Earlier editions: 2026-09
Monterey County Municipal Code Ch. 15.29 County Service Area—ambulance Service Charges
Monterey County Municipal Code · 2026-10 edition · updated 2026-10-04 · Monterey County
Cite as: Monterey County Municipal Code Chapter 15.29 · Text as of 2026-10-04
15.29.005 - Intent.¶
It is the intent of the Board of Supervisors of the County of Monterey to provide for the continued funding of the Monterey County Emergency Medical Services System, including paramedic, ambulance, and related services, presently funded with benefit assessments on real property in County Service Area 74 and supplemental assessments in four existing zones. As of January 1, 2001, the County may no longer fund ambulance service with benefit assessments due to the passage of Proposition 218 in November 1996 (California Constitution, Articles XIIIC and XIIID). The Paramedic Emergency Medical Services Special Tax implemented by the amendments to Chapter 15.29 shall replace the benefit assessment, fee, charge, or any other form of levy used to fund paramedic emergency medical services and ambulance service in County Service Area 74.
(Ord. 4043, 1999)
15.29.010 - Definitions.¶
Renumbered as 15.30.010.
(Ord. 4043, 1999)
15.29.020 - Computation.¶
Renumbered as 15.30.020.
(Ord. 4043, 1999; Ord. 3470, 1990; Ord. 3388, 1989)
15.29.025 - Authority for special tax.¶
The special tax authorized herein is adopted pursuant to the provisions of the California Constitution, Article XIIIA, Section 4, Article XIIIC, Section 2, and Article XIIID, Section 3, California Government Code Sections 53720 et seq.; California Government Code Sections 50075 et seq.; and California Government Code Sections 25210.1 et seq.
(Ord. 4043, 1999)
15.29.030 - Use of revenue.¶
Renumbered as 15.30.030.
(Ord. 4043, 1999; Ord. 3842, 1995)
15.29.035 - Paramedic emergency medical services special tax—Imposed.¶
A special tax for emergency medical, ambulance, paramedic and related services to be provided by the Monterey County Emergency Medical Services System shall be levied upon all parcels of real property as designated in Section 15.29.055 and located within County Service Area 74. This tax shall be known as the Paramedic Emergency Medical Services Special Tax. Such tax shall be levied commencing with fiscal year 2000—2001 and thereafter for each succeeding fiscal year. This tax is solely for the purpose of raising revenue for the provision of emergency medical, ambulance, paramedic, and related services by the Monterey County Emergency Medical Services System in County Service Area 74.
(Ord. 4043, 1999)
15.29.040 - Written report—Preparation and filing.¶
Renumbered as 15.30.040.
(Ord. 4043, 1999; Ord. 3388, 1989)
15.29.045 - Supplemental paramedic emergency medical services special tax—Imposed.¶
A supplemental special tax for paramedic emergency medical services, including first responder services, may be levied upon all parcels of real property as designated in Section 15.29.055 and located within any zone which has approved the supplemental special tax. This tax shall be known as the Supplemental Paramedic Emergency Medical Services Special Tax. Such tax shall be levied commencing with first fiscal year following voter approval. This tax shall be solely for the purpose of raising revenue for the provision of supplemental emergency medical services, including first responder services, to be provided within the zone from which the tax is collected.
(Ord. 4043, 1999)
15.29.050 - Written report—Contents.¶
Renumbered as 15.30.050.
(Ord. 4043, 1999; Ord. 3388, 1989)
15.29.055 - Maximum special tax rates and method of assessment.¶
A. The rate of the Paramedic Emergency Medical Services Special Tax imposed in County Service Area 74 shall not exceed twelve dollars ($12.00) per service unit per year and shall be assessed against each parcel of real property located within County Service Area 74, except that each residential timeshare shall be assessed annually in the amount of twice the applicable service unit on a per-residential-unit basis pro rated to each residential timeshare interval owner on the basis of the length of the owner's timeshare per year.
B. The rate of any Supplemental Paramedic Emergency Medical Services Special Tax imposed in a zone which has approved the tax shall not exceed the voter-approved rate per service unit per year and shall be assessed against each parcel of real property located within such zone.
