Millbrae Fire Assessment

By Douglas Henning "賈小德" Radtke

My opinion of the upcoming renewal of the fire assessment that will be on the 2014 ballot.

I have several problems with the fire assessment.

First of all, the money is accounted for in the General Fund. This is equivalent to throwing all the property tax, sales tax, hotel tax, and the assessment into one box. When we are told as a city that the assessment only goes to fire expenses, there is no absolute assurance that this is the case.

I propose what many other cities such as Pacifica (prior to 2011) have done: put the money in a special revenue fund.

This separate special revenue would ensure the taxpayer that every dollar that is claimed to be for fire expenses is indeed for fire expenses.

I would also like to mention the City of Pacifica ended their fire assessment in 2011. They have not experienced any reduction in public safety. The fire assessment did not pass with a resounding 64% NO vote.

I ask the Millbrae general public to consider the example of Pacifica and many other cities in the Peninsula who are saying "NO" to a proposed fire assessment renewal.

12 years is long enough for the city to have found a dedicated source of funding for our fire contract. I promise to watch-dog the taxpayer's interest if I am elected as I am doing right now.