[A. CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:06]
GOOD EVENING. I WOULD LIKE TO NOW CALL OUR SPECIAL CALLED MEETING TO ORDER AT 6:32 P.M.
[B. Budget Hearing]
AND I WILL TURN IT OVER TO DOCTOR PACE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I'D LIKE TO. OPEN OUR BUDGET HEARING, AND I'D LIKE TO TURN IT OVER TO OUR CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, MRS. CLAY, TO BEGIN OUR BUDGET HEARING PROCESS. GOOD EVENING, MADAM CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND DOCTOR PACE. THIS EVENING, I WILL GIVE A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE SUPERINTENDENT'S TENTATIVE BUDGET RECOMMENDATION PRIOR TO THE OPENING OF THE FLOOR FOR OUR BUDGET HEARING. AS HAS BECOME PRACTICE, I'LL START THIS REPORT WITH A REVIEW OF THE DISTINCT FUNDS THAT ARE INCLUDED IN THE SUPERINTENDENT'S RECOMMENDATION. PER POLICY. THE BOARD TAKES ACTION ON THESE AGGREGATE FUNDS ANNUALLY DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS. THE FIRST OF THE FOUR FUNDS IS THE GENERAL FUND, WHICH IS THE ACCOUNT USED FOR OUR DAILY OPERATIONS LIKE SALARIES, INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPLIES, AND MAINTENANCE COSTS. NEXT IS THE SPECIAL REVENUE FUND, WHICH ACCOUNTS FOR GRANTS GIVEN TO HERRING COUNTY SCHOOLS FOR DESIGNATED AND SUPPLEMENTAL PURPOSES. THE SPECIAL REVENUE FUND ALSO INCLUDES THE FINANCIALS ASSOCIATED WITH ENTERPRISING ACTIVITIES OF SCHOOL NUTRITION AND THE BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL ENRICHMENT PROGRAM. NEXT IS THE CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND, WHICH INCLUDES THE REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES RELATED TO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS AUTHORIZED BY THE BOARD. AND FINALLY, THERE'S THE DEBT SERVICE FUND, WHICH CAPTURES THE REVENUE AND EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH LONG TERM DEBT INCURRED TO FINANCE CAPITAL PROJECTS. THESE DISCRETE FUNDS, WHICH ARE REQUIRED BY GOVERNMENTAL ACCOUNTING STANDARDS, ALLOW SEPARATE TRACKING OF REVENUES AND EXPENSES TO ENSURE PUBLIC RESOURCES ARE ALIGNED TOWARDS THE INTENDED PURPOSES. A MYRIAD OF EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL INPUTS HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED IN DEVELOPING THE BUDGET FOR EACH OF THESE FUNDS. THE FY 26 BUDGET CYCLE FORMALLY LAUNCHED IN DECEMBER, WITH THE PUBLISHING OF THE BUDGET CALENDAR IN JANUARY. THE 2025 STATE LEGISLATIVE SESSION KICKED OFF. OUR DISTRICT ENROLLMENT FORECASTING PROCESSES WERE COMPLETED AND THE BOARD'S SHARED PRIORITIES AROUND INVESTING IN COMPETITIVE COMPENSATION AND INVESTING IN THE COMMUNITY INSPIRED STRATEGIC ACTION PLAN WERE PUBLICLY DISCUSSED WITH CLARITY OF PRIORITIES. OUR TEAMS MONITORED THE STATE LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND MET WITH LOCAL OFFICIALS TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF A PRELIMINARY BUDGET OUTLOOK, WHICH WAS PRESENTED IN FEBRUARY, AND THEN THE PRESENTATION IN MARCH OF A BUDGET OVERVIEW. SINCE THIS TIME, THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION HAS CLOSED, WHICH INCLUDED THE ADOPTION OF THE STATE'S FY 26 BUDGET AND THE LOCAL TAX DIGEST DATA WINDOW HAS CLOSED. THOUGH THE ANALYSIS IS STILL ONGOING. THE CONCLUSION OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND THE DIGEST DATA WINDOW POSITIONS OUR SYSTEM TO BRING FORTH A BUDGET RECOMMENDATION. THE SUPERINTENDENT'S FY 26 BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS CONSIDERED THE PRIORITIES OF THE BOARD, AS WELL AS INSIGHTS FROM STUDENTS, TEACHERS, LEADERS, AND FAMILIES THAT HAVE BEEN GATHERED FROM VARIOUS ADVISORIES IN CONSIDERATION OF THE NEEDS OF OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM AND THE VOICE OF OUR COMMUNITY. THE SUPERINTENDENT'S RECOMMENDATIONS INCORPORATE INVESTMENTS IN COMPETITIVE COMPENSATION, ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL FOR EXPANDED INSTRUCTIONAL AND OPERATIONAL SERVICE CAPACITY, AND STRATEGIC INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORTS. IN THE SUBSEQUENT SLIDES, I WILL REVIEW THE FINANCIAL DETAILS BY EACH FUND, BUT I WILL TAKE A MOMENT BRIEFLY TO PROVIDE THE THEMATIC HIGHLIGHTS OF IMPROVEMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN INCORPORATED INTO THE SUPERINTENDENT'S PROPOSED BUDGET. STARTING WITH COMPETITIVE COMPENSATION, WHICH IS A SHARED PRIORITY OF THIS GOVERNING BOARD AND SUPPORT OF OUR SYSTEM GOAL TO RETAIN AND RECRUIT HIGHLY EFFECTIVE, QUALIFIED STAFF. THE SUPERINTENDENT IS RECOMMENDING TO EMBED THE MIDYEAR SUPPLEMENTS AND TARGET ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION IMPROVEMENTS TO RESULT IN INCREASING THE CERTIFIED HARRIS COUNTY SCHOOLS TEACHER SCALE BY $3,000 COMPARED TO THE ADOPTED FY 25 SCALES. INCREASING CLASSIFIED AND PROFESSIONAL SCALES BY 3% COMPARED TO THE ADOPTED FY 25 SCALES. AND INCREASING ADMINISTRATIVE SCALES BY $1,300 COMPARED TO THE ADOPTED FY 25 SCALES. AND FINALLY, HONORING THE SERVICE OF OUR EMPLOYEES BY ADVANCING THE EMPLOYEE STEPS THAT ARE EMBEDDED WITHIN THESE AUGMENTED SCALES. IN TERMS OF INVESTMENTS IN HIGH QUALITY INSTRUCTION AND SUPPORT SERVICES, THE PROPOSED BUDGET INCLUDES THE ADDITION OF 65 SCHOOL BASED AND DIRECT SERVICE STAFF MEMBERS AND 12 CENTRAL OFFICE SUPPORT AS FOLLOWS. TO RESPOND TO DISTRICT GROWTH AND SERVICES REQUIRED FOR OUR STUDENTS, THE INTENT IS TO ONBOARD 32 ADDITIONAL TEACHERS, SIX MTS INTERVENTIONISTS, FIVE PARAPROFESSIONALS AND FOUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS. ADDITIONALLY, NINE TEACHING ALLOTMENTS HAVE BEEN BUDGETED TO ACHIEVE STRATEGIC PLAN OUTCOMES AND INCREASING ACCESS TO WORLD LANGUAGES AND ORCHESTRA TO EXPAND CAPACITY IN SUPPORTING EXCEPTIONAL STUDENT LEARNERS. THE BUDGET CALLS FOR THE ADDITION OF TWO PSYCHOLOGISTS, FOUR INSTRUCTIONAL COACHES, AND THREE BEHAVIOR INTERVENTION COACHES.FINALLY, THE GENERAL BUDGET CALLS FOR THE ADDITION OF ONE MAINTENANCE AND FACILITY STAFF MEMBER TO IMPROVE OUR PERFORMING ARTS OPERATIONS. FIVE TRANSPORTATION STAFF MEMBERS TO
