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LaBelle says it will fund plan 2 fire service while moving assessment to a broader plan 3 reserve
Summary
LaBelle Fire Department leaders told county commissioners the city will shift to a plan‑3 assessment approach and operate at county plan‑2 funding levels; the city has secured state appropriations to expand and renovate its station and purchase a ladder truck.
LaBelle Fire Chief Stevens and city representatives told Henry County commissioners Aug. 26 that the City of LaBelle plans to place its fire assessment on a plan‑3 schedule but to operate at the county—s plan‑2 service level for the coming year, and that the city has secured state appropriations to fund a major station renovation and a ladder truck.
"The city is now taking a firm stance, and they're gonna go ahead and move to plan 3," Chief Stevens said. He added that if the county remains at plan 2, the city will "stick with you at plan 2. It will fully fund plan 2." Stevens said the city is moving to five personnel per shift under its plan‑2 operating model and expects delivery of a ladder truck within about a year. He said the city—s station renovation was in a 90% concept design stage and that the $4,000,000 renovation footprint would increase the station to roughly 14,000 square feet; the renovation and ladder truck costs are covered by the state appropriation the city secured.
Julie Wilkins, representing the city, told the board that moving to plan 3 as an assessment schedule will allow the city to relieve one-time operating supplements from the general fund and build reserves so residents are not subject to repeated assessment increases year over year. County staff said interlocal agreements are being drafted to document responsibilities for animal control and fire service between the city and county.
Commissioners raised concerns about countywide parity across MSBU assessments and whether funding one department with an assessment increases expectations for other unincorporated districts such as Felda and Montura. County staff and city representatives said the county and city would continue to coordinate via interlocal agreements and that the county—s plan for unincorporated departments is to phase combination career/volunteer coverage where growth and call volume justify it—Pioneer was presented as the near-term priority.
No county action was taken at the workshop; staff said the county attorney is preparing interlocal agreements that will be brought back for review and formal approval.
