City of Oak Creek

Common Council Report

Meeting Date:  12/02/03

Item No.:15 

Recommendation: 

That the Common Council:

a.         Waive the Oak Creek portion of the 2004 storm water utility fee for the Oak Creek-Franklin Joint School District;  and,

b.         Request the Water & Sewer Utility to waive the Oak Creek portion of the 2004 fire protection charges for the Oak Creek-Franklin Joint School District.

Background:

At the regular Council meeting of August 19, 2003, the Council took action to waive 87% of both the fire protection charges (hydrant rental fee) and the storm water utility fees for the School District for calendar year 2003, with the stipulation that the City of Oak Creek would not see any increases in user fees from the school district.  The Council also indicated that action was for one year only, and that the issue would be re-visited for 2004.   A copy of the pertinent minutes and the original Council report and backup documentation has been attached to this report for reference.

Since the issue did not arise during the 2004 budget discussions, it is appropriate to make this determination now, prior to generation of the 2004 property tax bills.

The fire protection fee is now billed directly by the Water & Sewer Utility by means of the regular water bills, so if the Council is inclined to agree with waiving the fees for the schools, it would be appropriate to make this request to the Utility.

The storm water utility fee for 2004 will be placed on property tax bills, so tax-exempt properties such as the schools would receive bills in December that reflect only this fee and any other special charges or assessments.  Waiving charges at this time would allow production of a bill for only the percentage of the Franklin portion of the district, and would alleviate the City being required to pay itself for the Oak Creek portion.

Fiscal Impact:

The total storm water utility fee for 2004 would be $10,746, of which $9,349 would be waived, and $1,397 would be payable by the school district.

The total fire protection fee for 2004 would be $16,308, of which $14,188 could be waived by the Utility, assuming the Utility would agree, and $2,120 would be payable by the school district.

Prepared by and Fiscal Review by: Beverly A. Buretta, CMC City Clerk

Respectfully submitted, Robert L. Kufrin City Administrator