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Sanford commission authorizes start of fire-assessment adoption process aiming to raise $2.13 million a year
Summary
The City Commission authorized staff to begin the formal adoption process for a citywide fire assessment fee based on a consultant study, targeting about $2.13 million a year to fund capital needs; commissioners approved the motion unanimously and staff outlined next steps and estimated homeowner costs.
The Sanford City Commission on June 9 authorized staff to begin the formal adoption process for a citywide fire assessment fee after hearing a presentation from the consultant the city retained.
The commission action follows a study delivered in a report dated 05/28/2025 by the consultant working with the city; the commission voted unanimously to authorize staff to proceed with the assessment process “in accordance with the Rafteles report” with the option to fund only average annual capital.
The study presenter, identified in the meeting as a representative of the Ratilis Company, described the fee as a parcel assessment “based on the benefit received by our service provided by the city” and emphasized that it is a fee, not a tax. The consultant said the methodology apportions the assessment with a fixed per-parcel component “that represents the wide standing function” and a second component tied to the value of structures on each property to reflect the benefit of protection and insurance-cost effects.
Why it matters: consultants and staff said the assessment is intended to fund readiness and capital replacement for fire services, including new stations and vehicles. Commissioners noted equipment costs cited during discussion — a tower truck at roughly $2,100,000, engines at about $1,200,000, and rescues around $700,000 — and said those long-term replacement costs underlie the revenue target.
Key numbers and timeline presented by staff and the consultant: the commission-directed revenue target is $2,130,000 per year for five years if the commission chooses to fund capital only; an average single-family home’s assessment was estimated at about $85.36 annually; a “high-value” home example was shown at about $142 annually. Staff described the assessment structure as a $33.68 per-parcel base charge plus an additional charge per $5,000 of structure value. The consultant outlined procedural steps: finalize the study with latest property data in June, adopt a preliminary resolution and ordinance (late June or early July) that would set proposed and maximum rates and authorize mailed notices and newspaper ads, then hold a final hearing (early September) and submit an adopted assessment roll for inclusion on the FY2026 tax bill by Sept. 15.
Commission discussion and vote: commissioners said they had discussed the subject in a prior workshop and asked staff clarifying questions about exemptions (the motion as presented included no exemptions) and about how blanket PO purchases and vehicle-replacement planning interact with the assessment. Commissioner comments stressed the magnitude of replacement costs for stations and vehicles and the desire to avoid surprise replacements. After a motion and second, the commission voted “Aye” by unanimous voice vote.
What happens next: staff will finalize the study with county property data, the city attorney will prepare a preliminary resolution and ordinance that set the proposed and maximum rates, notices will be mailed to property owners and advertised in the local paper, and the commission is expected to hold a final hearing in early September before any assessments are finalized and submitted for tax billing.
Ending: Staff framed the next steps as procedural and emphasized that property owners will receive individualized notices with the proposed assessment amounts prior to the final hearing.
