King County plans 25¢ levy to fund emergency services over six years

The Kirkland City Council convened on April 15, 2025, to discuss critical updates regarding the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) levy, which is set to expire at the end of the year. The meeting focused on the current levy structure, funding allocations, and strategic planning for the next levy period.

The current EMS levy is a six-year initiative that began with a starting rate of 26.5 cents per $1,000 assessed value (AV). Due to rising AVs, the current levy rate has decreased to 22.1 cents, with an anticipated total revenue generation of approximately $1.115 billion over the six years. A significant portion of this funding, approximately $664 million, will support Advanced Life Support (ALS) services, which are crucial for paramedic operations.

The council highlighted a longstanding agreement with the City of Seattle, ensuring that levy funds raised within its limits are allocated back to the city for its EMS programs. In contrast, funds collected outside Seattle are distributed among King County partners based on established methodologies.

Council member Sweet represented Kirkland on the EMS advisory task force, which includes various elected officials and fire commissioners. This task force has been instrumental in developing the next strategic plan and levy, focusing on programmatic needs and financial planning.

Key recommendations from the task force included maintaining ALS funding, increasing Basic Life Support (BLS) funding by $5 million in the first year, and enhancing regional services to meet growing community needs. The recommendations also emphasized the importance of addressing the region's increasing population diversity, with a quarter of residents speaking a language other than English at home.

The financial plan proposed by the task force anticipates total expenditures of $1.5 billion over the next six years, supported by a 25-cent levy rate. This plan includes provisions for reserves to manage potential economic fluctuations, with a risk analysis identifying possible revenue impacts due to changes in AV and inflation.

In summary, the Kirkland City Council's meeting underscored the importance of the EMS levy in sustaining vital emergency services while addressing the evolving needs of the community. The council is poised to move forward with a comprehensive financial plan aimed at ensuring effective and equitable emergency medical care across the region.