Updated: Public Safety Tax Approved--Possible Outcomes

Updated 11:46 a.m. Wednesday

Continuing an approval streak that began in 1980, San Marino voters approved the public safety tax extension Tuesday that needed two-thirds of the vote to pass.

The tax funds almost a third of department, and paramedics services and city officials have put certain things on hold, depending on the outcome of the public safety tax vote.

“I never take a parcel tax for granted,” San Marino City Manager Matt Ballantyne told Patch Wenesday. “I was relatively optimistic but I felt like I guess we were kind of in a holding pattern because we had some significant financial consequences if it didn’t pass. So I guess now I’m excited about being able to move forward.”

San Marino delayed and also put off .

Fire Chief Priority

“The main priority is the fire chief position so we’re starting that process to appoint somebody by January first,” said Ballantyne, adding that the approval of Measure S directly correlated with the hiring of a new fire chief, per a plan the city put together around June.

The city is looking at two internal candidates for the fire chief position—SMFD Division Chiefs and , who have been splitting fire chief duties along with since ’s official retirement in June.

A new fire chief’s salary will be in the range of $145,032-$181,284, according to San Marino Finance Director Lisa Bailey.

Ballantyne said he is “not in a rush” to hire a new police lieutenant and that adjustment may correlate more with when Chief Schaefer looks to retire, but the city is still discussing plans for the position and will need to consult the management team and .

City Hall Renovations

City officials have also spoken about being dependent on the outcome of the vote, since even though the public safety tax funds only police, fire and paramedics, city funds would be considerably tighter if the tax did not pass.

The proposed renovations are not up for further immediate city council discussion, but Ballantyne said they will likely be considered in coming months.

“Typically around January or February we do a mid-year review to see if we are hitting our targets and at that point in time we’ll probably be discussing capital projects that have been placed on hold, one of which would probably be City Hall, but it’s up to the council,” said Ballantyne.

No other city projects or hirings are currently in discussions as a result of the public safety tax approval, said Ballantyne, who stressed that if Measure S had failed, the outcome would be much more difficult and result in a loss of city employee positions, so he is “really thankful for the people that have been involved in promoting it.”

How do you feel about the public safety tax approval? What is your priority now that it's been approved--fire chief, police lieutenant or City Hall renovations? Tell us in the comment box below.