A hike of 13 cents in the Whidbey Island Hospital District’s Emergency Services levy makes sense for the growing island community.

The island has experienced tremendous growth in recent years while the EMS levy has been fixed at no more than 37 cents per thousand, a figure that drops as property values increase. With a statutory limit of 1 percent on annual budget increases without a vote of the people, critical services are all scratching for funding.

Nothing is more critical than ambulance service. It’s literally a matter of life-and-death for hundreds of islanders each year. Whidbey Island needs quick, dependable ambulance service. When you call 911, you don’t want to be told that no ambulance is immediately available in your area and that one will have to be dispatched from some distant point on the island.

Proceeds from the 13 cent tax increase will be used to build new ambulance facilities for Coupeville and South Whidbey and to buy several additional ambulances. These “basic life support” vehicles would be based at fire stations on North, Central and South Whidbey, providing another level of response. While all are supportive of this concept, details and monetary reimbursements need to be worked out to the satisfaction of all. These negotiations should not delay approval of the EMS levy.

Senior citizens are rightly concerned about property tax increases. But this isn’t like a school issue, where seniors will never use the services provided. Top-notch ambulance response is of critical importance to the senior community, so make room in your budget for this levy. Another 13 cents per thousand will cost most property owners only a few extra dollars a month, which is a small price to pay for knowing that an ambulance will be available when you need one. Vote yes for the EMS levy on the Sept. 19 election ballot.