Fire commissioner rebukes criticism
Part two of three Continued from last week:

Items Regarding Misinformation:

"The salaries of these fire fighters constitutes only about a third of the Midway's projected budge." (Sic)

Fact: Not true. The FY 2008 budget reflects that payroll cost is 62 percent of budget.

"But what hasn't been marketed as well is the fact that taxing districts can "roll up" the tax rate to make up for any shortfall the additional exemption would create."

Fact: "Not true. The Truth in Millage Section of the Department of Revenue told the District that we could not raise the millage rate. There were no provisions in Amendment One that authorizes "rolling up" the tax rate. The [writer] was advised of that fact but printed it anyway. Had the "roll up" provision been in Amendment One, there would have been no need for Amendment One, would it?

"If the Additional Homestead Exemption passes, and if the Fire District commissioners roll up the millage rate, the district can see an increase of $53,000. If Midway's fire levy referendum passes on the same ballot, revenues can skyrocket to $5.031 million unless their board elects to roll back the millage rate."

Fact: We cannot "roll up" the millage rate. The total revenue would have been $4.097million not $5.031 million. The millage rate would have been .65 instead of 1.4.

"Some three months ago, the Fire Department was petitioning the county to provide ambulance service to the entire county and now they claim that they can't even provide fire and emergency services with their current revenues"

Fact: Not True Fire Tax referendum was for future expansion. If Amendment One had failed, we would have been able to still provide the same fire and emergency services within our current revenue. The ambulance service would have been funded by fees charged to patients, same as Rural Metro and LifeGuard. The District would have received an average of about $350,000 each year over the five years of the contract. This additional revenue would help now.

"They have added redundant services that are provided by other agencies in the area, purchased new vehicles and property for a third fire station on Highway 98."

Fact: Not true We have not purchased new vehicles for station three. We would have relocated vehicles as needed. Impact fees are paying for the land.

"However, Lifeguard Ambulance is the county appropriated service that provides medical emergency service to this same area. This is duplication of services. MFD also wants the money for hazardous material emergencies. Two regional Haz-Mat Teams, one in Okaloosa County and one in Escambia County are equipped and manned to respond to Haz- Mat incidents statewide. This is a duplication of services. When is the last time we had a hazardous material emergency in South Santa Rosa County? ...This is a duplication of services."

Fact: After Hurricane Ivan, the District was unable to communication with the county. On its on initiative, Midway established a Post-Ivan Refugee Center at Woodlawn School furnishing food, water, and medical services. Later the operation was moved to the Community Life Center and continued with the same services until help could arrive. If not Midway to respond, then who?

The District, by state statue, is responsible for medical emergency service but is not allowed to transport with out a COPCN from the county.

Midway was certified as a Haz-Mat unit in May 2005; whereas, Escambia County was certified22 months later in March 2007. If using the two counties example as duplication of services, then it seems like Escambia is duplicating service not Midway. Delay in waiting on outside sources could exacerbate the problem.

Fire Prevention is not duplicated. The county does not handle fire prevention issues within the district. There are only a couple of inspectors for the whole county.

"The bill appears to show your Homestead Exemption of $25,000 for every public agency in Santa Rosa County. That appearance is a scam. Your bill for Midway Fire District is based on the Assessed Value with No -- that is NO -- Homestead Exemption. In effect, Midway Fire District has refused to recognize the Homestead Exemption which is applied to every other taxing authority in Santa Rosa County."

Fact: The charge here is that we have refused to recognize the Homestead Exemption. Not True. HB 151 FHofR 1990 Section 5. paragraph(2) states:…" on the total assessment value of real estate…" (EMPHASIS ADDED.) This is the authority that has used over the years. The District uses the numbers that appear on Form DR-420 issued by the property appraiser. Homestead Exemption amounts appear nowhere on the form, and the District has no idea of the amounts involved. Maybe the property appraiser back then could explain it.

"Your home will be as well protected on the day after this plan is turned down as it was on the day before."

Fact: True. Your home would have been protected, as you say, when the Fire Assessment Fee referendum failed, but with the passage of Amendment One, your fire and medical responses will suffer.