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Key West Commission reviews proposal for fire non ad valorem assessment; public notice process under way
Summary
City staff presented a proposal for a fire non ad valorem assessment — a flat fee (not property-value tax) to fund fire services — and announced a required December notice-of-intent step and consultant rate study; commissioners asked about homestead impacts and calculation options.
City of Key West staff briefed the City Commission on a proposed fire non ad valorem assessment on Nov. 5, describing it as a flat fee model similar to existing stormwater and solid-waste assessments and not a property-value tax. Michael Turner, who led the presentation, said the approach would require a nonbinding notice-of-intent resolution before the end of the calendar year and four public notices prior to a December hearing. He said a consultant (Accenture, formerly GSG) has been retained to produce a rate model and that the commission would receive proposed rate options and recommended methodologies for approval at subsequent meetings.
Turner said the assessment is intended to create a stable funding vehicle for fire services in the event that property-tax structures change. Commissioners pressed for specifics: Commissioner Haskell sought confirmation that the assessment would offset property-tax-supported general-fund fire spending if both mechanisms remained in place; Turner said it would, and staff noted the general fund would be reduced to avoid “double-dipping.” Commissioner Kauffman asked whether homestead properties would be treated differently; staff said the consultant will analyze exemptions and apparent options and will present recommended treatments for vulnerable groups (including fixed-income homeowners).
Turner said at least seven Florida municipalities have used non ad valorem assessments for fire or similar services; staff will provide the list and implementation examples. He emphasized the December notice as a critical milestone: if the commission misses the December notice-of-intent step, the assessment process would be delayed by a year. The commission did not vote on the assessment on Nov. 5; staff flagged upcoming public-notice timelines and said specific rate options, proposed exemptions and legal analyses will be returned for commission consideration.
