The City of Gainesville is exploring a Special Assessment for Fire Services. A special assessment is an amount of funding collected for improvements or services that benefit property owners. The Florida Constitution provides for the use of non-ad valorem special assessments (Chapter 75-473, Laws of Florida, as amended). Case law dictates that a special assessment must meet two criteria - that it must be of special benefit to property and that it is fair and reasonable in the manner in which it is apportioned.
This Web page provides information for property owners in Gainesville pertaining to the proposed fire assessment. Please click on the links below to access the information you are searching for:
A. The special assessment for fire services may be imposed annually and will cover October 1 – September 30 of each year. For fiscal year 2008-09, the assessment will be collected using the tax bill. For future fiscal years, if approved and imposed, it will be payable, as part of your tax bill, each year between November 1 and March 31.
A. When calculating a special assessment for fire services, a formula is used that involves a calculation of the percent of fire service calls related to the property type. A different assessment amount is calculated for each property type based on Gainesville’s fire response history. This calculation ensures that all properties of the same type are charged at the same rate for fire services.
A. The City Commission has proposed the assessment rates shown below: Residential Property Use Category, Rate Per Dwelling Unit
Residential $30.00 Non-Residential Property Use Categories, Rate Per Square Foot
Commercial $0.04
Industrial/Warehouse $0.02
Institutional $0.06
The final rates adopted by the City Commission will be no higher than the proposed rates.
A. All owners of improved property in the City are subject to a special assessment with the exception of government-owned properties. Non-profit organizations owning improved property are subject to the assessment.
A. The use of special assessments requires a special benefit to property and fair and reasonable apportionment of costs. This means that unlike taxes, which can be used for any general purpose, the special assessment for fire services must be developed to recover each property’s proportionate share of the costs of providing fire services.
A. The City made significant budget reductions in the current fiscal year to address state millage rollback requirements. Positions were eliminated and parts of City government were reorganized to create savings. The City is preparing for further budget reductions next fiscal year that could be even more significant. The options are as follows: 1) find additional budget reductions and/or 2) find new revenues to support core services. Last year, the Gainesville Police Department and Gainesville Fire Rescue Department were mostly spared the reductions faced by other departments. Without new revenue, it is unlikely that these public safety departments can be spared once again, likely resulting in some public safety service reductions.
A. Property taxes are expected to generate $23.1 million in the current fiscal year. To put this in perspective, the current year budget for the Gainesville Police Department is almost $29 million or $6 million more than the total revenue generated by property taxes. In addition, state legislation in 2007 resulted in a reduction in property tax revenues to the City of $2.7 million in the current fiscal year and approval of State Constitutional Amendment 1 in January will reduce property tax revenues by approximately $3.1 million next fiscal year, further limiting the City’s ability to use property taxes as a stable funding source for fire services.
Over 54% of City property values are off the tax roll because they are owned by tax-exempt, non-profit organizations or government entities. This further limits property tax revenues. To help offset this impact on fire services, the City has a contract for fire services with the Gainesville Regional Airport and has been meeting with the University of Florida to attempt to negotiate an agreement whereby the University will pay the City for the fire services the City provides.
A. You would continue to receive the excellent fire services you have come to expect. Fire services may be spared the potential budget reductions and impact on services other City departments are facing. A special assessment for fire services provides a cost-effective and financially stable means of funding fire services allowing the City to maintain and enhance its fire services, which means better service to property and its occupants.
The level of fire service available in Gainesville impacts property values and insurance rates. A higher level of fire service can lead to higher property values and lower insurance rates and a lower level of fire service can lead to lower property values and higher insurance rates.
A. Yes, the City of Tallahassee, City of Hollywood, City of Newberry, City of Hawthorne, Marion County, Levy County, Gilchrist County, Lake County, Broward County and many other local governments throughout Florida have special assessments for fire services.
A. Yes, the same discounts and penalties applicable to ad valorem taxes have been addressed in the fire budget and would also apply to the special assessments collected on the tax bill.
A. Yes. The City will hold two informational meetings as shown below: - Monday, June 30, 2008, 6:30 p.m. at Lincoln Middle School Auditorium, 1001 SE 12th Street
- Monday, July 7, 2008, 6:30 p.m. at Westwood Middle School Auditorium, 3215 NW 15th Avenue
A. Yes. The City Commission will hold a public hearing to receive public input as shown below:
CITY COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING
- Wednesday, July 16, 2008, 6 p.m. at Gainesville City Hall, 200 East University Avenue
A. The City has established an information line at 352-334-5088 that is staffed Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. You may e-mail the City at firequestions@cityofgainesville.org. Of course, you may also attend one of the two informational meetings that have been scheduled. Please use these contacts to get more information or to raise questions if you believe information in your notice is incorrect.
What is the Best Way to Pay for Fire Services?
The Gainesville City Commission is currently studying and evaluating the best way to pay for fire services. To assure that this essential service is adequately funded, the City Commission is considering a Special Assessment for Fire Services as a stable and predictable source of funding that would be dedicated solely to fire services.
Special Assessments for Fire Services are authorized by the Florida Constitution, are Florida court tested, and are currently being utilized by many local governments throughout Florida to fund fire services. Special Assessments for Fire Services may be used by local governments because fire services provide a special benefit by protecting property. An additional benefit is the lower insurance rates paid by property owners due to the availability of fire services. Click to read more or view PDF in printable format.
Tentative schedule for the Special Assessment for Fire Services (updated June 23, 2008):
May 12, 2008 (Regular City Commission Meeting at 5:30 p.m.)
First Reading of Fire Assessment Ordinance
June 9, 2008 (originally scheduled for May 28) (Regular City Commission Meeting at 5:30 p.m.)
Second Reading of Fire Assessment Ordinance
Initial Assessment Resolution
June 17, 2008
Notices Mailed to Property Owners
July 16, 2008 (Special City Commission meeting at 6 p.m.)
Final Assessment Resolution
Schedule of informational community meetings: If you would like to schedule a speaker for your crime watch group, neighborhood association meeting or a similar meeting, please call 352-334-5088 or send an email to firequestions@cityofgainesville.org.
Two Special Assessment Informational Meetings have been scheduled:
- Monday, June 30, 2008, 6:30 p.m. at Lincoln Middle School Auditorium, 1001 SE 12th Street
- Monday, July 7, 2008, 6:30 p.m. at Westwood Middle School Auditorium, 3215 NW 15th Avenue
