The Grays Harbor Fire District 2 board of commissioners adopted a resolution May 10 to place an EMS levy renewal on the Aug. 7 primary ballot. The current EMS levy expires at the end of 2018.
According to fire chief Leonard Johnson, the proposition would renew the existing EMS levy for six years starting in 2019 at the current voter approved amount of 50 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value, which would create annual revenue in the first year of approximately $258,480. This accounts for 20 percent of the fire district’s annual operating budget and is 100 percent committed to providing EMS and ambulance transport services.
“What this means to taxpayers is that for a residence valued at $200,000 the EMS levy would cost $100 annually,” said Johnson. “The levy is a renewal of the voter approved proposition from 2012.”
The fire district is currently staffed 24 hours a day with firefighter and paramedic personnel, supported by volunteer firefighters and emergency medical technicians. Volunteers are supported with the EMS levy funds and are “an essential part of the system,” said Johnson.
The EMS levy funds support full-time staffing, training programs, stipends for volunteers, maintenance and operations of three ambulances, a rescue truck and five aid vehicles.
“Without the combination of the volunteers and career personnel, the fire district would not be able to provide the high quality of emergency medical care to our residents,” said Johnson. “Both groups work as a team to maintain coverage for the 300-square-mile response area. EMS levy funds help making this possible.”
More than 84 percent of the Fire District’s calls are requests for emergency medical services. This includes emergency medical and trauma response, rescue/extrication and non-emergency medical assistance services such as lift assists and blood pressure checks.
The Fire District will be hosting two open house and public forum meetings to discuss and answer questions about the EMS levy and other programs.
• Tuesday, July 24 at 6 p.m. at Station 2-2 (Brady), 8 Fire Station Road, Montesano.
• Thursday, July 26 at 6 p.m. Headquarters Station 2-1 (Central Park), 6317 Olympic Highway, Aberdeen, WA 98520
