Fire Rate Increases

Chief Mike Nickerson, Hernando County Fire Rescue, went before the County Commissioners to present two new funding options for residential structures today. Option A would be a maximum of $236.38 on a residence which would be a 185% increase over last year's rates. Option B would be a maximum of $305.06 which would be an increase of 238% from last year. Both of these methods would have a automatic cost of living increase built into the fire rates (each year) at 5% minimum to 8% maximum per year. After much discussion, and input from several citizens (myself included), the commissioners tabled the issue to next week's meeting. The discussion next week will be necessary to set the funding limits for legal notices to be sent out to all homeowners under the service of the HCFR for the public hearing scheduled in July to raise our fire fees. Input will be taken next week by the commissioners regarding the citizen's opinions on Chief Nickerson's rate increases request. Chief Nickerson was quoted today as saying they could reduce this amount but would have to cut some services. The services to be cut were not discussed but neither were the spending habits of the HCFR district. Last year Chief Nickerson attempted to raise the rates over 35% while trying to sell the idea of a new fire administration building, with a fire training school on site, but was held to a 23% increase on residential property. It would be interesting to find out if HCFR has elaborate plans for this new rate increase request. Remember several months ago, the Hernando County Parks Department had included a swimming pool in their budget which was exposed in the newspaper after some in-depth research by a reporter. A novel approach would be to have the HCFR justify each one of their expenditures before any rate increases are approved by the county commissioners and spell out exactly what the property owners are getting in exchange for their fees. One item that should be kept in mind is that most rural areas do not have the luxury of a nearby fire hydrant and have to depend on a pumper truck, with one tank of water, to solve their fire problems in an emergency. If this rate increase affects you, call your county commissioners at 754-4000 today to voice your opinion.