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La Verne weighs raising Measure GG assessment or using Prop 218 to close EMS funding gap
Summary
Staff reported a roughly $800,000 annual shortfall for paramedic/ambulance transport service despite Measure GG and billing revenue; council directed staff to analyze a Proposition 218 mailed‑ballot option, escalation methods and outreach, and return with timeline and sample rates.
Fire Chief Oatney told the council on June 15 that current Measure GG revenues (about $1.06 million) and EMS billing (roughly $1.7–$2.0 million) together fall short of the $3.8 million annual cost of paramedic and ambulance transport services, producing a structural gap of approximately $800,000 per year.
Chief Oatney attributed the shortfall to Measure GG’s escalation formula (tied to Los Angeles County CPI), which has not kept pace with medical‑care cost increases and personnel expenses. He presented options including raising the monthly assessment (examples ranged up to $12–$14 per month to close most of the gap) and a proposed escalation formula tied 80% to a fire‑personnel cost index and 20% to medical‑care CPI with a 2% minimum and 5% cap, plus a recommended comprehensive cost‑of‑service review every five years.
City Attorney Burlow said the measure appears to function legally more like a property‑related fee or assessment and recommended a Proposition 218 mailed‑ballot process (which reaches all billed households) as a lower‑cost and legally viable alternative to a full election ballot; cost estimates ranged from about $25,000 for a Prop 218 mailing process to $70,000 for a county ballot measure.
Public commenters discussed equity of subscription models versus citywide assessments, outreach to seniors and mobile‑home residents, and the importance of clear public education. Council directed staff to return with more specific Prop 218 timelines, sample rate levels and escalation examples, and an outreach plan that leverages summer community events and in‑person contact during the transition period.
What to watch: staff will return with detailed Proposition 218 materials and sample assessment levels for council review; final decisions on whether to pursue a mailed ballot or county ballot will hinge on outreach results and council direction at upcoming meetings.
Provenance: Chief Oatney presentation at SEG 3366–3416; city attorney analysis at SEG 3620–3667; public comment and council direction through SEG 3750–4560.
