Fire protection and emergency response services are essential services our community relies on every day. Like many rural communities, Groveland is facing increasing challenges in sustaining long-term funding for these services.

This meeting is intended to provide information and begin a community conversation about the future of fire protection in Groveland.

The Groveland Community Services District (GCSD) provides fire protection through a Schedule A partnership contract with CAL FIRE, which provides professional fire personnel assigned to the Groveland CSD fire engine. GCSD provides the only fire engine dedicated specifically to serving the Groveland community.

Other engines in the region have broader responsibilities:

• CAL FIRE engines primarily focused on statewide wildfire response
• County engines serving wider regional areas and resorts

The current FY 2025-26 budgeted fire expense is $2,241,068.

Property tax revenue. Budgeted property tax revenue to FY 2025-26 is $1,475,554.

The District has drawn the Fire Fund Balance (reserves) over several years to cover the funding gap. At the current rate, the Fire Fund Balance is projected to reach a negative balance beginning in FY 2027–2028.

Yes. Over the past several years the District has pursued multiple funding options, including:

• Development impact fees for new development
• A Community Facilities District for new large commercial development and subdivisions
• Grant funding for equipment and projects
• Service fees where appropriate

Partnering with CAL FIRE allows the District to access trained personnel and extensive equipment resources without assuming those long-term liabilities.

Benefits include:

• Access to highly trained firefighters
• Access to additional equipment and personnel when needed
• Predictable contract costs
• No pension or workers’ compensation liability for the District

Operating an independent fire department would be more expensive and require:

• Hiring full-time firefighters
• Managing pensions and workers’ compensation
• Large increases to District’s liability and work comp insurance expense
• Maintaining training programs
• Providing administrative support and management

Maintaining a reliable volunteer department has become increasingly difficult to near impossible, especially in a rural community like Groveland.

Contributing factors:

• Many volunteer eligible residents work outside the area and unavailable for daytime calls
• Firefighting training and certification requirements are much more extensive today
• Most emergency medical calls now involve medical response, requiring advanced training
• Wildfire and structure fire response requires consistent staffing levels

For these reasons, many rural communities have transitioned to staffed fire protection models.

The District has been discussing fire funding challenges for several years through Board meetings and in the Management Discussion and Analysis section of the District’s annual audited financial statements.

Over the past several years, the District has evaluated and implemented available revenue options before reaching the current situation.

Yes. Insurance companies evaluate several factors when determining insurance availability and cost, including local fire protection and response capability. 

If the gap between revenue and expenses continues, the District will not be able to sustain the current level of fire protection and emergency response in Groveland.

The current service level already represents the minimum level of fire protection for the community.

No. This meeting is intended to share information and enhance the community conversation about the future of fire protection in Groveland. 

GCSD has engaged a third-party independent consultant specializing in fire service funding analysis and planning. The consultant will evaluate fire protections services, costs, and long term sustainability. The District will be scheduling a future community meeting to discuss the results and outcome of the study.