C. The number of service units assigned to each parcel shall be based on the use of real property as follows:
| Use Code | Description | Service Unit |
|---|---|---|
| 1A | Vacant land, 1 | .5 |
| 1B | Vacant land, 2 or more | .5 |
| 1C | One SFD, 1 | 1 |
| 1D | One SFD, 2 or more | 1 |
| 1E | Two SFD, 1 | 2 |
| 1G | Misc Improve | .5 |
| 1H | Two SFD, 2 or more | .5 |
| 2A | Vacant | .5 |
| 2B | Two Units, 1 | 2 |
| 2C | Three/ |
3 |
| 2D | Five/ |
5 |
| 2E | Sixteen/ |
16 |
| 2F | Thirty-one Units or more | 31 |
| 2G | Condos | 1 |
| 2H | Mobile Home Parks | 1/sp |
| 2J | One SFD Multi-zone | 1 |
| 2K | One SFD Multi-zone/ |
1 |
| 2L | Residential Timeshares | 1 |
| 2M | Vacant | .5 |
| 3A | Vacant Rural, 1-10 ac | .5 |
| 3B | Vacant Rural, 11-40 ac | .5 |
| 3C | Undevel, 41-300 ac | .5 |
| 3D | Undevel, 301 ac or more | .5 |
| 3E | Res Use, Imprup to 10 ac | 1 |
| 3F | Res Use, Impr 11-40 ac | 1 |
| 3G | Rural Mobile Homes | 1 |
| 3H | Nurseries | 2 |
| 4A | Grazing with improvements | 1 |
| 4B | Dry Farm with improvements | 1 |
| 4C | Row crops | .5 |
| 4D | Field crops | .5 |
| 4E | Feed lots | 1 |
| 4F | Vineyards | 1 |
| 4G | Orchards | 1 |
| 4H | Ag preserves | .5 |
| 4K | Ag preserves | .5 |
| 4L | Open space | .5 |
| 5A | Vacant | .5 |
| 5B | Comm, shell-type | 2 |
| 5C | Sub stores | 2 |
| 5D | Comb store/ |
4 |
| 5E | Office bldg - 1 | 4 |
| 5F | Office bldg - multi | 4 |
| 5G | Med/den office | 4 |
| 5H | Bank | 4 |
| 5J | Comm/SFD | 1 |
| 5K | Office condo | 1 |
| 5N | Hotel/motel | .2/rm |
| 5P | Market | 4 |
| 5Q | Shop ctr | 7 |
| 5R | Serv stn | 2 |
| 5S | Restaurant | 4 |
| 5T | Theater | 4 |
| 5U | Auto sales | 2 |
| 5V | Misc bldg | 2 |
| 5W | Recreation | 2 |
| 5Z | Vacant | .5 |
| 6A | Vacant | .5 |
| 6B | Light mfg | 4 |
| 6C | Heavy mfg | 6 |
| 6D | Indust park | 4 |
| 6E | Warehouse | 2 |
| 6F | Auto wreck | 2 |
| 6G | Prod shed | 2 |
| 6M | Vacant | .5 |
| 7C | Frat Organ | 4 |
| 7F | Hosp/convos | 5 |
| 8F | Dev gas/oil | 6 |
| 8H | Quarries | 6 |
| 8J | Labor camps | 7 |
| 8K | Improvements | 1 |
D. Assessor's parcels which are exempt from real property taxation are not listed above.
E. All laws applicable to the levy, collection, and enforcement of county ad valorem property taxes shall be applicable to any tax imposed by this Chapter. Any tax levied under this Chapter shall be collected at the same time and in the same manner as county ad valorem property taxes are collected, and shall be subject to the same penalties, fees, and accrual of interest and the same procedure and sale in case of delinquency as provided for such taxes. Every penalty imposed and such interest as accrues under the provisions of this Chapter shall become a part of the tax herein required to be paid.
(Ord. 5018 § 1, 2006; Ord. 4043, 1999)
15.29.060 - Hearing—Notice.¶
Renumbered as 15.30.060.
(Ord. 4043, 1999; Ord. 3388, 1989)
15.29.065 - Duration, amendment or repeal.¶
The authorization to levy the special taxes imposed under this Chapter shall continue from year to year. The Board of Supervisors may amend or repeal this Chapter or any provision thereof. Any amendment increasing the tax rates above the limits established by this Chapter shall first be approved by at least two-thirds of the voters voting on the increase before it shall become effective.
(Ord. 4043, 1999)
15.29.070 - Hearing—Procedure.¶
Renumbered as 15.30.070.
(Ord. 4043, 1999; Ord. 3388, 1989)
15.29.080 - Final report and levy.¶
Renumbered as 15.30.080.
(Ord. 3470, 1990; Ord. 3388, 1989)
15.29.090 - Collection.¶
Renumbered as 15.30.090.
(Ord. 3470, 1990; Ord. 3388, 1989)
15.29.100 - Applicability of ad valorem property tax laws.¶
Renumbered as 15.30.100.
