League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
	Marin County, CA November 2, 2010 Election
	Measure L Continuation of the Paramedic Services Special Tax Ross Valley Paramedic Authority County Service Area 27 2/3 Approval Required Pass: 549 / 68.28% Yes votes ...... 255 / 31.72% No votes See Also: Index of all Measures

Arguments For Measure L

Since 1982, the voters in the Ross Valley have overwhelmingly approved a special tax to provide Fire De partment paramedic service. To continue this high standard of emergency medical care for four more years, you must now re-approve this measure. The initial Ross Valley Paramedic Authority (RVPA) tax provides for a single ambulance. The demand for paramedic service from our citizens dictates that service levels continue to expand and evolve. In an effort to minimize the burden on our citizens, the RVPA has not raised the tax as previously scheduled. Each year over the past four years, the tax was scheduled to incrementally increase to a maximum of $48 per living unit and for each 1,500 square feet of non-residential developed space. However, we have been able to keep the tax at a rate of only $42 and meet our cost expectations while continuing to improve service levels with the addition of paramedic engine companies and furnishing all Ross Valley fire agencies with new defibrillation equipment. We again ask that you vote to continue the tax for the next four years at the rate of $42.50, with the ability if needed, to raise the tax incrementally each year by $3 to a rate not to exceed $51.50 in the fourth year. Your tax pays for a significant portion of the paramedic program. Additional funds are collected from medical insurance companies through a program known as third party billing. In addition, your tax covers paramedic training, the cost of medical supplies and equipment, and the replacement of ambulance transport units when needed. Our goal is to continue to provide state of the art paramedic care in the Ross Valley. We need your vote to continue this vital service. Vote YES on Measure L. s/HAROLD C. BROWN, JR. Supervisor, District 2 s/STERVE KINSEY Supervisor, District 4 (No arguments against Measure L were submitted)

Full Text of Measure L

ORDINANCE NO. 3544 ORDINANCE OF THE MARIN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS INCREASING THE AMOUNT OF THE SPECIAL TAX FOR PARAMEDIC SERVICES IN COUNTY SERVICE AREA 27 THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF THE COUNTY OF MARIN AND COUNTY SERVICE AREA 27 DOES HEREBY ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS: SECTION I. Authority, Purpose and Intent. This ordinance is adopted pursuant to Article 3.5 of Chapter 1, Part 1, Division 1, Title V (Sections 50075, et seq.) of the California Government Code, and it is the purpose and intent of this ordinance to impose a special tax on property within this Area for purposes of funding paramedic services. SECTION II. Upon enactment of this ordinance as hereinafter provided, there shall be a continuation of the four year special tax for paramedic services in the amount of $42.50 not exceeding $51.50 in the fourth year per taxable living unit or per 1,500 square feet of structure developed parcel in non-residential use, to be collected in addition to transport fees charged to insurance providers for Ross Valley residents, with the appropriations limit increased by the amount of said tax for the next four years. SECTION III. Tax Rate. The Board shall determine annually, based upon a budget recommended to it, whether the basic rate shall be revised to reflect changes in charges and costs. If the Board determines that the basic tax rate shall be revised to a rate lower than set forth in Section II hereof, it shall so revise said rate by resolution passed by a simple majority of the Board. SECTION IV. Method of Collection. The special tax imposed by this ordinance for the purposes outlined in Section I is due from every person who owns a living unit or non-residential structure within this Area as reflected upon the rolls of the County Assessor at the same time ad valorem tax is due and is to be collected in the same manner. The Marin County Tax Collector shall collect the tax and any penalty or interest due hereunder. The full amount due under this ordinance shall constitute a debt to the Area. An action for the collection of any tax due hereunder may be commenced in the name of the Area in any court having jurisdiction of the cause. SECTION V. Delinquencies. To any amount of the tax created by this ordinance which becomes delinquent, the Marin County Tax Collector shall add a penalty in an amount equal to any penalties owing for delinquencies in the ad valorem property tax. The tax and penalty shall bear interest at the same rate as the rate for unpaid ad valorem property tax until paid. SECTION VI. Severance Clause. If any section of this ordinance is held invalid or unenforceable by any court and such judgment becomes final, then that section may be amended by a majority vote of this Board to conform with the judgment of such court, provided such amendment is consistent with the purpose and intent of this ordinance. If any section, subsection, sentence, phrase or clause of this ordinance is for any reason held to be invalid, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portion of this ordinance. The people of County Service Area 27 hereby declare that they would have adopted this ordinance, and each section, subsection, sentence, phrase or clause thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections, subsections, sentences, phrases or clauses may be declared invalid. SECTION VII. Effective Date. This ordinance shall become effective not later than thirty (30) days after its adoption by the Board of Supervisors, but shall not take effect unless and until it is approved by two-thirds of the voters voting upon this ordinance at an election to be held on November 2, 2010. PASSED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the Board of Supervisors of County Service Area 27, held on the 27th day of July, 2010, by the following vote: AYES: SUPERVISORS Susan L. Adams, Harold C. Brown, Jr., Charles McGlashan, Steve Kinsey, Judy Arnold NOES: NONE ABSENT: NONE s/JUDY ARNOLD President, Board of Supervisors ATTEST: s/MATTHEW HYMEL Clerk