Comments on: Escambia County Agrees To Fire Tax Increase; Failure Would Cut North Escambia Fire Services

By: 24/7

24/7 — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 13:35:32 +0000

Future Commish for dist. 5, You Got My Vote. As for as all the training requirements, do you want someone to show up who is certified or just satisfied.

Jay, if you really wanted to be a firefighter you would want to be the best. The best are well trained. You just want to be called a firefighter, you do not seem to be willing to do what it takes to actually be one. If you want to do it bad enough you will find the time to get all the requirements. Be Certified not Satisfied.

By: future commish for Dist 5

future commish for Dist 5 — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 18:52:45 +0000

some more facts…

1. There are no more volunteers in the county; they are now paid-on-call.
2. FF’s receive a stipend upwards of $300, District Chiefs $500 plus a vehicle & phone
3. The stations in the north end do not have paramedics; possibly 2 at the most and cannot provide ALS prior to an ambulance arriving because they lack the proper equipment.
4. There should be a 24hr north end station however, call load unfortunately dictates placement.
5. The State of Florida dictates training standards, not Escambia County.
6. $100 a year is a bargain for the services that ALS fire response can provide.
7. Recent data will explain why you should desire paid fie coverage in the north end with the amount of unanswered call and lack of personnel on calls. Just because an engine or staff car is their does not mean sufficient help is available.
8. FF’s in Escambia County make around $30,000 a year and that is with some OT.
9. The north end does not “carry” the south end. People pay the fee not the property.
10. These are just a few facts and more can be answered properly if asked properly.

By: bmr

bmr — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 00:29:06 +0000

To all you complainers, what you going to do when there is not any money left to put fuel in the fire trucks, to come to you house fire, to put it out, or to rescue your daughter or son or dad or mom or wife , when they have a wreck , you like us when to be there and be there quickly,to help you, it is with great sorrow that you do not want to help us out so we can save your life.QUIT COMPLAINING.

By: JIM W

JIM W — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 20:30:47 +0000

I will pay 10.00 for my safety and welfare anytime as long as it is utilized correctly. The commission needs be responsible with it in other words. It is a small investment back in the community of which you take services from. So, the next time you need emergency personel think about that a moment was it worth your 10 bucks? Just saying.

By: jcellop

jcellop — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 17:45:09 +0000

the mention of my home owner insurance rates increasing “much more than $5.00/year” (per commissioner robinson) if the tax increase ISNT passed definately makes me lean more towards moving forward w/this $5.00/yr tax increase x2 yrs- i dont think its unreasonable, at this point.

By: Vol. Chief.

Vol. Chief. — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 02:43:06 +0000

There is no 24 hour paid coverage in the north end because we as volunteers can cover it. We have told Commissioner White that We could actually even cover it during the day, we DO NOT NEED PAID GUYS! Even though the majority of us volunteers up here are over 50, WE can handle it. Oh and another side note we will be a few minutes late getting to your house fire, car wreck, heart attack, or other emergency needs because we have to go from our house to the station to get a fire truck and possibly wait on more firefighters to get there. So PLEASE call your commissioner and tell them that we DO NOT support this increase and that we do not need paid fire fighters…………

YEAH RIGHT…… see how well that goes over for ya!

By: ricky

ricky — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 20:02:17 +0000

This will not pay for E.M.T. this is just for fire your right if where paying for a service it should be the same on both ends of county …..If there is 24 hr in south then it should be 24 in the north end …..

By: JustMe

JustMe — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 19:21:32 +0000

For all of you that are criticizing the ones who do not support this let me enlighten you on something. The negative support from myself is not because its more taxes. Nor is it because I don’t appreciate every firefighter, paid or volunteer, in the jobs they do for the small amount of money that they make. It is because the county commission needs to stop the excess spending in overtime period. I encourage you to call down town and get copies of expenditures from last year for fire. It’s public record so go for it. Then come back here and tell me that you still support this tax. And further more, if I am paying in North Escambia the same that South Escambia pays in fire taxes, why aren’t our North Escambia stations 24 hour like the South stations? Its like charging you for a steak yet im gonna keep half for myself.

By: Rod

Rod — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 17:54:54 +0000

It is a shame when people complain about a $10 increase in fire tax spread over two years. Would you rather have had us not take the “free money”? Of course we should have taken it even knowing it was going to cost more in the future. $10 is not enough to fuss about. If you don’t like what we are paying you can always move to another county that is paying more. I am not telling people to move, but fussing about $10 is ludicrous.

By: me

me — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 17:17:43 +0000

Do you people realize we are talking about a portion of our county employees that actually work and save lifes? How can you not think we need firefighters and EMT’s? Besides have any of you ever looked at how much a paid firefighter makes? Less than $11 an hour, to run fires, save your house, your loved ones, etc. We should be more focused on the other ways the county higher ups waste our money..BP money used to have concerts…get real..how does that help our community….people think about $10 for 2 years….give me a break