Polk County Board of County Commissioners (Budget)  
Meeting Minutes - Final  
September 12, 2022 Public Hearing on FY 22/23 Budget  
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1st Hearing - Tentative FY22-23 Budget  
CALL TO ORDER (Martha Santiago, Chair)  
Commissioner George Lindsey, Commissioner Bill Braswell,  
Commissioner Rick Wilson, Chair Martha Santiago, and  
Commissioner Neil Combee  
Present  
A.  
FINAL ASSESSMENT RESOLUTIONS AND NON-AD VALOREM ASSESSMENT  
ROLLS (Randy Mink, County Attorney)  
Minutes: County Attorney Randy Mink  
A.1. Public hearing to consider adoption of the Final Rate Resolution for the 2022-23  
Street Lighting Assessments.  
Minutes: Deputy County Attorney Sandra Howard discussed the Final Rate Resolution  
for the 2022-2023 Street Lighting Assessments. She recommended approval.  
The Chair opened a public hearing; no one spoke.  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYE:  
APPROVED  
Bill Braswell  
Neil Combee  
Lindsey, Braswell, Wilson, Santiago, and Combee  
A.2. Public hearing to consider adoption of the Final Assessment Resolutions for  
2022-23 for Angus Road, Asherwoods Road, Black White & Huggins Roads,  
Estate Road, JEH Road, Moore Road, Pete's Lane, Pioneer Drive, Ridge Road  
and Roy Burt Road Assessment Areas for roadway paving improvements.  
Minutes: Deputy County Attorney Sandra Howard discussed the Final Rate Resolution  
for the 2022-2023 Assessment for roadway paving improvements. She recommended  
approval.  
The Chair opened a public hearing; no one spoke.  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYE:  
APPROVED  
Bill Braswell  
Neil Combee  
Lindsey, Braswell, Wilson, Santiago, and Combee  
A.3. Public Hearing to consider adoption of the Final Rate Resolution for the 2022-23  
Skyview Utility Municipal Service Benefit Unit ("MSBU").  
Minutes: Deputy County Attorney Sandra Howard discussed the Final Rate Resolution  
for the 2022-2023 Skyview Utility Municipal Services Benefit Unit. She recommended  
approval.  
The Chair opened a public hearing; no one spoke.  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYE:  
APPROVED  
Bill Braswell  
Neil Combee  
Lindsey, Braswell, Wilson, Santiago, and Combee  
A.4. Public hearing to consider adoption of the Final Rate Resolution for the 2022-23  
Island Club West Utility Municipal Service Benefit Unit ("MSBU").  
Minutes: Deputy County Attorney Sandra Howard discussed the Final Rate Resolution  
for the 2022-2023 Island Club West Utility Municipal Service Benefit Unit. She  
recommended approval.  
The Chair opened a public hearing; no one spoke.  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYE:  
APPROVED  
Neil Combee  
Bill Braswell  
Lindsey, Braswell, Wilson, Santiago, and Combee  
A.5. Public hearing to consider adoption of the final Rate Resolution for the 2022-23  
East Bimini Bay Utility Municipal Service Benefit Unit ("MSBU").  
Minutes: Deputy County Attorney Sandra Howard discussed the 2022-2023 Final Rate  
Resolution for the East Bimini Bay Utility Service Benefit Unit. She recommended  
approval.  
The Chair opened a public hearing; no one spoke.  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
APPROVED  
Rick Wilson  
Bill Braswell  
Lindsey, Braswell, Wilson, Santiago, and Combee  
AYE:  
A.6. Public hearing to consider adoption of the Final Rate Resolution for the 2022-23  
Fire Services Non-Ad Valorem Assessments.  
Minutes: Deputy County Attorney Sandra Howard discussed the Final Rate Resolution  
for the 2022-2023 Fire Services Non-Advalorem Assessments. She recommended  
approval.  
The Chair opened a public hearing; no one spoke.  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYE:  
APPROVED  
Neil Combee  
Bill Braswell  
Lindsey, Braswell, Wilson, Santiago, and Combee  
A.7. Public hearing to consider adoption of the Residential Waste Program Services  
Final Assessment Resolution and Setting the Assessment Rate for Fiscal Year  
2022-23.  
Minutes: Deputy County Attorney Sandra Howard discussed the Final Rate Resolution  
for the 2022-2023 Residential Waste Assessments. She recommended approval.  
The Chair opened a public hearing; no one spoke.  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYE:  
APPROVED  
Neil Combee  
Bill Braswell  
Lindsey, Braswell, Wilson, Santiago, and Combee  
A.8. Public Hearing to consider adoption of the Final Rate Resolution and  
Assessment Roll for the 2022-23 Nuisance Abatement Assessments.  
