County commissioners voted Tuesday to abolish the present tax structure in an area once called Township 22. Most will pay more.
By WILL VAN SANT
Published July 30, 2003
BROOKSVILLE - Come November, people living in the 36-square-mile tax district around Brooksville once called Township 22 will pay a flat fee for fire service, rather than one linked to the value of their homes.
County commissioners voted Tuesday to abolish the present tax structure in the area, now called the Central Hernando Fire Protection District. The existing tax called for a $3 levy on each $1,000 of assessed home value. The same fee charged in the Hernando County Fire Rescue District will replace the old tax. That fee now stands at $97.50 a year, but is expected to increase to $100.17 when the 2003-2004 budget is approved in September.
Commercial businesses will pay a $0.159 per-square-foot fee under the new system, plus a base charge of $20.60. The owner of a 2,000-square foot office building, for example, would pay $338.60.
Roughly equal numbers of residents came out for and against the change, which affects about 6,000 people. Those with less expensive homes complained that the new fee would cut too deeply into their modest incomes, while those with pricier properties complained they were tired of subsidizing fire service for others, particularly when their higher taxes are not linked to better fire protection.
"I don't think it's fair for me to pay thousands in fire tax," said Dennis Wilfong, a 56-year-old resident who lives on Violet Drive. "I don't get better service. All I get is a larger bill."
Under the current system, the fire tax on a $33,570 home is $100.17. Based on property records, county officials estimate 701 residences will pay less under the flat fee, the remaining residences in the area, some 1549, will pay more.
Jo Ann Hartge, 52, lives on Violet Drive. She said she likes the firefighters in the area and is pleased with how quickly they respond. Hartge paid $45.57 in fire tax last year, she said, and does not look forward to paying more.
"For many people on limited incomes, this is going to be a very great burden," Hartge said.
Since the county took over fire service from Brooksville in October, advocates have claimed that the flat fee would allow for better service. But Hernando County Fire Rescue Chief Mike Nickerson disagreed, arguing that standards of service will remain the same, but the manner of collecting revenue will be made uniform and thus more fair.
"It's a methodology change," Nickerson said. "There are winners and there are losers."
Brooksville is still trying to regain the right to provide fire service in the area. Until the county declined to renew its contract a year ago, the city was being paid $330,000 a year to do the job.
An appellate court heard oral arguments in the case last week. But county officials say any decision will have no effect on the change to a flat fee. Even if it's decided Brooksville should be paid to provide the service, it's still up to the county how to go about collecting the money to pay the city, said assistant county attorney Kurt Hitzemann.
Among commissioners, only Mary Aiken voted against the flat fee, arguing the burden of the shift falls disproportionately on those least able to afford higher bills.
"Let it alone," Aiken said. "There are too many people being hurt by this."
Aiken's fellow commissioners were unswayed, saying a flat fee was more fair, placing the burden equally on all.
"If it is the same service, then people have to be paying the same price," said Commission Chairperson Betty Whitehouse. "That is the only equitable way to do this."
- Will Van Sant covers Hernando County government and can be reached at 754-6127. Send e-mail to vansant@sptimes.com
