Richmond Voters Likely to Support Emergency Response Ballot Measure

On Tuesday, the Richmond City Council will receive a report showing voters would likely support a ballot measure to fund Emergency Response.

The survey came after the city is seeking to fund nearly $120 million to transition to Advance Life Support (ALS) First Responder Services and facility upgrades—wait times for ambulances are more than 10-minutes. Richmond is the only fire department in the county without ALS on fire engines.
They have since hired a consultant to conduct a feasibility study.

According to the city, the survey of 800 likely Richmond voters shows strong community support for improved emergency medical response, expanded paramedic staffing, faster response times, modernized fire stations and replacements. Both a parcel tax and a bond measure received initial support from roughly two thirds of surveyed voters, although support is sensitive to affordability concerns.

Funding measures ask for voters were also a bond measure or a parcel tax which received identical initial support (65%) from voters of:

• Bond Measure: $40 per $100,000
• Parcel Tax: $67 annually for 20 years.

Key Findings

1. Voter support for both measures begins at nearly two-thirds; however, support is relatively soft, with fewer than one-third of voters indicating they would definitely vote “yes”
2. Messages focused on bringing Richmond up to the same standard of care as the rest of Contra Costa County, supporting life-saving emergency care, and improving emergency response times resonated most strongly with voters
3. Negative messaging has the potential to reduce support, particularly for the parcel tax measure; however, the bond measure maintains support even after voters hear opposition arguments
4. Voters identified 24/7 emergency response support, improved 911 response times, and hiring paramedics to improve the standard of care for Richmond residents as top funding priorities

With an August 7, 2026 ballot deadline, the city could move towards placing the item on the ballot if they move forward with Phase 2.

Phase 2 includes:

• preparation of ballot-ready materials in coordination with the City Attorney and City Clerk
• legally compliant informational outreach and strategic communications stakeholder engagement
• packaging of a potential measure for City Council consideration

The council is only receiving the report Tuesday, not taking action on the item.

• Staff Report – click here
• Presentation – click here

If You Go

Editors Note

• Power Point Presentation – ALS Program Implementation Plan (Jan 27, 2026)

At the April 21 meeting, the city said on average, the ALS program is projected to cost approximately $4.1 million annually, based on the five-year program estimate presented to the City Council on January 27, 2026. This annual cost estimate does not include additional expenses for fire station upgrades or the major replacement needs identified in recent facility evaluations.

Using Richmond’s 32,683 taxable parcels, a parcel tax dedicated to ALS First Responder Services would generate approximately $1.63 million annually at $50 per parcel, $3.3 million at $100 per parcel, and $4.9 million at $150 per parcel. For comparison, the ALS Update presented to the City Council on January 27, 2026, estimated annual ALS operating costs at approximately $4.1 million, based on a five- year program total of $20.46 million.

At these levels, a parcel tax between $100 and $150 per parcel could cover 80 percent to 120 percent of ALS operating costs, with higher rates providing capacity for physical station replacement and/or upgrades and/or reducing reliance on the General Fund.