On Monday, the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District postponed finalizing a parcel tax figure and has requested more numbers be crunched before they go before the taxpayers in outreach meetings with a finalized plan.
The Finance Committee had proposed going forward with a $98 per parcel tax for the first year with an annual escalator, and five year sunset—the per parcel tax in the final year of such a tax would be $111.00. The parcel tax is needed to fill a budget gap when the FEMA Grant expires in November which will likely result in the closure of two fire stations.
Aside from the parcel tax figure, the Board discussion focused upon three items which would help determine the final number:
- 5 or 7 year Parcel Tax
- To have an annual escalator of 3%
- Reserve percentage
Director Johansen asked the Board if they had run numbers of a five-year parcel tax with no escalator and a 10% reserve. Meanwhile, Director Cooper stated they might need to have a consult take a look at this as maybe they see something the Board is missing.
“We don’t actually have to pick a number tonight,” says Director Young. “You can take ranges to the community meetings to hear what they have to say. The finance committee feels that the $98 puts us in a very good position.”
Board Chair Joel Bryant stated he had some concerns going forward with the committee meetings as those who he has talked to its been nearly unanimous that insist on having a number whether or not there is an escalator or not.
“It’s a dammed if you do, damned if you don’t if you put the escalator in because if you put it some people consider that underhanded and sneaky because there is an escalator there and not voting on a number which I disagree with it because it is divulged,” said Bryant. “On the other hand if you make it level across the Board you do collect more in the very beginning and they consider that unfair and unjust and all the other things so we are in a predicament and we have to figure out the best way to approach the community and the district that has the highest chance of success. I think we can all agree on that. Not having a number tonight is a little concerning.”
By not having a number, Bryant further explained it’s just more time they are not able to go out to the community and say this is the number and this is the plan.
Director Johansen echoed Bryant in stating he was hoping they would have a number tonight.
Director Young, who is on the finance committee, explained that you can have a number tonight, but says there are three things on the chart you have to decide from years, escalator and reserve level.
“All of these options in the chart will all support a five-station model,” said Young. “You just have to decide what terms you want. Once you look at those three things, you can find your number. There number is there, the real decision is years, escalator, and reserve.”
Director Bryant asked if there was a way to have a $98 with a 5-year term and no escalator and what would it drop the reserve to and how far below 10% would it be? The finance committee responded it would leave the District with a very small amount.
“I am very uncomfortable with going below 10% reserves because we have to have it in case issues come up,” said Bryant.”
Director Young argued that the District should not play the game of what the public will vote for but where do we want to end up. He urged the board not to pick a plan based on the number, but rather pick it on years, escalator and reserve amount.
“When you tell me those three things, I can give you the number and it’s much more important to focus on those three things than what the number is,” said Young.
Director Johansen disagreed.
“The number is important, it’s a psychological thing and that number under $100 can have a huge impact on the number of voters willing to vote on the tax. Under $100 has a huge psychological impact,” said Johansen. “In reality, the reserve is not going to mean anything if we fail this tax. My goal is to make this number as powerful for the most voters to accept so I do think the number is important.”
Director Young stated the idea was to present a plan for a 5-station model and to go to the public. He stated the public can decide to purchase a 3-station model or a 5-station model.
Director Cooper stated that the number needs to be under $100.
“The reality here is that the number needs to be under $100, that is all there is to it. If it means we massage the reserve, take this to another set of eyes then that is what we have to do,” said Cooper. “all the variables are right here, but the reality of this board is it has to be under $100 to pass.”
Director Cooper further explained that going to the public and asking them what they will buy is something they will do in a vote. He explained what we do know is that a 3-station model will not work.
“It would be a shell of a fire district,” said Cooper. “That is not a scare tactic that is just a reality of how it will work. You can’t have three fire engines covering 250 square miles and 105,000 people. It won’t work so we know the minimum model is 5-staitons and that is why we are here. We are trying to get the most minimum model in the most cost effective way and go to the public.”
Bryant stated he would like to see one more option presented which is a 7-year-term at 10% reserve.
