MADERA (KMJ) — A proposal to raise sales tax in Madera County, and increase available funds for public safety, is about to go to the people. But not everyone is behind it.
‘Measure L’ will be on the ballot next month and, if approved, would increase sales tax by 1%. The majority of the extra revenue would go to assist the Madera County Fire Department, with the Madera County Sheriff’s Office also set to benefit too.
“If you look at standards across the country, and what’s safe for not only fire-fighters but law enforcement also, there’s the NFPA which puts together standards for departments to target.
“That’s what we’re evaluated by through the insurance companies.
“In Madera County, our level of service county-wide is we only have one person on a fire-truck 24/7 of those five fire stations. That’s not even recognized as any measurable standard nationally. We need to have at least two people just to be able to effectively and efficiently do our job.”
He adds that it’ll ease the burden on paid-call crew members.
“You get a fire truck up in eastern Madera County that will go to a motor vehicle accident up in the hills. Right now, unless the volunteers respond and assist that person on that fire truck, or we get assistance from CAL FIRE some of the neighboring stations, that’s one person there by themselves.
“Trying to render care to those that are injured, trying to use the jaws of life to extricate someone, being that one person trying to make sure traffic’s held back until law enforcement gets there – just to make sure they’re safe.”
The Republican Party of Madera County is against the ‘Measure L’ proposal, but representatives were not able to speak to KMJ News.
On their website, the group explains that Madera County’s Board of Supervisors should find the money from current funds instead.
The proposal goes to the vote on March 7th.
The pro-Measure L campaign is hosting a series of voter education forums in the weeks before the election:
February 16th – 6:30 PM: Oakhurst Community Center, Oakhurst
February 17th – 6:30 PM: Coarsegold Community Center, Coarsegold
February 21st – 6:30 PM: Leaders for Christ Training Center, Raymond
Hear the report from KMJ’s Dominic McAndrew as it aired:
