TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The City of Tallahassee has less than 30 days to address what Leon County leaders call violations of the two governments’ fire services agreement or risk the possibility of the deal being terminated.
Leon County Commissioner Bill Proctor said the county sent the notice after the city initiated a termination dispute last year and the county is now holding the city to its position.
“Well, the city contacted the county to tell us that they were going to terminate the contract. And now the city is saying that no, it’s not a termination of the contract. And now they got to live up to what they said, they don’t want to fork over what they have forfeited, what they themselves have given up and breached in the contract,” Proctor said.
In the notice, the county argues the city did not follow the agreement when it changed how fire assessment rates were set and later increased those rates in fiscal year 2025 without county approval.
Under the current agreement, about $3 million in fire trucks, equipment and the assets of multiple fire stations would have to be divided.
The dispute has been building for months, but it traces back to September of last year, when Tallahassee Mayor John Dailey said he was ready to end the agreement if the two sides could not reach a better deal.
“I am prepared to sever the relationship with the county in regard to fire services fee, whether that be in three years and we provide notice or whether the opportunity presents itself anytime in the near future as well,” Dailey said.
Now, the county says it wants answers from the city during the 30-day window and hopes both sides can avoid separating. Proctor said he hopes the two sides can reach a resolution, potentially through arbitration.
“Well, we’re hopeful that there’ll be a meeting of the mind. We’re hopeful that cooler heads will prevail and probably the best outcome is to go to arbitration at this point,” Proctor said.
While commissioners have differed on how to move forward, Tallahassee City Commissioner, Jeremy Matlow, said the biggest concern is how the dispute affects residents who rely on fire protection.
“The people that hurts the most are our residents. The people of Tallahassee and the people of Leon County. Nobody wants to be concerned about whether they’re going to have fire services in a year or two,” Matlow said.
Proctor said the county is not looking for a win, but for a resolution before the contract ends in 2028.
“We’re all taxpayers living in the same space and we need access to these same tools that help to keep us all safe and to keep our insurance bills down,” Proctor said.
Leon County leaders said they still hope both sides can work out a new deal before the agreement expires.