VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – Volusia County firefighters are urging county leaders to reconsider plans to lower the tax rate, warning budget cuts could seriously affect residents. It’s made the county leaders rethink their plans to lower the tax rate.
Fire union leaders argued funding and tax rates must at least stay the same to maintain current fire and emergency services. Firefighters said they already fill gaps for ambulance coverage and say new stations and more staff are needed to keep up with the county’s growing population.
“What’s on the line is station relocations, which could help improve response times, our staffing is on the line — we have one station with two people at it on one fire truck,“ Jeremy Karaginis of Volusia County Firefighters Local 3574 said.
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A proposed tax rollback would significantly cut the fire service budget. For now, the county has agreed to keep funding flat, but cuts could still happen next month.
“From my calculations, it’s roughly $4 million off of our fire fund which is predominantly funded through property taxes,” Karaginis explained.
He believes the county should increase the budget to meet growing demands.
“Sanford just put an assessment fee on their residents, Kissimmee, Brevard County, the list goes on, the city of Ormond Beach here locally, Deltona — they’re all looking to increase the level of service,” Karaginis said.
County staff are researching funding needs for fire service improvements and whether the budget can remain flat. The final tax rate will be decided in September during budget hearings.
Council members remain divided on the issue.
“When you have a higher population, you have to provide the services to protect it,” Councilman Matt Reinhart said.
Councilman David Santiago, who originally motioned for the rollback, has since changed his stance.
“The fire team and administration now need to meet with our county leadership and say, ‘Hey this is what we’d also like to do,’ and then we’ll make a final decision,” Santiago said.
A county spokesperson also sent the following statement to News 6:
Volusia County Fire Rescue and Emergency Medical Services operate under a coordinated system designed to ensure the fastest possible care for our residents. Both fire trucks and ambulances are staffed with paramedics capable of providing immediate, life-saving medical treatment.
The Volusia County Emergency Response Systems’ 90th percentile response time for urban emergency calls is 7:40, well below the national goal of 8:59. The 90th percentile response time for time sensitive rural emergency calls is 12:50, well below the national goal of 17:59.
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