SOQUEL, Calif. -- Officials with the Central Fire District are worried that the proposed state budget could shutter half of their fire stations and result in more than a dozen layoffs and longer response times when residents need help the most.
State lawmakers are still hammering out the fine print of the $92 billion budget passed last week and they could eliminate pass-through agreements –- local property tax revenue that agencies like Central Fire have relied on for years. Central Fire officials estimate they could be hit with a cut of more than $4 million in revenue.
"That would equate to the layoff of 18 firefighters, four administrative staff and the closure of two fire stations within the Central Fire District," said Chief Jeff Maxwell.
The district, which has cut roughly $3 million in the last three years and is feeling the effects of the loss of redevelopment, currently has four fire stations serving Live Oak, Soquel and Capitola. Central Fire responds to more than 4,600 calls a year, most of them medical, and every second counts.
"You could easily anticipate at least double the current response times if not longer," said Maxwell. "Residents probably wouldn't see assistance for greater than 10 to 15 minutes."
If pass-through agreements are eliminated, some would ultimately gain money, but there would be those who lose, like the Santa Cruz City-County Library, which could be hit with a $900,000 annual cut. Scotts Valley's Fire District could also see less revenue and Santa Cruz County would lose at least $4 million per year.
But Maxwell said there is still time before anything is set in stone in Sacramento. He adds residents can weigh in to help shape the final decision and "express their interest in protecting libraries and fire districts and managing this solution where we're not fighting it out in the streets of the local community -- and have that leadership moment in Sacramento and find a solution. I would encourage them to reach out and touch their legislators."
UPDATE: It appears pass-through agreements are safe pending a final vote by the Legislature.
"There's been an agreement on the architecture of the final budget between the Senate, Assembly and governor, and that would protect the $250 million pass-through to counties," Assemblymember Bill Monning (D-Carmel) said Thursday following Governor Jerry Brown's announcement of a conceptual budget framework.
Monning added it has not yet been put to a vote. The budget language will be reduced to trailer bills, which are expected to hit the Assembly floor next week.
