David A. French, President

To the editor,

There has been much debate and print in regards to the proposed tax cap in Laconia. I have waited to pen a response so that I would have correct and accurate information, that being based on the city manager’s presentation to the city council, in order to express the impact that the cap would have on public safety in the city. As a point of reference the figure of 81 cents per $1,000 was the estimated tax savings or roughly $185.00 on the “average” Laconia home tax bill. Differing points of view have been expressed and stated in prior letters and columns, two in particular have become the basis for my response.

Recently Christy Cunningham brought to light a conflict, which involves the Fire Department's proposed increase in staffing. A case was made and facts presented showing the need for increased manpower. The council agreed with and approved the staffing of four new firefighters. This number would still leave the department below recognized national, and state, safe manning levels and also below the staffing levels of just twenty years ago when the department call volume was approximately 700 percent less than current responses.

Now a tax cap is proposed which would decrease public safety department budgets. So the question arises, “How can you increase staff while decreasing your budget?” City council has commented that there should be no loss of public safety personnel. So what is lost to support salaries? If you eliminate funds for training, updating, improving and general replacement of equipment you will find you are still not compliant. What’s next?

Public education and safety programs, remove them and you still have quite a way to go to meet the restraints placed by the tax cap. It is actually quite difficult to find a way to comply with the cap and not have an ill effect on department staffing both proposed and yes, current. It seems pointless to agree to increase staff but eliminate the ability to provide them with clothing and equipment necessary to do their job.

“Mr.” Lambert has criticized Chief Erickson and implied irresponsibility in his requests and expenditure of budgetary money. You would be hard pressed to listen to a presentation or have a conversation with the Chief and not find his case fully supported by research and facts. He is the head of a public safety department and his responsibility and personal driving force is to provide the best possible service to the citizens he serves. It is his job to provide the members of his department with the safest equipment possible so that they may stay safe while keeping the citizens of Laconia safe. “Mr.” Lambert cited the use of taxpayer money to fund the Dive Team. If he had taken the time to research the FACTS he would know that the Dive Team is funded totally by the Life Safety Fund which is in fact funded by private donations. The fire department budget is in no way affected by the team.

I am also overwhelmed at the need to express my personal disgust with the crass, insensitive and insulting manner “Mr.” Lambert used to describe the dive teams founder Firefighter Mark Miller. I will not even dignify his words by repeating them but they were truly offensive and derogatory to Mark’s memory and especially insulting to his family!

Firefighters and other Public Safety workers knowingly risk their health and lives daily providing service to the citizens of Laconia. It is the responsibility of the heads of those departments to request the funding necessary that allows its staff to accomplish those tasks. A tax cap in Laconia would greatly hamper ALL its Public Safety departments and limit their ability to provide the services it’s citizens deserve. A city council that agrees to the needs of Public Safety and then endorses a tax cap that would impede and potentially prohibit any improvement is not what Laconia needs. That is why I, the members of the Laconia Professional Firefighters and other public safety employees encourage Laconia’s voters to get out on NOV. 8 and support those candidates for office who endorse responsible government, one without the need for a tax cap, and to Vote No On The Tax Cap Proposal!

David A. French, President

Laconia Firefighters Local 1153