The following is a brief timeline of Measure W – the controversial fire fee that makes up a large portion of the San Bernardino County Fire Department’s annual budget.
For a more comprehensive background and discussion of the measure, you can listen to an interview with County Fire Chief Dan Munsey and 3rd District Representative Dawn Rowe on the “Up Close Show with Gary Daigneault” below:
- June 2018 – The County Board of Supervisors clears the way for a “protest vote” to expand FP-5 to include all of the county’s unincorporated areas. Property owners in the affected areas would have be charged a $157 assessment with an annual 3% increase and no cap.
- Aug. 2018 – Then San Bernardino County Fire Chief Mike Hartwig tells affected communities the expansion and assessment will help SB County Fire close a $29 million budget shortfall.
- Sept. 2018 – A 30-day protest vote among property owners begins. Those opposed were required to procure a protest form, fill it in, provide an envelope and stamp, and mail to the Registrar of Voters (ROV). 50% of property owners are needed to stop the tax, but fewer than 3% protest votes received which county views as 97% voter approval.
- Nov. 2018 – Two lawsuits were filed seeking preliminary injunctions to stop the fire fee. The lawsuits argued it’s a tax and should require 2/3rd majority of voter approval. The Plaintiffs are Red Brennan Group and community groups from Homestead, Lucerne, and Johnson Valleys. The lawsuits fail.
- Jan. 2019 – Chief Hartwig leaves the county to serve as Chief in Santa Barbara County. James Ramos, who supported the expansion and fee, moves to State Assembly.
- Dan Munsey is named new SB County Fire Chief. Dawn Rowe appointed as new 3rd District Supervisor.
- April 2019 – Judge denies Brennan Group’s request for injunction on three grounds. Plaintiffs did not “adequately explain why” the county could not annex 19,000 square miles; the state constitution has a “pay now, litigate later” clause. Third point based on a technicality.
- June 2019 – Supervisors temporarily suspend FP-5’s 3% increase. Property owners still pay the $157. County BOS gives staff 90 days to come up with funding plan for county fire, and promises a sunset date for the 3% annual increase.
- Sept. 2019 – 90 days pass, but county CEO fails to bring viable funding alternative. No sunset date on the 3% increases ever mentioned again.
- Nov. 2020 – Voters narrowly defeat Measure U, which would have repealed FP-5 fee.
- July 2021 – Supervisors approve another 3% increase bringing total to $162. The tax generates $43 million that County Fire says is necessary for service.
- Jan. 2022 – Red Brennan gathers enough signatures to obligate Supervisors to repeal FP-5 tax or submit initiative to voters on the June ballot.
- June 2022 – Repeal of FP-5 tax placed on ballot as Measure Z and overwhelmingly passed, but Judge rules Red Brennan’s characterization of tax as “unconstitutional” was incorrect, therefore falsely presented and thus overturns Measure Z results.
- Oct. 2023 – ROV certifies signatures once again forcing BOS to repeal special tax or send to voters. They put it on March 2024 ballot.
- March 2024 – FP-5 tax generates $47.5 million, or 19% of County Fire budget. Measure W represents 3rd chance for voters to repeal the tax.
A “NO” vote keeps tax in place; a :”YES” repeals the tax.
Previously Reported:
