Public hearing on fire district consolidation proposal scheduled for May 21, 2026.

NEWSPAPER NOTICENotice is hereby given that the Local Agency Formation Commission of Nevada County (LAFCo) will conduct a public hearing to consider a proposal by the Ophir Hill Fire Protection District (OHFPD) and the Nevada County Consolidated Fire District (NCCFD) to amend each district’s sphere of influence and to subsequently approve the consolidation of the two districts into a single agency district. Under the proposal, the OHFPD property tax allocation will be dissolved and the NCCFD assessment and special tax will be implemented. Refer to NCCFD Resolutions No. 25-15, Fire Suppression Benefit Assessment and No. 25-14, Fire Suppression Special Tax for detailed information. Tax modification examples are provided in the following table:PROPERTY TYPENCCFD CURRENT TAXOHFPD CURRENT TAX 
ASSESSMENTSPECIALTOTALASSESSMENT DIFFERENCE
Vacant/Unimproved46.8234.4481.26+52.63+ 28.63Single Family Res.155.9868.86224.84175.42+ 49.42Condo117.0268.86185.88175.42+10.46Residence w/2nd unit234.0651.66285.72+263.12+22.60Mobile Home in Park62.3851.66114.04175.42-61.38Commercial/Industrial$$ Per Sq. Ft.$$ Per Sq. Ft.
$$ Per Sq. Ft.
NCCFD and OHFPD serve as the lead agencies for this project under the California Environmental Quality Act, including the sphere amendment. The project qualifies for exemption to CEQA under Class 20 of the State CEQA Guidelines: there is no change to the geographical area in which previously existing powers are exercised. Nevada LAFCo will serve as a Responsible agency.The hearing will be held:Thursday, May 21, 2026, at 9:30 a.m.(or as soon thereafter as possible)Board of Supervisors Chambers,Eric Rood Administrative Center950 Maidu AvenueNevada City, CA 95959The Commission will consider oral and written testimony by any interested person or affected agency as well as the staff report. At this hearing, the Commission may approve or continue the consolidation with or without amendments or conditions to a date certain as the Commission may determine. All landowners and registered voters within NCCFD and within 300 feet of the affected area have been notified by publication; landowners within OHFPD have been notified by mail.Persons may attend and be heard at the time and place of the hearing. If you choose to challenge the action of the Commission in court, it may be limited to only those issues raised at the public hearing described in this notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the Nevada LAFCo at, or prior to, the public hearing.The project file is available for public review at the address shown above (Suite 270). For information regarding the procedures and policy of the consolidation process, you may contact LAFCo at (530) 265-7180, or email lafco@nevadacountyca.org . Additional information will be available on the LAFCo website on or before May 15, 2026, www.nevadacountyca.gov/907 For information regarding Fire Protection and Emergency Response Services, fees, assessments and how the consolidation affects your property – contact the NCCFD Chief or the Duty Officer at (530) 265-4431.Published: April 29, 2026