Seeking additional revenue to ensure all five current fire stations remain open in East Contra Costa County, the ECCFPD will discuss a proposed Parcel Tax at its January 6 meeting. The Finance Committee is recommending to the full board the District move forward with a $98.00 per parcel for the first year, with a 3% annual escalator, and a five year sunset. The per parcel tax in the final year of such a tax would be $111.00.
The Committee further recommends that the Board lower the District’s Operating Reserve to 15% to allow projected revenues under the suggested tax to meet projected expenses, assuming the District maintains a five-station staffing model.
Information is provided by the ECCFPD Staff Report where the meeting will be held on Monday to discuss this item in depth.
SUBJECT BACKGROUND
At the December 2, 2013 Board of Directors Meeting, the Board tasked the Finance Committee with reviewing the cost of maintaining the current 5-station staffing model and providing a recommendation for how to meet associated additional revenue requirements.
The Finance Committee has met 3 times since the last Board of Directors meeting and reviewed the District’s revenue and cost projection model with specific attention on the following areas:
Revenues
- Property tax revenue projections are based on projections from the City of Brentwood, City of Oakley, and Contra Costa County as follows; a 3.5% increase in fiscal year 2014/15, a 3% increase in fiscal year 2015/16, a 2.5% in fiscal year 2016/17, and 2% increases per year into the future.
- Measure H -EMS funding at the new allotments, based on population served. The District’s share of the funding was increased from $19,000 to $180,000 under the system.
- Growth in the number of parcels in the District’s jurisdiction is estimated to be a half percent per year based on recent historical data
Expenses
- A 2% salary escalation per year was added to the model as discussed by the Board during its December 2, 2013 workshop.
- The most recent pension projections from Contra Costa County Employees Retirement Association have been added to the model.
- The model now includes updated projections on healthcare costs and retiree health benefits.
- The Committee updated equipment replacement reserve fund projections.
- The Committee reviewed the capital replacement fund.
- The model includes an operating reserve of 20%, consistent with the Board’s current policy.
The Finance Committee also discussed the following options, and makes the following recommendations, for enhancing revenue through a parcel tax measure to be placed on the June 2014 ballot
Parcel Tax Escalation
During the workshop at the December Board of Directors meeting, there was discussion about whether the parcel tax should include an escalator or be at a flat amount over the life of the tax.
In discussing this subject, the Committee concluded that:
- After the next three years, property tax revenues will escalate by law at the maximum of 2% year. Operating expenses are projected to escalate at approximately 3 ½% per year when considering likely increases to salary and benefit costs, costs of services and supplies, administrative service expenses, and capital equipment replacement needs.
- A parcel tax with an escalator better represents the reality of the District’s revenue needs and reflects the long-term effects of the loss of property tax revenue available to the District as a result of property price declines in recent years.
- The Committee recommends a 3% escalator in the proposed parcel tax.
Parcel Tax Options
The Committee considered the following options for a parcel tax, each of which reflects the projected costs of maintaining the District’s current five-station model:
(Click image to enlarge)
Committee’s Recommendation
The Finance Committee recommends that the Board move forward with a proposed parcel tax starting at $98.00 per parcel for the first year, with a 3% annual escalator, and a five year sunset. The per parcel tax in the final year of such a tax would be $111.00. The Committee further recommends that the Board lower the District’s Operating Reserve to 15% to allow projected revenues under the suggested tax to meet projected expenses, assuming the District maintains a five-station staffing model.
61 comments
No new taxes. $98 is still too high when CONFIRE was asking for $75. Explain that one to us how you are asking for more when the firefighters are lower paid than CONFIRE?
thats kindof easy—there are more residents covered by Con-Fire than ECCFPD so the pain can be spread out more. Fewer residents mean that the tax has to be higher.
Because you are currently paying half of what ConFire people do for fire service.
This has been covered many times before. People are either lazy or deliberately choosing to remain ignorant about the funding problem.
http://www.contracostalafco.org/municipal_service_reviews/fire_and_emergency_medical_services/CoCo%20Fire%20MSR%20Master%20-%20FINAL.pdf
Page 195, 5th paragraph.
In order to keep pace with ConFire, this tax would have to be $175 and that’s assuming ConFire does not receive a supplemental next year.
And let the debate begin………….. All those in favor speak up LOUDLY to drown out the naysayers.
BS. Live within the District means. Stop putting it on taxpayers. This board is a failure just like the last one.
Yawn… another waste of money since this will not pass. Bring back volunteers if you want to fix the districts money problem. I can’t wait to hear Mr. Burkholder claim its a revenue problem vs. spending problem.
Bob Mankin will sure as heck chime in at some point. He has been pretty quiet lately.
Bobby… have not reviewed their figures in depth nor have they made a final decision. Will let you know after Monday if its a spending problem vs. revenue problem.
Bobby,
Are you volunteering? If not them shut the F*** up with your repetitive volunteer nonsense. You sound like a broken record. Vote no and you will get what you pay for which is next to nothing.
