Tuesday, July 28, dozens of SEIU 1021 members who keep Rohnert Park running, including maintenance and utilities workers, packed their city council meeting to urge council members to place a revenue measure on the November ballot.

The proposed revenue measure would generate more than $5.5 million annually for Rohnert Park’s general fund, giving city council the resources to address the city’s recruitment and retention challenges and protect vital public services.

Brendan Betts, an SEIU 1021 member and acting water distribution supervisor for the city, said: “It’s important that we retain the employees who deliver public services. We protect local drinking water. We keep our parks safe. We keep our community clean.”

Without new revenue, Rohnert Park residents would face cuts to community services, longer emergency response times, and reduced maintenance of roads and parks. The need is urgent. For the past two years, Rohnert Park has faced an annual budget shortfall of more than $9 million. If the city closes that gap through cuts alone, residents will see vital services and their quality of life suffer.

Thanks to the heroic efforts of SEIU 1021 members, Rohnert Park city council voted unanimously to put the revenue measure on the ballot.