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Home My WebLink AboutRes 012 - Submit 911 CSD Levy to VotersDeschutes County Board of Commissioners 1300 NW Wall St., Suite 200, Bend, OR 97701-1960 (541) 388-6570 - Fax (541) 385-3202 - www.deschutes.orp. AGENDA REQUEST & STAFF REPORT For Board Business Meeting of February 13, 2008 Please see directions for completing this document on the next page. DATE: February 1, 2008 FROM: Becky McDonald 911 Director 388-0185 ext. 2303 TITLE OF AGENDA ITEM: A Resolution Submitting to the Voters of the Deschutes County 911 County Service District, a five- year local option tax levy to fund 911 emergency services. PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS DATE? No BACKGROUND AND POLICY IMPLICATIONS: Currently, six 911 dispatchers per shift answer an average of 938 call for service each day. The 91 dispatchers are trained and certified emergency medical dispatchers, giving lifesaving emergency medical instructions to callers until emergency personnel arrive at the scene. The 911 Service District's current taxing authority is a tax base ($.16 per $1000) passed by the voters in 1994 and a four year operating levy ($.09 per $1000) which expired in July 2007. Approval of this measure will allow 911 to raise sufficient revenue to continue operations at current levels, provide space for additional dispatchers and upgrade its information systems with all public safety agencies in Deschutes County to an efficient, cost-effective level. This four-year local option tax expires at the end of the fiscal year 2012-2013. If approved, the cost of this local option tax would be $.23 per $1000 of assessed value. FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: Placing the measure of the ballot has no fiscal implications, however, the results of the election do. RECOMMENDATION & ACTION REQUESTED: Considersation and adoption of the proposed resolution. ATTENDANCE: Becky McDonald, 911 Director DISTRIBUTION OF DOCUMENTS: County Clerk REVIEWED ilf) LEGAL COUNSEL For Recording Stamp Only BEFORE THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF DESCHUTES COUNTY, OREGON A Resolution Submitting to the Voters of the Deschutes County 911 County Service District a Five -Year Local Option Tax Levy to Fund 911 Emergency Services. RESOLUTION NO. 2008-012 WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners of Deschutes County, Oregon, acting as t1 Le governing body of Deschutes County 911 County Service District (Board), has determined that a five- year local option tax levy should be submitted to the qualified voters of the Deschutes County 911 County Service District (District) as established by Section 11, Article XI of the Oregon Constitution in order to provide adequate funding and permit the proper operation of the District; and WHEREAS, the Board considers adequate funding of the District as necessary and in the public interest; and WHEREAS, the Board finds that anticipated District revenues are insufficient to provide adequate 911 services without the funds generated by the proposed local option tax levy; and WHEREAS, it is necessary to submit the question of authorizing a five-year local option tax levy to the registered voters of the District; now, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF DESCHUTES COUNTY, OREGON, acting as the governing body of the DESCHUTES COUNTY 911 COUNTY SERVICE DISTRICT, as follows: Section 1. Form of Question. At the local option tax levy election on May 20, 2008, there shall be submitted to the registered voters of the Deschutes County 911 County Service District, for their approval or rejection, the measure set forth in Exhibit "A," attached hereto and by this reference incorporated herein. Section 2. Date of Election. The measure set forth in Exhibit "A" shall be submitted in the manner prescribed by law to the qualified voters of the District at an election to be held in the District on May 20, 2008. /// /// PAGE 1 OF 2 — RESOLUTION NO. 2008-012 Section 3. Election and Ballots. The Deschutes County Clerk is hereby directed to conduct the election set forth in this Resolution. The Clerk shall clearly and boldly print the words "CONTAINS VOTE ON PROPOSED TAX INCREASE" in red ink on the outer envelope of ballots to be mailed to registered voters. DATED this day of , 2008. BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF DESCHUTES COUNTY, OREGON, ACTING AS THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE DESCHUTES COUNTY 911 COUNTY SERVICE DISTRICT DENNIS R. LUKE, Chair ATTEST: TAMMY (BANEY) MELTON, Vice Chair Recording Secretary MICHAEL M. DALY, Commissioner PAGE 2 OF 2 — RESOLUTION NO. 2008-012 SEL 803 