Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
APPROVED 9/18/2012 <br /> MINUTES <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> BUDGET WORK SESSION <br /> June 7, 2012 <br /> 7:00 p.m. <br /> The Orange County Board of Commissioners met for a Budget Work Session on <br /> Thursday, June 5, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. at the Southern Human Services Center in Chapel Hill, <br /> N.C. <br /> COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair Bernadette Pelissier and Commissioners <br /> Valerie Foushee, Alice M. Gordon, Barry Jacobs, Pam Hemminger, Earl McKee and Steve <br /> Yuhasz <br /> COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: <br /> COUNTY ATTORNEYS PRESENT: <br /> COUNTY STAFF PRESENT: County Manager Frank Clifton, Assistant County Managers <br /> Gwen Harvey and Michael Talbert and Clerk to the Board Donna Baker (All other staff <br /> members will be identified appropriately below) <br /> NOTE: ALL DOCUMENTS REFERRED TO IN THESE MINUTES ARE IN THE PERMANENT <br /> AGENDA FILE IN THE CLERK'S OFFICE. <br /> 1. FY2012-13 Fire District Tax Rates <br /> Budget and Management Analyst Paul Laughton said that historically the County has <br /> invited any fire district that is asking for a tax increase to come and give the reasoning behind <br /> the increases. Orange Grove has asked for an increase of 0.92 cents and Bill Waddell the <br /> President and Tommy Holmes the Chief were in attendance. <br /> The abstract on page 2 explains the reasoning for the 0.92 cents for FY 12-13 and then <br /> another cent for 13-14. <br /> Bill Waddell said that the reason they are looking for an increase is that they wanted to <br /> break it into two parts and not have such a tremendous jump when they build their third station <br /> down the line. This increase will be needed to outfit the new station. <br /> Commissioner McKee asked Bill Waddell to elaborate on the number of homes that <br /> each of the new fire stations will bring within a six-mile radius. Bill Waddell said that station 2 <br /> would bring 800 homes within the six-mile radius. <br /> Commissioner Gordon asked about the costs and Bill Waddell said that station 2 would <br /> cost $70,000 and the trucks will be about $70,000+ each. They will also have to buy air packs <br /> of$2,000 each, hoses, nozzles, etc., which will cost approximately $300,000 for everything, <br /> including the building. The land was donated for station 2. <br /> Commissioner Jacobs said that four districts are getting lower ISO ratings and this <br /> should be celebrated. He asked staff to track the ISO ratings for the next budget cycle, and if <br /> there is a lower ISO rating, staff should put out press releases in conjunction with the fire <br /> departments. <br /> Commissioner McKee listed the ratings of each district. Eno, Caldwell, Cedar Grove, <br /> Orange Grove, and New Hope are rated 9. Caldwell and New Hope have been rated in the <br /> last couple of weeks and Caldwell should get its new rating in the next couple of days. New <br /> Hope will get its rating in the next few weeks. Efland and White Cross are rated at a 7. <br />