Why doesn't the paper print the TRUTH !!!! Does the fire board need the money?

WHY DOES THE FIRE BOARD NEED THE MONEY ??? MAYBE THE UNION ??? THINK ABOUT IT THE UNION MEMBERS ON THE BOARD THEY VOTED TO GIVE THEMSELES A RAISE LAST YEAR NOW THEY INCREASE THE BUDGET BY 73 % --- THEY NEED TO LEARN HOW TO RUN A COMPANY AND BUDGET THE TAXPAYERS MONEY.

WHY DOESN'T the News print the truth ??? you taxes will go up !!!!!

Fire board approves reducing tax rate Budget

Budget calls for 6.77 percent decrease

exert for -----
By HEATHER PEURANO HPEURANO@LEHIGHNEWSSTAR.COM Published by lehighnewsstar.com on September 17, 2005

The Lehigh fire board approved a $25.38 million budget on Wednesday that includes additional ambulances and fire engines and reduces the tax rate by about 7 percent.

The Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District budget decreases taxes about 20 cents to $2.80 per $1,000 of taxable property value.The fire tax on a $150,000 home, which is about average in Lehigh, minus the $25,000 homestead exemption, would be $349.62.
Even with the drop in the tax rate, the fire district will see an increase in revenue because property values went up 99 percent in the fire district this year.Commissioner Barry Ashman said the district would be collecting about $900,000 less than it would have if it had left the tax rate at the current $3 per $1,000 in taxable property value.

Commissioner Steve Haas defended the tax rate to the 10 audience members, some of whom had questioned the increase in revenue."We should have sufficient and properly maintained equipment and well-motivated, properly trained personnel," Haas said.

Chief James Cardoza said most people will see a reduction in their tax bills this year.

Others may see an increase because of increased property values.The budget, which takes effect Oct. 1, passed 3-2, with Ashman and Commissioner Bruce Boyd Jr. voting against it.

The budget includes money for two new fire stations to cope with growth in the district, two new fire trucks, two ambulances and 21 new firefighter/paramedics.

Boyd voted against the budget because it included excessive raises and $500,000 to buy out Cardoza's contract.

The board voted last month to buy out the remainder of Cardoza's contract, which ends in October 2007, in part because of two reprimands he received this year. He makes $105,000 a year.

Boyd was absent from the meeting and said he is against the decision.

Ashman said he intended to vote against the union contract so he could not support the budget.

In other business during the regular meeting that followed the budget hearing, the board voted to:

• not ratify union members' contract due to some confusion about whether compensation for additional education would carry over with promotions. The board may vote on a revised contract at a special meeting 6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 26.

• approve raises for the district's nine non-bargaining unit employees• purchase two ambulances and two fire engines

• hire Dr. Joseph Lemmons, director of emergency services at Lehigh Regional Medical Center, as medical director for the fire district

• begin recruiting for a new training officer in charge of emergency medical services

• apply for a $750,000 credit line in case of emergency• hire consultant Mary Ellen Dorsett to assist in finding a replacement for Cardoza

• sign a $30,000 contract for rebuilding fire station No. 2 at 11 Homestead Road