There is no general fund tax increase, but Finance Director Vickie Neikirk said taxpayers may expect a slight hike in the fire tax.
"The fire fund would have to have an increase of .75 mills in order to receive this tax revenue," Neikirk said "There's always a possibility that we won't have to use any fund balance and other revenues may come in higher but we have to put that in there to make sure its balanced."
That total fire fund revenue is $17.8-million. The Fire Fund millage rate increase brought the millage rate for unincorporated residents to 2.4 and with a mill rate of 3.83 for incorporated residents. Neikirk said increase was needed to support the staffing and operation of a new fire station.
At the end of the two hour session Commissioners approved a $69,000 purchase of four acres of land at Ledan Road Extension and Will Wallace Road for a new fire station. The new station is in Commissioner Billy Powell's district and he said it will help reduce fire insurance rates.
"We have a significant number of families that are outside the five mile radius of the fire stations and they have a Class 9 rating, the highest they can have," Powell said. "They will be the direct benefactor, but the county will benefit as a whole by being better prepared for emergency situations."
The balanced FY 2014 budget takes effect July 1, 2013, and ends June 30, 2014. It maintains the elimination of furlough days and 4 percent employee retirement contributions that were restored by the commission in December without a General Fund tax increase or roll-up.
Financial Services Dir. Vickie Neikirk
http://accesswdun.com/article/2013/6/263004