Tuesday, the citizens of Ventura will be asked to approve Measure P6 and increase our sales tax. It is incumbent upon us to make the right decision, and I would ask every voter to vote no on this measure.
It is alarming to learn that we have not hired any new officers since 1990, unlike Oxnard, which has hired 80 new officers since 1993 without a tax increase. While need has been demonstrated, the need for more tax money has not.
My goal was to determine if the city truly needs additional money or if the City Council has the money but uses it for its own agendas and programs. The facts reveal:
— Council adopted the 2006-07 budget projecting income of $288.5 million.
— The budget included $25.7 million from property taxes. Council diverts $3 million to redevelopment.
— The budget also included sales tax of $18.7 million, projected to yield an additional $7.5 million over the next 10 years.
— Council has set aside $48 million in reserve, including $5 million the city manager describes as “venture capital.�
— City Council and the city manger have not made police and fire a top priority, opting instead to throw money at other programs and projects.
The conclusion is that we do not need a new tax to pay for police and fire; we need new council members. Instead of providing objective facts, proponents resort to fear-mongering as a reason for voting for this measure — if you don’t vote yes, crime will be rampant and the sick and elderly may not have their ambulance when they need it. I think the voters in this city can now see what is going on.
— Robert L. McCord, Ventura
I completely agree in all stated.
Additionally, it has been extremely self serving that we have had our Chief of Police and Fire along with Elaina Brokaw (City Community Dev.), Rick Cole (our City Manager)and many others using our city time and tax dollars to promote their agenda for P6 (though this practice is legal is it ethical).
Wouldn't it be far better if the City utilized it's time to get projects through which will bring monies to the City Coffers; whether it is bringing a Trader Joe's Downtown, or getting projects through Downtown or on the Westside.
Instead what is happending is developers; yep that dreaded word "developers" the same folks who built your home and mine in the 20's during the oil rage, or the 50's in mid-town or the 80's the condos; are taking their monies and leaving our fair City because we don't have our formed base codes lined up yet (grandfather and tweak) or be subjective because the color of the brick is wrong???
ASK the folks down at the Harbor how long that project has been going on???
No let's use scare tactics...or let's educate.
Has the Fire Chief explained how today's buildings are built better and with higher safety standards (therefore fewer residential fires) or how the fire folks want the City to support a retirement benefit package that will give them retirement at age 55 and a Cost of living increase of 5% in each year thereafter.
Granted we might not want a 57 year old running up a ladder to save us but what about that fireperson doing the building fire safety inspections or incorporate with the PAL program.
Why can't the firestations share their space with the police department; giving the Police department that same "neighborhood" presence the fire folks enjoy.
Or that the average income of a fireperson is $95,000 and that does NOT include retirement and health insurance benefits.
Our teachers, our daycare folks (the very people who care and nuture our future, our children) and nurses earn less.
And let us just take a moment and ask how much money is in the union and or fire and police association coffers.
Why don't these folks take this money they have been forced to pay into and enhance their personnel or better their equipment.