Corte Madera Measure Q: 1,721 Yes Votes Put Paramedic Parcel Tax Above Two-Thirds in Early Returns

CORTE MADERA, Marin County — November 5, 2026. Residents voting on the Ross Valley Paramedic Authority funding proposal cast 1,721 Yes votes and 622 No votes in Marin County’s early-November-4 returns. That is approximately 73.45% Yes for Measure Q, greater than the required two-thirds supermajority in the counted ballots. The result remains unofficial until the county completes its canvass.

What voters were being asked

Measure Q is a dedicated parcel tax continuation intended to support rapid 911 medical responses and on-duty paramedic staffing. Marin County’s official ballot measure notice says the town’s renewal would continue for four years, with a tax of up to $94.50 per residential living unit, or per 1,000 square feet of developed nonresidential property, and annual adjustments capped at $7.75. The tax is projected to raise approximately $786,000 annually for local paramedic services. The actual implementation depends on the measure as legally adopted and applied after certification.

Why Corte Madera’s rate differs from the others

According to Bay City News Service’s account, several neighboring communities have separate but related revenue votes for the Ross Valley Paramedic Authority. Corte Madera’s proposed initial rate is lower than the $107.50 figure used in most of the other jurisdictions, but allows a larger annual increment. The stated aim is to move contributions toward comparable levels over the four-year period. The fact that the questions address one joint emergency service does not make them one countywide referendum.

Early numbers and legal threshold

In the Marin County results carried by KQED, the Measure Q result was updated about 1:05 a.m. November 4. Yes held 1,721 votes, No 622. A two-thirds threshold means at least 66.67% Yes among valid votes for the measure, not among all registered voters or all city ballots. The reported 73.45% Yes is above that benchmark at this stage; only certification confirms the final legal outcome.

Corte Madera’s separate Town Council election

The town also held a three-seat council election, with Eli Beckman, Ava Fruin and David C. Bell leading the reported count. See California58’s council results. Council ballots and this special-tax ballot have different vote totals; they must not be conflated. The town and county continue to provide essential everyday local services, including land-use decisions, infrastructure and emergency response.

Next posted results

The Marin County Elections Office lists its first post-Election Day update for Thursday, November 5, no later than 5 p.m., followed by reports on November 9, 11, 13, 17, 20 and 25. This article uses an earlier source-stamped result; no claim is made that the scheduled November 5 update has already changed the vote.

Sources: Marin County official ballot measure notice and reporting schedule; KQED Marin County overnight returns; Bay City News Service. Unofficial returns as of November 4, checked November 5.

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