Our General Government Economics practice is designed to provide our clients with the process and tools to accurately and effectively examine their options regarding fiscal policy decisions and their consequences. Some of the areas in which Burton & Associates has specialized are:
Fire
Police
Transportation
Parks & Recreation
Library & General Services
While we perform many different types of studies, below we have listed several of the most common types with a brief description.
Special Assessment & Fee Study – Calculates non-ad valorem assessments for different general government service areas to be included on the annual tax bill or develops service fees to be included on monthly utility bills. The most frequent analyses performed are Fire Assessment and Stormwater Assessment Studies.
Revenue Sufficiency Analysis – Provides a multi-year projection of the sufficiency of revenues of a general government service area to meet all of its current and projected financial requirements and determine the level of revenue increases necessary in each year to provide adequate revenues to fund all identified cost requirements.
Rate Design Analysis – Begins with a diagnostic rate structure evaluation whereby the general government service area’s existing revenue recovery/rate structure is reviewed for conformance with several criteria or objectives, such as fairness/equity, legal precedent, industry practice, etc. A detailed billing analysis is then performed to develop a new revenue recovery/rate structure that will satisfy the appropriate criteria while providing adequate revenues to satisfy existing cost requirements.
Cost of Service Allocation – Apportions the costs of each department or division of a general government service area to each customer/property class as appropriate. These allocations are typically relied upon in the performance of a Special Assessment & Fee Study, Revenue Sufficiency Analysis, and/or a Rate Design Analysis.
Impact Fee/Capital Charge Study – Develops capital charges designed to recover the cost of providing capital facilities (infrastructure) needed to serve new development. These charges are the mechanism by which new growth can "pay its own way" and minimize the extent of which current citizens must bear the cost of new or expanded facilities which are necessitated by additional residential and commercial growth.
Level of Service Standards Economics – Projects the implication of changes in level of service (LOS) upon the cost to provide the subject service and upon the revenue recovery mechanisms that provide all or a portion of the required revenue. This is often performed as part of developing the cost basis for general government impact fees.
Building and Development Permit Fees – Identifies the cost and develops appropriate fees for the processing of building permit and development approval applications, including site inspections.
Capital Planning & Funding Analysis – Evaluates the timing and funding sources for annual capital improvement plans and individual projects. The evaluation focuses on maximizing the use of existing funding sources and matching the type of funding with the useful life of each project while minimizing impacts upon those paying for the service provided.
Financial Feasibility Analysis – Examines the financial consequences of potential initiatives, such as potential annexations, impact fee waiver programs, growth moratoriums, operational configurations/changes, etc.
Calculation of Service Fees – Identifies the cost and develops appropriate fees for providing specific services to individual citizens/customers, such as planning and zoning application fees, building permit fees, inspection fees, plan review fees, etc. Ordinance Development & Revision – Creates a new ordinance for the provision of service and/or imposition of fees and charges or amends/revises an existing ordinance or resolution to adequately describe rules/terms of service to reflect desired policy and procedure objectives, and to accurately present the rates and/or assessments/fees of the general government service area.
Fiscal Impact Analysis – Evaluates the net fiscal impact of new residential commercial and industrial development (revenues versus cost to provide services) and allows development of criteria for development approval and the development of land use designations that will achieve the “best” growth in terms of net fiscal impact to local government.
Community Development District (CDD) and Special District Economic Analysis & Financing – Provides a multi-year projection of the financial dynamics of the CDD or Special District (such as fire, drainage, Chapter 298 districts etc.) including revenues, operating and maintenance expenses, renewal and replacement and other revenue requirements necessary to provide the subject service. Our process develops a long-term financial management plan to generate sufficient revenues to provide the required services.
