Lake Valley Fire Protection District Special Parcel Tax, Measure H (November 2014)

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A Lake Valley Fire Protection District Special Parcel Tax, Measure H ballot question was on the November 4, 2014 election ballot for voters in the Lake Valley Fire Protection District in El Dorado County, California. It was defeated.

If approved, Measure H would have authorized the district to replace its current benefit assessment of $10 per vacant lot, $20 per residential lot and $40 per commercial lot with a special parcel tax of $120 per parcel for each plot of land that receives a separate tax bill from the county.

A two-thirds (66.67%) vote was required for the approval of Measure H.

Election results

Lake Valley Fire District Measure H
Result		Votes	Percentage
d No		1,841	65.56%
Yes		967	34.44%

Election results via: El Dorado County Elections Office

Text of measure

Ballot question

The question on the ballot:

“

To fund wildfire suppression and prevention programs, the Angora Peak Fire Crew, and facilities and equipment repair and replacement, and to replace the existing Measure M special tax, shall an annual special tax of $120.00 per parcel (with annual inflation adjustment not to exceed 3%) be levied in the Lake Valley Fire Protection District, with the Board of Directors empowered to reduce the tax rate in any year if the maximum rate is not necessary?

”

Impartial analysis

The following impartial analysis was prepared for Measure H:

“	This measure, if approved by 2/3 of the voters voting on the measure by mailed ballot election, would authorize a special tax on parcels of real property in the Lake Valley Fire Protection District to be used for the costs of funding wildfire prevention and suppression programs, the Angora Peak Fire Crew, and facilities and equipment repair and replacement, within the Lake Valley Fire Protection District. This special tax would be in the amount of a maximum of $120 per year per parcel of land located within the boundaries of Lake Valley Fire Protection District in fiscal years 2015/2016 and with automatic increases in each subsequent year up to a maximum amount "in proportion to the increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI), San Francisco Bay area for all urban consumers, most recently available prior to the date of the increase, provided, however, that this increase shall not exceed three percent (3%) in any year." And " if the Board of Directors determines that collection of the then-current maximum rate will not be necessary to fund programs of the District in any fiscal year, the Board of Directors may, by resolution adopted prior to August 10 of that fiscal year levy the tax less than the full maximum rate. Any such reduction shall not affect the maximum rate for purposes of calculating the next year's maximum rate." This special tax would replace an existing benefit assessment of $10 per vacant lot, $20 per residential lot and $40 per commercial lot, located within the Lake Valley Fire Protection District. The special tax will be listed as a separate item on the county property tax bill for each affected parcel of land, and will be collected in the same way as the general property tax. All laws applicable to the levy, collection, and enforcement of county property taxes, including the provisions for penalties and the procedures for sale of the property in case of delinquency, shall also apply to the special tax. State law requires the proceeds from the special tax be applied only to the identified purposes, and that an annual report be made indicating the amount of funds collected and expended and the status of any project required or authorized to be funded by the proceeds. This measure requires an affirmative vote of 2/3 or more of all voters voting on the measure in order to pass. The measure was placed on the ballot by the Board of Supervisors of the County of El Dorado, following a recommendation by the zone advisory committee. A "YES" vote is a vote to authorize the special tax provided in the measure. A "NO" vote is a vote against the special tax provided in the measure.	”
—Edward L. Knapp El Dorado County Counsel

Support

Supporters

Yes on H campaign image

The following individuals signed the official arguments in favor of Measure H:

• Dave Huber, chair of L.V.F.P.D.
• Martin Goldberg, vice president of the Lake Valley Professional Firefighter's Association

Arguments in favor

The following was submitted as the official arguments in favor of Measure H:

“	Vote YES on Measure H. Prepare for wildfire. Grant funding for the Lake Valley Fire Protection District's wildfire prevention programs is about to run out, at a time when efforts to protect the community from catastrophic wildfire are more important than ever before. Experts agree, there will be another fire like the Angora Fire. Preparing for fire saves lives, homes, and resources. For $120 per parcel per year, the Lake Valley Fire Protection District will not need to rely solely on diminishing grant funding opportunities to maintain current programs and equipment. This funding will be earmarked for the following categories: (i) wildfire prevention and suppression programs (ii) the Angora Peak Fire Crew (iii) facilities and equipment repair and replacement Measure H funds specific programs including defensible space evaluations, tree marking, curbside chipping, and fire hazard reduction. Measure H also supports rebates for protection efforts such as tree removal, lot clearing, and wood shake roof replacement. A YES vote for Measure H replaces Measure M from 1986, an obsolete measure which collects up to $40 per parcel per year. The Lake Valley Fire Protection District's Board of Directors is fiscally conservative. If the Board of Directors determines that collection of the full amount of Measure H will not be necessary to fund the above mentioned programs in any fiscal year, the Board of Directors may reduce the tax amount levied. It is the desire of the Board to do this whenever feasible. The Lake Valley Fire Protection District's programs and services benefit everyone, protecting our citizens, our homes and our way of life in the Lake Tahoe Basin. A YES vote for Measure H is a vote for protecting our community now and in the future. Please join us in protecting our community. Vote YES on Measure H.	”
—Dave Huber, chair of L.V.F.P.D., and Martin Goldberg, vice president of the Lake Valley Professional Firefighter's Association

Opposition

No official arguments were submitted in opposition to Measure H. 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
• California parcel tax on the ballot
• Parcel tax elections in California
• El Dorado County, California ballot measures
• November 4, 2014 ballot measures in California

External links

Suggest a link

• El Dorado County Elections Office website

Support

• Lake Valley Fire District website, "Measure H information page," accessed October 17, 2014
• Yes on H facebook page, accessed October 17, 2014