Fire board lowers millage, not public ire
The Fort Myers Beach Board of Fire Commissioners withstood a barrage of negative public input in setting its 2010 millage rate and 2010-11 budget during its final budget hearing at Fire Station #31 Monday. The district administration is currently involved in discussions with the fire unions regarding the collective bargaining agreement, which limits management’s ability to cut expenditures from the upcoming fiscal year budget.
The fire board approved the lowering of its tentative millage rate of 2.6650 mils set at its first hearing to 2.5800 mils. The total budget, which was tentatively $14,354,891, now stands at $14,220,177, including $9,517,177 in operating expenditures. The commissioner approval count was 3-2 on both hearing items.
Even with the final millage and budget being lowered, a packed house of Beach residents took turns expressing their dismay before the final numbers were adopted. The public outcry involved the tax raise and suggestions to cut costs such as closing one of the three fire stations; reducing two fire marshals to one; holding public budget meetings “not behind closed doors;” and closing the administrative building. Anger comments like, “We need to stop serving the bloated bureaucracy in the fire district,” were often heard.
Commissioners Joe Schmid and chairperson Carol Morris, the two dissenters, also thought the millage rate was “too high.” The overall message from the public to the commissioners appeared to be ‘don’t sacrifice the services and mission, but cuts are needed in the budget.’
Regarding the administrative building, Fire Chief Mike Becker said there have been talks with property managers about selling the commercial structure. “Their sense of feeling was now is not the time to get it on the market,” said Becker.
Regarding the fire stations, Becker said Fire Station #32 (17891 San Carlos Blvd.) is not allowed to house administrative offices “because the building permit was specifically designed to hold the Emergency Operations Center only; Fire Station #33 (121 Lenell Rd.; south end of Beach) was specifically built due to population density and “peak season demand on that station is incredibly high”; while Fire Station #31 (3043 Estero Blvd.; middle of island) is demographically vital and can only be a fire house.
“I understand everybody wants to cut, but we need to keep the same level of service,” said Commissioner John Scanlon. “If we close this station (#31), it goes away. This building is made only to be a fire station and, if we close it down, we’ll only wind up with longer response times.”
The FMB Fire Control District averages a microscopic 4 1/2 minutes in response times. During the hearing, six member of Fire Station #31 raced out for a call.
Commissioner Betty Goodacre pointed out the fire district encompasses Estero Island, San Carlos Island and the mainland up to Pine Ridge Road.
“We need these ambulances up and down this island,” she said.
Amidst the concerns and negativity, two public input speakers applauded the continuing work of the local district for their life-saving techniques and home-saving fire prevention duties.
“There are a whole lot of people on this island that are very proud of all of you and love this fire district,” said Fran Myers, owner of Red Coconut RV Park.
Becker said change will come.
“True changes will take time,” said Becker, who noted rules must be followed with the ongoing collective bargaining process. “I’m committed to making real changes. I don’t want to be hasty. As we sit in this budget hearing a year from now, changes will be seen in our budget.”
Fire board lowers millage, not public ire
The Fort Myers Beach Board of Fire Commissioners withstood a barrage of negative public input in setting its 2010 millage rate and 2010-11 budget during its final budget hearing at Fire Station #31 Monday. The district administration is currently involved in discussions with the fire unions regarding the collective bargaining agreement, which limits management’s ability to cut expenditures from the upcoming fiscal year budget.
The fire board approved the lowering of its tentative millage rate of 2.6650 mils set at its first hearing to 2.5800 mils. The total budget, which was tentatively $14,354,891, now stands at $14,220,177, including $9,517,177 in operating expenditures. The commissioner approval count was 3-2 on both hearing items.
Even with the final millage and budget being lowered, a packed house of Beach residents took turns expressing their dismay before the final numbers were adopted. The public outcry involved the tax raise and suggestions to cut costs such as closing one of the three fire stations; reducing two fire marshals to one; holding public budget meetings “not behind closed doors;” and closing the administrative building. Anger comments like, “We need to stop serving the bloated bureaucracy in the fire district,” were often heard.
Commissioners Joe Schmid and chairperson Carol Morris, the two dissenters, also thought the millage rate was “too high.” The overall message from the public to the commissioners appeared to be ‘don’t sacrifice the services and mission, but cuts are needed in the budget.’
Regarding the administrative building, Fire Chief Mike Becker said there have been talks with property managers about selling the commercial structure. “Their sense of feeling was now is not the time to get it on the market,” said Becker.
Regarding the fire stations, Becker said Fire Station #32 (17891 San Carlos Blvd.) is not allowed to house administrative offices “because the building permit was specifically designed to hold the Emergency Operations Center only; Fire Station #33 (121 Lenell Rd.; south end of Beach) was specifically built due to population density and “peak season demand on that station is incredibly high”; while Fire Station #31 (3043 Estero Blvd.; middle of island) is demographically vital and can only be a fire house.
“I understand everybody wants to cut, but we need to keep the same level of service,” said Commissioner John Scanlon. “If we close this station (#31), it goes away. This building is made only to be a fire station and, if we close it down, we’ll only wind up with longer response times.”
The FMB Fire Control District averages a microscopic 4 1/2 minutes in response times. During the hearing, six member of Fire Station #31 raced out for a call.
Commissioner Betty Goodacre pointed out the fire district encompasses Estero Island, San Carlos Island and the mainland up to Pine Ridge Road.
“We need these ambulances up and down this island,” she said.
Amidst the concerns and negativity, two public input speakers applauded the continuing work of the local district for their life-saving techniques and home-saving fire prevention duties.
“There are a whole lot of people on this island that are very proud of all of you and love this fire district,” said Fran Myers, owner of Red Coconut RV Park.
Becker said change will come.
“True changes will take time,” said Becker, who noted rules must be followed with the ongoing collective bargaining process. “I’m committed to making real changes. I don’t want to be hasty. As we sit in this budget hearing a year from now, changes will be seen in our budget.”