Fire Services Project
Fire Services Project Programs
Fire Services Project Funds are allocated by the Board of Supervisors to support fire agency consolidation efforts. The Board of Supervisors began dedicating funds in 2015, including a portion of the County's Proposition 172 Public Safety funds, Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) revenue, and other discretionary funding sources, totaling $10,974,316 for FY 2023-24. These funds have facilitated the consolidation of the CSA 40 Volunteer Fire Companies and other key fire agency consolidations using revenue sharing agreements that provide additional sources of revenue to stabilize newly consolidated districts. As a result of consolidations efforts, the number of fire agencies serving Sonoma County has decreased from 43 to 23, improving efficiency and effectiveness in fire service provision.
County Service Area (CSA) 40 was formed in 1993 as a special dependent district to collect property taxes to provide fire protection services to the unincorporated areas of Sonoma County that are not within the boundaries of an existing Fire Protection or County Services District. As a result of consolidation efforts undertaken via the Fire Services Project, the remaining Volunteer Fire Companies that provided fire services under CSA 40 were consolidated with the Gold Ridge Fire Protection District in FY 2022-23. The territories remaining within CSA 40 include Incident Response Program (IRP) areas 51, 56, and 71. The County has an agreement with the Sonoma County Fire District to annex IRP 51 and 56 and will begin the annexation process with the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) in FY 2023-24. The City of Santa Rosa provides fire services for IRP 71, and the County has begun discussions on the annexation of this territory. Once these remaining territories are annexed, CSA 40 will be dissolved.
Revenue Enhancement
A key activity of the Fire Services Project is to increase revenue sources that support efforts to create more efficient, effective and sustainable fire services. Measure G was placed on the March 2020 ballot as a ½ cent sales tax to support fire district staffing and incentivize fire district consolidations. Measure G received 64.84% of the vote, missing the required 2/3rds vote requirement by 1.86%.
Fire Services Ad Hoc Committee
Sonoma County is committed to working with local fire service agencies and stakeholders to provide more efficient, effective, and sustainable fire services in Sonoma County. The Board of Supervisors has assigned Supervisors Rabbitt and Hopkins to Fire Ad-Hoc Committee to provide policy guidance to the Board.
The Fire Services Work Group, which is made up of representatives from the Sonoma County Fire Chiefs Association, Cal Fire, Sonoma County Fire Labor Unions, and the Sonoma County Fire Districts Association supports efforts by providing subject matter expert perspective, guidance, and stakeholder coordination.