Amador County’s Local Agency Formation Commission, or LAFCO, heard a presentation from Burr Consulting Thursday night on the finalization of the county’s Municipal Services Review, or MSR.  Due to a government legislative mandate, LAFCO must review and update the county’s sphere of influence not less than once every five years.  As part of that process, the commission must conduct the review, which provides detailed information on the county’s municipal services.  The review, which was prepared and presented by Burr Consulting, provides information on the current and planned capacities of public facilities, growth and population projections, the financial ability of the included agencies, opportunities for shared facilities, accountability for community service needs, including governmental structure and operational efficiencies.  Specifically, the review included information on Amador’s residential and commercial growth and development, employment growth, fire and EMS providers, and water and wastewater services.

Some of the more eye-opening facts and deficiencies found were in the areas of employment growth and fire services.  Surprisingly, Amador County experienced “healthier” job growth than the statewide average, with Amador weighing in at 12% versus the state’s 5% growth rate in overall salaries and wages from 2003 to 2008.  And not surprisingly, the county’s fire and EMS service providers are grossly under funded.  According to Burr Consulting, “it takes about a million dollars per year” to run a fire station.  Most of the stations in the county operate unstaffed, which does somewhat affect response times.  As many of you know, a half-cent fire sales tax will be on this November’s ballot.  Burr Consulting estimated that if that measure passes, it would bring in about 500 thousand dollars per year, which would only “run about half a station.”  Even so, it is evident that the county needs that extra funding. Roseanne Chamberlain, Executive Officer of LAFCO, called the MSR “an encyclopedia of local government agencies in Amador County.”  The MSR document is available for public review at the Jackson Library, the County Administration Center at the LAFCO desk, and on their website at www.co.amador.ca.us/lafco. The commission will hold a public hearing on the document at their next meeting on July 31st at 810 Court Street.