In my humble opinion as a formally trained mathematician by the University of California, adoption of Resolution 2011-261 by the Board of Supervisors for the advance of property tax revenue to the Idyllwild Fire Protection District, 3rd District, bankrupts the district in four months if salaries and retirement contributions are not immediately reduced by at least a third.

The board says it has encountered cash flow problems because of declining property tax revenue, even though their monthly revenue from ambulance rates has increased and property tax revenues have not decreased by $450,000. Note that the $450,000 advance is to be immediately repaid with interest before any other debt.

I point out that IFPD continually raised salaries far above other firefighter salaries such as U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, CAL FIRE, and subsequent public employee retirement contributions. IFPD compares their salaries to Hemet, who now seek a termination of their firefighter contract because it’s about to bankrupt the city.

Folks, they can’t pay the light bill and mortgage, let alone the salaries. They raised them beyond what a tax hike could temporarily fix without the tax hike in place — stupid, stupid, stupid.

I predict in a desperate move, IFPD will likely medically qualify more calls for transport to emergency rooms — perhaps to generate more revenue. Is it malpractice now, qualifying the current number of calls as emergency room certified? Please let us know why an increased number of emergency room qualifications is proper!

We have chief moonbeam running the district. I know he’s a local hero, but he doesn’t possess the skill set necessary to run a financially strapped small district. Terminate his services now. Find a chief who knows how to make the tough decisions so that this institution and the services it provides might be saved.

Jeff Smith
Pine Cove