@Bobby. Bringing back volunteers will cost the residents of the district far more than a $98 parcel tax.
You got a whole list of why that is last week. But you chose to ignore it. That’s the consistent behavior of the just say no crowd. Lie in anonymous blog posts pretending there is no downside, when in reality there are HUGE negatives to voting down the measure. Check that, maybe you’re not lying and are really that ignorant to the full set of facts.
In case you missed it, maybe you can answer for your fans:
https://eastcountytoday.net/2013-recap-13-major-fires-that-occurred-in-east-county/
Volunteers are not “free”. You continue to perpetuate that lie for the exact reasons I cited. Pure selfish agenda. Public safety is not the #1 priority with the just say no crowd. Foolishly thinking you will save a buck is. When in reality you will suffer much greater total costs.
Mr. Burkholder,
Are you working for the District? How do you have this information before I receive my packet for meetings? Something doesn’t seem right. Explain yourself.
@Concerned Taxpayer
The money would be nice, but no. All information was pulled from ECCFPD website. I have not received my email either.
Could be $300, we need 5 stations to fight a residential fire. $98 is cheap.
Lets not forget that there are still 3 stations closed-Station 58 in Discovery Bay Station 57 in Byron and Station 95 in Bethel Island. Station 54 and 94 were re-opened with grant money that will run out in November 2014.
As one of our fire district’s (ECCFPD’s) biggest supporters, I must regretfully say that I can not way support the latest fire tax effort.
As it sits now, the tax will fail.
-The district has a permanent, long term revenue problem. A “patch” is not what is needed. A funding tax that brings the department on par with the rest of the county and surrounding areas for adequate service is a necessity. It is a “need to have” not a “nice to have”.
-The 5 year sunset is ridiculous and falls short of a realistic goal. This is based on the monumental costs associated with elections. The district does not have 100’s of thousands of dollars available spend on more elections. At a minimum, a 7 to 10 year sunset would be reasonable and most surely would have to be renewed. The problem is not going away.
-I refuse to vote for a tax simply because it meets an arbitrary figure that is claimed more palatable to some voters. This lower amount is no bargain and will put us in a worse position 5 years down the line.
-I will not vote for or support a tax that falls short of what is required to provide a base level of emergency service and leaves fire stations closed and communities without initial protection.
The recent “plan” is a day late and a hundred dollars short. The ECCFPD is not only in disarray, but lacks focus, a solid plan, and most importantly is missing a team approach that everyone can get behind.
The proposed tax is unfortunately already doomed to failure. It may have had a chance IF the district directors and firefighters, had begun with an educational campaign (at least a year in advance) demonstrating why the district has a shortfall of revenue due to a low allocation of property tax. Inclusive of a realistic amount of cost necessary to re-open closed stations in all communities could secure voters from Byron/Discovery Bay, Bethel Island and other affected areas. *Ask yourself, why would they vote for a tax no matter what the amount when their stations remain shuttered.
For a tax to succeed at the ballot box, 2/3 (66 percent) is needed. The latest direction no doubt alienates additional voters and draws a larger margin of failure.
I will not put good money behind a bad plan.
Spend time–at least a year–not a few months, educating the public. Put a solid funding plan back on the table that reopens stations and provides east county with the emergency services that it requires. Most importantly, get as many people, groups, agencies on the same page. (Right now, I see none of that taking place, and it is far too late to census build). If it fails, then at least you know you did everything you could to make the department function. It is the right thing to do.
Short of this, the tax will fail. It is a foregone conclusion.
I hope the ECCFPD board of director’s are reading and paying attention to these posts, for they have turned a YES vote into a NO. This is important when you need 2 yes votes for every 1 no vote.
Probably not the outcome they were seeking.
NO NEW TAXES. FIX THE PROBLEMS THEY HAVE and divert that money where it needs to be spent wisely. When The city of Brentwood can build themselves a PALACE to work in with a USELESS parking garage next door, there is money being WASTED. If the fire department wants more money, find it in other places where it is being wasted. We have been taxed enough. Take some time and revue their budget. Learn where the money goes. To keep taxing is not the solution.
*review
In other words, you don’t have a clue about how the fire department is funded and how it is ILLEGAL to just willy nilly move money around within government.
ECCFPD is a stand alone entity. Other than common geographic area, the money that goes to Brentwood has nothing to do with them.
Thanks for playing, but your time is better spent educating yourself in civics and the way government works.
Here’s your pop quiz for the day: How many times in all the days you have lived here have you ever been “taxed again” for fire services?
If you are too civics illiterate to know how the money flows work, don’t embarrass yourself by trying to answer with some Tea Party drone bullsheet.
Wow…..how immature your post are. Calling people names.
@ joe blow from Idaho,
Hate to point out the obvious, but isn’t “joe blow from Idaho” a “name”. How immature! See the irony?
You people are your own worst enemies. Often dumber than a sack of rocks.
Just sayin!
