To: Board of Directors
From: Lewis Broschard, Chief, Contra Costa County Fire Protection District
Report Title: Intention to Continue to Levy Fire Suppression Benefit Assessments and a Supplemental Fire Suppression Benefit Assessment on all Parcels of Real Property in the town of Rodeo and the City of Hercules for Fiscal Year 2026-27
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
ADOPT a resolution to affirm continuing the levying and collection of the former Rodeo-Hercules Fire Protection District (RHFPD) Benefit Assessments by the adoption of the attached Resolution.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Adoption of the Benefit Assessment Resolution will result in approximately $1,366,244 in revenue for FY 2026-27.
BACKGROUND:
Prior to the annexation, RHFPD levied and collected Benefit Assessments by the adoption of the attached Resolution that authorized RHFPD to impose two Benefit Assessment fees: Ordinance 87-1 (and as amended by Ordinance 87-4) and Ordinance 97-1. The purpose of these assessments is to create a dedicated revenue stream to fund fire and emergency medical services to the town of Rodeo and the City of Hercules. The legal framework to establish the Benefit Assessment fee was through the creation and adoption of Ordinance 87-1 and was amended by Ordinance 87-4 to adjust and finalize the benefit assessment rates. As the community grew, operational costs exceeded revenue generated by Ordinance 87-4. To address the revenue shortfall, a Supplemental Fire Suppression Assessment was established in 1997 through Ordinance 97-1.
With the annexation of RHFPD on July 1, 2025, by the Contra Costa Fire Protection District (CCCFPD), the District is authorized to continue imposing the two Benefit Assessment fees. For assessments to continue, CCCFPD Fire Board is required, annually, to adopt a resolution to continue to levy the Fire Suppression Benefit Assessments at $52.00 per risk unit, and the Supplemental Fire Suppression Benefit Assessment at $59.00 per risk unit on all real property in the territory of the former Rodeo-Hercules Fire Protection District.
The funds are necessary to continue the level of service provided in the geographic area where the former Rodeo Hercules Fire District existed.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If the Resolution is not adopted, the District will not receive $1,366,244 in property tax funds that will benefit the geographic area of the former Rodeo-Hercules Fire Protection District. Service levels in this footprint could be affected without these funds.
THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
and for Special Districts, Agencies and Authorities Governed by the Board
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IN THE MATTER OF continuing the imposition of the Benefit Assessment Fees authorized by former Rodeo-Hercules Fire Protection District Ordinances 87-1 and Ordinance 98-1.
WHEREAS, effective July 1, 2025, the Contra Costa County Local Agency Formation Commission dissolved the former Rodeo-Hercules Fire Protection District (RHFPD), annexing the former RHFPD into the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District (CCCFPD), and authorizing CCCFPD to continue imposing the Benefit Assessment Fees authorized by former RHFPD Ordinances 87-1 (and as amended by Ordinance 87-4) and 98-1 within the territory of the former RHFPD for the benefit of that territory, among other powers connected with providing fire and emergency medical services in the former RHFPD territory; and
WHEREAS, the mission of CCCFPD is to provide fire protection and emergency response services throughout its boundaries; and
WHEREAS, CCCFPD is authorized, pursuant to the authority provided in California Government Code Section 50078 et seq. Article 3 of the California Constitution, to levy assessments within the meaning of Proposition 218; and
WHEREAS, assessments for fire protection and emergency services have been given the distinctive designations of the “Fire Suppression Assessment” and “Supplemental Fire Suppression Assessment” (“Assessment”), and are primarily described as encompassing the CCCFPD jurisdictional boundaries on all parcels of real property; and
WHEREAS, the Assessments were authorized by assessment ballot proceedings conducted in 1987 and then again in 1997, and approved by ballots returned by property owners, and such assessments were levied subsequently in each fiscal year by the Board of Directors of RHFPD; and
WHEREAS, the Fire Suppression assessment fees are not determined according to, nor in any manner based upon, the assessed value of property; this fee is based upon the improvements to said type of parcels and, the risk of fire attendant to such improvements and parcels.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Board of the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District:
Description of Assessment District. The Assessment District consists of the lots and parcels within the boundaries of the former RHFPD.
Description of the Services. Within the Assessment District, the proposed services and equipment to be funded by the assessments (“Services”) are generally described as including, but not limited to, obtaining, furnishing, operating, and maintaining fire suppression, protection and emergency services equipment and apparatus; paying salaries, benefits and other compensation for firefighting and fire prevention personnel; training and administration of personnel performing said fire suppression, protection and emergency services; community fire prevention education and fire inspection.
Parcel. The land and any improvements thereon, designated by an assessor’s parcel map and parcel number and carried on Contra Costa County’s secured property tax roll.
Assessment Rate. It is the intention of this Board to levy and collect assessments within the Assessment District for both the Fire Suppression Assessment and Supplemental Fire Suppression Assessment in the amount of $111.00 per one risk factor. The maximum assessment is determined by multiplying the fee rates times the risk units for a particular use.
Collection. The assessment on each parcel may be directly billed to the property owner or will be billed on the secured roll tax bills for ad valorem property taxes.
IF ANY PART OF THE RESOLUTION OR ANY ATTACHMENTS TO IT are for
any reason determined to be invalid or unconstitutional, such determination shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this Resolution or its attachments, and the Board hereby declares that it would have adopted this Resolution, and each section, subsection, sentence, clause, and phrase hereof, irrespective of any one or more sections, subsections, sentences, clauses or phrases being declared invalid or unconstitutional. The foregoing Resolution was duly and regularly adopted at a regular meeting of the CCCFPD Board of Directors meeting held on the 9th day of June, 2026, by the following vote of the Board: