2025.06.19 | Why CCSD Needs to Support the Fiscalini Ranch Preserve

The Cambria Community Services District cut support for the Ranch in last year’s budget and kept it low again this year.  In 2023/2024, the Ranch was budgeted $50,000 for Ranch expenses. Last year, the Ranch only received $15,724.  That is a big drop—almost 70 percent less!  The preliminary Ranch budget for 2025/2026 is only $16,196.

     This means there is much less money to manage the Ranch, like removing harmful plants or hazardous trees.  On top of budget cuts, the workers who take care of the Ranch have been tasked with additional jobs, like cleaning CCSD facilities all over town.  That leaves less time for Ranch work.

     The Friends of the Fiscalini Ranch Preserve were worried when Ranch support dropped from six percent of the Facilities & Resources budget to two percent, but FFRP waited to see how CCSD would manage with less money.  We were lucky this past winter: there were no big storms.  If there had been, CCSD would not have had enough money to fix the damage.

     Some good things still happened.  CCSD put up barriers near the bluff to keep visitors safe and protect plants.  A group called the Fire Safe Council will help clear lots in town, so CCSD will not have to.  And FFRP stepped up to pay for spraying of invasive species and for the safer linking boardwalk last fall.

     But invasive weeds are out of control, on both the east and west Ranch.  Eucalyptus seedlings are spreading and there is still some fire clearance to be done before the July 1 deadline.

     Let’s be honest: with such a small budget and fewer staff, the Ranch cannot be managed the way it should be.  That is a problem for all of Cambria.

Why the Ranch Matters

1. The Ranch Helps Cambria Make Money

Even though it is free to walk on the Ranch, it brings visitors to town.  Those people eat at restaurants, stay in hotels, and shop in stores.  Remember, tourism is voluntary.  If the Ranch looks messy or is not safe, fewer people might come.  That means less money for local businesses.

2. More Visitors Equals More Care Needed

Hundreds of thousands of people use the Ranch and that is great.  But it also means the trails and signs wear out faster.  More people mean more trash, more cleanup, and more repairs. This cannot be ignored.  The more it is used, the more we have to maintain it.  Without matching the budget to its use level, the Ranch risks becoming a liability rather than an asset.

3. The Ranch Keeps Cambria Looking Good

In a competitive tourism market, reputation is everything.  Cambria is known for being clean, beautiful, and welcoming.  If visitors see weeds, unkempt trails, or missing signs, they might not come back.  That hurts our town’s good name.  FFRP has already paid for new trail signs to welcome new visitors.

4. The Ranch Is Special to People Who Live Here

It is not just for tourists.  The Ranch is part of life in Cambria.  People walk there, relax there, and feel proud of it.  If it is not taken care of, local people will notice.

5. Fixing Problems Early Saves Money

Not staying on top of things now will cost more later.  Just like what happened with the Veterans Memorial Hall, small problems can turn into big issues.  Giving the Ranch more money today could save a lot in the future.

6. Showing We Care Helps Us Get More Grants

When CCSD puts money into the Ranch, it shows others that Cambria is invested in the Ranch. That makes it easier to get grants and help from the state or other groups.  No one wants to fund something that looks forgotten.

 

Show Your Support at the CCSD Board Meeting

Even if someone does not love open spaces, the Ranch helps Cambria in many ways.  It brings money to town, makes the town look good, and gives locals a peaceful place to enjoy.  If  it is not taken care of, the risk is losing something that brings pride and value to everyone.  Friends of the Fiscalini Ranch Preserve helps as much as it can, but the Ranch is CCSD’s responsibility.

     Please give the Ranch the support it needs—because a healthy Ranch means a healthier Cambria.  There are several chances to make your voice heard.  The CCSD Board is meeting on Thursday, July 10, at 10 a.m. at the Veterans Memorial Hall (1000 Main Street).  The budget will not be on the agenda, but public comments will be heard.  The next CCSD Finance Committee will discuss the budget on Monday, August 4, at 10 a.m. Then the whole CCSD Board will address the budget at the Thursday, August 14 meeting, 10 a.m. at the Veterans Memorial Hall.

     That leaves plenty of time to have an impact.  Let’s show the CCSD Board of Directors how much the Ranch means to Cambria.

 

Article first published in https://cambriaca.org/