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Study: Merging AIDS Fire Districts: Officials Ponder Impact of Uniting the Galt and Elk Grove Agencies.

Posted on: Thursday, 11 May 2006, 12:06 CDT

By Sandy Louey, The Sacramento Bee, Calif.

May 11--Merging the Elk Grove Community Services District and the Galt Fire Protection District will help improve fire services, a consultant's report contends.

That is among the findings from a study prepared by Zamarripa Consulting. The community services district hired the Sacramento-based consulting firm in January to explore a merger between Galt Fire and the CSD.

The draft report is scheduled to be presented tonight to a nine-member committee formed to study the proposed consolidation.

The committee includes representatives from the two boards, a member from the Galt City Council, union representatives and the fire departments' chiefs.

Keith Grueneberg, chief of the Elk Grove CSD Fire Department, said Monday that the report shows a merger can work if both districts want to pursue it.

"Bottom line, it's very feasible. It makes a lot of sense," Grueneberg said. "It's financially acceptable, and it's what's needed for the future success of our department and theirs."

The Elk Grove Community Services District provides fire and park services for a 106-square-mile area. The Elk Grove fire department, which has a $33.5 million budget, has 141 employees and six fire stations.

The Galt Fire Protection District, with a $4.9 million budget, covers a 56-square-mile area with 31 employees and two fire stations.

Formal consolidation discussions began in January. Grueneberg had scheduled a meeting with the Galt fire board after Galt members of Sacramento Area Fire Fighters Local 522 voted in September to support a merger.

Galt firefighters want a pay hike if the entities merge. They are the lowest paid firefighters in Sacramento County, earning $44,000 to $50,000 a year. Elk Grove firefighters earn from $59,000 to $71,000 annually - highest in the Sacramento region.

The report from Zamarripa Consulting found that raising salaries for Galt firefighters and increasing staffing levels to improve service would cost about $1.1 million, but the net costs would be reduced to $384,309 after factoring in savings from eliminating duplicate positions such as the Galt fire chief position - now filled with an interim appointment - savings in services and supplies and increased revenue collections.

Grueneberg said combining resources makes sense because the departments will be called upon to help each other more as Elk Grove grows south and Galt grows north.

The two departments share a common boundary and have a long-standing mutual agreement. In 2005, Elk Grove fire provided equipment and personnel to help back up Galt fire 198 times, up from 71 in 2003, according to the report.

Elk Grove Deputy Chief Richard Holmes said a merger would increase staffing in Galt, easing the need to tap into Elk Grove fire's resources.

"A stronger Galt will reduce its dependence on Elk Grove," he said.

Galt fire also would benefit from a merger through increased training opportunities, newer equipment, more up-to-date facilities and stronger financial resources, the report states.

It also acknowledges that diminished local control and representation is an issue for some residents since the merger would result in a single governing body, most likely the Elk Grove CSD board.

The report included options to ensure that Galt would have representation in a new district. Options include an appointed advisory body, establishment of districts within the merged district and opportunity for Galt residents to run for the CSD board.

Galt fire board Chairman Guy Rutter said Monday the loss of local representation concerns him, especially since an advisory board would have little power.

"It wouldn't carry any weight at all," Rutter said.

In January, Rutter said he opposed a merger. He declined to say where he stands on the issue now.

Grueneberg said he hoped both boards would decide on a merger within the next two months.

If the boards are receptive to a merger, the formal consolidation process through the Sacramento Local Agency Formation Commission would take about a year, but a functional merger could begin as soon as both boards acted on it, Grueneberg said.

MEETING SET What: Fire Reorganization Feasibility Study Group meeting When: 6:30 p.m. today Where: Chabolla Center, 630 Chabolla Ave., Galt Key issue: A 72-page report by Zamarripa Consulting addressing issues associated with a possible merger of Elk Grove Community Services District and the Galt Fire Protection District.

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Copyright (c) 2006, The Sacramento Bee, Calif.

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Source: The Sacramento Bee

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