Fire Commissioners Vote On Referendum - Again Fire Commissioners Vote On Referendum - Again

The debate about the Election Day referendum appeared resolved two months ago.

After further review, some on the Spring Hill fire board thought it lacked vital information and went back to the county last month to ask for a revision. They were turned down.

At that point, the matter appeared to be over. It wasn't - at least not to the board.

Fire commissioners spent most of Wednesday's meeting discussing the referendum, which will ask Spring Hill voters in November whether they want their fire district to be independent from the county.

"I would strongly advise you not to go back again and request a change of the (ballot) language," said attorney Fabian R. Lokenauth, who represents the district.

The fire commissioners agreed and voted 4 to 1 to stay the course and accept the current ballot language.

Some members of the public also spoke and suggested the board not challenge the county again about the referendum. They thought it would only lead to bad publicity at a time when they need voters to have confidence in their fire district.

"This certainly has the appearance that we're waffling," warned Commissioner Rob Giammarco.

The one who argued strongest in favor of changing the ballot language was Commissioner Leo Jacobs. He was the only one who voted against staying the course.

"The referendum must be clear and unambiguous," said Jacobs, who thinks voters are not fully aware of what a no vote means.

If Spring Hill residents vote against an independent district - which it has done twice before - the fire board would be dissolved and the county would take over its operations.

If they vote for independence, that would eliminate the county's authority over the district.

Many of the district's supporters are afraid the department's assets would not remain in Spring Hill if independence is denied.

Spring Hill residents pay more ad valorem taxes for their fire services than county residents.

The equipment would be "solely entitled to Hernando County," Lokenauth told the board.

"So (the county) gets free equipment?" asked Chairman Charles Raborn.

"In the long-term, yes," Lokenauth replied.

With their 4 to 1 vote, fire commissioners are relying on future town hall meetings and a list of talking points to properly educate the public on what is at stake on Election Day.

Two meetings likely are going to be scheduled for September and October, Raborn said.

"We'd rather see education on the language we've got," said union president Troy Hagar. "The people of Spring Hill need a united front."

In other district news:

- The board unanimously agreed to have two ambulances sold during the next county auction.

They set the mandatory minimum at $10,000 each.

The auction will be held in Brooksville either in October or November.

The issue came before the board earlier this year when then Chief J.J. Morrison suggested donating both vehicles to Pasco-Hernando Community College.

The last time an ambulance was "retired" from the district's fleet, it was donated to Hernando County Government Broadcasting.