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WMFR commissioners vote on assessment increase

WMFR commissioners vote on assessment increase

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Anna Maria Island, Community News, West Manatee Fire Rescue.

BRADENTON – Property owners in the West Manatee Fire Rescue District will see an increase in their assessment rate when TRIM notices are mailed in the fall.

During a May 19 meeting, commissioners voted 3-1 with Commissioner Al Robinson dissenting, to raise the assessment rate 2.6% over the current year’s rates. Commissioner David Bishop was absent.

At the 2.6% increase, the district’s revenue will increase by $189,436, eliminating the need for district leaders to draw from reserves to meet anticipated needs including capital projects and projected increases in insurance, pension fund contributions and a potential increase in employee compensation. Commissioner Larry Jennis reminded his fellow board members that the coming year is a bargaining year with the firefighters’ union. For the 2020-21 fiscal year, WMFR’s staff projects bringing in $7,475,424 in revenue from assessments.

With the increase, the base rate for a residential property increases to $195.53 from $190.57 with the square foot rate increasing from $0.1124 to $0.1153. The total assessment rate for a 2,000 square foot residential building will increase from $302.97 to $310.85.

For commercial buildings, the base rate will increase from $473.62 to $485.94 with the square foot rate increasing from $0.2051 to $0.2104. The total assessment rate for a 2,000 square foot commercial building will increase from $678.72 to $696.37.

Before the vote was taken, Commissioner Al Robinson expressed concern about raising the assessment rate in a year that has produced financial hardship for many property owners.

“I’m not in favor of raising anything,” Robinson said. “We have plenty of money.”

Chief Ben Rigney said that the district’s staff typically spends about 95% of the funds budgeted each year. Any rollover amounts are put into savings for future capital expenses, equipment purchases or emergency savings in case of a natural disaster.

“I think it’s very evident that our staff has been frugal in spending taxpayer dollars,” Commissioner George Harris said, adding that he believes the board makes a sound decision each year concerning assessment rates.

Each year, the amount that commissioners can increase the assessment rate is based on a rolling five-year personal income growth number or PIG. This year, the maximum amount allowed for an increase is 5.46%. Because he expects the next year’s PIG to be much lower, Rigney asked commissioners to consider a 4% increase, which was rejected by board members.

“I know it was a tough decision but we have to do what’s best for the district,” Commissioner Randy Cooper said after the vote had been taken.

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Fire commission opts for incremental increase

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Community News.

BRADENTON – Fire assessment rates are going up in West Manatee Fire Rescue’s District for the coming fiscal year. The 2 percent increase, which passed commissioners with a 3-2 vote, averages out to less than $5 per year for most residential homeowners in the district.

When commissioners entered the public hearing to set the district’s rate for the 2018-19 fiscal year, they had two options on the table. The first option proposed by Chief Tom Sousa and district administrative staff was a zero percent increase in rates with $1.5 million being pulled from reserves to fund capital projects. More than $1 million of that amount was saved by the district in reserves and earmarked for special projects, such as replacing aging air packs for firefighters and purchasing new gear.

Sousa said he anticipates the district’s operating expenses to increase 2.9 percent over the next two years and, with the district in a bargaining year with the firefighter’s union, the possibility is there for employee expenses also to rise.

The district’s SAFER grant, which is currently covering the cost of three firefighter positions, expires this fall, though Sousa said he will be reapplying for the grant. With costs to the district expected to rise, under the zero percent increase this coming fiscal year, Sousa said the next one, 2019-20, could see a 4 percent increase to district property owners.

The second option, the one commissioners voted to adopt, is an incremental increase of 2 percent in 2018-19 and a potential 2 percent increase in 2019-20.

“We’re not committing to next year yet; we’re just showing you what it could be,” Sousa said to commissioners.

“If we don’t need this money in the current budget year, I’m not in favor of collecting it,” Commissioner George Harris said. Harris and fellow Commissioner Al Robinson voted against the 2 percent increase.

“It seems to me that this is very risky to not have any increase this year and have an unknown increase next year,” Commissioner Randy Cooper said.

Commissioner David Bishop said he voted in the previous year against raising rates, believing the district would get the funds it needed from pending grant applications, and was disappointed when those funds never materialized. He worried that voting against any type of rate increase this year could put the district in a bad financial position the following year.

The 2 percent increase represents about $138,000 in additional funds to the district through the fire assessment.

Commissioner Larry Jennis said he feels if the district didn’t raise the rate and suffered unforeseen expenses it could place a serious financial burden on the district and taxpayers in the next year.

“We have expenses we know are rising,” he said.

Administration building

With the sale of the district’s administration building to The Oasis School still pending without a closing date set, commissioners discussed what to do with the almost $700,000 in funds estimated to come into the district. There was some discussion of earmarking the funds for a new administration building or using them to pay for the district’s rented office space, rather than dumping them into a general fund. The sale of the building is expected to close no later than July 5.

Commissioners will be hosting a facilities workshop prior to their June 19 meeting to discuss the possibilities of renting and purchasing a new administration space.

Lease talks are still ongoing with nearby Palma Sola Presbyterian Church, where district leaders plan to temporarily house administrative staff while decisions about a permanent home are made. Sousa said the lease for office space at the church property will become effective on the date of closing for the administration building sale.

Dissolving the district

With the sale of the administration building and Sousa’s contract with the district renewed for only three years, Harris suggested commissioners consider looking at any available options to merge WMFR with another local fire district.

“I think this is something we need to consider,” he said, adding that it’s difficult to replace a fire chief. With the chief potentially retiring in three years and the district’s administration building gone, he said it puts WMFR in an excellent merger position.

No other commissioners commented on the idea.