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Fire authority blames voters for parcel tax failure

April 19, 2014

five cities fire1By JOSH FRIEDMAN

After 60 percent of voters rejected a parcel tax initiative for firefighting services, the Five Cities Fire Authority (FCFA) took to Facebook to blame its fiscal woes on South County property owners.

On Friday, the votes were tallied. Property owners in Arroyo Grande, Grover Beach and Oceano voted 59.6 percent against the $1 million-a-year property assessment measure and 40.3 percent in favor of it.

The FCFA said the ballot initiative would increase services, but the fire authority is now saying that voters cost six firefighters their jobs.

“Today, property owners in the Five Cities voted overwhelmingly to eliminate six firefighter positions and stated their preference to have fewer personnel respond to fires, accidents and calls for medical aid,” the FCFA wrote on its Facebook page. “It is hard to understand how fewer firefighters, older engines and worn equipment comprises a formula for success.”

Attached to the Facebook post, the FCFA placed a photo of a fireman battling a fire from the roof of a burning house.

“I think he’s worth $10 an hour,” the FCFA wrote.

In 2010, the FCFA formed when Arroyo Grande, Gover Beach and Oceano chose to consolidate their fire departments into one. The consolidation of the agencies was supposed to be a cost saving move.

But, the FCFA budget rose from $3.4 million to $4.3 million in its first two years of operation.

In 2012, the FCFA applied for a FEMA grant, which it received, and used the one-time funds to hire the six firefighters. The funds expire later this year.

Critics of the agency called the ballot measure a bailout for its decision to hire the firefighters without future funding secured.

Fire Chief Mike Hubert said funds from the assessment would go toward equipment, apparatus and dispatch services, as well as to staffing costs. Hubert told CalCoastNews before the vote that, although he’d like to keep the firefighters, they are classified as additional personnel, not necessary for the FCFA to function.

“At least the community got additional personnel for that period of time,” Hubert said.

The FCFA may, again, apply for the FEMA grant in order to retain the firefighters. “That’s not guaranteed to work, though,” Hubert said.

Had the parcel tax passed, property owners in the area would have received a $66 annual assessment. The assessment could increase four percent annually because of a cost of living adjustment built into it.

A three-member board, which governs the FCFA, now must sort out the agency’s financial troubles as it prepares a budget for the upcoming fiscal year. The board consists of a representative from the Arroyo Grande and Grover Beach city councils, as well as one from the Oceano Community Services District board.

Arroyo Grande Councilman Joe Costello, Grover Beach Councilman Bill Nichols and Oceano CSD director Karen White currently comprise the FCFA board.

 


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The Next Battle-


No on New Sanitation Tax.


They have hired a consultant and will attempt to approve this New Tax Increase,

Without a Ballot or Vote of the people. { Please notice how they slow walk us from one desperate tax increase to the next]


Action Plan: My recommendation is that we Do Not Vote For Any Incumbents Who Vote In Support Of This New Tax Increase Without a Ballot and a Vote of the people.

We need elected represenatives who will listen to the will of the people in Arroyo Grande,

Grover Beach, and Oceano.


Let the People Decide on this New Tax Increase.


Register- Demand a Ballot- Vote


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Lets be honest and all admit we are having a Tax War on the Central Coast ! The Fire tax was just one of many battles we will have to fight to reign in Local Government, that have made many promises that they cannot keep in this era of slow economic growth.

They have become desperate for more revenues to cover their past mistakes and financial mismanagement.


1. Five Cities Fire Tax- Defeated


2. San Luis Obispo Sales Tax and Pension Bailout


3. Atascadero Sales Tax Increase


4. Water Rate Increaes- Use Drought To Justify More $$$


5. Arroyo Grande Sales Tax Extension- Let Voters Decide.


6. Oceano CSD Water Bond- Voters will not pay for financial mismangement. 55% Bond Not Coming.


7. ” Wallace” Sanitation Tax Bailout


8. Grover Beach Road Tax


9. Los Osos Sewer


10. Cuesta Building Tax- It has become a virtual education world. Brick and Mortar Buildings, are Monuments To The Past.


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It is not “slow economic growth” – even some of the best projections recently celebrated the fact that we’re just now getting back to 2008 levels… which would be fine if we did not increase our population at all since then. So at best, we’re in an era of “no economic growth” and more likely, we’re actually still in an economic recession; we just manipulate the calculations and numbers enough to keep the message consistent for the uninformed and mal-educated.


