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High Springs chief urges residents to back higher fire assessment to maintain four‑person shifts
Summary
The fire chief told commissioners the department cannot reliably sustain four firefighters per shift without raising the household fire assessment from $250 to $335; the increase would reduce the city raw on the general fund by roughly $300,000 but will require voter or commission action and a possible new assessment study if the commission opts for a $360 cap.
The High Springs fire chief told the city commission at a May workshop that the department—annot reliably maintain a four‑person staffing model without increasing the household fire assessment.
The chief said the city currently collects about $969,220 from a $250 per‑household assessment and projects that a $335 fee would raise roughly $1,302,452 annually, lowering the department raw from the general fund from about $1,121,000 to approximately $788,000. He said operating with three personnel per shift removes one apparatus from service and "essentially reduces the services to the city by 50 percent." He warned that sustained three‑person shifts would also increase safety risks for firefighters and residents.
Why it matters: The commission is weighing whether to raise fees, cut staffing, or pursue alternatives…
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