As property owners in the Higgins Fire District consider the first protection fee increase in 35 years, through a mail-in ballot vote, opponents have sent a pamphlet to them outlining their concerns. The group “Citizens for Fair Fire Taxes” says, among other things, that Higgins staff does not provide any primary medical function, just support where required, although the majority of calls for fire departments are for that service. But District Public Information Officer Pete Marchinek says the Higgins Department is a first responder…

click to listen Pete Marchinek

Marchinek also takes issue with the group calling Measure V a parcel tax increase. That it, instead, raises their Special Tax…

click to listen to Pete Marchinek

Measure V would replace grant money the district has been using to keep staffing at the current level. It needs two-thirds approval and was just 29 votes shy of passing, in May of 2013. Marchinek says if it fails again, the district will have to lay off as many as six firefighters and close one of their three stations by June of next year. Results of the election are expected to be announced on August 25th.