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reserve for contingency, County Administrator Baird explained the need for a contingency fund in <br />the aftermath of hurricane hits. <br />Joyce Johnston-Carlson <br />, Aerodrome, Vero Beach, spoke as a citizen, not an <br />employee, (Director of Human Services) regarding children’s services. She related the creation <br />and funding of the Children’s Services. She stated that some people had wanted to set up <br />Children’s Services as a taxing district. She was greatly concerned about the cut to this fund and <br />the needs of children of this county that are not being addressed. She is retiring from the County at <br />the end of November and she believed she would probably join other activists in asking for a <br />taxing district because she feels we are not doing enough for the kids. If we do not help the <br />children, it is good that we are building a bigger jail because that is where they will be. <br />Commissioner Neuberger stated that he would like to put the $50,000 put back into <br />the budget. <br />Chairman Lowther was opposed to that because the funds go to salaries, and Ms. <br />Johnston-Carlson responded that it is necessary to provide salaries for educated individuals who <br />are trained to take care of the specified needs of the children. <br />A discussion on creating a taxing district ensued with information on the process, <br />how many other children’s services taxing districts are in the state, and the past reasons for setting <br />up the funding for children’s services as it had been done. <br />Mr. Coffey <br /> questioned the coordination between 2 of the 9 agencies that receive <br />money from the County and which also receive ½ million dollars from United Way. He also <br />questioned how the goals were set and why a number of the groups did not achieve their goals, <br />suggesting their goals may have been set too high. <br />Both County Administrator Baird and Ms. Johnston-Carlson responded to Mr. <br />Coffey’s questions advising of the methods used for coordination and audits performed. <br />Barbara Bromberg, <br /> Sebastian, was trying to understand about the budget amounts <br />on the TRIM notice she received and the budget put forth at this meeting. <br />County Administrator Baird gave an explanation but Ms. Bromberg was still <br />somewhat confused on the relationships of the two processes. <br />SEPTEMBER 7, 2005 5 <br /> <br />