GCFD 7 asking voters to consider EMS Levy increase amid rise in call volume

SOAP LAKE — Grant County Fire District 7 will resume collecting its previously approved $0.25 EMS levy next year, and voters will decide in the November General Election whether to increase that rate to $0.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value. 

The district stopped collecting the EMS levy after voters approved a separate fire levy in 2024. But EMS demand has continued to climb, now making up about 85 percent of all calls, according to Fire Chief Erick Brittain. 

“Our call volume is increasing every single month, EMS‑wise and fire‑wise,” Brittain said. “In 2023 we ran roughly 300 EMS calls. In 2024 that increased to 568, and last year we were around 580 to 590.” 

The district currently operates two basic life support ambulances and provides both basic and intermediate life support services. Two full‑time EMS positions are funded through a federal grant that expires at the end of this year and cannot be renewed. 

“In 2027 the SAFER grant will sunset. If we don’t get another grant or another source of money, we’ll have to decrease services,” Brittain said. 

Collecting the original $0.25 levy will allow the district to fund one of those positions. The proposed increase to $0.50 would fund both, along with equipment and ambulance needs. 

Brittain said the district is increasingly facing “double calls” – simultaneous fire and medical calls that strain staffing.  

“We can’t be in two places at once,” Brittain said. “Right now, we have three people that can drive an ambulance, myself and two captains, but if someone calls 911 for a medical emergency because we are all busy with other incidents, we have to rely on Lifeline. Sometimes they’re coming from Ephrata or Moses Lake. That can be a 20 to 30 minute response time.” 

He said having two dedicated EMS responders on duty would prevent delays and reduce reliance on mutual aid.  

“Don’t get me wrong, Lifeline does a great job but if we can we want to be the ones responding to EMS calls for our service area, we want to serve our community to the best of our ability,” Brittain said.  

If approved, the 50‑cent levy – about $75 per year for a $300,000 property – would generate roughly $250,000 annually.  

According to the district, that funding would: support both EMS positions currently paid for by the expiring grant; add another ambulance, including putting an older unit positioned near Sun Lakes during peak season; purchase medical equipment and supplies required for intermediate life support and improve response times during simultaneous incidents.  

If the increase fails, the district will still collect the original 25 cents, generating about $125,000 per year – enough to fund one EMS position and essential medical supplies, according to Brittain. 

Residents can learn more during a Board of Fire Commissioners meeting on June 17 at 6:30 p.m. at Station 1, 155 State Highway 28 W in Soap Lake. 

Brittain said the district understands the financial strain many residents face. 

“Hopefully people will barely notice it, but I think they'll notice the service, staying the same, and increasing. We do a good job with callbacks and trying to get people in on those double calls,” Brittain said. “If we're out on a fire, we've kind of changed our strategy. In the past, it was like we'll let Lifeline grab it, and I have a different philosophy on that. Our people deserve better, that's my philosophy going forward – we need to try to do both when we can, one doesn’t take precedence over another, because it's all the same, we're all providing this service, whether it be fire or EMS.” 

Questions can be directed to Chief Brittain at [email protected] or 509‑246‑0321.