REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OF THE SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT
AND RECORD OF ACTION
June 23, 2020
FROM
DAN MUNSEY, Fire Chief/Fire Warden, San Bernardino County Fire Protection District
GARY McBRIDE, Chief Executive Officer, San Bernardino County Fire Protection District
SUBJECT
Title
Resolution Regarding Initiative to Repeal FP-5 Special Tax on the November 3, 2020 General Election Ballot
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Acting as the governing body of the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District, adopt resolution providing direction to the Registrar of Voters to place “Initiative to Repeal the Special Tax Associated with Fire Protection Service Zone Five” on the November 3, 2020 General Election ballot.
(Presenter: Dan Munsey, Fire Chief/Fire Warden, 387-5779)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of additional Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). Pursuant to County Code section 16.0224(a) of the County Fee Ordinance, the Registrar of Voters (ROV) will bill the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District (SBCFPD) for all costs plus overhead related to conducting the election for the initiative, which is estimated to cost approximately $861,000. This cost will be funded by SBCFPD through the use of available reserves. Appropriation for election costs and revenue from election fees were included in ROV’s 2020-21 budget. However, SBCFPD’s 2020-21 budget does not include appropriation for this item. Therefore, SBCFPD will submit an adjustment for approval from the Board of Directors in a future quarterly budget report.
This election cost estimate does not include potential additional costs related to compliance with COVID-19 health and safety guidelines and potential new State mandates, which could be eligible for Federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act Coronavirus Relief Funds if no other COVID-19 or election related federal or state funding is available.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Adoption of the recommended resolution will provide direction to ROV for placing the “Initiative to Repeal the Special Tax Associated with Fire Protection Service Zone Five” (Initiative Petition/Measure) on the November 3, 2020 General Election ballot, including the ballot question language.
On August 16, 2019, pursuant to District Elections law contained Elections Code section 9300 et seq., proponents of the Initiative Petition/Measure submitted a Notice of Intention to circulate to ROV that would repeal the special tax associated with First Protection Service Zone Five (commonly referred to as FP-5). On February 11, 2020, the proponents of the Initiative Petition/Measure submitted the initiative petition to ROV to review. On April 7, 2020 (Item No. 61), ROV presented to the Board of Directors (Board) for SBCFPD the Certification of Initiative Petition, dated March 25, 2020, with respect to the Initiative Petition/Measure.
On April 7, 2020 (Item No. 62), pursuant to Elections Code sections 1405(a) and 9310(a)(2), the Board took action to submit the ordinance that concerned the Initiative Petition/Measure, without alteration, to the voters pursuant to Elections Code section 1405.
County Counsel drafted the recommended ballot question language for the Initiative Petition/Measure contained in the resolution. Following Board approval of the resolution, Counsel will also draft an impartial analysis of the Initiative Petition/Measure.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Penny Alexander-Kelley, Chief Assistant County Counsel, 387-4270, and Scott Runyan, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on June 15, 2020; Registrar of Voters (Bob Page, Registrar of Voters, 387-2100) on June 15, 2020; Finance (Stephenie Shea, Administrative Analyst, 387-4919, and Tom Forster, Administrative Analyst, 387-4635) on June 15, 2020; and County Finance and Administration (Matthew Erickson, County Chief Financial Officer, 387-5423) on June 15, 2020.