HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda 11-18-2025; 8-f - White Cross Fire Truck Financing and Authorization for the Chair to Execute Required Documents 1
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: November 18, 2025
Action Agenda
Item No. 8-f
SUBJECT: White Cross Fire Truck Financing and Authorization for the Chair to Execute
Required Documents
DEPARTMENT: Finance
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
1) Copy of Public Hearing Notice Gary Donaldson, (919) 245-2453
2) White Cross Board Approval
3) Board Chair Signature Letter
4) Loan Repayment Schedule
PURPOSE: To:
1) approve a County verification letter confirming that the White Cross Volunteer Fire
Department (WCVFD) is a qualified volunteer fire department assigned to protect the White
Cross Fire Service District and that an ad valorem fire tax is levied within the district; and
2) authorize the Board Chair to execute the verification letter and any related, non-substantive
documents required by the lender to complete the financing for a new fire truck for WCVFD.
BACKGROUND: WCVFD has engaged Home Trust Bank to finance the purchase of a new fire
truck in the amount of $970,311 to serve residents of the White Cross Fire Service District. The
district's existing tax levy is sufficient to cover the loan repayment. The loan term is 30 years.
As part of the financing process, the lender requires a letter from Orange County verifying:
1. WCVFD is a qualified volunteer fire department assigned by the County to provide fire
protection services within Orange County for the White Cross Fire Service District; and
2. An ad valorem fire service district tax is assessed on real property owners within the district.
As required, WCVFD published a public hearing notice on October 25, 2025, and held a public
hearing at the WVVFD Board meeting on Thursday, November 6, 2025, at 7:00 p.m.
The proposed Board action confirms that the White Cross Volunteer Fire Department is a qualified
volunteer fire department under Treasury Reg. §1.103-16(b) and IRC §150(e) and that ad valorem
fire service district tax revenues support the district. The Board further finds that the public
approval requirements of IRC §147(f) and Treasury Reg. §1.147(f)-1 (public notice and hearing)
have been satisfied for this financing, and, as the applicable governmental unit under IRC
§147(f)(2) (as applied to volunteer fire departments by §147(f)(4)(B)), authorizes the Chair to
execute the verification letter and any related, non-substantive documents."
2
The County Attorney has reviewed the proposed action and recommends Board authorization for
the Chair to sign the verification letter and any related documents required by the lender, subject
to final form approval by the County Attorney.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact to the County with this action. The current
district tax rate of 14 cents per $100 of assessed value is sufficient to cover loan repayment with
annual debt service of$46,235.63. White Cross Fire Service District annual district tax generates
$1,053,803 in revenue.
ALIGNMENT WITH STRATEGIC PLAN: This item supports:
• GOAL 2: HEALTHY COMMUNITY
OBJECTIVE 5. Invest in, support, train, and retain our community safety, health, and
emergency services employees and direct care workforce.
OBJECTIVE 6. Provide sustainable, equitable, and high-quality community safety and
emergency services to meet the community's evolving needs.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends the Board:
1) approve and authorize the Chair to sign the County verification letter for the WCVFD fire
truck financing and to sign any additional documents required to complete the transaction,
subject to County Attorney approval; and
2) authorize the County Manager to take any necessary administrative steps to implement
this action.
3
Notice of Public Hearing for the White Cross Volunteer Fire
Department.
Notice is hereby given, as required by Internal Revenue Code
Section 147(f), that the undersigned will hold a public hearing on
November 6th, 2025, at 7 pm at White Cross Fire Department
Station #1 , 5722 Old Greensboro Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27516,
to discuss its acquisition by lease purchase related to a new fire
engine.
Maximum amount of issue: $980,000.00. All interested persons
are invited to attend.
IPL0285062 Oct 27, 2025
ray, Attachment 2 4
White Cross Fire Department Board of Directors Board Meeting Minutes: 3/26/2025
Call to Order:The meeting was called to order by Kenny Stewart at 19:10.This meeting takes the place of the
regular March meeting.The following individuals in attendance:
Board Member Present Absent
Tony Blake(TB) X
Phillip Nasseri (PN) X
Jeff Mooney(JM) X
Kenny Stewart(KS) X
Claudia Lima (CL) X
Robert McDonald (RM) X
Karen McDonald (KM) X
Mark Farrell (MF) X
Keith Webster(KW) X
Warren Atwater(WA) X
Guests
Chris Wade X
This was a special meeting to understand the recent property revaluation impact on our budget and to propose a
budget request to the county.
