The boards of West Manatee Fire Rescue and Cedar Hammock Fire Rescue met Oct. 6 to discuss the possibility of merging the departments. The convergence has long been talked about, and now a decision on whether or not to move forward appears imminent.
CHFR Chief Randall Stulce and WMFR Chief Andy Price opened the discussion by offering some reasons for the consolidation and how they intend to achieve it, along with various benefits and challenges.
Price explained that there are two main reasons for the consolidation: to increase the level of service provided to the community and to provide cost savings to citizens.
Stulce noted, perhaps hoping to assuage some immediate fears of downsizing and a breakdown of the departments, that if the consolidation were to occur there would be no closures among the seven existing fire stations. As far as staff size goes, there would be a decrease of only two members.
The boards have come up with two possible methods for establishing tax rates to accommodate such a scenario. The goal is to balance the differing costs and budgetary techniques of the two districts.
One method would take the existing rates of each district and blend them together, making the base rate the average of each of the existing base rates. The base rate would be applied equally to residential properties.
Upon theoretical application of the blended method, it was found to be unsuccessful. Costs were shifted, instead of creating balance and equality, Price said.
The other option is the modified method, and that seemed the more successful choice. It would approach the challenges presented by the differing taxing methods of each district, and try to minimize any difficulties created by altering them. It would accomplish this by doing what the blended method cannot, by simply balancing costs equally, or as close to equal as possible.
Due to certain differences in income and property between the two areas, some disparity is inescapable. “One group pays more and one group pays less, no matter what,” said Price.
Ultimately it was decided that the two boards should take some time to consider this action, but not too much time. Stulce and Price preferred to allow 60 days to reach a decision.
WMFR board member Jesse Davis said 60 days is “not enough time to swallow all of this,” and so it was agreed that the boards would be given 90 days to mull their choices.
In the end, if both boards opt to consolidate, it goes to the public for a vote, and if one board does not agree, the matter is dropped.