HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 12062011 - FPD SD.3RECOMMENDATION(S):
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Fire Chief of the Contra Costa County Fire Protection
District to execute a professional services contract with Tramutola, LLC to provide public
outreach and education consultation regarding a possible parcel tax measure for the period
of December 1, 2011, through August 12, 2012.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Consulting fees will be paid out of the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District’s
general operating fund. The contract limit is $115,000. Based on an earlier parcel tax
survey, conducted in December 2010, a successful measure can be expected to generate new
revenue between $12.5 million and $16.5 million per year at the highest rate tested and
between $8.2 million and $10.9 million per year at the lowest rate tested.
APPROVE OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY
ADMINISTRATOR
RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD
COMMITTEE
Action of Board On: 12/06/2011 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER
Clerks Notes:
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
AYE:John Gioia, Director
Gayle B. Uilkema, Chair
Mary N. Piepho, Director
Karen Mitchoff, Director
Federal D. Glover, Director
Contact: Jackie
Lorrekovich, 925-941-3312
I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on
the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: December 6, 2011
David Twa, County Administrator and Clerk of the Board of
Supervisors
By: June McHuen, Deputy
cc:
SD. 3
To:Contra Costa County Fire Protection District Board of Directors
From:Daryl L. Louder, Chief, Contra Costa County Fire Protection District
Date:December 6, 2011
Contra
Costa
County
Subject:Professional Services Contract with Tramutola, LLC
FISCAL IMPACT: (CONT'D)
BACKGROUND:
Like many fire districts in the State, the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District
(District) is heavily dependent on property tax revenues to fund its operations. With the
economic recession and associated steep decline in the housing market, the funding the
District has traditionally relied upon for providing emergency response services has
declined significantly. In response to the worsening financial conditions, the District has
enacted a number of measures to cut costs and improve efficiencies, including de-staffing a
fire company, reducing salaries and benefits, eliminating positions, reducing discretionary
spending in all areas, deferring capital purchases, improvements and maintenance, and
eliminating select programs. Despite these efforts, the District is still projecting a
multi-million dollar shortfall for fiscal year 2011-12 as well as ongoing deficits in future
years. Without dramatic cuts to programs and service levels and/or securing additional
revenues, the District will deplete its entire reserve fund in fiscal year 2012-13.
At the September 28, 2010, Board of Supervisors meeting, the Board recommended that the
District consider revenue enhancements, including a parcel tax. In December 2010, a parcel
tax survey was administered to voters in the District. The results of the survey indicated that
a parcel tax has a good chance of success if placed on the ballot during a high turnout
election and accompanied by well-organized, effective public outreach.
Public outreach is intended to educate District property owners and voters regarding the
purpose of a parcel tax measure, including the current financial situation and challenges and
the future use of funds from a successful tax measure. State law allows District officials and
employees to provide information and analyses to help voters determine the impacts of such
a measure. Using a professional services consultant with tax election expertise will assist
the District in developing an effective messaging platform to deliver the above-referenced
information to the voters who currently benefit from District services and may be impacted
by future service level reductions.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
The District and the residents in the District’s service area will not benefit from the
consultant’s expertise.
CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT:
Not Applicable