Sacramento Metro Fire seeking more funding through Measure O

[ad_1]

(FOX40.COM) — The Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District is hoping to get new funding for its fire stations during this November’s election. 

Measure O aims to allow Metro Fire to upgrade outdated equipment and fire stations through bonds and an increased property tax. 

Since being established in 2000, Metro Fire has not asked taxpayers for a bond measure or tax increase like the one on the November ballot. 

The department feels it’s now necessary to continue to provide rapid, efficient response times when Sacramentans call 911.

Battalion Chief Parker Wilbourn with Metro Fire says, “we had a comprehensive capital improvement survey that went through every single one of our stations, our apparatus and all of our equipment. It came down to the needs that we have are far outpacing the revenues that are coming in.”

A “yes” vote on Measure O means you are going to see an increase in property tax. That increase would be roughly $19 per $100,000 dollars in assessed value. 

“The populations exploded out here,” says Wilbourn. “The call volumes exploded. We’re going to 40% more calls than we did 10 years ago.”  

Wilbourn says that the district has tapped out its current fleet of apparatus to meet the growing needs of the community. 

If passed, Metro Fire expects the Measure O tax to generate roughly $24 million per year.

That funding will strictly go toward the construction, expansion, acquisition, upgrade and modernization of fire stations, facilities, vehicles, equipment, and real property in the communities served by Metro Fire.

The money will not go to salaries or pensions and none of the funds may be seized by the state or other government agencies. 

On your ballot, you’ll see the Sacramento Taxpayers Association is opposed to Measure O. 

However, in the time since ballots have gone out, the group has clarified its stance on the measure. 

In a statement to FOX40 the Sacramento Taxpayers Association says Sac Tax regrets that our “Argument Against” appeared to be opposition to Measure O when we are not in opposition.

Sac Tax believes Metro Fire has been forthcoming and transparent about providing answers to the questions Sac Tax asked in our ballot argument.” 

Metro Fire says over half of its 41 fire stations are over 50 years old. 

“With the aging apparatus and the aging infrastructure our stations, the longer we kick this can down the road, the harder it’s going to be to overcome it,” says Wilbourn. 

Below is the full response from the Sacramento Taxpayers Association. 

The Sacramento Taxpayers Association (Sac Tax) official position on Measure O is neutral. Unfortunately, a flawed ballot statement process has made it appear Sac Tax opposes Measure O when Sac Tax was only trying to provide voters additional information about Prop 5, and additional considerations before voting for a measure.  Measure O requires a 2/3 vote which is the CA Constitutional standard since 1879 and reinforced by Proposition 13 (1978). Sac Tax regrets that our “Argument Against” appeared to be Opposition to Measure O when we are not in opposition.

In the midst of an election cycle in which State Propositions are impacting Local Measures, Sac Tax made an effort to inform voters on how a State Proposition (Prop 5) would impact local ballot Measures such as Measure O.  Unfortunately, in our election process, there is no other way to inform voters in an advisory way than to “Oppose” / “Argument Against” on a Ballot Measure. Sac Tax opposition is to Prop 5 and not to Measure O.  Sac Tax position on Measure O is neutral. Unfortunately, the time in which Measures are approved, ballot statements required, and ballot statements can be withdrawn are inadequate when there are 14 local ballot measures on the ballot. The whole review process needs to be reevaluated and revised. So in an flawed ballot statement process, Sac Tax tried to advise voters of the impact of other State Propositions on the ballot.  Sac Tax used an “Argument Against” to give voters the facts and impact of State Propositions.

Since the Sac Tax ballot argument position was shared in August with those in Support of Measure O, the Sacramento Taxpayers Association and Metro Fire have had several discussions on the issue. Metro Fire has provided additional information to concerns/ questions made by Sac Tax. Sac Tax has verified none of the funds for this bond measure will be used for salaries or pension obligations.  Sac Tax has also reviewed the costs of new facilities and equipment which are substantial.  Sac Tax believes Metro Fire has been forthcoming and transparent about providing answers to the questions Sac Tax asked in  our ballot argument. 

The Sac Tax position on Measure O is neutral.

[ad_2]

Matthew Nobert

Source link