CAPTIONING
JUNE 1, 2007
PRESS CONFERENCE ON PROPOSED BUDGET CUTS



***This is not an official, verbatim transcript of the 
***following meeting.  It should be used for informational 
***purposes only.  This document has not been edited; 
***therefore, there may be additions, deletions, or words 
***that did not translate.

>>PAT BEAN:  GOOD MORNING.
HOW IS EVERYBODY TODAY?
>> [INAUDIBLE]
>>PAT BEAN:  GOOD.
WELL, ISN'T IT IRONIC THAT TODAY IS JUNE 1st?
ANYBODY KNOW WHAT I'M REFERRING TO?
>> HURRICANES.
>>PAT BEAN:  IT IS THE FIRST DAY OF HURRICANE SEASON, AND 
BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THERE IS A STORM COMING.
THE STORM THAT'S COMING IS WHAT WAS REFERRED TO BY OUR 
CHAIRMAN IN ONE MEETING AS A LEGISLATIVE KATRINA.
IT WAS ALSO REFERRED TO BY HIM AS AN ECONOMIC KATRINA.
WE ARE PROVIDING -- WE HAVE PROVIDED THIS MORNING TO OUR 
BOARD MEMBERS OUR ANALYSIS AS THEY DIRECTED US TO AT THE 
LAST BOARD MEETING OF THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE THREE PLANS 
THAT HAVE BEEN TALKED ABOUT BY THE LEGISLATURE REGARDING 
BUDGET REDUCTIONS FOR PROPERTY TAX RELIEF.
THAT WAS RELEASED TO THEM THIS MORNING WITH THEIR AGENDA 
MATERIAL, AND I THINK YOU'VE ALL JUST BEEN GIVEN COPIES 
ALSO OF THE INFORMATION.
THE THREE PROPOSALS ARE VERY DIFFERENT AS IT RELATES TO THE 
NUMBER OF DOLLARS THAT ARE INCLUDED AS FAR AS WHAT WE WOULD 
HAVE TO ADDRESS AS CUTS.
IN THE SENATE VERSION, WE WOULD BE LOOKING AT APPROXIMATELY 
$46 MILLION, AND IN THE HOUSE VERSION, THE RUBIO HOUSE 
VERSION, WE'RE LOOKING AT HAVING TO REDUCE $217 MILLION.
THE IN-BETWEEN VERSION, WHICH HAS BEEN TALKED ABOUT SOME AS 
MAYBE KIND OF A PARTIAL GOVERNOR'S VERSION, WOULD BE 
SOMEWHERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF $108 MILLION.
NOW, I NEED TO PUT THIS IN SOME PERSPECTIVE FOR YOU.
WHEN I TALK TO COMMUNITY GROUPS, NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS, I 
TALK ABOUT THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY BUDGET AS A THREE $3.8-
BILLION BUDGET, BUT THE BUDGET THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 
HERE AND THAT THE LEGISLATURE IS TALKING ABOUT IS NOWHERE 
CLOSE TO THE 3.8 BILLION BECAUSE IT IS ONLY ADDRESSING THE 
PROPERTY TAX DOLLARS THAT WE HAVE FOR OPERATIONS.
THAT NUMBER IS SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT THAN THE 3.8 
MILLION -- 3.8 BILLION.
IT IS, IN FACT, 800 MILLION, SO WHEN WE START TALKING ABOUT 
REDUCING, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TAKING THOSE REDUCTIONS FROM 
THAT 800 MILLION.
THE OTHER DOLLARS ARE FEDERAL DOLLARS THAT COME DOWN TO US 
FOR SPECIFIC PROGRAMS, THEY'RE CIT DOLLARS, THEY'RE OTHER 
SALES TAX AND GAS TAX DOLLARS, AN ARRAY OF DIFFERENT 
SOURCES OF FUNDS, BUT PROPERTY TAXES, WHAT WE'RE DEALING 
WITH IS 800 MILLION.
NOW, LET'S DO A LITTLE MATH.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE FOLKS WHO BELIEVE THAT THERE 
WILL HAVE TO BE NO CUTS TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AND FIRE RESCUE.
IF WE START WITH THE $800 MILLION THAT WE HAVE TO WORK WITH 
AND WE DO NOT EXPECT LAW ENFORCEMENT OR FIRE RESCUE TO TAKE 
ANY REDUCTIONS, THAT WOULD MEAN $460 MILLION COMES OFF THE 
TABLE, AND IF YOUR MATH IS GOOD, YOU'LL KNOW THAT WE'RE NOW 
DOWN TO 340 -- I BELIEVE IT IS -- MILLION DOLLARS.  
SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, REMEMBER, 46 IN ONE VERSION, BUT IN 
THE HOUSE VERSION IT'S 217 MILLION, AND WHAT WE WOULD HAVE 
TO WORK WITH IS NOT A WHOLE LOT BETWEEN THE 217 AND THE 
340.
IN FACT, IT MEANS WE'D HAVE JUST A LITTLE OVER OR 
APPROXIMATELY $120 MILLION TO WORK WITH.
NOW, IF YOU ADD TO THAT -- BECAUSE WE HAVE TO REPORT OUR 
EXPENDITURES TO THE STATE OF FLORIDA BY STATE LAW USING 
THEIR CLASSIFICATION OF EXPENDITURES.
THE REALITY IS IF YOU TALK ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY, IT'S NOT 
JUST FIRE AND IT'S NOT JUST LAW ENFORCEMENT, IT'S CODE 
ENFORCEMENT, IT'S THE CHILD CARE LICENSING FOLKS, IT'S AN 
ARRAY -- ANIMAL SERVICES -- AN ARRAY OF FOLKS THAT ARE 
PUBLIC SAFETY.
IF YOU ADD THAT TO THE MIX, THE NUMBER GOES FROM 340 TO 
360, AND THE NUMBER LEFT TO WORK WITH GOES FROM 120 TO 103, 
103 MILLION.
AND I'M TALKING ABOUT 103 MILLION WOULD BE WHAT I'D HAVE 
LEFT TO RUN THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT WITH, AND I THINK THAT'S 
A VERY DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE IF YOU UNDERSTAND THOSE 
NUMBERS THAN THINKING THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TAKING 217 
MILLION OUT OF $3.8 BILLION.
IT'S NOT THAT, IT IS REALLY ONLY -- AND WE CAN GIVE YOU ALL 
THE NUMBERS THAT YOU WANT TO DOCUMENT HOW THAT MONEY IS 
SPENT, BUT IT'S SPENT BY VIRTUALLY EVERY DEPARTMENT EXCEPT 
THE TWO ENTERPRISE DEPARTMENTS.
THEY DO NOT GET ANY AD VALOREM FUNDING.
THOSE ARE THE ONLY TWO, THOUGH, THAT DON'T.
SO I'M NOT HERE TO TELL YOU THAT COUNTY GOVERNMENT CAN'T 
TIGHTEN ITS BELT.
IN FACT, I THINK IF YOU LOOK AT THE HISTORY OF THIS COUNTY, 
WE'VE BEEN TIGHTENING OUR BELT.
OUR BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS HAS REDUCED THE AD 
VALOREM MILLAGE EVERY YEAR FOR 14 YEARS.
THAT IS A MAJOR STEP THAT THEY TOOK ON THEIR OWN.
NOBODY TOLD THEM THEY HAD TO DO THAT.
LAST BUDGET CYCLE -- REMEMBER THAT WE DO TWO-YEAR 
BUDGETING -- I ASKED MY DEPARTMENTS TO PROVIDE 
OPPORTUNITIES TO IDENTIFY EFFICIENCIES THAT WE COULD REMOVE 
FROM THE BUDGET, AND I TOOK $17 MILLION WORTH OF 
EFFICIENCIES OUT OF THE BUDGET BEFORE WE EVEN STARTED 
TALKING TO THE BOARD.
SO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY HAS NOT BEEN IRRESPONSIBLE IN ITS 
BUDGETING.
WE WOULD NOT HAVE HAD OUR BOND RATING INCREASED TO TRIPLE 
"A" IF THE RATING AGENCIES FELT THAT WE WERE BEING 
IRRESPONSIBLE.
SO EVEN WITH ALL OF THAT, YES, WE CAN CERTAINLY TIGHTEN OUR 
BELTS MORE, BUT ANOTHER POINT YOU NEED TO ALSO BE AWARE OF 
IS THAT WHILE THE LEGISLATURE IS TALKING ABOUT PROVIDING 
TAX RELIEF AND ASKING LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO TAKE THE BRUNT -
- REMEMBER, THEY'RE NOT ASKING THE SCHOOL BOARDS TO TAKE 
ANY REDUCTIONS.
