The Flagler County Commission is a step closer to buying a $5.4 million replacement for FireFlight, the workhorse Airbus emergency helicopter that since 2002 has helped prevent a repeat of home-destroying wildfires, flown hundreds of patients to trauma hospitals, and provided pursuit and reconnaissance assistance to local law enforcement.
The commission in a special meeting voted 5-0 to approve shifting $1.5 million out of a reserve fund the county has been building toward the end for years. The vote to buy the helicopter and finance it will take place later this year. But there are no plans to return the helicopter to 24-hour duty. It currently is on duty 12 hours a day.
The county will get $435,000 in trade-in value for FireFlight. With the accumulated $1.5 million, that would leave just under $2 million to finance, with annual payments of $237,600 to $286,000, depending on whether the county chooses to finance it over 10 years or eight years.
The cost of the helicopter includes law enforcement equipment such as an infrared system and live-feed capabilities. That seemed to leave Commissioner Dave Sullivan peeved that the county was picking up the entire cost. “I thought the sheriff had said he’d be willing to pay for the law enforcement equipment,” Sullivan said.
County Administrator Heidi Petito said there were discussions with the sheriff for several days, focusing on possible grants, which were not forthcoming. Instead, Petito said that by shifting some of the oversight of the purchase back onto the county, away from the manufacturer–such as sending the county’s pilot to the manufacturing plant four times during the process–it would lower costs.
“At the meeting when we approved the helicopter,” Sullivan persisted, “I thought I was under the impression that the sheriff was going to maybe be able to pay for the additional sensor equipment.” If the sheriff couldn’t afford it in the current deal, that equipment would have to be added on later.
“We’re going to fund it one way or another. So we figured out a way to get what we needed,” Petito said. “We were able to get it done.”
FireFlight is one of the county’s most visible, most publicly cherished assets. Including the next steps toward a replacement as part of a pair of budget meetings devoted to next year’s budget was one way to make the rest of the discussion go down easier.
In that busy workshop and special meeting that followed–the seventh of 10 budget workshops or hearing in budget season–Petito outlined her proposed final budget for next year, including a proposed property tax rate that will all but stay the same but for a symbolic decline in its debt-servicing portion.
That means that with tax valuations again surging by double digits, and no effective decline in the tax rate (and none whatsoever in the general fund tax rate), the county will generate $13.5 million in additional money next year, and all non-homesteaded taxpayers will see a substantial tax increase. Most homesteaded taxpayers will see virtually none.
The Commission also approved raising Waste Pro garbage rates for unincorporated residents 45 percent, from $300 a year to $435.
“So we’re able to balance the budget, reduce the millage slightly and fulfill the needs of the constitutional goals and filling some of those gaps,” Petito said. Total general fund revenue would be $152.7 million, with property tax revenue accounting for $109 million of that.
The commission at the special meeting voted 4-1 to set next year’s tentative (or maximum) general fund property tax rate at the same level as it was this year–$8.0547 per $1,000 in taxable value, or 8.0547 mills–and the debt service tax rate at 0.2796, or 0.0119 lower than the current rate. That’s the symbolic decline that will enable the elected official to claim that they have lowered the tax rate for the third year in a row, when, in effect, they have substantially raised taxes all three years, when the state law’s definition of tax increases is applied.
But they’re in the position to split hairs only because taxpayers want their cake and eat it too: they demand services that the county is providing, they demand improvements to infrastructure, law enforcement and other public safety needs, but still wail when told of the cost. The administrator has merely been attempting to use the tax windfall to fill gaps and needs that had been accumulating over the years.
Nevertheless, the tax rate the commission voted on today is tentative. It will not set the final tax rate until two budget hearings in September. Between now and then, commissioners will have time to find ways to lower the rate further, if they so wish. What they will not be able to do is set a higher ta rate come September.
The new money would pay for five new deputies, a new position at the Supervisor of Elections’ office, two at the Clerk of Court’s office. The county will have a $38 million capital budget, an increase of $34.5 million over this year, largely due to a massive infusion of state money. The Sheriff’s Office will have a budget of $41.9 million, fire rescue $19.2 million, capital projects will have a $38.2 million budget, environmentally sensitive lands will be at $8.9 million.
Operating reserves are budgeted at $5.9 million, though currently the account actually has only $2.7 million in actual reserves. The county also keeps two months’ worth of operating reserves. That adds up to $16.3 million, almost $2 million less than the current year. The county also has restricted reserves of almost $3 million, but much of that is committed to buying a new emergency helicopter.
Employees across the board will get a 5.3 percent cost of living pay increase (totaling $930,000). Retirement and health benefit costs will add a $1.45 million burden on the county budget.
The county is maintaining a high grade bond rating as it devotes $10.7 million in debt servicing next year. The general fund is paying on $61.7 million in outstanding debt, which pays for the county’s emergency communications network (just over $11 million), the Sheriff’s Operations Center ($18.8 million) and the debt that paid for the General Services Building ($31.7 million remaining). The county will have a total budget of $278.6 million.
Celia Pugliese says
A 5,4 million new helicopter to only be available for 12 hours a day emergencies..? The other 12 hours will be no accidental emergencies to be EVAC and who is the expert that decides that? What about freezing payroll increases specially to the one’s making 6 digits pay and leave the millionaire library for when we can afford it, but instead fund the use of the helicopter 24 hours daily for the life saving emergencies or wild fires, etc. needed instead? Why should be a priority a millionaire library for “someone’s pennant” or the needed helicopter for life saving emergencies 24-7 as it should be? By the way while Albanese and company speaking to the county commission about the library forced funding in our taxes, why their devious comparing Flagler County to Volusia County funding seems to forget that Volusia has over 564,000 population contributors to it when in Flagler County we are barely 121,000 contributors, Ms ,Albanese. I consider Flagler County show of grandiosity too expensive for the hard working Flagler County families taxes! We need to “land in our daily reality” and not these type of lobbying and also these roaring of hundreds (with total absence of prejudice but the reality) pilot students training in our USA as is cheaper here, 300 feet over our homes in Quail Hollow making havoc for us all 24-7 just to satisfy greed. Lets see for 2024 we elect those that will hear the residents taxpayers concerns and resolve their issues “other than go with the flow”.
Concerned Citizen says
Before anyone cries too much.
Fire Flight is a great asset to the area. And we are lucky to have them. It’s a multi mission platform who’s primary role is Wildland Fire Fighting. A lesson learned from the 88 and 98 Wild Fires.
It takes time to deploy other air assets from out of county. So when a Wild Fire is spotted or a trauma alert is called time matters.
I am still disappointed that the BOCC won’t return Fire Flight to 24 hour service. There is no reason not to work out an enhanced schedule on essential services. It was cut back to 12 hour days back during the Troy Harper days. And then County officials got heft raises. Slim that down and get us 24 hour coverage back.
24 hour coverage is essential as once again it takes time for dispatch to notify Volusia or St. Johns and get a helo up. We need that 24 hour coverage to provide adequate service to a growing county.
Shark says
Any easy solution for all of the problems in Flagler County is to start trimming the budgets of all the departments beginning with whoever is in charge of all of the plants, They supposedly have a landscape architect but if you take a ride down Bell Terre it’s just a mess. There is no rhyme or reason or symmetry, Plants just scattered everywhere with dead ones in between, Most of the evergreens die because the herbicide they use for weeds kills them. Their workers spend thousands of hours a year pulling weed and in precarious locations close to traffic, Prior to the last frost they planted new plants that were killed due to the frost and they replaced it with sod and a small patch of plumbago, My swale on Cottonwood Ct, was dug up three times and it is still filled with water several days after a rain storm. Once again do something about the waste of these departments before you stick it to the residents !!!
Tim says
Shark , that’s a city of palm coast problem not a county one. Try to keep it straight.
Dennis C Rathsam says
Garbage cost is out rageous, you cant keep expecting people to constantly pony up. Let the people vote on it. Instead of a bunch of fools!
TR says
The increase would be for the unincorporated area of the county, not within the city corporate area. Waste Pro doesn’t service the corporate area anymore as on June 1st of this year.
I think anything that is needed to service the citizens of the county is a major asset. Especially if one needs the service.
GIJen says
Thank you TR for not caring about the trash he ike for those of us that live in the unincorporated areas. It’s exactly that. A trashy hike. It is always put on us because we are the path of least resistance yet we have the worst service by any of the county agencies.
Doug says
Had the county done its homework with the past wasteful purchases of the old Flagler Hospital, which was full of black mold, and the Sears building, money probably wouldn’t be an issue.
