On Tuesday, Oct. 29, at approximately 5:15 p.m., the Tacoma City Council will conduct a public hearing on the proposed Emergency Medical Services tax levy for 2025 and the proposed Ad Valorem tax levy for 2025.
The city council adopted Resolution No. 41180 concerning restoration of the city’s emergency medical services property tax levy. This measure would continue to fund emergency medical services and care (EMS) by restoring the EMS levy to $0.50 per $1,000 of assessed value for collection in 2024; authorizing an annual increase of up to 6 percent annually to not exceed the $0.50 rate for 2025-2029; and authorizing use of the 2029 levy amount as the base for computing levies in future years. Qualifying seniors, veterans, and others would be exempt.
Voters last approved an EMS levy at $0.50 per $1,000 in 2006 to fund this life saving program. Since then, the rate has dropped to $0.28 per $1,000. Over time, levy rates may fall as property values rise. This caps a fire department to the same amount of revenue per year plus a state limit of a 1 percent increase. The amount of money we receive in an EMS levy does not increase by the same percentage as property value increases.
The EMS levy is not a new tax. Its renewal would allow the city to hire additional firefighters to add three EMS units to reduce response times and increase capacity citywide, and cover ambulance transport costs. Advanced Life Support (ALS) transport costs are already covered. Renewing the EMS levy lid lift would also fund Basic Life Support (BLS) transport costs at a savings of almost $1,000 per resident transport.
The average property owner (defined at $493,000) would pay an additional $9.04 per month in 2024 compared to 2023. The total annual cost for the same property is $246.50 per year for continued 24-hour emergency medical service.
The meeting will be conducted in a hybrid format that includes an in-person component and a remote option. To attend in person, the meeting will be held in the Council Chambers, on the first floor of the Tacoma Municipal Building, located at 747 Market Street. The meeting can be attended remotely by dialing (253) 215-8782 or through Zoom at zoom.us/j/84834233126 and entering the meeting ID 848 3423 3126, and passcode 349099 when prompted. Council meetings are also available live on TV Tacoma and Facebook.
Oral comments will be taken during the city council meeting. Those wishing to submit written comments may do so by email to the City Clerk’s Office at cityclerk@cityoftacoma.org or by mail at 733 Market St., Room 11, Tacoma, WA 98402, by 5 p.m., on Monday, Oct. 28. Written comments will be compiled, forwarded to the city council, and posted on the city’s webpage at cityoftacoma.org/writtencomments.
Resolution No. 41537, which set the public hearing date, can be viewed in its entirety on the city’s website at cityoftacoma.org/recentlegis by clicking on the link for the Oct. 15 meeting, or by requesting a copy from the City Clerk’s Office at cityclerk@cityoftacoma.org or (253) 591-5505.
For more information, contact Katie Johnston, Budget Officer, at (253) 591-5063 or kjohnson2@cityoftacoma.org.
