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News & Features
From the Idyllwild Town Crier weekly newspaper, 10.29.09 edition.
IFPD has deal with county
By J.P. Crumrine, News
Editor
President Paul Riggi scheduled a meeting for
Monday morning, Oct. 26, to resolve the Idyllwild Fire Protection
District’s (IFPD) failure to get its special assessment on Riverside
County’s tax bills this year.
Only Commissioner Lloyd Vaught heeded Riggi’s call. Consequently,
needing three commissioners for a quorum, the meeting was canceled.
As of press time, the Town Crier has received no notice of when it will
be rescheduled.
Although no business was conducted, Riggi and Fire Chief Steve Kunkle
described the district’s options to collect its special assessment this
fiscal year and the agreement County Treasurer Don Kent is willing to
offer the district.
The county will issue supplemental tax bills to IFPD property owners.
The cost to the district will be limited to $1 per bill, Kunkle said.
This is a considerable savings from the treasurer’s office stated cost
for reissuing tax bills.
It was originally estimated that the omission would cost the district
about $35,000. “We are authorized to charge up to $10,” explained Don
Kent. “We’re trying to help because one fire could wipe out your
budget."
The total cost of about $3,500 will cover the county’s cost of mailing,
Kent said. In addition, he expects IFPD to prepare a letter to enclose
in the mailing. He wants IFPD to explain, especially to non-resident
property owners, why this situation happened.
IFPD has an alternative option, according to Kunkle. The district could
send the bills directly to property owners. This could be accomplished
through a contract with a private data firm such as Rapid Data, which
IFPD uses, Kunkle said.
“We could do it ourselves,” he said, “but I can’t expect it to be less
than a $1.”
In response to a question, Kunkle said the district should receive its
assessment funds about the same time as in previous years.
Kent stressed that this year was special circumstances and the district
should not be late in the future.
At the outset of the session, Riggi announced a special meeting at 1
p.m. Monday, Nov. 2. He has invited David Marion, auditor and partner
in Smith Marion & Co., the firm conducting IFPD’s audits, to come
and discuss the status of IFPD’s audits from 2005 through 2009.
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