Supervisorial Career
During his first term on the Board, Postmus led a successful effort to increase the minimum share of property tax revenues returned to cities when they add new areas to their boundaries. This year, the Board of Supervisors will consider approving Postmus' proposal to further increase cities' property tax share to stimulate economic development in certain areas.
Upon becoming Chairman, Postmus proposed the county's new $3-million plan to boost economic development efforts. He also successfully pushed for a relocation and expansion of the Victorville branch of the Land Use Services Department. Additionally, Postmus secured funds requested by District Attorney Mike Ramos to establish an "Identity Theft" unit, to provide specialized prosecutors and an investigator along with equipment and training, to address the growing problem of identity theft crimes.
Other public safety upgrades that were approved during Postmus' term as Chairman include a plan to increase Fire Department funding by an additional $5.4 million as well as the addition of 37 new Sheriff's deputies to patrol the County's unincorporated areas. This is the most significant expansion of officers in the past 20 years. Additionally, the Board agreed to purchase six new Sheriff's helicopters to replace the county's aging fleet, and a $4.6-million "War on Gangs" was initiated to provide the Sheriff, District Attorney and Probation Department with resources to better monitor, apprehend, incarcerate and convict gang members. Another new program tracks sex offenders in the County's Probation system using global satellite monitoring devices. Finally, to alleviate overcrowding and avoid the early release of criminals, the Board recently purchased a new jail in Adelanto, and approved a program to enable the Sheriff to better identify illegal aliens in county jails to help ensure deportation and to maximize federal reimbursement for the cost of jailing illegal aliens.
Read more about this topic: Bill Postmus
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—Thomas Henry Huxley (1825–95)