Commissioners approve next legal step while stressing they still hope to negotiate a new fire services agreement with the City of Tallahassee.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Leon County commissioners voted Tuesday to move forward with the next legal step in the ongoing dispute with the City of Tallahassee over fire services, while emphasizing they still hope to negotiate a new agreement before the current contract expires in 2028.
The board unanimously directed County Attorney Chasity O’Steen to begin the process of terminating the current fire services agreement for cause, a move officials said is intended to provide certainty about which fire stations, apparatus and other assets would transfer to the county if the two governments are ultimately unable to reach a new agreement.
County officials stressed the action is not intended to end negotiations with the city but to protect the county’s position as consultants continue evaluating what would be required if Leon County were forced to establish its own fire department.
County seeks clarity over fire assets
O’Steen told commissioners the dispute centers on whether the current agreement is being “terminated” or simply “expiring.”
She said the city’s latest position creates uncertainty over which assets—including fire stations and emergency vehicles—would transfer to the county at the end of the agreement.
Under the board’s action, the city would have 30 days to cure the alleged breach. If not resolved, the agreement would remain scheduled to terminate Sept. 30, 2028, while giving the county greater certainty as it plans for the future.
Commissioners still want a negotiated deal
Despite the legal action, multiple commissioners said their preferred outcome remains a new interlocal agreement with Tallahassee.
Commissioner Christian Caban said residents do not care which government “wins” the dispute but want reliable, affordable fire protection.
“I think there’s a majority on the city commission now to bring us back to the table and negotiate something,” Caban said, adding the county must also prepare for the possibility that negotiations fail.
Commissioner Brian Welch echoed that sentiment, saying he wants both governments to reach a new agreement but believes the county must know what assets it can count on before making long-term decisions.
Consultants to present options this fall
County Administrator Vince Long said commissioners are expected to receive a comprehensive workshop in September that will include operational and financial analyses from outside consultants.
The reports are expected to outline what would be required if Leon County creates its own fire department, including staffing, equipment, facilities and costs.
Commissioners said those findings will help determine whether the county continues pursuing an independent department or focuses on negotiating a revised agreement with the city.
County says legal step protects future planning
O’Steen said taking the termination-for-cause route provides the clearest path for determining what assets would transfer under the existing contract, allowing consultants to accurately assess the county’s options.
She warned that pursuing other legal avenues, including dispute resolution, could take months while leaving uncertainty about the county’s future fire infrastructure.
While the vote marks another chapter in the increasingly public disagreement between Leon County and the City of Tallahassee, commissioners repeatedly said they remain hopeful a new partnership can still be negotiated before the current agreement ends in 2028.