5-16-16 Reg. Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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BK -00028 PG -0265 commercial auto increased with the addition of higher valued units. The Board of Directors increased the amount of coverage on their commercial umbrella. The other major expense was for a grant match. The department is applying for a federal grant and a state grant to replace aging SCBA equipment. Their goal is to replace 24 SCBA packs. The district's tax base grew about $4,043,300 over last year. Their fund balances dropped by $9,900 compared to 2015. The project fire tax rate for 2016 - 2017 will be $0.097 compared to the current year rate of $0.091. The Fire Advisory Board voiced its concern regarding the rapid growth of the budget and the impact it has on the fire tax rate. Since 2013 - 2014, the department's budget has increased from $286,341 to this year's request of $370,876. This is almost a 30% increase in funding, resulting in the fire tax rate increasing from $0.081 in 2013 — 2014, to a projected rate of $0.097 for 2016 - 2017. In discussion with representatives from the Carolina Race Fire Department's Board of Directors, the Fire Advisory Board was assured that the Carolina Trace community is aware of the changes and their impact on the tax rate for fire protection. The Fire Advisory Board agrees that improvements have been made over the past few years, but still have reservations about the amount of budget increases every year. Based on the conversations with the representative from the Carolina Trace Fire Department Board of Directors, the Fire Advisory Board voted to recommend the budget request as presented. Deep River Fire Department — Station 4 Deep River Fire Department has a budget request of $299,587. The 2016 — 2017 budget request is an increase of $10,013 over current year. The majority of the increase was in personnel cost; a cost of living pay increase for the paid staff. The biggest increase was for the purchase of a group life insurance policy for their members. The cost of fleet maintenance increased, the department has one of the oldest fleets in the county. The fire district's tax base grew by $8,142, 600. However, the fund balance decreased by $14,000. The projected tax rate for the upcoming year would be $0.131. The Fire Advisory Board met with Charles Mitchell, President of the Board and Larry Kelly, the Fire Chief with Deep River Fire Department. The Board of Directors of Deep River Fire Department has met and they do not want to see an increase in the fire tax for 2016 - 2017. President Mitchell and Chief Kelly were instructed by their board to take the steps necessary to cut the budget in order to maintain the current tax rate. The current tax rate is $0.125. The department will need to cut $14,000 out of the budget. The Fire Advisory Board is concerned that the department could be placing itself in a marginal position with these cuts. We applaud their desire to keep the tax rate from increasing. After discussions with the President and Chief, the Fire Advisory Board agreed to the department's request to make the required cuts. The Fire Advisory Board recommends the budget request be approved as adjusted by the Deep River Fire Department. During the discussions with Chief Kelly, it would appear that there is a strong possibility that the Deep River Fire District could lose tax base in the coming year. It is their understanding that the City of Sanford is looking at annexing several large parcels along and around Clyde Rhyne Road. Currently the parcels are undeveloped. However, any development would obviously increase the tax base. Deep River has the second smallest 3