Placer County District 3 Newsletter

August 2017

The chances are pretty good that you have heard me talk about the importance of working together to build self-sustaining local fire districts, and just last month the Penryn community took a major step toward doing just that. The Penryn Fire Protection District was facing some incredibly difficult choices, including the possibility of shuttering its doors, if a steady and sufficient funding source could not be identified. In an effort to reverse course and address these issues the Penryn Fire Protection District directors voted back in March to approve an all-mail ballot measure, Measure A, that would be sent to voters asking them to approve the creation of a new fire tax of $240 a year.

Once the board approved moving ahead with the ballot measure the community got to work. The Friends of Penryn organization made fliers and banners alerting the community of the importance of passing this measure. Diligent volunteers worked tirelessly to answer questions from their neighbors, write opinion pieces for the local newspapers, and hold fundraisers to help cover the cost of these efforts. The time, effort and hard work people put into this critical effort was impressive, to say the very least.

 People with different backgrounds who held different beliefs and had different priorities came together in agreement on the importance of passing this measure and protecting their local fire district. Penryn Fire District board members, staff and emergency personnel put their faith and their fate in the hands of the voters, realizing that very hard choices would need to be made if the measure did not pass. The mail-in ballots for Measure A were sent out in early June and then it was a waiting game, as the votes would not be counted until mid-July. Those who worked so hard on getting the word out about the measure were hopeful that Measure A would get the 2/3 voter approval required by law.

 In the end, the community saw the value of protecting its fire district. At final tally, Measure A passed by just over 78 percent of voters. Not only did the passage of Measure A provide the funding needed, it also made it very clear that the Penryn community values its local fire district. Funds from Measure A will help the Penryn Fire District to continue to build a stable workforce and repair and replace outdated equipment, ensuring the safety of emergency personnel and the people they serve. The community can take comfort in knowing there will not be major cuts to fire service, there will not be increased response times, and most importantly, that the Penryn Fire District will grow stronger thanks to their support. And here is a little more good news, although Measure A will add $240 to Penryn property tax bills annually, the repeal of the State Responsibility Area Fire Fee saves Penryn property owners $117 each year.

Thank you,

Jim Holmes
Placer County Supervisor, District 3 

Questions or Comments?
Email District 3 Aide, Beverly Roberts at: broberts@placer.ca.gov               

www.placer.ca.gov