To the Editor,

Just recently the Lehigh Acres Fire commission was presented with a plan by a Blue Ribbon Committee from the Lehigh Acres Chamber of Commerce and the Lehigh Community Council. They presented a balanced budget plan for the next four years which would keep all five Lehigh Acres fire stations open 24/7, 365 days a year with 10 advanced life support trucks (one ambulance and one engine at each station). This would keep 90 firefighters plus necessary administrative staff on the job.

The budgets were based on figures provided by the chief of the department. It called for the reduction of 17 firefighters and some administrative personnel. The chief’s plan called for around 40 layoffs.

The figures in the budget called for a 10 percent reduction in all employees’ salaries and benefits. Seeing that the average pay and benefits for each firefighter is between $90,000 and $100,000, with chiefs making in excess of $150,000 (including benefit packages), this seems reasonable. Remember that the fire district utilized $11 million from reserves this year to balance the budget, and is on a collision course with bankruptcy.,

The chief on several occasions over the past few months has warned the Board of this fiscal crisis. Each time they have bowed to the demands of the union-supported board and took no advice from the chief.

Why have a chief (CEO) if you don’t listen to him?

The Board’s response is, let’s raise taxes another 25 cents per thousand and add a special extra assessment tax on everybody of $100 a parcel. If you rent, who do you think will pay the extra $100?

Citizens, wake up. This is not the time to raise taxes and add special assessments. We are all hurting and it seems every other governmental agency (except Lehigh Acres FD) has got the message and is holding or dropping taxes. Why not the Lehigh Acres Fire District?

Simple, the commissioners are bought and paid for by the firefighters union.

Don’t be fooled about emergency services

The blue ribbon panel’s recommendations show we all can continue to save five stations with five engines and five ambulances to protect us.

Send a message. Call your five commissioners and tell them to wake up and stop the madness.

We need solid fiscal leadership – not more taxes to feather the nests of a few firefighters.

Whatever you do share this information with your friends and neighbors, and if we get to vote on a special assessment, just say no.,

Whitey Doidge

Lehigh Acres