Smart Voter
Marin County, CA November 3, 1998 General
Measure Q
Continuation of Special Tax for Paramedic Services and Appropriations Limit Increase
Sleepy Hollow Fire Protection District

1,040 / 93.4% Yes votes ...... 74 / 6.6% No votes

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Infomation shown below: Impartial Analysis | Arguments |
Shall the resolution of the Directors of the Sleepy Hollow Fire Protection District continuing the special tax for paramedic services of not-to-exceed Thirty Dollars ($30.00) per year for each living unit as a basic charge be confirmed and the appropriations limit be set at an amount equal to the proceeds of said tax for each of the next four (4) years?
Impartial Analysis from the County Counsel
If this measure is approved by two-thirds of the voters, the Sleepy Hollow Fire Protection District shall be authorized to continue to levy a special tax for paramedic services of not-to-exceed Thirty Dollars ($30.00) per year for each living unit as a basic charge and the appropriations limit shall be set at an amount equal to the proceeds of said tax for each of the next four (4) years.

Dated: August 21, 1998

PATRICK K. FAULKNER
County Counsel

 
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Arguments For Measure Q
The Ross Valley Paramedic Authority (RVPA) was founded in 1983 to provide paramedic services. Every four years since then, the voters have overwhelmingly approved the special tax to fund the RVPA. To continue this high standard of emergency response, you must now re-approve this measure.

Over the years, the number of 911 calls has increased, traffic has become more congested, and the number of ambulance transports has increased. The initial RVPA tax provided for a single ambulance stationed in Ross. To provide faster response, a second ambulance went into service in Corte Madera in 1998.

To fund the improved level of service without increasing the current tax, the RVPA plans to charge for ambulance transport to hospitals. The transport charge will be billed to the insurance providers such as Medi-Cal, Medicare, and the private insurance carriers. This is the standard practice of all of the other paramedic agencies in Marin County.

Under the new financing arrangement, your parcel tax would cover the base level services, including dedicated paramedic ambulances in the Ross Valley, 911 responses, and paramedic training. The transport charge would cover the cost of transporting patients to the hospital.

The actual parcel tax will be set each year. A "YES" vote for this measure does NOT increase the maximum parcel tax, which has been $30.00 per year for the past eight years.

The Fire Chiefs of the Ross Valley and the RVPA are exploring ways to improve paramedic service to Fairfax, San Anselmo, and Sleepy Hollow.

If anyone has any questions about current paramedic service or about the future plans of the RVPA, call Frank Berto, your representative, on 454-2923.

We need your vote to continue to provide this vital service. Please vote "YES" on Measure Q.

s/ Frank Berto

Director -- RVPA and SHFPD

(No arguments against Measure Q were submitted)

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Created: February 16, 1999 18:54
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