Funding was secured through the Community Project Funding initiative U. S. Representative Salud Carbajal announced he secured federal funding for the Santa Margarita Fire Station Replacement Project. The grant provides $1,015,000 to complete the replacement of the Santa Margarita Fire District’s main station. The existing station is located in a 100-year flood zone and has been flooded three times since 1995. “This federal funding represents a critical investment in Santa Margarita’s firefighters,” said Rep. Carbajal. “For too long, local firefighters have been forced to operate out of a flood-prone station. By replacing it, we’re ensuring they can stay focused on saving lives and not worry about defending their own base of operations.” “Our dedicated volunteer firefighters have served Santa Margarita, San Luis Obispo County, and the State of California for more than 104 years,” said Santa Margarita Fire Chief Robert Murach. “This new facility will strengthen our ability to respond quickly and safely to emergencies, support training and readiness, while also providing a reliable hub for community resilience. More than just a building, it is an investment in the safety, well-being, and future of the people we protect.” The funding, which Rep. Carbajal supported during the past year’s federal budget negotiations, was signed into law last week as part of three-year-long funding bills. The three bills include funding for military construction, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Agriculture, and the FDA. In the spring of 2025, Rep. Carbajal began pushing for funding for these projects through formal requests to the House Appropriations Committee for Fiscal Year 2026. The funding was secured through the Community Project Funding initiative, first launched in 2022. Projects must be in the public interest, be uses of taxpayer dollars, and be certified not to conflict with the representative’s personal financial interests. Rep. Carbajal represents California’s 24th Congressional District, which includes Santa Barbara County and portions of San Luis Obispo County and Ventura County.
https://pasoroblesdailynews.com/representative-secures-federal-funding-for-new-fire-station-in-santa-margarita/216205/
