North Kitsap and Poulsbo fire departments are both putting Emergency Medical Services property tax levies on the Aug. 6 primary election ballot.
Poulsbo Fire Department adopted a resolution authorizing an EMS property tax levy for six consecutive years. If passed, the levy would continue funding EMS services at a rate of 50 cents or less per $1,000 of assessed valuation, with collection starting in 2025 and replacing the final year of the current EMS levy, per the voters pamphlet. On a $500,000 home that would be $250.
PFD’s current property tax levy rate is approximately 37 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation. If the levy passes, it would result in an approximate 13 cent per $1,000 increase, or about $65 a year on a $500,000 home.
“This proposition is necessary to maintain an effective level of services, firefighter staffing, equipment and facilities,” a statement from PFD reads. “Approval of this measure will allow the district to maintain and improve the level of fire protection and emergency medical services provided to its citizens by increasing the staffing level of trained firefighter/paramedics and firefighter/EMTs.”
Similarly, North Kitsap Fire & Rescue is also asking voters to continue funding EMS services through a property tax levy of 50 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation for six consecutive years, with collection starting in 2025 and replacing the final year of the current EMS levy, the voters pamphlet says.
In 2013 and 2019, voters approved NKF&R’s six-year EMS property tax levy at a rate not to exceed 50 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation. The 2019 EMS levy will expire at the end of 2025 unless voters approve the measure.
“Renewing the levy is necessary to maintain an effective level of services, staffing, equipment and facilities,” a statement from NKF&R reads. “Approval of this measure will allow the district to maintain the level of emergency medical services currently provided on a continuing basis. The revenue from this levy will be used exclusively for emergency medical services.”
