Voluntary Public Safety Taxes?

I guess it should be called a "contribution" rather than a tax, since it would be voluntary, but I don't think I'll be contributing to Eureka City Councildude Chris Kerrigan's latest proposal. Chris wants to have a little box added to city water bills so people can write in an extra amount to be donated towards "additional public safety needs". In other words, the Eureka Police and Fire Departments.

First, it would be interesting to know specifically what "additional public safety needs" he is referring to. Hiring more cops? If that's the purpose then it's not such a good idea. Once the money is used for something like that, it becomes a permanent expense. That's how California got into its current financial debacle: spending the money from a short lived revenue boom on permanent projects that gave us the billion dollar deficits we face now.

Most people consider law enforcement and fire to be one of the primary functions of city government and it seems to me we have sufficient law enforcement and fire in Eureka as it is. Sure, they could always use more money, but so could I.

Funny how this proposal comes from one of those who supports the various redevelopment schemes that take money from city coffers and funnel it elsewhere, then asks people to pitch in more money to cover supposed shortfalls.

I'll give him credit, though. At least this proposal for raising money is voluntary. But it won't be for long if enough people participate in it.