Snohomish Regional Fire & Rescue will put EMS levy lift on August ballot.

The Snohomish Regional Fire & Rescue board voted April 9 to place a six-year emergency medical services levy lift on the Aug. 4 ballot to seek restoring the rate to 50 cents per $1,000 after it declined to 26 cents. A page with informational meeting details is expected to be posted on srfr.org early next week.

The Snohomish Regional Fire & Rescue board approved placing a six-year emergency medical services levy lift on the Aug. 4 ballot during its April 9 meeting. The proposal asks voters to restore the levy rate to 50 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value after the rate fell to 26 cents due to growth and property value changes. Fire Chief Brian Park said community members increasingly rely on emergency medical personnel as access to health care becomes less predictable. The district serves Lake Stevens, Monroe, parts of Mill Creek and Maltby, and southeast unincorporated Snohomish County. What is known: - The board approved placing a six-year EMS levy lift on the Aug. 4 ballot; the approval took place at the April 9 meeting. - The proposal would restore the levy to 50 cents per $1,000 from a current 26 cents, with the decline attributed to growth and changes in property values. - The district notes that fire districts do not receive county or city funding for emergency medical services, and voter-approved levies fund ambulances, equipment and staff training. - Snohomish Regional Fire & Rescue serves Lake Stevens, Monroe, parts of Mill Creek and Maltby, and southeast unincorporated Snohomish County. - A page dedicated to the levy lift is expected to be posted on srfr.org early next week, where informational meeting times and locations will be listed, spokesperson Kaitlin King said. Summary: If approved by voters, the levy would restore property tax funding intended to support ambulances, medical equipment, staff training and to keep funding aligned with inflation. The measure will appear on the Aug. 4 ballot, and informational meeting details are expected to be posted on srfr.org early next week.