Cooper City adopts fire assessment at $432 per household, below advertised $446

The Cooper City Commission on Sept. 12 adopted Resolution 25-59 establishing a fire-assessment rate of $432 per household, down from an advertised $446, after a unanimous vote.

The resolution, described by staff as imposing assessments to fund fire services, facilities and programs in Cooper City, was approved after discussion about reductions in fire expenses that staff said allowed the lower rate. The commission voted to adopt the resolution after hearing one public commenter and several clarifying questions from commissioners.

Resident Nadia Aradak addressed the commission during public comment, saying she owns two properties in Cooper City and that both received high property tax increases; she said one trim notice would raise her bill by about $5,000 if the increase is realized. "My name is Nadia Aradak, and I am a local resident of Cooper City. I do have 2 properties, 1 homestead, 1 investment. And, unfortunately, both got hit with high increases for the property tax," Aradak said. Staff and one of the city officials offered to meet with her after the meeting to review her notices.

City staff introduced Item 2 as Resolution 25-59, "a resolution in the City of Cooper City, Florida relating to the provision of fire services, facilities and programs in the city of Cooper City, establishing a rate of assessment, imposing fire assessments against assessed property located in the city Cooper City, proving the assessment role, providing for severability conflicts and providing for an effective date" for the commission's consideration. During discussion, staff and the mayor told the commission that the adopted assessment was lower than the amount originally advertised because the city obtained reductions in fire expenses over the summer that fed directly into the assessment calculation.

"Instead of the advertised $446 per household, the rate that you have in front of you today is $432 per household, a reduction of about $14 that we're able to achieve through reductions in the fire," City Manager Jacob said during the discussion. Commissioners and staff repeatedly clarified that the $432 figure reduces the advertised rate rather than representing a year-over-year decline.

Commissioner Mallozzi said that, despite the reduction from the advertised figure, the assessment represents an increase compared with last year and asked staff for the precise change. Finance staff responded during the meeting that "last year's rate was $3.98 and its new rate is going to be $4.32," and gave a numeric difference during back-and-forth remarks; the transcript records both Commissioner Mallozzi characterizing the difference as "about $100" and staff later citing a difference described in the record as approximately $34. The record does not specify the units or per‑unit basis for the $3.98/$4.32 figures; staff provided those numbers in response to the question but did not state the unit (for example, mills per $1,000 of assessed value or dollars-per-household) on the record. (Units and basis for those figures are not specified in the transcript.)

Commissioner Cashman asked about the city's practice of charging 100% of the assessed cost to taxpayers and whether that could result in overcharging. Staff responded that the city could not legally charge more than the assessed cost and that any reductions in fire department charges flow directly into reductions in the assessment. "Those savings go directly into the reduction in the fire assessment," a staff member said, adding that the city could not maintain the original advertised rate after the reductions were secured.

Commissioner Lisa Katzmann made the motion to adopt Resolution 25-59; the motion was seconded by Jason (role not specified in the transcript). The roll call vote recorded Commissioners Smith, Mallozzi, Katzmann and Schroeder and Mayor Curran as voting "yes," and the motion carried.

The resolution text, as presented on the record, establishes the assessment rate, approves the assessment roll and addresses severability and conflicts; the effective date was not specified on the public audio record included in the transcript. After the vote, the commission moved on and adjourned.

Votes at a glance: Resolution 25-59 (fire assessment) — motion to adopt by Commissioner Lisa Katzmann, seconded by Jason; outcome: approved, unanimous (Commissioners Smith, Mallozzi, Katzmann, Schroeder and Mayor Curran voted yes).