HomeMy WebLinkAbout1976 06-09 Paramedic referendum wins by a landslide THE REVIEW �/"b(.41 F� (/ •
Paramedic referendum
•
wins by a landslide
by Scott Carlson Maplewood,was supported by city voters that met with the approval of the citizens action to adopt the 1976 general budget in
A referendum, which allows for the last week in an overwhelming manner. in a voter referendum. October,not expecting the reversals.
funding of the police paramedic program The referendum was approved by a vote The question for the referendum was
beyond the Minnesota tax levy limit for of 1553 to 130. THE PARAMEDIC PROGRAM,which phrased to include funding in excess of the
Passage of the referendum means that was first initiated last August,was to be levy limit retroactive to 1975 taxes
the city's ten officers,who devote half of financed by exceeding the tax levy limit collectable in 1976.
their time to paramedic duties,will be under provisions of a 1969 law, which Passage of the tax referendum will
able to maintain their state certification. allowed for avenues of funding for mean no tax increase for Maplewood
In addition the city will be able to levy emergency medical services,Maplewood property,owners until 1977, since 1976
$189,000 in excess of the tax levy city officials had assumed. taxes have already been collected.
limitation for as many future years as it But when the city appeared before the _ _ _
desires to continue the paramedics. Levy Limit Review Board its request for
Maplewood city officials, who pointed an exception to the levy limit law was
out that failure to approve the referen- turned down.
dum would mean an end to the service, State Commissioner of Taxation Art
were obviously pleased with the results of Roemer told city officials that the 1969
the returns. law was superceded by the Fiscal
Disparities Act.
"I'M PLEASED," MAYOR Robert Roemer's ruling, coupled with the
Bruton said last Wednesday morning."I legislature's failure to pass a bill which
think it is a good program for the corn- would have relieved Maplewood's
munity and I think the majority of people financial crunch, presented the council
must have felt the same way,that in this with problems since it has already taken
case the expense was justifiable."
Bruton explained that passage of the
referendum will allow Maplewood to
maintain the basic paramedic service.
But he added that additional paramedic
service would only come about by
allocating the 10 officers more time for
paramedic functions rather than hiring
additional officers.
He said,for example,that if the city's
• population grew to 45,000 people or the
demand for the paramedic service in-
creased dramatically then the allocation
of more police time to the paramedic
function would have to be offset with"a
cut in the police patrol function."
Maplewood held the referendum after a
direct appeal to the Minnesota legislature
for additional funding was met with op-
position. The legislature passed a bill
authorizing Maplewood to exceed the tax
• levy limitation for paramedic service if