HERE IS A WEALTH OF INFORMATION ON THE BENEFIT FEE ASSESSMENT
Anyone Happen to See the Article in the East County Section of the Union Trib Today? If so, Read on...
The main bully behind the opposition to this assessment seems to be Bob Cedardahl. He's directly connected to GMIA, the Spring Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Casa de Oro Business Association.
Did you know that Bob made THE motion to have a Benefit Assessment when he was a Director on the San Miguel Fire Board (minutes February 11, 1993, page 2)? At that time, in 1993, the fee would have been $72.09. That's well over $100 in today's dollars.
May 27, 1993: Motion by Director Braun to collect $1,532,000 in an assessment. Cedardahl then called to UP the amount to $2.3 million. Cedardahl then voted in favor of another motion for the amount of $2,300,000. This motion passed 6-1. Cedardahl then lectured to have the citizens contact Sacramento about the State taking money from Fire Districts.
Isn't this what we have right now? The State taking money? Why not approve this and keep your control local!
KEEP MY MONEY LOCAL AND HERE PLEASE!
Which would you rather have? Your tax money go to Sacramento? Or this fee stay locally within the fire district that protects us?
VOTE YES! KEEP THE MONEY HERE!!!!!
Although no one is in favor of a tax increase, I'd much rather have my money stay local where I can easily control it. We're talking about $42.00 a parcel here. That's not even a tank of gas!
With the money staying within OUR district, we will know the money STAYS in our district. We can easily attend meetings and voice our concerns. Could we do that if the money was in Sacramento? NO!
WARNING!
THIS WILL BE EACH RESIDENT'S WORRY IF THIS INITIATIVE DOES NOT PASS!
Built by a group people who feel strongly about this initiative! We're not web wizards or anything! We just want to get the word out!
POINTS TO THINK ABOUT
HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE
How much will your homeowners insurance increase if the fire station near you is closed? Probably FAR more then the $42.00 yearly fee this is.
LIFE SAVING, MEDICAL AIDS, TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS AND MORE
The Fire Departments run far more medical aid calls then they do fire calls. YOU or YOUR FAMILY may be the one needing medical aid and that delay may cost you or your family your life!
Do you know the Powder Keg of old unburned brush you are living around? Check the maps from any agency from the county! Check for yourself.
VOTE YES ON THE BENEFIT ASSESSMENT FEE.
Mt San Miguel on Fire approaching Rancho San Diego
Have the Firefighters Given Up to Reduce Costs and Help?
Contrary to mailed out information, a firefighters doesn't make $161,000 a year. Think about it. Does that even sound remotely plausible? No...
The Firefighters understand the financial dilemma the State is in.
Firefighters have given up:
About $200,000 this year in Retirement compensation
Agreed to No Promotions since January 2009 resulting on two firefighters, one engineer and one captain vacancy, a savings of (low end) of $22,000 per position. They are now below minimum staffing.
No salary increases this year
What Has the District Done to Reduce Costs?
The District has cuts costs considerably.
This is a crisis they have been working to stave off for months. Core services and supplies are up by 2.7%. Run volume (the number of calls for service) continues to increase by 200 incidents per year (over a 10 year average). In response, in this fiscal year alone the District has executed $800,000 in budget reductions. How? In part: