LOS ANGELES – The Board of Supervisors agreed Tuesday to place a parcel tax on the March ballot that would provide funding for more staffing and upgraded equipment for the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
Fire Chief Daryl Osby, who has held that job for nearly nine years, said calls for emergency medical assistance have jumped by more than 50% since 2008, while the number of paramedic units has increased by only 5%.
“We have not asked for anything in over 23 years,” Osby told the board. “I come here as a last resort to ask for your support.”
Supervisors Janice Hahn and Kathryn Barger co-authored the motion to put the 6-cents-per-square-foot parcel tax on the March 3, 2020, ballot, pointing to a May 2018 assessment showing that the fire department is underfunded and underresourced. [View the motion here.]
“It showed that our fire district needs at least $1.4 billion just to upgrade and replace (equipment and technology),” Hahn said.
The parcel tax, which requires approval from two-thirds of voters and would exempt low-income seniors, is estimated to raise $134 million annually. The tax rate would increase by up to 2% annually, and would remain in place permanently unless revoked by voters, according to county documents.
Some of the department’s fire engines and rescue vehicles are 20 years old and frequently break down, leaving firefighters and paramedics to devise a short-term solution or go out of service, officials said.
More firefighters are also urgently needed, Hahn and Osby said. The department falls short of national staffing standards and is being called to manage more demanding, more dangerous wildfires.
“We cannot relay on mutual aid … it’s up to us,” Osby said.
Firefighters shared stories of being called away from their families for unscheduled shifts and spending the day running from one terrible trauma to another, from fires to gunshot wounds to trying to save a child’s life.
“We are facing campaign fires several times a year that cannot be fought by humans alone,” firefighter-paramedic Erin Regan told the board, calling for more and better firefighting equipment. “When you call 911, you know that help is coming, but for us, there’s no help … this is our 911 call.”
Osby was emotional as he talked about the strain that understaffing has had on first responders.
“I’ve lost track of the number of funerals I’ve spoken at,” Osby said, guessing it had been more than 50.
He mentioned seven suicides in the department, and International Association of Fire Fighters Local 1014 President Dave Gillotte told the board more firefighters have lost their lives to suicide than in fires in recent years.
Supervisor Sheila Kuehl said she wasn’t sure that the average resident understands the fire department staffs all paramedic units, and that firefighters fill both roles. More than 80% of calls to the department are for medical assistance.
Kuehl said the Woolsey Fire highlighted the grueling work of firefighters “who were there for so long and did so much.”
However, Kuehl said the decision to institute a parcel tax was “not in any way knee-jerk” in response to a single incident, but “evidence-based, fact-based.”
The president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association told City News Service he thought it would be tough to pass the ballot measure, which he characterized as a “very unnecessary tax” given that the county’s property tax revenues are already up by more than 6%.
“Voters are getting pretty tired,” Jon Coupal said, pointing to high state income tax, sales tax and gas tax rates. “Even though this involves public safety … I think voters are going to look at this very skeptically.”
The county’s tax roll grew by $94.4 billion in 2019, raising nearly $1 billion for services throughout Los Angeles County, with a portion going to various county programs and the balance distributed to cities, schools and services such as health care, education, mental-health care, public safety and transportation, according to the county assessor’s office.
Coupal predicted that the county would “run into a buzzsaw” when it comes to business owners with big parcels, saying they would “be very motivated to defeat this.”
In addition to the 2018 assessment by a finance and infrastructure expert, the county has undertaken 6,000 community surveys and made 130 presentations to community groups about the proposed tax, according to Hahn.
However, previous county tax proposals — for parks, stormwater projects, and to fight homelessness, for example — have typically been debated before the board multiple times before gaining approval.
The board’s vote was 4-0, with Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas absent to attend a state Assembly Select Committee meeting on homelessness in skid row.
Barger seemed to anticipate some push-back on the tax proposal.
“For any critics that say this has been done in the dead of night, I beg to differ,” Barger said, before calling on voters to “vote your conscience, vote your heart.”
UPDATE: An earlier version of this story stated that roughly $1 billion from an increase in the county’s 2019 tax roll goes to county programs, but the assessor’s office states that only a portion of that money goes to county programs, with the balance distributed to cities, schools and other services. The story has been updated with the clarification.
Michael L says
Good luck trusting the vote now that Los Angeles County is going to ‘Black Box’ Paperless voting. See the link below.
