Fire District gets millage hike approval
It’s unusual for voters to approve a tax hike for anything.
But when voters in the North Fort Myers Fire District realized their department needed to replace old fire engines and life-saving equipment and that it didn’t have the money to do it, they came to the rescue.
On Tuesday, voters by a 3-to-2 margin approved a 1-point increase to the millage cape that will allow the district to purchase new equipment, and possibly rehire some personnel it lost when the recession in 2008 caused ad-valorem tax revenues to drop almost in half.
The yes-or-no referendum got 59.88 percent approval from the voters (6,050 votes) in an election that saw more than 10,000 district residents cast ballots.
“It’s very exciting. I can’t thank the community enough. It was getting out there and talking to the people until we were blue in the face,” Fire Chief David Rice said. “People realized our department was in trouble and we needed to do something to plan for the future.”
It also got lots of support from area firefighters who showed up at the polling places to plead their case to those headed to the ballot boxes.
J.P. Duncan, president of the Firefighter’s Union, said it wasn’t a good day to be at the polls, since most of the ballots were sent by mail and there was the threat of serious rain.
“We’re doing our due diligence to be sure this gets passed for the betterment of the organization so it can survive,” Duncan said.
Many of those who came had made up their minds to approve the tax increase.
Joan Foss said she decided to vote for the measure to help keep the area secure and safe.
“I will help North Fort Myers in a big way. It’s more taxes, but you know what? Our taxes are good here,” Foss said.
“The firefighters put their lives on the line for us, and they need equipment to be able to do their job correctly,” said Dana Tong.
There were some detractors. Opponents were spotted in the days before and during the election holding signs of disapproval for what they said would be a 40 percent tax hike.
Larry St. Amand was seen with his sign on the corner of Bayshore and Slater roads.
“The fire department is doing fine. The chief couldn’t give me a good reason why he needed the extra money. Property values are going up so that’s adding to the tax roll,” St. Amand said.
The increase, from a cap of 2.5 mills to a cap of 3.5 mills, is the first for the district in 13 years, and it comes at a time when the district is seeing many of its equipment and vehicles start to show their age.
Voters will have to pay about $100 more on a property appraised at $150,000, from $250 to $350.
The district attempted to increase the millage through referendum two years ago, using a fire-fee assessment methodology, but the measure was soundly defeated.
Rice said the ad-valorem increase was perhaps something the voters could understand better. But it all came down to getting out to make their case.
“It was getting out and telling people who we are. We protect 36 square miles and these are the problems we’ve had,” Rice said. “We’re trying to recover and I guess people were receptive.”