published: Friday, September 05, 2008

Minneola leaders discuss budget concerns

ROXANNE BROWN

Staff Writer

MINNEOLA -- Minneola leaders are seriously considering cutting one-third the city firefighters, eliminating the recreation department and cutting all employees' incentives instead of raising property tax rates for residents.

Mayor David Yeager said the three council members arguing for these cuts knew their decision before they walked into a meeting last weekend.

In making the suggested budget cuts, council members hope to keep property owners from paying higher taxes. As it stands, the property tax rate would increase from $3.37 per $1,000 of taxable property value to the proposed $4.50 per $1,000.

At a special meeting Aug. 30, council members agreed by consensus to suggest major cuts in service.

One of the proposals on the table suggests laying off three full-time firefighter/paramedics out of the nine currently employed.

Fire department spokesman Vance Flummer said Wednesday that one-third cut in services would jeopardize the safety of their crew and the city's residents.

"The National Fire Protection Association recommends a minimum of four men for every engine to support the two-in, two-out rule for structure fires and, currently, we run the station with three men," Flummer said. "The cuts would put us to a two-man engine crew, and that's our concern -- the safety factors for ourselves and to the residents."

Flummer said there are three shifts each day, three engines and three men on each shift. Already, that's one fewer firefighter than recommended, he said.

Since Saturday's meeting, the fire department, which is unionized, has received hundreds of calls and letters of support from other union stations throughout Florida. Many of those unions plan to send representatives to support Minneola's firefighters at the next budget workshop.

Minneola Mayor David Yeager said he has also received more than 100 e-mails from residents upset about the proposed cuts. Officials from City Manager Sam Oppelaar's office also reported an influx of e-mails addressed to him and the council.

In addition to cutting firefighters, Councilmen Ed Earl, Pat Kelley and Joe Teri proposed cutting out every incentive for employees, including longevity bonuses and cost-of-living increases.

Incentives are necessary to keep quality employees and levels of service for residents, Yeager said.

"As your mayor, employees count, and quality service counts," Yeager wrote in a letter addressing city residents.

To support eliminating the city's recreation department, Teri supplied the council with a proposal from the YMCA to take over the department's duties.

Teri said the YMCA is just one organization interested in taking over the recreation department. Teri said he's heard from other interested parties, such as the Police Activities League, Boys and Girls Club of America and South Lake Recreation Inc.

"They all run activities and are looking for opportunities to expand. We can rent the facilities to one of the groups at no cost to the city and perhaps we could make come money," Teri said. "And at the events, most parents won't really know the difference of who's running the activities and events."

Teri said that while there are many details still to discuss and work out, he feels the alternatives are better than raising property taxes at all.

Yeager, who opposes all three suggestions, said it appeared as though the other three members in attendance -- Earl, Kelley and Teri -- came into the meeting with prior knowledge of each other's views. Yeager accused all three of having talked to one another prior to the meeting and coordinating their efforts.

"It was like a beautiful play. They had it all preset. I believe that they spoke before the meeting, a Sunshine violation, but I cannot prove it," Yeager said. "But it was obvious."

On Tuesday, in response to Yeager's claim, Teri said that he and his fellow council members have only spoken to one another "at previous council meetings." Teri called their shared views "normal."

"Three people agreeing on one thing, that happens a lot," Teri said. "Especially when it all made sense."

The next budget workshop is scheduled for 9 a.m. Saturday at Minneola City Hall.

Yeager is also urging that all residents attend and voice their input.

"Folks, it's time for Minneola to grow up. You hired a city manager with incredible background and capabilities. We also have a world-class finance director and don't need the city council to bring in their own presentation on how we should streamline the city," Yeager wrote. "As your mayor, I think it's totally ludicrous to expect all of you to be happy with your city government cutting essential services just for the sake of living up to a campaign promise or to stand on some twisted logic."