With the failure of Merced County Measure R to receive a two-thirds vote, Dos Palos is working on a new plan for fire safety.
Officials with the City of Dos Palos recently notified county officials that they intend to hold a special election in 2025 for the city’s own public safety sales tax measure.
If a half-cent tax measure passes in Dos Palos, it is estimated to generate around $250,000 annually. That money could go toward fire services.
However, county staff said the cost to maintain minimum staffing at fire stations is $1.5 million, so the county would still need to bear the brunt of that cost if an agreement was considered with Dos Palos.
Dos Palos Station 76 and Station 75 at the Dos Palos Y had originally been slated to merge into a single unified station at the Dos Palos Y.
Those plans are on hold, but contingent upon what happens with the sales tax proposal in Dos Palos.
Supervisor Scott Silveira, whose district includes the Westside, said he’s optimistic a half-cent sales tax to support fire would pass in Dos Palos.
“They are making an effort, and it’s not lost on me that through all of this discussion Dos Palos has been a good partner,” he said. “They have always tried to work with us as best as possible.”
Supervisor Lloyd Pereira said he struggled with approving the agreements and doesn’t see a viable solution when it comes to Dos Palos.
“When we get to the City of Dos Palos, it’s a lot of money and there is no solution down the road,” Pereira said. “If that (sales tax) measure doesn’t pass in the spring, then we’ve got to close the station.”
Meanwhile, county supervisors approved cost-sharing agreements to continue fire services in Livingston.
That will keep the Livingston fire station open while the city of Livingston establishes its own fire service once it begins collecting the 1% sales tax voters approved in November. The tax, known as Measure L, is projected to raise $2.3 million annually.
Back in May, the board had voted to close and consolidate a number of fire stations throughout the county because it couldn’t afford to maintain minimum staffing levels required by the state.
On Tuesday the board unanimously approved a cost-sharing agreement with the city of Livingston for $1.16 million to fund fire services for the next 18 months, or through June 2026, at the Livingston station.
