Pass: 14986 / 78.45% Yes votes ...... 4116 / 21.55% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

Currently, the maximum Paramedic Tax rate is $61.00 per unit for residential structures and $.08 per square-foot for non-residential structures. The paramedic tax will remain at these levels should this measure not be approved by the voters. Contrary to the intended purpose of the Paramedic Tax ordinance, the current maximum paramedic tax rate fails to fully fund the paramedic service program. The City's General Fund currently subsidizes the Paramedic Service Program by approximately $450,000.00 each year.

If adopted, this measure would authorize phased increases to the current maximum Paramedic Tax from $61.00 up to $85.00 per unit for residential units and from $.08 per square-foot up to $.11 per square-foot for nonresidential structures. This measure would also increase the appropriations limit for the City of San Rafael for four (4) years (2007/2008 through 2010/2011) by the total amount collected under this tax so as to enable the City to expend the money collected, as authorized by Article XIIIB of the California Constitution. This measure prohibits the City Council from setting the Paramedic Tax rate above the limits authorized. It also prohibits the City Council from expending any tax revenue collected under it for any purpose other than the San Rafael Paramedic Service Program.

The ordinance amendments proposed by this measure will be adopted if approved by a two-thirds majority of those electors voting on the measure.

A YES vote approves the measure.
A NO vote rejects the measure.

s/GARY T. RAGGHIANTI
City Attorney of San Rafael

A dedicated funding source for paramedic services was created in 1979 and local voters must reauthorize it every four years.

Funds will be used to maintain rapid response times, provide advanced heart attack treatment and keep highly trained paramedics on fire engine companies. Yes on P reauthorizes this critical funding for paramedics and allows an increase of no more than $24 per year over the next four years.

Measure P dollars are kept in a separate fund and audited annually to ensure they are only used for local emergency medical services and equipment. These funds can only be used locally and cannot be taken away by the State.

Our paramedics respond to 54% of calls in less than 6 minutes and 83% of calls in less than 10 minutes. Yes on P will maintain rapid emergency response times. In an emergency, a minute can be the difference between life and death.

Measure P will ensure San Rafael paramedics have access to the most advanced lifesaving equipment and training, such as the 12-lead heart monitor, which aids in the treatment of heart attack patients while they are rushed to the Emergency Room.

Lifesaving emergency medical services are too important to put at risk. An extra $2 per month is a small price to pay to ensure paramedics are ready to respond when we need them most. Plus, the cost of Measure P is tax deductible.

Please vote Yes on P.

s/RICHARD GEIST, MD FACS
Chair, Committee for San Rafael Paramedic Services

s/IRV GOLDEN
Seniors Advocate

s/ALBERT J. BORO
Mayor, City of San Rafael

s/STEVE MIZROCH, MD
Physician & Fire Commissioner, City of San Rafael

s/PATTY GARBARINO
President, Marin Sanitary Service

(No arguments against Measure P were submitted)

EXHIBIT A

Ordinance No.
An ordinance of the City Council of the city of San Rafael amending Sections 3.28.040 and 3.28.050 of chapter 3.28 of the San Rafael municipal code, to increase the maximum special paramedic tax rate on residential units and on non-residential structures and to increase the city's appropriations limit in connection therewith.

WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of San Rafael in 1979 adopted an ordinance imposing a special tax to "fully fund" a city-wide Paramedic Service Program (Chapter 3.28 of the San Rafael Municipal Code); and

WHEREAS, for more than twenty five (25) years, the City Council has imposed this tax annually upon all residential units and upon all non-residential structures within the City of San Rafael for the intended purpose of funding complete and total costs associated with the provision of a citywide Paramedic Service Program; and

WHEREAS, prior to the passage of Proposition 218 in 1996, the City Council each year adjusted the Paramedic Special Tax rate to fund total costs of the City's Paramedic Service Program; and

WHEREAS, the passage of Proposition 218, eliminated the authority of the City Council to adjust the maximum rate of the Paramedic Special Tax without first obtaining the approval of two-thirds (2/3rds) of the voters at a municipal election; and

WHEREAS, in 2002 the voters of San Rafael approved an increase of the maximum Paramedic Tax rate to $61.00 for residential units and $.08 per square foot for non-residential structures; and

WHEREAS, the City Council, after reviewing the total current costs of the Paramedic Service Program and the total revenue generated by the current Paramedic Tax maximum rate, finds that the current Paramedic Tax rate fails to fully fund the Paramedic Service Program, thus requiring the diversion of a portion of the City's General Fund to subsidize the Program, which diversion of General Fund monies threatens the provision of other City services including park maintenance, road repair, police services and library services; and

WHEREAS, the City Council further finds that the maximum Paramedic Special Tax rate needs to be increased so as to fully fund the City's Paramedic Service Program as was originally intended under the ordinance enacted by the voters of the City of San Rafael; and

WHEREAS, the City Council desires to ensure that the Paramedic Service Program is and remains completely and adequately funded by the paramedic tax revenues, so as to maintain rapid response times to medical emergencies, provide advanced treatment to heart attack patients and keep trained paramedics on fire engine companies; and

WHEREAS, the City Council desires to submit to the City's voters on November 7, 2006 an amendment to the Paramedic Tax ordinance which would authorize an increase of the maximum Paramedic Special Tax rate so as to fully fund the Paramedic Service Program; and

WHEREAS, the City Council also desires to increase the City's appropriations limit for the next four (4) years in connection with revenue generated by the Paramedic Special Tax in accord with California Constitution Article XIIIB;

NOW THEREFORE, the City Council of San Rafael does ordain as follows:

Division 1:

Section 3.28.040 -- Special Tax Imposed -- Non-residential.

A special tax of up to a maximum of eleven cents ($.11) per square foot is imposed upon all non-residential structures within the corporate limits of the City of San Rafael, on an annual basis, to fund a Paramedic Service Program.

Division 2:

Section 3.28.050 -- Special Tax Imposed -- Residential.

A special tax of up to a maximum of $85.00 per residential unit is imposed upon all residential units within the corporate limits of the City of San Rafael, on an annual basis, to fund a Paramedic Service Program.

Division 3:

Division 4:

s/ALBERT J. BORO
Mayor

ATTEST:

s/JEANNE M. LEONCINI
City Clerk