3,009 / 79.5% Yes votes ...... 774 / 20.5% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

This is not the first time such a tax has been submitted to and approved by the Town's voters. A special EMS tax was approved by the voters on June 7, 1983, and has, since then, received continuous voter approval extending the tax until June 30, 1999. If approved, this measure will extend the tax for emergency medical services until June 30, 2003.

All of the revenues thus far generated by the EMS tax levied in the Town of Corte Madera have been paid over to the Ross Valley Paramedic Authority. However, beginning in the last fiscal year, the tax revenues have been used to establish and operate a new ambulance service operated by Corte Madera's Fire Department for Corte Madera residents. The measure before the voters at the November 3, 1998 election does not require the taxes authorized therein to be spent for any particular emergency medical service or emergency medical service provider. However, the taxes, if approved by the electorate on November 3, 1998, must be used for emergency medical services, including but not limited to paramedic services, but the manner in which they are used is left to the sound judgment of the Corte Madera Town Council.

Dated: August 14, 1998

JEFFREY A. WALTER
Town Attorney

Paramedics are dispatched by 911 operators when a medical emergency is reported. In direct radio contact with Hospital Emergency Room personnel, paramedics administer drugs, injections and intravenous fluids, defibrillate cardiac arrest cases, re-establish breathing, and utilize many advanced emergency medical procedures.

The originally approved tax ceiling was $25.00 per year per living unit. In 1995, voters approved the tax ceiling of $30 per year per living unit which Measure E proposes to continue. Thus, there is no increase in the existing tax. This is a small amount to pay for such an important and necessary service.

Your approval of this Measure will enable the Town to continue to provide the best available paramedic service to Corte Madera. Earlier this year, Corte Madera started its own paramedic service with its own ambulance and personnel using the proceeds of these taxes.

We need your vote to continue this service.

PLEASE VOTE YES ON THIS MEASURE.

s/ Melissa Paulson

Mayor

(No arguments against Measure E were submitted)

Commencing in the 1999-2000 fiscal year and continuing for each of the three fiscal years thereafter, there shall be imposed a special tax for paramedic and/or emergency medical services in an amount not to exceed thirty dollars ($30.00) per year for each living unit and thirty dollars ($30.00) per year per 1,500 square feet of structure on each developed parcel in non-residential use located within the Town of Corte Madera, and the appropriations limit of the Town shall be increased by the amount of said tax for each of the said four years ending at the end of fiscal year 2002-2003.