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How is MCFR funded ? |
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Marion County Fire Rescue relies on several funding
sources to pay for its exceptional services including:
ad valorem taxes based on property values; non-ad
valorem fire assessments based on benefit of service;
impact fees on new development and other fees for
services such as building inspections, hazardous
materials spills and illegal burns. |
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What are ad valorem taxes?
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The non-ad valorem fire
assessment is based on benefit of service instead of
property values and distributes costs evenly among
citizens countywide. That means all citizens pay
regardless of the size or value of his or her home.
The fire assessment funds MCFR's firefighting budget
and pays firefighter salaries, benefits, training
and education as well as other items such as fire
engines, nozzles, hoses, bunker gear, ladders and
fire station expenses. |
What are non ad
valorem taxes?
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The non-ad valorem fire assessment is
based on benefit of service instead of property
value and distributes costs evenly among citizens
countywide. That means everyone pays regardless of
the size or value of their home. The fire assessment
funds MCFRs firefighting budget and pays firefighter
salaries, benefits, training and education as well
as other items such as fire engines, nozzles, hoses,
bunker gear, ladders, electricity and fire station
expenses. |
What are impact fees?
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Impact fees are levied on new
development based on the impact that growth and
increased population have on fire rescue resources
and the 911 call load. Commissioners earmark money
generated from impact fees solely for capital
improvement projects. This means, MCFR can only
spend impact fee dollars on building new fire
stations and purchasing additional equipment such as
fire rescue vehicles. | |
From L to R: Commissioner Charlie Stone,
Chief Stuart M. McElhaney and Powell Dingler |
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 The fire assessment
pays for benefits and
salaries of MCFR's firefighters. |
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What is the fire assessment for the fiscal year 2007-2008?
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Unit of Measure |
Demand for Service Base on Calls |
+ |
Availability (EDU Charge) Based on
Square Footage |
| Residential and Mobile Home |
Number of homes X $25.56 |
+ |
Number of homes X $140.43 |
| Commercial |
0.0533 X sq. ft. (capped at 200,000 sq.
ft.) |
+ |
sq. ft. 2,332 X
$140.43 |
| Industrial/Warehouse |
0.0104 X sq. ft. (capped at 200,000 sq.
ft.) |
+ |
sq. ft. 2,332 X
$140.43 |
| Institutional |
0.0829 X sq. ft. (capped at 200,000 sq.
ft.) |
+ |
sq. ft. 2,332 X
$140.43 |
| Miscellaneous Buildings |
Buildings 0.0070 X sq. ft (1) |
+ |
No EDU charge (2) |
| Hotel/RV Park |
0.0533 X sq. ft (3) |
+ |
sq. ft. 2,332 X
$140.43 |
| Land |
Acres X $1.03 (4) |
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No EDU charge |
(1) There is no demand charge for buildings smaller than
300 square feet.
(2) Miscellaneous buildings 0-300
sqare feet. are exempt from the EDU charge.
(3) The
average RV unit is based on 191 sq. ft.; 191 sq. ft.
times the number of occupied spaces equals the total sq.
ft.
(4) If a structure on a property is improved, the first
five acres are free. |
EXAMPLE
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Under the
new methodology, if you live in a 3,000 square foot
home on four acres of land, you paid $165.99 for the
fire assessment to enhance fire rescue services.
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This is an average of $13.83 per month.
$25.56 + $140.43 = $165.99 (This is $40.80 more than the
2005-2006 fiscal year.)
The service component is based on the annual number of
fire emergencies. The availability component is based on
the availability of firefighters to respond to
residential and non-residential fires.
For
residential properties, the availability component is
$140.43 per dwelling. For non-residential properties,
the assessment is based on what's called an equivalent
dwelling unit or EDU.
The number of EDUs is based on what's considered the
average size of a single family residence which is 2,332
square feet.
The number of times 2,332 square
feet will divide into the total square footage of a
non-residential property will determine the number of
EDUs calculated for non-residential properties. |
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