1992-Summary of Major Problems and Corrective Actions " i;�,; CITY OF
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800 SEMINOLE ROAD
- -- - - - ATLANTIC BEACH, FLORIDA 32233 -5445
TELEPHONE (904) 247 -5800
FAX (904) 247 -5805
SUMMARY OF MAJOR PROBLEMS AND CORRECTIVE ACTIONS
FOR
A FAIR, LEGAL AND NON - DISCRIMINATORY COUNTY RELATIONSHIP
WITH
THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH
October 20, 1992
GENERAL
COUNTY MILLAGE
I. PROBLEM:
The millage levied by Jacksonville on Atlantic Beach
Property Owners is discriminatory. Atlantic Beach property
Owners pay city and county millage to Jacksonville, whereas by
law they are solely responsible for only county services.
NEED:
There is a need for a minimum of not less than a four
mill reduction in county property taxes for Atlantic Beach
Property Owners and a sharing of revenues with Atlantic Beach.
The reduction would require an adjustment to the 18.8% differ-
ential in the Inter -local Agreement to equal the reduction
negotiated for 1983. Since Atlantic Beach receives only
county services from Jacksonville, Atlantic Beach Property
Owners must only pay a county ad valorem. Jacksonville has to
subtract its city millage from its total millage, 11.3, to
arrive at a county millage for Atlantic Beach Property Owners.
SPECIFIC PROBLEMS AMONG 22 LISTED SERVICES
RESCUE SERVICE
II. PROBLEM:
Atlantic Beach's residents received only half of the
rescue service that is provided by Jacksonville to its
residents. Atlantic Beach has to provide the other half of
the service to its residents by sending a fire crew to each
call. Jacksonville provides back -up for only its own
residents. This back -up service is a requirement of the
Inter -local Agreement.
NEED:
Jacksonville should contract, for a fee with Atlantic
Beach for the County Rescue Service it is unable to provide.
The cost for this service is $300,000 in 1993.
ORGANIZED REGIONAL RECREATION
PROVIDED BY ATLANTIC BEACH
III. PROBLEM:
We have shown by several measures that at least 50% of
the people that use Atlantic Beach's Recreation Facilities for
organized sports are Jacksonville residents. The influx of
Jacksonville residents puts a severe strain on the Atlantic
Beach Recreation Program. It is an expenditure of Atlantic
Beach tax funds that should not be borne by Atlantic Beach
residents.
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NEED:
Jacksonville should provide Atlantic Beach with a mis-
cellaneous appropriation to accommodate the county residents
who use the Atlantic Beach recreation facilities for organized
sports. This practice would be consistent with what the
Council now does in other parts of Jacksonville. The amount
of the miscellaneous appropriation should be $75,000 for 1993.
LIFEGUARDS, BEACH CLEAN -UP AND MAINTENANCE
IV. PROBLEM:
Jacksonville does not help with ocean lifeguards, beach
clean -up and maintenance in Atlantic Beach. The Beach is
recognized as a county wide recreation area but all costs are
borne by Atlantic Beach residents.
NEED:
The County government must contract with Atlantic Beach
to continue to provide lifeguards, beach clean -up and mainten-
ance. The cost for these services, in 1993, will be $175,000.
ANIMAL CONTROL ENFORCEMENT
V. PROBLEM:
Jacksonville provides only twenty -five percent (25 %) of
the animal control service to Atlantic Beach that it does for
its residents. Because a lack of services, Atlantic Beach has
had to employ its own animal control officer, purchase a
truck, special equipment, etc.
NEED:
Jacksonville should reimburse Atlantic Beach for the
animal control service it is required to provide. The cost of
such a reimbursement would be $25,000 for 1993.
SHARING OF REVENUE
VI. PROBLEM:
Jacksonville, as a City /County Government, receives a
variety of revenues from Atlantic Beach. The County revenue
should only go to Jacksonville, the City portion to Atlantic
Beach. For example - - -fee charged to JEA in lieu of taxes,
fees from fire - rescue service.
