Calhoun on public safety tax
The County and the City should consolidate services where appropriate, freeze raises and freeze hiring until the County
has a balanced budget and services are restored to appropriate levels. Priorities need to be established and adhered to, and Supervisors’ salaries -- currently $106,000 (an increase of $40,000 since 2001 without citizen input)--should be capped.
I have suggested a public safety tax to provide funding for police and fire, to free up money so other essential services can continue to be funded. Right now, health and safety issues are so critical, they have to be funded leaving little or no general fund monies for other services; e.g., library, child protective services, mental health, etc. I believe a public safety tax may be the only way the County can adequately fund protective services while continuing other important services. However, a public safety tax must be predicated on a “scrubbed” county budget, transparent fiscal reporting and a review and recommendation by a citizen commission.