The 29 Palms city council recently decided to do nothing and rejected a request for assistance from the Water District for our 29 Palms Fire Department.
Yucca Valley pays a little more than 4 million a year for fire protection that is provided by the county. That 4 million comes off the top of the Town’s property taxes. In other words Yucca receives 4 million less a year into their General Fund in order to pay for two county fire stations. That 4 million equates to 22% of their property tax income stream.
29 Palms on the other hand pays nothing from the property tax stream to provide fire protection services. Instead citizens are paying an additional $80.00 a year in taxes, basically a second tax, under the name of a parcel assessment, to fund the 29 Palms Fire Department for our two stations.
What our council missed, either by staff design or by oversight, is where is that 22% of the General Tax levy that is not used for fire protection going to in 29 Palms? For 29 Palms that 22% equates to a little over 1 million dollars!
Why did our council fail to see that public safety is the primary directive for any city and in the end simply designate 10% of the property tax levy to the fire department? In other words our city council could not find it in themselves to dedicate $487 thousand dollars of yours and mine taxes to public safety.
We will soon be asked to increase our “second” tax from $80.00 to $120.00 so to maintain current fire protection levels, meanwhile the city will continue to keep 22% or over 1 million dollars and spend it on things that are simply nice to have instead of our public safety.
You might be interested
29 Palms City Council Votes to Stay Out of The Water Department’s Business
Larry Briggs for Twentynine Palms City Council
Come on lets stop the games and find some solutions
Breaking: Tonight TPWD votes to Retain 29 Fire Department
Beware the “Hitman”
Putting out fires with garden hoses
Assemblyman Paul Cook Announces the Creation of New Team to Protect Kids from Sexual Predators
Steve, we know that the city council does not answer to the public on fire protection and public safety — they maintain it’s not their business –, taking out bonds with nothing to show for $31 million, or the spending of $577,321.10 for administrative, consulting costs, and legal fees for Rutan & Tucker with utterly nothing to show for it.
The city of 29 is overpowered by a rogue councilmen with their own agenda.
Steve, as a former councilman do you know how the property tax is divided in the City of 29 Palms and is there a directive or City ordinance stating how the property tax is supposed to be divided?
I have researched several other city and towns property tax distributions and all have some percentage scheduled for Police and FIRE. Several have it listed under public safety, but further examination reveals the percentage being broken down between the two providers. Since the water district has been responsible in the past, the city has never had to take responsibility. It is time that as the representatives of the citizens of the City they turn their focus off the pie in the sky project and act like responsible adults and assist in the maintenance of a viable fire department. No double talk, no excuses, just honesty. They need to step to the plate, take responsibility for their actions of the past and come to an understanding with the water district to provide mutual finances to keep the people of the City and its visitors safe.
Hi michaelv,
100% of the property taxes that 29 does receive goes into the General Fund and is used for unrestricted expenses. Anything from paper, pens, and pencils to police services.
29 shells out about 38% of its general fund revenues for police protection which is consistent with other municipalities.
What is not normal, as you have found out as did I, is that 29 Palms pays nothing for fire protection services which are mandated by law. Instead 29 received a “pass” on that requirement when it incorporated due to fire services being under the umbrella of the Water District.
I often wondered lately what would the city do if a citizen initiative were started that went to a vote to rescind the parcel assessment fee that we are all paying?
Would the city then have to “step up” to the plate like we all have been saying in order to continue its existence? Would it then be forced to pay that 22% percent that virtually all other cities do pay for fire protection? I am thinking so.
People, at least myself, are tired of being taxed and taxed again when we already know that money is not being used for the necessary items of government. I am still hoping that the council starts to understand what they have done and then begins measures to correct the problem.
I do not think there is any citizen in this city that minds paying taxes when they know that they are being properly used. What is in question for us in 29 is “Are our taxes being properly used”?
I am curious about the parcel assessment fee. Research has shown that if the tax was placed on a user basis (water) then all would be charged. Do the churches and Government buildings, pay a parcel fee or are they exempt. I have been following another Cities plans for adding a City safety tax. They are presently looking at three scenarios: a per water meter tax, a per living unit tax and a property tax levy. The consideration for putting the tax on the City services bill (meter or per unit) is that would include government and nonprofit entities which do not pay property tax. This tax would enable them to hire additional police officers and re-open a fire house closed by budget cuts in 2012.
I am with you on not wanting to pay any more taxes, and to see an initiative started to repeal the parcel assessment fee would be a great step in waking up the Council. Their agenda needs to change. Forget the frilly extras that Cities do AFTER they have police and fire protection and take care of the citizens and visitors well being. Thanks for the conversation