In this month’s column, I revisit the topic of my first-ever news story for Moonshine Ink: In June 2019, Baby Alex wrote Red Flag Warning, which looked at Truckee Fire’s servicing of Martis Valley without receiving a full property tax allotment. More than 5 years later, the issue remains unresolved.
The Truckee Fire Protection District has repeatedly asked Placer County over the years to provide funding for its fire protection services in some of Truckee’s most affluent neighborhoods including Martis Camp and Schaffer’s Mill. Currently, ad valorem taxes are collected from the homes highlighted in blue on the map below, but any money that would be distributed out to the district instead stays with Placer. Red Flag Warning goes into why, but long story short, Placer doesn’t have a legal or moral obligation to return the money (thanks to Proposition 13).
There was a bit of movement in 2019, when Placer County executed a voluntary tax share agreement for TFPD to receive a portion of the fire control fee from the area in question, amounting to approximately $300,000 of what would be a total of $4 million if the district received its normal share of property taxes.
But Truckee Fire is still asking for more. So, what’s the latest?
~ AH
TFPD most recently sent a formal request to Placer for funding in February 2023. When was the first formal request for funding made?
TFPD has formally requested funding in 1997, 2011, 2018, and 2023. The response in 1997 was that we began receiving funding from Lahontan South [the un-highlighted portion in the center of the map], at 11.5675% of the AV property tax (our normal share). In 2011 we were told no. In 2018 we were told no, but ultimately Placer executed the 2019 voluntary tax exchange equaling 0.7533% of the AV property tax from Martis Camp/Schaffer’s Mill, about $300,000. We have yet to receive a response to our 2023 request for equitable and sustainable funding.
What is the latest in terms of communication between TFPD and Placer County? Are the entities any closer to finding a solution?
Deputy CEO [Stephanie] Holloway indicated that we would not receive a response to our funding request beyond what has been provided via full board open session discussions. We are not any closer to finding a solution. Permitted development in the fire district without funding impacts our ability to deliver service. Permitted development without funding reduces the level of service district-wide, resulting in increased insurance premiums. Permitted development without fire protection funding puts the community at increased risk. These impacts were identified in the environmental impact report for the Martis Valley Community Plan. The EIR directed that the plan policies be adopted and implemented. The plan policies were adopted by the board of supervisors, but they have not been implemented. These actions compromise and undermine local control of this essential and cherished service. The Truckee Fire Protection District is working diligently to correct this issue.
~ Fire Chief Kevin McKechnie, TFPD
Why has Placer County not provided the Truckee Fire Protection District its full share of the ad valorem tax collected from the Martis Valley neighborhood?
This is a question still being evaluated by the Placer County Board of Supervisors. The board heard an update on this topic at their June 25 meeting after an ad hoc committee was established in February to review the matter. The agenda item was an informational presentation, and no formal action was taken by the board, but there was a request for further discussion.
~ Steven Wilson-Maggard, public information officer, Placer County
