BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Whatcom County Council has voted to ask property owners to pay a bit more in an EMS levy renewal that will be on the November ballot.
The council on Tuesday, July 12th, voted to set the levy rate at 29.5 cents per $1,000 of assessed value, up from the current rate of just under 20 cents.
Councilmember Kaylee Galloway says the increase is needed.
“If we hope to implement our EMS levy plan in a meaningful way and continue to invest in the expanded programs including community paramedics, the fifth unit, and others that we’ve already discussed today,” said Galloway. “Keeping that levy rate of .295 is going to be really important.”
Kathy Kershner joined Tyler Byrd and Ben Elenbaas in voting against the higher rate.
“I just want to put out that I believe that you’re putting this levy at risk by asking for 50 percent more than you have right now in the times that we are in,” said Kershner.
The higher rate is what voters passed in 2016, but increases in the number of properties and their values in the county since then have driven it down.
The higher rate would add about $48 to the annual tax bill of a $500,000 home.