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Alameda County, CA November 5, 2002 Election
Measure G
Emergency Medical Services Funding
City of Albany

City Ordinance Amendment - 2/3 vote

3420 / 67.1% Yes votes ...... 1678 / 32.9% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

Results as of Nov 15 4:54pm, 100.0% of Precincts Reporting (11/11)
Information shown below: Impartial Analysis | Arguments |

Shall the Emergency Medical Services Program Ordinance be amended to provide for an increase in the tax rate not to exceed $57.53 per residential unit, with limited authority to adjust for inflation, and an adjustment to the appropriations limit, to read as is set forth in the Voter Pamphlet?

Impartial Analysis from the City Attorney
In June, 1997, the voters approved a special tax of $30.84 per residential unit or equivalent residential unit to fund emergency medical services.

This measure, if approved by 2/3 of the voters, would authorize the emergency medical services tax to be increased to a rate not to exceed $57.53 per residential unit or equivalent residential unit.

This measure also modifies the tax formula for commercial properties to one equivalent residential unit for every 1,200 square feet of developed area, rather than the current methodology of two equivalent residential units regardless of size of developed property.

This measure also permits the tax rate to be adjusted on an annual basis, not to exceed 5%, upon the City Council making a finding that the All Urban Consumers # San Francisco Bay Area index has increased.
s/ROBERT ZWEBEN

 
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Arguments For Measure G Arguments Against Measure G
In 1997 Albany residents overwhelmingly approved maintaining the current Emergency Medical Service Tax of $30.84 per year. Albany residents made a statement by approving this tax measure by 92.7 percent, which was the highest approval rating in the county. In 2000 Albany residents overwhelmingly approved the upgrading of paramedic engine response to the same level of professional care as the current paramedic transport ambulance. This upgrade assured Advanced Life Support response to Albany residents virtually 100 percent of the time.

Albany residents have always enjoyed the best EMS services in the county and arguably the best in the state of California. Measure G seeks approval from Albany residents to increase the current annual Emergency Medical Services tax by an amount up to $26.69 with an annual CPI increase not to exceed 5 percent for single-family households. Measure G also seeks to restructure the commercial and industrial assessment to reflect the fair use of the services.

Presently, with the rising costs of maintaining emergency medical service, notably in labor costs, there is an increased demand in the EMS budget. Approval of this measure will continue to maintain the quality of emergency medical care to all Albany residents.

A "YES" vote on Measure G may mean the difference between life and death. Prompt professional application of emergency medical procedures by Advanced Life Support paramedics and a quick response time is critical to saving lives and can greatly improve a patient's survival rate.

Historically, Albany voters have supported a strong Emergency Medical Service Program. Passage of Measure G will continue the best paramedic service in the county. PLEASE JOIN ALBANY RESIDENTS IN VOTING YES ON MEASURE G NOVEMBER 5.
s/PEGGY THOMSEN, Mayor
s/MARC McGINN, Fire Chief
s/THELMA RUBIN, Former Mayor
s/ROBERT E. NICHOLS, Former Mayor
s/JEWEL OKAWACHI, Vice-Mayor

Rebuttal to Arguments For
Read the argument in favor of Measure G closely. Something doesn't add up. They want to almost double the taxes they can collect but maintain the same level of service. This means that a lot of additional money could be collected for EMS but nothing would be available right now to spend it on. Can we expect to see $600 toilet seats for the firehouse? It is much smarter to support EMS from the City's general fund and let it compete with other City services. This will assure that the money is spent efficiently and not wasted in a bloated budget. Ask yourselves why aren't we funding every service with its own special tax. Surely the police are as important for our welfare as EMS. Why don't they have a special tax? Why only EMS? Just insist to our Council that they maintain the same level of EMS using our general fund. If Albany really needs more money we have significant untapped resources such as development along the freeway. If we keep rubber-stamping these measures, they will just keep thinking up new ones for us to pass every other year. Let's call a halt to property tax bloat that will eventually depress our property values. Vote "NO" on Measure G.
s/TONY CAINE, Albany resident
s/WILLIAM McKENNA, Albany resident
EMS does not have to be funded with its own special tax. The money could come from the City's general fund instead. EMS is put on the ballot because it is a "mom and apple pie" issue that easily attracts votes. All these small issues we have approved over the years now add up to a large chunk of taxes. And property tax increases can filter down to renters too. The City could have developed other revenue sources instead of taxing us.

For example, the Golden Gate Fields cardroom approved by voters was derailed in the courts by opponents. Our city council (which is dominated by cardroom opponents) could have placed a corrected version on the ballot for reapproval but instead chose to let the issue die. Over the years we have approved new property taxes to make up for this loss. It is unlikely that these three tax measures would now be on this ballot if we had cardroom income.

City Hall sees property taxes as a funding source of first resort instead of the last resort it should be. The Council does not put taxpayers' pocketbooks ahead of their own political agendas. We can send them a message that enough is enough. The most effective way to do this is to vote down all three tax measures. Yes, it might cause some austerity and discomfort at City Hall but it is the best way to nudge them in a new direction. Otherwise, you can expect hefty tax increases to repeatedly appear on future ballots.
s/TONY CAINE, Albany Resident
s/WILLIAM McKENNA, Albany Resident
s/JOYCE ANDERSON, Albany Resident
s/JOHN ANDERSON, Albany Resident
s/WILLIAM E. DARIN, Albany Resident

Rebuttal to Arguments Against
Albany's advanced life support Emergency Medical Services (EMS) are funded by a dedicated special tax. The funding from this tax has given Albany the best EMS services in the County and an extraordinary, life-saving, less than 4- minute response time to any emergency. Our highly trained paramedics arrive to a heart attack victim or injured child in the critical moments that make a difference.

We have the opportunity to continue to fund this vital service by voting "YES". The EMS tax approved in 1997 has not increased or kept pace with increased labor costs. Approval of this measure will provide funding for increased costs in the EMS budget. It also allows for an annual increases of 5% or less to maintain the quality of emergency medical care to all Albany residents.

Opponents argue for cardroom funding. Resubmitting the cardroom issue would produce a long, divisive fight without a sure outcome; it would be fiscally irresponsible and harmful to our community to plan our paramedic services on an uncertain and contentious proposal.

A dedicated EMS tax means secure funding for EMS so that it will always be there in time of need. Don't risk this valuable program. Don't risk Albany's outstanding standards for saving lives.

Support Measure G and continue the best emergency medical services in the County. This is a critical service that can mean the difference between life and death.

PLEASE JOIN ALBANY RESIDENTS IN VOTING YES ON MEASURE G NOVEMBER 5.
s/PEGGY THOMSEN, Mayor
s/MARC McGINN, Fire Chief
s/THELMA RUBIN, Former Mayor
s/ROBERT E. NICHOLS, Former Mayor
s/JEWEL OKAWACHI, Vice Mayor


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Created: December 6, 2002 03:14 PST
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