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Board of County Commissioners Meeting Minutes - Final September 10, 2025 A motion was made by Commissioner Moss to approve $6 million from the General Fund and $3 million from reserves. She intended it to be a one-time event, not recurring funding, and acknowledged that it would involve a millage increase next year. The motion failed for lack of second. In response to the motion made by Commissioner Moss, Budget Director Kristen Daniels stated that if the Board funds $3 million from cash, then it would need to be made up in a millage increase the following year. She emphasized that this alone would increase the millage rate. She explained that if the County saw another decrease in revenue, and another 15% increase was requested next year, it would exacerbate the millage rate. She wanted the Board to understand that these levels of increases, with what staff were seeing in the economy, were not sustainable. A discussion followed with Chairman Flescher expressing understanding that there was significant risk in not knowing next year, but, that the Board needed to address the needs expressed today. Commissioner Earman opposed funding the Sheriff's Budget from the Reserves. Vice Chairman Loar turned to Administrator Titkanich to review the email sent from the Sheriff's General Counsel. Administrator Titkanich reviewed the letter in which the Sheriff asked to bring the following items to the Board's attention: 1) Florida Statute 30.49 says that if any Board takes any action to amend, modify, increase, or reduce, the Board must notify the Sheriff of such action in writing. Administrator Titkanich said in the same section that it also required the Sheriff to provide, as part of his budget, all relevant and pertinent information that the Board deemed necessary to evaluate. The Vice Chairman also noted that, under Florida Statute 30.49, an increase in the budget would constitute an amendment. The Board would be required to respond, regardless of the outcome, in writing, as the County did every year. Administrator Titkanich continued in the second bullet, which referenced Florida Statute 901.35(2)(A), stating that the County was responsible for the payment of inmate medical costs when the inmate was either unable to pay or recovery could not be made from an inmate's health insurance. Over the years, the Sheriff had either covered the high cost of inmate hospitalization in his budget or, in the last approximately three years, arranged for his contracted medical provider to bear those costs. Beginning October 1, 2025, the Sheriff would no longer accept responsibility for inmate hospitalizations or medical costs outside of jail and would direct providers to the County for payment in accordance with the aforementioned Statute. Indian River County, Florida Page 10