By Giuseppe Ricapito
The Marin Independent Journal
CORTE MADERA, Calif. 鈥� The Ross Valley Paramedic Authority has received a positive fiscal review from its financial consultant.
The consultant, Ahmed Badawi, presented the findings on the 2023-24 budget during a Dec. 5 meeting of the agency鈥檚 board.
The report came as the joint powers authority 鈥� which provides emergency services to Corte Madera, Fairfax, Ross, San Anselmo, Larkspur, Kentfield, the Sleepy Hollow Fire Protection District and unincorporated pockets of the Ross Valley 鈥� evaluates its cost-sharing burden among the jurisdictions.
Corte Madera and Larkspur had raised the prospect of leaving the authority before backing off last month.
Badawi said part of the analysis was to review how long the agency could pay bills if some revenue was cut off.
鈥淲e鈥檝e determined that you have about 14 months鈥� worth of expenses in your fund balance,鈥� he told the board. 鈥淪o obviously, that鈥檚 a very healthy fund balance. And it鈥檚 always been. And it seems like it鈥檚 increasing every year. So that鈥檚 definitely another positive.鈥�
For the 2023-24 fiscal year, the agency recorded approximately $3.2 million in revenue. Larkspur contributed $679,629; San Anselmo, $560,813; Fairfax, $352,250; the Kentfield Fire Protection District, $265,699; Ross, $90,129; the Sleepy Hollow Fire Protection District, $85,680; and Marin County, $68,747.
Transport billing, or calls for service, accounted for $1 million. Revenues also include $140,000 in outside funds and $3,000 in investment earnings.
Marin County Fire Department Chief Jason Weber said the paramedic authority has no unfunded liabilities and significant reserves.
鈥淭he RVPA board had been very disciplined with their finances,鈥� Weber said. 鈥淭he eight-member agencies coming together to provide this service is a cost-effective model that reduces duplication. The RVPA board remains committed to fiscally prudent short- and long-term policy decisions, ensuring excellent paramedic services.鈥�
Weber noted that in 1999, the agency agreed to allow Corte Madera to retain its tax revenue and ambulance transport revenue after putting the second ambulance in the Ross Valley in service.
The Ross Valley Paramedic Authority has operated one of its two ambulances out of the fire station in Ross since the early 1980s. A master facilities plan adopted last year included a new ambulance base at an estimated cost of $2 million.
The paramedic agency works in connection with the Ross Valley Fire Department, which plans to update its operations to staff three firefighters per engine, close the station in Ross and upgrade fire stations in San Anselmo and Fairfax.
The fire department鈥檚 2024-25 budget includes $3.3 million from Fairfax, $2.8 million from Ross, $5.7 million from San Anselmo, $1.8 million from Sleepy Hollow and $1.1 million from outside sources.
(c)2024 The Marin Independent Journal (Novato, Calif.)
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