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SUPPORT THE NEW FACILITY COMING ONLINE. ONE STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICE MEMBER THAT WILL BE FOCUSED ON ATTENDANCE AND TO IMPROVE OPERATING CAPACITY AND PROCESS EXCELLENCE. THE ADDITION OF TWO HUMAN RESOURCE STAFF MEMBERS, ONE LEGAL STAFF MEMBER AND TWO ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT PERSONNEL IS ALSO RECOMMENDED. THE BUDGET ALSO INCLUDES INVESTMENTS TO ADVANCE OUTCOMES RELATED TO LEARNING, ACCELERATION AND LITERACY IMPROVEMENTS. ADDITIONALLY, TO RESPOND TO HEIGHTENED NEEDS, INCREASE TEACHER DEVELOPMENT FUNDING AND SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT FUNDING WILL BE ALIGNED TO IDENTIFIED SCHOOLS NEEDING THE SUPPORT. PEOPLE ARE AT THE CENTER OF OPERATING SCHOOLS TO FUNCTION. WE HIRE AND SEEK TO RETAIN STAFF THAT DEDICATE THEIR DAYS TO PROVIDING HIGH QUALITY SERVICES TO STUDENTS, WHETHER IT BE ON THE BUS, IN THE CAFE LINE, WITHIN THE CLASSROOM OR IN THE BOARDROOM. WE ALSO CONTRACT CRITICAL SERVICES TO ENSURE OUR STUDENTS HAVE SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS. 92% OF THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET IS RELATED TO THE COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS OF OUR STAFF AND SERVICES. FEES FOR OUR CONTRACTED STAFF. THE INVESTMENTS PROPOSED IN THE WORKFORCE OF HENRY COUNTY SCHOOLS ARE CRITICAL AS WE CONTINUE TO PURSUE EDUCATIONAL AND OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE. NOW THAT WE REVIEWED THESE HIGHLIGHTS, WE'RE GOING TO DIG IN BY EACH FUND, STARTING WITH THE GENERAL FUND, TO UNDERSTAND THE BIG PICTURE OF THE CHANGES WITHIN THE REVENUE AND EXPENSE PROFILES COMPARED TO THE PRIOR YEAR. I'VE PREPARED A VISUAL WHICH IS ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE OF THIS PAGE, AND ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE, I HAVE OUTLINED THE DRIVERS OF WHY THE REVENUE OR EXPENSE IS CHANGING, AND HAVE ALSO CATEGORIZED IF THE CHANGE IS DUE TO DECISIONS FROM THE STATE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, OR IF IT'S RELATED TO LOCAL ACTIVITY. ADDITIONALLY, YOU'LL SEE THAT THERE ARE SOME COLOR HUES OF BLUE, YELLOW, OR GRAY IN THE VISUAL ON THE LEFT HAND OF AND THE SAME COLOR CODING IS ON THE RIGHT HAND, SO THAT YOU CAN SEE HOW THESE FIGURES COME TOGETHER TO IMPACT REVENUE OR EXPENSE CHANGES. STARTING AT THE TOP LEFT AND FOCUSING ON REVENUE CHANGES, WE ARE ANTICIPATING YEAR OVER YEAR REVENUE GROWTH OF 16 MILLION, AS SHOWN IN THE BLUE HIGHLIGHT. AND THIS IS SOLELY SUPPORTED BY ANTICIPATED GROWTH IN