ECCFPD Board to Decide on Spending $20k on Polling for Benefit Assessment

Tonight, the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District will consider spending $20k for polling for a potential benefit assessment which will help formulate ballot  language.

According to the Staff Report, the Districts consultant is recommending that the Board consider conducting polling of the property owners of the District to understand the opinions of property owners that would be paying a potential fire suppression benefit assessment rather than all likely voters who were surveyed about a potential parcel tax previously. Survey results would be used to assist in writing ballot language for the revenue enhancement; especially, if the district is moving forward with a benefit assessment. Suggested areas that the polling would focus on are as follows:

• Duration of benefit assessment (sunset)
• Escalator or flat amount over the life of the assessment
• Creation of a separate oversight committee

The polling data would be available to the Board, staff and consultants to assist in writing final ballot language prior to the Board making final decisions.

Per prior discussions, the benefit assessment would go towards opening up fire stations as the district will face closers later this year when the FEMA Grant expires in November.

Editors Note:
In split vote in March, the ECCFPD Board voted 5 to 4 against moving forward with a potential June, 2014 Parcel Tax Ballot. The reasoning for voting down the Ballot Measure then was due to the United Professional Firefighters of Contra Costa County, Local 1230, highlighting their own polling which showed they did not have enough support from the public.

Polling by Local 1230 showed that just 54% supported a $98 tax (66.6% needed to pass). In March, Union President Vince Wells told the Board the following:

“The reason we did the poll at this time is because we realize our firefighters and the district does not have a lot of time and it was a concern of ours that if a poll was not done to see if things changed, “said Wells. “Our guys are busting their asses and that is why the public feels why they are getting an adequate level of service. We did this poll to make it clear where we are at and if there was any chance.“

Wells also explained that If it was to go forward, it needs to be the talk of the town and in every conversation with all the elected officials behind it. It would also need the ECCFPD Board to be more involved—months later, little to no discussion has occurred.

It’s a given that 40% are opposed to any tax for fire service at this time and nothing has changed between March and June 1 to sway the vote.

It should also be noted, the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors will also be discussing the idea of a Countywide EMS Tax and whether or not to move forward with their own polling.

If You Go:
June 2, 2014
6:30 pm
3231 Main Street, Oakley