Sanford hears fire-assessment study: consultant outlines $2.38M capital option, roughly $95 a year for a typical home

At a Sanford City Commission work session on May 12, 2025, consultant Michael Burton presented a follow-up study on a proposed citywide fire-assessment fee, outlining funding options, sample parcel-level charges and a timetable for adoption if commissioners elect to proceed.

Burton said the 5‑year average capital need used in the presentation was $2,380,000. Under the study’s methodology, the assessment components included a per‑parcel “response readiness” charge of $37.66 and a structure-loss-protection charge equal to $1.52 per $5,000 of structure value. Using an average single‑family structure value of $190,000, Burton presented a calculated annual assessment of about $95.42 for a typical single‑family home (an equivalent monthly amount of roughly $7.95). He also showed a higher-revenue example: a $5,000,000 revenue target would raise the single-family annual charge to about $198.51 (approximately $16.54 per month).

Burton compared Sanford’s proposed numbers to other nearby jurisdictions that have adopted fire assessments and said Sanford’s proposed…