Measure G: More funding for Orland Rural Fire Department
A property tax measure on the ballot for Orland voters aims to boost funding for that city's fire department.
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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A property tax measure on the ballot for Orland voters aims to boost funding for that city's fire department.
Measure D is a property tax to boost funding for the El Medio Fire Department.