Consulting Services for Non-Ad Valorem Special Assessment for Fire Protection and Rescue Services

The City of St. Petersburg is seeking a qualified assessment methodology consulting firm to design, develop, and assist in implementing a Non-Ad Valorem Special Assessment Program (“Program”). The Program will fund all or a designated portion of fire protection and rescue services within the City of St. Petersburg Fire Rescue service area. This specific service area comprises the City of St. Petersburg, as well as some portion of unincorporated Pinellas County. The Program will only include the incorporated area of the City.

The selected consulting firm must establish a fair, equitable, and proportional rate structure that satisfies all requirements of Florida case law and statutory guidelines, specifically Section 197.3632, Florida Statutes.

The City’s Fire Rescue Department provides service from 13 stations strategically located through the district with 288 budgeted positions. The Fire Rescue’s General Fund budget for Fiscal Year 2026 was $49.5 million. The City desires to explore various methods to calculate a non—ad valorem special assessment to ensure it selects the methodology most appropriate for the City (see task 2).

The City adopted Ordinance 34-H on July 12, 2012 (as codified St. Petersburg City Code, Chapter 2, Article VI, Division 2) authorizing the non-ad valorem fire service assessments as permitted by Article X, Section 4 of the Florida Constitution, as amended. To date, the City has not approved an annual assessment resolution establishing a fire services assessment rate against property in the incorporated area of the City.

Additionally, St. Petersburg Fire Rescue holds an elite ISO Class 1 Public Protection Classification (PPC) rating. This is the highest possible rating awarded by the Insurance Services Office (ISO), placing the city in the top 1% of fire departments nationwide and meaning lower potential insurance premiums for residents.