Fire Tax Update: Concerned citizens of the 2nd and 9th District

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The following is posted on behalf of the Concerned citizens of the 2nd and 9th District. The opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of somd.com.



An update on some information based upon the 1st week of January letter from the SDVFDRS (CO.6) to the Concern Citizens. We are glad that the SDVFDRS has finally begun to communicate to the community some of the information that has been a concern for the past two years.

There are a couple of untruths between their 1st week of January letter and their Capital Improvement Project that they submitted to St. Mary's County on December 8th requesting a $ 1,750,000 loan for the 2019 timeframe. Their letter stated they could not answer the question regarding whether or not they had submitted for a State Grant request for $ 2,000,000 because a timeline has not been determined. Yet in the December 8th submission to the county they project a $ 5,300,000 construction expenditure in the 2019 timeframe. It also shows a follow on of $ 2,175,000 in the following year. So, it would appear that SDVFDRS (CO.6) does have a plan regarding when they need the money. So back to the questions asked in the October 16th Public Forum. Have you submitted the $ 2,000,000 State Grant request? What is the backup plan to fund the $ 2,000,000 should the state not honor your request for the grant?

Another question that was asked during the Public Forum of October 16th which the SDVFDRS (CO. 6) letter failed to address. If the community provided the $ 700,000 dollars to help fill their "Fill the Boot Campaign". How does this fit within the funding profile for their proposed effort? Also, if the community continue to donate these kinds of funds how much can the Tax Rate Increase being proposed be reduced? It seems their January response only answered some of the questions that are on the minds of those that have spoken out with concerns.

Another disconnect or untruth in the January letter from SDVFDRS (CO.6) is the fact they cannot provide the final cost of the new station until the final bid comes in. The questions that have been asked is what is the current working estimate for the proposed project based upon the concept plan that they have briefed first to the county commissioners in August and then at the following October 16th Pubic Forum held in Valley Lee. They now have had under contract since March 2017 their 2nd Architect and Engineering firm. One would think that any good Architect and Engineering firm could provide some kind of projected estimate after having studied the questionable requirements for the past 9 months.

Their Capital Improvement Project submission to the county as of December 8th 2017 outlines an $ 8,000,000 total cost including Architect and Engineering. Yet they will not reveal what the current working estimate is as defined by their "Concept Plan" being briefed and proposed. The county government needs to do a feasibility study to see if the tax paying community is going to be protected from another fire and rescue tax increase based upon the projected operations and growth stated by SDVFDRS (CO.6).

There is another interesting fact from their December 8th Capital Improvement Plan submission. SDVFDRS (CO.6) makes the following justification on the need for this proposed tax increase. "Financing of this project is estimated to cost $ 375,000 per year financed over the next 30 years". So, if you multiply that equation it reflects that the tax paying community will pay a total cost of $ 11,250,000 for this proposed unwanted effort.

Submitted by,
William Boothe (Billy) for the other 300+ concerned citizens of the 2nd and 9th District.
 
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