Ross delays pitch for public safety tax renewal
Ross officials have decided to withdraw a public safety tax pitch from the November ballot because of election costs.
Without discussion, the council voted unanimously Thursday to pull the tax measure. The move was recommended to the council by the parcel tax subcommittee, consisting of councilmembers Julie McMillan and Elizabeth Robbins.
In June, the Town Council voted unanimously to call the special election on Nov. 7 to seek renewal of the parcel tax that pays for police and fire services.
At the time, officials said the election would cost $20,000 to $26,000. Since then, Town Manager Christa Johnson said, several Marin County jurisdictions decided not to place anything on the November ballot. That means the cost to Ross would be higher because fewer towns and agencies would be sharing the bill to produce the election.
“The council subcommittee and I were not comfortable with the potential for increased special election costs, and with not knowing the exact cost or at least a more certain range of costs,” Johnson said. “The Town Council agreed with this more fiscally conservative approach.”
Johnson said the town plans to instead go to the voters on the March 5 ballot, when election costs are expected to be much lower. Staff will return to the council at a future meeting with a resolution calling for the election, she said.
The new tax would replace Measure K, which was approved in 2016. The measure needed a two-thirds majority to pass and secured nearly 79%. The tax was approved at a rate of $970 per parcel with annual cost-of-living increases.
The property tax, which provides about $1 million in revenue, is set to expire on June 30, 2025.
The rate rose this month from $1,141 to $1,201, a 5.3% increase. Last year’s rate was a 5.2% jump over the year prior. The tax covers about 20% of the town’s expenses related to fire and police services.
The resolution for the new tax calls for a 10-year term ending on June 30, 2035. As proposed, the rate would stay at $1,201 for the initial year and then rise annually with cost-of-living increases.
The town’s five-year financial forecast predicts that the level of services can only be maintained if the tax is renewed, Johnson said.
The town’s contribution to the Ross Valley Fire Department is about $2.8 million this year, according to the town’s budget. The Ross Police Department budget is $2 million. The budgets amount to more than 50% of the town’s annual operating expenses.
The Ross Valley Fire Department is a consolidated agency serving Ross, San Anselmo, Sleepy Hollow and Fairfax. The department serves about 25,000 people out of four fire stations.
The Ross tax renewal will continue to stipulate that revenue would be used solely for police and fire services. The special purpose tax requires a two-thirds approval by voters.