The Sebastopol Fire Department is a step closer to merging with the Gold Ridge Fire Protection District.
The merger was approved by the Sebastopol City Council this week. But, it still has to be considered by Sonoma County officials. If it is approved, there would be a new parcel tax for Sebastopol residents. It would cost residential property owners 265 dollars on average and business-related property owners 300 dollars on average.
However, merging the fire departments could save Sebastopol more than a million dollars per year in fire department-related expenses.
