LAFCO SUPPORTS TAKEOVER OF THE TWENTYNINE PALMS FIRE DEPARTMENT BY COUNTY FIRE

With expenses outpacing revenue, the county’s Local Agency Formation Commission voted in support of a takeover of emergency medical services and fire protection services in Desert Heights and Twentynine Palms. Reporter Mike Lipsitz was at yesterday’s hearing in San Bernardino …
County takeover of fire service from the Twentynine Palms Fire Department will happen sometime after July 1. A detailed plan for transfer of assets and obligations was approved at yesterday’s LAFCO hearing. Referring to the local water district, which governs the fire department, Twentynine Palms resident and LAFCO Commissioner Jim Bagley said, “This agency has failed the taxpayers while the City of Twentynine Palms has stepped up to help beyond its legal obligations.” Property owners there will see their annual fire fee increase from $84 to $148 with 3 percent increases possible every year after. Two times in recent years, district voters defeated tax initiatives, either of which would have been a more economical alternative. In her comments, LAFCO vice chair Kimberly Cox said she was extremely troubled that the commission has been put in the position of having to impose a tax on this community. Beginning the end of March, there will be a 30-day reconsideration period where protests from 50 percent plus one of the local stakeholders would kill the takeover.