Prop. S Will Provide Funding for New Fire Station
By Ruth Lepper

Rendering of the proposed firehouse. Photos by Amber Ward

Julian residents will vote Nov. 7 on a proposition that will provide funds for a new fire station and help to meet ongoing expenses

for the Julian/Cuyamaca Fire Protection District.

Proposition S calls for an annual benefit fee of $50 for each residence to be added to the county property tax roles. This amount doubles the current fee of $50. The additional money will garner between $125,000 to $135,000 annually for the fire protection district's coffers.

In order to pass, the proposition will need at least two-thirds of the votes. The proposition was written by District Fire Chief Kevin Dubler. There has not been any organized opposition to the proposition.

In addition to the fee for the residences, vacant land will be assessed $5 for each parcel up to four acres, not to exceed $20. Campgrounds could be assessed a maximum of $100.

"We're not trying to make this difficult to figure out nor are we trying to make this terribly expensive," Dubler said.

The current station.

The proposed new fire station, to be located near Jess Martin Park on State Route 79, will be three times the size of the current station, built in 1985 next to Frank Lane Park on Farmer Road.

The new 12,600-square-foot station will have ample space for housing the district's vehicles and room for on-duty firefighters.

The money collected will provide the necessary funds to help meet the cost of building the new $3.25 million fire station. If the proposition passes, groundbreaking on the new station could take place as early as summer of 2007, with construction complete in about a year, according to Dubler.

Both the properties on Farmer Road and State Route 79 are owned by Julian Community Services District; however, the fire district owns the fire station. With the passage of Proposition S, the five acres of vacant land on the east of Jess Martin Park will then be transferred to the fire district in exchange for ownership of the current building on Farmer Road.

Dubler said the benefit fee will drop to 25 percent once the construction costs are met. He estimates that will take about 20 years. Fees collected will continue to meet the district's operational expenses.

Julian/Cuyamaca Fire Protection District covers 87 square miles, servicing an area that extends from Inaja Memorial Park on State Route 78 to the base of Banner Grade, then from the base of Volcan Mountain on Farmer Road to Green Valley Falls on State Route 79.