Nearly 3,000 residents and businesses in four Alachua County communities are facing big hikes or cancellation of their homeowner’s insurance after an agency threatened to lower their ratings because of a shortage of nearby firefighters.
The proposed downgrade could affect 892 parcels in LaCrosse, 853 in Micanopy, 322 in Cross Creek, and 527 in Windsor. Both Cross Creek and Windsor are volunteer fire departments.
“I had heard rumors of this happening before but it’s the first time I’ve seen it and the first time it’s been in Alachua County,” Alachua County Fire Rescue Chief William Northcutt said on Monday.
The action is being contemplated by the Insurance Services Office, a risk-rating agency used by many insurance companies to determine if they will write homeowners or business insurance policies in certain areas, and what rate to charge.