Possible Raised Paramedic Tax on Agenda for City Council Meeting

The City Council will hold a public hearing tonight to address 2011-2012 taxpayer rates for the nearly $6 million paramedic program in San Rafael, which also serves three other districts.

The $5,988,280 bill will be split between taxpayers, both residential and non-residential, in San Rafael, Marinwood Community Services District, County Service Area #19 and County Service Area #13.

A report (available to the right) submitted to the City Council suggests that the current residential tax rate rise from $85 to $89 in San Rafael while moving the non-residential tax from 11 to 12 cents per square foot. This move will still leave the program short by $20,500, as the other three districts contributing to the program have capped their residential rates at $85, and their non-residential rates at 11 cents per square foot.

The report recommends that the shortfall be noted, but addressed later in November, when voters in the remaining districts will get a second chance at passing the increased tax. The vote would need a two-thirds majority to pass, a mark missed by only one percentage point in both county service areas last November, according to result numbers. The measure needed an additional 14 percentage points in Marinwood.

There will also be a public hearing to review the plan for Point San Pedro Road median beautification (report on the right). to landowners in the district that would be affected by an added tax to beautify the road. The Council will use responses from these ballots as well as the hearing tonight to get feedback which will be presented at a special meeting at 4 p.m. on June 22.

Other agenda items include a review of the 2011-2012 budget plan and a response to the 2010-2011 Marin Grand Jury report on gang activity in the county.

Tonight’s meeting will be held at 8 p.m. at City Hall.