THEY'RE, IN FACT, INCREASING THEIR TAX COMMITMENT.
THEY AREN'T ASKING ALL THE OTHER BOARDS OUT THERE THAT HAVE 
TAXING AUTHORITY TO TAKE CUTS, THEY'RE REALLY ONLY ASKING 
CITIES AND COUNTIES AT THIS POINT, AND AT THE SAME TIME 
THAT THEY'RE ASKING US TO DO THAT, DURING THIS LEGISLATIVE 
SESSION THEY ALSO GAVE US THREE NEW UNFUNDED MANDATES.
NOW, WE ALREADY HAVE A HUGE AMOUNT THAT IS MANDATED BY THE 
STATE.
FLORIDA IS ONE OF 20 OR SO STATES THAT REQUIRE COUNTY 
GOVERNMENTS TO PROVIDE PART OF THE MATCH FOR MEDICAID.
MEDICAID IS SUPPOSED TO BE A FEDERAL AND STATE PROGRAM, AND 
IN MANY COUNTIES -- IN MANY STATES, RATHER, THE COUNTIES DO 
NOT HAVE TO PROVIDE ANY MATCH.
IN OUR CASE WE DO.
YOU MIGHT REMEMBER THAT JUST A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO THEY 
PASSED DOWN A RESPONSIBILITY FOR US TO PAY -- AND I THINK 
THE NUMBER NOW IS SOMEWHERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF $9 
MILLION -- TO PAY FOR THOSE FOLKS IN THE DJJ SYSTEM WHO ARE 
PREADJUDICATION THAT ARE FROM HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.
THIS YEAR WHAT THEY'VE GIVEN US IN ADDITION IS A 
REQUIREMENT TO BUY NEW VOTING MACHINES.
WE JUST BOUGHT NEW VOTING MACHINES A FEW YEARS AGO.
IT WASN'T LONG.
THOSE WERE CERTIFIED BY THE STATE.  
BEFORE WE BOUGHT THEM THE STATE HAD TO CERTIFY THEM OR WE 
COULDN'T HAVE BOUGHT THEM, BUT NOW THERE'S BEEN A DECISION 
MADE THAT THOSE MACHINES AREN'T ACCEPTABLE.
WE NEED THOSE WITH A PAPER TRAIL, AND SO WE WILL HAVE TO 
BUY THOSE.
THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS STOOD BEFORE THE BOARD RECENTLY 
AND SAID HE DID NOT KNOW THE COST, BUT IT COULD BE ANYWHERE 
FROM TWO TO TEN MILLION, ANOTHER UNFUNDED MANDATE.  
THEY ALSO HAVE DECIDED -- HISTORICALLY THE STATE, THROUGH 
THE COURT SYSTEM, HAS PROVIDED WHAT'S CALLED "CONFLICT 
COUNSEL."
WHEN THE PUBLIC DEFENDER HAS A CONFLICT IN A CASE AND CAN'T 
REPRESENT AN INDIVIDUAL WHO NEEDS REPRESENTATION THROUGH 
THE PUBLIC, THEY HAVE, IN THE PAST, CONTRACTED THAT OUT TO 
PRIVATE ATTORNEYS.
NOW THE STATE HAS DECIDED, NO, WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO THAT 
ANYMORE, WE'RE GOING TO HIRE MORE STATE STAFF.
NOW, WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE REQUIRED TO PAY THEIR SALARIES, 
BUT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO FIND SPACE FOR THEM, WE'RE 
GOING TO HAVE TO PROVIDE ALL OF THE TELEPHONIC EQUIPMENT, 
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PROVIDE ALL OF THE COMPUTER 
EQUIPMENT.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF THINGS WE WILL HAVE TO PROVIDE, AND 
WE HAVE NO CLUE AT THIS POINT HOW MUCH THAT'S GOING TO 
COST, BUT IT'S ANOTHER UNFUNDED MANDATE.
THEY'VE ALSO HANDED US ANOTHER MANDATE REGARDING WORKERS' 
COMPENSATION.
WE DON'T KNOW THE EXTENT OF THAT EITHER AT THIS POINT.
NOBODY CAN REALLY TELL US THAT AT THIS POINT.
BUT I WANT EVERYBODY TO BE CLEAR THAT AT THE SAME TIME THAT 
THEY'RE TELLING US YOU'VE GOT TO MAKE REDUCTIONS AND WE'RE 
GOING TO FORCE YOU TO CUT YOUR MILLAGE, THEY'RE ALSO 
SAYING, BUT, OH, BY THE WAY, WHILE WE'RE AT IT, YOU'VE GOT 
TO PAY FOR THIS, THIS, AND THIS IN ADDITION TO THE OTHER 
UNFUNDED MANDATES THAT WE'VE BEEN PAYING FOR FOR YEARS.
YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT A LOT OF THE COST IN RUNNING 
ANY ORGANIZATION, WHETHER IT'S A PRIVATE CORPORATION, 
WHETHER IT'S A GOVERNMENT, IS COST-RELATED TO THE PEOPLE 
WHO PROVIDE THE SERVICES.
OUR CITIZENS IN THIS COUNTY HAVE TOLD US IN SURVEYS THAT 
WE'VE DONE IN THE LAST TWO YEARS, '05 AND '06, THAT THEY 
ACTUALLY ARE PRETTY HAPPY WITH HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY 
GOVERNMENT AND THE SERVICE WE PROVIDE.
WE HAD AN INDEPENDENT CONSULTANT DO THE SURVEY BECAUSE WE 
WANTED TO AVOID ANY OPPORTUNITY FOR ANYBODY TO SAY THAT WE 
HAD JUGGLED THE NUMBERS IN ANY WAY, SO WE HAD SOMEONE 
INDEPENDENT DO IT.
THEY DID IT BY RANDOM SELECTION OF PHONE NUMBERS, SO THEY 
DON'T KNOW WHO THEY WERE CALLING AND WE DON'T KNOW WHO THEY 
CALLED, BUT WE DO KNOW THAT BOTH ON QUESTIONS RELATED TO 
PERFORMANCE AND ALSO QUESTIONS RELATED TO VALUE OF THE 
SERVICES, THE PEOPLE WHO WERE SURVEYED SAID PRETTY GOOD 
THINGS ABOUT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.
IN FACT, BETWEEN '05 AND '06 THE RATINGS ON VALUE OF 
SERVICE, MEANING HOW -- HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT -- ARE THESE 
SERVICES WORTH WHAT YOU'RE PAYING FOR THEM, WE HAD OVER A 
13% INCREASE.  
WE WERE RATED AT 77% SATISFACTION.
THAT'S PRETTY PHENOMENAL.
SO OUR CITIZENS AREN'T TELLING US THAT THEY THINK WE'RE 
DOING A LOUSY JOB.
IN FACT, OUR CITIZENS ARE ASKING FOR NEW AND ADDITIONAL 
SERVICES ALMOST EVERY DAY.
WE'VE GOT LOTS OF REQUESTS FOR PARKS, WE'VE GOT LOTS OF 
REQUESTS FOR LIBRARIES, WE'VE GOT MANY CITIZENS OUT THERE 
WHO REALLY DEPEND, IN LARGE PART, ON THE GOVERNMENT AT THE 
LOCAL LEVEL TO PROVIDE SERVICES BECAUSE THEY DON'T MAKE A 
LOT OF MONEY.
THEY NEED TO RELY ON PUBLIC PARKS, PUBLIC LIBRARIES.
THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO NECESSARILY GO TO DISNEY, THEY CAN'T 
AFFORD EVERY TIME THEY WANT TO DO SOME RECREATION, SO THESE 
PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT IT'S OUR JOB TO MAKE THESE KINDS OF 
AMENITIES AVAILABLE TO THEM.
IT'S A MATTER OF QUALITY OF LIFE.
I THINK THOSE OF YOU WHO'VE KNOWN ME FOR SOME TIME KNOW 
THAT I HAVE SPENT MOST OF MY PUBLIC LIFE -- MOST OF MY LIFE 
IN PUBLIC SERVICE, AND I'M A PERSON WHO LISTENS CAREFULLY 
TO WHAT MY CITIZENS SAY, AND I KNOW WHAT THEY EXPECT FROM 
US.
I KNOW THAT THE CUTS THAT WE HAVE IDENTIFIED ARE NOT 
CONSISTENT WITH WHAT OUR CITIZENS ARE LOOKING FOR FROM US.
