Letter: Reader encourages others to support Measure E

I recall attending city budget hearings back in June of 2003 when former City Manager Dale Shaddox had to find a way to scale back department requests that exceeded $1.8 million dollars above projected revenues.
In January 29 of 2004, the city adopted a plan to lay off 36 employees. During that meeting, a presentation of financial projections disclosed millions in potential debt spending. These projections included six wide ranging scenarios and every one of them resulted in debt spending by 2009. The worst option, that included no layoffs, accrued a $17.8 million debt.
Yes, we have had to weather a deluge of financial hardship for quite some time now. Looking back, I say that we as a community along with local government,  have found a way to keep going and maintain an acceptable level of service. This was made possible with the help of Measure T.
What it boils down to is this; the essential task of functional local government is to ensure there are assets to exceed current liabilities. I believe the essence of current liabilities are to provide an acceptable level of service to our community.
Constructive ideas such as consolidating with the county and privatization to provide service indeed have merit; however, the fact of the matter is we have two plans that can be practically implemented. One is to adopt Measure E and the other is the Austerity Plan that hopefully will keep the city solvent if Measure E fails.
Given these two choices, the one that I really have a problem with is the Austerity Plan. I understand the necessity of this plan to keep the city on life support, but this option includes eliminating six sworn police officers, seven sworn fire fighters, two animal control officers, closing down Fire Station No. 2, shutting park restrooms and cancelling Parks and Recreation athletic programs. In my view,  this option does not provide an acceptable level of service.
Many believe that having an investment in economic development is important to our city and citizens for job creation. We have heard this view shared among the mayoral candidates. I really do not have hope that this commitment will be manifest via the Austerity Plan.
I ask my fellow citizens to vote yes on Measure E. This is what will maintain adequate public service and ensure a functional form of government. With this in place, we than may embrace ideas to make things better, adapt and change to meet the challenges that lie ahead.
David Huboi, Hollister