NEED:
Jacksonville must refund the city portion of revenues
it collects from Atlantic Beach. The estimated amount of
revenue which should be returned to Atlantic Beach is approx-
imately $300,000.
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POLICE PATROL IN COUNTY AREAS
VII. PROBLEM:
Atlantic Beach answers calls outside its jurisdiction
for the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office without being compen-
sated. More than 700 calls a year are answered by Atlantic
Beach Police for Jacksonville and Jacksonville residents.
NEED:
Jacksonville should reimburse Atlantic Beach for calls
answered on its behalf. The estimated cost of these services
was $75,000 for 1992. For 1993 with current growth and cost
projections the estimated cost will be considerably higher.
COUNTY ROADS AND EQUIPMENT
VIII. PROBLEM:
Jacksonville does not provide any county road work or
services in Atlantic Beach. Also, the County does not main-
tain its drainage ditches or accesses to state roads within
Atlantic Beach.
NEED:
Jacksonville should set up a credit for Atlantic Beach
to use the county's already available heavy equipment when
needed. Cost for using such equipment could be a painless
part payment of other inequities in the Inter -local Agreement.
The cost for this service is estimated at $100,000. In addi-
tion, Jacksonville should consider assisting in the develop-
ment of Atlantic Blvd. at Town Center as a county road. The
Town Center Roadway serves as a major access to and from the
Ocean for all county residents. The County share would be
$100,000.
HOSPITALS - INDIGENT CARE
IX. PROBLEM:
Jacksonville does not provide any indigent care funding
for the publicly owned hospital at the Beach while claiming
inordinate fees for similar services at University Hospital.
Atlantic Beach residents are unlawfully taxed for both areas.
NEED:
Jacksonville must provide funding to the Beaches
Hospital Taxing District (BHTD) for indigent care. Another
option would be to reduce, in addition to other reductions
previously discussed, the County millage at the Beach equal to
the Taxing District's millage. Either one of these options
might resolve the double taxation discrimination that now
exists for Atlantic Beach property owners.
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FIRE SERVICE PROVIDED TO JACKSONVILLE
X. PROBLEM:
Atlantic Beach is called on by the Jacksonville Fire
Department for fire assistance on a regular basis to more than
12,000 Jacksonville residents in the Mayport and surrounding
areas. The demand for assistance by Jacksonville puts a
strain on Atlantic Beach's limited fire resources while being
an added expense to the Atlantic Beach Tax Payer.
NEED:
Jacksonville must reimburse Atlantic Beach for the fire
service provided to Jacksonville residents. The reimbursement
should be made payment for services or a reduction in taxes.
The cost of this service is $25,000 for 1993.
REOPENING
OF THE
INTER -LOCAL AGREEMENT
XI. PROBLEM:
The Inter -local Agreement hasn't been open for review
and change since its inception ten years ago though its lang-
uage clearly infers change as conditions differ over the
years. It has not been applicable for Atlantic Beach for over
four years, a fact brought to the County Administration
regularly by the Mayor of Atlantic Beach. During 1992,
Jacksonville fiscal experts admitted to an overpayment by
Atlantic Beach Tax Payers of not less than $487,000, a figure
considerably lower than estimated by our own fiscal investi-
gators using the Duval County bases as the first phase of the
recalculation. The final figure estimated by the Atlantic
Beach Task Force showed an overpayment closer to $3,500,000.
NEED:
A formal process whereby the Inter -local Agreement is
opened for review and change on an annual basis is essential.
Funding and population needs change rapidly on a regular
basis. These changes dictate the need for annual reviews of
the Inter -local Agreement. Of course basic to any such action
is the requirement for modern, up -to -date systems of
accounting for city as compared with county activities and
corresponding funding. It is recommended that the agreement
ratified be reexamined biennially with an annual review
permissive and only omitted for single year by mutual consent
of both parties.