MARTIN COUNTY, Fla (CBS12) — Martin County commissioners are expected to hear a presentation Tuesday outlining how a proposed expansion of Florida’s homestead exemption could affect Martin County Fire Rescue if voters approve the constitutional amendment on the November ballot.
The presentation is expected to focus on the projected financial impact of the proposed tax changes and what they could mean for the department’s budget, staffing, operations and emergency response.
“As a public servant, I will be glad to honor the will of the voters, whatever they decide regarding the proposed constitutional amendment. But, we do have some concerns about the depth of the cuts that would be needed as they relate to a number of areas of government operations, particularly fire rescue,” said Martin County Commissioner James Blake Capps, District 3.
According to county documents, Martin County Fire Rescue projects it could lose 116 firefighters over the next two years — about one-third of its workforce — because of reduced property tax revenue tied to the proposed amendment.
“We in Martin County have been used to the very best in fire rescue services, and I would hate to see our level of service suffer greatly. It seems to me that we would be in for that if this constitutional amendment were to pass,” said Capps.
Fire Rescue leaders are also expected to discuss potential operational changes if those revenue reductions occur. Previous county projections have outlined possible station closures, reductions to specialized teams including HAZMAT, Technical Rescue, the dive team and LifeStar, and delays in replacing equipment.
County leaders have previously said the department has few options to absorb the projected revenue loss because about 93% of the Fire Rescue budget is dedicated to personnel. Officials have also warned the proposed cuts could lead to longer emergency response times and affect specialized emergency services provided throughout Martin County.
“There would also have to be a no-overtime policy for all of our fire rescue personnel. That doesn’t sound so bad initially, but when you think about the consequences, it means no backfilling of stations with personnel, which would result in randomized brownouts of stations,” said Capps.
Tuesday’s discussion comes as commissioners consider several other agenda items, including final solid waste assessment rates, proposed changes to fishing rules on county-owned property, development proposals, and conservation land purchases.
Martin County Fire Rescue is warning that a proposed expansion of Florida’s homestead exemption could have a significant impact on emergency services if voters approve the constitutional amendment this November. (WPEC)
“Another serious consequence for Martin County residents would be higher insurance premiums. If you’re within five miles of a fire station, you receive a break on your homeowner’s insurance. But if you’re farther than five miles away, you pay higher premiums. If we shut down three fire stations, a lot of people would end up paying more for homeowner’s insurance. There would also be consequences for our level of service and our comprehensive plan,” said Capps.
No vote on firefighter layoffs or fire station closures is expected during Tuesday’s meeting. Instead, commissioners will receive the presentation as they continue evaluating the potential local impacts of the proposed homestead exemption expansion.
“I think it could be rather severe. When you think about three fire stations disappearing, response times for the people living near those stations would increase, which could have very serious consequences for residents,” said Capps.
Voters will have the final say on the constitutional amendment during the November general election.
The meeting starts at 9 a.m. Tuesday. CBS12 News will have a team inside. This is a developing story, check back for updates.