Two-tiered fire plan stalled

Brooksville, Fla. - Doors to the council chambers closed to silence the public clamor in the hallway.

It looked like dueling warriors outside Brooksville City Council Chambers.  The only thing missing was a few chest butts to make it official.

Local lawyer Joe Mason wanted answers.  But special council Mark Lawson wasn't talking, that is, until Mason crossed his path to block his exit from council chambers.

"You're a member of the bar association," Lawson said, as he told Mason to get out of his way.

The two lawyers exchanged words in a sidebar conversation.  Curious onlookers were craning their necks to hear the discussion between the two legal minds.
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Business owners and residents came out in force to voice their opinions on the new ordinance for special assessments to fund fire protection services proposed by  Mark Lawson and Chris Roe of Bryant, Miller & Olive, P.A.

Brooksville City Council contracted Miller & Olive, P.A. to come up with a plan to charge everyone in the city of Brooksville for fire service.

The two-tiered plan equates to having an MSTU based on millage to fund Brooksville Fire Department. And, it has an MSBU fee to charge every property owner in the city $106.00 a-year, including vacant lots.

The plan was previously floated as revenue-neutral.  But Lawson mentioned the need to raise taxes if his plan wasn't adopted by council to fund the fire department.  He noted a $600,000 shortfall several times during his presentation and follow-up to council members.
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Brooksville City Council was playing with a short-field of three members at the public hearing.   Frankie Burnett and Joe Bernadini were not in attendance at the meeting.  Mayor Joe Johnston chaired the meeting, with Lara Bradburn and Keven Hohn in attendance for the public hearing.

Several members of the public spoke in favor of proposed special assessments.  Resident Sherry Pedonesi said she was happy with the new system.  "I feel the special assessments would fairly tax everyone, unlike the "Save Our Homes" initiative which was signed into Florida Constitution in the 1990's," Pedonesi said.

Others in the audience gave their opinions on why the measure should not pass, like Dan Patrick. He outlined the money he had spent in his working career to support the city of Brooksville. But he was firm in his opposition to the plan.

Robert Buckner gave council members spreadsheets to ponder the fairness issue being promoted with Larson's presentation.  Buckner's statistical data provided a stark contrast for council members.

Buckner's comments proved to be the tipping point in council's discussion.
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Councilman Kevin Hohn asked Lawson if the flat-rate fee could be based on size for vacant lots. Lawson said that it could be, but he had no way of determining the lot size.  Hohn did not question Lawson's statement even though all statistical data had been derived from Hernando County Property Appraiser for the special assessment plan.

With public input over, Johnston asked the clerk to read the ordinance into the record.

After a clumsy attempt to pass the ordinance, with Bradburn making the motion, the gavel had to be passed to get a second by Johnston.  Hohn was having second thoughts.

What looked to be a 3-0 vote quickly turned into a discussion about the number of voting city council members.

"This is the best plan so far," Hohn said.  "But it still needs work."

Johnston pulled his second to the motion after saying the full council was needed to vote on the action.  He said he was in favor of the plan, but it was too important to pass with just two council members.

The discussion was tabled until Brookville City Council meeting on July 2, 2012.