Ebbetts Pass Fire District Special Tax Measure Presentation

Deciding Our Community’s Future Together

Introduction Thank you all for being here today! I am here to share information about the EPFD’s $400,000 budget deficit and provide information about “Measure A” – a special tax measure the District is sponsoring that will be on a mail-in ballot this May. If the tax measure passes, it will: Solve our budget problems Reinstate purchasing of emergency equipment (heart monitors, fire trucks for example) Add three firefighter/paramedics (one per shift) – this will allow us to stop fires more effectively and staff a third ambulance, when needed The additional cost of the funding is $134 for improved lots and $43.10 for unimproved lots annually

District Overview The Ebbetts Pass Fire District was formed in 1965 Staffed by 21 paid line staff, seven volunteer line staff, three intern line staff, one part-time prevention officer and two paid administrative staff Governed by five Board members who serve four-year terms The District’s annual budget for FY 2018-2019 is $4.4 million In 2017, we responded to 1,074 emergencies

EPFD Board of Directors Tom Sullivan Jon Dashner Scott McKinney Dennis Clemons Michael Barr

Staffing & Statistics Current staffing Statistics Two ambulances with paramedics 24/7/365. One in Hathaway Pines and the other in Arnold One paramedic engine 24/7/365. stationed in Arnold One supervisor 24/7/365 One prevention officer, part-time One administrator / secretary, full- time One fire chief Intern Program Volunteer staff 2017 emergency calls 1074 / 652 medical In 2017 we had two ambulance calls simultaneously 140 times (two medical emergencies at once) In 2017 we had three ambulance calls simultaneously 33 times (three medical emergencies at once) Response time 13 minutes at least 90% of the time 167 emergencies Big Trees State Park and east Our agency covers 225 square miles

Advanced Life Support In 1998, our District services expanded to include Advanced Life Support (ALS) with the Paramedic Engine Program and expanded again to an Ambulance Service in 2004 Its critical to have paramedic services based in our community “The Golden Hour”: Patients have the best outcomes if they arrive at a hospital within one hour Most transports are 35 miles one-way to the hospital. Every second counts!

Advanced Life Support Having paramedics with ambulances in our community reduces response time to emergencies Paramedic fire engine staffing provides Advanced Life Support if an ambulance is not available or delayed (sometimes we have two medical emergencies at the same time) Ambulance attendants are firefighters too. This helps stop fires when they are small!

Community Benefits Insurance Survey Office Class 2: This public protection Class 2 rates our agency in the top 4,700 of 48,000 fire agencies. Insurance Survey Office Class 2 rating is based on our ability to respond to fires. If we reduce staffing, our ISO Class will be reduced and will result in higher homeowners insurance. No out of pocket for residents: Ebbetts Pass Fire District ambulances have been the East Zone emergency transport providers since 2005 In FY 2016/17 this program saved district residents $1.15 million in out-of- pocket expense” for ground emergency ambulance transports

Paramedic & Ambulance Programs Paramedic Engine Program Ambulance Program Approved by the community in 1998 To provide a paramedic on the fire engine, which improved EPFDs provide medical care and fight fires Approved cost is $39 improved, $11 unimproved properties annually Flat fee – no increase Designed to fund the program for 10 years and we are at year 20 Approved by the community in 2004 To provide ambulance service to community (two ambulances – no out-of- pocket ground transport) Approved cost is $89 Improved $27 Unimproved properties annually Flat fee – no increase Designed to fund the program for 10 years and we are at year 15

Paramedic Engine Program

Ambulance Program

Current Financial Situation ALS programs combined are operating at a $398,913 deficit this fiscal year. At the end of FY 2018-19 we will no longer be able to use District Reserve funding, and our lack of capital purchases has left our fleet aged, worn out and in need of replacement (total of 21 vehicles). Without more funding, in FY 2019-20 we will be forced to not always fill daily staff openings and effectively go from two ambulances each day to one ambulance often. This will impact our ISO rating and could raise homeowner's insurance.

Contributing Factors to Budget Deficit 2004 cost 2019 cost California minimum wage: $5.50/hour Diesel fuel $1.67/gallon Paramedic heart monitors: $2,750 Ambulance replacement: $99,092 Annual health care: $180,255 California minimum wage: $12/hour Diesel fuel: $3.70/gallon Paramedic heart monitors: $22,500 Ambulance replacement: $203,000 Annual health care: $516,554

How Did we get Here? The 1998 and 2004 tax measure funding has not kept pace with higher costs for operations and maintenance. Both of those tax measures were designed as flat fees: Never sustainable beyond 7-10 years. We have stretched the funding out to 15 & 20 years The cost of nearly everything has increased since 1998 and 2004.

What has EPFD Done to Make Funding Stretch? Used District Reserves to offset budget shortfalls Reduced overhead costs (refinanced Station 1) Labor and management worked to contain costs, reduce overtime Assistant fire chief position has been vacant since 2011 Reduced health care costs by joining Special Districts Risk Management Authority Froze Capital outlay fire engines, pickups, ambulances and firefighter self- contained breathing apparatus Actively submitted for grants and alternative revenue sources

What’s the Solution? EPFD formed a focus group including community members to consider potential options We held a town hall meeting in December and conducted a survey to find out what our community members wanted Based on the survey information, our Board approved “Measure A” (a special tax measure) to be placed on the May 7th mail ballot Measure A will be an additional annual fee of $134 per household When combined with the 1998 and 2004 measures, the grand total is $262 per household annually

“Measure A” Details When: May 7th Mail-in ballot What does it do? Fully funds our Advanced Life Support programs: Two ambulances every day and a paramedic on the fire engine Reinstate purchasing of emergency equipment (e.g. Heart monitors, fire trucks) Adds three firefighter/paramedics (one per shift). This will allow us to stop fires more effectively and staff a third ambulance when needed Cost Improved lots: Annual increase of $134 dollars per household ($11.17 per month). New grand total with 1998 and 2004 tax measures would be $262 annually. Annual increase of $6.28 per year for 10 years. Unimproved lots: Annual increase of $43.10 dollars per lot annually ($3.59 per month). New grand total with 1998 and 2004 tax measures would be $81.10 annually. Built in annual increase of $2.42 per year for 10 years.

Common Questions Are ambulance transports free for the residents of the District? There is no out-of-pocket expense. Health care insurance payment is considered 100% If “Measure A” passes, are those funds subject to a general fund? No: Our fire agency is not a county or city and therefore is not a general fund agency. Your funding goes directly to providing services from our fire district, and they cannot be used for another purpose. These are your dollars working for you directly. Is Ebbetts Pass Fire District a value? Yes: If you combine an ambulance ticket fee for “no out-of-pocket expense” and common fire tax measures in other areas of the county or state, we are often less expensive (even with an increase) and provide additional benefits to the community by having firefighters on our ambulances, which improves our ISO rating - more firefighters to keep fires small!

Are There Any Questions? Thank you for the opportunity to speak! For more information, go to www.epfd.org Contact: firechief@epfd.org or call (209) 795-1646