By Andres Amerikaner
The Miami Herald

INDIAN CREEK VILLAGE, Fla. — Residents of tiny Indian Creek Village will head to the polls Friday to decide whether the island should end its relationship with county fire services and replace it with Miami Beach fire protection.

The island, with only 37 voting residents, pays almost $1 million a year to Miami-Dade Fire Rescue. Miami Beach could provide roughly similar services for about half the cost, said Mayor Anne McDougal.

"Our job is to make sure that we run things as efficiently as we can," McDougal said. "I don't think it's a divisive issue."

Voting will take place 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at City Hall, 9080 Bay Dr.

The county sued Indian Creek Village and Pinecrest -- which was also trying to drop county fire service -- in January. Both cities put the fire issue on the ballot before the county passed a law last year prohibiting cities from opting out of the Miami-Dade Fire district.

A judge ruled that Pinecrest could not hold the special election because its ballot didn't make clear who the new fire provider would be. Indian Creek Village was allowed to go ahead because its ballot did specify that Miami Beach would take over.

Miami-Dade's fire department is funded almost entirely by property taxes. As property taxes rise, the amount paid by residents of wealthy areas -- like Indian Creek Village -- becomes more disproportionate.

Currently, the owner of a $500,000 home pays the county's fire district about $1,300 a year.

McDougal said she strongly backs switching to Miami Beach's fire services. She pushed hard for the initiative to come to a vote, she said.

"I just feel that's my role," she said. "I am the mayor, and we do have a budget, and it's very large for very few people."

Copyright 2008 The Miami Herald