MCFR's Funding Sources



How is MCFR funded ?
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. 

What are ad valorem taxes?
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?
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?
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
 

 

The fire assessment pays for benefits and
 salaries of MCFR's firefighters.


What is the fire assessment for the fiscal year 2007-2008?

 
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)   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
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.
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.

Marion County Administration ▪ 601 SE 25th Avenue ▪ Ocala, FL  34471 ▪ (View Phone Listing)

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