In an interview today with Julian Davies, Director of Development/Construction for Blaidd Ddwrg International Media said “Do to the new fire assessment fee it is not economically viable for BDIM to build in Lehigh Acres.”
Blaidd Ddwrg International Media, was looking into buying the Old Greenbriar Lakes Property off of Joel Blvd. to build a 300,000 sq ft headquarter for its North American Operations, up to 50 company homes, a park, company daycare center, solar/wind power station and private water/sewer plant, with the intent of hiring nearly 850 SW Florida residents to fill the job opening over a 10 year period. For a total economic impact of nearly 30 million US Dollars in the first year, and an estimated 2 to 5 million per year after into the Lehigh Acres economy.
“Lehigh Acres has been our home for 4 years now, and we have come to love this town. But you cannot run a company at a lost, and hope it to be a financial success.” said BDIM CFO Ling Su Ye.
We at the Lehigh Acres Gazette will continue to follow the economic fallout of the fire assessment as it develops.
Due to the assessment it is going to be hard for any person buying a home today in Lehigh. It is hard enough to pay your mortgage payment insurance & taxes for the average person. Now to add another $300.00 fee? Unbelievable. The county somehow manages to support the other fire stations in Lee county so why can’t they take care of Lehigh with our tax money we pay to the county ? The American dream is decreasing continually with all the extras you have the pleasure to pay for owning a home.
I just have to wonder, how much were people paying in taxes to the fire department in 2006-2007 when their same houses where valued at three times the value (ad valorum)?
JB question is valid, maybe JB is the same age now as in 2006. Maybe we need to consider if some of us are selfish or just plain stupid. JB probably have a well paying job, nice cheap house (bought during the recession) and a family who has good medical coverage and is not living pay check to pay check.
Jones – your right on some accounts- I don’t have a “job” – I used to – I am retired and yes my family has good medical coverage that I pay for dearly. I did buy a few houses in Lehigh during the recession and rent them to elderly folks who can afford the rent on their ss checks.
Just for your info, my fire assessment will be about 300% more than my ad-valorum tax on each property, but I would not like my home owners insurance bill if the department ISO rating was lowered and I certainly don’t want my renters (being elderly) to worry about a quick response with an ambulance and trained personnel if they should need such a service.
Sometimes money is not the only factor to consider. As for the article about the company not coming to Lehigh because of this leaves some doubt as to the main reason. I’m not familiar with the company, but they sure seem to be “family friendly” according to the article by building day care center and housing for employees.
One would think they would want an excellent emergency service agency in the community. It will be interesting to see how it plays out. Just if you are wondering, I have talked to my renters and said I will be raising their rent $10 per month in 2016.
Now we must move on. The new assessment will definitely hurt the majority of Lehigh Acres residents but hopefully assist a minority of the population.
Most property owners, renters, veterans, senior citizens will face a difficult time with increased taxes when tax time or lease renewal comes around and so will businesses.
Residents (property owners) will have to dig deep in their pockets, renters will definitely have to pay increased rent, buisinesses will probably face economic hardship (possibly move out), seniors, veterans may no longer get exemptions.
Hopefully, voters will understand and then vote the fire commissioners who have supported the assessment out of office.
Jones
So people with very expensive houses will get a break on their Fire bill while those in entry-level homes will pay a higher percentage. This is a bad idea.
Question: How often and by how much can you raise the fee?
Art – unfortunately that is how it turns out with the proposal put forward to the voters.
Commissioner Carter fought and proposed other ideas to help reduce some of the burdens that would eventually come to into play with this proposal but it fell on deaf ears with the other commissioners who seemed to be guided by their attorney who seems to lead the meetings.
I don’t agree with Commissioner Carter on most things, but this time she was right, in my opinion. Nothing is created that can’t be changed, and that’s where the voters of Lehigh Acres can make changes.
Although it will be a long process, attend meetings and voice your opinions and start making changes today.
One of the main problems is that they are not taxing the owners of these empty lots.
We all know that a lot of the fires are on empty lots and the owners should have to pay the fire fee also and not be allowed a free pass.
Look at all the fire responses to empty lots that require a great deal of time and man power to prevent further damage to homes nearby.
Jimmy – exactly – this is what Commissioner Carter was arguing for. A higher rate on vacant lots to help reduce the burden on home owners and businesses.
The concern to defend a higher levy on vacant land in court if someone was to contest it was the reason not to increase it based on the metrics presented by the consultant.
I for one voiced my opinion on the matter in other articles and with fire officials during the process of the assessment possibilities. As Jones said, it’s now time to move on.
A new form of “taxing” has been created and as in most cases of these types, it benefits some and hinders others. Again, voice your opinion and attend the public meetings held by the fire commissioners.
We are unincorporated Lee County………..why do we not have a Lee County Fire & Ambulance ……… Lehigh Acres seems to get very little to almost no benefits……….except rounabouts.
What next?????
Nearly half of Florida households do not earn enough to pay for basic necessities, according to a report released Tuesday by the United Way that seeks to cast a light on the large group of state residents who struggle financially but do not meet the official criteria for being in poverty.
While 15 percent of Florida households are below the poverty level, another 30 percent are financially insecure —based on a new measurement developed by the United Way.The report zeroes in on the plight of low-income workers, people who have steady jobs but grapple with low wages and the increasing costs of many necessities.Nearly 70 percent of jobs in Florida pay less than $20 an hour ($40,000 a year) and 54 percent pay below $15 an hour, according to the report. Such wages are not enough for many Floridians to afford all of their basic expenses.
http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20141111/article/141119948?p=1&tc=pg
The new fire assessment fee(read as higher taxes) is going to suck the life blood out of Lehigh Acres in the long run, taking almost another 5 million out of the taxpayers pocket per year for eternity. The notion that the government knows how to spend your money better than you is laughable. Taking this 5 million out of the people’s hands and not allowing them to spend it in the free market as they see fit will do nothing but hinder business and economic growth in the long run. Now someone will not be able to save for that house, car, or even a business they might of wanted to start saving for, as they now have to shell out more of their hard earned money to the government who has an unrelenting appetite for your tax dollars. In the first year of the assessment they will be taking $5 million out of the local economy, In five years, that’s $25 million out of the hands of the local economy. The government produces nothing, they can only take.
Way to go fire assessment. The first company to come along that was really going to make a change for the better is chased off by greed of the fire officials. This may have attracted other companies to come and grow in Lehigh.
I have been here for over 20 years and watched this community change and grow. A large company would have been the best thing to help the economy of the community. I am very disappointed to see it not going to happen. I don’t want to be a town filled with only Dollar stores on every corner. I hope this vote can be changed.