SEBRING, FL — The Highlands County Board of County Commissioners approved its fiscal year 2026-27 fire assessment and a two-year Fire Rescue improvement plan during a meeting last week on Thursday, Aug. 6.
The approved assessment includes a 15.9% increase for five of the county’s seven fire assessment categories, with no increases for nursing homes, assisted living facilities or churches. For residential properties, the new rate is $0.07617 per square foot, equal to about $152.34 for a 2,000-square-foot home.
Revenue from the assessment will help fund additional personnel, new fire stations, emergency vehicles and other improvements as the county continues to grow.
Under the two-year plan, Highlands County Fire Rescue plans to complete Fire Station 23 in Spring Lake, which is expected to open in 2027, and transition Station 10 on Hammock Road in Sebring into a fully staffed career station.
The county also plans to begin construction of Station 36 in Lake Placid and convert Station 29 on Lake June Road into a staffed jump station, where crews can respond using either a fire engine or ambulance depending on the emergency.
If the plan is completed as proposed, Highlands County would increase its number of fully staffed career fire stations from three to six over the next two years.
“When someone calls 911, they expect help to arrive as quickly as possible,” Deputy Fire Chief Dustin Fitch said. “This plan helps us place firefighters, paramedics and emergency equipment closer to the communities they serve.”
SOURCE: HIGHLANDS COUNTY PRESS RELEASE
