Fire municipal service taxing unit millage

39:24I will now provide a summary of the fire municipal service taxing unit budget stating the tentative millage rate, the percentage change from the rollback rate, and the reasons for the change. The fire municipal service taxing unit fund has a recommended tax levy of 2.1225 ML. This represents a 7.98% increase from the rollback rate of 1.9657. The increase in property values resulted in an additional. 13.1 million in property tax revenue. The budget includes implementing phase one of the DSHA for fire personnel and a wage

39:55increase for the IAFF union. I would ask the board to accept public comment and then vote on the fire municipal service taxing unit fund millage rate and associated budget. The minimum vote for this tentative hearing is four votes.

40:09Okay. Does anyone wish to speak to the board with the Fire Municipal Services Taxing Unit?

40:17We have no one signed up in advance.

40:19Mm.

40:20Okay. Seeing no one, no one signed up.

40:26Uh anyone in the audience wish to speak to the Fiery M STU?

40:32Seeing no one. Um is there a motion to adopt the millage rate of two point one two two five mills for the fire municipal service taxes?

40:43Mr. Mr. Chairman

40:44Mariano

40:45Um for the public that's here. Could we please explain what a D shift is? Because this is an increase.

40:54Certainly. So the the D shift in its essence, so firefighters work uh typically on a typical schedule work a 24 hour shift and then they have 48 hours off. So that represents a total of three shifts, right? An A shift, a B shift, and then a C shift. A D shift uh adds a fourth shift to that rotation, thus the the uh the the cycle time. of the firefighters in terms of of rest, recovery, mental health is is cared for, and there's also reductions

41:24in overtime as well as other expenditures because you have a a larger source to distribute the costs over. But it does require increasing your manning by approximately 33%.

41:38Is someone coming up to say something?

41:40No.

41:44That was the accurate stars.

41:46And then and then just a reminder to the board that in um adding that D shift there was also the elimination of the Kelly Day because now you didn't need it. The D shift would offset that extra rest day.

41:57And that actual Adam saved us from losing seventy public safety people and and fire and all. during that past year. We only lost three this year. Years prior to that, we lost seventy personnel a year to other counties. Since we've done this That's gone away and now we're gaining for that shift. So Mr Weightman had to

42:22thank you Chair. No s no secret. I boxed this last year. Just wanna the last year just you know the story of this the the big push for this was for for wages um to make pay more whole and and bring folks in, but also baked into this. There's more than just wages. There's uh other other operating costs and technology. It's it's it's a it's more than a funding source than just for wages.

42:52So I just wanted to be clear. I know the public thinks that it's it's just it was strictly for for wages and and and part of that movement, but there's there's a lot more in this. Mike, I'd like you add some sunshine on that. Yeah, I can

43:07add some color to that. I mean uh the the um the increase in the MSTU, uh a large part of it was to fund D Shift for work work stress reduction, but also we are growing. We're the third busiest ambulatory service in the state of Florida. Uh as such, we need new equipment, we need new stations, and the MSTU works to provide funding for all of those. Fire related expenses. So that would include outfitting new fire stations. And in some cases, we can actually use some of those funds to actually invest in fire stations and

43:37new equipment, new ambulances, fire trucks, etc. Okay.

43:41And with our new fire chief who combed through his budget and found a lot of savings, we appreciate that very much. And I think we are all aware that we don't. have to have the prettiest, fanciest fire stations in the country. Um and we can get some savings on uh some of our new fire stations and I appreciate all the efforts and value engineering all of that.

44:07Yeah I can tell you Commissioner Chief Perez uh and Mr. Murphy have already found ways to reduce fire station costs by well over a million dollars on a per station. So that's that's good.

44:19Okay. Mr. Chairman? Yes. And I just e want to echo the same sentiment you did. We we had such a high turnover rate, just like we had with deputies years ago, that this D shift has now just shifted that whole calendar. As well as we're being our team does such a phenomenal job protecting our people, it's now to the point where they're safer, better protected, and people want to come to work here. I think we're probably the most desired station to uh decided com to work for. And that's a very good thing in these times where people are having trouble getting the services and

44:49protections they want for their lives. Yeah, right. Okay.

44:55All

44:55right.

44:58Did we do do a motion?

45:00I thought we did. We need

45:01a motion.

45:01So now you've

45:01got to do that.

45:02Never took the vote. Second. I got a motion and a second. All those in favor say aye. Aye. All opposed like sign. Motion passed 5-0. Okay.