Felton Fire to Hold Special Meeting on Proposed Parcel Tax

By Mary Andersen

The Felton Fire Protection District (FFPD) has scheduled a special Board of Directors meeting for Thursday, September 11, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. to discuss a proposed $700 flat parcel tax that could significantly impact Felton residents, renters, and business owners. The meeting, expected to draw a large crowd, will take place in the FFPD Training Room at 131 Kirby Street in Felton.

The parcel tax proposal, which aims to generate approximately $1.25 million annually for five years, follows a contentious special meeting on Sept 6, where the board presented a draft proposal to place the tax measure on a December 2025 ballot. The election, estimated to cost the district $40,000, will require a two-thirds majority to pass. However, concerns have been raised about the transparency and process behind the proposal and viability of the election.

Critics have accused the FFPD board of insufficient public outreach, noting that the meeting was poorly advertised and attended by only about 15 people, which included firefighters from neighboring districts. Attendees criticized the board for failing to engage Felton voters as partners in the decision-making process, particularly around the tax amount, and that the decision appeared predetermined and rushed.

The proposal, detailed in a 10-page document presented at the meeting, drew scrutiny from FFPD board member Erica Schwanbeck for inconsistencies, redundancies, and reliance on AI-generated content.

Parcel tax funds would support various district needs, including hiring a permanent fire chief. Part-time Interim Chief Isaac Blum, who currently works full-time at NASA Ames/Moffett Field, is the board’s choice for the position with a potential salary significantly higher than those of chiefs in neighboring districts. This has sparked debate about whether such a salary aligns with community priorities. Funds would also support moving FFPD into a hybrid paid/volunteer model, rather than strictly volunteer. 

Board member Craig Winter, said that the reason for the special meetings was to gather community feedback. “To imply that we’re intentionally keeping people in the dark is disingenuous. This is not predetermined, our whole mission here has been crystal clear – to give the community the choice. And in order to do that we have to keep timelines. We don’t want to miss another year of funding,” he said. “The reason we’re rushing now is that we have to submit a special tax by law 88 days before the election. We have to meet these deadlines.”

LAFCO and FFPD

The pressure the FFPD board is facing was triggered by the Local Agency Formation Commission of Santa Cruz County (LAFCO) an organization that determines the most logical provider of public services in the county.

In light of multiple years of documented negligent and hostile board leadership, resulting in fire chief and squad turnover, resignations, declining volunteers, financial strain, and facilities neglect, LAFCO intensified its oversight identifying FFPD as a “struggling agency” and pushing the district toward mapping out a reshaping of operations or dissolution and merger with a neighboring district.

In June 2025, LAFCO commissioned a Governance Options Report (see below), released July 25, which outlined FFPD’s dire situation and proposed 12 solutions, including mergers with Zayante, County Service Area 48 (CSA 48), Ben Lomond, or Boulder Creek; hiring external services; or remaining independent with a new $700+ annual parcel tax. LAFCO ranked mergers as the most efficient particularly with Zayante, leveraging existing taxes or assessments. But FFPD’s board leaned toward independence to preserve their control. 

LAFCO’s report stressed the urgency of a viable plan to ensure reliable fire and EMS services, given the area’s wildfire risks and preponderance of medical calls. During the Sept 6 meeting, Chief Blum confirmed that his part-time status limited his ability to juggle all of the responsibilities of the district.

Still, Blum described recent improvements with the volunteer squad. “When I came in we had 12 on the roster, at this moment we now have 22 plus 10 in the hiring process who will start firefighter training,” he said.

Looking ahead, FFPD must submit a clear plan or risk LAFCO initiating an involuntary merger. Independence requires a special election for the $700 tax, while a merger demands a 6–12-month study on response times and finances. As Blum noted, “change looks like money,” whether through taxes or consolidation. 

At the Sept 6 meeting, the board conceded that they had not sought past funding remedies even while financial, leadership, and facilities challenges compounded. 

Next Steps for the Parcel Tax

A parcel tax is classified as a “special tax” requiring voter approval by a two-thirds (66.67%) majority. FFPD cannot unilaterally impose the tax without an election; it must be referred by the district’s board and involves coordination with the Santa Cruz County Elections Department, and County Counsel for legal review. 

The FFPD board’s next move is to adopt the resolution (1st presented at the Sept 6 special meeting and now being revised for the Sept 11 meeting) calling for the election. This resolution must specify the tax rate (e.g., $700 per parcel annually), duration (e.g., indefinite or fixed term), exemptions (e.g., for seniors or low-income owners), uses (e.g., personnel, fire/EMS services, with accountability measures like oversight committees and audits), and estimated revenue. The resolution also sets the election date and directs the Elections Department to conduct it. The full text of the measure, including an impartial analysis prepared by County Counsel, must be included. This step ensures compliance with Proposition 218 (1996), which mandates voter approval for special taxes. In addition the board has promised a detailed outline of expenditures. 

Direct arguments for the parcel tax are due 88 days before the election, hence the district’s rush to adopt their resolution by Thursday, Sept 11. The Elections Department will administer the election with mail ballots which will be mailed 29 days before Election Day; voters return them by mail, drop box, or Vote Center. Results are certified approximately 28 days post-election. If approved, the tax is collected via property tax bills starting the next fiscal year (July 1).

Winter describes the parcel tax election as an opportunity to give the community a choice – voting for a standalone fire station with its own chief and board, or to merge with another district. “You may not like the board, but that’s not the issue here. You are voting for a structure.” 

Know Your Felton Fire Board

Terms of office – 4 years

Jim Anderson, retired, first appointed 1999. Next election 2026.
Norm Crandell, chiropractor, first appointed 2021. Next election 2026.
Mike Shults, first appointed 2024, re-elected 2024. Next election 2028.
Erica Schwanbeck, manager at County Human Services Dept, first elected 2024. Next election 2028.
Craig Winter, tech founder, first appointed 2025 after Doug Conrad resigned. Next election 2028.

Featured photo by SLV Steve.