Approval would direct the City Manager to bring forth to City Council amendments of applicable sections of the Code of Ordinances and 2018 Revenue Ordinance to modify the adopted Fire Services Fee and Fire Services Fee Discount Program, as well as corresponding amendments to the 2018 Budget and CIP to offset the resulting reduction in revenue. 

City Council has requested options to amend the 2018 Operating and Capital Plan Budget related to repealing the Fire Services Fee.

Five Options are presented as follows:

OPTION A: (Worst case scenario that re-balances the budget through December 31, 2018 only)

• Retains budgeted millage at 11.48 mills
• Requires significant reductions across general operations to include contributions to outside partners totaling $5.9M
• Reduces/delays funded capital improvements by $4.2M
• Reduces capital contingency by $1.2M
• Requires FY18 Draw from General Fund Reserves totaling $2.2M

OPTION B: (Status Quo that does not provide adequate revenue to base FY2019 expenses upon)

• Sets millage rate at 12.48 mills for FY2018; generates $5.2M in revenue 

• Requires reductions across general operations totaling $3.9M
• Minimal impact amongst outside partner contributions
• Reduces/delays funded capital improvements by $3.1M
• Reduces capital contingency by $1.2M

• No FY18 Draw from General Fund Reserves

OPTION C: (0.5 Mill Increase)

• Sets millage rate at 12.98 mills for FY2018; generates $7.8M in revenue
• Requires reductions across general operations totaling $3.9M
• Minimal impact amongst outside partner contributions
• Reduces/delays funded capital improvements by $1.8M
• No reduction to capital contingency
• No FY18 Draw from General Fund Reserves

OPTION D: (1 Mill Increase)

• Sets millage rate at 13.48 mills for FY2018; generates $10.4M in revenue
• Requires reductions across general operations totaling $2.8M
• Minimal impact amongst outside partner contributions
• Shifts funding of $410,000 recreational improvement to SPLOST VI
• No reduction to capital contingency
• No FY18 Draw from General Fund Reserves

OPTION E: (2 Mill Increase)

• Sets millage rate at 14.38 mills for FY2018; generates $15.6M in revenue
• No reduction to general operations
• No impact to outside partners
• Does not shift funding of $410,000 recreational improvement to SPLOST VI
• No reduction to capital contingency
• No FY18 Draw from General Fund Reserves
• Adequately supports FY 2019 expenditures and Strategic Plan
• Provides for a $3M contribution to General Fund Reserves