After an approximately 3 hour Public Hearing to raise the fire fees in the Hernando County Fire Rescue District, a vote was taken to approve a single-payer rate of 156.37 (per residence) with one million dollars to come from the General Fund (for a total of two million dollars). This approval is for the addition of 9 new firefighters at approximately $500,000 dollars, with the rest to cover other expenses not clearly defined by Chief Nickerson. This detailed fire budget discussion will take place at next week's county commissioner meeting. In this motion to approve by the BCC, nothing was mentioned about the 5.5% annual increase for inflationary rate adjustments, or to immediately allow the Hernando County Sheriff's Department to take over all dispatch for emergency services in Hernando County. Hopefully, this Consulting Project, directed by Karen Nicolai, to review all fire services in Hernando County, will iron out all the details of a Master Plan structure and funding sources, along with organization structure, by the time budget hearings roll around in 2007-08. Keep your fingers crossed!
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