Planning raises tax questions

A long-term planning workshop brings the idea that growth may require a future tax increase.

By JENNIFER FARRELL

© St. Petersburg Times, published July 28, 2000

SPRING HILL -- During election season, the last thing most candidates want to talk about is raising taxes.

But that's exactly what Spring Hill Fire and Rescue Commissioner Dennis Andrews warned might be necessary to keep up with rapid growth expected in the district.

At the first of two long-range planning workshops, Andrews, who is seeking his second four-year term, said Wednesday night that the board needs to analyze where the department stands compared with county estimates on population growth and economic development.

"We may have to go to the public," Andrews said, adding that the district's tax rate of $2.75 per $1,000 of assessed value has been static for more than a decade. "Your taxes for service may need to go up slightly."

With staffing levels already low, Andrews said the district will need to pay for $500,000 to $1-million in new salaries in the next one to two years to avoid getting caught short.

"We need to be frugal with the public's money, but we've got to be ready to provide the service they're demanding," he said. "Right now we're starting to stretch."

The remarks came after a presentation by Chief Michael Morgan outlining his administration's five-year capital-improvement plan. Topping Morgan's list was a vehicle-replacement program that calls for setting aside $180,000 annually.

"That would keep us on line for keeping modern equipment," he said.

Morgan also recommended spending $150,000 next year for an addition to Station 3 and $75,000 the following year to remodel the district's old maintenance bays. Farther down the road, Morgan said, commissioners should consider spending $54,000 on a truck to battle brush fires. He also suggested the board look at building an addition for the administration building and working with the county to share costs of building a firefighter training center.

Andrews, who acknowledged the importance of planning for capital-improvements needs, said the more pressing matter should be getting a handle on demographic information that will allow the district to plan for growth.

He said later that asking taxpayers to boost the millage rate, which is capped at 2.75, would be the last thing he would like to see and suggested alternatives such as instituting fees for commercial fire inspections and boosting charges for ambulance transports.

The district charges nothing for commercial inspections, while ambulance transports cost users $235 per trip, plus mileage.

Andrews suggested the district reconsider asking residents to approve a flat fee for fire and rescue service, rather than property taxes, which vary by household.

An earlier move for flat fees was defeated at the polls in the early 1990s.

Morgan predicted a similar fate for a proposed tax increase.

"I don't think the community will accept a raise in taxes," he said Thursday. "My mandate has always been to operate within the limit of the 2.75. We've done that well for the last 20 years, and we'll continue to do so."

The commission has set the second planning workshop for 6:30 p.m. Aug. 9 before its regular meeting at fire headquarters on Bob Hartung Court to discuss long-range staffing plans. The board is considering hiring a new firefighter and a training officer this year.

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