There have been some questions raised by an article written by the News-Press last week concerning the budget of the Lehigh Acres Fire and Rescue District. The article referenced the department having 11 million dollars in reserves, and that original estimates of Lehigh property values from the Property Appraiser were 23% and are now 16.3%.

 

In the original estimate released by the Property Appraiser, assessed property values in Lehigh Acres Fire District for 2008 were $6,272,435,000. The final assessed values for 2007 were $7,587,633,130. That is a decline of 17.33%. That is the figure the fire district had been using to analyze its budget since it is comparing one full year to another. The final assessed value in Lehigh Acres released by the Property Appraiser last week showed a drop in values of 16.3% year-to-year. That is a difference of about 1% from his estimates a month ago.

 

The News-Press chose to use another figure for 2008 initially released by the Property Appraiser which compared all of 2007 to 2008 taxable values as of “5/27/08.” That difference was 22.98% but it was not an apples-to-apples comparison, although it did make for sensational headlines.

 

The News-Press has also referenced the fire district as having $11,000,000 in reserves. The total figure is actually $11,194,267 and is simply a fund balance carried forward from the end of the 2006/2007 fiscal year . Here’s how that carry-forward money breaks down:

 

$2,180,940 construction loan

$1,127,104 deposits (two ambulances, aerial truck, misc equipment for these vehicles and nine Lifepak AEDs that were ordered and paid for last year).

$1,000,000 disaster reserves

$6,886,223 operating carry-forward which includes approximately $3,795,000 in other reserve funds.

 

So, in total, LAFD has approximately $4,795,000 in reserves. Once the ordered vehicles and other equipment arrive and station 104 is paid off this summer, the millions of dollars carried forward from the last budget year will be taken off the books. There will be no debt on vehicles or property and the Fire District will have $4,795,000 in reserves.

 

At last month’s Fire District Commission Meeting, independent auditors Tuscan & Company praised the Fire District for being fiscally responsible. Auditors said the administration and commissioners were wise to have reserves which will help the district weather the tough economic times.

 

If anyone has any concerns or questions about the Fire District’s budget, please feel free to contact Chief Adams. He is very willing to answer any questions citizens may have. Our main phone line is 303-5300.