August 9, 2017      1:13 PM

First Responders urge Texas House to oppose rollback rates

“Any state imposed restrictions on city revenues would harm our ability to protect our citizens”

On Wednesday morning, dozens of first responders and city and county officials held a press conference urging Texas House members to vote against SB 1, saying the revenue cap it imposes would limit local government’s ability to provide essential services, including disaster relief, emergency medical services, law enforcement and protection against public health threats.

Jackson County Sheriff A.J. Louderback, the legislative director for the Sheriff’s Association of Texas, voiced public safety concerns including lack of staffing for urban centers and the lack of mental health beds in rural areas of Texas, saying the “mental health problem” is the fastest growing problem sheriffs are currently facing.

“First and foremost, let’s protect our citizens, let’s find good government, and let’s work together for the good of all Texans,” Louderback said.

By Lyanne A. Guarecuco

Copyright August 09, 2017, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved