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LETTER REGARDING SPECIAL TAX DISTRICTS
October 9, 2007
Chairman Don Nottoli
Sacramento
County
Board
of Supervisors
700 H Street
Sacramento,
CA
95814
Dear Supervisor Nottoli:
Sheriff John McGinness
has offered a proposal to create several special tax districts to enhance
police services. I could not be
happier about the sheriff’s proposal. In fact, I pitched this proposal to
Sheriff McGinness on January 6, 2006
when he was still Undersheriff. In addition to seeking a law
enforcement fee on new development and freeing the Sheriff’s
Department from the ugly policy of holding deputy positions vacant to
accrue five million dollars in budget savings, creating these special
districts is a goal I have been pursuing for over three years.
These new districts will give us a
real opportunity to address inadequate patrol staffing in places like south
Sacramento
(Central Division), where citizens are overrun with crime. On August 11, 2007
I made a presentation to the Sacramento NAACP about the crime crisis in
south Sacramento. The meeting was attended by Undersheriff George Anderson. I shared with the audience and Undersheriff Anderson my conversations with Sheriff McGinness about crime and issues facing south Sacramento. I emphasized my concerns about
attempts to split the Central Division patrol service area (south
Sacramento) into two districts and how that could worsen crime issues in
poorer areas, particularly minority neighborhoods.
As I stated to the Board of
Supervisors in 2003, minorities have a higher rate of victimization in many
serious crime categories. Crime
is a critical issue for African Americans. In Los
Angeles the LA
TIMES’ “Homicide Report” notes that Black males are safer
in prison than on the streets.
During our January 6, 2006
conversation, Sheriff McGinness said he was
opposed to splitting the Central Division patrol service area. I hope Sheriff McGinness
maintains that view as I feel a split in the district will open a doorway
that will allow government to further isolate and ignore crime in minority
neighborhoods.
I support the new special tax
districts. However I have
several concerns. First, steps
should be taken to make sure new revenues will not be used to pay for what
amounts roughly to the same level of staffing. The county should create a long term
plan (five years) connected to the new districts. The county and Sheriff should commit
to levels of staffing in each new district for several years (five). Then voters can elect to enhance
that predetermined level of staffing appropriately.
When Sheriff Blanas
and Police Chief Albert Nájera pushed the 9-1-1
telephone fee in 2004 for example, I was concerned the new revenues raised
by the fee would create a corresponding reduction in county funding,
ultimately resulting in the county redirecting money meant for law
enforcement to social programs.
As you know, I spoke to this issue at a 2004 board meeting.
Second, can you
assure citizens your board has not created large reserves of revenue which
makes the general fund appear weak?
Regarding crime fighting in south Sacramento
for example, could the county release two million dollars a year, for five
years, from reserves without putting the county into financial
jeopardy? One could argue the
county and Sheriff’s Department failed to justly spend and deploy
staff to south Sacramento (Central Division) for years which resulted in
savings to the county and higher violent crime in south Sacramento. A September 29, 2007 Sacramento Bee
story about crime in south Sacramento
(Central Division) stated:
But the general area has been troubled by crime issues. The Sheriff Department's Central Division, which covers south Sacramento, reported more violent crime than any other division in 2006, department data show. It had 40 percent more violent crimes than divisions covering Arden Arcade and North Highlands.
If the county can afford to reduce
some overgrown reserve funds to fight crime, then new taxes may not be needed. This issue should be discussed thoroughly
with citizens before a new tax is sought. I hope supervisors and Sheriff McGinness will hold five, or more, town hall meetings
on this issue before putting it on a ballot for a vote.
We have an opportunity here to turn
a major corner on crime fighting.
Some of our neighbors are screaming for help from their
government. Now is the time for
inclusion. Many voices should
be heard in this conversation about the future crime fighting capabilities
of the Sheriff’s Department.
I look forward to inclusive
conversations on the new special tax districts for law enforcement.
Thank you,
Henry Harry
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