Agenda Package - 06-15-09 - Laserfiche WebLink

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(136 0 LEE COUNTY Committed Today for a Better Tomorrow May 1, 2009 Richard Hayes, Chairman Lee County Board of Commissioners 106 Hillcrest Drive Sanford, North Carolina 27330 Dear Chairman Flayes: In January, we asked the [ire departments to work toward a four percent reduction in their FY2009/2010 Budget request. The goal was to achieve a budget request that at best was flat compared to the current year. The I_ee County Fire Advisory Board has reviewed the FY 2009/2010 budget request received from the county's eight volunteer fire departments. There were two departments that submitted a budget request that reflected a four percent reduction. There were five departments that submitted budgets that were flat or had small increases. Unfortunately fora- of these departments even with flat budget request, are facing a rate increase due to reduced fund balance, lowered collection rates, and decreased tax base. The remaining department is West Sanford who is faced with unique dilemmas. The Fire Advisory Board has worked on the budget submissions over the past few weeks. During this period of time, we have reviewed the budgets line item by line item. As part of our review process, we recently met one-on-one with each department to review their submission. During this meeting we ask them to explain any changes and tojustify any increase in funding. As has been our practice in reviewing the budgets and making recommendations, the Fire Advisory Board uses the goals and objectives adopted in October 2006 as our guiding principle. Attached is a spreadsheet showing each department's budget recommendation approved by the Fire Advisory Board. 'I fie spreadsheet also shows the fund balance, collection rate, and property value for each department. The final line on the spreadsheet shows the projected tax rate for each district. The calculation is based on the budget request, less the fiend balance, then adjustment for collection rate, and finally calculated based on the projected property value for that district- 0