St. Augustine Is Considering Hiking Its Fire Assessment Fees

St. Augustine property owners could soon see higher fire protection assessments on their tax bills, with city commissioners set to hold a public hearing on the issue Sept. 9.

For residential properties, the city is proposing raising the annual assessment rate from 7.76 cents to 9 cents per square foot, according to city Communications Director Melissa Wissel. The assessment applies to any square footage with a roof or walls, while vacant land is not charged.

For a 1,776-square-foot residential property, that would raise the annual assessment from $137.82 to $159.84 — an increase of $22.02.

A 3,109-square-foot residential property would be assessed $279.81 under the proposed rate.

Rates would also increase for commercial and other non-residential properties, rising from 13.91 cents to 16 cents per square foot. For a 2,500-square-foot property, that translates to an increase from $347.75 to $400, or $52.25 annually.

The proposed assessment has drawn scrutiny from former city commission candidate Ko Robins, who won 30% of the vote in a three-way race for the open seat 4. Robins posted photos of two assessment notices to Facebook on Aug. 27 and questioned why the city needs a separate charge for fire protection when residents already pay city property taxes.

“We already pay a 7.5 millage rate to the City of St. Augustine,” Robins wrote. “Why is a separate assessment now being proposed to fund fire protection services?”

Robins urged her neighbors to show up Sept. 9 and voice their opposition to “backdoor taxes.”

Wissel points out fire assessment itself is not new — St. Augustine has collected it since 1997, when the city established a one cent per square foot rate for both residential and commercial properties. 

However, according to a table provided by Wissel, the 1.24 cent residential rate increase is the largest since 2010, when rates went from 4 to 6 cents. The 2.09 cent commercial rate hike is the most significant since 2006, when rates jumped from 1 cent to 4 cents.

Unlike ad valorem property taxes, the assessment applies to tax-exempt properties such as Flagler College, churches and government buildings. Only federal and state properties are exempt.

Several of those who commented on Robins’ post speculated that the city was using the fire assessment increase to compensate for the anticipated revenue shortfalls that would occur if voters approve Amendment 3 in November. Others argued the move was a way to discourage residents from voting to eliminate property taxes, noting an FAQ the city published on its website beginning with “Why are local property taxes important?”

But Wissel says the rate increase is intended to help meet a target the commission set in 2016 of having the fire assessment fee cover 50% of the cost of Fire Department personnel, operations, and capital expenses. She added that separate expenses associated with the Fire Department's medical response are funded through ad valorem taxes.

“This proposed increase gets the city closer to that 50% goal,” Wissel said.

Notices sent to property owners estimate the city would collect about $2.63 million through the fire assessment in the 2026-27 fiscal year if the proposed rates are approved.

Commissioners will consider the increase in a public hearing during the Sept. 9 regular city commission meeting, which begins at 5:05 p.m. at City Hall. Residents are invited to speak or submit written objections.