Editor,
Ballots for the Aug. 4 primary election are arriving soon. Listed are key elected races and a crucial government election measure, a levy lift for South Whidbey Fire/EMS.
Levy lift is shorthand for an election to revise property taxes for vital services.
If South Whidbey Fire/EMS is to meet or exceed current levels of EMS, firefighting, and land/sea rescues, it is vital that revenue levels make that possible, for you never know when you may need them.
Not since 2012, when voters last approved a levy lift by a solid 56.4 percent, has South Whidbey Fire/EMS come to voters for approval.
So what does voting yes mean now? An aging population like ours involves more emergency calls per capita requiring more firefighters and EMTs. But this reality runs counter to declining interest in community involvement, like fire and EMS, as confirmed by annual statistics showing decreasing numbers of potential volunteers and increasing numbers of 911 calls.
Passing this levy lift will permit South Whidbey Fire/EMS to hire eight new firefighters and switch eight current part timers to full time. It will allow daily, 24/7 staffing of one fire engine, a major improvement over the current 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays only. It will enable damaged and obsolete support equipment replaced and upgraded. It will facilitate replacement of one front-line fire engine, three MERV aid cars, and one command vehicle.
The result: Maintained or improved 911 response times.
But the Bayview Fire Station opened just last fall. So why is the District asking for an increase in its levy rate? Municipal bonds supported by ongoing revenues funded construction. General operations, however, are supported by the 2012 levy, but it does not keep pace with inflation.
Therefore, South Whidbey Fire/EMS will be forced to reduce staff and maintain fire engines whose insurance-covered life has expired.
The result: Potentially longer response times.
If approved, the proposed levy will increase property tax rates by $0.30 cents per $1,000 evaluation bringing the district to $0.95/$1,000, much less than other regional fire districts and the legally permitted $1.50/$1,000.
My fellow fire commissioners and I are well aware of what asking for your support means in such challenging times as these. However, we believe that keeping up Fire District readiness warrants funding this vital public service.
As a concerned citizen, I urge you to support our fire district’s dedicated first responders.
Mike Noblet
Clinton
