Location & Hours

EMS Levy Renewal

EMS is our most used service and accounts for 90% of all emergency calls.  
Voters last approved a permanent EMS levy of $0.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value in 2016. The levy rate has fallen to $0.36 per $1,000 since that time. We are asking voters to return the EMS levy to $0.50 per $1,000 in the August 5, 2025 Primary Election. 

Call volumes and costs to provide service have increased. 
EMS call volumes have increased by 50% since our last EMS levy was passed. The more calls we receive, the more funding it takes for ambulances, medical supplies and equipment. Costs for these items are outside the fire district’s control and have increased dramatically due to inflation. For example, an ambulance used to cost just over $200,000 and now is $300,000. Fire engines – which also respond to medical calls – have increased from $500,000 to $1.2 million. Higher call volumes and increasing expenses impact our ability to provide service. 

Our EMS Levy is up for renewal. 
The levy lid lift will allow us to address staffing needs to respond to higher call volumes. It will also replace two ambulances that have aged out of service, and purchase defibrillators/cardiac monitors, and medical supplies. The $0.14 lid lift will cost the owner of a $300,000 property (considered the average) an additional $3.50 per month/$42.00 per year. Residents who meet income and eligibility requirements would continue to qualify for any property tax exemption.  

Thank you for your consideration. 
We appreciate you learning more about the EMS Levy and its important role in our community. Please contact Fire Chief Noel Hardin personally with questions at nhardin@asotincountywa.gov.  

Frequently Asked Questions  

How are we funded? 
Daily emergency operations are funded by two voter-approved levies – one for fire and another for emergency medical service (EMS). Voters last approved an EMS levy of $0.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value in 2016. 

What is a “levy lid lift”? 
Our fire district is limited to collecting a set amount of revenue per year. As property values increase, levy rates decrease to restrict the fire district to the same amount of revenue plus a 1% increase allowed by law. A levy lid lift restores funding for emergency services by returning the levy rate to an amount previously approved by voters.   

Can you give an example?
Sure! Voters approved an EMS levy rate of $0.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value in 2016. Since then, the EMS levy rate has fallen to $0.36/$1,000. Our fire district is asking voters to consider approving an EMS levy lid lift of $0.14/$1,000 which would return the EMS levy to the original $0.50/$1,000.  

Why is my fire district asking for this? 
EMS is our most widely used emergency service, accounting for 90% of all emergency calls. Call volumes for EMS have increased 50% since our last EMS levy lid lift. Costs to provide service also have increased dramatically due to inflation. For example, an ambulance used to cost just over $200,000 and now is $300,000. Fire engines have increased from $500,000 to $1.2 million. Higher call volumes and costs impact our ability to provide service. 

How much will it cost? What will it fund? 
The $0.14 lid lift will cost the owner of a $300,000 property (considered the average) an additional $3.50 per month/$42.00 per year. Funding will allow us to address staffing needs to respond to higher call volumes. It will also replace two ambulances that have aged out of service, and purchase cardiac monitors, defibrillators, and medical supplies. 

The percentage assessment on my property increased by double-digits last year. Do the taxes I pay the fire district increase by the same amount? 
No. Our fire district is limited to a 1% revenue increase per year. That 1% is shared across all the properties we serve. Even if property values double, we can only collect 1% more. Residents who meet income and eligibility requirements would continue to qualify for any property tax exemption.