Commissioners press for study and fiscal detail on SB319, a bill that would allow countywide fire consolidation

The Washoe County Board of County Commissioners discussed Senate Bill 319 on March 18 after a staff briefing that described the measure’s mandatory and enabling provisions. County staff and commissioners said they will work with Reno, Sparks and local chiefs to refine study scope and identify fiscal and operational impacts before taking a formal position.

The bill, introduced by Sen. Tom Daly, would allow Washoe County and participating cities to form a county fire protection district that could consolidate contiguous unincorporated and incorporated territory. Key features include a five‑member or larger board of fire commissioners appointed by each participating jurisdiction, authority to levy assessments and issue bonds payable by ad valorem taxes, and a mandatory study board under Section 15 that the bill would require the county and the two cities to form to…