Letter Writer Explains Financial Benefits from the County for Voting Yes on Measure U

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There is a special fire district tax Measure U on the ballot on March 7th, 2023 for voters who live in the current District and those who live within the boundaries of the proposed expanded district. After years of negotiating with the county and various other steps in the regulatory process we have finally achieved an agreement that will allow the Garberville Fire Protection District to be reimbursed for 70% of the emergency calls they respond to.

Sherwood Forest Motel fire

Part of this will be revenue sharing from the property tax you already pay on your property (approximately .75% or 3/4s of 1%). This would mean the County would pay the Fire District around $202,789.00 every year from the tax you already pay. This amount ends up in the general fund and does not come back to the Fire District now. In order to achieve this, we agreed to put a special Fire District assessment tax on the ballot . Measure U needs a 2/3 supermajority to pass and would cost most people with a single family residence $100.00 each year if they are on a hydrant and $150.00 if they are not on a hydrant. The tax for unimproved property is $25.00 per year. For a full description of the tax rates please go to our web site www.friendsofgfpd.com .The projected amount the District will receive from  special fire assessment tax is $147,550.00 per year.

One way to look at it is that we are being asked to raise funds for our Fire Protection District and the county will match those funds at 125% of the money we add. This is not a typical parcel tax as there is rarely, if ever, an instance when the county kicks in money let alone matching, or in this case, exceeding the money collected.

For those of you who think you are already in the district – chances are you are not. The district now consists of Garberville and the Wallen Ranch area behind Garberville. If you live in Kimtu, Sprowl Creek, near the Airport, up Alderpoint Rd (past Wallen Ranch), Benbow, Reed Mountain or Cooks Valley you are not in a fire district! For more information, please see the maps at the following link  friendsofgfpd.com

There are many reasons You should vote Yes on Measure U – to fund the Fire district, to expand the district so everyone can be better protected, to get tax money we already pay invested back into our community, but most of all because it’s the right thing to do!

Shawn Masterson
Co-Chair
707-223-2100
[email protected]