Voice of the People: Fact or Fiction, You Decide Part Two by Earl Fraser - City News Group, Inc.
View Upcoming Events View Your Local Sales

Community Calendar

◄ NOVEMBER ►
S M T W T F S
01 02 03 04 05 06 07
08 09 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
29 30 01 02 03 04 05
View Events
Submit Events
directory

Voice of the People: Fact or Fiction, You Decide Part Two

By Earl Fraser, Business Owner, Resident
October 24, 2013 at 09:50am. Views: 84

Now that we have dealt with city staffing and their compensation, and exactly how much tax we would all pay, let’s take a look at some other little ditties you may find interesting. Another issue that was brought to my attention is the assertion that the city is going to rehire all the people that have been laid off over the past couple of years if Measure C passes. The fact is that there are no plans to rehire anyone. If the tax measure passes there will be no money for any rehires. Any new revenue will just fill the hole left by redevelopment. Another bit of misinformation that permeates the blogosphere is that the city has “over $700,000 per year excess.” The fact is that Resolution No. 2013–26 says in plain English that the City had $300,152 in the bank and a budget deficit of ($674,713) at the beginning of the fiscal year 7-1-2013, and after additional cuts have been made and all the expenses have been paid, on Dec 1, 2013 the city will be ($212,861) in the hole. Just like the average household, the City has to balance its budget, and with no additional revenue if measure C doesn’t pass, will be forced to cut all but mandatory services. These cuts would include cutting an additional sheriff’s deputy, closing parks, closing city hall to 2 days a week, eliminating senior center spending and the list goes on, and will end the fiscal year 6-30-2014 with approximately the same $300,839 in the bank as it started with on 7-1-2013. That is assuming there is no emergency spending that comes with this winter’s rainy season, much like what has happened in the past and what happens in the average everyday household. Most households find it prudent to keep a small fund to cover the “whatever happens.” I believe the City should as well. The $300,000 balance represents approximately 1% of the general fund budget. This is hardly excessive.

Related Articles

Photo Courtesy of: Steven Moore and provided courtesy of SBCUSD

By William Cortez, Community Writer

October 27, 2026 at 02:40pm. Views: 712

Pacific High School students and staff celebrated a prestigious statewide honor on Sept. 17 as Justice Corey G. Lee, Associate Justice of the California Court of Appeal, Fourth Appellate District, Division Two, personally presented the school with the 2026 California Civic Learning Award of Distinction. (l-r) San Bernardino County Superior Court Judge Hon. R. Glenn Yabuno, San Bernardino County Superior Court Presiding Judge Rodney A. Cortez, Pacific High School teacher CJ Eastwood, Pacific High School Principal Dr. Natalie Raymundo, California Court of Appeals Associate Justice Corey G. Lee and San Bernardino Superior Court Executive Officer Anabel Z. Romero celebrated the school’s receipt of the 2026 California Civic Learning Award of Distinction during a special presentation ceremony.

Photo Courtesy of: https://www.csusb.edu/

By William Cortez, Community Writer

October 27, 2026 at 02:40pm. Views: 783

National Science Foundation-supported program provides hands-on geological research and career preparation near one of California's most significant fault systems. The mountains surrounding San Bernardino offer some of Southern California's most dramatic scenery, but beneath that landscape lies a geological system that has shaped the region for millions of years.

Photo Courtesy of: Dignity Health’s - Community Hospital of San Bernardino and St. Bernardine Medical Center

By Amanda Spence, Community Writer

October 27, 2026 at 02:40pm. Views: 1309

SAN BERNARDINO, CA – Oct. 27, 2026 – Dignity Health’s - Community Hospital of San Bernardino (CHSB) and St. Bernardine Medical Center (SBMC), members of CommonSpirit Health, announced today they earned 8 recognitions from Healthgrades, a national leading resource for patients seeking information about hospitals and physicians. The 2027 honors recognize their collective commitment to delivering clinical excellence and compassionate care to patients.

Photo Courtesy of: City News Group

By William Cortez, Community Writer

November 11, 2026 at 08:19am. Views: 148

A sweeping decision involving California's most serious criminal sentences has drawn strong opposition from San Bernardino County District Attorney Jason Anderson, placing the county's chief prosecutor at the center of a statewide debate over justice, victims' rights and executive authority.

Photo Courtesy of: City News Group

By William Cortez, Community Writer

November 11, 2026 at 08:19am. Views: 148

With winter approaching, emergency officials are coordinating flood prevention, roadway maintenance and public alerts to help residents prepare for dangerous weather. A heavy rainstorm can change the landscape of San Bernardino in a matter of hours. Streets that ordinarily carry commuters and school buses can become difficult to navigate, drainage channels can fill rapidly, and neighborhoods near foothills may face increased risks from flooding and debris.

Photo Courtesy of: San Bernardino's California Theatre from 1930

By Amanda Spencer, Community Writer

November 11, 2026 at 08:19am. Views: 167

Nearly a century after opening its doors, the downtown landmark remains an important connection between the city's entertainment history and its cultural future. In downtown San Bernardino, the California Theatre of the Performing Arts stands as a reminder of a time when attending a movie or live performance was one of the most anticipated social occasions in a growing Southern California city.

Photo Courtesy of: BBOP Center

By Justus Baker-Postell, Community Writer

November 11, 2026 at 08:19am. Views: 160

BBOP Information Session The Black and Brown Opportunities for Profit (BBOP) Center, an Inland Empire economic and workforce development hub and a project of Time for Change Foundation, has launched Pathways to Prosperity, its Employment Training Pathway Program (ETPP), a comprehensive workforce initiative designed to connect residents facing barriers to employment with the skills, credentials, hands-on experience and employer relationships needed to enter and advance in high-demand careers.

Photo Courtesy of: City News Group

By Stella Pierce, Community Writer

October 14, 2026 at 11:03am. Views: 1678

Festive University of Redlands Homecoming celebration, with alumni, students, and families gathered on campus wearing maroon Bulldogs apparel. A bulldog mascot greets attendees while cheerleaders and a marching band perform near decorated tents and balloons, with university buildings and mountains in the background.

Photo Courtesy of: City News Group

By Stella Pierce, Community Writer

October 20, 2026 at 04:19pm. Views: 3141

The City of Redlands will host Plane-or-Treat at Redlands Municipal Airport on October 25, featuring trick-or-treating, entertainment and family activities. An AI-generated illustration

Photo Courtesy of: California Historical Society Collection, USC Libraries Special Collections.

By Ruby Stephenson, Community Writer

October 20, 2026 at 04:22pm. Views: 1333

As Redlands continues to grow, its surviving citrus groves offer a living connection to the industry that shaped the city's neighborhoods, economy and identity. Orange trees heavy with fruit line a grove in Redlands around 1900, with snow-covered Mount San Bernardino visible in the distance. The photograph documents the citrus industry that played a central role in the city's early development.

Photo Courtesy of: City News Group - AI-generated illustration of a downtown Redlands streetscape

By Amanda Spencer, Community Writer

October 27, 2026 at 02:39pm. Views: 556

The City of Redlands is accepting applications for a volunteer position on its Traffic and Parking Commission. November 5 Deadline Approaching.

Photo Courtesy of: City News Group - Illustrative image, not an actual enforcement operation.

By William Cortez, Community Writer

October 27, 2026 at 02:39pm. Views: 549

New state-funded traffic safety program will target impaired driving, speeding, distracted motorists and dangerous behavior near pedestrians and bicyclists. A $94,300 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety will support DUI checkpoints, distracted driving enforcement, pedestrian safety initiatives and officer training through September 2027.

--> -->