Pass: 4018 / 74.21% Yes votes ...... 1396 / 25.79% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

Meaning of Voting Yes/No

A YES vote on this measure means:

that the tax will be continued for four years; that the tax rate will be increased to $39 next year; and that the RVPA Board of Directors may increase the tax annually by $3, up to a maximum of $48 in the final year.

A NO vote on this measure means:

that the tax will terminate on June 30, 2007.

A tax funding the RVPA has existed since 1983 and was last increased by the voters in 1991. In 2002, the voters of Larkspur approved continuing the tax at the 1991 rate. Currently, the tax is $30 per year for each residential unit and each 1,500 square feet of commercial space within the City of Larkspur. The revenue from the tax may be used only to fund the operating costs of the RVPA, the sole function of which is to provide paramedic services. The tax is a significant source of funding for RVPA operations. Unless extended, the tax will expire automatically on June 30, 2007.

Measure D proposes to continue the tax for an additional four years, to June 30, 2011. It also proposes to increase the tax as follows: in the first year (2007-08), the tax rate would increase to $39; thereafter, the maximum rate would increase by $3 annually, to $48 in the final year (2010-11). The RVPA Board would be allowed to set the rate for each year at any amount up to that year's maximum. The Board's decision regarding each year's rate would be based on the RVPA's financial needs at the time. Use of the tax revenue would continue to be restricted to the provision of paramedic services. After June 30, 2011, the tax would expire, unless extended by another vote.

s/Sky Woodruff
City Attorney, City of Larkspur

Since 1983, the voters in the Ross Valley have overwhelmingly approved a special tax to provide paramedic service. To continue this high standard of emergency medical care for four more years, you must now re-approve this tax. The initial Ross Valley Paramedic Authority (RVPA) tax provided for a single ambulance. The demand for paramedic service from our citizens dictates that service levels continue to expand and evolve. We ask that you consider a modest increase of $9 in the first year and if needed a $3 annual increase in the remaining 3 years, in order to maintain our current levels of service and to plan for future improvements based on community demand for high quality, fire department based, advanced life support paramedic services.

Your parcel tax pays for a significant portion of the paramedic program and enables us not to directly bill our Ross Valley resident customers. Additional funds are collected from medical insurance companies and through billing of non-resident customers. In addition, your tax covers expenses associated with paramedic training, medical supplies and equipment, and the replacement of ambulance vehicles 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 D.

s/Larry Chu
Mayor, City of Larkspur

s/Ron Arlas
Vice Mayor, City of Larkspur

(No arguments against Measure D were submitted)