Cities challenge tax-savings in ‘unfavorable’ fire consolidation plan

CAPE CORAL, Fla. – City council members said they do not believe claims that consolidating Lee County’s 17 fire districts would save tax dollars.

The proposal to merge the districts was proposed by Rep. Matt Caldwell (R – North Fort Myers) who said minimizing the number of fire chiefs and administrative staffs would cut costs across the county.

The Cape Coral city council will discuss the proposal Monday, though documents show leaders have already called Caldwell’s plan “unfavorable.”