Fire Departments Finances 101: By State statute,
counties are required to carry out certain types of functions. The responsibility for
providing fire protection is not one of them.
However, several decades ago, the county began allocating a small portion of property tax
revenue to General County Fire (GCF)for service in the unincorporated areas. This fiscal
year, that percentage of tax revenue amounted
to $38,390 and in the last fiscal year, it totaled $44,039. The percentage is now frozen
because of Prop. 13 and cannot be raised without a two thirds voter majority.
The incorporated cities have provided their own fire service since
the late 1800s. Voters in several areas, such as the Scott Valley Fire District, have
formed their own separate districts, removing themselves from the large GCF area. These
districts are self-supporting through their own property tax assessments. They are run by
a Board of Directors that is selected by local voters.
The large GCFl area around the districts and cities is called
Community Services District 4 or CSA 4. In some places, such as Mt. Shasta Vista, voters
have formed a “Zone of Increased Benefit” or ZIB. This is not a district
governed by its own board separate from the county. It is a zone where voters have agreed
to self taxation for increased service, with the government function remaining under the
Board of Supervisors. The County has recently formed a new advisory board under Alan
Stovall, the County Fire Warden, to assist them in this.
In other areas, such as Seiad, the community has decided to set up
its own volunteer “Hose Company.” This is purely a non-profit enterprise,
supported by volunteer contributions. GCF makes a small annual contribution to the worker’s
compensation costs for their volunteer fire fighters and has purchased some used fire
equipment to help with equipping the stations.
Areas of General County Fire not covered by a city or district are
provided fire service by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CDF.) They maintain staffing for the fire season to combat
wildfires in areas like Scott Valley and will respond to structural fires in season. (In
many forested areas of District 5, the US Forest Service provides the wildfire coverage
through an agreement with CDF, although they will not handle structural fires.)
Under the “Amador Plan,” the County currently funds two CDF
stations to continue to operate with a small staff off-season. These are in Hornbrook and
Weed. The local community in McCloud funds continuation of service there through a ZIB.
Several years ago, a special “Blue Ribbon” Report
identified a need for additional relief personnel in the central emergency dispatch
office, as well as a training coordinator for all of our volunteer forces. The cost of
these services, and the Amador Plan jumped to $461,432 in fiscal year 04/05 and is
currently at $592,644. Part of the funding for this is coming from a shift in Flood
Control District funds, but the bulk of funding currently comes from allocations of HR
2389 (Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act,) which will sunset this
year - if not reauthorized by Congress. This is the legislation that backfilled the county
for a severe reduction in revenue, (25% of the gross receipts from timber harvest and
other activities on the Forest,) caused by regulations for the northern spotted owl and
other species. Obviously, the loss of this revenue and backfill could have a catastrophic
impact on the fire service system.
Overlaying all of this complex system is a system of “mutual aid”
agreements. This allows one area to help cover another while they respond to a fire. For
instance, as Seiad responds, Klamath River , Happy Camp and Hornbrook CDF may move into a support position. In some cases, such as Scott Valley,
this may result in a District providing service to an area with new homes that does not
support them with a tax base.
The Fire Chiefs, County and CDF have been grappling with the problem
of what to do. Step one is making our communities aware of how their fire service is
funded and how individuals pay for that service. Although most of our fire services are
staffed by volunteers, the fire house and
equipment isn’t free. A suburban type fire station can run more than a million
dollars. The replacement cost for a new Type II or IV pumper ranges from $125,000-175,000.
(We have apparatus dating back to 1958.) Individual protective gear costs about $1,500.
There are maintenance, operation and other costs.
Find out if you are located in a district, ZIB, hose company service
area or GCF and do your part to support your local fire service.
Electrical Rates: Pacific Power is currently proposing to increase
their rates. They are asking for a 20.94% rate increase in residential, and 18.84%
increase for local irrigators and a 15.36% rate for Klamath Project Farmers. Find out more
at http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/
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