CPF Locals Pitch Lawmakers For Critical Mutual Aid Funding
With California’s mutual aid system stressed to the breaking point by local budget rollbacks, California’s first responders took the issue directly to state lawmakers on Wednesday.
Their pitch: Pass the Emergency Response Initiative.
Speaking to a legislative budget committee, local firefighters from Central and Southern California joined California Professional Firefighters, CalChiefs and the entire fire service establishment in urging passage of the Emergency Response Initiative (ERI). The ERI would establish new, dedicated funding to shore up California’s mutual aid response system at the state and local level
“Our world-class mutual aid system is at risk because of the funding issues facing our fire agencies,” said CPF President Lou Paulson. “This threatens our ability to respond to earthquakes, mudslides, floods and wildland fires.”
The centerpiece of the ERI is the funding for mutual aid – up to half a billion dollars over three years. California’s fire agencies are on the front lines whenever disaster strikes, but the system has been starved by local budget cuts. That means fewer resources are available at critical times.
“We protect a community of over 200,000 with 27 firefighters per shift,” said Thanh Nguyen, a member of Garden Grove Firefighters. “Without a functioning mutual aid system, we can’t help others, and we also risk not getting the help we need in times of crisis.”
The ERI also provides critical funding support for CAL FIRE, Cal-EMA and the National Guard – all essential components of the state’s disaster response. In the first year, the ERI will protect CAL FIRE and its contract agencies from devastating budget cuts.
“Our department provides SRA protection for Kern County, so we are facing a double hit,” said Kern County Firefighters President Derek Robinson. “Our firefighters have been deployed all over California, but we can’t protect our communities and participate in state disaster response without some help.”
The funding source for the ERI is a modest 4.8 percent fee on homeowners insurance policies. The statewide fee recognizes that the disaster risk in California extends far beyond wildland fires.
“This is not a wildland fire issue … this is a California fire service issue,” said CalChiefs President Sheldon Gilbert.
Committee members took no immediate vote, but many expressed support for the goals of the ERI. Some rebelled against the fee, claiming it was really a tax. While acknowledging the politics of the issue, President Paulson said the time had come to put politics aside and do what’s best for the citizens.
“In 31 years responding to emergencies as a firefighter, not once has anyone ever asked me whether I was being supported by a fee or a tax,” said Paulson. “They just want us to respond. And they need us to respond with force when disaster strikes. That’s why we need the ERI.”