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Orange City council postpones proposed fire assessment until after November election
Summary
After two hours of debate and public comment, the Orange City Council voted June 23 to postpone consideration of a proposed fire-protection special assessment until after certification of the November 2026 ad valorem election. Supporters said the assessment would diversify revenue; opponents cited pending state reforms and a lawsuit.
The Orange City Council voted June 23 to postpone action on a proposed non‑ad valorem fire protection assessment until after certification of the November 2026 ad valorem election.
Council members Darms, Vice Mayor Grim, Council Member Tiomkin and Mayor Marks voted to postpone; Council Members Stafford and Richardson voted against the motion. The motion instructs staff to return to the council after the November election for further direction.
Why it mattered: Staff and supporters said the assessment would diversify revenue, create a dedicated funding stream for fire services and help fund a future fire station without relying solely on ad valorem taxes. Opponents warned the statewide property‑tax proposals and ongoing litigation could change the city's revenue picture and argued the council should wait for clarity before placing a new assessment on the tax roll.
During the discussion the city manager summarized staff objectives for the assessment as ‘‘diversify revenue availability, support replacement of the fire station, and fund future capital fire assessments’’ and emphasized that implementation would be paired with a corresponding millage adjustment to aim for revenue neutrality.
Public comment was split. Resident Anthony Papello urged passage, saying the proposal was ‘‘targeted’’ and not an overall tax increase: "It’s not an increase in taxes. It is a separation. Ad valorem goes down; that funding for the fire fee is the representation that the ad valorem is for other services," he said. Opponents said many residents are on fixed incomes and stressed the uncertainty created by pending state changes and lawsuits.
What happens next: Staff will hold the assessment in abeyance and bring a report after the November 2026 ad valorem election is certified so the council can reassess whether to place the assessment on a future tax roll. Any implementation would follow the city’s public‑notice process and the statutory steps for non‑ad valorem assessments.
