HomeMy WebLinkAboutEmail from Jeanne Cecchi - Fire Stations Menchaca, Clarissa
From: Bennett, Robin
Sent: Wednesday,January 17, 2018 12:32 PM
To: McCracken, Shari
Cc: Menchaca, Clarissa
Subject: FW: OPEN LETTER TO THE BUTTE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
Attachments: bos RE FIRE,doc
BOS correspondence: letter from Jeanne Cecchi. See attached and email below.
Rol4n, 8emwa.
(530)872-6304rbatinell bultecounty.net
Mine Coumy Supervisor*s Offire
Board of. upervisors. District
717 Elliott Road
1'artrdise. C,4 95969
From:Jeanne Cecchi [mailto:jeannececchi@comcast.net]
Sent: Wednesday,January 17, 2018 12:15 PM
To: Connelly, Bill<BConnelly@buttecounty.net>;Teeter, Doug <DTeeter@ buittecounty.net>; Wahl, Larry
<LWahl@buttecounty.net>; Kirk, Maureen<MKirk@buttecounty.net>; BOS District 4<District4@ buttecou nty.net>
Cc: Pickett,Andy<APickett@ butteco u nty.net>; Hahn, Paul <PHahn@bu,ttecounty.net>
Subject. OPEN LETTER TO THE BUTTE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
Sent from Mail for Windows 10
OPEN LETTER TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
I would like to thank the Board of Supervisors for their rational decision at the
April 25, 2017 meeting not to close the Fire Stations. With a packed room and
hours of concerned citizen's testimony, not one person stood up in favor of
closing fire stations. To think we are paying Firefighters and First Responders
too much for what they do (which oftentimes means putting their life on the
line), is to truly not understand that insurance is a necessity that you hope to
never have to use. It is peace of mind. Our First Responders are our FIRST LINE
OF INSURANCE. Individual property insurance may not even be available or
affordable should these areas be designated with an ISO rating of 10 due to fire
station closures. Every life matters. Fire is one aspect, but most calls are due to
medical emergencies and accidents.
Butte County's 85-year relationship with Cal Fire is efficient and successful
because of the overlapping structure of State, County and local resources. We
should be celebrating this union. The suggested alternative of creating Fire
Districts puts the full or additional financial burden on local residents and
resources who are already overwhelmed with taxes and SRA fees. Why are we
trying to fix something that is not broken?
I understand that the accounting/allocation process is complicated,but I believe
we have the money to keep the fire stations open. With$10 million of our tax
dollars in a contingency fund, it is unconscionable to close fire stations (a basic
necessity). There is no crisis. According to the 2015-16 budget there was a $23
million carryover with Budgeted Appropriations for Contingencies of$9,742,221
for the 2016-17 fiscal years. If there is a crisis, why were 33 net positions added
to the county workforce? David Houser's November 10, 2016 letter to the
Citizens of Butte County says "we continue to remain on the path towards fiscal
stability". So how do we all of a sudden come up missing$3 million? Where is
the Prop 172 (1/2% sales tax money for public safety) for 2015-16 of$15,797,582?
Something is not right. Funding for our Sheriff or DA should not be reduced
either.
In the interest of public safety for Butte County residents, I believe an honest
effort should be made to find the money or find out why it is missing. Public
safety is at stake and residents deserve adequate notice and complete
transparency before the drastic solution of closing fire stations ever takes place.
Jeanne Cecchi
Oroville, CA