Okaloosa County BOCC — September 16, 2014 — Action Item Printout

BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AGENDA REQUEST DATE: September 16, 2014 TO: Honorable Chairman and Members of the Board FROM: John Hofstad SUBJECT: Lake Pippin Channel Maintenance MSBU 2014 Annual Assessment & 2015 Budget DEPARTMENT: Public Works BCC DISTRICT: Five STATEMENT OF ISSUE: Establishing the 2014 annual assessment of $400.00 per parcel of property within the Municipal Services Benefit Unit (MSBU) for the improvements and maintenance of the Lake Pippin Channel and approve the proposed MSBU’s FY 2015 budget. BACKGROUND: The Lake Pippin Channel Maintenance Municipal Services Benefit Unit was created by Okaloosa County Ordinance No. 89-30. The special assessment is collected by the Okaloosa County Tax Collector on the yearly property tax bills. The annual assessment is applied to each parcel of property within the Lake Pippin Channel Maintenance MSBU. The Lake Pippin MSBU Committee met on June 26, 2014 and recommended the annual assessment for 2014 be increased from $400.00 to $425.00 per parcel. However upon further discussions with the Property Appraiser’s office, the Lake Pippin Channel MSBU Advisory Committee learned that if the assessment is raised above the five year average amount, a notice has to be advertised ‘in a newspaper generally circulated with each county contained in the boundaries…’, per Florida Statue 197.3632. Due to the inability to meet requirements of Florida Statue 197.3632, Michael Fell, the MSBU chairman, notified all Board members by email explaining the situation that the assessment could not be increased to the previously approved $425.00 assessment. Therefore Mr. Fell requested that all MSBU Board members and guest in attendance respond back to him whether they are in agreement or not that the 2014 assessment remain at the same 2013 assessment of $400.00. A majority of the MSBU Board members have responded with a yes vote. A resolution has been prepared for the Board of County Commissioners’ approval for the Lake Pippin Channel Maintenance MSBU 2014 assessment to remain at $400.00. The MSBU seeks Board approval of their proposed FY 2015 budget which is attached. OPTIONS: Approve or disapprove the annual Lake Pippin Channel Maintenance MSBU assessment of $400.00 per parcel of property and/or the MSBU’s FY 2015 proposed budget. RECOMMENDATIONS: Request Board approval and authorization for the Chairman to sign the Resolution for the annual 2014 Lake Pippin Channel Maintenance MSBU assessment of $400.00 per parcel and approve the MSBU’s FY 2015 proposed budget. RECOMMENDED BY: APPROVED BY: Ernie Padgett, County Administrator