NCFPD, Bonsall chamber given county funding

Joe Naiman

Village News Reporter

The allocation of Neighborhood Reinvestment Program funding and Community Enhancement funding during the May 24 San Diego County Board of Supervisors meeting included grants to the North County Fire Protection District and to the Bonsall Chamber of Commerce.

The supervisors’ 4-0 vote, with Joel Anderson absent, allocated $105,000 of Neighborhood Reinvestment Program funding to the North County Fire Protection District and $25,700 of Community Enhancement funding for the Bonsall Chamber of Commerce. The fire district will use the money for a Pump Pod and the Bonsall chamber will utilize the grant for a business directory and other activities.

The Neighborhood Reinvestment Program provides grants to non-profit organizations for the furtherance of public purposes at the regional and community levels. In addition to non-profit organizations, county supervisors can also fund schools and fire departments, and supervisors can also use money from their budgets to supplement other county funding for specific county projects such as parks, roads, and libraries.

Community Enhancement funds, which are for the most part generated from the Transient Occupancy Tax on lodging facility rooms, are intended to promote tourism including visitors from other parts of the county.

Each county supervisor recommends the allocation of his or her Neighborhood Reinvestment Program and Community Enhancement funds, although those allocations must be approved by a majority of the board. Supervisor Jim Desmond recommended the use of his District 5 funds for the NCFPD and Bonsall chamber grants.

The North County Fire Protection District encompasses 92 square miles. Its service area of Fallbrook, Rainbow, and much of Bonsall has a population of more than 50,000, and automatic aid agreements sometimes send NCFPD resources into Oceanside, Vista, Deer Springs, and Pala. The Pump Pod supplies and recycles water used in apparatus pumping operations rather than using water obtained from fire hydrants which would flow and ultimately go into a storm drain. In addition to reducing water waste, the Pump Pod will allow NCFPD personnel to train within the district rather than requiring travel to training locations which would take units out of service.

The Bonsall Chamber of Commerce works with small businesses, nonprofit organizations, and community members to promote local spending and community activities and to ensure and promote a stable and profitable business and community climate.

The coronavirus shutdown has prevented organizations from holding in-person events, and many businesses have closed or reduced their Bonsall Chamber of Commerce membership. The Community Enhancement grant will help to fund a printed business directory guide and also provide funding for visitor operation and events costs.