CAMANO: Community invited to July Q&A sessions on EMS levy renewal
The Camano Island Fire & Rescue District posted this item in the news section of their website on June 30, 2025.
Camano Island Fire & Rescue will ask voters to consider renewing its emergency medical services (EMS) levy during the Aug. 5 primary election. The measure would restore the levy rate to $0.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value—the same amount approved by voters in 2021—and provide essential funding for emergency personnel, a new ambulance, and critical medical equipment and supplies.
To help residents learn more, the district will host two public Q&A sessions in July with Chief Jason Allen:
- Wednesday, July 16, 6:30-7:30 p.m. at the Mabana Station (3651 South Camano Dr.)
- Wednesday, July 23, 6:30-7:30 p.m. at the Terry’s Corner Station (525 E. North Camano Dr.)
EMS accounts for 68% of all calls to the Camano Fire. As demand increases, so do the costs for staffing, vehicles, and medical equipment—all of which have seen steep increases since 2020.
Although the EMS levy was set at $0.50 when approved in 2021, it has decreased to $0.37 due to the state’s 1% cap on annual property tax revenue growth. This reduced rate no longer keeps pace with the rising costs of providing service.
Renewing the levy would allow the district to hire additional personnel to improve response times, replace aging emergency vehicles, and invest in life-saving tools such as cardiac monitors, defibrillators, and automated CPR machines.
“Providing fast, reliable medical care when it matters most is our top priority,” Chief Allen said. “Renewing this levy means we can continue delivering the high-level EMS service our community depends on.”
If approved, the levy would cost the owner of a property assessed at $650,000 an additional $7.04 more per month—or $84.50 annually.
For more information, visit www.camanofire.com/news/ems-levy or contact Fire Chief Jason Allen at jallen@camanofire.com or 360-387-1512.
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 |
