We are taking steps in the right direction. The most unpopular suggestion for finding money to improve the fire department is to raise taxes. To do this, the city council requires a two-thirds majority vote from the public. The tax would be assessed in the form of a bond. Politicians such as Joe Centeno, who is a current council member and running for mayor, says he will avoid raising taxes to pay for new developments in the fire department.
Public safety is our number one priority.
But I believe the citizens of Santa Maria are taxed too much. Instead, he said the city should rely on developer's fees. But developer's fees are sufficient only for the construction of the station, not maintenance. Ness said he prefers taxing to be a last resort for the plan. But if the council agrees to put an assesment tax on the ballot, he would like to do a calculated approach to determine how much people want to pay.