Ad Valorem Calculator

West Manatee Fire & Rescue District Services Within the District: 

Advanced Life Support (ALS)
Paramedic-staffed units deliver advanced life support services, including cardiac monitoring, advanced airway management, and emergency medical interventions to patients during responses before patients are transported to area hospitals.

Fire Suppression & Emergency Response
Professional certified firefighters respond to structure fires, vehicle fires, alarms, and all-hazards emergencies across our district.

Fire Prevention & Community Risk Reduction
The Fire Prevention Bureau focuses on inspections of commercial and residential structures (including vacation rentals),  provides public education, and community outreach to inform property owners of fire hazards and risks to reduce emergencies before they happen.

Specialized Rescue Capabilities within the District

The District’s firefighters are trained to provide specialized services, including: 

  • Light Technical Rescue services that involve ropes, confined space rescues, trenching, extrication, and structural collapse situations
  • High-water and flood rescue services
  • Rescue Swimmers for marine and swift-water emergencies
  • Advanced boat operations for coastal and inland water rescues/Marine Emergency Rescue Team (MERT)

Hurricane & Disaster Readiness

The District’s firefighters and paramedics are equipped and trained to respond to calls during severe weather events and large-scale emergencies.

Local Governance & Accountability
The District is an independent special fire district that is governed by a five-member elected board.  The board oversees the District’s funding, budget, and authorizes District expenditures.   

Fire District Challenges

State and Federal Mandates
State and federal laws require that firefighters be provided with firefighter cancer benefits, PFAS-free protective gear, mental health programs, staffing considerations, and work-hour standards. These requirements are implemented through the District’s authorized funding sources.

Facilities & Equipment
Several Fire Station facilities that were constructed decades ago are located in areas subject to environmental or infrastructure constraints. The cost of maintaining and replacing fire apparatus and equipment has increased over time.

Staffing & Retention Pressures
National and state safety standards establish staffing levels for fire operations. Current staffing levels are based on existing budgetary allocations.

Limited Training Infrastructure
The District utilizes available training facilities to meet applicable NFPA standards. Some training activities require off-site or shared facilities.

Funding Comparison to Other Fire Districts
West Manatee Fire & Rescue District is funded primarily through non-ad valorem assessments. Other neighboring fire districts utilize a combination of funding mechanisms, including ad valorem taxation, to produce revenue to fund all fire and rescue services.

Referendum Request for Limited Ad Valorem Millage Approval (Capped at 1 Mill) The additional limited millage approval will provide the District with additional funding to support firefighter salaries, training, facility enhancements, and fire apparatus acquisitions.  

Disclaimer

This tool estimates the Proposed Ad Valorem Assessment Cap using the parcel’s Taxable Value from Tax Year 2025. Results are for informational purposes only and are not an official tax bill, assessment, or legal advice. Actual amounts may differ due to exemptions, corrections, or changes to values and rates. WMFR makes no warranties as to accuracy or completeness and assumes no liability for actions taken in reliance on these results. For official records, consult the Manatee County Property Appraiser and Tax Collector.

Millage is a tax rate defined as the dollars assessed for each $1,000 of value. One mill is one dollar per $1,000 of assessed value. The District’s ad valorem authorization request limits the amount of millage the District may levy against property owners to no more than 1 mill. The impact of the proposed millage rate to a property owner can be calculated using the following mathematical equation: Taxable value ÷ 1,000 × millage rate = Tax Owed.

For any questions regarding your Proposed Ad Valorem Assessment, please contact Admin@wmfr.org.