TOWN OF ROSS
MEASURE P
MEASURE P: Shall the measure continuing the special tax for
paramedic services for four years in the amount of
$79.50 in the first year and increasing $4 annually to a
maximum of $91.50 per taxable living unit, or per 1,500
square feet of structure on a developed parcel in nonresidential
use, which will annually raise approximately
$81,500 each year, and increasing the appropriations
limit by the amount of said tax be adopted?
YES NO
TOWN ATTORNEY’S IMPARTIAL ANALYSIS OF MEASURE P
This ballot measure proposes the adoption of an
ordinance to continue and to increase an existing special
tax that funds paramedic services provided by the Ross
Valley Paramedic Authority for the Town of Ross. The
ordinance authorizes the paramedic services tax to remain
in effect for four more years, expiring on June 30, 2023.
As a special tax, two-thirds of the voters voting on the tax
must vote in its favor for the paramedic services tax to be
continued and increased.
The existing paramedic services tax rate is $75.00
and expires on June 30, 2019. The proposed ordinance
establishes the rate for the paramedic services tax for fiscal
year 2019-20 in the amount of $79.50 per dwelling unit on
a parcel and $79.50 per 1,500 square feet of structure used
for non-residential purposes on a parcel. The proposed
ordinance authorizes the Town Council to approve annual
increases to the tax rate in an amount not to exceed $4.00,
beginning with fiscal year 2020-21.
The ordinance also increases the Town’s appropriation
limit established by Article XIIIB, Section 6 of the
California Constitution, which will allow the Town to
spend the proceeds of this special tax.
On June 14, 2018, the Town Council approved
Resolution No. 2060 to place this measure on the ballot.
s/GREGORY STEPANICICH
Ross Town Attorney
ARGUMENT IN FAVOR OF MEASURE P
Since 1982 the voters of the Ross Valley have continued to
approve a special tax to help fund the fire department based
paramedic service. You are being asked to again support
the tax with modest annual $4 incremental increases for
four years to a maximum rate of $91.50. The Ross Valley
Paramedic Authority is a partnership of eight Ross Valley
communities that have combined efforts to deliver this
exceptional level of care.
The initial Ross Valley Paramedic Authority tax provided
for a single ambulance. The expectation for paramedic
care from our citizens has dictated that service levels
continue to expand and evolve. Paramedic care is now
provided through a system that includes, state of the art
fire department paramedic ambulance units and with
trained paramedics aboard fire engines so that advanced
emergency care can arrive as quickly as possible.
The Ross Valley Paramedic Authority will continue the
responsible, transparent approach to managing the costs of
our emergency medical response service and adequately
provide for the long-term safety of our community.
A Yes Vote will:
- Ensure the existing high level paramedic
emergency medical response services
- Continue local control over these tax revenues
- Maintain rapid emergency medical response
Your tax pays for a significant portion of the paramedic
program. Additional funds are collected from insurance
companies through third party billing and from billing
of non-resident customers. In addition, your tax covers
continuing paramedic training, the cost of supplies and
equipment and the replacement of ambulance units 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 P.
s/P. BEACH KUHL
Mayor, Town of Ross
s/ELIZABETH BREKHUS
Council Member, Town of Ross
s/JULIE McMILLAN
Council Member, Town of Ross
s/ELIZABETH ROBBINS
Council Member, Town of Ross
s/P. RUPERT RUSSELL
Council Member, Town of Ross
ARGUMENT AGAINST MEASURE P
No argument against Measure P was filed.
FULL TEXT OF MEASURE P
RESOLUTION NO. 2060
A RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN COUNCIL OF
THE TOWN OF ROSS CALLING A SPECIAL
MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD IN ITS
JURISDICTION ON NOVEMBER 6, 2018 FOR THE
PURPOSE OF SUBMITTING TO THE VOTERS A
MEASURE AUTHORIZING THE CONTINUATION
OF A SPECIAL TAX FOR PARAMEDIC SERVICES;
REQUESTING THE MARIN COUNTY BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS TO CONSOLIDATE WITH THE
GENERAL ELECTION CONDUCTED ON THAT
DATE; AND REQUESTING ELECTION SERVICES
OF THE COUNTY ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT
WHEREAS, on November 4, 2014, the voters of the Town
of Ross approved a special tax for the funding of paramedic
services through the Ross Valley Paramedic Authority; and
WHEREAS, the special tax is scheduled to expire on June
30, 2019; and
WHEREAS, the Town Council desires to submit to the
voters a measure authorizing the continuation of the special
tax for the purpose of funding paramedic services provided
by the Ross Valley Paramedic Authority; and
WHEREAS, the Town Council desires to hold a special
municipal election to be consolidated with the statewide
general election scheduled to be held on November 6,
2018; and
WHEREAS, at that election there shall be submitted to the
qualified voters of the Town, the following question:
“Shall the measure continuing the
special tax for paramedic services for
four years in the amount of $79.50 in
the first year and increasing $4 annually
to a maximum of $91.50 per taxable
living unit, or per 1,500 square feet of
structure on a developed parcel in nonresidential
use, which will annually raise
approximately $81,500 each year, and
increasing the appropriations limit by the
amount of said tax be adopted?”
