4c) Discussion and Possible Action Including Acceptance of Presentation of 1st Quarter Budget Report on the Status of County Departmental Spending and Revenues for Fiscal Year 2025-26 and Executive Office Recommendations; and Adoption of Resolution Amending the FY 2025-26 Adopted Budget
(Sponsor: Executive Office)
Mendocino County Board of Supervisors
501 Low Gap Rd
Ukiah, CA 95482
Attn: Clerk to the Board
Re: BOS 11-4-2024 Agenda Item 4.c
Q1 Budget Report "Emergency Medical Services (Sustainable Funding) ... Option 2 (Measure P Funds)"
Dear Chair and Members of the Board,
Fire Agencies have been working collaboratively with the Board of Supervisors since 2015. In 2022 the Board placed Measure P on the ballot and passed Resolution #22-159 to define its intended use that includes EMS and ambulance services. Fire agency supporters rallied and campaigned for Measure P's successful passage. Now 3 years later, County staff has proposed Option 2, which would withhold and redirecting portions of these funds to address EMS and ambulance transport issues. This approach is too narrowly focused and ignores Fire Agencies' core emergency medical response functions. All 20 local fire departments provide on-scene medical aid, and 5 also provide essential ambulance transport. These 5 currently receive 35% of Meas P's allocations to fire agencies. Redirecting funds away from these providers would neither strengthen nor help sustain the EMS system ... or serve the public interest.
The County's recognition of its need to support rural EMS and ambulance services is re-assuring and appreciated. However, developing Option 2 (and the other options) without consulting public provider agencies undermines collaboration and discounts the critical role fire agencies play in emergency medical transport. Solutions to rural ambulance availability depend on both funding and coordination with these public providers. Working together -- not independently -- the County and fire agencies can craft a more effective strategy for the sustainable provision of rural ambulance services. Hopefully, this misstep can result in a revitalized partnership.
The Mendocino County Fire Chiefs Association firmly opposes “Option 2: Utilize Existing Revenue Sources” of the County’s sustainable EMS funding presentation in Agenda item 4c & 4d 11/4/25.
Option 2, vaguely suggests that a reshuffling of existing Measure P revenue may stabilize and enhance EMS services.
It won’t, here’s why:
Fire Agencies already provide EMS services. The vast majority of emergency calls Fire Agencies respond to are medical calls. Whether or not agencies operate an ambulance, they provide triage and lifesaving care. Revenues from Measure P, Measure D and Prop 172 are what fund the infrastructure of EMS services: radios, rescue vehicles, medical supplies, training etc. Diverting Measure P funds away from agencies to “stabilize” and “enhance” EMS services is counterproductive, because Fire Agencies are already what stabilizes and enhances EMS services. Especially when considering the overwhelming number of first responders in this County are volunteers.
The County lacks a clear long-term strategy, which should come well before suggesting a redirect of voter-supported funding allocations. The County should work directly with Fire Agencies to define a credible, collaborative and transparent plan. That means understanding the service, infrastructure, personnel, training and administrative needs in coordination with the agencies that provide those emergency services. By not engaging with Fire Agencies to develop solutions, the County undermines the cooperative planning and trust needed to strengthen EMS services countywide.
Voters were told clearly and repeatedly that Measure P would be distributed according to the method defined by Fire Agencies for Fire Agencies. Voters understood Measure P as a commitment to funding Fire Agencies, not creating a revenue stream for the County to re-prioritize later. Redirecting Measure P would damage the credibility of the County, the Board of Supervisors and any future tax measures.
MCFCA urges the Board of Supervisors to reject Option 2 and direct staff to cease bringing similar recommendations forward. Continuing to suggest dismantling Measure P does nothing but foster a relationship of mistrust and frustration with the Fire Agencies that are relied on to ensure a safe community.
Sincerely,
Chief Doug Hutchison
President, Mendocino County Fire Chiefs Association
To the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors,
The Mendocino County Fire Safe Council (MCFSC) submits this letter requesting that the Board of Supervisors firmly reject “Option 2: Utilize Existing Revenue Sources” as potential solution to “Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Sustainable Funding,” which is proposed as part of both Agenda items 4c and 4d in the November 4, 2025, agenda.
While helping to obtain additional funding to support EMS services is critical, the proposed Option 2 is not a solution. As per the will of the Mendocino County voters who approved it, Measure P money is already allocated to the County’s Fire Districts and the Fire Districts which provide EMS services. The issue is that current Fire District funding is insufficient to support the range of services the public relies on those emergency service agencies to provide. Rearranging those funds will contribute nothing to a solution. It would instead merely be an overreach by the County into district operations, diverting energy that the County could better use in managing its own operations.
More importantly, any County proposal to change the allocation of Measure P funding is a proposal to disregard the will of the voters. Measure P funds are allocated in a manner determined by and for agencies that provide fire and emergency services. To maintain any credibility with voters the County needs to keep its fingers off that voter-approved allocation. The Board of Supervisors should use this opportunity to direct staff to cease making proposals that would violate the voter’s intent in passing Measure P both now and in the future.