THE BOARD DID ASK, AS I SAID, AT THE LAST BOARD MEETING 
THAT I BRING THEM A REALISTIC LIST OF CUTS THAT WOULD HAVE 
TO BE MADE IF EITHER OF THE PROPOSALS CURRENTLY ON THE 
TABLE WERE ADOPTED BY THE LEGISLATURE, AND THE LIST THAT 
YOU'RE -- I THINK HAVE IN YOUR HANDS NOW IS THAT LIST.
I THINK AT THIS POINT I'M GOING TO STOP AND SEE IF YOU HAVE 
QUESTIONS FOR ME, BUT I'M GOING TO ASK YOU BEFORE WE CLOSE 
THIS PRESS CONFERENCE TO GIVE ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO 
THE CITIZENS, AND SO I WILL ASK YOU TO AT THAT POINT PLEASE 
KEEP THE CAMERAS ON SO THAT I CAN GET A MESSAGE TO THE 
CITIZENS THAT I THINK IS IMPORTANT, BUT I THINK I'D LIKE TO 
TAKE YOUR QUESTIONS FIRST.
>> PAT, YOU TALK ABOUT DEALING WITH JUST THE $800 MILLION.
WHAT IS THE 3 BILLION SPENT ON THAT YOU'RE GETTING?
THAT'S 3 BILLION STILL IN YOUR BUDGET.
EVEN THOUGH IT DOESN'T COME FROM PROPERTY TAXES, IT'S MONEY 
THAT'S BEING USED TO PROVIDE SERVICES IN THE COUNTY.  
>>PAT BEAN:  WELL, THE 3 BILLION, OF COURSE, INCLUDES THE 
TWO ENTERPRISE FUNDS, THE WATER DEPARTMENT, WATER RESOURCES 
SERVICES, AND ALSO THE SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT.
IT ALSO INCLUDES FEDERAL FUNDS THAT WE GET FROM HEAD START 
OR FOR HEAD START.
IT INCLUDES FEDERAL FUNDS THAT WE USE TO PROVIDE SERVICES 
TO ELDERLY FOLKS THROUGH THE AGING SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
IT INCLUDES CIT TAX DOLLARS, WHICH ARE NOT ABLE TO BE USED 
FOR OPERATIONS.
WE USE THEM TO CONSTRUCT FACILITIES.
IT ALSO INCLUDES GAS TAXES.
IT ALSO INCLUDES THE GENERAL SALES TAX SHARE THAT WE GET 
FROM THE STATE.
AND THEN IF YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT THE STATE REQUIRES OF 
COUNTY GOVERNMENTS -- IN SOME CASES, WE'RE REQUIRED TO TAKE 
MONEY FROM ONE FUND AND MOVE IT TO ANOTHER FUND AT THEIR 
DIRECTION, AND THAT MONEY COUNTS TWICE, SO LET'S SAY YOU 
HAVE 500 MILLION IN A PARTICULAR FUND AND THE STATE SAYS 
EVERY SO OFTEN YOU HAVE TO SWITCH THAT OVER TO A DIFFERENT 
FUND.
THAT GETS COUNTED TWICE, AND SO YOU'RE NOT DEALING WITH 
ACTUALLY 3.8 BILLION.
YOU COULDN'T COUNT OUT 3.8 BILLION ONE-DOLLAR BILLS BECAUSE 
YOU'D HAVE TO COUNT SOME OF THOSE DOLLAR BILLS TWICE IN 
ORDER TO GET TO THE 3.8 BILLION, BUT IT'S THE REQUIREMENT 
OF THE STATE AS TO HOW WE HAVE TO PROVIDE THEM THE 
INFORMATION.
>> BUT SOME OF THAT MONEY IS SPENT ON SERVICES; IS IT NOT?
WHEN WE HEAR ABOUT EVERYTHING'S GOT TO BE CUT BACK, YOU 
STILL HAVE $3 BILLION THAT YOU ARE SPENDING, SOME ON 
SERVICES, SOME ON CONSTRUCTING THINGS.
>>PAT BEAN:  ROADS, BRIDGES, BUILDINGS, LIBRARIES, PARKS, 
YES.
THERE ARE OPERATIONAL DOLLARS IN THERE.
THEY'RE MOSTLY, HOWEVER, THE FEDERAL FUNDS BECAUSE WE CAN'T 
SPEND CIT ON OPERATIONS, WE CAN'T SPEND -- WELL, GAS TAXES 
WE DO SPEND ON OPERATIONS AS PART OF THE MAINTENANCE OF 
ROADS, BUT A GOOD PORTION OF WHAT'S IN THAT 3.8 BILLION 
ABOVE THE 800 MILLION IS, IN FACT, TRANSFERS IN THE BUDGET 
OR LIMITED TO CERTAIN TYPES OF EXPENDITURES AND NOT AT 
LIBERTY TO BE TAKEN.
I MEAN, WE COULDN'T TAKE MONEY OUT OF THAT OTHER PART AND 
USE IT TO KEEP SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD OTHERWISE HAVE TO 
CUT AS A RESULT OF THIS ACTION.
>> WHAT'S THE ACTUAL NUMBER THAT GOES OUT THE DOOR FROM 
COUNTY CENTER -- [INAUDIBLE] -- CLOSER TO 2.2, 2.3 MILLION, 
MONEY THAT LEAVES COUNTY CENTER THAT GOES TO PROVIDE SOME 
SERVICE AS OPPOSED TO THE TRANSFERS BETWEEN FUNDS THAT 
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT?
>>PAT BEAN:  WELL, I DON'T KNOW THAT I HAVE THAT EXACT 
ANSWER, BUT I'LL BE HAPPY TO GET IT BACK TO YOU.
I'D RATHER BE CERTAIN THAT I'M GIVING YOU THE RIGHT NUMBER.
I THINK IT'S HIGHER THAN WHAT YOU'RE SUGGESTING BECAUSE YOU 
HAVE TO KNOW THAT IT INCLUDES THE WATER.
WHEN YOU GET INTO TALKING ABOUT AS COMPARED TO 3.8 BILLION, 
IT INCLUDES ALL THE WATER MONEY, ALL THE SOLID WASTE MONEY, 
ALL THAT WE HAVE TO SPEND IN THE COURTS AND FOR THE SHERIFF 
AND EVERYBODY.  
>> THE NUMBERS THAT YOU'RE USING HERE IN TERMS OF CUTS 
UNDER THE HOUSE PLAN, SENATE PLAN, THE MID-GRADE PLAN, 
THESE ARE ALL NUMBERS -- CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG -- THAT 
REPRESENT WHAT YOU WILL LOSE IN NEXT YEAR'S PROJECTED 
REVENUES AS OPPOSED TO WHAT YOU WOULD LOSE COMPARED TO WHAT 
YOU HAVE SPENT THIS YEAR; IS THAT CORRECT?
>>PAT BEAN:  BASICALLY.
>> THE -- AND IF THE PROPERTY TAX IS PROJECTED TO INCREASE 
11% CHANGE, THE -- UNDER THE SENATE PLAN, AT LEAST, IS IT 
ACCURATE THE REVENUES TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, JUST PROPERTY 
TAX REVENUES, USING THAT SMALLEST NUMBER WILL ACTUALLY 
INCREASE THIS YEAR?
>>PAT BEAN:  WELL, DON'T FORGET THAT THE BOARD IN JANUARY 
ADOPTED A SPENDING CAP, AND THAT LIMITS US TO HOW MUCH 
GROWTH WE ARE ALLOWED TO HAVE.
IT LIMITS US TO THE GOVERNMENT CPI AND THE PERCENTAGE OF 
POPULATION GROWTH, AND THE POPULATION GROWTH OVER THE LAST 
SIX TO EIGHT YEARS HAS AVERAGED SOMEWHERE IN THE 
NEIGHBORHOOD OF 2.5% TO 3% PER YEAR, AND THE GOVERNMENT CPI 
HAS BEEN SOMEWHERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF 3% OR A LITTLE 
BETTER, SO WE'RE LIMITED TO THAT AMOUNT OF GROWTH.
THE BOARD HAS ALREADY MADE THAT DECISION BY THE ADOPTION OF 
THE SPENDING CAP.
SO THERE MAY BE ADDITIONAL DOLLARS GENERATED THROUGH GROWTH 
THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE, BUT THEY'LL BE GIVEN BACK AS TAX 
RELIEF.
>> THE -- AND I GET WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, AND I'M NOT TRYING 
TO ARGUE WITH YOU.
