Leon County delays fee increase, orders review after dispute with Tallahassee over fire service assessments

The Leon County Board of County Commissioners voted to hold fire services assessment rates at the current level for fiscal 2026, authorize staff to remove the county's request for arbitration over the city's proposed rate increase, and retain a financial consultant to review alleged undercollection and unauthorized spending by the City of Tallahassee.

County Attorney Chastity Osteen told the board the county has taken the dispute resolution steps in the interlocal agreement with the city and recommended three staff options: rescind rate-increase arbitration, mail first-class notices that do not contemplate an increase, and hire a financial consultant to investigate several identified concerns. "Whether to adopt rates, and if so, in what amount as long as it's done legally is a purely legislative function," Osteen said, adding an arbitration panel could not force a legislative body to set rates.

The action follows the city's January notice that its five-year fire services fee reserve would be insufficient…