State Senator Burt Saunders will hold a town hall meeting June 4th at 9 a.m. at Iona McGregor Fire Station Four, 6061 South Point Blvd., Ft. Myers to discuss property tax reform and its potential impact on independent fire districts. There are 22 independent fire districts in Lee and Collier County (22 in Lee and 5 in Collier) that derive nearly 95% their funding from property tax. If any of the current legislative proposals are passed, it would mean a drastic cut in personnel and resources, which in turn could raise ISO (Insurance Service Office) ratings and property insurance both homeowners and businesses.
Senator Saunders will address questions and concerns from the fire service and other public safety personnel, along with other members of the audience.
FLORIDA TAX REFORM BILL
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR YOUR FIRE & EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES
The
House, Senate and the Governor each has a different property tax reform
proposal that will be revisited during special legislative session June
12-22. Although we all agree property tax relief is needed, the impact
that any of the three proposed plans will have on independent fire
districts will be catastrophic.
The Bonita Springs Fire Control and Rescue District is an independent special taxing district. The vast majority of its funding (95%) comes from ad valorem property tax. Unlike city or county governments, independent fire districts have virtually no other means of revenue.
This situation is not
isolated just to our organization; most of unincorporated Lee and
Depending upon which
version of tax reform is adopted, the fire district could lose over 50.0%
of its budget; the consequence of this impact will be as follows:
·
A catastrophic reduction in
personnel; up to two thirds of the work force (71 out of 129 employees)
· This reduction in personnel will be region wide and will reduce the ability of other agencies to assist in controlling or mitigating complex incidents (mutual aid)
·
The closing of numerous fire
stations
·
Extended response times
resulting in increased morbidity and mortality
·
Extended response times
resulting in increased dollar loss to property
·
Increased ISO ratings
resulting in increased homeowner insurance rates
·
Insufficient staffing for
effective disaster operations, i.e. hurricanes, brush fires
· Insufficient staffing for special operations, i.e. hazardous materials, confined space, trench/excavation, water and construction incidences
In short, the result
of property tax reform may well eliminate the fire district’s ability to
provide adequate protection to the citizens and visitors of our community.
Also, with the majority of the National Guard deployed to
If the current House
proposal passes, below would be the results for independent fire districts
in
|
Fire
District |
Total
Budgeted Personnel |
06-07
Revenue |
Tax
Reform Cut |
Remaining
Revenue |
%
Cut |
Impact
Personnel Lost |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Alva |
13 |
1,340,064 |
939,550 |
401,105 |
70.08 |
13 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bayshore |
16 |
1,459,797 |
754,966 |
704,831 |
52.40 |
7 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Boca Grande |
22 |
2,448,423 |
1,433,201 |
1,015,222 |
58.71 |
16 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
129 |
20,039,668 |
10,155,917 |
9,883,751 |
50.70 |
71 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Captiva |
6 |
843,349 |
283,279 |
560,070 |
33.26 |
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Estero |
74 |
11,259,649 |
4,804,607 |
6,455,042 |
43.10 |
38 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
57 |
11,791,899 |
5,725,765 |
6,066,134 |
48.67 |
25 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
16 |
2,989,387 |
2,110,642 |
878,745 |
71.06 |
11 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
114 |
17,235,952 |
8,231,799 |
9,004,153 |
47.67 |
53 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lehigh |
134 |
20,562,699 |
13,872,644 |
6,690,055 |
67.60 |
71 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
32 |
5,070,286 |
2,881,215 |
2,189,071 |
56.92 |
22 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
67 |
7,819,637 |
2,657,676 |
5,161,961 |
34.45 |
21 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
64 |
8,671,413 |
4,415,592 |
4,255,821 |
50.49 |
40 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sanibel |
28 |
4,166,007 |
1,679,475 |
2,486,531 |
40.40 |
12 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
South Trail |
87 |
12,491,861 |
3,178,639 |
9,313,222 |
25.45 |
22 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tice |
32 |
3,359,303 |
1,042,426 |
2,316,878 |
31.03 |
10 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7 |
543,844 |
280,540 |
263,305 |
52.24 |
4 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
893 |
132,093,238 |
64,447,933 |
67,645,897 |
49.07 |
439 |
|
|
|
|
|
We are
asking that you help us save public safety services in
| Governor
Crist
Office of the Governor Charlie Crist State of Florida Pl-05 The Capital Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001 Fax: 850-487-0801 Phone: 850-488-4441 850-488-7146
|
Senator Ken Pruitt District Office: 1850 SW Fountainview Blvd. Suite 200 Port St. Lucie, FL 34986-3443 Fax: 772-344-4102 Phone: 772-344-1140 Tallahassee Office: Room 312 senate Office Building 404 South Monroe Street Tallahassee, FL 32399-1100 Phone: 850-487-5088 Email: pruitt.ken.web@flsenate.gov
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