The
East County Paramedic Service (ECPS) is a regional ambulance transport
service in Clark County, Washington, formed by the cooperative
partnerships of the voters living within the Cities of Camas and
Washougal, a portion of the City of Vancouver, and the Clark County
communities of Fern Prairie, Mt. Livingston, Sunnyside, Mt, Norway, and
Orchard Hills.
The ECPS was established in 1979 when voters first
approved a funding measure to support a regional paramedic
service. The Camas Fire Department (CFD) had established a
decades-long history of providing Basic Life Support (BLS) ambulance
service to the area, and continues to perform this mission serving the
Cities of Camas and Washougal, The East County Fire & Rescue service
area, and portions of the City of Vancouver and Clark County Fire
District #5 service area.
The
East County Paramedic Service is funded by an EMS (Emergency Medical
Services) Levy process that requires periodic renewal by the areas
served. EMS Levy renewal is required at least every six years
to continue the funding required to provide this service. When it
appears on your ballot, it is important to realize that it is not a
new tax, but a continuation of an existing voter-approved tax that
is necessary to continue providing your paramedic ambulance service.
Currently,
the EMS Levy for most of the ECPS area is 35¢ per $1,000 of a
property's valuation, which is equal to just $105 per year if you own a
$300,000 home. Washougal voters approved a 60¢ per $1,000
measure, and the extra 25¢ is used by Washougal to support additional
emergency service needs outside of the ECPS.
Clark County collects EMS Levy funds through annual
property taxes, and then passes those resources to
the Camas Fire Department as administrator of the ECPS. The law requires
that EMS Levy funds be accounted for independently of the Camas Fire
Department's normal operating budget, and can only be used for expenses
directly related to the ECPS.
The
Camas Fire Department uses the EMS Levy funds to hire and train
firefighter/paramedics, to purchase and maintain a fleet of four
ambulances, to provide EMS training to all firefighters and first
responders serving in the other fire districts with the ECPS area, and
to provide and replenish all EMS equipment and consumables for the other
fire districts with the ECPS area.
From time to time, when the EMS Levy renewal is
required, we hope you will remember the times that your firefighters,
first responders, and paramedics promptly came to the aid of you, your
family or your friends and loved ones, a service that would not be
possible without the continued cooperative support of the East Clark
County region's voters.
Ensure the reliable
continuation of our community-based ambulance service.
Vote
YES on EMS
The lives of your family,
friends and neighbors in East County depend on it.
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