What I am about to say will probably be unpopular but needs to be said.

Granted, we are currently in an economic situation not experienced for 70 - 80 years, probably never experienced in SWF.

Certainly the commissioners must take some of the blame. The union needs to take some of the blame and by association the firefighters as a group must take some blame. I feel for those individuals that are losing their jobs, it is not their fault but they are part of the system and the problem.

Let's review the situation over the past 6 years or so.

2002-03: Lots of people moving into SWF, naples and Bonita are HOT property areas. In the election of 2002 heavy Firefighter candidacy for various elected Fire Boards throughout Lee County, maybe other counties as well. (Firefighters working in Bonita and running in Iona-McGregor, working in NFM and running in Lehigh.) I'll mention something about a "Hen House" later on.

In 2002 several imcumbants lost in Lehigh and suddenly the Fire Board became a majority of Union Firefighters.

Between 2002 and 2006: The building boom was on! Property values and population in Lehigh soared. Remember property values in Lehigh rising 90% in one year?. You know the story.

Back at the FIre House the Board decided they were going to rebuild Lehigh's antiquated Fire District. Chief Cardosa, fired, for not being progressive enough. (there may have been other preoblems too, we'll never know. Jim Cordosa is probably glad he's not around now!) Do you remember the statements about becoming another Miami/Dade Fire Dept with all the equipment and abilities? To do that they needed to attract Fireman. They needed to expand to handle the brush fires and dramatically increasing population. Lehigh Acres went from the lowest paid fire district to the 2nd highest paid fire district during this time. Firefighters from as far away as Sarasota and Miami transfered and took jobs in Lehigh because the pay was better. Today Lehigh has a strong and effective fire district. That's great, but we have to pay for it too!

 By 2006-07 the Board had changed, the Union majority was broken. The board replacements were "new" and there is a big knowledge lag when you're new to "Policy, Planning and Budgeting" responsibilities of a "public agency". Economically, the bubble was about to burst in SWF, especially in Lehigh.

The number of firefighters and staff swelled and two new fire stations were started. The tax revenues went from $9 million to $36 million!

Before the recent lay-offs there were roughly 130 fiefighters and staff compared to 50 in 2000-02. The two fire stations are completed and equipment in place. Meanwhile tax revenues have plumetted 60% in 2 years, to about $17 million.

Folks, salaries in the Fire District account for 82% of the total budget which is about $25 million. (that's roughly $20 million in salaries) Remember the fire district is only going to get about $17 mil. if all the taxes get paid.

This situation is bleak and hard times are coming to our Fire District. WE, the citizens and Fire District are going to have to deal with this. Lee County has no responsibility here except to provide ambulance service if necessary. When I say the Fire District I mean; The Fire Board, District Administration and Employees. For several weeks we have read about tax problems with other Fire Districts. Cape Coral and Bonita firefighters are taking salary cuts to avoid lay-offs. The problems in othe districts are not as bad as Lehigh's but... Where is the Union and employees offer of salary reductions to reduce costs and save jobs in Lehigh? What happens when foxes watch the Hen House? You lose your chickens and get no eggs!

Having said all that let me say this.

Did we need to pay our fire fighters more than what we were? Yes!

Did we need to improve service and response times. Yes!

This is not a condemnation of the board, the union or the fire fighters. What is done is done. Granted only a few would have predicted the depth of this economic crisis we are ALL dealing with now. The real question is, How are we going to deal with this? Open discussion needs to be happening and so far its not happening. There are a lot of scare tatics being played right now. WE need serious discussions. This situation is so bad that concessions are going to have to be made by everyone, hopefully serious and open discussions will happen soon. No need to panic, we've got money until 2010-11.

The public needs to become more knowledgable as voters and those elected need to remember they represent the public's interest and need to public's trust. Those elected officials are the ones who set goals, policy, direction and they SPEND OUR MONEY.

 PS. The figures I use are generalities and should not be considered exact. I'm explaining the situation as I see it in general terms and I do not pretend to be an "expert" on the Fire District's finances. I could be wrong or misinformed about something. So, tell me where I'm wrong. Be gentle!