Spokane7
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April 27, 2010 in City
Ballots due today on EMS levy extension
The Spokesman-Review
Tags:ballotsElectionemergency medical services levyEMS levyproperty levyproperty taxesSpokane Fire Department
Ballots are due today for the city of Spokane’s proposed emergency medical services levy.
Voters are deciding whether to continue a 50-cent per $1,000 of assessed property valuation levy, as they have every six years since 1980.
The measure would raise $8 million a year, about a fourth of the city Fire Department’s operating budget.
Voters in rural Fire Protection District No. 10 also are deciding whether to approve an EMS levy.
A list of ballot dropboxes is available Spokane County Elections.
Couple acquitted of caging 2 boys 
johnclarke on April 27 at 9:06 a.m.
Considering the amount of money the union has spent on billboards and signs, I think they are a little worried - and rightfully so. This measure should fail. While I would never be in favor of denying needed funding to our firefighters, I cannot vote for duplication of service. SFD, if you want to perform EMS, fine. Get rid of AMS, buy their vehicles and stop running the taxpayer’s fire engines into the ground. You could charge less than AMS and probably afford the majority of firefighter positions you are threatening to eliminate. If you are not going to perform transport, then I guess you need to tighten the belt. This is a public/public “partnership” that Spokane can’t afford, and should not have to. We should not pay twice for one service.
lewis8457 on April 27 at 10:53 a.m.
I don’t understand why one of the area hospitals don’t get into this service? They could respond to the calls much more efficiently. And with a far better success rate.
i voted no even though it was just a extension, it burns my butt when i see a fire truck sitting at a store, and two guys climb in with a bag of chips
johnclarke on April 27 at 11:17 a.m.
AMS is actually pretty efficient according to the report on the SFD website. They have studied where and when the calls happen based on trends and have positioned themselves accordingly. Makes more sense then responding from fixed locations, like for example a very expensive brick taxpayer funded structure. Keep in mind, statistics like response times can be affected by who is controlling the calls, and the fact that SFD can “call off” AMS at will. All available in the report.
Another_Perspective on April 27 at 11:51 a.m.
I saw a ladder truck at the corner of Pines and free off ramp yesterday at 2:30 pm. One person was doing CPR on a guy on the ground and there were 7 people standing around watching.
A very efficient use of a $300,000 ladder truck.
I’m tired of the government lying and not coming forward with the truth on costs etc.
Ha ha johnclarke thats AMR… AMS is the American Mathematical Society. You must have read that report in detail. Maybe even twice.
Smokie on April 27 at 12:04 p.m.
If you eliminated all of the fire department’s tasking for EMS, you would still need as many firefighters for firefighting. EMS is what they do when not involved in firefighting - a very manpower intensive job.
In fact, there were probably 20 more firefighters on duty when they didn’t do EMS, back in the 70s.
Take away the EMS Levy, you take away doubly-tasked firefighter/EMTs paid for by the levy. The smaller numbers will still respond to medical and fire calls from the remaining stations not closed by the levy failure. They will stack calls, taking more time, hurting your insurance costs, your property and your life.
Vote Yes to continue the EMS Levy. You may not notice the elimination of the levy on your tax bill but you will notice it in your increasing insurance premiums, quality of service and the businesses that avoid Spokane because of the lack of fire service.
johnclarke on April 27 at 12:45 p.m.
Smokie, help me understand. If we “need” the same amount of firefighters for firefighting, then fine - study the issue and tax accordingly. The EMS levy is not spent on JUST paramedic postitions, it’s for equipment, operating expenses etc. Instead of trying to make us all frightened of our houses burning down and insurance costs skyrocketing (we apparently have to pay one way or the other?) why not just stick to the issue at hand? Does the city need EMS service provided from two sources? What is missing from the pay per use service provided by AMR that is “value added” by funding this levy? The part where I really get lost is “pay for this levy so we can buy more fire engines that we are wearing out because of this levy.” Seriously, either get into the business of EMS and transport, or get out. Personally, I’d rather see you guys doing this work but you don’t get both.
lewis8457 on April 27 at 3:13 p.m.
