MONTECITO VOTERS OVERWHELMINGLY APPROVE MEASURE M2010

Posted by Geri Ventura -

July 13, 2010 - Voters in the Montecito Fire Protection District once again approved an all mailed ballot measure allowing the District to spend all of what it collects in property tax revenues. The measure easily passed with voter turnout at 34.21 percent. 1,868 of nearly 5,800 registered voters voted in favor of the measure and 141 opposed, giving an approval of 92.98%.

 

Fire Chief Kevin Wallace stated, "I am very pleased with the election results! I am glad to see that our residents see the value in the specialized services that the Montecito Fire Protection District provides, such as paramedic response, wildland fuels mitigation and disaster preparedness education. Without passage of this measure, service levels to our constituents would have had to have dropped dramatically!"

Montecito Fire Protection District funding is based on a portion of property taxes which is approximately 17% of 1% of the assessed value of all properties that lie within the Fire District jurisdictional boundaries.

In 1979, Proposition 4 was approved, limiting government spending. The Fire District must receive 2/3's voter approval every four years to override the 1979 ballot measure, allowing the District to spend all that it collects above the previous spending limits. Appropriation spending limits are calculated using the previous year's limit multiplied by changes in the cost of living and in population.

The election procedure, which began in 1987, has been approved by voters in every Proposition 4 Override Election since then.

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