Government is theft. Period. Anyway they can steal, they will. That is why I say always vote NO on tax increases, bond measures and any effort to expand the power and role of government. Give them an inch and they will take your bank account.
This story, written by Otis Page, is another example of the abuse of power by government. This time it is on the Central Coast—but this happens everywhere in California.
“The objective is to place the SAFER expiration budgetary short-fall, because of its expiration, on the back of property owners in the area the FCFA serves.
The consultant hired to implement the tax increase is being paid $100,000 and a bonus of $14,500 if it passes!
There was a different fire here than traditionally put out by the fireman. The fire of voter rejection is caused by the price inequity decision of $66 that places the same tax on low and high valued single family residences, the denial by the FCFA of an “Opposition Statement” to be included with the ballot’s explanation, and the fact the FCFA tax was established in the dark, out of sight, with no publicity as to the tax strategy and without Public Comment.”
FIVE CITIES FIRE AUTHORITY TAX INCREASE
Otis Page, Exclusive to the California Political News and Views, 4/4/14 [email protected]
Where Councils may be credited and praised for their acumen as stewards of the citizens’ governmental affairs, it may be noted that failures and mistakes do occur, even when the best of intentions may be the prime motivation. Here we have an example where a mistake has occurred, both in terms of the objectives of a tax increase, but also in its administration contracted to the consultant that is controlling the justification and ballot process.
The Five Cities Fire Authority (FCFA) was established in June of 2010 with a Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) by the cities of Arroyo Grande, Grover Beach and the Oceano Community Services District (OCSD). The alleged purpose of the FCFA’s formation was to achieve cost efficiencies in operation by combining the independent Fire Departments into a single unit. Even though consolidation brought a single management, the fact is established that no real cost savings ever occurred.
On February 12, 2012 the FCFA applied for a SAFER grant. The Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Act, known as the SAFER Act authorizes grants to local fire departments for the purpose of increasing the number of firefighters. The FCFA appears to have understated the financial status of the FCFA in the application. The total amount of JPA partner contributions stated in the application was $3,162,135. The actual amount was $3,659,319. One can reasonably conclude the FICA was “pleading poverty” to gain acceptance by FEMA and the SAFER grant authorities.
At the time the Fire Authority was originally created, its initial budget was originally $3,282, 530. During the last three years, the Authority’s Budget has grown and the FY14 Budget reflects $4,206,650. The majority of this increase is due to the Authority’s receipt of a SAFER grant in 2012. The SAFER grant covering the costs for needed personnel will expire in September 22, 2014.
Immediately following the SAFER grant application a Fire Suppression Benefit Assessment allowed by Prop 218 was considered. It provides only a 50%+1 approval by property owners, and not the 66% typically required for tax increases.
The objective is to place the SAFER expiration budgetary short-fall, because of its expiration, on the back of property owners in the area the FCFA serves.
The consultant hired to implement the tax increase is being paid $100,000 and a bonus of $14,500 if it passes!
There was a different fire here than traditionally put out by the fireman. The fire of voter rejection is caused by the price inequity decision of $66 that places the same tax on low and high valued single family residences, the denial by the FCFA of an “Opposition Statement” to be included with the ballot’s explanation, and the fact the FCFA tax was established in the dark, out of sight, with no publicity as to the tax strategy and without Public Comment.
And there is no “sunset provision” incorporated in the FCFA tax measure. If any one member resigns from the JPA, the act thereby ends the FCFA leaving the tax liability on the tax rolls of the property owners.
Assessment of the vote result on April 18: The citizen property owners who voted NO on the Five Cities Fire Authority (FCFA) ballot for an assessment fee (a tax) were correct in doing so. Citizens are upset over the FCFA vote for an assessment tax increase- the issue remains to have definite "political legs" in this election year! There must be "accountability" on this matter!
The objective should be to restore confidence among the citizens who voted "No" on the tax initiative — especially those thousands who probably did not vote because having to sign the tax ballot and the implied intimidation of offending the Firemen by voting "NO", those firemen who we value highly in their resolve to protect us and who should have no party to or say about who funds them.
The present Board should resign and be replaced by the Mayors of Arroyo Grande, Grover and the Chair (President) of OCSD.
Here are the factors leading to this political debacle by the FCFA Board: Little to no public comment was given at the initial public hearings on this matter. Citizens were not made aware that an assessment district was being formed resulting in a tax increase . The tax measure failed with a significant vote of near 62% voting NO and only 38% voting yes. It was established that there were no significant savings when the FCFA was established in 2010 and no overall real savings have ever occurred.