The argument by the finance committee is that by year seven, instead of collecting a needed $23 million in funds, you now increase that figure to $39 million by adding two years. In year 6 and 7 you have to make up an additional $8 million in funding because it’s getting worse each year.
“What are the factors that affect the number? Not what is the number!” said Young.
Director Johansen argued that the reserve does not matter because its already minimal.
“A 15% or 20% reserve does not mean much if we don’t win this election and we go to a 3-station model in my mind does not work because it’s not a good level of service. It’s like putting a Band-Aid on an amputee. It doesn’t work,” said Johansen.
Director Morgan stated that a reserve does matter because it protects them from inflation and the rising cost of healthcare.
Director Smith stated that the finance committee settled on 5-years because all the studies would be done, all the pilot programs would be done, the economy will improve and things will be sorted out.
“We have done what we can as an organization to control cost. Anything further to fix the District would come from a state level,” said Smith. “We really have done everything we can.”
“My concern is that we are asking the public to support us for the next few years and give us time to see how these other things outside of our control shake up which will have an impact on this district,” said Johansen. “We are asking for a minimum model that allows us to save lives. Any other model less than that, people are going to lose their homes, and I hate to say it but people may die. That is something I want to fix.”
He explained that the parcel tax number is important to him because it will determine how attractive the tax will be to voters to allow them time.
The board decided to crunch additional scenarios for Thursdays finance committee which range from $98 to $111 with and without escalators.
Public Announcement
East Contra Costa Fire Protection District is hosting a series of community meetings to discuss future service models and the finances of the District.
The District is currently staffing 5 fire stations, which covers 7 Communities of the Far East County with over 6,300 calls for service.
The District is currently providing services with the assistance of a FEMA grant providing revenue, which will expire in November 2014.
The District seeks your input as it prepares for the future. Please join us at one of our community meetings listed below, to learn more about your fire district.
January 9, 2014 Bethel Island 7 PM BIMID Hall 3085 Stone Rd.
January 15, 2014 Clayton 7 PM CCC Farm Bureau 5554 Clayton Rd.
January 16, 2014 Oakley 7 PM City Hall 3231 Main St.
January 22, 2014 Byron 7 PM Excelsior Middle School 14301 Byron Hwy.
January 23, 2014 Brentwood 7 PM Senior Center 180 Griffin Ln.
January 29, 2014 Discovery Bay 7 PM Discovery Bay Elementary 1700 Willow Lake Rd.
January 30, 2014 Knightsen 7 PM Knightsen Farm Center 3020 2nd St.
Please support your fire district by attending these important meetings regarding your future fire service.
30 comments
This is classic kick the can down the road.
When this district was formed as a JPA with LAFCO approval they were tasked with 2 things:
– Secure stable funding for the district
– Get to independent District status with an elected Board
Neither of them has happened. Nothing in the 5 or 10 year plan is going to change either of those items.
Why are they shooting for a 5 year plan? Do members of the Board believe the funding problem will go away in 5 years? That property values will go back to the irrational appreciation days and fill the gap? If neither of those is happening, why are you setting up another debate in 5 years? What is there to debate? Whether you cut your throats again?
They are either fooling the public with this charade or they are fooling themselves. The study that Director Smith appears to want to wait for will tell him………………………..wait for it……………………that the District is underfunded!! Wow, what a news flash, huh? Same answer that several previous studies have concluded.
This is the East County version of Ground Hog Day at this point. A Board that is so blinded by a need to for public approval that they lost sight of the important thing they were tasked with, LEADERSHIP. Leadership is not about making the popular decision. It’s about making the RIGHT decision.
The RIGHT decision, IMO, is to tell the public that 3 stations(actually less than before because 1 will probably be 2 man) is not in their best interest and is inadequate fire coverage. If they had listened to the Chief or read any of the previous versions of fire reports they would also know that the current 5 station model is also inadequate for a District of this size and makeup. This poorly crafted 5 year plan locks in that mediocrity.
