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HEARING - Health and Human Services Agency recommending the Board:
1) Conduct a public hearing to consider public comment, if any, on the maintenance of current fixed benefit assessments established in County Service Area 3; and
2) Adopt and authorize the Chair to sign Resolution 112-2017 thereby establishing that the fixed benefit assessments shall be maintained at the current fee level to support emergency medical services in County Service Area 3, South Shore Area, on improved parcels within the Service Area (except for the Tahoe West Shore Zone of Benefit) for Tax (Fiscal) Year 2017/18. (Est. Time: 15 Min.)
FUNDING: County Service Area 3 Benefit Assessments.
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DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDATION:
Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) recommending the Board adopt the Resolution establishing a fixed benefit assessment, maintained at the current level, to support emergency medical services in County Service Area (CSA) 3, South Shore Area, on improved parcels within the Service Area (except for the Tahoe West Shore Zone of Benefit) for Tax (Fiscal) Year 2017-2018.
Revenue collected from fixed benefit assessment fees will be used for pre-hospital emergency medical services. Levy of this assessment is necessary to provide a source of supplemental funding, over and above revenues collected from user fees, and is necessary to support the current level of operation.
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 July 5, 2017 and July 12, 2017.
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND:
Both 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 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 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 2017-2018 is the same as the prior Fiscal Year, in compliance with Health and Safety Code Section 13916.1(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 emergency medical services operations. Revenue from this assessment helps augment the cost of providing 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”).
ALTERNATIVES:
Failure to adopt the Resolution will result in the County being noncompliant with its own Charter.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
County Counsel
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board approve this item.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is no Net County Cost associated with this revenue-generating item. Anticipated revenues resulting from the adoption of the attached Resolution are estimated to be $560,671.80 in Tax (Fiscal) Year 2017-2018. Any variation between this estimate and the FY 2017-2018 Budget will be addressed in the Addenda Budget.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
1) 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 2017-2018 Property Tax Roll.
2) Clerk of the Board to provide one certified Resolution to HHSA Contracts Unit at 3057 Briw Road, Suite B.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT:
N/A
CONTACT
Patricia Charles-Heathers, Ph.D., Director