I WILL ALWAYS MAINTAIN AND PAPER SUPPORTS THAT WE HAVE ONE OF THE HIGHEST RETENTION RATES IN THE BEST SOUTHWEST. SO, OUR EDUCATORS MAINTAIN A HIGH LEVEL OF EDUCATOR SUPPORT FOR OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF TO ALLOCATE
[00:05:02]
SUFFICIENT FUNDS FOR COMPETITIVE SALARIES AND PROFESSIONAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES AND RESOURCES THIS ALLOWS US TO INVEST IN YOUR EDUCATORS WHO POUR INTO OUR STUDENTS SINGLE DAY. ADEQUATE FUNDING LETS US ATTRACT NEW EDUCATORS WHO BRING FRESH PERSPECTIVES AND INNOVATIVE IT IDEAS. OUR BUDGET DIRECTLY REFLECT THAT IS ABILITY TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN THE BEST IN THIS AREA. AND THE SECOND, LASTLY BUT NOT LEAST, BUT, PROBABLY MOST OVERARCHING TO ME AND MANY IS SCHOOL SAFETY AND SECURITY. OUR BUDGET PLAYS A CRITICAL ROLE IN THAT PARAMOUNT ROLE. THE COMPREHENSIVE HOUSE BILL THREE WHICH WAS APPROVED BY THE # 88TH LEGISLATIVE SESSION REQUIRES NOWS THAT AN ARMED REGISTERED PERSON ON CAMPUS. THAT'S ANOTHER MANDATE COMES FROM 90,000 FEET OF LEGISLATORS, HOWEVER, BY PRIORITIZING IN THE FY 23/24 BUDGET IT'S INCLUSION OF SAFETY AND RECRUIT & RETENTION, I HOPE THAT THE BOARD WILL HEAR AND LISTEN TO THE EDUCATIONERS THAT ARE COMMITTED TO PROVIDING OUR RESOURCES AS WELL AS THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES OF OUR STUDENTS IN LANCASTER ISD WHICH I HAPPEN TO BELIEVE IT OUR COMMUNITY'S MOST PRECIOUS RESOURCE, THOSE ARE OUR STUDENTS. WHAT'S GOOD FOR KIDS IS GOOD FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND LOCALITY. AND DEFINITELY GOOD FOR OUR STATE AND WHEN YOU CAN DO THAT IN YOUR LOCALITY AND STATE, IT'S ALWAYS GOOD FOR OUR NATION. WITH THAT, I'LL CLOSE AND LET, ARE YOU READY, DR. CHEEK, THE FLOOR IS YOUR'S,MADAM. >>> MADAM PRESIDENT, ESTEEMED TRUSTEES, DR. PERERA, AND THE COMMUNITY, TONIGHT I WILL BE
PROPOSING THE 23-24 TAX RATE. >> THE NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING WAS PUBLISHED IN THE THE FOCUS Y NEWS ON AUGUST 11TH, ACCORDING TO STATE EDUCATION CODE AND STATE TAX COMPLIANCE MUCH THE THE PROPOSED RATES THAT WERE PUBLISHED WERE .7892 FOR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS. AND .4375 FOR INTEREST IN SINKING WHICH IS OUR DEBT SERVICE RATE TO PAY FOR BONDED INDEBTEDNESS.
THIS NOTICE ALSO COMPARES OUR PROPOSED BUDGET FOR 23/24 TO THE PREVIOUS YEARS ADOPTED BUDGET AND AT THE TIME OF PROPOSING WE WERE PROPOSING AN OVERALL DECREASE IN OUR BUDGET OF NEARLY 5%. THE SAME PUBLIC NOTICE POSTED ON AUGUST 11TH, TO THE PUBLIC, INFORMED OUR COMMUNITY OF OUR TOTAL AMOUNT OF BOND DEBT AND COMPARED LAST YEAR'S TAX RATES WITH THIS YEARS' PROPOSED TAX RATES. IT ALSO DETAILED HOW MUCH THIS CALCULATED TO PER STUDENT AND HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST TO MAINTAIN THE CURRENT LEVELS OF SERVICES NOTICE NEW FISCAL YEAR. THE '23-24 PROPOSED BUDGET IS BASED ON THE FOLLOW ASSUMPTIONS WHICH I PREVIOUSLY SHARED WITH YOU ON AUGUST 2ND. WHILE WE WERE STILL USING A CONSERVATIVE 88 PERCENTAGE, DUE TO THE TIRELESS EFFORTS OF LEADERSHIP AND STAFF, THE ENROLLMENT CENTER IS STILL SEEING CONSTANT ACTIVITY. TODAY'S COUNT IS 6936. DUE TO SEVERAL CHALLENGES AT LOCAL CHARTER SCHOOLS, LISD IS GROWING AND THIS IS GREAT NEWS. THE REVENUE PROJECTIONS WERE ALSO CONSERVATIVELY GENERATED ON THE TAX RATES PROVIDED BY TEA ON AUGUST 3RD. AS PROVIDED TO YOU ON AUGUST 2ND, OUR CERTIFIED VALUES FOR LISD FOR THIS TAX YEAR ARE $4,861,778,321.
ADJUSTMENTS TO THIS VOTER-APPROVED TAX RATE REVENUE
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COULD OCCUR AFTER AN ELECTION IF APPROVED. AS WITH EVERY ISD IN THE STATE, 80% OF OUR BUDGET IS MADE UP OF THE PAYROLL NEEDED TO EMPLOY STAFF. THIS NEXT CHART PROVIDES A COMPARISON OF LAST YEAR'S BUDGET COMPARED TO THIS YEARS' BUDGET, IT IS ALSO AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE. I WOULD LIKE TO COMMEND OUR LEADERSHIP, AGAIN, FOR THE VERY DIFFICULT TASK THEY ACCOMPLISHED IN CUTTING DEPARTMENT BUDGETS TO ACCOMPLISH THE DIRECTIVE FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT TO PRESENT A BALANCED BUDGET TO THE BOARD EVEN THOUGH REVENUE PROJECTIONS ARE THE LOWEST THEY HAVE BEEN IN YEARS. DR. BARKER'S TEAM HAS DECREASED THE INSTRUCTIONAL BUDGET BY OVER $5 MILLION. THE ADMINISTRATIVE BUDGET HAS BEEN REDUCED BY NEARLY $800,000. THE ONLY ADMINISTRATIVE BUDGET WHICH REALIZED AN INCREASE WAS THAT OF FUNCTION 41 IN THE AREA OF BOARD ADMINISTRATION DUE TO THE NEED OF THE COST OF THE CONSERVATOR AND THE MANTORY GOVERNANCE TRAINING AS PART OF THE PLAN.FUNCTION 51 WHICH IS MAINTENANCE, REALIZED INCREASES DUE TO THE INCREASED COST IN UTILITIES. IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT OVERALL USAGE AND CONSUMPTION IS DOWN THANKS TO MR. OYSTER AND HIS TEAM, HOWEVER, JUST LIKE YOU MAY HAVE SEEN IN YOUR OWN HOMES, UTILITY PRICE ARE UP. THE SECURITY BUDGET HAS ALSO SEEN INCREASES TO MEET THE DEMANDS OF UNFUNDED MANDATES FROM HOUSE BILL THREE FROM OUR LEGISLATORS AND WE ARE PREPARING FOR INCREASED TECHNOLOGY NEEDS. THIS SLIDE SHOWS THE COMBINED PROPOSED BUDGETS OF THE GENERAL OPERATING FUND, CHILD NUTRITION SERVICES, AND DEBT SERVICE. I DO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THE REVENUE PROJECTION