In June 1974, Garden Grove voters approved a property tax increase (override) to pay for emergency paramedic services.  The approved ballot measure established a property tax specifically to pay for a “mobile intensive care program ... whether the unit or units were provided by the City of Garden Grove or on a regional basis which could accomplish the same level of medical care” in an amount not to exceed 10 cents per $100 of assessed valuation.

City Council Resolution No. 4547-74, which authorized the ballot measure, stated the specific purpose for which the property tax was imposed; namely, to provide for (1) an emergency medical care system with a response time of five minutes; (2) to pay salaries; and (3) to purchase and maintain vehicles, radio, telemetry and intensive care equipment, and all necessary supplies. 

In June 2017, the City Council set the tax at 8 cents ($0.08) per one hundred ($100) of assessed valuation.

In order to maintain and pay for the paramedic emergency medical care services, it is necessary to continue to generate revenue through the use of an ad valorem tax override on the taxable property within the City of Garden Grove.  The proposed rate is unchanged from last year.

It is recommended that the City Council:

• Introduce and conduct the first reading of the attached Ordinance authorizing a property tax override of 8 cents per $100 of assessed value for Fiscal Year 2019-20 paramedic program.