The member Cities of Arroyo Grande, Grover Beach, and the District of Oceano were wrong in voting for the assessment with their public properties thereby nullifying the equivalent of as many 100 citizen property owners who voted “NO”. Neither the City Councils of AG, Grover and the Board of the Oceano District made resolutions to formally approve the tax or to provide for contingencies if the vote failed. There was a basic inequity in taxing property owners. The proposed tax on property owners of $66 tax was applied to all single family residences — low cost and expensive residences alike. The FCFA could increase the assessment by as much as 4% annually without voter approval.
The money being raised only covered an approximate 25% of the total FICA budget.
There was no Sunset Clause on the Assessment.
The FCFA Joint Powers Agreement provides that any member (the Cities of Arroyo Grande, Grover Beach, and the District of Ocean) may leave the FCFA at any time. That action would terminate the FCFA leaving the property owners’ with a tax liability. There would have been legitimate legal challenges to the tax and the legal application of the Prop 218 law if the vote had succeeded.
The FCFA Board would not allow an "opposition statement" along with the tax explanation in the ballot sent to citizen property owners and here was evident "stonewalling" by the FCFA Board on inquiries on the matter. Neither the FCFA Board, nor the City Councils of AG, Grover Beach or the Board of the Oceano District, sought a Level of Service and Cost Comparisons with Cal Fire during the consideration of the FICA tax increase. This should be done now.
May 16, 2014 at 1:30 pm
Voting deadline for Five Cities Fire assessment is extended after error
By Cynthia Lambert
[email protected] April 4, 2014
Five Cities Fire Authority officials have extended for two weeks the voting deadline for a proposed assessment after discovering the wrong date had been mailed to property owners in Arroyo Grande, Grover Beach and Oceano.
Fire officials said an envelope containing the ballot, which was mailed to all property owners in those communities, mistakenly stated a return date of April 18 — not April 4 as intended, said David Hale, general counsel for the fire authority.
Fire officials decided to honor the extended voting period, Hale said. All other information given to property owners had an April 4 voting deadline.
Because of the error, a public hearing held Friday will continue on April 18. After that meeting, the League of Women Voters of San Luis Obispo County will finish tabulating the ballots and the results will be announced.
At Friday’s public hearing officials said they had received about 4,000 ballots out of the 11,690 mailed to property owners in mid-February.
The proposed assessment district would raise about $1 million a year, which fire officials said would help to maintain current staffing levels, create a reserve fund to replace fire engines and equipment, and improve dispatch services for about 37,700 residents.
They maintain that it would provide a stable source of funding and retain three firefighters and three fire engineers hired with a $1.2 million federal grant that expires in September.
But critics have questioned whether the joint fire department, which was promoted as a cost-saving measure, is really saving the communities money and wonder why fire officials are asking residents for money only four years after the authority was formed.
About 50 people attended Friday’s hearing, including a half dozen firefighters in uniform. Ten people spoke, with comments fairly evenly split for and against the proposed district.
Arroyo Grande resident Vince Petrie said he was opposed because the fire authority board — not the public — would decide each year whether to continue the assessment. The board would also be able to adjust the annual rate for inflation, not to exceed 4 percent each year.
“Who’s going to vote against something that puts money in your own pocket?” he said. “It should be in the hands of the voters.”
Arroyo Grande resident Otis Page, an outspoken critic of the proposal, grew upset when he was cut off after speaking three minutes.
Several other attendees offered him their time, but Page was not allowed to continue talking and left the meeting, saying: “This is continuing stonewalling of this issue and everyone should know it.”
A few other speakers offered support for the department, stating that the money is necessary to maintain a minimum level of service to the public.
“This measure is not to raise salaries,” said Arroyo Grande resident Jason Davis, a former part-time firefighter for the authority. “They are trying to do the best with what they have.”
The joint fire department was formed in July 2010, with the three communities sharing the agency’s $3.6 million annual cost.
The department has 23 sworn fire personnel and 25 reserve firefighters, including six employees funded with a federal Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant.
If an assessment district is formed, owners of single-family homes on an acre or less would pay a maximum of $66 a year.
Owners of multifamily dwellings would be assessed $49.24 per unit. Commercial, industrial and other properties are assessed based on parcel size.
April 5, 2014 at 2:52 am