Commissioners of Clark County Fire District 6 unanimously approved to place a measure on the August ballot that will seek to restore a six-year emergency medical service levy.
A news release stated the levy is needed in order to provide medical coverage for an estimated 70,000 residents.
The district’s current levy will expire at the end of the year. The district is asking voters to restore the EMS levy that was overwhelmingly approved by voters nearly six years ago at a rate of 45 cents per $1,000 of assessed value.
“Over time these levy rates fall as property values rise,” stated the release. “That limits the fire district to the same amount of revenue per year, plus a 1% increase allowed by law.”
The levy will run at a critical time for the fire district, stated the release.
“The growth rate for Clark County has increased about 19% since 2010. To provide some perspective of that growth, in 2017 we responded to 7,114 emergency calls, versus 8,353 last year,” stated the release. “ Of those emergency requests, 87% were medical calls. We expect that number to grow in 2022 and beyond.”
Fire District 6 provides coverage in Hazel Dell, Salmon Creek, Lake Short, and Felida, as well as the Mt. Vista and the Fairgrounds neighborhoods.
To view an informational video about the levy, go online to https://tinyurl.com/cn2x8bzu.
