Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Kissimmee Commission adopts citywide fire assessment to fund fourth shift after contentious public hearing
Summary
After a three-hour public hearing with residents, fire employees and experts testifying for and against the plan, the Kissimmee City Commission adopted an ordinance and a companion resolution to place a citywide fire service assessment on the tax roll to fund a fourth shift and related fire services. The measures passed 4–1.
The City of Kissimmee on Tuesday approved a citywide fire service assessment and a resolution setting assessment rates to fund a fourth shift for the Kissimmee Fire Department.
The ordinance authorizing special assessments and a companion initial annual assessment resolution passed by a 4–1 vote after an extended public hearing in which firefighters, union leaders and residents urged passage while other residents, church leaders and real estate stakeholders urged caution or delay. Commissioner Alvarez cast the lone recorded vote against both measures.
Supporters including Kissimmee firefighter Joshua Clark, president of the Kissimmee firefighters’ union, said the fee is intended to improve retention, candidate pools and firefighter health by reducing overtime and shifting to a four-shift staffing model. “This fire fee gives us exactly that. It's not about politics. It's not about profit,” Clark said during public comment. Family members of firefighters and department employees also described sleep deprivation and mental-health strains and urged action.
Opponents said the assessment will add a recurring cost to property owners and renters and expressed concern about…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
