The REAL FACTS are the Lehigh Acres Fire Board doesn’t want you to know, is that the portion of real property tax exemptions that you may have on your real property is being circumvented by the Lehigh Acres Fire Board. The Fire Board is eliminating all benefits of exemptions from all real property owners in Lehigh Acres that have senior, homestead, widower, handicap (disabled) veterans and even Surviving Spouses of First Responders if the Fire tax assessment passes.
Get ready for the REAL heart ache …….
Mr. JD Cunningham is an honorably discharged disabled combat US Marine and the Commander of the VFW Post 4174 in Lehigh Acres. In a recent interview Cunningham said, “You want me to pay more but the same time the Fire Board bypasses the Veterans exemptions in which I earned by serving this great nation and now you want to tax my Post too. Hell NO!”
Not only is the Fire Board going to charge Churches and Not-For Profits, the Fire Board is now going after your personal real property exemptions.
According to Kenneth M. Wilkinson Lee County Property Appraiser exemptions are based on Ad-Valorem millage only and “NOT” on Fee Assessments. If the Fire Board wishes to exempt a class such as Disabled Vets they could do that by resolution, said Wilkinson.
E.D. an honorably discharged disabled Army Sergeant agreed with Cunningham. And he went to say, “All I pay currently is ECWCD and my trash pickup totaling $226.47.” And now the Fire Board what’s that NEW Fire Tax thing of $292.00 – my new tax bill would be over $500.00 dollars, he went on to say, “I’m on a fixed income, come on ladies and gentleman find a better way than on the backs of disabled veterans of this community.”
Lies lies lies. When is the Gazette going to start publishing the truth? I’ve read more factual information in national inquirer. You’re making our community look bad.
Dear Mr. Sanford,
The article is based on REAL FACTS from REAL Sources, please tells us where it’s wrong?
If you the Mr. Sanford that owns a piece of property on KESSLER ST, if this assessment is approved you are looking at a 190% increase in your fire board tax.
The Lehigh Acres Gazette Web Team
Yes and 15 years ago gas was $1/gallon. Times change, inflation occurs. I support my public servants both fire and law enforcement. When the market goes back up the ad velorum is going to cost more then $292 eventually anyways so all that is being done is cutting a good service and prolonging the inevitable.
The inevitable the fire board has made bad decisions for the past eight years and now they want the poor and middle classes to pay up.
Lehigh Acres Gazette Webteam
if im not wrong this was never discussed at any meeting and it was discussed about churches and they were going to be exempt…i guess someone has to attend the meeting and listen correctly
The Board’s attorney did mention it, but again the fire board fails to understand the consequences of their decisions on the voters and residents of Lehigh Acres.
Lehigh Acres Gazette Web Team