Miami Herald Fee increase angers residents.html

September 13, 2000

Miami Herald: Fee increase angers residents

BROWARD

Published Wednesday, September 13, 2000, in the Miami Herald

Fee increase angers residents

BY WANDA DeMARZO

wdemarzo@...

Angry homeowners demanded answers from county commissioners Tuesday as to

why their fire-rescue fees were increasing as much as fourfold over the previous

year.

The homeowners live in Broward's shrinking unincorporated areas. Those

areas are slowly being absorbed into existing cities as mandated by the state,

leaving an ever greater burden on the remaining pockets.

``It's unconscionable what's happening to us,'' said Tom , president

of the Rio Ranches Homeowner Association, which is wedged in between City

and Davie. ``We're paying for services we don't even receive. Someone really

screwed up.''

said his fee last year was $272, but this year he will pay more

than $700. Other homeowners complained of bills that skyrocketed from $272 to

more than $1,000.

For more than an hour, commissioners explained to homeowners why they are

facing the higher fees:

Because of a court ruling earlier this year, the county could no longer

charge a single flat fee for fire and rescue service. The EMS fee is now based

on the value of a person's house, which has caused some people's bills to rise

dramatically.

``This is the way the Legislature is going to force you all into a city,''

said Commissioner Norman Abramowitz. ``Thank God I don't live in an

unincorporated area.''

Commissioner Rodstrom echoed Abramowitz's comment. ``You all haven't

seen anything yet,'' he told residents.

At one point, residents were taken to another room, where city staff

members tried to explain the increases one on one.

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