BY BRIANNA VACCARI

CV Journalism Collaborative

The Merced County Board of Supervisors has approved cost-sharing agreements to continue fire services in Merced and Livingston.

The agreements are necessary since Measure R, the countywide sales tax ballot measure for public safety, failed and because the county was not awarded federal grant money for firefighter positions. 

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. 

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.

The board also approved a cost-sharing agreement with the city of Merced to provide joint fire service to the McKee fire station area for two more years. 

Under that agreement, the county will pay the city $315,000 annually, with a 4% inflationary projected cost, for the city to provide primary fire and emergency service out of the county’s McKee Road station beginning in 2025.

Under the agreement, the city will send a fire squad to calls first until it’s determined whether county firefighters should respond as well.

The Merced City Council will vote on the contract during its Dec. 16 meeting. 

Supervisor Josh Pedrozo said he’s optimistic Merced leaders will approve the contract, saying he’s had months of discussions with city officials plus staff at UC Merced. Pedrozo also attended the Merced City Council meeting on Dec. 9 to answer any questions about the proposal.

“It’s something that I know we worked really hard on to make sure that we would be able to continue the protection out there,” Pedrozo said Tuesday, referring to the McKee station.

Supervisor Daron McDaniel credited Pedrozo with trying to find solutions for the McKee station. “I know this was very exhausting, it’s been a lot of time,” McDaniel said.

“Our offices are right next to each other, and the majority of his time has been spent working with the city (of Merced) … So I appreciate that effort very much.”

But some in the community have not been as complimentary on the fire stations issue.

During public comment on the item, former Merced Mayor Mike Murphy told the supervisors that once the agreement is up, he hopes the process to find a future solution is better, saying so far it’s been “a failure.”

Murphy has been among one of the board’s staunchest critics since plans emerged to close the stations earlier this year.

During Tuesday’s meeting, Murphy warned that the agreement is not a “forever fix.”

“The city’s giving you a good deal, but we’re going to do this again, and let’s not do it in this manner,” Murphy said.

Dos Palos to consider sales tax ballot measure for fire

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 a similar agreement was considered with Dos Palos.

Dos Palos Station 76 and Station 75 at the Dos Palos Wye had originally been slated to merge into a single unified station at the Dos Palos Wye.

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.”