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. 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. Martin County Commissioner James Blake Capps said the county has been used to the very best in fire rescue services, and he would hate to see the level of service suffer greatly if the constitutional amendment passes.
Fire Rescue leaders are 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 percent 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.
Capps said there would also have to be a no-overtime policy for all fire rescue personnel, which would mean no backfilling of stations with personnel and would result in randomized brownouts of stations. He also warned that higher insurance premiums could result, noting that 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 the county shut down three fire stations, a lot of people would end up paying more for homeowner's insurance, Capps said.
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. Voters will have the final say on the constitutional amendment during the November general election. The meeting starts at 9 a.m.