Commission authorizes preliminary fire assessment roll; staff to remove nonprofit discount adding $700,000 to FY27 fire fund

On June 22 the West Palm Beach City Commission advanced Resolution 108-26, directing preparation of the preliminary fire assessment roll and setting a public hearing date for August 17, 2026. Chief Financial Officer Bridget Sufrin recommended eliminating an 80% discount previously applied to not-for-profit properties, estimating the change would add approximately $700,000 in revenue to the FY27 fire assessment fund.

Sufrin explained the fee's legal basis and permitted uses. "In 2008, the city adopted ordinance 4141-08 creating the fire assessment fee fund," she said, and described eligible uses as facilities, equipment, personnel, and professional services. She clarified the assessment is a recurring special assessment intended to fund a portion of fire services; EMS costs remain ineligible and are funded by the general fund.

Key budget items and staffing: The proposed FY27 fire assessment budget includes funding for 13 firefighters (including four added in FY26), three leased fire trucks (seven-year leases due to multi-year delivery timelines), station retrofits (Stations 1 and 6 site assessment and hardening), HVAC replacement and diesel-tank replacement at other stations, and a planned SCBA replacement pending grant results. The residential per-unit fee remains unchanged at $100; other unit rates by square foot remain the same.

Why nonprofits were singled out: At the March 23 work session, staff reported the 80% nonprofit discount represented roughly $700,000 in foregone fee revenue. The commission in consensus asked staff to prepare a preliminary resolution removing that discount and adding the revenue to the FY27 budget. Sufrin said required change notices to affected entities would be mailed by July 27.

Public reaction: During the hearing, caller Michael Cleveland opposed additional assessments on residents, citing household financial strain. Ryan Stacy, an operations lieutenant representing the firefighters' union, supported removing the discount but asked that any new revenue be used to increase frontline services rather than offsetting costs already funded by the general fund. City Administrator Ms. Johnson and staff explained that removing the discount does not increase the fee rates charged to residents; rather it captures revenue from entities that use fire services and had previously been subsidized.

Board action and next steps: The commission approved the resolution as presented and scheduled the associated final-rate hearing for August 17, 2026. Accenture (the consultant) will prepare required notices and assist with adjustments to the assessment roll. Staff flagged the potential for a grant to defray up to $2 million of planned capital spend (SCBA replacement) and noted staff may return with updated studies if the commission seeks a broader rate review beyond removing the nonprofit discount.

Impact: The decision will reallocate roughly $700,000 into the fire-assessment fund for FY27; staff will follow statutory notice procedures and bring a final resolution for adoption on August 17.