THE LOCAL TAX DIGEST THAT IS NOW ANTICIPATED AT 9% VERSUS THE 1.5% GROWTH FORECAST SHARED IN THE PRIOR MONTH. WE ARE ANTICIPATING AN OVERALL DECREASE IN STATE FUNDING YEAR OVER YEAR BECAUSE OF THE STATE'S OVERALL REDUCTION IN EQUALIZATION FUNDING, COUPLED WITH REDUCED STATE FUNDING DUE TO THE LOCAL FIVE MIL SHARE REQUIREMENT. THESE ARE SHOWN IN THE THIRD AND FOURTH BLUE HIGHLIGHTS THAT ARE ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THIS PAGE. SHIFTING TO EXPENSES AND AGAIN LOOKING INSIDE OF THE BOX THAT'S ON THE LEFT, YOU CAN SEE THAT WE ANTICIPATE THE EXPENSE PROFILE TO INCREASE BY $24.3 MILLION. AFTER THE REDISTRIBUTION OF FAVORABLE BUDGETARY VARIANCE. NEARLY 60% OF THIS INCREASE, WHICH IS THE $14.4 MILLION VALUE THAT YOU SEE HIGHLIGHTED, IS DRIVEN BY RATE INCREASES ESTABLISHED BY THE STATE, WHICH ARE NOT FULLY FUNDED. FOR DETAILS ON THIS, LET'S TURN OUR ATTENTION TO THE RIGHT HAND OF THE PAGE. REVIEWING THE YELLOW HIGHLIGHTS UNDER STATE ACTIVITY. WE'VE DISCUSSED THE TRS EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTION RATE CHANGE FROM 20.78% TO 21.91%, AND THIS WILL COST OUR SYSTEM $3.4 MILLION TO IMPLEMENT, WHICH IS SHOWN IN THAT FIRST YELLOW HIGHLIGHT. AND THAT IS $1.2 MILLION MORE THAN THE FUNDING WE EXPECT THE STATE WILL PROVIDE THE MAJORITY OF THE NEW COST WE MUST ABSORB IN THE COMING FISCAL YEAR RELATES TO CHANGES AROUND THE STATE HEALTH BENEFIT PLAN, WHICH WILL TOTAL $11 MILLION, WHICH IS SHOWN IN THE SECOND YELLOW HIGHLIGHT ON THE RIGHT. WHILE WE WILL RECEIVE SOME FUNDING FROM THE STATE TO OFFSET THE $125 PER MEMBER PER MONTH INCREASE FOR CERTIFIED STAFF BY QBE, OUR LOCAL DOLLAR MUST SHOULDER THE FULL BURDEN OF $305 PER MEMBER PER MONTH, INCREASED FOR PARTICIPATING CLASSIFIED STAFF. THE WORKFORCE AND INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS HIGHLIGHTED EARLIER IN THIS REPORT ARE THE PRIMARY DRIVERS OF THE NEW FY 26 COSTS THAT ARE SHOWN IN THE GRAY, AND IF OUR LOCAL DECISIONS WERE ALL THAT WE HAD TO FOCUS ON, WE WOULD BE IN POSITION TO COVER THESE NEW COSTS AND BEGIN TO NARROW THE GAP BETWEEN THE ESTIMATED REVENUES AND EXPENSES FOR THE COMING FISCAL YEAR. HOWEVER, DECISIONS COMING FROM THE STATE ARE DRIVING A CHANGE IN THE EXPENSE PROFILE THAT WILL EXCEED REVENUE GROWTH FOR THE FISCAL YEAR. ACCORDINGLY, WE ARE FORECAST TO USE AN ADDITIONAL $8.3 MILLION OF RESERVES ABOVE THE 20.1 MILLION RESERVE USE THAT IS EMBEDDED IN THE FY 25 AMENDED BUDGET. SAID ANOTHER WAY, WE ARE EXPECTING TO USE $28.4 MILLION OF RESERVES TO CLOSE THE GAP BETWEEN FORECASTED REVENUES OF 568.9 MILLION AND THE ANTICIPATED EXPENDITURE NEEDS OF 597.3 MILLION. THE SUPERINTENDENT'S RECOMMENDATION FOR GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES FOR FY 26 TOTALS $597.3 MILLION, RESULTING IN A PER STUDENT EXPENDITURE OF $13,892 PER STUDENT, WHICH REPRESENTS A $517 INVESTMENT INCREASE PER STUDENT COMPARED TO THE FY 25 ADOPTED BUDGET. AND AS I STATED EARLIER, PEOPLE, STUDENTS, STAFF AND[00:10:03]
