SPOKANE COUNTY, Wash. — Ballots have been mailed out for the April special elections, and South Spokane County voters are considering a funding request from their local fire district.
Spokane County Fire District 8 is seeking voter approval to increase its Emergency Medical Services (EMS) levy to improve paramedic coverage and replace critical life-saving equipment.
For homeowners in the district, a property valued at $750,000 would see annual EMS levy costs rise to $375, an increase of $157 from the current rate.
“Right now we have 29 cents per $1,000 of assessed value. We’re asking citizens to return back an additional 21 cents, or up to 50 cents per $1,000,” Lonnie Rash, Fire Chief of SCFD 8 said.
The district has been promoting the measure with signs throughout South Spokane County reading “Saving Lives, Yes on Prop One.”
According to Chief Rash, over 80% of the district’s calls are medical emergencies. A primary goal of the levy increase is ensuring consistent paramedic coverage across the district.
“We want to ensure that we have a paramedic at every station all the time. But with the current number of paramedics that we have currently funded, we’re not able to do that 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” Rash said.
If approved, the additional funding would allow the district to hire two additional firefighter paramedics to meet this need.
“Having that paramedic capability in this urban and even suburban rural area in a timely manner is life-saving,” Rash emphasized.
The levy would also address another concern: medical equipment. The district needs to replace vital tools like automated chest compression devices, which assist paramedics when treating heart attack victims.
Chief Rash noted that much of the district’s medical equipment has reached the end of its useful lifespan.
If voters reject the levy increase, the consequences would affect emergency medical services in the area.
“We will extend out our replacement plans. We will, unfortunately, not hire those two paramedics, so we will have some stations that don’t have paramedic coverage 24 hours a day,” Rash warned.
If approved, the district would also invest in alternative response vehicles.
The last day to cast your vote in the April Special Elections is on April 22.
This levy needs a simple majority or 60% approval to pass.
Spokane Fire District 8 will be hosting an informational meeting to answer any questions you may have about this levy on Wednesday, April 9 at 6 p.m. It will be at Station 81 at 6117 S. Palouse HWY.
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