Forestville Fire Protection District asks voters to raise property taxes

From the Press Democrat:

By BOB NORBERG

Published: Thursday, July 29, 2010 at 4:39 p.m.
Last Modified: Thursday, July 29, 2010 at 4:39 p.m.

The Forestville Fire Protection District will be asking voters in November to approve a $75 parcel tax to cover budget shortfalls, purchase new equipment and repair its station.

The tax would be levied on any parcel with a home or business, but not on bare land, according to Fire Chief Dan Northern.
The district, which covers 25 square miles, has six full-time firefighters and 31 volunteers.
The annual budget this past year was $1.1 million, with a shortfall of $25,000.
Northern, who was reduced to half-time in a cost-cutting measure this month, said the budget for the 2010-2011 year is expected to be slightly more.
The parcel tax would raise $198,000. It requires a two-thirds vote for approval.
It would be in addition to the existing parcel tax, which raises $128,000 a year. Under that tax, a homeowner pays $40 a year.
The district generates most of its revenues from property taxes, which total almost $870,000.