Financial Position

By Bart Spencer

Menlo Park Fire provides quality services to our communities every day. The fire service, like most industries, is evolving, and the Fire District is planning for those changes. Looking forward, in anticipation and preparation for these challenges includes financial responsibility.

Throughout my time on the Board, we have maintained a balanced budget and ensured financial stability. However, given the ever-changing economic state, we need to revisit all District costs in order to maintain sustainability. Lately public employees' wages and benefits have occupied center stage. During these tough economic conditions many of these employees + firefighters, police officers, teachers and more -- have made concessions, taken reductions, deferred raises, rolled back salaries, and modified retirement packages. Three years ago the District and union started contract negotiations. Unfortunately, the union leaders have chosen to walk away from the negotiating table and, despite multiple invitations to return, have indicated they will not come back until after the election. It is difficult to talk when one party is absent.

While I value the quality of care our firefighters provide our communities every day, I also value sound fiscal management. The District Board must to continue its look at the benchmarking of wage and benefit packages. With the passage of Measure L in Menlo Park last year, it seems apparent that at least one community strongly supports pension reform. I am a proponent of this effort. Earlier this year I met with elected officials in Sacramento and have petitioned CalPERS to provide additional and adaptable retirement options and will continue this effort when re-elected.

Menlo Park Fire District is committed to principles of maintaining high industry standards. My commitment is to ensure that these principles are upheld. When re-elected, I will continue my support of improved resource collaboration through partnerships, shared services, consolidation and more. I commit to being a good steward of our financial resources and will maintain the quality of service we have come to trust and rely on for our future needs.