- Leon County commissioners voted Tuesday to propose new fire service rates — an increase of $39 per year.
- The proposal now heads to the city for approval. If city commissioners don't agree to the proposed rates, it will authorize the county administrator to start the conflict resolution process.
- Watch the video to see why commissioners approved the rate hike and how our neighbors are reacting.
UPDATED BROADCAST SCRIPT:
Fire service fees in Leon County are going up.
Commissioners proposed a new $39 increase per year for people in unincorporated areas after a special meeting Tuesday.
"This gives us a way to send something across the street that we believe we can do. but at the same time, protect the county's interests in some of things we did not agree to and that we would like to see changed," At-Large Commissioner Nick Maddox said.
The City of Tallahassee originally requested a $49 to $55 increase, just two years into the five-year fire services agreement.
According to the agenda, the city argued the current rate isn't enough to cover: new firefighter salaries, new staff and the construction of new fire stations 15 and 17.
It also asked for funds to boost the ISO insurance rating for fire departments, which could lower insurance premiums.
But volunteer fire officials raised concerns about how a new fee would impact volunteer departments.
As a result, commissioners removed it from the final price.
"This is the biggest thing: will these fees help the residents of Leon County see a change in the county ISO?" Brian Carroll, the fire chief of the Miccosukee Volunteer Fire Department, said.
About a third of Leon County residents live in unincorporated areas, including Patty Wilson.
She questions why the original agreement wasn't budgeted to account for price increases to begin with and worries about impact.
"There's $39 that can't go to something else whether it's retirement, food, utilities…$39 for many families, especially in the unincorporated areas, which are lower income in general, that will affect them," Wilson said.
Commissioners like Christian Caban and Bill Proctor echoed those concerns.
"This is dumb. We're about to get played," Proctor said.
"What we're talking about is a tax increase and it's a tax increase for our neighbors in the unincorporated Leon county who cannot vote for city elected officials," Caban said.
This proposal will head to the city for approval.
If it agrees, it locks in rates for the rest of the 5-year agreement, allows a public hearing in July and lets the county send notices.
Commissioners also approved using fire service reserve funds.
ORIGINAL STORY:
Leon County commissioners just voted on the next steps for potential increases to the fire service rates neighbors pay each month.
I'm Brieanna Smith in your Downtown Tallahassee neighborhood.
Here's what they decided.
Neighbors living in unincorporated areas of the county could see a bill increase for their fire service fee
It comes after the City of Tallahassee proposed County Commissioners increase rates by 22%.
That means homeowners outside the city could pay at least an extra $49 to $55 dollars per year.
According to the agenda, city staff says the current rates isn't enough to pay salaries, add staff and build two additional fire stations.
The County held a special meeting Tuesday instead deciding to propose new rates without including the ISO rating system fees. It's promising no further increases for the remainder of the 5-year agreement.
The County will also send a notice of a public hearing to property owners.
The City of Tallahassee is next to vote on whether to agree to this new proposal. If they don't agree, then the County and City will have to initiate a formal conflict resolution process. In downtown, Brieanna Smith, ABC 27.
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