THE -- BUT YOU'RE USING THESE NUMBERS THAT ARE PRO FORMA 
NUMBERS, BASICALLY, WHICH MEANS YOU'RE PROJECTING -- THE 46 
MILLION IS BASED ON ALL THINGS BEING EQUAL IF PROPERTY 
TAXES GO UP 11.8%, YOU KEEP THE MILLAGE THE SAME, WHICH 
THIS COUNTY COMMISSION HASN'T DONE FOR 14 YEARS, WE LOSE 
$46 MILLION, AND THAT'S NOT REALLY GOING TO HAPPEN AS YOU 
KIND OF ARE SAYING YOURSELF BECAUSE THE BOARD HAS ALREADY 
IMPOSED A SPENDING CAP ON IT, SO --
>>PAT BEAN:  WELL, NO.
IF, IN FACT, WE HAVE TO REDUCE BY 46 MILLION, THERE WILL BE 
REDUCTIONS.
IT'S NOT LIKE WE'RE SAYING IF WE COULD SPEND ALL THE MONEY 
THAT WE MIGHT HAVE, EVEN UNDER THE SPENDING CAP, THAT THERE 
WOULDN'T BE ANY REDUCTIONS.
WHAT WE DID -- WE HAVE ASKED ALREADY AND GOTTEN -- BECAUSE 
WE'RE IN THE TWO-YEAR BUDGET CYCLE AGAIN IN THE FIRST YEAR.
WE HAD GOTTEN FROM ALL OF OUR DEPARTMENTS THEIR PROPOSALS 
FOR '08 AND '09 BUDGETS.
REMEMBER THAT WE ARE UNIQUE TO MANY GOVERNMENTS IN THAT WE 
DO OPERATE ON A ZERO-BASE BUDGET.
THEY START WITH A MINIMUM LEVEL SERVICE -- MINIMUM SERVICE 
LEVEL, I'M SORRY, AND THEN BUILD UP WITH DECISION UNITS.
THE PURPOSE OF THAT IS SO THAT IF WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING 
LIKE THIS, WE HAVE A BASIS ON WHICH TO BEGIN TO START 
LOOKING AT REDUCTIONS.
SO WHEN WE STARTED EVALUATING THIS, WE -- WE KNOW FROM THE 
PRO FORMA WHAT IS PREDICTED AS POSSIBLE OUT THERE FOR US, 
BUT, YOU KNOW, THERE IS INFLATION OVER THE '07 BUDGET THAT 
HAS TO BE FACTORED IN.  
WE DON'T CONTROL UTILITY RATES, ELECTRIC RATES, WE DON'T 
CONTROL GASOLINE PRICES, SO THERE ARE THINGS THAT HAVE TO 
GROW EVEN TO CONTINUE THE SAME LEVEL OF SERVICE.
AND SO WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH IS A BUDGET SPENDING CAP 
THAT THE BOARD ALREADY PUT IN PLACE, ESTIMATING WHAT IT 
WOULD COST US TO CONTINUE DOING -- STARTING FROM A MINIMUM 
SERVICE LEVEL UP THROUGH A SERIES OF DECISION UNITS, AND 
THEY HAVE TO BUILD THEIR BUDGET ON A CONTINUATION 
ASSUMPTION, MEANING CONTINUATION OF WHAT THEY'RE DOING 
TODAY.
ANYTHING NEW OR OUTSIDE OF THAT GOES ABOVE THE LINE, AND 
WE'RE NOT TOUCHING ANY OF THOSE THIS YEAR WITH RARE 
EXCEPTIONS WHERE IT'S A MANDATE THAT WE DON'T HAVE A CHOICE 
BUT TO FUND.
>> TO FOLLOW UP ON BILL'S QUESTION, YOU TALKED ABOUT 14 
YEARS OF MILLAGE RATE REDUCTION.
IN REAL MONEY, IN THOSE 14 YEARS, THE COUNTY HAS 
SUBSTANTIVELY MORE MONEY COMING IN, AND EACH YEAR, JUST 
EVEN IN THE PAST THREE YEARS, THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT THE 
COUNTY HAS TO SPEND IS -- HAS INCREASED GREATLY 
PERCENTAGEWISE, HAS IT NOT?
>>PAT BEAN:  IT HAS.
>> SO WHAT WE HEAR FROM CITIZENS, A LOT OF US, IS THAT, 
WELL, THEY'VE GOT A LOT MORE MONEY TO SPEND AND THEY'RE 
CRYING POOR.
IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.
>>PAT BEAN:  WE HAVEN'T JUST SPENT THAT MONEY ON THE SAME 
LEVELS OF SERVICE THAT WE STARTED WITH.
WE HAVE USED THAT MONEY TO BE RESPONSIVE TO THE CITIZENS 
WHO HAVE COME AND SAID, WE WANT A NEW LIBRARY IN THE 
SEFFNER AREA, WE WANT A NEW PARK.
WE HEAR ALL THE TIME THAT THE LEAGUES THAT PLAY ON OUR 
PARKS HAVE DIFFICULTY GETTING GAMES SCHEDULED BECAUSE 
THEY'RE SO CROWDED.
WE'VE GOT A LONG LIST OF REQUESTS FOR ADDITIONAL PARKS, FOR 
ADDITIONAL LIBRARIES.
IN FACT, THE BOARD HAS SEVEN LIBRARIES IN THE BUDGET THAT 
WE HAD PLANNED TO EITHER BUILD FROM SCRATCH OR RENOVATE AND 
ENLARGE.
THOSE WILL NOT BE IN THE BUDGET THIS YEAR.
THEY'LL BE OUT BECAUSE WE GOT THE MONEY TO BUILD THEM, CIT 
DOLLARS, OR IN THE CASE OF FIRE STATIONS, IT'S 
COMMUNICATIONS TAXES, BUT WE CAN'T OPERATE THEM BECAUSE WE 
WON'T BE ABLE TO SPEND ENOUGH MONEY TO OPERATE THEM, AND 
THE LAST THING I'M GOING TO DO IS BUILD A FACILITY WITH 
PUBLIC FUNDS THAT THEN SITS THERE EMPTY.
>> PAT, HOW MUCH -- HOW MUCH DOES THE COUNTY HAVE IN 
SURPLUS OR CONTINGENCY FUNDS?
I HEARD IT WAS CLOSE TO A BILLION DOLLARS.
>>PAT BEAN:  WELL, NOW, REMEMBER THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF 
RESERVES THAT WE'RE REQUIRED TO HAVE BY THE STATE.
WE HAVE TO HAVE RESERVES THAT PROVIDE PROTECTIONS AGAINST 
DISASTERS, WE HAVE TO HAVE RESERVES -- IN FACT, THERE'S A 
NEW GASB REQUIREMENT, GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTING SERVICE BOARD, 
I THINK IT IS --
>>WALLY HILL:  STANDARDS BOARD.
>>PAT BEAN:  -- STANDARDS BOARD -- I'M SORRY -- REQUIREMENT 
THAT IF WE PROVIDE ANY KIND OF ONGOING HEALTH CARE BENEFIT 
FOR RETIREES OF THE GOVERNMENT THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE THE 
MONEY THERE IN THE ACCOUNT NOW, NOT WAIT TILL WHEN WE HAVE 
TO PAY IT FOR PEOPLE, BUT IT HAS TO BE THERE NOW.
SO YOU'VE GOT MONEY THAT WE'RE HAVING TO PUT ASIDE LIKE 
THAT.
YOU'VE GOT MONEY THAT WE HAVE TO PUT ASIDE IN THE WORKERS' 
COMP FUND.
WE'VE GOT A WHOLE NUMBER OF DIFFERENT REQUIRED FUNDS THAT 
HAVE TO BE SET UP AS CONTINGENCIES, BASICALLY, AGAINST 
FUTURE ACTIONS.
>> SO THOSE ASIDE, HOW MUCH -- HOW MUCH MONEY DOES THE 
COUNTY HAVE IN RESERVE OR SURPLUS?
>>PAT BEAN:  I DON'T KNOW THAT I WOULD SAY WE HAVE ANY 
SURPLUS BECAUSE HAVING SEEN WHAT KATRINA DID IN 
MISSISSIPPI, IT WOULD TAKE EVERY PENNY OF WHAT WE HAVE AND 
STILL NOT HAVE ENOUGH, BUT I WOULD PREFER TO LET ERIC 
JOHNSON ANSWER THAT QUESTION, AND I WILL GET THAT ANSWER TO 
YOU.
