Update on Email to the Mayor

Update: I received an email from Kevin yesterday afternoon and had a phone conversation with him today as well. Below are the answers paraphrased by me of what he replied. Kevin if I misstate something you said shoot me an email and I'll get it clarified. (A note of reference, I offer this "editing feature" to any city official if I misstate actions they make or something they say to me, not just the Mayor)

What is the city planning to do with the money usually allocated to the fire department if the merger passes?Will that money simply flow back into the general fund or will the tax levy be reduced by the amount usually allocated to the fire department at the earliest opportunity? If the money is to be reallocated for other uses and not "rebated" back to the citizens what are the plans for these newly "freed up" funds?

The city has discussed plans to reduce the total City tax levy by approximately .0611 which is the amount for the fire protection portion of the tax levy. The New Columbia Fire District tax rate will be roughly.09 as previously stated. The remaining difference of .03 will not be removed or reduced from the city tax levy at this time. There is however no absolute guarantee of these reductions as the council as a whole must agree and vote on these reductions, which has not happened at this time.



Am I correct in thinking that for a minimum amount of time while the newly formed district is being setup and they are waiting on their newly levied taxes the citizens will be taxed both by the city and the district for the same thing? Is the time of the overlap that substantial or will it be timed by the city to not overlap in any way?

He explained that this issue is outlined in the intergovernmental agreement between the Rural Fire District and the City. Both entities will work together to prevent overlap and or gaps.



A major concern regarding large scale developments in the past was fire protection, will the city include the newly created fire district in discussions with and or regarding large scale developments and their affects on the districts ability to continue to offer equal protection to Columbia residents?

The mayor explained that the city has in the past and he will continue to require that the city involve all taxing bodies in any future talks regarding large scale developments.