We are on a mission of public education regarding a change in our tax assessment model that will be on the November 8th ballot.

◦ We are asking for a change from non-ad valorem to ad valorem in order to better plan for the future fire services in our community. A change to ad valorem will accomplish the following:

▪ Advanced Life Support (ALS) services

▪ Holley Station (Station #44) staffing and operating costs

▪ Faster response times and better coverage with the addition of St. 44

▪ Apparatus replacement funding

▪ Competitive pay and benefits to keep up with the statutory minimum wage increases

◦ This is NOT an additional tax assessment; merely a change from non-ad valorem to ad valorem. If approved by the voters, this would go into effect in the 2023 tax cycle.

◦ Currently HNFD is on a non-ad valorem rate of $.0573/ square foot for residential and $.01909/ square foot for business. Non-ad valorem is based solely off the square footage of the property (as documented by the county’s property appraiser). This system is antiquated, and does not keep up with the explosive growth the area is experiencing. This system requires constant increases to keep up with growth and operating costs, and does not provide sound planning for the future of fire services in our area.

◦ It should also be noted that the property taxes you pay in our district does not go to the county or any other municipality. Rather, the taxes you pay for fire services come directly to HNFD. This is the only tax or assessment that you will vote on that the money will strictly stay in the Holley-Navarre community. Only the members of the Holley-Navarre community can vote on it, and will be affected by it passing. 

◦ Our current staffing of 2 manned stations that cover the 53 square mile district of Holley-Navarre is 4 full time fire fighters at Station 45 (behind Winn Dixie), as well as at Station 41 in Holley by the Sea. This staffing was accomplished by a tax initiative in 2016, so that we could properly meet the national standard (NFPA) for staffing a fire engine.

◦ Our goal is to use the change to ad valorem to 1) hire Firefighter/Paramedics at each station, as well as afford the recurring operational costs of ALS equipment and medications; 2) fully staff a station in Holley, which will leader to better coverage and faster response times overall; 3) be able to replace apparatus in a timely fashion, as they age past their life expectancy and begin to breakdown; and 4) keep up with the competitive wages of surrounding departments, as well as the statutory minimum wage increases seen across the State.

◦ It is fair and equitable to the taxpayer. Ad valorem taxing is evenly applied to all property types (residential, commercial, vacant, and unimproved). It’s assessed based off of property market value. This system is also utilized by the majority of fire departments in the Panhandle, and is a far superior way to be able to forecast future budgets for the fire district. Ad valorem is easier to anticipate and plan for fiscally, and will provide a better long term financial plan for the fire district and the future of fire protection services for our community.  

 Advanced Life Support (ALS) services district-wide

· Currently, HNFD requires all firefighters to have their EMT, and provide Basic Life Support (BLS) services. 70% of the calls HNFD runs are medical, and our engines are frequently on scene prior to the ambulance arrival. This means that HNFD firefighters are able to initiate patient care and begin treatment as quickly as possible.

· ALS expounds on the current services we provide. With ALS, HNFD is able to provide 12-lead ECGs in real-time, as well as administer life-saving medications and treatments within the scope of our ALS protocols, often before an ambulance can make it on scene.

· HNFD will be able to staff paramedics on each of their frontline apparatus, as well as be able to provide the necessary equipment and recurring operating costs to provide these services. This is a HUGE benefit to our community, and will cut down on the time it takes for those that call 911 to begin receiving the care they need.

· In perspective, almost all other paid fire departments in Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, and Walton counties provide ALS services.

Holley Fire Station (Station #44) 

· The tax change will also provide the recurring operating costs to staff a station in Holley. HNFD, in an effort to save the taxpayers’ money, applied for and received appropriations funding from the state ($1.5 million!) to build a station in Holley. This does not include staffing, utilities, an apparatus, or equipment. These operating costs would be met by the tax change.

Faster response times – better coverage

· HNFD currently covers 53 square miles (from Navarre Beach Causeway, all the way north to Yellow River Bridge, as well as from Edgewood Dr. to the Okaloosa County line). This is covered by two engine companies. When one goes on a call, coverage is stretched thin. Mutual aid from outside departments further assist in coverage, as 33% of the time both engine companies are on calls at the same time.

· By adding an additional station, coverage is not only better in Holley, but response times for additional apparatus are much better. The more engine companies we have on the road, the quicker we can send firefighters to your emergency! Furthermore, this will subsequently improve the district’s ISO rating, therefore improving the taxpayer’s homeowner’s insurance premiums.

· In comparison, we cover a similar area to that of Fort Walton Beach, Mary Esther, Shalimar, and Okaloosa Island. That same area is covered by 7 fire stations, all staffed with at least 4 firefighters. Each one of these district’s also provide ALS services, and with the exception of the City of FWB, use ad valorem assessments.

Apparatus Replacement funding

· The life expectancy of a fire apparatus is 10 years. After that, the wear-and-tear from emergency responses leads to mechanical issues and more frequent repairs. Our frontline engines were purchased in 2018. It also takes approximately 2 years from the date you order an engine, to receiving the finished product. That being said, HNFD will need to start budgeting for new apparatus by 2026 at the latest.

Maintaining competitive benefits

· In 2020, the State of Florida approved legislation to increase the statutory minimum wage to $15/hr by 2026. Without a change in our current taxing structure, HNFD will not be able to keep up with the statutory minimum wage increases. 

· HNFD wants to retain experienced firefighters, as well as recruit the best possible candidates. This can only be done with competitive pay and benefits. This tax change will accomplish this, by keeping HNFD competitive with surrounding fire departments. Currently, HNFD pays their starting FF/EMT $13/hr. With our current taxing structure, that will change very little, and will not keep up with the statutory minimum wage increases. Matter-of-factly, HNFD will lose experience FFs, and struggle to recruit new ones, without a change in the taxing structure. 

Hired personnel

▪ 2 Battalion Chiefs

▪ 14 Firefighter positions (staffing on each apparatus increased from 2 to 4-man companies)

Maintained competitive wages

Leased 2 new engines in 2018

Fought inflation for 6 years without a tax increase

▪ Insurance increases

▪ Building costs

▪ Vehicle increases (insurance, fuel, maintenance)

▪ Health insurance increases

▪ Workers comp

▪ Utilities increasing

Based off conservative budgeting and current property value, the district intends to set the millage rate between 1.5-1.7. The 3.75 is merely emphasized in the ballot language so that our citizens know what the statutory maximum rate is. The exact millage is to be determined prior to the next budget cycle. The Board of Fire Commissioners will have public hearings prior to setting the millage rate. We pride ourselves in being good stewards of the taxpayers’ money, and want to implement a tax that is fair and conservative, while still meeting the growth and emergency service demands of Holley and Navarre.