Commission Gives Final OK To Fire Tax Increase To Staff South-End Stations

July 20, 2016

Tuesday evening, the Escambia County Commission gave final approval to a residential fire tax increase to staff south end fire stations with paid firefighters .

The commission voted 4-1, with Steven Barry dissenting, to add the $25.33, increasing theĀ  fire tax for the average homeowner from $100 to $125.33 beginning with the next fiscal year.

The proceeds from the extra $25 per year municipal services benefit unit assessment (MSBU) will fund 24/7 paid firefighters at the Myrtle Grove, Innerarity Point and Bellview stations, plus fund $150,000 in volunteer firefighter stipend increases.

Commissioner Steven Barry voted against supporting the $25 MSBU increase because no District 5 station will receive additional benefits.

Last year, Escambia County increase the fire MSBU by $15 to fund full-time staff at Ferry Pass and West Pensacola.

NorthEscambia.com file photo.

Comments

15 Responses to “Commission Gives Final OK To Fire Tax Increase To Staff South-End Stations”

  1. William Arnold on August 11th, 2016 1:52 pm

    Problem: two large percentage increases in recent budgets. My father lives on a small fixed social security check and has no retirement because the companies he worked for in the defense business had to keep contracts for 10 years to provide retirement, thus no company retirement. These increases total 47% increase in this expense in just two budget cycles!
    Solution: Separate ambulance runs from the fire department. This reduces the number of personnel because the calls will be drastically reduced. Also labor cost are much lower for an ambulance shift with $8-$10 per hour EMT’s composing half the staffing verses all Paramedic or firefighter salaries. This will also reduce the number of engines/fire trucks needed and the number of stations. We ran a four city Ambulance service in Oklahoma City and this works. If you privatize the Ambulance they will also collect the insurance and ambulance fees more effectively. Lets run it like you owned it. Good business decisions are acceptable in government too. Think about your retired fixed income population. too.

  2. Ponderosa hill on July 23rd, 2016 7:57 pm

    I don’t think they can add more tax to gas & diesel…..they’re prolly max’d out…..so they find another way to tax. That’s about all they know to do. But guess it’s our fault, we put them in office

  3. Retired on July 21st, 2016 3:16 pm

    Is this a tax or a fee? What is the difference? By definition tax has the primary purpose of raising revenue, a fee recoups the cost of providing a service for the beneficiary. Understanding the differences between tax and fees.In order to protect taxpayers many state constitution require procedural steps and limitations that apply only to tax increases. These protective steps can be undermined if the legislature circumvents them by merely relabeling what would otherwise be a tax.
    The article states Steve Barry voted against this because it does not benefit the people in district five.
    I do not think the procedures of adding this FEE benefits me therefore should not be arbitrarily added to my TAX bill.

  4. angelique on July 21st, 2016 9:57 am

    More firemen? sounds great! that’s what I would assume my tax dollars are for. ty for saving our homes.

  5. seeking office on July 20th, 2016 2:12 pm

    @c.w. and Lou – its not all for the south end. the volunteers (north and south) are getting stipend increases.

    @Fire mom – It is the IAFF Union (career firefighters) goal to run off all the volunteers. Less volunteers = more union jobs. The county’s hands are tied and we all know administration isn’t going to go against the union.

    @big picture – I don’t disagree with your comment but I would like you to look at the bigger picture. Why are we hiring firefighters to EMS jobs. Its much cheaper to hire a paramedic, an EMT, and buy an ambulance than it is to hire a lieutenant, 3 firefighters, maintain a fire station, and buy a fire truck. I wonder why the commissioners haven’t looked at the number of medical calls that fire is dispatched to. Shame on them for going along for what someone is asking for and not asking why.

    @dumb question – the volunteers get a stipend for participating in a certain number of calls their station gets. a fire fighter gets about $300/month. That money comes from the budget already in place. The trucks and buildings are bought and maintained by the county. Volunteer firefighters that do not own their home pay fire tax. They also are considered employees since the county buys them t-shirts. The career guys that came into my son’s station a few months ago literally took plaques and memorabilia out of the station and threw it in the dumpster! And yet they wonder why career and volunteer guys cant get along and work side by side.

