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Cameron Park Community Services District will take a hit of $112,672 to its new budget because of an additional payment on its Cal Fire contract. The total cost of the agreement came to $1.688 million for the 2011-2012 fiscal year. That amount does not include the cost of positions reimbursed by the Joint Powers Authority (JPA).
That information was presented by Battalion Chief Dave Teter at the Wednesday night meeting of the CPCSD Fire and Emergency Services Committee.
Teter said they had estimated a fourth quarter payment of $388,389 on the agreement but the final invoice came to $501,060 less a credit of $2,737.
The higher last quarter invoice affects CPCSD as it relies on savings in the fire contract to help cover shortfalls in other areas of its budget.
Teter also reported that they had received 16 applications for the fire marshall position but only candidates in the top three ranks will be interviewed.
The Fire Department also earned $80,000 in July and August renting its equipment and personnel to other jurisdictions for fires. Revenue from rentals is deposited in the equipment replacement fund.
Teter noted that the El Dorado County Emergency Medical Services JPA is facing a potential million dollar deficit. The JPA provides ambulance services to different service areas, including CPCSD, Diamond Springs-El Dorado Fire Protection District, El Dorado County Fire Protection District, El Dorado Hills Fire Protection District, Georgetown Fire Protection District, Garden Valley Fire Protection District, Latrobe Fire Protection District, Mosquito Fire Protection District, Pioneer Fire Protection District, and Rescue Fire Protection District.
The JPA is discussing different ways of closing the revenue gap, including a tax, reduction of services, or potential changes how services are delivered.
Teter said the new State Responsibility Area fee is attracting a great deal of debate and emotion. He said invoices for the fee are being sent out alphabetically by county and residents in El Dorado County are just starting to receive theirs. People can choose to pay the fee under protest.
Committee members discussed the need for an update to the Fire Department Master and Capital Improvement Plan. Teter recommended doing it in-house and said it could be completed in four to six months. That item will be discussed further at the October meeting of the board of directors of CPCSD.
Contact Dawn Hodson at 530-344-5071 or dhodson@mtdemocrat.net. Follow @DHodsonMtDemo on Twitter.
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Barbara RogersSeptember 06, 2012 - 4:45 pm
Great story Dawn, thank you so much for reporting the truth. It should be noted that while the 4th quarter billing from Cal Fire came is higher than originally estimated, the Fire Dept. came in well under budget for the 11/12 F.Y. All this really means is that the CSD will not be able to steal all the monies that the fire dept. saves year after year to offset the losses from the community center and recreation programs. I wish the citizen of CP would wake up and realize that our tax dollars are being mishandled and that the board, with the exception of Shiva Frentzen, does not recognize the problem. Historically this district has taken every dime that the fire dept. saves to balance the budget. The district is not saving any funds for replacement of fire engines or other much needed equipment. They are also are not saving for future maintenance. The community center is draining the budget, to the tune of approximately $200,000 this fiscal year. The new general manager whines and wants to add 2 new permanent benefited positions. The CSD cannot afford this. While the G.M. enjoys a raise, the employees have gone at least seven years without any pay raises. It is time for the truth to come out. The board approved the F.D. Master Plan in 04/05, but they don't even live by it. It is clearly outlined in the master plan that 90,000 to 120,000 a year must be set aside to replace aging fire engines. Not one dime has put aside over the past 10 years.
Think about itSeptember 07, 2012 - 7:56 am
Outsourcing fire protection to CalFire is expensive to the point of annual analysis for less expensive solutions. It is possible to achieve the same for less, but someone must evaluate the alternatives.
