[HISTORY: Adopted by the County Council of Sussex County as indicated
in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 10-6-1998 by Ord. No. 1264]
The County Council may award to each organized volunteer fire company
in Sussex County annual grants which shall be in addition to all other grants
and payments made by the county to them. The grants shall be known as the
"Sussex County Volunteer Firemen's Enhancement Funding Program."
On or before December 31 of each year, the Sussex County Volunteer Firemen's
Association Resource Committee shall receive from the County Director of Finance
his estimate of the funds that may be available for grants as a result of
the imposition of the surcharge described hereinafter.
On or before January 31 next following, the Resource Committee shall
receive from organized volunteer fire companies of Sussex County applications
for grants and shall recommend to the County Administrator, for inclusion
in the annual budget, the distribution of the estimated funds which may be
available for grants. The recommendation shall be reviewed by the County Administrator,
included in his budget request and shall be submitted with his recommendations
for consideration by the County Council. The County Council shall make the
final determination on the distribution of the grants, method of distribution
establishing base amount, and such determination shall be a part of the annual
budget adopted by it.
The Enhancement Funding Program grants shall be funded by means of,
and there is hereby imposed, a surcharge of not less than 1/4 of 1% and not
to exceed 1/2 of 1% of the construction value shown in the applications for
building permits issued by the Department of Finance. Said surcharge shall
be paid to and collected by the Department of Finance as are all other building
permit fees.
Each organized volunteer fire company accepting grants from the Enhancement
Funding Program shall annually submit to the Director of Finance or his designee
its financial statement and shall further identify those costs or expenses
which have been paid for by grant funds.
The Director of Finance is hereby authorized to promulgate such rules
and regulations as he deems necessary for the purpose of giving full force
and effect to the provisions of this article.
The collection of the surcharge and the award of grants shall commence
on February 1, 1999; otherwise, all other provisions of this article shall
take effect immediately upon its adoption by a majority of all of the members
of the County Council.
