Adrian Rodriguez
The Marin Independent Journal, Novato, Calif.
MARIN COUNTY, Calif. — Eight jurisdictions in central Marin County are asking voters to approve a four-year extension and increase of taxes for paramedic services.
The property tax revenues would provide more than $3.3 million a year to support the Ross Valley Paramedic Authority , a joint powers agency, and paramedic services for the Central Marin Fire Department .
The proposals in the Nov. 3 election are Measure Q in Corte Madera ; Measure R in Fairfax ; Measure S in Larkspur ; Measure U in Ross ; Measure V in San Anselmo ; Measure Y in County Service Area 27; Measure BB in the Kentfield Fire Protection District ; and Measure DD in the Sleepy Hollow Fire Protection District .
The measures require two-thirds voter approval to pass.
“What this does is provide the additional funding needed to have paramedic services within our communities responding to accidents and emergencies,” said Central Marin fire Chief Ruben Martin .
All the participating agencies except Corte Madera have a matching tax structure in place. Corte Madera , as a subcontractor to the agency through the Central Marin Fire Authority , sets its own tax rate and has historically transferred its tax revenue to the fire agency for paramedic services.
Measure Q seeks to catch Corte Madera up on its contributions to the Ross Valley Paramedic Authority by imposing a tax of up to $94.50 per dwelling or 1,000 square feet of developed nonresidential property. Proponents expect the measure to generate $786,000 a year. The tax would rise up to $7.75 a year.
“The annual rate in Corte Madera has lagged behind,” Martin said. “Over the next four-year cycle, this will increase the rate, so that all residents will be paying the same tax rate.”
The other seven jurisdictions are seeking up to $107.50 per dwelling or 1,000 square feet of developed nonresidential property, with increases of up to $4 a year. These seven measures are expected to generate about $2.58 million annually.
The Marin Professional Firefighters, IAFF Local 1775 , supports the tax renewals, said board president John Bagala .
“The Marin Professional Firefighters, we’re very active politically and we try to make sure we support initiatives of the municipalities that are really going to make a difference in public safety, and we have a series of them on the ballot this November,” Bagala said. “These tax measures are extremely important. They are all essentially the same thing asking for reauthorization so we can maintain the current levels of service that we have.”
Arguments in support of the measures were signed by fire chiefs, board members and council members of the member jurisdictions.
“For victims of heart attacks, strokes, accidents, and other emergencies, rapid 9-1-1 paramedic response can be the difference between life and death,” the arguments read. “You never know when an accident or medical emergency will occur.”
Advocating in favor of the measures, Ron Naso , chair of the Kentfield Fire Protection District board, said his family required emergency care on a recent trip to Miami , highlighting that “no matter where, paramedics are so important, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”
The Ross Valley Paramedic Authority was established in 1982 as a way to share costs and provide fire department-based paramedic ambulance support. The agency has an annual budget of about $3.8 million.
No ballot arguments against any of the measures were submitted to the Marin County Elections Department .
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