The City Council voted to add new fees and “cost recovery” for paramedic calls made by the fire department. These new fees may or may not be paid by insurance companies. If not paid through insurance, then one may have to think twice about calling for help.
The same could go for car crash “cost recovery.” Will firefighters be “paid” two or three times, once by the city and then by the drivers involved? What happens if the drivers cannot pay? Does the city take their home? Will the “membership fee” cover car crashes, too?
What next, cost recovery on fire calls?
Our property taxes pay for fire and police services. So now Tracy citizens pay twice.
If the rural and Mountain House areas reject the new fees, we are stuck. While people are being laid off, the City Council raises costs instead of cutting costs. Maybe it is time to consider cuts in fighfighters and police. Other cities are doing it — maybe Tracy should, too.
At the time, apparently either this issue wasn't important enough for anyone to take a few minutes out of their evening to come out and voice their opinion;
or,
We're really not interested in finding solutions to the challenges that face us.
Either way, I for one applaud the City for at least trying to find a solution to these difficult issues.
Whether it's providing an incentive for buying a new car or trying to recover a cost that is driven by those who use a service as opposed to everyone paying more for increased costs of services they never use.
I also applaud Council Member Abercrombie for standing up and voicing his opinion by providing a no vote. I think more of us should come to the Council meetings and speak up if we don't like the way things are going, rather than criticizing everyone for trying to solve the problems that face us.
I realize we all have an opinion, and under the First Amendment we all have a right to voice our opinion, but come-on... If you've got good ideas and you want to be heard do the democratic thing and show up at a Council meeting and argue your point where it will do some good.
U musbe on krak
Agreed, but how about a citizen proposal to turn the tide of city spending? Instead of building YET-two-more new firestations, lets ask the US Army Recuiters (in the mall), to start an Army Medic Training Center? The US Navy has air medics, too. Our US military have an opportunity to fill a gap and expand their exposure. Surely they wouldn't mind stabilizing and re-routing a real-time-field victem twice a day?
whyUnuts dis da Bostn teaparty
wecares
The legality of their new charges for 911 is in question.
To the writer: If you read this Wednesday's Press, there's an article about two new fire stations in the works that will cost the city $8 million to build. The fire chief has said there were 6,200 calls for fire service in 2008. If the calls remain constant, the city will have repaid it's coffer the $8 million in just over 4 years with the $300 fees.
How much confidence do you have in our city government now?