Police and Fire Issues

By Michael "Mike" Hollon

My thoughts.

I feel that Bakersfield needs to increase our services in these areas of need and that this is a city wide issue.

The problem is that there is a limited number of ways to do this.

A. We can cut other services. I don't like this idea. There are people who depend on these services for the basic quality of life.

B. We can increase taxes. But we would need to exercise caution on how we did this or the state could end up taking all our hard earned money.

1. For instance what if we "assessed" a $1000.00 FEE for every new home or business is built in city limits to offset the cost of building the infrastructure. AND that every time a home or business is sold that sale would be assessed a $500.00 fee.
2. 500 dollars that's like ½ of 1% of the average sale at best.
3. AND that every address in Bakersfield is assessed a $50.00 fee per year to help build new fire stations and police substation.
4. $50.00 a year is nothing my friends that's a like 1 meal at average restaurant now a days.

C. We can do some creative financing: I.E.
1. We can auction the names of our city building to the highest bidder.
2. like the Jack Frost Ice Arena
3. or the Barber Automotive Convention center
4. Or Bolthouse Centennial Gardens for just a few examples.
5. We could start the bids at $50,000 and let it go from there. And these bids would be good for 1 yr.

I think these are really our only way of paying for new services. Maybe a combo of choices 2 and 3. Choice 1 is out in my books.