WHEREAS, if this measure receives approval by twothirds
of the voters voting thereon, the ordinance in the
form attached hereto as Exhibit “A” shall be adopted; and
WHEREAS, the Town Clerk shall fix and determine
a reasonable date prior to the election, after which no
arguments for or against the question may be submitted;
and shall cause arguments for or against the question to be
printed and enclosed with the sample ballot approved by
the California Elections Code; and
WHEREAS, rebuttal arguments shall be received in
connection with the election on this proposition; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 10002 of the Elections
Code, the Town Council may request the Board of
Supervisors to permit the County Elections Department
to render specified services to the Town relating to the
conduct of the election on a reimbursable basis; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Council
of the Town of Ross as follows:
- That a special municipal election is hereby
called to be held on November 6, 2018, at which
election the ballot question set forth above shall
be determined by the voters. The text of the
proposed ordinance to be submitted to the voters
is attached hereto as Exhibit “A” and incorporated
herein by reference; and
- That the Board of Supervisors of the County of
Marin is hereby requested to consolidate said
election with the general election to be conducted
on the same day; and
- That the Town Council hereby acknowledges
that the consolidated election will be held and
conducted in the manner prescribed in Section
10418 of the California Elections Code; and
- That the Board of Supervisors of the County of
Marin is hereby requested to authorize the County
Elections Department to render the following
specified services for the Town of Ross relating to
the conduct of the election to be held on November
6, 2018: Preparation of voter indexes; voter
counting by precinct; verification of signatures;
drayage and rental of polling places; printing of
measures and arguments; printing of sample and
official ballots; appointment and notification of
election officers; mailing of sample ballots and
polling place notification; provision of precinct
supplies; training of precinct workers; processing
of absentee ballots; central counting; canvass of
votes cast; and
- The Town Clerk is hereby ordered and directed
to file a copy of this resolution with the Board of.
Supervisors of the County of Marin.
PASSED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the
Town Council of the Town of Ross on the 14th day of June,
2018, by the following vote:
AYES: Council Members Robbins, Brekhus, Kuhl, McMillan, Russell
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN
s/ELIZABETH ROBBINS
Mayor
ORDINANCE NO. 695
AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN OF ROSS,
CALIFORNIA, AMENDING CHAPTER 3.30 OF
THE ROSS MUNICIPAL CODE TO CONTINUE
THE LEVY OF A SPECIAL TAX TO FINANCE
PARAMEDIC SERVICES
THE PEOPLE OF THE TOWN OF ROSS,
CALIFORNIA DO HEREBY ORDAIN AS
FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Chapter 3.30.020 is hereby amended to read
as follows:
“Section 3.30.020 Special Tax Imposed.
A special tax for the purpose specified in Section
3.30.010 of this chapter shall be imposed on all developed
parcels of real property in the Town of Ross for each fiscal
year, commencing with fiscal year 2019-2020, as follows:
- Residential Uses: $79.50 per dwelling unit on
a parcel for fiscal year 2019-20. Beginning with
fiscal year 2020-21, the Town Council may approve
an annual increase to said amount not to exceed
$4.00 annually to a maximum of $91.50 for fiscal
year 2022-23. For the purposes of this chapter,
a dwelling unit means a building designed for or
occupied by one family, including a dwelling unit
under construction. A residential second unit duly
registered with the Town of Ross, or any structure
accessory to the primary dwelling, which is used for
occupancy by family members, occasional guests,
or servants, is not a dwelling unit for the purposes
of this chapter.
- Non-Residential Uses: $79.50 per 1,500 square
feet of structure on the parcel for fiscal year 2019-
20. Beginning with fiscal year 2020-21, the Town
Council may approve an annual increase to said
amount not to exceed $4.00 annually to a maximum
of $91.50 for fiscal year 2022-23.
The records of the Marin County Assessor as of March
1st of each year shall determine the use and improvement of
each parcel for the calculation of the special tax applicable
to that parcel in the following fiscal year.
For the purposes of this chapter, the term “parcel” shall
mean a parcel of real property having a separate assessor’s
parcel number as shown on the last equalized assessment
roll of Marin County.”
Section 2. Chapter 3.30.080 is hereby amended to read
as follows:
“Section 3.30.080 Termination of Provisions.
This chapter shall be null and void as of twelve o’clock
midnight, June 30, 2023, and shall have no force and effect
whatsoever after said time and date. Notwithstanding
the previous sentence, section 3.30.050, relating to the
collection and enforcement of liens or obligations for the
special tax previously levied hereunder, shall continue in
effect until such time as the collection and enforcement
procedures have been completed.”
Section 3. The appropriations limit of the Town of Ross
established under Article XIIIB, Section 6 of the California
Constitution shall be increased by the proceeds received
from the special tax imposed by this ordinance. Any future
increases in the appropriations limit shall be approved by a
majority vote of the voters voting thereon.
Section 4. If any provision of this ordinance or the
application thereof to any person or circumstances is held
invalid or unconstitutional by any court of competent
jurisdiction, such invalidity or unconstitutionality shall not
affect any other provision or applications, and to this end the
provisions of this ordinance are declared to be severable.
The Town Council, and the electorate by referendum, do
hereby declare that they would have adopted this ordinance
and each section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase, part
or portion thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one
or more sections, subsections, clauses, phrases, parts or
portions thereof, be declared invalid or unconstitutional.
Section 5. This ordinance shall be adopted and become
effective only if approved by two-thirds of the voters voting
thereon, at an election to be held on November 6, 2018.
Section 6. The Mayor is hereby authorized to attest to
the adoption of this ordinance by signing where indicated
below.
I hereby certify that the foregoing ordinance was
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED by the people of
the Town of Ross voting on the 6th day of November, 2018.
By:
P. BEACH KUHL
Mayor
ATTEST:
s/LINDA LOPEZ
Town Clerk