West Manatee Fire and Rescue District assessment increases

For those of us in Northwest Bradenton and on the island who pay attention to our property tax bills, you may have noticed that the West Manatee Fire and Rescue District assessment has been steadily creeping higher. In 2021, the assessment was 3.9% higher than in 2020. For taxable years 2024 and 2025, the assessments have gone up 7.4% and 7.5%, respectively. Last year, the fire and rescue assessment for a house with a taxable value of $350,000 was $732.00 versus $564.00 in 2020. 

My question is: why have these assessments increased much faster than the percentage increases in the other taxing districts? One reason is that they are not subject to the homestead restriction, which limits annual property tax increases to the rate of inflation or 3% (whichever is lower). Thus, WMFR Dhas a fair amount of discretion over the increase in the annual charge versus all of the other taxing authorities, who are limited by homestead.

A recent article in the Islander newspaper mentioned a proposed tax referendum that would allow the WMFRD to levy a 1% ad-valorem tax to raise additional funds. If the referendum is approved by the voters, your total fire taxes would increase by 50% above what you are currently paying. In an age of rising car and home insurance premiums, grocery prices, and everything else, doesn’t this seem like a bit much?

I appreciate the fact that adequately supporting our fire district is of the utmost importance. However, this appears to be too much, too quickly for the average homeowner. If WMFRD really needs the funds, why not become a constitutional office like the sheriff, clerk, tax collector, election supervisor, and property appraiser? That way, you become part of the Manatee County financial system, which at last count had $722 million of unrestricted funds, which can be used for any legitimate county purpose - including a budget for the fire department, which would adequately serve their personnel and equipment needs.

Mike Meehan, CFA, MBA

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