Bill Brent of the Federation of Manufactured Home Owners asked the city to reconsider the method of determining the fee, but Mayor Howard Wiggs said it is too late, the commissioners are gong to vote on the proposal in three weeks, and he did not want to start the process all over again.
Brent suggested the city use the Cape Coral plan, as it was affirmed by the Florida Supreme Court. According to theledger, the entire year Lakeland has been considering a fire fee, the Cape Coral method was under threat of repeal, although the city commissioners may use a different model to assess the fee in the future.
Commissioner Don Selvage agreed the fee is regressive and that it has a disproportionate impact on those of lower incomes, as MHProNews has learned. He suggested the commission set a lower target in terms of the amount of revenue that needs to be raised, and to increase the property tax rate to achieve it and thereby lower the fire fee. ##
(Image credit: Nobility Homes)
