Update: Facing the prospect of more frequent wildfires and flooding, voters in Marin County said a resounding YES to Measures R and Q to fund the fire department and emergency services in Stinson Beach. We are excited to see the local support for climate resilience, with residents passing both measures with a supermajority—over 80% and 92%, respectively, for R and Q.
Why It Matters
The Stinson Beach Fire Protection District placed Measures Q and R on the ballot to address staffing and funding strains, as well as rising health issues and safety needs for an aging population.
- Measure R proposes a parcel tax of 42 cents per building square foot, which could generate an estimated $700,000 revenue stream annually, according to the Marin Independent Journal. The estimated average square footage is 1,767 in Stinson Beach.
- Measure Q adjusts spending limits to allow for the allocation of these funds.
Passing both measures in Stinson Beach will bring positive change to address some current challenges in the region, such as:
- Rising housing costs contributing to emergency response challenges: A small community of 480 residents, Stinson Beach experiences large amounts of daily visitors who access the beach and rent property.Rising housing costs and the increase in short term rentals have affected how the District staff both professional and volunteer firefighters.
- Fewer volunteer firefighters: As costs increase, the number of volunteer firefighters are decreasing, which results in the need to replace them with paid positions which strains the District’s budget.
- Predicted increase in climate related emergencies: Stinson beach is threatened by sea level rise as climate change impacts are expected to worsen. Over the past two winters, Stinson Beach has experienced flooding from several atmospheric rivers and storm surges. A recent report by the Marin County Community Development Agency (CDA) explains how the beach, wetlands, homes, and community infrastructure—such as roads and utilities in Stinson Beach—will be affected by rising sea levels in the coming decades.
Originally published on September 23, 2024.
