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The following is a guest opinion from Fortuna resident Orval Garrison, a member of the Committee to Support Measure D.

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Fortuna has a  critical road choice to make.  It can go forward, or it can look backward and end up at a dead end.  Fortuna’s Measure D, Fortuna Essential Services Funding, is a long overdue sales tax adjustment asking voter approval for a 3/4 of a cent increase.  This would bring the city in line with other county cities and unincorporated Humboldt County.  Fortuna city services are stretched, such as police and safety, parks and recreation facilities, road repairs, code enforcement, insurance coverage, and more.  Nothing comes for free.

The city budget has been analyzed, and the budget is not mismanaged.  The problem is inadequate revenue support, with the city struggling to pay for current services.  The only way to correct this problem and deal with a building deficit is to cut essential services.

Cuts to city services mean less support for police protection and youth sport recreational sites, more city hall “closed” days, ill kept parks, cancelled summer youth programs, deteriorating streets, less funding for Fortuna Transit senior travel assistance, and more.  Police services should be fully available for 24 hours, not compromised by staffing shortfalls.

Wake up Fortuna voters.  Vote Yes for Measure D come election day, November 3.

Orval Garrison
Fortuna, CA