Story Tools • • Date of Issue: Sep. 21, 2006 Fire assessment appeals due this Thursday Residents living in the West Manatee Fire and Rescue District are getting their chance to appeal their 2006-07 fire service assessments. The WMFR Commission will hold a public hearing at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 21, for anyone wishing to appeal the fire district assessment the property owner received in his/her recent Truth in Millage Notices. The meeting will be at Fire Station No. 1, 6001 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. Earlier this year, the commission voted to increase the assessment by a maximum of 5.4 percent, which is the personal income growth figure for 2005 provided by the state. WMFR Chief Andy Price said previously that for owners of a standard-sized single-family residence, the increase will be about $6.75, while owners of larger homes can expect to pay up to $15 additional. Small commercial property owners will get about $16 added to their fire assessment, while large businesses will be assessed an additional $100, Price said. Price added that the PIG increase will generate about $235,000 in additional revenue for the 2006-07 WMFRD budget.