Subject:
Title
Board Approval: Proposed Fire Assessment Adjustments for Brevard County Fire Rescue
End
Fiscal Impact:
To be determined as the Board considers adjustment to the current Fire Assessment Rate
Dept/Office:
Public Safety Group: Brevard County Fire Rescue
Requested Action:
Recommendation
Fire Rescue is requesting Board consideration for three actions: 1) Tentatively approve a fire assessment not to exceed adjustment, 2) Approve a Fire Assessment Notice to Property Owners, and 3) Approve a Public Hearing for final approval of the proposed Fire Assessment.
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Summary Explanation and Background:
At the February 11th, 2025, Regular meeting, the Board directed staff to prepare Fire Assessment adjustment options, to include an updated 7-year plan for employee recruitment, retention, infrastructure, and capital needs. The Board gave staff direction to bring back options to meet identified requirements in funding. The Fire Assessment is one of two revenue sources that fund Fire Operations and is responsible for funding personnel, capital, infrastructure, and a reserve balance for the department.
The current Fire Assessment was adjusted in 2021 upon public hearing and Board approval. Population growth contributing to increased workload, employee turnover resulting in overtime, and inflation on infrastructure and emergency equipment costs have escalated operating expenses for Fire Rescue.
Action 1: Proposed Fire Assessment Not to Exceed Rates:
Option 1
Captures capital and infrastructure requirements and addresses future station/crew needs not identified in the previous 7-year plan, accounts for inflation losses from 2021-2025, and covers exhausted non-reoccurring ARPA funds. This option includes a 6% annual inflation rate for capital and infrastructure. Adjustments would use the current approved methodology with annual increases equal to the CPI rate or 3%, whichever is less. Option 1 provides for the County’s proposed 1 year contract including subsequent increases for two years thereafter with:
(A) STEP + CPI + modest additional wage adjustments
(B) STEP + CPI + aggressive additional wage adjustment
See Table 1 for details on revenue generated, rate differences, and General Fund impacts.
Option 2
Captures capital and infrastructure requirements and addresses future station/crew needs not identified in the previous 7-year plan, accounts for inflation losses from 2021-2025, and covers exhausted non-reoccurring ARPA funds. This option includes a 6% annual inflation rate for capital and infrastructure. Adjustments would use the current approved methodology with annual increases equal to the CPI rate or 3%, whichever is less. Option 2 provides for the County’s proposed 1 year contract including subsequent increases for three years thereafter with:
(A) STEP + CPI + modest additional wage adjustments
(B) STEP + CPI + aggressive additional wage adjustments
See Table 1 for details on revenue generated, rate differences, and General Fund impacts.
Option 3
Other adjustments the Board may consider
Option 4
As submitted by District 1, please see Attachment 1.
TABLE 1:
Action 2: Approve Fire Assessment Notice to Property Owners:
Request approval of Notice to Property Owners (please see Attachment 2). We will update this notice with the “not to exceed” amounts as approved by the board. The proposed notice has been coordinated with the County Attorney’s Office. Impacts to each property class are at Attachment 3 with the fire assessment adjustment options listed in the spreadsheets.
Action 3: Set public hearing date for final approval of proposed Fire Assessment:
Request authorization to schedule a public hearing for final approval of the proposed Fire Assessment at the regularly scheduled board meeting on 20 May 2025 at 09:00 a.m. If approved, the Special Assessment Rate Resolution will be modified to reflect the Board authorized user fees.
Clerk to the Board Instructions: