HomeMy WebLinkAboutC.054.93009_0545MAY 311994
L.
The fire commission and Susan Blumenstein discussed the
financing of the fire departments.
Mr. Bowles said that there was $87,000 of equipment that would
be needed during the next five years. If this equipment is
financed, it will cost the departments over $100,000, he said. He
thought that was a goal of the fire commission, to pay cash rather
than pay interest.
Commissioner Madison asked if the debt is increasing or
decreasing. He thought there should be a track set to bring the
indebtedness down over a ten-year period.
The group discussed the tax rates of Mt. Mourne and Shepherds
as a comparison to the County Tax District, and how the property
values increase the taxes received.
In summary, Mr. Bowles said they would like to know what the
county commissioners wished the fire commission to do. He said
capital outlay and forecasting for the future needs are their
problems. Closing down stations and relocating stations because of
annexation never nets as much money as the new station costs.
Mr. Bowles asked if the Suburban vehicle could be put in the
fire marshal's budget in future years and the county fire
commission be reimbursed for that. The board agreed that the fire
commission should be reimbursed for this. The total cost is about
$20,000.
Commissioner Stewart said the board should designate what
comes out of the fire commission's budget, otherwise it might get
out of hand. Fire tax money in this instance was used for what
funds from the General Fund should have been used for, Boone said.
Mr. Bowles inquired about the board's thinking about
relocating fire departments because of annexation, etc.
Commissioner Stewart said she thought the fire commission would
make a recommendation to the board of county commissioners. Mr.
Bowles inquired at what point would a fire department cease to
operate because of lack of territory in a fire district?
Commissioner Madison agreed that the fire commission should
recommend to the county commissioners in this regard.
In further discussion, Mr. Mashburn said the county
commissioners still have to set the tax rate. Chairman Haire said
she thought the fire commission should recommend to the county
commissioners on the Iredell County fire district. The board,
manager, and fire commission members discussed the methods of
setting tax rates in the different fire taxing districts.
Chairman Haire inquired what the recommendation from the fire
commission was. Mr. Bowles said basically they came to find out
what the county commissioners' feelings were on what direction the
commissioners wanted to fire commission to take. The
recommendation from the fire commission for tax rate was to round
the tax off at three cents this year, see what revaluation does the
year after, and see if the revaluation generates the kind of funds
it will take to finance the trucks that will be needed.
Commissioner Stewart said if equipment is purchased without
the approval of the fire commission, she personally did not think
it should be included in the debt service.
Chairman Haire recapped the request, saying the commission is
basically asking that the tax rate be rounded to three cents and
that the fire commission be reimbursed for the Suburban truck that
is now being utilized by the fire marshal.
Mr. Bowles recognized Ronda Hoke, chief of West Iredell
Volunteer Fire Department, and Dan Lowrance, of the board of
directors. The request from the West Iredell VFD was for
reinstatement of funds. Mr. Lowrance explained that their budget