Davie fire fee may rise
By Thomas Monnay
Staff Writer
Posted August 17 2003
Davie ยท A proposal to almost double the annual fire-rescue fee assessed to single-family homes is not being well received by Town Council members, some of whom call it excessive.
The Davie Fire-Rescue Department wants the fee raised from $37.94 to $75.06. Businesses, which are assessed based on their sizes, also would pay more.
"It needs to be lowered a little bit," Mayor Tom Truex said. "I would be surprised if that dramatic increase is approved."
Council members on Monday are scheduled to discuss the increase as well as the proposed $68.1 million budget for fiscal year 2003-04. A second workshop is scheduled for Aug. 26.
The town's property tax rate would remain at $5.11 per $1,000 of assessed property value.
The owner of a $100,000 home taking the $25,000 homestead exemption would pay $383.25 in taxes.
The fire assessment rate has not been increased since it was levied in 1997, according to Fire Chief Don Dipetrillo.
He said the current rate is the second lowest after Hallandale Beach, but that city wants to increase its assessment from $30.35 to $70 a year.
"It's a fair assessment," Dipetrillo said. "As a homeowner, I'm willing to pay for that assessment. I'm getting a new fire station. I'm increasing my fire service by 25 percent."
The proposal would generate $3.72 million, which would go toward staffing and operating a $2.5 million fire station the town is building on one acre at Oaks Road and State Road 7 in eastern Davie.
Dipetrillo said his department plans to hire 16 firefighters and four support positions for the new station, to be completed by October of next year.
The station and another one proposed for western Davie are part of a $16.5 million bond voters approved in March to upgrade fire structures throughout the town.
A portion of the bond will pay for upgrading four existing fire stations with equipment, plus moving one of them to a better site.
Dipetrillo said the western fire station would be completed in October 2006.
He said the proposed increase "is a follow up to the fire-rescue bond," which pays only for infrastructure improvements. ``Everybody is going to get an increase no matter what," he said.
Thomas Monnay can be reached at [email protected] or 954-385-7924.
By Thomas Monnay
Staff Writer
Posted August 17 2003
Davie ยท A proposal to almost double the annual fire-rescue fee assessed to single-family homes is not being well received by Town Council members, some of whom call it excessive.
The Davie Fire-Rescue Department wants the fee raised from $37.94 to $75.06. Businesses, which are assessed based on their sizes, also would pay more.
"It needs to be lowered a little bit," Mayor Tom Truex said. "I would be surprised if that dramatic increase is approved."
Council members on Monday are scheduled to discuss the increase as well as the proposed $68.1 million budget for fiscal year 2003-04. A second workshop is scheduled for Aug. 26.
The town's property tax rate would remain at $5.11 per $1,000 of assessed property value.
The owner of a $100,000 home taking the $25,000 homestead exemption would pay $383.25 in taxes.
The fire assessment rate has not been increased since it was levied in 1997, according to Fire Chief Don Dipetrillo.
He said the current rate is the second lowest after Hallandale Beach, but that city wants to increase its assessment from $30.35 to $70 a year.
"It's a fair assessment," Dipetrillo said. "As a homeowner, I'm willing to pay for that assessment. I'm getting a new fire station. I'm increasing my fire service by 25 percent."
The proposal would generate $3.72 million, which would go toward staffing and operating a $2.5 million fire station the town is building on one acre at Oaks Road and State Road 7 in eastern Davie.
Dipetrillo said his department plans to hire 16 firefighters and four support positions for the new station, to be completed by October of next year.
The station and another one proposed for western Davie are part of a $16.5 million bond voters approved in March to upgrade fire structures throughout the town.
A portion of the bond will pay for upgrading four existing fire stations with equipment, plus moving one of them to a better site.
Dipetrillo said the western fire station would be completed in October 2006.
He said the proposed increase "is a follow up to the fire-rescue bond," which pays only for infrastructure improvements. ``Everybody is going to get an increase no matter what," he said.
Thomas Monnay can be reached at [email protected] or 954-385-7924.
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