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Home My WebLink About05/10/2022 04. Yakima County EMS Levy Renewal Y�'1114'+ 7pc:Ati re BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL YAKIMA, WASHINGTON AGENDA STATEMENT Item No. 4. For Meeting of: May 10, 2022 ITEM TITLE: Yakima County EMS Levy Renewal SUBMITTED BY: Aaron Markham, Fire Chief SUMMARY EXPLANATION: Yakima County currently assesses an Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Levy at the rate of $0.25 per one-thousand dollars of assessed value of property located in Yakima County. This EMS levy will expire on December 31, 2023. The Yakima County EMS Administration Board has asked the Board of County Commissioners to place this measure on the ballot for renewal at the next general election this November. The term of this levy will be permanent. ITEM BUDGETED: STRATEGIC PRIORITY: APPROVED FOR SUBMITTAL BY THE CITY MANAGER RECOMMENDATION: ATTACHMENTS: Description Upload Date Type D EMS memo 5/6/2022 Corer Memo D Distribution Table 5/5/2022 Corer Memo 2 YAKIMA FIRE DEPARTMENT Administration N �y� 40Y1aki NorthmaW Front Street Fire Suppression k� ri , Washington 98901 Fire Investigation *114\4 - Phone(509)575-6060 Fire Training FARE DI$ Fax(509)576-6356 Fire Prevention www.yakimafire.com Special Operations MEMORANDUM May 5, 2022 To: Bob Harrison City Manager From: Aaron Markham Fire Chief Re: Yakima County Emergency Medical Services Levy Mr. Harrison, The Yakima County Emergency Medical Service Administration Board would like to place the renewal of the Yakima County Emergency Medical Services Levy on the general election ballot this November. They have authorized the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Director to submit the proper requests to the Board of County Commissioners for this item to be placed on the ballot to be considered by the registered voters of Yakima County. The levy does riot officially expire until December 31, 2023; however, the Board does not want to risk the chance of a possible levy failure and a gap of EMS Levy revenues to fire departments that rely so heavily on this funding. If by chance the levy fails, this will allow one more opportunity to place it before the voters to obtain renewal before the levy expiration. The cost of placing this proposition on the ballot is funded by the Yakima County EMS Office. Under RCW 84.52.069(4), Yakima County may not place this levy on the ballot without the approval of the legislative authority of a majority of at least 75 percent of all cities exceeding 50,000 population within the County. The City of Yakima is the only city in the Yakima County that meets this population threshold making them the key stakeholder in allowing this process to proceed legislatively. This EMS Levy is not a new levy and has been approved by the voters several times and therefore is often referred to as a "continuation levy". The initial proposition was approved by the voters of Yakima County on November 6, 1990, for a six-year term and renewed for another six years. The subsequent renewals were for two ten-year terms taking us through the end of 2023. This levy has been assessed to the property owners of Yakima County for over 31 years now. 100% of the EMS levy funds are used locally among 19 fire departments distributed throughout Yakima County. It also supports the operations of the Yakima County EMS Office. The Yakima County EMS Office provides initial Emergency Medical Training (EMT) to new first responders every year and supports the training and education of all of the EMT's in Yakima County. This is done through their On-going Training and Evaluation Program, OTEP, which ensures first responders are well trained and can renew their certifications every three years with the Washington State Department of Health. The total amount of levied dollars, minus 11.5% for the operations of the EMS Office, is divided amongst the departments within the county using a three-part matrix (see attached spreadsheet). The three components are We will provide all-risk emergency and non-emergency services to our community We are committed to serving with courage and compassion as stewards of public trust We shall leave a positive and genuine impact on all who call upon us 3 population, assessed valuation, and total number of EMS calls per jurisdictional boundary. The emergency medical calls that are counted for the purposes of the levy are based on nine nature codes that were agreed upon by all Fire Chiefs of Yakima County. These call types are defined by using an approved emergency medical dispatch guide. The following are the nine call types that are counted: EMR-Red, EMR-Lift Assist, EMR-Yellow, EMR-Alarm Med, EMR-Medic, Fire Rescue, Fire-EWR (water rescue), MVA w/ injury and MVA, unknown injury. 