St. Johns County’s fire union is concerned that a push among some county commissioners to cut taxes could affect fire services in the growing county.
The county plans to build four new fire stations in the next six years. The one-time costs to build the fire stations is one thing, County Administrator Joy Andrews tells Jacksonville Today, but bringing on the new firefighters, EMTs and paramedics to staff those stations are recurring funds the county uses taxpayer dollars to fund.
Dave Stevens is the president of the local fire union, the International Association of Firefighters Local 3865. He says building so many fire stations in such a short period of time is a huge undertaking from a funding perspective…