From:
To: Mary Gourley
Cc:
Subject: Sebastopol Volunteer Fire Retention Policy
Date: Monday, June 19, 2023 11:24:38 PM
Ms. Gourley, 1 am a long time resident of Sebastopol, some 45 years now. I am concerned that a change in support for our firefighters may be detrimental to the safety and security of our town.
If the funds that have been allocated for FF retention are not provided through the city budget, what about adding a small annual amount to the sales tax to cover this necessary expense? My property tax bill each year includes many extra bond issues for local elementary, secondary and community college education and other various bond issues, including the old Palm Drive Hospital indebtedness.
Surely adequately trained firefighters/EMTs are even now a much more critical support for the community in the wake of the loss of all but a minimum of emergency care facilities in Sebastopol.
I am sure many residents would be willing and able to pay a fee or tack-on to the taxes we already pay for sales tax and property tax in exchange for securing well-staffed and trained first response volunteers, I would.
Interested to know the city's rationale for limiting these funds for the FF/EMT volunteers, does not seem like a 'savings' in terms of what would be lost to the city in terms of public safety and health, does it?
Regards,
James McGowan
Sebastopol, CA 95472
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