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Public Hearing - RE: Commissioner Hovis - Emergency Management/Fire Services - Approval of a Resolution to Define and Establish the Gaston County Unified Fire Protection Service District to Provide Fire Protection and Rescue Services
1. Receive Citizen Comment
2. Close Public Hearing
3. Accept Motion to Approve Resolution
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STAFF CONTACT
Kevin Gordon - Emergency Management Director - 704-866-6240
Vincent C. Wong - Executive Project Manager - 704-866-3277
BUDGET IMPACT
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BUDGET ORDINANCE IMPACT
BACKGROUND
At its Regular Meeting of February 22, 2022, the Gaston County Board of Commissioners approved 2022-050 a “Resolution Calling a Public Hearing to Consider the Establishment of a Unified Fire Protection Service Tax District for All Unincorporated Areas of Gaston County and a Rate Cap,” pursuant to NCGS § 153-301 and NCGS § 153A-309.2.
The “2022 Gaston County Unified Fire Protection Service District NCGS Report” was prepared containing a map of the proposed unified countywide service district, showing its proposed boundaries, a statement showing that the proposed service district favorably meets the standards set forth in NCGS § 153A-302(b) and defined in NCGS § 153A-309.2(b), and a plan for providing the needed fire protection and rescue services. A copy of the report has been available for public inspection in the office of the Clerk to the Board for more than two weeks before the date of the required public hearing before adopting a resolution defining a new service district, and the Notice and Report is attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference.
Following the public hearing, approval of this Resolution 1) defines and establishes the countywide Gaston County Unified Fire Protection Service District; 2) authorizes the Gaston County Tax Assessor/Collector to levy a special tax in an amount to be determined by the Gaston County Board of Commissioners; 3) abolishes the existing 18 individual fire protection service districts in Gaston County as of June 30, 2022; and 4) adopts the Gaston County Unified Fire Protection Service District with the effective date of July 1, 2022.
POLICY IMPACT
Would eliminate the current system of eighteen (18) separate fire protection service districts (Chapter 153A fire departments) and create a unified fire protection district. The Commissioners will need to adopt a tax rate to fund the service district for FY 22-23. This amount will need to be included in the County Manager’s recommended budget and within the adopted FY 22-23 budget ordinance.
ATTACHMENTS
Resolution, 2022 Gaston County Unified Fire Protection Service District NCGS Report/Notice/Map