MUKILTEO — It will cost the average Mukilteo homeowner about $180 more a year in property taxes.
Supporters asking Mukilteo voters to renew the levy for Emergency Medical Services say it’s worth it for the highest level of pre-hospital care possible.
Opponents say the property tax increase is not justified or needed to maintain the same quality of service.
Fire suppression is funded through a general property tax, but EMS is funded by a separate levy. The city is limited to a 1% revenue increase. Costs are increasing an average of 5%.
If approved by voters, it would be at the rate of 50 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation, starting in 2025. Property taxes would increase about $180 a year on the average Mukilteo home valued at $814,000.
“EMS call volume has increased immensely,” Mukilteo Fire Chief Glen Albright said. “Last year we had 2,700 calls and 78% were EMS calls.”
Albright said the levy lid lift would fund six additional firefighters/emergency medical technicians, advanced medical training, ambulances, equipment and medical supplies needed in the field.
Two public meetings hosted by Albright will be held at 7 p.m. Monday at Fire Station 25, 10400 47th Place W., and 9 a.m. July 27, Rosehill Community Center, 304 Lincoln Ave.
The Mukilteo City Council voted 6-1 to place a resolution for an EMS levy renewal on the Aug. 6 ballot. Council member Steve Schmalz opposes the measure.
“Voting ‘No’ on this EMS tax increase will not affect the quality of EMS service because EMS is already fully funded,” Schmalz said by text. “Call volumes have decreased and EMS expenses have also decreased according to Mukilteo’s 2024 budget.”
In the 2023 primary, the city’s EMS temporary levy lid lift at a 40-cent rate failed, with 59% voting against the ballot measure.
“The EMS service in this city has the potential of affecting all community members and visitors,” Albright said. “I’ve seen it personally. They responded to my own mother. She is doing great now.”
Ballots must be postmarked by Aug. 6 or placed in a ballot box by 8 p.m. on Election Day.
Andrea Brown: 425-339-3443; abrown@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @reporterbrown.
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