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County and Brooksville move to consolidate fire services; commissioners approve interlocal agreements with conditions
Summary
Following months of negotiation, the Board approved interlocal agreements to consolidate Brooksville’s fire services into Hernando County Fire Rescue, including an impact-fee arrangement and a lease for the Brooksville station, with an added right of first refusal on any future sale.
The Hernando County Board of County Commissioners voted 5-0 to approve a package of interlocal agreements with the City of Brooksville to consolidate fire protection, fire prevention, rescue and emergency medical services under Hernando County Fire Rescue, effective Oct. 1, 2025 at 8:00 a.m.
The agreements before the board included: (1) a consolidation/service agreement outlining operational responsibilities and personnel transition provisions; (2) an impact-fee transfer and joint study agreement to incorporate the city into the countywide impact-fee structure; and (3) a lease of the existing Brooksville fire station to Hernando County for fiscal year 2026, with proposed rent and maintenance responsibilities identified for subsequent years.
Fire Chief Paul Hasmeyer and county staff walked the board through personnel protections, training and equipment provisions, and said Brooksville firefighters would be offered positions in the county system. Hasmeyer told the board the county would follow county policies for job classifications and that personnel could transfer with recognition of certain tenure elements; he said the county can accept up to 50% of accrued vacation time from transferring government employees with administrator approval. Chief Hasmeyer also said an Advanced Life Support (ALS) engine and ambulance would be housed in Brooksville under the plan, and that the county’s broader apparatus and logistics system would support the city’s service area.
City Manager Lisa Hendrickson and several city council members attended and described the city’s prior vote to request a county proposal. The draft lease had been provided by the city attorney; several commissioners asked that the county and city clarify long-term maintenance and capital responsibilities for the station’s roof, mechanical systems and generator. Commissioners asked staff to add a right-of-first-refusal clause protecting the county if the city later attempts to sell the station; the board approved the overall package after adding that clause.
The agreements also addressed pensions and legacy liabilities: the county will not assume the city’s pension debt; the city’s pension board remains responsible for past obligations though the agreements allow several options (freeze, close or otherwise manage the plan) the city and its pension board must decide. The consolidation package includes a one-time service payment from the city to the county for fiscal year 2026 to support initial staffing and equipment placement; the board and city recognized the need to finalize impact-fee studies and MSBU (municipal service benefit unit) calculations in subsequent months.
Why it matters: Consolidation is intended to expand service capacity in Brooksville, standardize fire-code enforcement, and create operational efficiencies by folding city fire responsibilities into the countywide system. Commissioners and city officials framed the move as a response to rising local government costs and operational strain on small municipal fire operations.
What’s next: Staff will finalize implementation details, occupational transfers and the impact-fee study before Oct. 1. The county will assume operations and begin billing/revenue allocations under the MSBU and updated impact-fee framework in fiscal 2027.
