he future of fire protection in the Higgins District is vague, at this time, after a third attempt to pass an increased assessment failed. During the campaign for Measure V, District officials stated that defeat would likely mean the closing of one of its three stations the layoffs of as many as six firefighters, since a grant was not going to be renewed in March. But Fire Chief Jerry Good says he’s not sure what’s going to happen…
Good says the District had already tried more incremental assessment increases in the past. But with that effort also unsuccessful, and no increase since 1980, the latest proposal ended up being more drastic, or from 25 dollars a year to 141 dollars a year…
Good also admits the two-thirds approval required for assessment increases is always difficult. He says another measure will not be proposed. He says they hope to come up with funding options to maintain current staffing by January, but declined to say what those options might be. Good also says the District has applied for a national grant but chances for getting it are slim.
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