Vote Yes For EMS
Renew the Walla Walla County EMS Levy
What is the EMS Levy?
The EMS Levy is a funding mechanism for the EMS Agencies in Walla Walla County. The Revised Code of Washington in Chapter 84.52.069 allows counties to place a six year levy for up to 50 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation. These funds are designated for the use of pre-hospital Emergency Medical Services.
Continuation Levy
Special Election: February 11, 2020
The Walla Walla County Emergency Medical Services Levy will be on the February 2020 Special Election ballot. Voters will have the opportunity to renew the EMS Levy that has been in place since 1990. The renewal of an existing levy is known as a Continuation Levy. Every 6 years the EMS Levy must be renewed by a vote of the people.
Why do we need an EMS Levy in Walla Walla County?
Money from the levy is only used to fund EMS. The EMS Levy provides funding that enables the following:
Continuing education of EMS providers
Providing equipment such as ambulances, defibrillators,
medication, and other medical supplies
Allows fire districts to fund EMS without jeopardizing vital fire
protection dollars
Ensures you receive quality pre-hospital care and transport throughout the County.
Offset the costs of providing quality EMS care.
Helps all EMS providers maintain a constant state of readiness.
Which agencies are supported by the County EMS Levy?
Walla Walla Fire Department
College Place Fire Department
Fire District 1 (Clyde)
Fire District 2 (Waitsburg)
Fire District 3 (Eureka)
Fire District 4 (Walla Walla)
Fire District 5 (Burbank)
Fire District 6 (Touchet)
Fire District 7 (Prescott)
Fire District 8 (Dixie)
History of EMS Levy
The Walla Walla County EMS Levy was first voted on by the residents of Walla Walla County on February 12th, 1990. The EMS Levy was initially setup as a 6-Year Levy. This means every 6 years the levy requires another vote of the people to renew or continue the levy.
Checks & Balances and Oversight
The Walla Walla County Commissioners are the governing body that provides oversight of the Walla Walla County EMS Levy. In 2019 the Commissioners reviewed the EMS Levy distribution model and voted to continue to use the same formula that has been used since its inception.
EMS Levy Distribution Formula
The EMS Levy is distributed to all the EMS Agencies in Walla Walla County. Funding is allocated using a 3 part formula for each agency. The formula is as follows: 1/3 Assessed Property Value, 1/3 Population, and 1/3 EMS Responses.
How much am I paying for the EMS Levy?
The EMS Levy rate will not change and will remain at $0.50 per $1,000 assessed property value. The median home value in Walla Walla County is $276,320. A home owner with a median home value would invest about $138.16 towards the EMS Levy.
How busy is EMS in Walla Walla County?
The demand for Emergency Medical Services in Walla Walla County continues to rise year after year. The graph to the right shows how much the EMS Calls for Service have increased since the last EMS Levy vote 6 years ago.
Why am I getting an Ambulance bill?
I thought the EMS Levy covered ambulance transports.
Ambulance bills are covered primarily by insurance entities, such as Medicare, Medicaid or private insurance. The majority of patient transports fall into the age group of Medicare/Medicaid coverage. These insurance entities only partially cover the cost of providing excellent pre-hospital care. Our billing rates are based on what it costs to actually provide the care required per protocols. The EMS levy is in place to help make up the difference between our billing rate and what we can actually collect from insurances in order to continue to provide quality pre-hospital care.
Important Links
Walla Walla County Fire District 4 operates a BLS & ALS Ambulance Service.
Rules & Regulations regarding the billing of Medicare & Medicaid for treatment and/or transport services.
Walla Walla County Fire District 5 operates a BLS & ALS Ambulance Service.
Schedule of Fees set by the City of Walla Walla for Ambulance Services
Walla Walla City/County Live Radio Traffic
Listen in on live radio traffic from EMS Agencies in Walla Walla County
Show Your Support for Walla Walla County EMS
Please show your support for Walla Walla County EMS by publicly endorsing the EMS Levy and pledging to Vote Yes For EMS.