Florida Fire Fighters Mount Challenge to Tax Reform Referendum

December 10, 2007 – Florida’s 22,000 professional fire fighters have joined forces with the Florida Education Association, National Education Association and the AFL-CIO in a 67-county grassroots effort to defeat a tax reform referendum that, if passed, will cost hundreds of fire fighters their jobs and stall pay raises and promotions for thousands more.

If passed in Florida, this tax reform measure will also serve as a blueprint in other states looking to reduce the hard-earned and necessary funding for fire fighters and emergency medical services.

The referendum, which goes before voters January 29 in conjunction with the presidential primary, calls for a doubling of the homestead exemption, which would create a savings of $20 a month for the average Floridian. This small savings for homeowners will require local governments to further slash their budgets – including cuts to fire departments across the state. In Jacksonville, city officials face a $75 million shortfall. Palm Beach County predicts it will need to layoff close to 150 fire fighters. The Disney Corporation has already announced a reduction in staffing for the Reedy Creek Fire Department in order to meet its budget. And, several small fire departments risk folding and merging with county departments.

As part of its campaign to defeat the referendum, the Florida Professional Firefighters has created a website dedicated to educating the public on the public services they will lose if this tax reform is passed. In some cases, fire fighters are also using radio advertising and direct mail as part of coordinated efforts with the teachers union and other allies, which include the Florida League of Cities and the Association of Counties.

Florida law requires that ballot initiatives receive 60 percent of the vote to become law.

For more information, contact Mark Treglio, Florida Professional Firefighters Coordinator for Save Our Services at prlocal122@yahoo.com or (904) 219-8657.