Consultant to help Madera County study fire tax

Madera County supervisors voted Tuesday to hire an election consultant to determine whether to move forward with a public-safety sales tax increase that will spend a majority of money on additional firefighters.

The consultant, Fresno-based VRPA Technologies, will study voter sentiment and offer the county recommendations for the what residents would be willing to pay.

For the measure to be most effective, the increase in the sales tax would need to be more than a half-cent and closer to seven-eighths of a cent on the dollar.

The contract with VRPA Technologies will cost $185,200, paid with county contingency funds and potentially some donations.

VRPA previously assisted Madera County on its successful transportation tax. The agency also provided services on Measure C, Fresno County's transportation tax.

If the recommendation to seek voter approval of a public safety tax increase moves forward, county officials want the measure on the ballot in November. To pass, it will require two-thirds voter approval.

This story was originally published February 9, 2016 at 7:57 PM with the headline "Consultant to help Madera County study fire tax."