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Upper Captiva Fire Needs Your Help!
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We need your help to secure proper, on-island housing for our Fire Chief. Chief Cottrell currently resides in a SHC townhouse rented by UCFRD. This agreement is ending soon and cannot be renewed or extended.
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- It is advantageous to have the Fire Chief reside on the island, not only for proximity, but it also reduces the cost of firefighter shift staffing as the Chief counts as a firefighter. If the Chief resides off island, it will require more firefighter shift staffing (and cost).
- Any money spent by UCFRD for Chief housing ultimately comes from tax dollars. As property owners, a portion of property taxes paid each year go to UCFRD. This expense is not spread across all property owners in Lee County – just to property owners (homes and vacant land) on our island.
- Charitable contributions to governmental units are tax-deductible under section 170(c)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code if made for a public purpose.
- To the extent that any donations (cash or in-kind) offset housing costs, they reduce the need for our property tax dollars being used for those housing costs.
Here’s How You Can Help
If you personally, or know of another island property owner who:
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- Has housing (non-SHC) to rent longer term that would meet the housing needs of the UCFRD,
- Has housing (non-SHC) where a fair-market value for IRS purposes could be established that would allow either a property donation or a use of property donation that would provide housing for UCFRD Chief and a potential tax deduction for the donor, or
- Are interested in purchasing a moderately priced property (non-SHC) on the island for the purpose of establishing a donation and potential tax deduction.
Please contact one of us if you would like to discuss, have any questions, or have ideas for us to consider.
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We appreciate your interest and support,
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Chief Jesse Cottrell
239-961-0357
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Cottrell@UpperCaptivaFire.org
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Commissioner Mary Jo Yafchak
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