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FMB Board of Fire Commissioners set TRIM rate

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The Fort Myers Beach Board of Fire Commission set a Truth in Millage Rate at 2.90 mils for tax year 2010/11 at its regular monthly meeting Tuesday, July 20, at Station #31 meeting room.

The TRIM rate was approved by a 3-2 count after Fire Commissioner John Scanlon made a motion to approve the given rate. Two prior motions for lower rates, including one at 2.75 mils which received only one vote and another at 2.8 mils which received two votes, did not pass the required three positive votes by the five commissioners for a majority ruling.

The fire commissioners then unanimously set a tentative budget hearing for Tuesday, Sept. 7, at 5:05 p.m., to be followed up on Monday, Sept. 20, before agreeing to have a budget workshop at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 31, to discuss financial options publicly for the final millage rate.

Before the rate was set, FMB Board of Fire Commission Attorney Richard Pringle explained the action required by the fire commissioners. The TRIM rate, which is required to be set by the fire commissioners in July, can be lowered but cannot be set higher.

“The purpose of the discussion tonight is to set the Truth in Millage Rate that is required by law to be set,” he said. “At the first budget hearing, it is typically anticipated that you will have a recommendation by Chief (Mike Becker) and staff for a lower millage rate to be considered at that time. The rate you set tonight will be the rate that is published for TRIM purposes.”