FIRE DISTRICT TAX DECREASE EXPECTED TO BE HOT TOPIC.

Byline: Troy Anderson Staff Writer

In a proposal that has stunned taxpayer advocates, Los Angeles County supervisors today plan to consider reducing the voter-approved fire protection district tax by 6 percent for the second consecutive year.

County Fire Department Chief P. Michael Freeman said the Consolidated Fire Protection District would be able to operate efficiently and still make ``modest'' improvements under his plan to reduce the parcel tax by $3, to $46.93 for the owner of a single-family home. The new assessment would generate $52.7 million, a $3.4 million drop in revenue from the current fiscal year.

``You remember (TV's ``Sanford and Son'') where Redd Foxx is stumbling around, clutching his heart? That's how I feel right now,'' said Kris Vosburgh, executive director of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association.

``I've been here for 15 years, and I've never seen a tax reduced.

``They are usually very quiet and find a way to spend the money. It's this kind of action that could be the beginning of restoring public confidence in elected officials, assuming the supervisors approve this.''

The tax, approved by voters in 1997, pays for fire protection and paramedic services for 3.9 million residents living in unincorporated Los Angeles County and 48 cities that contract with the department for service. The fee is listed on the annual property tax bill under ``Detail of Taxes Due, Direct Assessments.''

Freeman proposed reducing the fire district tax because of a 10 percent jump in the revenue the department receives from the county's general fund - the result of the booming real estate market.

The department has a $71 million balance in its operating fund and about $25 million in cash reserves.

``In the current environment, the Fire Department has reserves and a fund balance, and the $3 million that would be given up is not needed this year,'' County Chief Administrative Officer David Janssen said. ``(Freeman's) opinion is that the fee is a budget-balancing tool, and it should only be used when absolutely necessary.''

But members of Los Angeles County Fire Fighters, Local 1014, plan to speak today against the proposed reduction in the parcel tax, saying any budget surplus should be used to hire more firefighters.

``They also want the money put into salaries,'' Janssen said.

County firefighters have gone without a pay raise for more than two years.

In July, Freeman said that benefits for county firefighters have become so expensive - equaling 59 percent of their base salaries - that it's become cheaper to pay them massive amounts of overtime than to increase staffing.

A Daily News review of salary and overtime records found that more than 940 county firefighters boosted their salaries by more than 50 percent with overtime in 2002-03, and 15 more than doubled their salaries, including a captain who took home $217,036.

Dave Gillotte, president of the firefighters union, said the union's negotiations for a new contract and the proposed tax cut are two different issues.

``The only thing we are asking is whether we make such a rebate without making sure all of our operational needs - training, staffing and education - are met prior to making this tax adjustment.

``We are going to be there to address issues of public concern regarding public safety. It's an important decision, and we feel they ought to hear from the rank-and-file firefighters before they make the decision.''

Troy Anderson, [phone]

troy.anderson(at)dailynews.com

AFFECTED AREAS

The voter-approved fire-protection tax is levied in unincorporated Los Angeles County and in 48 cities, including Agoura Hills, Calabasas, Hidden Hills, La Canada Flintridge, Lancaster, Malibu, Palmdale, Santa Clarita, West Hollywood and Westlake Village.

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AFFECTED AREAS (see text)