Why in the hell would you go to the ballot box to do that? Why the hell do you need to wait for the NEXT fire study to retell you those facts?
Fix the problem! That’s what LAFCO tasked you with doing. Tell the public the truth. That this District was underfunded 30 years ago. That a change in Sacramento to fix that is a long shot. That a 7 or 10 year tax is more appropriate and at a dollar figure that gets us to a 6 station model at LEAST. Also explain to the public honestly that if efforts in Sacramento fail, that this tax could become indefinite. That’s the TRUTH. Not the popular. Try it for a change.
As a previous poster noted in another thread, the naysayers do have a right to vote no and hope to go back to living in the 1800s. Why stop with volunteers? Rip up the asphalt and rip out the indoor plumbing while you’re at it. Some just refuse to evolve. There is no evidence beyond the few loudmouths here that the District as a whole wants to regress. They beat the last measure because they LIED to people. They will be called on the carpet for it this time. The CCTPA will be called on the carpet for putting public safety in jeopardy for the sake of short sighted ideology. The lady who led that charge last time now lives in North Carolina. She had plans to move there at the time she was telling you to vote “NO”. Think she really cared about the consequences?
Wake up, people! You are being led right off a cliff by a bunch of morons who can’t think two moves down the board.
I have little faith that this Board is going to wake up this week. Agree with B-Wood the odds are long for passage. Just remember those who advocated for the hell that will be brought upon you. Because when the bell goes off and there is no one to answer it because they are already busy, you’ll be asking yourselves how you got into the mess. You’ll only need look in the mirror for your answer.
If a better option is presented, I’m all for that. If not, vote no? I’ll plan to vote yes if it is the only option presented.
Commence calling me a moron and all the rest, I don’t really care. Anything is better than what we currently have.
As one of our fire district’s (ECCFPD’s) biggest supporters, I must regretfully say that I can in no 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.
You are right, but, I’ll still vote yes if it get to it. If a better option is there when the election comes around, I’ll vote for that. But anything is better than nothing as it stands. But I do agree with your points.
Bwood,
Absolutely. This is exactly what I was thinking. Thanks for spelling it out. I predict if the vote goes forward as planned it will lose by a larger margin this time around. Why on earth would anyone throw money behind a flawed plan that maintains a sub standard level of service and concurrently dooms any future fix? I would be surprised if the firefighters themselves get behind this latest idea. Thanks for your posting.
Righteous in the wood,
In this case “anything is better than nothing” is not the case. Bwood pointed this out well. I would add it would only continue to perpetuate the false sense of security that substandard service is acceptable. This scenario locks us in with inadequate fire service for five years and leaves us in a worse position beyond that. You actually believe the public will pass another tax in five years? If so there is a Bridge I want to sell you.
You asked if there was a better plan? It looks to me like Bwood suggested it. If you missed it on your first read, then here it is again:
“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. “
I have never agreed with B-Wood in this forum until today. I almost fell out of my chair but he/she is right. As a resident of Byron I now am asking myself why would I ever vote for a tax that does not solve a problem except maintain bare bones service. Why is there no plan to reopen Byron station which is needed after all the crashes this page reports on out in our area It makes no sense for me to pay $98 for an engine to operate away from me. The Board should be going back to the community with a plan that actually reopens Bethel Island, Discovery Bay and Byron Stations not a plan that keeps open stations in Brentwood and Knightsen of all places.
He is right, outside communities will continue to suffer while Brentwood and Oakley see a majority of the benefit from this new tax. Vote no so we can all share the pain and we can come back with a solution that benefits the ENTIRE district instead of two cities.
This is no knock on the firefighters, they work their butts off but unfortunately they are in a no-win situation. It has to get worse before it gets better.
Thanks BOT. 98.00 is not cheap, but it is a waste since it accomplishes nothing and gets us all no closer to a solution. It is in my view it’s a step backwards. The tax needs to be aligned with the need and not a assumed threshold in an attempt to throw a Hail Mary pass in the last 3 seconds. After all, isn’t that where we are?
