A new tax is headed to the March ballots...
On Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors agreed to put a parcel tax on the ballot next year, a tax that would send more money and upgraded equipment to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
According to Fire Chief Daryl Osby, calls into the department have shot up more than 50% since back in 2008, however they've only seen a 5% increase in the number of paramedic units.
"We have not asked for anything in over 23 years,'' Osby told the Board of Supervisors. "I come here as a last resort to ask for your support.''
The 6-cents-per-square-foot parcel tax was motioned after a 2018 assessment showed that the county fire department was in fact underfunded, and under-resourced.
"It showed that our fire district needs at least $1.4 billion just to upgrade and replace (equipment and technology),'' Supervisor Janice Hahn said.
If it's approved by two-thirds of the voters in March, the parcel tax would raise an estimated $134 million annually.
"Voters are getting pretty tired,'' Jon Coupal, president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association said, pointing to high state income tax, sales tax and gas tax rates. "Even though this involves public safety ... I think voters are going to look at this very skeptically.''
Check out the full report on NBC Los Angeles.