Fire Chief John Wayne has admitted at the last fire board meeting that 50% plus 1 of residential properties would see a tax increase if the fire assessment is passed.
But that’s really not all the truth … Lehigh Acres Gazette reporters contacted the Honorable Kenneth Wilkinson at Lee County Property Appraiser’s Office to do the computation of the numbers. Craig Herrera of the data service division of Lee County Property Appraiser’s Office emailed us the following information.
29,248 of the 31,143 single family residential properties will see a tax increase (based on the 2013 tax roll) if the fire assessment is passed, that’s 91.08% and not the 50% plus 1 as Chief Wayne said.
1165 of the 1168 of the condominiums properties will see a tax increase (based on the 2013 tax roll) if the fire assessment is passed, that’s 99.7%
And 2109 of the 2123 of the Multi-Family Less than 10 properties will see a tax increase (based on the 2013 tax roll) if the fire assessment is passed, that’s 99.3%
In the approved fire board’s resolution 14-06-01 it states, “The district has determined that it will be able to provide property tax relief if a non-ad valorem assessment program is imposed to fund provision of fire and rescue services, facilities, and programs”
So what is tax relief? Tax Relief is any program or incentive that reduces the amount of tax owed by an individual or business entity.
So where is the tax relief Fire Board, when the Lee County Property Appraiser’s Office says 29,248 of the 31,143 single family residential properties will see a tax increase if approved.
Also the fire board’s resolution 14-06-01 does not exempt 501 (c)3 organizations such as churches and organizations like Lehigh Community Services.
Yes, I did state that 50% plus 1 of the properties assessed would see an increase over what they currently pay now in ad valorem taxes. However, that was a simple acknowledgement that we are well aware that the majority of properties (50% plus 1) will indeed see an increase if the Fire Fee Assessment passes in November…nothing more. The quote in your article is correct…”All this assessment does is harms seniors and working families in Lehigh”, said Lohlein. This is true for one reason only, a failed assessment means that the Fire District will continue to be funded through ad valorem taxes and these “taxes” are approximately 7 million dollars short of what is required to maintain the same level of service provided today. Therefore, you are right…residents will be harmed because service levels will be drastically reduced to the point of causing harm to the public’s safety when it comes to Fire/EMS responses in Lehigh Acres. Read the headlines this past week on this BLOG alone…”Serious Head On Crash SR 82 (6/26), 8 Injured in Rollover Crash on SR 82 (6/28), Fatal Crash Reported (6/29).” Every week we see headlines just like these. The Fire District will loose its ambulance service and over 50% of its employees, in addition to the closure of at least 1 fire station, if it has to rely solely on ad valorem taxes in the future. GET INVOLVED, BE INFORMED, MAKE AN EDUCATED DECISION ON THE FIRE FEE ASSESSMENT IN NOVEMBER.
The public is encouraged to call the Fire District at 239-303-5300 to make an appointment to speak with the Fire Chief if you have any questions and/or concerns about any information provided in these blogs. In addition, our public meetings are posted on the District’s website (www.lehighfd.com) and the public is also encouraged to attend to have their voice heard. Thank you.
I recently paid my home owners insurance policy, I hope I never have to use it, but it’s there if I need it. I paid my car insurance a while back, I hope I never have to use it, but it’s there if I need it. I think you may know where I’m going with this, but I feel it’s essential for a thriving community to have a top notch emergency response agency in case it’s needed. Like so many of our expenses in life, cost so much and feel like we get so little, until we need the service, then we are so glad it’s there. Like insurance plans, you get a bill based on what you perceive you may need if something goes wrong, and it’s there when you need it. You don’t have the option to call your agent when your house is on fire saying “I need that policy now.” As with the case for the same situation to call the fire department and you find out they need to buy a fire truck and train someone to operate it and respond to your emergency. It cost a lot of money to “be at the ready”, and many never need it, but it will be there if you do. Can things be done to reduce costs? Always. Could another alternative been proposed? Sure. Could a different scale of levy been proposed? Probably. It’s going to be up to the voters of Lehigh Fire District to decide to fund something that is so important to each and every resident in hopes of never having to use it, BUT IT WILL BE THERE IF IT’S NEEDED!
Serious people cannot deny that our Fire Department is in financial trouble. Without the SAFER Grant and the up and downs of the ad valorem tax there is no sufficient and stable financing possible. So, changing to a fixed assessment fee is the right things to go.
But HOW MUCH does the Fire Department actually need and HOW are the people being charged?
The requested amount of 13.5 Mio Dollar is not written in stone. The Department is able to survive with less, I’m sure.
And the way the board has decided to get the money from the Lehigh people is incredible. It is such an unfair way to overcharge the less fortunes and give relieve to people with large houses. Isn’t taxing in this country be based of any body’s wealth? Low incomes pay low taxes, high incomes pay high taxes.
But the Fire Board wanted it easy to be sold to the public. No calculation of square feet, no multiple categories of houses – NO: One size fits all, meaning $292.00 for each home. As we heard from the Property Appraiser’s office that’s 90% of all homeowner pay more than 2013. And according to my numbers from the same office the “more” is from 2 times up to 4 times as much as last year!
I do own a large house, my fireboard taxes will go down from $452.91 to $292.00. That’s a saving for me of $160.91. Thank you, Fire Department!
So, we are all sure that the referendum will fail (see the Bayshore district). The majority of the Commissioners have lost the connection to the base and their common sense by spending tax payers money for such a lousy proposal.
Harry Kloppert, 239-368-2582
I also pay homeowner’s insurance, it is based on the replacement value of my house, measured in dollar amount, for such residence. A flat rate for all homeowner’s policies, regardless of value, would certainly not be fair…….neither is your method of calculating this tax increase due to the fire assessment.Vacant land should be given a flat rate, but certainly not structures.
DO NOT GET GREEDY.
Well it obviously passed, and I admit I wasn’t watching; Government goes through the motions we just have to live with it as they try to steal more and more to overspend as they do…
I would have preferred the cut backs to this tax increase.. My taxes went up 60%!!!! $500/year to $800; Non-Ad Valorem rate = BAD NEWS for lower value properties.