Should the Santa Rosa City Council declare a fiscal crisis for the purposes of tapping into Measure O funds to keep from cutting positions in the Police Department?
It's a difficult question.
When Measure O, calling for a quarter-cent sales tax, was approved in 2004, voters were promised that the funds would be used only to augment police, fire and anti-gang programs.
But there was a caveat that allowed the city to divert the funds to pay for existing police, fire and anti-gang programs if six of the seven council members declared a "fiscal crisis."
It's hard to argue that the city's current mess isn't a fiscal crisis.
Still many are concerned about the message it will be sending to voters, especially if the city decides it needs to go back to voters next year with another tax measure.
Will this jeopardize their chances of success?
My guess is the city would be justified in using the Measure O money especially if the alternative would be eliminating eight police officers, one sergeant, one lieutenant and several other department employees. It would be hard to imagine that most voters would prefer to leave that silo of money untouched while police service is cut so dramatically in other areas.
But the City Council first needs to make it clear it's serious about making major cuts to the city budget. We discuss this more in Tuesday's editorial in prepartion for tomorrow night's City Council meeting.
- Paul Gullixson
Should the City of Santa Rosa be looking at buying buildings when it clains to be in finacial trouble, having trouble providing police,fire and other basic services?
As a former employee of the City of Santa Rosa, who retired recently after twenty five years of service, I speak from knowledge and experience when I suggest that it is employee salaries and benefit packages that are at the root of its current financial crisis. A quick survey would find dozens of employees making more than $100K annually (exclusive of benefits) and hundreds who make more than $50K annually. In this tough job market, paying these astronomical salaries is NOT necessary to retain or attract competent employees. The public would be, and should be, appalled at the statistics and should check out how many Lexus and Mercedes vehicles are parked in the City parking lots on any given day. Mine was among them.
Anonymously