Ballots must be returned by 8 p.m. on Election Day
Camano Island voters will decide in the Aug. 5 primary election whether to renew Camano Island Fire & Rescue’s emergency medical services (EMS) levy. If approved, the measure would restore the EMS levy rate to $0.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value—the same rate previously approved by voters in 2021.
Ballots have been mailed and must be returned by 8 p.m. on Tuesday, August 5. Voters can return their ballots by mail (postmarked by Election Day) or place them in the ballot drop box located at the Island County Camano Annex building, 121 NE Camano Drive.
EMS accounts for nearly 70% of all calls to the district. Funding from the EMS levy supports rapid emergency response, skilled medical personnel, and specialized life-saving equipment.
“We take pride in providing professional, compassionate care on every call,” said Fire Chief Jason Allen. “This levy helps us sustain that standard as our call volume—and the cost of doing business—continues to rise.”
The current EMS levy has dropped to $0.37 due to state-imposed limits on annual revenue increases. The proposed renewal would restore it to the original $0.50 rate, helping to maintain service levels by funding additional emergency personnel, replacing aging ambulances, and supporting the purchase of medical supplies and equipment such as cardiac monitors and defibrillators.
For a property with a median assessed value of $650,000, the proposal would result in an estimated increase of $7.04 per month, or $84.50 per year.
For more information, visit www.camanofire.com/news/ems-levy or contact Fire Chief Jason Allen at jallen@camanofire.com or 360-387-1512.