Minutes: Deputy County Attorney Sandra Howard discussed the Final Rate Resolution  
and Assessment Roll for the 2022-2023 Nuisance Abatement Assessments. She  
recommended approval.  
The Chair opened a public hearing; no one spoke.  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYE:  
APPROVED  
Bill Braswell  
Neil Combee  
Lindsey, Braswell, Wilson, Santiago, and Combee  
A.9. Public Hearing to consider the adoption of the Final Assessment Resolution and  
Assessment Roll for the 2022-23 Excessive Bulk Waste Assessments.  
Minutes: Deputy County Attorney Sandra Howard discussed the Final Assessment  
Resolution and Assessment Roll for the 2022-2023 for the Excessive Bulk Waste  
Assessments. She recommended approval.  
The Chair opened a public hearing; no one spoke.  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYE:  
APPROVED  
Neil Combee  
Bill Braswell  
Lindsey, Braswell, Wilson, Santiago, and Combee  
A.10. Public Hearing to consider adoption of the Final Rate Resolution for the 2022-23  
Southwest Inwood Street Lighting Municipal Service Benefit Unit ("MSBU").  
Minutes: Deputy County Attorney Sandra Howard discussed the Final Rate Resolution  
for the 2022-2023 Southwest Inwood Street Lighting Municipal Services Benefit Unit.  
She recommended approval.  
The Chair opened a public hearing; no one spoke.  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYE:  
APPROVED  
Bill Braswell  
Rick Wilson  
Lindsey, Braswell, Wilson, Santiago, and Combee  
A.11. Request the Board designate Deputy County Attorney Sandra Howard to certify  
the 2022-23 Final Assessment Rolls to the Tax Collector.  
Minutes: County Attorney Randy Mink said this item designates Sandra Howard to  
certify the 2022-2023 Final Assessment Rolls to the Tax Collector.  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYE:  
APPROVED  
Neil Combee  
Bill Braswell  
Lindsey, Braswell, Wilson, Santiago, and Combee  
B.  
PURPOSE OF PUBLIC HEARING  
B.1. Discuss the purpose of the Public Hearing for the FY 22/23 Budget - Randy  
Mink, County Attorney  
Minutes: County Attorney Randy Mink discussed the purpose of public hearings.  
B.2. Budget Presentation - Bill Beasley, County Manager  
Minutes: There was a video presentation from County Manager Bill Beasley.  
Mr. Beasley said many in our communities have experienced unprecedented  
challenges. He said Polk County government continues to be a stabilizing factor in  
providing essential and routine services. He expressed appreciation for the men and  
women of staff, the Constitutional offices, the State Court System, and the Medical  
Examiner's office and said all of these entities have worked cooperatively helping to  
prepare the fiscal year 2022-2023 budget. He thanked the citizens who have directly or  
indirectly participated in helping shape this budget by serving on Citizen Advisory  
Committees, participating in public hearings, making phone calls, and sending e-mails.  
He said preparing a reasonable budget that reflects the communities needs and  
Board's priorities is a challenging process under normal circumstances. He said the  
fiscal year 2022-2023 budget totals $2,436,087,123 and said this reflects a 3%  
reduction in the county millage rates. He said in commitment to public safety the  
budget reflects a 5% indexing of the fire assessment fee and allocates $95 million to  
one-time capital project needs towards public safety, transportation and facility asset  
management. He said this reflects a one-time reduction to the Solid Waste  
Assessment Collection fee as acknowledgment of service disruptions. He said this  
budget maintains the general fund operating reserve to the highest possible level which  
reflects fiscal solvency and financial health. He said the budget reflects the Board's  
commitment to public safety, public health, needed capital infrastructure to support  
public safety and health, public water supply, transportation capacity, intersection  
improvements, storm water management and water quality improvement projects and  
environmental stewardship. He said the budget continues to address quality of life  
issues. He said the budget invests in technology upgrades and the employees by a 5%  
salary increase and no increase to employee health care insurance premiums.  
Budget and Management Director Christia Johnson showed slides and discussed the  
budget. She said the proposed budget is $2.4 million, the general fund budget is  
$563.7 million and one time revenue is $94 million to use for projects. She said the  
taxable property value increase is 17.75%. She said the Board made the decision to  
decrease the county-wide and unincorporated area MSTU millage rates by 3% to  
alleviate that burden on property owners. She said there was a 5% index to the Fire  
Assessment and a one-time reduction of $17.21 to the Waste Assessment collection  
assessment. She gave a breakdown of the one-time funding of projects for $94 million.  