Chief's update:
Chief Nasseri Began by presenting the inflation data for the last 4 years.
A discussion followed about cost cutting strategies in the operations budget area such utilities.
Chief Nasseri presented three budget options for the board to review.All three budgets ask increased
revenue.Options one was no change to pay roll, bear minimum to cover inflation and new truck payment.
2nd options was in hourly pay rate to$18.00 an hour, plus the new truck payment, and inflation cost
increase.The last was the same but increased the pay rate to$19.00 dollars an hour.
A group discussion then followed. Chief Nasseri then explains the areas of the budget salaries, capital
improvement payments, and operations budget. Karen Macdonald and Keith webster asked several
questions about what the surrounding departments were paying. Chief Nasseri gave examples, Eno$20,
Orange Rural up to$22, Eli Whitney$18,and New Hope$19.
The Board as group discussed the need to be justified for the budget increase. Keith and Karen then
suggested that we adjust hourly pay to$22. A group discussion followed,and the members present
agreed unanimously that was needed to retain quality people. Chief Nasseri represented the budget with
the changes.The change required a .037 cent increase at a tax rate of.14 cents.
Keith Webster made a motion to accept the budget proposal and Karen Macdonald 2nd it. It passed
unanimously.Attachment: Budget request letter to the Orange County Budget Director.
GM
25-26 WCVFD
Budget Request.pdf
Kenny Stewart made a motion to adjourn and Jeff Mooney 2nd it. It passed unanimously. Meeting was adjourned
at 19:57
5
E W^iTaVgjS
It WHITE CROSS VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT
To: Kirk Vaughn, Budget Director, Finance and Administrative Services
From: Jamal Phillip Nasseri, Fire Chief,White Cross Fire Department
Tony Blake, Board President, White Cross Fire Department
Date: March 31, 2025
Subject: Budget Request for White Cross Volunteer Program (2025-2026)
Dear Mr.Vaughn,
The formal budget request for the White Cross volunteer program for the fiscal years 2025 and 2026 is
as follows.The department is seeking a 3.7-cent tax increase, bringing the proposed tax rate to 14.00
cents,with a total budget request of$1,047,900
The additional funding of$277,121.00 is essential for several key initiatives:
1. Replacement Fire Engine: $100,000 is earmarked for the acquisition of a new fire engine. We initially
anticipated support through a USDA program offering low-interest loans; however, due to a government
freeze on this program, we are now required to pursue conventional financing methods.This is the
yearly payment required.
2. Personnel Costs: We are facing significant challenges in retaining qualified paid members due to the
demand for competitive wages.To address this,$150,000 of our request will be allocated to meet
unbudgeted salary needs and to implement a livable wage of$20-$22 an hour dependent on
qualifications.This need is supported by data from our annual audits,which highlight the upward trend
in salary expenses.
3. Operational Costs:The remaining funds will be directed towards rising costs associated with
insurance, utilities, portable equipment replacement, and vehicle maintenance.Our recent inflation
study, conducted over the past four years, has indicated price increases of approximately 42%to 50% in
these critical areas.
We appreciate your consideration of this request, and the support provided to our department in
ensuring that we can continue to serve our community effectively.
B t regards,
r
Tony Blake
Board President, White Cross Vol. Fire Department
5722 Old Greensboro HWY Chapel Hill, NC 27516
Phone: (919)942-1194 Fax: (919)942-9733
Operations@wcfire.net
6
Attachment 3 �`t„ < ° o �
JAMEZETTA BEDFORD,CHAIR Orange County Board of Commissioners
JEAN HAMILTON, VICE-CHAIR post Office Box 8181 11 ;2
MARILYN CARTER 5
AMY FOWLER 300 West Tryon Street
SALLY GREENS
EARLMcfCEE Hillsborough, North Carolina 27278
PHYL.L/S PORTIEASCOTT �
.�Q�ttoot
aEa�°���
November 18, 2025
HomeTrust Bank
PO Box 10
Asheville,NC 28802-0010
Re: Municipal Lease and Option Agreement between HomeTrust Bank and White Cross
Volunteer Fire Department
To whom it may concern:
I am Chair of the County Commissioners of Orange County. This letter is to advise you that: White Cross
Volunteer Fire Department is a qualified Volunteer Fire Department,assigned to protect a specific Fire District
within this County.
