SPFD Funding Measure FAQ
“What exactly does would this measure do?”
Currently, there are three different taxes and assessments providing dedicated funding for the South Placer Fire Protection District. There are two in the Loomis area and one in the Granite Bay area.
For residential properties in the Loomis area, there is an existing parcel tax of $130 per year, and a benefit assessment of $276 per year, totaling approximately $406 per year.
For residential properties in the Granite Bay area, there is an existing parcel tax of $70 per year that was passed in 1981 WITHOUT an adjustment for inflation.
In 2022, the District was forced to close two stations in the Granite Bay area due to funding shortfalls.
This measure would do three things:
- Require the South Placer Fire Protection District Board of Directors to repeal the two exciting parcel taxes in Loomis and Grante Bay.
- Require the South Placer Fire Protection District Board of Directors to repeal the benefit assessment in Loomis.
- Establish a new, equally applied $375 per year parcel tax for residential properties across the entire District, and make sure commercial, industrial and High Hazard Occupancy properties (Big Box Stores) are paying their fair share of for the cost of emergency medical and fire response services. Some properties will be paying less, and some paying slightly more.
I heard one of the reasons why we’re in this negative funding situation is because back in the 1980s when Granite Bay voted to pay $70 for fire there wasn’t an inflation adjustor included. Is that true? Does this measure contain an inflation adjustment?
Yes, that is true. Back in the early 1980s, Granite Bay didn’t even exist; it was part of the Loomis Basin and it didn’t have the response needs our community has today. Residents in Granite Bay have been paying $70 for nearly 50 years with no adjustment for inflation. The US inflation rate between 1981 and 2026 results in a cumulative increase of 263.37 percent. A dollar in 2026 buys only 27.5 percent of what it could in 1981. The District’s operation costs have significantly increased since 1981.
This ordinance includes an inflation adjustor to align with the California Consumer Price Index as set forth by the California Department of Industrial Relations to ensure the South Placer Fire Protection District does not end up in this financial situation in the future.
What is the proposed fee structure?
| Character of Property | Tax Rate |
| Single-Family Residential | $375.00 per Parcel |
| Non-Residential Structures | $0.25 per building square foot |
- Multi-Family Parcels (including apartments, condominiums, duplexes, triplexes, etc.) shall be charged per Dwelling Unit at an amount equal to 50% of Single-Family Residential tax rate, equating to $187.50 per unit;
- Mobile Home Parks shall be charged per Mobile Home Pad at an amount equal to 50% of Single-Family Residential tax rate per space, equating to $187.50 per Mobile Home Pad;
- High or Severe Hazard Occupancy Structures (including commercial, industrial, etc.) shall be charged per building square foot at an amount equal to two times the Non-Residential Structures Tax Rate, equating to $0.50 per building square foot.
- Public properties shall be tax-exempt to the extent required by law.
“People in Loomis and Granite Bay pay different amounts. Would this measure make a single, uniform rate for both Loomis and Granite Bay?”
Yes, this measure ensures residents of Loomis and Granite Bay are paying the same amount, $375. This measure also ensures commercial and industrial properties are finally paying their fair share for emergency medical and firefighting response. This traditionally has not been the case.
“I thought our property taxes help fund the District. Isn’t that true?”
Minimally. For every dollar of property tax a resident pays, less than $.09 is returned to the District; over $.60 for every dollar goes to schools.
“Doesn’t the District receive sales tax revenue?”
No, the District does not receive sales tax revenue. Funding comes from unbalanced special assessments and taxes in Loomis and Granite Bay, grants, billings for medical transport and less than $.09 of every dollar of property tax.
“Would some people actually pay LESS than what they pay now if this measure passes?”
Yes, this is true. Especially residents in Loomis who are currently paying $406 on every single-family residential home. See who would pay what here.
“South Placer Fire Protection District has been in operation since the 1950s, why is a measure like this needed now?”
