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Home My WebLink AboutI1 911 Mill Levy Commission Memorandum REPORT TO: Honorable Mayor and City Commission FROM: Ben Hess, 911 Director Chris Kukulski, City Manager SUBJECT: Commission Resolution No. 3954 - Endorsing The Passage Of the Countywide 911 Emergency Services Levy And Decreasing the City’s General Fund Mill Levy By 9 Mills Beginning Fiscal Year 2007-2008, upon passage. MEETING DATE: September 5, 2006 BACKGROUND: The current 9-1-1 Communications Center was created by the Interlocal Agreement dated December 1995. That agreement did not address an equitable funding source to meet the needs of maintenance and operations, nor did it set aside adequate dollars for equipment replacement and upgrades. The 9-1-1 Administrative Board (A-Board) has twice supported a countywide Mill Levy election to provide an equitable, dedicated funding source; once in 2001 and again in 2004. In both instances, the measure failed with the voters. At their August 2006 meeting, the A-Board unanimously approved a motion to recommend that the Gallatin County Commissioners place a 9 Mill Levy on the November 7th ballot for the purpose of funding operations, maintenance, capital and debt service for 9-1-1 Communications. On August 23rd, the County Commission approved the Emergency Services (9-1-1) Mill Levy for the November ballot. If passed by the voters this would provide a stable source of funding supported equitably by all taxpayers of the County. For Fiscal Year 2007, the City’s contribution to funding 9-1-1 amounts to $601,350. This money comes from the City’s General Fund. When this countywide levy is adopted, City of Bozeman taxpayers will contribute their proportionate share of 9-1-1 Services funding as county taxpayers, making the City’s current General Fund allocation for 9-1-1 Services no longer necessary. This resolution would apply when the countywide levy is approved by the voters. If the measure is not approved, the City will not reduce its levy and will need to find other ways to address funding 9-1-1 Services. RECOMMENDATIONS: It is recommended that the Bozeman City Commissioners endorse the passage of the countywide 9-1-1 Service mill levy as an equitable, stable source of funding 9-1-1 services and upon passage by the voters of Gallitan County the city commits to decrease the City’s mill levy by 9 mills beginning in FY2008. FISCAL EFFECTS: The effects of this resolution will be to decrease the tax levy for residents of the City of Bozeman by 9 mills, offsetting the countywide levy of 9 mills that would begin in fiscal year 2008. Based on the fiscal year 2008 estimated mill value, City tax collections would decrease approx $620,000. This tax decrease is slightly larger than the City’s current 9-1-1 Services contribution for Fiscal Year 2007 and would ensure no net tax increase for City taxpayers upon passage of the countywide levy. This will also provide a remedy to the “double taxation” that City taxpayers currently endure because they contribute to 9-1-1 Services through both the City’s General Fund as well as the County’s Public Safety Fund. ALTERNATIVES: As suggested by the City Commission. Respectfully submitted, Ben Hess, 911 Director Chris A. Kukulski, City Manager Attachments: Commission Resolution No. 3954 Report compiled on August 30, 2006 COMMISSION RESOLUTION NO. 3954 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF BOZEMAN, MONTANA, ENDORSING THE PASSAGE OF THE COUNTY-WIDE 911 EMERGENCY SERVICES LEVY AND DECREASING THE CITY’S GENERAL FUND MILL LEVY BY 9 MILLS BEGINNING FISCAL YEAR 2007-2008. WHEREAS, 9-1-1 Emergency Services are critical to the health and safety of all residents and visitors of Gallatin County, and are necessary for emergency service providers so that they may adequately respond to incidents throughout the County; and WHEREAS, since 1995, City of Bozeman and Gallatin County have funded the majority of 9-1-1 Services’ operations and capital out of their existing taxing authority for the benefit of all Gallatin County residents and visitors; and WHEREAS, the current funding formula was intended to be a temporary means to pay for 9-1-1 Services, and this funding formula was projected to be replaced with a permanent, equitable, and stable funding source in the future; and WHEREAS, due to population growth throughout the county, the need to increase available facility space for the 9-1-1 Dispatch Center, the rising costs of infrastructure improvements, and the increasing costs of technological upgrades, the current funding mechanism is not adequate to ensure the public’s health and safety; and WHEREAS, at its meeting held in August 2006, the Joint Dispatch (9-1-1 Services) Administrative Board recommended seeking an equitable and dedicated source of future funding for the 9-1-1 Services’ maintenance, operations, capital equipment, and facility needs; and WHEREAS, the County’s Capital Improvements Committee ranked the replacement of the 9-1-1 Dispatch Center as the top priority for all County facilities; and WHEREAS, when this countywide levy is adopted, City of Bozeman taxpayers will contribute their proportionate share of 9-1-1 Services funding as county taxpayers, making the City’s current General Fund allocation for 9-1-1 Services no longer necessary; and - 1 - WHEREAS, the City Commission desires to reduce the general fund tax levy for City of Bozeman taxpayers by 9 mills beginning in Fiscal Year 2008, should the countywide 911 Emergency Services levy of 9 mills be approved by the voters. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Commission of the City of Bozeman, Montana: Section 1 We endorse the passage of the countywide Emergency Services (9-1-1 Services) mill levy on the November 7, 2006 election ballot. Section 2 Upon passage and approval of the county-wide Emergency Services (9-1-1 Services) Levy, the City of Bozeman will reduce its Fiscal Year 2008 General Fund mill levy by 9 mills. Section 3 Nine (9) mills will be reduced from the General Fund mill levy each and every year, for as long as Emergency Services (9-1-1 Services) are funded by a source other than the City’s General Fund or general taxing authority. PASSED AND ADOPTED by the City Commission of the City of Bozeman, Montana, at a regular session thereof held on the 5th day of September 2006. _____________________________________ JEFFERY K. KRAUSS, Mayor ATTEST: _____________________________________ Brit Fontenot City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: ___________________________________ PAUL J. LUWE City Attorney - 2 -