Hernando County approves 5.75% annual increase to residential fire assessment for up to five years

The Hernando County Board of County Commissioners voted 3-2 on June 10 to adopt a plan to increase the county's residential fire assessment by up to 5.75% per year for up to five years, a measure county leaders say is intended to fund staffing, equipment and future fire station needs.

The vote follows a months-long review, a consultant's funding study, and a public hearing that drew more than a dozen speakers, including the county's fire chief and union leaders. Fire Chief Paul Hassemeyer told the commission the increase would help fund planned station staffing, equipment, and a multi-year program to bring service capacity in line with recent population growth.

Commissioners and staff said the adopted limit is intended to balance public-safety needs against taxpayer concerns. Chief Hassemeyer and county budget staff presented a range of options at the hearing: the consultant's initial models included double-digit increases, but staff and the chief narrowed the…