Pass: 1549 / 74.94% Yes votes ...... 518 / 25.06% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

Analysis:
This measure is being submitted to voters within an area in the unincorporated area of the County known as County Service Area 37 (the "CSA 37 area"), pursuant to the requirements of Proposition 218, which was approved by California voters in November 1996. Proposition 218 prohibits new taxes and/or tax increases within any area of the County unless and until the new tax or tax increase is submitted to the voters within that area and approved by a two-thirds vote.

This measure would authorize a proposed special tax within the unincorporated area of the CSA 37 area, as specified in Ordinance 3937, adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the County on July 25, 2006, for stand-by costs of providing emergency room services at the Biggs-Gridley Memorial Hospital, a critical access hospital. If the measure is approved by two-thirds or more of the votes cast on the measure, the proposed special tax, in the amount of $70.00 per Equivalent Residential Unit, will be imposed on real property in the unincorporated area of the CSA 37 area for fiscal year 2006-07 and each fiscal year thereafter, for a period of ten (10) years. The proposed tax would expire after ten (10) years. The amount of the proposed special tax for each parcel of residential real property would be based upon the number of Equivalent Residential Units.

For the purposes of defining an Equivalent Residential Unit, the following categories have been established:

(1) Single family residential (1);
(2) Multi-family residential unit (.75 );
(3) Condominium (.75 );
(4) Vacant parcels and parcels without residential units shall not be subject to the Tax.

The imposition and levy of the tax is expressly conditioned upon the adoption by the cities of Biggs and Gridley and the approval of their respective electorates, of special tax measures within their respective jurisdictions which also provide funding for the hospital emergency room at the same rates and for the same duration as the proposed special tax.

The tax would not be imposed upon real property owned by the County, the State of California, any other public district or agency of the State or the United States of America.

The tax could not be increased in the future unless another election were held in the unincorporated area of the CSA 37 Area approving the increase by two-thirds or more of the votes cast. The amount of the tax imposed each year would appear as a separate item on each tax bill and would be collected by the County in the same manner and at the same time as property taxes.

The revenues generated from the tax could only be used for stand-by costs of providing emergency room services at the Biggs-Gridley Memorial Hospital.

Bruce S. Alpert Butte County Counsel

By: /s/ Robert W. MacKenzie
Chief Deputy County Counsel

The above statement is an impartial analysis of Measure "C1". If you desire a copy of the measure or a copy of Ordinance 3937, please call the Butte County Elections Office at (800) 894-7761 or (530) 538-7761 and a copy will be mailed at no cost to you. You may also access the full text of the measure and Ordinance 3937 on the county Web site at the following Web site address: http://clerkrecorder. buttecounty.net

Readily accessible emergency room services can mean the difference between life and death. The communities of Biggs, Gridley, Richvale and the surrounding area are fortunate to have a hospital with 24-hour physician-staffed emergency room service with supporting staff including nurses and radiology, laboratory, and cardiology technicians. Life-sustaining treatment can be provided and if specialized medical services are not available, emergency stabilization and transportation to a trauma center are provided. The ER has saved countless lives in our communities.

The hospital needs support to continue to pay for having these vital emergency services available, which is the sole reason for the assessment being placed on your ballot. The hospital loses approximately $800,000 yearly providing emergency services for our community. The proposed assessment will raise $300,000 annually, which approaches the cost of maintaining ER staff availability at all times. The assessment does not pay for uninsured patients. It pays for standby expenses for keeping the emergency room open. This assessment ends in ten years, for as our communities grow, the hospital's volume will grow making the subsidy unnecessary. Waiver of the assessment for qualifying low-income residents is included. Your elected officials will control the funds. Ultimately, these funds help the hospital support newer facilities and equipment.

Measure C-1 will allow us to keep our local hospital open.

Measure C-1 is more than just the emergency room. If the emergency room were to close, it would mean the hospital would also close. The impact on healthcare in our communities would be enormous. Fewer qualified physicians would locate here and residents would need to drive out of town for diagnostic testing.

Please vote "yes". A "yes" vote means continued emergency services and a hospital in our regional community.

/s/ Curt Josiassen, County Supervisor District 4
/s/ Mike Dahl, Resident
/s/ Otto Behunin, Resident
/s/ Marvin Stowe, Resident
/s/ John Harris, BGMH Hospital Foundation President

(No arguments against Measure C1 were submitted)