It’s déjà vu all over again, as the Twentynine Palms Water District will hear how San Bernardino County Fire might take over responsibility for fire protection services at a special meeting of the Water District Board 5 p.m. Wednesday, August 5, at the District Offices.
Operations of the local fire department have been funded by a special tax of $80 per parcel. In the summer of 2012, the voters in the Water District rejected an increase to $120 plus annual increases beyond the first year.
In response, the Water District invited County Fire to propose a takeover plan, to which the Water District, with concurrence of the Twentynine Palms City Council, was initially agreeable. But when it became known that the County takeover would not relieve the District of existing pension obligations, some current firefighters would not be offered County jobs, and the County would likely close the Lear station, the District backtracked in November 2012.
Following a projection by Fire Chief Jim Thompson and then-Finance Director Wayne Jones that the District would be able to carry the load (albeit at a reduced level of service), and very vocal public outcry, the District stopped the annexation procedure. The District looked to the City for financial relief, but the City was not receptive. During 2013, a Citizens Advisory Committee, under the tutelage of Chief Thompson, came up with a proposal for a tax increase very much like the one the voters had rejected in 2012. The voters repeated their disapproval.
During 2014, the Water District was informed that the Fire Department would imminently start operating in the red. So the Water District has gone back to where it was three years ago, and has asked the County to offer up a solution.
TWENTYNINE PALMS WATER DISTRICT TO HEAR COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT PLAN: A SPECIAL REPORT
