Brevard County residents will be paying millions more in fire assessment fees, starting in October, for firefighter raises, new fire engines and upgrades at fire stations.
But County Manager Frank Abbate says he can use his existing funds to hire a new senior staffer to oversee the fire-rescue service, emergency management operations, ocean lifeguards and similar roles in a new Public Safety Group.
These decisions are based on three separate actions the County Commission took April 24. Specifically, commissioners:
n Voted 3-2 on Commissioner Curt Smith’s motion to increase the county’s fire assessment rate by 6 percent for the budget year starting Oct. 1, which would add $1.35 million to the county’s Fire Rescue Department coffers.
The measure also included further annual increases of 3 percent or the inflation rate, whichever is lower, to eventually reach a 15 percent increase from the current level.
Chairwoman Rita Pritchett and Commissioner Jim Barfield supported Smith, while Vice Chairwoman Kristine Isnardi and Commissioner John Tobia dissented.
The county’s fire assessments are based on a residential property’s size and, for commercial properties, the size and “hazard code” or costs of fighting a fire, county Fire Chief Mark Schollmeyer said in a report to commissioners.
For a mid-range home of 1,401 to 1,800 square feet, the fire assessment is $103.16.
Schollmeyer said the assessment rates were cut by 15 percent in 2008, amid the recession, to spend down the $14.2 million in reserves. But operating expenses have been outpacing revenues, he said, depleting the reserves at $1.1 million a year. And the reserves now are at $2.1 million, he said.
“This assessment is a way for the board to once again raise taxes,” a Tobias aide said. “Make no mistake: For a homeowner, this is a tax increase.”
Isnardi blasted former commissioners, who failed to adjust the assessment rate since 2008.
“To expect the department to run on its reserves is irresponsible,” she said.
- Voted 4-1 to approve Smith’s motion to ratify a three-year agreement between the county and Local 2969 of the International Association of Firefighters. Tobia dissented.
Abbate said the contract will cost taxpayers an additional $2 million in the budget year starting Oct. 1, plus $626,806 more the following year.
Schollmeyer said the increased fire assessment rate would cover the increases in firefighter wages.
Negotiations started in February 2017, Abbate noted. But after several months, talks hit an impasse which lasted until this month, when a special magistrate made recommendations.
Isnardi urged union members to work with the commission the next time talks bog down, rather than declare an impasse.
- Voted 5-0 to approve Isnardi’s motion to authorize Abbate to reorganize his top staff by creating the Public Safety Group to contain the Emergency Management Office, the Fire Rescue Department and the Public Safety Services Office.
The new group will be led by a new senior manager, the public safety director, who would report directly to Abbate.
Tobia said he approved this measure, mainly because it didn’t call for new spending to hire someone.
Tobia said Abbate has two assistant managers, but he still has a budget, left over from former County Manager Stockton Whitten’s days, to cover three assistant managers.
The new director will be paid from that budget.