Yes, for nearly 50 years the residents of Granite Bay and Loomis have been paying different amounts. Granite Bay paying one rate ($70) since the early 1980s and Loomis, a volunteer fire department until the early 1980s, paying another ($406). It’s important to note that Granite Bay didn’t even exist in the early 1980s and was part of the Loomis Basin. The Granite Bay rate has been operating for nearly 50 years without being adjusted for inflation. When the Loomis Fire District and the South Placer Fire Protection District merged by consolidation through the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) process, rates were NOT equalized.
On top of this, costs to operate fire stations, maintain equipment and retain and attract experienced emergency medical responders has exponentially outpaced the flat-funding South Placer Fire Protection District receives. The community is well aware of these funding challenges as the South Placer Fire Protection District had to make the difficult decision to close two fire stations in 2022; additionally, positions have gone unfilled and maintenance has been deferred.
This measure would require the South Placer Fire Protection District Board of Directors repeal the current taxes and assessments on the books and replace with one uniform fee of $375 per single-family residential unit, with other parcels like commercial and industrial finally paying their fair share for emergency medical response and firefighting services.
“What are High or Severe Hazard Occupancy Structures? Are those just properties with a bunch of weeds?”
No, High or Severe Hazard Occupancy Structures tend to be large Big Box-type stores where many people can be found shopping or doing business at any one time. The concentration of so many people at any one time increases the need and likelihood for emergency medical and fire response.
MORE INFORMATION: Section 3, High or Severe Hazard Definition
Under the current funding structure, many of these properties have not been paying their fair share for emergency medical and firefighting response. This measure would ensure that no longer happens. High or Severe Hazard Occupancy Structures will be charged per building square foot at an amount equal to 2x the Non-Residential Tax Rate which is $.25 per square foot.
“How much is the District’s annual budget and how is the District funded?”
The District’s annual budget is $18 million. Funding comes from unbalanced special assessments and taxes in Loomis and Granite Bay, grants, billings for medical transport and less than $.09 of every dollar of property tax. Currently, this funding is flat and after paying emergency medical responders, firefighters and other personnel to keep pace with neighboring districts and departments, there is only $2 million left to run operations (fire stations, uniforms, pay utilities, fuel for engines and ambulances, utilities, etc.), train emergency medical responders and firefighters, and save for equipment maintenance and replacement.
“How much money would this measure generate?”
This measure will generate an additional $2.5 million dollars for a total of $5.75 million, annually.
“Would this measure affect the Community Facilities District (CFD) the District just adopted?”
No, the new CFDs that were established by the District last year will still be in effect. The South Placer Fire Protection District Board of Directors took that step as a way to obtain additional funding from new development. New development should be responsible for paying its fair share of emergency medical and firefighting response. The CFD and this measure ensures that happens now and into the future.
What do other neighboring Fire Districts pay annually?
Neighboring Newcastle Fire Protection District just recently consolidated with the Placer Hills Fire Protection District because it was running out of money and could no longer operate in a manner that kept the community safe. Residents in that Fire District will now be paying $521 annually. The measure proposed by South Placer Fire Protection District is nearly $150 less at $375.
“Why can’t South Placer Fire Protection District just get more money from the state or Placer County?”
Unfortunately, it’s not that simple. The state is facing a budget deficit and with money it does have, it goes to fund Cal-Fire, not independent fire districts. As for the County, it has always been the County’s practice to let Special Districts manage and fund themselves.
“How would this measure make our lives safer?”
Should this measure pass, additional funding would be used to maintain equipment, open closed fire stations, attract and retain experienced emergency medical responders to improve response times and firefighting capabilities ensuring residents, homes and businesses in Granite Bay and Loomis are safe.
“I know it’s hard for smaller fire districts like SPFD to retain and attract emergency medical responders. Would this measure help recruit and keep our firefighters?”
This is true. Emergency Medical Responders are in short supply. Due to the fact, that we are competing with neighboring departments and districts that can pay more, South Placer Fire Protection District struggles to fill vacant positions. The District has had several positions open for nearly a year. To reopen closed fire stations, we need emergency medical responders to staff them. This measure will help the District retain and attract experienced emergency medical responders.
