In their biweekly meetings, in that evaluation, as of last March, it became time to prepare the
next year's budget for the CFCRC, so that group worked together to pull the information
provided from DOT to prepare the FY26 tentative budget. That budget is based on the
revenues, expenditures, and operating details provided; and it totals $63.4 million.
Seminole County's share is $11.5 million. There is a slight increase from the second year as
laid out in the funding agreement, primarily attributable to a $2 million contingency that is
added in. She presented that tentative budget to the CFCRC last Wednesday at their board
meeting, and questions were discussed from Osceola and Seminole Counties regarding the
contingency as well as carryforward and insurance.
They are preparing the agenda item for the April 22, 2025, meeting on that tentative budget,
and she will be meeting with each Commissioner to go over the details and answer any
questions in preparation.
Commissioner Lockhart stated it is really important to her that she knows the Board is fully
informed about next steps, because this is the first budget that the CFCRC is taking the full
responsibility for setting the budget and moving toward the eventual transfer of operations of
the system. She feels like they will be setting the tone this first year.
One of the things that will be a challenge and will probably involve renegotiating the local
funding agreement for next year is their fiscal years are not aligned with DOT, and the local
funding agreement is not aligned with the fiscal year. They have their fiscal year, DOT's fiscal
year, and the local funding agreement having three different renewal times, and that has been
identified as a potential problem. What DOT has committed to is when they finish their fiscal
year June 30th, there might be some carryforward, unspent funds that might negate the need
for the additional $2 million that is being added. They won't know that until July 1st, but the
tentative budget has to be approved before July 1st.
Commissioner Dallari inquired if Commissioner Lockhart's opinion on this is that it is in line.
Commissioner Lockhart responded she would like to see some additional modifications, which
has been communicated to DOT. Commissioner Dallari requested she let the Board know in
the future what those modifications could be.
District 3 - Commissioner Constantine
Commissioner Constantine spoke on Williams Watts' Eagle Scout project (picture received
and filed). The Commissioner stated Mr. Watts has applied to the U.S. Military Academy, and
he is going to personally send a letter; but he thinks it would be very much appreciated if the
Commissioners as a board sent a letter so he could potentially get into the USMA.
Motion by Commissioner Constantine, seconded by Commissioner Dallari, to send a letter.
Districts 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 voted AYE.
Commissioner Dallari stated regarding the two individuals from Mr. Watt's project who
received the medal of honor, Sergeant First Class Alwyn C. Cashe and Staff Sergeant Robert
J. Miller, if there is the potential in the future to do a road naming, they should try to recognize
those two individuals and use their names in an appropriate location. Chairman Zembower
confirmed with Commissioner Dallari that he would like to ask staff to look at the current
