.. What is a Fire District? Public Hearing • A fire district is a political subdivision of the state Garrison Fire District Formation • Town Law 174(7) • Same as a town, village or city • District becomes the municipal entity Mark C. Butler, Esq. Law Offices of Mark C. Butler, PLLC • responsible for fire protection • instead of Town August 19,2015 .. What is a Fire District? J.What is a Fire District? • New municipal entity • Currently • Town provides fire protection in the FPD • Boundaries • Town contracts with for service • "Garrison Fire Protection District of the • Garrison Volunteer Fire Company, Inc. Town of Philipstown" • Garrison VFC provides personnel • Fire District becomes responsible for • Fire Protection • In place of Town Garrison Volunteer Fire .. What is a Fire District? .. Company, Inc . • Nothing changes for Fire Company: • Proposed • New Garrison Fire District operates fire • Corporate structure remains the same service • Still a membership organization • Direct control over fire protection • VFC fund raising remains the same • No annual contracts with Garrison VFC • The change is the authority over the • Fire District sets budget Fire Company: • Direct municipal control • From the Town to the Fire District • Nothing changes internally for Fire Company • Fire District directly pays for fire protection • No contract funds go to Garrison VFC August 19, 2015 Attorney Butler Presentation-Town of Philipstown Public Hearing 1
J.{ire District Responsibilities "'Fire District Responsibilities • Provides fire protection • Mandatory public budget process • Fire District sets budget and money • Just like Town • Public budget hearing annually • Public process • Statutory cap on budget • Budget hearings • Direct elections • Mandatory bond vote for any borrowing • No contract with GVFC • "Bonding" • Separate legal entity from Fire Company. • Unlike Town J.{ire District Responsibilities "'Fire District Operations • Must use low bid process • The Fire District is operated by a "Board of Fire Commissioners" • Annual elections • Equivalent to Town Board • Open meetings • Sole purpose is fire protection • Annual financial report required • Completely separate and distinct entity • Filed with Town and NYS Comptroller • Not part of the Fire Company • Annual outside audit required • Filed with Town and NYS Comptroller 10 J.{ire District Officers "'commissioner Qualifications • Commissioners • Resident of Fire District • Publically elected municipal officials • 18 years of age • Treasurer • Not a Chief in FD • Publically elected municipal official • No arson convictions • Secretary • May be Fire Company member • Appointed municipal official • Initial Commissioners and Treasurer appointed by Town Board 11 12 Attorney Butler Presentation- Town of PhJ1ipstown Public Hearing August 19, 2015 2
J.F"irst Meeting J.Fire District Taxes • Called" Organization Meeting" • Separate tax, across whole Fire District • Treasurer Temporary Chair • Based on taxable real property in District • Chair Elected • Based on Fire District Budget: • District Secretary Appointed • Budget + Assessed Valuation = Tax Rate l - 8 " .. ~--- I Estimated Tax Rate J.f--_E_s_ti_m_a_te_d_T_a_X_R_a_te _ Asooeaa:l Equaizaion Full Vauaion Proposed Tax Budget*: $ 821,204 Munidpaity Vauaion Rae (AV/ER) Assessed Valuation: $824,948,706 TC>Nn $383,023,684 46.43% $824,948,706 $824,948,706 Tota FLJI Vauaions Tax Rate: $,9954 per $1,000 * As proposed by GVFC Source: 2014 Tax Roll figures 15 16 J.senefits of Formation • Single purpose public-safety entity Questions? • Controls training, response, spending • Legally responsible entity • Direct Voter Approval • Commissioner elections • All bonding (borrowing) • Open Budget Process • Public hearing. 18 17 Attorney Butler Presentation-Town of Philipstown Public Hearing August 19,2015 3
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