The residents of the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District (ECCFPD) are being treated as second class citizens in the Contra Costa County government services community, and 105,000 inhabitants of the 249 square mile district are being short-changed in the area of fire and emergency services. This underfunding puts lives and property at risk.
Fifteen years ago the CCC Board of Supervisors were looking for ways of improving services and saving money. At that time there were three mostly rural fire districts using a pay-on-call staffing model to economize. Some called it a volunteer fire department approach, even though the fire fighters were trained, equipped and compensated for their time.
By bringing the three districts together, a hired consultant said, the administration, management, and training of the combined forces could be performed more economically. Response times would be shortened, the number of firefighters would go up, and lives would be saved.
And since these districts were being funded based on population sizes from 25 years earlier, consolidation seemed like the best way to squeeze every last drop of service out of the limited tax dollars being spent. The CCC publicity campaign at the time projected savings of almost 14% of the $6,423,112.00 combined organizational budget.
Back then the property tax allocation rate for the ECCFPD was set at about 8%, meaning that out of each property tax dollar that was generated within the district, the ECCFPD got eight cents. Fire districts in other, more populated and developed parts of the county received much more, averaging about $0.12 from each dollar.
Today, when Brentwood’s population has roared to nearly 60,000 residents and the number of Oakley residents is approaching 40,000, the tax allocation rate is the same. The tax allocation rate for a rural farming and ranching area of the 1970’s is not appropriate for today’s mix of suburban, small urban and recreational rural areas.
The East Contra Costa region has lead the state in growth for many years. The fire services property tax rate ought to be equitable and fair to support these services at a level comparable to the rest of the county, the region and the state. It is not.
This is a community problem, one that will continue as long as the ECCFPD community tolerates it. Because of the intricacies of the implementation of 1978’s Proposition 13 a state law needs to be passed to correct the unfair, discriminatory tax allocation rate. The ECCFPD community needs to come together with Assemblyman Jim Frazier and State Senator Steven M. Glazier and begin the process of correcting this inequity.
Assemblyman Jim Frazier has offered, in a September 3, 2015 Letter-to-the-Editor appearing in The Brentwood Press, to draft a statute and submit it to California lawmakers. This statute needs to direct the CCC Auditor to increase the ECCFPD 8% tax allocation rate to bring it closer to the county’s fire district average of 12%, and slightly reduce the tax allocation rates of the county’s largest non-education organizations, such as the county and the cities of Brentwood and Oakley. Making the shift gradually, perhaps spread over three or more years, would ease the change.
The ECCFPD community needs to play an active role in this process. Area residents need to form a political action committee and reach out to legislators and fire services community leaders across the state, asking for their help in making this necessary change. In order to become law this statute needs yea votes from at least 41 of the 80 members of the California Assembly and at least 21 members of the California Senate.
A campaign of this sort is not easy, and it is not a quick fix to a historical problem. It will take the community’s time and money to affect the change. Let’s begin at once; let’s change the world.
Bryan Scott is a Brentwood resident who from time-to-time assumes the role of community affairs activist. Those interested in participating or contributing in this community effort can reach him by email at [email protected] or by telephone at 925-418-4428.
16 comments
Brian, your approach to a solution is excellent ! I was unaware that Frazier was on board to sponsor this idea. If so, again excellent. How, where, and when can we begin in helping this to become a realty ?
With positive help from all media in east county we can make inequities of prop 13 and continue to all pay the same tax for services without an increase while fixing our failed fire district. Great idea, lets unit and do it.
Bryan Scott replies: Send me an email, JS, or give me a call. I’ll keep you in the loop.
No more comments, what happened to all the ECT readers who have critized everyone that has no solution. They must be just mouths of bs trolls like they call others or Piepho defenders. This is a great idea and to have Frazier along with Glazier on board makes it possible. I will email you Bryan. I care and you have my families support.
Another small comment from a small minded JS. Obviously he didn’t read or comprehend Frazier’s op-Ed which contained restrictions which would prohibit Frazier from ever moving forward. Glazier’s office also recognizes this. JS put your efforts into a productive move and actually pick up the phone and call your assemblyman and Senators offices. Their representatives will be more than happy to explain the pesky details that you have overlooked. That being said, don’t expect Frazier or Glazier to be on board.
Your issues revolve around two things. You don’t care for your supervisor and you don’t want to pay for the fire services you receive. Writing it over and over, makes you the troll.
No criticism necessary. You consistently make yourself look bad.
Maybe I misspoke Bryan. The authorities of this blog have determined your idea is impossible and they speak for Frazier and Glazier. As they say on Sharks, for that reason I’m out.
Until there is a solution, all ideas should be on the table.
This idea accounts for the fact that we in East County are “paying” for service through the our property tax dollars, but receiving a disproportuonately small amount from the County (as compared to other parts of the County).
Every dollar paid by Lafayette homeowners brings them 50% more in fire protection money than a dollar paid by East County homeowners.
