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Mendocino County, CA November 5, 2013 Election
Measure I
Special Tax for Replacement Fire Station
Little Lake Fire Protection District

2/3 Approval Required

Fail: 956 / 60.8% Yes votes ...... 617 / 39.2% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

Results as of Nov 14 11:30am, 100.0% of Precincts Reporting (18/18)
Information shown below: Impartial Analysis | Arguments | Full Text

Shall the Little Lake Fire Protection District, by ordinance, create a Special Tax of $14.00 per unit to be used to construct a new replacement Fire Station at 74 East Commercial Street, Willits, CA; capable of housing all apparatus, providing improved operating spaces and quarters in order to safeguard lives and property in the community and shall said Special Tax sunset upon payoff of construction costs and be removed from future tax bills.

Impartial Analysis from County Counsel
Measure I is a proposed special tax intended, if approved, to provide funds for the construction of a new replacement fire station at 74 East Commercial Street, Willits, California for the Little Lake Fire Protection District. This proposed fire station would be designed and constructed to house all fire fighting apparatus as well as to provide improved operating spaces and quarters for Little Lake Fire Protection District staff assigned to the fire station. The special tax in this ballot measure would be a maximum of $14.00 per unit, said units being real property parcels. Real property owned and held in fee title by the federal, state, and local governments within the jurisdiction of the Little Lake Fire Protection District would not be required to pay this special tax. This special tax would be collected from property owners in the same manner as ad valorem property taxes are collected, that is, through the statutory Mendocino County property tax bill issued to real property owners. This measure, if approved, would sunset by its own terms when the construction costs of and debt reduction related to the replacement fire station have been fully paid by the Little Lake Fire Protection District. The revenue raised by this special tax may not be used by the Little Lake Fire Protection District for any other purpose.

Special taxes must be approved by two thirds or more of the registered voters in the area or jurisdiction which would be made subject to the special tax pursuant to state law before the special tax may be levied. State law authorizing this special tax measure is Article XIIIA of the California Constitution as well as Government Code Sections 50075 through 50077.5 and Section 53978. This means that two thirds or more of the registered votes casting a ballot in the November 5, 2013 election must approve this measure within the jurisdiction of the Little Lake Fire Protection District.

s/ Thomas R. Parker Thomas R. Parker Mendocino County Counsel July 17, 2013

 
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Arguments For Measure I Arguments Against Measure I
Measure V, was approved by the Little Lake Fire Protection District taxpayers by a 2/3 vote on November 5, 2002 to help staff and equip the District, limited to a maximum of $60 per unit per year. Since this measure was approved the District has expanded its emergency services capabilities and built a second station and training facility. Our vehicle fleet has consistently been improved, equipped and designed to meet our changing demands for service.

However this level of revenue will not provide the funding necessary to replace the aging, noncompliant building currently used by the District, the limited garage space restricting our growth and potential.

The District wishes to construct a modern, compliant, energy efficient building that will serve the needs of the community of Willits, and District taxpayers for many years. The facility at 74 East Commercial Street is an unreinforced masonry building constructed in 1951 with no safeguards against earthquakes, limited handicap accessibility, lacking coed facilities, and sleeping quarters.

If the voters approve an additional $14 per unit, we would begin construction of the new fire station in
2014.

When the construction costs of the new fire station are paid off, this special tax will Sunset and be removed from future tax bills. This special tax shall be held in a separate account for the express purpose of construction of said building and may not be used for any other purpose.

The Measure I special tax will be implemented as follows: empty land is one unit and would not exceed $14 per year; the average household would pay $28 per year. Commercial occupancies and others may have additional units applied according to their use.

Board of Directors Little Lake Fire Protection District By: s/ Tony Madrigal Tony Madrigal, Chairman of the Board

No arguments against Measure I were submitted.

Full Text of Measure I
MEASURE I AN ORDINANCE FOR THE LITTLE LAKE FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT ESTABLISHING UNIFORM SCHEDULES AND RATES FOR A SPECIAL TAX FOR CONSTRUCTION AND DEBT REDUCTION OF A NEW FIRE STATION

Government Code Section 50075 through 50077.5, 53978 and Article XIIIA of the California Constitution authorizes the Little Lake Fire Protection District to determine and levy a special tax for construction and debt reduction of a new fire station to be located at 74 East Commercial Street, Willits, CA 95490. The accountability measures set forth at Government Code Section 50075.1 are hereby incorporated into Ordinance 13-1 as required by law.

Resolution 13-2 calling for an election on an ordinance to create a special tax for the purpose of constructing a new fire station to replace the current structure located at 74 E. Commercial Street in Willits to serve the District, was adopted at a regular meeting of the Little Lake Fire Protection District Board of Directors on June 11, 2013.

Said charge(s) shall be established by the Board of Directors of the Little Lake Fire Protection District subject to the maximum units of tax herein. Each Unit of Special Tax for construction and debt reduction of said building shall not exceed fourteen dollars ($14.00) each fiscal year.

If a two-thirds voter approval is cast on November 5, 2013, the special tax for construction and debt reduction of said building will become effective immediately. Additionally, upon payoff of construction costs of the new fire station, Measure I will sunset being removed from all future tax bills.

The special tax is to be collected in the same manner provided by statute for the collection of property taxes and the units of special tax per year shall be assessed on all real property (except that of Federal, State, or Governmental agencies or other property which is exempt from taxation) within the boundaries of the said Little Lake Fire Protection District as per the Special Tax Ordinance passed by the voters on November 5, 2002.

Board of Directors Little Lake Fire Protection District
s/ Tony Madrigal, Chairman July 9, 2013


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