Re: Measure K – It’s about public safety

I know many people don’t trust the Board of Supervisors to do what they say. I get it. However, do we trust the sheriff? Do we trust our fire chiefs?

Why do I ask that? Sheriff Durfor, Sheriff Anderson, the Deputy Sheriff’s Association, and the Yuba County Fire Chiefs Association all support Measure K. I’ve heard it said they have political pressure to do so, but let me tell you, if push comes to shove, it’s the sheriff that has political power over the Board of Supervisors, not the other way around. If there is a budget fight, who will the people side with? The sheriff, I guarantee it. Yuba County public safety officials support Measure K because they know (not think or believe) that they are getting a majority of the revenue raised.

Why do they know it? You really think the board of supervisors could get away with providing funding for new deputies and then pulling it back, laying them off, and diverting the funds elsewhere? Our public safety officials know that won’t happen. In addition, they have seen the commitment of the current board, as well as past boards, to making public safety the number one priority in the county budget. This year, 72 percent of discretionary revenue was allocated to the sheriff’s department, district attorney, and probation; leaving just 28 percent for the remaining 17 departments.

Some people have said they support law enforcement, but don’t support Measure K. I get you don’t want to pay another dime. But if you truly support law enforcement, talk to them about this. Talk to Sheriff Anderson or talk to some of the deputies that live in your community. Ask them if they support Measure K. Ask them if this measure will allow them to better protect and serve the residents of this County. Ask them if they need this revenue to add more deputies. If they answer yes to those questions, and you truly support them, I would expect you to at least consider doing what they say will benefit them.

Yuba County Supervisor Gary Bradford