District struggles with levy failure

SNOHOMISH – Snohomish County Fire District 4 officials are scrambling to figure out which services to cut following the failure of a tax levy for ambulance and paramedic services.

“It’s going to be a very, very difficult challenge,” Chief Robert Merritt said Friday.

The district’s attempt at a 50-cent levy per $1,000 of tax valuation failed in Tuesday’s general election. That would have been a 28-cent increase from the current 22-cent levy. It was the district’s second attempt to pass the levy; it also failed in the September primary.

The district serves about 30,000 residents in Snohomish and surrounding areas. The district is required by law to continue to provide emergency medical services, even though the current levy, which generated about $410,000 this year, expires in December, Merritt said.

“We are going to be backward next year,” said Roger Portmann, chairman of the district’s board of fire commissioners.

“I believe we’re going to have station closures,” Portmann said.

Staff reduction or a merger with another fire district might happen as well, he said.

“We’re going to be looking at all the different things we can do to serve the public just as good as we can,” he said.

The district may attempt a revised levy increase next year after getting public input, fire commissioner Steve Towers said.

“We have to engage the public in what they want,” he said.