As the number of emergency medical calls to Clark County Fire District 6 continues to increase, the district is preparing a replacement levy for the August primary ballot.
The district’s six-year emergency medical services levy pays for staff, training, certifications, supplies and equipment, namely those related to medical calls.
The district is asking voters to renew that levy, again set at 45 cents per $1,000 assessed property value. On a $200,000 home, that comes out to about $90 per year in property taxes. Voters have approved each levy since 1980, according to the district.
Over the past 10 years, medical calls to Fire District 6 have increased 29 percent, the district said. This year, through May 31, about 80 percent of emergency calls were for medical emergencies.
Growing, aging population
The district provides fire and medical services for Hazel Dell, Salmon Creek, Felida, Sherwood, Lake Shore and the fairgrounds areas. More people are moving to the area, and there seems to be a slightly higher share of older people in the community.
“There are more of us baby boomers getting up there that need services,” district Chief Jerry Green said.
About every six years, Fire District 6 discusses whether the going levy rate is enough to accommodate growth, Green said. But barring any drastic changes in the area, he said he couldn’t see why the levy would need to increase this time around.
District voters approved a separate levy in November, with 73 percent voting yes. That vote, which approved a roughly 18 percent increase in property taxes, approved money for a separate pot that pays for district firefighting operations, equipment and building needs.
The primary election is Aug. 2.
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Clarification: This article has been edited to better distinguish November 2015’s firefighting and building levy vote from the upcoming emergency medical services levy vote.
