West Palm Beach keeps fire service assessment fee rates unchanged, sets Aug. 18 public hearing

The City Commission of West Palm Beach voted Thursday to approve Resolution 153-25, keeping the city's fire service assessment fee rates unchanged for fiscal year 2026 and setting a final public hearing on the assessment roll for Aug. 18, 2025.

City Chief Financial Officer Bridgette Souffrant said the proposed fire assessment fee "will remain unchanged at the same rates since fiscal year 20 20," and that the city is budgeting just over $8 million in revenue from the fee while using cash carryforward for one-time items.

The assessment is a recurring special assessment on real property established to help fund fire services; Souffrant told the commission the fee pays for portions of facilities, equipment, personnel and professional services. She also said the fund now covers only about 15% of fire suppression costs, with the general fund covering the remaining 85%.

Fire Chief Diane Maddie said the four new firefighters added to the fire assessment fund this year are intended in part "to add another firefighter to our tiller truck that's housed in the downtown, which is increasingly, busy," and to support additional inspections and plan reviews for new construction. Chief Maddie also said, "We do have 13 unsprinkler high rises in the city," and noted that newer high-rise construction generally includes sprinkler systems and stronger fire protections.

Commissioners and staff debated whether to hold the rate steady while federal grant funding remained uncertain. City Administrator Johnson said the city had submitted a SAFER (Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response) grant application for additional firefighters and said the city is "operating on the premise that our SAFER grant will be approved" with an award notification expected "probably sometime in September." Johnson added that the 2019 study used when rates were last increased had been predicated on the assessment covering about 43% of suppression costs; she said that figure has fallen to 15% as costs have risen and the fee has been held flat.

Souffrant laid out budget details: personnel services in the fire assessment fund rose 13.2% for contractual step increases, a 4% health insurance increase and higher workers' compensation costs; the proposed budget includes 13 firefighters in the assessment fund (including the four new positions), four equipment maintenance staff, an assistant fire chief and a division chief. Materials and services were projected to increase 3.5%, and transfers out for debt service and capital were up 1.5%.

The proposed capital items mentioned for the fund included a fire rescue truck, replacement of the Fire Station 1 generator and roof, and replacement of an above-ground fuel tank at Fire Station 3. Souffrant said transfers out would also cover the city's 2020 fire lease.

Commissioner Fox asked whether the commission could designate the fee as a "not to exceed" rate until the commission reviews next week's workshop budget numbers; Administrator Johnson and city legal staff explained that increases to special assessments are typically supported by a study that identifies benefits and allocates costs proportionately so the assessment can withstand legal challenge, and that such a study should be started months ahead of adoption.

Commissioner Fedoozzi moved to approve Resolution 153-25 with no increase to the fire service assessment fee; the motion was seconded and passed after the commission voted verbally "Aye." The resolution also set the public hearing on the assessment roll for Aug. 18, 2025.

The discussion combined budget detail, staffing requests and grant prospects rather than producing any change to the fee this year; staff said additional options, including use of the general fund and grant awards, will be discussed during upcoming budget workshops.