Tax amendment could cost Martin County 116 firefighters

(The Center Square) – Martin County officials say a proposed statewide property tax amendment could force the closure of three fire stations or the elimination of 116 firefighter positions by 2028.

Martin County’s Emergency Services stands to lose $16.5 million if voters pass the property tax relief proposal in November.

A fiscal impact briefing prepared for the Martin County Board of Commissioners shows emergency services would lose $9.5 million during the first year and an additional $7 million the next year.

To make up for the budget cuts, Fire Rescue will either have to close a total of three stations or fire 116 firefighters.

If Fire Rescue chose to do everything it could to keep all its firefighters, it would not only mean the closure of three stations but it would also end hazmat, dive, and technical rescue, ground its LifeStar critical care air ambulance helicopter, and run other equipment past their service life, according to the brief.

On the other hand, keeping all those servi...