Why can’t we use MOFD’s excess revenue to help pay for our water pipe upgrades and road repairs?
Currently, due to the downturn in the economy and the unfunded liabilities related to pensions and retiree health care, MOFD does not have any excess revenue. Last Spring a Tri-Agency Committee comprised of two Moraga and two Orinda council members, plus two MOFD board members, studied the issue of excess revenue and determined that there was none. However, the fire district has always worked closely with both the City of Orinda and the Town of Moraga on addressing infrastructure issues that impact fire protection and emergency medical response capabilities and will continue to do so. Since the district was formed, MOFD has spent more than $90,000 to upgrade fire hydrants in Orinda. However, water flow from those hydrants (i.e., the gallons per minute from a hydrant) cannot be changed because of existing pipe size. Upgrading these pipes is a vexing challenge due to the high cost of replacement and the fact that East Bay MUD, which owns the pipes, only replaces them when they have faile
