Commissioner Caban Questions Commissioner Matlow’s Response to Fire Services Fee Controversy

City Commissioner Matlow Calls for Action on Fire Service Fees

By Commissioner Jeremy Matlow

The inconsistencies of the city of Tallahassee’s fire services fee have received broad interest and public backlash which requires immediate intervention to clarify our fire services assessments so that confidence can be restored in the city’s management of the fire department.

First, we learned the city failed to collect over a million dollars in fees which resulted in a public clash with Leon County Schools. Then, a new dispute emerged with our county commissioners over an unscheduled rate increase; and now the public is questioning the fairness in how the fire services fee is applied differently to local churches and religious institutions after uncovering widespread discrepancies.

The policies governing the city’s charges and collection of monies to undergird costs for providing fire services are being widely questioned. The inconsistencies of fire charges cannot be ignored by a responsible governing body.

In response to these concerns, I am aware of the lawsuit which the city of Ocala lost and was ordered to refund $80 million for an illegal fire tax. A citizen group in Tallahassee has projected interest in potentially filing a similar lawsuit against the city of Tallahassee questioning our fire services fee.

Additionally, the county commission has asked its staff for an agenda item to look at the Ocala lawsuit and angles to contest the current five-year agreement between the city and county.

And of course, we are painstakingly aware that no matter the amount of dollars raised by the fee, it always falls short when it is time to discuss paying the brave men and women working at the Tallahassee Fire Department an appropriate wage and competitive benefits.

I recognize if the chaos engulfing fire services is left unchecked, it will spread beyond our control. A primary role of our elected body is to provide appropriate oversight. I intend to do the following:

Request the city manager place an immediate moratorium on all fire services fees assigned to area churches in light of information indicating religious institutions are not treated uniformly;

Call for a special meeting of the City Commission with a single objective of addressing fire services and codify a moratorium;

Hire an independent forensic auditor to review the last seen years of revenues collected and distributed in the name of fire services;

Hire an outside consultant to make clear recommendations for revising, abandoning or changing operational policies to ensure all utility customers are treated fairly and the same.

I believe the City Commission is obligated, and up to the challenge, of extinguishing this crisis and regaining the confidence of all residents, churches, commercial entities and local government partners. Moving forward together, we can reset the vision of fire assessments and their intended purposes.

County Commissioner Caban Questions Matlow’s Timing

By Commissioner Christian Caban

I read your recent op-ed with interest. Our office is glad to see you’re standing with the residents of Leon County in questioning the City of Tallahassee’s unfair and potentially unconstitutional — fire services fee. That’s a step in the right direction for Leon County taxpayers.

However, I also read your piece with deep frustration.

If you’ve known about the Ocala lawsuit and the legal risks surrounding this fee structure, then why did you vote for it? When the County pushed back on rubber-stamping cost increases, including a fire station that’s now more than double its original estimate, with no line-item budget — why did you vote for that too?

Where was the call for a forensic audit during the meeting? Where was the demand for transparency? Why did you support raising the fee by 25% without raising these questions?

Your op-ed only came after weeks of public outcry and negative press but in the budget workshop where this fee hike was discussed, the vote to move it forward was unanimous.

It’s also hard to ignore the timing. Just two months ago, before rumors of the mayor’s re-election bid began swirling, you silently voted to rubber-stamp this entire plan — no questions, no objections. Now, with a potential campaign looming and the need to draw political contrast, your posture has suddenly changed. The public deserves to know: is this about policy, or politics? Because if the fire services fee is wrong now, it was wrong then and it was wrong every other time you voted for it. Leadership means having the courage to speak up when it’s inconvenient, not just when it’s time to campaign.

Your office also been vocal in your opposition to the new police headquarters —scrutinizing the cost, challenging the need, demanding answers. But when it came time to apply the same scrutiny to the $34 million price tag for Fire Station 17, the silence was deafening. Why is it that when a project involves law enforcement, it’s open season for criticism — but when it involves the fire department, the budget gets a pass?

Police and firefighters are both vital first responders. They both deserve fairness and respect. As elected officials, we don’t get to cherry-pick accountability based on what plays better politically.

Your op-ed also left out the most critical impact of all: housing affordability. This fire services fee hike doesn’t just hurt a balance sheet: it raises rents and property costs across the board. It burdens working families, retirees, and disproportionally affects renters already struggling with the cost of living. It adds fuel to the affordability crisis already plaguing our own neighborhoods.

Our residents can’t keep absorbing the cost of City Hall’s budgetary missteps. They shouldn’t be punished for poor planning and political posturing. In the future, lets put political posturing aside and take a stand for all our residents, and first responders in Tallahassee and Leon County alike, no matter the timing or convenience.