Not supporting this because it does not solve a long term problem. You are now advocating to the public to fight and scape to inadequate service model of five stations. If you going to go to the trouble of a parcel tax, go to an adequate service level suggested by LAFCO of around 10-stations.
The pandering to a select few just to pass a tax is silly and is not leadership. That is called following. If it fails, show people what a 3 station model looks like.Only then will you solve the problem once and for all.
As one of our fire district’s (ECCFPD’s) biggest supporters, I must regretfully say that I can not way support the latest fire tax effort.
As it sits now, the tax will fail.
-The district has a permanent, long term revenue problem. A “patch” is not what is needed. A funding tax that brings the department on par with the rest of the county and surrounding areas for adequate service is a necessity. It is a “need to have” not a “nice to have”.
-The 5 year sunset is ridiculous and falls short of a realistic goal. This is based on the monumental costs associated with elections. The district does not have 100’s of thousands of dollars available spend on more elections. At a minimum, a 7 to 10 year sunset would be reasonable and most surely would have to be renewed. The problem is not going away.
-I refuse to vote for a tax simply because it meets an arbitrary figure that is claimed more palatable to some voters. This lower amount is no bargain and will put us in a worse position 5 years down the line.
-I will not vote for or support a tax that falls short of what is required to provide a base level of emergency service and leaves fire stations closed and communities without initial protection.
The recent “plan” is a day late and a hundred dollars short. The ECCFPD is not only in disarray, but lacks focus, a solid plan, and most importantly is missing a team approach that everyone can get behind.
The proposed tax is unfortunately already doomed to failure. It may have had a chance IF the district directors and firefighters, had begun with an educational campaign (at least a year in advance) demonstrating why the district has a shortfall of revenue due to a low allocation of property tax. Inclusive of a realistic amount of cost necessary to re-open closed stations in all communities could secure voters from Byron/Discovery Bay, Bethel Island and other affected areas. *Ask yourself, why would they vote for a tax no matter what the amount when their stations remain shuttered.
For a tax to succeed at the ballot box, 2/3 (66 percent) is needed. The latest direction no doubt alienates additional voters and draws a larger margin of failure.
I will not put good money behind a bad plan.
Spend time–at least a year–not a few months, educating the public. Put a solid funding plan back on the table that reopens stations and provides east county with the emergency services that it requires. Most importantly, get as many people, groups, agencies on the same page. (Right now, I see none of that taking place, and it is far too late to census build). If it fails, then at least you know you did everything you could to make the department function. It is the right thing to do.
Short of this, the tax will fail. It is a foregone conclusion.
I hope the ECCFPD board of director’s are reading and paying attention to these posts, for they have turned a YES vote into a NO. This is important when you need 2 yes votes for every 1 no vote.
Probably not the outcome they were seeking.
Agreed!
Agreed with Paul B’s comments.
A 3 station model does not sound like a good time. Support this tax so we can have 5 stations at the very least. This is not about solutions, its about not going down to 3
Do CPR on yourself and hope or hope someone you know can help out if your car (or your mom/wife/kid’s car) gets flipped over by a jackass drunk driver. Let the neighbors pull out their garden hoses and put out the fires. Even if it was possible, they didn’t have enough qualified volunteers stepping up the last time they tried before the grant was approved. Besides, your firefighters are the lowest paid in the state already. People in East County want something for nothing. And that’s what you are going to get.
What is a firefighter worth?
There has been so much talk recently about things like containing costs, lowering taxes, raising taxes and those who work in public safety being overpaid – particularly firefighters – which could make your head spin. We’ve all done the “simple math,” crunched the numbers, and it all seems to boil down to a simple question. What is a firefighter worth?
I guess that depends. We live in a country that seems to have forgotten what our priorities are. A man can be a skilled athlete who happens to throw and catch a football well, and make millions and millions of dollars to do so. And we as a society are not only OK with that, but we gather in front of our televisions and cheer that man on. Meanwhile, a firefighter kisses his children goodbye before every shift knowing the harsh reality that it very well could be the last time he will see them, and he is fighting tooth and nail for decent health coverage and substantial pay to support those children.
He is the man that you call when your elderly father has a stroke. He is the person that will extract your 16-year-old son from a mangled vehicle on the highway in the middle of the night. He is the person that will be there in a heartbeat when your newborn infant stops breathing. He is the person who is exposed to countless dangerous scenarios and has seen horrific things during his career that would psychologically haunt most of us for the rest of our lives. We trust him to save our homes and belongings in the event of a disastrous fire, and we trust him to keep us breathing and our hearts beating when we face our most critical moments. What is he worth to you?
He sometimes will go days without sleep, and make life altering decisions on every call he shows up to. He has missed family meals, bedtime stories, Christmas mornings, school plays, anniversaries, Thanksgiving dinners, and his own children’s birthdays. We all know that life is so very short, and firefighters sacrifice precious time with the most important people in their lives to save the lives of the most important people in yours. And now they have to defend and protect their pensions, well deserved health benefits, and their paychecks. It has been proposed by some that they lose many of their benefits, and work extra shifts that they will not be compensated for. There seems to be a serious misconception that firefighters are in it for the monetary gain, and more and more often have been portrayed in a negative light for actually expecting to be compensated for the sacrifices that they make to do their job. For an individual that has chosen this selfless career, it begs the question: Is it worth it?
