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Town Meeting May 15 th , 2014 7:00 pm. 1. REVISED: 03/31/14. County Council : Honorable Jane Hall Honorable Roger Nutt County Administration Staff : Ms. Katherine O’Neil, County Administrator Mr. Jim Hipp, Deputy County Administrator. 2. REVISED: 03/11/14. Welcome (cont’d)
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Town MeetingMay 15th, 2014 7:00 pm 1 REVISED: 03/31/14
County Council: • Honorable Jane Hall • Honorable Roger Nutt County Administration Staff: • Ms. Katherine O’Neil, County Administrator • Mr. Jim Hipp, Deputy County Administrator 2 REVISED: 03/11/14
Welcome (cont’d) PSFD Board of Directors: • Mr. Chris Taylor, Chairman • Mr. Lon Alexander, Vice Chairman • Dr. Jeff Wagner, Secretary • Mr. Mark Anderson • Mr. Steve Josey • Mr. Ron Newbold • Mr. Joe Vaughn PSFD Staff: • Mr. Ronald D. Nordenbrock, Chief of Department • Mr. David Smith, Assistant Chief You, the taxpayers 3 REVISED: 03/11/14
PSFD (50 sq. mi.) Created by SCC, Oct., 1979 REVISED: 03/11/14
PSFD Service Area (shaded): • 50 sq. mi. • 158 Businesses • 19 Churches • 5,235 Residences • 13,600+ Population (est.) TORAY location • Northern District: • 74% of Population • 95% of Businesses • 74% of Churches Legend PSFD’s fire stations Future PSFD fire station REVISED: 03/27/14
Who’s Who? • Spartanburg County Council – • 7 elected members • Governing body for all County activities and spending • Sets tax millage rate PSFSA • Approves annual budget for PSFSA • PSFSA Board of Directors – • 7 members • Appointed by County Council • Responsible for annual PSFD budget: • Creation • Submittal • Oversight REVISED: 03/27//14
Who’s Who? • ISO (Insurance Services Organization) – • Inspects and rates fire department effectiveness • These ratings directly affect residential property insurance rates • Funded by insurance companies REVISED: 03/27/14
Who’s Who? • You,the residents of the Poplar Springs Fire Service Area REVISED: 03/11/14
Initiative Overview • Objective: • Acquire funds • Hire additional personnel • Avoid ISO reclassification • Improve fire protection capabilities • Process: Referendum to request millage increase (15.3 to 20): June 10th **Note: Millage Increase Request Based On 2013 Financials 9 REVISED: 03/11/14
Referendum No. 19527 • “Do you favor the levy and collection of a tax of not more than 20.0 mills, the current tax being 15.3 mills, upon all the taxable property in the Poplar Springs Fire Service Area for the purpose of providing funds for hiring paid fire fighting personnel, purchasing additional equipment for the Service Area, providing funds for the increased operating expenses of the Service Area, and defraying other expenses incurred by the Service Area in providing fire protection within the Service Area?” REVISED: 03/11/14
Vote YES: Ref. #19527 June 10th SUPPORT THE GROWTH OF OUR COMMUNITY REVISED: 03/27/14
Headcount Plan • Current (8 full-time): • 2 Chief Officers • 6 Firefighters • 2 Shifts of 3 at main station • Proposed (12 full-time): • 2 Chief Officers • 10 Firefighters • Shifts/work stations TBD 12 REVISED: 03/11/14
Financial Impact • 4 additional fighters = $188,000/YEAR (est.). • Proposed 4.7 mil increase = additional $4.70 per $1,000 assessed value * Tax Impact: Market Value (MV) x 4% = Assessed Value (AV) ** $150,000 (MV) x 4% (Residential Rate) = $6,000 (AV) *** 6,000 (AV) x .0047 = $28.20 Increase (Note: Reassessment occurs every 5 years with millage rolled up or down in accordance with state statue. PSFSA’s millage from FY’10 through FY’13 remained constant at 15.3 mills. Our FY ’14/15 is projected to be slightly lower at 15.1 mils. How does this tax increase affect you? 13 REVISED: 03/31/14
