Sacramento Metro Fire’s Measure O would upgrade equipment in a first-ever voter appeal | Opinion

The Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District began merging its 16 smaller fire departments into one cohesive unit more than a generation ago, with the consolidation complete in 2000. This fire district has never asked the voters to approve a bond for equipment and infrastructure needs. It has now, in the form of Measure O on the November ballot.

It deserves a “Yes” vote.

With an aging fleet of equipment and firehouses that are more than half a century old, Sac Metro is an effective fire department in need of reinvestment. Its assemblage of property tax revenues that fuel the operating budget has been sufficient to provide an expanded array of services that include special American River Parkway services and hazardous materials remediation.

But there simply isn’t enough money in the budget to replace and buy new equipment and rehabilitate firehouses, at least one has bathrooms located in an exterior building.

Realizing its infrastructure shortcomings, fire district leadership crafted a bond measure the right way. They first comprehensively assessed needs and then engaged stakeholders and other elected officials about priorities and fiscal realities. The result was a $415 million package of needs that would be met by raising property taxes by up to $19 per $100,000 in assessed value for property owners in its service area of more than 700,000 residents. The assessment would expire after the property taxes have paid off the bonds.

A core need is to replace more than half of a fleet of fire engines that will reach their projected lifespan in a few years. More than half of the fire stations are 50 years or older. Measure O is about basic modernization.

As its mission has expanded over the years, so have the calls for service. While covering the same territory as 20 years ago, Sac Metro now responds to twice the calls for help.

Given how the property tax proposal will require two-thirds support to pass, Measure O might not pass. That would be a problem.

These aging infrastructure issues are not going to go away. They will only get more expensive over time. Without additional resources, Sac Metro would have no choice but to direct funds that now go to public safety and spend it on new equipment and building rehabilitation. The scope of services and response times undoubtedly would be affected as a result.

Fortunately, Measure O has bipartisan support. As it should. Fire equipment can’t be expected to last forever. This district has existed for more than a quarter century within its own resources. Yet its aging process has finally reached that reinvestment point.

It’s time to keep Sac Metro running. Vote Yes on Measure O.