Shoreline council hears King County plan for a $0.25-per-$1,000 Medic 1 levy to fund regional EMS

The Shoreline City Council on Monday heard a staff presentation from Public Health — Seattle & King County outlining a proposed countywide Medic 1 emergency medical services (EMS) levy that would fund paramedics, basic life-support services and regional programs from 2026 through 2031.

Michelle Plourde, EMS Division director for Public Health — Seattle & King County, told the council the package the EMS advisory task force recommended would raise planning revenues of about $1.5 billion over six years at a proposed levy rate of $0.25 per $1,000 of assessed value and include both programmatic funding and reserves. She said staff will return to Shoreline with a proposed city resolution asking the council to consider placing the countywide ballot measure on the November 2025 general-election ballot.

Why it matters: the Medic 1 levy funds the regional paramedic system that responds to 911 medical calls across King County; the levy supports paramedic (ALS) units, basic life-support (BLS) funding for fire departments, regional services such as medical direction and data systems, and strategic initiatives including mobile integrated health (MIH) and training.

Plourde told the council Medic 1 serves more than 2.3 million people and responded to over 255,000 calls in 2024. “In our community, we are 2 to 3 times more likely to survive from cardiac arrest compared to other cities,” she said, citing the system’s tracked cardiac arrest survival rates. The advisory task force recommended continuing an allocation model for ALS funding, adding targeted BLS increases, and maintaining reserves to mitigate financial risks.

Key details from the presentation: the task force estimated programmatic needs outside Seattle at about $919 million and, including Seattle, a total expenditure plan of about $1.4 billion. Combined with carryforward reserves and projected revenues, staff presented a planning target of roughly $1.5 billion over six years. The task force recommended a funding package that would translate to an estimated $212 annual cost to a homeowner with an $850,000 home, Plourde said.

The package includes a proposed year-one increase in BLS funding of about $5 million (split between base allocations and MIH support), continued funding for regional services and initiatives, and an emphasis on mental wellness and workforce supports for emergency responders. Shoreline-specific estimates shown in the presentation listed approximately $2.1 million in BLS funding for 2025 (including about $338,000 for MIH) and roughly $11.44 million for ALS funding for Shoreline’s three paramedic units in 2025.

Council discussion focused on scope, cost containment and timing. Councilmember Scully, who served on the task force’s ALS subcommittee, said the recommendations aim “to maintain an excellent system without trying to gold plate it or add services we don't need.” Councilmember Adamaso and Councilmember Robertson asked about assessed-value sensitivity and whether the 25-cent rate would be sufficient if assessed values fell; staff said the financial plan includes reserves and a risk analysis that examined variations in assessed value, new construction, and inflation. Plourde noted a recommended reserve cushion of about $47 million to reduce exposure to downside scenarios.

Process and next steps: Plourde said the levy package requires approval by the King County Council and that staff will bring a proposed city resolution for Shoreline to consider formally recommending that the county place the measure on the November 2025 ballot. The presentation noted a procedural requirement that a substantial share of cities (described by staff as a supermajority of jurisdictions above a population threshold) be engaged in the recommendation process; staff are pursuing city approvals before the summer deadlines to meet county procedural needs.

No formal council vote occurred Monday; the item was for discussion and staff requested direction and the opportunity to return with a resolution for council consideration in April or at a later meeting.

Looking ahead: if Shoreline and other jurisdictions formally support placing the measure on the ballot, voters will decide the levy in November 2025. The levy plan includes funding for paramedic staffing, data and quality systems, mental-health supports for responders and a growing MIH program that Mayor and council members described as an important local service.