FAMILIES ARE AT THE CENTER OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM'S BUDGET. THE SUPERINTENDENT'S BUDGET RECOMMENDATION CONTINUES. OUR SYSTEM'S PERSISTENCE IN PUTTING RESOURCES CLOSE TO STUDENTS.WITH 97% OF FUNDS ALIGNED TO TEACHING, LEARNING, ENVIRONMENT, MAINTENANCE, AND DIRECT STUDENT SERVICES. FINALLY, THIS BUDGET RECOMMENDATION ALIGNS TO THE BOARD'S EXPECTATION OF INVESTMENTS IN THE COMPETITIVE COMPENSATION AND STRATEGIC ACTION PLAN. TURNING TO THE OTHER GOVERNMENTAL FUNDS THAT REQUIRE YOUR ACTION, I'LL QUICKLY REVIEW THE SPECIAL REVENUES. AND AS A REMINDER, THIS FUND IS COMPRISED OF FUNDING RELATED TO DIRECT GRANTS, WHICH MAY OPERATE ON A REIMBURSEMENT BASIS. ENTERPRISE ACTIVITY AND SCHOOL BASED ACCOUNTING ACTIVITY. WITH THE CLOSEOUT OF PANDEMIC RELATED FUNDING AND SOME CONCERN TO WHAT FEDERAL FUNDING LEVELS WILL BE SUSTAINED. WE ARE PROJECTING AN OVERALL DECLINE IN SPECIAL REVENUES YEAR OVER YEAR. IF YOU LOOK AT THE COLUMN FURTHEST TO THE RIGHT, YOU CAN SEE THAT WE ARE ANTICIPATING AVAILABILITY OF $57.5 MILLION IN FUNDING TO ADDRESS THE SPECIFIC NEEDS AND PROGRAMING DEFINED PER EACH SOURCE OF FUNDS. EXPENDITURES ARE CLOSELY ALIGNED, TOTALING 50 $56.2 MILLION. I'LL NOTE THAT THIS IS THE THIRD YEAR IN WHICH WE ARE ABLE TO DEDICATE FUNDING THAT'S GENERATED FROM THE RENTAL OF OUR FACILITIES FOR ARTS PURPOSES, TO THE FURTHERANCE OF ARTS PROGRAMING WITHIN OUR DISTRICT. THE LAST TWO FUNDS WE WILL REVIEW ARE THE CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND AND DEBT SERVICE FUND. REGARDING CAPITAL PROJECTS, THE BOARD SALE OF BONDS IN A PRIOR FISCAL YEAR PROVIDE THE INCOME THAT WILL BE NEEDED TO PAY FOR THE $62.3 MILLION IN COSTS THAT WE ANTICIPATE IN FY 26. THE REVENUE GENERATED OF $4.4 MILLION IS RELATED TO INTEREST THAT WILL BE EARNED ON BOND PROCEEDS THAT ARE HELD IN THE CONSTRUCTION ACCOUNT. THE DEBT SERVICE FUND ACCOUNTS FOR THE TAX PROCEEDS THAT ARE EXPLICITLY DEDICATED FOR THE REPAYMENT OF DEBT HELD BY HERON COUNTY SCHOOLS. WE FORECAST COLLECTIONS OF $94.6 MILLION, AND THE DEBT SCHEDULE REQUIRES $42.4 MILLION OF REPAYMENTS. ADDITIONALLY, IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE BOND STRUCTURE, IT IS NOTED THAT WE ANTICIPATE $43.8 MILLION OF THE SPLOST SIX FUNDS COLLECTED FOR PAY AS YOU GO WILL BE TRANSFERRED TO THE. TO ENSURE THE CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND HAS WHAT IT NEEDS TO ACCOMPLISH ITS OBJECTIVES. AND AS I CONCLUDE AND PREPARE THE FLOOR FOR THE BUDGET HEARING, I WOULD LIKE TO CALL ATTENTION TO THIS BUDGET DOCUMENT THAT THE BOARD WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE TENTATIVE ACTION ON THIS EVENING, FOLLOWING THIS BUDGET HEARING. SHOULD THE BOARD TENTATIVELY ADOPT THE RECOMMENDATION, THE BUDGET SUMMARY SHOWN WILL