Municipal Fire Protection Non-Ad Valorem Assessment Program and Rate Study

The City of Lakeland is evaluating alternative long-term funding strategies for the provision of municipal fire protection services, including the possible implementation of a non-ad valorem fire protection assessment beginning with its FY 2028 budget. The City's objective is not simply to prepare an assessment rate study, but to develop a comprehensive funding strategy that identifies the legally assessable costs of fire protection services, recommends equitable methods of cost apportionment, evaluates alternative funding scenarios, and provides the City Commission with sufficient technical and policy information to determine whether implementation of a fire protection assessment is in the…