Spring Hill Fire and Rescue Cap Crap

The other day I got the Official Primary Ballot through the mail, as in absentee ballot, on a piece of stiff piece of white paper with black lettering in various font sizes with a number of boldly printed words and phrases. Of course, the 11" x 8-1/2" ballot was sent from Hernando County Supervisor of Elections, Annie D. Williams.

Perhaps by chance, but possibly with intent, on the very same day I also got a very colorful 11" x 6" glossed-over paid political advertisement from ‘Cap Your Fire Tax’ with a generalized greeting of Dear Spring Hill Voter, and a note from Scott Edmisten.

Both of these pieces of mail had one thing in common: the Spring Hill Fire and Rescue Referendum.

The referendum would give “Authority for Spring Hill Fire Rescue and Emergency Services District to Levy Ad Valorem Taxes” if a majority of voters fill in the oval-shaped circle next to YES, which would authorize the Spring Hill Independent Fire District to “levy property taxes up to 2.5 mills on jurisdiction land to provide fire and rescue services”.

After writing a few thankful words to voters for exercising the right to choose either an incumbent by track record or a challenger by campaigning promises, Mr. Edmisten, president of the Professional Firefighters of Spring Hill Local 2794, pointed out that the Spring Hill Fire and Rescue District has “a proven track record of lowering its tax rate year after year” and, since “The current tax cap is 2.75 mills. A YES vote is an affirmation that you agree with the policy of keeping your property tax rate lower”.

What a deal! How could the electorate possibly vote ‘NO’?

The thing is that Mr. Edmisten didn’t really fully cover the positive implications. Inquisitive me found some very interesting information from the Board of Fire Commissioner’s meeting minutes from May 12, 2010, at www.springhillfire.com/Public_Records.

“The way the question will appear on the ballot it will appear to those who are not familiar with it that this is a new tax, it is an existing tax and we are asking the residents to give us the ability to levy this existing tax at a cap lesser than what we currently enjoy. (2.75 mills). We will be reducing the millage by another quarter point bringing it to 2.50 mills. That is a point and a quarter less than what State Statutes allows us to tax at. State Statute 191 allows the District to tax up to 3.75 mills.”

The ‘Cap Your Fire Tax’ paid political advertisement failed to advise voters just how much greater a deal a YES vote would be to their millage tax rate. The advertisement also failed to explain that the Hernando County Board of County Commissioners currently has the sole authority to raise or lower taxes on the Spring Hill Fire District MSTU. That rate, as of right now, is 2.2686 mills.

The primary ballot referendum would give “Authority for the Spring Hill Fire Rescue and Emergency Medical Services District to Levy Ad Valorem Taxes”. In other words, the District would become a separate taxing authority of and by itself – no more involvement with the BOCC. The commissioners would be absolved from voter wrath in all future fire millage rate hike requests.

A simpleton’s calculator would display a figure of .2314 mills over and above the current 2.2686 mills if the electorate votes YES on the referendum to give the Spring Hill Independent Fire District the authority to levy property taxes up to 2.5 mills. That’s an 11% difference to the positive, but don’t call it an increase.

Underhanded electioneering tactics do not sit well with me. There is no mention of any form of ‘cap’ – new or old – in the verbiage of the referendum. But that’s the hard-driven theme of the campaign ad by ‘Cap Your Fire Tax’, a body of sorts but only accessible as a member of Facebook; out of sight from, and not accessible to, the general public. Therefore, it must be considered a hidden agenda.

Police. Fire. Emergency. Rescue. All are important necessities to maintain a civilized community. Each service provider requires trained professionals with the necessary equipment to provide the safety and welfare essential for its residents. It requires money, and that money comes in the form of taxes regardless of how those taxes are levied or from what authority.

The fire district is dealing with a 15% decline in property values, thus lower tax revenues. There will be a budget shortfall of nearly $1 million if the referendum fails and about half that even if the measure meets with voter approval. Regardless, layoffs and furlough days are unavoidable. The fire district needs YES votes. Voters shouldn’t need the ‘cap’ crap. Unfortunately, there are those who believe they do.