ORS 250.035 REV 8/00 NOTICE OF DISTRICT MEASURE ELECTION ORS 250.041 ORS 255.145 ORS 255.345 Deschutes County 911 County Service District (Name of District) Notice is hereby given that on May 20, 2008 (Date of Election) A measure election will be held in Deschutes County, Oregon. (Name of County or Counties) The following shall be the ballot title of the measure to be submitted to the district's voters on this date: CAPTION (10 Words) Five-year Local Option Tax for 911 Operations. QUESTION (20 Words) Shall County 911 Service District impose $ .23 per $1,000 of assessed value for operations for five years beginning 2008-2009? This measure may cause property taxes to increase more than three percent. SUMMARY (175 Words) This measure may be passed only at an election with at least 50 percent voter turnout. The current taxing authority for the Deschutes County 911 County Service District is a permanent rate limitation of $0.1618 per $1000 of assessed value. This rate is based on a tax base passed by voters in 1994, as reduced by Measure 50 in 1997. Voters approved a four-year operating levy in 2003, which expired June 30, 2007. Funds provided by this five-year local option tax would be used to: • maintain existing 911 services to an increasing population; • continue the Emergency Preparedness Network (EPN), which notifies residents by telephone of emergency situations in their area; • update to a more efficient, cost-effective public safety records systems to accommodate growth and technological changes; and • pay for space needed for dispatchers. This measure would provide stable operational funding and space for 911 emergency services for five years. The proposed rate would raise approximately $3, 357,638 in 2008-2009, $3,559,096 in 2009-2010, $3,772,642 in 2010-2011, $3,999,001 in 2011-2012 and $4,238,941 in 2012-2013. The following authorized district official hereby certifies the above ballot title is true and complete. Signature of authorized district official (not required to be notarized) Date signed Dennis R. Luke Chair Printed name of authorized district official Title Page 1 of 1- Exhibit "A" to Resolution No. 2008-012 (01/22/08) EXPLANATORY STATEMENT FOR COUNTY VOTERS' PAMPHLET (2008) Ballot Title Caption: Five-year Local Option Tax for 911 Operations Measure Number: Word Total (500) Maximum): 327 Deschutes County 911 County Service District answers and dispatches all calls for service for every police, fire and ambulance department in the county. The 911 County Service District provides this service to all county residents through the following entities: Bend Fire Department Deschutes County Rural Fire Protection District #1 Bend Police Department Deschutes County Sheriff's Office Redmond Police Redmond Fire Department Deschutes County Rural Fire Protection District #2 La Pine Fire Department Black Butte Ranch Police Black Butte Fire Services Sunriver Police Sunriver Fire Department Sisters/Camp Sherman Fire District Cloverdale Fire District Oregon State Police Crooked River Ranch Fire Services United States Forest Service Oregon Department of Forestry Bureau of Land Management Airlife Currently, an average of six 911 dispatchers per shift answer approximately 938 calls for service each day. The 911 dispatchers are trained and certified emergency medical dispatchers, giving emergency medical instructions to callers until the emergency personnel arrive at the scene. In addition to these emergency calls, Deschutes County 911 also answers and processes all non -emergency calls for service. The 911 Service District's current taxing authority is a tax base of $0.16 per $1000, passed by the voters in 1994, as reduced by Measure 50 in 1997. A four year operating levy expired in July 2007, which has left a significant shortfall in the budget. Approval of this measure would allow 911 to raise revenue to continue operations at current levels, provide space for additional dispatchers, and make technology improvements to enhance efficiency of the public safety agencies within Deschutes County. This five-year local option tax would expire at the end of fiscal year 2012-2013. If approved, the cost of this local option tax would be $ .23 cents per thousand dollars of assessed value. The tax impact of this measure is $23 a year per $100,000 of assessed value. In Deschutes County the average assessed value of a home is $170,000. The average home would be assessed $39.10 per year for 911 services. Person responsible for the content of the Explanatory Statement (Typed) Dennis R. Luke, Chair (Signed) X Deschutes County Board of County Commissioners Name of the Governing Body person represents Explanatory Statement (2/08)