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Cameron Park board endorses countywide ‘El Dorado Ready’ ballot measure to fund hospital upgrades and fire districts
Summary
The board voted 4–0 with one abstention to approve a resolution supporting El Dorado Ready, a citizen-led measure proposing a 30‑year countywide sales-tax to fund Marshall Medical capital, allocations to 13 fire districts, and nonprofit fire-prevention grants; the measure would allow up to $125 million in hospital bond proceeds and is designed with a citizens’ oversight committee.
The Cameron Park Community Services District board on May 20 voted to support a countywide ballot measure, El Dorado Ready, which would place a citizen‑led sales-tax measure on the November ballot to fund hospital capital, fire districts and wildfire prevention.
Maya Schneider, representing the El Dorado Ready coalition and Marshall Medical, told the board the proposal is a 30‑year, 0.375¢ countywide sales-tax (presented as 3.08 cents per $10). She described expected revenue of roughly $600 million over 30 years, split into three buckets: hospital capital (enabling Marshall to issue up to $125 million in revenue bonds), allocations to the county's 13 fire districts and a funding pool for nonprofit fire‑prevention work. Schneider said the initiative is drafted as a citizens’ initiative — allowing passage by simple majority — and includes a citizens' oversight committee and county administration of allocations.
Schneider summarized key points: the hospital would use its bucket for capital projects only, not operations; the fire districts would have discretion to use their allocations for operations, staffing or equipment; and nonprofit prevention grants would be administered through a county RFP process. She told the board the petition submittal included 14,784 signatures and the campaign is budgeting roughly $1.6 million, with about $800,000 raised so far.
Board members and residents raised several questions about the measure, including whether ambulance/EMS services would receive funds (Schneider said they would not), Barton Hospital’s participation (declined), how allocations are calculated (per staffed engine company in the chiefs’ allocation model) and what oversight mechanisms would exist. Schneider said the ballot language prohibits supplanting existing revenue, requires county administration of awards and establishes a citizens' oversight committee that will publicly report annually.
Several residents urged support at the meeting, citing the importance of keeping Marshall Medical open and improving county fire preparedness; others raised concerns about long-term accountability for how hospital funds would be spent. After discussion a director moved to approve Resolution 2026‑12 supporting the El Dorado Ready initiative; the board approved the resolution with four aye votes and one abstention.
Schneider asked the board for an organizational endorsement and invited individual endorsements and volunteer support for the campaign. The measure must be validated by the elections office before it receives a formal ballot designation; Schneider said initial validation was expected in coming weeks.