Most of us are willing to pay a little extra for something if it is important to us, whether it be the shoes we wear, the doctor we choose to treat us, or even the cup of coffee we drink. It is something that we value; therefore it is worth the cost. Most would agree that our safety and protection is of immeasurable value. Those of us that are skilled in math may look at the numbers and think that stripping those who serve our public of their way to earn a decent living is an answer to a financial equation. But firefighters and their families are not numbers on a piece of paper. They are human beings that are doing their jobs every day to the best of their ability, and possibly sacrificing their own lives for the life of a stranger. Not many of us in our right mind would do that for free, and no one should have to.
So before making our minds up that firefighters are the financial problem, sit down with a local firefighter and ask him about his job. Ask him about his wife and his sons or daughters, what kind of house he lives in, and what type of car he drives. And then ask yourself, if you were to take on such a career, what would you expect in return?
What is a firefighter worth?
There has been so much talk recently about things like containing costs, lowering taxes, and those who work in public safety being overpaid – particularly firefighters – which could make your head spin. We’ve all done the “simple math,” crunched the numbers, and it all seems to boil down to a simple question. What is a firefighters worth?
I guess that depends. We live in a country that seems to have forgotten what our priorities are. A man can be a skilled athlete who happens to throw and catch a football well, and make millions and millions of dollars to do so. And we as a society are not only OK with that, but we gather in front of our televisions and cheer that man on. Meanwhile, a firefighter kisses his children goodbye before every shift knowing the harsh reality that it very well could be the last time he will see them, and he is fighting tooth and nail for decent health coverage and substantial pay to support those children.
He is the man that you call when your elderly father has a stroke. He is the person that will extract your 16-year-old son from a mangled vehicle on the highway in the middle of the night. He is the person that will be there in a heartbeat when your newborn infant stops breathing. He is the person who is exposed to countless dangerous scenarios and has seen horrific things during his career that would psychologically haunt most of us for the rest of our lives. We trust him to save our homes and belongings in the event of a disastrous fire, and we trust him to keep us breathing and our hearts beating when we face our most critical moments. What is he worth to you?
He sometimes will go days without sleep, and make life altering decisions on every call he shows up to. He has missed family meals, bedtime stories, Christmas mornings, school plays, anniversaries, Thanksgiving dinners, and his own children’s birthdays. We all know that life is so very short, and firefighters sacrifice precious time with the most important people in their lives to save the lives of the most important people in yours. And now they have to defend and protect their pensions, well deserved health benefits, and their paychecks. It has been proposed by some that they lose many of their benefits, and work extra shifts that they will not be compensated for. There seems to be a serious misconception that firefighters are in it for the monetary gain, and more and more often have been portrayed in a negative light for actually expecting to be compensated for the sacrifices that they make to do their job. For an individual that has chosen this selfless career, it begs the question: Is it worth it?
Most of us are willing to pay a little extra for something if it is important to us, whether it be the shoes we wear, the doctor we choose to treat us, or even the cup of coffee we drink. It is something that we value; therefore it is worth the cost. Most would agree that our safety and protection is of immeasurable value. Those of us that are skilled in math may look at the numbers and think that stripping those who serve our public of their way to earn a decent living is an answer to a financial equation. But firefighters and their families are not numbers on a piece of paper. They are human beings that are doing their jobs every day to the best of their ability, and possibly sacrificing their own lives for the life of a stranger. Not many of us in our right mind would do that for free, and no one should have to.
So before making our minds up that firefighters are the financial problem, sit down with a local firefighter and ask him about his job. Ask him about his wife and his sons or daughters, what kind of house he lives in, and what type of car he drives. And then ask yourself, if you were to take on such a career, what would you expect in return?
Well said.
Wow, there is some rambling. We already pay a tax and that is as simple as it gets. Let the district get taken over by the county.This whole thing with the fire district here will never be fixed as long as it is run by the unions. There will never be enough money, ever, to satisfy the fire district. Let Cal Fire or Con Fire take em over.They are the ones we see bailing them out on all the large fires.They seem to have the money. This is just another waste of money to put on a vote that people already said no to.
Where in the world to you get the idea that the union runs the district? You are so misinformed. Ironically, ConFire and ECCFPD belong to the same union anyway. The chiefs aren’t union member period.
@Dumb, are you as simple minded as your comment implies? Obviously you aren’t paying attention.
CalFire instituted a $150/parcel tax to fund themselves for the people they are currently charged to protect. Ask the nice folks in the Morgan Territories if you’re not sure. This District is only asking for $98.
ConFire went to the ballot box last year because they are coming up short. Because of the failure of the measure, they were forced to close stations. There are many more closures on the horizon as the funding situation degrades in the next few years.
