|
EMS Levy
The
City of Camas has advised East County Fire & Rescue that
they plan to discontinue ambulance service to our Fire
District, effective September 1, 2008, unless ECF&R property
owners begin contributing $0.35 per $1,000 of Assessed
Value to offset the cost of providing Paramedic Ambulance
service.
East
County Fire & Rescue Commissioners have voted to put the
$0.35 Emergency Medical Service (EMS) Levy on the August 19,
2008 Primary Election ballot. If this levy passes, the
owner of a $300,000 would pay $105.00 per year—starting in
2009.
The purpose of the EMS Levy
is to fund emergency medical response, including Paramedic
ambulance service, to the residents of East County Fire &
Rescue.
All
EMS Levy funds are ‘passed-through’ to Camas Ambulance
to help offset the cost of staffing up to three Paramedic
Ambulances 24/7/365. East County Fire & Rescue receives
no EMS Levy funds. In return, Camas provides ECF&R with
EMS training, replaces our medical supplies, and provides us
limited medical equipment.
EMS
Levies are valid for only 6-years—and must be
re-approved by the voters OR THE FUNDING IS ELIMINATED.
Currently, ECF&R property owners pay NO EMS Levy.
The first EMS levy was
approved in 1979. The rate at that time was $0.25. Since
then, the voters of Camas, Washougal, and East County Fire &
Rescue (previously known as Clark County Fire District 1 and
Clark County Fire District 9) have renewed the levy (at
$0.25) every 6 years until 2006. In 2006 the requested
rate increased to $0.35 to offset the cost of inflation and
to add more Paramedic Fire Fighters to serve our growing
community.
The voters of Camas and
Washougal approved the $0.35 EMS Levy—a $0.10 increase over
the previous levies. However, East County Fire & Rescue
voters rejected the Levy. In 2007, the residents of East
County Fire & Rescue saw an increase in the cost of
Emergency Medical Services due to the levy failure. Camas
ambulance service raised the transport fees for residents
in our area—to make-up for lost subsidy—and East County Fire
& Rescue was forced to start billing for medical response to
recoup the cost of medical training, medical equipment, and
medical supplies. (See comparison below.)
COST
COMPARISON:
|
Cost of EMS response
and transport without the levy |
|
Cost of EMS response
and transport if the levy is approved |
|
ECF&R First Response |
$413.00 to $500.00 |
|
Annual Property Tax Payment |
$105.00 (based
on $300,000 home) |
|
ALS Transport |
$1007.50 |
|
ALS Transport |
$585.00 |
|
Sub-Total |
1,420.50 to 1,507.50 |
|
Sub-Total |
$690.00 |
|
plus
Transport Mileage - $18.20 per mile
|
$182.00 (based
on 10 mile transport) |
|
plus
Transport Mileage - $15.60 per mile |
$156.00 (based
on 10 mile transport) |
|
Total
(ALS transport
amounts will vary depending on location and care
provided) |
$1602.50 to $1689.50 |
|
Total
(ALS transport
amounts will vary depending on location and care
provided) |
$846.00
|
AMR
(American Medical Response) ambulance has suggested that it
might be willing to provide East County
Fire & Rescue with ambulance service. However, AMR’s closest
unit may be available in Vancouver (if
not, then farther away)—so arrival times for Paramedics are
likely to be longer.
If
you have questions about the EMS Levy—or—the Fire Levy,
please contact Fire Chief Scott Koehler at 360.835.5511 or
emaillhim at
SKoehler@EastCoFire-Rescue.org
|
