On May 11, services need voters’ help

This op-ed from Chairman Michael Basile and President Matt Ballard appeared in today’s Charleston Daily Mail.

Basile

Basile

On May 11, Kanawha County voters are being asked to make a decision that could literally could mean the difference between life or death for your family – renewing the safety levy.

The safety levy raises $14.9 million yearly for ambulance services, local police and fire departments and the KRT. Failure of the levy would result in loss of automatic response for vehicle accidents, reduced service in rural areas, a decrease in bus service and transportation for the disabled, and a longer response time for 911 calls.

It could also mean that we look to other sources of funding.
 
Consider the situation in Tracy, Calif., where residents now have to pay every time they call 911. According to New York Times Pulitzer-winning columnist Tom Friedman, “residents can pay a $48 voluntary fee for the year, which allows them to call 911 as many times as necessary. Or there’s the option of not signing up for the annual fee. Instead they will be charged $300 if they make a call for help.”
Ballard

Ballard

Is this what we want for Kanawha County?

Right now, the average Kanawha County household pays only 14 cents a day to support 22 fire departments that respond first to emergencies, ambulances that respond to 90 percent of calls within eight minutes and transport more than 200 patients every day, and buses that pick up thousands of passengers each day.

These are impressive statistics. They translate to the quickness and efficiency that often mean the difference between life and death.

To ensure that we can maintain these high-quality, life-saving services, our first responders have put out their own 911 call asking area businesses for help in ensuring passage of the levy. Read more…

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admin, April 29th 2010 | Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in safety levy