Important to stop saying East County residents don’t want to pay for services since we are being shortchanged for what we pay now.
We need new leaders at the county level for east county. We are being ripped off. Too many knuckle head know it all’s on here screw up good ideas with their almighty condescending bs.
WN95back, if you can’t process fact as anything but “condescending bs” then you probably shouldn’t be participating in the discussion. If you believe new leaders at the county level has anything to do with our fire district than you really shouldn’t be participating. It’s simple to even the knuckle heads…..ours isn’t a county department. Please educate me, how is it that we are being ripped off? It’s no wonder you think you are being talked down to.
You have a self induced chip on your shoulder. Only you can provide a remedy for that.
Jeepers JS, I suggested you contact Frazier’s office and Glazier’s office and get the straight story from them. I recon that was too much to ask? I know the possibilities but never claimed to speak for them. That was your illusion, not mine.
To the person that goes by “Idea needs leadership”, you need to call the tax collectors office and attend a fire meeting. If that’s too much for you then drop a dime and call the fire chief himself. He will tell you like others have that no, you are not paying the same as Layfayette or most other areas in the county for fire services. They will also tell you in no uncertain terms ours is not a county department. No one will tell you that ECCFPD is a county department. I’ve read it myself and asked the question. The answer, “this is NOT a county department”. The county does not get to decide who gets what when it comes to disbursing tax money. It’s set by law. Don’t believe me, then call for yourself. I don’t know where you are getting the notion that you are getting shortchanged. My request is reasonable, don’t believe me, ask the experts and the people that collect, receive and distribute tax dollars. Quit playing games, quit playing dumb-make a phone call, it’s really not that hard.
Brian you are so right!!!!! This is the only answer. Not the easy answer!!!! People don’t want to pay more taxes!!!!! They have shown it in many ways. The taxes are there!!!!! Just not going to where they belong. I pay more properly taxes in this county then I do in San Mateo county due to 3 school bonds, 3 comm bonds, rec 800, DB town,EBRPD, Emergency med, mosquito and a few more!!!!! IM DONE!!!!! The fire chief, ad haq committees and fire board need to get real!!!!! Fight for what is yours!!!! If that’s the case, I’m in. Other wise they are getting no where. A lot of precious wasted time and meetings. It’s been spinning for the 20 years I been around here. Let’s get a leader, focus and get what belongs to ECCFD!!!!! Then you can decide how to run it correctly. But not until you have the money that belongs ro ECCFD. Not easy, BUT REAL SIMPLE!!!!
Rob, you summed up feelings and those of my neighbors very well. There is a solution, and if our elected representatives won’t support and lead it, we need new leaders.
If every dollar of property tax that we sent to the county comes back for fire protection at 50% of the value that other areas of the county receive then the system isn’t fair and needs to be fixed. Federal Glover and Mary Piepho should get out front on this. The law needs to be changed.
We have shown that east county property owners are not going to increase their taxes to cover the unfair funding model. It’s time to fix the system.
@ needs new leadership.
I’ll guess you didn’t know. The supervisors (Piepho, Glover, etc.) have nothing to do with property tax collection and distribution. That task is done by two other elected officials. Bob Campbell is the tax collector and Gus Kramer is the tax assessor. They are both elected offices and are the ones that control what you are taking issue with. They are following the law and just like anyone else they know the difficulties in changing the allocation. The odds are slim and none and slim just left town.
Rob, I’ll repeat it again for you. Your belief is not an answer, just a distraction. Spend 1/2 the time you did writing your comment and either research the issue. Contact Frazier or Glazier’s office and ask them if they are willing to carry forth legislation without every city, the county and district giving up their budgets. It’s no secret, It won’t happen.
You say people don’t wish to pay more taxes. Maybe you should ask your neighbors who have overwhelmingly passed all of those school and college bonds you are railing on. After that do a little more homework and you will find that Rec 800 and your DB town are not “taxing agencies”. They are charging you for services and utilities (sewers and water). Yeah, I googled both of them and you should have too.
Another Google search showed that San Mateo county has the same property tax as all other 58 counties in the state of California. The add one you cited are not taxes, they are bonds and service fees which San Mateo also has.
How can you be done when you just proved you haven’t even started?
The meetings which you haven’t attended are not a waste of time. The fire district would be happy to supply you with a copy of their budget so you might actually know what you are talking about. Attend a meeting, get involved and you might actually learn something.
I have learned something Anon and multiple alias Anons. It is people and comments by you that destroy any idea that would help our fire district.
Please stop destroying good ideas with your rhetoric.
JS – Please don’t let the Piepho Apologists get you down. He/she/they (leaning to he/she) are convinced that only he/she/they are correct and will do his/her/its best to shout everybody else down.
He/she/they is/are correct about one thing though…Frazier doesn’t have the brass ones needed to face the backlash that would be caused by allowing counties to revisit Tax Rate Areas periodically. There are too many entrenched groups with empires to protect.
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