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Editorial

FUZZY MATH   Dave Scott who chairs the Greater Redding Chamber of Commerce board singled out Redding rank-and-file firefighters for salary scrutiny.  “It appears the firemen are getting very good care taken of them...”  Obviously Mr. Scott has spent way too much time tweaking numbers to get his business clients tax breaks.   The article referring to Red Bluff Fire Dept. Pensions in the Record Searchlight on 9/27/06 clearly shows how underpaid the firefighters in Redding are. In that article The Record Searchlight points out that the pay of a top step Fire Captain in the City of Chico is $1595.00 dollars a month more than what the City of Redding pays their Fire Captains.   Chico a smaller more progressive City than Redding has given our City many great ideas: Market Fest and the Churn Creek cleanup were both ideas that came from Chico. Chico has celebrated their downtown for many years and cleaned up Little Chico Creek way before our City leaders thought it would be fashionable to do so.   The City of Chico also treats their Public Servants with great respect and dignity. This respect not only is reflected in their pay but the gratitude from their business leaders. Their leaders understand the sacrifices these employees make.   Have our leaders lost sight of what our Public servants do for the Community? I say the answer is YES!!!!

PRESS RELEASE  October 17, 2005   Redding  Fire Fighters’  Association & Redding Peace Officers’ Association An Open Letter to the Citizens of Redding:   The recent “Analysis of City Finances” paid for by some of Redding’s business leadership in part focused on the recent increased costs of employee medical insurance and retirement. The inference from some quoted remarks is that the City should cut back in this area of the City budget. Let’s be fair about this, the business leaders that paid for the recent city financial analysis represents special interest groups intending to maximize their member’s profit margin. That’s their job and we do not begrudge our local businesses from making a fair profit. Far from begrudging business success; we like it! Redding’s business success leads to an increased tax base which allows the City to provide professional and adequate Public Safety to the Community. Clearly, police and fire personnel have the same interest as the business community in keeping Redding a great place to live. We are also taxpayers and contributors to this community.  Therefore, our public safety members were surprised that a few in the business community have set their sights on our pay and benefits! We welcome the scrutiny, but if we are going to examine City finances, why are developer fees not on the table for public scrutiny?  Most citizens don’t realize that their tax dollars are paying to increase the profit of private developers, to the tune of $1,500,000 to $2,000,000 per year. Our tax dollars are being used to pay for the costs of private development because the local business lobby has been successful for years in influencing City Council to keep developer fees low. Only about 14% of the actual expense for a local development project is actually charged to the local developers. This contribution to private development comes directly out of the City General Fund. These are monies that could be utilized to improve roads, parks, and provide additional police and fire personnel services to the community. If we are going to examine the City’s books, then let’s look at all the books including the part that undercharges developer fees! Public Safety Professionals: Proudly Serving Redding Paid for by the Redding Fire Fighters’ Association and Redding Peace Officers’ Association See also: Higher traffic fees down the road

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