1,292 / 65.1% Yes votes ...... 693 / 34.9% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

Dated: August 21, 1998

PATRICK K. FAULKNER
County Counsel

Since the paramedic service was initiated in 1980, there has been an 87% increase in emergency calls for paramedic service. In 1997 alone, paramedics responded to 269 calls for service in Marinwood, compared to 75 in 1993.

To keep up with this need, two additional paramedic units have been added, with a fourth unit to be added in 1999. Operating costs, including personnel and supplies, have also increased.

To fully fund the paramedic program, the paramedic tax must be increased. This measure will raise the maximum tax rate to $53.00 for residential units and to 7 cents per square foot with a maximum of $3,500 for non-residential occupancies. Annual taxes will be based on actual costs, and cannot exceed the maximum. During the 18-year history of the paramedic service, the average annual cost increase equaled only $1.78, well below the rate of inflation.

A YES vote on Measure N will ensure that all households will continue to receive the protections and benefits of this vital life-saving service. The approval of two-thirds of those voting is required to pass this measure.

The proceeds from this tax can only be spent on the paramedic program.

Vote YES on Measure N.

s/ Howard H. Council , Director

Marinwood Community Services District

s/ Michael R. Ham, Chair

Marinwood Community Services District

s/ Jeffrey C. Naylor, Chair

Fire Commission

s/ David S. Mitchell, Director

Marinwood Community Services District

s/ R. Joseph Runco, Director

Marinwood Community Services District

(No arguments against Measure N were submitted)

AN ORDINANCE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF MARINWOOD COMMUNITY SERVICES DISTRICT INCREASING THE AMOUNT OF THE PARCEL TAX PARAMEDIC SERVICES

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE MARINWOOD COMMUNITY SERVICES DISTRICT DOES HEREBY ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:

SECTION I. Authority, Purpose and Intent. This ordinance is adopted pursuant to Article 3.5 of Chapter 1, Part 1, Division 1, Title V of the California Government Code (Sections 50075, et seq.) and Articles XIII(A) and XIII(B) of the California Constitution, and it is the purpose and intent of this ordinance to impose a special tax on property within Marinwood Community Services District for the purposes of funding paramedic services.

SECTION II. Maximum Tax. Upon enactment of this ordinance as hereinafter provided, a special tax shall be imposed for the fiscal years 1999-2000 through 2002-03 for the purposes outlined in Section I hereof in an amount not to exceed fifty-three dollars ($53.00) per year for each living unit and seven cents ($0.07) per square foot with a flat tax limitation of $500 for each one cent ($0.01) per square foot levied for each non-residential structure. Further, the appropriations limit for the District shall be increased by an amount equal to the proceeds of said tax for each year of the tax.

SECTION III. Tax Rate. The Board shall determine annually, based upon a budget recommended to it, whether the basic rate shall be revised to reflect changes in charges and costs.

SECTION IV. Method of Collection. The special tax imposed by this ordinance for the purposes outlined in Section I is due from every person who owns a living unit, new residential structure, commercial unit or new commercial structure within Marinwood Community Services District as reflected upon the rolls of the County Assessor at the same time ad valorem tax is due and is to be collected in the same manner. The Marin County Tax Collector shall collect the tax and any penalty or interest due hereunder. The full amount due under this ordinance shall constitute a debt to the District.

An action for the collection of any tax due hereunder may be commenced in the name of the District in any court having jurisdiction of the cause.

SECTION V. Delinquencies. To any amount of the tax created by this ordinance which becomes delinquent, the Marin County Tax Collector shall add a penalty in an amount equal to any penalties owing for delinquencies in the ad valorem property tax. The tax and penalty shall bear interest at the same rate as the rate for unpaid ad valorem property tax until paid.

SECTION VI. Severance Clause. If any section of this ordinance is held invalid or unenforceable by any court and such judgment becomes final, then that section may be amended by a majority vote of this Board to conform with the judgment of such court, provided such amendment is consistent with the purpose and intent of this ordinance.

If any section, subsection, sentence, phrase or clause of this ordinance is for any reason held to be invalid, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portion of this ordinance. The people of Marinwood Community Services District hereby declare that they would have adopted this ordinance, and each section, subsection, sentence, phrase or clause thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections, subsections, sentences, phrases or clauses may be declared invalid.

SECTION VII. Effective Date. This ordinance shall become effective not later than thirty (30) days after its adoption by the Board of Directors of Marinwood Community Services District, but shall not take effect unless and until it is approved by two-thirds of the voters voting upon this ordinance at an election to be held on November 3, 1998.

PASSED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the Board of Directors of Marinwood Community Services District held this _______ of _____________, 1998, by the following vote:

AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:

Michael R. Ham Chair of the Board

ATTEST:
Thomas D. Horne
Secretary to the Board