{"id":3440,"date":"2026-07-01T07:07:56","date_gmt":"2026-07-01T07:07:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=3440"},"modified":"2026-07-01T07:07:56","modified_gmt":"2026-07-01T07:07:56","slug":"richmond-considers-tax-measures-to-address-decades-old-fire-department-needs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=3440","title":{"rendered":"Richmond considers tax measures to address decades-old fire department needs"},"content":{"rendered":"
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RICHMOND \u2014 The lower level of care Richmond firefighters are allowed to provide when called to an emergency has put the city at odds with the rest of the county for decades. A possible November ballot measure could begin to rectify that issue.<\/p>\n

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A team of public research firms say the city has good odds of passing a bond measure this year that could help raise about $120 million annually to improve fire department infrastructure. A potential property tax rate of $40 per $100,000 of assessed value was considered, but official ballot language has yet to be finalized.<\/p>\n

The funds would be a first step toward overhauling aging facilities and below-standard levels of care, longtime concerns for both city officials and residents.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe think we\u2019re on a very positive path forward,\u201d City Manager Shasa Curl told the City Council at a June 23 meeting.<\/p>\n

If approved, the bond measure would be used to renovate seven fire stations, from bringing sleeping quarters and equipment up to code and industry standards, to repairing electrical, leaky roofs and pipes and reconstructing seismically unsound facilities.<\/p>\n

The conditions at some stations were described as \u201chorrendous\u201d by Councilmember Doria Robinson, who has been a steady advocate for renovating facilities.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe absolutely have to address the poor states of our fire stations,\u201d Robinson said.<\/p>\n

In a survey conducted in May of 800 likely Richmond voters, the bond was pitched as a way to \u201censure rapid 911 emergency medical response,\u201d and resiliency during disasters. After testing arguments for and against the measure, 69% of respondents said they\u2019d support the bond, clearing the two-thirds threshold it would need to pass.<\/p>\n

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While the bond would address ongoing infrastructure concerns, personnel medical response polled as a top issue for potential voters, according to the survey.<\/p>\n

The number one ranking priority, at 85%, is providing 24\/7 emergency paramedic care for people experiencing heart attacks, strokes, overdoses, serious traumatic injury, and other significant medical conditions.<\/p>\n

The Richmond Fire Department is currently the only department not allowed to provide that kind of care due to being designated as a basic life support provider. Largely staffed with firefighters who are also emergency medical technicians, the department is only allowed to administer care like CPR, defibrillation, basic airway management, medical assessments, blood sugar testing, and basic trauma treatments.<\/p>\n

Other fire departments in the county are Advanced Life Support certified agencies that appear at emergencies with at least one paramedic who can offer more significant care like EKG monitoring, cardiac pacing, manual defibrillation, pain and advanced airway management, and trauma and medical treatments.<\/p>\n

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Around 10 of the department\u2019s 89 firefighters are certified paramedics, but the basic life support designation means they can only administer lower level care. When called for emergencies, Richmond fire trucks are often the first to arrive, with other agencies permitted to provide a higher level of care showing on scene after.<\/p>\n

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\u201cIt really resonates with voters the importance of bringing Richmond up to standard with other cities around the county, particularly for life-saving care where every moment matters,\u201d said Dr. Shakari Byerly, managing partner with Evitarus, one of the research firms that studied potential tax measures in Richmond.<\/p>\n

Since 2007, there have been multiple Contra Costa County Civil Grand Jury reports that have studied various fire departments across the county. Among the reports are recommendations that Richmond upgrade its service to Advanced Life Support levels.<\/p>\n

In response, the city has agreed to do so but also noted the transition would take time. Multiple attempts to get the program off the ground have failed, either due to a lack of funding or political will, Richmond Fire Chief Aaron Osorio said.<\/p>\n

With reinvigorated support, Osorio said he\u2019s laid the groundwork to establish the program but still needs a firm budget promise.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is like going out to buy a home. It\u2019s going to be the most significant investment you\u2019re going to make. You don\u2019t do that without knowing how much you can afford, what\u2019s your budget,\u201d Osorio said.<\/p>\n

About half of the 14,284 emergency calls made to the Richmond Fire Department in 2025 were for medical services, according to the latest department calendar incident report. But how a program both the community and officials say is needed will be funded is still unclear.<\/p>\n

Bond funds are legally limited to infrastructure costs and the council shared uncertainty about whether they\u2019d have the general fund dollars to support the program. Without a funding guarantee, Osorio said the program would be staffed through attrition.<\/p>\n

A possible funding option is a parcel tax which was also studied alongside the bond measure. About 64% of respondents said they would support a parcel tax that charges property owners $67 annually to cover 24\/7 paramedic emergency medical response services.<\/p>\n

Though those services were a top priority for respondents, the firms noted support for a parcel tax was softer than the bond. They recommended the city move forward with the bond measure in November and consider placing a parcel tax measure on the ballot in a few years.<\/p>\n

Other tax measures meant to support fire services have been passed in the county. Measure X, a half-cent sales tax approved by voters in 2020, raises about $120 million annually for medical and fire services, homelessness, and other safety net programs.<\/p>\n

Approved in 2016 was Measure O, a $251 annual parcel tax that funded the operation of two fire stations for the Rodeo-Hercules Fire District, which was annexed into the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District in July 2025.<\/p>\n

Richmond councilmembers have until early August to decide if a bond measure will be placed on the November ballot.<\/p>\n

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The funds would be a first step toward overhauling aging facilities and below-standard levels of care, longtime concerns for both city officials and residents.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3439,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3440","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-local-news"],"yoast_head":"\nRichmond considers tax measures to address decades-old fire department needs - Next City Digest<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=3440\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Richmond considers tax measures to address decades-old fire department needs - 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