Newberry’s fire assessment will increase from $200 to $300 in the 2025-26 fiscal year for the rate’s first increase in three years.
After much deliberation on how to proceed with the rate, the Newberry City Commission approved the 33% increase, 4-1, during a regular meeting on Monday, with Commissioner Monty Farnsworth in dissent.
With a packed city hall, Commissioner Rick Coleman suggested tabling the fire assessment in order to hold another workshop where citizens could speak more on the item. But the commission decided to move forward with a vote in the interest of needing to finalize the city’s budget by Oct. 1…