Parcel tax measure to support Ukiah Valley fire services falls short of needed two

A ballot measure to authorize a special tax to support services provided by the Ukiah Valley Fire District is falling short of the two-thirds majority it needs to pass, according to unofficial results released by the county.

As of Wednesday, 28.5% of the vote had been counted, with Measure V receiving 62.7% in support and 37.30 in opposition. The measure needs 66.67% to pass.

Measure V would add an annual $33.50 tax to each unit in Ukiah (or $67 for single-family homes) on top of two prior special taxes: Measure J, a $50 tax passed in 1997, and Measure B, a $10 tax passed in 2003.

The measure would support the efforts of the Ukiah Valley Fire Authority, which is managed jointly by the city of Ukiah and the Ukiah Valley Fire Protection District. This includes managing, equipping, maintaining and operating all-risk fire, emergency medical and rescue services to the city and neighboring unincorporated areas that are part of the fire district.

If passed, Measure V will raise an estimated $987,000 per year for the fire district. On the first day of each year, the tax rate can be increased or decreased based on the Consumer Price Index, but the adjustment rate cannot exceed 2%.

According to the fire district, all Measure V revenues will be placed in a fund used exclusively for fire protection and emergency medical services and cannot be taken by the state.

Funds would be used for purposes such as hiring and training firefighters, updating safety equipment, modernizing the district's four fire stations, and providing the resources needed for firefighters to protect the district's service area.