The fire board approved the new union contract.
Over $700,000 thousand dollars of new or returned benefits to all of the Lehigh Acres firefighters. And GUARANTEED bonuses for all EMT’s and Paramedics to do their jobs in the ambulances.
Station 105 fire truck which has not been in operation since March 1st 2015 will be in operation as of Wednesday.
GUARANTEED Over $750,000 thousand dollars in overtime pay for the first 18 months during this new union contract.
And that’s only for the first year of the union contract there are additional incentives and return benefits scheduled each and every year for the second and third year of that contract which could be an additional $500,000 each year. Click here to see the new 80 page union contract.
So what else has the Fire Board done?
They have ordered three new ambulances ($750,000 dollars) to be delivered in January 2016. Plus the board will be scheduling to order two more ambulances (Totally $500,000) plus a $650,000 fire truck to be delivered late 2016 or early 2017.
And what has the fire assessment done for the taxpayers in Lehigh Acres 98% of all residential housing in Lehigh Acres will see a tax increase as of November 1st 2015, 100% of all the vacant lots in Lehigh will see a tax increase and even Presbyterian homes will see a $140,000 dollar tax increase on senior housing.
Plus since this town is so desperate for commercial properties the fire department has raised the taxes on commercial nearly 300% will this stop commercial growth?
Will cost of living increase in Lehigh Acres due to the fire assessment tax on commercial properties?
Plus the Fire District is still being sued by LA-MSID formerly East County Water Control District for their Fire assessment bill. This is taxpayer money being used against taxpayer money.
By the way even with the fire assessment the fire district is still 2.2 million dollars in debt .
When a retired person on SS pays $245 to 345.00 per year for their tax bill to double for the fire bill is outrageous. I strongly believe the tax assessment is way out of being ridiculous. When county taxes are paid it is for services so maybe they should adjust their budget and quit spending on frivolous things like computers that do no work. Need to hire a budget specialist to try and fix problems with county spending.
you mentioned taxpayer money against taxpayer money – how about when the Lee County assessor office refused to include the assessment notification in their mailing causing an undue cost of around $140,000 to the fire district – just don’t understand why one county entity can’t work with another – as for Presbyterian homes it’s about time they contributed for the use they get (sometimes 5 times a day) for their residents – this is one reason the ambulances need replaced – as for the union contract, I wouldn’t say any fire or police are over paid, but I do think our fire dept. is well paid – now that major decisions have been made and acted upon, maybe the board can cut back on attorney and consultant expenses they seem to need instead of “looking within” to find the knowledge they need to help guide them – will commercial growth be held back in Lehigh? – what has held it back in the past? one could argue that a top notch fire dept. will help industry/commercial ventures come to Lehigh because of insurance for their business and protection for their assets and employees. Lehigh is no longer a little community that just survives with low income and low tax bases, people want or claim the want better service and amenities and a safe place to live. unfortunately, THAT TAKES MONEY!
did anyone call Culver’s and tell them what an expensive FD we have before they build the largest restaurant in the corporation in LEHIGH???
Just got my Tax bill. Big surprise, Taxes are up Thanks to the Fire Assessment. 6% general tax increase pus an additional $350 (over and above the “fire tax” last year of $229. It was voted in with the help of the friends of the FD; it can be repealed by the friends of the increasingly impoverished taxpayer. Besides, with more vehicles from the FD, we are running out of parking space at Winn Dixie.