Three Snohomish County fire departments are seeking levies to support emergency services.
District 8 in Lake Stevens and District 17 in Granite Falls are asking voters to approve emergency medical services levy lid lifts. District 25 in Oso is hoping to pass its first fire levy in 22 years.
The measures will appear on the Nov. 7 general election ballot.
In Lake Stevens, the EMS levy would increase to 50 cents per $1,000 assessed property value. A similar levy was passed in 2000, but the rate has been reduced to 32 cents.
The owner of a $300,000 home would pay $54 more a year, Fire Chief Kevin O’Brien said. The levy with the 18-cent lift would bring in an estimated $1.2 million.
O’Brien said emergency calls have more than doubled since 2000. Many of those were medical-related.