More than 1,900 ballots have been returned so far in a pivotal parcel tax that will determine the ability of the Ripon Consolidated Fire Department to respond to medical emergencies, traffic accidents, and fires in terms of timeliness and effectives,

Property owners that have not returned ballots can do so in person at today’s 5:30 p.m. fire board meeting at the headquarters station on Stockton Avenue.

The count — being overseen by Ripon council member and retired Ripon Unified School Superintendent Leo Zuber – starts Friday at 9 a.m.

The actual counting of ballots by volunteers will be live-streamed over the fire district’s Facebook page.

The count is expected to take four hours. The results will be announced at a special board meeting on Friday at 5:30 p.m.

Ripon Fire Chief Eric DeHart said another collection of ballots mailed to a post office box will be collected today by a department chaplain.

Department chaplains have been collecting the ballots from the postal box and placing them directly into a locked ballot box at the department.

DeHart is hoping for the return of another 100 ballots.

There are over 6,700 parcels in 55 square mile district that includes the 3.5 square miles within the City of Ripon. Some of the ballots will have multiple properties owned by the recipient. Each parcel has a vote.

Those that did not receive a ballot can still attend tonight’s meeting to vote.

They need documentation, however, such as driver’s license or property bill for homeowners or a copy of a deed. That will allow the consultant to determine validity of ownership in order to issue a ballot.

The election will decide if property owners — including owners of single family homes in the that would pay $249.98 more annually — want to increase the manpower availability to respond to medical emergencies, accidents and fires.

The ability to hire six firefighters for 24/7 staffing will not only address the need for another engine company to respond when the district’s only staffed engine is already on a call — that happened 986 times during 2025 — but it can also reduce response times to calls in the northern part of the city and the eastern portion of the district.

That’s because having a manned engine company at the now shuttered North Ripon Road station will cut upwards of two minutes off response times in a large swath of the district.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com