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Extracted from Consolidated Report
This investigation was originally published as part of a larger consolidated report containing multiple investigations. View the consolidated PDF for the complete document.
⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings 16 findings
F1
Page 98
The public is immensely grateful to their firefighters, but is largely unaware of or underappreciates the economic constraints, understaffing, and other obstacles affecting provision of their fire-rescue functions.
F2
Page 98
The services these FPDs provide are insufficiently funded by the existing parcel taxes, though the districts that have recently passed new rates are in better shape than those that have not.
F3
Page 98
The “units of benefit” language and variable parcel-tax calculations on the ballot measures are confusing to many voters.
F4
Page 98
The parcel-tax rates are inconsistent across even comparable FPDs, while the services rendered are universal.
F5
Page 98
Suspension of the “State” fire tax bears reiteration by the FPDs that will be seeking new parcel taxes, as many property owners think it is still in effect.
F6
Page 98
The financial benefits of newly-enacted parcel tax rates are not immediate, thus the districts are unable to immediately restore reduced services, which the public also needs to understand.
F7
Page 98
COLAs have not been built-into all of the FPD parcel tax measures.
F8
Page 98
Fire mitigation efforts keep bumping into State CEQA regulations and are thereby restricted.
F9
Page 98
Available state, federal, and non-profit monies often have matching- grant requirements, so the funds are not “free.”
F10
Page 98
All of the FPDs are seeking the same pot of grant funding, and competition for funding favors large districts in urban areas.
F11
Page 98
Not all of the six FPDs have elected BODs.
F12
Page 98
Budgetary constraints in some districts have resulted in inadequate PPEs supplied to its district firefighters or volunteers. 2018-2019 Lake County, California Civil Grand Jury Final Report 97
F13
Page 99
FPDs outside of Lake County have begun augmenting their ambulance bills with “pre-stabilization fees” that would be the equivalent of “professional fees” in medical billing.
F14
Page 99
Not all FPDs have any formal relationship with the tribes in their districts.
F15
Page 99
The annual budget for the Lake Pillsbury FPD is reduced in part because the District can neither bill for ambulance service nor derive property-tax income from all of its potentially taxable properties.
F16
Page 99
The Lake Pillsbury FPD was not included in the Lake County Community Risk Reduction Authority JPA. RECOMMENDATIONS:
Recommendations 10
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R1Page 99Long range, the five districts ringing Clear Lake would benefit from developing greater coordination and assessing whether consolidation and regionalization of fire and rescue services in the County would offer greater efficiencies. (F-1, F-2, F-6, F-9, F-10, F-12)
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R2Page 99Proposal of flat-rate parcel taxes would be less confusing to voters than the current “units of benefit” calculations. (F-3, F-4)
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R3Page 99The districts with resident tribal governments should try to establish Memoranda of Understanding regarding adherence to County fire codes, vegetation mitigation, and training of volunteer firefighters. (F-14)
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R4Page 99As all of the FPDs work for the people in their district, the voters should be able to elect their BODs. (F-11)
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R5Page 99The PPEs provided to volunteer and paid firefighters should be the same and should meet current safety standards. (F-12)
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R6Page 99Lake Pillsbury FPD should investigate whether qualifying to bill for ambulance services is realistic and/or feasible. (F-15)
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R7Page 99The FPDs should evaluate whether adding “pre-stabilization fees” to their ambulance billing would increase revenue. (F-13)
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R8Page 99The Lake County Assessor/Recorder and Treasurer/Tax Collector should work closely with the Lake Pillsbury FPD to determine the total number of 2018-2019 Lake County, California Civil Grand Jury Final Report 98 taxable properties, with a view toward actively assisting the District with a new parcel-tax measure. (F-15)
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R9Page 100The Lake County Board of Supervisors should consider incorporating Lake Pillsbury FPD into its Risk Reduction Authority JPA along with the other five FPDs.