If they only responded to fires it would be hard for me to imagine why one firehouse wouldn’t need more then 2 or 3 high priced union members and the rest volunteers.
Right now we have 14 firehouses with over 300 fire fighters since 11/7/2009 we have had 32 fires in the Spokane area. I guess I need someone to explain to me why we are paying in the excess of 3 million dollars a year in salaries for 300 firefighters in a city that has 70 fires annually?
I don’t know how accurate there log is but it only shows 3 EMS calls in 4 months time.
http://www.spokanefire.org/
This seems to indicate several firehouses haven’t got a call for over 4months, for a fire. Heck for that few fires they could do the job with a old 1954 GMC tanker truck.
Another_Perspective on April 27 at 3:21 p.m.
So is the strategy not to vote and dont get the minumum or vote against it?
I’d buy Bobby Williams some lifts for his shoes….
misjustice on April 27 at 4:29 p.m.
I voted “yes” to continue the levy …
Cue the hue and cry …
Smokie on April 27 at 5:13 p.m.
JohnClarke, Good questions.
First the EMS levy is primarily a means to fund positions. These positions are all firefighter/EMTs and firefighter/paramedics. Yes, there is some equipment to be bought, but no fire trucks.Those come from the bond, the one that failed this fall. Unlike the police, the fire department uses a bond and a levy to purchase equipment and to fund positions.
As far as duplication of services - There are fire stations in each neighborhood. This is because fire expands exponentially with time and becomes more difficult to put out the larger it gets. Also the larger it gets, the more threatened a city’s infrastructure becomes. So, a closer station means a better chance of putting out the fire because of the quickness of response. Many of Spokane’s fires get no press because the knockdown of the fire was so quick and therefore didn’t do too much damage.
This model of a neighborhood fast-response is well-fitted for EMS, as well. A person who is having a heart attack is almost like the house on fire. The more time before life saving begins the less chance of success. There aren’t that many ambulances out there compared to Spokane’s fire companies, all of which are dual-tasked. All of which are in the neighborhoods anyway.
Sometimes there is a duplication of services, but most of the time the fire department is the first on the scene. Many times, the critical patient has been treated, IVs started, intubation performed, medications given, shocks delivered and is on a backboard and ready to load up into the ambulance as soon as it arrives. This early care really improves the chances of a patient’s survival. The ambulance maybe coming from the valley or from across town.
Also, some of the places where a patient can be treated are dangerous in themselves. Firefighters have the training and equipment to go into places where the ambulance crew is not allowed to go by law and by common sense.
I know you have already cast your NO vote, but thanks for clarification and for caring enough to vote. Have a good day!
Thank you to everyone who has voted YES!
Another_Perspective on April 27 at 5:41 p.m.
So smokie are you one of the $150K+ firefighters?
The SFD really needs to change its model of operation. Its costing the taxpayers too much for what we get in return.
johnclarke on April 27 at 6:05 p.m.
Smokie, thanks for the response. Good luck with the levy, and thanks for your service. BTW, as the owner of a few properties in the city limits the SFD gets alot of support from me at tax time. Again, I’d rather see the SFD do the EMS job, including transport. 85% of your calls are EMS, why not take over? Cheers, stay safe.
Smokie on April 27 at 7:58 p.m.
Thanks JohnClarke. I appreciate it. I know there are a lot of guys who want to see transport. Most cities do transport. They say it makes their cities money. All that figurin’ is beyond my pay grade! But, we should have that conversation for sure. Again, thank you.
Another Perspective, I think only the chief makes that kind of dough. My wife makes as much as me and we don’t come close to that kind of money put together. And if you can come up with a better model of operation - show the mayor. She would love to see it. Have you compared Spokane’s Fire Dept to other cities to see how it stacks up in cost, call volume, staffing, response time, etc? You should do that. Here is a link:
http://yesems.org/Facts.html
Thanks, Smokie