Editorial
Right from the Fire Boards Get The Facts Lehigh Website:
CONCERNS: My church or other nonprofit institution is exempt from property taxes. Will we have to pay the Fire Fee Assessment? FACT: No. Properties with valid exemptions will continue to be exempt from the Fire Fee Assessment.
From a Press Release dated Oct 1, 2014
Exemptions to remain for charitable institutions, others
Lehigh Acres Fire Board passes resolution defining Fire Fee Assessment exemptions
LEHIGH ACRES, FL — Oct. 1, 2014 — Churches, charitable institutions and wholly disabled veterans are among those who will be exempt from the Fire Fee Assessment in Lehigh Acres, should it be passed by voters Nov. 4.
The Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue Board of Commissioners passed a resolution Sept. 30, stating the board’s intent to continue granting exemptions to parcels which are deemed exempt from paying property taxes by the Lee County Property Appraiser.
NOW — Fire Chief is now caught in a lie – following Church’s received Fire Assessment notices:
New Life Lehigh Acres, Christ United Methodist, St Raphael’s
Why gave bills to Church’s, they are 100% wholly exempt?
Chief Wayne as the spoke person for the fire board for this assessment; why did you lie to the people of Lehigh Acres?
To whom it may concern:
This is my formal objection to raising our taxes by $21.00, which amounts to an increase from $71.00 to $92.00 per year. This is an increase of 29.57%!
I purchased this property as a possible retirement location where I intend to build a home.
The little lot is 50 X 100 feet and is totally vacant land with no improvements and uses no public services whatsoever. I pay my taxes on this land promptly and will be forced to sell it at a loss if this Assessment is imposed.
Of course, Fire Protection is very important, but my question is why is this Assessment so
punitive and aggressive ? This is a hardship being imposed on vacant landowners. If you want investors to invest in Florida property and promote the life style of relaxing and care-free living for everyone including Seniors, this Assessment is outrageously high as compared to many other Southwest Florida fire districts. Raising the taxes on vacant small parcels of land will preclude many investors from even considering further investments in Lehigh Acres.
OUR VOTE IS “NO” AND I WISH WE COULD BE THERE IN PERSON TO PROTEST THIS MUCH TOO AGGRESSIVE PROPOSAL
The vote happen in November of 2014 and boad is going to impose the assessment — write a letter to the fire dept chief’s email is john@lehighfd.com