HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 06-11-2013 - 1ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: June 11, 2013
Action Agenda
Item No. 1
SUBJECT: FY 2013 -14 Fire Districts' Tax Rates
1
DEPARTMENT: County Manager and Financial PUBLIC HEARING: (Y /N) No
Services
ATTACHMENT(S):
A. Fire Districts' Tax Rates
for FY 2013 -14
B. Historical Fire District Tax Rates
(from FY 2004 -05 to FY 2013 -14)
INFORMATION CONTACT:
Frank Clifton, County Manager
(919) 245 -2300
Clarence Grier, Assistant County
Manager /CFO (919) 245 -2453
Paul Laughton, Finance and
Administrative Services (919) 245 -2152
PURPOSE: For the Board to have an opportunity to review and discuss the FY 2013 -14 fire
districts' tax rates.
BACKGROUND: During tonight's work session, Commissioners will have the opportunity to
dialogue with ten (10) fire districts and /or fire service districts who have requested a tax rate
increase for FY 2013 -14. As in the past, fire districts requesting tax rate increases present their
needs for a tax increase to the Commissioners at a work session. Staff has invited
representatives from the fire districts and /or fire service districts to tonight's work session to
answer any questions and /or provide additional information to the Board regarding their
increase.
Attachment 1 provides information regarding tax rate requests from all twelve (12) fire districts
in Orange County for FY 2013 -14, the amount of funds one cent on the tax rate generates, fund
balance information, as well as information detailing the reasons for the requested tax rate
increases. Information regarding all fire districts is located in the Fire District section of the FY
2013 -14 Manager Recommended Budget beginning on page 139.
Attachment 2 reflects historical Fire District tax rates dating back to FY 2004 -05.
The Fire Districts and /or Fire Service Districts requesting tax rate increases in FY 2013 -14 are as
follows:
• Greater Chapel Hill Fire Service District - increase of 7.50 cents (from 7.50 to 15.00 cents)
• Damascus Fire District - increase of 3.8 cents (from 5.0 to 8.80 cents)
• Efland Fire District - increase of 2.34 cents (from 4.66 to 7.00 cents)
• Eno Fire District - increase of 2.0 cents (from 5.99 to 7.99 cents)
• New Hope Fire District - increase of .50 cents (from 8.95 to 9.45 cents)
• Orange Grove Fire District - increase of 1.00 cents (from 5.00 to 6.00 cents)
• Orange Rural Fire District - increase of 1.75 cents (from 5.61 to 7.36 cents)
• South Orange Fire Service District - increase of 2.15 cents (from 7.85 to 10.00 cents)
• Southern Triangle Fire Service District - increase of 3.8 cents (from 5.0 to 8.80 cents)
• White Cross Fire District - increase of 1.80 cents (from 7.00 to 8.80 cents)
FINANCIAL IMPACT: Included in the Background Section above.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board discuss the ten (10) Fire
Districts' and /or Fire Service Districts' tax rate increases and give direction to county staff, as
appropriate.
Attachment A
Fire Districts' Requests for FY 2013 -14
Current
Requested
Requested
Requested
Fund Balance
District
2012 -13 Tax
Tax Rate for
Tax Rate
1 Cent
1/10 Cent
Fund Balance
at June 30,
Reasons for Districts' Requesting a Tax Rate Increase
Rate (in
2013 -14
Change
Equals
Equals
for 2013 -14
2012
cents)
2013 -14
Cedar Grove
7.36
7.36
0.00
$ 27,249
$ 2,725
$ -
$ 17,451
Chapel Hill
7.50
15.00
7.50
$ 18,743
$ 1,874
$ 1,991
New Fire Service District
Damascus Fire District is not affected by the New North
Chatham Fire Service District (as Southern Triangle is),
Damascus
5.00
8.80
3.80
$ 9,321
$ 932
$ -
$ 8,204
but their rate, since served by North Chatham Fire
Department, will increase to 8.80 cents, which is the same
rate charged in Chatham County.
The increase will be used to provide two (2) paid
firefighters in the district during weekdays; this should
improve their response times and improve the quality of
Efland
4.66
7.00
2.34
$ 67,059
$ 6,706
$ -
$ 50,006
service. The funds will also be used to help keep the
apparatus up to date, as prices continue to increase each
year. The increase in taxes will be balanced by the
savings homeowners in the district will receive by the ISO
rating improving from a 7 to a 6.
The increase is due to the requirements of the new Orange
County Fire Contract, replacement of their current SCBAs,
upgrade the SCBA fill station to meet new pressure
Eno
5.99
7.99
2.00
$ 71,078
$ 7,108
$ -
$ 89,581
requirements, increase daytime paid staff coverage from 5
days to 7 days /week, and to provide funds to purchase a
new tanker. The increase is also needed to meet the
needs of the district's 5 year purchasing plan.
Little River
4.06
4.06
0.00
$ 42,044
$ 4,204
$ -
$ 29,187
The increase is due to operational costs increases for
professional services, computer and server replacement,
New Hope
8.95
9.45
0.50
$ 56,638
$ 5,664
$ -
$ 37,810
upgrades to Firehouse software and the CAD link to the
new OSSI software in the 911 Center, as well as an
increase in funding for apparatus replacement. This year,
the district lowered their ISO rating from a 9 to a 6.
Attachment A
Fire Districts' Requests for FY 2013 -14
472,496
Current
Requested
Requested
Requested
Fund Balance
District
2012 -13 Tax
Tax Rate for
Tax Rate
1 Cent
1/10 Cent
Fund Balance
at June 30,
Reasons for Districts' Requesting a Tax Rate Increase
Rate (in
2013 -14
Change
Equals
Equals
for 2013 -14
2012
cents)
2013 -14
This is Year 2 of a 2 year plan to increase the tax rate to
6.00 cents to help cover the costs of land, construction of
Orange Grove
5.00
6.00
1.00
$ 75,215
$ 7,522
$ -
$ 11,755
Station #3 in the western portion of the district, and
purchases of equipment and two additional fire trucks for
the new station.
The increase is needed to replace outdated and /or non-
compliant equipment. With the upcoming mandated radio
system upgrades, the district's 10 year old radios will be
Orange Rural
5.61
7.36
1.75
$ 126,049
$ 12,605
$ 67,692
inoperable. To remain on the Viper System, they will need
36 portable radios at a total cost of $201,123. Other areas
of need are compliant safety changes needed to their
SCBAs, and the purchase of specialized rescue equipment
to meet new rescue service needs.
South Orange
7.85
10.00
2.15
$ 50,372
$ 5,037
$ -
$ 60,811
New Fire Service District
Southern Triangle
5.00
8.80
3.80
$ 18,634
$ 1,863
$ -
$ 78,185
New Fire Service District (N. Chatham Fire Service
District)
As per a March 19, 2013 agenda abstract to the BOCC,
the district is requesting an increase of 1.80 cents to cover
White Cross
7.00
8.80
1.80
$ 36,179
$ 3,618
$ -
$ 19,823
the costs of the following: a new Substation, additional
paid staff, purchase of a new Tanker for the new
Substation, and to cover increased operational costs.
472,496
Attachment B
Historical Fire District Tax Rates (from FY 2004 -05 to FY 2013 -14)
(in cents per $100 valuation)
'Revaluation Year
BOLD and highlighted denotes tax rate increase