If you do not want to lose your current level of EMS and Fire service at night or in the future, then please call each of the County Commissioners today. You must speak to each one individually so they hear your message loud and clear. Do not just leave a message for one of them.

 

You must tell each County Commissioner TWO things:

1 - Do NOT remove Lealman's Rescue 19 at night.
2 - Do NOT vote for the Cares 2 plan.

 

Please call and/or write each of these numbers immediately and let them know that you do not want to lose your rescue at night and you do not approve of the Cares 2 Plan!!!!

 

County Commissioners:

Janet Long                                464-3365 janetclong@pinellascounty.org	Karen Williams Seel                 464-3278 kseel@pinellascounty.org
Susan Latvala                           464-3276 slatvala@pinellascounty.org	Charlie Justice                         464-3363 cjustice@pinellascounty.org
John Morroni                            464-3568 jmorroni@pinellascounty.org	Kenneth t. Welch                     464-3614 kwelch@pinellascounty.org
Norm Roche                             464-3360 nroche@pinellascounty.org

 

As mentioned in last month's newsletter, the outcome of CARES 2 is to eliminate the funding of most rescue units in Pinellas County from the hours of 10pm and 8am each day. This includes Lealman's Rescue 19. In addition, it freezes each provider's budget for the next three years and provides for an increase based on an index in the last seven years of the ten year contract. When averaged out over ten years, the Lealman Fire District will realize a decrease in funding of approximately $400,000 each year or over $4 million in the ten year period.

 

Most (if not all) the providers are beginning to realize the true effects of CARES 2 and the decrease of service or the increase in fire taxes that will take place under CARES 2. The City of Largo's City Council has instructed its staff to draw up documents to seek a legal remedy if negotiations fail and CARES 2 is implemented. Our Board of Fire Commissioners on Monday took the same action and we expect other providers to follow suit. The last thing the Lealman Fire District wants to do is to seek legal action against Pinellas County! We will continue to work toward a reasonable solution, but CARES 2 as it stands is not it.

 

"Last week, Fire Chief Graham and Lealman Firefighters were accused of using scare tactics to fight CARES 2. The article in the Tampa Bay Times referenced a flier distributed during a meeting in Terrace Park of Five Towns asking residents to contact their county commissioners in opposition to CARES 2. (The flyer that was handed out is below.) In the article, Chief Graham responded by saying, "I'm not going out there and trying to scare people. No one in this department is trying to scare people. I do believe this is a taxpayer issue, and the people paying the bill should get the service they want. ... If you're going to cut their service, tell them you're going to cut their service." Chief Graham added, "Do I think it puts people at risk? Yes. ... CARES 2 is bad for the entire county."

 

We will keep you updated as this issue progresses. In the meantime, please contact the County Commissioners and voice your opinion on CARES 2.