Southern Cascades Community Services District Special Parcel Tax, Measure C (May 2015)
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| Measure info Amount: $65/parcel |
A Southern Cascades Community Services District special parcel tax measure was on the ballot for voters within the boundaries of the proposed Southern Cascades Community Service District in Lassen and Modoc counties, California, on May 5, 2015. Final, official election results showed Measure C behind the required 66.67-percent approval by just four votes. Even though Measure B, the measure asking for the formation of the district, was approved, the district was not formed since Measure C was defeated.
If approved, Measure C would have authorized the district to impose a parcel tax of $65 per parcel to fund the special district proposed by Measure B.[1][2]
The district, which was designed to supply emergency response, ambulance, training and life support services to district residents, would have been created in the northwestern part of Lassen County and the southwestern area of Modoc County. The boundaries of the proposed district would have included 1,670 square miles covering the communities of Bieber, Lookout, Nubieber and Adin, the Termo area and all of Big Valley.[2]
Since the district could not be formed without funding, the district would have only been formed if both Measure B and Measure C had been approved. Measure B was approved by a decisive margin, but Measure C was defeated.[2]
A two-thirds (66.67%) vote was required for the approval of Measure C.
Election results
 Southern Cascades CSD, Measure C
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| County: | Yes | No | ||
| Votes | % | Votes | % | |
| Lassen County | 228 | 69.85% | 98 | 30.15% |
| Modoc County | 182 | 61.51% | 112 | 38.49% |
| Totals: | 410 | 66.13% | 210 | 33.87% |
- Election results from Lassen and Modoc County Elections Offices
| Measure C results summary | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| No | 210 | 33.87% | ||
| Yes | 410 | 66.13% | ||
Text of measure
Ballot question
The question on the ballot:[1]
| “ |
Shall a measure be adopted to assess a special tax of $65 per annum per parcel regardless of the size for up to two parcels owned by each unique landowner regardless of which county the parcels are located, the special tax will be authorized only if the Southern Cascades Community Services District is formed and is collected in the same manner as taxes on real property, commencing in the fiscal year after which the voters have authorized the special tax, with the revenue to be used for local ambulance, emergency medical response and training and any lawful purpose of the Southern Cascades Community Services District?[3] |
” |
Impartial analysis
The following impartial analysis of Measure C was provided by the offices of the county counsels:[2]
| “ |
This is a ballot measure to determine if the voters in the northwestern area of Lassen County and the southwestern area of Modoc County desire to fund a service district to provide locally based emergency response, ambulance, training and life support services. The boundaries of the proposed service area include the communities of Bieber, Lookout, Nubieber, Adin and the Termo area, consisting of 1,670 square miles, and including all of Big Valley. The territory currently does not have locally based ambulance, advanced life support, and emergency medical services. This proposal is to provide those locally based services within this area. Measure C will authorize establishment of a special tax to fund services of the Southern Cascades Community Services Distrct. This measure will take effect beginning with the 2015- 2016 fiscal year. The special tax shall be used solely for district activites. LAFCO determined it was necessary for the district to be financially viable. To form the district, a special tax is required to be passed by voters residing in the territory. The proceeds from this special tax will go to operate the district on an ongoing basis The special tax will be $65 for each unique parcel ownership, up to two parcels per landowner. This measure will pass if two-thirds of the registered voters of the proposed district boundaries cast a “Yes” vote. If the measure does not pass, the tax will not be established and the district will not be formed.[3] |
” |
| —Margaret Long, Modoc County Counsel, and Robert M. Burns, Lassen County Counsel[2] | ||
Support
The supporters and arguments in favor of Measure B and Measure C were identical.
Supporters
The following individuals signed the official argument in support of Measures B and C:[4]
- Clinton J. Davis
- William Wells
- John E. Landoski
- Ryan Harper
Arguments in favor
The following statement was submitted as the official argument in favor of Measures B and C:[4]
| “ |
An Advanced Life Support Ambulance(ALS) is not stationed in our communities. Do you know the impact this has had on our area? According to official 911 records for Modoc and Lassen Counties for 2014, 136 individuals suffered an injury or sudden illness, waiting up to an hour‐fifteen minutes for ambulance arrival. The enemy of saving lives is time and distance. You probably know someone that died waiting for an Ambulance this year. Is this what you want for your loved ones? We can change these statistics by voting YES on Measures B and C. Because we live in an isolated area with limited medical resources to handle trauma and sudden illness we need timely access to an Ambulance which provides more than just transportation to the hospital. An ALS Ambulance is an Emergency Room on wheels in which Emergency Medical Services personnel serves as an extension of the ER doctor. YES on Measure B approves the formation of the Southern Cascades Community Services District (CSD). The CSD is essential to securing financial stability and local control for an ALS Ambulance Service. The CSD shall be governed by a Board of locally elected volunteers charged with oversight of Ambulance operations including administration, procurement and maintenance of equipment, training and certification of personnel. YES on Measure C provides for a special tax to property owners within the boundaries of the CSD. This tax equates to less than $6 per month for a single parcel or $12 per month for two or more parcels. This tax can NOT increase without a 2/3 vote. Passage of Measures B and C will re‐establish timely ambulance response and provide critical lifesaving treatment and transport.[3] |
” |
| —Clinton J. Davis, William Wells, John E. Landoski and Ryan Harper[4] | ||
Opposition
No official arguments in opposition to Measures B and C were submitted. If you have an argument you would like to see posted here, please email the Local Ballot Measures Project staff writer.
Related measures
Southern Cascades Community Services District Formation, Measure B (May 2015) - approval of Measure C was required for the formation of the district.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lassen County Elections Office, "Resolutions calling for Measure B and Measure C," accessed March 30, 2015
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Lassen County Elections Office, "Impartial Analyses of Measure B and Measure C," accessed March 30, 2015
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Lassen County Elections Office, "Arguments in Favor of Measures B and C," accessed March 30, 2015
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