Blueprint Staff: No Money for Fire Stations

As directed by the Blueprint Intergovernmental Agency Board of Directors, the Blueprint staff conducted an analysis to determine whether Blueprint Infrastructure Sales Surtax funds are available to support the expansion of Fire Station #15 and the construction of new Fire Station #17.

The analysis concludes that, under state law, Blueprint Infrastructure Sales Surtax funds could support the expansion of Fire Station #15 and the construction of Fire Station #17. However, while such projects are permissible, the analysis confirms that all existing Blueprint Infrastructure revenues are fully committed to currently approved projects. Redirecting existing Infrastructure Sales Surtax revenues to fund the Fire Stations would require significant reprioritization and result in insufficient funding to complete approved projects.

The Analysis

At the September 11, 2025, meeting, the IA Board directed Blueprint to bring back an analysis to determine whether a funding surplus exists within the Blueprint Infrastructure surtax that could support the expansion of Fire Station #15, located on Bannerman Road in North Leon County, and construction of a new Fire Station #17 on Lake Bradford Road.

The additional costs of funding the construction of Fire Station #17 on Lake Bradford Road and the expansion of Fire Station #15 on Bannerman Road exceed the projected funding capacity of the Blueprint Infrastructure program and would result in a shortfall impacting the approved Infrastructure projects. The estimated cost in 2025 to construct Fire Station #17, including all necessary equipment, is $34 million, and the estimated cost in 2023 of expansion of Fire Station #15 was $10 million. Any changes to the existing IA Board approved priorities will also require a substantial amendment.

STATUTORILY ALLOWABLE USE OF INFRASTRUCTURE SURTAX DOLLARS

In 2014, Leon County voters approved the extension of the Penny Sales Surtax to fund community infrastructure projects such as transportation improvements, flood prevention, water quality protection, parks, and economic development. Under Section 212.055(2), Florida Statutes, these funds may also be used for other eligible public facilities necessary to carry out governmental purposes—including fire stations, government buildings, and animal shelters—making improvements to Fire Station #15 and construction of Fire Station #17 permissible uses under state law.

However, a Fire Stations project is not included in the list of all approved Blueprint 2020 Infrastructure projects adopted by the IA Board and supported by voters in the Interlocal Agreement. The Interlocal Agreement governs how surtax revenues are programmed and allocated, and any project not listed in the Agreement must be added through a formal substantial amendment. Accordingly, while funding Fire Stations with surtax revenues is permissible under Florida law, doing so would require a substantial amendment to add a Fire Stations project as a new Blueprint Infrastructure project.

SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENT PROCESS

A substantial amendment, as defined in Section 10 of the Blueprint Interlocal Agreement, included as Attachment #2, is the formal process by which the IA Board may make major changes to the Blueprint 2020 Infrastructure Program. Such amendments would include the addition, removal, or significant modification of projects or programs listed in the Agreement. In this case, a proposed amendment would be required to add a new infrastructure project to fund the expansion of Fire Station #15 and the construction of Fire Station #17.

This process would require a supermajority vote of the IA Board after consideration of recommendations from the Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC), the Technical Coordinating Committee (TCC), and the Intergovernmental Management Committee (IMC). Before any vote is taken, two publicly noticed hearings must also be held to ensure public input. To add the Fire Stations project to the Blueprint Infrastructure project list, the Interlocal Agreement would need to be amended through this process.

Accordingly, staff recommended that the IA Board accept the analysis, which indicates that no surplus exists within the Blueprint Infrastructure Sales Surtax that could support improvements to Fire Station #15 and the construction of new Fire Station #17.