West Manatee Fire Rescue Asks It's Voters to Increase Impact Fees
BRADENTON -- The West Manatee Fire District can't seem to convince anyone to give it more funding. But it has not been for lack of trying.
Voters rejected three fire district proposals in 2004 to raise property taxes to pay for new firefighters. State legislators turned down its request for additional funds shortly thereafter. So, the district is trying a new approach this November: It wants voters to approve a boost in impact fees for future residents.
The money would not pay for more needed hires, but the district is ready to take what it can get. Officials now just have to convince a tax-adverse public they won't feel the pain. "For the citizens of the district who currently live in the district, this referendum doesn't affect them," said West Manatee Deputy Fire Chief Brett Pollock.
The impact fee proposal on this November's general election ballot would increase fees for new single-family homes from $100 to $500. Fees for new commercial construction would be $980 plus an additional 25 cents per square foot for buildings over 5,000 square feet. It is currently set at $200 plus five cents per square foot for buildings over 5,000 square feet. The impact fee rates have not changed since 1985. Additional revenue would only be used to purchase safety and training equipment, Pollock said.
The 18-square-mile fire district serves a population of between 40,000 and 55,000 living on Anna Maria Island, and in Cortez, Palma Sola and northwest Bradenton. So far, the district has had a tough time talking to potential voters about its latest proposal. Only a handful of people attended the three public information meetings district officials hosted last week in Manatee County. One was Palma Sola retiree Davye-Dawn Carter. She likes that the district wants funding from new development.
"Ever since growth and development became such a problem for Manatee County, we heard over and over that growth should pay for itself," Carter said. "And it hasn't."
The district asked voters three times to increase their taxes in 2004 to pay for 12 new firefighters. The third property tax proposal, on that year's November ballot, failed by 613 votes.After that, officials asked local legislators to propose increasing homeowner fire-service fees. That didn't go over well given its three rejections at the ballot box.
"It failed to the point that I don't think they could bring it back again," said state Sen. Mike Bennett, R-Bradenton. "Anytime you try to get a fee increase or tax increase from the Florida House of Representatives, you've got a tough row to hoe."
The fire district generated $10,800 in residential impact fees in 2005, a figure that would have translated into $54,000 if the district's proposed rates had been in place.
Pollock is well aware that voters in the area have grown tax-weary after contending with rapidly rising home insurance rates and a generally high cost of living.
- By FRANK GLUCK This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
