Two weeks ago, VCTA sent out a newsletter to you regarding the Ventura Fire Department’s push to hire additional firefighters based on a flawed Emergency Services Consulting International (ESCI) report. We asked you to contact council members to voice your opinion on the matter. Further, VCTA directly reached out to the City Council with a three-page opinion on the matter.
It appears our lobbying efforts achieved most of VCTA’s goals.
According to the Ventura County Star, “On a 6-1 vote, the City Council on Monday (June 21, 2021) approved a $303 million spending plan after reaching a compromise to postpone decisions over additional firefighter positions and equipment by at least six months.”
The request for additional firefighters, which VCTA objected to because it lacked justification, failed. Two City Council members, Jim Friedman and Doug Halter, both of whom received substantial campaign contributions from Ventura Fire union, lost in the vote to waste taxpayer’s money.
VCTA requested the city develop a strategic plan to determine the need for additional firefighters and the council agreed.
The article goes on to say, “Earlier in Monday’s meeting, the council discussed adding three firefighters and a new paramedic fire engine at a cost of $874,000. That plan failed on a 3-4 vote, with council members Doug Halter, Jim Friedman, and Brown in favor of increased spending. Opposing council members Sanchez-Palacios, Mike Johnson, Sofia Rubalcava, and Joe Schroeder cited the high cost and lack of a strategic plan.”
This issue is not over. VCTA will be working with City officials every step of the way to ensure that Taxpayers are represented on this issue.
If you wish to get in touch with the Ventura City Council about this issue, you may do so by using this portal: HERE
The Ventura County Taxpayers Association remains steadfast in its opposition of any Ventura City Council decision made based on the flawed ESCI study.
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