Felton Fire Protection District—which in the years since the CZU Lightning Complex Fire has hemorrhaged volunteers, had Brown Act violations push out leadership and saw a director reprimanded for filling a personal pool with a department water truck—notched a major victory last Friday, as two-thirds of voters approved a new assessment to fund fire and emergency services.
“On a personal level, it was justifying,” said Interim Fire Chief Isaac Blum. “The plan came to fruition.”
Out of 1,181 ballots counted, 67.88% voted in support (825 for, 356 against). Four ballots were deemed invalid.
Each property owner in the district got a ballot package by mail beginning May 20. Ballots were weighted by the proportional assessment amount for each property.
“To continue operations and improve fire protection and emergency response service levels in the Felton community, the Fire District is proposing a new Fire Protection and Emergency Response Services Assessment,” read the information sent to around 6,000 residents. “The assessment rate for a typical single-family residential parcel, expressed as a single-family equivalent (SFE), would be $697.43 annually. Assessment rates for other property types within the District are calculated based on property use and size, with adjustments for factors such as relative fire risk, fire hazard severity zones, and travel time from the fire station.”
FFPD doesn’t get state or county funding, though it does get money from property taxes and fees—at a rate set in 1947.
The new assessment is expected to bring in over $1.7 million in the 2026-27 fiscal year.
“These funds will sustain us into the future,” said Blum, adding he was thrilled with the overwhelming support—as it only needed a majority to pass. “It was amazing to finally come full circle on this.”
In fact, only one person spoke against the assessment plan at the meeting, he added.
That public commenter was Luke Moeller, a former FFPD captain who said he quit because of “ethical concerns” about the board of directors.
“I’m here because I care about integrity, and I hope that going forward in the future we can vote for people for the board not based on ‘incumbent’ after their name, and based on their qualifications,” he said. “Can’t have the prisoners running the asylum, right Jim?”
He was referring to board member Jim Anderson. The Press Banner previously reported (in an opinion piece) that Anderson called rank-and-file firefighters “lazy” and even at one point remarked, “the inmates are running the asylum.”
During last week’s meeting, Moeller questioned a May 11 report from SCI Consulting Group, claiming it relied on “20-year-old studies from New Zealand and cherry-picked statistics,” suggesting FFPD could face lawsuits as a result.
The report states the Assessment District’s total service budget for fiscal year 2026-27 is an estimated $2,794,209, with the district contributing $1,088,724 from sources other than the new assessment.
The net cost of service to the District for 2026-27 is $1,705,485 ($2,794,209 less the $1,088,724 District contribution), to which an allowance of $1 per parcel (2,937 parcels) for County collection costs is added.
The assessment—which is technically not a tax (and varies based on a property’s fire risk)—is designed to:
- Increase firefighter staffing, training and retention;
- Preserve rapid response times by a fully-staffed, 24/7 fire station; and
- Improve maintenance and replacement of firefighting equipment and apparatus.
Felton Fire Protection District is one of several volunteer fire departments in the San Lorenzo Valley that cemented the respect of locals during the 2020 CZU Fire that devoured more than 900 homes in the county and claimed one life.
Many residents never moved back after the evacuation. Others are still trying to get rebuilding plans finalized.
Blum said the CZU Fire—and its aftermath—shaped opinions about the assessment.
“You could just feel, a lot of times, the strong conviction if you will—or feeling—one direction or another,” said Blum, adding he believes the assessment will prepare Felton for future wildfires. “It’s about being ready for the next incident.”
Rich Alter, a proponent of the assessment (with Felton Community for Emergency Response), said that during the CZU catastrophe, FFPD responded to multiple spot fires nearby, including one about 200 yards from his home. At the time, Cal Fire was occupied further south, he recalled.
“That experience stayed with me. It reminded me that having a capable local fire department already on scene is invaluable to ensure protection of our homes, property and health until other agencies are able to assist in major fire events, which are becoming increasingly common,” he said. “That’s why our campaign focused less on the cost of the assessment and more on what it would provide: a sustainable local fire department with three full-time firefighters on duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week, providing reliable emergency response when every minute counts.”
Ilo Nilson, another Felton resident, said there was a raucous atmosphere—laughter, high-fiving and hugs—after the votes were tabulated on July 24.
“The vote speaks for itself of the overwhelming community support for the assessment, and for Felton Fire’s plan moving forward,” Nilson said.
