Major Assumptions. The agreed deliverables will only be revised based on the under-listed conditions: Issues raised in mid-year review report Change in government priorities Change in administrative leadership (In the event of a change in the posting of the Head of Department, the outgoing Officer shall be held accountable for the period of stewardship at the previous station, and therefore be expected to generate a detailed performance report covering the period before assuming duty at the new station.)
Major Assumptions. This study makes the following assumptions that serve as the foundation for the cost benefit analysis:
Major Assumptions. It is assumed that the mussels produced offshore in addition to the current production volume, does not have an effect on the market value of mussels. Some basic assumptions are made on the basis of available information for production figures (see Deliverable 8.3), growth period of mussels and the monetary value of mussel stages. Basically, mussel seeds grow in a period of 9 months to a juvenile stage. Part of these mussels are harvested and sold for bottom culture, while the other part is left on the longlines to grow to consumption size mussels. The basic parameter values for this scenario are presented in Table 2. Figures on the mussel production is based on the chosen production volume and predicted growth rates in offshore conditions (assessed from available literature information). Table 2 Basic parameters for the scenario design Parameter Unit Space@Sea case study Seed mussel production Tonnes/year 5,460 Juvenile mussel production Tonnes/year 6,506 Consumption mussel production Tonnes/year 5,693 Seed mussel growth period Months 9 Juvenile mussel growth period Months 15 Consumption mussel growth period Months 21 Seed mussel price Euros/kg 0.25 Juvenile mussel price Euros/kg 0.70 Consumption mussel price Euros/kg 1.00 Percentage of included tare % total production tonnage 25 Processing waste % net production tonnage 10 The production of 17,660 tons per year requires 2.400m2 of workspace, equivalent to 4 modules of 45x45 m as designed in Space@Sea. The advantage of an on-site platform/floating module mainly lies in the ability to harvest and process mussels year round (with a gap during spawning in April-May, when most of the mussels energy goes into reproduction and meat content is lower and potentially a low use, maintenance only period during heavy seas/winter conditions). This way harvesting can be spread out in time (approx. 8 months a year), instead of bulk processing (see seaweed farming) and optimal use of the facilities on the platform that are scaled to the supply of mussels.
Major Assumptions. Specific assumptions pertaining to revenue and cost factors are discussed wherever relevant throughout this report and appendices. • The revenue and cost projections are based on the assumption that the current level of spending, as provided in the FY07 Budget, will continue through the 14‐year analysis period. The current level of spending is referred to as the current level‐of‐ service in this type of analysis. • Population estimates in addition to the current number of dwelling units and employment levels were used to calculate unit costs and service level thresholds. For further details, refer to the appendices of this report. • TischlerBise assumes that the current percentage of workers that live and work in Great Falls will also apply to employment generated by the proposed Highwood Generating Facility. According to the 2000 Census, 83 percent of the workers in the City of Great Falls live in the City. Therefore, TischlerBise assumes that 54 of the 65 full time employees will live in the City Great Falls. Further, TischlerBise assumes that the housing unit distribution will be maintained throughout the 14‐year analysis period. Currently, single family housing units represent 63 percent of the housing stock and multifamily units represent 37 percent to the housing stock. Therefore, TischlerBise is assuming that proposed Highwood Generating Facility will generate 33 single family and 21 multifamily housing units. • For the purposes of this analysis, revenues and expenditures that are directly attributable to new growth are included. Both operating and limited capital costs are taken into consideration. Wherever possible, a marginal cost approach was used. Some costs are not expected to be impacted by demographic changes, and are fixed in this analysis. • It should be noted that while a fiscal impact analysis is an important consideration in planning decisions, it is only one of several issues that should be considered. Environmental and social issues, for example, should also be considered when making planning and policy decisions. The above not withstanding, this analysis will enable interested parties to understand the fiscal implications of future development.
