Letter: Fire tax serves valuable purpose for community

Monday, May 15, 2000 | 10:17 a.m.

In regards to the fire safety ballot question, the proposed additional property tax for fire protection of up to $0.095 per $100 of assessed valuation for a period of 30 years appears to be reasonable enough to ensure fire protection for every citizen of Las Vegas. After riding through our city, I observed the abundance of new houses, condos and apartment dwellings for which there are no new fire buildings or equipment. I feel that every person would be able to sleep more securely knowing that there are firefighters close by to protect their families, lives, homes and properties.

The city from which I recently emigrated encountered the same problem of enormous population growth in a relatively short period of time. As a matter of fact, the firefighters and paramedics marched around and into City Hall with their families, protesting their low pay and lack of health care coverage for their wives and children. We, the voters, realized that these people, firefighters and paramedics, put their lives on the line in order to save ours. They are essential to our well-being and survival.

Even though this new law was approved by the voters where I formerly lived, any individual can protest this law in court. Whether an individual can win his case in the city of Las Vegas is debatable.

This protection is a must for everyone.

BEVERLY W. COHEN