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R10Page 100The 2019-2020 Grand Jury should follow up with all six FPDs to assess their fiscal health and progress toward internal goals. (F-1 through F-16) RESPONSES: Pursuant to Penal Codes sec.933(c), the following response(s) are required: Lake County Board of Supervisors (R-9) (90 days) Lake County Assessor/Recorder (R-8) – 60 days Lake County Assessor/Tax Collector – (R-2, R-8) – 60 days The following response(s) are invited: Kelseyville FPD Board of Directors (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-5, R-7) – 60 days Lake County FPD Board of Supervisors (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-5, R-7) – 60 days Lake Pillsbury FPD Board of Supervisors (R-2, R-5, R-6, R-8, R-9) – 60 days Lakeport FPD Board of Supervisors (R-1 through R-5, R-7) – 60 days Northshore FPD Board of Supervisors (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-5, R-7) – 60 days South Lake County FPD Board of Supervisors (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-5, R-7) – 60 days 2018-2019 Lake County, California Civil Grand Jury Final Report 99 Exhibit 1 2018-2019 Lake County, California Civil Grand Jury Final Report 100 Exhibit 2 2018-2019 Lake County, California Civil Grand Jury Final Report 101 Exhibit 3 Lakeport Fire District Measure M Facts Why is measure M necessary for the Fire District and my safety? Measure M will restore firefighting and emergency response staffing to safe and adequate levels to the city and unincorporated areas of Lakeport through a parcel tax increase necessary for providing essential emergency services to the community. When was the last time the fire district had a tax increase? The tax was first created and passed by voters in March 1997. In the 22 years since its inception, there has never been an increase. In 2018, the district responded to over 3000 emergency calls, which is over 3 times the amount of the 938 calls in 1997, the year the current tax was approved. How will the community benefit if voters pass measure M? If Measure M passes, funding will allow the hiring of recently laid off firefighters/paramedic personnel restoring safety and critical emergency services the community deserves. Full staffing will result in reduced response times, saving lives and property. What happens if Measure M does not pass? Critical emergency and medical response times will be delayed during multiple emergencies. ISO (Insurance Services Office) ratings will rise due to inadequate staffing. The ISO creates ratings for fire departments and their surrounding communities. The ratings calculate how well-equipped fire departments are to put out fires in the community. In 2020, the ISO will be assessing the Lakeport Fire District. At the current staffing, homeowners and business owners' insurance rates will be increased, if not denied. What percentage of votes is required to pass Measure M? The measure must receive a 66.7% YES vote to pass. What is a unit of benefit, and how much will the total tax cost me? Units of benefit, or benefit units, are used to "rate" the benefit a particular parcel receives from having fire protection and emergency medical service from the Lakeport Fire Protection District. As such, developed property receives more benefit, and this has more units assigned than underdeveloped property. The proposed Unit of Benefit 2018-2019 Lake County, California Civil Grand Jury Final Report 102 cost will be $6.14 per Unit of Benefit. See the following tables for the Total Tax Yearly Costs. RESIDENTIAL YEARLY COST Single Family Home 30 units per home $184.20/year Mobile Home 30 units per mobile $184.20/year Duplex 30 units per living unit $184.20/year Multi-Family or Apartments 15 units per living unit $92.10/year VACANT LAND YEARLY COST Vacant 0-5 Acres 10 units per parcel $61.40/year 5.01-10 Acres 15 units per parcel $92.10/year 10+ Acres 20 units per parcel $122.80/year COMMERCIAL/INDUSTRIAL/INSTITUTIONAL YEARLY COST 0-999 Building Sq. Ft. Units $307.00/year 1,000 - 4,999 Building Sq. Ft. Units 2018-2019 Lake County, California Civil Grand Jury Final Report 103 $429.80/year 5,000 - 9,000 Building Sq. Ft. Units $614.00/year 10,000+ Building Sq. Ft. Units $921.00/year IN ADDITION TO THE ABOVE UNITS, THE FOLLOWING EXTRA UNITS APPLY TO COMMERCIAL/INDUSTRIAL/INSTITUTIONAL PROPERTIES YEARLY COST More than one business in a building 75 Units per additional business $460.50/year Live Fire radio traffic. UPCOMING EVENTS 7/3: EMS Drill 7/9: District Board Meeting 7/9: District Volunteer Training 7/16: District Volunteer Training 7/16: District Volunteer Training 445 N. Main St., Lakeport, Ca. 95453 lakeportfire@lakeportfire.com Phone (707) 263-4396 Fax (707) 262-1283 Employee Webmail Login Copyright 2019 Lakeport Fire District. All Rights Reserved. Custom Web Site Development by BitSculptor. 2018-2019 Lake County, California Civil Grand Jury Final Report 104 Exhibit 4 2018-2019 Lake County, California Civil Grand Jury Final Report 105 Exhibit 5 2018-2019 Lake County, California Civil Grand Jury Final Report 106 2018-2019 Lake County, California Civil Grand Jury Final Report 107 Exhibit 6 2018-2019 Lake County, California Civil Grand Jury Final Report 108 1914 Seagrave Old NO. 2 2018-2019 Lake County, California Civil Grand Jury Final Report 109 Lake Pillsbury FPD 2018-2019 Lake County, California Civil Grand Jury Final Report 110