NICE >> The Northshore Fire Protection District invites the public to attend a Town Hall meeting this evening to dissect all parts and explain the benefits of Measure E, where voters will have a chance to vote for or against for the April 10 special election.
Voters will have to answer “yes” or “no” on their ballots to one question posed:
“Shall Northshore Fire (NFPD), by Ordinance, repeal the existing special tax for (1996) Lucerne, Nice and Upper Lake Fire, and (2004) Clearlake Oaks Fire, replacing it with a special property tax to be approved by voters to fund the continuation of locally controlled and operated advanced life support ambulance within the NFPD. This would amount to $4.00 per benefit unit per year, and a corresponding increase in the District’s spending limit be approved?”
Results will be announced until after the close of the polls at 8 p.m. on April 10, according to the Lake County Registrar of Voters. If passed, the tax increase is said to go into effect starting July 1and reflect on property tax bills in December 2018 and April 2019.
The question comes after the adoption of Resolution 2017-16 in November of last year. Since then, the Northshore Fire Protection District Board of Directors called for an election to propose the special tax and spending limit increase to registered voters who reside within the listed areas.
The District has said that Measure E would allow for “fire protection and prevention, rescue, emergency medical services and transportation, hazardous material,” and other life and property protection services. More specifically, NFPD said that if the measure passes, communities can benefit as, in some cases, any insurance payment would be accepted as payment in full for any medical emergency responses. Passage would also help staff Upper Lake Fire Station 24.
Some residents within the NFPD have raised several questions on what Measure E will mean to each property owner and those who don’t. Already, NFPD has responded to some questions via its Facebook page, including one asking whether locals would have to pay the tax in addition to the Cal Fire “Fire Prevention Fee.” The District clarified that people would no longer be charged as the fee was suspended on July 1, 2017, through the year 2030 by Gov. Jerry Brown. This means residents could see only a property tax increase, without a state fire tax.
“What would happen if Measure E fails to pass,” has been another question surfacing on social media. NFPD has responded to the popular question on its website, saying reorganizing over the next years would be vital. “This reorganization may include closing stations and or limiting emergency medical services, public assists, and/r various other community services.”
These questions and others will be discussed tonight at 6:30 p.m. at the Aurora RV Park Clubhouse in Nice, located at 2985 Lakeshore Blvd in Upper Lake. At least one more town hall is set to be scheduled before April 10, according to NFPD. The date and time have not yet been released.
