Council OKs Paramedic Ballot Measure

The San Rafael City Council voted unanimously Monday to place a measure on the Nov. 2 ballot that will hike in the city's paramedic tax to $108 from $85 for residential properties. 

The rate for commercial properties will increase 3 cents to  14 cents per square foot if the ballot measure is passed by voters.

The special tax is expected to help improve service and response times throughout the city.

City Manager Ken Nordhoff said residents have historically been supportive of the tax since it was introduced in 1979, approving increases each time they have been put up for a vote.

The increase will help the city better outfit its fire engines with personnel and technology.

"There are a lot of sophisticated medical technologies and equipment that allow us to do higher levels of medical response in the field than were 30 years ago," Nordhoff said.

In 1979, voters agreed to fully fund a paramedic program and a special tax went into effect in 1980.  The tax has been examined in four-year intervals since and has been increased as costs have risen.

According to a city analysis, the current tax does not fully fund service and, if the levy is not increased, the city would have to dip into the general fund to pay for services.

The city has been working to have one paramedic on each fire engine to improve response time and provide advanced life support care throughout the city. 

Prompt care from the outset of a call, including defibrillation and heart medications, is paramount to turning around a patient who might not survive otherwise, according to a city report. 

For more information, go to http://cityofsanrafael.org.