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Napa County wildfire-resilience sales-tax initiative presented to American Canyon board
Summary
Napa Firewise and the Land Trust of Napa County briefed the American Canyon Fire Protection District on a citizens' initiative that would add a 0.5-cent sales tax expected to raise about $23 million a year for 18 years to fund wildfire resilience, open-space stewardship and water-resource projects; presenters stressed projects must be listed in completed CWPPs to be eligible.
Joe Nordlinger, CEO of Napa Firewise, and Melanie Parker, CEO of the Land Trust of Napa County, told the American Canyon Fire Protection District on July 28 that a citizens'sponsored ballot initiative would create a 0.5-cent sales tax expected to generate about $23 million annually for 18 years to fund wildfire resilience, water-resource protection and parks/open-space stewardship.
The presenters said the measure divides revenue in two equal parts: one half would go directly to the elected Napa County Parks and Open Space District for park stewardship and grants to cities; the other half would be collected by the county and spent on fire-related projects according to a detailed expenditure plan and citizen oversight committee. "The initiative is a 0.5¢ sales tax that generates around $23,000,000 annually, and the 0.5¢ sales tax lasts for 18 years," Nordlinger said.
Nordlinger and Parker explained that projects must be included in finalized community wildfire protection plans (CWPPs) to be eligible for funding. They listed typical eligible work: fuel management and vegetation control, maintenance and construction of critical fire roads and perimeter fuel breaks, defensible-space cost-share programs, water-storage and conveyance improvements, equipment purchases (for example chippers or brush rigs), and potential staffing lines to support pre-fire work. Parker said the parks half of the measure would allow regranting to city projects and help fully fund the county parks district.
Board members pressed presenters on how much funding American Canyon might expect to see locally. Vice Chair Joseph noted that a 0.5-cent tax in American Canyon would likely produce roughly $1.7 million annually at the city level and asked how to maximize return-to-source. Nordlinger cautioned there are no guarantees but said completing a CWPP that prioritizes eligible projects will materially improve the city's chances; he estimated that, based on initial project identification, there could be in the order of $12'$18 million in eligible annual projects on the fire side for American Canyon once the CWPP is complete, and suggested the city could reasonably expect a meaningful portion of funds for local priorities if projects are well scoped and competitive.
The presenters emphasized oversight and accountability: the initiative language calls for an oversight committee and annual reporting to voters, and the full initiative text and expenditure plan are available at saferresilientnapa.org, they said.
The board heard public comment on the initiative from local residents, including Barry Christian and Beth Goff, who urged support and framed the measure as both a countywide responsibility and a local opportunity to fund trails, wetlands protections and resilience projects. "This campaign offers a unique and perhaps singular opportunity to pass the measure with 50% of the vote," Barry Christian said, referencing recent legal changes to ballot thresholds for citizen petitions.
Next steps discussed included completing American Canyon's CWPP with Napa Firewise's assistance so the city can identify and prioritize projects eligible for funding under the proposed expenditure plan. The presenters said having a local revenue source also increases competitiveness for state and federal grants. The board took no formal position during the meeting; further consideration on whether the district will endorse or support the measure is expected to follow additional review and CWPP completion.
