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Commission weighs fire-assessment options as fire-related ad valorem revenue falls
Summary
Commissioners discussed the fire-rescue funding hit tied to lower taxable value and explored non-ad valorem fire assessments as a partial offset, while staff cautioned code limits and noted that assessments would not fully cover the shortfall.
Gabby told the commission that the taxable-value decrease also reduced fire-rescue ad valorem revenue by about $122,000, which helped offset some added expenses but still left a general-fund shortfall. She said staff had added $115,000 for assessment studies (fire and stormwater) to explore non-ad valorem options.
Commissioners debated whether the town should pursue a fire assessment, noting legal and practical constraints. Gabby said the town's code did not currently permit additional assessments and staff are drafting language to allow non-ad valorem assessments. "It would not fund the fire rescue a 100%. That would be impossible to do," she said, adding that a per-resident assessment of the scale needed would be impractical. Commissioners asked for further analysis and outreach.
