Several fire districts are asking voters in the coming months to raise the maximum tax rate for emergency services. Officials say ballot measures between the August primary and the November general election could provide relief to fire districts across Lee County.
Plummeting housing prices during the recession dealt a huge blow to fire districts across much of the state.
Now officials in six Lee County districts are asking voters to raise a cap on tax rates for fire stations. Rates haven’t changed in more than two decades in most cases.
South Trail Fire District Chief William Lombardo said funding for his district comes mostly from property taxes, which mean services are at the mercy of the housing market and property appraisers.
Lombardo said it’s a bad way to fund emergency services and almost half of his district’s income has been wiped out in the past few years. He said that’s why the station has been partially running on reserves lately.
“We are behind the eight ball, obviously,” he said. “Every year we spend reserve money. The problem is—and what we foresee is—if we don’t get economic recovery, we are going to run out of that reserves money., we are going to have to make difficult decisions about potentially laying off fire fighters, closing down rescue companies.”
That’s why Lombardo is asking voters to raise the maximum millage rate for his district from 2 mills to 2.5. That equates to an extra $87.50 a year for a home with a taxable value of $175,000. Tice and Pine Island fire districts are also asking for a millage increase. Lehigh Acres, North Fort Myers and Bayshore fire districts are asking voters to change their funding model to a fire assessment, which will amount to a set fee for property owners. Lombardo said his district—like most— has made big cuts through the years. But, he warned any further reduction of services could raise property insurance premiums.
