EMS Levy Information

August 4, 2026: Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Levy Lid Lift

On August 4, 2026, Snohomish Regional Fire & Rescue is asking our community to consider an EMS levy lid lift. If approved, this measure would restore the district's EMS levy to the previous voter-approved rate of $0.50 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value.

This funding would help our EMS services remain intact to ensure that residents across the district can rely on our response time, personnel and equipment when they call 911.

What Does the Levy Fund?

The August 4 EMS levy is the primary funding source for our emergency medical services. It would continue funding for the paramedics and EMTs who respond to 911 calls, the ambulances they drive, the equipment they use, and the training that keeps them ready.

This levy provides funding for:

• Rapid response to 911 calls: As of May 2026, SRFR responds to an average of 1252 emergency calls each month with an average total response time of 8:51 (8 minutes 51 seconds).
• Reliable and functional ambulances, fire trucks and medical equipment: Maintaining dependable vehicles and replacing those that are ready to be retired. SRFR has frontline EMS ambulances with up to164,000 miles and reserve units with 176,000 miles. The levy would provide funding to replace vehicles and equipment with the highest need.
• Services that grow with our community: Since the last EMS levy was approved in 2017, the SRFR service area has grown at a similar 10% pace to the whole of Snohomish County. This population increase places additional demands on limited resources. The levy would ensure SRFR can maintain Paramedic training and staffing to keep up with the growing community needs.
• Trained firefighters and paramedics: All 217 firefighters are EMS-trained. When a crew responds to your call, they're prepared to provide emergency medical care, regardless of what type of emergency it is.

We are funded through local property taxes. We know what our community needs and this levy keeps those decisions in our hands — not the state or federal government.

What Will it Cost?

Voter approval would restore the EMS levy funding to $0.50 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value from the current $0.26 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value.

A property with an assessed value of $750,000 would pay an increase of about $15 per month, or $180 per year.

To calculate your estimated annual EMS levy based on assessed property value:

Assessed Property Value divided by 1,000

750,000 ÷ 1,000 = 750

Multiply by the rate

750 X $0.50 = $375 per year.

Assessed value can be different from market or sale value which is provided by the county.

Why Did the Levy Rate Drop?

Levy rates fall as property values rise. SRFR is limited to a 1% revenue adjustment each year, no matter how our community has grown. The last EMS levy approval was in 2017. Due to increased cost of providing service and increased demand for services, SRFR must request voter approval to restore the levy rate to $0.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value.

How Are Emergency Services Funded?

Our daily operations are funded through local property taxes. Our district relies on two levies to fund the services that support our community.

• Emergency Medical Services levy: The EMS levy provides funding for our emergency response services including personnel, equipment and training. The August 4th EMS Levy Lid Lift will restore funding levies previously approved by our community in 2017. This measure allows for an annual adjustment to keep pace with inflation.
• Fire levy: The last fire levy, approved by our community in 2023, provided funding to rebuild Station 81 in Lake Stevens and relocate Station 32 in Monroe to allow for quicker response times in the area. It also funded additional personnel and replaced lost funding due to changes in how the federal government reimbursed fire districts for Medicaid patients.

We are Accountable to Our Residents.

We operate under a balanced budget and have passed all independent audits by the state. In March 2023, we became the only fire agency in Snohomish County and just one of nine in the state to become an accredited fire agency through the Commission on Fire Accreditation International. This means we provide a higher level of emergency services while operating under the highest level of fiscal responsibility and accountability. This achievement was possible thanks to the ongoing support of our community

Presentation Available

Fire Chief Brian Park welcomes the opportunity to present to local groups and answer questions about the emergency and prevention services we provide here at SRFR. If you'd like to schedule a presentation, please contact Fire Chief Park at (360) 794-7666 or email .