Mayor Brent Ives said not just seconds before casting his vote in favor of charging for fire department paramedic services that something about this didn’t feel right. Then the city manager said that if people billed for this service claimed they couldn’t pay it, the city would let it slide.
By the way, I applaud Councilman Steve Abercrombie for having the foresight to see how convoluted this decision was and for voting against it.
Why are we implementing an additional charge for fire department medical calls when it “doesn’t feel right,” or when if someone says they can’t pay for it, we will excuse it? It sounds to me like we are jumping through a lot of hoops for something that either won’t be enforced equally or is wrong to begin with.
We are all aware that city agencies are facing budget problems, but so is every resident in this country. I don’t want to see firefighters or policemen lose their jobs, but I don’t want to see someone on a fixed income who is already struggling with health care expenses get saddled for an additional charge that they can’t afford (but have paid for and received over the years in their local taxes).
Is the time going to come when we will receive a bill in the mail for calling the police to deter a crime in our neighborhood?
And while I agree that encouraging people to spend money during an economic downturn can stimulate an upturn, I also believe in saving money and investing in ways that will help keep paying the bills in the future. Our mayor was instrumental in helping our town stay solvent over the years by making wise choices with money and investments in the past, so my guess is the idea of sticking it to the taxpayers is what doesn’t feel right to him — so why vote in favor of it?
The question I think our lawmakers at all levels need to start asking themselves when faced with these situations is, “Are we spending money in places where we could be saving?” Are there alternative solutions to raising taxes or sending out supplemental bills for services that people are already paying for?
I encourage our city officials to look for other ways to offset expenses, rather than approving ideas that aren’t right to begin with or that will likely end up being written off down the road.
Larry L. Hite is a Tracy resident and owner of Tracy Home Inspections. He ran unsuccessfully for Tracy City Council this year.
Are you joking? Let us know when your lawsuit is tossed out of court. Probably faster than your check would bounce.
LOL!
A councilman’s emergency response fee explanation
by Michael Maciel Jul 07, 2009
Now the show is on the other foot and just look at this |why?| now!
Cut the AMR |why?| so that the taxpayers are not double paying for two redundant services!
You asked for cuts, you got it.
To put another way:
You made your bed. Sleep in it.
Go for it. Reduce. You finally got what you wanted. This is what you have been asking for, all along. Reduced taxes!
donde es U lawsuit in el escribo alto
?no?
por que
by Michael Maciel
Jul 07, 2009
TracyPress.com
For the past few weeks, many Tracy residents I’ve encountered have asked me about the emergency medical service fee program recently approved by the City Council. This issue has also been addressed by writers to this newspaper.
The folks I have talked to fall into three basic categories. Some have questions about the details of the program; some say that if they have a medical emergency, they would gladly pay the fee for prompt service; and some (most) say, “What I am paying my taxes for?!”
Having supported the program, I feel I owe Tracy citizens an explanation for my vote. Let me be clear: I speak only for myself, not any other council members.
When I first saw this proposal, I had many questions about it. I do not take imposing a fee on the public lightly, even during good economic times, let alone during this fiscal climate. Anyone who saw the council deal with this proposal knows that the fire chief was asked many questions and returned for a second meeting to provide answers.
Had this merely been a $300 fee to generate revenue imposed when firefighters render medical aid, I would not have supported it. What I did support was a comprehensive program designed to maintain a high level of potentially lifesaving service, which included what I consider to be a fair and affordable “membership” option that would cover all service costs for subscribing households or businesses.
While normally I am suspicious of people who tell others what they can afford, I stuck my neck out and assumed that the vast majority of Tracy households could cope with the 93 cents per week cost of this program. For those who meet an established, low-income criteria, the cost would be 69 cents per week. I have suggested that an even lower rate be considered for seniors on restricted incomes.
An even bigger reason I supported this program and its associated fees is that I know it is part of a much larger and challenging effort to have Tracy successfully cope with these difficult economic times. Expenditures are up, and revenues are down.
Right now, we use limited fiscal reserves to maintain public service levels while running a $7 million-per-year deficit. The reserves will not last much longer. As a city, just like a business or family, when you spend more than you make, you either have to spend less, make more, or both.
The EMS fee is an example of making more. City government has limited ability to increase taxes (a good thing!), and I personally look very carefully at proposed fee increases, but in some cases, they will be necessary.
The city continues to work hard at spending less. We have a much greater ability to cut expenditures, but with that will ultimately come reduced city services.
Cities, counties and school districts throughout the state have made drastic cuts in personnel and services. So far Tracy has not been forced to make such cuts, but we will no doubt face tough decisions in the not-too-distant future. I will not enjoy voting to cut services, just as I did not enjoy voting to raise fees. I do, however, recognize that making the tough calls is the job I signed on for — to make the decisions to keep Tracy operating within its fiscal means while still providing quality services to residents.
We are not a state government that can issue IOUs or a federal government that can print more money. As a city, we must and will live within our means. To that I am committed, even if it is unpopular with some.
I welcome the opportunity to discuss this and other city issues with the people of Tracy. If you see me around town, please say hello and share your thoughts.
• Michael Maciel is a retired Tracy Police Department captain and 50-year Tracy resident. Last November, he was elected to the Tracy City Council.
A more serious question has less to do with 'confidence' it is more about financial obligations. For example the letter leaves a lot lacking especially when some anonymous commentor mentions lawsuits. The politician leaves us wondering why would the he/she write in to the Press and yet neglect to provide additional details about the lawsuit.
If he is running for office and we were to have confidence it may behove us to want to know why that was not mentioned. I'm not sure it is disapointment or the politico leverage we may want to stay tuned instead of speaking out of line for the entire community.
Ives: "Gee, I don't know if it's the right thing to do".
Council: "Ok, let's vote on it".
Ives: "I vote yes".
How loud can the community say, "No Confidence" for the city council?
Should have been the Mayor, seems to be independently strong enough not to listen to Leon Churchill if it does not sit well with him concerning the residents of Tracy.
We are all aware that city agencies are facing budget problems, but so is every resident in this country. I don’t want to see firefighters or policemen lose their jobs, but I don’t want to see someone on a fixed income who is already struggling with health care expenses get saddled for an additional charge that they can’t afford (but have paid for and received over the years in their local taxes).
Is the time going to come when we will receive a bill in the mail for calling the police to deter a crime in our neighborhood?
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Might happen soon?? The way they think, with Leon Churchill on board, anything goes?