To: Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): County Executive’s Office
Staff Name and Phone Number: M. Christina Rivera, Christel Querijero, Maggie Luce 707-565-1796
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Sonoma Valley Fire District Revenue Sharing Agreement
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Delegate authority to the County Executive or designee to execute a Revenue Sharing Agreement with the Sonoma Valley Fire District.
end
Executive Summary:
This item requests authorization to delegate authority to the County Executive or designee to execute a revenue sharing agreement with Sonoma Valley Fire District (SVFD) for an annual amount of $206,710.73. This agreement is a continuation of the ongoing supplemental funding approach established by the County on January 25, 2022 <https://sonoma-county.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=5383597&GUID=48B15846-1D0D-4076-BB51-5AB07A552201&Options=&Search=>, when the County entered into various tax exchange and revenue sharing agreements with multiple fire agencies as part of the Fire Services Project, including a revenue sharing agreement with the Kenwood Fire Protection District. The Kenwood Fire Protection District was consolidated into SVFD on May 20, 2025, and the new revenue sharing agreement with SVFD will continue the former Kenwood Fire Protection District revenue sharing payments under the same terms and conditions, as was contemplated in the prior agreement.
In March of 2024, Sonoma County Voters approved Measure H, a voter-initiated ½ cent sales tax to support fire services. Following the passage of Measure H, the County negotiated with local fire agencies to reduce the amount of County discretionary funding for fire services by approximately $1 million/year. The County’s Fire Services Program continues its commitment in funding annual revenue sharing agreements, such as this SVFD agreement, aiming to improve efficiency and effectiveness in countywide fire service provision.
Discussion:
The Board of Supervisors began dedicating funds in 2015 to the Fire Services Project, including a portion of the County's Proposition 172 Public Safety funds, Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) revenue, and other discretionary funding sources, in order to enhance fire services within Sonoma County. These funds have facilitated the reorganization of County Service Area 40 (CSA-40) territories and other key fire agency consolidations through revenue sharing agreements that provide additional sources of revenue, including County discretionary funding, to stabilize newly consolidated districts.
On January 25, 2022 <https://sonoma-county.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=5383597&GUID=48B15846-1D0D-4076-BB51-5AB07A552201&Options=&Search=>, the County executed various tax exchange and revenue sharing agreements with multiple fire agencies as part of the Fire Services Project. The Fire Services Project seeks to facilitate the provision of more efficient, effective and sustainable fire services in Sonoma County, in part through fire agency consolidations. The 2022 agreements included an agreement with the Kenwood Fire Protection District (“Kenwood Agreement”), which provided, in part, for a revenue sharing payment in perpetuity for the Kenwood Fire Protection District as a means of providing ongoing supplemental funding to facilitate possible consolidation with another fire district. The Kenwood Agreement included a termination clause that in the event Kenwood consolidated with another fire agency, the Kenwood Agreement would become void, but that the County and the consolidating fire agency could enter into a new revenue sharing agreement.
On May 20, 2025, the Kenwood Fire Protection District was consolidated into the Sonoma Valley Fire District. This new revenue sharing agreement with the consolidated Fire District will continue the former Kenwood Fire Protection District revenue sharing payment under the same terms and conditions, supporting the County’s interest to continue to provide effective and efficient fire protection services countywide. The annual payment to Sonoma Valley Fire District will be $206,710.73, adjusted annually for CPI, and will continue in perpetuity subject to the provisions of this agreement. This initial dollar figure is a baseline amount, that shall be annually adjusted based on the percentage change in the annual San Francisco Area Consumer Price Index (“CPI”) issued in January of each year, over the prior year.
Strategic Plan:
N/A
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
January 25, 2022: Approval of Fire Agency Consolidation/Stabilization Agreements and Update on Funding Efforts <https://sonoma-county.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=5383597&GUID=48B15846-1D0D-4076-BB51-5AB07A552201&Options=&Search=>
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY25-26 Adopted |
FY26-27 Projected |
FY27-28 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
$206,711 |
$206,711 |
$206,711 |
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
|
|
|
|
Total Expenditures |
$206,711 |
$206,711 |
$206,711 |
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
|
|
General Fund/WA GF |
|
|
|
|
State/Federal |
|
|
|
|
Fees/Other |
|
|
|
|
Use of Fund Balance |
$206,711 |
$206,711 |
$206,711 |
|
General Fund Contingencies |
|
|
|
|
Total Sources |
$206,711 |
$206,711 |
$206,711 |
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
There will be no changes in fiscal impact. The funding for the annual revenue sharing agreement is already built into the Fire Services Project budget, which is funded through a portion of the County's Proposition 172 Public Safety funds, Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) revenue, and other discretionary funding sources.
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Staffing Impacts: |
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Position Title (Payroll Classification) |
Monthly Salary Range (A-I Step) |
Additions (Number) |
Deletions (Number) |
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|
|
|
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Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
N/A
Attachments:
Attachment A: 2025 SVFD Annual Revenue Sharing Agreement
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None