What's another penny when you've got 40 million of them?

A debate is raging in Salinas over a penny while police chief rakes in nearly $400,000 a year.

I had to do a double take on that last part and have been scratching my head for the last 20 minutes. The following rant isn't anti-police because that's the last thing on my mind. I've always been a big supporter of cops and the amazing job they do by putting themselves at risk for the betterment of society. Yeah, I know, there are some bad ones, but name me a profession where every employee is perfect.

This rant also isn't siding with either political party as there are people from both sides of the aisle divided on the complex issue.

Okay, so let's get back to the debate and still being a California newbie, I will try to present the facts as I know them. On Nov. 3 in the city of Salinas there will be an initiative on the ballot - better known as Measure K - that would increase the sales tax in Salinas by 1 cent if passed. Supporters are saying the increase will solve the problem of gang crime that has ravaged the city this year with 21 homicides all related to gang activity. According to the Monterey Herald (www.montereyherald.com), the city has about 3,500 gang members and associates, whom the police say are responsible for almost all violent crime in the city.

In July, the Salinas City Council unanimously voted to put the measure on the ballot. If approved, the sales tax would increase to 9.75 percent, giving Salinas the highest sales tax in the county.

Police Chief Louis Fetherolf told the newspaper that the money raised would be used to hire more police officers and fund gang-prevention initiatives. Nowhere did he mention if some of it might find its way into his paycheck and that of other high-ranking police officials. Oh yeah, this is coming from a guy making almost $400,000 a year. Last time I checked, that number was double what the President of the United States makes. Wouldn't Obama be a great police chief? I digress.

According to the Californian (www.thecalifornian.com), $16.8 million was paid in overtime to the Salinas Public Safety Department in 2008. One member of the police department made $115,000 in OT. Supporters say Measure K will bring $18-20 million in additional revenue to the city each year. Fetherolf says he needs 84 new police officers. I'm trying to follow this logic, so please be patient. If not having enough police officers is the issue, can't they cut the overtime and use that money to pay for some new employees versus raising an already high sales tax that will surely drive consumers even farther away from Salinas???

According to a group "No On K" headed by local businessman Brett Landon, following the last city tax increase (Measure V), the number of Salinas City government officials getting paid more than $100,000/a year jumped from 100 to 243. This doesn't include high cost of taxpayer-funded health and retirement benefits. Coincidence - I think not.

If this measure passes, not only will Salinas have the highest sales tax in the county but it will be making a serious run at Chicago (10.25) for highest in the United States. That's right I said Chicago.

I've tried here to present both sides of the argument. I'm still gaining as much information as I can on it and will make a decision in a timely manner of where I stand. I would like to hear from you the readers, especially Californians that can really provide more depth to my analysis based on your experiences of living here. Thanks for reading.