Voter Guide: Measure G would lift lid on Menlo fire district spending Voter Guide: Measure G would lift lid on Menlo fire district spending (October 23, 2002)

Measure G would lift the lid on spending by the Menlo Park Fire Protection District -- from about $15.3 million to $25 million a year. But fire officials point out that it would not increase taxes.

"It's not a new tax. It just allows us to spend the taxes that are already coming in," said district board member Del Krause, one of four directors who signed the ballot argument. No one filed an opposition argument.

With a 2002-2003 budget of $19.4 million, the Menlo Park Fire District is asking voters to raise its expenditure limit from the current $15,311,619 to $25 million a year for the next four years. Because no new taxes are involved, a majority vote will pass the measure.

The district provides fire protection and emergency services to 89,000 people in Menlo Park, Atherton, East Palo Alto, and adjacent unincorporated areas.

The need for Measure G stems from the Gann Initiative. This requires every local government to limit spending of tax revenues to an appropriations limit that is adjusted annually. Any government that wants to spend more in order to reflect growth or expanded services must ask its voters to approve a higher limit.

The fire board approved a district budget that is a 31 percent increase over the previous year, when it was $14.8 million.

The increase reflects a new contract with firefighters that substantially increases retirement benefits, Mr. Krause said. In addition, he said, the district needs new equipment -- including a new aerial ladder truck -- to serve new development in East Palo Alto.

"If this is defeated, we would have to cut way back on services," Mr. Krause said.