By Kathleen Acuff
It will cost twice as much to keep the fire engines rolling when 2008 rolls around.
Los Altos’ and Los Altos Hills’ 10-year-old contract with the Santa Clara County Central Fire Protection District, due for renewal, has been adjusted for a decade of inflation.
“We could see some of this coming because it was a good deal,” City Manager Phil Rose told the Los Altos Kiwanis Club last month.
The total cost of services for the two towns will rise from $3.87 million to $7.61 million. Los Altos will continue to pay 60 percent and Los Altos Hills 40 percent of the total. Los Altos’ share will increase from $2.32 million to $4.56 million, and Los Altos Hills’ share will increase from $1.55 million to $3.04 million.
Los Altos Hills officials had already signed the amended contract the Los Altos City Council approved Feb. 28. The contract goes next to the County Board of Supervisors for action.
The contract has also been amended to change the name of the fire district encompassing Los Altos Hills from Los Altos County Fire Protection District to Los Altos Hills County Fire District.
Annually, beginning Jan. 1, 2008, the cost of fire services will rise again, as determined by a not-to-exceed formula that combines growth of assessed value, the consumer price index and the total compensation provided to firefighters. Price increases will be capped at 5.5 percent but will be at least 3.5 percent.
“I hate to be charged a price that is meant to reflect how much I have in my pocket. I prefer to have measures in place to control the price of the actual service,” Councilman Curtis Cole said of the contract last week.
Both the old and the amended contracts specify that the county fire district cooperate with both Los Altos and Los Altos Hills in preparing, maintaining and executing their civil defense and disaster plans. It also provides that local firefighters and paramedics will aid local residents during regional and local disasters, unless local officials say they can be dispatched elsewhere.
Los Altos fire stations are Loyola Fire Station at 765 Fremont Ave. and Sequoia Fire Station at 10 Almond Ave.
Los Altos Hills is served by El Monte Fire Station at 12355 El Monte Road.
