Fire tax repeal on path to fail

The third attempt in four years to repeal a fire tax that applies to some San Bernardino County residents appears to have been voted down.

In early results from the Tuesday primary Wednesday, 44.86% of voters had voted yes on Measure W.

The measure seeks to repeal the special tax, which supports the county Fire Protection District’s FP-5 service zone. The zone covers much of the High Desert, except where cities such as Victorville and Barstow have their own fire departments, and most of the San Bernardino Mountains. County fire also serves San Bernardino, Upland, Bloomington and Grand Terrace.

First authorized in 2006 — and covering a much smaller area — at a rate of $117 per parcel, along with an annual 3% cost of living increase, the annual tax has risen to $171.85 per parcel, according to the impartial analysis of the measure by the San Bernardino Office of County Counsel.

Ballot proponents objected to paying to protect vacant Mojave Desert land with nothing to burn. They also objected to the way the zone has been expanded by the Board of Supervisors over the years, imposing new taxes on residents of San Bernardino in 2016, Upland in 2017 and elsewhere without voter input.

Tax opponents failed to repeal the tax in 2020, when Measure U got 48% of the vote. They succeeded in 2022, when Measure Z passed with 58%. But legal challenges have stopped it from being implemented.

The tax raises $46.5 million annually, according to a report to the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors. That’s equal to 19% of the Fire Protection District’s 2023-24 budget.

Voter approval of the repeal “would result in less fire protection, less service to the public,” Fire Chief Dan Munsey told the board Oct. 24.