09/05/2023
ATTENTION SUMTER COUNTY RESIDENTS !!
For those of you that don't know what happens when you vote against the fire assessment fee, this is what will occur without the increase! The vote "NO" is going to significantly limit the services provided to the citizens of Sumter County by Sumter Fire and EMS. This was expressed at the County Commisssioners meeting last night, but I'm unsure the majority of the residents of the county realize what a vote of "NO" truly means. Especially since most in attendance to this meeting were business owners.
The Fire Assessment fee has NOT increased in over 16 years in Sumter County. With the significant growth in population and development within the county, there becomes an increasing need for an increase in Fire/EMS personnel to provide services to our citizens. The department (Sumter Fire AND The Villages Fire) are funded by the county, in majority from the fire assessment fee, and it has functioned on a minimalist budget year after year while attempting to provide the best coverage to the residents of Sumter County in the most efficient and effective way possible.
What does the increase mean? Where is this money going? During the recent COVID pandemic, residents were experiencing EMS response times of over an HOUR. That is an HOUR of lifesaving resources being delayed to your emergency situations by a private ambulance service. The fire department was there within MINUTES, but were on scene with patients for a very long time waiting on an ambulance. At the time, the county utilized AMR as a private ambulance service for transport. A meeting was held and citizens expressed concerns that they wanted the county to take over transport because it would provide a better service for the residents.
When a fire department is responsible for transport, it requires a large amount of money. This change requires the need for an increase of approximately 50 personnel for the department on top of those that are already staffed. The county had to purchase 10 new ambulances as well as all the equipment to supply them. THIS IS ALL NEW EXPENSES that are needed for the budget for the department to function.
The fire department generates revenue by collecting the assessment fees and now collecting any revenue for the transportation to the hospital. It can take months to collect money for these transports.
Firefighters are not in this for the money. They signed up to put their life on the line for the citizens of the County they serve. YOU, me, our families and our properties and businesses located in the county limits.
Voting "NO" will result in LAYING OFF of 30 Sumter County firefighters, the CLOSING of possibly 4 fire stations and LOSS of our Hazmat, Swat, specialty rescue, etc.. THIS is what was said at the meeting. Watch it for yourself.
AS A CITIZEN this should be more than concerning. Where do you expect these firefighters to come from if you have an emergency!? They will be overworked and spread too thin. Response times will once again increase.
Did you know that closing fire stations will also negatively impact YOUR homeowners insurance? By increasing distance to an operational fire station, the ISO rating is changed. This will INCREASE your insurance premium. It is likely that the hike will cost citizens more than the proposed fire assessment fee.
This vote has taken place as of 8/23/23 by your county comissioners and this is what is happening now. If you don't belive it, stop by and talk to your local fire department. Imagine if you have worked as a firefighter for the county for years and now you maybe the one getting laid off.
Please do not take this out on your local firefighters. They continue to show up to work every day spending many nights, weekends, and holidays away from their families to serve the citizens of Sumter County.
When you do see them, maybe have more compassion because they are now running 2 men to each truck. 1 to operate the apparatus and 1 to respond to your emergency. They may have been up for hours with no sleep.
WHAT CAN BE DONE NOW?
Please VOICE your opinion and express your concerns to the Commissioners. EDUCATE YOURSELF on what these decisions mean to the majority of our citizens and their families vs listening to larger corporations and business owners who continue to utilize your support to line their pockets! Comissioners are elected positions that make decisions impacting YOUR LIVES and YOUR POCKETS!
GOD BLESS the men and women of Sumter Fire and EMS!
