Up to $382 Million in New Fees 

The RFA starts with a fee of $10.5 million a year but RFA will have the power, without a vote by the public, to increase the fee equal to 60% of its operating budget:  For 2025 that limit is $50 million and over the 7 years equal to $382 million dollars.  

The code words the advocates use for this blank check on taxpayers' checking accounts without a vote is "steady and reliable revenue source".

Knowing they have the capacity in the future to raise another $50+ million more a year, the RFA Committee members (in their words) presented a "Bare Bones Budget" which makes it more palatable to the voters this April 25th.  

A low-balled budget that will not provide enough money to fund new fire equipment, more fire fighters and new fire stations but enough to fund $2 million in non-fighter staff and big raises for existing firefighters.  Here is RFA Planning member Jim Cooper describing it.