Albion-Little River Fire Protection District Special Parcel Tax, Measure M (November 2014)
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An Albion-Little River Fire Protection District Special Parcel Tax, Measure M ballot question was on the November 4, 2014 election ballot for voters in the Albion-Little River Fire Protection District in Mendocino County, California. It was approved.
Upon approval, Measure M authorized the district to replace its $40 per unit parcel tax with a tax of $75 per unit, amounting to an increase of $35 per unit or 87.5 percent. The measure was also designed to increase the district's appropriations limit by an amount equal to the revenue collected by the tax, allowing the district to legally spend all the additional revenue collected.[1]
The following list shows unit equivalency for different property types:[1]
Type of Property --- Number of Units
- Residential parcel --- Unimproved = 1 unit: Improved = 2 units
- Institutional and Misc. --- 3 units per Improved Parcel
- Rental stores, Office, Wholesale, Outlets, Nursery, Light Manufacturing --- 3 units
- Restaurants --- 6 units
- Hotels --- 2 units + 1/2 unit per Room
- Trailer Parks & Modular Homes --- 2 units + 1 unit per Residence
- Nonresidential - Timber Production, Forest Land, Range Land --- 30 Acres = 1 unit
Election results
| Mendocino County Measure M | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
 Yes | 693 | 82.60% | ||
| No | 146 | 17.40% | ||
Election results via: Mendocino County Elections Office
Text of measure
Ballot question
The question on the ballot appeared as:[2]
| “ |
Shall the Albion-Little River Fire Protection District, by Ordinance, (1) Repeal the existing special tax of $40.00 per unit, (2) Replacing it with a special tax not to exceed $75.00 per unit, this special tax shall be used to maintain and improve fire protection, suppression activities, prevention, and to acquire and maintain equipment or apparatus, and to increase our medical and rescue services, (3) Increase the appropriations limit by the increase of revenue by the tax? (quote) |
” |
Impartial analysis
The following impartial analysis was prepared for Measure M:[1]
| “ |
Pursuant to Government Code Section 53978, the Albion-Little River Fire Protection District has adopted an ordinance imposing a special tax increase upon the following class of improvements or use as described below and set forth in Ordinance No. 04-09- 14. The Special Fire and Rescue Tax is based on a maximum of $75.00 per unit. A unit is defined as a billable measure. The Schedule of Parcel Units is set forth below: Type of Property --- Number of Units
Properties with more than one usage will be taxed at the cumulative number of applicable units. The Board will assign unit values to new usage codes as required. A two-thirds (2/3) vote was required for the approval of the increase in special tax prior to becoming effective. The revenue generated by the special tax is to be used to maintain and improve the current level of fire protection, prevention, suppression, emergency medical, hazardous materials response, and search & rescue services. In addition, the increase will be used toward procurement, equipping, operating and maintaining equipment, and for the purpose of paying salaries of personnel or any related services. If passed, the tax will become effective concurrent with the 2015/16 Property Tax billing cycle. A “YES” vote will authorize the increase of the special tax for each class of improvement or use as depicted in Ordinance No. 149. A “NO” vote will disallow the special tax increase. (quote) |
” |
| —Douglas L. Losak, Acting Mendocino County Counsel[1] | ||
Support
Supporters
A campaign group called Citizens for Yes on Measure M was started to support the tax.[3]
The following individuals signed the official arguments in favor of Measure M:[1]
- Ted R. Williams, chief of Albion Little River Fire Protection District
- Chris Skyhawk, board member of Albion Little River Fire Protection District
Arguments in favor
The following was submitted as the official arguments in favor of Measure M:[1]
| “ |
As a 100% volunteer fire department, your neighbors in the Albion Little River Fire Protection District donate their time to train and respond to over two hundred incidents per year. The present special assessment was enacted by voters in 2002. Since then, inflation has substantially reduced our buying power. Current revenue is a fraction of what many paid departments allocate for one single career firefighter and this money is spread thin to cover all aspects of fire response including engines, water trucks, rescue vehicles, medical supplies, hazmat equipment, station maintenance, training, fire science classes, fuel, insurance, hose, ladders, personal protective equipment, radios, pagers, auto extrication tools and water supply. We currently maintain stations on three ridges in five locations, which assists district residents with emergency protection and helps property owners acquire fire insurance. Studying Albion Little River, the June 28, 2005 Grand Jury stated “The portion of property taxes allotted to rural fire districts has not increased since 1956, although the cost of district operations continues to rise.” The most important responsibility of a fire-rescue department is to be prepared for a response of any type at any time. Without passage of Measure M, we will have to make painful decisions; it will not be possible to maintain present capabilities, further increasing the contrast of available services and reliability across district lines. Measure M would assess (presently exempt) non-residential timber and range land and increase total revenue to approximately $258,000, placing superior tools in the hands of first responders and offering greater protection for residents. When weighing the added tax burden, residents should contemplate what types of resources they want available to their families should they call 911. We’re calling on you so you can call on us: Vote Yes on Measure M.[4] |
” |
| —Ted R. Williams and Chris Skyhawk[1] | ||
Opposition
No official arguments in opposition to Measure M were submitted. If you have an argument you would like to see posted here, please email the Local Ballot Measures Project staff writer.
See also
- Parcel tax
- Parcel tax elections in California
- California parcel tax on the ballot
- Mendocino County, California ballot measures
- November 4, 2014 ballot measures in California
External links
- Mendocino County Elections office website
- Citizens for Yes on Measure M website, accessed October 9, 2014
Additional reading
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Mendocino County Elections Office website, "Ballot Information for Measure M," accessed October 8, 2014
- ↑ Mendocino County Elections Office website, "List of Candidates and measures," archived October 9, 2014
- ↑ Citizens for Yes on Measure M website, accessed October 9, 2014
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
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