By Erika Pesantes
Sun-Sentinel

BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. — Commissioners on Tuesday unanimously voted to prepare for at least another year of fire assessment fees.

The measure authorized city staff to prepare public notices for possible public hearings next year. Commissioners will revisit the extension of the fire assessment in March. The fee, which was initiated in 2001, was to expire Sept. 30, 2008.

State-mandated property tax changes, which jeopardize the amount of property taxes municipalities can collect, have sparked interest in continuing the fee, said City Manager Kurt Bressner.

"We're hedging our bets here because we don't know what's going to happen with the revenues," he said.

Typically, commissioners prepare a preliminary resolution in July with a final public hearing and adoption of the fire assessment fee in September, Fire Chief Bill Bingham said.

Tuesday's action was a requirement, he said, if commissioners plan to charge the fee beyond the expiration date.

"There was no commitment made," Bingham said. However, he recommends commissioners continue to charge the fee, he said.

The assessment has financed construction of two fire stations and 24 firefighter positions. On Tuesday, commissioners also approved a nearly $10 million contract for construction of a fifth fire station and emergency operations center that will partially be funded by the fees.

"I have serious doubts whether what we've accomplished would have been possible without the fire assessment fee," Bingham said.

Fire fees have remained the same since originally enacted. The single-family residential rate for the fire fees is $70. The multifamily rate is $42. Commercial and industrial rates are assessed according to square footage.

"Cities are looking for additional revenues," Bingham said. "This is a bona fide source of revenue the city can tap into."

Boca Raton, West Palm Beach and Delray Beach have explored initiating fire fees and asked to see Boynton Beach's ordinance, he said.

In other business, commissioners voted to submit a formal request to the Palm Beach County School District to reconsider plans to close Galaxy Elementary School.

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