On Sept. 14, Mukilteo will have the opportunity to vote on a new emergency medical services levy.
This new levy has been set by your City Council at a lower, responsible rate. This dedicated tax will only be spent to improve our paramedic services. Hiring Mukilteo firefighter-paramedics will allow us to transition from our contract for Everett paramedics. These new firefighter-paramedics will keep our response times low, at our 5-minute average, rather than the 13-minute responses we received in 2002 under a different contract. This new service will undoubtedly allow Fire Station No. 1 in Old Town to be staffed more often with career firefighters, supplementing the excellent service provided by volunteers during evening hours and on weekends.
A levy of 35 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value will cover most, but not all, of the transition costs to a new Mukilteo firefighter-paramedic program. Without the funding for this program, your council will have to make tough decisions about valuable city services. I am up to the task, but would prefer to see Mukilteans prove that they value speedy, life-saving paramedic services by voting yes.
I believe this six-year EMS levy will provide the funds for a transition to cost-effective, locally based, efficient, quality care. Join me at the polls on Sept. 14 in voting yes.
Jennifer Gregerson
Mukilteo City Council
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