>> AM I READING THIS CORRECTLY, THAT UNDER YOUR PROPOSED 
CUTS, YOU'LL REDUCE SALARY INCREASES 20%, SO -- SALARY 
INCREASES OVER THE LAST COUPLE YEARS HAVE BEEN 5%.
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE SALARY INCREASES THIS NEXT TWO 
YEARS 4% ON AVERAGE?
>>PAT BEAN:  WELL, YOU HAVE TO ADD UP THE THREE.  
I THINK IT'S MORE THAN 20% WHEN YOU GET TO ALL THREE.
>> WELL, I'M LOOKING AT THE HOUSE --
>>PAT BEAN:  WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS DIFFERENT LEVELS OF 
CUT IN THE PAY INCREASES DEPENDING UPON WHICH LEVEL OF CUTS 
WE HAVE TO TAKE.
EVERY LEVEL INCREASES THE AMOUNT OF PAY CUT.
>> ALL RIGHT.
I SEE -- [INAUDIBLE]
SO IT WOULD BE SOMETHING ON THE ORDER UNDER THE HOUSE 
PLAN THREE AND A HALF -- 
>>WALLY HILL:  [INAUDIBLE]
>>PAT BEAN:  YEAH, BUT THAT'S NOT THE TOTAL.
>> -- UNDER THE HOUSE PLAN 3.5%, UNDER THE SENATE PLAN 4% 
PAY INCREASE NEXT YEAR.
>>PAT BEAN:  ON THE SENATE PLAN FOUR, ON THE HOUSE PLAN IT 
GOES TO THREE.
>> OKAY.
I'M CATCHING UP WITH YOU.
>>PAT BEAN:  OKAY.
>> AND DO I SEE HERE YOU'RE BASICALLY CUTTING THE 
AFFORDABLE HOUSING MONEY THAT TOM SCOTT WON BEFORE HE LEFT 
OFFICE UNDER BOTH HOUSE AND SENATE?
>>PAT BEAN:  NOT UNDER THE SENATE, I DON'T BELIEVE.
>> IN '08-'09, 3.3 MILLION APPROXIMATELY IN THE 
UNINCORPORATED AREA GENERAL FUND.
>> UH-HUH.
THAT'S CORRECT.
>>PAT BEAN:  OH, OKAY.
YOU'RE RIGHT.
WE'VE GONE THROUGH MULTIPLE ITERATIONS OF THIS LIST.
WE HAVE TAKEN THIS PROJECT VERY SERIOUSLY, AND WE'VE GONE 
THROUGH MULTIPLE ITERATIONS, SO WHEN YOU ASK ME A QUESTION, 
I MAY NEED SOME HELP FROM MY SUPPORTERS BEHIND ME HERE.
>> MAYBE I WOULD JUST ASK, HOW IS IT YOU CAME TO ELIMINATE 
THESE THINGS UNDER EACH -- WHAT TRIGGERED, YOU KNOW, 
SOMEBODY FOR THE AX, SOME PROGRAM FOR THE AX?  
>>PAT BEAN:  WELL, FIRST OF ALL, IF YOU START WITH THE 
SENATE PLAN, THE FIRST SERIES OF THEM ARE ADDITIONAL 
EFFICIENCIES THAT THE DEPARTMENTS IDENTIFIED.
WE TOOK VIRTUALLY ALL OF THOSE.
NOT ALL BECAUSE THERE WAS SOME WE COULDN'T, BUT WE TOOK 
MOST OF THEM.
AND THEN WHEN YOU GET BEYOND THAT, WE STARTED LOOKING AT I 
GUESS YOU'D CALL IT A SENSITIVITY OF THE CUTS, AND ONE OF 
THE THINGS THAT WE FELT WAS IF A PROGRAM HASN'T ACTUALLY 
GOTTEN OFF THE GROUND YET, THAT PROGRAM IS PROBABLY MORE 
APPROPRIATE FOR A CUT THAN PROGRAMS THAT ARE ALREADY IN 
EXISTENCE SERVING CITIZENS WHO WILL LOSE THAT SERVICE.
IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THERE WON'T STILL BE AFFORDABLE 
HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES, BUT IT DOES MEAN THAT WE'RE NOT 
GOING TO BUDGET A THREE, THREE-AND-A-HALF-MILLION-DOLLAR 
AMOUNT EVERY YEAR TO SIT THERE TO SEE IF WE CAN COME UP 
WITH SOME PROJECTS TO USE THAT MONEY FOR AND THEN HAVE TO 
CUT SERVICES TO OTHER CITIZENS WHO'VE BEEN ACCUSTOMED TO 
GETTING THEM.
>> IT LOOKS LIKE ON THE LIST SOME OF YOUR BIGGEST CHUNKS OF 
CHANGE UNDER EACH OF THE PROGRAMS IS BASICALLY DELAYING OR 
TABLING, FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD, CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS, 
NEW FIRE STATIONS IN OUTLYING AREAS, NEW LIBRARIES, AND I 
DIDN'T IMMEDIATELY PICK UP ON PARKS THINGS.
PARKS SEEM TO -- AT LEAST UNDER THE SENATE PLAN SEEM TO BE 
KIND OF UNSCATHED, A MILLION BUCKS IN '09, 1.3 FOR A 
MAINTENANCE CONTRACT, AND -- I'M SORRY, I'M JUST GOING 
THROUGH THIS ON THE FLY, BUT CAN YOU SPEAK TO -- YOU WERE 
SORT OF SPEAKING TO THIS BEFORE.
YOU BUILD NEW STUFF, YOU KNOW, KIND OF GET TO A PART WHERE 
IT NEEDS TO BE MANNED AND HOUSED --
>>PAT BEAN:  WELL, I DID SAY I'M NOT GOING TO BUILD A 
FACILITY WITH PUBLIC FUNDS THAT NEVER GETS OPENED BECAUSE 
WE CAN'T AFFORD TO OPERATE IT.
WE KNOW, FOR INSTANCE, THAT THERE ARE CURRENTLY TEN FIRE 
STATIONS ON THE LIST TO BE CONSTRUCTED.
WE CAN BUILD THEM.
WE HAVE THE MONEY IN HAND THAT WE CAN BUILD THOSE FIRE 
STATIONS, BUT IT'S $2 MILLION IN OPERATING COSTS FOR EVERY 
ONE OF THOSE THAT I OPEN, AND IT'S MY OPINION THAT WE'RE 
BETTER SERVED NOT TO OPEN ADDITIONAL ONES BUT TO TRY TO 
PROTECT AND PRESERVE THE LEVELS OF SERVICE THAT WE HAVE 
TODAY IF, IN FACT, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE THESE KINDS 
OF REDUCTIONS, AND THE SAME IS TRUE FOR THE LIBRARIES.
LIKE I SAID, THERE'S SEVEN THAT WERE SCHEDULED EITHER TO BE 
CONSTRUCTED NEW OR RENOVATED AND ENLARGED.
WE CAN BUILD THEM, BUT THERE'S THE OPERATING SIDE THAT WE 
CAN'T ACCOMMODATE IF WE HAVE TO TAKE THESE CUTS.
SO I'M NOT GOING TO BUILD THEM AND NOT BE ABLE TO OPEN 
THEM.
YOU HAD A QUESTION.
>> OKAY.
WILL SERVICE PROVIDED TO THE GROWING SPANISH COMMUNITY BE 
AFFECTED WITH THE BUDGET CUT?
>>PAT BEAN:  SERVICES TO EVERY CITIZEN OF THIS COMMUNITY 
WILL BE AFFECTED, SO TO SAY THAT SERVICES TO HISPANIC 
MEMBERS OF THIS COMMUNITY WILL NOT BE CUT WOULD BE UNTRUE.
IT'S GOING TO BE AFFECTING EVERY CITIZEN IN THIS COMMUNITY, 
THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN CITIZENS, THE HISPANIC CITIZENS, ALL 
RACES, CREEDS, NATIONALITIES.
>> PAT, THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES PUT TOGETHER A 
HANDBOOK TO TELL CITIES HOW TO DEAL WITH THE PROPOSED CUTS 
IN THE LEGISLATURE, AND SOME LAWMAKERS IN TALLAHASSEE HAVE 
SAID IT'S A BOOK OF SCARE TACTICS TO GET THE CITIZENS TO 
RAIL AGAINST THE LEGISLATURE TAX CUTS.  
DID YOU USE ANY INFORMATION FROM THAT BOOKLET?
>>PAT BEAN:  I HAVEN'T EVEN SEEN THE BOOK.
I'VE HEARD OF IT.
HAVEN'T EVEN SEEN IT.
