North County Regional Fire Authority postpones levy

North County Regional Fire Authority Board of Commissioners voted to postpone its EMS levy renewal until 2010.

Commissioners changed their minds about asking voters to renew an emergency medical services (EMS) levy this fall, citing economic concerns.

"We are sensitive to how the economy is impacting our community," said Fire Chief Dale Fulfs.

"We feel it would be better to wait a year to ask for an EMS levy right before it expires."

Fulfs said that the EMS levy will expire on December 31, 2010, which means North County Regional Fire Authority will only have the needed funding to maintain emergency medical services for local residents for one more year. However, a ballot measure to renew EMS funding sometime next year is inevitable.

"The fact that we have voter-approved funding means that the community wants emergency medical service," he said. "We will ask them to renew that commitment in the fall of 2010."

Chief Fulfs plans to use the next year to educate the public about how North County Regional Fire Authority is funded and how taxpayer dollars are spent. He also wants to resolve any confusion about the newly-created fire authority.

In late 2007, voters approved the merger of former Snohomish County Fire Districts 14 and 18 to improve efficiencies and cut costs. But, while the fire authority has a new name, property tax statements mailed by Snohomish County still identify the former fire districts.

"I can understand why people are confused," said Chief Fulfs. "We will work with the county to straighten this out for 2010. It's important to remind people that North County Regional Fire Authority is now their emergency services provider."

North County Regional Fire Authority serves more than 15,000 residents over 104 square miles in the communities of Bryant, Freeborn and Warm Beach.

Three of its five stations are staffed 24-hours a day to provide fire suppression and emergency medical services.

Professional and volunteer firefighters responded to over 2,100 emergency service calls in 2008, as well as providing public education and fire prevention programs.

For more information, visit the Web site at www. northcountyfireems.com or call 360-652-1246.