Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 06-09-2015 - 1 2 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: June 9, 2015 Action Agenda Item No. 1 SUBJECT: FY 2015-16 Fire Districts' Tax Rates DEPARTMENT: County Manager and Financial PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No Services ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: A. Fire Districts' Requests for FY2015- Bonnie Hammersley, County Manager 16 (919) 245-2300 B. Historical Fire District Tax Rates Paul Laughton, Finance and (from FY 2004-05 to FY 2015-16) Administrative Services (919) 245-2152 PURPOSE: For the Board to have an opportunity to review and discuss the FY 2015-16 fire districts' tax rates. BACKGROUND: During tonight's work session, Commissioners will have the opportunity to dialogue with Damascus, Southern Triangle, and Orange Rural fire districts who have requested a tax rate increase for FY 2015-16. 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 North Chatham Fire Department (contracted with Orange County to provide fire services to the residents in both the Damascus Fire Protection District and the Southern Triangle Fire Service District within Orange County), and Orange Rural Fire District to tonight's work session to answer any questions and/or provide additional information to the Board regarding their increase. Attachment A provides information regarding tax rate requests from all twelve (12) fire districts and/or fire service districts in Orange County for FY 2015-16, 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 2015-16 Manager Recommended Budget beginning on page 286. Attachment B reflects historical Fire District tax rates dating back to FY 2005-06. 3 The Fire Districts requesting tax rate increases in FY 2015-16 are as follows: • Damascus Fire District and Southern Triangle Fire Service District (Pages 287 and 290) — increase of 1.50 cents, going from 8.80 cents to 10.30 cents per $100 assessed valuation. The North Chatham Fire Department will continue to contract with Orange County to provide fire services to the residents in both the Damascus Fire Protection District and the Southern Triangle Fire Service District within Orange County. The increase will be used to help cover increased personnel and operating costs associated with the opening of 2 new stations in FY 2014-15, replacement of self-contained breathing apparatus, and to help cover costs associated with fire engine replacements. • Orange Rural Fire District (Page 290) — increase of 1.00 cents, going from 7.36 cents to 8.36 cents per $100 assessed valuation. The increase is to cover the replacement of air packs that no longer meet the current NFPA standards, to help cover funding to equip a replacement engine, and due to a decline in volunteers; the department has added three new positions and is planning to add three additional positions in the coming year. FINANCIAL IMPACT: Included in the Background Section above. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board discuss the Damascus, Southern Triangle, and Orange Rural districts' tax rate increases and give direction to county staff, as appropriate. Fire Districts'Requests for FY 2015-16 Attachment A 4 Current Requested Requested Requested Fund Balance 2014-15 Tax Tax Rate 1 Cent 1110 Cent District Rate(in Tax Rate for Change Equals Equals Fund Balance at June 30, Reasons for Districts'Requesting a Tax Rate Increase cents) 2015-16 2015-16 for 2015-16 2014 Cedar Grove 7.36 7.36 0.00 $ 28,171 $ 2,817 $ $ 33,654 Chapel Hill 15.001 15.00 0.00 $ 18,412 $ 1,841 $ 1,138 The increase is due to increased personnel and operating costs associated with the opening of two(2)new stations Damascus 8.80 10.30 1.50 $ 9,404 $ 940 $ $ 14,896 in FY 2014-15,replacement of self-contained breathing apparatus,and to help cover costs associated with fire engine replacements. Efland 7.00 7.00 0.00 $ 68,846 $ 6,885 $ $ 38,932 Eno 7.99 7.99 0.00 $ 73,254 $ 7,325 $ $ 139,474 Little River 4.06 4.06 0.00 $ 42,924 $ 4,292 $ $ 46,055 New Hope 9.95 9.95 0.00 $ 58,054 $ 5,805 $ $ 71,878 Orange Grove 6.00 6.00 0.00 $ 76,918 $ 7,692 $ $ 53,495 The increase is due to the replacement of air packs that no longer meet the current NFPA standards,to help cover Orange Rural 7.36 8.36 1.00 $ 130,037 $ 13,004 $ 72,428 fundiing to equip a replacement engine,and due to a decline in volunteers,the department has added three(3) new positions and are planning to add three(3)additional positions in the coming fiscal year. South Orange 10.00 10.00 0.00 $ 52,178 $ 5,218 $ $ 100,547 The increase is due to increased personnel and operating costs associated with the opening of two(2)new stations Southern Triangle 8.80 10.30 1.50 $ 19,902 $ 1,990 $ $ 105,547 in FY 2014-15,replacement of self-contained breathing apparatus,and to help cover costs associated with fire engine replacements. White Cross 11.00 11.00 0.00 $ 37,633 $ 3,763 $ $ 30,162 $ 708,206 5 Historical Fire District Tax Rates (from FY 2004-05 to FY 2015-16) (in cents per$100 valuation) Orange Orange South Southern Cedar Grove Chapel Hill Damascus Efland Eno Little River New Hope Grove Rural Orange Triangle White Cross 2004-05 7.30 2.00 3.00 6.40 6.50 3.90 5.10 9.20 3.00 4.80 2005-06' 1.90 2.60 3.475 5.70 4.60 6.25 3.40 2.60 4.20 2006-07 7.30 1.90 5.70 4.60 5.60 9.20 4.20 2007-08 7.30 1.90 4.225 5.70 4.60 6.75 3.90 5.60 2008-09 7.30 5.70 4.60 6.75 9.50 2009-10' 6.36 2.16 5.00 4.66 4.06 1 5.70 1 3.58 5.36 7.85 5.00 2010-11 5.00 4.66 5.99 4.06 3.58 7.85 5.00 6.00 2011-12 7.36 7.50 5.00 4.66 5.99 4.06 7.85 5.00 2012-13 7.36 7.50 5.00 4.66 5.99 4.06 8.95 5.61 7.85 5.00 7.00 2013-14 7.36 4.06 2014-15 7.36 15.00 8.80 7.00 7.99 4.06 6.00 7.36 10.00 8.80 2015-16 Manager Recommended 7.36 15.00 7.00 7.99 4.06 9.95 6.00 10.00 11.00 'Revaluation Year BOLD and highlighted denotes tax rate increase