Is this the product of the County Supervisors?
https://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2019/11/los-angeles-county-to-intoduce-vsap-e-voting-system-not-hand-marked-not-paper-not-hand-counted-in-public.html
Alby says
Have wildfires become more technologically advanced in recent decades? Why cant they get a part time job when they’re not fighting fires instead of durkin around in their dorms and feeding their premadonna egos with suicidal bromance. That way they can all put together their savings to pay their own “parcel tax”, buy the equipment they desire and quit bleeding hard working tax payers dry. Or why cant they use the funds that pay for award ceremonies to go to their “parcel tax”. Its a job like any other job. Mechanics are in need of better tools but wheres the tax money to help them do their job better? Alot of struggling tax paying companies can use a damn break but we’re stuck feeding the fat premadonna big brother machine thats bound to chew us up and spit us out. there are far more hard working civilians than there are law enforcement, fire fighters, paramedics and politicians combined. Wouldnt it be nice for everyone to make a political wall and say “ENOUGH IS ENOUGH” and stand behind our 2nd ammendment right so we can keep these aspiring kings of England and pinkos off our backs.
Robert says
Nope. Vote “NO”. We are taxed enough. Do most of you here in the AV realize that many of us pay more tax than someone with a $700,000 home in the better parts of the San Fernando Valley?
It’s real. Until the playing field is leveled, I will vote NO on any Tax or Bond issue.
Parcel Tax says
Pensions!
tsparky says
According to the LA Times, “The parcel tax would collect 6 cents per square foot of ‘improvements’ — assessable buildings and other structures”. I’m not sure if that means your total square footage for a 2 story house or just the square footage of the building footprint. So if you have a 2000 sq ft single story house on 10 acres the tax starts at $120.
Vic Conklin says
With the hundreds with payroll plus benefits totaling between $300,000 and $500,00 alone not counting those over $500,000 or under $300,000 the payroll in ENORMOUS, Just 855 Fire Captains cost the county in excess of $250 million a year. CUT THE WASTE. The upper crust in the county are cleaning our clock in pay and benefits.
Pensioner says
Cut those ridiculous pensions to something more in line with other public agencies and I will consider voting for it. Until then, not a single penny more.
Kay says
I will NOT vote for one more tax increase! Raise taxes, raise taxes, raise taxes—-that’s all the working Californians face in this state. Unless things change, the only people who will call California “home” will be the filthy rich, the poor, and illegal aliens.
Stinger says
I don’t believe there are many people in our community who would withhold needed equipment (or just about anything else) that our firefighters need to do their jobs. That’s pretty much a no-brainer. If LACoFD needs upgrades to their operational capabilities, then they should be given whatever they legitimately need.
That said, however, I do not believe that Barger’s call for voters to “vote your conscience, vote your heart,” is gonna fly in this case. Voters are far more likely to make their decision on this vote with the advice of their heads.. and their pocketbooks. As the county has seen such increases in available income, it is a reasonable argument that the Board should have already been allocating some of the windfall into basic community resources (y’know, like the fire department?), making for a very uphill argument for the ‘yes’ vote on this by homeowners.
As much as we all want, indeed need, for the LACoFD to be properly funded for their equipment upgrades, this may not fly as the funding apparatus to do so.
Patricia Serrano says
Instead of welcoming refugees and using county money to fight ICE and the Trump Administration, maybe they should use the money for the services that we all pay for?
The county cannot keep mismanaging the money we pay them. Why don’t they apply for a federal grant to get money for new equipment?
I’m a moderate Democrat myself and I’m willing to pay taxes when it’s reasonable, but enough is enough!
It’s absolutely ridiculous.
9Seven3Five says
The money given to refugees is Federal money… Not state not county…
And the county refusing to cooperate with ICE (meaning refusing to hold subjects (i.e. house, feed and offer medical care to subjects that are wanted by ICE until such a time that ICE can take them into custody)) actually saves the county money, not the other way around.
AV'er in Idaho says
Wrong. It is taxpayer money.
9Seven3Five says
OK, so don’t vote your conscience, don’t vote your heart… Instead, vote for those emergency services that you might possibly need at a moment in time when you don’t get a full page comment section to make your case.
Unless and until you know full well that you are fully prepared to manage to handle an emergency on your own and without any outside support, a “no” vote is akin to cutting your nose off to spite tour face.