She reviewed the budgeted revenue from the millage. She outlined the total FY  
2022-2023 proposed tentative budget and reviewed the budget changes by fund. She  
reviewed the general fund budget of $563,655,083. She reviewed the operating budget  
revenue and expenses. She discussed the operating reserves 42-45 days policy and  
said they are at the fully funded mark of 45 days with $1,133,812 needed per day for  
this. She reviewed the total fiscal year 2023-2027 CIP Budget of $1,184,538,864. She  
reviewed the 35 total proposed new positions and 24 positions that are moving from  
courts to the BoCC. She gave historical information on the position count.  
A video was presented with final comments from Mr. Beasley. He said that the budget  
is expanding in direct relation to service demands generated by continued substantial  
growth. He thanked the Board for policy guidance, for allowing staff to think creatively  
and for having the confidence in the staff to rise to the occasion.  
C.  
DISCUSS PROPOSED TENTATIVE MILLAGE RATES FOR FY 22/23 (Christia  
Johnson, Budget and Management Services Director)  
C.1. Discuss the FY 22/23 Board of County Commissioners proposed tentative  
operating millage rate  
Minutes: Budget and Management Director Christia Johnson discussed the items on  
the agenda for the tentative millage rate and the tentative budget. She said the  
proposed fiscal year 2022-2023 millage rate is 6.6920 which is a 3% decrease. She  
reviewed the rolled-back rates.  
C.2. Discuss the FY 22/23 proposed tentative millage rate for the Polk County Parks  
Municipal Services Taxing Unit (MSTU), Polk County Library MSTU, Polk  
County Stormwater MSTU, and Polk County Rancho Bonito MSTU  
Minutes: Budget and Management Director Christia Johnson presented a chart and  
discussed the tentative millage rate of 0.5450 mills for the Polk County Parks MSTU;  
the tentative millage rate of 0.2046 mills for the Polk County Library MSTU; and the  
tentative millage rate of 0.0970 for the Polk County Stormwater MSTU. She stated  
there is a 3% reduction from the current year to the proposed year. She discussed the  
tentative millage rate of 9.1272 for Rancho Bonito. She reviewed the rolled-back rates  
and the revenue for the millage rates.  
D.  
DISCUSS PROPOSED TENTATIVE BUDGET FOR FY 22/23 (Christia Johnson,  
Budget and Management Services Director)  
D.1. Discuss the FY 22/23 proposed tentative budget totaling $2,436,087,123  
Minutes: Budget and Management Director Christia Johnson said the proposed  
tentative budget for fiscal year 2022-2023 is $2,436,087,123.  
D.2. Discuss the FY 22/23 Polk County Parks MSTU proposed tentative budget  
totaling $38,228,771, Polk County Library MSTU proposed tentative budget  
totaling $7,645,393, Polk County Stormwater MSTU proposed tentative budget  
totaling $11,517,686, and Polk County Rancho Bonito MSTU proposed tentative  
budget totaling $61,020.  
Minutes: Budget and Management Director Christia Johnson said the 2022-2023  
tentative budget is $38,228,771 for the Polk County Parks MSTU of which $15,629,839  
is from property tax; the 2022-2023 tentative budget of $7,645,393 for the Polk County  
Library MSTU of which $5,867,642 is from property tax; the 2022-2023 tentative budget  
of $11,517,686 for the Polk County Stormwater MSTU of which $2,781,825 is from  
property tax; and the 2022-2023 tentative budget of $61,020 for the Rancho Bonito  
MSTU of which $8,685 is from property tax.  
E.  
PUBLIC HEARING ON FY 22/23 PROPOSED TENTATIVE BUDGET AND MILLAGE  
RATES (Martha Santiago, Chair)  
E.1. Requests from the public to speak in regard to the FY 22/23 Proposed Tentative  
Operating Budget and Millage Rates, which include the Parks MSTU, Library  
MSTU, Stormwater MSTU, and Rancho Bonito MSTU  
Minutes: The Chair opened a public hearing; there was no one present to speak.  
F.  
SET THE TENTATIVE MILLAGE RATES FOR FY 22/23 (Martha Santiago, Chair)  
F.1. Recommend Board adopt the tentative operating millage rate of 6.6920 mills,  
which is a 8.21% increase over the rolled-back rate of 6.1841 mills.  
