GCFD7 proposes EMS levy for November ballot
A break down of the estimated yearly cost, based on the average cost for the past three years, to run the GCFD7 EMS program.
Courtesy Grant County Fire District 7
SOAP LAKE — Grant County Fire District 7 has proposed an EMS levy for the November ballot. GCFD7 provides both fire protection and emergency medical services.
“The thing in this community is probably 70% of our call volume is an EMS call,” said GCFD7 Chief Kirk Sheppard.
The measure on the ballot asks voters to approve a levy to provide District 7 with funding for emergency medical services. The levy is 25 cents per $1,000 assessed property valuation for six years.
Sheppard noted that this was the bare minimum they could ask for an EMS levy in terms of cost and duration. They expect the levy to bring in just above their estimated need of $58,000 a year to fund the program.
He said the reason behind the levy, which has been discussed for several years prior to this year's proposal, is to cover the costs and guarantee GCFD7 can continue to provide EMS services to their coverage area. Currently the EMS program is funded through the fire department’s yearly budget.
He explained that by having the guaranteed funding from the levy, GCFD7 can provide transport when needed to an area hospital, especially when another ambulance through AMR or Protection1 may take longer to arrive. Sheppard said the time difference can be the difference between life and death.
“We’re running an unfunded program right now and all we’re trying to do is get the citizens to look and say, you know, is the EMS program of value to me and would I want an ambulance here in nine minutes versus 40 minutes,” Sheppard said.
He also said that he’s not saying that if the levy doesn’t pass, that they will halt their EMS services, but that a time may come where as a fire department they would no longer be able to fund the EMS side and have to make the decision to stop those services because the funding would negatively affect their budget for fire-related needs.
“This is a patient care issue,” Sheppard said. “We’re already on site, if we can package them up and get them to the hospital quicker, that is just the logical reason instead of leaving them at their home.”
Rebecca Pettingill may be reached at rpettingill@columbiabasinherald.com.