Title
HEARING - Emergency Medical Services, a Division of the Chief Administrative Office, recommending the Board:
1) Conduct a public hearing to consider public comment on the annual written report of benefit assessments for the Zone of Benefit within County Service Area 3 for emergency medical services; and
2) Adopt and authorize the Chair to sign Resolution 101-2024 confirming the annual written report and authorizing the benefit assessments be collected in the same manner as the County’s ad valorem real property taxes for Fiscal Year 2024-25, noting that the pre-existing benefit assessments have been in place and collected since prior to the effective date of Proposition 218, with no increases in the amounts and no change in the methodology for calculating said amounts.
FUNDING: County Service Area 3 Benefit Assessment.
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
Both County Service Area 3 (CSA 3), and a zone of benefit within CSA 3, were established through various Board of Supervisors (BOS) resolutions and pursuant to Title 3, Division 2, Part 2, Chapter 2.2 of California Government Code. Under California Government Code Section 25210.2, the County’s BOS is to act as the governing authority of CSA 3.
Exercising this authority, the BOS, through a series of resolutions, established fixed benefit assessments on improved parcels within CSA 3 to support the provision of pre-hospital emergency medical services within CSA 3.
The BOS adopted Resolution No. 9-63 on January 21, 1963, establishing CSA 3 for the purpose of providing extended services, namely, mosquito abatement. On August 10, 1982, the BOS amended the authority of the service area to include extended ambulance services to be provided within the unincorporated area of CSA 3, through Resolution No. 210-82. On March 24, 1987, the BOS adopted Resolution No. 68-87, being a Resolution of Intention, to provide extended ambulance services (now referred to as “pre-hospital emergency medical services”) in the incorporated area of CSA 3. The hearing associated with the Resolution of Intention 68-87 was held, the BOS considered all protests and determined that a fee be charged to each improved parcel within the unincorporated area of CSA 3.
As the benefit assessment for Fiscal Year 2024-25 is the same as the prior fiscal year, in compliance with Health and Safety Code Section 13916(b), and with the County’s Charter, this benefit assessment hearing is held for the continuance of fixed benefit assessment fees on improved parcels located within the CSA 3 Zone of Benefit (except for the “Tahoe West Shore Zone of Benefit”) to fund CSA 3, South Shore Area pre-hospital emergency medical services operations. Revenue from this assessment helps augment the cost of providing pre-hospital emergency medical services / advanced life support ambulance services in the South Shore Area of the County (see Attachment A to Resolution titled “Total Parcel Count and Dollar Amounts”).
This public hearing to consider the adoption of a Resolution maintaining the current fixed benefit assessments in CSA 3 was noticed in accordance with Government Code Section 6066 via a Notice of Public Hearing published in the Tahoe Daily Tribune on June 7, 2024, and June 14, 2024.
ALTERNATIVES
Should the Board decline to adopt the Resolution and authorize collection of the benefit assessments charges for FY 2024-25 the Zone of Benefit within CSA 3 will have insufficient funding for pre-hospital emergency medical services / advanced life support ambulance services.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
Prior year action: June 20, 2023, Legistar file: 23-1090 CAO County Service Area 3 Benefit Assessment
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
County Counsel
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The revenue from the monies collected funds the provision of ambulance services and ambulance transportation services within CSA 3. The revenue, estimated at $584,000, is included in the County’s FY 2024-25 Recommended Budget.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
1) Clerk of the Board to obtain the signature of the Chair on one Resolution and provide the required documents and charges to the Auditor-Controller, County Assessor, and to the Treasurer and Tax Collector in order that the direct charges be placed onto the County of El Dorado Tax (Fiscal) Year 2024-25 Property Tax Roll.
2) Clerk of the Board to provide the required documents and charges to the Auditor-Controller, County Assessor, and to the Treasurer and Tax Collector to place the direct charges onto the County of El Dorado Tax (Fiscal) Year 2024-25 Property Tax Roll.
3) Clerk of the Board to provide one certified Resolution to the EMS Agency, 2900 Fairlane Court, Placerville
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
N/A
CONTACT
Sue Hennike, Assistant Chief Administrative Officer