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Margate Fire Rescue at Risk
• Local fire union pressuring Broward municipalities to switch to regional fire rescue service
Wednesday,
March 18, 2009
Working to preserve ‘home rule’ over fire rescue services in Margate, city officials went to Tallahassee last week to hash out language in a bill introduced by Florida firefighters, a bill that could potentially divide the Margate Fire Department as we know it.
In Florida HB 365 (S 1000), fire union officials call on the state to allow counties to levy a one cent sales surtax to pay for fire rescue service, in lieu of funding fire rescue with ad valorem tax dollars or special assessments – the way Margate does.
For Margate residents, this means that our current, annual non-ad valorem fire rescue assessment to homeowners in the amount of about $185 would be eliminated and replaced with our city’s contribution of the sales surtax going to the county to fund fire rescue in our city.
Sound confusing? It is. “As most bills in Tallahassee are,” said Margate Mayor, Pam Donovan.
Will this proposed bill lower my taxes in Margate?
No. In Margate, homeowners are assessed a non-ad-valorem fee for fire rescue. We do not pay for fire rescue services with ad valorem taxes. All residents pay the same assessment regardless of whether they live in a single family home or condominium. Commercial and Industrial properties are assessed based on square feet and other factors.
Donovan fears that voters in Margate -- hungry to save on their tax bill -- will carelessly rush toward passing a one cent sales surtax without fully understanding the impact that regional fire rescue services will have on Margate residents.
Will this proposed bill cost Margate taxpayers?
In order for Margate to maintain control over its fire rescue services, our city would have to meet the minimum requirements of the county’s largest provider. Meaning, we would need to provide the number of vehicles and manpower equivalent to cities such as Ft. Lauderdale and Hollywood with the monies generated by our share of the sales surtax.
Because Margate’s contribution of sales surtax would be on the low side of low, a direct result of commercial vacancies in our city, city officials would have to dip into Margate’s General Fund to meet the minimum requirements of the largest provider in order to maintain ‘home rule’ of fire rescue. A General Fund, “which is already six million in the hole,” said Donovan, adding that “not a tourist town…not much sales tax money.”
Can this proposed bill adversely impact fire rescue response times in Margate?
According to Margate Fire Chief, Gary Westbrook, EFO, CFO, it’s unlikely that service will suffer. Westbrook said regional providers would strive to meet national service standards and in some cases may even improve service. The Chief’s concern, however, is that service will become much more impersonal for Margate residents, many of whom find comfort in personally knowing Margate Fire Rescue workers.
“With a small system like the one we have in Margate, we’re able to take care of the public like family. We’re a tight group and are personally familiar with the people we serve,” said Westbrook.
What happens to Margate Fire Rescue if the bill passes?
Westbrook said he most likely would be repositioned as a District Fire Chief and his team would be split up. “We’ve got a lot of talented people working here. Some might end up on EMS helicopters or be relocated to other parts of the county.”
Although Westbrook would prefer ‘home rule’ over fire rescue in Margate, he did say that a regional service might offer more opportunity to firefighters and rescue workers currently working in the city.
Who is behind HB 365?
The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) AFL-CIO, CLC Florida Chapter is pushing to pass HB 365. They want to model regional fire rescue service in Broward County similar to existing regional service in West Palm Beach. Calls have been placed to both the IAFF Washington and Florida offices to inquire about the bill, but no response at the time of publishing. Westbrook says there’s little dialogue in his firehouse as to whether Margate Fire Rescue workers are for or against the bill.
Where do Margate city officials stand on HB 365?
Along with the City Manager and City Attorney, Mayor Pam Donovan and Margate Lobbyist Jack Tobin are pushing for new language in the bill to afford cities such as Margate the option of maintaining ‘home rule’ of fire rescue services. Officials in Tallahassee are listening, according to Donovan, and “we think we might have made a breakthrough last week,” she said.
Should HB 365 pass, Broward county residents would then vote on whether they’re in favor of a one cent surtax replacing current funding for Margate Fire Rescue services and that of other municipalities.
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