Menlo Park's Future

Who Is Speaking for the Taxpayer? Vol. 2

Fellow Residents:

I invite you to read Council Woman Kelly Fergusson’s defense of her decision to increase the police sergeant’s raise by a huge 30% (and, in truth, much more).  Almanac Almanac: Guest opinion: Making the case for the sergeants' raise (February 4, 2009)

Please evaluate her justifications in light of these facts:

·         The local economy is suffering – Menlo Park’s General Fund Budget deficit has ballooned to $3.1 million and counting.

·         At the same time (effective January 1, 2009) our non-police employees received a 35% increase to already generous benefits.

·         All this is occurring in our City Council chambers while other communities are attempting to hold the line:

 

o       San Jose has given their police personnel a 5% increase over the same 18- month period as Menlo Park’s receives its 30+%.

o       Palo Alto, looking at budget deficits, is considering no pay increases in upcoming labor agreements.

o       And our own police chief contradicted Fergusson’s assumptions by saying that the sergeants would not leave, even if they did not get this raise.

 

·        Also, the latest political-campaign filings for the 2008 re-election campaign, made public just last week, indicates that Council Woman Fergusson received $3,200 from the local unions, three of which were in $1,000 increments.  These are by far the largest donations she received.

So I ask -- is Council woman Fergusson speaking for you, the taxpayer?

I also ask—do you think the City council majority will raise your Utility Users Tax* in order to cover these rising employee costs?  And are you OK with a raise?

As always, you can contact me at [email protected]

Thanks,

Lee Duboc

*The utility user taxes apply to your phone, cell phone, DSL, cable, gas, electricity and water bills.

If you would like to read any of my past emails link to http://menlofuture.weebly.com/index.html