All that said, you are correct. This is just one of many battles. And it is not even coordinated (like the Tea Party) – it really did form because enough people have had enough. Government is in a bubble of its own and has no idea; your friends and neighbors who work in government have no idea. They think they do. Much like they think they work “really hard” – but the folks struggling outside of the constant paycheck and full benefits know the truth. It is a natural reaction to the entitlement mentality that has completely corrupted our government. Doesn’t matter if it is a Community Services District or a School District; a Fire Department or a Building Department; Social Services or Transportation Services. It’s cancerous and spread throughout.


Thankfully, there are more and more “producers” that are realizing just how bad things have gotten while they were busy producing and not watching closely (or worse, believing the news and other propaganda outlets).


it is a glimmer of hope, for those who understand what is happening.


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Appreciate your comments and analysis. Your comment about government being in a bubble really caught my attention.


I look forward to reading more of your comments in the future.


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The govt takes about 1/3 of my income already. And now they want more or they will cut fire services. How about you cut welfare instead? If the govt stuck to doing proper govt things they would be swimming in money.


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Plus at least those in Arroyo Grande we just received notice of plans to raise water and garbage rates


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FYI– Water and garbage are enterprise funds, which means revenues are not supposed to pay for anything else.


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And the lottery was supposed to save our schools and look how that’s worked out……. you still believe our government?


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Never did. And if anyone believes enterprise funds are being misused they should dig deeper. That’s what the Public Records Act was designed for.


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And the public records act has worked well for the Gibson emails, right?


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I understand your point, and I have proffered several dozen records requests with varying success, so I have experience here… Asking for financials is pretty straightforward stuff. It’s the kind of thing they are going to produce. Unless they are really crooked and willing to go to jail with Robert Rizzo (City of Bell), they will disclosure accurate information.


The kind of thing that causes (most) record request troubles is voluminous requests (like the Gibson email) or requests seeking something they can claim a privacy issue on. Financials are about the most likely thing a citizen would want access to and reports are likely already buried in an annual budget on the agency web site.


The real problem is understanding the spreadsheets. If they are moving money around between enterprise accounts and general accounts there are a lot of tricks that are done right out in the open. Many times they just “bill” the water fund for some pro-rata use of city administrative personnel costs (on the basis that those employees spend some amount of their day working on water-related items or managing water employees). The billing must be accurate, but is often heavily padded.


A similar trick is just charging the water fund a fixed percentage. This is completely improper as the amount has to reflect an actual cost that can be accounted for. A fixed charge is akin to putting precisely ten gallons of gas in your tank every fill-up… it doesn’t reflect the real world.


If anyone would like help with a Public Records Act request I have a very-developed boilerplate request and I’d be happy to assist.


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It is time to rescind local property tax increase, balance budget with existing revenues, reduce and eliminate non essential programs, and bring salaries,pension, and benefits in line with current revenues.


Clearly, A.G. wanted to wait until after Fire Tax, to slow walk us off the financial cliff,just like other local cities.


We need to demand a public vote of the people on the Local Sales Tax Extension approved by the city council members and supported by the staff and unions.


Just like the FCFA, the city is rolling out of financial control as local citizens regain control of their city through the “power of the vote”.


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How can this be? I have been hearing how we’ve come “back from the brink” and “turned the economy around” and we’re slowly coming “out” of the recession. Surely, we’re just days away from “happy days are here again!” Right? That’s what they’ve been saying for a few years now…


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You are lucky that only 1/3 of your income goes to taxes. Income taxes, both Federal and State, sales taxes, property taxes, utility taxes, excise taxes take at half of my income. Corporate taxes make everything we buy cost more. I work until July until I earn any money that I am allowed to keep and use for my family. The government employees enjoy greater job security, better health insurance, better retirement, more vacation time and sick leave. They rule over us like royalty while we pay the bills.


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Finally the community is getting wise to this racket!


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I agree with FCFA! Most firemen are well worth $10.00 per hour. Unfortunately they cost almost 7 times that amount. $50 an hour now and $25 an hour later (retirement).


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Unfortunately it’s the $50 an hour now and not $25 an hour later but more like $45 to $55 dollars an hour later in retirement. The retirement benefits are so lucrative here that many retire making the same or more than when they worked. Several years ago California in its infinite wisdom passed a 3% at 50 rule for emergency services personnel for retirement – since then if you look at the annual retirement of those in California – its always police and firefighters at the top. This type of retirement system cannot (and will not ) sustain itself. Its the reason so many communities are having financial difficulties.


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madmaxx- You make an excellent argument as to why we should reject local sales tax increases. In addition to emergency services personnel we also have other employees increase to 2.5% at 55. I agree, that the system cannot sustain itself.


