These tax measures are a matter of public safety
Residents in Eastern Plumas are being asked to approve a tax measure to support their local fire department, while those in Crescent Mills and Quincy are considering whether to approve a parcel tax that will keep the street lights glowing in their neighborhoods.
Ballots were sent to registered voters in the three areas and must be returned or postmarked by Nov. 7. All three measures require a two-thirds vote to pass, so every ballot could be critical in deciding the outcome.
While we aren’t generally proponents of higher taxes, we think that when it’s a matter of public safety, it could be money well spent. And it’s easy to make the argument in favor of these measures by simply turning on the television or reading this newspaper.
This has been fire season — both here in Plumas County and across the state. Plumas County has been blessed this fire season that a combination of rapid response and cooperative weather prevented the apocalypse that devoured the wine country last week. Communities from Chilcoot to Taylorsville were in wildfire paths and escaped thanks in part to the rapid response not only of the Forest Service, but to local volunteer fire departments. Anything we can do to support those efforts we should.
And our local volunteers do more than fight fires; they respond to a multitude of emergencies, including vehicle accidents, medical aid calls and hazardous incidents. We encourage the residents served by Eastern Plumas Fire to vote yes on Measure C.
As for lighting, now is not the time to turn off the street lights. District Attorney David Hollister said that his office has seen a 22 percent increase in crime this past summer, and anyone who is a regular reader of our Sheriff’s Blotter can’t help but notice the uptick in incidents. Lights are a deterrent for crime, and any lecture on improving security around one’s home includes lighting. PG&E has just made a significant local investment in street lights, improving the visibility as well as their efficiency. The lighting is uniform and no doubt if the lights are turned off, some residents will erect their own replacements, opening up the potential for a hodgepodge approach to the situation.
No one wants to pay more on their property tax bill and these increases come at a time when residents have just received their annual assessments, which already bear a list of past tax measures including school bonds. But now is not the time to say “no.” Following the first year, Quincy property owners would pay no more than $18.56 per year or $1.55 per month to keep the lights on. Crescent Mills’ property owners would pay no more than $3.37 per month for street lights, and those in Eastern Plumas would pay less than $5.50 per month for their fire department.
When will eastern Plumas and the County start enforcing Fire Safe and (even) County codes?
i see residents dumping slash onto other’s property and stacking firewood, tires, and auto chemicals around structures- to say nothing of a buildup of weeds and tree litter.
An ounce of prevention is worth a sawbuck of surtax-
which nearsighted voters will likely reject, anyway.
Go around the world and you may notice that wherever the wealthiest people live there are no street lights. Do you think they might know something that we don’t? Have you ever noticed that increasingly neighborhoods are opting for the “dark sky” concept versus constant illumination that turns night into day? Are YOU here in Plumas County, a mostly rural place, because you want street lights like suburbia or a large city? I specifically have avoided street lighting in picking where I live.
Maybe street lights are an idea that is past its time. Maybe it *is* time to turn out the street lights.
Let me guess….this is the guy from Crescent Mills who wrote an article about Quincy’s future the other day…right? I’d bet on it! Lol
^ This article is written by the newspaper staff, see the top of the page where it says “staff”, the author is always listed there.
Heart of Plumas………….Why don’t you leave it to the Newspaper staff to correct me….or pay more attention. I replied to the comment above mine….penned by “Ever Notice”. But thanks for butting in!
Heart of Plumas….just btw….the author is not “always” listed. There is an editorial in todays paper with no author on it. Careful of your credibility.
^^^
You’re right, I mistakenly thought you were referring to the article, I didn’t understand who you were referring to. I like to put a little arrow pointing up to the comment I am replying to so my message is easily understood.
An editorial is written by the head editor, the editorial staff or publisher of the news paper, so the term editorial implies who the author is, to list the author is kind of redundant. In the paper version(as opposed to online) they don’t list an author because it’s implied. In the online version they list “staff” probably because it’s an empty field that needs to have something in it to make the page layout work, that’s my guess. I was referring to the online version of the paper since that’s were our discussion took place. Have a great day.
Well thank you for the info! And you have a wonderful day also!
I live in Quincy and pay property taxes, yet is never got a ballot to vote on this. It really annoys me that people are voting on my taxes and most of them don’t pay property taxes. Personally I feel only those who pay should be voting on this, yet I get no say in the matter.