SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – City council unanimously voted to oppose Measure S, a proposed El Dorado County sales tax that would fund Marshall Hospital in Placerville, fire districts across the county and a wildfire prevention nonprofit.
Measure S would impose a 0.375% sales tax in the county for 30 years. Half the money generated will go to capital improvements for Marshall Hospital in Placerville, 45% will be distributed among 13 fire districts and departments and 5% will go to a wildfire prevention education nonprofit, such as Firewise.
At Tuesday’s special meeting, every council member spoke against the measure, and all public commenters not directly affiliated with Marshall Hospital voiced opposition.
Multiple council members cited the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors meeting in which all supervisors, including those representing the West Slope, said they would formally oppose Measure S if a resolution had been on their agenda that day.
Marshall’s Executive Director of Business and Strategy Development Maia Schneider spoke in support of the measure on behalf during public comment at the meeting, heavily emphasizing the fire district funding. Interim Chief Executive Officer of Marshall Medical Martin Entwistle rebutted claims from public commenters that the hospital funds have been mismanaged.
Councilmember Heather Horgan, who is a nurse and said she has worked in hospital administration for a dozen years, pointed out that the 2030 deadline was established after the 1974 Northridge Earthquake and has been known for decades. She said she found it concerning that Marshall waited to address the seismic upgrades until recently.
Horgan also said she was concerned about diverting public funds to a private organization because there will be less accountability in how it’s used. Mayor Cody Bass agreed.
Councilmember Scott Robbins said he is “indifferent” to Marshall’s financial situation and that he resists taxing South Lake Tahoe residents for purposes that bring virtually no benefit to the city.
Councilmember David Jinkins noted that if a public entity had put the measure on the agenda it would have taken a two-thirds vote to approve the sales tax. The citizens initiative only requires a 50% approval.
Several members of the public expressed gratitude that the city was considering the resolution opposing the measure. A few council members nodded along when a public commenter suggested a citywide one eighth percent sales tax that would generate more money for the city and charge consumers less.
In the city’s resolution, it notes that Marshall’s facilities are 55 miles away from South Lake Tahoe. Robbins similarly emphasized that people in Tahoe who can’t get adequate care from Barton Health don’t default to Marshall Medical next.
The resolution also notes that if the measure went through, the city would only be allowed to increase sales tax by 0.125% in the future without state approval.