GIJen says
Don’t forget the old FTI building.
oldtimer says
Trash pickup increase 45%, are you serious? Did anyone’s salary or pension go up that much? Good job boys and girls because there sure are no adults on the commision.
Jane Gentile-Youd says
Finally a brand new multi-million dollar cost for new helicopter but which helicopter will sit in a closet half the day! This is insanity at it’s finest. We need 24/7 service. This was number one on my former campaign platform – the cost for the extra pilot and maintenance will be under $500,000 a year and it is inexcusable that 24/7 service is not part of the ‘deall’
As far as garbage 45% rate increase – let Heidi Petito solicit bids ; put it to a vote; don’t stick your hands into my pocket for another $145 a year – get it from the owners of the Old Dixie Hotel and others who don’t even pay their property taxes which you don’t do anything about. We need a real county manager – one who doesn’t spend $2million dollars to buy a plane for ‘part time trauma use, The Sheriff wants to be in charge of everything and Heidi eats out of the palm of his hands in my opinion.
Tony says
Just a waste of money like all of the money for boats that staly scammed the taxpayers out of. You just see the cadavers on patrol riding around doing nothing, They have no enforcement powers so all they are doing is advertising and wasting money on gas !!!
Skibum says
County leaders, listen up. When you have an emergency helicopter like Flagler County has, it is an absolute must that it be ready and available on a 24-hour basis. The county’s LifeFlight helicopter has been the primary medivac option for our city and county fire departments many times when time is of the essence in transporting critically injured vehicle accident victims to a hospital, and just like fire hydrants that sit idle until a critical need, you never know when it will be called upon to save a life. Obviously, emergencies don’t occur within a designated 12-hour time period, and neither should the availability of the county’s emergency helicopter.
Bamboozley says
Isn’t there a helicopter ambulance sitting at advent health hospital on hwy 100? Do they not do pickups?
Also, there is a forestry station on US 1 north of Bunnell. What do those guys do all day? Where’s the nearest air asset for fire suppression the 12 hours a day when fire flight has been offline all these years?
It seems like this is just a helicopter for the sheriff being sold as all these other things.
Skibum says
Your information is incorrect. AdventHealth does not have a medical helicopter, and no, there is NO helicopter just sitting on the helipad at the hospital… go by and see for yourself. Also, the LifeFlight helicopter is not the primary fire fighting asset but it was purchased by the county to supplement the fire fighting effort in the county’s more remote areas where it is difficult or impossible for the land based equipment to access due to water, swampy ground or overgrown brush and trees. The helicopter is called upon from time to time to assist FCSO in conducting searches by air, but its primary use, other than making water drops during an actual wildland fire, has been to quickly transport patients who have suffered traumatic injuries to the hospital, usually Halifax in Daytona.
Whathehck? says
County Commissionners,
Find these ±$500.000 necessary for 24/7 medivac.
You had no problems finding over 4 millions for the over-budget Area 51’s silver rocket over Rte 100, the greatest tourist attraction in the County. You can’t make this up.
Vinny says
If they didn’t spend 12 million on that ugly bridge over 100 they could’ve bought 2 helicopters.
TDHutson4501 says
Flagler County’s $5.4 million Dollar Helicopter
Suggestion to our Flagler County Commissioners! Before you approve any additional money for a New Helicopter, send the Sheriff back to Tallahassee. Have the Sheriff meet with the three “Major Minions” of our New Commander in Chief of the New Florida Guard/Militia, State Police. Point out to them the need Flagler County has for a New Helicopter! Have the Sheriff point out that they are already building a $10 million dollar Headquarters, Training facility for the New Florida Guard/Militia, State Police in Flagler County. The New Commander in Chief has been budgeted between $50-$100 million dollars to spend, some on 5 aircraft including Helicopters and $2.7 million for boats. With the new headquarters, training facility possibly housing up to “1,500 Volunteer Florida Guard/Militia, State Police” personnel here in Flagler County. They will surely need to house their Helicopters and Boats and Drones close by. This could be a tremendous addition and purpose for this $10 Million dollar facility?? At the same time saving Flagler County $5.4 million dollars. A Win-Win for the New Florida Guard/Militia, State Police Unit and the Sheriff’s Department and Flagler County Residents.