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ORANGE COUNTY FIRE RESCUE STUDY <br />EFLAND <br />~ <br />2 <br />3 <br />4 <br />5 <br />6 <br />7 <br />8 <br />9 <br />10 <br />11 <br />12 <br />13 <br />14 <br />15 <br />16 <br />17 <br />Projected capital needs <br />The Department will need to replace apparatus in the near future. Costs will <br />be approximately $350,000. <br />Observations and Issues <br />Efland is unique among the Orange County volunteer departments in that a portion <br />of what should be its fire response and tax district is in the Town of Mebane. <br />Response to this area is made under mutual aid agreement but revenues go to <br />Mebane. <br />Efland undertook significant efforts to lower its fire insurance rating from 9S to 7. <br />This is commendable. <br />18 With some additional attention to training and training record keeping, recruitment <br />19 of additional members, the addition of paid staff for daytime coverage, and <br />20 retention of at least one of the Departrnent's older pumpers when replaced, Efland <br />21 could easily achieve a rating of 6, which is the most cost effective rating for a <br />22 department serving a community like Efland (primarily residential/agricultural). <br />23 Improvement in water supply would also be very helpful, as is the case with all of <br />24 the non-municipal departments. <br />25 <br />26 <br />27 Recommendations <br />28 <br />29 We recommend that the Efland Tax District increase its tax rate from the current <br />30 $0.03457 to $0.04975. This would result in approximately $96,000 and allow the <br />31 Department to more easily fund paid staffing. It would also serve as reserve for <br />32 future capital purchases, including the purchase of addition 800 MHz radios. <br />33 <br />34 We recommend the Department develop and implement a recruiting program for <br />35 volunteers to increase the level of inembership. <br />36 <br />37 <br />31 <br />