San Diego County spends less per capita on fire protection and emergency medical services than Orange and L.A. counties, according to a study by the San Diego Institute for Policy Research. The gap has been widening over the last four years. In fiscal 2007-2008, the 42 municipalities, fire districts, and San Diego County itself spent $151 per resident for fire protection. But the per capita investment in Orange County was $173, and in Los Angeles $214. San Diego County has boosted such spending by $19 per capita since 2004, but Orange has upped its spending by $34 and Los Angeles by $33. Former mayoral candidate Steve Francis, chairman of the institute, says San Diego County "will have to become dramatically more efficient in how it uses existing resources, make changes in its budget priorities to free up funds, or develop new strategies to increase the funds available for regional fire protection."
San Diego County spends less per capita on fire protection and emergency medical services than Orange and L.A. counties, according to a study by the San Diego Institute for Policy Research. The gap has been widening over the last four years. In fiscal 2007-2008, the 42 municipalities, fire districts, and San Diego County itself spent $151 per resident for fire protection. But the per capita investment in Orange County was $173, and in Los Angeles $214. San Diego County has boosted such spending by $19 per capita since 2004, but Orange has upped its spending by $34 and Los Angeles by $33. Former mayoral candidate Steve Francis, chairman of the institute, says San Diego County "will have to become dramatically more efficient in how it uses existing resources, make changes in its budget priorities to free up funds, or develop new strategies to increase the funds available for regional fire protection."