Next week both the Laytonville County Water District Board and the Laytonville Area Municipal Advisory Council will vote on whether to support a ballot measure, Measure P, in the November election that calls for imposing a one-quarter cent sales tax to provide funding for local fire departments and fire-prevention services.
Also at their meetings, both bodies will also make decisions on whether to support Measure O, which if approved by voters, will increase the Library sales tax by one-eighth of one cent, for a total of one-quarter of one cent. Your total sales tax rate will not increase. That’s because the initiative is timed to take effect at exactly the same time that a three-eighths of one cent sales tax, part of Measure B, the 2017 Mental Health Initiative, will sunset but will be followed by a one-eighth cent sales tax that remains in effect until repealed by voters..
Last week’s column explained what both the Fire Tax and Library Tax were all about.
Several readers contacted me with questions regarding the Fire Tax, and the fact that tax proceeds would be deposited into the County’s general fund, and thus be subject to the Board of Supervisors making a decision to spend the money on purposes not related to keeping local fire departments operational and other fire protection purposes.
What follows are readers’ comments (they requested anonymity) and my responses:
Hello Jim,
Your article on the Measure P Fire Tax did not mention that, at least as I understand it, the tax money does not go to the fire departments. I have read that the tax will go to the county general fund with the intention of transferring the money to the fire departments, a ploy to circumvent the two-thirds yes requirement to pass a fire tax, as opposed to just needing a majority to pass a general fund tax.
That might be okay if there is something in the measure that requires the county supervisors to give the money to the fire departments. If there is nothing in the measure to prevent the supervisors from diverting the money if the supervisors decide the money is needed elsewhere, we are left only with their promise to do what the voters want. Like the fate of the Measure B money.
Maybe I am wrong. The comments from the measure’s supporters that “there is no ambiguity or discretion” is the exact opposite of what I’ve read. “The watchful eyes of our 20 fire chiefs and their district boards will be on it” appears to have no legal backing.
I am a 100 percent supporter of the fire departments, but I don’t trust any of the supervisors and will not vote for anything as ambiguous as this measure appears to be.
Willits Resident
Thanks for your comments, I don’t disagree with your points. You may be aware that the courts have recently ruled that citizen tax measures require just a simple majority for passage. However, Boards of Supervisors and City Councils’ tax measures still require the super-majority vote approval.
Jim
Hi Jim
Just read your article in today’s UDJ re Measure P.
Where will the collected tax money from this measure go? A separate line item, or an account designated just for fire? Or the General Fund?
Ukiah Resident
Good Afternoon ,
Pleasure to hear from you, assume everything is going fine.
The way the fire tax will be handled, if approved by simple majority vote, is as follows:
1. Tax proceeds will go into the General Fund.
2. Ninety percent of proceeds will be apportioned among the 20 fire departments in accordance with a formula drafted by the county’s Fire Chiefs Association and previously approved by the BOS.
3. Ten percent of the proceeds will go to the county’s Fire Safe Council.
4. The tax will sunset after 10 years unless re-approved by the voters.
In essence, the Fire Chiefs and Fire Safe Council will be keeping sharp eyes on the money once it’s deposited in the GF to make sure the BOS keeps its “pinky promise” not to spend the money on anything but fire departments and fire safety issues.
I hope this answers your questions.
Feel free to contact me anytime if you have any other questions.
Jim
Hi Jim
Thank you for your response. We are doing well, thank you. Hope you and your family are also well.
I am not comfortable with this tax money going into the General Fund and on a “pinky promise” to be used for fire/emergency services.
I don’t trust our leaders one bit. I trust our Fire Chiefs, but the reality is they have little to no influence (no one does) on the BOS if things go south. And if and when members change on the BOS the new incoming crowd who didn’t pinky swear could go in another direction with the money.
Even when new tax money is put into a special fund, it is misused (Measure B).
I’m just not swayed to vote yes on this measure. Sorry.
I sure appreciate you keeping us well informed of political issues in this county. I know how tiring it must be. I served on the inside for many years and it really took a toll. Trying to always stand for what is right against those who seek to discredit you is exhausting.
So, thank you for your many efforts. You are appreciated!!
Ukiah Resident
Hi D,
I’ve told the Chiefs the burden is on them to make this work. And that it is critical not to conduct themselves as the ineffective Measure B committee has done. I believe they understand. But you’re right, the history is not encouraging on these kinds of deals.
Jim
(Jim Shields is the Mendocino County Observer’s editor and publisher, observer@pacific.net, the long-time district manager of the Laytonville County Water District, and is also chairman of the Laytonville Area Municipal Advisory Council. Listen to his radio program “This and That” every Saturday at noon on KPFN 105.1 FM, also streamed live: http://www.kpfn.org.)
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