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Measure J Parcel Tax Measure West Contra Costa Health Care District Parcel Tax - 2/3 Approval Required
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League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
| Information shown below: Official Information | Impartial Analysis | Arguments | Full Text | |||||
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To prevent the closure of the only full service emergency room serving all West County residents and to maintain critical services, such as intensive care, women's health services including early breast cancer detection, treatment for heart attacks, care for elderly, emergency respiratory care, and cancer treatment, shall the West Contra Costa Healthcare District authorize an annual special tax, including forty seven dollars per single family residential parcel, with annual audits by an independent citizens oversight committee? Si desea recibir esta información en español, por favor llame al (925) 335-7800.
The parcel tax for each parcel would be based on the Assessor's Use Code for the parcel, and would be assessed at the following annual rates: $47 per single-family residential, vacant, or miscellaneous parcel; $94 per small multi-unit residential parcel; $282 per small commercial or industrial parcel; $470 per medium commercial or industrial parcel; and $940 per large commercial or industrial parcel. A parcel of taxable real property is any unit of real property in the District that receives a separate tax bill for property taxes from the Contra Costa County Treasurer-Tax Collector's Office. A parcel otherwise exempt from property taxes will also be exempt from the imposition of the parcel tax. The ballot measure states that the proceeds of the parcel tax will be used to "prevent the closure of the only full service emergency room serving all West County residents and to maintain critical services, such as intensive care, women's health services including early breast cancer detection, treatment for heart attacks, care for elderly, emergency respiratory care, and cancer treatment." Proceeds from the parcel tax may be used only for the specific purposes set forth in the ballot measure and according to constitutional and statutory provisions. State law requires the District's chief fiscal officer to file an annual report with the District Board that states the amount of funds received and expended in each year and the status of any projects required or authorized to be funded from the parcel tax proceeds. State law also requires the proceeds from the parcel tax to be deposited into a designated account. Additionally, an independent community oversight committee appointed by the District Board will monitor expenditures of parcel tax proceeds. Two-thirds of those voting on the ballot measure must approve the measure for it to pass. A "yes" vote is a vote in favor of authorizing the parcel tax. A "no" vote is a vote against authorizing the parcel tax.
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News and Analysis Silicon Valley Mercury News Contra Costa Blog
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| Arguments For Measure J | Arguments Against Measure J |
| If you have a heart attack or you are in a serious car accident, seconds could mean the difference between permanent damage and full recovery, or between life and death.
When seconds count, we need a first-rate Emergency Room and we need it close by. That's why it's critical that we vote Yes on Measure J - to keep Doctors Medical Center (formerly Brookside Hospital) and our local Emergency Room open. Here in West County, Doctors Medical Center is the only hospital and full-service Emergency Room that serves everyone. El Cerrito, Kensington, Richmond, San Pablo, Pinole, El Sobrante, Hercules, Crockett, Rodeo and other communities have been served by one hospital for over sixty years. Doctors Medical Center has been there for us when we need it. Over the last few years, the state government has slashed funding for our hospital. That's why we need to work together to generate our own local, sustainable revenue to keep Doctors Medical Center open. Every dollar raised by Measure J will stay right here in our community to provide vital health care services for our residents. Doctors Medical Center provides critical services we depend on, including:
Join us to keep Doctors Medical Center and our only full-service Emergency Room open. Please vote Yes on Measure J and mail in your ballot before November 15th. Thank you. Dr. Desmond Carson, Emergency Room Physician Gary Johnson, Paramedic / Firefighter John Gioia, Contra Costa County Supervisor Gabriela Ramirez,Doctor's Medical Center Nurse Gisela Hernandez, Chair, Richmond Chamber of Commerce
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| Full Text of Measure J |
| WEST CONTRA COSTA HEALTHCARE DISTRICT PARCEL TAX FOR EMERGENCY ROOM CARE, ACUTE HOSPITAL CARE AND OTHER MEDICAL SERVICES
The West Contra Costa Healthcare District will levy a special tax on each taxable parcel of land within the District at the following annual rates: Single-family Residential / Vacant / Miscellaneous - $ 47 per parcel This category includes the following Assessor's Use Codes: 10-19, 29, 61-62, 69, 81-85, 89 Small Multi-Unit Residential - $ 94 per parcel This category includes the following Assessor's Use Codes: 20-24 Small Commercial / Industrial - $ 282 per parcel This category includes the following Assessor's Use Codes: 25, 30-32, 34-37, 40, 48, 56, 63, 67, 80 Medium Commercial / Industrial - $ 470 per parcel This category includes the following Assessor's Use Codes: 26, 33, 43-47, 49-50, 53, 64, Large Commercial / Industrial - $ 940 per parcel This category includes the following Assessor's Use Codes: 27-28, 38-39, 41-42, 51-52, 54-55, 68, 70, 76, 86 Taxable parcels are those parcels that appear on the annual secured Contra Costa County property tax roll. Assessor's Use Codes are those codes used by the Contra Costa County Assessor's Office to identify and categorize property. The purpose of this parcel tax will be to ensure continued local access to emergency room care, acute hospital care and other medical services for residents of the District and visitors to the area. The revenues raised by this special tax will only be used to defray operating expenses, capital improvement expenditures and debt repayment to accomplish the foregoing purposes. In the event of permanent closure of Doctors Medical Center and its Emergency Room, this parcel tax will expire and the District will thereafter promptly cease imposition and collection of the tax authorized herein. The District's appropriations limit will be increased by the amount of this voter-approved tax. The special tax revenues shall be deposited into a separate account held by the Contra Costa County Treasurer, in accordance with Government Code Section 50075.1, and shall be expended solely for the above-stated purpose and according to a plan developed annually by the District staff and approved and adopted by the District's Board of Directors. An independent citizens oversight committee will review annual audits and thereupon report to the public and the Board on the expenditure of tax proceeds. The District will cause to be filed an annual report with its Board of Directors, which report shall include the amount of special tax revenues collected and expended, and which shall otherwise comply with the accountability measures established in Government Code Sections 50075.1 et seq. |
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Created: January 20, 2012 12:13 PST
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