2021 Thurston County Proposition 1 - Medic One Levy Lid Lift

2021 Thurston County Proposition 1
         Medic One Levy Lid Lift

PROPOSAL
• The proposal is to restore the Medic One levy, which is
currently at $0.29 per thousand of assessed value, to the
original 1999 voter approved amount of $0.50 per thousand.
The proposal will add approximately $0.21 cents per thousand
over a span of six years using current assessed values to
achieve the previous voter approved $0.50 per thousand.

• *Taxpayers who qualify for a senior citizen, disabled or
veteran exemption pursuant to RCW 84.36.381 may be exempt
from the increased levy pursuant to RCW 84.55.054(4)(e)

OVERVIEW
  • The original permanent levy passed in 1999 was at
    $0.50 cents per thousand.

  • Due to statutory limitations, the current (2021) rate has
    dropped to approximately $0.289 cents per thousand of
    assessed value.

  • The proposed levy will restore the rate back to the
    original 1999 voter approved $0.50 cents per thousand,
    over the next 6 years.

Medic One Partners With Your Local Fire Service Provider

                   • 9-1-1 operators receive and process calls from the public in
                     Thurston County and then dispatches the appropriate EMS
                     personnel.

                   • The closest available fire department medical resource is
                     dispatched.

                   • Paramedics are dispatched if more care will be needed than
                     the fire department EMT personnel can provide.

                   • Each fire agency is an independent funded, separate
                     intergovernmental agency from Medic One.

Emergency Medical care in Thurston County
  involves interagency, private and governmental,
                    cooperation

Medic One supports a Comprehensive County-Wide Layered EMS
System composed of:
• 12 Fire Departments/Districts with over 600 responders
• 2 ambulance companies
• 2 Hospitals
• Serving over 291,000 people in Thurston County

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Layered response dispatching the closest and
       appropriate resource to every call for service

• 33,201 EMS calls in 2020 responded to by EMTs and, if needed, Paramedics

• TCOMM dispatchers send resources based on the information available.

• EMTs are charged with treating basic emergencies and supporting a patient until paramedics arrive (if
  needed).

• Advanced Life Support trained paramedics respond to the most serious situations and continue the care.
  Paramedics respond from 7 locations around the county in support of EMT responders.

• EMS trained Providers (EMTs and/or Paramedics) provide highly specialized care from the patient
  location all the way to the Hospital Emergency Department.

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Basic Life Support                            Advanced Life Support
             (BLS)                                         (ALS)
• Emergency Medical Technician                   • Paramedics
  (EMT)                                          • ALS Medic Units in the county
• BLS dispatched for every 911 EMS                  • 7 front line units located in the county
  call                                                for response
• Backbone of EMS                                   • 6 reserve units
• Medic One provides:                            • Medic One Financial support
   • Initial Training and mandated ongoing          • 100 percent of equipment and
     education for EMTs                               supplies
                                                        • Medic Units and equipment are county
   • EMS equipment and medical supply                     property maintained by Medic One
     support                                        • 80 percent of Paramedic salaries
   • Provides to the general public CPR &
     AED classes – free
      • 74 percent of cardiac arrests occur in
        the home

•   1974 Medic One authorized by the voters to bring
                      services to the people of Thurston County funded by an
                      ongoing levy vote.

                  •   On September 14, 1999, Thurston County voters passed
                      a voter approved permanent regular levy of $0.50 for
                      Medic One.

Medic One Levy    •   The county legislative authority statutorily increased
Revenue History       Medic One by 1% each year (maximum allowed) from
                      2008 to 2021.

                  •   Taxable values increased 255% from 2002 to 2021 whereas
                      the tax revenue was limited to an increase of 105%.

                  •   When assessed values increase at a rate greater than the tax
                      does, levy rates are driven down.

                  •   Current Medic One levy rate is $0.289 per thousand of
                      assessed value

Forces Driving Costs

• Healthcare: Expenditures increased annually 5 percent over the past 10 years –
  supplies and equipment are anticipated to increase 5.3 percent annually through
  2029.

• Call Volume: EMS 9-1-1 call volume increased from 24,392 in 2008 to 33,201 in
  2020 and are projected to go over 36,000 in 2021.

• Population: Thurston County population is approximately 291,000 an increase of
  21 percent since 2008

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The Impact If the Ballot Measure Does Not Pass

Defer modernization and           Cancel deployment of       Reduce financial           Reduce the citizen CPR
replacement of medical            8th Medic Unit in          support to fire agencies   training program by 64
equipment                         county                     for medical equipment,     percent
                                                             supplies and training
- Two Medic Units scheduled       - Impact response times
for replacement in 2023                                      for EMTs
deferred                          - Currently scheduled in
                                  2025
- Three Medic Units scheduled
for replacement in 2024
deferred
- Two Medic Units scheduled
for replacement in 2025
deferred.
- 120 Automated External
Defibrillators (AEDs) scheduled
for replacement in 2023/2024
deferred
- 14 Ventilators scheduled for
replacement in 2023 deferred

2008-2019 Property Tax vs Expenditures & Ending
                Fund Balance
$20,000,000
$18,000,000
$16,000,000
$14,000,000
$12,000,000
$10,000,000
 $8,000,000
 $6,000,000
 $4,000,000
 $2,000,000
        $-
               2008       2009     2010        2011       2012       2013     2014     2015        2016        2017   2018   2019
                           Revenue              Operating Budget (expense)           Medic One Ending Fund Balance

 * Property tax revenue limited to 1% increase of previous year plus new construction (since 2008)

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Change on Home Valued at $300,000

• *2021 (current) amount: $0.289 per thousand = $87 per year

• Proposed:
    • 2022:      *increase of $0.06 per thousand which is an $18 annual increase
    • 2023-2027: *increase of $0.03 per thousand which is a $9 annual increase

Combining these increases produces an estimated total increase over six years of
$0.21 per $1000 or $63 in 2027 for a home valued at $300,000.

*Based on 2021 assessed values.

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Emergency Medical Services Council (EMSC)
     “Medic One System Oversight”
 The Thurston County Emergency Medical Services Council (EMSC) is
  composed of 13 members (elected officials, medical professionals,
  EMS provider agencies and 3 citizens at large), meets monthly to
  advise Medic One and the Board of County Commissioners on
  Thurston County EMS issues.

 The Thurston County (EMSC) recommended the Board of County
  Commissioners place a Medic One tax increase on the ballot.

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Board of County Commissioners
                     Action
On May 4, 2021 the Board of County Commissioners voted to
place the Medic One ballot measure on the August 3, 2021
primary for voters to consider restoring the Medic One levy to
the previously voter approved amount of $0.50 per thousand
through an increase to the Medic One levy by $0.21 per
thousand over the next six years.

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Questions?
          Kurt Hardin
        360-704-2783
kurt.hardin@co.thurston.wa.us

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