Citizens for a Safer, Resilient Napa
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
As recent events have demonstrated, Napa County faces increasingly severe wildfire seasons and drought conditions that threaten our families, homes, communities and agriculture. Meanwhile, the organizations that protect us from wildfire and safeguard our open spaces and drinking water need stable, long-term funding. Without reliable resources, wildfire prevention efforts risk falling short just as the need is greatest. Our trails, parks and natural lands require ongoing care to remain safe, accessible and defensible to wildfire, while creeks, lakes and reservoirs must be protected from sedimentation, pollution and wildfire damage, and without stronger wildfire and other natural disaster protections and reducing the risk in our area, insurance companies will cancel more policies or charge significantly more for fire insurance.
Measure B is a one-half cent sales tax that would generate approximately $23 million annually for 18 years. If passed, Measure B would provide a dedicated source of locally controlled funding to support reducing wildfire risk, protecting water resources and preserving open spaces.
Measure B provides funding for three critical goals, all aimed at making Napa County a safer, more resilient community for residents, businesses and visitors:
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Wildfire Preparedness - Reducing wildfire risk and protecting lives and property by removing dry brush, dead trees and other fire hazards, establishing and maintaining firebreaks, fire-safe evacuation routes and more.
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Watershed Protection - Protecting the quality and quantity of drinking water by preserving and restoring land around lakes, rivers and streams, safeguarding reservoirs and watersheds from wildfire damage, contamination, restoring creeks and wetlands and more.
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Open Space Preservation - Maintaining open space for hiking, biking and recreation, managing lands to preserve native species, protect wildlife corridors, reduce wildfire danger and more.
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Measure B will dedicate funding to wildfire prevention efforts like vegetation management, fire breaks and emergency preparedness, helping reduce the ever-growing risk of catastrophic fires that continue to threaten our homes, schools and businesses.
Yes, strict fiscal accountability protections would be required. All funds would remain under local control and could not be taken by the State or Federal Government and only spent in Napa County. Funds could be spent only as outlined in the detailed Expenditure Plan written into Measure B. Mandatory citizens’ oversight, annual independent audits and public reporting would hold spending accountable.
Recent polling shows that Napa County voters strongly support protecting our community from wildfires and safeguarding local water and open spaces. A majority of voters—over 60%—say they would vote yes on a local fire, land and water protection measure, well above the simple majority passage threshold needed for a citizens’ initiative.
Polling shows that voters overwhelmingly agree with Measure B’s core goals: reducing wildfire risk, protecting drinking water and preserving open space for future generations. With these trusted priorities, Measure B is well-positioned to win, but we still need your help to get this much needed funding passed.
We cannot rely on the County, State or Federal government to reliably fund these efforts. Currently, there is no dedicated source of funding for these projects and the amount of available grant money is decreasing while competition for those funds is increasing. As the County plans for the future of our community, we need a reliable, durable source of funding. The citizens of Napa County are proposing Measure B as a solution. More importantly, establishing this funding source helps Napa County qualify for matching funds from State and Federal grant opportunities, making our tax dollars go further.
Our coalition did a lot of research and stakeholder outreach to determine the best approach to providing reliable local funding for wildfire preparedness, watershed protection and open space preservation and opted for a half-cent sales tax for a number of reasons.
First, all essential purchases are exempt from sales tax, meaning Measure B will not increase the cost of medicine, rent, mortgage payments, utilities, groceries, feminine hygiene products and more. This helps ensure Measure B is not an undue burden to seniors, residents living on fixed incomes, and other vulnerable populations, all of whom will benefit greatly from the outcomes of the measure itself.
Second, a sales tax ensures that all visitors to Napa County pay their fair share. It’s estimated that nearly 40% of the revenue from Measure B will come from tourists and other visitors to our county.
Finally, in order to generate the revenue needed to make a meaningful impact on local resilience efforts, a sales tax is by far the most affordable option. If approved, Measure B would add just 10 cents to a $20 non-essential purchase. Alternative funding options we explored would have cost hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars annually and could only be paid by Napa County residents.
Considering that the 2020 fires caused more than $5 billion in damages, that is a small price to pay to ensure Napa County is better prepared for the next wildfire.
By investing in wildfire prevention and protecting local water and open space, Measure B helps make our community safer and more resilient. That stability not only protects property values but also makes it easier for homeowners to maintain affordable insurance coverage, since insurers look closely at fire and other natural disaster risk when setting rates or deciding whether to provide coverage. Passing Measure B shows a commitment to wildfire preparedness and reduction.
No, by law, every dollar raised by Measure B would stay here in Napa County and could be used only for local priorities like continuing funding for wildfire prevention, the preservation of open spaces and protecting our water sources. Neither the State nor the Federal government can divert or reallocate these funds.
No, this is an entirely grassroots, citizen-led initiative. It is driven by local residents, requires community signatures to qualify for the ballot, and is funded by community supporters — not a government agency.
Measure B needs a 50%+1 majority vote to pass. All registered voters living in the County of Napa would be eligible to vote on the measure.
Napa County faces serious wildfire risks and ongoing threats to its environment and water. Acting now helps secure funding that protects lives, property and natural resources before conditions worsen.
Yes — and Napa County is already leading the way. Napa Firewise has successfully achieved a Firewise Community Designation from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) for 22 of our Fire Safe Councils, including Calistoga, with American Canyon and Napa City currently in progress. This designation alone is resulting in insurance premium reductions of 5%–10% from most carriers. Going further, Napa Firewise has developed an innovative Enhanced Resilience Site (ERS) Designation program for landowners across the county — regardless of means — that maps out fuel reduction efforts, critical fire roads, access routes and substantial water sources. Developed in close coordination with CAL FIRE, the Napa County Fire Department and 49 insurance companies, the ERS designation is already delivering premium reductions of 15%–50%, increased coverage, better policy terms, and is helping residents get off the CAL FAIR Plan.
They are at risk. These designations and the discounts that come with them only continue if projects are completed, maintained and plans are actively renewed — all of which require stable, dedicated funding. Without it, the progress we've made could stall just when we need it most. Residents can be confident that Napa Firewise and the Land Trust of Napa County are committed to the innovative resilience strategies needed to keep bending the cost of insurance for everyone in our community — but that work depends on the durable funding that Measure B provides.
No, Measure B is a distinct local funding option dedicated only to wildfire prevention, open space and water protection. Funds cannot be used for any other purposes.