    I certainly hope everyone knows that this WILL NOT BE THE LAST TAX INCREASE! They county is already in the promotion process to hire 3 more chiefs. Mark my words. Unless public safety gets a grip on this mess, we’re in for even higher taxes.

  6. Answer to DQ on July 20th, 2016 1:20 pm

    Yes volunteers do receive a monthly stipend payment, all fire stations and equipment are purchased and maintained by the county, volunteer fire fighters additionally have workers comp through the County.

  7. replay to "the big picture" on July 20th, 2016 1:06 pm

    You are right about the tornado…. south end station responded but north end crew also respond to south end during the flood a few years ago. So it goes both ways. As far as the train derailment hazmat unit responded….it is there job to respond to those type call but they was not first on scene or last to leave the scene. We have great paid department and there still is a few good firefighters on the volunteer side. I agree we do need another EMS crew on to split the difference between Ensley and Century.

  8. Dumb Question on July 20th, 2016 12:38 pm

    Do the volunteer firefighters get paid? How is that funded? Seriously, are the buildings and trucks bought and maintained by the county.? Are the volunteer fire fighters compensated or insured? I appreciate them but does the term mean they get awakened durng the night and expected to come out for free then go work another job, then this tax come out of their other paycheck. I am sincere, and do want to know the whole picture. If they do not get paid and take time away from their families then this is not fair for them or district five. Steve Barry can vote no but if the others vote yes.then I want to look into this further.

  9. Voter that votes against taxes on July 20th, 2016 11:45 am

    Let’s hand the CCs their pink slips so they can go learn to live in a fixed budget. They are like all politicians that get a high on taxes. Never learn to cut anything in order to live within their means. Let’s start a movement to kick out these tax and spend politicians.
    Not many years back most of the fire protection was volunteer. Now it is all on the tax dole and politicians love to build their empires.
    If they stay in, next year it will go up again!!!

  10. the big picture on July 20th, 2016 7:55 am

    @Lou FYI, the county firefighters have not had a raise either in the last 5 or so years other than a COLA.

  11. the big picture on July 20th, 2016 7:53 am

    CW, do you know what resources responded to the tornadoes that day, yep, south end stations. The train derailment during the freeze last April, yep, south end stations. There are numerous incidents that the “south end” units have responded to. Matter a fact when a certain station couldn’t/didn’t have a unit to respond to a medical call, an ALS engine responded to the call and while at the call someone’s home caught fire and a south end unit was first on scene. Maybe you should look into why ECEMS doesn’t maintain a unit further north than Ensley. They rely on the closest ALS engine, E4, to minimize their on scene time. Any more questions that need answering please ask and I will attempt to inform you of the correct answer.

  12. C-5 on July 20th, 2016 7:43 am

    Lets all remember this and the ECAT tax in November.

  13. Firefighter Mom on July 20th, 2016 7:01 am

    @cc: The firefighters have been trying to get these increases passed for quite some time. They are necessary improvements that do cost money. Typically, there are a handful of dedicated volunteers & those numbers are dwindling. It would be wonderful if the county’s budget afforded every station to be manned with paid 24/7 crews. They’re protecting our homes & property, wherever they may be. These stations needed to be covered & the stations improved. There is legitimate need all over the county. CUDOS to the commissioners for passing the tax. I think $125/yr. is a pretty small price to pay by anyone for fire protection. I know I blow more than $10 a month….you probably do, too.
    Hang in there, guys…keep fighting the fight. Thank you for your selfless service!!!

  14. Lou on July 20th, 2016 6:23 am

    Our county needs to learn to live on a budget just like I have to do! I’ve not had a raise in years…everything goes up but your pay! It’s not like we have a choice….whatever area gets the benefit should get the bill!
    And the increase!

  15. c.w. on July 20th, 2016 4:08 am

    All the CC knows is tax and spend. As usual, it’s all for the south end that we are forced to support.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News