Comments on: Escambia Won’t Raise Sales Tax To Fund Fire Services This Year, But Will Explore Other Options

By: Bmr

Bmr — Sun, 05 Jun 2022 16:21:40 +0000

Raise the Alcohol and Cigarette tax.

By: Tax payer

Tax payer — Sun, 05 Jun 2022 14:48:07 +0000

@ Reader

Try researching that some more. Since March of last year Uncle Joe has approved and urged municipalities to spend these funds on Public Safety. The article below shows where Tampa bought fire vehicles and renovated fire stations. It is authorized to use these funds for the things I suggested.

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/05/13/fact-sheet-president-biden-issues-call-for-state-and-local-leaders-to-dedicate-more-american-rescue-plan-funding-to-make-our-communities-safer-and-deploy-these-dollars-quickly/

By: Reader

Reader — Sun, 05 Jun 2022 03:12:23 +0000

“True it is not a sustainable funding source but it could be used to replace aging and unreliable fire trucks and other vehicles”

Basically, the COVID money could not be used for ordinary expenses, so not fire trucks, ambulances and fire stations

By: Tax payer

Tax payer — Sun, 05 Jun 2022 02:41:31 +0000

@ reader

True it is not a sustainable funding source but it could be used to replace aging and unreliable fire trucks and other vehicles. It could also be used to build a fire station in Paradise Beach to reduce residents insurance premiums.

As a tax paying resident I agree things like WiFi in the parks is a nice amenity but it shouldn’t trump public safety. Citizens hope they never need the services of police, fire, or EMS but they also have an expectation of competent, courteous, and timely service if they are needed. That’s the responsibility of our local elected officials.

By: Reader

Reader — Sun, 05 Jun 2022 01:02:27 +0000

” enjoy your free wifi at the parks”

I do. My family does. Thanks.

The wifi was paid for with rescue plan/COVID money. That can’t directly be used to fund the fire department.

But if you need an ambulance in the park, at least you can enjoy the free wi-fi and google self-help medical advance while you wait an hour for an ambulance. (Which is not the fire department’s fault. Like you said, they will wait with you. Even without extra funding.)

By: Truth

Truth — Sun, 05 Jun 2022 00:56:59 +0000

A couple things I noticed..
-the fire department cannot legally collect money for its ems services, only transport ambulances can. It’s a frustrating truth.
-$125 a year is CHEAP, in comparison to most other fire departments it is luxury to only have to pay $125, many city of Pensacola residents are paying close to double if not more depending on their millage rate.
-fire runs Ems calls because of the lack or ambulances ability to respond to their own calls. Fire trucks have been known to wait with low priority patients for upwards of an hour on occasion. It’s not a problem it is a crisis at that point.
-cut back… that would only cost the Tax payer even more money. Homeowners insurance is based on ISO score. The only way for the counties score to go higher than a 4 is to increase manpower, build a training facility, and improve infrastructure, none of which are being done. There are parts of the county that are paying 500% the rate they once paid when Station 20 closed. ISO requires 4 certified full-time firefighters per truck to achieve maximum points. Most trucks are at 3. NFPA requires 4 to enter a fire. So waiting for the next truck costs property through damage. Escambia Fire Rescue is the busiest fire department in total fire volume per capita in the State of Florida.
- enjoy your free wifi at the parks, or your millions over budget commissioner pet projects. It is easy to say Public Safety is a priority. But apparently too difficult to actually mean it.

By: Steve

Steve — Sat, 04 Jun 2022 23:48:06 +0000

Lou on June 3rd;

I absolutely support fully funding our first responders with the pay and equipment they need. I think pretty much all of us do.

What many of us are questioning is where the $ will come from, why homeowners seem targeted so often and why there seems to be questionable spending in other areas, which could be used for this?

By: Lou

Lou — Sat, 04 Jun 2022 00:19:13 +0000

Most fireman/women; can put on their uniform and say goodbye to their love ones; and never come back home. You all need to think about that. Give them the equipment they need to save lifes, and being able to come back home.

By: Mike

Mike — Fri, 03 Jun 2022 22:45:20 +0000

Why does Fire Department has to come to the scene when there is a medical call? This is a huge waste of money. There is an accident, OK, if somebody is injured; there will be an ambulance with doctors to help them. Why does Fire Department need to dispatch a team if there is no fire? And I am not even touching the subject of those calling 911 for a cut in their finger, the folks who never pay for anything they consume.

By: Tax payer not happy

Tax payer not happy — Fri, 03 Jun 2022 22:18:07 +0000

This seems like the county leaders did not plan for the future when they should have. Now with the gas prices going up and the economy as bad (and it is going to get worse before it gets better), they want to raise fees or taxes. No. You need to determine what you are already spending that is fluff and not needed and cut those items. We keep getting all of our utilities increased and now this? Come on. Raise the bed tax for hotels. The hotel owners just pass that to the tourists. That will grab those extra dollars needed since the tourists don’t pay for protection or services. Cut the fat in the county budget before you starting asking the citizens to pay anymore taxes or fees. Put a committee of us citizens together and we will be happy to do a line item look at what is being spent.