Vote no to the millage increase
To the editor:
$3.8 million per year is enough! Vote no on the millage property tax increase. Please vote March 15!
1) There are three staffed fire stations already on a 17-mile long island
2) The fire department already raised our taxes in 2015. The fire department taxes us more every time the assessed value of your property goes up. Which is every year. Vote no on the tax increase March 15 from 3 mils to 3.75 per year.
They refused to consider cost saving measures: a partial volunteer staff, changing the nature of how calls are handled, what type and how many vehicles respond to call. They are all 29 union members on the payroll with substantial benefits and salary. The existing budget is running a $500,000 deficit this year
3) A budget of $$3.8 million dollars per year to “serve” 9,000 residents of Pine Island is an annual fiscal confiscation of your property as a resident and is a drain to the many fixed income residents and retirees of this community!
4) If they get their way, the total additional new tax revenue will be approximately $1 million more per year from all the residents of this island.
5) They could utilize the numerous Sheriff Department cars on the island to respond to emergency calls and provide EMT service, look at cost control at the existing 3 stations and possible fire hydrant additions every year
6) Most fire calls are not fire related.
7) There is no good fire hydrant infrastructure on the island in many areas.
8) The union fire department needs to manage its budget and operate within the means. Salaries at over $75,000 are an outrage to residents of this island
Joseph Folenta
Bokeelia