Potential Insurance Impact * The average is based upon the current rates of 4 insurance companies. Increased Annual Insurance Premiums (avg.) If PSFD’s ISO Class changes from Class 4 to Class 5, the average insurance premium increase = $74.50 (2-3X avg. potential property tax increase). REVISED: 03/11/14
PSFD Statistics REVISED: 03/11/14
Life Cycle of a Structural Fire • Structural Fires: • Fire Tetrahedron • Start Small And Escalates • Fire Growth • New Construction & Synthetic Materials • Survivability: • Deadly Smoke • Gases • Extreme Temperatures Information supplied by SC State Fire Marshall’s Office REVISED: 03/27/14
Maintain Our Current ISO Rating • PSFD’s 2012 ISO class is 4/9, downgraded slightly from Class 4 In 1997 • How is our ISO classification determined? 18 REVISED: 03/11/14
ISO Fire Suppression Rating Schedule --Insurance Services Organization ISO Inspection -- Fire Alarms (10%) -- Fire Department (50%) -- Water Supply (40%) For residential properties, the lower the department’s ISO rating, the lower your fire insurance premium! 19 REVISED: 03/27/14
Actions To Maintain/Improve ISO Rating • Additional full-time personnel (w/successful referendum) • Additional training (paid & volunteer) • Automatic aid contracts with neighboring departments REVISED: 03/11/14
Actions To Maintain/Improve ISO Rating Additional training (paid & volunteer) • ISO Pts. available for increased department training • A partial list includes: • Fire Prevention Certification • Public Fire Safety Continuing Education For All Firefighters • Public Fire Safety Education Programs For Our Community • Fire Investigator Certification And Continuing Education • Increased use of fire training facility at the ESA training facility • - Increased continuing driver training hours REVISED: 03/11/14
Actions To Maintain/Improve ISO Rating • Automatic aid contracts with neighboring departments Pending Contracts – Duncan, Startex, & Reidville Mutual Aid - Westview Fairforest, Roebuck, & Woodruff REVISED: 03/11/14
Referendum No. 19527 • “Do you favor the levy and collection of a tax of not more than 20.0 mills, the current tax being 15.3 mills, upon all the taxable property in the Poplar Springs Fire Service Area for the purpose of providing funds for hiring paid fire fighting personnel, purchasing additional equipment for the Service Area, providing funds for the increased operating expenses of the Service Area, and defraying other expenses incurred by the Service Area in providing fire protection within the Service Area?” The Board of Directors, Officers and Firefighters of the Poplar Springs Fire Department respectfully request your support with a “Yes” vote on Referendum No. 19527 during the June 10th election. REVISED: 03/11/14
COMMENTSANDQUESTIONS 24 REVISED: 03/11/14
COMPARISION INCREASED ANNUAL INSURANCE PREMIUMS vs. INCREASED TAX FOR FIRE PROTECTION 26 REVISED: 6/20/13
PLAN TO ACHIEVE GOAL • ADVERTISEMENT BILLBOARDS and/or • USE MAILOUTS TO NOTIFY AREA RESIDENTS OF “TOWN MEETINGS” TO BE HELD AT OUR MAIN STATION. DURING THESE MEETINGS, WE WOULD PRESENT OUR FUTURE PLANS, REQUEST THEIR SUPPORT AT THE JUNE, 2014 ELECTION, AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. 28 REVISED: 6/20/13
Vote YES: Ref. #19527 June 10th $28 Yes No = = Vs. $75 Yes No = = *If PSFD ISO rating drops Copy of PowerPoint on PSFD web site: www.poplarspringsfd.com
Vote YES: Ref. #19527 June 10th Yes No $28 = = More Info: 1) www.poplarspringsfd.com, or 2) Town Hall Meeting 7:00 on 5/15 REVISED: 03/11/14