Springfield: Pay your fire fee or risk losing property

SPRINGFIELD — Property owners who refuse to pay the city’s fire assessment fee could expect be stripped of their property following a decision by Springfield commissioners Monday evening.

City commissioners unanimously approved a measure that would place outstanding fees for fire services on a property owner’s tax bills. About 33 percent of property owners have not paid a portion of the $477,000 raised to bulk up the city’s fire equipment and personnel, and the “uniform collection method” would put them at risk of losing their property if they continue to not pay.

Fire assessment fees — $88.31 per tax parcel, in addition to 62 cents per $1,000 of the taxable value of improvements, not including land value — were levied last March under threat of losing the city’s Insurance Service Inc. (ISO) rating of 6 out of 10 — 10 being uninsurable by ISO standards. The second bill is set to be issued later this month.

Without a collection method, said Mayor Ralph Hammond, “you get what we had this past year with 67 percent paying and 33 percent refusing to pay,” he said. “It’s not fair to the people who have paid if the rest do not pay.”

Residents present for Monday’s vote raised concerns of the county seizing personal property, while Springfield would be more lax by allowing payment plans or delayed payments without penalty. However, placing fire service fees on property tax bills was initially part of the city’s plans, according to City Attorney Kevin Obos.

“What the city said at that time was that within the first year or two, the city would not direct bill or put a lien on the property, but eventually it would roll onto the tax bill,” Obos said. “Once it goes on the tax bill, it’s out of the city’s control. But, yes, if you don’t pay your taxes, you can lose your property.”

In other city business Monday, Fire Chief Michael Laramore announced the city raised $1,826, for a local pee-wee football league, during the city’s first annual Founders’ Day over the weekend. The free community event had several attractions and only charged for food to benefit the Gulf Coast Midget Football League.

Commissioners also heard the first reading of an ordinance penalizing locations that repeatedly report false alarms requiring emergency services. In an attempt to decrease the number of false alarm responses, up to six calls would be fined $50, up to nine calls would be fined $100 and at 10 calls a “no-dispatch” classification would be put in place. Hammond said the law would decrease false alarms and reduce the amount of time, manpower and wear on city vehicles.

The city has a public hearing scheduled for March 17 at 4 p.m. in the Springfield Community Center, 3728 E. Third St., to discuss commission salaries, fire assessment fees and the law against false alarms.