Takeovers by either of these entities has been discussed ad nauseam. It won’t and can never happen as long as this district remains underfunded. You, Mr. Clueless and uninformed voter, have been told that in multiple studies done on the fire district in the last 10 years.
In the mindset of a naysayers here you are expecting someone else to come in and bail you out for free. The only consistency I see among the just say no crowd.
@ Bobby lott
you seem to think that having a volunteer fire district , would solve all the problems.
Maybe you can enlighten us all on how funding a 3 -5 stations would go.
Maintenance of engines, equipment, training
Who’s going to pay for all the Volunteers back round checks, yearly physicals. the list is endless
On paper a Volunteer department might look like a good idea. But when it comes down to all the nuts a bolts, its not a solution, So I ask you again Bobby, explain in detail how a volunteer depart would be better.
I’m asking you a straight up question, and Im open to your option
@Mav
75% of all fire districts in this country are volunteer.Paramedics are ambulance services in many of these cities. Ambulance services are the only real true 24 hour need.Many cities that use volunteers are much larger in population, structures, and area than any city in this county. No one has to explain to you the common sense of not paying fire people to sleep. Only to obtain more control and funds have unions pushed paid sleeping fire personnel.Get your answer from the thousands of cities and counties all over America that use volunteer fire people. You have a computer and all the information is available.The public is not stupid and will not fall for your rhetoric.
@ ECVs
Ahhh how i missed your witty banter, once again you ofter nothing but bitterness and anger.
Which leads all of us to believe you live your days hiding behind a keyboard and your nights singing Barry Manilow songs Karaoke at some bar, while sipping wine and wishing…. If only I could get hired full time as a fire fighter then and only then would my hose be charged…..
Lets meet up and talk face to face Monday the 6th 10 am at star bucks
Balfour and Fairview
@ ECVs
Ahh how I missed your witty banter, filled with bitterness . Once again you offer no solution, just anger. Which leads us all to believe that your days are filled with hiding behind your keyboard, and your nights are spent singing Barry Manailow Karaoke at some bar , while sipping wine.
Wishing if only some day you could get hired full time as a fire fighter ,,,,,, then and only then would your ” hose” be charged.
Lets meet face to face and talk
Monday the 6th at 10 am
Star bucks Balfour and Fairveiw
Again, they attempted to get volunteers after the last ballet measure failed and before the SAFER grant. It was public information. There weren’t enough people that stepped up to the plate. Do your homework brother.
Also, ambulance services are PRIVATE FOR PROFIT companies not government agencies. An ambulance call will run about $2500-$3000 plus around $50/mile with only a fraction being covered by health insurance these day. Often a fire fighter rides to the hospital to assist the medic since there is usually only a driver and one medic on an ambulance. Your local fire department gets there first and doesn’t charge.
As it sits now, the tax will fail.
-The district has a permanent, long term revenue problem. A “patch” is not what is needed. A funding tax that brings the department on par with the rest of the county and surrounding areas for adequate service is a necessity. It is a “need to have” not a “nice to have”.
-The 5 year sunset is ridiculous and falls short of a realistic goal. This is based on the monumental costs associated with elections. The district does not have 100′s of thousands of dollars available spend on more elections. At a minimum, a 7 to 10 year sunset would be reasonable and most surely would have to be renewed. The problem is not going away.
-I refuse to vote for a tax simply because it meets an arbitrary figure that is claimed more palatable to some voters. This lower amount is no bargain and will put us in a worse position 5 years down the line.
-I will not vote for or support a tax that falls short of what is required to provide a base level of emergency service and leaves fire stations closed and communities without initial protection.
The recent “plan” is a day late and a hundred dollars short. The ECCFPD is not only in disarray, but lacks focus, a solid plan, and most importantly is missing a team approach that everyone can get behind.
The proposed tax is unfortunately already doomed to failure. It may have had a chance IF the district directors and firefighters, had begun with an educational campaign (at least a year in advance) demonstrating why the district has a shortfall of revenue due to a low allocation of property tax. Inclusive of a realistic amount of cost necessary to re-open closed stations in all communities could secure voters from Byron/Discovery Bay, Bethel Island and other affected areas. *Ask yourself, why would they vote for a tax no matter what the amount when their stations remain shuttered.
For a tax to succeed at the ballot box, 2/3 (66 percent) is needed. The latest direction no doubt alienates additional voters and draws a larger margin of failure.
I will not put good money behind a bad plan.
Spend time–at least a year–not a few months, educating the public. Put a solid funding plan back on the table that reopens stations and provides east county with the emergency services that it requires. Most importantly, get as many people, groups, agencies on the same page. (Right now, I see none of that taking place, and it is far too late to census build). If it fails, then at least you know you did everything you could to make the department function. It is the right thing to do.
Short of this, the tax will fail. It is a foregone conclusion.
I hope the ECCFPD board of director’s are reading and paying attention to these posts, for they have turned a YES vote into a NO. This is important when you need 2 yes votes for every 1 no vote.
Probably not the outcome they were seeking.
