TO: Mayor and Commission AGENDA DATE: 7/20/2026
FROM: City Manager AGENDA ITEM: 8 - A
SUBJECT:
Title
Public Hearing - Ordinance No. 14-2026, Amending and Updating the City’s Special Assessments and Creating a Fire Rescue Services Assessment based on the 2026 Fire Assessment Study Prepared by Benesch Financial Consultants, Inc., at First Reading.
Body
LOCATION:
Citywide
COST:
N/A
SOURCE OF FUNDS:
N/A
ORIGINATING DEPARTMENT:
Finance/Fire Servcies
POTENTIAL MOTION:
Recommendation
“I move to approve Ordinance No. 14-2026, amending Chapter 54, Special Assessments to create a Fire Rescue Services Assessment, at first reading.”
END
BACKGROUND:
Background
The City retained Benesch Consultants, Inc. to prepare the 2026 Fire Rescue Services Assessment Fee Study to evaluate the City’s creation of a fire rescue services assessment program and determine whether the creation adequately addresses the costs associated with the fire rescue services growth.
Fire rescue assessments are a type of non-ad valorem special assessments used to fund the operating and capital costs associated with providing fire protection and basic life support services. They are a common funding source used by many Florida cities and counties. A fire rescue assessment is an annual charge applied to each property in the city that, typically, is collected through the property owners’ tax bill under Florida’s Uniform Property Tax and Assessment Collection Act.
In conjunction with the study, the City completed a publicly noticed budget workshop on June 22, 2026, to provide the public with the opportunity to evaluate the needs of the fire rescue services.
Ordinance No. 14-2026 amends Chapter 54, “Special Assessments,” of the Code of Ordinances to implement the recommendations of the 2026 Fire Rescue Services study and establish the assessment fees for the next five fiscal years. Staff recommends approval at first reading.
END