Fire District Rejected
 

It appears that the Fire District has been rejected in a close vote.

The vote was 35,207 against and 33,225 in support of the measure.

Yay. The people have spoken against black hole tax proposals

The big No! No! for the yes vote was their lack of firm financial info.
In already austere financial times, a threatened increase in tax of any description is not a front runner in any election.
I thought the idea of an independent Fire Service was a good idea, but it was a badly presented campaign, with to many if, buts and maybes.
JMO.

Amen.

Interesting that the “day of” voters and the “early in-person” voters approved the measure but the “mail-in” voters overwhelmed those two.

I’m sure someone will claim fraud in the results.

Sometimes it’s much easier and better for your “psychic” to just say no! No to anything that is going to take more money out of your pocket. I get that. I see Orange County (Orlando) voted no for a penny increase in their sales tax even when much of the increase would be paid by others who visit there. Some call it “cutting off your nose to spite your face”. Given the times , I get that.

This is a classic case of your representatives telling you "This will be good for you, trust us". The financial information put forth was simply way too confusing to understand, and obviously people don't appreciate uncertainty. I have a degree in business/finance, and after reading several different explanations, I still didn't have a clue as to how much this proposed change would cost me. So, I voted no.

That's a shame, when it comes to safety and health I don't mind spending a few dollars. I hope we're not going to get stuck with those 20 minute blue ambulances that seem to be hiding under shade trees for most of the day.

Well said, unfortunately the result of saying no to everything is often throwing the baby out with the bath water.

The Independent Fire District is not totally dead. It could be put on the ballot again. If there is a second attempt to establish the district I hope the Fire Department and the District Offices get out front in better explaining the cost and benefits. The “simplified funding” was confusing at best. The was a lot of misinformation floating around about this proposal which likely lead to its defeat.

What was confusing about 0.75 * (market value - land value) / 1000?

This cannot be put on the ballot again without the legislature passing a new bill and the governor signing it.

It just shows why early voting needs to be shortened. people voted without full knowledge.

The people did NOT speak. Only Sumter County to the detriment of the rest of TV. Good luck with your politicized ambulance service.

I thought the question was only on the ballot for those that live within the proposed district.

We did this to ourselves. Or, more accurately, our Villages neighbors did this to us.

What is stopping the legislature from passing a new bill and the governor signing it?

If the people in power lose on an issue, it always comes back. If they win, the issue is decided for all time.

I don't mind it coming back but there should be a law that they have to wait five years.