6-7-21 BOC Regular Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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LEE COUNTY Committed Today for a Better Tomorrow purchased a new Pumper/Tanker that should be in service by Summer 2021. The new purchase resulted in an increase in debt service of$19,431. Deep River Fire District's tax base increased about$28.2 million over current year. The growth in the tax base will allowed the fire tax rate to remain at the current rate of$0.115. During the meeting with representatives from Deep River Fire Department,they indicated they have been having conversations with the Raleigh Executive Jetport as to how to plan for future growth and the needs for fire protection. The Fire Advisory Board is recommending Deep River Fire Department's budget request that will maintain the current fire tax rate. Cape Fear Fire Department Cape Fear Fire Department's budget request shows an increase of$30,524 or 7.1% over their current budget. The department is increasing the cost of personnel by$59,324. The department has decided to hire a full-time paid fire chief. To absorb some of the cost for the full-time position, the department reduced the amount of part-time hours by 20 per week. The department cut $30,000 from capital reserve by delaying the planned truck replacement program. Cape Fear Fire District's tax base increased by $11.2 million over current year. Cape Fear Fire Department has been contracted to provide fire protection to the Clearwater Forest Fire District. Previously, the district was served by the City of Sanford Fire Department. Clearwater Fire District's tax base increased by$4.1 million. The combine tax base for Cape Fear Fire District and Clearwater Fire District is $426,261,700. Using $5,000 of the available fund balance, the projected fire tax for Cape Fear Fire District and Clearwater Fire District will be $0.121. The rate will maintain the current rate in Cape Fear Fire District and lower the rate from $0.187 in Clearwater Fire District to $0.121. The members of the Fire Advisory Board questioned the representative from Cape Fear Fire Department regarding the need for a full-time paid chief. In budget year 2018/2019, the department had budgeted for a paid fire chief. However, in budget cycle 2020/2021, the department removed the funding for a paid chief to focus on a long-term capital plan for truck replacement. Cape Fear Fire Department's Board of Directors have decided that hiring a paid full-time chief was the direction the department needed to move toward.The Board of Directors felt the move would place the department in a stronger position moving forward. The members of the Fire Advisory Board present during the April 27th meeting understood the desire to hire a full-time chief. However, there was considerable concern from members of the Fire Advisory Board about the precedent the move would set for all the departments going forward. The Fire Advisory Board members questioned the job description and job qualifications that were presented during the Fire Advisory Board meeting. The Fire Advisory Board questioned the increase in the salary and benefits package from approximately$64,650 in 2018/2019 to $91,000 in 2021/2022. The Fire Advisory Board, after considerable discussion in a 3 to 1 vote, is recommending the budget request from Cape Fear Fire Department resulting in the tax rate to remain at $0.121 and lower the Clearwater Forest Fire District from $0.187 to $0.121. 2