SRA Fire Fee Debate

Here is a clip of a debate between an Diego County Supervisor Dianne Jacob and State Senator Christine Kehoeon on the SRA Fire Fee.  

Supervisor Jacob, Senator Kehoe Battle It Out Over Fire Fee 

A few points:  

At one point the good Supervisor says that San Diego County has a unique relationship with Cal Fire because they contract services from Cal Fire.  I would disagree Placer County has a similar relationship with Cal Fire for much of its unincorporated area.  It is probably safe to assume that other counties do as well.  

Toward the end the good Senator talks about mutual aide.  Nothing will hamper mutual aid more than this SRA Fee..  Across the state cash strapped local districts are asking for local fees.  Those requests are being turned down by voters at alarming levels.  Voters are already looking at the state fee and saying enough is enough.  According my conversations with local Fire Agency leaders most departments will send no more than one third of their resources for mutual aid.  Without additional funding these local agencies will be cutting back on engine crews.  This will seriously reduce the amount of personnel and equipment available for mutual aide.

One other thing not addressed that should have been when the good Senator said that the tax was fair.  All of these unincorporated areas surround the cities.  Fire prevention measures that protect a rural landowner outside the city will also protect a city but only land owner outside city limits will pay a fee.  How is it fair to tax one landowner for fire prevention that will those may live inside the city limits often just across the street. 

Election time is coming up.  If your representative voted for this fee, I would suggest that you vote for someone else.