North County Fire to run EMS levy

The commissioners of North County Fire/EMS will ask voters to renew its current Emergency Medical Services (EMS) levy on the Aug. 17 primary election ballot.

“This EMS levy makes sure that we have firefighter/paramedics ready to respond 24-hours a day at key locations within the 104 square miles that we serve. We have one of the largest service areas in Snohomish County,” said Fire Chief Dale Fulfs.

EMS levy funds are used for training, salaries and benefits of nine firefighter/paramedics that provide advanced life support (ALS) care 24- hours a day. Some funds also are used for the purchase and maintenance of life-saving equipment, such as cardiac monitors and respiratory support equipment.

Currently, 70 percent of all 911 calls to North County Fire/EMS are for emergency medical service. The EMS levy would be a renewal of the expiring six-year levy at the previously voter approved rate of $0.50 per $1,000 of assessed valuation. This means a home valued at $300,000 would pay $12.50 per month (or $150 per year) for 24- hour emergency medical service.

North County Fire/EMS postponed its EMS levy renewal last year because of concerns about the economy and its impact on the community.

But, Chief Fulfs says they can’t wait any longer.

“The current EMS levy will expire for half of our taxpayers at the end of 2010,” Fulfs said.

“This renewal will unite everyone under the same EMS levy schedule and save taxpayer money on election costs.”

Voters approved the merger of two fire districts in 2007 to create a new regional fire authority called North County Fire/EMS, which is funded by one fire levy but two different levies for emergency medical service. The EMS levy renewal in August will continue emergency medical care for all community members as well as save taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars on election costs.

Taxing districts like fire authorities, schools and libraries, must pay to place a levy measure on the ballot. North County Fire/EMS budgets $25,000 for election costs every year it anticipates being on the ballot.

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 service. Full-time and volunteer firefighters responded to 2,071 emergency service calls in 2009, as well as providing public education and fire prevention programs.

For information, see www.northcountyfireems. com or call 360-652- 1246.