2020/21 Area Rate Levies for Fire

Municipality of the County of Kings Request for Decision TO Council PREPARED BY Scott MacKay, Revenue Manager MEETING DATE August 18, 2020 SUBJECT 2020/21 Area Rate Levies for Fire ORIGIN Fire and Recreation Area Rates Policy FIN -05-007 Nova Scotia Utility & Review Board (UARB) orders related to Annual Fire Protection Rates (hydrant charges) to be paid to water utilities Municipal Government Act (MGA), Section 75 Council Meeting of July 7, 2020 RECOMMENDATION That Municipal Council approve the levying, collection and remittance of the Fire Area Rate for the Hants Border area at a rate of $0.026 per $100 assessment, as per Appendix A: Area Rates 2020-21 of the August 18, 2020 Request for Decision. That Municipal Council approve the 4% administration fee charged against the area rates for the fire commissions of Canning, Aylesford and Greenwich, as per Appendix B: Area Rates for Fire Commissions 2020/21 of the August 18, 2020 Request for Decision. INTENT To provide Council with the relevant information necessary to make an informed decision in relation to the proposed area rates for 2020/21. DISCUSSION Each year Council is asked to approve the levy of area rates for fire departments, fire protection rates (hydrant rates) for water utilities, and uniform charges for recreation, in accordance with Policy Fin-05- 007, or UARB orders related to Annual Fire Protection Rates. Area rates do not continue automatically from year to year. Fire Departments, and incorporated Recreation Organizations who provide services to the Municipality’s residents must submit an application each year. Fire Protection rates (hydrant rates) are set by the UARB. At the time of Council’s meeting on July 7, 2020, the above noted fire commissions had not set their rates for the coming year, and Municipal staff were not yet in a position to conduct an area rate meeting for residents of the Hants Border area. All of this has now been completed. Rates for the above are noted in Appendix A and B in red. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS The Municipality charges an administration fee of 4% to offset the cost of billing, collection and forwarding the area rate funds to Fire Departments and Commissions and Recreation groups. Municipality of the County of Kings Request for Decision Other than the administration fee, there is no net financial impact on the Municipality’s operating budget. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT A Hants Border area rate meeting was held virtually on August 11, 2020 and a vote was held with all present to gauge support for the proposed rate. The result of the vote was 8 in favor and 1 opposed to accept the rate as presented of $0.026 per $100 assessment. An additional 5 ratepayers, unable to take part in the call, contacted the office prior to the meeting to express their support for the approval of the proposed area rate. The fire commissions of Canning, Aylesford and Greenwich have now also provided the Municipality with their rates for the coming year, as noted in Appendix B. ALTERNATIVES No alternatives are recommended. IMPLEMENTATION Approved area rates will be levied on the September Tax Bills and the funds collected will be forwarded to the appropriate parties. The 2020/21 Area Rate will be posted on the municipal website. APPENDICES Appendix A: Area Rates 2020/21 Appendix B: Area Rates for Fire Commissions 2020/21 Appendix C: Fire Area Rate Calculation for Hants Border APPROVALS Greg Barr, Director of Finance and IT August 12, 2020 Scott Conrod, CAO August 12, 2020 Municipality of the County of Kings Request for Decision Appendix “A” – Area Rates 2020-21 Recreation Rates Approve the levying, collection and remittance of a uniform charge for the year ending March 31, 2021 on each dwelling unit assessed on the Assessment Roll in the said area. Proposed 2020-21 Area 2019-20 rate/dwelling rate/dwelling Canning Recreation 28.00 28.00 Greenwich Recreation 25.00 25.00 Fox Hill Recreation 60.00 60.00 Coldbrook Recreation 20.00 20.00 Canaan Heights Recreation 75.00 75.00 Cornwallis Square 0.01 per $100 assessment See note below Centreville Recreation 25.00 26.00 Fire Area Rates Approve the levying, collection and remittance of an area rate for the year ending March 31, 2021 on each $100 of the assessed value of commercial, resource, residential property assessed on the Assessment Roll in the said area. 2019-20 rate/$100 Proposed 2020-21 rate/$100 Area assessment assessment Aylesford fire - Outside 0.05 0.05 Kentville Fire 0.0319 0.0375 New Minas Fire 0.0425 0.0425 Wolfville Fire 0.0560 0.0636 Greenwich Fire - Outside 0.07 0.07 Halls Harbour 0.05 0.05 Hantsport Fire 0.02271 .026 Waterville Fire - Outside 0.065 0.065 Fire Protection Rates (Hydrant) Area Rate Approve the levying, collection and remittance of an area rate for the year ending March 31, 2021 on each $100 of the assessed value on all assessable property within or a portion of which is within 1,000 feet of a fire hydrant that is property of a Water Utility. 2019-20 rate/$100 Proposed 2020-21 rate/$100 Area assessment assessment Greenwood Hydrant 0.140 0.140 North Kentville Hydrant 0.070 0.080 Hants Border Hydrant 0.090 0.090 Greenwich Hydrant 0.070 0.080 Canning Hydrant 0.100 0.100 Municipality of the County of Kings Request for Decision Appendix “B” – Area Rates for Fire Commissions 2020-21 Approve the 4% administration fee charged against the area rates collected for the following Fire Commissions. 2019-20 rate/$100 Proposed 2020-21 rate/$100 Area assessment assessment Aylesford (Inside) .05 .05 Berwick .08 .08 Canning .09 .09 Greenwich (Inside) .06 .07 Kingston .06 .06 Appendix “C” – Fire Area Rate Calculation for Hants Border Area Assessment: $99,743,502 Approved Capital Budget (Hantsport Fire Dept) $82,586 Average Calls to the Municipality of the County of Kings (MoK) * 30% MoK Portion of Budget $24,776 Administration / Tax $1,140 Total MoK obligation $25,915 Area rate per $100 assessment $0.0260 * Average calls to MoK by Hantsport Fire Department 2017 2018 2019 TOTALS 3 yr avg Total Calls 177 175 221 573 MoK 52 58 62 172 30% West Hants 125 117 159 401 70% .

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