Brooksville and Hernando fire chiefs present competing plans; council requests joint meeting with county commissioners

Hernando County Fire Chief Paul Hasmeyer and Deputy County Administrator Tony Brady presented a model for county provision of fire protection and advanced life support to the City of Brooksville, including a projected FY2026 service cost of roughly $1.4 million and assurances that county crews would provide ALS response day one if consolidation occurred. Brooksville District Chief Nicholas Alaimo and interim City Fire leadership outlined a plan to maintain independent city fire services, citing local control, lower current assessment fees and a multi-year vision to expand to three stations within the city.

At the conclusion of both presentations, council members debated consolidation versus continued municipal service. Hernando County officials described contract timing and a county MSBU (municipal service taxing unit) for EMS that residents already pay (0.91 mills) and said the county could begin service as soon as Oct. 1 if both parties agreed and legal terms were negotiated. Brooksville fire leadership emphasized local responsiveness, historic ties and an alternate approach based on increasing city fire assessment and future EMS billing revenue that could support expanded services over time.

Council voted unanimously, 5-0, to request a joint interlocal meeting with the Hernando County Board of County Commissioners to discuss fire service options, lease or purchase terms for fire facilities, personnel transitions and costs; staff and the county deputy administrator will coordinate meeting dates. City staff also noted written notices from the county regarding termination or amendment of some existing interlocal ALS and fire-protection agreements and said the topic needs prompt intergovernmental discussion to avoid service gaps.

Council emphasized the priority of public safety while asking that negotiations address employee transitions, station usage (sale vs. lease), pension and years-of-service protections, and procedural timelines. The council set a timeline for the joint meeting to be scheduled in August so that, if both bodies chose to proceed quickly, operational changes could be considered for implementation in October 2025.