Final Results Show Marin Voters Narrowly Approve Emergency System Upgrade

By Bay City News Service:

Marin County voters narrowly approved a parcel tax to upgrade the county’s emergency communications system, according to the final results of the Nov. 4 election.

Measure A, which required two-thirds approval, or 66.7 percent, received 67.14 percent. It calls for an annual $29 parcel tax per single-family home for 20 years starting in fiscal year 2015-2016.

Proponents of the measure said the Marin Emergency Radio Authority’s aging system handles 4.4 million public safety related 911 radio calls annually.

MERA was formed 16 years ago when 25 separate public organizations created the first unified countywide 911 network. The current system is being used by 400 more radios the 2,500 it was designed to handle, the measure’s proponents said.

The Citizens for Sustainable Pension Plans agreed the system needed an upgrade but opposed a parcel tax to pay for it.

Richard Tait, a member of the opposition group, said the parcel tax would be another “a la carte tax” to pay for essential core, government services that can no longer be afforded because of rising and unsustainable retiree pension and health care costs.

San Rafael Fire Department Chief Chris Gray was among many public safety agency supporters of Measure A.

“The MERA 911 system is a lifeline in and beyond Marin County. Every resident, business and visitor benefits from the 24-7 system,” Gray said. “This is a very modest tax and the public benefits 100 percent,” Gray said.

Marin County’s voter turnout in the Nov. 4 election was 60.1 percent.