Sacramento County's Measure O would help Sac Metro Fire replace aging equipment
The $415 million bond measure focuses on critical infrastructure, replacing lifesaving equipment, modernizing stations, and reducing firefighter health risks.
The $415 million bond measure focuses on critical infrastructure, replacing lifesaving equipment, modernizing stations, and reducing firefighter health risks.
The $415 million bond measure focuses on critical infrastructure, replacing lifesaving equipment, modernizing stations, and reducing firefighter health risks.
Measure O on Sacramento County ballots this fall aims to enhance local fire and emergency medical response.
The Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District’s Board of Directors placed Measure O on the ballot.
It's a $415 million bond that focuses on critical infrastructure, replacing lifesaving equipment, modernizing stations, and reducing firefighter health risks. The needs were found in a recent Comprehensive Capital Needs Assessment.
The measure has bipartisan support and no formal opposition. Among those who endorsed the measure are state Sen. Angelique Ashby, Assemblymember Josh Hoover, all members of the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors and Sutter Health.
The Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District serves approximately 400 square miles of Sacramento County, which includes two cities and all unincorporated parts of the county. Most of Sac Metro Fire's 41 stations are 50 years old and beyond.
“This fire station was built about 70 years ago and many of our fire stations, in fact 50% of them were built at least 50 years ago, some upwards of 80 years ago,” said Battalion Chief Parker Wilbourn, while walking KCRA 3 through Metro Fire Station 41.
Sac Metro Fire explained that in addition to aging stations, most of their engines are at their "end of life" and will need to be replaced, a challenge as the cost of fire engines has nearly doubled since the COVID-19 pandemic.
“When you're talking about 41 stations with 36 fire engines it's a tremendous amount when you've got most of those apparatus that are going to be needing to be pushed into a reserve status because they've in excess of 300,000 miles,” Wilbourn explained.
With no formal opposition, those who were opposed when ballots went to print have now taken a neutral stance.
In a statement to KCRA 3, SAC TAX said in part: “Metro Fire has provided additional information to concerns/questions made by Sac Tax. Sac Tax has verified none of the funds for this bond measure will be used for salaries or pension obligations. Sac Tax has also reviewed the costs of new facilities and equipment which are substantial.”
If approved, Measure O would cost $19 per $100,000 of a home's assessed value, not its current market value.
And for seniors in their homes for many years, the rate would be substantially less.
The bond measure would require two-thirds of votes to approve unless voters also approve Proposition 5 during the November election. In that case, the measure would only need 55% support.
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