Barger Endorses Pasadena Measure PFD Fire Parcel Tax

Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger has endorsed Pasadena’s Measure PFD, joining firefighters and a nurses union in supporting the proposed parcel tax for fire and emergency services.

Barger, whose 5th District includes Pasadena, announced her support Tuesday through the Yes on Pasadena Measure PFD campaign.

“Pasadena has less firefighters than it did seventy five years ago, but ten times more 911 calls,” Barger said in a statement released by the campaign. “Measure PFD keeps local Pasadena stations open, and puts more firefighters and paramedics in them.”

Barger also pointed to provisions restricting how revenue from the measure could be spent, saying the measure includes accountability requirements intended to ensure the money is used for fire protection and emergency response.

Her endorsement follows support from the Pasadena Firefighters Association Local 809 and the United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals. The nurses union announced its endorsement last week.

Measure PFD, formally titled the Pasadena 911 Firefighter/Paramedic Emergency Medical/Wildfire Preparedness/Response Measure, will appear on Pasadena’s Nov. 3 ballot.

If approved, the measure would impose an annual parcel tax of 19 cents per square foot of improvements on developed property and is estimated to generate approximately $22.1 million annually. A 1,600-square-foot home would pay about $304 annually, or roughly $25.33 per month.

Revenue could be used to maintain firefighter, paramedic and 911 emergency response services; purchase and upgrade emergency equipment and communications systems; expand wildfire preparedness and brush clearance programs; and construct or modernize fire facilities.

Among the projects identified by the city are earthquake retrofits or reconstruction of Fire Stations 33 and 37 and construction of a new fire station and firefighter-paramedic training center. Those projects are estimated to cost more than $100 million combined.

The tax would expire after 14 years and would not include an annual cost-of-living increase. Revenue would be restricted to local fire and emergency services, with independent audits and public disclosure requirements.

Because the measure is a special tax dedicated to specific purposes, it requires approval from two-thirds of voters.

The campaign supporting Measure PFD is currently running two digital advertisements, “Every Minute Counts” and “Protecting Pasadena.”

The measure has also drawn opposition from property-owner organizations. The Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles has argued that the tax would place a disproportionate share of the cost of fire and emergency services on property owners. The Building Owners and Managers Association of Greater Los Angeles has also raised concerns about the financial impact on commercial property owners.

The Pasadena City Council voted in August to place the measure on the November ballot.