At its meeting on Tuesday, August 15, 2023, the Jupiter Town Council directed Town staff to create the Jupiter Fire Rescue Department (JFRD) to deliver excellent levels of fire and rescue service at a lower, more sustainable cost to residents and businesses. This direction came after 18 months of negotiations with Palm Beach County Fire Rescue and an exhaustive feasibility study by the Center for Public Safety Management (CPSM). Read the full study here, and view a summary presentation here. JFRD WILL PROVIDE LOCAL CONTROL:
Creating the new JFRD will allow the Jupiter Town Council to have local control over costs, operations, and levels of service. It will also allow the Council to make fiscally-responsible decisions on behalf of Jupiter’s residents and businesses, and will significantly decrease the cost of fire rescue and emergency services compared to what is charged by Palm Beach County Fire Rescue (PBCFR), currently and into the future. FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY:
Over the 10-year timeframe of the current interlocal agreement, Jupiter taxpayers will save $50-70 million by establishing the JFRD. In Fiscal Year 2027, the first year in which JFRD will provide provide service, the average homesteaded single-family home in Jupiter ($443,833 of taxable value) will save at a minimum of $173 and up to $930 in property taxes as compared to what is charged by Palm Beach County Fire Rescue. Over the first five years of the JFRD, the savings will be a minimum of $883 and as much as $4,593. The Town of Jupiter has always done an exceptional job at managing its financial position, which will allow the Town to start the JFRD through a combination of cash, financial debt, and ad valorem taxes. Even when start-up costs and financing costs are incorporated, Jupiter residents and businesses will pay far less in taxes once the JFRD is operational than they currently pay to PBCFR for the same service. CULTURE OF EXCELLENCE:
The Town of Jupiter has established a culture of excellence in regards to public safety. The Jupiter Police Department sets this benchmark every day, and JFRD will start its service from a position of excellence on day one. MOVING FORWARD:
The Town is in the implementation phase of the JFRD, which will begin service on October 1, 2026. The Town will receive fire rescue and EMS services from PBCFR until that time under the current interlocal agreement.
