June 7, 2022 - Measure I

IMPARTIAL ANALYSIS BY TOWN ATTORNEY OF MEASURE I

TOWN OF ROSS

MEASURE I

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, 2027. 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 $87.50 for the fiscal year 2021-2022, and will top out at $91.50 in the fourth and final fiscal year, expiring on June 30, 2023. The proposed ordinance establishes the rate for the paramedic services tax for fiscal year 2023-24 in the amount of $94.50 per dwelling unit on a parcel or $94.50 per 1,500 square feet of structure used for nonresidential 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 $3.00, beginning with fiscal year 2024-25.

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 March 10, 2022, the Town Council approved Resolution No. 2242 to place this measure on the ballot.

s/BENJAMIN STOCK
Ross Town Attorney

ARGUMENT IN FAVOR OF MEASURE I

For victims of heart attacks, strokes, accidents and other emergencies, rapid 9-1-1 paramedic response can be the difference between life and death. Voting YES on Measure I will ensure paramedics are ready to respond quickly when you or a loved one needs help the most.

For40 years, local paramedic services in the Ross Valley have been supported by a modest parcel tax that provides dedicated local funding to protect critical lifesaving paramedic services. When this funding was initially approved by local voters, it funded a single dedicated ambulance for the Ross Valley. As our community has grown and emergency medical services evolved, dedicated local paramedic funding now supports state-of-the-mt fire department ambulance units with trained paramedics aboard fire engines so that advanced emergency care arrives as quickly as possible.

Local paramedic funding is now set to expire unless renewed by voters for four more years. Increases in the annual tax rate are capped at no more than $3.

Voting Yes on Measure I will:

• Protect rapid 9-1-1 emergency response times
• Preserve the number of on-duty paramedics ready to respond to medical emergencies and accidents
• Ensure local paramedics are highly trained and equipped with advanced lifesaving equipment
• Preserve the existing high level of paramedic response services

Voting Yes on Measure I continues strict fiscal accountability protections:

• Funds from Measure I may only be used for local paramedic services
• No funds can be taken away by the State, the County or other cities
• All funds are subject to annual audits
• Public disclosure of all spending is required

Nobody knows when a life-threatening accident or emergency will occur. Voting Yes on Measure I will ensure that paramedics are at the ready when needed.

Join local firefighters, paramedics, elected leaders, business leaders and residents in voting Yes on Measure I.

ELIZABETH ROBBINS
Mayor, Town of Ross

P. BEACH KUHL
Mayor Pro Tempore, Town of Ross

MEGAN PAVELKA
Former President, Ross School Foundation

JEFF KOBLICK
President, Ross Property Owners' Association

ELENA BATALLA
Co-President, Ross Auxiliary

ARGUMENT AGAINST MEASURE I

No argument against Measure I was filed.

FULL TEXT OF MEASURE I

MEASURE I
TOWN OF ROSS

ORDINANCE NO. 714
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 prope1ty in the Town of Ross for each fiscal year, commencing with fiscal year 2023-2024, as follows:

1. Residential Uses: $94.50 per dwelling unit on a parcel for fiscal year 2023-24. Beginning with fiscal year 2023-24, the Town Council may approve an annual increase to said amount not to exceed $3.00 annually to a maximum of $103.50 for fiscal year 2026-27. 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.
2. Non-Residential Uses: $94.50 per 1,500 square feet of structure on the parcel for fiscal year 2023- 24. Beginning with fiscal year 2024-25, the Town Council may approve an annual increase to said amount not to exceed $3.00 annually to a maximum of $103.50 for fiscal year 2026-27.

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, 2027, 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 po11ions 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 June 7, 2022.

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 7th day of June 2022.

s/ELIZABETH ROBBINS
Mayor

ATTEST:

s/LINDA LOPEZ
Town Clerk