SANFORD, Fla. – Property owners in Sanford may soon have to pay a new fire assessment fee that the city could use to better fund fire services.
Monday, city commissioners listened to a final presentation on how the proposed fire fee would work, before they decide if they want to move forward with public hearings and implement the fee in 2026.
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Our News 6 team reached out to the city and the mayor’s office before the workshop and was told the city previously considered adding a fire fee in 2008 but ultimately decided against it.
This time around, Mayor Art Woodruff said the fee would be based on the five-year average capital costs for the department, which is roughly $2.4 million. If it is implemented, the average homeowner would pay about $95 per year.
The report that will be presented to the commission states that the city currently funds fire service through property taxes and other general fund revenue, such as sales taxes, communication service taxes, and public utility taxes. The additional fire assessment fee would specifically fund fire protection services, and therefore free up other revenue in the general fund.
Homeowners in other cities and counties across Central Florida already pay fire fees where they live. Just last week, the city of Kissimmee approved an annual assessment that will make it possible for their fire department to switch from its current 54-hour workweek to a 42-hour one. Shifts will change to 24 hours on and 72 hours off.
The union told our News 6 team that it will improve public safety and help attract and retain experienced firefighters in a competitive hiring environment.
Last month, commissioners in Brevard County agreed on a 37% fire assessment rate change. Since last summer, firefighters there have been protesting low pay.
“We respect the people who are like, this is gonna hurt or affect me in this direction, but I represent public safety, which is an essential function of government,” firefighter Mike Bramson said.
People our News 6 crew spoke with in Sanford Monday said they think the added cost is worth it if it improves public safety.
“If a fire breaks out, you’ll be paying more than $95 to get everything repaired and done, and life is priceless, so why not do it?,” said one woman.
Another man said he knows several firefighters, and he appreciates their hard work.
“It’s not an easy job,” he said. “They’re up 24 hours a day, and at the drop of a hat they got to get going, and there’s a lot on the line.”
The city says the starting pay in Sanford is $52,500, but the fire fee would not be used to pay for operational costs such as salary. However, the mayor told our News 6 team that it could free up tax revenue for those costs.
Ryan Margagliotti, the union president for the Sanford Professional Firefighters, sent News 6 the following statement:
“The Sanford Professional Firefighters are currently engaged in contract negotiations with the City of Sanford and dedicated to reducing the cardiac and cancer risk caused by our current work schedule, aiming to reduce work hours from 56 hours week closer to 42 hours in order to comply with new legislation from the state recommending these changes for health and safety. The proposed fire assessment will be utilized for covering the costs of capital expenditures such as fire apparatus, and not directed to achieve a healthier work environment.”