Fire Assessment Q & A
What is a fire assessment fee? A fee applied to every property in a municipality to provide a dedicated source of funding specifically for fire rescue operations, fire safety education and emergency disaster preparedness. The creation and usage of a fire assessment fee are critical to ensure that fire rescue services will not be reduced or negatively impacted by fluctuations in the real estate market.
What will these funds be utilized for? The funds will be used to offset the cost of fire trucks, fire station repairs and upgrades, training and more. Major projects the additional funds will support include:
- Rebuild of Fire Station #3 (3501 N. Congress Ave.)
- Renovations to the Public Safety Marine Complex at Harvey E. Oyer Park that will house three Firefighter/Paramedics and include a new Advanced Life Support engine and fire boat.
- Renovations to Fire Rescue fleet and logistics facility
- Implementation of new fire station alert system
What do Boynton Beach property owners pay now and what is the proposed fee?
Current rate: $120 per household
Proposed new rate: $145 per household
Proposed increase: $25 annually or $2.08 per month, per household
How does the Boynton Beach fire assessment fee compare to other cities?
Boynton Beach will continue to be the second lowest municipality in Palm Beach and Broward counties in fire assessment fees.
Do commercial properties also contribute?
Yes. The commercial, industrial and institutional/nursing home fees would increase slightly by square footage.
Who approves the fire assessment fee?
The Boynton Beach City Commission will vote on the fee over the course of two public meetings. The first will take place on September 3.