Ross council hears Ross Valley Paramedic Authority budget, deployment study update

An unnamed council member reported that the Ross Valley Paramedic Authority’s annual finances are healthy and that the authority is conducting a deployment study to determine where its ambulance should be based.

“Their finances are in great shape,” the speaker said, reporting roughly $2,000,000 a year from the paramedic parcel tax and about $1,400,000 from transport billing and noting the authority maintains a reserve the speaker characterized as "over $1,000,000." The speaker said the authority commissioned a Citygate deployment study and expects preliminary data by June, with more certainty possible by July.

The speaker said the council should prepare contingency planning if the deployment decision indicates the ambulance will be moved: “If we don't have some sort of certainty by July, I do think that Ross needs to start to formally discuss how can we be sure that every town has emergency medical responders,” the speaker said, adding the town could rely on either the paramedic ambulance or the local fire engine.

No formal action or vote was taken on this report. The item was delivered as part of councilmembers’ oral reports; staff did not present specific proposals or funding requests tied to the deployment study during the meeting. The council did not identify a date for a follow-up agenda item; the speaker said more information would likely be available in June and July.