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Commission sets preliminary caps: proposed fire assessment rises $31; solid-waste fee proposed up $30
Summary
The Suwannee County Commission set preliminary caps for the fire-protection assessment (proposed cap $151, up $31) and the solid-waste assessment (proposed cap $265, up $30).
Chief Miller presented a request to increase the county'wide fire-protection assessment by $31, raising the assessment from $120 to a proposed preliminary cap of $151.
"I am here before to ask for the second part of my presentation... the $31 increase in the fire assessment, which is a roughly 25% increase in that category," Chief Miller said, noting the increase would fund fire and EMS needs and that a separate SAFER grant application was in review with FEMA.
Commissioners discussed a related issue: some homesteaded properties that exceed certain acreage (more than about five acres) had been charged both a residential fire assessment and a vacant-land fire assessment. Chairman Land and several commissioners said they intend to remove the vacant-land assessment from homesteaded parcels to avoid double-charging homeowners. County staff estimated that removing duplicate charges could reduce revenue by roughly $50,000 to $100,000, and commissioners asked staff to ensure the fire assessment rate-setting would not destabilize the department budget.
The board voted 5-0 to set a preliminary cap of $151 for the fire-assessment rate; Land emphasized this is a preliminary figure for advertising and that the final adopted rate could be set lower at budget hearings.
On solid waste, Public Works representative Greg Scott said the current solid-waste assessment is $235 per household and that, based on expected costs, the system would need roughly $60 per household more to fully cover operations. Scott recommended a partial increase of $30 — raising the preliminary cap to $265 per residence — to offset about half the current general-revenue subsidy.
The commission approved the preliminary solid-waste assessment cap of $265 by a 5-0 vote. Scott and commissioners said staff will continue work on cost-saving measures and other strategies to reduce long-term trash-disposal costs.
Both votes set preliminary caps only. Commissioners and staff noted the board could set a lower call at final budget adoption after further analysis and public notice.
