By Leslie Andrews

DESERT HOT SPRINGS, CA- As the city is faced with the possibility of losing police and fire services due to expiring tax measures, city officials in Desert Hot Springs recently completed a survey and found that residents support ideas to keep public safety going, even if they have to pay utility and parcel taxes.

This survey, released by City Manager Rick Daniels, says that the community understands the importance of these guaranteed local revenue sources, having previously approved them in 2000 and in 2009. “We are facing the same concerns that cities across California are facing,” he said. “Unfortunately with an increasing volatile state budget and national economy, Desert Hot Springs will have inadequate revenue to protect and maintain the public safety services the community wants and needs us to provide.”

The results show that 78% of voters support the city’s Fiscal Accountability and 77% support the city’s 911 Emergency Response, Police, Fire and Safe Streets Measure. Plice Chief Pat Williams said, “Our population has grown 36% since 2000 and our departments have not kept pace. In fact, based on the number of calls per population, the Desert Hot Springs Fire Station is the busiest in the county. Renewing and updating these local revenue sources will provide local police officers and firefighters with the resources we need to effectively serve our rapidly growing population.”

In May 2009, Measure A, which raises the Utility Users Tax by 2% to 7%, passed with nearly three-fourths of the city’s vote. The survey, which was conducted in November 2008, showed clearly that 69% of voters approved placing the measure on the ballot. Since its passing, at least four new police officers were added to the department’s roster.

Further details of the survey show that 90% of Desert Hot Springs residents are complaining about the parolees, about 86% complain about drug use and sales, 84% complain about gangs and 77% of residents believe that the high number of sex offenders living in the city constitutes a major problem.