El Centro firefighters back ‘Measure T’
EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA) – The El Centro Firefighters Association is backing Measure T, which would raise the city’s sales tax by five cents.
Measure T would generate additional revenue for the city and would be added to the general fund.
“We’re supporting Measure T, a half cent sales tax increase within the City of El Centro,” Brad Wilkinson, President of the El Centro Firefighters Association told News 11. “We want to expand services from the fire department. We believe that the city has intentions to do that with the money that it could potentially generate from five cent sales tax.
The money wouldn’t be earmarked for the fire department, but could be used for anything from fixing roads to youth recreation. So how confident are first responders that their departments will be taken care of?
“I have a lot of confidence in the city’s current administration, with the city manager and the council with their intentions to expand fire department and EMS services to the south end of El Centro with the money that it’ll generate,” Wilkinson said.
Wilkinson recognized the hesitation from some voters, stating, “I know that’s a concern of the voters that it’s going to a general fund and not specifically earmarked for public safety, but I think the city has shown a fiscal responsibility in previous administrations and its current one.”
The Firefighters Association said it’s looking at the big picture for the future of El Centro.
“I believe that the current council and current administration is laying the foundation for a future of El Centro, not just within the next two to three years, but within the next ten to 20 to 50 years,” Wilkinson said.
Voters will decide whether to say yes or no on the measure on November 3.
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