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Hernando Today

Final Vote For Independence

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By TONY HOLT

Hernando Today

Published: October 26, 2008

SPRING HILL - The question has been answered by voters twice before.

Both times Spring Hill residents were opposed to an independent fire district.

Never before has their answer been final. Whether the majority of them choose "yes" or "no" this time, the question assuredly will not be revisited.

There are optimists on both sides, but it is not known how the third vote will turn out.
Local union members are overwhelmingly on the side of independence and are assembling in droves every Friday night with signs beckoning residents to vote yes. Posted signs can be found anywhere along the roads throughout Spring Hill - virtually all of them are pro independent.

Their opponents are making themselves heard at public meetings and through the local media. They believe history is on their side.

Below are some of the major issues to consider before Nov. 4.

What would happen if residents vote no for the third time?

The board of fire commissioners would be dissolved. The county commission has final say on most administrative matters - including the budget, human resources, salary and benefits, etc.

In the past, a no vote meant nothing would change. This time, such a vote would eliminate the five-member fire board and all matters would then land squarely on the county board, effectively eliminating the middle men.

An ordinance will be enacted if independence is refused. It was partially designed to ensure Spring Hill residents would not lose their assets. In other words, the county could not redistribute ambulances or fire trucks to areas outside the district. Doing so would violate the law.

The pro-independence camp believes otherwise. They base their feelings on a study that was released last year recommending consolidation of the county's fire services. They also think there is a looming possibility a new ordinance could be drafted by a new board at any time.
County Administrator David Hamilton also is working on a thesis about fire department consolidation. To independence advocates, that is a clear sign there is a movement among some of the county's highest-ranking officials toward a merger between Spring Hill Fire Rescue and Hernando County Fire Rescue. It could happen next year or it could happen in 10 years. Either way, they are convinced it will happen.

Many Spring Hill residents want their own fire district, their own 911 dispatch center and their own fire and rescue equipment, which they paid for with their own money. A yes vote is the only way to guarantee all of that, they said.

If the answer is "yes," what must happen before the fire district becomes independent?

The district would not become independent without approval from the Florida Legislature.

If the voters opt for an independent fire district, a bill must be introduced during the next session in Tallahassee and Legislators must approve it.

The bill also would include information about tax levies.

If and when the Legislature approves it, new elections must take place for the board of fire commissioners.

The current fire board voted earlier this year to set the maximum millage rate at 2.75. The actual rate is 2.2686. Opponents of an independent district think the board would have the right to raise the millage.

One mill equals one dollar for every $1,000 worth of taxable property value.

Those who are pro-independence insist any change in the millage levy would go before the voters first. No one would be blindsided by an increase in their property taxes.

Secondly, a local independent fire board would still have oversight - by the Legislators in Tallahassee.

As of early 2007, the state controlled nearly 1,500 independent special districts, 48 of which are fire departments, according to a survey published in January.

Opponents of independence think Spring Hill Fire Rescue would get lost in the shuffle at the state capitol. They would prefer to have their fire services under the auspices of the county. Ironically, they argued, local control and representation would be lost if the district were to become independent.

Would taxpayers pay more or less for their fire services if the district becomes independent?

The ordinance spells out no change in the funding method for Spring Hill Fire Rescue.

That could change in the future if independence fails and the county decides to tax everyone the same way.

Whether there would be a property tax increase for Spring Hill residents would depend on the value of their property - at least until there is another change in the millage rate.

The cut-off point is $115,000. A Spring Hill homeowner with property worth less than that amount would benefit if the district becomes independent and the millage rate remains at 2.2686.

Those who own residential property worth more than $115,000 would save money if the county took over.

Currently, the county charges a flat rate of $194.87 per year for its fire services. It also charges an additional 0.5598 millage rate for ambulance services.

Based on data from both the county and the fire district, more than 74 percent of Spring Hill homeowners would pay a lower amount of property taxes if the fire department becomes independent and the millage levies remain at their current rate.

There are about 39,144 residential units in Spring Hill.

However, the millage rate might not stay at its current rate. The district already has set the maximum at 2.75. If it goes up, there would be no tax savings, only increases.

There are other monetary issues to consider.

The county estimated there would be more than $544,103 in annual savings if the referendum does not pass. An independent fire district would be required to hire more administrators - including human resources, finance, purchasing, etc. - and spend more on its communications center.

Those who are pro independence think insurance costs would increase if there is a consolidation down the road. Spring Hill has an abundance of fire hydrants and shorter response times, which helps keep costs low.

Opponents insist there would be no increases in the long run because the county continues to grow and more stations and fire hydrants are expected.

What would happen to Local 2794 - the union that represents Spring Hill firefighters?

If the voters choose independence, nothing would change. Local 2794 would continue to represent the district's firefighters and negotiations would continue with the elected fire board.

If independence is denied, the union would then deal with the county commissioners, who already negotiate with the union that represents county firefighters.

There is palpable anxiety among some Spring Hill firefighters that the county would refuse to negotiate with two fire unions and would insist on a merger.

However, the Teamsters are leading a charge to represent county employees and there are early indications they will have the numbers. Therefore, county leaders already are facing the possibility of negotiating with multiple unions. Having to deal with one more might not be a cause for great concern, according to some members of Local 2794.

What were the voting results for past referendums?

In 1992, the referendum failed by less than 7 percent of the vote.

Ten years later, with 285 fewer people casting a vote, the split was much wider. Nearly 62 percent of the 29,225 voters chose no. The difference was almost 24 percent.

Opponents are convinced the trend will continue. The feeling is that independence would never work and that the majority of Spring Hill residents feel the same way.

Pro-independence voters think the results will be different this time because more is at stake. Back then, a no vote resulted in the status quo - a fire board oversees the daily operations of the district and the county gets the final say. This time, a no vote would mean there would be no fire board and the county would have the only say.

The last time there was an effort to dissolve the board of fire commissioners, firefighters and pro-independence residents arrived en masse to the county commission chambers to let their voices be heard. Their persistence worked. County commissioners declined to enact an ordinance to disband the fire board. It was voted down 3 to 2 during a heated public meeting last year.

The grassroots efforts of those firefighters and residents have continued. The number of "Vote Yes" signs compared to "Vote No" signs is greater than 100 to 1.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Several people took part in this story. Those on the pro-independence side included Spring Hill Interim Fire Chief Mike Rampino, Assistant Chief Bill Davies, resident Don Whiting, District Chief Kevin Carroll, Local 2794 President Troy Hagar and former county commissioner Tony Mosca. Those opposed to an independent district included residents Ken Fagan, Harry Chamberlain and David Green. John Emerson of the Hernando County Property Appraiser's Office and Budget Director George Zoettlein also contributed to this article.

The referendum question:

Non-binding referendum seeking community opinion on the creation of an independent fire district for Spring Hill

Pursuant to the "Independent Fire Control District Act," Chapter 191, Florida Statutes, the Florida Legislature has the power to create independent fire control districts by special act. Independent fire control districts have the power to levy special assessments, issue bonds, levy impact fees and levy ad valorem property taxes.

Based on the foregoing, should the Florida Legislature enact a special act creating an independent fire control district to encompass the geographic region of Hernando County commonly known as "Spring Hill?"

•YES - FOR THE CREATION OF THE DISTRICT

•NO - AGAINST THE CREATION OF THE DISTRICT

Reporter Tony Holt can be reached at 352-544-5283 or wholt@hernandotoday.com.

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