Memorandum
City of
TO: |
Mayor and City
Commissioners |
FROM: |
David L. Corliss, Interim City Manager |
CC: |
Debbie Van Saun,
Assistant City Manager |
Date: |
July 3, 2006 |
RE: |
City – County
Funding Relationships for Certain Joint Departments and Programs |
The
Background and
History
Emergency
Communications
In 1994, the City and the County agreed to combine their emergency communications services with the costs of the combined operations to be shared as follows: City (66%) and County (34%). This agreement was modified in 1997 following the combination of the County emergency medical services and the City fire department in 1996 discussed below.
Emergency Medical
Services
In 1996, the County emergency medical services and the City fire department were combined with the City paying 74.36% and the County paying 25.64% of the operating costs of the combined operations. The County pays all the cost of buildings and equipment of the ambulance service and the City pays all the cost of buildings and equipment of the fire department except as provided for in the construction of Fire Station #5 discussed below. As of the effective date of the 1996 agreement all buildings, equipment, and furniture were to be transferred to the ownership of the City. This agreement was later modified in 1997, 1998, and 2005. In 2004, the County agreed to pay 25.64% of the costs of construction of Fire Station #5 to be built by the City.
Health Department
In 1996, the City and the County agreed to share equally in
the cost of construction of a health facility to house the Lawrence-Douglas
County Health Department, the
Planning Department
Analysis and Policy
Options
An important policy consideration is the appropriate level of funding from the City and County for the above services. Because all City of Lawrence property owners are also property owners within Douglas County, City of Lawrence property taxpayers will be charged both as a County property owner and a City property owner in situations where both the City and the County pay for the production of a particular service. For certain services, this may be appropriate; for other services there should be concern about taxpayer and service burdens.
Policy questions and considerations are abundant in this
area: Do Lawrence property owners receive a special
service which requires them to pay 40% of the cost of the Health Department and
66% of the emergency communications center; while also paying as a County
resident? Should
The attached chart provides experiences for similar services provided in other urban cities and counties within Kansas.
If we embark on these discussions it is important to note
the substantial service that all of these departments and programs provide to
both the Lawrence and