Lewis County Fire District 10 in Packwood hasn’t asked its voters to raise its property tax levy in over 30 years. But with the district’s levy currently sitting at 33 cents per $1,000 of assessed value, District 10 will finally ask voters to raise the rate in August so the district can hire paramedics.
“With your support, the district intends to contract for 24/7 professional paramedic availability from the Packwood Fire Station,” the Packwood Firefighters Association said in a mailer to voters. “These professional paramedics, responding with advanced life support training, equipment and medications, and teamed with EMS volunteers, will improve patient outcomes and save lives.”
If passed, District 10’s levy lift proposal on the Aug. 6 ballot would authorize District 10 to establish its levy rate at $1.28 per $1,000 of assessed value for collection in 2025.
District 10 anticipates losing eight of its personnel to retirement within the next two years, which would leave the district with just two EMTs, both volunteers, on staff to cover all of the district’s medical calls, according to Packwood resident and Chronicle columnist Bill Serrahn.
Volunteer EMTs are qualified to provide basic life support while transporting a patient to the nearest emergency room, which, for Packwood, is nearly 35 miles away.
Contracted paramedics would be qualified to provide advanced life support during transport, according to the Packwood Firefighters Association.
“Our distance from emergency medical facilities makes this advanced level of first responder care during the ‘golden hour,’ where every minute counts, even more crucial,” the Packwood Firefighters Association said in the mailer.
“The (District 10) board of commissioners has determined that this proposition is necessary to maintain an effective level of services, firefighter staffing, equipment and facilities in light of rising costs, rising demands and the continued growth of our community,” District 10 states in a ballot issue explanatory statement.
“Your vote to approve this levy increase is a vote for a safer, better-prepared community,” the Packwood Firefighters Association said in the mailer. “It’s an investment in the wellbeing of every resident and the assurance that, when emergencies arise, the highest standard of care will be promptly available.”
For more information on the District 10 levy lift proposal, visit https://elections.lewiscountywa.gov/current-election/.
Registered voters should have received their ballots for the Aug. 6 election by July 26.
If a voter hasn’t received their ballot, the auditor’s office recommends visiting votewa.gov and selecting “my ballot,” calling 360-740-1278 or visiting 351 NW North St., Chehalis. If a registered voter has moved, they can update their registration with either of the options.
Lewis County offers ballot boxes in all nine of its incorporated cities — Chehalis, Centralia, Morton, Mossyrock, Napavine, Pe Ell, Toledo, Vader and Winlock — as well as in the unincorporated areas of Mineral, Onalaska and Packwood.
Ballot boxes are open 24 hours a day beginning 20 days prior to each election. They close promptly at 8 p.m. on election day.
Ballots submitted by mail must be postmarked by 8 p.m. on election day.
