Half Cent Sales Tax Crucial For Public Safety Agencies

Sonora, CA — Public Safety agencies are proponents of the proposed ballot measure that would increase the Tuolumne County sales tax by half-a-cent.

Half of that amount would go to law enforcement agencies while the remaining fifty percent would be earmarked for fire protection units.

Interim Tuolumne County Sheriff Lee Sanford says if the measure does not pass his agency would only be at forty to fifty percent of acceptable standards.

According to Mike Noonan of the CDF/Tuolumne County Fire Department, paid staff salaries have remained the same over the past couple of years while the number of volunteers has dropped for 140 to 34. Under those conditions, Noonan admits his agency could simply not serve the public´s best safety interests.

Written by Bill Johnson