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Contra Costa Fire Chief: Stations Will Close Without Parcel Tax

WALNUT CREEK (KCBS) - The top brass at the Contra Costa Fire Protection District say a parcel tax may be the only thing preventing a dire financial situation from getting worse.

The two fire companies at Station One in downtown Walnut Creek will be reduced to one, to save the county approximately $800,000.

KCBS' Dave Padilla Reports:

Contra Costa Fire District Assistant Chief Rich Grace recently told county supervisors that the reduction in staff will go into effect on the first of the New Year.

"As you know, we are facing unprecedented financial challenges within the fire district due to multiple year decreases in property taxes," said Grace.

Preliminary results of a phone survey on a parcel tax to pump additional revenue into the district will gauge how residents feel about it.

Fire Protection District Chief Daryl Louder claims that without a new parcel tax, as many as eight fire stations could shut down next year.

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