The third attempt in four years to repeal a fire tax that applies to some San Bernardino County residents appears to have been voted down.
In unofficial results from the Tuesday, March 5, primary, as of 4 p.m. Wednesday, March 6, only 44.55% of voters had voted yes on Measure W. The measure needs more than 50% of the vote to pass.
The measure seeks to repeal the special tax, which supports the county Fire Protection District’s FP-5 service zone. The zone covers much of the High Desert, except where cities such as Victorville and Barstow have their own fire departments, and most of the San Bernardino Mountains. County fire also serves San Bernardino, Upland, Bloomington and Grand Terrace.
First authorized in 2006 — and covering a much smaller area — at a rate of $117 per parcel, along with an annual 3% cost of living increase, the annual tax has risen to $171.85 per parcel, according to the impartial analysis of the measure by the San Bernardino Office of County Counsel.
Ballot proponents objected to paying to protect vacant Mojave Desert land with nothing to burn. They also objected to the way the zone has been expanded by the Board of Supervisors over the years, imposing new taxes on residents of San Bernardino in 2016, Upland in 2017 and elsewhere without voters getting to weigh in directly.
More about the March 5, 2024 California primary election
- 2024 March 5 Primary Election Results: San Bernardino Sun
- Election 2024: Why does it take so long for votes to be tallied in California?
- Election 2024: San Bernardino County supervisors Cook, Rowe lead, results show
- What’s at stake for voters in Riverside, San Bernardino counties this election?
- 3rd attempt to overturn San Bernardino County fire tax set for March 2024 election
Tax opponents failed to repeal the tax in Nov. 2020, when Measure U got 48% of the vote.
They succeeded in June 2022, when Measure Z passed with 58% of the vote. But legal challenges have stopped it from being implemented.
The tax raises $46.5 million annually, according to a report created by county staff for the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors. That’s equal to 19% of the Fire Protection District’s 2023-24 budget.
Voter approval of the repeal “would result in less fire protection, less service to the public,” Fire Chief Dan Munsey told the board Oct. 24. “We are a special district, we are not a department of the county. Thus we are not guaranteed any sort of funding … Sometimes, you can only cut so far before you have to close a fire station.”
