Do you like Daylight Savings time?

Bill:

Good letter.

This City Council appears to be attempting to “one-up” the Placer County Board of Supervisor’s in a race to prove who can be the most dim-witted.

The city project that has downtown all messed up comes from a sinking fund set-up years ago to do this project. In other words, it comes from a special fund the city has been contributing into for years.

But let’s get real. Will any of the city council members garner votes and a newspaper photo by approving pay increases for police and fire fighters, or will they get their ugly mug’s splattered all over the papers and news media when they can grab a shovel and be seen planting a tree?

This is once again the firefighters wanting to be treated differently then the rest of the community. It is the COST of the employment of these firefighters that is the problem. The city has falling tax revenue, the economy is in a recession, most if not all businesses in our community has let people go, reduced salaries and have had to do with less. Why should the firefighters be treated any diffrent. Today I think a all volunteer fire department sounds pretty good.

Rabidog: the streetscape project is paid for with bonds issued to investors to be repaid with increased property tax revenu in the future.

Banker: You certain about that? I understand it was mostly a sinking fund.

banker, you could help reduce costs by never using the services! Bet that won't happen.

Amen William Taylor!

Banker: The fire fighters SHOULD BE treated differently than the rest of the community. Different job with much more responsiblility. Do you want a highly trained and motivated fire fighter attempting to save your life? And as for businesses letting people go and reducing salarles. That would most likely refer to businesses that are suffering loss of business, and then they might lay off the un-necessary and less trained empoyees. The last I heard, the fire department is not loosing business and the fire fighters are the front line of their business (Saving lives). I completely disagree with the comparison between private industry and public safety. I prefer the comparison to the miltary, if we are at war we increase staff and pay them to stay. Sounds like you want to go back to the days of Mayberry with a voluntary fire department. People would die and building would burn to the ground. By the way, I am NOT a fire fighter and don't have family in the department.

Radidog: Yes, I am sure about it. That is how redevlopment funding is done in the state of California.

Realist: So, the firefighters should not have any burden placed on them during tough economic times? Then who should face the funding issues; the elderly, the young, other city employees or the business and property owners who pay the taxes? It is easy to cast blame on others but in the end the question must be answered. If all pulic employees are facing reduced salaries why should the fire fighters not be?

Lastly, I am a taxpayer and the fire department is paid for by myself and other taxpayers. If I do have a need the I will gladly use the services of the fire department that I have helped pay for. Wether they be paid or volunteer.

Let's bring back a volunteer fire department! In the day that was how it worked, then came the perceived need for a some staff who were suplemented with volunteers, now comes the perceived need for a fully paid, staffed department of individuals making over 6 figures, who feel they should not feel pains of other city employees when it comes time for cuts, be it in personnel or pay. I know there are many that would stand up to volunteer to help the community.

Times are tough, to make a city work takes people to run the sewer system just as it needs people to put out fires. Regardless of the job, employees in Auburn seem to me to give it their all to do their best. Hopefully the changes being done to the city, whether it is Streetscape or upgrading sewers will help maintain, and if done right, increase the tax base needed to pay for public services. Times are hard right now, all city employees need to share in the pain, and if they care about their job and city, will continue to work hard and when times are better be appropriately rewarded or compensated.

CCR1022: If I were a police officer I would think crime is more important. If I am a teacher I think education of our youth is more important so we won't have crime. If I am a Nurse I think healing the sick is more important and needed now. If I am an elected official I think that my actions to help all the problems is more important. And if I am a fire fighter then I think my emergency efforts are more needed then all the rest. The truth is all of these are right.

Econ 101: When the economy slows income tax, property tax, and sales tax all decline and all of the above depend on these taxes for their funding. Each are important but each must face the fact that there is less money. No one or no group will be left untouched by this economy.

I am tired of people thinking the member of the City Council have some hidden agenda. They are your neighbors and just people who are committed to public service and trying to do the best job for our community. We are not 'politicians' but local public servants who work for you.

Mayor Mike Holmes, Kevin Hanley, Keith Nesbitt, Bridget Powers and I. It is not easy in these tough economic times to make the choices we have to make to maintain a balanced budget. But I am proud of the job the City Council is doing. It is easy to complain without accountability. If you have positive ideas on how to move forward then we will listen but we really are acting in what we believe to be the best interests of Auburn. Also, talk to us. We are available and will listen. You and your voices matter. We do believe that our employees are the City's greatest asset. But that means all of our employees.

Dr Bill Kirby

Banker: The emphasis is not on what each individual feels about their profession, its what the public feels is important. Public Safety is paramount. I can live without the grass getting cut or some of the other services the city provides. On the other hand, I want a highly trained motivated profession responding to a medical emergency. Public safety is not in the private sector, it must be maintained at a high level, regardless of the economy. Regarding the different public sector jobs, a school teacher will not respond to your house at 3:00 in the morning and save your life.

If the city continues to cut the fire department's pay then the fire fighters will look for a job elsewhere. We will have a revolving door of untrained personnel who leave as soon as they get the experience and training.

The City Council has followed the recommendations of the Fire Chief on all issues related to our re-organization and staffing.

We have had one firefighter leave about two years ago to go to Sac Metro which has cut a large number of positions this last year.

When we moved from a volunteer organization to a primary paid force 9 years ago the firefighters understood it would take time to reach parity and we have parity with similar sized departments. The firefighters are among our highest paid employees and need to share in the cuts with every other department in this age of declining sales tax revenues. We have promised to restore these cuts as the economy improves.

Dr Bill Kirby

The City Council has followed the recommendations of the Fire Chief on all issues related to our re-organization and staffing.

We have had one firefighter leave about two years ago to go to Sac Metro which has cut a large number of positions this last year.

When we moved from a volunteer organization to a primary paid force 9 years ago the firefighters understood it would take time to reach parity and we have parity with similar sized departments. The firefighters are among our highest paid employees and need to share in the cuts with every other department in this age of declining sales tax revenues. We have promised to restore these cuts as the economy improves.

Dr Bill Kirby

Mr. Taylor was a member of the volunteer system. Do will really have better fire protection with "paid" employees? I would like to see a combination of both brought back. Stop responding to fender benders and let the EMT services respond to health related calls. How many miles along with wear and tear are attributable to a full time fire department compared to a volunteer or hybrid department? Auburn is a small city covering 7 sq. miles, it would appear that it doesn't require a huge force of firefighters or police to control emergency services.

Hey Doc, The city council members are doing what they are supossed to do, one is voting on projects that are presented to them by city departments. The real fly in the ontiment is the City Manager, as he is the one that is responsible for the "remaking" the city, just as he has done in 4 or 5 other cities where he has managed. The numbers 4 or 5 came out of his mouth at a AUDA meeting. He was hired by a prior city council, I don't believe any of the current members were involved.

Maybe he'll get the job that is open in Roseville.