INDIAN ROCKS BEACH – The Pinellas County Legislative Delegation has denied the Pinellas Suncoast Fire and Rescue District’s request for state legislative consideration of a controversial charter change.
Just prior to the Dec. 1 meeting of the county delegation, state Sen. Lesley Miller Jr. agreed to sponsor the issue’s introduction to the delegation. A 7-3 vote down party lines defeated the district’s attempt to seek state legislative consideration of the charter change, which would have allowed the fire board to make decisions regarding district taxation without referendum.
Miller was joined by democratic state Reps Charlie Justice and Frank Peterman in the losing end of the vote to take the fire district’s initiative on to Tallahassee.
“It’s a dead issue,” said PSF&RD Chief John Leahy. “We’ll move to put this on a ballot again.”
The PSF&RD has been faced with ongoing budget problems. A county-financed oversight committee representing Belleair Beach, Indian Rocks Beach, Indian Shores and Belleair Shore is reviewing the district’s fiduciary management practices.
Public officials from these communities opposed any change to the district’s charter, accusing the PSF&RD commission of attempting to bypass the voters.
“What the delegation heard and voted in support of was some extremely inaccurate information,” said David Ramba, an attorney representing the PSF&RD.
“They dressed their argument in inaccurate financial numbers and pushed it past a delegation that didn’t know the full picture. This district is the only one in the county that isn’t on an ad valorem system and subsequently offers the lowest salaries to its firefighters. Those who voted against this voted against paying firefighters fairly and equitably. They voted against allowing the district to provide better service to the people it protects.”
“It’s very disappointing,” said PSF&RD Commissioner Bob McEwen. “But this ain’t over yet.”
“If the oversight review comes in favorable to the district, and we’re confident it will, we could revise this charter change proposal and take it directly to Tallahassee,” said Ramba.
A 2004 referendum unsuccessfully sought voter approval for higher fire taxes. It was strongly opposed by elected officials in the cities protected by the district.
The PSF&RD is again seeking to raise its annual fire protection fees from $190 to $245, which it considers a long overdue cost of living increase.