The fire board needs to wake up. Someone here pointed out, they shouldn’t even be there in the first place. It is supposed to be an elected board made up of those the public feels qualified to vote in. That is the election that should be on the ballot, not some wasted effort to put the district on continued life support.
Please ask them to stop wasting time arguing about insignificant details of a ballot measure which has no chance of passing.
Time for East County residents to look beyond their wallets, realize that this is a very small cost for a very large gain. If it gets on the ballot, please vote, and please vote yes.
Sorry righteous but I’m with Bwood on this. My yes vote becomes a no vote if this makes it to the ballot. Remember the parable: “Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day; show him how to catch fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.”
This proposal is not a long or even short term solution. It more than likely makes things worse!
Something needs to get the publics attention for a permanent fix and a change in legislation for a long term problem. Going down to 3 stations or decommissioning the entire district would get everyone’s attention— immediately. At this point it looks like that is the only choice.
This current fire board has only succeeded in making matters worse and delaying this crisis. READ THE MINUTES. Ask yourself where is the needed leadership? it sure isn’t on the fire board.
Righteous,
Large gain? Huh? How is keeping a reduced force (5 stations) a large gain?
I’m a no vote based on this being a big step backwards for us, the firefighters and the district.
You may want to consider re-thinking what a large gain equates to. This ain’t it.
@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.
I also see the clueless may have finally got a good clue.This is way beyond money.This about power and control over public safety.
Like old timer said,
This is no knock on the firefighters, they work their butts off but unfortunately they are in a no-win situation. It has to get worse before it gets better.
The faster this happens the sooner we can have a permanent fix.
@ Righteous
There is actually no gain. That is the problem.
@Bro(Johnny), so now you would have us think that you’re not going to vote for the measure because it results in no gain?
Schizophrenia is a weird thing to see in action.
You do know that Obamacare will cover you for that, right?
@clue
It’s about time you got a clue.
Good job B-wood!
and finally,
Old timer is right along with Bonewood who I normally disagree with.
As Old Timer says and perfectly true;
This is no knock on the firefighters, they work their butts off but unfortunately they are in a no-win situation. It has to get worse before it gets better.
The situation is way beyond money.It’s about power and control with disregard for the public.
@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.
Why is there a snow chart on this article?
Good opportunity to have some decent discourse here, and all you ladies want to do is cluck at each other and drag your knuckles around knocking others. It’s no wonder we have problems, we can’t even agree on a simple thing like decent fire protection without slinging crap like a bunch of monkeys at the zoo.
Put a real “fix” on the ballot. Not this band-aid. You are solving nothing.
Much like the federal grant which delayed the pain, this too gives a false sense of security and does nothing to fix the root funding problem. That would be acceptable if this was part of a bigger plan to fix the funding. But it is not. This body does not have the leadership or the political chops to fix this in Sacramento. The only option that is within their skill set is to set in place a properly chosen figure which reopens closed stations and keeps the district adequately funded into the foreseeable future.
There is no white knight. There is no rich Uncle. There is only a fire district with a horribly broken funding model. Anything that does not go directly to addressing that problem is fundamentally flawed and a ruse on the voting public.
Jigs,
Last time around we had a ruse put on the public by a few individuals., many not from the local area. Borenstein of the cc times, the taxpayers association which I believe to be a membership club made up of an “anti tax for anything” crowd and the guy you are currently debating with (John from Knightsen).
This time we would face the same PLUS a ruse put on by the fire board itself who is trying to sell us on a figure rather than the need. Hey, if it is an arbitrary figure, why not put 3 bucks on the ballot? I can afford to throw away 3 bucks-not $98. If the board was honest with themselves and in turn honest with us, the figure would be closer to $200-400. An educated public would be more apt to spend a higher amount than to throw away a smaller one. Key word: educated.
Just ask other districts that successfully ask for “hundreds” for 30 years at a time. School bonds (taxes) come to mind. In most cases those 30 year bonds and assessments fund “wants”, not needs. The fire district is a need and the difference in success versus defeat is time and effort spent educating. Other districts (schools, BART, EBRP) have figured it out.