Minutes: Budget and Management Director Christia Johnson recommended that the  
Board adopt the tentative operating millage rate of 6.6920 mills, which is a 8.21%  
increase over the rolled-back rate of 6.1841 mills.  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYE:  
APPROVED  
Rick Wilson  
Bill Braswell  
Lindsey, Braswell, Wilson, Santiago, and Combee  
F.2. Recommend Board adopt the tentative millage rate of 0.5450 mills for the Polk  
County Parks MSTU, which is a 8.80% increase over the rolled-back rate of  
0.5009 mills; the tentative millage rate of 0.2046 mills for the Polk County Library  
MSTU, which is a 8.83% increase over the rolled-back rate of 0.1880 mills; and  
the tentative millage rate of 9.1272 mills for the Polk County Rancho Bonito  
MSTU, which is a 3.50% increase over the rolled-back rate of 8.8187 mills.  
Minutes: Budget and Management Director Christia Johnson recommended that the  
Board adopt the tentative millage rate of 0.5450 mills for the Polk County Parks MSTU,  
which is a 8.80% increase over the rolled-back rate of 0.5009 mills; the tentative  
millage rate of 0.2046 mills for the Polk County Library MSTU, which is a 8.83%  
increase over the rolled-back rate of 0.1880 mills; and the tentative millage rate of  
9.1272 mills for the Polk County Rancho Bonito MSTU, which is a 3.50% increase over  
the rolled-back rate of 8.8187 mills.  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYE:  
APPROVED  
Rick Wilson  
Neil Combee  
Lindsey, Braswell, Wilson, Santiago, and Combee  
F.3. Recommend Board adopt the tentative millage rate of 0.0970 mills for the Polk  
County Stormwater MSTU, which is an 8.87% increase over the rolled-back rate  
of 0.0891 mills.  
Minutes: Budget and Management Director Christia Johnson recommended that the  
Board adopt the tentative millage rate of 0.0970 mills for the Polk County Stormwater  
MSTU, which is an 8.87% increase over the rolled-back rate of 0.0891 mills.  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYE:  
APPROVED  
Rick Wilson  
Neil Combee  
Lindsey, Braswell, Wilson, Santiago, and Combee  
G.  
SET THE TENTATIVE BUDGET FOR FY 22/23 (Martha Santiago, Chair)  
G.1.  
Recommend Board adopt the FY 22/23 tentative budget of $38,228,771 for  
the Polk County Parks MSTU, the FY 22/23 tentative budget of $7,645,393  
for the Polk County Library MSTU, and the FY 22/23 tentative budget of  
$61,020 for the Polk County Rancho Bonito MSTU.  
Minutes: Budget and Management Director Christia Johnson recommended that the  
Board adopt the FY 22/23 tentative budget of $38,228,771 for the Polk County Parks  
MSTU, the FY 22/23 tentative budget of $7,645,393 for the Polk County Library MSTU,  
and the FY 22/23 tentative budget of $61,020 for the Polk County Rancho Bonito  
MSTU.  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYE:  
APPROVED  
Rick Wilson  
Neil Combee  
Lindsey, Braswell, Wilson, Santiago, and Combee  
G.2.  
Recommend Board adopt the FY 22/23 tentative budget of $11,517,686 for  
the Polk County Stormwater MSTU, which is included in the FY 22/23  
tentative budget of $2,436,087,123.  
Minutes: Budget and Management Director Christia Johnson recommended that the  
Board adopt the FY 22/23 tentative budget of $11,517,686 for the Polk County  
Stormwater MSTU, which is included in the FY 22/23 tentative budget of  
$2,436,087,123.  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYE:  
APPROVED  
Rick Wilson  
Bill Braswell  
Lindsey, Braswell, Wilson, Santiago, and Combee  
G.3.  
Recommend Board adopt the tentative budget of $2,436,087,123 for FY  
22/23.  
Minutes: Budget and Management Director Christia Johnson recommended that the  
Board adopt the tentative budget of $2,436,087,123 for FY 22/23.  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYE:  
APPROVED  
Neil Combee  
Rick Wilson  
Lindsey, Braswell, Wilson, Santiago, and Combee  
H.  
SET THE FY 22/23 SECOND PUBLIC HEARING DATE/TIME (Martha Santiago,  
Chair)  
H.1.  
Recommend the Board Set the date, time, and place for the Public Hearing  
to adopt a final millage rate and budget on September 19, 2022 at 6:00 p.m.  
in the Commission Boardroom.  
Minutes: Budget and Management Director Christia Johnson recommended that the  
Board set the date, time, and place for the Public Hearing to adopt a final millage rate  
and budget on September 19, 2022, at 6:00 p.m. in the Commission Boardroom.  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYE:  
APPROVED  
Neil Combee  
Bill Braswell  
Lindsey, Braswell, Wilson, Santiago, and Combee  
ADJOURNMENT (Martha Santiago, Chair)  
Minutes: Meeting adjourned at 7:02 p.m.