Barbara RogersSeptember 07, 2012 - 12:41 pm
"Think About It", why do you hide being a fake identity? I just love the people who come on these blogs and spew their opinion while not identifying themselves. As I stated in my earlier comments, Cal Fire still came in under budget even with this cost. What is being missed and should have been covered in the story is this 4th quarter billing in nothing new however due to the inexperienced staff and G.M., they were sideswiped by the last bill of the fiscal year. And why? Because the G.M. has less money to take from the fire dept. savings to offset losses in other areas. The fire dept. is the only area that comes in under budget every year and what happens? Instead of putting those funds away for much needed equipment per the master plan, the money is used to shore up the failing recreation programs and now the failing community center. In fact the CSD is cash poor and if it continues to spend every dime that comes in, they will go bankrupt. Of course, some people have mentioned a "fire tax". Don't believe for a second that they will try to get a tax on the ballot at some point. To take it back to "Think About It", just what other solutions for fire protection are you alluding to? We are quite happy with Cal Fire. I would love to be able to lead the charge to break the fire dept. off from the CSD permanently.
Cedar McFarlandSeptember 07, 2012 - 1:41 pm
What ever happened to that Beagle attorney guy from Sacramento that would swoop in for our money every month? Haven't heard a thing about him lately Wonder if he, Alan Clarke and Johnson still socialize. I thought I saw them leaving Faces last weekend, but it was some other trio.
Barbara RogersSeptember 07, 2012 - 2:48 pm
Whoops, typing way too fast, not proof reading makes for silly errors. I meant to say that not one voting resident should be surprised if at some point the CSD attempts to go out for either a fire tax or some other tax to offset their losses. In 2002, Alan Clarke made the following statement to the Mt. Democrat; "In light of the uncertain economy, he believes that the CSD will have to ask the voters for a property tax increase to continue to subsidize fire and emergency services. He is prepared to campaign for the increase to support the district." This was 10 years ago people. Don't think for a minute that he and his cronies will not try to go after this tax. The truth needs to come out once and for all. The CSD has been squandering our tax dollars and it needs to stop. While they steal from the fire dept., the only dept. that comes in under budget at the end of each fiscal year, they continue to allow other areas, rec and community center, to drain us dry. Each year at tax time, we pay for the bond on the community center and for what? It stands empty. When is the community going to wake up? We need to elect people who care about our community, There are 2 seats open for election in November. Please cast your vote for Vicky Neibauer. Do not vote for Sean Tucker, the appointed incumbent, he is a puppet and goes with the majority. He, along with the other 3 men have done nothing for this community. Oh I forgot, they did pass the 12/13 FY budget with a $113,000 deficit. They took one time funds to plug the budget gap for 11/12 FY also. These people are not doing what is right for Cameron Park. They all need to go with the exception of Shiva Frentzen, the one and only member of the board who has tried to protect our money but gets voted down at every turn. And to Cedar MacFarland, The very same attorney you speak of, he is still around, coming to meetings, getting rich off the district....pathetic
ConcernedSeptember 09, 2012 - 8:49 am
Barbara you are such an incompetent fool. You seem to think spewing your misguided bunk enlightens the community...It does just the opposite. The fact that your campaigning for "(V)Icky Neibauer tell the public all we need to know...she is one of your chosen malcontents to help your buddy Shiva out. You just don't get it and you and your pals Bill Carey, Dave Gelber, Gerald Lillpop and Vicky Neibauer never will. A vote for anybody except Neibauer is a vote for moving the district forward.
Hi MattSeptember 09, 2012 - 9:00 am
I was wondering how long it would take before ole Matt Silva would rear his ugly face? Propping up the malcontents must be getting old..huh? Missing the limelight old boy? Maybe we will get a chance to hear from good old "if the kitchen gets to hot" quitter Rich Green in the not to distant future? Oh, I hope so!
Gerald LillpopSeptember 09, 2012 - 3:50 pm
Concerned and Hi Matt what never fails to amaze me is the fact that instead of disputing any fact and figures that the malcontents put forth you and your ilk just go for ad hominem attacks. Do you really think that name calling is persuasive? If you want to debate the numbers come to a meeting and challenge Shiva and us malcontents. Did either of you attend the budget workshops this spring? Did either of you attend the special meetings in August? No you didn’t and the reason I know is only the malcontents had the fortitude to attend each of these meetings in addition to the regular meetings that we attend. So join us at a board meeting and we can debate our differences otherwise shut your pie holes and or stuff a sock in it.