HomeMy WebLinkAboutC.054.93011_1550 (2)Commissioner Williams said that if his community's VFD didn't participate in the plan,
then he and his neighbors would be paying out the money for some other area.
Jumey mentioned that a Fern Hill Road area alone had more property valuation then the
entire Central VFD area.
Commissioner Williams said the ratings improvement program might put pressure on the
departments.
Billy Ray Trivette said the one cent was performance based, and there was objective
criteria needing accomplishment before distribution. He said all of the VFDs had "bought" into
the plan.
Commissioner Robertson said he understood the concept was that one cent would go
towards prioritized projects, and that if the departments improved next year, then that same
penny would go back in the budget. He said, "No ratings improvement, no funding."
Tucker said the plan was for four departments to improve in three years, and the penny
would be placed in escrow. He said the FTDB would evaluate the progress before distribution.
Jumey said the plan required additional apparatus, and the figures were not inflation
adjusted.
Commissioner Johnson asked the least amount of money needed to improve one
department.
Various members of the audience gave the following information:
• To improve Ebenezer (needs water points, a truck, and a building extension to house the
truck) the cost would be $200,000
• To improve Cool Springs (needs water points, pumper/tanker) the cost would be
$750,000
• To improve Trinity (needs a truck) the costs would be $350,000.
Commissioner Robertson noted that one cent ($823,756) wouldn't cover all of the needs.
Phillips said the taxpayers needed to know there was a trade-off between the increased
tax rate and the improved insurance ratings. He said the savings in the Cool Springs district
would be $700,000.
County Manager Mashburn said he was understanding that a six -cent -tax rate was being
requested with the proceeds from one -cent of the amount being set aside in a reserve account,
and the VFDs would need a satisfactory business plan before there was distribution out of the
reserve account.
Commissioner Williams said there was no guarantee the State would respond when a
request was made for an inspection.
Commissioner Robertson stressed that one cent would go for one-time expenses, and as
long as there were improvements, the one penny would be used over and over. He said that if no
ratings improvement occurred, then the money went away.
Jumey said 8.5 cents was needed to start the program.
Chairman Norman said he was comfortable with one cent but not eight.
Commissioner Johnson said he was concerned about (1) the water points (2) long-term
debt and (3) how the intent of the performance based program would be interpreted by future
boards of commissioners.
Robertson stressed the one cent could not be used for debt.