@Bro, again with the lame stat citing? It has been explained to you many times the reason so much of the USA is covered by volunteers if because that much of the USA geographically and more is RURAL.
Should we use smaller words? Fewer syllables? What does it take to get it through your thick skull?
The union obsession gives away your identity. Your name is Mark or John and neither of you has the backbone to show yourselves in public to advocate for the kaos that would ensue with your plan.
Can you answer the questions about any of the downsides that were posted previously? Or are you just another member of the cowardly naysayer crew who is only here to deceive people to get them to vote against their best interest? The honest broker isn’t afraid to talk the pros and cons of any issues. Let’s see if you have the stones.
So you have no excuse, here are the questions again:
Who pays the $6k per to equip and train volunteers? The Chief estimates it would take 150 available people to properly staff this district with volunteers. Where are you going to find that number of people who will be available at all hours under all conditions and willing to give up 200 hrs per year of their time just for the training?
What is the estimated increase in response time going to volunteers? You’re advocating for it. You must have an idea.
What are the estimated increase increases in loss of property and lives due to the added response times?
What are the estimated increased costs in insurance premiums for property in the district due to the lowered readiness and switch to volunteers?
What are the estimated loss of businesses and jobs which will see increases in cost and risk that force them to move out of the area?
What are the estimated opportunity costs lost from businesses that will not move into an area that has inadequate fire coverage?
What are the estimated increases in LIFETIME disability claims that will result from using lesser trained volunteers? We could go back to the stats from a previous era for an idea.
Can you answer any of those questions? Or will you run from them like your buddy Bobby Lott did? You guys talk. What’s the plan for avoiding the obvious questions about downside to your proposal?
Take up Mav on his meeting invite. Or show up at a fire meeting. Any attention deprived coward can talk unsubstantiated smack on the internet.
Johnny Gonsales Knightsen
Mark Doren Discovery Bay
Clueless and lobbyists for the union,
Your attacks and questions are pretty much irrelevant as your rants. A few tidbits of facts will show the fool that you are and the waste of a new tax that it is. To address your workman’s comp, in the 80 years of volunteers in East County there was never a fatal accident with the volunteer engines responding to calls. Only until the district merged and became pro union did a fatal accident occur. The woman was killed and the firefighter claimed workman’s comp. To address that John and Mark are the only two people concerned with a new tax is even more foolish since the majority of voters agreed its throwing money down the toilet. As far as all these people needed for volunteers again is just plain stupid. Everyone knows that there is a place for full time firefighters. The fact that they refuse to work with others because of their unions is the true idiocy. Just last year or so the district advertised for volunteers and received over 50 applications only to waste everyone’s time and money not to move forward with them. So there you have it union lobbyists. It is you that are hurting the public and creating this situation. The public is just plain tired of the public unions affecting their lives in a negative way. Everyone pays the same taxes already. It is a shame that other areas of the county get better service for the same tax dollar. Cal fire or Con fire need to take over the area and a no vote is one more step in that direction.
No John, it is you that are irrelevant. I have that on very good authority.
Keep trying to make yourself feel important. It keeps you busy and let’s us keep a watchful eye on you.
Mr. Brother,
I am a single mother with 3 children ages 12, 14, & 17. I have worked hard to raise them. I have to ties to the fire district and no ties to any union. I work in health care and understand the system. I am sick of people who are capable of working, sitting around gripping about paying for a legitimate need.
Enjoy your karaoke and wine. Go get an education
@Bro, try to keep up.
I was talking disability. Workman’s Comp. You’re talking fatalities. Do you have trouble following a topic as much as you have trouble answer basic questions that are pertinent to that topic?
You were a fire commissioner at one time, weren’t you? Isn’t that the “credentials” you wanted to jam in someone’s face a couple of weeks back? Or were you counting on short memories here to further your little game?
From 50 who volunteered, after background checks, testing and all the other REQUIREMENTS prior to joining a fire department these days, fewer than 10 will make the grade. Statistical fact. Look it up. So in order to get to the 150 ready volunteers to cover this district you would have to have over 1,000 volunteers apply. But you’ll struggle with the basic math on that one. You always do. This isn’t the wild west and the 1960s where anyone who raised their hand gets to ride on the big shiny fire engine.
The professional/volunteer mix has many problems. That has been pointed out many times to you. It’s mentioned again in the most recent MSR. But you’ve probably never read it. If I’m a professional going into a burning building I want the guy who has my back and my life in his hands to be equally qualified. Not some weekend warrior yahoo trying to relive his glory days. If you’re still slow on the uptake(and I know you are), I’m talking specifically about you.
Your simpleton comment about how everyone pays the same tax dollar is exactly why you deserve and should be kept on the sidelines and away from any official position in government. You don’t have a clue how it works.
But you keep posting. Because with each passing one you prove you’re trying to pull just another of your lies on the unsuspecting public. We’ll be more than happy to expose you for the fraud that you are. You can always put those fluff pieces in the biased Contra Costa Times. Danny B will provide you cover. Until the new owners understand his bias and his negative impact on readership. Eventually he’ll get his walking papers. But out here in the real world the adults are going to expect you to back up your bullsheet and as you show time and again here, you can’t.
