Leon County commission approves fire assessment increase plan excluding ISO investment, conditions action on city approval

The Leon County Board of County Commissioners voted 4-3 to approve a staff-amended plan to move forward on the City of Tallahassee's requested fire assessment increases for the remaining three years of the county—s five-year study, excluding an $8.5 million investment the city says would improve its ISO rating.

The vote sends options 1—3 as amended to the city for its June 11 consideration and conditions the county—s action on the city—s agreement; if the city rejects the county's terms, the board directed staff to begin the contract dispute resolution process set out in the interlocal agreement.

Why it matters: the assessment is the mechanism by which the county pays for fire/rescue services contracted from the City of Tallahassee and places most of the cost on property owners in unincorporated Leon County. Commissioners debated whether to accept the city's higher cost projections now, or to force the interlocal agreement's dispute process — including mediation and binding arbitration — to challenge costs the county calls unanticipated mid-cycle.

County Administrator (name not specified) opened the item by reminding the board that the special meeting was limited to two budget-related issues and that staff and consultant Sandy Newbarth of Accenture had reviewed the city's…