Editor,
As the EMS medical director and as a resident of Clark County, I urge our community to support the critical fire and EMS measures on the upcoming ballot. Our emergency services are essential, and these measures are vital for maintaining them.
Across Clark County, fire departments have experienced a 25% increase in call volume over the last five years. For our fire departments, 70% of calls are for emergency medical services. Rising costs and limited budget increases strain our ability to meet our community’s requests for service. This increase in demand comes amid a national shortage of emergency medical technicians and paramedics.
The levies for Clark Cowlitz Fire Rescue, Fire District 3, Fire District 6, East County Fire Rescue and North Country EMS are not new taxes; they restore funding to the level of $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed value, which voters had previously approved.
The vote is necessary because state law limits the increase in the amount collected to 1% per year. These levies are necessary to meet the growing demand and costs. Clark County EMS has pursued multiple strategies to increase cost-efficiency, including a nurse navigation line for patients who don’t immediately need the emergency department and a basic life support ambulance to provide timely, appropriate care to lower-acuity patients at a lower cost. We will continue to look for efficiencies throughout our operations.
Supporting these levies is an investment in our communities’ continued safety and wellbeing. It ensures our emergency responders are well equipped and adequately staffed to protect lives and property effectively.
I encourage all residents to vote yes on these levies to maintain the high standards of emergency care that Clark County deserves.
Dr. Marlow Macht, MD, MPH
Medical Program Director
Clark County EMS