Measure D: Property tax boost for El Medio Fire Dept.

South oroville will be deciding "measure d" on november 3rd.

It is a property tax to boost funding for the "el medio" fire department.

For single- family-home owners it means an increase of $60 per year in property tax.

El medio is a small fire station that serves about six- thousand people in an area of approximately two-square miles in south oroville.

And for those people, it means a much quicker response time in the event of a medical or fire emergency.

But the tiny department is perpetually operating on a shoestring budget.

I spoke to one member of the el medio board of directors today who said -- revenue simply does not keep up with increasing expenses, and the fire station is likely in jeopardy if measure-d fails to pass next month.

Interview 00:32 "it's just a measure to cover payroll.

Covers the expense of the vehicles, station, every thing that goes with it.

Pg&e, gas, insurance, workers compensatoin insurance, our insurance premiums, and dispatch from the city.

Those things take a big chunk."

The fire fighters barely make above minimum wage at el medio.

But, i spoke with one home owner -- who didn't want to go on camera -- who points to the fact that people in that community are already paying for measure b, passed in 2008, also a $60-dollar per year tax, that's grown to 73-dollars because it's allowed to increase three percent each year.

That's in addition to a 1980 voter- approved 60- dollar tax, also still in place.

So home-owners are right now paying about $133 dollars per year for el medio.

Measure d, if it passes, would add 60 dollars to that amount.

An* would also be subject to a three-percent annual increase.

It requires a two- thirds majority to pass.

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