TAMPA, Fla. - eTradeWire -- Hillsborough County, FL — Today, I am announcing a forward-thinking proposal to help lower real estate property insurance costs, strengthen public safety, and invest in Florida's long-term future by proposing a bill only activated during years of Florida's budget surplus to expand fire station capacity statewide.

Florida families and businesses are being crushed by rising real estate property insurance premiums and many communities are also facing increased demands on emergency services due to rapid growth. I believe we can address both challenges at the same time through smart emergency infrastructure investment that protects families and delivers lasting value.

My proposal, the Florida Emergency Response & Insurance Relief Act, would create a statewide matching grant program, only activated during years of budget surplus, to help counties and municipalities build new fire stations and modernize existing facilities. By strategically improving fire protection systems and emergency response times, communities can strengthen their ISO Public Protection Classification ratings, one of the key factors insurance companies use when pricing homeowners and commercial property policies.

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Florida is projected to have a $3.8 billion budget surplus for the 2026–2027 fiscal year.

Read Budget Data:
https://www.leg.state.fl.us/Data/Committees/Joint/JLBC/Meetings/Packets/091225.pdf

Rather than allowing those funds to sit idle or be spent on short-term priorities, I believe we should reinvest a portion of that surplus into emergency infrastructure that can serve Floridians for the next 30 to 50 years.

Under this proposal, the state would cover 70 percent of eligible project costs, while local governments would contribute the remaining 30 percent.

With a $1 billion surplus appropriation, Florida could help fund approximately 142 new fire stations across the state. "If passed, this sponsored bill would only be activated on years where the great State of Florida has a budget surplus."

In Hillsborough County, current estimates indicate a shortfall of approximately 20 to 25 fire stations. This program could significantly reduce that shortage in the first year alone, helping improve response times, strengthen neighborhood coverage, and support insurance relief for local families and business owners alike.

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The proposal would prioritize funding for high-population density areas, areas where an emergency response gap exists, and communities where station expansion would have the greatest impact on response times, ISO PPC rating, and insurance affordability.

As your State Representative, I will fight to bring responsible, common-sense solutions like this to Tallahassee and ensure Hillsborough County receives the resources it needs to keep pace with growth and protect our residents.

https://electangelramos.com/