ARE CALCULATED THROUGH A TEMPLATE, AND DESIGNED WEIGHTED MDA, TAX RATES AND TAX RATES IT. DUE TO OUR REVENUE DECREASING, I FELT IT WAS PRUDENT TO HAVE THE TEMPLATE REVIEWED BEFORE APPROVING THE BUDGET. OUR TEMPLATE WAS CREATED AND DID THIS AS A COMPLIMENTARY SERVICE FOR OUR DISTRICT. OUR TEMPLATE IS CORRECT AND WE ARE EXPERIENCING A DECREASE IN REVENUE FOR THIS COMING SCHOOL YEAR. THESE TWO CHARTS COMPARE THE TAX RATES FROM THE '22-23 TAX YEAR WITH A PROPOSED RATE FOR THE '23-24 TAX YEAR, IT DETAILS THE MNO TIER ONE RATE GIVEN TO THE DISTRICT BY TEA, YOU WILL SEE THIS IS SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED MY MAXIMUM COMPRESSION. IT SHOWS THE MNO TIER TWO RATE WITH OUR ENRICHMENT PENNIES, AND THE '23-24 RATE IN BLUE, INCLUDES THE LAST POSSIBLE 3.4 PENNIES THAT ARE AVAILABLE. THIS TAX RATE IS A PROPOSE THE DECREASE OF .0796 OR 6% FROM OUR CURRENT RATE. I ALSO WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU TAX RATE HISTORY AT LISD. STAFF REACHED OUT TO THE DALLAS COUNTY TAX OFFICE, THEIR CURRENT SOFTWARE ONLY GOES BACK TO 1999. AND AS YOU CAN SEE, THE TAX RATE WE ARE PROPOSING TONIGHT IS THE LOWEST TAX RATE SINCE 1999. HOWEVER, INVERSELY, SINCE 2018, YOUR TAXABLE VALUES
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HAVE MORE THAN DOUBLED. GOING FROM JUST OVER $2 BILLION IN 2018 TO NEARLY $5 BILLION IN THIS YEAR. LISD EMPLOYEES OF THE DISTRICT HAVE SUFFERED THE CONSEQUENCES, SORRY. OF SIGNIFICANT INFLATION IN THEIR DAILY FAMILY BUDGETS. 14% OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, MAXIMUM TAX COMPRESSION HAS MADE IT TOO RESTRICTIVE TO ALLEVIATE AND THERE HAVE BEEN NO SALARY INCREASES PROPOSED IN THE '23-24 BUDGET DUE TO OUR LOSS IN REVENUE. THE 88TH TEXAS LEGISLATURE, HAVING AT IT'S DISPOSAL AN UNPRECEDENTED SURPLUS OF GENERAL REVENUE AVAILABLE FOR APPROPRIATION TO SUPPORT PUBLIC SCHOOL EMPLOYEES IN THE STATE HAS APPROPRIATED ZERO ADDITIONAL DOLLARS OVER PRIOR YEAR LEVELS TO BE EXPENDED ON EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO TAD ADD THAT TEXAS IS CURRENTLY 48TH IN THE NATION FOR STATE FUNDING. THE BASIC STUDENT ALLOTMENT IS CURRENTLY SET AT $6,160, AND, THE GOVERNOR HAS PROPOSED A VOUCHER SYSTEM WHERE VOUCHERS FOR STUDENTS CAN LEAVE OUR DISTRICT AND GO TO A PRIVATE SCHOOL WHERE THEIR VOUCHER IS WORTH $8,000 AND WE ARE CUTTING BUDGETS. REVENUE WITH A .7552 MNO TAX RATE, WHICH IS WHAT THE STATE HAS SET FOR US, WOULD GIVE US A STATE REVENUE NET OF $36,556,000.56.>> REVENUE WITH A VOTER APPROVED TAX RATIFICATION ELECTION WITH A POSSIBLE .7892 MNO TAX RATE WOULD GIVE US STATE, LOCAL REVENUE OF $38,000,111 $809, THIS IS AN ADDITIONAL $1,555,753 IN LOCAL REVENUE. THIS $1.5 MILLION IN LOCAL REVENUE WITH APPROXIMATELY 850 LISD EMPLOYEES, WOULD GENERATE APPROXIMATELY $1,800 IN COMPENSATION FOR EACH FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE ANNUALLY. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME?
