by James Coulter
Lake Wales residents living in single-family and mobile homes might pay more for fire protection, while multi-family homes might end up paying less if the City of Lake Wales approves changes to the preliminary rate for the fire protection services assessment.
At their workshop meeting on Wed. May 28, 2025, Lake Wales city commissioners reviewed a resolution to amend the preliminary rate for the fire protection services assessment for the next fiscal year.
Under the proposed changes, single-family units are expected to pay $174 per dwelling unit, multi-family units will pay $143, and mobile home units will pay $63.00.
For non-residential properties, commercial properties are expected to pay $0.18 per square foot, industrial/warehouse will pay $0.03, and institutional will pay $0.14.
“The Fire Protection Assessment will create a dedicated funding source for fire protection services,” wrote Finance Director Dorothy Abbott.
“Failure in adopting Resolution 2025-11 will result in a loss of $1,906,519 in estimated net revenue dedicated to the fire department budget,” she continued. “This money would then have to come from the general fund.”
At the meeting, Abbot explained that it had been ten years since the fire assessment rate was updated, which is why the rate needed to be changed in order to help balance the city’s finances.
“It is hard to balance the city’s books unless we look at increasing the fire assessment,” she said.
Commissioner Keith Thompson asked why rates for multi-family units decreased while the rates for other units increased. Abbott replied that the city had worked with an outside entity to review fire calls and determine that their assessment for rates was “reasonable and accurately reflected service costs.”
City Manager James Slaton insisted that the city aimed to alleviate the burden on taxpayers and thus amend the fire assessment rates to help cover the sufficient fire protection needed. “We asked what we need and not more,” he said.
The Lake Wales City Commission will vote on the resolution, along with other items in the consent agenda, at their next regular meeting, scheduled for Tues. June 3 at 6 PM at Lake Wales City Hall.
