Agenda Package - 05-23-11 Budget Review

Home Browse Search

004 budgeted for a building payment in their current budget. That payment will not be due until FY 11/12, hence allowing the department some leeway in being able to trim the • operating budget. The department is to be applauded for their desire to provide the community with optimum protection while at the same time being cognizant of the burden of tax increases placed on their community. The Fire Advisory Board recommends the approval of Deep River Fire Department budget request of $219,130 resulting in a tax rate of $0.104/$100. Cape Fear Fire Department Station 5 The budget request from Cape Fear shows a $25 increase in funding request over the current year. The department had applied for a federal grant for the purchase of a tanker. The department did not receive the grant for the tanker. The department moved ahead with the purchase of a 3,000 gallon tanker. The tanker will allow the department to meet water needs prior to the arrival of any mutual aid departments. The department hopes the tanker and steps taken over the past two years will allow the fire rating to move to a possible district wide 6 or at a minimum a split rating of 6/9. The department reduced the amount budgeted for grants in order to absorb the cost of debt to finance the new tanker. The new tanker arrived May 6 th and has been placed in service. The department's planning and foresight has allowed it to add the sub - station and a new tanker while minimizing the impact on the tax payers. As mentioned in last year's report, Cape Fear Fire Department has agreed to give up the area in the Clearwater Forest and Waverly Place. This area is beyond Cape Fear Fire Department's six mile radius. As a result, the residents in this area are considered to be in an unrated fire district. It is becoming more difficult to secure insurance in an unrated district. If a property owner is able to find coverage it is often very costly. As we speak, alternatives are being explored as to how to best serve the property owners in the Clearwater area. Obviously, a loss of tax is very possible. This loss could result in an increase in the rate for fire service on the remaining property owners. The district was negatively impacted for FY 11/12 in the reduction of the Collection Rate from 97% to 90.39 %, a loss of over 6.5 %. The district did have a modest increase in the tax base. The department's commitment to operating on a flat budget along with the loss in collection rate resulted in a tax rate increasing a mere tenth of a point. The Fire Advisory Board felt the department was working hard to maximize their funds. The Fire Advisory Board recommends the approval of Cape Fear Fire Department at $255,650. The project tax rate for FYI 1/12 will be $0.0875100. Northview Fire Department Station 6 IN FY 10/11 Northview Fire Department absorbed West Sanford Fire Department. The transition of merging the two departments has been smooth. The members of both departments are to be applauded in their efforts to better serve the community. The Northview Fire Department had originally planned to eliminate two of the units in the West Sanford Fire Department and give up the building used by West Sanford for meeting and offices. However after merging operations and re- evaluating the plans, the •