Board sets special meeting for assessment fee
Larry Becker
The Lehigh Acres Fire and Rescue District has announced a special hearing will be held at its regular scheduled meeting on April 28 at which time the fire district will make official the exemptions it intends to implement during the collection of the special assessment fee that voters approved in an election in November.
Larry Becker, chairman of the board of commissioners, said the special hearing would be a separate part of the regular meeting which is usually held on the last Tuesday night of each month. This month’s meeting however has been changed to March 24. Meetings are held at Station 104 at Sunshine Blvd. and 16th St.
At the meeting in April, the board will also authorize the amount to impose, which is expected to be $2.92 per residential household and other amounts for land and parcels.
Richard Pringle, the board’s attorney said the board cannot exceed the amount voters approved of in the November election, but can levy a smaller amount.
While this year’s tax bill will likely be the amount that was listed on the ballot, it can change from year to year, depending on the operations and expenses of the fire district, Pringle said. It cannot go up, but can go down, he said.
The board also agreed on a resolution to ask the county tax collector to list the amount on the regular tax bills that go out to residents every year. In turn, the tax collector’s office will collect the assessments for the district and in turn charge the district for the collection of the tax revenue.
The board on Feb. 24 had first discussed holding the public hearing on a Saturday when some members thought more people would turn out. But after discussions, it was determined that the special hearing would be held at the April meeting which will begin at 5 p.m. After the hearing is held, the board will end that meeting and open the regular meeting to discuss agenda items that will be posted on its online website prior to the meeting date.
Attorney Pringle said even though the board has previously discussed the exemptions a few months ago, it had to have an open discussion with the public and vote to formalize the exemptions. Generally the board had agreed to continue the same exemptions that were allowed when an ad valorem fee was charged taxpayers to support the fire department and ambulance transport squad.
Commissioner Linda Carter said after the meeting that she plans to push for more exemptions for seniors and other groups.
The board also agreed to issue a special plaque to outgoing members following an election, thanking them for their service. The topic came up a few months back after the defeat of one of the board members.
The newest commissioner, Matt Smith, asked for a discussion and approval of an ethical policy for the fire district.
Attorney Pringle told the board that such an ethics policy was in effect because of Florida law.
However, the board agreed to use its online site to point residents to a link to the state site where the policy is listed and explained. The link should be included on the website sometime in the next month.
Tax notices are mailed on or before November 1 of each year. All tax payments are due before April 1, at which time the taxes become delinquent and additional charges will apply, according to the Lee County Tax Collector.
The residential property assessment that voters approved includes a flat rate of $290 per improved residential parcel. Commercial property is 35 cents per square foot per improved commercial parcel. Industrial and warehouse property fee is 6 cents per square foot, institutional fee is 52 cents per square foot per improved unimproved land is $21 per acre (or portion thereof) with a minimum one acre and maximum of 10 acres.
If commissioners levy the fees approved by taxpayers, the estimated net revenue generated will be around $13.4 million. The district needs approximately $15 million per year to sustain the same level of coverage and service it provides today. The difference will be accomplished through the district’s ambulance transport fees that are budgeted at approximately $1.5 million per year.
In addition to Becker, Smith and Carter, the other two members of the board are David Adams and Cathy Kruse.
Board sets special meeting for assessment fee
Larry Becker
The Lehigh Acres Fire and Rescue District has announced a special hearing will be held at its regular scheduled meeting on April 28 at which time the fire district will make official the exemptions it intends to implement during the collection of the special assessment fee that voters approved in an election in November.
Larry Becker, chairman of the board of commissioners, said the special hearing would be a separate part of the regular meeting which is usually held on the last Tuesday night of each month. This month’s meeting however has been changed to March 24. Meetings are held at Station 104 at Sunshine Blvd. and 16th St.
At the meeting in April, the board will also authorize the amount to impose, which is expected to be $2.92 per residential household and other amounts for land and parcels.
Richard Pringle, the board’s attorney said the board cannot exceed the amount voters approved of in the November election, but can levy a smaller amount.
While this year’s tax bill will likely be the amount that was listed on the ballot, it can change from year to year, depending on the operations and expenses of the fire district, Pringle said. It cannot go up, but can go down, he said.
The board also agreed on a resolution to ask the county tax collector to list the amount on the regular tax bills that go out to residents every year. In turn, the tax collector’s office will collect the assessments for the district and in turn charge the district for the collection of the tax revenue.
The board on Feb. 24 had first discussed holding the public hearing on a Saturday when some members thought more people would turn out. But after discussions, it was determined that the special hearing would be held at the April meeting which will begin at 5 p.m. After the hearing is held, the board will end that meeting and open the regular meeting to discuss agenda items that will be posted on its online website prior to the meeting date.
Attorney Pringle said even though the board has previously discussed the exemptions a few months ago, it had to have an open discussion with the public and vote to formalize the exemptions. Generally the board had agreed to continue the same exemptions that were allowed when an ad valorem fee was charged taxpayers to support the fire department and ambulance transport squad.
Commissioner Linda Carter said after the meeting that she plans to push for more exemptions for seniors and other groups.
The board also agreed to issue a special plaque to outgoing members following an election, thanking them for their service. The topic came up a few months back after the defeat of one of the board members.
The newest commissioner, Will Smith, asked for a discussion and approval of an ethical policy for the fire district.
Attorney Pringle told the board that such an ethics policy was in effect because of Florida law.
However, the board agreed to use its online site to point residents to a link to the state site where the policy is listed and explained. The link should be included on the website sometime in the next month.
Tax notices are mailed on or before November 1 of each year. All tax payments are due before April 1, at which time the taxes become delinquent and additional charges will apply, according to the Lee County Tax Collector.
The residential property assessment that voters approved includes a flat rate of $292 per improved residential parcel. Commercial property is 35 cents per square foot per improved commercial parcel. Industrial and warehouse property fee is 6 cents per square foot, institutional fee is 52 cents per square foot per improved unimproved land is $21 per acre (or portion thereof) with a minimum one acre and maximum of 10 acres.
If commissioners levy the fees approved by taxpayers, the estimated net revenue generated will be around $13.4 million. The district needs approximately $15 million per year to sustain the same level of coverage and service it provides today. The difference will be accomplished through the district’s ambulance transport fees that are budgeted at approximately $1.5 million per year.
In addition to Becker, Smith and Carter, the other two members of the board are David Adams and Cathy Kruse.
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