WE DID NOT APPROACH THIS BASED ON ANYTHING THAT ANY OUTSIDE 
ORGANIZATION SAID, WE APPROACHED THIS ON THE BASIS OF I 
BELIEVE WE, AS LOCAL GOVERNMENT, HAVE A DUTY TO BE HONEST 
WITH OUR CITIZENS AND WE HAVE A DUTY TO PROTECT THOSE WHO 
DON'T HAVE THE CAPACITY TO TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES, AND TO 
JUST TAKE SOMEBODY'S WORD FROM THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES 
OR EVEN FROM THE FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES, WE DIDN'T 
APPROACH IT THAT WAY.
WE APPROACHED THIS AS WHAT DO WE BELIEVE WE NEED TO DO IF 
WE HAVE TO DO THESE THINGS AND STILL TRY TO MAINTAIN SOME 
QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR CITIZENS.
>> THE BOARD AND YOU, THROUGHOUT THE MONTHS THAT HAVE BEEN 
LEADING UP TO THE REGULAR SESSION, TOOK A LOT DIFFERENT 
APPROACH, VERY SORT OF CIRCUMSPECT AND LET'S WAIT AND SEE 
WHAT HAPPENS, AND YOU STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO 
HAPPEN, AND SUDDENLY NOW YOU'RE TAKING JUST A LITTLE BIT 
MORE PROACTIVE APPROACH, STATING YOU HADN'T -- YOU HADN'T 
DONE THIS BEFORE.
>>PAT BEAN:  THAT'S CORRECT.
>> AND THIS VERY WELL COULD HAVE COME TO PASS DURING THE 
REGULAR SESSION AND YOU DIDN'T DO IT.
NOW YOU'RE DOING IT.
WHAT -- WHAT HAS CHANGED TO LEAD YOU TO THIS POINT WHERE 
YOU ARE [INAUDIBLE]
>>PAT BEAN:  TODAY.
WHAT CHANGED WAS A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY 
COMMISSIONERS PUT AN ITEM ON THE LAST BOARD AGENDA FOR THE 
BOARD'S CONSIDERATION, AND THE GIST OF THAT ITEM WAS TO 
DIRECT THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO PUT TOGETHER A LIST OF 
WHAT ITEMS WOULD BE AFFECTED UNDER THE PROPOSALS BEING 
CONSIDERED BY THE STATE SO THAT THE BOARD AND THE CITIZENS 
COULD HAVE SOME INFORMATION BECAUSE UP UNTIL THIS POINT 
THERE HAD BEEN A DESIRE TO NOT ACT LIKE CHICKEN LITTLE, THE 
SKY IS FALLING.
AND AGAIN, I WILL TELL YOU THAT IF THE $46- OR $48-MILLION 
REDUCTION THAT WAS ASKED FOR BY THE SENATE PROPOSAL WAS ALL 
WE HAD TO DEAL WITH, WE COULD DEAL WITH THAT PRETTY EASILY.
NOT THAT IT'S NOT GOING TO MEAN JOBS CUT, IT WILL; IT'LL 
MEAN THINGS WON'T GET BUILT, BUT IT'S NOT NEARLY AS 
DIFFICULT TO ADDRESS AS IF WE HAD THE OTHER TWO OPTIONS AS 
THE FINAL DECISION, BUT THAT'S WHAT CAUSED ME TO BE HERE.  
AT THE LAST BOARD MEETING THEY PASSED A MOTION TO DIRECT ME 
TO PUT IT ON THIS COMING WEDNESDAY'S AGENDA, SO IT'S IN 
THEIR AGENDA PACKAGE FOR DISCUSSION NEXT WEDNESDAY, SO 
THAT'S WHY I'M HERE.
YES.
>> AM I UNDERSTANDING IT CORRECTLY THAT EVEN UNDER THE MOST 
SERIOUS CUTS, YOU GUYS ARE STILL GOING TO BE SENDING MONEY 
TO SOME NONPROFITS IN THE COUNTY?
>>PAT BEAN:  WHAT WE HAVE TRIED TO DO WITH THE NONPROFITS 
IS -- THERE ARE SOME NONPROFITS THAT CAN DO WORK THAT WE 
WOULD OTHERWISE HAVE TO DO AND CAN DO IT FOR LESS MONEY 
THAN US, AND WE BELIEVE THOSE NEED TO BE CONTINUED.
THERE ARE SOME ALSO -- AND I'LL MENTION TWO IN SPECIFIC -- 
WHETHER EVERYBODY AGREES WITH THIS OR NOT, YEARS AGO THE 
BOARD MADE A DECISION TO HAVE A MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND 
INDUSTRY.
THAT FACILITY, THOUGH WE DON'T OPERATE IT, BELONGS TO US, 
AND IF SOMETHING WERE TO HAPPEN TO THE FOUNDATION THAT RUNS 
THAT FACILITY, WE WOULD HAVE A MAJOR FACILITY SITTING THERE 
VACANT IF WE DIDN'T PICK UP THE PIECES.
IT'S BETTER, I THINK, FOR US TO TRY TO ENSURE THAT THEY CAN 
CONTINUE TO BE SUCCESSFUL AT RUNNING THAT FACILITY THAN TO 
TAKE ALL THE MONEY AWAY.
SAME IS TRUE WITH THE NEW HISTORY CENTER THAT WILL BE 
BUILT.
WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT ADDING NEW DOLLARS, WE'RE JUST 
TALKING ABOUT CONTINUING A LEVEL OF SUPPORT THAT WILL 
CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THOSE FOUNDATIONS TO THE EXTENT THAT 
THEY CAN CONTINUE TO TAKE THE LEAD AND -- AND PAY FOR MOST 
OF THE OPERATIONS.
>> CAN YOU GIVE ME A COUPLE --
>> PAT, WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THE 66% OF FLORIDA VOTERS WHO 
SAY THEY NEED PROPERTY TAX RELIEF AND THAT THEY THINK THAT 
LOCAL GOVERNMENT CAN DO WITH LESS MONEY OR DO WITH WHAT 
THEY HAVE?
66% OF THE FLORIDA VOTERS ARE CRYING FOR PROPERTY TAX 
RELIEF AND THINK THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS TOO FAT.
SO WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THOSE PEOPLE?
>>PAT BEAN:  WELL, I'M GOING TO STEP BACK BEFORE I TELL YOU 
WHAT I SAY TO THOSE PEOPLE AND JUST SAY TO YOU THAT WHEN WE 
HAD OUR PUBLIC HEARINGS LAST YEAR -- BOARD OF COUNTY 
COMMISSIONERS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY HAS BEEN A VERY 
RESPONSIBLE BODY AS FAR AS BUDGETS OVER THE YEARS.  
WE HAVE HELD MORE PUBLIC HEARINGS AND WORKSHOPS WHERE THE 
PUBLIC HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO EITHER LISTEN OR PARTICIPATE 
IN THE DECISION-MAKING ABOUT THE BUDGETS.
WE'VE HAD LOTS OF CITIZEN INPUT.
WE'VE HAD LOTS OF CITIZENS REQUESTING INCREASES.
LAST YEAR, WHEN WE HELD THE TWO STATUTORILY REQUIRED PUBLIC 
HEARINGS IN DECEMBER -- NOT DECEMBER -- IN SEPTEMBER, THERE 
WERE PROBABLY 25 OR SO PEOPLE AT THE FIRST ONE, MAYBE 17 AT 
THE SECOND ONE.
THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE THERE WHO GOT UP AND SPOKE WERE 
NOT PEOPLE IN HOMESTEADED PROPERTIES WITH SAVE OUR HOMES, 
THEY WERE PEOPLE WHO OWNED SMALL BUSINESSES, WHERE SMALL 
BUSINESSES HAVE NO PROTECTION WHATSOEVER FROM THE RISING 
PROPERTY VALUES.
THEY DON'T GET THE HOMESTEAD OR THE SAVE OUR HOMES, AND 
WITH THE CURRENT WAY THAT EVALUATIONS ARE DONE TO THE 
HIGHEST AND BEST USE, YOU COULD HAVE A MOM-AND-POP SHOE 
STORE SITTING THERE ON THE CORNER OF A PARTICULAR STREET, 
AND, YEAH, THAT CORNER COULD PROBABLY HAVE A MUCH HIGHER 
USE, AND SO THEY GET VALUED AT THAT MUCH HIGHER USE, 
ALTHOUGH THAT'S NOT WHAT THEY'RE USING IT FOR.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE HEARD.
