This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Politics & Government

County Approves EMS Tax Increase, Park Fees

Pinellas County commissioners approved the 2012 budget containing a controversial EMS tax and new park fees, but not without opposition from the public.

The Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners approved the final budget for fiscal year 2012 on Thursday evening by a vote of 6-1; the lone dissenting vote came from Commissioner Norm Roche.

Along with the overall budget, which will have a general fund of more than $489 million, the board also approved a couple of controversial increases, including a 46 percent increase in taxes to cover emergency medical services and charging a fee for cars to enter some county parks.

The board did agree to remove a portion of the second agenda item regarding user fees for services to be rendered by nonproprietary departments. Based on a recommendation from Commissioner Karen Seel, the BCC unanimously voted to remove the allowance for new fees for building and development services.

Find out what's happening in Dunedinwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The EMS tax increase will help alleviate costs that cities and fire districts incur when first responders arrive at the scene of an emergency, as well as allow the county’s contract with the Sunstar ambulance service to continue.

The increase, which represents a 38.02 percent increase in the old millage rate of .6163 mils, translates to an actual increase of 46 percent over the actual rates from year to year. That equals an increase from $58.32 a year to $85.06 a year for a property owner with a home valued at $150,000 with a $50,000 homestead exemption.

Find out what's happening in Dunedinwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“The EMS part needs a lot more investigation,” Palm Harbor resident Tony Casso said during his time to speak. “There’s a lot of other proposals out there that would seem to save the county a lot of money.”

Activist/politician Marg Baker, a Palm Harbor resident, was even more vocal with her opposition. “Your tentative EMS millage on property owners is excessive," she told commissioners. "The BCC is determined that the tentative millage and budget are at the lowest possible levels in accordance to sound fiscal policy. Bull!”

Chairwoman Susan Latvala said she “was not proud to be supporting” the EMS proposal, “but it’s the right thing to do.” The proposal was voted down by commissioners Nancy Bostock and Roche.

“I believe if we want to really get the ball rolling on these reforms, we do so tonight by not putting all of this money into this system,” Bostock commented, which brought applause from the gallery. “It would bring the urgency to this debate, but it would still keep our financial system afloat for another year.”

But County Administrator Bob LaSala countered that the EMS increase was necessary in order to prevent a financial shortfall in 2013.

“This increase is necessary to meet the financial obligation to the 18 medical first responders (in the county). The medical first response system has utilized reserves to provide services in the past. We can no longer continue to take money out of reserves to pay that expense,” LaSala said.

“If this isn’t done, we will find ourselves out of money by the middle of calendar year 2013,” he added.

The park fee proposal, which would charge each vehicle $5 for a single visit or up to $75 for a seasonal pass to places such as Fort DeSoto Park, was a particularly thorny subject for many of the people in attendance, and for some of the commissioners, as well.

“I can’t and won’t support the budget,” Roche told the board. “We never had a full and real public hearing on park fees. Parts of this budget presuppose votes on fees and increases we haven’t even taken up yet. This is a fundamental problem for me.”

Palm Harbor’s Matthew Bender strongly disagreed with the fee.

“You’re going to increase taxes on the bus, but then you’re going to charge me to go fishing at Fort DeSoto, right? I can’t go to Howard Park now without paying $5? We pay for that already, and now you’re going to charge us for going to a park? Shame on you.”

Perhaps the harshest words for the board and its proposed increases came from St. Petersburg neurosurgeon Dr. David McKalip, who called into question the intentions of the entire board.

“I’m fairly convinced that the majority of this commission will continue to pursue their economy-draining taxes that have devastated our economy for the last 10 years. You seem to accept the staff recommendations without much thought, except for two commissioners who have demanded accountability, Commissioner Bostock and Commissioner Roche," he said.

"Some of you speak in favor of cutting taxes and cutting spending, and then I see you routinely increasing taxes and refusing to cut spending. I think we recognize the true principals you are supporting. And it’s a real shame.”

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?