This is not going back to a volunteer department, Bro. Sooner you accept that fact the sooner your selfish personal agenda can stop threatening the safety of the 100,000+ who rely on this fire department to keep their families safe.
Buy a clue,
Thanks for putting the unhinged jack-wagon in his place. It is no longer good enough for him to make himself look like a fool – although he does a pretty bang up job. I hope everyone reading this blog realizes his M.O. by now. Everything he writes is slanted towards his own personal gain; his quest to go back a volunteer fire department so that he can save a buck and pretend to be a real fireman. Funny thing is it will never happen. His fireman “envy” is up there with Boringstein’s public safety and pension envy. Danny B has been mysteriously absent from his frequent assaults on public pensions, sheriffs and firefighters. It took a while, but I believe the corporates realized he was becoming a liability. I know dozens of people that dumped the paper.
Speaking of liability…..I think you are correct; he wants to play fireman and have someone else pay for the necessary emergency services. He would have little chance of passing the rigorous mental, physical and social testing associated with becoming a professional firefighter. No wonder he wants to bring back the 1950’s.
One only needs to pay attention to the back and forth rhetoric. He NEVER wants to address the facts. All he knows how to do is throw up the same volunteer old song and dance which like him, was dismissed years ago. His chosen method of debate is similar to the character Raymond, in the movie “Rain Man”….. “Three minutes to Wapner”. Say it enough and maybe someone might buy into it.
Sorry Johnny we are just not that stupid.
Thanks again Buy a Clue. It is no fun trying to educate a simpleton with a selfish and personal agenda.
p.s. He is no brother of mine. It’s just another example of him wanting to be something he could never be. Yeah John, sometimes the truth hurts. The time has arrived to come to grips with it.
I see that John has once again put himself in an unpopular and uneducated position. It’s always the same thing with him. He is too dense to comprehend rational thought, too chintzy to pay his fair share, and too hypocritical to see his own actions for what they are. He is a former volunteer that lost his place and pines to ride on a fire engine. The truth is, he fantasizes about being the hero. It’s never going to happen Johnny. You are best suited in your limited role as the coward behind the keyboard.
The guy is so shallow that he tries to ride on my coat tails as ECVs “Brother” amongst a host of other made up screen names. Join me in telling him you have had enough of his selfish bullshit.
Miss Mother,
Thanks for your 2cents. Its nice you are a hard worker and a mother all in one.Maybe wine is what you need to keep from whining. If the shoe fits wear it and sometimes the truth hurts. What being a mom and raising three kids has to do with this blog, me,John,and Mark has my guess clueless.
Johnny, you’re easy to spot. Especially when you get rattled and post one of your classic nonsensical numbers like this one.
If your volunteer idea was so great you would have no problem honestly talking about the pros and cons of it But you never go there. Proving once again what a fraud you are.
Stop off for coffee with Mav on the way to the rebar gig tomorrw. That way he too can understand that in your case you just can’t fix stupid.
John Gonzales was never a volunteer
He could not pass the AED & CPR requirements , back when he tried for a position with then Knightsen voluteener fire district
Ouch brother Johnny….like you said to me earlier, if the shoe fits wear it. And sometimes the truth hurts.
Now go brush up on your CPR, otherwise you might have to call the firefighters to do it for you.
Miss Mother
Maverick,
That’s hard to believe that anyone couldn’t pass BLS skills, but you will have to take that up with him. My bet is he won’t show to your request for a meet up. What I was referring to is that I have read and been told he volunteered on the fire board and KTAC but that his services were no longer desired. I guess sometimes you don’t even get what you don’t pay for!
It sounds like he wants a volunteer department made up of “other” people.
Typical.
As one of our fire district’s (ECCFPD’s) biggest supporters, I must regretfully say that I can not way support the latest fire tax effort.
As it sits now, the tax will fail.
-The district has a permanent, long term revenue problem. A “patch” is not what is needed. A funding tax that brings the department on par with the rest of the county and surrounding areas for adequate service is a necessity. It is a “need to have” not a “nice to have”.
-The 5 year sunset is ridiculous and falls short of a realistic goal. This is based on the monumental costs associated with elections. The district does not have 100’s of thousands of dollars available spend on more elections. At a minimum, a 7 to 10 year sunset would be reasonable and most surely would have to be renewed. The problem is not going away.
-I refuse to vote for a tax simply because it meets an arbitrary figure that is claimed more palatable to some voters. This lower amount is no bargain and will put us in a worse position 5 years down the line.
-I will not vote for or support a tax that falls short of what is required to provide a base level of emergency service and leaves fire stations closed and communities without initial protection.
The recent “plan” is a day late and a hundred dollars short. The ECCFPD is not only in disarray, but lacks focus, a solid plan, and most importantly is missing a team approach that everyone can get behind.
