Fire Millage On County Agenda

Hernando County Fire Rescue Chief Mike Nickerson Tuesday will recommend county commissioners lower his EMS budget for 2009 from 0.5839 mills to 0.5598 mills, a reduction of $138,000 annually.

Commissioners in May approved raising ambulance transport fees with the stipulation that Nickerson return this month with an equivalent reduction in the millage rate to make up for the increase, Commissioner Jeff Stabins said.

Commissioners are also expected to ask Nickerson for more information about collection of transport money.

Nickerson said recently that he believes that more aggressive transport collections from a new billing company hired two years ago will help bring in more revenue.

Also Tuesday, Interim Human Resources Director Jerry Haines will present a revised harassment and discrimination policy.

The HR department is in the process of rebuilding its policies and procedures following a critical audit and outside legal report highlighted deficiencies under former director Barbara Dupre.

Commissioners on Tuesday will also consider a request to relocate the Veteran Services Department from its current site at the Airport Industrial Park to the Forest Oaks Government Complex.

Commissioners will also consider reducing impact fees 25 percent. Board members have delayed taking action while they gathered information from economists. That discussion is scheduled on the agenda for 10 a.m.

The meeting will begin at 9 a.m. Tuesday at the Hernando County Government Center, 20 North Main St. in downtown Brooksville.