Vote for the public safety gross receipts tax

Category: Editorials Editorials
Published: 17 February 2014 17 February 2014

Dear Editor:

The tiny, wee percentage of gross receipts tax (GRT) for Silver City residents that's on the March 4 ballot is a renewal of a tiny, wee percentage of tax that's existed since 2004.  It is not a new tax.  And, it's very unlikely you'll see money in your pocket if it's not renewed because the hundredths of a percentage of GRT is so low.  There are other things you should know.

This "public safety tax" originally passed back then is specifically and only for public safety.  The total tax collected in the ten (10) years since 2004 was $3.3 million and change (per Alex Brown, Town Manager).  That $3.3 million accumulated from 12.5 cents per $100 of gross receipts tax.  Let's hope people keep spending here like they've done in the past 10 years!

Per Mr. Brown, this $3.3 million collected over the past ten years paid for personnel positions (at least four new ones), police and fire-fighting vehicles and equipment, and equipment maintenance.  Mr. Brown has indicated if not passed, the loss of this revenue could mean the loss of four firefighter and police positions.  That would result in slower response times in the future when the numbers of calls for service are expected to increase.  

It could also mean that the insurance industry, more specifically the Insurance Services Office, would take another look at Silver City's ISO rating.  Having a less desirable ISO rating (a lower number, such as a 5, is better than a 7) could result in an increase to homeowner's insurance.  See, example, www.iso.com/Products/Public-Protection-Classification-Service/Public-Protection-Classification-PPC-service.html, www.isomitigation.com/ppc/0000/ppc0001.html, and 

www.fireserviceinfo.com/iso.html    

It could also mean we can't make matching funds for current and future public safety grants.  According to Mr. Brown, grant money made available in 2013 ($59,600) for personnel protective equipment would have to be matched from the general fund -- if this gross receipts tax renewal isn't approved. 

And, future grants in the works for year 2015 will be greatly impacted.  As currently planned, Mr. Brown indicates we'd see no new medic trucks (desperately needed because current ones are old, old, old), no new technical rescue equipment, no medical heart monitor ($49,000 alone), and no new vehicle extrication equipment.  Grant applications for these would be denied because we wouldn't be able to provide "match."

Vote for it.

Kathy Anderson, speaking personally

Silver City

 

 

 

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