1) How is the revenue received by the City of Yakima used? It is estimated the City of Yakima will receive 1.6 million dollars of EMS Levy funds in 2022. The revenue currently funds the salaries and benefits of eight and a half (8 %) full-time employees, emergency medical supplies and small tools as well as contributes towards the replacement of emergency vehicles. 2) Can we ask for more or are we renewing at the same amount? The EMS Administration Board is proposing to renew at the same amount $0.25 per $1,000 AV. The maximum EMS Levy rate is $0.50 per $1,000 AV. This is a County-wide EMS Levy and therefore any eligible taxing district within the county may impose its own separate EMS levy, as long as the combined rate does not exceed the $0.50 per $1,000 AV maximum. 3) What are EMS levy term lengths? EMS levies can be for terms of 6-year, 10-year, or permanent terms. The Yakima County EMS levy has been approved previously for both six- and ten-year terms since its origin: a) 1991- 1996 b) 1997-2002 c) 2003-2013 d) 2014-2023 4) EMS levies, like all regular levies, are subject to the 1% annual levy lid limit. Meaning, the total revenue generated by the EMS levy may not increase by more than 1% per year, plus add-ons for new construction, new annexations, etc. In closing, the implementation of this EMS levy has helped departments cover the costs of providing EMS services to the victims of sudden illness and injury throughout Yakima County. They have been able to increase staffing levels and purchase the most up-to-date EMS equipment and supplies necessary to provide a high level of service to the residents. Staff recommends approving a resolution authorizing the Board of County Commissioners to place this on the next general election ballot. The Yakima County Department of EMS provides this document for budgetary purposes. True figures will be determined during the collection year, and by the Yakima County Assessor's office. 2022 ESTIMATED EMS LEVY DISTRIBUTION 2022 % Fire Department Assessed % Dollar Total % Dollar 2020 % Dollar TOTAL BY TOTAL or District Value April 2021. Amount Population Amount EMS Runs Amount FORMULA LEVY Grandview Fire Dept. 625,196,614 2.89% $ 38,093.01 10,897 4.45% $ 58,642.54 573 2.95% $ 38,809.06 $135,545 3.04% Granger Fire Dept. 134,664,360 0.62% $ 8,205.05 3,246 1.33% $ 17,468.45 132 0.68% $ 8,940.31 $34,614 0.78% Mabton Fire Dept. 86,250,303 0.40% $ 5,255.20 2,364 0.97% $ 12,721.94 83 0.43% $ 5,621.56 $23,599 0.53% Selah Fire Dept. 857,834,436 3.97% $ 52,267.55 7,131 2.92% $ 38,375.69 526 2.71% $ 35,625.76 $126,269 2.83% Sunnyside Fire Dept. 986,206,853 4.56% $ 60,089.24 15,936 6.51% $ 85,760.07 1,276 6.57% $ 86,422.96 $232,272 5.20% Toppenish Fire Dept. 360,687,496 1.67% $ 21,976.56 8,966 3.67% $ 48,250.80 631 3.25% $ 42,737.37 $112,965 2.53% Union Gap Fire Dept. 893,441,954 4.14% $ 54,437.11 6,051 2.47% $ 32,563.64 665 3.42% $ 45,040.18 $132,041 2.96% Wapato Fire Dept. 215,275,785 1.00% $ 13,116.68 4,996 2.04% $ 26,886.13 476 2.45% $ 32,239.29 $72,242 1.62% Yakima Fire Dept. 7,936,363,031 36.73% $ 483,559.82 91,285 37.32% $ 491,253.02 9,469 48.72% $ 641,331.50 $1,616,144 36.19% Zillah Fire Dept. 272,394,277 1.26% $ 16,596.89 2,956 1.21% $ 15,907.80 181 0.93% $ 12,259.06 $44,764 1.00% Fire District#1 506,234,701 2.34% $ 30,844.70 1,986 0.81% $ 10,687.72 234 1.20% $ 15,848.72 $57,381 1.28% Fire District#2 1,330,845,238 6.16% $ 81,087.93 11,126 4.55% $ 59,874.91 705 3.63% $ 47,749.36 $188,712 4.23% Fire District#3 221,566,323 1.03% $ 13,499.96 2,821 1.15% $ 15,181.30 272 1.40% $ 18,422.45 $47,104 1.05% Fire District#4 1,998,554,394 9.25% $ 121,771.22 16,246 6.64% $ 87,428.35 1067 5.49% $ 72,267.47 $281,467 6.30% Fire District#5 2,899,708,353 13.42% $ 176,678.21 37,610 15.38% $ 202,399.36 2,001 10.30% $ 135,526.91 $514,604 11.52% Fire District#6 453,710,002 2.10% $ 27,644.39 3,959 1.62% $ 21,305.48 287 1.48% $ 19,438.39 $68,388 1.53% Fire District#9 171,656,962 0.79% $ 10,459.00 1,252 0.51% $ 6,737.68 103 0.53% $ 6,976.15 $24,173 0.54% Fire District#11 44,373,744 0.21% $ 2,703.68 664 0.27% $ 3,573.34 35 0.18% $ 2,370.54 $8,648 0.19% Fire District#12 1,447,354,558 6.70% $ 88,186.81 14,155 5.79% $ 76,175.56 598 3.08% $ 40,502.30 $204,865 4.59% Fire District#14 162,799,667 0.75% $ 9,919.33 966 0.39% $ 5,198.56 122 0.63% $ 8,263.01 $23,381 0.52% 0.00% FD#3(OOD) 0 0.00% $ - 0 0.00% $ - 0 0.00% $ - $0 0.00% 0.00% EMS Office $516,560 11.57% 0.00% Out of District Funding $0 0.00% Evergreen Healthcare $ - 0.00% GRAND TOTALS: 21,605,119,051 100.00% $ 1,316,392.33 244,613 100.00% $ 1,316,392.33 19,436 100.00% $ 1,316,392.33 $4,465,737 100.00% (TOTAL LEVY: $4,465,737.00 Out of District Fund $ - To Department of EMS: $ 516,560.00 Evergreen Healthcare $ - IAMOUNTREMAINING: $ 3,949,177.00 08/30/2021