Summary Alachua County is considering establishing a Municipal Service Benefit Unit (MSBU) to fund fire protection services beginning in Fiscal Year 2017-2018. The MSBU is essentially a non advalorem assessment that would be placed on the tax bills of all property owners. County staff has approached the City about inclusion in the MSBU for such services.
Currently, the City contracts with the County for fire protection services within our municipal boundaries. The County operates a unit in Alachua out of Station 21, which is located near U.S. Hwy 441 and NW 140th St. (SR 235). The approximate cost for fire services to the City is $675,000 annually. The amount is based primarily on costs to fund the operations of Station 21 for responses by the station within the municipal boundaries.
The City Commission will be holding a joint meeting with the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners prior to this item's consideration. There will be information provided to the City Commission in more detail during the joint meeting about the assessment, its methodology, its impact to Alachua property owners, etc.
The County has requested any municipality wishing to participate in the MSBU to do so by ordinance prior to June 16, 2017. Therefore, in order to meet that requirement (if the City Commission desires to move forward with inclusion in the MSBU), staff has prepared Ordinance 17-09 for first reading during this meeting as there is only one other meeting prior to June 16th in which a second reading could occur.
If the Commission approves the proposed Ordinance 17-09, second reading would be scheduled for June 12, 2016. The City Commission's consent for inclusion in the MSBU is not effective unless it is approved on second reading.
If the City Commission chooses not to participate in the MSBU, staff will move forward to evaluate all fire protection service options, including a potential renewal of the contract with Alachua County. |