RSSEMS levy nears Feb. 3 ballot date
Yakima Herald-Republic
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The Yakima City Council is expected tonight to approve a special election date of Feb. 3 that could double the existing EMS levy.
Taxpayers in the city and across Yakima County already pay the Emergency Medical Services levy, which costs homeowners 25 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value.
City officials want to double the tax to 50 cents. The increase would raise an estimated $1.3 million a year that would pay for 12 additional firefighters and a dispatcher.
Firefighters would also train as full-fledged paramedics. Currently they are trained only as basic EMTs.
The Yakima Fire Department says it needs more firefighters to offset slowing response times caused by a 62 percent increase in call volume over the past 10 years.
The City Council last month voted 5-2 to make the levy permanent if voters approve it, rejecting a sunset clause or expiration date as impractical.
Although the council has previously signaled its support for the levy, it has yet to specifically set a date for a special election.
The proposed increase affects Yakima property owners only and would not increase the existing county levy.
Also on tonight’s agenda, the council will hold a hearing on Initiative 985 and set a date of Oct. 21 for a quasi-judicial appeal on the proposed Rosedell Manor B&B.
Sponsored by Tim Eyman, I-985 would set aside 15 percent of sales taxes on new and used cars as well as red-light camera revenue to reduce traffic congestion.
If passed, the initiative would require the synchronization of traffic lights as well as improved roadside assistance and loosened restrictions on carpool lanes.
Eyman plans to personally make a presentation to the council.
It will be his first visit to the council since Dec. 4, when he was ejected by Mayor Dave Edler in the midst of a rant on the blogging scandal that marred the Ron Bonlender-Rick Ensey council contest.
Also on hand will be former state Transportation Secretary Doug MacDonald, leader of a I-985 counterinsurgency that accuses Eyman of trying to micromanage traffic operations.
• Chris Bristol can be reached at 577-7748 or cbristol@yakimaherald.com.
WHO: Yakima City Council
WHAT: EMS levy, federal Renewal Community tax credits, Initiative 985 hearing
WHERE: Yakima City Hall, 129 N. Second St.
WHEN: 6 p.m. (I-985 hearing at 7 p.m.)
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