Fire union supports public safety tax, opposes Measure T extension

The Hollister Fire Department union has voted to support a new public safety tax and to oppose the proposed extension of the 1 percent Measure T sales tax on the November ballot, according to an announcement released Thursday.

Hollister Firefighters Union President Vince Grewohl announced the group voted June 11 in favor of supporting a new tax and rejecting the Measure T extension, which funnels more than $3 million annually into the city’s general fund totaling around $14 million.

Hollister voters in 2007 approved the sales tax, while city leaders vowed to use the money toward reinvigorating dwindled departments, particularly police and fire. With the recession and continued economic troubles locally, though, the funds have gone toward trying to maintain the status quo. Without the proposed five-year extension, the city would face a nearly $3.5 million annual deficit.

The fire union’s vote comes days after an announcement that the organization at a May 22 meeting, with an “overwhelming majority,” supported a no-confidence vote against Fire Chief Fred Cheshire and City Manager Clint Quilter. The union also asked that Cheshire be investigated and fired for his budgeting and management. Grewohl, in a seven-page letter, accused Quilter and Cheshire of action or inaction including contract violations, misconduct, harassment and retaliation.

Regarding the idea for a public safety tax to fund fire and police departments, there is no official measure for the ballot at this time.

There is, however, a current assessment levied against all new developments with generated funds dedicated to the police and fire departments. The Melo-Roos tax is assessed annually to all properties built after 1993, said City Manager Clint Quilter.

There are two different types of the tax, one about $250 per year and another that increases with inflation and comes to somewhere between $250 an $300 annually, Quilter said.

The tax generates around $880,000 annually with funds split halfway between the police and fire departments. The remainder of the public safety budgets includes general fund dollars.

Grewohl could be reached immediately.

Press Release below:

On June 11, 2012 The Hollister Firefighters Union voted in favor to pursue

a public saftey sales tax and not support the extension of the current

Measure “T” sales tax.

Firefighter Vince Grewohl

Hollister Firefighters Union

IAFF Local 3395

President