Los Osos Faces Tough Choice Between Parks and Fire Protection

Measure B-26 proposes purchasing a dilapidated school, but fire services need critical funding

Apr. 14, 2026 at 2:30am

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A cinematic painting of an old, weathered fire engine parked outside a rundown fire station, with warm sunlight and deep shadows creating a nostalgic, contemplative mood.An aging fire station in Los Osos highlights the community's difficult choice between funding critical public safety or a discretionary park project.San Luis Obispo Today

The community of Los Osos, California is at a financial crossroads, grappling with the high cost of emergency services and a potential significant increase in its special fire tax, while its community services district board is distracted by a proposal to purchase the former Sunnyside Elementary property for a park. Measure B-26 on the June ballot would force the district to pay $6 million to buy and maintain the 75-year-old school, but the costs to realize the vision for the site are not included. Meanwhile, the district's fire station is in dire need of modernization, renovation, or replacement, and the current fire tax will soon be insufficient.

Why it matters

Los Osos voters are not being given a clear choice between funding parks or fire protection. It's possible the community may not have the bandwidth for additional taxes, causing one or both measures to fail. This could leave the fire department underfunded and the former school property in disrepair.

The details

The Los Osos Community Services District (CSD) unanimously approved continued services with Cal Fire, but the board has been distracted by the 'shiny object' of trying to buy the former Sunnyside Elementary property for a park. The district has spent over $100,000 in recreation funds to negotiate the purchase and produce renderings, despite not having experience operating such facilities. The $6 million purchase price and additional $5-10 million in renovation costs are not included in Measure B-26, which would tax each parcel $185 per year for 15 years.

  • Measure B-26 will appear on the June 2, 2026 ballot.
  • The needed increase to the fire tax is estimated to be on a ballot in 2028.

The players

Julie Tacker

A former Los Osos Community Services District Board member and a 20-year county-wide activist.

Los Osos Community Services District

The local government agency responsible for providing services to the community of Los Osos, including fire protection and parks/recreation.

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What they’re saying

“I recommend putting your money towards critical services, support our firefighters, vote no on Measure B-26 for parks and support the special fire tax increase when it appears on a future ballot.”

— Julie Tacker, Former Los Osos CSD Board Member

The takeaway

Los Osos residents face a difficult choice between funding much-needed fire protection services or purchasing a dilapidated former school property. With limited community resources, the district must prioritize critical public safety over discretionary park projects, at least until the fire department's infrastructure and funding needs are addressed.