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City Council - 4 - February 26, 1997 <br />Fiscal Impact. <br />This option results in no change to the tax payer. The special tax, if approved, will enable <br />the Alameda County Assessor to continue to collect the tax on annual property tax bills. <br />The estimated cost of $15,000 for a special election consolidated with the County will be <br />incurred. <br />Option 2. Discontinue the paramedic assessment and maintain the paramedic program services. <br />Under this option, the annual revenue loss to the City will be $325,000. Under this option, <br />paramedic program services would continue to be provided at the current level through the <br />reallocation of existing City resources. <br />Option 3. Establish as an Assessment. Under this option, (1) a determination of the "special <br />benefit" received by property owners from the emergency medical services would have to be <br />made and (2) the development of a method to estimate the amount of the special benefit would <br />be required (generally accomplished through a professional engineer's report). This option <br />would prove difficult to employ for the paramedic program because paramedic services are <br />available to anyone needing them without regard to whether they are a property owner in San <br />Leandro or not. A mail -in ballot for this option would be required. Loss of $325,000 effective <br />July 1, 1997 would continue until the assessment process was decided and the assessment <br />approved by the voters. <br />Option 4. Lower the Service Level to the Community by Discontinuing the Paramedic Program. <br />The City could discontinue the paramedic program on July 1, 1997 and retain an "emergency <br />medical technician" level of service for the community. Under this option, the following <br />services would cease: emergency medical dispatch (offering emergency medical instructions <br />over the telephone to stabilize the victim until the paramedics arrive); defibrillation of heart <br />attack victims; administration of essential drugs during rapidly changing medical emergencies <br />(i.e., nitroglycerin to heart attack patients, epinephrine to asthma sufferers); and endotracheal <br />intubation skills to ensure that an airway to the lungs is open to assist in breathing. Under this <br />option, the fiscal impact would be neutral since not only the revenue stream would cease but the <br />expenditures related to paramedic services would cease as well. <br />Option 5. Establish a Service Fee. Under this option, a fee schedule would be developed in <br />which the City would charge the actual cost of emergency medical services to each party placing <br />a 911 emergency call that resulted in paramedic treatment. Implementation of this option by July <br />1, 1997 would be highly unlikely, resulting in a loss of $325,000. <br />Option 6. Continue as a Property Related Fee. Under the provisions of Prop. 218, the <br />paramedic program funding may be excluded from being funded by a property related fee <br />because the program may generally be considered to be part of a fire department or ambulance <br />program. Legal opinions vary and final determination may require litigation or subsequent <br />legislation. <br />