1.Is this a new tax?

No. Both levies were previously passed by Camano Island voters. However, the Fire Levy needs to be renewed in order to reset funding levels and the EMS Levy will expire this year without a renewal.

2.What is “EMS”?

“EMS” stands for Emergency Medical Services. Most people think of an ambulance when they hear this term. But overall, the EMS system consists of a “layered response” to your medical emergency:

✦The closest fire department crew, well-trained in advanced first-aid (the Emergency Medical Technicians).

✦An ambulance, staffed with a paramedic (who has much more medical training than an EMT). The paramedic can provide advanced life support techniques.

✦Direct communication with the trauma and/or emergency room hospital doctor. The EMS system also has available helicopter airlift service for the critically-injured patient.

3.When were the current levies approved?

The Fire Levy was last approved in 2004. The EMS Levy was last approved in 2003.

4.Are these permanent levies?

The Fire Levy is a permanent levy. The EMS Levy is a 6-year levy. The EMS Levy expires at the end of this year and needs to be renewed in order to continue uninterrupted paramedic and ambulance services.

5.Why is it a six-year levy?

The community depends on a secure source of funding for EMS services. By law, fire districts can ask the voters for a special levy to fund EMS. However, that levy is for a fixed period of time. In most cases, it is a six year period.

This is your chance to tell the Fire District what level of service that you want on the Island.

Each levy costs the fire district (and its citizen supporters) several thousand dollars, making annual elections very inefficient and expensive.

The six year levy cycle allows for long-term planning and growth.

6.If the levies are successful, what will be funded with this revenue?

Renewing the EMS levy will allow the Fire District to continue providing uninterrupted paramedic and ambulance services. Restoring the Fire levy to near its previous allocation ($1.20 per $1000 of assessed value rather than the previous $1.25 per $1000) will allow the District to hire nine to twelve new firefighters and staff the new Madrona station 24 hrs a day. This staffing will significantly decrease response times.

EMS levy revenues may only be spent to support emergency medical services for Camano Island.

Money goes to:

✦Staffing the fire and ambulance crews stationed on the island.

✦Providing training to the volunteer firefighters and paid personnel in all aspects of medical and rescue techniques.

✦Purchase of medical equipment.

✦Fuel, maintenance, and servicing of the emergency vehicles.

✦Updating the ambulance and aid cars.

7.What would my share of the costs be?

The owner of a $300,000 home is currently paying $345 per year for both Fire and EMS levies. If both levies pass, the same home owner would pay $510 per year.

8.Does my Senior Citizen/Disability Exemption apply to the levies?

An exemption depends on your income and the assessed value of your property. If you are over 61 years old and have less than $30,000/yr in income there is a good chance that you are exempt. For exemption information, call the Island County Assessor at 360.629.4522.

9.Will I be billed if I call 911?

There is no charge for calling 911 in the event of an emergency.

10.What will it take to pass the levies?

By law, the vote to pass the EMS levy requires a minimum of a 40% turnout of the last election. In this case, that was last year’s November general election, which had the highest turnout ever seen on Camano Island. It will require a 60% majority. The Fire levy will require a simple majority to pass. Of the two levies, the EMS levy will be much more difficult to get passed without a heavy voter turnout.

11. When is the election?

The election is a mail-in ballot that will go out to Camano Island residents on August 18th, 2009.

12. Why should I vote?

If you don’t vote, there is a good chance that we won’t get a sufficient number of votes to make the election valid and so even if the levies were to pass the election would be invalid.

As we learned in the national election of 2000, and most recently in last year’s senatorial election in Minnesota, even individual votes count!

Please vote when you receive your mail-in ballot.