Fire Agencies are underfunded in Sonoma County. The Board of Supervisors have the ability and obligation to support fire agencies within Sonoma County to make the county safer for residents and visitors.

We, the communities of Sonoma County recognize that the County of Sonoma has the discretion to appropriate Proposition 172 funds.  Under Proposition 172, cities and counties must use their allocations from the half-cent sales tax to support “public safety” functions. Furthermore, Senate Bill 509 defines public safety functions to include, but not be limited to: police and sheriffs, fire protection, county district attorneys, ocean lifeguards, and county corrections. To date, not one penny has been given to fire protection in Sonoma County.  In F/Y 2006-07, Sonoma County diverted all $40 million to the Sheriff, Police, the District Attorney, and Corrections.

While the County of Sonoma may not have a legal obligation to provide public safety services to the residents and visitors of our un-incorporated towns, they do have the means and the wherewithal to provide funding specifically designated for this purpose.

 The communities of Sonoma County demand that these funds be reallocated to all the agencies that deserve these funds.