SDCTA Opposes San Miguel Fire Fee, 2009
With the current economic downturn, the San Miguel Fire Protection District (SMFPD) "San Diego County's largest fire district" is proposing a yearly $41.94-per-occupancy Benefit Assessment Fee to fill its budget shortfall.1 This is a common type of methodology to distribute assessments according to special benefits incurred by a single family home on one parcel. SMFPD receives its budget primarily from property tax revenue. Since property tax revenue has recently declined, the district estimates that there will be a gap in FY 2009/2010 of $1.75 million. Their FY 2008/2009 budget was $22.7 million. The District is anticipating a 6.45% reduction in property tax revenue in FY 2009/2010 from FY 2008/2009 as well as an additional loss of $1.3 million if the State chooses to borrow from local government coffers.