Carson property tax rate won't rise; possibly costly medical issues loom

The Board of Supervisors voted unanimously at Thursday's special board meeting to keep the property tax rate at $3.56 per $100 of assessed value. Members also heard about a trio of other topics, all medical and all costly.

Finance Director Nick Providenti, Fire Chief Stacey Giomi and others talked about financial pressures on medical fronts.

Providenti said St. Mary's Health Insurance was seeking 12 percent more in premiums. The city is holding out for 10 percent, he said.

Giomi sought $325,000 for increased ambulance runs because "the number of calls we're getting has exceeded our capacity."

The city is a medical magnet for the elderly in nursing facilities to be near good health care options, he said.

In addition, the board was told Health and Human Services "pass-downs" from the state continue to put pressure on the city's budget. City staff assumptions, however, included $490,000 in the nearly $60 million preliminary spending guide to deal with those pass-downs.

There also was talk at the meeting, which was focused on the fiscal year 2013-14 budget, about deferred maintenance problems. Included were city streets and related matters.