This month, I am writing about yet another tax increase being considered by our County Commission. This time, it is a hike in the Fire Fee tax on those who receive county fire services in the City of Sarasota and in unincorporated Sarasota County. It is really under the radar and would hit single-family homes with a 4 percent increase and really hit businesses hard, with a 39 percent increase.

We can all agree that we should support our firefighters and first responders. They protect us and many of us saw first-hand how they put themselves in harm’s way for us during and after Hurricane Irma. We are grateful for their work.

This issue is not about support for our firefighters. The issues are fairness and transparency.