>> VICE PRESIDENT JONES: THANK YOU, VERY MUCH, FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. TRUSTEES, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS
AT THIS TIME? SECRETARY MORRIS? >> MADAM SECRETARY MORRIS: THANK YOU SO MUCH VICE-PRESIDENT SCR JONES. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU FOR PRESENTING THAT IN DETAIL AND SHOWING THE COMPARISON SO THAT OUR TAXPAYERS WILL KNOW AND FEEL COMFORTABLE THAT WE ARE PROVIDING THEM ALL THE INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE AS IT RELATES TO TAXES. AND, OUR TAXES ARE NOT BECAUSE OF A DECREASE OR INCREASE, BUT, IT IS STRICTLY A PROPERTY INCREASE AND I HAD TO PAUSE AN SAYING THAT, BECAUSE, I, AS A CITIZEN HAS REPERCUSSION, BUT, I DO KNOW THE MONEY IS WELL UTILIZED IN OUR DISTRICT FOR OUR STUDENTS. NOW, I DO WANT TO SAY THAT I MY HOUSEHOLD SELECTED TO CONTINUE
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TO PAY TAXES BECAUSE WE COULD HAVE TAKEN THE TAX CUT WITHOUT PAYING TAXES. SO, WE TOOK THAT OF THE SENIOR CITIZEN ACCOUNTABILITY. SO, I WANT INDIVIDUALS THAT LIVE IN OUR DISTRICT THAT MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE REACHED THAT AGE, PLEASE CONSIDER YOUR DOLLARS AND PAYING TAX MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR OUR CHILDREN THAT'S EDUCATED. AND I WOULD LIKE TO THANK DR. PERERAAND HER LEADERSHIP. THANK YOU. >> VICE PRESIDENT JONES: THANK YOU, SECRETARY MORRIS. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? TRUSTEE
STEPHENSON. >> TRUSTEE STEPHENSON: ARE YOU SAYING ALL OF THE INCREASED TAXES WOULD GO TO SALARIES?
>> I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T HEAR YOUR QUESTION.
>> TRUSTEE STEPHENSON: THAT AMOUNT THAT YOU SAID WOULD BE PRODUCED BY THIS TAX INCREASE WOULD BE $1,800 FOR SALARY?
>> $1,800 PER EMPLOYEE. >> TRUSTEE STEPHENSON: SO WOULD THOSE FUNDS BE EARMARKED FOR THAT PURPOSE.
>> IF YOU PROPOSE THIS TONIGHT IN AN ACTION ITEM, THAT THAT IS WHAT THE ELECTION WOULD BE. THEN THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT THE DISTRICT WOULD HAVE TO USE THE MONEY FOR, YES. THAT WOULD BE
UP TO THIS BOARD TO DECIDE. >> TRUSTEE STEPHENSON: SO JUST
MY NEXT QUESTION WOULD BE -- >> VICE PRESIDENT JONES: BRING
YOUR MIC CLOSER. >> TRUSTEE STEPHENSON: MY NEXT QUESTION, IS YOU KNOW THAT THIS ANNOUNCEMENT WAS MADE PER THE STATUE FOR THE DAILY NEWS. THE DISTRICT HAS A FACEBOOK ACCOUNT, WE HAVE CONTRACT AND WE HAVE A WEB PAGE. NONE OF THIS IS MENTIONED IN ANY OF THOSE PLACES. WHY NOT?
>> IF TONIGHT, THE DISTRICT DECIDES TO IF THE BOARD DECIDES TO HAVE AND CALL FOR AN ELECTION, WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY THREE MONTHS TO USE SOCIAL MEDIA TO PREPARE AND CAMPAIGN FOR A VOTER ELECTION. AND THAT IS WHEN IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO USE SOCIAL MEDIA TO ANNOUNCE BOARD CAMPAIGNING. AND UNTIL THE BOARD WOULD CALL AN ELECTION, IT WOULD BE
INAPPROPRIATE TO DO SO. >> TRUSTEE STEPHENSON: SO, I KIND OF DISAGREE WITH YOU THERE, BECAUSE, THAT'S THE WILL BE TO
HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING, ISN'T IT? >> AND THAT WAS ANNOUNCED AS WE DISCUSSED IN OUR AUGUST 2ND MEETING.
>> TRUSTEE STEPHENSON: SO WOULDN'T IT HAVE BEEN APPROPRIATE TO ANNOUNCE THAT TO THE PUBLIC SO THEY CAN VISIT THE PUBLIC HEARING AND HAVE THEIR SAY OR FURTHERMORE HAVE THEIR SAY WITH THEIR REPRESENTATIVES. AND WE DIDN'T FIND OUT ABOUT THIS UNTIL 6:30 P.M. FRIDAY NIGHT.
