Pasted below is nice factual article from the Lehigh Citizen on the standing up the Fire Department's budget and other issues discussed at the June commission meeting.

Officials: audit looks good

Fire District faces revenue shortfallBy MEL TOADVINE, mtoadvine@breezenewspapers.com

A Fort Myers auditing firm gave the Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District good marks when it presented the District’s annual audit for the department and the board of commissioners.

Jeff Tuscan of Tuscan & Company in Fort Myers, along with another member of his firm, told commissioners at the June 18 meeting at the Veterans Park Recreation Center that their finances were in good shape but that they should be careful in the coming fiscal year because of expected lower Ad Valorem revenue coming to the department.

A shortfall of $1.7 million is forcing the District to hold back on spending, said Fire Chief Don Adams. Tuscan praised the District for a $11 billion surplus but also urged the District to open a credit line for any emergencies in the future.

Two reports, totaling 64 pages, were presented to the board at the beginning of the hour and a half meeting. Tuscan said his firm also prepared a second report showing bar graphs and pie charts making it easier for the average person to understand. The audit is a public report, available at the Thomas Sherwin Ave. station for anyone who wants to see it. Upon the advice of board attorney Richard Pringle, the board voted to accept the audit.

Tuscan said the fire board’s finances “were very healthy.” This comes after critics have gotten up at prior meetings to say the fire district commissioners were not handling monies properly and they were wild spenders.

At the end of the meeting, Commissioner Joel Guzman said he was happy with the good news from the auditors in wake of constant criticism from a few people in the community. He said the audit report shows the board and the chief have worked hard to make sure the agency was in good financial shape in light of expected shortfalls in funding expected in the next year or so.

Over the past year, the department has constructed two fire departments — but plans for more construction are on hold, Adams said. He told commissioners if less tax revenue comes to the district, there is a possibility that firefighters would have to be laid off.

“But we’re doing everything we can in curbing our spending to keep that from happening,” Adams said. “There are no plans for layoffs now.”

Tuscan praised the staff, saying they “did a great job in helping us.”

During the presentation, Tuscan said that in five years, the department would probably not be using checks.

“Payments will all be electronic and bankers are adjusting for that new way of handling money now,” he said.

“It is great that you backed up your reserves. The Ad Valorem taxes this coming year may be low,” Tuscan said. “You may have to dip into the reserves – it was wise to build those reserves to weather economical storms that may lie ahead,” Tuscan said.

He noted that the district finances had revenue income of $7.9 million in Fiscal year 2007.

“You’re a large organization today. By Fiscal year 2007, your revenues increased to $24.1 million,” Tuscan said. “You’ve more than tripled.”

One of the charts in the audit package showed that Ad Valorem revenue increased from $5.4 million in 2004 to $20.3 million in Fiscal 2007.

“That’s an increase of 276 percent,” Tuscan said.

He noted in the report, as a result of substantial growth in property values over the past few years, many budgeting goals related to designated reserves were fulfilled while decreasing or sustaining millage rates. He noted that construction of Stations 104 and 105 will be completed (Station 105 is completed and on line) and the construction loan of $8 million will be paid off leaving the district debt free.

Despite significant increases in operational expenditures and anticipated capital projects required due to the growth, the Fire District will continue to work to decrease the millage rate, if possible. The District is monitoring the status of property valuation in the District and the recent change in legislation related to Ad Valorem taxation and is committed to provide the highest level of service to the citizens of the District.

For information on the final report, which is a general overview of the district’s finances for its residents and creditors, questions about the report or request for more financial information should be directed to Chief Donald R. Adams, 636 Thomas Sherwin Ave. S., Lehigh Acres, FL 33974. The chief can be called at 303-5300.



Also at the meeting

n Meanwhile, Patrick Comer, the District’s public information and education officer, told commissioners of recent visits to Lehigh schools to provide education about arson and fire prevention. A DVD was prepared by the fourth grade at Mirror Lakes Elementary School, he said. Comer pointed out that arson has been the cause of many brush fires in Lehigh and education is vital to show students the danger of fire.

“Stop and think,” Comer said, “if we have stopped one kid from committing arson this year, then what’s that worth?”

Fire Marshal Ken Bennett said three kids are presently enrolled in a fire starter program and there are a “dozen or more suspicious fires” that may have been started by kids.

The fire marshal also indicated that “there are a few indications that fires may have been started in foreclosure cases.” He said when there are suspicions, the state fire marshal is brought in for the investigation. He said he couldn’t say more about the topic of homes under threat of foreclosure being set ablaze by their owners.

n Commissioners learned that Verizon was willing to pay $1,400 a month to lease land behind Station 101 for a cell phone tower. The commissioners voted to give Verizon the their blessings to make a request to the county for a series of land use permits.

n Rob Fowler Jr., the District’s project manager for the construction of the new fire stations in town, was asked when Station 104 was going to open. Commissioner Dave Adams noted there had been a four-month delay. Fowler said the station may be open by the end of this week. He said the power had been turned on at the station that very day. He said drinking water issues had caused delays, but they had been solved and the next stop is to move a temporary trailer from the grounds. Fire personnel have been working out of the trailer for the past several months while construction has been underway.

“I’m glad to hear that. I just don’t want this to drag on into the next fiscal year,” Adams said.

Near the end of the meeting, commissioners agreed to set up workshops for the upcoming budget. Dates selected included Aug. 8 at 4 p.m., Aug. 21 from 6 to 9 p.m., and Sept. 2 at 4 p.m. Workshop meetings will be held at Veterans Park Community Center, the site of the monthly commissioners’ meetings. A fourth meeting will be scheduled if necessary. Commission President Jeff Berndt asked the fire chief for an overview before the first meeting to acquaint members with the issues.