There has been plenty of talk around town about Patagonia Volunteer Fire & Rescue’s bid to continue serving Patagonia with EMS and fire services. Sonoita-Elgin Fire District is also bidding to take over that service.
But even after reading through the Town’s requests for proposals and responses from both firehouses, attending the April 30 study session via Zoom and talking to many people, I don’t believe I know the full story.
Then I read the two articles about the situation in the PRT in August and March; they too appear stymied as they try to get accurate information.
It is clear PVFR has been going through a period of challenges, as stated in their RFP response:
“We acknowledge that during the last decade we have stagnated. Over the last three years we have worked hard to change that, and it hasn’t been smooth or easy, but we’ve made some progress and expect to build on that. We are confident that this year those efforts will result in substantial visible progress towards our goal of becoming the best department possible within the Town’s budget for these services.”
This is a good acknowledgement, given some of the rumors going around. A few more facts:
· PVFR is a group of community volunteers, whereas SEFD is a professional fire district with full-time employees and tax revenues that support it.
· The Town has contracted services from PVFR exclusively for years and this year that amount will be $70,008 to whichever department gets the contract. Interestingly, in the newly approved Town budget, law enforcement gets $456,095.
· PVFR’s revenue in 2024, according to the IRS, was $156,092 while their expenses were $191,191, showing a negative net income.
· Beyond the Town’s support (in fiscal year 2025 $65,004 budgeted and $75,422 actual expenditures), the remainder of the PVFR annual budget is made up of grants, wildland fire revenue, and fund raising.
· Given the broad area that PVFR covers, it is clear they do not have adequate funding for operations, capital replacement costs, training, benefits, etc.
· Without budget details, I assume that residents living outside of the Town of Patagonia have not been contributing much, if any, to the costs of PVFR.
· It appears there has been no proactive fundraising with area residents, property owners and/or homeowner associations outside of the Town.
We need trained, certified Emergency Medical Services and Wildfire Defense and Fighting personnel. After 100 years it has become evident that PVFR has not kept up with Best Management Practices (BMP). But they do not have sufficient revenues, and neither will SEFD for the $70,008 they will receive if they win the contract.
What to do now? Given the long history of PVFR serving the Town and the greater Patagonia area, I would be interested in seeing the Town continue the relationship under a provisional status. Let’s see what the next year brings.
Can PVFR make good on their promise to enact BMPs? With the elections in June, will they adopt new bylaws empowering the board to make decisions? If those things occur, and, in exchange for a one-year contract, the PVFR would give quarterly written reports to the Town coupled with public meetings with the Town Mayor and Council demonstrating their commitment to improvement, I would be in favor of giving them the opportunity.