Bartow Fire Assessment Rises 16 Percent While Millage Holds Flat
Upon adoption, City Commissioners on Wednesday, Sept. 3 unanimously approved in roll call votes raising the fire protection assessment rates and stormwater assessment rates, while keeping the millage rate unchanged for Fiscal Year 2026-2027. The assessment resolutions took effect immediately upon passage. The final millage vote is scheduled for the Sept. 15 regular meeting, and if approved will go into effect Oct. 1.
Fire Protection Assessment
The Fire Protection Assessment Rate (Resolution No. 26-4272-R), a non-ad valorem assessment is projected to generate $4,809,563.56, which will fund approximately 70 percent of the Bartow Fire Department budget. This is to come from an identified 9,241 parcels of property.
Property Category
Unit
FY 2025-26
FY 2026-27
Increase
Residential
Single family/duplex, less than 1,250 sq. ft.
Per dwelling unit
$266.21
$308.88
$42.67
Single family/duplex, 1,250 to 2,000 sq. ft.
Per dwelling unit
$306.09
$355.15
$49.06
Single family/duplex, greater than 2,000 sq. ft.
Per dwelling unit
$369.91
$429.20
$59.29
Multi-family
Per dwelling unit
$500.38
$580.58
$80.20
Mobile home
Per dwelling unit/site
$284.82
$330.47
$45.65
Nonresidential
Commercial
Per EBU
$376.76
$437.15
$60.39
Industrial/warehouse
Per EBU
$77.18
$89.54
$12.36
Institutional
Per acre
$580.74
$673.81
$93.07
Vacant land/agricultural
Less than 1 acre
Per parcel
$14.16
$16.42
$2.26
1.00 to 4.99 acres
Per parcel
$71.21
$82.63
$11.42
5.00 to 9.99 acres
Per parcel
$207.48
$240.74
$33.26
10.00 to 19.99 acres
Per parcel
$383.27
$444.70
$61.43
20.00 acres or more
Per parcel
$564.17
$654.59
$90.42
The adopted rates are about 16 percent higher than the current year in every property category. The written statement on the agenda describes the change as roughly 5 percent. Deputy City Manager Peter Lear said that figure is incorrect, that he calculated the actual increase at about 16 percent, and that he did not prepare the summary. No percentage figure was presented to commissioners at the meeting. Lear said the proposed dollar amounts already appeared on the TRIM notices mailed to property owners by the Property Appraiser’s office. No correction to the summary will be issued.
Bartow started collecting this non-ad valorem assessment in 2009. At first, it funded approximately 1 percent of the fire department budget. Over the past 16 years, that has increased to 25 percent, then 50 percent and currently 75 percent, though Lear said a per-property dollar maximum kept the assessment from reaching that ceiling this year. The remaining approximately $2 million of the fire department budget comes from the general fund.
Bartow started collecting this non-ad valorem assessment in 2009. At first, it funded approximately 1 percent of the fire department budget. Over the past 16 years, that has increased to 25 percent, then 50 percent and currently 75 percent, though Lear said a per-property dollar maximum kept the assessment from reaching that ceiling this year. The remaining approximately $2 million of the fire department budget comes from the general fund.
Stormwater Assessment
The Stormwater Assessment (Resolution No. 26-4273-R), a non-ad valorem assessment is projected to generate $1,740,914.03, which will go toward construction, reconstruction, improvement and maintenance and extension of the city’s stormwater utility systems. This is to come from an identified 9,484 parcels of property.
Property Category
Unit
FY 2025-26
FY 2026-27
Increase
Residential
Single family home/mobile home
1 ERU
$134.88
$138.93
$4.05
Nonresidential/multi-family
Nonresidential/multi-family
Rate per ERU
$134.88
$138.93
$4.05
Vacant land
Up to 25 acres
Rate per ERU
$13.49
$13.89
$0.40
25.01 to 50 acres
Rate per ERU
$21.58
$22.23
$0.65
Over 50 acres
Rate per ERU
$70.13
$72.23
$2.10
Bartow started collecting this non-ad valorem assessment in 2007 to help fund the overall stormwater budget within the Public Works Department. The rates reflect a planned 3 percent annual increase adopted following a 2024 rate study by Raftelis Financial Consultants, Inc.
Notice of both hearings was published Aug. 14 in the News Chief public notices.
Millage Rate
If approved at the Sept. 15 city commission meeting, the FY 2026-27 millage rate (Resolution No. 26-4277-R), currently 6.1080 mills, will remain. Because property values rose, that represents a 2.66 percent increase over the rolled-back rate of 5.9495 mills. It is projected to generate approximately $10,447,872, of which 32.6 percent will go to the General Fund (excluding transfers from the Enterprise Fund). This amount represents approximately 21.9 percent of the General Fund (including transfers to other funds such as Fire Services and Transportation).
The total projected budget for FY 2026-27 is estimated to be $47,441,205. From the General Fund, Special Revenue and Enterprise Fund categories (as well as Capital Projects and Internal Services) this figure includes transfer funds and balances. Sources include:
- General Government Taxes
- Permits, Fees and Assessments
- Intergovernmental Revenues
- Charges for Service
- Judgments, Fines and Forfeits
- Miscellaneous Revenues
- Other Sources
- Impact Fees
- Debt Proceeds
If approved, the Millage Rate takes effect Oct. 1.
In other matters, commissioners
Approved Resolution No. 26-4274-R, which calls for the establishment of a CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) Advisory Committee. As outlined by City Attorney Sean Parker, who cited examples, such as the format used in neighboring Winter Haven, the purpose of the advisory committee will be to encourage input from residents, business owners and operators in order to make recommendations, as well as provide insights to the CRA. Recently, the format of the CRA was to dissolve the then-current board and replace it with the members of the city commission, as well as adding two people outside city governance.
The original proposal was to create five positions, with the first two positions to be of two-year terms, with the remaining three positions serving four-year terms. This was amended by Vice Mayor Laura Simpson who recommended and made the motion that the proposed board consist of seven members. The motion was seconded and approved.
Proclamations and special presentations
- Polk County Sheriff’s Officer K-9 “Ace” and his partner, K-9 Deputy Natalie Oestreich, honored for Courage and Heroism in the Line of Duty.
- Sept. 14-18 as Disability Voting Rights Week, accepted by Lisa Peterson.
- Sept. 15 as National IT Professionals Day, accepted by Information Technology Director Frank Canovaca.
- Sept. 14 as Star Spangled Banner Day, accepted by Kellie Sage of the Bartow Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
- Sept. 17-23 as Constitution Week, also accepted by Sage.
- September 2026 as Hunger Action Month, accepted by Rusty Music, executive director of the Bartow Community Service Center.
- September 2026 as Suicide Prevention and Action Month, accepted by Ava Crossman of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
Steve Steiner can be reached at: [email protected]
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Sources: Resolution No. 26-4272-R, City of Bartow, September 3, 2026; Resolution No. 25-4237-R, City of Bartow, September 3, 2025; Resolution No. 26-4273-R, City of Bartow, September 3, 2026; Resolution No. 25-4236-R, City of Bartow, September 3, 2025; “2026 Final Rate Resolution, Fire Assessment,” City of Bartow agenda packet Item 10(a), September 3, 2026; City of Bartow City Commission Regular Meeting minutes, September 3, 2026; City of Bartow City Commission Agenda Packet, September 15, 2026; News Chief Public Notices, newschief.com, August 14, 2026; Peter Lear, Deputy City Manager, City of Bartow, interview, September 4, 2026
