The proposed fire fees in Venice that would help fund the fire department has hit a snag due to a method of how some properties are appraised. The difference has to do with condominiums and the fact that they are appraised differently than other properties. The current formula states all non-government property owners in Venice would pay a fee of $93.91. Tier two would cost $4.81 for every $5,000 of value. The confusion is in Sarasota County, the property appraiser factors in common property when listing a value for an individual condominium. That could condominium owners would be overcharged, compared to the fees assessed to a similarly valued single-family home. The Venice City Council will meet Monday for the first of two meetings to tackle this topic. The meeting starts at 9am and is open to the public. If the council is unable to come to a conclusion on the fee structure, it may have to be tabled for another time for budgeting purposes.
