Park District Opposes Frazier Bill that Would Reallocate Money to Local Fire District

On March 29, the East Bay Regional Park District wrote to numerous state and local legislators opposing a proposal by Assemblyman Jim Frazier who is floating a bill to redirect Park District money to another agency.

The Park District is openly rejecting an idea by Assemblyman Frazier via Assembly Bill 898 which would re-direct $10.5 million annually away from the Park District and into the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District.

As of Tuesday, amendments to Frazier’s AB 898 and AB 899 have not yet been formally introduced and only a copy of the draft has been released–in its current form, these are termed placeholder bills. It’s unclear if Frazier will actually introduce the bill amendments or is simply floating the bills as a way to appease some who have been calling for a re-allocation of property taxes versus the fire district seeking a tax increase for the fourth time.

Under AB 898, it would need 2/3 of each house of the State legislator to pass. Should it fail, it would trigger a companion bill in AB 899 which would take the idea to a public vote.

Carol Johnson, assistant general manager of the Park District, called the bills flawed in many ways. She also says they have only heard the headlines of Frazier’s bills stating that no one from the assemblyman’s office has contacted EBRPD Board members or Management to discuss his interests in redirecting any of their taxpayer funds away from their purpose of funding parks.

“On its face, what we know about this proposal is it is ridiculously flawed in many ways,” said Johnson. “It’s unfair and EBRPD will oppose any action to redirect our funding. Redirecting EBRPD property taxes from areas outside the Fire District’s jurisdiction is unfair to the taxpayers who expect their dollars to be used within their area.”

The letter of opposition was sent to the following: Assemblymember Catharine Baker, Assemblymember Rob Bonta, Assemblymember Tony Thurmond, Assemblymember Bill Quirk, Assemblymember Tim Grayson, Assemblymember Kansen Chu, Senator Bob Wieckowski, Senator Bill Dodd, Senator Steve Glazer, Senator Nancy Skinner, Supervisor Richard Valley, Supervisor Scott Haggerty, Supervisor Karen Mitchoff, Supervisor Candace Andersen, Supervisor Federal Glover, Supervisor Nate Miley, Supervisor Wilma Chan, Supervisor John Gioia, Supervisor Diane Burgis, and Supervisor Keith Carson.

Here is a copy of the text sent to

March 29, 2017

Dear ____:

We are writing in strong opposition to a legislative concept proposed by Assemblymember Jim Frazier. The Assemblymember has floated a possible amendment of AB 898 which would reallocate $10.5 million in property tax revenues from the East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) to the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District (ECCFPD).

Property tax diversion from a high performing agency, which has the trust of the voters, to an agency which has built sufficient voter support is a dangerous precedent. It should concern all government agencies which rely on property tax funding. The Park District has worked very hard to obtain the public’s trust for repeated two-thirds voters for District measures, including the 2008 $500 million bond Measure WW which passed with 71%. In contract, the ECCFPD has tried unsuccessfully three times to pass a funding measure (2012, 2015 and 2016). The diversion proposed by Assembly Member Frazier would be a legislative precedent: rewarding local agencies who lack sufficient local support at the expense of those doing the job voters asked them to do.

The Park District’s 2016 operating budget was $127 million. A $10.5 million redirection of general fund money would represent a cut of nearly 10%. This would require a reduction in services and staff, including the District’s own firefighters who are represented by AFSCME, throughout both Alameda and Contra Costa counties.  It could also require the District to close or severely reduce hours for parks and visitor centers like Big Break Regional Shoreline.

The Park District strongly supports firefighters and public safety personnel. EBRPD firefighters were among the fire responders to the 1991 Oakland hills fire which cost 25 people their lives, destroyed 3,354 homes and apartment units, burned 1,500 acres and cost $1.5 billion in damages. Park District public safety air support provided primary fire suppression for the Morgan/Mount Diablo fire in 2014 which cost EBRPD $4 million. The Park District provides critical wildfire fuels management for 30 miles of East Bay hills in 11 regional parks directly adjacent to tens of thousands of nearby residents and businesses. These vital services would be compromised by a $10.5 reduction in the Park District’s general fund.

The Park District receives no property tax revenue from the ECCFPD region. Taxpayers in this jurisdiction are receiving a tremendous return on investment. The Park District spends over $10 million annually to maintain 17 parks and trails and 30,000 acres in this part of the county. In addition, the Park District has spent or allocated over $10 million in Measure WW capital funds for Antioch, Brentwood, Oakley and some regional park projects. The Measure WW local grant program, and its 1988 predecessor Measure AA, provide $184 million on a per capita basis back to every East Bay city. Over $13 million in Measure AA local grant money has been allocated to East County. The Measure WW local grand money includes $2.3 million for Brentwood, $1.5 million for Oakley and $3 million for unincorporated Contra Costa County (including $600,000 for the Byron Playfields Project).

A recent economic report found that every $1 of the Park Districts operating budget yields a return of $4. The same report indicates that the Park District hosts 425 million visits a year and provides $500 million annually in benefits which include the value of recreation, healthcare, property values and ecosystem services. The Park District also generates $200 million in regional activity every year that would not happen without the District. This includes bait and tackle shops in Oakley and Brentwood for those who fish at Big Break, Contra Loma and other regional park facilities.

The diverse scope and breadth of services EBRPD provides to its constituents is unrivaled and would be imperiled by this bill, including:

• First responder and fire suppression activities on State Responsibility Areas within the East Bay
• The operation of 200 miles of non-motorized commuter corridors alleviating auto traffic
• Management of sensitive habitat lands containing listed species on behalf of the Department of Fish and Wildlife and the citizens of the East Bay Area
• The operation of three units of the state park system at a cost of $5 million annually funded by local taxpayer property taxes and no operating dollars from the state
• Premier nature education programming for youth within the greater East Bay Area, serving 60,000 school children annually.

The Park District is interconnected with many aspects of life in the East Bay including infrastructure, jobs, transportation, public health and housing. It has a balanced budget with an AAA bond rating. The Park District also has consistently received certificates of Distinguished Budget Presentation Awards and certifications of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Financial Officers Association. It has a long history as a responsible agency with 96% of voters indicating the Park District provides a valuable public resource.  We highlight these issues as examples of good governance and service to the electorate. To redirect funds from EBRPD to another agency that has not developed broader support is counter to the direction from the voters and quite simply put, wrong.

As a matter of good governance and highly negative precedent this bill would establish, we urge your strong opposition of AB 898 should it be amended to divert funding from EBRPD.

Robert E. Doyle
General Manager

cc. EBRPD Board of Directors