The misnamed Five Cities Fire Authority, which represents the cities of Arroyo Grande, Grover Beach, and the community of Oceano, is a newly formed bureaucracy that is asking the homeowners and businesses to OK a tax measure worth $1 million for now and in the future, with an escalation clause per year. It amounts to funding our own private fire department. There have been many articles written about this, but not one of them mentioning that the taxpayers have an alternative (i.e., which is) to invite Cal Fire to take over our three stations since they already serve all the cities and communities surrounding us, thus no long-term taxes and an immediate tax savings of between $400,000 to $500,000. Cal Fire also provides paramedic-manned engines, which FCFA does not and doesn’t even mention in their list of spending priorities.
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This article appears in Apr 17-24, 2014.