Like anything the privilege can be abused by some. There are some FDs that will empty out all 3 - 4 vehicles from each station (4 local stations), including the ladder truck, for all 3 meals, later go for snacks and of course stopping at various coffee houses because some FFs like Starbucks, some like Dunkin and some like Peets or whatever. When this is a daily occurence, that gets noticed. It also becomes a joke about "how many FFs does it take..." when you see 4 FD trucks and 10 - 12 FFs all shopping for each meal. Add on the other 3 stations and you have what looks like a FF convention each day/ 3x a day at some stores. Of course, we could also add on the personal errands that some trucks run when out driving around.
for one am willing to pay the extra $50 (probably less) a year per taxpayer for FD trips to the supermarket in order to maintain good response times.
Absolutely not! The tax rates are already beyond the cost of living for some families. To add an additional financial burden to these families whose taxes are already going to pay for the fuel and new trucks is asking alot. When a family making a modest living with a $200k house is hit with taxes anywhere from $12 - $35/$1000 assessed value and additional fees, to add another surcharge for FFs to make numerous trips to the stores and to pay for their tricked out kitchens and grills (also by tax payer money) might backfire as well as be an issue for excessive taxation. Thus, when the FD wants to petition for higher taxes to rennovate a station, again, the people might not be so willing and the FD won't want to give up any fluff expenditures. Right now taxes are a big issue since Fire in several states are trying to gain control over taxation sectors to apply mergers that will take over whatever county or private EMS services.
Taxpayers do have a right to know where their money is being spent and how much of the expenditures are going for activities not directly related to a fire.
Any homeowners here? Have you seriously look at your tax bills?
I see nothing wrong with the practice, it is a good chance to do PR while out as well. Working in Florida though, we always got the seniors calling and complaining about their tax dollars being wasted and when we explained we work 24 hour shifts and need to shop for everyone, they usually accepted that.
Shame on those stupid seniors for being concerned about their tax dollars. They should be willing to throw their retirement and fixed income at the FFs. Do you realize that not all of Florida is "Palm Beach"? Many people retired on from jobs with very modest incomes. When they first retired, prices and taxes may have been reasonable. Now FL is supporting some huge FDs and PS districts as well as the schools, parks and roads or other infrastructure. The last major election for a property tax ammendment also showed how much fluff was in the costs to the taxpayers when the books were opened.