MAD AS HELL!!!!! says
These people are out of their damn minds! First rent control which is unconstitutional! And now raising the taxes on a acre of land $2,613.60 a year! Something very, very wrong with this picture! Socialist pukes!
no tax says
While this does sound like a politician thought this up while sitting on the toilet! The comments about firefighters just sitting around all day is [removed]!! When the medic’s come to revive you when your heart stops make sure you tell them that you think they are not worth what they get paid!! Then pull your head out of your [removed]!! Sounds like you boys are jealous that you didn’t get hired by the FD! The tax is [removed]! Like usual, they need to manage the budget better! They have a set program for replacing engines, squads, etc. Vote NO!!!
Eric says
The truth hurts, my friends are LA county fire. After a few drinks the truth comes out, majority of the time is kicking back having a good time. When a big fire starts they all laugh about what boat or motor home they will buy with the unlimited overtime.
SuzAnne says
Save it !
Firefighters are grossly overpaid for the work they (don’t) do. And, trust me, we all know about the nepotism that goes on at all levels of the county fire department.
It isn’t like the deck is stacked very fair, to begin with.
Nobody here is “jealous” of you, so take the sock out of your pants : /
Vic Conklin says
Another never ending tax for living in California. Sadly the voters they depend to pass this are not property owners, they are folks who thing that because you worked hard and managed to buy a home you deserve to pay more for the privilage.
Art F. says
Remember Prop. 13 (1978)? This parcel tax circumvents Prop. 13.
Sick politicians says
To hell with every politician from the bottom up your bunch of useless raunchy asked pigs use your own goddamn money to support everybody else along with the immigrants
Rex Larson says
There is a lot of fat in the latest County budget and Los Angeles County Fire has a budget of $1.2 billion itself. Don’t believe the hype that is a lot of money and firefighters have so many perks and benefits it ‘s pathetic. LA County is fiscally irresponsible and wants voters to pay for what it should pay itself. Look at this budget and you’ll see all the BS voters have to pay for these firefighters already like $87,558,000 for Cafeteria Benefit Plans. Forget that nonsense. VOTE NO ON THIS TAX INCREASE! Make the county come up with this money! THIS TAX IS BS DON”T FALL FOR THE SOB STORY! VOTE NO!
Matt says
Why did the fire district wait 23 years to ask for updated equipment? LA supervisors need to be voted out. Six cents-per-square-foot is a significant increase in property taxes. Never, ever, vote for any increase taxes what so ever!
tired of the BS says
take it from the gas tax fund….as far as I see I do not see any road “improvements” around my neighborhood, this is getting out of hand! enough with the tax hikes.
EFF_This! says
Pay another tax so that we can continue to pad the retirement of firefighters? These firefighters lay around the station most of the time, that is when they aren’t eating out at restaurants or working out in the station gym, or laying back and watching movies all day.
Then when its time to retire from this life of leisure, they’ll be sure to spike their pensions before moving to some little Nazi town in Arizona or Idaho. Bet on it! No thanks!
Eric says
Lmao, you are so right and let’s not forget the unlimited overtime these guys rake in. Don’t believe me look them up on transparent California. You will @@@t your pants when you see their incomes
Steven P. says
EFF is right. Firefighters are seriously waaaaay overpaid!
Structure fires are rare nowadays with fire suppression technology in place. Most 911 calls are a turnaround operation where they show up and then leave within 15 minutes. Back to the station to finish the movie, the workout or the latest restaurant cuisine.
The $165,000+ a year that these guys make mostly goes to support their pretentious wives and put their kids in private schools.
If they want new equipment they should pony up some of their salary! Stop asking the already struggling taxpayers to subsidize your lifestyle.
Steve says
[removed] – there is already plenty of money available. L.A. County pulled in 1.17 TRILLION in property taxes last year – an 85 BILLION dollar increase. This tax is designed to further fleece the public, and ignores the state’s frittering away of infrastructure funding for the last three decades. When are we going to demand that our government live within it’s means?!
brokesville says
take a look at your propety tax bill you already pay a voted direct assessment for Fire and trama/emergency services this will double it,
Sarah says
The way this is worded, the tax would be $26,136.00 on a 10 acre parcel of land.
What’s the fine print?
Vic Conklin says
The way this is stated it would cost me almost $40,000 a year on my 15 acres of property a year, bankrupt year 1 County owns my property and home I worked 30 years for.
WILLIAM BROWN says
So is this a one-time event or another of those never ending taxes?
Laughing says
From the article “The parcel tax, which requires approval from two-thirds of voters and would exempt low-income seniors, is estimated to raise $134 million annually. The tax rate would increase by up to 2% annually, and would remain in place permanently unless revoked by voters, according to county documents.”
tsparky says
Every year. It will also increase by 2% a year. So for my tract house, it will add another $700 per year.