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Politics & Government

Tax Adds Four Dollars for Paramedic Services

Ordinance has annual tax rate rise from $85 to $89.

The City Council held a public hearing to get feedback on a possible tax hike to pay for paramedic services with little pushback from the community on Monday. The ordinance was unanimously approved.

“This is an important service and a high priority to the community, “said Fire Chief Chris Gray. “We’re working very diligently to reduce costs.”

The ordinance will have San Rafael taxpayers giving an additional $4 to fund the paramedic program on top of the current $85 annual tax.

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According to Gray, paramedics have responded to a 25 percent increase in the number of transports to area hospitals in the last three years. With the amount requested, he believes residents are getting a deal.

This wasn’t enough to quell the worries of Ron Marinoff, a former volunteer firefighter in the Marinwood Community Services District, one of the affected districts.

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He pointed out the high cost of overtime payments and benefits packages for the paramedics, to which Gray responded with the small number of paramedics available and the need to find a sustainable benefits package.

“You never know when an emergency is going to happen,” he said while highlighting that the overtime money makes up for the lack of full-time staff.

The tax hike would only affect San Rafael, one of the four districts taking advantages of the paramedic program. Despite this, the other three districts make up a combined total of only 12 percent of the user population, according to Janet Pendoley, interim finance director for the city.

The change in tax rate will take effect in the 2011-2012 fiscal year.

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