- The High Springs City Commission voted to keep both the police and fire departments, with a planned fire assessment increase to provide the funding.
- The fire department receives about $1.1 million from the city general fund, and officials said surrendering it to county control could cost more and reduce service quality.
The city of High Springs will keep both its police and fire departments following the City Commission’s votes in favor of each on Thursday.
Community members and first responders packed the commission chambers to standing room to witness the outcome of more than a year of debate over whether to keep or dissolve the departments. The city is the only in Alachua County besides Gainesville to fund its own fire and police.
Vice Mayor Wayne Bloodsworth Jr.’s motion to keep High Springs Fire Department (HSFD) funded passed 3-2, with commissioners Tristan Grunder and Chad Howell in dissent, and is contingent on a fire assessment increase…