Felton Fire proposes new parcel tax in an effort to avoid consolidation. (Jesse Kathan — Santa Cruz Local)

Update: The Board of Directors Thursday did not approve a ballot measure on this item. Another meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 15. 

FELTON>> The Felton Fire Protection District is set to consider a $700 parcel tax initiative on Thursday as part of a last-ditch effort to avoid consolidation with another fire agency.

The fire protection district has been financially struggling for years, and at times has been unable to maintain enough volunteers to respond to calls. The proposed tax money is meant to replace aging fire engines and other equipment, maintain the fire station and hire paid staff. 

Ideally, Felton Fire would have a full-time chief, a full-time administrator, three full-time firefighters and two part-time positions that could involve firefighting or other duties, Interim Fire Chief Issac Blum said. Firefighters are currently paid stipends for shifts. 

The $700 tax would go to voters in a special election. An initial draft ballot initiative proposed Sept. 1 called for the $700 tax on each of the district’s 2,905 parcels. The cost was based on a financial analysis in an August report from the Local Agency Formation Commission of Santa Cruz County.

In response to community concerns about the $700 price tag, a second draft initiative proposed Sept. 6 exempted adjoining parcels with the same owner, plus homeowners with households that earn less than 80% Santa Cruz County’s annual median income ($111,100 for a single person in 2025). 

On Monday, Blum said he was determining whether the tax could also include other exemptions.  But with more exemptions to the tax, he said, it may not raise enough to support all those positions.

Depending on the level of community support, the board could vote to move forward with the special election or continue to develop the tax measure with community input, Blum said. If approved, an election could be scheduled for December. Ballots would be mailed to all registered voters in the district, and the measure would need at least 66.6% voter support.

If the ballot initiative fails, the department may have no choice but to merge with another fire agency, such as Zayante Fire Protection District or Community Service Area 48. Both agencies already have taxes in place that would be extended to residents now served by Felton Fire.

Zayante Fire charges $50 for a vacant parcel less than 5 acres, $100 for a vacant parcel more than 5 acres and $290 for any parcel with homes or other buildings. CSA 48 has a benefit assessment based on property size and buildings totaling about $370 for a typical single-family home.

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