Auburn council backs placing countywide Medic 1 levy on November ballot

The Auburn City Council voted Monday to adopt a resolution supporting placement of a countywide ballot measure to fund Medic 1 emergency medical services for the period Jan. 1, 2026, through Dec. 31, 2031.

Michelle Plourde, EMS division director for Public Health—Seattle & King County, and representatives of Valley Regional Fire Authority presented the task force recommendation to council, describing the regional planning process, program priorities and the finance committee’s risk analysis. Plourde told the council the region responded to “over 255,000 calls” in 2024 and that the Medic 1 system’s cardiac arrest survival rate is a regional quality measure.

Council members were presented with the task force’s core proposal: a six‑year levy at a rate the advisory committee recommended as 25 cents per $1,000 of assessed value, with an estimated ballot cost shown as roughly $211 for an average $844,000 King County home and a proposed general election date of November 2025. The package presented to cities outside Seattle included program funding for Advanced Life Support (ALS), Basic Life Support (BLS), regional services and strategic initiatives; the advisory materials showed a multi‑year financial plan that relies on a combination of reserves carried forward and levy revenues.

Plourde said the advisory process was regional and included elected representatives from cities over 50,000, Sound Cities Association appointees, fire commissioners and King County council members. She told council the task force placed programmatic emphasis on maintaining ALS allocations with an inflation escalator (CPI‑W plus 1), increasing BLS funding (including an addition of $5,000,000 in year one that partly funds mobile integrated health programs), and expanding training and telephone triage/referral programs. She described the levy as the sole dedicated funding source for paramedic (ALS) services in the county outside Seattle.

Financial highlights presented to Auburn included a carryforward of $64,400,000 in reserves from the current levy period; the task force’s finance work estimated that a 25¢ rate would raise about $1.47 billion during the levy period and produce total revenues the materials listed at approximately $1.55 billion. The finance subgroup had run a risk analysis showing a cumulative risk range and judged the recommended reserve level and levy rate to fall near the middle of that range; Plourde also said the county will monitor the March and July forecasts and could adjust plans if economic conditions shift.

Councilmember Baldwin urged support, framing the personal cost for homeowners and saying it was “about $5 a week or, you know, what you might pay for a cup of coffee” to preserve the regional emergency system. After a brief check from the mayor about whether anyone wished to speak in opposition (no one did), the council voted to approve resolution 58 12, the city’s action supporting placement of the countywide Medic 1 levy on the ballot.

Votes at a glance

- Resolution 58 12 — Support placement of countywide Medic 1 levy for Jan. 1, 2026–Dec. 31, 2031 (mover: Councilmember Baldwin; second: Councilmember Amer). Outcome: approved by voice vote. Individual member roll‑call votes were not recorded on the transcript. - Resolution 58 19 — Designate city representatives to the Metropolitan Water Pollution Abatement Advisory Committee (mover: Councilmember Tracy Taylor; second: Deputy Mayor Riggs). Outcome: approved by voice vote. - Resolution 58 22 — Accept supplemental WSDOT/FHWA grant funds for three roadway projects (mover: Councilmember Tracy Taylor; second: Councilmember Amer). Outcome: approved by voice vote. - Resolution 58 23 — Approve lodging tax grant disbursements to three recipients (mover: Councilmember Tracy Taylor; second: Councilmember Amer). Outcome: approved by voice vote. - Resolution 58 24 — Authorize purchase and sale agreement for property at 105 First Street NE for replacement parking (mover: Councilmember Tracy Taylor; second: Councilmember Baldwin). Outcome: approved by voice vote.

Background and context

Plourde said the Medic 1 advisory process ran about eight months and included subcommittees on ALS, BLS, regional services/strategic initiatives and finance. The materials presented to Auburn emphasized continuity of paramedic (ALS) services, a modest program placeholder for population growth, additional BLS funding and continued support for regional training, data and community programs (including the ECHO community partnership and data systems improvements). The task force’s finance work considered assessed value volatility, new construction, the Seattle split, inflation and the reserve carryforward from the current levy when modeling revenue and expenditure scenarios.

The council’s resolution cites the statutory review requirement: the city’s action follows the process outlined in state law (RCW 84.52.069), which requires review by cities with populations over 50,000 when a countywide EMS levy is planned. The presentation materials recommended a six‑year levy length and listed the November 2025 general election as the proposed ballot date.

What the council decided and next steps

By adopting resolution 58 12, Auburn has formally registered support for placing the advisory task force’s recommended Medic 1 levy question before county voters. The council record shows no formal local opposition offered at the meeting; the mayor offered an opportunity for public comment in the chamber specifically opposing the city’s support and none was taken. The county will proceed with its election planning and the finance forecasts noted by Plourde will be updated in July; the county finance office and the EMS advisory task force materials remain the sources for final levy language, rate calculations and ballot timing.