SAN MIGUEL FIRE TO CONSIDER REDUCING SIZE OF BOARD

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June 9, 2010 (Spring Valley) – At tomorrow night’s meeting, San Miguel Fire District will consider reducing the size of its board from seven to five members. The meeting will be held at 6 p.m. at the District’s headquarters at 2850 Via Orange Way in Spring Valley.

 

The District originally had five members prior to an earlier consolidation two decades ago, but increased to seven members to assure representation of people in new areas added to the District’s service area. Since then, however, the elected offices have shifted to no longer be zonal, so all district residents vote on each member elected.

 

If the resolution passes, the board would be reduced by one seat in each of the next two elections. This November, when three members are up for reelection, only the top two vote-getters would be seated.

 

Reducing the board would save an estimated $19,000 in the first year per member and $40,000 per member in subsequent years (or up to $80,000 per year after the second election), said Leonard Villareal, spokesman for San Miguel.

 

That’s only a small fraction of the budget deficit facing the district and would not by itself be enough to restore Engine 15 or prevent firefighters' job losses. But Villareal added, “We’re going to continue to look for ways to manage this crisis and raise revenues, there is no stone we are unwilling to turn over.”
 


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