By BILL BRASWELL, Polk County Commissioner
This week, your Board of County Commissioners gave county staff the go-ahead to increase the county fire assessment fee. For the past several years, we’ve raised this fee by five percent annually, but this year’s increase will be larger and necessary. Why? Because we’re doing exactly what you, the citizens of Polk County, asked us to do: fix Polk Fire.
We saw the signs posted in front of local businesses. We read your emails. We listened to your public comments. You made it clear that the current state of our fire rescue system was unacceptable, and we agreed.
The most pressing issue has been excessive, unplanned overtime. Last year alone, overtime cost the county more than $10 million. To put a stop to that, we’re aggressively hiring the firefighters and paramedics needed to implement a more efficient and sustainable schedule, including the industry-standard “Kelly Day” system, which reduces the average work week from 56 hours to 48, with a goal of reaching 42 hours.
This 42-hour work week is now recognized statewide, thanks to the passage of House Bill 960, signed into law by the Governor this year. Polk County is committed to reaching that benchmark in the coming years, even as our population continues to grow. The Fire Rescue Division is already our largest department, and it will grow by more than 30% as we complete this transition.
We are also investing in the future with a new state-of-the-art fire training center currently under construction. In the past, our firefighters trained using cardboard boxes and plywood cutouts to simulate real-life scenarios. That’s not acceptable. The new facility will feature realistic, live-fire environments designed to keep our first responders sharp, prepared, and safe.
This is just one piece of a broader investment in public safety infrastructure. We’re also building six new fire stations, a new Sheriff’s substation in Poinciana, and a new training facility for law enforcement personnel, as well as adding more ambulances to our fleet. The Sheriff is also adding deputies. These investments reflect our clear priorities: public safety and smart, proactive planning.
Of course, these improvements come with a cost. The average homeowner in unincorporated Polk County will see approximately a $15 per month increase in property taxes to help fund these initiatives. That said, it’s important to put this in perspective.
Polk County has not raised its property tax rate in over 14 years, and in fact, it has been reduced twice in that time. Despite significant population growth and rising service demands, we’ve continued to deliver essential services without raising the rate. I don’t see that changing any time soon.
Meanwhile, the Florida Legislature ended its recent session without settling on a plan to lower property taxes. However, I asked our property appraiser to model the impact of increasing the homestead exemption from $50,000 to $100,000. That proposal—which I believe is the most likely direction lawmakers will take—would reduce Polk County’s property tax revenue by an estimated $83 million annually. If adopted, it would require us to make significant adjustments.
Still, I’m confident in our ability to adapt. This commission—like those before us—remains committed to delivering essential services without unnecessary tax burdens. We’re tackling the challenges head-on and investing in the people, facilities, and systems needed to protect and serve our growing community.
We’re fixing Polk Fire—because you asked us to, and because it’s the right thing to do.