In addition, a special ad valorem (fire tax) is assessed on the real property owners of this district. Said tax is
to be used exclusively to provide equipment, facilities, and training as is necessary to provide fire protection
for said district. Said funds may also be used to upgrade equipment as the need arises. This tax is collected
by the County and disbursed by the Finance Office to the Fire Department on a regular basis by the County
Finance Officer. The Fire Department is operated and managed by the Board of Directors of the Fire
Department and the Officers of said Department. The Department is currently meeting the requirements of
their fire service contract.
The Fire Department has made us aware of their intention to acquire new capital assets through a Lease
Purchase transaction with your firm. Please be advised that the County has no objection to this transaction.
Sincerely,
Jamezetta Bedford
Chairman
Orange County Commission
LVWW.ORANGECOUNTYNC.GOV
ORANGE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA
(919)245-2130
7
MUNICIPAL LEASE AND OPTION AGREEMENT
SCHEDULE B: PAYMENT SCHEDULE
LESSEE: White Cross Volunteer Fire Department
INVESTMENT: $970,311.00
PAYMENT: $46,235.63
TERM: 30 Semi-Annual Payments
COMMENCEMENT DATE:
FIRST PAYMENT DATE:
CONCLUDING
PMT NO. PAYMENT INTEREST PRINCIPAL PAYMENT
1 $46,235.63 $24,063.71 $22,171.92 $976,583.25
2 $46,235.63 $23,513.85 $22,721.78 $953,179.82
3 $46,235.63 $22,950.35 $23,285.28 $929,195.97
4 $46,235.63 $22,372.87 $23,862.76 $904,617.33
5 $46,235.63 $21,781.08 $24,454.56 $879,429.14
6 $46,235.63 $21,174.60 $25,061.03 $853,616.28
7 $46,235.63 $20,553.09 $25,682.54 $827,163.26
8 $46,235.63 $19,916.16 $26,319.47 $800,054.21
9 $46,235.63 $19,263.44 $26,972.19 $772,272.85
10 $46,235.63 $18,594.53 $27,641.10 $743,802.52
11 $46,235.63 $17,909.03 $28,326.60 $714,626.12
12 $46,235.63 $17,206.53 $29,029.10 $684,726.14
13 $46,235.63 $16,486.61 $29,749.02 $654,084.65
14 $46,235.63 $15,748.83 $30,486.80 $622,683.25
15 $46,235.63 $14,992.76 $31,242.87 $590,503.09
16 $46,235.63 $14,217.94 $32,017.69 $557,524.86
17 $46,235.63 $13,423.90 $32,811.73 $523,728.78
18 $46,235.63 $12,610.17 $33,625.46 $489,094.55
19 $46,235.63 $11,776.26 $34,459.38 $453,601.39
20 $46,235.63 $10,921.66 $35,313.97 $417,228.01
21 $46,235.63 $10,045.88 $36,189.75 $379,952.56
22 $46,235.63 $9,148.37 $37,087.26 $341,752.68
23 $46,235.63 $8,228.61 $38,007.02 $302,605.44
24 $46,235.63 $7,286.03 $38,949.60 $262,487.36
25 $46,235.63 $6,320.08 $39,915.55 $221,374.34
26 $46,235.63 $5,330.18 $40,905.45 $179,241.72
27 $46,235.63 $4,315.72 $41,919.91 $136,064.22
28 $46,235.63 $3,276.11 $42,959.52 $91,815.91
29 $46,235.63 $2,210.71 $44,024.92 $46,470.24
30 $46,235.63 $1,118.90 $45,116.74 ($0.00)
THIS TRANSACTION WILL ACCRUE INTEREST DURING THE FUNDING PERIOD.THE ACCRUED INTEREST DURING
THE FUNDING PERIOD IS DUE AND PAYABLE AT FINAL FUNDING. THE FUNDING PERIOD ENDS AT OR BEFORE
SIX MONTHS FROM THE PROPOSAL DATED 8/15/2025. PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST REPAYMENT BEGINS SIX
MONTHS FROM THE DATE OF FINAL FUNDING.
IF THE TRANSACTION IS PAID IN FULL PRIOR TO THE FIRST PAYMENT DATE,THE CONCLUDING PAYMENT WILL
BE CALCULATED UTILIZING THE SAME FORMULA AS IN THE REPAYMENT SCHEDULE ABOVE.
LESSOR: HomeTrust Bank LESSEE:White Cross Volunteer Fire Department
NAME: John M.Tench NAME: Tony Blake
SIGNATURE: SIGNATURE:
TITLE: Senior Vice President TITLE: President
DATE: 10/8/2025 DATE: 101812025