When voters head to the polls this fall to decide this year’s primary races, they will also decide whether the emergency medical services on Whidbey Island will get an increase in funding.

Officials are asking voters to increase the levy to 50 cents per $1,000 assessed property value, which is the highest rate the hospital can ask voters to approve.

EMS Director Paul Zaveruha spoke at a Thursday evening candidate night sponsored by the League of Women Voters.

“Our existence depends on you, and if you think about it, your existence depends on us,” Zaveruha said during the event.

Should the levy be approved it will help pay for expansion of service on Whidbey Island. The money will pay for construction of new ambulance quarters on Central and South Whidbey Island, along with the purchase of five basic life support ambulances.

The EMS levy currently accounts for 51 percent of the service’s $4 million budget.

One resident attending the meeting questioned why several ambulances, fire engines and police cars respond to minor incidents.

Zaveruha said its best to be cautious when responding to incidents.

“We don’t know what we’re going to get,” Zaveruha said. “We come loaded for bear.”

The additional vehicles will help improve responses.

The island will develop a system to ensure an appropriate level of response to calls, he said. The county has basic life support and advanced life support vehicles. The advanced life support vehicles provide capabilities to administer intravenous medications, offers more diagnostic capabilities and are staffed by paramedics.

“We want to provide the level necessary for your care,” Zaveruha said.

Another resident questioned how the levy will be effected by skyrocketing home prices. Zaveruha responded the hospital can only increase revenue by 1 percent a year and, as house values increase, the levy rate will decrease.

The levy election takes place Sept. 16, the same day as the primary. It needs to pass by a 60 percent supermajority and 8,190 voters need to participate in the election for it to be valid.