Millbrae’s fire assessment renewal — that would have increased fees to $299 a year for single-family homes and duplexes and $214 for apartments — failed despite a vote of 53% in favor because votes were weighted based on asset valuation of property, Millbrae City Manager Tom Williams said.
One major new commercial property owner voted no, Williams said, contributing to the failure of the assessment fee, which would have raised the current assessment by 72% to keep pace with inflation. The city plans to conduct continued outreach and hold another vote in May, he said.
About 36% of applicable parcel owner voters submitted a ballot, with 1,303 yes votes and 1,147 no votes, Millbrae City Manager Tom Williams said. Ballot submission ended Feb. 27.
The fire assessment fee, which has not been increased since its inception in 2004, would have been raised $10 a month — from around $15 to $25 — for single family and duplex owners. The goal is to provide Millbrae with high-quality fire services and emergency services response times under seven minutes, Financial Director Mike Sung said at the Feb. 27 City Council meeting.
Millbrae parcel owners renewed the fire assessment once in 2009 and again in 2014, although previous renewals didn’t come with an increase in fees. Now, the 72% increase is necessary to keep pace with inflation and ensure adequate funding for fire services, Williams said.
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“The allocation of the assessment as a percentage of the overall fire department budget has eroded over the years, and this brings it back,” he said.
Two residents spoke at public comment against the fire fee. One, Patrick King, expressed disappointment that condominium owners are charged as single-family households, although his building is essentially structured like an apartment complex.
“I do support the needs for fire protection funds. I do not agree with the current assessment that unfairly burdens condominium homeowners by nearly 40% compared to similar multifamily homeowners,” he said.
Rick Clark, senior project manager at Harris and Associates — who worked on developing the fire assessment rates — said that the firm was not tasked with looking at a new methodology to apply costs, just the new rate, but that the City Council could demarcate condominiums differently if it so chose.
Now when they say they want the money to keep up with inflation, are they talking about inflation of wages, pensions, and benefits? And based on the stated goal from Mike Sung, are we to assume that Millbrae wasn’t receiving high-quality fire services in the past? Don’t worry, Millbrae, I’ve no doubt you’ll see more attempts at increases, over and over and over. Just keep voting no.
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Now when they say they want the money to keep up with inflation, are they talking about inflation of wages, pensions, and benefits? And based on the stated goal from Mike Sung, are we to assume that Millbrae wasn’t receiving high-quality fire services in the past? Don’t worry, Millbrae, I’ve no doubt you’ll see more attempts at increases, over and over and over. Just keep voting no.
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Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
Don't threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Anyone violating these rules will be issued a warning. After the warning, comment privileges can be revoked.