Cascade Medical leaders brief council on April EMS levy renewal; district covers wide rural service area

Cascade Medical Center officials briefed the Leavenworth City Council on March 11 about an upcoming renewal levy for emergency medical services that will appear on the April ballot.

Levy details: The levy is a renewal (not a new tax) at $0.50 per $100,000 of assessed value and would continue local funding for ambulance readiness and the hospital’s emergency department. Cascade officials presented an example: a property with a $500,000 assessed value would pay roughly $250 per year (about $21 per month) under the renewal schedule, the presenters said.

Service area and impact: Cascade Medical officials explained their service district covers roughly 1,200 square miles—including mountain passes, Wenatchee Lake, Icicle Valley and backcountry areas—and that outside of local ambulance coverage response times from larger regional providers would be 30–60 minutes or longer in some areas. The hospital’s emergency department handled about 4,500 visits in 2024, presenters said, and Cascade has recently earned a Level 3 stroke-center certification and provides training and ambulance support to local fire districts.

Why it matters: Presenters said levy funding contributes to the region’s “cost of readiness,” enabling 24/7 ambulance staffing and emergency-department readiness. Without the levy, they warned, maintaining current emergency services and response times would be difficult. The levy renewal election is scheduled for April 22.

Council reaction and next steps: Councilmembers thanked hospital leaders and encouraged constituents to vote. Cascade officials offered to answer questions and provide additional materials on the levy; no council vote was required for a levy presentation.

Key quote: “The cost of readiness is to have those 24/7 services available whenever you need them,” said Brian Post, Cascade Medical EMS director.