BE POSTED TO OUR WEBSITE. THE BUDGET WILL BE TABLED AND PRESENTED TO BOARD FOR FINAL ADOPTION ON MAY 12TH, FOLLOWING A SECOND BUDGET HEARING THAT WILL ALSO OCCUR AT 6:30 P.M. DOCTOR PACE, THAT CONCLUDES WHAT I PREPARED AND I YIELD THE FLOOR TO YOU FOR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION. THANK YOU, MRS. CLAY. MADAM CHAIR, THAT CONCLUDES THE OVERVIEW, AND I THINK WE'RE READY TO GO TO THE PUBLIC HEARING NOW. SO I'LL TURN IT OVER TO OUR PARLIAMENTARIAN. THANK YOU, DOCTOR PACE. THE PURPOSE OF PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN THIS INSTANCE IS FOR THE BOARD TO HEAR THE PUBLIC ON THE PROPOSED BUDGET. THOSE WHO HAVE SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AGREE TO THE FOLLOWING PARAMETERS. EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. SPEAKERS MAY NOT USE VULGAR OR INSULTING LANGUAGE. NAME A STUDENT OR EMPLOYEE INDIVIDUALLY OR DISCUSS ANY CONFIDENTIAL MATTERS. SPEAKERS WILL BE CALLED IN THE ORDER THAT THEY HAVE SIGNED UP.
WE HAVE ONE SPEAKER THIS EVENING, SABRINA WEIDMAN. REECE. AND MISS WEIDMAN. YOU CAN KEEP COMING AS YOU APPROACH. JUST MAKE SURE THAT THE BASE OF THAT MICROPHONE HAS A GREEN LIGHT ON SO THAT WE CAN ALL HEAR YOU. IT DOES. OKAY. YOU CAN START WHEN YOU'RE READY. OKAY. MY QUESTION IS. WITH THE TAXES THAT WE PAY FOR EDUCATION, IF THIS PROPOSED BUDGET PASSES, WOULD THAT MAKE US PAY MORE TAXES THAN WE ALREADY PAYING BECAUSE IT'S ALREADY HIGH ENOUGH. AND IT I FEEL THAT THE TAXES THAT WE'RE PAYING TOWARDS EDUCATION I, I NEED A BETTER BREAKDOWN. I UNDERSTAND THE BUDGET HAS BEEN READ, BUT I NEED A BETTER UNDERSTANDING AS TO WHERE THE FUNDS ARE GOING. AND WITH THE INCREASE OF WITH THE INCREASE OUR TAXES, BECAUSE A LOT OF US IS ALREADY PAYING HIGHER MORTGAGE WITH THE INCREASE. WELL, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE TAXES WERE BEFORE, BUT WITH US BEING IN A NEW BUILD AND US HAVING TO GET THAT TAX BILL AND HAVING TO PAY A MORTGAGE THAT'S EXTREMELY HIGH BASED OFF OF THE EDUCATIONAL TAXES, NOT THE OTHER TAXES, BUT THE EDUCATIONAL TAXES. SO THAT'S MY QUESTION. SO MISS WEIDMAN, REECE, THE BOARD IS NOT ABLE TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME, BUT THEY ARE HERE TO HEAR YOUR CONCERNS.
[00:15:01]
IF YOU DON'T HAVE FURTHER CONCERNS, THEN SOMEONE WILL CONTACT YOU. SOMEONE. WELL, THAT'S MY CONCERN. THE TAXES. OKAY. THANK YOU, DOCTOR PACE. THAT CONCLUDES OUR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION FOR THIS EVENING. I'LL TURN IT BACK OVER TO YOU. THANK YOU, MRS. RIDDLE. MADAM CHAIR, THAT CONCLUDES OUR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION FOR THE BUDGET HEARING. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND AT THIS TIME, SEEING AS THERE IS NO FURTHER BUSINESS BEFORE THE BOARD, I WILL ADJOURN OUR SPECIAL CALLED MEETING AT 6:47 P.M.* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.