Damon Shelor

What I am about to say will probably be unpopular with many especially the firefighters but needs to be said for better understanding by the general public.

Many are asking how the Lehigh Acres Fire District has gotten has gotten into their current financial situation. This is a generalization of how and why we are faced with this crisis, here is my explanation.

First let me preface my comments by stating, we arecurrently inan economic situation not experienced for 70 – 80 years, probably never experienced in SWF.

Who’s to blame? Certainly the commissionersmust take some of the blame. The union needs to take some of the blame and by association the firefighters as a group must take some blame. I feelfor those individuals that are losing their jobs, it is not their fault but they are part of the system and the problem.

Let’s review the situation over the past six years or so.

2002-03: Lots of people moving into SWF, Naples and Bonita Springs are hot property areas. In the election of 2002 heavy firefighter candidacyfor various elected fire Boards throughout Lee County, maybe other counties as well. (firefighters who work in Bonita were running for office in Iona-McGregor, some working in NFM and were running in Lehigh.) I’ll mention something about a “Hen House?” later on.

In 2002 several incumbents lost in Lehigh Acres and suddenly the Fire Boardbecame a majority of union firefighters.

Between 2002 and 2006: The building boom was on! Property values and populationin Lehigh soared. Remember property values in Lehigh rising 90 percent in one year. You know the story.

Back at the fire house the Board decided they were going to rebuild Lehigh’s antiquated Fire District. Chief Jim Cardosa, was fired, for not being a progressive manager/administer. Jim Cordosa is probably glad he’s not around now!Do you remember the statements about becoming another Miami/Dade Fire Dept. with all the equipment and abilities? To achieve that expertise the district needed to attract firemen. They needed to expand to handle the brush fires and dramatically increasing population.

Lehigh Acres went from the lowest paid fire district to the second highest paid fire district during this time. Starting salaries were increased 46 percent, firefighters from as far away as Sarasota and Miamitransferred and took jobs in Lehigh because the pay was better. Today Lehigh has a strong and effective fire district. That’s great, but we have to pay for it too!

By 2006-07 the Board had changed, theUnion majority was broken.The board replacements were “new” andthere is a big knowledge lag when you’re new to “Policy, Planningand Budgeting?” responsibilities of a “public agency.” Economically, the bubble was about to burst in SWF,especially in Lehigh.

The number of firefighters and staffswelledand two new fire stations were started. The tax revenues went from $9 million to $36 million! There was little foresight as to the recurring salaries and increased operational costs for two new fire stations. We were told the fire district is in great shape, “look, we have paid cash for the fire stations and don’t owe anything for them.”

What they did was use money from reserves to pay part of the construction costs for these new “plush” stations. Money, from reserves, that was built up to cover “hard times.” Well, the hard times are here and the reserves are not.

Before the recent lay-offs there were roughly 130 firefighters and staff compared to 50 in 2000-02. The two fire stations are completed and equipment in place. Meanwhile tax revenues have plummeted 60 percent in two years, to about $17 million.

Folks, salaries in the Fire District account for 82 percent of the total budget which is about $28 million. (That’sroughly $23 million in salaries) Remember the fire district is only going to get about $17 million if all the taxes get paid.

This situation is bleak and hard timesare coming to our Fire District. We, the citizens and Fire District are going to have to deal with this. Lee County has no responsibility here except to provide ambulance service if necessary. When I say “the Fire District” I mean – The Fire Board, District Administration and employees.

For several weeks we have read about tax problems with other fire districts. Cape Coral and Bonita firefighters are taking salary cuts to avoid layoffs.

The problems in other districts are not as bad as Lehigh’s but – where is the union and employees’ offer of salary reductions to reduce costs and save jobs in Lehigh? What happens when foxes watch the Hen House? Youlose yourchickensand get noeggs!

Having said all that let me say this.

Did we need to payour fire fighters more than what we were? Yes.

Did we needto improve service and response time? Yes.

This is not a condemnation of the board, the union or the firefighters. What is done is done. Granted, only a few would have predicted the depth of this economic crisis we are all dealing with now. The real question is how are we going to deal withthis?

Open discussion needs to be happening and so far it’s not happening. There are a lot of scare tactics being played right now. Weneed serious discussions. This situation is so bad that concessions are going to have to be made by everyone; hopefully serious and open discussions will happen soon. No need to panic, we’ve got money until 2010-11.

The public needs to become more knowledgeable as voters and those elected need to remember they represent the public’s interest and need to public’s trust. Those elected officials are the ones who set goals, policy, direction and they spend our money.

The figures I use are generalities and should not be considered exact. I’m explaining the situation as I see it in general terms and I do not pretend to be an “expert” on the Fire District’s finances. I could be wrong or misinformed about something. So, tell me where I’m wrong.

Damon Shelor is president of the Lehigh Community Council and is a member of the Lehigh Acres Community Planning Corp. (LACPC). Among other organizations, he is also involved with the Weed and Seed group that is currently working to help fight crime and clean up Lehigh. This article will also appear in the next print edition of The Lehigh Acres Citizen. – Ed.

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