THE SECOND THING WE HEARD WAS PEOPLE WHO HAD CHOSEN TO GET 
INVOLVED IN INVESTMENT PROPERTIES -- GIVE YOU TWO EXAMPLES.
THERE WAS A YOUNG WOMAN WHO STOOD UP AND SAID -- YOUNG, I 
SAY IS IN HER 30s PROBABLY.
EVERY YEAR I GET OLDER, THEY ALL GET YOUNGER.
SHE SAID, I HAVE A GOOD JOB, I HAVE A DECENT SALARY, BUT MY 
EMPLOYER DOES NOT PROVIDE ANY BENEFIT FOR PENSION, SO I 
HAVE TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT.
IF I WANT TO HAVE ANY KIND OF QUALITY OF LIFE WHEN I 
RETIRE, I'VE GOT TO BUILD THAT NEST EGG BECAUSE NOBODY'S 
GOING TO BUILD IT FOR ME, SO I WENT OUT AND I INVESTED IN 
RENTAL PROPERTIES.
I CAN'T AFFORD TO KEEP THOSE PROPERTIES BECAUSE OF THE 
RISING COST OF INSURANCE AND THE RISING COST OF PROPERTY 
TAXES, BECAUSE RENTAL PROPERTIES DON'T QUALIFY FOR SAVE OUR 
HOME OR HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.
THOSE WERE THE PEOPLE WE HEARD FROM.
I THINK THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN ONE GENTLEMAN, AN ELDERLY 
GENTLEMAN, WHO STOOD UP AT ONE OF THOSE TWO MEETINGS AND 
SAID, YOU KNOW, I'VE LIVED IN MY HOME FOR -- I DON'T KNOW -
- 40 YEARS.
MY WIFE AND I WOULD LIKE TO DOWNSIZE, BUT WE CAN'T AFFORD 
TO TAKE THE HIT WE WOULD TAKE IN TAXES.
TO MY MEMORY, THAT'S THE ONLY PERSON WHO STOOD UP WHO WAS 
PROTECTED BY HOMESTEAD AND SAVE OUR HOMES.
I'M NOT SURE THAT I'VE SEEN -- AND I WON'T SAY I HAVEN'T, 
I'M JUST GOING TO SAY I'M NOT SURE THAT I'VE SEEN ANY 
PROGRAM THAT'S TARGETED AT SOLVING THE PROBLEM FOR THE 
SMALL BUSINESS OWNER OR THE INVESTMENT PROPERTY OWNER WHO'S 
TRYING TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
SO WHAT DO I SAY --
>> BUT THAT DOESN'T ANSWER THE QUESTION.
>>PAT BEAN:  I KNOW.
I'M COMING TO THAT.
I SAY TO THOSE PEOPLE THAT THEY HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT AS 
GOVERNMENT WE HAVE TO SERVE ALL THE PEOPLE.
I DON'T KNOW WHO'S IN THAT 66% OF VOTERS, AND I DON'T KNOW 
HOW THOSE 66% WERE SURVEYED.
I DON'T KNOW ANY OF THAT.
>> IT WAS A MASON-DIXON SURVEY THAT WAS DONE TWO WEEKS AGO.
>>PAT BEAN:  WELL, I STILL DON'T KNOW.
ALL REGISTERED VOTERS?
>> REGISTERED VOTERS.
>>PAT BEAN:  SMALL PART OF THE POPULATION.
LOOK AT HOW FEW PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY REGISTERED TO VOTE, AND 
SAD, SAD STATEMENT, LOOK AT HOW FEW OF THE ONES WHO ARE 
REGISTERED EVER GO OUT TO VOTE.
I'D SAY TO THOSE PEOPLE, IF YOU'RE A REGISTERED VOTER, I 
HOPE YOU'VE BEEN VOTING IF YOU FEEL THE WAY YOU'RE 
DESCRIBING THEIR OUTCOME BECAUSE YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
IF 66% OF YOU BELIEVE THAT, YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
BUT IF THEY'RE NOT GOING TO THE POLLS AND VOTING --
>> BUT THE LEGISLATURE IS DOING WITH THESE BILLS EXACTLY 
WHAT THOSE 66% OF THE PEOPLE WANT.  
THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING.
THE LEGISLATURE IS LISTENING TO THE PEOPLE.
THEY SAY THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, THAT WHAT YOU'RE DOING 
TODAY AND SAYING THAT WE'VE GOT ALL SORTS OF PROBLEMS, 
DON'T CUT THE TAXES IS NOT LISTENING TO THE PEOPLE.
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THAT POLL SAYS.
>>PAT BEAN:  I HAVEN'T STOOD HERE TODAY AND SAID DON'T CUT 
THE TAXES.
I'VE STOOD HERE AND TOLD YOU WHAT WE WILL HAVE TO DO IF THE 
LEGISLATURE DOES CUT THE TAXES BECAUSE I'M NOT --
>> [INAUDIBLE]
>>PAT BEAN:  I AM NOT GOING TO BE DISHONEST WITH THE 
CITIZENS OF THIS COMMUNITY.
I BELIEVE THAT THE CITIZENS HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE FULLY 
INFORMED.
I BELIEVE THAT THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO KNOW IF THE 
LEGISLATURE DOES THIS -- AND IF THAT'S WHAT THE CITIZENS 
WANT, THEN THAT'S FINE, BUT IF THIS HAPPENS, HERE'S WHAT 
HAPPENS IN RETURN.
I DON'T THINK IT'S FAIR TO THE CITIZENS OF MY COMMUNITY, 
WHICH I FEEL VERY STRONGLY ABOUT, TO SAY, OKAY, WE'RE GOING 
TO GIVE YOU A TAX CUT AND NOT ONE POLICE OFFICER, NOT ONE 
FIREFIGHTER, AS HAS BEEN SAID, IS GOING TO BE LAID OFF, AND 
THEN TO FIND OUT THAT THE REALITY IS, OH, YES, THEY ARE, 
AND OH, YES, IT'S GOING TO AFFECT MY QUALITY OF LIFE.  
IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT, YOU TELL THE 
PEOPLE THE TRUTH ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS, AND IF THAT'S WHAT 
THEY WANT, THEN THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE, AND THAT'S FINE.
I'M ONLY HERE TRYING TO SAY THEY NEED TO KNOW THE TRUTH, 
AND THAT'S WHAT I'M TELLING THEM BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT 
THAT'S MY JOB.
>> PAT, HOW MANY NEW JOBS HAS THE COUNTY CREATED IN THE 
LAST FIVE YEARS, AND OF THESE -- UNDER THE WORST-CASE 
SCENARIO OF THESE 850-SOME-ODD JOBS THAT WOULD BE 
ELIMINATED OR POSITIONS THAT WOULD BE ELIMINATED, HOW MANY 
NEW JOBS CREATED IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS WOULD BE -- FALL 
INTO THAT.
>>PAT BEAN:  OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, I CAN'T TELL YOU 
EXACTLY HOW MANY IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS.  
I CAN TELL YOU LAST YEAR THE SHERIFF ADDED EITHER 63 OR 65 
NEW DEPUTIES, BUT I'D HAVE TO GO BACK AND GET THE 
INFORMATION.
I'M NOT GOING TO TELL YOU WHAT I DON'T KNOW OFF THE TOP OF 
MY HEAD.
HOW MANY OF THOSE NEW POSITIONS WILL BE ELIMINATED?
AGAIN, I'D HAVE TO GO BACK AND COMPARE WHERE WE ADDED.
I KNOW WE ADDED A HUGE NUMBER IN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
I KNOW WE ADDED POSITIONS IN PARKS AND RECREATION BECAUSE 
WE WERE OPENING NEW PARKS.
WE ADDED NEW FIREFIGHTERS BECAUSE WE WERE OPENING FIRE 
STATIONS.
WE ADDED NEW LIBRARY STAFF BECAUSE WE WERE OPENING 
LIBRARIES.
MOST OF THE NEW STAFF, THOUGH, WERE PEOPLE WHO WERE -- OR 
POSITIONS THAT WERE BROUGHT ON BECAUSE WE'VE RESPONDED TO 
WHAT THE CITIZENS OF OUR COUNTY TOLD US THEY WANTED.
THEY WANTED A NEW LIBRARY, THEY WANTED A NEW FIRE STATION, 
THEY WANTED A NEW PARK, AND THAT'S MOSTLY, I THINK, WHAT 
WE'LL FIND.
