Jupiter Votes to Launch Its Own Fire Rescue Department, Breaking from Palm Beach County

Jupiter is officially breaking away from Palm Beach County Fire Rescue. On Tuesday, May 5, 2026, the Town Council voted overwhelmingly to adopt a non-ad valorem assessment rate schedule for the creation of Jupiter Fire Rescue, a standalone municipal department set to launch October 1, 2026.

The new funding model, approved as Resolution 59-26, will appear as a separate line item on property tax bills. Town officials project the fee will cost residents less than what they currently pay the county, with total first-year savings of nearly $10 million.

"Today marks a new chapter for public safety in Jupiter," Mayor Jim Kuretski said following the vote. Councilor Ron Delaney, Councilor Malise Sundstrom, Vice-Mayor Phyllis Choy, and Councilor Dan Guisinger voted in favor. Mayor Kuretski cast the sole dissenting vote.

The move comes after years of rising costs under the county's contract. Newly appointed Fire Rescue Chief Darrel Donatto updated the Council on the department's progress, noting that hiring is complete with 90 positions filled from over 1,500 applicants. The first 36 firefighters began their service on May 4.

Property owners will receive formal notices of the new assessment on May 26, with a final funding vote scheduled for June 16.

In other business, the Council:

• Approved a $1.34 million contract for Public Works site work
• Authorized a FIND grant application for waterway rescue vessels
• Postponed a vote on $86,330 in shaded bleacher covers for Jupiter Community Park
  

The Council also recognized National Drinking Water Week and Historic Preservation Month, and heard a presentation from the Palm Beach County Clerk of Court on ongoing scams targeting local residents.

📬 Stay in the Know

Don't miss another important update from Jupiter Town Hall.
Join 4,000+ neighbors who wake up to the Jupiter Brief — a free, weekly hand-curated digest of Jupiter's top news stories, weekend events, and essential local updates.

✅ No spam. No fluff. Just the facts about our town.
✅ We don't sell your data.

👉 Subscribe here:
https://jupiterbrief.com/jupiter-brief-subscribe.html