CPF Responds to Special Election Results
The defeat of five budget-balancing propositions will require a renewed emphasis on protecting essential public safety services in the budget fights to come.
In one of the lowest-turnout elections in California history, voters vented their frustration with the state's political leadership by rejecting Propositions 1A through 1E. The measures were placed on the ballot to implement a budget compromise to close the state's $42 billion shortfall.
California Professional Firefighters supported Props. 1A through 1E as an imperfect, but necessary compromise to insure that government would have the money to keep its commitment to putting public safety first.
In response to the election results, CPF President Lou Paulson said the election results complicate the task of fixing California's broken budget system.
President Paulson's statement:
"The voters’ cynicism is understandable. These propositions were nobody’s first choice. But the math is inescapable. These election results will make it harder to protect vital local fire and police services. Fire stations will close. Police officers will be laid off. Public safety will be affected.
"No matter what happened this evening, California’s fiscal crisis was going to force some excruciating choices for policy makers. The election results dramatically complicate that task.
"Firefighters across California are working with their local governing agencies to minimize the impact of the fiscal crisis on vital public services. We remain committed to fixing California’s broken fiscal system without compromising government’s core responsibility to protect the safety of the citizens we serve."