Property Tax Increase for LMRFD?

Property Tax Increase for LMRFD?

I apologize to the firefighter paramedics who come to the LMRFD to help us and do a good job.

BUT, the people of the LMRFD are being asked to raise our property taxes for the fire district. The problem I have with this tax hike is that WE the people inside the 144 square mile fire district receive no different service than those outside the fire district who pay nothing.

What incentive is there for people outside the LMRFD to pay hundreds in taxes to the fire district if they receive the same service and only pay if they call the ambulance or have a fire? (The ambulance CON is covered by the same firefighters and is 2200 square miles)

We should have the right to have a “fire paramedic” not an “ambulance paramedic” come to our home and check you out like people in most fire district without being charged $1797.48

If you are transported us then bill us, but give the citizens inside the fire district the respect to allow us the same services as people in other fire districts receive from their EMS services. To have a fire paramedic come to your home without being billed $1797.48.

I fear this new tax money would be used to hire more full time firefighters who live outside the fire district rather than seek to hire full time firefighters who want to live and work here. Most fire districts advertise at fire schools and paramedic schools for new employees. New firefighters in many states take a test are put on a hiring list where you might be called sometime in the next two years. I’m sure some would love to move from northern states to warm Dolan Springs.

The LMRFD needs to advertise for local people who want to train as volunteer firefighters and EMS volunteers, but they must including women who have no interest in becoming a firefighter but would be excellent caregivers as EMR’s (Emergency Medical Responder) EMT’s (Emergency Medical Technicians) or EMT-P (Paramedic’s)

I'm told the property tax increase is to pay for the new $170,000 ambulance. They purchased the new $170,000 ambulance and now they're asking for a property tax hike to pay for it. I know I have to know how I'm going to pay for something I purchase before I purchase it. Shouldn't they have asked the tax payers if they wanted a tax hike before spending $170,000 of our money? 

The LMRFD could have purchased a well maintained used ambulance with around 50,000 miles. At 2 calls a day at 100 miles per call the new ambulance will have 50,000 miles before it's a year old. By the time it's paid for in 5 years it will have around 250,000 miles on it. 

The link below is an example of a used ambulance with 59,000 miles it's BLS ready to go, just add an EMT for $22,900... They could have purchased 4 of this type ambulances, and had $70,000 to train EMT'd. The vase majority of ambulance calls are BLS and don't require a paramedic. We do need fire paramedics who could respond and add additional manpower for the ALS calls that require a paramedic.
www.ebay.com/itm/2009-FORD-F-350-TYPE-I-AMBULANCE-DIESEL-6-4L-LED-BLS-STOCKED-W-GENERATOR-/112593205382?hash=item1a3713f886:g:hWsAAOSwzilZ2Tek&vxp=mtr 

I might have a different opinion of our fire chief if when he took over he would have called me back after leaving two messages for him, or if when I spent three days putting together the information for the volunteer application I dropped off at the fire station he would have at least called and said no thank you?

The fire board only has the power to hire and fire the fire chief and control the money the chief wants to spend.