Ref: http://www.fixpensionsfirst.com


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Here’s some SLCUSD “retirees” living fat off the hog at the cost of our children:


Name Employer MONTHLY ANNUAL

HOWLAND, NANCY E SAN LUIS COASTAL UNIFIED $10,430.16 $125,161.92

MATAKOVICH, MARY A SAN LUIS COASTAL UNIFIED $12,514.28 $150,171.36

PARSONS, VIRGINIA B SAN LUIS COASTAL UNIFIED $8,450.25 $101,403.00

VALENTINE, EDWARD T SAN LUIS COASTAL UNIFIED $14,361.61 $172,339.32

ZOTOVICH, PETER J SAN LUIS COASTAL UNIFIED $10,322.24 $123,866.88


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What turns my crank is using 500,000 $ fire engines for paramedic calls,sSan Luis uses their new ladder truck to run help someone up off the sidewalk,leave those expensive rigs in the barn and buy smaller cheaper trucks to use for rescue and medic calls,or turn those calls over to the ambulance service,I know there are a lot of state rules to work around, but wearing out a fire truck for medic calls is pretty lame. Also fire people think a truck is worn out at 50 to 60,000 miles, thats far from correct.


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I have also seen in SLO, they use their ladder truck to shop at Vons. I have tried to figure out how this makes sense but haven’t come up with any, maybe something to do with practice driving, but to pick up groceries, come on you could come up with a better way.


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The argument is that if the firefighters have their engine and/or truck with them and they get a call then they don’t have to return to the station to get their equipment. This argument, of course, is bogus. The only reason that there are three or four firefighters shopping at Vons is that they are bored and wanted somewhere to go. Actually, they should bring their provisions with them when the come to work … do any of the rest of us shop while we are on the clock? If there is need for a forgotten or needed item, one individual in their own vehicle could make the trip (on his/her lunch hour).


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What is this “lunch hour” thing you speak of? That doesn’t exist in the fire service. The reason the entire crew stays together during shopping, drills, inspections, and other business is because of the (obvious) need to have an intact crew when a call arises. A firefighter responding in a personal vehicle adds minutes to arrival of a full force.


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Not to start an argument, but Police departments have figured it out … cops are on duty (and actually awake and working for their entire shift) and they have lunch.. Why don’t firefighters bring their provisions with them as they start their shift … the amount of down time in the fire service is unreal … the whole system needs to be revamped … enhance ambulance services, due to the current building codes fires actually take place very rarely. Have minimal staffing, mutual aid would cover the need for added personnel when a real fire occurred. If staffed correctly fire departments would become as obsolete as union required “firemen” on diesel trains.


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O for the days of volunteer fire fighterism! We don’t really need all this overpriced/overregulated crap. Remember, there are ALWAYS strings attached to those “grants”… and it’s not to “keep us safe.” It’s to facilitate a little-known thing called: Vertical integration.


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You might be closer than you think, KimM. They accept the grant or “found money” as it is often referred to, and with that money, conditions… it could be “you have to drive it around for X hours per week” or something silly.


People love spending other people’s money. That’s a given, and I am not going to fault them for that; however, at some point, adults need to be put in charge to tell them it’s time to stop… or they’ve gone too far. I think we’re missing maturity at all levels of government.


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That argument has merit, but here are the most common counter arguments:


(1) Equipment is cheaper than added personnel. Without hiring additional staff, personnel would constantly need to “swap rigs” depending on the call type.


(2) Response time. If crews were out on a medical aid and a fire/rescue call came in, they would need to first respond back to the station to swap rigs. That would significantly extend the response time, possibly causing loss of property or life.


(3) Medical calls often include fire/rescue components. All vehicle accidents require fire equipment. The possibility for fuel leaks, hazardous materials, fire or entrapment is unknown before arrival. And medical incidents frequently include components which require fire equipment.


(4) Fire incidents require medical equipment. The potential for victims or injury mandates a medical response to all fires.


Hence, fire equipment must be outfitted for medical responses whether or not separate medical equipment exists.


Further, which apparatus would you advocate to be used for general business like fire prevention inspections? Conducting business from a medical vehicle just creates more opportunity that a fire call will come in while personnel are away from the fire equipment.


Response times are most often the overriding concern, and that means having personnel constantly manning fire equipment.


San Luis Obispo lacks the staffing and equipment that it really should have for the potential that exists. If SLO were to hire additional personnel they should add an engine company at headquarters. The engine company could handle medical calls which would reduce a lot of ladder truck usage. I don’t believe rig swapping is a good solution when response times are critical.


There are solutions that would save money, but all of them reduce service levels. The most appropriate choice is the one citizens demand. SLO does a fine job meeting the community needs in a professional manner.


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>>Also fire people think a truck is worn out at 50 to 60,000 miles.


