TAVARES, Fla. -- The City of Tavares wants to start taxing its own county. Lake County owns several buildings in downtown Tavares.

The Lake County Administration Building in downtown Tavares is one of the largest buildings in town, but the county does not pay for their fire protection.

The Tavares Fire Department rushes to 2,500 emergencies per year and nearly one-quarter of the fire calls are to government buildings.

"This little city is providing all of the fire service for the entire county," said City Administrator John Drury.

Drury says its high-time Lake County starts paying for the protection.

"This is about fairness. This is about equity," said Drury.

The city may soon establish it's first ever fire fee and the county could get a bill.

"It's not a good time to be raising taxes or fees on anything right now, at any level, for anything," said Commissioner Jimmy Conner.

Conner says Lake County's attorney is checking to see if it's legal to make the county pay.

Tavares' residents currently cover the cost of fire protection through their property taxes.

The county government is tax exempt and Drury says that needs to change. It's already being done in Tallahassee. Drury says it would cost Lake County fewer than $200,000 per year.

"It sounds like a lot of money," said Conner.

"I think if the county were to gear up a fire department to cover all of its buildings, you would be talking close $1million. It's a heck of a deal," Drury said.

The City Council may vote on the proposed fire fee next month.