Commissioners debate modest fire assessment increase; staff says average homeowner cost ~ $22/year

Commissioners pressed staff on the proposed increase to the city's fire assessment fee and its distributional impact. Meredith Breidenstein, assistant city manager, explained how the fee is calculated and why the city differentiates residential from nonresidential assessments.

"The rate for residential is going from 7.76¢ per square foot ... to 9¢ per square foot," Breidenstein said, providing a practical example: "I think about a 1,700 square foot house we calculated was about $22 a year is the increase." She also noted the fee is not new — it is an increase to a charge the city has had since 1997 — and clarified which tax‑exempt properties remain subject to the assessment.

Commissioners and public commenters argued over fairness and the optics of raising assessments while other projects receive funding; staff said the assessment helps preserve the city's high ISO rating and that in some cases insurance availability and premiums improve because of the high level of service. No formal vote was taken; staff agreed to provide additional data, including the current count of properties off the tax roll and the total assessed value impacted by the fee.