Title
Chief Administrative Office recommending the Board:
1) Find that a public benefit is derived from supporting a regional shared services model on the Georgetown Divide;
2) Approve and authorize the Chair to sign a Funding Agreement with Garden Valley Fire Protection District in the total amount of $400,000, for a term effective upon final execution for a two-year period, in support of a regional shared services model on the Georgetown Divide;
3) Authorize the Chief Administrative Officer to execute amendments relating to the Agreement, contingent upon approval by County Counsel and Risk Management, which do not increase the maximum dollar amount or term of the Agreement; and
4) Disband the Jurisdictional Reorganization Ad Hoc Committee.
FUNDING: Mosquito Fire Settlement Funds. (General Fund)
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
Secure and stable funding for fire and emergency medical services is a challenge across the state. Due to the effects of Proposition 13, property tax revenues are not spread evenly among districts. For example, on the West Slope, two districts whose service areas comprise 46% of total fire district service area receive nearly 92% of the ad valorem property tax allocated to all West Slope Districts. This results in varying service levels throughout the County. The inequities are particularly apparent in rural areas, where the districts’ share of local property taxes is very low due to a combination of factors. Some rural agencies had very low tax rates prior to passage of Proposition 13 because they relied heavily on volunteers. The formula for allocating the local share of property taxes post-Proposition 13 memorialized those low tax rates. In addition, the more rural areas of the county typically have lower total assessed value because the housing is less dense and home prices are often lower as one travels farther from infrastructure and services. The result is a low tax increment on a small tax base. As population in the rural areas has grown, the demand for fire services has increased. At the same time, the cost of delivering fire and emergency medical services has grown as regulations and the County’s demographics have made it much more difficult and costly to run a volunteer-based fire department. The Chief Administrative Office and various ad hoc committees of the Board of Supervisors have been working with our local districts to find solutions, including options such as shared services agreements, district reorganization, and other ways to achieve efficiencies for several years.
The Georgetown Divide area is no exception. The Mosquito, Garden Valley, and Georgetown Fire Protection Districts are second, third, and fourth from the bottom in the County, in terms of ad valorem property tax revenue. Combined, they receive just 3% of the ad valorem property tax allocated to all West Slope Districts. While these districts should be commended for their efforts to raise additional revenue, through special taxes and grants, and for maximizing the use of volunteer and stipend staff, a long-term solution would best serve these communities. Seeking efficiency and cost savings following the retirement of the Georgetown Fire Protection District’s Fire Chief, the District has entered into a shared services agreement with the Garden Valley Fire Protection District for administrative services. Following the Local Agency Formation Commission’s (LAFCO) targeted municipal services review of the Mosquito Fire Protection District, which highlighted financial challenges facing the district, Supervisor Parlin; Shiva Frentzen, the LAFCO Executive Officer; and CAO staff have been facilitating meetings with Mosquito and Garden Valley staff and representatives of their respective Boards of Directors. As a result of these discussions, on February 10, 2026, the Board of Supervisors authorized staff to work on a baseline analysis of Georgetown Divide fire and emergency medical services to help address operational challenges for fire districts located in the Georgetown Divide area. These discussions have also included the potential for a shared services agreement between Garden Valley and Mosquito; however, it has become apparent that it would be difficult for Garden Valley’s Fire Chief to provide the level of support currently needed by Georgetown and Mosquito in addition to his own district. To address this, the CAO and Jurisdictional Reorganizational Ad Hoc Committee recommended providing financial assistance to Garden Valley to hire staff that would support the Divide fire service, working under the direction of the Garden Valley Fire Chief. This staffing augmentation will add administrative personnel within Garden Valley Fire Protection District. This would provide an opportunity for the agencies to achieve greater collaboration, take advantage of efficiencies, and determine whether any type of longer-term reorganization would be viable.
The County will advance funds to Garden Valley Fire in the initial amount of $50,000, and the remaining funds shall be paid in seven equal quarterly installments of $50,000 each, for a total of $400,000. The term will be two years effective upon execution and will be used to establish, implement, and administer a regional shared services program intended to improve the efficiency, effectiveness, sustainability, and coordination of fire protection services throughout the Georgetown Divide. The funding to be used is from a settlement with Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) over the 2022 Mosquito Fire, which occurred in the Georgetown Divide area.
This item would also disband the Jurisdictional Reorganization Ad Hoc Committee as it is no longer needed. If a reorganization process is initiated, staff will return to the Board to appoint a new committee.
ALTERNATIVES
The Board could choose not to approve the agreement, which would likely make the shared services model as currently contemplated infeasible. Staff would continue to facilitate discussions among the districts in pursuit of other opportunities to improve sustainability of the fire service on the Divide.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
02/10/2026 Legistar file 26-0248 - The Board authorized staff to work on baseline analysis.
04/21/2026 Legistar file 26-0638 - The Board approved staff to enter into negotiations with Garden Valley Fire Protection District to support a regional shared services model.
04/28/2026 Legistar file 26-0723 - The Board directed that $400,000 of Mosquito Fire Settlement Funding be allocated for this Agreement.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
LAFCO, Garden Valley Fire, Mosquito Fire
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The funding will come from a settlement with PG&E over the 2022 Mosquito Fire, which occurred in the Georgetown Divide area. The $400,000 was allocated for this purpose during the FY 2026-27 budget process so there is no change to Net County Cost with this item.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
N/A
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
N/A
CONTACT
Sue Phillips, Chief Administrative Officer