July 8, 2008

Chamber’s Government Affairs Council Weighs in on the Fresno County Fire Protection Plan

Last week the Chamber’s GAC heard from both sides of the proposed Fresno County Fire Protection Plan and voted to not support the proposed plan. The Fresno County Fire Protection Plan, if approved by property owners, would create a fire suppression assessment which is a property-related special assessment against real property within the Fresno County Fire Protection District service area to fund fire suppression services. The assessment would specifically pay for new firefighters and pay for the new equipment for the new fire stations.

The Chamber decided to not support the plan because the Fresno County Fire Department has not successfully demonstrated that all current funding is being used efficiently. The underlying concern is that property owners and the agricultural community are continuously being hit with new fees without any accountability of where the money is going or how it is being spent. While in addition, the department has not demonstrated they are thinking about a long term public safety integration plan, an issue which the Chamber has been a champion of since efforts began in 2005.

Fresno County Fire Protection Plan

Background
 

Over the past three decades the Fresno County Fire Protection District emergency response times have been negatively impacted by the area’s significant population growth, new state and federal mandates and the insufficient revenue needed to keep pace. Currently, Fresno County’s firefighter-to-to resident ration is one firefighter per 1,221 residents, exceeding the national average of one firefighter per 1,000 residents.

Since 1978:
 

- Fresno County Fire Protection District has closed five fire stations
 

- Eliminated 68 firefighter positions
 

- 911 calls have increased from 6,000 to 16,000

Summary
 

The Fresno County Fire Protection Plan has been developed with the input of local Fresno County firefighters and adopted by the Fresno County Fire Protection District Board of Directors as a strategic plan to:
 

- Build staff and equip three new fire stations
 

- Reduce 911 response times countywide
 

- Relieve pressure on existing fire stations
 

- Hire additional firefighters and purchase new fire engines
 

- Potentially reduce insurance premiums for property owners
 

- Save lives and protect properties

The Fresno County Fire Protection Plan calls for new developer fees to pay for the additional new facilities and a new property owner benefit assessment to fund additional firefighters and equipment.

Specifically:
 

- The Fresno County Fire Protection Plan, if approved by property owners, would create a fire suppression assessment which is a property-related special assessment against real property within the Fresno County Fire Protection District service area to fund fire suppression services.
 

- The assessment would specifically pay for new firefighters and pay for the new equipment for the new fire stations.
 

- Only property owners would pay the assessment
 

- The assessment will be based on the benefit properties received from

fire services.
 

- Each ballot will be weighted according to the proportionate financial obligation of the property i.e. each $1 of the fire assessment = 1 vote.
 

- There is no sunset clause on the assessment
 

Arguments in Support

- New fire stations in three previously under-served areas will benefit all property owners in Fresno County by easing pressure on existing fire stations.
 

- This will keep firefighters at existing stations close to home, resulting in reduced emergency 911 response times in all areas of the county.
 

- With continued cuts from the state and county new dedicated sources of local funding are necessary to implement this plan.

Arguments in Opposition

- There are currently specific County fire stations that can be serviced by surrounding fire services located inside City limits for a contract price for 10-15 years. Specific offers have been made by both the City of Fresno and City of Clovis fire departments.
 

- The fire assessment fee will potentially be much higher for the agricultural community because the assessment will be measured based on how the land is used.
 

- There is no way to ensure that money will stay in that area to be used in the areas for the increased fire protection.
 

- No long term business model.