The Santa Rosa Island Authority will pay Escambia County for fire services on Pensacola Beach. The SRIA Board voted 4-2 at their June 23 meeting to increase lease fee collections to fund fire services. The action, which will be memorialized in an interlocal agreement between Escambia County and the SRIA, will do away with the MSBU for fire services and bind the SRIA to pay all operating costs for Pensacola Beach’s full time fire protection services.
Pensacola Beach leaseholders, who currently pay a higher MSBU to Escambia County for fire services than residents and businesses on the mainland, were facing a steep increase in the MSBU. The proposed residential increase from $201 to $454 was announced at the May 1 Escambia County Commission meeting, citing shortfalls in fire service funding across the County. The commercial leaseholders, who pay based on building size, were facing a 1053% increase. The mainland MSBU is to be increased, but not as high as the beach’s.
SRIA Board Chairman Jeremy Johnson, who is the lone elected Board member, and District 1 Appointee Bruce Childers opposed the measure, citing that all residents and businesses in Escambia County should pay the same rates. Escambia County Commissioner Ashlee Hofberger, whose District 4 includes the beach, crafted a same-rate-for-all MSBU plan.
Escambia County levied the fire MSBU on leaseholders in 2003. The MSBU plus $206,000 the SRIA pays County totals $1.546 million.
In 2015, the SRIA decreased lease collections to 50 percent, and transferred Beach public works and public safety departments to the County, because leaseholders were also paying ad valorem taxes. Under this new proposal, the lease fee collections will be increased to the 75 percent level which potentially generates an additional $3.3 million. Commercial leaseholders would account for approximately $2.4 million of that increase.
District 4 Appointee Elizabeth Timothy supported the increase lease fee collections and MSBU sunsetting. She said the SRIA would control the funds, be able to earn interest and allocate excess funds for beach projects. For some leaseholders, it would be a savings. Upon review of the single family residential leases, 76 percent of the residents would be paying the same or less. About three-quarters of the condominium and multi-family leaseholders would pay between $206 to $375 annually, which reflects a savings or modest increase.
Board members Jerry Watson, David Peaden and Charles Thorton agreed with Timothy. Peaden commented that this guarantees the current level of services will remain and extra funds will be retained by the SRIA.
SRIA Executive Director Mike Burns told his board, “Escambia County will send us a bill for the fire station. We will pay that bill.” He further explained that the increase lease fee collection excess is potentially $1.3 million which “will remain in the coffers of the Santa Rosa Island Authority, not the County.”
Escambia County’s public hearing to adopt a resolution to sunset the MSBU and have the SRIA reimburse the County for fire services is Thursday, July 10 at 5:33 p.m.
In other business:
Pensacola Beach Advocates President Rhonda Dorfman requested that the SRIA consider reversing the current policy and start collecting short term rental fees, as allowed. Some, but not all, of the residential leases, contain a clause that requires the leaseholder to pay a percentage of any rent they collect. SRIA Attorney Mary Jane Bass and staff will perform an analysis of the leases and what is allowable under State law.
The SRIA board approved a resolution to oppose any new offshore oil and gas leasing in the Gulf off the Florida coast.
Developmental Services Director Juan Lemos will retire on September 1. The SRIA will begin a search for his replacement.
Contractors are staging assets to install solar lighting at crosswalks between Avenida 11 and Avenida 23. The project will begin as soon as all equipment and supplies arrive.
Director of Finance Vickie Johnson reported that lease fee collections for April totaled $572,104, and were .7% higher than the prior year.
BDI Engineer Jeff Huggins, who has served the SRIA since 2013, has accepted a new position with the City of Gulf Breeze. The Board thanked him for his service. BDI will continue to provide engineering services, per their contract.
Executive Director Burns included in his report a congratulations to Msgr. Luke Hunt, who has retired after 41 years of active service to St. Ann’s and Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic church. He also congratulated female surfer Saige Pharr for competing at a national level.
The Santa Rosa Island Authority will meet Wednesday, July 23 at 5 p.m. at #1 Via de Luna. The meetings are open to the public.