NOW, WE'LL RESEARCH IT AND WE'LL GET YOU THE INFORMATION, 
BUT I DON'T WANT TO STAND HERE AND SAY IT WAS 200 AND MAYBE 
IT'S MORE THAN THAT.  
I DON'T KNOW.
I KNOW THE SHERIFF GOT 65 OR MORE.
>> YOU SAID -- SOME OF THESE POSITIONS HAVEN'T BEEN CREATED 
YET; IS THAT CORRECT?
>>PAT BEAN:  THERE ARE SOME THAT ARE PROJECTED FOR NEW FIRE 
STATIONS, NEW LIBRARIES.
WE -- WHEN WE BUDGET -- AGAIN, I THINK WE'RE PRETTY 
RESPONSIBLE WHEN WE BUDGET.
WHEN WE SAY WE'RE GOING TO BUILD A NEW LIBRARY, WE COULD 
JUST TALK ABOUT THE COST OF BUILDING IT AND NOT TALK ABOUT 
WHAT IT'S GOING TO COST TO OPERATE IT, BUT WE DON'T DO 
THAT.
WE MAKE SURE THE BOARD KNOWS, OKAY, YOU'RE GOING TO BUILD 
SEVEN NEW LIBRARIES.
YOU GOTTA UNDERSTAND YOU'VE GOT TO ADD THIS MANY STAFF AND 
YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE THIS MUCH MONEY TO OPERATE.
>> IT'S NOT ACCURATE TO SAY THAT 850 PEOPLE WOULD BE LAID 
OFF UNDER THIS -- UNDER THE WORST-CASE SCENARIO, 850 
POSITIONS, SOME OF WHICH WILL BE -- WOULD HAVE BEEN CREATED 
IN THE FUTURE.
>>PAT BEAN:  THAT'S CORRECT.
WALLY IS SAYING TO ME THAT IT'S 24 LIKE THAT THAT WOULD NOT 
HAVE BEEN FILLED.
SOME OF THOSE MAY BE VACANT TOO.
EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE POSITIONS THAT HAVE EXISTED FOR SOME 
TIME, THEY MAY BE VACANT.  
SO I'M NOT GOING TO SAY NO, THE NUMBER GOING OUT THE DOOR 
WON'T NECESSARILY BE THE 800 AND --
>> THESE ARE NOT NECESSARILY FULL-TIME EQUIVALENTS, AS I'M 
SEEING TEMP WORKERS FOR THE PARKS DEPARTMENT ACCOUNTING FOR 
LIKE [INAUDIBLE] POSITIONS.
>>PAT BEAN:  THAT'S CORRECT.
>> THERE IS NOTHING THAT I'M SEEING -- AND I'M JUST GOING 
THROUGH THIS VERY QUICKLY.
YOUR BIGGEST SINGLE AD VALOREM EXPENSE IS THE SHERIFF'S 
OFFICE.
I DON'T SEE ANYTHING IN HERE DEALING WITH THE SHERIFF'S 
OFFICE.
>>PAT BEAN:  UH-HUH.
>> IS THERE?
>>PAT BEAN:  UH-HUH.
>> OKAY.
>>PAT BEAN:  WELL, LET ME JUST SAY ON BEHALF OF THE 
SHERIFF -- HE'S NOT HERE, BUT LET ME SAY THIS.
WE JUST RECEIVED HIS BUDGET SUBMISSION YESTERDAY.
WE'VE BEEN TALKING TO HIM AND SHARING WITH HIM WHAT WE KNEW 
OR DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT WHAT CHANGES WE MIGHT HAVE TO DEAL 
WITH, BUT WE HAD ASKED HIM TO TAKE REDUCTIONS JUST AS 
EVERYONE ELSE, AND HE HAS DONE THAT IN HIS SUBMISSION.
HE HAS NOT --
>> I'M SEEING IT.
>>PAT BEAN:  OKAY.
GOOD.
>> IT'S UNDER THE HOUSE PLAN, I THINK.
>>PAT BEAN:  WELL, I THINK IT'S EVEN BEFORE THAT.
WHAT?
>>WALLY HILL:  [INAUDIBLE]
>>PAT BEAN:  LISTED UNDER CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS.
>> I SEE IT UNDER THE HOUSE PLAN.
I'M NOT -- I'LL [INAUDIBLE]
>>PAT BEAN:  WELL, I DON'T THINK THERE WAS ANYTHING IN THE 
SENATE VERSION BECAUSE WE DIDN'T REALLY NEED TO --
>> IT WAS THE HYBRID VERSION HERE.  
>>PAT BEAN:  YEAH.
UNLESS SOMEBODY ELSE HAS QUESTIONS, WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO 
NOW, IF YOU'LL GIVE ME A MOMENT, I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE 
THIS.
I REMEMBER DURING THE HURRICANE SEASON IN '04 I TOLD YOU, 
THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE MEDIA, THAT YOU WERE THE VOICE 
TO OUR CITIZENS.
I WISH I COULD GO OUT AND LOOK EVERY ONE OF THEM IN THE EYE 
AND TALK TO THEM, BUT I CAN'T.
I CAN'T GET AROUND FAST ENOUGH TO DO THAT.
YOU'RE MY -- MY VOICE TO THEM, AND SO I HOPE YOU'LL GIVE ME 
A LIBERTY FOR JUST A MINUTE BECAUSE I WANT TO TALK TO THEM.
I WANT TO TALK TO THEM BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN AMAZED EVER 
SINCE THE SUMMER OF 2004 AT THE NUMBER -- AND NOW I'M 
TALKING TO YOU, THE CITIZENS OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.
I'VE BEEN AMAZED AT THE NUMBER OF YOU WHO HAVE COME UP TO 
ME AND SAID, I FELT LIKE I HAD WELCOMED YOU INTO MY LIVING 
ROOM OR MY FAMILY ROOM, I FELT LIKE YOU WERE TELLING ME THE 
TRUTH ABOUT THE SITUATION, I TRUSTED YOU, AND I WANT TO 
TELL YOU THANK YOU FOR BEING HONEST WITH US AND TELLING US 
THE TRUTH.
WHAT I NEED TO DO TODAY IS JUST SIMPLY SAY I'M ASKING YOU 
AS THE CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTY TO BE OPEN-MINDED, TO 
CERTAINLY LISTEN CAREFULLY TO WHAT THE LEGISLATURE IS 
SAYING, BUT BEFORE YOU MAKE YOUR FINAL DECISION, I WOULD 
ALSO ASK YOU WHEN THAT SHINY PACKAGE WITH THE BIG RED BOW 
ON IT IS SET BEFORE YOU THAT SAYS "TAX RELIEF," PLEASE LOOK 
INSIDE AND UNDERSTAND WHAT THE IMPLICATIONS ARE, AND IF YOU 
BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT AND THAT'S -- YOU'RE WILLING 
TO ACCEPT ALL OF THOSE IMPLICATIONS, THEN THAT IS WHAT WE 
WILL DO BECAUSE YOU'RE THE REASON WE'RE HERE, YOU, THE 
CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTY, BUT I CAN'T, IN GOOD CONSCIENCE -- 
AFTER HAVING MET SO MANY OF YOU AND TALKED TO SO MANY OF 
YOU, I CAN'T LET THIS HAPPEN WITHOUT AT LEAST ASKING YOU 
LOOK INSIDE THE BOX AND BE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND, AND AGAIN, 
I APPRECIATE SO VERY MUCH THE WAY YOU HAVE ALL RESPONDED TO 
MY WORK IN '04, I APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT I GET FROM YOU 
WHEN I RUN INTO YOU IN THE GROCERY STORE OR IN THE MALL OR 
WHEREVER I AM.
I WANT YOU TO KNOW ALL THE FACTS AND TO REACT BASED ON 
THOSE FACTS ACCORDING TO WHAT YOU BELIEVE IS RIGHT FOR YOU, 
AND THAT'S ALL I'M ASKING YOU TO DO IS JUST LOOK INSIDE THE 
BOX.
THIS HAS BEEN MY HOME LONGER THAN ANY OTHER PLACE I'VE EVER 
LIVED.
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY GOVERNMENT AND ITS EMPLOYEES ARE LIKE A 
FAMILY TO ME.
MANY OF THE PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR US DON'T MAKE A LOT OF 
MONEY, AND THEY STRUGGLE EVERY DAY, JUST AS I KNOW YOU DO 
OUT THERE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
ALL I'M ASKING IS FOR YOU TO KNOW THE WHOLE STORY, AND I 
BELIEVE IT'S MY OBLIGATION TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE THE 
OPPORTUNITY TO KNOW THAT.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR SUPPORT.



1