County, fire district debating tax cut idea

Hernando wants the Spring Hill fire commission, which has a surplus, to lower its rate.

By JEFFREY S. SOLOCHEK

© St. Petersburg Times, published May 24, 2000

BROOKSVILLE -- The Hernando County Commission and the Spring Hill Fire and Rescue Commission jumped into a budget battle Tuesday over the fire district's static property tax rate.

The county is making every effort to reduce its tax rate by 25 cents per $1,000 of assesed value for the coming year, Commissioner Chris Kingsley said, and the fire district should do the same. The district has charged $2.75 per $1,000 of assessed value for more than a decade.

"If we're having growth and this particular (fire) fund seems to have a surplus every year, how come that particular tax rate has never been reduced?" Kingsley asked, suggesting the district sets its budget by considering revenue rather than need.

The district has carried forward about $1.2-million each year for the past four years, according to the county's Office of Management and Budget.

Pure politics, fire commission Chairman Gene Panozzo retorted angrily.

"This is an election year for the county, so now they're talking about rolling back millage," Panozzo said. "It would have been nice if we could have raised to $2.90 two years ago so we can cut it this year."

The district's rate, which is capped at $2.75, reflects the community's desire for fast response times and top-flight service, he said. The district board is set to approve next year's budget tonight, with no change to the tax rate.

Defending the budget will not be a problem, Chief Mike Morgan said. The district has reduced its capital spending 31 percent over the past five years and kept its staffing level, he said.

"There are no extras in our budget," he said.

The intent was not to cut the district's ability to keep its users safe, county commissioners said. But public policy makers should always look into cutting the taxpayer burden wherever possible, they said.

"I would certainly like to have it analyzed," County Commissioner Nancy Robinson said of the fire district's budget, adding that the final result might not be a rate cut.

County commissioners have that legal and moral right as the final authority over the dependent fire district, County Administrator Paul McIntosh said. He said he would tell Morgan that the commission wanted the district to consider a rate cut.

Kingsley supported that move, saying he did not want to have a budget that county commissioners need to slash.

McIntosh also vowed to fully review the fire district budget before he recommends it to the commission.

"They do that every year. That's nothing new," Panozzo said. "Before they start making these suggestions, I think the County Commission ought to go out and see what their fire department has . . . and then look at Spring Hill."

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