CAMANO: CIFR asking voters to renew EMS levy
Libby Williams reports from Camano Fire levy Q&A session of Wed., July 16, 2025 for the Stanwood Camano News. Read the whole story.
Camano Island Fire and Rescue will ask voters to renew its EMS levy in the Aug. 5 primary election.
The levy was approved at 50 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value in 2021 and has since fallen to 37 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value.
During a Q&A event on Wednesday, July 16, Chief Jason Allen spoke with attendees in an attempt to help people better understand the levy and its importance to Camano Fire’s operations.
The EMS levy is a six-year levy and expires at the end of 2026.
They Said It
“Right now, that 37 cents is going to go one more year through 2026, and then in 2027 it goes to zero if we don’t renew,” Allen said.
Allen gave the example that the owner of a $650,000 home would pay an additional $7.04 per month or $84.50 per year.
“If I lose the EMS levy, we have significant changes,” Allen said.
Allen said about 21% of the Camano Fire’s budget comes from its EMS levy, and about 70% is from its fire levy.
“If you live on the island, we don’t bill you beyond what your insurance collects,” he said.
Allen said he doesn’t recall an EMS levy not passing, though once a fire levy failed, but passed the following year with improved communication with residents.
Allen said call volumes are increasing, and EMS accounts for 68% of all emergency calls received.
On the Ballot in August 2025
| FIRE DISTRICT NO. 1 (CAMANO ISLAND FIRE AND RESCUE DISTRICT) |
|---|
| Proposition No. 1, Emergency Medical Services Property Tax Levy – six year levy (2025-2030) |
On the Ballot in November 2025
| FIRE DISTRICT NO. 1 (CAMANO ISLAND FIRE AND RESCUE DISTRICT) |
|---|
| Commissioner, Position 2, regular six-year term Jerry Evans, the incumbent |
| Commissioner, Position 3, unexpired two-year term Paul V. Williams Tammy Lancieri Paul Foster, who was appointed to this seat, filed to run for Position 4. |
| Commissioner, Position 4, regular six-year term Paul Foster Paul Williams, the incumbent, filed to run for Position 3 |
| Commissioner, Position 5, unexpired two-year term Maria Carlstrom, the incumbent |
