Klickitat County EMS District #1

How much and how long is the current EMS levy for?
  The current EMS levy in place, passed in 2019 at 50 cents per $1,000 and has a term of 6 years. An EMS levy renewal will be on a ballet some time in 2024 would go into effect Jan. 1 2025.

Why is the District going for another levy? 
  The EMS District is not applying for a new levy tax or a tax increase, the EMS District is renewing our existing levy that is expiring at the end of 2024. The EMS District will be going for another 6-year levy at the current 50 cents per thousand.

Why is this important? 
 The EMS District is a special taxing district and is a stand-alone entity. The Klickitat County Ambulance Service separated from the county hospitals (KVH and Skyline) in 2012 and the EMS District was officially formed in April of 2013 by the County Commissioners. The current EMS District is funded through our tax levy and patient billing. It is important for the EMS District to maintain our current levy in order to provide our top quality of care.

EMS Funds are put towards many crucial elements in the day to day operations for the ambulance service.

1. Financial Stability: The EMS levy funds have helped the ambulance service move in the direction of being financially stable! This allows us to purchase updated equipment for a higher level of care and quality of patient treatment.  
2. Sustainable Living wage:   We are proud to say that we have been working towards improving our employee wages and benefit package. This allows us to attract high-quality employees and be competitive with other agencies.
3. Fourth Car: The EMS District has been able to add an on-call fourth car into our system. This gives the community a better level of care to be there for when you’re in need the most. This ambulance gets activated during busy times, or when a primary ambulance is on a long-distance transfer. Our future goal is to have it full time!
4. Transfer Policy: We have put into place an inter-facility transfer policy to assure there is a sufficient amount of ambulance for our community at all times! This policy provides the district the ability to space out non-emergent transfers and help keep ample ambulance in our service area for 911 calls and emergent transfers.
5. Assets and Buildings: The EMS District owns its first piece of property! We are looking towards the future; our new property allows us to look into building an actual EMS quarters allowing for enough room to house multiple crews and take a step towards two full-time ambulance crews in Goldendale.
6. Rent & Quarters: Though the EMS District has received a generous rate on rent in the past, our rent in White Salmon and Goldendale have both increased by 400% this year! With the cost of living increasing, the EMS Levy helps the district keep up with inflation.
7. Training: We pride ourselves on the level of care we are able offer to our patients. We provide our Paramedics and EMT’s not only with the required training they need to maintain their certifications, but we are also continually in search of finding new and more progressive trainings to further our commitment to quality emergency care.

The EMS District is more motivated than ever to keep moving forward and progressing to give our community the best level of care possible.

1. Recruitment and Retention: Though we have come a long ways in recruiting high-level employees, it’s consistently getting harder to stay competitive with other agencies in WA and OR. We need to stay competitive to be able to continue the high level of care our employees can offer. We are also working to provide a competitive long-term career path for our employees to stay and make a career with our EMS District.
2. EMS Quarters:   We are in the process of expanding our EMS system, which starts with an EMS quarters that can house multiple full-time crews, have training and conference rooms along with administrative offices. With the ability to house additional crews will allow us to move our on-call car to full-time!
3. Ambulance: Maintaining an ambulance fleet can be a costly and difficult process. A brand new ambulance costs around $270,000. That price is without any extra gear, such as medications, backboards, stair chair, vents, pumps and so much more! We need rely on the vehicles we have to get us to our destination and back.
4. Citizen Care: We are looking into the possibility and feasibility of helping our community with the financial burden of Emergency Medical Services.
5. High Level of Care: We are wanting to maintain the high level of care we have already established in Klickitat County. Along with maintaining our safety standards for the community and employees of the district.