>> WE DISCUSSED IT ON AUGUST 2ND.
>> TRUSTEE STEPHENSON: YOU DIDN'T HAVE ANY DETAIL ON AUGUST 2ND. OKAY. JUST ONE LAST THING. IN ORDER TO HAVE A TAX ELECTION, THE DEADLINE FOR NOTICE IS AUGUST 11TH. THAT NOTICE HAS TO BE PUT IN A GENERAL CIRCULATION NEWSPAPER, USE "FOFOCUS DAILY NEWS" THIS I ONLY AVAILABLE ONLINE MONDAY-SATURDAY AND THAT NOTICE CAME OUT FRIDAY THE BEFORE
AUGUST 11TH. >> WE HAVE TO HAVE A VOTE BY THE BOARD TONIGHT IN ORDER TO HAVE A NOTICE OF PROPOSED BANALITY AND TAX RATE, THAT WAS BY AUGUST 11TH, AND THE DISTRICT HAS ALWAYS USED THE PAPER THAT IT WAS POSTED IN.
>> TRUSTEE STEPHENSON: THE DISTRICT HAS ALSO DONE A LOT OF THINGS THAT THEY SHOULDN'T BE DOING, AND THAT'S A BAD EXCUSE FOR IT. SO, ALL I'M SAYING IS THAT ACCORDING TO THE TEA DEADLINE, YOUR NOTICE IS OVER, AND THE FOCUS DAILY NEWS DOES NOT QUALIFY AS A GENERAL CIRCULATION NEWSPAPER IN DALLAS
COUNTY. >> WE WILL MAKE NOTE OF THAT
NEXT YEAR. >> TRUSTEE STEPHENSON: WELL YOU BETTER MAKE NOTE OF THIS THIS YEAR BECAUSE THERE'LL BE LITIGATION. THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. TRANSGENDER THANK YOU, TRUST TEA STEPHENSON. DR. PERERA.
>> I WANTED TO SAY THAT THIS INFORMATION WAS PRESENTED AUGUST 2ND AND IT WAS PROPERLY POSTED ACCORDING TO OUR REGULATION. OUR LOCAL NEWSPAPER IS TTHE FOCUS DAILY NEWS IS A GENERAL CIRCULATION NEWSPAPER AND IT IS APPROPRIATE FOR US TO
[00:25:03]
UTILIZE THAT COMMUNICATION MODE. IT IS NOT PROPER FOR US TO SOLICIT INFORMATION OUT PRIOR TO A VOTE BY THE BOARD, SO, WE DID NOT DO THAT. AND, UM, SO, WE'VE MOVED IT FORWARD WITH WHAT IS PRESENTED TO THE INFORMATION, AND I'LL TURN IT BACK OVER TO YOU, TRUSTEE JONES, I JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT INFORMATION OUT. EVERYTHING WAS POSTED AND COMMUNICATED APPROPRIATE. AND, ACTUALLY WE STARTED THE BUDGET PROCESS.>> VICE PRESIDENT JONES: THANK YOU, DR. PERERA, ARE THERE ANY CITIZENS THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE COMMENT PERTAINING TO ANY INFORMATION THAT HAS BEEN PRESENTED. IF SO, YOU MAY APPROACH THE PODIUM. ALL RIGHT. SEEING NONE, WE WILL NOW CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. AND THE TIME IS 6:59 P.M.
>> WE JUST NEED TO MAKE NOTE THAT TRUSTEE STEPHENSON CAME IN AT 6:37 P.M., AND TRUSTEE SMITH CAME IN AT 6:52 P.M., FOR THE
RECORD. >> VICE PRESIDENT JONES: THANK YOU, VERY MUCH. ALL RIGHT, WITH THOSE TWO ITEMS NOTED, WE WILL NOW CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. AND, TAKE LIKE, TWO AND-A-HALF MINUTES RECESS REAL QUICK AND WE'LL COME BACK AND GET STARTED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.