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Fairfax council approves updated Ross Valley Paramedic Authority JPA and places parcel tax measure on November ballot
Summary
The Fairfax Council approved an amended and restated Ross Valley Paramedic Authority JPA to centralize finances and operations and voted to place a four‑year parcel tax (2027–2031) on the November 2026 ballot, with a residential starting amount of $107.50 in FY 2027–28 and annual adjustments of up to $4.
The Fairfax Town Council on July 1 approved an amended and restated Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) for the Ross Valley Paramedic Authority (RVPA) and voted to place a four‑year special parcel tax for RVPA (covering July 1, 2027–June 30, 2031) on the November 3, 2026 consolidated ballot.
Chief Mahoney presented the updated JPA, which staff said centralizes finances and operations, clarifies treasury responsibilities and includes voting thresholds that require a two‑thirds RVPA board vote for major actions (for example, expenditures that exceed 3% of the operating budget or member removal). The JPA preserves the eight‑member governance structure appointed by member agency governing bodies and establishes notice and withdrawal provisions that include a two‑year notice period for leaving the authority.
On the parcel tax, staff explained the tax funds roughly half of RVPA operations, with transport revenues covering the remainder. The proposed ballot language uses a flat residential rate that staff said would start at $107.50 in the first fiscal year (FY 2027–28) with an “adjusted by up to $4 a year” provision; the ordinance’s illustrative table showed $107.50 → $111.50 → $115.50 → $119.50 across the four years, while staff said their projection is an initial $4 increase followed by roughly $3.50 increases in later years to achieve near‑parity with other member jurisdictions. Staff acknowledged uncertainties including Medicare/transport revenue changes and inflation.
Council members asked detailed questions about voting thresholds, the differential tax rate historically applied to Corte Madera, and why ballot language uses ‘up to $4’ (a 75‑word ballot summary limits detail). Council Member Blash thanked the consultants and chiefs for their work to improve governance and transparency. The council approved adoption of the JPA (using a corrected Exhibit A supplement) and Resolution 2026‑24 calling for the tax measure and requesting consolidation with the Marin County election.
Outcome and vote: the JPA amendment and the resolution to place the parcel tax on the ballot each passed unanimously at the meeting. Staff said if any member agency’s tax measure fails, the RVPA board would meet in good faith to consider options; two consecutive failures would trigger further board deliberation.
