§ 8. Funding.

(1)

Funds for services to be provided will be derived from service charges, special assessments or taxes within the Okaloosa Island Fire District, only as approved by vote of electors in a referendum on November 2, 1976.

(2)

The district shall have the authority to levy special assessments against the taxable real property and leasehold interests in the district to provide funds for the purposes of the district which shall not, in any event, exceed 3.95 mills annually, to levy special assessments in a manner as determined by the district board of commissioners in an amount not in excess of 3.95 mills on the dollar of nonexempt assessed value per annum, or to specify any other legally available method of acquiring funding based on other than assessed value, providing such other legally available method does not exceed an amount comparably in excess of 3.95 mills on the dollar of nonexempt assessed value on any individual property per annum.

(3)

The board of commissioners may adopt, by resolution, the current tax assessment and collection roll compiled and prepared by the assessor of Okaloosa County and may adopt a resolution fixing the levy on the real property and leasehold interests subject to taxation or assessment in the district, or may, at its discretion, prepare or cause to be prepared an assessment and collection roll setting forth a description of each real property and leasehold interest subject to assessment and to taxation in the district, together with the amount of assessment fixed by resolution and shall, before June 1 of each year, deliver said roll or resolution to the tax assessor or, in the case of special assessment, deliver to the water district or other appropriate agency, for collection. All assessments shall be made against the real property and leasehold interests subject to such assessment and said roll shall set forth the names of the respective owners of such real property and leasehold interests.

(4)

Any property owner or leaseholder in the district shall have the right to file [a] protest in writing between June 10 and June 20 of each year against the proposed assessments, the amount of rate thereof, and to appear before the board in support of such protest at an open meeting or meetings which shall be held to hear and consider such protests and make adjustments to the rolls.

(5)

Immediately after the adjustment period, the board of commissioners shall adopt a resolution fixing the rate of special assessment and shall note the amount of the levy against each real property and leasehold interest described in the tax roll or special assessment and shall transmit the tax roll and a certified copy of the resolution to the county assessment or water district or other appropriate agency on or before July 1 of each year. The tax collector of Okaloosa County shall include in the county tax roll the assessments made by the board of commissioners of the district and collect such assessments according to the assessment roll and deliver the proceeds of such collections monthly to the board of commissioners, taking their receipts for such refunds, if so requested by the district board of commissioners. The tax collector shall, upon delivery of such funds to the board of commissioners, furnish them with a description of the lands for which such payments are made.

(6)

Such special assessments shall be a lien of equal dignity with county taxes until paid, pursuant to Florida law.

(7)

Such special assessments shall be of equal benefit to all property with fire protection being provided by the Okaloosa Island Fire District pursuant to the provisions of this act.

(8)

The fiscal year for the district shall be from October 1 to September 30 of each year.

(9)

In the event the monthly assessments for funding of the Okaloosa Island Fire District are not paid when due, all county services, including garbage collection and water and sewer services, shall be discontinued and/or disconnected.

(Ord. No. 77-8, § 1, 3-15-77; Ord. No. 79-18, § 1, 5-1-79)