Flat fee now required for fire district's service

[William769]

EAST NAPLES, FL - A resolution in East Naples forces people to pay up when the fire department responds to your home or a car accident. We spoke to the chief about the changes.

The big question on the minds of many is why the district is charging people who already pay taxes for the fire department's services.

"It's not double taxation - that would be illegal. We can't do that. It's a cost recovery. It is allowable and it is legal. We are just trying to do our best to maintain a level of service," said acting East Naples Fire Chief Kingman Schuldt.

Chief Schuldt says the money from ad velorum taxes is the main way the district raises funds to keep going.

http://www.nbc-2.com/story/16058980/2011/11/16/flat-fee-now-required-for-fire-districts-service

[sarcasmo]

1. Is this not the Libertarian wet dream?

[csziggy]

2. A few years ago the Repubs cut local taxes

Which cut the money available for the county to pay the city for fire department assistance. The county came up with a solution - a separately charge "fire services" fee that is billed quarterly. There are no threats that if you don't pay it they will not respond to a fire at your location. In fact, if you miss three payments, the fee is added to your yearly property tax bill so there is basically no choice.

I think it is brilliant to bill separately for what are really necessary fees to keep essential services funded. It certainly would be more efficient and probably cheaper to just bring the taxes back up and not bill separately, btu doing so puts it in the faces of those who wanted lower property taxes, every single quarter.