Comments on: Escambia Considers Small Increase To Fire Tax

By: Bartholomew Shy

Bartholomew Shy — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 12:57:27 +0000

How many times has a Fire Department sedan, SUV or pickup truck raced by you only to see it a few minutes later at the doughnut shop? It’ll never go away and it’ll never decrease now! Taxes – as long as they can get more they will spend more – and more – and more. Some people have a tendency to say “it’s only $5 a year” or “support your heros” which are really fine perspectives; however, the issue is living within a budget, which most of us have to do these days – yet Escambia County is busily building brand new buildings, hiring redundant personnel, lavishing out raises and “promotions” to pad retirement objectives and now they want to simply dip into the ‘non ad valorem’ accessment pool for more money yet again to cover raises in expenses funded by one-time federal grants and extravagantly spent like it was there forever… I say “NO” to any new taxes: not $5 non ad valorem; not 1/2¢ sales tax; not increased accessments for our schools… Live within your budgets like the citizens are having to do; cut spending and spend efficiently NOT like you can always dip back into the citizens’ pockets. The “meeting” WON’T make any difference – these commissioners have already made-up their myopic beds and they really don’t care what the citizens are thinking… until it’s election time – then apparently the ones who say “no new or increased taxes” just lie – or have another “meeting” to cover their alliances with appointed government employees.

By: well

well — Fri, 27 May 2011 21:48:42 +0000

So the county won’t raise taxes to support any of their departments ?
They expect everyone to provide servivces with less money each year and that has been managed so far.

Maybe they need to have some of these other Department Directors run FIRE SERVICES to teach them to operate within a BUDGET !!!

Fire protection will not go away without this increase.

By: another truth

another truth — Fri, 27 May 2011 17:13:08 +0000

Here’s another truth. The north end is protected by career firemen during the daytime because of lack of volunteers. And if there is a fire with no response from the volunteer dept.’s the Engine Company stationed in Ensley or Cantonment will respond as far north as hwy 97 in Walnut Hill. Also as far as paying for fire taxes for companies in the south end. People in the north end do not raise enough fire taxes to support the equipment, stipend, and maintenance needed for the North end stations, to include Cantonment, Molino, Walnut Hill, McDavid, and Century. The people in the south end actually pay the majority of these costs. Staff vehicles, radio’s, fuel, gear, and trucks are very expensive and would not be able to be purchased for these fire districts if it wasn’t for the people in the south end paying their fire taxes!!!!! This is not even touching the fact that if there is an incident requiring HazMat or Special Operations to respond, they come from the south end all the way to Century or Walnut Hill!!! People don’t have a problem spending money on things like cigarettes or alcohol, but object to a 3 cent a day increase to protect your loved ones???? Get your priorities straight!!!.

By: the real deal

the real deal — Fri, 27 May 2011 17:10:03 +0000

this is for “long time ECFR vol.” the stipend check you get is to help cover your gas . It is not meant for a full time paycheck .99% of vol. work full time heck i work 2 jobs and volunteer also .

for “the truth” i am a certified firefighter/ emt . i know alot of other volunteers that are also certified . If you ask any of the career firefighters ,how did they get started in this work, they will answer i was a volunteer first

By: S.L.B

S.L.B — Fri, 27 May 2011 14:36:45 +0000

If this annual increase benefits our Volunteer Fire Fighters up in the northend in some positive way, then I whole heartedly support the increase.

However, I do not live in Pensacola, therefore I do not benefit from the Ensley Fire Dept firefighters having their job security. Lord forbid I should have a fire in my home, I know I won’t see them up here fighting it with my extra fire tax dollars at work!

It’s only a matter of time anyway before we see this $75 a year turn into double or triple that like they did with our car tags and etc…last year.

By: the truth

the truth — Fri, 27 May 2011 02:50:56 +0000

The increase was coming whether or not 12 more guys got hired or not. Grant money doesnt pay for overtime. There is a budget for that as well with in the fire budget and when it runs out no more overtime. I dont know about you but when I need help I want 4 certified firefighters/ emts showing up to my house in proper uniform and know what they are doing. I dont want to have to wait for a volunteer to wake up drive to station grab the truck then come to my house in dirty blue jeans and a untucked tshirt. 7 day old beard and look like he never worked out in his life. I dont understand people. the city pays 3 times more than we do and a hundred bucks a year for a full time response by trained proffessionals. thats a bargain. Nothing beats a fire next to a volunteer fire station and no one to put it out.

By: Mike

Mike — Fri, 27 May 2011 02:31:11 +0000

I support the $5 dollar increase, in fact I think it should be raised to $25. The Fire Dept. is doing more and more each day with less and less. Now the FD has hit the critical point and needs our help! The FD is only asking for $5 in fear that they wouldn’t get support if they asked for the true amount that is needed.

So who’s with me? Lets support our local heros!!

By: Long Time ECFR VOL

Long Time ECFR VOL — Fri, 27 May 2011 00:50:30 +0000

The one thing I have noticed for years is people complaining about the cost of fire protection, is that they have been lucky enough to not need it yet. Ask anyone who has had to call 911 and they would support an increase right away.

As far as the grant, yes it was needed. I am a volunteer and my stipend is not enough to support my family. As a result, I need to work full time and volunteer when I can. I have always supported bringing the career firefighters on board, I will be the first to admit that it is a crap shoot to run a volunteer company 24/7 in this day and age. Times change, and things get more expensive.

This should have been addressed 3 years ago, but so many people griped that it was tabled until now. And for the nay sayers out there, a fire tax is just like auto, life, and home insurance. You never want to use the benefits, but when you need them it pays off big time.

By: dan

dan — Thu, 26 May 2011 14:40:04 +0000

you should never hire with grant money. why make us pay when they did not have the funds from the start . A grant will always run out .

By: Charlie Dillard

Charlie Dillard — Thu, 26 May 2011 02:15:59 +0000

Thank you Escambia County.
We all need the fire dept.
When you call they come .
It does not have to be a fire.
Thank you fireman a job well done.