League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
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Measure U Special Tax Gold Ridge Fire Protection District 2/3 Approval Required 5,489 / 65.7% Yes votes ...... 2,864 / 34.3% No votes
See Also:
Index of all Measures |
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| Results as of Nov 19 4:09pm, 100.0% of Precincts Reporting (28/28) |
| Information shown below: Arguments | | |||
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Shall Ordinance No. 04-05-1-R of the Gold Ridge Fire Protection District (i) authorizing it to impose and levy a new special tax having a maximum rate of $40.00 per first dwelling and $20 per additional dwelling for residential property and $80 per first business and $40 per additional business for commercial property to assist in meeting costs of providing services and exercising other rights and powers, and (ii) increasing appropriations limit to permit spending tax revenues be approved?
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| Arguments For Measure U |
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Please vote yes on Measure U. The Gold Ridge Fire Protection District needs your
support. Because of revenue shifts and shortages experienced by all special districts,
we are unable to fund two vital, policy-driven programs, apparatus replacement
and hiring two full-time fire apparatus engineers.
The apparatus replacement program has been unfunded for eight years with several of the fire engines nearing or beyond their twenty year life, which is an industry standard. The current special tax ($20) which was passed in 1987 and generates $113,000 annually, is no longer adequate due to inflation, no annual adjustments, and the rising cost of a fire engine which is $280,000. Because of increasing call volume and its toll on volunteers, as well as improving standards and requirements for fire apparatus engineers, full-time fire apparatus engineers are necessary to staff fire equipment at two stations during the week, allowing volunteers to staff the equipment at night and on weekends. During the last two years the Gold Ridge Fire Protection District management team has overhauled and streamlined the budget. Funds have been effectively shifted from administration and salaries to allow the purchase of tools and equipment as well as completion of building and equipment maintenance projects, many that had been deferred for years. This measure does not utilize the confusing unit of risk equation and is a significant reduction from the last measure, which was unsuccessful. It seeks $40 per dwelling per year, $20 per additional dwelling on the same property, $80 per business, $40 per additional business on the same property, and no charge for vacant parcels. The levy can (and will) be reduced accordingly if other funding sources are reinstated. Our firefighters are very dedicated to training for and responding to emergencies. Please support their efforts by voting yes on Measure U. http://www.goldridgefire.org
s/ Andy Pforsich, Fire Chief
s/ Alfred Fiori, President, Board of Directors
s/ Steve Petrucci, President
s/ Tom Baumgras, President
(No arguments against Measure U were submitted) |
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