Monday night, the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District Board learned that residents would pay on average between $94-to-$105 per parcel should the public approve a Benefit Assessment Tax.
According to the Draft Engineers Report, the Benefit Assessment, if passed, would raise $4.2 million in added revenue to the cash strapped District. This would allow the District to keep Station 94 (Knightsen) open and re-open Station 54 in (downtown Brentwood). It would also increase the number of firefighters from 32 to 50.
The District, is using a baseline of basic service of a 3-station model and 32 personnel with an estimated budget of $10.7 million. Expanded service which is labeled as “benefit” would be 5 stations and 50 personnel.
During the meeting NBS made a 7-minute presentation where they provided the Board with an updated Engineers Report. They highlighted a majority of the Engineers Report had not changed, but rather fire hydrants and other missing data had been updated and now included in the report.
NBS gave Fire Chief Hugh Henderson credit for locating hydrants not on the maps and physically driving to confirm the locations while utilizing Google Maps.
With the Board accepting the report, the next step is all questions regarding the Engineers Report will be directed to the Finance Committee on February 19, 2015 and a final revised Engineers Report will be presented to the Board for consideration at its March 2 meeting.
If the Board approves the Engineers Report and agrees to move forward, ballots will be mailed to property owners. At present, NBS expects that ballots would be mailed no later than March 13.
Currently, NBS estimates that on April 27, 2015 a public hearing on the proposed assessment will be heard. Unless opposed by a majority of ballots returned, weighted by proposed assessment amount, the Board of Directors would then have the opportunity to determine whether to enact and levy a fire suppression assessment.
The Engineers Report is expected to be made available to the public Tuesday morning.
9 comments
The District is already lying to the public by saying they only have 3 stations open. They have 4 stations at the moment. Can’t this Board do anything right?
“On Election Day, East Contra Costa Fire Protection District learned residents would pay NOTHING for a benefit assessment tax”.
OMG, are the fire district directors deaf? No means NO!
Here we go again! In regards to the chief “locating”fire hydrants. Does this mean they are all “working” hydrants? There are many on Bethel Island and surrounding areas that are NOT even supplied with water!! Talk about a false sense of security, sure ask for another tax. This is one citizen that will NOT vote for its passage.
Property taxes as well as property tax revenues are increasing through out the county. Not a doubt the east county as well. This assessment is just a money grab using pre econominy improvement statistics. NO on this assement!! The revenue is there and increasing.
This tax is a scam. The taxpayers already said no so they are illegally going for a benefit assessment because they are counting on people who would vote no to throw their ballots in the trash rather than mailing them back.
The district will get their money as long as they stop wasting money on stupid tax measures the voters do not want. This Board should be replaced.
These people have their hands in my pocket every day. No I will not give anymore money to government agencies that lie and waste my hard earned pay.
Why aren’t all the people/residence of the eccfpd being asked to pay more?? After all everyone in the district uses their services.
Another NO vote.
Blah, blah, and blah. Want more
Money? Get rid of Fire Chief Hendersen and the rest of his command staff. Until then, my black ink pen will bubble in NO!
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