• Too much. The police budget may be justifiable and necessary. However, fire protection is redundant and inefficient. We do not need them as first response medical responders, the vast majority of their services. The Council should reconsider consolidating GFD with County fire protection.
• It seems high? Will the left over 20% be enough for everything else planned? That is the question. And does that mean we are having a rise in crime that we need to spend so much money in one area?
• Too much. We really need to find balance between safety and breaking the budgets of the people we are trying to protect.
• Just right. The public is very conscientious regarding safety of life and property. Taxpayers don’t resist the costs of keeping our community safe and secure.
• Too much. I would like to see our community take a step back and look at the cost of policing and fire services from a more practical standpoint. Are there youth programs that could be invested in that would lower crime rates? Are there ways to balance the response of medical calls vs. sending a full fire unit? It seems like we are comfortable with the status quo, and maybe a little afraid of the union, in terms of investigating creative solutions.
• How can we put a price on public safety? Just fine.
• Considering our crime rate has gone up by 68% it may not be enough!n That sounds just right. Where would be without police and fire? Has anyone seen that preview for the movie where police and fire don’t respond for 24 hours? No way! Pay them what they are worth!
• Public safety is usually where the bulk of city money gets spent. City budget is a very tough chore. We all want that fire truck available when our attic catches fire or our gramma has a stroke. We all want the police to get that drunk off the road or break up that fight in our alley. What are we willing to give up to spend more on other city services?
• Too much. This has been an ongoing problem for years. We have other needs in this community that need to be addressed. Pensions and benefits are killing us!
• It’s too much. Holding the line on fire and police salaries and benefits is difficult politically, but it needs to be done to afford recreation programs and things like improvements downtown.
• Just right, especially since 2/3 of that 80% is for police and the considerable majority of the funds is spent on police patrol and fire operation. This is necessary as Gilroy’s population grows.