Ask yourself, How many decades have we been taxing ourselves for Bart with little to nothing to show for it. E-bart? Yeah, right.
If the fire board doesn’t want to go the route of education prior to a vote, then close stations, live within your means (3 stations). That will educate the public quickly and have us all begging for a vote to fund the district properly once and for all. Bet on it.
@ jigs
You are jumping on the other band wagon now. The jigs up.
Schizophrenia is a weird thing to see in action.
You do know that Obamacare will cover you for that, right?
If you are going to participate at least have the nerve to stick to your original propaganda. Being wishy washy is not very credible.
Johnny, this is exactly why I rarely engage on the blogs when you and your buddies are involved. Your posts are generally in two flavors. Either they don’t make sense, like the previous one, or they involve you dodging the questions surrounding the topic.
You and your multiple aliases here have been asked a few times now about your advocacy on volunteers. Specific concerns have been cited. But you avoid answering any of that.
This is why anyone familiar with your antics doesn’t take you seriously. Worse, if what Mav posted a couple of days ago is true, then the dots line up and for you this is about extracting revenge on the Union because you couldn’t make the cut.
Anyone who would put their petty agenda as a bigger priority than public safety is a community menace and should be marginalized as completely as possible. Because you don’t have anything to offer but a warped opinion and no real solutions.
You separate the men from the boys by who is willing to advocate and provide honest dialog about both the good and the bad of their plan. You fail in this regard. It’s as simple as that.
The last thing I want for this fire district is a volunteer program that is staffed by people who can’t or won’t even meet basic training levels. It would appear that is exactly what you are proposing.
No thanks.
John, schizophrenia is only one of your issues in a very long list.
Denial
Hypocrisy
Paranoia
Fantasy
Compulsive dishonesty
Pathological dishonesty
Impulsive dishonesty
Self deception
and Multiple types of Envy to name a few.
Shall I go on or shall we all sit back and watch you further prove it again and again?
You pick.
I would not vote for this unless all of the stations are reopened. Having a station in Knightsen that responds to 50% less calls than Bethel Island is crazy. Bethel Island needs their station back. At the least they should relocate Knightsen to Cypress/Bethel Island Rd area to reduce response times to BI and still have a decent response time to Knightsen.
I would not vote for this unless the closed stations are reopened. Having a station in Knightsen that has half of the call volume of BI is not prudent. They should look at moving the Knightsen station to BI and Cypress Rd. area. This would reduce the response time to BI and still have a decent time to Knightsen. The people of BI have been dealt a bad hand and it needs to be fixed.
The fall out from this latest plan is going to be huge. I see many former supporters changing to no votes.
Great job fire commissioners. Way to swing the vote and screw the pooch.
Didn’t the last tax measure allow for this as well as having a paramedic on every engine? Sadly nobody wanted to fork up the money and voted it down. A fix would be great, but east county has too many people that are used to getting things handed to them. Tragically, everyone suffers.
Perhaps the solution will need to come from higher up in food chain, rather than from the ECCFPD Fire Board.
(PS….I also have a credible source that Johnny boy could not pass CPR in order to become a volunteer.)
@ECV
Glad you came over to the more intelligent side of the issue with the rest of us. I see Bonewood is starting to understand the real problem finally. I have to side with him even if he thinks he has brought out something new on the issue.I know you jerks need a villain to blame your short comings on and I’m here for you. Rant on big bro. Mom is still not going to replace the car you wrecked on Bixler.
Bonewood,
You have got peoples attention on here with what is needed. Take it to the next level and start uniting people to push for a real result that fully opens all stations.Its not too late.The fire board cant even rent out the old stations for a little more revenue, they are so lost. I thought this group had it together with all the fire experience on it. Help them out by getting your good buddies jigs, my bro, righteous, BI vol, julio, old timer, and clueless. You can do it or you can slam anyone that doesn’t agree with you.That may be more productive on a keyboard. Seriously, there is still time.
Comments are closed.