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Fire board votes to raise tax by 3 mills

By Staff | Jun 23, 2009

Lehigh Fire Dept. Assistant Chief Jeff Haugh was given the traditional golden axe in observance of his retirement from the Lehigh Acres Fire and Rescue District from Chief Don Adams during the monthly fire board meeting held June 15. Adams paid tribute to Haugh and his service before the presentation, calling him a leader and thanking him for his guidance.

One of the first things the board did was to vote to raise the tax rate on Lehigh properties to 3 mills. It cannot raise it any higher and must raise it this month and give it final approval before the end of September.

While the meeting was not a hearing for the upcoming budget, the chief told the board that he was prepared to take a 10 percent cut or more if firefighters agree to that or more.

“There are rumors that I am unwilling to take a pay cut,” he said.

Adams has terminated the jobs of nine firefighters and two administrative staffers because of monetary problems. More layoffs are coming over the next 30 to 60 days unless money can be found.

A special hearing or a budget workshop is scheduled for the community on June 23 at 6 p.m. at East Lee County High School on Thomas Sherwin Ave., not far from Station 105 at the intersection of Milwaukee and Bell Blvds. A large crowd is excepted to turn out.

During this monthly meeting, board member David Adams, no relationship to the chief, said he believed the board of five members should take a 50 percent cut in the $3,000 in pay they receive. Commissioner Joel Guzman ran the meeting because of the absence of Chairman Jeff Berndt.

Fire Board Attorney Richard Pringle told the board that he was able to cancel the contract for a new fire truck and get a reimbursement back of $29,000 which can be used for the purchase of a future vehicle. He said the vendor understood the current financial problems at the Lehigh Acres Fire Dept..

He said he was still waiting for lending institutions to respond regarding the extension of a line of credit to help for the ailing department. Pringle also said that LCEC would use the easement to add transmission lines instead of putting them underground in front of one of the new fire stations.

During a public comment period, Damon Shelor, president of the Community Council of Lehigh Acres, said his organization has proposed a blue ribbon panel of six people to help the department with its budget problems.

He said experts in business could be asked to sit on the panel along with members of the fire board or their appointees

“It’s totally your decision, but if you go for this plan, you may give the public confidence,” Shelor said. “We would get people with expertise, people who have faced these economic problems,” he said.

The board seemed at first to be cool to the proposal and said it had a three-member panel to work with the department when the budget was prepared. The board tabled the discussion to the June 23 special meeting. The board also decided to go along with the union’s request to extend the current contract for 120 days.

The board also set its tentative millage rate of 3 mills, which is the maximum it can raise property taxes by law. To raise taxes more, a special referendum would have to be held.

Walt Stevens, president of Florida 1826, who said he represents the two local unions, called the layoffs unfair.

“Stop these layoffs. Let’s look at every option, refinancing of stations, bridge loans and wait to see what new taxes will bring in,” he said.

Sonny Haas, who served on the fire board and lost by two votes to Julie Barrett in the last election, said he was against giving the ambulances to Lee County and discontinue some of the service here.

“We need to look at all avenues,” he said.

The chief told the board that he and Public Information Officer Patrick Comer met with county commissioners to ask if the rumors of Lee County having Obama stimulus money available for independent taxing districts and was told there is no stimulus money available from Lee County for retaining or hiring personnel. He said they told them the money the county has received can only be utilized for capital projects.

“We can only do with what we have. We serve 144 square miles and maybe 75,000 residents. I am confidence we will make the right decisions,” said acting chairman of the board Joel Guzman at the end of the meeting.