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Jackson County commissioners hear plan for fire and EMS special assessments to shore up funding
Summary
Commissioners heard an Accenture presentation explaining how non‑ad valorem (special) assessments for fire and EMS would be designed, who would pay, estimated study costs ($40–60K), statutory limits (including agricultural exemptions) and timeline requirements to place an assessment on the tax bill.
Jackson County commissioners held an informational workshop where Accenture outlined how the county could use non‑ad valorem assessments to fund fire protection and emergency medical services.
The presenter, Dubart of Accenture, told the board that non‑ad valorem assessments are “a home rule revenue source, so it’s case law driven,” and explained that while assessments can appear on the property tax bill as a separate line, they are legally distinct from ad valorem taxes. He said assessments must meet two legal prongs: they must benefit property (with an EMS exception for counties designated by the governor as economically rural) and the cost‑allocation methodology must be “fair and reasonable.”
The consultant described the typical study process—service delivery review, an assessable budget, cost apportionment using historical demand, and…
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