Not true at all! I’ve seen front line equipment with over 200,000 miles. Lifespan is often dictated by age, not miles. Twenty years is when repairs from deterioration become costly. Old equipment is usually moved to “reserve” status and used for back-fill when front line equipment is being serviced, or when large incidents require off duty personnel to be called back.


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Sorry, Kevin … with my vast experience with various fire departments as soon as an engine is delivered, there appears to be a need to buy the next latest and greatest … all in the name of “safety”. If left to FSLA standards there would be a fully equiped, new, fire engine staffed with four paramedics stationed in each and every driveway in the city. Logic has to take over somewhere.


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Well, my vast experience says otherwise, so i suppose we are at impasse. The 1996 engine I’m on has 143,000 miles and isn’t up for replacement.


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How many fires has this particular rig been to? Since there are dispatch logs it would be easy to look up. Out of the 143,000 miles how many of them have been accumulated doing what the engine was purchased to do and how many miles were put on for other reasons (like lunch runs)?


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You’re still hung up on mileage when I told you age is usually the factor for retirement. It’s nearly twenty years old and will likely go another five. Then it will likely be used as backup equipment for another ten. Is 35 years of service unreasonably short?


What model year is your personal vehicle?


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Repairs wouldn’t be necessary if the fire trucks were used for that purpose “fires” I didn’t say for the fire crew to jump in another rig and do a medic call that would be kinda dumb in case a fire call came in,I’m thinking more on the lines of the old squad 51where you have paramedics that handle those calls and firemen that do fires.

I don’t think you’ll ever see front line fire trucks around here with 200,000 miles on them.


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Repairs wouldn’t be necessary if the fire trucks were used for that purpose “fires” I didn’t say for the fire crew to jump in another rig and do a medic call that would be kinda dumb in case a fire call came in,I’m thinking more on the lines of the old squad 51where you have paramedics that handle those calls and firemen that do fires.

I don’t think you’ll ever see front line fire trucks around here with 200,000 miles on them.

It seems I missed your post about your vast experence of 196,000 miles on an engine,where might that be.


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“Squad 51” (in real life) always gets dispatched with an engine company—that’s TWO rigs. I happen to know a thing or two about the department upon which that television show is based.


Medical calls ALWAYS get a fire response, for the reasons I mentioned above, and others.


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Wow Kevin I was going to jump in when you and Mitch C were enlightening us all about your guys ‘vast experience’ – have you guys determined whose is bigger yet???

Kevin in reading your posts you do bring up many valid points in defense of fire operations – unfortunately you also sound like the typical union firefighter arguing all the standard points and crying wolf if things don’t continue along the same lines.

Some valid issues have been raised and you discount them – why don’t firefighters come to work prepared bringing their food and necessities with them rather than driving a engine and crew to the grocery store to shop. Why can’t one firefighter in a support vehicle ( pickup w/lights and siren) do some of these individual runs to the store to pickup something? Why do they take an entire engine company to go look at girls on the beach or cruise around? Why do they take and engine and crew to go to a firefighters personal home to pickup something he forgot ? And it goes on and on and on. If you have such vast experience you know all these things occur and many many others that put wear and tear on the equipment and use fuel and waste time. There is plenty of room in the fire service for saving money and stopping waste – why does FCFA have a 100 ft. ladder and there are no buildings probably over 4 stories in their response area? Why is it necessary to pay for all that very pretty gold leaf lettering and emblems on the equipment ( when standard would do)? I can also talk of VAST EXPERIENCE – but there is no need to – the waste in the fire service speaks so loud, it amazes me when they stand on their soap box here and cry give us more money – or you will suffer. This is truly not meant to pick on you – as I stated you mention many valid points about the fire service and it is obvious you have some first hand knowledge about it. But, be honest, there is plenty of waste not only in FCFA but in every fire department – even “squad 51” The tax payer is getting tired of paying outrageous saleries and retirement benefits and it somewhere it must stop – I was very glad to see the people of this community stand up and say enough already.


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(1) You failed to recognize sarcasm re: “vast experience”. Perhaps I shall use quotes next time to denote intentional jibe.

(2) If you feel I sound like a “typical union” employee, then you really haven’t followed my positions on issues at all. And I emphasize: AT ALL.


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Here is a capture of the Facebook page before the comment was deleted:


FCFA Facebook page (April 18, 2014)


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Thanks for the link. Pretty telling of how the fire department feels about the citizens that pay them.


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Not just pay them now, while they work, but also pay them at near full salary after 55 for years and years.


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Sorry we’re all tapped out…I’ve got so many hands in my pocket it brings a whole new meaning to the phrase “pocket pool”


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If the cities hadn’t voted their properties the winning/losing percentages would have been 62%-38%.


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