News

By Jane Smith
    Delray Beach is reopening discussions with Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue to combine services.
    Under the mayor’s direction, City Manager Don Cooper has talked with his county counterpart, Assistant County Administrator Brad Merriman.
    “It’s in the preliminary stages,” Cooper said. He asked Merriman to find out what could be different this time.
    Cooper expects to bring a rough plan to the City Commission in August.
    In June 2014, Delray Beach commissioners rejected joining forces with the county after the city’s finance director said the contract, while projected to save $2.1 million in the first year, could be more costly in future years.
    Merriman said the county’s fire chief is preparing the plan.
    The full-cost methodology proposal is no longer on the table, according to County Fire-Rescue Chief Jeff Collins.
    Instead, the county would like Delray Beach to join its municipal service taxing unit where property owners pay a flat rate of $3.4581 per $1,000 of taxable value, Collins said.
    “It would be safer for the employees and for the citizens,” Collins said.
    He is preparing the county’s proposal, which would cover city fire-rescue employees (who will have the option to join the Florida retiree system for their pensions), staffing levels, response times, equipment to buy or lease, fire stations and other items.
    “Fires would still be put out, rescue calls still made,” said Danielle Connor, Delray Beach fire chief. “It’s just a change in ownership.”
    She said she had no opinion on the consolidation.
    “The issue is not the highest priority in the city’s current three-year plan or in FY 2016 budget, as approved by commission in April and July,” wrote Jack Warner, Delray Beach chief financial officer in an email. “Unlike many other components of city services and capabilities, fire service is not currently ‘broken.’ 
    “The county’s long-term objective is consolidation of municipalities’ fire services. The  opportunity for Delray will continue to be available if we do not decide this year; therefore no urgency.”
    Delray Beach provides fire-rescue services to the towns of Gulf Stream and Highland Beach. Those contracts expire next year.