“I’ve read the cost of one fire truck has almost tripled in just four years. Would this measure help the District maintain equipment and plan for future equipment replacements?”
Yes, the cost of equipment and apparatus has sky-rocketed in the last four years. In 2021, a new Fire Engine cost the District $680,000. In 2025, the cost of the same new Fire Engine cost $1.5 million. This measure is needed to ensure the District can maintain current equipment and plan to replace old equipment that improves our emergency medical responders and firefighters’ ability to fight fires, save homes and structures, and respond to medical emergencies.
“It’s great to have emergency medical responders but if we can’t afford to train them, that doesn’t help the community. Would this measure help improve training for SPFD firefighters?”
Yes, this measure would help the District retain and attract experienced emergency medical responders. Offering more training is one of the ways in which this will be accomplished. This measure would generate additional funding for emergency medical responder training.
“There are two closed fire stations in Granite Bay. Would this measure reopen the two closed fire stations?”
This biggest challenge for the District right now is the ability to retain and attract experienced emergency medical responders. The District can’t open stations if it doesn’t have emergency medical responders to staff them. This measure would generate additional funding to retain and attract emergency medical responders giving the District the ability to reopen closed fire stations.
“I’ve heard there is a big problem with pensions. Would this measure fund past pension obligations?”
Traditionally, unfunded pension obligations had been a big problem for public agencies. This measure wouldn’t fund past pension obligations, perse, but does generate additional funding to retain and attract experienced emergency medical responders that allow South Placer Fire Protection District the ability to compete with neighboring departments and districts in recruitment efforts. The District has had several positions go unfilled because of the funding challenges and keep pace with those departments and districts surrounding South Placer Fire Protection District.
“How does this measure provide more safety to the people of Granite Bay and Loomis?”
The District has already had to make the difficult decision to close two fire stations in 2022. The additional funding this measure would generate helps the District maintain equipment, attract and retain experienced emergency medical responders, reopens closed fire stations as well as makes investments to improve the District’s ability to fight fires, save homes and structures when fires occur and respond to medical emergencies.
“Could Placer County or the State take the money generated from a local measure like this and use it for something else?”
No, funds generated by this measure are guaranteed to only be used by the South Placer Fire Protection District for the items specified in the ordinance, and cannot be taken by any other local, county, state or federal agency.
“What other guarantees do Loomis and Granite Bay residents have that if this measure were to pass, the money would stay right here and be used to maintain equipment, attract and retain experienced emergency medical responders, improve SPFD’s ability to fight fires and save homes, and improve training and response times?”
The Ordinance outlines how the funds can be spent, who can spend the funds and specifically what taxpayer safeguards are in place to ensure the money is being spent the way voters intend. The funds cannot be taken by any other local, county, state or federal agency, there must be public audits and an annual report presented in a public meeting.
“How would this measure be assessed?
Should this measure pass, what a resident currently sees on their property tax bill would be repealed and replaced with an assessment of $375 for both Loomis and Granite Bay. Collection would begin in the tax year of July 2027.
“Does this measure ensure commercial and industrial properties are also paying their share?”
Yes, this measure ensures commercial and industrial properties, known as “High or Severe Hazard Occupancy Structures,” tend to be large Bix Box-type stores where many people can be found shopping or doing business at any one time. The concentration of so many people at any one time increases the likelihood for emergency medical and fire response. (Link to Ordinance, P. 3, High or Severe Hazard Definition).
Under the current funding structure, many of these properties have not been paying their fair share for emergency medical and firefighting response. This measure would ensure that no longer happens. High or Severe Hazard Occupancy Structures will be charged per building square foot at an amount equal to 2x the Non-Residential Tax Rate which is $.25 per square foot.
“Who votes on this measure?”
All registered voters in Granite Bay and Loomis will have the opportunity to vote on this measure in November 2026.