SUBJECT:
Title
Fire, Rescue and EMS Fund - Fire Rescue Services - $844,203
Body
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INITIATOR: |
DEPARTMENT: |
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James Banta, Fire Chief |
Fire Rescue |
DESCRIPTION/BACKGROUND:
In 2020, Marion County Fire Marshal, Ken McCann, noticed that there was a discrepancy with the process of collecting a portion of interim fire assessments for new construction. During the analysis, Ken discovered that buildings were not being charged the annual interim assessment if they did not complete construction by the end of the calendar year. He spent the next two (2) years working with the Tax Collector's Office, Property Appraiser's Office, County Attorney's Office, and Information Technology Department to create a solution, in addition to the increasing hours for fire investigations, fire inspections, and construction plans reviews. This year was the first year of the process to ensure that each construction project pays an equitable share of assessments for fire protection. With the new process Fire Rescue has collected $844,203 above the currently estimated budget amount of $400,000, therefore totaling $1,244,203 in interim fire assessments.
Fire Rescue will be recognizing the funds and using this to offset the increased cost of overtime (and its corresponding benefits) due to vacancies that we have been working to fill. While we have a new hire class ready to be onboarded, there are vacancies that are creating increased overtime costs in order to continue to provide excellence in customer service to the citizens of Marion County.
BUDGET/IMPACT:
Increase Fire, Rescue and EMS Fund appropriation by $844,203.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Recommended action
Approve attached Budget Amendment Resolution.
end