Spokane County Fire District 10 is asking voters to approve the renewal of an emergency medical services levy on the Aug. 4 ballot.
The 10-year levy has been repeatedly approved by voters with strong support since 1994, said Fire Chief Ken Johnson. The first levy was for six years.
“They did it so they could start putting medical equipment on the trucks,” he said of the first levy in 1994. “With that they were able to add additional staffing.”
The mostly rural fire district sprawls across 85 square miles in the West Plains area. The EMS levy provides 15% of the district’s annual budget. In addition to paying for medical supplies, it also pays for dispatch services, a medical director, two firefighters and one chief officer. It also allows between 10 and 15 volunteer firefighters a year to complete emergency medical technician training.
“It’s a critical component to our service,” Johnson said. “Seventy-seven percent of our calls in the district are medical related. Fifteen percent of our budget is funding 77% of our mission.”