The proposed tax is unfortunately already doomed to failure. It may have had a chance IF the district directors and firefighters, had begun with an educational campaign (at least a year in advance) demonstrating why the district has a shortfall of revenue due to a low allocation of property tax. Inclusive of a realistic amount of cost necessary to re-open closed stations in all communities could secure voters from Byron/Discovery Bay, Bethel Island and other affected areas. *Ask yourself, why would they vote for a tax no matter what the amount when their stations remain shuttered.
For a tax to succeed at the ballot box, 2/3 (66 percent) is needed. The latest direction no doubt alienates additional voters and draws a larger margin of failure.
I will not put good money behind a bad plan.
Spend time–at least a year–not a few months, educating the public. Put a solid funding plan back on the table that reopens stations and provides east county with the emergency services that it requires. Most importantly, get as many people, groups, agencies on the same page. (Right now, I see none of that taking place, and it is far too late to census build). If it fails, then at least you know you did everything you could to make the department function. It is the right thing to do.
Short of this, the tax will fail. It is a foregone conclusion.
I hope the ECCFPD board of director’s are reading and paying attention to these posts, for they have turned a YES vote into a NO. This is important when you need 2 yes votes for every 1 no vote.
Probably not the outcome they were seeking.
Yep
@Bone
I must compliment you on your candidness. I have knocked heads with you before on things, but your comments here are genuine and to the point. The statements you made were also realistic. No true plan is a plan of failure.
I do not think the tax will pass either because of several of your points but also making it easier to fail are all the negative “my or the highway” from fools like my big bro, Maverick, 2cents, clueless, and Jigs, my guess would be all the negative comments and bashing random people will help push it way over the failure point.
Volunteers are not the solution just the same as putting a band aid to stop hemorrhaging. Asking for too little will be too late. One day maybe the perfect ones will realize they are not so perfect.
@Bone
I must compliment you on your candidness. I have knocked heads with you before on things, but your comments here are genuine and to the point. The statements you made were also realistic. No true plan is a plan of failure.
I do not think the tax will pass either because of several of your points but also making it easier to fail are all the negative “my or the highway” from fools like my big bro, Maverick, 2cents, clueless, and Jigs, my guess would be all the negative comments and bashing random people will help push it way over the failure point.
Volunteers are not the solution just the same as putting a band aid to stop hemorrhaging. Asking for too little will be too late. One day maybe the perfect ones will realize they are not so perfect.
@Bone
I must compliment you on your candidness. I have knocked heads with you before on things, but your comments here are genuine and to the point. The statements you made were also realistic.
No true plan is a plan of failure.
I do not think the tax will pass either because of several of your points but also making it easier to fail are all the negative “my or the highway” from fools like my big bro, Maverick, 2cents, clueless, and Jigs, my guess would be all the negative comments and bashing random people will help push it way over the failure point.
Volunteers are not the solution just the same as putting a band aid to stop hemorrhaging. Asking for too little will be too late. One day maybe the perfect ones will realize they are not so perfect.
This is not working for me. Can’t do
@Bone
I must compliment you on your candidness. I have knocked heads with you before on things, but your comments here are genuine and to the point. The statements you made were also realistic. No true plan is a plan of failure.
I do not think the tax will pass either because of several of your points but also making it easier to fail are all the negative “my or the highway” from fools like my big bro, Maverick, 2cents, clueless, and Jigs, my guess would be all the negative comments and bashing random people will help push it way over the failure point.
Volunteers are not the solution just the same as putting a band aid to stop hemorrhaging. Asking for too little will be too late. One day maybe the perfect ones will realize they are not so perfect.
@Bone
I must compliment you on your candidness. I have knocked heads with you before on things, but your comments here are genuine and to the point. The statements you made were also realistic. No true plan is a plan of failure.
I do not think the tax will pass either because of several of your points but also making it easier to fail are all the negative “my or the highway” from fools like ECV, Maverick, 2cents, clueless, and Jigs, my guess would be all the negative comments and bashing random people will help push it way over the failure point.
Volunteers are not the solution just the same as putting a band aid to stop hemorrhaging. Asking for too little will be too late. One day maybe the perfect ones will realize they are not so perfect.
Hey Johnny(or this is one from whiny Donny?)
I think your post button is stuck. That or you’re copying over johnny’s shoulder again. Which is extra funny when you have repeatedly insisted you don’t know the guy.
Is their a Liar’s convention in town this week or the Loser Lounge left the back door open again?
There is no “my way or the highway” going on here. Just adults realizing that government services actually cost real money to provide. Coupled with the understanding that paying half price and expecting one’s neighbors to provide welfare to you indefinitely is no way to live. But I digress, because you clearly can’t grasp the concept.
The victim angle is so unbecoming but at the same time so you.
I agree with you Jigs up. Someone lost it.
I’m aware of Johns activities and posts but I’m not sure who “Donny” is. Can you offer a little more insight?
This comes across as like a child throwing a tantrum. Sad to see adults act that way.
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