(Ord. 3470, 1990; Ord. 3388, 1989)
15.29.110 - Not invalidated by failure to meet time limits.¶
Renumbered as 15.30.110.
(Ord. 3388, 1989)
15.29.120 - Ambulance services—Imposed.¶
Ambulance service charges are assessed and levied upon all parcels located within the County Service Area on July 1, 1989, and thereafter for each succeeding fiscal year.
(Ord. 3388, 1989)
15.29.130 - Ambulance services—Computation.¶
A. In computing the ambulance service charge, the Director of Health may consider the class of use being made of the assessors parcel and the need for ambulance service.
B. In computing the ambulance service charge, the Director of Health shall establish a basic "use unit" for each class of property. Basic "use units" shall be as follows:
| Use Code | Description | Benefit Unit |
|---|---|---|
| 1A | Vacant land, 1 | .5 |
| 1B | Vacant land, 2 | .5 |
| 1C | One SFD, 1 | 1 |
| 1D | One SFD, 2 | 1 |
| 1E | Two SFD, 1 | 2 |
| 1G | Misc Improve | .5 |
| 1H | Two SFD, 2 | .5 |
| 2A | Vacant | .5 |
| 2B | Two Units, 1 | 2 |
| 2C | Three/ |
3 |
| 2D | Five/ |
5 |
| 2E | Sixteen/ |
16 |
| 2F | Thirty-one Units | 31 |
| 2G | Condos | 1 |
| 2H | Mobile Home Parks | 1/sp |
| 2J | One SFD Multi-zone | 1 |
| 2K | One SFD Multi-zone/ |
1 |
| 2L | Residential Timeshares | 1 |
| 2M | Vacant | .5 |
| 3A | Vacant Rural, 1-10 ac | .5 |
| 3B | Vacant Rural, 11-40 ac | .5 |
| 3C | Undevel, 41-300 ac | .5 |
| 3D | Undevel, 301 ac | .5 |
| 3E | Res Use, Impr 10 ac | 1 |
| 3F | Res Use, Impr 11-40 ac | 1 |
| 3G | Rural Mobile Homes | 1 |
| 3H | Nurseries | 2 |
| 4A | Grazing with improvements | 1 |
| 4B | Dry Farm with improvements | 1 |
| 4C | Row crops | .5 |
| 4D | Field crops | .5 |
| 4E | Feed lots | 1 |
| 4F | Vineyards | 1 |
| 4G | Orchards | 1 |
| 4H | Ag preserves with improvements | 1 |
| 4K | Ag preserves | .5 |
| 4L | Open space | .5 |
| 5A | Vacant | .5 |
| 5B | Comm, shell-type | 2 |
| 5C | Sub stores | 2 |
| 5D | Comb store/ |
4 |
| 5E | Office bldg - 1 | 4 |
| 5F | Office bldg - multi | 4 |
| 5G | Med/den office | 4 |
| 5H | Bank | 4 |
| 5J | Comm/SFD | 1 |
| 5K | Office condo | 1 |
| 5N | Hotel/motel | .2/rm |
| 5P | Market | 4 |
| 5Q | Shop ctr | 7 |
| 5R | Serv stn | 2 |
| 5S | Restaurant | 4 |
| 5T | Theater | 4 |
| 5U | Auto sales | 2 |
| 5V | Misc bldg | 2 |
| 5W | Recreation | 2 |
| 5Z | Vacant | .5 |
| 6A | Vacant | .5 |
| 6B | Light mfg | 4 |
| 6C | Heavy mfg | 6 |
| 6D | Indust park | 4 |
| 6E | Warehouse | 2 |
| 6F | Auto wreck | 2 |
| 6G | Prod shed | 2 |
| 6M | Vacant | .5 |
| 7C | Frat Organ | 4 |
| 7D | Churches | 4 |
| 7E | Schools | 4 |
| 7F | Hosp/convos | 5 |
| 7H | Museums/Lib | 2 |
| 8F | Dev gas/oil | 6 |
| 8H | Quarries | 6 |
| 8J | Labor camps | 7 |
| 8K | Improvements | 1 |
| 38 | Warehouse | 2 |
C. Assessors parcels exempt are found in the use codes not listed above.
D. The total number of benefit units within the County Service Area shall be divided into the total budget for that item to arrive at a cost per benefit unit (factor). The cost per benefit unit (factor) shall be multiplied by the total benefit units per each assessor parcel to determine the annual users fee for that assessors parcel.
(Ord. 3470, 1990; Ord. 3388, 1989)
15.29.140 - Zones.¶
Renumbered as 15.30.140.
(Ord. 3470, 1990)
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