TALLAHSEE BREAKDOWN BREAKDOWN: Fire Fund deficiency means that residents are likely to pay more - Tallahassee Democrat

The first quarter report for the current fiscal year shows the funds that make up the $ 1.2 billion budget are within the cost plan so far – all except for one.

The budget is made up of 14 operational funds, but the fire fund was the only one that is marked as a “budget problem that requires constant attention”, which means that the percentage of fire service of residents is likely to increase at the beginning of this fall.

During the budget seminar on Wednesday, Robert Wigen, Director of Resources Management, said there were two main assumptions for the fiscal year 2026: The ownership tax would remain the same and an increase in fire service fees should be applied.

“We believe that a survey is needed to ensure that the fire department evaluation fees are fully funded for fire protection services,” Wigen said.

He explained that there are several factors causing the fire fund to not reach: the lack of fire service payments from schools in Leon County, the construction of a new fire station, 36 new positions and the adoption of the latest collective agreement with the Union of Firefighters S

The Tallahasesee Fire Service has received nearly $ 58.5 million from the city’s budget this fiscal year, but “based on these positions, the percentages established during the current five -year study is not expected to be sufficient,” said city daily materials say row.

“Urban staff estimates that additional revenue of $ 30-35 million (approximately 20-25% increase) will be needed to fully fund fire operations for a new five-year period through the FY30,” the materials on the agenda say.

Based on preliminary studies, the city believes that an increase of $ 5 to $ 6 a month should start on October 1, which would be the second increase in two years. During the fiscal 2024, the commissioners voted to raise the housing fire service “from 1.5% for most residences in the city to over 20% for households in the unaccorporated area”, as reported earlier.

An accurate increase will be determined during the fee survey and then it has to switch to the city commissioners and the voting county before it can be applied, Gowd told Tallahassee Democrat.

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Unpaid LCS invoices mean they can lose $ 300,000 discount

Negotiations for payment between the city and the Union of Firefighters were intense before the two countries agreed to a new three -year contract, and the lack of payment to the school council fire service simply added fuel to the fire.

LCS stopped paying the fire service fee several years ago, accumulating an account of nearly $ 3 million and counting. Earlier, LCS chief Rocky Hannah told the Talahassi Democrat that the school neighborhood had hired legal expertise in 2021 to determine if they should pay for firefighters.

Based on the legal advantage, their lawyers have determined that they should not pay the fee.

In order to return the fire fund, the city said it had hired a company to make an early review of fire service and fees, “to ensure that fire protection services remain fully funded.”

The city also examines the possibility of withdrawing the discount it offers to the school neighborhood for utility payments. As part of the Fire Service Agreement between the two countries, LCS receives approximately $ 300,000 discount each year for utilities dependent on several factors, including the payment of the fire service fee.

City manager Reese year said the lawyers were reviewing the issue to see if they could stop offering the discount.

“What we work on today is to make sure we are expanding the agreement correctly, making sure we understand the financial conditions of the agreement,” he said.

City Commissioner Jeremy Matlow, who asked a goad about the discount on utilities in schools, said he supported that: “If the agreement has to pay the fire service fee, it must certainly be examined.”

LCS spokesman Chris Petry said the school district had no public comments on the matter.

Where do the other taxpayer dollars go?

The city’s budget is divided between the operating budget, which represents $ 908 million and the capital budget, which represents $ 302 million.

The largest fund within the operational budget is the common fund, which divides $ 210.3 million between “multiple critical services”, including:

Talahasi Police Department and Public Safety – $ 75,922.288
Parks and Recreation – 32 437 426 dollars
Capital – $ 16,357 867
Roads and sidewalks – $ 12,324,251
Housing and Community resistance – $ 9,100 661

All this is funded by property taxes, which brings nearly $ 72 million and utility contributions, carrying nearly $ 55 million.

In addition to the General Fund, the operational budget consists of 13 other funds:

Aviation – $ 19,940 500
Building Check – $ 5.108,337
Starmetro – $ 19 862 424
Fire Services – 58 477,035 dollars
Hard waste – $ 37,19 682
Electric – 332 364 621 dollars
Dune water – 23 270 235 dollars
Gas – 34 507,232 dollars
Golf Course – $ 1,379,486
Water – 53 646 588 dollars
Cemetery – $ 522,106
Sewage – 91 057 836 dollars
Donations – $ 120 659

The next budget will be evaluated on the basis of these budget assumptions for FY25.

An early look at the budget of the fiscal year 2026

While most major budget conversations about the coming year will start in the spring, the city has already said that ownership taxes will remain the same.

“The 4,42 mill mill will be maintained for the FY26 budget,” the materials on the agenda say.

In the last fiscal year, the city commissioners voted to increase the rate of ownership tax around 8.5%, with millions of revenue going to the Talahasi police station. The tax increase paid for new officers and other technological achievements to fight crime in the capital.

The city is ready to open 20 new officer positions during this upcoming fiscal year, but unlike last time, this will not be an increase in taxes.

As more budget hearing are being held, “wage raise options” will be considered and reviewed for the general plan employees. A final salary increase has not yet been proposed.

“The development of the budget of FY26 will continue in the spring and summer, as the staff continues to review the basic assumptions, variable and feedback from the City Commission,” the materials on the agenda say.

Other review areas include:

Updated property tax revenue based on taxable value assessment that will become available in June and July
State revenue forecasts issued in July
Potential impacts from changes in the Consumer Pricing Index (CPI) and other economic trends
Progress of capital and planning to update the five -year plan to improve capital.

Local government reporter Elena Barrera can be found at [email protected]. Follow her at X: @elenabarreraaaS

TALLAHSEE BREAKDOWN BREAKDOWN: Fire Fund deficiency means that residents are likely to pay more – Tallahassee Democrat

Unpaid LCS invoices mean they can lose $ 300,000 discount

Where do the other taxpayer dollars go?

An early look at the budget of the fiscal year 2026

By james art

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TALLAHSEE BREAKDOWN BREAKDOWN: Fire Fund deficiency means that residents are likely to pay more – Tallahassee Democrat

Unpaid LCS invoices mean they can lose $ 300,000 discount

Where do the other taxpayer dollars go?

An early look at the budget of the fiscal year 2026

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You Missed

The Federal Judge blocks CFPB from dismissing more employees – public radio in South Carolina

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Look for KCBD at the 73rd annual Lubbock Lions Club Pancake Festival that happens on Saturday – KCBD

Kiggans interrogates after damage to recover TRICARE EAST – 13newsnow.com Wvec