Lehigh Acres Fire Dept -- The Good / Bad and the Ugly: Opinion --- Fire district costs plenty

Lehigh Acres Fire Dept -- The Good / Bad and the Ugly

The Lehigh Acres Fire District, a special taxing district, was created by a special act of the Florida Legislation in 1963. Its charter may be amended only by special act of the legislature. The governing authority of the District is a board composed of five members elected from residents of the District. During the past 4 decades we have been a part of the many advances in fire and life safety in our region.

Saturday, November 12, 2005

Opinion --- Fire district costs plenty

As I look at the Lehigh fire district, I wonder how in the world did union members get on the board that sets the salary of personnel.

I had an accident in my home and broke my hip. It cost $100 per mile to get to Lehigh Regional Medical Center three miles away, then $200 from the hospital to Cross Key Manor about 600 yards away. That was on top of the taxes I pay and have been paying for 50 years.

I also live on Social Security, and if the bill wasn't paid my property would have a tax lien put on it. If the lien was not paid my property would be sold to the highest bidder at the courthouse.

Then I see where the water company wants lot owners to pay for water lines to be put in at $3,000 per lot, then pay the water company for their services. That is like going to a car dealer, giving $20,000 to buy a car, then giving $25,000 for the car that helps the water company officials become multi-millionaires.

You pay them to install the service, then buy the service at about 100 percent profit for the the service.

In both situations, it's the same old story: stick it to the homeowner and taxpayer, then live in luxury and laugh at the suckers.

BILL FLOYD,

Lehigh Acres