Update: Fire station #1 to close to help save taxpayers more in taxes
Last night the North Fort Myers Fire District Board of Commissioners held an emergency meeting to discuss the millage rate increase that was slated to be on the November Ballot.
The Board voted unanimously to remove a referendum from the November ballot. The referendum was to increase the Fire District’s millage rate from 2.5 mills to 3.0 mills.
There was consensus between the Board of Commissioners, the District’s Union and administration that the district’s residents would be over burdened with another tax increase.
“It was an emergency meeting for two reasons,” said Fire Commission Board Chairman Leroy Nottingham. “One was to see if we were eligible for a Safer Grant, which we didn’t qualify for, and the other issue was to consider an ad valorem increase.”
“North Fort Myers residents are already being overwhelmed by unemployment, falling home prices, other taxes and fees,” said North Fort Myers Fire Chief Terry Pye. “The board felt that if the district could balance the budget, then don’t need to increase fire taxes at the present time.”
The bottom line is that the district will close Fire Station Number 1, which is located on Willis Road in North Fort Myers. “We are working on that plan right now, to see where and when we can do this,” said Fire Commission Board Chairman Leroy Nottingham.
In preparing for a loss of revenue in the past two years the district has utilized many cost saving benefits, Pye said.
“The district has reduced its suppression staffing (firefighters) through a voluntary separation plan. Unfortunately, the district has laid off four non-suppression personnel.”
The district limited the amount of take home vehicles to only those that would respond to an emergency outside normal working hours.
“The Union has made huge concessions in the past two years in both benefits and salary. Average pay for district employees was reduced $3,000 to $5,000 per employee,” said Pye.
The district was planning on building a new fire station but those plans are put on hold.
There are three other stations in their district, he said. The others will remain open, with community safety in mind.
“The fire service in North Fort Myers will be maintained,” said Nottingham.
If you have any questions, call your local fire chief, Chief Pye or Chief Chris Noble at 997-8654.