Rohnert Park To Get $2.5M Annually Should Voters Pass Measure G

ROHNERT PARK, CA — Rohnert Park stands to receive an estimated $2.5 million per year from Measure G proceeds should Sonoma County voters approve the half-cent sales tax hike. Measure G, which needs two-thirds approval by voters in the upcoming March 3 primary election, would generate around $51 million for the county as a whole.

Ninety percent — $45.9 million — of the funds generated annually by the tax hike would be divided among the Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety and the county's 37 other incorporated and unincorporated fire agencies. The funds would go toward: recruitment and retention of firefighters; emergency alerts, warnings and sirens; wildfire prevention and preparedness, including vegetation management; fire response; and equipment and facilities.

If approved in March, it would take nine months for revenues from the special half-cent tax to start hitting government coffers.

Here's the breakdown of allotments:

• Independent Fire Districts: $ 25.82 million
• County Service Area 40: $7.8 million
• Santa Rosa: $5.5 million
• Rohnert Park: $2.5 million
• Petaluma: $1.96 million
• Sebastopol: $959,000
• Healdsburg: $786,000
• Sonoma: $566,000

The remaining 10 percent — $5.1 million — would go to the county to be divided between the Sonoma County Department of Emergency Management and the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors for other response and prevention needs, and the consolidation of fire agencies.

Fire agencies and districts — excluding city agencies — will receive the tax proceeds if they work toward regional consolidation to achieve efficient, effective and sustainable services in the county. Consolidation reviews will take place once every three years.

Measure G proceeds would not supplant a fire agency's general fund revenue from property and parcel taxes.

According to Healdsburg Fire Chief Jason Boaz, who serves as president of the Sonoma County Fire Chiefs Association, and other fire chiefs in the county, Measure G will allow for the hiring of approximately 200 more firefighters and fire prevention officers, to provide around-the-clock services.

Michael Hilber, who is running for the county's District 5 supervisor seat, opposes the half-cent tax as too much in view of the parcel and property taxes revenue fire agencies already receive. Hilburn says a quarter-cent tax would be adequate.

Hilber also believes too much tax revenue goes to large, unionized city fire departments and not to the county's volunteer fire agencies.

There is no sunset — expiration date — on the sales-tax hike; it would remain in effect until ended by voters.

Rohnert Park-Cotati readers: How do you plan to vote on Measure G? Tell us why in the comment section below.

Bay City News Service contributed to this report