Sincerely,
Nancy Armstrong-Frost
Board President, Mendocino County Fire Safe Council
Mendocino County Board of Supervisors
501 Low Gap Rd
Ukiah, CA 95482
Attn: Clerk to the Board
Re: BOS 11-4-2024 Agenda Item 4.c
Q1 Budget Report "Emergency Medical Services (Sustainable Funding) ... Option 2 (Measure P Funds)"
Dear Chair and Members of the Board,
Fire Agencies have been working collaboratively with the Board of Supervisors since 2015. In 2022 the Board placed Measure P on the ballot and passed Resolution #22-159 to define its intended use that includes EMS and ambulance services. Fire agency supporters rallied and campaigned for Measure P's successful passage. Now 3 years later, County staff has proposed Option 2, which would withhold and redirecting portions of these funds to address EMS and ambulance transport issues. This approach is too narrowly focused and ignores Fire Agencies' core emergency medical response functions. All 20 local fire departments provide on-scene medical aid, and 5 also provide essential ambulance transport. These 5 currently receive 35% of Meas P's allocations to fire agencies. Redirecting funds away from these providers would neither strengthen nor help sustain the EMS system ... or serve the public interest.
The County's recognition of its need to support rural EMS and ambulance services is re-assuring and appreciated. However, developing Option 2 (and the other options) without consulting public provider agencies undermines collaboration and discounts the critical role fire agencies play in emergency medical transport. Solutions to rural ambulance availability depend on both funding and coordination with these public providers. Working together -- not independently -- the County and fire agencies can craft a more effective strategy for the sustainable provision of rural ambulance services. Hopefully, this misstep can result in a revitalized partnership.
Respectfully,
Ben MacMillan
Elk CSD
The Mendocino County Fire Chiefs Association firmly opposes “Option 2: Utilize Existing Revenue Sources” of the County’s sustainable EMS funding presentation in Agenda item 4c & 4d 11/4/25.
Option 2, vaguely suggests that a reshuffling of existing Measure P revenue may stabilize and enhance EMS services.
It won’t, here’s why:
Fire Agencies already provide EMS services. The vast majority of emergency calls Fire Agencies respond to are medical calls. Whether or not agencies operate an ambulance, they provide triage and lifesaving care. Revenues from Measure P, Measure D and Prop 172 are what fund the infrastructure of EMS services: radios, rescue vehicles, medical supplies, training etc. Diverting Measure P funds away from agencies to “stabilize” and “enhance” EMS services is counterproductive, because Fire Agencies are already what stabilizes and enhances EMS services. Especially when considering the overwhelming number of first responders in this County are volunteers.
The County lacks a clear long-term strategy, which should come well before suggesting a redirect of voter-supported funding allocations. The County should work directly with Fire Agencies to define a credible, collaborative and transparent plan. That means understanding the service, infrastructure, personnel, training and administrative needs in coordination with the agencies that provide those emergency services. By not engaging with Fire Agencies to develop solutions, the County undermines the cooperative planning and trust needed to strengthen EMS services countywide.
Voters were told clearly and repeatedly that Measure P would be distributed according to the method defined by Fire Agencies for Fire Agencies. Voters understood Measure P as a commitment to funding Fire Agencies, not creating a revenue stream for the County to re-prioritize later. Redirecting Measure P would damage the credibility of the County, the Board of Supervisors and any future tax measures.
MCFCA urges the Board of Supervisors to reject Option 2 and direct staff to cease bringing similar recommendations forward. Continuing to suggest dismantling Measure P does nothing but foster a relationship of mistrust and frustration with the Fire Agencies that are relied on to ensure a safe community.
Sincerely,
Chief Doug Hutchison
President, Mendocino County Fire Chiefs Association
To the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors,
The Mendocino County Fire Safe Council (MCFSC) submits this letter requesting that the Board of Supervisors firmly reject “Option 2: Utilize Existing Revenue Sources” as potential solution to “Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Sustainable Funding,” which is proposed as part of both Agenda items 4c and 4d in the November 4, 2025, agenda.
While helping to obtain additional funding to support EMS services is critical, the proposed Option 2 is not a solution. As per the will of the Mendocino County voters who approved it, Measure P money is already allocated to the County’s Fire Districts and the Fire Districts which provide EMS services. The issue is that current Fire District funding is insufficient to support the range of services the public relies on those emergency service agencies to provide. Rearranging those funds will contribute nothing to a solution. It would instead merely be an overreach by the County into district operations, diverting energy that the County could better use in managing its own operations.
More importantly, any County proposal to change the allocation of Measure P funding is a proposal to disregard the will of the voters. Measure P funds are allocated in a manner determined by and for agencies that provide fire and emergency services. To maintain any credibility with voters the County needs to keep its fingers off that voter-approved allocation. The Board of Supervisors should use this opportunity to direct staff to cease making proposals that would violate the voter’s intent in passing Measure P both now and in the future.
Sincerely,
Nancy Armstrong-Frost
Board President, Mendocino County Fire Safe Council