Demand-capacity on target

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Demand-capacity on target

Opinions

Thursday, 01 April 2010 08:25

The Osceola County Commission is moving in the right direction in generally supporting the adoption of county fire fees based on demand-capacity, which takes into account square footage and how much equipment and manpower is needed to fight a fire in a particular kind of building or property.
Commissioners Monday generally agreed the current flat fee method has to be replaced and that a method based on assessed property values would not be equitable. A 12-member fire fee task force recommended in a 9-3 vote the demand-capacity method.
We continue to support the recommended method, even with some disparities in which certain large resorts would have to pay dramatically less in fees and certain businesses, such as small warehouses and restaurants, would have to pay significantly more.
With higher fees for small businesses, however, we run the risk of dampening economic development and job growth when it is sorely needed. The county last year bought down fees for certain sectors using general fund money and similar action for the coming fiscal year is not out of the question. We would support help for only those business sectors that produce jobs; we would not support any buy down for churches, nonprofits or other institutions.
We don't believe any sector should be exempt. With the recommended methodology, even agricultural and vacant land would pay, which is how it should be.
As we have said before, fees based on property values can be skewed by homestead exemptions and the Save Our Homes feature, which means that homes of similar value sitting right next to each other could have dramatically different assessed values and thus, significantly different fire fees.
Having fire fees based on assessed value also would play havoc with the Fire Rescue budget when there is a dramatic drop in property values, as we have seen over the last two years. The demand-capacity method would set in place a more stable funding base for an essential county service.
Like commissioners have, we too urge Fire Rescue to take another look at its $23.9 million budget with an eye toward possible cuts. A smaller budget would allow the fees to be cut a corresponding amount. Commissioners have until May 3 to adopt a preliminary fee resolution.